Customs rate for import duties rises to N1,530/$
Fubara urges supporters, youths to shun violence, economic sabotage Pro-FCT minister’s lawmaker cautions Tinubu against siding impunity
ECONOMIC RESUSCITATION ON THEIR MINDS...
Deji Elumoye in Abuja
President Bola Tinubu has declared Nigeria as a safe hub for investments, adding that his government would
always provide the needed support to ensure that businesses thrive in the country.
Speaking yesterday, when he received a delegation led by the
Chairman of the China Railway Construction Corporation (CRCC), Mr. Dai Hegen, at the State House, Abuja, the President assured the Chinese business executives that
their investments in Nigeria were safe and that his government would further strengthen the business environment.
Tinubu, stated that his
The Chief Executive of French energy major, TotalEnergies, Patrick Pouyanne, yesterday announced that the multinational had struck its first supply deal with Dangote Refinery in Nigeria, following a meeting with Africa's richest man, Aliko Dangote.
Dangote has been trying to secure crude supplies for his 650,000 barrels per day (bpd) refinery, the largest in Africa and Europe when it reaches full capacity.
In May, the company put out a tender for 2 million barrels of West Texas Intermediate (WTI) Midland crude every month for a year starting in July, a tender
document seen by Reuters showed.
"We met this morning, we made the first deal between both of us," Pouyanne told a panel at the Africa CEO Forum in Kigali, Rwanda.
"The two CEOs met with our head of trading and we found the way to convince them to make a deal," he added.
The oil refinery, which started
production in January, cost about $20 billion to build. Dangote aims to reverse Nigeria's reliance on imports for fuel and other refined products even though the country is Africa's biggest oil producer.
Dangote said the refinery had enough petrol, diesel and aviation fuel to supply the African continent and export to Brazil.
administration welcomes the opportunity to expand business collaboration with the company, as well as upgrade critical infrastructure and facilities for the mutual benefit of both parties.
He explained: "I have listened to you carefully. Your operation is consistent with our objectives. We are reforming the economy and taking crucial actions to ensure accelerated growth. The CRCC, with its subsidiary, CCECC, is a leading company and one of the best partners to work with.
“I am happy that you are partnering Nigeria in so many areas, particularly in rail construction.
According to him: "We will do everything required to ensure that the rail link between the Ibadan end of the Lagos-Ibadan railway and the Federal Capital Territory is completed. We must connect the
hinterland with our coastal seaports.
"I am proud of what I started as Governor of Lagos State with the Lekki Free Trade Zone. It is now a flourishing environment. It is important to give you the assurance that we will do well to strengthen our partnership and relations".
The President commended the corporation, particularly its subsidiary, China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC), headquartered in Beijing, for its efforts in delivering value on infrastructural projects in the country. He encouraged the corporation to also explore other avenues of cooperation, especially in solid minerals, saying: "The door is open for partnership, and partnership that will add value to both sides. Solid minerals development is the next frontier for mutually-beneficial growth and collaboration."
SECURITY EXPERTS, CSOS BACK ENDORSEMENT OF STATE POLICE BY 36 ASSEMBLY SPEAKERS
Sunday Ehigiator
Some security experts and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) have applauded the backing of the creation of State Police by 36 State Assembly Speakers.
The security experts and CSOs in separate interviews with THISDAY, argued that creation of State Police would go a long way to address some of the country’s security challenges.
On Thursday, the Speakers of the Houses of Assembly across the 36 states in the country backed the ongoing constitution review exercise for the creation of state police.
The Speakers, under the aegis of the Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures of Nigeria, disclosed this in a communique issued at the end of their meeting in Abuja.
Commenting on the development in an interview with THISDAY, Major General Obashina Ogunbiyi (rtd), noted that it was a good step in the right direction.
According to him, “I think it is a good step in the right direction because the people have been clamouring for that and in terms of aiding the security of the community, this is very important.
“As I said in my last discussion with you, if parts of the community are recruited as policemen, it would go a long way in improving the security architecture of the state. This is because they are more familiar with people in the community and know who is who. It will aid in the dispensation of security for each state.”
On the fear of abuse, he reiterated that State Governors need to think
more about the security and safety of their state which is far bigger than politics, if the state police must achieve its purpose.
“However, if we have honest leadership at the State level, that should not pose a challenge as such. But the advantages override the disadvantages.”
Also speaking with THISDAY, Comptroller (Rtd), Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Zone A, Lagos State Border Patrol Command, Chukwuemeka Patrick Pius Obua said, “That is the way to go.”
According to him, “At this moment in the security architecture of Nigeria, the creation of state policing is imperative, we should have done it yesterday and that’s the way we can get a high level of security.
“You bring in somebody who doesn’t understand the language, culture and nitty-gritty of his environment he won’t be able to even source for intelligence. If the people are speaking a language he doesn’t even understand, how will he know what they are talking about for him to be able to source for intelligence?
“Anybody serving his state will have a greater desire to fight and protect his state because he has things to lose, but if you bring someone from Borno for instance, to police Ogun State, he will think about his family in Borno and won’t put in his all but if you put an Oyo man in Oyo State, his family is there and he is from there.
“He won’t only protect himself but his family too. He has his back to the wall. The Borno man doesn’t have his back to the wall; the back
of his wall is in Maiduguri so the desire to pay the supreme price will not be there.”Speaking on the tendency of it being hijacked for political gains by state governors, he said, “The issue of Commissioner of Police not taking orders from the CEO who we know as governors will be minimised.
“If we talk about the issue of politicians hijacking the force and using them for themselves, what about the one we have now? Don’t they abuse it too? That’s why they talk of federal might and they use
it to oppress people.
“Let me tell you why State policing will be different: Yes, the politicians will try to use it for themselves but they are all indigenes of that State. If you ask them to go and kill people in a particular place, you may be telling someone to go and kill his father and mother.
“Also, the issue of bribery and corruption will be reduced because if I go and mount a toll gate in my hometown, the people I am likely to extort money from are my uncles,
aunties, brothers, family members and they will not take it lightly with me but if you are talking to a Yoruba man in Imo State, a Jukun man in Abia State, a Kanuri man in Oyo State, he has nothing at stake so these are the issues.
“There is no way we can compare state police to the federal police we have now. Don’t forget the structure we have now was inherited from colonial masters yet it is structured to protect the colonial masters so these are the issues.”
Also giving his views on the
to eschew violence and conduct themselves in compliance with the rule of law, assuring them that he was already on top of the situation.
Wike, declared he would not allow himself to be distracted by political detractors from River State.
"I am not distracted. If l am, you won't see this performance here. I focus on my work. I am not interested, l am the Minister of FCT, the works are going on. If distracted how will these works be progressing? I am not even thinking about it at all," he said.
He said his mandate as the FCT Minister was to deliver the dividends of democracy to the residents of the territory and not to mull over the political shenanigans in Rivers State.
He commended the contractors for delivering the jobs within the specified time frame, saying he was impressed with all the road works inspected. "This is the final inspection as regards the preparedness for the inauguration of various projects.
"From what we have seen, we believe we are ready for the
inauguration from 27th of May and will end June 6th. It's going to be a nine day long event.
"So, we are happy and the contractors are meeting up. All the promises they made, have been fulfilled and we have also fulfilled our own part to make sure that we have cash backup. None of them is complaining in terms of cash," he said.
The minister also said the Metroline will be flagged off for commercial operation by 27th of this month.
"By the approval of Mr. President, we believe that 27th of this month, we shall start the inauguration of various projects, particularly, on 27th we believe the President will flag off the commercial operation of the Metroline."
Meanwhile, Fubara, has urged his supporters and all Rivers people to eschew violence and conduct themselves in compliance with the rule of law as he was already on top of the situation.
The governor said there was a greater and assuring resolve of his administration to follow his course
Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is expected to hold its third meeting of the year on Monday and Tuesday next week, with analysts predicting further monetary tightening due to sustained inflationary pressure.
However, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has adjusted its FX rate for import duties to N1,530/$, a 6.13 percent increase compared to the N1,441.58 previously adopted.
The significant appreciation recorded by the naira against the greenback on the official and parallel markets yesterday, was attributed partly to recent arrests in Lagos, Abuja, and some other major cities of currency hawkers, sources told THISDAY.
The daily FX turnover recorded a
decline in transactions of 69.41 per cent, to $83.50 million yesterday, compared to the $272.86 million recorded on Thursday. Furthermore, the highest spot rate observed yesterday stood at N1,555, with the lowest spot rate recorded at N1,415
In its prediction on the outcome of the MPC meeting, analysts at Cordros Capital Limited, noted that as in previous meetings, “we expect the Committee to consider developments in the global and domestic economy since the last policy meeting. On the global scene, interest rates remain elevated amid the ongoing geopolitical tensions. “Domestically, although consumer prices have slowed on
a month-on-month basis, we note that inflation risks are skewed to the upside due to the volatility of the naira in the foreign exchange market and the anticipated review of the minimum wage. “Hence, we anticipate the MPC to tighten its monetary policy, albeit moderately, to manage inflation expectations, tighten monetary conditions and reduce the negative real interest rates.
“Our base expectation is for a 100 basis points increase in the MPR whilst holding other parameters constant.”
The Consumer Price Index (CPI) which measures the rate of change in prices of goods and commodity further increased to 33.69 per cent in April compared to 33.20 per cent in
the preceding month, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) disclosed during the week.
Year-on-year, the headline index stood at 33.69 per cent compared to 22.22 per cent recorded in April 2023. According to the CPI report for the month the food index stood at 40.53 per cent, year-on-year, representing 15.92 per cent increase compared to 24.61 per cent in April last year.
Core inflation, including energy prices rose by 6.87 per cent, year-onyear to 26.84 per cent in the review period compared to 19.96 per cent in April 2023.
On annualised basis, the rise in food inflation was attributed to increases in prices of millet flour, garri, bread, wheat flour prepacked,
lawfully to the end concerning the festering political crisis in the State.
He spoke yesterday, during the inauguration of Emohua-Kalabari (Tema Junction) Road project in Asari-Toru Local Government Area of the State, performed by senator representing Bayelsa West Senatorial District, Senator Henry Seriake Dickson.
Fubara, assured his supporters that he would continue to lead the State with the fear of God and guided by the laws of the land, adding that he would never let Rivers people down, including all those who believed in his leadership.
He said, "I want to thank everyone of you for your support. I want to thank you specially for your support during the time of the election; before, during and the wonderful support we are getting now after the election. And the support is what is shocking the whole world.
"We don't have any Assembly member, like they said. We don't have any local government chairman, like they said. But we have the people. Having the people is the most important thing. I assure the people that we will not disappoint them."
Speaking further, Fubara emphasised: "We will lead as a government that has the fear of God, purposeful for the people. I assure you that we will not let you down. We will not bring any form of disgrace.
"But I am not asking you to be violent. No need for it. The most important thing is our course: we will follow it lawfully to the end. And by the special grace of God, we are on top of the situation."
Fubara encouraged the people to continue to support the President Bola Tinubu-led federal government, and ensure that they protect important government installations in Kalabari land.
He observed the troubling issues of
development, the Founder of the Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC), Okechukwu Nwanguma, noted that if the state police were established, the federal police could be used to check the excesses of the States. According to him, the state security outfit will handle little crimes while the federal police will handle big crimes.
“The federal police can maintain the Nigeria Police while the states can have a security architecture that is unique to the state.”
unabated illegal bunkering activities and vandalism of critical infrastructure of State, which has caused a depletion of inflow of revenue to the federation accounts.
Fubara, who particularly said recurring reports of the Nigerian Navy emphasised the preponderance of such activities in the area, tasked youths to stop engaging in such economic sabotage.
Commenting on the EmohuaKalabari Road project, Fubara said it was awarded on the 18th February, 2023, by the immediate past administration at the cost of N21.2 billion, but only paid N6 billion. The governor stated that his administration paid the balance of N15.2 billion and completed 70 percent of the job to confidently claim it as part of his projects delivered for the good of the people in Kalabari land.
Fubara, who assured that he would continue to deploy resources of the State to better the conditions of the people, directed the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Works to commence the process for the immediate extension of the road from Tema Junction to Abonnema Town.
Performing the inauguration of the project, the Senator representing Bayelsa West Senatorial District, Senator Henry Seriake Dickson, said crisis make some people to forget governance, noting that Fubara refused to be distracted but had rather committed to improving the wellbeing of the people.
Dickson, who was former Governor of Bayelsa State, said the project was a life-changing development endeavour because his experience plying the road when it was deplorable was also unpleasant. He praised the Governor for what he has achieved in such a short time, despite the deliberate distractions, and urged him to remain focused to do more for the people.
Puts Diaspora Nigerians remittances at $168bn as of 2022 Country has witnessed remarkable progress under Tinubu, says UN UK impressed by President's security strategies
Deji
Elumoye in AbujaVice President Kashim Shettima
has described the Renewed Hope Agenda of the President Bola Tinubu's administration as a transformative policy thrust aimed at repositioning the nation as a prime global investment destination. According to him, with the agenda hinged on the core pillars of democracy, development, demographics, and diaspora engagement, the present moment serves as the opportune time to remind both Nigerians and the global community that Nigeria stands ready to embrace the future and conduct business.
Shettima, who spoke yesterday during a High-level Dialogue on Delivering the Renewed Hope Agenda on the theme, 'Nigeria's Global Ambitions: From Hope to Reality', in Abuja, outlined the administration's ambitious roadmap, noting President Tinubu's commitment to bold reforms and strategic partnerships to revive the nation's economy and enhance security.
He stressed, “Our reason for this gathering is less about the certainty of our vision for this nation. This has never been in doubt. We are here because of our place in a world of opportunities—a world that can’t
The Director General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has debunked allegations that a post circulating on WhatsApp originated from her, stating that she does not use the WhatsApp Broadcast feature.
Describing the message as fake, the WTO boss on her official X handle, urged members of the public to desist from relying on information circulating on WhatsApp purportedly originated
from her.
She described the message as a "bad example" to use social media, stating that manufacturers of such misleading information "will not succeed".
Her post read: "It’s been brought to my attention that another fake message has been manufactured and is being forwarded on WhatsApp in my name. I want to make clear that this fake message is not from me. I am pleased that those who know me instantly recognized this as fake.
Nume Ekeghe
Professor Pius Olanrewaju has been inaugurated as the 23rd President and Chairman of the Council of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN). The ceremony, held yesterday in Lagos, was officiated by Justice Owolabi Dabiri and chaired by Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Wole Olanipekun. Following the swearing-in, Olanrewaju was adorned with the official insignia of his new office.
Other elected officials included First Vice President, Dele Alake; Second Vice
President, Mojisola Bakare-Asieru, and National Treasurer, Dr. Peter Ashade. Speaking at the event, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC), Bello Hassan, stressed the need for the new leadership of the institute to prioritise cybersecurity. Hassan urged the CIBN to collaborate with relevant stakeholders to combat cybercrime and safeguard the banking sector. In his address, Olanrewaju said he would take the institute to greater heights.
afford to neglect or underestimate our place.
"The Renewed Hope Agenda is not just a policy framework; it is a statement of commitment, a covenant between us and the people.”
The Vice President pointed out that at the heart of the administration's foreign policy approach, dubbed the 'Tinubu Doctrine,' is a '4-D Diplomacy Strategy' centred on promoting democracy, driving economic development, harnessing
Nigeria's demographic potential, and engaging with the diaspora community.
He hailed the vital role of Nigerians in the diaspora, who contributed over $168 billion in remittances between 2015 and 2022, surpassing Overseas Development Assistance.
“This is further evidenced by the recently announced $10 billion Diaspora Fund—a multi-sectoral investment initiative set to be launched soon and expected to
strengthen ties with our diaspora community while boosting forex inflows to support our national development plans,” he said.
Shettima also highlighted President Tinubu's interventions on the economy, including a N75 billion investment initiative to revolutionise the manufacturing sector and the Renewed Hope Infrastructure Development Fund to facilitate effective infrastructure development across key economic sectors.
On security challenges facing the country, the Vice President affirmed the administration's commitment to guaranteeing the safety of lives and properties through regional and national interventions.
He extended an invitation to international partners, emphasising the need for collaboration in the post-COVID-19 era, saying, "This is the time to partner for democracy, for development, for peace, and for security."
In a development that could set off a horde of court cases, the federal government yesterday announced that it was temporarily halting the granting of electricity regulatory oversight to state governments in the country.
Under the new Electricity Act (EA) assented to by former President Muhammadu Buhari and amended under the Bola Tinubu administration, states have the authority to create an independent electricity market within their jurisdictions to oversee the entire
power value chain.
It makes provision for states within the federation to license electricity generation, transmission, and distribution in all their territories, allowing them to establish state electricity regulatory agencies to supervise and provide guidance on electricity operations within the state.
Based on the provisions of the Act, State Houses of Assembly are expected to enact laws to guide the operations of the electricity markets within their jurisdictions.
Recently, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC)
announced that it had kick-started the process of handing over the regulatory powers it hitherto wielded to states that requested them, including Enugu, Ondo and Ekiti.
But speaking at the 8th edition of the Africa Energy Market Place (AEMP) Nigeria, in Abuja, Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, said the process has now been halted because of the imperative to ensure state governments and stakeholders in the power sector properly understand what is required to operate an electricity market.
Adelabu argued that if the market
under a single regulator is currently problematic, it is a no-brainer that multiple regulatory agencies set up by the states will be chaotic. He maintained that it was therefore important to embark on a pilot phase of the handing over of regulatory power of the states to see if it works or not and make amends where necessary.
Adelabu said, “We must tread carefully, we should not be in a hurry. The market is not mature, it is not mature enough. With everything centralised for a single regulator, we have a myriad of issues.
Telecommunications Operators (Telcos) under the aegis of the Association of Telecoms Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), yesterday, proffered short and long term solutions to incessant fibre cable cuts across the country, while seeking for strategic collaboration with the federal government to address the many challenges facing the telecoms industry.
At a breakfast meeting
organised by ATCON in Lagos yesterday, with the theme: ‘The Direct And Indirect Cause And Impact Of Metro, Terrestrial And Submarine Fibre Disruptions (Cuts)-Short, Medium And Long Term Sustainable Solutions’, the operators highlighted the dangers associated with terrestrial and subsea cable cuts and called for strategic collaboration with the federal government to address the issue.
ATCON President, Mr. Tony Emoekpere, who raised some
of the business and economic implications of terrestrial and subsea fibre cable cut, said: “We cannot continue to pay lip service to issues and challenges that have constituted stumbling block to our sector growth especially fibre cut.
The breakfast meeting aims to enable the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), the Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA) the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) to look at the issues bothering on metro, terrestrial,
submarine fibre disruptions which have become recurring decimal in the Nigerian Telecom industry.” He said the breakfast meeting would help to strategise and come up with solutions that will address fibre cable cuts, adding that there should be legal compensation for fibre cable cuts.
He spoke about the increase in ICT contribution to Nigeria's GDP and stressed the need for protection of telecoms facilities across the country.
L- R: Governors of Yobe, Mai Mala Buni; Adamawa, Ahmadu Fintiri; Borno, Babagana Umara Zulum; Bauchi, Bala Mohammed; Gombe, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, and Taraba, Jefas Agbu, during the opening of the 10th North-east Governors' Forum Meeting in Bauchi…yesterday
Governors from the North-west states have approached the United Nations (UN) for humanitarian assistance and rehabilitation of their geopolitical zone.
Many states in the North-west have been adversely affected by banditry and
terrorism in recent years, causing untold hardship on the people of the area.
A statement yesterday by the National Information Officer, UN Information Centre (UNIC), Oluseyi Soremekun, said that governors from the North-west geopolitical zone of Nigeria same day met with the
United Nations Country Team led by the Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, Mohamed Malick Fall, and they have asked the UN to support their states to deal with the numerous developmental challenges they face.
The statement read: “The Chairman of the North-west Governors Forum
and the Katsina State Governor, Malam Dikko Umaru Radda, led other Governors in the zone, including Governor of Kaduna State, Senator Uba Sani; Governor of Kano State, Engr. Abba Kabir Yusuf; Jigawa State Governor, Mallam Umar Namadi; Sokoto State Deputy Governor, Alhaji
Chuks Okocha in Abuja
The Chairman of Labour Party Governorship Primaries in Ondo State, Mr. Olusola Ayodele, has announced the resolve of the Labour Party to take back Ondo State in the forthcoming governorship election of the state slated for November 2024 by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
In a statement by the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Obiora Ifoh, the South-west leadership of the party yesterday in Ibadan, Oyo State capital, Ayodele, who conducted the Ondo State Governorship Primaries of the LP in Akure a fortnight ago, said all of preparations by the leadership of the LP to win the Ondo Governorship elections have been concluded with the formation of a proposed South-west Task Force on the Ondo Governorship
elections.
Ayodele, who is also LP Deputy State Chairman in Oyo State, said the Task Force being put together comprises key leaders of the party in the South-west, who have been charged to mobilise a high-powered National Campaign Team of the party for the governorship election to reenact the LP - Mimiko victory and eight years good governance of Ondo State.
He said, "To lead the Ondo National Campaign Committee is Mr. Peter Obi, Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party and Mr. Alex Otti, Governor of Abia State. They are to be supported by all LP Senators, Reps Members, State lawmakers and other key leaders of the party in the country with formidable solidarity from key members of the Obidient Movement in diaspora."
All may be set for the installation of the 43rd Olubadan of Ibadanland as the Olubadan-designate, Oba Owolabi Olakulehin, yesterday said it was his turn to ascend the throne of his forefathers and rule the ancient city of Ibadan.
The monarch who said he was fully ready and fit, noted that God had said he would be the next Olubadan.
Oba Olakulehin who spoke openly for the first time since his public appearance and designation as Olubadan, made the assertions while playing host to a delegation from the Oyo State government to his Alalubosa residence in Ibadan. The visit which could be described as part of the process that would lead to the approval of the next Olubadan by Governor Seyi Makinde was made by the Oyo State Advisory Council
led by Chief Bolaji Ayorinde.
Oba Olakulehin spoke to the admiration of all the people in attendance who expressed excitement when they heard him speak in a coherent manner to put paid to various insinuations about his health status.
He said, “I am happy and excited seeing delegation from our governor. Since I was told that you are coming, I have told my Chiefs to join me in
receiving you. I am happy that my people are here with me. I am fully ready. I know God is behind me.
“He has said that I am the next Olubadan, and I know truly that it is my turn. By God’s grace, I will not disappoint you my people. All of us that have been together in the system for long shall celebrate the success together. I thank the Governor for initiating this visit. We shall equally be expecting him as promised.”
The Edo State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has urged members, leaders and other stakeholders across the state to drive massive sensitisation on the collection of Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) and take
advantage of the Continuous Voters Registration (CVR) to increase the party’s numerical strength to deliver its candidate, Dr. Asue Ighodalo, in the forthcoming gubernatorial election in the state. The Chief of Staff to Edo
State Governor, Dr. Osaigbovo Iyoha, made the appeal during a sensitisation exercise alongside other leaders of the PDP in Uromi, Esan North East; Ubiaja in Esan South East; Irrua in Esan Central, and Ekpoma in Esan West local
Alex Enumah in Abuja
Justice Emeka Nwite of a Federal High Court, Abuja, yesterday, refused to grant bail to detained Binance Holdings Limited Executive, Tigran Gambaryan, being prosecuted on alleged money laundering charge.
Nwite in a ruling on Gambaryan's bail application held that the request is denied because the applicant will likely "jump bail if bail is granted to him".
Binance Holdings Limited, a cryptocurrency organisation and Gambaryan are standing trial on a five-count charge bordering on money laundering. While they pleaded not guilty to the charge, Gambaryan who was arrested in February alongside the firm's Regional Manager for Africa, Mr. Nadeem Anjarwalla, had applied to the court to be admitted to bail, pending his trial.
government areas of the state.
Iyoha urged members of the PDP in Edo Central Senatorial District to take advantage of the Continuous Voters Registration Exercise announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and scheduled to kick off on 28th May 2024 to commence work in earnest to enable the party to register new members to increase their numerical strength to ensure the party’s victory.
He noted, “People turn 18 years old every day, change residence, or move from state to state as they are the target for the CVR exercise. Those also disenfranchised are also targeted for this exercise.
Muhammad Gobir; and Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, to the UN House Abuja,
“The Governors highlighted the major challenges faced by the region, including insecurity, multidimensional poverty, a large population of out-ofschool children, increased cases of illicit drug abuse, high child and maternal mortality, and a large youth population that is unemployed.
“They indicated that nearly 80 per cent of the population derive their livelihoods from agriculture, however, they face the challenges of land degradation and climate change which has reduced their yields. The governors also highlighted the high levels of child malnutrition.
“They also committed to providing a strong political support needed
to ensure UN interventions in the Northwest are implemented with speed and at scale.”
The Chairman of the Northwest Governors’ Forum was quoted in the statement to have said: “The only way we can surmount the challenges of North-west is through a regional approach which demands that we work together in a coordinated manner. We need to collectively fight poverty and unemployment being the major root causes of insecurity in the region.”
The UN Resident Coordinator, on his part, expressed his delight at receiving six of the seven governors in the zone and he assured that the United Nations family would support the North-west region to address those development challenges.
Polo, Nigeria’s foremost luxury goods company, was live in Geneva, Switzerland, to witness the remarkable watch novelties and innovations showcased at Watches and Wonders Geneva, the largest watch exhibition in the world.
From April 9 to 15, Geneva was immersed in the rhythms of watchmaking as the most prestigious Maisons in horology gathered to discover the wonders and unique innovations unveiled by nearly 50 watch brands, delving deep into the realm of watchmaking elegance.
The Executive Director of Polo, Jennifer Obayuwana, shared her profound perspective after experiencing
the novelties firsthand in Switzerland, stating, “Watches and Wonders is the high point of our industry. This year, we saw a return to classic watch sizes and a push towards interchangeable bracelets. Rolex made an all-18-carat gold deepsea debut and an exquisite new 1908 in Platinum.
Rolex’s lineup exemplifies the brand’s unwavering commitment to excellence. From the iconic GMT-Master II to the sophisticated Oyster Perpetual Sky-Dweller, each timepiece embodies a harmonious balance of materials, colours, and textures, showcasing Rolex’s mastery of horological expertise and dedication to uncompromising quality.
The Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN) has sealed 501 pharmacy outlets and patent medicine stores in Plateau State over a range of offences including failure to register for their premises, sale of drugs in open market, engaging in illegal clinical activities, poor documentation, poor storage facilities among others.
Addressing journalists in Jos after a 4-day enforcement exercise from the 13th to 16th of May, Director of Enforcement of PCN, Mr. Stephen Esumobi, said that a total of 701 premises were visited during the exercise including 167 pharmacies, 224 patent medicine
shops, and 310 illegal premises. He said 74 pharmacies, 117 patent medicine shops and 310 illegal medicine shops were sealed, with two arrests made, adding that “the shops were sealed for offense ranging from sale of medicines in the open market, operating without registration with the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria, non-renewal of premises certificates, non-pharmacists having access and dispensing controlled drugs, stocking and sales of medicines above the approved medicine list for patent medicine vendors, engaging in clinical activities, poor documentation, poor storage facilities and a host of others.”
Kaduna State is determined to make a difference in vocational skills acquisition and creation of jobs, writes Yusuf Abass
Ever wanted the services of a painter? An electrician? Or a
the reality in many parts of the country where skilled vocational labour has been on the decline for quite a while.
But from Kaduna State comes good news, a glimmer of hope, a revolution, the latest being the remodelling of Panteka Market to become a technology hub of repute.
For those that do not know, Panteka Market evolved from clusters of artisans and apprentices, mostly in the business of trading in used metals. But it is also the go-to place for artisans like electricians, plumbers, masons, painters, mechanics and many of such. However, the remodelled market, a joint initiative of the Kaduna State government and the Old Panteka Market Development Association (OPMDA), is poised to bring a new definition to ‘up-skilling’.
“The state government will construct a clinic, fire station, outdoor public toilets, incinerators, two transformers, security posts, places of worship, and ICT Center in the remodelled market located in Tudun Wada, Kaduna,” said Governor Uba Sani. “The Old Panteka Market Development Association (OPMDA) will handle the construction of shops.
“When completed, the market will be a major centre for skills acquisition and creation of thousands of jobs. It will be the biggest technology hub in Northern Nigeria. It will contribute to our economic revitalization drive. Youths will be trained in carpentry, welding, painting, roofing, plumbing, electrical work and other trades.”
It is noteworthy that the Executive Secretary National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), Prof. Idris Bugaje, is on the same page with the governor. And this partnership has berthed the formalisation of training acquired at Panteka Market. Under this arrangement, graduates of Panteka would acquire the Nigerian Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF) which can easily get them jobs locally and abroad.
“Panteka is the largest informal technology hub in Africa,” said Bugaje who revealed that about 38,000 artisans and apprentices were receiving training in different skills at the old Panteka market in Kaduna.
“Even its equivalent in Kenya and Tanzania, the ‘Jua Kali’, counts their members in single-digit thousands.
“Panteka is a heritage site with a vibrant history linked to the building of the city of Kaduna, the former capital of the Northern Region. Panteka is now a brand, well respected across the nation and even in many ECOWAS countries. Panteka has finally become an institution. The transformation of Panteka at this time is very appropriate.
“Therefore, notwithstanding the MoU with Kaduna Polytechnic, Panteka has now been granted, by the NBTE, the status of a fullfledged Training Centre. We hope they will apply the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) to get more of their apprentices certified.”
Already, a set of apprentices graduated under the joint scheme with Kaduna Polytechnic in November 2023. This is a classic nexus of theory and practicality. Upon completion, Panteka Market would be more accessible to even people of other states and serve as a major technology hub in Northern Nigeria.
It is good the governor is giving the updating of skills serious attention. Last year, Governor Sani, in partnership with the Office of Vocational Training and Employment Promotion, Morocco, and the NBTE, also initiated the construction of the Kaduna State Vocational and Technology Skills City in Igabi. The centre which would produce
skilled artisans in mechatronics, welding and fabrication, ICT, plumbing, and automobile engineering, among others, would be replicated in the other senatorial zones.
Another recent good news was the construction of a $50 million soya bean oil refining plant initiated by Governor Sani. The plant, owned by Sunagrow International Oil Ltd and located in Kutungare, Igabi Local Government Area, has an expected production capacity of 500,000 litres per day.
Speaking on the returns, Governor Sani who expressed excitement at the foreign investment said the plant will “contribute to the economic development of Kaduna and Nigeria by creating thousands of direct and indirect jobs at various skill levels, from agricultural labourers to skilled technicians and engineers for refinery operations.”
He also added that: “The Sunagrow $50m oil plant will have an economic multiplier effect, and create opportunities for local businesses to supply raw materials, services, and support activities to the company. This will in turn improve our local economy.”
According to the Kaduna Investment Promotion Agency (KADIPA), Kaduna produces 61,552 tonnes or 27% of the country’s soybeans, the second-largest producer after Benue State. The agency also says investment in soybeans can yield 75, 000 jobs too. It follows that this investment would add more value in the products such as soya oil and meal, thus increasing the income potential for farmers. Other intangible gains would include the transfer of technology and technical know-how related to the area of Soya extraction and refining process.
But overall, it is heartwarming that the Kaduna State governor has shown that he is ready to cooperate with others to actualise a better and stronger economy.
“I call on other investors to avail themselves of the huge opportunities in Kaduna State, especially in agriculture, renewable energy, infrastructure, mining, manufacturing, transportation, ICT, and tourism. We offer very attractive incentives,” said Sani, as he rounded off his speech at the event.
“We extend not just an invitation, but a steadfast guarantee that their investments in Kaduna State will be nurtured by a robust policy framework and unwavering support.”
Ritesh Argawal, the Managing Director, Sunagrow International Oil Limited, said the governor’s vision inspired the company. “Today marks the beginning of a new chapter in our shared commitment to the progress and prosperity of Kaduna State,” said Argawal.
“We are excited about the opportunities that lie ahead and look forward to working closely with you and your esteemed administration to ensure the success of this project.”
WHEN COMPLETED, THE MARKET WILL BE A MAJOR CENTRE FOR SKILLS ACQUISITION AND CREATION OF THOUSANDS OF JOBS. IT WILL CONTRIBUTE TO OUR ECONOMIC REVITALIZATION DRIVE. YOUTHS WILL BE TRAINED IN CARPENTRY, WELDING, PAINTING, ROOFING, PLUMBING, ELECTRICAL WORK AND OTHER TRADES
Ijust returned from a speaking tour of the United States where I tried to impress on my audience the necessity for a paradigm shift in the way humanists, skeptics, atheists, and freethinkers organize. I have been involved in organized humanism for almost three decades. I have had the rare opportunicountries and continents. Incidentally, very has been more of the same. But to remain relevant in this century, the international humanist movement must change. It must change the way it is organized. The world has been undergoing rapid changes but the way that freethought is organized has been out of step with the changes, and with the times. My tour focused on three themes: humanism and atheism in Africa, critical thinking, and advocacy for alleged witches. I used these themes to underscore one central message: we must abandon the old ways of doing things and embrace the new ways of organizing, growing, and developing humanism and freethought. I drew from the issues in Africa to make a strong case for change. Humanism in Africa is yearning for humanists and other nonreligious persons could deliver.
Organized humanism must go beyond the West and reverberate across the globe because humanism is a universal outlook. Skeptical rationality is human. We have to move from Western world humanism to truly global humanism.
So far, much of the attention has been on humanism and secularism in the West. This overemphasis on humanism in the West has created
the impression that humanism is Western. Truth be told, humanism has made some significant progress in Western countries. Humanism is a force to reckon with in Europe and America. But much more progress lies ahead and beyond the West if only the humanist movement could do things differently. Humanism has a robust history in Western countries. But richer history lurks on the horizon if only the international humanist movement would dare, venture and try something new.
Very little attention is paid to humanism in the rest of the world. And that sucks, especially if one understands the potential and promises of humanism beyond the West. The humanist organizational model is outdated; it is out of step with the situation and challenges that humanists face in many parts of the world.
As organized, humanism has yielded little and limited effect outside Europe and the United States. Religion rages with force and ferocity in many parts of Asia and Africa. This situation has to change, if only the humanist movement can do more and do better. In my presentation on critical thinking, I explained efforts to introduce the teaching of critical thinking skills in schools in Nigeria. Critical thinking skills are among the most sought-after skills in the world. I highlighted the concept of questionstorm and how it has been used to roll out critical thinking lessons in schools. Critical thinking skills are humanity’s bulwark against the destructive influence of dogmatic and irrational beliefs.
Incidentally, religious extremism and superstitions ravage many parts of Africa and the world due to a lack of critical thinking and reasoned inquiry, more due to a lack of programs or subjects that foster critical thinking skills in schools, in elementary schools. In Africa, religious indoctrination constitutes a key part of child formation and upbringing.
It is great that private individuals are investing in Kaduna. It is such domestic investment that would see real growth and development in the state and revive the northern economic powerhouse it was in the past. There was a time Kaduna State was known for its industrial and agricultural prowess. Then, Kaduna was famed for its textile mills and motor vehicle assembling, with the likes of United Textile Ltd and Peugeot Automobiles of Nigeria (PAN) respectively being household names. The state also thrived in the production of maize, guinea corn, beans, soybeans, ginger, and other crops. Then, it aligned with the growth pattern of the country.
But as the nation declined economically, especially in the 1980s, the fortunes of the states also dropped, Kaduna inclusive. Factories closed, jobs were lost and food prices started rising, bringing an economic imbalance and hardship.
Abass writes from Kaduna
Memorialization and rote learning characterize the school and learning system. Mental habits that enhance the interrogative abilities of children are necessary. The third topic was the informaction theory of change and advocacy against witch persecution in Africa. While witch hunting has ended in the West, the persecution of alleged witches continues in many parts of Africa and Asia. This presentation explains how advocates are using the Informaction theory to combat witch persecution in Africa.
The tour started on the west coast. First, I spoke at an event that the CFI West and Atheists United organized at the CFI office in Los Angeles. I discussed the critical thinking program. I spoke at two other events. The Humanist Association of Santa Barbara and the Atheists United branch in San Luis Obispo organized them. I also visited a school in Los Angeles where I observed a class on philosophy for children. I traveled to Colorado, where I addressed a meeting at the Secular Hub in Denver. I was also a guest at an event by Jefferson Humanists and then traveled down to Boulder, where I made a presentation on witch hunting in Africa.
Before leaving Denver, I met with Sarah Jack. Ms. Jack is the founding executive director of End Witch Hunts, a nongovernmental organization that “focuses on addressing and ending injustices related to witch hunts, both historical and modern”. We discussed efforts to exonerate and memorialize victims of witch hunts in 17th-century America. We explored how to strategize and synergize to end witch hunts in other parts of the globe. Next, I traveled down to Philadelphia, where I addressed the American Atheists convention. I spoke on a new pact for atheism in the 21st century and invited the audience to do more to further the ideas of secular-
ism and freethought in ways that were in tune with the times. At the event, I met with August Berkshire and other atheist leaders that I have known over the years. I was delighted to see that the atheist organisation was growing strong and stronger. My next stop was in Washington DC, where I met with and provided updates on our campaigns to officers from the State Department, American Humanist Association, US Institute for Peace, and USCIRF. I made presentations on the advocacy for alleged witches and the critical thinking project.
From Washington DC, I traveled to Florida, where I addressed the Unitarian Universalist Church Humanists at Clearwater. Before my presentation, I attended the Sunday fellowship of the UUC. It was my first time at a UUC service. And I enjoyed the service. The sermon was on birds. I salute all those who worked to make the tour possible. From the meetings and engagements, it was evident that the humanist movement is rich but fragmented. And the fragmentation has undermined its ability to make a significant impact beyond the US. Humanists need to create an environment that can make them cooperate and learn from each other. Most challenges that humanists face are transnational. And with the waves of migration to the US and other Western nations, even local issues like Christian nationalism or Islamic extremism have transnational dimensions, which humanists and atheists in western countries ignore to their peril. It is in the interest of the humanist movement in the West and the rest of the world to go global. The world has become more interconnected, and groups need to interconnect to do more and do better for humanism, and humanity across the globe.
Igwe is a board member of Humanists International
Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State has found himself at a crossroads between prioritizing the right of way on developmental projects. In navigating this delicate balance, he faces the challenge of ensuring sustainable development while upholding the welfare and interests of the populace which are the critical components in ensuring his success during the 2023 general elections.
Nevertheless, the right of way is crucial for the implementation of infrastructural projects that are vital for the economic growth and social progress of the state. These projects may include roads, beautification of streets by planting trees and more. Governor Mohammed, like many other leaders, recognizes the importance attached to creating an enabling environment for investment and development initiatives to thrive. Without adequate right of way, the execution of these projects could be severely hindered, leading to delays, increased costs, and missed opportunities for progress.
However, on the other hand, the right of the people to fair treatment, compensation, and participation in decision-making processes cannot be disregarded. Development projects often require the acquisition of land or displacement of communities. Government must ensure that the rights of these people are respected and protected throughout the project implementation process.
Some people are of the view that demolition and arbitrary removal of shops - mostly containers and tent erected by petty traders as well as road side mechanics to mention a few, is misguided as it could lead to disastrous consequences on the lives of many hardworking citizens.
Some of the displaced in Okuama... THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER
To strike a balance between the right of way and the right of the people, the present administration must adopt a transparent and consultative approach. This involves engaging with affected communities from the outset, providing them with adequate information about the projects, and seeking their input and feedback. Involving the people in the decision-making process will ensure that their concerns and interests are taken into account.
Furthermore, the Bauchi State government should prioritize fair and just compensation for those affected by development projects. This includes not only monetary compensation for land acquisition but also support for livelihood restoration and alternative housing arrangements where necessary. Adequate compensation can mitigate the adverse impacts of project implementation on affected individuals and communities.
Garba Adamu, Gwangwangwan, Bauchi State
write to call on the Inspector General of Police, and other relevant authorities to call the DPO in charge of Adikpo Police Headquarters in Kwande Local Government Area of Benue State to order.
Some members of association of blacksmiths, who manufactures hoes and other farming tools in Ishagev-ya, Kwande LGA, were recently arrested and accused of being cultists. The arrest took place during their annual party in Ajio, Ishagev-ya, where they celebrate their success, and discuss challenges confronting them.
It is unfortunate that after the arrest, the victims were searched but nothing incriminating was found on them. But they were forced to pay for their release in the name of bail.
The DPO used the banner, designed for the party with pictures of different farm tools, as evidence against them.
If they are suspected cultists, I thought the right thing to do is to charge them to court, Ten Thousand Naira was collected per victim in the name of bail. This is not the first time I write on the unbecoming activities of the DPO. He sends his men on illegal roadblocks and illegal arrests.
Militia and Fulani herdsmen are killing in different parts of Kwande LGA where Adikpo is the headquarters, but the same DPO cannot send his men to the affected areas to protect lives and prevent the massacres we see almost every day.
Awunah Pius Terwase, Mpape, Abuja
EDITOR OBINNA CHIMA
DEPUTY EDITOR AHAMEFULA OGBU
MANAGING DIRECTOR ENIOLA BELLO
DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR ISRAEL IWEGBU
CHAIRMAN EDITORIAL BOARD OLUSEGUN ADENIYI
EDITOR NATION’S CAPITAL IYOBOSA UWUGIAREN THE OMBUDSMAN KAYODE KOMOLAFE
THISDAY NEWSPAPERS LIMITED
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF/CHAIRMAN NDUKA OBAIGBENA
GROUP EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS ENIOLA BELLO, KAYODE KOMOLAFE, ISRAEL IWEGBU, 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
do not mean to shock or hint at scandal but there are presently a group of scholars who deserve the epithet “Fr. Alia’s Kids.” Rightly, because Fr. Alia’ is the executive governor of Benue State, most every kid should rightly be called his own. After all, the designation “Father” has a broad interpretation from an ecclesiastical point-of-view.
in mind are those youngsters who are scheduled for the next round of induction as medical doctors from the Benue State University (BSU). This bunch has endured the ultimate test in walking the course to be doctors. These fellows have had their patience tested whilst they showed resolve by keeping their sanity. Soon, dawn cometh. gung-ho. Thus, I wish our good Fr. Alia take pride in them and smoothen their pathway during this last lap. Will they “japa?” If they do they must make commitments to target and build plush and private hospitals at Benue State. Unless the good Fr. Alia has a grand plan to transform the BSUTH into something like the best in Nigeria and align this teaching hospitals with the specialised services over Benue State and Nigeria. Sunday Adole Jonah, Department of Physics, Federal University of Technology, Minna, Niger State
Chuks Okocha
The federal government, organised labour and other stakeholders would on Tuesday, resume negotiations on the national minimum wage.
The Chairman of the Tripartite Committee on National Minimum Wage, Alhaji Bukar Goni, disclosed this in a letter of invitation to labour leaders dated May 16, 2024.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) had walked out on the minimum wage negotiation committee following the
N48,000 new minimum wage proposed by the government.
The National President of the NLC, Joe Ajaero, had said labour was demanding N615,000 minimum wage, while the organised private sector had proposed N54,000. Meanwhile, after two consecutive meetings of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), the State governors have remained silent on the issue of minimum wage.
This was just as former Kaduna federal lawmaker, Senator Shehu Sani, has said the issue of minimum wage
should be addressed to avoid strike from the organised labour.
The State governors under the aegis of NGF, had said earlier in May, that their decision on the minimum wage would be based on the outcome of the tripartite committee set up by the federal government to review the minimum wages for workers.
In the communique of their meeting on May 2, this year, the governors after a virtual meeting, had said they would review the report of the tripartite committee when the report is submitted and each state reach a decision on
what they would be able to pay.
However, a communique on Thursday, signed by the Chairman, NGF and Governor of Kwara State, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, at the end of two meetings held this week, was silent on the issue of minimum wage.
It stated: 'While we acknowledge various initiatives adopted of recent by way of wage awards and partial wage adjustments, it is imperative to state that the 37-member tripartite committee inaugurated on the National Minimum Wage, is still in consultation and yet to conclude its work.
The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, met 32 state governors on Wednesday and forged a consensus to form a joint committee to resolve mining issues between both parties.
The meeting, hosted by the Chairman, Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF) and Kwara State Governor, AbdulRasak Abdulrahman, marked a high point in the minister's efforts to apply the principle of co-operative federalism to resolve interferences in mining matters on the exclusive legislative list.
Addressing the governors, Alake stated that the parley underscored the commitment of the federal government to partner sub-nationals and get their input in ongoing efforts to reposition the mining sector.
Reiterating that solid minerals belong in the exclusive legislative list according to the provisions of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), Alake advised that states must get approval of the ministry before making policy pronouncements on mining activities in their domain.
"Our actions, both at federal and state levels, should be guided by the constitution and done procedurally so that we don't appear to the unsuspecting public as if we are at loggerheads. To ensure that we remove contentious areas, we announced that states are free to apply for mining licenses so that they can become critical stakeholders in the industry and have a sense of belonging. Through that substantial involvement, we expect that they will preserve the operating environment of
mining in their state, apart from deriving direct revenue from it," Alake added. The minister also commended sub-nationals that heeded the charge of the federal government and applied for licenses to operate
as a limited liability company to mine resources in their states. According to him, "I have had to approve licenses for some states that brought their applications forward. I made no hesitation in approving such licenses because
we made a policy announcement to support the active participation of federating units. This is just part of our efforts to accommodate federating units and ensure that they benefit from our God-given resources."
Ekebuike
The Ministry of Art, Culture and the Creative Economy are in advanced talks with Yankee Entertainment to unveil the Abuja International Carnival in November 2024.
On Thursday, in Abuja, both parties met to finalise collaboration details and discuss plans for the carnival.
The Minister of Art, Culture and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musa Musawa, said during the meeting, that the Abuja International Carnival is top on the ministry’s to do events.
In a statement by her Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Nneka Ikem Anibeze, the minister
expressed optimism for the project, noting its alignment with the ministry's goals of promoting cultural diversity and supporting the creative economy.
According to Musawa, "The Abuja International Carnival aims to boost cultural tourism and enhance Nigeria's international profile. The carnival will also foster national unity, boost international culture promotion, and create economic opportunities for local artists and entrepreneurs.
“It is one of the events we really need to showcase to put the country in the forefront of cultural promotion. We knew that we needed to create something sustainable which would be able to attract not only investments
but tourism into our country.
“The former administration had started the Abuja Carnival. Today, we want to continue with it and also make sure that it is given long-term attraction and sustainability, so, I am happy to see how we can work out the modalities of putting this together to finalise collaboration details and discuss plans for the carnival.”
arlier, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Yankee Entertainment, Kehinde Adegbite, a.k.a Mallam Yankee, presented the vision and objectives of the carnival, highlighting its potential to showcase Nigerian culture and creativity to a global audience.
The National Examinations Council (NECO) has confirmed that the closing date for the 2024 Senior School Certificate Examination Internal Registration remains unchanged.
NECO in a statement yesterday called on stakeholders to disregard social media posts purporting that the registration period has been extended to Monday 20th June, 2024.
NECO insisted that the registration, which started on
Monday, December 18, 2023, would close on Monday, June 3 2024.
The statement read, “The National Examinations Council has not extended the closing date for the 2024 Senior School Certificate Examination Internal Registration.
“Late registration, which attracts the late registration fee, is between Tuesday, June 4, 2024, to Monday, June 10, 2024.
“The Council enjoins candidates, school principals, commandants, state ministries of education, and other stakeholders to disregard
social media posts purporting that the registration period has been extended to Monday, June 20, 2024.”
The statement revealed that the 2024 SSCE internal examination would commence on June 19, 2024 and end on July 26, 2024. Candidates will be assessed in 76 subjects during the examination. Meanwhile, NECO has commenced the construction of three state offices in Kogi, Gombe, and Katsina with its Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).
"As members of the committee, we are reviewing our individual fiscal space as state governments and the consequential impact of various recommendations, to arrive at an improved minimum wage we can pay sustainably.
"We remain committed to the process and promise that better wages will be the invariable outcome of ongoing negotiations," while congratulating workers across the country for their dedication to service and patience.
The communique further stated, "We work with the federal government, labour, organised private sector and relevant stakeholders in arriving at an implementable national minimum wage."
It added, "We, members of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), at our meeting held today, deliberated on various issues of national importance.
"Members received a briefing from the Honourable Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Oladele Alake, on recent policies, institutional and operational reforms undertaken by the ministry in harnessing the mining potentials of the country.
"He sought the cooperation of state governments in his drive to create an enabling business environment for investors, support artisanal and small-scale mining cooperatives, address illegal mining, and de-risk the sector.”
Minister of Women Affairs, Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, yesterday, said the lawsuit challenging the proposed mass marriage of 100 orphaned girls in Niger State has not been withdrawn.
“The case is not yet withdrawn. I want to make that clear. How do I withdraw a case in a day?” the minister said while speaking on Channels Television.
She explained: “Well, before I even withdraw the case, we have to go back to court and then tell the court that we have settled. We are withdrawing the case. Do you
understand?
“How can I go and withdraw? We are still trying to organise ourselves on how to partner well and get this problem sorted.” Her comment followed the Niger State House of Assembly Speaker Abdulmalik Sarkindaji’s proposed mass marriage of 100 orphaned girls in his constituency.
The move got a pushback from several quarters, prompting the minister to file a suit challenging the proposed marriage. Following the backlash, Sarkindaji had said he was discontinuing with the plans.
A leading impact investment firm, eha Impact Ventures (EIV), has converted $3 million in debt financing into equity for EHA Clinics, a prominent network of primary care facilities in Nigeria.
A statement by the firm said by transitioning debt into equity, EIV aims to bolster EHA Clinics' financial position ahead of its Series A funding round, facilitating access to additional capital for business expansion and operational scaling, said a statement issued by the firm. Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of eha Impact Ventures, Evelyn Castle, explained in the statement that "this conversion represents a strategic
investment in EHA Clinics' future. We believe in the company's mission to enhance healthcare accessibility in Nigeria and are committed to supporting its growth through this financing initiative." EHA Clinics' CEO, Adam Thompson, remarked that "we are grateful for EIV's continued partnership and support. Converting debt to equity strengthens our financial standing and reflects our investors' confidence in our long-term success. This strategic move will enable us to fortify our operations, enhance our service offerings, and accelerate our mission to deliver quality healthcare to Nigerians."
L-R: Member of the batch 4 graduate from Laurel School of Mines, Omachele Gloria Joe-Abrahams; Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Mary Ogbe, during the presentation of certificate to the graduate by Alake at the National Gemstones Jewellery show/Exhibition organised by Mineral Sector Support for Economic Diversification (Mindiver), a World Bank assisted project in Abuja…recently
Alex Enumah in Abuja
The National Judicial Council (NJC) has recommended 22 successful candidates for appointment as justices of the Court of Appeal. This was disclosed in a statement from the NJC signed by the Director, Information, Mr. Soji Oye. Similarly, the NJC also recommended for appointment as judges of federal, state high courts, 86 others. Those on the 22-man NJC list for elevation to the appellate court included Justice Nnamdi Dimgba, Justice Donatus Okorowo, both of the Federal High Court; Justice Olukayode Adeniyi of the FCT High Court and Justice Suzette Eberechi Nyesom Wike, Others are Hon. Justice Kwahar Polycarp Terna; Hon. Justice Ruqayat Oremei Ayoola; Hon. Justice Eleojo Eneche; Hon. Justice Asma’u
Akanbi-Yusuf; Hon. Justice Abdullahi Muhammad Liman; Hon. Justice Abdu Dogo; Hon. Justice Fadawu Umaru; Hon. Justice Ishaq Mohammed Sani; Hon. Justice Zainab Bage Abubakar; Hon. Justice Abdulazeez M. Anka; Hon. Justice Nwoye Victoria Tochukwu, and Hon. Justice Nwabunkeonye Onwosi.
Others included Hon. Justice Ngozika Uwazurunonye Okaisabor; Hon. Justice Ntong Festus Ntong; Hon. Justice Nehizena Idemudia Afolabi; Hon. Justice Lateef Babajide LawalAkapo; Hon. Justice Akinyemi Abiodun Azeem, and Hon. Justice Oyewumi Oyejoju Oyebiola.
"Council at the meeting also considered the recommendation of its Interview Committee on Appointment of Judicial Officers of all Superior Courts of Record in Nigeria and resolved to recommend the under-listed 86
Kemi
Gunmen have abducted a sister to a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Alhaji Ahmed Raji, Alhaja Seliat Raji.
The incident occurred on Thursday evening and she was abducted at her residence in Iseyin, Oyo State.
It was gathered that the gunmen, in a bid to abduct the woman, killed the security guard in the house.
Judicial Officers for appointment to the Court of Appeal, High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Sharia Courts of Appeal and Customary Courts of Appeal of States in Nigeria," the statement added.
The statement noted that the NJC at the meeting considered two reports of its two Preliminary Complaints
Assessment Committees that filtered 35 petitions written against judges of the Federal and State High Courts and decided to empanel eight committees to further investigate the petitions that were found meritorious by the committees.
However, the statement added that the NJC issued warning letters to three judges and barred two of them from elevation to higher bench for a period.
"The National Judicial Council under the Chairmanship of Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, GCON, at its plenary of 105th meeting held on May 15 and 16, 2024, resolved to issue warning letters to Justice Inyang E. Ekwo of the Federal High Court and Hon. Justice
G. B. Brikins-Okolosi of Delta State High Court," it added. According to the statement, Justice Ekwo was warned for abuse of discretionary power of a judge by wrongly granting an ex parte order in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/C/626/2023
Juliet Ebere Nwadi Gbaka & 2 Ors V Seplat Energy Plc & 12 Ors.
In anticipation of potential challenges that may arise from mergers and acquisitions among banks in Nigeria as they strive to meet the 2026 recapitalisation deadline, the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) and the judiciary have affirmed their preparedness to fast-track resolutions.
that no bank in the country would need to cease operations, considering the array of options provided by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
The Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Hon. John Tsoho, emphasised the judiciary's readiness for the recapitalisation phase.
that judges are on top of their game and the role of the judges cannot be underestimated.
Represented by Justice Ayokunle Faji, he underscored the crucial role of courts, particularly in matters pertaining to the economy and financial stability.
Sources said the kidnappers arrived at the residence on a motorcycle and left the scene in their victim’s Lexus car.
The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Adewale Osifeso, who confirmed the incident, said investigation has commenced on the matter.
“Investigation is ongoing. Updates will be communicated, please,” he said.
The name of the security guard has not been revealed as at the time of filing this report.
In her quest to entrench healthy systems that enable women grow and thrive without the existential sexist impediments, author of a women self-help book titled, 'Ichabod: Daughters Who Did Not Inherit Their Mothers’ Silence', Ogochukwu Eloike has clinched the Industry Award.
According to a statement, she was recognised by The Industry as a Change Maker-gender Advocacy, a well-deserved recognition that highlighted her unmatched commitment and efforts towards propagating gender parity in Nigeria and across the continent.
The event which took place in Lagos, was organised by The Industry Women Conference spearheaded by Mr. Goddie Ofose.
“Ogochukwu was also listed among the top 50 Industry Women driving positive reforms and changes
within their industry. This particular recognition took into cognisance her over a decade of services as an astute communications strategist and PR Professional. Through her invaluable creative skills and expertise, Ogochukwu has worked with both local and international brands to drive brand equity, affinity, and patronage.
“As one of the keynote speakers, she delivered an excellent address on how women can effectively establish a work-life balance through precision decision-making and thinking. She noted that it has become a key imperative for women to have some skin in their game and not leave their life’s outcome to chance or their expectations of meeting a man who can solve all their problems as that is delusional and unhealthy,” the statement added.
Managing Director of NDIC, Mr. Bello Hassan, expressed confidence
He said this recently in Lagos, during a sensitisation seminar for judges of the Federal High Court, organised by the National Judicial Institute with the theme, 'Building Strong Depositors Confidence in Banks and Other Financial Institutions through Adjudication'.
He said: “We are going into yet another period of banking consolidation, so it is very imperative
“There would be quite a lot of activities in the courts, there would be issues of banking, capitalisation, there would be issues of restructuring, acquisitions, mergers, and all that and of course, some banks may also want to stop business because they may not be able to meet all the requirements.
Former Governor of Kano State and ex-Defence Minister, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, is to chair
The New Narrative Newspaper's public presentation of the book titled, 'The Inclined Leader: Rediscovering The Principles for Your Personal Development and Growth', authored by the newspapers’ Publisher/ Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Kalu Okoronkwo.
The event with the theme: 'Empowering Leadership and Fostering Good Governance for Sustainable Development' would hold on July 17, 2024.
According to a statement, “Kwankwaso, a distinguished statesman and presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party
(NNPP) in the 2023 general election in Nigeria graciously penned the foreword to the book and brings a wealth of experience and insight to his role as Chairman of the event.
“Known for his dedication to leadership excellence and visionary governance, Senator Kwankwaso's participation at the book presentation event promises to elevate the significance of the occasion and foster meaningful discussions among guests.”
Speaking on the book launch, Okoronkwo said the Editorial Board and management of the newspaper were honoured to have Kwankwaso penned the foreword for the book and also to chair the public presentation.
Onuminya Innocent in Sokoto
On this year’s International Day of the Boy-Child marked on Thursday, the Founder/Executive Director, Life After Abuse Foundation, Halima Layeni, has argued that sexual abuse against boys was prevalent.
Equally, the wife of General Officer Commanding 8 Division, and Chairperson of Nigerian Army Officer's Wife Association (NAOWA), Mrs. Florence Godwin Mutkut, has advocated for the need to protect the boy-child from harmful societal influences.
In a statement, Layeni, pointed out that global statistics revealed
that approximately one in six boys worldwide experience some form of sexual abuse before adulthood.
“One of the most troubling aspects of this crisis is the neglect of sexual abuse against boys. Survivors frequently face scepticism and blame, with their experiences dismissed due to harmful misconceptions.
“The horrifying reality is that some believe if a boy experiences an erection during abuse, or actively participated in the act, somehow implies consent or enjoyment, perpetuating a culture of silence and shame, leaving survivors feeling isolated and invalidated.
“It is important to emphasise that abuse perpetrated against boys below the age of consent constitutes rape, regardless of whether they actively participated in the act. The age of consent varies globally but typically ranges from 16 to 18 years old. Any sexual activity with a child below the age of consent is a violation of their rights and is a criminal offence,” she added.
According to her, the long-term effect of sexual abuse on boys were profound, extending beyond immediate trauma.
“Male survivors often suffer psychological and emotional challenges, including depression,
anxiety, PTSD, and difficulties in forming healthy relationships. The impact of abuse can persist into adulthood, impacting self-esteem, ability to trust others, and overall well-being.
“It is clear that urgent action is needed to address this crisis and safeguard the rights of the boychild. We must advocate for policies that prioritise the well-being of boys and establish social support centres that offer specialised services exclusive to male survivors of sexual abuse. These centers would provide a nurturing environment for boys to access the care and support needed for recovery.
In order to ensure the continuity of businesses especially at this period of uncertain, the Association of Food, Beverage and Tobacco Employers (AFBTE) have appealed to the federal government to consider the possibility of elevating industrial estates to free trade zones across the country.
This was as the association equally urged the federal government to allow businesses deduct unrealised exchange losses for tax purposes.
Speaking at the 45th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of
the association, the President, AFBTE, Mr. Chinedum Okereke, highlighted several areas that the federal government could support the sector to continue in business.
Specifically, he said part of the support required would include a deliberate reconsideration on issues like varying rate for clearance at the ports, addressing foreign exchange (FX) scarcity, creation of more free trade zones by elevating existing industrial zones, among others.
He explained: “We appeal to the government to consider the possibility of elevating the various existing industrial estates to the
status of free trade zones. The point is made because there are companies that were established in the past and that have contributed immensely to economic growth but are disadvantaged compared with those that are in the existing Free Trade Zone.
“The constant variation in the exchange rate for the clearing of goods at the port; the issue of the devaluation of the naira, companies have had to revalue their fixed loans on their balance sheets as a result of the devaluation of the Naira.
“Government needs to provide support to member-companies including multinational compa-
nies that are still in the country and are investing more. This will require some additional consideration in the form of reliefs/allowances as incentive for them to continue to invest in Nigeria.This will no doubt promote the country as an investment destination.”
However, for the guest speaker, Dr. MudaYusuf, who spoke on“Current Economic Reforms: Implications for the Food, Beverage and Tobacco,” the sector contributed N39 trillion to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2023, citing the National Bureau of Statistics data.
This, he said, has a corresponding impact on employment
Medical and Dental Consultants
Association of Nigeria (MDCAN) has reiterated its call on the federal government to increase the retirement age of hospital consultants to 70 years and 65 years for other healthcare workers in the country.
The association also frowned at government’s reluctance to squarely address issues of shortfall in salaries of clinical lecturers (honorary consultants) occasioned by non-payment of their salary with CONMESS (Consolidated Medical Salary Scale) for medical and dental doctors in public service in Nigeria.
MDCAN’s position was contained in a communique issued at the end of its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting with the theme, ‘Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative and its Significance in Achieving Universal Health Coverage’. In the communique which was jointly signed by MDCAN President and Secretary General, Prof. Mohammed Aminu Mohammed and Dr. Daiyabu Ibrahim respectively, the association said the development, if not addressed, would be the bane to the process of sustainable production of healthcare workforce in Nigeria, adding that it could further encourage
brain drain.
Mohammed said, “We also resolved that government as well as critical stakeholders in the healthcare sector should have strategic plans that will ensure all Nigerians have financial, geographical and functional access to quality healthcare.
“The various steps outlined in the Nigerian Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative (NHSRII) should be properly followed, and MDCAN as well as other critical stakeholders should be involved for effective delivery of quality healthcare to all Nigerians.
“Federal and States Governments should as a matter of urgency, address the age-
Lagos State Coordinator; Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN); Princess Adaobi Ekwuno; National President; All Nigerian Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools; Alhaji Musa Muhammed; Human Resource Director; Nigerian Breweries Plc; Mrs. Grace Omo-Lamai; Corporate Affairs Director; Nigerian Breweries Plc., Mrs. Sade Morgan and Chairman; Nigeria Union of Teachers(NUT); Comrade Hassan Akintoye during the flag-off of the 10th edition of the Maltina Teacher of the Year Competition held in Lagos …. yesterday; SUNDAY ADIGUN
long demand of Universal Applicability of CONMESS to all qualified Medical and Dental University Lecturers in the Colleges of Medicine/ Health Sciences across the various Universities in the Country.”
According to the communique, the increase in the number of medical students admitted should be followed up by deliberate efforts by the federal government to increase human resources and infrastructures such as classrooms, laboratories and simulation laboratories for effective training of medical students without compromising the expected standard.
generation, adding that the sector currently plays a leading role in deepening backward integration in the Nigerian economy.
According to him, I am giving this background to underline the strategic importance of the food and beverage sector to the Nigerian economy.
“It is also to underscore the imperative of deliberate policy actions to support the sector because of the socio economic and political ramifications of the sector’s contribution to the economy.”
Earlier, Okereke commended some steps taken by the present administration of the federal government.
Sunday Aborisade in Abuja
There was commotion at the National Assembly yesterday, when two senior parliamentary staff members were allegedly brutalised by security operatives from the Department of State Services (DSS), attached to the apex legislative institution in the country.
The incident which degenerated to a protest according to eye witnesses, occurred at about 11:45am at the gate which linked the Senate new building and the white House.
The two senior staff members, namely John Nnadi of the Senate Committee on Petroleum (Downstream) and Chris Odoh, a Deputy Director, were said to have flashed their Identity cards to the DSS operatives on their way into the premises.
Attempts made by the senior staff members to proceed to the White House segment from the Senate new building were forcefully blocked by the DSS operatives.
The development was said to have resulted into rough handling from both ends and outright physical assault from the DSS operatives.
Efforts by passersby including the journalist to resolve the crisis, allegedly infuriated the DSS operatives.
The secret police officers were said to have been joined by other security agents to descend heavily on the two affected staff by dragging John Nnadi and pushing the Deputy Director (Chris Idoh) to their office at the White House.
The forceful dragging of Nnadi and Odoh to DSS office by the operatives, a distance of about 125 metres, drew the attention of other staff members and other sympathisers, whose offices were along the way.
An eye witness, an accredited journalist, covering the National Assembly (names withheld), who was at the scene of the incident, said the DSS operatives manning the gate, claimed that the staff members did not identified themselves properly when they were stopped.
L-R: Director, External Affairs and Social Performance, Seplat Energy Plc, Chioma Afe; Chief Financial Officer-Designate, Eleanor Adaralegbe; Chief Executive Officer, Roger Brown; Board Chairman, Udoma Udo Udoma; Director Legal and Company Secretary, Edith Onwuchekwa; and Chief Operating Officer, Samson Ezugworie, after the 11th Annual General Meeting of the Company in Lagos … yesterday
L-R; Chairman, NBA institute of continuous legal education (ICLE), Tobenna Erojikwe; Immediate Past President of Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Olumide Akpata; and Chairman NBA Benin Branch,
Francis Edo-Osagie at the monthly general meeting of the NBA BENIN
Benin...recently
Justice Rahman Oshodi of the Ikeja Special Offences Court yesterday granted the request of the defence to recall the first prosecution witness, Monday Osazuwa, in the alleged abuse of office and multi-billion case levelled against the former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele.
When the case was called, the counsel to Emefiele's co-defendant, Mr. Kazeem Gbadamosi, notified the court of a motion on notice dated May
6 and sought the indulgence of the court to recall Osazuwa, Osazuwa, had on April 12 testified how the embattled governor, on different occasions, directed him to collect three million dollars cash in tranches. Oshodi, granted the application of Gbadamosi to recall the witness, following no objections from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) counsel, Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo. He said: "In the motion on notice dated May 6 and filed on May 7, the second defence counsel seeks an order
to recall the first prosecution witness (PW1).
"The second defence counsel seeks to further cross-examine PWI on matters listed in paragraph 4 D on the affidavit in support of the application.
"The recall was also premised on nine grounds and the six paragraph affidavits was filed in support of the application and equally is a written address filed on May 7. The prosecution did not file a rebuttal and I hereby grant the application."
EFCC counsel, then prayed the court for a leave to further examine the
fourth prosecution witness, a contractor, who had started his evidence-in-chief on May 9 and the leave was granted by the court.
The witness, Managing Director, The Source Computers Limited, Mr. Victor Onyejiuwa, in his continuation of his examination, told the court that there was an error in his extra-judicial statement regarding the location where the $600,000 was given to the second prosecution witness, a former Director of Information Technology of CBN, Mr. John Ayoh, According to him, the sum of
Onyebuchi Ezigbo, Michael Olugbode and Sunday Aborisade in Abuja
The President of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Omar Alieu Touray, has said that an estimated 20 million persons from countries in the subregion require urgent humanitarian aid.
This was just as ECOWAS, the private tourism sector and other stakeholders have unveiled strategic
initiatives aimed at boosting tourism across the sub-region According to Touray, about three million out of the distressed population are currently languishing in Internally displaced persons camps (IDPs) with poor health and welfare facilities. He blamed the humanitarian crisis on instability created by terrorist attacks, political instability and other forms of insecurity in these countries. Speaking at the 25th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the Health
Ministers of ECOWAS in Abuja, Touray said that emergency situations arising from health, insecurity and climate change disasters are having a great impact on the effort to realise the goal of economic and social integration with the region.
He said: "As you are all aware, our region is currently facing numerous challenges including poverty, insecurity, political instability all of which has resulted in migration, displacement of persons
and communities. Indeed in the ECOWAS region, it is estimated that more than 20 million people need humanitarian aid out of which more than 3 million are internally displaced persons. This is caused mainly by the activities of terrorist groups and political instability."
Trouray said that the fundamental objectives of ECOWAS is not only to build an economic community of its member states but to improve the living standards of the citizens.
The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) has released the consolidated financial statements of the Bank and its subsidiaries for the three months ended 31 March 2024.
The Group’s results for the period demonstrated yet again great resilience in the face of challenging geopolitical and macroeconomic conditions, according to a statement yesterday.
The results showed year-on-
Wale Igbintade
A Federal High Court in Lagos has convicted and sentenced a medical doctor and founder of MedContour Services Ltd., Dr. Anuoluwapo Adepoju, to one year imprisonment over a failed plastic surgery.
Justice Muhammad Liman, convicted the medical doctor, after analysing all the submissions of both the prosecution and the defence counsel.
year growth and an increase in shareholder value. It revealed that the Bank’s Net Interest Income for Q1 2024 grew by 31.73 per cent to $393.4 million, compared to $298.6 million for the prior year’s comparative period (Q1 2023).
The increase was largely driven by a 40.07 per cent increase in interest income to $721.8 million, on the back of the growth in the bank’s portfolio
The judge however ordered the convicted doctor to pay a sum of N100, 000, in lieu of the jail-term.
The convicted doctor was charged before the court alongside her Clinic, MedContour Services Limited, by the Federal Competition and Consumers Protection Commission (FCCPC), on a five-count charge bordering on a refusal to honour an invitation for an investigation into post-body surgery complications, as well as the production of investigation documents.
of loans and advances.
Its net interest margin improved to 4.82 per cent compared to 4.40 per cent in the corresponding period due to a combination of higher benchmark rates and effective management of borrowing costs.
The Group demonstrated an improvement in operating efficiency with a lower cost to income ratio of 14.50 per cent in the review period, compared to 16.82 per cent
She was re-arraigned on July 17, 2020, alongside her medical outfit, before Justice Mohammed Liman.
She had pleaded not guilty to the charges and was granted bail on self-recognisance.
Upon conclusion of her trial, she decided not to open her defence and she filed a no-case-submission on grounds that no case had been established against her by the prosecution, to warrant her entering a defence.
But, Justice Liman on April 7,
in the first quarter of 2023. This was achieved despite a 10.63 per cent increase in operating expenses to $61.4 million (Q1 2023: US$55.5 million).
“Staff costs rose by 28.55 per cent year-on-year following an increase in staff headcount to support the growth of group business and other initiatives, in line with the bank’s Sixth Strategic Plan, constituting 52.93 per cent of Group’s expenses.
2022, dismissed the convict's no-case submission, while ruled that the evidence so far presented before the court by the prosecution, satisfies the elements of the criminal charges pending against her.
On May 5, 2023, the convict, opened her case and she was the only witness.
The convict was led in evidence and also cross-examined after which the court adjourned the case until June 21, 2023, for adoption of written addresses.
$400,000 was given to Ayoh in Lagos while $200,000 was given to him in Abuja.
Under cross-examination by Emefiele's counsel, Mr. Olalekan Ojo, the witness said he wrote the statement in the presence of his lawyer, Mr. Olukayode Enitan, but he was aware of the error later.
He confirmed to the court that there were only two errors in his statement and that was released to his lawyer after he wrote the extra judicial statement.
According to him, "Apart from the two errors, there are no other errors in my statement but there are omissions because I wrote 2014 to 2018 instead of 2014 to 2020.
"As a businessman of over 20 years of experience, I know I have a civic duty not to give bribe to anybody and I know that I have duties to report anyone that offers bride but I did not report because I was under serious pressure from my partners to pay them.
"I was paid the money in December 2018, and upon receiving the money, my partners stopped putting pressure on me.
Emma Okonji
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), yesterday, said it would be suspending three telecoms licences temporarily, with effect from May 17, 2024.
The licences include Interconnect Exchange Licence, Mobile Virtual Network Operator Licence and Value Added Service Aggregator Licence.
Director, Public Affairs at NCC, Mr. Reuben Muoka, who announced the temporal suspension plan in a statement issued yesterday, said the move would enable the commission to conduct a proper review of the licences.
According to the statement, “In line with its powers under the Nigerian Communications Act (NCA) 2003 to grant and renew licences, promote fair competition and develop the Communications Industry,
"Although between 2018 and 2024, when the pressure had gone, I did not report the issue of bribe to EFCC and my primary reason for being here is not for the recovery of my money." The witness further informed the court that his partners were not stakeholders in his company but were Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM).
He also confirmed he did not write in his extra judicial statement that his partners pressurised him but he said it in his evidence in chief.
While still being cross examined by Ojo, first defendant counsel asked Onyejiuwa if he ever had direct interface with the embattled former CBN Governor or give him money, he said "No" in affirmative, "l have no dealing with him,” he stressed.
Speaking further, Ojo asked, "Did you indicate in your statement that you attempted to find out from the former Governor of CBN whether the former IT Director, Ayoh had the authority to demand for money, the witness said no.
the Nigerian Communications Commission (the Commission) hereby informs all stakeholders of a temporary suspension on issuance of new licences in the following categories: Interconnect Exchange Licence, Mobile Virtual Network Operator Licence, and Value Added Service Aggregator Licence. “This temporary suspension is necessary to enable the commission to conduct a thorough review of several key areas within these categories, including the current level of competition, market saturation and current market dynamics. The public is invited to note that during the suspension period commencing on 17th of May, 2024, new application for the aforementioned licences will not be accepted. This is without prejudice to pending applications before the commission, which will be considered on their merits.”
In our Thursday Edition of THISDAY, we published a story with the headline: Sweden Announces Return of Benin Artefacts to Oba of Benin.
We have been made aware that the statement attributed to the Swedish Ambassador to Nigeria, Annika Hahn-Englund was a misrepresentation of what she actually said during her visit to the Oba of Benin. The correct statement was that, the artefacts will be returned to the National Commission for Museums and Monuments, NCMM and Not to the Oba of Benin as erroneous reported. The mix-up is regretted. Editor
Nigerian-British actor, Wale Ojo, has traversed quite a memorable career as an actor in the United Kingdom and Nigeria. He recently won the Best Lead Actor award at the 10th Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards held in Lagos. Ojo’s talent and dedication to his craft have seen him rise to prominence in the film industry. He speaks to Ferdinand Ekechukwu about his childhood, journey so far in his acting career and his love for Nigeria. He also says taking on the role of Wole Soyinka in ‘The Man Died’ was the highpoint in his career, noting that it was an immense honour for him to play the role because of his admiration for the Nobel Laureate
How do you feel winning Best Lead Actor at the recently concluded 10th AMVCA?
Well, you know I feel great, I feel good. I’m very grateful to God for winning that award. Like I said during my speech, BB Sasore wrote a great script, we had a great team; Ola Cardoso the D.O.P was fantastic, BB directed, Eku Edewor produced. And of course a great supporting cast; Chimezie Imo top on that list, Geneveva Umeh, Demola Adedoyin, Sam Dede was incredible, Tina Mbah was amazing. So, yeah it was good.
Can the movie – ‘Breadth of Life’ - for which you won the award, be seen as a breath of fresh air?
Yeah. It’s a breath of fresh air for the Nollywood industry. I believe ‘Breadth of Life’ is a film that raised the standard; it raised the bar as far as filmmaking is concerned, as far as storytelling is concerned. It raised the bar for Nollywood, for the Nigeria film industry. It reaches the levels of new Nigerian cinema.
How about the role you played in the movie?
Well, a role is always a role for me. I take each role on its own merit. I approach it according to the script and according to the amount of work I had. And when BB sent me that script, I knew that this is not just a normal religious script ‘come to the church and bla blah bla’. It was a deeply philosophical script and so I enjoyed doing it immensely.
What does this award mean to you considering that you have missed out in a couple of AMVCA nominations in the past?
Well, it’s always good to be recognised by the people in your field. It means a lot and I like to call myself a champion for African cinema. So, to win the Best Lead Actor in Africa Magic Viewer’s Choice Awards, it means you are holding the top position. And I think that’s a wonderful thing; it’s brilliant to be recognised. But I think it also comes with a separate sense of duty to do even better, to achieve even greater height. So, basically from the AMVCA award we then move on to awards outside of the country, recognition outside of the country.
As someone who has graced international scenes, compared to what you see in Nollywood in recent time, what major developments fascinate you?
Well we’ve increased the value of the productions because of the equipment that we are using. A lot of companies are now shooting with very high tech candid cameras. They are paying attention to details which we didn’t used to do so before. They are paying attention to location; they paying attention to costumes and production design. So, all of these they are taking us to a place where it’s going to be very difficult to ignore Nigerian cinema worldwide. Also, with the streaming platforms it is a major development and beneficial to the health and to the growth of the industry because they are bringing in much needed liquid capital into the industry. So, they are much needed. But there’s always an advantage and there’s always a disadvantage. I would like a situation where one can sign deals with streamers and still be able to go to cinemas and still be able to go to film festivals. I think you can still do that, but they are limited on certain licensed titles. I think that most films should. I love the art of cinema. I love when group of people will get together to watch a film in a building, or open air. I think that’s important and I would want that to continue. I would want the streaming platforms to support that as well.
Has it always been an easy journey looking
at how you got to where you are now?
No, it’s been a difficult journey. It’s been a long journey; it’s been struggles sometimes but every single time from the moment I decided in my mind I was going to be an actor. And I wanted to be an actor as far back as I can remember. It’s been a rewarding journey. So the rewards have been greater than the pain, struggle, and years of not working or creating own work.
Was there a time you ever felt like quitting? No. I think there was once or twice when I tried to do something else and I ended up in a shop in London putting prices on the products. I think I lasted one day. There’s another time I tried to sell in the UK, I think I lasted one week. Then I tried working in an office, I think I lasted three days. So, I think my
mind just told me ‘do or die’, it’s acting (laughing).
Can you take us back a bit to the beginning of your acting journey?
Well, I would love to go as far back as watching television with my elderly brother, Niyi at one point watching “Combat” which was a war series on TV. So, I used to emulate them, copy them and mimic them. Then sometimes I will be dancing for my mum and my dad and the family in the living room and stuff like that. And then I knew I had a gift for acting when I was doing public speaking when I was at the college in England, I started to do public speaking, then I got into the school play, then I realised that ‘you know what I think I would love to do this for the rest of my life’. That was when I set myself on that path. Then of course everybody thinks ‘you are just
joking’… but I kept going. Before the college period I got some exposures going to location and all that here. I was a child actor with WNTV Ibadan, and that’s really where my career started at the age of 8.
How would you describe your childhood?
Fantastic! I had great childhood. I will say I was brought up with a silver spoon in my mouth, probably very spoilt. My mum took me all over the world. And I would go to my father’s side, my grandfather was royalty in Ibadan. I will go to my mother’s side in Edo State, my grandmother and my grandfather were royalty in the Edo Kingdom. So, wherever I went, I was just spoilt. My childhood was great and one of my strongest memories is that my grandmother on my mother’s side had a hotel called Flamingo Hotel in Ekpoma, in Edo State. And only recently I
realised that the musician that used to come and play in that hotel was Victor Uwaifo! And also, Victor Uwaifo’s brother used to come and play at the Flamingo Hotel. And I grow up in that hotel in Ekpoma - my cousins and I grew up in that hotel. Furthermore, I used to go to the market square in Ekpoma and watch John Wayne films; I will steal away, my grandmother would be so angry with me, I will steal away and just sit there in the courtyard watching John Wayne. And I used to admire John Wayne. John Wayne was my hero. I used to love it when he used to kill all the Indians. I used to scream and shout. It was only later I realised that it’s the Indians that own the land and John Wayne, a Ku Klux Klan member, was a criminal. From that day on I didn’t like him anymore.
You started out acting on stage. Most of your works have increased and taken major part on screen. Do you prefer one to the other?
Well it’s difficult because I like the detail, the intricacies, and the sweat that one can put into film. But stage, I think stage takes the edge. It’s just that once you get on stage you can’t turn back, there’s no cut. You have to race on to the finish line. And the applause from the audience at the end of the day is what tells you if you have done your job or not. But in yourself you will know because acting is an organic thing, it’s all about the transfers and the exchange of energy between a performer and his audience. So for most good actors, stage is it.
Which is your most memorable career moment as an actor?
I think one of my most memorable is playing a cockroach.
In an animation?
No, not animation it’s in a stage play. I had to be a cockroach and play a cockroach and drop from a ceiling onto the floor and all kinds of things. It took a lot and that was one of my most memorable. I trapped a cockroach in a bottle and I studied the way the cockroach moves in preparation for the role. Poor cockroach I imprisoned it in a bottle and studied the movement, study the way it shook its head, everything and did that on stage.
Who has influenced or played a major role in your career?
There have been many people; from university
lecturers to people who are not even alive, people whom I have not even met. Chief of all of them has to be Michael Chekhov, who was a nephew to Anton Chekhov, the Great Russian writer. I just loved his approach to acting. He started in acting school in Russia. He worked in the Moscow Art Theatre. He was Konstantin Stanislavsky’s favourite student. And if you know Konstantin Stanislavski, he’s the person who started what we call The Method for Actors that then went on to America. For me Chekhov was an originator of a very different kind of method; a method they call - For the Use of the Imagination. There are many people along the line. I can mention Paul Robson… Mohammed Ali. You could remember Ali was a performer; he was an actor in his own right. And then coming back to home, Hubert Ogunde, Tunde Kelani, Sam Loco Efe (late), and the rest of them.
You have often described Prof. Wole Soyinka as one of your most iconic figures. How did you feel taking on his character in the adaptation of The Man Died?
Yeah of course I often talk about Wole Soyinka. Taking on the role of Wole Soyinka in ‘The Man Died’
was definitely a highpoint in my career because I have worked with him now for close to, on and off, for about 30 years. So, I think ‘The Man Died’ is such an iconic book in the canon of world literature. And the figure of Wole Soyinka is an iconic figure in the world of literature. So to take him on, to play him in that book was an immense honour.
If you weren’t into acting what would you have been doing?
I have no idea (laughs). I think I was acting from my mother’s womb. Maybe I would do music; though I still do music. Maybe if you are talking of something not in entertainment, maybe a lawyer, but no. I probably would have been. But because lawyers, I don’t know. I have had situations with lawyers. Lawyers can be very funny people.
Maybe a politician, I think I care about people. And I like to see things done right. So, I may have become something of a political activist. I may have settled on the quest for political power.
You have also produced and directed a couple of movies. Is it likely you retire as a director or producer?
No, I will never retire! The world retirement is not coming to my radar at all. It doesn’t, I will never retire. I will metamorphose into the realm of the ancestors singing, dancing and acting by the power of the owner of the sky.
Aside acting, there are other sides of Wale Ojo. Like music. Talk to us about this aspect of your craft. How did it start and what was it that got you into music?
I have always played music. Music helped me to survive in London when there was no work as an actor. So, music helped me survive I formed many bands, I have been in many bands, and I have a band in Lagos called ‘The Milagros.’ It used to be called Wale Ojo and The Milagros. It’s a fantastic band. The core members of that band the three players Jude Aduragbemi on drums, Michael Gbadebo on bass guitar, and Gbenga G tones on keyboard. That’s the core of the band. Yes, we play concerts, at Hard Rock Caffe. We’ve played for Johnnie Walker. We welcome brands to come along and perform with us. When I perform with the band I bring my acting skills, I create a whole entertainment for the audience. We are looking to perform hopefully in Brazil and the United States in the future. Yes, we are looking to
perform in those places.
Have you got any musical work that one can point to?
Yes, I have a single out now called ‘Afrika’. It’s out on all the major streaming platforms. Put Wale Ojo Afrika you will get it. It’s an original afrobeat composition done by myself and my band, The Milagros.
What are you engaged with when you are not on set?
A script, a movie, a poem, a monologue, a song, a dance, I’m always creative; creativity for me is key.
And how do you unwind?
I unwind by swimming with turtles or dolphins. I swim a lot. So, I go to Islands I dive into the middle of the ocean and just swim. I love to swim.
Some of your posts come off as someone who is conscious and passionate about Nigeria. What aspirations do you have for the country?
A lot of aspirations. Over the years it would have been extremely easy for me not to come to Nigeria at all. I could easily have stayed in United States, or United Kingdom, or Germany or even Russia. And I know I would have been okay doing what I do there. But I love Nigeria, and I will always love Nigeria no matter what. And I have a lot of vision for Nigeria. And that vision is one that encompasses a country where everybody doesn’t want to ‘Japa’. The ‘Japa’ mentality I think is embarrassing. I think it’s unfortunate, you know where doctors think they go and do their stuff in elsewhere and whereas when I go to the United States or go anywhere, Nigerians are applauded of their ingenuity. And you will come home there are many problems. I want to be a part of the solution; I don’t want to be talking about the problem I want to be a part of the solution. And I put a lot of things in place to bear the solution if the government wants to engage with the creative industry they need to come and talk to people like us because we have a vision for the country; we don’t do ‘follow-follow.’ Ronald Regan was an actor before he became a president; Donald Trump was an actor who became a president, Polish President, Lech Walesa was a playwright who became a president. And of course, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine who was a popular comedian. Creative people, ultimately passionate people and I am passionate about Nigeria.
For the past 17 years, the Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal Two, popularly referred to as MMA2, an iconic, innovative
(PPP) project in Nigeria, has been standing like the Rock of Gibraltar in the turbulent aviation industry.
predictions and expectations of naysayers, who expressly believed that the project would be a
warped belief because hitherto, public facilities in the country were either rendered comatose or outrightly killed by the very people saddled with the task of keeping them in good shape. MMA2 would fall in this category at inception. But they were proved wrong by the promoter of the project.
under the chairmanship of billionaire business man, philanthropist and erudite lawyer, Dr. Wale
But, by sheer determination and the strong will to succeed, the terminal building, inaugurated by then President Olusegun Obasanjo on May 7, 2007, has weathered the storm and landed safely to the chagrin of pessimists, narcissists and their they believed rather wrongly that nothing good could come out of the company. Today, and to the admiration of lovers of
its facility; that lack of maintenance culture is not a Nigerian thing, but the character of some
crocked individuals who would want to kill managements of MMA2 since inception, including foreigners, who were painstakingly hired by Babalakin, a man who would not take 99.9 per cent measure, have proved and sustained the facility and made it the best airport terminal
was using to keep MMA2 glowing despite the many hurdles put on its path.
Indeed, the journey has been far from being smooth, as the obstacles and thorns put against MMA2 by some powerful individuals who never wanted the ambitious project to succeed nearly asphyxiated it. For instance, several court
interests to the glory of Almighty God. While multiple times to give evidence in some cases, through the terminal.
The concession agreement that birthed MMA2 became so highly disputed to the extent that it nearly crippled the facility. However, in all of this, the rule of law always prevailed as extent that the Federal Government was ordered sum of N132 billion in 2012 for breaching the terms of the concession of the terminal. The accumulated to over N200 billion because the General Aviation Terminal (GAT), part of the Federal Government, which has been collecting charges from airlines operating there for the past by the government against the Federal High
Despite all the shenanigans of the detractors, the last 17 years of MMA2 had witnessed the investment of billions of naira in providing and
ity vehicles, sophisticated screening machines, escalators and elevators and other facilities by Babalakin and his company to make travelling through or visiting the terminal an unforgettable experience. However, the businessman has been struggling to get full returns on his investment due to the escalating costs of all the facilities and items needed to keep the terminal running 24/7. Having worked at the terminal for many keeping MMA2 running day and night has been a Herculean task, requiring a lot of patriotism
Apart from the facilities, which are constantly upgraded to keep their high standards, the meticulousness of succeeding managements has ensured that Nigerians are not let down as part of their national pride. This is why the facility has won the Best Airport Terminal Award back to back in the last eight years.
BEU with 70 passengers departed MMA2 at its inauguration on May 7, 2007, numerous airlines have seized and are seizing the golden
no fewer than 10 airlines, including Ibom Dana Airlines, Azman Air, Max Air, Rano Air, from MMA2 daily.
Remi Jibodu, had said during the programmes marking the 17th anniversary of MMA2 recently: “Over the past 17 years, we have consistently pushed the boundaries of innovation, setting satisfaction. Our commitment to excellence has not
gone unnoticed, as evidenced by the numerous accolades and awards that adorn our walls.”
stakeholders and other Nigerians perturbed is the inability of MMA2 to operate regional needed for this purpose at the terminal. In the in the provision of facilities to process passengers
away at a section of the terminal carved out for regional operations. This is very bad for a country that needs private investors to bridge its wide infrastructure gap.
While lamenting the inability of MMA2 to process passengers for regional operations despite the huge investment, Babalakin had said: “We but till date, we are not utilising the facilities. We are ready, willing and able, but domestic
called MMA2 today started way back in the year 2000 when an inferno reduced the old domestic terminal of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) to rubble. An advertisement for the building of a new terminal through the Design, Build, Operate and Transfer (DBOT) was pushed out by the Federal Government the bids and was awarded the concession, but it did not do anything on the site for more than one year after winning the bid. This made
terminal and other ancillary assets, including hotel and a conference centre through DBOT arrangement.
Adeseha Wuraola Becky is an actress, filmmaker, and storyteller renowned for her performances in Yoruba films. She holds a degree in English from Lagos State University, which has undoubtedly enriched her artistic abilities. Adesegha’s acting career began in 2008, and she has since appeared in a wide range of Yoruba and Nollywood productions, showcasing her talent and versatility. In addition to her success in the entertainment industry, she is committed to making a positive impact on society. Through her foundation, Adesegha demonstrates her passion for social causes and her desire to uplift and support vulnerable individuals within the community. She took Tosin Clegg, exclusively through her new project, balancing acting as well as producing, her passion for impacting widows and a lot more. Excerpts:
Canyoutellusaboutyour latestmovieproject,Atiko andwhatinspiredthestory
Can you share any details about other projects you currently have in the works
Isthereapersonalconnectionorexperience thatmotivatedyoutoexplorethestoriesof
Weretherechallengesyouencounteredwhile working on this movie, either creatively or
As a producer and actress, how do you aspectmorechallengingorrewardingthan
Olusegun Seeks to Inspire, Empower Music Enthusiasts through His Sound
OYour documentary on widows sounds intriguing.Whatinspiredyoutodelveinto thistopic,andwhatmessagedoyouhope
online - www.thisdaylive.com
It’s too early in the day to see the results of the actions or inactions of the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu.
Adelabu is barely eight months into a job. The Cicero of Esa-Oke, late Bola Ige and power expert, Prof. Barth Nnaji, had no solution to the age-long darkness bedeviling the country.
In the same way cerebral Babatunde Fashola who having studied law, and on a lighter mood, is an engineer by his father made little or no difference. So, the incumbent, a banker by experience, has his job well cut out for him.
He came under fire recently for insulting Nigerians in a bid to defend the hike in electricity tariff for those who enjoy electricity supply for 20-hour by almost 300 percent.
The recent appointments of Rural Electrification Agency, REA board, and Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer by President Bola Tinubu is also not a good advertisement for the minister as the Moses to lead us to the promised land of uninterrupted power supply.
“All members of the Board shall be appointed by the President on recommendation of the minister,” says a part in Section 109 of the new Electricity act. Mark the words: “on the recommendation of the minister.”
Electricity issue in Nigeria should definitely not be a laughing matter, or for political patronage, considering that the country has long been grappling with inadequate power supply and energy is critical to all nations’ social and economic developments.
So, for Nigeria to turn the corner, government must give the job of directing the affairs of MDAs in the power sector to safe hands.
On REA matter, it grieves one that Adelabu elected to find job for the boys at the expense of local businesses and the greater number of Nigerians groaning under the strain of protracted, epileptic power supply.
What informed the appointment of Ex-Kano governor and the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Abdullahi Ganduje’s son, Umar, beyond being somebody’s son? Apology to music diva, Tiwa Savage.
Many other things calculated to disqualify the former Kano first son: Public perception of his father as a sleaze personified, rightly or wrongly drawn from the ‘gandollar’ video, and the ongoing prosecution of the immediate past Kano first family, including Umar for alleged corruption
and bribery while they held sway in the state. Admit that an accused is presumed innocent until it’s proved otherwise by the court. But Umar’s appointment is not good for the optics, particularly for an agency having trust issue, stemming from the corruption allegations rocking the organisation.
It was no surprise that an online news medium settled for the headline, ‘Tinubu chooses Ganduje’s son as director in agency rocked by ‘N1.2bn fraud’.
That said, Adelabu also erred in law with regards another part of the aforementioned section of the electricity act, which read, “Six members appointed to represent the six geographical zones of Nigeria out of which one shall be designated as part-time chairman, two others designated as non-executive directors while the other three shall serve as Executive Director and the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the agency.”
It beats one that the same Tinubu that signed the electricity bill which act is in force into law is the same person that cannot follow the law to the letter.
While South-east, North-east and North-central have nobody on the Board, the North-west has two representatives, in the persons of Ganduje’s son and the acting MD/CEO Abba Abubakar Aliyu, who are both from Kano. It’s pertinent to add that the law only permits two representatives from a geopolitical zone on the Board when one of them is appointed as the Chairman.
There’s an ominous, cliffhanging silence as Nigerians watch with bated breath, the face-off between the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), and former Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State.
Bello has blatantly refused to appear before the commission, which had accused him of questionable financial dealings that range from the obnoxious to the outlandish.
What was supposed to be a routine visit has become a cat-and-mouse chase, where only one winner would emerge. And it would not be Bello.
Sometime in April, operatives of the EFCC stormed Bello’s Abuja residence Gestapo-style to arrest him. What followed was nothing short of a scene out of a gung-ho movie as the operatives cordoned off the streets.
But Bello’s successor, Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo, broke through the barriers and whisked him away.
The day after, the EFCC, in a statement, officially declared Bello wanted in connection with an alleged case of money laundering to the tune of N80,246,470,089.88 (Eighty Billion, Two Hundred and Forty-Six Million, Four Hundred and Seventy Thousand and Eighty-Nine Naira, Eighty Eight Kobo).
It would emerge that Bello, as governor, allegedly withdrew $720,000 from the state’s coffers to pay his children’s school fees at the American International School, Abuja. The school has since returned the money to EFCC coffers.
However, Bello’s lawyer, Abdulwahab Muhammed, claimed that his client was in his village when the EFCC operatives besieged his Abuja residence. After obtaining a warrant of arrest and enrolment order, the EFCC later arraigned Bello, but he was absent.
“It is needful to state that Bello is not above the law and would be brought to justice as soon as possible,” the EFCC said in its statement. Subsequently, the police officers attached to Bello were withdrawn while the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) placed him on a watch list as a ‘potential flight risk amid ongoing legal challenges.’
Penultimate Friday, a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja rejected Bello’s request to stay execution in his trial before Justice Emeka Nwite because the EFCC had appealed the contempt application filed against the EFCC chairman, Ola Olukoyede. Justice Nwite, in his ruling, rejected the application made by Bello through his lawyer.
Since it was established over two decades ago to combat economic and financial crimes, many past governors have been guests of the agency, and, despite the hoopla and hype that usually surround such invitations, only a few have successfully
been convicted of whatever financial improprieties levelled against them. So, such invitations are almost routine and undisruptive. It, therefore, beggars logic why the self-acclaimed ‘White Lion’ would entertain any fear of an institution symbolised by ‘a mere eagle’.
Going into hiding is only a testament to the fact that Bello did so much damage to the resource-rich state’s treasury before handing over to his cousin, Governor Ododo.
Usually, as a high net-worth individual or politically exposed person, the EFCC does not just swoop on people like a mere criminal.
The EFCC chairman, Olukoyede, revealed that out of respect for his office, “I called Yahaya Bello, as a serving governor, to come to my office to clear himself. I shouldn’t have done that.
“But he said because a certain senator had planted over 100 journalists in my office, he would not come. I told him that he would be allowed to use my private gate to give him a cover, but he said my men should come to his village to interrogate him.” Bello left office in January 2024 and refused all entreaties to honour the EFCC invitation.
It’s been over a week since the court order, and it is almost two months since Bello began his shameful hide-and-seek game with the EFCC. Now, the knives are out.
The period of détente is over. The commission will apply every orthodox and unorthodox method to get Bello for having rubbished and repudiated every courtesy extended to him. Bello should expect no more respect for his person or rights. What will follow is a humiliating arrest that would signal the swiftest downfalls in Nigerian political history in recent memory.
Indeed, a very few trajectories in the annals of Nigerian politics compare to the high heights Bello once reached before ending in the low depths he now inhabits. His should have been one of the most heart-warming Nigerian political stories.
He was barely 40 years old when fate trumped him as the fourth democratically-elected Governor of Kogi State in the most dramatic of circumstances. He had contested the 2015 governorship primaries of the All Progressives Congress, APC, but lost to the late Prince Abubakar Audu, who had almost won the election proper.
Sadly, Audu died before he assumed office. As the first runner-up, Bello replaced the deceased and became the youngest governor in Nigeria at the time. He went on to win a second term, which lapsed in January 2024. The world was at his feet. And the world would have been his oyster with a modicum of responsibility and competence.
The minister’s appointments, yes appointments, of Aliyu as the MD/CEO and Ganduje’s son as Executive Director, Technical Services, two most important offices in REA sealed the fate of checks and balances in the agency under the new regime.
Shutting out three other zones by not appointing persons from there, and favouring only Kano with two appointments, and leaving out the other six states in the North-west, bring into question the sense of justice and fairness of the Honourable Minister.
When you put into context that another Kano-man, one Mogaji, is the current Director of Fund, and his predecessor, Abubakar Sambo, was key to the perpetration of the alleged multi-billion-naira fraud by the suspended MD, and some Directors and staff of REA, then it’s safe to say that the agency is still in wrong hands.
His choice of Aliyu as the new honcho points to one thing: that it is not a new dawn in REA given that the incumbent was brought into the agency to head a unit, Nigeria Electrification Project, NEP, by the embattled Ahmad Salihijo Ahmad. It is right to conjecture that the appointment of four Board members out of seven and not appointing the Chairman too is deliberate since there’s no want of capacity in the zones left out, and previous Boards of other agencies constituted under President Tinubu were made in whole.
So, it’s not preposterous to conclude that the prevailing situation is contrived by the minister to enable him have maximum control over the agency since there’s no board. But what purpose is the presumed control, this lopsided and incomplete Board is serving Mr. Adelabu well, only him can tell.
In any case, the situations on the ground portend that the agency is still trapped in the past, which is best brought home by a purported, unofficial report of the investigative team of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on the graft that made the President sacked the Board, suspended the MD/CEO, and enthroned Aliyu in acting capacity.
Making the rounds on social media, the report goes thus: “The interim report of an investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has revealed details of the misappropriation of about N12.7 billion in the Rural Electrification Agency of Nigeria (REA). The report indicts the
Aliyu Adamu writes from Bauchi
But he was an aberration in power. Across the world, there is a clamour for youth inclusion in politics. Nigeria is no exception.
Thus, there were expectations that as a youth in a leadership position, Bello would be a beacon of creative force, a source of innovation and dynamic leadership, and markedly different from the old order. But he proved to be worse. His exuberance and sheer incompetence made him veer wildly beyond what many believed were appropriate or gubernatorial. His cascade of embarrassing gaffes crescendoed at the outbreak of COVID-19 in 2020, when he repeatedly denied the existence of the virus in his state.
He said on a TV programme, “COVID-19 is not our business in Kogi State. We have more prominent issues, more pertinent issues, more serious matters that we are attending to in Kogi State.”
When asked if he would take the vaccine publicly like other governors, he posited, “I don’t need the vaccine; nothing is wrong with me. I’m hale and hearty — 100 percent hearty.” Yet, people died of Covid-19 in Kogi unreported.
Every election held during his time was marred with violence, fraud, and thuggery. In September 2020, he was on the list of politicians that the United States Department of State placed on a visa ban for undermining democracy in Nigeria.
He flayed the decision but would later re-echo his infamous ‘ta-ta-ta-ta’ chant (an oral representation of the sound of
Dr. Jane Kimemia is the Managing Director/CEO of Optiva Capital Partners Limited, one of the leading investment immigration wealth management companies in the country. In this interview with Dike Onwuamaeze, she talks about her firm’s sponsorship of the forthcoming ‘SheCan’ conference, partnership with the Lagos State Government to improve maternal healthcare, commitment to the empowerment of Nigerian women and giving them access to global investment opportunities, amongst others.
Excerpts:
Tell us about yourself briefly?
Prior to my current role at Optiva Capital, I held senior level positions in the financial services sector acrossthecontinent.IwastheExecutiveDirectorand HeadofWealthManagementatStandardChartered Bank, with responsibility for investments services, banc assurance and foreign exchange for an entire region. While at Standard Chartered Investments Service Limited, a subsidiary of Standard Chartered Bank, Kenya, I learned the curves and rose through the ranks to become Managing Director of the company. I also later became the Managing Director of Standard Chartered Insurance Agency Limited, the insurance subsidiary of the bank. Before joining Standard Chartered Bank, I had a successful career in Barclays Bank covering many roles including Head of Premier Banking; Head of Employee Banking; and Project Manager, respectively. I am a graduate of Jomo Kenyatta University of Nairobi and I am also a product of the Executive Education programme of INSEAD, Singapore. Latelastyear, inrecognition ofour contributions to humanity, I was conferred with an Honorary Doctorate Degree (Honoris Causa) of Men and Women of Influence Global Award by HighstoneGlobalUniversityTexasUSA.Inthecitation,theUniversity commended me for my commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations which is a universal call to action to end poverty, ensure good health and well-being, protect the planet, and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity.
At my leisure, I enjoy traveling, shopping, exploring exciting destinations, and spending time with family.
Optiva Capital Partners has just been unveiled as the lead sponsor for this year’s SheCan Conference whose theme is ‘SheCan Do More 5.0’ organized by SheCan Nigeria, a movement dedicated to empowering women in Nigeria. What is the attraction?
We are excited that Optiva Capital Partners has come on board as theleadsponsorofSheCanconferencewhichholdsonMay24.Weare very proud to be the headline sponsor of such an important agenda of empowering women to be more. The female gender has always been important to us as over seventy percent of our workforce is women. When you empower a woman, you empower a generation. The theme of this year’s conference aligns with who we are at Optiva Capital Partners and we are happy to partner with SheCan as we tell our stories. We align with the SheCan Nigeria initiative, which believes women and young girls should be able to ‘Be More’ in every facet of life irrespective of their background, gender, religion or their limitations, to be able to give their best to the society. Empowered women will come together to empower others in this year’s conference. We understand that there were over 3000 participants last
yearbutabout4000participantsareexpectedthis year. This year’s conference theme is ‘Positioning for More” in your career, business, and anything you aspire to become.
Also, your firm comes across as a company on the ascendancy more so with your recent ground breaking ceremony to modernise a maternal health facility in Ketu, Lagos?
The common denominator of my passion is to serve. I’m driven by the need to serve, to help, to make a difference. In every role that I have played in different organisations, the common denominator is that I serve. I exist to serve.
We have a number of initiatives that are focused on women. And one of our many initiatives is on maternal health care. The area of maternal healthcare is a big concern especially Nigeria. According to reports, Nigeria contributes close to 10 per cent of the global maternal death. And that is huge. If you lookatNigeriapopulation,thebulkofitisyoung,that means a lot of people are in their child bearing ages. Yet there is such a disparity between the provision of healthcare and what women are really doing.
Optiva Capital Patners is working with Lagos State Government in this regard and it’s one of the areas we are very passionate about. How do we reduce maternal mortality that’s avoidable? We are working with a number of primary healthcare facilities, starting with Ketu, and we have adopted a primary healthcare center for total refurbishment, transforming it to a maternal health centre with the right bed capacity to be able to serve the region, with the right equipment and right environment. Wearealsolookingatinfrastructure,theprovision intermsoftherightmedicalequipment,ambulance andeverythingholistically.Everythinghastodowith how we create the right environment for women to be able to get help when it comes to delivery or if therewillbeneedforanyreferrals.That’sareallybig initiativewhichisfocusedonwomenmaternalhealth.
We also have an initiative in the east specifically in Enugu state. And it is really working with families, offeringpalliativesespeciallytothedisadvantaged people with no source of livelihood.
Every month, hundreds of families come there to benefit from the initiative. Also, we are working with an organization for women traders to be able to access credit.
So how is Optiva Capital Partners structured to provide this level of service to both clients and the larger society?
At Optiva Capital Partners, over 70 per cent of our workforce is women. And if you look at who we are, we are a lifelong learning institution. The empowerment and training of our staff over the years is to make a difference in the society.
And very importantly, when you look at the bigger agenda of Optiva Capital Partners, we are a wealth management company. We are a vehicle or a bridge to investment opportunities. That’s another area of service. We serve women when we serve the community. When it comes to financial education, we do recognize financial health and it’s as good as physical health. And that’s an area that has been neglected for years. This is a space we have plugged in; this is a space of our expertise. This is what we do every single day.
Tell us more about the multi-million Naira rehabilitation and upgrade of Agboyi Ketu Primary Healthcare Centre, Lagos, into a fully equipped ultra-modern maternity centre.
Optiva Capital Partners will expand the healthcare facilities to accommodate more beds and enhance the quality of the maternity wards and labor rooms with state-of-the-art hospital equipment. This is to ensure that a larger number of women in Agboyi Ketu Local Government receive enhanced maternity care. We will be working extensively on the infrastructure and ambience from the time you walk in to receive medical help to the time you receive the help you need. So it won’t only benefit mothers but the entire population of Ketu LCDA. We will provide hospital equipment for the delivery room as advised by the Ministry of Health. Soon, we will come back to commission a full-fledged maternity centre where women, mothers and children will be happy to come in to receive medical help. This is the beginning of our journey towards creating sustainable change in maternal and childcare. Through our collaboration with the Lagos State Ministry of Health, we strive for a future where the number of women who lose their lives during childbirth is greatly minimised.
How doesyour bouquet of wealthmanagement services empower the womenfolk?
We are a vehicle or a bridge to investment opportunities. That’s another area of service. We serve womenwhenweservethecommunity.Whenitcomes to financial education, we do recognize financial health and it’s as good as physical health. And that’s an area that has been neglected for years. This is a space we have plugged in; this is a space of our expertise. This is what we do every single day.”
Also, Optiva Capital Partners works with families, because when they work with families on how their children are going to school, on how they can go to Canada and they will be paying a tenth of what the international students will be paying, it is a service to women, a service to the family. We are enabling them, we are showing them opportunities on how they can actually access better services.
So, are you satisfied that women are fully performing according to expectations?
Yes! Look at women across different walks of life; whether as trader or in the corporate circles, holding big positions in organisations, waking up every day to attend to daily activities has been a fantastic job and also balancing so many different roles outside the home. We wear so many different hats as women, daughters, mothers, wives, friends andthetrainersofourchildrenandalsothecorporate people aswell. And tobalance itall,women are doing fantastic jobs across the different devices.
A lot still needs to be done to empower women. Given how far you have come in the corporate ladder, and leading an organization with more female employees, what more needs to be done to empower women
Firstly, let’s start by focusing. Women started as girls. So, focus on the girl child. And what are the opportunities for girls to succeed? What are the initiatives? What efforts have been put in place to helpthegirlchildsucceedacrossthedifferentstates? As Nigerians, we need to create opportunities and empowerment schemes to let them know that they can succeed and be everything they want to be. I believe that there is still more that needs to be done to empower women. I think we need to invest in the education of the girl child and put them in the right programmes for them to succeed. Also, looking at thegenderequalityattheworkplace,alotstillneeds to be done. There is need for inclusion, not only at the junior level. What is the inclusion of women across all the different strata of organisations, women in senior management, women in boards. Higher up the ladder the number of women at the
top continue to decrease. Women can do as well and even better than men. Give women equal playing field, equal opportunities and very importantly, financialinclusionforwomen.Rightfromthewomen selling at the market, what is the inclusion of such a huge population of women who are responsible for raising family? What is the education for them to movefrombeinga“pettytrader”intoexpertise,into cottageindustryandtocontinuetogrow?Toprovide for them financially, basically, whether it is lending for them to be able to scale up their operations.
Talking about your firm’s area of specialisation, in terms of returns relative to other forms of asset management services, how does Investment Immigration stand out for those seeking to obtain alternative citizenship or residency in other countries?
Whenyoutalkaboutreturnoninvestments,sayyou investedinmutualfunds,sobasicallyyouarelooking at increase in valuation of what you are investing in whether its financial assets or real estates, it will be increase in valuation, dividends. So on the whole you are looking at return on investments. When it comes to investment immigration, you are looking at return on investments not only in financial terms, it’s in both direct and indirect returns. Some of our clients are traders, people in business, executives, they are high networth individuals, global access is very important to them so second citizenship or permanent residency in a number of jurisdictions is important to them which meansthattheyhavegottheworldofopportunities because there are so many people who have lost opportunities to do business because they were carrying one passport, they have to go through long visaqueuestogetaccesstosomemarkets.Sowhen you think of return on investment on immigration investment, first of all is that global access and that gives them access to business that they ordinarily would not have accessed.
Withinvestmentimmigrationalso,clientsoptimise their spending. If you are a Canadian permanent resident, you have an opportunity to optimise your spending. In education for instance, the fees you will be paying as an international student is like times twelvewhatyouwillbepayingasaCanadianresident so that is huge saving and a return on investment.
One of our clients had arranged for their daughter to go and study medicine in the United States, but theyhaveaGrenadapassport,butwhentheylooked at the options, they realised that Grenada has one of the finest schools of medicine, Saint George’s University, and their daughter will go to University
asaresidentofGrenada,asacitizenofGrenada,and will pay $20,000 as against $100,000 per annum. So, the benefits are immense. Another return on investment,ifyoulookattheEB5programme,there is return of 5% because client will invest $800,000. That is guaranteed return for five years, but also remember that their end goal is citizenship, its green card leading up to citizenship, but in the meantime there is a return on investment because every year they will be earning about $40,000 from that particular investment. Very importantly they have invested in a currency that safeguards the value over time.
And lastly think about the return on investment across generations because once you obtain citizenship or permanent residency, it is for you and generations to come, which translates to access to world class education opportunities, trade opportunities, that’s what it is.
Can you share more insights about Optiva Capital Partners and its evolution?
Ourjourneyhasbeenoneofresilience.Throughout our history, Optiva Capital has evolved into an investment immigration and wealth management giant in Africa, guided by a legacy of excellence and a commitment to innovation. This has been our compass, steering us through change, uncertainties and disruption. At Optiva Capital, the quest for excellence unites us, driving us to deliver services that not only meet but exceed customers’ expectations. We believe in the collective responsibility of all stakeholders, and which forms the foundation of enduring partnerships with our clients based on trust. We do not just identify problems, we thrive on crafting solutions. The company has continuously delivered significant returns on investments to all itsstakeholders,clientsandthecommunityinwhich we operate
Is there still an incentive to get citizenship of othercountrieswhenyouhaveoptimisminNigeria and investment opportunities abound here I think there is a general misconception about investmentimmigrationinNigeria.Generallypeople think about it in terms of immigration, about leaving the country, but investment immigration, what are the reasons why people look for opportunities. Therearetwocategories–investmentimmigration whereby it is citizenship by investment. These are countries that grant the applicants citizenship outright obviously by investing, so they get citizenship, theygetthepassportofthatcountry.Thenyouhave got countries in the core west, US, Canada, and the rest of Europe where it doesn’t matter how much you invest they will not give you outright citizenship, they will give you residency by investment and the client has to work towards citizenship. So, is there an incentive still to? What are the reasons behind investment immigration, second passport,secondcitizenshiporpermanentresidency, you are looking at not necessarily immigration, but there is global access and that’s big especially for investment immigration because our clients are established Nigerians, they are in business, they are executives, so they are very comfortable, but they are looking for global access and acceptance. Nigerians are global. Nigerians are the most global of Africans. So in terms of childrens’ education, healthcare, access to opportunities to do trade and business. So despite investments coming into Nigeriathereisstillneedforinvestmentimmigration Exchange rate has increased costs, so does the cost of investment immigration now change for the Nigerian who seeks second citizenship When it comes to the cost of CBI or permanent residency, I choose to look at value. What is the value of what our clients are looking for? Children educationforexample,investmentimmigrationnow becomesavehicleforourclientstoprotect,togrow, to enhance, to diversify their wealth. For somebody looking for permanent residency or to invest in a programme in Canada, their children education say in University of Toronto, international students for a Bachelors programme will be paying about $60,000 annually, but as permanent residents they will be paying $6,000 per annum. So at Optiva we are helping our clients to save on what they would have been spending anyway, so we are saving them the scarce foreign exchange that comes back in developingNigeria.Sowearelookingatvalue,costs, and value across generations as well. So you get secondcitizenshipitdoesn’tstopyoufromcontinuing your business, but it gives you global access. So, it’s not a spend but an investment and it is savings
Innoson Vehicles Manufacturing Company Ltd (IVM), Nnewi, has said it would start producing 30,000 buses and trucks that would be powered with Compressed Natural Gas (CNG). The company also plans to produce farm tractors.
Innoson is Nigeria’s pioneer manufacturer of buses that are powered with Compressed Natural Gas.
These vehicles, Innoson said, would be constructed at its new multi-billion Naira plant.
The new CNG vehicles plant, which, according to the company, is expected to be commissioned soon.
This is contained in a statement in which the Chairman of Innoson Group, Dr. Innocent Chukwuma, CON, was quoted as saying that the company, in conjunction with the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), plans to construct a plant that will produce tractors and other farm implements.
The news about a new Innoson auto plant dedicated to the manufacturing of only CNG vehicles in Nnewi, comes at a time Nigerians are still wondering why the Presidential Committee on CNG Initiative excluded Innoson from the list of auto companies it awarded contracts for the procurement of thousands of ‘fuel-subsidy palliative’ buses.
The company said, “As a result of the wide acceptance of CNG vehicles Innoson has been manufacturing since 2022, the company last year embarked on the construction of a new multi-billion naira plant dedicated to the production of only automobiles that run on CNG.
“The new factory, which has the capacity to produce 30,000 units of CNG vehicles annually in one shift, has almost been completed and will be commissioned soon.”
Innoson’s statement, issued by a media consultant and Director of Innoson Group, Mr. Alfred Nwosu, was in response to an appeal by a group of farmers, led by Chief Ebere Orji Odi, to Chief Chukwuma and IVM to produce tractors and related implements to enhance mechanised farming and boost the economy.
Chief Odi, who is also an executive member of some farmers’ associations, had underscored the
importance of agriculture in the life of any nation, and the obvious adverse implications of having an army of unemployed youths in any society, hence the need for Innoson and other companies to intervene with the manufacture of farm equipment to boost mechanised farming.
In its reaction, Innoson Vehicles said the farmers’ concerns “resonated with us at IVM,” disclosing that it was for this reason, that a couple of years ago, the automaker initiated a joint venture with the University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN) for the production of tractors and related agricultural equipment.
Guests and patrons of the Novare Mall, as well as motor vehicle enthusiasts, were excited as they viewed the Chery Tiggo 8 Pro and Tiggo 2 Pro, which Carloha Nigeria, the Chery national dealer of these vehicles, displayed for four days, from May 9th to May 12th, 2024.
These visitors were captivated by the vehicles’ sleek designs, advanced features, and superior performance. However, the excitement didn’t end with the display, as Carloha Nigeria vehicle ownership dynamics in Nigeria.
Enthusiasts and casual onlookers alike were treated to an immersive experience at the Novare Mall as they explored the cutting-edge technology and craftsmanship of the Tiggo 8 Pro and Tiggo 2 Pro. From their striking exteriors to their luxurious interiors, these vehicles epitomized Chery’s commitment to delivering excellence on every journey.
The highlight of the event was the electrifying Social Media Challenge, where automobile with the Chery vehicles on display, igniting a frenzy of likes and shares across various platforms. Participants eagerly vied for the chance to win adding an element of friendly competition and camaraderie to the proceedings.
In a bid to make vehicle ownership not only accessible but also remarkably convenient, Carloha
Nigeria unveiled an unprecedented proposi- tion that is set to revolutionize the automotive landscape. With a focus on customer satisfaction and peace of mind, Carloha Nigeria announced an extraordinary package: Say goodbye to maintenance worries as ensuring your Chery vehicle receives top-notch care and attention.
comprehensive coverage for six years or up
According to Mr. Joseph Omokhapue, Sales and Marketing Director for Carloha Nigeria, Nigeria’s commitment to empowering customers and enhancing their overall ownership experience. By alleviating concerns associated with maintenance costs and warranty coverage, Carloha Nigeria paves the way for hassle-free driving and unparalleled peace of mind.”
Weststar Associates Limited, the Authorized General Distributor of Mercedes-Benz in Nigeria, has presented the new Mercedes-Benz GLS Facelift, a symbol of grandeur and innovation, elevating the driving experience to new heights.
luxury with a bold exterior, advanced The GLS Facelift blends elegance with power, solidifying its place as the pinnacle of luxury SUVs.
The updated GLS makes an unforgettable entrance with a revamped front fascia. At its core is an imposing, larger gloss grille featuring four horizontal bars, adding a sense of authority to its presence. Gloss black surrounds
As arrangements for the hosting of the 18th edition of the flagship auto- fair in West Africa ‘The Lagos Motor Fair & Africa Autoparts Expo continue, Visitors, Exhibitors, and the general public that would be at the Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island, venue of the event have been assured of bumper days of serious business and fun.
There will also be a Conference/Workshop/ Seminar that will gather experts from different sectors of the industry to inform, educate, and contribute to policy decisions and implementation.
The Chairman of the Organising Committee for the show, Mr. Ifeanyichukwu Agwu, at a press briefing held to give Stakeholders up to date information on the event scheduled to hold from June 4-7, 2024, said, “the fair will be a landmark and a benchmark in auto show business in the entire West African sub-region;’ promising that the “all inclusive event” has been packaged to ensure that all stakeholders have a rewarding experience.”
“This edition will feature a two day Conference/ Seminar”, where papers on topical issues in the automotive business will be delivered by experts drawn from diverse fields related to the industry. It is geared towards making the event an all-round and encompassing autotomotive show”.
The aim of this segment is to inform, educate and contribute to policy decisions and implementations in the sector.”
The Chairman of the Organizing Committee, who is also The Managing Director of BKG Exhibitions Limited, the main organizers of the show, further revealed that almost all the major vehicle manufacturers and dealers in Nigeria are participating at the fair. Notable Banks and Insurance Companies; major Oil Companies; manufacturers and dealers in auto-spare parts and accessories have booked to participate in the event.
“Each of the days that the fair will last is loaded with activities and events that will make this edition remarkably different and we intend to improve and add on this in subsequent editions,” Mr. Agwu, revealed further.
The Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Mr. Dauda Ali Biu and the Director General of the National Automotive Design and Development Council, Mr. Joseph Osanipin, have confirmed to attend the 10th Nigeria Transport Lecture billed for Thursday, May 23, 2024.
Transportation safety will be the main topic for discussion as industry players gather at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Ikeja GRA, Lagos.
Organized by Transport Day Media (www. transportday.com.ng), the theme of this year’s edition which is-‘Transportation Safety in Nigeria: The Way Forward’, is meant to discuss issues about transport safety in Nigeria.
The discourse, which will involve industry participants from both the public and private sectors, will x-ray transport safety cutting across all modes of transportation in Nigeria.
adorn the lower air vents. A striking new LED DRL pattern in the LED headlights gives the GLS a sharper and more aggressive aesthetic. The design refresh extends to new alloy wheel options, and the rear boasts distinctive LED taillights with a 3-pot LED pattern.
While retaining the hallmark design of the previous version, the new GLS Facelift introduces an array of features to enhance the cabin experience.
The highlight is the new 3-spoke steering wheel, equipped with capacitive steering-mounted controls, which promises heightened control for drivers. The infotainment system and instrument cluster are now powered by the latest MBUX operating software, providing additional display modes and an immersive technological experience.
Also expected at the lecture are the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Nigerian Shippers’ Council, Nigeria Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB), among others.
The Editor-in-Chief of Transport Day Media, Mr. Frank Kintum stated that the topic is relevant in contemporary times because many lives and property have been lost to lack of adherence to safety measures in all modes of transportation.
According to him, “irrespective of the level of infrastructural development in the transportation sector, if safety is not promoted, we are going to continue to record loss of lives and valuable property. Hence, the lecture is meant to address pertinent issues concerning the industry as it concerns our local Nigerian setting.
“Aside from the lecture, we are also going to use the opportunity to recognize some players, both public and private sectors, who have significantly contributed to the growth of the sector and contributed to the economy in general.”
With only 38 per cent of Nigerian literate, according to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), a situation said to have fuelled the challenge of hardship and knowledge of individuals remain utmost importance.
Financial literacy described as cognitive skills such as budgeting, investing, borrowing, is recognised as the stimulant to a healthy alike.
buoyancy, unfortunately, not a few are counting their losses from poor choices due to ignorance and illiteracy that could have been prevented with simple knowledge.
A report by Norrenberger Financial Investments Scheme revealed that as of 2022, Nigerians lost over N300 billion to Ponzi
A Finance Coach, Christine Vihishima, believed that the unfortunate incident was due to inadequate understanding of money among the populace.
But Chukwuma Aguwa, noted that the adults may not be unconnected to the fact they are not caught young.
“Many young people go into adulthood with and they end up making mistakes that cost them a lot of regrets in the long run.
“Educating young people about the long way to prevent them from making costly mistakes. This will also encourage them to be
literacy skills from childhood to grow with it.
Like Aguwa, Co-founder of 9ijakids, Titi would empower individuals to break the cycle of intergenerational poverty by being equipped with relevant skills to improve their economic prospects and alleviate poverty.
On catching children early, she said, “They from an early age. Imagine having 1 million
Thus, as Nigeria joined others across the globe to mark 2024 Global Money Week, recently, THISDAY brings some useful tips to guide children through money management as culled from an alternative investment platform, Grip Invest:
Introduce the Concept of Money
Teach your children about the concept and
Aneed for ethical application of the tool has been stressed to caution against its misuse.
This was even as the imperfections peculiarity of the tool has led several astray, coupled with its
Intelligence: Striking the Balance between Innovation of the Investment Society, University of Ilorin, Founder OGE Professional Services, Prof. Godwin Oyedokun, admitted that AI had revolutionised the ever-evolving nature of the discipline would be needing AI to scale.
driving economic growth, allocating resources
algorithm trading.
innovation and disruption.
“From technological advancements and disruptive business models to social innovations and sustainable solutions, innovation plays a central role in shaping the future of societies, economies,
He however stressed a need for establishment of regulatory framework that will promote transparency, accountability and ethical use of AI.
“This will help reduce bias, foster regulatory compliance, human-AI collaboration, fair competition as well as continuous monitoring and evaluation,
value of money from an early age. Explain as how money can be exchanged for goods and services across various life scenarios. Taking your kids on a trip to a grocery store could be a great start for this. Introducing your kids to the ideas of can go a long way in helping them plan
While short-term goals should cater to their near-future plans like going on a short trip or buying a gadget, long-term goals usually life, like getting married or saving up for retirement.
Teach the Concept of Savings
Enable your children to save money for their goals. This will help them understand the power of savings. Teach them to save a part of the money they receive, and help them buy toys or goods they would love at a later point using the savings. Using the traditional piggy bank might prove to be an exciting way of building on the habit of savings. You can also check out interactive apps and software that let kids enjoy the
Tell your children that it is okay to wait for something they want instead of getting it immediately. Such lessons would teach them the values of patience, inculcate discipline in them, and establish a feeling of achievement when they achieve the long-desired goals that they worked for.
resource that needs to be budgeted wisely. This could also help them understand the concept of spending money on their wants rather than their needs. Also, teach them to track their expenses and budget their allowances/pocket money based on the same.
Personal Finance Content for Kids
Kids love learning from interactive content sources, be they illustrated comics or video books that are specially designed for young minds, or you can make them watch personal the web. This will help them develop the habit of reading up and keeping updated
Be a Role Model
Children learn from what they see more than from what they are told. Demonstrate saving, investing wisely, and avoiding impulsive spending decisions. Involve your kids in decision-making processes and value their opinions. These lessons would carry bigger value when they see them being implemented by someone they look up to.
TQuomodo Systems Limited, Oluwole Asalu, has decried persisting digital gap in Africa despite the spread and evolvement of technology across the globe.
He expressed concern that many Africans were still living in the past, thus denied opportunities that may have enriched their lives and developed the continent’s economy.
Asalu, while addressing journalists in Lagos, recently, noted that lack of access to reliable internet had left many excluded from global conversation, with their potential untapped and voices unheard.
Asalu, stated further that this challenge was beyond technological factor but a socio-economic crisis requiring immediate action.
He added, “Digital divide deepens existing
inequalities, hinders social progress, and suppresses economic growth. Students without internet access risk falling behind, jeopardising their futures.
“Small businesses in remote areas remain disconnected from broader markets and essential limited access to telemedicine and vital health
In addressing this challenge, Asalu called for a is not just about developing infrastructure but He opined that some private initiatives in the continent had been helpful and worth emulating. “Initiatives like Digital Africa, with programmes such as Africa Next, Digital 4 Africa, the Q-Intern programme, and so on, are leading the way, driving digital skills and innovation as catalysts for post-pandemic economic recovery.
Tackling food insecurity and enhancing local agriculture proceeds for national growth, amongst other issues, would be the focal point at the forthcoming AgriConnect summit holding in Lagos.
The initiative being put forward by Peju Adeyemi, the organisers, in collaboration with Obasanjo Farms Nigeria, would be exploring the strength of innovation and collaboration to address pressing agricultural challenges.
In a statement, Adeyemi revealed that the theme of the conference, “Bridging the Divide: Cultivating Collaboration and Innovation for a Sustainable food crisis in the country, noting that stakeholders
across relevant sectors would be charting way forward in Lagos, on May 31.
Already, about 26.5million Nigerians are projected to be food insecured in 2024.
The event which would be chaired by former Nigerian President, Olusegun Obasanjo will be graced by valued stakeholders from agtech companies, agri-finance institutions, Ministries of Agriculture, local agricultural development organisations as well as agripreneurs, amongst others.
Also expected at the event are speakers from renowned organisations like Bank of Industry, Union Bank, the French Consulate, United States Agency for International Development (USAID), International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) and Microsoft, amongst others.
In fulfilling its commitment to empowering individuals, the Rotary International District 9110 has partnered with First Bank to empower indigent Nigerians with vocational tools valued at N20 million.
The move aimed to cushion effects of economic hardship while ensuring that beneficiaries of the gesture remain financially independent and also able to impact their families and society at large.
Some of the items donated which included sewing machines, grinding machines, plumbing kits, deep freezers, generators, amongst others, would complement government’s interventions, the District Governor of District 9110, Rotarian Ifeyinwa Rita Ejezie said.
Calling on effective collaboration at the government level, Ejezie said this would go a long way in reaching those at the grassroots and enhance community development.
“We know that government cannot do it alone,
hence this move. This happens to be the largest empowerment initiative that the district had done in recent times. Gladly, we were able to draw support also from The Rotary Club of Singapore and we are especially thankful to First Bank which is our major supporter of the programme. We
Speaking, the Unit Head, Other SME Products, E-Business and Retail at First Bank, Ms. Helen Ihonre stated that the gesture aligned with the bank’s dedication to fostering a robust business environment and stimulating economic growth.
“We have always supported projects of rotary and other humanitarian organisations to better the lots of indigent Nigerians through Start Performing she stated.
She further advised beneficiaries to cultivate habit of savings as well as take advantage of low-interest loans to support their business.
The renowned educationist, Late Alhaji Jimoh Adisa Gbadamosi, who died a year ago, was indeed a leader who ticked all the boxes in his humanitarian trajectories. So was his wife, Alhaja Azeezat Adebisi Gbadamosi, who had passed away 10 years before him.
Alhaji Gbadamosi was referred to as an icon, a quintessential paragon of human virtues. As an educationist, he left an indelible mark in the sands of time. As family and friends remember this remarkable man on his one-year anniversary and 10 years anniversary of his wife, the late Alhaja Azeezat Adebisi Gbadamosi, a parent’s light may dim, but their impact never fades.
As a man of wisdom, whose knowledge and exposure transcend the ordinary, the sweet memory of Alhaji Gbadamosi remains difficult to be wished away in a hurry despite being a year now that he breathed his last, precisely on Monday May 15, 2023. This is as his children, associates and the Nigerian communities still feel like they have just lost one of the best Nigerians that Nigeria has ever produced. But before he made his last ‘submission’ to the final arbiter, he had already been ‘discharged’ and ‘acquitted’ as one that lived life to the fullest. He gave his all. He achieved the best.
The renowned educationist shone as one of the brightest of his generation. His intellectual prowess in his profession was equal to none. Teaching was his life: he breathed it, he lived it and he ate it. The late Alhaji Gbadamosi made a success out of teaching, impacting knowledge and nurturing talents.
Born March 18, 1927 in Lagos Island to parents who were traders, he began his early education at Holy Cross Primary School, Lagos Island in the mid-30s and St. Gregory College, Obalende, Lagos for his post-primary education. He later proceeded to Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland where he bagged a Bachelor’s degree in Geography Education. His quest for further education to equip himself for his future career took him to Oxford University where he bagged a Master’s degree also in Geography Education.
A brilliant and exceptional man, the late educationist started his career as a pioneer principal of the then Ahmaddiyah High School, Eleyele, Ibadan in the then Western Region. In 1957, he moved to Lagos as the Principal of Anwar-Ul Islam, Agege (formerly Ahmaddiyah College, Agege) from there he went to Jubril Martins Secondary School where he served until his voluntary retirement in 1977 at the early age of 50. Over the past 46 years on earth, Gbadamosi was involved in various activities both in sports and education at both state and national levels.
He was Chairman, Lagos State Scholarship Board, Chairman, Lagos Amateur Football Association, Member, National Judo Association and Chairman, Principals’ Cup Committee. He also served as Commissioner, Lagos State Local Government Commission, Chairman, Anwar-Ul Islam Movement. His selfless service in his field at both state and national levels had not gone unnoticed. On December 13, 2002, the Federal Government conferred on him the National Honour of Order of the Niger (OON).
An event organised to mark the one year and 10 years remembrance of both educational icons was held at the Eko Club, Surulere, Lagos on Wednesday May 15, 2024.
The event, which also witnessed reading of the whole Qur’an, special prayers for the deceased, offering of special tributes and lecture, was attended by eminent Nigerians who were mostly his students, including the Chairman of Caverton Offshore Support Group Plc., Mr. Aderemi Makanjuola, accompanied by his wife, Mrs Yoyinsola Makanjuola and sons, Olabode, Niyi, Rotimi and their spouses.
The late educationist’s offsprings were also in attendance: Mr. Biodun Gbadamosi, Mrs. Bimbola Adedun, and Kunle Gbadamosi.
Other eminent persons present included former Minister of Communications and former General Officer Commanding (GOC), 3 Armoured Division Nigerian Army, Major General Tajudeen Olanrewaju (RTD); former Minister of State for Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro; among several others some of who poured encomiums on the late educational hero and his wife.
The lecturer at the memorial, Associate Professor Noah Lawal Jinadu of the Foreign Languages Department, Arabic Unit, Lagos State University, said the lecture, in its intent and purpose, was a reflection of what Alhaji Jimoh Adisa Gbadamosi and his wife Alhaja Azeezat Adebisi
Gbadamosi stood for and expended their entire quality lives upon.
Jinadu, speaking on the lecture titled ‘Role of Young Muslim Parents in Early Child Upbringing and Its Challenges in Modern Society’, looked at the serving children and said, “Today’s programme which is organised by you (the pious children) in commemoration of our late father and mother is a clear indication and a proof of positive parenting.”
This applies to one of his students and Caverton boss, Mr. Aderemi Makanjuola. Until his final appearance in the court of life, Makanjuola was a living witness to Alhaji Gbadamosi’s good and benevolent life. He didn’t only mentor Makanjuola, he also became a father figure to him.
Makanjuola had an encounter with the late renowned educationist as a teenager in 1962 at age 13. This later resulted in a robust father-and-son relationship. He remained a father figure and a reliable confidant to the successful businessman until he died last year, 2023. He added: “They both really dedicated their lives to educating people. And all the people they have helped to educate have become great people in the country and are doing very well.”
That Makanjuola blossomed under their tutelage would be an understatement: “They took me as their child and proudly call me their first son to anybody that cares to know. And I always live to that expectation for them. And they have been very nice, decent and all of that to me.”
The impact of the Gbadamosi on the Caverton boss was enormous. From his secondary school days to his foray in England, they were there all the way.
“After my studies in England, I came back to Nigeria. They already had a place for me in their house with my wife and first born Bode. And then when I started work, Alhaji Gbadamosi was one of those who influenced my getting work at Barclays Bank. They were always with me all the time. Whatever I did, they were there. Whatever they did, I was there. And I ensured that I treated their children as my junior brothers and sister.”
Corroborating her husband, Mrs. Yoyinsola Makanjuola said the late Alhaji Jimoh and Alhaja Gbadamosi fondly called ‘Mummy and Daddy’ were epitome of great morals and finesse. They lived a life full of great achievement in nurturing all students that passed through their tutelage as principal of Muslim colleges.
In his tribute, General Olanrewaju said, “As distinguished educators and well-known elders in the Lagos community, they understood the transformative power of learning for young people, recognising how education could serve as the cornerstone upon which their careers could be built to enhance their futures.”
Reminiscing on his life and time, a retired jurist, Justice Isola Adekunle Olorunnibe also praised Alhaji Gbadamosi, whose life res onates with Mahatma Gandhi’s philosophy that says: “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.”
According to the 94-year-old judi ciary icon, his path crossed with the late educationist’s in 1948 when Ahmadiyya High School was established.
He added: “He stuck to the ethics of his profession as a teacher. He later proceeded abroad for postgraduate studies at Oxford University. He maintained an excellent relationship with all his students. Both the new and old ones. We kept on going to him for advice.”
Commenting on his influence in his life, Justice Olorunnibe said it was enormous. “Late Pa Gbadamosi was an epitome of integrity; he was very accommodating and a man full of wisdom. I think he was ordained to be a teacher.”
In her words, Mrs. Oyinda Aiyepola, a younger sister to the late Alhaja Azeezat Gbadamosi, said the wonderful couple were like her biological parents. She called the sister her ‘younger mother’
In his words, the deceased eldest surviving son, Biodun Gbadamosi, paid tribute to his parents with an act of gratitude.
“They were parents in a million. I am grateful for the lives that they lived and the values that they instilled in me and my siblings: to imbibe the virtues of hard work, courage and honesty. Not a day goes by without us remembering them with fond memories. We will continue to make them proud on this side of the divide as they continue to rest in the bosom of Almighty Allah.”
According to Abimbola Adedun, daughter of the deceased, she lost wonderful parents and problem solvers.
Another son of the late educationist, Kunle Gbadamosi said their demise left a big vacuum. “With them being gone, a big void is felt with them not being around. They left big shoes to fill, but we will carry on their legacy for their grandchildren and great grandchildren.”
Dr. Wasiu Gbadamosi, a grandson, also paid tribute to his grandfather and grandmother who lived pious and exemplary lives worthy of emulation.
“Describing my grandparents? Amazing. They gave us fish and taught us how to fish. They taught us the virtues of hard-work, patience, and persistence while holding faith in Allah, our creator. We were taught to be complacent and contended with whatever Allah has bestowed on us,” he added.
Adebisi Adedun-Gbajumo, a grand-daughter who imbibed the spirit of hard work from her late grandmother, said. “Hard work doesn’t kill; it only makes you stronger” are words from my grandmother that have made me who I am today. Giving up wasn’t an option in my grandmother’s books; neither was there room for failure or laziness.”
Oladunni Adekoya (nee Gbadamosi) said: “Grandpa and Grandma Gbadamosi of blessed memory were such an admirable couple. They were extremely involved in my life from my birth till the day they both left this world.”
As family and friends remember this remarkable man on his one-year anniversary and 10 years anniversary of his wife, the late Alhaji Azeezat Adebisi Gbadamosi, a parent’s light may dim, but their impact never fades.
Deji Elumoye in Abuja
Vice President Kashim Shettima yesterday inaugurated the revamped National Economic Council (NEC) Human Capital Development (HCD) Steering Committee, saying the federal government reconstituted the committee to reflect the new leadership of the nation and bring all stakeholders together.
Shettima also noted the determination of the President Bola Tinubu's administration to bolster labour force participation, even as he issued a fervent call to action.
Delivering his speech titled, 'The Burden of Trust in Leadership
Transition', the Vice President, according to a statement issued by his Media Assistant, Stanley Nkwocha, charged the new committee with the solemn responsibility of delivering tangible progress on the three core pillars of health and nutrition, education, and labour force participation. According to him, each phase of their obligation to serve the nation reminded them of the impacts of their choices, pointing out that the current day was no exception.
“This is the future we seek, a future where every Nigerian has the opportunity to fulfil their dreams and contribute to the prosperity of
our nation.
“I believe that this alignment of interests signals the approval of what HCD sets out to accomplish—the addition of 24 million healthy, educated, and productive Nigerians to our expanding population by 2030,” Shettima stated, declaring that "every Nigerian must thrive under the new administration's visionary agenda.
"Our human capital remains our greatest asset, and investing in its development is not only a moral responsibility but also an economic necessity,” he added.
Aligning the HCD programme's objectives with President Tinubu's eight-point agenda, including
eradicating poverty and creating jobs, the Vice President said "every Nigerian must thrive" for the country to realize its true potential.
"We are going to rely on defined frameworks and data to pursue investment in healthcare systems that are resilient, accessible, and responsive to the needs of our citizens," Shettima added.
He noted that the Tinubu administration is committed to prioritising preventative care, reducing child mortality and stunting, tackling malnutrition, and improving maternal health.
Shettima further said it is imperative to ensure access to quality
Yinka Kolawole in Osogbo
Two chieftains of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Osun State - Shuaib Oyedokun and former governorship aspirant of the party, Dotun Babayemi - yesterday dumped the party and formally joined the main opposition, the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.
Both chieftains and other defectors were received into APC in Osogbo by the National Secretary of the party,
Senator Ajibola Basiru; its Osun Chairman, Tajudeen Lawal, former governor of the State and incumbent Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Gboyega Oyetola, among others.
While Speaking on why they left the PDP, Oyedokun, one of the founding fathers of the ruling party in the State, said the ideals of the founding fathers of the party have been sorely contaminated.
He noted that since the inception of the administration of Governor
Ademola Adeleke, the leader of the party in the State, the principle of fairness and sense of belonging which the party was known to have been abandoned.
In his remarks after the flags of the APC were handed over to him and Oyedokun, Babayemi said he joined the opposition party with his entire political network and members of his Atunto group.
He explained: “Since Oyetola left governance, things have been
terrible in Osun,” adding that, “we need to strive to ensure that the APC government returns to Osun. From today, it is an APC meeting from ward to local councils and to the state level.”
While welcoming the new members, Basiru asked them not to behave like strangers, saying, “I welcome you into our party on behalf of the National Working Committee. Don’t regard yourselves as strangers.
Olusegun Samuel in Yenagoa
The umbrella body of Ijaw youths worldwide, the Ijaws National Congress (IYC), has called on the federal government and Niger Delta State governors to honour late freedom fighter and minority right crusader, late Major Isaac Adaka Boro, by immortalising him as a national hero who opened the eyes of the minorities in Nigeria. In a statement issued to mark the occasion of Boro's 56th anniversary celebration which was signed by its spokesman, Binebia Princewill, the IYC, stated that Adaka Boro was a true Nigerian nationalist who died for the indivisibility of Nigeria during the Biafra civil war. IYC stated that Boro meant so much to the Ijaws as his struggle for a better Niger Delta in the Nigerian State due to the many years of environmental injustice by the multinational oil companies unbridled marginalisation
and, “the gross underdevelopment of the region and its people by the federal government will continue to be a telling example in the struggle for resource control and self- determination in the Nigerian State.”
"Considering the sacrifices of
Boro who paid the supreme price by dying to protect Nigeria as one indivisible sovereign nation, it is the call of the IYC Worldwide that the federal government of Nigeria should name critical facilities like International Airports, a Federal
Institution of learning and what have you after Boro. "This is very important as we also recommend proper recognition of the Boro family, his children, wife and brother by the Federal Government of Nigeria.
Obasanjo to Discuss Leadership in Volatile, Ambiguous World at Africa Methodist Council Summit
Bennett Oghifo
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo will on Saturday, 1st of June, discuss ‘Leadership in a Volatile, Uncertain, Complex and Ambiguous World’ at a Public Lecture that will be held by the Methodist Church Nigeria as it hosts Africa Methodist Council Summit.
According to a statement issued yesterday by the Media and Publicity, the public lecture
would be one of the highlights of the 5-day event coming up at Methodist Church Nigeria, Wesley Chapel, Lekki, Lagos. It will begin on Wednesday, May 29th to end on Monday, June 3rd, 2024. The official event will kick off on Thursday 30th May with a Holy Communion Service to be conducted by the Chief Host of the Summit, His Eminence, Dr. Oliver Ali-Aba, Prelate, Methodist Church Nigeria. The theme for this year’s Summit tagged “A
revitalized Methodist Movement for the transformation of Africa’s socio – political and economic landscape” will be delivered by the Keynote Speaker, Bishop Ivan Abrahams, who is the General Secretary, World Methodist Council.
The Committee, Africa Methodist Council (Heads of Conferences Summit) is a gathering of Heads of Conferences from various Methodist families in Africa for fellowship, consultations and facilitating collaborations.
schooling for every Nigerian child, noting that education is a catalyst for unlocking opportunities and fostering a skilled workforce capable of thriving in the 21st-century economy.
"The HCD programme invites each of us to participate in ensuring that every child has access to quality schooling," he affirmed.
Also speaking, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, lauded the move, saying, "It is extremely gratifying that the Vice President has deemed it fit to inaugurate this very important group.
Chinedu Eze
The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has attributed the recent major incident involving MD-82 aircraft operated by Dana Air, which skidded off the runway on landing at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos on April 23, 2024, to faulty nosewheel also known as the landing gear.
On board the aircraft were 89 persons and six crew members.
In a preliminary report released by NSIB yesterday, the agency said that before the landing of the McDonnell Douglas MD-82 with registration mark, 5N-BKI, the pilot in command noticed that the landing gear indicator was red instead of green, which suggested that it had a problem.
The crew of the flight did everything possible to return it to green, but the landing gear indicated red, suggesting that the error or the problem was not resolved.
Then the pilot in command called the Air Traffic Control to observe and confirm whether the landing gear was ejected and out; which the Control said it seemed to be out
“For many years, a lot of Nigerians have been yearning for the resuscitation of this group, having seen the modest contribution it made in the previous administration," he added.
and
It is said that a city’s transportation network is its cardiovascular system, a multifaceted structure that enables the continuous flow of people and goods through its arteries. Municipal authorities, city councils, urban planners, and transport-infrastructure owners and operators around the world are well aware that its quality and efficiency are crucial for the economy and for the wellbeing of citizens and visitors.
Unfortunately for decades now, the Holy Ghost axis of Enugu metropolis has been a mess, a place where all manner of both legitimate and illegitimate activities thrive. It is inappropriate and unfit that a state like Enugu, which prides itself as the capital of the old Eastern Region and the present South East will have such an unkept place at the heartbeat of the city and worse still , as its transportation hub. 41 percent of the traffic that come into Enugu State end up at this notorious transportation hub.
It is no longer news that miscreants found some parts of the axis as their haven where they operated and ran into hiding without a trace. During the inspection of some of the facilities in the area last year by some government officials, some human remains and mountainous heaps of human feces, among other eyesores were seen along the railway lines, a few meters off former Onitsha South Motor Park. The gory look corroborated the views of some traders, artisans and other road users, who often complain that miscreants who engaged in pickpockets, broad daylight robbery, and other criminal activities ran towards the dangerous axis where some of their partners in crime would unleash the dragon and at times kill anyone, who dared to chase them up to that point.
Sometime in 2023, a voice note of one of the lucky victims, which trended on the social media, revealed the dungeon and threat to security that the Holy Ghost motor park and environ had become.
Even more worrisome and stressful was the traffic gridlock from OSISATEC to Holy Ghost roundabout or Chris Chemist. It is an experience no visitor, motorist or commuter would willingly want to repeat, as it took hours for one to navigate that short distance due to reckless parking, reckless driving by bus drivers, and indiscriminate loading of vehicles by touts and bus conductors. Petty traders, artisans and hawkers, who encroached the roads and crowd the entire area made matters worse.
It is for these reasons and more that Enugu residents and users of the stretch of Market Road have heaved a sigh of relief since the Governor Peter Mbah Administration began the demolition of those areas with a view to building the Enugu Central Station, one of the first four Modern Transport Interchanges to be conducted by the administration in the next 12 months. Others are the Abakpa Central Station, Gariki Central Station, and Nsukka Central Station.
Before the demolitions around the Holy Ghost areas, Enugu residents and visitors had cried out to successive administrations before Governor Mbah to do what he is doing today, but to no avail. Both the political will and huge ideas on how to transform the place to something as modern as what we see in Europe, America, and Asia were lacking. But today, a Daniel has come to judgment.
One of the fears was the political backlash and possible protests that could be instigated and even sponsored by the
big business owners in the area, using the touts, barrow pushers, petty traders, hawkers, and of course the many shades of criminals that had turned the area to their den. But Mbah, as he would say, set forth at dawn on this matter.
Whereas major developments anywhere in the world displace people and businesses, and are likely to elicit some level of resistance and bad feelings, a true leader takes a people to not only where they want to go, but where they ought to be. It is also about how a leader is able to communicate with the people and paint the future for them to see.
In the case of Holy Ghost, for instance, apart from a notice served those affected way back in October 2023, all the stakeholders in the transport system and other business owners at Holy Ghost were all invited to a meeting by the Enugu State government in September/October 2023. At the meeting with the governor, the intention of the state to build a modern transport interchange was made known and they all lauded the governor for his visionary mindset. There were also subsequent town hall meetings and individual engagements with major stakeholders.
Among others, the state ensured that they are not displaced by giving them a temporary location near New Market while assuring them in writing a right of first refusal, once the project was completed and ready for use.
Again, working through the Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC), which is the landlord or lessor of the property and business owners there and based on their agreement with tenants, the properties were evaluated and compensations were worked out, which was then paid to the affected
persons and businesses by Mbah. Some affected persons received hundreds of millions of Naira each.
The Managing Director of A.C Decanal Company Limited, Dr. Mrs Ngozi Ezinne Nnamani, had on Tuesday, 7th May, 2024, confirmed to newsmen that compensations were already being paid and called on other property and business owners affected by the development effort to see the new Enugu State coming and support the government in its effort to transform the state. She maintained that their fears and doubts about the project had been allayed through the compensation, provision for the relocation of their businesses, and the right of first refusal given to them by the government.
However, no matter how good the intentions of a leader may appear, some people will still want to resist change.
That is why, some people after receiving the money, remained adamant, wanting their personal interests to override the general interest of the masses of Enugu State.
In his book ‘’The Prince’’, Niccolo Machiavelli writes, “…no one really believes in change until they’ve had solid experience of it” and because of this, leaders “bringing in changes will have to deal with huge obstacles and must overcome them with his own abilities”. This means that a leader will need to have the vision, translate it well and combine it with the powers of persuasion to get people into believing his meaning of change.
Meanwhile , the advice to such few individuals is to see beyond the demolition to appreciate the transforming and long-lasting changes the development brings.
The benefit of the proposed terminals to be built in the state cannot be overemphasized as they serve as a central and intermediate locations for the mobility of passengers and freight, and often require specific facilities and equipment to accommodate the traffic they handle. They play a very crucial role in improving the overall transportation system by reducing traffic congestion and promoting sustainable mobility . Additionally, modern bus terminals provide facilities and services such as ticketing, waiting areas, and information displays, enhancing the overall passenger experience.
Because passengers and foreigners have different expectations on the kind of services rendered, there is need for the government of the day to create new policies and breakthroughs in order to increase passengers interest and ensure satisfaction in mass transportation facilities, therefore, creating more enabling environment for investors to come into the state. With this initiative of overhauling the state’s transport system, the government will deploy the data-driven smarttransport system that will go a long way to enable the state monitor and analyze information on people’s commuting patterns and traffic violations to inform decision-making. The government by so doing will also use new toll-management technology to decrease vehicle traffic and improve road safety, thereby reducing the fatality rate in Enugu roads.
Governor Peter Mbah’s vision to build Enugu Central Station which is made up of dual terminals, namely Terminal 1, which will focus on inter-state transportation and Terminal 2, which will cater for intra-city transportation, will not only give the state a face-lift, create employment opportunities, decongest our roads, reduce criminal activities in our motor parks, but will equally ensure the convenience of our commuters and maintain easy interchange in our transport system.
Ebuka, writes from Uzo-Uwani
President Bola Tinubu has canvassed for synergy and stronger coordinated action to address economic frailties among African nations.
The President made the call at the State House, Abuja, yesterday, while receiving Letters of Credence from three newly-appointed ambassadors to Nigeria.
The ambassadors who presented their credentials were Edouard Nduwimana, Burundi Ambassador to Nigeria; Mersole Mellejor, Philippines Ambassador to Nigeria, and the High Commissioner of Kenya to Nigeria, Isaac Parashina.
In separate meetings with the envoys, Tinubu emphasised that Nigeria values the warm and brotherly relations with their respective countries and remains a steadfast partner in promoting democratic values and economic opportunities that benefit citizens of all partner nations.
In his speech while meeting with the Burundian Ambassador, Tinubu addressed the recent floods in East African countries, underscoring the need for African leaders and governments to urgently work together to confront common challenges, such as climate change and other environmental issues.
He extended his condolences to the governments and people of Burundi, Kenya, Tanzania,
and Somalia, whose citizens were impacted by the recent floods.
‘’We must work in unison to address environmental challenges, such as floods, drought, and the attendant humanitarian consequences for the African people,’’ the President said.
On economic relations with Burundi, the President promised to follow up on earlier discussions with Burundian President Evariste Ndayishimiye on further cooperation in the oil and gas sector.
‘’As Africans, it is important for us to work together to promote our interests and develop our continent,’’ Tinubu added.
Nduwimana, had informed the President that torrential rains and rising water levels in
Lake Tanganyika have affected many Burundians since the beginning of the year. He requested Nigeria’s support to complement national relief efforts to assist people in the affected areas.
The envoy also called for Nigerian investments in Burundi’s solid minerals sector and reiterated his President’s interest in opportunities within Nigeria’s oil sector. ‘’We recognise what you are doing in Nigeria, and we believe the country’s growth and development offer valuable lessons for us.
‘’We need Nigerian investors in Burundi in the solid minerals sector, and my President is also desirous of taking further his earlier discussions on opportunities in Nigeria’s oil sector,’’ the Ambassador said.
In his meeting with the Kenyan High Commissioner, President Tinubu said Nigeria and Kenya have collaborated on a wide range of issues, including counterterrorism, peace, and security in Africa.
With Paris Olympic Games just 69 days away,Nigeria’s Queen of the track and 100m hurdles world record holder,TobiAmusan,gave the country a taste of what to expect at theWorld’s biggest sports showpiece in Paris in summer.Amusan raced to gold at the inaugural Jamaica Athletics Invitational in Kinston,beating perennial rival,home favourite and reigning world champion,DanielleWilliams to the gold in what could be described as a dress rehearsal to the Olympics,running a global season’s best time of 12.40 seconds
Nigeria’s medal hopeful in the Summer Olympic Games billed for Paris, Tobi Amusan seems to be peaking at right time as the 100m hurdles world record holder became the world’s fastest woman in the women’s 100m hurdles following her scintilating performance at the inaugural Jamaica Athletics Invitational in Kinston last Saturday.
The back-to-b ack Commonwealth Games gold medalist was thrust into the limelight once again she ran a world-leading time of 12.40 seconds to beat home favourite and reigning world champion, Danielle Williams (12.46) with USA’s Christina Clemens third in 12.54s to make a major statement of intent ahead of the 2024 Paris Olympics.
The Nigerian trailed Williams and American Nia Ali for most of the race but surged ahead in the closing stages, eclipsing the previous world-leading time of 12.42 set by Tonea Marshall of the USA on April 20.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Sports Development John Enoh has commended Nigerian hurdler and world record holder for her outstanding performance at the Jamaica Athletics Invitational.
The sports minister in a post on his X (formerly Twitter) congratulated Amusan for her stellar performance, highlighting her role in inspiring hope for Nigeria’s success at the upcoming Paris Olympics.
“Tobi, you keep making our country proud. The Paris Olympics is around the corner, your performance gives us hope just like others, that Nigeria is set to break a jinx. Keep soaring, we are proud of you,” the sports minister said on his X account.
Having recently set a new African record in the 60m hurdles event, Amusan continues to raise the bar in athletics. With her latest achievement, she has overtaken the world lead from Marshall.
The Jamaica Athletics Invitational, recognised as a Continental TourSilver meet, provided Amusan with a platform to showcase her talent on the international stage.
Amusan ended last season on a high by winning the Diamond League women’s 100m hurdles title in Eugene, Oregon for an astonishing third consecutive time to silence critics following a disappointing performance at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest.
The Ogun State-born Amusan has been in scintillating form so far this
year, having opened her campaign with an African record of 12.58s in Doha last month.
She’s clearly picked up where she left off after her jaw-dropping world record run of 12.12s to take gold at last year’s World Championships in Oregon.
With this blistering early-season time in Jamaica, Amusan has sent out an ominous warning to her rivals that she’ll take some stopping in her bid to reclaim her world title.
In March, Amusan ran a time of 12.89 seconds to win the Women’s 100 metres hurdles at the African Games in Ghana.
After a false start scare, Amusan flew to an easy win to completes a hat-trick of African Games titles.
Amusan is the current world record hol der in the 100 metres hurdles with a time of 12.12 seconds which she set at the 2022 women’s 100 metres hurdles semi final in Eugene Oregon.
She is the current Commonwealth and African champion in the 100m hurdles, as well as the meet record holder in those two competitions. Amusan became the first ever Nigerian world champion and world record holder in an athletics event when she won the 2022 World Championships 100m hurdles gold
medal, setting the current world record of 12.12 seconds (+0.9m/s) in the semi-final, followed up by a 12.06 seconds (+2.5m/s) in the final. She won back-to-back Commonwealth and African titles in 2018 and 2022 in the 100m hurdles and is also now a three-time African Games cha mpion in the event.
As the reigning World, Commonwealth, and African record holder in the women’s 100m hurdles, Amusan carries the hopes of the Nigerian contingent for Olympic success.
With the Olympics scheduled to commence on July 26 at France’s national stadium, Amusan’s stellar performances serve as a source of inspiration for her fellow athletes and the nation as a whole.
One only hope that that managers Amusa would be cautious by not letting her burn herself out before the summer Olympics as many Nigerian athletes have experienced such fate in the past. After returning with very impressive time in pre-tournaments only to flop when the chips are down after they must have been burnt out.
It however remains to be seen how well Amusan manage her programme schedule before the Paris showdown.
For the 10th time in the history of the Premier League, the title will be decided on the last day.With two points clear of Arsenal after 2-0 defeat toTottenham Hotspur onTuesday, to place Manchester City in the position they have occupied so often and one from which they rarely slip.The Citizens will tomorrow welcome West Ham United to the Etihad Stadium, in which a win will hand them a record fourth Premier League title in a row.Though, Pep Guardiola’s men are overwhelmingly favoured to get the better of the Hammers, a final day twist could never be ruled out as witnessed in the now famous‘Aguerooooo’ in City versus Queens Park Rangers and most recently the defending champions’encounter against Aston Villa in which they needed a late rally to win 3-2 after being down 2-0 up till the 75th minute
The Premier League title race is going down to the final day for just the 10th time. But will it be Manchester City or Arsenal fans celebrating tomorrow?
Manchester City are two points clear at the top and would be the first side to win four consecutive top-flight titles if they beat West Ham at home tomorrow.
But if City fail to win Arsenal will lift the title if they beat Everton at the at Emirates Stadium.
Anything other than an Arsenal win will hand City the title. Interestingly, no team has come from second to win the Premier League title on the final day.
Pep Guardiola has delivered his verdict on what to expect from Manchester City’s final Premier League fixture of the season at home against West Ham United tomorrow.
The reigning champions have been involved in a fierce title battle with Arsenal throughout the campaign and they know that victory over the Hammers at the Etihad Stadium will clinch an unprecedented fourth consecutive English top-flight title.
Man City are in buoyant mood as they have won each of their last eight matches, including a 2-0 success at Tottenham Hotspur in midweek, to leave the league leaders two points clear of the Gunners in second place with just one game remaining.
The Citizens are no strangers to final-day drama in the Premier League, with arguably the most iconic moment in the division’s history taking place in 2012 when Sergio Aguero scored a dramatic stoppage-time winner against Queens Park Rangers to clinch the title on goal difference at the expense of rivals Manchester United.
Man City were also given a scare on the final day of the 2021-22 season when Aston Villa raced into a two-goal lead, before Ilkay Gundogan’s brace inspired a remarkable comeback to help Guardiola’s men finish above Liverpool to win another title.
West Ham now stand in Man City’s way of making history and Guardiola has admitted that his team could be involved in another nail-biting drama-filled final day of the season.
“West Ham will be ready to beat us. I don’t have any doubt about that. It was the same with Aston Villa two years ago - they were in the same position, they didn’t have anything to play for and we know what happened.
“What happened against Aston Villa and QPR, with the Aguero moment and the Edin Dzeko moment, I’m ready for a tough, tough game against West Ham.
“I want to put in the minds of the players. Look at Tottenham on Tuesday, how they fought for every ball, it was incredible aggression and commitment. It’s going to happen the same with West Ham.
“Destiny is in our hands. Ourselves and our people have to be ready to support from the first minute and be with us.”
“We want to experience winning the title again and we have to perform. You can’t think ‘we want to win it’, you have to do something to earn it, you have to be resilient in the bad moments like what happened against Aston Villa in 2022 and against Spurs in the last game.
“Don’t talk about the consequences, just what you have to do to win, to control it, the transitions, the coolness, the set-pieces, the long balls - how you defend every single ball. There’s a lot of stuff that West Ham demand that you have to do, and you have to do it perfect. These are the only things on my mind.
it. If you are thinking Everton are going to do something at Arsenal on Sunday, forget about it.”
Meanwhile, a glistening Premier League trophy will be ready and waiting at the Emirates Stadium today, where victory for Arsenal over Everton could propel the Gunners to top-flight supremacy.
However, Mikel Arteta’s men are relying on Manchester City to drop points against West Ham United, so some Gooners have already resigned their squad to another second-placed finish.
MANAGING
DEPUTY
Speaking at a press conference yesterday, Guardiola said: “Everyone would love to be in our position but it won’t be easy. I have the feeling it will be an Aston Villa game. We would love to be 3-0 up but it isn’t going to happen.
“I don’t want to play the game thinking about the consequences, what will happen if. We have to be focused more than ever and feel the support of our people - this is what we need to think about.
“If you are waiting for them to drop points and become champions, you are wrong. If you are thinking Arsenal are going to drop points at Old Trafford last week, forget about
Edging out Manchester United 1-0 at Old Trafford temporarily kept the Gunners at the head of the pack before Man City made full use of their match in hand, but unlike the capitulation of 2022-23, Arsenal have taken this title scrap right to the wire in another sign of serious progression - both technically and mentally - under Arteta’s watchful eye. The beating of Man United represented a fifth Premier League success on the bounce for the North London giants, who have kept clean sheets in four of those matches and should at least end the campaign as the meanest defence in England, even if the top prize eludes them.
As Arsenal fans watch their beloved team and check their phones with bated breath on Sunday afternoon, there are no further obstacles blocking Everton’s amble to the finish line, and Sean Dyche’s men are certainly ending the season as they mean to go on.
In the days leading up to their undisputed heavyweight title fight, Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk seemed relaxed and eager to soak up the occasion, even as their camps taunted each other and clashed.
The biggest drama came early in the week, when Fury’s father, John, headbutted a member of Usyk’s entourage. But both the fighters had stayed light-hearted throughout the build-up – goodnaturedly teasing each other, and grinning and showboating in their open workouts.
But on a baking hot Thursday evening in Riyadh, as the unbeaten fighters came together at the final news conference before the bout today, both
grew terse and tight-lipped as the weight of the occasion seemed to press in.
Sitting opposite them, in the front row of a crowd of sweating journalists, entourages and VIP guests, was a grey-bearded Lennox Lewis, 58, and Evander Holyfield, 61. Lewis beat Holyfield in 1999 to become boxing’s last undisputed heavyweight champion.
On stage, Usyk, 37, was wearing a black and white traditional Ukrainian sash.
“Let’s make history. Enough. Thanks very much,” he said. Fury, who sported a flame-coloured suit and a black trilby hat, is normally a garrulous and flamboyant
figure renowned for his trash talk. But the 35-year-old British boxer also had little to say on Thursday.
“I’m ready. I’ve got nothing else to say apart from I’m ready for a good fight,” he said.
“God bless him,” he added when asked if he had a message for Usyk. “I’ll say a prayer for him before the fight for us both to get out of the ring safely.”
Boxing has long frustrated fans with various belts and sanctioning bodies creating multiple champions at the same weights, and frequent disputes over money and clashing egos often prevent the best fighters from facing each other in their prime.
With a statement on their official website, Championship club, Sheffield Wednesday have announced their retained and released list following the conclusion of the 2023-2024 season.
2014 Nigeria Olympic National Team invitee Dominic Iorfa is among the seven players offered new contracts, along with Barry Bannan, Cameron Dawson, Di’Shon Bernard, Liam Palmer, Will Vaulks and Josh Windass.
Dominic is the son of former Super Eagles striker Dominic Iorfa Sr., who represented Nigeria at the 1995 King Fahd Cup.
The defender’s contract expires at the end of next month and he will leave the Owls as a free agent if he does not sign the new deal. Iorfa came through the ranks at Wolverhampton Wanderers before transferring to Sheffield Wednesday in January 2019.
He made 32 appearances in
all competitions in two different loan spells with Ipswich Town and Shrewsbury during his time at Wolves.
Overall, the 28-year-old has featured in 165 matches for Sheffield Wednesday, registering ten goal involvements.
Iorfa, who was previously on the radar of the Nigeria Football Federation, has represented his native England at U18, U20 and U21 levels.
Golden Eaglets Coach, Manu Garba has blamed inadequate preparation for their goalless draw against Burkina Faso in their first game of the 2024 WAFU Zone B Championship.
Nigeria played their opening game of the WAFU Zone B fixture against Burkina Faso at the University of Ghana Stadium on Thursday.
Because of the kind of talent that Nigeria always produces, Nigeria were expected to beat
Burkina Faso and begin their defense of the competition on a good note.
However, the Golden Eaglets failed to do so. The players evidently had the talent, but they lacked chemistry especially in the final third. In the end, they had to settle for a goalless draw.
After the game, coach Garba expressed disappointment over the result, but he feels that if the team had prepared better, they could have gotten something
from the game.
Recall that the Golden Eaglets played about 10 friendly games against different academies in Nigeria before the tournament. However, Garba believes that they were at a disadvantage because the team was not exposed to playing teams abroad.
“Though we came out to get the three maximum points, but like I said earlier, this is the first international match for these young lads,” Garba said.
Juventus have sacked Massimiliano Allegri two days after he led the side to the Italian Cup.
The Turin side beat Atalanta 1-0 in Rome, but Allegri was sent off late on for ranting at match officials and waving away sporting director during the celebrations.
The Italian Football Federation’s disciplinary tribunal has launched an investigation into Allegri.
And yesterday, Juventus confirmed he was no longer their boss.
“The dismissal follows certain
behaviors during and after the Italian Cup final which the club deemed incompatible with the values of Juventus and with the behavior that those who represent it must adopt,” a statement read.
Juve’s 1-0 win over Atalanta, thanks to Dusan Vlahovic’s early goal, gave Allegri a record fifth Coppa Italia as a manager.
“If I am no longer the Juventus coach next year, I will leave a strong team. The club will make its evaluations,” he said in the post-match news conference.
Even before his antics at the
Toronto RaptorsVice Chairman Masai Ujiri, is of the opinion that Africa will do well when Nigeria makes the right move
The Toronto Raptors Vice Chairman and President, Masai Ujiri, believes that Africa can achieve a lot when Nigeria moves in the right direction in all things, especially in the field of sports development. Ujiri, the co-founder of the famous Giants of Africa believes Nigeria and Africa can achieve far above average in sports if those in charge of administration and leadership push more investments towards the development of more sporting infrastructure.
The former D’Tigers player who spoke in Lagos said, “Nigeria is the heart of Africa; yes that’s why you have it positioned there. When Nigeria moves, Africa moves. Africa is looking up to Nigeria for the right moves. This continent is about the youths and we are inspired by them especially when we gather like this. They will continue to be leaders and they will change Africa. And Africa is already changing. We can really use sports to make the change. God has given us the opportunity to use sports to effect some change and our leaders must endeavour to move in the right direction.”
Masai spoke when the Giants of Africa, the non-profit organisation he co-founded returned to Lagos, Nigeria to host a youth basketball
clinic at the Ilupeju Grammar School where they unveiled a basketball court in 2021. This clinic welcomed Prince Harry and Meghan, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who shared remarks with the youth and participated in on-court activities. In addition, through their nonprofit organisation, the Archewell Foundation, they made a commitment to donate to Giants of Africa, supporting the construction of a new basketball court in Abuja, Nigeria. This contribution bolters the organisation’s ambitious initiative, ‘Built Within,’ a multi-year, 100-court investment in sports infrastructure across Africa.
“We are grateful to be joined by The Duke and Duchess of Sussex at this basketball clinic here in Lagos,” said Masai Ujiri. “Basketball has the power to unite communities and inspire young people to reach their full potential. Teaming up with the Archewell Foundation, we look forward to creating experiences for young people, empowering them to become leaders, while also fostering pathways to opportunity and hope.”
Prince Harry said “What you guys are doing here at Giants of Africa is truly amazing. The power of sport can change lives. It brings people together and creates
community”.
Megan, The Duchess of Sussex added, “We are thrilled to be here. I lived in Toronto for seven years and that was the first time I’d heard of Giants of Africa – talk about full circle – never did I think we would be able to be here all those years later supporting the expansion of this incredible organisation, through our foundation the Archewell Foundation. We’re so grateful and proud of all the work that you’re doing.”
In another talk with the media on the sidelines of the same event the ex-Nigeria international added, “Africa is blessed and there is something we have that nobody in the world has as much as us and that is the talent base.”
“The talent base in Africa is big and these youths you are seeing today , would surely become something big in life and so why can’t we give them the platform to succeed,” Ujiri asked.
The Giants ofAfrica is almost at the half way mark of its ‘Build Within’ initiativewithsome38basketballcourts already built across Africa including in Lagos, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Burkina Faso, Senegal, Tanzania, Rwanda, Morocco amongst others. The organisation has done effective basketball and leadership programmes in some other African countries including Somalia.
Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) Board is celebrating Emmanuel Okala, one of the greatest goalkeepers to have graced the league in the colours of Rangers International of Enugu.
Okala turned 73 yesterday, May 17 and Gbenga Elegbeleye, the NPFL Chairman said the former national team goalkeeper deserves to be celebrated by the nation’s football family.
“Anybody who is familiar with the post civil war rise of football in Nigeria will definitely remember the
Stadio Olimpico, the 56-year-old had been expected to lose his job and be replaced by Bologna coach Thiago Motta.
But now he will not be there for the final two Serie A games against Bologna and Monza.
“The company wishes Massimiliano Allegri good luck in his future projects,” ended the statement..
Allegri was in charge of Juventus from 2014 until 2019, winning the title in each of his five seasons, as well as four Italian Cups and reaching the Champions League final twice.
name, Emmanuel Okala because he was one of the icons of our football renaissance in the 1970’ to the 1980’s”, noted Elegbeleye in a congratulatory message to the tallest former national team goalkeeper. The NPFL Chairman recalled that Okala and his set in Rangers which included former Green Eagles captain Christian Chukwu, made the national league topical in their era with the rivalries against IICC Shooting Stars, Stationery Stores, Bendel Insurance, Mighty Jets and Raccah Rovers to list a few.
“On behalf of the NPFL Board,
the clubs, players and every stakeholder including the fans, I wish our legendary goalkeeper a very happy birthday and more years in good health”, stated the NFF second Vice President in his tribute.
Okala was voted African Footballer of the Year, 1978, by the African Sports Journalists Union ( ASJU) and was recruited to Rangers by late Coach Dan Anyiam in 1970 after he stopped the penalty of Godwin Achebe against his Onitsha club, Red Devils.
The Premier League season is drawing to an end, and football fans worldwide are eagerly anticipating the thrilling finale on matchday 38. With Arsenal and Manchester City competing for the league title, anticipation is high for what promises to be a memorable conclusion to the season.
This Sunday, in the season finale, Arsenal will face Everton at the Emirates Stadium. Tune in to GOtv Premier League (channel 65) at 4pm to catch the action live. At the same time, Manchester City will be hosting West Ham United at the Etihad Stadium,
live on GOtv Premier League (channel 66) also at 4pm.
Under the leadership of manager, Mikel Arteta, Arsenal has shown determination and resilience throughout the season. Recording 27 wins, the Gunners have displayed their best performance in a Premier League season to date.
Meanwhile, reigning champions, Manchester City, led by manager Pep Guardiola, have demonstrated their dominance with a commanding display throughout the season. Following a decisive victory over Tottenham in Matchday 37, Manchester City
currently leads the table with a two-point advantage over Arsenal.
With Manchester City holding a slim two-point lead over Arsenal, both teams face pressure as they approach the defining matches of the season. A draw or defeat for Manchester City could shift the advantage to Arsenal, offering the Gunners the opportunity to secure their first league title in 20 years. Conversely, a victory for Manchester City would secure their place in history with a fourth consecutive Premier League triumph.
“HE said that Nigeria posses (possesses) the right leaders, but yet to get it right despite its huge (potential).”potentials
Daily Independent Online of May 8 joins the fray this week with too many faulty lines: “Bring back our girls protest hits Rivers” This way: ‘Bring-back-our-girls protest’ hits Rivers
“He said the state government is (was) delivering on affordable homes as promised.”
I do not know why basic principles of reported speech should be challenging for some “UNICALjournalists! expels 107 students over (for) certificate forgery”
“The practice of ruling party wins-all- council (win-all-council) offices has made stakeholders to see the SIECs as irrelevant and undesired (undesirable), thus leading to calls for its (their) scrapping.”
“…SSA to the acting governor of Taraba State on Media and Publicity recently speaks to (recently spoke with) journalists….”
“Librarians blame high cost of printing on incessant power outage” Education Today: incessant power outages/cuts
“Polytechnics (Polytechnic) Medical Directors elect officers (officials)”
“Forging Pan African (pan-Africa) integration through unified marketing education”
“Dollar falls to lowest since October on lower yields” Global News: lowest level
“Genetics explain (explains) why some twins are bigger than others”
“Why DStv staged All Stars (all-star) show”
“Lack of funding, poor management (mismanagement) and lack of vision has (have) stunted the development of….”
“OSSAA reads Riot Act to outdoor owners” Brands & Marketing: the riot act
The March 30 edition of Daily Trust rounds off the long introduction: “Maybe the scales has (have) now fallen off the president (president’s) eyes….”
“…to advise and not to keep poke-nosing into the affairs of the nation….” There is nothing like ‘poke-nosing’. Get it right (informal): poke your nose into something! So, the man should be advised not to keep poking his nose into the nation’s affairs.
Nobody has the right/licence to change fixed/stock phrases, especially as borrowed users of the English language.
Usage note: both ‘singlehandedly’ and ‘singlehanded’ are correct and can interchangeably be used.
Someone should inform Classic FM 97.3 presenters, editors and newscasters that the right expressions are ‘mature people’ and ‘marching orders’—not ‘matured people’ and ‘marching order’! (April 25 evening belt programme and April 30, 11.15 a.m. bulletin, respectively)
Wrong: A force to reckon with
Right: A force to be reckoned with
The next two contributions are from Charles Okogene: “95,926 candidates to write (do/take/sit) exams” (THE NATION ON SUNDAY, May 12)
“The late National Security Adviser, Andre Owoye Azazi, said that modern equipment had to be provided as a way of bringing the insecurity crisis (security crisis) to an end.”
(DAILY TRUST, April 17) Usage note: we correctly say or write insecurity or security crisis/security problem/security challenge. Similarly, unemployment or employment problem/crisis/challenge….
Our next capture is still THE NATION ON SUNDAY of May 12 which could not police
its pages: “…the fallouts from the aborted visit are still reverberating in democratic circles all over the country.” Barometer: ‘fallout’ is non-count.
“Nyanya blast: Troops arrest 8 Nigerian (Nigerien), Cameroonian suspects”
The comment page of the above edition follows with just two minor drawbacks: “It tells of how we value human lives, compared to how people in more civilized climes value same (the same)….”
“More worrisome is the harsh reality that majority (a majority) of the victims were“Grouppupils….”sensitises (sensitizes, preferably) traders on (to) security”
“…on discovering the business potentials (potential) in comedy….”
The next serial errors are from a full-page press release signed by (name withheld): “To review the overall conduct of the wards congresses with view to determine harmonious acceptable outcome….” Get it right: …ward congresses with a view to determining a harmonious and an acceptable outcome….
“To monitor and supervise the process and resolution of any problem that might have arise (arisen).”
“The state congress committee, therefore (another comma) wish to announce the reschedule (rescheduling) of the congresses in the state.”
Finally from the blunder-ridden press release: “By this notice, all card carrying (card-carrying) members of APC (the APC) in the state are advice (advised) to prepare for the congresses.”
SATURDAY INDEPENDENT Online
Comments Page of May 11 takes over the baton: “…and majority (a majority) of media practitioners (professionals)” We can talk of
We continue on the same trajectory as last week’s: reviewing the lamentations of the past placed aside our current challenges. In article initially titled ‘Nigeria & Her People: Ethical Somersaults’ and published 8th day of May, 2021, we complained along these lines:
“When we lament about our atrocious and conscienceless politics, we often forget that its senior comrade is amorphous, systemic and thus infinitely more dangerous to public health; therefore more difficult to pull down. Public Service. And by extension, Infrastructure (provision, maintenance and assault). I will explain.
The recruitment, deployment and promotions of civil servants have for long been shrouded in secrecy. Though we call them civil servants, unfortunately, many we meet in our interactions with government agencies have no streak of civility in them, nor a strain of stewardship. Our tottering bloated system swagger under the selfserving, age-old dictum which insists that the civil service shall remain in the shades plugging away at the wheels of progress and public administration. This was inculcated into us by the typically tight-lipped British colonial administration. We have now matured into leveraging that cloak of anonymity to pervert and purport all sorts of criminal activities, corrupt agendas, uncivil bastardisation and poorly thought-out policies. Consequently, we have turned the civil service into some sort of shambolic cartel, and diabolic cult of intrigues and immobility.
The structures that were designed to keep the wheels of government in forward motion unobtrusively, while top officials in government may change according times and mandates, have grown massively lecherous, indolent, political, divisive, moored in schemes and counter-schemes that have no bearing on their operational directives.
When some young folks struggle to
enter the public service after their one-year national youth service corps programme, in most cases, they are lured, not by passion to be a part of quality and prompt delivery of service; rather they are driven by the prodigious opportunity that public service provides for almost anyone to collect a steady monthly salary, and still scavenge for lucrative businesses which benefit him 100%, and the government may burn for all he cares. They call it ‘side-hustles’.
They see a future where, when well entrenched in the system, they can spend months in the Caribbeans, and still collect salaries and perquisites as if they are “on their seats” doing the nation’s work. They see a future assured of cuts and handouts from desperate contractors and others threatened by one wooly-headed government policy or the other. They see a mountain of opportunities and largesse which, with deft application of banal social nuances - nepotism, tribalism, religiosity and such cancers that have held us down as a nation - can produce mansions, exquisite possessions and such expensive delicacies of living that no civil service salary can explain, and thus must be well hidden from ‘evil’ eyes.
While civil service is largely seen as a corrupt indolent spectacle bedeviling our prospect of a great nationhood, the actions of the civil populace to public Infrastructure are well nigh ungodly and reprehensible. No matter how expensive it is to acquire a particular amenity or structure; how much pain and frustrations the community had endured before the provision of such amenity; and the obvious losses when such amenity fails to work, are you surprised when days after its installation, several parts and main frames of the facility have been yanked off, crushed, or simply stolen Yet, these looters may be the first comers at the community’s news stands to lament the looting of the national or state treasury by one politician or the other. We steal everything good and useful;
ewabara@yahoo.com, 08055001948
medical or legal practitioners. Journalists do not practise ‘media’ as doctors and lawyers practise medicine and law respectively!
From THE NATION ON SUNDAY Classified Page comes this recurrent foible: “Change of name is now published every Sundays….” Either every Sunday or all Sundays: this is a yellow card!
The lexical crises continue as usual: “Police arrest 20 students over (for) protest in Delta”
“PDP commends non-partisan approach on (to) terrorism”
“Borno records low malaria-related deaths” News extra: low malarial (adjectival) deaths, preferably THISDAY banner of April 26 lacked reason: “President shelves Adamawa trip over mood of the nation” A rewrite: President shelves Adamawa trip over nation’s mood”
“He was rascally parading as a masquerade (masquerader) during Christmas.” ‘Masquerade’ is the mask/wooden or plastic symbol/effigy/facial caricature or covering while the wearer/carrier is the masquerader. It is close to ‘dupe’ (the person tricked) while the felon (trickster) is the ‘duper’ and the heinous act is known as ‘dupery’. But, often, people use ‘dupe’ to mean everything! A senior colleague of mine insists that the entry (masquerade) is correct, but I strongly disagree!
“Below are photographs of personalities at (on) the occasion.”
THISDAY of April 29 extended the medium’s blundering profile: “…the board said the extension of Otti’s tenure is (was) in recognition and appreciation of his ….” “Flight operations restored in (to) Kaduna”
the ones we cannot remove we destroy. There is a spirit tormenting some of our folks who are caught on CCTV removing public lights, traffic lights, alloy railings of bridges, and sidewalks...it is not just poverty. How does a nation become great when the common man must steal or damage infrastructures erected to alleviate his conditions, and that of others - simply because he feels a need to imitate those in power who steal the funds that have delayed the provision of these infrastructures, or frustrated the provision of better and more widespread infrastructures in good time?
The circle of self-hate and the dogma of snakes feasting on its own kind have led us to this moment where our infrastructures, which are grossly inadequate, are pilfered and vandalized by our compatriots, and we simply shake our heads, and ‘waka pass’. How can you grow, in any area of life, when you ceaselessly swallow your profits, and more, even as you labour day and night to get more sales? A vicious self-devastation.
The seventh element has a number of similarities to the one above. What do we hold as National Ethos? What Values do we deliberately infuse in our children? What informs our Succession dynamics? A nation that runs on auto-pilot, winging its ways through challenges and upheavals, makes an easy candidate for selfcombustion.
We build ethos by leveraging on the great works and words of our founding fathers. We solicit the emotional connections with great and redoubtable ancestors, tantalizing the impressionable minds of our children with legends, myths and anecdotes of their great and incredible exploits. Do we even still teach history and civic
studies in Nigerian schools? If we don’t, we need our heads examined. If the policy has been reversed, the enablers of that idiotic policy should be in jail.
It starts from the kindergarten experience...to the nursery and primary...the home environment...the teaching modules and expertise for each grade (whether public or private)...the actions and examples of government functionaries, and other cadres of leadership. Several elements must combine positively to build and flourish with national ethos that will filter into and form a block of unshakable corpus of beliefs and convictions as our children grow up. Perhaps it is too late for the much older generations; the opportunity is there, even now, to rededicate our passions and re-evaluate the values we unconsciously subscribe to. When we find excuses for a pedophile simply because an elaborate scheme was devised to catch him in action as an evidence of his perfidy; and we begin to castigate the victims, and make asinine suggestions imputing extraneous nonsense (such as ‘it was a romance gone sour’; ‘why tempt a man you strongly suspect’; ‘the set-up was to destroy his career’; and the classic spinelessness - ‘nobody is above mistake’!)
Friends, sexually or sensually violating a seven-year old, even if it didn’t start three years ago, is not a ‘mistake’. It is foolish, uncontrollably depraved exploitation and violent violation of innocence. It deserves uniformed and severe condemnations, the strictest application of extant laws, and drastic deterrence to others who are in such dastard business, or may contemplate it in future. This nation must abhor reprobate behaviours, and any deviant sympathies should be interrogated sternly.”
TRUTH & REASON
Saturday, May 18, 2024Price: N400
“I am delighted for the fact that we are not just getting anybody, but people of substance. Like Baba Suaibu, he is a veteran member of the PDP, decamping to the APC. It shows that PDP doesn’t exist any longer here. I am confident that in 2026 we are going to take over the state. This is just the beginning because several people are willing to come back to us, and a lot of political heavyweights are coming to join us” – Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, declared that the fortune of PDP in Osun State has nosedived in the State
okey.ikechukwu@thisdaylive.com
It was a good project mired in totally avoidable controversies. Months drew on. Then years flew by, while some low-grade quibbling went on in recondite corners; here and there. While that lasted, an investor who was ready to bring an inflow of 18 Billion dollars into the country, as the biggest ever single Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) left the country in frustration.
Back in 2015, on July 12 to be exact the project was greeted with some enthusiasm on this page. Under the title, “Inside Centenary City”, we enthused: “It is easy to believe that the Centenary City Project will be a major national success story. Following the incorporation of the Special Purpose Company (SPC) that will promote and drive the investment in the city, a total of 19 companies subscribed to the company’s Articles and Memorandum of Understanding; having met the initial capital call. … The Board of Directors of the company was inaugurated by President Goodluck Jonathan”.
Ten years later, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, had to intervene to revive what was looking more and more like a stillborn good idea. His action on the matter was reminiscent of the mythical story of a king who was said to have summoned a perpetually quarrelling couple, locked them up in a big house and then said to them: “The only condition under which I will let the two of you out of this place, and out of my sight, is that you will leave here resolved never to quarrel or fight again”.
Glaring at the couple, as the story went, he was reported to have said: “Under no circumstance must anyone hear ‘pim’ from either of you, in the name of a quarrel or disagreement. Until that happens, and until you come to your senses, you will be locked up here till further notice. You will be supplied all the provisions you ask for, but you will not step out of this place or see the shining sun until you agree to stop disagreeing”.
Well, Wike seems to have done something akin to that, but not with the threat of damnation or anything of the sort. He simply had to make it clear to all concerned parties and stakeholders that no one should try to upstage any endeavour that serves the long-term interests of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. It was as simple as that. Since a Free Zone is created by a Presidential Directive that designates an area for special administration to attract FDI, create jobs, and enhance competitiveness, it was not a matter to be toyed with. Thus, for the minister, the Abuja Centenary City investment and effort was not only here to stay, but must be made to stay in the right and most sustainable way possible.
But Wike did not just roll out the tanks and the gun boats, no! He started by hosting the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA)/ Federal Capital Territory Authority (FCTA) and Abuja Centenary City Plc. on Wednesday, April 17, 2024. Then he enquired into the issues that were considered to be bottlenecks on both sides. Well, he got an earful. The lingering issues, the court cases, the distrust, the contrived bad blood, the mischief of those who should know
better than to try to undermine the project. The narratives and narrations were legion. But the point of it all was to find a solution that everyone can live with.
It emerged that some of the obstacles being consistently put in the way of the progress and progression of the Centenary City Project rested on a fundamental misunderstanding of some legal points and other issues. Wike pointed out that a Free Zone is a Presidential Directive that creates a designated area for special administration to attract foreign direct investment (FDI), create jobs, and enhance competitiveness. To that extent, neither the minister nor any administrative institution of state can seriously, and meaningfully, contest the primacy of Mr. President’s powers in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) as custodian.
The conversation dovetailed into the further clarification of some mistaken perspectives regarding the legal identity, and administrative, autonomy of a Freezone, within an overarching umbrella of national sovereignty that still allows it to voluntarily outsource such municipal and other services it feels inclined to do. The operative word is ‘voluntarily’.
Then came the advice that was more of an angry, but pleasantly couched directive: For the FCDA and Centenary City management to resolve their differences amicably and work together in the broader national interest, so that the project can regain traction and move forward. The parties were reminded that the Centenary City project aligned with the Federal Government’s economic strategy of enhancing private sector investment in tourism, and other non-oil income earners critical for boosting the country’s economy.
With very clear guidelines regarding the law and management of Free Zones, and also knowing that there is no ambiguity about the status of Free Zones, the point of showing the best roles of FCTA/FCDA within the law is simply the only reasonable option on the road to lasting synergy. The result was that the parties found
accommodation for each other’s perspective and signed a Communique to express their new cooperation. The current development also announced the cessation of court cases, encroachments, name calling and sundry acts of mischief.
For the record, the idea of a new Smart City, as part of Abuja urban renewal programme came after a detailed review of the Abuja capital city concept; as a small administrative capital. It became clear from the review that the upscale provisions for recreation, tourism, shopping, urban middle class accommodation would fill a gap that should not have been there in the first place.
It was one of the Legacy Projects initiated by the Federal Government and approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC), as part of the programmes and activities for Nigeria’s Centenary celebration in 2014. It was planned following the vision of a Smart Green City that would rank among the most modern cities in the world.
The concept was patterned after model cities like Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, Songdo in South Korea, and Shenzen in the Peoples Republic of China. Part of the expectation was that it would signpost the Nigeria of the future, by leveraging world class urban development as a tool for securing Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and catalysing various aspects of social and economic indices in the country.
That probably explains the formation of Centenary City PLC (CCPLC) as a public limited liability company, with 39 local and foreign investors. This came to 100% private sector investors, without any government funding whatsoever. The owners hired a management team, secured a Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) from the FCTA for the Centenary City land, and in lieu of the N3.611 billion premium on the land, it granted the FCTA, which was represented by the Abuja Investment Company Limited – AICL - , 5% of the equity of CCPLC; in addition to a Board seat. With this arrangement, the Government is part owner and part of CCPLC decision-making of the Project through the FCTA.
It was gleefully announced here in 2015 that: “The developer of the new city, Centenary City Plc., has fortunately been working with templates that guarantee both a seamless flow of activities leading to the final emergence of the city, as well as a compensation and resettlement programme for the landowners that will avoid the usual controversies often associated with compensation and relocations. The initial mischief, peddling of false information and the attempt to build a career out of spurious protests have all given way to a quiet and sustained engagement that all the parties concerned are looking at with confidence”.
The enthusiastic submission back then even went on to declare thus: “The Centenary City is the official counterpoise to the Eko Atlantic City in Lagos. Both are the two special economic cities designated as free zones by NEPZA. As a major national project, it was all woven into the centenary celebrations and offered to Nigerians as a powerful catalyst to stimulate investment – with
multi-layered positive impact on the economy and the people”. Well, see where we are on the matter, after ten years. And, go and see where Eko Atlantic City is.
With the commendable development under Wike, with the needed positive intervention from the Senate, it is hoped that the new locus of mischief, if any, will not find accommodation elsewhere. I say this because the time lag may become an excuse for mischief makers to begin new claims about ancestral lands and what not.
This is what was said about all that, back in 2015: “Knowing the controversies that have consistently trailed practically all previous compensation programmes in the country, especially for the original inhabitants of Abuja, Centenary City Plc. deployed dialogue and patient consultations to avoid any hiccups. The clarification given early in the day by the Managing Director about the entire compensation package was difficult to fault, or reject. It showed a two-pronged drive that combined cash payment for the crops and resettlement of the displaced landowners in houses built for them by Centenary City Plc. at its own cost.”
We said, further: “The payment to the landowners covers the crops and economic trees on their land, while the resettlement will provide adequate land for the buildings and other facilities to be developed by the Centenary City Plc. for their relocation to even better developed living conditions. Under the guidance of the FCDA, Centenary City Plc. will build adequate housing with infrastructure for the displaced landowners”.
We took it further, and I am deliberately going into history, because the current gains must not get lost in some political muddle once again. Hear this, as stated here on July 12, 2015: “To ensure a scientifically verifiable basis for the deterring eligibility for compensation, the FCDA authorities did a biometric capture of all the affected communities, matching facial recognition and fingerprint scan of persons who are seven years of age and above. So far, most of the 671 beneficiaries identified for compensation have been settled. Some had no title Deed, no C of O, etc., while others had only letters of allocation and nothing more. Today, they have not only been paid, or are scheduled to be paid, for land they did not really own, but are among those to be resettled in new and better houses very soon”. Compensation to the Original Inhabitants for economic trees/crops and other property interests falling within the Centenary City site and the Resettlement site, as diligently facilitated by the FCDA, was to the tune of N1.4 Billion back then.
The economic benefits of the Centenary City project are easily measurable. So are the social benefits, as well as the extra political mileage that would come in due course.
Let Agencies of Government come to terms with the fact that Governments regulate, and do not “supervise” private sector projects. Let us also hope that Nyesom Wike’s courage holds out and that the FCDA and Centenary City management remain on the right track in the national interest.