TUESDAY 21TH NOVEMBER 2023

In Berlin, Tinubu Pushes for Investment in Nigeria's Power, Rail Transport Sectors Tells investors highly skilled Nigerians are country's greatest asset

Deji Elumoye in Abuja

President Bola Tinubu met with

German Federal Chancellor, Olaf Scholz, yesterday in Berlin, where he stated that Nigeria's pursuit of

German investment in targeted sectors of the economy was focused on critical growth-enabling industries in

energy, transportation, and electric power production, transmission, and distribution.

Tinubu spoke on the side-lines of the G20 Compact with Africa Economic Conference in Berlin.

Recognising the success of SieContinued on page 10

FG: Federation Account Received Average N1tn Monthly Inflow Since Subsidy Removal... Page 6

Tuesday 21 November, 2023 Vol 28. No 10450. Price: N250

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Buhari: I Did My Best, Not Sure If Expected Results Were Achieved Admits his administration must have been hijacked Explains why naira redesign policy was introduced

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

The immediate past President of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari

yesterday maintained that he did his best in the eight years that he governed Nigeria, but said he wasn’t quite sure he achieved the expected

results.

Speaking in his first interview since his exit as Nigeria’s leader about six months ago, the former

president stated that he endorsed the controversial naira redesign policy in the twilight of his administration to protect his own integrity and to

show Nigerians there was no shortcut to success.

Buhari who spoke to the state-owned Nigerian Television

Authority (NTA), last night , argued that Nigerians were a difficult set Continued on page 10

Falana: It’s Dangerous for Judiciary to Sanction 165,000 Voters for Electoral Officers’ Mistakes

Seeks review of judgements sacking three opposition governors PDP asks CJN to probe ruling party’s claim of controlling judiciary Atiku: APC’s 'snatch, grab, run' agenda inimical to democracy FG lambasts opposition party, Atiku for casting aspersion on judiciary Story on page 10

Meeting on Human Capital Development Programme...

L-R: Chairman, Heirs Holding, Tony Elumelu; President, Dangote Group of Companies, Alhaji Aliko Dangote; Vice President Kashim Shettima; Minister of Health and Coordinating Minister of Social Welfare, Dr. Ali Pate; Deputy Chief of Staff in the office of PHOTO: GODWIN OMOIGUI. the Vice President, Senator Ibrahim Hadija and the World Bank representative in Nigeria, Shubham Chaudhuri, during the meeting of Human Capital Development Programme held at the Presidential Villa, Abuja… yesterday.

Obasanjo: Western-style Democracy Not Working in Africa... Page 10

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T H I S D AY • TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2023

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

NEWS

AFRICA FINANCIAL INDUSTRY SUMMIT...

L-R: Editor, Africa Business, Gaelle Arenson; President, Angola Debt and Stock Exchange (BODIVA), Walter Da Cruz Pacheco; Director, UMOA-Titres, Oulimata Ndiaye Diasse; Chief Executive Officer, Access Pensions, Dave Uduanu; Managing Director, IPS CNPS, Denis Charles Kouassi; Director, Trade, and Supply Chain Finance International Finance Corporation (IFC), Nathalie Louat and President African Development Bank and the West African Monetary Union's Capital Markets Authority (AMF-UMOA), Badanam Patoki, at the Africa Financial Industry Summit in Lome, Togo… recently

Engineers Decry Rising Number of Firms Exiting Nigeria

Say massive waste ongoing at Ajaokuta Steel Company Oborevwori: Hostile environment, poor infrastructure, insecurity threats to doing business in Nigeria

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

The Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) yesterday decried the increasing number of companies either folding up or leaving Nigeria, describing the situation as “gloomy”.

The NSE President, Tasiu GidariWudil, who said this in Abuja, while speaking on the association's forthcoming flagship national engineering conference, exhibition and annual general meeting, noted that if nothing was done, more manufacturing firms would leave the country.

Also yesterday, Delta State Governor, Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, identified harsh and hostile operating environment, poor basic infrastructure, insecurity and policy flip flops as disincentive to both local and foreign investments in Nigeria.

Speaking further, Gidari-Wudil stated that the summit themed: “Reengineering the Manufacturing Sector for Competitiveness and Enhanced Economic Growth,” would hold from November 27th to Friday, December 1st, 2023, in Abuja and would give

stakeholders the opportunity to discuss the way out of the current unacceptable situation.

“The theme of this year’s conference was informed by the continuing decline of activities in the manufacturing space of Nigeria’s economy.

"Nigerian engineers are concerned about the gradual erosion of the little record Nigeria had on her non-oil export performance in the 60s and 70s.

“Even though the non-oil export performance record was mainly based on agricultural produce, there were days of textile, coal, tyre, hides and skin and many other products export in Nigeria.

“The rubber plantations in the South have disappeared, the coal mines in the East are no more, the textile hubs in Kaduna and Kano are moribund, and so is the tannery industry across the North.

“Many international conglomerates that bolstered the manufacturing sector of Nigeria’s economy at some point have folded up their businesses and left,” the NSE president lamented.

The NSE listed some of the companies that had left the country as: Volkswagen, Michelin, Procter & Gamble, ISO Glass, Universal Steel, Universal Rubber, NASCO Fibre, GSK Pharma, Tower Aluminium, among others.

“The reasons for the gloomy situation are not far-fetched. They range from unfavourable and inconsistent government policies such as unstable foreign exchange regime, hostile import licensing policies, unavailability of constant power, rising cost of alternate energy supply, amongst many others.

“The saddest narrative in the manufacturing trajectory of Nigeria is the gigantic Ajaokuta

Steel Manufacturing Company, a government-owned concern that never rolled out one length of steel since it was built and has been left to rot away,” it added.

While not exonerating his members from the rot in the system, Gidari-Wudil stated that there’s little its members can do, stressing that when successive administrations do not accept the recommendations of the society, then they should not be blamed.

The president of NSE also stated that the organisation would soon come out with a position on the raging national debate over whether to jettison asphalt for concrete pavements in road construction in Nigeria.

In light of the foregoing, the NSE said in collaboration with the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), it plans to bring its members and other subject matter experts together to brainstorm and analyse the challenges bedeviling the manufacturing sector of the Nigerian economy.

It listed the key areas of interest that would be examined as sub-themes of the conference to include, among others: Review of structure and performance of the manufacturing sector, commercialisation of innovations, incubation and start-ups and value chain financing for product development.

It will also include brainstorming

sessions on the promotion of Small and Medium-scale Enterprises (SMEs) for the revival of rural economies, establishment of clusters and retention of skilled workforce and reactivation of the Ajaokuta Steel Complex.

While expressing concern that since the inception of the programme, only the late Tafawa Balewa and ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo had personally attended, Gidari-Wudil said President Bola Tinubu would be the guest of honour at the coming event.

Oborevwori: Hostile Environment, Poor Infrastructure Threats to Doing Business in Nigeria Continued on page 24

FG Moves to Address Nigeria's Deficit in Human Capital Development Shettima sets up committee, says nation's future linked to HCD

Deji Elumoye in Abuja

the Vice President's meeting with

He said, “This gathering marks

ment would attract interest from all

of the Human Capital Development (HCD) programme of the federal government.

The multi-sectoral team made up of the federal and state governments as well as donors and partners is expected to convene every fortnight to review the progress of work in addressing the objectives of the HCD programme.

This was the major outcome of

Elumelu, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof.

Ali Pate, among others at the State House, Abuja.

At the meeting, Shettima stressed the need for government and partners to invest in human capital development to create a workforce that is not just globally competitive but also adaptable to the modern demands of the 21st century.

anticipate celebrating the success of the initiatives uniting us.

“Our presence today signifies a tacit understanding that our future is intricately linked to the development of our human capital.

We have witnessed the growing shift towards knowledge and service-based economies and the advantages they offer, particularly to our youths".

Acknowledging the significant impact the two Nigerian wealthy businessmen, Dangote and Elumelu, have had on the population, the Vice President noted that every society rises and falls depending on the quality of its leadership.

Earlier in his speech, the Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof.

Ali Pate, noted the current efforts the federal government made in putting the people at the centre of the ‘Renewed Hope Agenda’, even as he underscored the importance of investing in human resources.

He noted that going forward, stakeholders involved in the Human Capital Development programme of the Tinubu administration would reinforce and harness existing data to ensure accountability and accuracy in the implementation of programmes and projects under the initiative.

Pate, expressed optimism that the renewed efforts at fast-tracking human capital development across different levels and tiers of govern-

President in convening the meeting, noting that it underpins the commitment of the Tinubu administration to addressing challenges around human capital development.

While pledging his support for the administration’s HCD programme, Dangote called on stakeholders to work diligently towards tackling the challenge of inaccurate data, describing it as the biggest problem in the task of addressing human capital development.

Speaking in the same vein, Founder of the Tony Elumelu Foundation, Elumelu, pledged his support for the federal government’s initiatives towards Nigeria’s Human Capital Development.

His words: “We will support you; our commitment is guaranteed. This is a laudable idea".

On his part, World Bank Country Director in Nigeria, Chaudhuri, pledged the bank’s support for the HCD programme of the federal government, especially in the areas of technical assistance and strengthening of data bases.

In March 2018, the National Economic Council (NEC) had at its Special Session launched a dedicated Human Capital Development programme, in response to Nigeria’s dismal performance in all global indexes of human capital development.

Bank's Country Director for our collective recommitment to stakeholders, including international Naira Appreciates Marginally Vice President Kashim Shettima, World Nigeria, Shubham Chaudhuri; the redirecting the promise and potential partners and donor organisations.

Also speaking, Chairman of yesterday, approved the setting Chairman of the Dangote Foundation, of our human capital towards committee Alhaji Aliko Dangote; Founder of the safeguarding the economy. It’s an Dangote Group, Alhaji Dangote, on Parallel Market to N1,130 upas partof aofmulti-sectoral moves to drive the goals Tony Elumelu Foundation, Mr Tony honour to host you and I eagerly commended the foresight of the Vice

Nume Ekeghe

The naira yesterday appreciated against the dollar on the parallel market to 1,130/$, from N1,135/$ it closed last Friday.

On the other hand, on the official I&E window the naira closed at N750.14/$ yesterday, compared with the N791.75/$ it closed on Friday.

This represented a N41.61 gain.

However, intra-day trade from the data obtained by FMDQ showed that the highest spot rate exchanged at N1121/$1 while the lowest spot rate recorded was N740.08/$1 In terms of trade volume, the official I&E window reported a daily turnover of $176.75 million, which was a notable 12.03 per cent increase in turnover compared to the $157.78 million recorded on Friday.

MTEF-FSP: Senate Alleges Heads of MDAs Running Accounts Like Private Property Flays NAIC over inconsistent financial records

Sunday Aborisade in Abuja The Chairman, Senate Committee on Finance, Senator Sani Musa, yesterday, berated the approach of some heads of the federal ministries departments and agencies in the manner with which they handle their accounts.

The Committee Chairman specifically chided the Nigerian Agricultural Insurance Corporation (NAIC) over its inability to provide details of its finances from 2021, 2022, up to the third quarter of 2023.

Musa, stated this at an interactive session of a joint committee scrutinis-

ing the 2024-2026 Medium Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper on Monday in Abuja.

Members of the committee regretted the inability of the NAIC management to provide receipts to prove its expenditures from revenue claims.

The committee therefore asked the NAIC to provide detailed receipts of remittances said to have been made with the surplus revenue generated in 2023.

The panel also demanded for a breakdown of NAIC finances.

Musa said "the panel was poised

to “block all loopholes all in the accounts of MDAs.” He said, “For a long time the accounts of MDAs have been run as personal property. We want to make a difference.

"We want to ensure that the right thing is done, and that this government has what it wants to give Nigerians the dividends of democracy,” Musa added.

The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of NAIC, Mrs Folashade Josephin, had while presenting the corporation's 2024 revenue, overhead and capital

projections, told the panel that the agro-insurance outfit transferred N3, 847, 202, 032.03 to the Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF) of the federal government in 2023.

She however contradicted her submission by arguing that the organisation recorded, “huge losses in 2022 hence we were unable to remit for the year.”

Not impressed by her submissions, the lawmakers took turns to appraise NAIC’s performance for the fiscal year, wondering why the corporation’s fortunes continued to dwindle over three years.

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NEWS

Daewoo Nigeria on courtesy visit to Sanwo-olu...

R-L: Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, making his remark, Chairman of Daewoo Engineering & Construction Nigeria Limited, Mr. Jung won Ju; Managing Director of Daewoo Nigeria, Mr. Yeon Jung during a courtesy visit at the Lagos House, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos... yesterday

FG: Federation Account Received Average of N1tn Monthly Inflow Since Subsidy Removal Ndubuisi Francis in Abuja

The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun has disclosed that the Federation Account is witnessing improved revenue inflow since the removal of fuel subsidy from an average of N650 billion monthly to over N1 trillion in, the last four months.

The Federation Account is the account into all federally-collected revenues are collected.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu announced the removal of subsidy on premium motor spirit (PMS), popularly known as fuel during his inauguration on May 29, 2023.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of a two-day retreat for the Federal Account Allocation Committee

(FAAC) organised by the Federal Ministry of Finance in collaboration with the Delta State Government, with the theme "Creating Resilient Economy through Diversification of the Nation's Revenue, " Edun who was represented by the Permanent Secretary Finance, Okokon Ekanem Udo, stated that the choice of the retreat's theme reflected the directive by the Tinubu administration to domestic revenue mobilisation and very timely.

The retreat is holding at the Dome Event Centre, Asaba, Delta State.

A statement issued by the Director (Press and Public Relations), Mr. Stephen Kilebi quoted the minister as saying that the economic reforms the administration has embarked on since its inception in May 2023 clearly outlined right steps to transformation

of the country's economy.

He added that, in less than six months of the administration, the country has witnessed the introduction of many reforms, including petroleum subsidy removal, fiscal and monetary policies reforms aimed at removing multiple taxation and streamlining/simplifying tax administration as well as achieving single foreign market that will ensure willing buyers and sellers.

Those reforms, according to the minister, were applauded not only by the experts within the Nigerian economy but also international development partners such as the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, among others, noting that, these reforms were what Nigeria as a country needed right now to move from its perennial problems.

He explained that the government was not oblivious of the untold hardships faced by Nigerians following the removal of petroleum subsidy and the harmonisation of the exchange rate, noting that "all the sacrifices will not be in vain as government is bent on ensuring that the economy bounces back to normal as we continue to consolidate the recovery efforts on achieving inclusive economic growth and development."

While commending the Delta State government for their hospitality, Edun said: " I am optimistic that the retreat will leverage on the conducive environment of the good people and government of Delta State to optimise the achievements of the retreat's objectives."

"The federal government as

Hichilema, Obaseki, Oramah, Others Emerge Winners of 2022 Zik Prize Award Oluchi Chibuzor

The President of Zambia, Hakainde Hichilema; Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki; President Afreximbank, Prof. Benedict Oramah, have emerged recipients of 2022 Zik Price Award for political leadership, good governance, professional leadership categories respectively.

Speaking at the award ceremony in Lagos, on Sunday, the Board Chairman of the Public Policy Research and Analysis Center( PPRAC), His Royal Majesty Igwe Nnaemeka Alfred Achebe, described Zik as unrepented journalist against colonialism who gave his life as statesman with dignity.

In his open remark, at the 27th annual edition of The Zik Awards, the Obi of Onitsha and chairman of the awards, Nnaemeka Alfred Achebe, said it was a rare blessing that God gave Zik to Nigeria.

According to him, Azikiwe and other founding fathers of Nigeria's independence fashioned a finely balanced federation that placed the country on a threshold of development and greatness.

"Zik was a state man of dignity and unrepentant nationalist and Africanist. A pioneer African anthropologist and unrepentant journalist," Achebe said.

Earlier in his welcome address, the Chairman, Public Policy Research and Analysis Centre (PPRAC), Jubril Aminu, said the award remains relevant on the back of the growing global economic and

political management challenges.

Aminu, who was represented

by Marc Wabara, stated that every nation that aspires to be great must rely on the ideas of great leaders.

"Leadership recognition matters when used effectively," he stated.

For the President of Zambia, who was honoured for the Zik Prize in political leadership is a celebrated economist, successful farmer, businessmen and politician who has emerged as an exemplary leader on the continent of Africa, demonstrating unmatched probity, integrity and accountability in governance.

Receiving the Award on behalf of the Zambian President, Prof. Pat Utomi, said, “the President believes in using public resources he met in office to serve the people, rather than buying new ones.”

Giving his acceptance speech as the one of the winners of 27th Zik Award prize on good governance, Obaseki said it came to him at a very interesting time in his political career.

Obaseki was honoured with the prestigious Zik Prize for Good Governance, in recognition of his government’s sterling performance across all sectors of the State over the past seven years, improving the lives of millions of Edo people and putting the State on the path of sustainable and accelerated growth and development.

The governor, during the 2021/2022 Zik Leadership Award ceremony, in Lagos, said the honour

was a call to do more for the people of the State, pledging to sustain the developmental strides across various sectors of the State’s economy.

Obaseki was accompanied by his wife, Betsy, among other top functionaries said: “It's not difficult to govern well, it could be inconvenient but it's not impossible; just do the right thing and what is just. This award has given me a renewed energy to strive and finish well.

“I am happy to be here to receive this prize for good governance from this distinguished group, the Public Policy Research and Analysis Center (PPRAC). It's very humbling to be honoured amongst the awardees tonight and it's a privilege for me.

“This award comes to me at a very interesting time in my political career as I wind down my term in office. I am undergoing introspection asking, is it worth it? Has it been worthwhile? Is it being appreciated? " Did you make a mistake? Coming here tonight to be awarded this prize for good governance, makes one feel that it is worth it making all the sacrifices.”

For Oramah, organisers of the award recognised his professional leadership which scaled up the bank's intervention in support of African countries at times of global crisis such as the year 2020 Pandemic Trade Mitigation Facility ( PATIMA) and making the bank a stable continental behemoth with

a total of asset of $31.10 billion.

Accepting the award Oramah said, “It is indeed an honour to be recognised with this award. I values the principles and determination of Dr. Azikiwe who lived an extraordinary lifestyle that has made it possible for all of us to travel across the continent.”

As a strategic award, the 2022 Zik prize saw founder MALLPAI Foundation and wife to former Governor of Kebbi State, Aisha Atiku Bagudu, receiving humanitarian leadership award for her relentless service to almajiris.

always, will remain committed to the fiscal and monetary reforms that the administration has started, which are aimed at providing enabling business environment, diversifying the revenue base of the economy, creating fiscal space for investment in critical infrastructure and ensure macroeconomic stability."

He stressed that, "together, we shall collectively build a resilient economy for Nigerian."

Earlier, the Delta State Governor Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori who was represented by the Deputy Governor of the state, Monday Onyeme, in his keynote address said that FAAC members were committed and dedicated to their duty and have been doing a wonderful job in enhancing revenue accruals or inflows into the Federation Account, which has benefited the three tiers of government.

This, according to him, was especially true in the case of the oil-producing states of the federation where several wrong computations are being corrected and refunds made.

He noted that "There is still much work to be done in this direction, particularly on the payments of 13% derivation to oil producing states, since the coming into force of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA)."

The governor added that, since the implementation of the PIA a lot of concerns have been raised by stakeholders of this sector in respect of the new roles of the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) as it effects inflows of revenue into the Federation Account, stating that, it is his hope that this retreat will address these concerns and lay

them to rest permanently.

He maintained that the operation of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has been largely governed by the FIRS Act 2007, but with the introduction of the Finance Act of 2019, 2020 and 2021 and other responsibilities assigned to the Service, he expressed the hope that the retreat would enable stakeholders to obtain a better understanding of the operations of the FIRS in the light of the need for economic diversification.

He advised: "We must do away with the current practice of substituting long-term development strategies for short-term spending pressures, often out of political expediency", adding that" no magic formula to diversification".

According to him what is needed was to put the necessary policy and institutional framework that will facilitate the diversification of the revenue base by enhancing non-oil exports such as agricultural products, manufactured goods and services.

The governor noted that a lot was expected from the government State Fiscal Transparency Accountability and Sustainability for Results (SFTAS), the introduction of State Action on Business Enabling Reforms (SABER), the operation of the Nigeria Custom Service and many other initiatives/reforms which will boost business activities and contribute positively to the nation's revenue.

Oborevwori explained that economic diversification must move beyond rhetorics, adding that, concrete, measurable steps need to be taken now to facilitate non-oil exports, expand the revenue base, and make economic diversification a reality.

Sanwo-olu Congratulates New THISDAY Saturday Editor, Obinna Chima Segun James

The Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, yesterday congratulated Mr. Obinna Chima, on his appointment as the Editor, THISDAY on Saturday, describing his selection as deserving.

In a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Gboyega Akosile, the governor said Chima’s appointment was an inspiration to young journalists that they can get to the top position by dint of hard work, dedication and commitment to their profession.

He said: “The appointment of Mr. Obinna Chima, as the Editor,

THISDAY on Saturday, is deserving.

It is an inspiration to young journalists, especially members of staff of THISDAY/Arise Media Group, that they can get to the top of their career in the company if they put in a little more than is expected from them by their employers.

“The elevation of Mr. Obinna Chima from Deputy Editor of THISDAY to the Editor, THISDAY on Saturday, attests to his exceptional track record of achievements in the last 13 years in THISDAY Newspapers Limited.

“Chima has proved his mettle in the journalism profession. I do not have any doubt in my mind that

the cap fits him. He is a seasoned journalist with a proven track record of excellence in the pen-pushing profession, especially in business, finance and capital market reporting for about two decades.”

He urged Chima to bring his wealth of experience to bear in strengthening the journalism profession and also excel as a good gatekeeper on the job.

“He should see his new appointment as a crucial assignment for the media, especially THISDAY on Saturday, to be more circumspect and developmental while performing his duty as watchdog of the society,” the governor said.

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Obaseki Gets Zik Leadership Award ...

L-R: Obi of Onitsha, Obi Alfred Nnaemeka Achebe; Executive Secretary of PPRAC and Zik Prize Awards, Mrs. Betty Emeka-Obasi; Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, and his wife, Betsy, during the 2021/2022 Zik Leadership Award Ceremony, in Lagos, where Governor Obaseki was honoured with the Prize for Good Governance... on Sunday

FG Outlines Measures to Control Menace of Antimicrobial Resistance NCDC says four deadly antibiotic-resistant pathogens in Nigeria Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja The federal government has listed steps being taken to deal with the health challenges posed by antimicrobial resistance, which it said directly causes 1.27 million deaths and is associated with an additional 3.7 million deaths globally.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), there are 15 priority antibiotic-resistant pathogens causing the greatest threat to human and animal health and four of them have been detected in Nigeria.

It said that low- and middleincome countries, including Nigeria bear the highest burden of the health problem, accounting for nearly 90 per cent of the direct death toll.

Speaking at an event to commemorate World Antimicrobial Awareness Week (WAAW) yesterday, the Director General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) Dr. Ifedayo Adetiba said that since 2017, Nigeria has made strides in its response to the situation.

He said the centre in collaboration with the tripartite sectors, has now

set up an antimicrobial resistance surveillance network, antimicrobial stewardship, and awareness programmes across the country, creating awareness of the situation among healthcare professionals, farmers, and the public.

"Every year, antimicrobial resistance (AMR) directly causes 1.27 million deaths and is associated with an additional 3.7 million deaths.

Low- and middle-income countries

(LMICs) including Nigeria bear the brunt of this burden, accounting for nearly 90 per cent of the direct death toll.

"Sadly, over 99.5 per cent of AMR–related deaths are among children under five. Recent studies show that more people die directly from AMR than from HIV/AIDS, malaria, or any one form of cancer other than lung cancer. " In Africa, the burden of death

attributed to AMR was highest in western Africa, at 27.3 deaths per 100,000 making it a super region for death due to drug-resistant pathogens," Adetiba said.

The NDDC stated that the impact of AMR on the economy, health systems and the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is enormous.

"Antimicrobial agents are essential for food security and the global

The Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), Dr Ogbonnaya Orji, has called for the creation of a special squadron to ward off threat and insecurity at various mining sites in Nigeria and elsewhere in West Africa.

Orji spoke during his keynote address at the gathering of stakeholders from different mining communities in West Africa to deliberate and find solutions to the common challenges confronting mining activities in the region.

The event was organised by the International Non-governmental Organisation (INGO), Global Rights and Coalition for Corporate Ac-

finances, applicable milestones, and national targets,” it added.

In addition, NCDC said the centre has deployed a national Community of Practice for stakeholders in the AMR response space.

Other interventions, it said, include: expanded AMR surveillance sites in Nigeria in the human, animal and environmental sectors and establishment of a national antimicrobial stewardship programme.

Unemployment Crisis Threatening Nigeria's Stability, Says FG Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja The federal government has said that the problem of unemployment is posing a major challenge to the existence of Nigeria as a nation.

In order to arrest the situation, government said there is need for urgent measures both at the federal and state levels for the purpose of productive employment and decent jobs for the teaming youth and job

seekers through efficient delivery of public employment services.

In his address at the National Conference on Public Employment Services held in Abuja on Monday, Minister of Labour and Employment, Rt. Hon. Simon Bako Lalong, said part of challenges affecting Nigeria's Public Employment Service is poor access to labour market information.

Acting Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Labour and

Employment, Mr. Chris Amadi, who represented the Minister, said that as part of measures to facilitate employment creation in the country, the Ministry established the National Electronic Labour Exchange (NELEX) - an electronic platform that enable job seekers and employers of labour to meet online.

His words: "It is a great pleasure for me to be here today to kick-start this conference of distinguished and

NEITI Calls for Creation of Special Squadron for Security of Mining Sites

Michael Olugbode in Abuja

consumption of antimicrobials is projected to rise by 70 per cent by 2030 and will affect sustainable food production systems if nothing is done.

"Fulfilling its commitment as agreed to at the Third Global High-level Ministerial Conference on AMR in Muscat, Oman, Nigeria is currently finalising its second National Action Plan for AMR (NAP 2.0) in collaboration with all relevant stakeholders to determine required

countability (ACCA).

Orji, while noting that Africa is blessed with abundant mineral resources, ranging from gold and diamonds to oil and gas, added that the resources hold the promise of transformation, the potential to elevate the lives of the people, and to power the development of nations.

He however, expressed concern that the communities where the resources are exploited are often left vulnerable and continue to face several security challenges.

He said: “The challenges faced by these mining host communities need urgent resolutions. There is a need for collaboration with security agencies and mining host communities to help curb insecurity in the mining sector.

"It is also the responsibility of

the government to ensure that the wealth derived from our minerals is utilised for the common good, and are equitably shared among our people, the environment is protected for generation to come and that the human rights of the people are well protected."

Also speaking, the Minister of Solid Minerals, Dr. Dele Alake, who hailed the enthusiasm of the stakeholders for embracing the ideas and proposing many pathways to achieving the roadmap, said the Nigerian government will continue to ensure good business and security for mining host communities.

While commending the organisers for its continuous work in protecting and advocating for marginalised communities, the minister charged

the stakeholders to be guided by the principles of transparency, accountability and shared responsibility.

Speaking at the conference, the Executive Director of Global Rights, Abiodun Baiyewu, said the conference was aimed at bringing together the host communities to deliberate and find solutions to the common challenges that they are confronted with as West Africans.

"It's a platform for an open and inclusive dialogue where ideas, experiences and solutions are shared collectively.

"It is our collective responsibility to ensure that the wealth of West Africa's minerals benefits the many, rather than the few and that becomes a catalyst for peace, development, and progress," she said.

renowned experts in the field of employment and development.

"Your presence here today is an indication of your commitment to contributing your quota towards addressing the problem of unemployment and labour market intermediation which has already weakened the foundation of our existence as a nation.”

Lalong further said that the timeliness of the conference and the appropriateness of its theme: "Addressing Labour Market Challenges through Delivering of Public Employment Services", underscores the urgency with which government must act to activate active labour market measures both at the federal and state levels for the purpose of productive employment and decent jobs for the teaming youth and job seekers through efficient delivery of public employment services".

The minister said that the ILO Convention 88 outlines the functions of Public Employment Service to include: Assisting workers to find suitable employment and assisting employers to find suitable workers through registering applicants for employment, taking note of their occupational qualifications, experience and desires, interviewing them for employment.

Others include evaluating, if necessary, their physical and vocational capacity and assisting them where appropriate to obtain vocational guidance or vocational training or retraining.

Obtaining from employers precise information on vacancies notified by them to the service and the requirements to be met by the workers whom they are seeking; facilitating labour market integration cushioning the impact of labour market transitions form part of the ILO Convention 88.

Further according to the Minister, "Our NELEX is intended to be a one-stop-shop that provides advance, comprehensive and integrated technology that allows job seekers, employers and other stakeholders access employment services and labour market information.”

Country Director of the International Labour Organisation (ILO), Ms. Vanessa Phala said that apart from providing support to countries to help them place employment at the centre of their economic and social policies, the ILO engages in a wide range of technical support and capacity-building activities, policy advisory services and policy research.

She disclosed that ILO has recently conducted an assessment of public employment services.

"ILO considers Public Employment Services as an essential contributory component of well-functioning labour market systems. In this regard, and based on well-established International Labour Standards, we have continued to provide support to the Government of Nigeria, particularly in the development of the National Employment Policy, 2017 and the on-going revision process," she said.

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Obasanjo: Western-style Democracy Not Working in Africa Advocates afro-democracy

James Sowole in Abeokuta

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, yesterday, warned that Western liberal democracy could never work as a system of government in Africa. Obasanjo, therefore, advocated what he described as "Afro-Democracy."

The former president said Western democracy would not work because it was "forced" on the continent and did not take into account the views of the majority of the people.

Obasanjo spoke while delivering his keynote address at a highlevel consultation on "Rethinking

Western Liberal Democracy for Africa" in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.

He described Western liberal democracy as "government of a few people over all the people or population and these few people are representatives of only some of the people and not full representatives of all the people. Invariably, majority of the people are wittingly or unwittingly kept out".

Obasanjo recommended replacement of the current Western democracy with "Afro democracy".

According to him, Africa countries have no business operating a system of government they had

no hand in its "definition and design”, adding, “The weakness and failure of liberal democracy as it is practised stem from its history, content and context and its practice.

"Once you move from all the people to representative of the people, you start to encounter troubles and problems. For those who define it as rule of majority, should the minority be ignored, neglected and be excluded?

"In short, we have a system of government in which we have no hands to define and design and we continue with it, even when we know that it is not working

for us. Those who brought it to us are now questioning the rightness of their invention, its deliverability and its relevance today without reform.

"The essence of any system of government is the welfare and well-being of the people: all the people. Here, we must interrogate performance of democracy in the West, where it originated from and with us the inheritors of what we are left with by our colonial powers.

"We are here to stop being foolish and stupid. Can we look inward and outward to see what in our country, culture, tradition, practice and living over the years that we

can learn from, adopt and adapt with practices everywhere for a changed system of government that will service our purpose better and deliver.”

Obasanjo also said, "We have to think out of the box and after, act with our new thinking. You are invited here to examine clinically the practice of liberal democracy, identify its shortcomings for our society and bring forth ideas and recommendations that can serve our purpose better, knowing human beings for what we are and going by our experiences and experiences of others.

"We are here to think as leaders

Obasanjo of thought in the academia and leaders of thought with some experience in politics."

Falana: It’s Dangerous for Judiciary to Sanction 165,000 Voters for Electoral Officers’ Mistakes

Chuks Okocha, Alex Enumah and Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja

Renowned lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mr. Femi Falana, yesterday, described as a dangerous judicial trend the recent tendency by the courts to sanction voters and deprive them of their rights to elect leaders of their choice due to the mistakes of some electoral officers.

Falana made the assertion in a television programme. He called for a review of some recent judgements delivered by the Court of Appeal, which sacked two governors of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Zamfara and Plateau states, and a New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) governor in Kano State.

Similarly PDP, yesterday, called on the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, to defend the integrity of the judiciary by setting up a judicial inquest into alleged public boasting by leaders of the ruling APC that the party had persons in the judiciary, particularly at the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court, who would do their bidding on election cases before the courts.

Still on the mounting reservations over recent judicial pronouncements, former Vice President and PDP presidential candidate in the last general election, Atiku Abubakar, said APC’s “snatch, grab and run” agenda was inimical to democracy.

But the federal government condemned PDP and Atiku’s spokesman for unfairly impugning the integrity of the judiciary by alleging partisanship against it in the wake of the judicial setbacks suffered by PDP governors in Plateau, Zamfara

and Nasarawa states.

Nonetheless, the Court of Appeal in Abuja dismissed an appeal filed

by Titus Uba of PDP against the election of APC’s Reverend Father Hyacinth Alia as Governor of Benue State and affirmed the governor as validly elected.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared Abba Yusuf (Kano), Dauda Lawal (Zamfara), and Caleb Mutfwang (Plateau) as duly elected governors of their respective states in the March 2023 governorship elections.

But the Court of Appeal, in separate judgements, sacked the governors, who are all members of the opposition PDP, except the Kano State governor, who belongs to NNPP, also an opposition party.

In Kano, for instance, the Court of Appeal declared the APC governorship candidate, Nasir Gawuna, winner of the poll. It ruled that the poll in Zamfara State was inconclusive and ordered INEC to conduct a fresh election in three local government areas of the state, where APC is believed to be strong.

In yet another judgement, the appellate court ordered INEC to issue a Certificate of Return to APC’s Nentawe Goshwe in Plateau State.

However, speaking during an interview on national television, Falana said, “If you look at what happened in Lagos, it is different from what happened in Plateau. You are being told in Plateau that there was a judgement of the High Court to the effect that primaries have to be conducted. The judgement, as usual, was dishonoured and disobeyed and the election went on.

“It is different from Kano, where

B u ha r i : I D id M y B e st, N ot S u r e I f E x p e ct e d R e s u lts W e r e Ac hi e v e d

of people to govern, maintaining that they know the right thing to do, but would mostly refuse to do so, because they think they know better than the person on the saddle.

Questioned on the integrity of many of the people surrounding him during his eight -year government, the former president stated that “ it is their problem “, querying what the persons who criticised him fiercely had done at their individual levels to fight corruption.

The ex-president , when asked if he agreed that there was a cabal that hijacked his government, he said “it must have been”, but said that he wasn’t sure anybody flouted the rules and was allowed to “walk away”.

Buhari said he allowed people to do their jobs when he assigned tasks, stressing that if he was given the same chance he wouldn’t do anything differently under Nigeria’s current system.

The former president who appeared to veer off point several times during the session, explained that he tried to be as accountable as possible during his administration.

Buhari said he was still being ‘harassed’ by people who throng his home on a daily basis, noting that if the border with a nearby country was not closed, he would have run out of Nigeria by now.

He added, however, that he was glad he now wakes up anytime he likes. The former president said he doesn’t miss anything after leaving government.

“God gave me the opportunity

to serve my country, but I did my best. But whether my best was good enough, I leave for people to judge, “ he stressed.

Although the ex-Nigerian leader stated “not quite” when he was asked whether he achieved what he set out to achieve after trying to be president four times, he highlighted the insecurity in Borno state and the North-east when he took over, saying that Boko Haram had been largely degraded at the time he was leaving government.

“Nigerians are extremely difficult.

People know their rights. They think they should be there, not you. So, they monitor virtually your every step. And you have to struggle day and night to ensure that you are competent enough,“ he added.

The former president also said he was too pre-occupied with local matters to be bothered with foreign issues as president. He said his biggest challenge was securing the country.

Buhari said he did not try to compete with Nigeria’s wealthy class by acquiring land, houses and cars during his time as Nigeria’s leader, explaining that it was the reason he was “living in peace” after exiting government.

He argued that some Nigerians attempted to set a trap for him by trying to ambush him with certain opportunities, but that he avoided the trap because he knew that once they knew he had been compromised, they would take advantage of the situation to milk the country.

He added that they would rather become his boss.

you are being told that voters can be punished. It is a very dangerous judicial policy to sanction voters for the mistake of electoral officers.

“We are being told that 165,000 votes are wasted, they are invalid because some electoral officers committed an error by not stamping them.

How does that affect the validity of the election?

“I do hope that this time around, the Supreme Court will resolve these needless controversies surrounding the non-stamping of ballot papers by INEC officials, who have not been recommended for any sanction. This is why these judgements will have to be reviewed.”

Falana had aired a similar view days back, when he argued, “Nigeria cannot conduct credible elections without amending the relevant provisions of the constitution and Electoral Act to provide for the appointment of INEC members by advertisement, deployment of technology for accreditation of voters and transmission of election results from polling units to the central server of INEC.” Speaking on “Updating Nigeria’s Electoral Reforms” at the Retreat of the Joint Committee on Electoral Matters, supported by Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre in Lagos, Falana said, “Once the electoral process is fully technologised the proof of election petitions will be based on the BVAS reports and uploaded results.

“The onus of proof of conduct of credible elections should shift to INEC and winners of elections.

The question of dumping election materials will not arise, as they would be produced and certified by INEC.

“Democracy cannot be consolidated, where the masses are asked to tighten their belts while elected public officers are paying themselves jumbo salaries and allowances.”

According to him, “Since democracy is under threat due to mass poverty, the political system must address the welfare and security of the people.”

In a similar vein, PDP called for a review of the election judgements, especially the Court of Appeal judgement on the Plateau State governorship poll. National Publicity Secretary of PDP, Debo Olohunagba, said the appeal court judgement was skewed against the party in favour of APC.

PDP Advises CJN to Probe APC’s Claim to Judiciary Control

PDP called on the CJN to defend the integrity of the judiciary by setting up a judicial panel of inquiry to probe the open boasting by APC leaders that the party had persons in the judiciary, particularly at the appeal court and Supreme Court, who would do their bidding on election cases before the courts.

In a statement by PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, the party said Nigerians were appalled by such boastings, as also contained in a viral video by an APC leader, Hon. Yusuf Gagdi, a member of the House of Representatives from Plateau State, wherein he said, “We have gone to appeal court and the final destination is the Supreme Court and we will meet there. That is where we will know whom they know and they will know whom we know.”

According to Ologunagba, "The above statement by Hon. Gagdi further confirms the suspicion in the public domain that the APC has set up a special team comprising two former governors of the APC, who are also serving cabinet ministers, and a prominent APC leader from the North-east zone with the mandate to ensure the inducement of certain judicial officers to deliver judgements against the PDP, as being witnessed in the series of bias judgements by the Plateau State Election Appeal Court Panel.

“This statement by Hon. Gagdi also lends credence to allegations that a former governor of the APC reportedly induced members of the Plateau State Election Appeal Court Panel with the sum of $5 million to deliver a bias judgement against Governor Caleb Mutfwang’s victory at the poll contrary to the position of the law on nomination of candidates and already established pronouncement of the Supreme Court that a political party cannot interfere in the internal affairs of another Party.”

Ologunagba said more worrisome was that the public claim by APC that it had persons, even at the Supreme Court, had directly put the integrity and honour of the highest temple of ;ustice in the country at stake.

The PDP spokesman said, “The loss of public confidence being generated by this claim has the capacity to push Nigerians to resort to self-help, which is a recipe for anarchy, chaos and breakdown of law and order in our country.

“What Nigerians expect at this moment is for the judiciary to come clean on these grave allegations as well as uphold the primacy of

pronouncements by the Supreme Court in the dispensation of justice on election matters."

Atiku: APC’s 'Snatch, Grab, Run' Agenda Inimical to Democracy

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar said APC’s “snatch, grab and run” agenda towards mandates belonging to the opposition parties was inimical to democracy In a statement by his media aide, Paul Ibe, Atiku said the ideal notion of democracy did not just reside in a representative government, but was essentially rooted in the plurality of ideas.

He said for a system to be seen as truly democratic, it must necessarily accommodate opposition and opposing views.

"Sadly and suddenly,” the statement said, “we have seen a trend whereby the range of opposition engagement continues to be narrowed by the ruling party in Nigeria. Either through the electoral process, where opposition parties are rigged out with brazen impunity, or during the post-election court processes, where the judiciary is conspicuously doing the biddings of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), it has become increasingly apparent that the democracy in Nigeria is in a state of ill-health.

"It gets more curious that all the states, where the courts have made controversial declarations, are states being controlled by the opposition political parties. From Nasarawa, Kano, Zamfara and now to Plateau Continued on page 28

In Berlin, Tinubu Pushes for Investment in Nigeria's Power, Rail Transport Sectors mens AG in positively transforming the quantity and quality of Egyptian electric power supply, the president noted that under his leadership, the staggered and unsteady implementation of the Siemens-supported Presidential Power Initiative (PPI) would assume a new urgency with a more deliberate process of project execution.

He emphasised the need to embrace Siemens technology in all aspects of the PPI for project sustainability.

Tinubu said, "I am very much committed to pursuing all aspects of the Siemens Power project and the skill development opportunities that will emerge from that project for our talented youths who can participate in sustaining the industry."

Conscious of the new 2,000km ultra-high-speed rail network, which Siemens is currently constructing across 60 cities in Egypt at the speed of 230km/hour, Tinubu expressed his keen interest in the role Siemens could play in modernising and expanding Nigeria's rail network with the provision of ultra-modern trains and railways that can more than double the speed of the existing 100km/hour standard-gauge system operating in Nigeria.

To that, the German chancellor expressed readiness, but said administrative and financial hurdles brought about by governance problems in the sector emanating from successive administrations governments had to be resolved.

The German chancellor said, "I know that there is a lot of work that has been done. There is already

a big production of electricity in Nigeria, but it is not getting to the population. Of course, this has to do with the need for a provision of stations and infrastructure on the grid.

“Siemens has developed the plan and is ready to deepen implementation, but it is now up to your new government to take the follow-up action that you are now committed to taking.

“On the railway plans, Siemens will be very happy to do this when more progress is made on the power project, which has been started already."

Tinubu drew the attention of the German leader to the need for his business community to focus their attention on value-additive processing in Nigerian solid minerals, agricultural goods, automobile production, and other job-creating sub-sectors of the economy.

He stated, "Everything the world requires in terms of business environment reforms are underway in Nigeria. Perhaps, our foreign investors are still a bit paranoid that those old Nigerian issues are intractable. But my track record speaks for itself. I have transformed an entity before now. I am here to do it again, and I will."

Scholz nodded in agreement, saying, "There is nothing too unique about the growth of China. It came down to a lot of investment from overseas that leveraged on cheap and skilled labour with adequate internal infrastructure and shipping infrastructure for imports and exports to flow easily.

"These things are possible in Nigeria. You even have abundant natural resources. Step by step, it is achievable, Mr. President."

The two leaders of the largest economies in Africa and Europe, respectively, agreed to deepen collaboration on the utilisation of advanced biometric systems and border control technology to check irregular migration. They also agreed on the crucial role of investments in labour-intensive industries.

Relatedly, Tinubu yesterday told international investors that beyond Nigeria's natural resources, its highly educated, highly skilled and naturally industrious citizens were the country’s primary asset and advantage over other nations in the global race for new investments.

Speaking in Berlin during a panel discussion titled, "Fostering local value chains and investments in Africa - the role of the German private sector," at the G20 Compact with Africa Economic Conference, Tinubu said while promoting the rule of law was crucial for attracting foreign investments.

Nigeria’s energetic youth population and well-educated populace represented the greatest incentive provided to investors toward the mutually-beneficial replication of China's economic resurgence.

He said, "We are dogged in our pursuit of natural gas development today, in tandem with hydrogen production for tomorrow. The world knows Nigeria as a leader in the energy sector.

"Our vast gas deposits and business-friendly environment

make us an attractive investment destination. But we are going a step further now. We are creating fiscal responsibility and tax reforms as we reform our financial institutions to expeditiously accommodate foreign investments.

“We are eager and ready to partner with you. We have the youngest, largest, and most vibrant youth population in Africa. Equally, we have every ingredient required in the making of a modern economy: a well-educated population, a massive market, and the political will to bring it all together under my leadership."

According to the president, "Africa has moved beyond the false past notions of business disincentivisation and poor adherence to the rule of law. We now fully recognise the nexus between the inflow of investor money and the sanctity of contracts.

We want to partner on the basis of who we are and what we do, rather than on the basis of long-held misconception."

Tinubu apprised the summit with the country’s intentional move toward developing labour-intensive sectors of the Nigerian economy for massive job creation as well as a new emphasis on technological progress and new opportunities in Nigeria's rapidly expanding information and communications technology space.

He assured potential investors that Nigeria had moved beyond restrictive policies and, today, capital could be moved in and out of the country freely, providing flexibility Continued on page 28

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politics

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

As Supreme Court Yearns for Full Compliments of 21 Justices...

Alex Enumah writes that the cry for appointment of more justices into the bench of the Supreme Court may yield fruitful result soon as Federal Judicial Service Commission steps up move to increase the number from the current 10 to full complement of 21Justices.

Tinubu

S

ection 230 (2) (b) of the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (As Amended) provides that, “ The Supreme Court of Nigeria shall consist of such number of Justices not exceeding 21 as may be prescribed by an Act of the National Assembly.”

The last time the bench of the apex court got very close to achieving its full compliment was in 2020, when eight Justices of the appellate court were elevated to join 12 of their brother justices on the bench of the apex court.

Since then, the bench has witnessed a steady depletion from 20 to its current 10 Justices, a situation the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, described as the lowest in the history of the country’s judiciary.

While the depletion was attributed to mandatory retirement and death in the last three years, unfortunately there has been no known efforts by the leadership of the judiciary to fill the vacant positions.

Current CJN, like his predecessor, Justice Tanko Muhammad, had cried to the high heavens over the increasing workload of the apex court justices as a result of the few justices, but since last year that he assumed office as CJN; Ariwoola, who oversees all agencies under the judiciary, including the Federal Judicial Service Commission (FJSC) and National Judicial Council NJC), bodies responsible for the recommendation of justices for appointment, was yet to make any appointment.

Within the last two years, both members of the Bar and Bench had on several occasions acknowledged the extra burden the depletion has brought on the remaining justices, especially in an election year like this when nearly all pre-election and post-election matters reach the apex court.

As at today, there are only 10 Justices in the Supreme Court, with the implication that in the event of of two constitutional appeals that would require a panel of seven justices, the apex court would be in dilemma. Recall that during the hearing of the 2023 presidential election appeal report has it that the CJN and one other justice recused themselves from the trial because of interest, implying that the apex court have a very limited choice to pick from in constituting the panel.

The 10 Supreme Court Justices as at today are; the CJN, Olukayode Ariwoola, Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, John Okoro, Uwani Abba Aji, Garba Mohammed, Helen Ogunwumiju, Ibrahim Saulawa, Adamu Jauro, Abubakar Tijjani and Emmanuel Agim.

While reasons for the delay in appointing more justices for the apex court are

Ariwoola not readily available, especially in an election year like this, recently retired Justice Musa Dattijo Muhammad, had put the blame on the feet of the CJN, whose powers he wants reduced. Although, Ariwoola had at the same occasion where he was blamed for the delay in appointing justices of the apex court disclosed that efforts were on to fill the vacant positions at the Supreme Court.

“With Justices Musa Dattijo leaving us today after the retirement of Hon. Justice Adamu Amina Augie a few weeks ago, we are now left with just 10 Justices on the Supreme Court Bench; being the lowest we have ever had in contemporary history of the Court.

“However, I can confidently assure all the litigant public that efforts are in top gear to get on board a sizeable number of Justices to boost our rank and complement the tremendous effort we have been investing in the business of the Court”, the CJN had said at a valedictory court session held in honour of Justice Muhammad who retired recently.

Attorney-General of the Federation AGF) and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) also assured of the executive’s readiness regarding the appointment issue so as to ease the heavy workload of the justices.

Not left out on the issue of appointment is the National

Akpabio Assembly, which also assured that it is ready to do everything in its powers to support the appointment of justices into the bench of the Supreme Court.

Chairman of the National Assembly and President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, who reiterated the commitment of the federal lawmakers towards the speedy dispensation of justice, had while expressing concern about the excruciating working conditions of justices of the apex court, stated that, “the legislature is determined to improve the judiciary through very intentional appropriations and we are going to work closely on this.

“We are aware that the number of Justices on the bench of the Supreme Court has dropped drastically below the constitutional requirement. It is a matter of national interest that we immediately initiate the due process of law to address the shortfall at the apex court. In this wise, the legislature is ready to play its role”.

However, after few weeks of the assurances of the CJN, news filtered in last week that no fewer than 22 Justices of the appellate court may be shortlisted for elevation into the apex court’s bench.

The shortlisted names have reportedly been forwarded to the National Judicial Council, which after thorough screening, will forward same to the President and National Assembly, for confirmation and approval respectively. Following their confirmation, they will then be sworn in as Justices of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

While this may be good news to litigants and Nigerians generally, some advocates who have been itching to cross from the Bar to the Bench would have been disappointed. Recall that the umbrella body for lawyers in Nigeria, the Nigeria Bar

The last time the bench of the apex court got very close to achieving its full compliment was in 2020, when eight Justices of the appellate court were elevated to join 12 of their brother justices on the bench of the apex court.

Since then, the bench has witnessed a steady depletion from 20 to its current 10 Justices, a situation the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, described as the lowest in the history of the country’s judiciary. While the depletion was attributed to mandatory retirement and death in the last three years, unfortunately there has been no known efforts by the leadership of the judiciary to fill the vacant positions.

Association (NBA), had been pushing for the expansion of appointment into the bench of the Supreme Court to include lawyers with certain years of experience.

From the FJSC’s documents in public domain, the 22 persons shortlisted for appointment into the bench of the Supreme Court consist of justices of the appellate court from the six geo-political zones. The list further showed that 11 have priority consideration, while the other 11 are on reserve. The regional distribution of nominees revealed that, the North-Central region has six, while the South-West and South-South regions each has two. The South-East and NorthEast regions have six and two nominees respectively.

According to the documents, those reportedly shortlisted include: Hon Justice Nwaoma Uwa (Abia State) – Priority; Hon Justice Onyekachi Otisi (Abia State) – Reserve; Hon Justice Obande Ogbuinya (Ebonyi State) – Priority; Hon Justice Theresa Orji-Abadua (Imo State) – Reserve; Hon Justice Anthony Ogakwu (Enugu State) – Priority and Hon Justice Chioma Nwosu-Iheme (Imo State) – Reserve, for South East.

For South south, we have Hon Justice Moore Adumein (Bayelsa State) – Priority and Hon Justice Biobele Georgewill (Rivers State) – Reserve.

South west: Hon Justice Adewale Abiru (Lagos State) – Priority; Hon Justice Olubunmi Oyewole (Osun State) – Reserve North central: Hon Jummai Sankey (Plateau State) – Priority; Hon Justice Muhammad Ibrahim Sirajo (Plateau) – Reserve; Hon Justice Stephen Adah (Kogi State) – Priority; Hon Justice Ridman Maiwada Abdullahi (Nassarawa State) – Reserve; Hon Justice Baba Idris (Niger State) – Priority andHon Justice Joseph Ikyegh (Benue State) – Reserve North east: Hon Justice Haruna Simon Tsammani (Bauchi State) – Priority and Hon Justice Abubakar Talba (Adamawa State) North West: Hon Justice Muhammad Lawal Shuaibu (Jigawa State) – Priority; Hon Justice Bello Aliyu (Zamfara State) – Reserve; Hon Justice Abubakar Sadiq Umar (Kebbi State) – Priority and Hon Justice Abdullahi Mahmud Bayero (Kano State) – Reserve.

Following the assurances from both the executive and legislative arms of government, it is believed that names forwarded for confirmation would be approved without any difficulty. The appointment which on one hand would ease the burden a little on the current justices, it is hoped on the other hand, that it would enhance public confidence in the courts.

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JOHNSON MOMODU contends that government can earn ample revenue from expatriates working in Nigeria

BOOSTING THE NATION’S REVENUE STREAMS Ongoing plan by the federal government, through the Ministry of Interior and the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), to roll out a policy to drag expatriates into its revenue-generation net has dominated the media space in the last two weeks.

According to sundry media reports, the plan would dovetail into a policy choice that is wellrooted in the economic imperative of widening the nation’s revenue base and, consequentially, bolstering the economy in terms of production and consumption of goods and services as well as the supply of money.

The plan, understandably, requires some validations against the important question around its novelty. While the plan to capture expatriates in the proposed revenue net (not taxes) may be

novel in Nigeria, the decision by the President Bola Tinubu administration to consummate the policy of ensuring that the working expatriate community in Nigeria becomes a veritable source of new revenue has obligatorily underscored the administration’s need to explore all reasonable avenues to generate income.

In fact, the essential international contexts for comparative analyses between how and why the policy is practised in other countries and why it is not in Nigeria, validates the urgency that is needed to effectuate the policy in its entire ramifications.

A good understanding of how other countries have placed special demands on their international expatriates, leaves one with the impression that Nigeria has all along missed out in this critical area that has the potential to generate mega foreign exchange earnings for the country. If the trend must be reversed, the federal government must take the bull by the horns and confront the existential challenges that may want to conspire to frustrate the coming on stream of the revenue source.

Indeed, it is remarkable to note that as part of the nationalization regulations to encourage hiring citizens over expatriates in G-20 countries, including Mauritania and many other countries, private sector entities are being charged monthly for each expatriate employee that exceeds the number of employees at the entities. This is in apple-pie order and in alignment with international best practices, and Nigerian can very well adopt it.

This practice is a cosmopolitan reality in Germany, China, France, Czech Republic, Ireland, and in over 17 other countries, which are placing charges on the offshore earnings of expatriates.

The Tinubu administration will do well to replicate the same in Nigeria.

In those countries, which are by all standards developed, they have not put an end to generating revenue. A plethora of revenue sources is being constantly devised to meet the challenges of public finance, rising complexity in the ever-expanding infrastructure gap, especially in Nigeria, and

funding of governments globally. Growth and development in all sectors of their respective national economies become the normative order in the consideration and effectuation of policies, programmes, and projects that conduce towards the public good.

The interplay between the wellbeing and security of the people underscores the primary purpose of government anywhere in the world.

Significantly, these two essential ingredients of government and community cannot, suo motu, activate themselves, nor can sheer political will without any corresponding or concomitant actions do so. The political will must crystallize in the nature and form of deliberate and aggressive funding, which is impossible if there is no cash backing. Governments cannot spend the money they do not have. It is the responsibility of governments to run and coordinate their national economies, manage the relationship and tension between production and consumption as well as other financial or budgetary matters.

It is therefore understandable when governments globally, including the federal government of Nigeria and the subnational governments embark on government-to- government, government-tobusiness and government-to-people interactions that result in generation of revenues, including Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) through taxes, royalties, fees, fines and sundry charges on both small and large scales. It is in this context that the plan by the Tinubu administration to extend its revenue source to expatriates working in Nigeria finds justification.

Indeed, the initiative to place extra demand on working expatriates in Nigeria is not dissimilar to what operates in China, for example, where the income of expatriates from employment is subject to Individual Income Tax (IIT). In that clime, taxable income from employment generally includes wages and salaries, bonuses, commissions, allowances and subsidies, taxes paid by the employer, stock options and any other income related to the individual’s position or employment.

In the Czech Republic (CR), all employmentrelated incomes of expatriates (wages, salaries, overtime pay, bonuses, gratuities, perquisites, benefits, benefits from employees` stock options, etc.) are taxed. Mandatory health insurance and social security contributions paid are also regarded as employment income subject to tax (they enter a tax base and create a super gross salary). If a Czech employer has an expatriate working for them without a Czech employment contract, such expatriates are typically employed by a foreign company. In such cases, the deemed employer must act as a payroll agent and transfer the appropriate income tax advances to the tax office. This is basically about taxation. But what the Nigerian government is planning is not additional taxation on expatriates’ income. It is a charge that derives from implementation of the terms and conditions of the expatriate quota given to companies that engage the services of expatriates. It possibly operates at a minimum of two levels from my understanding of what is in the works, although greater details, according to media reports, would be announced at the launch of the policy soonest.

The first level may entail a fixed charge on each expatriate working in Nigeria; then the second level may be charges imposed on companies for infractions or failure to absorb Nigerian professionals into jobs that are allotted to them.

Momodu writes from Abuja.

Good governance is essential for sustainable development, economic growth, and social justice, writes SONNY IROCHE

THE IMPERATIVES OF GOOD GOVERNANCE

Good governance is the backbone of any successful nation, playing a crucial role in fostering sustainable development, promoting social justice, and ensuring the well-being of its citizens. The successive and past decades of bad governance in the country have made it imperative to analyze the pressing need for good governance in Nigeria, a country facing numerous challenges that hinder its progress. By examining the past state of governance, identifying key areas of concern, and proposing potential solutions for the Tinubu administration, this article seeks to shed light on the imperative role that good governance should play in Nigeria, going forward.

Let us now consider the essence and the urgency for the quest of good governance: To understand the need for good governance in Nigeria, it is essential to consider its historical context. Since gaining independence in 1960, Nigeria has struggled with a range of governance challenges, including corruption, weak institutions, insecurity and a lack of accountability, across all sectors of both public and private institutions. These issues have hindered economic growth,

deepened social inequalities, and eroded public trust in the government.

Economic Implications: Good governance is crucial for economic development and attracting foreign direct investment. In Nigeria, corruption and mismanagement of resources have led to a significant drain on the economy. The lack of transparency in public procurement, inefficient bureaucracy, and inadequate regulatory frameworks have deterred both local and international investors. By implementing good governance practices, Nigeria can bolster economic growth, create employment opportunities, and reduce poverty.

Social Justice and Human Rights: Nigeria is a diverse nation with various ethnic and religious groups. However, the absence of good governance has exacerbated tensions and led to systemic discrimination. Marginalized communities often face limited access to quality education, healthcare, and basic infrastructure. Additionally, human rights violations, such as extrajudicial killings and police brutality, persist due to a lack of accountability, and lack of concern by previous administrations. Good

governance can ensure equal rights, social inclusion, diversity, equity and justice for all Nigerians.

Strengthening Institutions and Rule of Law: The effectiveness of governance largely depends on the strength of institutions and the adherence to the rule of law. In Nigeria, weak institutions have facilitated corruption and compromised public service delivery. By promoting transparency, accountability, and meritocracy, Nigeria can cultivate a culture of good governance. This requires building independent and competent institutions, enacting and enforcing laws that promote transparency, and fostering a culture of ethics and integrity among public officials.

Citizen Participation and Engagement: Meaningful citizen participation is a cornerstone of good governance. In Nigeria, there is a need to enhance civic engagement, empower civil society organizations, and promote active citizenship. As it appears quite a number of citizens have resorted to self-help and lost confidence in the political class. By involving citizens in decision-making processes, ensuring access to information, and fostering a culture of accountability, Nigeria can harness the collective wisdom and energy of its people, particularly the teeming youth population and their resilience, creativity and tenacity leading to more informed policies and effective governance.

In conclusion therefore, the need for good governance in Nigeria cannot be overstated. It is essential for sustainable development, economic growth, social justice, and the overall well-being of its citizens. By addressing the historical challenges, strengthening institutions, promoting citizen participation, and upholding the rule of law, Nigeria can pave the way for a brighter future, not only for itself, but as the leading economic power house of the African continent.

The path to good governance may be challenging for the new administration, due to decades of misrule and failures of past administrations in the country, but the benefits it brings are invaluable.

Though it may still be too early to appraise the Tinubu administration, which is only six months in office, having only been inaugurated on May 29, 2023, it is time for Nigeria to prioritize good governance and embark on a transformative journey towards progress and prosperity for all Nigerians, irrespective of religious or ethnic configuration. Now is the time for Nigeria to work towards fulfilling its destiny as the true giant and leadership role in Africa.

Iroche is a 2022/2023 Senior Academic Fellow at the African Studies Centre. University of Oxford, UK

17 4

T H I S D AY

TUESDAY NOVEMBER 21, 2023

EDITORIAL

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

P

LIBERIA’S DEMOCRATIC CONSOLIDATION Joseph Boakai has his work cut out

resident George Opong Weah of Liberia has demonstrated that no one needs to teach a footballer the virtue of sportsmanship. He understands that once the referee’s final whistle goes, the game is over. You then embrace your opponent and move on. Only an irate fan fights over the outcome of a match, especially when their team has been fairly beaten.

That ‘spirit’ of democratic sportsmanship is lacking in most African presidential elections.

But by congratulating his victorious opponent, Joseph Boakai even before all the votes were tallied, Weah echoed what President Goodluck Jonathan demonstrated in 2015 in Nigeria. It is a commendable gesture.

The presidential election in Liberia was a close contest. Boakai, 78, a former vice president who lost to Weah in the 2017 election, had come narrowly second at the first ballot held three weeks ago. But he was leading with 50.9% of the vote over Weah’s 49.1%, with nearly all the votes counted, as at the time the president made a national radio broadcast last Friday. “A few moments ago, I spoke with president-elect Joseph Boakai to congratulate him on his victory,” Weah told Liberians. “I urge you to follow my example and accept the results of the elections.”

A former Liberian international, Weah played for Monaco and Paris Saint-Germain (France), AC Milan (Italy), Chelsea and Manchester City (England) before returning to France with Marseille.

Named African Footballer of the Year three times and to date the only African to be named FIFA World Player of the Year, Weah is also the only African player to win the coveted Ballon d’Or in the same season he also won the UEFA Champions League Top Scorer award. In the course of his illustrious career, Weah won Coupe de France, Ligue1, Coupe de la Ligue, Serie A title, English FA

Cup among several other laurels. Unfortunately, he couldn’t bring his prowess on the football field to tackle the immense socio-economic problems in Liberia. We hope his successor will fare better.

Ruined by a series of civil wars unleashed by the greed of plain megalomaniacs who masqueraded as leaders and ravaged by some of the worst epidemics in human history, Liberia for 12 years relied on the steady hands of Ms Ellen Johnson Sirleaf to pick up the pieces. When she left office years ago and was succeeded by the incumbent Weah, it was the first time in Liberia that power was transferred from one democratically elected government to another. By conceding defeat, Weah is now helping the process for democratic consolidation in Liberia.

But the challenges ahead are enormous. We are dealing with one of the world’s poorest countries that has borne more than its fair share of the calamities of the late 20th and early 21st century. In many respects therefore, Boakai has his job as the 26th president of Liberia well defined.

While we therefore congratulate Boakai and wish him the best in his new assignment, the Liberian president-elect must be guided by a determination to avoid the ugly past of his country and instead embark on a transformative leadership. “The closeness of the results reveals a deep division within our country,” Weah had told Liberian in his concession broadcast. “As we transition to the new Boakai administration, we must be vigilant to the dangers of division and work together to find common ground. Now, more than ever, unity is paramount for the love of Mama Liberia.” Boakai should accept the olive branch from the man he is succeeding in office.

Having been vice president to President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf for 12 years, Boakai comes to the job with a measure of preparation. We wish him success.

The Liberian president-elect must be guided by a determination to avoid the ugly past of his country and instead embark on a transformative leadership T H I S D AY

EDITOR SHAKA MOMODU DEPUTY EDITORS WALE OLALEYE, OBINNA CHIMA MANAGING DIRECTOR ENIOLA BELLO DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR ISRAEL IWEGBU CHAIRMAN EDITORIAL BOARD OLUSEGUN ADENIYI EDITOR NATION’S CAPITAL IYOBOSA UWUGIAREN THE OMBUDSMAN KAYODE KOMOLAFE

T H I S D AY N E W S PA P E R S L I M I T E D

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF/CHAIRMAN NDUKA OBAIGBENA GROUP EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS ENIOLA BELLO, KAYODE KOMOLAFE, ISRAEL IWEGBU, EMMANUEL EFENI DIVISIONAL DIRECTORS SHAKA MOMODU, PETER IWEGBU, ANTHONY OGEDENGBE DEPUTY DIVISIONAL DIRECTOR OJOGUN VICTOR DANBOYI SNR. ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR ERIC OJEH ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR PATRICK EIMIUHI CONTROLLERS ABIMBOLA TAIWO, UCHENNA DIBIAGWU, NDUKA MOSERI DIRECTOR, PRINTING PRODUCTION CHUKS ONWUDINJO TO SEND EMAIL: first name.surname@thisdaylive.com

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

LETTERS IN PRAISE OF SPECIAL DUTIES’ MINISTER Hon Zaphaniah Jisalo, a two-term chairman of the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), a two-term member of the Federal House of Representatives, and the Abuja coordinator of the Tinubu/Shettima Presidential Campaign Council in FCT was appointed Minister of the Ministry of Special Duties and Inter-governmental affairs. The minister has spent 100 days in office, and many are of the view that he has started credibly well. After assuming office, he embarked on a tour to familiarize himself with the various departments, agencies and parastatals under his ministry. The tour took him to the National Lottery Regulatory Commission, the National Lottery Trust Fund, and the National Merit Award, all agencies under his ministry.

The visit availed the staff and management the opportunity to meet with him and discuss their constraints and successes and advised the minister on what is needed to make the bureaucracy work better for service deliver.

Hon Zaphaniah Jisalo’s office is charged with the responsibility of representing the President when he is not

personally available, to embark on visits to areas he is called upon to visit. This is what the minister has been doing credibly. In the past 100 days the minister has represented the President at the 39th Convocation/Matriculation Ceremonies of the University of Abuja and the Federal University, Lokoja where he delivered a speech articulating the policy direction of the present administration on education especially on the tertiary education.

In his visit to the National Lottery Trust Fund, the minister prioritized the government’s expectations from the Trust Fund and gave a vivid direction and new mandate of expectations to the management that will impact positively the interventionist mantra for which the Lottery Trust Fund was set up. The minister in the visit, made it clear that the present administration of President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu abhors corruption and the Fund must think out of the box on new ways to make sure that funds available to it must be used judiciously to intervene in the various areas its enabling laws permit.

The minister also went to Lagos to open the International Gaming Conference 2023 organized and hosted by the National Lottery Regulatory Commission with the theme, “Innovation and Disruption: Core Strategies for Success which was held at the Eko Hotel and Suites on the 31st October - 1st November, 2023. This conference was germane to the present situation in the Nigerian gaming industry.

The National Lottery Regulatory Commission was created by the National Lottery Act 2005 (as amended) by an act of the National Assembly to enable the federal government to properly organize and coordinate the operations of the lottery business in the country.

The expectations on the minister’s shoulders are high because the President is a man who expects more from whom much is given. And it is pertinent to note that the minister is a man who engages in peer assessment.

Musa Wada, Media aide, Abuja

18

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2023 • T H I S D AY

MARKET NEWS A Mutual fund (Unit Trust) is an investment vehicle managed by a SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) registered Fund Manager.

Investors with similar objectives buy units of the Fund so that the Fund Manager can buy securities that willl generate their desired return.

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

floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

A REIT (Real Estate Investment Trust) is an investment vehicle that allows both small and large investors to part-own real estate ventures (eg.

Offices, Houses, Hospitals) in proportion to their investments. The assets are divided into shares that are traded on the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

GUIDE TO DATA: Date: All fund prices are quoted in Naira as at 17Nov-2023, unless otherwise stated.

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

Bid Price: The price at which Investors redeem (sell) units of a trust or ETF. Yield/Total Return: Denotes the total return an investor would have earned on his investment. Money Market Funds report Yield while others report Year- to-date Total Return.

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

DAILY PRICE LIST FOR MUTUAL FUNDS, REITS and ETFS MUTUAL FUNDS / UNIT TRUSTS

AFRINVEST ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD aaml@afrinvest.com Web: www.afrinvest.com; Tel: +234 818 885 6757 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Afrinvest Equity Fund 287.09 290.95 52.29% Afrinvest Plutus Fund 100.00 100.00 9.25% Nigeria International Debt Fund 342.59 342.59 14.15% Afrinvest Dollar Fund 109.45 109.45 5.75% AIICO CAPITAL LTD ammf@aiicocapital.com Web: www.aiicocapital.com, Tel: +234-1-2792974 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AIICO Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 13.67% AIICO Balanced Fund 4.79 4.89 40.85% ANCHORIA ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED info@anchoriaam.com Web:www.anchoriaam.com, Tel: 08166830267; 08036814510; 08028419180 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Anchoria Money Market 100.00 100.00 0.03% Anchoria Equity Fund 182.07 184.43 25.61% Anchoria Fixed Income Fund 1.21 1.21 -1.43% ARM INVESTMENT MANAGERS LTD enquiries@arminvestmentcenter.com info@anchoriaam.com Web: www.arm.com.ng; Tel: 0700 CALLARM (0700 225 5276) Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn ARM Aggressive Growth Fund 29.44 30.33 34.16% ARM Discovery Balanced Fund 647.38 666.90 24.20% ARM Ethical Fund 53.50 55.11 18.59% ARM Eurobond Fund ($) 1.17 1.17 3.76% ARM Fixed Income Fund 1.15 1.15 3.64% ARM Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 9.45% ARM Short Term Bond Fund 1.06 1.06 2.18% AVA GLOBAL ASSET MANAGERS LIMITED info@avacapitalgroup.com Web: www.avacapitalgroup.com; Tel 08069294653 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AVA GAM Fixed Income Dollar Fund 101.75 101.75 11.91% AVA GAM Fixed Income Naira Fund 1,122.56 1,122.56 4.82% AXA MANSARD INVESTMENTS LIMITED investmentcare@axamansard.com Web: www.axamansard.com; Tel: +2341-4488482 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AXA Mansard Equity Income Fund 190.82 192.16 41.47% AXA Mansard Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 9.47% CAPITAL EXPRESS ASSET AND TRUST LIMITED info@capitalexpressassetandtrust.com Web: www.capitalexpressassetandtrust.com; Tel: +234 803 307 5048 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn CEAT Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A Capital Express Balanced Fund(Formerly: Union Trustees Mixed Fund) N/A N/A N/A CARDINALSTONE ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED mutualfunds@cardinalstone.com Web: www.cardinalstoneassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 (1) 710 0433 4 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn CardinalStone Fixed Income Alpha Fund 1.04 1.04 7.21% CHAPELHILL DENHAM MANAGEMENT LTD investmentmanagement@chapelhilldenham.com Web: www.chapelhilldenham.com, Tel: +234 461 0691 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Chapelhill Denham Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 0.00% Paramount Equity Fund 24.94 25.44 41.54% Women's Investment Fund 197.61 200.66 39.73% CHD Nigeria Bond Fund 101.14 101.14 12.13% CHD Nigeria Dollar Income Fund 1.03 1.03 11.20% CORDROS ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmgtteam@cordros.com Web: www.cordros.com, Tel: 019036947 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Cordros Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 10.03% Cordros Milestone Fund 160.59 161.64 25.06% Cordros Fixed Income Fund 106.27 106.27 10.09% Cordros Halal Fixed Income Fund 108.45 108.45 11.33% Cordros Dollar Fund ($) 113.64 113.64 6.20% CORONATION ASSETS MANAGEMENT investment@coronationam.com Web:www.coronationam.com, Tel: 012366215 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn 1.00 1.00 10.42% Coronation Money Market Fund 1.44 1.46 26.74% Coronation Balanced Fund 1.36 1.36 0.13% Coronation Fixed Income Fund EDC FUNDS MANAGEMENT LIMITED mutualfundng@ecobank.com Web: www.ecobank.com Tel: 012265281 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class A N/A N/A N/A EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class B N/A N/A N/A EDC Nigeria Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A EMERGING AFRICA ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmanagement@emergingafricafroup.com Web:www.emergingafricagroup.com/emerging-africa-asset-management-limited/, Tel: 08039492594 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Emerging Africa Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 13.01% Emerging Africa Bond Fund 1.09 1.09 9.55% Emerging Africa Balanced Diversity Fund 1.25 1.25 25.84% Emerging Africa Eurobond Fund 106.64 106.64 5.68% FBNQUEST ASSETS MANAGEMENT LIMITED invest@fbnquest.com Web: www.fbnquest.com/asset-management; Tel: +234-81 0082 0082 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn FBN Bond Fund 1526.41 1526.41 11.58% FBN Balanced Fund 256.34 258.53 39.06% FBN Halal Fund 131.71 131.71 12.91% FBN Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 10.59% FBN Dollar Fund 122.89 122.89 7.39% FBN Smart Beta Equity Fund 232.63 235.56 54.06% FBN Specialized Dollar Fund 110.60 110.60 9.48% FCMB ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED fcmbamhelpdesk@fcmb.com Web: www.fcmbassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 1 462 2596 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Legacy Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 8.31% Legacy Debt Fund 3.56 3.56 -0.44% Legacy Equity Fund 2.62 2.67 31.21% Legacy USD Bond Fund 1.32 1.32 4.62% FSDH ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD coralfunds@fsdhgroup.com Web: www.fsdhaml.com; Tel: 01-270 4884-5; 01-280 9740-1 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Coral Balanced Fund N/A N/A N/A Coral Income Fund N/A N/A N/A Coral Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A FSDH Dollar Fund N/A N/A N/A

GUARANTY TRUST FUND MANAGERS LIMITED enquiries@investment-one.com Web: www.gtcoplc.bank; Tel: +234 812 992 1045,+234 1 448 8888 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Guaranty Trust Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A Guaranty Trust Balanced Fund N/A N/A N/A Vantage Guaranteed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A Guaranty Trust Equity Income Fund (VEIF) N/A N/A N/A Vantage Dollar Fund (VDF) - June Year End N/A N/A N/A LOTUS CAPITAL LTD fincon@lotuscapitallimited.com Web: www.lotuscapitallimited.com; Tel: +234 1-291 4626 / +234 1-291 4624 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Lotus Halal Investment Fund 1.76 1.79 14.84% Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund 1,198.66 1,198.66 9.55% MERISTEM WEALTH MANAGEMENT LTD info@meristemwealth.com Web: www.meristemwealth.com/funds/; Tel: +2348028496012 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Meristem Equity Market Fund 16.88 17.02 44.68% Meristem Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 11.56% NORRENBERGER INVESTMENT AND CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LIMITED enquiries@norrenberger.com Web: www.norrenberger.com, Tel: +234 (0) 908 781 2026 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Norrenberger Islamic Fund (NIF) 103.25 103.25 11.91% Norrenberger Money Market Fund (NMMF) 100.00 100.00 11.53% Norrenberger Dollar Fund (NDF) ($) 102.74 102.74 11.19% PAC ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD info@pacassetmanagement.com Web: www.pacassetmanagement.com/mutualfunds; Tel: +234 1 271 8632 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn PACAM Balanced Fund 2.14 2.18 36.09% PACAM Fixed Income Fund 11.94 12.13 7.53% PACAM Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 11.58% PACAM Equity Fund 2.36 2.38 65.61% PACAM EuroBond Fund 128.65 131.61 15.43% SCM CAPITAL ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED info@scmcapitalng.com Web: www.scmcapitalng.com; Tel: +234 1-280 2226,+234 1- 280 2227 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn SCM Capital The Frontier Fund 148.80 153.46 18.37% SFS CAPITAL NIGERIA LTD investments@sfsnigeria.com Web: www.sfsnigeria.com, Tel: +234 (01) 2801400 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn SFS Fixed Income Fund 1.10 1.10 10.05% STANBIC IBTC ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD assetmanagement@stanbicibtc.com Web: www.stanbicibtcassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 1 280 1266; 0700 MUTUALFUNDS Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Stanbic IBTC Balanced Fund 4,724.13 4,761.91 39.36% Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund 255.33 255.33 8.39% Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund 1.95 1.98 55.95% Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund 349.26 349.39 11.56% Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund 368.17 372.53 57.61% Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 10.37% Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund 17,287.32 17,500.06 58.35% Stanbic IBTC Dollar Fund (USD) 1.45 1.45 12.42% Stanbic IBTC Shariah Fixed Income Fund 127.27 127.27 8.86% Stanbic IBTC Enhanced Short-Term Fixed Income Fund 124.65 124.65 17.18% Stanbic IBTC Absolute Fund 4,953.12 4,953.12 16.43% Stanbic IBTC Aggressive Fund 5,053.95 5,116.72 81.77% Stanbic IBTC Conservative Fund 5,149.74 5,163.90 35.20% UNITED CAPITAL ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD unitedcapitalplcgroup.com Web: www.unitedcapitalplcgroup.com; Tel: +234 01-6317876 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn United Capital Equity Fund 1.26 1.27 37.65% United Capital Balanced Fund 1.74 1.76 34.51% United Capital Wealth for Women Fund 1.35 1.35 25.24% United Capital Sukuk Fund 1.17 1.17 11.62% United Capital Fixed Income Fund 1.93 1.93 6.89% United Capital Eurobond Fund 123.53 123.53 5.57% United Capital Global Fixed Income Fund 1.07 1.07 8.37% United Capital Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 10.64% Web: www.quantumzenith.com.ng; Tel: +234 1-2784219 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Zenith Balanced Strategy Fund 18.09 18.30 30.60% Zenith ESG Impact Fund 21.48 21.71 35.93% Zenith Income Fund 25.22 25.22 7.07% Zenith Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 10.90% VETIVA FUND MANAGERS LTD funds@vetiva.com Web: www.vetiva.com; Tel: +234 1 453 0697 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Vetiva Banking Exchange Traded Fund 7.20 7.30 78.54% Vetiva Consumer Goods Exchange Traded Fund 11.49 11.59 95.83% Vetiva Griffin 30 Exchange Traded Fund 25.46 25.66 43.73% Vetiva Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 10.07% Vetiva Industrial Goods Exchange Traded Fund 28.06 28.26 40.22% Vetiva S&P Nigeria Sovereign Bond Exchange Traded Fund 147.83 149.83 -6.26%

REITS

NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

127.91 55.85 101.33 9.88

12.40% 5.34% -13.49%

Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

20.90 436.00 660.00 22.06 30.62

23.10 436.00 660.00 22.16 30.72

41.71% 238.72% 554.44% 51.04% 83.85%

NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

108.40

0.00%

Fund Name

SFS REIT Union Homes REIT Nigeria Real Estate Investment Trust UPDC REIT

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS

Fund Name Lotus Halal Equity Exchange Traded Fund SIAML Pension ETF 40 Stanbic IBTC ETF 30 Fund MERGROWTH ETF MERVALUE ETF

I N F R AST R U CT U R E F U N D

Fund Name Chapel Hill Denham Nigeria Infrastructure Debt Fund

The value of investments and the income from them may fall as well as rise. Past performance is a guide and not an indication of future returns. Fund prices published in this edition are also available on each fund manager’s website and FMAN’s website at www.fman.com.ng. Fund prices are supplied by the operator of the relevant fund and are published for information purposes only.

LAWYER TUeSday, NOVEMber 21, 2023

A TR

UT H

& RE A S O

N

weekly pullout

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UT H

& RE A S O

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Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri Bayelsa State Governor, Douye diri

Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma

Kogi State Governor- elect, Ahmed Usman Ododo

Bayelsa, Imo, Kogi Governorship Elections: A Post- Mortem

II

TueSday, NOVEMber 21, 2023 • T H I S D AY

In this edition

Validity of Brief of Argument in Excess of 40 Pages in Election Matters Page IV

Quotables ‘Consistent with our commitment to enshrine fairness and the rule of law in our country, this Government will uphold the sanctity of every legitimate contract, specifically as it relates to foreign exchange obligations of the Government..’-HE Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria ‘Political Gladiators are encouraged to go to court and look for the slightest arcane legal or technical point to raise, in the hope that the court will give them authority to take the people’s mandate. This is a misconception of the role of the court. It is damaging to the credibility of the courts….’ -Yemi Candide-Johnson, SAN

columnist

Attorney General Alliance Advocates Wildlife Protection Page V

Declining Respect for Justice and Rule of Law in Nigeria Bemoaned Page V

lawyer

onikepo braithwaite: editor, jude igbanoI: deputy editor, peter taiwo, steve aya: reporters

III The advocate

T H I S D AY • TueSday, NOVEMBER 21, 2023

1999 Constitution, Accountability and Rule of Law

P

romoting the Nigerian Government’s adherence to the rule of law, is not only

by Government obeying the laid down laws of the land, but by accountability, both in official duties and the actions of all Government officials. Clearly, successive Nigerian Governments have developed a penchant for disobeying the law, and just doing what pleases them. Strangely, accountability as far as their work is concerned doesn’t even arise, as we are all aware that Section 6(6)(c) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended in 2023) (the Constitution) ousts the jurisdiction of the court when it comes to the contents of Chapter II of the Constitution, that is, the Fundamental Objectives and Directive Principles of State Policy, which is actually the essence of governance, setting out all the milestones that Government is meant to achieve. Since the courts were established to, inter alia, adjudicate on practically every type of dispute between all classes of people and agencies, it is bizarre that we are not allowed to ventilate our grievances against Government when it fails to fulfil its constitutional obligations.

Government’s Lack of Accountability Meanwhile, we, the people, are held accountable when we break the law. For instance, if an individual beats up or kills another, he/she will be prosecuted for assault or murder. But, a different standard is applied to Government. Take for example the Federal Government’s breach of Section 38 of the Central Bank Act 2007 (CBN Act), in form of incessant borrowing using the Ways & Means Advances contrary to the conditions set out in that law, no one can really stop Government from breaking the law; it seems that we can only complain.

Another example is the Government not paying workers a reasonable national minimum wage, pensions, unemployment, sick benefits, nor providing welfare for the disabled (see Section 16(2)(d) of the Constitution); as wicked, inequitable and unfair as it is, the bottom line is that, there’s not much we can do about it. NGOs like SERAP, are only wasting their time instituting actions to question Government’s nonsensical expenditure on fabulous benefits for its top level Officials; the truth is that, as the law stands, nothing can come out of such cases, as the court has absolutely no power to order the Government not to make those frivolous expenditures, or to provide these benefits for the masses.

Remember the case of the purchase of Tucano Jets from USA, allegedly to fight terrorism. President Buhari bypassed the laid down lawful process to be followed in order to make such a purchase of close to half a billion US Dollars, including seeking and obtaining Senate approval beforehand, and nothing could be done to stop him. He made a flimsy excuse, and sought the Senate’s ratification after the items had been purchased. Nothing could be done to stop President Buhari - not even the courts, even though his act, no matter how well meaning, was unlawful. See the case of AG Ondo State v AGF & Ors (2002) LPELR-623(SC) per Muhammadu Lawal Uwais, JSC (later CJN) on the non-justiciability of the rights in Chapter II of the Constitution, unless as otherwise provided in the Constitution; Okolo & Anor v Union Bank of Nigeria Ltd 2004 3 N.W.L.R. Part 859 Page 87 per Niki Tobi, JSC on the consequences of a court lacking jurisdiction to entertain a matter.

Military Constitution, ‘Autocratic Civilianocracy’ & Oligarchy The truth of the matter is that, when you have a military administration produce a Constitution that is meant to be the grundnorm in a democratic setting as is the case of the 1999 Constitution, it is probably foolhardy to imagine that it would be a reflection of true democratic norms which are probably antithetical to those of a military dictatorship. Instead, what we have is a document that is below par, riddled with controversies, without any form of avenue for accountability of Government to the people, especially with the inclusion of Section 6(6)(c) of the Constitution ousting the jurisdiction of the courts in all matters that concern accountability; what we have in Nigeria is simply an ‘autocratic civilianocracy’, that is, a dictatorship comprised of the Executive and Legislature - undoubtedly a bigger decision-making mechanism than what obtained in the military era, but still, more or less, despotic, because of their non-accountability; in short, an extension of military rule with the rulers exchanging their military uniforms for our traditional ‘Agbada’. In fact, out of 24 years of our so-called democratic Fourth Republic, we have had two well known military dictators, General Olusegun Obasanjo and Major General Muhammadu Buhari, in the

onikepo braithwaite onikepo.braithwaite@thisdaylive. com onikepob@yahoo.com

The

Advocate “….what we have in Nigeria is simply an ‘autocratic civilianocracy’, that is, a dictatorship comprised of the Executive and Legislature - undoubtedly a bigger decision-making mechanism than what obtained in the military era, but still, more or less, despotic, because of their non-accountability; in short, an extension of military rule with the rulers exchanging their military uniforms for our traditional ‘Agbada’ ” driver’s seat for a total of 16 out of the 24 years!

The statement by Lord Acton, a British Historian, that power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely, may be what is now playing out in the Nigerian governance and political space. The Legislators who are meant to be the direct representatives of the people, the ones empowered to undertake radical constitutional reforms (see Section 4 of the Constitution), who we looked up to, to correct all the anomalies in the military Constitution, quickly realised that they derive more power and personal benefits from the oligarchy they have formed with the Executive, and consequently, they are not interested in making any meaningful constitutional or statutory reforms that will develop our nascent democracy. How, for instance, does any reasonable society justify an outgoing Legislator collecting a fabulous severance package, only to return to the next National Assembly as a fresh incoming Legislator, to derive the benefits of a new Legislator, benefits which most Nigerians agree are exorbitant and unjustifiable? Mostly, the Legislature has only played to the gallery in the exercise of its oversight functions, and is not really a check and balance on the Executive à la Baron de Montesquieu’s Doctrine of Separation of Powers (see Sections 4, 5, 6, 88 & 89 of the Constitution). Instead, the Legislature and the Executive are busy rubbing each other’s backs! If anything, the Legislature gives the Executive support, for example, the 9th National Assembly breached its own law, the CBN Act, by approving the securitisation of the Ways & Means Advances.

Even the Electoral Act 2022 (EA), on its first outing has shown clearly that some of the provisions like Section 29(5) and the manual processes provided therein will continue to aid politicians with questionable credentials,

and those who are not as popular as they need to be to win elections. As long as these people continue to perpetuate and recycle themselves, where will the improvement come from?

Government Officials & Accountability for Wrongdoings And, when we come to accountability for wrong doings, be it financial impropriety or otherwise, only a handful of Government officials are brought to justice. Presently, in USA, apart from news on the ongoing issue between the Israelis and Hamas (with Palestinian civilians bearing the brunt), a good chunk of the news is on the former President, Donald Trump, and the cases filed against him.

While the American Constitution does not confer immunity from suit and prosecution on a sitting President, the Department of Justice (DOJ) which controls all Federal Prosecutors, confers some temporary immunity on a President while in office. So, whatever Donald Trump is accused of, while others involved could have been charged for the various offences while he was still in office, the DOJ waited, and the several cases which had been gathered against him, including charges relating to the insurrection on Capitol Hill after he lost the election, have now been levelled against him. Again, GOP Republican Representative, George Santos spent campaign funds on Botox, Sephora, and luxury trips according to an Ethics Report - there is a call for his expulsion. Accountability! No one is a sacred cow.

Unfortunately, in Nigeria, the case is different. While Section 305 of the Constitution does confer immunity on the President, Vice President, Governors and Deputy Governors while in office, in the case of a President, this

immunity seems to have been extended beyond office, as no President has been prosecuted for any offences, be it financial impropriety or any other offences. Granted, a handful of Governors have been prosecuted for financial crimes after they stepped down, but, how many of them have been involved in skirmishes like the Imo State incident, without being brought to book?

Possibly, quite a few.

If we want to curb impunity and promote the rule of law, these Executives have to be held accountable for their wrongs, even if it has to wait till they leave office. Prosecuting them for violent offences against persons during their tenures in office when they step down and are no longer covered by the immunity clause, will serve as a deterrent to others that have a penchant for violence. Was anybody held responsible for the killings at the Lekki Tollgate during the #EndSARS Protest, even the soldiers that fired live bullets on unarmed Youths? I think not.

What about the case of the NLC President, Joe Ajaero? Even if others involved in the assault and grievous bodily harm inflicted on him are prosecuted immediately, if NLC maintains their stand that the perpetrators must be brought to book, and rightfully so too, if it is proven that Governor Uzodinma was indeed, involved in the unfortunate incident, maybe even spearheaded it, he is likely to get away with it, because, by 2027 the incident would have been conveniently forgotten. Nigeria does not seem to keep good records, or follow up. Non-accountability!

Conclusion The sum and substance of the matter is that, without accountability and consequences for wrongdoing, Government will have little or no reason to adhere to the rule of law - there’s no motivation to do so. We need to transform ourselves to, “Ilu to lofin, ton lofin”, that is, “A country that has laws, that is using the laws”, be it Government, it’s agencies or individuals - no one or authority or agency is above the law (see Section 1(1) of the Constitution), failing which Nigeria will continue to sink further into a Hobbesian State and state.

This would be sad, for a country that has so much potential. Without the adherence to the rule of law, whether by Government or individuals, there will be anarchy and regression, not development.

P.S. Urgent! A Memo to the Minister of Aviation: Re: Delta Airlines & Others It is time for the Honourable Minister of Aviation, to read the ‘Riot Act’ to both local and international airlines. It has become the norm for local airlines, to delay flights recklessly. This is wrong. This doesn’t happen in civilised societies. Once local air travel is involved, one is unable to plan; flights are even cancelled without prior notice.

The international airlines seem to have double standards - a lower standard for the Nigerian route, despite the fact that our tickets do not come cheap, and a higher standard for routes to USA and other countries. This is unacceptable.

I travelled to USA on Delta Airlines, about two weeks ago. While I must say that their crew are courteous and pleasant enough, the food was inedible as far as I’m concerned, with the presentation of the main meal looking worse than animal feed.

On the outbound trip, I opted for the vegetarian meal which I had to abandon, because the greens tasted somewhat sandy, maybe not well washed (as we say in Yoruba, “o pakuta”). I starved all the way to Atlanta. On the return flight to Lagos last week, aside from the fact that they casually announced that there was no Wi-Fi on the ‘notso-nice’ looking aircraft they used, the food on the return trip was unpalatable, nasty. I had to content myself with eating a few chocolate chip cookies and ice cream, on an 11 hour flight.

The issue of baggage claim is also a recurring problem in Nigeria, with many of the international airlines. When you travel abroad, the higher the class you travel, the quicker your luggage comes out at baggage claim. On arrival in Nigeria, it is the opposite that obtains. The higher the class you travel, the later your luggage comes out to baggage claim.

Then the baggage claim area becomes crowded, as those who flew on the higher classes go through immigration first and then come out to twiddle their thumbs waiting for their luggage, while the luggage of economy passengers who are still going through immigration are congesting the conveyor belt going round with no one to claim them. This needs to stop. This idea that nonsense that isn’t tolerated abroad, should be the norm in Nigeria, is offensive and unsatisfactory. Again, it boils down to the fact that Nigeria has a culture of non-accountability and no consequences for wrongdoing, and the airlines, both local and foreign, take advantage of this fact.

It is time to change this negative narrative. We need to infuse international best practices, into our system.

IV law report

TueSday, NOVEMber 21, 2023 • T H I S D AY

Validity of Brief of Argument in Excess of 40 Pages in Election Matters

Facts The Appellants were the Petitioners at the trial Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, Holden at Enugu. On 6th June, 2023, the Appellants, before filing their Reply on Points of Law, applied for issuance of Pre-hearing Notice and served same on the 5th & 6th Respondent. On 8th June, 2023, the Appellants filed their Reply on Points of Law, but failed to apply for issuance of another Pre-hearing Notice within seven days after filing same. Consequently, the trial tribunal dismissed the Petition as having been abandoned, for failure to apply for the issuance of Pre-Hearing Notice in compliance with Paragraph 18(1) of the 1st schedule to the Electoral Act 2022, and aborted the pre-hearing session that was to commence. The tribunal also ruled that the application for issuance of Pre-hearing Notice served before filing their Reply was premature, and therefore, incompetent. Dissatisfied with the preliminary determination of the Petition, the Appellants appealed to the Court of Appeal, which affirmed the decision of the tribunal and dismissed the appeal. The Appellants appealed further to the Supreme Court.

At the Apex Court, the Appellants filed their Brief of Argument. The 1st Respondent in his Respondent’s Brief of argument raised a Preliminary Objection to the hearing of the appeal, on the basis that the Appellants’ Brief exceeded 40 pages. He posited that the said brief is in violation of Order 10 Rule l(a) of the Supreme Court Pre-Election Appeals Practice Directions, 2023, and thus, incompetent and liable to be struck out. The Appellants, seeking to rectify their position, filed a motion seeking inter alia, a departure from the Rules of the Supreme Court and an Order to deem the brief filed in excess of the stipulated 40 pages as properly filed. The 1st Respondent filed a Counter Affidavit and Written Address, opposing the grant of the application.

Honourable Justice Tijjani Abubakar, JSC

In the Supreme Court of Nigeria Holden at Abuja On Friday, the 15th day of September, 2023

Issue for Determination The Supreme Court adopted the sole issue for determination raised by the Appellants, in its determination of the application: Whether the Appellant/Applicants have shown in law and fact, that they are entitled to the reliefs sought.

Arguments Submitting on the application, the Appellants contended that by the provisions of Order 2 Rule 31(1) of the Supreme Court Rules 1999 (as amended), the Supreme Court may enlarge the time provided by the rules of court for the doing of anything to which the rules apply, or may direct a departure from the rules in any other way when so doing is required in the interest of justice. Counsel relied on the case of DINGYADI & ANOR v INEC & 2 ORS (2010) NWLR (PT. 1224), to argue that the Supreme Court had interpreted the effect of Order 2 Rule 31(1) of the Supreme Court Rules that departure from the rules may be granted in the interest of justice, and the court has the power to waive compliance with its Rules in exceptional circumstances, especially where the court finds so doing serves the best interest of justice.

The 1st Respondent opposed the submission. He argued that the Appellants’ Brief of Argument which exceeded the 40 pages limit without the prior direction of the court, is invalid. He argued that the governing provision which delimits number of pages for any brief in an election matter is the Pre-election and Election Appeals Practice Directions, 2023, but counsel for the Appellants decided to take refuge in Order 2 Rule (31) of the Supreme Court Rules. Counsel submitted that the provisions of the Supreme Court Rules cannot apply, where there is a Practice Direction purposely crafted to apply in the instant case. He argued that the number of pages in a Brief of Argument has been specifically regulated under paragraph 10(1)(a) and (3) of the Supreme Court Pre-Election and Election Appeals Practice Directions 2023, it will therefore, be inappropriate to have recourse to the general provisions in the rules of court where in fact specific provisions have been provided. He submitted that where there is a general provision and specific provision on a matter, the specific provision on the matter shall apply - AJAYI v ALALADE (2015) 5 NWLR (PT. 1452) 380, and that any breach of the provisions of paragraph 10(1)(a) and (3) of the Supreme Court Pre-Election and Election Appeals Practice Directions, 2023 renders the process invalid and incompetent. According to him, the only action that will inject life into the process

must first seek for and obtain leave before filing the process in excess of 40 pages. Where a party on his own decides to act in flagrant disregard of the provisions of the law, he cannot turn around and seek for endorsement of an illegal act by the court. Where a condition precedent is mandatory for doing an act, the failure to fulfil the pre-condition will render the act null and void. Failure to comply with condition precedent becomes more unpardonable, where it is manifested in an election matter being time bound and sui generis.

It was strange that Counsel for the Appellant opted to rely on the 1999 Rules of the Supreme Court, when in the affidavit in support he clearly admitted that the 2023 Practice Direction does not allow more than 40 pages. The Apex Court therefore, held that the Appellants have not filed a valid and competent Appellants’ Brief of Argument, and have not in any way established legitimate grounds for the court to grant the application.

His Lordship, Honourable Emmanuel Akomaye Agim, JSC stated that the decision of the court strictly and mandatorily applying the provisions of Order 10 Rule 10(1) and (3) of the Supreme Court Pre-election and Election Appeal Practice Direction 2023 and the resulting refusal of the Appellants’ application and the dismissal of their appeal, is in keeping with the judicial precedent and the doctrine of stare decisis.

His Lordship however, remarked that there is need for a reconsideration of our current judicial approach in the application of rules of procedure in election matters, noting that the current judicial approach is a relaxed and permissive application of procedural rules in other types of civil proceedings. Judicial determination of questions concerning their validity should not be allowed to be aborted. It is the intendment of Sections 232(2)(e), 246(1)(b) and (c) and 285(1) and (2) of the Constitution, that the question to be determined by the tribunals and courts in election cases is whether a person has been validly elected into an office or ceased to hold that office, and no other question. Where a strict application of any rule of procedure in the 1st schedule to the Electoral Act or any of the Practice Directions would defeat the determination of the merit of the questions, the court would condone the non-compliance and treat it as a mere irregularity that would not vitiate the proceedings.

Before Their Lordships Musa Dattijo Muhammad Helen Moronkeji Ogunwumiju Adamu Jauro Tijjani Abubakar Emmanuel Akomaye Agim Justices, Supreme Court SC/CV/788/2023 Between 1. UCHE GEOFFREY NNAJI 2. ALL PROGRESSIVES CONGRESS (APC)

APPELLANT/ APPLICANTS

And

1. MBA PETER NDUBUISI 2. PEOPLES DEMOCRATIC PARTY 3. EDEOGA CHIJIOKE JONATHAN 4. LABOUR PARTY 5. NWEKE FRANK NNAEMEKA (JNR) 6. ALL PROGRESSIVES GRAND ALLIANCE (APGA) 7. INDEPENDENT NATIONAL ELECTORAL COMMISSION

RESPONDENTS

(Lead Judgement delivered by Honourable Justice Tijjani Abubakar, JSC) is where the court, before filing the process, directs the party to proceed to file the process in excess of the number of pages limited by the Practice Direction, placing emphasis on the words “except otherwise directed by the Supreme Court...”. Counsel argued that where a condition precedent exists and same is not satisfied, the act carried out must be held to be invalid ADEKEGBA v MIN OF DEFENCE (2013) 17 NWLR (PT. 1382) 126 at 147.

By way of reply, the Appellants stated that the argument on inapplicability of Order 2 Rule 31 of the Supreme Court Rules to the instant application, constitutes a misconception of the law. Counsel also addressed the argument on general and specific provisions of statutes, and contended that there is no conflict between the two provisions. He urged the court to discountenance the submissions of the 1st Respondent, in the

“….. the Appellants must first seek for and obtain leave before filing the process in excess of 40 pages. Where a party on his own decides to act in flagrant disregard of the provisions of the law, he cannot turn around and seek for endorsement of an illegal act by the court”

interest of justice.

Court’s Decision and Rationale Prefatorily, the Apex Court, per Tijjani Abubakar JSC expressed dissatisfaction with the Reply on points of law filed by the Appellants, and held that a reply on points of law is not meant to improve on the quality of a written address; it is mainly an opportunity to address new issues arising from the address of the Respondent. The Appellant/Applicants reply on points of law, turned out to be more elaborate than the written address in support of the application.

Deciding on the issue raised by the Appellants, the Apex Court held that from the paragraphs of the affidavit in support of the application, Counsel to the Appellants admitted inadvertence in the process of preparation and filing of the Appellants’ brief. Counsel was aware that the Practice Direction does not allow them to file an Appellants’ brief in excess of 40 pages, but decided to come under the Supreme Court Rules. The law is very well settled that judicial inquiry terminates as soon as it appears clear that the language of the statute is clear plain and unambiguous - AMAECHI v INEC (2008) 5 NWLR (PT. 1080) 227 SC. The Appellants cannot embark on any form of gymnastics, by picking and choosing which law to apply.

The Supreme Court held that from the wordings of Paragraph 10(1)(a) and (3) of the Supreme Court Pre-Election and Election Appeals Practice Directions, 2023 which states that “except otherwise directed by the Supreme Court...”, the Appellants

DISSENTING OPINION OF HONOURABLE HELEN MORONKEJI OGUNWUMIJU, JSC His Lordship opined that by the authority of TSOKWA OIL v BON (2002) 11 NWLR (PT. 777) 163, a preliminary objection does not estop the Applicant from taking steps to remedy defects in his process. The words of paragraph 10(1) make it discretionary, for the court to grant or refuse the Appellants’ application to countenance the brief in excess of 40 pages.

The court can refuse the motion and rule that it would only look at the first 40 pages of the brief, and regard the remaining pages as garbage or surplusage, as the Practice Directions do not give the court the discretion to invalidate the brief for that reason alone. It is clear that the only sanction provided by the Practice Directions of the court, is that the brief should not be accepted by the Registry. Nowhere in paragraph 10 of the Practice Directions is the word “invalid” used in relation to a brief in excess of 40 pages. In the case of MAKINDE v ADEKOLA (2022) 9 NWLR (PT. 1834) 13 at 36, the Supreme Court had held that where such a brief had in fact been accepted by the Registry of this court, the excessiveness of the pages of the brief contrary to paragraph 9(a) of the Practice Directions on Election Appeals (2010) “... is not enough reason to strike out the brief”. His Lordship concluded that the strict interpretation of Section 285 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), must not translate into the truncating substantial justice.

Given the above, the Honourable Justice exercised discretion, and granted the Appellants’ application in the interest of justice. The preliminary objection was overruled.

Appeal Struck Out on a Majority Decision of 4:1.

Representation C.I. Enweluzo, SAN with others for the Appellants.

Bode Olanipekun, SAN with others for the 1st Respondent.

C.S. Ekeocha with others for the 2nd Respondent.

Kaine Ananwune for the 3rd and 4th Respondents.

C.I. Mbaeri for the 5th Respondent.

Victor Agunzi for the 6th Respondent.

Olanrewaju Kinsola for the 7th Respondent.

Reported by Optimum Publishers Limited, Publishers of the Nigerian Monthly Law Reports (NMLR)(An affiliate of Babalakin & Co.)

V

TueSday, NOVEMBER 21, 2023 • T H I S D AY

NEWS

Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, GCON

Cross Section of Participants at the 2-day Workshop on 'Use of Modern Techniques in Combatting Wildlife Crimes' in Abuja

Attorney General Alliance Advocates Wildlife Protection Alex Enumah in Abuja

Stakeholders in the conservation of wildlife in Nigeria have called for the deployment of cuttingedge technology such as drones and GIS Mapping, in tackling illegal wildlife activities. In addition, the stakeholders also proffer effective network and training of personnel in the wildlife sector, so as to enhance their performance.

They spoke in Abuja, at a two-day workshop on “Use Of Modern Techniques in Combatting Wildlife Crime”; the workshop was organised by the National Park Service in collaboration with the Attorney General Alliance-Africa Programme (AGA-Africa).

In a welcome address, AGA-Africa's International Advisor, Mr John Edozie, observed that Nigeria and the world, of recent, have witnessed an alarming surge in the illegal wildlife trade, adding that the surge is being facilitated by advancements in technology.

"Disturbingly, data from the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) website, highlights Nigeria's involvement in trafficking significant quantities of ivory and pangolin scales.

Specifically, more than 49,000kg of ivory and 161,000 of pangolin scales, which has resulted in the death of 7,400 elephants and hundreds of thousands of pangolins.

"Such illicit activities not only pose a severe threat to our planet's biodiversity, with pangolin populations declining by up to 80% in certain parts of Africa, but also erode the foundations of the rule of law, foster

corruption, and fund criminal enterprises", he said.

Adding that, "To address this global crisis effectively, we must equip ourselves with the most advanced tools and strategic approaches available. This entails embracing cuttingedge technology such as drones, GIS mapping, and DNA analysis to confront the threats posed by poaching and the illegal wildlife trade head-on".

Edozie, however, pointed out that success in combatting wildlife crimes does not solely rely on technology, but hinges on networks that facilitate regional and international collaboration, including the sharing of intelligence.

He pointed out that, "Just as criminals operate without regard for borders, so must we - to make it increasingly difficult for traffickers to find safe havens".

"We are thus, glad, as the AGA-Africa Programme, to lend our support to this endeavour through the facilitation of this workshop, ensuring that we can fight wildlife crimes much more aggressively and effectively.

"As a non-profit organisation, the AGAAfrica Programme is dedicated to promoting the rule of law, strengthening legal systems, and fostering collaboration among criminal justice actors across the African continent.

"This involves providing training programs, technical assistance, and resources to enhance legal expertise when it comes to tackling transnational crimes like cybercrime, money laundering,

wildlife trafficking, and other cross-border offences in Africa. Currently, the AGA-Africa Programme is active in West, East and Southern Africa",

he added.

Also speaking, the Assistant ConservatorGeneral, National Park Abuja, Mohammed Kabir, observed that

the workshop was apt, because it was coming at a time the service needed it most.

Kabir, said further that the training will enhance

the capacity of park officials in combating illegal trafficking in wildlife which he puts between N7 billion and N10 billion.

Declining Respect for Justice and Rule of Law in Nigeria Bemoaned The Hague Institute for Innovative Law (HiiL) has lamented the declining state of the rule of law and justice in Nigeria and other parts of the world, as the situation becomes unbearable. The Chief Executive Officer of HiiL, Sam Muller disclosed this on Thursday last week, at the presentation of the 2023 Report on the justice needs and satisfaction in Nigeria.

Muller said the situation, which was also captured by the World Justice Project’s 2023 Report, and which impacts six out of eight billion people in the world, is depressing for people who wake

up every day to build a nation where peace and justice shall reign.

He, however, observed that change has started in the last five years, with a movement towards people-centred justice.

He said a task force consisting of leaders from different regions of the world, made a thorough analysis of the situation and found that the cost on the economy and development can be measured.

“Two-thirds of people on Planet Earth do not have adequate access to justice, and somehow, it is not getting better, and we keep doing the same thing to improve”,

he said.

In her presentation, the Country Representative (Nigeria) of HiiL, Ijeoma Nwafor said the organisation has a justice acceleration programme, scaling programme, and innovation labs in Imo, Kaduna, and Ogun State.

Also making a presentation, the Programme Director of Ethiopia, Nigeria, and Uganda, Theresa Smout said findings from the research done in Imo, Kaduna, and Ogun indicate that Nigeria has attained the level of outcomes, solutions, and impact in achieving the aim of using innovations to close the justice gap.

She said Nigeria is followed by Ethiopia, as the country at this level in Africa.

A representative of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Felix Okojie, expressed satisfaction with the result of the research from three States, and reiterated the Ministry’s commitment to partner with HiiL to replicate the research findings nationwide.

The data shows that 81% of Nigerians encountered a legal problem in 2023, onethird said the cases are still ongoing, while 82% considered the resolution fair or very fair.

PhotoNews

L-R: Editor-in- Chief, LCA Journal of Arbitration and Dispute Settlement, Professor Bayo Adaralegbe, C. Arb; Chairman of the Occasion, Honourable Justice Adewale Abiru, Justice of the Court of Appeal, Yola Division, and President of the Lagos Court of Arbitration, Professor Wale Olawoyin, SAN, FCIARB, at the Public Presentation of the LCA Journal of Arbitration and Dispute Settlement, a Publication of the Lagos Court of Arbitration in Lagos recently

#upjudicialsalaries “Life in retirement of Judges, is an important element to be considered for the protection of judicial independence….

Adequate provision for life in retirement, in fact, contributes to preventing Judges from seeking extra profits or favours, and better shields them from potential corrupt tendencies, practices and pressures, aimed at influencing their decisions or behaviour.” - NBA Working Committee on Judicial Remuneration and Conditions of Service

VI coVER

TueSday, NOVEMber 21, 2023 • T H I S D AY

ye Diri

Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri

Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma

Kogi State Governor- elect, Ahmed Usman Ododo

Bayelsa, Imo, Kogi Governorship Elections: A Post- Mortem

The quest for free and fair elections devoid of violence seems to be a chimera as far as Nigeria is concerned, especially since the return of democratic governance in 1999. Nigeria’s elections have been trailed with corruption, violence, rigging, and manipulation, which often lead to lengthy and unpredictable judicial outcomes in the ensuing legal battles. However, many Nigerians have high hopes and expectations that the nation will eventually get it right, in subsequent elections at various levels. The recent off-cycle Governorship elections in Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi State were a litmus test by Nigeria’s election umpire, the Independent National Election Commission (INEC). But, was INEC able to prove to Nigerians that off-cycle elections can be conducted successfully, in the face of the attendant challenges that usually plague our elections? Anthony Aikhunnegbe Malik, SAN; Clement Nwankwo; Jide Ojo and Ed Malik Abdul in analysing these recent elections, express their views in this Discourse, though they all seem to agree that there’s still plenty to do, to get the Nigerian electoral process up to scratch Unending Cycle of Electoral Conundrum In Nigeria: The Unfortunate Outcomes in Kogi, Imo and Bayelsa State Chief Anthony Malik, SAN

I

Aikhunnegbe

f there has been any component of democratic credentials that has continually eluded us as a people and as a nation, it is the luxury of a “free and fair” process in the assessment or

evaluation of our elections, in virtually every election cycle. Generally, complaints against the conduct of elections in Nigeria, anchored either on the imposition of a candidate at the party level during the nomination process, or on allegations of lack of qualification, or that the election was marred by corrupt practices or noncompliance with the provisions of the governing Electoral Act, has become the norm rather than the exception.

This cyclic conundrum, is the obvious reason behind the unending amendments of and tinkering with the Electoral Act by the Legislature at the centre. Instructively, the Electoral Act embodies provisions which have criminalised certain conducts and malfeasance, and for which culprits are made liable for criminal prosecution.

“Generally, complaints against the conduct of elections in Nigeria, anchored either on the imposition of a candidate at the party level during the nomination process, or on allegations of lack of qualification, or that the election was marred by corrupt practices or non-compliance with the provisions of the governing Electoral Act, has become the norm rather than the exception”

I shall return to this point presently.

Now, it is not debatable that the 1999 Constitution contains elaborate provisions dealing with qualifications and disqualifications for the various elective offices in Nigeria.

Additionally, the regulatory body for conduct of elections in Nigeria, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and each of the participating political parties have their Policy Guidelines, all geared towards achieving the “free and fair” components of the electoral process.

The foregoing notwithstanding, it is rather saddening that elections in Nigeria, particularly, in the wake of our present democracy as incepted in 1999, have been increasingly bedevilled and characterised by factual incidents of corrupt practices and unimaginable wide scale irregularities, as if Nigeria still exists in the Hobbesian state of nature, completely devoid of the finery of civilisation and its attendant sophistication. No thanks to the all-pervasive and unbridled greed and quest for power, by the nation’s political class.

It does appear that in Nigeria, the quest for power, just like the greed for the lucre, exist only to satisfy the ego trip of the individuals concerned, and never for the good of the people.

Thus, except for anyone recklessly given to naivety in the assessment of patterns of events in Nigeria, one is not surprised that the recently conducted off-cycle Governorship elections in Kogi, Imo and Bayelsa State on the 11th November, 2023, didn’t produce anything different on the positive fronts. Expectedly, given the nefarious quest for power among the Nigerian elites, it was unsurprising that the elections conducted in the three States still wear the concomitantly inglorious barge of [massive] allegations of corrupt practices, irregularities and illegalities.

Origin of Off-Cycle Elections It is to be noted that the three States became fated with staggered elections which have necessarily midwifed the new “off-cycle” or “off season” election phraseology, only on account of judicial interventions by the Supreme Court. In a not too distant past, the case of Yahaya Bello of Kogi State who had come in a distant position to the late Governor Audu at the party primaries, but catapulted into power by the latter’s sudden death [towards the tail end of the voting process in Kogi State Governorship election, where he was already coasting home to victory], readily comes to. The judicial intervention of the Apex Court aimed essentially at avoiding or otherwise filling a lacuna in the law, not otherwise contemplated

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coVER Bayelsa, Imo, Kogi Governorship Elections: A Post- Mortem under the Constitution at the time in the ensuing dispute, became the foundation of the off-cycle Governorship election in Kogi.

For Governor Hope Uzodinma who had come a distant 4th position in the previous Imo State Governorship election, the Supreme Court, to Uzodinma’s benefit, embarked on an ‘arithmetic exercise’ and by so doing, allocated votes which helped Uzodinma to literally wheeze past the three other candidates ahead of him to emerge as winner of the election.

In the case of Governor Diri of Bayelsa State, the Apex Court faulted the identity of the running mate to David Lyon who had already been declared winner, and had only two days standing between him and his inauguration. The now famous but sledge hammer of the Apex Court fell on him, and Governor Diri was ordered by their Lordships to be sworn in as Governor.

Against the above backdrop, it thus, became inevitable to stagger the elections in those States, to reflect the true length of time in the computation of the terms of office for the Governors.

Elections Were Anything but Free and Fair There is no doubt that the Governorship elections which held contemporaneously on 11th November, 2023 in the three States of Kogi, Imo and Bayelsa was anything but free and fair. Elections in all three States were marred by all known and, in a few instances, novel forms of electoral malfeasances.

Kogi For Kogi State specifically, the genesis of the injustice and electoral malpractices which characterised the election, is traceable to the intra-party nomination process that was intentionally skewed to work against the agreed rotational principle among the major ethnicities in the State.

The now declared winner of the election, Ahmed Usman Ododo hails from the same tribe, ethnicity and Senatorial zone as the outgoing Governor, Yahaya Bello, who is completing his two terms as Governor.

With every sense of responsibility and patriotism, this writer asseverates that the recent election in Kogi is, by all indices, the worst so far in the nadir of unprecedented outlawry and violations of the provisions Electoral Act. The cases of the very security agents brought in to assist in the conduct of the election, but who looked the other way as the litany of crimes were perpetrated against the nation’s electoral values; reported and proven cases of pre-filled polling unit results, unbridled violence that took the centre stage, pervasive allegations of vote buying, bare-faced mutilation of polling unit election results, unprecedented cases of over-voting in virtually all the polling units and commercialisation of the entire spectrum of the electoral activities, all come to mind.

In several reported cases, despite the deployment of the BVAS machines in the Kogi and in the sister States of Imo and Bayelsa, it did nothing to stop the brazen rape of democracy and electoral heists perpetrated by both the officials of INEC and casts of candidates in the field. A litany of cases abound, where the results manually declared by INEC conflict violently with the data revealed on the IREV portal where transmissions of the various data from the polling units across the State and where the actual number of voters fell far less than the scores of the candidate declared as winner.

This was beside, or in addition to the reported cases of vote buying, violence,

INEC Chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu voters’ intimidation and harassment to mention but a few.

In what should qualify as a last ditch effort in casting the pall of despondency and seeming helplessness on the common man, the electoral umpire elected, sadly, to ignore all the established cases of the brazen infractions of the Constitution, violations of the Electoral Act and the Guidelines for the conduct of the elections, and declared Ahmed Usman Ododo of the APC as winner of the Governorship election in Kogi.

Bayelsa & Imo In a similar vein, INEC chose to look away from the visible scenarios of electoral outlawry which reigned supreme on election day in Bayelsa and Imo State. It declared Douye Diri and Hope Uzodinma as the winners of the election. These declarations are, no doubt, questionable and impeachable.

In the build up to the election, what was witnessed in Imo is akin to a clearance operation against opposition. Not even the President of the Nigerian Labour Congress was spared. Joe Ajaero survived apparently by divine providence, to tell the story of his ordeal in the hands of State agents.

The Bayelsa State election that took place on the same date as the two others, though not spared of the usual electoral outlawry, however, on comparative analysis with others pales into lesser gravity.

There were, however, incidents of violence, voters’ apathy, and relocation of ballot boxes from their original locations in Nembe Local Government Area.

In all, it bears repeating to highlight the fact that judicial interventions, for good or bad reasons, have accounted for incidents of our current off-cycle Governorship elections in the three

“With every sense of responsibility and patriotism, this writer asseverates that the recent election in Kogi is, by all indices, the worst so far in the nadir of unprecedented outlawry and violations of the provisions Electoral Act”

States under review. It is difficult to argue whether those interventions that had resulted in the nullifications or removal of the sitting Governors were in accordance with the will of the people, without being caught up on a boomerang trajectory. This is because the Judiciary, as it has been argued, does no more than interpret provisions of the law made by the Legislature, made up of persons who themselves are representatives of the people.

By and large, it is disheartening that in this age and time, elections in Nigeria are still characterised by the kind of violence and electoral malfeasances on offer in Kogi, Imo and Bayelsa during the last Governorship elections in those States. It is a matter of monumental embarrassment and gargantuan shame, that our politicians and State actors see elections as “do or die”.

May God help Nigeria.

Chief Anthony Aikhunnegbe Malik, SAN, Managing Partner, A. A Malik & Co, Abuja

various parts to observe the elections, were in shock. They, and several other Observers, left Abuja that afternoon, back to their countries.

The atmosphere was palpable, as everyone worried that Nigeria’s fledgling democracy of less than eight years then was on its tethers, readying to collapse.

The circumstances were however saved, when the beneficiary of that flawed election, now late President Umaru Yar’Adua, GCFR, announced to Nigerians and the world, that he acknowledged that the election that brought him to power was severely flawed and that he was prepared to embark on reforms. This was largely welcomed, and resulted in the establishment of the Electoral Reform Committee, headed by then former Chief Justice, Muhammed Uwais, GCON. The Committee had several experienced and well respected Nigerians, including Professor Attahiru Jega, Dr Olisa Agbakoba, etc.

The Report of that Committee formed the basis of creating a leadership for INEC, and the huge revamp of confidence and trust in INEC.

Observing Another Nigerian Today, Back to Square One Election System Collapse Clement Nwankwo 2007 In 2007, I remember being in the company of Nigerian and International Observers at the Hilton hotel in Abuja, and waiting for results of the Presidential election conducted that year by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to come in. The results were trickling in slowly, and only twelve States results had been received. Suddenly, the news came that INEC was organising a press conference to announce the results of the Presidential election. We all thought it was a joke. It was not so for INEC. It proceeded to announce the winner of the 2007 Presidential election, and we were all confounded. Former US President, Jimmy Carter, who led the Carter Centre Election Observation team and former US Secretary of State, late Madeleine Albright, along with several other world leaders who had come from

It would seem today, however, that Nigerians and election stakeholders are again back to square one. Public trust in Nigeria’s electoral system has disappeared, and is further compounded by what is perceived to be the loss of faith in the Judiciary. Mockingly, aggrieved election participants are told to ‘go to court’, clearly underlining the fact that those who have captured the election system may also have the Judiciary in their pockets.

The Supreme Court may have given its verdict on the 2023 general elections, however, for many historians and Nigerians, the jury is still out, contemplating what will become of Nigeria’s electoral system, which at this time, has no capacity to sustain our democracy.

Nothing proves this any more than the recently conducted off-cycle Governorship elections in Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi State.

The elections had all of the imprints of the recently failed elections in the country - thuggery, violence, failed procedures, colluding election and security officials and glitched equipments. In some cases, election result sheets were filled even before votes were cast. In the much touted Results Viewing portal, the handwriting on several results emanating from differing locations across the State is similar, exposing a common origin. In particular, Cont'd on page VIII

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bloated result figures were announced even far higher than was announced for all of the three major candidates in the last general elections put together.

To an incredulous country and any observer of the trajectory of Nigeria’s democratic evolution, there is no doubt that the country has lost its electoral system. The election management body is now populated with brothers, sisters, relations, friends and political associates of party and government officials, meaning that their allegiances are now tainted and defined.

The question then is, what do we do?

How can we salvage Nigeria’s electoral system and bring our country back to the sanity of proper democracy. Will those who have benefited from the desecration of our electoral values and taken over the mantle of political leadership, show the courage of late President Yar’Adua - admit our failed electoral system, clean out the present rot, and instigate the recovery of our democracy?

The consequences of not acting urgently, looks certain to be dire.

Clement Nwankwo, Lawyer, Executive Director, Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC)

Successes and Foibles of Imo, Kogi and Bayelsa Governorship Polls Jide Ojo Introduction

Periodic election, is one of the pillars of democracy. Historically, electoral democracy had been introduced in Nigeria in May 1919, when the To w n s h i p s Ordinance gave the right to vote for three members of Lagos Town Council to some men. The first elections to the Council were held on 29 March, 1920. The first general election in this country took place in Lagos and Calabar on September 20, 1923, after the coming into force of the 1922 Sir Hugh Clifford Constitution.

There are several types of elections. They include: General, Off-cycle, Supplementary, Run-off, Re-run, and By-election. There are 11,082 political offices in Nigeria comprising of: I Presidential seat, 36 Governorship seats, 109 Senatorial seats, 360 House of Representatives seats, 993 Houses of Assembly seats, 768 Local Government Chairmanship seats, 6 Area Council Chairmanship seats (see Section 3(6) of the 1999 Constitution, as altered) and 8,809 Councillorship seats. As a result of judicial activism and intervention, off-season elections crept into Nigeria’s electoral lexicon when the appellate courts invalidated earlier victories of some Governors, and declared another candidate winner. This started in Anambra in the locus classicus case of Chris Ngige and Peter Obi, over the 2003 Governorship election in the South East State. This scenario has also played out in Ondo, Edo, Ekiti, Imo, Bayelsa, Kogi and Osun State. In essence, only 28 States have their Gubernatorial elections during the general elections in Nigeria, as at now.

On October 25, 2022, the Independent

National Electoral Commission (INEC) announced November 11, 2023 as the date for Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi off-cycle Governorship elections. That means the electoral management body gave more than a year notice for the election, which took place two Saturdays ago.

Here are some of the basic facts about the three States. Bayelsa is in the South-South, Imo, South East and Kogi, North Central geo-political zones. It is the first time INEC will combine three off-cycle Gubernatorial elections together. Bayelsa has 8 LGAs, Imo has 27 and Kogi has 21. Bayelsa has 105 Registration Areas or Wards, Imo has 305 and Kogi has 239.

Bayelsa has 2,244 Polling Units (PU), Imo has 4,758 PUs, while Kogi has 3,508 PUs. There are 2 PUs with no registered voters in Bayelsa, and 38 of such in Imo State. Registered Voters in Bayelsa are 1,056,862 out of which 1,017,613 collected their Permanent Voters Card, better known as PVCs. In Imo, there are 2,419,922 Registered Voters, out of which 2,318, 919 collected their PVCs. In Kogi, there are 1,932,654 registered voters, out of which 1,833,160 collected their PVCs. Some of the pre-election activities carried out by various stakeholders include: party primaries and candidate nomination by political parties, campaigns, voter education, collection of PVCs, procurement of sensitive and non-sensitive electoral materials by INEC, recruitment of poll officials such as Supervisory Presiding Officers, Presiding Officers, Assistant Presiding Officers I, II, and III. There are also Registration Area Technicians better known as RACTECHs, Collation and Returning Officers.

INEC also signed Memorandum of Understanding with National Association of Road Transport Workers and National Association of Road Transport Workers Unions,

“Though all the three elections were won on the first ballot without being declared inconclusive, a lot of intrigues, sharp and corrupt practices happened during the polls”

as well as National Association of Boat Owners. The electoral umpire also accredited Polling Agents, Observers and Journalists covering the elections.

There was also compilation of names, training and deployment of security agents such as the Nigeria Police, Directorate of State Services, Nigerian Civil Defence, military personnel and paramilitary staff, to provide election security.

Ahead of the November 11 Gubernatorial elections in Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi, there was a lot of apprehension due to the volatility and high political tension in the three states. Indeed, there were a lot of incidents of physical, structural and psychological violence ahead of the polls. This was part of the reason the National Peace Committee signed Peace Accord with all the contestants and their Party Chairmen in the three States on Wednesday, November 8, 2023.

Outcome of the Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi Gubernatorial Elections Though Bayelsa State has eight local governments, however, the Gubernatorial election was not concluded until Monday, November 13, 2023 due to the difficult terrain of the State, half of which is on water. The Returning Officer, Prof Faruq Kuta, who is also the Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Minna, announced Governor Douye Diri of the Peoples Democratic Party winner of the poll at the collation centre of the election. Diri who was seeking re-election polled 175,196 to defeat his closest rival, Timipre Sylva of the All Progressives Congress, who garnered 110,108 votes.

In Imo State, INEC declared Governor Hope Uzodinma of the APC, winner of the November 11, 2023 Governorship election in the State. The Vice Chancellor of the Federal University, Oye Ekiti, Prof Abayomi Fashina, who was the State Returning Officer declared Uzodinma re-elected. The APC candidate polled 540,308 votes to defeat his closest rival, PDP's Senator Samuel Anyanwu, who scored 71,503 votes and LP's Senator Ethan Achonu who got 64,081.

The candidate of the APC in the November 11 Governorship election in Kogi State, Ahmed Usman Ododo, was declared the winner of the election.

Ododo polled a total vote of 446,237, to defeat his closest challenger, Murtala Ajaka of the Social Democratic Party who scored 259,052 votes, with the candidate of the PDP, Dino Melaye,

emerging a distant third with 46,362 votes.

The Returning Officer for the election, Prof Johnson Urame, made the formal declaration.

From the foregoing the two Governors who sought re-election, won their elections in Bayelsa and Imo State. While APC won in two States, Kogi and Imo, PDP won in Bayelsa.

Appraisal of the Three Off-Cycle Elections Though all the three elections were won on the first ballot without being declared inconclusive, a lot of intrigues, sharp and corrupt practices happened during the polls. As I have characterised it in other commentary on the polls, it has the features of "The good, the Bad, and the Ugly", the 1966 Italian epic spaghetti Western film directed by Sergio Leone and starring Clint Eastwood as "the Good", Lee Van Cleef as "the Bad", and Eli Wallach as "the Ugly".

In my own assessment, the good thing about the off-cycle polls are as follows: The elections started on time, more so than they did during the general elections earlier in the year. There was priority voting for the elderly, pregnant women, nursing mothers, and persons with disabilities.

The three elections were concluded on the first ballot, while there was timely uploading of the results on the INEC Result Viewing Portal. However, the bad aspects include the reported incidences of vote buying, abduction and holding of poll officials’ hostage in some communities such as Brass LGA in Bayelsa State.

The death of George Sibo, also allegedly occurred at a Collation Centre in Twon Brass also in Bayelsa. Furthermore, is the reported bypass of Bimodal Voter Accreditation System Device better known as BVAS, by some unscrupulous INEC Poll Officials. The ugly incidents also include the discovery of pre-filled result sheets, in some of the LGAs in Kogi.

According to INEC, reports indicate that the incidents occurred in Adavi, Ajaokuta, Ogori/Magongo, Okehi and Okene Local Government Areas. The most serious incidents occurred in Ogori/Magongo, affecting nine of 10 Registration Areas.

This is preposterous!

Another baffling thing is the press statement issued by YIAGA Africa on Sunday, November 12, 2023. According to the civil society organisation which was accredited to observe the polls, reports from some Watching the Vote observers in Imo State indicate elections Cont'd on page IX

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did not take place in 12% of YIAGA Africa sampled polling units. These cases were prevalent in Orsu, Okigwe, Oru East, and Orlu LGAs. Yiaga Africa also monitored the upload of results on the IREV, especially those from polling units where elections did not hold. The group gave a breakdown of about 40 of such PUs where elections did not hold in Imo State, yet results were uploaded on the IREV Portal. How so? I have also seen a number of inflated results, where the number of voters is higher than the figures of those who were accredited in the Polling Unit. This is a clear evidence of result manipulation and over-voting. This happened because the integrity measures put in place in Section 64(1 – 9) of the Electoral Act 2022 were ignored by the Presiding Officers, as well as the Collation and Returning Officers.

The Guardian of Nigeria, in its November 15 online edition reported that “With sustained efforts by election riggers to undermine the electoral process, the act of inducing voters, not only with money but even degrading items like wrappers, drinks and food, is a menace that won’t go away soon, despite efforts of security agencies to curtail it”. It said further that, “The off-season Governorship election held in Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi State revealed that, politicians have perfected illegal acts of voters’ inducement to sabotage the will of the people. Gone are the days when voters could collect money and still go ahead to vote their conscience; party agents see the thumb printed papers before “paying” for the vote in what is now known as “see and buy”, even to exchange votes for food stuff and drinks, party agents had their ways of ascertaining that candidates were voted for”.

The PUNCH of November 17, 2023 reported that the National Peace Committee led by former Head of State, General Abdulsalam Abubakar, on Thursday, November 16, 2023, decried cases of violence, intimidation, and vote-buying, among other practices during the off-cycle Governorship elections in Imo, Kogi and Bayelsa State. In a statement the Peace Committee said, “We are not unaware of the glitches recorded, during the elections.

Sadly, we have noted that some of the old ways remain, and ordinary people continue to collude with corrupt members of society to stall the processes of our elections. The persistence of the culture of vote-buying, intimidation, and voter apathy, among others are disturbing. A democratic culture will only grow if we participate in cleaning up the process of our elections, because, in the end, we are the victims. The corruption of the process will lead to the emergence of corrupt leaders, if we collude with merchants of corruption”.

Conclusion I had thought that given the opposition candidates hues and cries that the November 11 elections were rigged against them, INEC’s Chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu would invoke Section 65(1) of the Electoral Act 2022 which states that: “The decision of the returning officer shall be final on any question arising from or relating to— (a) unmarked ballot paper ; (b) rejected ballot paper ; and (c) declaration of scores of candidates and the return of a candidate : Provided that the Commission shall have the power within seven days to review the declaration and return where the Commission determines that the said declaration and return was not made voluntarily or was made contrary to the provisions of the law, regulations and guidelines,

Polling in the elections

and manual for the election”.

Unfortunately, INEC did not do that, and had rather gone ahead to issue Certificates of Return to the winners on Friday, November 17, 2023. Shockingly too, no arrest of those who pre-filled results in Kogi or uploaded manipulated results on the IREV Portal, has been made by INEC or security agencies. These are the desirable things to do, to checkmate the culture of impunity. But again, it is a missed opportunity.

Some of the candidates who lost the elections, have threatened to go to tribunal to challenge the outcome of the polls. It is within their right to do so. However, they should be aware of the provision of Section 135(1) of the Electoral Act 2022.

It states that, “An election shall not be liable to be invalidated by reason of non-compliance with the provisions of this Act if it appears to the Election Tribunal or Court that the election was conducted substantially in accordance with the principles of this Act and that the non-compliance did not affect substantially the result of the election”.

Jide Ojo, Development Consultant, Author, Columnist and Public Affairs Analyst

X-raying INEC’s Performance in the Off-Cycle Elections Ed Malik Abdul The off-cycle Governorship elections in Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi State portend and has e x a c e rbated the scary concern about electioneering processes in Nige-

“Let me give a personal suggestion, first of all.

The very word ‘Independent’ in INEC, should be substituted for ‘Inconsistent’ or ‘Indecisive’ ”

ria, as superintended by the current contraption called INEC. So, trying to do an introspection of the performance of INEC in this three States’ off-cycle election is nothing to cheer about, because the grave concerns thrown up by the last Presidential election were not only discountenanced, but repeated on a brazen scale.

Let me give a personal suggestion, first of all. The very word ‘Independent’ in INEC, should be substituted for ‘Inconsistent’ or ‘Indecisive’. That way, no one will lay claim to being surprised at the outcome that present INEC under the leadership of Professor Mahmood Yakubu is dishing out to Nigerians, to the shame and international opprobrium that has now become the perfect response to elections in Nigeria.

Complaints The accounts in all the three States, are similar. There were cases of intimidation, vote-buying, violence, fear, ballot-snatching, pre-written results, challenging use of INEC’s BVAS/iRev and general credibility problems, due to lack of knowledge of legal interpretation of the overall process.

For instance, some individuals were caught in Kogi with already thumb-printed ballot papers with results sheet already filled. INEC’s response was a hastily released press statement that they are investigating the matter, and we have not heard anything further. Candidates of the PDP and SDP claimed there was no voting in several wards, yet results were declared in those areas by INEC. Also, the number of accredited voters and consequent vote numbers, were at variance with what INEC eventually uploaded in their portal.

In all the three States, there were back-and-forth allegations of security personnel connivance with ruling party agents, and they also turned their eyes away from open buying of votes by certain unscrupulous party agents.

Why are all these issues problematic? It’s because of the simple fact that INEC is weak in prosecuting electoral offenders, and over the years, they have not shown any zeal in sanctioning offenders and even their own staff that have been identified as complicit. Little wonder, that the

CSOs and other observers have called for the review of some of the results bandied by INEC, as they alleged that they do not represent the known figures at election venues count.

What INEC has failed to understand in all this, is that today’s political environment presents opportunities and threats in equal measure, which must be treated with the seriousness they deserve. More so, the programmatic challenges facing the foundations on which electoral preferences are expressed have not been fully contested within the context of electoral guidelines which INEC promoted, but has never adhered to. In one instance, BVAS and i-Rev are core to collation and declaration, and in another vein, they don’t matter.

The courts have only given impetus to INEC’s lawlessness which is now interpreted as discretion, saying INEC can decide the mode of collation and transmission of results. This is simply sowing confusion and recklessness, everywhere.

The truth is that, there’s a global wind of change. That change for democratic system of governance which is sweeping and pulling down non-democratic structures and reckless interpretation of electoral laws erected on the unprogressive signposts of mediocrity, that has led to avoidable people unrest. Here in Nigeria, the electoral umpire, INEC in this case; and the Government together with the present political leadership, must acknowledge and identify with the above reality.

Call for Restructuring of INEC It is in this nexus, that Nigerians must call for the restructuring of INEC, with the aim to strengthen and improve its capacity to meet its statutory responsibilities to the nation and commence a journey of confidence building again.

So far, its performance in the recent off-cycle elections has left much to be desired, with the magnitude of uncomplimentary fall-outs that are coming to public light daily.

In summary, INEC, as presently constituted should be disbanded, and Nigerians will be happier than how it is now. I'm sure that if a poll or special vote is taken on this submission, the votes against INEC will be overwhelming.

Ed Malik Abdul, Political Analyst, Editor-in-Chief, DDNewsonline, Abuja and Lagos

X

insight abubakar d. sani

xL4sure@yahoo.com

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08034533892

Can Local Governments Generate Revenue With Impunity?

Introduction The lowest level of government – the Local Government - has traditionally been the weakest and poorest. Politically, they have historically been beholden to State Governments - notwithstanding their notional autonomy under Section 7(1) of the 1999 Constitution which declares that “the system of local government by democratically elected local government councils is, under this Constitution guaranteed, and accordingly, the Government of every State shall, ensure their existence under a law which provides for the establishment, structure, composition, finance and functions of such councils”.

Given their sheer ubiquity (they are 774, in all, under the Constitution - compared to 36 State Governments and the one Federal Government), it is obvious that local governments are, on paper, at least, the closest to the people - the man on the street. Such is their potential.

Unfortunately, the reality has often belied their promise, with countless tales of local governments being emasculated (especially in financial terms) and at the beck and call of overbearing State Governments. This has prompted calls for the strengthening of their autonomy, through administrative and quasi-legislative intervention.

An instance of the latter was the NFIU Enforcement and Guidelines to reduce Crime Vulnerabilities Caused by Cash Withdrawal from Local Government Funds throughout Nigeria, issued by the Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit in 2019.

All the 36 States (through their AttorneysGeneral) challenged this move at the Federal High Court, in Suit no FHC/ ABJ/CS/563/2019, coram: Inyang Ekwo, J). In a ruling delivered on the 23rd of May, 2022, the court dismissed the suit, holding that the NFIU Guidelines were not inconsistent with the constitutional requirement that the allocation of the funds earmarked for a local government from the Federation Account, should be paid into the State Joint Local Government Account from which it would be distributed among the local government councils in the manner prescribed by the State House of Assembly.

The Court further held that the Guidelines were consistent with 4th Schedule to the Constitution, which lays down the functions of a local government. I believe this particular feature of a Local Government's powers is often overlooked, and the full scope and shape of its outlines and contours are yet to be fully grasped and understood. To the extent that the Constitution authorises the State House of Assembly to empower local governments in terms of the subject-matter of the 4th Schedule thereto, are those provisions self-executing or not? Given the prevailing practice of local governments of demanding various kinds of levies, taxes and rates from hapless Nigerians (and non-Nigerians, too) supposedly on the strength of the provisions of the 4th Schedule to the Constitution, is that practice legitimate in respect of every single subject-matter spelt out therein, or should it be limited to such activities in respect of which that

power is specifically donated? Does the Taxes and Levies (Approved List for Collection) Act, 1998 (specifically, Part III of its Schedule which spells out the list of taxes to be collected by Local Governments) make any difference, in terms of the legitimacy or validity of such practices? I believe these questions are pertinent and ought to be addressed, in order to clear the fog which I believe, presently beclouds the powers of local governments vis-a-vis their said on-going practice.

What are the Taxing Powers of Local Governments?

This question is at the heart of the issue, which I am addressing in this piece. In order to get a full picture of its context, it is imperative to set out the entire provisions of Item 1 of the 4th Schedule of the Constitution, vis: “The main functions of a local government council are as follows: 1. (a) the consideration and the making of recommendations to State commission on economic planning or any similar body on – (i) the economic development of the State, particularly in so far as the areas of authority of the council and of the State are affected, and (ii) proposals made by the said commission or body; (b) collection of rates, radio and television licences; (c) establishment and maintenance of cemeteries, burial grounds and homes for the destitute or infirm; (d) licensing of bicycles, trucks (other than mechanically propelled trucks), canoes, wheel barrows and carts; (e) establishment, maintenance and

“Apart from collection of rates for radio and television licences and assessment of privately-owned houses and tenements for the purpose of levying such rates as may be prescribed by the House of Assembly of a State, I humbly submit that no local government can validly demand any fee, tax or levy in respect of any other matter specified in the 4th Schedule to the Constitution”

regulation of slaughter houses, slaughter slabs, markets, motor parks and public conveniences; (f) construction and maintenance of roads, streets, street lightings, drains and other public highways, parks, gardens, open spaces, or such public facilities as may be prescribed from time to time by the House of Assembly of a State; (g) naming of roads and streets and numbering of houses; (h) provision and maintenance of public conveniences, sewage and refuse disposal; (i) registration of all births, deaths and marriages; (j) assessment of privately owned houses or tenements for the purpose of levying such rates as may be prescribed by the House of Assembly of a State; and (k) control and regulation of - (i) out-door advertising and hoarding, (ii) movement and keeping of pets of all description, (iii) shops and kiosks, (iv) restaurants, bakeries and other places for sale of food to the public, (v) laundries, and (vi) licensing, regulation and control of the sale of liquor.

A cursory look at the above provisions will show that sub-items 1(b) and (j) specifically empower local governments to “collect rates, (in respect of) radio and televisions” and to “assess privately-owned houses and tenements for the purposes of levying such rates as may be prescribed by the House of Assembly of a State”. No such power is conferred in respect of the other sub-items of Item 1 (or even Item 2) of the Schedule. It is trite law that the express mention of one thing in a statute, implies the exclusion of all other things which might otherwise be included: expressio unius est exclusio alterius. I believe this means that, contrary to the prevailing practice in virtually all the Local Governments across the country, none of them is competent or constitutionally-authorised or demand the payment of fees or taxes and levies for such things as out-door advertising, shops and kiosks, public convenience, sewage/refuse disposal, restaurants, bakeries, laundries, etc.

I believe that such a construction

is demanded by the contra proferentum rule of statutory interpretation which is applicable to statutes (or constitutional provisions) which encroach on a citizen’s rights, whether in relation to his/her person or property. I believe the provisions of the 4th Schedule to the Constitution, are classic examples of such statutes. As a rule, such provisions should be strictly interpreted in favour of the citizen (or subject), and against the interest of the law-maker. This means that the statute should be interpreted so as to respect such rights and, if there is any ambiguity (which I humbly submit is the case with respect to the revenue-generating powers of local governments vis-à-vis the subject- matter of Item 1 of the 4th Schedule to the Constitution), the construction which favours the freedom of the individual (or subject) should be adopted. See EZE v GOVERNOR OF ABIA STATE (2010) 15 NWLR Pt. 1216 pg.323; OKOTIE-EBOH v MANAGER (2004) 18 NWLR Pt. 905 pg. 242; and AFOLABI v GOVERNOR OF OYO STATE (1985) 2 NWLR Pt. 9 pg.734 at 753H, per Aniagolu, JSC Conclusion Apart from collection of rates for radio and television licences and assessment of privately-owned houses and tenements for the purpose of levying such rates as may be prescribed by the House of Assembly of a State, I humbly submit that no local government can validly demand any fee, tax or levy in respect of any other matter specified in the 4th Schedule to the Constitution. Such a demand would be ultra vires, null and void - even if it was purportedly made pursuant to Part III of the Schedule to the Taxes and Levies (Approved List for Collection) Act (formerly Decree) of 1998. That provision is ultra vires the National Assembly because, by virtue of Section 7(5) (read along with Item 9 of the Concurrent Legislative List) of the Constitution, only State Houses of Assembly can validly empower local governments to collect taxes; the National Assembly can only empower State Governments (“or other authority of a State”, such as State Internal Revenue Boards) to collect taxes or duty on capital gains, incomes or profits on persons other than companies or documents/transactions by way of stamp duties (see Item 7 of the Concurrent Legislative List of the Constitution).

21.11.2023 XI

XII

images

T H I S D AY • TUESday NOVEMBER 21, 2023

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

L-R: Head of Strategic Partnerships, Energy Institute United Kingdom, Yewande Abiose; Chairman, Energy Institute Nigeria, Osten Olorunsola; Special Adviser to the President on Energy, Olu Arowolo Verheijen; and immediate-past Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Nigeria NLNG, Tony Attah, at the Energy Institute’s annual Energy Sustainability Conference 2023, held in Lagos…recently

L-R: Cleric, Archbishop Ayo Ladigbolu; Osun State Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Bunmi Jenyo; family member, Mrs. Olusola Jenyo; and former Osun State First Lady, Mrs. Omolola Oyinlola, during the funeral service of Madam Comfort Olalonpe Jenyo, held at the Baptist Church, Ejigbo, Ila Orangun, Osun State…recently

L-R: Chief Executive Officer, Institute of Public Analysts of Nigeria (IPAN)/ Society of Testing Laboratory Analysts of Nigeria (SoTLAN), Prof Tunde Odesanya; Deputy Country Director, Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), Dr. Abass Yusuf; a graduand, Dr. Ifeyinwa Asogwa of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka; and Deputy Director, IPAN, Mr. Christian U. Eboh, during the graduation ceremony for first cohorts of Analysts in Laboratory Certification on Micronutrients, held in Ikeja, Lagos...recently PHOTO: ETOP UKUTT

L-R: Chinese Director, Confucius Institute, University of Lagos, Prof. Zhao Hongling; Senior Fellow, Institute of World Economics, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Dr. Warg Yongzhong; Consul-General, Chinese Consulate, Lagos, Ms Yan Yuqing; Nigerian Director, Confucius Institute, University of Lagos, Professor Obi Iwuagwu; and Executive Director, Grace Schools, Lagos, Mrs. Olatokunbo Edun, during the 18th China/Africa Lecture at the Faculty of Arts, University of Lagos…recently PHOTO: ABAYOMI AKINYELE

L-R: Founder/Chief Executive Officer, Zojapay, Olusegun Dada; Director, Opay, Mr. Olu Akanmu; Chairman of the occasion/Managing Director, AIICO Insurance Plc, Mr. Babatunde Fajemirokun; and Director, Flutterwave, Mr. Dotun Adekunle, during the official launching of Zojapay app into the Nigerian market in Lagos…recently

PHOTO: DARE IBIRONKE

L-R: Corporate Affairs Manager, Gateway Plant, International Breweries Plc (IBPLC), Oluwaseun Boye; the Ayangburen of Ikorodu, His Royal Majesty, Oba Kabiru Sotobi; Chairman, Ikorodu Oga Development Association, Erogbogbo Akeem Rotimi; Brand Manager, Trophy Lager Beer, Oluwatoyin Ogunjimi; and District Sales Manager Lagos North, IBPLC, Ifeoluwapo Subair, during the Trophy Lager team’s courtesy visit to the Ayangburen of Ikorodu in celebration of the 2023 Ikorodu Oga festival in Lagos…recently

L-R: Head, Public Relations, Airtel Nigeria, Sam Adeoye; Head, B2B Sales, Smartcash PSB, Judith Osiobe; Director, Corporate Communications and CSR, Airtel Nigeria, Femi Adeniran; Director, Airtel Business, Ogo Ofomata; and Marketing Director, Airtel Nigeria, Ismail Adeshina during Airtel Nigeria Media Roundtable in Lagos…recently PHOTO: ABIODUN AJALA

T H I S D AY • TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2023

Business Personality

XIII

The Rise And Rise And Reinvention of Aiteo Group CEO, Benedict Peters

Whatever anyone thinks, Benedict Peters has earned his reputation. Like an indefatigable mariner, he rode the storms and tumult of industry till he chanced on pliant waters. His unyielding spirit certainly paid off; it has seen him through the teething and ofttumultuous phases of enterprise. Peters survived the ravage of false starts and defeat, keeping faith in his capacity to triumph.

The man who burnished his spunk through commerce’s brutish straits has emerged as one of the most perceptive juggernauts in Nigeria’s downstream oil sector. This is why he is worth celebrating in the wake of his recent milestone, writes LANRE ALFRED

E

nterprise knows Benedict Peters by heart and vice versa; perhaps because it is his uttermost passion.

Yet the imagery you see when Peters is mentioned hardly depicts his complete genius. Still, you get a feel of his lambent intellect and the fortune it summons.

If you ask, Peters will tell you that enterprise is the soil in which genius is planted; at its core, creativity grows, and legends bloom.

Faith in oneself, Peters would argue, is the rain that cultivates a hero to endure the storm and bear the genesis of a new world and new frontiers of success.

The CEO and founder of Aiteo Group is the favourite entrepreneur of generations of aspiring moguls. He is tough, self-made and copiously resilient.

Peters understands the business world so much that many of his peers have sworn he could see the future. But he simply understands how to connect his dreams and ambition to the practical reality of his business environment.

Blessed with a truly creative mind, Peters has stunning depth and understanding of industry and an overpowering necessity to create. So keen is he in the pursuit of his dreams that he does not feel alive unless he is creating and breaking new ground. Some would call him a connoisseur of milestones.

Just recently, Peters’ Aiteo Group recorded another remarkable milestone via its partnership with the NNPC to launch a new grade of crude called Nemb; through this joint venture, the group, widely acknowledged as Africa’s largest oil producer, ramps up its oil output.

The Nembe crude stream will be managed and marketed by a joint venture between state-owned NNPC and oil firm Aiteo Eastern E&P Co. Ltd, the first such crude marketing project solely run by Nigerian entities.

“It is definitely the trajectory that we are going to follow,” Maryamu Idris, executive director of crude and condensate at NNPC Trading, told the Argus European Crude conference in London.

Nembe production was added to the Bonny Light stream more than three years ago, until incidents of sabotage on the Nembe Creek Trunk Line (NCTL) hit output, an NNPC source told Reuters on the sidelines of the conference in London.

Now, the country has managed to resurrect Nembe as a separate grade, he added. The addition allows Nigeria to export another two cargoes of 950,000 barrels each of crude each month, NNPC said in a statement.

The first cargoes of Nembe were sold in October, with two 950,000 barrel shipments sold to France and the Netherlands. The low-sulphur grade commands a premium to the global Brent benchmark and is a good candidate to compete with Brazilian and Azeri crude grades for European refiners.

Nembe production is currently around 50,000 barrels per day, but the NNPC is aiming for a rise to 80,000 by the first quarter of next year and 150,000 barrels per day by the start of 2025.

Peters’ franchise, the Aiteo Group, is certainly much more than a blockbuster business. Over the years, it has cemented its role as the most prolific and pugnacious among companies, creating an inspiring, self-replenishing business culture.

The group and its subsidiaries are all emblematic of accelerating transformations in the way he works—at will, directed by high ethics, powered by modern technology and without

Benedict Peters

many of the traditional restraints imposed by a damning industrial environment.

There is something magical about the way Peters leads his enterprise to monetize resources they already possess. As he pressed forward into more and more terrains this year, his exploits have attained deeper significance for his employees and the entire gamut of the country’s petroleum and energy economies.

This has made Aiteo and its subsidiaries an entrepreneurial litmus test that is likely to endure through successive years. Seen as a symbol of his business genius, Aiteo’s expansion establishes Peters’ detailed grasp of entrepreneurial and regulatory terrains and the zeal with which he’s willing to take them on, unfazed.

If Peters were born of the sun, he would bathe the world in brilliant spokes of ambition and leave the air vividly signed with his exploits. The Aiteo Group boss is perfect proof that it is not by spectacular achievements that man can be transformed but by will. Peters is a man of great will, hence his sterling exploits in the fields of enterprise. His passion for greatness spirals to the sky, bolstered by a will as sturdy as an oak.

Starting out, his genius had such electricity that the odds could not tame.

He set out with the fervour of a man who understood that, to succeed in the

cutthroat world of commerce, he must be ready to lose himself in his objective, long-term goal, creation, and craft.

In pursuit of his dreams, Benny resolved to remain passionate, optimistic and humane. Even while faced with the ravage of false starts and defeat and the wicked humour of territorial, dictatorial fate, he kept faith in his capacity to weather the storms and succeed.

Balancing on the metaphorical high seas of tumult and toil, he stood unbending before the brute gale and other elements of the deep, something the majority of men, quitters in particular, have always failed to do, generation after generation. This legacy of resilience and survival is what inspired many of his forebears to toil in sacrifice. But rather than let narratives of failure deter him, he sought motivation to conquer and prove wrong their grisly plots.

Peters’ idea of progress is simple and sweeping: enterprise as ubiquitous and reliable as running water, everywhere, for everyone. And as part of that vision, he expects to enrich the way the industry operates.

There is no gainsaying the value of the contributions of the Aiteo Group to humanity, which can never be underestimated, particularly its contributions to the sports sector.

Founded in 1999, the company operated under the name Sigmund Communnecci Limited. The company name was changed to Aiteo during a rebranding exercise. The new brand signifies not only a change in name but a change in culture and strategy to propel the company to new heights.

Since its inception, Aiteo has been a trailblazer in the petroleum sector, helping to grow the downstream petroleum sector and providing constant availability of high-quality refined products worldwide.

In 2008, the company committed to building comprehensive energy capabilities and services from exploration through retail delivery of finished petroleum products plus electrical power.

Today, Aiteo is a full-spectrum, integrated energy company with services that span bulk petroleum products storage, marketing and distribution of refined petroleum products, oilfield services, electricity generation and distribution, LPG bulk storage and a fastdeveloping retail distribution network.

Aiteo Group has one of the largest private storage facilities for refined petroleum products in sub-Saharan Africa.

Assets include petroleum storage facilities with a more than 320 million litres capacity.

This includes our Port Harcourt terminal, with a capacity of over 110 million litres, and our Apapa terminal, with a capacity of approximately 210 million litres.

XIV

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2023 • T H I S D AY

TECH Personality

From a Shy Rookie to a Tech Leader: The Story of Daniel Dohou I Patience Salami

f you are coy but think of doing hard things, a serial learner but people-shy, then get in and read the story of Daniel Dohou. Most times, personal development requires grit and determination even if our personalities and other challenges get in the way. The inspiring story of Daniel is what every young and aspiring tech leader should read to set their foot on the upward pedal to become a global success.

Daniel was born and raised by his parents in the suburbs of Lagos, Nigeria. Even though he is the first child, he was born with an eye defect that made him struggle with confidence and could not provide the required leadership for his sibling.

“I found it very hard to speak up even when being cheated, and that is because of my shy and introverted nature. I had a major challenge growing up as I was dealing with an acute eye defect.”

However, Daniel always had a deep interest in tech but was unsure of which path to follow and thrive in. He continued to spend his introverted time with gadgets and solving puzzles. He followed his passion and fanned it to flame with his diligence so much that his neighbour noticed his drive and registered him for some developer Scholarship programs. “I struggled with these programmes and applied to three different ones, but I failed.”

Daniel was devasted by the rejection letters, but he never gave up. “I kept faith and a positive attitude during my several applications. I was confident of a silver lining simmering through the dark clouds. Thankfully, my friend told me about the ALX Accelerator programme. I spent a whole night on their website, and I was thrilled by the several courses available to learners. The learning platform looked simplified yet contemporary, the fellowship looked active and energetic, and the reviews were great. I applied for the Remote Software Engineering program.”

Daniel is a current ALX SE learner while pursuing his undergraduate studies at the University of Lagos Akoka. Since he was admitted to the ALX programme, he has been exposed to skills beyond hard-core tech skills. He is learning soft skills that are improving his taciturn personality and enjoying a transformation into a true leader.

“At ALX SE, I learned, and I am still learning lot of

Daniel Dohou

skills, such as Problem-Solving Skills, Critical Thinking, Community Building, Consistency, Commitment, and Discipline, among others,” he said. Thanks to the integrated teaching methods, Daniel is learning to be an assertive, entrepreneurial, responsible, and ethical software engineering expert. “Everything I have learned from the ALX SE program has taught me to be consistently disciplined, open to growth mentally, humbly making connections, with a growth mindset, and ensuring that I maintain my grit as I help others to keep their flames

burning too.”

Brimming with the confidence of his life, Daniel has now founded two tech consortiums - Algorithmia SE, a software engineering outfit focused on providing premium solutions to complex engineering problems, and Learnopolia a portfolio project. In addition, he secured a job offer as a System Engineer at a reputable tech company. He attributes this feat to the motivation he secures from the learning community at ALX. “My journey in the tech world has taken a good turn since joining the ALX

community. They encourage you to network and create a strong bond with other learners who inspire you to grow. While learning Backend development, Developer Operations, Technical Writing, Code Efficiency, and testing, I experienced a shift from being a rookie to a problem solver. This was the beginning of Algorithmia SE.” Today, Daniel is a rising star in his community.

He is assembling a team of other young tech enthusiasts from low-income backgrounds to work on his newly found projects.”The most exciting project I am currently working on, while I’m still in the ALX SE program, is the Algorithmia SE. It is an open-source GitHub organization aimed at building ground-breaking solutions to real-world problems, especially for Africa. Currently in its growing stage, we are working on more projects.”

When he is not learning or working on his project, Daniel spends time identifying and educating youths in his community on the need to enroll in the ALX accelerator programme. He boldly discusses how much the programme has influenced him.

He advises potential enrollees to be positive as nothing good comes easy. “My learning experience was never smooth. I always had a lot of imposter syndrome, because I constantly compare myself to the prodigies in the tech space. But then, I got to understand that, when you find what works for you, and you make sure that you do not grow alone in the ALX SE program, you will complete the program, and get to infinity and beyond!

From a shy and confused teen, Daniel wears a coat of many colours - he is an employed Systems Engineer, and a tech business owner and seeks to be a full stack Developer, focusing majorly on backend Development, and one day, become a Google Developer Expert too. “I am excited at the limitless possibilities, solutions, and timelines that can be created, by the advent of AI, IoT, and Software Engineering. Africa has such potential, and we’re building the next big global thing!”

•Patience Salami is a tech-driven global marketing and communications leader with extensive experience in international development, telecommunications, FMCG and financial institutions. She holds a postgraduate degree from the Edinburgh Business School, Heriot-Watt University, and a professional degree and membership of the Chartered Institute of Marketing, United Kingdom.

NEWS

Presidency: Tinubu Unhappy With Brain Drain in Health Sector Sunday Aborisade in Abuja

The presidency has said that President Bola Tinubu is concerned about the massive exodus of trained medical personnel to developed nations in search of greener pastures.

The Special Adviser to the President on Public Health Matters, Salma Anas, stated this yesterday at the Conference of the Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists of Nigeria 2023 Conference, held in Abuja.

Anas noted that the development was becoming alarming and that the administration of President Tinubu has started partnering with medical schools abroad to fast-track massive improvements in the nation’s health system.

She said: “ President Bola Tinubu is worried about the ‘japa syndrome ‘ which we inherited from previous administrations for obvious reasons.

“Part of our commitment is that we want to reverse that ugly trend and ensure that we sustain and retain our medical experts within the country through several interventions and measures.

“Part of the efforts is the motivation of our health sector workers within Nigeria, not only through regular payment of salaries and allowances but also in terms of provision of conducive working environment.

“We will do this through the provision of the state-of-the-art medical facilities at all levels, especially the primary level of healthcare.

“Apart from this, we are concentrating efforts into producing more health workers in all fields because they are grossly inadequate,” Anas added.

Also speaking on the occasion, the Provost of the Federal School of Medical Laboratory and Technology (FSMLT), Jos, Plateau State, Dr. Sunday Etukudoh and the National President, Association of Medical Laboratory of Nigeria, Bassey Bassey, explained that efforts were being made to stop quackery in the health sector.

The association said the body in collaboration with the medical laboratory science of Nigeria had shut down numerous number of unregistered laboratories to reduce wrong diagnosis and other illegal

activities that are affecting the image of the profession across the country.

The 2023 Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists of Nigeria’s conference is with the theme:

“Universal Health Coverage: The Medical Laboratories Priority in Nigeria”, is aimed at tackling challenges confronting the sector.

It is also aimed at brainstorming and implementing ideas adopted

at the end of the event to reduce the growing trend of brain drain in the health sector.

The conference also discussed on how to improve and achieve a better working condition for

health professionals.

The laboratory scientists also explained plans to begin the process of manufacturing equipment and other needed essential medical items in Nigeria.

Lawmaker: No Nation Can Progress with 13.5m Out-of-school Children Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja

A member of the House of Representatives and Chairman, House Committee on Public Accounts, Hon. Bamidele Salam, has said that no nation can expect to accelerate development and growth with 13.5 million out-of-school children.

He stated this yesterday in Abuja at the National Children Leadership Conference (Abuja 2023) with the Theme: “Rebuilding Nigerian Through Investment in Children’s Education, Welfare And Security’’ The programme which was part of the activities to commemorate this year’s 2023 Universal Children’s

Day was organised by Children of Africa Leadership and Values Development Initiative (CALDEV).

The lawmaker noted that the federal government must be proactive in addressing insecurity in schools which, he said, was adding to the number of out-of-school children in the country.

Salam stated: “One of the very important issues this conference is set out to address is the issue of out-of-school children. It is not a cheering news that Africa’s largest economy, the biggest nation in the black world, has a number of outof-school children that is the most in all the countries of the world,

that is 13.5 million children are out of school.

“No nation can expect to accelerate development and growth with this number of children out-of-school, and we should be able to proffer solutions to this problem in a manner that will be sustainable.

“This is to ensure that all stakeholders, government, civil societies, communities, religious bodies, put hands together to make sure that we take off the children from the street from begging, from roaming about the streets and to the school.”

Salam said he stands with the

children on their calls for a better deal to make their lives better by calling for more investment in education through increased budgetary allocations to education.

“And so, children are asking that a minimum of 15 per cent of our national budget should be committed to education and that, the government should be more proactive in tackling issues of out-of-school children.

“And these children I assure you will go back to their various schools and communities to become advocates for these same things that are asking the government to do,” he said.

XV

T H I S D AY • TUESday NOVEMBER 21, 2023

FEatures

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

Eko Hotel Christmas Wonderland and Optiva Capital's Tourism Boost

Precious Ugwuzor writes that Optiva Capital Partners, a leading investment immigration wealth management company, has once again reiterated its commitment to grow tourism and bring joy to families by sealing its intent to sponsor Eko Hotel and Suites Tropical Christmas Wonderland

G

reat brands understand that a key element of brand loyalty is largely dependent on emotional connections and so they create and identify with platforms and value-adding activities that positively boost exposure and also highlight the human side of their company.

People typically enjoy supporting brands that invest in their community and spread positive messages, and so by sponsoring important causes that align with its values, a thinking business sets itself apart from larger brands and inspire brand loyalty.

Not surprisingly, consistent with its commitment to grow tourism and bring joy to families, leading investment immigration wealth management company Optiva Capital Partners, recently announced its sponsorship of this year ’s Eko Hotels and Suites Tropical Christmas Wonderland, an annual event that creates a destination of choice for family getaways.

“We are proud to be partnering Eko Hotel because we love the creativity to create relevance and excitement for our huge clientele. Also, we share something in common because we are leaders in our industry,” said Ms. Jane Kimemia, CEO of Optiva Capital Partners Limited.

“This collaboration represents a significant milestone for our organisation, and it reaffirms our commitment to recognising excellence. With Optiva Capital Partners’ support, we look forward to families having an unforgettable holiday experience that gives them all the fun and excitement they get traveling abroad.”

Optiva Capital Partners CEO also stated that the partnership with Eko Hotels and Suites would help the company engage with some of the most passionate client bases in the travel, holiday, and entertainment sectors and thereby ensure it creates the best experiences for the Tropical Christmas Wonderland.

Optiva Capital Partners has been a partner in the development of the nation’s tourism industry.

Only recently, Ms. Kimemia advocated the adoption of a holistic value proposition for tourism development that addresses funding, and how to create the enabling environment to be able to actually execute.

At a Policy Dialogue on “the Economic Impact of Tourism in Lagos” where she was a key discussant, Ms. Kimemia tasked participants to identify how to tackle the challenges, and how to start identifying tourism as one key economic driver.

Ms. Kimemia cited the example of Kenya, which she said is very big on tourism and was built over the years because there is clear intentionality in “attracting visitors, in defining what the value proposition is, and what visitors are coming to see.”

Consequently, she opined that participants and industry players have to be clear about “who are we, what is the culture, because it is truly about defining that at higher levels of government, in terms of policy, framework, infrastructure, the entire eco-system, then after that who are the individual players because these are the key components.”

On creating a proper structure to drive the process of building a robust tourism industry, she stated that the drivers of the industry should define the “value proposition and how do we start to attract investment into the tourism sector across Nigeria.

L-R: Iyadunni Gbadebo, Marketing Director, Eko Hotels; Jane Kimemia, CEO; and Amaka Okeke-Lawal, ED, both of Optiva Capital Partners

"Tourism is about an entire eco system. How do you build the intermediary between the interest internationally and the actualisation of that. Before we talk of Direct Foreign Investments there is a lot of wealth in Nigeria because I have worked across different markets in Africa and there is no where you have the kind of wealth, the depth that you have in Nigeria. But how we plan it is through structures that can be trusted to basically pool funds to go into specific investments because that is a challenge.”

Ms. Kimemia therefore advocated the creation of investment vehicles that people can invest in. She also recommended pooling funds from Nigerians in the diaspora because there is a huge Nigerian presence in the diaspora that is very wealthy.

But she restated that when it comes to funding the issue of trust is important and the vehicles to enable people to invest back home.

Above all, Ms. Kimemia emphasised the need for an enabling environment that will ensure infrastructure, ease of doing business, and the overall

macro-economy.

Today, Optiva Capital Partners prides itself as the largest provider of investments immigration services not only in Nigeria but across Africa, and also the largest employer of labour in the investment immigration subsector with 17 branches distributed across Nigeria and over one thousand fulltime employees.

In partnership with its reputable international affiliates the company has helped many families with their immigration and global access needs over the years and “has always done this with utmost diligence and professionalism.”

Some of Optiva Capital’s investment immigration opportunities it assists Nigerians to be part of include the USA EB, Residency by Investment, which not only accelerates wealth creation but also open doors to a promising future, offering the opportunity to become a green card holder; citizenship by investment programs for which acquiring a passport from any of the countries on their menu provides visa-free access to more than 143 countries, all without the need to meet any residency criteria before obtaining them.

For Canada, a Nigerian can become a global business person by investing in Canada Federal Start-up program, migrate to Canada with a 3-year open

The drivers of the industry should define the “value proposition and how do we start to attract investment into the tourism sector across Nigeria. Tourism is about an entire eco system. How do you build the intermediary between the interest internationally and the actualisation of that

work permit, while the person’s permanent residency is prioritized as an investor.

Optiva’s philosophy is encapsulated in the following nuggets which underscore its commitment to its clients: protect wealth –to ensure clients do not lose value for what they already have; grow wealth – in accordance with client’s risk appetite and future aspirations; enhance wealth – exposes clients to the many avenues for wealth amplification; and optimize wealth – to help clients to continuously create the most value by investing in a wide range of financial products that they otherwise would not have easy access to.

Optiva Capital Partners also relishes a key aspect of its success story, which it describes as its ability to develop partnerships with strong and well recognized reputable institutions.

According to the company, “you should begin to see the world as one because that is how it is configured right now especially in the business world, so you have to see yourself as operating in all of them so that you will be able to take advantage of what exists in all the places.”

These partners include Stuart Financial with headquarters in Montreal, Canada, a global company with offices in many countries. They are the financial intermediaries to the Quebec government, and they are members of the investment regulatory Council of Canada. A very strong institution, they have never had any African partner before now, and we are their only African partners. Not only that, we are engaged with them in Greece, Portugal, and of course here in Africa, for Federal Start-up programme in Canada; Green and Spiegel, is Canada’s oldest and largest immigration law firm based in Toronto, specializing in corporate and personal immigration services.

They have offices in five countries including the USA, and we are their only African partners; Heng Sheng Group, a global group with footprints in many countries like USA, China, Singapore, Grenada. They have the largest investment in the Caribbean right now, a $2.4B investment. They are building the Grenada National Resort. We are equally their only African partner because prior to our relationship with them they had pockets of relationship but as soon as we came everything was subsumed into our relationship; Range Developments, an awardwinning developer of luxury resorts offering Citizenship By Investment programmes in Grenada and the Caribbean. We are not exclusive because Range has other partners; Anchor Capital, easily the largest trading investment banking group in South Africa with Asset Under Management of over Seven Billion US Dollars. We are their only partners right now; AIL, an international insurance group; TIW Capital Group, a global asset management company in South East Asia with offices in Singapore, India, and UAE; CTP in Tampa, Florida, USA, which develops and manages over 760 old peoples’ homes.

Heeled in effective delivery of wealth management offerings, Optiva Capital easily stands out in investment immigration, providing professional immigration services for individuals seeking to obtain alternative citizenship or residency in any of the countries that it serves, which are numerous.

In addition, the company provides investment advisory, and wealth management services.

XVI

Tuesday, November 21, 2023 • T H I S D AY

FOREIGN DESK

Compiled by Bayo Akinloye

Seoul Warns North Korea Not to Launch Spy Satellite

South Korea’s military warned North Korea not to go ahead with its planned spy satellite launch, suggesting Monday that Seoul could suspend an inter-Korean agreement to reduce tensions and resume front-line aerial surveillance in response.

North Korea failed in its first two attempts to put a military spy satellite into orbit earlier this year and didn’t follow through with a vow to make a third attempt in October. South Korean officials said the delay was likely because North Korea is receiving Russian technology assistance, and a launch could happen in the coming days.

“Our military will come up with necessary measures to protect the lives and safety of the people if North Korea pushes ahead with a military spy satellite launch despite our warning,” a senior South Korean military officer, Kang Hopil, said in a televised statement.

South Korean Defense Minister Shin Wonsik said in an interview with public broadcaster KBS on Sunday the launch was expected later this month and that South Korean and U.S. authorities were monitoring North Korea’s moves.

The UN Security Council bans any satellite launches by North Korea because it views them as a disguised test of its missile technology. Kang said while North Korea needs a spy satellite to improve its monitoring of South Korea, the launch is also aimed at bolstering its long-range missile programme.

Finland’s PM Hints at Further Border Action Amid Russia Protests

Finland’s prime minister said Monday the country may need to take further actions on its border with Russia after closing four border crossings to stem a recent increase in asylumseekers.

Finland, which joined NATO this year in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, has accused Moscow of letting migrants from the Middle East and Africa without valid travel documents through to the Finnish border. The government closed the border crossings in southeastern Finland last week, but new migrant arrivals were reported at border checkpoints farther north.

“The situation has progressed in a bad direction,” Prime Minister Petteri Orpo was quoted as saying by Finnish public broadcaster YLE during a visit to the Vartius border crossing in east-central Finland. “If there is no change, we will take more measures, and if necessary, quickly. The message is clear that we do not accept this behaviour.”

He did not rule out closing more border crossings along the 1,340-kilometer (830-mile) Finnish-Russian border.

YLE said 500 asylum-seekers have arrived in Finland in November, significantly more than normal.

Arab Muslim Delegation in Beijing Calls for Immediate Gaza Ceasefire

Arab and Muslim officials holding meetings with China’s top diplomat Wang Yi in Beijing on Monday called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and for allowing humanitarian aid into the war-shattered Palestinian enclave.

A delegation of ministers from Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Egypt, Indonesia, the Palestinian Authority and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, among others, visited Beijing on the first leg of a tour in world capitals urging an end to the hostilities in Gaza.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told the foreign diplomats that their decision to start in Beijing shows their high level of trust in his nation.

“China is a good friend and brother of Arab and Islamic countries,” Wang said in opening remarks at a state guest house before their talks began. “We have always firmly safeguarded the legitimate rights and interests of Arab (and) Islamic countries and have always firmly supported the just cause of the Palestinian people.”

China — the world’s second-largest economy after the U.S. — has been a longtime supporter of the Palestinians and has been quick to denounce Israel over its settlements in the occupied territories.

Heavy Fighting Erupts Around Northern Gaza Hospital Amid IsraelHamas Conflict

Heavy fighting erupted Monday around a

hospital in northern Gaza as Israel pressed on with its offensive against militant group Hamas.

The Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza said at least 12 people were killed when a shell hit the second floor of the Indonesian hospital.

Israel’s military says troops outside the hospital fired back at fighters within the facility but added that no shells were fired toward the hospital.

Indonesia’s Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi condemned the attack and blamed Israel.

“Indonesia strongly condemns the Israeli attack on the Indonesian Hospital in Gaza that killed a number of civilians,” she said in a statement. “The attack is a clear violation of international humanitarian law. All countries, especially those with close ties to Israel, must use all their influence and capabilities to urge Israel to stop its atrocities.”

Marwan Abdallah, a medical worker at the Indonesian Hospital, said Israeli tanks were operating less than 200 meters from the hospital and that Israeli snipers could be seen on the roofs of nearby buildings.

US Secretary of Defence Makes Surprise Visit to Kyiv

U.S. Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin slipped unannounced into Kyiv on Monday in a display of Western solidarity to reassure Ukrainian leaders that the United States will continue to support their country’s fight against Russia’s invasion.

“Your coming is a very important signal for Ukraine, said Zelensky. “We are very thankful to the American people. They are with us (through) all these difficulties, tough months and all these years.”

During their meeting Monday, Austin praised the “grit, ingenuity,” and “courage” of the Ukrainian people and pledged continued U.S. support for Ukraine.

“The message that I bring you today, Mr. President, is that the United States of America is with you. We will remain with you for the long haul,” he told Zelensky. “What happens here in Ukraine not only matters to Ukraine, but it matters to the rest of the world.”

Senior U.S. defence officials said Austin came to Kyiv to discuss the immediate winter fight and to plan for future security assistance.

Russia Puts Ukrainian Winner of Eurovision Song Contest on Wanted List Russia has placed a Ukrainian singer who won the 2016 Eurovision Song Contest on its wanted list, state news agencies reported Monday.

The reports said an Interior Ministry database listed singer Susana Jamaladinova as being sought for violating a criminal law.

The independent news site Mediazona, which covers opposition and human rights issues, said Jamaladinova was charged under

a law adopted last year that bans spreading so-called fake information about the Russian military and the ongoing fighting in Ukraine.

Jamaladinova, who performs under the stage name Jamala, is of Crimean Tatar descent.

She won the 2016 Eurovision contest with the song “1944,” a title that refers to the year the Soviet Union deported Crimean Tatars en masse.

Her winning performance came almost exactly two years after Russia annexed Crimea as political turmoil gripped Ukraine. Most other countries regard the annexation as illegitimate.

Russia protested “1944” being allowed in the competition, saying it violated rules against political speech in Eurovision. But the song made no specific criticism of Russia or the Soviet Union, although it drew such implications, opening with the lyrics, “When strangers are coming, they come to your house, they kill you all and say ‘We’re not guilty.’”

Microsoft Hires Sam Altman as OpenAI’s new CEO Vows to Investigate Firing

Microsoft snapped up Sam Altman and another architect of OpenAI for a new venture after their sudden departures shocked the artificial intelligence world, leaving the newly installed CEO of the ChatGPT maker to paper over tensions by vowing to investigate Altman’s firing.

The developments Monday come after a weekend of drama and speculation about how the power dynamics would shake out at OpenAI, whose chatbot kicked off the generative AI era by producing human-like text, images, video and music.

It ended with former Twitch leader Emmett Shear taking over as OpenAI’s interim chief executive and Microsoft announcing the hiring of Altman and OpenAI co-founder and former President Greg Brockman to lead Microsoft’s new advanced AI research team.

Despite the rift between the key players behind ChatGPT and the company they helped build, Shear and Microsoft Chairman and CEO Satya Nadella said they are committed to their partnership.

Microsoft invested billions of dollars in the startup and helped provide the computing power to run its AI systems. Nadella wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter that he was “extremely excited” to bring on the former executives of OpenAI and looked “forward to getting to know” Shear and the rest of the management team.

In a reply on X, Altman said, “the mission continues,” while Brockman posted, “We are going to build something new & it will be incredible.”

Over 230 Convicted in Italy’s MaxiTrial Against ‘Ndrangheta Mafia

A court on Monday convicted more than

230 defendants at the end of one of Italy’s largest-ever mafia trials, which targeted the ‘Ndrangheta crime group in its heartland in the southern region of Calabria.

More than 330 suspected mobsters and their alleged associates, including white-collar professionals, had been facing an array of charges, such as extortion, drug trafficking and theft, in a trial that lasted almost three years.

Italy’s Ansa news agency said it took judges one hour and 40 minutes just to read their verdict. The heaviest penalties were handed to Saverio Razionale and Domenico Bonavota, two local Calabrian mafia leaders, both given 30-year sentences.

“Today’s ruling means a whole province of Calabria has been liberated from the top brass of the criminal group,” Nicola Gratteri, one of Italy’s best-known magistrates and a former lead prosecutor in the case, told Reuters.

Among those convicted was Giancarlo Pittelli, a lawyer and former politician with the Forza Italia party - a member of the national ruling coalition - who was sentenced to 11 years in prison for mafia collusion and passing on information.

France Sending Warship to Provide Medical Aid to Gaza

France is preparing to send its Dixmude helicopter carrier to the eastern Mediterranean to offer medical assistance in war-torn Gaza, the office of the French president said Sunday.

The Dixmude will set sail “at the start of the week and arrive in Egypt in the coming days,” President Emmanuel Macron’s office said.

A charter flight carrying more than 10 tons of medical supplies is also planned for the start of the week.

“France will also contribute to the European effort with medical equipment on board European flights on November 23 and 30,” the presidential office said.

It added, “France is mobilising all its available means to contribute to the evacuation of wounded and sick children requiring emergency care from the Gaza Strip to its hospitals.”

Macron said later on X, formerly Twitter that up to 50 children could be flown for treatment in hospitals in France “if useful and necessary.”

Israel has vowed to destroy Gaza’s rulers, Hamas, after the Palestinian militant group carried out the deadliest attack in the country’s history on October 7.

About 1,200 people, most of them civilians, were killed in Israel during the attack and around 240 taken hostage, according to Israeli officials.

In Gaza, 13,000 people, mainly civilians and more than 5,000 of them children, have been killed by Israel’s military response, according to Hamas officials.

19

THI S DAY • Tuesday, November 21, 2023

BUSINESSWORLD R A T E S MONEY MARKET

A S

A T

REPO

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

08056356325

N o V e m b er

S & P INDEX

2 0 , 2 0 2 3

S & P INDEX

EXCHANGE RATE

OPR

11.25%

CALL

19.12%

INDEX LEVEL

611.31%

1/4 to daTE

-0.07%

N795.28/ 1 US DOLLAR*

OVERNIGHT

11.50%

1-MONTH

16.25%

1-DAY

0.03%

YEAR TO DATE

0.48%

*AS AT Monday, July 24, 2023

3-MONTH

15.75%

MONTH-TO-DATE

-0.7%

Nigeria Loses Estimated $13.5bn to Oil Production Deficit in 10 Months

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja In spite of concerted efforts to increase crude oil production since the third quarter of 2022, Nigeria lost a gross amount of $13.5 billion because of its inability to produce its Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) quota in the 10 months spanning January and October, 2023, a THISDAY estimate has shown.

The analysis indicated that while the OPEC production allocation to

the country remains 1.74 million barrels per day for the year, that is, about 522 million barrels in the 10 months, Nigeria failed to produce 150.4 million barrels during the period.

This left the country with an output of 371.6 million barrels between January and October instead of the 522 million barrels it was expected to produce, with a production loss of almost 30 per cent.

At an average oil price of $90 per barrel, the analysis showed that given

the production deficit of 150.4 million barrels, the country may have lost a gross sum of $13.5 billion during the period.

The deficit oil production situation persists as the country continues to shop for new loans and is entering into negotiations with its colleague oil-producing countries to inject the much-needed foreign exchange into the economy.

It is believed that if Nigeria was producing its OPEC quota, the current liquidity crisis in the

country’s foreign exchange market would be largely contained.

Earlier this month, the government of President Bola Tinubu announced that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia had agreed to provide financial support to sustain the government’s foreignexchange reforms.

Information Minister, Mohammed Idris, said the Saudi government pledged to make “a substantial deposit of foreign exchange to boost Nigeria’s foreign

exchange liquidity”.

Before that, during a recent visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the government announced that Tinubu had successfully negotiated, “A joint new foreign exchange liquidity programme between the two governments, details of which would be announced in the coming weeks.”

The federal government in the last few weeks had also disclosed that it had concluded plans to secure a fresh $1.5 billion loan

facility from the World Bank as part of the efforts to address the fiscal gap in the 2023 budget.

In addition, the government recently approached the African Export-Import Bank for a debt-for-oil deal worth $3 billion to stabilise the crisis-ridden foreign exchange market. It’s unclear the status of those negotiations as none of them has materialised.

NOTE: The story continues online on www.thisdaylive.com

RMRDC: We Developed Equipment, Parts for Manufacturers that Replaced Imported Components Dike Onwuamaeze Barely four weeks after Nigeria’s former Minister of Industries, Trade and Investment, Mr. Olusegun Aganga, declared that Nigeria’s numerous research institutes are contributing nothing to the country’s industrial and national development, the Nigeria Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC) has clarified that it has been addressing raw material

needs of the Nigerian manufacturing sector equipment that are fabricated

by Nigerian engineers Aganga made this declaration on October 19 when he delivered the 3rd Adeola Odutola Lecture/ Presidential Luncheon with the theme “Setting the Agenda for Competitive Manufacturing Under the AfCFTA: What Nigeria Needs to Do.” He said: “Nigeria has numerous research institutes across various fields, including agriculture,

healthcare, technology, and more.

However, these institutes which are funded by taxpayers’ money have had little or no impact on national development, and in particular on our industrial development.”

But the Director General of RMRDC, Professor Hussaini Doko Ibrahim, has refuted this allegation and revealed in a recent joint press conference with the President of Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN),

Food

Mr. Francis Meshioye, that the RMRDC has been helping automobile manufacturers and other manufacturing firms to develop parts that are replacing imported components in the country.

Ibrahim, who was represented at the press conference by the Director, Business and Innovation Centre of RMRDC, Mr. John Obekpa, said: “We have been able to develop indigenous brake pad using palm kernel shells. This has been

Commodities

name of commodity

Size

State

Price

name of commodity

Rice

100kg

Abuja

N35,000 – N45,000

Sorghum

50kg

oyo

50kg

Plateau (Jos)

Price

tasted and it is working. And it is gradually replacing demand for foreign brake pads. We are on the board of this automobile manufacturing organisation and most of the times give advices that will allow local content in the automobile sector.”

He therefore, appealed to the general public to realise that research and development (R&D) is a painstaking endavour that one will not rush into the arena and

start making noise.

He said: “If you rush to town with stories that have not been verified and have not been tested over time for reliability you could get hurt.

We need to be very careful since most of our findings are not in the public domain even though our stakeholders are aware of them.

Continued on page 20

T o d ay

State

Price

name of commodity

Size

State

Price

100kg JIGAWA

N30,000

B EAN S

N35,000 – N45,000

Benue

N32,000

Maidu guri

N22,000 – N30,000

100kg

50kg bag

N32,500 – N42,000

100kg

Kaduna

N32,000

100kg Lagos

N36,000

50kg

kwara N24,000–N27,000

50kg

Enugu

N24,000

100kg

Kano

N35,000

50kg

Lagos

N35,000 – N45,000

50kg

Lagos

N26,000

50kg

rivers N36,500 – N46,500

Delta

N36,000

Delta

N35,000

100kg

100kg

50kg

sokoto

N60,000 – N70,000

100kg

Abia

N36,000

100kg

Abia

N35,700

Size

20

Tuesday, November 21, 2023 • T H I S D AY

BUSINESSWORLD

News Food

name of commodity

Palm oiL

C o m m o diti e s

Size

State

Price

name of commodity

Size

Location

Price

100KG Kano

N20,500

ONIONS

100kg

Ibadan

N60,000

MAIZE

100kg

Oyo

N10,000

N24,000 – N35,000

100KG Benue

N27,000

100kg KANO

N30,000

100kg Enugu

N16,500

25cl Ibadan N22,000 — N35,000

100KG Lagos

N32,000

100kg BENUE

N65,000

100kg delta

N14,000

100kg Plateau

N45,000

100kg

Abia

N11,000

Price

25cl Lagos N20,000-N35000 25cl

PH

State

Groundnut

T o day

Price

State

Size

P r ic e

name of commodity

Size

name of commodity

25cl

IMO

N24,000 – N36,500

100KG Delta

N34,000

100kg DELTA

N50,000

50kg

Lagos

N9,000

25cl

Edo

N20,000 – N35,000

100KG

Abia

N27,000

100kg LAGOS

N60,000

100kg Kano

N9,400

100KG Enugu

N23 000

100kg ENUGU

N45,000

50kg

N6,000

25cl Abuja N25,500 – N35,000

Benue

Surveyor General Seeks Use of GIS in Execution of Public Projects Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja Surveyor General of the Federation, Abdulganiyu Adebomehin, has called for the deployment of Geographic Information System (GIS) in the planning and implementation of public projects in the country.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the 2023 GIS Day celebration in Abuja, Adebomehin underscored the critical role of GIS in enhancing national security as well as its socioeconomic development.

Explaining that the GIS programme remains the nucleus

of any enterprise or operation, the surveyor general said it was an important tool for data collection, analysis and distribution as well as retrieval for updating of management plans.

According to him, it is also a veritable apparatus for urban

planning and development, soil types identification and analysis, water management, among others.

While calling for the establishment of the National Geospatial Data Infrastructure (NGDI) to improve mappings, and aid the fight against insecurity, Adebomehin argued that

‘Nigeria’s N3.3tn Food Imports, Agric Commodities not Sustainable’ Gilbert Ekugbe The General Manager, Corporate Affairs TGI Group, Mr. Sadiq Kassim, has lamented the nation’s high import rate of food and agricultural commodities, which currently stands at N3.3 trillion.

Kassim said spending so much on importing food is unsustainable for Nigeria, especially at a time when the country is grappling to earn the much foreign exchange it needs to carry out capital projects for economic growth and development.

He stated this during a panel session at the unveiling of Afrinvest

2023 Nigerian Banking Sector Report in Lagos recently.

He said that Nigeria has the capacity to produce all its food requirements even as he called on the Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MOFI) to fund the commercialisation of research findings to boost the discovery of new food varieties to meet the ever growing demand for food.

Kassim said: “90 per cent of the food we consume is produced by the smallholder farmers in Nigeria since it was created and that is incontrovertible. Although, the Russian-Ukraine war made nations

experience a disruption in their respective food value chains and systems, but we survived. There is capacity to produce food in the country.

“We need to revive all agricultural development initiatives diligently in this country. I am sure we can do this because the N3.3 trillion imports of food or agricultural commodities are not sustainable and we cannot continue with this.”

He, however, stated that the nation’s agricultural sector is growing significantly, but called for more support and funding for

the sector to come out of the woods.

He said: “The export figure of agriculture export has risen more than what was happened from 2016 to 2019. In 2016-2019, we exported N800 million, but in 2022, we did more than N500 billion export of agricultural commodity which is more than what has been done in the previous years.

“53 per cent of our youths are unemployed and for me that is a great labour availability in the agricultural sector and there are only 37 per cent of women which means we are excluding half of the population from agriculture.”

As Investment Wanes in Oil Sector, Nigeria’s Rig Count Drops in October Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja Nigeria’s rigs count dropped to 13 in October from 15 the previous month, underscoring the waning investment in the oil and gas sector as well as the incessant disruptions to production in the Niger Delta.

Latest data released by the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), showed the decline in the rigs count which is a major index for measuring activities in the upstream sector, including drilling and employment.

A review of the OPEC data, showed that Nigeria’s average rigs count was 11, seven and 10 respectively in 2020, 2021 and 2022 respectively, but had recently grown to 15.

But in recent times, the country’s active rigs had progressively decreased, but was made worse after Nigeria began shutting down many of its offshore platforms as oil prices took a downward slope

Reporters Peter Uzoho (Energy) Ugo Aliogo (Development)

the report indicated that the nation’s rigs count rose from eight recorded in the corresponding period of last year.

During the month under review, Algeria led Africa with 43 rigs from its previous 40, while Gabon came last with just two rigs. Angola ‘s was unmoved at 10, while Libya added four to hit 18, from the previous 14 rigs.

Vitol: Global Oil Market to Experience Fair Balance in 2024 Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

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

and the producers’ group embarked on production curbs to stabilise the market in 2020, following the upsurge of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Besides, there has been massive underinvestment in the sector, leading to depleting oil rigs as International Oil Companies (IOCs) divested their assets in tandem with the ongoing energy transition to renewables.

However, on year-on-year basis,

Vitol, the world’s largest independent oil trader, has said that global oil market may be fairly balanced with a slight surplus next year as demand exceeds expectations.

The Global Head of Research at Vitol, Giovanni Serio, was quoted

by Reuters as saying that oil demand globally has exceeded 2019 levels and is expected to continue growing as oil intensity - the volume of oil consumed per unit of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) - for most economies has

returned to pre-pandemic levels.

Supply, on the other hand, he said, needs to be constrained given additional cuts from major producers such as Saudi Arabia, despite low investments in recent years.

Production growth from nonmembers of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) has also surpassed previous highs and continues to grow, while output from Nigeria has surprised on the upside, he added.

“Demand is at 2.3 million barrels per day higher than 2019 and the Saudis have to give a lollipop

producing at 9 million barrels per day to balance the market,” Serio said.

He added that demand has exceeded expectations and supply needs to be constrained at a level that is only marginally higher than the level of Saudi production during COVID-19.

Global crude price Brent has weakened to just above $82 a barrel from a 2023 high in September near $98. Concern about economic growth and demand has pressured prices, despite support from supply cuts by OPEC and its allies, and conflict in the Middle East.

RMRDC: We Developed Equipment, Parts for Manufacturers that Replaced Imported Components “It is not true that RMRDC is not doing enough. We are doing a lot. But people need to realise that our stakeholders are very specialised ones like manufactures and people across the value chain “It is not true to say that the RMRDC is not doing enough. We

are. We do more to engage with manufacturers and one of such engagements is the upcoming event that we are promoting today.”

The upcoming event is the 8th edition of the Nigeria Manufacturing and Equipment Expo (NME) and the 9th edition

of the Nigerian Raw Materials Expo (NIRAM), which are organised jointly by the MAN and RMRDC in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment and the Federal Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation.

the data infrastructure would also boost the country’s economy.

He explained that the database infrastructure would further grant access to accurate mappings for the benefit of Nigerians.

“We are advocating for National Geospatial Data Infrastructure because, on its own, it is an infrastructure. It is just like the road network infrastructure, the railway infrastructure, and every other thing you want to talk about.

“So the National Data Geospatial Infrastructure is an infrastructure on its own. But it must run on a platform. It runs on that platform, where we link all the data that are in silos together as data for the nation,” he said.

Also speaking, the co-Founder and Director of Operations, Observatory Earth Analytics, Joseph Aro, said

that as the future of GIS unfolds, it demands long-term planning and sustained investment.

Aro added that the transformative potential of GIS was not realisable overnight, but required a strategic vision that extends beyond immediate objectives.

On his part, a former Director/ Chief Executive Officer of Abuja Geographic Information System (AGIS), Dr. Isa Jalo, said the GIS would help in the exchange of data nationwide.

He added that building a good land administration system would help to boost the nation’s economy, explaining that this could be achieved through the application of GIS, which was critical to land management going by the growing population in Nigeria.

Auto Dealers Commit to Transforming Automobile Trading in Nigeria Gilbert Ekugbe Auto Dealers Association of Nigeria (ADAN), has announced plans to transform automobile trading in Nigeria.

The association stated this at its inaugural awards and end of the year stock taking tagged, “The Legal Problems Inherent in Operating in an Informal Trade Sector; Auto Trade,” in Lagos.

ADAN explained that as an association, it sincerely seeks to bring excellence into the business of automobile trading in the country and would continue to be that crucial pillar of support to all of its members in all circumstances and situations.

The Chairman, Organising Committee, of the Inaugural awards ceremony, Kennedy Ukagba, represented by the Chairman Board of Trustees (BOT), the Professional Platform of Auto Dealers Association of Nigeria, Mr. Amobi Moghalu, said the commitment is coming on the heels of the automobile industry’s 30 per cent contribution to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of Nigeria.

In his words, “That informality bedeviling the automobile industry ought to be transformed, such that the industry is elevated into a formal, recognized sector of the economy. An industry that contributes at least 30% of the Gross Domestic Product of Nigeria is here described as an informal sector of the economy. If that description does not worry you, it worries me.”

“We aim to become a

bulwark for all our members against the vagaries of state agencies and/or any form of intimidation or discrimination from any source whatsoever.

We also seek to ensure that our members abide by certain ethics in conducting their business,” he said.

He said the event is epochal in the annals of automobile business in Nigeria, stating that a lot of thought was put into fashioning an association that can become a benchmark, not only in the automobile industry, but also as an instrument of change within Nigeria.

He stated that the association has the capacity to write and demand explanation from both federal and state governments and its agencies about policies that are inimical to the progress of its businesses.

“The powers conferred upon associations by their registration at the Corporate Affairs Commission are such that a determined trade association can influence policies regarding the specific industry within which it operates. Many associations have done so in the past and continue to do so even up to this present time. That is why government agencies and their parastatals, law enforcement agencies and their operatives and other bodies of authority like civil and traditional institutions pay attention once a registered trade association is presented before them,” he stressed.

He noted that within an association, there is no clearcut hierarchy except for those instruments of administration like the executive and the board of trustees to which any member can aspire.

21

T H I S D AY • Tuesday, November 21, 2023

BUSINESSWORLD

Interview

Aghoghovbia: Why There is Decline in Agric Insurance The Deputy Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer of African Reinsurance Corporation (Africa Re), Mr. Ken Aghoghovbia, in this exclusive interview with Gilbert Ekugbe talked about the decline in agric insurance premium since 2021 dry season, projecting that the downward trend is expected to continue through 2023. Excerpts initiatives like the ABP have provided insurers with the opportunity to grow their agriculture portfolios. However, more needs to be done.

In countries like the United States, Canada, China and India, where agriculture insurance business has succeeded, the governments are heavily involved by providing subsidies and tax incentives. According to the Asian Development Bank (2022), agriculture insurance premium subsidies accounted for 74 per cent of the total agriculture insurance premium in the People’s Republic of China (PRC) in 2020.

The government’s support in PRC is mainly driven by the need to achieve food security and create job opportunities for rural households. However, government support goes beyond subsidies and the creation of market opportunities. There is need to provide leadership through stakeholders’ engagement in the implementation, monitoring and evaluation of agriculture insurance programs in order to mitigate moral hazards. Various government agencies like NAICOM and NAIC have played a critical role in offering guidelines for agriculture insurance products. This is very important considering that this class of business is still in its formative stages here in Nigeria.

What are the potentials and prospects of agricultural insurance in Nigeria? ith about 70 million hectares of agricultural land and the need to diversify the economy, investment is needed to modernise and improve productivity in the agricultural sector. Financing such initiatives will require the involvement of many stakeholders, including mainstream financial institutions. However, financing the agriculture sector requires the comfort of insurance to de-risk the value chains and minimise default on credit. It is estimated that based on potential agricultural production in Nigeria, the country’s agriculture insurance market could generate over $600 million in insurance premiums.

W

How vital is the role of insurance in agric and scaling up process to Nigeria agriculture development?

Agriculture insurance is an important element in the development of the agriculture sector in Nigeria as it transfers the risks in agriculture to the financial markets and provides relief to insured farmers. When a catastrophe leading to displacement occurs, uninsured farmers usually fall back on their poor family members thus worsening poverty. If they were insured, they would be compensated. So, in this sense, insurance guards against worsening poverty levels. Development in the agricultural sector requires investments from financial institutions and farmers themselves. Farmers whose financial positions are threatened because of the effects of adverse weather conditions on their enterprises can invest more resources due to the security provided by agriculture insurance policies. Also, by bundling credit with insurance, lenders are assured of loan recovery while farmers have increased access to the much-needed capital from mainstream commercial institutions to expand farming operations.

Growth in local agriculture production will move Nigeria towards food security, increase export earnings, reduce spending on food imports, which according to the International Trade Administration (ITA) is estimated at $10 billion, and ease foreign exchange pressure thus spurring economic growth. Agriculture contributes about 21 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of Nigeria and the country has massive lands for farming and if our lands are effectively developed and all the challenges such as the farmers-herders crisis, climate change, flooding, desertification of land for crops and livestock farming are addressed and farmers are encouraged to take insurance, and one of the things we are doing with the International Finance Corporation (IFC), and I think we did a pilot programme on that, is how to address awareness and that is where we will need the media.

Also how to make it easier for farmers to pay for insurance because you know most of our farmers are subsistent farmers and their means of livelihood is from hand to mouth, so whenever there is any disaster or attacks from herders, many of them become very dependent moving to live with relations, so their farming activities are stopped because they are concerned with their lives and when you have all those crisis and you do not have access to finance, because the banks realise that whenever we have these crisis, the farmers will not be able to pay back, but yet they need finance to bring in modern technology to improve their farming activities, they need finance to expand and in every business, you are expected to grow, but financing is a problem and with insurance, where you give comfort to the bankers.

They are more comfortable to give farmers money, so it is a ripple effect in the economy, because it gives guarantee that there is sustain-

Aghoghovbia ability and they can continue to farm, they can grow and thrive in their farming activities. Many of these farmers do not even know there is insurance and once all these are done, we can see more people getting involved in agriculture and if we empower the whole value chain, because of the problems we have in agriculture is post-harvest losses, but if the value chain is developed and not just focusing on the raw materials alone, but processing and exporting finished products, we think the economy will be better for it.

What is your take on the agriculture insurance performance in 2022 and 2023 thus far?

The non-renewal of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Anchor Borrowers’ Programme (ABP) due to high default rates, following alleged misappropriation of agricultural loans, has led to a decline in insurance premium since 2021 dry season when the peak annual written premium was put at $15 million. This downward trend is expected to continue through 2023, and to start picking up again in 2024. Our optimism is informed by market investments made in the past 3 years. We have identified government schemes and large-scale farming as the key drivers to agriculture insurance premium growth in future.

Also, what came out in the ABP is still being looked at, also investigation is still ongoing and I think when that is addressed and fortunately we have a new CBN Governor and I believe with their focus in agriculture, those issues would be quickly resolved and more funding would come into that space, because it is all about funding. If we enable farmers, they will grow. We have very good farmers with experience in Nigeria. The new CBN government must focus on giving loans to real farmers, monitoring and evaluation to ensure that these funds are used properly in their bid to increase farmers’ productivity.

According to reports, Nigeria can

generate $600 million Premium for Nigeria what is your take on this?

Yes, this is a potential which was drawn by the resources available in the country compared to other countries internationally, but we are very far away from that figure, which only tells that a lot still needs to be done in the country and that is where we are trying to champion that direction working with IFC. We are trying to bring in more players into the agric insurance space by guaranteeing that loss ratios above 70 per cent will be taken care of and paid by IFC and no company will suffer above that and that has attracted about 18 companies into the space of insurance.

What are some of the challenges hindering the agriculture industry in the country?

The biggest challenge confronting the industry from our perspective include climate change that is manifesting in frequent droughts and flooding, farmersherders clashes and inadequate government support especially in providing subsidies.

Countries like China and India, for instance, have boosted their production by giving special attention to agriculture through subsidies and tax incentives. Other limitations include poor quality of agriculture production and weather data that is a crucial element in contract design and claim adjustment.

Resolving these challenges requires a multi stakeholder approach with government having the biggest role to play. Also, agriculture insurance should be viewed as public good that warrants special attention from the authorities in line with their key objective of promoting food security and creating employment opportunitie Is the government doing enough to support agricultural insurance in the country?

Successive governments have shown commitment to develop the agriculture sector in Nigeria. Indeed, government

How can Nigeria address the rising food inflation currently at 30.64 per cent as at September 2023?

Producing enough food locally is the answer to addressing the food inflation challenges.

However, to achieve this objective, there is a need to channel more funding to the agriculture sector. Funding is needed for farmers to modernise farming activities through acquisition of new machinery, improved seeds, and technologies that improve overall agriculture productivity. Climate change is definitely one of the greatest challenges to the agriculture sector.

What role can agric insurance play in addressing dangers posed by climate change?

Climate change events like droughts and flooding have become more frequent and severe, with devastating consequences to the farming communities. It should be recalled that in 2012, both the Benue and Niger River over flooded causing the death of 600 people and the destruction of farmlands.

Furthermore, in 2020, it was reported that an estimated 79 per cent of Nigerian farmers were affected by drought and flooding causing destruction to farmlands across the country.

In 2022, floods adversely affected investments worth N700 billion in the agriculture sector when many farms were destroyed and households displaced. Agriculture insurance payouts provide a safety net to protect farmers from financial shocks caused by such extreme weather events. These payouts help farmers to recover quickly and resume their normal farming activities without the danger of sliding into poverty or the consequences of defaulting on credit.

There is a new Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, what will be your advice to him on the way forward as far as Agriculture insurance is concerned?

Agriculture insurance is an important element in promoting agriculture and ensuring food security. Well implemented agriculture insurance programs can attract investments in the agriculture sector and stimulate economic growth. Indeed, Nigeria has institutions that have the technical capability and resources to make this class of insurance work for the country. However, there is the need to bring together all key stakeholders to align goals for the development of agriculture insurance in Nigeria. In this regard, an emergency response plan to effectively mitigate the impact of possible catastrophes, such as severe floods, has to be put in place.

22

TUESday, NOVEMBER 21, 2023 T H I S D AY

business/MOnEYGUIDE

Chioke: Currency Reforms Present Challenges, Opportunities for Investment Banking Kayode Tokede The immediate past President, Association of Issuing Houses of Nigeria (AIHN), Mr. Ike Chioke, has said the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) ongoing currency reforms come with challenges and opportunities for investment banking, Speaking at the Investment Banking Awards Night in Lagos, Chioke said the free-floating of the naira and removal of fuel subsidy impacted key sectors of the economy.

According to him, “Nigeria is obviously bracing up to the impact of the new government and is already making changes to what I will call ‘non-unorthodox’ policies. These policies also introduced pain and hardship with the free-floating of the naira

and removal of fuel subsidy forcing their weaknesses on various sectors of the economy.”

Chioke stated that despite the hiccups to their implementation, the policies have thrown up major opportunities for investment banking, urging members to apply their best skills and expertise to make the best of the opportunities.

“Investment banking industry is a critical one for the Nigerian economy and we represent the best brains and expertise in that space,” he said.

Newly-elected President of AIHN, Kemi Awodein, said the recognition to the winners was a way of acknowledging the excellent work they do in their different areas of specialisation, and motivation to do even more.

She promised to continue

and improve on the culture of excellence and development of the financial markets to the benefit of customers, investors and the economy.

The Awards night was graced by both top executives and middle level staff in the financial market, presented opportunities for many players in the industry to receive awards, in recognition of their excellent performance last year.

In the Debt Capital Market Category, Chapel Hill Denham Advisory Limited won the Private Company Bond House 2022 Award; Best Commercial Paper House 2022 Award and Best Bond House 2022 Award, while the Best Commercial Paper House 2022 Award went to Stanbic IBTC Capital Limited.

Makinde Woos Investors in Cairo, Says Oyo Among Nigeria’s Safest States Foreign and local investors desirous of investing in Oyo State have been assured of a safe and secure environment, with the state governor, ‘Seyi Makinde, insisting that the state is one of the safest in the country.

The governor gave this indication in an interview with a news channel, on the sidelines of the Intra-Africa Trade Fair (IATF) 2023, held in Cairo, Egypt, noting that he has been running a responsible and responsive government, which has invested and continues to invest heavily on security.

He added that apart from security, Oyo State has comparative advantages in the areas of its vast landmass, solid road infrastructure network already put in place by his government

connecting all zones of the state, solid mineral deposits and tourism.

This was as the governor took part in the signing of an agreement with the AFREXIMBank and Access Bank to enable Oyo State and other states in Nigeria have access to a N500 billion facility for infrastructure development.

Makinde, who pointed out that his government, has, since 2019 when he first assumed office, embarked on a massive infrastructure development drive that has connected all zones of the state, said there are boundless opportunities in the state in the areas of agribusiness, tourism and mining.

He said: “So, in all of these, we are saying, look, investors should come. The major issue

that investors may be afraid of, is having a safe and secure environment; I think we have almost passed that hurdle in Oyo State. We are one of the safest states in the country.

“We have invested massively in Security and in terms of a responsive government, I came from a private sector background and I was able to let the investors know that they are coming to a state where government business is handled with a dispatch.”

Makinde maintained that as part of his government’s infrastructure development plan, the first phase of the 110 kilometres Ibadan Circular Road, which is the 32 kilometres connecting the Eastern part of the state, has been progressing well.

TGI Group, ICI to Combat Child Labour in Africa’s Cocoa Industry Tropical General Investments (TGI) Group, a leading conglomerate, through it’s cocoa sourcing company, Fludor Ghana Limited, has joined forces with the International Cocoa Initiative (ICI) to address the pressing issue of child labour and forced labour within Africa’s cocoa supply chain.

This significant collaboration underlines TGI Group’s unwavering commitment to ethical and responsible business practices, particularly in the realm of human rights and child protection.

TGI Group, via its subsidiaries Fludor Ghana, WACOT Limited

(Nigeria) and Vink Corporation (UAE), aligns with the ICI’s mission to create a better future for children and eradicate child labour from cocoa-growing communities.

Speaking on the collaboration, Dennis Sampong, Country Head of Fludor Ghana, emphasized, “Embracing membership in ICI is both timely and fitting for Fludor. Our commitment to tackling human rights and child labor concerns within our supply chain perfectly aligns with ICI’s vision for a cocoa supply chain devoid of child labor and forced labor.

Achieving a sustainable cocoa

supply chain is impossible if the young minds shaping the future of cocoa production remain uninformed and human rights violations persist.”

ICI Executive Director, Matthias Lange highlighted the impact of the collaboration, stating, “As a Ghana-based licensed buyer with an extensive farmer network and cocoa operations, this partnership with Fludor brings us one step closer to achieving our target to reach all children at risk of child labor. We look forward to supporting their efforts to tackle child labor and learning from their experiences.”

Kebbi State Launches Fortified Rice Produced in Partnership with WACOT The Kebbi State Government has launched fortified rice produced in partnership with WACOT Rice Nigeria Limited, a subsidiary of Tropical General Investments (TGI) Group.

The launch was held at Abuja Intercontinental Hotel following the successful fortified rice pilot under the Promoting Rice Fortification in Nigeria (PRiFN) project.

At the event attended by government officials, including the Deputy Governor Kebbi State, Umar Abubakar, the

Managing Director of WACOT Rice, Neeraj Kumar, affirmed the company’s commitment to producing quality and nutritious rice to meet Nigeria’s needs.

He said, “The successful pilot of the rice fortification project is a significant stride towards a healthier, stronger Nigeria.

We are immensely proud to have played a central role in this initiative to bring fortified rice to Nigerians.”

The Deputy Governor of Kebbi State, Umar Abubakar, reaffirmed the commitment to

forging strategic partnerships with key stakeholders in the fortification value chain.

The Country Director, World Food Programme (WFP), David Stevenson, commended Nigeria’s expansive Home-Grown School Feeding program, targeting up to ten million children.

He added that Fortifying rice within this initiative, led by the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, is essential to unlocking children’s full potential.

L-R: Director, The FATE Institute, Amaka Nwaokolo; Founder/Chairman, FATE Foundation, Fola Adeola; Board Member, FATE Foundation, Seyi Bella; Executive Director, FATE Foundation, Adenike Adeyemi and Chairman, Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, Taiwo Oyedele during the launch of the State of Entrepreneurship Report at the FATE Foundation Policy Dialogue Series in Lagos….recently

MARKET INDICATORS MONEY AND CREDIT STATISTICS (MILLION NAIRA) August, 2023

Money Supply (M3)

65,445,154.2

-- CBN Bills Held by Money Holding Sectors

552,553.58

Money Supply (M2)

64,892,600.61

-- Quasi Money

40,870,301.28

-- Narrow Money (M1)

24,022,299.33

---- Currency Outside Banks

2,295,309.10

---- Demand Deposits

21,726,990.23

Net Foreign Assets (NFA)

7,144,158.92

Net Domestic Assets(NDA)

58,300,995.27

-- Net Domestic Credit (NDC)

87,273,966.81

---- Credit to Government (Net)

32,511,333.17

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

0.00

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

0.00

---- Credit to Private Sector (CPS)

54,762,633.63

--Other Assets Net

13,347,376.27

Reserve Money (Base Money

19,429,603.25

--Currency in Circulation

2,660,138.92

--Banks Reserves --Special Intervention Reserves

16,769,464.34 428,519.21

• Source - CBN

Money Market Indicators (in Percentage) Month

August 2023

Inter-Bank Call Rate

3.89

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

18.75

Treasury Bill Rate

5.13

Savings Deposit Rate

5.26

1 Month Deposit Rate

7.31

3 Months Deposit Rate

7.55

6 Months Deposit Rate

8.30

12 Months Deposit Rate

8.13

Prime Lending rate

13.99

Maximum Lending Rate

27.59

• Monetary Policy Rate - 13%

OPEC DAILY BASKET PRICE As At 29th September , 2023

The price of OPEC basket of thirteen crudes stood at $97.48 a barrel on Thursday, compared with $97.08 the previous day, according to OPEC Secretariat calculations.

The OPEC Reference Basket of Crudes (ORB) is made up of the following: Saharan Blend (Algeria), Girassol (Angola), Djeno (Congo), Zafiro (Equatorial Guinea), Rabi Light (Gabon), Iran Heavy (Islamic Republic of Iran), Basrah Medium (Iraq), Kuwait Export (Kuwait), Es Sider (Libya), Bonny Light (Nigeria), Arab Light (Saudi Arabia), Murban (UAE) and Merey (Venezuela).

T H I S D AY •TUESday, NOVEMBER 21, 2023

23

mARKET NEWS

Stock Market Down N57bn on Sell-off in Stanbic IBTC Holding,14 Others

KayodeTokede

The stock market of the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) yesterday commenced the week’s trading on N57 billion loss driven by investors sell pressures in Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc and 14 others.

As a result, the NGX All-Share Index declined by 104.29 basis points or 0.15 per cent to close at 71,008.70 basis points.

Also, market capitalisation

declined by N57 billion to close at N39.051 trillion.

However, market breadth closed positive, as 36 stocks gained relative to 15 losers.

MeCure Industries emerged the highest price gainer of 9.95 per cent to close at N6.30, per share. Multiverse Mining and Exploration followed with a gain of 9.92 per cent to close at N3.99, while Associated Bus Company rose by 9.88 per cent to close at 89 kobo, per share.

P R I C E S MaiN Board

F O R DEALS

C&I Leasing increased by 9.84 per cent to close at N5.47, while Northern Nigeria Flour Mills (NNFM) added 9.83 per cent to close at N26.25, per share. On the other side, R.T. Briscoe Nigeria led the losers’ chart with 9.84 per cent to close at 55 kobo, per share.

Prestige Assurance followed with a decline of 9.09 per cent to close at 50 kobo, while Stanbic IBTC Holdings shed 7.08 per cent to close at N65.00, per share.

CWG depreciated by 3.14

S E C U R I T I E S Market Price

quantity traded

per cent to close at N7.70, while Caverton Offshore Support Group down by 2.78 per cent to close at N1.40, per share.

The total volume traded declined by 18.8 per cent to 358.45 million units, valued at N4.36 billion, and exchanged in 6,551 deals.

Transactions in the shares of Access Holdings led the activity with 27.583 million shares worth N474.629 million. AIICO Insurance

T R A D E D

value traded ( N )

MaiN Board

A S O F

followed with account of 21.931 million shares valued at N16.650 million, while Universal Insurance traded 21.733 million shares valued at N5.224 million.

Japaul Gold and Ventures traded 21.241 million shares worth N37.212 million, while Veritas Kapital Assurance traded 18.995 million shares worth N5.881 million.

This week, analysts at United Capital Plc said “we expect the bullish sentiments in the local

equities market to continue, driven by movements in largecap stocks, as investors remain positively biased to fundamentally sound stocks.

“The market has shown resilience and maintained its upward trajectory despite the rising yield in the fixed-income environment.

However, a downside risk to our projection is that there may be pockets of profit-taking activities as some investors look to crystallise gains.”

N OV E M B E R / 2 0 / 2 3 DEALS

Market Price

quantity traded

value traded ( N)

24

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2023 • T H I S D AY

NEWS

Marking 32nd ANNIVERSARY with a Town Hall Meeting...

L-R: First Secretary, Deputy High Commission of Canada, Robert Aboumitri; Executive Director, LEE Group, Oseghale Ikpea; Director, LEE Group, Osten Olorunsola; Group Chairman/CEO, LEE Engineering Group and Allied Companies Ltd, Dr. Leemon Ikpea; Parish priest, Church of the Assumption, Falomo, Very Reverend Father Francis Ike; Founder, Centre for Value in Leadership, Professor Pat Utomi; and Executive Director, LEE Group, Augusta Ikpea-Enaholo at the Town Hall ceremony to mark THE 32nd anniversary of LEE Engineering and Company, at Eko Hotel in Lagos on Friday

Rising from Confab, Editors Urge FG to Reduce Anxiety Among Nigerians Say media sustainability crucial to democracy, economic growth

Oghenevede Ohwovoriole in Abuja Arising from its three-day annual conference in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) has aligned with measures so far adopted by the federal government to revive the economy.

However, members of the NGE said the path to economic recovery must not be littered with "corpses’’ of those who can’t survive the suffocating heat of the present situation.

The professional body of editors in Nigeria, therefore, urged the federal government to reduce the deafening anxiety among Nigerians by enacting short-term measures that would address soaring prices

of goods and services, depreciating currency, volatile exchange rates, illiquidity in the foreign exchange market, high interest rates, high trade costs, declining purchasing power, escalating production costs, rising energy cost, slump in industrial capacity utilization and erosion of profit margins.

The conference attended by publishers, media executives and senior editors of print, electronic and online media houses across the country, urged government at all levels to practically initiate actions that would cushion the immediate effects of the sacrifices of Nigerians towards economic recovery.

In a communiqué signed by the

NGE President, Eze Anaba, and the General Secretary, Dr. Iyobosa Uwugiaren, yesterday, the editors also said in view of the crucial role played by the media in deepening democracy and economic growth, the federal government has a huge and unique role to play in media sustainability in the country.

On media sustainability and the existential threat by the Big Tech, the conference advised the federal government to follow the ongoing trends around the world by supporting adopted global bargaining code – through legislation, which will compel Tech platforms, like Google, Facebook and others to negotiate payment to local news

media houses for using their content.

According to the conference, "the bargaining code allows publishers to collectively bargain without violating antitrust laws; requires tech platforms to negotiate with publishers for the use of news snippets; also requires them to pay licensing fees to publishers; and taxes digital advertising and uses the revenue to subsidise news outlets.

"The EU, US, Canada, India, Brazil, Australia and others have since adopted their own media bargaining code through various Acts to compel big tech to pay for news they don’t produce but use and sell; it is gaining momentum, and has been gaining global support

Nile University Graduates 84 First Class Students Out of 1,251 at 11th Convocation To enrol 195 medical students next session

Kuni Tyessi in Abuja

The Nile University of Nigeria has graduated 1,251 students out of which 84 out of 619 undergraduates bagged first class degrees.

Out of the entire number, 43 were medical students, 632 were Post- Graduate students in which 45 were awarded degrees of Doctor of Philosophy.

Also, with a 100 percent increase in its enrollment quota after the National Universities Commission (NUC) full accreditation for medical courses, 195 medical students would be admitted in its next session and this increase had been institutionalized.

The Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Dilli Dog, who stated this yesterday, during a press briefing in preparation of its 11th convocation ceremony scheduled for November 22, said out of the graduating students, 203 have second class upper, 229 second class lower and only 10 were awarded third class degrees.

He said so far, the employability skills of the graduands which must remain topmost on the list of services offered by the school had been institutionalised, adding that so far, "employability of graduates as at today stands at 60 per cent globally."

"In its 11th convocation, the school will be graduating 1,251students.

Out of this number, 619 are

undergraduates.

"There will be 43 medical graduates, 84 First Class, 203 have second class upper, 229 have second class lower and 10 with pass degrees.

Also, there are 632 post graduate students out of which 45 will be PhD degrees.

"The enrolment quota has increased in the institution from 50-

100 percent. In the coming session, we will admit 195 medical students and this has been institutionalised.

"We have built three huge academic complexes this year. One of them is the only STEM state of the art building in Nigeria" he said.

In the same vein, a business mogul, Dr. Mohammed Indimi and former Minister of Health/

professor of obstetrics, Prof. Isaac Adewole would be awarded with honorary degrees in oil and petroleum engineering, as well as in medical sciences respectively.

Also, the convocation lecture would be delivered by educationist and former executive secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund, TETFund, Prof. Sulaiman Bogoro.

Engineers Decry Rising Number of Firms Exiting Nigeria Meanwhile, Delta State Governor, Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, has identified harsh and hostile operating environment, poor basic infrastructure, insecurity and policy flip flops as disincentive to both local and foreign investments in Nigeria.

Oborevwori, also remarked that the nation's tax to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) ratio was low due to harsh operating business environment and called for the removal of institutional bottlenecks to the ease of doing business in the country.

He stated this in his keynote address at the 2023 Federal Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC) retreat with the theme: "Creating a resilient economy through diversification of the nation's reserve base," held at the Events Centre, Asaba, the Delta State.

Represented by his Deputy, Monday Onyeme, Oborevwori frowned at the non committal of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to be responsive to the clarity and

correctional demands made to it by the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC), in relation to the management of the Federation Account.

He also called on the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) to quickly verify the data earlier submitted by the three tiers of government.

According to the Governor, Nigeria’s tax to GDP ratio was comparatively low, about 10-12 per cent, which makes the country vulnerable to disruptions in the global economy.

"A strong, resilient, and competitive economy, requires a flourishing private sector. But there are problems.

Structurally, the private sector is largely weak, unorganised, and challenged.

"The operating environment is harsh and hostile to the ease of doing business. Poor basic infrastructure such as electricity, water, transporta-

tion, security, are strong disincentives to investments, local or foreign.

"Also, frequent policy flip flops and an inefficient bureaucracy are anything but helpful to the ease of doing business in Nigeria," he stated.

While commending members of FAAC for their commitment and dedication to duty and for the correction of wrong computations and refunds to oil producing states of the Federation, the Governor added that much work still needs to be done on the payments of 13 per cent derivation, since the coming into force of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).

"Since the implementation of the PIA, a lot of concerns have been raised by stakeholders of this sector in respect of the new roles of the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) as it affects inflows of revenue into the Federation Account. It is my hope that this retreat will address these concerns

since Australia took the bull by the horns.’’

The conference, which also discussed the state of broadcast sector in Nigeria, urged the federal government to strengthen the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), the regulatory body of broadcasting, in the general interest of the sector.

"The NBC as statutorily constituted in Nigeria is not an independent body like its counterparts in the United States and the United Kingdom. The National Assembly should amend the NBC Act to make it an autonomous body that will report solely to the National Assembly, and not the Minister of Information.

"Such independence of operation, devoid of arbitrary government intervention, will create a better sense of professionalism in the industry.

Instead of always emerging from obscurity to bare its fangs at media organisations, the NBC and electronic media organisations should have regular roundtables on issues of mutual interests,’’ the communique added.

The conference said both the NBC and the electronic media organisations are currently operating a cat and dog relationship, where the NBC only sets traps for media houses before pouncing on them, instead of creating and sustaining a harmonious relationship through exchange of ideas, for the good of the industry.

On freedom of the press, the

conference observed that for every right, there are corresponding responsibilities; and that journalists must carefully navigate the marauding laws against the industry with circumspection, by adhering to journalism’s professional Code of Ethics.

With a theme, "Stimulating Economic Growth, Technological Advancement: Role of the Media," the conference was declared open by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who was represented by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris Malagu.

Present at the conference were the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu; Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Pastor Umo Eno; the Conference Chairman and Publisher of Vanguard Newspapers, Uncle Sam Amuka; former Governor of Ogun State, Aremo Olusegun Osoba, and former Editor-in-Chief of Newswatch magazine, Ray Ekpu Various papers were presented by experts – covering all aspects of the programme, including goodwill messages. Among the resource persons who made in-depth presentations were Dr. Muda Yusuf, former Director-General, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mallam Ribadu; the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of Nigerian Economy, Mr. Wale Edun; Azubuike Ishiekwene, Executive Vice Chairman and Editor-in-Chief of the Leadership newspaper; Dr. Chima Amadi and Richard Akinnola

and lay them to rest permanently.

"Tax is the dividend of a thriving private sector. For us to reap the benefits, we need to, as a matter of exigency, remove the institutional bottlenecks that make the cost of doing business in Nigeria unbearably high.

"It is only after we have done this that we can realistically expect to widen the tax base and diversify the economy. It is inevitable that where the cost of doing business is frustratingly high, tax evasion and tax avoidance will be pervasive.

"In conclusion, it is my considered view that the issue of economic diversification must move beyond rhetoric.

"Concrete, measurable steps need to be taken now to facilitate non-oil exports, expand the revenue base, and make economic diversification a reality.

"Here in Delta State, for instance, we have created a Trade and Export

Unit to drive the process. Let me also stress that in seeking to facilitate the growth of non-oil exports as canvassed, there is a compelling need to ensure that the oil and gas sector is consistently operating at its optimum," Oborevwori said.

Earlier in his welcome remark, Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Chief Olawale Edun, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Special Duties, Federal Ministry of Finance, Mr. Okokon Ekanem, appreciated Oborevwori and the Delta State Government for accepting to host the retreat.

He said in six months of the Bola Tinubu's administration, the nation had witnessed important reforms such as petroleum subsidy removal, fiscal and monetary policy reforms aimed at removing multiple taxation, streamlining and simplifying tax administration as well as achieving a single foreign exchange market.

25

T H I S D AY • TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2023

NEWS

2023 ACCESS ART X PRIZE PRESENTATION...

L-R: Toyin Henry-Ajayi, Head, Group Marketing and Retail Analytics, Access Bank Plc; Tokini Peterside-Schwebig, founder, ART X Collective; and Jumoke Sanwo, curator of the 2023 Access ART X Prize, at the Access ART X Prize winners' announcement and press conference held at Access Holdings' headquarters in Victoria Island, Lagos... on Thursday

Sanwo-olu: Lagos Ready to Receive New Local, Foreign Investments LIRS announces deployment of upgraded revenue collection process

The Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, yesterday reiterated his administration’s commitment to receiving investments from local and international companies, saying that the state remains ready for business.

The governor spoke during a visit by the management of Daewoo Engineering and Construction Nigeria Limited, led by its Group Chairman, Mr. Jung Won Ju, at the Lagos House, Ikeja.

Sanwo-Olu assured investors that his administration will create an enabling environment for investments and businesses to grow in the state, stressing that the government was ready to partner with Daewoo in automobile, real estate and technology.

He said: “Lagos is ready for business and it is open for new investments. I know Daewoo Nigeria has been here for a while but this is an opportunity for you to take that relationship to another level.

“So, on this your visit, don’t let it just be a visit to show; let it be a visit

of commitment and real partnership.

Let it be a visit where there will be real transactions on the table that both of us can take away.

“Our city is open. We are ready and willing to create that partnership with you in automobile, real estate and technology because we have a very strong and capable youth population that is dynamic. They are very professional and they are ready to work.”

Speaking earlier, Won Ju said his company will be investing in real estate and infrastructure in Nigeria, saying Lagos has been identified as one of the major investment areas since it is the economic capital of Nigeria.

Also speaking, the General Manager, Contract and Business Development of Daewoo, Mr. Adekunle Ilesanmi, said the company was going to be investing in housing, real estate and infrastructure.

Meanwhile, the Lagos State Internal Revenue Service (LIRS) has announced the immediate deployment of an upgraded process

for the collection of Hotel Occupancy and Restaurants Consumption Tax (HORCT) in Lagos state.

The Executive Chairman of the LIRS, Ayodele Subair, in a public notice directed at members of the public, operators and owners of hotels, event centres, restaurants, bars, and other related facilities in Lagos state said the new collection process called the Eco Fiscal System (EFS) is an automated invoicing solution, designed to revolutionise the collection of consumption taxes in Lagos State.

He stated that the EFS evolution was in furtherance of LIRS’ commitment to building convenience into the payment of taxes and easing compliance with tax laws.

“This technological advancement marks a significant leap in our continuous efforts to enhance revenue collection, streamline processes, and improve efficiency in tax administration. It simplifies compliance and improves accuracy,” he said.

Subair affirmed that by adopting the EFS, businesses can ensure

Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City

Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State, yesterday, signed a Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) with the Aigbojie Aig-

Imuokhuede Foundation and Private Sector Health Alliance of Nigeria (PSHAN) to revitalise 18 Primary Healthcare Centres PHCs in the state.

Obaseki said the MOU mirrored

Party, Bago, Obi, congratulate ex-president at 66

Bayelsa State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has lambasted the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state for attacking former President Goodluck Jonathan over a personal comment he made during a visit to Governor Douye Diri last Friday.

This was as the PDP leadership, Niger State Governor, Mohammed Umar Bago and former Anambra State governor, Peter Obi, have congratulated Jonathan on his 66th birthday.

However, the PDP Publicity Secretary in the state, Mr. Ebiye Ogoli, in a statement, accused the APC of twisting the former president’s comments in order to pour out its frustrations after losing the November 11 governorship election in the state.

"His Excellency Dr. Jonathan, while congratulating the governor during the visit, said: ‘I told myself that if Diri loses this election, I might consider moving my mother to Abuja.”

The PDP, therefore, wondered how in an election contested by

candidates of 16 political parties, the APC had to misappropriate Dr. Jonathan’s comment as if it was directed at the party or its candidate, Chief Timipre Sylva.

He said the former president never mentioned the APC or its candidate throughout the cause of the visit.

"Since his forthright comment appeared in the media, the APC and its array of faceless, contemptible, lick-spittle groups have been inconsolable, acting like a forcefully weaned baby.

"Placed in proper context, Dr. Jonathan’s comment alluded to and reflected the peace, security and stability that Bayelsa State has witnessed under the Governor Diri administration, which is a fact generally acknowledged by residents of the state.

"The Bayelsa APC so-called leaders and groups, who are actually lackeys of the party’s governorship candidate, continue to make themselves a laughing stock for their intemperate and disrespectful tirades against Nigeria’s icon of democracy.

"If anyone is suffering any sort of

Businesses can focus on their core operations, leaving the complex task of tax compliance to our reliable and automated system,” Subair said.

He enjoined all operators in the hospitality sector to adopt the new system, emphasising that operations on the system have become effective immediately.

He added that failure to comply will be a contravention of the provisions in the Regulation of 2017, which he said attracts penalties as stipulated in Sections 11(2) of the HORC Law 2009.

Revitalisation of 18 PHCs: Edo Signs MOU with Aigbojie Aig-Imuokhuede Foundation, PSHAN

Bayelsa PDP Knocks APC over Attacks on Jonathan Chuks Okocha in Abuja

accurate calculations, eliminating the risk of mistakes associated with manual data entry.

The system, he said, automatically applies relevant tax rates, saving businesses valuable time and resources. He added that the software provides secure and efficient record-keeping, simplifying audits and minimizing compliance risks.

“Our goal is to empower businesses with innovative solutions that enhance their operational efficiency and minimise compliance challenges.

frustration or mental crisis, it is the Bayelsa APC and its candidate that are yet to come to terms with the shellacking they got on November 11.

"We advise them to lick their wound with some decorum and not misdirect their anger towards an innocent statesman who spoke truth from his heart," he said.

Meanwhile, in a statement by the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Debo Olohunagba, the party, while celebrating Jonathan on his birthday, said he has continued to stand out as a national icon of democracy and international statesman.

He further described him as a sincere, selfless, humble, courageous and patriotic leader, who as a product of the PDP, remained steadfast to his commitment towards the peace, unity, stability and development of our dear nation.

Also, the Niger State Governor, Alhaji Mohammed Umaru Bago, in a congratulatory message by his Chief Press Secretary, Bologi Ibrahim, described the celebrant as "a symbol of humility," and commended him for his contributions to the growth and

development of the nation during and after leaving office.

The governor noted that for the celebrant to be appointed as the first sub-Saharan African leader to serve on the international advisory board of the European Corporate Council on Africa and the Middle East (ECAM) "is a testament to his dedication and commitment to the betterment of not just Nigeria, but the African continent."

On his part, presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the February 25 2023 election, Obi thanked Jonathan for his huge sacrifice for democracy in Nigeria and Africa, regretting that some politicians had made spirited efforts to undermine the sacrifice he made for the democracy in the country.

According to a statement by his media aide, Michael Jude Nwolisa, Obi had told Jonathan in a series of tweets on his X handle, how nostalgic Nigerians were at the outcome of the free, fair, and transparent election in Liberia monitored by him, where the opposition candidate defeated an incumbent after a run-off.

a move in the right direction as PHC remain the most importance aspect of health care delivery and the closest to the people.

The governor who was represented by Secretary to State Government (SSG), Osarodion Ogie, Obaseki said: "When we came in, we found out that Primary Healthcare is not about the building but the personnel to run it effectively. So we decided to rebuild our School of Health Technology so it can train the men and women who will run the PHCs' "And with 774 PHCs' across the country, there is need to collaborate with the Edo State School of Health Technology in order to help train PHC personnel.”

Commending the Aigbojie AigIMUOKHUEDE Foundation and the Private Sector Health Alliance for their support in the revitalization of its PHCs, he noted that though the state government has made significant improvement in making PHCs across the state functional, few still remained to be attended to.

Giving an overview of AdoptA- Healthcare Facility Programme (ADHFP), the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Private Sector Health Alliance of Nigeria, Dr. Tinuola Akinbolagbe, said it is a strategic initiative aimed at revitalizing and establishing standard Primary Healthcare Centers (PHCs) across Nigeria.

She said in Edo State, the porgramme would be focusing on refurbishing PHCs in order to address healthcare challenges

in the state.

According to her, 18 PHCs have been selected based on criteria such as the availability of Basic Healthcare Provision Fund, water and power supply, medical staff presence, and building conditions among others.

Dr. Akinbolagbe said: "The initial stage PHCs for revitalization includes Atoruru PHC in Sabongida-Ora, Evbuodia PHC in Oredo, Uteh PHC in Iwogban, and Idunmungha PHC in Uhunmwode.

"In implementing ADHFP in Edo State, both PSHAN and The Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation play crucial roles, exemplifying a collaborative approach to healthcare improvement.

"The Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation's commitment of N2.3 bilion over five years, with N1.8 billion earmarked for renovating selected PHCs in Edo State, underscores dedication to enhancing healthcare infrastructure and services in the region".

On her part, the Vice Chairman of Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation, Mrs. Fovwe Aig-Imoukhuede, said the foundation was established to improve the lives of the people through transformed public service delivery and increased access to quality primary healthcare.

"To achieve our healthcare objectives, we form partnerships with the government and other private sector entities to drive initiatives aimed at improving the primary healthcare space. We are adopting 23 PHC centres in Nigeria, and 18 of them in Edo State."

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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2023 • T H I S D AY

NEWS

64th National Council on Health...

L-R: Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof Muhammad Ali Pate, Governor of Ekiti State, Mr Abiodun Abayomi Oyebanji and Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare Dr Tunji Alausa, arriving the Afe Babalola event centre in Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State for the opening ceremony of the 64th National Council on Health holding in Ekiti State

Edo 2024: Shaibu Bites the Bullet, to Declare Guber Ambition Next Week Airhievbere: No zoning of governorship in Edo APC, declares own ambition

Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City In a rare challenge, the Edo State Deputy Governor Mr. Philip Shaibu would by next week officially declare his intention to contest for the state governorship election next year.

Against the explicit interest of Governor Godwin Obaseki, his principal, who is unwilling to hand over the baton to Shaibu, the deputy governor has been consulting and meeting with politicians and the media on his governorship aspiration.

The latest being his meeting with journalists in Abuja over the weekend and another one schedule

to hold today (Tuesday) According to a close aide to Shaibu who did not want his name mentioned, “If everything works according to his plans, he will officially declare his intention next week.

"He has already secured a campaign office along Airport Road.

Some of the campaign vehicles have started arriving and the consultations have reached an advanced stage."

Meanwhile, a former gubernatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2012, Major-General Charles Arhiavbere has declared the absence of zoning in the All Progressives Congress

(APC).

Arhiavbere who is now a chieftain of APC stated this on Monday in Benin City, capital of the state, while declaring his intention to run for governorship.

In a meeting with members of the Oredo Ward 1 at his residence in Government Reservation Area (GRA) in Benin City, he said, “I have always insisted that Edo State remains under the federal government because this is the heartbeat of the nation so how can the heartbeat be in another party and then you still say it is the heartbeat?

"We must trust the government

at the federal level and we must key-in, that is why we are restating that bringing this state to the APC government is a task that must be done and that is one of the reasons I have decided to throw my cap into the ring and to make sure that we rescue this state.

“We hear people saying there should be zoning, you can only zone what you have, if you don’t have a daughter, you cannot give out a daughter into marriage. That is why APC must present the best and the best is standing before you.”

Airhievbere who said he has been supporting candidates of the APC since 2016, added "that

Obaseki to Lead Delta, Ondo, Ekiti to Repurchase Shares, Reorganise BEDC to Solve Electricity Crisis Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State has said that plans are underway by Edo, Delta, Ekiti, and Ondo States, to buy back their shares from the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) and reorganize the distribution company, providing a lasting solution to the electricity crisis in the affected states.

According to Obaseki, electricity is key in driving development in any society, noting that his government has over the past seven years taken deliberate steps to encourage investments in the electricity sector to grow the state’s economy.

Speaking to newsmen, Obaseki said he is in talks with the governors to buy back their shares in BEDC, ensuring Edo, Delta, Ekiti and Ondo States generate and distribute their own electricity.

His words: “I am discussing with my brother, the governor of Delta State, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, and one of the things we talked about is the technicality of electricity.

People think of seeing light, forgetting about the technicality involved and the last man on that channel that distributes the light is the distribution company.

“I, Delta, Ekiti and Ondo governors, we have to approach Fidelity Bank and buy back the shares in BEDC. We would make an offer to buy that back to reorganise this Company to enable us to have an Edo, Delta, Ekiti and Ondo Distribution Company.”

“Without electricity, we can’t go anywhere. We have our own local grid which we can distribute to various communities as without electricity we are not going anywhere.

Electricity is needed for economic growth and development. Those who have cheaper gas will have cheaper electricity and it will lead to cheaper cost of manufacturing and production.”

The governor further stated that, “We don’t need to wait for Abuja for money but rather have a mind shift to activate and galvanize what

we have to create the money our people need.

“Now we are all in darkness; any politics that keeps us in darkness is bad politics as everybody wants light no matter the political divide.

No political party wants to stay in darkness, as the conversation started many months ago on purchasing the shares of BEDC, we can rapidly progress.

“The original buyers of the shares of BEDC know what they did. They went bankrupt as the bank took those shares and tried to sell to others

but we have signified our interest to buy to ensure the bank doesn't sell to the wrong people that will keep us in darkness again.”

He added that, “We will buy, let us sit down to discuss. We want to buy the share not because we want to run an electricity business or company but want to sit at the table to supervise and decide on the expert that will do it right. Maybe it's time to take charge of our own territory.

Benin electricity should give Benin light while that of Delta produces that of Delta State, it's possible.”

is why when I decided to come out, I told Edo people that it is the turn of GC (General Charles).”

Speaking, the State Youth Leader

of the APC, Mr. Tony Kabaka said the state needs a governor that would protect and respect the sanctity of the Benin monarch.

DSS Preventing Kanu from Signing His Legal Documents, Says Family

Emmanuel Ugwu-Nwogo in Umuahia

Efforts by detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) to sign his legal documents to give authorisation to his lawyers have been thwarted by operatives of the Department of State Services, DSS. Prince Emmanuel Kanu, the younger brother of the detained IPOB leader, told journalists in Umuahia, Monday, that the security personnel at the Abuja headquarters of DSS did not allow Kanu to sign the documents brought to him.

He also alleged that a full number of family members who went to visit the Biafra agitator were not allowed access to him.

Prince Emmanuel said that only two out of the three family members authorised by the Court to visit Kanu were allowed to see him while the third family member was denied access.

He recalled that in two previous occasions Kanu was "totally denied

access" to his visitors including lawyers and family members.

Prince Emmanuel decried the actions of the security agents, accusing them of violating court orders.

He also expressed worry over the health condition of the Biafra separatist leader, saying that the condition of Kanu’s legs meant that something was wrong.

Prince Emmanuel therefore demanded explanations from Nigeria's secret police on why Kanu was not allowed to see all his authorised visitors.

He said: "They (DSS) should tell the world what they are hiding that makes them to keep him away from his visitors contrary to court orders".

In palpable frustration, Prince Emmanuel reiterated his call on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to comply with the Court judgrments that ordered the immediate and unconditional release of the IPOB leader.

Ohanaeze Ndigbo Embarks on Constitution Review to Realign with Current Realities Emmanuel Ugwu-Nwogo in Umuahia

Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation has embarked on a review of its 2003 constitution to reflect current realities, 20 years after the last exercise.

This was made known by the National Publicity Secretary of Ohanaeze, Chiedozie Alex Ogbonnia, saying that the National Executive Committee (NEC) of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide led

by Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu has given the nod.

He explained that the constitutional review has become necessary in view of many developments

that have occurred in the past two decades, adding that the leadership "has set a machinery in motion" for the constitutional review.

"It is the view of the NEC of Ohanaeze that the Constitution, which was last amended in 2003, needs to accommodate various current developments which were not envisaged in 2003, exactly twenty years ago," Ogbonnia said.

To make the Constitution Review all inclusive, the Ohanaeze NEC has called for memoranda "from all the patriotic Igbo sons, daughters, all the Ohanaeze chapters, Ohanaeze Women Wing, and Ohanaeze Youth Wing.

Other stakeholders expected to submit memoranda include

Ohanaeze affiliates, traditional rulers, Town Unions, professional bodies, Churches, Igbo Interest groups and other relevant organizations.

According to the Ohanaeze spokesman, all memoranda from each group should be sent to the Secretary of the Ohanaeze Constitution Review Committee, Dr. Ezechi Chukwu, on Whattsapp number 0813-2087496.

"All the submissions are expected to reach the Secretary on or before December 31, 2023," the statement said.

The extant Ohanaeze Constitution bears the signatures of now late Prof Joe Irukwu and late Col. J.O.G Achuzie, who were then

President General and Secretary General, respectively, as well as Chief Iwuanyanwu, who was the Chairman of the Constitution Review Committee.

The 2023 Constitution was a product of a constitutional crisis which emerged at Imeobi Ohanaeze held at the Hotel Presidential Enugu on November 24, 2003.

It was in order to resolve the constitutional impasse that the Imeobi Ohanaeze had to set up a Constitutional Review Committee headed by Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu.

The Iwuanyanwu Committee was mandated to present a report to the Ohanaeze General Assembly

at Owerri, Imo State on Sunday, November 30, 2003.

The report which was unanimously adopted by the General Assembly formed the basis for the election of the National Officers on the same day.

However, the Ohanaeze spokesman noted that "in spite of the commitment and prudence exhibited by the Iwuanyanwu Committee, there are still some discrepancies and unanticipated dynamics that were not contemplated in the last two decades".

"In other words, it is inconceivable to expect a constitution that was last reviewed twenty years ago to fulfil the expectations of the present realities," he said.

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T H I S D AY • TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2023

NEWS

Disbursement of cheques to Kwara indigenes...

L-R: Beneficiary Traditional Ruler, Alhaji.Saheed Sauta Adifa; Founder Yahaya Seriki Foundation, Yahaya Seriki; with Governor Kwara State, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, during the disbursement of cheques to the indigenes, by Yahaya Seriki Foundation in Kwara State....recently

Osun Speaker on Embattled CJ: We’re Exposing Graft, Not Usurping NJC's Roles Judiciary workers protest, lock high court gate

Yinka Kolawole in Osogbo Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Hon. Adewale Egbedun, yesterday, responded to the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and Femi Falana, on the ongoing investigation of the allegations against the Chief Judge of Osun State, Hon. Justice Adepele Oyebola Ojo. In a statement, yesterday, Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker, Olamide Tiamiyu, declared that the Osun State House of Assembly, has no intention of encroaching on the constitutional duties of the National Judicial Council (NJC).

He pointed out that instead, the Osun State House of Assembly was fulfilling its constitutional duty of exposing corruption as stipulated in Sections 128 (2) (b) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which provides as follows: “The powers conferred on a House of Assembly under the provisions of this section are exercisable only for the purpose

of enabling the House to, "Expose corruption, inefficiency of waste in the execution or administration of laws within its legislative competence and in the disbursement or administration of funds appropriated by it.”

He noted that given that the Osun State House of Assembly received several petitions alleging corruption against the Chief Judge of Osun State, the assembly would have been negligent and in breach of its constitutional responsibilities if it had ignored the petitions.

He said some of the allegations against the Chief Judge were alleged diversion of the funds for the State Judiciary Library, diversion of the robe allowance of a brother judge of the Osun State High Court, which was about #5,000,000 (Five million naira) and indiscriminate suspension of judicial staff without going through the Judicial Commission and diversion of their salaries.

Others, he said, included diversion of revenue due to the government

from filing electronic affidavits through the sole appointment of a consultant by the Chief Judge.

“In this case, the consultant makes N1000 on an affidavit as against just N250 that is being remitted to the state coffers. Disobedience of a court judgement that discharged and acquitted a judicial staff of the allegation of embezzling N30,000 typing sheet fund.

"Diversion of the proceeds that was recovered from the convicted armed robbers of the Ikirun robbery.

The Osun State House of Assembly is aware of the position of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the decisions of the Supreme Court in various cases stating that the Governor of a State and the House of Assembly cannot remove a Chief Judge from office without the participation of the National Judicial Council.

"Therefore, we urge commentators to be cautious in their utterances, as they may convey the misconception that the Osun State House of

Assembly has removed or intends to remove the Chief Judge of Osun State without the involvement of the National Judicial Council.

"It is pertinent to also clarify that the Osun State House of Assembly was not named as a defendant in the lawsuit filed by the Chief Judge of Osun State at the National Industrial Court, Ibadan.

“Moreover, the Osun State House of Assembly has not been served with any injunction related to this lawsuit, so it is false for anyone to insinuate that the House of Assembly acted in contravention of an order of a Court of competent jurisdiction."

The Assembly emphasised that it would not be deterred or influenced by the misguided interpretations of its actions.

“It is important to note that the House is committed to upholding the Constitution and will not abuse

its constitutional powers to achieve unconstitutional objectives. The Osun State House of Assembly stands firm in carrying out its constitutional responsibilities and will not succumb to any form of intimidation,” he stated.

Meanwhile, the entrance to the Osun State High Court in Osogbo was locked yesterday by members of the Judiciary Staff Union in Osun State in protest against the embattled Chief Judge, Justice Oyebola Adepele Ojo, and the management on the activities of the judiciary in the state.

The protesting workers led by one Oluwagbemiga Eludire, prevented movement in and out of the premises.

However, yesterday, Governor Ademola Adeleke, denied removal of the embattled Chief Judge and appointment of acting Chief Judge, saying he only forwarded the

recommendation of the Assembly to the NJC. Armed with placards with inscriptions such as "Judiciary staff deserves better treatment"; "We are tired of oppression and stagnation"; "Unlawful suspension of Judiciary staff without recourse to Judicial Service Commission is barbaric"; and "Unlawful Dismissal of judiciary staff against the public service rules" among others, the workers accused Adepele-Ojo of refusal to pay wardrobe allowances of workers and other emoluments in the last three years.

Chairman, Osun JUSUN, Oluwagbemiga Eludire, while speaking with journalists at the premises of the Osun State High Court, which houses the office of the Chief Judge, added that their agitations were quite separate from the actions of the state government.

Eno Advises FG to Seek Partnership One Policeman Killed, Four Escorts, One DSS with States for Improved Power Supply Operative, Others Shot in Buni’s Convoy Attack DHQ launches manhunt for terrorists

Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja One policeman was killed while four police escorts, one operative of the Department of State Security (DSS) and a military truck driver, were among those shot when terrorists attacked the convoy of Governor of Yobe State, Mai Mala Buni, on Saturday.

Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Alhaji Mallam Wali, Special Adviser on Security to the governor, Brigadier-General Dahiru Abdulsalam (rtd) and the special adviser on religious affairs survived the gruesome attack.

Following the development, the Defence Headquarters (DHQ), yesterday, said it had launched a manhunt for the terrorists, who attacked the governor's convoy.

A statement issued in Abuja by the Director, Defence Media Operations (DDMO), Maj Gen Edward Buba, said the governor was not in the convoy at the time of the attack.

It said officials of government and military escorts were, however,

in the convoy, when the terrorists launched a vicious attack on the governor's convoy.

"On November 18, 2023, at around 6.30pm, the convoy and escorts of the Governor of Yobe State that were returning to Damaturu from Maiduguri encountered terrorists ambush attack at a location about 6 kms from Benesheikh town, which is along road Maiduguri to Damaturu road.

“The governor was not in the convoy. However, government officials in the convoy at the time of the incident include the following, Secretary to Yobe State government, Alhaji Baba Mallam Wali, Special Adviser on Security to the governor, Brigadier General Dahiru Abdulsalam (rtd), special adviser on religious affairs, the military escorts with two Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles and three Toyota gun trucks, police escorts, Department of State Services operatives and members of Yobe State hunters group," it said.

Buba, in the statement, explained that the “troops of 29 Task Force

Brigade on patrol duty and route piquetting along the road from Maiduguri to Damaturu promptly moved to the scene and assisted in the extrication of the victims and recovery of the two vehicles affected in the incident."

He said the security personnel in the convoy, who were affected during the incident included one military truck driver, four police escorts and one DSS operative, who all sustained gunshot wounds but were in stable conditions.

“Unfortunately, one of the injured police escorts died shortly on arrival at the Specialists Hospital in Damaturu. Reinforcement of troops from 29 Task Force Brigade led by the brigade commander are conducting fighting patrol in the area to locate the terrorists, who carried out the dastardly act.

“The two vehicles affected in the incident include one military MRAP and one civilian escort vehicle whose tyres were shot at during the incident but both vehicles have been safely recovered to the military camp at Benisheikh.

Approves update of state’s social register

Okon Bassey in Uyo The Akwa Ibom State Governor, Mr Umo Eno, has urged the federal government to seek partnership with the states if it aims to achieve improved electricity supply in the country.

Eno spoke during an interaction with a delegation of the Senate Committee on Power and members of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) who paid him a visit at the Government House, Uyo. While expressing the readiness of his administration to partner with the federal government, the governor stressed that the state government was willing to ensure the offtake of power generated from the Ibom Power Plant to the benefit of the people.

Power, he said, is critical to the socio-economic development of the nation and advocated urgent measures to improve its supply in the country.

"I believe we can do better with our power system, but a lot has to do with the federal government.

If the federal government gives us the leeway to do it and with a promise to refund, then we can begin to think of it.

"But we'll like to work together because we need to get the permission to be able to link these things up, so that we won't need to get into too much talk after the process. At the end of the day, it will be to the benefit of our people and then to Nigeria.

"Power is something that is dear to our heart, so the work that you are doing needs to be encouraged because without power, we cannot really do anything and the economy cannot move forward," he stressed.

He expressed gratitude over the return of the Senators to the state, weeks after the just-concluded Senate retreat in the Uyo, adding that the preference of Akwa Ibom for conferences and retreats has put the state on its toes to improve facilities to retain the confidence of such high profile visitors.

He said: "We are delighted at the increasing interest in our state for conferences, retreats and others. It behoves on us to ensure that our facilities continue to be top-notch."

Eno described the synergy between the Senate Committee on Power and NERC as healthy for the power sector, indicating that both arms will be on the same page for

enactments and regulatory policies.

Speaking on behalf of the delegation, the Chairman Senate Committee on Power, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, said the team was in the state for a three-day retreat and expressed satisfaction with the choice of Uyo for the retreat.

He noted that previous retreats of the body were held in Ghana, Morocco and other locations outside the country, noting that after the last Senate retreat in Akwa Ibom, they realised that Akwa Ibom has quality facilities sufficient for their engagement.

Abaribe therefore commended the governor for his “purposeful leadership” and attributed the pace of development in the state to what he described as ‘’continuum” in leadership.

He assured of the National Assembly's disposition to make enactments that will favour a robust partnership between the state and federal government for an efficient power sector.

Meanwhile, the governor has approved an update of the state’s social register, urging stakeholders to avoid planting ghost names and discrimination.

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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2023 • T H I S D AY

NEWS

Strategic meeting between Mbah and Minister of Housing in Enugu...

L-R: Commissioner for Housing, Enugu State, Dr. Martin Chukwunweike; Chief of Staff to Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Alh. Usman Osidi; Governor of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Mbah; Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Arch. Ahmed Dangiwa; Real Estate Entrepreneur, Surv. Ugochukwu Chime; and General Manager, Enugu State Housing Development Corporation, Gerald Asogwa, during a strategic meeting between the Governor and Minister in Enugu at the weekend.

Ogun Commences Second Phase Disbursement of N1 billion Grant to Small Enterprises

The Ogun state government has commenced the second phase of the disbursement of the N1 billion grant to Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs) in the state.

The initiative, the government said, aims to alleviate poverty and mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on businesses in the state.

Commissioner for Industry, Trade, and Investment and a member of the Ogun State COVID-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus (OGUN CARES) Steering Committee, Mr. Adebola Sofela, in a statement yesterday, announced that Governor Dapo Abiodun had directed the immediate commencement of the disbursement process for the second phase of the grants.

He said that a stakeholders’ engagement session will be held for legitimate business owners in the Ogun Central Senatorial District at the Obas Complex Hall, Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, today , to kick-start the second phase.

The objective of the session, according to the commissioner, is to provide participants with information about the application

process and criteria for eligibility.

Sofela added that the date and time for the stakeholders' engagement sessions in Ogun West and East Senatorial Districts will be communicated at a later date.

In the first batch, over N120 million was disbursed by the state

government to more than 1,000 micro and small entrepreneurs across the 20 local government areas of the state, with the beneficiaries expressing their gratitude in an appreciation letter addressed to the governor, the statement said.

Trade associations, representing

the beneficiaries, including the Nigerian Association of Small Scale Industrialists (NASSI), Association of Small Business Owners of Nigeria (ASBON), Joint National Association of Persons Living With Disabilities (JONAPWD), artisan groups, commended the

and renting shops.

"We believe that this grant will provide much-needed relief to businesses in our state. We appreciate your continued support and encourage you to stay informed about future updates regarding the disbursement process," Sofela added.

Falana: It’s Dangerous for Judiciary to Sanction 165,000 Voters for Electoral Officers’ Mistakes State, where we are witnessing a situation in which what the ruling party missed out on Election Day are being delivered to them through the courts."

Atiku explained that those were ominous signs that threatened not just faith in the electoral and judicial systems, but also evinced that democracy was compromised.

He stated, "It is also crystal clear that the ruling party will not desist from this inglorious ideology of ‘snatch, grab and run away with power.’

"It is even more worrisome that what is playing out now in the Plateau governorship election petition is a confirmation of the threat echoed by an APC lawmaker in a viral video that the ruling party will

compromise the judicial process to ensure its ultimate victory in the courts.

"It, therefore, means that the times we are in are, indeed, ominous, and the journey ahead in rescuing our democracy from these buccaneering power grabbers is a long one. It also means that every man and woman of good conscience should come together for this common patriotic purpose.

"But we are not surprised by what is going on. In Lagos State, where Tinubu holds sway as godfather, opposition became an anathema.

Everyone, including judges, was forced to join his party.

“The few opposition members who managed to get elected were beaten to submission, including at the Lagos State House of Assembly,

where the sole PDP member, back in 2018, was suspended and arrested for gun running, but mysteriously had the charges dropped immediately after he defected to the APC." Corroborating his point, Atiku stressed, "The Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) withdrew a N135bn lawsuit it had instituted against an opposition senator from Anambra State less than 24 hours after he defected to the ruling party. These are the crude methods that Bola Tinubu has employed in order to reduce the ranks of the opposition and consolidate his hold on power.

"Is it not mysterious that it was the same panel that sat and heard all the election petition cases from Plateau State before the Court of

In Berlin, Tinubu Pushes for Investment in Nigeria's Power, Rail Transport Sectors for investors.

According to him, "Nigeria has consolidated on its democracy with several consecutive handovers of power. There is stability and predictability in the socio-political development of our country, which provides a conducive atmosphere for business operations and investment.

"Your money is safe. Since I assumed office in May 2023, we have embarked on transformative changes, removing all obstacles hindering businesses. We are reforming the economy based on the principle and philosophy of good governance."

While persuading German automobile firms to establish manufacturing plants in Nigeria, the president invited German businesses to take advantage of investment opportunities in multiple sectors following the successful visit of the German Chancellor to Nigeria in October.

In his intervention, Scholz announced the readiness of the German government to make available four billion Euros for consultation, investments, and further leveraging of private engagement until 2030.

He said, "To be clear, this is not about development aid according to outdated donor-recipient schemes.

This is about investments that pay

governor for his support during the challenging time, it added.

The government noted that the beneficiaries highlighted the significant increase in operational expenses and the struggle to pay workers' salaries, as well as the costs of operational gadgets, utilities,

off for both sides.

"In Germany, we will need large quantities of green hydrogen on our way to climate neutrality in 2045, a significant portion of which we will import, including from Africa.

"Many African countries have much larger potentials for renewable energy and competitive hydrogen production than we do. I am convinced that there are fantastic opportunities for expanding cooperation between German and African companies in this regard."

The German Chancellor further stressed, "The Compact with Africa is the central initiative of the G20 to further unleash this enormous potential of Africa, as a partnership in mutual interest and to achieve global goals, such as climate neutrality, sustainability, and resilience of our economies.

"We will not achieve these goals here in Europe without collaboration with our African partners. Since the Compact with Africa was launched under the German G20 presidency in 2017, it has aimed to promote private investments and employment jointly and advance reforms in partner countries to lay the groundwork for truly sustainable growth that benefits the citizens.

"The Compact with Africa is

effective. In comparison to the whole of Africa, the Compact countries economically outperform. Last year, the economic growth of Compactwith-Africa partner countries was almost twice as high as that of the rest of African countries.

"Direct investments announced in the partner countries last year amounted to $133 billion, six times higher than the previous year and more than twice the total for the rest of Africa.

"Moreover, the export growth of Compact-with-Africa countries was three times higher last year than in other countries on the continent. These are impressive figures, accompanied by remarkable reforms in partner countries, such as in taxation or investment promotion.

With such reforms, partner countries significantly contribute to improving their business environment and investment conditions, for the benefit of their citizens."

Earlier in his keynote address, Scholz noted the dynamic and evolving nature of economic relations between the developed and developing nations of the world as he positioned Germany to enhance partnership with Nigeria and Africa on a mutually-beneficial basis.

He stated, "To be clear, this is not about traditional development

aid with donor-recipient schemes.

Instead, we now focus on investments that yield benefits for both parties.

"In Germany, as we strive for climate neutrality by 2045, we anticipate a substantial demand for green hydrogen, a considerable portion of which we plan to import, including from Africa.

"Many African countries possess larger potentials for renewable energy and competitive hydrogen production than we do. I am convinced that there are fantastic opportunities for expanding cooperation between German and African companies in this context.

"I highlighted this during my visit to Nigeria, where we already operate a hydrogen office and aspire to be a partner in the ambitious expansion of renewable energies."

Other panellists at the discussion were President Alassane Ouattara of Côte d’Ivoire; Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch of Morocco; President Macky Sall of Senegal; Sabine Dall’Omo, Chairperson of Afrika-Verein (German-African Business Association); and CEO of Sub-Saharan Africa, Siemens AG. Tinubu would today host notable German Business Chief Executives at a Nigeria-Germany Business Roundtable in Berlin, Germany.

Appeal? How is it that in election cases where the PDP came first and the APC came second, the court ordered that the APC be declared winner while in elections where the PDP came first and Labour Party came second, the courts ordered a rerun in order to give the APC a chance of victory?”

The former vice president maintained, "As Justice Dattijo Muhammad said in his valedictory speech, which has also been buttressed by Olumide Akpata, the immediate past President of the Nigerian Bar Association, the judgements emanating from courts in recent times have been questionable and show obvious compromise.

“As Mr. Femi Falana (SAN) put it recently, the judiciary under military dictatorship was much more courageous and had better integrity than what we have today.

"It is obvious that the APC has turned the once respected Nigerian judiciary to a ‘cash and carry’ one where politicians who don’t participate in primaries are named as candidates while actual winners of elections are sacked for flimsy reasons. They simply deliver judgements but not justice."

Atiku also said, “Tinubu has already appointed his loyalists as Resident Electoral Commissioners, who have now been confirmed by Senator Godswill Akpabio, his lackey who is supposed to be heading an independent arm of government. This is how the APC plans to impose a one-party state on Nigerians.

"Eternal vigilance remains the watchword if Nigeria’s democracy will survive the APC onslaught on our democracy and the institutions that are supposed to check the excesses of the ruling party."

FG Lambasts PDP, Atiku for Casting Aspersion on Judiciary

The federal government scorned PDP and Atiku’s spokesman for unfairly questioning the integrity of the judiciary by alleging partisanship against it in the wake of the judicial setbacks suffered by PDP governors in Plateau, Zamfara and Nasarawa states.

In a statement yesterday, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, accused PDP and Daniel Bwala, who was spokesman of its presidential candidate in the 2023 election, of throwing caution to the wind by assaulting the integrity of the judiciary and making libellous allegations against Tinubu.

Onanuga accused PDP and Atiku of desperation for blaming the reversal of the election of some PDP governors at the appeal court on Tinubu and the judiciary.

He said it was sheer irresponsibility and disservice to the country for the opposition, after failing to observe the letter and spirit of the law, to now turn around to tear down an important arm of government.

Onanuga denounced Atiku and his party for blaming others and failing to do any soul-searching before going public with their weighty allegations.

The statement said, "While we do not hold brief for the judiciary, we urge Nigerians to discountenance the malicious allegations by the PDP and its candidate that President Tinubu, as governor of Lagos, silenced the opposition and corrupted the judiciary and that he is planning to foist a one-party state on the country by appointing ‘loyalists’ as Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs).

"President Tinubu is a democrat to the core. We make bold to say that as president, he has not interfered with the judgement of the judiciary.

We had witnessed how under his watch the PDP governor in Osun defeated the APC at the Supreme Court.

"Similarly, the PDP governor in Bauchi also won his case in the appeal court, beating the APC." Onanuga denied insinuations that Tinubu was hatching plans to impose a one-party state on the country, as alleged by PDP, Atiku and Bwala. He said those allegations were deliberately aimed at unnecessarily heating up the polity and causing disenchantment in the country.

Onanuga asserted further, “They exist only in the imagination of the PDP and the former vice president.

Continues online

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NEWS

WINNERS OF SEPLAT ENERGY JV PEARLS QUIZ …

L-R: Managing Director, Seplat West Limited, Mr. Ayodele Olatunde; winners of the 2023 Seplat Energy JV PEARLs Quiz (12th Edition), Don Bosco Science Academy, Ekpoma, Edo State, and Director, External Affairs and Sustainability, Seplat Energy, Chioma Afe, at the grand finale of the quiz in Asaba, Delta State ... recently

Police Investigate Alleged Assassination Attempt on Rivers Lawmaker Blessing Ibunge inPort Harcourt

The Rivers State Police Command yesterday commenced investigation into the alleged assassination attempt on the factional Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Rt Hon. Edison Ehie, at his residence in Port Harcourt.

THISDAY learnt that at about 11pm on Sunday, a group of fully armed thugs and Police officers allegedly attacked the private residence of Ehie with an intention to assassinate him.

It was gathered that the thugs were vehemently repelled in a gun battle by the official security details attached to Speaker.

Atiku Visits Home after 2023 Presidential Struggles Daji Sani in Yola

The former Vice President of Nigeria and Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 general election Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has visited his home state Adamawa after his Presidential struggles .

His home coming was also ahead of his forth coming birthday and Founder’s day of the America University of Nigeria ( AUN) slated for this Saturday.

The vice president had left home for his presidential struggles immediately after the 2023 governorship elections held in the state only to return to the

state yesterday.

On arrival, the former vice president scored the PDP government very high , where he urged the Adamawa people to support the transformation move of the state government led by Alhaji Ahamadu Umaru Fintiri.

Atiku who was received by the state Deputy Governor, Professor Kaletapwa Farauta and all commissioners at the Yola International Airport as a mark of honour to welcome him back after his 2023 Presidential struggles following the verdict of the Supreme Court that put the presidential struggles to rest.

Reacting to the allegation of the assassination attempt on the Speaker, the state Commissioner of Police, Olatunji Disu, said the command has commence investigation into the issue.

Disu said the investigation

The Sejeokun Ruling House of Ijare, Ondo State, has appealed to Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, to remove Chief Wemimo Olaniran, the Sapetu of Ijare, who is also the head of the kingmakers, alleging that his conduct has been obstructing and disrupting activities in the town.

In a letter signed by Prince Adekunle Alade, Adebanjo Asejuwon and Adebambo Oluwagbemigun, which was addressed to the State Government, Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs and Ondo

chapter of Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), the petitioners said only the removal of Chief Olaniran, could bring peace and harmony back to the community and ensure a speedy and impartial selection of a well-qualified prince to assume the vacant stool of the Olujare of Ijare.

The petitioners alleged that Chief Olaniran has been recklessly interfering in the selection process, just as they said his action has caused the kingmakers to be at loggerheads, making it difficult for them to arrive at a consensus, thus leading to the polarisation of the entire community.

TonyIchekuinOwerri

Imo State chapter of Labour Party (LP) yesterday mobilised its members to a protest at the State secretariat of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Owerri, the State capital, over the delay of the Commission in releasing the Certified

WAP TV has received double honours at the prestigious BrandCom Awards, which took place recently at the Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos State.

At the event, attended by hundreds of influential individuals from top corporate organisations, advertising agencies, and media houses across Nigeria, the management and the WAPTV team expressed delight and appreciation for receiving the awards.

The Media Industry Award was organised to celebrate outstanding achievements in the country’s media

and marketing communications industry.

The event, which is organised annually by Brand Communicator Magazine, awarded WapTV Network as the ‘Most-Outstanding Indigenous TV Channel’, for over 10 years of providing quality family entertainment to the average Nigerians, and inducted the organisation’s Chairman, Mr. Wale Adenuga, into the ‘BrandCom Hall of Fame’ “for his immense contributions in the industry by connecting thousands of brands with millions of audience members for over 40 years.”

thing and then we have made frantic efforts to get across to the leader to give us any information he has, so that we can include it in what we already have. So, far so good, nothing to worry about.

True Copies (CTCs) of the November 11, 2023 governorship election.

The LP chairman, Mr. Calistus Ihejiagwa, who led members of the opposition party in the protest, accused INEC of trying to frustrate the party from challenging the result of the poll in the court.

The LP members who stormed

INEC singing solidarity songs also had placards saying: ‘INEC is supposed not be unbiased’; ‘INEC, Justice delayed is Justice denied’, ‘INEC release CTC’ and ‘INEC should be independent.’

Ihejiagwa, who served as the party’s agent during the collation of results where he was brutalised and

battered by thugs said to belong to APC, led the protest in a wheelchair.

He told newsmen that the result as declared by INEC was not the true reflection of what transpired at the polling units. He accused the electoral umpire and the security agents of conniving with the ruling APC to compromise the election.

‘ECOWAS Countries Need to Work Together against Environmental Disaster’ Michael Olugbode in Abuja

Nigeria has called all other members of Economic Community Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to rally behind her to find solution to biodiversity and climate change to

ward off environmental disaster that is not only threatening the region but the entire planet.

The Minister of State for Environment, Dr. Iziaq Salami made the call on Monday while giving his opening remarks at the coordination meeting held

in Abuja of ECOWAS Marine Biodiversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ).

He said: “Our oceans require strong protection that can only be achieved through a new treaty for the conservation and management of marine life in

the high seas. This treaty must ensure that human activities are managed to prevent significant adverse impacts, with vigorous oversight mechanisms and provisions to establish fully and highly protected MPAs in the high seas.”

Lemo, Ayedun, Others Harp on Credit Economy, SMEs’ Empowerment SundayOkobi

engender credit economy, empower people through Small and medium enterprises (SMEs), and educate the

citizenry on the use of money for positive outcomes.

At an event organised by Credit Registry in collaboration with Afreximbank in Lagos, tagged: ‘The Africa Credit Expo (ACE)’, in his welcome address, the Chairman of Nigerian Export-Import Bank (NEXIM Bank) and former Deputy

Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Dr. Tunde Lemo, noted that the credit expo was to expose Nigerians to the benefits of money and how it had developed many nations.

He added that the meeting was also to engender credit economy in the country and educate the

citizenry on use of money for positive outcomes.

Also, the keynote speaker and Founder of Credit Registry, Taiwo Ayedun, put Nigeria’s untitled assets at about N430 trillion, using rough estimates of 22.5 million population, 4.5 million households at a threshold of N20 million per family.

75-year-old Man, Son Sue NDLEA over Alleged Harassment, Intimidation Wale Igbintade

A 75-year-old businessman, Taiwo Kayode Alli and his son, Hamid Alli have filed a fundamental rights suit against the Chairman, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency

(NDLEA), and four others before a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos over alleged intimidation, molestation and invasion of their house by the agency.

The Applicants through their lawyer, Eyitayo Abiodun are praying the court for an order

restraining Defendants either by themselves or acting through their agent, servant or privy from arresting, intimidating or molesting the applicants pending the determination of the application.

Listed as Respondents in the

suit are, the Chairman, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, Head NDLEA Lagos Zonal Command, Lagos State, Adetula Oluwarotimi Lawal (NDLEA Bariga Outpost), and NDLEA Personnel, Adekunle and Edward.

Kontagora Catholic Diocese Makes History, Conducts First Mass Wedding Laleye Dipo in Minna

WAPTV Wins Big at Media Industry Awards The Catholic Diocese of SundayOkobi

The CP said: “The preliminary investigations we have done so far, this morning, have not revealed any assassination attempt. All I knew was that Police officers were on patrol, convoy patrol, It’s a routine

Imo: Labour Party Protests Delayed Release of CTC of Results by INEC

experts and business Ondo Ruling House Wants Financial leaders in Nigeria have stated that for to develop economically, Akeredolu to Remove Kingmaker thethecountry Nigeria government must Fidelis David inAkure

so far on the allegation has not revealed any assassination attempt and pleaded with the Speaker or anybody that has evidence of attack to report to him immediately for onward investigation and action.

Kontagora in Niger State made history last weekend when it conducted a mass wedding for about 30 couples. This is just as the church has mounted a vigorous campaign against

polygamy.

The consumption of the wedding took place at the St Joseph’s Catholic Church in Agwara with the Catholic Bishop of Kontagora Diocese, Most Reverend Dr. Bulus Dauwa Yohanna, who is also the chairman of the Niger

State Chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN).

Yohanna said that with the wedding the couples’ marriages, some have lasted for more than 20 years, “are now legal.”

He said that the Christian doctrine and principles forbids a man and woman to cohabit

as husband and wife without being joined according to the law.

He explained that even though the husbands might have paid the traditional bride prices for their wives, it is still necessary for them to come before God and his people to be joined.

Vice-Chancellor Stresses Need to Empower Women in Civil Service on Internet Skills Ibrahim Oyewale in Lokoja

The Vice-Chancellor of Federal University Lokoja, Prof. Olayemi Akinwumi, has called on government at all levels, employers of labour and international organisations

to empower women in the civil service on computer and internet skills in order to combat internet fraud and other sharp practices in the country Akinwumi made the call yesterday in Lokoja, Kogi State, at the opening ceremony of a

three-day training workshop on ‘EmpowerNet: Secure-ConnectStrive for Kogi Women in Civil Service’, organised by US Exchange Alumni, Kogi State chapter.

The vice chancellor stated that the training workshop came at a

very auspicious time given the dynamics of today’s digital and competitive age.

He emphasised that computer literacy is not just a skill, but a gateway to economic independence, professional growth and social empowerment.

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House C’ttee Places Lottery Trust Fund on Status Enquiry for Spending 100% of IGR Juliet Akoje in Abuja

The House of Representatives Committee on Finance yesterday placed the National Lottery Trust Fund on status enquiry for spending 100 per cent of its internally generated revenue (IGR).

This will involve the committee appointing an external auditor to audit the

accounts of the Fund and the taken during the appearance report made available to the of the Executive Secretary/ House for further action.

Chief Executive Officer of the The Chairman of the Fund, Bello Maigari, before the committee, Hon James Faleke, committee in the ongoing 2024further directed the Fiscal Responsibility Commission and the Office of the Accountant General to also investigate the Gideon Arinze in Enugu Fund and submit their reports to the committee.

The Enugu State Polytechnic, The above resolutions were Iwollo, has received a 10-unit solar-powered hygiene and sanitary facility as part of efforts to tackle the menace of open defecation within the institution’s community. state’s economy.

The facility was executed He said that the welfare of the by multi-energy company, civil servants is among the top TotalEnergies E&P Nigeria priorities of the administration Limited, in collaboration with of Governor Bala Mohammed its joint development zone in recognition of the important partners, the Nigeria-Sao Tome roles they play in the delivery of and Principe Joint Development good services to the citizens.

Authority (NSTPJDA) and

The Deputy Governor of Bauchi State, Rt. Hon. Mohammed Auwal Jatau, has reiterated the unwavering commitment of the present administration to resolve the challenges bedeviling salary administration in the state’s civil service.

Speaking while declaring open, a two-day workshop at Zaranda Hotel for commissioners, special advisers, and permanent secretaries on the use of Pay Solutions software for salary administration, Hon Auwal Jatau said that ghost workers and other irregularities in the salary administration were major issue in previous administrations, leading to a wide range of issues such as corruption and lack of motivation among civil servants, among other issues.

The deputy governor recalled that since coming on board in 2019, the present administration has been working tirelessly to improve the living conditions of people through execution of people’s oriented policies and programmes, which cuts across all critical sectors of the

Bello, during his presentation, told the committee that the Fund has so far in 2023 generated N2, 492, 996, 588.13 of which the entire

sum has been expended on various projects, adding that the money was raised from statutory remittances from licences and permits holders.

Enugu Poly Gets Sanitary Facility to Tackle Open Defecation in Enugu

Bauchi Commits to Resolving Challenges in Salary Administration SegunAwofadejiinBauchi

2026 Medium Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper interactive session with Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

Exxon Mobil (ESSO).

Speaking during the official unveiling and handover of the project in Enugu yesterday, the Managing Director of TotalEnergies Upstream Nigeria Limited, Mathieu Bouyer, said the project was provided by the partners as part of their corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative.

Bouyer, who was represented by the acting General Manager of Corporate Social Responsibility, TotalEnergies E&P Nigeria, Tonye Osifo, said the outbreak of diseases like Ebola

Ekiti to Contribute Immensely to Mining Sector Devt, Says Alake Folalumi Alaran in Abuja

Citing the preponderance of natural resources, including solid minerals in Ekiti State, the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, has stated that the state will contribute significantly to the federal government’s quest to make solid minerals, a major revenue earner for the country.

Speaking while playing host to the Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, in his office, the minister reiterated the commitment of the federal government to partnering states to reform the mining sector with a view to

ensuring maximum benefits for host communities and accruable revenue for the government.

In his remarks, Governor Oyebanji expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for appointing an illustrious son of Ekiti State as the helmsman of the solid minerals ministry, asserting that the minister is the state’s best choice and that he has been using his vantage position to advance the cause of Ekiti State.

The governor emphasised the imperative of collaborating with the federal government on mining sector reforms for the economic development of federating units.

According to him, “The other reason why I came here is to discuss how Ekiti State can partner the minister to ensure that we key into his vision. It is in the interest of states to collaborate because it is a win-win situation. Any discerning state that wants to develop its domain must key into the mining sector. I see a lot of opportunities for sub-nationals. He is trying to democratise the space, and it will create wealth. It will create jobs, and it will increase security too. So, I don’t see how any state will not partner the ministry because the solid mineral is the new oil.”

and COVID-19 has shown that basic hygiene such as hand washing and a good sanitary environment can go a long way in protecting the populace from infectious diseases.

He said: “It is for this reason that we have decided to embark on this project, which is in line with our commitment to the well-being and economic development of not only our host states but the country at large.”

Earlier, the Executive Director of Finance and Administration at the NSTPJDA, Almajiri

Geidam, thanked TotalEnergies for ensuring the quality performance of the contract, the authorities, and students of the polytechnic, and for creating a conducive working environment and the contractor for delivering on the project.

In his address, the Deputy Rector of the polytechnic, Ejike Ajibo, said the institution’s management would ensure that the facility is adequately maintained to ensure its sustainable use for maximum positive impact on the school community.

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T H I S D AY • TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2023

TUESdaysports

Group Sports Editor: Duro Ikhazuagbe Email: duro.ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com

0811 181 3083 SMS ONLY

Fumbling Peseiro on Zamalek’s Radar to Replace Sacked Coach Duro Ikhazuagbe

Under-fire Super Eagles Head Coach, Jose Peseiro, is one of the coaches being considered to replace sacked Colombian Coach, Juan Carlos Osorio, at Egypt’s Zamalek.

The Portuguese gaffer who sealed a new Nigerian deal to continue as Super Eagles supremo last June has only picked two points from a possible six against two of Africa’s minnow teams, Lesotho and Zimbabwe in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

If South Africa pick another win today in Bafana Bafana’s second Group C game against Rwanda, Peseiro’s Super Eagles will be four points below rivals South Africa.

Egypt’s news outlet, Kooora, quoted an official source at Zamalek Club yesterday, hinting that Peseiro is one of the candidates to lead the club following the sacking of Osorio The Zamalek Council decided to dismiss Osorio due to poor results,

the most recent of which was a defeat by the newly promoted Z team to the Premier League However, the chances of Peseiro getting the job is reportedly slim owing to the quality of his CV. According to the publication, “But he (Peseiro) does not enjoy any preference. He is just one name among many CVs on the board of directors’ table.”

The source further added: “The football administration, represented by the board of directors duo, Ahmed Suleiman and Hussein Al-Sayed, has not finished working on this file and has not settled on a specific name yet, and it is still in the study stage.”

He concluded: “The Board of Directors supports Motamed Jamal, the interim technical director, and it is possible that he will be present until the suspension period next January, in the event that a foreign technical director is not contracted,” concludes the unnamed source.

NNL: Olofinjana Impressed as Edel Hold Smart City

Messi’s Six Jerseys at Qatar World Cup Go On Auction Six of the shirts worn by Lionel Messi during Argentina's World Cup-winning campaign are to be sold at auction.

Captain Messi, 36, lifted the trophy after they beat France on penalties in last December's final in Qatar.

His shirt from the final is included in the set of six, which are expected to fetch more than £8m in the auction hosted by Sotheby's in New York.

The record for a game-worn football shirt is Diego Maradona's 'Hand of God' jersey, which sold for £7.1m in 2022.

Brahm Wachter, Sotheby's head of modern collectibles, said the sale of Messi's six shirts "stands as a monumental occasion in auction history".

"The 2022 FIFA World Cup stands as one of the greatest events in sports history, intrinsically connected to Messi's valiant journey and firmly establishing his status as the greatest player of all time," Wachter said.

Messi, an eight-time Ballon d'Or winner, became the first player in World Cup history to score in the group stage, last 16, quarter-finals, semi-finals and final of a single tournament.

Wachter added: "It is an honour for Sotheby's to present and exhibit these invaluable collectables to the public, which encapsulate the sheer brilliance of a player who has redefined the boundaries of football excellence."

The collection of Messi's shirts will be on view at Sotheby's New York headquarters in a free, public exhibition during the bidding process, which is open between 30 November and 14 December.

Messi played in all seven of Argentina's 2022 World Cup matches, but only two of the three shirts he wore during the group stage will be auctioned after Australia squad member Cameron Devlin swapped shirts with the former Barcelona forward during the tournament.

Lagos Agog as 1XBET Cup Final Holds Thursday The final match of the inaugural edition of the 1XBET Community Football Championship holds this Thursday, November 23, 2023 between Ighalo FC and Bariga FC. This clash is the climax of the six-week long Zonal playoffs which started since October. It a pure grassroots football across five different communities in Lagos State.

Forty teams of non-league players started the journey and now, the tourney sponsored by foremost Nigerian betting company, 1XBET, has Ighalo FC and Bariga FC who topped the Mainland and Epe Conferences respectively in the final.

Organisers of the championship, Match International Limited led

by Engr. Waidi Akanni, while chatting with 1XBET Cup Media team, expressed his satisfaction with the standard, discipline and quality of play displayed by the teams and officials, so far, in the championship.

"We are very impressed by what we have seen so far, in the championship. All the teams and officials have showed that with more of such competitions, there's hope

for non-league players, as well as, young players to express their innate talents for further exposure.

The former Nigeria international player, who was also a former Chairman of Lagos State Football Association, expressed untold praises to the sponsors of the epochal competition.

"We give profound gratitude and appreciation to 1XBET for sponsoring this championship. We have had several grassroots football competitions hosted in different parts of Nigeria.Yet, I can confidently tell you that the 1XBET Community Football Championship, has set a lofty and enviable benchmark for grassroots football development in Nigeria."

According to the organisers, the final match of the championship between Odion Ighalo FC and Bariga FC, slated for Thursday, November 23, at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Onikan, Lagos would be preceeded by a novelty 5-aside match between Lagos Legends, a group of former footballers, and then the equally important third-place game, between De Elites FC and Young Strikers FC.

Coach Jose Peseiro (left) with the Super Eagles at one of the team’s training sessions

Former Super Eagles midfielder, Seyi Olofinjana, has declared that he is impressed by the Nigeria National League (NNL) Match-day 1 fixture yesterday involving Smart City and Edel at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena in Onikan Lagos.

Olofinjana who spoke after watching the two sides play out a 1-1 draw stressed that there was a massive improvement in the NNL. He therefore commended the George Aluo-led NNL board for taking steps to make the league attractive.

“I am impressed with what I saw today. Good officiating, fine football artistry by very young players paraded by the two teams. The organisers of the league are doing a good job,” Olofinjana stated.

The Smart City, Edel tie was one in which the two teams gave the fans a lot to cheer.

Smart City dominated the first half and drew the first blood in the 20th minute courtesy of Chinonso Uzoma’s strike.

Edel returned in the second half determined not to leave for Nnewi empty handed. They got rewarded in the 55th minute when Arinze Anya got the equaliser.

Nigeria’s Yellow-Greens Arrive Namibia for Qualifier Nigeria’s national men’s cricket team, the ‘Yellow-Greens’, touched down at Windhoek yesterday to begin their campaign in the International Cricket Council Men’s T20 World Cup Qualifier running till November, 30th.

The Coach Steve Tikolo-led side had camped in Zimbabwe for the last week for the final phase of their preparation for the T20 World Cup. Other countries vying for the two spots at stake in the event include Namibia (Host), Kenya,

I C C M E N ’S T 2 0 W O R L D C U P Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Uganda, and Rwanda.

South-West representative on the board of the Nigeria Cricket Federation, Tayo Atoloye, said that the event will be a good test for the national team.

“While we have done our best to prepare the team, I believe our expectations should be measured.

Yes, the national team has not lost a

competitive match since 2022, and we recently just came through the West Africa Trophy win a ten-game unbeaten record. This event will test our limits.”

He said the board is focused on the future of the team they are looking beyond the event.

Nigeria’s team is captained by Sylvester Okpe, other members of the team include; Peter Aho,

Ademola Onikoyi, Sesan Adedeji, Sulaimon Runsewe, Prosper Useni, Chiemelie Udekwe, Ridwan Kareem, Isaac Okpe, Daniel Ajekun, Isaac Danladi, Taiwo Mohammed, Joshua Asia, Akhere Isesele and Ashmit Shrestha.

Nigeria’s opening match will be against Kenya on Thursday, November 22, 2023, Nigeria will take on Rwanda in their second game on Friday, they will take a break on Saturday and then return on Sunday to take on Tanzania.

Free Prostrate Screening at Dozy Mmobuosi Foundation Fitness Walk Duro Ikhazuagbe

Financier of the newest Nigerian National League club-side, 1472 FC, Dozy Mmobuosi has enjoined adult male Nigerians to improve their health life by taking advantage of the free prostrate cancer screening being provided by his Dozy Mmobuosi Foundation.

Last Saturday, hundreds of enthusiastic Lagosians, including retired sports men, leading Nollywood actors, Kepy Ekpenyong, Fred Amata, Emeka Ossai, Efe Omorogbe who is Manager to Afrobeats singer, Tu Face Idibia and film producer, John Eke, took part in a 3.7km walk from under the bridge in Ikeja to the Ikeja City Mall.

Immediately after the walk, a lecture organised by the Foundation held at the car park of the mall to create awareness on the scourge of the disease said to be on the

R-L: Nollywood Actors; Emeka Ossai and Kepy Ekpenyong leading the Dozy Mmobuosi Foundation Fitness Walk along Awolowo Road, Ikeja... last Saturday top list of ailments that kill black African men.

The health talk was anchored

by Lagos State University Teaching

Hospital (LASUTH) Urologist, Dr. Adebowale Oyebade, who counseled that prostrate screening should be done at least once a year

by adult males who are 40 years and above.

Oyebade said the importance of screening is to detect very early any challenges of the prostrate at which stage it can be fully treated.

He added that "prostrate health should be the concern of everyone and not just men. When a man suffers from prostrate enlargement or the extreme case of cancerous growth, it affects the entire family starting from the wife who will be denied conjugal benefits of marriage and the children whose education may be affected. It overall brings emotional burden on the family, relations and friends" Responding to the lecture, Ekpenyong who is one of the foundation actors of the modern movie industry in the country, thanked the organisers for consistently putting together the campaign in the last three years.

Tuesday, November 21, 2023

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Price: N250

MISSILE

Shaibu to Governorship Competitors

“Are we going to experiment with a new person again? And the person will spend the first four years learning on the job and he will spend another four years trying to embezzle, set up his businesses in the name of consolidating on the gains of the first term.” --Edo State Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu, daring Governor Obaseki, joins race for governor.

TUESDAY WITH REUBENABATI abati1990@gmail.com

Ribadu And Buhari’s Bankrupt Country N

uhu Ribadu, former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) now Nigeria’s National Security Adviser has been very vocal lately and there may well be many out there who may be wondering why the NSA, effectively the country’s official “father of secrets” should be so loud in the public arena. The NSA in any country is an ultra-senior adviser to the President, counsellor and confidant on both domestic and foreign policies. He is also a coordinator of the country’s security network. But there is no manual as to the style or method that any NSA brings to the office. It is simply a matter of character and choice. A National Security Adviser may choose to be in the background or opt to be vocal like Zbigniew Brzezinski of the United States, and Henry Kissinger who was both NSA and Secretary of State in his time. Kissinger was so public and vocal, he often appeared as if he was sharing power with President Richard Nixon. It looks like Nuhu Ribadu, the current National Security Adviser of Nigeria has chosen to be up-front and centre-stage and we must pay attention to what he says. In the last week alone, he has spoken twice and his statements are pungent.

First, on November 13, at the annual Conference of the Chief of Defence Intelligence, Ribadu disclosed that Tinubu inherited “a bankrupt country.” The theme of the Conference was “Leveraging Defence Democracy and Regional Collaboration and Enhanced National Security”. He told his audience: “We are facing very serious budgetary constraints. It is okay for me to tell you. It is fine for you to know. We have a very serious situation… We have inherited a very difficult country, a bankrupt country to the extent that we are paying back what was taken. It is serious.”

Ribadu repeated more or less the same concerns, a few days later at the 19th Annual Conference of All Nigeria Editors in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State where in addressing the theme: “Stimulating Economic Growth, Technological Advancement: Role of the Media”, he called for the support of all Nigerians in eliminating all forms of insecurity. Earlier, at the Defence Chiefs Conference, he had praised the military for their patriotism which had led to a reduction in the spate of violent deaths, (from 1, 200 to less than 100 deaths), and increase in crude oil production – from 900, 000 barrels per day under Buhari to 1.7 million barrels per day under President Tinubu. He further said that the Bola Tinubu administration is committed to tackling the challenges that Nigeria faces.

It was intriguing to see Nuhu Ribadu, a former Chairman of the EFCC in the role of a social critic.

But he wasn’t saying anything new or original. As far back as August 2016, Emir Sanusi Lamido Sanusi had raised the alarm that the Buhari administration was running the Nigerian economy aground. He even gave six recommendations which the government of the day ignored. Seven years ago, Sanusi II also warned the government about the dangers of using foreign reserves to keep the exchange rate at its official level in the market. He said the policy would never work!

Nobody listened. In more recent days, he has since reminded everyone how Buhari mismanaged Nigeria.

Like Sanusi II, President Olusegun Obasanjo in the last seven years has also consistently accused the Buhari administration of spending recklessly and terribly lacking the understanding of economics. Obasanjo has not changed his mind that indeed Buhari caused Nigeria’s current economic woes due to sheer recklessness. Obasanjo and Sanusi II are not alone. In August, Senator Adams Oshiomhole also said the same thing.

Wale Edun, the Minister of Finance and Co-ordinating Minister of the Economy told us, also in August, that the Tinubu administration inherited a “bad” economy with an unacceptable high rate of unemployment and inflation: “We met a bad economy and the promise of Mr. President is to make it better,” he said.

The question to ask is where was Ribadu between 2015 and 2023 under Buhari? Where was Wale Edun? Or Adams Oshiomhole, and all the self-styled economists now advising this administration? In 2019, Nuhu Ribadu was in fact the Director of Field Operations for the APC Presidential Campaign. He helped to bring Buhari back to power. Oshiomhole also campaigned for him. Were

Nuhu Ribadu

Former President Muhammadu Buhari

they deaf then to the protests by Sanusi II and Obasanjo that Buhari and his team were destroying Nigeria’s economy? What Ribadu, Edun, Oshiomhole and other APC figures now criticizing Buhari are doing amounts to self-indictment. They were part of the problem.

And since Ribadu insists that the truth must be told: at what point did he discover the truth by the way?, let it be known that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu lacks the right to moralize over the failure of the Buhari government. Did he not boast in the domain of the man he called the Eleyi of Ogun State (Governor Dapo Abiodun) that he, Tinubu was the Godfather who re-discovered Buhari, told him to stop crying, and made him President. Where was he when his chosen President was mismanaging the economy? What did he do? Now that he has taken back what he believes rightly belongs to him, he now blames the APC “John the Baptist” at the Presidential Villa.

There is this traditional folk wisdom that says you can help a man to get a job, but you cannot help him to discharge the responsibilities that come with the office, how he goes about it is his responsibility. It is just that we are shocked to hear from NSA Ribadu that Buhari left an empty treasury and ran the country aground. Buhari met a country debt profile of N12.6 billion in 2015, he left behind N87 trillion debt in 2023!

By May 29, 2023, Nigeria’s inflation rate was 24%, the country was left in such a stranglehold that by October, headline inflation had accelerated to 27.33%.

Food inflation is now 31.52%, unemployment rate is over 50%. Buhari left behind a chaotic foreign exchange system, a weak, badly devalued national currency, a compromised, over-politicized Central Bank, a huge debt overhang with the debt service to revenue ratio at 98%. One of the major reasons Nigerians supported Buhari was out of the belief that as a retired Army General and a former military Head of State, he would be able to deal with the challenges of terrorism, insurgency and banditry head-long. Ribadu who is a policeman has disclosed that he did not make much difference. Buhari adopted the strategy of pacifying and appeasing terrorists. His administration gave criminals “aso ebi.” He served them pepper soup and jollof rice, under the guise of rehabilitation. Till the last moment, the Buhari administration blamed the Jonathan administration that preceded it for all its woes. Even when it became clear that the duty of every administration was to improve on the efforts of its predecessor, and that eight years was more than enough to make a difference, Buhari and his people continued to blame Jonathan.

But here is what Karma has served: in September, Mr Wale Edun said on record that the Jonathan administration stabilized the Nigerian economy, and that the last time the Nigerian economy functioned was under Jonathan.

Since he left office, President Jonathan who marked his 66th birthday yesterday, has remained relevant. His example continues to endure as a gold standard for democratic conduct and sportsmanship. He did not play “do or die politics”. In the face of the desperation of

APC politicians who were threatening to burn down the country in 2015, if they were not allowed to take power, he decided to walk away, and said Nigeria was more important than anyone’s individual ambition. Other African leaders have followed in his footsteps: John Mahama of Ghana and George Weah of Liberia. He is today one of the most sought-after former Presidents in the world – leading election observation missions and intervening in peace building processes. I doubt if any international organization would require President Buhari’s services any time soon.

I am in fact surprised that all the spokespersons of President Buhari who used to spit fire and brimstone have moved on. Notably. where is Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the former Minister of Information? He is now a Special Adviser to the Secretary General of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). He has moved on. Femi Adesina, Presidential Spokesperson is now Vice Chairman of The Sun newspapers. He is a Pastor of the Foursquare Gospel Church. He has also taken a traditional chieftaincy title from his home town, Oluomo of Ipetumodu, in addition to chieftaincy titles he already had from Abia (Ugo Mba 1 of Isieketa) and Enugu (Nwanne di Namba of Nmaku). Pastor, multiple-Chief Femi Adesina has also moved on. In 2022, President Buhari, trying to show that he was determined to address the economic challenges that the country faced, decided to set up a Presidential Economic Advisory Council (PEAC) to replace the Economic Management Team led by then Vice President Yemi Osinbajo. The committee was chaired by Dr. Doyin Salami of the Lagos Business School (LBS). Members included Bismarck Rewane, CEO Financial Derivatives, Chukwuma C. Soludo, former CBN Governor and now Governor of Anambra State, Professor Ode Ojowu, Dr Mohammed Sagagi, Dr Salisu Mohammed, Iyabo Masha: all first-class brains in economics and finance. In 2022, Salami was later made Chief Economic Adviser to the President. It took President Buhari four years to set up an Economic Advisory Council and seven years to appoint a Chief Economic Adviser. Obviously, he didn’t think the economy was important as Obasanjo alleged. Exactly what kind of advice did he receive?

We may never know. His economic advisers have all melted into the folds of the Nigerian jungle where anything is possible. They are all probably waiting for the next Nigeria Economic Summit Group meeting where they can sound off about macroeconomics, scenarios, and those cliches with which textbook economics lobby for appointments. They too have moved on, in search of the next client. The only man who seems to be hanging around - our good friend Garba Shehu, also seems to have gone possum.

After President Buhari left office on May 29, Garba Shehu stayed back to help manage communications.

He was Senior Special Assistant (Media and Publicity) to President Buhari. He continues to function in that capacity in the private sphere, playing the role of an attacking midfielder in the Buhari team. Each time anybody tries to attack the Buhari record, he pounces,

and provides an alternative view. One of the first pieces he wrote after May 29 was “One Hundred Days After Buhari”- an innovation in presidential communications. He has also had cause to tell us that Buhari brought Nigeria out of economic hardship, why Buhari could not remove fuel subsidy and that his boss is not responsible for Nigeria’s high inflation rate.

When Mohammed Bello Adoke, SAN, former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice said in an interview with Adesua Giwa-Osagie that the Buhari administration was “the most incompetent in Nigerian history led by a set of political morons”, Shehu was quick to go after Adoke with expletives.

But why has Garba Shehu not responded to NSA Nuhu Ribadu who has in fact outrightly accused the Buhari administration of theft? It has been a week since Ribadu delivered his double bombshell, and we have not heard from Garba Shehu. Is Shehu afraid of the NSA? Is he also aware that former Minister of Communications under Buhari, Adebayo Shittu has said on Channels TV: “In Buhari’s government, if you don’t go and meet him for the next four years, he would probably would not ask of you.” Engr. Shittu, he probably was not aware of your existence! Deal with that, please. However, I have seen, as of the time of this writing, a statement by Mallam Shehu on X (formerly Twitter) to the effect that President Muhammadu Buhari himself would appear on NTA Network, Monday, in an interview session titled “A Conversation with History.” The interviewer should ask him: how and why did he bankrupt Nigeria? His handlers should advise him not to come up with the jaded, contrived, response that he inherited a bad economy, which has been exposed as a blatant lie by those who should know.

This is where the Tinubu administration seems to be different. Whereas the Tinubu team has been saying that Buhari ruined the Nigerian economy because he was the perfect clueless leader, they have also been forthright in saying that Tinubu is determined to correct whatever may have gone wrong. That is leadership.

That is accountability. That is courage. In Mecca, Saudi Arabia, a week ago, Tinubu said yes, he inherited liabilities but he also inherited assets. But “we do not make any excuses”. That is what Nigerians want – a leader who would “not make any excuses”. Buhari and his team spent eight years giving one excuse or the other. Throughout, they blamed President Jonathan, and hounded his team. At other times it was COVID-19. Or the President’s health. Or the Russia-Ukraine war. They even blamed the weather! Meanwhile, they abused Ways and Means and broke the law. Tinubu says he will make a difference. We expect him to do so.

It is not enough however, for the National Security Adviser to tell us that Nigerians “face a serious situation” and that “we are paying back what was taken”. If indeed, it is fine for us to know as he says, then he has to come out with the whole truth and nothing but the truth. The country’s NSA cannot afford to sound like a social media commentator. He must back his claims with concrete evidence. For acknowledging the right of the people to know, can he please tell us: who took what away? How much was taken away? How much are we paying back? How much have we paid back so far? Who are those persons responsible for bankrupting Nigeria? By making the statements he made in Abuja and Uyo, he faces the test of transparency and accountability. Full disclosure cannot be a threat to national security. Having brought the matter to the public domain, the NSA is obliged to tell us more.

The major thing we know for now is the repeated disclosure by the Coordinating Minister of the Economy that Nigeria can no longer borrow to fund budget deficit, and that it would be unwise to borrow more when debt service to revenue ratio is 98%, and the budget as a percentage of GDP is 10%. Edun thinks the country should focus more on revenue generation through infrastructure. He was accompanied to the Joint Senate Committee by Zach Adedeji, Chairman of Federal Inland Revenue Service and Ms. Patience Oniha, Director-General of the Debt Management Office (DMO).

Patience Oniha? Yes, the same Ms. Oniha who used to tell us that there is nothing wrong with borrowing.

Madam has started singing a new song…Oh la la…

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