THURSDAY 11TH MAY 2023

Dangote: NNPC Can Become Africa’s Saudi Aramco with Right Decisions

Says firm must strike balance between local content, efficiency Africa’s richest man, Elumelu hail NNPC’s performance under Kyari UBA chair discloses production in his facility now 96% NOC to deliver value for Nigerians in three years, Kyari pledges

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

Africa’s richest man and President of the Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, yesterday said the Nige-

rian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) has what it takes to become the African version of Saudi Arabia’s Aramco in the near future.

Dangote who spoke at the ongoing

2023 Upstream Investment Management Services Ltd (NUIMS) Annual Value Assurance Review (AVAR) Workshop, stressed that the oil giant could generate billions of dollars

in revenue if the right decisions were made. The year's theme was: 'Consolidating for Growth in PIA Era.' The event was attended by the Group Chief Executive Officer of the

NNPC Mele Kyari; the Executive Vice President (Upstream), NNPC Adokiye Tombomieye; the Chief Upstream Investment Officer, NUIMS, Bala Wunti; the Chairman, Heirs

Holding, Tony Elumelu and other top investors in the Nigerian economy. Dangote recalled that the PIA has

Continued on page 14

Tinubu Departs Nigeria for Europe on Working Visit ... Page 35

www.thisdaylive.com

TRUTH & REASON

Respite as Court Bars NBC from Imposing Fines on Broadcast Stations

Nullifies 2019 N.5m fines on 45 stations

Akeredolu: APC’s Zoning of NASS Leadership Skewed, Unjust, Targeted against Some Zones, Individuals

Aspirants

in Abuja and Fidelis David in Akure

There is no end in sight to the crisis rocking the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) over the leadership of the 10th National Assembly, as some key stakeholders have been simmering with resentment since

the party announced its nominations for principal positions in the federal legislature three days ago.

Chairman, South West Governors’ Forum and Ondo State governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, yesterday, rejected the proposed zoning formula, saying it is brazenly skewed, unjust,

on page 14

SPECIAL RECOGNITION AWARD...

(left),

Alex Enumah in Abuja Respite may have come the way of

threaten 2015 scenario may come into play

We’re betrayed, zoning formula won't stand, Wase insists

Attempt to foist leadership will be resisted, northern group warns We're making effort to pacify aggrieved contestants, Abass hints

L-R: President of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote; Chairman, Heirs Holdings Ltd, Mr. Tony Elumelu; and Chief Upstream Investment Officer, NNPC Upstream Investment Management Services (NUIMS), Mr Bala Wunti during the Annual Value Assurance Review organised by NUIMS in Lagos…yesterday

Group Backs Akpabio, Abass for Senate, House Leadership

Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja

A group, Grassroots Mobilization for Asiwaju (GMA 2023), has declared

support for the party's choices of Senator Godswill Akpabio for the position of senate president, and Tajudeen Abass for the speaker,

House of Representatives for the 10th National Assembly. National Coordinator of the group, Mr. Aminu Aminu, stated

10th N’Assembly: Tinubu Yet to Endorse Anyone, Says Senator-elect

Sylvester Idowu in Warri

The Senator-elect, Delta South Senatorial District, Hon. Joel-Onowakpo Thomas, has said to the best of his knowledge, the President-elect. Bola Tinubu, has not endorsed anyone yet for the leadership positions of the 10th National Assembly.

He also said the candidate he would support for the leadership of the 10th National Assembly must emerge through a credible process backed by the majority of members.

Joel-Onowakpo, who spoke with journalists in Warri, yesterday, on issues ranging from his humble beginning, his sojourn into politics, his election as senator, expectations from NASS and how he intends to represent his District, assured Nigerians that the 10th National Assembly would not be rubber stamp.

Reacting to the on-going leadership struggle for the 10th Assembly, he said he was not aware that any individual has been endorsed, saying, "I am not aware. I have heard it just the way you said it.

To me, like my name, 'Thomas', I consider this as mere speculation. And I want to beg the press not to give the president-elect unnecessary baggage. The issue about the leadership of National Assembly is a sensitive one.

"I will expect that whoever emerges should be so from a

process. It is the duty of the candidates to earn the respect and trust of their colleagues. These colleagues should be able to take ownership of the leadership. Doing anything to the contrary will amount to the president-elect taking side.

So, if asked, I will say that the President-elect, Senator Ahmed Tinubu, has not endorsed anybody to my knowledge. The field is free for all who are qualified to aspire.

"The last thing that this National Assembly won't want to be associated with is that ‘they are rubber stamp’. Even if we want to be

rubber stamp, I am pretty sure that we will do it with some level of dignity. Therefore, let the best man win," he said.

Reiterating that he did not have any candidate yet, he said, "I currently don't have any candidate. I just came back, and I am still accessing my options, and I will finally align with the person, who will support my vision in developing my senatorial district and give the senate the best of leadership. I have only one vote, I have no control of other senators' votes, and I intend to use that vote wisely."

this while addressing a press conference yesterday in Abuja, where he described Akpabio and Tajudeen as stabilizers of democracy and

true bridge builders. He stressed that the two parliamentarians have proved themselves to be patriotic and

progressive Nigerians, who have contributed immensely to the development of the nation and the safeguarding of the country's democracy.

"Our endorsement of the abovementioned gentlemen was born out of critical thinking and assessment of their track records and performance in the national polity.

"Their commitment to the cause of this nation, and their wealth of experience in administrative and legislative management will go a long way in assisting the presidentelect to stay focused on delivering the promise made to Nigerians," it stated.

The group, therefore, called on members-elect to bury their hatchets and rally around Akpabio and Tajudeen as the leaders of the two Chambers of the 10th assembly.

"We also appeal to the national leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Presidentelect to consider appointing those who are experienced, detribalised, incorruptible, patriotic and have Nigeria at heart to propel the country to greatness."

APC Paying Lip Service to Affirmative Action, Says Group

Chuks Okocha in Abuja

A civil rights advocacy group, Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA),yesterday, said the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the President-elect, Bola Tinubu, who promised women inclusion during their campaigns only paid lip service to affirmative action as well as gender and equal opportunity in Nigeria immediately after the election.

The group, however, endorsed Princess Onuoha, a member representing Onuimo/Isiala Mbano/ Okigwe Federal Constituency

from Imo State, for the post of the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives.

HURIWA, in a statement read at an elaborate media conference in Abuja by its National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, said since the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) zoned the Deputy Speakership position to the South-East zone, it was only sensible and acceptable for the party with majority of members in the National Assembly to select a woman for the role.

The group said already, the 10th Senate and 10th House of

Representatives, which will resume by June are male-dominated, with about 20 women in both legislative chambers, adding that Nigerians were astonished that the APC National Working Committee zoned the leadership of the 10th National Assembly.

“The party organ zoned the Senate President to the South-South, Senator Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom); Deputy Senate President to the North-West, Senator Barau Jubrin (Kano).Others are the Speaker of the House of Representatives (NorthWest) – Abass Tajudeen (Kaduna), Deputy Speaker South East – Ben

Kalu (Abia).

“For starters, the President-elect, Bola Tinubu is from the South West while the Vice-President-Elect, Kashim Shettima is from the North-East. These six persons are all male while women represented a paltry 3.5% of National Assembly members-elect for both Senate and House of Representatives while men have 96.5%.

“It is on record that Onuoha, who won her reelection on the platform of the APC, has offered herself to serve the Nigerian people and offered herself to provide robust and dynamic leadership. Her people voted her despite the Labour Party

landslide victory in the state because they didn’t want to take a chance by voting another candidate and because she brought participatory governance to her people; politics of inclusivity.

“It is just insensitive for the APC not to include a single woman among the top six political positions in the country despite the party’s spineless promises about affirmative action. APC should ensure 35% affirmative action for the leadership of the National Assembly and reserve the office of the Deputy Speaker for a very competent lawmaker in the person of Hon Onuoha.”

Tinubu

TRANSITION NEWS

Zoning is Undemocratic, Dangerous, Says Former Lawmaker, Chika

Juliet Akoje in Abuja

A former member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Abubakar Chika, from Niger State, has de- scribed the zoning of the National Assembly leadership position as undemocratic and very dangerous.

Speaking in Abuja, yesterday, he stated that, "The legislature is an independent body and they must choose among themselves, neither the president nor the party has the right to dictate, who should lead the national assembly.

"The National Assembly like any other arms of government is independent to decide, who will lead as an arm of government. So, I don't see any reason that either the party or anyone will micro zone or no zone, so you can't microzone the legislature. This is undemocratic and very

dangerous to democracy and I don't think this will fly.

"I have been speaking about the injustice we have been having within the APC and it is not because I have an interest in Aliyu Betara but because I am

speaking as a former legislature who don't want to see that arm of government being bastardised in dictatorship. “APC has been cantankerous because of the advice that has been coming from so many quarters.

You can see even from in terms of how that seat of legislature should be shared. How did you exclude the North Central, so I think it is a biased thing. Somebody just think I must make this person, whether he is going to cover up

for me"

"But I think the president-elect is an honourable man and should think beyond Lagos State, this is Nigeria and not Lagos State House of Assembly and we have a national assembly consisting of

people from everywhere and with different character. APC should know that they do not have the majority particularly in the House of Representatives, the minority is greater in number and with that you can't dictate."

Presidential Fleet Review: Navy to Parade I6 Warships, Helicopters, Fighter Jets to Honour Buhari

Foreign war ships from Spain, Brazil, Ghana expected

Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja

Nineteen days to the exit of President Muhammadu Buhari,

the Nigerian Navy said yesterday it would put on parade 16 warships, three warships from Spain, Brazil and Ghana as well as six

helicopters and fighter jets from the Nigerian Air Force as it prepares a presidential fleet review in honour of President Muhammadu Buhari.

Senator-elect Wants Presiding Officers’ Poll Devoid of Acrimony

Ibrahim Shuaibu in Kano

A Senator-elect from Kano South, Dr.Suleiman Kawu Sumaila, has urged colleagues in both chambers of the National Assembly to ensure the election of presiding officers hold without acrimony or imposition.

Sumaila made the call in a congratulatory message to all senators-elect and members-elect circulated to newsmen yesterday.

"As senators and members-elect, we should be democratic and put

our house in order so that both the Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representatives can emerge in a manner devoid of acrimony or imposition," he said.

Sumaila, who is also a former member of the House of Representatives, said while he did not oppose the idea of party supremacy, such must never be pursued at the expense of separation of powers, which is the hallmark of the presidential system of government.

"Political parties should only play a role in the leadership of the party

in the parliament. The lawmakers should be allowed to exercise the right to choose their presiding officers from among themselves as stipulated by the Constitution without any interference of ethnic, regional or religious colouration.

“Constitution is explicit about how the President and Deputy President of the Senate shall be elected. Section 50 (1) (a) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) is unambiguous that “there shall be a President and Deputy President of the Senate, who shall be elected

by the members of that House from among themselves.

"Similarly, Section 50 (1) (b) of the Constitution states that, ‘a Speaker and a Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, who shall be elected by the members of that House from among themselves. Also, the Senate and House of Representatives Standing Rules provide for selection or appointment of principal officers and other officers of the Senate and the House," he further stated.

Others include six war planes including Super Tucano fighter jets.

Presidential Fleet Reviews are traditional events which navies across the world conduct in order to honour their sovereigns or heads of government. It involves assemblage of ships and other maritime assets at a designated area for the purpose of demonstrating loyalty and allegiance to the state.

The review also provides an avenue for the president to assess the navy's preparedness to meet statutory obligations in maritime security, safety and defence within a global/regional collaborative approach.

During a review, the president or head of state is invited to review the fleet in commemoration of a historical event, celebration of important anniversary or any

Group Seeks Opposition Parties’ Support for Kalu

Blessing Ibunge in Port

Harcourt

An advocacy group under the aegis of Niger Delta Rights Advocates (NDRA), has pleaded with the opposition parties in the House of Representatives to support Hon Benjamin Okezie Kalu, for the deputy speaker position in the 10th Assembly.

National Coordinator of NDRA, Bright Ngolo, who had earlier advocated speakership for South East, said the latest development was commendable, because the geopolitical zone was not marginalised.

Speaking with journalists, Ngolo recalled, "That on the 29th April 2023, the NDRA made a public appeal to the party leadership,

members-elect and stakeholders to consider ceding the post of Speaker of the House of Representatives to the South-East geopolitical zone and to Hon Benjamin Okezie Kalu in particular for his youthfulness, intelligence, friendship across regions, tribes and cultures.

"We considered his track record of visibility in the ninth Assembly as House spokesperson as the core reason our group embarked upon an advocacy through the media to have such a detribalised Nigerian occupy the exalted seat of Speaker of the House of Representatives.

"Our lobby and advocacy has led to the zoning of the Deputy Speakership of the 10th National Assembly to the South East region and a further microzoning to Hon

Benjamin, member representing Bende Federal constituency.

"Even though it fell below our projection, we want to thank the National Working Committee of the APC for taking the wise decision of not completely neglecting the agitations and calls by Nigerians across party, ethnic and religious lines, that the South East geopolitical zone should not and must not be excluded from the political leadership of the country at this auspicious moment of our national history.

"Gentlemen, we are not surprised at the microzoning of this position to Hon Benjamin Kalu, as we have eloquently enumerated some of the qualities for which we found him fit for leadership of the House of Representatives."

other activity deemed necessary.

Some of the occasions to organise a fleet review include special landmarks of either the navy or the country.

Speaking at a world press conference in Abuja, the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo, said Presidential Fleet Review (PFR) 2023, is scheduled to hold from May 19-22, 2023 in Lagos.

He said the review themed: "Fleet Readiness for National Prosperity" was carefully chosen to underscore the essence and value of the Nigerian Navy as a responsive naval force poised towards the attainment of national prosperity.

Gambo, who was represented by the Chief of Policy and Plans, Rear Admiral Suleiman Garba, noted that during the 8-year administration of president Muhammadu Buhari, a total of 20 capital ships were procured for the Nigerian Navy.

"The ships comprise of offshore patrol vessels, landing ship transport, hydrographic survey vessels, seaward defence boats, helicopters as well as over 300 inshore patrol vessels and assault crafts.

"The president also commissioned two locally built ships in 2016 and 2021 and laid the keel for two more, which will be ready by 2024.

"The Nigerian Navy deems it appropriate to honour the Commander-in-Chief for his support to the service", he said.

"The 2023 Presidential Fleet Review is therefore organised in honour of President Muhammadu Buhari in recognition of his generous contribution to the service and the nation at large", the naval chief further stated.

Hon. Abubakar Chika

President Muhammadu Buhari

Hon Benjamin Okezie Kalu

FEDERAL EXECUTIVE COUNCIL MEETING...

At Last, Buhari Seeks Senate’s Nod for Fresh $800m World Bank Loan for Poor, Vulnerable Nigerians

Says its for 10.2m poor, vulnerable Nigerians Nigeria's debt profile becoming unsustainable, Budget

Sunday Aborisade and Udora Orizu in Abuja

President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday, asked the Senate to approve a fresh $800 million loan from the World Bank to enable his administration sustain its social investment programme for poor and vulnerable Nigerians.

This comes just as the Director General of the Budget Office of the Federation, Mr. Ben Akabueze, yesterday, raised the alarm that the nation's debt profile was becoming unsustainable.

Buhari, in the letter, read at plenary by the President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, explained that the approval of the loan would specifically enable his government continue with the conditional cash transfer window of the programme.

He said the government would transfer the sum of N5,000 per month to 10.2 million poor and low-income households for a period of six months, with a multiplier effect on about 60 million individuals.

Buhari said in order to guarantee the credibility of the process, digital transfers would be made directly to beneficiaries' account and mobile wallets.

Part of Buhari's letter read: "It is with pleasure that I forward the above subject to you. Please note that the Federal Executive Council (FEC) approved an additional loan

facility to the tune of $800 million to be secured from the World Bank, for the National Social Safety Net Programme (NASSP).

"There is the need to request for your consideration and approval to ensure early implementation.

"The Senate, may wish to note that the programme is intended to expand coverage of shock responsive safety net support among the poor and vulnerable Nigerians. This will assist them in coping with the costs of meeting basic needs.

"You may wish to note that the federal government of Nigeria under the conditional cash transfer window of the programme will transfer the sum of N5,000 per month to 10.2 million poor and low-income households for a period of six months with a multiplier effect on about 60 million individuals.

"In order to guarantee the credibility of the process, digital transfers will be made directly to beneficiaries' account and mobile wallets.”

The letter further read: "The NASSP being a social intervention programme will stimulate activities in the informal sector, improve nutrition, health, education and human capital development of beneficiary households.

"Given the above, I wish to invite the Senate to kindly approve an additional loan facility to the tune of $800 million to be secured from the World Bank for the National Social

Safety Net Programme (NASSP).

"While hoping that these submissions will receive expeditious consideration by the Senate, please accept, Distinguished Senate President, the assurance of my highest regards."

Nigeria's Debt Profile Becoming Unsustainable, DG Budget Office Laments

However, Akabueze has raised the alarm that the nation's debt profile was becoming unsustainable. Akabueze, stated this while delivering a lecture titled, "Budget Process and Money Bills," at the ongoing induction programme organised by the National Assembly

Management and the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies for members elect for the 10th National Assembly.

He said, "We now have very limited borrowing space, not because our debt to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is high, but because our revenue is too small to sustain the size of our debt. That explains our high debt service ratio.

"Once a country's debt service ratio exceeds 30 per cent, that country is in trouble and we are pushing towards 100 percent and that tells you how much trouble we are in.

"We have limited space to borrow. When you take how much you can generate in terms of revenue and what you can reasonably borrow,

Office declares

that establishes the size of the budget.

"The next thing would be to pay attention to government priority regarding what project gets what.

"You may have heard that we have one of the lowest GDP to debt ratio in the world. While the size of the federal government’s budget for 2023 created some excitement, the aggregate budget of all government in the country amounted to about N30 trillion.

"That is less than 15 per cent in terms of ratio to GDP. Even on the African continent, the ratio of spending is about 20 per cent.”

The former Lagos State Commissioner, pointed out that in South Africa, “it is about 30 percent, Morocco is about 40 percent and

at 15 per cent, that is too small for our needs. That is why there is a fierce competition for the limited resources. That can determine how much we can relatively borrow."

Akabueze noted that for Nigeria to be able to fix the infrastructural needs of the country, "we need to be spending about $100 billion annually as a country, including private spending on infrastructure."

He noted that, "the aggregate budget of the federal government is only about $30 billion and the aggregate of the states and FCT budget don't even add up to the federal budget.

"This means that even if we spend everything, we will still be left with a huge infrastructural deficit."

Basic Education: N46.2bn Matching Grants Yet to Be Accessed by State Govts, UBEC Reveals

Kuni Tyessi in Abuja

At the twilight of the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) has disclosed that over N46.2 billion matching grants for the development of public primary and junior secondary schools was

yet to be accessed by some state governments.

The acting Executive Secretary of UBEC, Prof. Bala Zakari, stated this during an oversight visit to the Commission by the Senate Committee on Basic and Secondary Education in Abuja, yesterday.

Presenting the 2022 capital bud-

NMDPRA Shuts Down 75 Filling Stations in Osun

The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) has sealed off 75 filling stations operating without valid operational licences and for other infractions in Osun State.

NMDPRA State Coordinator, Mr. Kunle Adeyemo, disclosed this yesterday, while speaking to newsmen on its activities for the month of April, in Osogbo.

Adeyemo, said the filling stations were sealed during surveillance operation of the agency in the month of April, during which 301 filling stations were visited

across the state.

According to him, the intense surveillance activities of the agency of late, revealed that many of the filling stations in the state do not have valid operational licences.

Adeyemo said in line with the federal government’s directive, all petroleum marketers have till 31st of May to get their valid licences.

He said any petroleum marketers who failed to adhere to the deadline for obtaining their valid operational licences would be severely sanction and penalise.

Adeyemo, also said marketers who had turned their filling stations to packing space, car wash, cash point, or are operating without

safety facilities, engaging in pump adjustment, using untrained attendants and were engaging in other infractions should desist from such act.

"It is important to state that the charges for the above infractions had been increased by the federal government.

"We implore petroleum marketers to start conforming with the rules guiding the operation of filling stations in the state and also meet up with the May 31, deadline, as NMDPRA surveillance team will be all out to monitor compliance.

"We urged all marketers to abide with the above to avoid being sanction,” he added.

Adeyemo, also said the agency had a meeting with leadership of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) on the need for their members to obtain valid licences and also abide by the rules guiding the operation of filling stations.

He said the Vice-Chairman of IPMAN, Ibadan depot, in charge of Oyo and Osun states, Alhaji lekan leklaw, pleaded with the agency to give members of the union time to comply with the directive of the federal government.

Adeyemo said at the meeting, IPMAN members were given till May 31 to get or start processing their operational licences.

get implementation report, Zakari said a total sum of N162, 284, 117,592 was allocated to the states as UBE grants between 2019 and 2022, while N116,072,964,294.33 was accessed by 36 states and FCT.

He said, "The sum of N46,211,153,298.63 is the total of un-accessed UBE matching grants as at 30th April, 2023 by the 36 states and the FCT.

"Between 2019 and 2022, the sum of N162, 284, 117,592 was allocated to the states being UBE grants. As at 30th April 2023, the sum of N116,072,964,294.33 was accessed by 36 states and the FCT, Abuja, representing 71.52 percent as at 30th April, 2023.

"As at the time of reporting, only 11 states accessed 2022 matching grant fund."

Speaking on the levels of UBE matching grant accessed by states, he said in 2019, 35 states and FCT accessed 2019 allocated, with one state - Anambra - yet to access the grant as of 30th April, 2023.

On the 2020 matching grant, he said,"30 states and FCT have accessed matching grant. Six states namely - Abia, Adamawa, Anambra, Ebonyi, Kwara and Ogun are yet to access 2020 UBE

matching grant as at 30th 2023.

“29 states have accessed 2022 matching grant projects, seven states and FCT are yet to access 2022 UBE matching grant as at 30th April, 2023.

"For the 2022, matching grants, 11 states namely Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Ekiti, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Nasarawa, Ondo, Taraba and Zamfara have accessed 2021 UBE matching grant. Twenty-five states and FCT are yet to accessed 2022 UBE matching grant as at 30th April, 2023.”

Earlier, the chairman, Senate Committee on Basic and Secondary Education, Senator Ibrahim Gaidam, said it was important to ensure that money released by the government is use for the purpose it was released.

Gaidam, who was represented by the vice chairman of the Committee, Senator Akon Eyakenyi, said the visit was to also confirm the implementation of the 2022 budget of the commission and proposal for 2023.

The committee stressed the need for state governors to key into UBEC’s projects by accessing its fund in order to shore up the nation's basic education sector.

Yinka Kolawole in Osogbo

L-R: Minister of Power, Abubakar Aliyu; Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika; Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire; Minister of State for Agriculture Mustapha Baba Shehuri and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffery Onyeama, at the Federal Executive Council meeting held at the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa, Abuja … yesterday

PHOTO: GODWIN OMOIGUI

PRESENTATION OF ITSHEKIRI LAND REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT MASTER PLANS...

L-R: Director General, Department for Africa and Middle East, Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland, Sofie From-Emmesberger; His Majesty Olu of Warri Kingdom, Ogiame Atuwatse III; and his wife, Olori Atuwatse III; during the presentation of Itshekiri land Regional Development Master plans to the Ministry in Finland... yesterday

Host Communities Trusts: NUPRC Prequalifies 19 Fund Managers, Incorporates 41 Associations

Says insecurity, low investment constraining Nigeria’s 2.5m bpd allowable target

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

Nigeria got closer to its search for lasting peace in Nigeria’s oil-rich Niger Delta yesterday, with the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) disclosing that it has now pre-qualified 19 fund managers who will administer the 3 per cent allocation to Host Communities Development Trusts (HCDT) in the region.

The Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021 introduced the petroleum HCDT under the law which in part is meant to hasten the development of the economic and social infrastructure of communities in the petroleumproducing areas.

The objectives of the associations include fostering sustainable prosperity within host communities,

providing direct social and economic benefits from petroleum operations to host communities and enhancing peaceful and harmonious co-existence between licensees or lessees and communities.

In a keynote address during a sensitisation workshop on implementing the development trusts in Abuja, the Chief Executive of NUPRC, Mr Gbenga Komolafe, noted that aside prequalifying the fund managers, 41 communities trusts have now been incorporated with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).

Komolafe, who was represented at the event by the Executive Commissioner, Economic Regulation & Strategic Planning, NUPRC, Dr Kelechi Ofoegbu, noted that the objective of the workshop was to create further awareness on the

PIA and provide updates on the commission’s activities towards the implementation of the regulations for Nigeria oil and gas industry.

In addition, Komolafe noted that it was meant to provide a clear roadmap for the implementation of the HCDT to enhance peaceful and harmonious co-existence between oil and gas industry operators and host communities, and ultimately support the development of host communities.

According to him, while the commission is prioritising efforts towards increasing oil and gas production and ensuring maximum federation revenue through the optimisation of oil and gas value chain, the efforts had been constrained by myriad of challenges.

He noted that the problems ranged

from insecurity, low investment to the de-prioritisation of funding of hydrocarbon development arising, from the ongoing energy transition.

“ Currently, Nigeria has the technical allowable capacity to produce about 2.5 million barrels of oil per day. However, arising from the highlighted challenges, our current production hovers around 1.5 million barrels of oil and condensate per day,” he added.

To further stem the tide of sabotage and third-party interferences on oil and gas critical infrastructure, the PIA, Komolafe said, has domesticated the protection of Nigeria's oil and gas infrastructure to the host communities.

He explained that one critical milestone under the PIA is the incorporation of HCDT by the settlor

Abiodun Inaugurates 150 Million Natural Gas Facility in Ogun

James Sowole in Abeojuta

Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun has said the 150 million Standard Cubic Feet Ibefun Natural Gas City Gate would support, drive and complement the state's gas mobility project through which the gas powered mass transit vehicle scheme would be anchored on.

Abiodun stated this during the inauguration of the Ibefun Natural Gas City Gate in Odogbolu Local Government area of the state.

He noted also that the project would equally help the state deploy electric motorcycles that would begin the process of reducing carbon emissions. The governor pointed out that the completion of the facility, would mark another milestone in the history of gas penetration in the country and the state, adding that energy remained an important enabler in his administration's I-SE-Y-A mantra as encapsulated in the 'Building Our Future Together Agenda' of his administration.

Abiodun, who added that his administration recognised energy as key to the continued development of sectors such as agriculture, health, commerce and industry and education in the state, added that his administration cannot underestimate the importance of energy to the development of micro small and medium scale enterprises in the state.

He said, "Today's commissioning of Ibefun Natural Gas City-Gate will support, drive and complement our administration's gas demobility project through which we will be introducing gas powered mass transit vehicles, whilst we also begin the deployment of electric motorcycles all to reduce carbon emissions.

"Energy remains an important enabler in our I-S-E-Y-A mantra as encapsulated in our Building Our Future Together Agenda.

"While we cannot underestimate the importance of energy to the development of micro small and medium scale enterprises, it is just right to appreciate Transit Gas Nigeria Limited for this initiative and this investment that will further support the industrial revolution of Ogun State."

While expressing optimism that the project would reinforce the commitment of his administration to find innovative solutions that would create sustainable energy for the people, Abiodun added that the commissioning of the project would sustain and improve his administration's public-private initiatives and policy as well as support the 'Light Up Ogun' initiative of his administration.

He added: "According to latest official data sourced from the Nigeria Bureau of Statistics

(NBS), Ogun State is one of the top industrial hub states, we led the chart of energy consumption in Nigeria.

"This great project will reinforce our commitment to innovative solutions that create sustainable energy for the benefit of the people of the state.

"The commissioning of this project is very important to sustain and improve all our public private programmes and policies as well as supporting our 'Light Up Ogun' I initiative. Also, our newly created economic industrial zones namely Ijebu, Remo Economic Zones will also offer multiplier effects by creating jobs and elevating poverty."

In his remarks, the Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mele Kyari who was represented by the Executive Director, Gas and Power, NNPC Limited, Abdulkabir Ahmed, disclosed that the country was blessed with natural gas amounting to over 200 Trillion Cubic Feet (TCL).

He added that it was imperative for players in the industry to ensure that natural gas is put to use domestically.

Kyari, who noted that the 150 million standard cubic feet Ibefun Natural Gas City-Gate, would create jobs and enhance development, added that the project couldn't

have been possible without the enabling environment provided by the Governor Abiodun-led administration in the state.

In his remarks, the Managing Director, Transit Gas Nigeria Limited, Mr. Bolaji Osunsanya, who disclosed that the completion of the project would help deepen natural gas utilisation in the state, added that the project would help promote investment and contribute to job creation.

Osunsanya, also noted that the City-Gate would help improve the distribution to natural gas to end users in Sagamu gas distribution zones, all the way from interchange to J4, adding that the new point of connection in Ibefun would ensure the efficient and reliable delivery of natural gas to industries located in the state.

provided for in Section 235 as well as appointment of Board of Trustees (BoT) by the settlor in consultation with the host communities. The settlors are the oil and gas companies operating within host communities.

Komolafe stressed that Section 240 (2) of the PIA stipulates that each settlor, where applicable through the operator, shall make an annual contribution to the applicable host communities development trust fund of an amount equal to 3 per cent of its actual annual operating expenditure of the preceding financial year in the upstream petroleum operations.

Komolafe pointed out that Section 247 of the Act requires the BoT to set up a management committee which shall be responsible for the general administration of the fund.

The management committee, he said, in turn is required to set up an advisory committee, who advises on activities as well as monitors and reports progress of projects being executed in the community.

He recalled that the Act requires that the host communities should be represented in the board of trustees, management committee and advisory committee.

Furthermore, he stated that Section 244 of the Act also provides an allocation formula upon which the BoT shall on annual basis allocate sums of money from the HCDT trust fund.

Komolafe stated that while 75 per cent will go to the capital fund to be disbursed for projects in each of the host communities, 20 per cent will be kept as the reserve fund to be invested for the utilisation of the host communities development trust whenever there is a cessation in the contribution payable by the settlor.

In addition, an amount not exceeding 5 per cent, he pointed out, will be utilised solely for the administrative cost of running the trust and special projects.

According to him, it further empowers the commission to make

regulations on the administration, guide and safeguard the utilisation of the trust fund and have the oversight responsibility for ensuring that the projects proposed by the board of trustees are implemented.

In exercising the powers, the commission, Komolafe stated, had consulted widely with industry stakeholders in line with Section 216 of the PIA, 2021 and on June 28, 2022 unveiled the regulations as well as the template to give meaning and intent to the spirit of the Act.

“With the regulations and template in place, we have now defined clear navigational path regarding the administration, management, and allocation of funds for development of the host communities as well as clear grievance resolution mechanism for settlement of disputes.

“So far, the commission has successfully approved 75 Host Community Development Trusts out of which 41 have been fully incoorated by the CAC.

“We have also prequalified a total of 19 fund managers and commenced the process of establishing a baseline of ongoing community development projects, in preparation of ensuring the migration of such into the HCDTs,” he stated.

The NUPRC chief executive further said that the commission has in partnership with an ‘OEM’ developed an industry intelligent, digital automated platform for reporting and monitoring the HCDT for transparent administration of the host communities provisions of the PIA.

Komolafe explained that the portal has been designed to meet specific requirements of HCDT as enshrined in the PIA and will aid all stakeholders to fulfil their obligations to host communities and promote accountability and transparency in the management of the programme as well as enable quick feedbacks from the stakeholders and the public for the commission to carry out its regulatory oversight effectively.

Buhari Rejoices with Awujale at 89

Deji Elumoye in Abuja

President Muhammadu Buhari has rejoiced with the Awùjale of Ijebu Kingdom in Ogun State, Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona, as he marks his 89th birthday.

The president described the traditional leader as one of the most remarkable personalities in Nigeria.

In a message issued yesterday, by his spokesperson, Mallam Garba Shehu, Buhari praised the qualities of the Ijebu traditional ruler for his dedication to the welfare of his people and the country at large.

“Your dedication to the welfare of your subjects and our country and its people is highly appreciated. Your vision, warmth and commitment to

your friends is incomparable. I’m very proud of my relationship with Your Majesty. May you continue to lead a long and healthy life,” he added.

Buhari prayed to Allah to give the Awujale the strength and health to reach all his goals, urging him to continue making his numerous efforts for our nation's progress.

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Buhari Failed to Act on Audit Reports Meant to Fetch Nigeria Over N1tn, Senate Committee Laments

New report indicts AGF, NAFDAC, 45 other MDAs over financial infractions

Sunday Aborisade in Abuja

The Senate Public Accounts Committee (SPAC) yesterday lamented the failure of President Muhammadu Buhari to act on the audit reports submitted to him, which indicted top public servants who had allegedly misappropriated over N1 trillion between 2015 and 2018.

The Vice Chairman of SPAC, Hassan Hadejia, stated this while addressing journalists after the Senate in plenary, approved the 2017 and 2018 of Auditor General of the Federation reports submitted by the SPAC.

The fresh report billed to be transmitted to the President immediately, indicted key government agencies and institutions, of extra-budgetary expenditures.

Hadejia however said the Senate had worked on two bills that would among others, compel the executive arm of government to act on the National Assembly Audit reports.

He said, "The total money misappropriated but which we have been able to identify and traced to certain individuals so far amounted to over N1 trillion. It was supposed to be refunded.

"We have submitted our reports to the executive arm of government but up till now we have not even got an acknowledgement of the report from the executive.

"These are reports that were supposed to be received by the executive and applied immediately

because it is not supposed to be subjected to any form of investigation.

We had thoroughly investigated it in conjunction with the Auditor General's office.

"We subjected the queries of the ministries, departments and agencies of government to public hearing.

"The report we submitted is sacrosanct. Nothing to either add or remove. We have been able to identify those who misappropriated government funds and we have also traced where the money is.

"We have recommended that the money be retrieved but up till today, nothing has been done.

"We expect the President to direct the Attorney General for the Federation to act on it but up till now, no action has been taken."

In the latest report, the Senate indicted the office of Accountant General of the Federation and National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and 45 others Ministries, Departments and Agencies.

The indictment was sequel to the reports of 2017 and 2018 of AuGF, which was upheld at the plenary session.

Hadejia said the Committee has been able to submit four reports to the Senate which has never happened since 1999.

He explained that the 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018 reports of auditor general have been submitted and considered by Senate.

He assured that it's Committee

would submit bill seeking strict implementation of the National Assembly recommendation Annual Federal Audit Reports and for related matters, 2023 (SB.117) by next week, which would enable the country to fight corruption.

The Senate, in the latest report, ordered the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) to recover $10 million paid for legal fee and technical charges without results to Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF).

In the $10 million expected to be recovered was $5 million for legal fee and additional $5 million for technical charges.

The $5 million was said to be the five per cent of the $9.3 billion Nigerian hydro-carbon loss between 2013 and 2014.

The law firm, not disclosed, was expected to carry out necessary legal actions that would enable NIMASA perfect an intelligence- based efforts to track the nation’s hyrdo-carbon global movement.

Part of the query read, “Audit observed that the agency engaged the service of a legal firm through a letter with reference number NIMASA/DG/KP/2014/001, dated 24th January 2014.

"It was for the intelligence based tracking of global movement of Nigerian hydro-carbon and recovery of loss by the federal government of Nigeria in the sum of $9.3 billion between 2013 and 2014, with a start-off cost of $5 million and

CBN: No Expiry Date for BVN, Valid for Lifetime

James Emejo in Abuja

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) yesterday clarified that the Bank Verification Number (BVN) issued by the bank in collaboration with the Nigeria Inter Bank Settlement System (NIBSS) has no expiry date.

The central bank's explanation came against the backdrop of misleading reports suggesting that the BVN would expire after a 10- year period.

However, in a statement, CBN acting Director, Corporate Communications Department, Dr.

Isa AbdulMumin, said "Once a customer’s biometrics have been captured and enrolled in the database of NIBSS, the BVN remains for life."

Nonetheless, AbdulMumin, further clarified that the Regulatory Framework for BVN issued by the CBN in 2021 stipulates that customers can only change their records due to certain conditions spelt out in the document and after being cleared by relevant authorities

The apex bank, therefore, urged customers in the country, especially those whose biometrics had been captured by the system, to continue

using their unique identifiers as they last their entire lifetime.

The apex bank in collaboration with the Bankers’ Committee, deployed a centralised Bank Verification Number (BVN) System in February 2014.

This was part of the overall strategy of ensuring effectiveness of Know Your Customer (KYC) principles, and promotion of safe, reliable and efficient payments system.

The BVN system gives each customer in the Nigerian banking industry, a unique identifier number.

five per cent of all sums recovered.

“Payment instruction with reference number NIMASA/2007/DFS/ WJ/5.500/VOL.11/341 dated April 2014 showed that the firm was paid the sum of $4,523,809.52 (Four million five hundred and twentythree thousand eight hundred and nine dollar fifty two cents only) net as professional fees.

“The naira equivalent of this amount was N741,904,761.28 at an exchange rate of N164 to a dollar as of that date.

“No evidence of recovery of either part or the entire sum of the $9.3 billion was presented as at the time of the Periodic Check in February 2018, despite the huge amount of money already paid to this effect."

The Senate therefore sustained the report of the committee which indicted NIMASA.

Other MDAs indicted by the 2017 and 2018 report are Office of the Accountant General of the Federation, Federal Ministry of

Environment, National Library, Financial Reporting Council, Federal Ministry of Finance, Federal Mortgage Bank, Energy Commission, Nigerian Copyright Commission, Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Iron.

Also indicted are the Ministry of Justice , Federal Civil Service Commission, Public Complaint Commission, University of Uyo, University of Abuja, Federal University, Oye Ekiti, National Examination Council (NECO).

Court Affirms NCDMB’s Mandate to Collect 1% Content Development Fund

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja and Peter Uzoho in Lagos

The Federal High Court sitting in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State has delivered a judgment confirming the authority of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) to collect the one per cent Nigerian Content Development Fund (NCDF) levy from every contract awarded in the Nigerian oil and gas upstream transaction. NCDMB, in a statement, stressed that the mandate was in accordance with section 104 of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act.

The judgment was delivered in the case instituted by a group of Nigerian Drilling Companies known as Incorporated Trustees of the International Association of Drilling Contractors (IADC) against the NCDMB, seeking to stop the collection of one per cent NCDF levy, the board said.

The IADC members had filed the lawsuit - Suit No.FHC/YNG/ CS/178/2022 challenging the powers of NCDMB to demand the one per cent NCDF levy from their members and contractors, contrary to the provisions of section 104(2) of the NOGICD Act.

The section states: “the sum of one per cent of every contract awarded to any operator, contractor,

subcontractor, alliance partner or any other entity involved in any project, operation, activity, or transaction in the upstream sector of the Nigeria oil and gas industry shall be deducted at source and paid into the Fund.”

The group also obtained an ex parte injunction against the board prohibiting the demand, collection or anything whatsoever either by itself or through its agents, representatives, or privies in relation to NCDF payment or remittance from their members and contractors pending the final determination of the lawsuit.

In his remarks after the judgement, the Executive Secretary of NCDMB, Mr. Simbi Wabote, confirmed that the board vigorously contested the issues in court and effectively countered the arguments of the plaintiffs.

Hence, he said that on Tuesday, the Federal High Court finally gave judgment in favour of the board, dismissing the suit and prayers of the plaintiffs as wholly incompetent, baseless and that the suit did not disclose any reasonable cause of action.

The interim injunction earlier granted ex parte on the 19th of July 2022 was also vacated.

Wabote enthused that the decision would strengthen the board’s resolve and commitment to Nigerian

content implementation regardless of any headwind or distraction.

The NCDF is NCDMB’s only source of funding sequel to the exit of the board from federal allocation in 2017/2018. The NCDF is applied towards funding the implementation of Nigerian content development in the Nigerian oil and gas industry, notably projects, programmes and activities directed at increasing Nigerian content in the oil and gas industry.

One of the judicious applications of the Fund, the NCDMB said, was the successful credit scheme extended to Nigerian oil and gas businesses through the Nigerian Content Intervention Fund (NCI Fund), managed by the Bank of Industry (BoI) and the Nigerian Export-Import Bank (NEXIM-Bank).

“Other notable utilisations of the NCDF are the development of Nigerian Oil and Gas Parks Scheme (NOGAPS), equity participation in notable third-party ventures, human capacity development initiatives, and the institution of the Nigerian Content Research & Development Fund as well as other R&D initiatives.”

Other applications, it said, were the construction of the 17-storey Nigerian Content Tower, entrepreneurship schemes and competitions, and the ongoing construction of the Conference Hotel Project (CHP).

SUNDAY ADIGUN

Directs NIMASA to refund $10m paid for legal fees, technical charges

Apprehension as Nigeria’s Oil Production Hits Seven-month Low

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

After a period of seeming respite, Nigeria’s crude oil production fell to a seven-month low of 998,602 barrels per day in April, a blow to recent gains made from the renewed efforts by the federal government to tackle oil theft and pipeline vandalism in the Niger Delta.

The information was gathered from data obtained from the industry regulator, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), yesterday.

The depleted production figure for last month was partly connected with the shutting down of oil platforms and declaration of force majeure by Exxon Mobil in Nigeria mid last month, especially at the Qua Iboe asset.

The decision to declare force majeure followed an industrial action by the company's in-house workers’ union, the company had stated in a statement in April.

However, about 10 days later, the company resumed operations at its facilities after resolving the labour

dispute over pay and conditions with the union.

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) had said in a statement it helped to end the labour dispute after a pay adjustment acceptable to the union and Exxon was agreed.

NNPC, which runs joint ventures with oil majors, including Exxon, had said the dispute was "effectively constraining 300,000 barrels of oil production daily".

In addition, the prolonged business disagreement between the

NNPC and Neconde, an indigenous operator in the Nigerian oil and gas industry, on the mode of crude transportation to be adopted, may have led to the shutting in of about 30,000 bpd.

But the NUPRC data revealed that the last time Nigeria had production less than one million was in August last year, when it produced 972,394 barrels per day.

It thereafter followed up with another low production figure in September, drilling 937,766 bpd before the concerted effort by

the federal government and its security agencies as well as the NNPC and local security groups, to raise production began to bear fruits in October when output was 1.014 million barrels per day.

In November it was 1.18 million bpd; in December it shot up to 1.23 million bpd while in January this year it further increased to 1.25 million bpd.

In February and March, production was 1.3 million bpd and 1.268 million bpd respectively before falling to less than 1 million barrels

AKEREDOLU: APC’S ZONING OF NASS LEADERSHIP SKEWED, UNJUST, TARGETED AGAINST SOME ZONES, INDIVIDUALS

and targeted against some zones and individuals.

Some aspirants to the office of Speaker of the House of Representa- tives and several members-elect also warned the APC National Working Committee (NWC) and other party stakeholders to prepare for a repeat of the 2015 scenario should the party allow the released zoning formula to stand. Senators and House of Representatives members had in 2015 defied the ruling party’s choices and elected their own independent candidates for principal positions in the two chambers of the National Assembly.

Deputy Speaker of the House, Idris Wase, said the APC leadership betrayed the lawmakers by deciding on the nominations without proper consultation with members. Wase insisted the zoning would not stand.

Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG), equally, cautioned against any attempt to foist a leadership

on the National Assembly, saying it would be roundly resisted.

But the APC consensus candidate for House Speaker, Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, said efforts were being made to pacify co-aspirants, who were aggrieved by the decision of the party.

Nonetheless, one of the aspirants to the 10th Senate presidency, Senator Osita Izunaso, insisted his aspiration was in the best interest of the country, and he was in the race to win.

The APC leadership had on Monday officially confirmed the endorsement of a former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godwill Akpabio, (from Akwa Ibom State in South-south) for Senate President, and Tajudeen Abbas (from Kaduna State in North-west) for Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Announcing the zoning formula, after an NWC meeting in Abuja, National Publicity Secretary of the party, Felix Morka, also confirmed the endorsement of Senator Barau

Jubrin (North-west) as Deputy Senate President, and Ben Kalu (South-east) as Deputy Speaker of the House.

However, not satisfied with the proposed zoning, Akeredolu, in a statement he personally signed, described the zoning plan as a skewed and unworkable arrangement that reinforced injustice and enhanced inequity.

The statement, titled, "Proposed APC Zoning Formula for NASS Leadership Positions is a Skewed Arrangement that Reinforces Injustice And Enhances Inequity," read, "It is with great concern, and, indeed, with a huge burden that I read in the news of the purported zoning arrangement released by the National Working Committee of our party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), as regards the leadership positions in the yet-to-be inaugurated National Assembly.

"Aside the unpretentious ambiguity in the purported press statement is-

sued by the leadership of the APC, the contents, intentions and motives of the zoning formula represent early signs of steps aimed at attempts to cabin the hard-earned presidency for our leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, by a few individuals with eyes on ASO ROCK POWER BUTTONS.

"It is trite to aver that it stands logic on the head that one geo-political zone, North-west, in this regard, will be favoured with two presiding officers positions out of four while North-central suffers the consequences for its innocence and shrewd loyalty by having none.

"It is an insidious permutation that North-east will be deprived in the face of the unsavoury generosity dispensed through two slots to a particular geo-political zone. It is self-repudiating for one to argue, therefore, that the Speaker of the House of Representatives cannot also emerge from the North-east."

Akeredolu alleged that the move to

RESPITE AS COURT BARS NBC FROM IMPOSING FINES ON BROADCAST STATIONS

broadcast stations in the country, following the ruling of a Federal High Court in Abuja, which held as unlawful and unconstitutional the act of imposing fines on broadcast stations by the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC).

Justice James Omotosho in a landmark judgment delivered yesterday, having held as unconstitutional the action of the Commission, subsequently issued an order of perpetual injunction restraining the NBC from imposing fines, henceforth, on broadcast stations in the country.

Besides, the court also set aside the N500,000 fines imposed, on March 1, 2019, on each of the 45 broadcast stations.

According to the judge, the NBC, not being a court of law, had no power to impose sanctions as punishment on broadcast stations.

It was the position of the court that the NBC Code, which gives the commission the power to impose sanction, was in conflict with Section 6 of the Constitution that vested judicial power in the court of law.

Justice Omotosho emphasiaed that the court would not sit idle and watch a body imposing fine arbitrarily without recourse to the law.

According to the court, the commission did not comply with the law when it sat as a complainant and at the same time, the court and the judge on its own matter.

The judge agreed that the Nigeria Broadcasting Code, being a subsidiary legislation that empowers an administrative body such as the NBC to enforce its provisions cannot confer judicial powers on the commission to impose criminal sanctions or penalties such as fines.

He also agreed that the commission, not being Nigerian police, had no power to conduct criminal investigation that would lead to criminal trial and imposition of sanctions.

“This will go against the doctrine of separation of powers,” he said.

“The action of the respondent qualifies as excessiveness,” as it had ascribed to itself the judicial and executive powers.

The NBC had on March 1, 2019, imposed the sum of N500, 000 each on 45 broadcast stations in the country over alleged violation of its code.

However, the Incorporated

Trustees of Media Rights Agenda had, in an originating motions marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1386/2021, sued the NBC as sole respondent in the suit.

In the motion dated November 9, 2021, by its lawyer, Noah Ajare, the group sought a declaration that the sanctions procedure applied by the NBC in imposing N500,00Q fines on each of the 45 broadcast stations on March 1, 2019 was a violation of the rules of natural justice.

The lawyer also said the fines were in violation of the right to fair hearing under Section 36 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and Articles 7 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act (Cap AQ) Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

The group argued that this was so because the code, which created the alleged offences of which the broadcast stations were accused was written and adopted by the NBC, “and also gives powers to the said commission to receive complaints of alleged breaches, investigate and adjudicate the complaints, impose sanctions, including fines, and ultimately collect the fines, which the commission uses for its own purposes.”

They, therefore, sought an order setting aside the N500,000 fines purportedly imposed by the NBC on each of the 45 broadcast stations on Friday, March 1, 2019.

They also sought, “an order of perpetual Injunction restraining the respondent, its servants, agents, privies, representatives or anyone acting for or on its behalf, from imposing fines on any of the broadcast stations or any other broadcast station in Nigeria for any alleged offence committed under the Nigerian Broadcasting Code.”

Delivering the judgment, Justice Omotosho, described the NBC’s act as being ultra vires.

He held that the fines imposed by the NBC as punishment for commission of various offences under its code were contrary to the law and hereby declared as unconstitutional, null and void.

The judge also made an order of perpetual injunction restraining the commission from further imposing fines on broadcast stations in the country.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Guild

of Editors (NGE) has commended the Federal High Court Abuja, over its order of perpetual injunctions restraining the NBC from imposing fines on broadcast stations in the country.

In a statement signed by its President, Mustapha Isah and the General Secretary, Dr. Iyobosa Uwugiaren, yesterday, the Guild saluted the courage of the MRA - for testing the draconian NBC Act, saying the judgement has vindicated the position of the editors that the NBC could not appropriate the constitutional responsibility of the judiciary arm of government.

“Justice Omotosho’s ruling on Wednesday vindicated our consistent position over the years that the NBC cannot be the accuser, the investigator and the judge on

matters relating to alleged breach of the Broadcast Code.

“Our position has always been that an independent body or institution should be the one to examine any perceived infraction by the broadcast stations, which should be given the opportunity to defend themselves.

“The court is right in its rulingby saying that it would not sit idle and watch a body imposing fine arbitrarily without recourse to the law,” the Guild stated.

The umbrella of all the editors in Nigeria reiterated its earlier resolution to engage the incoming government and other stakeholders over the NBC Act and the Broadcast Code of Conduct - with the aim to amend and reform them to conform to the global best practices.

zone the National Assembly leadership positions on the behest of interested personalities with perceived closeness to the president-elect manifestly laid a dangerous foundation of distrust, needless suspicion, and structures nothing but a combination of booby traps, which the party must avoid. The governor stated, "Let the North play a stronger, more robust and all-inclusive role in the emergence of the positions zoned to the region, especially the speakership. Furthermore, it strikes a huge ingratitude that the role of the Progressive Governors Forum appears unimportant.

“As leaders of the party in their respective states, there cannot be a greater disservice to them that a consensus was yet to be reached when the NWC hurriedly released a dangerous tool for the opposition in the guise of a zoning formula. To me, even on this note, it’s unacceptable.

"Does it not also exude a serious discomfort that the aspirants to the speakership were not consulted, approached and effectively engaged before the purported zoning formula? It does, and clearly so.

"It is in this regard that I salute the courage of the speakership aspirants for their show of solidarity, companionship and applaudable love for the party in their rejection, resentment and objection to the brazenly teleguided zoning arrangement that is skewed and targeted against some zones and identified individuals.

“Their action is commendable just as they are urged to ensure they pursue this to a logical conclusion. This is an unworkable arrangement that reinforces injustice and enhances inequity, and I join them in rejecting this zoning Akeredoluformula." called on the NWC of the party to follow the path of purity and justice. He charged Tinubu to interrogate the skewed arrangement and give direction that would reflect

again in April this year in the latest assessment by the industry regulator.

The data further showed that Qua Iboe was massively impacted by the strike, to slump from 4.2 million barrels in March to 1.9 million barrels in April. In Bonny terminal, production also fell from 3.2 million barrels total production in March to 2.2 million barrels in April.

Forcados witnessed a fall from 5.7 million in March 2023 to 4.8 million last month, while Escravos reduced from 4.3 million barrels to 3.8 million barrels.

the party's collective commitment to equality and fairness.

He stated, "In this particular case, and for the purpose of avoiding a repeat of untoward situations, it is advised that the APC NWC immediately summons the National Executive Committee (NEC) after robust National Caucus/Stakeholders parley to agree on terms that would strengthen our great party."

Aspirants Threaten 2015 Scenario May Come into Play

Some of the aspirants to the House of Representatives speakership as well as members-elect warned the APC NWC and other party stakeholders to prepare for a repeat of the 2015 scenario if the party allowed the released zoning formula to stand.

Senator Bukola Saraki had emerged President of the Senate in 2015, while Hon. Yakubu Dogara, emerged House Speaker against the choices of the ruling party, Senator Ahmed Lawan and Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, respectively, in a move considered a slight on the party, and which unsettled its leadership for a long time.

At the moment, contestants for House of Representatives Speaker and members-elect, led by Wase, are Hon. Yusuf Gagdi, Hon. Muktar Betara, Hon. Ahmed Jaha, Hon. Femi Bamishile, Hon. Abubakar Nakraba, Hon. Mariam Onuaha, Hon. Sani Jaji, Hon. Sada Soli, and Hon. Mariam Onuoha. They held a meeting with the national chairman of APC, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, and other NWC members on Wednesday in Abuja Wase insisted at a meeting that there should have been serious consultations before arriving at a decision. He reminded the party that it did not have the majority

He said the NUIMS has a critical role to play in unlocking funding to take advantage of the huge opportunities in the sector as well as to actively manage the investments to repay its loans, generate reasonable returns, and fund investment in new opportunities.

“I truly believe that NNPC should be our African Aramco. You have what it takes to take you up there and I am very happy. There is nothing that is impossible. You can make it possible and don’t let anything scare you.

“It is just the same thing with us. If I tell you about our own story, you will be shocked as to how. It wasn’t only the refinery that we started about six years ago. We had 32 projects that we all rolled out at the same time.

“But then, on the way we had lots of hitches here and there where the devaluation of the currency, Covid, and challenges of infrastructure set in. If you want to do a real project in Nigeria, you have to look at the infrastructure that we have, because the infrastructure we have is not meant for mega projects.

“We need to look at our infrastructure and see how we can take ourselves to the next level and it has to be driven by NNPC because they are the largest conglomerate and

whatever happens to NNPC and their assets, it actually happens to us either directly or indirectly.

“Without you doing well, the country cannot do well. As the investment arm of NNPC, NUIMS plays a critical role in managing the federal government’s interest in the oil and gas industry – you are a partner in the Joint Venture (JV) assets and the concessionaire in the Production Sharing Contract (PSC) arrangements.

“ As important as its oversight function is, my expectation in this post-PIA era is that NUIMS should pivot from being overly focused on its role as a ‘watchdog’ to acquiring the mind-set of an aggressive investment manager,” the business magnate stated.

The billionaire added that the NNPC needs to roll out massive investments in terms of oil and gas to meet demand, adding that there are many off-takers waiting to invest.

“Let me quickly illustrate with a personal experience. My businesses in Nigeria require 635 million scf of gas per day with further additional demand as we expand capacity.

“No businessman will leave such an opportunity on the table. Unfortunately, I hardly get 300 million scf per day and there is no clarity as to when the required gas will become available,” he lamented.

According to the chairman of Dangote Group, a good investment manager actively seeks out invest-

ment opportunities, assesses them and takes an investment decision.

DANGOTE: NNPC CAN BECOME AFRICA’S SAUDI ARAMCO WITH RIGHT DECISIONS now brought the transformation of NNPC from a government establishment to a commercial entity with no recourse to government funding.

He advised the NNPC to focus on delivering strong returns; growing the investment portfolio and managing portfolio risks, pointing out that the NNPC must first look into the cost component of its production.

Stressing that Nigeria has one of the highest breakeven prices globally for extracting oil and gas which results in a long payback period, the business mogul, advised the national oil company to embark on cutting costs.

“Let’s begin with delivering strong returns, which of course is a function of price and cost. While price in your industry is determined by the market and so clearly outside your control, the same cannot be said about cost. More aggressive cost targets need to be adopted and NUIMS staff rewarded with juicy bonuses if they meet these targets.

“You need to benchmark costs with producers in similar basins and aim to be the lowest amongst your peers. Some existing government policies, as laudable as they may be, also need to be re-evaluated. For instance, we need to strike a delicate balance between encouraging local participation in the oil & gas sector and compromising efficiency and cost,” he advised.

Dangote suggested to the NNPC that the next course of action as a manager should be to grow its investment portfolio explaining

that it would reduce the influence of International Oil Companies (IOCs).

Also speaking, Elumelu, who is the Chairman of Heirs Holdings, lauded the NNPC for the effort it made to curb crude oil theft, highlighting that due to the efforts of the NNPC , the company has witnessed 96 per cent recovery rate.

"When I listened to the Group CEO speak today, talking about us moving to 2.5 million barrels we challenge him to do more. I believe that it is achievable. From losing 97 per cent of our 50,000 barrels production, interestingly and it will be bad of me to have this platform and not share this here.

"That day, I got a call from the GCEO and I thought he was going to kill me for speaking up, to my greatest surprise, he said to me Tony we are sorry about what is happening, we are doing something about it, it will be corrected.

"They worked as a team and the board of the NNPC, the federal government, the security agencies, and last month our recovery factor was 96 per cent. So GCEO NNPC, you have delivered.

“I speak from experience, a beneficiary and one who cried out before and today standing up today to say we have improved our production and that is what we need to encourage more investments in the industry."

Herbert Wigwe: Powering Access Corporation’s Growth Trajectory

Beyond strategic acquisitions under the firm guidance of Dr. Herbert Wigwe, the Chief Executive Officer of Access Holdings Plc, Nigeria’s biggest bank by assets is indeed transforming Africa’s financial institutions’ eco-system, writes Louis

Achi

With little question, Access Bank Plc, a wholly owned subsidiary of Access Holdings Plc (Access Corporation), has clearly successfully gone into Africa’s financial services orbit powered by the cutting-edge growth and governance models birthed by the behemoth’s circumspect CEO Dr. Herbert Wigwe. It’s game on.

One of the spin-offs from this impactful trajectory is the merger consummation of Access Bank Zambia with African Banking Corporation Limited (Atlas Mara Zambia) and the Bank’s subsidiary in Zambia, Access Bank Zambia Limited (Access Zambia).

Late March, Access Holdings Plc announced that it has received final regulatory approval from the Central Bank of Zambia for the acquisition and merger of Access Bank Zambia Limited, and African Banking Corporation Zambia Limited into its existing operations. Access Bank Zambia Limited a subsidiary of Access Bank Plc. Access Corporation, the parent company of the bank, announced this in a subsequent regulatory filing. In a statement signed by its Company Secretary, Sunday Ekwochi, the entity stated: “Further to its announcement on October 25, 2021, Access Holdings Plc (Access Holdings) is pleased to announce that Access Bank Zambia Limited (Access Zambia), a subsidiary of its flagship subsidiary, Access Bank Plc, has received final regulatory approval from the Central Bank of Zambia for the acquisition and merger of African Banking Corporation Zambia Limited (Atlas Mara Zambia) into its existing operations.

“The Central Bank of Nigeria and Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa Competition Commission had earlier granted their “no objection” to the Transaction in 2022. Access Zambia will now move towards integrating and merging Atlas Mara Zambia into its operations, which is expected to create one of the top five banks in Zambia.”

The business arrangement was first announced in October 2021 when Access Bank Plc entered a binding pact with Atlas Mara Zambia, owners of ABC Zambia, later culminating in the acquisition of the latter.

Access Bank Zambia is hoping to become one of the top lenders in the Southern African country following the merger. It is expected to deliver 70 branches and agencies and total assets in the neighbourhood of $1 billion as well as over 300,000 customers in Zambia. It could be recalled that the Zambian unit of Nigeria’s biggest bank by assets had in 2020 merged with Cavmont Bank Zambia.

According to Access Corporation’s CEO Herbert Wigwe, “The transaction builds on our earlier acquisition and merger of Cavmont Bank Plc into Access Bank Zambia and underscores our resolve to strengthen our presence in Zambia, a key African market that fits into our strategic focus on geographic earnings growth and diversification.”

He further stated that the deal will spur crucial synergies between “Access Zambia’s world-class wholesale and transaction banking capabilities and Atlas Mara Zambia’s market-leading retail and public sector capabilities.”

Wigwe further expects that the collaboration will produce a market-leading global platform that will hugely transform the Zambia market.

British Virgin Islands-based Atlas Mara, which has stakes in a number of African lenders, sold its 50 per cent stake in Union Bank to rival Titan Trust in a deal announced at the tail end of 2021.

Clearly, there are more nifty landmarks to be conquered in the horizon by the tireless visioning and governance nous of Wigwe.

Perhaps not unlike the swashbuckling adventurers who conquered unexplored territories in the tough American West, the Access Corporation CEO revels in pushing frontiers.

This ingrained trait remains his defining trait. Today, the inimitable financial services industry guru is still blazing the trail. But significantly, today, the world and Africa stand on the brink of substantial disruptions - and of considerable opportunity - as new business models challenge traditional templates.

Moving from the post-Covid-19 pandemic which massively unsettled conventional business playbooks and upended the global economy, only tested trailblazers with vision, knowledge and courage can provide the imperative bold leadership to ensure both stability and progression. And this is Dr. Wigwe’s forte.

As it were, a powerful vision draws in ideas, people and other resources. It creates the momentum and will to make change happen. It inspires individuals, complementary organizations and institutions to commit, to persist and to give their best.

Keying into this enduring philosophy, unassuming Wigwe has also deployed impeccable professionalism, discipline and persistence to change the traditional narrative of the banking sector in Nigeria

and shape the new financial services arena on the continent.

The current positives the Access Corporation CEO has recorded and consistently pushing are not surprising. He has demonstrated with his life’s trajectory that faith, accountancy, banking and international finance fundamentally address transformation of society and the human condition for good. To-date, he unabashedly maintains this unique footing. An unwavering sense of duty, rigorous training and professionalism and demonstrable integrity.

Wigwe regularly rejects staying tamely at the end of received policy prescriptions. He covets knowledge-driven innovations, proactive engagement with stake-holders, policy makers and sure-footed action. These dimensions have been boldly mirrored in his leadership of one of the continent’s now transformed financial services behemoths.

With brick and mortar structures of traditional banking practically going extinct and yielding to electronic service delivery, more Nigerian/African lenders have in last few years been pressing to break the glass ceiling where competition is intercontinental. But Access Corporation’s sheer pace-setting boldness takes the cake.

It could be recalled that the completion of its transition into a Holding Company structure led to the delisting of its entire 35.5 billion outstanding shares from the daily official list of the Nigerian Exchange. But it was obvious to most market gurus that the behemoth must have discerned great opportunity somewhere and this needed to be urgently exploited in a rapidly evolving global financial market.

The organisation, now trading under a new parent company Access Holdings (Access Corporation), has since been relisted to reflect current realities of the market.

It could also be recalled that when the corporation’s debuted in 2022, an upbeat Wigwe shared some related insight: “Many of you would have heard us talk about Access Corporation earlier this year.

“This natural evolution of our company will ensure that we continue to use digital tools and our partnership with Fintechs to support our customers’ lifestyles outside of the banking system.

“We have set our sights on and delivered ambitious plans to transform the African financial services sector over the last 20 years. Until now, we have concentrated on banking, with the goal of becoming the World’s Most Respected African Bank.

“Our banking subsidiary is now Nigeria’s largest bank by assets and Africa’s largest in terms of customer base. It is now time for us to take the next transformative step, where we provide our customers with beyond banking services delivering new interconnected financial services across customers’ needs.”

Access Corporation now oversees a group of portfolio companies resolutely driving more value for customers and stakeholders. In Access Bank Group, although banking remains its core mandate, it has now been equipped to provide best-in-class, seamless and consistent customer experience, and service delivery in its operations in Nigeria, and across its 14 subsidiaries in Africa, Europe and Asia.

The Corporation comprises verticals cutting across banking, payments, consumer lending, insurance brokerage and asset management. Access Bank Group will continue to operate in Nigeria and through its subsidiaries and business offices in Africa, Europe, and Asia.

Not surprisingly, in honour of its path-finding roles across the African continent, the Access Corporation has been accorded recognition by reputable domestic and global organisations. Its guiding visioner has not been exempted either.

In June 2021, Wigwe emerged African Banker of Year for the second time, consecutively. A winner of one of the most prized categories at the Awards ceremony for the second consecutive year, he was recognised for his stellar leadership in the market expansion of Sub-Saharan Africa’s largest bank despite the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Commenting on the award, Group Publisher of African Banker and Chair of the Awards Committee, Omar Ben Yedder said, “Herbert is one of the most respected bankers on the continent, without a shadow of a doubt. The Bank has gone from a lower ranked Nigerian bank when he joined the group as Deputy CEO to become one of Africa’s leading financial services groups.

“He has shown a relentless pursuit for growth, but has done so in a measured and calculated manner. What he and his team have done at Access Bank is nothing short of remarkable.”

For the Access Corporation, this unique trajectory, acquisitions and expansions could only have been guided by an adroit, firm pair of hands in the cockpit. This is Herbert Wigwe - and he is not done.

Herbert Wigwe

Adeleke’s Rough Road to Victory in Osun

After nearly 10 months of fierce legal battle from the election tribunal in Osun State to the Akure division of the Court of Appeal which eventually sat in Abuja and finally to the Supreme Court of Nigeria, the issue of who is the authentic winner of the July 16 governorship election was on Tuesday finally put to rest.

The import of the unanimous judgment of the apex court is not just that the contest for the number one seat of power in Osun State has been finally rested for the winner to hit the ground running with his agenda for the people of Osun State, but that the verdict of the five wise men at the helm of the nation’s highest court was in tandem with the wishes and desires of the people of Osun State as expressed in the ballot on July 16, 2023.

Within 24 hours of the keen contest between the then sitting Governor Adegboyega Oyetola and the popular “Imole” or the “dancing Senator” and now “dancing Governor”, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), had announced Adeleke as winner of the gubernatorial election.

Although, Adeleke won with a margin of 28,344 votes, it was not a surprise to many people, recalling that he had lost with a very narrow margin in 2018 to Oyetola after a keenly contested rerun.

Despite the loss in 2018, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) candidate never despair because of the support of the people of Osun before, during and even after the election.

Infact, the victory of the PDP in the just concluded general elections in Osun is an attestation to the soaring popularity of Imole.

In the keenly contested poll last year, Adeleke had polled a total of 403,371 votes to defeat Oyetola, who garnered 375,027 votes.

Consequently, he was issued with Certificate

of Return by INEC and subsequently sworn in as governor.

However, Oyetola believed Adeleke only won the election as a result of irregularities; specifically non-compliance with the Bi-modal Verification Accreditation System (BVAS) which he claimed occasioned over voting in favour of Adeleke.

Based on this conclusion he had approached the Osun State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, not only to ventilate his anger but to also reclaim his alleged ‘stolen mandate’. Besides allegations of irregularities, Oyetola also submitted that Adeleke was not supposed to contest the election because he lacked the basic educational qualification in addition to forging his academic certificates he

submitted to INEC in aid of his qualification.

After nearly six months of legal fireworks, the tribunal in a two-to-one split judgment on January 27, 2023, agreed with Oyetola that there was indeed evidence of irregularities in favour of Adeleke and as such overturned Adeleke’s victory.

The majority judgment delivered by the chairman of the tribunal, Justice Tertsea Kume, stated that the incidence of over voting occurred in 744 polling units across 10 Local Government Areas, which when deducted revealed that Oyetola polled 314,921 votes as against the incumbent’s 290,266.

The tribunal accordingly ordered the withdrawal of Certificate of Return issued to Adeleke while a fresh one be issued Oyetola as the duly elected governor.

Dissatisfied, Adeleke claimed that the majority judgment of the tribunal was faulty and decided to approach a higher court to look into the matter with a view of upturning it and returning him as the duly elected governor of Osun State.

In his 31 grounds of appeal, Imole through his team of lawyers led by Onyechi Ikpeazu, SAN, argued that the majority judgment erred in law in holding that Oyetola was the lawful governor-elect at the July 16, 2022 Gubernatorial election and subsequently prayed the court for “an order setting aside the whole decision of the tribunal”.

While Adeleke is the appellant in the appeal: marked CA/AK/EPT/GOV/01/2023, Oyetola, APC, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) are 1st to 4th respondents respectively.

Delivering ruling in the appeal on March 24, 2023, the appellate court in a unanimous judgment held that the tribunal was wrong when it held that there was over voting in some polling units when such allegations were not proved.

According to the three-member panel led by Justice Mohammed Shuaibu, before a case of over voting can be established, the person making the allegation must present the Voter’s Register, the Bi-modal Verification Accreditation System (BVAS) - which contains the information of accredited voters, votes cast in each polling units, results as entered into the forms EC8A amongst others.

The panel further faulted Oyetola and the APC for hinging their allegation of over voting on only information they obtained from a secondary source (INEC back-end server report).

Faulting further the tribunal’s decision on over voting, the three justices in their separate judgments pointed out that the failure of Oyetola and APC to call witnesses especially polling agents who witnessed the voting was fatal to their case.

On the issue of jurisdiction raised by the appellant, Justice Shuaibu while observing that the law allows the tribunal to suspend decisions on Preliminary Objections until the end of the matter, faulted the tribunal for not showing in writing that it considered Adeleke’s preliminary objection in its merit.

Regarding Adeleke’s qualification to contest the July 16 2022 guber election, the panel held that the tribunal was right in holding that Adeleke was qualified to contest the election, adding that allegations of supplying false and forged documents must be proved beyond reasonable doubt, which the 1st and 2nd respondents failed to prove.

Similarly, the appellate court added that since the Court of Appeal had since ruled that Adeleke was qualified, until a higher court rules

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

Afuye: Ekiti Governor’s Performance in 200 Days Remarkable, Stunning

The level of insecurity in Ekiti State has reduced drastically. How has Governor Oyebanji’s administration been able to achieve this?

Well, we have no other magic wand than believing in the powers of God and that of the people. We have always believed that the best way to ensure security of lives and property in a democratic setting is for the leader to ensure that he has the backing of the people. Getting their backing is not going to come naturally, you have to work for it and earn it by being inclusive in your leadership style.

You could all see that Governor Oyebanji has proved himself as a reliable man of the people. His government is anchored solely on the people and that is where he has been deriving his powers. So, the strong ties he has with the people remains the magic wand. The government has because of its acceptability getting enough information to act on how to get rid of crime perpetrators in our midst. You could remember that the rates of kidnapping and killings were high at a time, that should be about two years ago, even up to 2022.

But with proactive actions in collaboration with all security agencies, the situations had abated tremendously. Our traditional rulers have been of enormous help. They have helped in maintaining orderliness in their domains by settling some communal disputes that could constitute a clog in the wheel of progress, so also all the security agencies; they have been alive and proactive in the discharge of their duties.

The acceptability we command has made us to be getting the right and correct information

to act accurately and timely on issues of security of lives and property.

Ekiti has one of the highest graduate unemployment in Nigeria. How have you been addressing this problem in the state?

Human capital development is a whole pillar in the policy thrust of Oyebanji-led government. You all know that education is the most thriving industry in Ekiti and that accounted for why every citizen is desirous of getting higher degrees. Though, the problem of unemployment is not associated with Ekiti alone, it is a general problem

in Nigeria. But this government has started the process to nip the situation in the bud. Currently, the government has begun the process for the recruitment of 1,000 primary school teachers to fill the existing vacancies. We conducted recruitment exercise for about 1,300 interested applicants out of which 1,000 would be absorbed into the system. The government had earlier employed 650 secondary school teachers through the Ekiti State Teaching Service Commission and similar employment will soon be done by the State Civil Service Commission.

There are vacancies the government will create to accommodate our youths and give them career progression. Though not all of them can be engaged in the public sector, we will also encourage a situation whereby our

youths can be empowered to be job and wealth creators rather than job seekers.

This is the more reason why this administration is also working out its action plan to promote farming and make it fashionable to our youths.

We all know that no nation or state can grow beyond the productivity of its productive population, so we are taking cognisance of this and we are taking steps to wean our youths of criminal tendencies and the only way to achieve this is to ensure that they are gainfully employed.

What are your government’s plans to improve the face of education in Ekiti?

Just like I said the other time, education remains the most thriving industry in Ekiti. Since we gained prominence in the 1950s and 60s, Ekiti people have not rested in their believe that education holds the key to success.

The first thing this administration did upon assumption of office was to declare free eduaction at both primary and secondary cadres of education. Go and check your records, Ekiti State has one of the highest school enrolments in Nigeria and this policy really helped. Though, the last government of Dr. Kayode Fayemi started the programme, but Governor Oyebanji saw the need to sustain the policy and it is helping. Recruitment exercise to fill vacancies is also a priority, because education can’t flourish when you have shortfall of human resources in schools.

Oyebanji

Alex Enumah writes that the affirmation of Senator Ademola Adeleke as Governor of Osun State by the Supreme court no doubt confirms that when elections are conducted within the ambit of the law, the people’s choice will always prevail.

Adeleke

Afuye

Hadiza Bala-Usman: 'Stepping On Toes’ and a Test of Popularity

The memoirs of former Managing Director of the Nigerian Port Authority, Hadiza Bala Usman, titled 'Steping on Toes: My Odyssey at the Nigerian Ports Authority', was unveiled in Abuja last week. In this report, Raheem Akingbolu writes about the glitz that heralded the event and how it positively re-established the author as a chip off the old block

Book readings and other intellectual engagements are not new to the management of Rovingheights bookstore in Garki, Abuja. However, the event of Saturday, April 29th, wowed not only the store owners but most people in the ever-busy mall. It was an occasion specially designed for the delectable former Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority, Hadiza Bala Usman, who was in the house to read a portion from her memoir, “Stepping on Toes: My Odyssey at the Nigerian Ports Authority.” Guests, including the Vice President-elect of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Kashim Shettima; former Attorney General of the Federation, Mohammed Adoke (SAN); former Director-General of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), Dr Danladi Bako; daughter of the late Chief of Staff to the President, Aisha Abba-Kyari, and a host of others spoke glowingly of a woman they have all known to be upright, brilliant, and patriotic to a fault.

In his remarks, Shettima, who disclosed that he was a regular customer at the bookstore, commended the author for her diligence in putting the memoir together. He also called on Nigerians to imbibe the culture of reading, which, according to him, brightens the heart and brings the best out of every individual.

“The management of this store can testify to the fact that I am a regular face here who often comes or sends a list of books for myself and friends. I believe in books because a good leader must be a good reader. Sadly, the culture is fast eroding, and I want to appeal to Nigerians to reawaken the era of book reading. With this from our sister, Hadiza, I do not doubt that she has provided another opportunity for us all to widen our knowledge about administration and governance,” Shettima said.

In his remarks, Bako paid tribute to Hadiza’s late father, Dr Yusuf Bala Usman, and said the author has again demonstrated the panache, comportment, and never-say-die spirit of her late father. He described the late social critic as a forthright man who lived and died for what he believed in.

“I am not surprised that Hadiza is setting the pace in governance and administration because she is a chip off the old block. I congratulate her and commend her effort in various offices

where she has served the nation and which has equipped her to share her thoughts about leadership,” Dr Bako said.

Speaking on what informed the publication of the 17 chapters of the 196-page book, Ms Bala Usman said it was “a token of the spirit to always render account with which I was raised. I wanted to share my experience at the NPA and give insight into some of the controversial issues that came up during my tenure.”

She admitted that she was fallible but had to put the book together to recount the modest efforts her team made to turn things around at the NPA. Though she agreed that there is still much to do to actualize the enormous potential of the sector, she quickly added that industry players testified to the honest strides the management she led made in those five years

"Like all human beings, I am very often prone to errors, but these are most often than not honest mistakes to which I always own up and make amends," she stated in the book.

However, there was a palpable silence in the store when the former NPA chief touched on a portion of the book which speaks to the undercurrents of what happened between her and her former boss, the former Minister of Transportation, Mr Rotimi Amaechi. She accused Amaechi of rooting for her removal

from office in February 2022 because she failed to lavish him with favours, pointing out that the long years spent by the former minister on the corridor of power had affected him so much that he expected gifts from every Dick, Tom, and Harry.

Reacting to a question that bothers her claim in the book that Amaechi told one of the concerned people who wanted to intercede on her behalf that part of why he (Amaechi) wanted her out of NPA was because she was selfish, Ms Bala Usman said, "Having spent many years in government, Mr Amaechi’s entitlement mentality made him think everybody must patronize him. As I painted in the book, he told one of the people who intervened that I did nothing for him from NPA and never even gave him a birthday gift."

In May 2021, Ms Bala Usman was suspended from office following allegations of the NPA's non-remittance of about N165bn operating surpluses into the Consolidated Revenue Fund Account of the federation. The suspension orders, approved by President Muhammadu Buhari, followed a request for the probe of the accounts of the NPA made by Mr Amaechi.

The minister subsequently set up an

administrative panel of inquiry to investigate the affairs of the NPA, including awards of contracts from 2016 to May 2021. But beyond the probe and allegations levied against her, the former NPA boss said the minister had made up his mind to get rid of her regardless of how anybody tried to convince him (Amaechi) about her record of service.

Ms Bala Usman disclosed in the book how interest groups, leaders of the All Progressive Congress (APC), and Comptroller General of the Nigerian Customs Service, Col. Hameed Ali (Rtd), also made efforts to resolve the issue by intervening at various levels

"The governors' team met with the Minister to discuss a resolution of the matter. He insisted that my management of the NPA had to be investigated because of the amount unremitted to the CFR (Consolidated Federation Revenue). He even tried to sway the governors' resolve by suggesting to them that the budget of the NPA was bigger than most of their state budgets, so they shouldn't bother about me.

When the governors persisted, he told them that the matter was no longer within his purview and that they may need to approach the Head of Service of the Federation.

She said in the book, "He told another person who tried to intervene that I was so selfish that I did nothing for him from the Nigerian Ports Authority, and never even gave him a birthday present!"

Giving further details in the book on the calculated attempt made by Mr Amaechi to embarrass her, she stated, "Unknown to me, in his determination to get me out of office, Mr Amaechi had been fishing for a couple of months. In his desperation, he had approached the Director-General of the Budget Office of the Federation, Mr Ben Akabueze, and obtained details of the NPA's operating surpluses upon which he concluded that a huge sum of money was unremitted."

Sharing his thoughts about the epochal event, the Chief Executive Officer of the bookstore, Adedotun Eyinade, commended Ms Bala Usman's ability to recall all the details of her days in office and recommended the book to Nigerians as a well-researched publication that would guide public officers and scholars.

"This is not the first time we are hosting this type of gathering, but I must confess that this particular one is top-notch with quality attendance and brilliant contributions," Eyinade added

Gerry Nnubia's The Faces of Us Amplifies Beauty, Resilience of Humanity

Art enthusiasts are having a moment at the ongoing virtual painting exhibition, "The Faces of Us: The Textured Tales of Humanity", a collection of seven expressive works by renowned artist Gerry Nnubia. Rebecca Ejifoma explores the masterpiece

Gerry Nnubia, an expressive painter with all shades of precision, has successfully whipped up a sumptuous plate of paintings that celebrate the unique identity, resilience, and vulnerability of humanity on large canvases. The solo art show, "The Faces of Us", kicked off on April 14 and will run until May 19.

Among his collection “Gilded Glamour”, “Faces of Bold Expressions”, “Textured Truths”, “Shifting Perspective”, “Abstracted Identity”, and “Fragments of Self”.

For Nnubia, each piece – carefully and boldly crafted with thick and sculpted palette knives – has its unique tale. Using compatible and well-mannered, he characterises his paintings with dynamic compositions that evoke many emotions.

While the exhibition intentionally features a diverse array of subjects, the painter engages the mind’s eyes of art enthusiasts. Each painting carefully captures the unique personality and character of its subject and allows viewers to savour his works on a deeper level.

Nnubia's The Faces of Us

Nnubia’s collection, "The Faces of Us", reflects impasto face paintings that explore the emotions etched into the human experience. This collection captures the essence of diverse individuals. It emphasises the interplay between the artist's chosen hues. And the boldness of their strokes draws the audience into its mystery.

Faces of Bold Expression

Succinctly put together, Nnubia expressed, “I am excited to share 'The Faces of Us' with the world.” He firmly believes that art can unite people and help them understand each other more deeply.

Created on the backdrop to remind people of the power and complexity of human emotions, Nnubia's "The Faces of Us" is a must-see for art lovers and anyone who appreciates the beauty and intricacy of the human experience. The exhibition is now open and available to view online and purchase.

The aesthetic artist is known for his unique and expressive style and has a decade-long

career. He has exhibited his works in galleries and private institutions worldwide, earning critical acclaim and numerous accolades.

Exhibiting on the platform of The Jadé Art Collectives Limited and soothingly curated by Nigerian-UK-based art connoisseur Aderonke Akinyele, Nnubia's artistic vision is rooted in the belief that everyone has a story worth telling, and his paintings aim to capture the essence of these stories through the faces of his subjects. “From the joyous to the sorrowful, each portrait in "The Faces of Us" is a testament to the beauty and strength of the human spirit,” says the curator.

About The Jadé Art Collectives Ltd

The Jadé Art Collectives Ltd is an international art platform showcasing a diverse collection of contemporary art from African artists and the Diaspora. It explores modern art business through art advisory, consulting and curatorial projects.

Curating online exhibitions and quarterly pop exhibitions at conventional gallery spaces, Jadé scouts for the artist who, through his believed exceptionalism, digs for artistic volume with his skill and creativity. In the words of Akinyele, “We develop a greater mission of caring for these artists and, in the process, build an

increased economic impact while establishing a unique narrative of the Continent.”

Recently moved its Lagos, Nigeria base to Swindon, the United Kingdom, Jadé curates exhibitions of contemporary artists and private art events of leading and emerging talents who solely define the art movement for a diverse audience and manages private collectors.

Akinyele is a passionate African art curator and enthusiast with a wealth of knowledge and experience in the field. Aderonke is fascinated by the rich cultural heritage of Africa and the diverse art forms it encompasses.

With a degree in Fine Arts from a prestigious university in Nigeria and a Master's degree in Media and Creative Enterprise, Arts Management and Curatorial Studies from renowned institutions in Europe, she has a solid academic foundation in art and curatorial practices. She has worked in various capacities in the art world, from managing art galleries to organising exhibitions and art fairs, before finding her niche as an African art curator, art advisor, and art appraiser.

In addition to her curatorial work, Akinyele advocates for emerging African artists. She accords their windows to display their creative works and supports their career development, a role she rocks with pride.

Beyond that, speaking at art conferences and symposiums, sharing her knowledge and insights on African art, curatorial practices, Provenance, and Resale Rights, Akinyele boasts of curating art exhibitions including Freudian Tones, Journey of Self-Discovery, The Inner Form, Jacked Kinesics, The Manuscript, and the ongoing The Faces of Us.

L-R: Shettima, Hadiza and Adoke

President Buhari - Keep Your Word!

Since late 2014, nine years ago, I’ve worn a necklace that simply has “182” on it. Lots of people ask about it. My response to their question about the necklace is usually something like this: “It’s a sad story, do you want to hear it?” In nine years, no one has replied “no” to this question.

Then, I proceed: “In 2014 there were 276 children kidnapped from their school.” If a child is asking, I hastily add “in Nigeria” so that they feel safe. If it is an adult, I give an extra moment for them to be confused, because we are all country-centric, and I want them to feel like these missing children were a part of their world no matter where their lives happened and were stolen away.

Some folks even know what I am talking about, and say: “Oh, yes, in Chibok.” I proceed to say that some of these girls escaped, some were freed and some remain in captivity. These days I cite the number at “94 girls, now women, are still with their kidnappers.” I say it this way because some of the girls who have been freed have stated quite clearly that not all the still-missing girls are alive but they are also decidedly not with their families or known to their families to be dead for proper burial and mourning.

I conclude: “There is a Jewish blessing for freeing the enslaved person; I say this prayer every morning as I put this necklace on. My son is often there to say ‘amen.’ This prayer has worked for more than half of the girls but not this one, Lydia Simon. We did not share names but assigned numbers in 2014 in the hopes they’d immediately be free and we didn’t want this horror to follow them.” I usually shrug a bit at thinking the girls, now women, would all be free that quickly. People often thank me for keeping the girls in mind, and for reminding them.

Last week I was working with 7th graders as they were joyfully preparing Israeli salad as part of the celebration of Israel’s 75th birthday. The modern State of Israel is 11 years older than Nigeria; which is to say they are both such young democracies with so much to figure out. A student looks at me after my usual speech and said, “The girls who are still kidnapped, are they being raped?” I paused, and then found the words: “Many of the girls who escape their captors show up with young children.”

I felt terrible confirming this news. I neither wanted to lie to a child who gets that for millenia men have fought wars on women’s bodies, or she just gets that to grab a female child in a war is different than to grab a male one. I also didn’t want to confirm her horrible guess.

Nine years ago I thought of all of our children here in the US as so much safer, so much more fortunate than those in the villages unchecked by the Boko Haram insurgency and other terror attacks. It is still true that by and large our children are safer, but in the nine years since the Chibok kidnapping, our children too are less safe at school. The story changes in the telling; our children here in the US know about going to school with a measure of fear and uncertainty.

The reason I became involved from the start has not changed. If anything, the reasons have grown. Yet, as one of the founders of Bring Back Our Girls NY and now part of the globally organized Bring Back Our Girls movement, I still feel odd, as a whitepresenting Jewish woman in Brooklyn, who has never been to Nigeria. My involvement began in 2014, as the news broke in the US when Jewish people were counting each day

of the Omer (a time between Passover and the festival of Shavuot). When I read the news around midnight, I then emailed my interfaith colleagues. I told them I would count until the girls came home, I told them I had no idea what to do about this news but I knew how to call people together in prayer, and so we did. I also knew I had a 3 year old at home and I could not imagine looking him in the eye and doing nothing. My son is the great-grandson of Holocaust survivors; his father is named after his uncle, a child who was murdered by Nazis in front of his father, while the world largely did nothing. I have never fathomed how the world, those that knew, did nothing. It is what gave me the chutzpah to do something when I didn’t believe I had much power to affect girls, grabbed by terrorists, half a world away.

Having worked with children through the pandemic and thereafter, I see the effects of being cut off from the world in many ways. Even though all the children I worked with still had at least one parent with them, food, shelter and technology, they are still deeply impacted by this world-wide calamity. The kidnapped girls, now women, have spent far more years in isolation from all of their loved ones and without the safety of regular food, shelter or the connections of technology. I cannot fathom what healing and support these women require to sleep without terror, live without terror, care for themselves and their families.

In the years since joining the Bring Back Our Girls family, I have begun to acknowledge my own “survivor” status. My own painful history and journey plays

out in my sleeping and my waking every day, despite that I had and have more safety surrounding me than these girls have had in captivity. It is now quite personal to think of their endurance and what parts of their bodies, minds and spirits they’ve had to shut off to survive. No one should have to experience this, and these women do not have the therapeutic resources I have to move forward in a constantly triggering world.

“The Chibok Girls” are not the only victims of terror, abduction and rape. Not in Nigeria, and not around the world. They are the girls who opened my mind and heart to how cruelly girls are still used, in modern times, and how little our modern world cares. Thank God for the women who raised up their voices to make these girls “matter.” I have no love for the journalists and other thought-leaders who wonder if their freedom was curtailed by the world making them matter.

Nigeria owes the girls, now women, their freedom and owes their families (those who are still alive after all this literal heart-break) the ability to hold their loved ones. The world, including this whitepresenting Jewish woman in Brooklyn, owes these girls their freedom. We cannot give up or turn away despite - because of - nine years of near hopelessness that the government would free them all. After the girls are free, supported, reunited with their loved ones, we can then turn to the global spaces and reasons why girls’ safety is still far from paramount from Chicago to Chibok.

We will not rest - we will not stop gathering, writing, chanting, praying, teaching until every kidnapped “Chibok girl” is accounted for. In Jewish tradition,

to save a life is to save a world. Bring Back Our Girls cannot be silent about 94 stillmissing worlds. Every child, every human, is a possibility of such infinite greatness. These 94 are treasures stolen from themselves, their families, their country and their world.

Bring Back Our Girls! Nine Years Too Long! Hope Endures!

President Buhari, you have it in your power to pursue these missing women, these missing pieces of our future, before your government releases the reigns. It was you who made the commitment to bring every one of the girls home and care for their needs upon their return.

President Buhari, every girl deserves to look at your efforts and success and be reminded that their lives matter, to counter the ongoing narrative the terrorists write in their blood and in the sand. We know that you might well be eager to lay down the mantle of leadership that has spanned unprecedented times.

President Buhari, as a father and grandfather, we also know that you wish to lay your head down on your pillow each night knowing your government has continued to push for the fulfillment of its promise until its last day.

To this we say Amen, Amin, Ase, Keyn Yihi Ratzon (May it be God’s Will).

- Tehilah E. Eisenstadt is a rabbinical school student, Educator-Activist, Founder/ CEO of “Wonder and Repair” and has served as Education Director across Jewish denominations and is an educational consultant for Jewish, Muslim and Netflix projects. She is one of the 2014 founders of Bring Back Our Girls NY. Manager, Open Climate Reporting Initiative (OCRI) of the Centre for Investigative

-- Tehilah E. Eisenstadt

ALL PROTOCOLS (UN)DULY OBSERVED

Nigerians

See page 21

PAT ONUKWULI pays tribute to Deaconess

Victoria, Matriarch of the Chidoka family

See page 21

EDITORIAL

THE UNENDING TAX DEBATE

MONDAY PHILIPS EKPE writes that the trial of the recent presidential poll be accorded the speed and professionalism it deserves

AS TRIBUNAL DECIDES ELECTION WINNER

Precisely 19 days from today, President-elect, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his vice, Senator Kashim Shettima, would be sworn in at Eagle Square Abuja to assume the political headship of Nigeria. But whether they will continue on the job for the next four straight years shall depend on the outcomes of the processes that have just begun at the presidential election petitions tribunal. Surely, having been declared winners by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Tinubu and Shettima deserve to cherish the approaching moment. So do their supporters and those who voted for them on February 25 this year. It’s also within the constitutional tasks of the president-in-waiting to get ready to form the government that would take over seamlessly from that of President Muhammadu Buhari. Those most pained by the result of that poll have come to terms with these realities, I hope.

But then, the activities underway at the tribunal present something that’s equally valid and undeniable, and potentially upturning.

Wazirin Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP) who came second and third respectively in that outing, and three other eminent jurists to reverse the pronouncement of claims to outright victory. Their lawyers, many of whom are senior advocates, are armed with what they consider to be concrete proofs of their clients’ successes in arguably one of Nigeria’s most keenly contested presidential elections. Persons who are persuading these two men to “sheathe the sword” have probably not critically announced by the commission at the end of that exercise.

Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) polled approximately 8.8million votes, Abubakar garnered 6.9million, while Obi received 6.1million. I can’t remember if the country had ever recorded such close numbers from any previous apex election. Truly, there

for the shortcomings that are too loud to be ignored. We know that election malpractices of various degrees are not new here. As in the past, the last set of polls witnessed criminalities of claim innocence in this regard. Even though the ruling party which, being in power, is viewed, on INEC, security agencies, and access to larger war-chests, the opposing sides, not strangers to their own.

The poll in contention, however, paraded some peculiarities. The INEC carried out concerted campaigns just to assure the electorate of its readiness to conduct the nation’s all-time best general election. The kind of expectation that the people had no reasons to place in any government agency in recent times was, therefore, put in the Professor Mahmood Yakubu-led body. Unfortunately, nothing

crushed that anticipation more that the failure of the multibillion-naira technology acquired to directly transfer results instantly to the central server from all the polling units scattered across the federation. Mysteriously, the same software didn’t fail to transmit the tallies of the senatorial and House of Representatives votes held simultaneously with the presidential ballot. Most of the election observers simply refused to believe in such coincidences and said so immediately. That some of them, like the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), have recently tried to rephrase their earlier stand could be a function of necessity or opaque diplomacy.

There are indications that other issues which border on Tinubu’s credibility or eligibility will be cast on the table, in addition to the alleged voting and collation anomalies. That ahead. People, especially those on the side of the winner who are irritated by the accusations against him and his electoral fortunes, should, at least, concede that the complainants who have behaved properly so far in leading their own followers on the path of peaceful objections, deserve respect and commendation. February and March are too close for stakeholders at home and outside the country to forget the heightened frustrations and disillusionment that followed INEC’s declaration in parts of the country. Not to mention the clear absence of worthwhile post-election celebrations. Actually, there were enough grounds for the types of carnage caused by the outcomes of the 2011 presidential poll. One could argue that the relative peace is indicative of the positive strides recorded since the current republic commenced in 1999. Though true, it also tells of the level of maturity being displayed by the opposition.

Their appreciable statesmanship has led to this hour when their political fate and indeed a sizable portion of our collective democratic chances are literally in the hands of few persons on the bench. And, thankfully, those individuals aren’t politicians. Since all humans are said to be political beings, the judges saddled with this adjudication can’t be denied the right to hold their own political views or

and subsequently climbed through the ranks to get to their present elevated judicial positions, they should realise that the time to rise to be counted among the heroes of the nation’s democracy is now.

This isn’t too much to ask from the elite priests of the famed temple of justice. The assignment before the tribunal exceeds the mere “last hope of the common man” mantra. More importantly, it’s a call to salvage a nation in dire need of socio-political reassurance and rebirth. Only a disinterested, transparent and holistic approach to jurisprudence can achieve that at this critical point. For long, the Nigerian people have been grappling with the mostly political aspects of government. Many members and institutions of federal and state executives have fallen short of acceptable standards. And the legislators have allowed themselves to be overwhelmed by a largely imperial executive branch. Fallouts of these pitiable phenomena include growing trust in the system of government, and a foggy expectancy about Nigeria’s future.

Yes, the country’s current political climate is that hazy. Although the judiciary has also experienced some ebbing of its public higher than the other two. Therein lies the rationale for the sort of faith Abubakar, Obi, and the rest disappointed with Yakubu and The overall behaviour of the political class before and during the February and March 2023 elections was, to be mild, not sterling. On a good day, tribunals and courts are not supposed to be at the heart of the determination of winners of balloting. Sadly, we’re here now. This rather queer situation has been enabled, in part, by the hyper-ambition of politicians, the surprising ineptitude of the electoral umpire, and the designated law enforcement agents who sometimes show incompetence and complicity at the points of duty.

The world now stands by to see how recurring quagmire. As things stand, the responsibility of confronting the audaciousness of politicians and the instruments of electoral manipulation is on the laps these judges. It’s both onerous and historic. The citizenry is in no mood to hear about technicalities. Even though they exist and are legitimate tools by which judgments are won and lost, the raw, credible facts of the matter as marshalled by the barristers should form the bases for the resolution of the cases. Anticipated desperately: A period of quick dispensation of justice that can produce the much-desired healing and tranquility, not prolonged litigations full of vacuous legal jargons.

Dr Ekpe is a member of THISDAY Editorial Board

should hold their leaders to account, writes OLUSEGUN ADENIYI

FAREWELL, VICTORIA NNEKA CHIDOKA

The assignment before the tribunal exceeds the mere “last hope of the common man” mantra. More importantly, it’s a call to salvage a nation in dire need of socio-political reassurance and rebirth. Only a disinterested, transparent and holistic approach to jurisprudence can achieve that at this critical point

Nigerians should hold their leaders to account, writes

OLUSEGUN ADENIYI

ALL PROTOCOLS (UN)DULY OBSERVED

Continued from backpage

the beats that come from some of these local drummers and whether some people believe safe distance can be created for them so that they do not become a nuisance.

I didn’t see police escorts wielding AK47 and asking people to give way. No chief showing the way as if the man was a toddler. There was no need to read out the names and appointments of all the ‘big men and women’

controlled by whoever manages the media for an event if they work with security.

I looked round to catch a glimpse of those hawking ‘pure water’, kolanut, chewing gum, white handkerchiefs, and new currency notes inside the hall, but there was none.

The less said about this indiscipline the better. The people here are at the margins of society trying to eke out a living and probably hoping for any crumbs that would fall from these ceremonies. There is also an economic dimension to this that we should not ignore. Nigeria, it is easy to enforce suggestions that these people be done away with, and the directive will be enforced with brutality. I have also witnessed a couple of such unpleasant situations.

The prophets in the UK probably didn’t hear nothing from God; So, there was no single prophecy of ‘what will happen if Charles was crowned as king’.

CHIDOKA

It is said that losing a mother is one of the deepest sorrows a heart can know and the most profound and life-changing experience that anyone can go through. This is perhaps a fair assessment going by what pain concentrates the heart at a death of a mother. And it is not yet proven that anybody who has not lost a mother can claim knowledge of its painwracking experience.

losing a mother is the sense of forfeiting a dependable source of unconditional love most constant source of comfort, guidance, and encouragement throughout our lives. Losing that can leave us feeling lost and adrift. Whether they are lost at a young age or a relatively old one, the experience is not healthy. It comes with intense sorrow. Like any other death, the grief of losing a mother comes in stages. It graduates from instant agony to

speech. In fact, there was no ‘existing protocol’ for anybody to stand on today.

This was the response from a senior message: ‘We are truly a special breed. That’s why security people outnumber guests and aides take up valuable seats and space at events. Our president entered Westminster Abbey alone and heavens did not fall’. The message here is that the gra-gra is not day when I share experiences from another life. Meanwhile, the idea that every speaker must begin with ‘His Excellency…’ and then going on to recognize (with bogus titles) all those who had already been recognized is crazy. Interestingly, in Nigeria, the MC does not work alone. They also have ‘aides’, mostly from the organisers or simply those who want to be noticed. Or even aides of our big men and women. Intermittently, they will walk to the podium to whisper to the MC, sometimes with a note. The important information being passed is the name or perhaps title of an important dignitary or their spouse who has been omitted or not correctly pronounced. The ‘apologies’ to His or Her Excellency can take another three minutes. Meanwhile, after every speech, the MC must rehash for the almost in the manner of ‘Icheokwu’ (that inimitable television drama for Nigerians of a certain generation) even when the speech was rendered in English! And talking about are too important to carry their own speech. Somebody must carry it for them to place the I never saw members of the media running around with their cameras, blocking the views of invited guests, and almost pushing their microphones or handsets into the mouths of Okay, this one is too close to home. I agree as a reporter that my colleagues can do

In any case, with social media, everybody

The commercialization of prophecy is another Nigerian invention by which merchandise is made of the name of God. We see them every election season. They will make rational (sometimes irrational) deductions of who they think would win an election, and then proclaim that God told them. Mostly based on their personal bias, their god will tell them who would die before or after election or those who would win and not be sworn in. I guess that is another lucrative ‘industry’ we can leave for today since it also provides its own entertainment.

Overall, the issue here, as my late principal, us in his inaugural speech on 29 May 2007, is that we will not develop as a nation until that unacceptable phrase, ‘the Nigerian factor’ as if to be a Nigerian is to settle for less.” We as a people must begin to demand more accountability from our leaders: They are there to serve, and not the other way round. And you cannot serve people without respecting them.

Coming late to events and disrupting proceedings is an irresponsible behaviour a former Lagos State Commissioner, and erstwhile National Legal Adviser of the December wrote about this vexatious issue of lack of appreciation of time and timeliness in Nigeria. “A time waster is a destroyer of nature and human values. While this lives of many, it has become a permanent wrote, citing several examples to buttress his point, including during the last conferment

for the ceremony without any apology to the audience by the organisers.

Now to the future. On 29th May in

a ceremony for which there will be many local and foreign dignitaries. Hundreds of millions of Naira will be expended on the event. The same thing will happen in the capital cities of 28 states. If the past were any I stated earlier, Nigeria will not develop until we begin to change some of these seemingly little things that present us to the world as unserious people.

Adeniyi is Chairman, THISDAY Editorial Board

sense of loss that hardly goes away.

mother, Deaconess Victoria Nneka Chidoka (Nee Nzelu) sadly passed onto higher glory on April 3 at the age of 75. “Mama Osi, as she is fondly called, passed peacefully surrounded by family and our loving thoughts as she came to the end of her courageous battle with health issues”. The death of the Deaconess is not

for the simple reason that she was not only a her children are responsible people in society, but was also a mother to many on the wrong side of life. She lived a life of charity and was thoughtful most of the time.

At no time in her entire life did this genial amazon live solely for herself. She was a true matron. She would go beyond her immediate family and was forever looking out for her neighbour in need. A dedicated Christian of the Anglican faith, she did not forget her God. She spent most of her life in service of God and humanity having realised early that life is incomplete without God. She worked hard and yielded her services to the church. In time, she was made a deaconess and was to assist the priest in her church.

Government Area, Anambra State, in 1948, she children, four men and one woman prominent among which were former Corps Marshal and Aviation Minister Chief Osita Chidoka and member representing Idemili North and South Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Obinna Chidoka. A trained teacher, Mama Osi taught in many

schools both in Lagos and Enugu and did her utmost to inculcate discipline in her children as well as her wards. What she stood for- her investment in human capital Mama Osi was a woman of courage who worked hard to complement her husband’s deal more comfortable for the family. Although she exuded strength and selfmeasure in the growth of her family as is obvious in the successes of her children, she was seldom in evidence. She kept a all through and lived an accomplished life without regrets. Despite health issues, she did not depart this life without care considered a blessing in this part of the world where precarious living condition more than that, she was lucky to be alive to witness her children rise to positions – an uncommon blessing many prayed for, but only very few have the grace to witness.

Deaconess embodied total motherhood and acquitted herself well in life. She was of their children before her own. She was patient, compassionate, and loving, and provided emotional and physical support for her children to the very end. She nurtured and supported her children in an environment where they were all able to thrive and metamorphose into responsible adults. She may have died at a time when her children needed her motherly advice, but to continue to indulge the grief of her

Victorian period of anti-imperialism, the blunder of a life. She ran a good race and left a worthy legacy that commends itself to posterity.

On the constructive side, the loss of a mother is a reminder of the preciousness of life and the importance of cherishing our loved ones while we have them. Despite the solemn and sombre reality of losing a mother, it can be a stimulus for spiritual growth and self-discovery. It can force us to confront our mortality and also inspire us mothers imbued in us. While the pain of their passage never truly goes away, it can honour their memory in our lives.

Deaconess accomplished so much and should depart in glory. So far the volume of condolence messages generated is a testimony to the lives she touched as well as that of her children. After all, she gave Nigeria Osita Chidoka who apart from his optimal and excellent political and civil service, is an advocate for road safety, youth development, and nation-building as well as a vocal commentator on Nigerian politics and has been recognised for his numerous contributions to public service and leadership.

Therefore, it promises to be a celebration of life at Obosi on Friday, May 12, 2023, when friends and well-wishers converge resting abode, may the Chidoka family be comforted by the promise of eternity with the Father to which His mercy admits her.

Onukwuli PhD, writes from Bolton, UK

PAT ONUKWULI pays tribute to Deaconess Victoria, Matriarch of the Chidoka family

Editor, Editorial Page PETER ISHAKA

Email peter.ishaka@thisdaylive.com

EDITORIAL

THE UNENDING TAX DEBATE

It’s more reasonable to bring more Nigerians to the tax net

Early this year, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) raised concerns about Nigeria’s huge tax expenditure, estimated at four per cent of the country’s gross domestic product (DGP) or N6.8 trillion in 2021. The multilateral lender recommended that mobilisation to free up resources for funding key growth sectors such as education and health.It is curious that the same IMF which knows where our problem lies, is now calling for more taxes instead of reiterating the imperative

Without doubt, bringing more Nigerians to the tax net sounds more reasonable, even when we doubt whether doing so is a cure-all for the revenue malaise. Yet, many Nigerians, including President Muhammadu Buhari, have expressed concern at the current tax system in the country, characterised by fragmented administration, multiple and sometimes, overlapping taxes. The president himself admitted that much when he stated processes and practices are harmonised within a single system.” At the second National Tax Dialogue Week last October, Buhari had submitted that “Multiplicity of tax administration is as undesirable as multiplicity of taxes; it creates uncertainty and instability; and above all, it is

solution is another. Despite that revenue haul remains unacceptably low, expenditure continues to hit the rooftops, raising posers about the much-vaunted measures to plug leakages, and ensure more income streams by the government. While the strategies and policies introduced by the Buhari administration in the past eight years to tackle the revenue challenge are high in plaudits, they appear abysmally low in terms

from domestic and external sources, year-in-year out. Many analysts have continued to blame unwholesome

T

EDITOR

DEPUTY EDITORS

I

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

practices in the ministries, department, and agencies (MDAs) for this development. Despite the implementation of the Treasury Single Account (TSA) which pilot scheme was introduced in 2012 by the preceding administration, TSA is a public accounting system using a single account, or a set of linked accounts by government to ensure all revenue receipts and payments are done through a Consolidated Revenue Account (CRA) domiciled in the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

As the government continues to lament the perennial should answer is whether its MDAs have sincerely, its billing? Only last year, the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed told a bewildered audience in Abuja that huge amounts of public funds were still trapped in commercial banks, about seven years after full implementation commenced. Simply put, some MDAs and commercial banks are still hiding government funds. has been that Nigeria does not have debt problem but revenue problem. For them, the poor revenue haul therefore continually presents a ready-made alibi for the nation’s economic woes. That all the well-advertised strategies and policies introduced by the administration to stem the tide have failed should compel a rethink. Each time the government mulls measures to shore up revenue, the easiest window available has always been the desire for more taxes, despite the huge negative implications on harsh economic environment.

It is noteworthy that President Buhari once underscored an urgent need to maximise domestic revenue within the extant tax policy and laws, proposing an improved tax revenue for the country which will not necessarily impose new tax rates on Nigerians. This is a position that many groups and individuals hold in the face of the latest IMF proposition.

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

MARIAM BADMUS: GOOD NIGHT TO A GOOD WOMAN

The span of all mortals is short. On Sunday, 16th April a rumour. Although the social and the print media were awash with the dreadful news about her exit, many people including our humble selves could not believe it because we had interacted a day earlier. There was no sign of death locking around. Indeed her death was anything but shocking. But alas! It turned out to be true! We were very close friend of the Iyaloja, an attachment which grew from our loyalty to her country and above all, as a woman leader. we met and built the close relationship with Iyaloja a little over eight years ago, we already knew her from afar by her reputation, and also as an astute business woman, a consummate market leader, a woman of her words, a no-non-

now be said that she was one of the most revered and hero-

Mariam Badmus was a very distinguished and interesting pain. She left a trail of light which even the blind can see. Iyaloja, a name which all of us normally called her because of the motherly roles she always played in our lives was truly a mother and friend. We remember the roles she played in the recent campaigns and struggles to get the Presidential candidate now President-elect of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu: the night journeys to villages in the FCT for consultations, the with her leadership skills and above all her love for her country. Now that the dream of the Jagaban has come into reality, we wished that she had lived longer to see the new Nigeria and the promise of renewed hope which she had worked hard to entrench.

Mummy had never called us by name as she would always call us, “my friend, my daughter”. In every sense of the word, she was both mother and friend to us because

when we needed a shoulder to lean on, she made hers available!

We thank her for opening our eyes to the true meaning of life, friendship and leadership. While she was alive, she worked with women from all walks of life and it is therefore not surprising that when it was time to elect the Iyaloja of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, she emerged without any opposition. It was a pleasure to have met and times. She showed humility and leadership. It is incredibly sad that she would not be there for us any longer. Iyaloja was a genius that was always so kind and generous. Today, we are orphaned, heartbroken and short of words to explain how we feel because there would never be another Iyaloja like Chief Mariam Badmus.

It is noteworthy that President Buhari once underscored an urgent need to maximise domestic revenue within the extant tax policy and laws, proposing an improved tax revenue for the country which will not necessarily impose new tax rates on Nigerians

Alhaja Risikatu Vanderpuije and Hajiya Rakia Bagnou, Abuja

RATES AS AT MAY 10,2023

Stakeholders Highlight Role of Technology in Digitalising Education for Cognitive Learning in Schools

Emma Okonji

Giving the impact of technology on various sectors of the Nigerian economy, industry stakeholders in the education sector have emphasised the importance of infusing technology in education, adding that digitalization of the school system is an opportunity to develop cognitive resource-based mechanism among students at various levels.

The stakeholders said this in Lagos during the launch of a software-as-a-service ecosystem platform, called Educatial, that was developed by a team of indigenous software engineers

to promote digital teaching and learning in primary, secondary and tertiary institutions across Nigeria.

Speaking, Senior Special Assistant to the governor of Lagos State on education, Dr. Adetola Salau, said technology in education would bring about democracy of knowledge where education becomes a collaborative and self-driven enterprise.

Lagos State Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Folashade Fisayo, who was represented by the Director, Private School Registration and Coordination, Mrs. Grace Akinfoyewa, commended the drivers of the initiative of Educatial for coming up with

a digital solution that would revolutionise education in the state and the country at large. According to her, Lagos State government is also driving digital education across Lagos schools through its e-Curriculum. “Teachers and students in the state have been introduced to digital learning skills that are driving critical thinking among students,” Akinfoyewa said.

In his welcome speech, the Founder of Educatial, Mr. Francis Muofunanya, said Educatial was developed as the next-gen EdTech ecosystem, focused on transforming learning for immediate and future generation of students.

“Educatial comes with more

than 20 uniquely different but interconnected tools that are engaging, effective, impactful, fun to use and at the same time useful in community-led learning. Our platform is built to simplify the management of educational institutions, offering a suite of powerful software tools that streamline daily operations, improve students’ outcome and enhance overall learning experience, Muofunanya said.

According to him, the digital solution is able to offer schools with student management systems, online learning platforms, digital libraries and parent communication portals.

Delivering a detailed presentation

of the solution, Digital Strategist and Software Engineer, Mr. Celestine Achi, enumerated some of the Educatial product features to include EduSims, which is an integrated information school management system that operates a robust, secure and centralised data information management platform with a suite of portals for parents, students and staff that give schools full control of administrative, academic, admissions, finance and wellbeing information.

Other unique features include EduSocials- a social media network designed to bridge social and educational gaps among students, teachers and across institutions worldwide; EduFund, a feature that

bridges the gap between education and funding by providing easy access to funds for students and schools; and EduInteliigence, which provides useful insights on learners and administrators’ performances. According to Achi, Educatial is also useful for training centres and professional bodies such as ICAN, Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria, Institute of Marketing, among others. Educatial is also very useful for content creators, study-at-home learners, government agencies, churches, among others.

ITU, European Commission Collaborate to Promote

Global Internet Connectivity, Digital Transformation

Emma Okonji

A new project from the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the European Commission (EC) has been launched to promote global internet services and skills for everyone, including digital transformation over the next three years.

The ITU-EC project tagged, ‘Promoting and measuring universal and meaningful digital connectivity’, is expected to cost EUR 3 million ($3.3 million) over three years to advance holistic policy approaches and provide recommendations on boosting good-quality internet and mobile access. The project is part of the

European Union’s Global Gateway initiative. ITU, the United Nations specialised agency for information and communication technologies and the EC launched the project jointly at the Transform Africa Summit, which took place in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, last month.

Giving details of the global

project, ITU Secretary-General, Doreen Bogdan-Martin, said: “This new partnership between ITU and the European Commission offers a unique opportunity for strengthening multilateral cooperation to expand meaningful connectivity and drive sustainable digital transformation. It puts digital at the centre of our common efforts

to help the world get back on track to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals.”

According to her, universal and meaningful connectivity represents the possibility for everyone to enjoy a safe, satisfying, enriching and productive online experience at an affordable cost.

ITU’s Facts and Figures 2022,

states that 5.3 billion people around the world are online today, yet many only enjoy basic connectivity, and the remaining 2.7 billion people, roughly one-third of the global population, are totally unconnected to the Internet.

The story continues online on www.thisdaylive.com

Roy: Qualcomm is Developing Next Wave of African Startups

Vice President, Engineering, Qualcomm, Sudeepto Roy, and Vice President, Government Affairs in charge of Middle East and Africa at Qualcomm, Elizabeth Migwall, spoke with Emma Okonji about Qualcomm’s initiative to incubate and develop African startups that will address African challenges. Except:

Last year, Qualcomm rolled out the ‘Make in Africa’ initiative, designed to mentor and support African startups in developing tech solutions that will address African challenges. What motivated Qualcomm to roll out such initiative?

Qualcomm as a technology company has been operating on the African continent for more than 16 years and focused on policy and regulatory provisions in all the African countries where we have presence. We did this to enable technology solutions and services that we offer on the continent. Our solutions have supported emerging technologies like 3G, 4G and 5G networks and Nigeria is one of the first African countries that licensed spectrum for the rollout of 5G. What Qualcomm did in the past 16 years was to partner with African governments to enable technology deployment on the continent. Today the world is shifting towards 5G deployment to ensure that every sector of the economy is impacted by 5G. With 5G deployment across countries in Africa, each region will be able to create and develop solutions that will meet their needs. Africa has large youth population and Qualcomm is developing technologies, in partnership with other global technology companies, that can transform any sector and our goal is that everybody and everything will be connected through technology. So the Qualcomm ‘Make in Africa’ initiative, is designed to transform the African continent through the adoption of technology to become creators of technology innovations and solutions that will address the African challenges. So the initiative will help

Roy

Africans startups create their own solutions that will address their immediate and long-term challenges, and also meet their needs.

Last week, Qualcomm announced 10 shortlisted African startups that will benefit from the Qualcomm ‘Make in Africa’ mentorship programme. What were the criteria for the selection and how many applications were received from across Africa?

From the time we launched the programme mid December 2022, until the time it was closed in March 2023, we had over 550 applications from startups across 34 African countries. We

later reduced the applications to 15, based on some set of qualifying criteria, and the 15 startups represented nine African countries. Since the number we were looking for was 10, we again shortlisted to get the final 10 startups, based on certain criteria and the 10 startups were selected from five African countries.

Among the selected 10 startups, four came from Nigeria, two each from Kenya and Uganda, and one each from Rwanda and Ghana. In terms of the criteria for selection, we looked at the African challenges that the solutions intend to solve and the relevance of the solution to the people and the community. We also looked at the robustness and the efficacy of the solutions, as well as the business module of the solutions, in terms of money generation and its scalability. Then we also considered the composition of the startup teams in the areas of technical expertise and their ability to grow the solution and take the solution to the market, based on their expertise and experiences.

What are the full details of the sponsorship programme. Will Qualcomm patent the successful solutions or allow the startups to patent their solutions?

The full package of the sponsorship programme, comes with mentorship, fortification of their Intellectual Property (IP) rights, training in special skills and enable them to go commercial with their solutions. So Qualcomm will not own

the solutions at the end of the day, but will allow the startups to patent their solutions. In terms of mentorship, Qualcomm is providing experts within the organizsation, drawn from India, United States, and Europe, that will mentor them for six months in technology and business skills. We will also put up top master-class programme in technology areas like 5G, Robotics, Internet of Things (IoTs), Virtual Reality (VR), among others. The startups will be developing innovative products in the areas of clean energy, agricultural technology, computing for education, geospatial predictive analysis, medical technologies, and innovations utilising electric vehicles, and we will provide experts in these fields to mentor them.

How much is Qualcomm investing in terms of dollar for the training and what is the likely impact on the startups and the Nigerian economy?

Giving our involvement about investments in different tech skills, we are not targeting any particular amount to invest in African startup for this initiative. All that we are interested in doing is to support the startups and mentor them to develop successful solutions for the African market. The impact of the training and mentorship will be huge on the startups and on the economies of different countries in Africa, because technology itself is an enabler.

The story continues online on www.thisdaylive.com

Addressing Challenges of Lagos Transport System

For decades, the movement of people and goods within Lagos was a major challenge for government and businesses. With over 22 million trips per day, commuters and private vehicles struggle for space on just over 5,000km of roads in the smallest state in Nigeria. Saying transportation was a problem is an understatement. With people spending more time in traffic than they did in productive ventures, almost everyone was losing money. And with most of the vehicles used for public transport in near-total disrepair, the environment also suffered as fumes from old and tired engines made the air unbreathable and waste from vehicles made the streets dirty.

The scenario painted above was yesterday. The reality today is a vastly improved public transportation architecture in Lagos State with modernization and availability of choice taking the centerstage. A ferry system making the most of our waterways and offering fast alternative to time otherwise spent on the road; the BRT system expanding and getting better with Molue permanently extinct on our roads; over 500 First and Last Mile buses taking people to and fro their streets and neighborhood, and effectively replacing the Okada motorcycle system; and most excitingly, a functional Rail transportation system fast emerging.

This is all thanks to the commitment of the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA), the agency tasked with the responsibility of actualizing the desired transportation architecture of the state, and its diligent execution of the vision and objectives of the Lagos Strategic Transportation Master Plan (STMP).

Following a law passed by the Lagos State House of Assembly and signed into law on January 13, 2002, by the then Governor of the State, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, LAMATA was established as a semi-autonomous corporate body with perpetual succession and an independent board responsible for the formulation, coordination and implementation of urban transport policies and programmes in the Lagos metropolitan area.

The vision that was set before LAMATA, which remains till day is “to provide a world- class, sustainable integrated transport system that satisfies stakeholders and drives the growth of Lagos.” To better understand the essence of LAMATA as distinct from the State’s Ministry of Transportation, the Commissioner in the ministry, Dr. Frederick Oladeinde, clearly makes the distinction that while the Lagos State Ministry of

Transportation develops policies, LAMATA develops strategies around those policies, converts them to plans, and proceeds to implementing the infrastructure required.

THE STMP AS COMPASS

To succeed with its mandate of enabling a more efficient and sustainable public transportation system, LAMATA follows the Strategic Transport Master Plan to the letter. This is the compass that details the requisite infrastructure required to achieve the desired transportation architecture for the state, as well as the guidelines on how and when to implement it. This is the plan that has been at the core of the development of Public Transportation in Lagos since the inception of LAMATA itself in 2002, because it envisages, factors, and integrates all modes of transport including rail, road, and water.

The STMP provides for six rail lines and one monorail; 14 Bus Rapid Transit routes; 485 Independent Bus Routes; and over 20 water terminals, with regular upgrades every 10 years to accommodate for changing population and realities. Today, just like with successive administrations in Lagos State, LAMATA has moved the centre of excellence that much closer to the public transportation dreamland envisioned over 20 years ago.

BUS REFORM INITIATIVE

Given the highly metropolitan nature of

Lagos and the humongous challenges that come with the congestion occasioned by the large population it attracts, LAMATA figured rightly that to make transportation easier on the people would necessarily requires an attempt at solving public bus transportation.

This focused approach has seen to the conceptualisation and implementation of the Bus Reform Initiative (BRI), the part of the STMP that addresses the transformation required in public road transportation. This has led to the continuing development of the BRT system, which now moves up to two hundred thousand passengers daily and has conveyed over 100million passengers in the first three years of the present administration.

Part of the Bus Reforms is the construction of new and modern Bus terminals at strategic hubs across the state such as in Oyingbo, Yaba, Ewu, Ikeja, Oshodi, Agege, Ojota and Ajah etc. as part of effort aimed at changing the face of public bus transportation towards a modern world class system deserving of Nigeria’s economic capital.

In addition, there is the successful introduction of over 500 First and Last Mile buses since its commissioning in August 2021 by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration as part of efforts at ridding the State of the ruinous

menace of the Okada motorcycle operators. In only the first year of the First and Last Mile Bus Scheme, over 3.5 million passengers have been moved to and from their homes to the BRT bus stops and major bus terminals in the state.

Most eye-catching of the accomplishments of the BRI is the successful integration of the more efficient and accountable automated fare collection system through the Cowry Card, an e-ticketing system that works on land, sea and soon, rail. This is a most innovative accomplishment and is a massive departure from what was obtainable until recent. With a single swipe of the Cowry card, commuters can pay for their bus, train, and boat rides conveniently.

The system helps to check revenue leakages and enables LAMATA to accurately project, plan, budget and effectively advise the government on future moves, and investments, relying on this reliable revenue projection model. As at the end of 2022, over 2.2 million Cowry Cards have been registered and effectively in use in the State.

LAGOS RAIL MASS TRANSIT

The LRMT is the part of the STMP that seeks to bring the dreams of successive Lagos administrations to life regarding the development of modern rail transportation. It envisions six functional rail lines and one monorail to meet the huge urban transportation need of the Lagos of today and of the future.

The six lines have been colorfully named to cover different parts of the city as follow: Blue Line to run from Marina to Okokomaiko: Red Line - Marina to Agbado; Green Line - Marina to Lekki Free Trade Zone; Orange Line - Ikeja to Agbowa; Purple Line to run from Redemption Camp, Mowe to Ojo; and Yellow Line to run from Otta to the National Theatre.

Working steadily and smartly to surmount multi-various challenges including funding and topography, LAMATA has displayed commendable diligence in bringing the Blue and Red Lines to live before our eyes with both metro systems close to commencement of commercial operations.

The 37 km Red line is being implemented in two phases.

With increased investment and technology innovation in Lagos transportation system, urban transportation in Lagos State is finally becoming multi-modal for commuters, writes Ugo Aliogo

IBEFUN NATURAL GAS…

L-R: Managing Director, Transit Gas Nigeria Limited (TGNL),

Osunsanya; Managing Director,

Givanas Unveils Novex Household Brand to Deepen Manufacturing Foothold

Raheem Akingbolu

Despite the volatility and harsh operating conditions that have plagued and sounded the death knell for many leading brands and businesses in the nation’s consumer goods and services sector, especially in the wake of tremendously weakened consumer spend occasioned by the Covid-19 and unabating inflation, a few innovative and tenacious market operators continue to pose stunning performances while entrenching their brand footings and pedigrees as tenacious, innovative and resilient indubitable kingpins

in their segments. One of such frontline performers is Givanas, a dynamic and innovative multi-business conglomerate that operates across multiple industries and provides highquality products and services to consumers across the West African sub-region.

Recently, Givanas justifiably celebrated 30 years anniversary of birthing in the Nigerian brand marketing space during which it has steadily grown its brand footprints while perfecting a consistent identity of nurturing its impressive portfolio of quality brands across multiple segments to remain thriving

and at the top of consumers’ minds.

Over those 30 years, it has earned a strong pedigree as a versatile multi-business conglomerate whose brand operations span nine different companies with diversified offerings in manufacturing, distribution, trading, hospitality and print.

The climax of the 30thanniversary celebration was the launch of Novex, a new household brand that promises to further entrench the Givanas’s manufacturing foothold in the household products sector with a range of locally manufactured bleach, antiseptics, glass, toilet

floor, and multi-purpose cleaners.

Backed by the Group’s track record of over three decades of providing high-quality products and services, Novex represents yet another promising offering that could harness the power of exploring new ideas and technologies to stay ahead of the competition and deliver unrivaled value to consumers.

According to the Group Marketing Manager at Givanas, Christianna Agbata, the birth of Novex is a testament to Givanas’ dedication to innovation and research-driven, customercentric business template that has sustained its strong

Tincan Island Port Receives Largest Container Vessel

The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has recorded another milestone with the berthing yester at the TinCan Island Port Complex of the largest ever container vessel to call at the Lagos Pilotage District.

The vessel MSc Maureen Length Overall (LOA) of 300M and breadth of 40m carrying a Gross Tonnage of 75,590 Dead weight of 85,810Tonnes. Speaking at the Quay Side

where he received the Vessel, the Port Manager TinCan Island Port Complex Mr. Jibril Buba noted that this development is a testament of the readiness to receive vessels despite the pressing need for rehabilitation, which the Management of Authority is working assiduously on under the guidance of the Federal Ministry of Transportation.

Elucidating further the Assistant Harbour Master TinCan Captain

Simpa Habib clarified that the distinguishing historic feature of MSC Maureen was the fact that it is largest ever commercial carrier to call at the Lagos Pilotage district, noting that the EGINA that preceded it was a Floating Production and Storage unit for Oil and Gas operations.

It will be recalled that the Managing Director Nigerian Ports Authority, Mohammed Bello Koko had stated that the

Authority was at conclusive stages of securing approvals for the reconstruction of TinCan and rehabilitation of infrastructure across all Port locations in readiness for increased port competitiveness as the Management team puts modalities in place to position Nigerian Ports to service the cargo needs of landlocked neighbouring countries through transshipment.

Opuiyo Wins N12m Grant in DAAYTA 2023 Tech Talent Award

Nosa Alekhuogie

Winner has emerged in the fifth edition of the Deji Alli ARM Young Talent Award (DAAYTA) programme, which held recently through a virtual pitch event.

Captain Natima Opuiyo of Natibo Technologies emerged as winner and received N12 million grant.

The programme was established in honor of ARM’s founding CEO, Deji Alli, to support young entrepreneurs with innovative and sustainable ideas capable of impacting society positively.

After a rigorous review of over 450 applications from start-up

entrepreneurs across Nigeria, seven outstanding companies were selected to pitch their ideas.

The selected startups were Cdial Limited, Moon Innovations, Natibo Technologies Nigeria Limited, Sakula Limited, StackJunior, Strich, Inc., and ThinkBikes Limited.

The finalists demonstrated the potential of their technology solutions to disrupt various industries. A panel of judges, comprising industry experts, entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, tech enthusiasts, and seasoned professionals, evaluated the pitches and selected the winner.

The winner of DAAYTA 2023 received funding of N12 million

over a period of one year for

the purposes of developing a business plan, completing of an entrepreneurial education at the Pan Atlantic University’s Enterprise Development Centre (EDC) in Lagos, Nigeria, and five-month acceleration support for the development of their venture through a reputable entrepreneurial hub in Lagos.

The DAAYTA programme is a testament to ARM’s commitment to supporting startups and providing them access to new markets. The virtual event held on April 14, 2023, witnessed keen participation from entrepreneurs, investors, and industry experts.

The CEO of ARM Group, Jumoke Ogundare, in her opening remarks, said: “We are thrilled with the level of innovation and creativity displayed by the finalists of DAAYTA 2023. The ideas presented were truly exceptional, and we are excited to see how these young entrepreneurs will continue to positively impact their communities and contribute to the growth of the Nigerian economy.”

The CEO congratulated all the finalists and the winner of DAAYTA 2023, stressing that one of the major purposes of the program was to encourage collaboration within the DAAYTA alumni network.

reputation as a tenacious, responsible and trustworthy business that remains on the front foot even after 30 years.

This philosophy, she further explained, has continued to fuel the Group’s unrelenting passion and push to remain the best at evaluating, understanding and delivering what Nigerian consumers want

at all times.

All things being equal, the new Novex brand is being tipped to leverage this immensely successful Givanas pedigree as its strategy guide to entrench itself as a trusted and reliable household brand name and value-delivering friend of Nigerian families for years to come.

Glovo Expands Its Digital Supermarket Stores With FMC Center

Oluchi Chibuzor

In line with its mission of shaping the future of retail in Nigeria, Glovo, one of the world’s leading multi-category delivery players, has expanded its Micro Fulfilment Centre (MFC) to Lagos Mainland. The digital market, also known as Glovo Bargains, according to the firm, would further bring the MFC closer to consumers at a fast delivery time.

Speaking in Lagos, the Head of Q-Commerce for Glovo Nigeria, Kolawole Adeniyi, said that the consumer behaviour and lifestyle trends are constantly evolving with speed with convenience becoming more important than ever.

According to him, “With Glovo Bargains, consumers conveniently buy groceries and other essential items at better prices than the market, from the comfort and safety of their homes. We are excited to continue to expand our offering to meet consumer’s demands.

“Glovo Bargains is accessible through Glovo’s app or website and is closed to walk-in customers. It offers customers the best affordable prices for fresh and consumer packaged goods (CPG) from the convenience of their homes. Using the latest in-store digital technology and dedicated resources, Glovo Bargains ensures the quickest possible delivery times with customers receiving their orders in 20-40 minutes.”

Commenting further, Adeniyi explained that Glovo’s offering has expanded to the retail ecosystem, bringing several advantages.

He also said that “For example, by using Glovo Bargains, individuals and small businesses can continue to open retail businesses, selling products on Glovo’s app which are fulfilled through Glovo’s logistics (last mile) services. By opening up MFC’s Glovo is also creating job opportunities and giving distributors and partners additional sales channels.”

The CEO and Co-Founder of Glovo Oscar Pierre, said they have over the last three years understudied Nigeria’s market.

For him, they would continue to use their multi-category app in connecting users with businesses, and couriers, offering on-demand services from local restaurants, grocers and supermarkets, and high street retail stores. According to him, “With a young population, emerging middle class, and busy traffic, we recognized a huge potential in Nigeria to drive the adoption of quick commerce to enable people to save time and make better decisions when shopping for groceries online. Since our entrance into the Nigerian market in 2021, we have constantly worked to enhance our operating model to serve our consumers and give everyone easy access to anything in their city.”

Bolaji

NNPC Gas Marketing Limited (NG ML), HRM, Justin Ezeala; Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun ; Executive Vice President, NNPC Gas, Power & New Energies Division, Engr. AbdulKabir Ahmed; and the Liken of Ibef un, HRM, Oba Gideon Adetoye, during the commissioning of Ibefun Natural Gas City-Gate, a joint venture partnership between TGNL and NGML, in Ibefun, Ogun State...recen tly

A Mutual fund (Unit Trust) is an investment vehicle managed by a SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) registered Fund Manager. Investors with similar objectives buy units of the Fund so that the Fund Manager can buy securities that willl generate their desired return.

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

floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange. A REIT (Real Estate Investment Trust) is an investment vehicle that allows both small and large investors to part-own real estate ventures (eg. Offices, Houses, Hospitals) in proportion to their investments. The assets are divided into shares that are traded on the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

GUIDE TO DATA:

Date: All fund prices are quoted in Naira as at 09May-2023, unless otherwise stated.

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

Bid Price: The price at which Investors redeem (sell) units of a trust or ETF.

Yield/Total Return: Denotes the total return an investor would have earned on his investment. Money Market Funds report Yield while others report Year- to-date Total Return.

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

DAILY PRICE LIST FOR MUTUAL FUNDS, REITS and ETFS

HEALTH & LIFESTYLE

Promoting Good Health through Medical Rhapsodies

Undoubtedly, good health promotes peace, harmony and sound mind. For indigents of Mbaise community in Imo State, the need to promote their health was boosted by the partnership of its natives in the United States of America and Emma Njoku Foundation, the vehicle through which they champion the annual free medical rhapsodies. Amby Uneze writes

From April 25 to 29, 2023, it was a beehive of medical activities across the nooks and crannies of Mbaise land. Mbaise comprises three local government areas namely; Aboh Mbaise, Ahiazu Mbaise and Ezinihitte Mbaise. It is also made up of five clans of Agbaja, Oke-Ovuru, Ahiara, Ekwerazu and Ezinihitte.

The unity among Mbaise people is so engrossed with envy by outsiders, hence the notion of ‘Mbaise people are tough people’. Every Mbaise person believes in education and works hard. And they are good to go, no wonder, they produce the highest Catholic priests and reverend sisters (nuns) in the Catholic world.

However, the love that exists amongst them, no doubt, created an avenue to be a brothers’ keeper and care for one another.

The yearly free medical mission which is usually embarked upon by the Mbaise USA Inc has come to stay. Due to its uniqueness, this year’s edition making it the 13th in line was partnered with another philanthropist, Emma Njoku Foundation with the aim of expanding the scope and reaching every corner of the land.

According to one of the observers of the event, he stated: If there is one phenomenal event, initiative or program in Mbaise that is most highly anticipated, communally-engaging and significantly life-changing, it would be the Annual Mbaise Medical Mission, a brainchild of Mbaise USA Incorporate.

“2023 makes it the 13th edition and it was a break from the norm in terms of number of communities hosting simultaneously across the 3 LGAs in Mbaise, quantity of medications and health items, Medical personnel as well as the number of volunteers. All thanks to the support and partnership of Emma Njoku Foundation founded by Mr. Philanthropist Extraordinaire, Barr. Emma Njoku from Umuneato Autonomous Community, Eziala Nguru.

“Emma Njoku Foundation is indeed living up to her mission albeit exceedingly given that the Foundation embarked on this huge Partnership with Mbaise USA in less than six months after her 3 days medical outreach across the 3 LGAs of Mbaise in December 2022. Awesome!”

Programme of the medical mission was spread in such a way that all part of Mbaise was covered.

In Aboh Mbaise: the areas covered

included, Eziala Nguru Health Centre in Umuneato Autonomous Community, Mbutu Secondary School, Holy Rosary Hospital, Ogbor Nguru, Eziala Nkaohu Health Centre and was later extended to Umuoda Autonomous Community at Juliana Ikwunna Memorial Health Centre.

Then in Ahiazu Mbaise the medical team covered: Pater Noster Secondary School, Mpam hosting Mpam and Ihitte Aforukwu Autonomous Communities and also Madonna Medical Centre Aguneze.

And in Ezinihitte Mbaise, the team engaged patients at: The Health Centre at Oparachi Ihitte for Ihitte people and St. Augustine Secondary School Obizi. Recalling the activities of the medical team for the week-long event, with its camping, distribution and take-off point at Chris VI (6) Hotel Eke Ahiara, it was indeed a fantastic outing.

The flag-off ceremony took place at Eziala Nkaohu Health Centre with the Chairman of Mbaise Council of Traditional Rulers, HRH Eze Leo Nwokocha (Atodire) and the President General of Ezuruezu Mbaise, Barr. Cyril Anyanwu was in attendance.

The day usually begins with breakfast and prep talks and ends with dinner and prep talks. Adequate security was provided to ensure safe and hitch-free activities across the eight designated Centres.

Anyone in Mbaise within those 5 days must have noticed heavy military presence with two armoured tanks and several patrol vans filled with Soldiers. Insecurity is nonetheless taking a toll on the collective peace and progress of Imo People. The huge amount expended to hire that number of soldiers and the armoury could have been used for more meaningful impact in the course of the medical mission if there were no palpable security threats or challenges.

In terms of medication and materials, the quantity and quality stock of Over-the-Counter drugs, medical equipment and special needs materials like wheelchairs is highly commendable. The mission also boasts of professional medical practitioners ranging from Surgeons, Physicians, Optometrists, Ophthalmologists, Pharmacists, Pharmacy Technicians, Nurses and dentists as well as Logistics pe rsonnel.

In a statement, the President, Mbaise USA Inc, Sir S.O.S Echendu says the free Medical Mission is an annual mission aimed at bridging the gap in meeting up with the healthcare needs of the less fortunate ones in our rural communities who cannot afford the high cost of obtaining medical attention when they are sick.

He further says that it was such a mission that “led to mobilising Ndi Mbaise in the Diaspora and other partners in realisation of the 2023 Medical Mission which could not hold during the COVID era.” Sir Echendu also appreciated the Mbaise USA Medical Mission collaboration with Emma Njoku Foundation in Nigeria.

The brilliant, charismatic, energetic and eloquent Vice President of Mbaise USA, Ezeji Alozie Aguwa (Odozi Obodo) who was on ground to represent the Executive leadership, noted “Mbaise USA is a non-profit Organization founded in the spirit of Onye Aghala Nwanne Ya (Be Your Brothers’ Keeper) in 2008 by Mbaise People resident in the United States to render charitable and community services to Mbaise People back home and to foster developments in Mbaise. The medical Mission is one of the programs of the Organization and it started in 2011.”

The 2023 Medical Mission delegation was ably led by the self-effacing, soft-spoken and highly coordinated Chairman, Prince Richard Nwachukwu Abii.

The head of Logistics of the team, Dr. John Ihuoma, said that the total number of patients attended across the eight centres was overwhelmingly and exceedingly above their targeted numbers by 80 percent.

“Over I50 surgical operations were successful except for one complicated case that was transferred to Federal Medical Centre Owerri. He was later re-transferred to another hospital at a critical point all thanks to the timely intervention of the Head of Medicals, Dr. Emeka Onuoha.”

Interestingly, at the Surgical Operation Centre, Holy Rosary Hospital, Ogbor Nguru, Barr. Emma Njoku who flew in visited the facility in the nick of time, in the company of

Observing the overwhelming and difficult situation which portends that over 160 patients with surgical cases may not be attended to due to the 29th deadline and budgetary constraints, he (Barr. Emma Njoku) reassured the visibly disappointed and grumbling patients that none of them will be left behind or unattended to. Njoku, however, liaised with the Vice President of Mbaise USA and agreed to defray the extra costs of surgical Operations of the remaining patients thereby extending the Surgical Operations beyond April 29th- meant to be the last day of the medical mission as planned. With this extraordinary gesture, he saved the day and of course, more lives.

It is essential to note that the Mbaise Medical Mission, although targeted at Mbaise People, also accommodates non-Mbaise people from near and far. In fact some Non-Mbaise People, especially those from Imo State look forward to the Medical mission as much as Mbaise People do.

A testimony from a particular young man from Orlu who is ever grateful to Mbaise medical mission for a successful surgery performed on his elbow to remove a growth. More so, some of the medical volunteers are non-Mbaise People - who wished the mission is replicated in their own communities.

At the end of the assignment, Barr. Emma Njoku hosted the Mbaise Medical Mission Delegation, the volunteers to a dinner party at the new ultra modern Eziala Town Hall, which he singlehandedly built for his community and which is unarguably the best community Town Hall in Mbaise.

It is difficult to recount the experience of the medical mission without being emotional given the huge number of elderly ones and less privileged people of different age brackets that desperately needed medical attention. You can’t but let out a tear drop if you are sensitivelooking at the faces and conditions of some of the patients cum beneficiaries.

It was a mixed feeling, emotional, humbling, inspiring, revealing, promising and adventurous. The Medical mi ssion provided opportunity for networking and empowerment for several local operators apart from the far-reaching impact of delivering free medical solutions to over 30 thousand less privileged people in Mbaise.

the Emma Njoku Foundation Team and the Vice President of Mbaise USA, Ezeji Alozie Aguwa.

Wheelchairs provided by the Promoters of the Medical MissionPatients being treated by medical personnel

Kidney Patient Turned Councillor: Hilaria Asumu’s Inspiring Journey to Public Service

NAF @ 59: Nursing Mothers, Elderly Benefit from Logistics Command Medical Outreach

Rebecca Ejifoma

For pregnant women and nursing mothers, among others in the Ikeja area of Lagos state, it was a huge relief to benefit from the medical outreach of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Logistics Command, This benevolence was part of NAF’s corporate social responsibility at the local government area to mark its 59th Anniversary and further strengthen its relationship with the host community.

Hilaria Asumu, a kidney patient who received a life-saving transplant in 2018, has been elected as a councillor for Walkden South in the local elections held on May 4th, 2023. Hilaria’s remarkable journey from a patient to a public servant has been an inspiration to many, and her election marks a significant moment in her ongoing commitment to serving her community.

Hilaria’s diagnosis with kidney disease in 2008 was a devastating blow to her and her family. After undergoing extensive treatment, including dialysis, she was fortunate enough to receive a kidney transplant in 2018 because a mum agreed to organ donation, after losing her son, giving Hilaria a second chance at life. What a second chance that is!

This life-changing event led her to become involved in various community service initiatives and advocacy work, particularly in the healthcare sector, setting up her charity, WSH BME Kidney Network, raising awareness about kidney disease, organ donation, and health inequalities affecting the Black community and other under-represented white communities in the UK.

Hilaria is also building a free dialysis centre in Edo State to treat people who cannot afford the expensive dialysis treatment.

In her bid for the councillorship of Walkden South, Hilaria ran on a platform of healthcare

reform, community empowerment, and economic growth. Her passion and focus on the betterment of her community resonated with the voters, leading to her victory in the local elections.

“I am humbled and honoured to have been elected as a councillor for Walkden South,” said Hilaria. “As a kidney patient, I understand the importance of accessible and affordable healthcare, and I am committed to making sure that our community has access to the best possible care. I also believe in

the power of community involvement and participation in decision-making, and I will work tirelessly to ensure that every voice is heard.”

Hilaria’s inspiring journey from a patient to a public servant is a testament to her resilience, determination, and unwavering commitment to service. She is a shining example of what can be achieved when individuals are given the opportunity to contribute to their communities and make a difference in the lives of others.

“The medical outreach will serve as a platform for the immediate treatment of health conditions such as malaria and eye problems for people within Ikeja,” says the Command’s Chief of Staff, AVM Nnaemeka Ilo.

Ilo, who represented the Logistics Command’s Air Officer Commanding (AOC), AVM Emmanuel Shobande, insisted that the Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Isiaka Amao, had directed that every Airforce unit must carry out a medical outreach as a way of giving back to the people.

He emphasised: “It is also part of our way of winning the hearts and minds of the people by saying thank you to the people we serve and the people we benefit from.

“Part of the medical outreach includes physical examination of organs such as eyes, ears among others as well as giving out gifts such as eyeglasses, treated mosquito nets, drugs among other things.”

While noting that their effort is to improve the health condition and well-being of Ikeja residents, the command’s chief of staff urged the beneficiaries and other dwellers to be optimistic about the country and the government.

The Chairman of Ikeja LGA, Mr Mojeed Balogun,

commended NAF for the medical intervention, adding that “Choosing Ikeja is historic alongside your 59th anniversary because we host the NAF Command in Ikeja”.

The chairman urged residents seeking medical attention to take time and explain to the medical practitioners about their health challenges to benefit from the medical outreach adequately.

One such resident is Mrs Chisom Alaneme, a trader. She is a first-time nursing mother to a six-week-old baby. Having noticed a persisting rash on her daughter’s right foot, she joined the health programme to seek expert’s counsel.

“The doctor gave me an ointment to use on his legs. He also gave me a mosquitotreated net. I say thank you to the airforce. I’m happy about this programme; I wasn’t expecting such huge attention,” she said.

For 20-year-old Adesewa Adebayo, a resident of Oniwaya in Agege, her three-month-old baby boy needed a mosquito net.

She lamented: “Mosquitoes disturb us in my area a lot. The doctor gave me a mosquito-treated net. He instructed me to leave it in sunlight for three days, and then I will wash it before using it.”

Adebayo also admitted that the doctor prescribed Vitamin C for her baby and malaria and body pain medication for herself.

“They also advised me to do six months of exclusive breastfeeding for my baby. After that, I can give him any other food,” she highlighted.

For Mr Dele Timidare, an older resident of the host community, the discomfort in his eyes lured him to the health programme. Following his check, the optician gave

him a pair of eyeglasses. With the federal government warning that an estimated 55 million cases of malaria and nearly 90,000 malaria deaths occur each year in Nigeria, the Commander of NAF Hospital 661, Ikeja, Group Captain Muzzammil Muhammed, admonished the residents to maintain clean environments and protect themselves from having malaria.

He said: “Malaria is not only using mosquito nets but also keeping our environment clean.” The commander acknowledged that one of the sources of malaria is stagnant water.

“We have a lot of gutters and stagnant gutters in our environment, dust and dirt which serve as a breathing place for mosquitoes.”

In their aim to improve the lives of older people, the NAF medical outreach didn’t only distribute glasses to them.

The medical team also checked residents’ blood pressure and blood sugar and advised them on a balanced diet and age-appropriate food. Muhammed, however, enlightened and implored the older ones to avoid red meat, alcohol, sugar, and plenty of sugar.

“One thing is to advise and make sure they stick to it. At least, we can cut off a lot of cardiovascular diseases,” he pointed out.

Some of the services offered include vital signs. They check your temperature, blood pressure, height and weight, body max index, consultation, lab for investigation, and dental.

Others are checks for the eye, nutrition points for diabetic and hypertensive patients, preventive health points where the doctors dispensed vitamin A, among others, for children, and treated mosquito nets against malaria.

Mortein, Spar Nigeria Stores Collaborate on

Malaria Prevention

In commemoration of the 2023 World Malaria Day, Mortein Insecticide manufactured by Reckitt Nigeria has partnered with Spar Nigeria to further combat the spread of the malaria scourge in Nigeria.

The management team from Reckitt, recently signed the partnership agreement with Spar Stores at its head office in Ilupeju, in Lagos.

The partnership aims to raise awareness of the importance of preventive measures against malaria, a major health challenge in Nigeria. Mortein insecticide with it’s claim of “Killing 100% Mosquitoes” has been committed to eradicating malaria through its Fight to End Malaria Initiative in Nigeria.

Mortein will engage shoppers at Spar Stores around the country with flyers and instore communication materials with information on preventive measures against

malaria. This was revealed by the Head, External Communications & Partnership, Reckitt Sub-Saharan Africa, Cassandra Uzo-Ogbugh.

Speaking on the partnership, Uzo-Ogbugh noted the brand’s delight to partner with Spar Stores to further the fight against malaria in Nigeria, revealing that Mortein hoped to reach more people with its message of the importance of taking preventive measures against malaria.

She stated, “At Reckitt, our purpose drives our brands, and Mortein is driven by its purpose protect families from pest borne diseases like malaria.

“ This partnership with Spar Nigeria is part of our efforts to drive the awareness and education on malaria preventive measures such as the use of Insecticides, and proper sanitation to eradicate mosquitoes which are the

carriers of the disease.

Speaking on behalf of Spar Stores, Operations Manager, Spar, Danish Khan, said, “We are pleased with the efforts Mortein is taking by educating the public about malaria prevention to ensure malaria is kicked out.

“We are also happy to have this campaign in our other stores so that the message will reach more people because Spar cares about its shoppers and Nigerians and this is a good initiative we would like to encourage.”

As part of its Fight to End Malaria initiative, Mortein has also partnered with the Federal Ministry of Health through NMEP, the Lagos State Ministry of Health (LSMOH) and other state health agencies to foster malaria prevention education through TV infomercials, community engagement activities, digital education, and radio engagements.

Hilaria Asumu with her fellow councillors, Irfan Syed (R) and Josh Brooks (L) and MP for Worsley and Eccles South, Barbara Keeley (Centre)

Hilaria Asumu and her husband, Theophilus Asumu after the election results announcement

Analysts Doubt New Unemployment Template Will Change Reality

James Emejo

Analysts have expressed reservations that the introduction of revised concepts and methodology for computing labour statistics may just be a mere academic exercise with no impact on the current unemployment crisis in the country.

Recently the StatisticianGeneral of the Federation (SGF)/Chief Executive, National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), Semiu Adeniran, said the existing methodology and definition for the computation of the labour statistics had now become stale and inapplicable to the Nigerian situation currently - necessitating a review and launch of a new framework.

Adeniran said the new methodology and changes made to the jobs survey consisted of three major alterations in the definitions and concepts.

But analysts who spoke

in separate interviews with THISDAY said the new template is unlike to change the reality of Nigeria’s current unemployment crisis.

The last time the statistical agency released the country’s jobs data was in November 2021 when it made public the labour statistics for the fourth quarter of 2020.

The report stated that 23.18 million Nigerians were jobless while the unemployment rate was put at 33.3 per cent – which is still being referenced to date.

In May 2015, the statistical agency reset the methodology for determining unemployment in the country.

The exercise reduced the unemployment rate to 6.4 per cent as at fourth quarter of 2014.

The Unemployment rate would have been 24.3 per cent using its old method of calculation while the underemployment rate in the same period was put at 17.9 per cent.

Nonetheless, analysts said like the rebasing of the country’s GDP in the recent past, the new unemployment statistics is unlike to make any tangible alteration to the critical unemployment situation in the country.

Speaking, Wealth Management and Business Development Consultant, Mr. Ibrahim Shelleng, told THISDAY that in reality, all the revised methodology does is “just to change the basis of the statistics but does not solve the problem of unemployment.”

According to him, “It allows analysts to deep dive into the more realistic unemployment figures to aid in policy formulation but this will not suddenly create more employment by any means.”

Managing Director/Chief Executive, Dignity Finance and Investment Limited, Dr. Chijioke Ekechukwu, also pointed out that the template was unlikely to impact the dire unemployment situation.

Greenwich Quotes N12.2bn Maiden Commercial Paper on FMDQ

Sunday Ehigiator

In line with its commitment to providing bespoke financial solutions to its diverse clientele base, Greenwich Merchant Bank Limited officially quoted its maiden N10 billion ‘Series I & II’ Commercial Paper Issuance under its N100 Billion Commercial Paper Issuance Programme on the FMDQ Exchange Securities Limited

In a statement, the bank, said, “The Series I & II issuances which recorded a 22 per cent oversubscription with orders of N12.2 billion

intended to strengthen the bank’s working capital and liquidity to better meet the evolving needs of clients and offer more diversified financial products and services while sustainably optimizing returns for stakeholders in both public and private sectors.”

Speaking to the media during the ceremony, the Managing Director of the Bank, Mr Bayo Rotimi, reiterated the importance and positive impact the issuance has on catalyzing Nigeria’s socio-economic growth and

development.

He said, “As Nigeria’s last licensed merchant bank, we are gratified that our maiden issuance was received warmly.

It is a validation of our diversified investors’ confidence and trust in our future strategy as an institution.

“The issuance met our objective of raising shortterm working capital to help strengthen our stakeholder value and we remain committed to delivering innovative and cutting-edge financial solutions to discerning issuers and investors.”

Cascador Trains 45 Companies, Fellows Raised Over $23m in 4 Years

Cascador, an accelerator program for mid-stage entrepreneurs in Africa who are scaling mission-driven companies, has made a tremendous impact in the lives of dozens of business owners in the last four years of its operations in Nigeria.

Cascador has stated that its intervention in Nigeria has touched 45 organisations and they have collectively raised over $23 million in funds to grow and scale in different sectors of the economy.

This was revealed by Cascador’s Co-founder, Mr. Dave DeLucia during its Alumni

Dinner at the Radisson Blu in Victoria Island, Lagos recently.

DeLucia stated that Cascador was looking at doubling the number of beneficiaries and making a further impact on the country’s economy in the next 6 years. “In the next 4 to 6 years, we should have at least 100 companies in our alumni portfolio, helping each of them raise funds, improve their leadership and scale.”

Cascador Co-founder, Blessing Mene revealed that the accelerator program focuses on organisations that have successfully raised capital,

have strong annual revenues, and have a team of 10 or more employees in place who are ready to scale exponentially.

According to Mene, “The type of entrepreneurs we cater to should have $50,000 USD in annual revenue or more. They typically have 10 to 50 employees, 2-3 years of operation and a strong desire to scale.” Mene added, “Cascador helps more seasoned entrepreneurs who are trying very hard to grow by 10x and make a significant real-world impact.”

Zenith Exhibition Targets SME Industrial Start Ups

Gilbert Ekugbe

Organisers of the Equipment and Manufacturing West Africa (EMWA), Zenith Exhibition, has stated its trade fair scheduled to hold on May 30 to June 1, 2023 is expected to showcase Nigeria’s startups and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the nation’s industrial sector.

In a statement obtained from its website, ZE said as part of its effort to support the growth of SMEs and start ups in the country, SMEs can leverage its EMWA start up

zone package for free.

ZE said the start-up zone package is an initiative established to support the growth SMEs by creating a platform for the visibility of their products and services.

According to the organiser, successful applicants will get a free booth and exhibition space for them to showcase their innovations at the fair.

“The startup area brings original minds and pioneers together. This is the place to find the support needed for new ventures, products

L-R: Former Acting Managing Director , Bank of Industry, Waheed Olagunju; Non-Executive Director, Marble Capital Limited, Sikiru Rufai; Chairman, Marble Capital Limited, Ali Ango; Chief Executive Officer, Marble Capital Limited, Akeem Oyewale, and Group Chief Executive Officer, AFEX, Ayodeji Balogun, during official launch of Marble Halal Commodities Fund in Lagos... yesterday.

Money

and projects. It’s where people with exciting new ideas meet people excited by new ideas,” ZE said.

“Young entrepreneurs present their start-ups on a special area in the hall and show innovative ideas of the industry in their entire range. With the start-up zone, EMWA provides an excellent platform for networking and professional exchange. Visitors and established exhibitors benefit equally from fresh and surprising applications and solutions.”

OPEC DAILY BASKET PRICE AS AT 8 MARCH, 2023

The price of OPEC basket of thirteen crudes stood at $84.37 a barrel on Tuesday, compared with $84.59 the previous day, according to OPEC Secretariat calculations. The OPEC Reference Basket of Crudes (ORB) is made up of the following: Saharan Blend (Algeria), Girassol (Angola), Djeno (Congo), Zafiro (Equatorial Guinea), Rabi Light (Gabon), Iran Heavy (Islamic Republic of Iran), Basrah Medium (Iraq), Kuwait Export (Kuwait), Es Sider (Libya), Bonny Light (Nigeria), Arab Light (Saudi Arabia), Murban (UAE) and Merey (Venezuela).

Marble Capital Offers N3bn Halal Commodities Fund to Investors

Kayode Tokede

In a bid to provide investors with investment options and align with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to deepen the commodities market, Marble Capital Limited, yesterday offered to investing public a N3 billion Marble Halal Commodities Fund. The commodities Fund is domiciled in the agro-economic

and is the first commodities Fund to be approved by the Commission.

The company is offering for subscription 30,000,000 units of N100 each at par payable in full on application.

The Fund which primarily invests in commodities-linked instruments, operates based on the principles of Shari’ah and as such only invests in halal -certified investment

instruments. Speaking at the launching ceremony of the Fund in Lagos, the Executive Commissioner for Operations, SEC, Mr. Dayo Obisan, said that the launch of the fund would play a key role in the attainment of the 2015–2025 Nigerian Capital Market Master Plan of the Commission.

He noted that one of the cardinal points was for 25per cent of the market capitaliza-

tion to come from non-interest areas such as Marble Halal Commodities Fund.

Speaking earlier, the Chairman, Marble Capital Limited, Alhaji Ali Ango said the fund would be invested in a series of commodities-linked instruments, including gold and precious metals among others.

According to him, “The Fund is forward-looking and will be able to adapt to these

asset classes as they become available and are approved by the regulators.

“The launch was timely, especially, coming from the raging floods that ravaged Nigeria last year, prompting commodities exchanges not only to prioritize agriculture production but also processing and the act of off-taking which can add value.

“The Federal Government

has agreed to support the farmers who lost a lot last year. This is why the launch is timely.”

Also speaking was the Chief Executive Officer, Marble Capital Limited, Akeem Oyewale, who said the fund would enhance product diversification in the Nigerian economy while preventing loss of investments to Ponzi schemes and funny crowd funding programmes.

PRICES FOR SECURITIES TRADED ASOF MAY/09/23

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

NFIU Trains Gaming Operators on Anti-Money Laundering, Terrorism Financing Compliance

It was meant to be a warm handshake across the table between personnel from the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) and business owners in the gaming Eco-system, particularly drawn from members of the trade groups-Association of Nigeria Bookmakers (ANB), the umbrella body for Sports Betting companies, Nigeria Licensed Lottery Operators Forum, Casino and Gaming Machine Operators Association of Nigeria.

It was the second Training/ Interactive Session on Anti-Money Laundering Compliance, having previously carried out a similar exercise conducted by the Special Control Unit Against Money Laundry (SCUML), an arm of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Therefore, the training last Wednesday at a hotel in the Ikeja Central Business District was a continuation of the effort to alert operators in the gaming Sector to protect themselves from being used for laundering money or terrorism financing.

Money laundering and terrorism financing are crimes of global dimension and concern. The crimes cut across borders and have no jurisdictional limitations. No country can single-handedly develop measures to tackle money laundering and terrorism financing effectively.

The Executive Secretary of the ANB, Bimpe Akingba, clearly expressed the objective of the training.

“We want government agencies to know that we have nothing to hide. We want to help our members stay compliant so that we can conduct our business free from encumbrances. We don’t want them to see us in a bad light, especially now that there is a lot of focus on this sector,” stated Akingba.

The NFIU personnel, which included Biola Shodeinde, Peace Onuka, Robert Bagobiri and Lai Adewole, made it a very participatory meeting, thereby getting the trainees to understand the difference between money laundering and terrorism

ROBUST FIGHT AGAINST MONEY LAUNDERING…

attendees understood how to identify the three major stages of money laundering and terrorist financing: placement, layering and integration.

In the placement stage, ill-gotten funds are brought into the gaming sector. Sometimes smaller deposits below threshold levels are made to evade reporting. It may also be in the form of buying casino chips, later cashing them in, and treating the proceeds as winning. Regarding layering, bets are placed using other individuals and businesses to transact on their behalf. At the stage of integration, winnings are cashed out as clean money. The rest of the funds are also cashed out as clean money.

Some of the indicators brought to light at the forum include but were not limited to fraud, particularly (Yahoo Yahoo) otherwise known as internet scam, participating in organised crime, kidnapping (offenders kidnap their friends and then ask the family to pay ransom into a betting wallet), corruption through the political elite, trafficking in stolen goods and sexual exploitation.

Having thoroughly discussed the issues, some of the actions that the NFIU recommended for implementation included; having an AML compliance officer in every

operating business, incidentally when the section of the law that specifies punishment, including jail terms to defaulting companies/compliance officers, many at the training declined the responsibility, developing an AML policy programme, keeping records of transactions and insistence on betting by the rules. An important observation was made by the NFIU that there is an upsurge in betting activities each time there is a national election.

Carrying out such training as the NFIU had with operators in the gaming industry, designated as non-financial businesses and professions, helps them understand why it is necessary to file regular reports.

The relevant sections of the Money Laundering Prevention and Prohibition Act 2022 (MLPPA) were explained to participants, particularly Sections 7, 11, 18, 19 and 84. For instance, the operators were alarmed to learn that section 7 stipulates that they must pay N1 million every day a breach of that particular law section is committed. Yomi Oketope, the president of the Casino and Gaming Operators Association of Nigeria, said after the training, he doubted the possibility of any of his members defaulting against the laws.

financing. While money laundering describes an attempt to transform ill-gotten money into legitimate funds, terrorism financing can deploy clean and unclean funds. Money Laundering is the process by which criminals attempt to hide or disguise the origin and ownership of their ill-gotten wealth from: drugs trafficking, bribery, tax evasion, corruption, illegal oil bunkering and embezzlement. In effect, money laundering is about turning dirty money into clean money.

It was impressed on business owners in the gaming sector

why they regularly need to file Suspicious Activity Report (SAR) and Suspicious Transaction Report (STR). The importance of filing an STR immediately was emphasised. The trainers re-echoed the preeminence of confidentiality guiding the working relationship between NFIU and the operators while stating the principle leading to the establishment of Government Office Anti-Money Laundering, popularly known as GoAML, which automatically includes Nigeria among a network of 157 countries that have come together to fight against money laundering

and terrorism financing.  China Onwuka, president of the Nigeria Licensed Lottery Operators Forum, commended the NFIU, saying, “Your office has a great impact on how Nigeria is seen globally. Nigeria has not been removed from the list of countries susceptible to money laundering.”

The trainees also learnt why money laundering and terrorism financing is a second-degree offence, an intentional, premeditated crime, stressing that it is a global problem that adversely affects parts of the economy. At the end of the training,

Gateway to Growth in East African Sports Betting Industry

Recent reports have indicated that the majority of Kenyans between the ages of 17 and 35, approximately 70 per cent, have participated in sports betting. This places Kenya at the forefront of the sports betting boom in East Africa. However, according to a Price Waterhouse Coopers (PwC) report, neighbouring countries such as Uganda and Tanzania are not far behind in this trend. These markets provide regulated sports betting options with established relationships between operators and government regulators. With an increasingly youthful population of avid sports fans with access to mobile phones and the internet, this popular trend in sports betting seems to be gaining momentum. It is

not expected to slow down soon. Sports Betting East Africa+ Summit 2023 (SBEA+) offers a valuable platform for operators and providers seeking to enter the East African region. SBEA+ enables businesses to develop entry strategies that align with player preferences and regulatory compliance requirements by providing opportunities to form local partnerships and gain insight into local trends. While American and European operators and providers have long been interested in the East African sports betting market, many have struggled to establish a strong presence due to content misalignment, navigating regional compliance, ineffective marketing campaigns, and unsuccessful partnerships with local payment

providers.  SBEA+ aims to bridge this gap by connecting market experts with potential investors, ensuring a business can be conducted quickly and with minimal obstacles.

Set to hold on July 13 to 14 at the prestigious Kabira Country Club in Kampala, Uganda. This upcoming sports betting summit promises to be an exciting event. The summit is expected to draw leading figures from the local and international sports betting and iGaming industry, including operators, providers, investors, and regulators. Attendees can look forward to two days filled with scheduled networking opportunities, such as lunches, dinners, and cocktail evenings, as well as a carefully curated

Europa League Action Returns as PSG, Bayern Edge Closer to Domestic Success

Davidson Abraham

Italian giants Juventus and Roma are set to host Sevilla and Bayer Leverkusen, respectively, this evening in the Europa League. Both games have no clear favourites, and any sides could come out on top as we draw closer to the end of one of the best Europa League

campaigns in recent Memory. However, both games have been tipped to produce two goals each, at the very least.

Lazio is expected to routinely pick up all three points against Lecce on Friday. In the Bundesliga, Cologne is expected to beat Hertha Berlin in a game that could also end in a draw.

DATEFIXTURE BETTING TIPS

THU 11/05/2023 JUVENTUS VS SEVILLAOVER 1.5

THU 11/05/2023 ROMA VS BAYER LEVERKUSEN OVER 1.5

FRI 12/05/2023 LAZIO VS LECCE1

FRI 12/05/2023 COLOGNE VS HERTHA BERLIN 1x

selection of panel discussions and presentations designed to keep everyone abreast of the latest regional insights.  Moreover, an exhibition hall will showcase innovative products and services, including sportsbook software that is set to revolutionise the industry.

The Sports Betting East Africa+ Summit 2023 is a vital event for those interested in entering or expanding their presence in the East African sports betting market. Over the past eight years, SBEA+ has become renowned as a gateway to this lucrative market and a hub for deal-making, attracting industry leaders, including operators, providers, investors, and regulators from both local and international markets.

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

SAT 13/05/2023 LEEDS VS NEWCASTLE2X

SAT 13/05/2023 ASTON VILLA VS TOTTENHAM OVER 1.5

SAT 13/05/2023 REAL MADRID VS GETAFE1

SAT 13/05/2023 INTER VS SASSUOLO1

Owing to the fact that gaming businesses are prone to be used as avenues by criminals attempting to turn ill-gotten wealth to clean money, the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit recently held a mutual discussion with gaming operators to keep them abreast of the laws, writes Nseobong Okon-Ekong

Yomi Oketope, President, Casino and Gaming Machine Operators Association of Nigeria and Bimpe Akingba (r), Executive Secretary, Association of Nigerian Bookmakers

L-R Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit personnel; Robert Bagobiri, Layi Adewole and Peace Onwuka

ASPIRANTS FOR 10TH ASSEMBLY SPEAKERSHIP...

FG Justifies Award of N327.34bn Contracts Few Days to End of Tenure

Breakdown includes N129.8bn for Ogoni projects, FCT roads - N132.9bn, transportation - N12.63bn, aviation -N3.84bn

FEC considers 37 agenda items in a day Unveils 10-year national automotive industry plan

Deji Elumoye in Abuja

The federal government yesterday, justified the award of multi- billionnaira contracts for various ministries and agencies, less than three weeks to the end of President Muhammadu Buhari's administration, saying it would continue to approve contracts for award.

According to the Federal Executive Council (FEC), the administration remains in office and would work until the last day on May 28, 2023.

The explanation came after the FEC meetimg presided over by the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, at the State House, Abuja, considered 37 agenda items in a marathon session yesterday, before announcing the award of contracts in various sectors.

Answering reporters' questions on why the administration waited till last minute before churning out yesterday's contracts, the Minister of Transportation, Mu'azu Sambo, maintained that the administration would continue to perform its duties to May 28.

He said: "Without any intentions of mischief, this government was elected to function from 2019, to precisely 29th of May 2023. Should we now stop functioning one month before the next appointment because we’re coming to the end of the tenure?

"This government must work. We expect the next government to also work until the very last day of their tenure."

Also speaking, Minister of Water Resources, Sulaiman

Adamu, explained that contract processes take time, saying even if the administration cannot finish what it started, government being a continuum, would be the business of the incoming government.

According to him: "There are processes and this process have started. We're still operating the 2022 budget, we have agencies. These things are not just done in one day. We had lots of submissions to BPP to ICRC, all the agencies involved in the procurement, and they have to get ready.

"So, anytime they're ready, it's at that point that we have to submit. And like the Minister of Transportation said, we're still in office technically until the 28th of May. So, we still have to operate. And

ECOWAS Agree On $187m Capital Base for Regional Central Bank

Michael Olugbode in Abuja

Member countries of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) have agreed to put forward $187 million as capital base for the proposed Central Bank of West Africa.

This would make fund available for infrastructure development and solid liquidity of the region.

President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr. Omar Alieu Touray, disclosed this while presenting the status of the community at the ongoing First Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Parliament in Abuja, yesterday.

He said studies on the size and distribution of the capital and reserve pooling had been finalised, explaining however that, "the criteria for pooling reserve, the voting system and establishment of the solidarity and stabilisation fund for ECOWAS are still in progress."

Touray, lamented that the region is still grappling with the negative effects of the COVID-19 pandemic in terms of macroeconomic convergence.

He said: "The performance in terms of macroeconomic convergence of the member states, the

preliminary data from member States in 2022 showed negative impact of lingering effects of COVID-19 pandemic, the Russian-Ukraine war, which have put more pressure on member states performance in terms of macroeconomic convergence.”

He said the situation of the region deteriorated further in 2022, compared to 2021, adding that more work needs to be done towards meeting both the primary and secondary convergence criteria for the ECOWAS single currency.

He said that none of the member states met all the primary or secondary convergence criteria in 2022 same in 2021.

He disclosed that in response to the challenges facing the community, the commission had embarked on numerous activities and increased efforts towards Economic and Monetary Union as well as efforts to deploy the right infrastructure to address the deficits in the community as well as building bridges and the connectivity necessary for economic integration and improvement in the well-being of the people.

He revealed that other areas of interests where the commission has made great strides include investment in human capital

development in the community, humanitarian assistance to citizens who are victims of both man-made and natural disasters and promoting gender equality and youth empowerment.

this is the instruction that we have from Mr. President.

"Since the elections were conducted, that government must continue to function regardless of elections and so on. And so we're just doing our duty as we should serve in the country.

"We do not control the process, but when it's completed and we're still in office, we're duty-bound to bring these memos to Council for Council to approve. Government is a continuum. There are still a lot of memos.

"I can assure you a lot of contracts will not see the light of day in the next one week or two. And for those, we don't have any option but to let the process continue. And then for the next government to come and continue. That's what we face also.

"Some of the very first memos we brought to council in 2015, for me, I had no idea when they started, but I had to be briefed on, this was the way that it had to be and then we were brought in here. So, government is a continuum. And it should be seen as such.

"And I think this administration should be given that full credit because, to a large extent, we have continued since 2015, to implement projects and programs that we didn't initiate that which, in our assessment, were good for the country. We

continued them, we didn't jettison them, and we're confident that the incoming administration will do the same."

In all, contracts worth N327.34 billion were awarded by FEC at yesterday’s meeting. The breakdown included Transportation N12.63 billion; Sports N8.4 billion; Aviation N3.84 billion; Ogoni projects N129.8 billion; FCT N132.9 billion and IRS building purchase in Abuja and Port Harcourt N10 billion.

Also speaking, the presidential spokesperson, Mallam Garba Shehu, described the session as quite extraordinary, saying: "It's been a very long day for everyone, 37 agenda items were considered for today's meeting. Quite extraordinary."

Shedding more light on the contracts awarded, Shehu said two major projects for water project and remediation of newly identified hydrocarbon impacted cities were awarded for Ogoniland.

His words: "Two major contracts were approved for Ogoni. You know Ogoni is one of the flagships of the Buhari administration. And you're aware the whole world is watching Nigeria. There is water project that have been awarded under the second phase in Ogoniland amounting to N22.8 billion

"Approval was also given for

the contract for the remediation of the newly identified hydrocarbon impacted cites along the shorelines of Ogoniland, and this is for about N107 billion.

The spokesman further disclosed that several road projects were also approved for execution in the Federal Capital Territory ((FCT).

According to him: "The FCT also got quite a number of approvals. And these includes contract for the full scope development of the Shehu Shagari way, and it is for N91 billion. Another one is for rehabilitation of Rubochi township roads and upgrading of Rubochi-Gwagwalada road for about N5.7 billion.

"Council also approved N1.6 billion contract for the construction of 3.2km road leading to Kwali bridge in Kwali Area Council in the FCT. Another FCT contract is for the revised estimated cost for the provision of engineering infrastructure at Guzape District plot II of the FCT and the contract sum is N28 billion".

FEC also adopted a new 10-year national automotive policy that would run from 2023 to 2033. Minister of Trade and Investment, Niyi Adebayo, explained that the new policy would explore how the automotive industry can migrate seamlessly from combustible engines into electric solar powered engines.

Ernst & Young: How Our Services Build Trust in Nigeria’s Economy

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

Ernst & Young West Africa, yesterday reiterated the relevance of its auditing and consulting services to the Nigerian economy, stressing that its activities were helping to restore trust and confidence in business and government organisations.

Advisory Sector Leader, Government and Infrastructure, Joe Cosma, who spoke in Abuja when the company hosted some of its clients and stakeholders to a meeting in its new office opposite the NNPC headquarters in Abuja, noted that the operating environment in African countries basically remain the same.

On his assessment of the level of public and private partnership in the country, he noted that it had continued to mature, but admitted

that the process had been slow.

“ It is maturing, it's growing. It's not where it should be, but it needs to continue to grow. We are all in the starting phases, or somewhere in the middle phases, but more needs to be done on both sides, not just from government, but from the private sector as well,” he said.

Cosma opined that African businesses needed to do more in terms of international exposure, explaining however that there has been a drastic change in the outlook of many African businesses and economies.

“ I would say we need to see more African businesses coming out of Africa going international. That to me is the beginning of growth and it is the beginning of maturing of our economies,

rather than companies coming inside, but we still have quite a long way to go.

“ There's been a drastic change in the economies of Africa. I think they're moving in the right direction. Sometimes a bit slowly, but they're all moving. They're all maturing, and they're starting to do the right things,” he added.

“ We do audit and audit will provide that level of confidence to our clients, to their shareholders, to the other stakeholders. So, auditing will always be there, because it's needed by all those stakeholders. It’s simple, straightforward,” he stressed.

On his part, the Chief Operating Officer, West Africa, Ernst & Young, Busiayo Layade, noted that challenges faced by the companies operating on the continent are

similar, explaining that issues that affect its clientele also indirectly affect the company.

“We work within Nigeria. So the same challenges many other companies face in terms of fuel scarcity, the foreign exchange rate, costs going up, all those things affect our clients and as they affect our clients, they affect us.

“But what we do to surmount it is that professionalism is at our core, and we look beyond giving excuses. So we ensure that we let the client know that there's a challenge you're facing and we have spotted the challenge for you.

“As business advisors, we advise on how we are going to help you to ensure that you surmount those challenges. So for us, we analyse a situation and we provide those solutions,” he stated.

L-R: Senator Elect, Hon. Mohammed Monguno; Speakership Aspirant, Sada Soli, Chairman, House Committee on Appropriation/Speaker Aspirant, Muktar Betara and Deputy Speaker/Speakership Aspirant, Ahmed Idris Wase, during the Betara's Speakership declaration for the 10th Assembly in Abuja ... yesterday

N22bn Fraud: EFCC Arrests, Detains Ex-Power Minister, Sale Mamman

Anti-graft agency arrests internet fraudster over $268,000 following petition from US As court dismisses Anambra Govt suit challenging EFCC's powers to probe its finances

Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja

A former Minister of Power, Sale Mamman, was yesterday arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Competent sources told THISDAY that the former minister was taken into custody at the headquarters of the commission following his arrest in the early hours of yesterday, May 10, 2023.

The arrest is said to be in connection with the commission’s ongoing investigation into alleged corruption in the execution of some power projects.

Specifically, Mamman is alleged to have conspired with staff of the Ministry in charge of the accounts of the Zungeru and Mambilla Hydro Electric Power projects and diverted N22 billion, which they shared amongst themselves.

THISDAY gathered that the investigations also uncovered properties in Nigeria and overseas linked to the suspects while millions of naira and United States dollars were recovered.

In a related development, operatives of the Benin Zonal Command of the commission arrested Precious Ojo, aka Obago, a suspected internet fraudster in Oghara, Delta State.

The 26 year-old was arrested following a petition received from a United States citizen on his fraudulent activities.

The petitioner had alleged that the suspect impersonated one Raymond Bush, who works in the US Treasury to defraud her

of $268,000.00.

The suspect was arrested at his hotel in Oghara. He confessed to building the luxury hotel with his alleged proceeds of crime.

Other items recovered from him include a Mercedes-Benz car with personalised plate number and mobile phones.

An EFCC statement said the suspect would be arraigned in court soon.

Meanwhile, a Federal High Court sitting in Awka, Anambra State, yesterday dismissed a suit filed by the Anambra State government challenging EFCC's power to investigate its finances, describing it as factually and forensically lacking in merit.

A statement signed by Spokesman of EFCC, Wilson Uwujaren, said the State government had approached the court presided over by Justice Nnamdi Dimgba to determine whether under the federal system of government, with the constitutional doctrine of separation of powers, "the appropriation, disbursement and or administration of funds belonging to a state government is subject to investigation by the EFCC being an agency of the federal government".

In a suit number FHC/ AWK/ CS/ 22/ 2022 filed by Government of Anambra State ( 1st Plaintiff) and Attorney- General of Anambra State( 2nd Plaintiff) against the EFCC( 1st Defendant) and Attorney - General of the Federation( 2nd Defendant), the Plaintiffs sought resolutions of the following eight questions:

Whether under the federal system of government established by Section 2 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), and the doctrine of separation of powers established and provided by Sections 4, 5 and 6

thereof, the appropriation, disbursement and or administration of funds belonging to the government of a state is subject to investigation by the 1st Defendant as an agency of the Federal Government; Whether the power of the 1st

Defendant, as an agency of the federal government, is not restricted to the matters set out in the Exclusive Legislative List contained in Part I of the Second Schedule to the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended); whether

the appropriation, disbursement and or administration of funds belonging to the government of a state are not matters within the concurrent Legislative List contained in Part II of the Second Schedule of the 1999 Constitution.

Osun: Oyetola Submits to S’Court Verdict, Congratulates Adeleke

Says present situation a win-win for Osun APC Ruling affirms power resides with people, Diri declares

Former Osun State Governor, Adegboyega Oyetola, has accepted Tuesday's ruling of the Supreme Court, which upheld the election of Senator Ademola Adeleke as the Governor of the state.

Oyetola, in a statement personally signed by him, said although, the verdict of the Apex Court was against the wish of his party's members and supporters, he accepted it in the interest of peace and development of the state.

The former governor urged members of his political party, the All Progressives Congress, APC, his supporters and those,

who voted him during the July 16 2022 governorship election, to accept the judgement as the will of God and move on.

"We strongly believe we presented a good case before the Supreme Court but the Court thought otherwise and has given its verdict. While the outcome is against our wish and that of our party members and supporters, we are all bound to accept it as law-abiding citizens.

"To our members and supporters across the state, I urge you all to accept the verdict of the court and move on. The present situation is a win-win for us. It's both a loss and victory rolled into

NOSAK Group Appoints Rahman Group Chief Operating Officer

The Board of Directors for Nosak Group has appointed Mr. Deji Rahman as its Group Chief Operating Officer (GCOO).

In his new role, he would be responsible for implementing key business strategies for business growth, optimising operational capabilities, and building a sustainable corporate organisation.

According to a statement, Rahman joined Nosak Group as Group Head of Strategy in 2014.

“Based on his strategic directives, the Group restructured its business, to focus on three

strategic sectors, Starch and Derivatives, Oils and Fats, and Treasury & Asset Management, where it possessed a competitive edge.

“Later in 2022, he was appointed as Group Chief Strategy Officer to strengthen the organisation's strategic position. His new position is owed to his influence on the company's strategic repositioning and his immense contributions to implementation of organisational goals,” the statement added.

Prior to joining the Group, Rahman worked as the Head,

Capital Market, Business Times Newspaper (in the Daily Times Group), the Head, Research, Financial Standard Newspaper, the Head, Research & Strategy, F & C Securities Limited (now FCSL Asset Management), and the Coordinator, Market Research & Intelligence in the Strategy Group, Fidelity Bank Plc.

He has led and participated in several strategic and transformation initiatives, including the Fidelity Bank SME project.

He graduated from the University of Lagos with a bachelor's and

master's degrees in economics. He is a member of the Advertising Practitioner Council of Nigeria, the Nigeria Economic Society, and the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations. Additionally, he has taken several strategy courses abroad and in Nigeria. His professional background includes work in the media, consultancy, stockbroking, banking, manufacturing, as well as business editorials. He is the author of the book, “Circus of the Absurd,” which has enjoyed critical reviews in the media.

one. While we lost Osun technically, we gained Nigeria," he said.

Oyetola, who asked the APC members and supporters not to feel sad and depressed over the decision of the court, encouraged them to brace up for the tasks ahead of the party. He also appreciated the leadership of the party in the state and at the national level for their commitment and support throughout the period of the legal tussle.

"I remain committed to the growth and development of Osun. I will therefore continue to work with well-meaning citizens of Osun, associations and institutions to facilitate development to our dear State. Similarly, I urge all citizens of Osun to continue to exhibit the Omoluabi ethos and uphold the dreams of our forebears for the state, irrespective of party affiliations.

"To the Osun Governor, Senator Ademola Nurudeen Jackson Adeleke, I take this opportunity to congratulate you on your victory at the Supreme Court. While I pray for your tenure to be prosperous for our people and the state, I urge you to focus on delivery of good governance.

"Politics aside, time has come to let you know that the interest of the masses must be most paramount without any restriction or discrimination whether based on political persuasion, creed or

religion. Whatever personal differences we have must give way to the advancement of our great State. The security of Osun people must be guaranteed regardless of their religious and political affiliations. I pray for peace and progress in your tenure," Oyetola added.

Meanwhile, the Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has said the ruling of the country’s apex court on the Osun State governorship election was an affirmation that power in a democracy resided with the people.

Diri, while congratulating Adeleke in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Daniel Alabrah, expressed joy that the Supreme Court sealed the mandate freely given to the governor by the Osun people. He also said the verdict reflected the current mood of the country, where those whose stock-in-trade was to promote electoral violence and subvert the will of the people have no place in the electoral system.

He expressed the hope that introduction of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) would instill more confidence in the electoral process, urging the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deepen Nigeria’s democracy by also introducing electronic voting and transmission of polling results.

Yinka Kolawole in Osogbo

INAUGURATION OF THE 150 MILLION STANDARD CUBIC FEET IBEFUN NATURAL GAS CITY-GATE...

L-R: The Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Rite Foods Limited, Sulaiman Adebola Adegunwa; Governor Dapo Abiodun and the Managing Director, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Gas Marketing Limited, HRM Justin Ezeala during the commissioning of the 150 Million Standard Cubic Feet Ibefun Natural Gas City-Gate in Odogbolu Local Government area of the state...on Tuesday

MULTICHOICE FILM AND TELEVISION STAKEHOLDERS ENGAGEMENT EVENT...

Tinubu Departs Nigeria for Europe on Working Visit

Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja

Exactly 16 days after he returned to the country from France, where he had gone to rest, the President-elect, Bola Tinubu, yesterday, left Nigeria for Europe on a working visit.

In a statement by the Office of the President-elect and signed by Tunde Rahman, the specific country that the president-elect was visiting was not mentioned.

Tinubu returned to Nigeria on April 24, after a one-month rest in France. He had left the country for France on Tuesday, March 21 to rest and plan the transition programme ahead of his inauguration on May 29.

His media office had in a statement in March, explained that the president-elect decided to take a

break after the hectic campaign and election season to rest in Paris and London, preparatory to going to Saudi Arabia for Umrah (Lesser Hajj) and the Ramadan Fasting.

The statement also added that while away, the president-elect would also use the opportunity to plan his transition programme.

But after returning to the country, Tinubu held a series of meetings with party leaders and stakeholders to work out the zoning arrangement for the 10th National Assembly leadership. The zoning arrangement was currently causing ripples within the party.

While in the country, the president-elect's only public engagement was his two-day visit to Port Harcourt, Rivers State, where

he commissioned the Rumuola/ Rumuokwuta Flyover and the ultra-modern Magistrates’ Court Complex.

Meanwhile, Rahman said the president-elect would use the opportunity of the trip to finetune the transition plans and programmes, and his policy options with some of his key aides without unnecessary pressures and distractions.

He further noted that during the visit, the president-elect would engage with investors and other key allies with the goal of marketing investment opportunities in the country and his administration’s readiness to enable a businessfriendly climate through policies and regulations.

He said Tinubu hoped to convince them of Nigeria’s readiness

to do business under his leadership through mutually-beneficial partnerships premised on jobs creation and skills acquisition.

Rahman said, already, meetings with multi-sectoral actors in Europe’s business community including manufacturing, agriculture, tech and energy have been lined up.

According to him, Reviving the country’s economy formed a major plank of Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda and the meeting was part of his efforts to re-establish Nigeria’s importance in the global economic chain and create empowering opportunities for the country’s huge youth population.

Rahman stressed that the president-elect had hitherto promised to hit the ground running,

Obi, LP Back Atiku on Live Broadcast of Presidential Proceedings

Alex Enumah in Abuja

The presidential candidate of Labour Party (LP), Mr Peter Obi, has declared full support for his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) counterpart, Atiku Abubakar's request for a live broadcast of the court proceedings of the 2023 presidential election cases.

Obi's position was made known by his lead lawyer, Dr Levi Ozoukwu, SAN, shortly after yesterday's court session.

Speaking with journalists outside the courtroom, Ozoukwu noted that Atiku's request was not novel. He said the current situation in the country had made live broadcast of court sittings imperative, and as such, Obi and the Labour Party would give their full support to Atiku and PDP at the hearing of the application.

According to him, live broadcast of the proceedings would enable, "Nigerians have first hand information on the goings-on" at the tribunal, adding that it would also clear whatever doubts in the minds of Nigeria regarding the proceedings.

Ozoukwu noted that live broadcast of courts proceedings was initiated by the colonial masters but was later jettisoned by politicians, when the country gained independence.

Arguing that the realities on the ground supported live broadcast, Ozoukwu pointed out that the courtroom was too small and

could hardly accommodate 200 persons. He said this was a far cry of a reasonable representation of the people.

Meanwhile, the Presidential Election Petition Court, yesterday, adjourned by one week, proceedings in a petition Obi against the election of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

The adjournment, which was at the instance of all parties in the matter, was aimed at achieving expeditious hearing of the petition.

Monday's inaugural sitting of the court had asked parties to harmonise their processes, agree on applications they would be objecting to and those they were not objecting and adjourned to Wednesday for continuation of pre-hearing session.

But at the resumed pre-hearing, counsel to Obi and LP, Ozoukwu, informed the court that due to the outstanding applications yet to be filed and served among parties, they had all agreed to seek a week adjournment to enable them file and exchange necessary briefs so that there would be no hiccups at the pre-hearing session.

His proposition was confirmed by Mr Abubakar Mahmoud, SAN, counsel to INEC; Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN, representing Tinubu and his deputy, Senator Kashim Shettima, and Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, representing the APC.

In a short ruling, Justice Haruna Tsammani fixed Wednesday, May 17, for continuation of pre-hearing, add-

ing that parties should endeavour to harmonise all processes to fastrack hearing in the petition.

In a related development, barely 48 hours after the Action Alliance (AA) withdrew its petition challenging the declaration of APC's candidate, Bola Tinubu, as winner of the presidential election, another party, the Action People's Party (APP), yesterday, followed suit.

Five out of the 18 political parties that contested the February 25 presidential election had approached the Presidential Election Petition Court to challenge the emerge of Tinubu as President-elect.

The petitioners, included the

AA, APP, Labour Party, Allied People's Movement (APM) and PDP. They had hinged their petitions on grounds ranging from non-compliance, corrupt practices and other malpractices. While some of them claimed they won the poll and should be declared winner by the court, others seeking the cancellation of the poll and a fresh one conducted.

At the inaugural sitting of the court on Monday, AA, which had hinged its petition on ground of exclusion, withdrew it and it was, subsequently, dismissed by the court.

adding that the visit was reflective of his commitment to the promise as he has already begun talks with global actors in the important areas of the economy and security.

Before he left the country, Tinubu met with the House of Representa-

tives candidates for Speaker and Deputy Speaker endorsed by his party, the All Progressives Congress, Hon. Tajudeen Abbas and Hon. Benjamin Kalu, who were presented to him by the Joint Task Team of the House.

El-Rufai: Banditry in N’West Threat to Rural Communities’ Economy

John Shiklam in Kaduna

Kaduna State Governor, Nasir ElRufai, has said the activities of bandits and terrorists were threatening the economy of rural communities in the North-west.

Addressing a quarterly security meeting of State Directors of the Department of State Services (DSS) in the North West yesterday in Kaduna, the governor said bandits had openly tried to crush the rural economy by attacking farmers on their farms and in their homes, and that the criminals were a threat to both rural and urban communities.

The governor, who was represented by the Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, lamented that in many states in the north, the criminals continued to menace some highways.

“Many northern states – not least our states in the Northwest – are confronting a unique set of security challenges. Criminal activities by bandits have threatened both rural and urban communities.

“Bandits have openly tried to crush the rural economy by attacking farmers in their fields, and in their homes. In many states, these criminals continue to menace some highways,” the governor said.

has yielded positive results in the fight against the criminals.

“Here in Kaduna State, especially over the last 18 months, we welcomed the intensification of ground and air action against the bandits, and we are most grateful to the federal security agencies for these operations and the successes recorded,” the governor said.

According to him, “Hundreds of bandits have been neutralised and numerous camps destroyed.”

El-Rufai said the achievements recorded in the fight against the criminals, were largely a result of the close cooperation and support built between the state government and the DSS.

He recalled that, “During the last quarterly session of State Directors of Security held here nearly two years ago, we highlighted the importance of collaboration in the framework of security management.

“That importance has not diminished. If anything, it is even more pertinent as we seek to amplify our localised successes across the Northwest.

“While we commend the unprecedented levels of collaboration over the common challenge of rural banditry and terrorism, one fact stands out clearly: the fight against banditry and terrorism in our states, has become even more condensed into one fight. Continues online

He however, said the synergy between the DSS, other security agencies and the state government,

Imo State Govt Makes History as Osinbajo Flags Off Oguta Lake/ Orashi River Dredging Project

History will be made in Imo State today as the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo is visiting the state to flag off the hypographic survey/ dredging of sea route from Oguta Lake to the Atlantic Ocean. The survey which is a precursor to the clearance of the entire route from Oguta Lake to Orashi River to Degema and the Atlantic ocean was initiated by Governor Hope Uzodimma to open up the economic corridor in the south-east and enhance maritime security in the Niger Delta region.

It would be executed under the partnership of the Nigerian Navy with the consortium of international companies, essentially a Private Public Partnership (PPP) arrangement.

In a statement by the Imo State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Hon Declan Emelumba, the flag off ceremony would be done by Osinbajo. According to him, dignitaries expected at the ceremony include the Chief of Defence Staff, General lucky Irabor; Chief of Naval Staff,

Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo and Minister of Trade Investment, Otunba Niyi Adebayo, and minister of Transport, Mr. Mu'azu Sambo.

Emelumba, said the ceremony which would hold at Oguta Naval base by 12 Noon on Thursday, May 11,2023, is a culmination of efforts by Uzodimma to reinvigorate the economy of the state and the South-east.

He also said the dredging would aid security agencies in the discharge of their duties,

especially in checking illegal oil bunkering and oil theft.

The commissioner said with the granting of approval by the federal government for the commencement of the dredging, both the federal and state governments would have a new lease of life in enhanced revenue and improved security.

He therefore commended President Muhammadu Buhari and the Nigerian Navy for the positive roles they played to make the project a reality.

L-R: President, Directors’ Guild of Nigeria, Dr. Victor Okhai; Channel Head, Africa Magic, ; Evi Odafe-Ejumedia; Executive Head, Productions, Africa Magic, Victor Sanchez Agahowa, Executive Head, Content and West Africa Channels, Dr. Busola Tejumola, and Director-General, National Film and Video Censors Board at the MultiChoice Film, Alh. Adedayo Thomas, at the MultiChoice Film and Television, Stakeholders Engagement Event in Lagos... yesterday

Court adjourns over non-filing, service of outstanding processes APP withdraws petition against Tinubu

CHAPEL HILL DENHAM CONFERENCE ON INVESTING IN DEVELOPMENT IN LAGOS...

Wase recalled that the leadership of the party summoned lawmakers-elect to a meeting after the presidential election, where the aspirants were encouraged to slow down their campaigns till after the governorship election. He said while they awaited another meeting with the leaders of the party on the zoning arrangement for the leadership positions, it never come to fruition.

Wase also told the APC national chairman, "What was on social media, again, was the zoning and the microzoning to particular individuals. As I speak to you, sir, I want to say categorically that none of us here was approached or consulted even for a second to find our opinion and thought on what was going to be done or what has happened."

Describing the decision of the party not to consult as unfortunate, Wase said that was the crux of matter.

He said, “We feel betrayed by that action. We feel as if our contributions are not recognised, we feel as if we are not members of this family. We feel that we have given our best but now the best is no longer needed.”

Wase said he had told Gbajabiamila that he misled the president-elect on the choice of the speaker. He explained

that Tinubu was not behind the choice of Abass.

Wase stated further, "We are here to protest and to appeal to you to go again to look into this matter. That what had been ushered out will not stand. And we are disciplined party people. I want to say, too, in 2019, Your Excellency, I was going in for speakership.

“I was pretty sure I was going to win. Leaders of the party called me, including the president, and appealed to me to step down for Hon. Femi. I did that and that was how I came in to take the position of the deputy speaker. I want to say that what has happened, I think that they are taking us for granted.

"We do not want a repeat of what has happened in the past. We should not forget about the "Tambuwalisation" of what happened in the House of Representatives. We should not forget about the emergence, how Saraki became the senate president. The party as of today, we do not have the majority to be that arrogant, and we should take people for granted."

A member of the House from Borno State, Muktar Betara, said at the meeting that there was no time two presiding positions were zoned to the same zone.

Betara, who had been endorsed for Speaker by a coalition of former

members of the House of Representatives, stated, "We are not against our leaders, but if we should sit down and say sit among yourselves and pick somebody you think you can work with, it is easy.

“But the person, the speaker (Gbajabiamila) is trying to even pick, there are some of our colleagues that don't know him. That's the truth, I am not lying. If today the party says we zone to the North-west, I have to sit and think because now the party is zoning the deputy senate president and the speaker to the same zone.

"We have been in this Assembly, there is no time two presiding officers are zoned to one area. It has never happened. And in our discussion here, on our inauguration day, it's what happens in the Senate that will determine what is going to happen in the House.

"So, we need to sit down and look at it. We might produce the senate president from a different zone. It happened in 2015. So, as a party, we are pleading, we need to sit again with all of us and do more consultations."

Betara, who denied allegations of anti-party activities, said, "Another thing I need to clear here, sir, somebody told me that the same group is saying I gave money to a presidential aspirant. So, if there is

any transfer to anybody, the banks are there.

“I want to still tell you as leaders, if I should give money to a presidential aspirant and he wins, what is he going to give me. My own, I want to become speaker in my party. If another party wins, can I become speaker? No. So, we don't need to blackmail ourselves. Politics is about give and take.”

Responding, Adamu assured the lawmakers that the party would embark on further consultations and get back to them. He stressed that the statement issued by the party clearly stated that the party leadership would endeavour to do more consultations so that everyone would be carried along.

The APC national chairman said, "There is nothing we do that may not be challenged here and there. But let us be able to attain the best possible consultation with people, giving them their right of fair hearing, before we can say, yes, we are changing positions or we are not changing positions.

"I plead with you in good conscience to give us a little time to take a good and better look at your presentation and open our ears and our eyes the more to hear more and see more before we can come with finality of your submission and

DANGOTE: NNPC CAN BECOME AFRICA’S SAUDI ARAMCO WITH RIGHT DECISIONS

He added: "Today, we lifted 501,000 barrels of oil bringing our total lifting this year alone to 2.6m barrels of oil. I am a great beneficiary of the new NNPC."

In his remarks at the event, Kyari said the challenges facing the oil and gas industry globally have made it compelling for the NNPC to come with more ingenious ways of doing things.

He admitted that there have been challenges with security and underinvestment in recent times, adding that with the passage of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) the NNPC had been better positioned to create value for Nigerians.

He said: “The crux of the industry is to make sure the upstream industry works. If the upstream works, there would be cash in the country. We are in cash crunch in the country today, we are in forex crunch today because the upstream has not gotten to a level where we can have surplus to support the economy.

“And the reason is because we have challenges of security, decarbonisation issues, energy transition, and reluctance of finance institutions to lend.

“The practicality of all these is that there is difficulty in having access to capital today and this is very obvious, the whole world is lamenting today and there is absolute supply gap in gas in the market in the short term and for a while to come and everyone is taking a step backwards on what could be done to arrest the situation.

“As a company, NNPC is leading this process, we are required to ensure that production cost is optimum,

we have interest in nearly every business in the upstream sector and even in the midstream and our performance determines what happens in the industry. We are in a position to go back to normalcy.

“Production target that we have kept over the years of 2 million barrels are realisable but have remained on the powerpoint and this is the time to take them off the powerpoint and resolve the insecurity, investment and financing issues.”

As a national oil company, Kyari said the NNPC must cooperate with its partners to solve the energy challenges facing the country.

He stressed that it was only through collaborative efforts with its stakeholders and partners that the NNPC can guarantee energy for the nation’s industrialisation.

Kyari added, “We can solve the problem of energy poverty in the country, we can also support the rest of the world particularly West African countries to resolve the energy crisis that we are facing today.

“We can also help to resolve the issue of food security and by doing this, we will make more money for the country and businesses make more money.

“We will invest in power and we are doing it and we believe that at the end of the day, we will create sufficient power for the country so that industries will spring up everywhere and create that prosperity that we desire.

“We have the best of workforce that we have anywhere in the world and we have seen many things that they have done. This means that our short term is real, our short term is

achievable and as a company, we will satisfy the requirements of our partners and shareholders.

“Our performance will speak for our us and our country and this is what we are focused on doing, we will work with you, we will work with the industry, we will work with our partners, we will work with our shareholders and ultimately, we will deliver value in a short time of three years and this is sufficient to bring all the value on the table.

“We are getting all the support from the security agencies to make sure this works and we are getting maximum cooperation and we will overcome the security challenges and this company will deliver value for all of us.”

In his speech , Tombomieye said the enactment of the PIA came with so many expectations for NNPC, which has been transformed into a fully commercial entity.

He said the oil and gas reserve base in Nigeria was enormous as available data indicates that the current crude oil and condensates production of 1.210 million barrels per day as of April had fallen short of the desired aspirations of 1.395 mmbopd for NUIMS.

According to him, additional effort would be required to meet the objectives of growing reserves, oil and gas production, and monetising the subsurface resources.

He said: “There is no gainsaying that several challenges have bedevilled our operations over time, ageing facilities, obsolete technologies, evacuation challenges, high production cost, inadequate workforce, inadequate funding.

“NUIMS has consistently demonstrated the zeal to overcome some of these challenges, as depicted in the recent strides for the emplacement of the industry-wide Security architecture, which has assisted in restoring production in some corridors.

“We are no longer in the powerpoint era, and you must channel your energy towards reducing costs and growing production and revenue. Nigerians are watching us, and we must remain accountable to them.

“The Board and Management of NNPC Limited have tasked us with specific deliverables. We have executed the KPIs with timelines on when to deliver and can no longer afford to return with excuses to our principals for non-performance.

“Let us consider ourselves partners in progress, and every contribution is for the collective good of the company. Knowing fully that the strength of a chain is at its weakest link, we must strive to support each other on this journey of making the upstream directorate the shining light of the company as it has always been.

“

In his address of welcome, Wunti said NUIMS currently has over $60 billion assets under its management which has positioned it effectively to contribute significantly to the development of the Nigerian economy. We have assets under management that are $60 billion and out of these assets, we are expected to produce so much hydrocarbon in a very difficult environment and that hydrocarbon we will produce tends to achieve the things NNPC has set as responsibility.

the outcome of it. I thank you for your approach.”

AKEREDOLU: APC’S ZONING OF NASS LEADERSHIP SKEWED, UNJUST, TARGETED AGAINST SOME ZONES, INDIVIDUALS in the House, hence, the need to have everyone to agree with such a zoning template.

Adanu said, equally “important, you should know this is a party, you organise and you are here and you didn't follow the backdoor to talk to us; you have come straight to us. I, on behalf of my colleagues, we appreciate you. I want to assure you that God in his infinite mercy will guide us to ensure that we do what is acceptable to all.

"We will re-invite you in due course after the National Assembly election, we would invite all senators and House of Reps-elect. And by the time of that meeting with you at Banquet Hall, a number of you had started canvassing for these positions you are interested in and I remember vividly, I did advise that the meeting was not to talk about zoning.

"This a controversial subject matter. Every National Assembly regime has always been a controversy. For those who have been following the history, it is a matter for us to sit and take a look at what is going on and to be honest to ourselves, honest with the country and to our party and we hope to get to the promise land."

Attempt to Foist Leadership Will Be Resisted, Group Warns

Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) warned that any attempt to foist a National Assembly leadership on the country would be completely resisted.

Spokesperson of the group, AbdulAzeez Suleiman, while addressing a press conference yesterday in Abuja, called on the leadership of APC to reclaim its statesmanship by immediately reversing the decision on Akpabio and Abbass. Suleiman said the leadership of the ruling party should set the stage for the emergence of a credible National Assembly leadership through democratic elections by its members as enshrined in the constitution.

It described as ridiculous, contradictory and shameful for the APC, which stoutly resisted the temptation to limit the contest for the presidential ticket to zoning and opted for democratic primaries, to now confine the democratic space for the selection of the senate leadership.

The group added that it was unreasonable and irresponsible for the party to suggest that a set of eminent personalities carefully elected by their respective constituencies as senators and representatives in the federal legislature could not democratically elect leaders for themselves.

It called on Tinubu to watch his back and guard against "entrenched Judases” whom it said were bent on pitting him against democracy, against popular national will and against such regions as the North, which made massive sacrifices to keep the nation united and push it past a critical turning point by working to ensure his victory at the February presidential poll.

Abass: We're Making Efforts to Pacify Aggrieved Aspirants

The consensus candidate of the ruling APC for House of Representatives Speaker in the 10th National Assembly, Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, said efforts were being made to pacify co-aspirants, who were aggrieved by the party’s zoning arrangement. Abass, speaking at a meeting of a group of members-elect, called "Joint Task 10th Assembly”, Abbas said he was elated that APC chose him to be the next speaker of the House based on competence.

In attendance were Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, and Hon. Ben Kalu (Abia), who was nominated for Deputy Speaker. There were among other ranking lawmakers, like Hon. James Faleke, Hon. Wale Raji, Hon. Bello Kumo, Hon. Princess Boma, Hon. Victor Nwokolo, Hon. Julius ihonvbere, Hon. Tunji Olawuyi, Hon. Jubrin Abdulmumin, and Hon. LekeAbassAbejide.disclosed that efforts were being made to pacify the aggrieved aspirants. He said, together with Kalu, they would be unveiling a 16-point agenda containing all the plans and programmes they have for the institution of the House.

Abass stated, “I feel elated, I feel inspired, because I believe that if the party is going to use competence as its yardstick, I’m the right person to actually be picked. So, for the fact that they did what I expected them to do, I feel very elated; I feel very satisfied. We are in the process (of reconciling with aggrieved aspirants).

“We have reached out to so many (of them), and we will continue reaching out to all of them. Before the end of next week, I assure you, all the candidates and all the contestant, we will beg them. We will ask them to come on board so that we can work for the good of the institution.

“Please, I will ask you to wait a little. By next week, we are going to do our official declaration. So, we will come out with our 16-point agenda. With that agenda, you will see all the areas we are going to work on in the 10th Assembly. I welcome you. I invite you to the declaration, which will take place next week. We will give you the date. Then, you will know what we have for members, what we have for this country.”

Kalu said he felt good that APC considered him to go for Deputy Speaker, adding that the nomination would change the dynamics of politics in South-east come 2027.

Kalu stated, “The South-east is going to feel the power of cohesion and national loyalty. It is going to be driven by virtue of this that has taken place. It was a wise decision to include the South-easterners in the structure of the government that is being formed.

“It will change the dynamics come 2027, because an energetic young man, who believes in the party, in the supremacy of the party and loyalty to the party, has been called up to stand on the platform to energise the zone for progress, unity and prosperity of the nation."

L-R: Partner, Chapel Hill Denham, Phil Southwell; CEO, Bolaji Balogun; CEO, MTN Nigeria, Karl Toriola,; Deputy Mission Director, USAID/Nigeria, Sara Werth; Ex-Chairman, KPMG Africa;, Kunle Elebute, Kadaria Ahmed, and Managing Director, Investment Banking, Lanre Buluro, at Chapel Hill Denham conference on Investing in Development in Lagos ... yesterday.

BIBLE SOCIETY OF NIGERIA VISITS ARISE NEWS…

Seven Dead, Others Hospitalised after Drinking Tea in Kano

Ibrahim Shuaibu in Kano

No fewer than seven people were reported to have died and several others hospitalised after drinking tea suspected to have been prepared with a local leaf popularly known as Zakami at a wedding ceremony in Kano.

Zakami contains a psychoactive substance.

The incident happened on Tuesday in the Sheka area of Kumbotso Local Government Area of Kano State.

One of the witnesses, Mr. Sanusi Yahaya, who is also an elder brother of the bride, said that the tea was suspected to be made with different types of

drugs apart from the local leaf.

Yahaya said that it had become a norm for the young people in the area, especially drug addicts, to cook tea during ceremonies and that they hide under that to take drugs.

He said: “They cooked the tea and they didn’t even know the number and types of drugs that were inside to the extent that some had to abandon it. But some of them insisted that they must drink from the tea, saying that their brains can take it.

“After drinking the tea, two people died, some have recovered while others are hospitalized.”

Another witness, Mr.

Gunmen Attack Plateau Varsity Hostel

Seriki Adinoyi in Jos

Authorities of the Plateau State University (PLASU), Bokkos, yesterday confirmed that gunmen invaded its female hostel on Tuesday night and attempted to kidnap students.

The Public Relations Officer of the institution, Mr. John Agams, who confirmed the attack to newsmen in Jos, however, said the institution’s security operatives successfully repelled the attack and that there was no abduction.

Agams said: “The criminals attacked the institution to kidnap students but they were repelled by the local security men in the university.

“It is true that gunmen

attempted to kidnap some of our students, but the attempt was repelled by our local security men. In the process, one student was injured, but no student was abducted.

“The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Benard Matur, is currently at the school premises and appealing to students to be peaceful.”

However, the police command in the state has yet to comment on the attack on the varsity.

A student of the institution narrated that the criminals stormed the school late Tuesday night and attempted to kidnap some female students.

“But we appreciate the school authorities and the security for successfully repelling the attack,” the student said.

We’ve Lost a Strong Party Man, Makinde Mourns Adagunodo

Kemi Olaitan in Ibadan

Governor ‘Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, yesterday, described the death of the South-west Zonal Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Hon. Soji Adagunodo-Oluwatukesi as a sad loss of a great party man.

The governor, who expressed heartfelt condolences to the PDP family in Osun State and the South-west, stated that the late Adagunodo was a strong party man and administrator whose death would leave a huge vacuum in the South-west.

Makinde commiserated with the immediate family of the late politician and also prayed for the repose of his soul.

The governor, who described the late Adagunodo as a politician with strong perseverance and

Abdullahi Muhammad, said that as of Tuesday seven people had died.

He said that some of those hospitalised were not from the

area but were just passing by and decided to drink from the tea.

“We don’t know the exact number for now, but in the

morning seven were confirmed dead. Some of them were not even invited to the wedding, they just came to disguise and take their drugs,” he said.

The groom could not be reached for comment about the incident as he was said to be on the run along with others.

Cybercrime, Illiteracy Threat to Cashless Economy Policy, Says former UACN Director

Ake

Former director at UAC of Nigeria Plc and fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) expert, Dr. Joe Dada, said cybercrime, iliteracy, poverty and insecurity, major threat to Nigeria’s cashless economy.

Addressing newsmen in Lagos yesterday, during the

official launch of the book, titled, ‘Cashless Economy’,with it foreword written by the former Deputy Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Tunde Lemo, Dada, noted Nigeria has the resources to drive the economy better than it is. He said: “The book delves deeper, not only to the identification of the headwinds

challenging the cashless economy, especially cybercrime, corporate governance, poverty , illiteracy , financial inclusion, insecurity and the everescalating debt overhang but proffering solutions to mitigate them.

“As we stated in the foreword, this new book , which is a vivid description of our

journey to a cashless economy in Nigeria, which commenced in 2012 under the Sanusi/ Lemo era “is certainly relevant to the public at large”. The reason is obvious. And that is because, “all of us, irrespective of our background and fields, interact with the financial sector through the only ubiquitous language; money.

FEC Okays N3.4bn for Abuja Airport Second Runway

Deji Elumoye in Abuja

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) rose from its weekly meeting on Wednesday with the approval of N3.4 billion for the construction of second runway for Nnnamdi Azikiwe International airport in Abuja. Briefing newsmen at the end of the Council meeting,

presidential spokesperson, Mallam Garba Shehu, disclosed that N3.4 billion was approved as post contract consultancy fee for the construction of a 2nd runway at the Nnnamdi Azikiwe International airport, Abuja. He added that the council also approved N449.9 million for the engagement

of consultants for the development of masterplan for 17 airports in Nigeria. His words: “FEC approved N449.9 million for the engagement of consultants for the development of masterplan for 17 airports in Nigeria. The benefiting airports are located in Lagos, Abuja, Portharcourt, Kano, Owerri, Benin, Enugu,

Maiduguri, Yola, Kaduna, Calabar, Ilorin, Sokoto, Ibadan, Jos, Akure and Katsina.

“The council also approved for post contract consultancy amounting to N3.4 billion for the construction of the 2nd runway and associated faculties at the Nnamdi Azikiwe international airport, Abuja.”

NAF Launches Probe into Air Force Base Fire Incident

Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) yesterday launched a probe into the fire incident that gutted the Jet A-1 fuel dump located at the Nigerian Air Force Base, Bill Clinton Drive, Abuja.

The fuel dump is located a few kilometers to the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport.

The fire incident, which was reported at about 8.00 am yesterday caused a huge explosion that rattled the surrounding environment.

A statement issued by the Spokesman of the Nigerian Air Force, Air Commodore Ayodele Famuyiwa, said no life was lost during the fuel dump site explosion.

It said the combined efforts of the fire service teams from the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Federal Capital Territory Administration, the Federal Fire Service, and the NAF Fire Service put out the fire.

Nigerian Air Force Headquarters said: “Though the fuel dump is located on NAF premises, the fuel facility

is owned and operated by Messer Geometrics Synergy Services Limited under a Build, Operate and Transfer ownership agreement”.

“A fire incident involving a Jet A-1 fuel dump located on the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Base, Bill Clinton Drive, Abuja, was reported at about 0800 hours on Wednesday, May 10, 2023.

Alleged Terrorism: Lagos Arraigns Eze Ndigbo of Ajao Estate

vision as well as a fighting spirit, said the PDP family would greatly miss him.

He said: “On behalf of the Government and People of Oyo State, I express my condolences to the immediate family of our late Zonal Chairman in the South-West PDP, Hon. Soji Adagunodo, the Osun State PDP and the SouthWest PDP.

“Hon. Adagunodo was a great fighter and a strong party administrator, who gave his best for the party and made countless sacrifices for its continued stability.

“His perseverance and vision were exemplary and his death will, no doubt, leave a huge vacuum in the party.

“It is my prayer that God will rest his soul and abide by the family and the party he left behind.”

Wale Igbintade

The Lagos State government has arraigned Eze Ndigbo of Ajao Estate, Frederick Nkemdilim Nwajago, before Justice Yetunde Adesanya of a Lagos High Court sitting in Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS) for alleged terrorism. He was arraigned on a nine

count charge in a suit marked no: LD/21505C/2023 by the state government. The state counsel, Deputy Director in the Ministry of Justice, Mr. Jonathan Ogunsanya, who represented the Attorney General of Lagos State, Mr.Moyosore Onigbanjo SAN, informed the court to allow the defendant to take his plea.

The defendant was arraigned on nine count charge bordering on, attempt to do acts of terrorism, participation in terrorism, meeting to support proscribed entity, attempt to finance an act of terrorism and preparation to commit an act of terrorism.

His offences contravene the provision of section 403(2) of the

Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015 and sections 12(c), 18, 21, 29 & 12(a) of the Terrorism (Prevention & Prohibition) Act, 2022, amongst others.

The defendant denied the allegation and pleaded not guilty to all the counts charge.

The judge subsequently adjourned the case to July 4 and 5, 2023 for trial.

Sustain Market Remodelling Policy in Abia, Ikpeazu Tells Incoming Govt

Emmanuel Ugwu-Nwogo in Umuahia

The outgoing government of Okezie Ikpeazu has said that it would be in the interest of Abia State for the incoming administration to sustain the ongoing market remodelling programme in the state.

The Commissioner for Trade and Investment, John Okiyi Kalu made this known in a chat with journalists after inspecting the progress of work at the ongoing reconstruction of Ariaria International Market Aba.

He said that having set the standard for market remodelling, Governor Ikpeazu would like

his successor to continue with the programme to ensure that the status of Ariaria as an international market reflects in the quality of infrastructure and facilities.

The commissioner said that the Ikpeazu government had made good its intention to commence the remodelling of Ariaria

market under public-private partnership(PPP) by securing N1.5 billion bank guarantee for the developer, Blessed Henken.

It is expected that the three blocks of shops that are already at the final stage of completion would be inaugurated by Ikpeazu before bowing out of office on May 29.

L-R: General Secretary/CEO,The Bible Society of Nigeria(BSN), Pastor Samuel Sanusi; Director, Engagement and Guests Liaison, ARISE News, Mr. Joseph Ushigiale, and Deputy Managing Director, ARISE News, Mr. Emmanuel Efeni, during a courtesy visit by the BSN to ARISE News in Ikoyi, Lagos... yesterday

Ayodeji

COURTESY VISIT…

L-R: Divisional Head, Capital Markets, Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX), Jude Chiemeka; Consul General, German Consulate General, Lagos, Weert Börner; Chief Executive Officer, NGX, Temi Popoola; Divisional Head, Business Support Service, NGX, Irene Robinson-Ayanwale, and Programme Officer, German Consulate-General, Lagos, Elele Ogunsanya, during a courtesy visit by NGX to German Consulate General, Lagos…yesterday

Flooding: NEMA Places Ekiti on Danger List

Gbenga Sodeinde in Ado

Ekiti

Ekiti State has been placed on danger list among the states expected to experience flooding based on increased volume of rainfall during the later part of this year.

The Head of Operations of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA)

in Ekiti and Ondo States, Mr. Kadiri Olanrewaju, who made the declaration, called on residents of the state to take precautionary measures against the flooding predicted to occur in the state and its environs later this year.

Specifically, Olanrewaju said that the forecast by relevant agencies had named Ekiti among the states that are

NCDMB Boss Canvasses Support for NASENI

Olusegun Samuel in Yenagoa

The Executive Secretary, Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Mr. Simbi Kesiye Wabote, has called for appropriate level of support for the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) in its efforts to achieve institutional objectives vital to national development.

The NASENI, according to the NCDMB boss, has as key mandate the promotion of

“research and development in the areas of science, engineering, and technology” as well as “nurturing an appropriate and dynamic science and engineering infrastructure base for achieving home-initiated and home-sustained industrialization for Nigeria.” Wabote was speaking on Tuesday as chairman at the opening of a NASENI-sponsored Skill Acquisition Training and Youth Empowerment Programme with the theme “Modern Methods of Electrical Installations and Maintenance.”

Firm Launches e-Scooters Sharing Service in LASU

Trekk Scooters, Nigeria’s leading e-scooters sharing company, is excited to announce the launch of its services at the Lagos State University in Lagos.

Students and faculty members will be able to rent and ride e-scooters on campus, providing a convenient and sustainable mode of transportation.

The launch of Trekk scooters at the university marks a significant milestone in the company’s mission to provide efficient and eco-friendly transportation solutions to communities worldwide.

With the increasing demand for sustainable transportation options, Trekk is proud to offer a reliable, affordable solution that reduces carbon emissions and promotes a healthier lifestyle.

The Chief Executive Officer of the company, Isaac Oyedokun, said: “We are thrilled to introduce our e-scooter services to the community. Our goal is to provide students and faculty members a safe, convenient, and sustainable mode of transportation that reduces traffic congestion and promotes a greener environment.”

Praise Overflow Holds on Saturday

Yetunde Bello

Praise Overflow 2.0, a musical event aimed at creating an atmosphere of intense worship and praise, is set to take Lagos by storm on Saturday, May 13, 2023.

The event will take place at the Redeemed Christian Church of God, The King’s Court Parish, 3, Keystone Bank Crescent, Victoria Island.

According to the organisers, it promises to be a remarkable experience,

expected to experience flooding based on increased volume of rainfall, adding that most local government areas in the state were flood-prone with high risks due to sessional rainfall.

The NEMA boss disclosed this during a Road Show on flood sensitisation and awareness at Oja -Bisi, Oja -Oba and Fayose Markets yesterday in Ado-Ekiti, to

educate traders on the risk of flood in different languages such as English, Pidgin, Igbo, Hausa and Ekiti dialect.

He said: “Every one of us has witnessed the recent floods

in Nigeria, which claimed lives, displaced thousands of people as well as destroy properties worth millions of Naira. Floods cause widespread ecological dislocation.

Gunmen Burn Bus, Tricycle in Onitsha to Enforce Illegal Sit-at-home

Youths wielding guns and other dangerous weapons yesterday tried to disrupt economic activities in Onitsha, Anambra State.

The youths, who were suspected to be members of the outlawed Indigenous People

of Biafra (IPOB), accosted and burnt a commercial bus in Onitsha, claiming to be enforcing a sit at home directive.

The youths also burnt down a tricycle, while shooting into the air in Onitsha.

A message had been circulated last weekend on

social media, stating that there would be a four-day sit at home exercise in the South-east, begining from Monday, May 8, to May 11.

No reason was given for the order. But a press release by the Spokesperson of IPOB, Mr. Emma Powerful, stated that the group had announced May 30

as a day for all Biafrans to sit at home, in commemoration of Biafra Day.

The burning of vehicles, it was gathered, had sent panic in Onitsha town, with a source saying that the enforcers were heading towards Abagana in Njikoka Local Government Area, through the old road.

Sudan Crisis: JAMB, NIDCOM Plans to Integrate Returnee Students into Nigerian Varsities

KuniTyessi inAbuja

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) and Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) have started exploring ways of integrating undergraduate students who returned from wartorn Sudan into tertiary institutions

in Nigeria.

The Registrar of JAMB, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, made this known at a meeting initiated by the Chairman of NIDCOM, Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa. Oloyede, who empathised with the students, commended NIDCOM for the effective handling of their evacuation, adding that JAMB

would offer the desired support.

He said: “What we will do is that we will provide the necessary infrastructure, the necessary enablement to make you accommodate or return these candidates (students) to our educational system,”

He, however, called on the

students not to tread the path of those who returned to the country over a year ago as a result of Ukraine’s war but refused to comply with the stipulated procedures that would have ensured they continued their academic programmes seamlessly in Nigerian universities.

Climate Change: Stakeholders Want Direct Benefits for Victims

Blessing Ibunge inPortHarcourt

Stakeholders and groups have called for the inclusion and consideration of the victims of climate change impact in the Niger Delta into the framework of loss and damage set up during the Conference of Parties, COP27 in Egypt.

The stakeholders made the request at a regional conference on loss and damage organised

yesterday, by We The People and Policy Alert in Port Harcourt.

They requested that in discussing lost and damage, consideration should not only be given to infrastructural losses, but also historical injustices that has stem over five decades.

Speaking, Executive Director of We The People, Ken Henshaw, explained that whatsoever financial resources comes from the loss and

damage framework, must be sent directly to the victims and not through the existing failed benefit transfer between the federal, state and local government which does not benefit the people.

Henshaw urged the government of Nigeria not to put a counter position at the COP28, but that the government should think about the people.

“Loss and damage is a climate

change response framework that was only recently adopted in COP27. The framework recognises that some people and communities that have suffered the effect of climate change including desertification, flooding, loss of livelihoods etc due to no fault of theirs. And so loss and damage framework basically says that victims of climate change must be supported to recover from what they have lost and what has been damaged.

Chief Medical Director Rapes Nurse in Kwara

Hammed ShittuinIlorin

with some of Nigeria’s topnotch gospel music ministers slated to perform.

The host Pastor, Ben Akabueze said: “We are excited to host Praise Overflow 2.0, a worship night like no other. This year’s edition promises to be bigger and better than the last, with more anointed psalmists, more worship, and more of God’s presence. We invite everyone to come and experience the supernatural move of God in a way that they have never seen before.”

A Chief Medical Director of Ayodele Hospital, Ilorin, Dr. Ayodele Joseph, has allegedly raped a nurse who came for medical treatment in his hospital at Sawmill Area, Ilorin, the Kwara State.

Police report revealed that the

defendant, Joseph, sedated the patient, who is a professional nurse and eventually had sexual intercourse with her outside her consent.

According to the report, the nurse went to the hospital for medical treatment when the doctor, who claimed to be having 27 years experience in

medical field, took advantage of her under sedation.

Investigation into the matter, however, led to the recovery of the video recording containing sexual action of the defendant on the victim while medical test also confirmed that the said nurse was assaulted and raped. The government prosecutor,

Kogi 2023: I ‘ll Not be a Sectional Governor, Says Dino Melaye

Ibrahim Oyewale in Lokoja

The gubernatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kogi State, Senator Dino Melaye, has disclosed that if elected the state governor, his administration will not be a sectional government but an all-inclusive one.

Melaye made this pledge while speaking during a

courtesy visit to the Palace of the Attah Igala in Idah, Idah Local Government Area of the state yesterday. He said he came to receive the royal blessings from the paramount ruler of Igala Kingdom and the President of Kogi State Council of Chiefs, HRM Alaji Matthew Opaluwa Oguche Akpa, in Idah, the ancestral home of the Igala

Kingdom.

Melaye, who was in company of his running mate, Hajia Habeebat Mohammed Deen, the state Chairman of the party, Samuel Uhuotu, and other stakeholders of the party, paid a courtesy visit on the royal father to receive his blessings as they are approaching the campaign and election process.

Mr. Gbenga Ayeni, informed the court of the gravity of the offence and the motion exparte attached to the police report seeking the remand of Joseph in correctional centre. Magistrate Jumoke Kamson, who handled the case, granted Ayeni’s prayer for remand while the matter was adjourned to 18th of this month.

David-Chyddy Eleke in Awka

Inter Stun Milan to Boost Champions League Final Ticket

Femi Solajawith agency reports

Inter Milan’s wait for another UEFA Champions League trophy was boosted last night as they won a thrilling Milan derby 2-0 at San Siro.

Inter are three times winners of the European Cup or Champions League, but have not reached the final since they last lifted the trophy 13 years ago.

But in the thrilling clash with AC

Milan that had been anticipated for weeks in Italy and was witnessed at the ground by a vocal and passionate 80,000-strong crowd, Inter made the perfect start when Edin Dzeko volleyed home in the eighth

minute.

The goal silenced the Milan fans - the designated home side for this tie in the stadium the two sides share - as they significantly outnumbered the Inter supporters.

Mourinho Dismisses PSG Talk ahead Europa S’final Tonight

AS Roma coach Jose Mourinho light-heartedly brushed off persistent speculation around him taking a managerial role at Paris St Germain, as his team prepares for the first leg of the Europa League semi-final against Bayer Leverkusen at home tonight.

Despite talk of potentially taking over the Ligue 1 club from Christophe Galtier in the 2023-24 season, Mourinho reaffirmed his loyalty to Roma, where he is currently under contract until 2024.

"If they called, they didn’t find me," Mourinho told Sky Sport Italia on Wednesday before the pre-match news conference.

Roma is set to confront a formidable challenge as they go head-to-head against Xabi Alonso's squad today. Notably, Alonso played a pivotal role in Mourinho's success during their tenure at Real Madrid from 2010

to 2013.

Together, they clinched prestigious titles such as LaLiga, Copa del Rey, and the Spanish Super Cup.

During the news conference, Mourinho expressed admiration for the former Spain international, showering him with praise.

"I haven’t seen him for a long time. We’ve always had a fantastic rapport, more than between a coach and a player."

Mourinho said that the German team ranks among Europe's finest in terms of executing counterattacks.

"They are very dangerous in this moment of the game, they defend, wait for the opponent to lose the ball and then it’s difficult to stop them," he said, emphasising the number of swift attacking players in Alonso's squad.

"He uses the style that suits his players more, five or six ... of them

could run the 100m with Marcel Jacobs at the Olympics."

Despite Roma reaching the semi-finals of a prominent European competition for the third consecutive season, Mourinho dismisses the notion that it puts pressure on the team.

"We have enough experience not to be too excited for being in the semi-finals, and not to be too fixated on the fact that it is the first game and that it is played at home," he said.

Mourinho said it was likely key striker Paulo Dybala and midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum will not be in the starting line-up due to their injuries.

"We’ll do everything we can to fully recover them but we must prepare the match regardless of their availability."

The return leg will take place on 18 May.

And the hosts were stunned further three minutes later when Henrikh Mkhitaryan swept a shot beyond Mike Maignan after being set up by Federico Dimarco.

Hakan Calhanoglu hit the woodwork as Inter threatened to get a third, but there was hope for AC Milan when referee Jesus Gil Manzano reversed a decision to award the visitors a penalty, deeming Lautaro Martinez to have dived after consulting the pitchside monitor.

Inter dropped their tempo in the second half as they looked to protect their two-goal advantage and it almost presented AC Milan with a lifeline as Sandro Tonali struck the post with a shot from the edge of the box.

But Inter held firm and are in a strong position to reach the final - where they will face either Manchester City or Real Madrid - when the two sides meet again at San Siro for the second leg on Tuesday, 16 May (20:00 BST).

Five-star Senegal Secure Maiden U17 World Cup Ticket

Golden Eaglets face B’faso for a place in cadet Mundial

Senegal have booked Africa’s first ticket to the FIFA World Cup after running riot to beat South Africa 5-0 in the quarter final of the TotalEnergies U17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) at the Nelson Mandela Stadium in Algiers yesterday evening.

A pair of first half own goals by each of South Africa’s central defenders followed up by Mamadou Sadio’s goal and skipper Amara Diouf’s brace saw the Teranga Cubs continue with their impressive performance in the competition.

This is the first time ever that Senegal have progressed beyond the group stages of the U17 AFCON and by extension, the first time they have ever qualified for the World Cup.

Senegal scored three goals in seven minutes late in the first half to completely break down a spirited fight from South Africa.

With a 5-0 cushion, South Africa’s

EUROPA

fighting spirit was hugely dented, and Senegal eased through the remaining minutes with utter dominance.

This evening at the same Nelson Mandela Stadium in Algiers, Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets will take on the Etalons of Burkina Faso for a place in the U17 AFCON Semis as well as the World Cup ticket.

According to Head Coach of Eaglets, Nduka Ugbade, the game will not be a stroll in the park as all the teams at this stage of the tournament aim for the World Cup ticket.

“The quarter-final matches will be very hard nuts to crack because that is the step that earns you the World Cup ticket. None of the four games will be easy. Our interest is Burkina Faso and we are working hard towards achieving success,” concludes Ugbade with optimism last night.

Kpanor, Da-Silva Begin Title Defence at Ikoyi Tennis Grand Slam

The 2023 edition of the annual Zenith Bank Tennis Grand Slam starts today at the Ikoyi Club 1938 with winners of last edition warming up to keep their respective titles.

FEDERATION

Julie Kpanor who defeated Chizoba Onuoha 7-5, 6-0 to win the ladies single will have her hands full against Onuoha, who is now the tennis section captain, as well as other opponents aiming to record upsets.

Destiny Da Silva who defeated Rume Dubre 6-2 in the Men Singles A final last year is also expected to be on the cards just as ace sports administrator, Godwin Kienka, who defeated Edet Akpaso 6-1, 6-1 to win the Veteran Singles for above 60s, has already registered for this edition.

Veteran football administrator and former Eagles Skipper, Segun Odegbami will however be chal-

lenging Kienka in this 2023 edition.

For Super Veterans cadre, Hector Etomi and Innocent Ihebuzor will file out for honours while Chiwete Njokanma and Emelie Okika are top players registered for Men Singles A this year. Idris Bello-Osagie and Azubuike Okonkwo will compete in Men Singles B.

The Group Managing Director of Zenith Bank, Ebenezer Onyeagwu, said the bank was excited to be helping in fostering better bonding by club members with the annual Grand Slam event.

“We are happy with this event, which put smiles on the faces of members every year. We wish all participants the best in this edition,” Onyeagwu said.

Club Tennis Captain, Onuoha, assured stakeholders that all arrangements have been concluded to stage a more quality event this term.

Ikeja Golf Club Hosts Maiden Stableford Cup Buhari Rejoices With Waheed Ekun on 50th Anniversary as Table Tennis Champion

All is now set for the inaugural edition of the Ikeja Golf Club Stableford Cup competition scheduled to hold on Saturday, 13 May at the club’s course.

A statement issued by the clubs’ Competition Secretary, Jenkins Alumona, disclosed that the one-day tournament will feature 120 golfers from across the country, including representatives of Ikoyi Golf Club. Alumona said modalities have been put in place to ensure a befitting tournament.

“This is the first Stableford Cup competition at the Ikeja Golf Club

and the Competition Committee has worked hard to ensure we have an excellent tournament under the Stableford rules. We also assure all golfers of a great time on our golf course,” he said.

Ikeja Golf Club Captain, Shina Akinyemi stressed that the Stableford Cup is part of the initiatives designed to strengthen the bond among golf buffs across the country and sufficiently animate the atmosphere for members as well as sponsors.

“The current leadership of Ikeja Golf Club came up with the idea of

making the club more interesting for members and our sponsors, and this competition is one of such initiatives. This is a big competition involving golfers from other clubs. We look forward to a fun-filled day with our guests, members, and sponsors on the course,” Akinyemi said.

The Ikeja Golf Club Stableford Cup competition is sponsored by Qshop the online sulerstore, Saros Life Care, makers of Gossy Water and Purrit Antiseptic Liquid and Overland Properties Limited with refreshment support from Rockstar Energy Drink.

Deji

Elumoye in Abuja

President Muhammadu Buhari has joined former National champion and international table tennis coach, Chief Waheed Ekun, in celebrating the 50th anniversary of his table tennis national title at the First National Sports Festival in 1973.

The President, in a release issued on Wednesday by his Media Adviser, Femi Adesina, commended

Ekun for representing Nigeria at international meets for many years, contributions to the growth of the sport through his prolific writings, and deep commitment to mentoring athletes and discovering talents as a coach and Olympic instructor.

According to him, the Agbaakin Mayegun of Ibadanland will continue to promote the development of table tennis as well as other sports in the country, exerting the same

energy and excitement exuded 50 years ago before fans, spectators and General Yakubu Gowon, when he was crowned National Champion in the thrilling final with Sunday Eboh.

President Buhari remains steadfast in his support for national icons like Ekun, who through their vocation, skill, hard work and sportsmanship have brought honour and laurels to the country.

Inter Milan players celebrating after defeating AC Milan 2-0 in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League quarter final clash at San Siro...last night

Suleiman Kawu to Tinubu

“Weareintouchwith109Senators,andwehaveaserious numbertostopimpositionintheSenateorHouseof Representatives” Senator-electforKanoSouth,warningthe president-electtostayoutoftheideaofanointingcertaincandidatesfor theofficesofprincipalofficersinthecomingNationalAssembly

All Protocols (Un)Duly Observed

Most of us have attended functions in our beloved country where, after a long wait (some lasting several hours), the guest of honour finally arrives with a retinue of security men and political hangers-on. The Master of Ceremony (MC) then takes over. “Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, please permit me to welcome His Excellency,” the MC begins before reeling out titles of the arriving guest. We are then told that ‘His Excellency’ is just a filler because the person we were expecting “is unavoidably absent due to urgent state matters”. No problem. The introduction continues with His Excellency “being ably represented by His Excellency (the MC again reels out titles for another stand-in) who is also unable to join us today because of the exigencies of state but is ably represented by His Excellency…”

This peculiar kind of protocol speaks to a lack of accountability that defines officialdom in our country. There is hardly any Nigerian who doesn’t feel devalued by the nauseating practice. With the exception perhaps of those at the receiving end of the buffoonery. The issue here is, if we cannot change such a simple but notorious image that requires just basic decency, how does anyone expect public officials to fix the more complex socio-economic problems? How can we accept that public functions are about wasting time and disrespecting people? Is it not obvious that those who hold the people they are supposed to serve in such contempt would feel entitled to abuse public resources?

A document by the United States-led Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)—comprising 37 member countries which account for three-fifths

of world GDP and three-quarters of world trade—on the required standard of ethics in government prescribes that public officials must serve “in a timely manner with care, respect and courtesy.” Those virtues are lost on most of those who hold the levers of power

in Nigeria. Unfortunately, this is not restricted to the public sector, it is across the board. Today, the hallmark of being a ‘Big Man’ in Nigeria is to be able to live above the law, disrespect the people and be waited upon, including at public functions.

There is a short piece going round on WhatsApp that has no name of the author titled, ‘The things I missed at King Charles’ Coronation today’ which I find very instructive. It is about what transpired (or did not) last Saturday in London. It is a must read for authorities in Abuja and the 28 states as they plan their programmes for the 29 May inauguration. I hope they understand that what we showcase to the world at public ceremonies is sheer indiscipline and a lack of manners. And we cannot continue like this if we want to be considered as a civilized society. I have had opportunities to sit with diplomats and foreign dignitaries at events in our country and I see the way they laugh at us. But before I get ahead of myself, let me go back to the WhatsApp post. I will highlight each of the points made by the writer and put my own comments under it.

Nobody ‘stole’ my precious time, as everything went according to schedule; even the King and the Queen arrived the venue at the appropriate time. I never heard any announcement of “ladies and gentlemen, while we wait for the special guest of honour, may I beg your indulgence to...”

Public officials in Nigeria are notorious for coming late to events because ‘Bigmanism’ (and ‘Bigwomanism’) in our country is defined by how irresponsible someone in a position of authority can be. They will send their protocol people ahead to events to be alerted to ‘start

coming’ once everybody is seated. Leading by example does not apply to them. From politicians to businessmen and traditional rulers, especially the new ones being installed these days, what they exhibit is utter contempt for the people. Midway to an event, they will arrive with their unruly mob ostensibly to ‘steal the show’ and in the process disrupt proceedings. They do it at both official and non-official ceremonies, including weddings and burials and we even applaud them.

There was no siren and escorts of dignitaries driving recklessly into the venue and trying to outdo one another.

The competition among aides of these officials is a security risk on their own. There have been scuffles and fights over turf by these aides and security details in their attempt to boost the bloated egos of their principals. I have witnessed a few that portray us as no better than barbarians. Meanwhile, official convoys in Nigeria are needlessly long and wasteful because it is seen as a projection of power. Yet what is being advertised is that the entire essence of seeking public office in Nigeria is to be able to live large at the expense of the people. Not to serve the public good.

There were no area boys or praise singers ushering people into the venue; and no intimidating ‘bouncers’ at the entrance of the hall requesting to check one’s Invite.

I understand that many uninvited guests like to turn up at events in Nigeria so having bouncers around can help with crowd control so long as they are polite. There are also cultural aspects to the issue of praise singers. I will not advocate a ban.

Osinbajo, Wunti, Elumelu, Dangote and the Road Ahead

At the invitation of its Chief Upstream Operating Officer, Mr Bala Wunti, I was in Lagos yesterday to speak at the Annual Value Assurance Review (AVAR) of the NNPC Upstream Investment Management Services (NUIMS). My session was on the ‘Fiduciary Responsibilities and Stakeholder Communication in the Post-PIA Era’. With participants drawn from the Nigeria National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Plc senior management, it was also a learning experience for me, as I engaged with industry experts.

The most insightful presentation came from Alhaji Aliko Dangote who shared his experience on the challenges he faced while trying to build the biggest single-train refinery in the world that will be commissioned on 22 May. I was shocked to hear him say, among other things, that the premises of his refinery complex is seven times the size of Victoria Island in land mass, most of it reclaimed. He also shared insights on the oil and gas industry. Without the NNPC doing well, according to Dangote, it will be difficult for Nigeria to do well. Chairman of Heirs Holdings, Mr Tony Elumelu also spoke at the session.

I am aware of the discussions around removal of the wasteful and inefficient regime of subsidy in the downstream sector of the petroleum industry (and we should). But it is the upstream sector that holds the key to our future. The developed countries are largely responsible for the carbon

emissions threatening our world. But they continue to aggressively invest in the exploration of fossil fuels in the wake of the energy crisis caused by the war between Russia and Ukraine. So, it is easy to understand the hypocrisy of their renewable energy campaign. This should trigger in the developing world a conversation akin to what obtained in the seventies about a ‘new international economic order’ for which the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) was a catalyst.

It is unfortunate that African leaders are not using the debate about climate change to extract concessions from leaders of developed countries who have put us in this mess yet still have the temerity to impose decisions they themselves are not committed to. For instance, Nigeria has more gas than oil, with about 208 trillion standard cubic feet projected to be worth over $803.4 trillion. Given the growing need for gas across the world, the decision to stop funding fossil fuel investment in countries like ours makes no sense. Meanwhile, huge investments are being made for oil and gas exploitation in these same countries.

That this inequality has always been the case is reflected in the 1975 book, ‘A Hundred Million Dollars in A Day’, by Michael Field where he narrated an incident that happened at the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) meeting in 1973. According to Field, a member of the OPEC delegation had just been gifted a small bottle of whisky by the Middle

East correspondent of Financial Times. Looking at the content, he reportedly asked the journalist: “Do you know that this small whisky bottle costs the equivalent of four barrels of crude oil?” The OPEC man went on to argue that the pricing system was unjust, considering that whisky is made from renewable ingredients while oil is a wasting asset. A few weeks later, a combination of events conspired in OPEC’s favour to wrest control of oil prices.

We need such disruptions today and this is where I must commend Vice President Osinbajo who understands the issues involved and has taken a pragmatic stance on the need for a transition period on the climate change debate. In the last few years, Osinbajo has been consistent that as Nigeria charts a path towards clean energy, we must be supported (and assisted) to harness our vast natural gas resources. For Osinbajo, whose position I wholeheartedly endorse, a global transition away from carbon-based fuels must account for the economic differences between countries and allow for multiple pathways to net-zero emissions.

Incidentally, I was also in Port Harcourt on Tuesday for the official commissioning of the 240MW, AFAM 3 Fast Power Project by Osinbajo, who spoke about the challenges and prospects of the power sector in Nigeria. He also commended Chairman of Transcorp Power PLC, Elumelu for leading the way. “The tide (inadequacy of investment) is turning with indigenous power entrepreneurs such

as Transcorp Power, and Heirs Holding making significant investment such as this hundred percent acquisition of the 966MW installed capacity Afam Power Plc and Afam 3 Fast Power Limited at an acquisition cost of N105.3 billion,” said Osinbajo who reminded the audience that on Monday, the National Council on Privatization “formally delisted Transcorp Power PLC (formerly known as Ughelli Power PLC) from routine Monitoring & Evaluation by the BPE, indicating yet another successful power investment.”

I also commend Elumelu for the investments he is making in power. But this is a difficult sector. On Tuesday in Port Harcourt, I had opportunity to interact with critical stakeholders, including the Nigeria Bulk Electricity Trading (NBET) Plc Managing Director, Dr Nnaemeka Ewelukwa, and I can see that huge challenges lie ahead. The disclosure by Osinbajo that “in 2019 subsidies (in the power sector) reached a peak of N584 billion in an environment that was very burdensome on the Nigerian government’s fiscal position” says it all. And yesterday, I learnt even more from Wunti and the oil and gas people on the state of the upstream sector that holds the nation’s most valuable assets.

If there is anything that I have taken away from the experience and exposure of recent days, it is that the next administration has its job cut out for it. For Nigeria to work, the oil and gas sector must work.

Boss Mustapha...SFG and Chairman, Presidential Transitional Council