THURSDAY 28TH DECEMBER 2023

Zenith Bank Emerges Best Bank For Digital Solutions in Nigeria in the Euromoney Awards 2023 Kayode Tokede

Zenith Bank Plc has been named the “Best Bank for Digital Solutions in Nigeria” in the Euromoney Awards for Excellence 2023, underscoring the

bank’s pioneering and outstanding achievements in delivering cuttingedge digital financial solutions.

Speaking on the recognition, the Group Managing Director/CEO of Zenith Bank Plc, Dr. Ebenezer

Onyeagwu, said, “We are delighted to receive the distinction as the Best Bank for Digital Solutions in Nigeria. This accolade serves as a validation of Zenith Bank’s trailblazing initiatives in integrat-

ing advanced technology within Nigeria’s financial services sector.

Our commitment to expanding the horizons of digital financial services is unwavering, and we will persist in our efforts to innovate and deliver

enhanced value to our customers and stakeholders.”

Dr. Onyeagwu dedicated the award to the Founder and Chairman of Zenith Bank Plc, Jim Ovia, CFR, for his visionary approach to

integrating technology into banking, establishing an exemplary model for service delivery at a time when the potential of technology in banking Continued on page 38

Nigeria’s Riverside LNG Nears Historic Deal to Supply Gas to South Africa... Page 8 Thursday 28 December, 2023 Vol 28. No 10487. Price: N250

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Shettima Condoles Plateau Communities, Maintains Nation Won't Rest Until They Get Justice

Idris assures Tinubu will secure every inch of Nigeria’s territory Authorities must take action, says deputy speaker

Deji Elumoye, Emmanuel Addeh, Juliet Akoje in Abuja and Seriki Adinoyi in Jos

Vice President Kashim Shettima

has declared that the President Bola Tinubu's administration will not rest on its oars until victims of the gruesome attacks on communities in Barkin-Ladi and Bokkos local

government areas of Plateau State get justice and the residents are safe.

Shettima, according to a release issued by his media aide, Stanley Nkwocha, gave the assurance

yesterday when he visited crisisravaged communities in Plateau state to condole with the people and state government over the recent killings in area.

Vowing that the killings on the Plateau and other parts of the country must stop, Shettima said Tinubu was heartbroken by the massacre.

"Now, please accept our heartfelt condolences, please accept our deepest apologies. Because we won’t rest Continued on page 38

Aiyedatiwa Sworn in as Ondo Governor, Nigerians Mourn Akeredolu, Na'Abba Ex-governor succumbs to prostate cancer at 67 Dies in Germany after multiple organ failures, infection Former Speaker dies at 65 Shettima, Kwankwaso, others pay last respects as ex-speaker is buried Fidelis David in Akure and Ahmad Sorondinki in Kano Ondo State Deputy Governor and acting governor, Mr. Lucky Aiyedatiwa, was yesterday swornin as the substantive governor of the state, less than 24 hours after news of the passing of Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu broke.

Aiyedatiwa took the oath of office amid a nationwide mourning of his former principal, who died of prostate cancer on Wednesday in Germany.

Akeredolu died in the early hours of yesterday after a protracted battle with prostate cancer, and later leukaemia. He was 67.

THISDAY learnt from close family sources that Akeredolu suffered multiple organ failures and had infection, before he passed away.

The eighth Speaker of the House of Representatives, Ghali Umar Na’Abba, also died yesterday, in Continued on page 38

The Nation Feels Your Pain… SHETTIMA Condoles Plateau Victims...

Vice President Kashim Shettima in Bokkos LGA, Plateau, yesterday, consoling some victims of the Christmas Eve attack

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

NEWS

BUDGET SIGNING...

Governor of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Mbah (middle), flanked by the Speaker, Enugu State House of Assembly, Hon. Uchenna Ugwu (right) and the Clerk to the State Assembly, Dr. Emma Udaya (left) as he signed the Enugu State 2024 Budget into law yesterday.

Consumers' Rights Commission Slams $110m Fine on British American Tobacco Companies

Says firms violated tobacco control policies, regulations Coys under two-year supervision to ensure appropriate behavioural business practices modification, others James Emejo in Abuja and Wale Igbintade and Dike Onwuamaeze in Lagos The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has fined the British American Tobacco (Nigeria) Limited (BATN) and its affiliates the sum of $110 million over a range of infringements of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act, National Tobacco Control Act and sundry legal instruments.

The other firms named in the sanctions regime are the British American Tobacco Marketing (Nigeria) Limited (BATMN), British American Tobacco Plc, British American Tobacco (Holdings) Limited - all referred to as BAT parties.

The FCCPC in a statement issued by the management yesterday, explained that the commission on August 28, 2020, opened an active investigation with respect to British American Tobacco Nigeria Limited and other affiliated companies (BAT Parties).

The commencement of the investigation was based on the commission’s satisfaction that a series of credible pieces of information and intelligence were actionable enough

for broader and deeper inquiry with respect to certain conduct, for, by and on behalf of BAT parties.

Upon satisfying the Federal High Court that there was probable cause and sufficient evidence to exercise advanced statutory regulatory/ investigatory tools, the court issued an Order and Warrant of Search and Seizure.

In furtherance, and pursuant to the Order and Warrant, the commission on January 25, 2021 executed simultaneous and contemporaneous searches and seizures at multiple BAT parties locations and a location of a service provider.

The commission said it gathered, received and procured substantial evidence from forensic analysis of electronic communications and other information/data obtained during the search, as well as other evidence procured during, and after the search from other legitimate sources.

The consumers' rights commission said, "Additional investigation, including proffers, hearings, transcripts of sworn testimonies, and continuing analysis of evidence established and supported multiple violations of the FCCPA and other enactments.

"During the investigation and in furtherance of mutual engagements

between the commission and BAT parties, BAT parties in writing sought, and the commission accepted BAT parties into cooperation under the Commission’s Cooperation/ Assistance Rules and Procedure, 2021 (CARP).

"The Cooperation/Assistance Framework (CAF) provides for benefits such as possible reduced monetary penalties (Rule 4.1); waiver of the application of the Commission’s Administrative

Penalties Regulations 2020 (Rule 4.2); as well as prosecutorial discretion, particularly Rules 5.1 and 5.3 (subject to compliance with Rules 3 and 5.4)."

It stated that "Upon full consideration of the record, BAT parties’ additional articulation, representations and correspondence; totality of evidence procured, violations established under law, BAT Parties’ entry into, and conduct in cooperation and assistance under the Commission’s CAF; the Commission closed the

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, has assured that in spite of the present challenges, Nigerians will laugh, as the administration of President Bola Tinubu is committed to delivering on its Renewed Hope Agenda.

He gave the assurance in Markudi during his address at a birthday colloquium/symposium organised in his honour as part of activities to mark his 70th birthday.

He appealed to Nigerians to pray and believe in the country saying the government would work tirelessly to address those challenges headlong.

"I am appealing again that you pray for Nigeria, for it is the only country we have. No matter the difficulties, no matter the deficiencies, the future is bright. Tomorrow will be better than today and I assure you it is going to be better than today. “ Nations are great because its citizens believe that tomorrow will be better than today. What about today?

Consumer Protection Commission’s Investigative Cooperation/Assistance Rules and Procedures, 2021.

Among other resolutions, the BAT Parties shall be subject to a compliance and monitoring under the supervision of the commission for a period of two years to ensure appropriate behavioral and business practices modification to be more consistent with compliance with prevailing competition laws/regulations; and tobacco control efforts.

Ex-minister Denies Complicity in Alleged N37bn Fraud in Humanitarian Ministry Vows to defend her actions while in office

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

A former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya UmarFarouk, has denied links with one Mr. James Okwete, who is reportedly being investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for alleged N37 billion fraud.

In a statement signed by her Media Assistant, Alexander Udeh, the ex-minister under the erstwhile Muhammadu Buhari administration, explained that she will be willing to defend her actions while in office , anywhere and anytime.

Titled: “EFCC Investigates N37 Billion Fraud: My Position,” UmarFarouk in the statement, stated that

At His Birthday Colloquium, Akume Assures Nigerians of Better Future Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja

investigation by the Commission and BAT Parties’ mutual execution of a Consent Order and Notice with both parties agreeing; "That BAT parties shall pay a penalty of $110,000,000 (One Hundred and Ten Million Dollars) under and pursuant to Sections 155 of the FCCPA, Clause 11 of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission’s Administrative Penalties Regulations, 2020 and Clause 4.2 of the Federal Competition and

It may be rough and tough. But when you have a very difficult problem, it takes time to get it addressed. You don't treat them with kid gloves," Akume said.

He thanked Tinubu for counting him worthy to be appointed as the government scribe to form part of his team that will deliver on his agenda.

The SGF also stressed the need for unity and tolerance among the country's diversified ethnic and religious affiliations, saying the president believes in unity in diversity

as exemplified in the appointments he has made so far.

He encouraged Nigerians to toe the same line for the progress of the country as he is confident that in the country’s diversity lies its strength when it's well managed.

The Governor of Benue State, Hyacinth Alia, who was represented by his Deputy, Dr. Sam Ode, described the SGF as a political colossus and a democratic patriarch who laid a solid foundation upon which the new Benue state is resting.

she neither knows nor has any links with the said contractor, Okwete.

There had been reports that the EFCC had arrested a contractor, Okwete, in connection with the ongoing probe into the N37 billion allegedly laundered by the ministry.

It stated that Okwete, who was allegedly used in laundering the money had been arrested by the commission and is currently detained in the custody of the anti-graft agency.

According to the report, he had been giving investigators more details that had allegedly indicted the former minister, and some top staff of the ministry.

But Umar-Farouk described the reports as merely speculative, insisting that at no time did Okwete represent her in any capacity whatsoever.

“My attention has been drawn to publications in some online media outlets trying to link my name with the activities of one Mr. James Okwete who is reportedly being investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)

over alleged financial improprieties.

“Ordinarily, I would have ignored such publications, which at best could be seen and regarded as speculative but doing so will give energy to the adventure of those who take delight in mudslinging, especially against those who are, or have been privileged to hold public offices.

“In this age of digital media when unverified materials are easily dumped and recalled from the cyber space, it would be ‘inappropriate’ to ignore such a malicious linkage.

“I wish to state categorically that I neither know the said Mr. Okwete nor has ever had him represent me in any way whatsoever. Therefore, linking me with him in whatever guise is bogus and ill-intentioned,” she added.

Umar-Farouk stated that she remains proud to have served the country as minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria with every sense of responsibility and would defend her actions, stewardship and programmes during her tenure whenever she is called upon to do so.

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NEWS

Tinubu meets Lagos politicians and traditional rulers...

Chairman, Bariga LCDA and President, Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Hon. Kolade Alabi; Secretary to Lagos State government , Barr. Abimbola Salu-Hundeyin; Deputy Governor, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat; Chief of Staff to the President, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila; Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu; President Bola Tinubu; Ayangburen of Ikorodu, Oba Saheed Shotobi; Speaker of the Lagos House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa; Oloja of Epe, Oba Kamorudeen Animashaun; Aladesoyin of Odo Noforija Kingdom, Oba Babatunde Ogunlaja; the Erelu Kuti IV of Lagos, Erelu Abiola Dosunmu with other traditional rulers, during the President’s meeting with Lagos politicians and traditional rulers in Lagos, at the Government House, Marina, ... yesterday

Mbah Signs N521.5bn Enugu 2024 Budget into Law, Lists Expected Gains Charges state exco on revenue mobilisation, service delivery

Governor Peter Mbah has signed a N521.5 billion Enugu State 2024 budget into law, saying it would engender disruptive economic growth, radical infrastructural development, and efficient service delivery.

Mbah, who said that the Enugu State 2024 Appropriation Law, consisting N414.3 billion capital expenditure, representing 79 per cent of the budget, and N107.2

billion, representing 21 per cent of the budget, would rely heavily on Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), charged members of the executive on robust revenue mobilisation and service delivery.

Speaking during the budget signing, which was witnessed by members of the Enugu State House of Assembly, led by the Speaker, Hon. Uchenna Ugwu, as

well as commissioners and other top government functionaries at the Government House, Enugu yesterday, Mbah thanked members of the state legislature for their support across party lines.

He said that the expeditious passage of the budget was a product of executive-legislature collaboration during the making of the budget estimates, and listed the multiple

gains expected from the 2024 budget.

“What this budget signing means to the people of Enugu is that we are going to be spending over N400 billion on capital projects in the next year. This is the first time in the history of the state that we are spending that size of funds on capital projects because we are spending 20 times more than what has been typically our capital

Tinubu: Economy Undergoing Re-engineering for Prosperity of All Deji Elumoye in Abuja President Bola Tinubu has disclosed that Nigeria, under his Renewed Hope Administration, is undergoing a process of financial re-engineering and appealed to citizens to be patient and supportive of the ongoing reforms which are bound to transform the economy for the better.

The President, who made the declaration yesterday at the State House in Marina, Lagos State, during a town-hall meeting with traditional rulers, chairpersons of Local Governments and Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) and other political-office holders in the state, said the financial re-engineering of the country is ongoing.

He said: "We are determined to deliver Nigeria safely through the tunnel of hope, stability, and economic prosperity. ''Nigeria is in good hands. The team is working, and we will work hard to give you the best economy and the best opportunities that you can imagine" President Tinubu stated that his administration will not stop working tirelessly to revamp the nation's economy and create viable opportunities for young people to meaningfully participate in an inclusive, labour-intensive economy where businesses can thrive.

Acknowledging the concerns raised at the meeting, the President explained that the complexities of state matters have limited his opportunities to frequently interact with some of his long-time friends and constituents in Lagos. ''For those having difficulty seeing me, kindly note that this job is

monumental. It is not a one-man job. It is a collective task, and you have to be able to listen, decipher, tolerate, and sometimes what you do not expect will happen. ''As I was getting ready this morning to come here, news of the death of Governor Rotimi Akeredeolu of Ondo came in, as well as the passing of former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Ghali Umar Na’Abba. ''Power is transient. Only Almighty Allah gives power, and only him will take it. There is the value of life and the goodness in what we do.

The salt of goodness is a multiplier

of other good things that we must cherish. Not necessarily for us, but for our children and grandchildren,'' the President affirmed.

Reflecting on his tenure as the Governor of Lagos State, President Tinubu recounted the challenges faced and the successes achieved at the time.

According to him: ‘‘To turn the ship around from cascading into turbulence and making it work was not easy. But we went through it, and today, Lagos still remains the most viable state in the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and it will continue on the path of glory. I thank you all".

Earlier in his speech, Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, thanked President Tinubu for his leadership and for being the pathfinder of "the modern Lagos State". ''The legacy and blueprint that you created more than 20 years ago and bequeathed to us is still a working and living document that will continue to guide us in delivering quality service to the people,'' the Governor said.

Also speaking, Ayangburen of Ikorodu Kingdom, Oba Kabiru Adewale Shotobi, called for a constitutional amendment that recognises the role of traditional rulers.

expenditure outlay in Enugu state.

“We called this the 'Budget of Disruptive Economic Growth' based on the size of our capital expenditure. It also means that we are going to have large economic activities in Enugu state.

“You can imagine an economy that is typically used to doing N20 billion capital expenditure now going to witness over N400 billion capital expenditure. It is going to be monumental in the ways our people are lifted out of poverty and in the ways economic activities will blossom.

“Most importantly is that it is going to ensure that we address most of the gaps we have in our social services. In the education sector, the signing of this bill into law means that we are now looking forward to 260 smart schools across the state.

“It also means that we are looking forward to 260 type-2 primary healthcare centres across all our wards in Enugu State. It means that we are going to have radical infrastructural development.

“We are going to build New Enugu City. We are going to have our roads paved. We are going to have feeder roads paved as well as the access roads to our farmlands,” he assured.

Mbah stressed that he intends to scale up production in the agriculture

sector, special agro processing zones and grow agriculture so that it is not going to be just for food, it is also going to be for export.

“It also means that a new sector will be introduced, the energy and minerals sector, which we hope to use to drive our revenue. It means that our resources in that sector will be harnessed for the benefits of Ndi Enugu,” he added.

On funding of the budget, he said it will be less than 12 per cent of the revenue size that the state was going to borrow to execute this budget whereas over N300 billion will be mobilised from domestic sources.

“What this means is that we are all going to work tirelessly to ensure that these revenues are realised. It also means that for us at the executive council, our meetings would largely be on our revenue performance,” The governor further explained that his administration was taking other critical steps, such as the e-governance and automation of government services to ensure efficient service delivery.

“We have gone to an advanced stage on the e-governance initiate.

This is going to ensure that our citizens in Enugu are able access government services without the need of actually going to the ministries or to the banks,” he stated.

Edu: President Has Approved Humanitarian Support for Plateau Attack Victims IPCR condemns killings, calls for arrest, prosecution of suspects

Michael Olugbode and Kuni Tyessi in Abuja and Segun Awofadeji in Bauchi The Minister for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr Betta Edu, yesterday confirmed the presidential directive instructing her ministry to immediately collaborate with the Plateau state government in bringing succour to the survivors of the attack as well as the affected communities.

The minister, who described the incident as senseless, horrendous and inhuman, had earlier pledged her ministry’s readiness to collaborate with the state government to render humanitarian assistance to the affected communities and survivors of the attacks.

She said: “It was with utter shock and sadness that I received the news of the barbaric, horrendous and senseless attacks in plateau communities which have left over 100 people dead and injured many while many more are displaced.

“I condole with the government and people of plateau state, especially families of the victims of this unnecessary assault on humanity and pray for a permanent peace in the plateau.”

According to her, one can only imagine the difficulties and indignities as well as catastrophic humanitarian challenges facing the survivors and affected members of the communities.

“As a ministry directly in charge of responding to humanitarian chal-

lenges of citizens in Nigeria, the federal ministry of humanitarian affairs and poverty alleviation has been directed by President Tinubu to collaborate with the Plateau state government to bring humanitarian succour to the survivors of the unfortunate attacks as well as the affected communities.

“We are unrelenting in our efforts to ensure that every Nigerian and all parts of Nigeria experiencing humanitarian crises are catered for,” she added.

Meanwhile, the Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR) has condemned the heartless killings of people in Plateau state last Sunday.

IPCR lamented that the coordinated attacks were carried out on a day meant to celebrate love,

compassion and togetherness.

IPCR, in the statement signed by its Director General, Dr. Joseph Ochogwu said: “Bloodletting is not an achievement, but has the potential of scaring investors away from us.

“Nobody invests in a country where insecurity holds sway, we should all rally round President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on his Renewed Hope Agenda, so that we can have the country of our dream.

“The Nigeria of our dream doesn’t harbour unnecessary killings, the Nigeria of our dream doesn’t harbour hatred for one another. Our dream is to have a viable nation, where citizens have sense of belonging,” he said.

Although, he said that the security agencies were doing very well, but

the institute appealed that they put more efforts to address the security challenges bedevilling the nation.

“We condemn the killings and call for peace and conflict resolution on conflict related issues. We also call for the apprehension and prosecution of criminals involved in the killings.

“Let’s cooperate with our military and security actors to provide physical security and safety for our citizens, as we innovate and create the right conflict resolution mechanisms to address the protracted communal conflicts,” he added.

Besides, the National Chairman, Initiative for Better & Brighter Nigeria (IBBN), Dr. Isa el-Buba has expressed sadness over the gruesome terror attacks on some communities in Plateau.

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Aiyedatiwa Sworn-in as Ondo Governor...

Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa being administered the oath of office as Governor of Ondo State at 5.15pm yesterday at the Cocoa Conference Hall of the governor's office by the Chief Judge of Ondo State, Olusegun Olusola

Nigeria’s Riverside LNG Nears Historic Deal to Supply Gas to South Africa Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja Nigeria-based Riverside LNG has said it’s in talks to supply gas to South Africa, in what would be the first such deal between the two countries, Bloomberg reported yesterday.

The company earlier this year signed a gas-export partnership agreement with Johannes Schuetze Energy Import AG of Germany and is now looking for deals on the continent, Chief Executive Officer, David Ige, said in an interview in the capital, Abuja.

Ige is a former Group Executive Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) and is widely recognised for initiating and developing the Nigeria Gas Master Plan.

Nigeria has Africa’s largest gas reserves and is largely regarded as having more gas than oil, although more attention has been paid to oil exploration over the years.

“We’d probably very early in the year close out another segment of the market, an off-take

for South Africa,” said Ige. “There’s a massively evolving gas market in the region, anything around 3,000 nautical miles of Nigeria. So that covers southern Africa, western Africa, all to northwest Europe and to the Caribbean and South America broadly,” he added during the interview.

Ige declined to provide further details on the talks with South African counterparts, citing confidentiality clauses. The

company is also exploring opportunities in Liberia and Cameroon.

South Africa faces chronic power outages with the country’s old and poorly maintained power stations, run by debt-stricken state utility Eskom Holdings SOC Ltd., unable to keep up with demand.

Plans to buy more electricity from private producers have been delayed by grid constraints and court action.

Anambra State governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo, has resumed work after burying his father, Pa Simeon Soludo.

Soludo upon resumption signed into law the 2024 appropriation bill of the state.

The governor had on December 23, held his father's burial in his hometown, Isuofia, Aguata Local Government Area, and also went for thanksgiving the next day, just before the Christmas and boxing day holidays on 25 and 26.

Resuming on December 27, Soludo announced that he has signed the 2024 budget. The budget had been approved by

BloombergNEF and Bloomberg Philanthropies found that battery storage and flexible gas plants are the most cost-efficient solution to complement growth in solar and wind generation and guarantee power supply.

The 16-member Southern African Development Community (SADC) had backed a $17 billion natural gas infrastructure plan to bolster energy supplies in the region, approving a blueprint to invest in infrastructure such as

pipelines and terminals for local and imported supplies.

“A lot of those countries are looking to go gas,” Ige said.

“We see a huge opportunity for Nigeria in being a trading hub,” he added.

Although a major holder of the world’s gas reserves, Nigeria has been unable to fully take advantage of its abundant gas resources mainly due to lack of investments, leading to a deficit in gas transportation infrastructure.

No Peace in Presidential Intervention, Say Rivers Elders

Threaten law suit to defend state's interest Say directive against constitution

Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt

The Rivers Elders and Leaders Forum, has said it would approach the court of law to interpret the 8-points resolutions

by President Bola Tinubu on the political crisis in the state, saying his intervention had no

semblance of peace.

The forum, which insisted that there was no peace in the presidential agreement, cited the directive that Governor Siminalayi Fubara should reverse all his resolutions against the 27 legislators, who defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress

Soludo Resumes Work after Father's Burial, Signs 2024 Budget into Law David-Chyddy Eleke in Awka

South Africa currently doesn’t have a facility to receive LNG. Deliveries from the project won’t start until 2027, so there’s “enough time for import terminal infrastructure,” Ige said.

The country relies on coal for four-fifths of its power generation, but with investments unlikely in the sector, it is now looking at renewable sources to generate as much as 60 gigawatt of its power needs by 2030.

A report produced by

the state house of assembly shortly before Christmas holiday, without any adjustments.

Soludo, while announcing the signing into law of the budget, said: "Today, I signed the 2024 Appropriation Bill into Law. By this, we are now empowered to implement its provisions for the 2024 fiscal year to the benefit of Ndi Anambra.

"I had on November 21, 2023, presented a draft budget proposal of N410,132,225,272 for the 2024 fiscal year to the State House of Assembly.

"The budget titled "Changing Gears," is 57.8% higher than that of the 2023 budget. It is focused on expediting efforts across the five pillars of our

administration; which includes; infrastructure and economic transformation; security, law and order; governance and value system; the environment; social agenda and human capital development.

"I thank all the stakeholders who have been involved in the entire process, especially the Anambra State House of Assembly for working very hard to see that the Law meets the needs and aspirations of Ndi Anambra.

"Ours is a goal with a deadline, with the budget now signed into law, we are guaranteed of another huge step towards making our homeland livable and prosperous."

(APC), and also recall all the commissioners, who resigned from his cabinet.

The forum had addressed journalists regarding Fubara's decision to implement the peace pact by the presidency, which he (governor) said was not a death sentence.

In an open letter earlier, addressed to President Tinubu and signed by a former governor of Rivers State, Chief Rufus Ada-George and 19 others, the statesmen stated that the composition and attendance at the peace meeting in Abuja, showed lack of balance between the two warring factions.

They noted that "the faction recognised by a court of competent jurisdiction, the Elders of Rivers State, traditional rulers, women and youth leadership, were not represented at the meeting."

The elders, therefore, said, "Giving a directive for the reinstatement of commissioners who willfully resigned, and the 27 former legislators, who in all clear conscience and by legal implication jumped boat and got themselves dismissed from the affairs of the Assembly, should be reinstated and remunerated, smacks of a sense of political irresponsibility, lack of sensitivity

to the laws of the land and due process."

The group said the president did not have the powers to overrule the ruling of a Court of Competent Jurisdiction when he is a product of the court.

They further insisted that the seats of the defector-members of the state House of Assembly "have been declared vacant by the Speaker, known to law, Rt Hon Ehie Edison, through an ex parte order issued by the Federal High Court, Port Harcourt division."

The elder statesmen also said it was "evident that Governor Siminalayi Fubara, the Chief Executive Officer of Rivers State, was coerced into submitting to your (Tinubu) premeditated action plan even when it is well known that Mr President does not possess such powers to give directives to a democratically elected governor or impose his will on the state government and the good people of Rivers State."

They expressed the belief that, "As far as we are concerned, that meeting did not happen and those directives are not implementable because to do so will be acting against the constitution and the rule of law."

Similarly, in a letter addressed to Fubara and dated December

26, 2023, the elders forum, commended the governor for maintaining peace, but added that the environment in which the peace was brokered showed no sensitivity to the people's security, political and social interest.

The elders also told the governor that, "You are a principal participant in the entire saga and the Presidential Peace Proclamation is not as bad as being portrayed by those genuinely opposed to it," noting that the peace proclamation has elicited mixed reactions from Rivers people and across the country.

The forum advised the governor not to place too much premium on the assurances of "detractors" but rather, be guided by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as he swore to uphold.

"The Forum believes that there could be peace in Port Harcourt and indeed the entire Rivers if only your Excellency would be circumspect in your actions, measured in your engagements, and have a critical mind in your review of events.

“Therefore, Mr. Governor, you have no constitutional or any other legal power to implement the Presidential Peace Proclamation," the statement stated.

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politics

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

Akeredolu’s Demise and Emerging New Dawn in Ondo

Fidelis David reports that Ondo State is in a sad mood as the news of the death of Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu on Wednesday came like a devastating storm, sending shock waves across the nation.

Akeredolu

H

ow are the mighty fallen! The death of a loved one, friend, or acquaintance is a sad occasion.

Words can’t entirely describe the pain, emptiness, and feelings of loss after a person dies. Such is the current mood in Ondo, the Sunshine State.

People in the real world always say, when something terrible happens, that the sadness and loss and aching pain of the heart will lessen as time passes, but it seems not to be true in all cases.

The news of Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu’s death sent shock waves to the entire country after it was confirmed that he died in Germany on Wednesday morning at the age of 67.

Aketi, as he was fondly called by friends and admirers, was a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), former president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), and former Attorney General of Ondo State, and a second-term governor who served as the Chairman of the South West Governors’ Forum before his death.

He was elected Governor of Ondo State on the Platform of the All Progressives Congress in November 2016 and re-elected in 2020 and he was the Attorney General of Ondo State from 1997-1999 and became a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) in 1998 as well as, the president of Nigeria Bar Association from 2008 to 2010.

Many people see Akeredolu as not just a political figure but a visionary leader and a beacon of hope.

The State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Bamidele Ademola-Olateju, who confirmed his death in a statement titled: “It Is A Sad Day In Ondo State”, explained that Governor Akeredolu answered the eternal call while receiving medical treatment in Germany and succumbed to complications arising from protracted prostate cancer.

“With a heavy heart, the Ondo State Government announces the tragic passing of our beloved Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu.

“Mr. Governor peacefully departed from this world in the early hours of today, Wednesday, December 27, 2023. This tragedy has left behind a profound void in our hearts. Governor Akeredolu answered the eternal call while receiving medical treatment in Germany. He succumbed to complications arising from protracted prostate cancer.

“A letter has been sent to President Bola Tinubu, GCFR, to officially inform His Excellency of this devastating news. The Family and the Ondo State Government appreciate Mr. President for his support for Governor Akeredolu during his illness.”

According to Ademola-Olateju, the family and the state government will release further details regarding the funeral arrangements.

“Governor Akeredolu was an extraordinary leader whose unwavering dedication to the state and its people was both commendable and unparalleled. He not only served as the Governor of Ondo State but also emerged as a prominent advocate for the entire Southwest

Aiyedatiwa region and the nation. Governor Akeredolu was a courageous leader and an exemplar of integrity. The weight of this loss is truly unbearable.

“However, we find solace in the knowledge that Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu lived a purposeful life, devoted to the service of God Almighty”, the statement added.

Akeredolu’s death brings the number of Nigerian governors who have died in office to three since the return of democracy in 1999. Others are the former Kaduna State Governor, Patrick Yakowa, and ex-Governor Mamman Ali of Yobe State.

His death sent shock waves across the length and breath of the nation obviously because his was a life dedicated to exemplary service to humanity.

No doubt, Akeredolu’s vision and resolve to further promote the development of the land and people of the Sunshine State have been deleted by the merciless hand of death because he provided leadership, not only for the South West zone, but for the entire Southern part of the country, when it became most imperative for courage to speak.

The flood of encomium that has so far greeted the passage of Akeredolu is an obvious and convincing testimony to the fact that his life was colourfully signposted with indelible accomplishments in all spheres of life.

Going down memory lane, throughout year 2022, there were speculations in Ondo about the health of Akeredolu, but nobody knew what to believe until January this year when his wife, Betty Akeredolu, released a viral audio where she accused her

husband’s Special Adviser on Public and InterGovernmental Relations, Ms Bunmi Odumosu, of fortifying her husband with concoctions.

Specifically, Mrs Akeredolu revealed that her husband was indeed battling a serious health challenge, warning Odumosu to stay away from her husband and stop sneaking in with concoctions.

The situation continued until 13th June this year when Akeredolu officially transferred power to his deputy, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, through a notification sent to the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Hon Olamide Oladiji, stating that he would be proceeding on a 21-day medical vacation from 7th June to 6th July 2023, but, when the letter expired, he issued another, this time, extending his leave indefinitely.

No doubt, if any Nigerian is aware of the infrastructural drive in the sunshine state of Ondo, such must have one time or the other praised Akeredolu for his courage to give quit notice to herdsmen in the state’s forests for their unprecedented, crude and criminal assault, murder, torture, rape and mutilation, even while collecting ransoms from the families of their hapless victims.

Before his death, Governor Akeredolu, was praised for his courage being the most vocal governor in the South against atrocities committed by non-state actors.

Even, the Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government on several occasions tried to place Akeredolu in the eye of the storm for daring to live up to his constitutional mandate by protecting his people but he refused to stop speaking.

Unfortunately, as mortals, any human being can fall ill whether in public office or private life. So, Akeredolu started battling threatening illness.

For the second time in the year, Akeredolu embarked on a three-month medical vacation in Germany and subsequently returned on

His death sent shock waves across the length and breath of the nation obviously because his was a life dedicated to exemplary service to humanity. No doubt, Akeredolu’s vision and resolve to further promote the development of the land and people of the Sunshine State have been deleted by the merciless hand of death because he provided leadership, not only for the South West zone, but for the entire Southern part of the country, when it became most imperative for courage to speak.

The flood of encomium that has so far greeted the passage of Akeredolu is an obvious and convincing testimony to the fact that his life was colourfully signposted with indelible accomplishments in all spheres of life.

September 7.

Following his return, Akeredolu stayed in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital and tried to govern his state from there, a move which drew criticism from various quarters.

Afterwards, there was the battle of controversy over Akeredolu’s failure to return to the state or make public appearance, fuelling the suspicion that the state is being governed by proxy and the most dramatic manifestation of the conflict between him and his deputy occurred after he returned from his three-month medical leave as he fired the media aides to his deputy over alleged misconduct.

Subsequently, the feud between Akeredolu and his deputy, escalated into a power struggle, casting shadows over the state’s peace and stability.

As as result of these crises, the state was plunged into a period of unprecedented political turmoil, causing widespread concern and uncertainty among Nigerians and causing a ripple effect throughout the state’s political fabric.

But, thanks to goodness! After the intervention of President Bola Tinubu, two weeks ago, Aiyedatiwa assumed office as acting governor shortly after his return to Akure, the state capital where he was received by a former Secretary to the State Government, Ifedayo Abegunde and his supporters.

Aiyedatiwa Sworn-in as Ondo Governor Meanwhile, barely 24 hours after the death of Akeredolu, Mr Lucky Aiyedatiwa has been sworn-in as governor of Ondo State.

He was sworn-in and administered oath of office around 5pm on Wednesday, at the Cocoa Conference hall of the Governor’s office by the Chief Judge of Ondo State, Justice Olusegun Odusola.

In his Address, Aiyedatiwa said it was with heavy heart that he accepted the onerous responsibility of taking over the reins of governance and affairs of the State following the unfortunate loss and passing of Akeredolu.

According to him: “The death of our Governor is indeed a devastating shock to us all, as we have all been praying earnestly for his quick recovery and subsequent safe return to Ondo State, having embarked on another medical leave on Wednesday, 13th December, 2023.

Indeed, there is no armour against fate, death lays his icy hand on kings.

“The demise of Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu, is indeed a great loss to me as an individual as our relationship dated back to many years ago, having closely worked with him when his gubernatorial journey started in Year 2012. The loss then did not affect our relationship as we continued to maintain close political and personal relationship which climaxed in Year 2020 when he graciously picked me as his running mate for his Second Term as Governor of Ondo State.

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

21

T H I S D AY • Thursday, december 28, 2023

FEatures

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

How Google is Using AI to Foster, Deliver Innovative Solutions in Africa, the Globe In 2018, Google launched its first African Artificial Intelligence, AI, research centre in Accra, Ghana in a bid to foster and deliver innovative solutions that will benefit both Africa and the world. Chiemelie Ezeobi reports that a recent immersive onsite and virtual visit of African journos to the centre demonstrated AI solutions to challenges of flooding, food security, identity management and natural disasters

The Google Tech and Communications team- Dorothy Ooko, Head of Communications & Public Affairs, Africa at Google; Communications & PR Manager, West Africa, Taiwo Kola-Ogunlade; and Siyavuya Madikane, Communications and Public Affairs Manager, South Africa

African journos at the Google Africa AI Centre in Ghana

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hen Google launched its first African Artificial Intelligence (AI) research centre in Ghana in 2018, the aim according to Yossi Matias, Vice President, Engineering & Research Google, was to foster the continent’s growing capabilities in the field, to deliver innovative solutions that will benefit both Africa and the world, working with local universities and research centres, as well as working with policymakers on the potential uses of AI in Africa.

An Immersive Experience With the comms team led by Dorothy Ooko, Communications & Public Affairs, Africa from Kenya; Communications & PR Manager, West Africa, Taiwo Kola-Ogunlade from Nigeria and Siyavuya Madikane, Communications and Public Affairs Manager, South Africa, African journos drawn from Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa recently visited the Google Research Africa space for an immersive firsthand experience of the ongoing projects by the Google AI research teams in collaboration with partners across the region.

In addition with home journalists from Ghana, the team explored AI products on-site with demos and case studies as was shown

by Jason Hickey, who leads the Accra centre; Dr. Aisha Walcott-Bryant, Senior Staff Research Scientist; and Perry Nelson, Software Engineer, Google Ghana.

The Google team showcased the significant AI work done so far including mapping Africa’s built environment using satellite imagery and machine learning, which allowed to quadruple the number of African buildings on Google Maps, bringing the number up past 250-million.

Also, they showed the Open Buildings Dataset, which is being used by various organisations such as the UN as well as other works where the team uses machine learning and Google's unique capabilities to advance support of Sub-Saharan African languages, reduce the harms of locusts and adapt existing flood forecasting systems to respond to the special challenges of the continent.

In a virtual session with Matias, he opined that since innovative solutions to problems are developed for other climes and shipped to Africa, the Google Research team in Africa is focused on developing Al solutions to solve such problems right here in Africa but with a twist- the solutions can be applied globally.

On why Africa, Yossi said the continent has become a growing tech hub of which Google contributed immensely by training thousands of tech-inclined young Africans who have gone on to found their own startups.

Also, Hickey believes that AI is a foundational and transformational technology that will provide compelling and helpful benefits to people and society through its capacity to assist, complement, empower, and inspire people in almost every field of human endeavour, especially in Africa.

In the same vein, Walcott said while they are advocating for AI, they are also practicing responsible AI to create a future where

According to Google researcher, Abigail Annkah, the team did this in response to issue of traditional maps not being able to determine the actual footprints of buildings, especially in vast areas and locations with structures that are not even buildings. This is because even with satellite imagery, it can be difficult to map buildings in remote locations and when these buildings go unmapped, it can make things like planning infrastructure difficult.

Yossi Matias, Vice President, Engineering & Research, at Google technology benefits all users and society while working alongside diverse collaborators, partners and external contributors to make AI more transparent, fair, and useful to diverse communities, as well as constantly improve the reliability and safety of the entire AI ecosystem.

Corroborating, Google's Perry Nelson, while addressing concerns about responsibility, said the company is working closely with various governments and even organisations in this regard. To maximise efficiency and impact without endangering the society, he said Google works with World Meteorological Organisation and the Red Cross, renowned for being stickler to standards and ethics.

AI for Weather Forecasting At the centre, the project lead for AI for Weather Forecasting, Emmanuel Brempong talked about AI for weather forecasting and how Google’s weather forecasting tool has been built on machine learning models that can precisely estimate current precipitation conditions. Already, it has been used to provide early warnings in Africa, especially before any sudden and heavy rainfall.

Corroborating afterwards, Google's Walcott said the potential such accurate weather forecasts have on agriculture that rely on weather for decision making, is enormous.

AI Dataset for Open Buildings With an initial focus on Africa and new updates on South Asia, Southeast Asia, Latin America, the Caribbean and 12 other countries, this dataset contains 1.8 billion building detections, across an inference area of 58M km2.

To do this, Google created a deep learning model trained to determine the footprints of buildings from high-resolution satellite imagery. With this, they went on to create a large scale open dataset that contains the buildings outline or footprint, which are useful for population estimation, urban planning and humanitarian response, to environmental and climate science.

AI For Flood Forecasting With the weather forecast working, the Google team spread its tentacle specifically to Flood Forecasting. This is because in Africa, floods are one of the most common natural disasters and even though it's expected, it never fails to leave massive destruction in its wake as the respective governments always seem ill prepared to tackle it.

In this regard, the Google AI for Flood Forecasting combines the Hydrologic and Inundation Models. While the first forecasts the amount of water flowing in a river, the second predicts what areas will be affected and how high the water level will be.

To make this forecasting more effective, the Flood Hub was borne as a platform for such forecasts to be updated daily, free of charge and publicly available.

Currently, this covers river basins in over 80 countries worldwide where it provides critical flood forecasting for over 1,800 sites.

According to Google's Florence Ofori, this Flood Hub is so critical as it alerts people in potential flood areas up to seven days before it even happens. And fo ensure its wide usage, these alerts are published on Google Maps, Google Search, Maps, and even Android notifications.

Google also partnered governments of the days, the United Nations, and non governmental organisations to distribute these flood alerts.

Essentially, this Google's lifesaving technology- Flood Forecasting Initiative is helping residents stay safe and give governments time to prepare. These AI models predict when and where riverine floods will occur in 80 countries worldwide, including 23 in Africa.

Improving Maternal Health Outcomes with Ultrasound Another score for the Google team is the Ultrasounds, which can be crucial for identifying potential complications during pregnancy. In recent years, sensor technology has evolved to make ultrasound devices significantly more portable and affordable.

Globally, Google said it has been been working on building AI models that can read ultrasound images and provide important information to

healthcare workers.

Project Relate Project Relate helps people with non-standard speech make their voices heard. The Android app uses AI research to help people with non-standard speech communicate more easily and after recording 500 phrases, users receive a personalised speech recognition model.

This app can transcribe speech into text; use a synthesised voice to repeat what the speaker has said; and engage Google Assistant to complete tasks, such as asking for directions, playing a song or turning on the lights.

Read Along Another way the Google team have utilised AI is with Read Along through which they are teaching reading to children worldwide. Created based on the impact of COVID-19 on reading, the Read Along Google’s AI-based reading tutor app and website, is helping to increase child literacy.

On the other hand, Diya, the in-app reading buddy, listens to the speaker reading aloud, offering support when they struggle, and rewarding them when they do well.

According to Google, over the past three years, more than 30 million kids have read more than 120 million stories on Read Along.

AI for Food Security Locust infestations can have a devastating effect on food crops. So through collaborations with AI-product focused company InstaDeep and the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations, the Google team at the Google AI Center in Ghana is helping to better detect locust outbreaks and enable farmers to implement control measures.

The AI Center team is also working on building a model that forecasts locust breeding grounds using historical data from the FAO and environmental variables like rainfall and temperature.

These are some of the ways Google is using AI to ensure food security especially as the challenge of food security in Africa is a burgeoning one..

Noting that lack of food security in Africa is because of unmechanised farming, Google researcher, William Ogallo, said it was in a bid to combat such that the Google research team in Africa built a forecasting tool on the strength of Artificial Intelligence and climate data provide frequent, precise and actionable food security predictions that empower farmers to plan and redistribute farming resources intelligently.

With this tool, traditional farming methods will be replaced by enhancing the frequency and accuracy of forecasts, to mitigate the risks of food crises before they escalate using the benefits of AI-driven agility and efficiency.

Summarily, at the end of the immersive experience, it was obvious how the Google Research team in Africa is not just focused on developing Al solutions that will solve African problems through data, but also those that will have global reach, as are already happening with the flood forecasting and weather forecasting.

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2023 • THISDAY

polity

President Tinubu: The Poor Optics over the Carnage in Plateau....

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By Ayoola Ajanaku

“Nero fiddles while Rome burns”.... he gory and heartbreaking news of armed groups killing at least 160 people in Plateau State Nigeria via a series of coordinated attacks on communities on Christmas eve that spilled over 24 hours in Barkin Ladi and Bokkos greeted the tranquility that enveloped the Yuletide season. The carnage was yet to subside when Plateau State governor, Caleb Muftwang alongside twenty of his counterparts from other states and the Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, paid homage to the president Bola Tinubu at his residence nestled in Bourdillon in Lagos on Tuesday to mark the festive season.

Mr President, it’s stranger than fiction on the communication harakiri by the presidential team laden with a litany of pluri-faceted persona’s who are caught pants down on numerous occasions. It’s imperative they take home lessons and act in a coordinated manner to address issues of national discourse and how it affects their principal. The leveraging of birthday wishes to the secretary to the government of the federation, Senator George Akume superseded the pogrom in Plateau State. While the human tragedy in Plateau occurred since Saturday and lasted till Christmas Eve. It is highly insensitive and an absurdity beyond comprehension by the presidential X handle, formerly twitter - Please check timeline for contextual alignment.

The pathetic optics of sub national helmsmen clad in immaculate “Agbada” attires backslapping handshakes despite the Christmas Eve attacks in Bokkos and Barkin-Ladi LGA’s by suspected armed gunmen who sent 162 innocent and defenseless citizens to their early graves and left scores of injured individuals reeks of bourgeoisie ala “Owambeism” mantra with high end luxury lifestyle laden with devilish gumption. The photo-op of the president, vice president and governors on the pages of major dailies the day after makes one cringe with fear with the allusion of Nero fiddles while Rome burns. All it takes is for the multitude of governors to join the president and C-in-C to address the nation on the well-manicured lawns of the presidential pad via the dais emblazoned with Nigeria’s coat of arms. This wartime message (When scores of citizens of a nation are murdered in cold blood, it calls for a coercive reaction to address such satanic acts) will instill confidence on the state of affairs therein.

Lest we forget, the president has made clarion calls earlier before he ascended into Nigeria’s presidency on the need to confront terrorism. As it stands right now that what has changed so far? Except the recurring decimal of promising to bring the perpetrators to book, the status quo is still maintained.

Mr President’s statement via his X handle earlier has promised the deployment of armed forces to address this menace. It’s noteworthy to state that the Operation Safe Haven (OPSH) led by the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 3 Division Nigeria Army is domiciled in these troubled areas. The only military asset not present in Plateau is the Nigeria Navy thanks to the absence of littoral ecosystem therein.

It’s appropriate to state in public domain that Nigeria armed forces are dealing with a formidable foe that’s well grounded in psychological and asymmetric warfare.

The attacks earlier on the communities in

President Bola Tinubu

Plateau are standard MO to strike fear into the hearts of victims. Who attacks vulnerable people on Christmas Eve? They say time heals wounds, but this is a scar that will defy this action as Xmas season is a season of introspection and whenever they cast their minds of this day it will be a spaghetti of thoughts laden with sadness, sorrow and despair.

Who says such acts will stop after the much highlighted condemnation and outcry from home and abroad so far?

The perpetrators of these dastardly acts bestrode the space with impunity. The Vice President should be delegated to Barkin-Ladi and Bokkos LGA’s with immediate alacrity just like he was on ground following the aftermath of the fatal bombing at Tundun-Biri, Igabi LGA in Kaduna State earlier. The bereaved families and survivors need all the help they can get in these harrowing moments.

It’s not for the faint-hearted; as those involved didn’t commit any crimes

except that they are Nigerians. When have we descended into a Hobbesian state where life is short and brutish?

Amnesty International criticized the government after the attacks, saying in a post on X, formerly Twitter, that “the Nigerian authorities have been failing to end frequent deadly attacks on the rural communities of Plateau State”. The presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the last election, Peter Obi also reiterated that “Even warring nations don’t experience this”, in his reaction to the Plateau massacre.

At this juncture, it’s imperative for the helmsman of Plateau State to perish the thought of hosting the proposed music jamboree that would feature Haitian born American pop artiste, Wyclef Jon and M.I. Abaga. The Commissioner for Information should be prominent in public domain with important details for evacuations, IDP’s, help lines for support and assistance amongst others. Now is not a time to play hide and seek. The

repose of the departed souls is all that matters with immediate swing into action to address displaced persons via the state emergency apparatus in conjunction with NEMA. The number one citizen, chief-of-staff and the EXCO need to embark on an assessment tour of the affected areas. Now is not the time for donning well starched “Agbada’s” in public domain - It’s the time to sport jeans pants and polos to commiserate with weary souls who have been robbed of the joy of celebrating the Xmas season with their loved ones. The gruesome sight of charred and burned down buildings littered with bodies of young and old is beyond beggar’s belief.

May the good Lord heal all those who are in pain at this time. My heart goes out to the people of Plateau State who are seemingly abandoned to their fate at this rate with non-existent succour from any quarter whatsoever.

•Ayoola Ajanaku is a Communications and Advocacy Specialist based in Lagos, Nigeria.

T H I S D AY • THURSday DECEMBER 28, 2023

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

L-R Managing Partner at Sønr Global, Matt Ferguson, and Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Casava Insurance, Bode Pedro, discussing ‘Developing the right product for underrepresented markets: a view from Africa’, at the just concluded ITC Vegas Conference at Mandalay Bay Resort in Las Vegas, United States of America…recently

Chairman of Cubana Group, Dr. Obinna Iyiegbu, in handshake with Chairman of Heirs Holding, Tony Elumelu, during the all White Christmas Party hosted by Elumelu in Lagos…recently

Members of Dagburewe in-council with the new Kabiyesi, Oba Adefuwape Sikiru Okuribido of Idowa, during the ‘Ikaro rites’ with Oba Awujale of Ijebu land, at the Awujale’s Palace in Ijebu Ode, Ogun State…recently

L-R: Acting Director, Finance and Accounts, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Mr Batan Akut, representative of the NYSC director-general/Director, Ventures Management Department, NYSC, Prince Mohammed Momoh; and representative of the director, Community Development Service and Special Projects, Mrs Mercy Bamai, during the opening ceremony of the 2023 NYSC Finance and Accounts Officers Workshop held in Abuja…recently

L-R: Committee Member, Adegbeyega Ogunosun; daughter to late Yinka Bolarinwa, Mrs. Ayoola Adeoye; her husband, Mr. Femi Adeoye; the widow, Mrs. Funmilayo Bolarinwa; and District Governor 404-B3, Lions Club International, Otunba Layi Fadairo, at the Lions International 10th Memorial Anniversary for Lion Yinka Bolarinwa, past District Governor of 404B Nigeria, held in Ikeja, Lagos…recently PHOTO: ETOP UKUTT

L-R: Home Broadband Manager(NW), Airtel Nigeria, Dauda Daniel; Head of Distribution (NW), Airtel Nigeria, Oluyemi Giwa; Regional Operations Director(NW), Airtel Nigeria, Adeolu Balogun; traditional ruler, Madakin Kano, Alhaji Yusuf Nabahani; Regional Marketing Manager(NW), Airtel Nigeria, Muhammad Buhari; and State Business Manager (Kano), Airtel Nigeria, Peter Francis, during the Airtel ‘Five Days of Love’ programme held in Kano State…recently

T H I S D AY THURSDAY DECEMBER 28, 2023 24 TR

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& RE A S O

Thursday December 28, 2023 Vol 27. No 10485

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opinion@thisdaylive.com

www.thisdaylive.com

TERSEER UGBOR AND THE MISSING FACTS

A well-structured economy will accommodate all, argues VICTOR C. ARIOLE

See page 25

EXPECTATIONS FOR 2024

FREDRICK NWABUFO contends that all indications point to a brighter new year

See page 25

EDITORIAL

THE PROLIFERATION OF QUACKS

26

1

ANDREW A. ERAKHRUMEN argues the need for government to fulfil its promises

ISSUES IN TERTIARY EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS Many people, particularly the stakeholders in the tertiary educational sector, were all agog over the recently well-publicised news that Nigeria’s Federal Executive Council has approved the exemption of federal tertiary educational institutions from the Integrated Payroll Personnel Information System (IPPIS) “…with immediate effect”.

Cursorily, this is a good move from this current central government if there is/are no hidden negative intention(s)! Certainly, it is not yet time for celebrations because of the long history of insincerity from several past governments concerning their promises to Nigerians. For some of us, we are, rightly, treading cautiously based on our episodic memory. While we commend this move, as it stands today, there is no “big deal” concerning the removal (exemption) of these institutions from IPPIS platform because there was no need for their forceful enrolment in the first instance. That action by the antiintellectual former president Muhammadu Buhari and his confused and directionless co-travellers with anti-education mentality was a senseless voyage – to nowhere – in a rudderless ship powered by vain ego. While deceiving themselves and others with fake anti-corruption mantra, IPPIS succeeded in centralising “...series of fraud and other malfeasance on payrolls belonging to [federal] government...for the benefit of a few top civil servants, bureaucrats and politicians.” Yes, “corruption” is everywhere in Nigeria, now, with its greatest enablers being those in public offices!

Deep-thinking people including Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) gave reasons why government’s forceful enrolment of federal universities’ members of staff on IPPIS was inappropriate and illegal but the anti-intellectuals saw no reason with them. It was all about “we are in power and control” by those low quality public office holders and uncivil civil servants! For almost four years of this misadventure called IPPIS in tertiary educational institutions, there has not been ONE “ghost worker” discovered there while “corruption” festered in the office of the Accountant-General of the Federation through the IPPIS ‘window’.

Of course, IPPIS was (is) meant to punish those ‘arrogant’ people calling themselves intellectuals, first and foremost, in Nigerian federal universities. According to Fela Anikulapo-Kuti (1938–1997), it has been the case of “Sorrow, Tears and Blood” for those who know where the shoe pinches. It was, and still is, a catastrophic experience for those whose peanuts called “salaries” were ‘hanging’ somewhere for months through IPPIS! We know of people who suffered severe pain, life-threatening situations and death owing to unexpected dislocations, caused by unpaid ‘salaries’, which were not their fault! Nigerians have gone through a lot! They are still going through terrible

conditions! As the years go by, it continuously appears as if all Nigerian governments are constantly set up to punish the people they were/are expected to superintend over!

Why will people not “Japa”?

However, in order to not sound pessimistic (although, we still do not have a sound and convincing basis for optimism), it will be a commendable venture if the current central and other sub-national governments are trying to positively depart from the negative route established by their predecessors. History has it that no group of people, and their governments, have succeeded in moving forward, positively, with anti-intellectualism mindset and actions! Knowledge rules the world; thus, the politicians and ruling class should work with the intellectuals and intelligentsias for the benefit of the majority of the people.

Currently, there is a dangerously growing wide gulf between the rulers and ruled. It will be beneficial if the ruling class get off its high horse and admit its wrongness in not engaging those producing knowledge, and their sound knowledge, in sourcing evolving solutions to societal challenges.

Each society has its problems but the ruling class cannot claim to have the monopoly of knowledge for solving them! Observably, Nigerian governments are still suffering from hang-over from dictatorship inherited from military rule. The (warped) Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution that was not originally written by the people is also a challenge.

Yet, it is disheartening to see those being referred to as “democrats”, before May, 1999, behaving worse than the military despots that many Nigerians fought to send back to the barracks!

To be sincere, there is currently no basis to discredit the arguments of critics who still hold the belief that there is no significant difference between the past and current central government. For instance, they ask: where is the student loan that was supposed to have been operational since September, 2023? Where are the palliatives

to cushion the effects of the unprecedented astronomical increases in the price of premium motor spirit (also known as petrol) since 29th May, 2023? Government calls it petroleum subsidy removal; the discerning knows it as petroleum price increase! Where is the demeaning N35,000 monthly palliative promised to federal government workers since September, 2023? Concerning the federal universities, where are the promotion arrears as far back as 2015/2016? Where are the unpaid salaries, for months, to many lecturers, in these universities as a result of the lacuna already identified on the IPPIS platform? Where are the earned academic allowances said to be in the 2023 budget that was signed into law? Where are the withheld eight months ‘salaries’ resulting from a strike action for which IPPIS was part of the reasons? Where are the ‘salaries’ from the ‘new salary scales’ for workers in tertiary educational institutions? The ‘new salary scales’, without collective bargaining, (with good intentions, we are told), were unilaterally adopted, by government, to be operational from January, 2023.

To some, it may (rightly or wrongly) appear too early to doubt these promises by the federal government; nonetheless, experience has been a good teacher to us.

We have consistently learnt that talk is cheap especially from politicians! They will always say what they think people want to hear.

Therefore, we have gone far beyond the level of being shocked by disappointment from any politician or government.

Although, government’s untrustworthiness is condemnable but we are prepared for it!

A government that took over power, from another, from the same political ‘party’, should not be in power for more than six months and still be promising what it has power to implement during the month it was sworn in! Or, did this federal government (and its “technical advisers” at the Bretton Woods Institutions) require six months to increase the price of petrol in what they call petroleum subsidy removal? It took only minutes (on the day this federal government was inaugurated) for the pronouncement to be made by the president! To clear doubts that this government is now departing from the old path of “promise and fail”, it should immediately defray all monetary arrears earlier-highlighted. Once this is done, the “doubting Thomas” amongst, and in, us will be easily convinced with clear facts on the table. Finally, we really hope to be proven wrong that the federal government is not trying to use this IPPIS matter as a carrot (decoy) to achieve its decades-long well-known desire to fully abandon public universities through poorer funding.

Erakhrumen teaches at the Department of Forest Resources and Wildlife Management, University of Benin, Benin City

T H I S D AY

3 25

THURSDAY DECEMBER 28, 2023

A well-structured economy will accommodate all, argues VICTOR C. ARIOLE

TERSEER UGBOR AND THE MISSING FACTS ...Universities that work proactively in developing and sustaining international recruitment, networks, and strategies can expect their students to be more highly valued by multinational employers, who value a broadness of experience and intercultural awareness…

Martins Oloja Terseer Ugbor, a graduate of Sociology and Anthropology from a tuition-free University of Abuja was explaining how he has travelled far and near, collecting facts on how best to institute and sustain students loan board and how it will institute discipline in admission process in Nigerian universities where 80% of the students are pursuing courses in the social sciences, like he did, which is not relevant to Nigerian economy. What is worse, he castigated the federal government for spending about N1 trillion annually in paying lecturers’ salary, claiming that infrastructure has been taken care of by TETfund; hence, only the students are left on their own, and hence his committee advocates 1% of all revenues earned by customs and other revenue generating organisations to populate the students loan’s fund so as to help students to be well-off in terms of managing their future. Another policy cul-de-sac like subsidy removal palliative.

I am very sure, a great Akokite like Maupe interviewing him on Channels “Hard Facts” would wonder if the Honourable is truly a representative of the poor masses in Benue who are hounded by people who are lacking in humanistic education; and whose agricultural endowment had been destroyed by lack of the basics – good background knowledge of Arts and Humanities that places human beings and their welfare as the greatest motivation that drives all knowledge and development, science inclusive.

What is more, Hon. Terseer fails to apply his knowledge of anthropology and sociology to detect why almost 80% of the pure science graduates are doing the works of graduates of Humanities; as, structurally, leaders like him fail to map out development plans that can sustain employability of pure science students for almost 30 years period upon which they could earn enough to develop entrepreneurial abilities alongside their science knowledge for further agro-industrial expansion that could make them more valuable for a state like Benue – the food basket of Nigeria.

Again, it has just been announced by Jeune Afrique that over $660 billion Diaspora remittance has been recorded in the world in 2023 and Africa’s share is about 15% with Nigeria taking up 39% of the Africa’s 15%. They are mostly the earnings of Nigerians well educated with subsidized lecturer’s pay in Nigeria, who are found worthy of employment in mostly service industries or hospitality industries in the West or even menial jobs that required well behaved candidates as Nigerians remain well behaved as a result of the Arts and Humanities’ education qualifications they have acquired and that make them behave well for employers to find them suitable and for them to be so loyal as to remit what all of us in Nigeria cannot put up as Nigeria’s annual budget, just N23 trillion compared to over $30 billion dollars amounting to over N30 trillion Diaspora remittance. Only United Kingdom recorded over 140,000 Nigerians who migrated since last year. They are mostly graduates of Humanities though some are medical science graduates.

In a planlessly structured economy like that of Nigeria, people like Hon Terseer should be made to lie low as they are not capable of understanding what it takes to face a larger world beyond that of

Nigeria in which politicians just leach on collective wealth instead of the nation. The larger world is well structured and managed by IMF, WTO and IBRD. Nigeria is either seen as non-existent or at best marginal, outside the curve or non performing outlier on the outside left of the curve.

Nigerian lecturers and students are greatly on frustration lane carved by politicians like Terseer who only believes in what politicians can cart away from Nigeria while Nigerian universities are striving hard to produce both lecturers and graduates poachable by the larger world as mentioned by Martins Oloja above. They are poached by a better larger world because the economic structure there is well fashioned in capitalist mode – create a larger wealth than what is bequeathed to you. Nigerian politicians and legislators alike create structure and bills that chase away good Nigerians and drive away genuine foreign investors. Like the capitalist world knows, money goes where it is well treated.

The essence of loan to students is that they will find employment or create employment to pay back.

That can only happen if the economy is structured to be sustainable for 30 years and above without which, both the lecturers and students could only aim for greener pastures outside Nigeria, and will lead to no loyalty to Nigeria, not to talk of repaying a loan that could amount to pittance and laughable when in a larger world that cherishes their input to their economy and are better rewarded for life than rewarded in a marginal or unstructured economy in which only politicians survive by leaching on the natural wealth of the nation.

Science courses’ students or Humanities courses’ students are not the issues as Hon. Terseer’s weak facts relate. The wheels are not to be reinvented.

At first degree level all courses are approached in delivery patterns on historical basis, whether Science courses or Humanities’ courses; just few students could grow to understand the “thereafter” of the courses they are earning a degree in. Hence, at first degree level, it is basically strengthening the humanistic values of the individual – earning degree in knowledge and character.

The difference is the analytical approaches the students must bring to bear at the end of their degree programmes and it shows in their creative disposition at the point of searching for job or trying to be self-employed. Not necessarily as either Science or Humanities graduates.

Scientific approach to gain insight for a knowledge production is not the same as reading a course in science. It still requires, like one Senator better than Terseer put it, provide platform for the graduates to observe some internship programmes; I think it is Senator Shuaib who said that.

Ariole is Professor of French and Francophone Studies University of Lagos.

FREDRICK NWABUFO contends that all indications point to a brighter new year

EXPECTATIONS FOR 2024 The year 2024 wombs the hopes, dreams, and aspirations of over 200 million people.

The promises of better days, of silver linings, and of blue skies inspire hope, excite essence, rally confidence, and stroke anticipation.

Parturition is expected. As it is with reproducing life, after months in the throes of contractions, life comes with a bubbling of joy and happiness. In 2024, the seeds of possibilities and of change that have been planted by the Tinubu administration will begin to gestate and sprout.

This is not to aver that 2024 will be all plain sailing without its own share of vicissitudes, but seeds do begin to germinate, and for exotic trees that rule the forest, it takes the opportune time and latitude of nature for them to rise eclipsing the skies.

2023 was a challenging year. The concerns, the disruptions, and the pangs of novelty were all palpable. But all is well that ends well.

There was a good reason. It was not all for nothing. The scaffolding for a superstructure had to be forged.

In 2024, Nigeria’s inflation rate is expected to dip, and the naira strengthened. According to Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor, Olayemi Cardoso: “The outlook for the domestic economy remains positive and expected to maintain the positive trajectory for 2024. Inflation pressures may persist in the short-term but is expected to decline in 2024.

Exchange rate pressures are also expected to reduce significantly with the smooth functioning of foreign exchange market.”

What does this mean for hard working citizens? It means a fairer and stable economic climate, salubrious for planning and earning.

In the New Year, a slew of plans and programmes of the administration will kick in. Two of such programmes, among many other policy staples, are the Student Loan Initiative and the Consumer Credit Scheme.

In June 2023, President Bola Tinubu assented to the Student Loan Bill in “fulfilment of one of his campaign promises to liberalise the funding of education’’.

The bill, which was sponsored by the Speaker of the 9th House of Representatives, Rt. Hon Femi Gbajabiamila, aims to provide easy access to higher education for all Nigerians through interest-free loans.

Some of the cardinal provisions of the Act are: (A) ‘’All students seeking higher education in any public institution of higher learning in Nigeria shall have equal right to access the loans under this Act without any discrimination arising from gender, religion, tribe, position, or disability of any kind, and (B) ‘’The loans referred to in this Act shall be granted to students only for the payment of tuition fees.’’

In November, President Tinubu announced during his presentation of the 2024 budget proposals that the Student Loan Scheme as well as other education-specific initiatives would become operational in 2024 to address the long-standing issues in the education sector, and to create a more sustainable model of funding for tertiary education. The Tinubu administration is prioritising education with N2.2 trillion proposed for the sector in the 2024 Appropriation Bill.

A defining quotient of the administration is the preponderance of people-tailored policies and programmes. Nigerians are at the heart of the decision engineering of the leadership.

They are the nucleus operating the cell of

governance.

The Consumer Credit Scheme is one of the programmes to expect in 2024.

According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), about 70 percent of bank account holders in Nigeria lack access to credit. The Presidential Council on Industrial Revitalisation recently set up a Technical Working Group to develop the requisite framework for enhancing consumer credit in Nigeria and to achieve the country’s targeted $1 trillion economy by 2026.

According to the Minister of Industry Trade and Investment, Doris Uzoka Anite, an efficient consumer credit system is a highly essential component of a burgeoning economy, as it works to improve market efficiency and fill in gaps in consumption and productivity by providing consumers immediate access to credit and allowing them to make purchases ahead of time.

“Nigeria has numerous financial institutions and credit schemes, but many Nigerians still face substantial hurdles in accessing credit due to stringent eligibility criteria, high-interest rates, identity-related challenges, fragmented data sources for proof of livelihood and financial worth, a lack of awareness or understanding of credit processes, and inadequate credit available for lending,” she said.

Reviewing the government’s strides in

2023 and prospectus for 2024 on Channels Television’s ‘News-Night’, Chief Ajuri Ngelale, Presidential Spokesman, said of the Consumer Credit Scheme: ‘’There are a few things that Nigerians can be hopeful about with respect to the turnaround that is happening in the country. This is a direct consequence of the patriotic resolve of our people to allow Mr President to take these tough decisions. First, the over N1 trillion that is saved from the removal of petrol subsidy is a part of financing that we are using to fund a student loan programme.

Secondly, the savings from the removal of petrol subsidy will go towards the establishment of a consumer credit system, for the first time in our history.

What Mr President is doing is not only mobilising government resources, but also working closely with the private sector to re-engineer our credit system.’’

Essentially, more people-focused programmes customised for Nigerians of variegated class are expected to come on stream in 2024. The Nigerian people are the predominant concern of the administration.

Nwabufo is Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Engagement

26 4

T H I S D AY

THURSDAY DECEMBER 28, 2023

EDITORIAL

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

T

THE PROLIFERATION OF QUACKS Regulatory agencies must guard against hiring unqualified persons

make claims they cannot substantiate and there he Association of General and are no consequences, while the media cannot be Private Medical Practitioners of exonerated from this national parade of shame.

Nigeria (ANPMP) recently called on When people arrange for some of these dubious Governor Dapo Abiodun to intervene titles or certificates, especially politicians, the on the issue of quacks in the medical media immediately begin to address them by these profession in Ogun State. “We have in bogus labels - 'Professor', 'Doctor', 'Engineer,' etc. a situation where auxiliary nurses open medical Soon it becomes a manner of speaking and the rest facilities and embark on doing surgery for innocent is added on. patients,” said Oluwakayode Oyelabi, the ANPMP If our society must do things rightly all the Chairman, Ogun State Chapter. “And these are time, we must deal with this quackery that is so health assistants trained informally by doctors pervasive in every sector. But more worrisome and qualified nurses for a period between two is the realisation that many top decision makers and three years to dispense drugs, give injections, in our public services are people who conned check vital signs and carry out elementary nursing their way into critical positions without the jobs.” qualifications they claim.

Some years ago, a In Nigeria today, fake fake medical doctor policemen are all over the was discovered to have The failure of regulatory agencies to properly perform their supervisory place, doing damage to served in the Federal both the institution and Ministry of Health roles has given way to situations where quacks are increasingly the society just as fake (FMoH) for nine years. soldiers are rampant. In To worsen matters, constituting a menace in most of the critical professions and industries fact there is hardly any the fake doctor rose professional field today to Grade Level 13 in where these fraudsters the ministry and had T H I S D AY have not invaded. From fake pharmacists whose worked in the Departments of Hospital Services EDITOR SHAKA MOMODU prescriptions are often fatal for hospital patients and Health Planning Research and Statistics DEPUTY EDITOR WALE OLALEYE to fake teachers whose students are candidates for MANAGING DIRECTOR ENIOLA BELLO (HPRS) before he was eventually detected as a failure to fake journalists who write to blackmail, DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR ISRAEL IWEGBU fraud. According to the permanent secretary in the CHAIRMAN EDITORIAL BOARD OLUSEGUN ADENIYI it would appear as if it is difficult to distinguish ministry, the quack doctor secured his fraudulent EDITOR NATION’S CAPITAL IYOBOSA UWUGIAREN between genuine and fake professionals in our employment by using the stolen documents of his THE OMBUDSMAN KAYODE KOMOLAFE country today with all the dire implications for childhood friend and best man who happened the society. to be a medical doctor. With that, he was offered Underlining the danger that impostors pose to appointment by the commission on 30th August, the system, a former Chief Justice of Nigeria once 2006 and was posted to the Federal Ministry of T H I S D AY N E W S PA P E R S L I M I T E D said: “Indeed, judges find it difficult to identify Health in September same year.

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF/CHAIRMAN NDUKA OBAIGBENA which counsel, appearing before them, is genuine Such is the level of decay in the system. But the GROUP EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS ENIOLA BELLO, KAYODE KOMOLAFE, or otherwise. Of even greater concern is the fact ISRAEL IWEGBU, EMMANUEL EFENI challenge is not restricted to the medical profession. that members of the public are often left in a DIVISIONAL DIRECTORS SHAKA MOMODU, PETER IWEGBU, While Nigeria is not lacking in professionals in any ANTHONY OGEDENGBE quandary over who they can place their trust, field of human endeavour, the failure of regulatory DEPUTY DIVISIONAL DIRECTOR OJOGUN VICTOR DANBOYI property and even lives in.” agencies to properly perform their supervisory SNR. ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR ERIC OJEH We call on the regulatory authorities, including roles has given way to situations where quacks ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR PATRICK EIMIUHI of professional bodies, to put in place measures CONTROLLERS ABIMBOLA TAIWO, UCHENNA DIBIAGWU, NDUKA MOSERI are increasingly constituting a menace in most that will checkmate the antics of these fraudsters.

DIRECTOR, PRINTING PRODUCTION CHUKS ONWUDINJO of the critical professions and industries. Many 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 NON-BELIEF AND ENLIGHTENMENT IN BLACK COMMUNITIES Nonbelief is a growing phenomenon in black communities because a growing number of black people are going open and public with their nonbelief and irreligiosity.

Many people in black communities are making it clear that one can be black but not religious, one can be black but not a Baptist, and one can be black but not a Christian or a Muslim. One can be black and godless. Nontheism is motivating various campaign initiatives for positive and progressive change in black communities. The work of black nonbelievers is going on on different fronts and forms. The first is at the level of humanism. Black nonbelievers are campaigning to make humanism happen in their communities. They are working to provide an alternative to supernatural religions and dogmatic faiths.

More importantly, the humanist association is pressuring the authorities to release Mubarak Bala. Bala is a Nigerian humanist imprisoned since 2020 after he made some Facebook posts that some Islamists claimed insulted the prophet of Islam. Humanists are campaigning against blasphemy and apostasy allegations, and the persecution of human-

ists, atheists, and other religious, and belief minorities. The arrest of Bala plunged the humanist organization in Nigeria into an unprecedented crisis. It tested and stretched the movement to the limit. The arrest orchestrated a crisis that saw many humanists go underground or disaffiliate due to fear of being picked up, attacked, arrested, or killed by Muslim jihadists and their state allies. Thanks to local and international support, what many projected has not materialized. The humanist movement has not disappeared. Humanists have not cowered away in fear as many envisaged.

Instead, many humanists have stood tall and firm in the face of threats and adversity. Humanists have refused to be silenced. Humanists have defended Bala, and are gradually turning the crisis into an opportunity for growth and development of humanism in the country. It may interest you to know, that we organized in 2021, an interfaith and belief dialogue. For the first time in the history of Nigeria, nay Africa, people and leaders from faith and no faith traditions came together. They discussed how to improve relations, trust, communication, and cooperation. Believers

and nonbelievers met under a roof, sat side by side, and explored ways to foster peace, harmony, and understanding. We hope to build on the gains from the dialogues in the months and years to come.

It is pertinent to note that black nonbelievers have not only gone after their interests, or catered only to the needs, safety, and protection of those who think, believe, or not believe like them. Humanists and atheists have also deployed the facility of nonbelief to do good, to intervene and help in areas where faith and dogma are deployed to perpetrate or sanctify harm. Black folks who are nonreligious have used nonbelief to address social problems linked to superstition, such as witchcraft accusations, witch persecution, and ritual killing. The continent of Africa is still one of the few places in the world where alleged witches are brutally attacked and killed, as in early modern Europe or 17th century America.

Leo Igwe, Ibadan

27

T H I S D AY • Thursday, December 28, 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

D e c e m b er

S & P INDEX

2 7 , 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%

MTN Leads as Total Fibre Optics Deployment across Networks Hit 77,235.5km

Emma Okonji The industry performance report for the year ended December 2022, released this week by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), showed that a substantial telecoms infrastructure deployment was recorded in 2022, with MTN Nigeria leading in land and submarine cable infrastructure, including microwave radio infrastructure deployment.

According to the report, a total of 77,235.5km of fibre (On-land and Submarine) was deployed as at December 2022. Out of the figure, 49,367.2km was deployed on land as terrestrial fibre optics cable, while 27,868.3km was deployed as submarine cable across all five

networks comprising of MTN, Globacom, 9mobile, Airtel and ntel, with MTN having the largest onland and submarine deployment of 14,612km and 17,984lm respectively as at December 2022.

As at December 2022, the total submarine fiber deployment in kilometers was 27,868.3km as against 27,818.3km in year 2021, which is an increase of 0.17 per cent within the year under consideration.

According to the report, the fiber deployment by four operators, were MTN -17,984km; GLO - 9,800km; AIRTEL -14.3km and NTEL - 70km.

Total on land fiber deployment was 49,367.20km as against 47,128.7km in year 2021. The on-land fiber deployment among five operators include: MTN

– 14,612km; GLO - 13,813km; AIRTEL – 16,112.2km; EMTS trading as 9mobile - 4,650km and NTEL - 180km.

As at December 2022, the mobile operators had deployed a total of 288,947.48km of Microwave Radio links as against the 290,625.69km of Microwave Radio links reported for 2021, which is a decrease of 0.57 per cent.

For the Microwave Radio deployment, MTN covered 80,074.59km in 2022 as against 85,551 that it covered in 2021.

Globacom covered 71,061.46km in 2022 as against 71,540km that it covered in 2021. Airtel covered 81,352.00km in 2022 as against 77,095km that it covered in 2021. EMTS, trading as 9mobile,

covered 48,957.69km in 2022 as against 48,958km that it covered in 2021. Smile covered 2,948.00km of Microwave Radio link in 2022 as against 2,948kn that it covered in 2021, while ntel covered 4,553.74km Microwave Radio link in 2022 as against 4,534km that it covered in 2021.

The report also explained that MTN, Airtel, Globacom and EMTS, had a total number of 41,395 Trunks (E1 lines) in use as at December 2022, indicating a decline from 59,048 Trunks (E1) reported as at December 2021. Most operators have implemented and evolved Internet Protocol (IP) capacities to carry volumes of data traffic hence the perceived reduction in E1, which was experienced in the

previous year. Thus, the reduction was due to changes in technology.

MTN, Globacom, Airtel, Smile Netwotk and ntel had a total number of 62 Gateways in use as at December 2022.

A summary shows, MTN had 1; GLO 3; Airtel 16, EMTS 39, Smile 2 and ntel1.

According to the report, as at December, 2022, total active voice subscriptions for the entire market segments was 222,571,568 as against 195,463,898 recorded as at December, 2021. This, according to the NCC report, indicates an increase of 13.86 per cent in 2022.

Teledensity was 116.60 per cent in 2022 as against 102.40 per cent recorded in 2021, which indicates an increase of 13.86 per cent in

teledensity as at December 2022.

Industry stakeholders attributed the increase in operators’ subscriber base majorly to the effect of the directive from NCC in April 2021 to all GSM operators lifting the ban on the sale and registration of new SIMs, SIM swaps and all porting activities following the conclusion of the commissions nationwide audit of subscriber registration database. The objective of the audit exercise was to verify and ensure compliance

by Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) with the set quality standards and requirements of SIM card registration as issued by the Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy and the NCC.

Stakeholders Insist on Protection, Confidentiality for Data Subjects

Emma Okonji

Stakeholders in the telecommunications industry have stressed the need for data protection and data confidentiality for all data subjects.

Speaking at the Data Protection Conference organised by Technology Times in Lagos, they insisted that Data Processing Officers (DPOs) and Data Controlling Officers (DCOs) who fail to protect the sensitive information freely given to them by data subjects, should be made to face the wrath of the law as listed in the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) Act that was signed into law by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in

June this year.

Speaking on the theme of the conference: “Data Protection and Connected Nigeria- Challenges, Opportunities and Possibilities,” the Chairperson, Data Privacy Professionals, Nigeria, Adaobi Olaye, highlighted the importance of data protection and confidentiality, and called on the federal government to align with the private and public partners on data protection to execute the objectives of the existing framework for the data protection industry.

She suggested that in 2024, the private sector should be at the forefront in driving data protection, instead of allowing only government to drive it, through the NDPC.

She spoke about the global interest groups that are seeking for stricter regulation around data privacy.

She also talked about the data protection framework being developed across Africa that would have a unified approach to data privacy across the African Union.

Addressing the social implications of abuse of data confidentiality, Olaye said data subjects may alter their online behaviour, if they fear that their data is not adequately protected, a development, she added, could affect free flow of information from data subjects to Data Controlling Officers, and could also pose as a potential threat to digital platforms.

She advised data subjects in Nigeria to develop a standard

that could be used to hold DCOs and DPOs accountable for every information that is released freely to them.

Speaking, President, Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NiRA), Adesola Akinsanya, said Nigeria’s internet ecosystem was already thriving fast, with increased internet users that go online regularly.

He therefore said the frequency at which Nigerians connect to the internet through different social media platforms and e-commerce platform, calls for adequate data protection through legislation.

“At the core of data protection, legislation aims to protect individual’s right to information privacy. This can be achieved a

series of measures designed to curb unauthorised access or disclosure of personal information and incidences of data breaches in a growing and progressively volatile data environment,” Akinsanya said.

According to him, the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation sets out principles, obligations and penalties for entities processing personal data in Nigeria, promoting responsible data handling and protection.

He however said many individuals and organisations lack awareness of their rights and responsibilities regarding data protection, leading to careless handling of personal information.

In order to address the challenges of data protection, Akinsanya

called for collaboration among government agencies, regulatory bodies, industry stakeholders and civil society, to promote knowledge sharing and best practices. He also called for the implementation of educational programmes to raise awareness about data protection and privacy rights that will empower individuals and otganisations to adopt responsible practices. He then called for the increased investment in data storage facilities cybersecurity tools and technological infrastructure that could bolster the resilience of Nigeria’s digital ecosystem.

The story continues online on www.thisdaylive.com

M a r k e t d ata A s at T u e s d ay, D e c e m b e r 2 6 , 2 0 2 3 BONDS Description Price Yield Change Updated Time (%) ^13.53 23December 100.65 12.91 0,00 21, 2023 MAR-2025 December ^12.50 220,00 21, 98.58 13.29 2023 JAN-2026 ^16.2884 17December 108.25 13.06 0,00 MAR-2027 21, 2023 ^13.98 23December 100.50 13.80 0,00 FEB-2028 21, 2023 ^14.55 26December 100.13 14.50 0,00 21, APR-2029 2023

BILLS Maturity

Discount Yield

NTB 25-Jan24 NTB 8-Feb24 NTB 7-Mar24 NTB 11-Apr24 NTB 9-May24

3.00

3.01

December 0.00 21, 2023

3.50

3.52

December 0.00 21, 2023

5.85

5.92

December 0.00 21, 2023

6.41

6.54

December 0.00 21, 2023

7.16

December -0.01 21, 2023

6.97

OTC F X F U T U R E S

CPs

Change (%) Updated Time

Maturity MCIL CP VIII 27-DEC-23 RMBL CP VI 31-JAN-24 CRSL CP II 18-FEB-24 FLOURMILLS CP III 29-FEB-24 UACN CP VI 19-MAR-24

Discount Yield 10.36

10.38

8.61

8.69

11.63

11.86

13.40

13.75

11.58

11.92

Change (%)

Updated Time

December 2,00 21, 2023 December -1,00 21, 2023 December -1,00 21, 2023 December -1,00 21, 2023 December -2,00 21, 2023

Contract Current Tenor Contract Rate ($/₦) (Month) NGUS DEC 13 – 24 2024 NGUS JAN 14 – 29 2025 NGUS FEB 15 – 26 2025 NGUS MAR 16 – 26 2025 NGUS APR 17 – 30 2025

Updated Time

December 21, 2023 December 21, 2023 December 21, 2023 December 21, 2023 December 21, 2023

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Thursday, December 28, 2023 • T H I S D AY

BUSINESSWORLD

e-BuSinesss

Emerging Technologies as Game Changer in 2023 The adoption of emerging technologies like 5G, Blockchain Technology, Robotics, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Internet of Things, Big Data, among others in different sectors of the Nigerian economy, contributed in no small measure in driving technology innovation that led to economic growth and increased GDP in 2023, writes Emma Okonji

M

ost sectors of the Nigerian economy adopted and implemented emerging technologies like the 5G Technology, Blockchain Technology, Artificial Intelligence (AI) Big Data Analytics, and Internet of Things (IoTs), to drive innovation and business growth.

In the banking and finance sectors, Fintechs capitalised on such emerging technologies to develop payment solutions that revolutionised the banking and finance sectors. Some of the payment solutions were developed to block financial leakages and to enhance online transactions that led to business profitability in the banking sector, a development that increased Nigeria’s GDP growth by 2.54 per cent in Q3, 2023, higher than the 2.25 per cent growth recorded in the same Q3 of 2022, according to figures released in November 2023 by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

In the e-commerce sector, emerging technologies were also adopted and deployed in 2003 to drive online sales and job creation. Both small and large enterprises, no longer have need for physical shops because Flutterwave and other Fintech Companies developed platforms that allow businesses to trade online without having a physical shop. They developed payment solutions that allow buyers to shop online and make payment online through their internet connected mobile devices, without going to any physical bank.

In the telecoms sector, emerging technologies were also adopted and implemented that led to increased broadband penetration, increased market share on the part of telecoms operators, and increased teledensity, as well as improved telecoms services across networks and reduction in online fraud, through SIM card registration and linkage to National Identity Number (NIN) as directed by the federal government and the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC).

But despite all these achievements, the telecoms sector suffered a huge setback in 2023, as a result of multiple taxes imposed on telecoms operators, increased cost of doing business in Nigeria, coupled with the accumulated USSD debt, owed telecoms operators by money deposit banks, which amounted to N200 billion by November 2023.

Other challenges include incessant closure of telecoms site by government agencies and the refusal by government agencies to grant Right of Way (RoW) permission to telecoms operators for network expansion.

ICT Contribution to GDP

A report released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) in November 2023, showed that Nigeria’s gross domestic product (GDP) grew by 2.54 per cent in the third quarter (Q3) of 2023. The growth rate according to NBS, is higher than the 2.25 per cent recorded in the third of quarter last year and higher than the second quarter 2023 growth of 2.51 per cent.

NBS disclosed that the performance of the GDP in the third quarter of 2023 was driven mainly by the services sector, which recorded a growth of 3.99 per cent and contributed 52.70 per cent to the aggregate GDP. Although Agriculture and the Oil Sector contributed meaningfully to GDP growth in 2023, the non-oil sector, where ICT plays prominently, contributed over 95 per cent of Nigeria’s GDP in 2023.

According to the report, in terms of share of the GDP, agriculture, and the industry sectors contributed less to the aggregate GDP in the third quarter of 2023 compared to the third quarter of 2022.

The report also showed that Nigeria in the third quarter of 2023, recorded an average daily oil production of 1.45 million barrels per day (mbpd), higher than the daily average production of 1.20mbpd recorded in the same quarter of 2022 by 0.25mbpd and higher than the second quarter of 2023 production volume of 1.22 mbpd by 0.23mbpd.

The NBS report however stated that non-oil sector grew

by 2.75 per cent in real terms during the reference quarter (Q3 2023).

“The non-oil sector was driven in the third quarter of 2023 mainly by Information and Communications Technology (Telecommunications); Financial and Insurance (Financial Institutions); Agriculture (Crop production); Trade; Construction; and Real Estate, accounting for positive GDP growth,” the bureau said un a statement.

NBS said this is higher than the share recorded in the third quarter of 2022, which was 94.34 per cent and lower than the 94.66 per cent recorded in the second quarter of 2023.

5G Technology Spread

5G Technology, which is an emerging technology, had a slight spread in 2023, following its commercial rollout in 2022 by MTN Nigeria, the first GSM operator to roll out its 5G network in Nigeria.

Based on the issuance of 5G license to successful bidders of the 3.5GHz spectrum by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), the 5G licensed telecoms operators continued to roll out their 5G networks across the country, with lots of promises to the consumers on the benefits of 5G, also known as the fifth generation network.

MTN, had in September 2022, rolled out its 5G network in seven cities, which include; Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Ibadan, Kano, Owerri, and Maiduguri but as at December 2023, the telecoms company has spread its 5G network across 20 cities in the country.

In June 2023, Airtel rolled out its 5G network in four cities, which included; Lagos, Ogun, Rivers and Abuja.

Another telecoms operator that has also launched its 5G network in Nigeria is Mafab Communication Limited, even though it has no distinct rollout plan, because it has no telecoms network of its own, but intends to ride on the telecoms network of an existing operator to roll out its 5G services to Nigerians.

Although both MTN and Airtel had earlier promised during their commercial launch of 5G network that they would cover the entire country with 5G within one year of rollout, only few states have been covered by both operators as at December 2023. Among the few states already covered, not all cities and towns in those states can boast of full 5G coverage, as there are skeletal coverage in most cities claimed to have been covered by both operators.

Speaking about the ambition of MTN to increase its 5G network rollout to more states and cities across Nigeria, the Chief Broadband Officer for MTN Nigeria, Onyinye Ikenna-Emeka, told THISDAY that 5G remained a technology enabler that would allow Nigerians easy access to high speed broadband connectivity. According to her, 5G allows for a massive number of connected devices at high-speed connectivity that is as high as one gigabyte with very low latency.

“At the inception of 5G rollout, MTN rolled out with 190 sites in seven cities, but at the last check this December, we have extended our 5G rollout to 1,600 sites across 20 cities, and we will continue to expand because we want Nigerians to have access broadband connectivity across the country, and we are very much aligned with the objective of the federal government to achieve 70 per cent broadband penetration by 2025,” Ikenna-Emeka said.

Access to Spectrum

One key infrastructure that will drive broadband penetration and 5G spread in a much faster way is the spectrum allocation, which has become a scarce resource globally.

In order to make spectrum easily available to countries for the spread of broadband and 5G across nations, member states of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), Nigeria inclusive, at the close of the World Radiocommunication Conference 2023 (WRC-23) penultimate week in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, agreed on revisions to the global treaty governing the use of the radio frequency spectrum, both on earth and in space.

The agreement on updates to the radio regulations identified new spectrum resources to support technological innovation, deepen global connectivity, increase access to and equitable use of space-based radio resources, and enhance safety at sea, in the air, and on land.

ITU Secretary-General, Doreen Bogdan-Martin, who revealed this at the close of the conference, said: “WRC-23 puts the world on a solid path towards a more connected, sustainable, equitable and inclusive digital future for all, Key regulatory achievements on spectrum for space, science and terrestrial radio services build on the momentum of ITU’s ongoing work to achieve universal connectivity and sustainable digital transformation.”

According to her, a total of 151 member states, signed the WRC-23 Final Acts. The Final Acts constitute a record of the decisions taken at the conference including both the new and revised provisions of the Radio Regulations, all appendices, and the new and revised Resolutions and ITU-R Recommendations incorporated by reference into the treaty by the conference.

The Director of the ITU Radiocommunication Bureau, Mario Maniewicz, said: “The agreements reached at WRC-23 are a testament to the unwavering spirit of cooperation and compromise among all of our members. Navigating the complexities of spectrum sharing to update the Radio Regulations has helped us forge a path that provides a stable, predictable regulatory environment essential for the development of innovative radiocommunication services for all.”

Nigeria has therefore joined the rest of the World to sign unto the Final Act WRC-23, which constitutes a record of the decisions taken at the just concluded World Radiocommunications Conference (WRC 2023).

The Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, represented Nigeria and was joined by the Executive Vice Chairman, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Dr. Aminu Maida and the Managing Director, Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited (NigComSat Ltd), Mrs. Jane Egerton-Idehen.

The WRC-2023 is a global, inter-governmental treaty conference, which is held every three to four years by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the United Nations-affiliated international organization for telecommunications.

Fintech Growth

Also, the year 2023 witnessed the growth of several Fintech companies that came up with different solutions that brought about innovation across different sectors of the Nigerian economy.

QorePay, a Fintech company, in December 2023, joined other Fintech companies that have launched various solutions in Nigeria, when it launched its Gateway Payment system that it claimed will revolutionise payment system in Nigeria and reduce online fraud in payment system.

Similarly, the sixth edition of the Nigeria Fintech Week, which held in Lagos this year, and organised

by Fintech Association of Nigeria (FinTechNGR), in partnership with Jackson, Etti & Edu; MainOne;

and infobip, the FinTech players present, made renewed promises to use emerging technology solutions to further drive technology innovation, resilience and diversification in the financial technology space.

The COO of FinTechNGR, Dr. Babatunde Obrimah, said: “There is need for resilience in the areas of governance, structure, compliance, and risk management.”

Participants stressed the need for organisations to invest in young talents that are technology savvy and willing to learn new technology skills.

Speaking during one of the panel sessions, the Country Manager and Area Business Head, West Africa at Mastercard, Mrs. Ebehije Momoh, stressed the need for organisations to invest in young talents that are technology savvy. According to her, Mastercard as an organisation has continued to invest in people to raise talents among Fintechs.

Managing Director of SystemSpecs Technology Services, Mr. Demola Igbalajobi, who represented the Founder and CEO, SystenSpecs, Mr. John Obaro at the panel session, also talked about the need to train and re-train people in the technology space to acquire new skills in emerging technologies.

US Consulate General in Lagos, Mr. Williams Stevenes, in his goodwill message, said the United States government remained interested in developing technology skills and trade in Nigeria. According to him, trade and investment are key priority areas for the US government in developing the Nigerian economy, and pledged the support of US government for the Nigerian Fintech Week.

In his opening remarks, the President, FinTechNGR, Ade Bajomo, spoke on issues around the theme of this year’s Nigeria Fintech Week: ‘Fintech-Resilience, Innovation and Diversification’.

Challenges

Despite the achievements recorded in the telecoms sector in 2023, the sector had its own challenges that negatively affected the growth of telecoms and ICT development in the country.

Most agencies of government, in 2023, were bent on imposing multiple taxes on telecoms operators, a development that was resisted by the telecoms operators in 2023, which led to incessant closure of telecoms sites by government agencies in some states of the country like Kogi State.

Again, telecoms operators were owed huge sums of money by deposit money banks, under the Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) agreement, reached between telecoms operators banks, which accumulated to over N200 billion.

The telcos who lamented the non-payment of the money, said such money would have been invested into the telecoms industry for network expansion that would have improved service quality across networks.

Chairman, Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), Gbenga Adebayo, said the USSD arrangenent, through which the banks were indebted to telecoms operators has accumulated over the years to reach over N200 billion as at November 2023, up from N130 billion in September this year.

Adebayo therefore urged NCC to quickly intervene in the matter without further delay, as the accumulated debt had started affecting the operations of telecoms operators across networks.

Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Dr. Aminu Maida, in his opening remarks at a stakeholders’ forum in Lagos, promised to deepen investments in the telecoms sector, which he said, had contributed immensely to the GDP growth of the Nigerian economy.

Maida equally promised to work with telecoms operators to improve the quality of service in the telecoms sector, in order to serve the telecoms consumer better.

ALTON has threatened to go to court to challenge the banks, should NCC delay in intervening in the matter.

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T H I S D AY • Thursday, December 28, 2023

BUSINESSWORLD

Brands & Marketing

2023: Year of Mixed Grill in Advertising Industry Despite a few down sides recorded by the marketing communications industry in 2023, the year still recorded appreciative results for quite a number of agencies and brands, writes Raheem Akingbolu

I

n the wake of 2023, Nigeria’s business environment was swathed by fear of the unknown. The fear was partly as a result of the uncertainties that usually surround every electoral cycle but largely due to the global economic uncertainty. But despite the seeming odds, savvy players in Nigeria’s marketing communications landscape were confident that the modest 2.5 per cent GDP growth projection for the New Year would bring about a decent fiscal year for the industry.

On the global landscape, a few top priorities were projected to aid the realisation of 2023 goals for growth in the industry. They include; investing in new tools/technologies, business development, partnerships, client retention, as well as outsourcing and hiring. Again, at the last National Advertising Conference held in Abuja at the twilight of 2022, stakeholders agreed that survival of the agencies in 2023 was dependent on how they innovate and harness opportunities in technological evolution to deliver on clients’ expectations.

Looking back in the last 12 months, it’s difficult to rate the development in the industry based on the listed global forecast because local nuances dictated marketing activities. It was also difficult to ascertain how deeply Russia’s war on Ukraine impacted the local industry contrary to the belief that its negative impact would come full circle.

But the industry recorded growth in the way and manner consulting firms revved-up their digital practices and gave direct competition to traditional agencies. Another significant growth was recorded in digital media because of the increased interest in TikTok ads and short-form video content.

However, as far as political advertising was concerned, 2023 was a bad year for marketing communications practitioners.

Firstly, the long-awaited election period came and went but it followed the trend of the previous years.

Though political advertising spent in the year under review was in the range of billions, only a fragment passed through registered agencies as political parties and politicians preferred to operate and channel materials through friends and political cronies, who knew next to nothing about advertising. As a result of this, it was difficult to get accurate data to support the argument about the volume of political campaign contribution to industry growth in 2023. In fact, immediately after the elections were over, independent marketing communication (IMC) practitioners lamented low political advertising spend.

Industry Reform

However, the feat that could not be achieved through political campaigns in 2023 was recorded through the industry reforms embarked upon

by the leadership of Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON).

Nigerians, especially those who were schooled in the art of marketing and communications, heaved a sigh of relief two years ago that Nigeria’s creative community had finally gotten off the hook of modern imperialism when ARCON embarked on a move towards sanitisation and enforcement of global best practice in the nation’s advertising industry.

In 2023, the first level of the reform which is centered around engagement, awareness creation and operational modalities were put in place. With the approach of the regulatory council to some unprofessional conducts by some agencies and brands in the year under review, nobody was left in doubt that the newly formulated Advertising Industry Standard of Practice (AISOP) was meant to redefine the industry. For instance, not less than five agencies and brands were marked out for sanction in the year for exposing adverts without obtaining approval from the council.

Also for the first time, the new AISOP created a standard operating system that galvanized advertising practice and the integrated marketing communications (IMC) landscape as a whole. Having a standard operating system is considered vital for Nigeria to enable the industry to operate within global best practices. In Africa, countries like South Africa and Kenya already have it in place and it has further positioned them as respected destinations of quality advertising practice.

Remarkably, Nigeria’s population is projected to reach 263 million in 2030 and 401 million in 2050 according to the United Nation. Little wonder that it has been the centre of attention of global brands that are entering the market en masse, hence the need for standardisation.

AISOP defines advertisement as, “A notice, announcement, exposure, publication, broadcast, statement, announcorial, infomercial, hype, display, town cry, show, event, logo, payoff, trademark etc to promote, advocate, solicit, showcase, endorse, vote, support, etc a product, service, cause, idea, person, organization, etc with the intention to influence, sway, actuate, impress, arouse, patronize, entice, attract etc people by an identified sponsor irrespective of media, medium, platform, etc.”

The above definition of advertisement

by AISOP is all-encompassing and speaks volumes of the power of advertising.

With AISOP, advertising has been given yet another attention and a deliberate move

by APCON to help further grow the industry and the economy.

Global Recognition

For the first time, Nigeria had 70 year-record breaking in the global advertising rating as the country’s multinational agency, X3M Ideas became the first Nigerian agency to win the coveted Cannes Lions Awards. It came at the global creativity awards’ 70 years history and the Nigeria’s agency 10th year anniversary News of the agency’s impressive Cannes Lions nomination filtered in on Monday 19th June. It was indeed exhilarating for the subregion to get a nomination at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity.

In its 70 years history, West African agencies hardly get any mention at the glamorous and highly competitive Cannes Lions awards, which industry players rightly refer to as the “World Cup” of Advertising.

Few months later, in what looked like a confirmation of the global feat, the same creative firm, alonside Noah’s Ark Communications Limited, Insight Publicis, and Leo Burnett also won big at the 2023 edition of the Lagos Advertising and Ideas Festival (LAIF) Awards.

The award ceremony, which was held recently at The Hall, Victoria Island, Lagos, saw the Steve Babaeko-led X3M Marketing Ideas Limited lead the medal haul with 15 Gold, 20 Silver, and 7 Bronze, which eventually resulted in the agency being named the 2023 Agency of the Year.

Noah’s Ark Communications Limited came second on the medals table, carting home 12 Gold, 16 Silver, and 7 Bronze, while Insight Publicis and Leo Burnett emerged third and fourth, respectively. Insight Publicis won 9 Gold, 16 Silver, and 15 Bronze, while Leo Burnett won 1 Grand Pix, 9 Gold, 4 Silver, and 4 Bronze.

Ad blocking And Wasted Spend

Ad-blocking is a perennial issue for the marketing industry. Just when the number of people who employ ad blocking tools appears to reach equilibrium, changes in the digital advertising ecosystem cause it to rear its head once again.

In 2023 the biggest change was undoubtedly Google’s move to prevent adblocking on YouTube. In June, the world’s largest digital video platform trialled messaging a small proportion of adblock users, urging them to either disable the tools or sign up for the ad-free YouTube Premium.

That effort was then expanded to a larger number of users in early November, showing the extent to which the advertising revenue-dependent service is concerned

about the adoption of adblocking technology.

Next year Google is set to adopt the Manifest V3 standard, which will further limit the ability of ad blockers – in theory.

Those moves have potentially misfired. In addition to the reputational damage done to the service by irate users sharing stories of new unskippable ad formats and larger ad loads, its changes also potentially violate privacy laws the European Union – a charge YouTube denies.

The woes of digital advertising in 2023 did not end with ad blocking. Despite widespread awareness of wasted ad spend, a number of studies over the course of the year have demonstrated the extent to which it remains an issue. A study from CreativeX, for example, found that brands are expected to waste over £57.7 billion ($73billion) in spend on “digitally suboptimal” or otherwise unsafe digital platforms in Q4 2023.

Researchers at Juniper Research similarly found that 22 per cent of all online ad spend is set to be lost due to ad fraud in 2023. It also found that the figure is even higher on mobile, representing about 30 per cent of spend.

Whether it is platforms not receiving ad spend as a result of ad blocking, or the ongoing issue of ad fraud and wastage, 2023 proved that wasted digital spend is simply the cost of doing business online for many marketers. CS Advertising vices As crackdowns go, the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has made a pretty bold effort to clamp down on rule-breaking gambling and vaping brands this year.

This isn’t anything new. Guidelines have been in place for years to limit the targeting of under-18s. Last year the ASA took a hard line on betting brands using popular sports figures who appeal to children in their advertising and marketing. But 2023 has been the year the vices crackdown intensified. It’s not just gambling facing new limits, but vaping has come under fire from the ASA, the government and even BAT (British American Tobacco) of all organisations urging changes to how vaping brands market themselves.

In November, BAT – the UK’s largest smoking and vaping manufacturer, launched a campaign pleading for more regulation. “We believe that underage users should never vape, so we want confectionery, dessert and soft drink flavours to be banned and the introduction of a new regime for how and where vapes are sold.

“The government’s consultation on the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, which would stop children who turn 14 in 2023 from ever legally buying cigarettes in England, concluded yesterday (December 6) as the proposal takes another step to become law,” it said.

Nigerdock Hosts UNIDO, NIPC Delegations to Foster Investment Nigerdock, a leading Nigerian maritime and logistics company and promoter of Snake Island Integrated Free Zone (SIIFZ), recently hosted a delegation from the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) as part of efforts to drive the development of sustainable foreign direct investments (FDIs).

The multilateral collaboration being coordinated by UNIDO via the Investment and Technology Promotion Office Germany (ITPO Germany) and the Nigerian Investment Promotion Council (NIPC) will facilitate the domiciliation of European enterprises.

In a statement, Nigerdock

indicated that representatives of 23 companies were in a UNIDO delegation to the company’s office in Lagos to explore collaboration on domiciling investments that specialise in renewable energy, green technologies, and agribusiness.

Also in attendance were officials from the NIPC.

The Chief Executive Officer of Nigerdock, Maher Jarmakani, said, “This visit represents a significant step towards strengthening the partnership between private sector companies in Nigeria and Europe. Our long-term commitment to Nigeria’s economic empowerment aligns

perfectly with the goals of this mission, and we firmly believe that this collaboration will contribute to industrialisation, foreign direct investment, job creation, and increased adoption of green practices in Nigeria.”

The companies that formed the Private Sector Mission (PSM) also specialise in sustainable

packaging, circular economy, and waste management.

The PSM follows German Chancellor, Olaf Scholz’s visit to Nigeria, indicating a close relationship between Nigeria and Germany and underscored by the potential for greater cooperation and investment between the two countries.

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Thursday, December 28, 2023 • T H I S D AY

BUSINESSWORLD

DEVELOPMENT

Development Headways in 2023 In this report, Ugo Aliogo examines some developmental issues like mental health bill, poverty reduction drive, among others that shaped 2023

I

n few days, the curtain will fall on 2023 to usher in 2024. The year under review has had its own fair share of challenges, as there were twists and turns, good and bad days as far as development is concerned in 2023.

The development space in Nigeria was not exempted from the litany of positive and negatives events that characterised the year. The Nigeria Bureau of Statistics (NBS) in a report revealed that Nigeria Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew by 2.51 per cent (year-on-year) in real terms in the second quarter of 2023.

The report said the growth rate was lower than the 3.54 per cent recorded in the second quarter of 2022 and may be attributed to the challenging economic conditions being experienced. The performance of the GDP in the second quarter of 2023 was driven mainly by the Services sector, which recorded a growth of 4.42 per cent and contributed 58.42 per cent to the aggregate GDP. The report revealed that the agriculture sector grew by 1.50 per cent, an improvement from the growth of 1.20 per cent recorded in the second quarter of 2022. The growth of the industry sector was -1.94 percent relative to -2.30 per cent recorded in the second quarter of 2022. In terms of share to the GDP, agriculture, and the industry sectors contributed less to the aggregate GDP in the second quarter of 2023 compared to the second quarter of 2022.

Illicit Financial Flows (IFFs)

The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) noted that one-sixth of the continent’s aggregate government revenues derive from corporate tax and 10 per cent of that revenue ($6.7 billion) is lost to tax avoidance.

UNCTAD expressed the viewpoint in its Economic Development in Africa Report 2020 on the theme: “Tackling Illicit Financial Flow for Sustainable Development in Africa.”

The Director General, RDNG African Development Bank Group, Mr. Lamin Barrow, said the report estimated capital flight from Africa at $88.6 billion annually for the period 2013 – 2015 which represent 3.7 percent of Africa’s GDP), which represents whereas total ODA and FDI for the same period stood at $48 billion and $59 billion, respectively.

Meanwhile, the Chief Economist and Vice President, African Development Bank, Group, Prof. Kevin Urama, stated that African countries loose almost $90 billion in Illicit Financial Flows (IFFs) annually, and much more in illicit resource flows and resource theft, poorly implemented fiscal policy incentives, and excessive dependence on commodity exports for foreign exchange earnings.

He also stated that this leakage exposes countries to highly volatile global market prices and highly vulnerable supply chains.

Mental Health Bill

In January, 2023, the Mental Health Bill 2021 was passed into law. The Act is a significant step forward for mental health in Nigeria as it seeks to promote and protect the lives of people suffering from mental illness and eradicate every form of stigmatisation and discrimination against them.

Globally, a significant portion and devastating percentage of the population are grappling with various mental health challenges. Mental health remains a pressing

issue in the country both in schools, workforce population, and corporate organisation and among teenage, youths and adolescents.

The idea necessitated both medical experts and health analysts to build several conversations and topics around mental health issues to stem the tide of mental breakdown in various institutions and corporate sectors which has slumped performance of workforce with poor delivery, economic loss, shrinking production base, labour lost among other casualties.

Organisation and corporate sectors have recorded severe loss due to damage of mental health issues on workforce productivity as many organizations now see mental health education as a corporate social responsibility by providing the needed mental health and awareness campaign to staffs and trainees According to World Health Organization (WHO) one in seven (14 percent) 10-19 years old experience mental health condition globally. WHO noted that in Nigeria One in six young people age 15 to 24 are at risk of mental health issues with the most common issues of mood disorder (anxiety and depression) substance use disorder and suicide.

Poverty Reduction

In a report titled, “COVID-19 and Nigeria’s human capital crisis,” the World Bank stated that Nigeria’s ambitious poverty-reduction targets hinge on developing human capital.

According to the report, learning poverty, which captures 10-year-olds’ ability to understand simple sentences or perform basic numeracy tasks, likely proliferated in Nigeria during the pandemic.

While learning poverty cannot be estimated directly for Nigeria due to lack of data, it now affects up to 70 per cent of children in low- and middle-income countries.

The report read in part, “Even prior to COVID-19, Nigeria had some of

the worst human capital outcomes in the world. According to the 2020 Human Capital Index (HCI)—based on a range of markers of health and education including infant mortality, expected years of schooling, sand stunting—a child born in Nigeria that year will grow up to achieve just 36 percent of the productivity he or she could have attained with full health and education. This was below the average for sub-Saharan Africa of around 40 percent. Just six countries had lower HCI scores globally.”

The report further noted that the direct health effects of COVID-19 itself threatened Nigeria’s human capital.

“The country recorded its first case of COVID-19 on February 27, 2020 and has subsequently already suffered at least four distinct waves of infection, peaking around June 2020, January 2021, August 2021, and January 2022. Achieving Nigeria’s goals for poverty reduction depends on building human capital. Nigeria has made some socioeconomic progress recently, but the World Bank’s 2020 Human Capital Index put the country at 150 out of 157 in terms of human capital development.

“The country continues to face huge developmental challenges, including the need to reduce the dependency on crude oil and diversify the economy, address insufficient infrastructure, build strong and effective institutions, as well as address governance issues and public financial management systems, “it added.

Maternal Mortality Rate

Every two minutes, one woman dies globally during pregnancy or childbirth, according to a recent report

by United Nations (UN) agencies.

The report titled: “Trends in Maternal Mortality 2000 to 2020,” which was unveiled recently by the World Health Organisation (WHO), United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), United

Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), World Bank Group and United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA) /Population Division, reveals alarming setbacks for women’s health in recent years.

The report said maternal deaths either increased or stagnated in nearly all regions of the world.

Commenting on the report, the WHO Director General, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said: “While pregnancy should be a time of immense hope and a positive experience for all women, it is tragically still a shockingly dangerous experience for millions around the world who lack access to high quality, respectful health care. These new statistics reveal the urgent need to ensure every woman and girl has access to critical health services before, during and after childbirth, and that they can fully exercise their reproductive rights.”

The report, which tracks maternal deaths nationally, regionally and globally from 2000 to 2020, showed that there were an estimated 287 000 maternal deaths worldwide in 2020, indicating only a slight decrease from 309, 000 in 2016 when the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) came into effect.

While the report presents some significant progress in reducing maternal deaths between 2000 and 2015, gains largely stalled, or in some cases even reversed, after this point.

Humanitarian Aid in North-east

The United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Nigeria, Mr Matthias Schmale, stated recently that $1.3 billion is needed to reach six million people in North-East Nigeria with humanitarian assistance in 2023.

The global body revealed that its target of six million, represents an increase of 500,000 people from the 5.5 million people identified for assistance in 2022.

According to him, $1.3 billion is needed to provide critical lifesaving assistance to 6 million people suffering from the devastating impact the continuing 13-year-long noninternational armed conflict.

THISDAY gathered that through the Humanitarian Response Plan, 120 operational partners will work in support of government efforts to save lives, improve the quality of life, protect the most vulnerable and enable affected people to return to normalcy and live safely and with dignity.

Schmale who expressed concern that the large-scale humanitarian crisis in the North East, is not showing any signs of abating, explained that 2.4 million people in the region affected by the conflict require urgent support.

He said: “An estimated 2.4 million people are in acute need – impacted by conflict, disaster and disease – and require urgent support. Some humanitarian needs of affected people are deepening and increasing, particularly those related to food insecurity and malnutrition.

“Approximately 4.4 million people are expected to face food insecurity in the 2023 lean season, up from 4.1 million in 2022. Without urgent action, 4,000 people in Bama, Borno State, are expected to be in ‘catastrophe’ (Phase 5) conditions, in which starvation, death, destitution and extremely critical acute malnutrition levels become prevalent.”

THURSDAY DECEMBER 28, 2023 • T H I S D AY

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32

T H I S D AY • Thursday, DECEMBER 28, 2023

Health & lifestyle

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

Reflecting on the Nigerian Health Sector in 2023

As we round up the year, Sunday Ehigiator took a retrospective look at major events that shaped the Nigerian health sector in the year 2023

Drugs

A

s the year 2023 draws to a close, many significant health interventions and events have taken place throughout the year that shaped the Nigerian health sector and may extend its impact on the sector to the New Year, as the country builds back better and looks to strengthen its health systems in preparation for future public health emergencies.

Departure of Multinational Pharmaceutical Companies Arguably the biggest news in the sector for the year 2023, the year has been one of the toughest years for Nigerian businesses this decade.

It took only two months after the petrol subsidy removal in May for a reported 4 million small businesses to shut down because of a harsh economy.

In October, the Nigerian Association of Small-Scale Industrialists said that Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises were shutting down daily. But small businesses are not alone. Several big names have scaled back their operations this year, citing harsh economic conditions.

According to the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, the value of unwanted products held by Nigerian producers jumped by 22 per cent to N470 billion ($1 billion) by the end of 2022. That’s the highest in the last five years except for 2020.

Problems like lingering foreign exchange scarcity, poor power supply, port congestion, multiple taxation, insecurity, poor infrastructure, etc., have forced these companies to stop operating in Nigeria.

Unilever Announces Departure This year, Unilever was the first household name to shed its Nigerian production. In March, the company announced changes in its business model to exit the home care and skin cleansing categories. That meant famous brands like OMO, Sunlight and Lux would no longer be on retail shelves.

According to Unilever, it ceased production of homecare category products in June and ended sales in September. However, it extended the production and sale for the skin cleansing category to December 2023.

GSK’s Departure In August, GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Nigeria Plc, the country’s second-biggest drug producer, told the public it was halting operations. This decision was because the company’s UK parent terminated exclusive marketing and distribution agreements.

According to a statement published on the Nigeria Exchange, GSK Plc, which owns a majority stake in the Nigerian unit, said it will appoint third-party distributors to sell its prescription medicines and vaccines in the country.

GSK’s consumer-health arm, Haleon Plc, also informed GSK Nigeria of its “intent to terminate its distribution agreement in the coming months” and appoint a third-party distributor. GSK also said it planned “an accelerated cash distribution and return of capital” to minority shareholders.

The company gave no reason for its decision. However, GSK Nigeria had previously said it was struggling to maintain supplies

A Chart Showing Percentage of African Trained Doctors, including Nigerians, Currently in the UK of its pharmaceutical and vaccine products in Nigeria due to a shortage of dollars to import ingredients.

Sanofi’s Exit On November 8, Sanofi, a French pharmaceutical multinational, subtly announced its exit from Nigerian operations. The company said it has appointed a third-party distributor to handle its commercial portfolio of medicines from February 2024.

Just like GSK, Sanofi didn’t state any reason for its decision. Sanofi General Manager (General Medicines) and Country Lead, Folake Odediran, only said: “This strategic move is driven by our commitment to continually improve access to our medicines and to better serve our patients and the Nigerian health system.”

However, the company’s numbers indicate that it’s been struggling to keep its margins in Nigeria.

In 2019, May & Baker Nigeria announced a contract manufacturing agreement to produce four brands from Sanofi. This deal was an effort to boost local production.

It enabled May & Baker to use Sanofi’s facilities to manufacture flagyl tablets, suspensions, anti-infective medicines and anti-malaria drugs.

By then, May & Baker’s revenue slowed by 9.57 per cent to N5.9 billion in the first nine months of 2019. Gross profits also fell by 9.36 per cent due to a sharp decline in sales.

High Cost of Drugs and Other Pharmaceuticals Arguably, the consequence of all these exits is the inflation of prices of drugs and other pharmaceutical consumables in Nigeria in 2023.

Considering the economic realities in Nigeria, over-the-counter medications may soon be out of reach of people who cannot afford hospital facilities in Nigeria.

According to a new report by SB Morgen Intelligence, titled: “Paying the Price on Health,” the Nigerian economy and foreign exchange crisis have had a huge impact on the prices of essential medicines in the country.

Between 2019 and 2023, the group said it gathered data on the prices of medicines across four broad categories of Antimalarial, Antibiotics, Painkillers and Common Cold medicines.

The report indicates that antibiotics recorded the highest price increases, with 500mg Ampiclox capsules recording the highest jump. The cost price is said to increase by 1,390 per cent and the selling price increasing by 1,100 per cent between 2019 and 2023.

Antimalarial drugs saw the slowest price increase in the period under review, while only one (Novalgin) in the painkiller category has maintained its 2022 price in 2023, following a 25 per cent increase in price in 2022.

SBM noted that 19 per cent of respondents who participated in a 2023 survey reported spending a significant amount of their income on healthcare and 67 per cent of respondents who reported making lifestyle changes due to a high cost of living, listed

cutting back on healthcare bills.

Across all drug categories, the highest jump in the cost and selling prices was recorded in the antibiotics section, which was attributed to the continued demand for antibiotics.

Between 2022 and 2023, Amoxil recorded the fastest rate of increase, jumping by over 400 percentage points.

This was followed by Ampiclox, which saw an increase of 240 percentage points.

Surge in Healthcare Workforce Immigration The immigration (aka Japa) of Nigerian healthcare professionals to more developed countries is a pressing concern with significant consequences.

2023 saw a significant rise in many skilled healthcare workers in Nigeria seeking opportunities abroad due to factors such as better pay, improved working conditions, and a desire for professional growth. This phenomenon is exacerbating an already strained healthcare system in Nigeria.

The ongoing departure of these professionals creates critical shortages within the country’s healthcare workforce, resulting in longer waiting times for medical services, reduced accessibility to quality care, and additional stress on the already burdened healthcare infrastructure.

It also disrupts the transfer of knowledge and skills to the next generation of healthcare workers in Nigeria, hindering the delivery of high-quality healthcare and medical education.

Furthermore, the emigration of healthcare professionals represents a significant loss of human and financial resources that have been invested in their education and training within Nigeria.

Addressing this issue in the Nigerian context requires a comprehensive approach that seeks to retain and nurture healthcare talent within the country, thus strengthening its healthcare system and improving healthcare access for the Nigerian population.

Diphtheria Outbreak The National Center for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) reported the outbreak of the Diphtheria disease in late December 2022. By the third week of January 2023, a total number of 111 cases had been reported by the NCDC as testing positive for the Diphtheria Virus with 89 cases confirmed within the first three weeks of 2023.

UK Commits £2 million to Strengthen Health Workforce in Nigeria In June 2023, the World Health Organization (WHO) welcomed a new funding commitment made by the United Kingdom’s (UK) Department of Health and Social Care to support Nigeria in strengthening her health workforce in the vision of achieving Universal Health Coverage The grant amounting to £2 million will

cover two years to support the government of Nigeria to optimize the performance, quality, and impact of the health workforce through evidence-informed policies and strategies.

The UK provided a multi-million-pound boost to support healthcare staff recruitment and retention in three African countries – Kenya, Nigeria, and Ghana – supporting resilience against global health challenges.

The Nigerian health system, like many countries in the global south, has been beset with challenges in having a resilient health system that can provide quality health services, promote health and prevent diseases. The challenges have been further exacerbated by the recent COVID-19 pandemic which directly impacts the availability of health workers to provide quality services across the country.

Outbreak of Monkeypox also Known as Mpox The World Health Organisation (WHO) declared Monkey Pox a global emergency as the disease whose origin is from animals and formerly limited to certain regions had become a global concern with a total number of infected persons standing at 86,986 with 111 deaths and a prevalence of 110 countries.

Monkeypox is said to be an infectious viral disease that occurs in animals and humans with symptoms including rash, fever, and swollen lymph nodes and may disappear within ten days of occurrence without vaccination.

In an April report by NCDC, there were at least 70 cases of Money Pox in Nigeria with Lagos ranking the state with the highest number of patients with 21, followed by Ogun with nine cases. Other states with cases across the county include; Rivers, Bayelsa, Abia, Delta, Imo, Ondo, Fct, and Edo amongst others.

President Tinubu Unveils Plan For Massive Investments in Health Sector President Bola Tinubu says his administration is prioritizing and improving Nigeria’s health sector through massive investments and the allocation of increased funds to the sector in the proposed 2024 budget.

The President made this declaration at the unveiling of Nigeria’s Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative and the signing of the Health Renewal Compact by Federal, State Governments, and Development Partners in Abuja.

According to the President, “Delivering improved quality health is an underpinning factor in my promise of Renewed Hope to Nigerians. That hope is ignited here today with the support of all multilateral partners and agencies; health is back on the front burner. ”This occasion marks an opportunity for collective reflection and action as we recommit ourselves to the noble pursuit of health for all. The theme for this year ‘Health for All: Time for Action’ encapsulates the urgency and the determination with which we must approach this noble goal.

“Health is not merely the absence of disease but the embodiment of physical, mental, and social well-being. It is a fundamental human right and Nigeria’s commitment to Continued on next page

33

THI S D AY • Thursday, DECEMBER 28, 2023

news Reflecting on the Nigerian Health Sector in 2023

Fertility

With Dr. Kemi AILOJE drkemi@lifelinkfertility.com www.lifelinkfertility.com +2348033083580

Lifestyle And Infertility (Part 1)

GSK Image achieving Universal Health Care Coverage is reflected in the unwavering dedication of my administration to uphold this right for every individual, young or old, in rural or urban areas.”

Meningitis Outbreak Meningitis is a disease affecting the membrane covering the brain and spinal cord. Of the 1,686 cases recorded in Nigeria from October 2022 to March 2023, 961 cases were tested positive with 57 per cent of the being males. The age demographic of those affected falls within ages 0-15 years Experts say that the disease is caused by many different pathogens including bacteria, viruses and fungi with the highest recorded cause being bacteria. Meningitis can be spread by droplets of throat secretions usually from an asymptomatic carrier.

In August 2023, the NCDC collected 638 samples from 2765 suspected cases and 303 tested positive. Children aged 5-14 were the most affected with 54 per cent of the total number affected being males.

Nineteen local governments across five states reported more than 20 cases each.

Managed Naira Float’s Impact on the Healthcare Sector The managed float (devaluation) of the Nigerian Naira has triggered notable changes in the healthcare sector.

Increased costs of outbound medical tourism due to currency devaluation have prompted more Nigerians to opt for local healthcare services and incentivised investments in local capacity for interventions in cardiology, orthopaedics and oncology, the major drivers of outbound medical tourism.

Additionally, the rising prices of branded proprietary drugs have led to a growing acceptance of generic drugs as substitutes for proprietary drugs. This shift towards generics is a practical response to economic realities and alleviates the financial burden on both patients and healthcare providers.

It also encourages competition and innovation in the pharmaceutical industry, enhancing accessibility to essential medications in Nigeria. These adaptations reflect the healthcare sector ’s resilience in the face of economic fluctuations.

Growing Adoption of Healthcare Technologies The Nigerian healthcare sector is undergoing a remarkable transformation with the rapid adoption of healthcare technologies in 2023. Digital healthcare startups are at the forefront of this evolution, aiming to bridge long-standing gaps in the system and enhance overall efficiency within the healthcare value chain.

Moreover, these innovative startups are challenging traditional healthcare players by enabling direct interactions between patients and providers, fostering transparency and patient-centric care.

However, they still face challenges, including regulatory obstacles, data privacy concerns, and ensuring the quality of digital healthcare services. Despite these hurdles, these startups are driving a fundamental shift in the Nigerian healthcare ecosystem towards greater efficiency and patientcentric care.

These startups are gradually disintermediating traditional players and, in some cases, disrupting the fragile healthcare ecosystem as they search for product-market fit.

Resurgence of Lassa Fever The World Health Organisation in May 2023 reported that the Lassa fever epidemic had peaked at about 4,702 suspected cases in Nigeria since its resurgence in January

2023 with a total of 106 cases. The disease which experienced a drop in February to 69 cases peaked in May with 877 confirmed cases and 152 deaths with a fatality rate of 17 per cent.

The disease is carried in the urine or droppings of the multimammate rat and spread by contamination with the broken skin of an infected person or direct contact with materials contaminated by the urine or dropping of a contaminated rat.

Spread of Diphtheria

By June 2023, the World Health Organisation had declared the spread of Diphtheria to 21 of Nigeria’s 36 states with a large number of the affected population being children between ages 2 and 14.

With fresh findings suspecting that the spike in the cases may have been caused as a result of poor vaccination culture, unavailability and inaccessibility of the vaccine to the areas of critical need, discussions are ongoing to intensify the level of awareness among the people majority of whom are in the core northern states of Kano, Yobe, Plateau and Jigawa.

In July alone, 579 new cases tested positive for Diphtheria bringing the number of infected persons to 1,536 with 137 deaths.

Escalating Non-communicable Diseases 2023 saw Nigeria grappling with a concerning rise in non-communicable diseases (NCDs) like cancer, diabetes, and cardiovascular conditions.

The lack of widespread screening programs and limited access to treatment pose significant challenges in addressing the increasing number of cancer cases.

Diabetes prevalence is also surging due to lifestyle changes, requiring effective management programs and education on prevention. Cardiovascular diseases, linked to urbanization and dietary patterns, contribute to the growing NCD burden.

The World Health Organization predicts a 27 per cent increase in NCD prevalence in the African region, including Nigeria, over the next decade.

To address these challenges, Nigeria must implement comprehensive strategies that emphasize prevention, healthier lifestyles, and strengthened healthcare infrastructure, while international collaboration can aid in mitigating the impact of NCDs in the region.

Outbreak of Dengue Fever The Dengue Fever, first confirmed by NCDC on December 16 2023, to have broken out in November at Sokoto, has reported 71 suspected cases with 13 confirmed cases so far.

The virus has been reported in three local government areas (LGAs): Sokoto South, Wamako and Dange Shuni with affected age demography between ages 21- 40.

Dengue fever is a viral infection caused by the dengue virus (DENV) and transmitted to humans through the infected mosquito’s bite. Human-to-human transmission of the virus has not been established.

In conclusion, the Nigerian healthcare sector is at a crossroads, facing both opportunities and challenges. The ability to embrace these changes while maintaining a commitment to high-quality care and accessibility will determine the success of Nigeria’s healthcare transformation beyond 2024.

As the nation moves forward, it is vital to strike a balance between expanding access to care and ensuring that healthcare quality remains paramount, ultimately fostering a healthier and more vibrant future for all Nigerians.

A

number of factors can lead to infertility in couples, but not all of them are medically related. Over the years several studies have been conducted to prove that there are other non-medical factors that can affect a person’s fertility.

The big question we would be asking and answering this week is: Can my lifestyle choices be a possible risk factor for my infertility?

It is amazing how much we indulge in unhealthy habits daily that causes harm to our health, reduce our quality of life and are capable of possibly causing death. Imagine if we were told that a particular tablet caused instant death most people would not even want to even get close, talk less of consuming them.

Lifestyle is defined as the particular way of living. It includes the choices we make, habits we form, and heathy activities we fail to adhere to.

Many lifestyle factors such as the age to start a family, nutrition, weight, exercise, psychologicalstress, environmental/occupational exposures and others can have substantial effects onfertility.

Habits such as cigarette smoking, illicit drug use, alcohol and caffeine consumption has also been found to have negative impact on our fertility.

Clinical infertility as we already know is defined as the inability to become pregnant after 12months of unprotected intercourse. It has been estimated that approximately 15% of the population in industrially developed countries are affected. The causes of diagnosed infertility ranges from ovulatory disorder, tubal disease, endometriosis, chromosomal abnormalities, sperm factors and unexplained infertility. Lifestyle factors have had drastic impact on general health and also the capacity to reproduce. Issues such as smoking and obesity can affect general health and wellbeing. For example smoking increases an individual’srisk of cardiovascular disease and obesity increases the risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and some cancers etc.

HOW FEMALE FERTILITYIS AFFECTED

BY LIFESTYLE CHOICES: • Age: This is a crucial factor when attempting pregnancy and has a pivotal role to play. The more you delay your pregnancy, the less fertile you become. This is due to the gradual reduction in the quantity and quality of a woman’s egg occurring over time due to natural aging.

• Weight: Women who are underweight or overweight are not likely to have normal ovulation. This is because both extremes condition can have negative impact on hormone production •Diet: maintaining healthy diet is essential to maintaining one’s fertility. Adequate nutrition helps in promoting heathy weight and hormone balance e.g clean water intakeis recommended instead of sugary fizzy drinks.

• Stress: women with higher levels of hormones linked to stress (cortisol) have more difficulty in gettingand maintaining pregnancy as compared to women who experienced less stress. Stress has been found to alter hormonal

levels and inhibit ovulation.

• Extreme exercise: while moderate exercise is recommended to keep fit and encourage healthy metabolism, excessive exercise has been found to impact negatively on ovulation.

• Safe sex: unprotectedsex sure predisposes to sexual transmitted diseases which are majorcauses of infertility e.g. gonorrhea and Chlamydia. The use of condom, fidelity or abstinence for unmarried individuals remains the best option to stay safe and healthy • Smoking:Overall risk of infertility was 95% for smoker compared to non-smoker, with menopause reported to occur 1 to 4 years earlier for women who smoke compared to non-smokers.Recent study showed an increased thickness of the outer covering of female egg(zona pellucida) in smokers which makes it more difficult for sperm to penetrate. In female the contents of cigarette may affect the follicular micro environment and other hormones.

Women have a significant delay in conception independent of other factors associated with female exposure to both active and passive smoking. Almost twice as many IVF cycles were needed to achieve pregnancies for smokers compared with non-smoker. A large study of women undergoing first IVF cycle reported that there was 28% decrease in life birth rate for smoker compared to non-smoker • Caffeine: The stimulant properties of caffeine used in most beverages (coffee, tea and soft drinks) and some other food such as chocolates have been reported to prolong the time of pregnancy. Although the mechanism for this is still unclear, caffeine may affect female reproduction by targeting ovulation and corpus luteal function negatively alternating levels of hormone.

• Alcohol: a known teratogen agent (an agent or factor which causes malformation of an embryo) and consumption has been reported to decrease fertility, although the level of consumption associated with risk is unclear. Excessive consumption is known to be dangerous for the unborn child causing low birth weight and prematurity.

• Cosmetics: most cosmetics, including nail polish, anti-bacterial soap, anti-aging creams, hair sprays and perfumes have negative effect on the female fertilitydue to toxic chemicals/ heavy metals eg lead present in some of them.

The use of cosmetics have been associated with increased risk of spontaneous abortion and infertility in some women.

• Adequate sleep: getting a good night’srest helps to refresh and restore the brain and organ system functioning, thus regulating important body hormones including fertility related hormones. Sleep enhances release of the hormone LH (Luteinizing Hormone) which usually enhances maturation and rupture of the egg in the process called “ovulation” thus increasing the chances of achieving pregnancy.

•To be Continued next week

34

THURSday, DECEMBER 28, 2023 T H I S D AY

business/MOnEYGUIDE

Experts Advocate Global Networking, Collaboration for Entrepreneurs Tosin Cleg As the world continues to embrace digital exportation of products and services, the convener and founder of the Premia Business Network, Bola Lawal has emphasized the importance of supporting entrepreneurs in Nigeria to export their products and services globally.

PBN, a thriving subscriptionbased community, boasts over 700 members spanning 26 countries, covering diverse sectors such as agriculture, finance, education, technology, manufacturing, oil and gas, real estate, health and creative industries.

Speaking at the annual breakfast session anchored by Ms. Zumah Yahaya, Lawal said it was important to create an enabling environment for entrepreneurs to network, export, and foster comprehensive economic growth. He also called for sup-

port for young entrepreneurs, emphasizing the potential to generate foreign exchange for Africa and attract investment from the diaspora at the gala and award night.

Lawal detailed the sectorspecific sessions aimed at commemorating the network’s achievements throughout the year. He revealed plans for the Premier Club, a member-only space for social and business activities, set to launch in the third quarter of 2024.

He also unveiled the upcoming PBN Outsource initiative, slated to launch in the first quarter of 2024. The initiative aims to aggregate service providers within the community and facilitate business development in the US and UK. Speaking on plans for 2024, he expressed, “We have big plans including a plan for Premier Club. Premier Club will be a social, business, member-only

club that is from our community.

So a lot of the things that we do, the virtual meetings, virtual hangouts that we do, we want to have our place where it’s only for our members, where we have activities, dinners. So that’s one of the things we’re launching. We plan to start putting that together for next year. Hopefully, by the third quarter of next year, we’ll have it ready to be launched.

We’re also going to be talking about PBN Outsource. We have a lot of providers, software development companies, PR, and digital marketing.”

According to him, in the first quarter of 2024, the company will launch Premier Club for social, business, and member-only for its community to come alive, “and it will aggregate all of the service providers within the community already worked with, adding that the platform will be able to do business development in the US and UK.”

Minister of Sports Development, Senator John Owan Enoh (right), celebrates with the Managing Director of News Central TV (DSTV 422), Mr. Kayode Akintemi, during the Sustainability Reporting (Media, Electronic Print, Online Print) award presentation won by the news channel at the just concluded Seras Awards in Lagos...recently

MARKET INDICATORS

CIFCIN Holds Maidan AGM kayode Tokede The Lagos Chapter of the Chartered Institute of Forensics and Fraud Investigators of Nigeria (CIFCIN) has held its first Annual General Meeting( AGM) in Lagos Also, the new chapter unveiled its executives, which include Hon.Olubode Oni (Chairman), Prof. Omoyede (Vice Chairman), Mr. Victor Falade (Secretary), Mr. Ayodele Osagbemi (Asst. Secretary), Dr. Thompson Aiyegunle (Treasurer), Mrs Perpetual Akinrodoye (Financial Secretary), Mr. Marcus Ayuba

(Public Relations Officer), Mr., Babatunde Obabori (Internal Auditor).

The team consists of active professionals in the private and public sector with at least 25 years of practise.

Speaking at the AGM, Chairman Lagos Chapter, CIFCIN Olubode Oni,noted that the chapter is at its infancy.

He, however, called on the members to start well and put further hardworking for the growth of the Chapter In his words “We must gather speed quickly in order to project our professional practice in Nigeria globally.”

He said members in Lagos are hereby encouraged to join hands with us to take this noble profession to the next level in Nigeria.

According to him “We all need to participate fully in all the chapter’s activities and contribute positively to hasten the growth of the chapter of excellence.”

Speaking further, he said: “I am indeed most elated to stand before you today, welcoming you all to our maiden general meeting for this chapter. It is heart-warming to have a house full of our professional colleagues in this chapter.

Chams HoldCo’s CEO Explains Stellar Performance Despite the inclement operating environment, in Nigeria, Chams Holding Company Plc (Chams HoldCo) has continued to sustain its brand positioning following its trajectory of excellent performance .

Only recently, the Company topped the list of quoted companies with over 600 percent capital gain on NGX and lots more.

The Company’s Group Managing Director, Mrs Mayowa Olaniyan, had in September this year, presented the Facts Behind its Figures to the Management of NGX and Stockbrokers, when she assured the investing public of brighter days ahead of Chams HoldCo. Prompted by media enquiries at the weekend, Olaniyan un-

veiled some of the driving forces behind the Company’s resilience and topnotch performance .

“Chams Holdco’s impressive financial performance is a result of meticulous backward integration efforts. Collaborating with strategic partners, CCNL is set to introduce new production lines for SIM cards and is looking to become a net exporter of its products to other African countries.

“The company’s strategic moves, including the expansion of its card production capabilities, the successful onboarding of major players, and the groundbreaking venture into local SIM card production, stand out as key contributors to its financial surge. Chams Holdco’s ability to adapt to

market dynamics and pioneer innovative solutions is undoubtedly shaping its trajectory as a frontrunner in Nigeria’s rapidly evolving tech landscape.

“Card Center Nigeria Limited (CCNL), has been a key player in this success story. Widely recognized for its production of financial cards, CCNL has strategically diversified into the local production of SIM cards for Telecoms and Internet Service Providers (ISPs) operating in Nigeria. This move aligns with Chams’ commitment to innovation and signifies a bold step towards reducing industry reliance on foreign exchange and ensuring cost-effectiveness in the production of SIM cards. “ she said .

FirstBank Sponsors Kakadu the Musical NumeEkeghe First Bank of Nigeria Limited has announced its sponsorship of Kakadu the Musical, a theatre production from the stables of Playhouse Initiative.

The play, which is set to return to stage from 28 to 30 December 2023 at the Shell Hall, MUSON Centre, Lagos, is among the activities lined up in the 2023 edition of FirstBank’s annual DecemberIssAVybe.

First Bank in a statement noted that the musical which was written and produced by Uche

Nwokedi is a reverberating drama of survival and hope that trails the journey of four friends from different tribes - Emeka, Kola, Osahon, and Dapo alongside their female counterparts -Bisi, Amonia, Enoh and Hassana as they navigate a crisis that would change their lives forever.

FirstBank’s Group Head, Marketing & Corporate Communication, Folake Ani-Mumuney said: ‘’We are excited to announce the return of Kakadu the Musical as the first of several activities lined up in our DecemmberIssaVybe bouquet this year. Kakadu

the Musical is a successful export from Nigeria’s growing, admirable and globally renowned arts and entertainment industry. As a Bank woven into fabric of society for over 129 years, our First@arts initiative has played a pivotal role in the recognition of the abundant talents that abound in the country and we remain committed to being at the forefront of nation building; supporting through resourceful partnerships to build the Nigerian creative industry value chain which contributes to Nigeria’s GDP.”

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 •THURSday, DECEMBER 28, 2023

35

mARKET NEWS

Stock Market Down N140bn on Profit-taking in Dangote Cement, 20 Others

Kayode Tokede

Opening the week, the stock market of the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) extended losses as investors profit-taking activities in Dangote Cement Plc, 20 others down the overall market capitalization by N140 billion.

The NGX All-Share Index declined by 254.63 basis points or 0.34 per cent, to close at 73,768.64 basis points.

Consequently, the overall market capitalisation value lost N140 billion to close at N40.367 trillion.

Losses in industrial heavyweight, Dangote Cement dropped by 2.19per cent and Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc depreciated by 1.31per cent were the primary drivers of the market decline, offsetting the gains in MTN Nigeria Communication Plc appreciated by 0.40per cent, and Guaranty Trust Holding

P R I C E S MaiN Board

F O R DEALS

Company Plc (GTCO) that added 0.50per cent.

However, market breadth closed positive, as 40 stocks gained relative to 21 decliners.

Eterna recorded the highest price gain of 10 per cent to close at N13.20, per share. AXA Mansard Insurance followed with a gain of 9.96 per cent to close at N5.19, while Multiverse Mining & Exploration up by 9.95 per cent to close at N15.36, per share.

Infinity Trust Mortgage Bank

S E C U R I T I E S Market Price

quantity traded

appreciated by 9.93 per cent to close at N4.98 and N14.60 respectively, while Industrial and Medical Gas Nigeria (IMG) rose by 9.85 per cent to close at N11.15, per share.

On the other hand, UACN led the losers’ chart by 10 per cent to close at N13.50, per share. DEAP Capital Management & Trust followed with a decline of 7.25 per cent to close at 64 kobo, while Caverton Offshore Support Group lost

T R A D E D

value traded ( N )

MaiN Board

A S O F

6.59 per cent to close at N1.70, per share.

Royal Exchange lost 6.25 per cent to close at 60 kobo, while Tantalizers depreciated by 6.12 per cent to close at 46 kobo, per share.

The total volume traded increased by 2.27 per cent to 432.914 million units, valued at N12.938 billion, and exchanged in 8,901 deals. Transactions in the shares of Jaiz Bank topped the activity chart

with 35.382 million shares valued at N58.742 million.

Transnational Corporations (Transcorp) followed with 31.089 million shares worth N279.125 million, while Unity Bank traded 25.117 million shares valued at N40.495 million.

GTCO traded 20.466 million shares valued at N819.270 million, while United Capital transacted 18.767 million shares worth N466.506 million.

D E C E M B E R / 2 7 / 2 3 DEALS

Market Price

quantity traded

value traded ( N)

36

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2023 • T H I S D AY

Bears Opens the Market… ASI down 0.3%

₦ ₦ ₦

T o p 10 T r a d e s b y V o l u m e

T o p 10 G a i n e r s T ic k er

P ric e

P ric e C hg %

Vo lum e

P ric e C hg %

ET ER N A

13.20

10.0%

T ic k er J A IZ B A N K

35.4

8.7%

M A N SA R D

5.19

10.0%

T R A N SC OR P

31.1

1.1%

25.1

2.5%

M ULT IVER SE

15.36

9.9%

UN IT YB N K

IN F IN IT Y

4.98

9.9%

GT C O

20.5

0.5%

IM G

11.15

9.9%

UC A P

18.8

3.9%

J OH N H OLT

2.57

9.8%

OA N D O

18.7

-1.9%

OM A T EK

0.70

9.4%

GER EGU

16.8

0.0%

M C N IC H OLS

0.71

9.2%

VER IT A SKA P

16.7

-2.9%

IN T B R EW

4.80

9.1%

F ID ELIT YB K

15.7

1.0%

UP D C R EIT

5.40

9.1%

Z EN IT H B A N K

15.5

0.3%

T o p 10 T r a d e s b y V a l u e

T o p 10 L o s e r s

T ic k er

P ric e

P ric e C hg %

T ic k er

Value

P ric e C hg %

UA C N

13.50

-10.0%

GER EGU

6057.1

0.0%

D EA P C A P

0.64

-7.2%

GT C O

819.3

0.5%

C A VER T ON

1.70

-6.6%

A IR T ELA F R I

798.1

0.0%

R OYA LEX

0.60

-6.2%

Z EN IT H B A N K

587.2

0.3%

T A N T A LIZ ER

0.46

-6.1%

UC A P

466.5

3.9%

ST A N B IC

61.00

-6.0%

A C C ESSC OR P

358.8

0.0%

C UST OD IA N

8.45

-5.1%

T R A N SC OR P

279.1

1.1%

OKOM UOIL

252.00

-4.5%

N EST LE

271.5

-2.7%

M B EN EF IT

0.50

-3.8%

UB A

258.2

-0.4%

-3.4%

FB NH

195.3

-1.0%

J A P A ULGOLD

1.69

37

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 28, 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 22Dec-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 307.96 307.96 63.36% Afrinvest Plutus Fund 100.00 100.00 9.82% Nigeria International Debt Fund 339.64 339.64 5.16% Afrinvest Dollar Fund 110.10 110.08 6.34% 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 N/A N/A N/A AIICO Balanced Fund N/A N/A N/A 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 191.03 193.54 31.80% Anchoria Fixed Income Fund 1.27 1.27 3.45% 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 30.26 31.17 37.89% ARM Discovery Balanced Fund 659.18 679.05 26.47% ARM Ethical Fund 54.43 56.07 20.65% ARM Eurobond Fund ($) N/A N/A N/A ARM Fixed Income Fund 1.16 1.16 4.60% ARM Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 10.61% ARM Short Term Bond Fund 1.07 1.07 3.22% AVA GLOBAL ASSET MANAGERS LIMITED info@avacapitalgroup.com Web: www.avacapitalgroup.com; Tel 08069294653 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AVA GAM Fixed Income Dollar Fund 107.52 107.52 17.98% AVA GAM Fixed Income Naira Fund 1,160.27 1,160.27 8.17% AXA MANSARD INVESTMENTS LIMITED investmentcare@axamansard.com Web: www.axamansard.com; Tel: +2341-4488482 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn 202.76 204.18 50.32% AXA Mansard Equity Income Fund 1.00 1.00 11.83% AXA Mansard Money Market Fund CAPITAL EXPRESS ASSET AND TRUST LIMITED info@capitalexpressassetandtrust.com Web: www.capitalexpressassetandtrust.com; Tel: +234 803 307 5048 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn 2.23 2.23 9.49% CEAT Fixed Income Fund 3.04 3.12 35.08% Capital Express Balanced Fund(Formerly: Union Trustees Mixed Fund) CARDINALSTONE ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED mutualfunds@cardinalstone.com Web: www.cardinalstoneassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 (1) 710 0433 4 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn 1.05 1.05 7.99% CardinalStone Fixed Income Alpha Fund CHAPELHILL DENHAM MANAGEMENT LTD investmentmanagement@chapelhilldenham.com Web: www.chapelhilldenham.com, Tel: +234 461 0691 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Chapelhill Denham Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A Paramount Equity Fund N/A N/A N/A Women's Investment Fund N/A N/A N/A CHD Nigeria Bond Fund N/A N/A N/A CHD Nigeria Dollar Income Fund N/A N/A N/A CORDROS ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmgtteam@cordros.com Web: www.cordros.com, Tel: 019036947 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Cordros Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 9.98% Cordros Milestone Fund 171.13 172.36 32.76% Cordros Fixed Income Fund 107.46 107.46 10.34% Cordros Halal Fixed Income Fund 109.15 109.15 10.96% Cordros Dollar Fund ($) 114.22 114.22 6.20% CORONATION ASSETS MANAGEMENT investment@coronationam.com Web:www.coronationam.com, Tel: 012366215 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Coronation Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A Coronation Balanced Fund N/A N/A N/A Coronation Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A 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 13.67% Emerging Africa Bond Fund 1.11 1.11 10.48% Emerging Africa Balanced Diversity Fund 1.29 1.30 27.00% Emerging Africa Eurobond Fund 107.27 107.27 5.74% 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 1544.61 1544.61 12.02% FBN Balanced Fund 269.10 271.42 45.45% FBN Halal Fund 133.48 133.48 13.22% FBN Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 12.01% FBN Dollar Fund 123.79 123.79 7.53% FBN Smart Beta Equity Fund 247.68 250.88 63.15% FBN Specialized Dollar Fund 111.70 111.70 9.44% 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 8.81% Legacy Debt Fund 3.58 3.58 0.12% Legacy Equity Fund 2.75 2.80 37.29% Legacy USD Bond Fund 1.32 1.32 5.02% 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 5,738.69 5,782.28 37.30% Coral Income Fund 3,991.32 3,991.32 7.71% Coral Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 12.30% FSDH Dollar Fund 1.20 1.20 5.80%

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 1.82 1.85 18.16% Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund 1,213.29 1,213.29 10.79% 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 18.31 18.47 56.12% Meristem Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 12.73% 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) 104.33 104.33 11.99% Norrenberger Money Market Fund (NMMF) 100.00 100.00 12.76% Norrenberger Dollar Fund (NDF) ($) 103.76 103.76 11.28% 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 2.29 2.34 45.58% PACAM Fixed Income Fund 11.97 12.20 8.01% PACAM Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 7.95% PACAM Equity Fund 2.21 2.24 55.66% PACAM EuroBond Fund 131.80 134.91 18.30% 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 165.80 169.79 31.89% 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 N/A N/A N/A 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 4,950.71 4,993.91 46.09% Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund 255.58 255.58 8.49% Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund 2.04 2.07 63.10% Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund 352.68 352.83 12.65% Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund 375.57 380.18 60.81% Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 11.12% Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund 18,089.25 18,314.56 65.71% Stanbic IBTC Dollar Fund (USD) 1.46 1.46 13.26% Stanbic IBTC Shariah Fixed Income Fund 128.16 128.16 9.62% Stanbic IBTC Enhanced Short-Term Fixed Income Fund 125.75 125.75 18.21% Stanbic IBTC Absolute Fund 5,004.56 5,004.56 17.64% Stanbic IBTC Aggressive Fund 5,361.60 5,429.45 92.86% Stanbic IBTC Conservative Fund 5,275.77 5,301.23 38.65% 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 1.36 1.37 48.28% United Capital Balanced Fund 1.84 1.85 41.29% United Capital Wealth for Women Fund 1.42 1.43 31.69% United Capital Sukuk Fund 1.18 1.18 11.40% United Capital Fixed Income Fund 1.95 1.95 6.88% United Capital Eurobond Fund 124.16 124.16 5.52% United Capital Global Fixed Income Fund 1.08 1.08 8.59% United Capital Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 11.88% Web: www.quantumzenith.com.ng; Tel: +234 1-2784219 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Zenith Balanced Strategy Fund 18.45 18.66 33.16% Zenith ESG Impact Fund 21.84 22.02 38.03% Zenith Income Fund 25.30 25.30 7.41% Zenith Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 11.91% 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 8.86 8.96 119.42% Vetiva Consumer Goods Exchange Traded Fund 11.34 11.44 93.29% Vetiva Griffin 30 Exchange Traded Fund 27.03 27.23 52.56% Vetiva Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 11.14% Vetiva Industrial Goods Exchange Traded Fund 27.03 27.23 35.09% Vetiva S&P Nigeria Sovereign Bond Exchange Traded Fund 147.83 149.83 -6.26%

REITS

NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

N/A 59.38 101.79 10.04

N/A 12.00% -12.08%

Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

21.50 460.00 682.50 22.93 37.27

23.76 460.00 682.50 23.30 37.70

45.77% 257.36% 576.75% 55.16% 112.48%

NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

N/A

N/A

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.

38

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2023 • T H I S D AY

thirty-eight

Moving to Avoid Contagion, CBN Says Depositors' Funds in Banks Are Safe, Sound, Despite Obazee's Recommendation on Union Bank

James Emejo in Abuja

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) yesterday moved swiftly assure the public that Nigerian banks remained safe and sound.

The apex bank's reassurance came against the backdrop of a recommendation by the Special Investigator probing the activities of the central bank for the federal government to take over some CBN-supervised financial institutions.

The recommendation had raised fear about the implications of such a recommendation and likely contagion effect it trigger in the banking institution.

However, in a statement, CBN

acting Director, Corporate Communications, Mrs. Sidi-Ali Hakama, urged the public to continue with their regular activities without being alarmed by reports that have not emanated from the apex bank on the health status of Nigerian banks.

She said the central bank remained fully equipped to carry out its statutory duty of upholding a stable financial system in the country.

"We assure the general public and depositors about the safety of their funds in Nigerian financial institutions.

"For the avoidance of doubt, Nigerian banks remain safe and sound," Hakama said.

The apex bank, therefore, urged bank customers to proceed with their banking transactions as usual, as there was no cause for concern.

Essentially, the Special Investigator probing the activities of the CBN, had reportedly recommended that the federal government should takeover Union Bank which was acquired by Titan Trust Bank The investigator, Mr. Jim Obazee claimed the ownership of the bank was linked to former CBN Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele.

But Tropical General Investments (TGI) Group, which is the majority owner of Titan Trust and Union Banks,

clarified in a statement issued by its Head, Corporate Communications, Ms. Rafiat Gawat, Union Bank was not owned by the government adding that no government money through the CBN or AMCON was used to buy it contrary to claims made by the investigator, Mr. Jim Obazee.

The statement added that "The process was diligently followed as captured in the report of the investigator.

"As responsible corporate citizens, we are always willing, ready, and able to support stakeholders including regulators to learn and understand our Group and its operations."

CBN Governor, Olayemi Cardoso

Shettima Condoles Plateau Communities, Maintains Nation Won't Rest Until They Get Justice until you access justice and until you are safe.

“The president is deeply shaken by this tragedy and shares in this unspeakable sorrow that has shattered the joy of Christmas across the country.

"When one community bleeds, the entire nation feels the pain.

The pain we feel now transcends ethnicity or religion, geography or politics. The grief that binds us is a testament to our shared humanity, not differences," he added.

Identifying with the grieving families who lost loved ones in the attack, the vice president acknowledged the fact that it is an indescribable nightmare to

bury families, describing it as a rare experience that is much more unbearable than the pain of losing one or two loved ones.

"We cannot fathom the depth of this grief beyond the experience of the bereaved. We can only offer to assuage your pain. What has happened to you is a funeral for the entire nation. Our hearts bleed alongside yours, our dear brothers and sisters in Bokkos, Barkin-Ladi, and all over Plateau state," he added.

Shettima assured the people that the Tinubu administration was out to protect them and ensure justice, even though it may appear as if the government had failed them in their time of serious need.

Noting that justice is the path to collective safety, unity, and healing of the nation, he said: "We came to power promising to uphold the sanctity of every citizen's life, and now is the time to reassure you that this inter-community violence, which has hijacked the humanity and serenity of this beautiful state over the past decades, will never persist under our watch.

"We will harness all our resources to bring those responsible to justice; we will not rest until we are able to prevent the recurrence of these heinous acts.

"Your blood, your tears, and your cries stain our collective conscience.

We are here for you, we are here,

resolute in our commitment to ensuring that the perpetrators of these mindless killings face the full force of the law."

He, however, appealed to the people of Plateau State to resist what he described as the temptation to succumb to sectional divisions or the poisonous rhetoric of hatred towards their fellow citizens while assuring that the government was set to ensure justice and security for them.

"This violence persists due to this dangerous practice of treating criminals as ambassadors of their group, where the law is taken into our hands, and where protection fails. But this is not the case now.

Aiyedatiwa Sworn in as Ondo Governor, Nigerians Mourn Akeredolu, Na'abba

Abuja, at the age of 65. An aide to the deceased, Ahmad Tijjani Lawan, said Na'Abba died yesterday morning at the National Hospital, Abuja, after a protracted illness.

President Bola Tinubu led other Nigerians, including governors, the leadership of the National Assembly, and prominent citizens, to mourn the two eminent Nigerians, who passed on suddenly.

Chief Judge of Ondo State, Justice Olusegun Odusola, administered the oath of office on Aiyedatiwa around 5pm yesterday, at the Cocoa Conference Hall of the Governor's Office.

Aiyedatiwa was the deputy governor until Wednesday, December 13, when power was formally transferred to him after Akeredolu went on another medical vacation in Germany.

In an address after his swearing in, Aiyedatiwa said it was with a heavy heart that he accepted the onerous responsibility of taking over the reins of governance of the state.

He stated, "The death of our governor is, indeed, a devastating shock to us all, as we have all been praying earnestly for his quick recovery and subsequent safe return to Ondo State, having embarked on another medical leave on Wednesday, 13th December, 2023. Indeed, there is no armour against fate; death lays his icy hand on kings.

"The demise of Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu, SAN, CON, is, indeed, a great loss to me as an individual, as our relationship dated back to many years ago, having closely worked with him when his gubernatorial journey started in 2012.

“The loss then did not affect our relationship, as we continued to maintain close political and personal relationship, which climaxed in 2020, when he graciously picked me as his running mate for his second term as Governor of Ondo State.”

The new governor said, "Governor Akeredolu was a man of courage and conviction, who always stood for the truth even at his own detriment. I remember vividly during the time when we had a case in court challenging our second term victory.

“He still pursued the matter of emplacing a strong security network for the people of the South-west, codenamed ‘Amotekun Corps’.

"The people of Ondo State and the entire people of the South-west will be eternally grateful for this bold act, which has greatly improved

the security architecture in the region and reduced incidents of kidnapping, banditry and other acts of criminality to the barest minimum, especially in Ondo State.

“His many legacies in the health sector, infrastructure development, education, industrial development, as symbolised in the Ondo-Linyl Industrial Hub, Ore, his innovation in Ondo State Entrepreneurial Development Agency, his Tech Hub, etc. will be difficult to surpass."

Aiyedatiwa said the events that culminated in the ceremony were a watershed in the history of Ondo State, as it was the first time the state would have a transition in an administration.

He explained, "Today’s event has placed a burden on all of us to pull together and stay together as one, because we have the onerous responsibility to continue to sustain the legacies of Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu, SAN, CON, which was good governance, properly called.

“Our leader and governor, during his time, embarked upon several landmark projects, many of which have been completed and several ones ongoing. We now have the responsibility to complete them.

“It is to the credit of Arakunrin Akeredolu that the state now has a flyover in Ore, while the one in Akure is ongoing. It is necessary for us to acknowledge with pride the wonderful achievements and legacies of Arakunrin Akeredolu.

His records of performance are monumental and unprecedented."

The new governor assured the people that Ondo State under his watch, would continue to advance the welfare of the people and always place them first in every decision.

Family: Our Patriarch Has Departed

Formally confirming the passing of the former governor, his family, in a statement titled, “Our Patriarch Has Departed,” said, “With deepest regret and profound acceptance of the will of the Almighty, we announce the passing of our beloved, courageous, and compassionate father and grandfather, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, CON. “He peacefully departed in his sleep at a hospital in Germany, where he was undergoing treatment for protracted prostate cancer.

“While we are deeply saddened and devastated by his departure, we find solace in the understanding that as he transitions to eternity, he will be guided by the benevolent hands

of the angels of light, with whom he resided during his remarkable and fruitful journey on earth.

“During this challenging time, we sincerely appreciate everyone who has stood by us and extended their support since the news broke.

We humbly request your prayers and support, while also asking for privacy as we navigate through this trying period.”

The family, in the statement by Oluwarotimi O. Akeredolu, Jnr, said, “Details regarding the burial arrangements will be announced by the family and the state government in due course.”

State Govt: It’s Sad Day in Ondo

Ondo State Government, in a statement yesterday by the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Bamidele AdemolaOlateju, titled, "It Is A Sad Day In Ondo State," confirmed that Akeredolu answered the eternal call while receiving medical treatment in Germany and succumbed to complications arising from protracted prostate cancer.

The statement said, "With a heavy heart, the Ondo State Government announces the tragic passing of our beloved Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, CON. "Mr. Governor peacefully departed from this world in the early hours of today, Wednesday, December 27, 2023. This tragedy has left behind a profound void in our hearts.

“Governor Akeredolu answered the eternal call while receiving medical treatment in Germany.

He succumbed to complications arising from protracted prostate cancer.

"A letter has been sent to President Bola Tinubu, GCFR, to officially inform His Excellency of this devastating news. The family and the Ondo State Government appreciate Mr. President for his support for Governor Akeredolu during his illness."

According to Ademola-Olateju, "Governor Akeredolu was an extraordinary leader, whose unwavering dedication to the state and its people was both commendable and unparalleled. He not only served as the governor of Ondo State, but also emerged as a prominent advocate for the entire South-west region and the nation.

“Governor Akeredolu was a courageous leader and an exemplar of integrity. The weight of this loss is truly unbearable. However, we

find solace in the knowledge that Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu lived a purposeful life, devoted to the service of God Almighty."

Akeredolu, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), former president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), and former Attorney General of Ondo State, was a second-term governor before his death and served as Chairman of the South West Governors Forum.

Throughout 2022, there were speculations in Ondo State about the health of Akeredolu, but nobody knew what to believe until January this year, when his wife, Mrs Betty Akeredolu, released a viral audio, where she accused her husband’s Special Adviser on Public and Inter-Governmental Relations, Ms Bunmi Odumosu, of fortifying her husband with concoctions.

Mrs Akeredolu revealed that her husband was, indeed, battling a serious health challenge, and warned Odumosu to stay away from him and stop sneaking in with concoctions.

The situation continued until June 13 this year, when Akeredolu officially transferred power to his deputy, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, through a notification sent to Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Olamide Oladiji.

He stated in the letter that he would be proceeding on a 21-day medical vacation from June 7 to July 6, 2023, but, when the letter expired, he issued another, this time, extending his leave indefinitely.

For the second time in the year, Akeredolu embarked on a three-month medical vacation in Germany and, subsequently, returned on September 7.

Following his return, Akeredolu stayed in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, and tried to govern his state from there, a move that drew criticism from various quarters.

There was controversy over Akeredolu’s failure to return to the state or make a public appearance, which fuelled suspicion that the state was being governed by proxy.

The most dramatic manifestation of the conflict between him and his deputy occurred after he returned from his three-month medical leave and fired the media aides to his deputy over alleged misconduct.

The feud between Akeredolu and Aiyedatiwa escalated into a power struggle, casting shadows over the state's peace and stability.

As a result of the crisis, the state was plunged into a period Continued on page 42

This is a promise," Shettima assured.

Also, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, yesterday condemned the recent killings in Bokkos and Barkin-Ladi Local Government Areas of Plateau State, reiterating the commitment of the President Bola Tinubu’s administration to ensure that every inch of the country’s territory is protected.

A statement by Idris, said that Tinubu had directed the security agencies to ensure that the perpetrators of the heinous killings are fished out and brought to justice and make sure that all forms of criminality by terrorists, bandits and militants are tackled boldly and decisively.

The president, Idris said, has also directed the federal ministry of humanitarian affairs and poverty alleviation and other relevant agencies to work with the Plateau state government to deliver immediate humanitarian relief to the affected communities.

“The federal government acknowledges the deep pains being felt by all the victims of these attacks, and pledges to scale up collaboration with and support of the state governments in the collective task of ensuring lasting peace and security in Nigeria.

“At the federal level, all hands are on deck across the security and intelligence agencies, to scale up intelligence-gathering and crisisresponse efforts.

“We pray for God’s comfort and healing for all the affected communities and families. May the

souls of the dead rest in peace,” Idris added.

Meanwhile, the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Benjamin Kalu, yesterday promised that every concerted action must be taken by the relevant authorities and stakeholders to stop the scenes of dreadful carnage on the streets of Plateau state.

According to a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Levinus Nwabughiogu, Kalu who he said was devastated by the unfortunate reports of the massacre, charged all security agencies to go after the assailants.

The deputy speaker described the attacks as reprehensible and unprovoked, insisting that the perpetrators must be fished out and brought to justice.

He recalled the previous years of similar ugly incidents in the state, saying that never again should such repeat itself.

Kalu said that what the nation needs at all times is peace, adding that it is for this reason that he is championing the Peace in South East Project (PISE-P) to restore peace in all warring regions, starting from the South-east region.

While commiserating with the government and the people of Plateau state, especially the family of the victims, Kalu said that all legislative interventions will be activated to dissuade future occurrence even.

He also appreciated the security agencies for their efforts to stop the attacks from escalating any further.

Zenith Bank Emerges Best Bank For Digital Solutions in Nigeria in the Euromoney Awards 2023

was yet to be fully realised. Dr. Onyeagwu remarked, “Technology now stands as the cornerstone of the financial services sector.” He extended heartfelt thanks to the bank’s clientele for their loyal patronage, to the board for their guidance, and to the staff for their unwavering dedication to building a formidable financial institution.

Euromoney’s Awards for Excellence are one of the most highly coveted awards that matter to the banks and bankers who matter.

Established in 1992 as the first of their kind, the awards recognise excellence in the global banking industry, with this year’s edition receiving a record number of submissions from banks in the regional and country awards programme that covers more than 50 regional awards and best bank awards in 100 countries.

Zenith Bank has continued to distinguish itself in the Nigerian financial services industry through superior service offerings, unique customer experience and sound financial indices. The bank has remained a clear leader in the digital space with several firsts in deploying innovative products, solutions and an assortment of alternative channels that ensure convenience, speed and safety of transactions.

The bank’s track record of excellent performance has earned the brand numerous awards, including being listed in the World Finance Top 100 Global Companies in 2023; being recognised as the Number One Bank in Nigeria by Tier-1

Capital, for the 14th consecutive year, in the 2023 Top 1000 World Banks Ranking published by The Banker Magazine; Best Commercial Bank, Nigeria, for three consecutive years from 2021 to 2023, in the World Finance Banking Awards; Best Corporate Governance Bank, Nigeria in the World Finance Corporate Governance Awards 2022 and 2023; Bank of the Year (Nigeria) in The Banker’s Bank of the Year Awards 2020 and 2022; Best Bank in Nigeria, for three consecutive years from 2020 to 2022, in the Global Finance World’s Best Banks Awards; Best in Corporate Governance’ Financial Services’ Africa, for four successive years from 2020 to 2023, by the Ethical Boardroom; Most Sustainable Bank, Nigeria in the International Banker 2023 Banking Awards; Best Commercial Bank, Nigeria and Best Innovation in Retail Banking, Nigeria in the International Banker 2022 Banking Awards.

Also, the bank emerged as the Most Valuable Banking Brand in Nigeria in the Banker Magazine Top 500 Banking Brands 2020 and 2021; Bank of the Year 2023 and Retail Bank of the Year for three consecutive years from 2020 to 2022, at the BusinessDay Banks and Other Financial Institutions (BAFI) Awards. Similarly, Zenith Bank was named Bank of the Decade (People’s Choice) at the THISDAY Awards 2020, Bank of the Year 2021 by Champion Newspaper, Bank of the Year 2022

by New Telegraph Newspaper, and Most Responsible Organisation in Africa 2021 by SERAS Awards.

39

T H I S D AY • THURSDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2023

NEWS

A CHRISTMAS WITH THE PRESIDENT...

L-R: Wife of the scion of the Osoba family, Mrs Osita Olumide Osoba; former governor of Ogun State, Chief Segun Osoba; his grandson, Gbeminiyi Osoba; President Bola Tinubu; former Ogun State first lady, Beere Aderinsola Osoba and a member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Olumide Osoba, when the Osoba family paid a yuletide visit to the president at his Lagos residence, on Christmas day

PDP Laments Killing of over 5,000 Nigerians Since May 29 Falana condemns Plateau killings, asks FG to arrest, punish perpetrators Adegboruwa: Tinubu has failed to protect Nigerians

Chuks Okocha in Abuja and Wale Igbintade

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday condemned the killing of no fewer than 160 innocent Nigerians by terrorists in the coordinated attacks on 20 communities in Plateau State on the eve of Christmas.

In a statement by the National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, the party described as heartrending the chilling reports of how defenceless Nigerians were gruesomely murdered and over 10,000 more displaced by terrorists

in Bokkos and Barkin Ladi areas of Plateau State, in unrestrained attacks which lasted up till Monday morning.

In a related development, human rights lawyer Mr. Femi Falana SAN has condemned the Christmas Day attacks in Bokkos and Barkin-Ladi Local Government Areas of Plateau State, which left at least 100 persons dead, and urged the federal government to fish out the culprits and prosecute them without delay.

Falana in a statement issued yesterday, said in view of the conflicting accounts of the deadly attacks,

the federal government ought to carry out a full investigation into the killing and destruction of properties.

Another prominent human rights lawyer, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, SAN also faulted the response of the federal government to the recent killings in Plateau State, adding that the reaction of President Bola Tinubu proved beyond doubt that governance has failed in Nigeria.

The fiery lawyer in a statement issued yesterday, stated that if there was no genuine programme to lift Nigerians out of the present economic woes, President Tinubu

Olawepo-Hashim Condemns Heinous Killings in Plateau State Canvasses rapid security reforms to curb bloodletting

Deji Elumoye in Abuja A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, has condemned the Christmas Day killings that occurred in some local government areas of Plateau state, North-central Nigeria.

In a statement released by his Media Office in Abuja, OlawepoHashim lamented the recurring orgy of armed conflict and called for rapid security reform measures that would permanently arrest the unending waves of bloodletting at the local levels.

“The cowardly killing of peaceful villagers in Barkin-Ladi and Bokkos, some in their sleep on Christmas Day shows there is no limit to the barbarism of some people who live amongst us.

“Same Christmas Day, a medical doctor helping to provide community health services was kidnapped and killed in Oloru area in Moro local Government of Kwara state.

“How many lives need to be lost before rapid security reform measures that would permanently arrest the unending orgy of bloodletting at the local levels come into effect?” he asked.

In order to break the cycle of killings, Olawepo-Hashim counselled the government at all levels, to address the root causes of the violence, which is being watered by an unhealthy tendency of inter-communal conflicts,

disputes over land and resources and deep-seated ethnic tensions.

He equally maintained that perpetrators of the heinous crimes must be identified, apprehended, prosecuted swiftly and transparently,

regardless of their affiliations or backgrounds.

This, according to him, will send a strong message that justice is sacrosanct and impunity will not be tolerated.

should do the needful by resigning.

The PDP lamented that the insensitive attitude of the President Bola Tinubu-led government towards issues of security had emboldened terrorists and bandits to upscale deadly attacks and open the way for the killing of no fewer than 5,000 Nigerians since Tinubu took office on May 29, 2023.

According to Ologunagba, "Our party berates Tinubu for always resorting to lame presidential condemnation by his media aides without any corresponding definite steps to protect Nigerians and stop this constant carnage in our nation.

"President Tinubu has practically abdicated his constitutional role as president and commander in-chief which is principally to ensure the security of lives and property thus abandoning Nigerians to terrorists, bandits and marauders."

He urged Nigerians to recall how Tinubu in his nationwide broadcast of July 31, 2023, had no words of commitment for security, despite the escalated killing of over 500 Nigerians and many more abducted in Plateau, Benue, Niger, Kaduna and other states of the federation at that time.

“Even with the disturbing

information that no fewer than 5,060 Nigerians were killed, with 2,263 others abducted since May 2023 as contained in the 2023 Nigeria Security Report by Beacon Consulting, which was also reported in the Wednesday, December 13, 2023 edition of the Punch Newspapers, the Tinubu-led APC administration remains largely nonchalant and silent.

"There are apprehensions that what is happening in Plateau State is a genocide and the Tinubu-led APC administration must be held responsible for the mindless killing under its watch,” the PDP stated.

The PDP restated its demand for an urgent legislative public inquest into the killings as well as the undesirable disposition of the APC government on issues of insecurity in the country.

The party said that the International Criminal Court (ICC) is also invited to commence an independent investigation to unravel the sponsors and perpetrators of what it described as an act of genocide.

In this regard, it said that special attention must be paid to prominent former and current leaders of the APC who have at various times been alleged to overtly encouraged,

Buhari, Radda to Reinforce Fight Against Drug Abuse in Katsina Group unveils platform to tackle problems in state

Francis Sardauna in Katsina

Former President Muhammadu Buhari and Governor Dikko Radda as well as other critical stakeholders are to attend the annual dialogue organised by the Katsina Consultative Forum to reinforce the fight against drug abuse in Katsina state.

The maiden dialogue with the theme: ‘’Tackling the Menace of Drug Abuse Amongst the Youth in Katsina State’’, would serve as a critical platform to tackle and find remedies to substance abuse and other challenges afflicting the state.

The Chairman of the Forum, Aminu Abubakar-Danmusa who addressed journalists on the essence of the dialogue yesterday, said the

summit would be held on Sunday at the Government House, Katsina.

He said the choice of the theme was not arbitrary but a reflection of the forum's unfaltering commitment to safeguard the future of Katsina state by tackling the challenge of drug abuse among youths in the state.

He explained that drug abuse had infiltrated numerous communities and had threatened the health of young Nigerians, adding that unity among stakeholders remained a cardinal pillar in eradicating the scourge.

Abubakar-Danmusa said: “We must come together as a united force to confront this menace and pave the way for a brighter

and more promising future for the youth of Katsina State. The Katsina dialogue which is billed for December 31, 2023, is not merely a conference.

“It is a call to action, a summons to unite in our shared responsibility to confront the challenges that confront us and to chart a course towards a more secure, prosperous and sustainable future for Katsina state.

“I am deeply honoured to announce that we have secured the attendance of His Excellency, Muhammadu Buhari, the immediate past President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria who will grace the occasion as special guest of honour.”

He added that Buhari and Radda’s acceptance to attend the dialogue was a testament to its significance and their unwavering commitments to ward off substance abuse and other challenges bedevilling the state.

Meanwhile, a social commentator and Political Scientist, Dr. Usman Bugaje, Dr. Asma'u Abdulkadir and the Katsina State National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) commandant, are among the discussants at the dialogue.

At the end of the dialogue, the issues raised and remedies proffered would be submitted to the state government and other relevant authorities for implementation, the organisers said.

promoted, incited and endorsed acts of terrorism and genocide. ‘'This is especially against the backdrop of reports that over 63,000 Nigerians have been murdered by terrorists and bandits in the eight and half years of the Buhari/Tinubu APC-led government.

“Our party deeply commiserates with the families of the victims of these mindless killings enabled by the APC in Plateau State and other parts of the country, and prays to God to bring succour to the wounded and the displaced," the PDP stressed.

Falana urged the federal government to make use of the N6.2 billion earmarked by the Buhari administration for the establishment of ranches in Plateau State and other states of the federation for animal husbandry.

Falana said that in addressing violent conflicts in the country generally, the federal, state and local governments should address the root cause of physical insecurity which is rooted in poverty and inequality.

The statement titled "FG must end brutal killing of innocent people in Plateau State" read: "The brutal killing of unarmed citizens has become the order of the day in Plateau State. Even though the federal government and the Plateau State Government had set up judicial and administrative panels of enquiry, the culprits that were identified and recommended for prosecution were treated like sacred cows.

“Hence, the wanton killing of innocent people and destruction of properties have continued unabated .The casualties recorded in the last 20 months include the following: "On April 10, 2022, 250 people killed in a series of attacks in the state by a gang of bandits. The police did not arrest any of the murderers.

"On May 16, 2023, about 87 people were killed and 39 injured during an attack on villages in the Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State. The spokesperson of the state police command Alabo Alfred disclosed that seven suspects in connection with the attack had been arrested. The suspects were not prosecuted.

"On October 1, 2023, at least eight people were killed and five more injured in an attack on the Du community of the Kwall District, part of the Rigwe Chiefdom. The police did not arrest the murderers.

Continues online

40

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2023 • T H I S D AY

NEWS

Birthday and Wedding Anniversary Celebration...

L-R: Former Executive Director, Nigerian Export Promotion Council, Segun Awolowo; Group Chairman, Odua Investment Company Limited, Otunba Bimbo Ashiru; Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Photo: Abiodun Ajala Sanwo Olu and President/CEO, Reddington Hospital, Dr.Adeyemi Adebowale during the celebration of Bimbo's birthday and his wedding anniversary in Lagos on Tuesday

Former AGF, Bayo Ojo, Konyinsola, Akpata, Shittu Mourn Akeredolu Wale Igbintade Prominent lawyers have continued to mourn the death of Ondo State Governor, Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu, SAN, describing him as a very brave, courageous and forthright statesman whose legacies would live after him for a very long time to come.

According to them, Nigeria has lost a giant of the legal profession, an unwavering beacon of justice, and a patriotic statesman.

In a statement issued yesterday, a former Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Chief Bayo Ojo, expressed his deepest condolences to the government and people of Ondo State following the sudden and tragic demise of Governor Rotimi Akeredolu.

He described the late governor as a very brave, courageous and forthright statesman whose legacies would live after him for a very long time to come.

He said Akeredolu was a great Nigerian, an unimpeachable patriot, a sound legal mind, and a quintessential legal luminary of global reputation, whose death would marked the end of an eventful career of an exceptional Nigerian, whose love for country was exceptional.

He said: "I was saddened with the news of the passing on of Arakunrin Rotimi Akeredolu (Aketi) as we fondly called him. He was a great statesman whose legacies will live after him for a very long time to come. He was always very brave, courageous and forthright in all his dealings.

"He affected the lives of the citizens of Ondo State and his friends alike positively. Above all, he was a consummate and quintessential lawyer and Bar man through and through. He will be sorely missed. I commiserate with his wife, children

and family members. May his soul rest in peace".

"I feel a deep sense of loss on hearing the news of the demise of our former NBA President, Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, SAN. A great Nigerian, an unimpeachable patriot, a sound legal mind, and a quintessential legal luminary of global reputation. His death, no doubt, marked the end of an eventful career of an exceptional Nigerian, whose love for country was total, he added Also, Prof. Konyinsola Ajayi SAN said: "Aketi from of old was a great man and noble Nigerian, who ran his race with vision and passion, excelled in all he did and leaves a void big to fill."

In a statement released yesterday, former President, Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Mr. Olumide Osaigbovo Akpata said "With profound grief, I mourn the passing of my dear friend, elder brother, distinguished predecessor, and the Executive Governor of Ondo State, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu, SAN, affectionately called Aketi. We have indeed lost a giant of the legal profession, an unwavering beacon of justice, and a patriotic Statesman.

"Aketi's outstanding legal career spanned over four illustrious decades.

As a lawyer, he was brilliant and courageous and impacted the legal landscape in Nigeria significantly.

During his tenure as the 24th President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) from 2008-2010, he left an indelible mark on the NBA with his bold reforms and advocacy.

"Despite his busy schedule as the Executive Governor of Ondo State, Aketi remained committed to the NBA and also continued to work assiduously for the transformation of the administration of the justice system. My engagements with him revealed a genuine human being - a man truly committed to fundamental

human rights and social progress. He embodied and personified the highest ethics and values of the Bar - an advocate for justice, a defender of rights, and a true social engineer.

"Aketi's departure leaves an unfillable void in Nigeria's legal community. However, I find solace in the fact that he lived a life of purpose, service, and sacrifice for the greater good. The outpouring of tributes from across Nigeria is a testament to his outstanding legacy that transcended ethnic, religious, and political lines.

"My deepest condolences to his beloved wife, Arabinrin Betty, their children and grandchildren, his partners and staff at the law

firm of Olujinmi & Akeredolu, and the good people of Ondo State. I pray for God's strength and comfort as you bear this monumental loss.

"Farewell Aketi! You were an extraordinary lawyer, leader, and human being. We will sorely miss your larger-than-life presence, but your exemplary life will remain an inspiration. As we grieve, we also celebrate the privilege of your friendship and your towering legacy.”

Also, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mr. Wahab Shittu, SAN, described Akeredolu as a kind man, adding that his death is a huge loss not only to the nation and the good people of Ondo State in general but the legal community.

"I recall my intimate personal conversation with him at the lobby of Rockview Hotels , Wuse 2, Abuja, a year before he was elected as the Executive Governor of Ondo State during his first tenure. He had recalled his deep sacrifices to his party and his wish to transform his native Ondo State if given the opportunity to serve as its executive governor. I had encouraged him not to lose hope in the realisation of his ambition.

"I never had the opportunity of visiting him in Ondo State before he passed on, but the incidence and encounters hereinbefore narrated linger on in my memory about the persona and kind heartedness

of His Excellency.

“It is really unfortunate that this morning, death came and snatched away a persona that l consider a real human being-passionate, principled, kind, simple, practical and down to earth and revolutionary.

"The bar is proud of the accomplishments of Aketi both in his stellar services to the bar and his tour of duty as Executive Governor of Ondo State.

"If anyone is in doubt of the accomplishments of the late eminent silk, please undertake a visit to Ondo State and you will marvel at the radical transformation of Ondo State under His Excellency's watch.

Farewell our Great Aketi."

NSCDC Blames Pipeline Vandalism for Fire Explosion in Rivers Confirms 12 persons died in incident

Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt The Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Rivers State Command, has blamed pipeline vandals for the fire explosion that occurred in the early hours of Saturday, at Obrikom Obiafu 1 & 2, in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government of the state.

The NSCDC Commandant in the State, Basil Igwebueze, who condemned the acts that led to the fire explosion, said the incident would have been averted if vandals did not tamper with the Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) pipelines in the area.

Igwebueze explained that the content being scooped was

condensate at the sites of incident, which is very close to Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), although, when placed under close observation, it is a bit different from petrol.

Speaking further on the incident, the NSCDC commandant said the anti-vandal squad under his watch had destroyed about seven illegal oil dumps and made the arrests of over 292 suspects.

He hinted that both the waterways and land were being patrolled to ensure effective security and protection of all critical national assets and infrastructure in Rivers state.

"Information reaching us on the fire explosion suggests that some unscrupulous elements manoeuvred

their ways to the pipeline, vandalised it and started scooping fuel," he said.

Igwebueze reaffirmed that NSCDC Commandant General, Dr Ahmed Audi, condemns all activities amounting to economic sabotage.

He said the Rivers state command had stepped up its operational efficiency, surveillance and intelligence expertise in the protection of all critical national assets and infrastructure with relentless antivandalism drive, constant security patrol, amongst others.

Igwebueze assured that the NSCDC would continue to partner with sister security agencies, especially the constituted joint security task force to combat the menace

of illegal oil bunkering activities in Rivers state.

He commiserated with families of the deceased and those who sustained various degrees of injuries.

Igwebueze revealed that during the explosion , about four farm plantation were destroyed, 12 persons lost their lives while others were badly injured.

He added: "All these could be avoided if our people in Rivers state consciously and truly understand that any act of vandalism or attack against oil pipelines and other critical infrastructure would definitely have a degrading and debilitating effect on the community, the lives and property of people and the nation's economy at large"

Money Laundering: Adebutu Visits Ogun Police, Denies Allegation of Vote Buying

James Sowole in Abeokuta

The governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the March 18, 2023 election in Ogun state, Ladi Adebutu, yesterday visited the headquarters of the state police command to clear the air on the vote buying and money laundering allegations levelled against him by the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Adebutu was accompanied to the police headquarters by some PDP chieftains, including a former governorship aspirant,

Segun Sowunmi and on arrival went straight into the office of the Commissioner of Police, Abiodun Alamutu.

Adebutu, who was reported to have travelled to the United Kingdom on a medical trip immediately after losing the governorship election arrived Nigeria on Saturday evening.

The ruling APC had filed a petition against Adebutu and the PDP, accusing them of vote buying and money laundering during the governorship election in the state.

Adebutu's visit to the police headquarters, was in response to

the police invitation on the APC's petition.

Adebutu after visiting the commissioner, went to the office of the deputy commissioner of police in charge of the Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (CID) and spent about 30 minutes.

Speaking with journalists shortly after his visit, Adebutu explained that he was at the command's headquarters to clear the air on the petition written by the APC. He described the allegations as frivolous and untrue, adding that he visited the police on his own

volition.

Adebutu said: "Some funny innuendos have been going around and I thought maybe we will clear the air, so I came here on my free volition to clear any frivolous petition written by the APC and their ilk.

“I have come and I'm happy that this institution has done well, they have listened, they have taken records and I'm sure that this is the way to a better Nigeria.

"The frivolous allegations that Ladi Adebutu has been laundering his money, I don't know how you

can launder your personal wealth.

That is the allegation against me by the APC, that I have laundered my money, that I have used my money to create empowerment for people that I feel compassionate about. “ Nigerians that are in need, that I have helped, that I will continue to help, especially when on this occasion, it was dictated by my late mother to be of help to women and children.

"We have done empowerment programmes and we will continue to do and on January the 19, 2024 which marked one year of her pass-

ing away, we will be having special programmes again to continue these empowerment programmes as we have done over years.

“But because these people (APC) lack empathy, they lack compassion for society, they trivilise and politicise everything, they have learnt to weaponise poverty and when they seen anybody moving away from such a situation, they politicise it.”

He accused the APC of disrupting the normal process of electioneering, vowing to get justice at the Supreme Court.

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T H I S D AY • THURSDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2023

TRIBUTES FOR AKEREDOLU

Tinubu: I Mourn My Fearless Brother

By Our Correspondents

President Bola Tinubu has mourned Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State, describing him as a fearless brother, confidant, political soulmate, believer in rejigging the nation's security architecture and a man, who was full of ideas and action.

In a personal statement entitled: "I mourn my fearless brother, Rotimi Akeredolu," signed by the President, he also described his death as blow not only to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) but the entire progressive family in Nigeria.

"It is a difficult task to have to pen a tribute and sing a dirge for a departing soul. It is a more difficult job in our African culture when one is compelled to do so for a younger person.

“Here am I having the difficult job of singing a dirge for Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu, my beloved brother, confidant, political soulmate, and the Executive Governor of Ondo State.

"It is an impossible task to fully capture in words Rotimi’s towering figure and his human essence. Rotimi was a man who moved our nation towards equity, fairness and justice in his strident advocacy against every form of injustice in our country through the instrumentality of the law as a senior advocate, attorney-general of his beloved state, as President of the Nigerian Bar Association and Governor of Ondo State.

"In a challenging moment of our statehood when marauding agents of darkness spread their tentacles across our country, Rotimi was a strong voice in wilderness calling us to rethink our security architecture so we can have a more secure nation.

His unrelenting advocacy led to the birth of the local police in the South West.

"Rotimi was a man of ideas and action. While he was with us, he taught us the power of action and service. In Ondo State, where he had the honour to serve as the Governor over the past six years, he served his people with absolute loyalty, dedication, and forthrightness.

“His footprints dot the entire landscape of the state through the hundreds of kilometres of roads he built, the many schools he built, and healthcare facilities that he provided.

"During the dark hours when marauding agents of darkness visited the state and killed defenceless citizens where 40 worshippers of the Catholic Church of Owo were killed on June 5, 2022, Rotimi’s leadership qualities as a true statesman and compassionate leader radiated brightly to the world.

‘He was a mourner-in-chief who guided his people through an agonising period. Today, I mourn a fighter and fearless defender of truth and the masses. My personal journey with Rotimi started as joint members of the progressive family.

“We fought many battles together to restore progressive governance in the South West, Edo State, and Nigeria as a whole. During this uncertain period, Rotimi was resolute and unflinching. He showed uncommon courage as a member of our legal team in our battles to reclaim our stolen mandates in Ekiti, Ondo, Edo, and Osun States.

"A gallant lawyer and one of the finest of the legal profession.

I beckoned on him to contest for the governorship position of Ondo State in 2012. Even though he did not make it in his first attempt, his enthusiasm and determination to serve his people never diminished.

“He eventually made it to the Alagbaka Government House in his second attempt in the 2016 election. Since he was sworn in in February 2017, he had served the people with devotion.

"Rotimi has played his role well and left us untimely. We will never see his likes again. Let me tell the people of Ondo State that I am grieving with you. We will honour Rotimi's memory and make sure his legacy of service is never forgotten.

"In my grief and sadness, I have telephoned his wife, Betty, and Acting Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa to commiserate with them and urge

them to take heart over this national tragedy. Governor Akeredolu was not just a friend and associate, the departed leader was a brother and a soulmate.

"His death is a blow to our governing APC and the progressive family as we are diminished by it. I hope that his successor Aiyedatiwa will hold steadfast to the vision of governance left by this towering political leader.”

Buhari: Akeredolu Was a Valued Friend

Former President Muhammadu Buhari, has mourned Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State, describing him as a towering political and legal luminary.

In a condolence message, the ex-President Buhari said: “I have lost a valued friend. I pray that his soul finds eternal peace. My thoughts are with the countless people, who are inspired by his leadership in law and politics.

“My condolences to his family, the government and people of Ondo State and to our party, the All Progressives Congress.”

In another message to the large Na’Abba family in Kano, the government and the people of the state, the former President described the demise of the former Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon Ghali Na’Abba, as a national loss.

“His insight into issues and nuanced understanding of politics had few parallels. Speaker Na’Abba was at the forefront of the defence of democracy at a time it faced the threat of extinction by powerful forces.

"He leaves us with innumerable memories of his activism in politics.

May Allah forgive his wrongs.”

FG: Akeredolu Championed Equity, True Federalism

The federal government has described the late Governor of Ondo State, Mr Rotimi Akeredolu, SAN, as a courageous and dynamic champion of justice, security, equity and true federalism.

Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammad Idris made this portrayal of the deceased governor yesterday in a condolence message to the Akeredolu family, the government and people of Ondo State, the South-West geopolitical zone, and the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF).

The federal government said the courage and dynamism of Akeredolu found recognition in his emergence as the Chairman of the South-West Governors Forum, a position that he deployed ceaselessly to champion justice, security, equity and true federalism.

"He capped this record of professional excellence with distinguished service as a public servant and administrator, winning two consecutive terms as the elected Governor of Ondo State.

"We mourn him deeply, and pray for the repose of his soul. May the Almighty God grant his family and loved ones the fortitude to bear this sad and untimely loss," he said.

Akpabio, Senators Mourn Akeredolu

President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, and some senators in the 10th Senate, have expressed shock over the death of Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu.

Other senators who also issued statements to mourn the deceased are Deputy Senate President, Jibrin Barau; Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele; Ahmad Lawan; Sani Musa; and Orji Uzor Kalu.

Akpabio's condolence message was issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Hon. Eseme Eyiboh in Abuja, where he described the late governor as “a nationalist and the Iroko of the Sunshine state.”

He Akeredolu was a leader that knew his onions and was indeed the Iroko of Ondo State as he defended the state with all his strength as governor, who spent his active life fighting for justice, fairness and equity.

The Deputy President of the Senate in his condolence message, prayed

Late Akeredolu to God to give all those the late governor left behind the strength to bear the irreparable loss, describing the deceased as a fearless political leader, who lived and worked for the development of the country.

The Leader of the Senate, reflected on his encounter with Akeredolu not only as the Governor of Ondo State (2017-2023), but also as the President of the Nigerian Bar Association (20082010) and Attorney-General of Ondo State (1997-1999), during which he served with utmost commitment.

Sani Musa, Chairman, Senate Committee on Finance, in a statement described Akeredolu as a visionary leader whose commitment to the development and growth of Ondo state was evident in his numerous achievements.

Former governor of Abia State and Chairman, Senate Committee on Privatisation, Orji Kalu, described Akeredolu's death as a huge loss to the country, saying the late politician was bold, courageous, fearless and selfless.

Lawan, the president of the 9th Senate, said the death of Akeredolu, left a void in the political and governance landscape of the nation and described him as a visionary leader whose commitment to the prosperity of Ondo was evident in his numerous achievements.

NGF: He Was True Believer in Justice

The chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) and Governor of Kwara State, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and other governors had expressed sadness over the death ofOluwarotimi Akeredolu.

In a statement, he said, "It is with a heavy heart that I, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq Chairman Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), on behalf of my colleagues and the entire staff of the Forum, commiserate wth the family of our dear brother, friend and colleague, H.E. Arakunrn Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu CON (SAN) on his demise on 27th December 2023."

According to the statement, the chairman of the governors forum said, "Aketi was over by many, a true believer in justice and fairness – a course he towed dearly to the very end.

“Amongst many, he was a voce of reason, one whose counsel resonated well and often brought succour. He was an accomplished Senior Advocate of Nigeria, a true democrat, and a believer in the new Nigeria project.

"His humility and non-partisan stance for national interest to always prevail endeared him to many. His valuable contributions and interventions as a member of the Forum,

helped us forge ahead of our political and ideological differences for the greater good of the nation.”

Soludo: He Was a Distinguished Legal Luminary

Anambra State governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo, has mourned his Ondo State counterpart, Rotimi Akeredolu, whom he described as a distinguished legal luminary.

A release by his Press Secretary, Mr Christian Aburime,stated that Akeredolu's death was both a personal and collective loss.

"The news of Governor Akeredolu's death at the age of 67 is a personal and collective loss, not just to the people of Ondo State, but to Nigeria as a whole.

"As a former president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), he was a distinguished legal luminary, a fearless advocate, a passionate patriot, and a dedicated public servant who made a positive impact on the polity."

Uzodimma: His Death Leaves Void Beyond State Borders

Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, has received the passing of Rotimi Akeredolu with rude shock and sadness, lamenting that the deceased's death had left a vacuum that transcended state borders.

Describing Akeredolu as a distinguished leader and an in-law to behold, Uzodimma noted that the deceased's astuteness in public service and commitment to public opinion which helped to shape matters of national interest could not be forgotten in a hurry.

He commiserated with Akeredolu's widow, Betty, the entire Akeredolu family and the people and Government of Ondo State over the huge loss.

"The passing of His Excellency Governor Rotimi Akeredolu leaves a void that transcends State borders.

His astuteness in public service and unwavering commitment to public opinion has indelibly shaped matters of national interest,” he said.

Amosun: He Was Loyal, Ever Dependable

Former Ogun State governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, has mourned Akeredolu, describing him as a loyal and ever dependable ally.

In a statement titled: “Ajanaku Sun Bi Oke”, he said, “I received with utmost grief but with submission to the wish of the Almighty God, the passage of my friend, comrade and brother, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, the Governor of Ondo State, in the early hours of today.

It is a most arduous task writ-

ing about him in the past tense.

Akeredolu was ever present. He was the life of every meeting and never left anyone in doubt about his position on any issue because of his candour, frankness, and honesty.

“He was not a typical politician who spoke from both sides of the mouth. Akeredolu was forthright, ever objective, and frank to a fault.

Akeredolu was a loyal and ever dependable friend. What you see about him was always what he was. Ever forthright. Ever honest.

Ever truthful.

“Akeredolu was a prominent voice in the progressive family and played a prominent role in the emergence of the All Progressives Congress (APC), both within the confines of the law court and in the bubbling political arena.”

It came at a time when we all hoped for his return from Germany, where he had since been receiving treatment for the sickness that had taken him away from the public for a very long time now.

"The late Arakunrin Akeredolu was my governor. He was the governor of Ondo State and the loss was also very personal to me, first as a native of the state and second as the Aareonakakanfo of Yoruba land.

"The late governor Akeredolu was a voice that remained louder even as he battled his protracted sickness.

He gave the necessary support to Amotekun, the south western Security Network and he was very well known for taking bold step on any initiative that could advance the cause of the south west region.”

Fayemi: I’ve Lost My Friend, Brother

Mbah: He Kept Faith, Fought Good Fight

Immediate-past governor of Ekiti State and one timeChairman of the Nigerian Governors (NGF), Dr. Kayode Fayemi, has expressed profound grief over the passing of Rotimi Akerodolu, saying he’d lost a brother and friend.

Fayemi described the late Akeredolu as a nationalist and statesman, whose death was a great loss to the country and especially the people of Ondo State.

In a message by the head of the Fayemi Media Centre, Mallam Ahmad Sajoh, Fayemi described the late Akeredolu as a true friend and brother with whom he collaborated over the years, in and out of government, on several national causes, to make life better for the ordinary people.

“He was deeply devoted to the ideals of equity and fairness, which motivated his outspokenness in national affairs. Although frank and courageous in expressing his views, his opinions were always grounded in the pursuit of truth, justice, good governance, and national unity.

“He was an outstanding governor, who implemented wide-ranging infrastructural and socio-economic programs that have transformed the development of Ondo State. He has undoubtedly left indelible footprints on the sands of time as far as the state is concerned.”

Sanwo-Olu: It’s Colossal Loss to Nigeria

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu has mourned the passing of Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN), describing the death as a colossal loss to the country.

Sanwo-Olu, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Gboyega Akosile, said Akeredolu would be greatly missed for his positive impacts in Ondo State, South-West and Nigeria as a whole.

He commiserated with Aiyedatiwa, Akeredolu's widow, Dr. Betty Akeredolu, and the entire family and friends of the deceased.

Sanwo-Olu described the death of Akeredolu as a colossal loss to the country, adding that, while alive, the deceased made lots of positive contributions to the growth and development of Ondo State and Nigeria, especially in the judiciary and governance.

“The death of Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN) is a colossal loss to the country, particularly the people of Ondo State. He made lots of impactful contributions during his lifetime to the growth and development of Nigeria, first as a lawyer and later as a two-term governor.”

Adams: It’s Huge Loss to Yorubaland

The Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yoruba land, Chief Gani Adams has described the death of Akeredolu as a huge loss to Yorubaland.

Adams, in a statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Mr. Kehinde Aderemi, said he received the news of governor Akeredolu's death as a rude shock, saying a dark cloud enveloped Ondo State and the South-west in general.

"I received the news of governor Rotimi Akeredolu's death with shock.

Enugu State Governor, Dr. Peter Mbah, has joined other eminent Nigerians in mourning Rotimi Akeredolu, saying he fought the good fight and served his people and nation wholeheartedly.

Mbah recalled that as an intellectual leader and legal luminary, Akeredolu came prepared for leadership and delivered on his mandate, adding that his death was a grave loss to not only the people of Ondo, but the entire nation and humanity.

Reacting to the sad development, Mbah, in a statement, said: “I received with deep sadness the news of the passing of His Excellency, Chief Rotimi Akeredolu, SAN. It is a grievous loss, not only to his immediate family and the good people of Ondo State, but also to the nation as a whole.

“Chief Akeredolu was a courageous leader, who shone like a million stars in the legal profession, loved and defended his people, giving his utmost best towards the development of Ondo State. He served Ondo State and Nigeria passionately and wholeheartedly.

"Indeed, he finished well, he kept faith and he fought the good fight, even till the end.”

Makinde: He worked Hard for Peace, Prosperity

Oyo State governor, ‘Seyi Makinde, has expressed sadness over the death of Rotimi Akeredolu, saying the deceased worked for peace and prosperity of the South West.

Makinde, in a statement, stated that the death of the former President of NBA, was a sad loss to Yorubaland and Nigeria.

He expressed his heartfelt condolences to his wife, Arabinrin Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu, the entire family, and the Government and people of Ondo State.

Describing Akeredolu as a dogged and courageous leader, hesaid Aketi, worked hard with his colleague-governors for the peace, prosperity and progress of South-West states.

“I have also lost a worthy co-fighter for the South-West cause because we were both at the vanguard of the struggle, which birthed the SouthWest Security Network Agency codenamed Amotekun,” he said.

Oyebanji: His Death a Monumental Loss

Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Biodun Oyebanji, has expressed his condolences on the death of his Ondo State counterpart, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN), describing it as a monumental loss to the Yoruba nation and the country at large.

Oyebanji in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media, Yinka Oyebode, said he was devastated by the news of the death of the Ondo State governor, who was once President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA).

The governor said his administration and the entire people of Ekiti State identified with the government and people of the state at this critical period of mourning Akeredolu.

Continues online

42

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2023 • T H I S D AY

NEWS

Signing of the Anambra 2024 appropriation bill into law...

L-R: Anambra State Deputy Governor, Dr Onyekachi Ibezim; state governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo and Speaker of the House of Assembly, Rt Hon Somtochukwu Udeze, during the signing of the Anambra 2024 appropriation bill into law at the Government House... yesterday

TRIBUTES FOR NA’ABBA

Tinubu: Na'Abba Defended the Legislature

By Our Correspondents President Bola Tinubu has sympathised with the Na'Abba family, the government, and the people of Kano State over the demise of former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Ghali Umar Na'Abba.

The President, in a release issued on Wednesday by his Media Adviser, Ajuri Ngelale, expressed profound grief at the loss, recalling the contributions of the late ex-lawmaker to nation-building through legislation, advocacy, and policy.

President Tinubu recalled Na'Abba's determined struggle to defend the functionality and role of the legislature in governance, describing him as a disciplined and resolute politician.

Yahaya: Na'Abba was Smart, Dogged Leader

The Chairman of the Northern Governors' Forum and Governor of Gombe State, Alhaji Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, has expressed deep sorrow over the demise of Hon. Ghali Umar Na'abba, who died at 65 after a protracted illness.

Yahaya, in a statement by the Director-General of Press Affairs, Ismaila Uba Misilli, described Na'abba as a fine gentleman, smart politician and dogged leader, who graced the Nigerian political landscape with courage and distinction, saying his tenure as Speaker epitomised dignity and honour in leadership.

"Rt. Hon. Ghali Umar Na'Abba's legacy extends far beyond his time in office. His commitment to legislative independence and his contributions to fostering good governance in Nigeria are invaluable and will be fondly

remembered.

"Our hearts go out to the immediate family of the deceased and Nigerians in general in this time of immense loss. May we find solace and strength during this difficult period,” he said.

He described the late Na'abba as "a principled man, a patriot and leader par excellence. The 4th Assembly, under his able leadership, served as a bulwark for the advancement and defence of freedom, liberty, and strict adherence to democratic tenets."

Abbas, Ganduje Mourn Na'Abba

PDP: Na’Abba Was Forthright, a Visionary

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Tajudeen Abbas and the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, have expressed their condolences over the death of Ghali Umar Na'Abba.

Abbas in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Musa Krishi, described Na'Abba as a lawmaker par excellence.

He said the late ex-Speaker was a dedicated, committed and patriotic Nigerian, who served his fatherland with zeal.

“Rt. Hon. Ghali Na’Abba was a special breed as a lawmaker. He showed leadership as Speaker of the 4th House. He inspired members of the House under his leadership in many ways. Furthermore, he championed the first and only successful veto of a sitting president, leading to the establishment of the NDDC,” he said.

Ganduje, on his part, described Na'Abba as a thoroughbred politician and legislator who meant well for the country.

Ganduje, in a statement by his Press Secretary, Mr Edwin Olofu, recalled the pivotal role played by Na'Abba when he served as the Speaker of the House of Representatives to entrench the independence of the legislative arm of government even in the face of provocation by

Late Na'Abba top operatives of the executive arm.

Dogara: Nigeria Lost a Rare Gem

A former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Yakubu Dogara, has paid a tribute to Ghali Umar Na'abba, saying Nigeria lost a rare gem.

In a condolence message, Dogara said that, "Nigeria has lost a rare gem, a leader like no other."

According to him, "With a heavy heart but total submission to the will of God, I pay this tribute to an icon, an advocate of transparency, champion of social justice and rule of law who laid a solid foundation for the independence of the legislature in the Fourth Republic, Rt. Hon. Ghali Umar Na'abba, CFR."

The PDP has said it was shocked by the news of the death of the former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Ghali Umar N’Abba, describing the sad event as another huge national loss.

In a statement by the National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, the party said N’Abba was a courageous and visionary politician, forthright legislator, cultured democrat and resourceful grassroot politician.

According to him, Na’Abba believed in and fought for democratic tenets of separation of powers and independence of the legislature; freedom of citizens, equity, social justice and played key roles in ensuring the stability and growth of our nation.

The PDP recalled how N’Abba as Speaker led other democrats in the House of Representatives to chart the framework for the rebuilding of the legislative arm after a long Military Rule.

Senators Express Grief over Na'Abba's Death

Senate President, Godswill Akpabio; his deputy, Jibrin Barau; Leader of the Senate, Opeyemi Bamidele and Chief Whip, Ali Ndume, have lamented the death of a former speaker of the House of Representatives, Umar Ghali

Na'Abba.

Other senators who expressed their condolences were Orji Uzor Kalu (Abia North); Sani Musa ((Niger East); Ahmad Lawan (Yobe North) and Senator Godiya Akwashiki (Nasarawa North).

Akpabio, in his statement, expressed deep sadness at the death of Na’Abba, saying it was saddening for the nation to lose him at this time in its history.

"The former speaker was a patriot, selfless politician, and true democrat, who sacrificed his ambition by repelling dictatorship and instituting the independence of the Legislature.

“I must say the mutual respect and understanding that exists between the Legislature and the Executive today is a direct product of the laudable antecedents of great leaders such as Na’abba who sacrificed to institute genuine representative democracy in the country."

Bamidele, the senate leader, described the late Na’abba as an astute, fearless and progressive legislator, who stood against the undue interference of the executive between 1999 and 2003 in defence of the independence of the National Assembly.

Ndume in his statement, noted that Na'Abba would be remembered for his principled stand for the rule of law and the independence of the Legislature.

Musa, in his condolence message, expressed shock over Na'Abba's death and prayed that Allah would grant the late Speaker Jannatul Firdausi and all those he left behind the strength to bear the irreparable loss.

Orji Kalu described Na'Abba's death as a sad loss stressing that

the deceased was a consummate politician with passion for service to humanity.

Lawan, a former Senate President, said Na’Abba, was a strong advocate for democracy who played a pivotal role in shaping the nation’s democratic governance during the time he held sway as Speaker of the House of Representatives between 1999 and 2003.

children, and three grandchildren.

the Senator representing Kano South, Senator Kawu Sumaila, former Governors, Sule Lamido, Senator Ibrahim Shekarau.

Also present were political, religious, and traditional leaders across the country.

The unprecedented crowd made it difficult for the body to be brought out for prayers and was left in the ambulance that conveyed the corpse to the emir's palace, where the Chief Imam of Kano Central mosque, Professor Sani Zaharaddeen, led the prayer session.

The former Speaker who died in Abuja earlier on Wednesday after a protracted illness was brought to Kano for burial rights which took place around 5:30 pm.

Bello: It’s Great Loss to Nigeria

Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, has expressed shock over the untimely death of Ghali Na’abba, describing it as not only tragic, but a great loss to the entire nation.

In a statement by Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Muhammed Onogwu, Bello extended heartfelt condolences to the immediate family of the departed as well as to the People and Government of Kano State, lamenting hisunfortunate demise.

Bello acknowledged Na’abba's influence as one of the country's most impactful and revered national legislators, whose wealth of experience would be surely missed.

He described Na’abba as a commendable lawmaker, who embodied a spectrum of virtues crucial for effective governance and representation as he demonstrated unwavering integrity, upholding the highest ethical standards.

Bello further said Na’Abba ensured transparency and trust in his legislative pursuits, adding that as Speaker, he guided his colleagues with vision and inspired collaboration towardscollective goals and prioritised the well-being of constituents over personal interests.

Aiyedatiwa Sworn in as Ondo Governor, Nigerians Mourn Akeredolu, Na'abba of unprecedented political turmoil and uncertainty.

But after the intervention of Tinubu, on December 13, Aiyedatiwa assumed office as acting governor.

His Profile in Brief

Akeredolu was born on July 21, 1956 in Owo, Ondo State, to the late Rev. J. O Ola Akeredolu of Owo and Lady Evang. Grace Akeredolu of Igbotu Ese Odo Government Area of Ondo State.

Aketi, as he was fondly called by friends and admirers, started his primary education at Government School, Owo, before proceeding to the famous Aquainas College, Akure, in 1968.

He later proceeded to the prestigious Loyola College, Ibadan, in 1969 to complete his secondary school. He also attended Comprehensive High School Ayetoro, for his Higher Secondary School Certificate.

Akerdolu was admitted into the University of Ife, now Obafemi Awolowo University, in 1974 and obtained his LLB degree in 1977.

He proceeded to the Nigerian Law School for his B.L in 1978.

He was Managing Partner at the law firm of Olujinmi & Akeredolu, which he co-founded with Chief Akin Olujinmi, a former Attorney General and Minister for Justice.

He was Attorney General of

Ondo State from 1997 to 1999 and became a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) in 1998. Akeredolu was president of Nigerian Bar Association from 2008 to 2010.

He was elected Governor of Ondo State on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in November 2016 and re-elected in 2020.

Former Speaker Na'Abba Dies at 65

The eighth Speaker of the House of Representatives, Ghali Umar Na’Abba, died yesterday in Abuja at 65.

An aide to the deceased, Ahmad Tijjani Lawan, said Na'Abba died

Wednesday morning at the National Hospital, Abuja, after a protracted illness.

Na’Abba, born on September 27, 1958, was buried according to Islamic rites in his Kano hometown yesterday.

Na’Abba joined the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 1998 during its formative stage, and emerged the party’s standard-bearer in the April 1999 National Assembly election in Kano Municipal Federal Constituency.

He was elected as the 8th Speaker of the House of Representatives after the removal of Ibrahim Salisu Buhari, the first speaker in the Fourth Republic.

Na’Abba left behind one wife, 10

Shettima,Kwankwaso, others pay last respect as ex-speaker is buried

Meanwhile, the remains of Na’Abba was laid to rest in Kano, yesterday, and witnessed by top flight politicians, including VicePresident Kassim Shetima and the former Presidential candidate of New Nigerian People's Party (NNPP), Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.

Others who attended the funeral prayer led by the state Deputy Governor, Aminu Abdulsalam Gwarzo, included, the Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin,

43

T H I S D AY • THURSDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2023

NEWS

Signing of MoU between LASAA & LASBCA...

L-R: The Director, Inspectorate and Quality Control, Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA), Ikeja Division, Mrs Florence Gbaye; Secretary, LASBCA, Mrs Omolara Daba; General Manager, LASBCA, Mr. Gbolahan Owodunni Oki; Managing Director/CEO, Lagos State Signage and Advertisement Agency (LASAA), Prince Fatiu Akiolu; Head of Revenue and Billing, LASAA, Mr. Siraj Bello, and the Head, Corporate Communications and Strategy, LASAA, Mr Temitope Akande, during an MoU signing between the two agencies …recently

IG Condemns Plateau Massacre, Orders Probe, Says No Peace for Attackers Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja In the wake of the appalling attacks on numerous villages in Plateau State, resulting in the tragic loss of lives in Bokkos and Barkin Ladi Local Government Areas,

the Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, yesterday, condemned the heinous acts which he said was not only barbaric but also reprehensible and inhumane.

A statement by Headquarters said in response to the grave situation, the

IG ordered immediate deployment of additional manpower and resources to Plateau State.

It said the move was aimed at assisting the local police authority and other security apparatus in effectively managing the crisis and

ensuring the safety of the residents in the affected local councils and the entire state.

The IG also directed a thorough investigation of the mass murder.

"Furthermore, recognising the need for a thorough investigation,

Defence Minister, Service Chiefs Decorate 29 New Admirals

Naval Chief warns personnel against collusion with criminals, saboteurs

Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, yesterday, led military service chiefs to decorate 29 newly promoted rear admirals of the Nigerian Navy.

This came as the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ikechukwu Ogalla, warned naval personnel against any form of collision with criminals and oil thieves.

He said stiff sanctions would be meted out to those found wanting.

The 29 senior naval officers of the rank of commodore were promoted to the enviable rank of rear admiral last week.

In his remarks at the event held at the Nigerian Navy Headquarters in Abuja, the minister told the newly promoted officers that thier promotion was a testament to their dedication to duty.

"As we gather here today, you must acknowledge the immense responsibility that comes with this promotion especially with regards to ongoing efforts by the federal government of Nigeria to ensure security within Nigeria's maritime area of interest.

"Accordingly, the nation relies on the Nigerian Navy to curtail these dynamic and ever-evolving maritime security threats", he said.

"As newly promoted Rear Admirals, you are entrusted with an even greater responsibility to serve our nation with unwavering commitment and excellence.

Therefore, your well deserved promotion demonstrates the trust and confidence placed on you to tackle these challenges head-on", he said.

He urged the officers to rededicate to the national assignment in line with their new roles that required greater commitment.

"I will also want to use

this medium to assure you of the President Bola Tinubu's commitment and dedication to supporting the growth and development of the Nigerian Navy as encapsulated in his “Renewed Hope Agenda".

"Mr President recognises the need for fleet modernisation, capacity building, and strategic planning to enhance the operational readiness and effectiveness of the Nigerian Navy", he said.

"To the newly promoted senior officers, I commend you for your hard work, professionalism, and unwavering dedication to the service of our nation.

"Your exceptional leadership has not only earned you this promotion but has also set a sterling example for your peers and subordinates to follow.

I would also like to express my heartfelt gratitude to your families and loved ones. Their unwavering support, sacrifices, and understanding have contributed significantly to your accomplishments.

"As we celebrate this momentous occasion, I encourage each and every one of you to embrace your new roles with humility, integrity, and a strong sense of duty.

Your promotion signifies a higher level of responsibility, and I have full confidence in your ability to lead with excellence", he said.

Meanwhile, the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ikechukwu Ogalla, warned naval personnel against any form of collision with criminals and oil thieves.

While urging the officers to justify the confidence reposed in them by government, he warned them to be above board.

"As expected in every

performance-oriented organisation, the quality of leadership in the Nigerian Navy is essential for the optimal realisation of its objectives. Hence, despite the huge number of annual enlistments, only the most dedicated and loyal rise to the apex of the profession.

"This cadre of flag officers would constitute the leadership of the Nigerian Navy and the Armed Forces of Nigeria in general. I want you to bear in mind that you were selected among your equals based on merit and your proven track record in the service", he said.

"It beholds on you to justify this confidence by contributing your best to the service. I congratulate you for being among the selected few that made it to this enviable rank.

"Note that while it takes hard work to reach this height, it takes harder work to remain there. As I celebrate with each of you, I urge you to justify the confidence

the service and the nation has reposed on you", he said.

Ogalla, therefore, warned Navy personnel against collusion with criminals.

"The Nigerian Navy in collaboration with other security agencies have continuously strived to protect the economic mainstay of the country through various operations to counter oil theft.

"While there are significant achievements, there are still cases of personnel colluding with criminals to undermine our efforts. "Let me therefore, warn that any form of collusion with criminals or act of sabotage will be met with stiff sanctions in accordance with the law.

"In essence, as leaders of the service, you are expected to be above board and ensure that your subordinates key into the zerotolerance stance of the Nigerian Navy to all forms of illegalities and criminalities at sea or ashore particularly oil theft", he said.

the IGP has directed the Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) and his counterpart in the Department of Force Intelligence to constitute a high-powered investigative team.

"This team is tasked with unraveling the circumstances surrounding the incident and bringing those responsible to justice", it said.

It said "the police and other security agencies are deploying both kinetic and non-kinetic approaches to tackle the lingering crisis which look recurrent in the state.

"The IGP further admonishes warring groups, residents and the entire state to embrace peace, shun violence and unwarranted killings of innocent souls".

FEMA: Flood, Fire Disasters Claimed 12 Lives, Affected 1,793 Persons in 2023 Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja

The Federal Capital Territory Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has said 12 people lost their lives, while 1,793 others were affected as floods, building collapses and fire outbreaks caused damages in the territory in 2023.

The Acting Director, FEMA, Mohammed Sabo disclosed this Wednesday while briefing journalists on activities of the agency.

He disclosed that the breakdown of search and rescue activities in 2023 showed that 1, 373 lives were rescued from various flood disasters while four lives were,

INEC Implements 8-year Tenure Policy, Retires Four Directors Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has approved the implementation of a policy mandating all directors with eight years or more of service to retire from the public sector.

INEC National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun in a statement issued Wednesday said the four directors of the commission would proceed on terminal leave.

He said two of them served as heads of departments at the National Headquarters, while the other two were deployed as Administrative Secretaries in the state offices.

Olumekun noted: "Following the Federal Government Circular HSCF/SPSO/268/T3/2/37 issued on 27th July 2023, the Commission has approved the implementation of a policy mandating all directors with eight years or more of service to retire from the public sector.

"As per this directive, four direc-

The statement signed by the Force Public Relations Officer and Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said the IG extended his heartfelt condolences to the grieving families and loved ones of the deceased, who fell victim to these regrettable and preventable incidents, and to the government and good people of Plateau State. He assured the public that the perpetrators of the heinous acts will face the full force of the law and shall know no peace until justice is served.

"The Nigeria Police Force remains resolute in its commitment to safeguarding the lives and property of the citizens, and every effort will be made to restore peace and security in the affected areas", he said.

tors of the Commission will proceed on terminal leave. Two of them serve as Heads of Departments at the National Headquarters, while the other two are deployed as Administrative Secretaries in our state offices.

"However, it's important to note that Clinical Officers in the medical cadre are exempt from this policy, as clarified in Circular MH. 7205/T/31 dated 7th September 2023. The Commission wishes the affected directors the best as they retire from service."

however, lost.

Sabo said the lives saved were through 24 calls on FEMA's toll free number to which the agency responded accordingly. He said 173 lives were saved from building collapse while six persons died in the incident.

On fire outbreaks, 247 lives were saved from five calls through the 112 toll free number; two lives persons lost their lives. He also revealed that, the humanitarian activities impacted about 400 vulnerable residents of the FCT. "Torrential rainfall in Yangoji/ Shafi community of Kwali Area Council displaced over 200 households and destroyed 25 farmlands," Sabo said.

He added that FEMA, in collaboration with the Turkish Foundation, UFUK dialogue, distributed various food items to 200 vulnerable households to enable them celebrate the eid-el-Kabir.

Sabo also said in 2024, the agency would partner with the National Defence College,(NDC) on the training of volunteers.

"We have already communicated the NDC to this effect and we are awaiting a response from them. The training is to equip our volunteers with basic and professional rescue skills.

"We also intend to organize a blood drive for the military, using our volunteers. The aim of the blood drive is to show support and solidarity for their efforts at keeping the nation safe" he said.

44

Thursday december 28, 2023 • T H I S D AY

NEWSxtra

DISCUSSING INSURANCE…

Managing Partner, Sønr Global, Matt Ferguson(right) and Founder/Chief Executive Officer, Casava Insurance, Bode Pedro, discussing ‘Developing the right product for underrepresented markets: a view from Africa’, at ITC Vegas Conference in Las Vegas, United States of America…recently

Ocean Surge: Bayelsa Community Protests, Threatens Oil Companies’Operations Olusegun Samuel in Yenagoa

There was a security breach in Sangana community of Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa State following massive protest by hundreds of youths, men and women against the federal government, the Niger Delta Development Commission

(NDDC) and the seven oil companies operating in their domain over alleged neglect.

The massive protest which was carried out in the morning at the weekend was coming after series of letters to the federal government and the oil companies to quickly intervene in the incessant coastal erosion

Obaseki Pays 13th Month Salaries, Pensions

The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has paid the 13the month salaries and pensions for government workers and pensioners in the State.

In a statement, Edo State Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Chris Osa Nehikhare, said workers and pensioners received their 13th month salaries and pensions in the early hours of yesterday, December 27, 2023, in line with the pledge of the governor.

The commissioner noted: “The Edo State Governor, His Excellency, Mr. Godwin Obaseki,

has paid the 13th month salaries and pensions of workers and pensioners in the State.”

According to him, “Governor Godwin Obaseki has honoured the pledge to pay 13th month salary on Workers Day. The governor’s gesture further demonstrates his administration’s commitment to the welfare of workers and pensioners.”

He added: “The payment of the 13-month salaries and pensions will help in ameliorating the hardship caused by the removal of fuel subsidy by the Federal Government.”

Laleye DipoinMinna

accordingly.

He directed all revenuegenerating Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to rise to the occasion but cautioned those who “generate and spend” not to dare him as the policy has been abolished.

Bago restated his administration’s commitment to strengthening the existing synergy with the legislative arm adding that he has directed that the Legislative quarters at the three Arms zone be completed in the next three months so that the lawmakers will have befitting accommodation.

ravaging the kingdom failed to yield any positive results.

It took the quick intervention of the political leadership, chiefs, elders of the people of

the Sangana kingdom to halt what would have resulted into a break-down of law and order, which could have shut down multi-million dollars crude oil

production in the area.

Our correspondents gathered that the protesters were provoked by the deliberate neglect by the FG and the oil

companies with the rampaging coastal erosion swallowing up almost a kilometer of old Sangana which is ancestral base of the people.

UN Chief Urges World to Prepare for Next Pandemic United Nations (UN) Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, has urged the world to prepare for the next pandemic and act on lessons learned from COVID-19.

Guterres said this in a message yesterday to mark the International Day of Epidemic Preparedness The International Day of Epidemic Preparedness, celebrated

annually on December27, provides an opportunity for renewed commitment to the vital work of epidemic preparedness.

It’s also an ideal moment to reflect on the progress made to date—progress that in 2023 demonstrated the important link between global goals and local advocacy.

The COVID-19 pandemic affected hundreds of millions of lives, caused millions of deaths and inflicted devastating impacts on humanity.

After three years of unprecedented global efforts, on May 5, the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared an end to COVID-19 as a public health

emergency, stressing however, that it does not mean the disease is no longer a global threat.

“Economic damage inflicted by the pandemic endures. Many healthcare systems are struggling.

Millions of children are threatened by disease after missing out on routine childhood vaccinations,” Guterres said.

Ex-LG Chairmen Warn Makinde against Case Already Ruled Upon by Supreme Court KemiOlaitaninIbadan

Former local government chairmen and councilors who were sacked

by Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State in 2019, yesterday, cautioned the governor against involving Chief Justice of the Federation (CJN), Justice KayodeAriwoola, on the case already

determined by the Supreme Court.

This is just as they declared that they have lost 27 members to death as a result of the lack of money to take care of their health challenges owing to non-payment of their entitlements by Makinde.

Former Chairman, Association of Local Government of Nigeria

(ALGON) in the state, Prince Ayodeji Abass-Aleshinloye, while addressing a press conference on behalf of other chairmen and councilors yesterday in Ibadan, said the governor is being petty to say on radio programme last weekend in Ibadan, that he would return to the Supreme Court before he would know whether to pay

them or not.

The Supreme Court had in 2021 delivered judgement that the state government should pay the sacked Chairmen and Councilors their entitlements after sacking them but two years after, Governor Makinde only paid a part and refused to pay the balance.

Niger Gov Assents to How Buhari Resisted Stiff Opposition to Appoint Mrs. as Nigeria’s First Female Ambassador to U.S 2024 Appropriation Bill Emenike Ambassador to the United Chief Ikechi Emenike, during and interest groups did Emmanuel Ugwu-Nwogo in Less than 12 hours after the state house of assembly passed the 2024 appropriation Bill yesterday, Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago has assented to it.

The assembly in passing the bill increased it from N613.9 billion presented to the house last week by the Governor by N720 million Speaking after the signing Governor Bago commended the efforts of the legislators for the quick passage of the bill, describing it as “unprecedented,” noting that the budget holds a lot for the state and assured that it will be implemented

Umuahia

It has emerged that the appointment of Mrs. Uzoma Ikechi Emenike as the first woman to become Nigeria’s

States did not come easy as it was met with stiff oppositions from several quarters.

The intrigues that followed the historic appointment were revealed Wednesday, by High

the annual thanksgiving of his family at St. John’s Methodist Church, Umukabia Okpuala in Umuahia North Local Government, Abia State.

He said that several people

everything possible to dissuade then President Muhammadu Buhari to drop Mrs. Emenike as Nigeria’s Ambassador to the U.S. mainly because of her gender.

Ekiti Accord Party Sacks State Chair over Anti-party Allegations Gbenga Sodeinde inAdoEkiti

The Accord Party in Ekiti State has sacked the state chairman of the party, Chief Abiola Odeoba, after eight years of holding the office.

A press release that emanated from an emergency meeting of all the 16 Local Government Area (LGA) chairmen of the party in the state yesterday in Ado-Ekiti, said

that the leaders had resolved that Chief Odeoba lacks the capacity to continue leading the party in the state having allegedly committed certain misconduct against the progress, development and growth of the party.

They therefore, passed a vote of no confidence on him and declared him dismissed.

The state chairmen also elected a

seven-man committee in the interim to fill the vacuum and continue to lead the party with immediate effect.

The press statement, entitled : “ Vote of no confidence passed on the leadership of Chief Odeoba,” which was co-signed by the party leaders, and made available to newsmen in Ado-Ekiti, reads in part: “We hereby pass VOTE of no confidence on the leadership of Chief Abiola Odeoba

as the state chairman of this great party, base on the allegations of gross misconduct in various instances to mention but few as follows : “No executive meeting held since the last governorship election held on the 25th February 2023; : Not accountable: since his inception as the chairman of the party, he hasn’t accounted for the financial status of the party.

Police Command have arrested one Azubuike Orji (27) and Anthony Augustine (22) for alleged involvement in armed robbery activities in the state.

Speaking on the development, the State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, disclosed that

from the Port Harcourt Correctional Centre.

The police spokesperson said the suspects and others, still at large, have been terrorising the Elelenwo axis of the Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of the state.

She disclosed that the arrest of

the gang leader of their robbery group, one Anthony Augustine, who operates a brothel in the area.

According to Iringe-Koko, “The Rivers State Police Command received a formal complaint from a victim who had been robbed of his valuables at Odani junction in

“The Commissioner of Police immediately tasked the AntiKidnapping Unit to flush out the armed robbers from the area.

In response to the Police Chief’s directive, the unit carried out stop-and-search operations and placed the area under surveillance.

Arrest Ex-Convicts for Armed Robbery in Rivers Akume Assures Nigerians of Better Tomorrow Police Operatives of the Rivers State the suspects were recently released Orji, a native of Abia state, led to Elelenwo by a group of armed men.

Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation(SGF), Sen. George Akume, has assured Nigerians that in spite of the present challenges, they will laugh as the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is committed to deliver on its Renewed Hope Agenda.

He gave the assurance in Markudi his address at a birthday colloquium/symposium organised in his honour as part of activities to mark his 70th birthday.

He appealed to Nigerians to pray and believe in the country,

saying the government would work tirelessly to address those challenges headlong.

“I am appealing again that you pray for Nigeria, for it is the only country we have.

No matter the difficulties, no matter the deficiencies, the future is bright, the renewed hope. Hope that tomorrow will be better than today and I assure you it is going to be better than today. Nations are great because its citizenry believes that tomorrow will be better than today. What about today? It may be rough and tough. But when you have a very difficult problem, it takes time to get it addressed.

Re-run: Group Condemns Ebonyi APC over Alleged Plot to Scheme Out Umahi

BenjaminNworieinAbakaliki

A group, Ebonyi South Elite Class has condemned moves by the State Working Committee (SWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to scheme out the younger brother to the Minister for Works, Chief Austin

Umahi from contesting the senatorial district’s bye-election scheduled for February 2024.

APC’s SWC on Tuesday, gave the senatorial zone’s ticket to Onicha Local Government Area (LGA) thereby edging out Ohaozara LGA where Austin hails from.

Austin, is vying for the seat vacated by the former governor after he was given a ministerial position

by President Ahmed Tinubu. The National Coordinator of the group, Dr James Enyinnaya, said in a statement made available to newsmen yesterday that the reasons given by

the party for the decision amounted to “misinforming the public.”

Enyinna said that contrary to the reason given by the SWC that Onicha LGA does not occupy any political position of note, indigenes of the council indeed were occupying important positions in the state.

thursday december 28, 2023 • T H I S D AY

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NEWS xtra

EMPOWERING THE WIDOWS…

L-R: Community Leader, Makoko Yaba Side, Chief Victor Kpanke; Pastor, Greater Height Baptist Church, Isheri, Rev. Olakunle Sunday; Founder, January Twenty-Seven International Foundation, Mrs. Doyinsola Femi-Olaiya, and Executive Coordinator, Ajoke Ayisat Foundation, Mrs. Foluke Ademokun, at the January Twenty-Seven International Foundation’s Widows’ Empowerment Programme in Lagos... recently ETOP UKUTT

Bago: Niger Did Not Authorise Ban on Sales of Alcohol Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja

The Governor of Niger State, Muhammed Bago, has denied media reports over the purported ban of the sale of alcoholic beverages in the state.

He described the report that alcohol has been banned in Suleja and eight other local governments sharing boundaries with suburbs

of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) as fake.

Reports had claimed that the Secretary of the state’s Liquor and Licencing Board, Malam Ibrahim Mohammed said the ban of alcohol takes immediate effect on Monday in Suleja and eight other local governments sharing boundaries with suburbs of the Federal Capital Territory

Bauchi Gov Seeks Support of MSSN on Rejuvenation of Morals among Young People Segun Awofadeji inBauchi The Bauchi State Governor, Senator Bala Mohammed has sought the support of the Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria (MSSN) in the training of youths of adolescent age on self-discipline and self-reliance in an effort to tackle immoral behaviour in the society.

Speaking at the closing of the 80th edition of the National Islamic Vacation Course held at Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Stadium, Bauchi, yesterday, the governor expressed concern that the society was seriously afflicted with a number of challenges which had spread to almost every aspect.

Represented by his Deputy, Mohammed Jatau, the governor applauded the leadership of MSSN for organising the week-long intensive programme in which young Muslim adolescent boys and girls were trained on both moral and qualitative education.

He also commended the effort of the organisation for organising such a programme, thereby complementing the government’s effort in ensuring an egalitarian society.

The governor said that security of lives and property of the citizens remain the major priorities of his administration, noting that managing security of lives and property always requires moral and religious approach to inculcate in youth self-discipline, healthy competition and self-reliance.

“Moral behaviour is seriously lacking among the youth and the illicit relationships and behaviour of the youths of adolescent age.

There are indeed rampant and incessant cases of sexual harassment and aggression much as there are incidents of rape and kidnapping mostly committed under the influence of drugs.

This intervention of the MSSN is timely and highly appreciated.

A cleric at the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC), Adamimogo Grace of Mercy Prayer Mountain Worldwide, Sam Alo, has urged Christians and religious leaders to always render selfless service to humanity.

The renowned man of God who congratulated Christians in Ekiti state and Nigeria at large for witnessing another Christmas, admonished them to make the lessons of love and giving which the birth of Jesus Christ symbolises their watchword.

The man of God who expressed belief that the country will get over her the current economic challenges urged the people to be optimistic that 2024 would be a year of prosperity for the country and its people.

Alo stressed the need for Nigerians to extend a helping hand

makers in the state.

He noted that there was no time he authorised such a directive, adding that the so-called secretary is unknown to the state.

The governor said: “The board in question is not in existence as we speak. It was dissolved a long time ago and we are yet to constitute another board.”

The governor added that the board had been dissolved years ago and whoever was claiming to be its secretary was an impostor and on his own.

Seriki AdinoyiinJos

the killings, and urged the security agencies to be more proactive to save lives and property.

He told newsmen that Plateau people are looking forward to hear that those responsible for the attacks are arrested and prosecuted.

According to him, the attacks have continued unabated because the perpetrators have not always

been arrested.

He said, “They have not been dealt with; they have not been punished according to the laws of Nigeria and that is why the killings have continued. With the coming of this government, we thought that things were going to be different because we saw the zeal they came in with.

“When there was an attack in Mangu, the Chief of Army Staff himself was around and we saw the prompt response and attempt to neutralize some of the killers.

“These perpetrators are not ghosts; they are human beings, and they are being hosted by some members of the host communities that have been attacked.”

African States (ECOWAS).

It would be recalled that ECOWAS under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu had placed economic sanctions and travel bans on Niger following the coup led by General Abdourahamane Tchiani, the president of the National Council

for the Safeguard of the Homeland, against the democratically elected government of Mohammed Bazoum.

The sanctions have been variously condemned by Senator Ali Ndume, a Nigerian senator who is also in the ECOWAS Parliament.

Ndume had called for the ending

of the sanctions, insisting that it was illegal and against the interest of generalities of people of troubled Niger Republic even as he claimed that the sanctions have equally adversely affected people of neighbouring towns to Niger whose businesses, he said have been put on hold.

Mwadkwon Tasks Security Agencies to Apprehend Christmas Eve Attackers Immediate Past Senate Minority Leader, Sen. Simon Mwadkwon has tasked security agencies to apprehend Christmas Eve attackers that killed scores of persons in Plateau Communities.

Mwadkwon made the call on Wednesday in Jos while reacting to

Coalition Tackles Ndume on Niger Sanctions, Praises ECOWAS, Tinubu’s Mediation Efforts MichaelOlugbodeinAbuja

Coalition of peace groups under the aegis of ‘Africans Against Conflict for Peace’ has criticized Senator Ali Ndume’s position calling for an end to the sanctions on Niger by the Economic Community of West

Tinubu, Akpabio, Abbas to Grace Kanu’s Homecoming Reception, Unveiling of PISE-P in Bende Emmanuel Ugwu-Nwogo in Umuahia

The people of Bende Local Government of Abia State are in expectant mood as they prepare to host President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, and House

of Representatives Speaker, Tajudeen Abbas on Friday.

Tinubu and other high calibre political leaders are expected to be in Bende for the formal unveiling of the Peace in the South East Project (PISE-P) and the grand reception for the Deputy Speaker of the

House of Representatives, Rt. Hon Benjamin Kalu.

A press release signed by the Chairperson, media and communications committee of the twin events, Mrs. Mary Kanu said that Mr. President and the leaders of the National Assembly were “among the

distinguished guests” that would be in Bende.

She also listed the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, and the governors of the South East states to be among the high profile guests whose presence have been confirmed.

Akeredolu’s CPS, Other Appointee, Resign after Ex-Governor’s Death

The Special Adviser to the late Ondo state governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, on Union Matters and Special Duties, Dare Aragbaye and the Chief Press Secretary Richard Olatunde, have resigned from their to one another during this yuletide appointments. season and beyond, especially to Aragbaye in a letter addressed the less-privileged maintained that national development would be enhanced when Nigerians see one another as brothers and sisters MichaelOlugbodeinAbuja regardless of religion and tribe.

The cleric in a goodwill message The federal government has signed by his Personal Assistant, been warned against toeing the Deji Ogunbusuyi, said Christmas path of seeking amendments to is a season to demonstrate love the Public Procurement Act 2007 for one another, through giving. without stakeholders and citizens’ He added that expression of input as provided by relevant laws love, generosity and understanding and due legislative process. should extend beyond the season, Issuing the warning in Abuja in leading to peaceful co-existence among Nigerians.

Reiterating his commitment to promotion of peaceful coexistence Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt among adherents of various religions in Nigeria and creating a The Olympus Marino Deck of the conducive atmosphere to practice National Association of Seadogs their faith, he also praised people (NAS), Pyrates Confraternity in of the state irrespective of their Rivers State, has urged the security religious differences for living in agencies to redouble their efforts in harmony. ensuring the safety of lives during

2024: Nigerians Shall Witness Prosperity, Says Cleric Gbenga Sodeinde inAdoEkiti

(FCT).

However, Bago in a statement he personally signed yesterday, described the story as a figment of the imagination of mischief

to the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), dated December 27, said he was resigning because of the death of Akeredolu.

The letter read: ” l write to refer to the subject above and to resign my appointment as the Special Adviser to the Governor on Union

Matters and Special Duties with effect from today, Wednesday, 27 December, 2023 “My decision to resign is based on the unfortunate death of my Principal a fearless and honest leader, Governor Arakunm Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu,

SAN CON, whom I am loyal to oven in death “I sincerely thank his excellency for the opportunity granted me to serve in his administration as a member of the State Executive Council first as a Head of Service and now, Special Adviser.

Group Threatens to Lead Protest Against ‘Illegal’ Amendment of Procurement Act a statement yesterday, the Network for the Actualisation of Social Growth and Viable Development (NEFGAD), a public procurement advocacy group, threatened to mobilise citizens and stakeholders to protest any amendment that fall short of constitutional provisions and necessary legislative guidelines.

The group in the statement

signed by its Head of Office, Mr. Omoniyi Akingunola, said it received from reliable authority that some elements within the system had perfected plans to hurriedly smuggle suffocating and self-serving provisions as amendments to the act.

It said it was also aware of timeline clandestinely allotted to the amendment processes with

blatant disregard to stakeholders and citizens’ input.

The group further stated that the interested parties already have drafted manuscripts to be handed out to the constituted Public Procurement Act amendment committee and the National Assembly with no regard to citizens and stakeholders’ input.

Christmas: RedoubletheYour Efforts in Safety of Lives, NAS Urges Security Agencies festive period in the ºstate. road trips during the yuletide, are also enjoined to ensure The Capoon of the Olympus Marino Deck, Mr. Kennedy Barango, made this call yesterday while speaking with journalists in Port Harcourt.

Barango also urged Nigerians, especially those embarking on

to prioritise their safety.

The group “implores travellers to remain vigilant, adhere to proper safety signs, and refrain from drinking and driving. Vehicle owners and commercial vehicle operators

that their vehicles are in proper roadworthy condition before embarking on any journey.

“Security agencies are hereby charged to double their efforts at securing the lives and properties of the citizenry during this period.

46

Thursday, DECEMBER 28, 2023 • T H I S D AY

GamingWeek

Edited by Nseobong Okon-Ekong | ikotibok@gmail.com | Tel: 08114495324 TR

Festive Feast of Christmas Week Betting Promotions

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Davidson Abraham writes that bookmakers go all out to lure punters during this busy footballing period, making it a memorable prevailing holiday season with truly special offers: a smorgasbord of enticing betting promotions; from free bets and accumulator bonuses to cash back offers and festive specials

T

he crackling fire, the aroma of roasting chestnuts, and the frantic scramble for last-minute Christmas gifts – these are the hallmarks of the festive season. For die-hard English Premier League fans, there’s another element that makes Christmas truly special: a smorgasbord of enticing betting promotions. From free bets and accumulator bonuses to cash back offers and festive

specials, bookmakers go all out to lure punters during this busy footballing period.

With so many options available, it can be overwhelming to navigate the betting landscape. So, grab your mince pie and settle in as we delve into the delectable world of Christmas week Premier League betting promotions.

Stocking Stuffers for Every Fan: Free Bets are the most common and coveted

promotion, essentially giving you a chance to wager without risking your own money.

Bookmakers often offer free bets on specific matches or as rewards for placing multiple bets.

Accumulator Bonuses are another highlight during Christmas week. Accumulator bets, where you combine multiple selections into one bet, can offer huge potential payouts. Christmas week sees bookmakers boost the odds

from all of us at

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on accumulators, making Cash Back Offers are also them even more tempting. in abundance. If your bet doesn’t go your way, some bookmakers offer cash back, essentially softening the blow of a losing wager. This can be Greece, operates in 16 countries a great way to minimize your worldwide and is expanding its losses and keep the festive presence across more markets. cheer flowing.

As the first-ever betting company Festive Specials add a to become a designated partner at FIFA World (Qatar 2022) and an creative twist to your wagers. official global sponsor for UEFA Predict the first goalscorer EURO 2024, Betano continues to dressed as an elf, the number make significant strides in the of red cards handed out, or the betting industry. combined minutes played by players with Christmas-themed names. These bets add an extra layer of fun and anticipation to the matches.

Remember to Gamble Responsibly: While the allure of festive betting promotions is undeniable, it’s crucial to remember to gamble responsibly. Set a budget for yourself and stick to it. Don’t

Betano Rewards Winners of Millionaire Promo There were smiles all around as Betano, one of Nigeria’s fastest growing online betting companies, rewarded the winners of the Betano Millionaire Promo.

The promotion kicked off on September 15th, 2023, and aimed to reward loyal customers who had been signing up en-masse with the gaming tech giant since its official launch in Nigeria in April.

Ten lucky winners were selected through a raffle draw and received various cash prizes alongside other items worth ₦10m.

The highlight of the event was the presentation of cheques to the three top winners.

Mr. Olawale Ajakaiye won the grand prize of ₦5,000,000. A visibly emotional Olawale, expressed gratitude to the company for choosing him as the big winner and pledged to use the money wisely.

Mr. Charles Gabriel, the second place winner received ₦500,000 and a brand new Apple Macbook computer. Mr. Aanuoluwa Abe who was the third-place winner, received ₦300,000 and a brand new Apple Iphone.

The remaining winners also received cash rewards ranging from ₦400,000 to ₦100,000 At the event, Betano’s country manager, Mr. Oyindamola Michaels reiterated the company’s commitment to continuously provide value for its customers.

He emphasized that the company was on a mission to revolutionize the betting industry in the country through its innovative products and services.

In his remarks, the marketing manager; Mr. Omene Osuya promised Betano users even more rewards in 2024, starting with the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON)

2023 to be held in Cote D’ivoire.

He reassured users of Betano’s continued dedication to promoting responsible gambling through its award-winning customer-protection initiatives.

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chase losses, and never bet more than you can afford to lose.

Betting should be a fun way to enhance your enjoyment of the sport, not a source of stress or financial hardship.

So, lace up your virtual boots and prepare to take on the Christmas week betting bonanza. With a little knowledge and responsible play, you can navigate the festive feast of promotions and hopefully add some extra cheer to your holiday season.

Bonus Tip: Keep an eye out for special promotions tied to key Boxing Day fixtures.

The Premier League ‘Boxing Day’ always delivers on drama and excitement on this traditional footballing day, and bookmakers often up the ante with exclusive offers.

GAMINGWEEK TEAM Nseobong Okon-Ekong ikotibok@gmail.com | 08114495324 Iyke Bede ikennabede@gmail.com | 0703 044 7714 Country Manager for Betano, Mr. Oyindamola Michaels (left), Grand Prize winner in the Betano Millionaire Promo, Mr. Olawale Ajakaiye (middle) & marketing manager for Betano Nigeria, Mr. Omene Osuya (right) at the Betano Millionaire Finale cheque presentation ceremony

ADVISORY: +18 PERSONS UNDER 18 MUST NOT PARTICIPATE IN BETTING, GAMING OR LOTTERY ACTIVITY

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47

T H I S D AY • THURSDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2023

THURSdaysports

Group Sports Editor: Duro Ikhazuagbe Email: duro.ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com

0811 181 3083 SMS ONLY

Phil Foden scores and provided assist as Manchester City defeated Everton 3-1 last night

Osimhen Tops Latest Transfermarkt's Africa’s Most Valuable Attackers

Kunle Kuadewale

Super Eagles and Napoli striker, Victor Osimhen is Nigeria and Africa’s most valuable player with an estimated value of €110 million.

Osimhen’s valuation dropped by €10 million from his all-time high of €120 million following Transfermarkt’s latest player update.

Still, the Super Eagles striker remains the top man in Africa, way ahead of Egypt and Liverpool attacker Mohamed Salah, who is slapped with an estimated value of €65 million.

The Napoli striker will be the biggest and most celebrated star in Ivory Coast when the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations

kicks off in January.

In third place is Nigeria’s new kid on the block, Victor Boniface, with the Bayer Leverkusen lad boasting a value of €40 million, same as Guinea and Stuttgart ace Serhou Guirassy.

Nigeria international and Atalanta winger Ademola Lookman occupies the 7th position with €30 million, behind Cameroon’s Bryan Mbeumo (5th) and Senegal’s Chelsea ace Nicolas Jackson (6th).

Nottingham Forest striker Taiwo Awoniyi makes it four Nigerians in the top ten, as he is joint-eighth at €28 million alongside Algeria’s Amine Gouiri, while the tenth spot goes to Ivory Coast and Brighton’s Simon Adingra.

Nigeria’s domination continues into the top 20, with OGC Nice’s Terem Moffi is in 13th place, while Nathan Tella and Samuel Chukwueze are fitted on the same rung in 15th.

Head coach Jose Peseiro included all seven Nigerian players on this top 20 list in the Super Eagles’ 40-man provisional roster for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast next month.

Meanwhile, Napoli have announced that Osimhen has been given a day off so he could join his family before leaving for the Super Eagles' Africa Cup of Nations training camp.

The Partenopeans are preparing for the match against Monza scheduled for Friday

at the Maradona Stadium and a training session was held yesterday morning at the SSCN Konami Training Center, with Osimhen part of the players spotted during the workout.

Napoli boss Walter Mazzarri, however will not be able to call upon the services of the Nigeria international for the visit of Monza.

Osimhen was dismissed for a second bookable offence in Napoli's last match in the Serie A against AS Roma, which triggered an automatic one-game ban, so he's ineligible to face the Biancorossi.

Taking into account the period in which he will be with the Nigeria national

34 Abuja Teams Chase Cash at Webber’s 3x3 Basketball Tournament Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja

The Webber 3x3 Abuja Christmas tournaments have continued to generate excitement as 34 teams have already registered for the second and final phase of the event that rounds off this Saturday and Sunday in the Federal Capital Territory.

The CEO of WebberHoops and Courts, Mr Opeyemi Babalola (known as Mr Webber) told the media yesterday that he was happy to be put under such pressure.

“Our desire is to get as many people as possible playing professional or leisure basketball in Nigeria. And so when we get high of people showing up even with the short notice, I’m excited. It’s quite pressure to run this event

in the two days left but it is positive wahala, if I may put it that way, and I like it," he said.

The first phase of the competition began last week at the Abuja Life Camp from where two semi-finalists emerged.

The event, named the Abuja City Slam Quest, continues on Saturday at the Jabi Lake Mall from about 10am.

Two teams from the Jabi Lake Mall contest will join Magic Ballers and TNT 1 for the Final-4. The Lagos show held at the 1004 Estate in Victoria Island was seen as a blockbuster but experts of the game believe the holiday season will help create a bigger atmosphere at the Jabi Lake area as the Abuja residents are already keeping tabs on

the competition. There will be slam dunk competitions with lots of music and other forms of entertainment.

Webber desires to make basketball more popular in Nigeria and played in every neighbourhood across the country. The entire equipment used for the competition is manufactured in Nigeria by Webber Engineering Company.

team at their training camp in addition to the clash with Monza, he could miss six matches in the Serie A if the Super Eagles advance to the final of the Africa Cup of Nations, including the trip to AC Milan on February 11.

Osimhen will certainly miss the Supercoppa Italiana, a four

team-tournament to be held at the KSU Stadium in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia featuring Napoli, Fiorentina, Inter Milan and Lazio.

The 2023 African Footballer of the Year is set to attend his second Africa Cup of Nations having missed the last edition in Cameroon due to injury.

Milan in Talks with NFF over Chukwueze's AFCON Release Date The eggheads of Serie A giants AC Milan are in discussion with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) over Super Eagles winger, Samuel Chukwueze's AFCON release date.

In the month of January into the first part of February, the Africa Cup of Nations will take place and AC Milan are expected to lose two of their key performers.

There are two Milan players who will be involved in the event: Ismael Bennacer and Chukwueze and their national teams, Algeria and Nigeria, are also among the favourites to win which could deprive Milan of the pair for an extended period of time.

According to what is being reported by Peppe Di Stefano on Sky (via Radio Rossonera),

Bennacer and Chukwueze will be available for the game against Sassuolo on the 30th, but immediately afterwards they are expected leave to be available to their national teams.

However, Milan have opened dialogues with the respective federations, to convince the national teams to let them leave Italy on January 3, so as to have them available for Milan-Cagliari, the round of 16 final of the Coppa Italia, which will be played a day before.

Whether Algeria and Nigeria will accept the proposal is not yet known, but it must be pointed out that it is only the training camp that begins early in January, given that the first game involving either player isn’t until January 14.

Madueke’s Late Winner Helps Chelsea Overcome Cry’Palace Noni Madueke scored an 89th-minute winner from the penalty spot to help Chelsea overcome Crystal Palace at Stamford Bridge in the Premier League.

The hosts deservedly went

in front in the 13th minute after good work from Malo Gusto ended with the full-back squaring the ball to Mykhailo Mudryk to net from close range.

But Palace levelled on the stroke of half-time when

Michael Olise brought down Jordan Ayew's cross and smashed an effort into the bottom corner.

Chelsea created numerous chances throughout, and it looked as if Mauricio Pochet-

tino's men would pay for their wasteful finishing for a second consecutive match.

Nicolas Jackson thought he had scored in the 77th minute when he poked in Thiago Silva's deep cross but the Video As-

sistant Referee (VAR) ruled the forward was just offside.

But Chelsea got the break they needed in a tense finale when the VAR spotted Eberechi Eze had fouled substitute Madueke just inside the area

Thursday, December 28, 2023

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MISSILE

Tony Okocha to Siminalayi Fubara

The moment your head becomes bigger than the pillow, you are in trouble. They have given ethnic colouration to the entire business. Meanwhile, on the way to this stardom, the Ijaw nation that he now proclaims and projects was never there. Wike was the know-all and do-all. He could have given it to Austin Okpara. He could have given it to Celestine Omehia or anybody from Ikwerre and heavens will not fall—Rivers State APC Chairman, blaming the governor for the crisis in Rivers State.

olusegunadeniyi The Onomastics of 2024 Budgets the verdict olusegun.adeniyi@thisdaylive.com

T

he futility of budgets in Nigeria was once captured in an X (then Twitter) thread by ‘Laolu SamuelBiyi. I have twice referenced it on this page. Writing how a serious national economic planning instrument has been cynically subverted, Samuel-Biyi concluded: “If you want to keep hope alive in Nigeria, don’t look at the budget”. Since we are in that season when authorities in Abuja and the 36 states are releasing their budgets for the coming year, the admonition is important for those who seek to retain their sanity. Ironically, the federal government appropriation bill 2024, presented by President Bola Tinubu, was christened ‘Budget of Renewed Hope’ even when the breakdown suggests otherwise.

But there is even a more fundamental subtext to that.

During the appropriation process in the National Assembly, Senator Adams Oshiomhole spoke to the social injustice in our country.

What prompted his lamentation was the budget allocation for the Nigeria Correctional Service (NSC). “One of the things that has come out is that an unconvicted Nigerian is being fed with N750 (per day) and you feed each of the dogs under your care with N800 per day! So, a dog is better fed in the Nigerian prison than an innocent Nigerian in your custody,” Oshiomhole told the NSC Controller General, Haliru Nababa, before concluding that the challenge is institutional.

“It is a major policy issue. We don’t know the intention of the government to allocate more money to feed animals than to feed human beings.”

Before we come back to that policy, symptomatic of the way Nigerians are regarded by officialdom, let’s examine the ongoing budget ‘naming ceremonies’ across the country which should interest onomasticians.

Having agreed to represent his N800 billion budget earlier passed by five members in a 32-member House of Assembly, the people of Rivers wait to see how Governor Siminalayi Fubara delivers on his ‘Budget of Renewed Hope, Consolidation and Continuity.’ But for the first time in a long while, the people of Cross River State are being presented with a budget whose title they can at least understand. Whether it makes a difference in their lives is another matter altogether.

Gone are the trillion Naira budgets of ‘Deep Vision’, ‘Infinite Transposition’, ‘Kinetic Crystallization’, ‘Olimpotic Meristemasis’, ‘Qabalistic Densification’ etc. fantasised by Ben Ayade whose successor has christened his ‘The People First Budget’, whatever that means.

Even when the revenues expected to fund their (mostly deficit) budgets will be sourced from fresh borrowings, many of the governors have come up with fanciful titles as captured by Statisense, a financial reporting data company: Abia (Budget of New Beginning), Adamawa (Budget of Re-engineering), Akwa Ibom (Arise Budget for Growth and Expansion), Anambra (Budget of Changing Gears), Bauchi (Budget of Consolidation & Renewed Focus), Bayelsa (Budget of Sustainable and Shared Prosperity), Benue (Budget of Infrastructure, Development, Job Creation and Poverty Alleviation), Borno (Budget of Consolidation and Progress), Delta (Budget of Hope and Optimism), Ebonyi (Budget of Innovation and Progress), Edo (Budget of Home Run and Finishing Strong), Ekiti (Budget

Senator Adams Oshiomhole of Sustainable Growth and Development), Enugu (Budget of Disruptive Economic Growth) Gombe (Budget of Continuity and Consolidation), Imo (Budget of Renewed Economic Growth), Jigawa (Budget of Greater Jigawa), Kaduna (Budget of Rural Transformation for Inclusive Development), Kano (Budget of Restoration and Transformation), Katsina (Building Your Future), Kebbi (Budget of Infrastructural Development and People Empowerment), Kogi

(Budget of Consolidation and Continuity for Inclusive Growth), Kwara (Budget of Economic Expansion and Collective Prosperity), Lagos (Budget of Renewal), Nasarawa (Budget of Renewed Commitment), Niger (The Budget of the Future), Ogun (Budget of Sustained Growth and Development), Ondo (Budget of Economic Resilience), Osun (Budget of Reconstruction and Recovery), Oyo (Budget of Economic Recovery), Plateau (Budget of New Beginnings), Sokoto (Budget of Hope and Resilience), Taraba (Budget of Moving Forward), Yobe (Budget of Consolidation and Economic Recovery) and Zamfara, (Rescue Budget).

While we can leave experts to dissect these budgets, even laymen like me can see that when you juxtapose the amount earmarked for debt servicing with allocations for recurrent expenditure as well as projects considered priorities in many of them, the only conclusion to draw is that resource allocation resembles a distribution of spoils rather than a serious plan for growth and development. What is even more worrisome is that for many of these states, the Fiscal Sustainability Index presents a distressing picture. Not many can meet salary obligations to their workers from internally generated revenues.

Indeed, the 2023 States Fiscal Sustainability Index Analysis by BudgIT, a civic organisation that applies technology for citizen engagement to facilitate societal change, paints a dreary picture. “While at least 50% of the total revenue of 33 states were federal transfers, 13 states relied on federal transfers for at least 70% of their total revenues,” according to BudgIT 2023 State of the States report, based on 2022 records. To dig ourselves out of the collective hole in which we have now found ourselves, only a bipartisan approach can help. Luckily, we have in Tinubu a president who can forge such consensus though the question remains

- to what end?

As earlier stated, there is something broken in a nation that would allocate more money to feed a dog than to feed a human being. To be fair, the NSC has for years been advocating an increase in the feeding allowance for inmates. The total number now stands at 81,354 nationwide, out of which 53,352 are awaiting trial. But Chairman of the National Assembly joint committee and former Labour leader, Oshiomhole could see the bigger picture.

“About 53,352 or more (inmates) are awaiting trial. They are not guilty of any offence known to law; they are innocent under our laws. For an innocent Nigerian who is being held in a correctional home, N250 per meal is grossly inadequate. I wonder what you are feeding them with,” said Oshiomhole who then spoke to the injustice of our system. “Many of them are there for an offence they knew nothing about. Somebody said if (the late Mr Nelson) Mandela was in a Nigerian prison for 27 years, he would have lost his sanity by the time he was released to govern South Africa.”

That should compel a rethink. Meanwhile, given that the dire economic situation has pushed the nation in the direction of an aggressive tax drive, authorities in Abuja and the states should also be aware that such monies are meant to fund critical infrastructure and social services. Not to feed the vanity of political office holders who continue to live large at the expense of poor citizens. As The Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Hassan Matthew Kukah reminded the president in his Christmas homily, hope has worn thin in our dear nation. “Nigerians have almost lost hope in the fact that a government can really and truly care for them. Nigerians have lost hope in the fact that our politicians will put our interests first.”

That message is not only for President Tinubu, but for all the 36 governors as well.

The Herods in Our Midst

W

ith pounded yam aided by ‘Wara’ and other delicacies peculiar to our people, it’s been fun since we arrived Ilorin, Kwara State last weekend as we do every year.

But since there is more to this season than eating and drinking, I had to be in Church on Monday for the Christmas service. Instead of joining my wife to attend the family’s Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) church in Osere, I chose to attend First ECWA on Taiwo Road along with my cousin, Wale Banmore. It turned out to be a wise decision.

The sermon was preached by a visiting Pastor Godwin Adeboye, who is currently the African Regional Coordinator at Shepherd’s Academy, Oxford Centre for Religion and Public Life, United Kingdom, where he is also conducting his doctoral research as a Langham scholar. He took his text from the book of Matthew chapter 2, verse 16 to 18: “Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, became furious, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had ascertained from the wise men. Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah: ‘A voice was heard in Ramah, weeping and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her

children; she refused to be comforted, because they are no more’.”

The young pastor said he chose the story which is hardly emphasized at Christmas (even though central to it) so we could draw lessons from a central character and the massacre he orchestrated out of insecurity and sheer wickedness. While, as the pastor said, Christmas is not about Herod, Nigeria is what it is today because of the Herods that populate critical areas of our national life in both the private and public sectors. And he cited a few examples and named names to buttress his point. It is not from my mouth that anybody would hear that teacher’s mother is a witch so let’s leave out the names, although the pastor also stated that there are Herods everywhere, including in the Church.

However, in expanding that thesis, Dr Moses Owojaiye, the host pastor, said Herod in the story represents more than a person: “It is an idea, a philosophy, a way of life” and that no society can progress when you have so many people with the spirit of Herod. Indeed, it will take people with the spirit of Herod to orchestrate the kind of massacre visited on 23 villages in Bokkos and Barkin Ladi local governments of Plateau States last weekend.

With dozens killed, vehicles and houses razed, the Beron Youth Moulders Association spokesman, Rwang Tengwong summed up the tragedy: “On

a day meant to celebrate love, compassion and togetherness, the perpetrators of this dastardly act have brought untold agony, suffering and grief to the affected communities.”

On the paradox of celebrating the birth of Jesus, in the context of Herod’s slaughter of innocent children, Melinda Quivik argued that the story of salvation amid cruelty is crucial rather than something to avoid. “A shallow religiosity will not want to hear about the murder of children, but such horrors are not endured by failing to hear about them,” she wrote. “What overpowers the bloody spectacles human beings create is the overwhelming truth that God gives not only a means for responding to evil but also a reason: God’s creation is holy, intended for good.”

In the ‘Heartlight’ devotional piece that is also based on the same passage, the writer confessed to his dislike of the children’s massacre because “It spoils the sentimentality of the birth story of Jesus.” He, however, added that it also contains a message that should not be lost on society. “The slaying of the innocents reminds us of how easily we can slip into a mentality that puts personal protection, reputation, and position above the rights of those who are vulnerable and powerless.”

As I pray God to deliver us and our country from ‘the spirit of Herod’, I wish all my readers a prosperous year 2024.

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