18112022

2023: INEC Soludo, other critics from your 11 

staff registered state envious, Wike, LP tell Obi 

under-aged UTM Offshore, JGC, Technip Energies 

33 

voters – Igini sign agreement on Nigeria’s FLNG 10 

FG says debt sustainability threatened by low revenue 

Insecurity: 

Nigerians suffering, 

weeping, wailing, 

moaning 

—Monguno 7 

19 

VOL. 39: NO. 9,926 

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2022 

GLO FESTIVAL OF JOY PROMO... 

Second left, Oyo State Deputy Governor, Chief Adebayo Lawal presents the key of a brand new Kia car to 

Mrs Adeife Abiodun-Adeyemi who won it in the Glo Festival of Joy promo. With them from right are: 

Oyo State Commissioner for Trade and Investments, Chief Bayo Lawal; Head of Enterprise Sales, West 

Region, Mr. Debo Odufuwa; Oyo State Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Mr. Seun Fakorede, and actor, 

Odunlade Adekola, at the presentation of prizes to winners of the promo in Ibadan, yesterday. 

133 million Nigerians 

poor --NBS 

TINUBU TO SOUTH-EAST: 

Stop complaining, I’ll 

34 

address your grievances 

Zenith Tech Fair to 

attract global IT 

practitioners 19 

Nigeria to produce additional 

255,000 bdp as SNEPCo 

completes maintenance 

8 

LAUNCHING... 

President Buhari receives in audience Oba of Benin H.R.M. Omo N'Oba Uku 

Akpolokpolo Ewuare II in State House , yesterday. 

COLUMNISTS DONU 16 A ZU 24 OWEI 17 ADEKOYA 18 22 

Naira redesign: More 

govs now under EFCC 

watch—Bawa 

2023: Govs to 

blame for 

8 

violence – IGP 

US threatens visa ban 

on election riggers, 

backs adoption of BVAS 

•North-85m, South-47m; 66.5m children are poor 

•Sokoto State tops with 91% poverty rate, Ondo State 

least poor with 27% •FG’ll use report to allocate 

resources-President Buhari •NBS poverty report, not 

contestable —NECA •APC leaving behind poverty 

legacy-PDP Campaign 

5 

Mr & Mrs 

7 

8

2 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2022

Vanguard, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2022 — 3


Vanguard, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2022 — 5 

POCKET CARTOON 

133 million Nigerians 

poor - NBS 

By Babajide Komolafe, 

Economy Editor, Victor 

Ahiuma-Young, 

Emmanuel Elebeke, John 

Alechenu and Elizabeth 

Adegbesan 

THE National Bureau 

of Statistics, NBS 

yesterday said that 133 

million (63 per cent) 

Nigerians are suffering 

from multidimensional 

poverty, with children 

constituting more than half 

of poor people in the 

country. 

This means that two (2) 

out of every three (3) 

Nigerians are poor and 

experience just over onequarter 

of all possible 

deprivations in terms of 

health, education, living 

standards, and work and 

shocks. 

The NBS disclosed this 

in the 2022 

Multidimensional Poverty 

Index, MPI, Report 

launched on Thursday in 

Abuja. 

The MPI is the result 

of the 2022 

Multidimensional Poverty 

Index (MPI) Survey carried 

out by NBS and 

development partners. 

The survey was a 

collaborative effort between 

the National Bureau of 

Statistics (NBS), the 

National Social Safety-Nets 

Coordinating Office 

(NASSCO), the United 

Nations Development 

Programme (UNDP), the 

United Nations Children’s 

Fund (UNICEF), and the 

Oxford Poverty and Human 

Development Initiative 

(OPHI). 

A breakdown of the 

dimensions of poverty used 

for the MPI includes: 

Nutrition, Food insecurity, 

Time to healthcare, School 

attendance, Years of 

•North-85m, South-47m; 66.5m children are poor•Sokoto 

State tops with 91% poverty rate, Ondo State least poor with 

27%• FG’ll use report to allocate resources-President 

Buhari•NBS poverty report, not contestable—NECA•APC 

leaving behind poverty legacy-PDP Campaign 

schooling and School lag. 

Others are Water, Water 

reliability, Sanitation, 

where 72% of people are 

FG restate 

poor, compared to 42% of 

people in urban areas. commitment to 

Housing materials, 

“Approximately 70% of 

Cooking fuel, Assets, 

eradicating 

Nigeria’s population live in 

Unemployment, 

rural areas, yet these areas poverty - Buhari 

Underemployment, 

are home to 80% of poor Meanwhile, President 

Security shock 

people; their intensity of Muhammadu Buhari has 

Among other things the 

poverty is also higher, at restated his unwavering 

report showed that 65% of 

42% in rural areas commitment to eradicating 

poor people—86 million— 

compared to 37% in urban poverty in the country, 

live in the North, while 

areas. 

adding that the MPI 

35%—nearly 47 million— 

“Two-thirds (67.5%) of results will be used to 

live in the South. 

children aged 0–17 are poor influence the allocation of 

According to the report, 

according to the National resources going forward, 

“multidimensional poverty 

MPI, and half (51%) of all particularly to target sectors 

is higher in rural areas, 

poor people are children.” where most citizens suffer 

Where poor people live, by state (number of poor people, million) 

deprivations. 

He added that the MPI 

results will also serve as 

both a measurement and 

policy tool to monitor the 

Federal Government’s 

progress at achieving these 

goal of lifting 100 million 

people out of poverty within 

10 years, in line with the 

objectives of the SDGs and 

the Africa Agenda 2063 

Speaking at the launch of 

the MPI report in Abuja, 

President Buhari who was 

represented by the Chief of 

Staff to the President, Prof. 

Ibrahim Gambari, said, 

“This government 

recognises the importance 

of the data and the need to 

deploy it in sharing your 

story to a broad spectrum 

of stakeholders, both 

domestically and 

internationally. 

“Internally, we have now 

deployed a comprehensive 

Data Demand and Use 

(DDU) strategy to embed 

the use of evidence-based 

and data driven poverty 

reduction mechanisms. To 

begin this deployment of 

the data, let me share seven 

reasons why Nigeria’s 

multidimensional poverty 

index is a powerful tool to 

galvanise the kind of action 

that will push us forward 

to achieving the 

Presidential mandate of 

lifting 100 million out of 

poverty, within the next 

decade: 

“First, the building blocks 

of Nigeria’s MPI are a set 

of deprivations that a 

person experiences at the 

same time. They relate to 

dimensions like health, 

education, living 

standards, work, and 

security. And so, the MPI 

Continues on Page 35 

Resurgence of kidnapping in the South West 

By Esther Onyegbula 

IN the last few 

months, there has 

been persistent kidnapping 

in the Southwest 

and it calls for urgent attention. 

The Southwest 

used to be the safest region 

in the country. My 

advice is that the governors 

in the Southwest 

should come together to 

find a lasting solution to 

the problem. 

—Adeola Ekine, 

Journalist 

ONLY a few gover 

nors are taking the 

issues of insecurity seriously 

in this country. Unfortunately, 

victims of kidnapping 

in the Southwest are 

at the mercy of kidnappers. 

Governors in the region 

must do something quickly 

before the situation escalates. 

—Ayodele Oladimeji, 

Entrepreneur 

SADLY, insecurity 

has become a major 

challenge in our nation. I 

suggest that there should 

be a special task force comprising 

all the security 

agencies and local vigilantes 

to tackle the resurgence 

of kidnapping in the 

Southwest. The situation 

requires urgent attention. 

—Obasi John, 

Entrepreneur 

G OVERNMENT 

should act fast. 

These bandits are fast advancing 

both in technology 

and methods of operation. 

It is paramount that the 

government should engage 

security agencies as 

well as foreign security intelligence 

to arrest situations. 

—Onome Naomi, 

Blogger 

THE security implica 

tions of the criminal 

concentration of kidnapping 

at the Lagos Ibadan-Expressway 

by men of the underworld 

underscores an intractable 

socio-economic obstruction 

in that axis of the 

country. This, of course, will 

hinder economic activities 

and may lead to the breakdown 

of law and order. 

—Evans Ufeli, 

Lawyer 

THE kidnapping of 

commuters along the 

Lagos Ibadan expressway 

is a source of worry and 

should attract the attention 

of all concerned notably the 

federal government, Lagos, 

Ogun, and Oyo state governments 

who should rise 

to the occasion to confront 

it with all the seriousness it 

deserves. 

—Nelson Ekujumi, 

Activist

6 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2022 

Firearms: Court 

stops police, 

AGF from 

prosecuting 

ex-NISA boss, 

Jolapamo 

By Innocent Anaba 

A Federal High Court, sitting in Lagos, 

has restrained the Nigeria Police 

Force, NPF, and the Attorney General 

of the Federation, AGF, Mr. Abubakar 

Malami, from arraigning a 76-yearold, 

ex-president of Nigerian 

Shipowners Association, NISA, Isaac 

Jolapamo, over alleged illegal 

possession of firearms. 

Trial judge, Justice A. Lewis -Allagoa's 

order was sequel to the proposed 

arraignment of Jolapamo by the police 

before another court over the alleged 

offence. 

It will be recalled that Justice Yelim 

Bogoro of another Federal High Court, 

Lagos had fixed December 2, for the 

arraignment of Jolapamo on a threecount 

charge of alleged unlawful 

possession of guns. 

However, Justice A. Lewis -Allagoa 

ruling on a motion ex-parte against the 

Inspector General of Police, Olufunke 

Otti Jolapamo and Attorney General 

of the Federation, ordered the parties to 

maintain status quo pending the 

determination of the suit against them. 

Jolapamo’s lawyer, Femi Falana, 

SAN, had sought an order of interim 

injunction restraining IGP, AGF either 

by themselves, servants or privies from 

arranging his client, via charge No. 

FHC/L/404C/22, alleging illegal 

possession of firearms at the Federal 

High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos, pending the 

final determination of the origination 

motion, herein. 

At the resumed hearing of the suit, 

yesterday, only the applicant's lawyer, 

Falana was present and he informed 

the court that hearing notice was served 

on all the three respondents. 

Following the absence of the 

respondents' counsel in court, Falana 

prayed for short adjournment. 

After hearing the applicant's counsel, 

Justice Allagoa ordered that hearing 

notice be issued again and served on all 

the respondents, adjourned the matter 

till November 24, for hearing. 

Vigilante outfit 

rescues 

abducted 

Catholic priest 

By Vincent Ujumadu 

A 

Catholic priest, Rev. Cyril Okafor, 

who was allegedly kidnapped, on 

Tuesday, around the Holy Ghost 

Adoration Centre, Igboukwu, in Aguata 

Local Government Area of Anambra 

State, has been rescued by members of 

the Umueri Vigilante Group. 

President-General of Umueri 

Community, Johnny Metchie, said the 

cleric was abducted at about 3 pm, on 

Tuesday, but rescued around 4:30am, 

on Wednesday, by the vigilante team 

who intercepted the kidnappers. 

He said: “The agile men of the Umueri 

vigilante group, led by the CSO, 

intercepted some kidnappers in Umueri 

and rescued a reverend Father, 

identified as Cyril Okafor. 

The Rev. Father was kidnapped on 

November 15, 2022, around Holy 

Ghost Adoration Centre, 

Igboukwu. According to the Rev. 

Father, who is now with the police at 

Otuocha Police Station, he was taken to 

Enugu and then to Nteje where they 

hoped to keep him in a hotel room, but 

the hotel was fully booked. 

“They then took him to Otuocha and 

kept him in an abandoned building, 

waiting for his family to pay a ransom, 

before the Umueri Vigilante CSO and 

his team intercepted one of the 

kidnappers who claimed he was a visitor 

on his way to pray in the river that early 

morning." 

:Vanguard 

News 

:@vanguardnews :@vanguardnews NEWS HOTLINES: 08052867023, 08052867058 

RALLY—Pat Utomi (middle) with other members of Labour Party, during a rally 

calling on Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to reprint burnt 

PVCs ahead of the 2023 general elections. Photo: Gbemiga Olamikan. 

Two killed in Bauchi 

commissioner's convoy 

By Charly Agwam 

Two people in the convoy of the 

Commissioner for Ministry of Local 

Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, 

Bauchi State, Abdulrazak Zaki, lost their 

lives in an auto crash, Wednesday, while 

one other was injured. 

This was disclosed, yesterday, by the 

Sector Commander of the Corps in 

Bauchi State, Yusuf Abdullahi. 

The FRSC boss said that the fatal 

crash was caused by a speed violation, 

which led to a loss of control at Miya 

town, along Miya–Warji in Warji Local 

Government Area of Bauchi State, 

Doctor uses N50m mom's burial fund 

for scholarships 

By Peter Okutu 

ABAKALIKI—AN Ebonyi State 

medical doctor, Dr. Gideon Osi, 

yesterday, did the unthinkable, as he 

converted a contribution by his friends, 

for his mother's burial, into scholarship 

grants worth over N50 million to girls, 

women and other beneficiaries in the 

state. 

Announcing the donation during the 

burial ceremony of his late mother, 

Madam Rebacca Osi, in Ishiagu, Ivo 

Local Government Area of the state, Dr. 

Osi expressed concern over the inability 

of many girl child in the state to access 

basic and tertiary education and assured 

that the scholarship would assist the 

beneficiaries in their pursuit for 

education. 

He emphasised that the donations 

were made by his friends, members of 

different committees and associates in 

support of the burial of his mother, as 

Ataga: How Police forced me to sign statement —Chidinma 

By Henry Ojelu 

THE suspected killer of Super TV 

Chief Executive Officer, Usifo 

Ataga, Chidinma Ojukwu, yesterday, 

told a Lagos High Court, sitting at the 

Tafawa Balewa Square, that Police 

forced her to sign a confessional 

statement. 

Ojukwu said this while giving 

evidence at the trial-within-trial to 

ascertain whether the statement she 

made was voluntarily made or coerced. 

The former 300-level Mass 

Communication undergraduate of the 

University of Lagos is standing trial for 

the alleged murder of Ataga. 

Ojukwu alongside one Adedapo 

Quadri and her sister, Chioma Egbuchu, 

is also charged with stealing and forgery. 

At the resumed trial, Ojukwu, who was 

involving five male adults. 

He said the government vehicle, a 

White Toyota Hilux with number plate: 

BA18 A08 collided with a commercial 

motorcyclist identified as Muhammad 

Muawuya. 

“There was a fatal crash, yesterday 

(Wednesday) at about 2:45 pm, 

involving a government vehicle and a 

commercial motorcycle. 

“The government vehicle, a White 

Toyota Hilux collided with a 

commercial Bajaj Boxer motorcycle 

ridden by one Muhammad Muawuya. 

“The crash was caused by a speed 

violation which resulted in a loss of 

over N50 million was realised 

accordingly. 

"N50 million have been put together 

for this event by my friends, associates, 

clubs and good-spirited Nigerians but I 

know that God has provided what will 

take Mama’s event to the level that she 

expected it. 

"So, I discussed with my wife and we 

decided that all that contribution, we will 

use it to train the children of the poor. We 

are going to go beyond Ishiagu and 

Ebonyi State. We will commit the entire 

fund, over N50million on scholarship 

in appreciation of Mama’s life. 

"More women will benefit from that 

scholarship programme, more girls 

because when you train a woman, the 

effect is too magnanimous." 

According to Osi, 46 graduates have 

so far been trained in different disciplines 

in the State adding that he decided to 

train the graduates to promote literacy 

and human capital development. 

led in evidence by Mr Onwunka Egwu, 

said that the two initial statements she 

wrote were torn and she was forced to 

sign the one written by ASP Olusegun 

Bamidele. 

She said that she was also forced to 

sign the one dictated to her by officer 

Olufunke Madeyinlo. 

The defendant, who testified as the 

defence witness one (DW1), told the court 

that Bamidele asked her to rehearse the 

statement and narrate it to the 

Commissioner of Police (CP). 

Ojukwu said that before she was taken 

to the CP’s office at Ikeja, her hands were 

handcuffed to the chair she sat in from 

June 23 till the next morning on June 

24, 2021. 

"At DCP’s office, he asked me 

questions. I told him that I don’t know 

anything about the death of Mr Ataga, 

control and subsequently, a collision 

between the vehicle and the motorcycle 

at Miya town along Miya-Warji route, 

involving five male adults. 

“The victims, who were in the 

entourage of the Commissioner, 

Ministry for Local Government and 

Chieftaincy Affairs, Nuhu Zaki, were 

rushed to the Kafin Madaki General 

Hospital (by the Commissioner) for 

treatment and confirmation. 

“It was there in the hospital that a 

medical doctor confirmed two people 

dead. One other person sustained 

bruises and a fracture," he said. 

He opined that he wouldn't have been 

a graduate without a scholarship 

programme from the former Secretary 

to the Government of the Federation, 

Anyim Pius Anyim, who gave scholarships 

to 200 persons when he was the Senate 

President of the country. 

Osi noted that having been trained 

through the scholarship scheme of 

Anyim, he needed to train others, to help 

the poor and needy in society. 

"Every community has poor people 

but among the poor people, there are 

the poorest of the poor. We are among 

those that are called the poorest of 

the poor such that even poor people 

called us poor. 

"We were so poor that we couldn’t 

afford food but God, through various 

people, we were able to solve that 

mystery and today, the story is long. 

"Today, I feel much more fulfilled 

watching my mother go home the 

way she wanted it. She always told 

me that there will be joy when she 

dies and now, it is exactly the way it 

is." 

that was when they made the video that 

was played in court. 

"The DCP said I should make my 

statement. IPO Bamidele, therefore, took 

me to the interrogation room with Mr 

Chris, gave me a blank statement form 

and asked me to write what happened. 

“As I started writing, Bamidele took my 

left hand and handcuffed it to the chair. I 

wrote what I narrated at the DCP’s office. 

While I was writing, Bamidele took the 

statement from me, read it and said it 

was not what happened. 

“I told him, sir, what I am writing is 

what happened. I also told him that I asked 

my father to call my lawyer, and he said 

my dad cannot make a call because he 

was in custody with them. I then started 

writing the statement. When he took the 

statement from me and said this is not 

what happened. I told him, sir, this is what 

Firm tells judge 

to recuse self 

over alleged 

meeting with 

Bawa 

AN oil firm, Nadabo Energy 

Limited, has asked a judge of 

an Ikeja High Court, Justice 

Christopher Balogun, to rescue himself 

from further presiding over a suit with 

case number ID/118C/2012, for 

allegedly meeting with Mr. 

Abdulrasheed Bawa, Chairman of the 

Economic and Financial Crimes 

Commission, EFCC. 

Peters and his firm, NADABO Energy 

Limited, is being tried by the EFCC on 

a 27-count charge bordering on using 

forged documents to obtain 

N1.4billiom from the Federal 

Government as oil subsidy. 

The trial began on Dec. 10, 2012, 

and the EFCC has so far called five 

prosecution witnesses. 

The allegations of bias were made in 

an affidavit in support of a Motion on 

Notice sworn by Abubakar Peters, the 

Managing Director, Nadabo Energy 

Ltd and a defendant in the suit. 

According to the affidavit, Bawa on 

March 31 2022, minutes after giving 

evidence before the court had allegedly 

held a meeting with Balogun the 

presiding judge in the office of Justice 

Kazeem Alogba, the Chief Judge of 

Lagos State. 

Peters, in the affidavit, noted that 

several online publications widely 

reported the meeting and the EFCC, 

through their official Facebook page 

did not deny the meeting but rather 

described it as a "routine and courtesy 

visit". 

He said that the outrage generated 

over the meeting has cast doubt on the 

expected neutrality of Balogun to be 

an unbiased umpire in adjudicating 

the case. 

According to Peters, Bawa was a 

Principal Superintendent of the EFCC, 

when he investigated the N1.4 billion 

subsidy fraud allegations against him 

and as a result of his investigations, 

Bawa now elevated to the post of 

Chairman of the anti-graft agency is 

the star witness in the case. 

Bawa commenced his evidence-inchief 

as PW5 on June 3, 2015, and did 

not conclude till Dec. 20, 2021. 

According to the affidavit: "After 

his evidence-in-chief, the crossexamination 

by the defence 

counsel commenced immediately 

on Dec. 20, 2021. He subsequently 

testified under cross-examination 

on Jan. 25, March 31, 2022, and 

May 18, 2022. 

"After the court proceedings of 

March 31, 2022, I did not 

immediately leave the High Court 

premises at Ikeja, Lagos State. 

"On my way to the car park within 

the premises of the court, a few 

minutes after case number ID/ 

118C/2012, wherein I'm standing 

trial was adjourned to 17 and 18 

May 2022, I saw the trial judge, 

Justice C. A. Balogun exiting the 

office of the Chief Judge of the 

High Court of Lagos State." 

happened. I received two slaps from 

the back from Mr Jemiyo. 

“Jemiyo and Chris were sitting behind 

me. The only person facing me was 

Bamidele. He said, “you are going to 

write the truth”. He tore all the 

statements I had written and presented 

another blank statement form. I told 

him, sir, ‘I was writing the truth, you 

tore it. 

“He said if I do not comply, my Dad, 

10-year-old sister and my relatives will 

be charged with this murder case.” 

She said that when another 

statement was read to her, she told 

the officer that it was not what 

happened but the officer said, “This is 

what you are going to say or else your 

family will be charged."


CONFERENCE— 

Mohammed 

Abdullahi, Minister 

of the 

Environment 

(left), and Dr. 

Ainojie Irune, 

President/CEO, 

Oando Clean 

Energy, during 

the 27th United 

Nations Climate 

Change 

Conference, 

COP27, in 

Egypt. 

:Vanguard News 

Insecurity: Nigerians suffering, weeping, 

wailing, moaning —NSA, Monguno 

•Pleads with Reps for more support to defeat terrorism 

•Says Buhari's desire is to hand over safer Nigeria to successor 

•Notes current wave of insecurity global 

•You must secure Nigeria during, after 2023 elections —Reps 

By Levinus 

Nwabughiogu 

ABUJA—THE 

National 

Security Adviser, NSA, Maj 

Gen Babagana Monguno, retd, 

yesterday pleaded with 

lawmakers in the House of 

Representatives to allocate more 

funds to fight insecurity in the 

country, saying Nigerians were 

suffering and needed help. 

He also told the lawmakers 

that the desire of President 

Muhammadu Buhari is to hand 

over a safer country to whosoever 

Nigerians would elect in the 2023 

general elections to succeed him. 

The NSA, who made the 

appeal when he appeared before 

the House of Representatives 

Committee on National Security 

and Intelligence for 2023 budget 

defence in Abuja, noted that 

achieving the immediate goal of 

defeating insecurity would, 

therefore, require the collective 

support of the parliament. 

''We are appealing to you in 

good conscience, all of you 

represent different parts of this 

country and I know you have the 

interest of Nigeria at heart. Our 

people are suffering, they are 

weeping, they are wailing, they 

are moaning., they are gnashing 

their teeth. 

''We must help them. We have 

our limitations as intelligence 

agencies. The rest can only be 

done through legislative drive.” 

While noting that insecurity 

was not peculiar to Nigeria but a 

global menace, the NSA said: "I 

must also say that the type of 

insecurity that confronts us is not 

peculiar just to Nigeria but it is a 

global thing. 

''In today's context, we can only 

overcome this problem when we 

recognize the importance of 

intelligence as being the driver, 

the propellant of all activities in 

the whole of society's approach. 

It is important that all the 

problems I present are taken into 

consideration by these very 

important committee. 

''We hinge all our hopes and 

aspirations on whatever action 

you would take in solving the 

myriad of problems that confront 

us. And I want to assure that 

the problems are quite 

enormous. 

“The successes we have been 

recording so far in overcoming 

the security challenges, 

especially in the last four to five 

months, are basically rooted in 

the efforts of the Department of 

State Services, DSS, National 

Intelligence Agency, NIA, 

Defence Intelligence Agency, 

DIA, having been able to provide 

timely intelligence to the 

operational element. 

''I want to commend their 

efforts and I also want to, by 

extension, commend the efforts 

of their counterparts in the 

operational sphere. 

"Please, I want to put aside 

whatever other competing 

considerations there are. 

President Muhammadu Buhari 

has the desire to hand over to 

whoever is going to inherit what 

he is working on right now, a 

safer Nigeria. 

''It is true and I have to be very 

honest with you that dealing 

with asymmetric warfare, 

overcoming asymmetric problems 

are completely different from 

what we experienced in the last 

century. 

“Everything revolves around 

intelligence. And the intelligence 

we are dealing with is a broad 

spectrum which goes all the way 

down to the local level. We deal 

with human beings. And if we 

are not supported in the right 

way, no matter how emotionally, 

how psychologically we are 

prepared, we cannot overcome 

this problem without legislative 

support. 

''I am also happy to inform you 

that in the recently conducted 

ministerial retreat, which was 

organized by the office of the 

SGF on behalf of the president, 

the Senate President and 

speaker of the House who were 

there, I highlighted briefly some 

of the problems confronting us, 


and they have all agreed to help 

us.'' 

Earlier in his remarks, 

Chairman of the House 

Committee on National Security 

and Intelligence, Sha'aban 

Ibrahim Sharada, charged the 

NSA and all security agencies to 

ensure the country is secure 

during and after the 2023 

elections. 

He also said that the total 

budget of the intelligence 

community was slightly reduced 

from N212.76 billion in 2022 to 

N195.02 billion in 2023. 

“Despite the fact that this 

committee had appealed to the 

Ministry of Finance, Budget and 

National Planning to consider 

the removal of the agencies 

under the intelligence 

community from the envelope 

budgeting system to strengthen 

their operational capacity which 

could only be guaranteed 

through adequate funding, this 

committee would require the 

agencies to make a presentation 

of the 2023 estimates for further 

legislative action. 

“This methodology will also 

require analytical presentation of 

the status of implementation of 

the previous budget to justify the 

sustenance of the coming 

allocation which, in reality, does 

not call for any significant 

modification. 

By Johnbosco 

Agbakwuru 

ABUJA—CHAIRMAN of the 

Economic and Financial 

Crimes Commission, EFCC, 

Abdulrasheed Bawa, said 

yesterday that the number of 

governors being monitored by 

the commission for alleged 

money laundering suspicion has 

increased beyond the three 

earlier mentioned. 

Bawa disclosed this to State 

House correspondents at the 

Presidential Villa, Abuja, after 

meeting with President 

Muhammadu Buhari. 

He said for security reasons, he 

would not disclose the number and 

particulars of the governors, adding 

also that he would not want to be 

misrepresented. 

Recall that the EFCC boss had, 

about two weeks ago, hinted of the 

''In this regard, it is deserving 

of appreciating the Federal 

Government, through its 

numerous security and 

intelligence agencies, in 

response to serious national 

security challenges such as 

kidnappings, banditry, terrorism, 

secession and border crimes. 

''We are calling on you to put 

more efforts at ensuring a secured 

Nigeria, especially before, during 

and after the forthcoming 

elections. 

“The role of the government 

in ensuring the corporate unity 

of Nigeria and sustainable 

internal security, especially in 

recent times, cannot be over 

emphasized. And in the same 

vein, I have considered it most 

expedient to appreciate, in a 

large magnitude, the 

cooperation enjoyed by the 

committee from the National 

Security Adviser, Major General 

Babagana Monguno, retd., who 

is also the coordinator of the 

Intelligence community; the DG 

NIA, Ahmed Rufai; DG DSS, 

Magaji Bichi; AVM Abdullahi, 

Commandant, Presidential Air 

Fleet; Mr Adeleke, 

Commandant, Institute for 

Security Studies, and other 

heads of security agencies in the 

last three and half years. 

“It is hoped that the 

relationship would be deepened 

to achieve the objectives of 

national security reforms as the 

9th House of Representatives is 

approaching the end of its 

tenure," he said. 

Naira redesign: More govs now under EFCC watch —Bawa 

•Advises politicians to focus on issues; avoid illicit funds for campaigns 

commission's surveillance 

operations around three governors, 

whom he alleged were being 

watched over moves on money 

laundering, in the wake of the federal 

government’s plan to redesign and 

replace the naira. 

The anti-corruption Tzar also 

praised the new naira redesigning 

project, describing it as a significant 

process in the country’s fight against 

financial crimes and other forms of 

corruption. 

He said the huge amount of the 

country’s currency that had left the 

hold of Central Bank of Nigeria, 

CBN, made trailing financial crimes 

difficult, noting that the naira 

redesigning policy was an 

opportunity for the government to 

regain control over flow of cash in 

the country. 

He also reiterated that the new 

policy by the CBN, which had the 

blessing of President Buhari, would 

2023: Drug abuse may limit 

impact of youths —Marwa 

By Dickson 

Omobola 

LAGOS—CHAIRMAN of the 

National Drug Law 

Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, Brig. 

Gen. Mohammed Buba Marwa, 

retd, has said Nigerian youths might 

not make the impact people 

envisaged in the 2023 general 

elections on account of drug abuse. 

Marwa, who spoke in Lagos, at 

the 10th Anniversary Lecture and 

Investiture into the Realnews Hall 

of Fame, themed: "Drug Abuse 

among Youths in Africa: Implication 

for Nigerian Economy and 2023 

election," said with the upsurge of 

drug usage among youths, they 

might not be actively involved in 

the voting process. 

He said: "Nigerians are not 

ignorant about drug trafficking and 

drug abuse issues. The activities of 

the National Drug Law 

Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, in 

the past 22 months have given our 

society a clear picture, certainty and 

the severity of the drug problem in 

the country. 

"The arrest of 19, 341 drug 

offenders and subsequent 

conviction of 3, 111 in addition to 

the seizure of 5.5 million kilograms 

of assorted drugs in 22 months are 

incontrovertible facts of a deeply 

entrenched illicit drug subculture. 

Previously, many Nigerians found 

Credible polls: Obi-Datti charges 

Buhari, INEC to ‘walk the talk’ 

By John Alechenu 

ABUJA—THE 

Obi-Datti 

Media Office has urged 

President Muhammadu Buhari 

and the Chairman, Independent 

National Electoral Commission, 

Prof. Mahmoud Yakubu, to back 

with action their promises of free, 

fair and credible elections in 2023. 

The Media Office, which made 

the appeal in a statement in Abuja 

yesterday, described the assurances 

given by both men in separate 

engagements about their 

commitment to free, fair and credible 

polls as refreshing and encouraging 

for the growth of democracy in 

Nigeria. 

The statement read: “President 

Buhari on a courtesy call at the 

palace of the Gbong Gwom of Jos, 

Da Jacob Gyang Buba last Tuesday 

said, ‘No election winner will be 

denied his mandate, irrespective of 

the party to which they belonged. 

“In an open letter to Nigerians to 

mark 100 days to the Presidential 

election on February 25 2023, 

INEC boss, Prof Yakubu said on 

Thursday, “Once again, another 

General Election is upon us, the 

7th since the restoration of 

help to strengthen the naira, which 

would in turn impact positively on 

the economy, especially on foreign 

exchange. 

Bawa appealed to politicians to 

go about their campaigns without 

using illegitimate funds in their 

campaign finances. 

Asked if it was true that he was 

using the ''EagleEye'' to monitor 

governors wanting to use stashed 

funds to pay salaries, he said: “You 

are mixing two things. EagleEye 

is an app. It's a novel idea of the 

EFCC that we launched for the 

ease of reporting crime to us. 

"Nigerians can easily download 

it on their phones, either Android 

or Apple or whatever. And then of 

course, they can send in complaints 

to us through The EagleEye, you 

can even take pictures and send. 

“Let me use this opportunity to 

remind Nigerians that EagleEye is 

very important for those that are 

it hard to believe that illicit drugs 

such as cocaine and heroin are 

trafficked in and out of the country. 

But NDLEA has made huge 

seizures and there is no basis for 

scepticism anymore. 

"If anything, NDLEA activities 

since January 2021 have further 

reinforced the facts of Nigeria being 

an important hub in the global illicit 

drug network, and secondly, that 

our country is not only a transit 

pipeline but also a market. 

"Similarly, Nigerians cannot 

pretend now not to know that our 

young people are abusing illicit 

drugs because youths have an 

overt drug lifestyle. Youths of today 

promote the drug subculture. It is 

common nowadays to hear them 

say they want to be high. It is there 

on the street, in songs, in the chat 

rooms, in clubs and parties.” 

He said ‘it is disturbing that 

abusing marijuana and alcohol is 

the new normal for youths, 

especially the Gen Z and even the 

Millenials,” noting that "drugs and 

violence go hand in hand. We can 

recall the social upheaval caused 

in South-East states in the last 

quarter of 2021, when there was an 

outbreak of abuse of 

methamphetamine. That episode 

gave us a foresight of the kind of 

instability that could result from 

abuse of illicit drugs by young 

people. 

democracy in Nigeria in 1999. Over 

the last 23 years, we have made a 

steady progress in the twin areas of 

electoral reform and election 

administration. 

“Although a lot of work still lies 

ahead, it is generally acknowledged 

that our elections are getting better 

and citizens’ confidence in the 

process is increasing. 

“As I have said repeatedly, the 

Commission’s allegiance is to 

Nigeria. Our loyalty is to Nigerians 

who want free, fair, credible and 

verifiable elections supported by 

technology, which guarantees 

transparent accreditation and 

upload of polling unit results for 

citizens to view in real-time on 

election day. 

“It is for these reasons that the 

Bimodal Voter Accreditation 

System, BVAS, and the INEC 

Result Viewing Portal, IreV, were 

introduced. There is no going back 

on the deployment of BVAS and 

IReV for the 2023 General Election.“ 

The Obi-Datti Media Office said 

it noted these assurances coming 

from the two most critical characters 

whose sincere guarantees and 

commitment will ensure for free, fair 

and credible elections in 2023. 

reporting the hoarders of these 

currencies that we know are out 

there. So that is one. 

"On the issue of the governors 

we are monitoring, in fact, the 

numbers have even increased. We 

are monitoring everything.” 

Bawa also lauded the proposal 

to redesign the naira, calling it a 

crucial step in the nation's fight 

against financial crime and other 

types of corruption. 

He said: “For politicians, the 

message is very clear. Of course, 

you know they should sell 

themselves, they should talk about 

issues. We want to hear about how 

they are going to solve problems, 

not what the problems are, I think 

it is very important and I think they 

are doing that. 

"Of course, we encourage that 

they shouldn't use illegitimate 

funds in their campaign finances 

and all of that.”


MEETING: 

Senegalese President, 

Macky Sall (left), 

during a closed door 

meeting with All 

Africa Music Awards, 

AFRIMA's President/ 

Executive Producer, 

Mike Dada, in his 

official residence, in 

Dakar, where he 

pledged support for 

the hosting of the 

awards, 'Teranga 

Edition', scheduled to 

hold in Dakar, 

Senegal. 


2023: Govs to blame for violence —IGP 

By Kingsley 

Omonobi & Festus 

Osahon 

THE INSPECTOR General of 

Police, Usman Alkali Baba, has 

said some state governors manifest 

traits of political intolerance which 

contributes to violence in the 

country's electoral process. 

Speaking yesterday at a meeting 

with political parties and other 

stakeholders in preparation for the 

2023 general elections at Force 

headquarters, the IGP said: "We 

have been receiving reports of 

some state governors who 

encourage political thugs and subnational 

security outfits under their 

control to disrupt seamless and 

statutorily guaranteed campaign 

activities of parties or candidates 

with whom they hold opposing 

political views. 

"In so doing, they deploy their 

powers and influences to either 

prevent the mounting of campaign 

bill boards or pull them down, while 

also denying political opponents 

of spaces to undertake their 

campaigns or peaceful political 

congregations in contravention of 

the provisions of the Electoral Act 

2022 (As amended). 

"Most of the recorded violent 

incidents or threats often result 

from political extremism, 

misinformation, intolerance, wrong 

political orientation, hate 

speeches, incitement, and, most 

importantly, the desperation of 

strategic actors within the political 

field who often place their parochial 

political ambitions over and above 

national security interests and our 

nation’s stable democratic order." 

To checkmate this resort to 

violence, the IGP said: "INEC 

should take decisive actions 

against candidates and parties that 

violate the Electoral Act in the 

areas of conduct of political parties, 

candidates, and other actors in 

relation to hate speeches; 

campaign funding regulations; 

encouraging, supporting, or 

inciting violence; and depriving 

political opponents of basic 

electoral rights guaranteed under 

the Act". 

On how the Nigerian Police 


•Asks INEC to take decisive actions against candidates, parties violating Electoral Act 

•Says joint Police, Army, DSS, NSCDC, Fire Service personnel to secure INEC offices 

•Beyond mouthing it, IGP should take it a step further —Gov Okowa 

Force and other security agencies 

planned to tackle electoral violence, 

IGP Alkali said: "We have resolved 

to enhance intelligence gathering, 

sharing and utilization of same to 

stem acts of political violence; 

upscale the deployment of security 

teams to all INEC assets and 

facilities nationwide, with teams 

drawn from the Police, Nigeria 

Army, Department of State 

Services (DSS), Nigeria Civil and 

Security Defence Corps, NSCDC, 

and the Federal Fire Service. 

"Take decisive, lawful action 

against purveyors of hate speech, 

incitement to violence, 

mobilisation of thugs and other 

violations, including the prompt 

arrest, investigation, and 

prosecution of offenders, in line 

with the provisions of Sections 92 

and 93 of the Electoral Act 2022 as 

amended. Those already arrested 

will face prosecution.'' 

Continuing, the IGP said: "This 

meeting with the leadership of the 

18 registered political parties in the 

country became expedient, 

following a noticeable trend within 

the national political space which, 

if not promptly addressed, could 

evolve into a potent threat to not 

just our national security but the 

electoral process. 

"Drawing from the experiences 

of the past, electoral violence, both 

in the process leading to an election 

as well as the fall out of elections, 

has always constituted the most 

dangerous threat to our 

democracy. Political violence 

manifest in three forms. 

"First is violence that is targeted 

at the personnel and assets of the 

Independent National Electoral 

Commission, INEC, as recently 

witnessed in Ogun and Osun 

states. 

The second form of political 

violence manifests in the form of 

inter-party intolerance and 

violence which often become 

particularly pronounced during 

campaigns, elections, and postelections 

phases. 

"It is on record that not less than 

52 cases of such politicallymotivated, 

intra, and inter-party 

violence have been recorded 

across 22 states since the official 

commencement of campaigns for 

the 2023 general elections on 

September 28, 2022. 

"The last form of political violence 

relates to the conduct of some state 

governors who manifest traits of 

political intolerance which often 

inflame political tension.'' 

But Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of 

Delta State, who spoke through 

his Commissioner for Information, 

Mr Charles Aniagwu, agreed with 

the IGP. 

He said: "We must say that we 

are disturbed about certain vibes 

coming from a number of states. 

Why are we disturbed? Is because 

a number if individuals are trying 

to hide under certain guise to 

strangulate the democratic space. 

''Where you go and make certain 

laws to contract that freedom at a 

time like this that Nigerians need 

that freedom, the freedom that we 

need is much more important to 

us than any other time. 

"So when you see states 

bringing in certain vibes to either 

make it difficult for people to be 

able to reach out to the electorate 

or make it difficult for people to visit 

their state and campaign, that 

cannot be in line with the principles 

of democracy. 

"You saw what happened to PDP 

when we traveled to Kaduna, 

individuals came to the arena and 

started unleashing some form of 

terror to those who have come to 

listen to their preferred presidential 

candidate, they were chasing them 

away because they are afraid of 

the number of crowds that have 

come. 

"In Kaduna you saw the number 

of individuals that were injured and 

vehicles destroyed. It is better we 

allow people no matter who they 

are to come campaign and go, then 

you can come and talk your own. 

It's talk your own, I talk my own. 

"So the IG needs to take it a step 

further beyond mouthing it, 

although we must commend him 

for what he did in Borno, when, of 

course, he tactically disagreed with 

the Borno State command, that 

not even investigated what 

happened and came out with a 

verdict that nothing happened, 

even when the cameras have 

shown the number of vehicles 

destroyed. 

"We trust that this IG will be in a 

position to do the right thing. Don't 

forget that he was here as a 

commissioner and while he was 

here, he also showed a lot of 

integrity.'' 

By Omeiza Ajayi 

ABUJA—LEADER of the 

National Coalition Front 

NCFront and convener of the Big 

Tent coalition of Political Parties, 

Social Movements and Civil 

Society organizations, Professor 

Pat Utomi, has protested against 

what he described as the nondistribution 

of Permanent Voter 

Cards PVCs in the coffers of the 


Commission INEC, alleging that 

at least 9.3 million such cards were 

lying idle in the commission's offices. 

Utomi, who disclosed this when 

he, alongside the chief spokesman 

of the Peter Obi/Datti Ahmed 

(Labour Party) Presidential 

Campaign Council, Dr Tanko 

Yusuf, and Dr Austin Kemie, led 

an advocacy walk to INEC 

Headquarters under the aegis of 

the "Big Tent" yesterday, urged 

INEC to decentralize the process 

of PVC collection and if possible, 

take the cards to the doorsteps of 

Nigerians. 

Most PVCs ready for 

collection 

Vanguard Media Christian 

Fellowship holds end of the 

year thanksgiving 

THE VANGUARD Media 

Christian Fellowship will 

hold its 2022 end of the year 

thanksgiving service on 

November 30, 2022 at the 

Corporate headquarters of 

Vanguard Media Limited, Apapa, 

Oshodi Expressway, Opposite 

Berger Yard bus Stop Mile 2, 

Lagos. 

According to the co-ordinator 

of the fellowship, Pastor 

Emmanuel Orisi Emmanuel, the 

theme of this year's programme 

is “Every Yoke Must be 

Destroyed”, inspired by the book 

2023: US govt threatens visa 

ban on election riggers, 

backs adoption of BVAS 

By Luminous 

Jannamike 

ABUJA—THE United States 

government has threatened 

to sanction anyone who 

interferes with the democratic 

process or instigates violence in 

the 2023 general elections. 

The US also said it would not 

shy away from applying 

sanctions, including visa 

restrictions, on those found 

culpable of election rigging. 

Political Counselor at the U.S. 

Embassy in Nigeria, Rolf Olson, 

gave the warning at the Hubert 

Humphrey Fellowship Alumni 

Association Annual Seminar 

2022 on "Promoting Electoral 

Integrity in Nigeria: Prospects 

and Challenges" yesterday in 

Abuja. 

It also threw its weight behind 

the decision of Independent 

National Electoral Commission, 

INEC, to deploy the Bimodal 

Voter Accreditation System, 

BVAS, and electronic 

transmission of results for the poll. 

Noting that the BVAS and the 

electronic transmission of vote 

results sheets are to ensure the 

integrity of the elections, Olson 

maintained that the US had no 

candidate in the elections. 

Recall that the US government 

had imposed visa restrictions on 

some individuals for their actions 

during the November 2019 Kogi 

and Bayelsa state elections and 

in the run-up to the September 

and October 2020 Edo and Ondo 

state elections. 

Although the US did not 

reveal the identities of those 

banned, it said the decision 

reflected its commitment to 

strengthening democracy in 

Nigeria. 

On the 2023 elections, Olson 

said: "It never ceases to amaze 

me how often we see comments, 

claims, and assertions from 

people in social and traditional 

media about what our supposed 

objectives are in the elections, 

which candidate or party we 

favour, how to interpret certain 

statements or actions of ours in 

terms of what it means about our 

intentions are perceptions. 

"In reality, I think it's quite 

simple to interpret us, especially 

when it comes to the elections. 

We always try to be clear in our 

messages, so let me be clear here 

on several important points: 

"The United States does not 

support any individual candidate 

or party in this election cycle (or 

for that matter, in any other 

upcoming election). Our 

interest is in supporting credible 

and transparent elections that 

reflect the will of Nigerian voters, 

in a process that is conducted 

peacefully, full stop." 

2023: Utomi challenges INEC to 

distribute 9.3m PVCs in its coffers 

•Says registered voters shouldn't need cards to vote 

•Come for your cards, we can't distribute them, says INEC 

of Isiah 10.27. Emmanuel also 

informed that Pastor M.O. Oke 

National Evangelist of The 

Apostolic Church Nigeria, will 

be guest preacher during the 

occasion. 

He said the programme will 

start by 1.00 pm and also 

enjoined all staff of Vanguard and 

the general public to join voices 

with the fellowship to thank God 

Almighty and also ask for divine 

Visitation for a tremendous 

turnaround for the best, not only 

in Vanguard but also in Nigeria at 

large. 

In a swift reaction, INEC disclosed 

that most of the PVCs were ready 

for collection, adding that the 

number of Nigerians who had 

collected their cards were more than 

those yet to do so. 

Chief Press Secretary CPS to the 

INEC Chairman, Mr Rotimi 

Oyekanmi, told Vanguard that it is 

the duty of registered voters to 

collect their cards in persons and 

not by proxies. 

He said: "The Independent 

National Electoral Commission has 

offices in all the states of the 

federation and the 774 local 

government areas to make the 

Permanent Voter’s Card, PVC, 

available for collection. 

"Every registered voter has an 

obligation to collect his or her 

Permanent Voter’s Card in person. 

The PVC cannot be collected by 

proxy and there is a reason for that. 

"From our experience, more 

Nigerians have collected their PVCs 

than those that haven’t. For 

instance, as at January 2019, out of 

the 84,004,084 registered voters, 

72,775,502 or 86.63% had collected 

their PVCs. 

"Already, Nigerians have been 

collecting their PVCs. The only 

units that are not yet available for 

collection, but which will be made 

available soon are the ones 

belonging to voters that registered 

between January and July this year, 

as well as those who applied for 

transfer or replacement within the 

same period. 

"The commission has made 

adequate arrangements to make 

the PVCs available for collection 

before the 2023 general election". 

No need for PVCs 

But Utomi queried the necessity 

of even having the PVC as a 

requirement for voting, saying with 

biometrics authentication of a 

potential voter, there was no need 

to have a physical card. 

He said: "It is the duty of INEC 

to do everything possible to 

decentralize and take down to the 

people, their PVCs, to make sure 

that everybody who was registered 

gets his or her PVC. 

"We even know that the process 

is biometric. So, it should not even 

matter if they don't have it 

(PVCs). Once their faces and 

fingerprints are recognized, they 

should be able to vote. It is not 

acceptable for Nigerians to be 

disenfranchised. 

"We know that about 9.3 million 

voter cards are yet to be collected 

and are sitting idle in INEC 

offices. We want an explanation. 

If INEC needs help, we are ready 

to volunteer so that these cards 

can get to their rightful owners. 

"We also want to discourage 

persons from further vandalizing 

INEC offices and burning PVCs 

which is capable of 

disenfranchising Nigerians. 

There is urgent need for the 

dissemination of information 

regarding the PVCs", he added. 

Utomi urged INEC to make 

extra efforts towards the 

distribution of PVCs to Nigerians, 

especially persons with 

disabilities. 

Tanko on his part, urged all 

"Obidients", that is supporters of 

Mr Peter Obi, to ensure they 

replicated the advocacy walk 

across the states and wards in order 

to collect their PVCs. 

We can't distribute 

PVCs 

Receiving the petition on 

behalf of INEC, an Assistant 

Director at the headquarters, 

Kelechi Maduneme, said the 

commission does not have the 

capacity to distribute PVCs, 

stating that Nigerians had to go 

to their respective INEC local 

government offices across the 

country to collect the cards. 

He said: "I have collected the 

letter on behalf of my director 

and it will be delivered to the 

Honourable Chairman.

VANGUARD, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2022 — 9 

How I escaped from 

ritualists in Lagos 

—Survivor 

Social Media Conversation 

•Details of how conductor sprayed perfume in the bus and passengers 

dozed off •Another abducted teenager rescued by police 

By Efe Onodjae 

A 

50-year-old man, 

Gbenga Maxwell Ajayi, 

who was abducted on his way 

to Murtala Muhammed 

International Airport, Lagos 

State, on a day he was billed 

to travel to London has 

regained his freedom. 

The father of four was 

abducted last Friday inside a 

commercial vehicle from 

Ijaye area of Lagos to Oshodi 

where he planned to take 

another vehicle to Murtala 

Muhammed airport and 

catch his 1.40 pm flight to 

London. While inside the 

yellow color bus, he noticed 

that the driver was spraying 

perfume. He felt the spray was 

to reduce odour and he hastily 

alerted his travelling agent 

and waited for result. 

Unfortunately, that was the 

last time both his agent, 

members of his family and 

friends heard from him. 

While efforts were being 

made to trace his whereabout, 

calls were made to 

a contact 

waiting for 

his arrival 

in far 

away 

London 

airport 

but 

h e 

said 

his 

pasenger 

was 

yet to 

arrive. 

A s 

shock 

Second 

waves 

gripped his 

relations, his 

frenetic wife 

quickly rushed to 

Ijaiye police station to 

lodge a report on Saturday 

night and after making 

statement, the police advised 

her to go and come back on 

Monday. 

Meanwhile, members of his 

family spread their dragnet 

and were frantically making 

calls to everybody they know 

while at the same time 

combing the nooks and 

crannies of Oshodi and 

environs with a view to either 

locating his dead body or 

getting clues as to his 

whereabout. 

Shockingly, the family 

succeeded in receiving good 

news on Sunday afternoon 

after one of their relations 

victim, 

Emmanuel Timilehin. 

living in Ajah, Lagos called to 

announce that he had 

resurfaced after escaping 

from his abductors that 

wanted to use him for ritual 

purposes at Epe, a suburb of 

Lagos. 

The victim narrated his 

heartrending experience and 

how he regiand freedom to 

Vanguard. 

According to him, I 

regained freedom after my 

abductors noticed that I could 

not be useful for ritual 

purpose. 

Narrating his ordeal to 

Vanguard at his Ijaiye 

residence, Lagos, Gbenga said 

he boarded a commercial 

vehicle whose occupants 

dozed off having inhaled 

perfume sprayed by the driver 

in the bus. The victim who 

was seen with bruises on his 

leg during Vanguard's visit to 

his residence said, "I can't give 

details of what transpired 

while in the bus but what I 

noticed was that the driver 

was spraying perfume 

immediately the last person 

entered the bus and 

closed the door 

which resulted in 

us dozing off. 

"I initially 

sent a 

message to 

my travel 

agent 

that I 

wanted 

to order 

for a 

Bolt 

taxi 

b u t 

later, I 

discharged 

t h e 

rider 

when he 

delayed 

in coming 

as a result 

of traffic 

gridlock. 

I, thereafter, 

joined a public 

transport 

heading for 

O s h o d i . 

Unfortunately, we all dozed 

off after inhaling the perfume. 

"When I woke up, I saw 

myself and other passengers 

in an apartment but we all 

looked dizzy with white stain 

on our bodies. I heard an old 

man giving order for my 

release saying that I cannot 

be used for ritual purposes. 

Immediately, the charms 

placed on my head were 

removed, my eyes tied and 

was driven to an area, very 

close to a construction site 

which was later identified as 

Epe by a woman. I saw a 

woman who told me that I am 

at Epe. I explained my ordeal 

to the woman; she urinated 

on my head and immediately 

I regained consciousness. She 

sympathized with me, and 

gave me N500 and left. I then 

asked for direction from some 

headsmen who directed me on 

how to locate my way to Ajah. 

I joined lorry vehicle and they 

dropped me at Awoyaya and 

I gave them N500 and 

trekked down to Ajah where I 

located my brother's house in 

My lord, this is 

totally strange 

to me because 

this is a person 

that has never 

hidden his 

intention to 

always be in 

court. In fact, 

even in 

processes we 

filed at both 

the Court of 

Appeal and the 

Supreme 

Court, the 

defendant said 

he would want 

to be present 

in court for 

hearing of all 

the matters 

•Victim, Gbenga Ajayi. 

Ajah and narrated my story to 

him." 

The victim's brother Seyi 

Ajayi said Gbenga told them 

that all the passengers were 

already clothed in black 

clothes. Then a man placed a 

calabash on their heads one 

after the other saying that if 

the charm worked on that 

person, he or she would be 

taken away. According to him, 

my brother was in a very bad 

shape physically while 

narrating his ordeal to me 

and after that, I quickly made 

calls to all our people 

announcing the good news. 

"For now, we have placed him 

on intensive treatment and we 

hope he will regain himself 

fully soon." 

Meanwhile, another 

teenager identified as 

Emmanuel Timilehin has 

been rescued by the police 

after he was abandoned by his 

abductors at Jakande in 

Ikotun area of Lagos state. 

Though the circumstances 

surrounding his abduction is 

not clear, Lagos state police 

spokesman, Benjamin 

Hundeyin said in his verified 

tweeter handle that he is under 

treatment and is still 

incoherent. "From the little he 

could mutter, he was 

abducted in Jakande, Ikotun 

area on Sunday, November 

13, 2022. He has been giving 

different names and 

addresses of his parents and 

any information that will 

assist in locating his parents 

would be appreciated," he 

stated. 

You reap what you sow! 

...And continue in the ‘world beyond'! 

Gay? They incur God's wrath! 

•Victim, G



UTM Offshore, JGC, Technip 

Energies Sign agreements on 

Nigeria’s FLNG 

NIGERIA’S QUEST for energy 

transition received a huge 

boost on Wednesday as an 

indigenous firm, UTM Offshore 

Limited, signed agreements with 

three technical partners, Kellogg 

Brown and Root, KBR, UK; Japan 

Gas Corporation, JGC, and 

Technip Energies Limited, for the 

commencement of the Front End 

Engineering Design, FEED, for 

Nigeria’s first Floating Liquefied 

Natural Gas, FLNG, facility. The 

agreements were signed at a brief 

but colorful event at the Hilton 

Park Lane, London, UK. 

The Front End Engineering 

Design, FEED, contract with the 

three firms essentially entails 

conducting for UTM Offshore 

Limited, various studies to figure 

out technical issues and estimate 

rough investment costs for the 

FLNG facility prior to the 

Engineering, Procurement, and 

Construction, EPC, phase of the 

project. The timeline for this phase 

of the FLNG project is 10 

months. 

The FEED contract signing 

is a follow-up to the successful 

execution of the pre-FEED 

agreement between UTM 

Offshore Limited with JGC, a 

leading 

Engineering 

International 

Design, 

Tribunal didn't order INEC to 

produce Adeleke's certificate 

—PDP 

By Shina Abubakar 

OSOGBO—THE Peoples 

Democratic Party, PDP, in 

Osun State, has described as 

untrue, media reports that the 

ongoing election petition 

tribunal ordered the 


Commission, INEC, to produce 

the certificate of the governorelect, 

Senator Ademola Adeleke. 

The party in a statement by its 

Chairman, Dr. Adekunle 

Akindele, said the All 

Progressives Congress, APC, and 

Governor AdegboyegaOyetola 

merely sought to subpoena the 

Resident 

Electoral 

Commissioner, REC, in the state. 

The party said: "As at 

Wednesday, the last sitting of the 

Tribunal, there was no order of 

the Tribunal compelling INEC or 

the governor-elect, Senator 

Ademola Adeleke to produce any 

document or certificate as it was 

obvious that the APC were not 

serious with their case. At any 

rate, all the documents of 

Senator Adeleke are in the public 

domain and verifiable. 

"Secondly, the documents he 

submitted to INEC in 2018 was 

what the APC used to persecute 

him and sponsored malicious 

cases against him, in respect of 

which he had been vindicated 

up to the Supreme Court. We 

want to assure members of the 

Procurement, and Construction 

firm. The Pre-FEED scope was 

completed within four months 

from the commencement date. 

KBR provided due diligence on 

the JGC scope by conducting a 

third-party review of all 

deliverables from JGC during the 

Pre-FEED phase. UTM 

Offshore Limited entered into 

the pre-FEED agreement with 

JGC and KBR in May 2021. 

At the signing ceremony, the 

Managing Director and Chief 

Executive Officer of UTM 

Offshore Limited, Mr. Julius 

Rone, underscored the fact that 

like most other nations of the 

world, Nigeria is keen on, and 

working assiduously towards 

achieving energy transition. 

He said Nigeria’s energy 

transition necessarily should 

start with moving from huge 

dependence on crude oil to gas. 

“Like I have said in several fora, 

for us in Africa, especially Nigeria, 

energy transition is steeped in 

harnessing our abundant gas 

resources,” he said, adding, “At 

UTM Offshore, we completely 

agree with President 

Muhammadu Buhari that given 

Nigeria’s potential of about 600 

trillion cubic feet of gas, the 

commodity has the enormous 

potential to diversify our 

country’s economy.” 

public that the APC and Oyetola 

are trying to fetch water from a 

dry well by their petition at the 

tribunal, which is a mirage. 

"At the beginning of the 

election petition tribunal 

particularly at the pre- hearing 

session stage, it was 

unanimously agreed by counsel 

to the petitioner and respondents 

that all documents shall be 

tendered and admitted during 

trial, while objections to their 

admissibility will be taken at the 

final address stage. This formed 

part of the pre-hearing report of 

the tribunal. It is also part of the 

pre-hearing report that 24 hours 

before any hearing date, the party 

conducting hearing and calling 

witnesses shall file and serve a 

schedule to that effect. 

"May we inform members of the 

public that since the beginning 

of hearing at the tribunal, the 

APC and Oyetolalawyers have 

been helplessly wandering and 

dancing around their petition. No 

single witness has ever been 

called. The public can do a fact 

check on this at the tribunal as 

they would discover that the 

petitioners have been indolent 

and unserious with their case. 

"We, hereby, appeal to members 

of the public to disregard the lies 

and propaganda of the APC as 

the last kick of a dying horse. Let 

them not distract us from the 

swearing-in preparations as their 

petition is dead on arrival." 

Wake Up The Giant enters 

final stage 

By ‘Niyi Okiri 

ACADEMIC REALITY show, 

Wake Up The Giant, has 

entered its final stage, with about 

26 schools from the six South-West 

states of Lagos, Ekiti, Oyo, Osun, 

Ondo and Ogun participating in 

Lagos. 

The show, sponsored by Sastoma 

Empowerment Foundation, 

STEFO, and Sifax Group, is aimed 

at promoting value for education 

among young people in Africa, as 

well as curbing violence and exam 

malpractices among youths. 

Speaking during the opening 

ceremony of the grand finale of the 

event, in Lagos, organiser of the 

event, Dr. Stella Ebuete, said: "It 

has been an intense eight months 

of preparation across the six states 

of the South-West, but finally, to the 

glory of God, history is made in the 

South-West region of Nigeria. We 

are setting the pace for academic 

reality show in Nigeria and Africa. 

"The idea is to draw government 

attention to the dearth of English 

and Literature in Nigerian schools, 

awaken reading culture among 

youths in order to curb the trend of 

cheating to pass examinations, 

which has become the order of the 

day." 


SIGNING—From left (front row): COO, Technip Energies Ltd., Marco Villa; MD, UTM 

Offshore Ltd., Julius Rone; President, JGC, Tadashi Ishizuka, and Vice President 

(Operations), KBR, Paul Baillie. From left (standing): Mrs. Utibe Rone; Executive Secretary, 

NCDMB, Simbi Wabote; Minister of Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva; President, 

Afreximbank, Prof. Benedict Oramah; Nigeria’s High Commissioner to the UK, Ambassador 

Sarafa Ishola; CEO, Nigeria Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, 

Farouk Ahmed, and CEO, Nigeria Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, Gbenga 

Komolafe, during the signing of the Front End Engineering Design, FEED, Agreement for 

Nigeria’s first FLNG, in London. 

2023 polls: We're ready to defeat 

Tinubu in Lagos —PDP 

By Dapo Akinrefon 

& Efe Onadjae 

THE 

PEOPLE'S 

Democratic Party, PDP, in 

Lagos State, yesterday, expressed 

optimism that it would defeat the 

All Progressives Congress, APC, 

in the 2023 general elections, 

adding that it is ready to take over 

the state from the bondage of soleproprietor. 

Leaders of the party said this 

during a walk, tagged UMBRELLA 

DAY in preparation for 2023 

elections held from Fadeyi bustop 

to Maryland area of the state. 

The party leaders said they are 

ready to deliver Lagos State to it's 

presidential candidate, Alhaji 

Atiku Abubakar. 

The walk which took place on 

the stretch of Ikorodu Road, 

traversing five local government 

areas had the PDP members and 

leaders, including its governorship 

candidate, Dr. Abdul-Azeez 

Adediran popularly known as 

Jandor, his running mate, Funke 

Akindele, a BoT member of the 

party, Mrs. Aduke Marina, Dr 

Bimbo Ogunkelu, former state 

chairman, Capt Tunji Shelle (retd), 

Philip Aivoje, Mr. Deji Doherty 

and Tolagbe Animashaun holding 

umbrella as symbol of their party. 

A former spokesperson of the 

party, Mr. Taofik Gani, said: "It is 

time to cause the upset to defeat 

TInubu in Lagos. Incidentally, 

himself is contesting the 

presidency, so it makes us 

speculatively proud of winning him 

as a direct participant." 

The walk was led by Mr. Adedeji 

Doherty, Chairman of Atiku/ 

Okowa Presidential Campaign 

Council, PCC, and other party 

chieftains in the state. 

Addressing the crowd at 

Maryland, Doherty said, the 

umbrella walk was a symbol of 

unity and was meant to 

demonstrate to the electorate that 

the party is fully ready and united 

to give hope to Nigerians if elected. 

He said: "The umbrella is a 

symbol of unity to bring everybody 

together and every ethnic group 

in solidarity for Atiku/Okowa. It is 

to show the unity that we have in 

Lagos State and in Nigeria. 

"It is also to tell the ruling party 

today that PDP is going to unite 

this country immediately we enter 

government in 2023. 

"Our principal, Atiku Abubakar 

has promised to form a 

government of national unity once 

he is elected. Mr Peter Obi (of 

Labour Party), Sen. Rabiu 

Kwankwaso (of New Nigerian 

By James 

Ogunnaike 

A 

B E O K U T A — 

GOVERNOR Dapo 

Abiodun of Ogun State, yesterday, 

presented a budget proposal of 

N472,250,694,447.58billion, 

consisting of N270.41billion for 

capital projects, which takes the 

lion share of the budget, while 

N201.84billion will go to recurrent 

expenditure before the state 

House of Assembly for the 2023 

fiscal year for consideration and 

approval. 

The budget christened, "Budget 

of Continued Development and 

Prosperity" consisted of 

N79.47billion for personnel costs, 

N21.12billion for Social 

Peoples Party), Sen. Bola Tinubu 

(of APC) and others must work 

with him. 

"He is going to bring everybody 

together. Everybody is going to be 

part of his government. Once there 

is unity among us, then the rest is 

easy. 

"Nigerians have tried PDP and 

tried APC and they can see the 

difference, let them give PDP 

another chance, we will correct our 

mistakes," he said. 

Gov Abiodun presents N472.25bn budget 

proposal to Ogun Assembly 

Contribution and Social Benefits, 

with N39.90billion earmarked for 

public debt charge and 

N61.35billion for overhead cost. 

Abiodun explained that the state 

in the next financial year would 

accord priority to the completion of 

all ongoing projects and those with 

revenue potentials, including the 

projects that could enhance 

employment generation. 

He noted that others to be 

prioritized were projects consistent 

with priorities articulated in the 

State Economic Development 

Plan and Strategy 2021-2025 and 

others that align with the seven 

thematic areas contained in the 

Medium-Term National 

Development Plan 2021-2025. 

According to him, the thematic 

areas include economic growth 

and development, infrastructure, 

public administration (governance, 

security, and international 

relations), human capital 

development, social development, 

regional development, as well as 

plan implementation, 

communication, financing, 

Monitoring and Evaluation. 

Pinting out that the total 

state's funding was estimated at 

N472.25 billion, the governor 

added that a total of 210.25billion, 

comprising of N90billion was 

expected to be generated by the 

state Internal Revenue Service, 

OGIRS, in addition to 

N120.25billion expected from 

other Ministries, Departments 

and Agencies, MDAs, which 

would enable the state achieve 

an IGR to GDP ratio of 3.7 

percent. 

Vanguard set to host 2nd mental health summit 

By Sola Ogundipe 

IN CONTINUATION of its 

public enlightenment and 

education on mental health, and 

mobilisation for a systemic change 

in mental health in Nigeria, 

Vanguard is set to hold the second 

edition of its Mental Health 

Summit series. 

In August 2021, Vanguard 

organised the maiden mental 

health summit that was 

acknowledged to be the first of its 

kind in Nigeria. 

This year, the campaign, which 

is endorsed by the Association of 

Psychiatrists of Nigeria, APN, 

focuses on the impact of the mental 

health crisis on the National 

economy with the theme "Mental 

Health in a Distressed Economy", 

and sub-theme "Drug Abuse: A 

new force driving mental health 

crises in Nigeria". 

The event which is supported 

by 9mobile Nigeria and Guaranty 

Trust Bank Plc., is billed to take 

place at the Eko Hotel & Suites, 

Victoria Island, Lagos, on 

November 24, 2022, and will be 

chaired by the President of the 

World Medical Association, WMA, 

Dr. Osahon Enabulele. 

The Lagos State Commissioner 

for Health, Prof Akin Abayomi is 

the Special Guest of Honour, while 

a Professor of Psychiatry, Professor 

Francis Olatunji Aina of the 

Department of Psychiatry, College 

of Medicine, University of Lagos, 

will present the keynote address. 

Among the host of speakers and 

panelists lined up for the event is 

the Chairman of the National 

Drug Law Enforcement Agency, 

NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohammed 

Buba Marwa (Rtd), who will speak 

on "Growing Problem of Substance 

Abuse: The NDLEA Experience. 

The Director General of the 

National Agency for Food and 

Drug Administration & Control, 

NAFDAC, Professor Mojisola 

Adeyeye, who will deliver a special 

presentation on "The Challenges 

of Tackling Drugs & Substance 

Abuse and Drug Use in Nigeria". 

To shed light on the significance 

of fertility issues among factors that 

contribute to mental health 

challenges, the Clinic Manager of 

Nordica Fertility Centre, Lagos, 

Mrs Tola Ajayi, will speak on 

"Infertility: Coping with 

Depression". 

A former Medical Director of the 

Psychiatric Hospital, Yaba, Dr. 

Yemi Ogun, will speak on "Mental 

Health in Children", while the 

Deputy Director of Medical Social 

Services, Lagos University 

Teaching Hospital, LUTH, Mrs. 

Titilayo Tade, will speak on "Coping 

with the Stigma of Mental 

Disorders, the LUTH Experience". 

The Chief Consultant 

Psychiatrist at the Federal 

Neuropsychiatric Hospital Annex, 

Oshodi, Lagos, Dr. Olufunmilayo 

Akinola, will coordinate the 

panelists' session. 

The Nigeria Medical 

Association, the Pharmaceutical 

Society of Nigeria, the WAITT 

Organisation, and a host of other 

stakeholder will grace the 

occasion. 

To further broaden the scope of 

its mental health campaign, 

Vanguard established the Mental 

Health Chat Room - an interactive 

column where the basics of mental 

health are discussed to promote 

public understand and have a full 

grasp of the rudiments of mental 

health and mental well-being. 

Further details of the Chat Room 

will be unveiled at the event which 

is strictly by invitation.


VISIT: Governor Ifeanyi 

Ugwuanyi of Enugu 

State and candidate of 

the Peoples Democratic 

Party, PDP for Enugu 

North Senatorial 

District (left) being 

honoured by the State 

Chairman, National 

Youth Council and 

Convener of Enugu 

State youths, when 

young persons in the 

state paid a 'Thank-you' 

visit to the governor for 

his administration's 

youth inclusiveness in 

governance, at the 

Government House, 

Enugu, yesterday. 

Soludo, other critics from your state 

are envious, Wike, LP tell Obi 

By Chioma Gabriel, 

Editor, Special 

Features & Dennis 

Agbo 

THE GOVERNOR of Rivers 

State, Nyesom Wike; the 

Labour Party in the southeast; 

and a former Presidential 

aspirant, Charles Udeogaranya 

yesterday, urged the presidential 

candidate of the Labour Party, LP, 

Peter Obi to ignore envious 

critics, especially those from his 

home state of Anambra. 

The Rivers governor said this 

during the inauguration of the 

Nkpolu-Oroworokwo Flyover in 

Port Harcourt, the state capital. 

Obi was a special guest of honour 

at the inauguration which was 

attended by a massive crowd who 

chanted the name of the LP flag 

bearer when he mounted the 

podium to speak. 

“We have worked and you know 

we have worked. One reason I also 

brought you (Obi) is that I know 

you also worked well in Anambra,” 

Wike told Obi. 

“Some people because of the 

level you are now, are envying you 

in your state. They can come out 

and say all kinds of rubbish. Don’t 

worry, that is how it is; it is your 

home person that will kill you first, 

so don’t bother about those things. 

“I have always told people when 

you are given an opportunity, use 

it to showcase what you can do, 

stop criticizing somebody who has 

left, you have been given the 


•Why Northern Nigeria needs Peter Obi as President —Udeogaranya 

Pa Onyedirim 

passes on 

Pa Cyprian Onukwuha 

Onyedirim, from Umudim 

in Isu LGA of Imo state, is dead, 

aged 75 years. 

Funeral arrangement kicked 

off last week with a service of 

songs at Friends of Christ Inter’l 

Churches, Apapa, Lagos, while 

burial service will hold tomorrow 

at his compound, 

Umudim,Umuduru.Eshikodu, 

Amandugha, Isu LGA. 

He is survived by wife, 

children and grandchildren, 

including Samuel Onyedirim, 

popularly called Beesam. 

•Late Onyedirim 

opportunity now show it. I am a 

professor, professor well, I am a 

doctor, doctor well, I am a lawyer, 

lawyer well, I am a mechanic, 

mechanic well,” the governor said. 

Of late, the Governor of Anambra 

State, Chukwuma Soludo and Obi 

have been engaged in altercations 

on the state of Anambra's economy. 

He had said the investments Obi 

left in government are worth close 

to nothing. 

Soludo also said Obi can’t 

win the 2023 presidential election 

as there are “two persons/parties 

seriously contesting for president”. 

However, Obi replied that he did 

his little as governor of Anambra 

and urged Soludo to do his best in 

the state as an economics professor. 

Wike also pledged to provide 

“logistics support” for the campaigns 

of Labour Party, LP, presidential 

candidate, Peter Obi. 

Wike said Obi, the former 

Anambra State governor, has all 

the characteristics to lead Nigeria. 

“Each time you want to campaign 

in the state, let me know, all the 

logistics support, we will give to 

you,” Wike told Obi. 

Obi and his running mate, Datti 

Baba-Ahmed were in the state 

capital to commission the 9th flyover 

by the present administration. They 

were excitedly received by a large 

crowd of their supporters known as 

‘Obidients’. 

For months, Wike and four other 

governors in the Peoples 

Democratic Party (PDP) have 

demanded the resignation of 

Iyorchia Ayu as PDP national 

chairman as a precondition to 

support the party’s presidential 

candidate, Atiku Abubakar. 

While Wike and his allies have 

not been seen to campaign for 

Atiku, it is not clear whether they 

will support Obi or Bola Tinubu of 

the All Progressives Congress, APC, 

in the contest for Aso Rock’s top 

job. 

Wike said though he knew the 

humiliation Obi suffered before he 

left the PDP for the Labour Party, 

he won’t leave the party but chase 

out the “armed robbers”. 

“I know the humiliation you 

suffered. Nobody will hear what you 

passed through and stay at the 

party but I will not leave. I will stay 

and fight. 

“I won’t leave this house. I will 

never allow armed robbers to take 

over this house. I will stay and chase 

away armed robbers. 

“So, thank God because if you 

have not left, you would not have 

realized your ambition to be able to 

save Nigeria,” Wike told Obi. 

Obi left the All Progressive 

Grand Alliance (APGA) in October 

2014 and joined the PDP. He was 

the running mate to the PDP 

presidential candidate, Atiku 

Abubakar in the 2019 general 

elections. 

He, however, dumped the PDP 


in early 2022 and joined the LP 

where he clinched the party’s 2023 

presidential ticket. 

Soludo envious of 

Peter Obi —Labour 

Party 

In its submission, the Labour 

Party, LP, in the southeast said that 

Governor Charles Soludo's tirade 

against its Presidential candidate, 

Mr. Peter Obi was born out of envy. 

National Vice Chairman of the 

party in the zone, Innocent Okeke, 

asserted this in a statement on 

Wednesday. 

Okeke stated that the party is 

disappointed that Soludo, who was 

looked up to as a man of dignity 

and respect, could allow selfish 

interest and hatred to becloud his 

sense of judgment. 

The party urged the governor to 

retrace his steps to avoid a 

somersault from his pinnacle of 

dignity and respect by falling short 

of the expectations of the people 

who looked up to him to be a 

shining example of the new Igbo 

leader. 

He said: "Hate is a wicked state 

of mind that when possessed, can 

becloud one's normal sense of 

reasoning. And this is exactly 

what played out in Prof. Soludo's 

unreasonable outburst on Peter 

Obi's Anambra. 

"Soludo through his hate for 

Peter Obi was quick to forget that 

the investment and the fiscal 

savings came together. The 

incontrovertible fact remains that 

Obi saved for the future of his 

state (Anambra) N75b naira, 

$50m in each of the three existing 

commercial banks of today, and 

3.5b in the International 

Brewery. 

"He handed over this 

investment to a new manager 

(governor), who has never 

denied knowledge of the 

investments. Whether the 

manager (governor) took good 

care of the investment is another 

day's discussion. 

"And the former handed over 

to Soludo, now Soludo casting 

aspersions on Mr. Obi after 9 

years he left office with verifiable 

savings and investment is 

uncalled for and condemnable by 

the entire Igbo race and Nigeria 

at large. 

"The international brewery as 

we know it today employing 

10,000 Anambrarians is not a bad 

investment and the depreciation 

of stocks is a Nigerian issue that 

has affected every company's 

stock 

"Soludo should have employed 

the wisdom of silence even if he 

so much hated Mr. Obi, but for 

the sake of the Nigerian project 

stand with the mass of the 

people. 

"He should watch it going 

forward or he creates serious 

embarrassment for himself and 

governance as he too needs the 

support of the people to achieve. 

"We still love Soludo and wish 

him the best in office as Anambra 

State governor but he must 

retrace his steps. Nigerians are 

wiser today than before. It is 

more reasonable to be on the side 

of the people to get things done." 

Why Northern 

Nigeria needs Peter 

Obi as President 

—Udeogaranya 

However, Charles Udeogaranya, 

a former presidential aspirant, has 

given cogent reasons why Northern 

Nigerians should vote massively for 

the Labour Party, LP, presidential 

candidate in the 2023 presidential 

election. 

In a release yesterday, 

Udeogaranya counselled that an 

economy driven by petroleum 

resources has landed Nigeria into 

an abysmal failure, unpayable debt 

burden, state of hopelessness, 

insecurity, and poverty 

headquarters of the world. Yet in all 

these, Northern Nigerian states are 

under the ladder of poverty index 

despite producing the most Nigerian 

presidents of all time. 

The ex-presidential aspirant 

reminded Nigerians that the duo of 

All Progressives Congress, APC, 

and Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, 

presidential candidates are still 

hoping on petroleum resources and 

its reformation as the sole means of 

running the Nigerian economy. He 

described this plan as living in limbo. 

He said: "Productivity and a 

South-Eastern presidential 

candidate that can mobilize 

Nigerian small and medium size 

entrepreneurs and hold an effective 

industrialization plan will be a saving 

grace to a nation dying in penury. 

And to this, Northern Nigeria can 

become a beautiful bride with her 

land mass, and affordable labour 

cost". 

Udeogaranya pointed out that 

manufacturing Chinese cities 

like Hangzhou, Shenzhen, 

Suzhou, Yantai, Ningbo, 

Shenyang, and Wenzhou can 

spring out of Nigeria if we can 

elect a president such as Mr. 

Peter Obi of the Labour Party 

(LP). 

The Ex-presidential aspirant 

concluded that Nigeria is 

strategically located to serve the 

world market, mainly Europe and 

America. 

According to him: " Europe is 6 

hours by flight, America is 11 

hours by flight. No nation with 

the size of the Nigerian 

population has such low 

proximity to the Western world. 

We are simply the ones holding 

ourselves down but 2023 

presents an ample opportunity 

and we cannot afford to let it slip 

through the cracks. Rather, we 

should optimize it and vote for 

the right candidate, Mr. Peter Obi 

of the Labour Party, LP." 

Naira redesign: We need more 

time, Miyetti Allah tells CBN 

By Vincent Ujumadu 

AWKA—THE leadership of 

the Miyetti Allah Cattle 

Breeders Association of Nigeria, 

MCBAN, has appealed to the 

Central Bank of Nigeria , CBN, to 

extend the deadline for the 

circulation of the redesigned 

currencies by three months to 

enable its members have more 

time to deposit their current 

currencies in the banks. 

The leader of the association in 

the South-East, Gidado Siddiki 

said yesterday in Awka that the 

extension would enable its 

members who are mostly living in 

the forests and bushes due to the 

nature of their grazing business, 

to bring out their savings for proper 

transformation to redesigned 

naira notes to avoid huge losses. 

According to the CBN, the 

redesigned currencies will start 

circulating on December 15, 2022. 

While expressing their full 

support for the new policy, Siddiki 

recalled that when a similar policy 

was announced in 1985, many of 

his members who were in their 

grazing settlements in the rural 

areas across the country, lost their 

money because of the impromptu 

nature of the execution of the 

policy. 

He said: "The cattle breeders 

could not meet up with the time 

frame given then by the apex bank 

as the two weeks given was not 

enough for them to meet up. 

"As a result, the majority of the 

herders lost their life savings 

because many of them do not have 

bank accounts and therefore do 

not keep their money in the 

banks. Their normal practice is to 

keep and protect their money 

wherever they are. 

"We cannot fight or reverse the 

government policy as law-abiding 

citizens of Nigeria, but we are only 

appealing to the CBN to help us 

extend the deadline for another 

three months to enable the 

leadership of Miyetti Allah to reach 

out properly to those living in outof 

-ommunication areas across 

states of the federation." 

I’m satisfied with my dep gov’s 

performance in office —Ikpeazu 

By Ugochukwu 

Alaribe 

UMUAHIA—ABIA State 

Governor, Dr. Okezie 

Ikpeazu has expressed satisfaction 

with the performance of his 

Deputy, Ude Oko Chukwu, and 

described him as his strong 

political ally and partner in 

progress. 

Ikpeazu, who disclosed this 

during a solidarity visit by the 

Deputy Governor and members 

of a political family at the 

Government Lodge, Aba, further 

described Oko Chukwu as an 

emerging leader in the country 

with great potential whose future 

in leadership remains bright. 

The Governor explained that 

with this family reunion, it has 

become clearer that the PDP will 

win the 2023 polls in the state. 

He told the Deputy Governor 

that it was within his constitutional 

rights to run for the office of 

governor and commended him for 

his spirit of sportsmanship and 

decision to remain in PDP and to 

support the party in the 2023 polls. 

Stressing that one of the keys 

to a successful political career is 

consistency, Ikpeazu challenged 

the people to show him any 

politician in the state who has 

achieved anything by jumping 

from one party to another. 

He assured the Deputy 

Governor that he will continue to 

enjoy his confidence and will 

continue to remain a key part of 

his administration till their tenure 

ends in May 2023. 

His words:“I’m satisfied with the 

performance of the Deputy 

Governor in the discharge of his 

duties which is why he is one of 

the busiest Deputy Governors in 

Nigeria with clearly defined state 

duties. The Deputy Governor is 

an emerging political leader in 

Nigeria with great potential whose 

future in leadership remains 

bright. It was within the 

constitutional rights of the Deputy 

Governor to run for the office of 

Governor. I commend him for his 

spirit of sportsmanship and his 

decision to remain a part of the 

PDP and to support the party in 

the 2023 elections. With this 

family reunion, it has become 

clearer that the PDP will win the 

2023 elections in the state.” 

Earlier, the Deputy Governor, 

Ude Oko Chukwu told the 

Governor that he came with 

representatives of his political 

family to reaffirm their allegiance 

and loyalty to him and the PDP. 

He told Ikpeazu that he and his 

group never left the party after the 

primaries and will remain in the 

PDP to work for the success of 

the party in the 2023 elections. 

He said; "My boss, the Governor 

of Abia State, in my political career, 

I have contested and won many 

elections. Indeed, I won primary 

elections four times. I have had a 

successful career in politics. All 

those times that I won, people also 

lost and they stayed calm. I don't 

see any reason why I should not 

be calm and remain with you and 

the party now that it didn't favour 

me. I am with you and our party." 

Enugu youths laud Ugwuanyi on 

inclusive governance 

ENUGU STATE youths, 

yesterday, rose in unison to 

express their profound gratitude 

to Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi for 

giving them a sense of belonging 

in governance, saying that the 

gesture is unprecedented in the 

history of the state. 

They said that Gov. Ugwuanyi 

in his humility, kind-heartedness, 

benevolence, peaceful disposition, 

vision, and passion for the growth 

of young persons, gave them the 

platform to excel as future leaders, 

saying that the governor has 

planted them (youths) as seeds 

and that they have germinated. 

Enugu youths made the 

remarks when they paid a Thankyou 

visit to the governor at the 

Government House, Enugu. 

Comprising the leaders and 

representatives of various youth 

groups across the state, the 

youths of Enugu State disclosed 

that they are major beneficiaries 

of Gov. Ugwuanyi’s peopleoriented 

administration, 

stressing that the governor’s 

commitment to youth 

inclusiveness is second to none 

in the annals of the state. 

Enugu youths also expressed 

gratitude to Gov. Ugwuanyi for 

being gender sensitive, stating 

that his administration, for the 

first in the history of Enugu 

State, accommodated more 

women, especially the young 

ones, in various capacities in 

governance. 

They also commended Gov. 

Ugwuanyi for his 

administration’s development 

strides in the urban and rural 

areas with the limited resources 

at its disposal.


:Vanguard 

News 


BUDGET—Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, laying the N472.25bn budget document before 

the state House of Assembly, yesterday. 

Nigeria to produce additional 

255,000 bpd 

By Udeme Akpan 

NIGERIA is set to 

produce additional 

225,000 barrels per day, bpd, 

as Shell Nigeria Exploration 

and Production Company 

Limited, SNEPCo, has 

completed the 2022 

Turnaround Maintenance, 

TAM, of the Bonga floating 

production storage and 

offloading, FPSO. 

The FPSO was shut down 

on October 18, 2022, due to 

the statutory inspections, 

recertifications and other 

critical asset integrity 

FLOOD: Bayelsa IDPs appeal for assistance 

....Laments exclusion in distribution of palliatives 

By Emem Idio 

Y FOLLOWING ENAGOA— 

the 

Bayelsa State government 

decision to close down all 

Internally Displaced Persons, 

IDP, camps, with schools set 

to reopen on Monday, some 

IDPs have cried out to the 

government for assistance, 

saying they have nowhere to 

go, as their homes have been 

damaged by flood. 

The IDPs also decried what 

BENIN 

CITY— 

INDIGENES of 

Evbomama community on 

Sapele Road, in Ikpoba Okha 

Local Government Area of 

Edo State, yesterday, protested 

the release of four persons 

earlier arraigned in court in 

Benin City, over the murder 

of one Vivian Frank, who was 

killed in her home on August 

22, 2022. 

The community, which took 

their protest to the Talakawa 

Parliament in Benin City, said 

the four persons, including- 

Gabriel Daniels, Enohi 

Campaign, Kingsley Onaiwu 

and Osadolor John, whose 

restoration activities. 

In a statement, yesterday, 

the company confirmed that 

the TAM was completed on 

November 9, 2022, adding the 

commissioning and start-up 

activities are currently in 

progress. 

It stated: “SNEPCo is 

pleased to announce that the 

2022 TAM of the Bonga 

floating production storage 

and offloading vessel (FPSO) 

has been completed. 

“The 225kbopd capacity 

FPSO was shut down on 

October 18, 2022, to carry out 

statutory inspections, 

they described as uneven 

distribution of palliatives by 

the State Emergency 

Management Committee, 

BYSEMA, noting that the 

government only took care of 

IDPs in the two camps set up 

by the Bayelsa in Igbogene 

and Oxbow Lake, while other 

IDP camps housed in public 

schools were neglected. 

Addressing newsmen in 

Yenagoa, yesterday, the 

aggrieved IDPs under the 

umbrella of Coalition of 

recertifications and other 

critical asset integrity 

restoration activities. 

“The 2022 TAM which was 

originally planned for 30 days 

was completed in 22 days on 

November 9, 2022, thanks to 

the excellent front-end 

planning and flawless 

execution. 

“Commissioning and startup 

activities are in progress 

and will culminate in ramp up 

of oil and gas production in 

the coming days.” 

However, in its latest report 

Respective Leadership of All 

Aggrieved 2022 Flood 

Prompted IDP Camps, 

Chairman of the group 

steering committee, Leighe 

Nathaniel, said: "On non-even 

treatment of the IDPs, we 

observed with dismay that the 

State Emergency 

Management Committee 

short-circuited its daily relief 

response to only the Igbogene 

and Oxbow-Lake IDPs' 

Camps in the direction of 

three times daily feeding, 

Community protests release of suspects 

by court 

By Gabriel 

Enogholase 

identities were revealed by the 

footage of CCTV camera, 

were allegdly arraigned on 

September 22, 2022, and 

granted bail on November 7, 

2022. 

Speaking to journalists, 

Emmanuel Agbogun, Public 

Relations Officer of Talakawa 

Parliament, said the death of 

Vivan Frank (a mother of 

three), over an alleged land 

issue must not be swept under 

the carpet. 

He called on the Edo State 

government, the Chief Judge 

of the state and Ministry of 

Justice to see that justice is 

served. 

According to him: "Some 

unknown gunmen, on August 

22, 2022, came to the house of 

Vivan Frank and murdered her. 

These people with different 

....As SNEPCo completes 

Turnaround maintenance 

issues on the administration of 

land decided to toe the side 

of the barrel of the gun and 

despite the fact that those 

people were arrested, 

remanded in prison custody, 

on November 7, 2022, the 

High Court in the Edo State 

decided to grant them bail. 

"However, those of us from the 

civil society are worried about the 

process where by the quick bail 

application was entertained, 

moreso, when it is a murderer 

case which is a capital offence. 

"Some of us are worried 

because the four persons, 

namely Gabriel Daniels, Enohi 

Campaign, Kingsley Onaiwu, 

Osadolor John, have been 

granted bail. We are worried that 

the incident where the woman 

was murdered in the presence of 

her children was captured by the 

CCTV Cameral." 

obtained by Vanguard, the 

Nigerian Upstream Petroleum 

Regulatory Commission, 

NUPRC, said that Nigeria’s 

dwindling average oil output, 

including condensate, 

dropped Year-on-Year, YoY, by 

7.4 per cent to 1.37 million 

barrels per day, mb/d in the 

first 10 months (January – 

October) 2022, from 1.48 mb/d in the 

corresponding period of 2021. 

This showed a shortfall of 317,940 

barrels when juxtaposed against the 

1.69 mb/d, which the 2023 budget 

was based on at $70 per barrel. 

provision of a standby 

medical team and facilities, 

coordination and ushering of 

external donours to the said 

two camps alone. 

"Government has to come up 

with a modality to rectify the 

discrepancy in the 

administration of palliatives 

between the two aforementioned 

preferentially treated 'IDP' 

Camps and all other ill-treated 

'IDP' camps. Government has to 

discontinue with the agenda of 

ward-base apportionment of the 

palliatives, but rather, let it 

remain community-based. 

"The forum is further thrown 

into a state of deep 

disapproval over the 

indicated intention of the 

Bayelsa State Emergency 

Management Committee, 

with regard to its next planof-action 

of closing all IDP 

camps when the IDPs are yet 

to return to their homes." 

Oba of Benin seeks 

stakeholders support for 

new FG projects 

2023: My aspiration beyond 

quest for power —Omo-Agege 

Abe cries as thugs attack 

visit venue in Rivers 

By Davies 

Iheamnachor 

2023: If BVAS was in 2015, 2019, PDP 

would have lost in Delta —Ogboru 

G OVERNORSHIP 

candidate of All 

Progressives Grand Alliance, 

APGA, in Delta State, Great 

Ogboru, has said if the 

Bimodal Voters' Accreditation 

System, BVAS, was in place 

in 2015 and 2019 general 

elections, Delta State Peoples 

Democratic Party, PDP, would 

have lost all its elections. 

By Gabriel 

Enogholase 

BENIN CITY—OBA of 

Benin, Oba Ewuare II, 

has called on stakeholders to 

support the actualisation of 

the proposed new federal 

projects in Edo State and the 

South-South geopolitical 

region. 

He stated this when the 

Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie 

Ehanire, paid him a courtesy 

visit in his palace, in Benin 

City, yesterday, where he 

briefed the monarch and his 

chiefs about the activities of 

his ministry. 

The proposed federal 

projects include National 

Orthopaedic Hospital and the 

National Fistula Hospital, as 

well as Centre of Excellence 

for Sickle Cell Anaemia 

treatment, at the University of 

Benin Teaching Hospital, 

UBTH, Benin City. 

Oba Ewuare commended 

the minister for supporting the 

return of looted Benin 

By Festus Ahon 

A 

S A B A — 

GOVERNORSHIP 

candidate of the All 

Progressives Congress, APC, 

in Delta State, Senator Ovie 

Omo-Agege, yesterday, said 

his aspiration to govern the 

state in 2023 is beyond the 

ordinary quest for power. 

Omo-Agege, who addressed 

world press conference in 

Asaba to unveil his 

candidature and manifesto, 

said: "We shall establish a 

Delta State Employment, 

Entrepreneurship and 

Empowerment Programme, 

DEEP, and facilitate the 

establishment of cluster 

industries in each of the 25 

local government areas of our 

state. 

"We will deliberately create 

an enabling environment for 

industries and manufacturing, 

PORT HARCOURT— 

THUGS suspected to be 

supporters of a political party 

in Rivers State, Wednesday 

evening, attacked a venue 

where the governorship 

candidate of the Social 

Democratic Party, SDP, 

Senator Magnus Abe, was to 

address his supporters at 

Okrika Waterfront, in Port 

Harcourt City Local 

Government of the state. 

The hoodlums, armed, 

invaded the venue where the 

SDP candidate was to meet his 

followers, and destroyed 

He assured Deltans that 

there is no room for riggers in 

the 2023 general elections, 

adding that every vote would 

now count through the aid of 

the BVAS newly introduced in 

the Electoral Act and urged 

them to collect their PVCs to 

change the narratives in the 

state. 

Ogboru who, spoke in Oleh, 

artefacts and the efforts of his 

ministry in curbing the 

Coronavirus pandemic in the 

country. 

The traditional ruler who 

spoke in Edo Language, said: 

"You are doing your job there 

and you are getting results. 

"It is important to give a 

piece of advice and support 

you with prayers that will 

enable you achieve your 

goals. We are aware that there 

seems to be some challenges. 

We will assist you. 

"You will recall that the 

discussion between us on the 

National Orthopaedic 

Hospital did not start today. 

It is important for Edo people 

to support these projects. 

"It is an emergency. This 

goes to show that your tenure 

as a minister is yielding fruits. 

Edo people are blessed. 

"We should continue to 

support him and his ministry in 

prayer, so that nobody will divert 

the good things that are coming 

to Edo State. It shall be well with 

all of us," Oba Ewuare II prayed. 

establish tech hubs, set up 

small business loan 

guarantee schemes, promote 

skills acquisition and set up a 

Career Development Centre 

for Deltans. 

"As part of our plans to 

promote ease of doing 

business, we will undertake 

institutional and process 

reviews, remove red tape and 

bureaucratic bottlenecks, 

improve infrastructure, and 

re-engineer our peace and 

security strategies while 

establishing a one-stop 

repository of business 

knowledge and information. 

"We will guarantee the 

rights of women and invest 

their unique energy to drive 

social and economic 

development in the state. We 

will initiate a youth development 

programme that moves them 

away from the hopelessness of 

today, and connect them to 

creative endeavours." 

canopies and chairs, chasing 

away party supporters. 

Abe who arrived the venue 

amidst palpable tension to 

address his supporters, 

regretted the development, 

crying that all efforts he had 

put in to address his 

supporters in peace have been 

thwarted. 

Abe expressed 

dissatisfaction with the 

incessant attacks and 

disruption of his 

sensitisation programmes 

across the state, saying he 

has done nothing wrong in 

coming out to exercise his 

right to seek for support of 

citizens of the state. 

Isoko South LGA of the state, 

during the flag-off and 

unveiling of the campaign 

team of the House of 

Representatives candidate 

of APGA, Silas Buowe for 

Isoko federal constituency, 

said the “BVAS is a tool for 

protecting your franchise 

and ensuring that votes 

count.


The courageous life of Dr. Omawumi 

Evelyn Atsiangbe-Urhobo 

Osa Mbonu-Amadi, 

Arts Editor 

The autobiography of Dr. 

Omawumi Evelyn Atsian 

gbe-Urhobo, scheduled 

for presentation to the public 

tomorrow, Saturday November 

19, 2022, has no dull moment. 

It is an adventurous tour into 

the thrilling and successful life 

of a true Amazon - the story of 

a little girl whose eventful life 

began from Okere-Warri, and 

boldly spanned across the 

globe into the United States' 

Capitol Hill, where she had the 

rare privilege of addressing the 

American Congress in 2009. 

Here is also a woman who so 

much respected herself and 

defended her dignity as a woman; 

a woman who refused to be 

messed up by men; a woman 

who had the guts to narrate in 

graphic details her private love 

life, sharing the inside stories 

of the many men she dated, 

loved, disliked, allowed to impregnate 

her, bore the babies 

without allowing any of them 

to marry her. 

It is a book no reader can afford 

to put down once the reader 

picks it up. This is the life of 

a strong-willed woman who 

opted for single parenting, 

partly as a result of the violence 

she saw the husbands of her 

female relations dish out to the 

women when she was young. 

In chapter 10, page 275 of the 

book, the author writes about 

her realization of the "great family 

pedigree" she had, and to 

which she "had to live up to." 

Right on the next page, 276, 

she stated what can be regarded 

as the dominant thesis of her 

book - that she had to live her 

life the way she did "as a sacrifice 

to take my family out of 

poverty". Here,an inquisitivereader 

cannot help but 

wonder whether "thegreat family 

pedigree" the author wrote 

about precluded financial stability. 

If marriage was something 

some men and women see asa 

prison they can afford to evade, 

the urge to procreate is a bigger 

prison one can hardy run 

away from, except if one is biologically 

deficient in procreation, 

if the longing to have a 

child ever abates even in the 

biologically deficient. The author 

confirms this on page 313 

when she writes: "For me, having 

children gave me completion". 

For a strong-willed woman 

who did not similarly think 

that having a husband gives 

her completion, it is a big deal 

and a confirmation of the supremacy 

of humans' biological 

urge to procreate. 

One can easily conclude, after 

reading Dr. Omawumi's 

autobiography, that she dated 

a lot of men, and "dating a lot 

of men" is not a complimentary 

reputation in our society. This 

seemingly infamous reputation 

is somewhat an irony for a girl 

and woman who so much respected 

herself and defended 

her dignity as a woman - 

awoman who refused to be 

used as a pawn in the game of 

chess by menjust like she had 

VPAN celebrating Bruce Onobrakpeya @ 90 

By Chukwuma Ajakah 

In recognition of the colossal 

role iconic artist and educator, 

Professor Bruce Onobrakpeya 

has played in the art industry, 

the Visual Printmakers 

Association of Nigeria, VPAN 

plans a two-week arts exhibition 

to mark his 90th birthday. 

VPAN National Vice President, 

Dr. Kunle Adeyemi unveiled 

the schedule of events 

during a Press Preview held on 

Monday, November 14, 2022 at 

the exquisite Tim & Carol Gallery, 

Ikeja, Lagos where the exhibition 

tagged, "Celebrating 

the Art of Adventure in Honor 

of Bruce Onobrakpeya @ 90" 

holds from November 20 to 30, 

2022. 

Adeyemi, a former Dean, 

School of Art, Design and Printing, 

Yaba College of Technology, 

stated that the major aim of 

the association was to promote 

the art of printmaking which 

many established artists had 

learned from the pioneering 

role of Bruce Onobrakpeya. "Today, 

some of us in the academia 

have made it a researchable 

area. We celebrated him at the 

resource center when he was 

awarded a national honour 

about five years ago. We want 

to celebrate this man who put 

himself down for others to 

learn," he said. 

•Prof Bruce 

Onobrakpeya 

Pinpointing culture and celebration 

as cardinal overriding 

themes, Adeyemi called for collaborative 

efforts among all categories 

of practitioners towards 

ensuring a culture of excellence 

and professionalism as emblematized 

in Bruce Onobrakpeya, 

an icon in the art industry 

who distinguished himself 

on the global stage through 

tenacity of purpose, consistent 

practice and versatility. Imploring 

contemporary artists to cultivate 

such sterling qualities, 

he revealed that he had the 

privilege of learning from great 

masters like Bruce and presently 

creates room for aspiring 

artists to harness their latent 

potentials, saying: "We need to 

encourage these children. I 

open my studio to all, providing 

space for budding and established 

artists. That way, we 

help the younger ones to blend" 

Speaking on the prospects of 

printmaking with reference to 

emerging digital approaches, 

seen done to other women 

quite early in her life. 

Reading page 293, the reader 

wonders how it was possible 

that among all the men the 

tough tigress dated, it was a 

man she describes as "unserious" 

and "irresponsible" that she 

allowed to get her pregnant 

outside marriage, although 

she had already hinted it on 

page 292thatshe had made up 

her mind that by the time she 

was 30, if she did not find a 

husband, she was going to 

have a child outside of marriage. 

At some point, in dealing 

with the problems that arose 

between the wife and the married 

man Dr. Omawumi slept 

with and had a baby for, 

Omawumi sounded like one of 

those ladies whom people call 

'slay queens'or'husband snatchers': 

"I told him to go and beg his 

wife for forgiveness, since I 

could imagine his fear of what 

his wife was going to do to him 

if she finally learnt about what 

happened (that Omawumi 

slept with the wife's hubby and 

had a baby for him). I cannot 

but imagine how men think 

they can take advantage of 

women and then try to shirk 

their responsibilities when 

things like this happen. When 

you go to bed with another 

woman, especially as a married 

man, what do you expect? 

To eat your cake and have it, 

too?" (p.300). 

Was Dr. Omawumi a slay 

queen? Was she a husband 

snatcher? Only she herself can 

provide the answers. 

From page 305, the author 

narrates how Benny, her son 

and second child born outside 

wedlock, confessed one day 

that he lied in school about living 

with his father and mother 

and sibling, and how it affected 

him emotionally. Then from 

page 306-307 the single parent 

advises: 

"I suppose that for young ladies 

choosing to be a single 

parent in today's society, these 

factors must be given serious 

consideration for the sake of the 

children. The single parent 

must be fully aware of all the 

contending issues that the status 

will throw up, in trying to 

cope with bringing up children 

alone. This is not to say that 

male children in proper family 

homes do not exhibit unusual 

character traits and not suffer 

other levels of trauma or deprivations, 

but these were not 

what I as a single parent, was 

knowledgeable about or was 

prepared for. When the chips 

are down, dealing with these 

character traits the children 

show in their adolescence, is 

easier handled by two parents…." 

Is this an admission of the 

wisdom in society's prescription 

that a man, his wife and children 

should live together as 

family and bring up their kids 

in such atmosphere? Perhaps. 

Dr. Omawumi appears to reinforce 

her realization of the 

shortcomings of single parenting 

when Benny her son came 

of age and impregnated his 

girlfriend outside marriage. 

She writes on page 311: 

"One thing I was decisive 

about was that under no circumstance 

would my son have 

a child without getting married, 

even when I was convinced 

that he was probably not ready 

to take up that responsibility 

yet. I encouraged him to propose 

to his heartthrob so they 

could get married as quickly as 

possible before the child was 

born. Under no circumstances, 

also, was my grandchild, who 

turned out to be a boy, going to 

suffer the trauma that my son, 

his father, had to go through 

in his childhood with me 

alone." (P.311). 

Again, the reader is bound to 

ask: Is she regretting it here 

and admitting that her decision 

to be a single parent was a 

wrong one? 

At 67, was Dr. Omawumi still 

hungry for a man so much that 

she tried to revive a schooldays 

relationship which "did 

not go beyond holding hands" 

after 50 years? Most likely. Regardless 

of age, there is always 

a gaping hole in everyone's 

heart, a hole nothing else but 

a lover is capable of filling. The 

author is human, and certainly 

no exception. 

POLITICS 

Later, Dr. Omawumi joined 

politics. She became a card-carrying 

member of APC, campaigning 

for Buhari, both in 

2015 and in 2019. After Buhari 

won the 2015 election, Dr. 

Omawumitook"charge of the 

committee activities" at Buhari's 

Homegrown School Feeding 

Program, HGSFP, (p.354). Was 

taking "charge of the committee 

activities" at HGSFPpart of 

her reward for supporting Buhari, 

and was her work at HGS- 

FP in any way connected to the 

alleged notorious school feeding 

program of Sadiya Umar 

Farouq, Minister of Humanitarian 

Affairs, Disaster Management 

and Social Development? 

Again, only the author 

herself can answer these questions. 

These are mere snippets out 

of this sizzling autobiography 

of an Amazon from Okere-Warri, 

in Warri South Local Government 

Area of Delta State, 

Nigeria. It's simply a mustread! 

the CEO, Tim & Carol Gallery, 

Wale Fasuyi said: "Bruce Onobrakpeya's 

works are greatly 

sought after even by the 

younger generation who are 

more inclined to using digital 

procedures than conventional 

arts practice. Although digitalization 

has democratized the 

art space, making art a commodity, 

it is more rewarding to 

keep his kind of work which 

endures the test of time. The 

more you look at it, the more 

things you discover." 

Continued online 

When Penny Int'l College hosted MAEF 

poetry competition 

By Chukwuma Ajakah 

Penny International College, 

PIC, Coker, Orile-Iganmu on 

Saturday, November 5, 2022 hosted 

the maiden edition of the 

Mcphilips Arts and Educational 

Foundation poetry competition for 

secondary schools. The poetry 

competition, a brainchild of the 

founder of Mcphilips Arts and Educational 

Foundation, MAEF, 

MrsTynaMcphilips Nwachukwu 

who expressed delight at the opportunity 

of kick-starting the programme 

in honour of her late husband, 

Mcphilips Nwachukwu, 

former Arts Editor, Vanguard 

Newspaper Ltd. In the opening 

address, Mrs Mcphilips 

Nwachukwu recalled that the 

foundation was formally launched 

on May 30, 2022. 

Mrs. TynaMcphilips Nwachukwu 

further explained that the vision 

of the foundation is to promote 

poetry in Nigeria's culture 

and help the less privileged. "It is a 

dream I have nursed 

for the past one 

year. I'm glad it has 

come to reality. Penny 

International 

College is the first 

school we are starting 

with. The competition 

will get to 

many other schools. 

We started at the secondary 

school level. We are he to 

create the awareness that poetry is 

very interesting. It can make you 

as famous as writers like Prof. Wole 

Soyinka and Chimamanda Ngozi 

Adichie. The language of poetry is 

also beautiful," she said. 

First prizewinner of the senior 

category, Dorcas Iseyemi said "I 

thank God for helping me throughout 

the competition. It was not 

easy, but I scaled through. As a 

participant, I feel honoured representing 

my school. This competition 

has made me realize that poetry 

is fun. It helps people to ex- 

•MrsTyna Mcphilips Nwachukwu and the students 

press their feelings from the mind. 

I thank God for making me take 

the first position in this category. 

Also, I thank the organisers and 

my teacher, Mr. Friday Mbam for 

guiding me to know know my 

dream. " 

Speaking on the occasion, the 

Guest Speaker, Lagos Head of 

Consumer Education, Mrs. Suzie 

Onwuka implored the students to 

learn about their rights and obligations 

as consumers, saying: "Everyone 

of us is a consumer. We have 

rights and responsibilities. When 

you know your rights, you start 

Continued online

C 

M 

Y 

K 

14 —Vanguard, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2022 

PWDs seek inclusive environments, services at airpor 

ports nationwide 

A 

coalition of Disability 

Organisation, has called on 

the Federal Government to step up 

efforts in providing an inclusive and 

accessible environments and 

services for People with Disabilities 

(PWDs) at airports across the 

country. 

The Convener, Mr David 

Anyaele, made the appeal at a 

public presentation on Enhancing 

Access to Airports for PWDs in 

Lagos. 

"People with Disabilities 

experience a lot of hardship in the 

country and the difficulty in 

travelling through the airport isn't 

easy at all because there are no 

basic amenities for us there. 

"We are treated harshly by airport 

staff because of our disabilities, so 

special training should be 

organised for airport and airline 

personnel on the needs of PWDs 

and how best to meet them. 

"In other countries, there are 

wheelchair elevators that convey us 

to the aircraft and back, but in this 

country, there is none like that, as 

even the bus that would carry you 

to the point of entry of the aircraft is 

not user-friendly in all ramifications. 

"The government needs to 

address this urgently because there 

are so many difficulties we 

experience in the airport and it 

shouldn't be so," he said. 

The convener said that travel 

information at airports should be 

provided in accessible formats for 

various categories of PWDs. 

"The airport authorities need to 

go beyond the use of public address 

systems for announcements which 

persons with auditory impairment 

may not be able to decode. 

"There should also be provision 

for inclusion of information at 

booking points so as to indicate their 

status and special needs, for airport 

officials to make necessary 

arrangements to meet their needs," 

he said. 

Ibrahim Jafar, Assistant General 

Manager, Directorate of Consumer 

Protection, Nigeria Civil Aviation 

Authority (NCAA), noted that 

appropriate authorities were 

working on ensuring that amenities 

for PWDs are provided. 

National carrier: Confusion over commencement 

as FG, experts clash 

•Sirika blows hot 

Stories by Prince Okafor 

AHEAD of the planned 

takeoff of a new national 

carrier, Nigeria Air, there is 

confusion over the possibility of 

the commencement period as 

experts have expressed doubts 

over its feasibility. 

This is as the Federal 

Government said the airline 

would commence operations 

before the end of the year. 

But experts doubted the plan, 

saying the modalities for the 

new national carrier were yet to 

be spelt out. 

Reacting to the development, 

a former Minister of Aviation, 

Air Vice Marshal Anthony 

Okpere (retd), lamented that 

Nigerians along with 

stakeholders in the sector are 

yet to know the details of the 

new national carrier project. 

He noted that the current 

Minister of Aviation Sen. Hadi 

Sirika has not been carrying 

aviation stakeholders along in 

his bid to launch another 

national carrier for the country. 

Okpere was also the 

Managing Director of Nigeria 

Airways between 1984 and 1986 

said: "Most stakeholders are 

kept in the dark about the 

Nigeria Air project and its 

partnership with Ethiopian 

Airlines. 

"Why is Sirika so hasty to 

establish a new national carrier 

for the country after seven years 

of failed efforts, even as the 

current administration winds 

up in the next six months? 

"The details of the new 

national carrier project are not 

known. Meanwhile, this 

administration winds up 

immediately after the general 

elections. What is the guarantee 

that the people coming in will 

continue? Has the country been 

carried along? 

"Who are we partnering with? 

What are the terms of the 

agreement with Ethiopian 

Airlines? People need to know. 

So, when the administration 

winds up, who knows what? 

Okpere reiterated that 

Nigeria Airways should never 

have been liquidated. 

He lamented that when the 

airline was liquidated by the 

government, no staff was paid 

severance packages. And this 

led to the untimely death of 

some of them. 

But he commended President 

Muhammadu Buhari for later 

paying the severance packages 

of the former workers. He also 

maintained that Nigeria needs 

a national carrier, although the 

process of establishing one 

must be transparent. 

"I think it is commendable. 

We were very sad indeed when 

we lost Nigeria Airways, but 

now that it is being proposed to 

set up a new airline, I think it 

is one of the best things to 

happen to the industry. 

"Most countries in Africa have 

national carriers and I think it 

is about time that Nigeria, the 

biggest country in Africa, 

should, of course, take lead in 

the comity of nations. Nigeria 

will be better for it and I am 

looking forward to it. Now in 

floating a new airline, I don't 

know the politics behind it, I 

don't know the consultation 

they made." 

Also, the Chief Executive 

Officer of Azikel Air, Dr Eruani 

Azibapu, has cautioned the 

Minister to partner Aviation 

giants across the world in order 

to stay afloat. 

He said: "You know, the 

aviation industry is a very 

•Nigeria Air 

sophisticated industry with 

several levels of endeavours in 

making it a success. Nigeria, 

indeed, needs a carrier. 

"Nigeria cannot operate a 

sustainable carrier without the 

right partnership. So, securing 

partnerships is very important 

and securing the right 

partnership is the way to go, 

and securing it with people that 

have already made success. 

"You cannot be in isolation in 

operating or participating in the 

aviation industry, particularly in 

Africa. There is no part of the 

airplane that is produced in 

Africa. 

"So, you need the right 

training, the right people, the 

right environment, the right 

organisations, so I believe very 

strongly that Nigeria can make 

a great success, particularly if 

we stand with others that have 

proven success. So, the right 

way to go is not for us to stand 

alone in the ocean, we are 

going to fail. 

"By the way, the technology 

is not made by us. It is foreign. 

So, we cannot say we want to 

do this all alone. It's not 

possible. You need those parties 

that can build this together. 

No rational court can stop 

Nigeria Air - Sirika 

Meanwhile, the Sirika in a 

meeting in Lagos, noted that no 

rational court in the country can 

stop Nigeria Air from fying. 

He said "I cannot see any 

rational court that will say that 

I am stopping somebody from 

establishing a company 

because Nigeria Air is a limited 

liability company known to the 

Nigerian laws in the corporate 

affairs commission. 

"If anybody wants to come and 

invest in that company, there is no 

law in Nigeria that stops him from 

doing so. If there are foreigners 

coming to invest, nobody stops 

them from investing. You can own 

a company 100 per cent. What 

would you say to Shell, Unilever, 

and Julius Berger? There are 

companies in Nigeria registered 

by Nigerian law and people are 

coming to invest. This is what we 

want. We want Foreign Direct 

Investment (FDI). If people or 

Nigerians are investing in the 

airline with over $200 million in 

Nigeria and so what. We want 

more of them". 

He took a swipe at people whom 

he said claimed that they were not 

carried along in the floating of the 

carrier, asking how come they 

knew about the carrier if they 

claimed that they were not carried 

along. 

Sirika disclosed that when the 

airline was still in its embryonic 

stages, he reached out to Air Peace 

chairman, Mr. Allen Onyema, 

Azman Chairman, Abdulmunaf 

Yunusa Sarina, and others to invest 

Kenya Airways to start non-stop 

flights to Dubai 

KENYA'S national carrier, 

Kenya Airways has concluded 

plans to start non-stop flights from its 

coastal city, Mombasa to Dubai on 

December 15th, 2022. 

The airline noted that the introduction 

of the route was in response to demand 

from the market and is expected to boost 

the Kenyan coastal region tourism 

industry through direct access to and 

from the Middle East. 

Kenya Airways would operate a 

Boeing 737-800 four times a week, 

The Dubai-Mombasa route, 

according to the airline management 

would give tourists from the Middle 

East, Russia, Northern Europe, and 

Grounded 

in the new airline but was rebuffed 

by the airline owners, stressing 

some of them later accused him of 

not making the request verbal. 

"I heard that the airline owners 

said that they were not carried 

along. If you were there at the 

National Assembly, I told them 

where I met them like the Max Air, 

Azman, Air Peace, Ibom, 

everybody where I met them and 

told them to please come and 

partner in this airline and own it, 

telling them that it is meant for the 

private sector. I told Air Peace to 

come and invest in this one and 

one of them said to me that I should 

make it formal. 

"I said to him that I met you in 

your own place, met with you and 

invited you and told him that I 

have put it in all places as adverts. 

I also put it in the Economist, on 

television, and also put it on the 

website. 

How formal can that be? I always 

beg them to say all you stakeholders 

are invited to be owners of the 

airline as private sector people. 

Nobody will say he was not 

invited." 

Australia direct access to the wonders 

of coast region tourism and hospitality 

industry. 

The Mombasa-Dubai route is 

expected to attract travellers to the 

Middle East for holiday or religious 

trips. The region's traders of electronics, 

clothes and other consumer goods will 

also benefit from the belly cargo capacity 

that will be available on the flight. 

According to Kenya Airways Chief 

Commercial and Customer Officer 

Julius Thairu said, "The introduction of 

this route is key and strategic as it will 

open up the Kenya coastal region, boost 

the tourism and hospitality industry as 

well as stimulate trade to the coastal 

city. 

How Chanchangi 40% control of Nigeria's aviation 

crumbled 

E 

Taraba state, Nigeria. 

XACTLY 10 years ago, The airline was established on 

Nigeria lost one of its major 5 January 1994 by Alhaji 

carrier, Chanchangi Airlines Chanchangi and started flight 

Nigeria Limited, over financial operations to and from Kaduna, 

constrain. 

Lagos, Owerri, Abuja and Port 

The privately owned and Harcourt on 2 May 1997. Services 

operated airline with its head were operated using Boeing 727- 

office in the Chanchangi Office 200 aircraft; 3 Boeing 737-200 

Complex in Kaduna, Nigeria, was aircraft and 2 Boeing 737-300 

established on 5 January 1994 by aircraft were also acquired in 2009. 

Alhaji Chanchangi and started Chanchangi Airlines won the 

flight operations to and from Federal Airports Authority of 

Kaduna, Lagos, Owerri, Abuja Nigeria (FAAN) and the 

and Port Harcourt on 2 May 1997. Corporate Merit Award for "Best 

Its main base was Murtala Domestic Airline of the Year" for 

Mohammed International Airport, 1998, 1999 and 2000. 

Lagos, with hubs at Kaduna, In 2004 it obtained route 

Abuja, and Port Harcourt. Alhaji authorities for services to Abidjan, 

Ahmadu Chanchangi, its founder, Accra, Dakar, Douala and Malabo. 

hails from Chanchangi village in On 26 March 2006 services from 

Takum Local Government of Lagos to Accra were introduced.



My heart is 

heavy 

IHAVEN'T been myself since 

I discovered, last weekend, 

that Dillibe Onyeama, author, 

publisher and brother of Geoffrey 

Onyeama, the current Minister of 

Foreign Affairs, had passed away, 

aged 71.Dillibe was the son of 

Charles Dadi Onyeama, the iconic 

first-ever Nigerian judge at the 

International Court of Justice in 

the Hague. 

He became famous in his own 

right when he wrote “Nigger At 

Eton,” a harrowing account of the 

traumas that were inflicted on him 

by racist white bully boys when he 

was a pupil at Eton College, the 

most elite school in the world. Eton, 

a bastion of the British 

establishment, was founded in 

1440. By the time Dillibe was sent 

there in the mid-1960s because the 

Justice wanted him to benefit 

from the high academic standards 

and sophisticated ambience, Eton 

had been educating princes, 

kings, aristocrats and sons of VIPs 

from numerous countries for over 

five centuries. 

The late Justice Onyeama was a 

friend of my late father, Ignatius 

Kogbara, the then Biafran 

Representative in the United 

Kingdom, who sometimes visited 

the troubled teenaged Dillibe at 

Eton. Dillibe, who was eight years 

older than me, later told me that 

Daddy gave him considerable 

emotional support in those dark 

days; and I never tired of hearing 

Daddy’s bemused stories about 

the lurid pranks Dillibe played on 

his horrible tormentors. Much to 

my delight, one involved a fake 

voodoo doll that scared the hell 

out of them. 

The friendship between our 

fathers was inherited by me and 

Dillibe because we had a lot in 

common including the fact that 

we both became professional 

writers and had similar senses of 

humour. It, therefore, seemed 

somehow fitting that Dillibe 

should kindly invite me to review 

the fascinating biography - titled 

“The Man, The Legend, An 

Intimate Portrait” – he had written 

in honour of his illustrious 

paterfamilias when it was 

launched in Abuja in 2019. 

Dillibe was a very talented writer 

who helpfully put his father’s birth 

date (April 26, 1916) into context 

by pointing out that he was born 

in Eke, now Enugu State, “south 

of the Sahara in a nation 

experiencing an imposed alien 

culture not widely dissimilar to 

what the Irish had started to rebel 

against in Britain just two days 

earlier.” 

This reference to the Easter 

Rising - a European rebellion 

launched on the other side of the 

globe - in Dublin to be precise - by 

Irish republicans fighting British 

rule – was typical of Dillibe’s 

habitual international perspective 

and reflected his formidable 

erudition. 

Dillibe was a very 

talented writer 

who helpfully put 

his father’s birth 

date (April 26, 

1916) into context 

by pointing out 

that he was born in 

Eke, now Enugu 

State 

Dillibe also possessed a great 

way with words - an elegant, 

evocative and literary style that 

injected vitality and spine-tingling 

atmosphere, as evidenced by this 

poetic excerpt from the book: 

“Eke was a rural community 

situated in a fertile valley north of 

Uto Hill…It occupied a large 

area on the escarpment…[and] 

offered a generous feast to the eye 

in terms of innate beauty, by way 

of a breathtaking panorama of 

surrounding hills… 

…These were enriched by a 

•Dilibe Onyeama with his epic work, Nigger at Eton...possessed great way with words 

diversity of arboreal splendour, 

with dappled forest growth and a 

wealth of palm, cashew and other 

economic trees…from the higher 

hills, one is riveted by the first glow 

of daylight in the eastern sky. One 

watches a tip of some hill-top 

glow red, then gradually 

glistening to an orange radiance 

amidst a backdrop of shifting 

scarlet, purple and green colours 

before the triumphant emergence 

of the sun with a blinding 

intensity.” 

Dillibe also wrote a handful of 

enjoyable novels. But it is for 

“Nigger At Eton”, published in 

1972, that he will forever be 

remembered. That book, which 

exposed the vicious underbelly of 

the European crème de la creme, 

caused a huge storm that 

embarrassed Eton so much that 

Dillibe was banned from his alma 

mater for life. 

However, Eton not only forgave 

him 40 years later, in 2020 – in 

the wake of the widespread antiracist 

Black Lives Matter protests 

that swept across the West – but 

also asked for his forgiveness. 

Eton’s headmaster, Simon 

Henderson, told the BBC that he 

was “appalled” by the racism 

Dillibe experienced, that “racism 

has no place in civilised society” 

and that he intended to invite 

Dillibe to a meeting “so as to 

apologise to him in person, on 

behalf of the school, and to make 

clear that he will always be 

welcome at Eton.” 

Charles Aniagolu, the ARISE TV 

anchor, was a cousin and friend 

of Dillibe’s. When I called him to 

say sorry, he had this to say:“I am 

in shock. Dillibe was very close to 

me. Just a month ago, we were 

talking about the fact that he was 

getting lots of offers from 

producers who wanted to turn his 

book into a film; and I advised 

him to get an agent to sort through 

the offers and pick the best one. 

“He was an extraordinary 

human being who went through 

so much as a child. He was sent to 

England on his own at the age of 

seven and didn’t see any family 

members again until he was 11. 

Imagine suddenly finding yourself 

alone at that age in a completely 

different culture. He was a 

colourful personality who later 

identified with American civil 

rights activists like Malcom X. 

While appearing on stage in New 

York, he attracted headlines by 

giving the Black Power salute.” 

I loved Dillibe’s spirit. He was 

the privileged descendant of 

powerful dignitaries, but down to 

earth. He was a witty, brilliant, 

ebullient, honest citizen of the 

world who could have luxuriated 

in a celebrity existence abroad but 

didn’t forget his African roots and 

came home to set up a successful 

publishing company (Delta) in 

Enugu. 

Here is a note he wrote me last 

August. I had shown him a book 

my Dad had written. And he was 

impressed and keen to help. 

Dear Donu, 

I really want that book to see the 

light of day. Your dear father needs 

to be immortalised. I want to make 

the book the premier recipient of 

our scheme 'The King Jaja Book 

Prize' for works of research thesis, 

political commentary and 

biographical study. 

You may recall that for the last 

13 years Delta has staged 'The Coal 

City Book Convention' in Enugu, 

which carries the conferment 'The 

Olaudah Equiano Life-Award', 

'Profiles at the Lagoon' in Lagos 

which confers 'The Tutuola Palm for 

Poetry', and Capital Territory's Book 

Convention' in Abuja - which 

confers 'The Abubakar Gimba 

Literary Award'. 

In the light of the foregoing data, 

let me know if you might, in 

principle, be amicably disposed to 

the idea of awarding your father's 

book as proposed. It will not cost 

you a dime! If you are interested 

we can discuss the modalities. 

I was very interested and 

promised to tidy up the 

manuscript as soon as I could take 

a break from work. But I left it too 

late. He’s gone now. I like to think 

of him in heaven with our fathers, 

earnestly chatting about cerebral 

things but also having a chuckle. 

May he rest in perfect peace in 

the bosom of our Maker. 

RESPONSES 

TO 

donzol2002@yahoo.co.uk or to 

0805 404 6887. (TEXT ONLY). 

PLEASE NOTE THAT UNLESS 

YOU REQUEST ANONYMITY, 

YOUR EMAIL OR TEXT MAY 

BE PUBLISHED WITH YOUR 

NAME AND CONTACT 

DETAILS ATTACHED.


Send Opinions & Letters to: 

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Qatar ’22 and a troubled world 

in search of leaders 

MOST of humanity began a 

work week on Monday, 

November 7. I watched hundreds 

of Congolese youths including 

ladies engaged in rowdy but 

seemingly joyous group dances, 

songs and banter. There were also 

a sprinkling of soldiers amongst 

them. Good, you might say. Except 

that the gathering was not about 

celebrating life. While billions of 

youths across the world were either 

heading to school, work or some 

useful engagements, these youths 

of the Democratic Republic of 

Congo, DRC were offering 

enlistment to fight the M23 rebels 

who were approaching the city of 

Goma. These youths in a 

seemingly joyous mood were 

offering to go kill their fellow 

youths on the rebel side or be killed. 

It is all part of a senseless conflict 

with an increasingly insane 

propensity to take or lose lives. 

In the last twenty six years when 

almost all these youths were either 

not born or were toddlers, over six 

million Congolese have lost their 

lives in conflicts. But this did not 

start in 1996. Thirty six years 

before then, Belgium, the United 

Kingdom, UK and the United 

States, US, had conspired to 

overthrow the three-month old 

government of Patrice Lumumba, 

the DRC founding Prime Minister. 

He was caught and executed on 

January 17, 1961 by a firing squad 

commanded by the Belgians. The 

DRC attracts conflicts like sugar 

attracts ants because it is one of 

the most naturally endowed 

countries in the world. The 

Belgain King Leopold II had 

massacred 15 million Congolese 

just to own the DRC as a “private 

estate.” A week after the ‘joyous’ 

scene in DRC, many of these youths 

and the rest of the population on 

the outskirts of Goma, were on the 

run. They were fleeing death as the 

M23, the proxies fighting for 

Rwanda, approached the city. 

If Goma falls to the rebels, it will 

not be the first time as M23, 

established in 2012 to ostensibly 

defend Congolese Tutsi interests, 

had previously taken the city. It is 

a strong militia because it is 

trained and backed by Rwanda 

which is presided over by a fellow 

Tutsi called Paul Kagame. 

Although Rwanda’s main produce 

is coffee and tea, but it has 

emerged a major exporter of gold 

and gems, not because it has them 

in abundance, but because they are 

looted from the DRC. The DRC had 

witnessed two ‘African Wars’ 

between 1996 and 2003 which 

pitched the armies of the DRC, 

Angola, Namibia and Zimbabwe 

against the invaders from Rwanda 

and Uganda. The Congolese 

conflict goes on because it is 

considered a free territory to 

plunder. 

The Education Ministry in 

Mogadishu, Somalia is a symbol 

of the determination of Somalis to 

be educated for a future that is quite 

bleak. On October 29, 2022 two 

car bombs exploded outside the 

Ministry. Over 100 persons were 

killed and 300 injured. So 

conscienceless is the evil that struts 

that country. Five years earlier in 

the same month, a truck bomb had 

exploded, killing over 500 persons 

at the K5 intersection of 

Mogadishu. Death is so common 

Since there are few 

leaders of substance in 

the world, troubled 

humanity would 

continue its 

unproductive conflicts 

after the 

entertainment in Qatar 

in a country that the world seems 

to have forgotten. Today, Somalia 

consists of a separatist state and a 

portion, purchased by the United 

Arab Emirate, UAE. 

Somalia was a bit unstable 

before the military overthrew its 

government on October 21, 1969. 

That was when its woes began. 

General Mohammed Siad Barre 

ruled for 22 years before his ouster 

by various organisations which led 

to the chaos that still pervades the 

country. To the world, Somalia is 

like a territory lost in time and 

space. Afghanistan was a victim of 

the Cold War. Radicals close to the 

defunct Union of Soviet Socialist 

Republics, USSR, seized power. To 

flush them out, the West mobilised 

Muslim youths across the world to 

fight the supposedly godless 

infidels. The USSR intervened and 

a decade war ensued from 1979. 

The Soviets were defeated and 

they departed leaving the Islamic 

youths in control. Then the US 

intervened in 2001 to flush out the 

group it had assisted to gain power. 

The war went on for twenty years 

with the defeated armies of the US 

and its allies departing, leaving the 

same Islamists in power, and of 

course, a ruined economy and 

country. Afghanistan runs the 

danger of being forgotten like 

Somalia. 

Inter-ethnic and intra-religious 

conflicts erupted in Yemen in 2014 

pitching the pro-Iranian Houthi 

rebels against the pro-Saudi Sunni 

government. With the former 

overrunning major parts of the 

country, the Saudis and their allies 

like the UAE intervened, bombing 

parts of the country, targeting 

markets, schools and hospitals. 

But no major country is willing to 

step in to stop the Saudi genocide 

because they want to be in the good 

books of the conservative Saudi 

monarchy which deploys oil and 

religious power in a most vicious 

manner. 

The Russo-Ukrainian War 

promises to drag on until the 

world starts forgetting it or it 

erupts into an all-European war. 

This week, a missile fired 

deliberately or in error from 

Ukraine, landed in Poland killing 

two. President Volodymyr Zelensky 

of Ukraine, perhaps hoping that 

this would lead to other European 

countries in the North Atlantic 

Treaty Organisation, NATO 

attacking its enemy, shouted that 

it was fired by Russia. But other 

European countries and the US do 

not seem to buy the story. Why that 

war, like others, fester, is lack of 

effective leadership in the world. 

These endless conflicts are not 

about to end. Rather, new ones 

might be added like the baiting in 

Taiwan, and new British Prime 

Minister Rishi Sunak unilaterally 

declaring China as the greatest 

danger to world peace and 

development. 

In the next few weeks, world 

attention will be diverted to the 

FIFA World Cup in Qatar. That tiny 

country of 2.931 million people 

occupying 11,437 square 

kilometres was almost suffocated 

in 2017 by big Saudi Arabia, Egypt 

and the UAE which gave it thirteen 

conditions to meet or pack up as a 

country. This included its shutting 

down the Aljazera international 

television network and Turkish 

military bases and cutting ties with 

Iran and specific Islamic militant 

groups. Defiant Qatar survived the 

war threats and from this Sunday, 

will host a football population 

over a third of its entire population. 

The field of play will be the war 

zone with attackers from various 

countries facing defenders. 

Although no physical missiles will 

be fired, but US which is testing its 

javeline weapons in the Ukrainian 

War and Iran which is testing its 

military drones in the same war, 

are squaring up in the field of 

Qatar on Tuesday, November 29, 

2022. Football and politics might 

mix. Since there are few leaders of 

substance in the world, troubled 

humanity would continue its 

unproductive conflicts after the 

entertainment in Qatar. 

Making the circular economy work for 210 million Nigerians 

By ELVIS EROMOSELE 

NIGERIA has a huge population. 

Current estimates put it in the region 

of 210 million. This is a huge number. There 

is no prize for guessing that this number of 

people will produce humongous amounts 

of waste. The challenge is how prepared the 

managers of the economy are to deal with 

the sheer volume of waste generated and 

ensure effective disposal. Now, if you have 

ever wondered why drains are always 

blocked, dumpsites are created 

indiscriminately, and pollution is the order 

of the day in many cities across the country, 

wonder no more. The answer is simply 

people. People. People. This is the heart of 

the problem: many people generating large 

volumes of waste without a discernible plan 

for proper disposal. 

One thing is clear, Nigeria lacks a proper 

waste management system. Experts argue 

that the real problem is a large amount of 

‘single-use’ items and products, which 

effectively creates a linear economic 

model. The linear economic model involves 

"take, make, use and dispose of". Under this 

model, items once used need to be disposed 

of, and they subsequently end up in landfills 

and waste sites. Fun fact, the largest open 

waste site in Africa is situated in Nigeria, in 

Olusosun, Ojota, Lagos State. And with the 

population expected to hit 400 million by 

2050, according to the United Nations 

Population Fund, UNFPA, the quantity of 

waste generated annually is projected to 

continue to increase 

substantially. Translation: Unless we have 

a system in place, it is only going to get 

worse. 

Describing the Nigerian economy as 

linear means that when raw materials are 

used to make products, once the item is used, 

it automatically becomes a waste product 

and is quickly thrown away. The linear 

model is defined as the traditional model 

where raw materials are collected and 

transformed into products that consumers 

use and discard as waste, with no concern 

for their ecological footprint and 

consequences. Of course, the indiscriminate 

dumping and burning of waste harm the 

environment. It pollutes the environment, 

degrades the quality of air, water, and soil, 

and contributes to climate change 

challenges. It equally affects the health of 

people, impacting productivity and 

economic development. In seeking to 

effectively control the waste management 

problem, adopting global best practices in 

this space makes sense. The current trend is 

shifting from mere waste management to 

wealth creation, economic development, 

and an improved environment. This is the 

emergence of the "circular economy." First 

off, the circular economy grew out of the 

urgent desire to curtail waste and drive the 

reuse of materials and waste to create 

The government needs to 

collaborate more with the 

private sector to drive the 

circular economy agenda in 

much the same way it is 

pursuing and driving the 

digital economy agenda 

economic value. A practical instance is 

where waste paper is used to make new paper 

and discarded plastic containers are used 

to make new plastic materials and other 

useful items for construction. 

The potential here is enormous. It 

guarantees that there will be enough raw 

materials in the immediate future to 

continue to produce these items. This is 

precisely what the circular economy is all 

about. Under the circular economy, 

production has as little impact as possible 

on the environment by leaving a smaller 

footprint. To make it sustainable, it must 

follow these three principles: reduce, reuse, 

and recycle. The principles are three 

approaches – reduce (minimize the quantity 

of resource use); reuse (optimize resource 

use) and recycle (turnaround and put the 

resource to use again). There are several 

ways to achieve this. Experts insist that with 

this system, value is created by focusing on 

value preservation. The circular economy 

can almost be viewed as the opposite of a 

linear economy. It focuses on optimizing 

the use of a product or service, a concept 

that is relevant to economic sustainability. 

The circular economic model can help 

promote and achieve environmental 

awareness, reduce the indiscriminate 

dumping of refuse, and create wealthmaking 

opportunities for the citizens. 

The circular economic model benefits the 

citizens, the economy, and the environment. 

It ensures that there are enough raw 

materials, promotes production efficiency, 

and stimulates economic growth. The real 

issue is how to ensure that the circular 

economy works for Nigeria’s 210 million 

people. When we consider the principles on 

which it is based - the circular economy can 

present innovative ways to recycle products 

and materials for the future. This can help 

to conserve the environment, combat 

climate change and generate endless job 

opportunities. 

Perhaps the biggest advantage the circular 

economy offers is the waste-to-wealth path 

for sustainable economic growth. While the 

private sector organisations are already 

building massive in this direction, the 

government can help through the 

implementation of appropriate policies to 

fast-track the emergence of the circular 

economy across the country. Studies 

indicate that single-use plastic waste makes 

up a huge portion of waste generated in an 

economy. So, policies that ban or restrict 

the importation, production and use of 

single-use and all variants of non-recyclable 

plastics will help precipitate the circular 

economy. Eliminating single-use plastic 

waste from the environment will no doubt 

curb the clogging of public drains, curtail 

incidents of flooding and limit harm to the 

environment. The government equally 

needs to collaborate more with the private 

sector to drive the circular economy agenda 

in much the same way it is pursuing and 

driving the digital economy agenda. The 

Minister of Environment can take a cue 

from Prof. Isa Pantami, the Minister of 

Communications and Digital Economy. In 

addition, portions of the ecological fund can 

be channelled into grants and rewards for 

firms that actively promote the circular 

economy through their business practices 

with widespread impact. The introduction 

and enforcement of extended producer 

responsibility, EPR, can be another option 

to reduce waste, especially plastic waste. 

Consider container take-back programs, an 

example of EPR that has been effective in 

many places. 

Under this initiative, consumers will pay 

a small deposit when products are sold 

(usually beverages), which is refunded when 

the packaging waste is returned to the 

retailer. Naturally, the containers go back 

to the manufacturer for recycling and 

reuse. There is no reason why a state like 

Lagos cannot adopt this strategy to reduce 

the volume of plastic waste in the streets 

and public drains. For a country that 

urgently needs to diversify its economy, the 

circular economic model provides 

tremendous value and opportunities for 

Nigeria. When a country demonstrates a 

commitment to the circular economy, the 

rats don’t need to eat the poisoned holy 

communion to gain attention. International 

and multi-lateral agencies will be eager to 

provide grants to help drive inclusive 

circular economy projects. For 210 million 

people to participate actively in the circular 

economy, the government must urgently step 

up and step in with relevant policies, 

collaborate with the private sector and 

engage the citizens. This is the way to go! 

•Eromosele, a Corporate Communication 

professional and public affairs analyst 

lives in Lagos.


LAGOS is not just a state and the 

former Federal Capital Territory, it is 

also the economic melting pot of 

Nigeria. It is home for all Nigerians as 

well as foreign nationals. 

Every part of the country deserves to 

be secured, no doubt. But the security 

of Lagos and the Federal Capital 

Territory, Abuja, is of particular 

significance because they are the despite the laws prohibiting open 

nation’s final frontiers. If insecurity grazing of livestock, nomadic 

overwhelms these two cities, the herdsmen and their animals still occupy 

perception of Nigeria’s state failure will the forests and farmlands adjoining 

be complete. This must not be allowed Lagos and its immediate neighbouring 

to happen. 

states of Ogun and Oyo, through which 

Fortunately, the threat of a terrorist the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway runs. 

attack in Lagos has not materialized, at Moreover, the Long Bridge, linking 

least not officially. Nigerians of all Arepo in Ogun State and Isheri in Lagos 

ethno-religious and regional State, is home to thousands of 

backgrounds have been cohabiting in undocumented migrants from within 

relative harmony. But enough strategic and beyond the territorial precincts of 

steps have not been taken to make the nation. 

absolutely sure that evil elements do When people with no fixed addresses 

not succeed in rupturing the peace and or identities are allowed to occupy the 

security of the city-state. 

forests and live under bridges, such 

Like in most parts of the country, and places, right in the heart of our 

Bandits at Lagos’s door 

economic capital, become ungoverned 

spaces. There is no way of preventing 

sleeper cells of terrorists, bandits, 

kidnappers, ritualists, drug merchants, 

and other heinous criminals from 

hibernating among them.“It was only 

a matter of time before the terrorism, 

banditry, and kidnapping that have been 

sweeping the North, especially the 

Abuja-Kaduna Expressway, descended 

on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, the 

nation’s number one transportation 

corridor. 

To tackle terrorism, banditry, 

herdsmen’s militant attacks, and 

kidnapping, we must start by 

discouraging nomadism. It may be 

some people’s "culture,", but it is pitting 

armed strangers against indigenous 

landowners. Everywhere nomads 

occupy in Nigeria is an ungoverned 

space because these people and 

government machinery are unknown 

to each other. 

Indigenous nomads should be settled 

in ranches in their states of origin. 

Anyone who wants to do livestock 

business outside his state of origin is 

free to do so under the usual terms of 

doing any other business. Allowing 

migrants to settle without having a fixed 

address is playing with fire. 

The police can continue "beefing up 

security." Vigilantes like the Oodua 

People’s Congress (OPC), the 

Amotekun Corps, hunters, and others 

can routinely organize to comb the 

forests. These are mere palliatives. 

Unless we integrate the bush- and 

underbridge-dwelling strangers into 

the full purview of governance, 

innocent citizens will remain exposed 

to the insecurity they breed. 

YESTERDAY, the National 

Bureau of Statistics, NBS, 

released the result of a survey 

which it conducted, with the result 

that no less than 63 percent of 

Nigerians are poor as at 2022. 

Using a population figure of 200 

million, that is about 126 million 

of our fellow compatriots 

statistically determined to be poor. 

The NBS survey, contained in a 

report titled: "The National 

Multidimensional Poverty Index, 

MPI, Survey Results for 2022," 

also showed that 67.5 percent of 

children within the ages of 0–17 

years are poor. That is interesting, 

given that the survey is now 

drawing attention to child 

poverty, which is a phenomenon 

that has been staring our 

politicians in the face ever since I 

could read and write. 

At the launch of the NBS survey 

report in Abuja, yesterday, 

President Muhammadu Buhari, 

represented by his Chief of Staff, 

Professor Ibrahim Gambari, 

reaffirmed the nation’s 

commitment to eradicating 

poverty, which was in line with the 

Sustainable Development Goal, 

SDG. 

His words: "I reaffirm our 

commitment to the first goal of 

the SDG, which is eradicating 

poverty in all its dimensions. This 

government recognises the 

importance of the data and the 

need to deploy it in sharing your 

story with a broad spectrum of 

stakeholders, both domestically 

and internationally. It is my hope 

that with the report being 

launched today, every stakeholder 

Again, the national poverty 

conundrum 

will rise to the challenge. 

Providing needed political 

leadership, strategic vision, and 

creative hard work to move the 

needle towards eradicating 

extreme poverty in Nigeria." This 

is where I generate issues with our 

politicians. For a long time, we 

have been fed rhetoric of this 

nature on countless occasions. 

Just words all the time, while the 

situation continues to worsen, 

exponentially, if I can say so. In 

fact, one leader, in the 90s, 

promised ‘Health for All by Year 

2000’, and ‘Housing for All by 

Year 2000’, among other 

promises. 

The magical year 2000 came 

and went, by which time the 

situation in the health and 

housing sectors had worsened 

considerably. Twenty two years 

later, we cannot even begin to talk 

of challenges in the housing 

sector, where a deficit of nearly 

20 million housing units is said 

to exist. In the health sector, the 

situation is best explained by our 

president, who once spent a record 

103 days in London for medicals. 

Only recently, he went back and 

spent another two weeks. 

Shame.“The question for me is: 

"After identifying these problems, 

what concrete, verifiable actions 

have been taken to solve them? 

Daily, we hear of humongous 

What happened to 

Buhari’s rice revolution? 

I remember the 

pyramids showcased 

several months ago; 

what happened? Why 

should rice cost more 

than N10,000? 

figures announced by people, 

which they claim to have spent on 

one poverty alleviation initiative 

or the other. There are no results, 

and poverty is deepening, and the 

situation is worsening. In deed 

and without words in evidence, the 

power elite stand accused of 

deepening poverty by refusing to 

do what it takes to reduce poverty. 

Take the strike action of a 

fortnight ago by commercial 

drivers in Lagos. Deep down, the 

strike is a rebellion against 

deepening poverty in the 

transportation sector, where 

politicians looked on and 

permitted the creation, 

operation, and perpetuation of 

one of the most ruthless extortion 

systems ever devised by man on 

this planet. 

That is why Buhari's 

exhortations at the launch of the 

NBS Poverty Survey should be 

taken with a pinch of salt, if at 

all. No action will be 

taken.“Cleverly, as politicians go 

about campaigning, there is very 

little talk about food poverty. 

Those of the ruling party are not 

talking about it for obvious 

reasons, while those of the 

opposition parties are circling 

around the issue lest the 

instruments and agencies of 

incumbency come against them. 

But the reality is with all of us. 

With a sachet of ‘pure water’ 

now selling at N20, up from N5 

seven years ago, and a bag of rice 

at nearly N45,000, up from 

N6,000 seven years ago too, food 

poverty, or famine if you like, is 

here. So, what happened to 

Buhari’s rice revolution? I 

remember the pyramids 

showcased several months ago. 

What happened? Why should rice 

cost more than N10,000? Who 

didn’t do what? What happened 

to him or her? Remember the 

amount of money said to have 

been spent on feeding 

schoolchildren? During the 

pandemic lockdown? Or the 

billions spent training fewer than 

500 youths on phone repairs? 

Still on the poverty issue, let me 

warn us that we should expect 

more rhetoric from our new 

leaders at the end of this 

transition. This is because very 

few people in the civil service and 

the public service don’t do their 

work. Many just go to their airconditioned 

offices, scratch a few 

files with their felt-tipped gold 

pens, attend one or two meetings, 

and close for the day. I urge them 

to emulate their Chinese 

counterparts. One of the reasons 

for the success of China’s statesponsored 

capitalism beyond its 

borders is its committed civil 

service, which tracks funds 

allocated for foreign enterprise 

worldwide and ensures 

beneficiaries remain 

accountable. 

We must change. It is easy to 

blame our leaders, but the 

followership is no better. I remain 

unshaken in my belief that right 

now, Nigerians do not want a good 

country that works for all. They, 

me, and you are only interested 

in extracting as much as we can 

from the Nigerian system, 

building houses here, owning 

homes abroad, and flaunting our 

wealth in front of others who can't 

see a way to the national 

exchequer. That must change. If 

it does not, we are doomed, and 

poverty will continue to worsen.

FG says debt sustainability now threatened 

by low revenue 

•DMO urges immediate action 

By Emma Ujah, 

Abuja Bureau Chief 

THE Federal Government, 

FG, has indicated that 

Nigeria’s debt sustainability has 

CURRENCY BUYING SELLING 

US 

DOLLAR 

POUNDS 

EURO 

FRANC 

YEN 

CFA 

WAUA 

RENMINBI 

RIYAL 

RAND 

Danish Krona 

155.35 -1.4 

2506.00 + 5.00 

20.34 +0.04 

92.27 - 1.5 

93.14 -1.55 

441.52 442.02 442.52 

524.1725 524.7661 525.3597 

459.6223 460.1428 460.6633 

469.1033 469.6345 470.1657 

3.1693 3.1729 3.1765 

0.6743 0.6843 0.6943 

576.2546 576.9072 577.5598 

62.6438 62.7152 62.7866 

117.4568 117.5898 117.7228 

25.6487 25.6778 25.7068 

59.0766 59.1438 59.211 

CBN Exchange rate as at 17/11/2022 

ECONOMY 

now come under serious threat 

following the recent rise in its 

revenue shortfalls. 

Making this disclosure yesterday 

at a workshop for members 

of the Senate Committee 

on Local and Foreign Debts and 

House Committee on Aids, 

Loans and Debt Management 

in Abuja, the Director-General 

of the Debt Management Office 

AWARENESS DAY — From left: Prince Mare Olusesi, Lagos State Traditional Medicine Board Member 

(LSTMB); Prof. Adefule-Oshitelu, Chairperson LSTMB; Dr. Edison Christian, Chairman, Nigeria 

Association of Clinical Acupuncturists ( NACA); Mrs. Temilade Fayemi, LSTMB member; Mr. Idowu 

Richards; Dr. Oduwaye Elisha, Rep of Commissioner and Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry 

of Youth and Social Development and Dr.Elisha, Secretary, NACA at the World Acupuncture Awareness 

Day, in Lagos. 

Experts list solutions to FX challenges 

ECONOMY 

By Jimoh Babatunde 

AN industrialist and Chief 

Executive Officer, Erisco 

Foods Ltd, Chief Eric Umeofia, 

has called for support for locally 

manufactured goods saying 

that the biggest challenge being 

faced by indigenous manufacturing 

organisations is lack 

of support and patronage from 

Ministries, Departments and 

Agencies (MDAs). 

Speaking at the company’s 

product unveiling and distributors 

reward event in Lagos, 

Umeofia said that if Nigerian 

Customs Service, NAFDAC 

and CBN implement their duties 

judiciously, Nigeria’s 

economy would improve 

within six months. 

According to him, the biggest 

challenge Erisco Foods face as 

By Nkiruka Nnorom 

SOME economic experts have 

pointed direction to Nigeria’s 

exit from the perennial foreign exchange 

crisis plaguing the economy. 

Speaking during a breakout session 

at the just concluded 28th edition 

of the Nigerian Economic Summit 

with the theme, “Monetary 

Policy Management In Challenging 

Times” , Group Managing Director 

of Parthian Partners, Oluseye 

Olusoga, urged Nigeria to return to 

the path of productivity in order to 

save the country from foreign exchange 

(FX) crises. 

He said pressure on Nigeria’s 

forex happens when foreign investors 

come in to buy the nation’s securities 

and, in the bid to repatriate 

their money, they demand for forex 

which has been causing distortions 

on the nation’s forex market. 

He stated: “When foreign money 

comes into the country and it’s not 

increasing production, it’s not different 

from rent seeking. The truth is 

that if we don’t produce, we’ll be poor. 

“Once we can produce and have 

value added services and exports, 

then naturally our reserves will increase. 

As long as we don’t produce, 

the turbulence will continue.” 

Also, other panelists during 

the session argued that Nigeria 

may not be able to tackle 

her inflation headlong except 

she taps the potentials inherent 

in the non-oil sector of the 

economy. 

According to the Executive 

Secretary/CEO, Nigeria Investment 

Promotion Commission 

(NIPC), Mrs. Saratu Umar, there is 

a need for Nigeria to channel investment 

to the non-oil sector for massive 

forex inflows. Umar explained 

that the diaspora remittances should 

also be channeled to the non-oil sector, 

stressing that portfolio investment 

has never helped the country 

in any form. 

“Nigeria has abundant cash crops 

of cocoa, coffee, cotton, groundnut, 

cassava, hides and skins among others 

that if well tapped and processed 

are capable of increasing the 

nation’s foreign exchange earnings 

that will impact positively on the 

country’s foreign reserves and by 

extension, her gross Domestic product 

(GDP). 

Also speaking, former President, 

Manufacturers Association of Nigeria 

(MAN), Engr. Mansur Ahmed, 

said that the COVID-19 pandemic 

affected manufacturing all over the 

world but the intervention of the federal 

government helped the industry 

to be resilient. According to him, 

without the government’s intervention, 

the sector would have witnessed 

more troubles. 

Vanguard, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2022 —19 

(DMO) Ms. Patience Oniha, 

further said that interest rates 

had sharply increased at both 

domestic and international 

capital markets, thereby making 

loans more expensive and debt 

service more burdensome. 

She, therefore called for urgent 

actions to raise the nation’s 

revenue base. 

Her words, “Debt has grown 

Zenith Tech Fair to attract global 

IT practitioners 

THE second edition of the Ze 

nith Tech Fair, themed “Future 

Forward 2.0”, will be held on Tuesday, 

November 22 and Wednesday, 

November 23, 2022, at the Eko Convention 

Centre, Eko Hotels & Suites, 

Victoria Island Lagos. 

Conceived in the mould of global 

technological events such as the 

Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 

and EmTech Asia, the Fair will showcase 

leading technology innovations 

that cut across different aspects of 

life, such as Artificial Intelligence, 

Computing, Machine Learning, 

Blockchain, Robotics, Big Data, 

FinTech, amongst others. 

The two-day Fair will feature a 

welcome address by Jim Ovia, 

CFR, Founder and Chairman of Zenith 

Bank and opening remarks by 

Ebenezer Onyeagwu, Group Managing 

Director of Zenith Bank Plc 

and Chairman, Body of Banks’ 

CEOs, Nigeria. The keynote address, 

“The Future of Banking: Digital 

Transformation Journey”, will be 

Multigate gets SWIFT license to 

improve treasury mgt for businesses 

By Cynthia Alo 

MULTIGATE, a licensed 

financial services platform, 

has announced its qualification 

as a SWIFT Lite2 for 

business application provider. 

In a statement made available 

to Vanguard, the firm said that 

the certification validates its 

business application and provides 

connectivity for its customers 

to thousands of financial 

institutions globally. 

Co-Founder and CEO of 

Multigate, Eghosa Nehikhare, 

stated that with the certification 

Multigate will address the treasury 

and cash management 

Industrialist calls for support for locally manufactured goods 

ECONOMY 

an indigenous manufacturing 

organisation is lack of support and 

patronage from MDAs and some Nigerians 

who prefer anything foreign. 

He added that the company was yet 

to utilise 15 per cent of its 450,000 

Metric Tonnes per annum processing 

capacity due to the lack of patronage 

from the MDAs and frustration in obtaining 

foreign exchange from financial 

institutions. 

Chief Eric Umeofia also appealed 

to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) 

to unify the country’s exchange rate to 

aid economic stability and recovery. 

He noted that the multiple foreign 

exchange rates had caused economic 

disruptions, “If the country wants to 

rid itself of unstable foreign exchange 

rates, we should remove different exchange 

rates, the parallel market is 

about N770 while the official rate is 

around N440. 

“The reality is that many businesses 

source their foreign exchange from the 

parallel market as access to foreign 

exchange from the official market is 

hard. 

Umeofia noted that the apex bank 

should evolve a clear strategy and 

timeline on how it intends to achieve 

full unification of the country’s multiple 

exchange rates. 

According to him, this will enhance 

the naira’s strength, boost liquidity, 

promote both domestic and foreign 

investment and stimulate economic 

growth. 

Also, Mr Nnamdi Umeofia, the 

Managing Director, Erisco Foods, 

appealed to the Lagos State Government 

to ensure an enabling business 

environment, saying that the activities 

of some of its personnel were inimical 

to business growth. 

and we all know why. Revenue 

base is low and we often don’t 

achieve annual revenue targets 

in the annual budgets. Even if 

we achieve the revenue targets 

100 percent, they are still too 

low for a country the size of 

Nigeria. 

“We have been dependent on 

borrowing as a country for a 

very long time. We have been 

borrowing because the revenue 

base is low. Because the revenue 

base is low, it is now 

threatening debt sustainability. 

“We need urgent actions to 

moderate the level of new borrowing 

because debt service to 

revenue ratio would have been 

low if the revenue base had 

been very strong. 

“There has been a lot of talk 

about raising revenue. We now 

need urgent actions. We need 

a stronger revenue base to ensure 

that our debt remains sustainable.” 

MONEY MARKET 

delivered by Brett King, a renowned 

futurist, bestselling author, awardwinning 

speaker, Founder of Moven 

and Author of Bank 4.0. 

The Fair will feature three panel 

discussions. The first panel, which 

will examine “The future of payments: 

what next and how can we 

get there”, has Prof. Yinka David 

West of Lagos Business School as the 

host, with four discussants, including 

Agada Apochi, Managing Director, 

UPSL; Olu Akanmu, Managing 

Director, Opay; Premier 

Oiwoh, Managing Director, 

NIBBS; and Kari Tukur, V/P & Head 

of Products East/West Africa, 

MasterCard. 

The second panel will explore the 

theme, “What are the main challenges 

of digital transformation in 

the financial industry? How do we 

solve them?”, while the third panel 

will discuss: “Driving the global 

trade revolution with technology: 

current transformation trends”. 

ICT 

needs of African corporates 

both regionally and globally. 

According to him, Multigate 

which was founded in 2017 is 

also focused on enabling seamless 

processes for consolidating 

accounts for local or international 

payouts from any bank. 

He stated: “Our goal as a 

company is to advance the African 

economy by enabling seamless 

and instant transactions for 

our customers and by simplifying 

the complexities of managing 

multiple banking portals 

onto a single platform. 

“By leveraging the SWIFT 

network as a certified connectivity 

provider, we provide a secure 

treasury and liquidity management 

experience through 

our innovative digital platform 

governed by the highest regulatory 

standards” 

Also speaking, Head of Corporate, 

Middle East, Turkey, 

and Africa at SWIFT, Michael 

Thomas, stated: “Having 

Multigate certified as the first 

L2BA provider in Africa is key 

for the adoption of SWIFT connectivity 

by the corporates 

within Africa. It also allows the 

Corporates to benefit from the 

Added Value of SWIFT fully. 

He explained that to qualify 

as a SWIFT Lite2 for Business 

Applications provider, the company 

has successfully met all 

legal, financial, security, operational 

and Business requirements 

by SWIFT.




Aftermath of Insurgency: Zulum reopens shut 

Gamboru Ngala Cattle Market for business 

•Shares N225 million cash, relief materials to 70,000 households 

By Ndahi Marama, Maiduguri Continues on page 23 

I 

T was all smiles on that bright 

afternoon when life returned 

to the Gamboru Ngala 

International Cattle Market. It 

was a day to remember, especially 

as Governor Babagana Zulum did 

not only reopen the once-buoyant 

livestock market but also brought 

palliatives to thousands of 

households to relieve their 

suffering occasioned by terrorists 

who had ravaged the area and 

forced many families to lose their 

possessions and loved ones. As a 

result of the constant attacks on 

humans and property, many were 

forced to flee the thriving cattle 

market and seek pasture 

elsewhere, thereby turning the 

market into a no-go area despite 

its huge potential as an 

international cattle market. 

Governor Zulum breathed life 

into the market once again when 

he spent a night at Ngala 

Gamboru and reopened it the 

following day to the admiration 

of the once-forgotten community 

that had been shut down in the 

aftermath of unceasing brutal 

attacks by Boko Haram terrorists. 

But the governor was emboldened 

to restart the vital market after the 

LGA had been successfully 

wrestled from the terrorists in 

September 2015 by troops of the 

Multinational Joint Task Force, 

which paved the way for the return 

of those who had been displaced. 

Gamboru Ngala remains a 

strategic town in the annals of 

Nigeria as it is the last town that 

links Nigeria with Cameroun. It 

has a bridge that is less than 200 

metres long, and communities in 

the two countries intermarry and 

share many things in common, 

including language, culture, and 

religion. It is the town where 

Nigerian troops crossed into 

Cameroon in a tactical 

manoeuvre after fierce fighting. 

Because both communities of 

Fotokol in Cameroon and 

Gamboru intermarry, have the 

same tradition, culture, and 

religion, and even speak the same 

language (Shuwa Arab, Hausa, 

French, Kanuri), the border is 

manned by security agencies that 

appear friendly. 

Governor Zulum also gave out 

N225 million cash 

and relief 

materials to more 

than 70,000 

households in 

Ngala, Gamboru, 

and Wulgo 

villages. These 

communities are the only ones 

with a civilian populace, as most 

of the communities are still unsafe 

to venture into, forcing internally 

displaced persons to restrict their 

activities to the local government 

headquarters at Gamboru Ngala. 

Governor Zulum, who could not 

hide his happiness, said on the 

occasion: "I am glad to officially 

reopen the Gamboru Ngala 

to have generated given the large 

number of vehicles that move in and 

out of the state daily, taking with 

them huge quantities of farm 

produce such as fruits and 

vegetables, yam tubers, cassava, 

bananas, and plantains. Worried by 

the threat that activities of these 

gangs pose to the economic 

wellbeing of the state, the Executive 

Chairman of the Benue Internal 

Revenue Service, BIRS, Mrs. Mimi 

By Demola Akinyemi, Ilorin 

THE apex bank,Central Bank 

of Nigeria, CBN, has 

directed all commercial banks 

International Cattle Market, 

which was closed down for more 

than six years due to activities of 

Boko Haram terrorists. I want to 

specifically commend President 

Muhammadu Buhari, security 

operatives, and all stakeholders 

for their support and sacrifice in 

the fight against Boko Haram and 

other nefarious activities that led 

to the relative peace currently 

Illegal checkpoint cash collection: Benue confronts criminal gangs 

•Arrests, prosecutes 100 touts 

•We won’t relent until we clear the roads of criminal elements — Chairman 

By Peter Duru, Makurdi 

THEY had turned the numerous 

highways in the state into their 

money-making haven. They 

operated with impunity by erecting 

illegal checkpoints, which they used 

to fleece thousands of traders who 

ply the roads to buy or sell farm 

fresh fruits, vegetables, and other 

cash crops. They blocked the 

highways until the illegal fees 

•Gov Zulum (with mic) being assisted by stakeholders 

during unveiling/ reopening of Gamboru International 

Cattle Market. 

•Governor Ortom during one of his encounters with the gang on the highway 

imposed by them were fully paid by 

road users. However, while the 

payers believed that the cash they 

parted with was remitted to the 

Benue State Government through 

the Benue Internal Revenue Service, 

BIRS, such cash is diverted with 

impunity by the criminals, who 

simply bolt away at the end of each 

illegal operation. 

Their illicit practise has shut the 

state out of the huge revenue it ought 

Naira redesign: CBN directs banks 

to work on Saturdays 

•Some of the arrested suspects 

Adzape-Orubibi, working closely 

with the Benue State government, 

has taken action against the 

criminal gangs. 

The governor had, a few months 

back, while signing into law the 

amended Benue Internal Revenue 

Administration law, warned that 

anyone caught operating illegal 

revenue collection checkpoints in 

the state would be treated as an 

armed robber. He said, "I have 

always said that I would not 

surrender Benue State to criminals. 

Continues on page 21 

•Cattle ready for transportation. 

across the country to henceforth 

work on Saturdays till January 31, 

2023 to enable bank customers 

return old naira notes for new 

ones. Recall that the CBN had 

announced plan to redesign 

produce, release, and circulate 

new series of three banknotes, out 

of existing eight banknotes, 

comprising N200, N500, and 

N1,000 denominations 

respectively, effective on 

December 15, 2022, after its 

•Cross section of women who benefited from N5,000 each and set of wrapper 

from Zulum's gesture. 

witnessed in the state in particular 

and the North East area in 

general. As you resume the 

transportation of cattle from 

Ngala to Maiduguri and other 

parts of the country, I want to 

sound a strong warning, 

particularly to cattle marketers 

and all stakeholders, to desist 

from any act of sabotage. As a 

government, we will support you 

in your businesses, but you shall 

cooperate with our security 

agencies because anyone found 

wanting, will face the full wrath 

of the law." 

The Commanding Officer, of the 

3rd Battalion, Lt. Colonel Tolu 

Adedokun, assured the people of 

the readiness of troops to 

continue to provide security for all 

Nigerians but cautioned them 

against breaching the operational 

guidelines in the movement of 

livestock along the routes. The 

leader of the cattle market 

association, Alhaji Yakubu, 

expressed happiness over the 

resumption of business in the 

market, which he said would 

significantly improve their means 

of livelihood. 

Yakubu promised to ensure strict 

adherence to the new rules and 

regulations, adding that they 

would work in synergy with the 

relevant security agencies to 

ensure peace and harmony at all 

times. 

Zulum was accompanied 

during the visit by the senatorial 

candidate for Borno Central on 

the platform of the ruling APC, 

Bar. Kaka Shehu Lawan, Borno 

APC Chairman, Hon Ali Dalori, 

Candidate for House of 

Representatives (Marte/ 

Monguno/Nganzai), Hon Bukar 

Talba, some commissioners and 

other top government 

functionaries.

NAS takes medicare to Kaduna village without 

drinking water, access road 

•We’re ready to do more for the community — NAS 

By Ibrahim Hassan-Wuyo, 

Kaduna 

THE people of Unguwan 

Madaki Kamazou in 

Chikun Local Government Area 

of Kaduna State were elated when 

the National Association of 

Seadogs, NAS, Monday, 

conducted free medical outreach 

and supplied them with essential 

drugs as part of the activities to 

mark World Diabetes Day. Like 

many developing communities in 

the state, Unguwan Madaki 

Kamazou is fast developing, with 

an appreciable population of 

citizens, many of whom are drawn 

from all parts of Nigeria. While 

the community has a sizeable 

number of working class 

members, many others are at the 

lower end of society and remain 

as farmers with little or no form 

of support. 

For this class of people in the 

farming community, the supply of 

drinking water, health care 

support, and an access road are 

essential for their wellbeing. But 

these basic necessities are not 

available, and there is no sign they 

will be within reach in many years 

to come. For this reason, the 

natives of this agrarian 

community source their drinking 

water from any available well, no 

matter how dingy and shallow. 

But on that day, the National 

Association of Seadogs, or NAS, 

brought some succour to the 

downtrodden in the community 

and brightened their hopes of 

survival. Not only did they supply 

them with essential drugs, but they 

also conducted vital tests to 

determine their health status. 

The Leader of the Kaduna 

Chapter of the National 

Association of Seadogs, NAS, 

Pyrates Confraternity, Dr. Okpara 

Obinna, said the body is into 

humanitarian services and has 

always identified with the 

downtrodden and those who do 

not have the financial strength to 

check their health status. "We try 

to act rather than just talk. We do 

Benue internal revenue service confronts criminal gangs 

Continues from page 22 

So those who have made it their 

business to mount illegal 

checkpoints to collect illegal taxes 

from business people that come to 

Benue to do business must be 

prepared to face the wrath of the law 

because they would be treated like 

armed robbers." And to track down 

the gangs, the BIRS also intensified 

its patrol and surveillance of major 

roads and communities across the 

state, where the syndicate operates 

daily with impunity. 

Like the BIRS chairman who leads 

nocturnal patrols of several 

locations across the state when the 

gangs operate, the governor also 

AREWA VOICE TEAM 

Editor: Soni Daniel 

Correspondents: 

Wole Mosadomi, Minna 

Demola Akinyemi, Ilorin 

Bashir Bello, Kano 

Umar Yusuf, Yola 

Ibrahim HassnWuyo, Kaduna 

Peter Duru, Makurdi 

Marie-Therese Nanlong, Jos 

Abdul Murtala, Kano 

Femi Bolaji, Jalingo 

David Odama, Lafia 

Charly Agwam, Bauchi 

•Medical outreach by NAS in Unguwan Madaki Kamazou in Kaduna 

not support the effects of 

community ills on the nation. We 

try to set the pace. We make every 

effort to do the right thing at work, 

at home, and in the community in 

which we live," Dr. Obinna said. 

He said their mission at the 

Kamazou community in Kaduna 

was to join the rest of the world to 

commemorate the World Diabetes 

Day, adding that community 

awareness and free tests would be 

conducted in Kamazoo. "We 

actually hope to use this medium 

to showcase one of our ideals of 

humanitarian services. As I 

previously stated, we typically 

reach out to the oppressed who 

lack the financial means to meet 

the basic needs that they are 

supposed to be aware of. Having 

identified with World Diabetes 

Day, it is a great opportunity to 

give service to the community 

because diabetes is one of the 

most deadly illnesses so far, which 

many communities have 

neglected," he said. 

Overall, the free health initiative 

brought joy to natives of the 

community, and many of them 

could not hide their joy. The chief 

of the community, Dakachi 

Unguwan Madaki, Sunday Auta 

Yari, said the community was 

grateful for the gesture of the 

had cause to confront some of the 

gang members along the busy 

Makurdi-Gboko road while actively 

extorting truck drivers and traders 

after barricading the highway. The 

governor also had reasons to 

summon the traditional rulers of the 

communities where these gangs 

established their bases. During one 

of the meetings, the governor 

threatened to fire any traditional 

ruler who was indicted for erecting 

illegal roadblocks in the state for 

the purpose of collecting taxes. 

He noted that the traditional 

rulers would be failing in their 

responsibilities if they allowed their 

domains to be havens for the 

economic saboteurs who were 

lining their pockets with the 

commonwealth of the people 

through illegal taxes. He said that 

his administration would continue 

to take proactive measures against 

illegal tax operators adding that the 

illegal checkpoints mounted by the 

gangs had negatively affected 

markets in parts of the state and the 

state’s revenue generation. 

The governor urged the people to 

support the BIRS and the state 

government in their quest to stem 

NGO but prayed for more 

assistance in other areas of basic 

amenities. He said: "In Kaduna 

State, we have over 1000 

associations doing a lot of things 

in the country. But this is the 

association that came to us with 

materials and health assistance 

that benefited us immensely. We 

hope others too will come. 

However, our wells have dried up. 

We lack potable water. We are 

appealing to the government and 

other associations to help by 

providing sources of water in our 

community." 

Reverend Hassan Dankaura, 

who is in charge of the First 

ECWA Church in the community, 

described the humanitarian 

gesture of the association as 

unprecedented, saying they were 

so thankful to have them in the 

community. He said the 

community had lots of people 

with lots of problems, of which the 

association had taken the diabetes 

challenge, calling on other 

associations to emulate them by 

coming to render other 

humanitarian services so that 

society can be a better place with 

people living healthy and 

productive lives. 

The cleric observed that, apart 

from the medical aspect, the 

community faces a serious 

activities of the illegal task operators 

in the state. With the charge and 

support of the governor, the BIRS 

further intensified its onslaught on 

the economic saboteurs, which has 

yielded positive results with the 

arrest and arraignment of over 100 

operators of illegal tax collection 

points across the state. 

Mrs. Adzape-Orubibi in a 

statement to mark her one year in 

office, disclosed that more arrests 

were being made to ensure that the 

criminal elements harassing traders 

and businessmen and women on 

Benue highways were brought to 

justice. She assured that the 

onslaught on the illegal tax 

syndicate would be sustained in 

order to effectively stem the menace 

of multiple taxation in the state, 

stressing: "These people are 

economic saboteurs, and we are 

taking the fight to them. We will 

chase them to their holes and 

continue to arrest and prosecute 

them. It is a task that must be done 

because we will not surrender our 

responsibilities of generating 

revenue for the state to criminal 

gangs who are feeding fat on the 

revenue of the state." 


challenge of a lack of potable 

water. He prayed that they could 

have other associations that would 

drill boreholes and repair roads 

in the area so that they could have 

easy mobility. 

A mother of four, Madam Rhoda 

said the water shortage hits the 

community most in April before 

respite comes with the rains. 

According to her, now that the rain 

Naira redesign: CBN directs banks to 

work on Saturdays 

Continued from page 22 

launch by President 

Muhammadu Buhari. 

Speaking at the CBN fair in 

Ilorin, Kwara State capital, 

yesterday, with the theme, 

“Promoting financial stability 

and economic development.” 

Director, 

Corporate 

Communications Department of 

the apex bank, Mr. Osita 

Nwasinobi, said that the new and 

existing currencies shall remain 

legal tender and circulate 

together until January 31, 2023, 

when the existing current shall 

cease to be legal tender in Nigeria. 

Represented by acting director, 

Corporate Communications, 

CBN, Akpama Uket, the director 

said that Deposit Money Banks, 

DMBs, have been directed to 

immediately start returning the 

existing currencies to the CBN. 

“They have also been instructed 

to work on Saturdays and receive 

the existing banknotes beyond the 

threshold stipulated by the 

Cashless Policy without charges 

to customers. Consequently, you 

must return all the current N200, 

N500, and N1,000 banknotes to 

your bank before the expiration 

of the deadline”. 

The CBN boss, who said that 

focus of the Bank in redesigning 

naira notes is macroeconomic 

stability, adding that the efforts 

entails building a strong, stable, 

and resilient economy that is selfsustaining 

and able to weather 

unanticipated shocks. “This the 

bank will do by applying 

appropriate monetary policy 

tools, striving to rein in inflation, 

and continuously encouraging a 

productive economy through its 

interventions”, 

Meanwhile, the CBN warned 

Nigerians of consequences of 

mishandling of naira notes, 

saying that, “Let me also reiterate 

the need to handle the Naira with 

care. The Naira remains a symbol 

of our national pride. Treat it with 

utmost dignity. Do not spray, 

squeeze or counterfeit the Naira, 

as default goes with 

consequences”. 

Arewa lawyers threaten to sue EFCC boss 

over alleged selective treatment of suspects 

By Ibrahim Hassan-Wuyo 

THE Arewa Lawyers 

Progressives Forum has 

flayed the alleged politicisation of 

activities of the Economic and 

Financial Crimes Commission, 

EFCC, against some persons and 

in favour of others, calling on the 

relevant authorities to investigate 

the anti-graft agency boss, 

Abdurasheed Bawa. 

The lawyers alleged that the 

EFCC boss had the tendency of 

selective treatment of suspects 

and threatened court action if the 

President did not constitute a 

committee to investigate all the 

allegations against the chairman 

of EFCC. 

In a statement issued by 

Abubakar A Kurawa for the 

Arewa Lawyers Progressives 

Forum, the forum said it was no 

longer news in Nigeria that 

EFCC, an agency established by 

the law to investigate and 

prosecute economic and financial 

crimes, had in recent times delved 

into political persecution, media 

trial and selective treatment of 

cases. 

The statement read: “On several 

occasions, the agency tends to 

pursue cases not with the aim of 

nipping corruption in the bud, but 

with the clear intent of scoring 

cheap political points, to the 

exclusion of serious cases which 

if diligently investigated, would 

have unravel huge cases of 

financial crimes against the state. 

So many cases of alleged 

economic sabotage and 

embezzlement, cases which under 

normal circumstances deserve the 

strong search light of the 

commission, are being ignored to 

pursue trivial matters targeted at 

some individuals. 

“As young Nigerians, we are 

bothered because we see the 

appointment of Bawa as 

milestone. In matters of 

is over, the wells have dried up, 

posing a serious challenge to their 

health and safety. A public health 

physician with the Kaduna State 

Ministry of Health, who 

coordinated the medical team, Dr. 

Emmanuel Joseph, was full of 

appreciation for the National 

Association of Seadogs for 

reaching out to the Kamazoo 

community. 

governance, we rejoice because 

our peer is heading an important 

agency like EFCC, but the 

scorecard of the chairman is fast 

eroding our jubilation. We are no 

longer certain whether in future 

such great opportunities will come 

to young people. There is no doubt 

that the main reason EFCC is 

losing their cases in court is due 

to their penchant for selective 

treatment, lawlessness and more 

often, total disregard to the 

established principles of the law. 

"We are by no means trying to 

defend proven criminals, we 

harbour no sympathy for such 

elements, but we are talking 

about doing things the right way. 

A spade must always be called by 

its name. As progressive members 

of the bar from the North, we can’t 

sit back while such injustices are 

being meted out. We call on Mr. 

Chairman to treat cases on their 

merit and size. On this note, the 

Arewa Lawyers Progressive 

Forum is calling on the Economic 

and Financial Crimes 

Commission and it’s chairman, to 

desist from any act or omission 

that will drag the agency’s name 

in the mud and subject their 

activities to disrepute. 

"We also call on President 

Muhammadu Buhari to, as a 

matter of necessity, constitute a 

committee to investigate all the 

heavy allegations against the 

chairman of EFCC. This is very 

important in order to clear the 

doubt of Nigerians on the 

chairman and the commission. If 

at the end it turns out the 

chairman is innocent, the 

President may reinstate him. 

Finally, if the President fails to 

address this issue, we plan to go 

to court for an order compelling 

the President to do so. We will also 

embark on peaceful protest and 

conference to ensure the President 

heeds to our demands."


In love, as in football, size 

does not matter. Here’s why 

IT’s a great time to be a football lover. It 

might not feel exactly so if your country is 

not one of the 32 taking part in the 

22nd edition of the World Cup in Doha, Qatar. 

But being a fan means managing to love the 

game without having your dog in the fight. For 

example, Nigeria’s national team, the Super 

Eagles, won’t be in Qatar – the second time in 

eight years. But since the team crashed out to 

Ghana in February, fans have managed to 

reconcile with their misery, especially with 

forthcoming elections which essentially foist 

a choice between Tweedledee and 

Tweedledum. One month of jousting over 

which striker should have played in what 

position and who should have been benched 

is more useful for fans than listening to 

politicians promising heaven on earth without 

the remotest idea of how they plan to make it 

happen. With national pride at stake for some, 

big money and career for a few, a chance to 

stake a political claim for others, and yet others 

with nothing but the ephemeral joy of the 

moment to lose, Doha is the world’s most 

valuable, and for the price of $220 billion, 

perhaps the most expensive one-month 

distraction. At times like these, for Africans, 

either at home or in the Diaspora, the trend is 

to gravitate their passion and support to the 

participating countries representing the 

continent. Senegal, Ghana, Morocco, Tunisia 

and Cameroon would carry the continent’s 

flag, after favourites, Egypt and Nigeria had 

failed to qualify. In the history of the 

competition, only three African countries have 

made it to the quarter finals stage: Cameroon 

(Italia ’90), Senegal (Korea/Japan 2002), and 

Ghana (South Africa 2010), and only South 

Africa has been able to muster the resources 

to host the World Cup. 

Not for the fainthearted 

No surprises, here though. Hosting the 

tournament has never been for the 

fainthearted. The 29-day tournament is costing 

the Kingdom of Qatar about 15 times the 

amount of 

Nigeria’s 

proposed 2023 

budget and 

more than six 

times the 

proposed 

expenditure of 

N 2 0 . 5 1 

trillion. Only 

deep pocket 

economies like 

The 29-day 

tournament is 

costing the 

Kingdom of Qatar 

about 15 times the 

amount of 

Nigeria’s proposed 

2023 budget 

Qatar and 

others like it can fund the huge infrastructural 

developments and building of eight stadiums. 

One of them, the 60,000 capacity Al Bayt 

Stadium, is modelled on the traditional 

Arabian tent with a retractable roof. With the 

third highest human development index in the 

Arab world and the third highest gas reserves 

in the world, this tiny country of less than three 

million people is proving that some great things 

can be achieved not by size. And to think that 

its size is one the reasons former FIFA president 

Sepp Blatter feels Qatar doesn’t qualify as a 

World Cup host. But even if physical size is at 

issue, fiscal ability is the name of the game. 

And the young Arab sitting over this treasure 

trove has got more than enough cash to splash, 

host and entertain the rest of the world, 

represented by 32 national teams, many times 

over. 

Born in 1980, Qatari king, Sheikh Tamim 

ibn Hamad Al Thani, has built a reputation of 

attracting high profile global sporting events 

to the Arabian Peninsula state even before he 

ascended the throne in 2013, as part of his 

strategies to raise Qatar’s international 

profile. He also chaired the 2006 organising 

committee of the Asian Games. Due partly to 

his contributions, Qatar had also hosted the 

Asian Handball Championships in 2004, 

Asian Basketball Championships in 2005, and 

the UCI (Union Cycliste Internationale) World 

Cycling Championships in 2016. A bid to host 

the 2020 Summer Olympics had failed as 

Doha lost out to Tokyo, Japan. Coming after 

the world cup, are the 2024 

AquaticChampionship in 

Doha and the Asian Games 

in 2030, also in Doha. 

Sheikhs of Europe 

The sheikhs are not only 

interested in developing a 

vibrant sports economy, 

their investments are 

spreading into the major 

football leagues of Europe 

as Qatar Sports 

Investments’ Nasser Al- 

Khelaifi owns Paris Saint 

Germain, PSG, – leading French club side 

and one of the richest clubs in football – with 

a net worth of $3.2billion, according to Forbes’ 

Soccer Team Valuations List. They reportedly 

own substantial shares in Portuguese and 

Belgian club sides as well. They also have 

substantial investments in what is arguably 

the world’s deadliest club side, Manchester 

City, and the latest sensation of the Premier 

League, New Castle. Qatar 2022 is the first 

time the senior World Cup will be held in the 

Middle East since its inception. 

The Qatari Kingdom had to face up to giant 

neighbours Saudi Arabi, alongside UAE, 

Egypt and Bahrain imposing an economic 

blockade that cost the tiny Gulf nation 

$43billion in losses, according to Al-Jazeera. 

In June 2017, the four states cut all diplomatic 

and trade ties with Qatar, accusing it of 

supporting “terrorism” and destabilising the 

region – allegations Doha denied. Qatar 

ramped up local production and established 

diplomatic relations with Iran to not only 

overcome the challenges of the siege, but 

manage declining oil revenues. In January 

2021, Saudi Foreign Ministry announced that 

Egypt, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates 

had resumed ties with Doha, during the 

41st Gulf Cooperation Council, GCC, 

summit, a reconciliation mediated by Kuwait. 

A mistake? 

Blatter says Qatar 2022 was a 

“mistake”. Qatar was graded as having 

“high operational risk”, and generated much 

criticism as being part of the FIFA corruption 

scandals. Blatter’s “confessions” indicate that 

there was pressure from the French 

government under Nicholas Sarkozy and the 

connivance of former UEFA president, Michel 

Platini, to award hosting rights to Qatar. But 

the travails the world has gone through in the 

past few years are indicative that the choice of 

Qatar was probably right. Most rich Arab Gulf 

nations have been significantly insulated from 

the global economic shocks and the ravages 

of COVID-19. 

The global economic depression and the 

COVID-19 pandemic had left even the 

financial powerhouses of Europe gasping for 

air, with the Russian-Ukraine war delivering 

yet another power punch on the world’s cereals 

and grains powerhouse. Rising food and 

energy costs which have caused domestic 

unrest in many countries would have made 

the high costs of hosting the World Cup at this 

time a very difficult task for the United States, 

which, according to the former FIFA boss, 

should have been the host of the 2022 

tournament, after Russia hosted the 2018 

edition. 

Football pundits and insiders have always 

alleged insider manipulations and 

boardroom politics in the running of the 

international football federation, and it 

appears Blatter is bent on confirming 

it. These considerations may well be behind 

the reasons Africa, with 54 member states in 

FIFA, gets only five qualification slots for the 

World Cup. Yet, going by Blatter’s words, 

Europe which is comparatively smaller than 

Asia, Africa, north and south America has 13 

slots for Qatar 2022. Blatter may be talking 

about hosting rights and not participation in 

the world cup, but the goose and gander 

deserve a fair shot at one of the world’s most 

popular sports. It doesn’t make sense that 

Europe with 55 members in FIFA, gets 13 slots, 

more than double that of Africa, which has 

only one number less in FIFA’s membership. 

We, the tribe 

As the games begin on Sunday, about 

200,000 fans will be travelling to match venues 

in Qatar, while an estimated five billion fans 

would be watching around the world, 

including fans in Russia and Ukraine 

separated by a totally needless war. Football 

is a tribal game. Though money and politics 

have often competed to spoil and corrupt it, 

just as they have sometimes proved 

indispensable in its improvement, when all is 

said and done, the kindred spirit of the true 

fans prevails. And that is the promise of Qatar. 

Strategic leadership for success 

in volatile times 

By CHARLES CRAWFORD 

FROM November 21 to 24, world 

renowned Ambassador Charles 

Crawford will leverage TEXEM’s proven and 

tested methodology while joining other 

TEXEM’s illustrious faculties, such as 

Harvard’s Founding Director of Maximise 

your Board, to deliver TEXEM’s upcoming 

programme. Professor Paul Griffith, the world's 

first management professor to lead a team to 

launch a rocket into space, and Gerald 

Baldwin, CEO of Cadbury World, are also 

TEXEM faculty members delivering this 

programme. In addition, during this 

programme, participants will include senior 

executives of different organisations attending 

TEXEM UK’s upcoming strategic leadership 

for success in volatile times programme taking 

place at Jury’s Inn, Birmingham, UK. 

The University of Oxford alumnus Charles 

Crawford shares insights into how 

organisations can deploy strategic leadership 

for success in volatile times, especially 

especially via influencing and negotiating. He 

also explains why executives should attend the 

forthcoming TEXEM programme. "What are 

the specifics with respect to what leaders and 

followers actually need from each other?“ Big 

question! A typical answer is "trust." But maybe 

trust depends on honesty and honesty is hard. 

How far does a leader really want his or her 

team to be honest about the leader’s 

performance, or things that are going wrong 

or opportunities being missed? Do a team of 

followers wants their leader to be honest in 

telling them that they’re lazy and not trying 

hard enough? 

These are subtle things. But good 

organisations talk about them in a smart way. 

It boils down to any organisation’s culture. Is 

that culture based on excellence? Or on 

explanations? 

Attend 

TEXEM’s 

forthcoming 

programme 

to glean 

m o r e 

insights. “In 

what ways 

could leaders 

apply smart 

questions 

w h e n 

Give people a 

chance to jump 

before they’re 

pushed; and if it 

finally comes to 

letting people go, 

don’t come across as 

nervous or unhappy 

involved in 

the negotiation process?“ One key part of any 

negotiation is figuring out what the other side 

really wants from it. And the other side might 

not be clear on that. So, you need to explore 

the issues, and that means asking smart 

questions in a smart manner. A lot of technique 

comes into play here. Another aspect is 

learning how to summarise well, so that you 

keep the issues together in an organized way. 

The Texem sessions we run draw on 

professional mediation skills that combine 

active listening (and active watching) with 

subtle questioning skills that help get people 

talking and so (all being well) reveal their 

deeper motivations. And, if all goes well, that 

leads to negotiated outcomes that are not just 

a dull ‘win-win’ but something much richer 

than that. “In what ratio should silence and 

speech be applied by leaders to ensure better 

results and influence while involved in 

negotiation?" 

Speech is like music. Music is not mainly 

about the notes; it’s about the space between 

the notes. The phrasing and emphasis. So it is 

with speech. There’s what you say and what 

you can convey without actually speaking. 

Gestures. Tone. A sense of confidence. Basically, 

less is more. Don’t be afraid of silence. Let it do 

some of the heavy work. But you also have to 

train yourself to be good at listening to those 

silences. What aren’t they saying? What have 

they avoided saying? What have they avoided 

doing? What are the best communication 

arsenals leaders should apply while 

addressing employees during periods of 

business uncertainties? Best not to mention 

Arsenal to a Tottenham supporter! When in 

doubt, be honest. If jobs have to be lost, make 

that clear in broad terms and explain how and 

when it is going to be done as fairly as possible. 

Give people a chance to jump before they’re 

pushed. And if it finally comes to letting people 

go, don’t come across as nervous or unhappy. 

•Ambassador Charles Crawford 

Making and then implementing difficult 

decisions is part of your job. Do it with 

conviction. It’s also important to convey 

confidence that these hard times can be 

survived and may end up making everyone 

stronger and wiser. But don’t overdo it and 

raise false hopes. As my journalist friend used 

to tell me, ‘The truth is usually the best story’. 

Upon attending TEXEM’s forthcoming 

programme on Strategic Leadership for 

Success in Volatile Times, you will learn how 

to communicate strategically and influence 

effectively. "Kindly enumerate specific 

leadership strategies that heads of 

organisations could use to revive such 

organizations in periods of recession." Hard 

to say: it’s bound to be very organisation- and 

sector-specific. One good, profound question 

that always needs answering is: What business 

are we really in these days? Maybe the current 

storms can compel a much-needed tough-love 

reorganisation and re-focus that looks at 

opportunities and customer service in quite 

different (and much better) ways. 

Likewise, have a searching look at what the 

organisation really does well and what it does 

not so well. Honesty again. Cut out the not-sogood 

things and put more effort into the 

wonderful things. Nowadays, most 

organisations have mountains of useless 

processes. Try to reduce those mountains! That’s 

hard when so much IT and digitalisation push 

a lot of processes into over-restrictive rules that 

take away individual responsibility and 

initiative. But there should be scope in all that 

for bringing back plenty of ‘human touch’ that 

makes customers feel pleased and grateful and 

so wanting to return for more. That is why 

TEXEM’s forthcoming programme on 

Strategic Leadership for success in volatile 

times is very topical and relevant. 

"What are the best tactics a leader could 

deploy to control a meeting or negotiation 

successfully without appearing too assertive?“ 

Nothing wrong with being assertive. If it’s done 

well. There’s a thin line between confidence 

and over-confidence, or assertive and 

obnoxious! Assertiveness isn’t just about coming 

across as rather noisy and self-confident. It 

can come from not saying much, but making 

sure that everything you say has authority and 

helps move things along. All in all, slow down. 

Give yourself time to think about what you’re 

doing as you go along, and to adjust if things 

are not on track. But you also have to know 

what track you want to be on. That means, 

before a meeting or negotiation starts, having 

a test of success and a test of failure. If you 

don’t know what success looks like, don’t start 

the meeting! 

What benefits are there for chief executives 

attending TEXEM UK’s programme on 

Strategic Leadership for Optimised 

Organisational Performance in an era of 

uncertainty? You’ll learn a lot of highly 

practical, specific ideas and skills that will help 

you be a far more subtle and thoughtful (and, 

therefore, effective) leader immediately. The 

programme will also leverage TEXEM’s 

tested and proven methodology that has helped 

over 4000 executives and their organisations 

win and makes learning fun, impactful, 

engaging, stimulating, and fun. Not many 

courses achieve that.“I look forward to 

welcoming many senior executives to this 

programme.“


government 


Leadership and service to humanity (2) 

The author in this second instalment explains 

that through leadership and service to humanity 

the Buhari administration has undertaken key 

road projects that have led to improvement in 

the quality of life of the people 

By BABATUNDE RAJI FASHOLA 

AS we gather here today, let us remember 

the months of April and May 2020 when 

we were not only under lockdown, we saw 

hundreds of thousands of people buried day 

after day. Let us honour the leaders, whose 

service has made it possible for us to converge 

in large number again. They fought on our 

behalf, an enemy that needed to be defeated 

with brains not brawn. And this is the 

increasingly needed leadership skill that our 

civilisation demands. How to harness and 

optimise existing resources, how to create 

resources that do not exist, and how to deploy 

them for optimal impact are some of the 

challenges that today’s leader must confront 

and overcome to renderimpactful service to 

the human civilisation. 

While the majority of persons who provide 

the leadership that has made our civilisation 

and quality of life what it is today were not in 

government, there are also those who served 

in government and we must not lose sight of 

their leadership, contributions, their service, 

and the impact on our lives, I will focus now 

on a few examples. From a time that is situated 

in ancient history, and perhaps locations that 

are distant, let me make the season more 

contemporary, and bring the location closer 

to home. About seven years ago, a journey of 

127 km from Lagos to Ibadan, which should 

take just about 90 minutes, was a venture of 

trepidation. You were not sure if you set out at 

dawn whether you would get there before 

nightfall. Between Enugu to Onitsha, a distance 

of 110 km, I was told you’re required to make 

forays into the bush with your vehicle to 

complete, in a whole day, a journey that should 

not exceed 90 minutes. 

Every day and every Christmas season, the 

East-West crossing across the Niger was a 

difficult one to undertake to put it mildly, 

because the existing bridge capacity has been 

overwhelmed by vehicular, population and 

business growth beyond its envisaged capacity 

over six decades ago, and the new bridge, the 

Second Niger Bridge has remained a mirage. 

Between the mainland of Bodo, and the Island 

of Bonny, which hosts Nigeria’s prolific gas 

resources in Rivers State, and which traverses 

the Opobo channel where the King Jaja 

famously ruled; there has never been a road 

crossing. Everything required to sustain life 

on the Bonny Island travels by boats and 

canoes not only with the added cost and risk 

but at the mercy of the weather which has been 

reported to occasionally cut off the mainland 

from the island for days on end. These are 

examples of the quality of life across sample 

areas of Nigeria. But the Muhammadu Buhari 

leadership at 

the time of 

dwindling 

resources 

and global 

economic 

difficulty is 

finding 

way. For the 

first time in 

h u m a n 

civilisation, 

BABATUNDE FASHOLA 

B o d o 

mainland 

will be connected to Bonny Island by a 39 km 

road and bridge project that is under 

construction. The Afa/Nanabie creek has been 

crossed by a bridge, Opobo channel is being 

bridged for the first time in human history and 

the project will finish in the third quarter of 

2023. While Lagos-Ibadan, Enugu-Onitsha, 

are still under construction there is a significant 

journey time improvement of about two hours 

and one hour 30 minutes respectively, from a 

whole day. These are significant human 

impacts. The long-awaited Second Niger 

bridge is no longer a mirage. The main bridge 

is completed. The remaining works left are 

the connecting roads from the Onitsha and 

Asaba ends. A survey across 12 recently 

commissioned roads by the Federal 

Government of Nigeria totalling 896.187 km 

by interviewing drivers, commuters and people 

who use the road regularly, showed that their 

travel time on these roads have been reduced 

a 

by 56.2 percent. These are worthy impacts on 

our population by the leadership provided by 

the government. 

As far as the impact of leadership and service 

to humanity go, when the national housing 

project of the Buhari administration was 

initiated across 35 states in 2016 it was meant 

to serve the generality of Nigerians and this is 

happening through the open website portal 

for applications. However, it has done more 

than that. The promise of housing made to the 

successful 1994 Super Eagles team remained 

unredeemed until President Buhari approved 

the redemption of this 28-year-old pledge 

through the National Housing Programme. 

In my view, this is a most profound and 

impactful example of leadership and service 

to humanity. From leaders without titles, to 

leaders and governments with titles, I invite us 

to quickly look at the role of leaders who have 

spawned institutions for the purpose of 

rendering service to humanity. These are 

represented in the many foundations set up by 

those who understand their leadership role, 

who accept their responsibility and seek to do 

something about it. Again, we do not need to 

go to any distant region to find notable 

examples. That work and the impact was 

made manifest under the aegis of CACOVID, 

the private sector aggregation of manpower 

and resources, convened to support the people 

and government of Nigeria in providing 

leadership to navigate the challenges brought 

on by the pandemic of COVID-19. 

We honour the service of these patriots. Our 

civilisation is better, because they saved us. 

While dealing with foundations, it would be 

remiss of me not to mention the Azinge 

Foundation, because it is their annual lecture 

series that has provided the platform to have 

this conversation. If you’ve been impacted by 

this conversation, this is leadership by the 

foundation through service. The Epiphany 

The longawaited 

Second Niger 

bridge is no 

longer a 

mirage; the 

main bridge is 

completed 

Azinge Foundation, 

the brain child of the 

celebrant is a 

corporate vehicle for 

the expression of 

leadership through 

service. Established in 

2017, it is impacting 

humanity through 

the provision of 

grants to “high 

performing” 

individuals through what it describes as “an 

invitation only process.” It becomes very revealing 

of the mindset of the founder and his vision for 

humanity when one scrutinises one of the criteria 

which an applicant for a funding grant must fulfil. 

It says: “…the application must have a significant 

and enduring practical impact on the lives of 

Nigerians and Africans amongst other 

conditions.” I find this qualification of a 

“…significant and enduring practical impact 

on the lives of Nigerians” so profoundly typical 

of the person of Professor Epiphany Azinge, 

SAN. I call it the Azinge Standard. This, 

perhaps, has been his most indelible 

leadership, contribution and service to 

humanity - creating a new generation of 

leaders. This was done by the thousands of 

hours, spent in classrooms, teaching the next 

generation, moulding their minds and 

preparing them for the next set of challengesthe 

nation will thrust upon them. That is impactful, 

it is significant, it’s enduring and itis practical. 

I am a product of that leadership of Professor 

Azinge through service. I was in his 

jurisprudence class in the 1986 to 1987 

academic session in the University of Benin. 

At the time nobody could see today, Professor 

Azinge prepared me for today along with his 

colleagues under the leadership of Professor 

Itse Sagay, SAN. Perhaps to illustrate the 

significant, enduring and practical impact of 

teaching as ProfessorAzinge has done for most 

of his life, it is helpful to tell a story. Please 

indulge me. In the 19th century, specifically 

1897, it is documented that there was a British 

expedition in the ancient Benin kingdom 

leading to the removal of Oba Ovonramwen. 

What is not well documented is the extent of 

the plundering and looting of the treasures of 

the kingdom by the British. 

Continues online:www.vanguardngr.com 

•Being a paper presented by Babatunde 

Raji Fashola, SAN at the 2022 Epiphany 

Azinge foundation lecture at the Shehu 

Musa Yar'Adua Centre, Abuja 

Kola Abiola: The quintessential PRP 

presidential candidate 

BY SANYO PHILEMON 

THE presidential candidate of 

the People's Redemption Party, 

PRP, Alhaji Lateef Kola Abiola (LKO), 

the scion of the famous Bashorun 

MKO Abiola Dynasty, is a household 

name that needs no introduction in 

Nigeria or anywhere else in the world. 

It is not news, however, that LKO is 

among the frontliners of those who 

visibly wish to turn around the 

nation's pungently battered fortunes 

in all spheres of life such as 

education, security, health, provision 

of social amenities, attraction of 

industries, and creation of a 

conducive environment for job 

creation for the teeming youths in the 

society, among others. What could 

have been stranger than fiction if the 

late MKO Abiola's scion had not 

shown interest in assisting the oppressed 

masses through democratic means by running 

for president in the upcoming February 2023 

general elections. Though born with a silver 

spoon in his mouth, LKO is neither 

complacent nor comfortable with the plight of 

the poor majority in this country, which is the 

reason why he has decided to invest his time, 

money, expertise, and other God-given 

resources to ensure, through the ballot, that 

this country is made better than how it has been 

currently plundered by the President 

Muhammad Buhari-led rudderless 

administration under the aegis of the All 

Progressives Congress, APC. 

It is not for the fun of it that Alhaji Kola 

Abiola opted to accomplish his presidential 

ambition under the umbrella of the PRP but to 

make a profound statement that he is a pan- 

Nigerian political leader whose political star 

would shine and perpetually radiate no matter 

where he is operating from. Since LKO emerged 

as the presidential candidate of the PRP, his 

political endeavours have become a movement 

as his tumultuous supporters mill around him 

as ants do to sugar. One identifiable and 

unique attribute of the PRP presidential 

candidate is that he doesn't believe in riding 

on the political fame of his late father, Bashorun 

MKO Abiola, to gain political mileage from 

any quarters. His actions and inaction have 

portrayed him as a self-assured political 

colossus who has carved a niche for himself in 

all walks of life. Apart from a noticeable 

resounding physical appearance with his 

biological father, the acclaimed winner of the 

1993 presidential election, which was annulled 

by military president Ibrahim Babangida, 

everything about him proves that he is an 

indisputable replica of his late billionaire father. 

T h e 

genuineness of 

LKO to serve his 

fatherland 

conscientiously 

is not in doubt, 

as he is 

pathologically 

endowed with 

sterling 

leadership 

qualities and an 

The PRP's main 

role in the general 

elections would be 

to act as a bridge 

for the current 

generation of 

Nigerian youths 

inherited humanitarian desire to make a 

difference in a society where hunger, wants, 

and needs walk the streets of the nation. 

The PRP's presidential candidate can also be 

described as a credible metaphorical bridge 

between the youths and the oldies in Nigerian 

society, which is a powerful reason why he 

would easily blend in and meet the people's 

yearnings and aspirations as the next 

Commander-in-Chief of the Federal Republic 

of Nigeria. Unfolding events over the years 

have, however, shown that LKO is a man of 

the people who is always at home with both 

the aristocratic and downtrodden members of 

society, despite his noble and wealthy 

background. His desire to diligently serve the 

people of this country has drawn him to 

becoming the next president of this country. 

LKO is sufficiently lettered and well-exposed 

through extensive travels across the world, 

especially in the Western World, where there is 

resemblance and demonstrated democratic 

governance strictly governed by the rules of law. 

Lateef Kola Abiola, was born on July 1, 1962, 

in Abeokuta, Ogun State, into the family of 

the late Bashorun MKO Abiola and Alhaja 

Simbiat Abiola. LKO had his elementary and 

•Alhaji Lateef Kola Abiola. PRP presidential 

candidate 

secondary school education in Ogun State 

where he attended Baptist High School, later 

did a term at Maryland Comprehensive 

Secondary School, and later crossed over to 

Aiyetoro, where he completed his secondary 

education. After his secondary school 

education, LKO went to Berkeley and then 

Colorado State University, where he obtained 

a bachelor's degree in Finance and an MBA 

in business administration. 

Kola's father was the co-owner of ITT and 

also the owner of RCN (Radio 

Communications Nigeria), Wonder Loaf 

Bakery, Concord Press of Nigeria PLC, Abiola 

Farms, Abiola Bookshops, Concorde Airlines, 

and African Concord, among others. After his 

compulsory one-year National Youth Service 

Corps, NYSC, in Zaria, Kola restructured and 

reorganised some of his father's companies. 

It is on record that Bashorun MKO Abiola's 

company was one of the first indigenous 

companies to drill for and find oil, after it was 

launched. It created a lot of excitement, not 

just for their family, but for the whole country 

because it was fully indigenous. The late 

Bashorun MKO Abiola was awarded the 

GCFR posthumously on June 6, 2018, by 

President Muhammadu Buhari and Nigeria's 

Democracy Day was changed to June 12. 

LKO declared his intention to contest the 

2023 presidential race under the platform of 

the PRP on April 14, 2022. The PRP is a social 

democratic political party in Nigeria. It is the 

Second Republic reincarnation of the 

Northern Elements Progressive Union, 

NEPU, and the Fourth Republic 

reincarnation of a similar namesake that was 

floated by supporters of the late Mallam 

Aminu Kano after his withdrawal from the 

defunct National Party of Nigeria, NPN. It is 

beyond dispute that the PRP presidential 

candidate, Alhaji Kola Abiola, and his 

running mate, Haro Zego, who are fully 

engaged in the 2023 presidential race, are 

prepared to provide the nation with the needed 

national leadership at this critical juncture 

in its history. 

The PRP Presidential candidate who made 

the assertion when he and the governorship 

candidates of his party received their 

Certificates of Return from the National 

Chairman of the party, Malam Falalu Bello, 

has the following to say: "It reminds me of 

1993. A lot of people came out to vote for the 

first time because of MKO. We are going to 

have a repeat of that in 2023. If we can win it 

then, we should win it now. The PRP's main 

role in the general elections would be to act 

as a bridge for the current generation of 

Nigerian youths. We are going to bring the 

younger generation into politics, governance, 

and leadership. I am appealing to the youths 

to regard us as the vehicle of change. We 

should make sure that at the next election, 

we have the highest voter turnout. We will 

make your voices and numbers count," LKO 

promised. Kola Abiola tasked the party's 

governorship candidates to ensure that the 

youths obtain their PVCs as it is the only party 

that doesn't have any encumbrances. He 

added: "We will use that to build the future of 

Nigeria. We are a national party. To everybody's 

surprise, we had 3,625 delegates at the primary 

elections. We are present in every local 

government area. We have 22 candidates for 

governorship elections, and we have more than 

500 candidates vying for other different offices. 

This is the largest in the PRP's history so far." 

•Philemon, a political commentator, 

wrote from Lagos


By Theodore Opara 

How police 

invaded our office 

— ABC Transport 

•Purported apology to Police obtained under duress 

merce, Industry, and Cooperatives, 

said the in-campus automobile complex 

provided "a hallmark of hope" 

for progress. He said, "The opportunity 

you have provided for our youths 

and the general population by setting 

up this assembly plant here in Lagos 

is greatly appreciated by us. This is 

consistent with our administration's 

goal of creating a favourable busi- 

THE management of ABC Transport Plc has stated that the purported letter 

of apology being claimed by the Cross River State Police Command as 

coming from it was obtained under duress from one of its managers who was 

among those detained under dehumanizing conditions by the anti-cult unit of the 

command in Calabar. The company’s Deputy Managing Director, Mr. Jude 

Nneji, expressed his worries about why the anti-kidnapping/cult unit of the command 

was involved in an issue involving the company and one of its clients over 

a dispute in waybill delivery. In a strongly worded letter addressed to the Assistant 

Inspector General of Police, Zone 6 headquarters in Calabar, Cross River State, 

by the company’s lawyers, I.N. Echendu & Associates, the company is requesting 

a transfer of the case from the state command to the zonal command "for a 

proper and unbiased investigation in 

respect of malicious damage to property 

of ABC Transport Plc, unlawful 

arrest, detention and torturing…" 

According to the company, as a result 

of the unwarranted invasion of its 

premises by the policemen on November 

10, 2022, one of its employees, Mrs. 

Anyarogbule Sandra Obianuju, lost 

her pregnancy after receiving beatings 

from the policemen. Aside from the 

lady who lost her pregnancy, at least 

16 other employees of the company 

who were on the premises at the time 

of the brutal invasion, lost several personal 

items and varied sums of money. 

Giving a background to what led 

to the unwarranted invasion of its premises 

located along IBB Way in Calabar, 

the company explained that it had 

issues with one of its clients who engaged 

it to transport some goods from 

Lagos to Calabar. The said customer, 

after taking delivery of the said cargo 

at Calabar, mailed our client and alleged 

that the contents of the said cargo 

were not complete and the cost of THE Federal Government and 

the missing items (about 12 cartons of the Lagos State Government 

cosmetics) in the said cargo was have commended the establishment 

N420,000. 

of an auto assembly plant by Nord 

Following that, the company contacted 

the customer to discuss terms of the University of Lagos, which can also 

Automobile, an indigenous firm, and 

settlement for the allegedly missing produce drones at the university. The 

goods, either by replacement or payment 

because the goods were insured. Innovation, Senator Olorunnimbe 

Minister of Science, Technology, and 

According to the company, though it Mamora, who represented the President, 

Alhaji Mohammadu Buhari at 

had reached an agreement with the 

customer on a settlement, the subsequent 

unjust demand of N5m was recitement 

over the establishment of the 

the opening of the plant, expressed exsisted 

by the company, and he (customer) 

had to bring in the anti-cultism in Africa. 

assembly, which is the first of its kind 

and anti-kidnapping squad to "unlawfully 

arrest, brutalize, detain and tor- 

between the university and Nord dur- 

He commended the partnership 

ture members of staff. 

ing the inauguration of the multipurpose 

automobile complex, describing 

The company said he has video recordings 

and pictures of the incident, the initiative as "a demonstration of 

which has led to operational losses and abundant innovative energy of the 

left its staff injured and traumatized. youths of this country". He said the 

FG, LASG thumb up Nord-Unilag auto plant 

RTEAN kicks against LASG caretaker committee, says it's illegal 

THE leadership of the Road 

Transport Employers Association 

of Nigeria, RTEAN, has described 

as illegal the activities of the 

caretaker committee, which is constituted 

by the Lagos State government 

to collect levies from its members. 

According to Alhaji Musa Mohammed, 

Executive National President 

of RTEAN, "the union had already 

instituted a case before the 

National Industrial Court, Lagos, 

challenging what it described as the 

state government's illegal or unlawful 

action." 

The president said that his members 

had been compelled to buy the 

union’s tickets despite the suspension 

of operations. According to 

him, "the committee had hijacked 

our operations because it is the same 

thing that we are doing that the committee 

that the government set up is 

also doing." NAN recalls that the 

state government on September 29 

suspended all activities of RTEAN 

and dissolved the union’s elected 

executive members in the state following 

some pockets of violence 

recorded in Ojo and Lagos Island 

same day. 

It should also be noted that, prior 

to the ban, the RTEAN leadership 

announced the suspension of one of 

its Lagos State Vice-Chairmen, Mr. 

Oluwaseyi Bamgbose, popularly 

known as "student," for allegedly 

inciting unrest in the association. He 

added that Bamgbose was organizing 

protests demanding the removal 

of RTEAN’s State Chairman, Alhaji 

Musa Mohammed, who also 

doubles as the association’s national 

president. Consequently, Mr. Sola 

Giwa, the special adviser to Governor 

Babajide Sanwo-Olu on transportation, 

announced on Thursday 

the constitution of a 35-man Caretaker 

Committee to take over the 

union's activities. Heading the caretaker 

committee is Alhaji Sulaiman 

Raji, the Oniba of Iba Kingdom, 

while Bamgbose was chosen as deputy 

chairman. 

project was in line with the motive behind 

President Buhari’s recently 

signed Executive Order 5, "which essentially 

has to do with indigenous 

components across all sectors of the 

economy. That is what we are putting 

into practice. And this project is part 

of that." 

Speaking on the drone technology, 

the minister said, "This is relevant in 

many areas, even in the delivery of 

drugs and in the area of security. It 

can be used to gather information that 

will be needed to move forward.“ He 

promised the support of the ministry 

to ensure the sustainability of the venture, 

stressing that such a partnership 

was needed for the economic growth 

of the country. 

Lagos State Governor, Babajide 

Sanwo-Olu, represented by Lola 

Akande, Commissioner for Com- 

BLACK FRIDAY: Coscharis offers huge 

discount on Ford parts 

By Willie Samson 

FRONTLINE Nigerian auto“ 

mobile dealership and the 

sole authorised dealer of Ford vehicles 

in Nigeria, Coscharis Motors 

Plc, has launched a special promo 

for her existing Ford customers for 

this Black Friday season. The promo 

titled "Black Friday @ CoscharisFord" 

offers all existing Ford 

customers 20% off listed service 

parts and labour, at all Coscharis 

and Quick Lane service centres nationwide. 

The Black Friday @ Coscharis 

Ford promo offer discount is applicable 

on select Ford service parts, 

including poly filter, brake pads, 

oil filter, air filters, and labour. The 

promo is also open to all Ford customers 

in Nigeria from November 

15 to 30, 2022. Announcing the 

offer, the General Manager, Marketing 

and Corporate Communications, 

Coscharis Group, Abiona 

Babarinde said, "Black Friday heralds 

the Yuletide season, which is a 

period of travel for many Nigerians. 

We are, therefore, using the 

occasion of this Black Friday @ 

ness environment for the good people 

of the state.“ 

Outgoing Vice-Chancellor of 

UNILAG, Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, 

accompanied by the incoming 

VC, Prof. Folasade Ogunsola, to the 

unveiling, said, the university decided 

to sign a Memorandum of Understanding 

with the Nord team having 

found out the immense benefits of the 

project to the school. He said, "We entered 

into an MoU with Nord so that 

our students can get their training 

through this platform; the academic 

staff too can get their exposure 

through this platform. It is not only 

the staff in the Faculty of Engineering 

that will benefit from this, even those 

in the departments of architecture, finance, 

marketing, and every other department 

that has relevance to this 

project." 

Ogundipe said with the inauguration 

of the automobile complex, the 

university would now start assembling 

cars, buses, and other vehicles, depending 

on demand. He added, "We 

are going to be manufacturing 

drones in this same place. They already 

have an agreement with the 

Nigerian Air Force. And I want us to 

know that our students will learn 

something new in this area of drones 

and other things that will come from 

this particular arrangement." 

Coscharis Ford offer to delight and 

encourage our Ford customers to 

put their vehicles in good shape 

before the Yuletide trips. With this 

offer, our customers stand to enjoy 

20 percent discount on select service 

parts as well as 20 percent discount 

on labour when they drive 

their vehicles into any Coscharis 

service centre nationwide for service." 

Commenting on the announcement 

of the promo, the Executive 

Director, After-Sales and Special 

Duties at Coscharis Group, Cosmas 

Junior Maduka said, "At Coscharis 

Motors, we believe in delivering value 

to our customers. It is their trust 

and loyalty that is sustaining our 

business, so we are constantly looking 

for improved ways to delight 

them even more. This Black Friday 

@ Coscharis Ford promo is one of 

the ways we are delivering value to 

them, by absorbing part of their automobile 

service costs this season. 

Cosmas Junior Maduka laid emphasis 

on the fact that the company 

is ready to accommodate every single 

Ford customer that is willing to 

take advantage of the promo.

28 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 18, , 2022 

Rabiul Thaani 16, 1444A.H. 

Peaceful coexist 

xistence 

only way to devt — Sheikh 

Alimi 

•As Jamuiyat Islamiyah Eti-Osa holds Maulud Nabbiy 

AN Islamic Scholar, 

Fadhilat Sheikh Alimi 

has called for peaceful 

coexistence among religious 

and ethnic groups in the 

country, noting that peace is 

an important element in 

community development, 

personal growth and survival 

of mankind. 

Alimi stated this during a 

lecture he delivered at the 

Maolud Nabiyy celebration 

organised by Jamuiyatul- 

Islamiyah Society, Eti-Osa, 

Lagos recently. 

The guest lecturer 

reiterated that peaceful 

coexistence among diverse 

groups of people belonging 

to different religions, 

ethnicities, tribes, races, 

colors, languages, 

nationalities etc. has 

undoubtedly 

been 

considered a pre-condition of 

social security and global 

peace. 

He added that peaceful 

coexistence is an important 

element for ensuring respect 

for the rights of others in the 

society. 

He said: “All humans are 

created from one soul - 

Prophet Adam, but since the 

beginning of history, 

mankind has been struggling 

to find peace and has 

developed many principles 

and covenants to establish 

social peace. 

Quoting from Quran 

chapter 4 verse 1: “O 

humanity! Be mindful of your 

Lord Who created you from a 

single soul, and from it He 

created its mate, and through 

both He spread countless men 

and women. And be mindful 

of Allah—in Whose Name you 

appeal to one another—and 

ùhonourú family ties. Surely 

Allah is ever Watchful over 

you. 

Sheikh Alimi urged all 

Muslim organisations to 

continue to promote peace, 

noting that peace promotes 

love and enhances 

productivity. 

“We must learn to 

accommodate each other 

irrespective of our religious 

beliefs, colour, creed and 

language. The world at large 

would be at peace if we can 

O humanity! Be 

mindful of your 

Lord Who 

created you from 

a single soul, and 

from it He 

created its mate, 

and through 

both He spread 

countless men 

and women. 

be our brothers’ keeper, help 

each other, resolve all 

conflicts amicably. 

He reminded that the 

teaching of Islam emphasise 

kindness to neighbours, 

needy wayfarer, travellers 

distant and near relatives, 

urging Muslims to uphold all 

the tenets of Islam. 

Earlier, the chairman of the 

Jamuyiyat Islamiyah, Imam 

Musliudeen Olayiwola in his 

welcome 

address 

congratulated Muslims on 

the occasion of the 

commemoration of the birth 

of the Prophet Muhammad, 

(s.a.w) 

According to him, the 

celebration of Prophet 

Muhammad’s (S.A.W.) 

birthday brings refreshing 

memories of his virtues of 

patience, prayer, piety, 

purity and perseverance, 

saying that all these are 

worthy of emulation by all 

Muslims and non-Muslims 

alike. 

He said the society prides 

itself as the first Islamic 

society in Eti-Osa which was 

founded in 1949. He 

commended the effort of the 

founding fathers in the 

propagation of Islam in area 

as well as their enduring 

achievements particularly 

impacting knowledge to the 

youths. 

Imam prayed for an 

enduring peace to an end to 

insecurity in the country, 

calling on all Muslims to be 

at the forefront of peaceful 

coexistence, adding that 

peace is the creed and the 

cornerstone of Islam. 

Dignitaries at the event 

included Baba Adini of Eti- 

Osa and grand Patron of the 

Society, Alhaji Abdul 

Yekeen Bakare; Honourable 

Naheem Adams who is the 

Deputy Majority leader, 

Lagos state House of 

Assembly; Alhaja Latifat 

Kofowolola Kaseem, the 

Asiwaju Adini of JAIS, Eti- 

Osa, Alhaji Chief Shittu Alimi 

Sarume, Baba Adini of Okeira 

Nla among others. 

s 

Muslim SoulMates 

Do you seek a Muslim life partner? 

Are you a Muslim? Are you searching for a soulmate for marriage? Send 

your profile as published below, contact telephone, and photo, to 

isholaism@gmail.com or on whatsapp 08036688535. Names and contact 

numbers will not be published. 

Profile 827: A Muslim male, 39, self employed, from Ogun State but 

based in Ajah, Lagos State, genotype-AC, searching for God fearing 

Muslimah as wife from any part of the South West for marriage. She 

must be between the age of 25-33 and have good Islamic knowledge, 

gainfully employed and be ready for marriage. 

Profile 828: A Muslimah, 25, final year student, based in Ibadan, 

genotype-AA desires a God-fearing Muslim as husband. He must be 

gainfully employed and for marriage. 

Profile 829: A Muslim male, 28, from Kebbi State but based in Abuja, 

Genotype-AA wants a Muslimah between the 20-28 years of age. 

Preferably, from the nothern part of the country. 

Profile 830: A Muslim male, 35, Lagos based businessman, genotype- 

AA, needs a Muslim lady between ages 25 to 33 years, who is gainfully or 

self employed and ready for marriage. 

From left: Hon. Yahya A. Dosunmu seriki Adinni, 

Eti-Osa, Imam Musliudeen Olayiwola, Chairman 

Jamuiyatul Islamiyah, Alh. Chief Alimi Shittu 

Sarumi, Baba Adinni Okeira Nla, Chairman of the 

occasion and Imam Abdulateef Balogun, General 

secretary Jamuiyatul Islamiyat during the Maoludi 

Nabiyy celebration of Jamuiyatul-Islamiyah 

Society, held at Eti-Osa Islamic Center, along Orchid 

Hotel, Eti-Osa, Lagos recently. 

Cross section of participants at the event 

From left Imam Mashood Mudathir Alamorieda, chief Imam Alaguntan; Hon. 

Yahya A. Dosunmu, Seriki Adinni Eti-Osa; Imam Musliudeen Olayiwola, 

Chairman Jamuiyatul Islamiyat; and Alhaji Chief Alimi Shittu Sarumi, Baba 

Adinni Okeira Nla, Chairman of the occasion; and Alhaji Fuad Qaseem during 

the Maoludi Nabiyy celebration of Jamuiyatul-Islamiyah Society, held at Eti- 

Osa Islamic Center, along Orchid Hotel, Eti-Osa, Lagos recently. 

Alhaja Latifah Qaseem, Asiwaju Adinni of JAIS, 

Chairperson of the Day (left) and Alhaja Ramotalahi 

Ajoke Adenopo, Iya Adinni Eti-Osa Muslim 

Community at the event.

Rabiul Thaani 16, 1444A.H. 

Amanah in our daily lives Allah on trust 

IN clear and concise terms, 

Amanah is being 

accountable to Allah. It is one 

of the islamic values that every 

Muslim must be conscious of 

merely because we will render 

account of what we have done 

with all what Allah has given 

human beings. Amanah is our 

commitment to do what is right 

and to obey the ordinances of 

Allah. Amanah is part of the 

pure nature of humans known 

as “fitrah” and it is strongly 

equated with faith as in the 

hadith “there is not faith for the 

one who has no amanah” and 

“the believer is the one people 

trust with their lives and 

wealth.” 

A Muslim is responsible to 

develop their abilities and 

morality to become a 

proactive member of society. 

It transcend and traverse the 

personal and private life. It 

manifests first from the 

personal to the family level 

where Islam stresses that a 

man is the guardian of his 

family and he is responsible for 

them. A woman is the guardian 

of her husband’s home and his 

children and she is responsible 

for them. Then it stretches to 

the neighbours and then the 

society at large. 

Just as the husband have a 

role, the wife too has more 

daunting roles which she must 

fulfil at home, on her children, 

husband and other members of 

the family. 

Everybody, all human being 

no matter your gender, class 

or social status you must fulfill 

your responsibility nature has 

bestowed on you, that which 

you vowed to keep. 

The politician, governor, 

Minister, lawmakers, President 

are also responsible for the 

welfare of the people. The 

presence of peace, justice and 

orderliness are critical aspect 

of the public or societal 

amanah. It is emphatically 

clear from the Quran and 

hadiths of the Prophet that any 

one who rules over the affairs 

of the Muslims must sincerely 

and dutifully work for their 

welfare if he desires paradise. 

This means if you fail as a leader 

to achieve this in your 

environment, you are a 

candidate for hell fire. The 

same goes for all public offices 

as clearly indicated by the 

narration of Abu Dharr who 

said, “I said to Messenger of 

Allah: ‘Why do you not appoint 

me to an (official) position?’ He 

patted me on the shoulder with 

his hand and said, ‘O Abu 

Dharr, you are a weak man and 

it is a trust and it will be a cause 

of disgrace and remorse on the 

Day of Resurrection except for 

the one who takes it up with a 

full sense of responsibility and 

fulfills what is entrusted to 

him.” 

In Nigeria today, politicians 

are full of deceits, rulers are 

double tounged, with willful 

deception. They tell you an 

handkerchief is white in the 

day, they turn around to tell 

you the same material is 

black in the night. 

The Prophet said, “he is not 

one of us who cheats.” In fact, 

the whole Islamic economic 

and financial system is based 

on the prohibition of cheating, 

corruption and unlawful gains. 

Yet, over 50 per cent of our 

politicians are Muslims. Of 

course they know all these, but 

they dare Allah and look the 

other way. “The people can 

suffer, they can ravage in 

poverty, while I live in 

"The people can 

suffer, they can 

ravage in poverty, 

while I live in 

superflous luxury. 

I don’t care, let the 

judgment come, 

when we get to the 

bridge, we will 

cross it.” 

superflous luxury. I don’t care, 

let the judgment come, when 

we get to the bridge, we will 

cross it.” Allah is oft-forgiven, 

very merciful, but He will not 

renage on His promise. The 

creation of paradise and hell 

fire was certainly meant for 

some creatures. Allah knows 

that Nigerian politicians may 

be occupants of the latter. 

“Truly, We did offer al- 

Amaanah (the trust or moral 

responsibility or honesty and 

all the duties which Allah has 

ordained) to the heavens and 

the earth, and the mountains, 

but they declined to bear it and 

were afraid of it (i.e. afraid of 

Allah’s Torment). But man bore 

it. Verily, he was unjust (to 

himself) and ignorant (of its 

results)” 

[al-Ahzaab 33:72]. 

The amaanah (trust) includes 

everything that Allah has 

entrusted to you and 

instructed you to take care of. 

That includes guarding your 

physical faculties from 

engaging in anything that is not 

pleasing to Allah, and guarding 

anything that has been 

entrusted to you that has to do 

with the rights and dues of 

others. 

“Those who are faithfully true 

to their Amanat (all the duties 

which Allah has ordained, 

honesty, moral responsibility 

and trusts etc.) and to their 

covenants” (Al-Mu’minoon 

23:8). 

“And if Allah had so willed, 

He would have made you a 

people, but He misleads whom 

He wills, and guides whom He 

wills, and verily ye shall be 

questioned of what ye used to 

do.” (Al-Nahl, 16: 93) 

“Verily! Allah commands 

that you should render back 

the trusts to those, to whom 

they are due; and that when 

you judge between men, you 

judge with justice. Verily, how 

excellent is the teaching 

which He (Allah) gives you! 

Truly, Allah is Ever All- 

Hearer, All-Seer.” (al-Nisa, 4: 

58) 

“That Day shall we set a seal 

on their mouths. But their 

hands will speak to us, and 

their feet bear witness, to all 

that they did.” (Yasin, 36: 65) 

“Verily! 

Allah 

commands that you 

should render back the 

trusts to those, to whom 

they are due” 

[an-Nisa’ 4:58]. 

“Ibn ‘Umar said, I heard the 

Messenger of Allah S.A.W 

says: “All of you are shepherds 

and each of you is responsible 

for his flock. An Imam is a 

shepherd and he is responsible 

for those in his care. A man is 

a shepherd in respect of his 

family and is responsible for 

those in his care. The woman 

is a shepherd in respect of her 

husband’s house and is 

responsible for those in her 

care. The servant is a 

shepherd in respect of his 

master’s property and is 

responsible for what is in his 

care. All of you are shepherds 

and each of you is responsible 

for his flock.” (Al-Bukhari, 

2000). 

I ask Allah SWT to guide us 

to the right path. May Allah 

make us like His pious servants 

and grant us His mercy in 

this world and the Hereafter. 

Vanguard, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 18, , 2022 — 29 

NAHCON commences prepara- 

tion for 2023 Hajj 

•Holds critical four-day post Hajj meeting 

with stakeholders 

THE National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, NAHCON ended 

a four-day post Hajj meeting. 

The meeting which began on November 14, 2022 was hosted 

at the headquarters of NAHCON, Hajj House, Abuja and attended 

by stakeholders including State Pilgrims’ Welfare Boards/ 

Commissions/ Agencies. 

This was followed by a meeting with Licensed Tour 

Operators on Tuesday November 15 2022. The State forum 

of Executive Secretaries and other members were in 

attendance. Discussions dwelled on review of 2022 Hajj, 

update on refund expected from the Kingdom of Saudi 

Arabia, reconciliations of Hajj fares and way forward on the 

Hajj Savings Scheme (HSS). There was briefing on 2023 Hajj 

preparations so far. 

NAHCON Chairman, Alhaji Zikrullah Kunle Hassan, 

congratulated all members for having participated in 2022 

Hajj because some countries could not attend the year’s 

pilgrimage. 

He stated that the Commission had reviewed the 2022 Hajj 

and will forward its report to the states for contributions in 

order to have a common stand. 

He expressed hope that all stakeholders have learned one 

or two lessons from the 2022 Hajj in order to avert a future 

re occurrence of any mistakes. It will require all parties to 

pull resources together to accomplish greater success. 

On reconciliation, Commissioner Alhaji Nura Hassan 

Yakassai, the Commissioner of Policy, Personnel 

Management and Finance informed members that the process 

has been concluded and documents signed between NAHCON 

and 33 states while three other states are yet to sign. 

According to him, those yet to sign are Ondo, Osun and 

Taraba. He stated that having to reconcile between NAHCON, 

states and now Ja’iz Bank additionally slowed the process 

down. While refunding has commenced based on request by 

states, the Commissioner disclosed that more states will 

receive their refunds based on the laid down procedures. 

According to the Commissioner, some states will refund 

NAHCON specific amounts of money. 

One of the issues of contention in the year’s reconciliation 

is the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) 2% service charge. 

Alhaji Yakassai disclosed that NAHCON had accepted to bear 

1% off the states but they were to note that from 2023, the 

standard CBN service charge is 2% unless there are new 

developments. 

On the HSS, Alhaji Zikrullah Hassan remarked that the states 

and NAHCON have reached a degree of agreement and would 

announce their stand on the scheme shortly. The Chairman 

also reminded the gathering that NAHCON had made a 

request for refund to the pilgrims’ establishment in Saudi 

Arabia before departing the Kingdom from the Hajj. 

Also, the Adamawa state Executive Secretary who doubles 

as the Financial Secretary of the Forum and Acting Secretary 

for the day’s activity, Alhaji Abubakar Sadiq Salihu, 

expressed gratitude to all NAHCON staff and his colleagues 

that contributed positively to the 2022 Hajj one way or the 

other. He reiterated the fact that the two bodies need each 

other to function effectively. 

On his part, the Taraba State Chairman of the state pilgrims’ 

office Alhaji Hamza Baba Muri, specifically appreciated a 

NAHCON staff, Mr. Umar Muhammad Kalgo over the 

tremendous assistance he offered the state board that 

enabled proficient movement of pilgrims’ luggage. 

Cross section of stakholders at the four-day post Hajj meeting held at the Hajj 

House, Abuja.

30 — VANGUARD, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2022 

NIHORT, lawmaker, train 50 Ondo farmers on tomato production 

— To reduce post-harvest losses, unemployment 

By Dayo Johnson, Akure 

In a bid to reduce post harvest 

loses and unemployment , the 

National Institute of 

Horticultural Research 

(NIHORT), trained 50 

unemployed youths and women, 

in Ondo state, on value addition 

in tomato production. 

The Director/ Chief Executive 

Officer, of NIHORT, Dr 

Mohammed Attanda, said in 

Akure, the Ondo state capital, 

that the training was organized 

to achieve sustainable 

economic empowerment and 

growth in the commodity value 

chain of tomatoes. 

Attanda, said that tomato is 

capable of impacting positively 

on the economic development of 

Nigeria. 

The training was organised in 

partnership with the member 

representing Akure North and 

South Federal Constituency, in 

the state, Hon Mayokun Lawson 

Alade, and aimed to equip 

trainees with skills on how to 

improve tomato production. 

Attanda, speaking through a 

Director of Research in the 

institute, Dr, Olagorite Adetula, 

said that the training will 

enhance the Federal Government 

efforts and focus on agriculture 

as a strong drover of diversifying 

thr country’s economy. 

“ Thr training will promote 

food security, employment 

opportunities,wealth creation, 

household income and health 

especially among youth and 

women. 

He said.thay Nigeria is the 

14th largest producer of tomato 

in the World, second in Africa,yet 

it is the 13th largest importer of 

tomato paste in the World and 

third largest in Africa. 

Attanda lamented that the 

short life span of the storage of 

tomato “ has contributed to high 

post harvest losses (35-130%) 

experienced in the commodity 

value chain. 

The Executive Director, 

however, pointed out that 

processing tomato will reduce 

seasonal glut and inconsistent 

year round supply and reduced 

quantity of tomato imported 

into the country. 

Hon Mayowa, Lawson Alade, 

who spoke through his Chief of 

Staff, Alade Oladapo, urged the 

participants to take full 

advantage of the programme 

in expanding their existing 

skills in tomato farming. 

Alade added that the training 

would “provide our teaming 

unemployed youth, women with 

skills to become self- reliant. 

A Scientist Researcher, Dr 

CLIMATE CHANGE: Heifer, 

partners give succour to 

Nigerian smallholder farmers 

By Jimoh Babatunde 

NIGERIA’S Minister of 

Humanitarian Affairs 

recently said the scale of 

devastation of the present flood 

situation in the country can only 

be compared to the 2012 floods as 

34 of the country’s 36 states have 

experience flooding and heavier 

than expected rainfall in recent 

weeks. 

While many parts of Nigeria 

are prone to annual floods, the 

extent of flood damage has 

become more severe in recent 

years. 

In some areas, homes and 

neighbourhoods have been 

completely submerged by 

floodwaters. Nigeria’s 

meteorological agency has 

warned that the flooding could 

continue until the end of 

November in some states in the 

south of the country. The 

agency has urged local 

governments to “prepare 

accordingly." 

This year, thousands of 

hectares of rice farms in Taraba, 

Jigawa, Kano, Benue, Niger, 

Kogi, Kebbi, among other 

producing states up North, 

have been reportedly washed 

away. 

In the affected states, some of 

the farms were either at 

maturing stage or nearing the 

stage when the waters washed 

them away. 

The extent of the damage to 

farmland and crops may reduce 

access to food and diminish the 

quality of food across the 

nation, intensifying food 

insecurity, hunger and 

entrenched poverty. 

All this is bringing the effect 

of climate change closer to 

Nigerians as the induced 

shocks is crippling farming 

businesses and discouraging 

FG donates solar-pumping 

machines to Katsina farmers 

T 

HE Federal Government, 

through the Rural 

Electrification Agency (REA), 

has supported 320 irrigation 

farmers with 32 free solar water 

pumping machines and one 

electrical solar power at eight 

farming community locations in 

Katsina State. 

Flagging off the distribution 

in Katsina, the Deputy 

Governor of the state, Mannir 

Yakubu, commended the 

Federal government’s gesture. 

Yakubu, who is also the state 

Commissioner for Agriculture 

and natural resources, said the 

gesture is part of an effort to 

reduce carbon emissions by the 

REA. 

The Deputy governor was 

represented at the event by the 

Permanent Secretary of the 

state’s ministry of agriculture, 

Dr Aminu Garba-Waziri. 

Commending the REA for the 

gesture, Yakubu restated the 

commitment of the state 

government towards reviving 

the agricultural sector for the 

development of the state. 

He further called on the 

agency to sustain the tempo for 

the interest of the general 

public, especially to 

complement the government of 

President Muhammad Buhari. 

In his response, the 

Northwest Coordinator of the 

REA, Engr. Sani Daura, said 

the distribution of the solar 

powered water pumping 

machines is part of the Federal 

Government’s efforts to achieve 

zero emission. 

He explained that Katsina 

State is the first to benefit from 

the gesture among the seven 

benefitting states in the 

Northwest zone of the country. 

THE Federal Government has 

inaugurated the National 

Animal Identification and 

Traceability System (NAITS), to 

address the socio-economic and 

security challenges bedeviling 

the livestock sector. 

Speaking on the occasion, the 

Minister of Agriculture and Rural 

Development, Dr Mohammad 

Abubakar, said the system is aimed 

to generate comprehensive data on 

livestock for proper planning. 

Abubakar said the technology 

would help to address security issues 

plaguing the livestock sector such 

as cattle rustling, herder/pastoralist 

conflict among others. 

He said that the ministry had 

*Adesuwa Ifedi 

agribusiness financiers and 

investors from investing in 

smallholder farms. 

Uninsured and underinsured 

smallholders make up most – 

about 90 percent – of the farmers 

in Nigeria and account for the 

majority of local agricultural 

production. 

De-risking farming for 

farmers could support them to 

scale up production and 

increase their resilience to everincreasing 

climate shocks. 

Adesuwa Ifedi, Senior Vice 

President of Africa Programs for 

Heifer International, said 

“Building resilience will require 

a combination of interventions 

and more partnerships at all 

levels with governments, the 

private sector, and major 

international foundations as 

well as development 

been collaborating and would 

continue to partner with a wide range 

of stakeholders, to ensure that the 

technology was internationally 

recognised. 

The minister said that the 

partnership would ensure that the 

system was efficient and effective to 

address the livestock data needs of 

the country. 

“The successful implementation 

of NAITS will support livestock 

owners to identify their animals, curb 

livestock rustling, and facilitate 

interventions in the livestock 

sector,”he said. 

He said that it provide credit and 

insurance, livestock movement 

The PAH 

model of 

insurance 

specifically 

addresses 

farmers’ 

inability to pay 

premiums 

early in the 

season 

Govt inaugurates technology to transform livestock sector 

control, animal recording for 

genetic improvement and research. 

The minister said that it would 

also ease traceability, surveillance, 

animal disease control and enable 

trade among others. 

He said that the global trade 

requirements and consumer 

concerns for source of livestock and 

livestock products traded and 

consumed makes animal 

identification and traceability very 

necessary. 

Abubakar said this would enable 

Nigeria compete favourably in the 

African Continental Free Trade 

Area (AfCFTA), and launch Nigeria 

livestock and livestock products 

into the international market. 

institutions to de-risk farming 

in Nigeria. 

“We need to promote climatesmart 

innovations in 

agriculture, by working with 

farmers, their communities and 

market system actors to prepare 

for climate shocks and identify 

and invest in opportunities that 

deliver positive outcomes for 

farmers.” 

Ifedi added “Smallholder 

farmers will be better supported 

if emerging technologies are 

leveraged to protect agricultural 

investments across Africa.” 

However, this kind of program 

is uncommon in Africa and the 

adoption of crop insurance 

programs has been weak 

because farmers have not been 

able to afford insurance 

premiums. 

In comparison, the United 

States crop insurance 

programme covers more than 80 

percent of American crop land 

and costs the government an 

average of nearly $9 billion per 

year. 

Heifer International Country 

Director for Nigeria, Rufus 

Idris, acknowledges the 

challenges and notes that rural 

communities lack the financial 

resources as well as the access 

to innovation and technology 

that could build resilience and 

better prepare them for shocks. 

In 2021, Heifer International, 

in a collaboration with Pula 

Advisors, Olam Agri, Thrive 

Agric, and Leadway Assurance 

Limited, introduced the Pay-at- 

Harvest (PAH) Area Yield Index 

Insurance (AYII) to rice farmers 

as a means of reducing their risk 

of crop loss from climaterelated 

events while also 

restoring investors’ confidence 

in rice farming. 

The PAH model of insurance 

specifically addresses farmers’ 

inability to pay premiums early 

in the season. 

Farmers have insurance 

coverage at the start of a season 

but pay the premium after they 

have harvested and sold their 

produce. Farmers that 

experience covered crop losses 

through flood, drought, new 

pests and diseases can recover 

their investment. 

Rufus Idris said “With 

farming in Nigeria considered 

high risk and liable to losses, 

Heifer International is 

collaborating with its partners 

to help smallholder farmers in 

Nigeria adapt to climate change 

and maximize their outputs. 

“This programme provides 

rice farmers in Nigeria with an 

affordable way to continue 

farming. Farmers get a full 

return if their insured farmland 

does not produce the projected 

quantity of crops due to a 

climate event.” 

Continue on https:// 

www.vanguardngr.com/

Vanguard, FRIDAY NOVEMBER 18, 2022 — 31 

Don’t perish for lack of knowledge on 

diabetes, DICOMAI tells Nigerians 

• Says recognition of risk factors saves lives 

By Sola Ogundipe 

ON this year’s World 

Diabetes Day, Nige 

rians have been enjoined 

to learn more about 

diabetes and its avoidable 

risks to reduce increasing burden 

of the disease and unnecessary 

deaths in the country. 

The Chairman Board of 

Trustees, Diabetes Control 

Media Advocacy Initiative, 

DICOMAI, Dr. Afoke Isiavwe 

and Executive Director, Sam 

Eferaro, DICOMAI, said 

awareness about the disease 

remains a key factor in saving 

the lives of several people 

walking around in every part 

of the country who are oblivious 

of the fact that they have 

the disease and those already 

diagnosed who do not know 

how to manage or control it. 

On the theme, "Education to 

protect tomorrow" DICOMAI 

said the campaign is to focus 

on the need for better access to 

quality diabetes education 

both for healthcare professionals 

and people living with diabetes. 

The statement called for 

awareness and recognition of 

factors such as a family history 

of diabetes, overweight, 

unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, 

increasing age, high 

blood pressure, poor nutrition 

during pregnancy, impaired 

glucose tolerance and history 

of gestational diabetes, all 

closely associated with type 2 

diabetes. 

"It's another period of the 

year when the world focuses 

attention on diabetes, a disease 

that affects about 537 million 

adults and 1.1 million children 

worldwide - including more 

than five million Nigerian 

adults. Every year, diabetes reportedly 

kills about 4 million 

people worldwide and is associated 

with serious consequences 

such as stroke, blindness, 

limb amputation, kidney 

disease and cardiovascular 

disease. 

"DICOMAI aligns itself with 

the objective of the theme for 

this year and hereby calls on 

all Nigerians to be actively involved 

in commemorating the 

event and seize every opportunity 

to learn about diabetes, it's 

dangerous consequences and 

how to prevent it. 

"It is important to note that 

diabetes is on the increase globally, 

and one in 10 adults currently 

lives with it. According 

to WHO, almost half of about 

537 million people living with 

it worldwide do not know they 

have it thus, it is estimated that 

1 in 2 people currently living 

with diabetes is undiagnosed." 

About 11.0 million people 

are living with diabetes in Nigeria, 

according to UN statistics. 

CLIMATE CHANGE: LBS, others hold forum 

on resilient systems Nov18 

By Chioma Obinna 

WORRIED about the 

impacts of climate 

change and the COVID-19 

pandemic among others, 

the Lagos Business School 

Sustainability Centre, 

LBSS, IHS (Nigeria) Limited 

and the Global Reporting 

Initiative, GRI, Africa 

will on Friday, hold the annual 

(virtual) International 

Sustainability Conference 

(ISC), 

In preparation for the annual 

forum, LBSSC hosted 

an in-person stakeholders 

meeting themed “The Role 

of the Private Sector in 

Building Resilient Systems”. 

According to them, the 

impacts of climate change, 

economic volatility, the 

COVID-19 Pandemic, rising 

levels of poverty, and 

humanitarian crises, have 

revealed vulnerabilities in 

essential systems. 

“From food supply and 

energy to healthcare and 

transportation infrastructure, 

there have been unprecedented 

negative impacts 

on the value and supply 

chains on which society 

depends. These are all realities 

in the Nigerian business 

environment today. 

“The shocks hit hard on 

businesses, but by applying 

‘sustainability’ thinking 

and actions, private sector 

organisations can drive solutions 

that will have a positive 

impact on society, value 

chains, staff, customers and 

their business performance 

as well,” LBS and partners 

maintained. 

In their welcome ad- 

dresses, the Head, of 

Sustainability, Lagos Business 

School (LBS), Mrs 

Oreva Atanya, and Douglas 

Kativu, Director, of Global 

Reporting Initiative (GRI). 

Mrs Atanya emphasized 

said the LBS’s goal was to 

support the private sector 

organisations to be more 

sustainable internally and 

in terms of their external 

footprints. 

“We hope businesses take 

the learnings from this meeting 

to re-evaluate and improve 

their approach to 

The statement further informed 

that diabetes remains 

one of the largest global health 

emergencies of the 21st century, 

largely because of its severe 

and deadly consequences. 

"This is a disease that affects 

virtually all organs of the body, 

resulting in loss of vision, dental 

problem, kidney failure, 

cardiovascular disease, lower 

limb amputation, sexual dysfunction, 

among others, when 

not properly controlled - sadly 

a situation faced by Nigerians 

living with diabetes today. 

"Yet, many cases of type 2 diabetes, 

the commonest type, can 

be prevented through a healthy 

lifestyle. Also, good control by 

affected individuals can prevent 

the deadly consequences 

of the condition. 

"It is in the light of this that 

DICOMAI urges members of 

the public to learn more about 

the warning signs of diabetes 

and also find out if they are at 

risk of the disease. 

"Also, people living with diabetes 

need the support of their 

family to cope with the financial 

and emotional pressure 

that accompanies a diabetes 

diagnosis. There's a great need 

to embrace a healthy diet, increased 

physical activity and 

maintaining a healthy body 

weight, all of which can be easily 

achieved when every member 

of the family is involved." 

sustainability and CSR in a 

way that creates a more positive 

impact for the society, 

their stakeholders and 

shareholders as well” 

Speaking on harnessing 

the potential of sustainability 

reporting in building resilient 

systems, Mr Kativu 

stressed the need for businesses 

to move past a culture 

of compliance to drive 

long-term change. He also 

appreciated the role of LBS 

in developing leaders to 

drive sustainable businesses 

in Africa.


FLAG-OFF—From left: Senator Oluremi Tinubu; wife of Kwara State 

governor, Mrs. Olufolake Abdulrazaq; wife of the President, Dr. 

Aisha Buhari, and Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, during APC 

Women presidential campaign flag-off, in Ilorin, Kwara State, 

yesterday. 

MEETING—From left: National Commissioner, Independent National 

Electoral Commission, INEC, May Agbamuche-Mbu; Inspector-General of 

Police, Usman Baba; DG, National Intelligence Agency, Ahmad Abubakar, 

and Chief of Defence Intelligence, Maj.-Gen. Samuel Adebayo, during the 

IGP's meeting with leadership of political parties and other security agencies, 

at the Force Headquarters, Abuja, yesterday. Photo: Gbemiga Olamikan. 

CONFERMENT—From left: Founder/Chairman, Board of Trustees, 

Chrisland University, Dr. Winifred Awosika; Vice Chairman, FAMFA Oil 

Ltd., Folorunso Alakija; Vice-Chancellor, Chrisland University, Prof. 

Chinedum Babalola, and Pro-Chancellor/Chairman, Governing Council 

of the university, Prof. Ayodeji Olukoju, during the conferment of honorary 

degree of Doctor of Science on the Vice Chairman, FAMFA Oil Ltd., at 

the 4th Convocation ceremony of the university, held in Ogun State, 

yesterday. 

TRAINING—Staff of Development Bank of Nigeria Plc., with students of 

Government Secondary School, Durumi, Abuja, FCT, during the bank’s 

capacity building training programme for the students, focused on 

sustainable development goals, SDGs, and digital literacy, in furtherance 

of its corporate social responsibility, in Abuja.




INDUCTION—From Left; Dr. Parrick Korie, Vice Chairman, Health and Managed Care 

Association of Nigeria, HMCAN; Tosin Awosika, Guest Speaker; Dr. Leke Oshunniyi, 

Chairman, HMCAN, Dr. Jimmy Arigbabuwo, President, HCPAN, and Dr. Peter Oriavwote, 

Electoral Commissioner, HMCAN, during the induction ceremony of new members of the 

association, by the Institute for Health Care Finance and Managerment Ltd., held at 

Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos. Photo: Kehinde Gbadamosi. 

2023: INEC staff registered underaged 

voters —Igini 

By Clifford Ndujihe, 

Dapo Akinrefon, 

Levinus 

Nwabughiogu, 

Omeiza Ajayi, Peter 

Duru & Luminous 

Jannamike 

FORMER AKWA Ibom State 

Resident Electoral 

Commissioner, REC, of the 


Commission, INEC, Mike Igini, has 

accused some staff of the electoral 

body of registering underaged 

voters. 

He said that those involved in 

the recent INEC registration 

process are all staff of the commission 

which makes it easy to trace the 

culprits for prosecution. 

“Those who have done this are 

staff of INEC, I can tell you. If you 

register as a registration officer, you 

register with your personal ID 

(identity card), all of them can be 

traced,” he said on Channels 

Television’s Sunrise Daily 

programme, yesterday. 

“Anyone who undermines the 

confidence of public institutions 

must be brought to book,” Igini said 

and 

cited a case in Akwa Ibom State 

where an Information and 

Communications Technology staff 

of INEC used his office to register 

under-aged voters. 

“The beauty of INEC procedures 

is that they are open to meaningful 

engagements and discussions. 

There was a time when we could 

say these were the handiwork of 

youth corpers or some people that 

were engaged but the current 

procedure and process of 

registration are all carried out by 

staff of INEC,” he maintained. 

Igini further blamed the 

registration of the under-aged on 

collapse of values in the society, 

berating parents who allow their 

under-aged children to register as 

voters. 

He commended the commission 

for the publication of the voters’ 

register, saying that it is the first 

time it is being published on INEC 

website. 

The recent publication and 

display of the voters register by the 

INEC raised dust owing to the 

surprising number of children voters. 

Various social media platforms are 

awash with claims and counterclaims 

over the issue. 

•Go after perpetrators, MBF, Afenifere, APGA, CAN, others urge 

INEC •We’ll address issue, punish culpable officials — INEC 

INEC must not 

tolerate under-aged 

voters —APGA 

Speaking on the issue, APGA 

National Chairman, Chief Edozie 

Njoku, said: "Why would you 

tolerate under-aged voters? It is 

against the law. It goes without 

gainsaying that if there are underaged 

voters, it is against the law. 

They should be dealt with for 

breaking that particular law. 

"The under-aged people have no 

motive to do that. It is people that 

used them. So, the INEC should 

face the people who used them and 

deal with them." 

Igini spoke the 

truth —MBF 

The National President of the 

Middle Belt Forum, MBF, Dr. Bitrus 

Pogu said Igini’s allegations should 

be thoroughly investigated, those 

responsible fished out and punished 

accordingly.“Dr. Pogu who spoke to 

Vanguard in Makurdi noted that 

INEC owe Nigerians a moral 

responsibility to explain how underaged 

voters got registered and 

availed Permanent Voter Cards, 

PVC.“He said: "it is INEC that does 

the registration and those who are 

registered are seen by INEC staff 

so if we have cases of under-aged 

voters the commission should be 

held responsible for that and 

nobody else.“"Perhaps INEC 

should purge itself because it is a 

clear indication that it is failing in its 

responsibilities.“"The development 

is also a pointer to the fact that we 

need to revisit a lot of things. The 

process of recruiting ad hoc staff in 

the commission should be revisited 

to ensure that the wrong people 

are not engaged in the 

commission.'' 

INEC should probe, 

make necessary 

By Shina Abubakar 

OSOGBO—CENTRAL Bank of 

Nigeria has reemphasised the 

need for Nigerians to handle the 

new naira notes with dignity as 

severe consequences await those 

mishandling the currency. 

Speaking at a sensitisation, 

enlightenment and bank fair 

programme in Osogbo, Osun State, 

yesterday, ahead of the introduction 

of the redesign notes, the CBN's 

Director of Corporate 

Communications, Mr. Osita 

Nwanisobi, said the Naira was a 

symbol of national pride and must 

be handle with care. 

Represented by Akpama Uket, 

he said there were damning 

consequences for those who handle 

the Naira without dignity. 

According to him: "The Naira 

remains a symbol of our national 

pride which must be treated with 

utmost dignity. I, therefore, urged 

you not to spray, squeeze, or 

counterfeit the Naira, as default goes 

with serious consequences. 

"As you all may be aware, the 

CBN, riding on internationalbest 

amends —Afenifere 

Also, the pan Yoruba sociopolitical 

organisation, Afenifere, 

urged the electoral commission to 

investigate and make necessary 

amends. 

Afenifere’s Secretary, Mr Sola 

Ebiseni, in a chat with Vanguard, 

said: “That is a confession from 

INEC itself and our concern is for a 

free and fair election. We are not 

surprised that such a statement is 

coming from INEC. Igini has proven 

himself as a man of integrity and a 

public servant with conscience. 

“For now, we will not regard it as 

an indictment on INEC because 

more often than not, those who 

conduct INEC’s registration 

activities are adhoc staff, who are 

not necessarily employees of INEC. 

“Notwithstanding, INEC ought 

to have the mechanism to clean its 

system of illegal registration but that 

statement, as it is now, has cast a lot 

of doubt on the sincerity of INEC to 

conduct a free and fair election.'' 

Fish out, sanction 

INEC staff responsible, 

CAN tells FG 

On its part, CAN urged the 

Federal Government to fish out 

those responsible for the registration 

of under-aged voters. 

Kaduna State CAN chairman, 

Rev. John Hayab, said: "It is rather 

unfortunate that those who are 

supposed to protect the sanctity of 

our electoral process are the people 

alleged to be subverting it by 

registering under-aged 

voters.“"Those who undermine the 

electoral process must be brought 

to book irrespective of who they are. 

The INEC staff culpable in this 

heinous crime should be fished out 

and sanctioned. However, we must 

be careful in doing this because some 

people may be 18 years and above, 

but look 10 years younger." 

We’ll address issues, 

punish culpable 

officials 

Responding to the calls, yesterday, 

the INEC said it would address all 

issues raised concerning the 

national register of voters. 

In a statement signed by National 

Commissioner, Festus Okoye, 

INEC said it was committed to 

cleaning up the register and punish 

those found guilty of tampering with 

its integrity. 

The Commission said making the 

register public was a sign of 

transparency on its part. 

The register is expected to be 

displayed physically at the 

Registration Area level from 

November 12 to 18. 

At the Local Government level, 

it will be displayed from November 

19 to 25, during which voters can 

make claims and objections. 

In addition to the physical display, 

citizens can also make claims and 

objections online, the Commission 

said. 

“We wish to reassure Nigerians 

that the Commission is committed 

to transparency and accountability 

in all its activities.“ 

Naira redesign: Squeeze, spray notes, face 

wrath of law —CBN 

practice and Section 2 (b) of the 

CBN Act 2007, which stipulates 

currency management as one of its 

key functions, has announced the 

plan to redesign,produce, release, 

and circulate the new series of three 

banknotes, out of the existing eight 

banknotes, comprising N200, N500, 

and N1000 denominations, 

respectively, effective December 15, 

2022, after its launch by President 

Muhammadu Buhari." 

On the various successful 

intervention of the financial 

institution, Nwanisobi, said: "Some 

of the bank's interventions, which 

have recorded significant successes 

in providing the needed support for 

businesses to grow include the 

Anchor Borrowers Programme, 

ABP, the Micro, Small and Medium 

Enterprises Development Fund, 

MSMEDF, which has supported 

entrepreneurship development 

with over N39.26 million. 

"The Real Sector Support Facility, 

RSSF, through Differentiated Cash 

Reserve Ratio, DCRR, where 

disbursements to 426 projects 

across the country stood at N2.10 

trillion as at September 2022 and 

the 100 for 100 Policy on Production 

and Productivity, PPP, with 

cumulative disbursement of 

N93.39 billion to 62 projects within 

the aforementioned period. " 

Ikorodu Federal Constituency ticket: 

A'Court affirms Shittu's victory 

By Innocent Anaba 

THE COURT of Appeal sitting in 

Lagos has affirmed Mr. Abdul 

Shittu as the Peoples Democratic 

Party, PDP, candidate for the Ikorodu 

Federal Constituency seat, Lagos 

in the House of Representatives. 

A three-man panel of the court 

dismissed an appeal by Shittu's coaspirant 

Awesu AbdulAzeez and 

the PDP challenging the judgment 

of Justice Daniel Osiagor of a Federal 

High Court, Lagos, which declared 

Shittu as the party's flag bearer. 

Justice A. Bayero, who read the 

lead judgment, agreed with Shittu's 

counsel, Patience Udoh, that the 

appeal lacked merit and "it is 

accordingly dismissed." 

The appellate court also dismissed 

a separate appealby the PDP 

against Shittu's victory. 

It awarded a punitive cost of 

N5million against the PDPin 

NDDC: ignore calls for 

inauguration of board, 

Okotie-Eboh tells Buhari 

By Jeremiah 

Urowayino 

THE SON of Nigeria's First 

Finance Minister and the 

immediate past Regent of Warri 

Kingdom Prince Emmanuel 

Okotie-Eboh has cautioned 

President Muhammadu Buhari to 

ignore the call for a constituted 

Board of the Niger Delta 

Development Commission, 

NDDC by some politicians, noting 

that the timing is wrong. 

Okotie-Eboh made this 

disclosure while reacting to the 

comment of former Delta State 

governor, Dr. Emmanuel 

Uduaghan on President 

Muhammadu Buhari to 

immediately constitute the Board 

of the Niger Delta Development 

Commission, NDDC. 

The immediate past Regent of 

Warri Kingdom said inaugurating 

a board for the commission within 

this period will further afford 

politicians ample opportunity to loot 

the Commission's fund for their 

Waveline Growth Partners 

targets N500m capital raise 

By Nkiruka Nnorom 

WAVELINE 

GROWTH 

Partners Limited, a Lagosbased 

Microfinance Institution, 

MFI, said it is poised to clinch a 

leadership position in the 

microfinance sector through the 

rendition of unique products and 

services to its clients. 

The company also said it is set to 

raise N500 million to expand its 

business. 

The Chief Executive Officer of 

the company, Mrs Taba Peterside, 

who spoke at the company's fiveyear 

anniversary celebration in 

Lagos, said that Waveline has 

disbursed over 2,000 loans worth 

more than N300 million since its 

inception in 2017. 

She stated that the MFI would 

deploy improved technology and 

financial services professionals to 

redefine the business. 

"Since inception, the company 

has served a diverse spread of 

ENUGU—COMMUNITIES in 

Nike have listed roads, 

employment, health infrastructure, 

industrialisation, education, and 

employment as development 

priorities facing them, urging the 

governorship candidate of the 

Peoples Democratic Party in the 

Shittu's favour, adding that the 

appeal was needless. 

The court also ordered Awesu to 

pay Shittu the sum of N500,000 for 

bringing a vexatious appeal against 

him. 

Recall that lastSeptember, Justice 

Osiagor of the lower court directed 

the Independent National Electoral 

Commission, INEC, to recognise 

Shitu as the validly nominated 

candidate for the Ikorodu Federal 

Constituency. 

Justice Osiagor held that Shittu 

won the party's Lagos State House 

of Representatives primary election 

conducted on May 24, 2022, by a 

simple majority. 

He also held that the INEC form 

signed by officials of the party and 

countersigned by the INEC official 

had the name of the plaintiff, Shittu, 

written on it as the winner of the 

primary election. 

selfish gain to the detriment of the 

Niger Delta region. 

Okotie-Eboh said the 

Managing Director of the 

commission and his team should 

be allowed to stabilize the 

commission for now during this 

period till after the 2023 election 

Okotie-Eboh admonished 

President Buhari to focus more on 

delivering a free, credible, and 

acceptable 2023 elections to put 

the nation on the path of growth 

to lift Nigeria from the current sociopolitical 

and economic quagmire 

and refused to be dragged into 

unnecessary issues capable of 

setting the region on fire. 

He, however, reinforced his 

belief that in setting up the NDDC 

board, the government must 

remember that, in line with the 

Act establishing the Commission, 

its the turn of the Itsekiri nation to 

produce the Managing Director 

as the highest oil and gas 

producing ethnic nationality in 

Delta State. 

customers under its various products: 

group loans, individual micro loans, 

salary loans and SME loans. It has 

established a strong clientele of repeat 

customers, who testify to its 

transparent and speedy loan 

application processes. 

"From its first loan of N100,000 in 

November 2017, it has disbursed 

nearly 2000 loans worth over N300 

million since inception. The company 

is now ready to significantly expand 

its service offering from current levels. 

"In addition to increasing our 

lending operations, we also plan to 

broaden our product base to include 

micro pensions and insurance, 

among other offerings to deepen our 

clients’ engagement with the formal 

economy. 

“Looking ahead, we are excited to 

be part of all the innovations taking 

place in Fintech, and look forward to 

further expanding our financial 

inclusion and empowerment 

mission through technology and 

partnerships,” Peterside said. 

Nike communities list devt 

priorities for Enugu PDP 

guber candidate 

State, Dr. Peter Mbah to address 

the needs when elected governor 

in 2023. 

Pledging their votes to Mbah, 

they also lamented the activities of 

land speculators, whom they said 

had made communities poorer. 

The communities spoke on 

Thursday during town hall 

meetings with the Dr. Mbah at 

Ugwogo Nike, Headquarters of 

Mbuluiyiukwu Development 

Centre and Emene, headquarters 

of Mbulujodo Development Centre 

both in Enugu East LGA. 

Speaking, former Senator 

representing Enugu Senatorial 

Zone, Senator Gilbert Nnaji and 

Member representing Enugu East/ 

Isi-Uzo Federal Constituency, Hon. 

Cornelius Nnaji, said the 

construction of the Ugwogo Nike- 

Agbogazi Nike-Ubahu-Owo road 

would enhance rural access and 

catalyse socio-economic 

development of the area. 

On their part, Rev. Fr. Cornelius 

Uwakwe regretted lack of a 

secondary school or hospital for the 

people of the area and urged Dr. 

Mbah to help reduce the hardships 

of the people, while Rev. Fr. 

Chimezie Ani, who harped on the 

agricultural potentials of Nike 

communities, urged the PDP 

gubernatorial candidate to elevate 

the state to agricultural processing 

and marketing hub when elected.


TINUBU TO SOUTH-EAST: 

Stop complaining, I’ll 

address your grievances 

•Says my govt won't segregate but 

discuss issues•Promises to revive 

industries in zone 

By Chinonso Alozie 

& Olayinka Ajayi 

THE 

Presidential 

Candidate of the All 

Progressives Congress, APC, 

Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu, 

yesterday, took his quest for 

the presidency to the South- 

East zone, with a promise that 

if elected he would address the 

grievances of Nigerians and 

would not segregate in 

forming his government. 

He stated this at a town hall 

meeting in Owerri while 

addressing South East 

stakeholders on his plans for 

the nation. 

Tinubu, who spoke on 

various issues assured: "My 

government will hand over to 

Nigerians their tomorrow. We 

will run a forward government 

and not a backward 

government. I am one of you 

and your son. My mother was 

a market woman and a 

market leader, who thought 

me how to make money. She 

thought me patience and 

resilience. 

"So, a simple technology 

code will be unveiled. We will 

bring a technology hub that 

will ease the difficulties in 

doing business. We are 

thinkers and doers. It does not 

take an atlas to archive it. 

"It takes common sense to 

bring success to life. Our party 

and the progressive governors 

shall work a roadmap for 

renewed hope. We shall 

establish industries and 

modernise the existing ones 

for production in places like 

Owerri and Aba." 

He continued: "My 

government will consist of 

people from every segment of 

the society and will discuss 

grievances. There will be no 

segregation. To unite the 

country, you have to keep your 

religion because it is your 

faith and how you want to 

worship your God. 

"Let us prove to people who 

want us divided that we are 

smarter than them. Let us vote 

for progress. We have what it 

takes and we have brilliant 

people to move the country 

forward. If you are looking for 

the person to achieve it, here I 

am. We want you to be part 

of the future and not align 

yourself with excuses. If we put 

our heart into something we 

can do it, Let us stop 

complaining. We can do it; it 

is about a change of mindset 

and determination." 

Tinubu also promised to 

fight corruption and 

insecurity. 

Earlier in his remarks, the 

chief host and Imo State 

Governor, Senator Hope 

Uzodimma, said: "This is a 

town hall meeting for APC 

presidential candidate to 

interface and interact, with 

entrepreneurs, businessmen 

and women and low-income 

earners to know what their 

problems are and what he 

intends to do for South-East. 

So, he will include them as 

part of what he has as 

programmes of what he will 

do for the Igbo and Nigerians. 

Having listened to him, in 

Lagos, when he addressed the 

business community, he 

captured the details and we 

have been convinced that we 

have a presidential candidate, 

who is ready to go." 

Adding his voice, the 

Governor of Ebonyi State, 

Dave Umahi, said: "The 

South-East people are asking 

what is there for them. We are 

businessmen and some 

policies have rendered the 

South-East prostrate and these 

are the issues they want to 

addressed. And again, in the 

South-East we will not live by 

religious sentiment, we will 

live by good governance. 

"We have assured our 

people that based on the 

manifestos that we have great 

confidence in our presidential 

candidate that he will 

deliver.With the situation in 

the country, we need a 

businessman. So, we need that 

miracle you did in Lagos in 

1999 -2007 to happen in 

Nigeria. Also, we believe you 

will unite the country and turn 

the country around for the 

better. 

Speaking also, a former 

Governor of Imo State, Chief 

Ikedi Ohakim, said: "Tinubu 

has already won the war; he 

is just in Imo State to come 

and thank our people in 

advance." 

The event was attended by 

the national leadership of the 

APC led by the National 

Chairman, Senator 

Abdullahi Adamu, state 

chairmen of the APC in the 

South-East zone, and 

candidates of the party across 

the five states of the South- 

East zone among others. 

Naira appreciates N445.75/$ 

in I&E window 

By Elizabeth Adegbesan 

THE naira yesterday appreciated to N445.75 per 

dollar in the Investors and Exporters (I&E) 

window. Data from FMDQ showed that the 

indicative exchange rate for the window fell to 

N445.75 per dollar from N446.67 per dollar on 

Wednesday, indicating 90 Kobo appreciation for the 

naira. However, the naira depreciated by N5 in the 

parallel market yesterday. 

Vanguard findings from black market traders 

showed that the indicative exchange rate for the 

market rose to N800 per dollar from N795 per dollar 

on Wednesday. 

From right: Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma,APC Presidential Candidate Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, 

APC National Chairman Senator Abdullahi Adamu and Director-General Tinubu-Shettima Presidential Campaign Council, 

Rt Hon Simon Lalong, during the APC Town Hall Meeting and Dialogue in Imo State . 

133 million Nigerians poor - NBS 

Continues from Page 5 

brings under one roof 

different Sustainable 

Development Goals (SDG) 

indicators and forms of 

poverty, so we can break 

silos and address them 

together. 

“Secondly, Nigeria is a 

large and diverse country. 

Using the disaggregation 

to show the vast range in 

the levels of poverty, we can 

see the precise needs for 

each State or senatorial 

district, which will allow 

policymakers at that level 

take appropriate action. 

How FG will use 

MPI report 

“As a post-pandemic data, 

it will be integrated within 

the National Social 

Register- the government’s 

largest databank on the 

poor and vulnerable. This 

integration will facilitate 

better targeting and 

coordinated response for 

social interventions; 

leaving no one behind. 

“The MPI is embedded 

within the Medium-Term 

National Development 

Plans (2021-2026 & 2026- 

2030) as a measurement 

and policy tool for poverty 

reduction. Likewise, this 

year, the Federal Executive 

Council approved the 

2022-2025 National Poverty 

Reduction with Growth 

Strategy (NPRGS) under 

which the MPI project is 

being implemented. 

“The MPI analysis 

uncovers differences by 

gender and children. 

Children are a strategic 

population in Nigeria. 

They are deeply affected by 

poverty, yet they are our 

future. So, we are building 

a young child MPI. It 

includes the national MPI 

and adds in extra 

information about early 

childhood development, 

which is information we 

require to improve their 

lives and life chances. 

“At the Federal level, 

these results will be used 

to influence the allocation 

of resources going forward, 

particularly to target sectors 

where most citizens suffer 

deprivations. 

“The MPI is not our only 

data on poverty, combining 

the insights provided by 

MPI results with data from 

the income poverty 

measurement, it provides a 

holistic picture of poverty, 

and helps to shape the path 

towards shared prosperity. 

Dimensions of 

Poverty 

Explaining the structure 

of the MPI survey, the NBS 

said: “The National MPI 

2022 has four dimensions: 

health, education, living 

standards, and work and 

shocks. The number of 

indicators, and their 

ambition, have increased. 

“Security shocks were 

raised in consultations and 

have been added to the 

work dimension, which 

also now includes 

underemployment. Food 

security and time to 

healthcare have been 

added to the health 

dimension. 

“School lag has been 

added to the education 

dimension as a proxy for 

quality, and water reliability 

added to living standards. 

The National MPI 2022 

also has a linked Child 

MPI. This Child MPI 

extends the National MPI 

to include appropriate 

indicators for children aged 

0–4, by adding a fifth 

dimension of child survival 

and development. 

“This additional 

dimension contains eight 

vital aspects of early 

childhood development in 

physical and cognitive 

domains—including 

severe undernutrition, 

immunisation, intellectually 

stimulating activities, and 

preschool. While it does not 

offer individual-level data, 

it uncovers additional 

children who according to 

the extra dimension should 

qualify 

as 

multidimensionally poor.” 

Key results of MPI 2022 

According to the National 

MPI 2022, 62.9% of 

people—just under 133 

million people— are 

multidimensionally poor, 

meaning that they 

experience deprivations in 

more than one dimension, 

or in at least 26% of 

weighted indicators. The 

average deprivation score 

among poor people, which 

shows the intensity of 

poverty, is 40.9%. The 

National MPI is 0.257, 

showing that poor people 

in Nigeria experience just 

over one-quarter of all 

possible deprivations. 

“Multidimensional 

poverty is higher in rural 

areas, where 72% of people 

are poor, compared to 42% 

of people in urban areas. 

“Approximately 70% of 

Nigeria’s population live in 

rural areas, yet rural areas 

are home to 80% of poor 

people, and their intensity 

of poverty is also higher: 

42% in rural areas 

compared to 37% in urban 

areas. 

Geopolitical 

Zone 

“Sixty-five percent of poor 

people—86 million—live 

in the North, while 35%— 

nearly 47 million – live in 

the South. 

In the least-poor zone, 

the South West, the MPI of 

0.151 shows that poor 

people experience 15% of 

possible deprivations, 

while in North East and 

North West, the MPI of 

0.324 shows they 

experience over 32% of 

possible deprivations. 

Poverty across 

states 

“Poverty levels across 

States vary significantly, 

with the incidence of 

multidimensional poverty 

ranging from a low of 27% 

in Ondo to a high of 91% in 

Sokoto. 

“Indicator priorities vary 

quite widely between 

States with very similar 

poverty levels, so 

interventions should be 

tailored to the deprivation 

profiles of each State. 

“For accurate budgeting 

and planning, it is vital to 

consider how many people 

are poor, alongside their 

level of poverty. 

Poverty among 

children 

Two-thirds (67.5%) of 

children aged 0–17 are poor 

according to the National 

MPI, and half (51%) of all 

poor people are children. 

According to the Child 

MPI, 83.5% of children 

under 5 are poor. The 

incidence of Child MPI is 

above 50% in all States, and 

greater than 95% in 

Bayelsa, Sokoto, Gombe 

and Kebbi. 

“The highest 

deprivations are in the 

indicator of child 

engagement—where over 

half of poor children lack 

the intellectual stimulation 

that is pivotal to early 

childhood development. 

“Child poverty is 

prevalent in rural areas, 

with almost 90% of rural 

children experiencing 

poverty. 

“While 6 out of 10 girls 

aged 12–17 were poor, 

among those in child 

marriages, approximately 8 

out of 10 were poor. The 

MPI among married girls 

was also higher at 0.338, 

compared to 0.256 for girls 

who are not married. While 

the numbers are small, the 

differences in poverty are 

very high, emphasising the 

need to address child 

marriage and 

multidimensional poverty. 

Poverty and 

School 

attendance 

“In total, 29% of all schoolaged 

children are not 

attending school. This is 

closely linked to 

multidimensional poverty: 

94% of all out-of-school 

children are poor. 

“Thus 27% of all school 

age children are both poor 

and out of school (with no 

significant gender 

disparities), making this a 

critical area in need of 

urgent investment. 

“The data profiles how 

many children live in 

households where there is 

inequality, with some 

children attending school 

and others not. Overall, 

17% of poor school-aged 

children experience 

inequalities in their 

household, compared to 

Continues on Page 35


Alert advising against 

non-essential travel to 

Nigeria unauthorised, 

says Ghanaian govt 

GHANA Ministry of 

Foreign Affairs and 

Regional Integration has 

said it was not aware of any 

security alert warning the 

country’s citizen against 

non-essential travel to 

Nigeria. 

The ministry made the 

clarification in a statement 

on Wednesday in Accra, 

the country’s capital city. 

The ministry said an 

unauthorised travel 

advisory restricting 

Ghanaians from travelling 

to Nigeria for unimportant 

matters was published on 

November 16. 

“The ministry of foreign 

affairs and regional 

integration wishes to refer 

to the travel advisory 

published this evening, 

Wednesday, November 16, 

2022 advising against nonessential 

travel to Abuja 

and wishes to state that the 

statement was 

unauthorised,” the ministry 

said. 

“The ministry is not 

‘How to build 

capacity of 

young 

journalists’ 

By Elizabeth 

Osayande 

THE executive director, 

Africa Foundation for 

Young Media Professionals, 

Yinka Olaito, has reiterated 

the need to build the capacity 

of young generation of 

journalists in order to sustain 

Nigerian democracy. 

Olaito disclosed this 

recently at the maiden edition 

of media come alive forum, 

tagged:” sustainable 

democracy in Nigeria; the 

role of the media, his 

organization orgainsed in 

partnership with Grassroots 

News for students of mass 

communication, and midcareer 

journalists. 

According to the media 

practitioner: 

“We discovered that 

changing the older 

generation is difficult. And if 

you are going to change the 

narrative, go to the next 

generation. Capacity 

development is one major 

thing that you need to do to 

be able to build the skill. If 

you are doing to change 

anything, you must build the 

capacity. 

“The future of democracy 

still looks bleak after over 20 

year. Nevertheless, our 

democracy must be 

sustained. And the media has 

a role to play,” he said. 

Olaito added that “We 

also discovered that when 

you build the capacity of 

people and you reward them, 

they work more. So, out of 

the 90 participants at our 

media training, across 

Nigeria, these 14 

distinguished themselves, 

and we thought that 

rewarding them will 

motivate others to strive to be 

better. 

aware of any threat 

targeted at Ghanaians who 

continue to live in harmony 

with their Nigerian 

brothers and sisters. 

“The ministry of foreign 

affairs and regional 

integration regrets any 

inconvenience this may 

have caused to the 

travelling public.” 

Earlier, the US, UK and 

Canadian governments 

had issued a security alert 

warning of increased terror 

attacks in Nigeria, 

particularly, the federal 

capital territory (FCT). 

From left: Navy Captain, Tunji Shelle, former state Chairman & Director, Election Management Committee, 

PCC; Taofeek Gani, former State Publicity Secretary, PDP; and Adedeji Doherty,Chairman PCC, Lagos state; 

during the PDP peaceful march from Fadeyi to Maryland in Lagos, yesterday 

133 million Nigerians poor - NBS 

Continues from Page 34 

2% of non-poor schoolaged 

children. 

“Gender disparities 

continue to greatly affect 

the overall population, with 

1 in 7 poor people (18.6 

million) living in a 

household in which a man 

has completed primary 

school, but no woman has 

done so. 

“Across Nigeria, 4.4 

million people, 2.1% of the 

population, live in 

households with a pioneer 

child—a child who has 

completed six years of 

schooling and lives in a 

household where no adult 

has completed six years of 

schooling” 

NBS 

recommendations 

In terms of 

recommendations, the 

NBS recommended that 

“The National MPI 2022 

as an official monitoring 

indicator for the initiative 

lifting 100 million people 

out of poverty by 2030, to 

complement the monetary 

indicators. 

“The National MPI 2022 

to report and share 

progress on poverty 

reduction via both the 

Global SDG Indicators 

Database (as 1.2.2) and 

Voluntary National 

Reviews (VNRs). 

“The National MPI 

should be regularly 

updated, using an 

appropriate survey vehicle. 

Integration of the National 

MPI 2022 with the National 

Monitoring and 

Evaluation Framework at 

the Ministry of Finance, 

Budget and National 

Planning (MFBNP) is 

essential. 

“Incorporate the 

National MPI into medium 

and long-term strategies 

(such as the National 

Development Plan) with 

appropriate targets. 

“Prioritise and accelerate 

the implementation of 

existing national policies 

and action plans that have 

an impact on clusters of 

deprivations that are 

particularly high at a 

national or sub-national 

level 

“Adopt a national strategy 

to accelerate the 

sustainable transition to 

clean cooking fuels and 

technologies, given that 

more than half of the 

population who are 

multidimensionally poor 

cook with dung, wood or 

charcoal 

Set child poverty 

reduction as a top national 

priority, as more than half 

of all poor people are 

children. 

“Early childhood 

development policies must 

be strengthened and 

accelerated. The nutrition 

of children aged 0–4 must 

be prioritised as this 

population cannot wait; 

policies to increase school 

enrolment and attendance 

should also be prioritised, 

as should policies to end 

child marriage. 

“Alongside previous 

policy recommendations, 

prioritise interventions in 

rural areas, where 80% of 

all multidimensionally poor 

people live. 

“Adopt a programme 

aimed at promoting 

employment and 

alleviating shocks for 

households with at least 

one PLWD. 

“Continue to include 

MPI data in the National 

Social Register (NSR) to 

ensure that targeting takes 

into account people who 

are multidimensionally 

poor. 

“Promote the poverty 

dashboard so nongovernmental 

actors can 

access and use National 

MPI data to target their 

programmes.” 

NBS poverty 

report, not 

contestable— 

NECA 

Reacting, Nigeria 

Employers’ Consultative 

Association, NECA, said 

with high inflation rate 

making nonsense of the 

disposable income of the 

masses and businesses 

challenged on all fronts, the 

figure by the NBS is not 

contestable. 

Director-General of 

NECA, Wale-Smatt 

Oyerinde told Vanguard 

that “The NBS report that 

63 percent of Nigerians, 

that is about 133 million are 

poor, cannot be far from the 

truth. With high inflation 

rate making nonsense of 

the disposable income of 

the masses and businesses 

challenged on all fronts, 

the figure by the NBS is not 

contestable. 

“Over the past months, 

prices of food items have 

continued to rise as 

inflation has remained 

high, even as farmers are 

not yet totally free to plant 

and harvest their crops. To 

make matters worse, the 

recent flood disrupted the 

economic potential and 

means of sustenance of 

many Nigerians, further 

pushing them below the 

poverty line. 

“To address this drift, 

government must take 

deliberate steps to address 

the fiscal and monetary 

quagmire that has tended 

to impoverish many than 

lift them out of poverty. Probusiness 

regulations 

should be deepened to 

enable business growth in 

order to generate more 

employment.” 

APC leaving 

behind poverty as 

legacy-PDP 

Campaign 

Reacting to the MPI 2022 

report, the Atiku-Okowa 

Presidential Campaign said 

the outgoing Muhammadu 

Buhari-led All Progressives 

Congress administration was 

leaving behind an inglorious 

record of grinding poverty 

occasioned by an abysmal 

performance in education 

and health among other 

indices of development. 

Special Assistant , Public 

Communication to Atiku 

Abubakar, Phrank Shaibu, 

said the latest report by the 

Nigeria Bureau of Statistics, 

which says 63 percent of 

Nigerians are poor has 

underlined the fact that the 

number of Nigerians living 

in poverty is alarming but this 

latest report by the National 

Bureau of Statistics about the 

multidimensional height of 

our poverty level calls for 

concern. 

“This,” he said, “is even 

more so that, in Buhari’s 

Nigeria, there have been no 

convincing measures being 

taken to indicate that 

anything concrete is being 

done about it. 

“He said, “Included in this 

troubling reality is that over 

23 million youths, mostly 

educated and potentially 

productive, are unemployed. 

This development portends 

only one thing: a threat to the 

security and stability of the 

Nigerian nation. 

“From the monetary 

perspective, the Central Bank 

of Nigeria, whose job it is to 

check inflation claims that it 

is doing its best to ensure that 

the overall prices for goods 

and services remain low, 

stable and predictable even 

as records on the ground point 

to the contrary. 

“Although the Buhari 

administration claims to be 

empowering potential 

investors; big and small so as 

to improve people’s lives, 

records show that 54.7 

percent of Nigerians are 

financially excluded due to 

low level bank penetration in 

the country, and that beside 

the 916 Microfinance Banks, 

the 24 ‘big banks’ have only a 

little over 6000 branches, 

mostly concentrated in a few 

urban centres. 

He further said: “To worsen 

matters, the social safety net 

scheme introduced by the 

Federal Government in 2016, 

to tackle poverty and hunger 

has not made any significant 

impact owing to poor 

implementation, corruption 

allegation and politicisation. 

“Only a sensible 

government will reckon that 

by redirecting public 

expenditure away from 

recurrent expenses and 

unnecessary consumption 

back to capital projects, the 

government can have positive 

impact on incomes and 

employment. 

“Such newly-employed 

individuals can in turn pay 

their bills, rent and essentials, 

thus providing income to the 

farmers, herdsmen, landlords 

and the like. 

“Industrial policy, the kind 

that is encapsulated in Alhaji 

Atiku Abubakar’s blueprint, 

is another area to concentrate 

on. 

“A nation of 200 million 

people cannot abandon its 

manufacturing sector in 

favour of importation. We 

must ensure that most of what 

we eat, drink, wear or 

otherwise use on daily basis 

are locally produced, thereby 

creating local employment 

and saving foreign exchange. 

“The current policy thrust 

may give the government 

additional revenue but it is 

actually wasting scarce 

resources and generating 

more jobs and incomes for 

foreign countries. 

“Even within the industrial 

sector, more employment 

opportunities need to be 

created. The worn excuse that 

the sector does not generate 

much employment because it 

is capital intensive has been 

discredited by the example of 

big countries like Russia and 

Brazil, as well as small ones 

like Trinidad and Tobago. 

“So far, we seem to focus 

mainly on what taxes, fees or 

royalties we can extract 

rather than developing the 

upstream and downstream 

sectors, through the creation 

of integrated complexes to 

provide chemicals, plastics 

and other industrial inputs 

for our industrial uses and 

export. The days of simply 

exporting crude should by 

now have been over.““It is for 

the purpose of departing from 

Buhari’s legacy of poverty 

that Atiku’s policy document 

code-named Unity-SEED, 

which stands for Unity, 

Security, Economy, 

Education and Devolution of 

power to states and local 

governments lays emphasis 

on Promoting diversification 

and linkages between 

agriculture, industry and 

micro and small enterprises. 

Shaibu maintained, 

“Although the People’s 

Democratic Party (PDP) 

presidential candidate 

believes that the oil sector 

shall remain key to Nigeria's 

development as it continues 

to provide fiscal resources for 

investment in economic and 

social infrastructure, his plan 

is to give priority to the 

promotion of sustained nonoil 

sector growth and 

enhanced linkages between 

the oil and non-oil sectors. 

“In pursuit of a policy of 

diversification, Atiku shall 

support the development of a 

commercially-driven, 

technology-proficient 

agriculture which ensures 

food security and interfaces 

with the manufacturing 

sector for the supply of raw 

materials.


UGBOKA 

OMORUYI 

CHADU 

I formerly known as Miss I, formerly known as MISS I, formerly known as 

Scholastica Ugboka now wish OMORUYI SANDRA MARGARET ODUVWU 

to be known and addressed as 

OSAKPAMWAN, now wish to CHADU, now wish to be 

be known and addressed as known and addressed as 

Mrs Scholastica Dimgba. All MRS OKENE SANDRA 

MARGARET ODUVWU. All 

former documents remain OSAKPAMWAN. All former 

valid. The general public documents remain valid. 

former documents remain 

General public please take valid. Banks and the general 

should please take note. 

note. 

public please take note. 

SIWEKWU OB 

FOLORUNSHO EVI 

I formerly known as Miss I formerly known as MISS I, formerly known, called and 

SIWEKWU COMFORT VICTORIA YETUNDE addressed as OBUKENI ERICA 

NNEKA, now wish to be FOLORUNSHO. Due to marriage, EMAMUZOU now wish to be 

known and addressed as Mrs now wish to be known and 

known, called and addressed as 

AMUDO COMFORT addressed as MRS. VICTORIA 

NNEKA. All former 

MRS. EVI 

ERICA 

YETUNDE TEMITAYOdocuments 

remain valid. The ADUBI. All former documents 

EMAMUZOU. All documents 

general public should please remain valid. The general public bearing former name remains valid. 

take note. 


General public, please take note. 

OBUSO 

QUEENSLINE 

EZEN 

I, formerly known and I, formerly known and addressed I formerly known and addressed as 

addressed as DIMKPA as QUEENSLINE ONORIODE MISS EZEN PRISCILLA 

HOMACHI OBUSO EKEMENA EZO now wish to be EBIRIEN. now wish to be known 

TATYANA now wish to be 

and addressed as MRS 

known and addressed as 


PRISCILLA KPUNU- 

DIMKPA TATYANA 

QUEENSLINE ONORIODE EYINROBELLO OKOIJA. All 

HOMACHI. All former EKEMENA ONOKAYE. All documents bearing my former 

name remains valid. General 

documents remain valid. former documents remain valid. 

public, Bank and Relevant 

General Public take note. General public please take note. Authorities please take note. 

AKPILE ONOJAKPOR DALAGHA 

l formerly known and addressed as 

AKPILE BARTHOLOMEW 

UDUEFE Now wish to be known 

and addressed as FRENCH 

BARTHOLOMEW0 UDUEFE, 

all former documents remain valid 

authorities concerned and general 


EZEANI 

I, formerly known and 

addressed as Miss Ezeani 

Stephanie Amarachukwu, now 

wish to be known and addressed 

as Mrs. Ibekwe Stephanie 

Amarachukwu. All former 

documents remain valid. 

General public please take 

note. 

NLEMOHA 

I formerly known as MISS 

NLEMOHA CYNTHIA 

CHINONYE now wish to be 

known and addressed as MRS 

IRERHI OGHENEKEVWE 

CYNTHIA CHINONYE. All 

former documents remain valid 

any authority it may concern and 

general public to take note. 

ADEWUMI 

I, formerly Miss ADEWUMI 

AGNES BOSE now wish to be 

addressed as Mrs OGUMEYE 

AGNES BOSE.All former 

document remain valid, 

general public note. 

OGHO 

That My Name Was Captured 

Wrongly As Ogho Victoria 

Osamagioghomwenwi. That My 

Correct Name Is Agho Victoria 

Osamagioghomwenwi. All Former 

Documents Remain Valid General 

Public And Authority Concerned 

Please Take Note. 

ENITAN 


addressed as Miss. ENITAN 

Aishat Omotoyosi. Now wish 


Mrs. ALIYU Aishat 

Omotoyosi. All former 

documents remain Valid. The 

general public should please 

take note 

AKPOJOTOR 


addressed as as AKPOJOTOR 

FAVOUR, now wish to be 


AKPOJOTOR FAVOUR 

OGHENERURO. All former 



note. 

I Formerly known and addressed 

as MISS ONOJAKPOR 

OGHENERUKEVWE 

AVWEROSUO Now wish to be 

known and addressed as MRS. 

OGHENERUKEVWE 

AVWEROSUO AFEKHAI. All 


general public please take note. 

ITOM 

I, formerly known and addressed 

as Miss Itom Rosemary John and 

Miss Arinze Rosemary 

Ogwuadi, now wish to be known 

and addressed as Mrs. Ogwuadi 

Rose Chimtem. All former 

documents remain valid. General 


JOHN 


as DALAGHA CAROLINE. 

Now wish to be known and 

addressed as SEITORO SAMSON 

CAROLINE. All former 

documents remain valid general 

public please take note 

OSUAGWU 


as Mrs. Osuagwu Chika 

Ulumma, now wish to be known 

and addressed as Mrs. Nwanne 

Chika Ulumma. All former 



KEVWE 

I known as OGBEBOR 

BRIDGET now wish to be 

known and addressed 

OGBEBOR BRIDGET 

KEVWE. This is to reconcile 

my names with my BVN. All 


valid general public please take 

note 

NWOKORO 

SOLOMON 

I, formerly known as MISS 

BAFOR CHRISTABEL 

ABUGEWA, now wish to be 


SOLOMON CHRISTABEL 

ABUGEWA. All former 



note. 

WEWEH 


as MISS. WEWEH HARRIET 

NWAKAEGO, now wishes to be 


MADU-EMMANUEL 

HARRIET NWAKAEGO. 

Former documents remain valid. 

The general public, to whom it 

may concern please take note. 

EMMANUEL OD 

I, formerly known as RITA 

EKPE now wish to be known 

and addressed as RITA 

NNENA EMMANUEL. All 


valid. General public, please 

take note. 

OMAGBEMI OD 


as OMAGBEMI STANLEY. Now 


as 

DANIEL 

JESUNYERHOVWO. 

STANLEY. All former documents 

remain valid general public please 

take note. 

NWEKE 


as Nweke Oghenekevwe 

Cordelia, now wish to be known 

and addressed as Okpako 

Oghenekevwe Cordelia. All 

former documents remain valid. 

General public please take note. 

IJORI IGWE EYURO 

I formerly known as IJORI I formerly known as MISS 

HOLINESS OVOKE now wish IGWE 

GLORY 

to be known and addressed as OGHENEREKE now wish to 

be known and addressed as 

UKUTA HOLINESS OVOKE. 

MRS UMUKORO GLORY 

All former documents remain OGHENEREKE. All former 

valid any authority it may documents remain valid any 

concern and general public to authority it may concern and 

take note. 

general public to take note 

MBA 

ODUM 

UCHE 

I, formerly Mba Obiageli I formally known and 

addressed as MISS. ODUM 

Cynthia now wish to be JANE CHIOMA, Now wish to 

addressed as Eluma Obiageli be known and addressed as 

MRS. NKENNOR JANE 

Cynthia. All former CHIOMA. All former 

documents remain valid. documents remain valid. The 


General public note. 

take note. 

RAJI 

BELLO 

ERUANGA 

I formerly known and I, Formerly known as BELLO 

addressed as Raji Opeyemi 

OMOREGIE Esther 

Abidemi Now wish to be 

Osazemwinde and Bello Esther 


Omoregie Now to be known 

Ogbonna Opeyemi Abidemi. 

as BELLO OMOREGIE Esther 

All former documents remain 

Osazemwinde. All former 

valid General public and documents remain valid 

authority concerned please General public and authority 

take note. 

concerned please take note. 

TOBORE 


as AGHOGHOVWIA 

M A R V E L L O U S - 

A M B A S S A D O R 

OGHENEFEGAR. Now wish to 


TOBORE MARVELLOUS. All 

former documents remain Valid. 

The general public should please 

take note. 

My Full Name Is Edokpiawe John 

Osemenkhian As It Is In My 

International Passport. My Name 

Appear In My Bvn As Osemenkhian 

Edokpiawe. I Now Wish To Add 

John As My First Name And Be 

Known As Edokpiawe John 

Osemenkhian. Documents Bearing 

Any Of The Names Remain Valid. 

Bank, General Public Take Note. 

My full name is NWOKORO 

GABRIEL UCHE. My name appear 

in my National Identity Card as 

NWOKORO GABRIEL. I now wish 

to add UCHE my middle name to my 

NIN details and be known as 

NWOKORO GABRIEL UCHE. All 

documents bearing any of the names 

remain valid. NIMC, General public 

take note. 

I,formerly known,call and 

address as. LOVETH 

EYURO. but known wish to 

be known call and addressed as 

LOVETH EMMANUEL. all 

documents bearing formers 

remain valid general public 

please take note. 


addressed as MISS IDORO 

MAGDALENE, now wish to 


MRS MAGDALENE IDORO 

UCHE. All former documents 

remain valid, general public 



as ERUANGA IZEGBOYA 

NAOMI, now wish to be known 

and addressed as EVUKUGBERE 

IZEGBOYA NAOMI. All former 

documents remain valid, general 


EGEJURU 

I formerly known and 

addressed as Miss Egejuru 

Nwakaku Blessing now wish to 

be known and addressed as Mrs 

Atoe Nwakaku Blessing. All 


valid general public please take 

note 

AKETANG 

My full name is AKETANG 

EPHRAIM ZAKKA as it is in my 

NIN. My name appear in my BVN as 

EPHRAIM ZAKKA. I now wish to 

add AKETANG to my BVN details 

and be known as AKETANG 

EPHRAIM ZAKKA. Documents 

bearing any of the names remain 

valid. General public take note. 

VICTORIA 

NNAJIOFOR 

I, Formerly Known And I, Formerly Known And 

Addressed As Ekweoba Addressed As NNAJIOFOR 

Victoria Ngozi, Now Wish To 

CHRISTOPHER OLUCHI, 

Now Wish To Be Known And 

Be Known And Addressed As 

Addressed As ODUEGBUNE 

Ekweoba Theresa Ngozi. All CHRIS OLUCHUKWU. All 

Former Documents Remain Former Documents Remain 

Valid. General Public Please Valid General Public Please 

Take Note. 

Take Note. 

UWADIAE NWOSU EG ODUWARE 

I, formerly known as MISS I, formerly known as EHIGIE 

UWADIAE OSARUGUE 

RUTH, now wish to be known 

DANIELLA, now wish to be 

and addressed as MRS. 


AKHUEMOKHAN OSARUGUE ODUWARE RUTH. All 

DANIELLA. All former documents former documents remain 

remain valid. The general public valid. The general public to 

to please take note. 


MOSADOMI 

PROSPER 

I, EMMANUEL TOBI 

MOSADOMI and MOSADOMI 

TOBI EMMANUEL is one and 

the same person. But now wish to 


MOSADOMI TOBI 

EMMANUEL. All former 


public should please note. 

ODJEGBA 

I, formerly known, called and 

addressed as ROSELINE 

CHINWE ODJEGBA ,now wish 


ROSELINE CHINWE 

ONWUEGBUNAM. All former 


public, banks and all concerned 

institutions should please take note 

OJUKWU 

This is to confirm that the names 

Ojukwu-Enendu Jachike Uzo and 

Ojukwu Jachike Uzo refer to one 

and the same person. I now wish 


Ojukwu-Enendu Jachike Uzo. All 



OJO 

I was formerly, known as MISS 

OJO OLUWAFUNMILAYO 

ODUNOLA, I now want to be 

known as MRS BABAJIDE 

OLUWAFUNMILAYO 

ODUNOLA, henceforth all former 

documents remain valid, the 

authorities concerned and the 

general public should take note. 

OGBEBOR 

I FORMERLY KNOWN AS MISS 

PAMELA NDIDI OBIANWU 

NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND 

ADDRESSED AS PAMELA 

NDIDI OGBEBOR. ALL FORMER 

DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID 

GENERAL PUBLIC AND 

AUTHORITY CONCERNED 

PLEASE TAKE NOTE. 

SUNDAY 


addressed as Miss. SUNDAY 

Glory, Now wish to be known 

and addressed as 

Mrs.CHIBUZOR GLORY 

OLUEBUBE. All former 

documents remain Valid. The 


take note 

BOYI 


addressed as Miss BOYI 

FAITH, now wish to be Known 

and addressed as Mrs. 

MONDAY FAITH. All former 



note. 

PURITY 

The names JOSEPH CHIOMA 

PURITY which is on my NIN and 

other documents and JOSEPH 

CHIOMA PRINCESS which is on 

my WAEC RESULT belongs to 

me as one person. Now wish to be 

known as JOSEPH CHIOMA 

PURITY. Documents bearing any 

of the names remain valid. General 

public take note. 

l formerly known and addressed as 

PROSPER AJIRIOGHENE 

ENDURANCE PRAISE Now 


as 

OGHENEOVO 

AJIRIOGHENE PRAISE, all 


authorities concerned and general 


EZE 

I formerly known and addressed as 

Miss Eze Ogonna Bernedette. 

Now wish to be known and 

addressed as Mrs. Uzoma Ogonna 

Bernedette. All former documents 

remain valid. General public please 

take note. 

OGUORA 

My correct name is Oguora 

Onyeka Francis, but was 

wrongly stated in my First 

Bank account as Oguora 

Onyekachi F. instead of 

Oguora Onyeka Francis. All 


valid. General public please 

take note. 

EZEKA 


addressed as Miss Enemuwa 

Omenumogor Gloria now wish 


Mrs Ezeka Omenumogor 

Gloria.All former documents 

remain valid.General public 

take note. 

UYI 

That My Name Was Captured 

Wrongly As Amos Uyi Instead Of 

Igbinosun Uyi Amos. I Now Wish 

To Be Known Called And 

Addressed As Igbinosun Uyi 

Amos. All Former Documents 

Remain Valid General Public And 

Authority Concerned Please Take 

Note. 

DANSU 


addressed as Miss. SUNMOLA 

Hajarat Mifrinso. Now wish to 

be known and addressed as Mrs. 

DANSU Hajarat Mifrinso. All 


Valid. The general public 

should please take note 

KEFE 


addressed as Kefe Onome, now 


as Kefia Onome. All former 



note. 

EZEDOM OSUYA 

That OSUYA QUEEN & 

OJIEH QUEEN OMORGOR 

are same and one person but 

now wish to be addressed as 

OJIEH QUEEN OMORGOR 

all formal documents remains 

valid general public whom it 

may concern take note

AKINBIYI 

I, Formerly known as 

OLUOKUN RACHEAL but 

now wished to be addressed as 

AKINBIYI RACHEAL 

OLUWAJUWONLO. Banks 

and other institutions should 

take note. 

UWA 

I formerly known as 

IGBINOVIA FESTUS now wish 

to be known as IGBINOVIA 

UWA FESTUS. Former 



OSUJI 


OSUJI AFOMACHUKWU 

CHIAMAKA. now wish to be 

known as MRS 

EZENWAFULUGO 

A F O M A C H U K W U 

CHIAMAKA. Former 



OGOH 


MBACHU BLESSING NGOZI. 

now wish to be known as MRS 

OGOH BLESSING NGOZI. 

Former documents remain 

valid. General public please take 

note. 

PAUL 

I, FORMERLY KNOWN AND 

ADDRESSED AS OKEKE 

OBINNA CALISTUS NOW WISH 

TO BE ADDRESS AS OKEKE 

OBINNA PAUL. ALL FORMER 

DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. 

CONCERN AUTHORITIES AND 

GENERAL PUBLIC TAKE NOTE. 

TEDEYE 


as DORIS ARO TEDEYE now 


DORIS ARO. All former 

documents remain valid.. 

General public, Banks and all 

authorities concerned take 

note. 

OKEGWU 

I, formerly known as OKEGWU 

ISIOMA LOVETH. Now wish 

to be Known, called and 

addressed as YUSUF VIVIAN 

ISIOMA. All former documents 

remain valid. Concerned 

Authorities, Banks, NIN and 

General public should please 

take note. 

TOLANI 


MORAKINYO ADENIKE 

TOLANI, now wish to be 


AJIBOLA ADENIKE 

NIMOTA, All former 



OKOCHA 

I formerly known as Okocha 

Obiajulu Francisca, now wish 


Efeigho Obiajulu Francisca. All 


valid. General public please take 

note. 

OBIUNU 

I formerly known as MISS OBIUNU 

ROSEMARY OGHENEWAIRE, 

now wish to be known, addressed 

and called MRS PETER 

ROSEMARY OGHENEWAIRE. 

All former documents to remain 

valid. The General Public to please 

take note. 

EYURO 

I formerly known as EYURO 

JULIUS, now wish to be known 

and addressed as AYEYAME 

JULIUS. All former documents 

to remain valid. The General 

Public to please take note. 

CHANGE OF NAME 

OLASUNKANMI 


OPIEPIE OGHENEURUEMU 

GIFT now wish to be known and 

called MRS. OLASUNKANMI 

GIFT OGHENEURUEMU. All 


The general public and to whom 

it may concern should please take 

note. 

ANIMARO 

I, formerly known as Miss 

ANIMARO ANWULI 

ANGELA, now wish to be known 

and called Mrs IYARHE 

ANWULI ANGELA. All former 

documents remain valid. The 

general public and to whom it 

may concern should please take 

note. 

AMADI 

I, formerly known and addressed as 

MISS AMADI CHIDERA 

MARYJANE , Now wish to be 


IHEANACHO CHIDERA 

MARYJANE. All documents 

bearing my former name still remain 

valid. Gemeral public please take 

note. 

EMOTIMIDE 


addressed as Emotimide 

Oduere Merit, Now wish to 


Oghenero Oduere Merit.. All 

documents bearing my former 

name still remain valid. 

Gemeral public please take 

note. 

DAVID 

I MRS YETUNDE ADERINOLA 

OLUWANUSIN hereby declared by 

oath that my son, formerly 

Oladipupo David Ayooluwakitan 

shall henceforth be known and 

addressed as OLUWANUSIN 

DAVID OLADIPUPO. All former 

documents remain valid, General 


YAHAYA 

I, Formerly known and 

addressed as YAHAYA 

MINIRATU NOW wish to be 

called and addressed as YAHAYA 

MUNIRATU all former 

documents remain Valid. 

General public take note. 

EFFIONG 

That During Account Registration 

My Name Was Captured As Evelyn 

Abraham Omitting My Surname 

Effiong. Now Wish To Be Known As 

Effiong Evelyn Abraham As In My 

National Identity Card. All Former 

Documents Remain Valid. Concerned 

Authorities, Banks, Nin And General 

Public Should Please Take Note. 

JUMA 

I am known called and address as 

JUMA EMMANUEL 

OGHENEKPAROBOR and I am 

also known called and address as 

JUMA EMMANUEL MARO. I 

now wish to be known called and 

address as JUMA EMMANUEL 

OGHENEKPAROBOR henceforth 

AGBONTAEN OT 


AGBONTAEN OMOROWA 

ROSELINE, now wish to be 


OGHAGBON OMOROWA 

ROSELINE. All former 



EJIRO 

I formerly known as EJIRO 

GOODLUCK, now wish to be 

known, addressed and called 

GOODLUCK RACHEAL. All 

former documents to remain valid. 

The General Public to please take 

note. 

MIGHTY 

I formerly known as ORISEDERE 

EGBAOGHENE, now wish to be 


ORISEDERE EGBAOGHENE 

MIGHTY All former documents to 

remain valid. The General Public 

to please take note. 

OKAKAH 


IGWEBUEZE SUZY NNEKA 

now wish to be known and called 

MRS. OKAKAH STEPHEN 

SUZY. All former documents 

remain valid. The general public 

and to whom it may concern 


EGWE 


addressed as Miss Willie 

Oghenevwarhe Sophia now 


as Mrs. Egwe Oghenevwarhe 

Sophia. All former documents 

remain valid. The general 

public should please take note. 

IFI 


addressed as MISS IFI OBY 

ANN. now wish to be known 

and addressed as MRS NWOSU 

OBY ANN. All former 

documents remain valid. The 


take note. 

UGOCHI 

I, known and addressed as 

Onwuchekwa-Ibe Ugochi and 

Ekpendu-Chima Ugochi is one and 

the same person and wish to be 

called and addressed as Ekpendu- 

Chimaobi Ugochi. All documents 

bearing former names remain valid. 

The general public should take 

note. 

ESTHER 

I MRS YETUNDE ADERINOLA 

OLUWANUSIN hereby declared by 

oath that my daughter,formerly 

Oladipupo Esther Oluwamayowa 

shall henceforth be known and 

addressed as OLUWANUSIN 

ESTHER DARASIMI.All former 

documents remain valid, General 


WODU 


addressed as Wodu Tonkemefa 

NOW wish to be called and 

addressed as Collins Boaz 

Tonkemefa. All former 

documents remain Valid. 

General public take note. 

UKWU 

I FORMERLY KNOWN AS 

UKWU CHRISTIANA 

CHIDEBEREM NOW WISH TO 

BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED 

AS OFOR CHRISTINA 

CHIDEBEREM. ALL FORMER 

DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. 

THE GENERAL PUBLIC 

SHOULD TAKE NOTE 

OYAWIRI 

I was formerly known, addressed 

and called as OYAWURHE 

REBECCA, now wish to be 

known, addressed and the 

OYAWIRI REBECCA. All 

former documents to remain 

valid. The General Public to 


EBOGI 


EBOGI FRANCA now wish to 

be known, addressed and called 

MRS OMO-AIHIELU 

FRANCA. All former 

documents to remain valid. 

The General Public to please 

take note. 

INETIANBOR 


INETIANBOR CAROLINE, now 

wish to be known and addressed as 

MRS AKPEJAEN CAROLINE. 

All former documents to remain 

valid. The General Public to please 

take note. 

OKWONG 

I formerly known as MISS. VERA 

EDET OKWONG, now wish to 

be known and addressed as VERA 

EDET NJIOKWUEMENI. All 

former documents to remain valid. 

The General Public to please take 

note. 

funding 

By Emmanuel Elebeke 

ABUJA—MINISTER 

of 

Science, Technology and Innovation, 

Dr. Adeleke 

Olorunnimbe Mamora has called 

for called for increase of research 

funding from 0.5% to 2% of the 

GDP to enable the country drive 

National industrialization plan 

and development through research 

and innovation. 

The minister made the call on 

Wednesday during an annual 

lecture he delivered on the topic 

titled: Nigeria’s Policy on Science, 

Technology and Innovation Strategic 

Imperatives for Technological 

Resilience at the National 

Defence College, in Abuja. 

Dr. Mamora, who lauded the 

recent Presidential proclamation 

to support the development of 

STI and activation of the annual 

expenditure of a minimum 0.5% 

AGHOGHO 


addressed as Aghogho 

Testimony now wish to be 

known and addressed as Oguma 

Testimony. All Former 


General public please take note 

OKOH 

This is to confirm that Okoh 

Chidinma Divine and Okoh 

Chidinma is one and the same 

person I now wish to be called and 

address as Okoh Chidinma Divine 

all former documents remain valid 

general public please take note 

OTEGBE 

I formerly known as MISS. 

OTEGBE EJIROGHENE 

PRAISE, now wish to be known 

and addressed as ONYEJERUE 

EJIROGHENE PRAISE. All former 

documents to remain valid. The 

General Public to please take note. 

Vanguard, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER, 18, 2022 — 37 

NEWS HOTLINES: 

:Vanguard 

:@vanguardnews 

Minister seeks upward review of research 

2023: Okpe people satisfied with 

governorship slot—Oborevwori 

MOSOGAR—AS the bat 

tle for the soul of Delta 

Central Senatorial seat in the 

national assembly hots up, the 

Speaker of Delta State House 

of Assembly and governorship 

candidate of the Peoples Democratic 

Party, PDP, Sheriff 

Oborevwori, has said that Okpe 

people of Urhobo nation cannot 

produce a senator in 2023. 

Oborevwori made the assertion 

at the Ward campaign in 

Mosogar, Ethiope West Local 

Government Area on Tuesday, 

saying that the good people of 

ancient Okpe Kingdom in 

Okpe, Sapele and Uvwie Federal 

Constituency in Delta Central 

Senatorial District are very 

pleased and contented with 

the governorship slot given to 

Harpic partner FG, othersto end open defecation 

in Nigeria 

By Gabriel Olawale 

L AGOS—RECKITT, 

manufacturer of Harpic toilet 

cleaning brand has restates 

its commitment to open defecation 

free Nigeria and improving 

access to clean and hygienic toilets. 

Speaking ahead of 2022 World 

Toilet Summit slated for 18th and 

19th November 2022, General 

Manager of Reckitt Sub-Saharan 

Africa, Mr Akbar Ali Shah said 

that Harpic participation as a 

sponsor and exhibitor in the 

upcoming event aimed at educate 

Nigerians on the ills of open 

defecation and benefits of Improve 

sanitation. 

“The summit is being hosted 

... saysSTI key to sustainable security, devt 

of GDP in the country on research 

said research is not 

cheap and must be given the 

priority attention it deserves. 

"Research is not cheap, we 

need to consciously develop a 

system of fu ding for research 

activities. We need to commit a 

minimum of 2% of our GDP to 

research. 

‘’The hope is to move from 

resourse-based to knowledgebased 

economy. Government 

cannot do it alone, private sector 

is very key in driving this 

reform. Partnership is very key, 

even God partnered man in the 

salvation process of mankind,’’ 

he said 

He reiterated the approval of 

the National Science, Technology 

and Innovation Policy 2022 

made by President 

Muhammadu Buhari as national 

guide for the Ministry 

and a platform for collaborations 

among ministries, departments, 

•Says Delta Central will vote Amori for Senate 

them by Deltans and PDP. 

He pointed out that to vote 

an Okpe son for Senate in 2023, 

is not only politically incorrect, 

ridiculous and undoable in all 

ramifications, but also repugnant 

to natural justice, equity 

and good conscience. 

Oborevwori, who holds the 

chieftaincy title of Ukodo of 

Okpe Kingdom, assured that 

Okpe cannot produce both the 

governor and a Senator in one 

full swoop in 2023, adding that 

Okpe people in Delta Central 

have resolved to cast their votes 

for PDP Delta Central senstorial 

candidate, Chief Ighoyota 

Amori, on the basis of equity, 

justice, balance of power and 

good conscience. 

"Okpe people are very happy 

by the Federal Government in 

collaboration with the World 

Toilet Organization, WTO, and 

Organized Private Sector in 

Water, Sanitation and Hygiene, 

OPS-WASH, with the theme, 

‘Sanitation Innovations for 

Economic Development’ and 

Harpic is very excited to participate. 

“The World Toilet Summit, is 

a global platform that will bring 

together policymakers, industry 

and thought leaders, developmental 

agencies and other 

sector leaders to deliberate on 

policies and actionable steps for 

Branch Int'l appoints Agbede- 

Olafusi as Global Head of People 

By Etop Ekanem 

L International, AGOS—BRANCH 

a San Francisco-based 

fintech with operations 

across Nigeria, Kenya, 

Tanzania, and India, has announced 

the appointment of 

Seun Olafusi as Global Head 

of People, effective immediately. 

Seun, a veteran of human 

resources for over a decade, 

brings years of experience in 

executive leadership and delivering 

value in diverse sectors 

including fintech,technology, 

aviation, and financial services. 

Before joining Branch International, 

Olafusi was responsible 

for setting up and developing 

the people operations function 

at start-ups and pan-regional 

companies such as Softcom and 

Uber in Nigeria. Upon joining 

Branch International over four 

years ago, Seun served as Head 

of People at Branch Nigeria 

where she kick-started the people 

operations function, successfully 

building and growing 

the team significantly. 

In her new role as Global 

agencies, States and local governments 

as well as organized private 

sector. 

Dr. Mamora emphasized that 

the way forward is to imbibe the 

culture of result-based management 

logical frameworks implementation 

programmes, projects 

and activities of STI and R&D to 

minimize over dependency on 

imported product and promoting 

home-grown innovation. 

The minister said that Science 

Technology and Innovation policy 

initiatives and employment of 

modern strategic frameworks is 

the key to overcome major implementation 

difficulties in government 

policies. 

He stated that the lecture is 

focused on the understanding of 

building blocks for sustainable 

security and socio-economic development 

of Nigeria by 

leveraging the enormous 

potentials of STI. 

and satisfied with the 

goverorship slot giving to us by 

PDP and the good people of 

Delta State. 

"We are not greedy people in 

Okpe Kingdom, therefore we 

have resolved to vote Chief 

Ighoyota Amori for Senate to 

represent the good people of 

Delta Central Senatorial District 

from May 29,. 2023 and beyond 

"I am a principled man, who 

believe in the universal principles 

of equity, justice, fair play 

and good conscience. It is only 

fair for the sake of balance of 

power to vote Amori for Senate. 

Okpe people of Okpe, Sapele 

and Uvwie Federal Constituency 

are contented with the 

governorship slot. 

addressing the challenges of Open 

Defecation, and safely managed 

sanitation services affecting 3.6 

billion people globally. 

He expressed the company 

enthusiasm in joining diverse 

stakeholders across the sanitation 

ecosystem to drive the conversation 

for this year’s summit, “It 

would be recalled that in May this 

year, Harpic launched the pocketfriendly 

toilet cleaner sachet at 

an affordable price of thirty naira 

to enable access to all consumers 

to experience the superior quality 

of Harpic, and the health benefits 

of sanitation 

Head of People, Olafusi will 

shape the company’s strategic 

people direction globally with a 

strong focus on leveraging technology 

to support inclusion. She 

will oversee the critical functions 

of over 250+ employees across 

all of Branch’s operating regions. 

Matt Flannery, Branch Cofounder 

& CEO, said, “We are 

witnessing a major shift in the 

way businesses drive the people 

and culture for growth. At 

Branch, our focus is on innovating 

and harnessing the power of 

humanizing systems to consistently 

attract, engage, develop 

and retain the best talents.” 

Commenting on her appointment, 

Olafusi expressed her 

commitment to this new role 

saying: “I am thrilled to be taking 

up this new role at Branch 

International, particularly on a 

global scale. I feel privileged to 

be a part of our transformation 

journey to support the team in 

building capabilities that unleash 

market potential and accelerate 

growth, making Branch 

a great place to work”.


January window: Napoli won’t listen 

to any offers for Osimhen 

Super Eagles striker Victor 

Osimhen may not be sold 

during the January transfer 

window despite huge interest 

from top European clubs, as 

Napoli President may not listen 

to offers for the Nigerian. 

According to football Italia, the 

Serie A top goals scorer who has 

a price tag of a €100million euros 

and his teammates have started 

the season electrifying under 

Luciano Spalletti, topping their 

Champions League group and 

flying to first in the league table, 

commanding an eight-point lead 

over defending champions Milan. 

Napoli looks to be on track to 

win their first Scudetto in three 

decades, bringing back the 

league title to the Campania 

capital for the first time since the 

days of Diego Maradona. 

As reported by Il Mattino, offers 

and expressions of interest are 

starting to filter in for Napoli stars 

Osimhen and Kvaratskhelia, two 

players who’ve been instrumental 

to the team’s successes this 

season. 

President Aurelio De Laurentiis 

has no intention of losing the pair, 

however, and 

won’t listen to 

any offers in 

January. The 

Partenopei 

are not 

planning 

t o 

change 

things 

t o o 

much in 

the winter 

transfer window 

and won’t 

entertain any 

interest in their 

stars. 

Adesanya regains freedom after 

arrest at New York airport 

Former UFC champion, Israel 

Adesanya has been released 

after he was detained at a New 

York airport following an attempt 

to go through security with brass 

knuckles. 

Recall that Adesanya was 

arrested on Wednesday at JFK 

Terminal for possessing metal 

knuckles. 

Brass knuckles, made of metal 

or plastic, are illegal in New York, 

and their possession is considered 

a misdemeanour punishable by 

up to one year in prison plus fines. 

A statement by Adesanya’s 

manager, Tim Simpson of 

Paradigm Sports Management, 

disclosed that the Nigerian-New 

Zealand mixed martial artist has 

already been released and has 

been flown home to New Zealand. 

“Israel was handed a gift by a 

fan, which he put in his luggage,” 

Simpson said in the statement. 

“When flagged at the airport, 

Israel quickly disposed of the item 

and cooperated with authorities. 

“He has complied accordingly; 

with that, the matter was 

dismissed, and he is on his way 

home,” he said. 

He suffered a loss of the UFC 

middleweight title to Alex Pereira 

in what was only his second 

Messi-led Argentina land in Qatar 

after 5-0 World Cup warm-up win 

Argentina and superstar Lionel 

Messi arrived in Qatar for the World 

Cup early on Thursday, just hours 

after a 5-0 warm-up victory, while 

defending champions France have 

also touched down in Doha. 

Messi, 35, has a sackful of trophies 

but the tournament in Qatar is likely 

to be his final chance to equal the 

achievement of fellow Argentine 

great Diego Maradona in leading his 

country to World Cup glory. 

He landed with the Argentina 

squad in the Qatari capital Doha at 

2:30 am (2330 GMT, Wednesday) 

from Abu Dhabi where they had 

beaten the United Arab Emirates 5- 

0 Wednesday in a friendly in which 

Messi scored. 

One of the favourites going into 

this year’s World Cup, the South 

Americans will begin their campaign 

on Tuesday against Saudi Arabia in 

Group C, which also includes 

Mexico and Poland. 

The 1978 and 1986 World Cup 

winners extended their unbeaten 

run to 36 matches as Messi scored 

his 91st international goal. 

Gateway Region has emerged 

winners of 2022 Adron Games 

which took place at the Yaba College 

of Technology, Lagos from Thursday, 

November 10 to Saturday 12, 2022. 

The team won 6 gold medals, 3 

silver and 3 bronze medals to clinch 

first position after sterling 

performances in a series of track and 

field events which saw the region at 

the zenith of the edition’s games 

sporting table. 

All the regions of the real estate 

company, Adron Homes and 

Properties Limited, in the country 

converged in Lagos for the games, 

to compete in different sporting 

events to mark the 6th edition of the 

annual games. 

Messi was cautious about the 

team’s chances in Qatar, even 

though they are among the 

favourites. 

“We have a very nice group that is 

very eager, but we think about going 

little by little. We know that World 

Cup groups are not easy,” the seventime 

Ballon d’Or winner said in an 

interview with CONMEBOL, the 

South American football federation. 

The six regions of Adron Homes 

namely, Eko (Lagos Island), Capital 

(Lagos Mainland), Northern, 

Gateway (Ogun), Oyo, Living 

Fountain (Osun & Ekiti) as well as 

Head Office, Directorate of 

Construction Estate Properties and 

Acquisition participated in the 

games “Capital came second with 4 

gold medals, 3 medals a piece of 

silver and bronze while Head Office 

took 3rd position with 4 gold medals 

and 3 silver medals. These were 

followed by Living Fountain, 

Northern, Eko, Oyo and 

Construction in that order with Gold 

4, 4, 3, 1, 0, Silver 2, 2, 5, 4, 2, and 

Bronze medal 5, 2, 5, 1, 2.“ 

career defeat. 

Moffi sad Eagles won’t be in 

Qatar 2022 World Cup pics/moffi 

Loreint striker, Terem Moffi is 

disappointed the Super Eagles 

won’t be among the 32 countries 

that will battle for the ultimate 

prize at the 2022 FIFA World Cup 

in Qatar. 

The quadrennial competition 

will start in Qatar on Sunday and 

will run through December 17. 

The Super Eagles failed to 

qualify for the global soccer fiesta 

after they lost to eternal rivals, 

Black Stars of Ghana in the 

playoff round. 

“We are disappointed not to be 

part of the World Cup because 

every player dreams of being on 

the biggest stage of football,” 

Moffi told SCORENigeria 

“It would have been great being 

at the World Cup because many 

of us are doing well at our clubs. 

“But since we didn’t qualify, it 

does not count for much.” 

ATP Tour unveils record prize 

money increase for 2023 

en's tennis governing body 

MATP on Thursday announced 

a record increase of $37.5 million in 

prize money to $217.9 million for the 

2023 season. 

The overall prize money pot was 

for both the ATP and Challenger 

Tours, with ATP Tour players 

collectively taking home an 

additional $18.6 million of on-site 

prize money from next year, the ATP 

said in a statement. 

Earlier this year, the ATP 

Gateway Region wins 2022 Adron Games 

had announced that purses on the 

Challenger Tour would receive a 

significant boost. 

"The record increase also includes 

a significant uplift on the ATP 

Challenger Tour, which will see onsite 

prize money grow by 75%, from 

$12.1 million to $21.1 million," the 

ATP said. 

African soccer ruling body has 

announced the date for the 

remaining qualifiers of the 2023 

African Cup of Nations in Ivory 

Coast. 

Matchday 1 and 2 of the qualifiers 

were held in mid 2022 while 

matchday 3 and 4 were slated for 

September before it was suspended 

The suspension came after the 

competition was moved from the 

Massive boost for GCU Relays 

Ahead of Saturday’s 

Government College Ughelli 

invitational intercollegiate 

Athletics Competition (GCU 

Relays) old Boys and Ancient 

Mariners of the school have 

rushed in massive funding 

support for the games. 

President General Worldwide, 

GCUOBA Arc. Charles Majoroh 

had made a passionate plea to all 

products of the school for 

increased funding with the desire 

to make this year's edition fun 

filled, exciting and glamorous, 

whilst leaving all participants 

with lasting memories. 

“All contributors towards 

sustaining the GCU Relays shall 

be recognized and printed on our 

huge banners and platforms. It is 

envisioned that by looking 

inwards into our financial inner 

strength, we can collectively 

make the annual GCU Relays a 

constant annual reality” Majoroh 

Said. 

This clarion call instantly 

Premier 

League 

dominates 

2022 

World 

Cup 

The 2022 World Cup will be the 

most unique in history. It will 

be played between November 

and December, taking place in 

winter for the first time. 

It will become the most 

expensive tournament in history, 

as Qatar has invested nearly 200 

billion dollars in hosting it. The 

country's regime has come under 

scrutiny for the way they were 

awarded the tournament, the 

alleged deaths of workers and 

human rights breaches. 

Meanwhile, the majority of the 

big football stars will be there 

with the Premier League 

dominating the call-ups. 

The Premier League is the 

league that will have the most 

representatives in this World Cup 

with 134 participants. Manchester 

City will have 16 players in the 

tournament, followed by rivals 

The 61st edition of the FirstBank 

sponsored Lagos Amateur Golf 

Championship will hold this 

weekend at the golf section of Ikoyi 

Club 1938. 

FirstBank in a statement said that 

the sponsorship of the golf 

championship, which begins today 

till Sunday, is in furtherance of its 

commitment to the development of 

sports in Nigeria. 

To be played over 54-holes (3- 

days), the FirstBank Lagos Amateur 

Open Golf Championship is a World 

Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) 

listed competition that attracts the 

AFCON 2023 Qualifiers: CAF announces 

date for remaining matches 

pulled in massive and 

unprecedented response from 

Mariners, leading him to add “my 

sincere appreciation for the 

massive contribution by all 

towards the 2022 GCU Relays”. 

Meanwhile, Hussey College 

Warri that made a clean sweep of 

the Events last year have vowed 

to effectively defend their laurels 

with a firm promise of settling 

new meet records. 

“We are very determined, not 

only to defend the honours we 

won last year, but to set new 

records” disclosed an official of the 

School, noted for producing great 

footballers in the past. 

Still, there are feelers that 

Hussey College dominance will 

be rudely challenge at the fourth 

edition by United College of 

Commerce, Warri. 

‘we have trained hard for this 

our maiden appearance at the 

GCU relays, Ohwo Fasa Said”. 

Adding ‘we are best positioned to 

dethrone Hussey College”. 

Manchester United (14). 

LaLiga Santander will 

contribute 84 players to the World 

Cup with Barcelona and Real 

Madrid being represented by 16 

and 13 players, respectively. 

However, there are teams that do 

not have any players in the 

tournament such as Girona and 

Elche. 

Meanwhile, all Premier League 

teams have at least one 

representative each in the 

tournament. 

The Bundesliga is ranked third 

with 73 players going to Qatar, but 

they have the team with the most 

representatives in the tournament 

in Bayern Munich (17). 

The German league is followed 

by Serie A (66) and Ligue 1 (52), 

with MLS being the non- 

European league with the most 

representatives (35). 

FirstBank Lagos Amateur Open Golf 

tourney tees off today 

summer of 2023 to January/ 

February 2024. 

The football body late on 

Wednesday evening announced the 

resumption of the qualifier and 

matchday 3 and 4 will come up on 

March 20th and 27th, 2023 

Matchday 5 is slated to come up 

on June 12th - 20th while the final 

match is scheduled for September 

4th -12th, 2023. 

best golfers from the amateur scene, 

not only in Nigeria but across the 

world. Winner of the championship, 

the Amateur Champion for the year, 

also earns points that contribute to 

their WAGR ranking. The 61st 

FirstBank Lagos Amateur Open Golf 

Championship is also supported by 

Seven-Up Bottling Company, One 

Spirit Company and Palton Morgan 

Holdings. 

Speaking ahead of the 61st 

edition, Mrs. Folake Ani-Mumuney 

Group Head, Marketing and 

Corporate Communications 

highlights FirstBank’s consistent role 

in driving development through 

sports: ‘’As an institution that is 

woven into the fabric of the society 

for nearly 129 years, FirstBank has 

been at the forefront of the growth 

and development of sports in Nigeria 

for decades. Our constant 

commitment to sports is a 

demonstration of our belief that 

sport remains a major vehicle for 

social and economic development. 

From infrastructure development, 

employment generation to social 

skills, sport remains a unifying force 

for socio-cultural interaction and 

development regardless of language, 

culture and religion.’’


C 

M 

Y 

Vanguard, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2022 

QUICK CROSSWORD 

TODAY’S CROSSWORD 

YESTERDAY’S SOLUTION 

TODAY’S PUZZLE 

Sudoku 

YESTERDAY’S ANSWER 

How to Play Sudoku 

Place a number (1-9) in each blank cell. (No line can have two 

of the same number). 

Each row (nine lines from left to right), column, (also nine 

lines from top to bottom) and 3 X 3 block within a bold block 

(nine blocks) contains number from 1 through 9. This means 

that no number can appear twice in any block, column or row. 

No mathematics is involved – no adding, subtraction, division or 

multiplication, just plain logic and your imagination. 

ACROSS 

1 Practise boxing (4) 

3 Serenity (8) 

9 Entourage (7) 

10 Major Hindu deity (5) 

11 Weary (5) 

12 English county (6) 

14 Kid (6) 

16 More corpulent (6) 

19 Combat (6) 

21 Compositions for two performers (5) 

24 Poised for action (5) 

25 Slaughter (7) 

26 Capsize (8) 

27 Undershirt (4) 

DOWN 

1 Close investigation (8) 

2 Role player (5) 

4 Relaxed (2,4) 

5 Skinflint (5) 

6 Distinguished (7) 

7 Thailand, formerly (4) 

8 Nervous, tense (2,4) 

13 Outlook (8) 

15 Appease, pacify (7) 

17 Vipers (6) 

18 Sporting swordsman (6) 

20 Romantic meeting (5) 

22 Dodge (5) 

23 Threesome (4) 

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Road. Benin City: 4E, Arusa Street. Port Harcourt: 50, Ikwerre Road; Warri: 102, Efurun-Sapele Road. Advert: advertproduction@yahoo.com; E-mail: editor@vanguardngr.com, 

news@vanguardngr.com, letters@vanguardngr.com. Website: www.vanguardngr.com (ISSN 0794-652X) Editor: EZE ANABA. Phone: 01-4548355. All correspondence to P.M.B. 1007, Apapa Lagos.

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