FRIDAY 1ST SEPTEMBER 2023

CBN Alerts Banks on Arrest of Nigerian, Others Over Seizure of Fake $1bn Bound for Africa

James Emejo in Abuja

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has alerted banks and other financial institutions of the arrest of a Nigerian and four others

over their alleged involvement in currency counterfeiting amounting to $1 billion, which was bound for African countries.

Therefore, the central bank, pursuant to Regulation 4 of the

CBN Anti-Money Laundering, Combating the Financing of Terrorism and Countering Proliferation Financing of Weapons of Mass Destruction in Financial Institutions) Regulations,

2022, (CBN AML/CFT/CPF Regulations), directed financial institutions to conduct searches on their database to determine any information related to the identified individuals.

The apex bank stated this in an administrative letter to banks and Other Financial Institutions (OFIs), dated August 23, 2023, which was signed by the CBN Director, Financial Policy and Regulations

Department, Chibuzo Efobi.

The CBN also asked them to check whether they maintain any accounts or hold any funds Continued on page 5

Keyamo Orders Relocation of All Flight Operations From Old to New Int'l Terminal in Lagos... Page 17 Friday 1 September, 2023 Vol 28. No 10369. Price: N250

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Ganduje: After Failed Presidential Bid, ‘Kwankwaso’ Turned NNPP to Revenue Platform... Page 36

Dele Momodu: Wike Doesn’t Own PDP, He Can Be Disciplined Says FCT Minister spews arrogant lies Don’t succumb to despondency, party urges Nigerians as it marks 25 years Chuks Okocha in Abuja Veteran journalist and Atiku/Okowa Presidential Campaign Director of

Communications in the February 25 presidential election, Dele Momodu, has told the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom

Wike, that he is not the owner of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and, therefore, can be disciplined if any infraction is

established against him.

Relatedly, PDP told Nigerians yesterday, as it marked its 25th anniversary, that they should not

to succumb to hopelessness under the prevailing situation in the country. PDP said citizens should remain optimistic in the hope that

their democratic mandate would ultimately triumph.

Continued on page 5

Tinubu Seeks the Big Stick against Coupists, Biya, Kagame Reshuffle Military Hierarchies Nigerian military warns its men, reiterates loyalty to president Gabon’s coup 8th in West/Central Africa since 2020, four of which were staged by close guards Niger junta revokes French ambassador's immunity after expiration of 48 hours ultimatum to leave country Story on page 5 Deji Elumoye, Chuks Okocha, Kingsley Nwezeh and Michael Olugbode in Abuja President Bola Tinubu, yesterday, warned that if African leaders did not wield the big stick to curtail the wave of coup d’états spreading across the continent, everyone would ultimately suffer the consequences.

Gabon's coup was the eight in West and Central since 2020.

Instructively, four of the recent coups were staged by close guards meant to protect the presidents in their various countries.

The alleged coup leader in Gabon, Brice Oligui Nguema, was the head of the Gabonese Presidency’s Republican Guard, the country’s most powerful security unit. He was said to be the president’s cousin.

In Niger, the Presidential Guard led by General Abdourahmane Continued on page 5

PRESIDENT TINUBU RECEIVES JIM OVIA...

Chairman of Zenith Bank Plc, Jim Ovia (L) being welcomed by President Bola Tinubu during the courtesy visit of Jim Ovia to the Presidential Villa Abuja ... yesterday

GODWIN OMOIGUI

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Nigeria Boosts OPEC Oil Output in August After Forcados’ Return Cartel’s total volume rises 220,000 bpd Shell abandons carbon offsets plan Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja There were indications yesterday that the total oil output by the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) rose in August, as Nigeria boosted its total production on the back of the return of Forcados, while Iranian supply rose to its highest since 2018.

A Reuters survey found that despite ongoing cuts by Saudi Arabia and other members of the wider OPEC+ alliance to support the market, Nigeria emerged the second in the list of countries that increased output .

OPEC pumped 27.56 million barrels per day (bpd) during the month under consideration, the

survey found, up 220,000 bpd from July. That would be the first rise since February, according to the survey.

“The second-largest increase in OPEC output this month came from Nigeria, where exports resumed from the Forcados terminal after a shutdown, the survey found.

“OPEC's output is still undershooting the targeted amount by almost 800,000 bpd mainly because Nigeria and Angola lack the capacity to pump as much as their agreed level,” the report added.

For context, although the report did not state the actual volume produced by Nigeria in August, the country in July managed to drill

DELE MOMODU: WIKE DOESN’T OWN PDP, HE CAN BE DISCIPLINED Describing some of the views shared by Wike in a recent interview as “arrogant lies”, Momodu, in a statement, raised silent questions that required a response from the minister.

He said Wike was economical with the truth as to when he realised that the presidential ticket should go to the south.

Momodu asked Wike whether it was when Atiku Abubakar rejected his aspiration to be nominated the vice presidential candidate that he became an apostle of a southern presidency. He advised Wike not to push his luck too far, as he was not above discipline by the 25-yearold PDP, of which he was not a founding father.

"After watching this interview last night, I immediately called Mr Seun Okinbaloye of the Channels TV, and told him I wished I was in Nigeria and would have come to respond to the many arrogant lies he allowed Minister Nyesom Wike to get away with," Momodu said.

The former communications director further asked, "When did Wike become the sole owner of PDP that he cannot be disciplined by a 25-year-old political party? It would have been nice to know if he founded the party or when he acquired majority shares in it since he now has more money than Aliko Dangote."

Momodu challenged Wike to quote the portion of the PDP constitution that stated that power must come to the south.

He stated regarding Wike, "He should tell the world the chairman of the zoning committee that threw the contest open to all zones of the party and why he agreed to buy the presidential nomination form.”

Momodu wondered, “When did Wike become the champion of the south?

“Was it after his bid to be Vice President to Alhaji Atiku Abubakar was rejected or after requests to handpick the juiciest ministerial portfolios, like the one he got from Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, were rebuffed? Would he have continued to flagrantly badmouth Alhaji Atiku Abubakar if he had selected him as his running mate?"

The veteran journalist said Wike and four other governors were parading themselves as G5 while frolicking from Nigeria to Europe and back, saying, "Three of them from Benue, Enugu and Abia lost their senatorial bids, spectacularly and resoundingly.

"Seun should have asked Wike, where are the other ‘suicide bombers’ today? Gone with the wind. The G-5 was always about one man's ego and ambition.

Wike claimed, contentiously, that he delivered Rivers State to Tinubu, only one state out of six in the South-south region. Was that enough to justify all this

grandiloquent vituperation by Nigeria's co-president, Wike?

"His three acolytes couldn't deliver and they've since been abandoned in the lurch!! What happened to their regular joint press conferences?"

Momodu alleged that Wike claimed all PDP governors sent ministerial nominations to Tinubu, but said, "He should tell us how many of them were eventually approved, except the one he handpicked from a neighbouring state. Wike forgot to recommend any member of the G-5. No nominee of Governor Seyi Makinde was visible on the ministerial list."

25th Anniversary: Don’t Succumb to Despondency, PDP Urges Nigerians PDP, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, said in essence, outlook and operation, PDP remained the only broad-based, all-embracing pan-Nigerian political party birthed on the principles of national unity, freedom, social justice, development and overall wellbeing of citizens.

It said the party had over the years stood steadfast to its democratic ideology of good governance and citizens’ participation in political leadership.

That statement said, "Today, the PDP celebrates the resilience of Nigerians in the democratic process and, particularly, the founding leaders and teeming members of our party for their sacrificial roles in returning, nurturing and sustaining democracy in our country.

"The belief that power resides with the people is at the core of PDP’s sustained focus on guaranteeing the rule of law, adherence to the principle of separation of powers, personal freedom of citizens, a free press, credible electoral process, liberalisation of the economy, vast infrastructural development, massive employment, and business opportunities, among other initiatives that made the PDP years in government the Nigerian Golden Years."

PDP listed its achievements in the last 25 years, against those of the governing All Progressives Congress (APC). It urged Nigerians not to lose confidence in the nation but remain hopeful, as the party continued to lead the charge for a country, where the will of the people would prevail.

PDP appreciated the support, solidarity and love by Nigerians over the years and assured them of its continued commitment to the principles of democracy and positive engagement of citizens in the cause of nation building.

only 1.08 million bpd as against the 1.742 million bpd quota allocated to it by OPEC. The situation had recently worsened Nigeria’s struggling economy with the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showing in its latest report that the oil sector contributed a paltry 5.34 per cent to real Gross Domestic Product GDP (GDP) in Q2, 2023.

Despite the billions of naira spent on curbing oil theft, which the country blames for the current situation, not much has been achieved. Production has simply hovered between 1 million bpd and 1.25 bpd in recent months.

The country continues to lose over 400,000 bpd to underproduction on a daily basis.

In what appears to be a prolonged lack of capacity to tackle the problem by the security forces, the federal government through the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC), last year contracted local security groups, including the one led by a former Niger Delta militant, Government Ekpemupolo, also known as Tompolo.

But aside Nigeria, which managed to increase production, Iran which is exempt from OPEC cuts and its exports have seen its volume rise in 2023 despite United

States sanctions, although views differ as to the exact scale. The overall development, some analysts say, is adding to OPEC+'s challenge in managing the market.

Output from the 10 OPEC members that are subject to OPEC+ supply cut agreements edged lower by 10,000 bpd, the survey found. Saudi Arabia and other Gulf members maintained strong compliance with agreed cutbacks and extra voluntary reductions.

Top exporter Saudi Arabia kept August output within a whisker of 9 million bpd, the survey found, as the country extended a voluntary 1 million bpd output cut for a second month to provide extra support for the market.

Iranian oil output hit 3.10 million bpd in August, being the highest since 2018, the year Washington re-imposed sanctions on Iran, according to the Reuters survey and separate figures from OPEC Analysts have said the higher exports appear to be the result of Iran's success in evading US sanctions and Washington's discretion in enforcing them as the two countries seek better relations.

Meanwhile, six months after becoming the Chief Executive at Shell Plc, Wael Sawan quietly

ended the world’s biggest corporate plan to develop carbon offsets, the environmental projects designed to counteract the warming effects of CO2 emissions.

In an all-day investor event in June, Sawan had laid out an updated strategy for the European oil major that included cutting costs and doubling down on profit drivers like oil and gas.

As important was what he omitted: any mention of the company’s prior commitment to spend up to $100 million a year to build a pipeline of carbon credits, part of the firm’s promise to zero out its emissions by 2050, Bloomberg reported Thursday.

Those goals for the offsets programme have been retired, the company confirmed, along with the plan to harvest a whopping 120 million carbon credits annually by the end of the decade from projects that sequester carbon with trees, grasses or other natural resources, many of which Shell would develop itself.

That would have accounted for about 10 per cent of the company’s emissions. It hasn’t made public any new targets for developing offsets or specified how it now plans to deliver on its future climate commitments.

The pullback reflects both

Sawan’s renewed commitment to the oil and gas business that generates most of Shell’s profits, and an admission that the prior goals were simply unattainable.

It's a newly damning indictment of offsets, which have become an important if controversial “ climate solution” for most big companies, it said.

Bloomberg New Energy Finance estimates the voluntary carbon market, which today totals around $2 billion today, could grow as high as $950 billion by 2037.

Flora Ji, a 17-year Shell veteran, has run the company’s “naturebased solutions” operations since 2021. In an interview before Sawan scrapped the official, 120 million-offsets-per-year target, she said everyone knew it was a big number.

Meanwhile, the carbon market hadn’t expanded rapidly enough to meet rising demand, she said.

“It didn't have that kind of huge, exponential growth we expected,” Ji said.

Ji declined to respond to further questions after Sawan announced the company’s new direction.

Nigeria, which earns over 90 per cent of its foreign exchange front oil exports has pledged to hit net zero by 2060. It’s unclear how it intends to achieve that.

TINUBU SEEKS THE BIG STICK AGAINST COUPISTS, BIYA, KAGAME RESHUFFLE MILITARY HIERARCHIES Tchiani launched the coup that ousted President Mohamed Bazoum, and had since detained him and his family on July 26.

Guinean Colonel Doumbouya, then a 41-year-old and former French legionnaire and commander of the country’s elite Special Forces Group shot his way to power in September 2021.

On August 18, 2020, a young group of officers in Mali's armed forces led

by Colonel Assimi Goïta, staged a coup d'état, arresting the beleaguered President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita and Prime Minister Boubou Cisse. He was head, the Malian special forces before staging the coup that brought him to power.

In January 2022, Burkina Faso's army ousted President Roch Kabore, blaming him for failing to contain violence by Islamist militants.

Coup leader Lieutenant Colonel Paul-Henri Damiba pledged to restore security, but attacks worsened, eroding morale in the armed forces that led to a second coup in September 2022, when current junta leader, Captain Ibrahim Traore seized power.

Chad's army took power in April 2021, after President Idriss Deby was killed on the battlefield while visiting troops fighting rebels in the north.

Under Chadian law, the speaker of parliament should have become president. But a military council

stepped in and dissolved parliament in the name of ensuring stability.

Deby's son, General Mahamat Idriss Deby, was named interim president and tasked with overseeing an 18-month transition to elections.

Tinubu's advice, however, came on the hills of Wednesday’s putsch in the Central African nation of Gabon, which ousted President Ali Bongo Ondimba, also known as Ali Bongo, barely one month after the overthrow of Niger’s President Mohamed Bazoum in a coup.

But Tinubu has reassured those intervening in the political crisis in Niger Republic that military action would be the last option by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), after all diplomatic options had been exhausted.

Speaking when he received the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), led by the Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, at State House, Abuja, the president, in a statement by his media adviser, Ajuri Ngelale, noted that the alternative to kinetic intervention in Niger Republic had not been jettisoned.

The president, who said ECOWAS was still working on all opportunities for dialogue, therefore charged NSCIA to sustain talks with the Niger junta in collective interest.

The president’s comments came

as the military authorities in Niger Republic revoked the diplomatic immunity of the French ambassador to the country, Sylvain Itte, and ordered the police to evict him.

But, in a seeming pushback, the French authorities declared that the junta lacked the authority to evict the ambassador, alleging that it was an illegitimate government.

However, in obvious reaction to the spreading coup in Africa, two sit-tight rulers on the continent – President Paul Biya of Cameroon and Paul Kagame of Rwanda – determined to sustain their political hegemony, yesterday, commenced the reshuffling of the military hierarchy in their countries in a bid to prevent any putsch.

Similarly, in a strong warning to Nigeria's military personnel, the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 81 Division, Nigerian Army, Maj-Gen. Mohammed Usman, yesterday, maintained that the officers and men must remain loyal to Tinubu, or leave the service.

But former Vice President and presidential candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the February 25 presidential election, Atiku Abubakar, and a former senator, Shehu Sani, yesterday, differed on the coup in Gabon. While Atiku called for a quick return to democratic and constitutional rule in Gabon, Sani, who described the development

as a patriotic intervention, said the people should be allowed to determine their fate.

A civil rights activist, Aisha Yesufu, also said when results of elections were manipulated and the people were denied their right to vote, military rule became an alternative.

Reiterating his position on the Niger impasse, Tinubu said, "Nobody is interested in a war. We have seen the devastation in Ukraine and Sudan.

But if we don’t wield the big stick, we will all suffer the consequences together."

Tinubu insisted that any forceful removal of a democratic government remained “wholly unacceptable.”

He told the NSCIA delegation that, “I must thank you for your several visits to Niger Republic, Your Eminence, but you will still have to go back. My fear has been confirmed in Gabon that copy cats will start doing the same thing until it is stopped. We are neighbours with Niger Republic, and what has joined Nigerians together with their great people cannot be broken.

The president noted that Nigeria, under General Abdulsalami Abubakar, instituted a nine-month transition programme in 1998, and it proved very successful, leading the country into a new era of democratic governance.

Continued on page 18

CBN ALERTS BANKS ON ARREST OF NIGERIAN, OTHERS OVER SEIZURE OF FAKE $1BN BOUND FOR AFRICA or economic resources for the persons involved.

The banks were further requested to identify and file suspicious transactions reports to the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) and render NIL reports to the unit where no such records exist.

The CBN also directed the banks to comply with the directive immediately.

The arrested persons were identified as Dele Bolade Samson Babaola, who holds both Nigerian and Swedish citizenship.

Others were Kean Kwasi Arhin from Ghana; Netanel Jacob Weiss, from the United Kingdom; BO Nils Olof Forsanker and Peter Willi Herbert Schick both from

Sweden.

The central bank has stepped up its vigilance against money laundering activities to further protect the financial system.

On July 6, the CBN urged banks and other financial institutions (OFIs) to be vigilant and alert to possible emerging risks resulting from the circumvention of measures taken to protect the international financial system.

The central bank in an administrative circular issued following the outcome of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) plenary held between June 21-23, 2023, had further alerted the banks on the addition of Cameroon, Croatia, and Vietnam to the list

of jurisdictions under increased monitoring by FATF. The apex bank further stressed that the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea, Iran, and Myanmar remained on the list of high-risk jurisdictions subject to “Call for Action”, urging that enhanced due diligence should be applied, and in severe cases, countermeasures may need to be implemented to safeguard the international financial system.

The bank had emphasised that the suspension of the Russian Federation’s membership in the FATF remained in effect.

In light of the development, the central bank had further directed financial institutions to note all

additions to jurisdictions under “Increased Monitoring” as well as high-risk jurisdictions subject to a “Call for Action” and take necessary measures to mitigate these risks effectively.

The FATF is the global money laundering and terrorist financing watchdog that sets international standards that aim to prevent illegal activities and the harm they cause to society.

THISDAY however, gathered that the jurisdictions under increased monitoring are actively working with the FATF to address strategic deficiencies in their regimes to counter money laundering, terrorist financing, and proliferation financing.

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

NSCIA VISITS TINUBU...

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Vice President Senator Kashim Shettima, the Sultan of Sokoto Alhaji Sa’aad Abubakar and Members of Nigeria Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs at the State House Abuja yesterday

GODWIN OMOIGUI

Tinubu to NESG: My Support for PublicPrivate Sector Collaboration Unwavering Promises to implement his eight-point agenda in three years Stresses no excuse for non-performance by anyone in his government

Deji Elumoye in Abuja President Bola Tinubu, yesterday, reemphasised his support for a robust public-private sector partnership to grow the economy, saying his administration’s sustained, bold and coordinated

reforms are anchored on "strong adherence to accountability and transparency".

Tinubu spoke at State House, Abuja, when he received in audience members of the board and management of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG).

He reiterated his resolve to fully implement the eight priority reform areas under the “Renewed Hope Agenda” within the next three years.

Tinubu, according to a statement issued by his media adviser, Ajuri Ngelale, noted that Nigeria was

blessed with rich human and natural resources, in addition to opportunities, which could quickly be leveraged. He called for urgent harnessing of Nigeria's diversity for collective gain.

The president said, "We have gone through the past. I will not

UNCTAD Urges Nigeria, Others to Strengthen Property Rights, Legal Frameworks, Political Stability Insists it's Africa's moment to boost position in global supply chains, create jobs Ndubuisi Francis in Abuja The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) has called on Nigeria and other African countries to strengthen intellectual property rights, legal frameworks and political stability to attract more foreign investment.

UNCTAD is an inter-governmental organisation within the United Nations Secretariat that promotes the interests of developing countries in global trade.

The admonition was contained in UNCTAD’s Economic Development in Africa Report 2023, with the theme, "The Potential of Africa to Capture Technology-intensive Global Supply Chains."

The report examined the continent’s potential to become a major participant in global supply chains for high-technology sectors like automobiles, mobile telephones, renewable energy and health care, with a verdict that this is Africa's moment to bolster its position in global supply chains, strengthen its emerging industries and create millions of jobs.

According to the report, recent disruptions due to trade turbulence, economic uncertainty, a global pandemic and geopolitical events have compelled manufacturers worldwide to diversify their production locations and geographical footprint.

These developments, the agency noted, presented opportunities for African governments and businesses to position the continent as the new destination for global supply chains.

"It has an abundance of critical minerals needed for high-tech and green products and is home

to a young, tech-savvy population, an adaptable workforce and a burgeoning middle class.

"The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) also offers advantages by easing access to regional markets and strengthening production chains across the continent, helping domestic industries become more prepared for the global arena.

"This is Africa's moment to bolster its position in global supply chains, strengthen its emerging industries and create millions of jobs," the report said.

According to the UNCTAD report, with the world’s youngest and fastestgrowing population (about 60 per cent of Africans under the age of 25), the continent was emerging as a magnet for consumer markets and products, making it an attractive destination for supply chains.

"Another comparative advantage is Africa's vast reserves of critical minerals – including aluminum, cobalt, copper, lithium and manganese – needed for high-tech and green products like smartphones and solar panels.

"Expanding energy supply chains into Africa is also an opportunity to accelerate climate action. The continent has at least a fifth of the world’s reserves in a dozen metals critical for the energy transition – including about 19 per cent of those needed for electric cars.

"As the global push for cleaner energy intensifies, demand for such metals will soar – an electric car, for example, needs about six times more minerals than a traditional vehicle.

"Besides providing direct access to the raw materials, African economies can help manufacturers

shorten and simplify supply chains and cut transportation costs by locally processing the metals into intermediate products, such as batteries or screens.

"Africa also offers opportunities to green supply chains by tapping the continent’s green hydrogen potential and renewable energy resources, particularly solar.

"To seize these comparative advantages, African countries need to enhance productivity through technology adoption, improve logistics and leverage trade agreements.

"Investments in the continent’s infrastructure, including ports, roads and rail, have lagged, contributing to delays that discourage businesses from sourcing products from African

countries.

"Initiatives like the continental Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa and SouthSouth partnerships such as the Silk Road Economic Belt initiative could help upgrade the region’s infrastructure “Some African countries, led by South Africa, Morocco, Algeria and Egypt, manufacture automobiles while most (about 84%) supply raw and semi-raw materials.

"Untapped potential lies in producing non-automotive grade components, such as batteries and lamps, which are less technologyintensive than parts like motors," the report said, adding that opportunities also abound in mobile telephone supply chains.”

look back. The focus of my horse and my race remains forwardlooking. We have an abundance of knowledge and untapped mineral resources, and an agricultural sector that is God-given, but we tend to shy away from taking those gigantic steps that will result in prosperity for our people.

“We are not exploiting our diversity for prosperity, we are at each other’s throats, arguing about unnecessary things, instead of thinking and doing for our people."

The president noted that he was elected on a "no excuses" platform for renewed hope and that he would not accept excuses from anyone in his government as they set out to deliver on his agenda.

According to him, "Looking backwards is retrogressive for any reformer. Looking forward can give you the leaps that will propel you in the right direction.

“We need think tanks in the agricultural sector. I don’t see why Nigeria will be so blessed with good soil and not have a commodity exchange. I don’t see why we have not been able to interrogate our real estate sector and propel it.

"I don’t see why we have not used consumer credit to build the purchasing power of our people and the capacity of our very own manufacturing sector."

While commending NESG for believing in the reforms of his administration, Tinubu said the "bitter pill" must be administered to an ailing nation and economy to build a better future for the country.

He stated, "I am here and I believe we can do it together.

No single person succeeds alone.

The world is dynamic. We are confronted with climate change and other challenges, but somewhere in the eye of the storm, there is a quiet and peaceful corner for those who can toil well. With patience and determination, we will succeed."

Earlier, Chairman of NESG, Mr. Olaniyi Yusuf, welcomed the economic reforms announced by the Tinubu administration, specifically with respect to fuel subsidy removal, foreign exchange harmonisation, food security, and palliatives to sub-national governments.

Yusuf pledged that NESG would work with the newly inaugurated cabinet to achieve the eight-point agenda of the administration.

"Your track record in the effective implementation of bold economic reforms as the governor of Lagos leaves those of us in the private sector without doubt that you will achieve much greater feats as our nation's president," the NESG chairman told Tinubu.

FG to Cover 15 Million Households under Conditional Cash Transfer, Says Betta Edu Kuni Tyessi in Abuja

The federal government is set to cover no fewer than 15 million households under its updated social safety net project, tagged Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT). Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Betta Edu, made this known when she met the World Bank Country Director, Mr. Shubham Chaudhuri, at the multilateral institution's headquarters in Abuja.

Edu expressed gratitude to the World bank Country Director for the continuous

support extended to Nigeria, especially in the areas of education, health, agriculture, private sector development, and social services.

She reminded the World Bank team of the “Renewed Hope” agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, that led to the renaming the ministry as Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, to directly focus on the people and lift them out of poverty.

The minister said, "The flexibility of World Bank to accommodate the re-focused agenda of the ministry to eliminate poverty is a welcome

development.

"The ministry is preparing to host the Humanitarian Dialogue as well as creation of the Renewed Hope Humanitarian and Poverty Alleviation Trust Fund (HPATF).

"The trust fund is expected to come from Federal Government budgetary provision and allocation, development partners, the international community, taxes, private sector contribution, among others.

"The ministry needs the support of the World Bank to verify and expand the National Social Register (NSR) and offer your technical support in order

to work with the ministry to achieve Mr. President’s target."

In his response, Chaudhuri pledged to provide all the needed support to the new minister to deliver on the new focus of the ministry.

He stated, "The proposed disbursement of $800 million for the Social Safety Nets Project will commence soonest.

"We will support the verification and scaling up of the National Social Register, provide technical support in the preparation of the ministry to attend UNGA and give specialised backing for the establishment of the trust fund."

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COURTESY VISIT TO MR GOVERNOR...

L-R: Comptroller, Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) Lagos Command, Mr Bala Aliyu Dangana presents a souvenir to Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, during a courtesy visit to the governor, at the Lagos House, Marina... yesterday

Abbas: Abuse of Tax Incentives, Waivers Are Economic Sabotage Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Tajudeen Abbas has described the abuse of tax incentives and waivers as acts of economic sabotage.

The Speaker who decried the abuse of tax incentives, tax breaks, and tax waivers by public institutions and companies noted that it must not be allowed to continue.

Abbas stated this yesterday, while inaugurating the Ad-hoc Committee

Naval Dockyard, DESL Seal Deal for Construction of 4000MT LPG Coastal Transportation Carrier Barge $20m project to be first in Africa To create jobs for 16000 Nigerians annually Peter Uzoho In a bid to close the infrastructure gap hindering domestic gas utilisation in Nigeria, the Naval Dockyard Limited and Dateline Energy Services Limited (DESL), an indigenous Nigerian exploration and production company, yesterday signed off an agreement for the construction of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) Coastal Transportation Carrier Barge.

The 3.5 metres shallow draft vessel, with a 4000- metric tons product intake capacity, was expected to be the first of such facility in Nigeria and the entire Africa and was also planned to significantly help Nigeria reduce the movement of LPG trucks on the roads.

Being constructed by the Naval Dockyard, which is the project contractor, at an estimated cost of $20 million with 14 months completion period, DESL said the project would create about 16,000 jobs annually for the first phase and up to 20,000 jobs in the next phases.

Speaking at the official project kick-off and agreement signing ceremony held at the Naval Dockyard in Lagos, the Chief Executive Officer of DESL, Mr. Wilson Opuwei, said the project was initiated to bridge the disconnect between producing companies and the challenges they face around evacuating their products for both exports and domestic market.

He said the scope of gas to be

conveyed by the company's fleet of barges would include LPG, Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) and Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), adding that DESL was keying into the Autogas policy of the federal government, which was designed to encourage Nigerians to shift to gas as a cleaner alternative energy source.

Opuwei, explained that the project was a virtual pipeline solution that had immense benefit for not only the oil companies but the country, considering the values associated with the novel facility.

He said, "With the challenges faced by producing companies in the area of evacuating their product, we thought we could come in there and do something that will be novel because hitherto, byproducts of gas conveyed and distributed in Nigeria up to this point was mainly for export.

"And we realised that because of the gap between the small producers and the smaller units, that we need to convey and take those products to not only the bigger vessels as it were, who will take for exports.

“We thought that we also need to fulfill domestic market obligation by providing this virtual pipeline solution to the movement of gas resources.

"Now, our design is a concept between ourself -Dateline Energy, and the Naval Dockyard, which we wanted to put out there as first of its kind in Nigeria and first of its kind in Africa. It's a novel concept, a sui generis concept that we are developing".

mandated to investigate the abuse of tax incentives.

The Speaker, who was represented by the House Leader, Prof. Julius Ihonvbare, explained that tax incentives were essential tool used by governments to promote economic growth, attract investments, and stimulate job creation.

Abbas, stressed that it was crucial to ensure that these incentives offered by the government are utilised appropriately and not being misused or abused.

To this end, he said the Green Chamber's resolve to investigate the act was to put an end to such acts of economic sabotage, ensure transparency, accountability and fairness in the country's tax system.

The Speaker stated: "The allegations that have been brought

to the attention of the House suggest that some public institutions and companies may be taking advantage of these incentives for personal gain or to evade their tax obligations.

Hence the establishment of this committee."

He noted that in carrying out this investigation, the Committee was required to thoroughly investigate these allegations and provide recommendations for necessary sanctions and reforms.

Abbas also urged the committee to find out whether the beneficiaries of these tax incentives have lived up to the conditions attached to them and if they have fulfilled their obligations to the Nigerian people as required.

He said the mandate of the committee was to examine the extent of the alleged abuse by

public institutions and organisations, review relevant legislation, policies, and regulations governing these incentives to identify any loopholes or weaknesses that may have contributed to the alleged abuse.

The Speaker noted: "The purpose of this investigation is to end all forms of economic sabotage and ensure transparency, accountability, and fairness in our tax system."

Earlier, the Chairman of the Ad hoc Committee, Hon. Abubakari Yalleman, said taxes enable the government to raise the necessary funds needed for development.

The lawmaker said while tax incentives are granted to encourage businesses to stand well and be strong enough to contribute to the economy, it abuses create distortions in fiscal and monetary policy management.

He was of the opinion that abuse of tax incentives by the supposed beneficiaries and the statutory institutions meant to regulate the tax regime could push the government into fiscal constraints.

Yalleman noted: "Where taxes are inadequate, where there are leakages or where infractions of the system lead to narrowing of tax inflow, the government resorts to borrowings which have attendant consequences for national development.

"As Nigeria experiences dwindling oil revenue and public debt approaches prohibitive levels amidst allegations of abuse of tax incentives, there is the need to know the scope of tax incentives and the possible existence of abuses to enable proper administration of the tax breaks, waivers and incentives."

FG-backed Energy Summit Seeks Solutions to Nigeria’s Gas-to-power Challenges NMDPRA: Appropriate pricing still major challenge Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja Stakeholders have raised concerns over the issue of appropriate gas pricing vis-à-vis the current inability to meet gas demand to Nigeria’s power assets, which has hobbled electricity supply in the country.

While pledging to exhaustively seek solutions to the prolonged issues at the upcoming ‘Nigeria Energy Exhibition and Conference’, endorsed by the Federal Ministry of Power, the sector players stated that the missing link between gas and power must be looked into.

Speaking at a pre-conference event organised by Informa Markets in Abuja, the Director, Legal Services, Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Dr. Joseph Tolorunse, stressed that Nigeria must henceforth face the problem head-on.

“First, is the appropriate gas pricing...we talk about export parity price, which is the price that the International Oil Companies (IOCs)

export our gas, especially Nigeria LNG, and the West African gas pipeline.

“The IOCs want to export their gas because they get more revenue from it. And so, the regulators have said they can, but that a certain volume should be dedicated to the domestic market. You have to look at the demand locally.

“But they (IOCs) will tell you that there's no infrastructure to move the gas. Another one is the domestic pricing, because the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) provided the principles for determining the price for domestic market.

“One, the domestic price to the power industry is supposed to be the lowest. Then we have the commercial sector, the gas-based industries that are using gas as feedstock. In fixing this price, up till now, it has not been announced for this year,” he noted.

However, Tolorunse explained that he was aware that consultations were ongoing to be able to arrive at an appropriate gas pricing, noting that

the challenge was affecting liquidity in the sector as gas sellers and buyers had continued to complain.

Also speaking, the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, represented by the Director, Investment and Sector Development in the ministry, Evangeline Babalola, said the event remained a huge platform for critical stakeholders to explore issues in the energy industry.

“The Federal Ministry of Power has for several years supported the efforts of Informa Markets to attract more investors into the sector. Informa Markets has been on the frontline of partnering with the ministry to promote and host investors in the Nigerian power sector.

“This government will continue to foster these kinds of robust partnerships between the public and private sectors to enhance our nation’s economic and social growth,” Adelabu stated.

In view of the recently enacted Electricity Act 2023, Adelabu stressed that he was convinced that the

conference will provide a veritable platform to discuss the prevailing challenges.

Besides, he stated that Nigeria’s energy sector has huge investment potential, in view of the required energy supply that is commensurate with the country’s population, noting that the extant law has opened new frontiers for the provision of power as well as encouraging collaboration between the public and private sectors.

In his remarks, Exhibition Director, Nigeria Energy, Ade Yesufu, said it was necessary that stakeholders across the energy sector connect to discuss the next steps to actualise the goal of implementing the new Act. Marking its 10th year anniversary, the Nigeria Energy Exhibition and Conference with theme, “Unlocking New Value with Reforms, Investments and Technology,” he said, would bring together government, private sector, and investors to find solutions to West Africa’s electricity problems.

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WORKS MINISTER VISITS ABIODUN...

L-R: Director of Works for South West; Engr. Adedamola Kuti; Minister of Works; Engr. Dave Umahi, Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun; Secretary to the Ogun State Government, Tokunbo Talabi and the Special Adviser, Works and Infrastructure; Engr. Ade Akinsanya during the visit of the Minister of Works to the Governor in his office ...yesterday

Housing Fund Probe: House Threatens to Subpoena Banks’CEOs Juliet Akoje in Abuja The House of Representatives ad hoc committee investigating the non-remittance to the National Housing Fund (NHF) and utilisation of funds from 2011 to date, yesterday, warned that banks’ chief executive officers who failed to honour its invitation risked being subpoenaed.

Consequently, the Committee gave the defaulting banks Thursday next week, to appear with all the required information.

The Committee further insisted that the Accountant General of the Federation (AGF), Dr. Oluwatoyin Madein, and the acting Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Folashidun Shonubi must appear in person same Thursday.

Hon. Dachung Musa Bagos, who is the Chairman of the Ad-hoc Committee frowned at the attitude of CEOs who always pretend to travel out of the country whenever they were invited to give evidence to the parliament.

According to him, in as much as the committee would want to give fair hearing to every stakeholder, it would not hesitate to invoke provisions of the law

against anyone that attempts to undermine its authority or sabotage the investigation.

"We will not tolerate a situation whereby CEOs shy away from coming up to give evidence. Each time all the CEOs claim they have travelled abroad.

“We insist on having the Accountant General of the Federation and the acting governor of the CBN appear before this Honourable committee unfailingly next Thursday at 11am. We are not going to entertain their representatives."

The Director, Banking Supervision, CBN, Mr. Haruna Mustapha, who represented the CBN governor was turned back.

The lawmakers further rejected taking any evidence from the Director of IPPIS, Mr. Emma Deko, who represented the AGF, insisting that she must appear in person.

Bagos noted that, "Today, we invited all the banks, but only CBN, UBA, Zenith, FMBN, Heritage and Sterling Bank appeared. We'll not take it lightly with the absentee banks any longer. They must appear next Thursday."

However, the committee accepted the presentation from

NCAA Grounds Xejet Air Operations over Discrepancy, Unverified Insurance Cover Chinedu Eze The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has grounded the operations of Xejet Air and revoked its Air Operator’s Certificate (AOC) as well as the airline's Air Transpot Licence.

THISDAY learnt that the airline's AOC was revoked for allegedly presenting unverified insurance cover.

On discovery of the insurance cover, NCAA reacted by grounding the airlines operations.

The grounding of the airline was contained in a letter addressed and sent to the Accountable Manager of the airline and signed by the Director General, Civil Aviation, DGCA, Captain Musa Nuhu.

The letter stated that the regulatory authority could not verify from the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) the airline’s Certificate of Insurance with No. 40122093300118-228 in respect of its Embraer 145, Reg No (5N-BZM) with Serial No. 14500842. It indicated that the agency was unable to confirm

the authenticity of the insurance documents and that the documents did not emanate from Consolidated Hallmark Insurance as presented to the Authority.

To this end, the NCAA Director General said, "The Authority is investigating the matter and hereby suspends your Air Transport Licence (ATL) with licence No. NCAA/ ATRI/ATK153 and Air Operator Certificate (AOC) with certificate No XEJET/AOC/01-22/001 for safety considerations and public interest in accordance with Section 59 (7) of the Civil Aviation Act with immediate effect pending the conclusion of our investigation.”

THISDAY learnt that the letter of suspension of the airline was copied to the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development; the Executive Chairman, of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Managing Director Nigerian Airspace Management Agency.

Xejet Air, a premium charter service carrier, is a start-up airline which started service over a year ago.

UBA, which was presented by Mr. Eke Ogba, regional head; that of Heritage Bank, presented by regional head, Abuja, Mr.

Oniko Daniel; and that of Zenith Bank presented by DGM Carl Akwarandu. They were asked to further submit details of their

investments in the NHF when their CEOs appeared Yesterday.

Also present were representatives of the gateway

payment: Remita, e-Tranzact and NIP. However, they were asked to go and come with their CEOs on Thursday.

Uzodimma to Doctors: Consider National Interest, Patriotism, above Migration Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State has appealed to medical doctors in Nigeria to consider national interest and patriotism above the desire to migrate overseas in search of green pastures.

The Governor told a gathering of doctors under the auspices of Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) holding their National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Owerri, the Imo State capital, yesterday, that God created them for the purpose of saving lives and appealed to them not to gloss over that important role God assigned to them.

The theme of the conference titled, “Healthcare System in A Depressed Economy,” was delivered by Dr. Anthony Mba, Consultant Physician/ Pharmacologist, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu.

According to a statement, the Governor in his remarks told the NMA leadership to consider national interest and patriotism to discourage their members from moving outside the country to practice, but rather remain in the country to help save Nigerian citizens who wholly depend on them for healthcare and survival.

Speaking as the Special Guest of Honour, the governor appealed to the doctors to also consider the current economic situation of the country and partner with the federal and state governments to improve the existing healthcare system instead of abandoning the country for other countries, noting that, "the only country we can proudly call our own is Nigeria."

The governor congratulated the doctors for their choice of Imo State for their meeting and thanked the leadership for the medical outreach they carried out in Nkwerre area

of the State.

Uzodimma, reminded the doctors that by going to Imo for their meeting, they have seen things for themselves, including the security situation, which he said had been largely given a wrong interpretation by political opponents to tarnish the image of the government.

"Your going to Nkwerre for the programme and coming back safely is a pointer to the fact that peace has returned to Imo State and the insinuation that Imo State is the insecurity headquarters of the world is not true," he added.

FG to Partner Security Agencies to Stamp Out Illegal Mining Empowers 30 in jewelry making Folalumi Alaran in Abuja The federal government through the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development has reaffirmed its commitment to eradicate illegal mining through cooperation with security agencies.

The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Mr. Dele Alake, made this known yesterday, in Abuja, while giving his keynote address at the graduation event and distribution of starter kits to participants of the third phase of the jewelry-making training.

This training initiative which empowered 30 persons was conducted by the Ministry in partnership with the World Bank

Assisted Mindiver Project.

Alake, stated that the menace of illegal mining that had eroded and deprived the country of substantial revenue would be nipped in the bud under the political will and firmness of the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

While hinting on strategic measures that would be deployed, which included effective collaboration with the security agencies, the Minister affirmed that it would no longer be business as usual barring the identity of whoever was involved in the economic crime.

The Minister noted that Nigerians have no business

going abroad to buy jewelry which was why the ministry engaged 30 trainees on jewelry making and design in view of its large potential to contribute immensely to the jewelry-making global market.

He said: ''The solid minerals sector is now the focal point of generating revenue for the country, it is now the next petroleum of Nigeria.

He said: ''It is a known fact that Nigeria with its large population has a huge potential for jewelry and it is imperative to create a local jewelry industry that would substantially meet local demand for jewelry products, increase

import substitution, create jobs and boost the export value of Nigeria's gemstones and jewelry.”

He added, “It is my belief that the Jewelry industry when fully harnessed could contribute significantly to national economic growth by creating massive job opportunities.”

Speaking, the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Mary Ogbe, represented by the Director, Human Resource Management Department in the Ministry, Mohammed Suleiman, commended the Minister for his support in enabling the completion of the empowerment project within his short time in the ministry.

Civil Cooperation Helping to Reduce Farmer, Herder’s Clashes, Says Military George Okoh in Makurdi The farmers and herders’ clashes in Benue and other states in the North Central zone had been significantly reduced as a result of the relationship between civilians and and the military, the authorities have said.

Force Commander of Operations Whirl Stroke (OPWS), Major General Sunday Igbinomwanhia, who disclose this, said the use of civil-military cooperation had helped OPWS to succeed in reducing the clashes between farmers and herders in Benue,

Nasarawa and Taraba States borders.

Igbinomwanhia made the disclosure on Wednesday, during a stakeholders’ meeting, which had in attendance delegates from Benue, Nasarawa and Taraba states, organised by the OPWS. He further disclosed that the security situation between farmers and herders had improved drastically, as against what was experienced in 2017, due to the concerted efforts of OPWS through the use of kinetic and non-kinetic means.

“This has greatly helped in

reducing killings, as well as criminality and has restored normalcy. The mandate of the operation is to put to an end to the incessant killings of innocent citizens by armed robbers, bandits, armed herdsmen, militia groups and other criminal elements in the catchment areas,” he said.

The force commander, however, assured the people that the military would continue to review its tactics, techniques and procedures, in order to always come up with implementable strategies to defeat adversaries.

In his presentation, the Benue

State Chairman of All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Mr Aondongu Saaku, said both crop and animal farmers needed peace, lamenting that the continued clashes between the two was threatening food security.

On her part, a member of the Civil Society Organisation (CSO), Dr Victoria Daaor, noted that dialogue was the best option to broker peace between farmers and herders, and therefore, commended OPWS for the initiative, stressing that it was the right way to go if peace was to be achieved.

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CIBMA PROFESSIONAL GRADUATION...

L-R: Member of the Awardees, Chartered Institute of Business Managers and Administrations, (CIBMA), USA, Engr. Suleiman Idris; Member, CIBMA, Capt., Umar-Mustapha Yunusa; Director, Business Development, CIBMA, ENOCK REUBEN Dr. Ibrahim Simon; CIBMA member, Dr. Kingsley Ogbonnaya and Awardee, Dr. Akeru Derek, during the graduation of Professional Doctorate to the members by CBMA in Abuja ,,, yesterday

Subsidy: Labour, FG Talks Break Down, NLC Strategises on Way Forward Falana to politicians: Don't provoke Nigerians to mutiny Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja The dialogue between the federal government and organised labour over ways to cushion the impact of economic hardship imposed on workers by the removal of fuel subsidy appears to have hit a dead end.

THISDAY gathered that the labour leaders were not happy that the federal government failed to come up with any tangible proposal on palliatives despite the expiration of the August 19 deadline.

A reliable source within the leadership of the labour movement told THISDAY yesterday, that federal government seemed to have abandoned its negotiation with labour over palliatives.

It said following the inability of the federal government to sustain meaningful dialogue with the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), the two labour centres have decided to meet with their organs on the way forward.

To this end, the NLC has convened its National Executive Council Meeting Thursday evening, to decide on measures to take to compel government to review the fuel price.

A top labour leader confided in THISDAY that the Congress may push for total reversal to the pre-Tinubu administration's pump price of petrol.

Before going for the NEC meeting yesterday, the NLC held a

Edo Property Corporation Constructs 1000 Housing Units Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City Edo State Development and Property Corperation (ESDPC) yesterday, disclosed that it has constructed a total of 1000 Housing Units in conjunction with private developers in the state, as part of efforts to bridge the housing deficit.

Addressing a press conference, Managing Director of the corporation, John Zedomi, during the unveiling of ESDPC logo and tour of Golf Mews Project in Benin City, the state capital, said the corporation having evolved from the Bendel State Development and Property Authority was poised to provide the best housing services to both the rich and low income earners.

He said though, "Funding is one of the biggest challenges we are facing, the Godwin Obasekiled administration has devised a means of delivering by partnering with the private sector, which have provided about 1000 housing units from 2017 till date.

"In 2018, there was a significant shift in the mode of engagement when the Edo State Development and Property Agency law was enacted. The 2018 EDPA Law gave the agency more room to engage and collaborate with private sector investors and developers and structured the agency to operate more autonomously without political interference. “This was to

realign the operations of the agency with the thrust of the Godwin Obaseki-led administration, which had positioned itself as an enabler and facilitator of development.

"In enacting the ESDPC 2022 Law, the organisational structure was altered aside from the name change to strengthen its leadership and management, stating the calibre of human resources to occupy these positions. Other aspects of the old law were amended to strengthen the legal and financial autonomy of the organisation to enhance its private sector-facing nature.

“Therefore, the EDSPC’s activities are now treated as a business devoid of bureaucracy.

This change reflects our renewed focus on fostering economic growth and sustainable development and actively engaging in and promoting responsible property development across the State.

"I am delighted to share updates on the ongoing initiatives shaping Edo State's future. Our Corporation has been diligently working on several key projects that have the potential to transform our communities and enhance the quality of life for our citizens."

Zedomi further noted: "The Emotan Garden City has 147 housing units is currently at the roofing level and up for sale. We recently handed over the sites to four real estate developers to develop over 700 housing units.

symposium in Abuja, on the crisis of survival under the current economic situation in Nigeria.

Civil rights activist and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mr. Femi Falana, who was one of the guest speakers at the symposium, warned against dangers of foisting on the masses policies that only enriches the few wealthy Nigerians to detriment of the poor, saying such policies can provoke mutiny.

Speaking on the state of affairs in Nigeria especially the disparity between the resources appropriated by members of the National Assembly and the portion proposed as palliatives for impoverished masses, Falana said: "Distinguished Senators should not provoke Nigerians to mutiny.

With some of the things going on there, we are in trouble. N70 billion was packaged for 469 people in the National Assembly and we raised alarm, they said it was for giving facelift to the National Assembly building and N40 billion was equally proposed to buy choice cars for the leadership of the National Assembly."

Falana further said the latest provocative news from the National Assembly was that another N54 billion was allocated to 360 member of the House of Representatives' as constituency project under the austere conditions in the country.

He said Nigerians were being provoked anytime the humongous figures were announced.

"Nigerians are being provoked, enemies of democracy are being provoked and the military were

honest to say that they were under pressure to dismantle this rickety political system but somebody told them to go and deny it and they denied it.”

Falana further said: "Any government that cannot secure national resources has no business being in office."

According to him, it was those in government that were behind most of the looting taking place, adding that unbridled looting of public resources had led to reckless borrowing by the government.

Falana said Nigeria's oil production capacity has not dropped but was only being scooped by corrupt government officials through their agents "Any government that did what the Tinubu administration did to hike the price of fuel with such a tumultuous amount does not deserve to be called a government," he said.

He said under the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari, federal government took some policy decisions that favoured the rich and their business interests.

While speaking on recent military takeover in some African countries, Falana said: Democracy is under threat in Africa. There no apologies about it. I can't predict with some mathematical precision that the next country very close to our country will experience military coup if care is not taken.”

He said both the president of Cameroon and the ousted president of Gabon were suffering serious

health challenges, but yet refused to quit the stage for younger elements.

According to Falana most of the sit-tight leaders in Africa have bastardised democracy and greatly impoverished their people.

"Yet none of the African leaders have ever told these old men to resign so that a more functional person can take over the affairs of their country,” he stressed.

With specific reference to the ousted President Ali Bongo of Gabon, Falana said the man and his father both led the oil-rich country for over four decades.

Falana summed his postulation to say that the immediate causes of coups in African was the sit-tight syndrome, manipulation of the constitution, establishment of military bases in Africa by foreign powers.

He said the military were often forced to protest where their foreign soldiers were being paid huge salaries while the local ones received peanuts. Added to these, Falana said was “rudderless exploitation of our resource endowment by foreign powers and looting of the treasury in connivance with local corrupt leaders.”

Speaking at the event, NLC President Joe Ajaero described the threat by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory FCT, Mr. Nyesom Wike, to embark on demolition of illegal structures in the city as rather too harsh, considering that those that would worst hit are mainly the poor and down masses.

"The new attack by Wike to drive the poor out of Abuja, it's a

war where they tell you that you build in a place that is not part of the master plan, the master plan is only known to them.

"The NLC is saying that those structures are not illegal, those structures should be made legal unless there is alternative to them.

"There is no area they map out, either quarter plot or half plot for the poor to build in Abuja and when the poor manage to get small shelter, it's been demolished on daily basis.

It is a war against the poor.

"The number of people that Adolf Hitler killed under a gas chambers will be a child play for people that will die because of shock over demolition", Ajaero said.

An Economist and former General Secretary of the NLC, Mr. Peter OzoEson, faulted the recent statistics by the NBS on unemployment, saying it lacked depth and did not reflect the reality on ground.

He said that any barometer used in measuring unemployment statistics in Nigeria should be elastic.

He said it was not only the industrial sector that had collapsed but also the agricultural sector has collapsed as well.

Also a Public analyst, Dr. Sam Amadi, said there was nothing significantly bad with subsidy but that what was flawed about it was that it was inefficiently distributed by government.

Another guest speaker, Dr. Mojeed Dahiru, said no amount of palliative could be substitute to subsidy, adding that even America still offers subsidy in certain sectors.

Edo LG Election: No Restriction of Movement, Says Obaseki Calls for peaceful conduct, massive turnout CP Dankwara assures of security, safety Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has said there would not be a restriction of movement for Edo State Local Government Area (LGA) elections scheduled for Saturday, September 2, 2023, assuring commuters transiting through the state of safe passage.

Obaseki disclosed this while briefing journalists after the State Security Council meeting held at the Government House, in Benin City, the Edo State capital.

The governor, who assured Edo people of adequate security during

the election, urged voters to come out en masse to cast their ballots for their preferred candidates. He noted that the State would be very peaceful as all security agencies are on ground to protect the electorates.

According to him: “We reviewed the security situation, beginning with the forthcoming September 2nd local government election in Edo State. The local government election will be held on Saturday and one unique thing about the election is that movement is not restricted.

“People will be allowed to go about their normal activities after

voting. Movement within the State and commuters going through the State will not be restricted.

“The security must be high.

That is why we have met with the various security agencies to look at their readiness and preparation for the election.

“From the level of mobilisation, we have seen what is happening across the parties and believe that there is quite a considerable level of sensitisation. People will come out to vote. My advice is that as they come out to vote, they should do it peacefully. Election is not war.

“Enough preparation has been

made to secure the people so that they can go to the polling unit, vote and go home. If they need to come back and wait for the votes to be counted and the election declared, they can also do so, but it must be peaceful.”

The Edo State Commissioner of Police, Muhammad Dankwara, said security agencies were prepared and ready for the local government election.

“We are prepared for the election and we are all on the same page with our sister security agencies and surely the election will be very peaceful.”

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KEYAMO ON DUTY TOUR… L-R: Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr. Emmanuel Neribole; Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr. Festus Keyamo; Managing Director, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria FAAN), Mr. Kabir Mohammed; Director, Commercial Business Development, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria FAAN), Mr. Olumuyiwa Femi-Pearse and others, during the visit of the Aviation Minister to Murtala Muhammed Airport, Ikeja…yesterday.

KOLAWOLE ALLI.

Keyamo Orders Relocation of All Flight Operations From Old to New Int'l Terminal in Lagos Suspends Nigeria Air project, airport concession Directs airlines to remove abandoned aircraft from MMIA in three months

Chinedu Eze The Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo has given the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) October 1, 2023, to relocate all flight operations to the new international terminal at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos and vacate the old terminal for rehabilitation.

He also directed that the on-going process to have a national carrier should be suspended as well as the concession of the terminals of major airports in the country.

The Minister gave the order yesterday, during a facility tour of the nation’s busiest airport, when he had physical examination of the airport infrastructure, from the General Aviation Terminal to the airside, the runways, the international terminals, including cargo terminals.

Keyamo, who appreciated the state-of-the-art facilities at the new terminal, which was part of the terminals built with Chinese loans with counterpart funding from the federal government, regretted that the terminal was grossly underutilised and that the old terminal had become decrepit, smelly, outmoded and therefore, needed urgent rehabilitation.

“We should move and use the new terminal, that is all I have said. The new terminal that is underutilised, we spent a lot of money building it and we have to use it. The old terminal is a total eye-sore.

“Since I came into office, I have heard complaints upon complaints.

The central air condition is not working, the carousels are not working, they broke down quite often and the approach into the airport is smelly, it is totally unwelcoming to

people coming into Nigeria and that is the gateway to Nigeria.

“So, I have given a directive that we should completely shut it down and use the new terminal that can also take the traffic. Now what was the problem? The problem with the new terminal was that they did not take into consideration the big airplanes that will come in and anchor with the avio-bridges that will take passengers into arrival.

“The space is not enough, and I have said that why the space is not enough is because there are private hangars there that cannot allow the planes to come in and that is why we are not enjoying our new terminal.

“And the question I have asked is, why did somebody approve such a project? Why will somebody approve such a project without approving the total reconstruction of the place where the big body planes will

anchor and disembark passengers So, as a stop gap measure, we have said, just like it is done in so many countries, we are going to get buses, do some emergency procurement so that we can, in an orderly manner, board passengers and disembark passengers and also bring them to arrival and through departure to the aircraft. That is what we want to do for now as a temporary measure,” he said.

The Minister further explained that the reason why the old terminal should be vacated was to create opportunity for the complete rehabilitation of the facility, which has served Nigeria since 1979, when it was inaugurated for international service.

“Why did I say we should shut down the old terminal for now?

Because you cannot even carry out major repair work in it while it is

in use and that is what has been the problem over the years because you cannot shut it down for total overhaul, they do things that are so tokenistic.

“Even for those who are fighting over concession now, how can they even carry out repairs even if they win the concession? So please, let us get it clear, we have not ordered any closure of anywhere, we just want to use the new terminal and find a new way by which we can board passengers and of course disembark passengers for processing. That is what we are doing,” Keyamo said.

The Minister also ordered that airlines that parked their unserviceable aircraft at the General Aviation Terminal of the Lagos airport should remove them with a three-month deadline.

“We are here where they call the grave yard. This is where they keep unserviceable planes and they

have been here for so many years, as I was told.

“I also understand that several of them went to court and the case ended one way or the other. So, the first directive I am giving now is that I have told the Managing Director of FAAN that all of these aircraft here, that are totally unserviceable cannot be parked here perpetually on the facility of the federal government.

“We want to expand the apron here and so they will have three months to remove them. For all those who have unserviceable aircraft here, we are giving them three months to come and take away their aircraft, after which we shall be at liberty to do away with the ones not possessed.

“They should come and remove all their aircraft here or we will dispose of them. This is our facility and they are hampering development here,” the Minister said.

Folalumi Alaran in Abuja

“So far, the prevalence level of trachoma stands at 84 per cent.

When we started we had about 38 million persons that were at risk of going blind, but It's been reduced significantly to about 3.7 million, so you can see the progress the program has made.

“We started the program in 2002 and the partners started the work and the federal government took over from them and it is still being supported by the partners and a lot has gone into this project.

“The active form of the disease, which is Trachomatous Follicles (TF), as well as the blinding stage which is Trachomatous Trichiasis (TT).

Some states will be given awards today for those who have reached elimination for TT. “Ebonyi, Edo, Bauchi, Adamawa, Kano, Katsina are states that have reached lots of progress. We are looking at WASH as well; without WASH we can't do much, because medicine alone cannot do the magic, we promote behavioral change, it's always very difficult to change.” he said.

On his part, Global Trachoma Mapping Epidemiologist at Sightsavers, Prof. Caleb Mpyet, noted significant progress in various states with regards to the SAFE strategy (Surgery, Antibiotics, Facial cleanliness, and Environmental improvements) for trachoma elimination.

Councillors Suspend Ogun LG Chairman FG: Trachoma Prevalence Dropped over Alleged Financial Maladministration from 84% to 3.7% in Nigeria Assembly summons accountant-general, JAAC members over alleged diversion of LGs fund James Sowole in Abeokuta The Legislative Council of Ijebu East Local Government area of Ogun State, has suspended the Council Chairman, Mr. Wale Adedayo, for a period of three months over what it described as “financial maladministration.”

The Councillors, in a letter titled, "Financial Maladministration of Hon. Wale Adedayo as Chairman of Ijebu East Local Government, Ogbere, Ijebu,” stated that the Council legislators had received several allegations against Adedayo The letter suspending the chairman was signed by the Leader of the House, Hon. Fasheyi Akindele Adesuji and six other Councillors.

While directing Adedayo to hand over all the council property in his care to the council's Vice Chairman, the Councillors noted that the three months suspension would enable them carry out necessary investigation of the suspended chairman.

Some of the allegations levelled against Adedayo included that the Chairman withdrew N4 million from the local government account for empowerment in 2022, but no empowerment was done till date; alleged wastage of N2 million on August 20, 2022, on Isese festival;

N250,000 duty tour allowance for the Chairman and other top functionaries in June 2023 and another N250,000 duty tour allowance for the Chairman and other top officials engagement.

Other allegations were that the Chairman purportedly spent N426,000 on production of report on 2020 'Jigbo' festival in Ijebu East, among others.

"Entertainment and other logistics expenses during the commissioning of Legislative Building of N350,000 on 18th of April 2023. Another entertainment on the same commissioning of the legislative building of N295,000 same day, 18th of April 2023.

"The second N8.2 million sent from phase 2 of the project (tables and the chairs for schools), 20 (twenty) chairs were made with N8.2 million.

Another N20 million sent from state is nowhere to be found.

"Another N15 million sent from the state went same way without any project to show for it. Award of two boreholes at a scandalous price of N1.8 million each, totaling N3.6 million for just two boreholes, in August 2023.

“While he collects N3 million monthly as security votes, he has held on to the N300,000 monthly security vote of the Vice Chairman for about five months. He has

refused to pay up, despite several interventions and meetings on the issue by the ALGON Executives, led

by Hon. Tunde Emiola Gazal and inability to account for over N2.5 million left in the project Account of the council by the previous administration for the completion of a school at Kajola, Ogbere, and the school still remain uncompleted till date."

Adedayo, was also accused of illegal tax collection from Ijebu East Okada riders and drivers via what he called "levy" without the approval of the Legislative Council, which they termed double taxation of the people of ljebu East.

The letter read, "having received the above allegations, there is need for thorough investigation by the House. The House therefore resolved as follows: That the Chairman steps aside for the proper conduct of investigations.

"The Council Chairman, Hon. Wale Adedayo, is hereby suspended for three months pending the conclusion of the investigations and therefore directed to handover all the properties of the Council in his possession to the Vice Chairman, who will act as the Chairman during the suspension of the Chairman as provided in the 1999 Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).

"The Council Chairman is directed to appear before the House on the next sitting of the House on Thursday, September 14, 2023.”

Meanwhile, Ogun House of Assembly yesterday, summoned the State Accountant - General and also all members of the Joint Account Allocation Committee (JAAC) to appear before the House over issues regarding local government funds in the state.

Speaker of the House, Hon. Olakunle Oluomo, issued the invitation during plenary in Abeokuta.

Oluomo, noted that the reason for the invitation was for thorough explanation to the House on what was happening at the local government level so that the people of the state could be fully briefed.

He noted that the meeting would afford the House of Assembly the opportunity to know what was happening and thereafter take necessary action.

"We have the power to investigate what's happening in our state and then do the needful. But I want to appeal to those that are concern to please let's maintain law, peace and order in our various places particularly in Ijebu East local government where I heard that protest are going on.

The federal government has disclosed the reduction in the prevalence of trachoma in Nigeria, following efforts of donor partners and civil society organisation (CSOs).

The Director of the National Trachoma Elimination Program (NTEP), Federal Ministry of Health, Dr. Nicholas Olobio, stated this at the quarterly review meeting on Trachoma in Abuja, yesterday.

He said trachoma prevalence rate in Nigeria significantly decreased from a staggering 84 per cent to a remarkable 3.7 per cent, reflecting a reduction in the number of individuals at risk of blindness from 38 million to 3.7 million.

Olobio, observed that the achievement served as evidence of the combined endeavors, commitment from the federal government, implementing partners, and CSOs. He added that they diligently worked together to curb the spread of the disease through the successful trachoma elimination program, which led to the accomplishment.

He explained: “The World Health Organisation (WHO) roadmap is for us to eliminate the NDTs, trachoma inclusive by 2030, but for us in Nigeria we have made so much progress in trachoma and we are looking at 2027 to eliminate trachoma in Nigeria.

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T H I S D AY • FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2023

NEWS

NIGERIAN BAR ASSOCIATION 2023 GENERAL CONFERENCE...

L-R: CEO Airpeace Limited, Allen Onyema; CEO Optiva Capital Partners, Jane Kimemia-Nechi; SAN, President Nigerian Bar Association Yakubu Maikyau; Women in Management and Business, Hansatu Adegbite; SAN, Human Rights Activist, Femi Falana; Assistant Publicity Secretary of NBA, Charles Ajiboye; during the Nigerian Bar Association 2023 General Conference in Abuja ... recently KINGSLEY ADEBOYE

CSO: Why Votes Must Count in Bayelsa, Kogi, Imo Guber Elections Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja A coalition of civil society organisations registered by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) have said the idea of introducing technology into the electoral process was to check thuggery and ballot box snatching.

The CSOs said they had observed that INEC did not display or publish for public scrutiny the voters register in the Local Government Areas, political wards and registration area across the three states of Bayelsa, Kogi and Imo, in in line the provisions of Section 19 (1) of the Electoral Act (2022).

The election observation groups

included Intercontinental Leadership Initiative, Christian Empowerment and Development Initiative, Centre for Strategy Ethics and Value, Centre for Social Value and Early Child Development, Initiative for Civic Obligation and Sustainable Peace and Grassroot Initiative for Promotion of Peace, Love, Unity and Ethics.

Others were - Water Light Initiative, Citizens Right for Peace and Non-violence Initiative, Centre for Strategic and Conflict Resolution and Centre for Positive Change and Civil Responsibility.

Addressing a press conference in Abuja, Coordinator of the coalition,

Mr. Stafford Bisong, said the only way to make election credible was by ensuring that the vote of the people count.

Bisong, who spoke on behalf other members of the coalition said the introduction of Bimodal Voter Accreditation (BVAS) helped to discourage politicians and their agents from engaging in do or die politics by perpetrating violence during elections.

"It is against this background that we "Saving Our Votes" a coalition of INEC registered civil society Organisations have taken time to scrutinise the voters register in the

aforementioned states to see, observe and discover for ourselves the state of affairs and level of preparation of INEC to deliver credible elections in those three states in November, 2023.”

He said the CSOs have observed that INEC did not display or publish for public scrutiny the voters register in the Local Government Areas, political wards and registration area across the three states of Bayelsa, Kogi and Imo in in line the provisions of Section 19 (1) of the Electoral Act (2022).

The coalition listed their major concerns ahead of the November 2023 election in Bayelsa, Kogi and Imo to include the integrity or otherwise of

the voter's register to be used for the election, conduct of security agencies and logistics arrangement put in place

by INEC to overcome the challenges of peculiar riverine terrine in these states.

They further said INEC should find solutions to challenges that affect the seamless process for efficient deployment of the BVAS machines.

In addition, the CSOs canvassed for judicial reforms and a review of the powers of the Election Petition Tribunal and courts pre and post elections.

According to Bisong, sanitising the judiciary would largely reduce

the number of upturned and re-run elections emanating from the influence of politicians.

"We want use this opportunity to commend INEC on the notable gains in our electioneering process while asking for more deliberate improvements.

"We use this opportunity to challenge the government of the President Bola Tinubu to demonstrate his commitment to leaving behind a legacy of credible election in Nigeria in line with the 2022 Electoral Act which is meant to bring sanity to our electioneering process," he said

There is no room for soldiers that are not loyal to constituted authority. If you are not going to be loyal, then, leave, go and do other work. But the armed forces cannot stand it if you are not loyal."

Usman maintained that soldiers must maintain "discipline, loyalty and top professionalism. We are bearing arms so that other people can sleep and go about their normal activities.

"You also have to be hardworking.

If you go on any course, make sure you do your best and be among the best. Once you have all these, you will grow in this job."

On the challenges confronting personnel, he said, "While we are looking at the challenges and how to solve them, you have to be disciplined soldiers; you have to be loyal."

of military takeovers in Central and West Africa to eight since 2020. This is worrisome and calls for introspection.

We may have to focus on dealing with the disease and not the symptoms that birth coups."

But the former senator for Kaduna Central, Sani, said what happened in Gabon was not a coup.

He urged the African Union and the United Nations to allow the new government in Gabon to restore dignity and true democracy in that country.

Sani described the events in the Central African country as a conscious and patriotic intervention for the liberation of the Gabonese people, and urged that the people should be allowed to determine their future.

Sani wrote on his X (formerly Twitter handle), “What happened in Gabon is not a coup d’état as usual, but a conscious and patriotic intervention to liberate the Gabonese people after half a century of dictatorship and slavery by one family.

"I call on all Africans, and in particular, the African Union and the United Nations, to give the new government the opportunity to restore dignity and true democracy in Gabon.

Let the Gabonese people determine their future.”

In her contribution, Yesufu said the situation in Gabon was a testimony that democracy would continue to be at risk until people learn not to differentiate between political and military coups.

Yesufu, in a post shared on her X account, said when results of elections were tampered and the people were denied their right to democratic choice, then military rule became an alternative.

She stated that African leaders made military coups attractive to the people when they were denied free, fair and credible elections.

COUPS: IF WE DON’T WIELD THE BIG STICK, WE’LL ALL SUFFER CONSEQUENCES, TINUBU WARNS He added that he saw no reason why such could not be replicated in Niger, if Niger's military authorities were sincere.

The president told the group led by the sultan, "Your Eminence, please, don’t get tired, you will still go back there. The soldiers’ action is unacceptable. The earlier they make positive adjustments, the quicker we will dial back the sanctions to alleviate the sufferings we are seeing in Niger."

Commenting on the post-fuel subsidy removal hardship faced by many Nigerians, Tinubu assured that ongoing reforms would liberate and reposition the economy. He said these would benefit the majority of the population in terms of opportunities, infrastructure, healthcare, and education.

According to him, “Nigeria is headed for a promise. Our diversity will turn into prosperity, not adversity.

We will build a country that our children will be proud of.”

The president added that the federal government had opened talks with state governments to provide land for the proper sustenance of animals with a view to developing pan-national animal husbandry and agro-allied production and processing facilities for mass export, job creation, and revenue generation.

He said, “If Nigeria is still looking for vaccines for basic health issues; if infant and maternal mortality is rampant, then we should examine ourselves. I will commit to consulting with other leaders, like the NSCIA, and we will meet the needs of our people."

Vice President Kashim Shettima told the meeting that the president had budgeted N50 billion to support the ongoing rebuilding of lives and property in the North-west and North-east, and with a new focus on dialogue to address security challenges.

On his part, Sultan of Sokoto pledged “one hundred per cent loyalty" to the president, affirming that a leader can only reach any position by the will of God, and not man.

He assured the president that NSCIA would be available to advise and support him to realise his dream for the country, adding, “God will hold all leaders to account, in justice and fairness."

The sultan suggested that the distribution of palliatives across the country should be monitored and augmented, where it failed to reach some of the people in dire need.

“I honestly believe we will come out of the challenges stronger," he said.

Minister of Information and National Orientation, Muhammed Idris, told newsmen after the meeting that the president had been insistent on a speedy resolution of the crisis in Niger Republic so as to prevent the sort of situation in Gabon.

Idris said, "The president always says that there should be engagement and it is precisely for the reason of Gabon that he has asked that the issue of Niger be resolved. If we don’t nip it in the bud, as they say, Gabon and things like that could continue to happen.

"He is a democrat, he believes that changes can only come through constitutional means. Therefore, he has asked the Ulamas to continue to engage and to tell everybody in the world to respect constitutional order."

Secretary-General of NSCIA, Professor Is-haq Oloyede, also told journalists that the body voiced its own idea before the president on how it thought the various challenges being experienced across the country could be managed.

Oloyede stated, "The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, under the leadership of His Eminence, the Sultan of Sokoto, and the President-General, is here to pay

a courtesy call on Mr President, to appreciate him for the nation and to also advise him as to what the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs feels should be done to make sure that he continues to rule with transparency, honesty, equity, to the benefit of all members of this great country of ours."

Biya, Kagame Reshuffle Military over Coup Scare Obviously reacting to the wave of coups in Africa, two sit-tight rulers in the continent – President Paul Biya of Cameroon and Paul Kagame of Rwanda – yesterday, commenced the reorganisation of the military hierarchy in their countries in a bid to prevent a putsch and sustain their political hegemony.

Presidential guards in Guinea Bissau, Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger and, most recently, Gabon, had sacked their democratically elected leaders within the last two years. The changes came as the new military junta in Gabon announced the overthrow of President Ali Bongo, whose family had ruled Gabon for 56 years.

Bongo had just been re-elected to a third term in office in the Central African nation. But the opposition denounced the election as marred by fraud.

The junta led by Oligui Nguema, a cousin to the deposed president and former head of the presidential guard, will be sworn in on Monday as the leader of the transitional government.

Bongo's father, the late President Omar Bongo, was at the helm of affairs in Gabon for 42 years.

Following the developments in Gabon, Biya, yesterday, made major changes to the country’s ministry of defence. He reshuffled the "delegate to the presidency in charge of defence, air force staff, navy and the police."

Biya has spent 41 years in power, having ascended the presidency in 1982. He is 90 years old. He has faced accusations of human rights violations and is presently battling separatist groups in the English speaking part of the country.

In a similar vein, Rwanda’s Kagame, who came to power in 2000, yesterday, approved the retirement of 83 senior military officers. In 2015, the country's constitution was changed to allow Kagame to remain in power until 2034.

A statement issued on X (formerly twitter), Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) said Kagame also approved the promotion and appointment of some officers to replace the retired personnel.

There were also reported meetings between Rwanda’s chief of defence staff, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) ambassador to Rwanda, and the defence attaché of Cameroon.

The trio discussed ways “to enhance defence cooperation between their respective countries.”

Nigerian Military Warns Its Men, Reiterates Loyalty to President Meanwhile, the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 81 Division, Nigerian Army, Maj Gen Mohammed Usman, warned disloyal soldiers to leave the army. Usman affirmed that military personnel must remain loyal to the president, Chief of Defence Staff, down to their brigade commanders.

He charged soldiers to be professional and exhibit total loyalty to constituted authority.

Addressing soldiers at the 35 Artillery Brigade, Alamala, Abeokuta, Ogun State, the GOC noted that there were some challenges, but said they were not peculiar to the brigade.

He stated, "You have to be loyal.

Atiku, Sani, Yesufu Differ on Coup in Gabon Presidential candidate of PDP in the last general election, Atiku Abubakar, and a former senator, Shehu Sani, yesterday, disagreed on the coup d’état in Gabon.

Atiku called for a quick return to constitutional rule in Gabon, but Sani described the latest developments in that country as a patriotic intervention to liberate the people.

In his X account (Tweeter Account), Atiku said, "The coup in Gabon stands condemned. Democracy and democratic governance have come to stay as a preferred form of government, and everything should be done to enthrone, nurture, and sustain it.

"As I suggested in the case of the Niger Republic, the ECOWAS and African Union authorities should open a window of diplomatic engagement that will pave the way for the soldiers to return to the barracks.

"The latest coup brings the number

T H I S D AY ˾ FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 1, 2023

19

POLITICS

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

Deplorable Roads: Kalu Proffers Alternative Solution Udora Orizu writes that the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, has come up with a novel path of addressing the deplorable state of the nation’s roads.

O

nAugust 21, 2023, at a grand reception held in Abuja in honour of Senator David Umahi as Minister of Works, the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, floated a novel idea to, among other things, consider Roads Investment Fund for infrastructural development.

The call however came on the heels of the present dire economic situation that has affected the nation’s cash flow.

Put succinctly, road infrastructure is very critical to the socio-economic development of any nation. No matter the level of development a country has attained, roads play an important role in the process.

However, there is no gainsaying that Nigerian roads considered the largest road network in West Africa are either poorly maintained or untarred. To this end, citizens have had horrifying experiences plying the roads. Worst is that many lives and valuables have been lost to unavoidable accidents as well as crimes that regularly occur on these roads due to their deplorable state.

Unfortunately, the issue of bad roads has remained largely unresolved and has so, festered.

Last year, at the presidential inauguration of the Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project in Abuja, the World Bank’s Country Director, Shubham Chaudhuri, stated that even with the current scale-up being done by the government and its partners, Nigeria was still far away from what it needed to achieve functional rural roads.

He said: “Even with the current scale-up, we are not going to near what Nigeria needs to achieve functional rural roads. We have about 200,000km of rural roads all over Nigeria, of which 87 per cent are in bad condition. That means only about 40,000km are usable. So, if you think about tackling that problem at scale, it brings it to the issue of fiscal affordability.”

But while the situation persists, the National Assembly for decades has not also rested on its oars as it has continued to search for strategic approaches to help the federal government to tackle Nigeria’s road challenges.

It is noteworthy that the Federal Emergency Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA), which is supposed to maintain the roads, is grossly underfunded.

In the Ninth Assembly, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on FERMA, Senator Gershom Bassey, stated that the agency had a budgetary approval of just 20% of the funds it needed for the rehabilitation of about 35,000km of federal roads in 2022.

It will be recalled that a few years back, the former Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, told the House of Representatives that they are relying on the Presidential Infrastructure Fund, Road Infrastructure Development and Refurbishment Investment Tax Credit Scheme, the Sovereign Sukuk Fund, Multilateral Loans for some strategic road projects which have been scheduled for completion between 2021 to 2023.

In order to identify and appropriately address the challenges, the House of Representatives Committee on Works of the 8th Assembly chaired by Hon. Toby Okechukwu, inaugurated a multi-stakeholder technical panel, which comprised representatives of 27 agencies/ organisations that have something to do with nation’s roads.

After public hearings, elaborate consultations and understudying of the best practices in other climes, the panel recommended a paradigm shift in road governance and funding.

This perennial issue of bad roads and poor funding for their repair and maintenance necessitated the Deputy Speaker of the 10th House of Representatives to call on the new Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, to consider using roads investment fund for the development of infrastructure.

Likening the fund to that of Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA), Kalu said it will help the ministry raise fund in the light of the

economic challenges to achieve its mandate.

The Deputy Speaker also urged Umahi to prioritize a clear road map for infrastructure projects according to the economic needs of the people.

He said: “Let me remind you that you applied a collaborative strategy as the governor of Ebonyi State by working closely with your House of Assembly for you to achieve a lot. The importance of collaborative approach between you and our office in the National Assembly cannot be overemphasized because it is going to help us achieve these infrastructure goals.

“I want to assure you that the National Assembly under the leadership of both the Senate President and the House Speaker will give you all the support that is needed to make sure that this is achieved. We are promising that it’s important to begin to look at other areas. We heard people mention here that you might be struggling with funds given what the nation is going through at the moment, we need to think about roads investment fund, that the office of the ministry of works should think about roads investment fund.

“We will like to see you dedicating road

investment fund that is similar to the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA). And this infrastructure fund will help to bridge the gap. I want to emphasize that it will give a stable fund for your operation because these ideas you are bringing on board, if the funds are not there, you may not be able to achieve them. So, it’s important that your offices thinks in that direction. We are suggesting the importance of developing a clear road map for infrastructure project prioritisation based on needs, economic impact and feasibility.

“This is one of the things that you will bring on board to the federal level like you did in Ebonyi State. This will ensure that resources are rotated efficiently and projects are completed in time and within budget. Maintenance and sustainability is one of the approaches you used when you were governor and so, we are suggesting that this is a significant proactive approached towards ensuring that in the next four years whatever you bring on board will be sustained”.

Kalu also pledged the support of the National Assembly at all times to ensure efficient delivery.

“FERMA needs you visiting it in a way different from how it’s been operated before now in regards to maintenance of our roads.

Public private partnership is an area we are looking at at the national assembly that you consider you explore the potentials in this public private partnership that will help us achieve more.

“You used community engagement when you were governor. We are also encouraging you to ensure that what will be provided for the community is what they need. Monitoring and Evaluation is what you carried out in Ebonyi State. Please, bring it on board here so that efficiently, our job will be easier by the time we come on board to oversight you, knowing that you have done a good job.

Let me remind you that you are one of the exports from the south east to the nation.

-Orizu is Media Assistant to Deputy Speaker of 10th House of Representatives

Transforming Osun State for a Sustainable Future Bamikole Omishore writes that Governor Ademola Adeleke is poised to make Osun State a better place to live in following his recent experience during a visit to Kigali, the Rwandan capital, for a leadership retreat.

E

ffective governance has proven to be an essential phenomenon in today’s world. This is the reason the journey of transformation started by the government in Osun State draws a striking parallel with the remarkable progress witnessed in Kigali, Rwanda.

I was privileged to accompany Governor Ademola Adeleke on a leadership retreat to Kigali, Rwanda, and he was no doubt impressed by the level of orderliness and organization right from the airport.

As the airport gates opened in Kigali, it was impossible not to notice the seamless order and organization that guided the process. This experience sets the stage for lessons that will shape the basis of learning for Osun State.

The hallmark of Kigali’s transformation is not merely its infrastructural advancements but the leadership mindset that propelled it forward. Rwanda’s leaders dared to dream big, inspiring unity and a shared vision of growth.

In a similar vein, Adeleke has committed himself to leading by example in Osun State. From improved healthcare services to enhanced education initiatives, the Governor is already sowing the seeds of positive change.

And this is only the beginning.

One cannot help but be impressed by the lush greenery that envelopes Kigali. The city’s commitment to climate sustainability is a testament to responsible governance. It is heartening to note that just a few days ago,

Adeleke pledged to plant over 100,000 trees in Osun State. This will not only help to beautify the state, but also help to combat climate change.

Besides, this isn’t just an environmental gesture; it’s a solid commitment to a healthier, greener future for the good people of our state.

To further catalyze growth, Adeleke recognizes the importance of fostering an environment that nurtures innovation. According to Adeleke during the visit, “We are taking steps to improve the ease of doing business in Osun, ensuring that startups with groundbreaking ideas have the support they need to flourish.

These startups hold the potential to address

local challenges with fresh solutions, driving not just economic progress, but social betterment as well.

“To encourage start-ups that will address local problems in Osun State, I have identified five steps that we need to take to improve the ease of doing business. These steps include: Simplifying the process of registering a business in Osun State, providing access to funding for start-ups, creating a conducive environment for businesses to thrive, providing training and mentorship for budding entrepreneurs and encouraging collaboration between businesses and the government,” the Governor said.

Furthermore, the governor’s aspirations don’t only stop at the state’s borders. By initiating a culture of peer review and challenge, it is hoped, the visit will spark a nationwide revolution in leadership, starting with his counterparts that also undertook the trip.

“Just as Rwanda’s success story inspired me, I believe that our commitment to change will inspire the other governors across Nigeria.

Together, we can set the stage for a new era of cooperative governance that transcends political boundaries,” Adeleke said.

-Omishore is Special Adviser on Sustainable Development Goals and Multilateral Relations to Osun State Governor NOTE: Interested readers should continue in the online edition on www.thisdaylive.com

T H I S D AY

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FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 1, 2023

IKENNA AGU urges the opposition to follow the path of honour JOSHUA J. OMOJUWA canvasses the ‘Waziri Adio model’ – know your job

HOW TO GET STARTED IN GOVERNMENT Last week, in reply to an X/Twitter user who posted about not seeing “any press briefing” by the Minister of Education, I said: “There is nothing to brief the press about in your first week. He should instead be getting briefed by different people involved with the ministry. Except we prefer ‘activity’ to doing real work.” The user insisted there was a lot to brief the press about and took a direct shot at me by telling me not to “normalize giving excuses for these people.” That accusation could not have held against me because only the day before, my THISDAY article was about the need for the newly appointed ministers to stop focusing on the aesthetics of portraits and other

such distractions and get to work. This piece isn’t about the ease with which debates deviate from issues to direct and personal attacks though.

Today is about what really happens when people are appointed to public office.

Even though I have never been appointed to public office, I have always been a believer in learning from other people’s experiences whilst maximising the lessons from mine. It is why I have a lifetime commitment to books and explains my willingness to listen to people who are involved with things I am interested in. I have read a good number of public service memoirs but my preferred model for what to do when you get appointed into public office is what I call the “Waziri Adio Model”. Waziri Adio served as the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) between 2016 and 2021 and wrote about his time in office in his book, The Arc of the Possible: A Memoir. I am therefore confident enough to imagine an aggregate scenario when a person gets appointed.

The aftermath of the announcement is likely to be chaotic. Your phones and social media platforms – especially if you are so unfortunate as to be on X – are buzzing and you quickly lose control over your personal messaging process.

The calls are relentless, and you can’t take most of them because they are on ‘call waiting’ anyway. By the same token, there are people you must make time to respond to. Your home and previous office become a mecca of sorts for “well-wishers” and even your family members are not spared the invasion. Welcome to chaos!

The bedlam is only a foretaste of what is to come. When you discover that you have no job description or template, may undergo inadequate or no induction or orientation, and sometimes, might even have no office and other official paraphernalia, the euphoria of the appointment quickly dissipates and reality sets in.

Depending on how you see it, the situation is an empty canvas awaiting the creating of something

beautiful or an escalation of the madness. This is where the application of the Waziri Adio Model becomes useful.

The first lesson I took is the admonition not to get sucked into populism and grandstanding.

Journalists will ask tough and tricky questions; it is their job. You may not be able to say much in the early days but a commitment to say more when you get better acquainted with work will be useful. It is important to note that Adio is a renowned journalist who had been Director of Communications of NEITI before being appointed ES. Whilst he was not unfamiliar with the workings of NEITI, he was also quite aware of what he did not know.

Adio understood that being the CEO required him to know about the innermost workings of the organisation, intimately. He was not in a position to accommodate gaps in his knowledge of NEITI, so he took about two months simply receiving briefings and attending/hosting important meetings. I believe if one did this as a minister the tweets querying one’s competence would be swift and scathing. This is no one’s fault. Politics thrives in activity—not so much as getting anything done as it is about being seen to be doing something, or pretending to.

Knowing your job and being aware that you know your job is something that confers a great amount of confidence; the sort of confidence that bestows a realisation that you do not need to dance at the circus for praise. No matter how well you know your job though, you are always going to be better served by asking questions.

That apart, you must identify your prospective allies early and then seek them out. As for the ‘activity’, do not shy away from showcasing your accomplishments when it is time to. Public service is not where you want to ‘just do my thing quietly’.

Get things done, and equally as important, show what you are getting done. Never assume that people will see what you are up to. People are generally distracted, and only pay attention to you by default when you do something bad or something bad happens to you. It is called negativity bias. This is not wickedness; it is just the nature of humans.

In the end, you must craft a SMART (Specific, Measurable Achievable, Relevant and TimeBound) plan of action to inform your decisions and actions. To create an effective plan, you must know what the current situation is and how you can realistically and meaningfully push the needle in the time you have. With a plan of action, you know per time whether you are advancing or lagging. It is also a useful tool for determining whether you are more involved in the ceremonies of the office than the work itself.

When time is up, you are less likely to feel like you missed a chance to make change happen.

Like those who came, left and are only left with explanations after their time in office.

Abraham Lincoln said, “If I had eight hours to chop down a tree, I’d spend the first sex sharpening my axe”. This speaks to planning and preparing for the task ahead. It also speaks to the effective allocation of an essential resource, time.

Evolve your own model. However, whatever you do, don’t get swept in the wave of power.

Omojuwa is chief strategist Alpha Reach/ author, Digital Wealth Book

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(OLMDK 6$1 DOVR VDLG 6HQDWRU 7DÀGD DQG *RYHUQRU 1DVLUX ,GULV WKDW WKH VXESRHQDHG ZLWQHVVHV· GRFXPHQWV .DXUDQ *ZDQGX WR SLORW WKH DͿDLUV RI VXFK WHQGHUHG KDYH VKRZQ WKDW WHVWLPRQLDO LVVXHG VWDWH ,W ZLOO EH ZLVH IRU WKH RSSRVLWLRQ WR WKH GHSXW\ JRYHUQRU DQG PRFNV UHVXOW ZHUH SDUW\ WR IROORZ WKH SDWK RI KRQRXU DQG SURSHUO\ LVVXHG SOD\ WKH SROLWLFV RI RSSRVLWLRQ ZLWKRXW 7KH RSSRVLWLRQ SDUW\ DOVR FODLPHG WKDW D WDUQLVKLQJ WKH LPDJH RI SHRSOH FODVVPDWH RI WKH 'HSXW\ *RYHUQRU $PLQXOODK 8PDU FDPH WR WKH WULEXQDO DQG WHVWLÀHG Agu DJDLQVW KLP %XW LQ TXLFN UHDFWLRQ $PLQXOODK writes from Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State

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T H I S D AY

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 1, 2023

EDITORIAL

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

BETWEEN INSECURITY AND HUNGER Government must do more to secure the countryside

T

military personnel were ambushed and wantonly here is a worrying resurgence of murdered. During their interment last week in Abuja, criminality in largely ungoverned WKH &KLHI RI 'HIHQFH 6WDͿ *HQHUDO &KULVWRSKHU territories in the Northwest. Today, Musa pledged to bring the full security forces on the residents of about 23 local governments terrorists. across three neigbouring states of Sokoto, :KLOH ZH ZDLW WKH VHFXULW\ DJHQFLHV WR IXOÀO WKDW Zamfara and Kebbi reportedly are either pledge, the cost of the general insecurity, particularly ÁHHLQJ WKHLU FRPPXQLWLHV RU DUH LQFUHDVLQJO\ ÀQGLQJ LQ WKH QRUWK LV DGYHUVHO\ DͿHFWLQJ DJULFXOWXUDO LW GL΀FXOW WR OLYH QRUPDO OLYHV DV NLGQDSSLQJ FDWWOH production and cost of living. Staples such as beans and rustling, and banditry are on the rise. In many rural tomatoes have seen astronomical surge in prices, just communities like Isa, Sabon Birni, Gwadabawa, Illela, OLNH RQLRQV DQG FDVVDYD ÁRXU 6RPH VWDWHV ZKHUH IRRG Tangaza, and Goronyo in Sokoto State for instance, prices are going out of reach are ironically major foodresidents have been forced to abandon their villages producing belt in peace times. Sokoto, for instance, is and farms. Those who choose to stay are forced by a major producer of beans, cowpea, groundnut, garlic, bandits to pay levies to continue farming on their wheat, sugarcane, pepper, onions, and tomatoes, lands. while groundnut, sorghum, In Zamfara, sesame seed, maize, communities in 14 local potatoes, tomatoes, onions, councils have been The challenge is obvious. Insecurity in many of the rural communities and pepper are produced displaced as a result of extensively in Plateau State. has made it practically difficult for farmers to engage in agricultural criminal activities. But The United Nations these are mild when World Food Programme production optimally, thus affecting productivity and largely causing compared to Kebbi where (UNWFP) has warned more than 2500 lives have market disruptions with attendant food price shocks repeatedly that millions of been lost between 2019 Nigerians are at the risk of and 2023 due to security KXQJHU DV SULFHV RI IRRGVWXͿ T H I S D AY challenges. In a scenario reminiscent of the pre-Buhari skyrocket.

Statistics from the National Bureau of EDITOR SHAKA MOMODU administration in the northeast as a result of Boko DEPUTY EDITORS WALE OLALEYE, OBINNA CHIMA 6WDWLVWLFV UHYHDOHG WKH DQQXDO IRRG LQÁDWLRQ LQ 1LJHULD Haram insurgency, Secretary of Zuru Development MANAGING DIRECTOR ENIOLA BELLO surged to 20.6% in June 2022 from 19.5% in May, due to Foundation, Bamaiyi An’iko stated that many innocent DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR ISRAEL IWEGBU cost of such essential commodities as bread and cereals, people have been killed under the Zuru Emirate, CHAIRMAN EDITORIAL BOARD OLUSEGUN ADENIYI SRWDWRHV \DP PHDW DQG ÀVK 1LJHULD·V IRRG LQÁDWLRQ EDITOR NATION’S CAPITAL IYOBOSA UWUGIAREN stressing that some communities are under total increased to 24 per cent last July, a situation that perhaps THE OMBUDSMAN KAYODE KOMOLAFE control of the bandits. “There are a lot of internally necessitated President Bola Tinubu to declare a state displaced persons requiring urgent provision of relief of emergency on food security. Recent data compiled materials, including food and toiletries, clothes and by an international e-commerce organisation, Picodi, mats,” he noted. showed that the average Nigerian household spends The increasing spate of violence is not only stoking T H I S D AY N E W S PA P E R S L I M I T E D about 60 per cent of its income on food, the highest in EDITOR-IN-CHIEF/CHAIRMAN NDUKA OBAIGBENA unease in many rural communities, but it is also the world. In contrast, residents in the US, UK, Ireland, GROUP EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS ENIOLA BELLO, KAYODE KOMOLAFE, denying people access to schools, farms, and other ISRAEL IWEGBU, EMMANUEL EFENI Singapore spend less than 10 per cent. sources of legitimate livelihood. What is worse is that DIVISIONAL DIRECTORS SHAKA MOMODU, PETER IWEGBU, The challenge is obvious. Insecurity in many of the criminality is again spreading. In Kaduna, Plateau, ANTHONY OGEDENGBE UXUDO FRPPXQLWLHV KDV PDGH LW SUDFWLFDOO\ GL΀FXOW IRU Bauchi, Benue, and Niger States, bandits and terrorists DEPUTY DIVISIONAL DIRECTOR OJOGUN VICTOR DANBOYI farmers to engage in agricultural production optimally, are on the loose. In Niger, a state with extensive SNR. ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR ERIC OJEH WKXV DͿHFWLQJ SURGXFWLYLW\ DQG ODUJHO\ FDXVLQJ PDUNHW ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR PATRICK EIMIUHI ungoverned spaces, residents have been incessantly disruptions with attendant food price shocks. The terrorised with many council areas held to ransom by CONTROLLERS ABIMBOLA TAIWO, UCHENNA DIBIAGWU, NDUKA MOSERI DIRECTOR, PRINTING PRODUCTION CHUKS ONWUDINJO Tinubu administration has its job clearly cut out. ruthless criminals. A fortnight ago some two dozen TO SEND EMAIL: first name.surname@thisdaylive.com

"

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

LETTERS GOVERNOR FINTIRI AND SUBSIDY PALLIATIVE It appears that Governor Ahmadu Fintiri-led Adamawa State government has deployed two strategies in the implementation of the distribution of the fuel subsidy palliatives: the government strategies are both ‘systematic’ and ‘systemic’. Systematic to reach everyone in the state and strike a balance between the masses’ needs and wants.

While systemic in the sense that the impact will go beyond just the immediate short-term needs but will have a longterm impact on the state’s socioeconomic settings.

The arrival in the state of the 58-seater luxurious ‘palliative buses’ was a big surprise to many people, including those in the opposition. Within less than a week of the government’s pronouncement of its intention to procure the buses, the buses have arrived in the state capital.

This is commendable. And, it is also part of the ‘systemic approach’ we mentioned earlier; apart from providing FKHDS DͿRUGDEOH DQG FRPIRUWDEOH WUDQVSRUWDWLRQ WR WKH masses, the purchase of the buses by the Fintiri government from Innoson Vehicles Manufacturing (IVM) is a WUXH UHÁHFWLRQ RI WKH JRYHUQPHQW·V GHVLUH WR VXSSRUW WKH

ORFDO LQGXVWULHV ZKRVH PXOWLSOLHU HͿHFW FDQ HYHQ UHDFK the Adamawa people. Furthermore, the Innoson buses ZLOO DVVLVW ZRUNHUV LQ WKHLU GDLO\ WUDQVSRUW WR WKHLU R΀FHV pupils to their schools, and the movement of people from one point to another, including the ease of doing business in the state. Furthermore, the buses will greatly eliminate the hustling associated with the use of KEKE NAPE. One of the most important aspects of it is that the buses will greatly eliminate the insecurity that Shila Boys associate with the KEKE NAPEP; people will now freely and comfortably use the buses even at night without the fear of anything happening to them. In fact, urban planners have looked to public transportation to facilitate improvements in community health and well-being.

On August 23, 2023, the Adamawa State government inaugurated a 20-member Palliative Coordination and Distribution Committee, chaired by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Awwal Tukur, with the mandate to coordinate the transportation, monitor, and liaise with relevant stakeholders in the fair, just, and hitch-free dis-

tribution of food and non-food palliative items. The strategy is for the items to reach not only the ward levels but also the remote unit levels where the poorest of the poor are living. The truth is, Adamawa State is among the few states in Nigeria that have put in place short, medium, and long-term strategies in the implementation of the fuel subsidy palliatives. Strategies that will bring positive and feasible results devoid of politics or any other mundane consideration.

Many political pundits are of the view that Governor Fintiri is putting in place some political and policy stratHJLHV WR VHH WKDW KLV VHFRQG WHUP·V GD\V LQ R΀FH ZLOO be marked by the implementation and a showcase of people-oriented projects, policies, and programs—like the SURSRVHG QHZ Á\RYHU DW 0XEL URXQGDERXW UXUDO URDGV youth empowerment, and education and healthcare development.

Zayyad Muhammad, Abuja

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BUSINESSWORLD R A T E S MONEY MARKET

A S

REPO

A T

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

08056356325

A U G U S T

S & P INDEX

3 1 , 2 0 2 3

S & P INDEX

EXCHANGE RATE

OPR

11.25%

CALL

19.12%

INDEX LEVEL

611.31%

1/4 TO DATE

-0.07%

N795.28/ 1 US DOLLAR*

OVERNIGHT

11.50%

1-MONTH

16.25%

1-DAY

0.03%

YEAR TO DATE

0.48%

*AS AT MONDAY, JULY 24, 2023

3-MONTH

15.75%

MONTH-TO-DATE

-0.7%

Experts: Cost of Aircraft Maintenance Overseas May Jump from $2bn to $3bn in 2024

Chinedu Eze The total cost of aircraft maintenance by both scheduled operators and others currently cost about $2 billion per annum, but experts in the aviation industry have predicted that the cost may likely reach $3 billion annually in 2024.

This, the experts said, is because airlines are expected to increase their fleet to meet the new policy of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).

The MD/CEO of 7 Star Global Hangar Nigeria Limited, an aircraft maintenance outfit in Lagos, Isaac

Balami, who put the current cost of aircraft maintenance at $2 billion per annum, is of the view that the cost will likely increase by 2024.

Currently Nigeria does not have major aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facility, where comprehensive checks of airplanes can be conducted.

Although there exist, Aero MRO, 7 Star Global Hanger, and Overland Airways Maintenance Hangar facilities, including the Ibom Air aircraft maintenance facility, which is yet to be completed, Nigerian airlines still take majority of their fleet overseas because existing hangars in Nigeria do not have

capacity and cannot attend to many aircraft at the same time.

With the high cost and scarcity of forex, it is difficult for airlines to maintain their aircraft overseas.

The experts argued that if airlines are to have six aircraft as minimum requirement in accordance to NCAA new policy, it means that more aircraft would be ferried overseas for maintenance.

For schedule operators, this would constitute a huge challenge because of the cost implication and also the delays, since it takes longer time to maintain aircraft overseas because the MROs already have aircraft on the line. So Nigerian

carriers have to queue and every day the aircraft is on ground, the airline loses revenue of about N2 million.

The Chief Commercial Officer, Green Africa Airways, Obi Mbanuzuo, confirmed to THISDAY that Nigeria may lose a capital flight of about $3 billion by next year if airlines acquire more aircraft and ferry their aircraft overseas for major maintenance.

He noted that to build large capacity MRO facility in Nigeria would take time and the training of skilled indigenous manpower that will man such facility will equally take time, but expressed the

hope that the MRO in Akwa Ibom would soon come on stream, even though it is not yet known when the project would be competed.

Mbanuzuo explained why maintaining aircraft overseas is a challenge to Nigerian carriers, pointing out that sourcing foreign exchange is very difficult and with the current depreciation of the naira, airlines which earn revenue in naira would have to spend hugely to buy dollars.

He disclosed that most often what you project as the cost of the maintenance may increase by 25 per cent or more when the aircraft is stripped and it is discovered

that more jobs would be done.

“When we used to send Boeing 737 and MD 83 for C-check, we may budget $800, 000 but it will eventually cost about $1 million or more. This maintenance is carried out every 18 months, as stipulated by NCAA, Boeing 737 New Generation (NGs) may take longer period before major maintenance. This will even cost more if there are structural issues in the aircraft and that will double the cost of maintenance,” he said.

The story continues online on

www.thisdaylive.com

LCCI Blames Manufacturing Sub-optimal Contribution to GDP on FX Volatility, Weak Consumer Demand Dike Onwuamaeze The Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) has attributed the sub-optimal growth in manufacturing and trade as well as the significant contraction recorded in transport and storage on “the deregulation of the downstream oil sector, exchange rate volatility, and weak consumer demand.”

The Director General of the LCCI, Dr. Chinyere Almona, in a public statement titled “LCCI Statement on Nigeria’s Q2 2023

GDP Growth Rate,” which said that, “the growth recorded in the manufacturing sector remained low at 2.20 per cent.”

The chamber noted that analysis of the GDP’s result as released by the National Bureau of Statistics showed that growth was primarily driven by the service sector at 4.42 per cent and contributed 58.42 per cent to aggregate GDP. It added that, “the recession in the oil sector persisted with a higher contraction of –13.43 per cent in the quarter compared to –4.21

per cent in the previous quarter.

The significant decline in the oil sector reflects suboptimal daily oil production due to a lack of accountability, oil theft, pipeline vandalism, underinvestment, and rising cost of production.”

Almona also noted that the “recovery in agriculture is significant,” even though that “growth remained low and may be attributed to insecurity and policy gaps.

She said, “We also note that high growth in solid minerals

is insignificant, mainly due to the sector’s relatively small size.

The chamber recommends that the government adopt more prudent fiscal policy measures to effectively manage inflation and address the issue of high-interest rate and exchange rate volatility.

“We commend the federal government’s declaration of a state of emergency on food security and urge them to prioritise farmers’ areas of assistance, fertilizers, and seeds to mitigate the effects of subsidy removal

and create strategic food reserves to be used as price stabilization mechanisms.”

Commenting on the Q2 2023 GDP, the Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprises (CPPE), noted that growth improved marginally by 20 bases points from 2.31 per cent in the first quarter of 2023 to 2.51 per cent in the second quarter. It, however, added that it slowed when compared to second quarter of 2022 which was 3.54 per cent.

According to the Director/CEO

of CPPE, Dr. Muda Yusuf, the economy slowed amid shocks from current economic reforms that impacted energy prices and the Naira’s exchange rate.

He, therefore, advised the federal government to strike “a delicate balancing act and strategic sequencing in the implementation of its economic reform programmes in order to engender inclusive economic transition.”

The story continues online on

www.thisdaylive.com

M A R K E T D ATA A S AT T H U R S D AY, A U G U S T 3 1 , 2 0 2 3 BONDS Change Updated Time DESCRIPTION Price Yield (%) August 25, ^13.53 230.00 2023 104.08 10.64 MAR-2025 ^12.50 22August 25, 99.27 12.85 0.00 2023 JAN-2026 ^16.2884 108.96 13.05 -0.01 August 25, 17-MAR-27 2023 ^13.98 23August 25, 101.22 13.61 0.00 FEB-2028 2023 ^14.55 26August 25, 101.47 14.15 0.00 2023 APR-2029

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CONTRACT Current Updated Time TENOR Contract Rate ($/₦) (MONTH) August 25, NGUS AUG 13 914.19 28 2024 2023 August 25, NGUS SEP 14 927.51 25 2024 2023 August 25, NGUS OCT 15 938.61 30 2024 2023 August 25, NGUS NOV 16 949.70 27 2024 2023 August 25, NGUS DEC 17 960.80 24 2024 2023

28

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2023 ˾ T H I S D AY

BUSINESSWORLD

AIR WATCH

Airlines Urged to Maintain A I R Business Module for Survival WATCH Chinedu Eze

For Nigerian airlines to survive they must adopt a business module that aligns with their business objective and stick to it in order to ensure their profitability and survival.

This was the recommendation of the Managing Director of Flight and Logistics Solutions Limited, Mr. Amos Akpan, who said that the new policy of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) that airlines must have minimum of six aircraft should be attached to individual airline schedule.

According to him, every airline must have a business module which also determines the volume of its schedule and commensurate fleet size.

“No regulation should force a company that wants to run shuttle service between two stations to have a minimum of six aircraft. That’s waste of resources.

What about the cargo charter

operators? This means they only operate when they have charter. What would they do with six aircraft?

What about the broadcast journalism that uses helicopters to cover events around the cities? How many are they required to have?

“What about the sports and the crop spraying operations? Should they also have a minimum of six aircraft? The base platform for entry into aviation business is safety for all operators whether ground handling, maintenance or flight operations.

But you can choose your business model.The regulator is to ensure the laid down procedures for whatever business operations is anchored on 100 per cent safety,” Akpan said.

He added: “If I choose to shuttle Kano - Abuja - Kano only twice daily in the next three years; and my business module recommends two Embraer EMB-145, NCAA should be more concerned with safe operational procedures than with six aircraft.

NCAA should be concerned that my

financials from the shuttle operations should be profitable, because safe operation is funded by profitable business operations. If the operations’ financials cannot support timely routine maintenance the management would unconsciously compromise safety. This can happen to ground handling services operators, or aircraft operators, or maintenance services providers.”

According to Akpan, this rekindles the age long debate in aviation: Does profit making come first or safety in aviation business? Can a business that is loosing money maintain strict adherence to safe regulatory practices?

According to him, this is where NCAA’S vigilance plays a vital role, noting that the economic regulations monitoring team, the flight operations and the maintenance safety inspectors must use accurate measuring tools to ensure all operators comply with their approved operational specifications.

Bi-Courtney Shows Capacity to Conduct Regional Operations at MMA2 Chinedu Eze Murtala Muhammed International Airport Domestic Terminal, known as MMA2, which is unarguably, the best airport facility in Nigeria, has shown that it has the capacity to efficiently conduct regional operations for passengers wishing to travel to West African destinations.

Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Ltd (BASL), the builder and operator of the terminal, restructured the facility on a cue from the federal government, indicating that regional flight service would emanate from the terminal but this was aborted after the facilities were fully provided for the service.

BASL while taking journalists on the facility tour of the terminal on Wednesday, insisted it has the facilities required for regional flight operations, disclosing that it expended over N600 million to

have state-of-the-art upgrade of the regional facilities at the terminal.

Head of operations, BASL, Blessing Ewahwho, who disclosed this, said all the agencies, including the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), have assessed and approved the facilities after all necessary requirements were met, wondering why operations were yet to commence.

“We are actually ready, the terminal is ready, and gates 5 and 6 have been dedicated for regional flights. We have invested over N600 million in the facilities for this operation and we have not recouped one naira, even though it all started in 2014,” he said.

The Ministerial Committee on Airport Security in 2016, certified the Murtala Muhammed Airport Two, fit for the commencement of regional operations.

In April 2023, Chairman of BASL,

Dr Wale Babalakin, after inaugurating ‘The Art Experience’ (Art Gallery) in MMA2, had stated that despite the terminal being granted approval by the federal government, there were still delays in starting regional operations from the MMA2.

“I am alarmed that we have not commenced regional operations because we went through the entire process, we were certified but we have not been allowed to take off.I am shocked because the MMA2 terminal was built to provide services for both regional and domestic passengers, but it is presently underutilised.

“We had already spent several millions of naira to acquire the stateof-the-art facilities in preparation for regional flight operations, but the inconsistency in government policy despite the approval, had prevented it from using the facilities.” Ewahwho had earlier said.

Max Air Restates Commitment to Safety, Commends NCAA Chinedu Eze The management of Nigeria’s domestic carrier, Max Air has said it is committed to safety and has commended the audit conducted by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) on its operations when it was confronted by technical issues that challenged its safety status.

The airline said it prioritises safety because it is the airline’s number one priority.

The airline said that it would remain committed to safe operation which has been its number one priority since inception.

“What we sell is safety and we pride ourselves by our sincerity and commitment to safe and secure

operation which we have guarded jealously from the beginning of our operation,” an Executive Director of the airline, Shehu Wada said.

He stated that the airline would remain focused on delivering safe and efficient flight services to Nigerians despite attempt by some individuals to tarnish its image.

In addition, he said the airline has absolute confidence and belief in the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) over the recent audit of the airline, saying the regulatory authority had done a very thorough job.

“We will not allow anybody to drag us back. Our audit is open.

We may not be perfect but safety is what we sell.

“We have been in operation over the last one decade without a single accident and that is because we continue to prioritise safety in what we do. We don’t joke with the safety of our passengers and crew,” he added.

He recalled the recent incident involving one of the aircraft of the airline where a huge volume of water was found in the tank, saying it was an isolated case which the airline quickly noticed and decided to ground itself before the NCAA waded in.

According to him, after the NCAA certified the airline to resume operation, it was further grounded to enable it close other gaps identified in the operation.

Ehimuan Joins Zenith Bank’s Board of Directors Emma Okonji The Board of Directors of Zenith Bank Plc has announced the appointment of Dr. Juliet Ehimuan as a Non-Executive Director of the Bank effective August 29, 2023.

In a statement released by the bank and signed by its General Counsel, Michael Osilama Otu, her appointment has been confirmed by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

Ehimuan is the Founder and CEO of Beyond Limits and the immediate past Director of Google West Africa.

She was named by Forbes as one of the top 20 power women in Africa.

In addition, the London Business School reorganised her as one of 30 people changing the world, and as one of the Most Influential People of African Descent (MIPAD). She was also featured in the BBC Africa Power Women series, and on CNN Innovate Africa.

With over 25 years experience primarily in Technology, Oil and Gas, and New Media industries across Europe, Middle East and Africa; Ehimuan is a leading voice on Innovation, Transformation, and Leadership.

During her remarkable 12-year tenure at Google, Ehimuan played a pivotal role in expanding the

company’s presence in Nigeria and the wider West Africa region.

She championed initiatives to increase digital access, local content development, skills acquisition, entrepreneurial growth, innovation, and fostered strategic partnerships with leading private sector and government institutions.

She has made significant contributions to the tech ecosystem in Nigeria and Africa at large. She served on committees that developed the national broadband plan and ICT incubation strategy in Nigeria, and has been involved in national strategic advisory groups focused on economic growth.

Onyema: Ethnic Nationalism Bane of Nigeria’s Economic Growth Chinedu Eze The Chairman of Air Peace, Allen Onyema, has said the practice of ethnic nationalism has slowed Nigeria’s development while also stressing that the country’s ease of doing business is poor.

Onyema made these statements in an address he delivered at the Annual Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association held in Abuja.

The Air Peace CEO identified the issue of regional and tribal nationalism as one of the major problems besetting the Nigerian state and remarked that attaining nationhood with that kind of mindset is impossible.

“It is only when we start fighting for each other that we can have a nation. What we are doing now is fighting against each other, which is the bane that has stunted our development. It is not good. Nigerians are fighting against each other instead of fighting for one another. Until we fight for one other, there may never be nationhood. We need to fight for one another,” Onyema said.

Stressing the need to embrace broad nationalism and eschew tribal sentiments, he said these sentiments have snail-paced the nation’s development across various economic fronts, noting that the Tinubu’s led government should imperatively come up with policies and action plans to unite the country.

On security, Onyema said no nation could develop when a large expanse of its territory is insecure and cited the myriads of insecurity challenges which have bedeviled the country over time, emphaising that no nation develops in an atmosphere of rancour and insecurity, adding that until these security issues are tackled, the country will continue to grapple with economic problems.

“The issue of Boko Haram insurgency, famers-herdsmen clashes in the North, ritual killings and gangsterism in the South-west, separatist violence with the attendant criminal opportunism in the South-east, piracy and oil theft in the South-south. So, you have a nation where insecurity is the order of the day. Unless this is surmounted, we are going to have economic problems. No country develops in an atmosphere of rancour and insecurity.

“The insurgency has led to the death of thousands of Nigerians. Also, you cannot build nationhood in an environment of insecurity.

In the South East, people are hiding under the cloak of being marginalised to commit serious crimes,” he asserted.

On ease of doing business, Onyema said doing business in Nigeria is low as local investors face a lot of statutory bottlenecks which stifle their growth, noting that there is still lack of seriousness in encouraging indigenous investment and wondered how a nation can grow its economy when local investors are not encouraged.

He said that over taxation is a disincentive to investment, emphasizing that indigenous investors create jobs and have lifted many in their employment from poverty, observing that government officials should encourage investors and entrepreneurs because they create business and oil the wheel of economic development in the country.

“We are not serious in this country about encouraging indigenous investments.

How do you grow your economy when local investors are being treated with levity and envy by their own ministers?

How do you grow your economy when indigenous investments are overtaxed?

These same investors are providing jobs for the populace. How do you grow your economy when people in government see you as an enemy, a rival, because they are beclouded by whatever sentiments they

believe in, thereby making business difficult.

“Air Peace has about 14 million USD stranded in the Central Bank Nigeria.

It is not hidden. We also have about 15 aircraft stranded abroad. After, people will say Nigerian airlines lack capacity. They do not lack capacity; what they lack is truthful government support and ease of doing business.

“Do you know the amount this country spends on aircraft maintenance through its airlines? Air Peace alone in 2022, expended 78 billion naira on maintenance and these funds went to foreign countries. How can local investments grow like this,” Onyema further queried.

The Air Peace boss went on to recount how he applied to run a maintenance hangar in 2015 after paying over 100 million naira to FAAN to lease land at the Lagos airport but Air Peace is yet to get the land even eight years after, describing such treatment as discouraging.

He said: “As I speak to you, we are yet to get that land. We are the largest carrier in West and Central Africa and the fastest growing airline in Africa. Yet we do not have a maintenance hangar. Not because we do not have funds to build one. If we had been given the land to build the hangar, by now, Nigeria will have an MRO they will be proud of, and this will attract foreign investments because other countries will come here to maintain their aircraft.”

Currently, Nigerian airlines and private aircraft operators are said to spend over $2 billion dollars maintaining their aircraft overseas. This heightens forex demand from the aviation sector and with the increase in the number of aircraft acquisition by airlines, more money would be expended overseas on maintenance by local carriers.

Onyema, who noted that the Nigerian economy is low-ebbed, said with political will, significant progress can be made, while urging Nigerians to give this current government time and benefit of doubt.

“They (government) inherited a massive governance burden, and the government needs forthrightness, sincerity of purpose, and a radical political will. The government must be decisive enough to confront the entrenched vested interests in the polity.

It must do everything to dismantle those interests. Public servants must be statesmen who must be committed to the principles of democratic governance. If this is not done, we are in for a serious problem.

“The government must be ready to adopt a hardline commitment to the principles of democratic governance, even in the face of reactionary pressures arising from the entrenched vested interests. All hands must be on deck to make this country work,” he added.

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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2023 ˾ T H I S D AY

BUSINESSWORLD

FEATURE

Nigeria’s Security at the Mercy of Her Borders Recently, the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) celebrated its 60 anniversary and while its successes and interventions were brought up, one of the major challenges it is facing is the porosity of borders all over the country, which makes it difficultforcriminalelementstobekeptatbay,andparticularly allowing criminals evading justice in Nigeria easy escape into neighbouring countries, Michael Olugbode reports

T

he borders that delineate Nigeria as presently constituted are attributed to the Berlin West Africa Conference of November 1884 - February 1885.

This was the partition of Africa by colonial powers, which in all ways, a replica of the European model of nation states that are well defined and precise. These demarcations were obviously artificial and arbitrary with scant regards for the common culture, history, economy and geography of lands and societies that predate colonialism.

According to a former Controller General of Immigration, David Shikfu Paradang, it is therefore evident that Nigeria’s borders as they exist are not recognised nor respected by local communities along borderlands.

They view those artificial boundaries as disrespectful to our age-old position. He cited one of the traditional rulers, the Alaketu of Ketu in Western Nigeria stating that: “We regard the boundary as separating the British and French, but not Yoruba.” So in extent, some Yoruba along the border who are Nigerians may see their brothers across the border in Benin Republic as one with them even when they are supposed to be Beninois. This is not just the case with Yorubas, but applicable in all border towns.

Nigeria’s Land and Maritime borders have been described as Expansive, Extensive and Intimidating covering 4,047 kilometres (773 kilometres with Benin Republic on the West; 1,690 kilometres with Cameroon on the East, 87 kilometres with Chad Republic on the North East and 1,497 kilometres with Niger Republic on the Northern edge). The maritime borders span about 857 kilometres on the Atlantic and Gulf of Guinea; and in terms of vegetation, the Northern border is sandy and desert-like, while the eastern border is mountainous and forested. The western borders are mostly characterised by savannah and forest vegetation.

Paradang, in his paper titled: “Border Patrol, Internal Security & Fight against Transborder Crimes.” noted that some of the security challenges faced by the country stemmed from her porous border. He said: “Our security environment is awash with a number of security challenges ranging from terrorism, proliferation of Small and Light Weapons, drug trafficking, trafficking in persons, smuggling of migrants, banditry, kidnapping, farmer-herders clashes, cattle rustling, sea piracy, oil theft and cyber-crimes among legion of such crimes that have no respect for the sanctity of national borders.

These challenges are myriad.”

The former CGI, while highlighting more on armed banditry, farmer herders conflicts, smuggling of goods and migrants, said: “Banditry is now a front burner internal security issue predominantly in the North-west and North-central geo-political zones of Nigeria.

The states of Zamfara, Katsina, Sokoto, Kebbi and Niger among others have been in the eye of the storm. There are daily reports of attacks on villages killing and maiming citizens, kidnapping and hostage taking, carting of foodstuff, rustling of livestock etc.

The implications of banditry to internal security are grave. People pay for protection to access their farmlands. The long-term consequences of these are best imagined. It has been established that the bandits are mostly foreigners doing their despicable and heinous crimes with the collusion of some Nigerians.

They often used neighboring countries as their bases and hideout. The security and welfare of the region albeit Nigeria is threatened by the activities of these bandits. People are afraid to conduct their businesses and social activities because of this. Investing in this region has therefore been on the decline.

He said, “Farmer-herders clashes which are incessant is another internal security threat that has transborder links. It has been established that since the 13th century Fulani nomads from the Republic of Niger often cross into Nigeria seeking pasture and water resources for their livestock. This transhumance is becoming regular and pervasive.”

Acting Controller General of Immigration, Adepoju He noted that a study of this clash was exemplified by the 1994-1995 clashes in Guri LGA of Jigawa state. This clash led to the killing of 500 people, destruction of 16 villages when the Udawa Fulani arrived from Niger Republic to feed their livestock in the valley and river beds of Hadeija River.

This is further complicated by the increasing practice of dry season farming as it is a sure set-up for clashes with local farmers. These herders mindlessly trample and eat up the produce of local farmers! Any reaction from farmers inevitably leads to clashes that are often bloody. The impact of these clashes on national food security and welfare is immense.

He added that Boko Haram has been a terrorist and internal security threat that has festered predominantly in the North-east zone.

The massive cost to the lives, property of citizens has been widely reported grievously wounding the security and welfare of the nation.

According to him, smuggling is also another transborder crime that has continued to threaten the nation’s internal security. He noted: “It is most often at the western flank of Nigerian borders. The smuggling of petroleum products, cars and goods reduce expected revenue from import taxes and levies accruable to Nigeria that would have aided in enhancing the welfare of our citizens.

“Another dangerous aspect of smuggling is the ever increasing smuggling of small arms, light weapons and illicit drugs across our borders. The arms have been used to fuel internal security threats of armed robbery, ethnic and religious conflicts.

“Smuggling of drugs is gradually destroying our most potent and valuable resource; the youths of Nigeria. The long-term effects of smuggling to the nation are catastrophic, ”he said. He also lamented that irregular migration is another threat where millions of people are compelled to flee their homes annually with the resultant displacements igniting not only logistical and humanitarian quagmires, but threatens national and international security, subjecting the lives of displaced people to heavy risk, insisting that irregular migration in its various hues often induce conflicts.

The United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) reported that in 2022 over 110 million people were forced to flee from persecution, violence, human rights violations and other security challenges in their home countries. These massive displacements and irregular movements ignite security challenges on both sides of the borders to which these displaced persons inexorably flee. “We are aware of the massive loss of our vibrant youths on the western Mediterranean routes over land across the Sahara desert to Morocco and Algeria then to the Spanish territories of Ceuta and Melilla. These migrations can indeed fuel increased tensions and conflicts over international border frontiers,” he stated.

The story continues online on www.thisdaylive.com

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IMAGES

T H I S D AY ˾ DAY ͯ˜ 2023

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

L-R: Group Managing Director, Lafarge Africa Plc, Lolu Alade-Akinyemi; Director, Global 50:50 Concept Nigerian Limited/ prize winner of National Growth Champion, Mr. Rasheed Olota; Director, Global 50:50 Concept Nigerian Limited, Maria Olota; and Country Head of Sales, Lafarge Africa Plc, Anthonilious Okojie, at the Lafarge Annual Customer Awards celebration held at the Continental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos… recently

Group Managing Director, VDT Communications Limited, Biodun Omoniyi (left); Chief Technology, Officer VDT Communications Limited, Victor Omoyeni (right), presenting a N2.5million scholarship fund to the overall best student in Ondo State, Miss Joy Omoyeni (centre), at the company’s headquarters in Lagos…recently

Oba Rilwan Akiolu of Lagos (right) receiving the Inspector General of Police (IG), Kayode Egbetokun (left), during a visit to his palace in Lagos…recently

L-R: Deputy Comptroller of the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), Oluwasegun Ogedengbe; Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Idowu Owohunwa; and Comptroller of Immigration Service, Lagos State Command, Bala Bangama, during a courtesy visit by the Immigration comptrollers to the Police Commissioner in Lagos... recently

L-R: Former Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki; Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke; and former Senate President, Chief Anyim Pius Anyim, at the wedding ceremony of former Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu’s son in Abuja…recently

L-R: Founder, Storm 360, Obi Asika; Marketing Manager, Hero Lager, Dubem Orji; ace comedian, Klint Da Drunk; and Hero Lager Brand Ambassador, IllBliss, at the ‘Worthy’ album listening party organised by Hero Lager in Lagos…recently

L-R: Lead, Agency Banking and Merchant Acquisition, 9 Payment Service Bank, Jephtah Onyema Mark; Executive Assistant to the Executive Secretary/Legal, Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF), Oluwatooni Akinola; Sales Coordinator, 9 Payment Service Bank (Lagos and South-west), Udoka Njoku; Head of Employability, Lagos State Employment Trust Fund, Mathieu Michel; and Head of Retail Banking, 9 Payment Service Bank, Oladimeji Saka, during the 9PSB/LSETF Financial Literacy and Empowerment programme held in Badagry Local Government Area, Lagos State…recently

This

Weekend

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

07010510430

FRIDAY, F RIDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2023

AISHA YUSUF ISHAKU:

Promoting Made in Nigeria Brand

TR

UTH

& R E ASO

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WEEKLY MAGAZINE

32

˜ ͯ˜ ͰͮͰͱ ˾ T H I S D AY

COVER

AISHA YUSUF ISHAKU:

Promoting Made in Nigeria Brand Mrs. Aisha Yusuf Ishaku, Chief Executive Officer\Creative Director of Designtactics Interiors Limited and the Proprietress of Design Tactics Academy, is lawyer by training who was called to the Nigerian Bar in 2005. Interestingly, the native of Chibok in Borno State jettisoned her law degree to pursue her passion for interior design, a passion that birthed Designtactics, an interior design and consulting firm that offers a wide range of bespoke services especially with its recent significant milestone of launching a furniture manufacturing facility and made in Nigeria furniture brand recently in Yaba, Lagos. In this interview with MARY NNAH, the Designtactics Interiors boss says the initiative is in line with the firm’s bid to promote Made in Nigeria brands You just opened a mega furniture manufacturing factory today. Tell us about it. e are opening our furniture manufacturing factory today, promoting a Made in Nigeria brand. It has been so good so far and it has enabled us to become employers of labour and allowed us to explore our creativity. We have amazing people doing extraordinary things in Nigeria, so why import when we can make it here and very good detailed furniture?

Designtactics Interiors is an interior design firm, we offer a wide range of bespoke services ranging from on-site consultation, project and survey analysis, space planning, design concepts, corporate designs, project coordination and management, furniture arrangement, furniture design and manufacturing, renovations and turnkey projects. We are all about creating aesthetically appealing functional spaces bearing in mind our client’s budget and style, thereby giving each client a personalised and unique experience. We pride ourselves in delivering affordable luxury and we love creating memorable experiences.

found one of my late daddy’s diaries where he had already written what he wanted everybody to be. So, mine was to become a lawyer. At that point, I had to leave Sciences, go back to Arts and get a diploma in Law before proceeding because they didn’t want to accept me as I was a pure Science student. So, I lost a lot of years just to fulfil my daddy’s wish to be a lawyer. For me, interior design is something I have always been passionate about.

So, when I left my employed job, I wanted to start something but my husband said go to Lagos Business School and learn about business. And the first thing they taught us is to do what you are passionate about. So of all the businesses, interior design has been my passion. So, I got stuck to it and I found out that it is almost like architecture for me because I had to learn some software, so basically I am not far from my architectural dream.

We do a lot of construction and renovations, so for me, I am finding fulfillment I am not an architect but I am doing things related to architecture and I have like five architects under my payroll.

So, why have you decided to launch a Made in Nigeria brand at this time?

This routine started during the COVID period. We had a showroom in Lekki which had mostly imported stuff. When COVID happened, a lot of businesses had to go underproduction and because we were fully important-based, even after the COVID, we couldn’t even import. China shut down, Turkey shut down and we import majorly from these places. So we were like, why can’t we produce these things locally because we also do some projects where we have to use made-in-Nigerian furniture and then we used to outsource to other people and then we used to have problems with the quality because at Designtactic we pay attention to details.

So, we said, why not do these things ourselves so that we would be able to handle our quality from the onset very well and coupled with the exchange rate, you know what dollar is saying now. By the time you import with so much huge exchange rate, you find it difficult to sell because now people are looking for money to eat and not for luxury. We then decided to get our machines and this facility started producing locally. We import the raw materials make the furniture ourselves and produce locally and it has been fantastic so far.

We have other firms that are into what you are doing. What sets you apart from others?

Like I said, it is for you to know your onion; become an authority in your field and you don’t have the fear of competition. When we were establishing our academy, people were walking up to me and asking if I wasn’t afraid of training people and that I was training competitors and I was like, no, the sky is wide enough for everybody to excel. So once you’re able to carve a niche for yourself in the industry, there shouldn’t even be any issue about any competition. Just be good at whatever you are doing and that’s all. We keep improving ourselves because we have to be braced for changes and we are also a work in progress, we don’t sleep, we keep developing ourselves.

W

Before now, you used to import ready-made furniture from outside Nigeria to sell to your clients, and they are used to that standard of perfect finishing. Now that you are producing in Nigeria, do you still meet up with that same standard you have always had?

It has been great. I think majorly, God has been on our side. We’ve been lucky to have good hands and we have a good quality control department that checks all these things and I also get involved myself.

We pay attention to every detail and everything that must go out because it is our brand going out, so we can’t afford to mess up our brand. So we pay attention to details. Any job you are giving us and is not up the our standard won’t go out there. So everybody knows about the standard that we have already set; even the people working with us know that this is something that we cannot and will never compromise.

That has been the standard and it can only get better.

When exactly did you start your journey into the interior designing world?

I started interior design freelance in 2010 when I left my paid job. I am a lawyer by training. So after my second year of practising, I felt I should stop working and pay attention to my family. It is just about balancing my work life, business life and my family life so that no one suffers. In Lagos, it’s either you choose your family or your work, so I had to let go of my paid employment. So I am now doing my business and I am happy. Interior design is something I am very passionate about, so it is just like I am being paid for what I love doing and am passionate about, which is a plus for me. And I also have time for my family.

What was the propelling factor for you as a lawyer to become an interior designer?

I wanted to be an architect but along the line, we

“Our academy has graduated over 280 interior designers, who are equally doing well and are also creating jobs.”

in Nigeria?

How do you conceptualise your designs?

Sometimes it by what our clients want because of course when you are building a house, you already have a visual of what you want to do but other people just leave everything up to us, so from their design concept we come up with a design for them. We give them a 3-D presentation of what their spaces will turn out to be and once they can see what the 3-D visualisation of their spaces will turn out like, we just pick it up from there, though we give them room to make small modifications. But if you can allow us to explore our creativity, the better for us. But we can also work with your own this and our own is to advise where necessary. So it works both ways; it’s either we work with your design or you allow us to come up with a concept for you.

Are there particular things that inspire the concepts you come up with?

Sometimes it’s creativity and other times, it’s inspiration everywhere. One thing about me is that I travel a lot and I try not to stay in one particular hotel when I travel, I tend to visit a lot of places including other interior design firms and studios. I also follow a lot of international interior designers, so I pick inspiration from everywhere.

Who are your target audience?

For now, we target the hotels - that’s the hospitality business as a whole and corporate entities. We have been doing offices of recent.

We’ve done the Plateau State new High Court complex. We are now doing an AIB complex in Abuja. We just finished furnishing a 36-room hotel in Abuja and it has been excellent. They happened when just started in November last year. You can see that everywhere is filled up and orders are still coming from other clients.

People are beginning to appreciate made-in Nigerian brands. Before now it has always been the mentality of people saying it must always be imported but when you put our products in a showroom and you see the finishing, you won’t even know it is made in Nigeria. So we have good hands it is just to get the suitable materials to do the job.

What are your plans to grow this business

We are taking one step at a time. We just launched into the market and so we are going to do aggressive marketing we are putting our brand out there and people will be able to see what fully made-in-Nigeria furniture looks like. So, I think for us business as owners, when you set a standard for yourself, everything just falls in place - be good at what you do because once you are good at what you do, even if you are under one bridge, people will always come looking for you. We don’t even market aggressively any more because people are beginning to know the brand. And I even have to be careful with what I do because people are beginning to associate my name with my brand. It has been amazing and I am finding fulfilment in what I am doing.

Designtactics Interiors is a brand to watch out for because we are going global and diversifying into so many things. We are also on top of our game because we have a lot of competitions as well but we will keep improving all the time.

Do you have plans to collaborate with the government or other organisations to train people and create employment in this sector?

I’m presently talking with two states to train their youths. Our academy has graduated over 280 interior designers, who are equally doing well and are also creating jobs. So, I think the labour market is accurately represented.

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NEWS

Popular Female Talking Drummer, Ara, Recounts Musical Experience in Spain, Makes Case for Young Talented Nigerians Stories by Mary Nnah Africannumberonefemaletalking drummer, Aralola Olamuyiwa, a.k.a has encouraged young talented traditional musicians not to give up on their dreams while imploring all platforms like OAPs, televisions, radio stations and so so on to create a soft landing for these young talents.

Ara was one of the artists shortlisted to perform at the 2023 summer festivals in Spain.

Speaking while sharing her experience with journalists on her recent musical tour across Europe, Ara said, “I attended 10 festivals in Spain and I can tell you that from number one to number 10, minimum performance was one hour and at other points two hours and the people kept asking for more.

“IalsowantNigerians,especially those who have the talent in music

toknowthatthereisahugeappetite for traditional music on the global stage.Mycolleaguesintheafrobeat genre have dominated the space and I congratulate them from the depth of my heart.”

“Every Nigerian talent today

wants to be like Wizkid, Tiwa Savage, Davido Burma Boy etc.

The pressure is on them to want to emulate these global stars. There is nothing wrong with that.

“But I am also saying that there are talents in Nigeria who fit into

the Afro culture genre and the traditional music who should not give up hope in that regard knowing fully well that there is a huge appetite for their genre of music on the global stage.”

Deputy Director, NTDA, Mrs Uponi Angela (3rd left), Ara (4th left) with her band members

Creating Lasting Memories: AmazingTalents School Graduate Children in Grand Style Pupils ofAmazing Talents School had a blast creating lasting memories and celebrating their little wins and accomplishments at the recently concluded 2022/2023 graduation and prize-giving ceremony in the Idimu area of Lagos.

Thanks to the plethora of entertaining activities — themed dress-up, dance party, celebratory playlist, renditions and instrumentals, pageant, graduation wall, and party games, amongst others —education was worth it.

“I encourage parents and guardians to strive to educate their children,” says the Chairman of Amazing Talents School, Mr Eddy Odivwri. “It’s the best legacy.”

Odivwri underscored the essence of education at the graduation with the theme: “Attaining Excellence.”

He noted that it is vital for every parent to know that every child is educatable. Even special needs children can also be educated.

However, Odivwri said: “As important as education is, it has hardly been an easy accomplishment both by individuals and even the government because

of the cost.”

He also lamented that education costs continue to surge over the years. “The only time education was somewhat free was in the days of the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN), but that era has long passed, and even public schools are not free.

“In the world we live in now, the economy has become very harsh and even harsher. The cost of education in public universi-

ties has tripled.”

He continued that parents face the complex options of either continuing to pay with tears or withdrawing their children.

The chairman also insisted that the promised student loan the federal government plans would not offer lasting relief.

Odivwri emphasised: “In a privateschoolsetting,thechallenge is even more as the cost of things, goods,andserviceshaveincreased,

worsened by the recent removal of the petrol subsidy.

Commending the school for its academic performance, the Parent Teachers Association (PTA) Chairman of the school, Steve Olusegun, described the school as top-notch.

He highlighted: “I have been part of the system for over a decade. I see results both internally and when students go for external examinations.

The Health Policy Commission of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) on Tuesday, 29th of August, 2023, held a webinar with the theme “Attracting Funding for The Nigerian Health Sector: A Guide for Investors, Promoters and Analysts Outlining the Opportunity, Financing Options and Challenges.”

In her opening remarks, the steering committee member of the NESG Health Policy Commission, Dr. Tinuola Akinbolagbe, stated that the discourse will be based on innovative measures and rising healthcare demands and will aim to identify homegrown solutions that encourage ownership and promotion of sustainability.

While setting the context for the discussions, Dr Obinna Nnewuihe, member of NESG’s HPC and co-author of the paper, stated that Healthcare is highly complex and at the heart of healthcare and thriving outcomes is the availability of sufficient funding for Healthcare.

Prince Anayo Okolie On the seventh day of June, 2023, is a day I will never forget in my life. It was a day that broke leaving me with the feelings of being fatherless even when my real father is still healthy and living.

Though, I have lost people close to me in the past (uncles, friends, cousins, grandparents etc) but none has gotten to me like the lost of my lifetime chairman, Boss, mentor and role model Senator Annie Clement Okonkwo “Agunaechemba”.

Agunaechemba was not just a title, Sen Annie Okonkwo was indeed a Lion who guarded the land till death took him. His demise undoubtedly, left so much pains in the world. Although he was not God, the role he played in the last 63 years made me see him as a living god.

Working with him for almost 15 years changed my life. Just 10 years before his death, he talked me into marrying at early age at just 27, just like his brother Tony Okonkwo said at his service of songs, he doesn’t need your opinion when advising you, he advises and conclude. He believes everything is possible.

His words were “Anayo Okolie, you will never regret the decision of get married at early age, and your fear is how to sustain, I will always support you and your family,” and he never failed on those promises until death came.

I walked into the marriage with fear but today, it is has become the greatest decision I have made in life , thanks to you my Chairman Sen Annie Okonkwo. One of my greatest fears was living without Sen Annie Okonkwo and the day that thought came through, I rebooked it immediately, I never knew it will later come to pass.

Senator gave me the opportunity no one has even given to me, I flew to different states with him in private jets, toured different communities with him and met a lot of prominent figures through him. Meeting and working with Sen Annie Okonkwo was indeed a blessing. He shaped my life and extended his kindness to my family and people around me.

Senator Okonkwo impacted and empowered a lot lives, which I am one of the beneficiaries of his kind gestures.

His death hit me like a volcano and the healing is not near.

God give me the strength to live without you Chairman.

Leaving the earth a day to my 10th marriage anniversary 7th June, left a big scar in my heart. That night was one of the toughest nights of my life, losing a good man to the cold hands of death. It is well.

I subscribed to Sen Ekwunife’s assertion at the floor of the Senate that: “if death could take the life of Sen Annie Clement Okonkwo, it means that death is real.” Death indeed is real Sen Ekwunife, it doesn’t have respect for anyone irrespective of your class and level. Sen Annie Okonkwo had all it took to get a luxury treatment anywhere in the world.” Death is real.

Despite months of your death, I am still finding it very difficult to adjust to reality that you are no more. You are gone but your legacies will never depart Chairman.

Senator was a reliable man. He was a bold and God-fearing man. The greatness of his life was built on godly principles and is worthy of emulation.

He spent most of his life on earth impacting and investing in the lives of other people. We are all witnesses to just how much fruit this noble investment has yielded.

Agunaechemba, will be greatly missed. History will always remember Sen Annie Okonkwo for the key role he played in transforming the world in his time. t'BSFXFMM 4FOBUPS ZPV BSF B MFHFOE

HOTELIERS, HOSPITALITY FIRMS EXPLORE TRENDS, INNOVATIONS AT 2023 HEN Cross-section of pupils of Amazing Talents School during the 2022/2023 graduation ceremony in Lagos

NESG Holds Webinar on Attracting Funding to Nigeria’s Health Sector Uzoma Mba

WHEN DEATH BROKE MY HEART

He noted that some countries, such as the United Kingdom, make use of tax-based finance mechanisms while some others, such as the USA, make use of private insurance mechanisms and that the paper aims to identify the challenges and opportunities in financing Healthcare and the steps to go from challenging to leveraging such opportunities.

While launching the paper, the Thematic Lead, Health as a Business thematic group of the Health Policy Commission of the NESG, Dr Ola Brown, said that the healthcare industry globally has attracted more investors regardless of location. She noted that Healthcare is counter-cyclical; the sector remains stable during economic downturns as people prioritise health and continually resist economic shock and inflation, thus offering stability that potentially attracts investors.

Furthermore, Dr. Brown noted the opportunities inherent in the healthcare sector, including a growing population, expanding middle class and rising demand for Healthcare.

She stated that theAfCFTAwill also increase intra-regional trade, increaselocalmedicineproduction and employment opportunities,” she stated.

She also noted the types of healthcare financing available, including debt financing such as bank loans, development finance institutions (DFI’s), trade credits, bonds and microfinance institutions, equity financing and grant funding and the challenges the sector faces, including a fragmented healthcare industry, limitedresearchanddevelopment, limited expertise and talent and a lack of medical manufacturing hubs. During the panel session, Dr RichardsonAjayi, an HPC steering committee member, said there is a need to focus on an environment that attracts favourable investment. He noted that the forces affecting profitability work against the industry as there is insufficient money driving healthcare growth.

Dr Ajayi reiterated that 70 per cent of healthcare provision is from the private sector, signifying the need for the space to be better organisedthroughregulationsand

scalability, ensuring that healthcare users have an effective means to pay for services.

In his remarks, Dr Uyi ImaEdomwonyi, HPC member and co-author of the paper, said that Nigeria can harness the opportunities in the digital health space through intelligent investments that target pools of hospitals where people with low incomes can assess services digitally.

He noted the need for the government to grant opportunities to health tech practitioners and allow them to aggregate with health communities.

Amember of the Health Policy Commission, Dr Olayemi Dawodu, said that research and development in Nigeria’s healthcare sector need to be better coordinated. She reiterated the need for funds and expertise focused on mentorship and capacity building to encourage innovation.

Speaking in the same vein, anotherHPCmember,DrAyodele Benson-Cole, said that the issues around patient capital are essential for the development of the private sector healthcare space.

Hoteliers and hospitality companies in Nigeria explored business trends and innovative ways of staying afloat at the just concluded 2023 Hotel Expo Nigeria (HEN).

The 2023 HEN themed: “Connecting sustainable partnerships’, a two-day event treated subject matters such as sales, insecurity, quality and standard in the hospitality industry in Nigeria among top industry practitioners.

The industry, which has been hard hit at short intervals since the outbreak of the pandemic in 2020, is now thinking out of the box to stay afloat mid-networking to learn how best to handle the current harsh economy.

Given that, industry stakeholders, hospitality-related businesses, and investors among others gathered in Lagos at this year’s Hotel Expo Nigeria (HEN) to hobnob once again and learn trends that will help their businesses thrive despite the challenges.

Now in the 4th edition HEN, a premier West African Hospitality Exhibition networking and conference event, witnessed the gathering of over 60 exhibitors in the industry and related fields from across Nigeria to a two-day hospitality expo at the Landmark Event Centre Lekki, Lagos.

It also paraded industry think tanks featuring some of the best hands and those who shared their success testimonies and practical solutions to stay afloat now.

They included: Belinda Nwosu, faculty member, Lagos Business School and Hospitality Consultant, Karl Hala, group general manager, Continental Hotels Nigeria, Raymond Herrington, principal consultant, Herrington Consulting, Wole Fayemi, MD/CEO, Heirs General Insurance, Abhay Bhargava, Chairman/ Founder, I-field Interior, among others.

Speaking at the expo, Joe Hanson, Convener/Founder of HEN, expressed excitement over the solutions proffered by industry experts and gainful networking at the expo. “It is amazing that despite the economic challenges that AFRICA is facing, the hospitality industry is still thriving.

“It navigated the COVID-19 pandemic challenges, many other challenges at short intervals and even the current economic hardship. “However we need to network, hobnob, exchange and learn innovative and trendy ways to stay afloat and adjust in the face of the current economic realities in the country,” Hanson said.

34

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, ͰͮͰͱ ˾ T H I S D AY

BUSINESS/MONEYGUIDE

MTN Nigeria’s Commercial Paper Records 146% Subscription Kayode Tokede MTN Nigeria Communications Plc, has said that it successfully completed its Series 6 & 7 Commercial Paper (CP) Issuance under its upsized N250billion CP Issuance Programme with 146 per cent oversubscription by investors.

The telecommunication giant in a notice on the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) said it wanted to raise N100billion, and the offer recorded 146 per cent subscription with N125billion issued across both series The Company Secretary, MTN Nigeria Communications,

Uto Ukpanah in a statement said the offer represents the largest aggregate CP issuance within a calendar year by any corporate in Nigeria’s debt capital markets.

MTN Nigeria issued 181-day CP at yield of 13 per cent and 265-day CP at a yield of 13.50 per cent, with an issue date of August 23, 2023.

Ukpanah stated that the CP issuance aligns with MTN Nigeria’s strategy to continue diversifying its funding sources and reducing its average cost of debt.

“The proceeds will be applied towards short-term

working capital requirements,” he said.

MTN Nigeria’s Chief Executive Officer, Karl Toriola in a statement said, “We are pleased with the support received from the investors community, having recorded 146 per cent subscription. This reflects MTN Nigeria’s robust financial capacity, the brand’s strength, and our leading role in the industry.”

MTN Nigeria had reported a 29.14 per cent decline in its profit for the half year ended June 30, 2023 to N128 billion, compared to N181 billion during the same period in 2022.

Indonesian Envoy Charges FG to Address Insecurity for Increased FDIs Gilbert Ekugbe The Indonesia Ambassador to Nigeria, Usra Harahap, has charged the present administration to as a matter of urgency address the high level of insecurity in the country to attract increased Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs).

Indeed, the call is coming at a time when the nation is in dire straits to generate the

much needed foreign exchange to build and develop capital projects across the country.

He said despite the insecurity challenge, Nigeria still remains a destination for investment for many developed economies across the world.

“There is no country in the world without its own challenge, but we are confident that Nigeria

is still a destination for profitable investments for many countries in the world,” he affirmed.

At a press conference to announce the Trade Expo Indonesia (TEI) 2023 scheduled to hold from 18th to 22nd October 2023 in BSD City in Indonesia, he stated that the trade volume between Nigeria and Indonesia has hit $4.78 billion in 2022.

Lekki Port Commissions Scanning Facility to Fast-track Cargo Clearing Lekki Port LFTZ Enterprise Limited (the promoters of Lekki Deep Sea Port), has commissioned a state-of-the-art scanning facility, also known as Non-Intrusive Inspections System to fast-track the examination and evacuation of containers from the port.

The facility was commissioned by the Area Controller, Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Lagos Free Zone Command, Mrs Dorothy Omogbehin in Lagos.

Speaking during the commissioning ceremony, Omogbehin, expressed confidence that the scanning facility would significantly optimise the inspection process and increase cargo turnaround time at the port.

Omogbehin commended Lekki Port for ensuring that the customs personnel to carry out the scanning were trained with the requisite skills to operate the

state-of-the-art facility. She also commended Lekki Port for the enormous financial investment in procuring the best-in-class facility for the port.

In his welcome remarks, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Lekki Port, Mr. Du Ruogang, described the facility as another essential facility that would enhance ease of doing business, facilitate trade, prevent port congestion, boost revenue generation to the government, and improve national security.

Ruogang attributed the progress recorded in the operations of the container terminal at the Port and other milestones to the tremendous support received from all stakeholders including the Nigeria Customs Service.

He noted that Lekki Port in collaboration with Lekki Freeport Terminal would continue to do

its best to shape the future of container handling in Nigeria and beyond by bringing greater efficiency and greater capacity to the market.

Describing the uniqueness of the facility, he stated that the drive through inspection system of the scanning facility adopts dualenergy X-ray imaging technology to discriminate organic, inorganic, and mixed materials, which are marked with specific colours to help identify the contraband and dangerous goods concealed among cargoes or hidden in the vehicle.

He added that the Inspection system can be integrated with various auxiliary devices, including the License Plate Recognition (LPR) System and Container Code Recognition (CCR) System, to provide comprehensive information on the inspected goods.

Pure Bliss Presents Cash Prizes to Winners in Promo Pure Bliss yesterday presented N1million cash prizes to five new winners in its ongoing Millionaire Consumer Promo.

The new winners are in addition to the 21 millionaires that have emerged so far through the promo – a total of 26 lucky consumers have now been rewarded with the mouth-watering sum of One Million Naira each.

Olam OK Food, the producer of Pure Bliss biscuits and wafers, said the Pure Bliss Millionaire Promo is a giveback initiative aimed at creating delight and excitement for consumers. It is the biggest promotion done so far in the Nigerian biscuits category where 60 consumers will be rewarded with N1 million each. The company is also giving out N30 million worth of airtime to consumers.

According to Olam OK Foods, consumers who would like to participate in the extended promo can buy any promo pack of their favourite Pure Bliss Cookies and Wafers, check for

the 7-digit code and SMS it to 8011 using the format, “PureBliss Code Location” i.e. “PureBliss 1234567 Adamawa. A notification on the prize they have won will be sent to them.

According to Brand Manager, Pure Bliss, Bukola Yusuph, the promo, which is the second edition following its debut in 2020 was also extended by six weeks due to increased demand and to enable more participation.

“This is an avenue to reward and uplift the moods of our consumers in these trying times. We are delighted by the participation so far and due to popular demand, have extended the promo by another 6 weeks. As the promo comes to a close on September 5th, we urge everyone to buy their favourite Pure Bliss Cookies or Wafers promo pack, look inside the pack for a 7-digit code and stand a chance to be part of 60 lucky people to win one million naira each and 30-million-naira worth of airtime up for grabs,” she said.

The latest winners of N1million cash from Lagos include Toyin Akinyemi – a retiree; Kehinde Ogunbiyi – a craftmaker; and Beauty Nwoye, who provides laundry and drycleaning services. Joshua Godly Odine, a graphics designer based in Ibadan, Oyo State, and Sarah Ogbole, a student from Edo State, were also presented with One Million Naria cash prize each.

The winners received the cash prizes during a presentation ceremony, which took place at the factory office of OK Foods. The ceremony was attended by officials of various regulatory agencies, including Assistant Director, Lagos Zonal Office, National Lottery Regulatory Commission.

(NLRC), Olusola Ogunbode; Head, Lagos Office, Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), Suzie Onwuka; and Senior Legal Officer, Lagos State Lotteries and Gaming Authority, Kemi Adebiyi.

MARKET INDICATORS MONEY AND CREDIT STATISTICS (MILLION NAIRA) July 2023

Money Supply (M3)

65,466,115

-- CBN Bills Held by Money Holding Sectors

442,402.18

Money Supply (M2)

64,926,250.75

-- Quasi Money

40,769,132.38

-- Narrow Money (M1)

24,157,118.36

---- Currency Outside Banks

2,209,000.87

---- Demand Deposits

21,948,117.49

Net Foreign Assets (NFA)

9,298,562.89

Net Domestic Assets(NDA)

5,6167,552.11

-- Net Domestic Credit (NDC)

86,466,629.28

---- Credit to Government (Net)

32,307,463.27

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

0.00

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

0.00

---- Credit to Private Sector (CPS)

54,159,166.01

--Other Assets Net

13,165,380.65

Reserve Money (Base Money

17,376,486.41

--Currency in Circulation

2,595,761.69

--Banks Reserves --Special Intervention Reserves

14,780,724.72 405632.59

˾ ÙßÜÍÏ ̋

Money Market Indicators (in Percentage) Month

July 2023

Inter-Bank Call Rate

15.80

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

18.75

Treasury Bill Rate

4.45

Savings Deposit Rate

5.24

1 Month Deposit Rate

7.11

3 Months Deposit Rate

7.62

6 Months Deposit Rate

8.25

12 Months Deposit Rate

7.81

Prime Lending rate

113.98

Maximum Lending Rate

27.38

˾ ÙØÏÞËÜã ÙÖÓÍã ËÞÏ ̋ ͯͱϱ

OPEC DAILY BASKET PRICE AS AT 25 AUGUST, 2023

The price of OPEC basket of thirteen crudes stood at $85.71 a barrel on Thursday, compared with $85.84 the previous day, according to OPEC Secretariat calculations.

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

T H I S D AY ˾ FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2023

35

MARKET NEWS

Investors’ Return in Stock Market Rises to N8.51trn in Eight Months KayodeTokede Investors at the stock market of the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) are in for robust yield on investment as returns in eight months of 2023 increased by N8.51trilion in market capitalisation.

Investors continued bargainhunting for fundamental stocks on expectations that foreign exchange reforms by President Bola Tinubu-led government will stimulate significant improvements

in the domestic economy.

The rally nudged the average year-to-date return for stock market to 29.8 per cent to 66,548.99 basis points as at the close of trading in August from 51,251.06 basis points it closed in 2022, implying that investors have earned about N8.51 trillion in capital gains between January and August of 2023.

The market capitalisation closed yesterday at N36.423trillion from N27.915trillion the stock market

P R I C E S MAIN BOARD

closed for trading in 2022.

Nigeria’s average return of 29.8 per cent is one of the five highest returns globally, ahead of several advanced and emerging global stock markets.

The stock market performance so far is on the backdrop of rising inflation, social unrest, global uncertainty and other economic challenges which surely had an impact on the market during the early part of the year.

The market has rallied amid

F O R

S E C U R I T I E S

DEALS

MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

buying interest from investors, especially in bellwether stocks such as Seplat Energy Plc, MTN Nigeria Communications Plc, Dangote Cement Plc, Zenith Bank Plc, Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc, among others.

The bullish pricing trend at the stock market has also seen a corresponding level of activities.

According to the NGX, market operators were of the view that “the policies of the new administration under President

T R A D E D

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A S O F

Bola Tinubu” had “led to the rise in the fortunes of investors”.

The NGX stated that the stock market performance was particularly driven by “a surge in banking stocks as investors strategically positioned themselves, taking advantage of the recent record earnings posted by banks”.

Afrinvest Securities had said “economy reform optimism” bolstered the market performance, noting that “the rally in the market followed the promise of critical

reforms by the President Bola Tinubu administration”.

The Chief Relationship Officer, Foresight Securities and Investments Limited, Charles Fakrogha, had explained that the smooth transition of power alongside bold reforms led to the rise in market capitalization. He also noted that the huge volumes of shares traded recently meant foreign investors might be thinking about making a comeback into the equities market.

AU G U ST / 3 1 / 2 3 DEALS

MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N)

36

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2023 • T H I S D AY

NEWS

LAGOS BLUE RAIL READY FOR COMMERCIAL OPERATION…

L-R: Managing Director, LAMATA, Engr (Mrs) Abimbola Akinajo (second left) explaining a point to the media during a briefing announcing the kickoff of Commercial operations of the Blue Rail Line, on Wednesday, 30 August, 2023. With her is the Deputy Managing Director, CCECC, Mr Xia Lijun (left).

Ganduje: After Failed Presidential Bid, ‘Kwankwaso’ Turned NNPP to Revenue Platform Opposition presidential candidates beg to partake in APC guber polls Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja The National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, yesterday, took a swipe at his former boss and estranged ally, Rabiu Kwankwaso, who was the presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), saying he had turned the party into a revenue platform after his failed presidential bid.

In a deliberately encrypted message, Ganduje, who was addressing other opposition presidential candidates, who had come to be part of the APC campaign councils for the governorship elections in Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi States and as well President Bola Tinubu’s ‘Government of National Competence’, did not however, mention Kwankwaso’s name but clearly defined the person he was referring to.

His words: "Thank you for this visit. I will convey your views and requests. And I will ensure that you see Mr President eye to eye. I thank you for being faithful to your respective parties.

“What I am seeing is one political aspirant, who became a presidential candidate by accident.

Who became a presidential

candidate by hijacking another party because he was partyless.

"He could not give account according to INEC that it cannot qualify it to be political party.

He decided to hijack a political party. And since, he could not realise his aspirations he decided to make that party a revenue platform rather than a political party.

"He has now decided to even expel the founder. God forbid, he will not succeed. I salute you presidential candidates for being good ambassadors of your own political parties not destroyers.

"And not turning your political parties as a source of revenue. Since you cannot get the presidential tickets, you will get pocket ticket. I thank you.

No doubt we will include you in the three states that we are having elections come November this year," Ganduje stated.

Earlier, candidate of NRM, Felix Osakwe, who spoke on behalf of the Forum of Concerned Presidential Candidates, said they were for the peace and development of Nigeria, hence their decision not to challenge Tinubu’s mandate at the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal (PEPT).

"I feel Mr chairman you will be the right person to lead us to meet with Mr. President. So that we can air our own views in his presence and also to let him know that it is not all the presidential candidates that were against him. We choose not to go to court because this is Nigeria "We have a demand and it

is for the party. That a slot in the campaign council for the governorship elections should be made available to us. Those of us that have piloted this, we held a meeting. And we are asked to demand from you a presence in the campaign council. We believe that our job is much more wanted now as we prepare to go into the polls in the three states in

November.

"I am to submit the two names to the chairman. And we believe by your power and by the special grace of God, it shall be done by your power. We will do our best to make sure that three states that we are going into polls for succeed. And with what we have been doing, we are going to mobilise our parties in those

states for your party," he said.

Some of the parties, whose presidential candidates met with Ganduje at the party's National Secretariat in Abuja, were All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Action Democratic Party (ADP), National Rescue Movement (NRM), and the Action Peoples Party (APP), among others.

Delta Guber: Abure Hails A’Court's Order Referring Petition Back to Tribunal

Chuks Okocha in Abuja

The National Chairman of the Labour Party, Julius Abure, has described yesterday’s Appeal Court's judgement in the Delta State governorship election, as a victory for democracy and a clear testimony that judiciary could be effective, impartial and truly the conscience of the masses.

He also called on other judicial institutions in Nigeria to take a cue from the Asaba Appeal Court and dispense judgment without fear or favour in spite of the persons that might be involved.

The Delta election petition tribunal had dismissed LP’s

case against the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over alleged abandonment by the petitioners but the Appeal Court, in a landmark judgement, disagreed with the tribunal and went ahead to refer the petition of the gubernatorial candidate of the Labour Party in the state, Ken Pela, back to the tribunal for onward hearing.

In a statement by the Labour Party's National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, Abure said with the Appeal Court's ruling, the Labour Party has now been given the opportunity to prove its case at the tribunal.

He said, "We are pleased with

the position of the Appeal Court today. We were shocked at the decision of the tribunal to stifle prematurely our matter. We were not even allowed to present our matter. Justice was not served and that made us to approach the appellate court requesting it to review the case which the tribunal had rejected.

"With the Appeal Court overturning the tribunal's judgement today, we are happy that we can now reopen our case again against the PDP candidate who was erroneously declared winner of the last election by the Independent National Electoral Commission.

"Labour Party won the

governorship election in Delta State and like in most other states, some undemocratic elements had conspired to snatch the state from us and they went ahead to use the tribunal to stop us from proving that we won.

"I want to use this opportunity to appreciate the judiciary and to urge them to always stand on the ground of justice and fairness in dispensing every other cases brought before it. Whether at the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal or states tribunal, the people wishes must be respected at all times. Nigeria's democracy will gain more when right judgments are given."

Imo Guber: I’ve Not Endorsed Yari: Tinubu Already Returning Peace, Security to Zamfara Anyone, Says Araraume said there were indications that "This insecurity is either cattle between the insecurity and the Deji Elumoye in Abuja

Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Imo State, Senator Ifeanyi Araraume, has denied declaring support for the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, ahead of the governorship election scheduled for November 11.

Ararume, in a statement yesterday by his Special Adviser, Legal and Public Affairs, Uche Anyanwu, reiterated that he remained a bonafide member of the APC and most recently was the Director of Trade and Economic Affairs (South) of the APC PCC and had been fully engaged and in support of the party activities at the national level.

His words: "The attention of Senator Ifeanyi Araraume has been drawn to the publications making rounds in sections of the media that he has thrown his support behind

the PDP governorship candidate for the Imo State governorship election.

"He has not made any pronouncements concerning any candidate in the Imo State governorship elections but reserves the right to endorse or not to endorse any candidate of his choice at the appropriate time, which is within his rights to decide."

Araraume said what was important was the safety of the people of Imo, their welfare, the ability to carry out their lawful business without fear of molestation and the effective delivery of the dividends of democracy, which included preservation of institutions of good governance in Imo state.

He added: "The rumours circulating are the fabrication and the work of mischief makers, who have always thought that the only way to advance their political fortunes in APC is to malign the name of Senator Arararaume."

Senator Abdulaziz Yari, yesterday, hailed President Bola Tinubu for gradually returning security in his home state, Zamfara.

Yari, who represents Zamfara West at the upper chambers of the National Assembly, said this in an interview with newsmen after meeting with Tinubu at the State House, Abuja.

"I believe the president is doing his best on the issue of security because he has started talking with the National Security Adviser on the issue of the insecurity and the many progress had been achieved from, I think last one month, to now in Shinkafi area and part of Zurmi and now they are working on part of Anka and Chaffe, which I used to get the brief from my colleague who is the Chairman, Security in the Senate," he said.

The Senator, who said he was on courtesy visit to the president,

sanity was gradually returning to the gold-rich communities following the President’s deployment of security forces to the area.

Zamfara has of recent been largely enveloped by banditry and kidnapping, which have also been linked to the activities of illegal gold miners.

The former governor, however, explained that insecurity in the state has been more of direct activities of criminals involved in cattle rustling and other forms of criminal activities, including abductions.

According to him, "When I was there, I didn't believe that the issue of mining was one of the problems, but when I got out, I began to look at it, attending so many lectures because the people that are causing the trouble, I want you to look at it and study carefully the relationship between the mining and insecurities.

rustling or human abduction. So if you look at it, and then you see mining, so what is it? But at one time, I was attending a programme in Netherland and someone told me that look, the issue is if you have since settled that there is no insecurity issue, it will attract the investors to come in for the real activity of the mining.

"But when there’s this issue of insecurity, those that are working against you, wherever they are, maybe in the country, maybe outside the country, then they will succeed, encouraging those issues of insecurity to be there so that you can’t get the benefits of the endowment that God has blessed the country with, then I began to start thinking about it.

"A year after I left office, some groups protested in Kaura Namoda local government and said they didn't understand why we're saying the relationship

mining are not together for one reason. The local will be attacked almost on daily basis, whereas where people are doing the mining are free, there’s no trouble.

"So they started to put one and two together and said okay, either those that are doing the mining are supporting the bandits or they're given the whatever support it is in any way or they are together because if it is money, they have the gold mine or some minerals that they should go and attack them, but there's no attack in that area and they're neighbours just by the border.

So, what is happening?

"So they now protested that those people must leave the place.

Well, you as usual, you know the mining with the act is the protector; it is kind of exclusive in the section of the Constitution, it is not controlled by the state.

So, there's not much governors can do.”

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 1, 2023 ˾ T H I S D AY

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NEWS

WEST AFRICA CIVIL SOCIETY WEEK CONFERENCE…

L-R:Director, West Africa Democracy Solidarity Network (WADEMOS), Prof. Henry Prempeh;Executive Director, West Africa Civil Society Institute ( WACSI), Ms. Nana Afadzinu;Regional Director, Ford Foundation, West Africa, Dr. Catherine Aniagolu-Okoye, and Senior Advisor, Governance and Peacebuilding, Africa Union, Addis Ababa, Amb. William Azumah Awinador-Kanyirige, at the West Africa Civil Society Week 2023 conference in Ikeja, Lagos… recently ETOP UKUTT

Navy Apprehends Four Suspects Escorting Stolen Crude Oil in Lagos ChiemelieEzeobi

Four staff members of Tantita Security Limited, who were allegedly escorting stolen crude oil in Lagos waters, have been arrested by operatives of Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) BEECROFT. The suspects, who were arrested on August 29, 2023, were rounded

off to five after another member, Mr. Owoyele Omotuyi, approached NNS BEECROFT to secure their release.

The suspects, who were identified as Asonja Goddey, 28, Obajimi Oluwaseyifunmi, 38, Awoowo Aribo, 35, and Oluwadaisi Balogun, 40, were found with a large wooden boat laden with 11 x 1000L Geepee

tanks with product suspected to be stolen crude oil.

Although they claimed that they arrested the vessel with operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), they could not produce the said paramilitary

Group Trains Journalists on Investigative The National Agency for Great Wall (NAGGW) in Reporting, Emphasises Ethics Green collaboration with the Nigerian

A group, Ikenga Media and Cultural Awareness Initiative (IMCAI) has held a one-day training on investigative reporting for journalists in Anambra State.

Coordinator of the group and co-publisher of Ikengaonline media, Mr Chido Onumah, in his opening remark said: “The essence of the training is to bring journalists up to speed about ways they can hold authorities accountable through their reports, and also churn out incisive stories.”

The training, which was sponsored by MacArthur

Foundation, with Support from the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Reporting, Onumah said has held in other states of the South-eEast, with Anambra being the last.

Foremost professor of Mass Communication, Prof Chinyere Okunna, who was also in attendance, charged journalists to continue to remain the hope and mouthpiece of the people.

She said: “It is not for nothing that the press has continued to be known as the fourth estate of the realm. Practitioners must take back from politicians their role as agenda setters.”

the navy initially approached them for questioning, they noticed that the two fibre boats were part of the group, but attempts to accost them proved abortive as they fled.

At the parade of the suspects yesterday, NNS BEECROFT

Commander, Commodore Kolawale Oguntuga, said their operatives stationed at Forward Operation Base (FOB) Lekki foiled the attempted oil theft operation on the waterways near Itolu Community, Lekki, in Lagos State.

FG, Foundation Sensitise Kano Stakeholders on Biodiversity Monitoring Ahmad Sorondinki in Kano

David-Chyddy Eleke in Awka

officers.

The team lead claimed the NSCDC operatives fled on sighting the navy patrol team, a claim that has been refuted by the paramilitary agency.

THISDAY gathered that when

Conservation Foundation, has entered into partnership with stakeholders in Kano State towards monitoring the restoration

of mainstream biodiversity and conservation of the ecosystem.

The Director General of the agency, Yusuf Maina Bukar, who was represented by Deputy Director, Dr. Innocent Alenyi, at a one-day workshop in Kano, said the ecosystem must be restored to save the environment from

degradation.

He blamed the current challenges facing farmers, such as drought, change in yields, and rain, as a result of human activities that tempered with the ecosystem.

To this end, the DG urged residents to complement their efforts of restoring the ecosystem

through planting trees and avoiding indiscriminate felling of the existing trees.

According to him, the workshop would allow people to appreciate the role biodiversity monitoring plays in the restoration of trees and animals that play a vital role in the environment.

SDP Debunks Alleged Collapsing of Structure for APC Candidate in Kogi Ibrahim Oyewale in Lokoja

The Social Democratic Party (SDP) , Kogi State Chapter has berated All Progressives Congress (APC) over the purported meeting with SDP governorship flag bearer, Murtala Yakubu, with a view

to collapse his structure to supporting APC candidate, Usman Ododo.

The party explained that the reality is far from being the truth, stressing that it was mere figment of the author and the online blog that published the story.

In a press Statement signed

by Director, Communications Muritala Yakubu Ajaka Governorship Campaign Organisation, Mr. Faruk AdejohAudu, copy of which was made available in Lokoja yesterday.

Audu described the news as a brazen falsehood following

closely on the heels of the disgraceful stage-managing of decamping of fake executives of the SDP a couple of weeks ago, demonstrates the sheer desperation in the camp of the despot and the handpicked minion paraded as APC governorship candidate.

Group Protests Poor Road Network, Unfair Treatment in Ondo

government areas of Ondo state. displeasure at Nigeria Union of of the state.

David in Akure The aggrieved natives said Journalists (NUJ) Press Centre, The ACF president called Tension as Renewed Cult Fidelis A group, under the auspices Akoko, which comprises about in Akure, the president of the on the state government led of Akoko Consultative Forum 40 small towns, predominantly group, Pa Rogbitan Lawrence by Governor Oluwarotimi War Claims 10 in Edo ( ACF), yesterday protested over situated in rocky areas of the state Ibukun said it was time for Akoko Akeredolu to, as a matter of Adibe Emenyonu inBeninCity

Ten persons have been reportedly killed in a renewed cult-related war in Benin City, capital of Edo State with the latest being the four victims on Thursday at Upper Mission, Okhun and Oluku areas of the metropolis It was gathered that a revenue collector simply identified as ‘Mopol’, was gunned down on Wednesday around Okhoro junction by new Benin.

Same day, one Miss Ibrahim Asmat Happy, a final year student of Auchi Polytechnic and another revenue collector whose name could not be ascertained were

killed in Auchi, the administrative headquarters of Etsako West Local Government Area.

The late final student of Auchi Polytechnic said to be victim of stray bullet was said to have been shot dead in front of the institution’s campus two gate by suspected armed cultists who were reportedly after their target, the revenue collector.

Confirming the report, a lecturer, who craved for anonymity, said the area has been tensed since the incident occurred on Wednesday, adding that: “Cult -related clashes have become a common trend among young students in Auchi in attempts to outsmart one another.”

bad roads in the various localities of Akoko North-east, Akoko North-west, Akoko South-east and Akoko South-west local

and funeral service on Friday, September 8, at the same church at 10.00 a.m.

people to wake up and fight the aged-long cases of injustice and marginalisation of Akoko in the infrastructural and political space

urgency, complete the Ikare Ajowa Road and interface on Akungba- Oka - Ishua - Ibilo Road as well as, Owo-Ikare Road.

Traditionalists TasktheMakinde, Kingmakers on Selection of New Alaafin most credible candidate that General, Ifagbenuola Popoola, over in the ancient town.

Kemi Olaitan in Ibadan

A traditionalists group, Ìsese Welfare Association (IWA), known as Ìsese Assembly, yesterday, called on Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, and kingmakers in Oyo town to pick

will be ready to identify with the traditional religion for the Alaafin throne.

The group in a statement yesterday by its National Coordinator, Barrister Aderemi Ifáòleèpin Aderemi and Secretary-

demanded an Alaafin that will not only openly identify with the Yoruba indigenous religion like the late Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, but also protect the interests of practitioners among other religions he will be presiding

It also urged Makinde and the Oyo-Mesi to speed up the selection process and fill the vacant throne of Alaafin, as whoever mounts the throne will be globally-revered among other traditional rulers in the country.

Ogbuku Reaffirms NDDC’s Commitment to Partnerships Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt

Managing Director of Fola Ajidagba for Burial Next Week The the Niger Delta Development The popular Lagos socialite and well known photographer, Mr. Fola Ajidagba, who died a few weeks ago, will be buried next week at his home town, Ijebu-Ode. He was aged 89.

According to family announcement, funeral service starts on Tuesday, September 5, with service of songs at Trinity House, Ligali Ayorinde St., Victoria Island, Lagos.

Wake keep at Cathedral Church of Our Saviour, ItaOlowojoda, Ijebu-Ode, at 5.00 p.m on Thursday, September 7,

and as a subgroup, make up 20.3 per cent of the population of the sunshine state.

While registering their

Commission (NDDC), Dr Samuel Ogbuku, has reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to partnerships that will accelerate the development of the Niger

Delta region.

Ogbuku, who expressed the commitment yesterday, at the commission’s headquarters in Port Harcourt, said talks were ongoing with local and international entities aimed at speedy development of the region.

The NDDC boss also expressed

gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for the confidence reposed in him by his reappointment as MD/ CEO in the new NDDC Board.

He pledged to vindicate the trust by working assiduously to speed up development of the region.

Ogbuku said: “I am humbled

and honoured by the trust and confidence that Mr President has placed in me by reappointing me as the MD/CEO of the NDDC. I thank him for this rare opportunity to continue to serve the people of the Niger Delta and contribute to the transformation of the region.”

Nasarawa Electoral Commission Slates LG Polls for Next Year Igbawase Ukumba in Lafia

Mr. Fola Ajidagba

The Nasarawa State Independent Electoral Commission (NASIEC) yesterday slated August 31, 2024 for the conduct of local government elections in the state.

Chairman of the commission,

Ayuba Wandai Usman, disclosed this at a press briefing at the commission’s headquarters in Lafia, the capital of Nasarawa State.

Wandai maintained that the council elections has become necessary because tenure of

the present crop of elected local government officials would expire on October 7, 2024 having spent three years in office as provided by the extant laws governing activities of the NASIEC. He said: “You will recall that the commission conducted the

last Local Government Councils elections on Wednesday 6th October, 2021 and the present executives were sworn-in and inaugurated on Friday 8th October, 2021 for a tenure of three years which will end on Monday 7th October, 2024.

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NEWS XTRA

A’Ibom Releases N1bn to Augment WORLD OF ISLAM FG Palliatives, N2bn for Gratuity Unveiling the Deceiver: Nine

Edited by: MJO Mustapha Email deji.mustapha@thisdaylive.com

Okon Bassey in Uyo

Akwa Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno, has announced the release of N1 billion to augment the palliatives package received from the federal government.

He said the state government would commence the distribution of palliatives to residents of the state with effect from September 4, 2023.

Speaking with journalists in Uyo yesterday, the governor also said N2 billion has also been approved for the payment of gratuities to retired teachers in both the state and local government service.

He further affirmed his commitment to the execution of

One Project Per Local Government Area Initiative.

Governor Eno said the gesture was for the state government to ameliorate the suffering of the people as a result of the hardship occasioned by the fuel subsidy removal.

Eno said with the state government’s augmentation, and the 3,000 bags of rice and N2 billion so far received from the federal government, the over 2,270 villages in the state should get at least 50 bags of rice each.

According to him, “We will give to the Hausa community, Yoruba community, Igbo community, Niger Delta community, all of the security services and all other people that may not be able to

get to villages, they are not village people but they are also part of Akwa Ibom State.

“We have approved another line of gratuity to the teachers, we have approved to the local and state governments. The N2 billion is from the state coffers.

“We want to do one project per local government so as to help ensure that we provide jobs for our young people.

“These are the quick fix measures we are doing. Don’t forget this is a short, medium and long term packages.”

On the recent protest by a section of youths in the state, the governor cautioned the youths against being used to foment unrest in the state.

Akinyemi Appointed Neveah’s Chief Financial Officer Kasim Sumaina inAbuja A leading commodity trading company, Neveah Limited, has announced the appointment of Mr. Akinsola Akinyemi as the company’s chief financial officer (CFO) Making the announcement yesterday, the company hinted that Akinyemi is an experienced finance professional with over 12 years of hands-on experience in treasury management, regulatory reporting, financial accounting, performance management, tax

CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly known and addressed as MISS AKINWUNMI OLUWABUNMI VICTORIA, now wish to be known as and addressed as MRS FALARUNU OLUWABUNMI VICTORIA. All former documents remains valid. the General public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as OCHEIDO DEBORAH, now wish to be known as and addressed as OCHEIDO DEBORAH WINNIE. All former documents remains valid. the General public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as OTUU BRIGHT NDIDIAMAKA, now wish to be known as and addressed as OMERI BRIGHT AMAKA. All former documents remains valid. the General public should please take note.

This is to notify the general public that EKWENYE BLESSING OBIAGERI Date of Birth was wrongly written as November 21, 1982 in 2007 WAEC FHUWL¿FDWH DQG November 25, 1982, LQ :$(& FHUWL¿FDWH +RZHYHU the correct Date of Birth is 27th November 1985. The general public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as HENRIETTA IFEYINWA OBO, now wish to be known as and addressed as HENRIETTA IFEYINWA MUOGBO. All former documents remains valid. the General public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as ODUNUGA ABIODUN KUDIRAT, now wish to be known as and addressed as SALIU ABIODUN KUDIRAT. All former documents remains valid. the General public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as ANAEDUM EJIKE PIUS, now wish to be known as and addressed as CHINEDUM EMMANUEL BLESSING. All former documents remains valid. the General public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as OLUDE GBEMISOLA TEMITOPE, now wish to be known as and addressed as KELANI GBEMISOLA TEMITOPE. All former documents remains valid. the General public should please take note.

planning and management with reputable financial institutions in the Nigerian financial services Industry.

A statement released by the Managing Director/CEO of the company, Mr. Ibidapo Lawal, said that Akinyemi is highly skilled at identifying business growth opportunities and has supported notable companies in achieving business expansion. He has an excellent track record of improving

systems and processes.

Akinyemi holds a Bachelor’s degree in management and accounting from ObafemiAwolowo University.

He is an Associate Member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ACA), an Authorised Dealer of the Nigerian Exchange, and an Associate Member of the Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers (ACS).

Benin Traditional Council Clarifies Structure of Traditional Institution Sunday Okobi

The Benin Traditional Council (BTC) has clarified what it described as several misconceptions held by sections of the public about the true structure of the Benin Traditional Institution(BTI) in Edo State.

In a statement signed by Solicitors to the BTC, Prof. Yemi Akinseye-George (SAN) and Prof.

Edoba Omoregie (SAN), and made available to THISDAY yesterday, the Council, which is the only competent traditional council in the seven local government areas of the Edo South senatorial district, stated that there has been serious misunderstanding of the structure of the BTI, as well as the BTC. According to the statement,

CHANGE OF NAME This is to notify the general public that AGHAZIEM PHINA, NWOKENNA PHINA and AGHAZIEM PHINA ODINAKACHUKWU is one and the VDPH SHUVRQ QRZ ZLVK WR EH NQRZQ as AGHAZIEM PHINA ODINAKACHUKWU. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

This is to notify the general public that my name was wrongly written as MICHAEL ALFRED with wrong date of birth of May 18, 1973 on P\ %91 UHJLVWUDWLRQ +RZHYHU P\ correct name is ALFRED MICHAEL BAMIDELE and my correct Date of Birth is May 16, 1973. The general public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as ONYEDIKACHI IBEJIRO, now wish to be known as and addressed as ONYEDIKACHI DAVID UCHECHI. All former documents remains valid. the General public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as MISS AKACHUKWU CHIAMAKA LILIAN, now wish to be known as and addressed as MRS ADIBE CHIAMAKA LILIAN. All former documents remains valid. the General public should please take note.

I OLASELE REBECCA AYOBAMI P\ QDPH ZDV ZURQJO\ written as OLASHILE REBECCA AYOBAMI instead of OLASELE REBECCA AYOBAMI. All forPHU GRFXPHQWV UHPDLQ YDOLG WKH general public should please take note.

“In a necessary bid to correct the false information held about the BTI, the BTC has noted that for the avoidance of doubt, the BTC wishes to clarify that the Oba of Benin is the sole traditional ruler in the seven local government areas constituting Edo South senatorial district.

“These LGAs are in Oredo, Egor, Ikpoba-Okha, Ovia South West, Ovia north East, Orhionmwhon, and Uhunmwonde in Edo State,” it said.

The BTC further explained that all other title holders in the seven local government areas of Edo South senatorial district aforementioned are no more than chiefs appointed by the Oba of Benin.

It noted further that, in particular, “the Enigies in the seven local government areas are classified as chiefs and not traditional rulers.”

Olajide Appointed CEO of Ardova as Adeosun Quits Board of Directors of Ardova Plc (AP), yesterday announced that the company’s chief executive officer (CEO), will be exiting the to pursue new interests and opportunities.

Olu’s resignation as CEO, is effective 31 August 2023, but he has committed to remaining involved with the activities of the company till 31 December 2023 to ensure a seamless transition to the new executive management.

The company said in a statement that Moshood Olajide has now been appointed as managing director(MD) to advance the company’s post-delisting transformation into one of Africa’s leading integrated energy company.

Commenting, Group Executive Chairman, Prudent Group (owners of Ardova Plc), AbdulWasiu Sowami, said: “Ardova is the crown jewel in our portfolio and is in an exciting position to create value in the energy industry, with many opportunities ahead.”

Startling Facts About Satan (III) By: Spahic Omer/IslamiCity Summary: This article describes a number of peculiarities relating to Satan and his relationship with mankind. The description shows that Satan is not what he thinks, or what his adherents think, he is. He is much less than that. He deceives himself as much as others. The article focuses on 9 different themes to prove these points.

The following are nine amazing truths about Satan, which can help us understand him and his world better. They should also make us better prepared to face him and his onslaughts.

Seventh: Satan’s cowardice and fear

Satan is a coward. He pretends to be somebody and strong only when things go his way. However, when the tables are turned on him, he falters.

He cracks under real pressure.

For example, the Prophet (PBUH) said: “When the son of Adam recites a verse of prostration and he prostrates, Satan withdraws and he weeps and he says: ‘Woe to me! The son of Adam was commanded to prostrate and he prostrated, so he will go to Paradise. I was commanded to prostrate and I refused, so I will go to Hellfire’” (Sahih Muslim).

On the eve of the battle of Badr, furthermore, Satan was with the polytheists making their actions pleasing to them. He motivated them by insisting that no one could overcome them on that day from among the people. Above all, he guaranteed them that he was with them and was their protector (al-Anfal, 48).

Satan could sense that the destruction of either party was imminent. Whichever way and outcome, he was set to win. He wanted to make sure that especially the polytheists did not waver, for if the Muslims were to lose, that would signify his double victory. But if the Muslims were to win, he would have at least one victory: the annihilation of the polytheists.

However, when the battle was about to start, Satan displayed his true colors. Having brought his polytheistic “allies” to the point of no return on the path of utter obliteration, he happily betrayed them and left them in the lurch. The Qur’an describes the reaction of Satan as follows: “But when the two armies sighted each other, he turned on his heels and said: ‘Indeed, I am disassociated from you. Indeed, I see what you do not see; indeed I fear Allah. And Allah is severe in penalty’” (al-Anfal, 48).

The above two examples typify the substance of Satan’s life and dealings. The kernel of people’s relationships with him is also on show.

According to the Qur’an, in addition, Satan admitted twice that he fears Allah, the Lord of the worlds, even though he incites people to the opposite (al-Anfal, 48; al-Hashr, 16).

However, that is not the authentic or faithdriven fear. It is a fear caused by Satan’s inherent feebleness and cowardice, in that he knows what awaits him as a result of a deal he had struck with Allah.

Eighth: Satan and shooting stars

Satan and his army try to eavesdrop on Allah’s commands that are transmitted from one group of angels to another throughout the seven heavens.

They snatch what they manage to overhear and carry it to their friends (non-believers, sorcerers, fortune-tellers, and astrologers) to con people.

And when angels see the Jinn doing so, they attack them with meteors.

Once on seeing a meteor shot (shooting star) giving a dazzling light, the Prophet (PBUH) asked his companions what the people used to say in the pre-Islamic days when there was such a shot of meteor. The companions replied that they used to say that very night either a great man had been born or a great man had died. However, the Prophet (PBUH) said that those meteors were shot neither at the death of anyone nor at the birth of anyone. Rather, they were shot because of satans the snatchers of Allah’s commandments and revelations. The Prophet concluded: “If they (the Jinn) narrate only which they manage to snatch that is correct, but they alloy it with lies and make additions to it” (Sahih Muslim).

The same truth is referred to at different places in the Qur’an. The process is called rajm (“stoning” or “pelting someone or something with stones”). Rajm also means “missile” and “meteor.”

Hence, the main attribute of Satan is al-rajim, which is normally translated as “expelled” and “accursed.” However, the root of the word is rajm (stoning).

Believers persistently seek Allah’s protection

against Satan who is al-rajim (both the “accursed” and “stoned” one).

Ninth: Satan and mankind’s time and space

When Allah cursed and expelled Satan from Jannah, Satan, now an outcast, asked for a respite until the Day of Resurrection. He wanted to have more than enough time to excel in his ungodly mission.

However, there was something else in his request.

He asked to be reprieved until the Day people are resurrected, that is after everybody has died and has been brought back to life, after which there will be no more death (al-Hijr, 36). In other words, Satan wanted to cheat Allah by deviously seeking His permission not to die.

He asked for eternity. He schemed to be at least in that particular regard somehow equal with Allah.

He was a mischievous fool. If he was ready yet to trick Allah, one can imagine how far he is ready to go to trick and ruin man. Allah told him that his request was granted, but only until the Day of the time well-known, which is the time appointed for the end of days and for his own death (al-Hijr, 38).

Be that as it may, Satan still got all the time that mankind and life on earth, in general, will have.

Having secured time as an existential dimension, Satan then proceeded to attempt and secure the space dimension as well. With that, he thought, his domination over man will be complete.

He said, outlining his plans: “I will surely sit in wait for them on Your straight path. Then I will come to them from before them and from behind them and on their right and on their left, and You will not find most of them grateful (to You)” (al-A’raf, 16-17).

In a nutshell, Satan swore that he will try every possible course of action, leaving no opportunity unexplored, in his pursuit of people’s lives (their souls, bodies, and minds).

He did not mention that he will come to people from above them. That is so because he has no access to that direction. Allah’s mercy descends from above, and being most exalted and most high are the attributes of Allah alone.

Satan is not qualified to be in correlation with highness and sublimity.

Nor did he say that he will come to people from under them. That is so because it was humiliating for him to say such a thing and to act accordingly.

Didn’t he refuse to fall to the ground and prostrate before Adam? Why should he later do something like that, even if it be most remotely so? Here, too, Satan was wrong. Certainly, it is by means of humility and obedience – personified by believers’ recurring prostration to Allah – that one rises and prospers.

As a result of their regular “going down,” believers constantly keep rising and keep going up. Their truest lives unfold on a vertical axis that connects the terrestrial bases of theirs with the highest points in Heaven.

Owing to this, the Qur’an mentions simultaneously the notion of prostration (sajdah) and the notion of drawing near to Allah (iqtirab).

Believers are explicitly instructed to firstly embrace the former as the cause, then the latter as the effect (al-‘Alaq, 19). The Prophet (PBUH) said that whoever humbles himself for the sake of Allah, Allah will raise him (in status in both worlds). Similarly, whoever is arrogant to Allah, Allah will lower (and humiliate) him (in both worlds) (Sunan Ibn Majah).

Trapped in the matter and blinded by sheer worldly concerns, Satan could not see all that.

Operating on a plain horizontal axis, he cannot even get close to believers, much less influence or dictate their lives.

Satan and believers reside on dissimilar ontological planes. He can mislead and get hold only of such as debase themselves and as such, exchange excellence and sublimity for vice and absurdity.

Allah declares: “Go, for whoever of them follows you, indeed Hell will be the recompense of you - an ample recompense. And incite (to senselessness) whoever you can among them with your voice and assault them with your horses and foot soldiers and become a partner in their wealth and their children and promise them. But Satan does not promise them except delusion. Indeed, over My (believing) servants there is for you no authority. And sufficient is your Lord as Disposer of affairs” (al-Isra’, 63-65).

Concluded

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FRIDAYSPORTS

Group Sports Editor: Duro Ikhazuagbe Email: duro.ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com

0811 181 3083 SMS ONLY

Osimhen’s Napoli Draw Real Madrid, Man Utd Face Bayern Hurdle Group F is ‘Death Zone’ with PSG, AC Milan, Dortmund, Newcastle Duro Ikhazuagbe Victor Osimhen and his Napoli teammates will face tricky trip to Santiago Bernabeu as they were paired with former champions Real Madrid, Braga and Union Berlin in Group C of the UEFA Champions League at the draw made yesterday.

Madrid are 14-time winners of Europe’s most coveted club trophy and will be gunning for their 15th when the group stage season kicks off on September 19.

Osimhen who led Napoli to their third Italian Scudetto after over three decades, scored 26 goals to emerge goal King in the tough Serie A. Despite speculations all through the summer transfer window, the Nigerian international is going to continue from where he stopped for the Neapolitans.

Madrid are the favorites to top the group, leaving Napoli and the other two ‘outsiders’ to battle for the other ticket.

Elsewhere, Arsenal who are back in the competition for the first time since 2016-17, will face PSV Eindhoven and French club RC Lens, along with Europa League

C H A M P I O N S L E AG U E winners Sevilla in Group B, while Manchester City had easy draw in RB Leipzig, Swiss side Young Boys and Red Star Belgrade in Group G. Manchester United on the other hand were drawn against German champions Bayern Munich in a repeat of the 1999 final, with FC Copenhagen and Galatasaray also making up Group A. Along with Atletico Madrid, Celtic will play Lazio and Dutch champions Feyenoord in Group E. Interestingly, Newcastle's long-awaited return to Europe's elite competition has been much anticipated after they finished fourth in the Premier League last season - but their draw could barely have been more difficult.

Eddie Howe's side will play PSG, who reached the final in 2020, and seven-time European champions and last season's semi-finalists AC Milan in Group F. They will also play Borussia Dortmund, who won the competition in 1997 and most recently reached the final 10 years ago.

Sports Minister Vows to Restore Glory of National Stadium, Lagos Kunle Adewale In continuation of his assessment of the state of major sports facilities in the country, Minister of Sports Development, Senator John Enoh, yesterday inspected the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos.

The minister started his inspection from the stadium complex, where he visited the National Institute of Sports, the boxing complex, mainbowl of the stadium, sports medicine centre, indoor sports hall and other facilities.

Other facilities he inspected include the Games Village hostels, Legacy Pitch, Power House, as well as the courts for different sports.

Briefing journalists after the inspection, Enoh said, “this facility built around in 1972 has been put to use functionally, including hosting the 2nd All Africa Games in 1973 and has gone through a lot.

“This should not be the symbol of our sports in a city referred to as a sports city,” he added.

The Minister stated that he will do all it takes to bring back the

glory of the facility, which was once the pride of Africa.

“I am glad that the process towards the concessioning of the facility has gone far. If that is what it will take to restore the glory of this facility, I endorse it 100 per cent.”

Enoh thanked private partners like Alhaji Aliko Dangote and Chief Kessington Adebutu for their contributions towards sports development in the country.

He said Nigeria remains appreciative of their investments in uplifting sports facilities in the country.

Adebutu partnered the Ministry in the revamp of some facilities at the National Stadium, Surulere, while Alhaji Dangote invested in works at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja.

Enoh said the maintenance of the facilities is necessary, not to repeat the mistakes of the past that resulted in decadent infrastructure.

“We must be careful and make something happen quickly, so that the facilities we have working, don’t fall into the same sorry state of shame.”

Group Stage Draw in Full Group A: Bayern Munich, Manchester United, FC

Copenhagen, Galatasaray Group B: Sevilla, Arsenal, PSV Eindhoven, RC Lens Group C: Napoli, Real Madrid, Braga, Union Berlin Group D: Benfica, Inter Milan, Salzburg, Real Sociedad

Group E: Feyenoord, Atletico Madrid, Lazio, Celtic Group F: Paris St-Germain, Borussia Dortmund, AC Milan, Newcastle Group G: Manchester City, RB Leipzig, Red Star

It will be Real Madrid’s Vinicius Jr vs Victor Osimhen when the UEFA Champions League Group C hostilities kick off later this month

Diri Rewards Oborududu, Other Africa Wrestling Championships Medalists Africa Beach Games winners, officials also rewarded in the ‘Naira Rain’ Olusegun Samuel in Yenagoa Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, has announced cash rewards to Olympic silver medalist, Blessing Oborududu, and other wrestlers from the state in the Nigerian contingent that participated in the 2023 Africa Wrestling Championships and the Africa Beach Games in Tunisia.

Senator Diri, who congratulated the athletes for their impressive performance, said they not only made the state proud but also the country as a whole.

The governor particularly applauded Oborududu, the world number two female wrestler and 13-time African champion, for her achievements.

Wrestlers who won gold in the

senior category of the championships got N1.5 million each while silver medalists were given N1 million each. Bronze medalists also got N700,000 each.

In the junior category, Governor Diri rewarded gold medalists with N1 million each and in the senior category of the Africa Beach Games, gold medalists received N1.5 million each.

B R I E F LY. . .

Haaland is UEFA Player of theYear Manchester City forward Erling Haaland has been named UEFA Men’s Player of the Year for the 2022–23 season. The Norwegian edged teammate Kevin De Bruyne and Inter Miami star, Lionel Messi to the award. Haaland joined the Citizens at the start of last season from Borussia Dortmund.

The 22-year-old was instrumental to Manchester City’s success in the Champions League as they defeated Inter Milan 1-0 to win the trophy for the first time in their history.

Haaland scored 36 goals in 35 games for Manchester City last season, winning the highest goal scorer award.

Murray Knocked Out of US Open Andy Murray's hopes of achieving a long-awaited deep run at a Grand Slam were ended by Bulgaria's Grigor Dimitrov in the US Open second round.

Former world number one Murray, 36, lost 6-3 6-4 6-1 against the 19th

seed on Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Murray, who is ranked 37th in the world, has not reached the last 16 of a major since resuming his career after hip surgery in 2019. The Scot also lost in the Wimbledon second round last month.

Belgrade, Young Boys Group H: Barcelona, Porto, Shakhtar Donetsk, Royal Antwerp *The group stages will run from 19 September to 13 December, with the final at Wembley on 1 June.

L-R: Consul and HOC, Consulate General of India, Lagos, Narasimhan Mahesh; President of Nigeria Cricket Federation, Uyi Akpata; and ICC General Manager, (Development), William Glenwright, at the Cricket World Cup Trophy Tour event in Lagos...on Wednesday

Diri also motivated the coach of the state’s wrestling team, who is also a 14-time African wrestling champion, Victor Kodei, with the sum of N2 million while non-medalists got N200,000 each.

According to the governor, "Bayelsa has comparative advantage in certain sports, and wrestling is one of them. We should also be doing well in the area of swimming.

"Our athletes have again brought glory to Bayelsa and Nigeria and on behalf of the Prosperity Government, l congratulate you as champions in Nigeria and now in Africa.

"You have all done well. Let me particularly single out Blessing Oborududu, who continues to make us proud. She is world number two female wrestler and we pray that you become number one before you retire."

Presenting the contingent to the championships, the President, Nigeria Wrestling Federation and Bayelsa State Commissioner for Youths and Sports Development, Daniel Igali, attributed their success to the motivation of the governor.

He expressed optimism that more laurels would be won by the state’s athletes in future championships due to the programmes put in place to develop sports.

Nigeria is a Priority Member of ICC, Says Glenwright The International Cricket Council (ICC) has described Nigeria as a priority member of the Council, given the upswing of cricket activities in the country in recent times.

ICC’s General Manager, Development, William Glenwright, made this remarks at the Tafawa Balewa Cricket Oval during the Lagos leg stopover of the Cricket World Cup Trophy.

According to him, “Nigeria is a

priority member for us, a fast-growing country, and we want to learn from the cricket federation, the board, and the staff and what they are doing that is so successful, so that we can apply that elsewhere in the world for other members to be equally as successful as Nigeria.”

Glenwright is particularly enthused by how Nigeria has been increasing recruitment of school age

kids into the game and the upward progression of both male and female national teams as well as facility developments.

“This is also for us to better understand how the international community can better support Nigeria in their growth and aspirations.

They are very ambitious, they have bright plans for international cricket, and also the development of the

game for men and women. We have a role to play in supporting them on that and this week, we want to see how we can further assist them.”

Earlier, the World Cup Trophy, which was making a second Tour of Nigeria in four years, was in Abuja on Tuesday, where it was received by the Minister for Sports Development, Senator John Eno.

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Falana to Federal Govt

“Section 16 of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Act gives no room for market forces to fix the exchange rate. It is the CBN that shall determine...It is not for the International Monetary Fund (IMF) or World Bank or market forces to fix it” – Human Rights Activist and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Femi Falana, telling the Federal Government that it is wrong to allow market forces and the Bretton Woods Institutions to determine Nigeria’s foreign exchange rate.

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KASSIMAFEGBUA GUEST COLUMNIST

A New Agenda for Akpabio’s Senate

B

y September 26, the Nigerian Senate, headed by Senator Godswill Obot Akpabio, will resume the real business of legislation and lawmaking that would signpost what to expect in the first four years of the Tinubu administration. Before the Senate went on their last recess from plenary proceedings, it was pre-occupied with the screening of those who will synthesise and crystallise the policy direction of the country- the Ministers of the Federal Republic.

Forty-eight ministers were nominated for legislative scrutiny, but only forty-five got the nod to be sworn in as President Tinubu’s wise men and women. On Monday, August 28, the inaugural Federal Executive Council meeting held to set the tone for a constructive take-off of government, in line with the expectations of the people.

President Tinubu unveiled his eight point agenda, which in his own estimation, will deepen governance, enhance livelihood, and also help in pursuing some major targets to cushion the present economic hardship in the country. His eight point agenda, part of which are rule of law, anti-corruption, economic growth, food security and job creation, are expected to breathe new life into the country, according to the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun. These beautiful and laudable agenda albeit, require legislative support to generate the needed impetus in the course of implementation.

Rule of law for example, deserves further interrogation; both in theory and practice; and the greater need to deepen this agendum will boost investors confidence in our economy. Many times, our laws are not respected: There are many judgments and court verdicts that have still not been enforced. Many times these judgments are ridiculed with the orgy of a stay of execution, which lingers on for such a long time that it then kills the morale of the litigant who is in search of justice. The legislature therefore, as a matter of necessity, should deliberately and consciously enact laws that would help the average investor get justice in the event of a disagreement, without going through an almost unending circus route. The slow administration of justice in Nigeria and its seeming never ending span of litigations, are inimical to a clear cut effort at changing the narrative, in our shared commitment to lifting the country from its present economic setbacks. Also, some of our laws need retooling, to suit the contemporary age; artificial intelligence, emotional Intelligence, and the digital economy are becoming handy attractions the world over. We must reform our legal system to accommodate these, and other new dynamics in the adjudication of justice.

The National Assembly must therefore be intelligent in dealing with this agendum, so as to be proactive in its thought-process in trying to inject new laws into our body of laws. The Senate President, who is a lawyer, can deploy his legal background

Akpabio

to stimulating public discourse that would help define new paradigms in our collective effort to improving on what presently obtains.

It is not in doubt that the three arms of government must, as a matter of essence, build and sustain synergies that would show a new and robust symbiotic relationship anchored on cooperation, solidarity, and mutuality. They must see a greater need for an even-handed approach, even in facing contending issues and challenges; serving with a deeper sense of patriotism and nationalism, to build confederal cohesion in order to eliminate the current polarisation and apathy across the country. Tempers are high currently, because of the hardship in the land, occasioned by existential threats; and this cannot be left to linger for too long. The poverty level and its pain is excruciating; serving as a constant reminder that all is not well. The unemployment rate, a worrisome index tells of this pain. The legislature must therefore think outside the box by provoking a public spirited discourse that would yield ground for therapeutic laws and legislations to heal the wounds in the land. The current perception of the National Assembly as a drain pipe, is borne out of the parlous state of affairs in the country.

Under a presidential system of government, those bogus and seemingly large coterie of aides are understandably and instructively desirable, but a clearer explanation of the actions of the legislature is required, to get the buy-in of the citizenry. The needless hoopla which the two million naira allowance to the senator has generated would have been avoided if the people clearly understood how expensive a presidential system of government is, and that allowances paid to lawmakers are statutory incentives captured in the laws. The salaries and wages of lawmakers are defined and fixed by the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) having factored in all the variables and templates to that effect.

The Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, has not at all done badly in his first two months of presiding over the Senate.

The seamless screening of the ministers lends credence to Akpabio’s understanding of party loyalty and the executive and legislative cooperation that is needed to foster its constructive and pragmatic engagement.

The 45 ministers cleared have since been sworn-in, and the President has given a marching order to them to generate ideas, create initiatives and open new vista of opportunities that would be supportive of the concerted efforts at rescuing the country from its present doldrums. As I have said publicly before, it still bears repeating that all hands must be on deck to get the ship of state sailing in the right direction for the benefit of a greater majority of Nigerians. Things like the issue of tax reforms is very important.

The tax laws deserve some examination to bring them up to speed with government’s goal of making tax payment flexible and revenue-driven, while blocking short-cuts and sharp practices.

In Kaduna State, tax payment is effectively conducted using a single code system. Such a unified approach to tax payment helps to check the negotiated and dubious transactions by the tax officers. The Tax Reform Committee set up by government is already making effort in that direction; but they also need to collaborate with the National Assembly to alter the existing laws to accommodate new approaches to tax payment.

It is good news to hear government talk about its planned collaboration with the National Assembly, and the Senate President talking about cooperation with the Executive Arm of government, to drive lofty initiatives that would impact meaningfully on the wellbeing of our people. Indeed, the three arms of government should come up with reforms that would strengthen the governance structure, and design a new work culture and ethics that would stimulate genuine and enthusiastic involvement in service and governance. Such reforms and synergies would help each arm create a buffer zone where ideas could be distilled and cross pollinated.

It is hoped that the Senate under Godswill Akpabio, would see the bigger picture of a country in these challenging times, rise to the occasion in a more holistic manner; without dishonesty and dubiety, for the benefit of us all today, and for posterity.

Lawmaking is not just a healthy process of generating rules and regulations for the good governance of the country, it is an indulgence that is at the heart of responsible governance with knack for justice, rule of law and for the good of ALL the people.

Every healthy society encourages her citizens through national orientation and attitudinal renewal to participate fully in how they are governed. By Deepening democracy, the rule of law and due process are also strengthened.

The National Assembly should encourage serious advocacy in synthesising legislations and its enactments for citizens buy-in. An informed society, understanding the rationale for government’s decisions, is usually ready

to show cooperation in its implementation mechanism.

The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio has shown a remarkable understanding of what the issues are, and his conduct thus far has shown the shape of things to come. His interventions show a mastery of legislative procedure in the way and manner befitting of his office. Cheerful, constructive; yet soft, able to lighten the burden of work with regular quips, all make Akpabio a delight anyday. His loyalty to the Nigerian state is not at all in doubt, and his respect for the Tinubu-led presidency is palpable. We need him to take discussions further though; he needs to use his talents to win back the confidence of the public and to eliminate the perception of the National Assembly being a rubber stamp. The previous Senate, under Senator Ahmed Lawan, was seen as more of a see-no-evil, do-no-evil, kind of institution.

It was a dogmatic Senate that was given to the whims of former President Buhari.

That Senate never saw anything wrong with Buhari or his ways. We heard that President Tinubu, during the inaugural meeting of the Federal Executive Council, told the ministers that he is open to correction, and is ready to learn more from any one who has a superior or different argument or position from his.

That declaration has opened a window for more legislative interrogation of governmental policies without being adversarial. A critical examination of scenarios and issues will yield ground for enriching the governance process.

The Senate must lead the chart in this aspect to win back the hearts of the citizenry.

Finally, the public believe that the financial transactions in the National Assembly are opaque; the reason why soundbites of anything associated with finances, are often temper-raising. Senator Akpabio has already set the tone on the path of transparency, by publicly declaring that the senators should expect their allowances which are statutorily guaranteed. This, some of the senators didn’t like. Openness and transparency are some of the ingredients needed to win public confidence, and is a veritable tool for injecting a new thought process into the lawmaking business. Lawmaking anywhere in the world is no tea party. The job is tasking and it is expected and welcome that the Assembly members will be remunerated; but people want to know. We know that taking action on bills, resolutions, amendments, motions, nominations, and dealing with lobbyists are all quite tasking; doing this job is how the members distinguish themselves. This Senate must show that its members are worth their salt and run away from the rubber stamp perception currently being held. As the Senate prepares to resume, a brand new “uncommon” transformation is expected, a typical Akpabio’s utility-driven leadership that will rally round the country for optimum service delivery.

We need something “different”, something profound, in line with Akpabio’s record of performance.

•Afegbua is a former Commissioner for Information, Edo State

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