SATURDAY 2ND SEPTEMBER 2023

Oil Production Hits 1.6mbpd, Petrol Consumption Falls by 30% Edun: Tinubu administration will incentivise funds in domiciliary accounts to rejuvenate economy Ndubuisi Francis in Abuja The Group Managing Director (GMD) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mele

Kyari, happily announced to the nation yesterday that oil production had ramped up to 1.6 million barrels per day by last Wednesday, from a very poor position of less

than one million bpd some months ago.

Kyari, who disclosed this at a media briefing by the Minister of Finance and Co-ordinating Minister of the

Economy, Olawale Edun, in Abuja yesterday, also added that petrol consumption had declined by 30 per cent following the removal of subsidy by President Bola

Tinubu.

At the briefing, Edu announced that the Tinubu administration is aiming to attract Nigerians’ funds held in domiciliary accounts in the

country and those held abroad to rejuvenate the economy.

According to Kyari, the reduction in fuel demand Continued on page 5

Despite Challenges, GTCO Declares N327bn PBT for Half Year 2023...

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Subsidy Removal: NLC Begins Nationwide Warning Strike Tuesday Workers to down tools for 2 days, FG gets 21-day ultimatum to resolve dispute Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja The Nigeria Labour Congress,

NLC, has threatened to cripple Nigeria’s economy starting with a two-day warning strike

next week over unresolved issues around the removal of petrol subsidy by the federal

government.

The warning strike which will take place on Tuesday

and Wednesday next week is expected to “culminate into a total strike if after 21 days, the

government failed to resolve Continued on page 5

Tinubu to UN: Provide Practical Support to Nigeria in War against Terrorists Global bloc to host counter-terrorism summit in Abuja April next year Deji Elumoye in Abuja President Bola Tinubu yesterday charged the United Nations (UN) to provide necessary support to Nigeria in its fight against terrorism, noting that growth and prosperity cannot be achieved if the menace persists.

Speaking while playing host to the Under-Secretary General of the United Nations Office on Counter-Terrorism, Mr. Vladimir Voronkov, at the State House, Abuja, the President noted that terrorism had consistently reversed the gains on development and increased instability in families and communities, but that UN's cooperation in dealing with it, had always been inconsistent and whimsical in the developing world context.

Tinubu said UN's practical support is now more required

in view of the menace's rippling effect on global peace, displacements of people, and rising poverty.

The President said: “We appreciate all that you have been doing. We know that in the face of many demands and challenges, you can still do much better. We can score you ‘A’ in collaboration but ‘B’ in physical support. You have to do more because terrorism is an effective danger to democracy; terrorism is also an effective danger to development.

“Growth and prosperity cannot be achieved until we banish terrorism. We have to equally look at other sides of the issue, and I have said it is the where, how, and when of terrorism."

The President noted that in Continued on page 5

UK,World Bank, AfDB Support as Enugu WITH LOVE FROM FINLAND… The Deputy Mayor of the City of Tampere (Finland) Ilkka Sasi, with the Queen of Warri Kingdom, Olori Atuwatse III, during the signing of a Memorandum Moves to Actualise $30bn Economy...Page 9 L-R: of Understanding to strengthen exchange and cooperation in the area of education between Warri and Tampere City, in Finland…yesterday

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Despite Challenges, GTCO Declares N327bn PBT for Half Year 2023 Kayode Tokede Amid numerous challenges in the financial sector, Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc (GTCO), yesterday announced N327.40 billion Profit Before Tax in the audited half year ended June 30, 2023, an increase of 2217.09 per cent from N103.25 billion reported in prior half year ended June 30, 2022.

The lender on the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) also announced N280.48 billion Profit After Tax in H1 2023, an increase of 261.63 per cent from N77.56 billion reported in H1 2022.

The Group had reported Profit Before Tax of N214.2 billion in the 2022 financial year, representing 3.3 per cent dip from N221.5 billion posted in the corresponding year ended December 2021 on the back of N35.6 billion impairment recognised on Ghanaian sovereign securities.

It bounced back in first quarter of (Q1) 2023 with N74.1 billion Profit Before Tax, representing an increase of 36.5 per cent over N54.3 billion recorded in the

corresponding period ended March 2022 The increase in profits was driven by N672.60 billion gross earnings in H1 2023, an increase of 239.29 per cent from N239.29 billion in H1 2022.

With the significant increase in profits, the management of GTCO declared N0.50 per share interim dividend in H1 2023 as against N0.30 per share declared in H1 2022.

However, dividend yield dropped to 1.32 per cent in H1 2023 from 1.51 per cent in H1 2022 and it is coming on the backdrop of N38 stock price as at September 1, 2023.

Financial statement of GTCO showed a N8.51 trillion total assets as at June 30, 2023, an increase of 49.66 per cent from N5.69 trillion reported in 2022 financial year and it is driven by N7.31 trillion total liabilities as of June 30, 2023 from N4.84 trillion reported in 2022 financial year.

When the group released Q1 2023 unaudited results, the Group Chief Executive Officer of GTCO, Mr. Segun Agbaje, in a statement said, “Despite severe headwinds,

Donald Trump’s Election Fraud Trial for Livestreaming Former United States President, Donald Trump’s trial in Georgia over charges of election fraud will be livestreamed and televised, a judge has ruled.

All the hearings will be available live on Fulton County Court’s YouTube channel, said Judge Scott McAfee yesterday.

Though, proceedings in Fulton County’s courts are usually live streamed, it will be the only one of Trump’s four trials that will be broadcast and could be one of the most watched trials in recent years.

A date for the trial has not yet been set, but it could be next year when Trump is running for re-election.

The former President and

18 people are charged with a conspiracy to overturn the state’s 2020 presidential election results. He is also facing three other criminal trials.

Prosecutors allege that he pressured Georgia officials to reverse the results of the election in the state, which he lost to Democrat Joe Biden.

Central to the prosecution’s case is a phone call he made to the state’s secretary of state to “recalculate” the vote tally.

Trump, last week turned himself in at Fulton County Jail and had his mugshot taken. He has waived the right to appear in court next Wednesday at his arraignment, a short hearing at which the plea is officially entered in court.

TINUBU TO UN: PROVIDE PRACTICAL SUPPORT TO NIGERIA IN WAR AGAINST TERRORISTS going forward, global peace and prosperity would demand the swift and comprehensive provision of the right answers to the challenge posed by insurgencies in parts of the world, which threaten universal stability.

“We must take into account the basic needs of our people.

If out of the meagre resources presently available, we have to dip our hands without the steady support from organisations like the UN, then we are in trouble," President Tinubu stressed.

Earlier in his remarks, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, said he had highlighted some of the conditions that promote insurgency like poverty and injustice with the UN team while noting the Nigerian government's response.

“Nigeria continues to make significant investments in education and social security," he said.

While commending

Nigeria's contributions toward global counter-terrorism efforts, the Under-Secretary General noted that Nigeria already had a framework on prevention, mitigation, and reconciliation, commending the efforts taken so far in tackling terrorism.

“Of course, terrorism is part of the international agenda, and we had a successful meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, discussing how to enrich our agenda on international terrorism response. I can only mention that politically, and from the point of view of capacity building on activities for counter terrorism, Nigeria is one of the leading partners," he added.

Voronkov told President Tinubu that the UN was planning a Counter-Terrorism Summit in Abuja slated for April 2024, and it would be largely driven by African nations with an African agenda.

we delivered a decent performance, recording growth across key revenue lines. “We are also not relenting in our resolve to better outcomes for people

and businesses within our financial ecosystem.”

He added, “2023 is shaping up to be another interesting year. Some of the challenges from the past few years

are still lingering, and uncertainties ahead would test the resilience of most economies and businesses.

“We are confident in our positioning as a thriving

financial services company underpinned by strong business fundamentals and will continue to benefit from a well-diversified earnings base.”

SUBSIDY REMOVAL: NLC BEGINS NATIONWIDE WARNING STRIKE TUESDAY the dispute over palliatives to cushion the impact of fuel price hike.”

President Bola Tinubu, in his inaugural address on May 29, removed the subsidy on petrol, resulting in the product selling at a high of between N568 and N630 now.

The warning strike decision was reached at the National Executive Council, NEC, meeting of the Congress on Thursday.

A communique released by the NLC, jointly signed by its National President, Joe Ajaero and Secretary, Emmanuel Ugboaja, said it decided to take the decision following the failure of the Tinubu government to enter into dialogue and engage stakeholders within the organised labour on efforts to cushion the effects of the removal of petrol subsidy “on the masses”.

The organised labour had in August staged a one-day protest which grounded activities in major cities across the country.

While listing some of the other reasons why it would mobilise its members for the

nationwide shutdown, the NLC accused the Nigeria Police of laying siege to the national headquarters of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), alleged exploitation of the rights of workers in Imo State, interference in trade union matters by the Abia State Government and the proposed demolition by the new Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, among others.

Addressing journalists yesterday on the resolutions

by NEC, Ajaero said, "NEC in session of NLC resolved to embark on a total and indefinite shutdown of the nation within 14 working days or 21 days from today until steps are taken by the government to address the excruciating mass suffering and the impoverishment experienced around the country.

“To commence a two-day warning strike on Tuesday and Wednesday, 5th and 6th September 2023 to demonstrate our readiness for the indefinite strike later in the month and to also demand that the state

vacates the illegally occupied national headquarters of the National Union of Road Transport Workers."

Ajaero explained that the federal government had refused to engage and reach an agreement with the organised labour “on critical issues on the consequences of the unfortunate hike in prices of petrol which has unleashed massive suffering on Nigerian workers and masses.”

He said, "There is a renewed onslaught against trade unions and its leadership by the states and its agents across Nigeria. The Police under the instruction of certain forces peddling the name of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria invaded and illegally occupied the national headquarters of the NURTW seeking to install its own executive."

In the communique, the NLC further resolved, “To embark on a mass protest and rally in Imo State within this month of September 2023 in preparation for a major shutdown of the state to compel the state government to stop the abuse and violation

of the rights and privileges of workers and trade unions in the state.

“To begin the shutdown of the operations of Air Peace Airline and other companies in the aviation sector that are involved in serial violation of the rights of workers in the sector to freedom of association and to collectively bargain and organise.

“To call on communities around the nation to stop taking the law into their own hands but report to the authorities for amicable resolution any matter involving members of the Amalgamated Union of Food Stuffs and Cattle Dealers of Nigeria which is one of our affiliates.

“To demand that the new Minister of the Federal Capital Territory desists from threatening poor masses in the FCT with demolition of their properties built from their years of toil but should focus more on making houses available to the people. He is not a Minister of Demolition and should be prepared to meet Nigerian workers and citizens on the street if he carries out his insensitive utterances.”

OIL PRODUCTION HITS 1.6MBPD, PETROL CONSUMPTION FALLS BY 30% from about 66.7 million litres daily before the removal of subsidy to about 46 million currently also meant a 30 percent reduction in NNPCL’s demand for foreign exchange to import fuel.

The NNPCL GMD also explained that the $3 billion deal with the African ExportImport Bank (AFREXIM) was not a loan but a forward sale arrangement, and has not collapsed.

Earlier, Edun said Nigerians have huge funds at home and abroad which could be deployed to rejuvenate the economy, and so, the Tinubu administration is aiming to attract such funds owned

by Nigerians in domiciliary accounts in the country and abroad.

With such huge forex potential in Nigeria and abroad, Edun noted that the administration could leverage on deploying such into the revitalisation of the economy, adding that the government was working towards providing the needed environment to attract such funds into the Nigerian economy.

He said: “What we can see is that really, there are quite substantial sources of foreign exchange in Nigeria.

There is a lot of cash outside the system, which if brought into the system, increases the money supply of dollars, increases reserves and so forth.

“There are funds in domiciliary accounts, which if you give people the incentives, they will utilise those for investment in Nigeria.

Nigerians in Nigeria have huge holdings of foreign currency in banks abroad, in financial institutions abroad.

“We need to provide the environment that brings those

funds home for investment in the Nigerian economy rather than foreign economies, which is what they are doing right now.

“Nigerians living and working abroad, who of course, have their families here and who are interested in keeping a presence here; we have to encourage them to be willing to save in Nigeria, perhaps by improving payment mechanisms and so on and so forth; so, we have to do a lot to aim at them.”

On palliatives, Edun said the federal government had released only N2 billion from the N5 billion grant/loan it offered to each state as a palliative to cushion the impact of the petrol subsidy removal.

In August, the federal government announced a N5 billion palliative package for each state of the federation, including the federal capital territory (FCT), to cushion the impact of the removal of the petrol subsidy.

Edun said the government is aware of the potential negative consequences of releasing all of the palliative funds at once, “so it decided to release them gradually.

The minister said: “And of course, although the sum of N5 billion is earmarked, you will agree with me that to release such funds across all the states all at once will be self-defeating because it will lead to an inflationary spiral. It will lead to the cost of goods being sold going up and it will affect the exchange rate.”

Edun acknowledged the hardship faced by Nigerians occasioned by the fiscal reforms undertaken by the current administration, assuring that the tough times would be temporary but

necessary steps to guarantee a better tomorrow.

According to him, “Until benefits of removal of subsidy feed through, and until the NNPCL’s revenue from oil production goes up, there is a challenge to balance the books, particularly in terms of foreign exchange."

Giving further insight into the direction President Tinubu is headed, Edun said that the present administration would eliminate borrowing to finance recurrent expenditure, noting that any borrowing to be undertaken would be to finance capital projects.

He said: "We are coping with a lot and we are doing the best we can under very difficult circumstances. But to have to cope with credit rating agencies working as if nothing has changed, not realising the kind of shocks we are suffering, and assessing us and downgrading us for factors external to us, even when we are putting our best efforts, we think it is a situation we realise we can’t change.

"We are not where we should be; the economy is barely growing above the rate of population growth.

But it was not always so and I think in trying to see the way forward, if we look back, if we now have a situation of slow growth, double digit inflation, weak depreciating exchange rate, as well as security concerns that is resulting in an economy that is not growing; that is not lifting our Nigerians out of poverty.”

The minister said the current administration intends to increase revenue.

In achieving this, he said tax revenues will improve, leakages will be avoided, as well as the effective

management of debt so that borrowings can be properly serviced.

The minister said: “The key is to increase revenues so that the government has enough funding to carry out its obligations and to stabilise the economy as a whole.

“On one hand, it is by increasing tax revenue, not by increasing taxes necessarily, but by bringing greater efficiency.

“We have with us the chairman of the tax reform committee and it aims to bring greater efficiency to cut leakages and maximise the legitimate revenue that should come to the government.

“Likewise, in order to gain and build public trust, there will be an emphasis on efficiency in government expenditure, and similarly, effective debt management, so that borrowing is linked to it, the return on investment.

You borrow and you will see the cash flow that will repay that borrowing.

“Overall, I would say Mr. President is going to deliver a better life to Nigerians by encouraging investment that increases productivity, that brews the economy and thereby creates jobs and reduces poverty.

“The key priorities are to improve the lives of Nigerians by providing food security by ending poverty.

“Utilising our human resources - our vast, capable human resources - by focusing on inclusivity (women, youth) and making all have the opportunity to contribute to prosperity and likewise focusing on security, rule of law, and corruption. He (Tinubu) intends to create a fairer, safer playing field for all.”

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ SEPTEMBER 2, 2023

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News Editor Charles Ajunwa 09157401421 (sms only) Email charles.ajunwa@thisdaylive.com

Atiku Extols PDP At 25, Says Party Will Bounce Back Chuks Okocha in Abuja

Former Vice President and the 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has congratulated his party for attaining 25 years and impacting positively on Nigeria’s socio-economic and political development.

A statement signed by the media office of Atiku, quoted him to have

said that “the PDP is the progenitor of our contemporary democracy, and therefore, the party shall ensure that democracy does not only survive in Nigeria, but that the country thrives through it.”

According to Atiku, “being one of the founding fathers of our great party, the Peoples Democratic Party, I take great pride in having participated in the process of nurturing the

party from infancy to a deliberate agency of socio-political and economic development in Nigeria.

“In the 16 years that the PDP was at the helm of affairs in our country, the party offered quality leadership through

various administrations and the achievements recorded in those 16 years have remained the benchmark for positive growth in our economy and other critical areas of our national life.

“Of course, the PDP took

leading role in the deconstruction of military rule in Nigeria, and the peculiarities of our contemporary experiences both within Nigeria and other countries in Africa demand that the PDP should, once again, rise to the occasion in cancelling the economic hardship

and other structural deficiencies that directly bear negatively on our people in the past nearly eight and half years.

“I have every confidence that the PDP will bounce back to give Nigerians a responsive government,” Atiku said.

2,000 Persons to Benefit from Alake’s 80th Birthday Health Screening James Sowole in Abeokuta No fewer than 2,000 persons will benefit from the free health screening and treatment in commemoration of the 80th birthday of the paramount ruler of Egbaland and Alake, Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo.

The screening and treatment will hold on September 11 and September12, 2023, at Alake Palace while free eye screening will take place on September 13 at the Centenary Hall.

The health screening and treatment were part of activities highlighted at a news conference, where a week-long programme of activities marking the monarch’s birthday were unveiled.

The Chairman of the Alake 80th Birthday Planning Committee and the Aro of Egbaland, Chief Oluyinka Kufile, addressed journalists on the monarch’s health programmes to mark his birthday.

He said patients would be screened, treated and given drugs while arrangements would be made for those that require surgeries at a later date.

Kufile said specialists and general practitioners from teaching

hospitals and advanced medical centres had been contacted for the health programmes that would be for all ages.

Highlighting other programmes of the celebration, Kufile said chieftaincy investiture to recognise the contributions of eminent Egba sons and daughters and wellmeaning individuals to Egbaland, Ogun State and Nigeria, would take place on September 8 and September 15, 2023 at Ake Palace.

Kufille said a major programme of interest to the celebrant is the turning of the sod and the foundation laying ceremony of the New Abeokuta City Hall.

He said in accordance with Alake’s belief that in seven years’ time, when the Abeokuta settlement marks 200 years, it would be befitting for the edifice to have been completed.

Other activities planned for Alake’s birthday are marathons race, book launch, traditional homages by clubs and associations and Christian and Islamic thanks giving services.

Kufile disclosed that adequate security arrangements had been made for all the programmes, saying all security agencies had been contacted for all events.

No LG Allocation Missing, JAAC Members Tell Ogun Assembly James Sowole in Abeokuta Members of the Joint Account and Allocation Committee (JAAC) in Ogun State have denied the allegation of fund diversion against the state government.

They told members of the state House of Assembly that every fund approved by the Committee consisting of stakeholders passed through the accounts of the various local government councils.

The committee members, who appeared before the lawmakers, included the state’s Accountant General, Mr. Tunde Aregbesola, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Dr. Rotimi Akinlesi, Chairman, Association of Local Government Chairmen and Chairman, Ijebu Ode Local Government Council, Tunde Emiola Gazal, Chairman, Association of Local Government Pensioners, Pastor Benedict Ademoye and representatives of SUBEB among others.

They explained that the process of fund administration for JAAC takes place monthly at a meeting that included the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs and his Permanent Secretary, the 20 local government chairmen, the Commissioner for Finance, the state’s Accountant General, the President and SecretaryofNULGE, representativesofTraditional Councils in the state, Local Government Service Commission, Bureau of Local Government Pension and representatives of LG Pensioners amongst others.

They added that it was at the meeting that all first-line charges including primary school teachers’ salaries,LGpensions, traditional council, leave bonuses and check-off dues of labour unions are aggregated among the LG chairmen and payment made.

According to them, there were instances when the state government had to augment the shortfall to allow all the local governments to take care of all their first-line charges.

THINKING ECONOMY… L-R: Chairman, Board of Directors of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG), Mr. Niyi Yusuf and President Bola Tinubu, during Yusuf’s visit to brief the President on the coming 29th Nigerian Economic Summit...Thursday.

Ngige’s Community Protests Removal of Monarch by Soludo David-Chyddy Eleke in Awka The kinsmen of former Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, in Alor, Idemili South Local Government Area of Anambra State have protested a pronouncement by the state government stopping its monarch, Igwe MacAnthony Okonkwo from parading himself as one of the recognised traditional rulers.

The state government had through a letter by the Attorney General of the state, Mrs. Chika Ifemeje, called on

the traditional ruler to cease parading himself as traditional ruler.

Indigenes of the community, under the aegis of Concerned Citizens of Alor community, who addressed a press conference at the Anambra NUJ secretariat in Awka, the state capital, said some indigenes of the community were fomenting trouble to get at the monarch.

Spokesperson of the group, Rev. Innocent PeaceUdochukwu, said the community is peaceful, save for few people who he described

as disgruntled elements.

“It should be known that the court cases are still ongoing, including that of the Appeal Court of which no ruling had been made.

“We’re using this medium to call on the court to fairly and expeditiously resolve this matter, and we urge all members of our community and indeed, friends of Ndi-Alor to reject the misinformation being spread and to support our monarch during this challenging time.

“This conflict has deep

roots, dating back to about nine years. And it’s driven by a small group of individuals who seek to gain power and influence by sowing seeds of division and discrediting the monarch despite every effort being made to reach a peaceful resolution to the unwarranted crisis.

“Their selfish actions are disrespectful to the community and its rich history, and undermine the stability and prosperity of the community as a whole,” he said.

Tinubu Approves 5m Eyeglasses for Nigerians Deji Elumoye in Abuja President Bola Tinubu has declared his unwavering support for a partnership between the Federal Ministry of Health’s National Eye Health Programme and the Peek Vision Foundation to provide more than five million pairs of eyeglasses to Nigerians with sight impairments.

The President, according to a release issued yesterday by his Media Adviser, Ajuri Ngelale, stated emphatically “I am in support of this initiative, and I will encourage the mobilisation of further commitment to see this through and to reach vulnerable people all across our country. Some parents may not pay attention to this, but I will, because I am touched.”

He recounted how close to home his first intervention in eye health was as he made a pledge on behalf of the federal government during a courtesy

visit by the Founder and CEO of Peek Vision Foundation and Co-Founder of the Vision Catalyst Fund, Prof. Andrew Bastawrous.

President Tinubu recalled, “My first experience was with my mother of blessed memory. She was ill and she could not recognise me. When I intervened, she was treated and given a pair of glasses. The next question she asked me was: I have you, and you are able to do this for me. What about those other women and their children who may not have somebody like you to intervene for them?

“So I made a promise to her that I will pursue the mass provision of eye care vigorously and that I would provide free eye screenings and surgeries to people because of that question my mother asked me and because of her passion to see others healed.

We eventually impacted the eye

health of millions of people in Lagos, and you could see their joy over the immediate sight enhancements when they were given a pair of glasses.”

Highlighting the pressing need for improved eye health services in Nigeria, the President expressed concern about the more than 24 million Nigerians grappling with varying degrees of vision impairments.

According to him, “We must act now because sight and vision is critical to economic development and growth,” the President said, recalling his visionary “Jigi Bola” programme, which was initiated during his tenure as the Executive Governor of Lagos State in 2001 and provided free eye screenings and surgeries to Lagosians while setting a new precedent for proactive eye care initiatives in West Africa.

Expressing his commitment to the course, Prof. Bastawrous said: “Good vision unlocks

human potential. It improves earning, learning, and wellness for individuals, communities, and countries.”

He also shared his personal story and the transformative power of vision care: “When I was 12, I was told by my teachers that I was clumsy and lazy, but the results of an eye exam explained I had very poor vision. And when I put on a pair of glasses, I saw the leaves on a tree for the first time, and my life completely changed and two weeks later, I was using my first pair of free eye glasses and I saw stars clearly for the first time. My grades improved, and the trajectory of my life completely changed, all because of a very cheap intervention that is 700 years old. Had that not happened, I would not be standing in front of you today.

I would not be a professor, and I would not be involved in the work I am doing because sight gives opportunity.”

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Tinubu, Others Rejoice with Shettima at 57 Deji Elumoye and Sunday Aborisade in Abuja

President Bola Tinubu has rejoiced with Vice President Kashim Shettima as he clocks 57 today.

According to a statement

issued yesterday by presidential Spokesperson, Ajuri Ngelale, “President Tinubu joined family, friends and associates of the former Governor of Borno State in giving thanksgiving to God for the sustained grace of wisdom,

NEITI: Federation Inflows Declined 23% in Q2, 2023 Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja The Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) has disclosed that revenue inflows to the local government councils, states and the federal government declined by 23 per cent in the second quarter of this year.

The three tiers of government in Nigeria also shared a total of N4.37 trillion from the Federation Account as statutory revenue allocations between January and June 2023, NEITI stated.

The information was contained in the latest report by NEITI on the Federation Account revenue allocations for the first half of the year, a statement by the organisation noted last night.

The Executive Secretary of NEITI, Dr. Ogbonnanya Orji, who announced the release of the report at the NEITI House, Abuja, said total distributable FAAC allocations to the three tiers of government in the first and second quarters of 2023 stood at over N2.32 trillion and N2.04 trillion respectively.

The NEITI quarterly review revealed that inflows into the Federation Account in the second quarter of 2023 declined by 23 per cent, a situation which affected the distributable revenue which fell by 12 per cent when compared with the total revenue disbursed in the first quarter.

Each tier of government received more than N1 trillion over the sixmonth period, it said.

A breakdown of the revenue receipts showed that the federal

government received about N1.78 trillion, or 40.7 per cent, while the state governments received N1.5 trillion, or 34.5 per cent, and the local government councils, N1.08 trillion or 24.8 per cent of the total distributable revenue for the period.

NEITI further disclosed that a comparative analysis of the total allocations on a year-on-year basis in the corresponding quarters of 2022 and 2023 showed that the distributable revenue of N4.366 trillion shared by the three tiers of government between January and June 2023 was higher by about 16.7 per cent from about N4.05 trillion shared in the corresponding period in 2022.

Consequently, the report revealed that the allocation received by the federal government over the period under review increased by 19.8 per cent to N1.78 trillion in 2023, from the N1.48 trillion in the corresponding period in 2022.

“Similarly, allocations to the state governments grew by about 11.2 per cent to N1.42 trillion in 2023 from N1.26 trillion in 2022, while allocations to the local government councils rose by 16.8 per cent to N1.08 trillion in 2023, from N926 billion in 2022,” it stated.

The report said the increase in half-yearly allocations in 2023 was consistent with an upward trend from the previous period where the distributable revenue for the first half of the year rose by 16.7 per cent, from N3.47 trillion between January and June 2021 to N4.05 trillion in the corresponding period in 2022.

NDDC Management Board Rejigged Deji Elumoye in Abuja President Bola Tinubu has approved the immediate replacement of the Niger Delta Development Commission’s (NDDC’s) Ondo State Representative nominee, Mr. Victor Akinjo, with a new nominee, Hon. Otito Atikase.

The President, according to a release issued yesterday by his Media Adviser, Ajuri Ngelale,

equally approved the immediate replacement of the NDDC’s Cross River State Representative nominee, Mr. Asi Oku Okang, with Rt. Hon. Orok Otuk Duke.

The statement further said the immediate past Managing Director /Chief Executive Officer of the NDDC, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, who is reappointed for a second term will remain in acting capacity, pending the Senate’s confirmation of his reappointment.

character, compassion and bold leadership demonstrated by the Vice President over his years of service to Nigeria with notable distinction in both the private and public sectors.”

The President extolled Shettima for his undying loyalty to the nation, and his steadfast resolve to improve society throughout an illustrious career, which included service in education as a lecturer at the University of Maiduguri, prior to moving into, and rising meteorically through the banking industry, before accepting to serve Borno State as a commissioner in five different ministries.

President Tinubu also hailed the Vice President for his unusual courage in presiding over Borno State for eight years, during which a deadly insurgency riddled large areas of the North-east.

“This remarkable public servant defied all odds in the region with a ferociously intellectual mind and

The Committee of Vice Chancellors of Federal Universities in the country yesterday denied allegations of offering bribe to members of the House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee investigating job racketeering in federal agencies to obtain favour.

The Vice Chancellors said they were eagerly awaiting the conclusion of the work of the committee as they have confidence that it will help them address the issue of manpower shortage in the universities.

Vice Chancellor, University

of Jos, Prof. Ishaya Tanko, while speaking on behalf of the Vice Chancellors at the committee hearing, said to his best of knowledge, monies that were sent by some Vice Chancellors were meant for a foreign exchange for them to attend international workshop organised for them in Birmingham, the United Kingdom, beginning from Tuesday, September 5, adding that the publisher did not get his facts correct.

According to Tanko, “During our last meeting, we requested for two weeks because some of the universi-

Barau said, “As a banker, he was one of the high flyers in the industry before delving into the political scene where he is contributing immensely to the entrenchment of democracy in the country. “He raised the bar in governance during his tenure as governor of Borno State between 2011 and 2019, despite the security challenges in the state at that time.

“Also, as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Interior (2019 -2023), he worked tirelessly to address the challenges facing agencies under his committee.”

Lawan said Shettima’s contribution to the sustenance of democracy in Nigeria, marks him out to be celebrated for his genuine commitment to national growth and development.

The former Senate President commended the Vice President for raising leaders within and outside the private and public sectors, who all share his vision for a greater Nigeria.

He said, “Your forthrightness and generosity sets you apart from amongst your peers as a fine gentleman, philanthropist and an exceptional leader.”

Kalu, who is the Chairman, Senate Committee on Privatisation and Commercialisation in the 10th Senate, described Shettima as a consummate politician and philanthropist of repute.

He said that Nigeria’s Vice President has consistently demonstrated loyalty, dedication and commitment to the growth and progress of humanity and Nigeria in general.”

Sani in his message said, “Shettima’s contributions to nation building are worthy of commendation and emulation.

“He has consistently demonstrated humility, courage, selflessness and generosity in his pursuits. I urge the Vice President to sustain his good deeds in all facets of life,” he said.

FOR NATION BUILDING...

L-R: President and Chairman of Council, Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Dr. Ike Neliaku; former Adviser on Media and Publicity to President Muhammadu Buhari, Femi Adesina; Chairman, NIPR, Lagos Chapter, Mrs. Comfort Obot Nwankwo and Lead Consultant, Addefort Limited/Conference Convener, Mr. Olabamiji Adeleye, during the 10th Lagos Public Relations Stakeholders’ Conference, Themed, ‘Conversation on Employment Creation and Nation Building’ at Civic Centre, Lagos .....yesterday ABIODUN AJALA

Gwandu Sacked as Head of NASENI, Halilu Takes Over Deji Elumoye in Abuja President Bola Tinubu has approved the termination of the appointment of Dr. Bashir Gwandu as Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Agency for Science and Engineering

Job Racketeering: NUC, Vice Chancellors again Dismiss Bribery Allegation Juliet Akoje in Abuja

an innovative doggedness to solve dynamic problems with dynamic solutions, building high quality leaders and institutions for the sustainably developing future of Borno State.”

The President prayed for the continued well-being of the quintessential political leader and his family. Also, the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau Jibrin; President of the 9th Senate, Senator Ahmad Lawan; Chief Whip of the 9th Senate, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, and the Chairman, Senate Committee on Finance, Senator Sani Musa, have congratulated Shettima on the occasion of his 57th birthday.

The senators in their various statements, said the Vice President, who was born in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, on September 2, 1966, has made indelible progressive marks in both private and public spheres of the country to the admiration of all.

ties did not come with some of the documents required from them. But we read the very disturbing media publication and I can say that the Vice Chancellors are not part of that. The Vice Chancellors have not provided any bribe to anybody. What I recalled happened was that the next day, there was a workshop for the Vice Chancellors and because there is another international workshop organised for CVCNU, I recalled that a number of people were looking for estacode in form of foreign exchange that will enable them travel.

Infrastructure (NASENI).

A release issued yesterday by presidential spokesperson, Ajuri Ngelale, announced the termination of the tenure of Dr. Gwandu as EVC/ CEO of NASENI. In his place, the President approved the

appointment of 32-yearold Khalil Suleiman Halilu as the new Executive Vice Chairman and CEO of NASENI. By his appointment, Halilu will serve for an initial term of five years in accordance with the relevant sections of the

NASENI Act, 2014.

The appointee is expected to bring his significant experience as an innovator and technology expert to bear in this important new national assignment.

By the directive of the President, the appointment takes immediate effect.

Nigeria’s High Commissioner to UK Recalled Michael Olugbode in Abuja Nigeria has recalled her High Commissioner to United Kingdom, Ambassador Sarafa Tunji Isola.

The reason for his recall could not be ascertained at the time of filing the report yesterday night.

In the letter of his recall signed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, dated 31st August, 2023, the recalled ambassador is asked to report back to Abuja.

The letter reads: “I have the honour to notify you of Mr. President’s decision to recall you, signaling the end of your tenure

as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to theUnited Kingdom.

“By this communication, you are now expected to commence the propose of winding down your affairs, and take formal leave of your host government within sixty days and to return to Nigeria by 31st October, 2023 at the latest.

“I seize this opportunity to express Mr. President’s appreciation for the service you have rendered in your capacity as Nigeria’s Ambassador and Principal Representative in United

Kingdom.

“While looking forward to welcoming you in Abuja on your return, please allow me to join Mr. President in thanking your Excellency for your exemplary leadership and service to Nigeria.

I wish you God’s continued guidance in your future endeavours.

“Please accept, Your Excellency, the assurance of my highest consideration.”

Confirming the authenticity of the letter, the Special Adviser to the Minister of Foreign Affairs on Media, Al-Kashim Abdul-Kadir, told our correspondent that the letter was from the minister.

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER SEPTEMBER 2, 2023

9

NEWS Speaker Decries Gunmen’s Killing, Abduction of 3 in Ekiti Gbenga Sodeinde in Ado Ekiti

SERVING HUMANITY… L-R: Director of Public Image, Rotary Club of Ikeja, Rotary International District 9110, Rotarian Segun Adebowale; Hope Secretary, Chigozie Ehirim; Guest Speaker and Chief Executive Officer, Heckerbella Limited, Yemi Keri; Hope President, Rotarian Emeka Ibe; Youth Service Director, Rotarian Osato Osawaye and Membership Director, Rotarian Boyo Tsewo, at An Afternoon with CEOs organised by the Rotary Club at the Lagos Airport Hotel, Ikeja to celebrate the Membership Month.

UK, World Bank, AfDB Support as Enugu Moves to Actualise $30bn Economy Eromosele Abiodun

The United Kingdom (UK), the World Bank, African ExportImport Bank (AfriExim), African Development Bank (AfDB), United Kingdom Department for Business and Trade, and the Infrastructure Credit Guarantee Company, yesterday Pledge their support for the government of Enugu State in its bid to actualise a $30 billion economy in the next four to eight years.

They made the Pledge at the inaugural Enugu State Invest-

ment and Economic Growth Stakeholders Roundtable, held in.the state capital.

At the event, the state governor, Dr. Peter Mbah, unveiled 30 investment opportunities worth over $2.1 billion, which he said were projects that would directly impact the lives of the people and change the economic fortunes of the state.

Speaking at the forum, which was attended by prospective local and international investors, GHYHORSPHQW ÀQDQFLHUV DQG members of the diplomatic community, Mbah said that

the theme of the event, “Leveraging Public-Private Partnership”, underscored the administration’s vision to accelerate sustainable economic transformation powered by the private sector.

He urged investors to look towards Enugu as a preferred investment destination, saying the state was taking deliberate steps to create a friendly and de-risked business environment that would guarantee impressive returns on investment.

“The roundtable marks a new beginning for long-term

partnerships and cooperation for shared prosperity, which will catalyse a sustainable, resilient, and prosperous Enugu,” he stated, assuring that Enugu would regain its lost glory in no time.

“Enugu State will become Nigeria/South East’s most remarkable success story driven by industrialisation and structural economic transformation, responsible public ÀQDQFLDO PDQDJHPHQW UREXVW growth in trade and investment, and sustainable and inclusive infrastructural development.

Soludo: Economy Inherited by Gov Otu to Declare 19th Tinubu was ‘Dead Horse Standing’ Akwaaba Tourism Fair Open Chuks Okocha in Abuja The Governor of Anambra State, Chukwuma Soludo, has said that President Bola Tinubu inherited an economy from past administration equivalent to a “dead horse standing”.

The former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), said that the previous administration printed over N22 trillion and put it back into the system without any good backing.

Soludo who spoke on a national television programme, said from a macroeconomic

perspective the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari bequeathed a rocky economy to the new one.

However, Soludo said that the Tinubu’s economic team has its work cut out, adding that the “coming months will be bumpy”.

According to the former CBN governor, “I will say to you in empathy and commiseration for the economic team of the president, “This government inherited, from a macroeconomic standpoint, I would say the economy was like a dead horse

Governor of Cross River State, Senator Bassey Otu, will declare open the much-anticipated 19th edition of West Africa’s biggest travel expo, Akwaaba Travel Market tomorow at the Eko Hotel and Suites, Lagos.

The event which is the melting point for exhibition and tourism in the region, is set to draw participation of delegates from over 30 African countries and stakeholders in the Nigerian hospitality and travel industry.

This is just as the event will be re-igniting the 5th Jollof rice war with various experienced

The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) yesterday called on oil and gas industry operators to immediately begin the remittance of the statutory three per cent to host communities.

The Gbenga Komolafe-led organisation stated that it was aware of the agitation by host communities in the oil and gas producing areas of the Niger

Delta region over the delay by settlors/operators in remitting the statutory fees as prescribed

by Section 235 of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).

“Clearly, the commission understands and shares in the sentiments and particularly the patience of the host communities on this issue, especially as the PIA had suspended the Global Memorandum of Understanding (GMoU) and the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), replacing

both provisions with a new Host Community Development Trust Fund.

“The commission is fully aware of the implications of this development if allowed to fester.

The agitation might frustrate the commission’s efforts at upscaling the drive for higher foreign exchange and attracting Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) into the country.

“Incidentally and quite unfortunately, it is also capable

Betta Edu to BMGF: Support FG to Remove 16m Nigerians from Poverty KuniTyessi in Abuja The Minister of Humanitarian $ͿDLUV DQG 3RYHUW\ $OOHYLDWLRQ Dr. Betta Edu, has solicited the support of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to address the humanitarian crisis and poverty of over 16 million Nigerians.

The minister made the call when she received a delegation IURP WKH IRXQGDWLRQ LQ KHU R΀FH in Abuja.

According to the minister, with approximately 16 million people facing humanitarian crises caused by natural and man-made GLVDVWHUV LQVHFXULW\ DQG ÁRRGLQJ the need to solicit assistance has become imperative.

This is in addition to refugees and Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs. The minister therefore called for partnership with development partners, donor bodies and the private sector to get people out of humanitarian crises and poverty in line with the federal government agenda.

“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is committed to alleviating poverty in Nigeria in line with the Sustainable Development Goal 1,2 and 3 of the 2030 target. Our ministry is working assiduously to implement the presidential directive and we cannot do it alone without partners like you.

Order Police to Vacate Union Offices, TUC Tells Tinubu Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja

The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, (TUC) has asked chefs in the hospitality sector President Bola Tinubu to end set to wet the tastebud of Police occupation of the premises participants with delicious and of the National Union of Road mouthwatering meals.

Transport Workers as well as other The three-day event will have union offices illegally invaded by top government dignitaries, security agents. captains of industry, embassy It described the Police ocR΀FLDOV DQG SDUWLFLSDWLRQ IURP cupation of NURTW secretariat Turkey, Philippines and others as unlawful, unaceptable and a in the Diaspora. rape of constitution.

The 19th Akwaaba Travel TUC urged President Tinubu’s Market in partnership with Turk- administration to rein in the security ish group Turquaz Serenas will services whose personnel are engagprovide an excellent platform ing in serial lawlessness and acts for networking with health and tourism professionals, even as top hospitals in Ghana will be SDUWLFLSDWLQJ IRU WKH ÀUVW WLPH

of impunity and call them to order without further delay.

It also threatened to join forces with the Nigeria Labour Congress in solidarity action if government fails to evict the police from union offices.

A statement jointly signed by TUC President, Comrade Festus Osifo and Secretary General Comrade Nuhu Toro, said the National Executive Council of the union considered the defence of the Nigeria Police Force and its reckless invasion and continued occupation of the offices of the NURTW, “as act of impunity, irresponsibility, and a rape of the constitution”.

School Fees: Negotiation Team to Wade into Recent Hike, Says FG

NUPRC Threatens to Revoke Licenses of Defaulting Oil Coys on 3% Host Communities Fund Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

The Speaker of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Adeoye Aribasoye, has described the Wednesday’s killing of one of his constituents and abduction of two person as disturbing and condemnable, calling on police and Amotekun Corps to track down the perpetrators and bring them to justice.

Aribasoye bemoaned the activities of these bloodsucking perpetrators of the dastardly act, appealing to combined security agencies to spread their dragnets and arrest the masterminds without delay.

The number one lawmaker in the House of Assembly, said this yesterday, while reacting to the killing of one person at Itapaji, Ikole Local Government

area of the state, with two others kidnapped by gunmen around 8pm, on Wednesday.

Condemning such senseless killing and acts of terror, Rt Hon Aribasoye vowed that the government of Biodun Oyebanji won’t allow any group of terrorists to turn the VWDWH LQWR D NLOOLQJ ÀHOG He said all apparatuses of government and security might will be mobilised to resist such dreaded and monstrous actions that are trying to rear their ugly heads and make the state unsafe.

The Lawmaker said it was highly traumatic for one person to have been gunned down in such a gory fashion, saying the people of Itapaji were not only traumatised and saddened, but now feel unsafe over such horrendous action.

of truncating efforts at stabilising the value of the Naira, attaining the much-desired rebound in our national economy and improving our macro-economic status,” a statement by the regulator said.

The law states that each settler, where applicable, shall make an annual contribution to the applicable host communities of an amount equal to three per cent of its actual annual operating expenditure of the preceding financial year in the upstream petroleum operations.

KuniTyessi in Abuja

The federal government has said that it will set up a formal negotiation team between the Parents Teacher Association (PTA) and relevant stakeholders to look into recent hike in fees in schools across the country.

The Minister of State for Education, Dr. Yusuf Sununu, made this known at a news conference to herald the commemoration of the International Day to Protect Education from Attack in Abuja, yesterday.

Sununu said that hike in school fees could be a core factor leading to attacks in schools, hence the need to look into the area to avert further attacks.

“So many areas that require ÀQDQFHV DUH EHLQJ DWWDFNHG but we must also look at the constitutional provisions.

“The constitutional provisions expressly state that free education but with a caveat ‘when JRYHUQPHQW FDQ DͿRUG· DQG that is why it also comes as voluntary contributions by all stakeholders.

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER SEPTEMBER 2, 2023

10

NEWS Ex-Jurist, Oguntade Gives Scholarship to Students Wale Igbintade Former Nigeria’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom and retired eminent jurist, Justice George Adesola Oguntade, has given scholarships to students of Neander International School.

Justice Oguntade, who is the Founding Director and Chairman of the Governing Council at NISSA, extended his philanthropic reach by offering a generous 5O per cent scholarship to students at the school.

A statement issued by the management of the school, stated that “As support for quality education in today’s global economic realities, Justice Oguntade is offering a 5O per cent Tuition Scholarship for eligible applicants to the prestigious NISSA for the 2023/2024 Academic year.

PUTTING HEADS TOGETHER… L-R: Minister of Interior, Dr. Bunmi Tunji-Ojo and the Acting Comptroller General of Immigration, Wuraola Adepoju, at the Immigration headquarters, Abuja, during a familiarisation visit ... yesterday

Tinubu for G20 Summit in India Deji Elumoye in Abuja The President yesterday disclosed that President Bola Tinubu will use the opportunity of attending the G20 Leaders’ Summit in New Delhi, India, next week to shop for more Foreign Direct Investments (FDI) for the development of the nation’s economy.

Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity,

Ajuri Ngelale, who made this known to newsmen at the State House, Abuja said the President apart from attending the important global event holding from 9th to 10th September, has lined up a number of meetings and engagements with world and business leaders to present available opportunities in Nigeria’s critical sectors.

According to him, President Tinubu will be meeting with a

Amachree Commends Tinubu on Creation of First-ever Tourism Ministry in Nigeria Justina Uzo

Amachree, who is regarded as the father of Nigeria tourism, A former president, the As- spoke to journalists recently on sociation of Tourism Practitioners the heartwarming achievement of Nigeria (ATPN) and proprietor after going back and forth, of Brooklyn Group of Hotels, describing the decision to focus Chief Mike Amachree, has ex- on tourism as a “step in the pressed his satisfaction with the right direction.” He recalled that FUHDWLRQ RI WKH ÀUVW HYHU 0LQLVWU\ a lot had happened after the of Tourism by the Bola Tinubu creation of the rested Federal Ministry of Tourism, Culture administration.

Amachree said he is happy and National Orientation in that the federal government has 1999 by the former President ÀQDOO\ KHHGHG WR KLV DQG RI Olusegun Obasanjo.

“Before former President course, that of other tourism industry stakeholders’ call for the Olusegun Obasanjo created the creation of a stand-alone Ministry tourism ministry in 1999, I, as of Tourism in the country. He the then President of ATPN and commended President Bola other industry practitioners were Tinubu for the “bold and at the forefront of the clamour for the creation of the ministry. progressive” decision.

Abia APC Chieftain Warns Detractors against Fomenting Crisis Emmanuel Ugwu-Nwogo in Umuahia A chieftain of the Abia State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Hon. Kingsley Ngwaba, has warned agents of destabilisation to stay clear of the state executive committee.

He gave the warning in a chat with journalists in Umuahia while reacting to a spurious statement credited to the former state publicity secretary, Okey Ezeala.

Ezeala had gone on a live radio programme purporting that the state Chairman of the party, Dr. Kingsley Ononogbu and three other executive committee members had been suspended by their wards over alleged anti

party activities.

Others he listed as suspended include the state Deputy Chairman, Hon. Grant Nwogu; state Secretary, Chief Chidi Avaja, and the Organising Secretary, Deacon Obinna Atuonwu.

But Ngwaba vehemently condemned the purveyor of the falsehood, saying that the state executive committee led by Dr. Ononogbu “is intact”, adding that there was no truth whatsoever in Ezeala’s claims.

He lashed out on Ezeala for making himself available as a tool for fomenting crisis in the party by bandying about “unfounded and fallacious statements”, adding that the plan to cause crisis in the party was already dead on arrival.

number of potential investors into the Nigerian steel development, electricity generation, transmission and distribution, shipyard building capacity and many others, which are labour-intensive and can create job opportunities for Nigerians.

His words: “We”ll brief you today on President Bola Tinubu’s preparations for the upcoming G20 Summit in New Delhi, India on September 9 to the 10th of this month. The focus of the Summit will be heavily predicated on the urgent need to attract foreign direct investment in-country and to ensure that we are able to mobilise private capital from around the world toward the development of Nigeria’s public infrastructure.

Chinedu Eze

Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) has commended the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, for suspending every activity related to the operationalisation of Nigeria Air and airport concession.

Spokesman of AON, Prof.

Obiora Okonkwo, explained in a statement made available to THISDAY that by that action, the minister has displayed rare courage and great patriotism to save Nigeria from further embarrassment in the aviation world.

Prof. Obiorah said aside from stakeholders in the aviation industry, it was evident to everyone who had followed developments around the Nigeria Air project under the immediate past administration that the idea was not only illthought out but also lacked any modicum of transparency.

He said, “It was therefore no surprise that the House of Representatives Committees on Aviation which investigated the process and purported launch of Nigeria Air on Friday, June 2, 2023 described it as a fraud. It remains a puzzle to Nigerians

Issele Uku Plans Inne Festival to Showcase Obi Nduka

The seventh edition of the annual Inne Festival of Issele “In addition to that, we Uku, a town in Aniocha North are focused on engagements Local Government Area of that will be dealing with Delta State, which comes up critical sectors of the national on Saturday, September 9, 2023, economy, involving steel promises to be grand and more development, involving elec- fascinating than it used to be. tricity generation, transmission ,W LV WKH VHYHQWK R΀FLDO RXWand distribution, involving ing of the amiable, young and shipyard building capacity, handsome King of Issele Uku, and involving several other Obi Agbogidi Nduka. industries, which we know to Preparations are being put in be labour intensive, to ensure place to showcase the festival as that we can create as many one of the best tourist destinajobs for our teeming youth tions and something that could population as possible. go far as a tourism historical “To this end, Mr. President, documentation. will be meeting with a cross A son of the soil of Issele section of heads of state as Uku and a director in a federal well as industrial leaders, government ministry in Abuja, 7LWDQV FKLHI H[HFXWLYH R΀FHUV Mr. Chas Uju Nwam, said that of some of the world’s most the Inne Festival was an occavaluable companies, particu- sion where all the titled chiefs larly those of Indian origin. of Issele Uku would dress in their best chieftaincy regalia, all of them with their traditional dance groups from their domain, dancing to the palace of the king to pay their annual homage to the Obi of Issele Uku, Obi Agbogidi Nduka. why the processes of actualising The usual traditional festive such a major national project FHOHEUDWLRQV NLFNV RͿ LQ WKH ÀUVW was shrouded in almost utter week of August with all kinds secrecy until the end of the of fanfare, including wrestling last government. However, competitions called Ngba Utu, ZH UHPDLQ FRQÀGHQW WKDW E\ eating of new yam (Iwa Ji), the suspending the Nigeria Air king’s traditional visit to the project to allow for a thorough PDUNHW VTXDUH ,]X $ÀD &KL review, the Aviation Minister will and the ultimate Inne Festival, put things right and help restore among others. It will run till Nigeria’s image in the global the end of October with the aviation family.”

Ihu Onicha festival He said AON continues to With all these programmes, EHOLHYH WKDW LW LV QRW ULJKW WR ÁRDW this year’s Inne promises to be a national carrier on the terms set a remarkable improvement on out by the last Aviation Minister, former editions. which would undermine, even According to the chairman destroy, the aviation sector in of the Inne Festival committee, Nigeria with Ethiopian Airlines Chief Krees Njiokwuemeni, Iswaiting on the wings for total sele Uku as a town has so many take over. things to thank God for. He said, Obiora also said, “We have “Apart from the atmosphere of no doubt that the new Aviation peace that has existed in the Minister has the right vision for town for some years now, this the development of the sector year’s Inne Festival under his which is driven by public interest watch is coming with so many considerations for the good of side attractions and innovations.

Nigerians. Again, the AON com“In addition, Obi Agbogidi mends the minister for the great Nduka has just come back leadership he has shown so early from the United States where in his tenure and pledged our he among other things attended unalloyed support in his quest the annual convention of the to reform the aviation sector and Issele uku people in Houston implement other components of Texas in America and, according the aviation road map for the to him, his major reason for overall good of the Nigerian the trip to was meet with his economy.”

VXEMHFWV LQ GLͿHUHQW VWDWHV RI

AON Commends Aviation Minister over Suspension of Nigeria Air Project

“Scholars will be eligible to enjoy this rebate throughout their stay in the institution and will remain eligible for further performance based scholarships, such as those for Arts, Sports and Academics.

Located in the Epe area of Lagos, Neander International School is a centre of academic excellence which inculcates the core values of discipline and personal growth.

The statement reads: “The school is clearly committed to developing a total child that will compete favourably with existing institutions both locally and internationally.

“Neander International School boasts advanced facilities for Computer-Based Learning, Comprehensive Nigerian and British Curricula, Premium Sporting Infrastructure.

America on how to attract foreign investors to his domain in other to create jobs and empower the unemployed youths in his kingdom.

“The king, a cerebral culture icon, has insisted that every aspect of Issele Uku culture would be followed during this year’s festival.

“According to the king, ‘culture is the identity and people’s way of life, and a people without culture are like trees without roots,’ adding that culture is a very laudable tool for political stability.

“He noted that Issele Uku people are known to be loveable, peaceful and hospitable, and that should be the watchword of all his subjects at all times.

SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 2, 2023 • T H I S D AY

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SEPTEMBER 2, 2023 • THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

COMMENTARY

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Matthew Ogagavworia urges the authorities to fix the road as a matter of priority

ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ¢ȱ ¢ǯȱ ȱ ¢ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ¢ȱ ¢ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ¢ȱ ȱ ǯȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ŗŖŖ ǯȱ ¢ǰȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ Ĵ ȱ ȱ the federal government or the state governments of Delta ȱ ȱ ǰȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ Nigerians that it is squarely the federal government’s ¢ȱ ȱ ę¡ȱ ȱ ǯ Travelling by road between Benin and Warri has become a nightmare for travellers. The road serves travellers who commute between Benin, Delta, Bayelsa and Rivers State. But what has been governments’ plans towards resolving the perennial issue of craters, potholes, gorges that have now dotted the entire stretches? At best tepid.

Specifically, the sections of the road from Ibada-ElumeSapele, Amukpe, Oghara, Mosogar Tinapa’ Palm Wine Joint and Ologbo-Benin are now characterized with craters on both sides of the highway. This situation gets worsened where there are heavy-duty trucks and trailers because of the unmotorable state of the roads.

The median on the entire Benin-Warri Highway is all overgrown with grasses, trees and bushes. It is still a worry that on the entire stretch, there are hardly any drains to take waters from the road to the rivers, streams and rivulets that dot it. Is it highway street lights?

That has not been in the plan for all the years the road was constructed. No attempt has been made to repair and prevent roadside erosion by provision of drains or regular maintenance.

This situation has led to incidences of increased accidents, robberies, commuters spending more than a day on a trip that should ordinarily take less than 60 minutes. There have been reported cases of accidents due to drivers’ attempts to overcome the bad spots, driving against traffic and killing unsuspecting citizens on the spot. Commerce on that route suffers with its impact on the livelihood of citizens of the states that must utilize the roads to get to their destinations.

Government cannot continue to pay scant regard to the road as it remains a road to the belly of crude that fuels Abuja and the federating states in Nigeria.

As someone has said, “roads make a crucial contribution to economic development and growth and bring important social benefits. They are of vital importance in order to make a nation grow and develop. In addition, providing access to employment, social, health and education services makes a road network crucial in fighting against poverty. Roads open up more areas and stimulate economic and social development. For those reasons, road infrastructure is the most important of all public assets.”

GOVERNMENT CANNOT CONTINUE TO PAY SCANT REGARD TO THE ROAD AS IT REMAINS A ROAD TO THE BELLY OF CRUDE THAT FUELS ABUJA AND THE FEDERATING STATES IN NIGERIA

As outlined above, the necessity for government all of the world to prioritize critical public infrastructure such as roads cannot be overemphasized. Roads are critical in fighting against poverty, stimulate economic and social development. The fallout from the poor state of most portions of the Benin-Warri Road is that businesses lose as longer hours are spent, accidents occur sometimes with the vehicles, cargoes and human lives wasted.

In addition, the increased agony of commuters who spend productive hours on a single spot, affecting their health and exposing them to armed robbery attacks.

Most business initiatives are put-off or added costs are incurred as many who cannot take the cost are compelled to fly when they could have savoured the beauty of the mangrove as they travel by road.

In time past, governments have only offered cosmetic fixes that cannot stand another rainy season. Critical portions of the road have been the Warri-Sapele end, the Oghara-Ologbo and now Benin end of it. It does need repeating that the erstwhile Sapele/Warri stretch of the road has also joined to agonise road users. A journey that usually takes one hour now in some days cost commuters four to five hours with the attendant loss of time, money, employment, and deepening poverty.

The sad thing is that the road in question is a major contributor to the monies that are shared at Abuja to fix critical road infrastructure elsewhere in Nigeria.

We understand that Nigeria is faced with cash crisis resulting from poor choices in the past. This new administration can make use of the current tax Road Infrastructure Development and Refurbishment Investment Tax Credit Scheme to conduct a full reconstruction and rehabilitation of the entire road to make life meaningful for the citizens of Nigeria that make use of that road regularly. The government can simply engage with the major private concerns in that region to take advantage to participate in bringing succour to the people.

The past government of President Buhari had reportedly approved the reconstruction of the Benin/Sapele/ Warri road in a statement signed by the then Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, Mr Clem Agba as published in the Vanguard of April 19, 2023. We are yet to see any impact of the reported approval on the road. We believe that government is a continuum and therefore the government of President Tinubu should immediately activate the agreement to see the return to site of those who have been awarded the contract.

We are making this call to David Umahi, the Minister of Works, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Governors of Edo, Delta, Bayelsa and Rivers States to work together to see that this all-important road gets urgent attention in the short-term and in the long term.

Ogagavworia, FCA, President, Warri Boys Association

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The Lagos State government has a duty not to allow the axis to become another huge ghetto, write Eniola Uthman and Esther Owolabi

e would like to begin this brief ȱ ¢ȱ Ĵ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱŘŚȱ¢ ȱ ǰȱ ȱ Ȭ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱę ȱ ȱ ¢ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱę ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ Ȭ Ȭ Ȭ ȱ ¡ ȱ ȱ Ȭ ȱ ǯȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ǯȱ Ȭ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ǯȱ He needs to do something about how he is ȱ ǯȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ǯ President Bola Tinubu began the process of turning this critical axis into a middle-class environment when he was the governor of Lagos State from 1999 to 2007 by building a standard eight-kilometre road there, complete with excellent drainage.

His successor, Babatunde Fashola, not only completed the road but also built the main road of First Unity Estate, an important residential area of Badore, as well as two roads in Langbasa.

What is more, Fashola built the Badore Mini-Water Works and the Badore Jetty to enable people to get to Ikoyi and Lagos Island without having to go through Lekki Phase One and Victoria Island. Fashola’s successor, Akinwunmi Ambode, built the Jubilee Flyover at the Ajah Roundabout which has gone a long way to ameliorate the traffic gridlock there.

It would seem, however, that the Ajah-

Addo-Langbasa-Badore axis has now been allowed to turn into a massive ghetto. Last 20 August, for instance, motorists, including tricyclists, spent at least one hour on one spot, specifically at the Anglican Church of Ascension and the Mountain of Fire and Miracle Church junction in Badore because of the potholes in front of these churches, which have now developed into a crater.

Since then, people have been spending more than one hour on this spot. More potholes on the Ajah-Addo-LangbasaBadore Road are expanding rapidly and new ones are created almost daily as the rains continue to fall.

As if frightened by the outcome of the February 25 presidential and National Assembly elections, the Sanwo-Olu administration hurriedly awarded the contract for the patching (not rehabilitation) of the road to a contractor who did not start any work till the gubernatorial and State House of Assembly polls of 18 March were over. The contractor, whose name was neither made public by the government nor displayed anywhere during the patching, managed to fill less than five per cent of the potholes on the road and then disappeared. The consequence is the notorious gridlock practically asphyxiating everyone.

To be able to get to the office punctually and return home early enough to prepare for work the next day, residents of the Ajah-Addo-Langbasa-Badore axis have been leaving for other parts of the Lekki Pen-

insula in droves. This development means massive depreciation of properties and other assets in the area. Some have their properties at less than the market value.

Frankly, very few things can be depressing to a person to be a landlord for decades only to become a tenant in another part of the same place.

To worsen life in the Ajah-Addo-Langbasa-Badore axis, all the amenities provided during the Tinubu and Fashola days are in a decrepit state. Take the Catholic Mission Street in Badore which Tinubu tarred after building a settlement for fishermen around the Tarzan Jetty in Badore - It is probably the worst road in the whole of Eti-Osa LGA not just because of the utter mess the road has become but also because it has been overtaken by all manner of illegal structures and shacks. It is now a mini shanty town.

All the street lights provided in this axis are gone! Not even during the electioneering campaign did the street lights come up for a night. And this was the first time since the restoration of democracy in 1999 that we had an election and celebrated Christmas and New Year without streetlights being switched on.

Needless to state, the Badore Jetty built under Fashola by PW, the highly regarded Irish multinational construction firm, has become one of the abandoned projects.

The result? Undue congestion and pressure on the Lekki-Epe Highway, with all the grave economic, political, and social

consequences. Yet, the Lagos State government speaks endlessly of its commitment to water transportation development. And again, the Badore Mini Water Works built

by Fashola has fallen into great disuse due to non-maintenance—in fact, outright abandonment.

From the look of things, Sanwo-Olu is not alone in the neglect of the Ajah-AddoLangbasa-Badore part of Eti-Osa. We don’t even know the name of our National Assembly members, including the senator who has been there for years. He doesn’t visit us and he doesn’t ask for infrastructure in our place. The House of Assembly member is not known to us. The same goes for the Chairman of Eti-Osa LDA. Under Fashola, both local government and development area chairmen worked hard for the benefit of Lagos people. The health centre in Badore and the roads constructed by Alhaji Owolabi Yisa, a former LDA chairman, in Ajah, Addo and other places are still there.

Governor Sanwo-Olu can direct the Eti-Osa LDA chair to do something about the infrastructure and shacks in these parts.

The Lagos State government has a duty not to allow the Ajah-Addo-LangbasaBadore axis to become another huge ghetto.

The place has deteriorated enough on his watch.

Chief Utman, an engineer and Mrs Owolabi, a pharmacist, are both based in Badore-Ajah- Lekki Peninsula of Lagos State.

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SEPTEMBER 2, 2023 • THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

INSIGHT

Again, what now?

Farewell, Oyeyemi Abass

Belief in Demons and Ending Witch Hunts in Africa

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any people have wondered why witchcraft accusations persist in Africa, and why witch hunting rages on the continent in this 21st century. Some think that Africans are hard-wired to magical thinking and occult interpreting of their life situation. This is not the case. Some persons are bemused, and unable to comprehend why modernity has not dislodged, or at least weakened the grip of superstition, this irrational belief on the minds of many post-colonial Africans. Yes, it is a case of some not all Africans. Look, the reason is not far-fetched. Africa has not gone through the £ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ǯȱ ě ȱ ȱ secularize and modernize Africa are encumbered.

Local and global factors are responsible for this situation. These forces are frustrating the process of diminution of magic and superstition.

The African continent has been a target of Western Christianization, Eastern Islamization, and global religionization. Religion has been a part of Africa’s cultural, political, and economic encounters with the West and the rest of the world.

These religionizations have not birthed an African enlightenment, they have not occasioned necessary ȱ ǯȱ ǰȱ ¢ȱ ȱ Ě ȱ ȱ ě ȱ ȱ ǯȱ £ tion or Islamization of Africa has been mistaken for modernization of Africa. It is not.

Africans have been unable to defy or subvert Western or Eastern religious imperialisms.

Post-coloniality barely applies to religion in Africa. Religiously speaking, sub-Saharan Africa is still colonized. The continent is under Western and Eastern imperialisms and shows no signs of yielding to the dictates of reason, science, and critical inquiry. This situation is not because reason and science are alien to African cosmology as some scholars have proposed. No, not at all. Africa has been a competing ground for alien and indigenous enchantments. Africa has been held hostage by political Christianity and Islam. Africans have not ȱ ȱ ě ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ repel and resist Christian and Islamic imperialisms. Africans have not mustered the will to free themselves, and their minds from this religious bondage and hostage, from the grip of Christian and Islamic religious tyrannies.

Christianity constitutes a key element of African modernity as scholarly conceived. Meanwhile no clear demarcation existed between the colonial

bureaucracy and the colonial church. So, what has been designated as African modernity is not ȱ ǰȱ ȱ ę ¢ȱ ǯȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ scholarly parlance, Africa is not yet modern or not yet as modern. The tragedy is that this surface, peripheral modernity has become or is mistaken for African modernity. African modernity coat has become African modernity character.

About witch hunting, European missionaries introduced post-Elightenment, post-witch hunts Christianity, but it was religion anyway, with all the magical, mystical, and transcendental trappings. Like everything colonial, western Christianity was an imposition, it was foisted on African people and societies. Western missionaries introduced Christianity to replace the traditional faith, local conceptions of the divine, and ways of worship. Colonial religion propagated doctrines that acknowledged the reality and potency of a god, of demons, and of evil spirits that included witches and wizards. Churches taught that witches ȱ ȱ ȱ ǰȱ ¡ ǰȱ ȱ ȱ ě ȱ to live. Churches presented and still present witchcraft as a form of demonic expression and manifestation.

Leo Igwe directs the Advocacy for Alleged Witches

A

ll the world’s a stage, all men merely players; they have their exists and their entrances; and one man in his time plays many parts. So it is that ¢ ¢ ȱ ǰȱ ȱ ¢ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ took a bow on the world’s stage.

Coming to terms with the sudden demise of Oyeyemi Abass has been one of the hardest realities to accept in the recent times. Since the news of Abass death reached me, I still wake up in the midnight with disturbing thoughts and began to find a definite answer and meaning to what had actually happened to Abass. Many a time, his demise looks just like a nightmare than reality.

Fate brought myself and Abass together in the early days of our undergraduate programme at Obafemi Awolowo University. Our first meeting was at the freshers’ programme organized by Nigeria Association of Muslim Law Students, (NAMLAS), OAU chapter. And from our conversation, it became obvious that some extraterrestrial forces in the universe were conspiring for us to meet on a joint mission.

Our conversation revolved around socio-political challenges than personal. It was a meeting of

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the like-minded breeds. Indeed, strangers are awaiting friends.

We were very close at the early stage of our studentship until politics began to set us apart.

Nevertheless, we were conscious of maintaining our friendship. We fought silently on many occasions and thereafter resolved the political fights.

Our misunderstanding didn’t transcend beyond the choice of political candidates on campus. We were united in the struggle for a new Nigeria, the struggle against the university management oppressive policies, anti-cultism campaign and other forms of vices on OAU campus.

Abass’ demise really broke my heart, shattered my ego and dampened my spirit. We had planned to work together on some national projects in the nearest future. Behind the scenes, we used to appreciate God and boast about the level of untapped opportunities our passion has unconsciously created for us.

Binzak Azeez, Newworth LLP (Legal Practitioners), Onikan, Lagos

They Have Lost the Plot or Parts of it

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he good people of Hillsborough County Public School, Florida have lost the plot or at least censored the plot with only fragments of Shakespeare’s plays being studied.

The updated quote could be “To read or not to read, that is the question.” although that has been decided in this case so that students read a wide variety of books. Surely this should include books that have been considered amongst the best for over 400 years.

The other concern expressed was that the stories might contain pornography and yes, Shakespeare does have some colorful sections but so does the internet. The solution to protect students from these 400-year-old words would be for them to “get thee to a nunnery”.

Truly this is a case of “the lady doth protest too much” and more sensible approaches, even the ludicrous trigger warnings could be considered.

Let’s hope that the policy is reviewed and “All’s well that ends well.”

Dennis Fitzgerald, Melbourne, Australia

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SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 2, 2023 • T H I S D AY

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ SEPTEMBER 2, 2023

RingTrue 08054699539

yemi.adebowale@thisdaylive.com

Yemi

Adebowale

Mr. President and Rising Hunger, Insecurity

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ast Tuesday, residents of the Kpansia area of Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, in their hundreds, invaded a warehouse in the locality where the state’s emergency management agency keeps food. The story was that the agency was hoarding the items despite the hunger in the land.

So, hundreds of people gleefully entered the place, disarmed the security men and stole food that included bags of rice, beans, garri as well as cartons of noodles and bottle water. Officers of the Bayelsa State’s security outfit, Doo Akpo, were swiftly deployed to the warehouse to deal with the invaders and secure the building. They could not stop the famished trespassers.

Few hours after the looting, the state government raised the alarm that the goods were “expired relief materials” donated by some concerned Nigerians during the 2022 flood in the state, and urged the raiders to return them to avoid harming their health. “These items are unfit for human consumption,” declared the government. The looters cared less.

As at press time, not even a teaspoon of rice had been returned by the starving Nigerians. I guess they are delightedly enjoying the food.

Late in July, hundreds of famished Nigerians were also on the streets of Yola, Adamawa State, looting every store with food. The pillaging of food items in Bayelsa and Adamawa states exemplifies the unending pain in Nigeria largely driven by hunger and insecurity. The removal of the subsidy on petrol by President Bola Tinubu on May 29 compounded the woes of Nigerians. Many more millions of Nigerians are now living below poverty. It is estimated that about 10 million Nigerians (within three months) joined the poverty club after the removal of petrol subsidy.

In his 96 days in office, our president’s responses to the problems he deepened have been abysmal. His biggest drawback is that he is always shooting before thinking. Clearly, Tinubu had no plan on how to manage the tragic effects of petrol subsidy removal. He just removed it and afterward, he started planning how to manage the negative impact on the people. Over three months after, he is still planning. What a leader!

Undoubtedly, the removal of petrol subsidy largely heightened the hunger in our land, with prices of food, goods and services skyrocketing. It also led to massive rise in the cost of transportation.

Some spend almost their entire earnings on transportation. Now, majority of Nigerians struggle for a meal a day.

Families are in tatters. President Tinubu was only thinking about the financial gains of removing petrol subsidy for his government. He did not think about the huge drawbacks to majority of Nigerians and the economy. The multiplier effect has been massively negative.

The recent homely of the Bishop

Tinubu

of Ibadan Diocese, the Most Reverend Joseph Akinfenwa, at the Archbishop Vining Memorial Cathedral Church, Ikeja, Lagos, aptly captures the negative effects of petrol subsidy removal. He said: “The current economic environment has thrown many Nigerians into severe pain despite the promise that it will be for a short time. Even if we say it is temporary, the truth is that people are in severe pain.”

Petrol selling at N630 per litre is beyond the income of most Nigerians.

If we have a government that truly wants citizens to breathe, subsidy on petroleum products shouldn’t have been removed. This is so simple to achieve. A large quantity of the petroleum products imported into this country, for which the government pays subsidies, are smuggled to neighbouring countries. There is also huge fraud in the subsidy regime. There was a time the former head of Customs, Hammed Ali, challenged the NNPCL to show how it imports over 70 million litres of petrol into the country daily, without his men at the ports knowing. NNPCL did not respond.

What I expect from a good government that wants citizens to breathe is to block these holes in the petrol subsidy regime and also block the smuggling of petroleum products with all its might.

Those running this government know all the subsidy thieves. So, they can be tamed if this government so desires.

Likewise, if smuggling is blocked, there will be at least 50 percent reduction in the money spent on subsidy and petrol importation. This can be done in this modern era of protecting borders with technology, particularly using drones.

Unfortunately, the responses we get from our President are prickly tales about how Nigeria’s petrol is still the cheapest in West Africa; that Nigerians should be happy paying between “just” N568 and N630 for a litre of petrol. I was livid when Tinubu recently approved that the chart containing prices of PMS in other West African countries be transmitted to Nigerians to show that ours is the cheapest.

The President needs to be reminded that petrol selling between N568 and N630 per litre in Nigeria is not “cheap” in relation to the incomes of many of us.

Minimum wage is still a paltry N30,000.

Nigerians are at present challenged by a cost of transportation or fueling vehicles to places of work that is higher than their incomes. When a man’s salary cannot cover his cost of transportation to work, that man is finished. This is why some government ministries and agencies reduced working days to three.

The effect of the massive rise in petrol price has also led to huge inflation which is now over 24 percent. So, the incomes of the majority of workers in this country have been eroded. A bag of local rice is now between N45,000 and N50,000.

Prices of other staple foods like maize, millet, beans, sorghum have quadrupled.

This is the result of the “cheap petrol” we are buying in Nigeria.

Nigeria does not belong to the club of the West African countries listed in Tinubu’s sermon on cheap petrol in Nigeria. All these countries are not producers of crude oil. This is one fact Tinubu is running away from. Nigerians ought to be enjoying the dividends of producing crude oil in terms of lower price of petroleum products. Many oil producing countries like Algeria, Kuwait, Angola, Iraq, Qatar, Russia and Saudi Arabia sell petrol at a price much lower than that of Nigeria. Tinubu pretends to be unaware.

Our President has also failed to admit that there is so much pain, so much suffering in all the West African countries where petrol is selling at a very high amount. The high price of petrol is largely responsible for the poverty in these countries. This is the club Tinubu has now thrown many Nigerians into.

He must roll back petrol subsidy. This is the only way to reduce hunger in our land.

Our President’s response to raging killings in Nigeria, in 96 days, has also been appalling. Yes, he inherited an

Monguno IDPs Struggling for Survival

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ragedy struck at an Internally Displaced Persons camp in Monguno, Borno State, early this week, when a classroom sheltering scores of people in this garrison town collapsed after torrential rains, killing seven people. Many others sustained injuries.

The collapsed classroom is one of the many in this hitherto public secondary school converted into an IDP camp. It is now home to over

5,000 traumatised people who fled their towns and villages to escape the wrath of Boko Haram and ISWAP. They live in makeshift camps under military and militia protection, yet, they are sometimes attacked by terrorists.

Life is hellish in this camp dominated by hunger, disease, malnutrition and fire outbreaks. Infact, the classroom that collapsed last Monday had been weakened by a previous fire outbreak. In this Monguno camp, IDPs struggle for a meal a day.

The fact that this camp has over 5000 IDPs punches holes in the lies by the federal government that Boko Haram and ISWAP had been degraded. Well, that will be a story for continuation on another day. For now, there is an urgent need to improve the living conditions in the Monguno camp for IDPs. These people need improved supply of food, good healthcare and enhanced security.

Today, I challenge the federal government and the Borno State government to do the needful in this camp.

awful security situation from calamity ex-president Muhammadu Buhari. The situation is now extremely bad nationwide, no thanks to Tinubu’s clumsiness. Within 96 days, hundreds of Nigerians have been sent to early graves by terrorists. Visibly, Tinubu came with no plan on how to tame terrorism. His responses to terror attacks often leave me wondering if indeed this country has a Commander-in-Chief.

Last month, in Rafi Local Government Area of Niger State, terrorists, obviously with better intelligence, ambushed Nigerian soldiers, killing no fewer than 25 of them.

A military helicopter that went to evacuate the dead and injured soldiers also crashed, killing another 11 soldiers, the flight crew inclusive. Three weeks after these killings, the terrorists behind the attack are yet to be smoked out. The Commander-in-Chief only sent a condolence message to the military. He did not task them, with a deadline, to smoke out the terrorists. I doubt if anything punitive will happen to the terrorists.

The Rafi terror attack reminds me of one of the deadliest massacres of Nigerian soldiers by Boko Haram, which took place in Metele, Borno State, in November 2018.

Scores of soldiers were killed at 157 Task Force Battalion in the town. The exact casualty figure is still a closely-protected secret. The commander of that battalion, Lt. Col. Ibrahim Sakaba was also killed during the attack. Till date, the terrorists that carried out the operation have not been smoked out. With the Rafi attack, it looks good to happen again under Tinubu.

Terrorists are very much alive and kicking all over Nigeria. These nonstate actors are controlling territories and running their own government in many states. Thousands of farmers have been displaced. Our gallant soldiers are doing their best but lack the capacity to end the war. That was why the military, in this modern era, embarked on that mission to Rafi without air coverage.

It is pertinent to state that quality war machines, technology, intelligence and quality manpower are necessities for taming terrorists. Use of drones for intelligence gathering and attacks is also vital. Our security agencies lack these. They obviously lack the capacity to effectively monitor the movement of terrorists. This is why these guerrillas move around in hundreds undetected.

Tinubu has failed to respond appropriately to challenges facing the military. So, terrorists continue to kill scores of Nigerians, daily. It is so sad that the Commander-in-Chief has failed to respond fittingly to the painful fact that the Nigerian military, in this modern era, lacks precision-tooled strike drones.

Mr. President, the Military needs a full package of precision strike drone centres with nationwide coverage that entails at least six 24/7 Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) platforms to counter terrorism, kidnapping, oil theft, pipelines vandalization, illegal refinery, militancy and sea piracy in the six geopolitical zones. It must be a total package with very deadly capabilities.

Mr. President, this country needs help from climes that can provide these military necessities and manpower. We must import both the equipment and manpower. A people-oriented government will seek help from anywhere to protect its people against terrorists. It is not a crime to have military contractors joining a standing army to tame terrorists. My suggestion has always been that this country should look towards Israel or Canada. Tinubu, you must act swiftly in this direction. Only this truth can set Nigeria free from the servitude of terrorists.

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER SEPTEMBER 2, 2023

BOOK REVIEW Exemplary History from the Source Title: Courage and Character: The Definitive History of Osun State – Volume 1 of the Osun Trilogy 1951-2018 Publisher: The Erudio Alphabet Company, Lagos Pages: 450 Reviewer: Uzor Maxim Uzoatu

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ot many Nigerians have carried a book that weighs more than ten litres of petrol. Given what petrol costs today, everybody ought to understand that this heavy book is indeed priceless.

Thebook,CourageandCharacter: The Definitive History of Osun State, commands universal attention. The packaging is nonpareil as thebookcomesenclosedinabespokehome-made woodenbox.Afteropeningthewell-craftedwooden box,thebookisfurthertuckedintoawood-coloured paper casing, and then there is the resplendent dust jacket. The editorial team that produced this revelationofabookisledbytheresourcefulEditor/ Publisher Temitope Lakisokun and was designed by the inimitable Ogbenyi Egbe/Picador Design.

CourageandCharacter:TheDefinitiveHistoryof Osun State introduces itself thusly: “This is a book about Osun State, Nigeria. It is an epic story that beginsinpre-colonialtimesanddocumentsthegreat work of the founders and those who have had the privilege to lead the state. The Osun story is about apeople’srejectionofsubjugationandoppression, theirquestforindependenceandsovereignty,and thestruggleforsurvivalandrelevance.Thefounding ideals endure, and the story continues.”

IntheeternalwordsofRudyardKipling,“Ifhistory were taught in the form of stories, it would never be forgotten.”

Courage and Character: The Definitive History of Osun State is dedicated to: “The Omoluabi of Osun – Brave Hearts, unrelentingly optimistic, and flinty in their determination. It is morning yet on creation day - Osun a dara - and to the abiding memory of the first Executive Governor of Osun State: Senator Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke.”

It is a vast picturesque work of ten chapters and appendices. As the inspiration for the book goes, “it takes a village” working together to make hay, and due acknowledgements are given to Dr Rabiu Kwankwaso,theDemolaandTitiAladekomo(DATA) Foundation,theSirEmekaOfforFoundation,Alhaji Suleiman Baba Ali (The Mutawalin Arewa Nupe), Hon Idia Oluwayemisi Babalola, and to the culture aficionados Taiwo Obe, Toyin Akinosho, Chido Benedict Nwakanma (CBN), and Chief Mrs Nike Davies-Okundaye.

Acertificateisemblazonedinthebookthatreads: “Thiscollector’seditionofCourageandCharacter: The Definitive History of Osun State is limited to 540 copies. This is copy NO: 276.)” I can pump my chest that I belong to an exclusive list!

Tograbthefocalfullnessofthebook,thereisthe explanation:“Thecoloursonthecoverofthisbook payhomagetothePan-Africanflagwhichisoneofthe Osunidentityelements.Theyaretheofficialcolours of the African race: Red represents the blood that unitesallpeopleofAfricanancestry,Blackdepicts theexistenceoftheblackrace,GreendenotesAfrica asacontinentofgreatfecundity,andGolddepicts the abundant mineral resources of Africa.”

In his Foreword to Courage and Character: The DefinitiveHistoryofOsunState,formerPresident Muhammadu Buhari writes inter alia: “In 2018, our administrationapprovedthere-introductionofhistory in our secondary schools to ensure that new generationsofNigerianshaveapropergrounding,

identityandpatriotismthatcomefromourhistorical roots.Theabsenceofhistoryintheschoolcurriculum before then denied generations of Nigerians an understanding of their country’s history and its constituent units… I commend the Publisher, TemitopeLakisokun,adaughterofOsunState,for herdiligenceandthoroughnessinaccomplishingthis volume.CourageandCharacter:TheDefinitiveHistoryofOsunStateisnotjustabouthistory;itisalso aboutpublicaffairs,leadershipandmanagementof resourcesforhumandevelopment.Documenting ourstates’manycreationstoriesshouldprovidea roadmap for the younger generation; they would not need to reinvent the wheel.”

AccordingtoBarbaraW.Tuchman,anAmerican historianandtwo-timewinnerofthePulitzerPrize, “Booksarethecarriersofcivilization.Withoutbooks, historyissilent,literaturedumb,sciencecrippled, thought and speculation at a standstill. Without books,thedevelopmentofcivilizationwouldhave beenimpossible.Theyareenginesofchange(asthe poet said), windows on the world and lighthouses erected in the sea of time. They are companions, teachers, magicians, bankers of the treasures of the mind. Books are humanity in print.”

OgbeniRaufAregbesola,aformertwo-termand eight-yearGovernorofOsun,pensinhisPrefaceto the book: “Each successive administration in the 30 years since the creation of Osun State added tothedevelopmentofthestate.Whethermilitary orcivilian,eachadministrationorregimeleftfootprints.” The plan was for Courage and Character: The Definitive History of Osun State to be part of the silver jubilee anniversary of Osun State in 2016 when Aregbesola was in power.

For Publisher Temitope Lakisokun, the book is “a study in audacity and resoluteness.” She offers the revelation: “Courage and Character: TheDefinitiveHistoryofOsunStatestandsalone, yet serves as an introduction and complement to other books in the trilogy sparked by an interest in documenting the Osun Story at the landmark Silver Jubilee. There are many tales herein for the reader to savour. It is essentially a human story, anaccount ofthe strivingand roles ofmany, many players over the years to create today’s Osun.

The journey begins here.”

Heroes make history, and the archetypal hero of the Osun story is depicted thus: “It cannot be the story of the creation of Osun State without the story of one super rich Ibadan man, born in Lagos,circa1880,toafatherfromIseyin.Iftherewas a Nigerian Rich List at the turn of the last century,

he would be in the Top 10. His name: Abdulsalami Agbaje.”

Thesomewhatstingybutstupendouslywealthy Agbajeroseincloutthathecouldhavebecomethe monarch of Ibadan, that is, Olubadan, much to the chagrin of Ibadan nobility that instantly hired the rising maverick politician, Adegoke Adelabu, to writeapetitionagainstAgbajetothewhitecolonial authorities. The Obas from the Osun region who gavebackingtoAgbajewerederidedbytheIbadan chiefs thusly: “An Ibadan chief is the equivalent of the king of another town.” The appointed white investigator, Hugh Butcher, found that the power of the Ibadan Native Authority was concentrated in the hands of “a few aged and senile chiefs who owe their position not to ability or intelligence but to having lived longer than others.”

Ibadan in the end scored an own goal when it was decided that “Ibadan had to lose its authority overitsnorthernandcentraldistricts.”TheOshun DivisionhadtomakethejourneyofdestinytoOsun State – from May 27, 1967 when Western State was created, to the February 3, 1976 creation of Oyo,OgunandOndoStates,andfinallyto10pmon August 27, 1991 when General Ibrahim Babangida “announced Osun State as one of nine new states, with Osogbo as the capital.”

Col Leo Segun Ajiborisha served as the first MilitaryAdministratorofOsunState.SenatorIsiaka Adetunji Adeleke of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) then took over as the first civilian Governor ofOsunState.Between1993and1999,OsunState hadfourmilitaryadministrators,namely:ColAbel Akale,NavyCaptainAnthonyUdofia,Lt-ColAnthony Obi, and Col Theophilus Olufemi Bamigboye.

ChiefBisiAkandeoftheAllianceforDemocracy (AD) became the Governor of Osun State on the return of civil rule and the Fourth Republic on May 29, 1999. He served for only one term. He was succeeded by Olagunsoye Oyinlola of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) who served from May 2003 to November 26, 2010 when Ogbeni Raufu Aregbesola was declared the winner of the Osun StategubernatorialelectionbytheCourtofAppeal, Ibadan Division. Aregbesola’s eventful two-term governance, showcased as “The Renaissance”, rounds up the governorship span of Courage and Character: The Definitive History of Osun State (Volume1oftheOsunTrilogy1951-2008.)Thereisthe PostscriptthatonNovember27,2018,Aregbesola handed over to Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola.

Read full Book review online - www.thisdaylive.com

TRIBUTE

For Lady Nimi Ohuabunwa, this Journey is Painful Dan Ochonma

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hat someday, every mortal will moveon,hittheroadforthateternal journey,isamortalfact.Thatjourney called on you rather too soon, Lady Barrister Nimi Faith Ohuabunwa!

For Senator Mao Ohuabunwa, your husband (my cousin) and the entire Ohuabunwa and Ochonma families, do we know life can be this harsh?

Youwereareassuringpresenceforyourhusband, yoursonandallofus-ofwhomyoutookgreatcare of.Indeed,themomentyouenteredourlives,itwas clear that you were more than just a spouse to our cousin;youbecameanessentialthreadinthetapestry of our family.

Pointedly,Ifeelthemassiveholesyourtransition has left in the thread of our hearts. Seated here, writingthis,myheartisfilledwithamyriadofemotions.Ifindmyselfatalossforwordstotrulycapture the depth of my despair as you transition beyond.

Commiseration and consolation are abounded for me as I hold on to the statement that God, the omniscientknowsthebestashealonehasthepower of creation of life and home call - all at His will.

Lady Nimi, who were you? Well respected by all members of the family, you were a beacon of strength,compassion,andLove.Yourgentlespirit andwarmsmilecouldbrighteneventhedarkestof days. You were an inspiration to those around you, evergregarious,intuitive,protectiveandpositively

Lady Nimi Ohuabunwa

inquisitive.

You were a loving wife, daughter, sister, friend, devotedpartnerandmother.Yourcommitmentto buildingalovingandharmonioushomeisevidentin every interaction we ever had with you. You had a way of making everyone feel valued and heard as you dished out endearing names such as ‘Dear me, Azumamaya’foryourhusbandandsonrespectively.

Atrainedlawyer,hardworkingwifeandpartnerto

yourhusbandandasuperwoman,thenewsofyour passing,shooktheentirecountry,ascondolences andmessagesofsympathypouredinfrompeoplein allwalksoflife,includingprominentfiguresinpolitics and business, civil society and the general public.

You were hospitable, and easily known for lendingyourearstowisecounsels,notmindingtheage gap. That way, you earned peoples’ respect and admiration.

Through every twist and turn, you’ve stood by yourhusband,unwaveringinsupportandloveeven intimesoflowsandhighs.Yourunswervingbeliefin himgavehimthestrengthtoovercomechallenges andpursuedhisdreamsfearlessly.Yourpresence alone is enough to calm any fears and soothe any worries, making every burden seem lighter and every moment more beautiful.

Forthoseofuswhohadtheopportunitytorelate closely with you, you taught us the true meaning of compassion, understanding, and selflessness.

You’veshownmethebeautyofvulnerabilityandthe strength that lies within embracing our imperfections.Youagitationandoutspokennesswhenever itwasnecessaryoratinvasionofyourspacewere some of the values cherished in you even though some may take that as show-off or recalcitrance.

Hajia, as I fondly call you came, played a part and departed. The stars and saints are all lined up for you as they herald your heavenly arrival to rest peacefully singing: When the saints go marching in…Yes,Iwanttobeintheirnumber.Whenthesaints go marching in…

Indeed, you have joined the saints, helpers are at your beck and call where there will be enduring support, wiping away remnant of tears on your face, consoling and listening to your inner most complaints and fears.

While the pain of your absence weighs heavily onourheartsandthecottoncallsandclosesinthis theatrical world, it is open for you in the beyond wherethereisnotimelimit.Wecandiehavingbeen miserablewithothers,orwecandiehavingmadea difference and leaving beautiful memories in the minds of people.

AnythinkingofHajiaautomaticallybringsasmile tothelipsofthosewhoknewherbecausesheloved life. She always had a smile.

Thank you, dear Hajia, for the great privilege of myfamilyknowingyoutheseyears.Iknowyouare stillhereamongus.Thankyouforremindingusthat thepresentmomentisprecious,andthatweshould make the most of it by loving fully and generously.

It has been loudly pronounced: Your journey in lifeandservicehasbeenhugelyimpactful,leaving indeliblefootprintsinallspheres.Likeaspecialstar, youshoneeverywhereyoutouched.Youcame,you saw and you impacted very positively.

Your transition to eternity will be peaceful, comfortable and devoid ofsorrow, fearand tears.

Spreadyourwingsandflyproudly,Hajia,ourlady.You have earned it! Hajia, Nwanyioma, Nwanyi ngaga, theladywithswag,Osedieme,SleepwellandAdieu!!

Ochonma, wrote in from the UK

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER SEPTEMBER 2, 2023

17

Ferdinand Ekechukwu - 08035011394 Email: ferdi_adthisday@yahoo.com

SHOWBIZFLAIR

Timaya Unveils ‘Tomato’ Ferdinand Ekechukwu

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ursting forth with a blaze of musical brilliance, music sensation, Timaya, is primed to once again mesmerize global audiences with his dazzling new single, “Tomato”. Released through his Dem Mama Records on Wednesday, August 30th, “Tomato” radiates irresistible allure that extends invitation to surrender oneself to dance and embrace a carefree ethos.

As the music unfolds, Timaya’s infusion of infectious beats and irresistible melodies whisks listeners into a realm of sheer OLVWHQLQJ SOHDVXUH IURP WKH YHU\ ÀUVW QRWH Revered for his unparalleled storytelling prowess and remarkable craftsmanship, Timaya’s latest creation is yet another piece

set to make waves in the music industry.

His distinctive fusion of afro rhythms with contemporary elements yields a harmonious V\PSKRQ\ WKDW HͿRUWOHVVO\ EULGJHV the chasm between nostalgia and PRGHUQLW\ 6SDQQLQJ DQ LPSUHVVLYH career of nearly two decades, Timaya KDV ÀUPO\ HVWDEOLVKHG KLPVHOI DV D SLRQHHULQJ ÀJXUH LQ ERWK WKH Nigerian and broader African music scenes.

His journey has cultivated an enormous fan base, surpassing a remarkable +6.1 million followers across major social media platforms.

This fervent support is the result of a consistent stream of hits that he has been delivering since his breakthrough in 2007 with the debut DOEXP 7UXH 6WRU\ 7KLV DOEXP QRW

only introduced him to the music landscape but also gave birth to unforgettable tracks.

Among which are “Dem Mama” and ´2JRORJRPD µ (YHQ KLV UHFHQW UHOHDVH ´&ROG 2XWVLGHµ IHDWXULQJ %Q[Q KDV JDUQHUHG D VWDJJHULQJ PLOOLRQ VWUHDPV RQ 6SRWLI\ alone. Moreover, his impactful presence hasn’t gone unnoticed by global music icons VXFK DV 6HDQ 3DXO DQG WKH *UDPP\ ZLQQLQJ Jamaican reggae band, Morgan Heritage.

From the inception of his career, Timaya has left an undeniable imprint in the Nigerian and international music landscape, and he doesn’t just thrive through his individual endeavors, but also through his collaborations. With the recent release of “Tomato” and the tantalizing promise of more musical treasures to come, Timaya continues to deliver authentic and captivating sounds from Nigeria, solidifying his SRVLWLRQ DV D SLYRWDO ÀJXUH RQ WKH JOREDO stage.

Timaya

The Black Book, a Mystery and Crime Thriller Ferdinand Ekechukwu

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RMD in The Black Book

he much-anticipated collaboration EHWZHHQ (GLWL (΀RQJ DQG $QDNOH )LOPV ¶7KH %ODFN %RRN· LV D P\VWHU\ DQG FULPH WKULOOHU ,W SURPLVHV VWHOODU performance with Richard Mofe 'DPLMR 50' LQ WKH OHDG DPRQJ D VWDU VWXGGHG FDVW ¶7KH %ODFN %RRN· LV (GLWL (΀RQJ·V GHEXW IHDWXUH ÀOP DV GLUHFWRU 7KH ÀOP ZHDYHV WKH HPRWLRQDO VWRU\ RI D IDWKHU who seeks justice following the killing of his son.

7KH V\QRSVLV UHDGV ´2OG VFRUHV EXEEOH WR WKH surface when a man’s only son is killed by a gang of corrupt policemen and he falls back on his military training to get justice.” The Black Book will SUHPLHUH RQ WKH QG RI 6HSWHPEHU )DQV ZLOO VHH DQRWKHU VLGH WR 50' 3DXO (GLPD DV KH SOD\V WKH EHUHDYHG IDWKHU ,Q D SRVW DERXW WKH

ÀOP 50' H[SODLQV WKH LQWHQVLW\ DQG GHGLFDWLRQ SXW LQ WKH SURGXFWLRQ RI ¶7KH %ODFN %RRN· ´7KH ÀUVW WKLQJ , QRWLFHG ZKHQ , OHIW (GLWL ZDV WKDW KH NHSW to his word and followed up. Within days, arrangements were made with my preferred chef for a new GLHW SODQ D WUDLQHU ZDV SDLG DQG , WKRXJKW 2N WKLV young man is serious,” RMD recounts. $OVR VWDUULQJ LQ WKH PRYLH DUH $GH /DR\H ZRUNLQJ DORQJVLGH 6DP 'HGH $OH[ 8VLIR 2OXPLGH 2ZRUX 6KDͿ\ %HOOR ,UHWL 'R\OH 7DLZR $MD\L /\FHWW ,NHFKXNZX 2QXQDNX 3DWULFN 'R\OH %LPER 0DQXHO )HPL %UDQFK .HOHFKL 8GHJEH 1REHUW <RXQJ DQG many more.

“The Black Book is a very human story about a father who is looking for justice when his son is NLOOHG 1LJHULD KDV D KLVWRU\ RI GUXJ WUD΀FNLQJ DQG The Black Book explores that from the 80s and how WKRVH HYHQWV LQ WKH V DͿHFW ZKDW ZH KDYH WRGD\ ,W DOVR SD\V D ORW RI KRPDJH WR \RXQJ SHRSOH ZKR KDYH ERUQH WKH EUXQW RI WKDW YLROHQFH µ (΀RQJ VDLG

Singer, Songwriter Johnel Releases ‘Painting Pictures’ more vulnerable and relatable to his fans and everyone who listens to “Painting Pictures”.

Johnel also noted that he produced all of the songs himself he budding-artiste steps out of his comfort LQ WKH (3 ´,Q PDNLQJ WKLV SURMHFW , ZDQWHG WR VKDUH P\ zone to deliver a delightful 5-track EP on WKRXJKWV P\ IHHOLQJV HYHU\WKLQJ , KDYH EHHQ WKURXJK which his lyrics are just like painting a while away from music, becoming a self-made artist.” picture about love, fame and wealth, his 1RWLQJ ´3DLQWLQJ 3LFWXUHV LV IURP P\ KHDUW DQG , KRSH experiences as a man, a musician and a that everyone who listens can share and experience with KXVWOHU 7KH ÀYH WUDFNV DUH ¶%DGGLH· ¶/DGV me.” Johnel NG is a hip hop artist with chaotic blends of 7DON· ¶,QIDWXDWLRQ· ¶$QRWKHU /RYH 6RQJ· other genres of music like trap, Afrobeats, R&B and Rap. DQG ¶7KH %LJJHU 3LFWXUH 2XWUR · He is known for his singles “Dance” and “Champagne” Talking about the new EP, Johnel said he wanted to be released 2022.

Johnel

Ferdinand Ekechukwu

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Mercy Johnson Still Partying Ferdinand Ekechukwu

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Mercy and husband

ROO\ZRRG VWDU 0HUF\ -RKQVRQ 2NRMLH ZDV ÀOOHG ZLWK MR\ DV VKH VROLFLWHG prayers of thanksgiving from his fans on her 39th birthday. The actor, who was born on 28 August 1984, took to her social media handles to celebrate her new age on Monday morning.

Mercy, while giving appreciation to God for her successes, said “life is a gift not a right”. ,Q D SRVW RQ KHU VRFLDO PHGLD SDJH VKH ZURWH “Contentment is a realisation that life is a gift not a right and true happiness comes after contentment.

Please, you don’t have to post my picture, just say a VLOHQW ¶7KDQN \RX SUD\HU WR *RG IRU PH·« %LUWKGD\ Girl!”

0HUF\·V SROLWLFLDQ KXVEDQG 3ULQFH 2GL 2NRMLH LQ D lengthy post revealed her charming pillars that have held him up during his good and bad days.

He also used the moment to recall their marital journey. He wrote: “@mercyjohnsonokojie Today, on \RXU ELUWKGD\ , ZDQW WR FHOHEUDWH QRW RQO\ WKH SDVVLQJ of another year but also the incredible journey we have HPEDUNHG RQ WRJHWKHU« KDSS\ ELUWKGD\ P\ ORYH 0D\ WKLV GD\ DQG HYHU\ GD\ WKDW IROORZV EH ÀOOHG ZLWK HQGOHVV MR\ DQG ODXJKWHU , ORYH MR\ PRUH WKDQ ZRUGV can capture. Congratulations”.

Just days back, the couple had celebrated their 12th wedding anniversary with beautiful photos, specially taken to mark the occasion. The mum of four stated in her wedding anniversary post that she’s content with her lifestyle, adding that she wants nothing more, ZKLOH KHU KXVEDQG UHÁHFWHG RQ KRZ IDU *RG KDV WDNHQ them. Mercy described him as her quarrel and gossip partner who she can’t do without.

These lovebirds have built a strong bond over the years. Mercy gushed over her husband and the bond they share as fans and colleagues celebrated the joyous occasion with them.

18

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER SEPTEMBER 2, 2023

TRIBUTE

The Peter Enahoro I Knew Still Lives Mudiaga Ofuoku

A

recent visit from Fred Ohwahwa, who was vacationing in the US did the unexpected thing of popping what I had assumed was an impermeable membrane shielding me from the awful news coming from Nigeria since the last elections. Among other subjects, we found a perfect opportunity to recall, with fond nostalgia and a pained sense ofirretrievable loss, the goodold daysofNigerian journalism as compared to what has become of it today.

As we had dinner that night, I began to tell him my summer vacation plans to the UK and the mainland European countries of France, Germany and Austria. I told him a visit to the UK would be incomplete without going to Leeds, a city where I’d lived more than 23 years ago as a postgraduate student on British Chevening Scholarship.IalsosaidIpurposedtoseeOlorogun AghwarianovweIkie,brotherandfriendboth,who adroitly combines a successful legal practice in London and a deep, passionate involvement in the hazardous ecosystem that is called Nigerian politics.Forsomeoneseekinganoccasionalescape from the somnolence of Leeds to the bustling, partying atmosphere of metropolitan London, his residence was home for me 23 years ago after taking a four-hour coach ride from Leeds.

And how could I omit to see, also in London, the incomparablePeterEnahoro,whohadbeenlaidlow with illness for quite a while? A writer with an aura after his name, Enahoro became an aspirational model for succeeding generations of Nigerian journalists attracted by the bewitching brilliance of his prose. I said I’d get a copy of Enahoro’s memoir, Then Spoke the Thunder, and get him to inscribe it for me. Fred, who was eating, paused momentarily and began to stare at me, his face a picture of incredulity. “But the man is already dead. How could you not have known about that?

He died about a month ago,” he said. I was slackjawed at the news, saddened by the death of a man whose goodwill and kindness had enriched my journalistic career in Nigeria as a young man adventuring for a place in the sun. In a related vein, I was also awkwardly embarrassed that he had died for weeks and I wasn’t even aware of it until just now. Enahoro was buried on June 7 in London. He was 88.

Enahoro’sdeathinspiredaflurryoftributesfrom somanypeople,amongthemfellowjournalistswho cried him up for his priceless service to journalism in Nigeria and Africa. He started out his career as a sub-editor at the Daily Times, rising rapidly to become its youngest editor at 23. But I am just as interested, if not more so, in the things said about him while he walked the earth and plied his pen. Such words of appreciation, offered while a man still lives, are oftentimes more substantive measures of his value than the saccharine chorus of eulogy rendered so loudly when he is gone.

Longbeforehisdeath,attheheightofhiscareer, he had received superlative praise from Frank Barton in his (Barton’s) book, The Press in Africa, as “arguably Africa’s best journalist writing in the English Language.” In his autobiography, Walking a Tight Rope: Power Play in Daily Times, and published in 1987, Babatunde Jose, Enahoro’s former boss and the man unanimously credited with building the newspaper into a publishing behemoth in Africa, named Enahoro “the best so far in the history of journalism in Nigeria.”

Dan Agbese, my chief mentor in journalism and a world-class humourist in the league of William Connor of the Daily Mirror, had this to say of the late journalist while he was alive: “Enahoro was a brilliant writer and a columnist. His capacity for vivid verbal pictures remains unequalled by any other writer or columnist in the country.” Agbese rendered that judgement in The Columnist’s Companion: The Art and Craft of Column Writing. Published in 2012, the book comes highly recommended as the essential text for all those interested in writing columns for newspapers and magazines. “Enahoro,” wrote Mohammed Haruna, the well-known Nigerian journalist and publisher of the now rested Citizen magazine, “is, however, not only justly famous for his way with the written word - and with the spoken word

Ofuoku and Enahoro in the latter’s London home in 2000

For Peter Osajele Aizegbeobor Enahoro, a man whose type is vanishingly rare, if not altogether non-existent these days, no words of praise are too strong. At 88, he lived long, and he lived very well, too. But he lives on - in my mind. “The life of the dead is placed in the memory of the living,” said Cicero, that most gifted Roman orator and writer of his day. For the opportunity to have met him in life, I remain eternally thankful to God. For the kindness he showed me, including his encouragement of my work and those invaluable words of advice, I have no words adequate enough to express my gratitude to him as well, to which anyone who has met him will testify-hecouldalsobetooplain-speaking.”That powerful assessment by Haruna in a tribute to Enahoroonhis80thbirthdayin2015,isasaccurate a portrait of the man as you can ever get from anyone who knew him very well. What I am doing here, therefore, is a fleshed-out representation of that portrait.

In the meantime, I should note that few of the tributes that came on the heels of his death bothered to lay stress on the fact that Enahoro’s towering accomplishments were the product of only a high school education acquired at the famous Government College, Ughelli. He hadn’t gone to university, in other words. Not that there weren’t others like him who entered journalism with no more than a high school education in his day.InEnahoro’scase,histalentswereofdifferent orders of magnitude.

A highly gifted raconteur with a sponge-like memory for granular specificity, Enahoro could recall the smallest, distinct detail of a long-forgotten encounter as he shared it with his audience. A typical story-telling style of his involved one or two divergent threads from the main story line, leaving his audience impatient with anticipation about their outcomes. Just when you thought he’d probably lost control of hisnarrative,Enahorowouldsuddenlycircleback, take each thread forward to intersect with the main thread before finally picking up from where he left off. His wit was razor-sharp, his sense of humour terrific.

The animal magnetism of his presence which drew friends into his orbit, was hard to miss.

Blessed with a deep instinct for language, Enahoro, as I already said, was a prose stylist of great virtuosity.Andhewasasupremelyconfidentman,

an attribute which enabled him to take command of conversations in a gathering of friends and guests, many of them knowledgeable men with diverse range of perspectives on the issues.

As does a great intellect, an equally great talent can take you to the top. It is in that light, I suppose, that we might more meaningfully contextualize, and appreciate, his impressive career accomplishments. As he once said when I asked him what “intellectual” and “social” values shaped his journalistic career, “I am just a guy who has been lucky to have a certain facility for words, and who spent a great deal of his time studying the ills of his surroundings and feels strongly about certain issues that he puts his thoughts down on paper as truthfully as he sees them, risking offending people, and saying to himself: ‘I have no choice.’ThatishowIfeel.Iamajournalistwhofeels strongly about issues.” But he distanced himself from the word “intellectual,” because, according to him, “if my image of an intellectual is correct, I am not an intellectual.”

I pressed him to explain his own image of the word. “Well, an intellectual,” the dazzling conversationalist replied, “is a very brainy fellow who sees things in slightly abstract terms, and then is able to crystalize them in fairly abstract words, which then you are now supposed to sit down, think and think until you yourself arrive at some slightly abstract conclusion.”

Enahoro did indeed offend a lot of folks with his strong views on things. His defence (“A Time to Ponder”, Sunday Times, July 4, 1993) of the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election by the military administration of Ibrahim Babangida, a contest in which the late Chief M.K.O. Abiola was the unannounced winner, left his admirers shocked with disbelief and

his critics incandescent with rage. It was a mindbending mystery to them that a man who had long enjoyed the reputation of a tribune of the people, for, among other things, being an implacable foe of military dictatorship in Africa, could decide to undermine that enviable image by applauding the annulmentofanationalelectionuniversallyjudged to be free and fair. Wringing their hands in despair and utter disappointment, many of his admirers sailed viciously into him. A well-known columnist on The Guardian at the time dismissed him as a compliant “toady” of the military administration, a characterization that stuck in Enahoro’s craw and which he scoffed at in personal conversations with me.

Hispositiononthatelection,andalmostcertainly his subsequent attack (“A Failed Politician, His Bosses and a Barmy Idea”) on Walter Carrington, the American Ambassador to Nigeria, in which he revealed a ferocious instinct for the jugular, also poisonedtheoncecordialrelationshipbetweenhim and Wole Soyinka. I recall once drawing Enahoro’s attention to a remark by Soyinka in Tell magazine in which the Nobel Laureate had made a barely disguised reference to Enahoro when he said, “… there are several kinds of journalists, there are the safe journalists.

You find many of them at the Daily Times firing from both guns on behalf of Abacha. But once upon a time, they were risk takers, now see what happened to them.” Enahoro might have first aggravated Soyinka when he lobbed something of a rhetorical grenade at the famous playwright during an interview with West Africa magazine.

Enahoro took aim at Soyinka for being a member oftheNationalDemocraticCoalition(NADECO),a pro-democracy organization opposed to General SaniAbacha,andledbyAnthonyEnahoro,hiselder brother, for refusing to hand over power to Abiola.

In his “‘Peter Pan’ at 80” piece, which he published in newsdairyonlinline.com on January 20, 2015, to celebrate Enahoro’s life and career, Haruna reported him as having said Soyinka was “given tostagingmelodramas…Rememberthetoypistol incident? The escalation from that prank is that, with the Nobel Prize in hand, he is playing out the fantasy of being a politician of weight in Nigeria.

He is not,” said Enahoro.

I wasn’t trying to gin up a fight between the two titans of the pen to generate a good copy. As a journalist, I thought it fell to me to ask Enahoro if he thought he was the one Soyinka was referring to in that barbed comment of his. The challenge thrilled Enahoro, for I could tell he was in his element as he joined battle with Soyinka. “Perhaps, Wole Soyinka should be asked,” he said, his face wreathed in a joyous smile. “They say whom the cap fits. I will not wear this cap because it doesn’t fit me. Well, there are risk takers in all professions, and non-risk takers. Not only in journalism, nor is it only at the Daily Times… there are mature men whoarenotmature.Therearefamouspeoplewho have not yet grown out of being eternal students.

Aretheyrisktakers?”hewondered. “WoleSoyinka, NobelPrizewinnerinliterature,isquitecapableof expanding and identifying those he says are firing blanks from double barrel guns or not firing at all. I can say nobody, underline nobody, can lecture me on taking risks or not taking risks. I’m not being immodest, but I have my credentials. Indeed, if I were asked to produce witnesses, I would not be too far wrong if I invited Soyinka to speak on my behalf, because when I was in Germany, he was my guest on more than one occasion. And I am sure he will recall that I was not working for any government or firing blanks.”

Now were there labels he might be willing to accept as true from his critics? I gave him an example. But first, some context. Several of his editors, I just found out during a most recent visit to the newsroom, resentfully called him a “dictator” - scarcely a word of compliment. They were mad that Enahoro was usurping their functions by rewritingpageonestoriesandheadlines.Enahoro saidhewaswillingtowearthatpejorativelabelasa badgeofhonour.“Wemaywriteaboutdemocracy, but I’m a dictator when it comes to newspaper.

I take exception to the occasional bad English I find in the paper. I’m tyrannical in the quest for excellence,” he said.

Mudiaga Ofuoku lives in the US Read full article online - www.thisdaylive.com

19

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER SEPTEMBER 2, 2023

SUPER SATURDAY Tana Adelana

Being the First Nigerian Presenter on Channel O is Definitely Memorable A recent feature of Christiana Nkemdilim Adelana, popularly known as Tana Adelana, on a section of this paper couple of weeks back necessitated a follow-up on the Nollywood diva. Tana has won many hearts and continues to do so through screens and television appearances. The awardwinning actress, producer, TV presenter, and model tells Ferdinand Ekechukwu more about her personality, lifestyle, craft and also shares her thoughts about the industry

W

hat have you been up to lately?

I’ve been on several sets, filming. I’ve also been working on my personal projects, one of which I just completed.

Take us through a bit of your journey into acting?

Sort of started out as a model and television presenter so naturally, acting would find its way to creep in. I’ve actually enjoyed it so far so.

Tell us a bit of your background, family, and fond memories?

I’m the last of 10 children. I grew up in a Catholic home. It was filled with love, encouragement and life!

Was there some sort of resistance from your family towards your decision to be in entertainment?

My father was a liberal king and he loved me to bits. He didn’t dictate too much to us so it was easy when he saw the head way I made in very little time. …How about from your other family members?

Family, yes as there was a tag attached to being an actress. They didn’t want that for me but I guess everyone relaxed when they realized I had a total passion for what I do.

Your dad passed last year, what are your fond memories of him?

Fun and fond memories…He was so full of life, he was full of love, he had a larger-than-life personality and everyone who came in contact with him fell in love with him. He was the king of the people and the father everyone would want to have.

You have evolved overtime as an actress; can you share with us some of your memorable moments?

I understood early enough that every job is different and you’re only as good as your last job. I honed my craft and worked day in day out to better myself. Being the first Nigerian presenter on channel O was definitely memorable and also working as the presenter in Nigeria for Big Brother Africa, hosting Mnet’s Let’s Dance, Peak Talent Show and then winning lovely awards for my work as an actress tops it all.

If you were not in entertainment, what other career path would you have taken?

I do consulting as well as a little bit of real estate. If I didn’t have a thriving career here, I probably would have focused on these two mentioned above.

Has there been a time you ever thought of quitting acting?

Oh yes!!! There comes a point in your career when you think or rather feel that you’re not being appreciated and you don’t know what to do anymore. That’s the point, the break or make point. I decided to forge ahead.

I understood early enough that every job is different and you’re only as good as your last job. I honed my craft and worked day in day out to better myself. %HLQJ WKH ÀUVW 1LJHULDQ presenter on channel O ZDV GHÀQLWHO\ PHPRUDEOH and also working as the SUHVHQWHU LQ 1LJHULD for Big Brother Africa, hosting Mnet’s Let’s Dance, Peak Talent Show and then winning lovely awards for my work as an actress tops it all What would make you quit if that ever comes to be?

Death!

What inspires you and what to you is the most exciting thing about acting?

Living someone’s life and trying to understand their pain, their joy, their happiness and emotional state while telling their story is the most fascinating thing ever! Nature inspires me.

What other art form do you indulge?

I produce, no I don’t sing if that’s what you’re asking (laughs out loud).

Some of your colleagues have embraced skit making because it seems to be the new ‘crude oil’, would you consider such?

I’m not one who follows trends. I don’t want to do anything stupid but if I find a good character and story line, maybe I would.

You are mostly busy traveling from one set to another, how do you balance your busy schedule and family life?

Luckily for me, my kids a grown enough to communicate anything and everything with me.

It makes it easier. They will grow up and focus on their lives pretty soon, I want to still have a career when that happens.

Do you think celebrity marriages are by any means under attack considering some set of fans that are always eager to troll couples

Adelana about marriage troubles?

Lol. No attacks. There are different reasons why marriages break up; fans aren’t one of them as long as you keep your business private.

What’s your view of Nollywood at the moment?

It’s putting the country in places where it ought to have been eons ago! For the first time, it’s all positive news about our great country.

How have you managed to stay out of scandal/controversy?

Honestly, I don’t even know. Lol. I guess it’s because I mind the business that pays me, I don’t have a lot of friends and I stay private.

What are some of the changes you crave in the sector?

Major budgets, so at least actors get paid enough, enough to do just 2 jobs in a year and be financially stable.

In what ways has fame changed your lifestyle?

I don’t have that stuck in my head because I want to live a normal and peaceful life. So, no way really...

Tell us about Tap Studios?

Tap Studious is a production company set up for movies, series, documentaries etc. we also have a full equipment rental arm.

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER SEPTEMBER 2, 2023

20

AUTO WORLD

Bennett Oghifo 07052343083 Email:bennett.oghifo@thisdaylive.com

TIPS OF THE WEEK How to Tell if Your Mass Air Flow Sensor is Bad The mass air flow (MAF) sensor, part of your vehicle’s electronic fuel injection system, is responsible for calculating the total amount of air entering the engine. A faulty MAF sensor can cause your vehicle to run too rich or run too lean. You’ll notice if the tailpipes eject black smoke or when the engine runs rough or backfires. You may also notice you’re filling up at the gas station more than usual.

Nissan’s ground-breaking Gran Turismo drivers

Nissan Celebrates Rich Motorsports Heritage in Thrilling Gran Turismo Film

S

WDOOLRQ 101 WKH R΀FLDO UHSUHsentatives of the Nissan brand in Nigeria hosted private screening of the movie Grand Turismo at Silverbird cinemas Victoria Island on 26th August 2023 In the heart-pounding cinematic spectacle,Nissan’s ground-breaking Gran Turismo (GT) Academy, one of the trailblazing successes born out of Nissan’s rich racing heritage, takes centre stage in the highly anticipated Gran Turismo movie by SONY! In 2008, Nissan broke barriers by introducing the radical gamer-to-racer competition, a

bold move that transformed the best of Gran Turismo gamers into professional motorsports race drivers. This visionary partnership with Gran Turismo challenged the notion of what it took to be a driver, opening doors for aspiring talents worldwide. Today, Nissan continues to UHGHÀQH WKH ZRUOG RI PRWRUVSRUWV DQG empower the next generation, challenging LWVHOI ZLWK D QHZ IRFXV RQ HOHFWULÀFDWLRQ LQ Formula E – the 100% electric motorsport DQG LWV H[WHQVLYH HOHFWULÀHG OLQH XS These are our Key Messages: Nissan has 87 years of racing heritage, since 1936

The ‘Gran Turismo: From Gamer to Racer’ movie is based on the true story of how Nissan created the GT Academy to turn gamers to racers For Nissan, Gran Turismo has played a huge role in cultivating a deep-rooted relationship between the brand and racing enthusiasts worldwide.

Nissan’s GT academy programme has been immortalised in the Gran Turismo movie by Sony.

While it was active, Nissan broke barriers to transform gamers into professional race drivers with GT Academy.

Luxury Bus Transporters Give Nonso Ubajaka-led Ex-Co Fresh Mandate

I

n what was applauded as a positive and remarkable development, members of the Association of Luxury Bus Owners of Nigeria (ALBON), on Thursday, rewarded the sterling performance of their national leaders with a fresh term of two years.

ALBON current executive council, led

by Mr. Nonso Ubajaka, was endorsed for a fresh term by members of the umbrella body of long distance road transport owners at their 9th biennial meeting held in Jibowu, Lagos.

With ballot papers on the table in readiness for an election to be presided over by the Chairman of Dan Dollars Motors, Chief Dan Okemuo, the meeting rather reached a consensus that voting was unnecessary, because the executive committee members had performed so well in the past two years, that they deserved to carry on.

One after another, members commended the ALBON leadership for piloting the affairs of the association very well.

Sir Okemuo, for instance, disclosed that he had been monitoring the performance of the executive, which, according to him, was satisfactory.

He, however, noted that some critical issues had been raised at the meeting that would need the quality leadership so far exhibited by the Ubajaka executive to deal with.

The Dan Dollars Chairman appealed to the luxury bus owners to continue supporting the executive members to enable them tackle the numerous tasks ahead.

Chief Boniface Nwachukwu of Bonny Way Motors Ltd, as well as Chief Sebastine Udemba of Chimezie Motors, spoke in the same manner, lauding the national executive members for living up to expectations.

Three Board of Trustees members present at the

L-R: BOT member, Association of Luxury Bus Owners of Nigeria (ALBON) and Chairman/CEO, Dan Dollars Motors, Chief Daniel Okemuo; members of ALBON executive, 2nd Vice President, Obiora Egwim; National President, Nonso Ubajaka; and 1st Vice President, Prince Samuel Ezeh, after the ALBON leaders returned unopposed at their meeting in Lagos… recently meeting, namely the Chairman, Gobison Motors, Chief Godfrey Obi, Chief Udemba, and Chief Okemuo, were members of the electoral panel.

But, following an unopposed motion by J. C Ezeofor, for the ExCo to serve another term without recourse to an election which was supported by another member, and sealed with an adoption by all, the meeting erupted into an ovation for the leaders, who were warmly congratulated by participant.

Returned unopposed with Ubajaka are: 1st Vice president, Prince Samuel Ezeh; 2nd Mr. Obiora Egwim; Honorary Secretary, Frank Nneji; Treasurer, Chijoke Ojukwu; and Financial Secretary, Peter Obi. In his acceptance remarks on behalf of the Ex-Co,

Mr. Nonso Ubajaka, thanked members for finding him and his team worthy of a renewed mandate, promising that they would continue to protect the interest the association.

He particularly expressed gratitude to the members of the Board of Trustees whose encouragement, according to him, had further motivated them to do their best in the new tenure..

“By re-electing us, you have just told us that more work needed to be done and you will not be disappointed. I am assuring you that we will continue to work until our organisation will favourably compete with other organisations,” the President pledged.

HOW THE MAF SENSOR WORKS MAF sensors are located between the air filter and the throttle body and are responsible for measuring the amount of air entering the engine.

Most vehicles have a hot wire MAF sensor.

It has one heated wire and one ambient temperature wire. The microprocessor inside the MAF sensor measures the air entering the engine by maintaining the temperature of the hot wire 200°F above the ambient incoming air. The energy required to maintain the sensor at the same temperature is calculated and sent to the powertrain control module (PCM). The PCM then controls the injectors to deliver the specific amount of fuel that’s proportional to the airflow, creating an air fuel mixture that, ideally, is perfect for your engine.

3 SYMPTOMS OF A BAD MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR 1. YOUR CAR HESITATES OR SUDDENLY JERKS FORWARD WHILE ACCELERATING A bad MAF sensor can cause your vehicle to experience poor drivability issues such as engine stalling, jerking or hesitation during acceleration. This could happen while speeding up on the highway on-ramp or cruising down a city street. These issues can create dangerous situations causing accidents and injury. If you experience any of these symptoms you should examine your vehicle as soon as possible.

2. YOUR AIR FUEL RATIO IS TOO RICH Your vehicle needs the proper ratio of fuel to air in each combustion cylinder. Running rich means there is too much fuel and not enough air. Signs that your vehicle is running rich include: Black smoke exiting the tailpipe Worse fuel efficiency than usual Rough idling Check Engine Light These issues can happen when the MAF sensor is damaged or when its wires are coated with dirt. It can’t measure airflow accurately, therefore sending incorrect information to the PCM. When it overestimates the airflow, the PCM releases too much fuel. Most of the time, you or a mechanic can fix the problem by cleaning the MAF sensor’s wires.

If you’re noticing a Check Engine Light. Stop into AutoZone to have the code read for free with Fix Finder.

3. YOUR AIR FUEL RATIO IS TOO LEAN Running lean is the opposite of running rich. It means your vehicle has too little fuel and too much air. Similar to running rich, the MAF sensor is sending inaccurate information to the PCM. This time underestimating the amount of airflow instead of overestimating it.

Although this will temporarily improve \RXU IXHO H΀FLHQF\ UXQQLQJ OHDQ IRU WRR long can seriously damage your vehicle. You may experience: Engine hesitation and/or surging Hard engine seizures Hard starting Check Engine Light As with other MAF sensor problems, the solution may be as simple as cleaning the wires. However, it’s also a good idea to have a mechanic check your vehicle for damage.

(Source: AutoZone)

21

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER SEPTEMBER 2, 2023

FEATURE Wife of Missing Oil Worker Demands Justice from Depthwize Rebecca Ejiforma

M

ore than two weeks after thecapsizeofthe“Majestic” drilling rig owned by DepthwizeNigeriaLimited, acompanythatwascontractedby Seplat Energy, the wife of one of those unaccounted for is inconsolable, as the company is yet to inform her of the status of her husband.

On August 15, 2023, the “Majestic” rig which was in-transit to its planned drilling location at Ovhor in Ughelli South Local Government of Delta State metanunfortunatefate,anditwasn’tlongbeforea statementwasreleasedbySeplatEnergy,stating thattherighadatotalof96crewmembersonboard, with 92 persons successfully rescued. “...92 of the 96-member crew are accounted for andsafe.However,tragicallyonefatalityoccurred duringtheincident,whilethreeotherrigpersonnel are still missing,” reads the statement signed by the company’s CEO, Mr. Roger Brown.

Vivian, the wife of Mr. Howard Slim Adikankwu, one of those declared missing, had been in deep sorrowandconfusionsincetherigcollapseincident.

Although visibly distraught and confused, Vivian Adikankwu spoke bravely about her ordeal and how she is grappling with the absence of her husband, as well as raised critical concerns about the adequacy of Seplat Energy’s efforts to locate the missing workers.

She revealed that her husband was engaged for the job by Human Resources firm, Ynsynk Nigeria Limited, a company based in Port Harcourt, which recruited workers for Depthwize Nigeria Limited, the owners of the collapsed rig that drilled oil for Seplat Energy.

“Adaybeforetheincident,myhusbandhadcalled me regarding his personal business asking me to helphimfollowuponanongoingtransaction,whichI did.ThefollowingdaybeingTuesday,Itriedreaching my husband but to no avail, I thought it was just network issues until I later got a call around 2p.m fromoneRichardOgbechie,HRatDepthwize,who told me that he was sorry that my husband was missing,” Vivian narrated.

“Itoldhimmyhusbandleftthehousefivedaysago for work. He told me that the rig that my husband was working on submerged around 4a.m that day but that their office was alerted by 5a.m. He said others were rescued but my husband and about four others were missing.

“I called my brother-in-law immediately. I was confused. I dropped my phone. It’s been 14 days now since I last heard from my husband, and no

Mr. & Mrs. Adikankwu

real action has been taken by his employers to locate him. Day after day, we hear promises upon promises,butmyhusbandhasnotbeenaccounted for,” said Vivian, her voice tinged with both grief and frustration.

Continuing with the heartrending account, she sharedhowherfamilyandfriendsarestrugglingto come to terms with the situation, anxiously awaiting updates while actively seeking any snippet of information they can find on the whereabouts of her husband.

VivianAdikankwusaidthemanagementofDepthwise Ltd had called to ask for her bank account, because they told her they wanted to be paying her “feeding money” pending when they are able to find her husband.

When contacted on telephone to ascertain the progress being made in the search and rescue, Mr. Richard Ogbechie, the personnel manager at Depthwize,said,“Iamnotauthorisedtospeakwith themedia.OnlymyManagingDirectorisauthorised to speak with the public on this matter.”

When urged to provide the phone number of his managingdirector,Ogbechiesaid,“Icannotgiveyou my MD’s number. The same way you searched out my own number, you can also look for his number.”

TheconfusioncausedbythemissingAdinkankwu,

is compounded by the fact that his father’s burialwasscheduledfortheupcomingweek, and the widowed mother is still unaware of her missing son.

After the incident on Tuesday, August 15, Seplat Energy was the first to announce its resolvetoprioritisethesafetyandwellbeing ofalltheaffectedpersonnelontheill-fatedrig.

Intheirwell-publicisedstatement,thecompany went on to state that it was working in partnershipwiththeauthoritiesonemergency response and rescue efforts on site.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends of the crew member who sadly lost his life and the three crew members who are still missing at the time of this report. Our emergency response and rescueeffortsworkingalongsidetherigowner andtheauthoritieshavebeenactivatedand areonsite.Ourutmostprioritywillcontinueto bethesafetyandwellbeingofalltheaffected personnelandtheirfamilies,”thestatement by the CEO read.

SeplatEnergymayhavebeenthe‘owners’of theoilbeingdrilledbythedefunctMajesticrig, butthedrillingwascontractedtoDepthwize Nigeria Limited, an indigenous contractor

with RC number: 969014 that has been operating in Nigeria since July, 2011.

Depthwizealsoreleasedastatementtocounter the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency’s (NIMASA) statement that the Ill-fated righadbeenoperatingonNigerianwaterswithout requisite approvals since 2016.

In the statement, Depthwise argued that their rig was operating legally, and reiterated that they were giving “priority and attention, at this time, to theongoingrescueoperationswithrespecttoour missing members.”

Meanwhile,inNIMASA’sownstatement,signed

by Assistant Director, Public Relations, Edward Osagie, the agency also said it had dispatched a team of Search and Rescue and marine accident investigation officers to the scene of the incident.

That’s not all. The Nigeria Upstream Petroleum RegulatoryAuthority(NUPRC)alsoconfirmedthat searchandrescueoperationshadstartedandwere still on-going.

“Information from our Warri Regional Office confirmed that Search and rescue operations of Personnel on Board (POB) the rig has commenced andit’son-going.SeplatEnergyhasalsosubmitted IncidentNotificationForm41totheCommissionas statutorily required and commenced preliminary and detailed investigation on the incident,” the statement read.

The “Majestic” rig collapse tragedy has indeed shone a harsh light on a deeply rooted issue in Nigeria - the extremely poor value for human life. It’s a topic that has been whispered about for years, a grim undercurrent in a nation struggling with myriad challenges.

It is sad to note that there is a wide disparity between the value placed on the lives of the affluent and the everyday worker in Nigeria.

The missing rig workers have become symbols of a larger issue - the perception that some lives are considered expendable, mere statistics in a grand scheme.

Indeed, the story of the Adikankwus and the families of the other missing workers is a poignant reminder of the human toll that industrial accidents can take, and the importance of transparent and compassionate responses from corporate entities.

In all, as investigations into the cause of the disaster unfold, the missing rig workers deserve more than condolences; they deserve a comprehensive investigation, transparent reporting, and support for their families.

Thereshouldbeanendtothecultureofimpunity and negligence that has plagued the country for too long.

Ezenwa-Onuaku Receives Two Top U.S Awards

T

he President of the United States, Joe Biden, on August 19, 2023, bestowed the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award on NigerianbornDrCharityEzenwaOnuaku. Biden presented the much coveted meritorious award - the highest community recognition of the US President, to Ezenwa-Onuaku during the event to commemorate the 2023 World Humanitarian Day in Houston, United States.

The US President’s Lifetime Achievement Award was established by George W. Bush’s Council on Service and Civil Participation The honour is part of the President’s Volunteer Service Award (PVSA) which President George Bush established to honour civilians who volunteer to serve people in need.

The Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award is given to individuals who have made long outstanding contributions to humanity.

In her acceptance response, Ezenwa-Onuaku expressed gratitude for the recognition and pledged to continue to foster human empowerment and growth via Financial Empowerment for Young Adults (FEYA) and her Women Empowerment (WE) project of which well over 50 widows in Nigeria have benefited.

Ezenwa-Onuaku is a social entrepreneur pursuing poverty alleviation through financial education. Her dedication to financial literacy

Ezenwa-Onuaku and Biden

through FEYA and WE Project came to the attention of the US President, Biden.

Her commitment and passion exemplify the spirit of the US Presidential Award, which inspires community confidence and change, home and abroad.

She is recognised for her expert leadership of the WealthyGen, Inc., an organisation she

founded in 2018 to empower women and youths through financial education, development of tools as well as promoting programmes that advance their achievement of financial stability and sustainable growth.

Within days of receiving the US President’s Lifetime Achievement Award,

Ezenwa-Onuaku bagged another major award from Marquis LS and became inducted into the Prestigious Marquis Who’s Who Biographical Registry She was considered for this honour based on her noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field that more significantly impacted humanity.

Ezenwa-Onuaku received the Certified Financial Education Instructor (CFEI) certification from the National Financial Education Council (NFEC).

In 2017, the World Bank Group awarded her a Verified Certificate in Financing for Development.

A skilled chartered economist, accountant and corporate finance executive with more than a decade of excellence in strategic planning, monitoring, analyzing and reporting of key corporate financial and operational metrics, Ezenwa-Onuaku has earned distinction as the founder and president of a non-profit organization, WealthyGen, Inc. The organisation provides financial empowerment solutions for women and youth to enable them break the cycle of poverty worldwide.

She and her team provide financial education and counseling services and assist their beneficiaries with gaining higher education and establishing their own businesses to promote their financial independence.

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER SEPTEMBER 2, 2023

22

MARKET PLACE with Omolabake Fasogbon... 08155131874

L-R: Executive Chairman, Ogun State TESCOM, Evang. Joshua Olalekan Ifede; Special Adviser to Ogun State Governor on Education, Prof. Abayomi Arigbabu; Chairman, Board of Trustees, Teach For Nigeria(TFN), Kunle Elebute; Chief Executive Officer, TFN, Folawe Omikunle; Chairman, ONTV Nigeria Limited, Frank Nweke Jr; Ambassador, TFN, Joke Silva and Board Member, TFN, Ayo Olajiga at TFN’s 2023 graduating ceremony held in Lagos, recently

L-R: Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry, Dr Doris Uzoka-Anite; Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr Evelyn Ngige; Director-General, Industrial Training Fund (ITF), Joseph N. Ari; and an observer at the site of the proposed new ITF building in Abuja...recently

Alat by Wema Slashes Showmax Subscription for Customers Africa’s digital bank, ALAT by Wema has announced a price slash of up to 50 percent on all tiers of Showmax subscriptions accessible through its platform.

According to the organisation, VXEVFULEHUV FDQ DFFHVV WKH RͿHULQJ on Alat Rewards feature on its app to enjoy their favorite content at a notably reduced cost.

Speaking on this gesture, Group Head, Partnership and Ecosystem,

Ajibade Laolu-Adewale said it was in line with the bank’s objective to enhance banking experience for customers.

He said, “Delivering a gratifying banking experience for our customers has remained a steadfast objective of the bank. The inception of the ALAT Rewards platform echoes this commitment. At the core of every action, product and service created by the bank, lies our

valued customers. Our unwavering dedication to excellence constantly propels us to provide multiple viable choices to this diverse clientele of ours.

“We are determined to meet each of our customers at their points of need and exceed their expectations, and to attain this goal, we will continue to provide each one of them with a plethora of viable VROXWLRQV WDLORUHG VSHFLÀFDOO\ WR

their diverse needs and interests.”

Laolu-Adewale added that ALAT Rewards extends its exclusive discounts across a wide array of products and services from reputable vendors nationwide.

“This diverse selection ranges from pharmacies, restaurants, and supermarkets to fashion outlets, gyms, educators, driving schools, medical facilities, experiences, and beyond”, he informed.

Indomie Excites Consumers SBI Clocks 10, Pledges Innovation with ‘Golden Magnet’ Promo Media and Communication company, SBI PHGLD KDV UHD΀UPHG LWV GULYH IRU LQQRYDWLRQ and sector growth as its marked 10th year in business.

The company also stressed collaboration and investment in capacity building geared at building remarkable brands and drive positive industry impact.

Hinting at the company’s growth trajectory, Founder and CEO of SBI Media Group, Rotimi Bankole recalled that it started from a one-man team in 2013, which later expanded its footprint to the international spaces with a team of over 100 professionals.

Bankole said the agency’s success story was built upon the pillars of innovation, bravery, and thought leadership, adding that it presently operates across seven countries in Africa, Europe, and the United States.

He further disclosed how the company was able to leverage partnership with industry gi-

ants like Masscom Global and Stagwell Global to amplify its growth, as well as execute its Africa-focused vision on a global scale. +H VDLG ´7KH MRXUQH\ WR RXU ÀUVW GHFDGH LQ business has been marked with sheer bravery, KDUG ZRUN DQG FROODERUDWLYH HͿRUWV IURP RXU colleagues, partners, and associates around the world. This collective positive energy has shaped what we are today. ´$V ZH ORRN DKHDG , DP FRQÀGHQW WKDW WKH QH[W decade will witness a new generation of leaders leveraging the platform to build remarkable brands and drive positive industry impact.”

Also commenting, Group’s head of business development and strategy, Samuel Odusami said, “the SBI vision has been a remarkable one and it is a story to be proud of. Working with a team of multi-disciplinary talents in the last eight years for me has been an unforgettable experience. Undoubtedly, the future of the company looks bright because the agency

Noodles brand, Indomie has continued to lavish rewards on consumers in its ongoing promo, tagged ‘Golden Magnet’ that launched in June, 2023.

So far, the promo has produced no fewer than 225 winners who have been handsomely appreciated with varied prizes, including bicycle, home goodie bags, play stations and tables.

Explaining the motive of the promo initiative, Group Corporate Communications DQG (YHQW 0DQDJHU 'XÀO 3ULPD )RRGV 3OF Temitope Ashiwaju said the brand intends to make a lasting statement and create unforgettable experience, stressing also that it was a move to appreciate teeming consumers.

He said, “The massive buy-in of our consumers led to the wide acceptance of the promotion which saw many of them win exciting gifts. By purchasing packs

of Indomie Instant Noodles, customers embarked on a thrilling journey to win an assortment of mouth-watering gifts, including a trip to Disneyland.”

On participation process, Ashiwaju said consumers will have to discover the hidden treasures in their Indomie packs.

“To win the coveted trip to Disneyland, the golden magnet awaited discovery. Finding the golden magnet, consumers can then log in to the promotion’s dedicated webpage and enter their exclusive code and select the Indomie Golden Magnet.

“Those who uncover the silver magnet will enter their code and select the silver magnet to become eligible for thrilling prizes including bicycles, goodie bags, play stations, and tablets”.

Ashiwa disclosed further that two winners had already been crowned for a trip to Disneyland.

Coca-Cola Partners Kiva to Scale-up Meta Enhances Capacity Support for Entrepreneurs of Content Creators The Coca-Cola Foundation has stepped-up its support for entrepreneurs across the globe in a new deal it entered with a micro loan non-profit, Kiva.

The five-year deal was in support of ‘Change Make Her’ initiative and to smoothen financial access for under-represented entrepreneurs around the world.

Disclosing this at Coca cola’s ’Level the Playing Field’ DEI Summit in Sydney, recently, President of the Foundation, Saadia Madsbjerg said the partnership would enable the company to lend and relend to a sizeable number of entrepreneurs across the globe.

He informed that repayments from borrowers will return to the fund to allow funding to be loaned and re-loaned to borrowers around the world. He said, “This structure will allow a $1.1

million grant in 2023 to have up to a $4.5 million impact on loan volume by 2028.We are thrilled to announce our new partnership with Kiva, which goes beyond traditional forms of giving”.

The Chief Executive Officer of Kiva, Vishal Ghotge stated that partnering with Coca-Cola Foundation would further expand the company’s work of financial access through life-changing loans.

“Together, we will be able to serve thousands more individuals than we would be able to do alone, demonstrating the collective power of value-aligned organizational partnerships. We are grateful to the company for its commitment and look forward to working alongside one another as we continue to advance gender equity, refugee financial inclusion, and climate-smart solutions in communities across the globe.” Ghotge said.

Social media and tech giant, Meta has unveiled an educational in-real-life programme for content creators in Nigeria to boost their productivity.

The programme, tagged, ‘Meta Creator Lab Live’ will support over 40 content creators to collaborate and learn from experts to improve their delivery.

Speaking at a meeting with content creators, recently, Creator Partnerships Lead, Africa, Middle East, and Turkey of Meta, Moon Baz explained that the lab will create a community of content creators and help shape the future of digital content.

He said, “We are excited to launch Creator Lab Live in Nigeria, a firstof-its-kind by Instagram to support

emerging and aspiring creators to grow on Instagram. Nigeria already has a thriving creator ecosystem with D JOREDO FXOWXUDO LQÁXHQFH DQG SURYLGHV an excellent opportunity for us to support them as they navigate their journeys and careers.

“We recognize the amazing content they create across our family of apps and are committed to helping creators grow their communities and make a living across our platforms. As we work toward shaping the future of digital content and experiences, we are excited and invested in giving creators a home base to build community and create engaging content through various content formats and creative tools.”

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ SEPTEMBER 2, 2023

23

POLITY

Cement: BUA Chairman’s Obsession with Price Blackmail metric tons per year in Edo, Sokoto and Adamawa States of Nigeria, which will be completed by the end of 2022. 2022 has come and gone, Abdulsamad Rabiu had prevaricated.

At another time Rabiu was quoted as saying: “Even though this cement policy is a good one, it must be done in such a way that a lot of players must come in and participate.

There is no point in making a policy that only one, two, or three people are able to benefit from that policy,” adding: “That does not make sense. I am benefiting from this policy, but I know it is a bad policy. So, whilst the policy is good, the way it is being administered is not good. You can’t have a policy that restricts so many people from participating; at the end of the day, you are just creating a monopoly.”

The pertinent question is: If you are not comfortable with a policy you’re benefiting from, why can’t you excuse yourself from the benefit from such a policy? Why create an impression of an existence of a cartel which does not want the cement industry liberalised, in order to maintain their strong hold on price of cement when you are also a major player reaping from the high price of cement?

The BUA Chairman is again treading a familiar path he has trodden before. He told an assemblage of his company’s shareholders in Abuja on Thursday August 31, that the completion his company’s two new factories in Okpella and Sokoto by the end of the year would trigger a reduction in the price of cement. Abdulsamad obviously rehashed his fallacy just because of the current issue surrounding the price of cement.

It leaves much to be desired as to why Abdulsamad engages in his usual business of blackmail by painting himself as cement price messiah when in actual fact the price of his own BUA cement was never cheaper than that of his competitors. I challenge anyone to go take a market survey of the price of cement. It appears he is all out to undo other competitors by inciting the people against his competitors with the use of price of cement as a bait. It is his old trick.

Abdulsamad Rabiu should stop this blackmail and hypocrisy and let Nigerians breathe. The true test of his claim will be to see the price of his BUA cement cheaper than others in the market which presently is not. Enough of this cement price propaganda. The consumers are wiser now!

Abdullahi Goronyo

T

o a discerning mind, it would appear that the Chairman of BUA Cement, Abdulsamad Rabiu relishes playing to the gallery, whenever the issue of price of commodities like Sugar and Cement becomes a public debate. Granted, he is a major player in those two sectors and it would be expected that his stake on contentious issues like the price of Cement or Sugar should be reasonable, well-grounded and reassuring. However, more often than not, his position has turned out to be a gratuitous insult to the psyche of the public particularly the consumers of those commodities.

Recall in 2016, the BUA Cement Chairman, to the excitement of unsuspecting consumers, had announced that he would bring down the price of cement when he increased his production capacity with the then expected completion of some of the production lines he had embarked upon. It turned out that Abdulsamad was just flying a kite to deceive the people that he is publicspirited as the price of his Cement ran pari passu with his other competitors at the end of the day.

On June 18, 2021, the BUA boss issued a press statement and embarked on a wild goose chase, denying any plan to increase the price of his Cement. He had said “As a responsible corporate entity, we refuse and reject associations with any actions that are deemed capable of projecting any industry we operate as a cartel. Hence, whilst we respect that the said company has decided to increase their prices, we are not questioning the reason(s) why but would like to make clear BUA’s position on a price increase.

“The timing is not right for any increase on BUA’s part, and we do not have any justifiable business reason to increase our prices (ex-factory) anytime soon. We therefore urge our distributors not to panic as well as not engage in any arbitrary hike in the retail price of BUA Cement,” Curiously, 16 days later, BUA cement price was jerked up. Who is BUA fooling? And who was he trying to get at by whipping up public sentiment against the

Rabiu price of cement then.?

In 2019, the BUA Chairman came again with his antics of admitting that Cement price was too high in Nigeria and that he would bring down the price. He had told shareholders at the Annual General Meeting of the Company that the management had concluded plans to sign an agreement with Sinoma CBMI of China for the construction of three new cement plants of three million

President Tinubu, Thank You for Betta Edu Udeme Bisong Udeme

I have followed the activities of the Tinubu Administration since inception with keen interest. As a Nigerian, whether I have partisan leanings or not, the decisions and activities of the Governnent in power affects me so I am invested in the success of the Tinubu administration.

Like most Nigerians, I waited eagerly for the unveiling of the ministerial list. Happily, Ministers have now been sworn in. One person that has caught my attention is the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Dr. Betta Edu. Her ethereal looks, poise and charm naturally captures the attention but almost immediately, you are made aware of her other sterling qualities and you know that this is easily one of the most inspired Ministerial choices made by President.

You glance through her CV and you’re in a daze. You preview her professional trajectory and you’re in awe. Of a truth, thoughts of every other ancillary consideration for her nomination vanishes. She’s a youth. Well, yes but what she has packed into her youth, people twice her age are still working towards half. Well, she’s a woman. Of course.

By gender identification and it ends there. You dare not leave her in a tokenistic box. She is a force of nature who moves with her own atmosphere. You have to notice when she walks in.

The Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs have had a bad rap since inception. For such a young Ministry, it has caused ruckus and left a sour taste in the mouth of many.

Most of its pronouncements of job done are met with heckles and boos of disbelief. The Ministry is weighed down by a monumental trust-deficit overhang.

This is the milieu Dr. Edu has jumped into fully armed.

She leaves you in no doubt that she came prepared. Since her swearing in, she has been making the rounds of media houses trying to sell her initiatives and debunk some of the fallacies that have been hung on the Ministry. Not an easy task. Enough to weigh down the faint-hearted but Dr. Edu is by no means faint of heart. She is an Amazon through and true.

Watching her passionately talk about the work ahead, you are left in no doubt that this Minister knows clearly what she came to do. This one will not wait to read the body language of Oga at the top. If it needs to be done, Dr. Edu will do it and do it well.

I understand she has been holding a retreat with her Directors and Heads of Department all week. What are you supposed to be doing? What have you done? What is preventing you from doing what you’re supposed to be doing? I hear it’s been a tough session. I wish her directors well.

If I were them, I’d eschew the famed Civil Service taciturnity, protectionism and games and embrace this Minister. They all have a lot to gain from helping her succeed.

The thing however is that the Dr. Edu I’m seeing does not look like she will ask permission for you to fall in line. It’s in your best interest otherwise, well...

Dear Dr. Edu, eyes are on you. Expectations are high. Hope rests on you. The youths. Women, several other demograph-

Edu ics. I will not ask you not to let them down. You don’t look like it is within your contemplation. I therefore live you with a simple prayer. Godspeed.

Udeme Bisong, a Social Commentator, writes from Guzape, Abuja

Orakpo Urges Govt, NASS to Reduce Cost of Governance

Orakpo

Managing Director, Transerve Disc Technologies Limited, Pastor Cyprian Orakpo, has urged the three tiers of government and national/state legislators to reduce wastes and high cost of governance in the country. He also said it is important to stop or reduce corruption.

He spoke to journalists in Lagos on last Wednesday on the sidelines of the public presentation of his book: “Journey to The Top.” Orakpo who is the Pastor in charge of the Redeemed Chris-

tian Church of God (RCCG), Lagos Province 19, Strong Tower Sanctuary, Ogudu, explained that the book has basic principles and “when applied, would enable an individual, organisation and even a country to reach to the top.”

Orakpo said, “I do not really think that the debt is high. We have many countries that have higher debt per Gross Domestic Product (GDP) ratio than Nigeria. America and Japan for example are some of the most indebted nations in the world.

But it is not just the volume of debt, that may not be saying it all.

“The problem we have is that we have low revenue, wastages and corruption. Most of this money borrowed are not productively utilized. Most are used to pay salaries, and allowances and unnecessary bureaucracies.

Have you seen the escort vehicles that follow our leaders, ministers, legislators? Have you seen the allowances of the ministers, National Assembly members and their special

assistants? Most of the debt are spent on consumption with zero value to the economy. So high debt is not a major problem but what they were used for. “ We can produce most of what we import through encouragement of the real sector by providing basic infrastructures, single digit interest rates, improving on our ease of doing businesses, patronizing locally made products etc. Nigeria is a highly endowed nation with ample human and natural resources.

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ SEPTEMBER 2, 2023

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POLITY

Emeka Okwuosa Foundation’s Gala Night Ferdinand Ekechukwu

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lobac Clearly driven with the vision to sustain his family trait of giving a helping hand to those in need within their cycle of influence, Sir Emeka Okwuosa Foundation (SEOF), has once again reiterated its aim to raise the bar for philanthropic gestures to underserved communities across the country. This is as he epitomizes that ‘boy’ that can be described as the son of his father, when he said “my father used the little income they had to take care of those who are in need of education and housing.” So, for him, extending a helping hand has been ingrained in his DNA, thus philanthropic values were instilled on him from cradle.

Speaking at a recent gala night which was organised to further inspire more people to join the foundation to put more smile on the faces of people, the Chairman, Sir Emeka Okuosa Foundation (SEOF), Emeka Okwuosa, stressed that they are targeting programs and projects that focuses on addressing fundamental needs and

L-R: Programme beneficiary, Aweto Frank; Programme beneficiary, Usman Bilkisu; Sir Emeka Okwuosa; Programme beneficiary, Kelvin Obasi; Programme beneficiary, Egoyibo Scholastica and SEOF’s GM, Amanda Obidike.

impacting lives sustainably.

He said: “While our primary areas of focus are education, healthcare, and socioeconomic empowerment,

IPMAN: 60% of Oil Marketers Now Redundant

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he Chairman, the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Ore Depot, Shina Amoo, has lamented that about 60 per cent of independent oil marketers are now redundant, following the removal of fuel subsidy, which led to a massive rise in the prices of products.

Speaking during a recent interview with journalists, Amoo also said that life had become unbearable for many IPMAN members as a result of business frustration and the attendant financial challenges.

He said: “Deregulation is the best regime in our sector but the problem with this current regime is that our refineries are not working. Dangote that we believed in is not ready. All government-owned depots are abandoned. All the pipelines have been vandalised.

There is no solution to the free flow of the product in the country. We are still on importation.

“Before deregulation, we could get petrol at N172 and sell at our stations for N190 or N195. From the margin of N23, we pay for transportation and other logistics and have small profit. But now, we buy at N580 from private depot owners.

How do we make profit?

“As I talk to you, many of the private depot owners are selling to us at their pump price, not ex-depot price. What we are looking out for is how the government can come to our aid and allow independent marketers to operate. If it is possible for government to organise a depot that will allow us to have a margin so that we can sell at the same pump price with private depot owners. Many are idle because they cannot access the product at the official rate or at the rate that allows for profit. Many of our people have sold their petrol stations and others have put their station for lease or for sale.

“Government can give us grant for Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) conversion. It can do that through development bank. On the CNG, government should support us to engage in gas sales to compensate for the loss revenue from fuel.”

we have also completed significant sustainable infrastructure projects to help provide communities with long-term solutions to issues like climate change and erosion. Through our work, we aim to address some of the most pressing issues facing underserved communities, including poverty, inequality, and environmental challenges.

“As you read about the work that SEOF has done and plans to do, I hope that you will be inspired by the impact we are making in these areas to support us and to help your own communities. We have achieved some remarkable successes over the years but we know there is still much work to be done.”

In light of the above, he expressed his deepest gratitude to all of their partners and supporters who grace the occasion and donated handsomely.

Showing appreciation, he stated, “Your unwavering dedication has enabled us to achieve our goals and provide assistance to more people than we could ever have envisioned when SEOF was founded. Your continued support is crucial to our success, and we look forward to working together to create a better and more equitable society for all.”

According to him, in 2022 alone, over 32 open-heart surgeries were performed at the Dame Irene Okwuosa Memorial Hospital (DIOMH). Also, he stated that they have partnered with the Vincent Ohaju Obioma Memorial (VOOM) Foundation, a Texas-based foundation made up of volunteer-doctors, nurses, health workers and other support professions that has sustainable and life-saving open-heart surgery programmes in Nigeria.

For some beneficiaries of the open-heart surgery like Obasi Kelvin, Aweto Oghenetera and Usman Onu, life has been different. Kelvin said, “I am very grateful to the SELF for giving me this opportunity as a young boy and for helping my parents.”

Highlights of the event which attracted likeminded friends and associates of Sir Okwuosa, across all spheres of life witnessed the auction of art works, and a live band music that thrilled the audiences with soothing sounds. Notable guests were Timi Alaibe; the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Fidelity Bank Plc, Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe and the Founding Executive Chairman/CEO of Chicason Group, Alexander Chika Okafor.

L-R: Global Chairman, Great Ife Pharmacy Alumni Association, Pharm. Olalekan Asuni; Global Treasurer, Pharm. Omokhafe Ashore; and the Association Global Secretary, Pharm. Adebayo Temenu L-R: Founder Black History and Lifestyle Awards, Eziade Folashade Balogun; Founder, Africa at a press conference on the golden jubilee celebration of the greate Ife pharmacy held in Lagos…. Fashion Week London and Nigeria, Olori Ronke Ademiluyi Ogunwusi at the African Fashion x yesterday Black History and Lifestyle Fashion Week 2023, Press Conference bill to hold in Oct. in London , held in Lagos…. yesterday SUNDAY ADIGUN

L–R: Branch Manager, Access Bank Plc. Akin Adesola, Victoria Island, Lagos, Uchebenu Okecha; Team Lead, Product and Segment, Olarenwaju Adetula; Unit Head, Consumer Banking, Adaeze Umeh; and Product Manager, Doris Okpara at the African Financiasl Technology Congress Awards where DiamondXtra emerged as AFRICA’S BEST SAVINGS ACCOUNT PLATFORM BRAND OF THE YEAR 2023 held at Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos… yesterday

L-R: CEO Impact Investors Foundation, Etemore Glover; Founder Mobihealth, Funmi Adewara; Wycliffe, Head, UNIDO-ITPO Africa, Abimbola Olufore; Managing Consultant Cuanu, Nonye Umahi; General Partner HealthCap Africa, Dr Ola Brown; with GLICOP Coordinator, Gimbiya Egba; at the Gender Lens Investing Community of Practice Engagement Series 1.0 in Lagos… recently

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ APRIL 24, 2011

GLOBAL SOCCER A

WEEKLY PULL-OUT

2.09.2023

NEWS

FAILED CONTINENTAL TEST PAGE. 25

Chukwubuikem Ikwuemesi

New Serie A Prodigy

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ SEPTEMBER 2, 2023

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GLOBAL SOCCER

Chukwubuikem Ikwuemesi during his unveiling

Chukwubuikem Ikwuemesi

New Serie A Prodigy Barely a year after joining Slovenian side, NK Celje, former Flying Eagles striker has sealed a move to Serie A outfit, Salernitana on a four-year deal; how well he will impress on the big stage however remains to be seen

F

ormer Flying Eagles striker, Chukwubuikem Ikwuemesi recently sealed a move to Serie A outfit Salernitana on a four-year deal, joining from Slovenian side NK Celje for a transfer fee of €1.8m.

The highly-rated striker earned the move to Italy’s top-flight after impressing in his time with NK Celje.

The 22-year-old marksman has already found the net twice in five appearances for the side this season before making the switch to Salernitana.

He scored nine goals in 30 league appearances for the side last season, as well. He only moved to Celje last summer and has quickly earned a move to Italy with his quality performances.

Ikwuemesi becomes the second Nigerian player to move to Italy’s top-flight this summer after Samuel Chukwueze.

The striker was linked with AC Milan before completing a move to Salernitana, instead.

The talented striker signed a four-year contract with the option of a further year with the Salerno-based club and will be keen to make his mark in the club this season. He will wear the number 22 jersey at the club.

Before now, Italian giants, AC Milan

are reportedly keeping tabs on former Flying Eagles centre-forward. The performances of Ikwuemesi have caught the attention of the Rossoneri recruitment team as the 21-year-old was in good form for NK Celje in the Prva Liga, the Slovenian top-flight, last season notching nine goals and five assists in 32 appearances which was his highest goal contribution since moving to Europe.

He began his career with Giant Brillars before moving to SK Vorwärts Steyr in the Austrian second division but failed to make his mark, scoring just two goals in nine games. He then joined Slovenian outfit NK Krško, where he made 11 appearances and scored four goals.

Ikwuemesi transferred to NK Celje last summer and has been one of the first names on the team sheet, playing 32 games in all competitions, 26 of which he started. He was part of the Flying Eagles of Nigeria team coached by Ladan Bosso at the 2020 WAFU B U-20 Championship.

Ikwuemesi has said he is delighted that the controversies surrounding his future are finally behind him after he signed for Salernitana.

The former Flying Eagles striker was close to joining Latvian club Riga FC and later French Ligue 1 club Le Havre

before he finally signed for Salernitana.

“I am so happy to be at Salernitana after a lot of transfer saga,” he said at his media presentation. “It doesn’t matter the clubs who were interested in signing me, it matters where I am at right now and that is the most important thing.” He said he has been impressed by what he has seen of his new team so far and hopes to improve and give his best for them to win games and trophies.

Promoted to the elite division in 2021, Salernitana have been fighting not to go down for two seasons. Last year, the team only finished 15th in Serie A. Nevertheless, they held on fairly quietly, as evidenced by the 11-point lead in the red zone. La Salernitana hope to continue their progress this season.

Last weekend, the men of Paulo Sousa showed great dispositions managining to grind a point against Roma.

The Salernitana coach remains without incumbent defenders Daniliuc and Pirola, who are both injured. Last weekend, veteran Candreva stood out against Roma with a brace. Still at the club, Senegalese international, Boulaye Dia with 16 goals and six assists last season) who only came into play at half

Chukwubuikem Ikwuemesi

time against Roma, but could start this time.

This summer, young Polish midfielder Legowski (20) arrived at the club, as did young Nigerian striker Chukwubuikem Ikwuemesi (Celje) and substitute goalkeeper Costil (Lille).

Defender William Troost-Ekong (Watford) and forwards Vilhena (Espanyol) and Piatek (Hertha Berlin) were not retained and Bonazzoli was loaned to Hellas Verona.

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ SEPTEMBER 2, 2023

GLOBAL SOCCER

Enyimba, Remo Stars’ Champions League Ouster, Reflection of Quality of NPFL, Says Waidi Akani Kunle Adewale

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ormer Chairman of the Lagos State Football Association, LASFA, Waidi Akani has lamented the ouster of Nigeria’s two representatives in the first round of the CAF Champions League-Enyimba of Aba and Remo Stars, ascribing it to the quality of the Nigeria’s Premier Football League, NPFL. “When your best teams in the league cannot go past the first round of an African championship means our league is not up to standard when it comes to African competitions. How can you have your best teams play against one or two teams from other African teams and then lose in the first round.

“Having said that, it also has to do with those teams themselves. If you generalise and say that the league is not up to standard which I have said earlier you also have to understand that those teams are also responsible for themselves. Not playing well in the league or not well prepared by the league does not mean the teams cannot prepare themselves. Basically, I will put the blame on the NPFL initially and put the final blame on the clubs. That will be my take on not getting past the first round of the Champions League,” Akani noted.

On what Nigerian clubs should do to measure up with their counterparts in the continent, the former Nigeria international charged NPFL clubs on new innovations and mixes youthfulness with experienced players in their team.

“NPFL clubs must begin to innovate, bring in youthfulness. Bring in young players mixed with experienced ones.

Our league is full of old players as far as I am concerned. Football is played by young athletes. That is to say we must have a league full of younger players and also match up with what is obtainable in other African countries. For example, the league must start and end at the right time and as such these teams can play their African opponents when they are well prepared and ready and not when they are off season and you want them to play against those clubs that are well into their league season. We must match our league season with other African countries, which will prepare our team for continental tournaments very well,” the defunct NEPA of Lagos midfielder expressed.

Akani however praised the management of the NPFL for giving fans a very good

Enyimba versus Remo Stars

league last season.

“We saw how excellent the league was organised last season, in spite of the fact that it was an Abridged League and then culminated in the Super Six, with a perfect setup, but now it’s a full season the organisers are planning to play. Though it’s the same organisers which is very good, we believe and hope that they can replicate the same idea-same thing that they did last season into this long haul league. However, how the clubs would match up financially, the referees would officiate without bias remains to be seen. But we still have to give the organisers that benefit of doubt to see how they manage the 38-match league season. Hopefully, they can replicate some of those things they did last season,” the Yaba College of Education Engineering graduate concluded.

Meanwhile, President of Nigeria Football

Federation NFF, Alhaji Ibrahim Gusau has challenged the leadership of the NPFL to join hands with other stakeholders in helping Nigerian clubs make progress in continental competitions.

Speaking at the NPFL General Meeting in Abuja, on Tuesday, Gusau groaned about the early exit of the two Nigeria Representatives in the CAF Champions League.

“It pained the federation and indeed Nigerians how both Enyimba and Remo Stars crashed out in the first Preliminary Round of the CAF Champions League,” Gusau stated.

The Chairman of NPFL, Gbenga Elegbeleye however assured that the league board will build on the achievement of last season by ensuring that Nigerian football regains its pride of place in Africa.

Rangers Target Top Finish in 2023/24 NPFL Kunle Adewale

In its effort at ensuring that Enugu Rangers win this season Nigeria Premier Football League,

G LO B A L S O C C E R ASSISTANT EDITOR KUNLE ADEWALE THISDAY ON SATURDAY EDITOR YEMI ADEBOWALE DEPUTY EDITOR AHAMIFULA OGBU THISDAY NEWSPAPERS EDITOR-IN-CHIEF/CHAIRMAN NDUKA OBAIGBENA MANAGING DIRECTOR ENIOLA BELLO DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR ISRAEL IWEGBU

NPFL, after the Flying Antelopes last won it seven years ago the management of the Coal City side is leaving no stone unturned in its effort to achieve its target.

Rangers players have been assured of muchimproved facilities at their residential camp at Nkponkiti Road, Independence Layout, Enugu.

The Flying Antelopes constituted supporters group gave the assurance during a facility tour of the abode alongside the club’s General Manager, Ameobi Ezeaku.

Obiora Onyia, one of the supporters, said a conducive camp will encourage the players to give their maximum in achieving the collective goal. He, however, encouraged the club’s management to work tirelessly on achieving success in the upcoming NPFL season.

Meanwhile, Ifeanyi Ogba has completed his move to Rangers for an undisclosed fee. He was on the books of former NPFL champions, Akwa United, last season.

Ogba has been tipped to be a crucial player for the seven-time NPFL champions in the upcoming season. He is rated highly by the new Rangers head coach, Fidelis Ilechwuku.

Rangers will kick-start the 2023-24 NPFL campaign against Doma United.

Meanwhile, newly appointed commissioner for Youth and Sports, Enugu State, Lloyd Ekweremadu, has said that the season of the positive turnaround has come for the Flying Antelopes.

Ekweremadu made this pronouncement during a visit to players and officials of the club at the players’ residential camp, Nkponkiti, Independence Layout, Enugu, Thursday, to familiarise himself with the team as they departed the coal city for a close-camping exercise in Awka, Anambra State.

He praised the management, coaches, players, and other backroom staff of the club for all they have been doing to ensure that the club maintains its top status in the football club committee while aspiring to enhance its marketability in the corporate world.

“Regarding the welfare of the team, the ministry is in talks with the new G.M/CEO who is fantastic on the job and I believe that what he is coming up with will take the club to the level it rightly belongs. Soon, a number of partners and sponsors would be unveiled to ensure that Rangers is truly celebrated as an international brand,” stated the commissioner.

Tornadoes Get N58m Takeoff Grant for New NPFL Season Laleye Dipo in Minna Ahead of the kick-off of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) season, the Niger State government has released a takeoff grant of N58million to the management of Niger Tornadoes Football Club of Minna.

In addition, the government has also released the August salaries and allowances for the players and the technical crew.

The Chairman of the Tornadoes Management Committee, Mr Ibrahim Dada, who disclosed this to sports writers yesterday in Minna said the state government has also pledged its moral and financial support for the players and officials to ensure they excel in the new season which will kick off on September 9.Dada, who appreciated the gesture of the government, assured stakeholders that the players will put in their best and come out tops at the end of the season.

He disclosed that Tornadoes may play their home matches at the Kontagora Township Stadium, adding that the inspection team from the NFF will be in Kontagora this weekend to certify or otherwise the use of the facility.

According to him the Kontagora stadium is 95 per cent ready for the league and “we are optimistic that it will scale the hurdle of the inspection team.”

As Plan B in case the stadium is not approved, “we will play our home matches in Kaduna”.

The chairman confirmed that not less than 35 players are already in camp with Tasiu Lawal leading the pack.

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ SEPTEMBER 2, 2023

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GLOBAL SOCCER

Eddie Nketiah’s last minute strike against Manchester United ensures Arsenal took all three points at the Emirate Atadium last season

Arsenal Set to Bounce Back with Man Utd Visit After a disappointing 2-2 draw against 10-man Fulham at the Emirate last weekend, Arsenal would be hoping to be back to winning ways with the visit of Manchester United, who will be boosted by their 3-2 win over Nottingham Forest despite going down 2-0 in less than five minutes. Both sides would be going for a win as anything short of victory may not be two good for either of them if they

T

wo behemoths of the English game whose starts to the campaign have left something to be desired clash in Sunday’s Premier League blockbuster battle, as Arsenal host Manchester United at the

Emirates.

Mikel Arteta’s men dropped points for the first time this season in a 2-2 draw with Fulham last weekend, while the Red Devils produced a captivating comeback to sink Nottingham Forest 3-2.

A bullish Arteta claimed that Arsenal’s performance in last weekend’s four-goal stalemate with Fulham was “10 times better” than their 2-1 win over the Cottagers at this point last year, although a few aggrieved Gooners may have thought differently by the time the final whistle blew.

Following a pair of unconvincing victories over Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest, Arsenal shipped another first-minute goal at the Emirates through Andreas Pereira, but Bukayo Saka - whose pass sent the ex-Man United man away - went from zero to hero from the penalty spot before Eddie Nketiah had seemingly done enough to maintain the Gunners’ 100 per cent start.

The writing was on the wall for Marco Silva’s side when Calvin Bassey saw red, or so the Emirates thought, as the returning Joao Palhinha expertly picked out the bottom corner to glean the unlikeliest of points for Fulham, bumping Arsenal down to fifth place in the Premier League table in the process.

Seven points from nine on offer is far from catastrophic for the Community Shield holders, but Arteta’s early-season experimentation has led to confusion and criticism in equal measure, and such innovation has yet to resolve their glaring defensive issues at home.

Indeed, Arsenal head into Sunday’s headline encounter having only kept one clean sheet in their last nine Premier

League matches at the Emirates, but Arteta’s side can normally counteract defensive shortcomings with attacking proficiency, having netted at least twice in nine of their last 10 top-flight games in North London.

The goal-laden spectaculars were not just limited to the English capital last weekend, as Nottingham Forest made Premier League history at Old Trafford, becoming the first team in the competition to score twice in the opening four minutes away to Manchester United.

Taiwo Awoniyi’s strike and Willy Boly’s header left the Red Devils faithful dumbfounded, but Christian Eriksen managed to reduce the deficit in the 17th minute, before fellow midfielders Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes completed a praiseworthy turnaround in the second 45.

Making a welcome return to winning ways after a dismal 2-0 loss away to Tottenham Hotspur - whom Arsenal will endeavour to emulate this weekend, Erik ten Hag’s team occupy eighth place in the embryonic rankings, having also recorded a smash-and-grab 1-0 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers on home soil.

While the Red Devils’ resilience at home is not up for debate, some Man United fans may wish to overlook their side’s unsightly away record, which reads just three wins from their last 11 Premier League games on rival turf, scoring just once in their last four such matches.

Ten Hag’s men brought Arsenal crashing back down to earth with a 3-1 win at Old Trafford last year, but the Gunners completed their revenge mission with an enthralling 3-2 triumph at the Emirates in January, and not since Jesse Lingard stole the show in December 2017 have Man United prevailed in a Premier League fixture on Emirates soil.

Meanwhile, two Premier League teams seeking to return to winning ways do battle at the American Express Community Stadium this evening, as Brighton & Hove

Albion play host to Newcastle United.

The Seagulls and the Magpies most recently met during the Premier League Summer Series tournament with Eddie Howe’s side running out 2-1 winners.

Brighton fans had every right to feel optimistic heading into last weekend’s home encounter with West Ham United having previously brushed aside both Luton Town and Wolverhampton Wanderers by 4-1 scorelines.

However, Roberto De Zerbi has been left with plenty to ponder after his side – who thrashed West Ham 4-0 in March – suffered a surprise 3-1 defeat to the Hammers despite dominating the contest with 78% possession and 25 attempts on goal.

A late strike from newly called-up Germany midfielder Pascal Gross – who has become the club’s all-time leading scoring in the Premier League with 27 goals – proved inconsequential, as earlier goals from James Ward-Prowse, Jarrod Bowen and Michail Antonio condemned the Seagulls to their first defeat of the campaign.

Defensive errors ultimately cost Brighton, but De Zerbi was only left “frustrated” with the result and not the performance, and the Italian has called for those hyping up his team to lower their expectations despite “fixing the target higher” this term after securing an impressive sixth-place finish last season.

Seeking to avoid consecutive league defeats for the first time since October last year, Brighton will hope to bounce back with a victory on Saturday against a Newcastle side whom they have failed to beat in their last four meetings, drawing their last two on home soil.

Brighton were not the only Premier League side who suffered a disappointing defeat last weekend as Newcastle were put to the sword 2-1 against 10-man Liverpool at St James’ Park, despite leading the match heading into the final five minutes.

Following a first half that saw Virgil van

Dijk dismissed for a last-man foul shortly before Anthony Gordon opened the scoring, the Magpies appeared to be on course to hold on for all three points. However, they were made to pay for failing to put the game to bed as Liverpool super sub Darwin Nunez fired two brilliant strikes past Nick Pope to dramatically turn the contest on its head.

Eddie Howe acknowledged that the defeat was ‘tough to take’, but he has been encouraged by his side’s start to the new campaign – despite picking up just three points from a possible nine available – and is confident they are strong enough to “bounce back” quickly.

Returning to winning ways on Saturday is not a given, though, as they have failed to win any of their previous six Premier League visits to Brighton, including four draws and two defeats.

Newcastle have also won only one of their last five top-flight fixtures away from home, while they have failed to keep a clean sheet in each of their last 10 on the road, although they did prevent Brighton from scoring in a goalless draw on the South Coast last season.

PREMIER LEAGUE TODAY

Sheffield Utd v Everton 12:30 Brentford v Bournemouth 15:00 Burnley v Tottenham 15:00 Chelsea v Nott’m Forest 15:00 Man City v Fulham 15:00 Brighton v Newcastle 17:30 SUNDAY

Crystal Palace v Wolves 14:00 Liverpool v Aston Villa 14:00 Arsenal v Man Utd 16:30

LA LIGA TODAY

Sociedad v Granada 13:00 Madrid v Getafe 15:15 Alavés v Valencia 17:30 Real Betis v Vallecano 20:00 SUNDAY

Girona v Las Palmas 13:00 Mallorca v Bilbao 15:15 Atlético v Sevilla 17:30 Osasuna v Barcelona 20:00

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ SEPTEMBER 2, 2023

29

GLOBAL SOCCER

iwobii

Alex Iwobi Set for Fulham Medical Nigeria international and Everton midfielder, Alex Iwobi is set for a medical at Fulham after a deal which could reach £22m was agreed.

Fulham are currently discussing personal terms with Iwobi and the Nigerian is said to be eager to move to Craven Cottage.

Iwobi became the most expensive Nigerian player when he joined Everton from Arsenal for £35m in 2019, until Victor Osimen broke the record in 2020 when he joined Napoli from Lille for 70 million Euro. Just three days ago, reports emerged

out of nowhere that Fulham are interested in signing Alex Iwobi from Everton.

Those rumours intensified over the last 36 hours, and today, it has been revealed by numerous sources that Iwobi is actually on his way to Craven Cottage.

Paul Merson was asked about this live on air yesterday, and he says he’s shocked Everton have decided to let Iwobi leave today.

He said: “I am shocked.

Everton need to keep their players.

“I thought Iwobi was one of

their better players last season in a terrible season. For me, I’m quite shocked with that. Very shocked.

“Good signing for Fulham.”

Iwobi has played in two of Everton’s three Premier League games this season, but missed last Saturday’s home defeat to Wolves with injury. The Toffees are yet to pick up a single point so far.

The 27-year-old Nigeria midfielder joined Everton from Arsenal in the summer of 2019 and has made 123 league appearances, scoring six times.

Crystal Palace Back Out of Iheanacho’s Deal Crystal Palace have reportedly stopped their chase of signing Leicester City and Nigerian striker Kelechi Iheanacho as the transfer market closes yesterday.

The 26-year-old has been strongly linked with a summer move back to the Premier League, with reports revealed a few days ago that Crystal Palace have a genuine interest in making a move for the Nigerian forward. It was also explained in the report that the Eagles’ move for Iheanacho will depend on the sale of Jean Phillipe Mateta to RB Leipzig, with the London

club aiming to use the funds raised from the Frenchman’s exit to pursue Iheanacho’s deal.

Another report that came in yesterday revealed Palace are close to matching the £18m Leicester are asking from any potential suitor who has a concrete interest in signing in the Nigerian forward. But in the latest update, Palace are set to keep Jean-Phillipe Mateta after netting a 22 minutes hattrick away at Plymouth in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday, as reported by Evening Standard.

The Eagles are ready to discuss a new contract for Mateta, who will see his current deal expire

in 2026. Palace will now stop their chase for the Nigerian international in favor of a more versatile forward option.

With Iheanacho’s current contract set to expire next summer, the Foxes might lose the former Manchester City forward on a free transfer at the end of the season if he fails to make a move from the club.

Iheanacho has been persistently linked with a move back to the Premier League this summer following Leicester City’s relegation from the English top-flight last campaign.

‘Osimhen’s Presence Makes Napoli Serie A Contender’ Former Argentina striker, Denis German has praised Serie A champions Napoli for holding on to Victor Osimhen despite interest from other top European clubs.

The 24-year-old Nigerian hitman had a remarkable campaign with Napoli last season. The Super Eagles striker registered 31 goals in 39 appearances across all competitions, helping the Partenopeans to their first Scudetto in 33 years and a first-ever quarterfinal finish in the UEFA Champions League.

Following his performances, top clubs in Europe were linked with the former Lille man.

Manchester United, PSG, Bayern Munich, and Arsenal

were all linked with the Super Eagles star.

Even Al Hilal tried to lure him with big money, but nothing concrete came from the talks. In fact, Napoli are looking to extend his contract by a year, and talks have already started, and both parties could reach an agreement soon.

Nonetheless, Osimhen looks set to remain in Naples for this season at least. Former Argentina forward Denis, who played for Napoli between 2008 and 2010, has praised Napoli for holding on to their star man.

And he believes Osimhen would be key to whatever they want to achieve this season.

“Napoli have done well by

keeping Osimhen,” German said.

“The Azzurri will certainly fight for the top three positions in the Serie A because they are still ahead of the other clubs.”

Osimhen has already started the season in blistering form, scoring three goals in his first two Serie A games for Napoli.

However, other clubs in the league are catching up, with Inter Milan and AC Milan both impressing in their first two games.

Osimhen was Napoli’s best player last season, and they have managed to keep hold of him despite links with Manchester United, Bayern Munich, and other top European sides.

GOtv Boxing Night Returns September 24 Premier boxing show, GOtv Boxing Night, will make a return on 24 September, the organisers have announced. In a statement released on Thursday, Flykite Productions disclosed that the 29th edition of the Boxing show, licensed by the Nigerian Boxing Board of Control (NBB of C), will be held at the Molade OkoyaThomas of the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos and feature six fights, including a national female cruiserweight title bout

between Celina “Pretty Assasin” Agwu and Bolatito “Black Tito” Oluwole.

The welterweight division will see a national challenge bout between the very tough Taiwo “Gentle Boy” Olowu and veteran Ganiyu “Energy” Kolawole. In the bantamweight category, Tunde “Turning Star” Olojede would square up to Habeeb “Ige” Oladeji, while Sodiq “Happy Boy” Adeleke takes on Ibrahim “Golden Boy”

Opeyemi.

The super flyweight category will feature a clash between Sifon “Best” Iwatt and Yusuf Olalekan “Omowest” Mohammed, while Azeez “Latest” Ayobami and Emmanuel “Ability” Abimbola duel in a national lightweight challenge bout.

GOtv Boxing Night will broadcast live on SuperSport Variety 4 (DStv ch 209) and SuperSport Select 2(GOtv ch 64 Channel).

Victor Boniface

Leverkusen Confirms Victor Boniface’s Call-up for AFCON Qualifiers German Bundesliga side, Bayer Leverkusen, has announced the inclusion of Nigerian attacker, Victor Boniface, in Nigeria’s international duty matches scheduled for September, Soccernet.ng reports.

Boniface has been on the provisional list for the Super Eagles on various occasions, and he has finally received his first call-up to represent his country in the Super Eagles’ qualification tie against São Tomé and Príncipe.

The 2013 Africa Cup of Nations champions will host the Central African side in Uyo for their matchday six tie, marking

their final AFCON qualification fixture.

Nigeria is expected to dominate the game, having previously defeated GuineaBissau at home and Sierra Leone, securing the top spot in the group with 12 points.

Guinea-Bissau currently trails them with 10 points.

Regardless of the outcome, the Super Eagles have already secured their tickets to participate in the 2023 AFCON tournament, scheduled to be held in Côte d’Ivoire.

As a result, new players who have been impressing fans and the football world with their

performances in their respective clubs are expected to be called up for the match against São Tomé.

In the latest announcement from Bayer Leverkusen, Nigerian attacker Victor Boniface, who has established himself as a formidable threat to opponents and clinched the title of Europa League top scorer, has been confirmed to join the Nigerian squad to face São Tomé.

The Super Eagles, despite not having a coach due to Jose Peseiro’s contract situation, will reportedly be led by Finidi George, Augustine Eguavoen, or Salisu Yusuf.

Liverpool Reject Al-Ittihad £150m Bid for Mo Salah Liverpool have rejected a £150m offer for Mohamed Salah from Saudi Pro League club Al-Ittihad.

The bid for the 31-year-old forward was far in excess of £100m, with add-ons taking it up to £150m.

Liverpool remain insistent the Egypt international is not for sale, and that is final as far as the club are concerned.

Salah, who joined the Reds from Italian side Roma in 2017, signed a new three-year contract last summer.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said last week that Salah was “100% committed” to the Anfield cause, and yesterday he reiterated the club’s stance that the player was not for sale.

“The position remains the same. Absolutely no doubt about that. That’s how it is.

Nothing else to say,” said Klopp.

Liverpool would have little time to react to Salah’s potential departure, with the transfer window closing at 23:00 BST

yesternight for incoming deals involving Premier League teams.

However, Al-Ittihad will still be able to sign players as the Saudi Pro League transfer window is set to close on 7 September.

Salah’s agent has previously dismissed talk of a move to Saudi Arabia but has not responded following the latest links with Al-Ittihad.

“Mohamed remains committed to Liverpool,” agent Ramy Abbas Issa wrote in a social media post on 7 August.

Fearless Energy Powers Upcoming Tor’Q Autofest to Ignite Car Drifters, Super Bikers Fearless Energy drink, from the esteemed stable of Rite Foods Limited, has thrown its weight behind the TOR’Q Autofest scheduled for November 26, 2023, at Eko Hotel, Lagos.

Fearless Energy takes on the role of headline sponsor, aiming to enhance and amplify the car drifting and super bikers’ event, promising sensational performances and an even grander spectacle.

Themed ‘TOR’Q 23: The Fearless Showdown,’ the award-winning Fearless Energy Drink brand is fully geared up to rejuvenate the car drifters and bikers, infusing the positive energy for which the brand is

renowned. The event promises a vibrant showcase of talents in auto-sports and motorbike racing.

In light of this sponsorship, Mr. Seleem Adegunwa, Managing Director of Rite Foods, commented, “The premium Fearless Energy Drink brand remains committed to endorsing initiatives that nurture talent across diverse spheres, ensuring the realisation of set goals and in the realm of sports entertainment, as evident in our partnership with TOR’Q, we aspire to elevate the platform, offering an exhilarating experience for car drifters, super bikers, and enthusiasts alike.”

He said the Fearless energy drink brand which is known for

its inventiveness and superior marketing activities in the entertainment industry and auto-sports will ignite the passion of the contenders to effusively excite consumers and fun-seekers, while actively showcasing their talent in motorsports.

On her part, the Assistant Brand Manager of Fearless Energy Drink, in Rite Foods Limited, Kanyinsola Sangowawa, said the market-leading energy drink would continue to support platforms that resonate with the brand’s DNA of identifying with activities that improve lives, innovation, creativity, with courageous spirit and the ability to attain success in undertakings.

Onuachu Set for Metz Loan Move

Paul Onuachu is set to join Ligue 1 outfit Metz on a seasonlong loan from Southampton summer transfer window closes.

The 29-year-old joined Southampton for £18m from Belgian Pro League side KRC Genk in January.

But has failed to settle down at the St Mary’s Stadium, scoring no goal in his 11 League appearances before the club suffered

relegation to the Championship at the end of the campaign.

Before his move to Southampton, Onuachu was on a good run of form in the first part of the 2022/23 season, bagging 16 goals from 19 games, and a total of 85 goals in 134 appearances in his four-year stay with the Belgian club.

However, the Nigerian

International is set to leave St Mary’s Stadium on a year loan to join Ligue 1 side Metz, with the deal expected to be completed in the coming hours before the transfer deadline at 11 pm yesterday, as reported

by L’Equipwe Metz are looking for offensive reinforcements after losing centerforward Georges Mikautadze to Ajax earlier this week.

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER SEPTEMBER 2, 2023

30

EXPRESSION

MEDIAGAFFES

‘Potentials’ or Potentialities?

EBERE WABARA

S

OME readers still complain that they don’t understand the structure of this column. I have done the explanation innumerably such that it is becoming repetitive. Except where otherwise expressly stated or in the case of attributions, the corrections are usually bracketed.

Finally, there are endless mixed reactions to my stylistics here. A few readers say I am ‘harsh’ on my ‘victims’, while others declare that my approach is indeed their weekly tonic. I promised a colleague of mine who confronted me at the Nigerian Guild of Editors’ conference in Owerri, Imo State, recently, that I will re-examine my modus operandi lest I am accused of intellectual snobbery or professorial haughtiness! Who am I? The word ‘potential’ (noun) is uncountable and means ‘the possibility that something will develop in a particular way, or have a particular effect’. (Source: Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, 2021) Often, you hear or read ‘potentials’! It is only ‘potentiality’ that is countable (potentialities).

“LASG inaugurates new vehicles to transport food” Nigerian Tribune of August 5 also had a similar error: “Ibadan Poly FIBSU inaugurates new executive” You do not inaugurate an old body/thing. So, yank away ‘new’!

“Join the fun, excitement and match build up on GuinnessVIP.” Fly with the Eagles: build-up/ buildup “NAFDAC alerts Nigerians on (to) toxic substance in food” “…trucks hauling petroleum products and other goods from one point to the other compounds the chaos around the country.”

Nigerian Tribune of August 5 offered readers multifarious shibboleths: “Anyone with useful (would it have been useless?) informa-

BY

ewabara@yahoo.com, 08055001948

tion on her whereabout (whereabouts) should please contact the nearest police station or….”

“Police arraigns (why?) suspected gay for having sex with underaged (underage) twin brothers” “Infact (In fact) your achievements within two years speaks (sic) volume (volumes).”

Nigerian Tribune of August 28 comes next with one wrong entry: “As a result, most of the military leaders of yesteryears (yesteryear) are stupendously rich and consequently calling the political shots.”

“FAAN tackles runaway (runway) incursions at (into) airports” “ASUU strike action (what of inaction?): Students, parents lament” Education: just strike or industrial action/work stoppage—‘strike action’ indicates befuddled/loose thinking.

“You can literarily (literally) see and evaluate the state of the entire body by looking at the eye.” “…the students of the University of Lagos under (on) the platform of the Department of Philosophy.”

“Few (A few) days later he invited the department through a friend for a chat.” “…he (Suntai) wrote a letter to the state House of Assembly citing Section 190 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) indicating his interest to assume (resume) duty.”

“Eagles train under heavy downpour” The last word in the extract does not require any amplification/embellishment (heavy) as it is implied.

“NICON Luxury Abuja...its (it’s) about giving you the very best (just the best—delete ‘very’) ‘Best’ is a superlative word that has attained end-point intensification and, as such, cannot be qualified or subjected to any form of lexical adumbration!

“Osun PDP dissociates self from party crisis…passes vote of confidence on (in)…”

“The governor transmitted a letter to the House of Assembly and assumed office, but the acting governor and majority (a/the majority) of the House of Assembly members rejected the letter….” This way: the recuperating governor resumed his seat/place/position.

“Fed Govt assures of lower interest for farmers, others” Who did the government assure?

And this: lower interest rates “Church holds eigth (eighth) convocation” Now THE NATION of August 28 with two ‘Eze-Goes-to-School’ slips: “The toll regime of…N150 (sports utility vehicles….)” SUV: sport-utility vehicle (take especial note of ‘sport’ and the hyphen).

“Therein might lay (lie) its infrastructure salvation….”

The Midweek Magazine of THE NATION under review disseminated two flaws: “…I think an intellectual movement is very desirable in (on) the entire continent which tries to show the uniqueness and potentials (potential or potentialities) that our traditional institutions hold….”

“Customer (Customers) decry long queues at ATMs” “Low cost (Low-cost) carrier coming” and this: “Dike returns after six months (months’) injury” “…as the newly promoted (newly-promoted) Assistant Inspector Generals of Police have (had) already undergone a two-week management course in Lagos.” Get it right: Assistant Inspectors General of Police Daily Trust of August 9 takes over the baton at this point with blunders right from its front page: “Young Shall Grow boss survives assassination attempt” The transporter survived an assassination—not an attempt! The fact of his survival/escape implies there was an attempt on his life.

“The privilege (privileged) class has taken

When Naira Marley Almost Sang for NDLEA

W

hen the report first hit the blogosphere of “breaking news” that Thursday, 17 August, 2023, our panelists on the radio talk show, ‘The Vintage Talkshow’, spent few minutes on Saturday, the 19th, berating the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA and the smart Alec that stumbled upon the idea of using notorious pop singer, Naira Marley (real name Afeez Adeshina Fashola) as the poster boy of the agency’s antidrug abuse campaign. The news of the artiste’s visit to the Abuja headquarters of NDLEA went viral, with several pictures showing him pumping hands and lapping for photo-ops with the chairman of the crime-bursting agency, retired Brigadier General Mohammed Buba Marwa.

Apart from the enormous irony of a self-assured social rebel who didn’t have scruples flaunting the usage of contraband substances like cannabis on social media, including in his musical videos and at concerts; whose disavowal of such irresponsible acts were not known to the general public; it is evidently worrisome to now see the same fellow wearing the toga of a reformed “ambassador” of an agency heavily active in stemming the spiralling epidemic of illicit drug trafficking, and whatever other things people in such disreputable trade indulge in. The optics and the curious messaging from the wild media reports were unflattering to say the least, and borderline self-destructive.

By the evening of that broadcast, the media adviser to the agency, Femi Babafemi, issued a statement that went a fair way to disabuse bemused minds, and nip in the bud what was

carelessly spreading across as a morbid joke. The agency’s position and rebuttal appear to set the records in a clearly reasonable manner.

Let Babafemi breathe: “The decision by the agency to encourage Naira Marley, with over seven million followers, half the population of those who abuse drugs in Nigeria, use his platform share anti-substance abuse messages as against using same to promote and glamourize drug abuse with the dire consequence of misleading millions of Nigerian youths into their peril, is to create a balance between our drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts.”

“This is also in line with the agency’s whole society approach to the fight against drug abuse and in tune with global best practices as well as the theme for this year’s World Drug Day; People First: Stop Stigma and Discrimination, Strengthen Prevention.

“When an artiste, who professes marijuana is good to seven million followers turns a new leaf after some serious counselling, do we reject him, turn our back on him and allow him to continue in his old habit, or do we accept him, give him a chance so he can reach out to his followers to quit substance abuse?

“In other words, why should we take our anti-drug abuse advocacy messages to schools, churches, mosques, marketplaces, motor parks, Nollywood, Kannywood, traditional rulers, labour and the entertainment industry, but when one of their members accepts to turn a new leaf, we turn our back to him?

“Indeed, no one is better suited to take the message against drug abuse to the Marlians than the head of the same movement.”

Admittedly, there is a lot of sense

in the agency’s clarification, especially if - going forward - his lifestyle, pronouncements and disposition, reinforce the agency’s prayers, and the “born-again” campaigner does not return to his “vomit”, so to say. In any case,we trust the agency will find the means to wipe the mud off its face, if this goes south.

Beyond the distraction of a popular user turned prime reformer, the clear and present danger we face is the ease and speed with which hard and illicit drugs appear to spread across our streets, and seize the minds and senses of our young folks. Virtually every week, we observe the NDLEA officers parade a ceaseless flood of seizures, interceptions, arrests and exposures of hideouts, storage bunks and such other nefarious activities of big time traders, barons and mules in the drug business.

Often estimated in millions of dollars, we watch with mouth agape at the staggering haul of evidence and exhibits displayed on social media, seized from all sorts of people arrested at various Nigerian airports while trying to smuggle hard drugs and contrabands out of the country; or in raids into opulent residential areas housing suspected barons and traffickers.

We recently read the agency’s account of how one of its officers was almost crushed by a fleeing suspect who rammed his way out of capture, using his big SUV, when he unexpectedly alighted upon officers of NDLEA who had surrounded his compound, in highbrow Lekki precinct. He escaped on foot after crashing into a neighbour’s fence, and demobilizing his vehicle. Of course, illicit drugs were found in his apartment. Thank God, the agent survived

over virtually everything….” “…power show in the country is choking the common man on the street….” My own view: the man/woman in the street (also the man/ woman on the street) “...and that these have the potential to trigger off crisis (a crisis) the end of which nobody could (can) fathom.”

“Reports said no fewer than 44 people were slaughtered penultimate Tuesday night by some unknown gunmen (we can never know the gunmen—so spare readers the ‘unknown’ trite!) at Dumba village on the outskirt (outskirts) of Baga town in the Kukawa Local Government Area of the state.”

“Our members have earned the allowances by working for the money and therefore we are not begging for crump (crumbs) from government.”

“She said the motive is (was) still unknown….”

Let us welcome Daily Independent (Online) of August 29: “Police cordons town hall over crisis” A rewrite: Police cordon off town hall after crisis Leadership of August 28 committed juvenile errors: “…dignitaries at the event took their turn (turns) to thrash out the problems politicians have infested Nigeria with.”

“Influx of people stretch (stretches) our security—FCT CP” “UN seeks Nigeria’s help to (at) restoring constitutional order in (to) Niger” “India (India’s or Indian) parliament passes flagship food-for-poor scheme” Last but not least of the pack today is The Guardian of August 27: “The crisis of governance in Nigeria today is certainly rooted in the absence of a (an) honest, capable and efficient civil service.”

COUNTERPOINT

FEMI

AKINTUNDE-JOHNSON fajalive1@gmail.com 08033622806- (SMS Only)

with a few injuries.

The consequences of the prevalence of cheap contraband drugs in Nigerian major city centres can be measured by the upsurge of mental health cases in our hospitals, amongst young Nigerians between the ages of 17 and 35. And this is paralleled by the rising cases of homicidal incidents occasioned by children who threaten, attack, maul and sometimes kill their parents or guardians. This is not an exaggeration. Knowing our innate craving to keep wraps on our family blemishes, and avoid public disgrace or stigma of cohabitating with full-blown violent drug addicts, statistics would be scarce on the level and spread of this epidemic.

The government still have a lot to do.

Yes, the NDLEA is doing a yeoman’s job trying to stem the diffusion of illicit drugs into our society by cutting the principal channels of distribution - freighting, storing, planting and harnessing of illicit drugs. We have to now devise means of shutting the funnel ends for drugs that have evaded the grasp of NDLEA, and now populate our streets. The middleman and hustlers who distribute on the micro levels should be shut down, whatever it takes. Hideouts, shanties and backstreet hotels and such openings that serve as stalls and shop fronts for selling, smoking and ingesting drugs in small quantities which are frequented by addicts and adventurous trialists should be identified, categorized and demolished, or rehabilitated, whichever is appropriate.

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SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2023 • T H I S D AY, T H E S AT U R D AY N E W S PA P E R

BACKPAGE CONTINUATION UNEMPLOYABILITY INDEX AND OTHER MATTERS the Western educational system, by scriptural recitations, etc.

What they lack is the tools with which they can engage meaningfully, and also at the level of values. Without economic survival skills, in terms of the ability to provide goods or services that could earn them income, they remain a troublesome demographic group to any development planner. They need to be retooled at two levels: the economic and the axiological. But the axiological is a matter for another day.

Our limited intention here is simply to show that the ignored unemployability index is not readily acknowledged in clear terms and it not being planned for. Yes, there are government “empowerment programmes” and job creation agencies and platforms. But is anyone tracking their impact or trajectory in real terms? Is anyone relating the number of people they reportedly empowered economically to the unemployment figures? Is anyone tracking job losses and juxtaposing them against claims about job creation, to be sure they are not all cancelling out each other? Just asking.

It would seem that not much will change around here in the short term. If anything, matters are likely to get much worse, before they get any better. The security situation is not getting better, but let us hope that the 8-point Agenda will do something about that. I am not sure how; as oil theft is still thriving and poverty is walking the land; and holding hands with fuel price hike and rampaging rise in food prices.

The facts staring us in the face today, for which the blame does not necessarily lie with the three months old government, include the following: “ (1) The problem of

increasing national productivity in the face of insecurity and other negative factors; (2) The prevalence of consumption patterns and product preferences that negatively impact Nigeria’s Balance of Trade, especially from the angle of accruing deficits, (3) The fact that the Nigerian State, and the political and economic elite, consume mostly what they do not produce and are not in a hurry to change; (4) The tendency to mistake policy statements and records of expenditure for positive impact on lives, and (5) The challenges of an operating environment that flagrantly undermines the best policy initiatives and economic intervention programmes.

All things considered, and taking us back to our subject matter for today, unemployable Nigerians have become an absolute majority today. This includes intelligent graduates who actually studied for, and got, their academic qualifications. Their “unemployability” stems from a moral handicap. In their education, socialization and engagements, they internalized the wrong values about leadership, public office, service delivery and much more. If you “employ” them to manage the common till, via an electoral process, they go there to serve their personal interests. Thus, they are a danger to the state and are the wrong mentors for those coming after them.

See what unemployability has morphed into? So, look around you again and answer this question: Is it correct to say that the major crisis facing the Nigerian State today is the failure to work out, and be guided by, the unemployability index in everything it is doing today? Just asking.

Values create the right mindset for substantive

citizenship, rather than nominal citizenship.

In our New World Order, wherein anyone with a cell phone and a social media handle is automatically a media owner, broadcaster, Editor-in-Chief and even a television station, we need a rallying call for a gathering of wits. But who will make the call? Who is making it? Who even thinks that such a call is necessary?

The issues and problems raised here demand some reflection. Other issues not raised here are also alive and well. Some are cheerfully mutating, and not disappearing.

Many more are even popping out of every street corner as I write. That is why weariness walks the land. But let the weary not thump their chests and point fingers. The space is being progressively taken over by aggrieved indigenes – not citizens – who are withholding loyalty from the Nigerian State. This is perhaps understandable when we consider that, in many cases, we have official marauders and state-decorated insurgents passing themselves off as leaders and statesmen.

As observed on this page, under “The Call for Authenticity” nearly a year ago, “Inauthenticity walks the land! In Aso Rock, in the National Assembly, in the judiciary, in state government houses, in state Houses of Assembly, in local government headquarters, in churches and mosques, in institutions of higher and lower learning. We walk through a maze and claim to be walking under bright lights. Debauchery has been given a new name, in the hope that the discerning will no longer keep watch over disappearing values.

No, the relevant eyes are still wide open, even if fewer in number than hitherto. The call for authenticity is real”. Enough said!

NIPR Gets a New President Last week, Dr Ike Neliaku emerged the new President of the Nigerian Institute of Public relations. It was a victory well deserved and for an organization that he has tirelessly helped to build and nurture for so long.

Always in the background and almost desperate not to be seen, Ike has been the backbone of some of the most highly celebrated and successful national events. He has worked in government at the highest levels, but has never focused on anything else that adding value to the nation and to his principals. Ask any former minister about him and you will always get the same nostalgic and grateful note in the voice as they speak of a man without whom they would not really have had a meaningful tenure.

Ike was central to the conception, and successful execution, of the recent NIPR powered Nigeria Citizens Summit that moved from the Zonal Level to a well-attended Grand Finale in Abuja. In all of that, he was only concerned about ensuring that every demographic group and stakeholder platform had visibility, representation and voice. Those that were not forthcoming were approached specially. Ike’s argument in all instances was consistent: “We are not complete if we are not complete. The very idea of inclusivity in national discourse implies the absence of observers, of whatever coloration. So, those who have not said anything should be specially briefed on the subject matters on the table and their input taken”.

Need I say anything from the personal angle. I had better not. We leave it a this: NIPR has got the good man it deserves at a time like this.

MINISTERS, NOW THE BALL IN YOUR COURT lights to shine unto others because they offer a good representation of the entire cabinet.

One of them is the former governor of Rivers State, Mr. Nyesom Wike, an opposition politician who after falling out with his party, the People’s Democratic Party, and its Presidential candidate in the last election, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, entered into a working alliance with the then APC Candidate Tinubu and delivered Rivers to him in the election. A lawyer, Wike is that restless and seemingly ruthless administrator who performed brilliantly in his state as the governor for 8 years, delivering many gigantic infrastructure projects to the state. It is therefore a good judgement to send him to the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja that is dying for a shrewd manager to upgrade the infrastructure and correct the distorted master plan.

To demonstrate his readiness and seriousness to make a difference, driving in his official vehicle with the number FCT 01, within moments of his inauguration, the minister landed at his new office where he addressed a press conference and read out a riot act to those who built on waterways or sewage lines. He thus began to live up to the billing masterfully captured by the publisher of ThisNigeria, Eric Osagie, who warned in a recent article- “Wike: The new Sheriff in town.”

Another is Senator Dave Umahi, formerly Deputy Leader of the Senate, who recently ended his two-term as governor of Ebonyi State.

Umahi bid his time well as PDP Chairman in Ebonyi and as Deputy Governor to that highly revered technocrat, Chief Martin Elechi, before he became governor in 2015, emerging one of the few deputies in Nigeria’s political history to succeed their bosses. Trained as a civil engineer, he showed his stuff as governor of Ebonyi.

This is what Chooks Oko, a commentator, wrote on Umahi’s stewardship of the state on the occasion of his 60th birthday: “Umahi is noted for gigantic enduring projects and the mounding of men. He started with flyovers and concrete roads and by the time he left office, he had constructed the highest number of solid flyovers and the largest concrete road network in the entire country. Most of the projects rank among the biggest and most solid in that category.” Former governor Umahi is Minister of Works in President Tinubu’s cabinet.

There is Dr. Mohammed Ali Pate, a renowned physician who was previously a Professor of Public Health Leadership in the Department of Global Health and Population at Harvard University. He was formerly Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of the National

Tinubu, Shettima and the newly appointed ministers

Primary Health Care Development Agency of Nigeria. He recently bagged a prestigious job as CEO of Gavi Vaccine Alliance but declined the offer, prefering to serve his country instead.

He is today Minister of Health and Social Welfare.

In the line up of outstanding and capable ministers is also an economist and investment banker, Mr. Olawale Edun, who is the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy. Mr. Edun worked at Chase Merchant Bank (later Continental Bank) in Lagos before joining the World Bank in September 1986 through the elite Young Professionals program, where he worked on economic and financial packages for several countries in Latin America and the Caribbean. In 1989, he co-founded Investment Banking & Trust Company Limited (now Stanbic IBTC). He was also Commissioner for Finance in Tinubu’s administration in Lagos.

The ministerial team parades veteran journalist, former editor and pro-democracy activist, Mr. Dele Alake, who contributed immensely to the democratic dispensation we have today. Mr. Alake holds the Solid Mineral Development portfolio. There are also former Jigawa State governor Mohammed Abubakar Badaru, who is Minister of Defence, and his former Kebbi State counterpart, the brilliant Senator Atiku Bagudu, who is manning the Budget and National Planning Ministry. That Alake is saddled with Solid Minerals, the next big thing in terms of generating the much-needed

revenue for the country, should not rankle anyone because as a reputable intellectual and editor, he has the knack for providing solutions to many hydra-headed problems as a strategist.

Former Osun State Governor, Adegboyega Isiaka Oyetola, an insurance guru and astute administrator with loads of integrity, emerged the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy. Also in the cabinet are former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, a scion of the late Chief Adegoke Adelabu and former APC governorship candidate in Oyo State, who is now the new Minister of Power. In the cast are prominent lawyer, activist and former Minister of State for Labour, Mr. Festus Keyamo, now Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development; legal giant Mr. Lateef Fagbemi who is the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, and former Acting National Chairman of the APC, Senator Abubakar Kyari.

There are also Senator John Enoh who is the Minister of Sports, and a prodigious member of the Newspaper Proprietors Association of Nigeria and Publisher of Blueprint newspaper, Alhaji Muhammed Idris, who is the new Minister of Information and national Orientation.

For a country with energetic and talented youthful population, the young at heart and women are also not left behind. There is technology expert, Mr. Bosun Tijani, who is the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy; prominent diplomat and

former Nigerian Ambassador to Germany, Mr. Yusuf Tuggah, who is the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and former House of Representatives member, Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, now the Minister of Interior.

The women parade a galaxy of stars like the highly educated surgeon and former Commissioner for Health in Cross River State, Dr. Betta Edu, who is at present the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation; former Chief Whip of the House of Representatives, Hon. Nkiruka Onyejeocha, now Minister of State, Labour and Employment; former banker and former Commissioner for Finance in Imo State, Mrs. Doris Anite, who is Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, and the new Minister of Women Affairs, Barrister Uju Kennedy. The list also includes another lawyer and humanist, Hajiya Hannatu Musawa, who is Minister of Arts, Culture and Creative Economy, former Director-General of the National Refugee Commission, Mrs. Imaan Suleiman-Ibrahim, now Minister of State for Police Affairs, and Mrs. Lola Ade-John, who is at present Minister of Tourism.

But will this array of stars deliver on the assignments before them and meet the yearnings and expectations of Mr. President and Nigerians for a new lease of life? The answer will provide itself with time!

•Rahman, former Editor, THISDAY on Sunday is a Presidential Aide

Saturday, September 2, 2023

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MISSILE

Shehu Sani on Buhari’s Tenure “Under Buhari, Nigeria became more divided than it has ever been. Under Buhari, corruption was at its peak. Buhari demonstrated ineptitude and incompetence in the leadership of this country” –Senator Shehu Sani lamenting about the tenure of Muhammadu Buhari as President.

OKEYIKECHUKWU EDIFYING ELUCIDATIONS

okey.ikechukwu@thisdaylive.com

Unemployability Index and Other Matters

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ow, that’s a new one wouldn’t you say? But bear with me and come along. We know of the employment index. We also know of the unemployment index.

There is then, again, the underemployment index. These indices have become convenient devices for masking a frightening democratic fact, namely that we ought to also take inventory of that active, perhaps too active, part of our population that is absolutely unemployable. But can someone really be absolutely unemployable?

We speak of the employed as people who are engaged in some type of employ, for wages or profit. They may be working for an individual, an organization or for themselves.

The unemployed would be generally taken to be “those who have nothing doing”. But that is incorrect, in my view. A person may have nothing doing out of choice. So, the unemployed should strictly refer to those with some skill or capacity for which they could earn pay or make profit, but which is not put to use; even though such parsons are able, willing and available to be employed or deployed. As for the underemployed, it is perhaps best to explain that with a telling example.

President Tinubu

Imagine that you spent six years to obtain a university degree in architecture. Imagine also that you are willing and ready to either work in an architectural firm, or open up your

own practice. Imagine, further, that you have no way of doing either for two reasons. The first reason is that there is no architectural firm willing and able to hire you. The second reason is that even if you would like to set up your own firm, you are not able to do so. So, there you are starving. You cannot buy soap for a bath or fend for yourself in any way. Fortunately, you run into a friend who knows of a vacancy in a small hotel, which needs a receptionist. You jump at the job, lest you perish.

You are then underemployed in two distinct senses. In the first sense your capacities completely outclasses every demand the hotel will ever make of you as a receptionist. In the second sense, the hotel does not even have enough room, or human traffic, to task just your ability to be awake and alert in the hotel’s front office.

As for the underemployed, they are simply too many today. They range from graduates who cannot find what to do, to artisans and workmen whose skills are not being sought by a weather-beaten populace that is writhing in economic anguish and gnashing of teeth.

As for the unemployable, they include graduates and non-graduates. A student who obtains a university degree by paying his

teachers from start to the point of graduation cannot be employed for anything in his field of study. If, in addition, he also did not acquire any vocational skills, or even develop muscles in order to serve as a bouncer or load bearing tout in the market, then he is truly finished.

Such a person must be “retooled” for value, or he will remain eternally useless to the society - and also to himself -in terms of engaging meaningfully in his immediate and remote economic environment. But he can be a criminal, because of the low entry requirement.

Let us leave the university graduates and such others and look at the graduates of the Almajiri school system. Many observers and commentators make the mistake of saying that Qur’anic education is useless; and that graduates of the system are useless dullards and that it should be abolished. These claims and assumptions can be traced to a misunderstanding of the real challenge facing products of this system. To begin with many graduates of the Almajiri system prove their intelligence, measured as the ability to memorize and reproduced presented data the way it is done in the average classroom in Continued on page 31

TUNDERAHMAN Ministers, Now the Ball in Your Court GUEST COLUMNIST

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wice in one week, firstly while inaugurating the new ministers on August 21 and later speaking during the maiden Federal Executive Council meeting on August 28, President Bola Tinubu issued stern directives to the new ministers to immediately begin work and perform creditably in order to restore people’s faith in government. “Nigeria expect you to hit the ground running just as we had promised them during the campaigns.

With your inauguration, you have become ministers of the Federal Republic, not ministers of a particular state or region,” the President told the new ministers as they were being inaugurated. And speaking during the first FEC meeting, he was firm and direct when he told the Ministers that he would not tolerate underperformance. He made it abundantly clear that any of them who failed to live to the people’s expectation would be shown the door.

There is little doubt from the foregoing that the ball is now in the ministers’ court.

They should now gird their loins and move quickly to begin to actualise the Renewed Hope Agenda for Nigeria in their various ministries. Top on the agenda are improving

security in the country, reducing poverty and unemployment, ensuring food security through strengthening agriculture, working to increase megawatt of electricity and emplacing steady power, combating corruption, encouraging innovation and digital knowledge and ensuring sustainable economic development leading to industrialisation.

President Tinubu had taken giant steps to put the economy on a strong footing by removing the debilitating fuel subsidy that had benefitted a few rich at the expense of the poor and moved to unify the multiple exchange rates that allowed arbitrage to thrive unfettered. These policies may not have yielded immediate benefits, but it will ultimately bring the much-needed fruits.

The President has done much more to smoothen the ground for the ministers. It is on record that President Tinubu has reputation for mobilising public sector funds for development projects, which he demonstrated as governor of Lagos. This uncommon capacity is at the moment exemplified in the huge sums being raked into the Federation Account since he assumed office, making it possible for the Federal Government and States to share unprecedented

amounts for June and July, around N1trillion each month. Only a few weeks ago, the Federal Government also released N5billion to each of the states for compensatory palliatives in the light of the removal of subsidy apart from the Infrastructure Fund the President approved for the states. And to attract foreign investments into the country, the President has used every opportunity open to him to tell the international community that Nigeria is open for business. He has shown that the country is ready for business by dismantling all obstacles against investments and easing avenues for doing business.

So the ministers have all they require to perform. Their jobs are also cut out for them.

And I believe there are men and women of high quality in the cabinet. It would appear the portfolios were also carefully distributed to put round pegs in round holes. Not a few analysts and commentators had initially, without scrutiny, attacked the quality of the new cabinet, claiming without justification that the calibre of persons in the cabinet belied the President’s reputation as a potent talent-hunter who composed a pan-Nigeria cabinet of tested technocrats and administrators during his time

as governor of Lagos State. However, as the days went by and the real worth of the new ministers sank in, particularly as their citations were being read during their inauguration at the State House on August 21, it became apparent the President had done an excellent job in the composition of the cabinet.

Even the last-minute reassignment and redeployment of some ministers after further reflection on the ministerial portfolios would appear to enrich the cabinet, signposting President Tinubu as adept in political engineering.

In simple language, the new ministers comprised men and women of “timber and calibre” to borrow the words of the late politician and wordsmith, Chief K.O. Mbadiwe. The ministers, without any scintilla of doubt, parade rich resumes and important track records necessary to deliver on their roles. It may be tempting to dwell on all the 45 ministers given their calibre (3 more are still being expected), but in this article, I will pick only a few of the many bright Continued on page 31

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