18102022

I’ll tackle 

insecurity, 

revive 

industries, 

if elected 

—ATIKU 

26 

OIL THEFT: 

Sept crude 

oil production 

drops by 

24.73% 

8 

Nigeria has 

failed, I’ll 

change 

narrative 

—PETER OBI 

8 

How Nigeria 

can grow the 

economy, 

14 

reduce poverty 

—Lajuwomi, Winock MD 

Inflation hits 20.7% as flooding adds to pressures 

19 

VOL. 39: NO. 9,903 

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2022 

Floods: Panic as corpses float 

in Bayelsa, Delta cemeteries 

•Bomadi, Burutu, Patani LGAs sacked •Victims sleep on Bomadi Bridge•As 

CAN, Ibori, indigenes appeal to state govt, political leaders for help 

5 

HOUSES UNDER WATER... 

Some houses in Igbide community, Isoko South Local Government Area of Delta State, yesterday. Photo by Ochuko Akuopha. 

LP, PDP tackle Buhari over claims 

of meeting yearnings of Nigerians 

We’ll deal with 

bandits, other 

subversive 

elements if 

elected—TINUBU 

13 

Wages: Strike 9 

looms in health, 

judiciary, civil 

service, NLC warns 

NNAMDI KANU: 

US ex-envoy, 

11 

Clark, Ezeife, 

family caution FG 

COLUMNISTS PETERSIDE 16 DELE COLE 17 ERIC TENIOLA 18 25 

9 

Shutdown 

of 

broadcast 

stations in 

Zamfara, 

threat to 

democracy 

—EDITORS 

8 

Yoruba 

Nation 

rally: 

Police 

caused 

salesgirl’s 

death 

10 

—CORONER 

Mr & Mrs 

C 

M 

Y

2 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2022

Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2022 — 3


Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2022 — 5 

POCKET CARTOON 

Floods: Panic as corpses float in 

Bayelsa, Delta cemeteries 

•Bomadi, Burutu, Patani LGAs sacked •Victims sleep on Bomadi Bridge•As 

CAN, Ibori, indigenes appeal to state govt, political leaders for help 

By Dapo Akinrefon, Festus Ahon, Chancel 

Sunday, Levinus Nwabughiogu, Emem Idio 

& Ochuko Akuopha 

LAGOS — As 

floods continue 

to ravage most 

parts of the country, 

residents of Aeroplane 

Road in Yenagoa, 

Bayelsa State and 

Bomadi Local 

Government Area of 

Delta have raised the 

alarm over floating 

corpses from a 

submerged cemeteries 

in their areas. 

This came as several 

communities in Bomadi, 

Patani and Burutu local 

government areas of 

Delta State were 

yesterday sacked by the 

ravaging flood, with 

indigenes sleeping on 

top of Bomadi Bridge. 

Vanguard had reported 

yesterday that this year’s 

flood is perhaps the 

worst in Nigeria’s 

history, with over 603 

dead, two million 

displaced and hundreds 

of hectares of farmlands 

destroyed. 

Corpses litter 

Bayelsa, Delta 

communities 

Raising alarm yesterday 

over the health implication 

of floating corpses in their 

community, residents of 

Yenagoa in Bayelsa called 

on the state government for 

immediate action to avoid 

public health crisis. 

Confirming the incident, 

a resident, Mr Emmanuel 

Oden, lamented that the 

floating corpses had 

become a recurring 

development during floods, 

adding that relocation of 

the cemetery is long 

overdue. 

Oden further alleged that 

corpses at the cemetery 

were often buried in 

shallow graves of about 3 

feet, rather than the 

recommended six feet 

prescribed by law. 

Another resident Mr. Ebi 

Owoupele, pleaded with 

the Bayelsa State 

Government to understand 

the plight of the people and 

assure them that the 

cemetery will be relocated. 

Vanguard’s findings also 

revealed that the morgue at 

Bomadi General Hospital 

and Olodiama, had been 

submerged, also with 

floating corpses as a result. 

Bayelsa govt 

reacts 

Contacted, the state 

commissioner for 

environment and 

chairman, Bayelsa Flood 

Committee, Mr. Iselema 

Gbaranbiri, confirmed that 

three floating corpses were 

recovered and reburied 

From left, Senator Gbenga Ashafa, former Ogun State Governor, Aremo 

Olusegun Osoba, Barrister Adesegun Ajibola, representative of the Pro- 

Chancellor, Alhaji Salisu Abdu Magayakin and Vice-Chancellor, Professor 

Ibraheem Gbajabiamila at the 14th convocation ceremony of Crescent 

University, Abeokuta last Saturday. Photo by Wumi Akinola. 

with the environment 

properly fumigated. 

His words, “the floating 

of corpses were actually 

reported. First one, as 

commissioner for 

environment, I got the 

report of a floating corpse 

and directed my head of 

health and sanitation to get 

the corpse reburied. Later 

two more corpses were 

recovered and reburied 

and the environment was 

properly fumigated.” 

Bomadi, Burutu, 

Patani LGAs 

sacked 

More disaster was 

recorded in parts of Delta 

State yesterday as many 

villages in riverine Bomadi, 

Patani and Burutu local 

government areas of the 

state were sacked by floods, 

with indigenes sleeping on 

Bomadi Bridge. 

They appealed to the state 

government and political 

leaders to come to their aid. 

Lamenting the situation in 

his community, chairman, 

Bomadi federated 

community, Mr Seleyeibo 

Perekeme, said neither 

government nor political 

leaders from the area had 

responded to their call for 

help. 

He said: “The entire 

Bomadi Local Government 

area is submerged, with 

only the council secretariat 

still standing because of 

community efforts. 

“We’ve been able to 

dislodge the flood by 

blocking entry points with 

sand-filled sacks at the 

community waterfront 

through our earlier efforts. 

Now, the flood level has 

risen and we’ve been 

making similar efforts but 

we’ve run out of resources 

as a community. 

“So, we’ve been calling 

on our political leaders to 

help since Bomadi is the 

last community standing 

and victims are fleeing in 

from neighbouring 

communities, such as 

Kpakiama, Oboro, Esanma, 

Tuomo, Tubegbe, Koloware, 

Ogboin-ama and many 

others in both Burutu and 

Patani council areas. Many 

victims are fleeing from 

Yenagoa to Bomadi. 

We need N2m to 

save Bomadi 

town from 

submerging— 

Community chair 

“If we can get N2 million, 

we can buy sand and sacks 

and be able to block entry 

points along the length of 

the community shoreline 

because the youths are 

ready to work to save 

Bomadi. 

“But, until this moment, 

there’s no response from 

either the state government 

or our political leaders at a 

time of pains and distress 

as this. We are not happy 

because we seem to have 

been forgotten or 

abandoned,” he said. 

An activist and youth 

leader, Comrade Kenneth 

Mezeh, however, lauded 

efforts of the community 

By Esther Onyegbula 

leader and appealed to 

both state government and 

political representatives 

to respond to the plight of 

victims in Bomadi local 

government area and 

environs. 

However, the chairman, 

Christian Association of 

Nigeria, CAN, Bomadi 

local government chapter, 

Apostle Liberty Usiayo, in 

his reaction, said: “We have 

been going round the 

council area to see the level 

of flood devastation on the 

people and property, and 

the situation is really 

pathetic. 

“No community is safe in 

the council area as all 

eleven communities have 

been ravaged, with women 

and children seriously 

affected. They need 

immediate food and 

medical attention. 

“It’s also appalling that 

until this moment, there’s 

no government response to 

the plight of victims in the 

council area and we, as a 

body, urge the state 

government, appropriate 

agencies and politicians 

from the area to respond to 

the plight of victims without 

further delay. 

Ibori seeks 

support for 

victims 

Reacting to the 

Continues on Page 27 

Discovery of illegal oil tapping points on NNPC pipelines 

THIS has been going 

on for ages. The 

Navy is under-resourced 

to cope with what should 

be its forte-national 

maritime security. 

I am not convinced about 

the discovery made by 

Tompolo’s security 

company discovered a boat 

stealing crude oil last week. 

For all, we know it may be 

that the boat did not pay 

royalties to Tompolos men. 

—Barrister Famakinwa, 

Uk-Based lawyer 

THE issue of 

bunkering is like a 

normal thing to me 

because the federal 

government has failed in 

its mandate to do the 

right thing. 

The best way the 

government can tackle 

bunkering is by getting 

our refineries working. 

When this happens, 

there will be more job 

opportunities for the 

people. 

—Emmanuel Ikule, 

Human rights activist 

WHY do we like to 

d e c e i v e 

ourselves like this? 

Where were security 

operatives when the 

pipes were being laid? 

Let us agree that they 

were off duty for the days 

it took the bunkers to lay 

the pipe, why are they 

just discovering the 

illegal oil tapping 

points? 

—Folake Sokoya, 

Entrepreneur 

THE discovery of over 

58 illegal oil tapping 

points on the nation’s oil 

pipelines is highly 

condemnable. 

The Nigerian 

government should take 

more proactive steps in 

engaging the stakeholders 

in the private sector and the 

host communities. The 

more engagement with the 

relevant stakeholders, the 

more they identify the 

challenges and possible 

lasting solutions. 

—Jude Attah, Fashion 

Designer 

LACK of fear of God, 

patriotism and weak 

government institutions is 

responsible for this mess. 

If the government is 

serious about stopping fuel 

bunkering, they should 

install surveillance cameras 

along the pipeline and use 

modern drones powered by 

solar alongside helicopters 

to monitor the area rather 

than giving billions of Naira 

to non-state actors the 

contract to protect it. 

—Isaac Jideofor, Farmer 

Govt should try to 

address the problem 

from the root and check out 

these really smart guys who 

vandalized and tapped oil 

from the pipelines. 

It’s just like hackers that 

hack accounts and steal 

people’s money, what the 

bank does is trace those 

kind of people it’s to pull 

them to the bank and 

employ them and pay them 

well and they will give you 

all the secrets of other oil 

bunkers. 

—Ejifoma Becky , Public 

Relations consultant

6—Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2022 

Court unfreezes 

Petralon 

accounts over 

material facts 

suppression 

LAGOS—An order granted 18 

banks to freeze the accounts of 

Petralon 54 Limited and its parent 

company, Petralon Energy Limited has 

been vacated by a Federal High Court 

sitting in Lagos following the discovery 

of material facts suppression and 

deliberate falsehood by Eurafric Energy. 

Delivering a ruling in a motion filed 

by the company praying the court to 

unfreeze the unjustly frozen accounts, the 

presiding judge, Justice Daniel Osiagor 

held that the court was misled to grant 

an order freezing the company’s 

accounts. 

The court, subsequently, reversed itself to 

lift the order by unfreezing the bank accounts 

and cancelling the Post No Debit order 

already in effect across all the restrained banks. 

Specifically, consideration of Petralon 54’s 

Affidavit in response to Eurafric’s counter 

affidavit deposed to on October 12, 2022, and 

the reply address in support of the motion to 

set aside the exparte orders revealed to the 

court that Eurafric had misinformed it and 

caused the institution of justice to act in error. 

Eurafric Energy had approached the court, 

praying it to bar operations and transactions 

on the bank accounts belonging to Petralon 

54, its parent company, Petralon Energy, and 

an unrelated company, Tako E&P Solution, 

on the grounds that the three oil companies 

did not declare the total quantity of crude 

sold, the amount it was sold and the royalty 

paid to the government in a Federal 

Government agency transaction. 

However, in a Motion filed by Petralon 54, 

it prayed the court to lift the order banning 

the operation of its account, arguing that the 

defendants, particularly Eurafric Energy 

‘suppressed and deliberately’ hid material 

facts concerning the case from the court. 

Justice Daniel Osiagor in his consolidated 

judgment ruled that Exhibit Volte Face F 

exhibited in the plaintiff’s counter affidavit 

and exhibit G exhibited in the defendant’s 

counter indicated that the plaintiff (Eurafric 

Energy) gave consent for a loan of $2.2m to 

be obtained thereby making it a party to the 

debt repayment efforts to the holding bank 

which the funds it sought to freeze pertained 

to, but this fact was not disclosed to the Court 

before the restraining Order on the 

Defendant’s accounts. 

:Vanguard 

News 

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

Prophetess commits suicide in Enugu community 

By Ikechukwu Odu 

NSUKKA—There is confusion in 

Igogoro Agu, Igbo-Eze North Local 

Government Area of Enugu State, as a 

prophetess, identified as Anthonia Okwor, 

allegedly committed suicide on Sunday. 

It was gathered that the prophetess left 

her prayer ground, Sunday afternoon, and 

was nowhere to be found until some persons 

saw her dead body dangling on top of a tree 

inside the bush. 

This is coming less than three days after a 

young graduate of the University of Nigeria, 

Nsukka, UNN, Chibueze Ugwuoke, from 

Owere Ibagwa-Ani, Nsukka Local 

Government of Enugu State also hunged 

himself on top of a tree. 

Okwor was the founder and general 

PROTEST: Staff members of some companies that supplied COVID-19 Personal Protective 

Equipment (PPE) and machines to the FCTA, protesting the alleged non-payment of their 

contract money at the gate leading to the FCT Minister’s Office in Abuja, yesterday. Photo: 

NAN. 

By Shina Abubakar 

OSOGBO—Mr Olusola Aluko of 

an Osogbo Magistrate's Court, 

Osun State, has remanded one 

Ibrahim Muhammad for allegedly 

stealing seven cows. 

The defendant was docked before 

the court on three counts bordering on 

conspiracy, stealing and fraud. 

Police prosecutor, Inspector 

•As 37-yr-old man kills self in Lagos 

overseer of a prayer ministry at Igogoro Agu 

community. Further checks revealed that 

the prayer ministry specialised in chasing 

away demons from people. 

A source, who spoke to newsmen, said: 

“The said victim was a prophetess. She 

prayed for people regularly and got them 

delivered. 

"She specialised in casting away demons 

from people’s life. How she decided to take 

her life was a big surprise to all of us.” 

Another source also said: "We were 

supposed to go and see her on Sunday 

afternoon for a prayer programme. When we 

went to her prayer ground, we couldn’t see 

her. We went back to our houses only to hear 

later in the evening that she has killed herself 

NSCDC arrests 4 suspected robbers in Jigawa 

DUTSE— The Jigawa Command 

of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense 

Corps (NSCDC) has arrested four suspected 

armed robbers in the state. 

The command’s Public Relations Officer, 

Adamu Shehu, yesterday, in Dutse, said the 

suspects aged between 22 and 30 were 

arrested after they conspired and burgled into 

the residence of one of the NSCDC personnel 

in Dutse Local Government Area of the state. 

He said: “The suspects aged between 22 

and 30 and residents of Takur Adua, 

Unguwar Gabas and Unguwar Barebari in 

Dutse LGA were arrested on October 14. 

“They conspired and forcefully gained entry 

into the house of one Umar Yunusa, a staff of 

the NSCDC on September 24 around 2 a.m., 

when he was asleep. Upon hearing their 

movements, he woke up and engaged them 

in a fight. 

by hanging on top of a tree. This is very bad.” 

Asked if she had complained of anything 

before the ugly incident, the source said: 

“She never told us of anything. She was the 

one consoling people who were in difficulties. 

By her character and behaviour, she did not 

complain of anything that can lead her to 

this ugly incident.” 

The prophetess, our reporter gathered, 

was still in her 30s and has been cheerful 

and jovial before the unfortunate incident. 

Contacted, the Police Public Relations 

Officer of Enugu State Police Command, 

Daniel Ndukwe, did not respond to questions 

sent to his phone number at press time. 

However, a senior police officer in Ogrute 

Police Divisional Headquarters told our 

Court remands herdsman for stealing cows in Osun 

FEEDING THE 

HUNGRY: From 

left, Lion PCC, 

AVM Anthony 

Okpere (retd); 

Chairperson, 

Feeding the 

Hungry, Lion 

Omotunde Johnson 

and District 

Governor, Lion Ano 

Anogwi (right) 

during the World 

Food Day 

celebration and 

kick-off of District 

404 A1 Feeding the 

Hungry Service 

Project, at Oko 

Baba, Lagos State, 

on Sunday. 

Shoyemi Bose, informed the court that 

the defendant fraudulently obtained 

the said cows valued at N5 million 

belonging to one Kazeem Ademola 

for rearing, adding that the defendant 

also conspired with others now at large 

to steal the cows. 

According to her, the offences 

contravened sections 516, 419 and 

390(9) of the state criminal law 2002. 

However, the defendant pleaded not 

guilty to the charges preferred against 

him. 

Defence counsel, Okobe Najite, in 

his oral bail application, urged the 

court to admit the defendant to bail in 

the most liberal terms. 

However, Aluko in his ruling 

declined the application and ordered 

that the defendant be remanded at Ilesa 

prison and adjourned the matter till 

November 21 for a hearing. 

“But when he realised that they were in possession 

of dangerous weapons, he shouted for help, which 

scared and made them runaway. 

“Luckily, they left an exhibit, a head warmer, 

which was used in apprehending one of them and 

subsequently the arrest of the other members.” 

The PRO said on the same date, the suspects 

burgled into the residence of one Abdulfatahi 

Sulaiman of the same address at about 1:30 a.m., 

and robbed him of N15,000 cash and a mobile 

phone valued at N55,000. 

“When interrogated, the suspects mentioned the 

name of one other person they connived with and 

trespassed into the residences of one Ejike Nicholas 

and one Fahad Hassan on August 17 and 

September 8 in the same area and stole a laptop 

computer and a Plasma television set. 

“They also confessed to have terrorised Takur 

Addu’a and its environs using cutlasses and knives 

to steal from the residents,” Shehu added. 

reporter that the incident is still under 

investigation. 

37-yr-old man 

kills self in Lagos 

In a related incident, the Lagos police 

command spokesman, SP Benjamin 

Hundeyin, yesterday, revealed that a 37- 

year-old man reportedly commited suicide. 

The case was reported at Akinpelu police 

division on Friday at about 6.05 p.m. 

He explained that a distress call was 

received that the deceased allegedly hanged 

himself in his room located in Oshodi. 

Hundeyin said based on the report, police 

detectives were mobilised to the scene. 

He said: “On arrival, the team met the 

lifeless body dangling on a rope, tied to the 

ceiling fan, anchored in the room. 

“The detectives photographed the scene 

and evacuated the corpse to IDH Morgue, 

Yaba, for autopsy, while the investigation 

continues.” 

Lawmaker’s 

police escort 

shot dead by 

colleague in Abia 

By Ugochukwu 

Alaribe 

UMUAHIA—A Police Inspector 

attached to the member 

representing Isiala Ngwa North 

state constituency, in the Abia State 

House of Assembly, Ginger 

Onwusibe, identified as Ugwor 

Samuel, has been shot dead in 

Umuahia. 

Sources told Vanguard that the 

policeman was shot dead by his 

colleague, Inspector Atule Benedict, 

also attached to the lawmaker. 

Vanguard gathered that there was 

a disagreement between the two 

policemen during which Atule 

allegedly shot his colleague. 

The killer policeman was said to 

have resisted efforts by other 

policemen in the team to disarm him 

as he went berserk and threatened 

to kill more policemen. 

The killer policeman was later said 

to have escaped to an unknown 

destination with his AK-47 rifle. 

According to a source,“There was 

a disagreement between the two 

policemen, nobody knew the cause 

of the disagreement. Inspector Atule 

pulled his gun and shot his 

colleague. He threatened to shoot 

more policemen and resisted efforts 

to disarm him by other policemen 

in the team. 

"The Inspector died before he 

could get medical attention. The 

killer policeman also escaped 

arrest, but we heard he later 

handed himself over to the 

police.” 

The remains of the late 

policeman have been deposited 

at the Federal Medical Centre, 

FMC, Umuahia mortuary. 

The suspect later handed 

himself over to State Criminal 

Investigation Department, SCID, 

Umuahia, where he is currently 

detained. 

Police Public Relations Officer, 

Abia State Command, SP 

Geoffrey Ogbonna, who 

confirmed the incident, said an 

investigation has commenced as 

the killer police is being detained. 

“It’s quite unfortunate and 

discreditable. The policemen are 

from SPU Base 15 Anambra State 

but attached to Ginger Onwusibe. 

The erring policeman is in custody 

while the deceased is in the 

morgue. The case is under 

investigation by State CID 

Umuahia.”

VANGUARD, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2022 — 7 

:Vanguard 

News 

:@vanguardnews :@vanguardnewsNEWS HOTLINES: 

7 killed in Kogi church attack, road 

mishap 

By Boluwaji 

Obahopo 

L persons OKOJA—TWO 

have been 

killed, while three others 

were injured as yet-to-be 

ascertained gunmen 

attacked a Celestial Church 

in Felele, Lokoja, Kogi 

State. This came as auto 

crash claimed five lives in 

the same state. 

The attack occurred late 

Sunday at the church 

premises located behind 

NNPC Mega station in 

Felele. An eyewitness said 

the gunmen stormed the 

church and started 

shooting sporadically. 

It was further learnt that 

two persons died instantly, 

while others were 

wounded as several others 

scampered for safety. 

The injured victims are 

currently receiving 

treatment at the Federal 

Medical Centre (FMC), 

Lokoja. 

An eyewitness said: 

“When they entered, they 

started shooting at 

everyone outside the 

church. I went and hid 

inside a cassava farm. 

What I saw yesterday was 

like an action film. Kogi is 

no longer safe.” 

The Kogi State Police 

•Many wounded, victims receiving treatment at 

medical centre 

An accident scene (File copy). 

Public Relations Officer, 

William Aya confirmed the 

incident to newsmen, 

yesterday, saying the 

hoodlums invaded the 

church and shot at 

worshippers. 

He said: “Two people 

were confirmed dead in 

the hospital, while three are 

receiving treatment. 

“The Commissioner of 

Police has deployed our 

operatives and ordered the 

Deputy Commissioner of 

Police in charge of 

investigation to commence 

an investigation to unravel 

the cause of the attack to 

arrest the perpetrators.” 

Auto crash claims 

When they 

entered, they 

started 

shooting at 

everyone 

outside the 

church. I 

went and hid 

inside a 

cassava farm. 

What I saw 

yesterday was 

like an action 

film. Kogi is 

no longer 

safe. 

5 lives, injures 3 

— FRSC 

Also, no fewer than five 

persons died and three others 

were injured in an auto-crash 

that occurred in Kogi on 

Sunday, according to Mr 

Stephen Dawulung, Kogi 

Sector Commander of the 

Federal Road Safety Corps 

(FRSC). 

Dawulung, who 

described the incident as 

“very unfortunate,” told 

newsmen in Lokoja that 

the auto crash occurred at 

Ogbagbo junction along 

the Ejule-Ochadamu road 

at about 12.47 p.m. when 

a Nissan car collided with 

a Mazda car. 

The sector commander 

explained that the Nissan 

car had lost control while 

trying to avoid a pothole 

as it veered off its lane and 

collided with the oncoming 

Mazda 323 car. 

“Unfortunately, out of 

eight persons involved in 

the accident, four died 

instantly while four 

sustained serious injuries. 

“Our personnel, who 

rushed to the scene after 

a distress call, rescued the 

four injured and rushed 

them to Enemona 

Hospital, Ejule in Ofu 

Local Government Area of 

Kogi, where the fifth 

person died while 

receiving medical 

treatment. 

“The corpses of the five 

dead passengers have 

been deposited at the 

morgue of the same 

hospital. The obstructions 

resulting from the crash 

were immediately cleared 

from the road by our 

officers to allow free flow 

of traffic.” 

The FRSC Commander 

said the cause of the crash 

was over-speeding and bad 

road. 

He advised motorists to 

maintain strict adherence to 

stipulated speed limits and 

the use of common sense 

speed limits by slowing 

down in built up areas and 

bad portions of the road. 

While condoling families 

of the victims, Dawulung 

called on the Federal 

Government to look into 

means of repairing the 

highways most of which he 

said were riddled with 

potholes. 

... 

Social Media Conversation 

Give her a grandchild! 

Wait for her to return! 

Sometimes it's ‘objeck shawn 

sustend’!

8 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2022 

:Vanguard 

News 

:@vanguardnews :@vanguardnewsNEWS HOTLINES: 08052867023, 08052867058 

From left: Deputy Governor Economic Policy, Dr Kingsley Obiora, Princess Maxima of Netherlands, 

Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Hajiya Zainab Ahmed, Governor, Central Bank of 

Nigeria, Mr Godwin Emefiele, Director, Monetary Policy, Central Bank of Nigeria, Dr Hassan Mahmud and 

Special Adviser to the Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr Emmanuel Ukeje at Session on Financial 

Inclusion Strategy on the sideline of the 2022 IMF/ WBG meetings in Washington DC over the weekend 

Nigeria has failed, I'll change narrative — Peter Obi 

By Ibrahim Hassan- 

Wuyo 

KADUNA-The presiden 

tial candidate of Labour 

Party, LP, and former 

governor of Anambra State 

, Mr. Peter Obi, has said that 

when a country was no longer 

in control of its economy 

and security, it was nothing 

but a failed state. 

Obi , who stated this at an 

interactive session organised 

by Arewa Joint Committee 

at the Arewa House, 

Kaduna, yesterday, assured 

the North that he would positively 

change the narrative, 

if elected president in 

2023. 

The committee comprises 

the Arewa Consultative Forum, 

ACF, Northern Elders 

Forum, NEF, Sir Ahmadu 

Bello Memorial Foundation, 

SABMF, Jamiyyar Matan 

Arewa, JMA, Arewa House 

(Center for Historical Development 

and Research) and 

Arewa Research Development 

Project, ARDP. 

According to Obi, "Nigeria 

is not bereft of ideas but institutional 

weakness and 

lack of political will to effect 

genuine change that will 

better the lives of average 

Nigerians.'' 

The LP candidate said he 

was committed to unlocking 

the greatness of the country 

and lift her from a consuming 

country to a producing 

one. 

He said: "Insecurity will 

be a thing of the past when I 

get elected as president 

through creation of employment 

opportunities for 

youths who are tools used to 

perpetrate social vices. 

" Once jobs are created and 

the youths are gainfully engaged 

and made productive, 

insecurity would have been 

reduced to the barest minimum 

and will no longer be 

a lucrative business,. The 

Shutdown of broadcast stations, threat to 

democracy —Editors 

THE Nigerian Guild of 

Editors, NGE, has expressed 

concern over the 

shutdown of four broadcast 

stations by Zamfara State 

governor, Bello Matawalle 

and asked him to immediately 

unseal the media houses 

Ṡtations sealed by the governor 

include NTA, Gamji 

Television, Alumna Television 

and Pride FM Station, 

all located in the state capital, 

Gusau. 

Zamfara State government 

had on Saturday, shut 

the stations, for covering a 

rally held by the governorship 

candidate of Peoples 

Democratic Party, PDP, Dr 

Dauda Lawan Dare. 

The government claimed 

the rally was organised, despite 

a ban on campaigns by 

the state government over 

alleged security situation in 

the state. 

But in a statement issued 

yesterday, and signed he 

NGE’s President, Mustapha 

Isah and the General Secretary, 

Iyobosa Uwugiaren, 

the umbrella body of all the 

editors in Nigeria described 

the action as illegal and a violation 

of the Nigeria constitution 

and other international 

instruments. 

The guild stated that the 

only government agency 

charged with the constitu- 

security agencies will be adequately 

equipped to handle 

all forms of insecurity in the 

country. 

"We want to bring a transformative 

government. The 

greatest assets of Nigeria is 

in the north, the greatest assets 

of Nigeria is vast uncultivated 

land in the north but this 

lands has been take by bandits. 

We are going to unlock 

Nigeria. 

Obi, who also promised to 

fight corruption to a stand 

still, said: " Fighting corruption 

is easy when one is not 

stealing. Our past is gone, 

we are going to face the future. 

Fighting corruption is 

easy when one is not stealing, 

our money is being stolen, 

subsidy is organized 

crime. 

"I want to give Nigerians 

hope. I and my running 

mate will be in charge, they 

will not find us wanting, we 

have the physical strength, 

I will dialogue with every 

•Urge Zamfara gov to unseal stations 

tional mandate of regulating 

the broadcast stations or 

determining any infraction 

in the conduct of broadcasting 

industry was the National 

Broadcasting Commission, 

NBC. 

‘’While the NGE doesn't 

even wan't to go into the illegality 

of the ban on political 

activities in that state, our 

primary concern here is the 

unlawful and unconstitutional 

action of the state governor 

against the affected 

stations for carrying out 

their constitutional and social 

obligations - of reporting 

events and keeping the citizens 

informed of political developments 

in the state. 

‘’In fact, the shut stations 

would have been accused of 

unprofessional misconduct 

if they didn't cover that rally. 

We are also encouraged 

by the fact that the regulatory 

agency of broadcasting, 

the NBC, has also condemned 

the unlawful action 

of Governor Bello 

Matawalle,’’ the NGE added. 

Condemning the action of 

the governor in its entirety, 

the editors said his action 

was a serious threat to the 

democratic process and democracy, 

describing it as a 

precarious signal to what 

awaited the media, ahead of 

the 2023 general elections. 

The NGE stated further: 

‘’The media reserves the 

right to cover all events, 

whether or not they are 

banned. No state government 

reserves the right to 

shut down any media house, 

in spite of their perceived 

infractions. 

‘’In this case, the Zamfara 

State governor should have 

written a petition to the 

NBC, if at all the affected stations 

committed any infraction, 

instead resorting to selfhelp. 

‘’The Guild stands for press 

freedom and freedom of expression 

and will always 

speak out against any attempt 

to muzzle the media.’’ 

The editors explained that 

the human right most closely 

related to the media was 

undoubtedly the right to 

freedom of opinion and expression. 

It noted that freedom of 

expression, as upheld in the 

constitution and human 

rights instruments, covered 

the right to receive or impart 

information. 

Describing the media as 

‘’oxygen of democracy’’, the 

NGE reiterated its earlier 

position that the media was 

not an opponent of any government; 

but a professional 

institution charged with the 

constitutional obligation of 

monitoring the activities of 

the government and holding 

it accountable to the citizens. 

agitator because it will make 

us a better and united Nigeria. 

"I promise to invest more in 

women,women are very industrious 

and dedicated 

and committed when given 

responsibility,. Nigerians 

should vote a character and 

capacity they can trust, I 

am that candidate that can 

be trusted. 

He also denied ever asking 

Northerners to obtain ID 

cards when he was governor 

of Anambra State. 

Governor Nasir El-Rufai 

had joked that he could arrest 

and detain Peter Obi, over 

what took place in Anambra 

when Obi was Governor. 

Earlier in his remarks, 

Kaduna State governor, 

Nasir El-Rufai, had alleged 

that Obi as governor got him 

arrested and detained when 

he visited Anambra to monitor 

the state’s governorship 

election in 2013. 

Jocularly, El-Rufai said 

he could get Obi arrested 

and detained for what happened 

in 2023. 

“In 2013, I went to Anambra 

State as an official of the 

APC, to witness the by-election 

for the governorship., 

your next guest, Peter Obi, 

as governor got me arrested 

and detained for 48 hours in 

my hotel room. 

"He’s coming to Kaduna. In 

addition to the police and the 

SSS, I have one Mechanized 

division of the Nigerian 

Army here if I need to arrest 

and detain anyone. But we 

are northerners, we are civilized, 

we don’t do things like 

that. I wish you all safe journey 

back to your destinations,” 

El-Rufai said. 

Responding, Peter Obi said: 

"What His Excellency, Governor 

Nasir El-Rufai said 

about me has been brought 

to my attention. I believe 

that as we grow older and 

are saddled with more responsibilities, 

we are expected 

to become circumspect in 

our thinking and avoid 

recklessness in our speeches 

and utterances. 

“How does the circumstance 

he referred to relate 

to bigotry to warrant such a 

label? All I do for people like 

El-Rufa'i is to pray for them 

and encourage them to concentrate 

on doing those 

things that will better the 

lots of Nigerians, rather than 

engage in hate speeches 

that will divide " 

Oil theft: Sept crude oil 

production drops by 24.73% 

By Obas Esiedesa 

NIGERIA’S crude oil pro 

duction crashed by 

24.73 percent in September 

2022 to 937,766 barrels 

per day, compared to 1.246 

million barrels per day recorded 

over the corresponding 

month in 2021, the latest 

data from the Federal 

Government has shown. 

According to data released 

by the Nigerian Upstream 

Petroleum Regulatory Commission, 

NUPRC, crude and 

condensate production for 

September 2022 was 1.137 

million barrels per day, 

compared to 1.179 million 

barrels produced in August 

2022. 

Condensate productions 

are not part of Nigeria’s quota 

set by OPEC at 1.8 million 

barrels per day. 

NUPRC data showed that 

the highest production in 

September came from Qua 

Iboe at 4.976 million barrels 

followed by Escravos at 

3.272 million barrels during 

the month. 

With the country battling 

to curb the activities of oil 

thieves and pipeline vandals 

that have crippled its oil industry, 

the Group Chief Executive 

Officer of the Nige- 

rian National Petroleum 

Company Limited, NNPCL, 

Mr. Mele Kyari has explained 

that what is stolen 

is not the difference between 

OPEC quota and the production 

figure. 

Kyari disclosed that all 

major oil trunk lines have 

been shut down due to the 

activities of oil thieves and 

pipeline vandals. 

“Today our production is 

around 1.23 million barrels 

per day. We have a proven 

production capacity of 

2.49mbpd. But since Covid 

abated and the acts of vandals 

returned, we saw this 

gradual decline in our production 

to the point of 

1.2mbpd. 

“That means we can easily 

produce 2.49mbpd but 

we can’t do it because of acts 

of vandals. Now it doesn’t 

mean that the difference 

between 2.49m and 1.23m 

is stolen. As we speak, all our 

major trunk lines are shut 

down, which means we are 

not flowing crude oil in these 

lines. We could do it and it 

doesn’t mean crude is stolen. 

When the lines are running, 

you can lose a substantial 

part of that volume up to 

200,000 barrels. 

COVID-19: Contractors stage 

protest against FCT Admin 

By Omeiza Ajayi 

ABUJA-Some of the con 

tractors who supplied 

COVID-19 equipment to the 

Federal Capital Territory 

FCT Administration yesterday 

staged a protest over the 

non-payment of their outstanding 

balance. 

The protesters, who 

blocked the main gate of the 

FCTA, said since they supplied 

the health equipment 

two years ago, they had not 

been paid. 

Although, it did not take 

long for security operatives 

to peacefully disperse them, 

the protest caused massive 

gridlock around the area. 

After they were dispersed, 

staff and visitors to the premises 

were consequently 

subjected to high-level security 

checks before they were 

allowed entrance. 

As of the close of work yesterday, 

officials of the FCT 

Health and Human Services 

Secretariat were yet to 

respond to the development, 

even as its Public Relations 

Officer, Samuel Musa, did 

not reply media queries. 

Nigeria records over 2m voice 

subscription in Q2 — NBS 

By Juliet Umeh 

NIGERIA recorded a to 

tal number of 

206,449,125 active voice 

subscriptions in second 

quarter of 2022, Q2’22, rising 

year-on-year (yoy) by 

10 per cent from 

187,611,501 in Q2’21. 

The National Bureau of 

Statistics, NBS, disclosed this 

yesterday in its Telecoms 

Data: Active Voice and Internet, 

Porting and Tariff 

Information report for 

Q2’22. 

The bureau also said that 

a total of 151,332,090 ac- 

tive internet subscribers were 

recorded in Q2’22 rising by 

7.9 percent from the 

140,175,169 reported in 

Q2’21. 

NBS said: “The total number 

of active voice subscribers 

in Q2’22 was 

206,449,125, higher relative 

to 187,611,501 in Q2 

2021. This represents a 

10.04 percent rise on a YoY 

basis. 

“However, on a quarteron-quarter 

(QoQ) basis, 

growth stood at 3.45 percent, 

an increase from the 

199,558,540 subscribers 

recorded in Q1 2022.


:Vanguard News 


VISIT: Labour Party Presidential candidate, Peter Obi (left); LP Vice Presidential candidate, Dr Yusuf 

Datti Baba-Ahmed (right); Shiek Ahmad Gumi (2nd left) and Chief Imam, Kaduna Central Mosque, 

Dr. Sulieman Adam, during courtesy call on Sheikh Gumi in Kaduna, yesterday. 

LP, PDP tackle Buhari over claims 

of meeting yearnings of Nigerians 

•We've met yearnings, aspirations of Nigerians —Buhari 

•Buhari-led APC administration, total disaster — LP, PDP 

•As Osinbajo warns against blanket ban on imports 

•Opposition must be carried along in governance —Uhuru Kenyatta 

By Johnbosco 

Agbakwuru & John 

Alechenu 

A BUJA—PRESIDENT 

Muhammadu Buhari said 

yesterday he has met the 

yearnings and aspirations of 

Nigerians, scoring his 

administration high in 

performance. 

Speaking while declaring open 

the 3rd Ministerial Performance 

Review Retreat at the Old 

Banquet Hall, Presidential Villa, 

Abuja, the President highlighted 

progress made in the areas of 

agriculture, economy, 

infrastructure, security, health, 

and anti-corruption, among 

others. 

The retreat, with the theme 

"Enhance security, fight 

corruption, transform the 

economy," is designed to review 

the progress of the administration 

since the second edition in 

October 2021. 

It also serves as a forum for selfassessment, 

evaluation of 

progress made, and measurement 

of impact of work done, in 

ensuring that the government 

remained focused on delivering 

the promises it made to 

Nigerians. 

While enumerating some of the 

achievements of his 

administration, Buhari said over 

3,800km of roads had been 

constructed across the country, 

noting also that 38 new aircraft 

were acquired for the Nigerian Air 

Force to boost the fight against 

insurgency. 

He said that 38.7 million 

Nigerians, representing 35 per 

cent of the total eligible population 

target for vaccination, had been 

fully vaccinated against COVID- 

19 

Ȯn infrastructure, the President 

said: ''In recognition of the 

importance of critical 

infrastructure in economic 

development and the quest of this 

administration to leave a lasting 

legacy, we have implemented 

high-impact projects across the 

length and breadth of the country 

that meet the yearnings and 

aspirations of Nigerians. 

''Some of the notable 

achievements include the 

completion of 326km Itakpe- 

Ajaokuta-Warri rail line and 

railway ancillary facilities; the 

completion of over 156.5km 

Lagos-Ibadan standard gauge 

railway modernization project 

with extension to Lagos Port, 

Apapa. 

''On road projects, this 

Administration has constructed 

408Km of roads; 2,499Km of 

SUKUK roads and maintenance 

of 15,961Km of roads across the 

Country. 

''Key among these projects are 

the construction of 1.9km 2nd 

Niger Bridge linking Anambra and 

Delta States with 10.30km 

approach road; rehabilitation, 

construction and expansion of 

Lagos-Shagamu-Ibadan dual 

carriageway; the ongoing 

rehabilitation of Abuja-Kaduna – 

Zaria - Kano Road, among others.'' 

The President, who noted that 

he had sustained commitment 

to infrastructural development for 

the past seven years, said over 

941km of completed SUKUK road 

projects nationwide had been 

handed over. 

He stated further that the 

government had embarked on the 

reconstruction of 21 selected 

federal roads totaling 1,804.6km, 

under the Road Infrastructure 

Development & Refurbishment 

Investment Tax Credit Policy. 

He explained that the roads, 

funded by the Nigeria National 

Petroleum Company Limited, 

were in addition to similar existing 

collaboration with Messrs 

Dangote Industries Limited and 

other corporate organisations to 

improve the stock of the country’s 

road infrastructure. 

On aviation, the President 

assured that the establishment 

of a national carrier for Nigeria 

was at 91 per cent completion, 

adding the airlines was expected 

to commence flight operations 

before the end of this year. 

On the economy, President 

Buhari restated that the country 

had witnessed seven consecutive 

quarters of growth, after negative 

growth rates recorded in the 2nd 

and 3rd quarters of 2020. 

He added: ''The GDP grew by 

3.54% (year-on-year) in real terms 

in the 2nd Quarter of 2022. This 

growth rate represents a 

sustained positive economic 

performance, especially for the 

Non-Oil GDP which fell by 4.77% 

in Q2 2022 against Oil GDP that 

grew by -11.77%. 

''Most sectors of the economy 

recorded positive growth which 

reflects the effective 

implementation of the economic 

sustainability measures 

introduced by this 

Administration,'' he said. 

On the Communications and 

Digital Economy Sector, the 

President noted that giant strides 

have been made through 

broadband coverage which 

currently stands at 44.32%, 

reinforced by 77.52% 4G coverage 

with the establishment of 36,751 

4G base stations nationwide. 

Similarly, the President declared 

that the power sector had 

remained a critical priority for the 

administration, adding that the 

implementation of a ‘willing 

buyer-willing seller’ policy 

introduced by the federal 

government had opened up 

opportunities for increased 

delivery of electricity to 

underserved homes and 

industries. 

''We are also executing a 

number of critical projects 

through the Transmission 

Rehabilitation and Expansion 

Programme, which will result in 

achieving the national goal of 

improved power supply by 2025. 

''It is important to state that the 

partnership between the Federal 

Government of Nigeria and 

German Siemens AG through 

the Presidential Power Initiative 

to increase electricity generation 

to 25,000 Megawatts in six years 

is on course, as the first batch of 

the transformers has arrived 

Nigeria already,'' the President 

said. 

On the oil and gas sector, Buhari 

recalled that on August 16, 2021, 

he signed the Petroleum Industry 

Act, PIA, into law to provide a 

legal, governance, regulatory and 

fiscal framework for the petroleum 

industry, as well as the 

development of host communities 

and related matters. 

Osinbajo warns 

against blanket ban 

on imports 

Reflecting on the journey so far, 

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo 

warned against placing blanket 

ban on imports, given the 

negative consequences it could 

have on the economy. 

He said importation was not the 

problem of the economy, noting 

that many manufacturing 

countries were heavy importers 

that import much more than 

Nigeria. 

Opposition must be 

carried along 

—Uhuru Kenyatta 

Delivering the keynote address, 

the former Kenyan President, 

Uhuru Kenyatta, stressed the 

need to carry the opposition along 

for a peaceful and progressive 

country. 

Drawing from his example in 

Kenya, Kenyatta said countries 

in Africa had the same 

developmental problems which 

must be confronted, irrespective 

of who was in power, adding that 

what was important was 

continuity of programmes and 

succession planning. 

Kenyatta also noted the 

current global challenges for 

which Africa bore the brunt, 

though it had nothing to do with 

it. 

While wondering how the 

continent would meet the 

challenges for its patient 

population within the limited time 

frame, Kenyatta said: "First is the 

ability to be focused on what the 

critical issues are. We can't deliver 

on everything but focus on those 

areas that affect our people and 

enhance unity. 

"The second is that the 

challenges we face can't be 

completed by any one single 

administration. So, the issue of 

continuing and succession 

planning is very necessary." 

In his welcome address, the 

Secretary to the Government of 

the Federation, SGF, Boss 

Mustapha, said the retreat had 

been structured into three main 

focus areas. 

He stated: ''First is an overview 

of ministerial performance within 

the last three years of the 

administration, presenting key 

achievements and identifying 

opportunities for improvement. 

''Second will reflect on lessons 

and good practices from the 

Kenyan presidential delivery unit 

while the third is ways to 

accelerate the delivery of flagship 

projects and programmes of the 

Buhari administration before the 

end of the tenure in May 2023.'' 

British High Commissioner to 

Nigeria, Catriona Laing, Speaker 

of the House Representatives, 

Femi Gbajabiamila, and Senate 

President Ahmed Lawan 

delivered goodwill messages at 

the retreat. 

Buhari-led APC 

administration, total 

disaster —LP, PDP 

Reacting to President Buhari's 

claim yesterday, Peoples 

Democratic Party and the Labour 

Party described his government 

as the worst thing to happen to 

Nigeria since the return of 

democracy in 1999. 

Chief Publicity Secretary of the 

Obi-Datti Presidential Campaign 

Council, Dr. Tanko Yunusa , said 

it was a shame that an 

administration which had failed 

on all fronts could lay claim to 

meeting the yearnings of 

Nigerians. 

He said: “It is unfortunate and 

a huge shame that President 

Buhari or anyone in this 

administration could come out to 

say such a thing. 

“First, let us look at the issue of 

security and area where Buhari 

who retired as an Army general is 

said to have as his area of core 

competence. 

“Never in the history of this 

great nation have we had it so 

bad that a sitting President can 

not even visit his home state in 

peace. Katsina today is one of the 

most insecure state in Nigeria. 

“Nigerians who used to dash to 

Kaduna in the morning and 

return to Abuja in the evening 

can no longer do so because of 

insecurity. 

“What about the corruption free 

society he promised? At what time 

in our history did a whole 

Accountant General allegedly 

make away with N80bn of public 

funds and is seeking for a plea 

bargain? 

“What about the first Secretary 

to the Government of the 

Federation, Babachir Lawal who 

had to leave office when the 

Senate exposed his corruption? 

“What about the Minister of 

Humanitarian Affairs who told 

the world her ministry used 

billions of Naira to feed school 

children who were at home with 

their parents during COVID? 

“At what time in our history did 

we have this level of oil theft and 

no one is being held to account? 

“This same administration has 

ruined our economy because most 

Nigerians today go to bed hungry. 

What is the exchange rate of the 

Naira to the Dollar today? 

“At what time did ASUU go on 

strike for 8 months at a stretch 

because government refused to 

honour agreements? 

“This government's failure 

stinks to high heavens that is why 

Nigerians across this great 

country are calling for an Obi/ 

Datti Labour Party -led 

administration to bring our nation 

back from the brink.” 

Speaking in a similar vein, 

spokesman of Atiku/Okowa PDP 

Presidential Campaign Council, 

Kola Ologbondiyan, said it was 

laughable for anyone to suggest 

that Buhari's government had 

delivered anything other than 

misgovernace. 

He said: “The last seven years 

under this regime has been 

nothing but traumatic for most 

Nigerians. The standard of living 

has dropped to sub-zero, 

government has literarily 

collapsed under this regime’s 

watch.“ 

Wages: Strike looms in health, judiciary, civil service, 

NLC warns 

By Victor Ahiuma- 

Young & Akinroye 

Abdulazeez 

THE NIGERIA Labour 

Congress, NLC, has alerted 

the nation of looming strike in the 

health, judiciary sectors as well as 

core service over unreviewed 

wages. 

It also called on all tiers of 

government and other employers 

of labour to immediately pay cost 

of living allowances to all workers, 

in line with global trend to address 

the global economic challenges. 

President of NLC, Ayuba Wabba, 

who spoke against the backdrop 

of the recently suspended eight 

months strike by the Academic 

Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, 

lamented that the judiciary, 

medical and health salary 

structures, including the core civil 

service, had not been reviewed 

since 2013, contrary to the 

provisions of their agreements that 

provided for a review in three years. 

He said: "There are many 

sectors today and some of them 

because also they are not allowed 

to try to advance their issues, they 

have remained silent, but it is 

eating them up very deep. Out of 

these is the Judiciary. 

''I know as a matter of fact, from 

2009 to date, the salary and 

remuneration of the Judiciary 

have not been reviewed. It has 

been very, very difficult for them to 

discharge their responsibilities, 

without fear or favour and with job 

satisfaction. 

''Imagine the challenges that 

have actually affected the economy 

from 2009 to date including spiral 

inflation. If you are earning X 

amount as of 2009, how do you 

survive in this current situation? 

"As a matter of fact, the medical 

and health salary structure also has 

been reviewed last in 2009. It is also 

13 years now, and they are due for 

review. 

''The health service structure and 

all other salary structures 

including even the core civil 

service have not been reviewed. 

The provision of those agreements 

provided that every three year 

those agreements should be 

reviewed, but nothing has been 

done up till now. 

"I think we should have learned 

some lessons from what has 

happened recently in the tertiary 

institutions and proactively look 

at those other sectors that have 

similar challenges that needed to 

also be addressed at this point in 

time. 

''I mentioned just a few of them, 

the medical and health salary 

scale, and also that of the judiciary, 

which was last reviewed in 2009. 

It is a wakeup call and we must do 

the needful and act now before it 

is too late.''


TINUBU, 

ATIKU, AYU 

MEET- 

From left: The 

presidential 

candidate of the 

All Progressives 

Congress, APC, 

Asiwaju Bola 

Tinubu, 

Peoples' 

Democratic 

Party Chairman, 

Iyorchia Ayu 

and the 

presidential 

candidate of the 

PDP, Alhaji 

Atiku 

Abubakar, PDP 

at the VIP 

lounge of the 

Nnamdi Azikiwe 

International 

Airport in Abuja 

yesterday. 


Yoruba Nation rally: Police, cause of 

salesgirl's death — Coroner 

LAGOS-AN inquest into 

the death of Jumoke 

Oyeleke, a lady killed during 

a 'Yoruba Nation' rally 

in Lagos, yesterday, ruled 

that she died of a bullet shot 

from a police weapon. 

Yoruba Nation agitators 

converged on the Ojota area 

of Lagos, on July 3, 2021, to 

demand an independent 

state for the South-West 

zone. 

During the protest, the 

police fired bullets into the 

air and used teargas to disperse 

the crowd. 

Afterwards, Jumoke, a 25- 

year-old, was found dead at 

a location near the venue of 

the rally. 

The police, however, said 

Muslim students back regulation of BB Naija, 

cross-dressing 


it did not use live bullets and 

denied involvement in 

Jumoke's death. 

But an autopsy report 

from the Lagos State University 

Teaching Hospital 

showed that Jumoke died 

from "hemopericardium, 

disruption to the heart and 

lungs and missile injury to 

the chest". 

CAMPAIGNS: We'll sanction erring guidelines violators 

—LASAA •As PDP's Adediran begins gov campaign tomorrow 

By Olasunkanmi 

Akoni 

LAGOS-THE Lagos State 

Signage and Advertisements 

Agency, LASAA, yesterday, 

urged political parties, 

politicians, campaigners 

and their supporters to 

adhere to the guidelines on 

the use of election campaign 

materials in Lagos State 

ahead of the 2023 general 

elections. 

LASAA also promised to 

work with all political parties, 

politicians and campaigners 

in ensuring that 

they enjoy visibility in the 

state. 

A statement by the LA- 

SAA's Managing Director, 

Mr Adedamola Docemo, explained 

that guidelines issued 

following the agency's 

responsibilities on the use of 

billboards/wall drapes, banners, 

A-frames, and posters, 

to establish sanity and protect 

the environment from 

defilement, visual blight 

and other adverse effects of 

unregulated display of political 

campaign materials 

By Gabriel Olawale 

LAGOS-THE Muslim 

Students' Society of Nigeria, 

MSSN, B-Zone, yesterday, 

backed the renewed 

call for the regulation of the 

reality TV shows like Big 

Brother Naija, soft porn skits, 

and cross-dressing in Nigeria. 

This came after the Director-General 

of the National 

Council for Art and Culture, 

NCAA, Segun Runsewe 

urged the House of Representatives 

to give a legal framework 

to go after the organisers 

of Big Brother Naija, 

BBN, over nudity in the 

must be strictly adhered to. 

Docemo, who noted that 

the guidelines were issued 

without prejudice to any 

political party, association 

or aspirant, said: "We intend 

to ensure fairness and equality 

amongst all concerned 

stakeholders, while judiciously 

performing our duties 

and applying the rules 

without sentiment or bias." 

PDP Adediran begins 

gov campaign tomorrow 

Meanwhile, the governorship 

candidate of the Peoples 

Democratic Party, PDP, in 

Lagos State in the 2023 poll, 

Dr Olajide Adediran, popularly 

called Jandor has announced 

plans to kick off his 

campaign on October 19, 

2022. 

This came as Adediran expressed 

confidence that he 

will take over the reins of 

power from Governor Babajide 

Sanwo-Olu of the All Progressives 

Congress, APC. 

Speaking at a media briefing 

on the official unveiling 

show and the powers to arrest 

and prosecute crossdressers 

in the country. 

The B-Zone Coordinator of 

MSSN, Qaasim Odedeji said: 

"The call by Runsewe isn't 

out of place and there are no 

two ways to look at issues 

raised against BB Naija reality 

show, soft porn skits, 

and cross-dressing in Nigeria. 

What is bad is bad! What 

is immoral is immoral. 

"You will recall that the 

second stanza of the National 

anthem which is now 

called the National prayer 

has it that "Help our youth 

the truth to know". It is dutybound 

on all well-meaning 

Nigerians to also join the call 

of his manifesto and campaign 

plans in Ikeja, Lagos, 

Adediran expressed readiness 

to take over governance 

of Lagos state through a fair 

and successful democratic 

process. 

According to him, the 

campaign will kick off across 

the 245 wards of the state 

on Wednesday, October 19, 

2022, starting from Alimosho 

Local Government 

Area. 

He said: "For things to 

work in Lagos, we need a truly 

independent helmsman. 

The journey started over 

seven years ago, we have 

been focused and steadfast in 

our quest to emancipate the 

people of Lagos from the 

shackles of oppression by a 

group of the cabal in the 

state. 

"For the first time since 

1999, we are going to have 

a popular Governor in Lagos. 

We are here to win and 

not to be on the ballot alone 

that is why we left the ruling 

party, APC. That is why 

we came to PDP. 

for this regulation before we 

all lose hold of the truth. 

"The growing rate of immortality 

in the country is 

worrisome and we can't exonerate 

the effect of reality 

shows crammed with nudity 

or soft porn skits that are 

all over social media. 

"We, therefore, call on 

stakeholders, the National 

Assembly, the National 

Council for Art and Culture, 

NCAA, Nigerian Broadcasting 

Commission, NBC, and 

the Nigerian Content Development 

and Monitoring 

Board, NCDMB, to give the 

deserving attention to the 

issues raised and help our 

youths know the truth." 

Owing to the incident, the 

Lagos state government instituted 

a fact-finding inquest 

to establish the circumstances 

that led to 

Jumoke's death. 

On August 9, 2021, the 

coroner commenced a hearing 

on the matter at the Lagos 

State Magistrates' 

Court, Ogba. 

But the coroner, Mukaila 

Fadeyi, while ruling on the 

inquest into Jumoke's 

death, said the police shooting 

at the protesters was 

unlawful and against the 

provisions of the 1999 constitution. 

The coroner also asked the 

Federal Government to provide 

compensation for the 

deceased's family. 

Fadeyi said: "To shoot at 

the protesters was unlawful 

and ultra vires to the 1999 

constitution. In answering 

the question of how the deceased 

died, the only logical 

conclusion that one can 

reach is that the deceased 

died through a bullet shot 

from the weapon of [the] 

Nigerian police. 

"It is strongly recommended 

that the state government 

encourages the 

federal government on the 

training, retraining, and 

reorientation of police officers 

on the right to hold protests 

in a democratic setting. 

"Payment of compensation 

should be effected to the 

family of the deceased by 

the federal government. 

"The IGP should ensure a 

total overhaul of the police 

force to fish out the bag eggs 

and ensure that they are 

brought to book to forestall 

further accidental killings. 

"Mental and medical 

checkups are recommended 

for police officers to determine 

suitability to bear 

arms. 

"Access to Freedom Park 

should never be locked or 

cordoned off in future. No 

police officer detailed to protest 

grounds should be issued 

live bullets. 

"The AG Lagos should be 

mandated to pass on these 

recommendations to the 

relevant authorities for implementation. 

"There is also the need of 

the state to fund the activities 

of the Coroner Act 2015, 

to stem unwarranted and 

unlawful killings in the 

state." 

Osun tribunal: Panel to sit 

on weekends, holidays 

By Shina Abubakar 

OSOGBO-THE Osun 

State Election Petition 

Tribunal hearing the 

suit filed by Governor 

Adegboyega Oyetola 

against the declaration 

of Ademola Adeleke as 

Governor-elect, yesterday, 

said it would sit on 

weekends and public 

holidays, as part of efforts 

to conclude the 

matter on time. 

In its pre-hearing report 

delivered by the 

panel Chairman, Justice 

Tertsea Kume directed 

the parties in the matter 

to file the schedule of 

their witness not less 

than 24 hours before the 

tribunal sitting. 

Kume said: "The tribunal 

will commence sitting 

by 10 am from Monday 

to Friday and close 

for the day by 4 pm, except 

Friday when the 

tribunal will close proceeding 

by 1 pm. 

"The tribunal will also 

sit on Saturdays and 

public holidays depending 

on the exigency of 

the circumstances." 

Justice Kume then adjourned 

the commencement 

of the full hearing 

to October 26, 2022. 

OPU Europe Summit: 

Yoruba unity sacrosanct 

—Gani Adams 

By Dapo Akinrefon 

LAGOS-THE Aare 

Ona Kakanfo of 

Yorubaland and the Global 

Convener of the 

Oodua Progressives 

Union, OPU, weekend, 

said the unity of Yoruba 

is sacrosanct, urging all 

Yoruba sons and daughters 

in the Diaspora to 

contribute to the development 

of the South- 

West. 

Speaking at the 2022 

edition of the OPU Europe 

Summit in Paris, 

France, Adams urged 

Yoruba people to see 

themselves as one, big, 

united family, adding 

that the OPU, with its 

members spreading 

across the six continents 

and 96 countries 

all over the world has all 

it takes to impact 

Yorubaland positively. 

He said: "OPU is not the 

first diaspora organization 

of Yoruba descent. 

There was Egbe Omo 

Oduduwa in the diaspora 

that evolved into the 

Action Group, AG, that 

controlled the Western 

region in 1952. 

"Therefore, we 

shouldn't underrate our 

little effort at making an 

effective change back 

By Dayo Johnson 

AKURE---THE Vice- 

President of Liberia, 

Dr Jewel Howard-Taylor 

will on Thursday, October, 

20, deliver the combined 

convocation lecture 

of the Elizade University, 

Ilara-Mokin, in 

Ondo State. 

This is coming as 42 of 

the 489 graduating students 

of the institution 

for 2020/2021 and 

2021/2022 bagged first 

class. Addressing newsmen 

ahead of the lecture, 

Vice Chancellor of 

the University, Prof 

Olukayode Amund, said 

that the lecture is titled 

home in Nigeria. 

"Yoruba in the Diaspora 

need to contribute 

their quota by impacting 

the lives of the people 

at home positively. 

You need to support 

our cause legitimately. 

"It is important for us 

as members of this noble 

organization to raise 

and complement one 

another in such a way 

that will enhance our 

personal and individual 

growth as well as that of 

the organization." 

Also speaking, the acting 

coordinator of the 

OPU in Europe, Ganiyu 

Wahab urged members 

of the organization to 

see to the welfare of all 

the members in their 

respective countries. 

Wahab said: "I want to 

use this opportunity to 

implore all our members 

to see to the welfare 

of our members in our 

respective countries. 

This is service, and by 

doing this we can build 

strong family ties that 

are needed for the 

growth of the OPU family. 

"This will also help us 

to put more effort in human 

capacity building 

and also in promoting 

Yoruba culture in Europe 

and beyond." 

Liberia VP to deliver Elizade 

Varsity convocation lecture 

'Africa Renaissance: Key 

for New Global Leadership 

Paradigm'. 

Prof Amund said: "It is 

noteworthy that the Faculty 

of Law produced its 

first set of graduating 

students in the 2020/ 

2021 session and they 

had completed their bar 

examinations while the 

second set of 65 students 

would be resuming at the 

Law School shortly. 

"The Faculty of Engineering 

has also continued 

to lead, having produced 

14 out of the total 

of 42 First Class graduands 

being presented at this 

ceremony, representing 

33.3% of the total."




HACKATHON: 

From left, 

Executive Secretary, 

FC4S Lagos, Mr 

Emmanuel 

Etaderhi, 

Programme Officer, 

Danish Embassy 

Ms. Victoria Epelle 

and Chairman, 

FC4S Lagos/CEO, 

FMDQ Group 

Mr. Bola Onadele- 

Koko, during the 

2022 Nigeria SDGs 

Fintech Hackathon 

in Lagos, weekend. 

NNAMDI KANU:US ex-envoy, Clark, 

Ezeife, family caution FG 

•Nigeria can't keep him perpetually in custody —US ex-envoy 

•He needs urgent medical treatment abroad —Family 

•Releasing him'll make 2023 polls peaceful in S-East —Ezeife 

•Monday sit-at-home persists 

By Emma Amaize, 

Steve Oko, 

Nwabueze 

Okonkwo & 

Ikechukwu Odu 

THE POLITY was filled, 

yesterday, with calls on 

President Muhammadu Buhari 

to release Leader of the 

Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, 

Mazi Nnamdi Kanu as ordered 

by the Court of Appeal as the 

Monday sit-at-home in parts of 

the South-East geo-political zone 

persists. 

Among those who urged 

President Buhari to release Kanu 

are former US Ambassador to 

Nigeria, John Campbell; former 

Governor of Anambra State, Dr 

Chukwuemeka Ezeife; and Elder 

statesman and South-South 

Leader, Chief Edwin Kiagbodo 

Clark. 

They spoke as Kanu's family 

urged the President to order for 

the immediate release of Kanu 

from detention because he needs 

urgent medical treatment abroad. 

John Campbell cautioned the 

Nigerian Authorities against farreaching 

implications of flouting 

the Appeal Court judgment 

which discharged and acquitted 

Kanu. 

Campbell, in a tweet, noted that 

Nigeria misfired by embarking on 

extraordinary rendition of Kanu 

from Kenya last year, cautioning 

that the country cannot afford any 

more "mishandling" of the matter. 

According to the former US 

envoy, the safety and security of 

the nation depend largely on the 

outcome of Kanu's matter. 

Kanu's Special Counsel, Aloy 

Ejimakor, while recalling the 

Campbell tweet, said in a 

statement that “Nigeria’s 

disobedience of a 2018 decision of 

a continental tribunal on Kanu 

was the first ‘mishandling’ 

and "the extraordinary 

rendition was the second. Putting 

Kanu on trial was the third. 

Disobeying the United Nations 

was the fourth. And the likelihood 

of disobeying the judgment of the 

Court of Appeal will be the fifth.” 

Ejimakor called on “Nigerians 

of means and influence, and the 

international community to 

intervene in persuading 

President Buhari to promptly 

comply with the court order which 

discharged Kanu from all the 

criminal charges pending against 

him,” recalling that “Buhari had 

on two occasions promised to 

obey any court order that bears 

on the release of Kanu.” 

He added that “a promise of this 

sort is a debt.” 

Similarly, Kanu's family 

reminded President Buhari of his 

promise to a delegation of Igbo 

leaders that he would abide by 

the pronouncements of the court 

concerning Kanu and pleaded 

with the president to honour his 

words. 

The family which spoke 

through Emmanuel Kanu, urged 

the President to order for the 

immediate release of Kanu from 

detention saying he needs 

urgent medical treatment abroad. 

The family added that the 

continued detention of the IPOB 

Leader in violation of court order 

and United Nations opinion 

amounted to executive rascality 

which should not be tolerated in 

democracy. 

Kanu’s release’ll 

make 2023 polls 

peaceful in S'East 

—Ezeife 

In like manner, Dr Ezeife said 

that releasing Kanu would 

guarantee peaceful 2023 

elections in South-East. 

Dr. Ezeife, who is also an elder 

of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo, said 

that freeing Kanu would equally 

make the agitations from South- 

East and the operation of the 

unknown gunmen to die down 

in the zone. 

Speaking at a breakfast 

programme on Arise TV, Ezeife 

said South-East that youths are 

agitating due to the obvious 

marginalisation of the zone by 

governments of Nigeria, but 

assured that Ohanaeze Ndigbo 

would caution the boys once 

Kanu is released to guarantee 

peace and tranquility in the zone. 

His words: "We pray God to 

move President Buhari to do 

justice and respect court 

judgement. ASUU has gone back 

to classroom in obedience to court 

order, even though, the members 

were not happy. Let our 

Government lead by example and 

comply with court order. What I 

heard was that Nnamdi Kanu was 

discharged and acquitted. I am 

surprised that government is 

interfering in court's decision to 

say that Kanu was only 

discharged, but even if he was 

only discharged, that is enough 

to release him from DSS custody 

because of the decision of the 

court. I don't think what is 

happening is good for our society. 

"The decision of the judiciary, 

the executive and the legislature 

should be respected in a 

democratic government but 

impunity seems to be the name 

of the game, especially, with 

respect to government. 

"We went to the President and 

we got a good response about 

releasing Kanu... May the 

President consider the state of the 

nation and release Kanu. 

"If Kanu is released, the protest 

in the South-East will die down, 

and the fake people, including the 

unknown gunmen will go down. 

The true IPoB members are 

reasonable in what they do. The 

people of the South-East voted 

for one Nigeria and still believe in 

it unless we are rejected or made 

slaves in our own country. If we 

are free like other people and 

there is level-playing field, nobody 

is thinking of Biafra. Releasing 

Kanu will trigger socio-economic 

development in Nigeria. It will 

engender peace, stability and 

everything good in Nigeria. 

"I can guarantee you that if 

Nnamdi Kanu is released, it will 

make the 2023 elections, the most 

peaceful elections in the South 

East. There will be no problem 

because we would talk to our 

people. Our sons listen to us and 

once they see good reason, they 

accept it. Our people are 

marginalized and treated as if they 

don't belong here. This is why the 

boys are crying and you don't beat 

someone and stop him from 

crying.” 

Stop fishing for 

excuses, release 

him, Clark tells 

Buhari 

Also, Senator Clark, advised 

President Buhari to stop fishing 

for excuses and order the 

immediate release of Kanu. 

Clark, also leader of the Pan- 

Niger Delta Forum, PANDEF, in 

a statement, said: "I have deemed 

it necessary to issue this 

statement, following reports on 

the stance of the Attorney 

General of the Federation and 

Minister of Justice, Abubakar 

Malami and the subsequent 

concurrence by the National 

Security Council, last Friday, 

that the Court of Appeal only 

discharged leader of IPoB, Nnamdi 

Kanu, but did not acquit him of 

the charges for which he was 

facing trial. 

"I consider this stance of the 

Federal Government as rather 

imperious and needless. I, 

therefore, earnestly call on 

President Buhari to obey the 

judgement of the Court of Appeal 

and order the immediate release 

of Nnamdi Kanu in the interest 

of peace in the country, and the 

South East zone, in particular. 

"Most Nigerians greeted the 

judgement of the Court of Appeal 

with elation, mainly in the South- 

East, where there were reports of 

widespread jubilations across 

cities in the zone. 

"It would, therefore, be 

detrimental for the Federal 

Government to still keep Kanu 

in detention and provide any 

pretext for malefactors to 

continue to take advantage of the 

situation in perpetrating all sorts 

of atrocities in the zone. 

"Even though certain activities 

of Nnamdi Kanu and his IPoB 

followers have been a nuisance 

and very disturbing, the Federal 

Government went too far in going 

all the way to Kenya to abduct 

him on the ground that he jumped 

bail. 

"I remember, and it is well 

known, that when the leaders, 

elders and traditional rulers of the 

South-East pleaded with 

President Buhari during a 

meeting in Abakaliki, Ebonyi 

State, to release Kanu and other 

pro-Biafra agitators in detention, 

the President responded that 

Nnamdi Kanu’s fate will be 

decided by the Court. 

"And even when they (Igbo 

leaders) visited him at Aso Rock, 

the President again said the 

matter was no longer in his hand 

and the security agencies, but in 

the hand of the Judiciary and that 

whatever the Court decides would 

be final. 

"Now that the Court of Appeal 

has given its judgement on the 

matter, I am imploring the 

President to obey the judgement 

of the Court and release the 

young man, and allow peace to 

reign. At this time, when 

insecurity is the order of the day, 

anything that would enhance the 

peace and stability of the country 

must be embraced.” 

"Instructively, President Buhari 

should, without further ado, 

honour the order of the Court and 

allow Nnamdi Kanu to be 

released, perhaps, with 

conditions that he would maintain 

the peace and work to bring to 

end the needless Monday sit-athome 

order, which has disturbed 

businesses and civil activities in 

the South-East. 

"I am certain that Kanu’s 

release from detention will also 

expose those perpetrating the 

kidnappings and horrifying 

killings of security officers and 

other innocent citizens in the 

zone." 

The elder statesman, who 

noted that the South-East is 

marginalized, said: "It is important 

to further underscore that every 

zone in the country has six states, 

except the South-East, which has 

five states and the North-West has 

seven. If one may ask, on what 

basis was this allocation made and 

why the marginalization of the 

South-East? 

He asserted: "Finally, Nigeria 

must be restructured to correct 

the imbalances and make every 

state equal in the country. That 

was why the 2014 National 

Conference recommended the 

creation of more states, where the 

South-East was given four 

additional states and three for all 

other zones except the North- 

West, which was allotted two 

because it already has seven 

states." 

"That would have made the six 

geopolitical zones of the country 

to be at par with nine states. This 

was regarded as one of the most 

important recommendations of 

the conference because it affected 

every zone of the federation, 

unfortunately, the report is lying 

fallow in the archives. 

Monday sit-at-home 

persists 

Meanwhile, the Monday sit-athome 

persisted in Onitsha and 

parts of the South-East, yesterday 

as commercial activities remained 

grounded. 

As usual, offices, businesses, 

markets and banks were shut, just 

as vehicular movements were 

restricted in major highways, 

streets and urban areas from 

morning till evening. 

The question on the lips of the 

residents was whether or not the 

Federal Government does not 

want to obey the court order in 

releasing Kanu. 

Leaked phone call on insecurity: Admit guilt 

or be exposed, Imo govt tells Ihedioha 

IMO STATE government 

yesterday declared that it will 

expose details of how former 

Governor of the state, Emeka 

Ihedioha threatened to make the 

state ungovernable for Governor 

Hope Uzodimma. 

It said unless Ihedioha owns up 

to the leaked telephone 

conversation where he made the 

threat, and apologizes, the sordid 

details of the call would be made 

open. 

Speaking at Arise Television, the 

state Commissioner for 

Information and Strategy, Mr. 

Declan Emelumba, disclosed that 

Ihedioha made the call between 8 

and 9 30pm and 10.05 pm on 

Friday, October 14, 2022 to an 

interior decorator who hails from 

Ezinihitte council area of the state. 

He said Ihedioha in the 

telephone conversation 

threatened that Uzodimma will 

never have peace as governor until 

he vacates the governorship seat 

for him. 

Emelumba insisted that the 

government has in its possession 

the transcript of the call to confront 

the former governor if he persists 

in denying it. 

"Unless he owns up to that call 

and apologizes to Imo people for 

being part of the gang terrorising 

Imo State in the last couple of 

years, we shall do the needful by 

exposing him", the commissioner 

insisted. 

On Ihedioha's claim that 

Uzodimma defamed him through 

a letter he said he never wrote, 

Emelumba dismissed it as a hoax. 

He said the former governor has 

no character or integrity to be 

defamed because he was a 

beneficiary of a stolen mandate. 

According to him" when he held 

on to a mandate he never won 

since he didn't meet the 

Constitutional requirements, 

that's when he lost his integrity. 

A man of character would have 

refused that poisoned chalice" 

The commissioner however 

made it clear that Uzodimma could 

not have, and will never descend 

so low as to forge any letter. 

He urged Ihedioha to channel 

his energy towards extricating 

himself from the weighty allegation 

of sponsorship of insecurity in the 

state which he admitted in the 

leaked telephone conversation 

with his Mbaise brother. 

Delta flood: Reyenieju calls for 

joint action 

By Jeremiah 

Urowayino 

A 

FORMER member of the 

House of Representatives, Mr. 

Reyenieju Daniel has 

commiserated with flood victims in 

Delta State, noting that both the 

state and the Federal government 

must address the issue of flood 

ravaging the state holistically. 

Reyenieju in an interview with 

journalists yesterday in Abuja said 

that all hands must be on deck to 

give the people of the state the good 

life they deserve. 

The former lawmaker said that 

well-meaning individuals in the state 

and corporate entities that are 

benefiting from the state should 

increase their corporate social 

responsibility response. 

He also used the opportunity to 

call on the Federal government to 

start rehabilitation work on the 

East-West road, stressing that the 

road is too important to the economic 

activities of the Niger Delta area. 

“Flood issue is a natural disaster 

which is not peculiar to Delta state 

alone, other states in the country 

also have their own terrible 

experience of this ravaging flood 

disaster. Right now we can only call 

on both the Federal government 

and the state government to put in 

place intervention that will give 

succor to individuals that were 

affected. 

I therefore reiterate and affirm my 

call on corporate entities and wellmeaning 

individuals to come to the 

aid of our people affected by this 

natural disaster”, he stated.


:Vanguard 

News 


COMMISSIONING: From left; Abubakar Abubakar, Lolade Temitipe-Ogungbe, Clementina Arubi, Prince 

Agidotan Yonwuren (Olare-aja) Ugbuwangue, Sophia Eniola Odenore, Basil Odenore, Pa J. J. Ogle, Mrs 

Eiyi Yonwuren as Nigerian National Petroleum Company, NNPCL, in partnership with TotalEnergies 

commissioned and handed over solar-powered poultry incubator hub with starter-packs to the people of 

Ugbuwangue community, Warri South LGA, yesterday. Photo: Akpokona Omafuaire. 

Lift restrictions on payment to NDDC 

contractors, stakeholders urge Buhari, Reps 

TRADITIONAL rulers, 

elders, women groups, 

youth groups, and a peace 

advocacy group in the South- 

South known as the Movement 

for Sustainable Development 

of the Niger Delta, MSDND, 

has called on President 

MuhammaduBuhari and the 

National Assembly to hearken 

to the agitations of the people 

of the region to lift restrictions 

and allow the management of 

the Niger Delta Development 

Commission, NDDC, to 

urgently commence payment 

to hundreds of NDDC 

contractors across the region 

as floods ravages communities 

with hundreds dead, while 

millions of persons are 

displaced. 

According to the MSDND, 

though the National Assembly 

through the House of 

Representatives Committee 

Chairman on NDDC, Dr. 

OlubunmiTunji-Ojo, is on the 

right track to question the 

legality of payment due to the 

delay in the defence of the 

commission’s budget, however, 

the urgent commencement of 

payment to contractors will 

ameliorate the hardship and 

sufferings of the people across 

the region amidst the crushing 

effects of flood devastation and 

hunger in the region. 

The group requested that the 

management of the NDDC 

should be cleared to urgently 

commence contractual 

payments to hundreds of 

NDDC contractors, and for the 

President, the Minister, and the 

House Committee Chairman 

to work in synergy with the 

Federal Ministry of Finance to 

release the over N200 billion 

of NDDC fund that has been 

withheld by the Federal 

Ministry of Finance within the 

past years, in order to alleviate 

the sufferings of the people in 

Niger Delta and for the 

sustainable development of the 

region. 

The group in a statement via 

electronic mail and signed by 

its National Coordinator, 

Chief Ayibatekena Olodin, 

said: “In spite of the support 

for the National Assembly 

committee to ensure proper 

corporate governance, 

accountability and probity at 

the NDDC, there is the need to 

urgently commence payment 

to contractors while the 

perfection of the NDDC budget 

defence is ongoing.” 

Olodin called on the 

Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, 

Mr. Umana Umana, and the 

management team of the 

NDDC to urgently seek 

presidential approval for the 

previously approved N46 

billion in partnership with the 

National Emergency 

Management Agency (NEMA) 

for emergency procurement of 

housing facilities, food and 

medical assistance for millions 

of displaced families across 

Niger Delta states. 

The group said: “We are 

calling on President Buhari, the 

National Assembly committee 

on NDDC to urgently work to 

end the sufferings of Niger 

Delta contractors, who have 

lost so much as many of their 

businesses and property have 

been confiscated by banks for 

failure to repay the loans they 

took to fund their NDDC jobs. 

The House Committee should 

lift payment restrictions and 

allow the management of the 

NDDC to pay hundreds of 

suffering contractors for the 

contracts executed for the 

commission. 

“The Niger Delta 

stakeholders will continue to 

request that the NDDC pay for 

services rendered by competent 

and performing contractors of 

the NDDC. However, we are 

saddened by a situation where 

contractors will not be 

mobilised by the NDDC to 

execute projects, instead, 

contractors will use their 

personal property as collateral 

to borrow money from banks 

at high interest rates to execute 

projects, yet they will be owed 

by the commission for five years 

and more without payment.” 

Ogoni threatens shut-down of 

East-West Road 

By Davies 

Iheamnachor 

PORT 

HARCOURT— 

The people of Ogoni Ethic 

Nationality in Rivers State 

have given the Federal 

Government seven days 

ultimatum to totally 

reconstruct the Eleme-Onne 

axis of East West road or be 

ready to face a total shutdown 

of the road. 

The Ogonis disclosed this in 

a warning demonstration, 

yesterday, at the Aleto area of 

the East-West road following 

the deplorable condition of 

the road, which claimed over 

10 lives last week. 

They cried that the road has 

become a dead trap for 

commuters with reference to 

incident of October 6 and 10, 

2022 in which lives were lost. 

Speaking, the President- 

General of Ogoni Liberation 

Initiative, Dr Douglas Fabeke, 

who read out the position of 

Ogoni on the state of the road 

accused the Federal 

Government of failing in its 

promises and mandate of 

ensuring the good 

infrastructure and welfare of 

the people. 

Fabeke, while recounting 

how the Federal Government 

announced the release of 

billions of naira for the 

rehabilitation of the said road 

when the people shut down the 

road for seven days, wondered 

why a government that can 

spend N4 billion on pipeline 

surveillance job cannot spend 

less in fixing a road housing 

over 200 companies 

generating revenue for the 

country. 

He said: “As you are all 

aware, the deplorable state of 

the Eleme section of the East 

West Road has been a major 

concern for residents of the 

area and commuters. Day in 

day out, we hear cases of 

accidents leading to the loss 

of innocent lives and 

destruction of property that 

were bought with millions of 

naira. 

“The road has been a death 

trap for commuters as 

travellers are always scared 

while using the roads 

alongside heavy duty trucks 

from companies. Our people 

have suffered so much in the 

midst of plenty and we cannot 

sit and watch our people die 

painful and untimely 

resulting from the bad state 

of the road. 

“We, therefore, call on the 

Federal Government of 

Nigeria to immediately 

within seven days, commence 

work on the reconstruction of 

the road and the remodeling 

of the existing connecting 

Aleto bridge which is near 

collapsing, failing which the 

Ogonis shall mobilise again 

and shut down all forms of 

transportation and economic 

activities on the road.” 

Edo community lauds Obaseki on security 

By Ozioruva Aliu 

BENIN CITY —THE 

people of Orhua in 

Uhunmwonde Local 

Government Area of Edo 

State has commended 

Governor Godwin 

Obaseki on his efforts to 

check insecurity in the 

state, particularly 

kidnapping but requested 

that the road linking them 

to other parts of the state 

be repaired. 

Speaking on behalf of 

the Odionwere (eldest 

man) and the people of 

the community, Dr. Julius 

Ahanor, said: “We are 

highly impressed by your 

development strides since 

your assumption of office 

as the governor of Edo 

State.Your tenure has 

witnessed massive road 

construction across Edo 

State. 

“It is pertinent to 

mention that the old earth 

road from Irhue through 

Ekpan-Umokpe-Orhua to 

Iruekpen has now been 

seriously degraded 

because of the recent 

usage by heavy-duty 

trucks as a detour route 

occasioned by the 

complete damage to the 

Benin-Auchi-Abuja Road 

between Ehor, Ekpoma 

and Agbede stretch of the 

federal road. 

“We, therefore, crave the 

indulgence of the state 

government having 

severally captured this 

road in the budget, to at 

this point consider the 

asphalting of the road to 

the benefit of all. 

“It is no gain saying that 

the Orhua community and 

the four other 

communities namely Oke- 

Irhue, Irhue, Epkan, and 

Umokpe towns that make 

up the Irhue ward (ward 

4) in Uhunmwonde Local 

Government Area of Edo 

State have been unduly 

deprived 

and 

underdeveloped over the 

years, thus making 

growth and development 

elude the community. 

Sell crude oil to local 

refiners, Itima tells FG 

By Emma Amaize, 

Regional Editor, 

South- South 

AN Ijaw youth leader 

in Delta State, Mr 

Mike Itima, has urged 

the Federal Government 

to sell crude oil to local 

refiners in the Niger 

Delta and collect tax, 

instead of killing their 

knowledge. 

Itima, who spoke to 

Vanguard on phone, 

said: “None of the 

country’s oil refineries is 

currently refining 

petroleum, yet the 

government has not 

deemed fit to bring 

together the local 

refiners and fashion the 

best way for them to 

improve petroleum 

products production. 

“Why kill the ideas of 

local refiners; why not 

gather the operators, 

discuss and know the 

ways to improve what 

they are doing in the 

larger interest of the 

country? 

“I appeal to 

G o v e r n m e n t 

Ekpemupolo, alias 

Tompolo; Deputy Senate 

President, Senator Ovie 

Omo-Agege and 

Minister of State for 

Petroleum Resources, 

Timipre Sylva to prevail 

on 

President 

Muhammadu Buhari 

and the National 

Assembly to incorporate 

local crude oil refiners in 

the oil industry. 

“These local crude oil 

refiners are refining 

crude oil at the lowest 

cost, government should 

find an avenue to sell 

crude to them to refine 

because no government 

refinery is working. The 

local refinery will help 

the nation to maximize 

advantage in the 

current regime of high 

oil prices. 

“If Zamfara State can 

mine its natural 

resource, gold, then the 

Federal Government 

should also sell crude oil 

to the people of Niger 

Delta to operate their 

locally fabricated 

refineries and pay taxes 

on monthly basis. 

“The money they use to 

settle the navy, army, 

civil defence, police and 

communities is enough 

for them to buy crude oil 

to operate their locally 

fabricated refineries.” 

NNPC, TotalEnergies 

empower 300 women on 

poultry mgt 

By Akpokona 

Omafuaire 

WARRI —THERE was 

joy in Ugbuwangue 

community in Warri South 

Local Government Area of 

Delta State, yesterday, as 300 

women were empowered on 

solar powered poultry 

incubation management by 

the Nigerian National 

Petroleum Company, 

Limited, NNPCL, in 

partnership with 

TotalEnergies. 

The women who had 

undergone five-day training 

on improved local chicken 

production techniques and 

how to obtain alternative feed 

and supplements were joyous 

as the NNPC management 

flagged off the distribution of 

their testimonials and starterpacks. 

Business Development 

Manager of TotalEnergies, 

Mrs. Moyosola Areola, in her 

address, expressed the hope 

that the business initiative 

would boost food security and 

also lift the community 

women economically. 

Areola who was represented 

by the Executive Director, 

People and Country Services, 

TotalEnergies Upstream 

Companies in Nigeria, Mr. 

George Oguachuba 

disclosed that the project 

handover to the Ugbuwangue 

community women in Warri 

was the third phase of poultry 

projects, they have 

successfully implemented in 

Biliri, Gombe State and 

Sagamu in Ogun State, 

benefitting over 600 women 

and their families. 

According to her, “At 

TotalEnergies, we believe that 

encouraging people to 

engage in activities that 

increase agricultural 

productivity is a necessary 

solution to addressing this 

challenge of global food 

security and there are several 

strategies that we have put in 

place to achieve this. 

“We all know that women 

are integral part of every 

home and subsequently every 

environment, yet, in our 

society, they often fall under 

the vulnerable group due to 

poverty and lack of education, 

which give them an economic 

disadvantage. This 

intervention is, therefore, 

targeted at women to support 

them and improve their 

financial capacity, towards 

sustainable poverty 

alleviation in our society.” 

Mrs. Clementina Arubi who 

represented the Group 

General Manager, NNPCL 

Upstream Investment 

Management Services, Bala 

Wunti, noted that the 

completion and 

commissioning of the project 

was in furtherance of the 

corporate social 

responsibility initiatives of the 

Federal Government through 

its oil and gas sector. 

“We will continue to 

consistently champion the 

implementation of 

Sustainable Community 

Development projects that 

will positively impact the lives 

of the citizens of this country. 

“We know that this facility 

will help provide relief to the 

people for the purpose it is 

intended. We also encourage 

the graduates to take 

advantage of the opportunity 

to empower themselves 

economically. 

“Today distinguished 

guests, the project we are 

commissioning is a purpose 

built, fully equipped with 

state-of-the art facilities.”




SESSION: From left, Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State; Governor Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna 

State; Director, Arewa House, Dr. Shuaibu Aliyu; All Progressives Congress, APC, Presidential candidate, 

Bola Tinubu; Plateau State Governor and Director-General of Tinubu/ Shettima Presidential Campaign, 

Simon Bako Lalong; Governor Aminu Masari of Katsina; APC Governorship candidate in Kaduna, 

Senator Uba Sani, and Deputy Governor of Kogi State, Edward Onoja, when Tinubu held an interactive 

session with Arewa Joint Committee in Kaduna, yesterday. 

We'll deal with banditry, other subversive 

elements if elected —Tinubu 

•Says North has no better friend in the race like him 

•Urges Atiku to endorse him for presidency 

By Ibrahim Hassan- 

Wuyo 

P RESIDENTIAL 

CANDIDATE of the All 

Progressives Congress, APC, 

Bola Tinubu, yesterday assured 

the North that he would deal 

with those threatening Nigeria's 

peace, security and unity if 

elected president in 2023. 

This is as Tinubu urged the 

Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, 

Presidential candidate, Atiku 

Abubakar, to support him for the 

presidency. 

Speaking yesterday at an 

event organised by the Arewa 

joint committee in Kaduna, 

Tinubu said he supported the 

former vice-president when he 

contested the presidency in 

2007, saying "From the late 

Shehu Yar'Adua, I'm standing 

before you saying this, even my 

greatest rival met me with 

Yar'Adua; that is, Atiku 

Abubakar. He was just out of 

customs at that time. Ask him to 

go and read the civil service 

regulation." 

"They asked him questions: 

'how did you make your money?' 

He said from selling cars. Can 

you as a civil servant be involved 

with other trade and businesses? 

You have attracted 

disqualification and you don't 

deserve to compete with others. 

Nuhu Ribadu was on our 

platform. 

"I supported Atiku Abubakar 

in 2007 then. Don't blame me if I 

ask for a payback period. It's 

payback. Let him endorse me 

now instead of him conducting 

rally around Kaduna while I'm 

talking to you people here." 

The former Governor of Lagos 

State howerver, detailed how 

he intends to tackle, the security, 

economic, educational and other 

challenges confronting the 

nation to his audience. 

He said " I guarantee you we 

will end kidnapping and banditry 

not only through increasing our 

policing footprint and capacity 

but also through other soft 

approaches that would promote 

inclusion and boost the economy 

of our local communities. 

"Every inch of our national 

territory will be secured and 

defended. As for the North, I 

believe you have no better friend 

in the race like me. I am not like 

those who only remember they 

are from here when it is time to 

ask for your votes. 

I have proven to be a good 

manager of our diversity. As 

Governor of Lagos State, we had 

instances where our peace and 

stability were threatened by 

criminal activities of militia 

groups; I stepped in and fought 

them to a standstill." 

Tinubu commended the 

organizers of the event for 

bringing him back to Arewa 

House, saying "The dream of 

Sardauna, and indeed that of our 

other great leaders such as 

Obafemi Awolowo, Dr Nnamdi 

Azikiwe and our first and only 

prime minister, Abubakar Tafawa 

Balewa was for one indivisible and 

prosperous nation built on 

shared values of patriotism, 

equity, justice and brotherhood. 

"The dream of those forefathers, 

was for a nation "Where no man 

is oppressed", a nation "with 

peace and plenty", and these - 

unity in diversity, peace and 

prosperity - are the fulcrum of my 

mission in this contest. They also 

form the bulk of my address to 

you this afternoon, in line with 

the areas the organisers wanted 

me to address." 

Security 

"I acknowledge the primacy of 

security as the number one 

function of government. If you 

give me the mandate, my 

administration will give it all the 

necessary attention and 

consolidate on the recent 

investments in our security 

agencies and successes being 

recorded in this regard. 

"As you are aware, security is 

a function of resources. I am 

committed to mobilizing all 

assets within our national power 

to Secure Nigeria. We did this in 

Lagos through many initiatives, 

especially the Security Trust 

Fund, through which we 

addressed many needs of our 

security forces which helped to 

sanitize Lagos State. As you may 

recall, when I assumed office as 

governor in 1999, the situation I 

met was basically a case of 

banditry where urban gangs 

ruled the streets. I returned law 

and order, tamed what could 

have been a huge ethnic war 

and made Lagos one of the safest 

states in Nigeria. I will replicate 

that across the country. 

"We will address the welfare 

and training needs of our 

security personnel and 

strengthen our security 

institutions with modern 

technology and equipment to 

better position them to respond 

to modern challenges that we 

face in a fast-changing world. 

Under my leadership, the 

Nigerian military will receive a 

much needed injection of trained 

personnel to strengthen the 

heroic efforts of the troops that 

are currently in service. 

"We will deal decisively with all 

elements threatening our peace, 

security and unity. I guarantee 

you we will end kidnapping and 

banditry not only through 

increasing our policing footprint 

and capacity but also through 

other soft approaches that would 

promote inclusion and boost the 

economy of our local 

communities. I assure you, under 

my leadership; every inch of our 

national territory will be secured 

and defended. 

"In view of the anxiety around 

security and safety of our people, 

there has been an increasing call 

for states to be allowed to 

establish their own police forces. 

I am aware of the recent 

resolution of northern governors 

and traditional rulers on the 

issue of state police. 

"However, it is pertinent to 

note that the issue of State 

Police, just like the larger debate 

around restructuring, is a 

constitutional matter that 

requires consensus-building. 

Restructuring means different 

things to different people. But it 

should be noted that my 

aspiration to lead this country is 

a testimonial for my strong belief 

in its unity and indivisibility. 

These, however, are matters that 

require consultation with critical 

stakeholders which include the 

Council of State, the Legislature, 

the Judiciary, State 

Governments, Traditional 

Institutions, and groups like 

yours. 

"I am willing to listen to all 

opinions to help us arrive at a 

definite stand that would be in 

the interest of the country. 

Economy 

"We will mobilize resources to 

enhance the welfare of personnel 

and provide the right equipment 

and training required for them 

to secure us all. We will sustain 

ongoing efforts of increasing the 

boots on ground commensurate 

to our geography and 

population. These recruitments 

will be tailored to suit needs for 

specific cadre and expertise for 

each organ of the security 

architecture." 

"Nigeria is sitting on a gold 

mine with abundant natural 

resources. With strategic 

investment in research and 

development and effective 

management, we will explore and 

exploit these resources to the 

fullest. 

There is no local government 

in Nigeria that has no resource 

or endowment that can be 

harnessed for greater economic 

development. Our major 

economic challenges are 

underinvestment and effective 

management, and these are 

what I am bringing to the table. 

"Our economic plan would 

utilize the vast natural resources 

we have, through strategic 

investment in infrastructure 

which will lead to the 

diversification of the economy 

and wealth creation across the 

entire country. We will pay 

attention to modern economic 

drivers such as the digital 

economy, creative industries, 

sports and entertainment sectors 

for the benefit of our young 

people." 

He also spoke that his 

government will address issues 

of Power supply, Agriculture, 

education, corruption, among 

others. 

Strike: Unijos, BUK announce resumption 

of academic activities •BSU, JOSTUM urge govt 

By Bashir Bello, 

Peter Duru & 

Marie-Therese 

Nanlong 

JOS—THE University of Jos, 

has approved the 

continuation of the registration 

exercise for undergraduate and 

postgraduate students of the 

University for the 2020/2021 

academic session ahead of full 

resumption of academic activities. 

Similarly, Bayero University, 

Kano, BUK, has fixed Monday, 

24th October, 2022, for 

resumption of academic activities. 

This came as the Academic 

Staff Union of Universities 

ASUU, Benue State University 

Makurdi and Joseph Sarwuan 

Tarka University Makurdi 

JOSTUM, branches suspended 

their eight months old strike 

following directives from the 

national secretariat of the Union. 

Both branches also appealed 

Fidelity Bank partners with BOSS Money to boost 

diaspora remittances 

LAGOS—As part of its strategy 

to provide seamless 

disbursement options to its over 

7 million customers, leading 

financial institution, Fidelity 

Bank Plc, has partnered with 

BOSS Money, a fast-growing 

provider of money transfers in the 

United States. The partnership 

would enable Fidelity Bank 

customers to receive funds sent 

from the U.S. at any of the bank’s 

250 branches across Nigeria. 

BOSS Money is the money 

remittance brand of IDT 

Corporation US. Customers can 

initiate transactions through the 

BOSS Money app, BOSS Money 

website, or an authorized BOSS 

Money retailer. BOSS Money 

to the Federal Government to 

fulfil its part of the bargain by 

paying the salaries of the lectures 

to enable them resume classes 

fully without further delay. 

The Deputy Registrar, of 

Information and Publications of 

the Institution, UniJos, 

Abdullahi Abdullahi, in a 

statement yesterday, urged all 

students who were yet to register 

to do so between Monday 17th 

and Sunday 30th of October 2022 

when the University's Online 

Registration Portal on 

www.unijos.edu.ng will be 

opened. 

According to him, "In view of 

the suspension of the strike 

earlier embarked upon by the 

University-based Staff Unions, 

the Management of the 

University of Jos has approved 

the continuation of the 

Registration exercise for 

Undergraduate and 

transfers are fee-free for first-time 

customers sending up to $300. 

Desmond Ohamma, Group 

Head, Remittance and Diaspora 

Banking, Fidelity Bank Plc said: 

Our partnership with Boss 

Money is a demonstration of our 

commitment to improve service 

delivery to our customers 

especially in the area of 

remittances. Through this 

partnership, our customers now 

have another channel to receive 

funds seamlessly from abroad 

and we are pleased to have BOSS 

Money collaborate with us in 

achieving this. 

“We are delighted to 

collaborate with Fidelity Bank to 

expand payout options for our 

to pay salaries 

Postgraduate Students of the 

University for the 2020/2021 

Academic Session. 

"This is preparatory to the full 

resumption of Academic activities 

for the first Semester 2020/2021 

Academic Session which had 

been suspended due to the 

strike. All Students who are yet 

to Register are advised to do so 

between Monday 17th and 

Sunday 30th of October 2022 

when the University's Online 

Registration Portal on 

www.unijos.edu.ng will be open. 

In Kano, a statement by BUK, 

Deputy Registrar, Public Affairs, 

Lamara Garba said the university 

management after its meeting 

held on Thursday, October, 13th 

2022 approved the resumption 

date. 

Garba said, "Consequently, 

students are to resume academic 

activities with effect from 

Monday, 24th October, 2022," 

the statement however reads. 

customers with friends and 

family in Nigeria,” commented 

Alfredo O’Hagan, SVP for 

Consumer Payments for IDT. 

“Together, we provide a very 

convenient, fast and affordable 

way to send money to over seven 

million Fidelity Bank account 

holders all across Nigeria.” 

Fidelity Bank is a full-fledged 

commercial bank operating in 

Nigeria with over 7 million 

customers serviced across its 250 

business offices and digital 

banking channels. In recognition 

of its commitment to product 

innovation and strong corporate 

governance, the Bank was 

recently recognized as the Best 

SME Bank Nigeria 2022 by the 

Global Banking & Finance 

Awards.


How Nigeria can 

grow the economy, 

reduce poverty— 

Lajuwomi, Winock MD 

•Says without stable currency, it will be very difficult 

to attract FDI which is vital for economic growth 

For over 15 years the name Akinsanmi Lajuwomi was ringing a bell in 

the United Kingdom where the man worked with many blue chip 

companies. But, despite his success as a business and technology 

consultant in the United Kingdom in key roles for blue chip 

organisations such as Sky Group (owners of Sky Sports), Discovery 

Channel and Daily Mail group, Lajuwomi took the decision to return to 

Nigeria and kick-start his dream business in the area of growing 

medium, small and micro enterprises, not minding the teething 

challenges ahead of him. After pitching his tent in the Nigerian business 

environment under the brand name of Winock Lending Limited for 

some years, Lajuwomi can now be described as one of the leading voices 

in the area of business and economic development in Nigeria. 

In this interview with Northern Region Editor, Soni Daniel and Ethel 

Igboeche, Lajuwomi speaks authoritatively on what Nigeria needs to do 

to grow the economy and reduce poverty for the overall interest of 

Nigerians. Excerpts: 

WHY did you choose to leave 

the UK for Nigeria at a time 

many are going the other way, and 

immediately venture into micro 

investments instead of pitching 

your tent with one of the blue chips 

where you once worked in the 

United Kingdom? 

We choose to invest in micro 

ventures instead of blue chips for 

three reasons: In Nigeria, there are 

more micro ventures than blue chip 

companies. Nigeria Bureau of 

Statistics, NBS, survey conducted in 

2017 revealed that there are 41.5 

million MSMEs in Nigeria, and 

99.8 percent of these are micro 

ventures. So, Winock is targeting a 

large and viable market segment 

by focusing on micro ventures. 

Secondly, even though MSMEs 

account for 86 per cent of 

employment and 48 per cent of GDP, 

they unfortunately have only four 

per cent access to credit finance 

compared to blue chip companies. 

We are increasing access to credit 

finance for micro ventures so that 

they can continue to add value to 

the Nigerian economy. 

Thirdly, if you study the history of 

blue chips such as Dangote, 

Globacom, Heirs Holdings, Apple, 

Tesla, and Amazon, you will observe 

that they all started off as micro 

ventures and grew to become blue 

chips mainly because of access to 

sustainable finance. Inevitably, 

some of the micro ventures that we 

are supporting will grow to become 

blue chips and compete globally. 

To what extent has your company 

assisted Nigerian micro ventures 

to start and grow? 

Our company has grown in leaps 

and bounds over the past three years. 

We started with 88 customers in 

2019 and we have grown to over 

7,000 customers in the F.C.T. We 

have provided over 1.5 megawatts 

of solar capacity to microbusinesses 

such as phone chargers, barbers, 

and eateries. We also financed over 

2,000 freezers and sewing machines 

for customers in 2021. We have 

received numerous testimonials 

from customers on how our services 

have helped to improve their 

livelihood. For example, we 

financed solar for a phone charger 

in Dei Dei named Hadiza. She was 

able to increase her income by 100 

per cent due to reduced cost of 

electricity generation and longer 

opening hours, and the additional 

income was used to send her 

children to better quality schools. 

Furthermore, we are currently 

developing an insurance brokerage 

subsidiary to increase access to 

microbusiness insurance to 

mitigate losses from fire incidents, 

especially in major markets. 

Is it possible to know how much 

Winock has given out as long or 

short-term loans to micro 

enterprises in Nigeria? 

Winock has invested millions of 

dollars in giving out solar 

equipment, and cash loans to micro 

ventures. We secure our funds from 

foreign investors and local partners 

that align with our vision and want 

to add value to micro ventures. 

Risk management 

strategy 

Our aim is to disburse over N70 

billion by 2032 ($100 million), and 

we have perfected a funding and risk 

management strategy to achieve this 

aim. 

In how many states is Winock 

operating or investing in? 

We currently operate in the F.C.T., 

Niger and Nasarawa states. We 

focus on semi-urban locations 

where customers do not have easy 

access to banks. We plan to expand 

to all major commercial states in 

Nigeria by 2030. 

How have you found the 

Nigerian operating system? Some 

have complained that it is very 

difficult to invest and succeed here. 

What is your take on that? 

We have found the Nigerian 

operating system to be 

manageable. Our experience has 

been good because we focus on 

developing strategies to address core 

business problems. For example, 

one of the big issues is the constant 

depreciation of the Naira against 

the Dollar which causes companies 

to incur significant FX loss and 

unexpected increase in operating 

expense. We developed an 

innovative FX hedging strategy that 

•Akinsanmi Lajuwomi, Winnock MD... Micro ventures face several systemic challenges 

has completely removed FX risk for 

Winock. Although one cannot deny 

that challenges such as insecurity, 

poor electricity supply, and 

economic instability exist; in my 

opinion, a bigger problem is that 

we Nigerians are self-defeating. We 

assume that Nigeria is the worst 

country in the world and as such, 

most Nigerians do not think it to be 

their responsibility to improve 

Nigeria. I do not know of any 

continent, country, state, or any other 

form of community that started off 

already developed. In fact, some 

countries such as China, Malaysia, 

Vietnam, and many more, were 

behind Nigeria 

i 

n 

development 

in 1960, 

however, 

because the 

citizens are 

patriotic and 

committed to 

t h e i r 

collective 

wellbeing, 

they have 

been able to 

overcome 

t h e i r 

challenges 

and 

have 

developed 

their countries. In the final analysis, 

rather than complain incessantly 

whilst being a part of the problem, 

it is the responsibility of businesses 

to develop legitimate and innovative 

ways to survive in any given 

environment whilst holding public 

officials accountable to improve the 

operating environment. 

Winock also invests in solar 

power, which is a form of 

renewable and clean energy. Why 

is the solar project not gaining 

momentum in Nigeria as in other 

climes despite its clear benefits 

and affordability? 

Solar is a sustainable form of 

electricity supply, especially for 

microbusinesses such as barbers, 

phone chargers, eateries etc. 

Considering that Nigeria has 

abundant sunshine, solar ought to 

be a leading source of electricity 

supply. But the economics of solar, 

and Nigeria’s macroeconomic 

factors, make it difficult for solar to 

gain momentum. At a national grid 

level, a solar plant project will 

require over 40 years to break even. 

This is feasible in developed 

countries because their economy is 

more stable, and hyperinflation is 

less likely. Whereas, in developing 

countries like Nigeria, it is difficult 

to make such long-term 

investments, because inflation will 

inevitably erode the investment. At 

a business to business (B2B) or 

business to customer (B2C) level, 

solar was comparatively cheaper 

per Kilowatt Hour (kWh) than using 

a petrol generator. However, since 

Winock’s main objective 

is to drive down interest 

rates for micro ventures; 

we have developed and 

perfected a plan to 

reduce interest rates to 

2.5 per cent monthly 

from January 2023 

the COVID 

pandemic, 

cost of solar 

increased by 

200 per cent 

due to FX 

scarcity for 

importation, 

and it is now 

m o r e 

expensive 

than petrol 

generator 

per kWh 

because 

petrol is 

subsidised. 

This has 

slowed down solar demand 

significantly. If petrol subsidy is 

removed, and the Dollar income 

earned by the Federal Government 

from crude sales is injected into the 

FX market to increase liquidity, then 

solar will become cheaper than 

running a petrol generator, 

although the reverse will be the case 

if the Dollar income is not properly 

invested by the Federal 

Government. 

Interest rate appears to be killing 

micro ventures in Nigeria. What 

difference does your company 

make in this case since you seem 

to be more involved in this area? 

With regards to high microloan 

interest rates in Nigeria, there are 

two uncorrelated reasons behind 

this: In the first instance, there are a 

lot of loan sharks, especially in the 

fintech space, that charge predatory 

rates as high as one per cent daily, 

to take advantage of the fact that 

micro ventures do not have easy access 

to loans. Central Bank of Nigeria and 

National Information Technology 

Development Agency have begun to 

shut down a lot of these fintech lenders 

that are operating illegally. In the 

second instance, microfinance banks 

charge five per cent interest monthly 

on average. 

This is mainly because the 

operating cost of disbursing small 

loans to millions of people is high 

compared to disbursing large loans 

to a handful of people. In addition, 

investors charge lenders double 

digit interest rates per annum 

because of the perceived risk of 

lending to micro ventures, which 

equally affects the interest rates 

given to micro ventures by the 

lenders. Winock’s main objective is 

to drive down interest rates for micro 

ventures. We have developed and 

perfected a plan to reduce interest 

rates to 2.5 per cent monthly from 

January 2023. If we achieve this 

plan, it will revolutionise the 

Nigerian credit finance industry. 

Does Nigeria have enough 

workable and sustainable MSME 

policies that can propel growth or 

does the country need more laws 

and policies in that regard? 

The reality is that there are a lot of 

good policies in place, but there is 

poor implementation and lack of 

awareness. Before we can effectively 

evaluate the impact of policies, I 

think MSMEs need to first 

maximise the existing ones to 

determine whether the laws and 

policies can propel growth. 

Beyond policy framework, what 

do you think should be done to 

broaden the scope of micro 

ventures in Nigeria? 

Micro ventures face several 

systemic challenges that need to be 

addressed to enable them to thrive. 

One of the key challenges faced by 

micro ventures is the high cost of 

renting a shop. This causes them to 

set up illegal structures that is at risk 

of being demolished without notice 

by government. For example, F.C.T. 

administration recently demolished 

Jabi Arts and Crafts Market, a 

market that draws a lot of foreigners 

Continues on page 15

THE BIG INTERVIEW 

How Nigeria can grow the economy, reduce 

poverty—Lajuwomi, Winock MD 

Continues from page 14 

and provides stable income for 

subsistent artists. Although 

government could be legally 

correct by demolishing the market 

without providing an alternative, 

it has inadvertently caused 

joblessness and killed an industry 

that could be developed for exports. 

Rather than destroying 

temporary structures, government 

ought to know that micro venture 

owners cannot afford to rent a 

shop, and considering the 

importance of micro ventures to 

the Nigerian economy, 

government ought to provide 

affordable permanent structures 

for micro ventures to enable them 

to thrive. 

Another systemic challenge is 

access to official FX rates. Since 

Nigeria is heavily importdependent, 

any increase in USD 

value, Naira depreciation leads to 

an immediate increase in the price 

of imported goods, and this is a 

major cause of the rising inflation. 

To ensure a stable economy, micro ventures 

should be able to access FX at official rate 

through Deposit Money Banks, DMBs. 

Poverty is still high in Nigeria, what can 

be done to reduce or eradicate the negative 

syndrome in the country? 

Nigeria’s poverty rate is high because we 

Nigerians do not produce enough to cater for 

the entire population. To tackle poverty, we 

simply need to increase production to match 

our population growth rate. In modern 

economics, the wealth of a nation is measured 

by Gross Domestic Product, GDP. GDP 

measures the monetary value of final goods 

and services - that is, those that are bought by 

the final user - produced in a country within a 

period. The four largest contributors to 

•Akinsanmi Lajuwomi...only the right leaders will 

set Nigeria on the path of progress 

Nigeria’s GDP are agriculture, trade, 

information and communication, and 

manufacturing. Nigeria’s GDP in 2020 was 

$432 billion and GDP per capita was $2,097. 

This is very low for a country of over 200 

million people. In contrast, Trinidad and 

Tobago’s population is 1.4 million with $22 

billion GDP and $15,384 per capita. To 

increase production, we need to improve the 

quality of education, to ensure that our people 

know how to produce; improve electricity 

supply because it is key to modern day 

production: and ensure security, so that our 

people can feel safe to go to their places of 

work to produce. For example, agriculture is 

the largest contributor to Nigeria’s GDP, but it 

is currently retarding due to poor knowledge 


of farming, poor electricity supply, and 

increasing insecurity in farmlands. Nigerians 

have what it takes to improve the economy 

through increased production, but we are 

seriously being held back by a culture of 

materialism and corruption. We do not have 

a sense of collective development and 

nationhood. And no one is shielded from the 

current ugly situation, such as kidnapping. If 

we shift our culture to one of production and 

sustainability, and our resources are invested 

into increasing production, poverty can be 

eradicated in less than a decade. 

What should Nigeria be 

doing to draw down more 

Direct Foreign 

Investments and boost the 

economy, which is facing 

serious strain? 

Although there is 

currently around $1.3 

trillion of “dry powder” in 

the private equity space, 

Nigeria is failing to attract 

foreign investors because of 

currency instability, poor 

electricity supply, and 

insecurity. FX risk is high in 

Nigeria because the rapid rate of Naira 

depreciation since independence has caused 

significant losses in highly viable investments. 

Furthermore, because of the low influx of 

USD, it can be difficult for foreign investors 

to source FX for repatriation of funds. The FX 

issue can be solved through effective economic 

diversification. For example, Nigeria can earn 

FX through the exportation of agriculture and 

mining produce. However, insecurity and 

electricity supply issues will need to be resolved 

to encourage Nigerians to go into mining and 

farming. Without a stable currency, it will be 

very difficult to attract foreign investors, which 

is essential to provide the liquidity needed in 

the economy. 

Nigeria privatised many of its core 

industries many years ago but it is clear that 

the exercise has not translated into any 

marginal benefit for the country. What can 

be done to regain these enterprises in order 

Nigeria’s poverty 

rate is high because 

we do not produce 

enough to cater for 

the entire 

population 

to create jobs, boost growth and add value to 

the country? 

Firstly, I believe that the privatisation of core 

industries would have yielded result if 

executed properly and subsequent unforeseen 

issues did not arise. Secondly, for any country 

to work, it must be led by leaders that are 

focused on long term development and the 

welfare of its people. Thirdly, for any leader to 

perform, its people must ensure that policies 

are followed, and the leaders are held 

accountable, and vice versa. Currently, 

Nigeria is not working because most of its 

leaders are focused on selfserving 

actions and its 

populace are not holding them 

accountable. In most cases, its 

populace participates in 

furthering the interests of the 

selfish leaders for their own 

little gain. Irrespective of any 

well-intentioned plan to create 

jobs, boost growth, and add 

value to the country, it will fail 

because those in public office 

that we have entrusted to 

execute such plans are more 

interested in their material 

enrichment than in the welfare 

of the people. It is very easy to set Nigeria on the 

right path of progress and development if we have 

the right leaders. Once we have the right leaders 

in place, they will need to identify key 

underdeveloped industries and encourage 

participation in them through policy 

incentives, educational programs, and startup 

grants. It is well known that Nigeria is highly 

blessed with resources and human capital. 

Virtually every natural resource and service 

industry in Nigeria, including oil and gas, is 

vastly underdeveloped. 

As we grow these underdeveloped industries 

and provide quality education for our people, 

inevitably, jobs will be created, and value will 

be added to the country. The solutions are 

available and readily implementable, but as 

a people, we will need a shift in mindset, from 

material enrichment to collective welfare, 

before we can set Nigeria on the right path.


Flood, passivity, and acting urgently 

to forestall a ruined future 

THIS year 2022, the floods seem to 

have united different parts of the globe. 

The World Bank report estimates that 

1.18 billion people or 23 per cent of the 

world population, face significant flood 

risk. The floods have hit 27 of Nigeria’s 36 

states and impacted around 1.4 million people, 

according to the Ministry 

of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster 

Management. It has been reported that more 

than 500 people have been killed and 90,000 

homes submerged, apart from supply chain 

disruptions. In the North Central, in 

particular, Koton-karfe and surrounding 

communities have been seriously impacted 

while the Orashi area of Rivers State has not 

been spared. Apart from unusual rains, the 

recent release of water from the LagdoDam 

in neighbouring Cameroon has also been 

blamed for the devastating floods. Beyond 

these statistics is the individual human tragedy 

of colossal proportions that beats our 

imagination. People have lost their livelihoods. 

The elderly and sick are displaced, food and 

necessities are scarce, and life becomes 

drudgery and misery. All these are on top of 

the stifling economic crisis that every Nigerian 

contends. Climate change and its impacts are 

more of a worldwide conversation than a local 

one. And we hope the UN Climate Change 

Conference 2022 (UNFCCC COP 27) in Egypt 

in November 2022 will make a meaningful 

impact on the conversation, although 

tremendous pessimism exists given the poor 

results of previous conferences. The impact of 

the flooding in Nigeria is exacerbated by a 

lack of respect for science and leadership 

problems. Our lack of respect for science and 

preference for superstition is at the root of the 

flood disaster we have at hand. 

We do not respect science; therefore, we seem 

not to have any place for strategic planning 

based on scientific evidence. The flooding 

problem is symbolic of a country whose 

leadership at all levels does not value 

planning, working with data and 

proactiveness. All the agencies in the 

environment sector, both local and 

international, based on scientific evidence, 

predicted the current flood ravaging our 

country, but nobody showed authentic 

leadership to provide solutions. Our leaders 

did not even benefit from past experiences and 

availability of expertise. These floods did not 

start this year, and Nigeria was affected in 2010 

and 2012. We have enough time to have learnt 

lessons. But there have now been many years 

of recurring flood disasters, and from this most 

recent development, it is evident that we have 

learnt no lessons. What lessons must we take 

from this flooding problem, and how can we 

prevent or mitigate the impact of flooding in 

Nigeria? 

First, we must take the science of 

environment and climatic changes serious. It 

is noteworthy that in the recent instances of 

flooding disasters, it is not the lack of data and 

scientific knowledge that is the problem, but 

the lack of effective and efficient use of the 

analysis from the data to plan and put in place 

measures to either prevent the flooding or 

reduce its impact. Our leaders act as if all 

environmental emergencies are Acts of God 

and, therefore, inevitable, and this is baseless 

and ignorance. Too much rain alone or 

overflowing rivers does not create much havoc 

when structural and procedural anti-flooding 

arrangements are in place. In countries where 

they take scientific evidence relating to 

flooding seriously, there are early warning 

signs to evacuate people and valuables, 

and people put in place measures to protect 

their homes and valuables. Government 

provides channels for the easy flow of water to 

designated areas and sets other scientific and 

environmental standards that reduce the 

impact of flooding. There should 

be enlightenment campaigns for Nigerians 

and their leaders to counter superstitious 

beliefs and attitudes towards flooding and 

elevate the supremacy of scientific facts in this 

regard. This knowledge will help leaders better 

plan for and respond to flooding in more 

practical ways than the current blame-shifting 

or complete nonchalant attitude we see among 

them today. 

Second, the first line of defence against 

flooding is Nigerians living in flood-prone 

areas. There should be scientific information 

on flooding, which should be made available 

to locals residing in the suspected flooding 

areas. The institutions saddled with this 

responsibility must be alive to it and be 

accountable if they fail to gather scientific data, 

analyse them, and inform the people about 

the impending flood. I must note that in the 

case of the Lokoja flooding, institutions 

provided scientific information and early 

warning signals about the flooding, but 

nothing much was done by the leadership or 

even the first line of defence against flood – 

the people. Nigerians should demand a fitfor-purpose 

crisis management regime 

against natural disasters. The National 

Emergency Management Agency must be well 

funded and properly managed to react to 

disasters and work in synergy with local people 

to plan and manage crises such as flooding. 

Third, being reactive to issues for which we 

have prior information is symptomatic of lack 

of proactiveness and accountability. Worse 

still, the leadership needed to ameliorate the 

impact of flooding cuts across all strata of 

government. The Federal Government should 

protect the lives and property of people in 

affected areas by declaring a state of 

emergency and 

The impact of the 

flooding in Nigeria 

is exacerbated by a 

lack of respect for 

science and 

leadership 

problems 

designating 

human and 

m a t e r i a l 

resources to 

reduce the impact 

o 

f 

flooding. Federal 

Government can 

use its security 

apparatus 

support and 

enforce evacuations, maintain dredging and 

waste management, and invest in flood 

mitigation efforts and infrastructure. In floodprone 

areas, Federal Government should work 

on enhancing food resilience and security. In 

times of disaster, food and medicine are 

essential to limit the casualties of the 

disaster. State government must desist from 

allocating land for building in designated flood 

plains and flood-prone areas, allowing for the 

construction of houses that block natural water 

flowing routes, or not having an effective 

drainage system to control flooding. The 

national emergency response regime must be 

prioritised and adequately funded to help 

prevent disaster (flooding) rather than reacting 

to the disaster. The legislature should provide 

a robust and adequate legal framework for 

dealing with flooding emergencies to ease the 

prevention and management of such natural 

or artificial disasters. 

Fourth, the world is facing a climate change 

crisis. It is not time to question the science 

behind it, it is time to embrace it and champion 

it in Africa. There is a clear opportunity for 

Nigerian leaders to lead the Global South in 

demanding accountability from the global 

community regarding their climate 

commitments, especially the Global 

North. The proverbial saying must apply here, 

“the dog should not eat faeces and the goat’s 

teeth decay”. Climate change results from 

more activities in developed countries than in 

developing countries. China and USA have 

the highest carbon footprint in the world, 

representing the two biggest industrialised 

nations. China is the world’s largest emitter 

of carbon dioxide gas, with 10,668 million 

metric tonnes emitted in 2020, followed by the 

US with 4,713 million metric tonnes of total 

carbon dioxide emissions by 2020. Nigeria’s 

emission is relatively and comparatively 

insignificant. 

Continues online: www.vanguardngr.com 

to


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Nigeria and abandoned projects 

SOME economists claim that you can 

predict the economy of a nation by 

counting the number of people idling around 

at motorparks and airports. There are all kinds 

of touts outnumbering the ones that are 

employed. They are so busy collecting money 

and extorting people. People who are so busy 

doing nothing but wasting in idleness and 

laziness, and ironically those next to them are 

national officers such as Road Safety 

Marshalls, Police, Military, Vehicle Inspection 

Officers and so on, harassing motorists just to 

extort money from them for little or no traffic 

infractions. Another group comprise those 

from the state and local government offices 

who harass drivers, especially of commercial 

vehicles carrying goods and passengers within 

and outside the state. They mount illegal 

checkpoints, requesting for vehicle 

documentations that have absolutely nothing 

to do with the roadworthiness of the vehicles. 

It became necessary for the vehicle drivers, 

especially those who ply particular routes 

where these groups of criminals, as I would 

call them, mount these roadblocks. The people 

just keep wads of N200 notes to give so they 

are not bothered and delayed on the road by 

these jobless individuals who believe their job 

is to harass citizens who are going about their 

lawful businesses. 

The National Assembly man who goes to 

the company to ask for a cut of a budget that 

has been approved for a contract. How are 

you going to look after me since I am a member 

of the committee that approved the budget? 

The reason why they are not working is that 

government has encouraged so much waste. 

Subsidy is at N4 trillion and you are earning 

N7 trillion; it is obvious that the subsidy is 

higher than the budget and earnings. The 

justification to go on with the subsidy is 

explained with the story that people will suffer 

if the subsidy is removed. The people are 

suffering much more now. The Operation Feed 

the Nation, OFN, seemed laughable but 

people went to the farms to produce. It worked; 

but now it is abandoned. The ministers have 

no plan for agriculture. Past ministers only 

acquired farms for themselves having 

understood the value of farming. They only 

made it possible for themselves. Young men 

who are in the city have no jobs, that is those 

who should have been given the opportunity 

to go into agriculture. What a wasteful nation. 

The issue of subsidies for PMS (petrol) could 

have been dealt with several years ago. A plan 

to solve this problem has been abandoned. Now 

the problem looks unsolvable. Government's 

response is to abandon the problem. 

In Lagos the Federal Secretariat was 

projected to serve as flats for Nigerians in 

diaspora who planned to return. The project 

has been abandoned for over 20 years. It is 

common to see many abandoned high-rise 

buildings in Lagos. Can you imagine if that 

space was transformed to serve as a general 

hospital? Can you imagine how many people 

would be gainfully employed? The NITEL 

Building in Marina acquired by former 

Speaker, Dimeji Bankole, was abandoned over 

two decades ago; the Federal Guest House in 

Victoria Island, Lagos, the NICON Building, 

the National Oil building and so many others 

have similarly been abandoned. For 

administrative reasons, we kill the goose that 

laid the golden egg. Only the buildings that 

belong to the banks seem to be working. 

Why has the subsidy solution been 

abandoned? So also are the three refineries in 

Nigeria, the activation of which must be an 

integral part of dealing with this 

unsupportable subsidy? Is the subsidy regime 

not surviving because it provides incredible 

wealth to the unsatisfiable piranhas along the 

food chain of oil? Today the conventional 

wisdom is that 80 per cent of our oil is stolen. 

Is the subsidy regime not 

surviving because it provides 

incredible wealth to the 

unsatisfiable piranhas along 

the food chain of oil? Today 

the conventional wisdom is 

that 80 per cent of our oil is 

stolen 

Shell has just warned that the oil industry is 

in danger of collapse. In MM2 there is a 

skeleton of a Five-Star airport hotel abandoned 

now for over 20 years. Near the Race Course, 

the former Ministry of Communications has 

been abandoned to squatters. The National 

Museum project has been abandoned and its 

building is now a shopping mall in King 

George Street. Does government not 

understand that people should be employed 

gainfully to occupy these buildings? Can 

anyone imagine the GDP of Nigeria if these 

buildings were functional? They buy it and they 

abandon it. Can anyone imagine how much 

money had been spent on these buildings and 

the ridiculous amount they had been purchased 

for, yet abandoned. 

There are more airlines in Nigeria that have 

died than in any other nation of the world. 

Imagine how much has been sunk into the 

airline business in Nigeria? The Nigerian 

Airways was killed, resurrected, died again, 

rebirthed and rebranded but to no avail. Yet 

other airline operators who came to learn from 

us still proudly have their airlines in operation: 

Ghana Airline, Ethiopian Airline and Kenyan 

Airline, to mention but a few. 

Today we have aviation fuel issues and we 

complain while all the other African and 

European airlines, though also complaining, 

are still thriving. The other airlines use the 

same aviation fuel, yet they fly. Arik once had 

19 planes and today it is in receivership just 

like Aero. Where are all the gains? When these 

businesses die, the organisations set up to run 

them continue despite their high running costs. 

If all the airlines were running, there would be 

more people employed. In the airline 

industries, they can’t pay salaries and the 

unions continue to threaten. The airline unions 

threaten strikes and sometimes they discharge 

the airlines of their duties. And we expect the 

country to function? 

The steel plants in Ajaokuta, the oil refineries 

in Warri, PH and Kaduna are all mothballed. 

(By the way it was the Ukrainians who built 

the Ajaokuta Steel Plants.) 

The Ajaokuta Steel Plant occasioned the 

building of the railways to Warri; now it is a 

useless moribund white elephant project. Apart 

from the Ajaokuta Steel Plant, Nigeria built 

six steel rolling mills which have all been 

abandoned. In 1975, government built 12 brick 

making factories, one in each state. They have 

all been abandoned. 

Nigeria had a Peugeot assembly plant and 

Volkswagen Badagry, and in Enugu, Mercedes 

Benz had the Anamco Truck Assembly plant. 

All the ancillary industries that were supposed 

to support the industries across these value 

chains were built but are now abandoned, yet 

the civil service had no diminution in their pay 

despite the death of these industries. 

To be continued 

2023: Much ado about Ngige’s preferred presidential candidate 

By JOSEPH ATOBISI 

AS a labour activist and keen 

observer of political events in 

the country, my attention was drawn 

to the attacks against the Minister 

of Labour and Employment, Senator 

Chris Ngige, over his recent appearance 

in Channels Television 

“Politics Today” programme, where 

he declined to say on air, his preferred 

choice between the presidential candidate 

of his party, the All Progressive 

Congress, APC, Ahmed Bola 

Tinubu and Peter Obi of the Labour 

Party, LP. 

Leading the onslaught against 

Ngige was the Deputy National Publicity 

Secretary of APC, one Alhaji 

Murtala Yakubu Ajaka from Kogi 

State, who accused him of engaging 

in “anti-party” activities. Ajaka told 

the minister and other federal appointees 

to publicly campaign for 

Tinubu or tender their resignation. 

Similarly, one Rev. Solomon Semaka, 

purportedly speaking on behalf 

of a civil society organisation, "Save 

Nigeria Movement", described the 

comments made by Ngige in the interview 

as indicators that he was 

working against the government of 

President Muhammadu Buhari and 

the ruling APC. Semaka further alleged 

that poor handling of labour 

issues by the minister, particularly 

the Academic Staff Union of Universities, 

ASUU, imbroglio, was a 

deliberate ploy by Ngige to set Nigerians 

against the APC and its presidential 

candidate. On his own part, 

the embattled Anambra State 

Chairman of the APC, Basil Ejidike, 

released a statement disowning the 

minister, saying whatever statement 

he made in the interview was personal 

to him. 

Back to the Channels TV interview, 

to begin with, Sen. Ngige is no 

stranger to controversy. He came into 

political limelight when he was elected 

Governor of Anambra State in 

2003 under the platform of the Peoples 

Democratic Party, PDP. Although 

his tenure lasted 34 months, he will 

for a long time be remembered for 

his sterling performance in office, 

especially in the development of physical 

and social infrastructures. History 

will also remember him as the 

governor who dislodged the greedy 

political godfathers who, prior to his 

assumption of office, feasted on the 

resources of the state. 

During his tenure as governor, 

Ngige survived an attempt by the selfstyled 

political godfather in Anambra 

State, Chief Chris Uba, to force 

him out of office, using the proverbial 

federal might. Acting on orders 

from above, an Assistant Inspector 

General of Police, Raphael Ige (now 

late), stormed the Government 

House Awka with two trucks of policemen 

on a mission to abduct the 

sitting governor and remove him 

from office, but their mission failed. 

Also, an Enugu High Court, presided 

over by Justice Stanley Nnaji (also 

late), ordered the withdrawal of his 

security details. Many of Ngige’s 

contemporaries as governor, such as 

Joshua Dariye, Rasheed Ladoja and 

Ayo Fasoye, who drew the ire of the 

same federal forces, were thrown out 

of office through impeachment, even 

without meeting half of the requirements 

for the impeachment of a sitting 

governor. 

But, in Ngige’s case, he neither resigned 

nor was impeached until the 

Justice Garba Nabaruma-led 2003 

Anambra State Governorship Election 

Tribunal in Awka, nullified his 

election in favour of the petitioner, 

Peter Obi of the All Progressive 

Grand Alliance, APGA. Curiously, 

the same tribunal admitted that 

both PDP and APGA benefitted from 

the fraudulent votes cast in the same 

election. As a result of Ngige’s travails, 

great literary icon, Chinua 

Achebe, turned down the national 

honours offered him by the administration 

of President Olusegun 

Obasanjo. 

After leaving office as governor, 

Based on his sterling 

performance, President 

Buhari re-appointed him 

in 2019; it is instructive to 

note that from the time of 

his first appointment in 

2015 till date, the Federal 

Ministry of Labour and 

Employment has 

conciliated over 1680 

disputes 

Ngige won one of the most contested 

senatorial elections in the history 

of Nigeria. This feat was remarkable 

for two reasons. One, he won election 

to represent Anambra Central 

in the Senate on the platform of Action 

Congress of Nigeria, ACN, a 

party widely seen as a “Yoruba party”, 

thus, breaking the barrier of the 

Igbo/Yoruba politics of rivalry and 

discord, traceable to the 1950s when 

Awolowo deployed “ethnic card” to 

deprive Nnamdi Azikiwe of the premiership 

of the Western Region. 

Secondly, to win that election, 

Ngige defeated former Information 

and Communication Minister, Professor 

Dora Akunyili (now of blessed 

memory), who was the candidate of 

the ruling APGA in Anambra State. 

The election was held three times 

and yet, Ngige won in the senatorial 

district of both the APGA sitting Governor, 

Peter Obi and National Chairman, 

Chief Senator Victor Umeh. 

In the same polls, Akunyili had the 

strong support of PDP, which controlled 

federal power in that era, and 

even some elements within Ngige’s 

own party, ACN. In spite of the whole 

“gang up”, Ngige won. 

As an opposition Senator, he 

played a pivotal role in the formation 

of the All Progressives Congress, 

APC, in 2013. The party was an amalgam 

of ACN, Congress for Progressive 

Change, CPC, the All Nigeria 

Peoples Party, ANPP, and a faction of 

APGA. 

For campaigning for Muhammadu 

Buhari presidency in 2015, his 

opponents tagged him a member of 

“Boko Haram” party and this cost 

him his senatorial seat. When Buhari 

eventually won the presidency 

on APC platform, he appointed 

Ngige as the Minister of Labour and 

Employment. His appointment was 

greeted with criticisms by many Nigerians 

who queried the rationale 

behind appointing a medical doctor 

as the Minister of Labour. 

However, it took just a few weeks 

after his assumption of office, for 

him to prove skeptics wrong. Being 

a stickler for excellence, the former 

Anambra State Governor revolutionalised 

labour administration and 

management in Nigeria, adopting 

a proactive approach to the conciliation 

of labour disputes. A few examples 

will suffice here. Before he 

came on board, the Federal Government 

was at loggerheads with the 

National Union of Electricity Employees, 

NUEE, over unresolved issues 

in the 2012 agreement they entered. 

Ngige quickly ended the dispute, 

which almost crippled the already 

beleaguered electricity sector. 

He also resolved the protracted 

industrial dispute, between Exxon 

Mobil and a section of its staff, which 

even went to the Supreme Court and 

was returned to the Federal Ministry 

of Labour and Employment, for 

conciliation. The climax of his first 

tenure was the negotiation of the 

N30,000 Minimum Wage for all 

workers in Nigeria, which President 

Muhammadu Buhari, signed into 

law in April 2019. 

Based on his sterling performance, 

President Buhari re-appointed him 

in 2019. It is instructive to note that 

from the time of his first appointment 

in 2015 till date, the Federal 

Ministry of Labour and Employment 

has conciliated over 1680 disputes, 

leaving very little work for the 

Industrial Arbitration Panel, IAP, and 

the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, 

NICN. Under Ngige, the ministry 

has successfully conciliated disputes 

involving workers across different 

sectors, including, education, 

aviation, health, power, banking, 

petroleum, judiciary and legislature, 

among others. 

Continues 

online: 

www.vanguardngr.com 

•Atobisi, a labour activist and 

public affairs analyst, wrote from 

Abuja. 

C 

M 

Y 

K


FOR the second time in as many 

months, the Conference of United 

Political Parties, CUPP, has raised 

the alarm over alleged plots to 

scuttle free, fair and credible 

elections in 2023. Ikenga 

Ugochinyere, a lawyer and the 

CUPP Spokesman, said this at a 

press conference in Abuja on 

Thursday October 13, 2022. 

voter’s register. 

The Conference had earlier 

The new alarm centres mainly on 

alerted on the alleged padding of 

alleged plots by some powerful, 

the Independent National Electoral 

desperate politicians to allegedly 

Commission, INEC’s, voter’s 

remove INEC chairman, Professor 

register with fake names in several 

Mahmood Yakubu and other 

parts of the country to give a 

officials perceived to be firmly 

particular political party unfair 

committed to the delivery of 

advantage. 

credible elections early next year. 

However, INEC cleared the air on 

According to the CUPP, the plot 

this issue. Its spokesman, Festus 

also allegedly involves the 

Okoye, informed that no new 

deactivation of INEC’s Bimodal 

registrant had been included in the 

Voter Accreditation System, BVAS, 

voter’s register until the ongoing 

and discontinuation of direct 

automated clean-up is concluded. 

transmission of results to the INEC 

He reassured the public that the list 

central server. 

will be displayed for public scrutiny 

These alleged moves are meant 

before being integrated in the 

to return the electoral system to the 

past manual template where 

Alleged plots against credible elections 

elections were violently and 

criminally stolen. Many people may 

choose to wave these alarms away 

as “improbable”. Former INEC 

Chairman, Professor Attahiru 

Jega, however, said on a television 

interview that anything is possible 

in Nigeria, and that technology 

“scares politicians”. 

We recall that there were also 

similar rumours of conspiracies to 

remove Jega in 2014 when he 

introduced the Permanent Voter’s 

Card, PVC, and Smart Card 

Reader, SCR, which were primarily 

aimed at stopping multiple voting. 

The BVAS and direct transmission 

of results will cut off ballot 

snatching, thumb-printing of ballot 

papers outside the polling units 

and falsification of results at the 

collation centres. 

From what we have seen in some 

state elections, it enables the public 

to watch the results live as they 

come in. This technology-driven 

system has returned the power of 

elections to the hands of the 

people where it rightly belongs. 

Nigerians now see that free and 

fair elections are now possible in 

2023. That is why the youths are 

fully triggered. 

INEC and Nigerians fought very 

hard to birth a technology-driven 

electoral system through the 

National Assembly and the 

Presidency. We must not allow 

enemies of our country to take us 

back to the era of barren elections. 

Even if there is little substance in 

these alarms, they call for vigilance 

by all and sundry. Politicians will 

do anything to “win” elections. But 

with vigilance, free and fair 

elections are guaranteed. 

OPINION 

Send Opinions & Letters to: 

opinions1234@yahoo.com 

This is the concluding part of the piece 

which in the past weeks traced and 

identified prominent Kanuris, while 

highlighting the significant roles they 

played in Nigeria’s politics and power over 

the years. 

AFEW days later the NPP broke up. The 

breakup was not caused by political 

ideology but by presidential ambition. The 

Zikists in the NPP, especially Chief Adeniran 

Ogunsanya, Chief Olu Akifosile, Chief 

Raphael Ben Keshi Okafor alias Nwanmadu 

and others wanted Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe to be 

the presidential candidate of the party. 

On the other hand, Alhaji Waziri Ibrahim, 

having invested so much in the party, wanted 

the presidential ticket of the party. In the end, 

he opted out and formed his own party, the 

Great Nigeria People’s Party, GNPP. 

Alhaji Waziri Ibrahim played the card of 

regionalism and concentrated his efforts on 

Gongola and Borno states. He had 

followership in Cross River State thanks to 

Chief Matthew Tawo Mbu (November 20, 

1929-February 6, 2012) from Okundi in Cross 

River State. 

Chief Obiekwe told me later that they wanted 

Dr. Azikiwe to be the presidential candidate 

so as to secure the Igbo votes for Chief Jim 

Ifeanyichukwu Nwobodo (82) to be the 

governor of Anambra State and Chief Samuel 

Onunaka Mbakwe (1929-2004) from Avutu, 

Etiti, to be governor in Imo State. 

In the 1979 general elections, the GNPP 

had eight senators--Alhaji Idrisa Kadi, Mr 

Bukar Sanda, Mr Jafaru Manga and Mr 

Umaru Lawan Barma(Borno), Mr George 

The Kanuris fly their flag 

again (5) 

Daniel and Prince Joseph Ansa (Cross River), 

Pastor Luka Zanyasing, Mr Bitrus B. Kajal 

and Alhaji Mahmud Waziri(Gongola State). 

In the House of Representatives election, 

the GNPP had 44 seats, 22 in Borno, one in 

Bauchi, eight in Gongola, four in Cross River, 

one in Kaduna, one in Kwara and six in Sokoto. 

In the presidential election, Alhaji Ibrahim 

Waziri scored 1,686,489 votes out of a total of 

16, 846,633 votes. Those elected on the platform 

of GNPP for the House of Representatives 

were Alhaji Abba Ali(Bama), M. Bulama 

Ali(Fune), Ibrahim M. Ali(Maiduguri), Alhaji 

Gambo(Gujba), Omar Bukar(Ngala East), 

Alhaji Muhammadu Dagari(Nguru Central), 

Alhaji Kachalla Damaturu(Damaturu), M. 

Barde Gadaka(Fika South), Alhaji Jidda 

Haruna(Munguno), Mohammed Zanna 

Waziri Juggal(Dambo’a), Alhaji Sanda 

Konduga(Konduga), Tijani Lawan(Ngala 

West), Umar Lawan(Miaduguri), Bukar 

Limambe(Kukawa North-West), Maina 

Ma’aji(Kukawa South-East), Audu 

Mbicho(Gwoza), M. Bukar Mele(Matchina), 

Paul K.D. Mshelia(Biu South), 

Hamza M. Nganjiwa(Biu 

North), Lawal Omar(Kaga), 

A.A. Suleiman(Bade), Alhaji 

Idrissa Madi Tikau(Fika 

North), Agwana Apagu 

Waba(Askira Uba) and Kolo 

Lawan Yusuf(Geidam North). 

In the presidential election 

held on June 12, 1993, Alhaji 

Baba Gana Kingigbe (77), a 

Kanuri, my former boss, was 

elected as the running mate 

of Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola 

(August 24, 1937- July 7, 1998) and the duo 

were believed to have won that election. 

I have personally worked with many Kanuris 

It was in June 12, 1993 

presidential election that the 

spotlight was more on the 

Kanuris than at any period; both 

the presidential candidate of the 

NRC, Alhaji Tofa and the 

running mate of the SDP, Alhaji 

Baba Gana Kingibe, were both 

Kanuris 

in the central government, including Dr. Buka 

Usman, Dr Kaigama, who were both 

Permanent Secretaries in the central 

government at that time. There are other notable 

Kanuris whom I have not captured in this piece 

and who have rendered notable services to 

this country. 

General Sani Abacha (September 20, 1943- 

June 8, 1998) and Alhaji Bashir Tofa (June 

20, 1947- January 3, 2022) are both Kanuris. 

General Sani Abacha ruled Nigeria from 

November 17, 1993- June 8, 1998) while Alhaji 

Tofa was the presidential candidate of the 

National Republican Convention, NRC, in 

the June 12, 1993 presidential election. 

Alhaji Bashir Tofa’s running mate was Dr. 

Sylvester Uzor Ugoh from Umuokrika, Imo 

State. He was born on April 20, 1931, in 

Umuokrika, Imo State. He had his education 

at the Family College, Abak, 1947-1951; 

University of New Hampshire, Durham, New 

Hampshire, USA, 1955-1959; Harvard 

University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA, 

1959-1961, 1963-1964; Lecturer, University of 

Nigeria, Nsukka, 1961-1966; Deputy Director, 

Economic Development Institute , University 

of Nigeria, 1966-1972; Executive Director, 

SKOUP and Company(Management 

Consultants), 1973; member, Constituent 

Assembly, 1977-1978; Minister of Science and 

Technology, 1979-1982. 

In retrospect, it was in June 12, 1993 

presidential election that the spotlight was 

more on the Kanuris than at any period. Both 

the presidential candidate of the NRC, Alhaji 

Tofa and the running mate of the SDP, Alhaji 

Baba Gana Kingigbe were both Kanuris. 

Incidentally, 30 years after the annulment of 

that election, another presidential election will, 

hopefully, hold next February, with a Kanuri 

as running mate again. 

Concluded

Inflation hits 20.7% as flooding adds to 

pressures 

MONEY MARKET 

By Elizabeth Adegbesan 

Analysts in the financial sec 

tor of the economy have projected 

further pressure on food infla- 

AWARD: From left: Chief Operating Officer, Mr Bonaventure Okhaimo; Head, Corporate Services, 

Mr. Idiris Salihu; all from Development Bank of Nigeria, DBN; Head of Credit, Mrs Hope 

Ogbe and Treasurer, Mr Obaro, all from LAPO Microfinance Bank, during the presentation of 

awards to LAPO MfB at DBN's 5th year anniversary. 

MAN pushes enforcement of Executive 

Orders 003, 005 on MDAs 

By Yinka Kolawole 

The Manufacturers Association 

of Nigeria (MAN) has raised 

concern over non-compliance of 

Ministries, Departments and Agencies 

(MDAs) of the Federal Government 

with Executive Orders 003 and 

005 targeted at growing domestic 

production through the patronage 

of locally produced goods. 

Speaking at the opening ceremony 

of a 3-day Made-in-Nigeria 

Exhibition, yesterday in Lagos, President, 

MAN, Engr. Mansur Ahmed, 

charged the government to compel 

the MDAs on the compliance. 

Executive Order 003 states that all 

Ministries, Departments and Agen- 

CURRENCY BUYING SELLING 

US 

DOLLAR 

POUNDS 

EURO 

FRANC 

YEN 

CFA 

WAUA 

RENMINBI 

RIYAL 

RAND 

195.90 -0.80 

2,330.00 -47.00 

18.77 -0.07 

92.47 +0.84 

86.54 +0.93 

435.06 435.56 436.06 

490.2256 490.789 491.3524 

423.9225 424.4097 424.8969 

435.9755 436.4766 436.9777 

2.9648 2.9682 2.9717 

0.6233 0.6333 0.6433 

553.4509 554.0869 554.723 

60.5587 60.6287 60.6988 

115.7382 115.8712 116.0043 

23.83 23.8574 23.8848 

CBN Exchange rate as at 17/10/2022 

ECONOMY 

cies (MDAs) shall grant preference 

to local manufacturers of goods and 

service providers, in their procurement 

of goods and services. 

Executive Order 005 directs all 

MDAs to engage indigenous professionals 

in the planning, design and 

execution of national security 

projects and maximize in-country 

capacity in all contracts and transactions 

with science, technology and 

engineering components. 

Ahmed stated: “The Executive Order 

003 and 005 exemplified the 

commitment of the Federal Government 

of Nigeria to grow domestic 

tion this month to 21 percent due to 

supply disruptions caused by recent 

flooding in some food-producing 

regions. 

This comes as import costs disruption 

in food supply and general increase 

in cost of production pushed 

September 2022 inflation rate to 

20.7 percent. 

The September figure represents 

the eight consecutive monthly rise 

in inflation since January where it 

Expert tasks reinsurers on 

sustainability 

production through the patronage 

of locally produced goods. It is in 

this regard, that the Presidential 

Committee on the monitoring of the 

implementation order 005 should be 

called to action. 

“The Committee which is chaired 

by the President and anchored by the 

Federal Ministry of Science and 

Technology should be mandated to 

ensure strict compliance with the 

order. Ministry, Department and 

Agencies of Government that fail to 

comply with the Executive Order 

should be sanctioned accordingly.” 

The MAN president noted that 

three-day exhibition therefore is a 

demonstration of the capacity of the 

Nigerian manufacturing sector to 

produce what they consumed. What 

is left is for Government and Nigerians 

to consume what we produce. 

ECONOMY 

By Rosemary Iwunze 

Reinsurance companies in 

Africa have been urged 

to focus on sustainability as 

they offer an important 

complementary service to the 

stability, solvency and 

sustainability of not only the 

primary insurance market, but 

also the economy at large. 

Giving this advise at the 26th 

African Insurance 

Organisation, AIO, Reinsurance 

Forum in Lomé, Togo 

Deputy Managing Director/ 

Chief Operating Officer of Africa 

Reinsurance Corporation, 

Mr. Ken Aghoghovbia, noted 

that a few of the pressing issues 

that Africa is dealing with 

right now are the climate crisis, 

de-risking infrastructure 

projects, civil unrest and political 

violence, epidemics, 

technology and cyber risks, as 

well as need for sustainability. 

On climate crisis, 

Aghoghovbia said: “As African 

reinsurers, we can deploy the 

reinsurance capacity, organization 

and expertise required 

to adequately cover natural 

catastrophe risks. For the 

property portfolio, we must 

also invest in continuously 

updated catastrophe modeling 

tools so that we do not underestimate 

the impact of climate 

change on future catastrophe 

claims”. 

On de-risking infrastructure 

projects, he stated: “Infrastructure 

undertakings are huge and complex 

projects, usually funded by international 

financial institutions or donors. 

Therefore, de-risking these investments 

is an important objective.” 

On civil unrest and political violence, 

he said: “The world is facing 

an unprecedented rise in civil unrest 

as governments of all stripes grapple 

with the impact of inflation on the 

price of staple foods and energy”. 

With such an elevated risk, many 

international reinsurers have taken 

a very conservative approach and 

preferred to stay away or limit cover 

for the risk of political violence and 

terrorism (PVT), especially in African 

countries. Fortunately, several 

African reinsurers have not hesitated 

to provide reinsurance capacity. This 

is an area where our reinsurers’ local 

knowledge can be important in 

the underwriting process. We should 

however, not forget that in the aftermath 

of a civil unrest, the speed of 

claims settlement by reinsurers is 

very critical in achieving quick economic 

recovery. It is for this reason 

that the proximity of African 

reinsurers can be of great advantage.” 

Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2022 —19 

stood at 15.6 percent. 

The figure also showed a 0.25 

percentage point rise from 20.52 

percent in August, but indicated 

slower pace in the rate of inflation 

when compared to the 0.88 percentage 

point rise recorded in the previous 

month. 

In its Consumers Price Index, CPI, 

report for September 2022, released 

yesterday, the National Bureau of 

Statistics, NBS, said that food inflation 

rose by 0.22 percentage 

points to 23.34 percent in September 

from 23.12 percent in August. 

On factors responsible for the increase 

in annual inflation, NBS 

said: “Likely factors responsible for 

the increase in annual inflation rate 

(YoY basis) are the disruption in the 

supply of food products; Increase 

in import cost due to the persistent 

currency depreciation; General increase 

in the cost of production.” 

On food inflation, NBS said: “The 

food inflation rate in September 

2022 was 23.34 percent on a YoY 

basis; which was 3.77 percent 

higher compared to the rate recorded 

in September 2021 (19.57 

percent). 

“This rise in food inflation was 

caused by increases in prices of bread 

and cereals, food products, potatoes, 

yam, and other tuber, oil, and fat”. 

Commenting on the development, 

analysts at Cowry Assets Management 

Plc said: “Looking ahead to 

October, we anticipate a slower acceleration 

in inflation due to supply 

disruptions caused by recent flooding 

in some food-producing regions. 

“However, as we approach the yearend 

festive period, prices may begin 

to take another surge due to the continued 

weakening of the Nigerian 

naira. Thus, we project headline inflation 

to rise marginally to 21 percent 

in October.” 

In its Economic Bulletin for October, 

analysts at Financial Derivatives 

Company, FDC, said: “Our study also 

indicates that there will be an increase 

in both the annual food (23.9 

percent) and core (17.78 percent) subindices. 

The major causative factors 

propping up the price level, remain 

the “usual suspects” i.e., a weaker domestic 

currency (N732/$), higher logistics 

costs and excess liquidity.” 

In their Q4 ‘2022 inflation expectation, 

they said: “Nigerian inflation 

is driven more by the transmission 

effect of forex scarcity on prices and 

high cost of energy. 

“This suggests that inflationary 

pressures loom, and would still continue 

in the next quarter, especially 

with the elevated price of diesel and 

other sources of energy”. 

UBA rewards loyalty as customers 

win big in the bumper draws 

The United Bank for Africa 

(UBA) Plc, has again rewarded 

its loyal customers in the just 

concluded UBA bumper draws, 

doling out millions of Naira in cash 

prizes. 

The virtual draw was witnessed by 

relevant regulators including 

representatives of the National 

Lottery Regulatory Commission 

(NLRC) and the Consumer 

Protection Council (CPC). 

Twenty lucky customers won 

N100,000 each, another customer 

won N500,000; while two star 

winners got N1.2million and 

N2million cash prize. 

Austin Akeju, a UBA Bumper 

account holder, emerged the winner 

of the star prize of N2million; while 

Abigail Ijeoma Ogbuehi and 

Sunday Okpaka, smiled home with 

N500,000 and N1.2million cash 

prize respectively. 

Several other winners emerged for 

N100,000 cash prizes. 

By Cynthia Alo 

Explaining the reward scheme, 

UBA’s Head, Personal Banking, 

Ogechi Altraide, said, “For several 

months, the bank has been all about 

putting smiles on the faces of its 

customers, while encouraging them 

to cultivate the culture of savings. 

Over the years, we have constantly 

given away huge cash prizes as 

reward to our customers, with the aim 

of appreciating our customers who 

believe in us and have trusted the bank 

with their funds.” 

The Group Head, Brand 

Management & Marketing, 

Uzoamaka Oyeka, said the general 

intent of the monthly, quarterly and 

periodical draws is to appreciate 

loyal customers, who have stayed 

with UBA over the years, while also 

presenting fresh opportunities for 

potential and intending customers to 

join the growing number of 

millionaires who have benefitted 

from several promos organised by the 

bank. 

FSDH widens service offerings, 

unveils custody services 

As part of its commitment to 

delivering excellent track 

record of innovative financial and 

investment solutions, FSDH 

Merchant Bank has launched 

her custody services offering for 

investors. Custody is a financial 

service product that provides 

safekeeping of financial assets. 

This launch is part of the 

FSDH Group’s plan to meet 

investors’ needs by covering 

their end-to-end transactions, 

further showcasing FSDH’s 

years of expertise and 

experience within the financial 

services sector. 

The Managing Director, 

FSDH Merchant Bank, Bukola 

Smith, in her statement affirmed 

that FSDH will continue to 

deepen the business lines, 

strengthen offerings and deliver 

promise to play a key role in the 

success journey of the clients. 

She stated: “As we offer a onestop 

array of financial services 

to our customers; we are now 

able to deliver efficient end-toend 

of their transaction life cycle 

and we offer years of experience 

and expertise within the money 

market, capital market, corporate 

and transaction banking space 

to do so excellently.” 

Commenting on the new 

offering, Hakeem Muhammed, 

Divisional Head, Global Markets 

& Prestige Banking at FSDH 

Merchant Bank stated: “With the 

launch of our custodial service, a 

banking solution aimed at 

enhancing the post-trading 

activities of our clients, we will 

ensure an efficient custody 

management process and 

safekeeping of assets with the 

highest assurances of safety, 

efficiency, use of technology, 

superior service, lower turnaround-time 

and a direct 

settlement process with Euroclear 

Bank which ensures timely 

settlement.” 

With the Global Custody license, 

FSDH Merchant Bank through its 

Nominees service can now serve as 

a premium investor services solution 

provider for asset managers, 

institutional investors, banks, 

insurance companies, brokers, 

private equity firms, NGOs, foreign 

portfolio investors and HNIs. Other 

services include provision of fund 

services, administration for SECregulated 

collective investment 

schemes, portfolio valuation, 

collateral management, escrow 

agency services, securities lending, 

cash management, compliance 

reporting amongst others.


Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2022 — 21


‘ 

Why immunisation coverage remains 

low in Nigeria 

• Falls short of GVAP goals with only 57% coverage 

By Chioma Obinna 

ONE of the major rea 

sons Nigeria is committed 

to the goals of the 

Global Vaccine Action 

Plan, GVAP, was not only 

to ensure that at least 90 

per cent of children under 

the age of 5 are 

immunised with all the 

relevant and available 

vaccines for children but 

to put to an end or reduce 

to the barest minimum 

child killer diseases. 

Sadly, with the slow 

progress being made in 

immunisation coverage, 

Nigeria still falls short of 

the goal it set with only 

57 per cent of children 

immunised in the last five 

years, according to the 

2021 Multiple Indicator 

Cluster Survey, MICS, 

and the National 

Immunisation Coverage 

Survey, NICS, jointly released 

by the Nigerian 

Government, the United 

Nations Children’s 

Fund, UNICEF, in partnership 

with other partners. 

Findings by Good 

Health Weekly showed 

that many mothers and 

caregivers still have reservations 

about 

immunisation, leaving 

Nigeria with only 36 per 

cent of children aged 

between 12 and 23 

months receiving all recommended 

vaccines, according 

to the 2021 

MICS. 

Even though the benefits 

of vaccines are fully 

realised when children 

receive all recommended 

vaccine doses promptly, 

many of these children 

receive incomplete 

doses. 

A case in point is that of 

Abdul Abdul. At age 1, 

Ahmed received only one 

immunisation which was 

given to him a few days 

after his birth at one of 

the Lagos State Primary 

Healthcare Centres. 

Bola, Abdul's mother, 

said he was not himself 

after the first dose of BCG, 

which discouraged her 

from returning for the 

other immunisations. 

“I was afraid that my 

child would have more 

complications if I went 

back for another immunization. 

He had a fever 

for days. Although I tried 

to go back for measles the 

day I went to the PHC, 

we were told to come 

back and I have not been 

able to go back due to 

time and he is now more 

than nine months. I lost 

my first child I don’t want 

to lose another. ” she said 

Like Abdul, many children 

in Nigeria have either 

received one or two 

immunisations and some 

have not received any at 

all due to unsubstantiated 

reasons. Today, 

immunisation coverage in 

Nigeria is below GVAP 

goals, putting millions of 

children at risk of vaccinepreventable 

diseases all 

thanks to these unfounded 

factors. 

However, findings by 

The highest percentage of children who did not receive any vaccinations are in 

Sokoto with 51 per cent while the smallest proportions is found in Enugu with 

1 per cent and Ebonyi 0 per cent. Courtesdy of MICS6. 

HEART ATTACKS: Okoye seeks improved 

attention on blood clots 

• As World Thrombosis Day Campaign steps up 

By Sola Ogundipe 

AS Nigeria joined the rest 

of the world to mark this 

year’s World Thrombosis 

Day, a medical expert and 

spokesperson for the World 

Thrombosis Day campaign, 

Dr Helen Okoye, has called 

for more attention towards 

curtailing the menace of 

blood clots and the risk of 

fatal heart attacks. 

Okoye who spoke on 

World Heart Day ahead of 

the World Thrombosis Day 

Campaign noted that it’s 

vitally important for people 

to understand the risks that 

could lead to having a fatal 

heart attack, and how to 

lessen them. 

Thrombosis, commonly 

known as blood clots, plays 

a significant role in people 

having heart attacks. To 

understand how this happens, 

she explains that coronary 

arteries – which are 

wrapped around the outside 

of the heart – supply 

blood to the entire heart 

muscle, which needs oxygen-rich 

blood to function. 

“These coronary arteries 

can develop plaques – a 

the MICS report, showed 

that gaps in routine 

immunisation in Nigeria. 

It shows that 64 per cent 

of children aged 12-23 

months did not receive 

all routine immunisations, 

46 per cent did receive 

but not all doses, 18 per 

cent did not receive any 

one, and 30 per cent 

build-up of cholesterol, fibrous 

tissue, and inflammatory 

cells – in a process 

called atherosclerosis. If 

these plaques become unstable 

and rupture, a blood 

clot can form at the site in a 

process called arterial 

thrombosis. If that blood clot 

blocks a coronary artery, 

blood can’t reach the heart, 

which leads to a heart attack,” 

she says. 

Signs of a heart attack include 

chest pain or pressure, 

shortness of breath, 

light-headedness, pain in 

the jaw, neck, and back, and 

pain in one or both arms or 

shoulders. If such an instance, 

seek immediate 

emergency medical help. 

Warning of a fatal link between 

blood clots and heart 

attacks, Okoye harped on 

the importance of reducing 

the risk of thrombosis, the 

often preventable underlying 

pathology of the top 

three cardiovascular killers 

– heart attack, thromboembolic 

stroke, and Venous 

Thromboembolism (VTE). 

She states that thrombosis 

can affect people of all 

ages, even though certain 

thought the child was 

fully immunised. 

Other reasons found by 

the survey showed that 51 

per cent lack knowledge 

or information, while 7 per 

cent complained that the 

immunisation site was too 

far and 19 per cent was 

due to service delivery 

issues and 11 per cent 

reported that mothers or 

caregivers too were busy, 

24 per cent lack of time or 

other family issues, 11 

per cent had fear of side 

reactions and 26 per cent 

due to mistrust or fears. 

According to the report, 

a fully vaccinated child 

must have received all 

1YL antigens including 

BCG, OPV0, HepB0, 

OPV1-3, IPV, Penta1-3, 

PCV1-3, YF, Meningitis 

A & MCV1. 

Sadly, even though the 

benefits of vaccines are 

fully realised when children 

receive all recommended 

vaccine doses 

promptly, only 36 per 

cent of children aged 12- 

23 months received all 

recommended vaccines 

in Nigeria. The report 

also notes that more children 

were fully vaccinated 

in the southern 

zones compared to the 

northern zones. 

From the survey, nearly 

2 of every 4 rural children 

received Penta3 and children 

in the richest 

quintile were more than 

twice as likely to receive 

Penta3 as those in the 

poorest quintile. 

“Immunisation coverage 

varies dramatically 

across Nigeria and improvements 

are needed 

in nearly every state,” the 

report stated. 

factors put one at higher 

risk. 

“Thrombosis is a significant 

public health issue, yet 

so many people are unaware 

of it. Risk factors for 

thrombosis include 

hospitalisation, surgery, 

cancer, prolonged immobility, 

family history, oestrogen-containing 

medications, 

and pregnancy or 

recent birth. It all comes 

back to prevention. 

“Understanding the risk 

factors and what you can 

do to lessen them enables 

you to be an active participant 

in your health and 

wellbeing and is the knowledge 

that could very well 

save your life or that of a 

loved one.” 

Meanwhile, World 

Thrombosis Day, a global 

awareness campaign led by 

the International Society on 

Thrombosis and 

Haemostasis (ISTH), recognized 

annually on October 

13 to bring awareness 

to conditions caused by 

thrombosis, stepped up efforts 

against the preventable 

killer disorder. 

Ahead of its 10th anniversary 

in 2023, the World 

Thrombosis Day campaign, 

with the tagline “Eyes 

Open to Thrombosis,” is 

dedicated to spreading 

awareness of the signs, 

symptoms, and risk factors 

of blood clots with the help 

of more than 3,000 partner 

organisations who organizing 

upwards of 10,000 

awareness activities worldwide 

Blood clots are the underlying 

cause of heart attacks, 

ischemic strokes, and 

venous thromboembolism 

(VTE), the top three cardiovascular 

killers. VTE 

occurs when one or more 

blood clots form in a deep 

vein, most often in the leg 

(deep vein thrombosis, 

DVT), and can travel in the 

bloodstream and lodge in 

the lungs (a condition 

known as pulmonary embolism). 

This year’s global 

campaign offers enhanced 

efforts to share personal stories 

from patients and survivors 

who have experienced 

life-threatening VTE 

to spotlight the prevalence 

of this often-overlooked 

condition. 

However, the report also 

found that two states - 

Ebonyi and Enugu have 

estimated leads among 

states with the lowest 

number of children not 

vaccinated. 

The two states have the 

highest number of Penta3 

coverage above the 90 per 

cent goal. Penta3 coverage 

is notably higher in 

the southern zones than 

in the north. 

“Children are significantly 

less likely to have 

received 3 doses of pentavalent 

vaccine if they are 

from poor families or rural 

families or if the child’s 

mother is younger than 

25 years of age or has a 

low level of education,” 

the report revealed. 

In the NICS 2021 survey, 

only 56 per cent of 

children showed a child 

health card and the availability 

of child health 

cards varied across states, 

with a high of 98 per cent 

in Ebonyi and a low of 16 

per cent in Sokoto. 

States with low 

immunisation coverage 

also had low card availability. 

Child health cards 

are important health 

records critical for evaluating 

immunisation status. 

It also found that in 3 of 

6 zones there are significant 

differences in zero 

dose prevalence between 

urban and rural households, 

with rural children 

more likely to be zero 

doses. In 4 of 6 zones, 

there are significant differences 

across one or 

more categories of maternal 

education, with less 

educated mothers likely 

to have zero-dose children. 

In 5 of 6 zones, there 

are significant differences 

between the poorest and 

richest wealth quintiles, 

with poorer households 

more likely to have zero 

dose children.” 

UNICEF’s Chief of 

Monitoring for Result 

(M4R), Mr Claes 

Johanson who traced 

most deaths of children to 

lack of immunization, told 

Good Health Weekly that, 

although the 2021 

immunisation report 

showed a little improvement 

from the 44 per cent 

and now 57 percent, has 

a huge impact on child 

mortality. He said 

women’s education has a 

huge impact on 

immunisation. 

Johanson who said the 

smallest proportions of 

children who did not receive 

any vaccinations are 

found in Enugu with 1 per 

cent, Ebonyi, 0 per cent 

and Sokoto with 51 with r 

cent said the benefits of 

vaccines are fully realised 

when children receive all 

recommended vaccines 

doses promptly. 

Johanson said while 

there was a little progress, 

there was room for improvement, 

adding that, 

action should be a priority 

for the Nigerian government.

Despite huge advances in diabetes 

treatment, access remains challenging 

• Prevalence projected to hit 8m by 2045 in Nigeria 

Bolaji Babatunde 

DESPITE huge ad 

vances in diabetes 

treatments, people living 

with the disease in poorer 

countries still miss out on 

access to insulin and other 

treatment choices. 

Unfortunately, a report on 

diabetes care published by 

the Access to Medicine 

Foundation (ATMF), a 

Netherlands-based nonprofit 

Organisation showed 

that the number of people 

with diabetes worldwide is 

expected to reach 643 million 

by 2030, and 783 million 

by 2045. 

Findings by Vanguard 

have shown that in LMICs, 

many people who need insulin 

currently do not have 

access to this essential, lifesaving 

drug and many more 

do not have the choice of 

products that all patients 

deserve. 

According to medical experts, 

Insulin is a hormone 

made in the pancreas, a 

gland located behind the 

stomach. Insulin allows the 

body to use glucose for energy. 

Glucose is a type of 

sugar found in many carbohydrates. 

Injections of insulin can 

help manage both types of 

diabetes as it acts as a replacement 

for or a supplement 

to the body's natural 

Cancer diagnosis most traumatising step patients will 

go through — Oncologist 

A 

Consultant Clinical 

and Radiation Oncologist 

at Evercare Hospital, 

Lagos has said that a diagnosis 

of cancer is one of the 

most traumatising steps 

patients will have to go 

through. 

Okoro, multiple cancer 

specialists explained that 

the emotional and psychological 

burden of the disease 

is occasionally so much 

for patients to handle which 

may be the reason why 

cases of depression in patients 

with cancer are higher 

when compared with other 

non-communicable diseases. 

Okoro who is a specialist 

in malignancies of the 

breast, genitourinary tract, 

gastrointestinal tract 

tumours, gynaecological 

malignancies, prostate malignancy, 

and head and 

neck tumours, noted that 

such a diagnosis is expected 

to result in physical, emotional, 

financial, and spiritual 

changes in the individual, 

hence, strategies for 

coping with the condition 

necessary to improve treatment 

outcome. 

With cancer as one of the 

leading terminal illnesses 

today, he explained further 

that the most important first 

step for a patient diagnosed 

with cancer was understanding 

the diagnosis and 

disease process. 

"Discussions with the 

managing physician should 

provide information on the 

type of cancer, location of 

insulin. 

People living with type 1 

diabetes can't make insulin, 

so they must inject insulin 

to control their blood glucose 

levels. 

Many people living with 

type 2 diabetes can manage 

their blood glucose levels 

with lifestyle changes and 

oral medication. However, 

experts say, if these treatments 

don't help control 

glucose levels, people living 

with type 2 diabetes may 

also need supplemental 

insulin. 

However, in Nigeria, the 

prevalence of the disease is 

projected to rise to 8 million 

by 2045. 

The rise, according to the 

ATMF report, will be most 

rapidly in low- and middleincome 

countries, LMICs, 

like Nigeria as the burden 

of non-communicable diseases 

continue to skyrocket. 

Reacting to the study, the 

Chief Executive of Officer 

of Access to Medicine 

Foundation, Dr Jayasree 

Iyer, the number of people 

living with diabetes is expected 

to grow by over 100 

per cent in Africa by 2045. 

She said the current estimate 

of 3.5 million living 

with the disease in Nigeria 

may be underestimated due 

to poor diagnosis. 

To break these inequalities 

in treatment and ensure 

easy access to treatment, the 

World 

Health 

Organisation, WHO added 

several analogue insulins 

to its Model List of Essential 

Medicines, with analogues 

joining the human 

insulins that were already 

listed - demonstrating an 

increasing recognition by 

global health stakeholders 

that both types of insulin are 

needed for patients in all 

countries. 

Still in Nigeria and other 

low-income countries, the 

burden of treatment of diabetes 

remains significantly 

greater, according to the 

ATMF. 

The report also showed 

that the 3.5 million Nigerians 

living with diabetes are 

facing challenges accessing 

treatment. 

However, "costs associated 

with the prevalence of 

the disease are not only 

social but economic," says 

Iyar 

She said:" The health expenditure 

related to diabetes 

care in Africa is about 

$12.5 billion and this reflects 

the fact that most people pay 

for relatively expensive and 

unaffordable insulin treatment. 

For example, the average 

diabetes-related 

health expenditure per person 

amounts to approximately 

500 dollars a year, 

which is a huge financial 

burden if the patient has to 

pay it all or partially out-ofpocket." 

The report also indicates 

that 35 per cent of patients 

in LMIC pay out-of-pocket 

for healthcare, compared to 

13.6 per cent in high-income 

countries, where the public 

sector is more likely to be 

involved. 

However, to ensure access 

to insulin and treatment, 

organisations are seeking 

more sustainable, systemic 

approaches to expanding 

access to insulin in countries 

like Nigeria and other 

LMICs. 

The ATMF report examined 

the activities of three 

prominent pharmaceutical 

manufacturers. It showed 

that Eli Lilly, Novo Nordisk, 

and Sanofi, produce 83 per 

cent of the insulin sold in 

LMICs, where they also 

hold around 95 per cent of 

the market share. Insulin 

supplied by these firms is 

sold at higher median 

prices in LMICs than in 

high-income countries. 

According to the report, 

the reasons for this include 

the manufacturer's selling 

price, wholesale and retail 

mark-ups, taxes, and other 

tariffs. These companies are 

however taking action to 

address the inequity in access 

to this essential medicine. 

Members of Otu Osisioma Age Grade during a waqlk to mark this years cancer 

awarebness month in Lagos. 

cancer, stage of the disease, which could be institution comes. 

is the disease treatable or based or in form of a nonprofit 

organization, these Get enough rest and exer- 

"Choose a healthy diet. 

not, treatment options, side 

effects of treatment, cost of groups usually have members 

that have undergone can exercise during treatcise 

if you can. Patients who 

treatment, what happens if 

the patient declines any or undergoing treatment for ment not only deal better 

treatment and life changes similar illnesses and as with side effects but also 

to expect during and after such lots of coping strategies 

are discussed and Lifestyle changes will 

may live longer. 

treatment. 

"Having open-minded made available to members," 

he added. 

changes usually include 

need to be discussed; these 

conversations with your 

managing physician is of immense 

benefit as it creates maintaining a healthy terruptions should be ex- 

He further stated that work schedules as work in- 

the opportunity for both lifestyle was also important pected while on treatment, 

patient and physician to be for any patient being managed 

for cancer as it will not present may not include 

physical activities that form 

on the same page as regards 

treatment expectations only improve the energy cancer care. Hence most 

which makes tracking of level, manage the stress and patients will have to fund 

treatment progress easier. fatigue of cancer as well as cancer care out of pocket 

Patients are also encouraged 

to join support groups tively impact treatment out- 

are usually 

its treatment but will posi- 

even when such treatments 

expensive." 


Group offers free cancer 

screening for Lagos women 

By Deborah Ariyo and 

Bolaji Babatunde 

TO mark this year’s 

Breast Cancer Awareness 

Month, stakeholders have 

called for regular breast cancer 

screening and increased 

awareness of the disease as 

part of measures to prevent 

unnecessary deaths from the 

scourge of the disease. 

To this end, Osisioma Age 

Grade sociocultural group 

weekend in Lagos organised 

a walk/enlightenment and 

free cervical cancer screening 

for women in the Festac area 

of Lagos. 

Addressing the gathering, 

the Registrar, Dept of Surgery, 

Lagos University Teaching 

Hospital, LUTH, Dr Olaleye 

Emmanuel maintained that 

early detection and treatment 

were key to surviving breast 

cancer. 

Emmanuel who stressed the 

need for increased awareness 

of the scourge of cancer said 

breast cancer is a serious disease 

that requires awareness 

to go out to the rural areas. 

“There is a need to educate 

Nigerians on how cancer develops 

and how to curb it on 

time. Cancer can be cured if it 

is discovered and treated early. 

Foundation gives 101 eye 

glasses, vision devices to 

children with Albinism 

By Esther Onyegbula 

IN line with the vision of Re 

store Foundation For Child 

Sight, RFCS, to ensure attainment 

of full life potentials 

through optimization of eyesight 

in disadvantaged children, 

101 eye spectacles and 

visual devices were presented 

at no cost to children living 

with albinism on Saturday in 

Lagos. 

The Executive Director of 

RFCS, Dr Halima Alimi revealed 

that children living 

with Albinism encounter challenges 

in attaining greater 

heights in their academic pursuit 

due to poor vision. 

She emphasised the need to 

support these group of children 

with a view to having a 

fair chance to perform optimally 

in life. She added that 

the Foundation is determined 

to reach out to them and provide 

restorative devices to enhance 

their vision. 

In achieving this mandate, 

Alimi disclosed that the Foundation 

is collaborating with 

the Lagos Albinism Awareness 

Society to organise eye outing 

days where preliminary 

vision tests can be carried out 

on the Albinism children and 

But people need to be aware 

of the disease and watch out 

for it.” 

According to the WHO 

2021 report, breast cancer is 

currently the most common 

type of cancer worldwide, with 

2.26 million cases recorded in 

2020. In Nigeria, breast cancer 

cases were historically low 

but are now increasing as a 

result of urbanisation and 

lifestyle changes. 

He commended the group 

for organising such an event 

that seeks to create awareness 

of the disease. 

Speaking on cervical cancer, 

an Oncologist/ 

Gynaecologist from the 

Lagos University Teaching 

Hospital, Oluchi Ozonu who 

stated that the HPV virus that 

causes cervical cancer can be 

transmitted through sex 

urged parents to teach their 

young girls about sex education 

early in life. 

In his welcome address, the 

Lagos State Chairman of the 

Osisioma Age Grade, Pastor 

Chuks Nduka, who disclosed 

that a number of their wives 

and daughters have died due 

to cancer said the month of 

October is regarded as breast 

cancer awareness month, 

hence, the need for the sensitization 

programme. 

provide restorative devices 

that will be useful to them. 

She therefore called on the 

Federal Government to develop 

certain policies that will 

mandate publishers to print 

large and bold textbooks for 

children with low vision. Government 

should also ensure 

proper registration of children 

with Albinism at birth so 

that they easily be reached for 

quick intervention, she said. 

Alimi also urged school 

teachers to have bold handwriting 

and always put children 

living with albinism at 

the front rows in classrooms. 

The Convener of Lagos Albinism 

Awareness Society, 

Mrs. Josephine Omolola 

commended the laudable 

project being embarked upon 

by Restore Foundation for 

Child Sight. She admonished 

parents of children living with 

Albinism to visit qualified 

medical professionals such as 

Ophthalmologists for eye 

treatment and Dermatologists 

to take proper care of 

their skin. Mrs.Josephine also 

urged parents to keep their 

children away from the damaging 

rays of the sun to prevent 

skin cancer.


We're committed to strategic host community relations —Petralon Energy 

By Ediri Ejoh 

THE management of Petralon Energy 

Limited, at the weekend opened a 

new chapter in the nation's oil and gas 

industry in the area of host community 

relationship. The company through its 

subsidiary, Petralon54Energy, operators 

of Oil Prospecting License No 259 at a 

meeting with community leaders from 

its Dawes Island Field presented the 

traditional rulers with her operating 

license as a symbol of the integration 

with the host communities while 

assuring them of responsible and 

mutually rewarding operation. 

According to Adeola Akinrinmade, 

Executive Director, Petralon54 Energy, 

the presentation of the operating 

license back to the community was the 

acknowledgement of the role of the 

community in the exploration process. 

Present at the festival like ceremony 

were traditional leaders from Ogoloma, 

Koniju and Okochiri communities in 

Okrika Local Government of Rivers 

State, Nigeria. 

Speaking at the event in Port Harcourt, 

Mr. Akinrinmade, said the company 

aims to redefine and enhance the 

traditional relationship between oil 

companies and host communities while 

operating in the region. 

"We are not in the sector to play! While 

going about its business in the upstream 

sector, Petralon54 Energy aims to 

redefine for better, the traditional 

relationship between oil companies and 

communities," he stated. 

In a series of tweets, tagged 

#Petralon54communitylaunch, the 

company said, 

"In Nigeria's Oil and Gas Industry, host 

communities have always had 

problems with the exploration 

companies, but a new company 

Petralon54, an indigenous exploration 

company is committed to working 

closely with Ogoloma, Koniju and 

Okochiri communities in Okrika Local 

Government in Port Harcourt where 

its asset, the Dawes Island, OML 54 

lies." 

Expatiating on the initiative to improve 

the relationship, Mr Akinrinmade said, 

"An indigenous exploration company 

has decided to change the Narrative. 

Petralon54 Energy is an African 

exploration and production company 

with a demonstrated capacity to acquire, 

develop, finance, and operate oil and 

gas 

assets. 

#Petralon54communitylaunch." 

On what transpired at the event, he 

said, "Petralon 54, at meeting with the 

communities, presented its operational 

license to the traditional rulers of the 

communities and assured the people of 

responsible and mutually rewarding 

operation." 

Industry experts say the strategic 

initiative is designed to enable seamless 

operations at Dawes Island and restart 

production to raise national output. 

This is even as the firm assured of 

continued active engagement with the 

Host Community and its stakeholders 

in the Dawes Island Field to identify 

critical projects for implementation as 

well as create a formidable working 

partnership between Petralon 54 and 

its host/impacted communities. 

Petralon54 Energy was issued an 

exploratory license during a ceremony 

held at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel in 

Abuja on 28 June 2022 Organized by 

the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum 

Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) 

Accordingly, the management of 

Petralon 54 Ltd has outlined an action 

plan towards maximizing the company's 

operation and contribution to Nigeria's 

oil production capacity that has suffered 

significant setbacks in the current year. 

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2022 

Exploration: Nigeria's rig count leaps 32.8% to 85 in 9 months 

•As Ayuk, others harp on increased investment 

By Udeme Akpan, in 

Cape Town 

STRONG 

indications 

emerged, weekend, 

showing that oil exploration has 

improved in Nigeria as its rig 

count - an index of measuring 

activities in the upstream sector - 

rose by 32.8 percent to 85 in the 

first nine months (January - 

September), of 2022, from 64 

recorded in the corresponding 

period of 2021. 

The data collated by Energy 

Vanguard from the Monthly Oil 

Market Reports, MOMRs of the 

Organisation of Petroleum 

Exporting Countries, OPEC, 

showed that the highest rig count 

of 11 was recorded consistently 

in the four months of April, May, 

June and July 2022, while six, 

being the least was recorded in 

January 2022. 

However, on month-on-month, 

MoM, the nation's rig count, 

dropped to seven in September 

2022, from 10, recorded in August 

2022. 

Factors 

The organisation did not 

provide factors for the 

improvement, but checks by 

Energy Vanguard pointed to the 

end of coronavirus pandemic and 

optimism occasioned by the 

passage of the Petroleum 

Industry Act, PIA. 

African nations 

The data further showed that 

Algeria deployed 34 rigs, making 

it the highest African nation 

while Equatorial Guinea came 

last with zero rig during the 

period. 

Experts 

In a telephone interview with 

Energy Vanguard, the National 

President, Oil and Gas Service 

Providers Association of Nigeria, 

OGSPAN, Colman Obasi, said: 

"This feat is commendable, but not 

enough. Nigeria can do better. 

Indeed, there is a great need for 

the Federal Government and 

other stakeholders to work 

towards increasing investment 

that could lead to massive 

exploration in the nation. This 

becomes important, especially 

now that PIA has been put in 

place. to attract the confidence of 

local and foreign investors. 

"Without much investment, it 

would be impossible to realise the 

planned 40 million barrels per 

daily production and other 

targets in the industry. I am 

optimistic that the nation would 

witness substantial investment in 

the coming years." 

Commenting on the impact of 

Energy transition, NJ Ayuk, 

Chairman, African Energy 

Chamber, organisers of African 

Energy Week, AEW, South 

Africa, said: "With fossil fuel use 

creating 65 per cent of 

greenhouse gas (GHG) 

emissions, divestiture is at the 

heart of the global climate 

change agenda, and many 

Western banks are no longer 

financing investments in African 

oil and gas. 

"Investment in the continent's 

OIL MARKET WATCH 

Bonny Light $93.84 

Brent $92.24 

OPEC Basket $94.17 

WTI $86.16 

MARS $81.56 

(As of October 17, 2022) 

We remain rightful owner, committed to development of Atala oilfield —Halkin 

By Joseph Oso, 

Imisioluwapo Gbolahan, 

Issa Jamiu & Nwaokolo 

Immaculate 

A 

N indigenous company, Halkin 

Exploration and Production 

Limited, has expressed commitment to 

the development of Atala marginal field, 

formerly Oil Mining Lease (OML) 46. 

Some interest groups, especially the 

Bayelsa State Government and the 

Senate, have been pushing for the 

revocation of the marginal field, arguing 

that it was not properly awarded. 

But providing more facts on the 

transaction, the company said it remains 

the rightful owner, currently working to 

bring the field to full production in the 

coming months. 

According to the Director of 

Communications, Halkin, Mr. Osagie 

Amusa-Eke, information making the 

rounds were distorted and one-sided. 

He said: "Recently the Atala Field 

(Formerly OML 46) has been in the 

news. So far, what is being told is a onesided 

story, with the facts of the matter 

distorted. 

"As a responsible private company 

only interested in conducting legitimate 

business, it's really unfortunate that 

Halkin Exploration and Production 

Limited [HEPL] has found itself 

distracted by this situation. Today we 

seek to set the record straight with 

CSR: Founder & CEO, Petralon Energy, Mr. Ahonsi Unuigbe, (right) presenting the traditional 

rulers with her operating license at the meeting with community leaders from its Dawes 

Island Field. 

oil and gas sector has fallen 

significantly, from $60 billion in 

2013 to $22.5 billion in 2020 by 

African Energy Chamber 

estimates. One shudders to think 

nothing but the truths and facts of the 

matter. 

"In 2003, the Department of 

Petroleum Resources (now Nigerian 

Upstream Petroleum Regulatory 

Commission) issued 13 licenses to 

indigenous oil firms. However, on the 

expiration deadline of 2018, the Atala 

Field had yet to come into full 

production. 

"Following the failure to bring the field 

into full production, the Atala Field 

license was then revoked and returned 

to the basket as approved by His 

Excellency, President Muhammadu 

Buhari. 

"Over a year after the license was 

what would happen to the 

continent's major oil-exporting 

countries - including Nigeria, 

Algeria, Angola, Equatorial 

Guinea. Gabon and Congo 

revoked by the NUPRC, in line with 

Nigeria's petroleum laws, Halkin legally 

applied and was duly awarded the OML 

46 to operate, on the condition that 

Halkin brought the field into full 

production and a signature bonus of 

over 8 million dollars paid to the Federal 

Government. 

"When there were petitions to Halkin 

being awarded the license, Halkin was 

cleared by NUPRC after a thorough 

investigation of Halkin's application 

process. 

"Within a year of taking over the Atala 

field, Halkin has invested millions of 

dollars into its operations in the field, 

with over 100 Nigerian personnel 

NERC moves to enforce electricity safety breaches 

By Mariam Eko 

THE National Electricity 

Regulatory Commission, 

NERC, has commenced enforcement 

on some incidents involving safety 

breaches. 

Dr. Yusuf Ali, the NERC 

Commissioner in charge of Planning, 

Research and Strategy, said in line with 

its strategic goals for 2021- 2023, the 

Commission has continued to intensify 

its monitoring and implementation 

of various safety programmes aimed 

at reducing accidents in the electricity 

industry. 

According to him, the safety 

programs being implemented by the 

Commission include the 

standardisation of system protection 

schemes, public enlightenment on the 

safe use of electricity, a review of an 

operational procedure for Distribution 

System Operators, DSO, on fault 

clearing and engagement of 

stakeholders on Right of Way violation. 

He stated: "Out of the 87 mandatory 

health and safety reports expected from 

licensees in fourth quarter 2021 the 

National Electricity Regulatory 

Republic, where fossil fuels 

represent anywhere from 7 

percent to 37 percent of Gross 

Domestic Product, GDP - should 

the industry evaporate 

altogether." 

operating on site. Halkin has 

continuously engaged its host 

communities to foster a peaceful 

working relationship in its operating 

environment and concluded CSR 

projects like solar lighting initiatives for 

host communities with plans to do more 

projects. 

This is the reason why members of 

the host communities are delighted that 

Halkin is now in charge of the Oil field. 

"Halkin is committed to bringing the 

Atala Field to full production to increase 

the Federal Government's revenue. To 

this end, Halkin has made huge 

investments and will continue to do so 

for the duration of the license. 

Commission received a total of 75 

accident reports from licensed 

operators compared to 85 reports 

received in the third quarter 2021. 

"The Commission has initiated new 

processes to track licensees' 

compliance with submission of 

statutory reports, and investigations 

have been launched into all reported 

incidents of injuries and deaths. The 

total number of incidents in 2021/Q4 

was 40; 9 injuries and 31 deaths 

compared to the 49 incidents recorded 

in 2021/Q3; 19 injuries and 30 deaths''.

BENIN-AUCHI-OKENE HIGHWAY: 

Residents, drivers, 

commuters go through hell 

•Encroachment into ROW, litigation, compensation, 

obstruct dualisation •FG mulls by-pass 

EDO…THE HEART 

BEAT T OF THE NATION 

By Ozioruva Aliu 

BENIN CITY —THE trauma 

of residents, drivers, and 

commuters plying the Benin City- 

Auchi-Okene Federal Highway, 

through Ekpoma, Agbede, and 

Okenne in Edo and Kogi States, 

has worsened with the rains, in the 

last few weeks. 

NDV investigations showed that 

encroachment into government 

Right–of–Way, ROW, particularly 

in Ekpoma and Agbede, 

litigations, and non-review of the 

contract awarded in 2012, among 

others, have slowed down the 

completion of the dualization of 

the road. 

Not less than 24 communities in 

eight local government areas 

situate on both sides of the highway. 

Residents have blatantly refused 

to observe the right of way of 45/ 

72 metres from the centre of the 

road, about 150 feet, effective since 

1959. 

Residents protest 

A few weeks ago, a group known 

as Esan Liberation barricaded the 

Ekpoma to Ewu axis of the road 

over its poor state, vowing to 

occupy it until works resume on 

the road. 

The protest caused queues 

stretching from the Ujoelen axis of 

the highway to the Ambrose Alli 

University main gate, and beyond, 

towards Benin. It was the same on 

the reverse stretch towards Auchi 

where the queue extended beyond 

the Irrua Specialist Teaching 

Hospital. 

The hardship plying that road 

worsened, over the weekend, as the 

traffic before Ekpoma from the 

Benin axis started from Ogwa 

Junction all the way to Ekpoma 

and coming from Auchi, it started 

from Aviele. 

The traffic extended to Uromi 

and Agbor in Delta state, which is 

a diversion off the road. 

Convener of the group, Proper 

Iyere, said: “We have written 

several letters to all the members 

representing various 

constituencies in Edo Central 

senatorial district and the 

ministers from Edo State and the 

state governor on the state of the 

road. The state of the road has 

subjected us to untold hardship.” 

Our challenges – 

Aransiola 

NDV learned that buildings and 

other human activities have taken 

over government right-of-way at 

virtually the entire stretch of the 

road in Ekpoma and parts of Irrua. 

There are several instances 

where structures suddenly started 

springing up shortly after the 

administration of President 

Goodluck Jonathan with Mike 

Onolememe, who is from Edo 

Central senatorial district as 

Minister of Works, awarded the 

contract for the road in 2012. 

Speaking to NDV, the Federal 

Controller of Works and Housing, 

Edo State, Dr. Razaq Aransiola 

By Ike Uchechuwu 

BELEKETE— RESIDENTS 

of Belekete, a remote 

community in Obanliku Local 

Government Area, Cross River 

State, with no access road and 

electricity, now has a semblance 

of electricity for the first time in 

their existence. 

Belekete is so far-flung from 

civilisation that to date, natives 

trek a distance of 10 km with sick 

relatives on their backside, for 

medical attention at the nearest 

city. 

Senator Jarigbe Agom-Jarigbe, 

who represents Cross River North 

senatorial district, donated a solar 

streetlight to the community, to 

give the people a sense of 

belonging and improve nightlife. 

Delighted youths of the 

community, singing and dancing 

on the road, carried the poles of 

the solar lights and other 

components on their heads to the 

village, trekking on foot from 

Obudu to the village, as there is no 

vehicular transportation. 

Pupils in the locality, seeing such 

radiance for the first time, 

said unending litigations and 

citizens’ encroachment into 

government right-of-way have 

contributed to the delay in the 

completion of the dualization of 

the highway. 

“The challenge we have in most 

cases is the right-of-way, which the 

• Ramshackle portions of Benin-Auchi Road at Ekpoma. 

gathered under the solar 

streetlights at night to read and do 

their class assignments. 

Give us amenities 

–Chief Ador 

A community leader, Chief 

Magnus Ador, while commending 

the senator for the gesture, 

however, appealed for the 

provision of road and other social 

amenities to the area. 

He noted that the immediate 

desire of the people was the 

construction and equipping of a 

health centre in the community to 

ease the burden of having to carry 

Niger-Delta Voice, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2022 — 25 

state government is already By-pass 

looking into because it is the state NDV reliably gathered that the 

government that has constitutional compensation based on petitions 

right on the Land Use Act, and received is thrice the cost of doing 

based on that, they are the ones that the road around the Ekpoma axis. 

are in-charge of ROW. 

Therefore, the Federal 

“We have submitted our request Government was considering the 

to the state. If you heard what the option of a bypass, a decision 

governor said recently when the Aransiola said was not his 

Otaru of Auchi visited him, he said responsibility to make. 

he is collaborating with the federal “It is the Planning and 

government to release the ROW so Development that decides on 

that the contractors can work." which alternative they want to take, 

Aransiola said at Agbede, Etsako they normally propose different 

West local government area, where alternatives and consider the 

construction has also stalled: “It financial implications and then 

is the same issue of right-of-way the implications to the users and 

and once the state government can the community. 

clear the issue, the contractor will “It is when they have finished 

accomplish the remaining portion their planning and development 

in that place. 

that they send to Material Geo- 

“They have suspended works at Techniques and Quality Control, 

Ewu as they run out of quantity. MGQC, which carries out 

They do not have the quantity to extensive study and then design 

really work because it is part of that they will send to the site for 

the quantity provided for the implementation. So, the decision 

construction of the road since 2012 for an alternative route is the 

that they have been using for the minister and the permanent 

maintenance of the road. So, secretary.” 

based on that, they have run out of 

quantity. They have submitted 

augmentation, so the 

augmentation is what they are 

waiting for and if that is done, you 

will see the meaningful 

improvement.” 

their sick ones on their back to 

Obudu for medicare. 

He said: “Just, as we have to carry 

these solar streetlights on our heads 

to the community trekking for about 

10 kilometres, which is also how we 

carry our sick ones to the nearest 

town in Obudu for medical attention. 

"It is indeed risky and in most 

cases, our pregnant women die. The 

aged and feeble ones do not have the 

energy to make such a journey 

because of the terrain as it is energysapping.” 

New lifestyle activated 

— Adie, inhabitant 

Another villager, Mrs. Franca 

Edo govt liaising with 

FG — Nehikhare 

The Otaru of Auchi, HRH Alhaji 

Aliru Momoh Ikelebe III, recently, 

visited Governor Godwin Obaseki, 

who told him that his administration 

would collaborate with the Federal 

Government to fix the road 

The Commissioner for 

Communication and Orientation, 

Chris Nehikhare, told NDV: “The 

Ministry of Roads and Bridges has 

concluded designs that will 

permanently solve the flooding 

problems along the Ekpoma axis of 

the road and handed over working 

drawings to the Federal 

Government. This solution will 

channel flood runoff to Emuhi Lake 

and two other discharge points. 

“Only legal occupants along the 

right of way will get compensation 

and not anyone along the way. We 

are working with Edo State 

Geographic Information Services, 

EDOGIS, to determine the 

communities along the way and 

desired cooperation to achieve the 

goal as an exorbitant amount may 

stall the process." 

He said the government does not 

have funds to throw away and 

payment of compensation would 

begin once the EDOGIS completes 

its work. 

Senator stimulates C’River community with solar streetlight 

*Pupils congregate at night to read; nightlife activated 

CROSS-RIVER … 

THE PEOPLE’S PARADISE 

•Pupils in Belekete gather under one of the solar streetlights to read. 

Adie, said mounting the solar street 

light has activated a new lifestyle, 

which the people had never known 

until now. 

“I cannot tell you how happy 

everyone in our community is, a lot 

has changed already, we are indeed 

happy, and we are suddenly 

experiencing nightlife as it has 

boosted businesses that before now 

shut down before 7.00 pm. 

“We hope to get more of this 

gesture, especially with roads and 

other basic amenities, including 

healthcare centers. 

“The solar streetlight now provides 

reading clusters for our children 

since they are just resuming. 

We have big plans for 

Belekete—Sen Jarigbe 

Senator Jarigbe told the 

villagers: “We are going to take it 

one thing at a time; we will start 

with providing medical equipment 

and pharmaceutical drugs to the 

health facility in Belekete.” 

Contacted, Director-General of 

Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe Campaign 

Organisation, Dr. Dorn Enahme, 

said: “My principal has been in 

office only for one year, we have 

huge plans of making the living 

standard of the people better. 

“Sen. Jarigbe has big plans to 

meet most of their basic needs, 

including healthcare centers, road 

amongst others.”


YOUR LUCK TODAY 

By Joshua Adeyemo Phone 08056180139 

LEO; Your concentration level and determination are 

the pillars of your success today. Yet you’ll need to respect 

your senior colleagues and protect your image 

VIRGO; It’s true you’re willing to work harder but you 

just have to drop both aggression and mental arrogance 

to allow things to roll accordingly. Then, you’re accident 

prone within your working arena. Respect the law and its 

agents today. 

LIBRA; Serious thought may be giving to matters of 

the heart but it’s better you tarry a while. Joint ventures 

of short duration today may be an invitation to avoidable 

trouble 

SCORPIO; If you back your financial plans with concrete 

and positive actions things’ll go according to your desire. 

If you fail to realise importance of your spouse you would 

work your way into avoidable trouble; aren’t you tired of 

crisis? 

SAGITTARIUS; Your intelligence, competence and level 

of concentration may today bring you envy, which you 

don’t deserve within your working arena in a negative 

form but. 

CAPRICORN;. The Moon highlights your Solar second 

house of money which is good but, if you try to buy true 

love with money, you’ll be disappointed 

AQUARIUS; The. Moon in your Star sign’ll gives you 

new confidence and with new supports from the powersthat-be, 

it’s like you are now un-stop-able. But be cautious, 

especially with the veterans within your base of operation 

PISCES; Better days are ahead of you but, you will today 

need to do away with non-productive argument and/or 

agreement. Try to be more diplomatic now. 

ARIES; If what you’re doing today’ll depend on 

tomorrow’s event it’s better you’re more careful now. Even 

things may not go according to your personal plans today. 

Yet it’s important you plan both your immediate and far 

future carefully now 

TAURUS; If you take to aggression, your ego would be 

deflated by your superior colleagues, but your being cooperative 

in a civilised way’ll prevent trouble 

GEMINI; Those willing to put you to shame one way or 

the other’ll be disappointed with the turn of things today. 

It’s good to secure support of your spouse. 

CANCER; You’ve had enough of fun in the recent times 

and it’s now time you settle down for hard work in order 

to prevent avoidable trouble. Be patient please. 

ASTROLOGICAL COUNSELLING 

ASTROLOGICAL our date and place of COUNSELLING 

birth to the Astr 

tr 

Send your dat 

trological 

Counselling, P.M.B 100 

007, Apapa, Lagos 

SUCCESS FOR ME? 

Dear Joshua, 

I am interested in your Astrological counselling. Kindly 

tell me everything about myself, especially my finance 

and career; would I be rich eventually, if yes what should 

I do to make it happen quickly. 

Tokunbo, Ibadan. 

Dear Tokunbo, 

There are indications of financial success for you but 

you can not change what Almighty God Has designed 

for you talking about the timing (the quickness you talked 

in your letter) Certainly however no failure for you. 

Mercury –the planet of education and Accountancy, 

together with mighty Sun at positive angle to planets in 

Virgo (another Accounting Star sign) attracted you to both 

Accountancy profession and the academic world. Truly 

you did not make wrong choice of career. 

Money will eventually come along this line but it’ll not 

be as faster as if you take to OIL RELATED BUSINESS. 

Because Neptune (the planet of OIL) was very 

comfortable when you were born. It will not be out of 

place if you have filling stations as time goes by, because 

you are basically a GAS PERSON. Another money 

spinning vocation for you include writing either along 

your line or for film making industry; it is important you 

exhibit the higher quotient of creativity in your innerself. 

Yes your dream of becoming A Professor will come to 

reality. Politics is another area you are not looking at now 

but will surely come. Do you say why? Because Aquarius 

is equally political 

Venus that was powerfully placed when you were born 

is all about MONEY. Thus you have special ability to 

make money. And as it was at positive angle to disciplined 

Saturn, you are not giving to serious frivolity. One major 

challenge here is envy by others but you will eventually 

overcome. Another source of challenges is your love life 

which looks not totally balanced. 

Basically you are a family minded person. You are 

equally loving and caring. But sometimes your love of 

freedom get better off you to the resentment of your closer 

partner(s).Then some other times it is other party’s fault 

making love-business very interesting. And unless you 

are more careful and determined you may marry more 

than once. 

:Vanguard 

News 

I’ll tackle 

insecurity, 

revive 

industries, if 

elected 

—Atiku 

By John Alechenu 

ABUJA—THE presidential 

candidate of Peoples 

Democratic Congress, Atiku 

Abubakar, has promised to tackle 

insecurity and revive ailing 

industries, especially in Kaduna 

State if elected. 

He made the promise at a 

campaign rally in Kaduna yesterday. 

Atiku expressed gratitude to the 

people of Kaduna State for their 

unflinching support for his 

aspiration over the years. 

The former Vice President said: 

“Let me thank you for your support 

in 2019. Kaduna state, gave me the 

highest number of votes in Nigeria. 

“I have come here to pledge on 

behalf of the PDP that if you give 

us your votes, we will restore peace 

in Kaduna state. 

“The security challenges will be 

addressed. We promise that we will 

reactivate the industries in Kaduna 

state in collaboration with the 

current private sector in Kaduna 

state, we will establish those 

factories. 

“ We promise you that the road 

linking Kaduna and Kano, linking 

Kaduna to Jos, linking Kaduna and 

Abuja, will be completed by the grace 

of God. These are four undertaking 

that I am taking on behalf of the 

PDP in you vote for PDP.” 

Anioma 

armers hold 

confab Oct 

27 

IN ITS continued desire and 

determination to ensure 

availability of abundance 

agricultural produce across 

communities of Delta North 

extraction of the state and beyond, 

the newly formed executive and 

members of Anioma Nation 

Farmers Association, ANFA, is set 

to boost a first of its kind farmers 

conference aimed at bringing 

together every farmer of the area 

for the purpose of improving their 

well being and the overall 

economic growth. 

In a statement jointly issued on 

behalf of the association by its 

chairman, Simon Etieh, the 

General Secretary, Chris Aghuno 

and the Publicity Secretary 

Ogbuenyi Ben Anazia and made 

available to the media, stated that 

the association which is a nongovernmental 

pressure group that 

can support any other association, 

group or any persons or individual 

with interest of the farmers at 

heart. 

The statement disclosed further 

that plans are in top gear to hold 

the farmers conference on the 27 

of November 2022 at the 

conference hall of the senior civil 

service conference hall by Mariam 

Babangida way, Asaba, the state 

capital beginning at 10.00am in 

the morning. 

It also stated that members of 

the association are drawn from the 

nine local government area of 

Delta North and with structures 

in all the wards of the nine local 

government area of Anioma 

region. 

The event which will have a 

prominent community leader and 

Iyase of Asaba, Obi Patrick Isioma 

Onyeobi, also a retired Permanent 

Secretary/head of service in the 

defunct Bendel state as the grand 

patron of the farmers association, 

will be supported by other eminent 

outstanding personalities of 

Anioma extraction and beyond 

who in their different capacities 

have proved their worth and 

contributed over the years to the 

socio-economic development of 

Anioma the state and Nigeria.


FLOOD: Panic as corpses 

float in Bayelsa, Delta 

cemeteries 

Continues from Page 5 

devastating effect of the 

flood in the state, former 

Delta State governor, Chief 

James Ibori, yesterday 

urged government 

agencies at the federal, 

state and local government 

levels to provide relief 

materials to flood victims 

across the country. 

While condoling with 

flood victims, Ibori, in a 

tweet on his official Twitter 

handle, said: “Government 

agencies at all levels must 

act promptly to provide 

relief to those affected by 

floods in our country. 

“The loss of lives and 

property caused by massive 

floods ravaging several 

states across the country as 

a result of the release of 

water from the Lagdo Dam 

in Cameroon must be dealt 

with decisively to ensure 

this never happens again.” 

Oborevwori, 

donates relief 

materials 

Moved by the sufferings 

of the people, PDP 

governorship candidate in 

Delta State, Sheriff 

Oborevwori, yesterday, 

donated bags of rice, yams, 

bags of garri, noodles, 

packs of bottled water, 

tissues, bags of salt, beans 

and other relief materials to 

victims of the ravaging 

flood in the state. 

Oborevwori, who is also 

speaker of the state House 

of Assembly, made the 

donations when he visited 

the victims at designated 

Internally Displaced 

Persons, IDPs. 

He was at the ICS Camp, 

Oleh, Isoko South Local 

Government Area housing 

1,016 IDPs and Alaka 

Grammar School, Ozoro, 

Isoko North Local 

Government Area with 

1,180. 

Chatting with newsmen 

moments after the 

donations, Oborevwori 

said: “I have visited the ICS 

and Alaka camps and I am 

here at the Delta State 

University of Science and 

Technology, Ozoro to 

ascertain the level of 

damage done by the flood. 

“We understand that the 

university has been closed 

for two weeks. We pray that 

the floods will recede 

soonest. There is nothing 

man can do because it’s a 

natural disaster. 

‘’I will advise those who 

refused to come to the IDP 

camps to relocate to higher 

grounds. This is a natural 

disaster, so they have no 

choice than to relocate to 

higher ground. This also 

happened in 2012.” 

The All Progressives 

Congress, APC, candidate 

for the Sagbama/Ekeremor 

Federal Constituency in 

Bayelsa State, Michael 

Olomu, also donated items 

worth millions of naira to 

flood victims in the 

Sagbama Local 

Government Area of the 

state. 

In a statement, his media 

office explained that Olomu 

was touched by the pains 

of the vulnerable people, 

personally visited the area 

weekend and donated 

relief materials to reduce 

the agony caused by the 

flood. Olomu also visited 

sick people in various 

hospitals in Sagbama, 

Bulou-Orua and the 

Adagbabiri communities, 

all in the Sagbama Local 

Government Area. Some of 

the items donated included 

foodstuffs such as garri, 

rice, noodles, salt and 

seasonings. 

Bayelsa senators, 

Reps call for 

emergency 

Also reacting to the 

situation, National 

Assembly members from 

Bayelsa State, comprising 

senators and members of 

the House of 

Representatives, yesterday 

raised alarm that the state 

had been completely 

severed from the rest of the 

country. 

The lawmakers at a 

briefing in Abuja yesterday, 

said floods had sacked 

many people from their 

homes and communities, 

prompting untold 

hardship. 

Speaking on behalf of the 

lawmakers who included 

Senators Henry Seriake 

Dickson, Biobarakumo 

Degi-Eremienyo, Moses Z. 

Cleopas, Preye Influence 

Goodluck Oseke, Frederick 

Azibapu Obua, Israel 

Naira appreciates to N441.25 

/$ in I&E window 

By Elizabeth Adegbesan 

The naira yesterday appreciated to N441.25 per 

dollar in the Investors and Exporters (I&E) window. 

Data from FMDQ showed that the indicative 

exchange rate for the window fell to N441.25 per 

dollar from N441.38 per dollar last week Friday, 

indicating 13 kobo appreciation for the naira. 

However, the naira depreciated by N4 in the parallel 

market yesterday. 

Vanguard findings from black market traders 

showed that the indicative exchange rate for the 

market rose to N742 per dollar from N738 per dollar 

on last week Friday. 

From left, Honorary Secretary of the Nigeria-Britain Association (N-BA), Mr. Ademola Sanya; founder of 

Leventis Foundation and N-BA Icon Award recipient, Mr. Anastasios P. Leventis, CBE, OFR; Nigeria’s High 

Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Ambassador Sarafa Tunji Isola; N-BA President, Ms. Abimbola Okoya; 

Vice Patron of the Association, Mr. Philip Hall, OBE and immediate past president of the association, Mr. Shola 

Tinubu, during the 2022 Nigerian Independence Day celebration held in London, United Kingdom 

Sunny-Goli and Steve 

Azaiki, Frederick 

Yeitiemone Agbedi 

appealed to President 

Muhammadu Buhari to 

declare Bayelsa a disaster 

emergency. 

Agbedi said: 

“Considering that Bayelsa 

State is not just the worse 

affected, but one that has 

been completely severed 

from the rest of the country 

as a result of the complete 

erosion across several 

sections of the East-West 

Road, it is our additional 

call, therefore, on Mr. 

President to declare a state 

of disaster emergency in 

Bayelsa State. 

“Similarly, we call on 

ministries, departments 

and agencies, such as the 

National Emergency 

Management Agency; 

National Commission for 

Refugees, Migrants, and 

Internally Displaced 

Persons; and the Federal 

Ministry of Humanitarian 

Affairs, Disaster 

Management, And Social 

Development for their 

considered, immediate 

intervention with 

medicines, foodstuffs and 

other relief materials.” 

4,745 IDPs 

decline relocation 

from Delta 

communities 

About 4,745 displaced 

persons across 73 

communities in Ndokwa 

East Local Government 

Area, Delta State, yesterday 

declined relocation from 

their flood-ravaged 

communities over desire to 

secure their properties and 

prematurely harvested 

farm produce. 

This came as the Delta 

State Oil Producing Areas 

Development Commission, 

DESOPADEC, assisted 

IDP Camp at Ashaka fully 

took off, with the camp 

registration hitting over 800 

IDPs. 

Chairman of the local 

government area, Mr. Juan 

Governor, who disclosed 

this, noted that from reports 

gathered during a zoom 

meeting of NELGA 2022 

Flood Management 

Committee, the flood had 

started receding in the 

NELGA communities, 

along the upper part of the 

River Niger and Ase Creek. 

Gbajabiamila, operators seek solutions to 

foreign airlines’ trapped funds, high ticket fares 

•To invite Finance, Aviation ministers, 

CBN Gov, others on Thursday for inputs 

By Levinus 

Nwabughiogu 

ABUJA — Speaker of 

the House of 

Representatives, Femi 

Gbajabiamila , said 

yesterday that parliament 

would assist foreign 

airlines recover their 

trapped funds. 

Gbajabiamila spoke 

during a meeting with 

stakeholders from the 

aviation industry on the 

blocked $700 million 

belonging to foreign airline 

operators. 

The stakeholders, under 

the aegis Airline Operators 

of Nigeria, AON, had 

raised issues on capital 

flight, breach of Bilateral 

Air Services Agreement, 

BASA, high cost of tickets/ 

air fares imposed on 

Nigerians. 

Chairman, United 

Nigeria Airlines, Professor 

Obiora Okonkwo, who 

spoke on behalf of AON, 

had called the attention of 

the speaker to the issues, 

alleging that foreign 

airlines after receiving 

payment at the N740 

parallel market rate, asked 

for the official rate of N447 

from the Central Bank of 

Nigeria, CBN. 

The operators accused the 

International Air Transport 

Association, IATA, of 

favoritism. 

Gbajabiamila said: “In 

the meantime, we have to 

look for solutions. I’m also 

going to plead with foreign 

airlines to show some good 

faith. 

“What’s that good faith or 

how do you show that good 

faith? To open up your 

portals or whatever it is for 

business to continue as 

usual so that Nigerians can 

purchase your tickets so that 

travel agents can work 

while this is going on. 

“So, while you are doing 

yours there, we are doing 

ours here. It cannot be a 

one-sided thing. So, we can 

give ourselves some time so 

that once you go back to 

status quo, we will also at 

this point look into how you 

can repatriate or how you 

can get your funds. If it’s 

special intervention or 

whatever, we will find a 

way to deal with it. 

“So, it has to be for want of 

a better word, symbiotic and 

as well do our end and you 

need to do your end within 

some good faith assurance 

from you. 

“By self-admission, laws are 

actually being broken right. 

You did say about an hour ago 

that yes under BASA law, they 

are not allowed to sell foreign 

currency. 

“Okay, so it’s not a BASA 

regulation, it’s a Nigerian law, 

either way, some law is being 

broken. So, the question is 

whether BASA or CBN law, 

so having heard that, let me 

still maintain my very soft 

punch to the airlines; please 

talk to your guys out there that 

you are breaking the CBN 

regulations. 

“I will also appeal to you to 

revert to status-quo while we 

look at the matter. Once that 

is done, it gives us more 

motivation to try and assist. 

“In the BASA you have 

different provisions and some 

fall under economic 

regulations and then we have 

the civil aviation authorities 

of each country. 

“So, in this particular case, 

selling in a particular 

currency, we know that all the 

airlines are not supposed to 

sell in dollars in Nigeria. They 

know that. 

“No airline wants to sell in 

dollars if it has guarantee, even 

it will be tempted to sell in 

dollar if you are guaranteed 

that you will be able to 

repatriate the funds as at when 

it’s due. Why should they do 

that? 

“You see, what we are 

experiencing is a reaction and 

I can say it’s epidemic 

reaction to the long time that 

this money has been blocked. 

We are talking of March 

2020, now till 2022. As an 

operator, as a business man, 

if you have your money 

locked in a system for over a 

year or two years, will you 

continue to expose yourself for 

further money to be locked? 

That is the fundamental 

question and that’s what the 

airlines are doing. 

“Since we have found 

ourselves in this situation and 

if it’s not contravening any law, 

part of things you might 

consider is to go into 

discussion with NCAA, fuel 

suppliers to know if a 

consideration can be made 

that some of this naira fund 

can be used in place of dollar 

to pay these local expenses. 

“This you have told us is in 

violation of the IATA laws that 

is charging, not allowing 

selling tickets in foreign 

exchange. We all expect you 

to ensure enforcement.” 

In his presentation, IATA’s 

Area Manager, West & 

Central Africa, Dr. Samson 

Fatokun, alleged that foreign 

airlines were demanding 

repatriation of $700 million 

blocked fund since 2020 to 

date. 

“It is not written in any 

BASA that they have to sell in 

dollar or not sell in dollar. It’s 

a CBN regulation that 

airlines are not expected, 

should not sell in dollars, it’s 

a CBN regulation,” he had 

said. 

Also speaking, Deputy 

President of National 

Association of Nigeria Travel 

Agencies, NANTA, Mr. 

Chima Ihe, pleaded with 

government to assist airlines 

access the fund. 

“From the travel agencies 

side, we are pleading with 

government to see how they 

can help the airlines to access 

this fund. I want to disagree 

with Mr. Obiora that this 

money can be recycled. This 

is operational cost, it’s not a 

profit which you can ask them 

to recycle in Nigeria or invest 

in Nigeria. 

“However, the issue of 

disparity in air fares and our 

inability to travel agencies to 

right now access inventory of 

the airlines to issue tickets, 

that is a big issue.’’ 

On her part, Regional 

Commercial Manager of 

British Airways, Mrs. Adetutu 

Otuyalo, said it is not true that 

foreign airlines charged fares 

in dollars. 

“For British Airways, I can 

speak. We have to make 

changes to sell tickets in 

Nigeria. This time two years 

ago, anybody that has a 

Nigerian card can 

successfully make bookings 

on British Airways. I can attest 

to that. 

‘’But what has happened is 

that, the banks have placed a 

limit on the Nigerian cards. 

Before, you could do a 

thousand, 2,000, 3,000 

dollars on those cards. But 

right now, probably you could 

do $100 on those cards.”


CHANGE OF NAME 

PEACE 

I, formerly known and addressed 

as Miss Emihia Peace, 

now wish to be known and addressed 

as Mrs Faave Peace. All 

former documents remain 

valid. General public please take 

note. 

ERIKUME 

In my National Identity 

Management System card by 

(NIMC), my name was wrongly 

wrote as Erikume Peace, 

instead of Okenyeakor Peace 

my true and correct name is 

Okenyeakor Peace, all former 

documents remain valid, 

general public please take note 

ELUE 


as Miss Elue Onyebuchi Nneka, 

now wish to be known and addressed 

as Mrs Ekwugwum 

Onyebuchi Nneka. All former 

documents remain valid. General 

public please take note. 

ABIANUWE 

In my National identity management 

system (NIN) my name was wrongly 

wrote as Abiamuwe Durotifa Agatha, 

instead of Adeseye Durotifa Agatha 

my true and correct name is Adeseye 

Durotifa Agatha, all former documents 

remain valid, general public please 

take note. 

AKPI 

I, formerly known and 

addressed as Miss Nneoma Ama 

Akpi, now wish to be known 

and addressed as Nneoma Ama 

Achi. All documents bearing 

my former name remain valid. 

Banks, offices, general public 

take note. 

PRIMIER 

I, formerly known, addressed and 

called as OKPEYA PRIMIER and I 

am also Formerly known, addressed 

and called as OKPEYA KELLY, now 

wish to be known, addressed and 

called as OKPEYA KELLY 

PRIMIER. All former documents to 

remain valid. The General Public to 

please take note. 

BEAUTY 

That I am known, addressed and called 

ODEREPARIS UFUOMA BEAUTY 

That in my Account my name was 

wrongly written as ODERE 

UFUOMA BEAUTY, instead of 

ODEREPARIS UFUOMA BEAUTY 

henceforth. All former documents to 

remain valid. The General Public to 


OFUIFEME 

I, formerly known as MISS. 

OFUIFEME PATIENCE 

NWAKAEGO. Now wish to be 

known, called and addressed as MRS. 

AJUFO PATIENCE NWAKAEGO. 

All former documents remain valid. 

Concerned Authorities, Banks, NIN 

and General public should please take 

note. 

FIDELIS 

This is to certify that during my Account/ 

BVN Registration my name was wrongly 

captured as FIDELIS MICAH instead of 

FIDELIS CHUKWUEBUKA MICAH. 

Now wish to be known, called and 

addressed as FIDELIS CHUKWUEBUKA 

MICAH. All former documents remain 

valid. Concerned Authorities, Banks, NIN 

and General public should please take note. 

EKWUOBA 

This is to certify that during my National 

Identity Card Registration my name was 

wrongly captured as EMEKA 

EMMANUEL EKWUOBA instead of 

EMEKA EMMANUEL as in my 

International Passport. Now wish to be 

Known, called and addressed as EMEKA 

EMMANUEL. All former documents 

remain valid. Concerned Authorities, Banks, 

NIN and General public should please take 

note. 

KHADIJAT 

I, formerly known as KHADIJAT 

SAHEED OMOWUMI in my BVN. 

Now wish to be known, called and 

addressed as OGONO HANNAH 

OMOWUMI. All former documents 

remain valid. Concerned Authorities, 

Banks, NIN and General public 

should please take note. 

K ADUNA—THE 

Presidential Candidate 

of the Labour Party in the 2023 

general election, Peter Obi has 

assured the Northern region 

that his Presidency if elected 

will give the region premium 

place in his agenda because 

the wealth of the nation is in 

the region. 

Obi who titled his remarks, 

‘the unmet Needs of the 

North’, told the Arewa Joint 

Committee Interactive 

Session at the Arewa House 

Auditorium, Kaduna, 

yesterday, said that the region 

is strategic to the development 

plans of Obi-Datti 

administration if elected 

President in 2023. 

“We shall pay as much 

attention to the development 

of the North as to the 

development of all other parts 

of the country; but with much 

greater emphasis on the 

development of the 

Agricultural resources. The 

North remains where the 

biggest and sustainable 

wealth of this great Nation 

lies.” 

The LP Candidate said that 

he intends to pursue 

aggressively policies, 

programmes and projects 

that will enhance the 

productivity and 

competitiveness of all the 

sectors of the Nigerian 

economy. 

He pledged do the following 

in the North; “offer 

:Vanguard :@vanguardnews NEWS HOTLINES: 08052867023, 

Obi to Northerners: I'll give premium place in my 

agenda to your region •Says wealth of the nation is here 

•Assures Northern farmers of safe return to their farms 

UWAJEGAH 

I, formerly known and called 

Miss Uwajegah Maureen 

Orevaoghene now wish to be 

known and called Mrs Okhire 

Maureen Orevaoghene. All 

documents bearing my former 

name remain valid. General 

public please note. 

JOHN 

I, formerly known as JOHN 

IBENWUDE IFEANYI. Now 

wish to be known, called and 

addressed as IBEH JOHN 

IFEANYI. All former 

documents remain valid. 

Concerned Authorities, Banks, 

NIN and General public should 


OVOKERAYE 

My full name is OVOKERAYE 

ESE. My name was wrongly 

entered on my BVN as OVOKE 

ESE instead of OVOKERAYE 

ESE. All former documents to 

remain valid. The General 

Public to please take note. 

ANOKAM 

I, formerly known as MISS. 

ANOKAM 

CYNTHIA 

CHIAMAKA. Now wish to be 

known, called and addressed as MRS. 

ANYANWU CYNTHIA 

CHIAMAKA. All former documents 

remain valid. Concerned Authorities, 



MARTINS OT 

I, formerly known as MARTINS 

BLESSING OKECHUKWU. Now 

wish to be known, called and 

addressed as NWAKPA 

OKECHUKWU BLESSING. All 

former documents remain valid. 

Concerned Authorities, Banks, NIN 

and General public should please take 

note. 

OBADA 

This is to certify that during my National 

Identity Card Registration with NIMC, my 

name was wrongly arranged as OBADA 

DANIEL NDUKA instead of OBADA 

NDUKA DANIEL as in my International 

Passport. Now wish to be known, called 

and addressed as OBADA NDUKA 

DANIEL. All former documents remain 

valid. Concerned Authorities, Banks, NIN 

and General public should please take note. 

ADAMU 

I, formerly known as ADAMU 

SHERIFAT HAJIA. Now wish 

to be known, called and 

addressed as ADAMU 

SHERIFAT ILEMONA. All 


valid. Concerned Authorities, 



immediate and decisive 

long-lasting and permanenteffect 

resolution of all security 

challenges in the North; 

Ensure that farmers return to 

all farmlands for the 2023 

farming Season. We will 

make Nigeria’s arable land 

in the North her new oil and 

gold. 

As part of his 

administration’s Marshall 

Plan for Education, he said; 

“we will foster Federal 

intervention in education at 

all levels in the North and 

partnership with State 

Governments and 

international organizations 

in order to improve access to 

affordable and quality 

education at all levels; 

Wellahealth launches 

operations in A-Ibom 

By Gabriel Olawale 

UYO—WELLAHEALTH, a 

leading health-tech startup, 

has launched operations in 

Akwa Ibom as part of its 

commitment towards increasing 

and improving access to quality 

and affordable healthcare 

services for Nigerians. 

Speaking during the unveiling, 

Chief Executive Officer, 

Wellahealth, Dr Ikpeme Neto, 

expressed his joy over the strides 

to ensure quality and affordable 

healthcare is readily available to 

Nigerians. 

He also appreciated the efforts 

and partnership of the State 

Government in ensuring 

technology is leveraged for 

massive enrollment, claims 

management and improvement 

Ensure very adequate 

representation in government, 

equitable appointments 

especially in the Security and 

Economic Sectors; Incentivize 

the resuscitation of the 

moribund cotton and textile 

industries; and full 

exploration of the cattle 

economy value chain, notably 

the $75bn global hide and 

skin economy." 

He announced that 

Nigeria’s share of the global 

industry is envisaged to 

generate over $1bn by 2025; 

and assured that his 

administration will ensure 

very generous deployment and 

allocation of economic and 

social projects and 

infrastructure in the North – 

of access to quality healthcare 

services for residents. 

He stated, “Our goal is to 

improve access to healthcare 

services, and we are happy to 

work with the government in 

achieving its goal for the state’s 

health insurance. We are also 

committed to ensuring that we 

take every needed step to ensure 

that these goals are achieved 

excellently”. 

WellaHealth was nominated 

amongst the 100 most impactful 

companies in the world in 2022 

for its role in providing quality 

healthcare that starts at less than 

700 Naira per month, alongside 

companies like Elon Musk’s 

SpaceX. Citizens of Akwa Ibom 

at the event shared their 

happiness that WellaHealth has 

chosen the “Land of Promise” for 

its operations. 

with keen attention to Roads, 

Energy, Power, and Damsand 

Solar energy from 

Sunlight. 

Obi said that a new 

Nigeria is possible and the 

Nigerian people want 

solutions to the many 

problems confronting them. 

“But we must return to 

dreams of our founding 

fathers to create an 

egalitarian society. The 

Nigeria we seek will be a 

United and Secure Nigeria 

that symbolizes the spirit, 

letters, and exhorting ethos 

of our national anthem – 

“one nation bound in 

freedom, peace and unity” 

where “peace and justice 

shall reign.” 

Obi, former Anambra state 

Governor said that Obi-Datti 

ticket plans to offer Nigerians 

purposeful leadership with the 

fear of God and with all good 

conscience and intent. where 

the Constitution and the rule 

of law will always prevail. 

He also told his audience 

comprising the northern 

corporate and political 

leadership that Nigeria’s 

situation got this bad because 

“Our leaders became selfish, 

myopic and stopped listening 

and caring for the common 

man. Bad leadership, divisive 

rhetoric, and impunity 

became the norm. Nigerians 

have suffered; they have lost 

jobs, and lost their farms and 

herds and their trust in our 

leaders. That narrative must 

change.” 

Solution to Africa's devt lies inwards —Buhari 

By Emmanuel 

Elebeke 

ABUJA—THE President of 

the Federal Republic of 

Nigeria Muhammadu Buhari has 

called on African countries to look 

inward for a better and brighter 

economic continent. 

President Buhari said this on 

Monday at the maiden 

conference of the African Forum 

on Research and Innovation 

(FARI) in Abuja. 

The President, who was 

represented by his Chief of Staff, 

Professor Ibrahim Gambari said 

FARI is a great road map towards 

commitment to research and 

development which is necessary 

for diversification of socioeconomic 

growth of Africa 

continent, through Science, 

Technology and Innovation, STI. 

He emphasized that in line 

with the theme of the conference 

‘’Science, Technology and 

Innovation for a more 

Competitive ECOWAS’’ that 

FARI will proffer solutions to the 

challenges hindering the 

industrialization of Africa and 

West Africa in particular. 

He further said that the new 

generation of active and 

productive talents is being 

discovered to contribute their 

quota in surmounting the 

challenges confronting the 

economic growth of the region, 

hence, the need to create FARI. 

The President reiterated that 

the time to move forward and act 

accordingly is apt, stressing that 

this can only be achieved 

through collaboration, 

development of human capacity, 

infrastructure, and technical 

skills among others in ECOWAS 

region. 

According to President Buhari, 

half of the population of the West 

African region is 15 years old and 

above with an existing trait of 

unemployment, we need to 

channel their energy and 

creativity in acquiring skills that 

confront the development of our 

region. 

To this end, Nigeria is 

Rotary club rehabilitates blocks of toilets, 

walkway, borehole in Delta schools 

By Festus Ahon 

ASABA—ROTARY club of 

Asaba GRA, has 

rehabilitated blocks of toilets, 

constructed interlock 

walkway and reactivated 

water borehole at Oneh 

Primary School 1 and 2, in 

Asaba, Delta State capital. 

In her opening remarks, 

President of the Rotary Club 

of Asaba GRA, Rotarian Eru 

Juliet Eghene-Ezefili, said the 

club decided to embark on the 

projects to make them 

functional, adding that the 

projects were constructed by 

the club some years ago. 

Eghene-Ezefili said; "Based 

on the sustainability policy of 

the Rotary club and 

considering the project 

covering water, sanitation and 

hygiene, it became important 

for us to reactivate these 

projects so that these children 

in the school will utilize them. 

"The project Committee 

carried out a need assessment 

and found out that for the past 

five years, there was no water 

in this environment and that 

is why it was very important 

for us to do these projects. 

Construct a walkway to the 

toilet as well. 

"The projects will not only 

benefit the school but the flood 

victims that have come in to 

use the school as an IDP Camp 

and that is why we extended to 

committed to further strengthen 

collaboration with Science, 

Technology and Innovation 

experts as an integral part of her 

respective national 

development policies and plans. 

Speaking, the Minister of 

the VIP toilet to reactivate it 

for the benefit of the flood 

victims so that they can use it 

for the short period they will 

stay here. All these we are 

doing, is to help humanity". 

Speaking at the unveiling 

ceremony, the Past District 

Governor (PDG), Rotarian 

Eyone Andy Uwejeyan, said; 

By Ochuko Akuopha 

UDevelopment GHELLI—THE 

Union, Isoko 

IDU, 

has expressed sympathy with 

victims of the ravaging flood 

wrecking havoc in Isoko 

communities and other parts of 

Delta State. 

President General of the apex 

social-cultural organization of 

the Isoko nation, Prof. Chris 

Akpotu, in an interaction with 

newsmen, described the flood 

as devastating, saying the 2022 

flood had caused more damage 

in the coastal part of Isoko than 

previous floods. 

He lamented that even 

though, through sensitisation, 

dwellers of the flood prone areas 

were mindful of the flood, the 

unsuspecting areas were also 

overtaken by the natural 

disaster. 

AGOS—IN a strategic move 

Lto advance good hygiene 

practices across the nation, 

global hygiene company Reckitt 

through its Dettol brand in 

Nigeria has partnered with 

leading non-governmental 

organization, Wellbeing 

Foundation Africa (WBFA) for 

accelerated Hygiene education 

in schools, communities, and 

healthcare facilities using the 

Dettol Hygiene Quest 

Curriculum, a collaboration 

which also coincides with the 

2022 Global Handwashing Day 

campaign. 

The public presentation and 

official flag off the Partnership 

was held on Thursday, 13th 

September 2022 in Lagos State. 

In attendance were 

representatives from the Federal 

Ministry of Health, the State 

Basic Education Fund, leaders 

Science Technology and 

Innovation, Dr. Adeleke 

Olorunnimbe Mamora, said that 

the forum is initiated to improve 

public understanding of STI in 

the region. 

"all Rotary do for humanity is 

to put smiles in the faces of the 

less privilege in the society". 

Represented by the Past 

Assistant Governor, PAG, 

Jonathan Olisedeme, the 

PDG, explained that the 

gesture was to make the world 

a better place for all. 

IDU commiserates with flood 

victims, thanks relief materials 

donors 

He said the residents and 

farmers in Isoko communities 

have been displaced from their 

homes with farmlands and fish 

ponds destroyed due to steady 

rise of the flood, noting that the 

disaster would affect future food 

security. 

Akpotu expressed appreciation 

to Daniel Omoyibo, Isoko Flood 

Initiatives, Pastor Jonathan 

Ukodhiko, Ferguson Onwo, 

Bashorun Askia Ogieh, Hon. 

Victor Asasa, Christian Iteire, 

Sheriff Oborevwori and others 

who have partnered with 

government towards the 

provisions of palliatives to the 

various IDPs Camps in the Isoko 

nation. 

He emphasised that the 

passion they displayed in coming 

to the aid of the flood victims was 

a great humanitarian gesture, 

which "is prescribed by the 

scriptures to be our brother's 

keeper." 

Dettol, Foundation partner on 

Hygiene Education in schools, 

communities 

from both organizations, 

stakeholders in the health and 

education sectors from Lagos 

state, Kwara state and the FCT, 

Abuja. 

The Dettol Hygiene Quest 

curriculum aims to educate, 

empower and inspire 6 million 

school children to practice 

healthy hygiene habits, to 

achieve a 20per cent increase in 

hand washing incidence, reduce 

diarrhea cases by 10per cent and 

achieve a 10per cent decline in 

absenteeism by 2025. In the pilot 

program amongst public schools 

in 20 LGAs within Lagos State, 

the curriculum reached over 

85,000 school children, and 

results from the Impact 

assessment showed a 34per cent 

increase in knowledge of proper 

handwashing, and a 7per cent 

reduction in diarrhoea amongst 

the participants after the 

intervention.


OUTING SERVICE: From left, Grandson of the deceased, Mr Deji 

Bello; wife of the Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Mrs Oluremi 

Hamzat; First Lady of Lagos State, Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu; daughter 

and Vice Chancellor, Lagos State University, LASU, Prof. Ibiyemi 

Olatunji-Bello and son-in-law and Commissioner for The Environment 

and Water Resources, Tunji Bello, after the farewell outing service 

for the mother of LASU Vice Chancellor, late Mrs Jadesola 

Oluwawemimo Ibidapo, at the Redeemed Christian Church of God, 

RCCG, headquarters (Throne of Grace), Ebute Metta, Lagos, 

weekend. 

SIGNING: From left: International Funding and DFIs Officer, First 

City Monument Bank, FCMB, Mr. Hakeem Ogunsola; Head, 

International Funding, Olubunmi Smith; Divisional Head, Treasury 

and International Banking, Mr. Gerald Ikem; Managing Director of 

the bank, Mrs. Yemisi Edun; Director-General, Nigeria Country 

Department of the African Development Bank, AfDB, Mr. Lamin 

Barrow; Principal Portfolio Management Officer of the bank, Olamide 

Ladipo; International Funding and DFIs Officer, FCMB, Adebanke 

Aderogba and Chief Legal Counsel, Nigeria Country Department, 

AfDB, Mr. Steven Onen, during the signing ceremony of a $50 

million Line of Credit Agreement provided by AfDB to FCMB to 

support Small and Medium Scale enterprises, SMEs, as well as 

Women-Empowered Businesses, WEBs, in Lagos, yesterday. 

RE-OPENING: From left, Eddy Onuoha, former Ambassador of Nigeria 

to Hungary; Chioma Okoli, Deputy Managing Director, Retail, South, 

Access Bank and Foluso Adeagbo, Chairman, Gabfol Group, during 

the re-opening of the Access Bank XclusivePlus Lounge, at the 

Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja. 

MEDIA CHAT: Former 

Director, Army Public 

Relations and Resource 

Person, Maj. Gen Chris 

Olukolade (retd) 

receiving a souvenir 

from representative of 

the Chief of Army 

Staff, General Officer 

Commanding 81 

Division, Maj. Gen. 

Obinna Ajunwa, at the 

Third Quarter Civil 

Military Cooperation, 

CIMIC media chat 

2022, at 81 Division 

Officers Mess, Onikan, 

Lagos yesterday.


UBOGU 

My name was wrongly 

captured as UBOGU 

IEOMA JOY, instead of my 

correct name as OBOGO 

JOY UFUOMA. Former 


General public take note. 

LUCKY 

My name was wrongly 

captured 

as 

OKWUOKENYE LOYOU 

LUCKY, instead of 

OKWUOKENYE LOVETH 

LUCKY. Former documents 

remain valid. General public 

take note. 

NWADUKWE OB 

OKODUGHA WILSON 

I, formerly known as Miss 

Stella Ifeoma Nwadukwe, now 

wish to be known and addressed 

as Mrs Stella Ifeoma Otu. All 


valid. The general public please 

take note 

OHWOFASA 


addressed as Miss Ohwofasa 

Ejaita Glory, now wish to be 

known and addressed as Mrs 

Obas Samson Ejaita Glory. All 


valid. General public take note. 

This is to confirm that the name; 

ADAMU MOHAMMED and 

ADAMU MOHAMMED 

OCHOLIH is one and same person, 

now wish to be known and 

addressed as ADAMU 

MOHAMMED OCHOLIH. All 

former documents remain valid, 

general public please take note. 

IGBA 


addressed as IGBA VERO 

ASHINEDU. Now wish to be 

known and addressed as 

OREMU VERO ASHINEDU. 

All former documents remain 

valid, general public please 

take note. 

AWOTUNDE 

OKITIAKPE 

I, formerly known as 

OKITIAKPE PETER, now 


as OKITIAKPE AKPOFURE 

PETER. All former documents 

remain valid, any authority it 

may concern and general 

public to take note. 

GLORY 

I, formerly known as MISS 

GLORY PEACE JAMES 

IKPEJIP, now wish to be 

known and addressed as MRS 

GLORY-PEACE JOSEPH 

UKO. All former documents 

remain valid, any authority it 

may concern and general 


NWOGU 

I, formerly known as Nwogu 

Quineth Chinyere, now wish 

to be known and addressed as 

Akerete Quineth Nwogu. All 


valid, any authority it may 

concern and general public to 

take note. 

UWESHI 

I, formerly known as UWESHI 

EVELYN ONYINYE, now 

wish to be known and called 

INIKORO EVELYN 

ONYINYE. All former 

documents remain valid. The 

general public and to whom it 

may concern should please 

take note. 

I, formerly known as MISS 

OKODUGHA PRECIOUS, 


addressed as MRS. AIGBE 

PRECIOUS. All former 


general public please take note 

ONODJAIFE 


addressed as Onodjaife Edesiri 

Kelvin, now wish to be known 

and addressed as Efemena 

Edesiri Kelvin. All former 



OKPEAYE 

I formerly known and 

addressed as MISS 

KATHERINE EBOSETALE 

OKPEAYE, now wish to be 


KATHERINE EBOSETALE 

NATHAN. Former documents 


take note. 


addressed as MISS WILSON, 

ROSELINE TAIRE now wish 


MRS. JITOMA, ROSELINE 

TAIRE. All former documents 



OKORO 


addressed as Miss Okoro 

Joy, now wish to be known 

and addressed as Mrs 

Kogbodi Joy. All former 



ADAMU OBED FAITH 


addressed as AWHAIRE 

EJOKE OBED. Now wish to 

be known and addressed as ERHIRHIE 

I, FORMERLY KNOWN AND 

ADDRESSED AS PATRICIA 

TOLULOPE AWOTUNDE, NOW 

WISH TO BE KNOWN AND 

ADDRESSED AS PATRICIA 

TOLULOPE OLADAPO. ALL 

FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN 

VALID. GENERAL PUBLIC 

PLEASE TAKE NOTE. 

AWHAIRE OBED 

EJOVWOKOGHENE. All 



take note. 

This is to confirm that the name on 

BVN was wrongly captured as 

ERHOHIE TEJIRI FAITH, instead of 

OGHENETEJIRI 

FAITH. My correct name is 

ERHIRHIE OGHENETEJIRI 

FAITH. All former documents remain 

valid, general public please take 

note. 

OKPEAYE 

I formerly known and 

addressed as MISS 

OSEMUDIAMEN OFURE 

OKPEAYE, now wish to be 


OSEMUDIAMEN OFURE 

AKPEVWA. Former 



ILESANMI 

I, ILESANMI TALABI 

STELLA hereby state that 

during my BVN registration, 

my name TALABI was 

wrongly captured as KOGBA. 


valid. General public please 

take note. 

ADEJO OD 

I, Adejo Hassan Raphael wish 

to notify the general public 

that in my BVN and account 

details my name was wrongly 

written as Adejo Hassan, 

instead of Adejo Hassan 

Raphael. All former 



JACOBS OD 

In my BVN details with Stanbic IBTC 

Bank my name was wrongly entered 

as Gladys Uhenna Jacobs, instead 

of my correct name as Gladys 

Uchenna Jacob. I now wish to be 

called by my correct name; Gladys 

Uchenna Jacob. All former document 

remain valid, general public please 

take note. 

OBIKOLU 

ENANG 

IGBOKWE 

I, formerly known and I, FORMERLY KNOWN AND I, formerly known and 

addressed as Obikolu ADDRESSED AS ENANG addressed as MISS IGBOKWE 

Osormusor Judith. Now wish to ENANG EGOR, NOW WISH TO BE ANDERLINE, now wish to be 

be known and addressed as KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS known and addressed as MRS 

Emenalo Osormusor Judith. All 

AKWAFUO-CHRIS 

EGOR JOEL ENANG. ALL 

ANDERLINE. All former 

former documents remain FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN 


valid, general public please take VALID. GENERAL PUBLIC TAKE General public please take 

note. 

NOTE. 

note. 

GINIKANDU IGWOKU UCHO 

I, formerly known as MISS I, formerly known as MISS. I, formerly known and 

G I N I K A N D U IGWOKU CHIOMA addressed as UCHO EMOEFE, 

OLUCHUKWU, now wish to FORTUNE, now wish to be now wish to be Known and 

be addressed as MRS. DANIEL 

addressed as MRS. addressed as INYAMA 

CHUKWUDI CHIOMA EMOEFE. All former 

OLUCHUKWU SILVERLIN, 

FORTUNE, all former documents remain vaild. 

all former documents remain 

documents remain valid, General public, banks and 

valid, general public whom it general public whom it may concerns institution should 

may concern take note. concern take note. 


ARUOTU 

AMASON 

EDEZIULO 

I, formerly known and addressed as I, formerly known and addressed My full name is EDEZIULO 

Miss VICTORY ERUKE ARUOTU, as MISS AMASON OGECHI 

IJEOMA LOVETH as it is in my NIN. 

My name appear in my BVN as 

now wish to be known and ESTHER, now wish to be known and EDEZIULO IJEOMA. I now wish to 

addressed as Mrs VICTORY addressed as MRS BAYODE JANE add my middle name LOVETH to my 

ERUKE ORDELY. All former OGECHI. All former documents BVN details and be known as 

documents remain valid, general remain valid, general public, bank EDEZIULO IJEOMA LOVETH. All 

documents bearing any of the names 

public, bank and all authorities and all authorities concerned should 

remain valid. General public take 

concerned should take note. 

take note. 

note. 

ELIJAH 

TAOFIKAT 

AGUNBIADE 

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

TAOFIKAT OLATUNBOSUN 

addressed as ELIJAH GLORY 

OLUWADOLA OLORUNBIYI, 

KASUNMU-ONOABHAGBE and 

OBIOMA; now wish to be TAOFIKAT OLATUNBOSUN now wish to be known and 

known as IHEADINDUEME ONOABHAGBE, now wish to be known addressed as OLORUNBIYI 

GLORY OBIOMA. All former and addressed as DR TAOFIKAT OLUWADOLA JULIUS. All former 

OLATUNBOSUN KASUNMU. All 


documents remain valid, any 

former documents remain valid. General 

Banks and General Public take public, Bank and authority concern should authority it may concern and general 

note. 

take note. 


ORUBOR 

BOYITIE 

ISAAC 

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

Orubor Mercy, now wish to Boyitie Vivian, now wish to be ISAAC TINA EFE, now wish 

be known and addressed as known and addressed as Mrs to be known and addressed as 

Mrs Ishima Mercy. All Omofonma Boyitie Vivian. All Miss OZAKPOLOR TINA. 

former documents remain former documents remain All former documents remain 

valid, any authority it may valid, any authority it may valid, any authority it may 

concern and general public to concern and general public to concern and general public to 

take note. 

take note. 

take note. 

OTUMBADI 

AKHILE 

MURE 

I, formerly known and This is to confirm In my bank account with UBA my 

addressed as OTUMBADI that Akhile Tina Donny, and name was wrongly written as 

CHRISTIAN NNAEMEKA, Irioh Idoni, is one and the FREGARE DAFE MURE, instead 


same person, but henceforth 

of EREGARE DAFE MURE. My 

addressed as OTUMBADI 

correct name is EREGARE DAFE 


C H R I S T I A N T U S 

MURE. All former documents remain 

NNAEMEKA. All former 

as Akhile Faustina Donny, valid. The general public, UBA and 

documents remain valid, all former documents remain to whom it may concern should 

general public please take note. valid, general public take note. please take note. 

OGODI 


addressed as MISS MISAN 

AKPOESIRI OGODI, now 


as MRS. MISAN 

AJATITON, henceforth all 


valid. General public take 

note. 

AKUNA NWOSU EG 


AKUNA JOHN 

KEYEWEROKEMO, now 

wish to be known and 

addressed as ALADE 

JOHN. All former 


general public please take 

note. 

MARTINS 


addressed as Miss. Martins 

Linda Ifeoma, now wish to be 

known and addressed as Mrs. 

Eneluwe Linda Ifeoma. All 



take note. 

KEINDE 


addressed as KEINDE 

ADEOYE. Now wish to be 


KEHINDE ADEOYE. All 



take note. 

MIRIKWE 

This is to certify that my name was 

wrongly written as MIRIKWE 

IKEMEFUNA in some of my 

documents, instead of MIRIKWEH 

IKEMEFUNA MILVERTON, now 

wish to be known and addressed as 

MIRIKWEH IKEMEFUNA 

MILVERTON. Former documents 


note. 

EKELE 

I wish to confirm that EKELE 

AKPEVWE AYO and EKELE 

AKPEVWE CHARITY is one and 

same person, but I now wish to be 

known and addressed as EKELE 

AKPEVWE AYO. All former 

documents remain valid,general 

public and relevant authorities 

concern please take note. 

JOHN 

The name JOHN CLEMENT 

NOWEHUELU as it is on my BVN/ 

NIN and JOHN NOWEHUELU 

CLEMENT which is on my other 

Documents/Credentials belong to 

me as one and same person. I now wish 

to maintain JOHN CLEMENT 

NOWEHUELU. All documents 

bearing any of the names arrangement 


note. 

AZUKA 

This is to confirm that the 

name; AGBAIFO DENNIS 

AZUKA and AGBAIFO 

DENNIS refer to me. I now 

wish to be known as AGBAIFO 

DENNIS AZUKA. All former 


authority it may concern and 

general public to take note. 

IGBINIDU 

I, formerly known as Mr 

IGBINIDU 

MAX 

OMORUYI, now wish to be 

known and addressed as MR 

OMORUYI EGHOSA MAX. 


valid, any authority it may 

concern and general public to 

take note. 

BOLAJI 

I, formerly known as BOLAJI 

KEHINDE ELIZABETH, now 


as AJANI KEHINDE 

ELIZABETH. All former 




URUNMATSOMA 


addressed 

as 

URUNMATSOMA ANNA, 


addressed 

as 

URUNMATSOMA 

HANNAH, henceforth all 


valid. General public take note. 

OKOLOSI 

I, formerly known as MISS OKOLOSI 

ENDURANCE MENOMA, MISS 

OKOLOSI 

EWOMA 

ENDURANCE and MISS 

EWOMAZINO OKOLOSI, now 

wish to be known as MRS 

EWOMAZINO ENDURANCE 

OGHENEBRORHIEN. All former 

documents remain valid. The general 

public please take note. 

OMOKO 


addressed as Ufuoma Esegba 

Omoko, now wish to be known 

and addressed as Ufuoma 

Hanelorel Omoko-Esegba. All 



take note. 

OYAS 


addressed as STEVEN OYAS. 

Now wish to be known and 

addressed 

as, 

MACHINEGEWEI 

OYABEBEFA. All former 

documents remain valid, 

general public please take note. 

USORO 

I, FORMERLY KNOWN AS MISS 

USORO EKPEDEME GEORGE, 

NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AS 

MRS EFOSA MARGARET 

EKPEDEME. ALL FORMER 

DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. 

GENERAL PUBLIC TAKE NOTE. 

OKECHUKWU 


OKECHUKWU DAVID 

OFOR, now wish to be known 

and addressed as FRIDAY 

DAVID OFOR. All former 




IKEDIASHI 

My full name is IKEDIASHI 

S C H O L A S T I C A 

CHUKWUEWENAIWE as it is in 

my NIN. My name appear in my BVN 

as IKEDIASHI SCHOLASTICA. I 

now wish to add 

CHUKWUEWENAIWE to my 

BVN details. All documents bearing 

any of the names remain valid. Bank, 


ADEBAYO 


ADEBAYO KAFILAT 

ADEJOKE, now wish to be 


ADEBAYO SUSAN 

ADEJOKE. All former 




FAVOUR 

I, formerly known as Miss 

Orakpoteke Avwerosuo 

Favour, now wish to be known 

and called Mrs Ikasa Ufuoma 

Favour. All former documents 

remain valid. The general 

public and to whom it may 

concern should please take 

note. 

EZEDOM UMUNNA 


as Mrs. UMUNNA 

NNEKA DANIEL, now wish 


Mrs. UMUNNA NNEKA 

HOMA. All former documents 

remain valid. General 

public please take note.

Ajakaye scoops 

second straight 

Player of the 

Match Award 

Opeyemi Ajakaye has 

bagged a second 

straight Player of the 

Match Award after she 

helped the Flamingoes to 

qualify to the quarterfinal 

of the U17 Women’s World 

Cup in India. 

Nigeria beat Chile 2-1 to 

finish runners-up in Group 

B. 

The hard working FC 

Robo striker provided the 

assist for the opening goal. 

In the 73rd minute, 

Ajakaye was unlucky not 

to finally get her name on 

the scoreboard when her 

rasping effort came off the 

crossbar. 

She has yet to get off the 

mark in India after 

she netted six goals 

in the qualifiers. 

•Ajakaye 

Xavi: Worst 

Barca boss to 

take charge of 

50 games after 

El Clasico loss 

XAVI is officially the 

WORST Barcelona 

manager since records began 

following his side’s defeat to 

Real Madrid on Sunday. 

The Catalan giants were 

soundly beaten 3-1 in El 

Clasico as they were knocked 

off the top of the LaLiga table 

by Carlo Ancelotti’s men. 

It means that, according to 

stats from Pedro Martin, since 

Xavi took over in November 

2021 he has won 28, drawn 

11 and lost 11 of his 50 

matches. 

That adds up to 95 points - 

the lowest total of any 

Barcelona boss since the 

statistics were first collected 

in 2003. 

He has accumulated 

one point fewer than 

the next worst 50- 

match tenure 

carried out by Frank 

Rijkaard. 

After taking over 

in 2003, he started 

with a record of 28 

wins, 12 draws and 

10 defeats. 

•Xavi 

But he remained in 

charge for five years, 

winning two LaLiga 

titles, the Champions 

League and two 

Spanish Super Cups. 

Ronald Koeman sits 

just above Rijkaard with 

106 points after 50 games. 

India 2022: 

Flamingos defeat Chile 

2-1, reach quarter-finals 

Nigeria reached the quarter 

finals of the ongoing FIFA 

U17 Women’s World Cup 

finals in India after the 

Flamingos scooped all three 

points from Chile in a 2-1 win 

in Bhubaneswar. 

Blessing Emmanuel’s goal in 

the 4th minute of the game and 

Bisola Mosaku’s strike off a freekick 

by dead-ball artist Miracle 

Usani with eight minutes left was 

enough to see Nigeria through at 

the Kalinga Stadium, despite a late 

penalty converted by Roverner Tali. 

The win earned the Flamingoes a 

place in the quarter finals on Friday, 

with either USA or Brazil as 

opponents. 

As was the case against New 

Zealand on Friday, the Flamingos 

created a slew of opportunities 

that were not converted, 

but Head Coach Bankole 

Olowookere assured the 

team will get even better 

as the tournament 

progresses. 

“We missed a number of 

chances again, but I like the 

spirit of the team and we will 

get better as we go on in the 

competition. I am happy we 

made it into the last eight, and 

that we sustained our winning 

mentality despite the fact that 

we only needed a draw to sail 

through.” Germany’s 3-1 win 

over New Zealand in the other 

match of Group B meant the 

Germans finished with the 

maximum nine points in the group 

phase, having scored a total of 11 

goals conceding only two. 

Messi names five World 

Cup 2022 favourites 

including England 

LIONEL MESSI has 

named England 

among the runners and 

riders to win the World Cup 

this winter. 

The Argentina legend will 

bid to lead his nation to 

World Cup glory in Qatar 

in December in what will 

likely be his final 

international tournament. 

And the Paris Saint- 

Germain ace believes the 

Three Lions - along with 

Brazil, France, Germany 

and Spain - will pose the 

biggest threat to La 

Albileceste’s bid to get their 

hands on the Jules Rimet 

Trophy. 

He told RMC Sport: “As 

for the favourites, there are 

big teams like Brazil, 

Germany, France, England 

and Spain. 

“And I’m sure I’m 

forgetting some. 

“But if I have to keep one 

or two, today I think Brazil 

and France are the two big 

candidates for this World 

Cup.” Messi, 35, came 

agonisingly close to 

winning the World Cup in 

•Blessing 

•Kane 

•Messi 

the summer of 2014. 

Argentina locked horns 

with Germany in the 2014 

final in Brazil but suffered 

a 1-0 defeat to Die 

Mannschaft thanks to an 

extra-time winner from 

Mario Gotze. 

Messi is currently 

sweating on his fitness 

ahead of the tournament 

after missing PSG’s last two 

matches with a calf strain. 

The seven-time Ballon 

d’Or winner said: “Injuries 

are a worry. 

Benzema wins Ballon d’Or 

Real Madrid and France forward Karim 

Benzema has won the Ballon d’Or - 

awarded to the best footballer of the year - for 

the first time. 

Benzema scored 44 goals in 46 games as he 

helped Real win the Champions League and 

La Liga in 2021-22. 

Lionel Messi (seven) and 

Cristiano Ronaldo (five) 

had won the award on 12 

of the previous 13 

occasions. 

Bayern Munich’s Sadio 

Mane, who was at 

Liverpool in 2021-22, 

was second ahead of 

Manchester 

City’s 

•Benzema 

Kevin 

d e 

Bruyne. Barcelona’s Alexia Putellas retained 

the Women’s Ballon d’Or, awarded to the 

best best female footballer of 2022. 

England Euro 2022 winner and Arsenal 

forward Beth Mead was second. 

Premier League champions Manchester 

City, who had six nominees at the 

ceremony, were awarded Club of the Year 

ahead of Liverpool. 

The Ballon d’Or is awarded to the best 

footballer of the year, based on performance 

over the 2021-22 season. 

2022 Ballon d’Or ceremony as it 

happened 

Karim Benzema (left) is presented with 

the 2022 Ballon d’Or from Zinedine Zidane 

Zinedine Zidane (right) was the last 

Frenchman to win the Ballon d’Or 

First Frenchman to win prize since 1998 

Monday’s ceremony in Paris saw French 

F1 driver Esteban Ocon arrive at the 

Theatre du Chatelet with the Ballon d’Or 

trophy in a racing car. 

Benzema is the first Frenchman to win 

the prestigious award since Zinedine 

Zidane in 1998. Zidane was at the event to 

present his countryman with the prize. 


U23 AFCON Qualifiers: 

Eguavoen confident Olympic 

Eagles will beat Tanzania 

Technical Director of the Nigeria Football 

Federation, Augustine Eguavoen on Monday paid 

a visit to the camp of the U23 National team as the 

Olympic Eagles continued their build up ahead the 

2023 AFCON qualifiers against Tanzania. 

The former Super Eagles’ captain and coach 

was received by the team’s Coordinator, 

Bashir Badawy at the Lekan Salami 

Stadium in Ibadan, as the team is going 

through series of training sessions 

under the supervision of Coach Salisu 

Yusuf and his 

lieutenants, 

Kennedy Boboye, 

Abubakar Bala and 

goalkeeper’s trainer, 

Suleiman Shuaibu. 

An excited Eguavoen praised the 

coaching crew and expressed optimism 

that the team will soar past 

Tanzania in Dar es Salaam on 

Saturday. 

Meanwhile, the Olympic 

Eagles are expected to 

depart the shores of 

Nigeria on Thursday. 

•Eguavoen 

Neymar skips first 

day of fraud trial 

because he’s too tired 

NEYMAR was allowed to skip his first day at court 

after playing in Le Classique against Marseille 

on Sunday. 

The Paris Saint-Germain forward is on trial for fraud 

and corruption charges in Barcelona. 

And after arriving early to court on Monday morning 

Neymar was allowed to leave before lunchtime to help 

him recover from 

playing over the 

weekend, with his lawyer 

claiming he was tired 

after playing and giving 

a post-match drug test. 

Brazilian investment 

firm DIS has called for 

the Paris Saint- 

Germain forward to be 

sentenced to five years 

in prison and fined 

•Neymar 

£130million. But 

Spanish prosecutors are 

reportedly seeking a 

two-year prison term 

and a £8.6m fine for 

Neymar. 

They are also seeking a five-year jail term for former 

Barcelona president Sandro Rosell and a £7.2m fine 

for the club. 

Osimhen dismisses 

talks of a rivalry 

between him, 

Raspadori 

Napoli forward Victor 

Osimhen has dismissed 

talks of a rivalry between him and 

Giacomo Raspadori. 

Raspadori shone for the Partenopei in 

the absence of Osimhen, who returned to 

action last week in the UEFA Champions 

League clash against Ajax after missing 

six games due to injury. 

•Osimhen 

Osimhen scored in Napoli’s 4-2 win against the Eredivisie 

champions. The 23-year-old replaced Raspadori at halftime 

during Napoli’s 2-1 win against Bologna on Sunday. 

The striker then netted the winning goal in the 69th 

minute. The Nigerian then ran over to the bench to celebrate 

with Raspadori. 

“I love him, not just because he is now my teammate, 

when he was at Sassuolo too,” Osimhen told DAZN. 

Swiatek beats Vekic to win 

San Diego Open 

•Swiatek 

World number one Iga Swiatek claimed her 

eighth title of 2022 by beating Donna Vekic 

6-3 3-6 6-0 in the San Diego Open final. 

The win was the 64th of the season for Poland’s 

Swiatek, who has won the French Open and US 

Open this year. 

Vekic, who had finished her raininterrupted 

semi-final against American 

Danielle Collins earlier on in the day, pushed 

Swiatek but faded at the end. 

“It was a really tight match and pretty 

long,” Swiatek said. “We felt the intensity for 

sure. At the end I wanted to be the one who 

played the last ball in.” 

C 

M 

Y 

K

Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2022 

TODAY’S CROSSWORD 

QUICK CROSSWORD 

YESTERDAY’S SOLUTION 

Sudoku 

TODAY’S PUZZLE YESTERDAY’S ANSWER 

How to Play Sudoku 

C 

M 

Y 

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 The two of them (4) 

3 Exceptional (8) 

9 Upper limit (7) 

10 Educate (5) 

11 Arouse (5) 

12 Former Portuguese currency (6) 

14 Divulge (6) 

16 Vulgar, unrefined (6) 

19 Cowardly (6) 

21 Board (5) 

24 Around (5) 

25 Complain (7) 

26 Able to read and write (8) 

27 Supreme god of ancient Greece (4) 

DOWN 

1 Retarded (8) 

2 Ponder (5) 

4 Lump of gold ore (6) 

5 Relating to sight (5) 

6 Wander, wind (7) 

7 Three squared (4) 

8 Austrian capital (6) 

13 Young hares (8) 

15 US state (7) 

17 Quantity produced (6) 

18 Chess piece (6) 

20 Elector (5) 

22 Holy Writ (5) 

23 Lofty (4) 

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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.

18102022

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