15112022

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MEDIA: Owners, journalists, 

stakeholders agree on code of 

conduct, co-regulation, Ombudsman 

•Sam Amuka, Osoba, Obaigbena, Ibru, others chart way forward 

How we are 

deploying biotech 

for national devt 

—NABDA DG, 

Prof Mustapha 14 

Insurance claims payment recovers, hits N174.8bn 19 

5 

VOL. 39: NO. 9,923 

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2022 

Terrorism: DHQ declares Bello Turji, 

Ado Aliero, 17 others wanted 

8 

•Offers N5m reward for information leading to arrest of each terrorist •N5m reward is too small — 

COL. STAN-LABO •It’s a good devt as elections approach, says Ex-DSS Director, Ejiofor •ACF, MBF 

welcome devt •NAF kill bandits with rockets in Kaduna,hostages escape; destroys terrorists camps 

NPAN MEDIA ROUNDTABLE IN LAGOS... 

From left, Mr. Chris Isiguzo, President, Nigerian Union of Journalists NUJ; Mallam Mustapha Isa, President, Nigerian Guild of Editors; Lady Maiden Alex-Ibru, 

Publisher, Guardian Newspapers; Prince Nduka Obaigbena, Publisher, This Day Newspapers; Mallam Kabir Yusuf, President NPAN; Aremo Olusegun Osoba, Chairman 

of the occasion; Ms Angela Emuwa, Chairman, Punch Newspapers; Mr Sam Amuka, Life Patron, NPAN/Publisher, Vanguard Newspapers; Mr Ray Ekpu, Life Patron, 

NPAN and Mr Dennis Sami, Publisher, Nigerian Pilot Newspapers, at the Newspapers Proprietors' Association of Nigeria, NPAN, and other media stakeholders' 

roundtable, with the theme: ‘Deepening Media Professionalism Through Co-Regulation’, held at Protea Hotel, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos, yesterday. Photos: Lamidi Bamidele & Bunmi Azeez. 

Nigeria Air: FG 

may cede fewer 

top positions 

to Ethiopian 

Airlines, after 

Vanguard 

report 

35 

Debt servicing 

likely to be 

higher by 

end of Dec 

—DMO DG 

36 

RIVERS GOVT INAUGURATES CANCER CARDIOVASCULAR DIAGNOSTIC AND TREATMENT CENTRE... 

From left: His Royal Highness, Emir of Kano, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero; Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo 

Wike, his wife, Justice Eberechi Suzzette Nyesom-Wike; Justice Mary Odili, JSC retd, and her husband, former 

Governor of Rivers State, Dr. Peter Odili at the inauguration of the Dr. Peter Odili Cancer Cardiovascular Diagnostic 

and Treatment Centre in Rumuokuta, Rivers State, yesterday. 

COLUMNISTS SOLA EBISENI 17 DAKUKU 17 ERIC TENIOLA 18 32 

Kanu absent as 

court adjourns 

trial 

9 

indefinitely 

Mr & Mrs

C 

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Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2022 — 3

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MEDIA: Owners, journalists, stakeholders 

agree on code of conduct, co-regulation, 

Ombudsman (SEE PHOTOS ON PG 13) 

• Sam Amuka, Osoba, Obaigbena, Ibru, others chart way 

forward•Don’t kill NPC, Lai Mohammed pleads 

By Clifford Ndujihe, Politics Editor 

Ahmed, Mr. Feyi Smith, conduct, ethics 

and Mr. Martins Oloja The stakeholders noted 

among others. 

that: “The Nigerian media 

has a rich track record 

Specifically, the co-regulatory 

mechanism of rooting for public welfare 

and protecting the 

adopted will consist of 

members of the media, underdog. That tradition 

civil society and the public 

sector. 

Journalism should be so- 

holds that the practice of 

If fully implemented, the cially responsive and responsible 

through the 

co-regulatory framework 

will stave off strangulating 

government regulacent, 

and credible account 

pursuit of a true, fair, detion 

and render the Nigerian 

Press Council, NPC, terest. 

of issues in the public in- 

redundant, a development 

that made the Minly 

and willing subscribe to 

“Consequently, we freeister 

of Information and the following ethical principles 

as germane to the 

Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, 

who was represented 

by Mr Francis al practice of journalism 

free, fair, and profession- 

Nwosu, NPC Executive in Nigeria, and hold that 

Secretary, to plead with it is the duty of every journalist 

to observe its pro- 

the media stakeholders 

not to kill the NPC. visions.” 

The provisions cover editorial 

independence, ac- 

CRITICAL stakehold 

ers in the media industry, 

yesterday, agreed 

on a 41-point code of ethics 

for Nigerian journalists. 

They also adopted coregulation 

instead of a 

self-regulation mechanism. 

Both measures are 

part of “an attempt to 

jumpstart a fresh attempt 

to put in place rules to 

guide professional conduct 

and a regulatory 

council to support the efforts 

to hold journalists accountable 

to their publics 

and deepen public trust in 

their work.” 

Stakeholders, who took 

the decisions, yesterday, 

at a Rountable on “Deepening 

Media Professionalism 

Through Co-Regulation,” 

in Lagos included 

the Newspapers Proprietors 

Association of 

Nigeria, NPAN; Nigerian 

Guild of Editors, NGE; 

Nigerian Union of Journalists, 

NUJ; Broadcasting 

Organisation of Nigeria, 

BON; Guild of Corporate 

Online Publishers, 

GOCOP; and Independent 

Broadcasters Association 

of Nigeria, IBAN. 

They were backed by 

veterans of the media industry 

such as Chairman/ 

Publisher of Vanguard 

Newspapers, Mr Sam 

Amuka; former Ogun 

State Governor, Chief 

Olusegun Osoba; Mr Ray 

Ekpu; Mr. Lade Bonuola; 

Dr Tonnie Iredia (via 

Zoom); Publisher of This- 

Day Newspapers, Prince 

Nduka Obaigbena; Publisher 

of The Guardian 

Newspapers, Mrs. Maiden 

Ibru; and Chairman of 

Daiily Trust Newspapers/ 

President of NPAN and 

Nigeria Press Organisation, 

NPO, Malam Kabiru 

Yusuf. 

The event was a gathering 

of who is who in the 

media industry, in what 

Chief Osoba described as 

the best ever gathering of 

media gurus he has ever 

seen since he joined the 

profession in 1964. 

Also at the event were 

General Manager and 

Editor-in-Chief of Vanguard 

Newspapers, Mr. 

Gbenga Adefaye; NGE 

President, Mr Mustapha 

Isah; NUJ President, Mr. 

Chris Isiguzo; Editor of 

Vanguard Newspapers, 

Mr. Eze Anaba; Mr. Richard 

Akinola, Mr. Lanre 

Arogundade, Mr. Lanre 

Idowu, Mrs Kadaria 

Code of 

From left, Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs. Zainab 

Ahmed; Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo and Chairman, Sterling Bank 

Plc, Mr. Asue Ighodalo at the 28th Nigerian Economic Summit (NES) in Abuja, 

yesterday. 

Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2022 — 5 

POCKET CARTOON 

curacy and fairness, access 

to information, privacy 

of individuals, bribery 

and corruption, public interest, 

protection of sources 

of information, plagiarism, 

decency, protection 

of children and minors, 

discrimination, hate 

speech, violence and conflict 

sensitivity, gender 

sensitivity, social responsibility, 

and bill of rights 

to cater for security and 

welfare of journalists. 

The ethics include allowing 

professional journalists 

to decide editorial 

content, and journalists 

must ensure that the public 

receive reliable, factual, 

accurate, balanced and 

fair reporting. Also, a journalist 

should not solicit or 

accept bribe, gratification, 

or patronage to distort, 

suppress, or publish information; 

and a journalist 

should refrain from using 

offensive, abusive, or 

vulgar language, as well 

as presenting lurid details, 

in words, sound, or 

images, of violence, sexual 

acts, abhorrent, or horrid 

scenes among others. 

The 2022 code of ethics 

ratified, yesterday, will replace 

the 1998 Code of 

ethics for Nigerian journalists. 

Media 

co-regulation, 

Ombudsman 

To end what was 

dubbed as the government’s 

strangulating regulation 

worsened by the 

infamous Press Council 

Amendment Bill (2029, 

which surfaced a public 

hearing of the Legislature 

on June 17, 2021, the 

stakeholders adopted a 

co-regulation, which will 

incorporate the public in 

place of self-regulation. 

This is expected to reduce 

distrust and deepen public 

confidence. 

According to them, the 

one of the angst of the 

media against the Nigerian 

Press Council is the 

fact that a majority of its 

members are either appointed 

by the minister or 

the president, a situation 

that does not conduce for 

trust among media professionals. 

Thus, the media gurus 

adopted a two-tier system 

of Ombudsman mechanism: 

Local or Zonal Ombudsman; 

and Industrywide 

Ombudsman. 

The organs of the Industry-wide 

Ombudsman are 

Appointment panel; 

Board, Complaints Committee; 

Independent Reviewer; 

and Executive 

Director. 

Essentially, the Ombudsman 

will handle 

Continues on Page 35 

Whose faces should be on new naira notes? 

By Prudence George 

The face of late 

G e n e r a l 

Odimegwu Ojukwu 

should be in one of the 

new naira notes because 

of his sacrifice and 

struggle to liberate the 

South-east region of the 

country. Having his face 

on any of the new notes 

will give Igbo a sense of 

belonging in the country. 

—Uchenna Stanley, 

Businessman 

I 

strongly suggest 

that only faces of 

heroes of our struggle 

for nationhood and 

oneness should be on 

the new naira notes. 

Faces of people such as 

Late Dora Akunyli and 

Fela Anikulapo should 

be on the new notes. 

—Chinakwaeze 

Ijeoma, Student 

The face of Obafemi 

Awolowo should be 

retained in the N100 

note. Former President 

Goodluck Jonathan also 

deserves to have his face 

on any of the new naira 

notes. The legacies his 

administration left 

behind merits him the 

honour. 

—Okanazu Chioma, 

Nurse 

The face of Nnamdi 

Azikiwe should be 

retained on the N500 

note because of his good 

deeds and contribution 

to the development of 

Nigeria. Other heroes 

whose faces previously 

appeared on the naira 

notes should be 

retained. 

— - A y a n d e l e 

Oluwadamilare, Civil 

Servant 

If faces of living 

heroes and legends 

are permitted to be on 

currency notes than I 

suggest that the face of 

Babatunde Fashola, 

SAN, should be on any 

of the new naira notes. 

He has done well for the 

country as a former 

governor and Minister of 

Works. 

— O r a z u l i k e 

Olisaemeka, Writer 

I 

will recommend 

that only the faces 

of people who have 

accomplished 

exemplary feats should 

be on the new naira 

note. Celebrities 

should also be 

honoured in the new 

naira notes. 

— O k e s a n j o 

Damilola, Student

6 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2022 

2 killed in 

Agbarho as 

assassins storm 

drugstore 

By Jimitota Onoyume 

SUSPECTED 

assassins 

reportedly stormed a chemist 

around the popular 5-junction, 

weekend, in Agbarho in Ughelli North 

Local Government Area of Delta State, 

shooting sporadically, after which two 

persons were confirmed killed. 

Details of the incident were hazy but 

community sources said the gunmen 

shot around the chemist, killing a young 

man in the area. 

Vanguard also gathered that another 

target, who was simply identified as 

Chief, whisked away by the suspected 

assassins, was later found dead. 

The spokesman, Delta State Police 

Command, DSP Bright Dafe, 

confirmed the death of Chief. 

"I can confirm the death of Chief only 

please," he said in a text message to 

Vanguard. 

Community sources said the 

suspected assassins came for Chief. 

"They came for one Chief in the area, 

so we heard. They shot at him several 

times before they took him away.“ 

6 land grabbers 

arraigned over 

attack on 

construction 

firm 

By Mathew Johnson 

LAGOS—SIX suspected land 

grabbers were, yesterday, 

arraigned before the Tinubu Chief 

Magistrates Court, Lagos State, 

following an attack on a construction 

engineering company in the Araromi 

Ale, Lagos / Badagry expressway. 

The accused persons: Ayuba 

Olabimtan, Moses Balogun, Ajose 

Ademola, Thomas Akilapa, Joshua 

Ajose and Keke Sunday, were arrested 

by the Force Criminal Investigation 

Department, Abuja. 

An earlier report had it that the 

suspects were abducted by the owner 

of the engineering firm and an estate 

agent identified as Mutairu Owoeye 

and taken to an unknown 

destination. 

But the Prosecutor, Fadipe 

Abraham, told the court, presided 

over by Magistrate K. B. Ayeye, that 

the arrested persons and others at 

large forcefully gained entrance into 

the engineering company' s premises 

,an action which he described as 

contempt of court order. 

In a 3-count charge, the suspects 

were accused of maliciously damaging 

properties at the engineering firm and 

threatening the lives of its workers. 

The court directed that the accused 

persons be remanded in the Ikoyi 

Correctional Centre, pending when they 

met the bail condition of two sureties 

and N500,000 each. 

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

:Vanguard 

News 

Tricycle operator beats colleague 

to death in Akure 

By Dayo Johnson 

AKURE—A 35-year-old tricycle 

operator, Adebayo Titus, was, 

weekend, beaten to death by his 

colleague, Akintelure Festus, over a 

minor argument, in Oke-Aro area of 

Ondo State. 

Vanguard gathered that the tricycle 

operators in the community met and 

agreed that the potholes on the roads be 

filled to make it passable by their 

Imo monarch, 2 aides shot dead 

—Police 

By Chinonso Alozie 

OWERRI—IMO State Police 

Command, yesterday, 

confirmed that the traditional ruler of 

Obudi Agwa, in Oguta Local 

Government Area of Imo state, Eze 

Ignatius Asor, and two of his aides, have 

been shot dead by hoodlums suspected 

to be members of the Eastern Security 

Network, ESN. 

The state Police Public Relations 

Officer, PPRO, Mike Abattam, 

confirmed the incident to newsmen in 

Owerri. 

He said the hoodlums drove to the 

palace of the monarch and pretended 

to be persons in distress that needed help. 

It was when the monarch welcomed 

tricycles. 

But, reports had it that on the day 

scheduled for the exercise, the deceased 

refused to join others to fix the potholes. 

An argument reportedly ensued 

between the deceased and the suspects 

that degenerated into fierce fisticuffs. 

The deceased was reportedly hit 

severely and he collapsed before being 

rushed to a nearby hospital on Saturday 

where he died the following day. 

Contacted, the state police 

spokesperson, Funmi Odunlami, 

confirmed the death of the tricycle 

operator. 

Odunlami said that the duo engaged 

in a fight and in the process, the deceased 

was hit and collapsed.“She added that 

"the man was rushed by people around 

the vicinity of the fight. 

The victim collapsed as a result of the fight 

on Saturday and was confirmed dead early 

Sunday morning at the hospital. 

The case was reported at our ‘B’ Division 

area Headquarters in Akure.“Odunlami said 

that the suspect would soon be charged to 

court. 

•Two of the arrested fake dollar syndicate paraded by the corps, yesterday. 

NSCDC smashes fake dollar syndicate, 

recovers $15,400 notes 

By Omeiza Ajayi 

ABUJA—ACTING on credible 

intelligence, the Special 

Intelligence Squad of the Commandant 

General, Nigeria Security and Civil 

Defence Corps, NSCDC, has smashed 

a notorious fake dollar syndicate. 

It was gathered that the syndicate 

specialises in the printing, sales and 

distribution of fake United States Dollar 

notes. 

Director, Public Relations at the 

NSCDC headquarters, DCC Olusola 

Odumosu, said the syndicate had been 

operating for the past 10 years around 

'Heart Plaza', Mararaba, under the 

bridge in Karu Local Government Area 

of Nasarawa State, before luck ran out 

on them. 

The report also revealed that they had 

swindled many individuals of millions 

of naira under the guise of black market 

operators exchanging Nigerian naira 

for US Dollars thereby issuing fake 

dollar notes to their unsuspecting 

victims. 

In a clandestine operation carried out 

by the CG's SIS, the suspects were 

smoked out of their hideout in a sting 

operation which saw personnel trying 

to exchange the sum of N250,000 for 

US dollars. 

Two members of the syndicate arrested 

were found in possession of a total of 

$15,400 fake US Dollars. They are Ya'u 

Muhammed 'M', 65 years old, from Warji 

LGA, Bauchi State and Lamido Usman 

'M' age 29yrs, La'u LGA from Taraba 

state. 

Other items recovered from the 

suspects include one First Bank ATM 

card, one screwdriver and an original 

$100 note. 

"The suspects are currently 

undergoing preliminary investigation 

after which they would be handed over 

alongside the exhibits to NSCDC 

Nasarawa State Command under 

whose jurisdiction the arrest took place 

for further action", Odumosu added. 

Nurse in police 

net for defiling 

14yr-old-girl 

inside hospital 

....Suspect 

suspended; matter 

under investigation 

—PS MOH 

By Ike Uchechukwu 

CALABAR—A male nurse, 

Austin Etim, who works with the 

General Hospital, Calabar, has been 

arrested by the police for allegedly 

defiling a 14-year-old girl inside the 

male ward of the hospital. 

The suspect, who was arrested, 

yesterday, following reports by the 

hospital management and 

intervention of the Ministry of Health, 

allegedly committed the said crime, 

weekend. 

Vanguard learned that the 14-yearold 

(name withheld), who was said to 

be taking care of her sick father at the 

hospital's male ward, while the mother 

was running around for other things, 

was sexually assaulted by the male 

nurse. 

According to sources in the hospital, 

the nurse used a scarf to tie up the 

victim before assaulting her. 

A nurse, who pleaded anonymity, told 

Vanguard that "the girl said he ( suspect) 

hit her twice before penetrating while 

tying her hands with a scarf, as she lost 

strength while shouting, but the suspect 

overpowered her and had his way. 

The next morning which was 

Sunday, the girl who was crying, 

reported the matter to another nurse 

on duty as well as her mum, who 

collapsed when she heard the incident. 

The furious mother called their 

pastor, who promised to come to the 

hospital after church service, but 

suddenly, the mother of the teenager 

changed her mind and said she didn't 

want the matter prosecuted any longer. 

However, Vanguard learned that the 

management of the hospital after 

severally interrogating the suspect, who 

denied being involved in such, called the 

police and the suspect was arrested. 

When contacted, the Permanent 

Secretary, Ministry of Health, MOH, Dr. 

Iwara Iwara, said the suspect has been 

suspended and the hospital has been given 

48 hours to medically examine the teenager 

and produce her medical report for onward 

prosecution of the matter. 

10 family members locked in iron cage over disputed land 

demand justice 

By Samuel Oyadongha & 

Emem Idio 

YENAGOA—TEN members of a 

family in Toru-Ndoro and Bulou- 

Ndoro communities in Ekeremor Local 

Government Area of Bayelsa State, who 

were reportedly locked up in an iron cell 

over a dispute on the ownership of creeks 

and lands, are demanding justice. 

The family, identified as the Otubo 

family in Ekeremor Local Government 

them into his palace that they, in the 

process, pulled out their guns and shot at 

the traditional ruler and two others. 

Abattam said: "Preliminary 

investigation revealed that the 

hoodlums came in four vehicles and 

two motorcycles, in the company of 

a woman, disguising themselves as 

persons in distress and have come 

to report an emergency to him." 

The unsuspecting Royal father 

allowed them into his palace and 

sat with them. While they explained 

the reason for their visit, they brought 

out guns, shot and killed the Eze and 

two of his aides, and hurriedly fled 

the palace. 

On their way, they attacked the 

office of the Agwa vigilante group, 

shot one person and made away with 

three motorcycles. 

Area of the state, in a petition to the state 

Commissioner of Police, accused the 

Chairmen of the Toru-Ndoro and Bulou- 

Ndoro Community Development 

Committee, Mr. Abunty Etifa-Hitler, and 

other members of the CDC, of subjecting 

their family members to inhuman 

treatment, after allegedly locking them 

up in an iron cage. 

According to the family, the victims 

were reportedly abducted from their 

houses, detained and locked up in the 

iron cage at Toru Ndoro on October 19, 

exposed to the elements of the weather 

and denied food and water over a dispute 

on the ownership of Ogbotobo creeks 

and lands which is their maternal home. 

The victims' names were given as 

Jacob Debekeme, Tamarau-brakaemi 

Hitler, Anotie ThankGod, Kemeagbeere 

ThankGod, Agbemo, Ebiema, Love, 

Emomotimi among others. 

Some weeks back, pictures emerged 

of how members of the Otubo family 

were locked up in an iron cage at the 

Toru-Ndoro Community cell for 

maintaining that the Alei-Toru/Kala- 

Toru/Krin creeks and environs belonged 

to their maternal home, Ogbotobo 

community in Ekeremor Local 

Government Area of Bayelsa State.“A 

member of the family, Mrs. Eunice 

Binaebi, told newsmen in Yenagoa that 

the Community Executives allegedly led 

by the CDC Chairman of Toru-Ndoro, 

Mr Abunty Etifa-Hitler, first ordered 

them to proceed on exile and having 

refused were locked up in an iron cage, 

threatening that any native of the 

community who gave them food or water 

would pay a fine of N100,000. 

Mrs Binaebi alleged that though the 

victims had been released from the cage, 

they were asked not to go anywhere near 

the creek to fish or farm until they pay a 

fine of N200,000 or be forced into exile. 

When contacted on phone, the CDC 

Chairman of Toru-Ndoro, Mr. Abunty 

Etifa-Hitler, described the matter as "a 

community issue," saying that the area in 

dispute was not Ogbotobo creeks but Alei- 

Toru creeks. 

He, however, denied that ten 

members of the Otubo family were 

locked up in the iron cage with their 

rights violated under his supervision, 

pledging to get back which he never 

did. 

Spokesman of the Bayelsa Police 

Command, Asinim Butswat, when 

contacted, said he was trying to get in 

touch with the Divisional Police Officer 

in charge of the area for details. 

•Two members of the family locked up in the iron 

cage.


:Vanguard News 


VISIT: From left, Minister of Tourism from Gambia, Mr Hamat Bah; Minister of Information and 

Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed; Secretary General, United Nations World Tourism Organization, 

UNWTO, Mr Zurab Pololikashvili; Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Minister of Tourism 

from Sierra Leone, Mrs Memunatu Pratt and Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, 

during a courtesy visit to the governor, at the Lagos House, Marina, yesterday. 

FG targets $33,000 per capita income 

in 2050 

By Emma Ujah, 

Abuja Bureau Chief 

& Emmanuel 

Elebeke 

THE FEDERAL government 

has set a target of $33,000 per 

capita income by year 2050 from 

the current level of $3, 500. 

The Minister of Finance, 

Budget and National Planning, 

Mrs. Zainab Ahmed, disclosed 

this at the opening of the ongoing 

Nigerian Economic 

Summit yesterday. 

She said: "I am pleased to 

inform you that the draft Nigeria 

Agenda 2050 is being finalised 

and will be launched soon. 

"The plan seeks to increase the 

country’s per capita income to 

$33,000 by 2050 and place 

Nigeria among the rank of Upper 

Middle Income Countries. 

"The plan will be implemented 

by successive governments 

through six, 5-year medium-term 

National Development Plans 

and Annual Budgets. 

"The Nigeria Agenda 2050 has 

a moral imperative to lower the 

poverty and unemployment rate 

significantly as this is the only 

way we can ensure sustainable 

broad-based growth" 

According to Mrs. Ahmed, the 

government will renew the social 

contract with Nigerians and 

encourage the citizens to pay 

their taxes to enable it fund 

programmes and projects. 

She said the federal 

government would consciously 

design programmes and projects 

that would attract Diaspora 

Nigerians to invest at home. 

Mrs. Ahmed added that the 

administration was focused on 

unlocking the economic 

potential of the non-oil and high 

employment generating sectors 

to achieve sustainable and 

inclusive growth and 

development. 

Laws inhibiting devt 

for review —Agba 

Earlier in his address, the 

Minister of State for Budget and 

National Planning, Clem Agba, 

said the administration would 

review 18 laws and 10 policies 

considered as obstacles to private 

sector businesses. 

He said the National 

Development Plan 2017-2025 

paid particular attention to the 

diversification of the economy, 

among others. 

"The NDP 2021-2025 has a 

unique objective of establishing 

a strong foundation for a 

concentric economic 

diversification, implying that the 

economy had already been 

diversified but the focus of the 

plan is to deepen the 

diversification effort within the 

sectors, such that each sector 

could substantially increase its 

contribution to GDP and create 

more jobs. 

"Volume III deals with the 

legislative imperatives identified 

as binding constraints to plan 

implementation and has 

identified 18 laws and 10 policies 

that constrained plan 

implementation over the years. 

" A Technical Working Team, 

TWT, comprising the Office of the 

President on Ease of Doing 

Business, relevant Ministries, 

Departments and Agencies, 

MDAs, and a renowned legal 

firm has been set-up to review 

these laws and policies, with a 

view to enriching plan 

implementation,'' Agba stated. 

Nigeria we need 

—Dozie 

In his Keynote address, one of 

the founding fathers of NESG, 

Mr. Paschal Dozie, said "the 

Nigeria we need must be truly 

federal, not just in name but in 

reality.'' 

He said the Exclusive and the 

Concurrent Lists should be 

reviewed to enable 

By Adesina Wahab 

LAGOS—PARENTS, under 

the aegis of the National 

Parent Teacher Association of 

Nigeria, NAPTAN, and students 

under the National Association 

of Nigerian Students, NANS, 

have called on the federal 

government to tread softly and 

not allow the issue of the 

payment of salary of lecturers 

degenerate to another industrial 

action. 

Their calls came against the 

backdrop of plans by lecturers, 

under the Academic Staff Union 

of Universities, ASUU, to embark 

on rallies and declare a lecture 

free day in protest against the 

payment of haf salary to them by 

the government last month, after 

resuming from an eight-month 

strike. 

“NAPTAN, through the 

National President, Haruna 

Danjuma, in a chat with 

Vanguard, said since the 

lecturers had continued from 

where they stopped in the 2021/ 

2022 session, they should be paid. 

“"The government should do 

the right thing. They should pay 

the lecturers. We all know that 

decentralization of government, 

with a real federal system, as 

obtained in other federal 

governments. 

He said the federal 

government should depersonalise 

institutions to make 

Nigeria more attractive to 

domestic and international 

investors. 

In his contribution as a 

panelist, economist and banker, 

Mr. Atedo Peterside, noted that 

the nation is being held hostage 

by what he described as "riggedproperity" 

by a few elite. 

According to him, those in that 

class are less than one million 

people but they have 

imporverished the multitude of 

ordinary Nigerians. 

Mr. Peterside regretted that 

based on data released by the 

National Bureau of Statistics, 

NBS, at the end of 2015, 68 

million Nigerians were in full 

employment but noted that as 

at end of 2020, the figure of 

Nigerians in full employment had 

fallen to a mere 31 million. 

He lamented that very few 

Nigerians have access to the 

exchange rate at the official rate, 

adding that those with such 

access do not represent the 

generality of Nigerians. 

Peterside also condemned the 

fuel subsidy which had continued 

to put pressure on the nation's 

fiscal position. 

According to him, those who 

are involved in the massive oil 

theft are those in government or 

their cronies. 

He wondered how many 

Nigerians have the capacity to 

bring in ships into the country 

and load crude oil and take it 

away from the country, without 

the government stopping them. 

Ogbu urges FG to 

pay attention to 

education 

Also speaking, Prof Osita Ogbu, 

former National Economic 

Adviser, charged the 

government to pay more 

attention to social infrastructure 

(education and health). 

He said the Nigerian public 

education system had been 

abandoned by those in 

government because they had 

no personal need of it, as they 

send their children to private and 

foreign schools. 

He said though physical 

infrastructure remained critical 

to development, the nation could 

not afford to abandon social 

infrastructure, stressing that 

doing so would be counterproductive 

to national 

development. 

By Levinus 

Nwabughiogu 

ABUJA—THE House of 

Representatives, yesterday, 

urged the federal government to 

make an urgent request for 

supplementary budget of N100 

billion or more for Ecological Project 

Office, EPO, as intervention fund 

to execute the programs of the 

agency nationwide. 

It also mandated its Committee 

on Appropriation to make provision 

of N200 billion in the 20023 

appropriation year, for the 

Ecological office in the Presidency 

for flood preparedness, mitigation, 

response, recovery and relieve 

packages. 

It equally asked that N5 billion 

be released into the already 

created special ecological fund 

account of each state of the 

federation and FCT to mitigate the 

effect of flooding that recently 

ravaged the entire nation. 

The resolutions came on the 

heels of a motion, titled "Need for 

Strategic Planning and Funding 

to Prevent the Reoccurrence of 

Flood and Erosion Disasters in 

Nigeria in 2023 and Beyond", 

moved at plenary under matters of 

urgent public importance by Henry 

Nwawuba and Ibrahim Isiaka. 

Presenting the motion, 

Nwawuba expressed worry over 

the recent flooding incident that 

ravaged the country, saying the 

warning by the authorities was not 

heeded. 

He said in the view of another 

one predicted by the Nigerian 

Metrological Agency, Nimet, 

another round of flooding was 

imminent next year, asking the 

authorities to take proactive 

measures. 

"We pay deaf ears to the sound 

and presence of risks associated 

Don't let half salary issue degenerate to another strike, 

NANS, NAPTAN tell FG 

some time has been wasted, but 

since there is an effort to bridge 

the gap one way or the other, 

nothing should be done to 

truncate the process again. 

“"Lecturers and students would 

only need to forfeit some holidays 

and as parents, we don't want 

anything to rock the boat again. 

Parents are looking forward to 

their children finishing their 

studies and for them to reap the 

fruits of their labour. The issue of 

personality clash or ego should 

not be allowed to push education 

into another crisis situation, "he 

said 

“NANS, in a statement by the 

Southwest Zone Coordinator, 

Adegboye Olatunji, Deputy 

Coordinator, Alao John and 

Public Relations Officer, 

Awoyinfa Opeoluwa, said steps 

being taken by the current 

administration at the federal 

level are not showing it gives 

priority to education. 

"Just as Nigerian students are 

finally able to smile after the 

suspension of an eight-monthlong 

ASUU strike, the Federal 

Government deemed it wise to 

pay half salary to members of the 

Academic Staff Union of 

•As ASUU stages protest •CONUA to 

discuss issue at maiden NEC meeting 

Universities This ill-advised 

action if allowed to stand will not 

only set a bad precedence but 

ruin the already tattered morale 

of our lecturers and further 

weaken the already debilitated 

trust between the said union and 

the government. 

"Ironically those directly 

appointed and being paid from 

our commonwealth to oversee 

Education and Labour matters 

namely; Mallam Adamu Adamu 

(Minister of Education); Dr. Chris 

Ngige (Minister of Labour and 

Employment); and Festus 

Keyamo (Minister of State for 

Labour and Employment) made 

meagre contributions to the 

development. As a matter of fact, 

we have it on good record that 

Dr. Ngige particularly was willing 

to crash the entire sector just to 

bring ASUU on its knees and 

massage his own fragile ego. 

“"From all indications, if drastic 

measures aren't taken, the 

Federal Government and its 

overpaid employee; Dr. Ngige 

seem ready to bury the entire 

educational sector.And if ASUU 

choose to boycott work again as 

a result of this ungentlemanly 

Flood alert: Reps call for 

supplementary budget of N100bn, 

200bn in 2023 appropriation to 

fight menace 

decision, the government might 

as well forget about tertiary 

education completely. 

“"As the leadership of Nigerian 

students in the entire 

Southwest, we demand that our 

intellectuals and moulders of our 

collective future be accorded their 

deserved respect and their 

dignity not be tampered with. 

''In addition, procedure to pay 

the remaining balance of their 

remunerations should be put in 

motion immediately, " the 

statement read. 

Meanwhile, the newlyregistered 

Congress of University 

Academics, CONUA, is set to 

discuss the issue of salary and 

others at its maiden National 

Executive Council, NEC, 

meeting slated for Obafemi 

Awolowo University, Ile Ife, 

Osun State later in the month.“ 

A member of the union told our 

correspondent that the meeting 

would also appraise 

developments in the university 

sector generally. 

CONUA was registered by the 

FG as another academic staff 

union in the course of the recent 

strike by ASUU. 

with flooding, one thing is clear, 

that they will surely occur whether 

we plan for them or not. 

''But, strategic planning and 

adequate funding will help 

mitigate the effects and facilitate 

quick and better recovery of lives, 

properties, economy and overall 

environment. with the public 

outcry of limited funds, reactive 

response should be changed to 

proactive response to increase 

effectiveness of management and 

reduce losses of life and properties. 

"As far back as January 2022, 

the Nigerian Metrological Agency, 

Nimet, warned of impending floods 

across most states in Nigeria, 

especially flood prone areas and 

could continue until the end of 

November 2022 in many states 

across the nation. 

"In 2012, 32 of 36 states were 

affected by flooding, with 363 people 

killed, over 2.1 million people 

displaced, about 7 million people 

affected and a total loss estimate of 

N2.6trillion recorded. 

"In 2022, 33 of 36 states and the 

FCT are affected, that is 92% of 

the entire country, over 600 people 

killed. Over 1.4 million people 

displaced and over 2.5 million 

people in need of humanitarian 

assistance with over 60% of this 

number being children. 

"Nigeria appears to be unready 

for climate change with ranking of 

162 of 180 countries in the 

environment performance index." 

"The fact that the dimensional 

impact of this unfortunate 

situation are that we can expect a 

food crisis, humanitarian crisis, 

health crisis and revenue shortfall 

in Nigeria come 2023. 

"Most of the affected states are 

agrarian economies which raises 

concern about impending food 

crisis, with 110,000 hectares of 

farmlands completely damaged. 

Olam rice farm submerged worth 

over $15 million, 10 hectares of rice 

farm submerged in Kogi State." 

Visa issuance: Air Peace suspends 

flight operations to Dubai 

By Prince Okafor 

AIR TRAVELLERS from Nigeria 

to Dubai, United Arab 

Emirates, UAE, in the coming days 

will be forced to consider alternative 

means of getting there. 

“This came as Nigeria's 

indigenous airline, Air Peace, 

suspended flight operations to the 

country indefinitely. 

This is coming against the 

backdrop of non-issuance of Visas 

by the UAE government to 

Nigerians. 

Vanguard had reported that the 

country's immigration authorities 

last month announced a visa ban 

on Nigerians without any reason. 

The UAE government also 

stated that all submitted 

applications for vuisa to its territory 

were rejected and fees nonrefundable. 

Following the development, the 

management of Air Peace stated 

yesterday: "We hereby inform the 

public, especially our Dubai 

passengers, that effective from 

Tuesday, November 22, 2022, we 

shall be suspending our Dubai 

operations till further notice. 

"This is consequent upon the 

persisting non-issuance of visas to 

Nigerian travellers by the 

government of the United Arab 

Emirates and the accompanying 

inconveniences. 

"Air Peace has been operating 

into UAE, even with the country's 

recent travel restrictions, but given 

the heightened hurdles Nigerian 

travellers are facing in accessing 

the country, it has become 

imperative that we halt our 

operations to that destination. 

"We shall provide further 

updates as the situation 

progresses. Passengers whose 

flights are affected by this 

development can mail our Call 

Centre to attend to their 

concerns."




MEETING: From left, 

CEO, Nigerian 

Midstream and 

Downstream 

Petroleum Regulatory 

Authority, NMDPRA, 

Farouk Ahmed; 

Minister of State for 

Petroleum Resources, 

Timipre Sylva and 

Group Chief 

Executive Officer, 

Nigerian National 

Petroleum Company 

Limited, NNPC Ltd, 

Mallam Mele Kyari, 

during a meeting with 

stakeholder in the oil 

and gas sector on fuel 

availability during the 

Christmas season, at 

the NNPC Towers in 

Abuja, yesterday. 

Terrorism: DHQ declares Bello Turji, 

Ado Aliero, 17 other kingpins wanted 

•Offers N5m reward for information leading to arrest of each terrorist •N5m reward is 

too small —Col. Stan-Labo •It’s a good devt as elections approach, says Ex-DSS 

Director, Ejiofor •ACF, MBF welcome devt •NAF kill bandits with rockets in 

Kaduna,hostages escape; destroy terrorists camps 

By Kingsley 

Omonobi, Peter 

Duru, Gabriel 

Olawale & Ibrahim 

Hassan-Wuyo 

D 

E F E N C E 

HEADQUARTERS 

yesterday released a list of 19 most 

wanted terrorist kingpins and 

commanders under the manhunt 

of troops and security agencies, 

including notorious bandit 

leaders, Bello Turji and Ado Aliero, 

who had been terrorising states 

in the North West, especially 

Zamfara and Katsina. 

DHQ also announced the offer 

of N5million reward for 

information that could lead to the 

whereabout and arrest of each of 

the terrorist commanders. 

The release of the list of the 

terrorists elicited the support of 

some security experts and 

regional socio-political groups, 

such as retired Col StanLabo, 

former DSS Director, Mike Ejiofor, 

the Arewa Consultative Forum, 

ACF, and the Middle Belt Forum, 

MBF. 

Although Col Stan-Labo 

welcomed the development, he 

however described as too meagre 

the N5million reward for 

information placed on each of the 

wanted terrorists. 

Photographs of the terrorists 

with their names and places of 

origin, accompanied with numbers 

to call for dissemination of the 

information, were displayed at 

military and security locations, 

including the Defence 

headquarters in Abuja, yesterday. 

The 19 wanted terrorists are 

Sani Dangote, from Dumburum 

Village, Zurmi LGA, Zamfara 

State; Bello Turji Gudda from 

Fakai Village, Shinkafi LGA, 

Zamfara State; Alhaji Ado Aliero, 

Yankuzo Village, Tsafe LGA, 

Zamfara State; Monore from 

Yantumaki Village, Danmusa 

LGA, Katsina State; Leko from 

Muzoji Village. Matazu LGA of 

Katsina State; and Dogo Nahali 

from Yar Tsavtyar Jino Village, 

Kankara LGA, Katsina State. 

Others are Halilu Sububu, from 

Sububu Village in Maradun LGA 

of Zamfara State; Nasanda from 

Kwashabawa Village in Zurmi 

LGA of Zamfara State; Isa 

Kwashen Garwafrom Kamfarin 

Daudawa Village in Faskari LGA 

of Kastsina State; Ali Kachala, aka 

Ali Kawaje, from Kuyambaka 

vIllage in Dansadau District, 

Maru LGA of Zamfara State; and 

Baleri from Shinkafi LGA of 

Zamfara State. 

Also on the list are Nagona from 

Angwan Galadima Village in Isa 

LGA of Sokoto State; Abu Radde 

from Varanda Village in Batsari 

LGA of Katsina State; Dan-Da 

from Varanda Village in Batsari 

LGA of Katsina State; Mamudu 

Tainange from Varanda Village in 

Batsari LGA of Katsina 

State;Umaru Dan Nigeria from 

Rafi Village, Mada District in 

Gusau LGA of Zamfara State; 

Sani Gurgu from Varanda Village 

in Batsari LGA of Katsina State; 

and Magala from Maru LGA of 

Zamfara State. 

“If you have any information, 

call 09135904467,” the DHQ list 

stated. 

N5m reward is too 

small —Col. Stan-Labo 

Reacting to the list yesterday, 

former Army Intelligence Officer, 

Col. Hassan Stan-Labo, retd, said 

with the current value of the 

naira, the ransom of N5 million is 

too small. 

He said such ridiculous amount 

of money might not convince 

people to disclose information 

about the wanted terrorist 

kingpins. 

“These wanted terrorists live 

among us in the communities, 

placing ransom on them can make 

people that are busy hiding them 

to have a change of mind to 

surrender them to the appropriate 

authorities. 

“But placing N5 million on 

terrorist kingpins is not money. 

There are people who will 

overlook that kind of money 

because N5 million in today’s 

highly devalued Nigeria naira is 

nothing. If you want to place 

ransom, you have to make it 

difficult for anybody to look away. 

I expect to hear something like 

N50 million, then whoever is 

hiding these notorious terrorists 

will think twice.” 

He admonished both the 

military personnel and general 

public to handle the information 

with care, “General public that 

wants to assist security agencies 

should not treat the information 

in such a way that the whole 

neighbour will know that they are 

the one that provided it. Also the 

military should ensure that the 

identity of the person providing 

the information is protected,'' Col. 

Stan-Labo said. 

It’s a good devt 

says ex-DSS Director, 

Ejiofor 

Also reacting, former Director 

of Department of State Security 

Services, DSS, Mr. Mike Ejiofor, 

said that going after terrorists who 

were capable of wreaking havoc 

during election is a good 

development. 

Ejiofor, who commended the 

military on the ongoing fight 

against terrorists, said 

government must ensure that 

anything that would disturb the 

election is not tolerated. 

He described the release of the 

names of the terrorists kingpins 

as a good development, 

considering the fact that people 

might be living with terrorists 

unaware. 

“The issue is that these terrorists 

are from communities. They have 

friends and relatives who might 

not even know that they are 

terrorists, but with this 

development, the general public 

will be aware. As I always say, 

security is a collective 

responsibility. 

“For government to attach 

reward to the arrest of these 

terrorists shows that they are 

aware that these guys are very 

dangerous. This will also 

encourage members of the public 

to at least go after them for the 

purpose of reward or safety of the 

general public,'' Ejiofor said. 

ACF reacts to list of 

19 terrorist leaders 

Reacting to the list realsed by 

DHQ yesterday, Secretary- 

General of Arewa Consultative 

Forum, ACF, Murtala Aliyu, said: 

"ACF welcomes the fact that the 

military has identified the 

kingpins in the crime circle. We 

encourage them to continue to 

do more because beyond this list 

of 19, we are sure there are more. 

"So we should be able to get 

them and move towards peace, 

especially towards the election. 

We must secure every part of the 

country to ensure the elections 

hold credibly." 

Military has all 

intelligence to 

arrest wanted 

terrorists —MBF 

Similarly, the National 

President of the Middle Belt 

Forum, Dr. Bitrus Pogu, said the 

Nigerian military had all the 

intelligence to apprehend 

masterminds of terrorism in the 

country.“He said: "The military 

has high intelligence than you 

and I. The DMI, DIA and lots of 

their other organisations have lots 

of intels than all of us.“"Now if 

they feel that this wanted 

terrorists are not easy to hunt and 

that they need public assistance, 

so be it. Nobody will say no if 

something will add value to our 

situation.“"But the truth remains 

that these people (military) know 

where the terrorists are. I believe 

our military has adequate intel to 

track these people. To me, it is 

more of a diversion than what it 

really should be.“"So let the 

military put its acts together and 

let's make progress. We know that 

our military is capable of routing 

this thing out from wherever it is 

so that we can have peace in this 

country. So let's watch and see 

the genuineness in whatever 

they have said. 

"But my belief all along, which 

is true, is that our security services 

have adequate information and 

they have the capacity and 

capability to nip it in the bud all 

along, it's just that Nigeria has 

become something else, may God 

help us." 

NAF kill bandits 

with rockets in 

Kaduna, hostages 

escape 

Meanwhile, Nigerian Air Force 

jets have bombarded terrorists 

locations across Kaduna State, 

killing many bandits, while some 

kidnapped hostages escaped. 

Kaduna State Commissioner of 

Internal Security and Home 

Affairs,Samuel Aruwan, who 

disclosed this yesterday, said 

"details of these missions were 

made known via operational 

feedback to Kaduna State 

government." 

He said in Kawara area of Igabi 

LGA, a strike was carried out on 

an identified bandit location 

where three bandits were 

confirmed neutralized by the 

strike, which paved way for escape 

of some kidnapped victims. 

Aruwan stated further: 

''Similarly, in Walawa, Giwa LGA, 

an active location was targeted 

and struck successfully. 

''In Chikun LGA, armed 

surveillance was carried out over 

Faka, Kangon Kadi, Damba, 

Ungwan Turai, Galbi, Gwagwada 

and environs. Terrorists were 

sighted about 4km Northwest of 

Godani, and neutralized. 

"In Kuduru, an active terrorists' 

location was sighted and struck 

with rockets. In Igabi LGA, 

operations were conducted over 

Riyawa, Isiaka, Rima, Riyawa, 

Rumana, Ungwan Liman, Mai 

Gishiri and the Kaduna Airport 

area, with no significant activity 

noticed. A similar situation 

obtained in Sabon Birnin, Anaba, 

Malumi, Wusono and Kerawa. 

"Also covered by the aerial 

patrols were the Kaduna-Abuja 

road and rail line, as well as Jere, 

Katari, Olam Farms, Gwagwada, 

Sarkin Pawa, Abulo, Mangoro, 

Chikwale and environs. Normal 

human and vehicular activities 

were observed, with no threats 

encountered. 

"The Kaduna-Birnin Gwari road 

and adjoining areas were similarly 

covered: Buruku, Labi, Udawa, 

Manini and Polewire up to Kajuru, 

Jaka da Rabi and Maguzawa." 

"Normal activities were 

observed during aerial patrols over 

Kajuru, Kankomi, Kutura, Kuzo, 

Ungwan Magami and Ruga areas. 

''The governor of Kaduna State 

received the feedback with 

gratitude, and commended the 

fighter crews for their precision 

and consistency in the aerial 

missions. Ground and air patrols 

will continue in these and other 

locations." 

Remove subsidy immediately, el-Rufai tells FG 

By Emma Ujah, 

Abuja Bureau Chief 

ABUJA—THE governor of 

Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir 

El-Rufai, has called for the 

immediate removal of petrol 

subsidy. 

He made the call, yesterday, 

at the "State-of-the-State" 

session at the on-going NESG, 

in Abuja. 

When the governor who was on 

panel during session was asked what 

should be the priority of the 

government, he said, "remove fuel 

subsidy immediately." 

El -Rufai disclosed that governors 

of the 36 states and federal 

government officials, at the National 

Economic Council, had agreed to 

the removal of petrol subsidy in 

September 2021. 

He expressed surprise that 

President Muhammadu Buhari 

failed to implement the decision, 

despite the immense fiscal pressure 

the subsidy had brought on 

government finances and the 

corruption associated with it. 

According to him, the 

transparency of the administration 

of the subsidy, which should have 

forced the federal government to 

end the regime before now remains 

in doubt. 

The governor also said the 

National Economic Council, NEC, 

envisaged that without removing 

the subsidy, a time would come 

when the Nigerian National 

Petroleum Company Limited, 

NNPCL, would say the nation's 

entire monthly oil earnings had 

been spent on subsidy. 

He said: "The framers of our 

constitution envisaged that for the 

economy to work well, there should 

be a level of coordination between 

the federal and state governments. 

"That was why the National 

Economic Council was created, 

with the Vice President as 

Chairman. All 36 governors are 

members and some federal 

government officials like the 

Minister of Finance. 

"Under this administration, we 

have met religiously, almost every 

month, because we have only one 

economy. 

"I think if NEC decisions were 

faithfully implemented by the 

national government, some of the 

current economic issues will not 

arise - because NGF provided 

technical support to study this 

subsidy issue when it started 

looming and at N800 billion." 

"We projected that if left 

unchecked, it would lead to trillions 

of leakage. As pointed out earlier, 

we are not even sure if these figures 

are real or just manufactured on 

paper to take out money. 

'We envisaged at that point that 

a time would come when the NNPC 

would come to FAAC and say guys, 

we need cheque from you to cover 

for subsidy- not to contribute but to 

say we are spending more than we 

are receiving from crude oil. That 

time has come. 

"We took a decision to remove 

subsidy in September 2021. The 

Minister of Finance also agreed. We 

agreed that the money from there 

should be channelled into health, 

education and infrastructure. 

"Even this ASUU problem, we 

agreed to provide funding for 

ASUU. The NEC took that 

decision but the national 

government failed to implement that 

decision. Till today, we do not know 

why this decision taken in 2021 has 

not been implemented." 

Security vote, big way of stealing money; 

I’ll abolish it if elected —Kwankwaso 

By Juliet Umeh 

PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE of 

New Nigeria Peoples Party, 

NNPP, Rabiu Kwankwaso, has said 

he would abolish the security vote 

system if elected. 

He also said Nigeria has enough 

money to take care of every of its 

citizens, adding that the 

government would not borrow to 

pay salaries. 

Security vote refers to a monthly 

allocation disbursed to states and 

other agencies for improved security. 

Kwankwaso, who made the 

pledge while speaking at a town 

hall series organised for presidential 

candidates by Channels Television 

Sunday night, said the system 

should be reviewed since, according 

to him, it is a way of getting away 

with “stealing” state funds. 

He said: “For the eight years I 

was governor, I never took one naira 

for the issue of security vote. It’s 

not even there. 

“I have inherited governments 

that were taking N10 million in a 

day, seven times. In fact, at a state, 

we had a record of 12 times because 

the governor can only approve N10 

million. So, they would take N10 

million, times whatever number 

they want. 

“If the CP or director of SSS or 

anybody wants to do anything, 

we’ll listen to him. He should defend 

it. And once we are satisfied, 

anything above N10 million, I’ll take 

it to the council. 

“The only thing that we did not 

publish for the eight years I was 

governor was the money given to 

the security agents, but we have 

the records. 

“Security vote, in our own 

opinion, is a big way of stealing 

money. That is why I have never 

done it. And if I have the opportunity 

again, there will never be anything 

like security vote in the presidency. 

“We have seen cases where a lot 

of money is being siphoned in the 

name of security vote and nobody 

can defend it. In my opinion, that 

should be stopped using whatever 

means, because it’s only a good way 

of taking cash from the treasury.”

C 

M 

Y 

K 



:@vanguardnews 

Social Media Conversation 

•IPoB leader, Nnamdi Kanu (in white) with his lawyers during a previous court outing. 

Kanu absent as court adjourns trial 

indefinitely 

By Ikechukwu 

Nnochiri & Steve 

Oko 

ABUJA—THE 

detained 

leader of the Indigenous 

People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi 

Kanu, yesterday protested his 

planned re-arraignment on a 

fresh seven-count terrorism 

charge the Federal Government, 

FG, preferred against him. 

Kanu, who has been in 

custody of the Department of 

State Service, DSS, for over 14 

months, following his re-arrest in 

Kenya, accused FG of abusing 

the judicial process, vowing not 

to present himself for fresh trial, 

pending when the Court of 

Appeal's judgment that ordered 

his release from detention, is 

complied with. 

It will be recalled that the 

appellate court in Abuja had, in 

a judgment on October 13, 

quashed the entire 15-count 

charge FG entered against the 

IPoB leader. 

The appellate court, among 

others, faulted the manner Kanu 

was arrested and extra-ordinarily 

rendered back to the country for 

continuation of his trial. 

Vanguard had exclusively 

reported that though FG had 

since gone to the Supreme Court 

to set-aside the Appeal Court 

judgment that quashed the 

charge against Kanu, it 

subsequently entered a new 

charge against him. 

While the old charge was 

marked FHC/ABJ/CR/383/2015, 

the new charge, which was slated 

in the causelist of the court for 

Kanu to enter his fresh plea, was 

marked FHC/ABJ/CR/ 484/ 2022. 

When the case was called up, 

yesterday, a team of government 

prosecutors, led by the Director 

of Public Prosecution of the 

•He refuses to appear for re-arraignment —FG 

•Lawyer, family react to indefinite adjournment 

•Nigeria should stop wasting time, resources —Family 

Federation, DPPF, Mr. M.B. 

Abubakar, told trial Justice Binta 

Nyako that the IPOB leader 

declined to be brought before the 

court for re-arraignment. 

Abubakar, who responded to 

an enquiry from the judge about 

why Kanu was not present in 

court, said he was notified that 

the defendant refused to follow 

DSS operatives that wanted to 

produce him before the court. 

He said: "My lord, I understand 

that the defendant declined to 

come to court today". 

My lord, this is 

totally strange 

to me because 

this is a person 

that has never 

hidden his 

intention to 

always be in 

court. In fact, 

even in 

processes we 

filed at both 

the Court of 

Appeal and the 

Supreme 

Court, the 

defendant said 

he would want 

to be present 

in court for 

hearing of all 

the matters 

In his further explanation, a 

lawyer from the DSS, Mr. I. Awo, 

told the court that the IPOB 

leader said he would not make 

himself available for a fresh trial 

until the judgment that ordered 

his release is obeyed. 

"My lord, as at last week, the 

defendant was intimated of this 

sitting and he did not object. 

"However, when I called the 

office this morning, I was 

informed that the defendant 

woke up and declined to come to 

court. 

"All entreaties and pleas were 

made but he refused to come to 

court." 

On his part, Kanu's lead 

counsel, Mike Ozekhome, 

described the allegation that his 

client refused to appear in court 

as "very strange". 

"My lord, this is totally strange 

to me because this is a person 

that has never hidden his 

intention to always be in court. 

"In fact, even in processes we 

filed at both the Court of Appeal 

and the Supreme Court, the 

defendant said he would want to 

be present in court for hearing of 

all the matters." 

He further notified the trial 

judge about the Court of Appeal 

verdict that not only quashed 

the charge against Kanu, but 

also barred FG from prosecuting 

him over the same set of 

allegations. 

Ozekhome argued that since 

both FG and his client have 

lodged separate appeals at the 

Supreme Court, he said it was 

better for the trial judge to handsoff 

the planned re-arraignment 

and await the decision of the 

apex court. 

Besides, he told the court that 

his client was yet to be served 

with a copy of the fresh charge 

FG entered against him. 

"We have not even been 

served with this charge. We only 

read about it on the social media. 

It was this morning that we 

discovered that it has been listed 

on the cause list and I thought 

that my learned friend will stand 

up and say that in view of the 

subsisting Appeal Court 

judgment, that he is withdrawing 

it. 

"We are surprised because this 

is abuse of court process," 

Ozekhome stated. 

In his brief response, the DPPF, 

Mr. Abubakar, said he was not 

opposed to an adjournment to 

enable the Supreme Court to 

determine the appeals pending 

before it. 

Consequently, trial Justice 

Nyako in a brief ruling, said she 

was minded to adjourn further 

proceedings in the case sine-die 

(indefinitely) to await the 

outcome of the pending appeals. 

While the government in its 

appeal is seeking to set-aside the 

judgment that discharged Kanu, 

on the other hand, the IPoB 

leader went to the apex court to 

challenge the decision of the 

appellate court to suspend the 

execution of its verdict that 

ordered his release from 

detention. 

Justice Nyako also adjourned 

a fundamental right enforcement 

suit Kanu filed to challenge his 

continued detention which 

described as illegal, 

unconstitutional. 

Kanu is among other things, 

demanding N100billion from FG 

as compensation for the gross 

abuse of his fundamental rights, 

as well as an apology to be 

tendered to him through two 

national dailies. 

Adjournment not 

unexpected —Lawyer 

Reacting, Special Counsel to 

Kanu, Mr Aloy Ejimakor, 

described the indefinite 

adjournment of his trial by Justice 

Binta Nyako of the Federal High 

Court Abuja, as "not 

unexpected". 

Ejimakor in a chat with 

Vanguard in Umuahia, said there 

are already legal landmines 

against re-arraigning Kanu 

before the High Court on the 

alleged amended counts of 

charge as the matter is already 

pending at the Supreme Court. 

According to him: "My reaction 

to today's Federal High Court, 

Abuja ruling, declining further 

trial of Nnamdi Kanu: The ruling 

today by Justice Binta of Federal 

High Court Abuja was not 

unexpected. 

"There is absolutely no way 

she can proceed with the trial of 

Nnamdi Kanu in view of the 

jurisdictional barriers created by 

the Judgments of Court of 

Appeal and that of the Federal 

High Court, Umuahia. 

"To cap it all, the matter is also 

pending before the Supreme 

Court on appeal. No trial court 

can proceed with any trial that is 

burdened by these triple factors." 

Family faults FG 

Similarly, Kanu's family has 

dismissed the Federal 

Government's bid to re-try Kanu, 

as an abuse of court processes, 

time and resources. 

Kanu's younger brother, 

Emmanuel Kanu told Vanguard 

hat since the appeal by the 

Federal Government against the 

Court of Appeal judgment in 

favour of the IPoB Leader is still 

pending before the apex court, 

re-arraigning Kanu for trial at a 

lower court is a mockery of the 

judiciary. 

He who lives in a glass house...! 

...And a take-away? 

Answer's 42!

C 

M 

Y 

K 




PRESENTATION: From left: Author of the Book, Mr John Ashima; Chief of Staff to the Delta 

State Governor, Mr Festus Agas; Author of the Book, Jide Ajide; Princess Biodun Omotade; 

Vice Chancellor, Caleb University Imota, Prof. Nosa Owens-Ibie; Lagos State Commissioner 

for Information, Mr Gbenga Omotosho and Author of the Book, Oluwole Agunbiade, during 

the Presentation and Unveiling of the Book "No Good Deed Goes Unpunished" in Lagos, 

yesterday. Photo: Kehinde Shonola 

We'll resist relocation of NIEPA 

from Ondo —Osemawe 

By Dayo Johnson 

AKURE—THE Osemawe of 

Ondo town, in Ondo State, 

Oba Victor Kiladejo, and the 

people of the town, have kicked 

against the proposed relocation 

of National Institute for 

Educational Planning and 

Administration, NIEPA, to Abuja. 

NIEPA was established in 1992 

by the Federal Ministry of 

Education in collaboration with 

UNESCO/International Institute 

for Educational Planning, IIEP, as 

a staff college for planners and 

managers in the Nigeria 

education sector and West Africa 

sub-region. 

Speaking at a public hearing, 

Oba Kiladejo expressed 

displeasure over the plan to 

relocate the institute from Ondo 

town. 

The public hearing, tagged, 

NIEPA (Establishment) Bill 2022, 

was sponsored by Senator Ayo 

Akinyelure (PDP, Ondo Central) 

while the public hearing was 

organised by the Senate 

Committee on Education (Basic 

and Secondary). 

Oba Kiladejo who was 

represented at the event by former 

Vice-Chancellor of Adekunle 

Ajasin University, Akungba 

Akoko, Prof. Femi Mimiko, said: I 

am honoured to represent the 

Òsemàwé of Ondo Kingdom, Oba 

Victor Kiladejo, and present Ondo 

community's position on the well 

considered Bill. 

"It certainly does make neither 

political nor economic sense 

relocating NIEPA from where it 

has operated for 30 years, to a 

different geo-political zone. 

"It is our wish that the Institute 

should continue to operate from 

Ondo, where it occupies an 

expanse of land measuring some 

801 hectares, and with a full 

complement of infrastructural 

facilities." 

Oba Kiladejo noted that the 

community donated 801 hectares 

of land to the institute with 91 

buildings, road infrastructure and 

sporting facilities for its retention 

in the town. 

Meanwhile, stakeholders in the 

education sector have supported 

a bill that would give legal backing 

to the establishment of the 

institute in Ondo, Ondo State, 

during a public hearing that was 

held in the Senate. 

Electing Tinubu 'll renew hope of 

a new Nigeria —Odunowo 

NATIONAL CHAIRMAN of 

the Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu 

Support Group, AATSG, Otunba 

Yomi Odunowo, has said the All 

Progressives Congress, APC, 

Presidential Candidate, Asiwaju 

Bola Tinubu's election in 2023 

would renew hope of a new 

Nigeria and take the country to 

the Promised Land. 

Odunowo, who made the 

remark during a chat with 

newsmen at Ikeja, Lagos State, 

noted that Asiwaju Tinubu's 

election would enable him to 

replicate across the country the 

magic that had been happening 

in Lagos State. 

He said that Asiwaju Tinubu's 

ability to turn Lagos to the fifth 

largest economy in Africa and 

one of the safest places to reside 

in Nigeria places him in a better 

position to further ensure the 

advancement of the Nigerian 

society where peace and socioeconomic 

development would be 

the order of the day. 

The AATSG chairman noted 

that Asiwaju Tinubu's sterling 

qualities of patriotism, 

unblemished track records in 

public and private life, exemplary 

leadership, broad experience, 

philanthropy, business acumen 

and management ingenuity 

would be of immense benefits to 

the country. 

Odunowo said: "Asiwaju is a 

visionary leader who earned 

honour by dint of hard work, diligence 

and espousing theoretical 

analogies that many dread to 

venture into and his possible 

election as the nation's president 

is a signpost of the emergence of 

a better future that would bring 

succour, hope and relief to the 

people". 

Atiku appears 

at Editors’ 

Forum 

tomorrow 

THE 

PRESIDENTIAL 

candidate of the Peoples 

Democratic Party, PDP and former 

Vice-President of Nigeria, Mr. 

Atiku Abubakar, will on 

Wednesday, November 16, 2022 

in Lagos appear at the Nigerian 

Guild of Editors’ Forum. 

He will present his plans for 

Nigerians to over 100 editors who 

will gather at the Protea Hotel 

by Marriot Ikeja Select on Plot 2 

Assibifi Road, Off Obafemi 

Awolowo Way, Ikeja at 9 am. 

The Editors’ Forum is part of 

the Nigerian Guild of Editors’ 

efforts to help deepen democracy 

by engaging candidates in the 

electoral process to 

provide explanations to 

Nigerians on their manifestoes 

and programmes. 

Kidnapping, burning of INEC offices: 

Don't turn Nigeria into another 

Afghanistan, Afenifere tells FG 

•Tasks S-West govs to tackle insecurity in region 

By Dapo Akinrefon 

THE PAN-YORUBA sociopolitical 

organization, 

Afenifere, yesterday expressed 

serious concern on the frequency 

of kidnap incidents in the South 

West especially on Lagos-Ibadan 

Expressway in recent times and 

the brining of INEC offices urging 

the Federal Government to 

prevent Nigeria from turning into 

Afghanistan. 

Afenifere, in a statement by its 

National Publicity Secretary, Mr. 

Jare Ajayi, stated that the 

frequency and ferocity of 

kidnapping in the region is 

"engendering so much concern 

regarding the territorial 

expansion of terrorists and 

bandits." 

Afenifere said the number of 

kidnappings in the South-West, 

especially near Dominion 

University and Shagamu 

Interchange on Lagos-Ibadan 

Expressway, in the past weeks 

are worrisome. 

The Yoruba body also said it 

was disturbed by reports of the 

burning of the offices of the 

Independent National Electoral 

Commission, INEC, in Ogun and 

Osun states "because of the 

implication it may have on the 

2023 elections among others." It 

said: 

"This has happened in some 

S o u t h - E a s t e r n 

states.Unauthorized burning of 

any property is condemnable by 

all standards. The fact that this 

type of arson reared its head in 

the South West is unacceptable. 

"It should be thoroughly 

investigated and made to be the 

last of such occurrence. There 

should be no excuse whatsoever 

to put the 2023 general elections 

in jeopardy. 

"It would be recalled that the 

situation has become so dire that 

marauders now invade houses 

to pick victims. 

"For instance, last week 

Monday, a Catholic priest, Father 

Kunat and eight others were 

abducted in separate attacks in 

Idon, Kajuru Local Government 

Area and in Oil Village, a suburb 

of Kaduna metropolis, located 

near the Kaduna refinery. 

"Reports had it that bandits 

invaded the residence of Father 

Kunat in Idon at midnight and 

abducted him while the attack 

on Oil Village occurred at about 

7:45pm also on Monday night. 

Bandits, numbering about 15, 

sneaked into the village and 

surrounded the residence of a 

widow and swooped on her as she 

was returning from where she 

went to purchase an item. She 

and her children became victims. 

Another widow nearby was also 

kidnapped right in her home. 

Incidents of bandits attacking 

people in their homes in Abuja, 

Kaduna, Niger, Katsina, 

Nassarawa, Benue and Zamfara 

States were rife. 

"It is high time the governors of 

the South-West act more 

decisively and more co-operatively 

to ensure that the region does 

not become a haven for terrorists 

and bandits. Afenifere calls on the 

Federal Government to show 

more seriousness in tackling the 

problem "to prevent Nigeria from 

becoming another Afghanistan." 

It also stated that: "In the last 

two years, incidents of kidnapping 

occurred in the South West. But 

the menace had become more 

pronounced in recent times. For 

instance, between January and 

October this year, several 

kidnappings have taken place on 

Lagos-Ibadan expressway as well 

as on Oyo-Ogbomoso-Ilorin 

Expressway with some captives 

losing their lives even after 

By Godfrey Bivbere 

THE FEDERAL High Court 

sitting in Abeokuta has 

ordered the Nigeria Customs 

Service, NCS, to release 24 

tankers loaded with 50,000 litres 

of Petroleum Motor Spirit, PMS, 

also known as petrol which were 

illegally impounded by officials of 

the Idiroko border Command of 

the Service. 

The judgement delivered by 

Justice Shittu Abubakar on 

August 9, 2022, a copy of which 

was made available to Vanguard, 

the court ordered the Customs 

service to pay the plaintiffs the 

monetary value of all the said PMS 

contained in the 24 tanker trucks 

of 50,000 litres capacity each. 

Olamitide International 

Limited;Tonifans Nigeria Limited; 

Olafems Oil & Gas Limited; Joffy 

A. A Petroleum Limited; Whabisco 

Oil Petroleum Limited; Vicket 

Petroleum Nigeria Limited; 

Mikenid Petroleum Nigeria 

Limited and Registered Trustees 

of Ipokia -Idiroko Petroleum 

From Left: Director Communication & Marketing, Babcock 

University, Dr Joshua Suleiman, MD/CEO, New Horizons, 

Tim Akano, and Mr Dare Babarisa, during the Presentation 

and Unveiling of the Book "No Good Deed Goes 

Unpunished" in Lagos, yesterday. Photo: Kehinde Shonola 

ransoms were paid. 

"Reports of Mr. Ibrahim Mailafia 

who was killed after three million 

ransom was paid for his life was 

also cited by "Afenifere expresses 

dismay that his assailants were 

so heartless and had the 

effrontery to ask the family of 

Mailafia in Kaduna to bring N10 

million if they wanted the corpse 

of their family member. 

"Does it mean that Nigeria is 

becoming or has become a country 

where head or tail, the citizens 

are now at the mercy of terrorists? 

Government and our security 

agencies need to brace up. 

"At the beginning, those 

committing banditry on our land 

were regarded as foreign 

marauders from the North and 

from neighbouring countries. The 

banditry has now transformed 

into terrorism, kidnapping etc. due 

to the collaboration of insiders. 

Those collaborating with evil 

doers (and evil doers themselves) 

should remember that Nemesis 

will surely catch up with them as 

no-one can escape from the law 

of Karma. 

"The primary duty of any 

government is the security of lives 

and property; followed by 

ensuring good welfare for the 

people. 

"Unfortunately, governments 

have failed woefully in both 

respects-especially the formergoing 

by how our regions are now 

brimming with criminals of various 

hues, including Fulani herders 

who destroy farms, kidnap, rape 

and kill. Movement from one area 

to another is now done with 

palpable fear and uncertainty. 

"Regrettably, rather than 

confronting this monster 

headlong, those at the helms of 

affairs are acting as if they were 

helpless with a lot of energy 

concentrated on the 2023 

elections. 

"Afenifere, hereby, urges the 

South West governments to turn 

Amotekun into a strong regional 

outfit to protect the region. The 

governors should collectively 

approach President 

Muhammadu Buhari along with 

the Vice President to let them 

save their people from being 

enslaved by bandits. Drones and 

relevant security equipment must 

be purchased and deplored to 

quickly snuff life out of the 

monster that is threatening to 

consume us. 

"Everything must be done to 

ensure that normalcy returns and 

that Nigeria does not become 

another region where terrorists 

hold sway. South west governors 

should do more." 

Court orders release of 24 petrol laden 

tankers seized by Customs 

Marketers Association of Nigeria 

had sued the NCS over 24 

tankers that were seized by the 

service on November 10, 2019. 

In its judgement, the court held" 

The Customs service is hereby 

ordered to immediately release the 

24 tanker trucks of Petroleum 

Products with their respective 

content of PMS illegally seized 

and impounded by the service. 

"The purported auction and or 

sale and/or transfer of the said 5 

out of the 24 tanker trucks loaded 

with PMS which was unlawfully 

seized, impounded and 

purportedly auctioned by the 

agents of the Defendants on 

November 10, 2019 presently kept 

at the custody of the defendants 

commanded at Idiroko, Ogun 

State is hereby set aside. 

"That the defendants be and 

are hereby ordered to pay the 

Plaintiffs the monetary value of 

all the said Petroleum Product 

(PMS) contained in the aforesaid 

24 Tanker Trucks of 50,000 litres 

capacity each (whose particulars 

are contained in the Schedule (B) 

attached), unlawfully seized and 

impounded by the agents of the 

Defendants on the 10th day of 

November, 2019 at the usual 

selling price per litre for all the 

content of the said five tanker 

trucks. 

"That the defendants are, 

hereby, ordered to immediately 

release to the plaintiffs all the 

aforesaid 24 tanker trucks of 

petroleum products with their 

respective content of PMS 

illegally seized and impounded by 

agents of the defendants on 10th 

November, 2019." 

"The Defendants are also 

ordered to immediately return and 

or refund a total sum of N6.4 

million cash illegally confiscated 

and taken by agents of the 

defendants from the 2nd Plaintiff, 

Tonifans Nigeria Limited, Filing 

Station, located at old Customs 

Road, Opposite Catholic Church, 

Idiroko, Ogun State on the 10th 

November, 2019. 

"The defendants shall pay the 

sum of N20 million, and N2 million 

only as general damages, and cost 

of this action, respectively."


By Chimaobi 

Nwaiwu 

NNEWI—THE Indigenous 

People of Biafra, IPoB, 

yesterday said contrary to 

insinuations that the group and 

Eastern Security Network, ESN 

are behind insecurity in South 

East, they have helped to curb 

alleged state sponsored armed 

militia activities in the zone. 

IPoB also said its reason for 

forming ESN is to safeguard 

South East territory from the 

terrorists masquerading as 

herdsmen in bushes and forests 

in South East and not to attack 

and terrorize the people. 

A statement by IPoB's Image 

Maker, Emma Powerful, among 

others, said "IPoB and ESN 

rather, without doubt, helped to 

curb the spread of state sponsored 

armed militias in the South East, 

who are the cause of the 

insecurity in the zone. Our aim 

of forming ESN outfit is to 

safeguard our territory from the 

marauding Fulani terrorists 

masquerading as herdsmen in 

our bushes and forests in 

Biafraland. 

"In their effort to blackmail 

IPoB, Nigeria government and 

their Politicians sponsored 

criminal armed groups in the 

South East to create insecurity 

so as to blame IPoB and ESN, 

including making money from 

Federal government. 

"It is heart-warming that our 

people now know the truth and 

they commend ESN for securing 

our farm lands. Today many of 

our bushes are safe and secure 

and our farmers are happily 

going to farms without the threat 

of being butchered like wild 

animals or our women and ladies 

raped in their farmlands. 

"IPoB is applying diplomatic 

and strategic moves in handling 

the barrage of blackmail and 

media propaganda against us by 

the Nigeria government. Nigeria 

government unlawfully 

proscribed IPoB and tagged us 

terrorists for seeking self 

determination of our territory. It 

is shameful of them that when 

we sued them over the 

proscription, they refused to 

come to answer the case and 

charges in their own court, what 

a shameless people. It gladdens 

our hearts however, that the 

International governmental 

bodies and other countries in the 

world know us as a peaceful and 

nonviolent movement seeking 

for freedom of our people. 

"Nigeria government is still 

working hard to brand IPoB as a 

violent movement before the 

International community. 

Fortunately for us, this is the 


We've helped in curbing sponsored 

criminalities in S-East —IPoB 

information technology age not 

1967. The International 

community has its Intelligence 

sources that give it accurate 

information devoid of Nigeria 

government's propaganda. 

Despite their proscription, 

arrests, torture, and forceful 

abductions in Biafra and Nigeria, 

IPoB still maintain good 

reputation with the International 

community, unlike the lawless 

Nigerian government." 

"What infiltrators, saboteurs, 

agents of provocateur and others 

paid to tarnish IPoB's reputation 

don't understand is that, violent 


TRADE FAIR: From left: President, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, LCCI, Dr. 

Olawale Cole; Dangote Industries Ltd., Group Chief Commercial Officer, Rabiu Umar; 

Dangote Suger Refinery Plc. Retail Sugar Customer, Adedamola Funke; LCCI Vice President, 

Gabriel Idahosa; GED, Dangote Industries Ltd., Kunut Ulvmeon; Vice President, LCCI, 

Abimbola Olashore, and Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc. GM, Sales & Marketing, Bello Saddiq, 

during Dangote Group Special Day at the 2022 Lagos International Trade Fair. 

Imo PDP stakeholders reject Atiku's 

campaign council 

By Emmanuel 

Iheaka 

O WERRI—SOME 

stakeholders of the Peoples 

Democratic Party, PDP, Imo State, 

have rejected the recently 

announced list of the party's 

presidential campaign council for 

the state. 

The state secretary of the party, 

Nze Ray Emeana had released the 

list on Sunday, with the immediate 

past governor of the state, Emeka 

Ihedioha, as chairman of the 

council. 

Addressing journalists in Owerri, 

the stakeholders described the list 

as an extension of Ihedioha's 

campaign council. 

Speaking on behalf of the 

stakeholders, Ngozi Ogbu, said 

there was no consultation before 

the constitution of the list, 

dismissing it as fake and product of 

imposition. 

Ogbu who is the Director 

General of Divine Mandate 

Movement, a campaign structure 

of the National Secretary of PDP, 

Senator Samuel Anyanwu, said 

stakeholders of the party were 

summoned to a meeting at the 

secretariat to discuss the 

composition of the campaign 

council, but were surprised to 

behold an already composed list. 

Also speaking, Myke Ikoku 

corroborated Ogbu's claim and 

called on the National Working 

Committee of the party and its 

presidential candidate, Atiku 

Abubakar to redress the issue. 

The stakeholders said: "We the 

Imo PDP stakeholders reject the 

fake Presidential Campaign 

Council list purportedly announced 

today, November, the 13th, 2022 

by the State Secretary of the party, 

Nze Ray Emeana. 

"We wish to use this medium to 

inform our Party that the 

movements usually don't get a 

round table discussion or 

audience with the International 

community. Have you ever seen 

any terrorist group having legal 

representation and engaging 

with global audiences? 

"We have global attention 

because we are not violent, 

neither are we terrorists as 

Nigeria government and its 

compromised officials unjustly 

tagged us, while shielding their 

brothers who have rendered the 

whole of Northern Nigeria 

unsafe. 

Anybody killing, kidnapping, 

snatching of cars and collecting 

stakeholders in Imo State were 

summoned to a stakeholders 

meeting to discuss the composition 

of the Presidential Campaign 

Council and Campaign 

Management Committee, but to 

our surprise and chagrin, the 

Secretary of the party proceeded 

to read out a list of members of the 

Presidential Campaign Council 

and Management Committee list. 

"This led to fracas and the vast 

majority of stakeholders rejected 

and opposed the announcement 

due to lack of consultation and due 

to imposition." 

"Members frowned at an 

attempt to use the Presidential 

Campaign Council as an 

of ransom in the name of doing it 

for IPoB or Nnamdi Kanu, is an 

enemy and has no part with IPoB 

struggle to restore Biafra. We all 

need to join hands with IPoB and 

ESN, to root out both sponsored 

and individual criminals in our 

land because criminal activities 

are an impediment to our 

freedom. 

"The good relationship IPoB has 

maintained with the 

International community even 

with all the heavy lobbying 

against us is a major problem for 

Nigeria. That is why till today 

Nigeria government is still 

accusing some countries of 

supporting IPoB to destabilize 

Nigeria, but their efforts are 

exercise in futility. 

extension of Ihedioha's 

Campaign Council. 

"The Party Stakeholders reject 

the imposition of a governorship 

aspirant, Emeka Ihedioha, as 

Chairman of the Presidential 

Campaign Council, and the 

directors of his campaign team 

as heads of the various 

Presidential Campaign 

Directorates. 

"It is instructive that the 

members of Imo PDP Elders 

Committee boycotted the 

stakeholders meeting due to the 

above stated reasons. 

"We therefore call on the 

National Working Committee 

and the Presidential Candidate 

of our Party, Atiku Abubakar, to 

arrest the situation urgently to 

ensure victory for our Party". 

Etiaba, epitome of loyalty, good 

conscience in Anambra —Ngige 

THE MINISTER of Labour and 

Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige 

, has extended his felicitations to 

former Deputy Governor Dame 

Virgy Etiaba, on her 80th birthday 

anniversary, describing her as "an 

epitome of loyalty, fidelity and 

good conscience in the state." 

The one-time Acting Governor 

of Anambra State clocked 80 years 

on Saturday. 

Ngige, a former governor of 

Anambra State, in a statement 

in Abuja, also described Dame 

Etiaba as "an accomplished 

educationist, seasoned 

administrator, and consummate 

public servant, who rendered 

selfless and meritorious service to 

Anambra State and the country 

in general." 

He praised her candour, 

honesty, integrity, forthrightness 

and boldness, describing her as a 

role model, especially for women 

in the Nigerian society. 

According to him, as the 

matriarch of the elite Etiaba 

family in Umudim Nnewi, Dame 

Etiaba instilled in her children and 

relatives, the good virtues of hard 

work, good work ethics, and fear of 

God, adding that the seeds she 

planted in her children have 

germinated. 

Ngige said, "Today, your children 

are shinning lights in their 

chosen careers, including Law, 

Accountancy among others. You 

impacted on the lives of many in 

the society as a teacher in 

different parts of the country 

before retiring from acting service 

at Okongwu Memorial Grammar 

School Nnewi, where you taught 

Agricultural Science among other 

subjects for several years. 

"After you left the services of 

Anambra State Government in 

1991, you founded the Bennet 

Etiaba Memorial Schools Nnewi, 

named after your late husband 

and legal luminary, and the 

institution has blossomed till date, 

providing the country with some 

of the best brains in medicine, law 

and other professions." 

Prelate to politicians: 

Avoid comments capable of 

setting Nigeria on fire 

By Gabriel Olawale 

THE NEW Prelate of Methodist 

Church Nigeria, His Eminence 

Dr Oliver Ali Aba, has called on 

candidates of various political 

parties and their supporters to 

desist from making comments 

capable of setting the nation on 

fire. 

Speaking in Lagos during his 

investiture as leader of Methodists 

in Nigeria, Aba said "electioneering 

campaigns should be more civil and 

issue-based considering the fact 

that the singular purpose of 

governance is to serve and bring 

succour to citizens who are 

suffering and are desirous of a 

better living conditions. 

"We must address the 

challenges confronting our Nation 

with prayers and more prayers. 

While it is the responsibility of 

governments at all levels to 

develop policies capable of solving 

the mirage of problems facing us 

as a country, we as citizens have 

the corresponding responsibilities 

UKODO—SECOND 

in 

Command of Ibori Political 

Dynasty, IPD, and Delta Central 

Senatorial District candidate of 

the Peoples Democratic Party, 

PDP, in Delta State, Senator 

Ighoyota Amori has again stated 

that former governor James 

Onanefe Ibori, has thrown his 

political weight behind the 

party's governorship candidate, 

Sheriff Oborevwori, the Ukodo 

of Okpe Kingdom. 

Amori gave the assurance in 

Kokori last Thursday and 

reechoed it again while speaking 

to newsmen at the Ward-to-Ward 

Campaigns by the party's Guber 

candidate, Oborevwori, in Abraka, 

Ethiope East Local Government 

Area on Friday 11th November, 

saying that the Supreme Court 

judgement in Edevbie v 

Oborevwori put an end to all political 

and emotional frictions in the party. 

He disclosed that Oborevwori was 

and still a star product of Ibori 

Political Dynasty, and remained the 

political son of James Ibori, pointing 

out that the PDP Ethiope Federal 

Constituency candidate in the 

forthcoming 2023 general elections, 

Mrs Erhiatake Ibori-Suenu is the 

daughter of former governor Ibori, 

of praying for them not to be 

derailed by selfishness and greed. 

"While it is right to pressure them 

and demand good governance, we 

cannot take away the place of 

prayer and this we must do 

intently, with purpose and without 

ceasing. As Nigerians, we cannot 

afford to give up hope at this time. 

Rather, we must hold tenaciously 

to our belief that with God, all 

things will turn around. I urge the 

political class especially in this 

season of electioneering 

campaigns to inspire the citizens 

not only with words but with their 

actions and deeds because 

Nigerians are getting tired." 

Aba in a statement by the 

Media, Public Relations and 

Strategic Communications 

Advisor, Methodist Church 

Nigeria, Oladapo Daramola, said 

that the church will join hands with 

other religious leaders and 

stakeholders to continue to pray 

for the well-being of the Nation 

and Nigerians everywhere. 

Delta decides: Oborevwori's Ibori's 

political son —Amori 

and that it was and still absolutely 

impossible for Ibori to align with 

any other political entity for the 

elections other than the PDP. 

Senator Amori who is also the 

Otota of Mosogsr Kingdom in 

Ethiope West Local Government 

Area of the state, further disclosed 

that the bloc vote of his LGA 

including the votes of Ibori's Oghara 

town is for candidate Oborevwori 

and other candidates of PDP on a 

five over five basis. 

"The statement I made in Kokori 

about Ibori's full support for 

Oborevwori is the true position of 

things. Ibori is in full support of the 

PDP family. 

"Ibori is in full support of 

Oborevwori becoming the governor 

of Delta State, come 2023. The 

disagreement has come and gone. 

That matter has been put to rest by 

the Supreme Court and we have 

no other choice than to support the 

governorship candidate. 

"And that is what I said that James 

Onanefe Ibori is in full support of 

Oborevwori becoming the governor 

of Delta State in 2023. 

"Oborevwori is a political product 

of James Onanefe Ibori. We served 

in government together under Ibori 

and he remains his political son. 

2023: Army assures Nigerians 

of safety 

By Efe Ondjae 

AGOS—THE Nigerian Army 

Lhas assured the safety of 

Nigerians come 2023 elections, 

saying modalities had been put in 

place to ensure that. 

The Commander 9 Brigade of the 

Nigerian Army, Ikeja Cantonment, 

Brigadier-General Isangubong 

Akpaumontia, gave the assurance 

while delivering a lecture tagged ‘ 

The 

Military 

and.Leadrtship,:Lessons for a 

growing democracy ‘ at a Town and 

Gown Seminar organised by the 

Faculty of Leadership and 

Development Study, Covenant 

University, Otta, Ogun State . 

He disclosed that an operation 

known as Excercise Still Waters was 

launched recently , with the aim of 

maintaining safety of Lal Nigerians 

during the general elections.. 

He said: “the Chief of Army Staff, 

Lieutenant General Farouk Yahaya 

, is also putting in much effort to 

curb insecurity most especially in 

the northern part of the country . 

Nigerians can see there has been 

much improvement in the North 

and North West” 

He was also quick to remind the 

audience comprising students and 

lecturers of the faculty that the 

Nigerian Army had no right to 

change the government . 

Rather, he said change would 

only be done with the ballot boxes 

and not with barrel of guns. 

Brig. Gen. Akpaumontia stated 

that election according to the 

constitution, “is by votes people 

cast and not by the barrel of the 

gun. The Military have nothing to 

do with who becomes the next 

president or governor, it is the people 

that decide. The Military know that 

political positions are determined 

by civilians 

“My advice is that you can learn 

from the Military.Like I pointed out 

, there are things that you can 

learn from the military and 

commitment and national out look 

are two keys that the politicians 

can learn from the military”. 

While giving a historical 

background on the emergence of 

the Nigerian Army, he threw more 

light on Military Leadership, 

Military in politics, challenges of 

Nigeria democracy and possible 

solution for democratic leaders. 

Also speaking, the Dean, College 

of Leadership , Professor Charles 

Obulugo, said ,“ we teach leadership 

. We know leadership is not isolatory 

but cumulative and it is a game 

played across the table. 

“We can not say we have 

leadership without touching on all 

sector. Today ,we have the privilege 

to bring the number one person in 

Lagos to come speak with us, so to 

us it’s an extension of our leadership 

mandate.“


:Vanguard 

News 


AWARDS—From left: Head, Brand and Communication, Parallex Bank, Ademola Adeshola; 

MD, Olufemi Bakre; DG, Nigeria Employers' Consultative Association, Adewale Oyerinde, 

and Head, Agency Banking, Parallex Bank, Abdulwasiu Popoola, during the award of Challenger 

Bank of the Year, to Parallex Bank, at the BAFI Awards, in Lagos. 

A-Ibom 2023: Court nullifies APC 

guber primary, orders fresh exercise 

By Harris Emanuel 

UYO—A Federal High 

Court, sitting in Uyo, 

Akwa Ibom State, has 

cancelled the governoship 

primary election of the All 

Progressive Congress, APC, 

party, held on May 26, 2022, 

and ordered a new exercise. 

Meanwhile, a chieftain of 

the APC in the state, Eseme 

Eyiboh, has expressed 

dissatisfaction with the order 

that disqualified Udofia. 

Eyiboh, who is APC 

candidate for Eket Federal 

Constituency, assured their 

teeming supporters and wellwishers 

to stay strong and 

together, as the judgment 

would be upturned at the 

Delta 2023: I have nothing against you, 

Uduaghan tells Oborevwori 

By Emma Amaize, 

Festus Ahon 

A SABA—FORMER 

governor of Delta 

State, Emmanuel Uduaghan, 

has said that he has nothing 

against the Peoples 

Democratic Party, PDP, 

governorship candidate in the 

state, Mr. Sheriff Oborevwori. 

Uduaghan, at a meeting of 

Federal Government College, 

Warri Old Students' 

Alleged oil theft: 16 foreigners charged 

to court in Port Harcourt 

By Egufe Yafugborhi 

PORT HARCOURT— 

SIXTEEN foreign 

nationals were, yesterday, 

arraigned before a Federal 

High Court in Port Harcourt, 

Rivers Sate, on a three-count 

charge of conspiracy, 

stealing, attempt to deal in 

crude oil and false pretence, 

after being caught on board 

a vessel, MT Heroic Idun. 

In the charges read in the 

case between Federal 

Government vs MT Heroic 

Idun and 16 others, the 

foreigners were alleged to 

have, sometimes in August 

2022, at Akpo Oilfield, in 

Rivers State, within Nigeria 

Exclusive Economic Zone, 

•Udofia not to participate •APC chieftain 

expresses dissatisfaction with order 

Court of Appeal. 

Former aide to President 

Mohammedu Buhari, 

Senator Ita Enang had in the 

suit told the court that the 

party primary election won by 

Obong Akan Udofia, was 

characterized by several 

illegalities as the winner was 

not a member of the party. 

In his argument, Udofia 

said that the APC had given 

him a waiver that qualified 

him to contest the party 

primary election held on May 

26, 2022. 

Delivering 

judgment, 

A s s o c i a t i o n , 

FEGOCOWOSA, held 

weekend, in Effurun, Uvwie 

LGA of the state, said he 

decided to support 

Oborevwori as the 

governorship candidate of the 

PDP out of his personal 

convictions. 

Noting that God has 

decided to hand over the 

power of the State PDP to 

Oborevwori, he said: "We are 

behind you. I am sincerely 

conspired amongst 

themselves and committed 

maritime offence. 

The accused pleaded not 

guilty to the charges which 

are said to contravene 

Section 10 of the Suppression 

of Piracy and Other 

Maritime Offences Act 2019. 

Trial judge, Justice Turaki 

Muhammed, after listening 

to the application of the 

prosecutors on amended 

charges, ordered that the 

accused be remanded in a 

Nigerian Navy vessel to 

enable 10 remaining suspects 

to be brought to court to take 

their plea. 

Justice Muhammed before 

adjourning the matter to 

November 15, 2022, advised 

yesterday, the trial judge, 

Justice Agatha Okeke 

nullified the APC primary poll 

and ordered the party in the 

state to conduct another 

credible primary election 

within two weeks. 

Justice Okeke also 

dismissed the purported 

waiver granted Udofia and 

ordered the party to conduct 

another primary election in a 

fortnight where authentic 

governoship flag bearer of 

APC in the state will emerge. 

The court also ordered that 

Udofia, who claimed to have 

excited that you are here 

today. Something happened 

on Saturday. I said something 

somewhere at a meeting and 

it has been trending in the 

social media. 

"Many people were 

surprised that I spoke like 

that, that I have identified with 

you properly. Iit was assumed 

that I was critically against 

you. Like I told them at the 

meeting on Saturday, there is 

no transition from a sitting 

that the accused be allowed 

to see their lawyers and be 

given medical attention if 

need arises. 

No fewer than 26 persons 

were said to be onboard the 

MT HEROIC IDUN crude 

oil vessel at the Akpo Oilfield 

within Rivers State waters 

when it was arrested on August 

7 by the Nigerian Navy. 

A Navy surveillance facility 

was said to have tracked and 

constantly updated the 

Equatorial Guinea Navy on 

the location of the vessel 

currently being held at the 

Luba Anchorage in Bioko 

Island, Equatorial Guinea, 

while the country was 

conducting her investigations 

into the matter. 

won the aborted primary 

election of APC in the state 

should not participate in the 

fresh party’s primary election. 

It will be recalled that the 

purported governoship 

primary election of APC in the 

state won by Udofia was 

hijacked by party bigwigs such 

as Senator Godswill Akpabio on 

one hand and camp of Senator 

John Akpanudoedehe, who later 

dumped the party for New 

Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP, 

leaving the likes of Ita Enang, 

Atuekong Don Etiebet, Capt. 

Sam Ewang, among others. 

governor to a non sitting 

governor that it is easy. 

"You are going through your 

heat now and by God's grace, 

you will come out well in Jesus 

name, Amen. I have openly 

identified with you to kill a lot 

of rumours. Since Saturday, I 

have not slept, I have been 

receiving messages, some 

asking why did you do that? 

Why did you do that? 

"I did it out of my personal 

conviction. We are human and 

we have our divisions. We have 

issues everywhere. There are 

always issues even till the 

swearing-in, when you sit on 

that seat. Until then, problem 

will continue every minute, 

everyday, but by God's grace, 

you have a lot of pushings in 

absorbing every multiple 

problem and we are part of 

the push. We are behind you. 

Delta State will benefit a lot 

from your administration if 

elected governor next year.” 

In his remarks, Oborevwori 

said: "My boss, it is a privilege 

and honour to be here today. I 

got the information that the 

old students of the Federal 

Government College, Warri 

are having a meeting and I 

decided to come over to greet 

you people, but I didn't know 

my boss and immediate past 

governor of Delta State, Dr 

Emmanuel Uduaghan will be 

here. 

"When I got here and saw 

his car, I was shocked. I am 

happy meeting him here." 

2023: NUJ tasks governors, 

FG on opposition parties’ 

campaigns, roads 

By Ozioruva Aliu 

BENIN CITY—THE 

Nigeria Union of 

Journalists, NUJ, has called 

on state governors to stop the 

practice of denying opposition 

political parties in their states 

of campaigns and access to 

desired venues, just as it called 

on the Federal Government to 

declare a state of emergency 

on Federal roads across the 

country. 

Edo State is home to several 

Federal highways and most of 

them are in deplorable 

conditions. 

In a communiqué at the end 

of the National Executive 

Council, NEC, meeting of the 

union in Benin City, Edo State, 

National President of the 

union, Chris Isiguzor, said the 

NEC also supports traditional 

institution in the country and 

urged the National Assembly 

to consider creating 

constitutional roles for 

traditional rulers, especially 

in the fight against insecurity. 

Extending gratitude to 

Governor Godwin Obaseki 

of Edo State for the successful 

hosting of the NEC, he said: 

“NEC frowns at a situation 

where state governments make 

it very difficult or almost 

impossible for opposition political 

parties to have seamless 

campaigns in their states. NEC 

wants all political parties to be 

given equal opportunities and 

the need for security agents to 

put more efforts towards 

checking incessant attacks 

during political rallies. 

Naira notes redesign: Group 

backs CBN gov 

AN 

International 

Transparency group, 

Council of Economic Experts 

and Transparency Initiatives, 

CEETI, has thrown its weight 

behind the Federal 

Government's decision, 

through the Central Bank of 

Nigeria, CBN, to redesign the 

N1,000, N500 and N200 

notes, describing calls by 

sponsored groups for the sack 

of the CBN Governor, Godwin 

Emefiele, as ridiculous and 

shameful. 

According to CEETI: 

“Alliance Network Against 

Corruption, ANAC, and other 

protesting groups against the 

naira notes redesign policy, 

have the right to express 

doubts over the new CBN 

policy, however, they should 

be ashamed that in the last 

few weeks since the policy 

unveiled, trillions of naira 

have been exposed to have 

been unearthed where they 

were stored by wicked 

politicians, who pay these 

protesters to protest and are 

calling for the sack of the 

CBN governor.” 

Coordinator of CEETI, Dr. 

Joseph Akponede, said: “We 

are working to see a Nigeria 

where citizens will be 

informed and empowered, 

governments are open, 

responsive, and collective 

actions will advance the 

public good. 

Wike invites Buhari, Oshiomhole, 

Obi to inaugurate projects 

GOVERNOR Nyesom 

Wike of Rivers State has 

invited members of 

opposition political parties to 

inaugurate projects in his state. 

Members of the All 

Progressives Congress, APC, 

and Labour Party (LP) were 

invited to the Fourth Quarter 

2022 Project commissioning 

in Rivers. 

The week-long activities 

commenced yesterday, and 

would end on Friday. 

Wike, a chieftain of the 

Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, 

invited President 

Muhammadu Buhari and 

former Edo State governor, 

Adams Oshiomhole, both of 

the APC. 

Also, LP’s presidential 

candidate, Peter Obi, and 

Emir of Kano, HRH Aminu 

Bayero made the list. 

The monarch is scheduled 

to inaugurate the Dr. Peter 

Odili Cancer and 

Cardiovascular Disease 

Diagnostic and Treatment 

Centre in Obio/Akpor LGA of 

Rivers on Monday. 

Oshiomhole is scheduled to 

commission the 

Rumuepirikom Flyover in 

Obio/Akpor on Wednesday 

while Obi will inaugurate 

the Nkpolu-Oroworokwo 

Flyover on Thursday in 

Port Harcourt, the state 

capital. 

Also, President Buhari 

will commission the Nabo 

Graham Douglas Campus, 

Nigerian Law School, in 

Obio/Akpor on Friday. 

PAP: Ndiomu has done 

nothing wrong —APC chieftain 

WARRI—A chieftain of 

All Progressives 

Congress, APC, in Delta State, 

Michael Johnny, said the 

Interim Administrator of 

Presidential Amnesty 

Programme, PAP, Maj.-Gen. 

Barry Ndiomu (retd), has not 

done anything wrong to be 

criticised unjustly. 

Johnny, who spoke to 

newsmen, yesterday, in Warri, 

Delta State, pointed out that 

it was too early to 

unnecessarily distract 

Ndiomu from discharging his 

duties for which he was 

appointed. 

He said: "I don't have any 

contract in the Presidential 

Amnesty Office, and I am not 

seeking any. However, let me 

caution our people to stop the 

act and habit of criticising any 

Ijaw man in office. The 

Interim Administrator has 

been going round consulting 

relevant stakeholders and 

seeking for possible collaboration 

that will redefine and transform 

the amnesty programme." 

Johnny, former chairman of 

Egbema Gbaramatu 

Communuties Development 

Foundation, EGCDF, urged 

President Muhammadu Buhari 

and National Security Adviser, 

NSA, to ignore any allegation 

against Ndiomu, adding that the 

Interim Administrator should be 

supported and allowed to do his 

work. 

"Let me also caution the 

Federal Government to jettison 

any plan to terminate or scrap 

PAP."

VANGUARD, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2022 — 13 

FACES AT NEWSPAPERS PROPRIETORS' ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA AND 

OTHER MEDIA STAKEHOLDERS' ROUNDTABLE IN LAGOS, YESTERDAY 

Newspapers Proprietors' Association of Nigeria, NPAN, Media Roundtable, with the theme: 

‘Deepening Media Professionalism Through Co-Regulation’, held at Protea Hotel, Alausa, 

Ikeja, Lagos, yesterday. Photos: Lamidi Bamidele & Bunmi Azeez. 

•From left: Mr. Eze Anaba, Editor, Vanguard Newspapers; Mr. Martins 

Oloja, MD/Editor-in-Chief, Guardian Newspapers, and Mr. Taiwo 

Obe, Founder/Director, The Journalism Clinic. 

•From left: Mr. Azu Ishiekwene, Senior Vice Chairman, Leadership 

Newspapers; Mr. Gbenga Adefaye, GM/Editor-in-Chief, Vanguard 

Newspapers, and Mr. Jide Lawal, GM, Radio Lagos/Eko FM. 

•From left: Richard Akinnola, ED, Centre for Free Speech 

Organisation; Azubuike Ishiekwene, Editor-in-Chief, Leadership 

Newspapers, and Ms Kadaria Ahmed, MC of the event. 

•From left: Bolaji Adebiyi, ME, ThisDay Newspapers; Dr. Yemisi 

Bamgbose, Executive Secretary, BON; Lade Bonuola, former MD, 

The Guardian Newspapers; Toke Alex-Ibru, ED, The Guardian 

Newspapers, and Martins Oloja, MD/Editor in Chief, Guardian 

Newspapers. 

•Ted Iwere, former MD, Daily Independent 

Newspapers (left), and Mr. Lanre Idowu, 

Chairman, Diamond Communication. 

•Mr. Owolabi Oladejo, Founder/CEO, Impact 

Radio and IATV, Ibadan (left), with Dr. 

Oludare Ogunyombo, Associate Director, 

Brooks and Blake, Nig, Ltd. 

•From left: Collins Edomaruese, Publisher, 

Metrowatch; Iyobosa Uwugiaren, General 

Secretary, Nigerian Guild of Editors, and 

Onuoha Ukeh, MD, The Sun Newspapers. 

•Leke Adegbite, Chairman, Ondo State NUJ 

(left), and Lanre Arogundade, ED, 

International Press Center. 

•From left: Mrs. Abiola Beckley, Vice 

Chairman, NUJ, Lagos council; Segun 

James, ThisDay Newspapers corespondent, 

and Yemisi Izuora, Publisher Oriental News, 

Nigeria Online 

•Prof. Ralph Akinfeleye, former head of 

Department of Mass Communication, 

University of Lagos [right], and Mr. Ephraim 

Sheyin, Managing Editor, News Agency of 

Nigeria.


How we are deploying 

biotechnology for 

national development 

—NABDA DG, Prof 

Mustapha 

Professor Abdullahi Mustapha is an expert in the real sense of the 

word. He is a renowned professor of chemistry and also understands the 

role science and technology can play in the development of a nation. He 

has been writing and researching on that until he was appointed as the 

Director General of the National Biotechnology Development Agency, 

NABDA, by President Muhammadu Buhari in 2020. Since his 

appointment, which he sees as an opportunity for him to contribute his 

quota to national development, Prof. Mustapha has brought to bear 

several biotechnology-based initiatives in order to solve Nigeria’s 

challenges. 

In this interview with Soni Daniel and Emman Elebeke, Prof. Mustapha 

speaks on effort by the agency to address critical challenges facing the 

country using biotechnology. Excerpts: 

••Prof. Abdullahi Mustapha...deploying biotechnology in cow breeding 

WITH the mandate given 

to you as the director 

general of the National 

Biotechnology Development 

Agency, what have you been 

able to do to ensure that 

biotechnology takes shape in 

Nigeria? 

As I came into office I came 

with my own agenda and plans 

on how to prosper and move 

NABDA forward. First of all, 

before you do anything in a 

research institution, you have to 

have some basic things, and 

those basic things include water 

and electricity. 

Water is needed in laboratory; 

light is needed in laboratories 

for equipment running and for 

all the experiment that are going 

on. So that is the first priority 

that I make sure that there is 

light and water. Secondly, I also 

reckoned that we need to have 

training of staff and that is why I 

keep on emphasizing on staff 

welfare and training. Without a 

trained staff you cannot achieve 

what you want to achieve. 

Legal 

framework 

This is a research institute and 

knowledge is being renewed day 

in day out and if this knowledge 

is not being renewed it means 

that we are just stagnant in one 

place and that is why we have 

sent large of number of people 

for PhD studies and we are also 

working hard to see that we bring 

more knowledge into what we 

are doing. Above all, as an 

institution, we needed to have a 

legal framework approved by the 

National Assembly. And, that 

was done within six months after 

I started pursuing it and this is 

something that I am really 

happy about and it remains a 

milestone to this agency. 

This is memorable because 

NABDA has been in existence for 

over 20 years but there was no 

law backing its existence until it 

was done a few months after my 

appointment. With the legal 

framework, NABDA is now 

backed by law as an institution 

to conduct researches that will 

foster economic development of 

the nation and all these areas of 

development are covered by 

biotechnology. 

What would you say is 

Nigeria’s level of appreciation 

of biotechnology at the 

moment? 

Well, to be honest with you, I 

will say Nigerians have accepted 

it very well in the sense that 

before now, there were many 

people who were opposed to the 

idea applying biotechnology to 

anything in the country. But 

today, we don’t have many of 

such people. It is good for the 

country. 

Opposition to biotechnology is 

dying down because when we 

were called for a public hearing 

on a bill on biotechnology some 

of the fiercest critics of the law 

refused to show up and present 

their criticism against the 

technology during a public 

hearing organized by the 

National Assembly. Another 

reason is that we have developed 

crops that are going to be used 

for the development of the 

nation and people have accepted 

them wholeheartedly and they 

are now looking for this 

technology to be applied in their 

farms. 

In which specific areas are 

you deploying biotechnology in 

Nigeria? 

Biotechnology covers 

everything but here we have 

streamlined it into four major 

categories. In the environment 

area, we have focused on 

achieving biotechnology 

research towards bringing 

cleaner energy, two, cleaning the 

environment and even the 

fingerprint of our crude oil. In 

the area of agriculture, we are 

working on fisheries, animal 

biotechnology and crops 

production. In the area of 

fisheries we have a research for 

producing Tilapia; we have 

increased that and the target is 

to bring to the table bigger size 

Tilapia fish and all other fish but 

we concentrate on the Tilapia for 

now. 

We are also producing 

fingerlings and fish feeds also. 

In the area of animal 

biotechnology, we are working 

to improve milk production. 

Instead of what we are observing 

now 1-3 litres maximum per day 

per cow, we are improving it to 

15-20 litres per cow and we have 

started the breeding programme 

and it is going to cover the whole 

nation. We have started with 

some few selected states and with 

some few farms and we have 

inseminated these cows. For this 

year, we earmarked about 250 

cows and we have inseminated 

over 152 cows as at now and we 

are expecting in the next nine 

months to a 

year we are 

going to have 

the first 

generation of 

t h e s e 

crossbreed 

animals that 

can produce 

more milk 

and more 

meat. We have 

earmarked 

about 250 

cows for next 

yielding variety that will 

improve the textile industry and 

make Nigeria self-sufficient in 

that area of business as it was 

before. We are collaborating 

with the Cotton Farmers 

Association in bringing the type 

of cotton that is resistant to any 

form of attack and to improve 

the quality and quantity of the 

produce and give farmers more 

money. Last year the cotton 

farmers association celebrated 

6,000 hectares that they 

collectively farmed. 

In the area of industry also, we 

are having researches that we 

can produce microbes that can 

fast track the development of the 

production processes in industry 

and we have identified some 

m i c r o 

organisms 

f o r 

Instead of what we are 

observing now 1-3 litres 

maximum per day per cow, 

we are improving it to 15- 

20 litres per cow and we 

have started the breeding 

programme and it is going 

to cover the whole nation 

example, 

that use 

starter 

culture in 

yoghurt 

which we 

depend on 

o t h e r 

countries 

to feed out 

industries. 

Unfortunately 

year and we 

believe that with gradual work, 

we will cover the entire country. 

This research is a national 

programme and this is what 

other countries have taken time 

to do to transform their livestock. 

So we are collaborating with 

other countries, some other 

institutions to transform the 

sector in Nigeria. 

In the area of crop production, 

we are working to see that we 

have enough climate smart 

crops, drought-resistant crops 

and pest-resistant crops for 

farmers across the country. We 

have already brought in a 

special type of cowpea that will 

resist drought and pests and 

bring prosperity to farmers in the 

country. In the area of cotton, we 

have collaborated with other 

agencies to bring in high- 

that starter 

culture for yoghurt production 

gulps millions of Naira every 

year to import into the country 

and also require special 

temperature to keep it for use. 

This is not sustainable and we 

had to identify local micro 

organism that can do the same 

work here in Nigeria. 

We have varieties now and they 

can produce without that 

cooling system and it can 

produce faster in the country. We 

are working for the production 

of bio-ethanol which is a big 

industry in the country because 

we have to spend millions of 

dollars to import bio-ethanol. In 

the petroleum processes, we need 

bio-ethanol, in the 

pharmaceutical industry and in 

some other aspects but we have 

the technology for the 

production of bio-ethanol using 

cassava and sugar cane. 

But now we are even partnering 

with other people from other 

countries. Recently we just talked 

with people from Paraguay for 

the improvement of livestock. 

We also discussed with people 

from China for this bio-ethanol 

production and they are coming 

to team up with us and what we 

are going to use is the sweet 

sorghum in the production of this 

bio-ethanol of which we have in 

abundance in the country. We 

can produce it and then the biogas 

can be used for the 

production of animal feed. So we 

have this combination where you 

have your animal, you can feed 

it with your bio-gas and then you 

produce bio-ethanol that you can 

use to power your generator and 

then you sell the remaining. It is 

a value chain and this is what 

we are bringing. 

We have the concept and we 

will soon go into deploying it to 

the country. In the area of 

medical biotechnology, we have 

already started the production 

vaccines. The vaccine 

technology is very important in 

the country because we have 

some peculiar diseases that we 

need to provide the drugs and 

give vaccines and that is what we 

are working on and we have just 

kick-started it. We wanted the 

technology, it is not that 

somebody will come and just 

give us the drugs or to give us 

the vaccines to start producing. 

We wanted to have the 

technology and that is what we 

are aiming at. 

Do you have the technology 

now? 

No, we are working on it. 

Nobody can give you technology 

just like that. 

So what level have you 

reached? 

To be honest we have started. 

This research can take you years 

because it is something that has 

to do with humans. What we are 

trying to do is to have a 

technology to be able to respond 

Continues on page 15

THE BIG INTERVIEW 

How we are deploying biotechnology for national 

development—NABDA DG, Prof Mustapha 

Continues from page 14 

to anything that happens and 

be able to produce the needed 

vaccines to respond to such 

developments. For the malaria 

and transgenic mosquitoes, we 

are trying to see how we can 

produce transgenic 

mosquitoes. If you go to some 

other countries you will find 

that when mosquitoes bite and 

if they suck blood, they cannot 

take the plasmodium that 

causes malaria and cannot 

transfer it to the body. There are 

many things we are working on 

to stop malaria afflicting the 

country and making families to 

spend their fortune on the 

ailment. We are trying to 

ensure that instead of families 

spending billions of dollars 

every year to import drugs or 

mosquito nets or mosquito coil, 

we prevent mosquitoes from 

being able to attack and inflict people 

with malaria. 

What is the structure of your 

organisation in being able to reach out 

to every state in the country? 

We do have a system whereby in NABDA 

we have state offices and these states 

harness the natural resources that are 

there and also see how they can add value 

to those natural resources. They feed us 

with information to enable us to take 

necessary steps to harness the resources 

and add value to them. They conduct 

some researches in some areas and we 

have the laboratories that are mainly for 

conducting researches in those areas. 

Are you able to speak to investors 

whether local or foreign? And what is 

their response to you? 

To be honest with you, within the country 

not so many people have seen the 

advantages that are available. Outside the 

country many people go to research 

institutes to put in their money for 

partnership and whatever you bring out, 

they sponsor the research and claim 

ownership of whatever product is 

produced and commercialize it and take 

their own share of the fund. 

But here we have that limited 

awareness. As I have told you earlier, we 

have people from outside the country. We 

have consortium with 

Paraguay, Chinese and 

Nigerians coming to do 

this work and then we 

have those who are 

willing to bring 

investment to produce 

bio-ethanol, more meat 

for these cows for export. 

Just last week, I 

transmitted some 

documents to them. We 

are working with people 

from Morocco to see 

what we can do in the 

area of stem cell 

technology, which is 

•Prof. Abdullahi Mustapha...solving Nigeria's 

problems with biotechnology 

There are 

many things we 

are working on 

to stop malaria 

afflicting the 

country and 

making families 

to spend their 

fortune on the 

ailment 

regenerative therapy and 

it is obtained elsewhere but not yet in 

Nigeria. Elsewhere you see people going 

for medical therapy and by the time we 

start that, it is like everybody is going to 

be here. 

We have experts that are coming here to 

train our people but our own part is 

research aspect where we can move on to 

see how we improve on the technology 

and then this technology will be used in 

curing of ailments. When we have that 

technology in place it would drastically 

reduce the number of Nigerians going 

abroad for medical tourism. 

Equipment for stem cell technology has 

already been purchased. They are on their 

way to Nigeria and we are working with 

the Federal Ministry of Health and some 

other health institutions to actualize that 

dream. We have tank farm cleaning which 

is a technology that instead of using 

chemicals to clean your tank farm and 

vessels that carry crude oil, this 

technology is using micro organism to 

remove all the sediments that are there, 

wash the tank farm and then use crude oil 

that you have recovered and that is a good 

technology. 

Have you developed that one already? 

We have collaboration with Morocco 

and we have already developed that 

technology. What remains is just to deploy 

it. We are working with NNPC. We are 

working also with the Ministry of Water 

Resources for cleaning of water using this 

our biotechnology to clean water and to 

get water that is of high quality for 

drinking. 

It is like you have very big factories 

where these researches are taking place 

or they are concentrated here? 

We cannot do everything; we cannot go 

and start establishing industries. I have 

just told you about the collaboration we 

have with people from Paraguay and 

China. It is to deploy this technology and 

the investors in the consortium. We 

facilitate it because we are a government 

agency to see that we have secured land 

and all other facilities that are needed to 

ensure the success of 

whatever we set out to do in 

the interest of Nigeria. 

What is your relationship 

with the universities in 

Nigeria in order to 

popularize biotechnology? 

What message are you 

selling to them in order to 

ensure that this 

biotechnology becomes a 

household issue? 

We do not sell that idea to 

them but rather they are 

already on it because in 

Nigeria almost all 

universities have keyed into 

biotechnology as one of the 

major areas of interest. They have people 

on undergraduate, master class and PhD 

and we have professors in this country of 

biotechnology, so they have accepted it 

and they are promoting it. 

How would you want to be 

remembered when you leave this place? 

One is by finding a solid footing for this 

agency that this agency is now legally 

backed by law. Two, I want to see that we 

have very competent researchers that can 

take up the challenges that will come in 

the future. Three, I want to leave NABDA 

as a world class research institute where 

you will work, conduct your research and 

you will be proud to bring it out 

worldwide and say this is what I found in 

Nigeria. 



On Buhari, Sanwo-Olu’s economic prescriptions 

By ADEWALE KUPOLUYI 

THE 2022 Lagos International Trade Fair 

provided another opportunity to 

examine the nation's economy, as key players 

in the public and private sectors identified 

major challenges and proposed solutions for 

how things can improve. For the Nigerian 

President, Muhammadu Buhari the trade fair 

was the right time to showcase the nation’s 

capacity to produce to global standards and 

to export. The President, who made this known 

at the opening ceremony, at the Tafawa Balewa 

Square, Lagos, which was the 36th in 

succession, was put together by the Lagos 

Chamber of Commerce and Industry, LCCI. 

The President, who was represented at the 

occasion by the Minister of Industry, Trade, 

and Investment, Otunba Adeniyi Adebayo, said 

that the essence of trade was to connect people 

and businesses to create value. He said that 

"through increased trade, our goals of job 

creation, gross domestic product growth, 

increased foreign exchange earnings, and 

reduced insecurity are actualized. " 

The development of export trade takes this a 

step further and helps our nation reach its 

economic diversification goals, he said. Buhari 

said Nigeria had signed and ratified the 

agreement establishing the African 

Continental Free Trade Area, AfCFTA, to boost 

intra-African trade and integrate the 

continent's market, which consists of 1.3 billion 

consumers, He said the country’s international 

trade was currently doing well, with a trade 

surplus in excess of N3.2 trillion. The president 

informed us that the public sector would 

continue to drive investment into 

infrastructural development, encourage access 

to low-cost financing, and provide fiscal 

incentives to companies wishing to 

manufacture products for sale. These 

incentives include three- to five-year tax 

holidays for enterprises as pioneer industries; 

tax-free operations, and capital allowances for 

agriculture, manufacturing, and engineering 

within the free trade zones. 

Furthermore, the Federal Government has 

taken much-needed steps to improve the 

trading environment through the creation of 

special economic zones, with 17 operational 

special economic zones, SEZs, of which 14 

are general economic zones that support 

export processing, large-scale manufacturing, 

tourism, food processing, and oil and gasrelated 

activities, among others. The Federal 

Government has also provided funding 

support through the Central Bank of Nigeria, 

CBN, and the Bank of Industry, BOI. 

Specifically, the CBN has initiated 

programmes to encourage domestic 

production and exports, some of which include 

the Anchor Borrowers’ Programme, FGN 

Special Intervention Fund for Micro, Small, 

and Medium Enterprises, MSMEs and the 

N150 billion 

Targeted Credit Facility. The Federal 

Government distributed a total of N785 billion 

through BOI and also provided fiscal 

incentives to businesses across multiple sectors 

through the Federal Ministry of Finance, 

Budget, and National Planning for the Pay-As- 

You-Earn, PAYE, and Company Income Tax, 

CIT, taxes, which are among the lowest in the 

world, while small businesses with an annual 

turnover of less than N25 million are exempt 

from Company Income Tax.A lower company 

income tax rate of 20 percent is also provided 

for companies whose yearly turnover is 

between N25 million and N100 million, the 

president said. 

Buhari also told the audience that the 

Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade, and 

Investment was reviewing and updating the 

country's National Trade Policy in order to 

firmly establish Nigeria as a worldwide 

trading hub and a regional leader, and that 

the policy seeks to maximise economic output, 

expand infrastructural development, promote 

business growth, industrialization, and 

entrepreneurship, and he called for 

collaboration among relevant parties to 

increase trade in Nigeria. Speaking at the 

occasion, the Lagos State Governor, Babajide 

Sanwo-Olu, applauded the efforts of the 

leadership of the LCCI in bringing together its 

members, who he said remain the fulcrum of 

business in Nigeria. "In Nigeria, this sector is 

the heartbeat of our industrial and economic 

development, and in Lagos State, MSMEs 

have significantly contributed to employment 

With a population of over 

22 million, Lagos is the fifth 

fastest growing city in the 

world, which is why it is an 

investor's delight 

creation, value addition, income generation, 

and appreciable poverty reduction. 

Therefore, there is no doubt in my mind that 

MSMEs are crucial to our economic growth 

and stability in achieving the Sustainable 

Development Goals, particularly in the 

promotion of creativity and decent work for 

all. As a government, our administration’s 

priority is the business sector, with a particular 

focus on MSMEs. With a population of over 

22 million, Lagos is the fifth fastest growing 

city in the world, which is why it is an investor's 

delight. Lagos accounts for over 25 percent of 

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the national gross domestic product (GDP), and 

65 percent of Nigeria’s industrial and commercial 

activities. 

"I humbly request that you, LCCI, continue 

to initiate and develop more opportunities for 

assisting businesses, particularly the young 

corps of entrepreneurs who have great 

potentials for rewriting our state's business 

history and revitalising Nigeria's economic 

fortune. Undoubtedly, our continued 

partnership cannot, but, yield bountiful returns. 

Let me further assure you that we shall not rest 

on our oars until business prosperity is 

guaranteed. This is because our 

administration is not oblivious of the fact that 

for us to achieve our dream of becoming 

Africa’s model megacity by 2025, we must 

continue to improve our business climate so 

as to attract more private sector investments, 

create jobs and increase productivity", Sanwo- 

Olu said. 

The President of LCCI, Asiwaju (Dr.) Michael 

Olawale-Cole affirmed that the current edition 

of the trade fair underscored the importance 

of relationships and networking among 

businesses for the purposes of wealth creation 

as it underlines the value of interactions 

between producers, service providers, and endusers. 

Olawale-Cole stated that economic 

conditions had been challenging even as the 

economy sustains recovery from the 

coronavirus disease, COVID-19, pandemic, 

navigating through shocks from the ongoing 

Russia-Ukraine war and climate change in the 

form of devastating floods across the country, 

as he charged investors to continue to 

demonstrate resilience and determination to 

forge ahead despite challenges. 

Continues online:www.vanguardngr.com 

•Dr. Kupoluyi, a social analyst, wrote from 

the Federal University of Agriculture, 

Abeokuta, FUNAAB, Ogun State 

Arise TV presidential town hall meeting and the trophy 

By MOHAMMED 

DANBATTA 

AS the dust begins to settle on 

the Arise TV Presidential 

town hall meeting, political 

observers and Nigerians who 

followed the programme 

dispassionately have been 

unanimous in awarding Governor 

Ifeanyi Okowa the highest 

mark.The received opinion is that 

Okowa who is the vice presidential 


Democratic Party, PDP, standing in 

for Atiku Abubakar, the PDP 

presidential candidate, showed 

superior intelligence, leadership 

composure and demonstrated a 

far more pragmatic approach to 

solving the many problems of 

insecurity, economic downturn, 

disunity, and others confronting 

the nation. 

The town hall meeting was 

organised in concert with the 

Centre for Democracy and 

Development, CDD, and it turned 

out to be the first major encounter 

between the major contenders in 

the 2023 presidential election and 

the public. The candidate of the 

All Progressives Congress, APC, 

Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, was 

absent and did not have any 

representation. This did not sit well 

with many Nigerians, who voiced 

their concern that Tinubu has 

made himself too evasive in a 

manner unbecoming of a man who 

wants to lead the nation in the 21st 

century. 

Early dissent from the audience, 

including from one or two 

presidential candidates present in 

the hall, to the effect that Okowa 

representing Atiku was an 

anomaly, was smartly doused by 

Okowa himself. He did not fret. 

He showed composure while 

making his explanation. He said 

he read the invitation letter to 

Atiku who was overseas for 

another important engagement. 

Furthermore, he claimed that 

there was no mention of a vice 

presidential candidate standing in 

for the presidential candidate in 

the letter. Besides, he took further 

steps by calling the organisers on 

the possibility that Atiku may not 

be back in the country at the time 

the programme was scheduled to 

kick off. 

On this, he got the approval of 

the organisers to stand in for his 

boss. He stated that the presidency 

is one and that the vice president 

must and should be as fit and 

capable as the president because, 

according to the constitution, the 

president may need to transmit 

power to the vice president at some 

point in time, thus the overriding 

need for the vice presidential 

candidate to be such a person who 

can competently stand in for the 

presidential candidate. He made 

the point very clear: Neither Atiku 

nor himself breached any law or 

rule as it was not specified in the 

invitation letter that only the 

presidential candidate should be 

present at the meeting. His 

explanation thawed the tension 

inside the hall. 

But this ought not to even be an 

issue. Atiku talks, speaks and has 

been engaging various focus 

groups, meeting with the media for 

interviews, both local and foreign. 

He would have been physically 

present if it hadn't been for his 

earlier scheduled overseas 

engagement. Back to Okowa’s 

performance. The PDP vice 

presidential candidate showed a 

better grasp of how to turn around 

the national economy using the 

model he created in Delta as 

governor. He emphasised 

capacity building and skill 

acquisition not just for the youth 

but also for the women. He said 

training of the youths and women 

must have two critical 

components: training of the mind 

and training of the hands. 

Furthermore, he showed a link 

between an untrained, booming 

population and insecurity. 

When the mind is trained and 

liberated, it will help check 

population explosion, and this will 

directly address the challenge of 

out-of-school children, parents 

having children they cannot take 

care of. He argued that a liberated 

mind and a skilled hand that are 

well-equipped cannot be easily 

recruited into gangsterism. He was 

not merely grandstanding. He was 

not just being politically flippant 

to score cheap points or to impress. 

He showed that what he was 

proposing for Nigeria as a whole 

was something he had 

accomplished in Delta State. 

Okowa’s Delta, one of the top three 

oil-bearing states, was once a 

theatre of agitations and upheavals 

When the mind is 

trained and liberated, it 

will help check 

population explosion, and 

this will directly address 

the challenge of out-ofschool 

children, parents 

having children they 

cannot take care of 

that forced oil companies in the 

creeks to stop production with 

frequent declarations of force 

majeure. Militancy was high as the 

youths in the oil-bearing 

communities raged against oil 

companies for the despoliation of 

their environment and leaving 

them in poverty and their 

communities undeveloped. But 

Okowa quenched the fire of 

agitation and the sweltering rage 

of militancy. 

The formula, according to him, 

was simple. He brought 

development to the people in the 

creeks, actively engaged the youths 

with skills and resources, and 

brought entrepreneurship and 

infrastructure to them in a manner 

they never imagined. To his credit, 

many of the communities where 

militancy was rife now have roads 

and bridges linking them for 

effective movement of goods, 

services, and personnel. They have 

schools, skill acquisition centres, 

healthcare facilities, and other 

infrastructure that gives them a 

sense of belonging. He argued that 

with the right approach to 

development, issues of poverty, 

out-of-school children, food 

insecurity, and national disunity, 

among others, would be addressed. 

He punctured the idea always 

bandied about by one of the 

candidates that saving money was 

one of his achievements while in 

office as governor. Okowa’s 

counterpoint to this was that you 

do not emphasise saving money 

over development. Atiku’s brand 

of leadership, he affirms, is such 

that he will use the money to build 

infrastructure, including 

education, transport, and health 

infrastructure, that would 

engender the creation of jobs and 

wealth, rather than keeping the 

money in the bank, where it will 

suffer depreciation. 

Why save money in the bank 

when you don’t have potable water, 

steady electricity, good roads, 

growing youth unemployment, 

growing army of children out of 

school, efficient healthcare system 

and functional education sector, he 

wondered. To further situate why 

the PDP and Atiku should be 

trusted to deliver the country from 

the mess created by the ruling 

APC, he reminded Nigerians how 

the PDP inherited from the military 

a broken nation with a humongous 

debt profile, decrepit 

infrastructure, a massively 

depleted external reserve, and a 

pariah nation where no foreign 

investor was willing to invest. He 

recalled how the Obasanjo-Atiku 

Presidency turned things around: 

Got Nigeria out of debt overhang, 

rejigged the nation’s 

infrastructure, revamped 

healthcare and education, 

attracted foreign direct 

investments, and moved Nigeria’s 

economy to the topmost floor on 

the continent. He referenced a 

telecom revolution wrought by the 

Atiku Abubakar-led National 

Economic Council, a revolution 

that did not only create direct and 

indirect jobs, but also became a 

major public relations tool for 

Nigeria in the global arena. 

Okowa presented a more feasible 

and pragmatic approach to 

tackling insecurity. 

He listed the challenges as 

including a shortage of 

manpower, under-equipment of 

manpower, and the influx of illegal 

firearms into the country. For an 

effective solution, he prescribes the 

deployment of modern 

communication technology for 

both surveillance and intelligence 

gathering and sharing, the 

recruitment of more personnel 

into the various security agencies, 

the training and adequate 

resourcing of "men on the boot" 

(persons on the frontline), the 

acquisition of modern weapons, 

effective liaison with the 

international community, 

especially contiguous nations to 

Nigeria, and closer monitoring of 

our borders.““Over all, Okowa 

represented Atiku and his party 

very well. His superlative 

performance could easily be 

measured by his comportment in 

the face of needless provocation, 

his clear roadmaps on 

development, and the clarity of his 

logical answers to questions on the 

economy, security, and other 

issues.Without any doubt, Okowa 

takes the trophy in the first major 

interaction with the candidates. 

He was brutally honest and 

practical, and did not seek to 

impress or play to the gallery. A 

true hallmark of a good leader. 

* Danbatta, a social commentator, 

wrote from Kano 

C 

M 

Y 

K


Leadership is key to unlocking Nigeria’s 

growth potential 

LAST week, this column discussed the 

need to rethink productivity and 

economic growth in Nigeria based on the 

presentation by foremost economist, Dr. Ayo 

Teriba. This week, we shall look at leadership’s 

role in engendering a new economic growth 

model to give our country a leap forward. 

Nigeria’s adverse economic situation is stale 

news; many have accepted it as a norm that 

the country will continuously operate below 

its economic potential. This dire economic 

reality results from decades of bad economic 

policies and poor implementations, a 

chequered political history marred by a 

military incursion into politics, corruption, 

and the nascent difficulties occasioned by 

insecurity, economic sabotage, climate change, 

global pandemic crises and the Russian/ 

Ukraine crisis. 

Nigeria is on her knees economically – with 

a high debt profile, poor revenue from the 

mono-product (crude oil) that is not even 

enough to service debts, inadequate foreign 

reserves, exchange rate crisis that has seen the 

value of the Naira hammered against other 

world currencies, high inflation, and highinterest 

rate. The Nigerian economic statistics 

are gloomy and are causing undue concerns 

for many stakeholders in the Nigeria project. 

Nigeria has navigated the murky waters of a 

financial quagmire for a few decades and has 

survived it, albeit with substantial economic 

bruises. The pervading sentiment is that no 

matter what happens, Nigeria will survive, 

things will continue as usual, and nothing will 

change for the better. William Pollard, a leading 

light in leadership, warned against this state 

of path dependency when he opined that “the 

arrogance of success is to think that what you 

did yesterday will be sufficient for tomorrow.” 

The economic policies and actions that kept 

us in our current financial quagmire must 

change for meaningful progress. Nigeria does 

not need the economics of survival anymore; 

we need the economics of growth, prosperity, 

and decent quality of life for Nigerians. 

One fundamental problem that is 

destabilising our economy is the lack of 

liquidity. Our negative balance of payment 

causes this illiquidity because our receipts from 

exports are far less than the expenditure on 

goods imported from abroad. This leads to a 

dwindling of our foreign reserves and a 

concomitant scarcity of foreign currency to 

fulfil the needs for the importation of foreign 

goods and services. This scarcity creates a 

parallel market that often aids the destruction 

of the naira value. The unofficial devaluation 

of the naira makes the cost of foreign goods 

expensive, even more so given the inflation 

ravaging some of these countries’ posts 

COVID-19. Local and imported inflation is 

the bane of our economy. The Nigerian 

government needs to make more money from 

oil revenue and taxes and rely less on borrowed 

funds to cover recurrent and capital 

expenditures. They need to cover the budget 

deficits with massive loans from local and 

international institutions with high-interest 

rates, and we are still determining how our 

children will pay for these in the future. 

Even in an era of increase in the price of oil 

globally, Nigeria did not benefit maximally 

from this because of the low volume of oil 

production and oil theft that stopped Nigeria 

from meeting its OPEC quota monthly. The 

non-oil sector contributes little to Nigeria’s 

income statement because the bulk of these 

trades is for primary products with little or no 

extra value added to them in the value chain, 

and such goods command less revenue in the 

international market, adversely affecting our 

income statement. 

Unlocking Nigeria’s growth potential 

underscores the need to, among other things, 

improve its liquidity to stabilise the system and 

grow the economy. The government must 

stabilise the exchange, interest, and inflation 

rates to make meaningful improvements in 

our economy. The exchange rate regime is a 

function of our foreign reserve adequacy. The 

global economy offers two pathways to 

increase our foreign reserves. It is either you 

earn more from exports, or you attract more 

foreign direct investment (FDI). Nigeria has 

historically preferred the path of exporting 

more. However, from 2010 to date, global 

exports have stagnated and even declined 

because of weak commodity prices. This has 

affected Nigeria drastically. 

Most countries are relying on a heavy inflow 

of FDI, which is the economic model chosen 

by Saudi Arabia, Brazil, India, and others. 

These countries get more FDI to compensate 

for shortfalls in exports. Foreign direct 

investors will only come to Nigeria with offers 

to invest equity in public assets and a suitable 

investment climate. We offered foreign 

investors an opportunity in the Nigeria LNG 

project, which yielded substantial investment 

outcomes. We also did that with the 

liberalisation of the GSM sector, and we could 

see the investment inflow. The interest rate is 

another crucial factor in productivity and 

driving growth. Financial institutions provide 

interest rates on loans to businesses they need 

to run or expand their businesses. The higher 

the interest rates, the less likely companies will 

borrow for expansion, and the lower the interest 

rates, the more likely the companies will 

borrow for operational and growth reasons. 

Individuals also borrow from financial 

institutions for personal loans, credit cards, or 

product loans. 

The lower the interest rate, the more likely 

individuals will borrow to purchase goods and 

Nigeria does not 

need the 

economics of 

survival anymore; 

we need the 

economics of 

growth, prosperity, 

and decent quality 

of life for 

Nigerians 

services that help 

businesses 

expand, mainly if 

local companies 

produce the 

goods and 

services. Another 

impact of interest 

rates is that they 

often are 

benchmarked 

with savings rates. 

The higher the 

interest rate on 

loans, the higher 

the interest rates on savings. When interest rates 

on savings are high, people tend to save, but 

when it is low, people tend to invest, especially 

in the equity market. The exchange and interest 

rates are monetary instruments influencing 

the inflation rate. Nigeria needs to stabilise its 

revenue by expanding its revenue sources, 

financialising its assets – especially its real 

estate, infrastructural, and portfolio assets – 

and maximising value chains across the 

various productive sectors. It needs to upskill 

its workforce to have the required skills in the 

knowledge economy, where knowledge and 

innovation are the keys to greater productivity. 

Therefore, human capital development is 

crucial in unleashing Nigeria’s growth 

potential. 

Unlocking Nigeria’s growth potential 

requires new economic thinking by leadership 

in the public and private sectors. Only good 

leadership that understands how to open the 

great possibilities of Nigeria in line with global 

realities and using tools and resources that 

work will lift Nigeria from its economic 

quagmire. Therefore, the 2023 Elections are 

providing an opportunity for a change in 

leadership, and Nigerians must look for 

leaders who understand the destination 

Nigeria must go to for growth and prosperity 

and who have what it takes to take Nigerians 

there. The intention of making Nigeria great 

is not enough, capacity, and intellectual ability 

to deliver are critical. The time for 

transformational leaders in Nigeria is now. 

Nigeria needs leaders that create a vision and 

use highly skilled individuals rather than 

politicians to run the economy of Nigeria. 

Gather intelligent people and develop and 

implement ways to improve revenue, optimise 

assets, and efficiently manage our liabilities. 

Continues online: www.vanguardngr.com 

Nigeria and the anger of its Diaspora 

BY SOLA EBISENI 

UNDOUBTEDLY, 

Nigerians 

are angry, deep-seated rage with a 

nation that guarantees them nothing; its 

diaspora is most implacable, and do I hear 

you justifiably so? They are driven out so 

that they may not be torpedoed by a 

rudderless ship that defiles all systemic 

analyses. In ages past, it was the intruding 

Caucasians, aided by our unconscionable 

primitive bourgeoisie, that hunted and 

haunted us for slavery and slave labour. 

Not only do our citizens voluntarily seek 

to be enslaved along transportation 

routes, but in many cases, worsen the 

modern trans-Atlantic movement. 

In those three centuries spanning the 

mid-15th century up to deep into the 19th, 

the merchants of Europe ensured the 

security of their human wares and, for 

maximum profits from hard labour were 

only interested in the youthful and most 

productive of our population, which Franz 

Fanon attributed principally to how 

Europe underdeveloped Africa. 

Now, any rickety boat will suffice, even 

if it falls far short of the capacity to 

withstand the ferocity of the Atlantic 

waves as we desperately seek to japa. 

Elders are not forgotten; it is a shame that 

men and women, grandparents, flee to 

Europe and the Americas. We have also 

voluntarily widened the scope of this 

human traffic. We seek refuge in Asia, 

while it is now a source of pride to 

announce that we have relocated to any 

other country, including those we used to 

feed or who took the lead in weaning from 

slavery and foreign rule. 

Our heroes' great-grandfathers stormed 

Europe in search of education in the midnineteenth 

century, never stayed, but 

returned with academic laurels to fight 

colonialism and establish a country that, 

until the 1960s, was competitive with 

many of today's giant nations. In contrast, 

today our children are trained even within 

the country but export themselves 

voluntarily unmindful of subjecting 

themselves to slave labour, 

notwithstanding the quality of their 

training. To say we are in a mess is an 

understatement, and our optimum 

population are taking flights in drones 

and droves, including the professionals in 

strategic development fields. 

However, this sorry state is not the cause 

of action in this discourse, though its 

foundation. The concern is not 

unconnected with the sheath of rage 

among the citizenry. I was on the hot seat 

of the Yoruba diaspora, mainly in the 

United States, on one of their unifying 

zoom programmes, ‘Yoruba Gbode'. I've 

found it amusing that engagement with 

the Nigerian diaspora has no set schedule. 

It is either that they are overwhelmed by 

nostalgia to keep hearing home voices and 

behold their faces or that such peanuts for 

airtime which the home people are often 

conscious of actually means little to the 

self exiled. 

Whatever the 

reason, you are 

forewarned to 

ensure you have 

excess time on your 

hands before 

dabbling in 

conversation with 

SOLA EBISENI 

your people in the 

land of the dollar. Moving forward, the 

conversation I was told would last for an 

hour starting at 9.00 p.m. Nigerian time, 

did not rest till about 11.35, some minutes 

before midnight. Nonetheless, the time 

spent was well spent because it provided 

some insights into the minds and states of 

our people on the way forward if Nigeria 

is to survive as a corporate state and if the 

Yoruba are to remain there, a situation 

they despise. 

It must be given to the Yoruba nation 

campaigners; they have done such 

unequaled sensitization of the people that 

they virtually held Afenifere responsible 

for the restructuring campaigns, which 

they would rather describe as unprofitable 

distractions. My take-home message from 

the programme which was animatedly 

participated in by many of them. They are 

so completely disenchanted about Nigeria 

and all it stands for, that a simple 

plebiscite will see them dismember this 

country, which they insisted is an 

unworkable contraption. 

Despite their complaints that Afenifere 

was not doing enough to realize the 

Yoruba nation, I saw implicit trust in 

Afenifere and its invincibility in directing 

the course of Nigerian events in them. 

They remembered, with nostalgia, the 

prowess and exploits of Afenifere during 

the NADECO war. They wondered why 

Afenifere could not achieve much more in 

dealing with the current situation under a 

civil administration compared with our 

exploits during the military era. 

Furthermore, they could not see the logic 

in my theory that it was easier to fight an 

unelected and legitimate government 

compared with the elected, which 

apparently parades the mandate of the 

people no matter the quality of the 

suffrage. 

They were reminded of the undisguised 

support of the international community 

in the war against the military and illegal 

regime, and even mentioned some envoys 

at the disposal of the liberation struggle. 

The main question I was confronted with 

regarding the 2023 elections, which also 

stemmed from their preference for the 

Yoruba nation, was what they described 

as apparent contradictions in Afenifere's 

clamouring for restructuring and 

condemnation of the 1999 constitution 

while endorsing candidates for election, 

the processes of which are inextricably 

derived from it. 

They rather would prefer that we lead 

the Yoruba to boycott the election as a sign 

I saw implicit 

trust in 

Afenifere and 

its invincibility 

in directing the 

course of 

Nigerian events 

in them 

of absolute loss of 

confidence in the 

federation. They 

were quickly 

reminded of the 

impossibility of 

achieving much 

success from such 

a political venture, 

as we have no 

control over the 

ambitions of the 

emilokans who are part of the status quo 

and would resist the efforts. Besides, they 

were made to understand that the 

objective conditions for the split of the 

federation are not present. Instead, we 

canvassed the idea that there was nothing 

intricately wrong with Nigeria, which is 

an advantage in terms of size, population, 

and resources if the national question is 

well engineered and amicably resolved. 

On the endorsement of the presidential 

candidate, they were reminded of the 

philosophy of the Afenifere as a 

sociopolitical organisation and its 

unending intervention at critical junctions 

of Nigeria’s political journey. They were 

briefed on the imperative of the South East 

Presidency following Obasanjo for the 

South West, Yaradua for the North, 

Jonathan for the South- South and 

current President Buhari for the North 

West, even with a South West Vice 

President. 

They understood the Yoruba Omoluwabi 

philosophy, which dominant inherent 

attributes are equity and morality. Except 

for one participant who was clearly of the 

Oshodi School of Politics, the rest 

expressed full understanding of the 

principles and philosophy of the Afenifere 

decision for a Peter Obi presidency without 

betraying their individual choices. 

This was more so as they were going 

through the 14 months' dialogue that led 

to the resolution. Of course, they were 

impressed by how a contrary distraction 

was maturely handled and nipped in the 

bud by the indestructible Awolowo 

Political Academy.“Nigeria! We hail thee. 

•Ebiseni is the Secretary General, 

Afenifere.


THE leadership and members of the 

Medical and Dental Consultants of 

Nigeria, MDCAN, deserve a pat on 

the head for voluntarily opting out of 

the last eight-months strike of the 

Academic Staff Union of Universities, 

ASUU. 

The ASUU strike grounded academic 

activities in most university campuses Resident Doctors through the teething 

over the Federal Government’s failure stages of their professional 

to fulfill its signed Memorandum of development. 

Action, MOA, particularly with regard Should such an important 

to the infrastructural revitalisation of component of our tertiary education 

our universities, addressing the poor workforce down tools, it will probably 

pay structure of university lecturers, be too much for the system to cope. 

resolving the vexed issue of a People whose primary responsibility 

foolproof payroll system and other is to save lives should never be pushed 

issues. 

to the point of embarking on strike. 

The MDCAN is an association of The Federal Government’s 

senior medical doctors who are unwillingness over the decades to 

primarily responsible for the training solve the ASUU imbroglio once and 

of our young doctors. They also form for all after signing a series of 

the backbone of medical specialists undertakings to do so, is enough to 

who save lives at the various university frustrate even the most patriotic and 

teaching hospitals, and pace the humane worker. But MDCAN chose 

Kudos to MDCAN over ASUU strikes 

to stay back and continue their good 

work. 

With that, the academic calendar of 

the medical institutions in our public 

sector universities continued to run 

seamlessly. If otherwise had been the 

case, we would have risked the failure 

to turn out a new set of medical 

doctors for one academic session. That 

would have hit us from both ends, 

given the large number of our medical 

and health sector workers who 

migrate for greener pastures abroad 

every year. 

The sacrifice of the MDCAN can only 

be appreciated further when we look 

at the gloomy and worsening picture 

of inadequacy in the doctor to citizen 

ratio in Nigeria, especially under the 

regime of President Muhammadu 

Buhari. In 2015, Nigeria had only 

about 34,000 medical doctors serving 

about 190 million people. 

Today, rather than increasing, the 

number has dropped to estimated 

24,000. Out of these, 1,307 Nigeriantrained 

doctors were licenced by the 

British medical authorities over the 

past one year alone. Meanwhile, the 

Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, 

says Nigeria needs 237,000 doctors to 

serve over 200 million people. But 

because of the poor handling of the 

health sector by our political elite, less 

than half of doctors trained in Nigeria 

remain to serve their country. 

We hope our next crop of leaders 

will attach the needed premium to 

fostering a better health system, rather 

than the practice of abandoning the 

people to their fate while getting 

treated abroad at public expense. 

The author in this fourth and concluding 

piece, continues with the discourse on states 

creation and concludes that states and even 

local government creation exercises were 

biased and lopsided. The third instalment 

was published last week. 

WHAT is more, the ill-fated Federal 

structure which rested on a theory of 

regional security and autonomy, as well as 

the socio-economic imbalance in the political 

system prevented the emergence of a broadlybased 

political consensus and clearly 

perceived national objectives. Consequently 

the issue of state creation became a nagging 

problem that plagued this nation from its very 

inception. s 

The movement for the creation of states in 

Nigeria can be traced back to 1937 when Dr. 

Nnamdi Azikiwe, GCFR (November 16, 1904 

– May 11, 1996), advocated in his book The 

Political Blueprint of Nigeria, a Federal 

form of government for the country and the 

division of the country into eight constituent 

units based on geographical configuration. 

Dr. Azikiwe was later joined by Chief 

Obafemi Jeremiah Oyeniyi Awolowo, GCFR 

(March 6, 1909-May 9, 1987) who, in a book, 

Path To Nigeria Freedom published in 

1947, proposed a redivision of Nigeria into 

ten federating units with ethnic, linguistic and 

cultural affinity as the basis of division. 

However, Chief Awolowo writing in 1966 

seemed to have modified his stand when he 

shifted ground and advocated a redivision of 

OPINION 

Anioma: The bias and imbalance in 

creation of states (4) 

the country into eighteen states - nine in the 

North and nine in the South based on linguistic 

and cultural affinity as well as economic 

viability of states in the Federation. 

However on May 1, 1967, at a meeting of 

Western Region Leaders of thought at Ibadan, 

the same Chief Obafemi Awolowo advocated 

the creation of COR state - to be made of 

Calabar, Ogoja and Rivers state. “There is 

urgent need for the creation of COR state by 

decree which will be backed if need be by the 

means of force”. 

Increased agitation by various minority 

ethnic groups for their own states in which 

they would feel safe from domination by the 

ethnic groups prompted the British 

Government in September 1957 to appoint 

the Minorities Commission, with Sir Henry 

Willink as Chairman to - ascertain facts about 

minorities in Nigeria and propose means of 

allaying the fears, advise what safeguards 

could be provided in the Constitution, 

The present thirty-six states 

structure in Nigeria is biased and 

partial.; even the present 774 local 

government structure is worse, as 

it is prejudiced or lopsided 

recommend, though only as last resort, the 

creation of states specifying the areas to be 

included in such States evaluating their 

economic and administrative viability and 

Send Opinions & Letters to: 

opinions1234@yahoo.com 

ascertaining what effect the creation of New 

States would have on existing States and on 

the Federation and examine the question of 

revising the boundaries of existing Region. 

The exercise for the creation of states was 

first carried out by General Yakubu Gowon on 

May 5, 1967 when he created twelve states 

out of the four regions we had then, namely 

Western Region, Eastern Region, Mid-Western 

Region and Northern Region. 

He created North Western state, North 

Eastern state, Kano state, North Central state, 

Benue/Plateau state, Kwara state, Western state, 

Lagos state and Mid Western state. 

On February 3, 1976, General Murtala 

Ramat Muhammed (November 8, 1938- 

February 13, 1976) created additional seven 

states to make it nineteen states. They are 

Bauchi, Benue, Borno, Imo, Niger, Ogun and 

Ondo states. In effect only four military rulers 

have created states in Nigeria, namely 

General Yakubu Gowon (88), General Murtala 

Muhammed (November 8, 1938-February 13, 

1976), General Ibrahim Babangida (81) and 

General Sani Abacha (September 20, 1943- 

June 8,1998). 

I do not know whether new states will be 

created with the provisions as contained in 

the Constitution. The present thirty-six states 

structure in Nigeria is biased and partial. Even 

the present 774 local government structure is 

worse. It is prejudiced. Lopsidedness is a better 

word. Concluded

Insurance claims payment recovers, hits 

INSURANCE 

N174.8bn 

By Rosemary Iwunze 

THE volume of gross claims 

paid out to insurance policyholders 

has recovered, hitting 

N174.8 billion in the first half of 

this year, H1’22, up 7.7 percent 

against the N162.3 billion recorded 

in the preceding half, 

H2’21. 

This major indicator of soundness 

in the insurance sector had 

recorded a 6.9 percent decline 

from the N174.5 billion recorded 

in the first half of 2021, H1’21. 

The decline represented a major 

reversal of trend during the H2’21 

period as the indicator had 


creasing demand in claims by 

policyholders is reflective of the 

increasing enlightenment, market 

confidence from both demand 

and supply sides, and the effects 

of regulatory measures meant to 

ensure claims settlement. 

Speaking on the development, 

Executive Director, Technical, Anchor 

Insurance, Mr. Adebisi 

Ikuomola, said that the growth in 

claims is not unconnected to improved 

market discipline and the 

approach of customer focused 

regulation. 

He said: “Claim remains one of 

the most essential components of 

the insurance business model, 

without which there would have 

been no reason to insure. 

‘‘Due to the continued and deliberate 

regulatory measures with 

regards public awareness and 

enforcement of timely claims 

settlement, claims continue to 

grow in reportage and timely 

settlement.” 

Competition – From left: Company Secretary, UBA Group, Mr. Bili Odum; Managing Director, UBA 

Foundation, Mrs. Bola Atta; 1st Runner-up, Student of Value Spring College, Lagos, Miss Princess 

Sholabomi; Group Managing Director/CEO, United Bank for Africa (UBA), Mr. Oliver Alawuba; Winner, 

student of Federal Government Girls College, Ikot Obio Itong, Akwa Ibom State, Miss Otong Usongobong 

Paul; 2nd Runner-up and student, Otta Tota Academy, Otta, Ogun State, Miss Sharon Nwajiaku; and 

Deputy Managing Director, UBA Group, Mr. Muyiwa Akinyemi, at the grand finale of the12th edition of 

UBA Foundation National Essay Competition for Senior Schools in Nigeria held at the Bank’s 

Amphitheater in Lagos. 

Cyber-security breaches, threats to 

businesses on the rise — Leadway 

By Rosemary Iwunze 

THE Managing Director/Chief 

Executive Officer, Leadway Assurance, 

Tunde Hassan-Odukale, 

has warned businesses of the rapid 

rise in cybersecurity risks while advising 

on steps to mitigate the attacks. 

Speaking on incidences of cyberattack, 

Hassan-Odukale noted that 

every organisation is at risk of this 

menace as government agencies, 

CURRENCY BUYING SELLING 

US 

DOLLAR 

POUNDS 

EURO 

FRANC 

YEN 

CFA 

WAUA 

RENMINBI 

RIYAL 

RAND 

Danish Krona 

2,498.00 -20.00 

19.84 +0.20 

93.53 -2.46 

86.15 -2.81 

440.83 441.33 441.83 

518.7247 519.313 519.9014 

453.7463 454.261 454.7756 

460.4931 461.0154 461.5377 

3.1605 3.1641 3.1677 

0.6487 0.6587 0.6687 

565.2753 565.9179 566.5606 

61.9622 62.0329 62.1036 

117.242 117.375 117.508 

25.5221 25.551 25.58 

59.0766 59.1438 59.211 

CBN Exchange rate as at 14/11/2022 

INSURANCE 

trended up consistently since 

2020. 

Insurance analysts are of the 

opinion that the rebound in 

H1’22 is linked to the growing 

awareness, increased regulatory 

demand and customer focused 

competition in the insurance industry. 

On full year record gross 

claims skyrocketed by 36.2 per 

cent year-on-year, YoY, to N336.8 

billion in 2021 from N247.2 billion 

recorded in 2020. 

In 2020, gross claims grew by 

9.8 per cent to N247.2 billion from 

N225.2 billion in 2019. 

According to NAICOM, the innon-government 

organisations 

(NGOs) and corporates have all been 

hit by the rising waves of cybercrime 

in Africa. 

He said: “The evolution in digital 

innovations and the COVID-19 pandemic 

have inspired businesses, 

NGOs and government agencies to 

adopt technology-driven operations, 

cloud computing, online capabilities, 

and the Internet of Things (IoT) 

to drive superior production, operational 

efficiencies and service delivery. 

As significantly positive as 

these new migrations have 

been, they also exposed 

corporates and organisations 

to the realities of the growing 

activities of sophisticated 

cybercriminals. As recent find- 

SUNDRY Markets Limit 

ed (SML), owners of 

Marketsquare Supermarkets, 

a leading grocery retailer in 

Nigeria, has donated food 

items worth about N10 million 

to flood victims at the Internally 

Displaced Persons 

(IDP) camp in Yenagoa, Bayelsa 

State capital on Friday. 

The items donated by the 

company included 80 bags of 

rice; 600 cartons of noodles; 

15 bags of beans; 100 cartons 

of tomatoes paste and 20 bags 

of Garri. Others are 20 kegs of 

groundnut oil; 50 cartons of 

all seasoning cubes; 100 packs 

of bottled water and 1000 bags 

of pure water 

In a statement last weekend, 

SML’s Marketing Manager, 

Mr Timothy Ogbemi Abati, 

said, “This is one of our corporate 

social responsibility (CSR) 

interventions. Bayelsa people 

ings indicated, enterprises with less 

than 200 employees lose an average 

of $2.5 million (over N1billion) to 

cyber-attacks. These new threats have 

become critical financial risks to 

organisations. 

“Recognising that cyber-attacks 

are significant risks to every business 

and organisation, irrespective of size 

and industry, it has become a top 

burner for organisations to put in 

place a solid financial recovery plan 

should an exposure occur. 

This is what has inspired the design 

of the Leadway Cyber-risk Insurance 

Policy. While this risk management 

tool does not guarantee immunity 

from attacks, it guarantees 

respite by offsetting costs incurred 

during a cyber-related security 

breach, ensuring accelerated businesses 

recovery after being hit by 

these gruesome attacks,” he said. 

Sundry Markets donates food 

items to IDP camp in Bayelsa 

ECONOMY 

have been incredible hosts. We are 

concerned about their plight in the 

face of a ravaging flood and it is only 

appropriate that we reciprocate the 

good gesture and demonstrate that 

Marketsquare stands with them at 

this trying period of natural disaster,’’ 

Abati said. 

As a responsible corporate citizen, 

he said, SML is committed to the 

improvement of the socio-economic 

conditions of the communities 

where it does business, even as he 

added that the company will continue 

to deliver CSR projects that are 

relevant and impactful. 

SML however, called on corporate 

organizations and good spirited 

individuals to rally victims of 

flood to enable them cope with pains 

associated with natural disasters. 

Marketsquare is Nigeria’s leading 

grocery retail chain-a place where 

Nigerians can go to get their trusted 

brands of groceries at affordable 

prices. The company was conceived 

from a strong desire to create a modern 

retail destination for Nigerians 

to get their daily needs. 

Oil Theft: Lee Engineering boss calls 

for extra taxes to fund security 

Obas Esiedesa 

THE Chairman of Lee En 

gineering Group and Allied 

Companies Limited, Dr. 

Leemon Ikpea, has urged the 

Federal Government to set up 

a security fund to finance the 

fight against oil theft and 

pipeline vandalism in the 

Niger Delta. 

The fund, he said, should 

come from extra taxes on International 

Oil Companies, 

IOCs, and indigenous oil companies. 

Ikpea who spoke to journalists 

in Abuja to mark the 31st 

anniversary of Lee Engineering 

and Construction Limited, 

said tackling insecurity 

around oil sector operations 

would boost Nigeria’s production 

and allow the government 

to increase its revenues to 

fund infrastructure. 

According to him, “Security 

issue is a big issue and not 

something we should leave for 

the government alone. So this 

is to encourage big 

organisations to support the 

government to improve on security. 

“If possible, we can have a 

security fund that will be a pool 

that the government can draw 

from to tackle insecurity. If the 

government taxes multinationals 

and other bigger companies. 

By Providence Ayanfeoluwa 

The organizers of Propak West 

Africa, Afrocet Montgomery, 

has said that this year’s exhibition 

and conference for the plastics, 

packaging, printing and food 

processing industries is expected 

to bring together more than 5000 

professionals to source machines, 

products and services from over 

200 brands to be engaged in the 

three days of industry networking. 

A statement from the organizers 

said that the conference and 

exhibition is billed to hold from 

November 22 to 24, 2022 in Lagos. 

Managing Director Nigeria of 

BASF West Africa, Dr Jean Marc 

Ricca, President of World 

Packaging Organisation, Prof 

Pierre Pienaar, and Technical 

Project Manager of Doehler, 

Ernest Ighrawve, are among the 

distinguished panel of speakers to 

deliver insightful industry 

information. 

ENERGY 

“This can be done by imposing 

taxes on the profits made 

by the companies. For example, 

0.1 percent or something 

like that. The money will 

be paid into the pool every 

year. From that fund, some 

critical roads could be built too 

to boost security”. 

Looking at the over 50 years 

oil and gas industry operations 

in the country, Dr. Ikpea 

pointed out that Nigerians 

have always played an important 

role in the sector, adding 

that Nigerians are as competent 

as the expatriate workers. 

He disclosed that a fabrication 

factory currently under 

construction in Warri, Delta 

State would be completed 

early next. 

He said the factory being 

built by its subsidiary company, 

LEE Engineering 

Mechinery Services Limited, 

will produce high pressure 

vessels, heat exchangers, 

scrubbers as well other equipment 

needed in the sector. 

He therefore urged the government 

to ensure that IOCs 

patronise local companies, 

adding that in terms of quality 

and competence, Nigerians 

can compete favourably with 

other foreign nationals. 

Propak 2022 to drive investment in 

plastics, other industries 

INDUSTRY 

The statement said that session 

topics would cover a range of issues 

impacting the sector such as 

Keynote Presentations on 

‘Understanding Packaging in the Cold 

Supply Chain’ and ‘Print and 

packaging automation and Industry 

4.0: Smart Manufacturing and 

Sustainable Manufacturing’. 

There would also be panel discussions 

addressing pertinent matters such as 

‘The challenges of recycling food-grade 

polymer. Can they meet food and 

beverage industry sustainability 

targets?’ 

Sponsors of the event include: Epson, 

Skysat and Neofyton, all of whom have 

large stands displaying their goods 

alongside industry leading names. 

such as TetraPak, Afra Technical 

Concept, SBA Group, Atlas Copco, 

Bole Machinery, Exact Solutions, 

KHS, Miele, Snetor Chimie, Sidel 

and Snetor to name just a few.

C 

M 

Y 

K 


C 

M 

Y 

K 



‘ 

DIABETES: Prioritise investment in management, 

prevention, WHO tasks African govts 

• Says 24m adults affected, 416,000 die in 2021; Nigerian diabetics lament high cost of drugs 

Chioma Obinna 

AS Nigeria today joins 

the rest of the world 

to mark this year’s World 

Diabetes Day, the World 

Health Organisation, 

WHO, has appealed to 

governments of member 

states to prioritise investment 

in essential products 

in the management 

of the disease such as 

insulin, glucometers and 

test strips to ensure equitable 

accessibility for every 

diabetics, no matter 

where on the continent 

they are. 

The WHO also disclosed 

that 24 million 

Africans are living with 

the diabetes while a total 

of 416 million people lost 

their lives to the disease 

in 2021. 

WHO Regional Director 

for Africa, Dr 

Matshidiso Moeti who 

made the appeal in a 

statement to mark this 

year’s Day with the 

theme: “Access to diabetes 

care”, also urged African 

governments to 

adopt and customise the 

global targets for diabetes, 

as part of recommendations 

to strengthen and 

monitor diabetes responses 

within their national 

NCD programmes. 

Balanced 

diets 

“To Africa’s people, I 

cannot overemphasise 

the importance of healthy 

and balanced diets, combined 

with regular exercise, 

not smoking, maintaining 

a healthy weight, 

and limiting alcohol consumption. 

This will go a 

long way to protecting 

individuals from Type 2 

diabetes and other NCDs. 

“Africa’s diabetes statistics 

illustrate the depth of 

the challenge; 24 million 

adults are currently living 

with diabetes, with 

that number predicted to 

swell by 129 percent to 55 

million by 2045. 

“Last year, diabetes mellitus 

took the lives of 416 

000 people on the continent, 

and is forecast to 

become one of the leading 

causes of death in 

Africa by 2030. 

“Importantly, diabetes 

is the only major Non 

Communicable Disease, 

NCD, for which the risk 

of dying early is increasing, 

rather than decreasing. 

“Known risk factors include 

family history and 

increasing age, along 

with modifiable risk factors 

such as overweight 

and obesity, sedentary 

lifestyles, unhealthy diets, 

smoking and alcohol 

abuse. Unfortunately, 

these modifiable risk factors 

are on the rise across 

all countries in the WHO 

African Region,” she lamented. 

Stating that WHO African 

Region was committed 

to the requisite training 

of health workers in 

the prevention and management 

of NCDs at district 

and community level, 

to improve availability of 

these services, she stated 

that response efforts are 

constrained by the fact that 

more than one in every 

two people in Africa living 

with Diabetes mellitus 

has never been diagnosed. 

“Increased access to diagnostic 

tools and medicines, 

particularly insulin, 

is one of the most urgent 

areas of work. Left unchecked, 

and without 

management and 

lifestyle changes, diabetes 

can lead to several debilitating 

complications. 

These include heart attack, 

stroke, kidney failure, 

lower limb amputation, 

visual impairment, 

blindness, and nerve 

damage. People with diabetes 

are also at higher 

risk for severe COVID- 

19 symptoms.” 

She said to accelerate 

progress on diabetes and 

other NCDs, WHO developed 

the Global Dia- 

L- R: Pharmacist Adedayo Aremu, Product Manager, Diabetes Care, Mega 

Lifesciences; Dr. Oyenusi; Dr Akinlade, Pharmacist Laitan Esigbe, Training 

Manager, West Africa, Mega Lifesciences and Raghunvanshy during a diabetes 

education, prevention and awareness campaign organised by Mega Lifesciencesto 

mark this year's World Diabetes Day 

AstraZeneca partners harp on equitable cancer care in Africa 

By Chioma Obinna 

TO boost cancer survival 

rates across Africa, 

AstraZeneca and partners 

launched an initiative to 

transform outcomes for cancer 

patients across Africa. 

The initiative tagged: “Accelerating 

Change Together 

for Cancer Care in 

Africa” is designed to 

tackle the growing burden 

of cancer across the continent 

and improve patient 

outcomes. 

Announced on the sideline 

of the UN Climate 

Change Conference 2022, 

COP27, under the patronage 

of the Egyptian Ministry 

of Health, the Accelerating 

Change Together; 

Cancer Care in Africa 

(ACT; CCA) programme 

provides a platform for partners 

to co-create cancer 

care solutions that close the 

gaps in the existing patient 

care pathway, from diagnosis 

through to treatment 

and beyond. 

At the inaugural event, 

Increased 

access to diagnostic 

tools 

and medicines, 

particularly 

insulin, is one 

of the most 

urgent areas 

of work 

• Launch initiative to boost treatment outcomes for patients 

government representatives, 

leading clinical and 

health experts, patient advocates, 

and private sector 

representatives signed the 

ACT; CCA Coalition Declaration 

to reaffirm their joint 

commitment to advancing 

equitable cancer outcomes 

for all Africans. 

Speaking, the Area Vice 

President for the Middle 

East and Africa, 

AstraZeneca, Pelin Incesu, 

said: “While cancer treatment 

developments are 

moving quickly, equitable 

access to these innovations 

is not there for all. Our ambition 

is to nurture the cancer 

care ecosystem in Africa, 

bringing together local 

stakeholders to co-create 

solutions and encourage 

long-term investment that 

leads to equitable cancer 

outcomes. 

“We need joint action to 

reverse the alarming increase 

in Africa’s cancer 

burden, by addressing the 

unique barriers to cancer 

diagnosis and treatment, as 

well as building capacity 

that helps to make innovative 

care accessible to patients.” 

Over 700,000 deaths occurred 

due to cancer across 

the region in 2020; across 

Sub-Saharan Africa, the current 

mortality rates are 

reaching 70 per cent in diagnosed 

cases. An estimated 

2.1 million new cancer 

cases and 1.4 million 

deaths are expected annually 

by 2040 across the continent.1 

Cancer of the breast 

and prostate are among the 

top three most prevalent. 

ACT; CCA focuses on 

driving impact in lung, 

breast and prostate cancer 

through capacity building, 

early screening and diagnosis 

and patient empowerment. 

It is the regional 

chapter of the global Accelerating 

Change Together 

(ACT) for Cancer Care, an 

AstraZeneca-led effort to 

revolutionize the way cancer 

is diagnosed and treated 

betes Compact to reduce 

the negative impacts of the 

disease, and ensure that 

everyone living with diabetes 

has access to equitable, 

comprehensive, affordable, 

and quality 

treatment and care. 

During the 75th World 

Health Assembly in May, 

WHO Member States supported 

the creation of the 

first global targets for diabetes 

by 2030, as part of 

recommendations to 

strengthen and monitor 

diabetes responses within 

national NCD 

programmes. 

“These include that 80 

percent of people living 

with diabetes will be diagnosed, 

and have good 

control of their glycaemic 

levels and blood pressure; 

60 per cent of those older 

than 40 will be receiving 

treatment with statins; and 

100 per cent of people 

with Type 1 diabetes will 

have access to affordable 

insulin and blood glucose 

self-monitoring.” 

Nigerian diabetics 

lament high cost of 

drugs 

Meanwhile, persons living 

with Diabetes in Nigeria 

have decried the 

high cost of diabetes treatment, 

saying that, they 

spend between N25, 000 

and N30,000 for drugs 

monthly in Nigeria depending 

where the drugs 

were purchased. 

Mr Sam Eferaro who 

to drive improvements in 

patient outcomes. 

Over the next three years, 

ACT; CCA aims to drive 

screening and diagnostics 

covering one million people 

across cancer types and to 

provide training for more 

than 10,000 healthcare professionals 

across 100 oncology 

centres. 

The programme is led by 

a steering committee of doctors, 

oncology institutions 

and advocacy groups to 

guide policy intervention, 

share learnings across borders, 

and put cancer patients 

at the centre. Members 

will meet regularly to 

drive progress on cancer 

initiatives. 

A Professor of Clinical 

Oncology and Managing 

Director of Cairo University 

Cancer Centre, President 

of Can-Survive-Egypt, Dr 

Mohsen Mokhtar said collaboration 

was key to improving 

cancer outcomes. 

“Each country joining the 

coalition invests heavily in 

spoke to Vanguard said in 

2019, the cost of these 

drugs were far less than 

N10,000. 

Eferaro said though although 

the reasons for the 

increase may not be restricted 

to diabetes drugs 

alone as cost of drugs have 

gone up, generally but 

people living with diabetes 

feel the increase more 

because they have to be 

on the drugs for life. 

“It is also the same for 

people with hypertension 

and other non communicable 

diseases.” 

While calling of the need 

to subsidized treatment for 

diabetes and hypertension, 

he said healthcare 

has not fared well under 

the present Nigerian government. 

“African countries like 

Cameroon or even Ghana 

have programmes for 

people living with diabetes, 

especially children. 

No such programme in 

Nigeria. 

“Nigerian government 

has no programme or 

plans to reduce cost of 

diabetes management. 

Rather, cost of drugs and 

monitoring devices are 

rising every year because 

of tax and import duties 

that pharnaceutical companies 

must pay to bring 

them in. 

“Same for cancer drugs 

which is why chemotherapy 

is so expensive 

and patients have to sell 

all they have to pay for 

treatment. Truth is government 

is making money off 

sick people instead of introducing 

measures to 

prolong their lives. 

“From my interaction 

with some of the multinational 

pharmaceutical 

companies, drugs in Nigeria 

are sold at special 

discounted rates but the 

discounts can still be increased. 

cancer care programmes. 

“We understand that by 

working together to develop 

a network that 

stretches beyond borders, 

we can close the gaps 

across the patient care pathway 

and provide solutions 

that improve outcomes and 

transform the patient journey 

not only for our citizens 

but also across the continent.” 

On her part, the Head of 

the National Cancer Control 

Programme in Kenya, 

Dr Mary Nyangasi highlighted 

the disparity in 

care. 

“In some areas, the lack 

of disease awareness, limited 

diagnostic capabilities, 

and an absence of structured 

programmes for early 

detection and access to 

treatment mean that equitable 

cancer care is not 

there for all. ACT; CCA is 

about levelling the playing 

field and collaborating to 

transform patient outcomes.”

Investment in medical equipment key 

to management of NCDs — EXPERTS 


AS Nigeria accelerates ac 

tion to reduce the proliferation 

of non-communicable 

diseases, expert has said 

that reliable diagnostic equipment 

and devices play a crucial 

role in the proper management 

of Non-Communicable 

Diseases, NCDs, in Nigeria. 

The head of the Healthcare 

Division, PPC Ltd, Dr. 

Chikara Nwoke said the deployment 

of innovative 

healthcare technology will 

enable early diagnosis and 

detection of these life-threatening 

diseases. 

Nwoke, Nigeria's leading 

engineering and infrastructure 

Development Company 

with footprints across 

Nigeria's healthcare landscape. 

NCDs like cancer, diabetes, 

chronic respiratory infections 

and cardiovascular diseases, 

which accounts for 74 per cent 

of deaths globally according 

to WHO, are on the rise in 

Nigeria. In developing countries, 

these severe health conditions 

impact adversely on 

the working population cutting 

down on productivity and 

overall economic output. 

According to Nwoke, a 

multifaceted approach is urgently 

required to stem the 

tide of rising NCD's and 

should involve both the development 

of human capital 

and procurement of medical 

facility to effectively cater for 

the prevention, diagnosis, 

The Executive Director & Founder, Intersex Nigeria, Obioma Chukwuike (3rd 

from left) with participants at the conference to mark the 2022 Intersex Awareness 

Day, at Amber Residence, in Lagos. 

treatment and continuous 

management of these diseases. 

He said:"NCD's are silent 

killers and can exist in the human 

body and remain undetected 

for a long time". Recommendations 

for regular 

health checkup and appropriate 

clinical investigations are 

critical to obtaining the right 

clinical diagnosis which is an 

important aspect of the management 

of the disease condition. 

However, there are instances 

of misdiagnosis and 

such can occur due to improper 

understanding of the 

patient's health problem. 

An accurate investigation 

and timely diagnosis by a 

trained clinician can save the 

day. "We need to prioritize the 

early diagnosis, and treatment 

of non-communicable diseases, 

especially among the 

vulnerable and poor, by formulating 

public policy that 

addresses its prevention, early 

diagnosis and treatment. 

More than ever before, we 

need to address the contributory 

risk factors, and ensure all 

people, no matter where they 

live, have access to quality 

clinical investigation and 

treatment". 

Nwoke stated that all these 

are achievable with better investment 

in quality diagnos- 

tic equipment that help clinicians 

make accurate diagnosis. 

According to him, investment 

in medical equipment 

such as Computed Tomography 

(CT) or MRI equipment, 

well equipped clinical laboratories 

and highly trained 

medical personnel are nonnegotiable 

for the proper 

management of the disease. 

PPC Healthcare is committed 

to improving healthcare 

outcomes through the deployment 

of state-of the-art 

medical equipment for clinical 

investigation, diagnosis 

and treatment across 

healthcare facilities in every 

state of the Federation. 

Egbin Power conducts free medical outreach for 

host communities 

By Deborah Ariyo 

IN its continuous effort to 

wards promoting quality 

health and sustainability, 

Egbin Power Plc has carried 

out free medical outreach for 

members of its host communities 

in Egbin, Ipakan and 

Ijede. 

The three-day medical outreach, 

which catered for more 

than 4,000 people offered 

cardiovascular check-up, 

diabetes screening, dental 

care and medications to beneficiaries. 

Head of Corporate Communications 

and Branding, 

Egbin Power Plc. Felix 

Ofulue, said the company is 

committed to driving 

sustainability, people empowerment 

and promoting 

the welfare of members of its 

host communities in line with 

its CSR intervention 

programme. 

The outreach was facilitated 

in partnership with Cecy 

Health Consult, a professional 

healthcare company 

and it provided members of 

host communities' access to 

quality health examination 

and free medication conducted 

by certified health 

practitioners. 

"Our CSR initiatives are devoted 

to benefitting and improving 

the quality of life 

within the community. This 

initiative started in 2019 in 

our host communities and 

thousands of residents of 

these communities have benefitted. 

We are quite pleased 

with the turn out this year.” 

Speaking, the Leader of the 

facilitating Health team and 

Managing Director of Cecy 

Health Consult, Dr. Yomi 

Jaiye commended Egbin 

Power Plc for making it a 

Better life for rural dwellers as NYSC, 

IFAN partner on healthcare 

By Sola Ogundipe 

BETTER life awaits com 

munity dwellers and the 

ageing as the National 

Youth Service Corps, 

NYSC, in collaboration 

with the International Federation 

of Aging Nigeria, 

IFAN, are providing 

healthcare through mobile 

hospitals and clinics. 

The Director, Community 

Development Service and 

Special Projects (CDS/SP), 

Abdulrazaq Salawu, said 

the project would help in 

improving the lives of 

people at the grassroots, 

and in achieving Universal 

Health Coverage, UHC, in 

the country. 

Salawu, who spoke on 

Thursday during the Integrated 

National Mobile/ 

Field Hospital initiative for 

Humanitarian Intervention 

and Social Response 

Project/ Partnership outreach 

meeting, said the initiative 

was timely as 70 percent 

of Nigerians live in the 

rural communities even as 

point of duty to promote 

wellness in its host communities 

consistently over the years. 

The Medical Officer of Health 

in Ijede LCDA, Dr. Tajudeen 

Saheed, said, "Even though we 

have primary and secondary 

the number of the aged was 

on the increase. 

He noted that since its creation 

in 1973, the NYSC has 

produced enough graduates 

in medicine and other disciplines 

that can adequately 

provide services when the 

programme flags off. 

On his part, the National 

Coordinator IFAN, Ike 

Willie-Nwobu who noted 

that the journey started in 

January 1999, said the national 

programme was 

aimed at utilising extensively, 

the massive human 

capital deposit with the 

NYSC, in delivering health 

services in the most cost effective 

and efficient way. 

"It will be a health quick 

service support framework 

for Universal Health Coverage, 

primary health care, 

roadside clinics and vehicles 

to deliver national 

health/humanitarian standby-force 

with capacity and 

content to Healthcare Entrepreneurship 

Initiative 

(HEI), poverty reduction and 

employment generation. 

health centres within the 

LCDA, it is important to note 

that this initiative of the power 

company is free and accessible 

to all. 

The Leader and Baale of 

Ipakan Community, Chief 

Willie-Nwobu said they 

planned to be among those 

with the largest hospitals in 

the country. 

"The NYSC-IFAN mobile 

healthcare initiative will 

help to optimise/maximise 

our huge extensive 

Diasporas; harness the skill/ 

wisdom of senior medical/ 

healthcare professionals 

through inter-generational 

relationship with the youth, 

and promote the culture of 

volunteerism, community 

development and corporate 

social responsibility in our 

national health care delivery- 

a major culture/system 

of developing and enhancing 

national resilience." 

He decried the pitiable 

situation where most rural 

dwellers struggle to access 

medical facilities. 

The Corps in its efforts to 

improve access, ensure the 

professionals in relevant 

fields were taken to a particular 

community within 

one LGA to treat health 

cases for the year of their national 

service. 


WMA urges physicians to 

report inappropriate working 

conditions, violence 


NO less than 10,000 ado 

lescent girls from nine 

communities in Ado Odo/ 

Ota Local Government Area 

of Ogun State have been 

trained by the Society for 

Family Health, SFH, on 

healthy lives as well as creation 

of brighter future 

they desire. 

The capacity building 

programme for the in and out 

of school children was implemented 

by Society for Family 

Health with funding from 

TotalEnergies and partners. 

The exercise also equipped 

mothers with skills to improve 

relationship with their 

teenage daughters. 

Speaking at the end of the 

first phase of the project titled, 

'Adolescent 360- 

TotalEnergies Health & Economic 

Empowerment Project 

(A360- THEEP)', SFH 

Deputy Managing Director, 

Programmes and Strategy, 

Dr. Jennifer Anyanti said, 

"The A360-THEEP Project 

was adapted from the existing 

A360 9JA Girls Program 

for unmarried girls which 

uses a life mapping exercise 

and vocational training as 

entry point for conversations 

about reproductive health 

and achieving life goals. 

"The project focuses on 

adolescent girls between the 

age of 15 to 19 years and 

mothers. During the Love, 

Life and Health Skill Classes 


WORRIED about the 

working conditions of 

medical doctors worldwide, 

the World Medical Association 

has urged physicians 

worldwide to report any form 

of inappropriate working 

conditions and violence 

against them to the appropriate 

authorities and the National 

Medical Association. 

Making the call during the 

Annual Assembly of the 

Swedish Medical Association 

held at the Radisson Blu 

Hotel in Stockholm, Sweden, 

the President, of WMA, Dr 

Osahon Enabilele, also urged 

physicians to ensure their welfare, 

well-being and working 

conditions are given top priority 

even as they carry out 

their responsibilities. 

Addressing Swedish Physicians, 

Osahon who assessed 

the Health System challenges 

faced in various parts of the 

world, said the WMA will 

continue to advocate for the 

strengthening of health systems 

across the world. 

"The lessons from the 

COVID-19 pandemic show 

that unless and until the 

healthcare systems are 

strengthened, physicians may 

not be able to provide the best 

of care to patients. 

"So, it is incumbent on us to 

continuously charge governments 

all over the world to 

strengthen their health systems 

and provide enabling 

working conditions for physicians 

and other members of 

the health work 

"Tied to that is what we have 

seen across the world, increasing 

cases of violence 

against physicians. We've seen 

across the world a tendency 

by physicians to get discouraged, 

to lose confidence in the 

system as a result of the disabling 

working conditions 

they find themselves in, as a 

result of the violence against 

them either by patients or patients' 

relatives. 

"These observations and experiences 

informed the 

WMA's recent revision of the 

international code of medical 

ethics. 

I charge all of you to find 

space and time to go through 

the revised code, as it seeks to 

provide some solutions to 

some of the contending challenges 

that we all face in 

today's world. 

"The code appropriately obligates 

physicians to report 

cases of violence and acts of 

abuse against them, and to 

report inappropriate working 

conditions they find themselves. 

"The code also obligates 

physicians to look after their 

well-being, health and abilities, 

and to seek care when 

necessary." 

According to the WMA 

boss, physicians across the 

world should stop working in 

inappropriate and indecent 

working conditions. 

In his words," an ill physician 

or a physician delivering 

care in indecent working conditions 

or other constraining 

circumstances, can not deliver 

quality patient care, the 

same way an ill President, 

Prime Minister or Political 

Leader cannot deliver quality 

leadership to the people." 

Stakeholders train 

10,000 adolescent girls 

in healthy life tips 

(LLH), adolescent girls were 

trained on menstrual hygiene, 

HIV/AID counseling& testing, 

STI syndromic treatment 

and management, mental 

and Sexual Health. 

Head, Project Support Unit 

Society for Family Health, 

Pharm. Jane Adizue, said that 

the choice of young girls for 

the project was in line with the 

popular slogan, Catch them 

young and watch them grow. 

8 and 17. 

State Programme Manager 

for the project, Ibrahim 

Hamzat Ibrahim said that 

12,449 girls were reached by 

mobilizers while 7,272 girls 

attended the programme and 

2,962 girls attended LLH 

classes. "The total of girls referred 

to the facilities was 

5,675 while 3,776 accessed 

care. 2,834 girls were counselled 

while 274 girls were 

treated for STI." 

On her part, the Business 

Development & Projects 

Manager, Corporate Social 

Responsibility for 

TotalEnergies, Mrs. 

Moyosola Areola said that 

following a thorough needs 

assessment, TotalEnergies 

and partners collaborated 

with SFH to develop the Adolescent 

360-TotalEnergies 

Health and Economic empowerment 

Project which targets 

young adolescent girls 

between the ages of 15-19 

years by leveraging on sustainable 

development goals 1, 

2, 3, 5, 8 and 17.


Energy transition creating huge opportunities in Nigeria --- Seplat 

By Joseph Oso 

ENERGY transition creates huge 

opportunities in Nigeria as it 

supports economic and social 

development, job creation, improved 

health and education, the Chief 

Executive Officer, Seplat Energy Plc, 

Mr. Roger Brown has said. Mr. Brown 

said this during a panel session at the 

University of Dundee Alumni, Nigeria 

Chapter seminar held on Saturday in 

Lagos. 

The session which dwelt on the topic 

'Optimizing energy security in a global 

transition era' provided a platform for the 

panellists to x-ray the current global 

trajectory of energy transition, and how 

energy security could be guaranteed 

in the face of transition, relating the 

subject to Nigeria's domestic market 

situation. 

The Seplat CEO, explained that 

energy transition conundrum is all 

about how stakeholders balance three 

realities of climate change and the 

need to decarbonise the world; the need 

for energy security; and urgent need 

for economic development in Africa, 

tackling poverty and lack of access to 

energy. 

He said: "Seplat Energy remains 

committed to improving Nigeria's 

access to affordable and reliable 

energy that drives social and economic 

development, in line with the UN's 

Sustainable Development Goals. We 

can make Nigeria a more attractive 

destination for global energy 

investment that will allow us to fund 

our energy transition towards lowercarbon 

sources of energy, such as gas 

to provide baseload, and renewables. 

"By developing our gas industry we can 

transition Nigeria's population away from 

expensive and polluting diesel generators, 

and from using biomass for cooking. I 

believe we can achieve all of these 

development wins for Africa at little 

incremental cost to the environment." 

According to Mr. Brown, we must use 

Nigeria's gas resources for the direct benefit 

of Nigerians, and use it to increase 

production of grid-scale energy that will 

power people's homes without choking 

them on diesel fumes, and allow them to 

cook without having to collect firewood 

and have the risk of open fires in the home. 

"This gas-fired power will also keep the 

lights on at night so the kids can study, 

and power businesses across Nigeria so 

they can create wealth at much lower 

costs," he noted, adding that: "increasing 

access to cheaper, more reliable energy 

creates so many positive effects that will 

drive economic and social development 

in Nigeria; access to energy supports 

wealth creation, improves health and will 

allow Nigeria to achieve development 

goals." 

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2022 

Exploration: Nigeria's rig count rises 27.9% to 93 

By Udeme Akpan, Energy 

Editor 

NIGERIA may have started to 

do well in terms of oil and 

gas exploration as its rig count rose 

Year - on -Year, YoY, by 27.9 percent 

to 93 in the first 10 months (January 

- October) 2022, from 73 recorded 

in the corresponding period of 2021. 

The rig count is a major index of 

measuring exploration and other 

activities in the upstream sector of 

the petroleum industry globally. 

However, on Month-on-Month, 

MoM, the rig count also rose 

marginally to eight in October 2022, 

from seven in September. The 

Organisation of Petroleum 

Exporting Countries, OPEC, which 

disclosed this in its Monthly Oil 

Market Reports, MOMRs, obtained 

by Energy Vanguard, did not specify 

the factors responsible for the 

positive trend. But checks by Energy 

Vanguard pointed to the Petroleum 

Industry Act, PIA, a comprehensive 

legislation that has encouraged 

investment, thus culminating in the 

deployment of more rigs. However, 

the November report showed that 

Algeria was the highest African 

petroleum exploration nation with 

32 rigs while Equatorial Guinea 

came last with no rig whatsoever. 

Commenting on the development, 

the National President, Oil and Gas 

Service Providers Association of 

Nigeria, OGSPAN, Mr. Colman 

Obasi, said it would take some time 

for the impact of the PIA to show on 

the industry. According to him, the 

industry requires long term 

investment and mobilisation of 

resources, including funds from 

within and outside the nation. He 

said: "Oil and gas exploration has 

been very low in Nigeria, apparently 

because of the delay associated with 

the passage of the Petroleum 

Industry Bill, PIB. We have started 

seeing the positive impact of the PIA. 

We, however, hope that the 

momentum would be sustained. 

Despite the quest for Energy 

transition, Nigeria and indeed 

African nations should increase 

investment in the industry while 

using their abundant natural gas as 

the transition fuel into the future." 

The Lead promoter, Energyhub 

Nigeria, Dr. Amieyeofori Felix, who 

noted that the positive impact of the 

PIA would be gradual, said: "The 

PIA is very important to 

stakeholders, including oil and gas 

companies, the government and 

communities. We hope that it would 

attract new investments into the 

industry." But the Chief Executive of 

the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum 

Regulatory Commission, NUPRC, 

Mr. Gbenga Komolafe, who stressed 

the need for new investment 

maintained that Nigeria's 37 billion 

barrels of proven oil reserves could 

be depleted in the next 60 years, 

adding that the country's natural gas 

reserves of 208 trillion scuff would 

take another 88 years. 

In its latest report obtained by 

Energy Vanguard, NUPRC, stated 

that Nigeria's dwindling average oil 

output, including condensate, 

dropped Year-on-Year, YoY, by 7.4 per 

cent to 1.37 million barrels per day, 

mb/d in the first 10 months (January 

- October) 2022, from 1.48 mb/d in 

the corresponding period of 2021. 

This showed a shortfall of 317,940 

MOMAN donates N50m to Nigerian flood victims 

By Sebastine Obasi 

THE Major Oil Marketers 

Association of Nigeria, 

MOMAN, yesterday, donated the 

sum of N50 million to support 

communities affected by floods in 

Nigeria. Handing over a N50m 

cheque to the Nigerian Red Cross 

Society at a ceremony in Abuja, Mr. 

Clement Isong, Chief Executive 

Officer of MOMAN said that the 

recent flooding which is a 

humanitarian disaster has not been 

getting the deserved attention. 

He noted that the pictures of sheer 

devastation in communities in 

various parts of Nigeria are horrific 

and underscore the need for 

corporate organisations to lend 

their support. According to him, "in 

previous emergencies such as 

COVID-19, Nigerians rallied round 

each other but with the floods, the 

rest of the world appears to be taking 

things more serious than Nigeria is. 

It is sad that the flooding which I see 

as a humanitarian disaster is not 

treated with the seriousness it 

deserves." 

Receiving the donation, the 

Secretary General of the Nigerian 

Red Cross Society, Abubakar Kende, 

was ecstatic at the display of social 

responsibility by the Major Oil 

barrels when juxtaposed against the 

1.69 mb/d which the 2023 budget 

was based on at $70 per barrel. 

The NUPRC, which disclosed this 

in its monthly Oil Production Status 

Reports, obtained by Energy 

Marketers Association of Nigeria, 

MOMAN, and promised that the 

funds would truly be used to alleviate 

the effects of the flooding. 

He said: "The Nigerian Red Cross 

Society has come a long way and 

accountability is our watchword. It 

is so gratifying in these times to meet 

an organization that actually has the 

spirit of volunteerism and humanity 

embedded within its core. About two 

weeks ago, the Nigerian Red Cross 

Society launched an emergency 

appeal in order to raise 13 million 

Swiss Francs for the flood victims 

across Nigeria. 

"These funds are targeted at 

supporting up to 500,000 displaced 

ARDA lauds Rainoil's oil, gas facility in Lagos 

By Joseph Oso 

THE African Refiners and 

Distributors Association, 

ARDA, has applauded Rainoil 

Limited for its state of art Oil and 

Gas facility located in Ijegun- 

Egba, Amuwo Odofin LGA, Lagos 

State. The association 

commended the company's 

genuine move to boost domestic 

utilization of Liquified Petroleum 

Gas in the Country. 

The Association led by its 

President, Marième Ndoye 

Decraene, the Executive Secretary, 

Mr. Anibor Kragha along with 

other delegates took a tour at the 

facility.They implored other 

similar investments across Africa. 

Speaking after the tour, Mr. 

OIL MARKET WATCH 

Bonny Light $96.15 

Brent $96.05 

OPEC Basket $94.85 

WTI $88.90 

MARS $85.46 

(As of November 14, 2022) 

ANNIVERSERY ----From left: Mrs. Justina Ikpea (wife), Executive Chairman, LEE Engineering Group and 

Allied Companies Ltd, Dr. Leemon Ikpea, Very Rev. Fr. Francis Ike of the Catholic church of the Assumption, 

Falomo and other staff of the company at the 31st Anniversary and Thanksgiving ceremony of Lee 

Engineering Group and Allied Companies Ltd. 

Vanguard, weekend, did not specify 

the cause of the trend. However, 

checks by Vanguard, yesterday, 

attributed it to prolonged pipeline 

vandalism, oil theft, and illegal 

refining in the Niger Delta. It 

Kragha stated that the visit was 

necessitated by the need for 

members to see the reality of the 

massive projects going on in 

Nigeria. He also emphasized that 

Rainoil was aligning with the 

vision of the Federal Government 

and ARDA in driving cleaner fuel 

in the region. 

According to him, ARDA's vision 

is to serve as the leader in Africa's 

transition to cleaner fuels. "We also 

promote the harmonization of 

cleaner fuel specifications across 

Africa in line with the AFRI Fuels 

Roadmap to avoid urban pollution 

and the associated health 

challenges. ARDA supports the 

implementation of a Cleaner Air 

Policy with a regulatory framework 

that considers fuels and vehicles as 

indicated that pipeline vandalism, 

oil theft and illegal refining would 

still continue next year, despite the 

efforts of stakeholders, especially the 

government and oil companies, to 

tackle them. 

people and focus on the provision of 

basic food, health, care, water, 

sanitation, hygiene promotion, 

search, rescue, Rapid NEEDS 

assessments, deployments of 

Emergency First Aid Teams and 

many more services required to 

alleviate the general suffering 

brought on by the effects of flooding." 

an integrated system." 

He noted that the Association is 

in Nigeria as part of its mission 

which is focused on developing an 

integrated energy self-sufficiency 

plan for Africa that promotes the 

processing of African crude oil in 

upgraded African refineries, 

distribution of resulting cleaner 

petroleum products via African 

pipelines and terminals with 

funding primarily from African 

financial institutions. 

Mr. Kragha confirmed that the 

delegation had earlier paid a 

courtesy call to the Nigerian 

National Petroleum Company 

(NNPC), the Dangote Refinery and 

was scheduled to visit Sahara 

Group's Egbin Power Plant.

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INTERACTIVE—From left: Waziri Adio, Founder/ED, Agora Policy; Olubukola 

Balogun, board member, Independent Corrupt Practices Commission; Philip 

Mshelbila, MD/CEO, Nigeria LNG Ltd.; Kole Shettima, Country Director, 

MacArthur Foundation; Osasuyi Dirisu, Deputy Director, Policy Innovation 

Centre, PIC; Akinwumi Akinola, Senior Analyst, PIC; Friday Odeh, Country 

Director, Accountability Lab, during an interactive panel on ‘Harnessing 

Behavioural Insights to Counter Corruption', organised by the PIC, on the 

sidelines of Nigerian Economic Summit 28, NES 28, in Abuja, yesterday. 

SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS—From left: Tonye Preghafi, Chief Innovation 

Officer, Red Star Express Plc.; Halimot Safiriyy, beneficiary and student, 

Unity High School, Oshodi; Israel Oladeji, beneficiary and student, 

Oshodi Comprehensive Senior High School, Oshodi; Auwalu Babura, 

GMD/CEO, Red Star Express Plc.; Pamilerin Adewole, beneficiary and 

student, Oshodi Comprehensive Senior High School, Oshodi, and Frances 

Akpomuka, Company Secretary/Head of Operations, Red Star Express 

Plc., during Red Star Express Foundation Scholarship Awards 

presentation to beneficiaries within Oshodi/Isolo LG, on Thursday. 

OGBONI FRATERNITY—From left: Aare Rasak Arogundade, President, OPC New 

Era; Oludapo Sotomiwa, Olisa of lpakodo; Oba Basiru Aremu Sotonwa, 

Sekunmade of lpakodo, and celebrant, Oluwo Adeleke Oyenuga, Aare lwashe 

Ogboni, during the 30th Annual lsese lwashe Ogboni Fraternity Worldwide 

Festival, led by Oluwo Adeleke Oyenuga, Are lwashe Ogboni, at lkorodu, 

weekend. 

DISBURSEMENT—From left: Ronald Frey, Programme Officer, Access to Portable 

Water and Sanitation, OB Lulu Briggs Foundation, presenting relief packs 

containing food items, medication and toiletries to Awori Onisofein. With them 

is Ikay Amadi, President, Old Port Harcourt City Association of Friends, during 

the Lulu-Briggs Foundation’s disbursement of relief materials and medical 

outreach to 2,000 displaced families and people affected by flooding in Akinima, 

Ahoada West Local Government, Rivers State. Photo: Nwankpa Chijioke.




KINGDOM SUMMIT—From left: Popular gospel artist, Mairo Ese; Mrs. Yosola Atere; Pastor 

John Dong; Pastor Kayode Akinpelu, and popular gospel artist, Nosa Omoregie, during 

the press conference on the forthcoming Kingdom Summit, tagged: 'Dominion Mandate in 

Lagos, at The Freedom Centre, This Present House, 1, Freedom Way, Lekki, Lagos. 

2023: Ortom cautions against defacing 

of opponents' campaign materials 

By Peter Duru 

M 

A K U R D I — 

GOVERNOR 

Samuel Ortom of Benue State 

has warned those destroying 

the campaign posters, 

billboards and other campaign 

materials of political 

opponents in the state to 

desist or face the wrath of 

the law. 

The Governor said his 

government would not 

tolerated such even from any 

supporter of his party the 

Peoples Democratic Party, 

PDP, or opposition political 

parties because he believes 

in ensuring a level playing 

field for all. 

The Governor, in a 

statement issued in Makurdi 

by his Special Adviser Media 

and Publicity, Terver Akase, 

stated that democracy 

guarantees freedom for 

everyone to campaign 

without harassment or 

molestation. 

The Governor said, "As a 

government, we will not allow 

anyone destroy the campaign 

posters, billboards and other 

By Victor Ahiuma- 

Young & Johnbosco 

Agbakwuru 

ABUJA—THE International 

Labour Organisation, ILO, 

has appointed the President, 

National Industrial Court of 

Nigeria, NICN, Justice Benedict 

Kanyip, as a member of the 

Committee of Experts in the 

Application of Conventions and 

Recommendations, CEACR. 

Some legal luminaries have 

contended that the appointment 

of Justice Kanyip by the ILO to 

serve in CEACR was another 

testimony that Labour 

Jurisprudence in Nigeria under 

his (Kanyip) leadership is on a 

match for greatness. 

They said "as the head of the 

nation's Labour Court, Justice 

Kanyip's selfless contributions 

and erudition to labour 

jurisprudence and national 

development are exceptional and 

have been aptly recognized by 

this appointment." 

Recall that since its existence 

96 years ago, the ILO Committee 

of Experts has had persons from 

Nigeria including a former Chief 

Justice of Nigeria, Sir 

Adetokunbo Ademola who 

served as Chairman of the 

campaign materials of political 

opponents in Benue state. 

We will not tolerate it because 

the law frowns at it. 

"We are therefore warning 

anyone involved in such to 

desist or be prepared to face 

the law if caught, because we 

will not condone such from 

Sokoto gov urges Army to sustain 

professionalism 

By Kingsley 

Omonobi 

S OKOTO—GOVERNOR 

Aminu Tambuwal of 

Sokoto State has urged the 

Nigerian Army to continue its 

moves on ensuring 

professionalism, 

improvement of personnel's 

capacity for better service 

delivery and operations. 

Tambuwal spoke yesterday 

in Sokoto while declaring 

open the 2022 Second 

Regimental Sergeant Majors, 

RSMs, convention tagged " 

Capacity Building for RSMs 

in the Nigerian Army for 

Enhanced Regimentation ". 

He 

described 

anyone." 

He however, advised 

political parties, their 

candidates and supporters to 

always ensure that their 

posters and billboards are 

mounted in approved 

locations and to desist from 

defacing Makurdi as well as 

professionalism, capacity 

building and welfare 

improvement as key to 

ensuring effective operations 

and service delivery. 

Tambuwal commended the 

commitments of the 

leadership of the Army 

towards that direction, saying 

that Nigerians stand to 

benefit with enhanced safety, 

security and comfort of the 

personnel. 

The governor urged the 

Chief of Army Staff, COAS, 

Lt.- General Faruk Yahaya, to 

sustain welfare packages, 

rewards for excellence, 

operational tactics and 

strategies, as well as other 

motivational efforts being 

NIC President gets appointment from ILO 

•Centre for labour studies congratulates him 

Committee between 1976 and 

1986. 

The intervention of the NIC 

has helped academic activities to 

resume in public universities 

after the Academic Staff Union 

of Universities, ASUU shut 

down the universities as a result 

of the alleged inability of 

government to attend to their 

demands. 

Meanwhile, the Centre for 

Labour Studies, CLS, has 

congratulated Justice Kanyip on 

his appointment. 

A statement by Femi 

Aborisade, on behalf of CLS, said 

appointments into CEAR are not 

on political recommendation by 

national governments, saying "It 

is not on account of his being 

President of the NICN. An 

appointment into CEAR is based 

on the reputation of the 

candidate, not only as a legal 

expert on a world scale, 

independent mindedness, 

impartiality in judicial decision 

making, and high moral 

character are also important 

factors taken into consideration. 

"Anyone who is familiar with 

the judicial decisions of Justice 

Kanyip would easily come to the 

conclusion that Justice Kanyip 

eminently and meritoriously 

deserves the appointment. 

The judicial decisions of Justice 

Kanyip are always very 

comprehensive, unequivocally 

clear, objective and predictable 

on the side of justice, according 

to law. These qualities are the 

signatures of Justice Kanyip in 

many landmark Judgments that 

protect established labour rights 

and promote other employment 

rights anchored on international 

labour standards, which have 

been incorporated into Section 

254C(1) and (2) of the 

Constitution by virtue of the 

2010 amendments. 

Within the constraints of the 

existing social system that 

weighs against the working class, 

many of the judicial decisions of 

Justice Kanyip may be used 

either as a sword or a shield in 

advancing or protecting labour 

and employment rights. 

"In the midst of the perception 

of moral turpitude woven round 

the Nigerian judiciary, the 

singling out of Justice Kanyip for 

meriting CEAR membership is a 

positive reference, not only for 

the Nigerian Judiciary as a 

whole, but importantly, for those 

in the judiciary who have 

courageously remained upright 

and are not prepared to succumb 

to social and political pressures." 

other towns of the state with 

indiscriminate placement of 

campaign materials. 

Governor Ortom advised 

anyone intending to erect a 

billboard in the state to seek 

the approval of relevant 

government agencies before 

doing so. 

implemented in the Nigerian 

Army. 

In his address, Yahaya 

pledged to continue to provide 

leadership and guidance in 

the Nigerian Army, saying 

that the second RSMs 

convention was a sequel to 

the successes recorded after 

the first convention held in 

Lagos this year. 

He said: ""RSMs have 

important roles in their 

respective units in view of the 

links between commissioned 

officers and non 

commissioned soldiers. 

"Army personnel were 

engaged on different 

operations, intermingled with 

diverse communities and 

partners with other 

organizations, hence, there is 

need for constant capacity 

improvement on diverse 

disciplines. 

"The training will further 

broaden the RSMs focus and 

abilities towards efficient 

service delivery with 

improved outcomes." 

Yahaya said that the 

Headquarters of Nigerian 

Army recognized the 

importance of RSMs and 

considered more investments 

in training them for improved 

competency. 

" We are confident that with 

the acquisition of more 

equipment and platforms, the 

army is well positioned to win 

the war against insurgency, 

banditry and other violent 

crimes in the country. RSMs 

are crucial, being the 

custodians of regimentations, 

ethics and discipline in the 

Nigerian Army. 

" These efforts are aimed at 

improving and repositioning 

the service delivery 

requirement of these very 

important Nigerian army 

welfare facilities," Yahaya 

said. 

He reiterated that the 

Nigerian Army was making 

drastic efforts to provide 

secured, affordable and 

reliable accommodation as 

part of efforts to cater for the 

welfare needs of army 

personnel. 

Peter Obi knows that he can’t 

and won’t win, by Soludo 

CHUKWUMA SOLUDO, 

governor of Anambra, has 

said Peter Obi, presidential 

candidate of the Labour Party, LP, 

will not win in the 2023 general 

election. 

Soludo said this yesterday in 

an article titled ‘History Beckons 

and I Will Not Be Silent (Part 1)’. 

The development comes amid 

criticism of the Anambra 

governor over his recent comment 

on the worth of investment Obi 

made for the state when the latter 

was governor. 

In a recent interview on 

Channels Television, Soludo had 

said the investments by Obi for 

Anambra are now “worth next to 

nothing”. 

Reacting to the criticism, Soludo 

said the LP candidate is well aware 

of the “game” he is playing, 

adding that with LP, Obi does not 

have the necessary structure in 

place to win the presidency. 

“Let’s be clear: Peter Obi knows 

that he can’t and won’t win. He 

knows the game he is playing, 

and we know too; and he knows 

that we know,” the article reads 

in part. 

“The game he is playing is the 

FG proposes 2 months 

mandatory training for labour 

leaders 

By Johnbosco 

Agbakwuru 

Federal 

ABUJA—THE 

Government yesterday 

proposed a mandatory eight 

weeks course for all newly 

elected labour leaders in the 

country at the Michael Imoudu 

National Institute of Labour 

Studies, MINILS. 

According to a statement by 

Head, Press and Public 

Relations, Federal Ministry of 

Labour and Employment, Olajide 

Oshundun, the Minister claimed 

some union leaders are 

disobeying his ministry and even 

the labour laws of the country, 

because they lack the basic 

training on the laws and their 

application. 

The statement quoted Ngige 

as saying, "You know a lot of 

people who answer labour and 

union leaders are not trained in 

the labour laws of the country 

including those who are 

Professors. They disrespect 

labour laws. They disrespect the 

labour ministry, labour 

committees and everybody. 

"So, we want to upgrade 

MINILS and make it mandatory 

that once you are elected as 

Comrade President or Secretary 

General or whatever, you must 

go there for a course that will last 

not less than eight weeks, to get 

certificated. 

"Otherwise, you see people 

who are educated and 

knowledgeable and they are 

telling you that Section 43 of the 

Trade Dispute Act, TDA, 2004, 

Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 

is not applicable to them or 

anybody. How do you say that? 

You are insulting the parliaments 

that are making laws. 

"You are registered as a union 

and there is the Trade Union Act 

(2005) as amended and yet, you 

say that it should not apply to 

you and that you cannot tender 

an account of check off dues that 

you collected. The same Trade 

Union Act permits the union to 

deduct the check off dues from 

the salaries of its membership. 

The same Act says that the 

union must be audited every year 

and the audited account 

submitted to the Registrar of 

Trade Unions, RTU. 

"It is just like the Independent 

National Electoral Commission, 

INEC, that registers political 

parties. If you apply to be 

registered as a political party, 

INEC will register you but will 

ask you to tender the audited 

accounts of your party every 

year. You must conform as a 

political party, but if you default, 

the commission will penalise 

you, according to the law. There 

is no two ways about it." 

FG urged to revive textile industry 

By Japhet Davidson 

LAGOS—THE 

Federal 

Government has been urged 

to revive the comatose textile 

sector in Nigeria to enable Adire 

producers and others get raw 

materials that will save foreign 

exchange for the country. 

The call was made by members 

of Adire Osogbo by Marankiyo 

clothings producers of Aire Eleko, 

Adire Batik and tie and dye fabrics 

in a chat with the media during 

their presentation at the African 

Special Day of the just concluded 

2022 Lagos International Trade Fair 

in Tafewa Balewa Square Lagos. 

Speaking, Mr Ganiyu Ibikunle, 

head of traditional indigo making 

at Morankiyo clothings Osogbo 

and President of Adire Eleko 

Association Osun State, which is 

main reason he didn’t return to 

APGA. The brutal truth (and 

some will say, God forbid) is that 

there are two persons/parties 

seriously contesting for president: 

the rest is exciting drama! 

“That many Americans may not 

like the fact that Joe Biden (79 

years) and Donald Trump (76 

years) are two frontrunners for 

president in their parties does not 

remove the fact that if both of 

them emerge as candidates, 

definitely one of them will be 

president in 2024. 

“As my brother, I wish him well 

and even pray for him. I told him 

during his courtesy call that my 

prayer is that himself or Prof 

Umeadi of APGA would win, why 

not? 

“That is from my heart, but I 

also told him that my head and 

facts on the ground led me to 

know that it’s probability is next 

to zero (what I cannot say before 

you, I won’t say behind you). 

“So I already told him my 

opinion. Indeed, there is no 

credible pathway for him near the 

first two positions, and if care is 

not taken, he won’t even near 

the third position.” 

committed to the promotion of 

unique indigenous Osogbo Adire 

fabrics stated that the Adire 

Osogbo is unique because the 

creative aspect and dye in the 

design of Adire Osogbo clothes and 

the shape differentiates it from 

other Adire clothes. 

He however lamented that 

"there is no collaboration between 

the government and the group to 

enable the business grows 

because the raw materials are 

costly. We urge the federal and 

state governments to as a matter 

of urgency revive the comatose 

textile industry in the country to 

enable producers get the raw 

materials for the trade. The 

government should also enact a 

law that will make it compulsory 

for the government agencies and 

individuals to patronise the local 

products."

32 — Niger-Delta Voice, TUESDAY, NOVEMEBR 15, 2022 

HUNGER-PROPELLED REVOLUTION: 

Commercial motorcyclists 

defy 15-yr ban in C-River 

•Return to Calabar roads, despite law by state govt 

•Police, community aid, abet disobedience, collect bribes 

•Commercial motorcyclists doing brisk business on Calabar roads unchallenged. 

CROSS-RIVER … 

THE PEOPLE’S PARADISE 

By Emmanuel Unah 

C 

A L A B A R — 

COMMERCIAL 

motorcyclists banned from 

operating in the Calabar 

Municipality and Calabar South 

Local Government Areas in 

Cross-River State, which 

comprise Calabar, the state 

capital, in 2008, have rebelled 

against the law and returned to 

operations, 15 years after. 

Police officers, who are 

supposed to implement the law, 

connive with the commercial 

motorcyclists to flout the law, after 

extorting money daily from them. 

Some community folks also collect 

money from the motorcyclists. 

However, the motorcyclists said 

the mode of transportation was 

their only source of livelihood 

and, since they do not want to 

die of hunger, have to pay their 

children’s school fees and meet 

other needs, they have to flout 

the ban. 

Imoke effected ban 

Ex-governor, Senator Liyel 

Imoke, effected the ban at the 

time to curb what he termed 

"excesses and recklessness of 

motorcycle operators", use of 

motorcycles by bandits as getaway 

means, after robbery 

operations, and mob action by 

the commercial motorcyclists at 

accident scenes involving any 

of them, and so on. 

His predecessor, Mr. Donald 

Duke, in 2005, attempted to ban 

commercial motorcyclists in 

Calabar but, owing to the 

swiftness of the decision, he later 

rescinded, until Imoke effectively 

brought the ban into place. 

Senator Imoke, however, gave 

some exceptions. Security agents 

like police, soldiers, immigration, 

navy, air force, civil defense and 

prison personnel, who already 

owned motorcycles, could ride 

same only while reporting and 

closing from duty, but not for 

commercial reasons. 

Normalcy 

With the ban, Calabar 

essentially became the first city 

in Nigeria to outlaw the 

operations of commercial 

motorcyclists. 

Some desperate riders who 

refused to obey the ban had 

their motorcycles impounded, 

destroyed or auctioned to traders, 

who came from Lagos and other 

cities to buy the motorcycles. 

Some sold their motorcycles and 

others moved out of Calabar. 

After the initial difficulty in 

movement, occasioned by the 

ban, normalcy returned and 

peace reigned in the city. 

Some motor-cyclists bought 

rickety cars and buses, which 

they used for transport services. 

Return of impunity 

However, over time, there 

was a lax in enforcement of the 

ban, as some security 

personnel used their 

motorcycles for commercial 

operations at night. 

Emboldened by the activities of 

security agents, some commercial 

motorcyclists returned to 

business. 

Initially, they confined their 

operations to the outskirts of the 

city in places like Ikot Ekpo, Ikot 

Effanga, Atimbo and Bakoko but, 

with time, they moved to the 

city centre. 

Today, it is common to find 

motorcycles brazenly operating 

with all the impunity everywhere 

in Calabar metropolis, which 

caused the ban. 

They move around 

everywhere, causing accidents, 

robbing and attacking other road 

users at the slightest provocation, 

and so on. 

Relief as youths fix flood-ravaged road in Bayelsa 

BAYELSA…THE 

JERUSALEM OF IJAW 

NATION 

By Samuel Oyadongha 

EDEPIE—YOUTHS of 

Elebele community in Ogbia 

Local Government Area, Bayelsa 

State, have come to the rescue of 

motorists, laying sandbags on a 

flood-devastated section of the 

road linking the town to Yenagoa, 

the state capital, to save it from 

total collapse, pending the 

intervention of the relevant 

authorities. 

Armed with shovels and sticks, 

the youths have turned saving 

angels for motorists and travelers, 

who have to navigate the many 

craters on the crumbling road. 

Most motorists shuttling 

Yenagoa, Ogbia and Nembe local 

government councils now prefer 

to pass through the Elebele 

community, instead of going 

through the Okarki axis in Rivers 

State, which is a longer route. 

They also avoid the Edepie- 

Otuasega-Imiringi route, which 

is also a quicker route like the 

Elebele axis, because of its 

terrible state caused by the flood. 

The deep gullies 

•Flood-devastated Edepie- 

Otuasega-Imiringi road. 

scared me 

—Female motorist 

A female motorist told NDV: 

“Aside from using sandbags to 

erect barriers to break the speed 

of the water current flowing 

across the road, they are also 

laying sandbags in the gullies 

and eroded edges to save the road 

from total collapse. 

“Some youths even assisted 

the terrified car owners to drive 

through the delicate spots. The 

relieved car owners would 

support their voluntary efforts, to 

enable them to get more 

sandbags to stabilise the ailing 

structure, pending the 

intervention of the authorities. 

"I was so afraid to drive through 

the flood-ravaged bend, until one 

youth beckoned on me to 

advance, but on noticing my 

confused state, he volunteered to 

drive through. I have not seen 

polite and caring volunteers like 

these youths before,” she added. 

Why we make the 

sacrifice —Enato 

A resident, Enato, said: 

"Though the flood has caused us 

much pain, its devastating 

consequences have created an 

opportunity for us to assist 

motorists to pass through the 

damaged spots and also assist 

our local economy. 

“Ours is an agrarian settlement 

with a mix of civil servants and 

traders. If our road is accessible, 

our people, who sell by the 

fringe, will make sales and this 

will boost their income. That is 

the sacrifice we are making for 

our community." 

Outstanding service 

—Kuro, driver 

An elated commercial driver, 

Owei Kuro, told NDV: "The 

community youth leadership has 

shown exceptional service by 

ensuring that the youths 

maintain the bad spots, and 

they have been working 

vigorously, using sandbags to fill 

the road. 

“Their effort is commendable, 

as it will prevent erosion from 

cutting the road off, making it 

easier for motorists to access the 

community. It is our prayers that 

the government moves in soonest 

for proper rehabilitation work." 

It‘s a communal effort 

—Temple 

A resident sacked by flood, Mr. 

Temple, asserted: "I met the 

youths bagging sand and laying 

same at the damaged spots when 

I went to check if I could return 

home and joined in the 

communal effort." 

It is our only source 

of livelihood 

—Motorcyclists 

When NDV accosted some 

operators at the popular Watt 

Market Roundabout, they came 

up with a litany of complaints, 

ranging from poverty and lack 

of job, saying commercial 

motorcycling is their only source 

of livelihood. 

"We have no jobs and, instead 

of stealing, it is better for us to 

operate motorcycles and help our 

families," Etekamba, who claims 

to be the leader of the motorcycle 

operators at the Bayside, told our 

reporter. 

"These people you see here 

have school fees to pay, uniforms 

to buy and food to provide for 

their families, and motorcycle is 

all they have. 

…settle police, 

community 

"Some of the monies we collect 

go to the police, some to the 

community, it does not go into 

one person's pocket," he narrated 

NDV discovered that police 

officers, who ought to implement 

the ban, were actively conniving 

with the motorcycle operators by 

extorting the sum of N500 daily 

from them as 'operational fees'. 

The Director General of 

Calabar Transport Regulatory 

Agency, CITRA, Mr. Gabriel 

Adah, said: “The ban is still in 

place, but you know Nigerians. 

These boys would never obey 

the law. Hunger can make you 

do what you are not supposed 

to do" 

He said he knows the police 

connive with the commercial 

motorcycle operators to give 

them the leeway to operate, after 

extorting money from them. 

"In Nigeria a little money 

makes people turn a blind eye, 

and that is the case with the 

motorcycle operators and police 

officers in Calabar,” he said. 

Levy 

However, some youths, who arranged 

hardcore on the decrepit spots, levy tricycle 

operations and car owners between N100 

to N200 

"As you can see, without us fixing the 

failed portions, cars cannot pass and there 

is nothing wrong in our collecting some 

change for our labor," one youth, who simply 

identified himself as Dennis, told NDV. 

Bayelsa govt takes 

stock 

Meanwhile, officials of the state 

government Post-Flood Management 

Committee, led by the deputy governor, 

Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, last week, 

embarked on assessment tours of damaged 

infrastructures and taking stock of areas 

devastated by the 2022 flood. 

According to the committee, the visit is 

to assess the current situation and to hear 

from the communities about their specific 

needs and challenges. 

•Elebele road, weekend, where community youths resorted 

to using sandbags to save it from total collapse.

C 

M 

Y 

K 



YOUR LUCK TODAY 

By Joshua Adeyemo Phone 08056180139 

SCORPIO (Oct 23 – Nov 21) The Moon and it’s North/ 

South Nodes are at loggerheads today. That means you will 

need to be a little bit careful when relating to strangers today. 

If you are self reliant, success will crown your efforts. Take 

good advantage and enjoy blissful romance. 

SAGITTARIUS (Nov 22 – Dec21) Although, it is good to be 

legal minded, it is not the right time to claim your rights, 

especially if you must do it aggressively. Secret lovers will be 

happy. 

CAPRICORN (Dec 22 – Jan 19) Matters-of-the-heart will 

top many people’s priority lists. However, you will need to be 

a bit careful when handling love related affairs today. The 

more receptive to good suggestions from your good friends, 

the better for you. Be diplomatic. 

AQUARIUS (Jan 20 – Feb 18) Venus (love/money) in Scorpio 

(your 10 th house of Career/business) and Jupiter (good luck) 

in Pisces (your Solar 2 nd house of money) are at good angles 

positively working for your success. Many of you will record 

financial success. And some of you will mix business with 

pleasure. Pay good attention to wellness of your family life. 

PISCES (Feb 19 – Mar 20) Influence of positive influence 

vibrated by your Star yesterday will continues to enhance 

your prospects as indicated by good relationship between 

lucky Jupiter and loving Venus. Money love/exciting pleasure 

are your lots today. Protect your health. 

ARIES (Mar 21 – Apr 19) Keeping both yours and other 

people secrets will positively work favourably for you. 

Financially ambitious among you are inn for good results. Be 

loving. 

TAURUS ( Apr 20 – May 20) It’s important you don’t allow 

minor domestic challenge derail your plans to record good 

results today. With determination and practical approach, 

you’ll succeed. This is a very good day to give needed time to 

wellness of your love life. Be more loving. 

GEMINI (May 21 – June 20) You will be in better position 

to expand the scope of success recorded yesterday to the 

betterment of your cause. Your popularity is on the increase. 

L E I S U R E 

TAKE HEART — ELLA RANDLE 

“ What you think is who you are;what you do is who you become.Your beliefs 

determine your actions; your actions determine your destiny. -Matshona 

Dhliwayo- 

We become what we think about all day. Each man holds the key to every 

condition, good or bad, that enters into his life, and that, by working patiently 

and intelligently upon his thoughts, he may remake and build a better world 

through taking actions to actualize his dreams, goals and aspirations. 

—Ella Randle - 

TERROR MUDA in “Never say goodbye” 

By Kola Fayemi 

CANCER (June 21 – July 22) It is important you don’t waste 

good opportunity to do your love life little goodness, because 

if this opportunity is lost today, it’ll be a while before such 

chance will come your way again. Immediate and far future 

should be taken into consideration. 

LEO (Jul23 – Aug 22) It’s good to be as ambitious as you are 

today but, you will equally need to be as moderate as you can 

possibly be particularly within your base of operation. This is 

the wrong time to take strangers too seriously. Avoid gambling 

with matters of the heart. 

VIRGO (Aug 23 – Sept 22) One of the needed keys to 

record good results today is to reason with your spouse and 

be on the same page. If you do the needful your finances’ll 

make you smile. 

LIBRA (Sept 23 – Oct 22) You are in for a good day when 

the element of good luck will positively align you with 

influential personalities willing to assist you. Be optimistic. 

DUDU in “KILL POINT” 

By A.O.OLAIDE 

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 

VIRGINIA dadadekola@yahoo.com 

WHY AM I MISUNDERSTOOD? 

Dear Joshua, 

I don’t want my data published but tell me everything I 

should know about myself. Sometimes I am confused the 

type of a person I am, especially when others 

misunderstand me. Why I’m I sometimes being 

misunderstood ? Thus I am asking you who is actually in 

me- Astrologically. 

Joseph Abuja. 

Dear Joseph, 

At face value one may be tempted to wrongly take you 

for a very soft person but, with the preponderance of fixed 

quality and fire element in your Astrological make ups, it 

is indicated that yours is a determined and ambitious Soul 

with stronger will-power (actually once your mind is made 

up on any important issue you rarely change). Saturn as 

the only planet at home when you were born pointed to a 

person who will always take important decision when and 

if his career will not be put in danger; meaning that you 

belong to my career first set of people. 

Although, the Sun is the Centre of the Solar system and 

wherever is placed in any given horoscope is the heart of 

that horoscope, by implication placement of the mighty 

Sun in Cancer here means that you are mainly a Cancer 

born person. And with more than two (there were actually 

four) heavenly bodies placed in Kingly Leo when you were 

born, you are partially a Leo born person. Equally it is 

important to point out prominence of bold Aries in your 

chart as it hosted your natal Moon. 

Anyway equal distribution of planetary placement in 

push-full and non-push-full positions will ensure balanced 

personality with powerful LEADERSHIP skill in you. Your 

natal Sun, Moon and Stallion in Cancer, Aries and Leo 

respectively are indications of your being mainly a Cancer 

born person and partly Aries/Leo; meaning that basic 

characteristics of the three Star signs mentioned (namely 

Cancer, Aries and Leo) are highly pronounced in your 

inner-self. 

HOME & ABROAD 

By Lawrence Akapa


MEDIA: Owners, journalists, stakeholders agree 

code of conduct, co-regulation, Ombudsman 

Continues from Page 5 

complaints. 

A person may complain 

about any article in a 

newspaper or magazine 

published in Nigeria or 

broadcast on a terrestrial 

platform or radio and television 

as well as well as 

online (on the internet) he 

or she believes directly 

affects or involves him or 

her unfairly. A person may 

also complain about the 

conduct of a journalist if 

he or she believes that the 

conduct directly or involves 

him or her unfairly. 

Sanctions against 

erring newspaper, 

publisher, journalist 

After investigation and 

due actions on a complaint, 

“if the Ombudsman 

upholds the complaint, 

the publication 

concerned will be obliged 

to publish the decision in 

full, and with reasonable 

prominence, within seven 

days of the ruling being 

delivered to it. All NPAN 

members shall be obliged 

to publish an abstract of 

the ruling produced by 

the Ombudsman after seven 

days but not later than 

21 days of the delivery of 

the ruling to the publication. 

“Where the Ombudsman 

determines that a 

particular ruling affects 

the fundamental rights of 

the parties involved or is 

of importance to journalism 

practice and/or the 

publishing industry, then 

the ruling shall be published 

by the publication 

involved and by all members 

of NPAN. This provision 

is necessary to ensure 

that only very important 

cases are published.” 

Don’t kill NPC 

Pleading for the surviv- 

Exchange rate gives us great concern, FG laments 

Naira depreciates to N446/$ in 

I&E window 

By Elizabeth Adegbesan 

The naira yesterday depreciated to N446 per dollar 

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

Data from FMDQ showed that the indicative exchange 

rate for the window rose to N446 per dollar 

from N445.75 per dollar last week Friday, indicating 

25 Kobo depreciation for the naira. 

Similarly, the naira depreciated by N100 in the 

parallel market yesterday. 

Vanguard findings from black market traders 

showed that the indicative exchange rate for the 

market rose to N780 per dollar from N680 per dollar 

last week Friday. 

al of the NPC, Mr Francis 

Nwosu, said efforts are 

being made to ensure that 

past issues that brought 

the NPC and the media 

industry at loggerhead do 

not happen. 

Rather than killing the 

NPC, he said we need to 

build strong institutions 

including the press. According 

to him the NPC 

has 19 members including 

four each from the NGE 

and NUJ and two from 

NPAN are nominated by 

their various organisations 

and not appointed by 

the government or minister. 

‘’It is good we strengthen 

the media industry. 

The NPC is not to gag the 

press. We have been doing 

good interventions to 

save the polity. We should 

not throw the baby away 

with the bath water. In 

whatever we do, let’s give 

the press council a 

chance.’’ 

•Says Nigeria's debt-service-to-revenue ratio undoubtedly high 

ing a mechanism for increasing 

supply and moderating 

demand which will 

be transparent and will 

boost confidence. 

"I am sure most can recall 

several efforts have been 

made in the past, such as 

the Interbank Foreign Exchange 

Market, Retail 

Dutch Auction System, 

Wholesale Dutch Auction 

System, etc. 

"While they may not have 

been perfect, the rules 

were clear and the gap between 

the official and parallel 

markets was not so 

wide. The thing is that 

there should be some element 

of price discovery in 

our policy regime. This 

will boost confidence and 

increase inflows of foreign 

exchange. 

"We will also have to take 

urgent action to bring inflation 

down because it is 

both a tax on the poor and 

disrupts long term growth. 

Inflation in Nigeria is partly 

structural, arising from 

infrastructural deficiencies 

etc but there is also an aspect 

that is caused by increased 

money supply, imported 

inflation and depreciation 

of the naira. 

"In addition, therefore, to 

the monetary measures being 

taken by the Central 

Bank of Nigeria, we would 

need to increase domestic 

production of food and 

make sure it gets to the 

market." 

He said over the years, 

the summit had become the 

forum for high quality engagements 

among thought 

leaders, captains of industry, 

civil society and decision 

makers in the highest 

echelons of government on 

the economy of the country. 

The Vice President noted 

that the theme of the Summit 

'2023 & Beyond: Priorities 

for Shared Prosperity' 

called on everyone to reflect 

on what the nation's priorities 

should be to attain inclusive 

prosperity from 2023 

and beyond. 

"This is an important 

question, given the frightening 

headwinds of the 

past three years and the 

emerging local and global 

trends that will most certainly 

define the future. 

"We are buffeted on all 

sides - local security and 

economic challenges, global 

turbulence on the political, 

economic and social 

fronts. The Russia-Ukraine 

war and tensions among 

the great powers is impacting 

Africa, includ-ing 

through higher food prices 

and disruptions to democratic 

governance. 

"The global economy is 

yet to recover fully from the 

effects of COVID-19, especially 

the debts that were 

racked up to cope with economic 

slowdown and there 

is continuing disruption of 

global supply chains. 

"Added to these, of 

course, is the existential 

challenge of climate 

change as can be seen from 

rising sea levels, drought 

and flooding; the terrible 

impact of which we have 

recently seen in many states 

of Nigeria. 

"Given this background, 

it is clear that our work is 

cut out and we have to 

choose our priorities going 

forward very carefully. 

President Muhammadu Buhari (centre) in a meeting with the presidential 

candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu 

(left) and the National Chairman of the party, Senator Abdullahi Adamu (right) 

on Sunday night at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. 

Nigeria Air: FG may cede fewer top positions 

to Ethiopian Airlines, after Vanguard report 

•ET’s officials arrive today for further talks 

By Prince Okafor 

last weekend. 

T 

HERE are indications 

that the federal government 

may cede fewer top 

management positions to 

Ethiopian Airlines in the new 

national carrier, Nigeria Air, 

following Vanguard’s report 

There are, of course, a 

whole gamut of things that 

require our attention and 

many are well captured in 

the National Development 

Plan 2021 to 2025. But permit 

me the liberty of sharing 

some. 

"The first of course is 

improving macroeconomic 

conditions. On the positive 

side, the economy continues 

to grow with GDP 

growth at 3.54% in the 2nd 

quarter of this year. Nonoil 

revenues have similarly 

continued to improve 

due in part to strategic revenue 

initiatives including 

the annual Finance Act. 

"For instance, the increase 

in VAT from 5% to 7.5% in 

the 2019 Finance Act led to 

an increase in revenues by 

up to 69% above target in 

2021 while in the same period 

corporate income tax 

was 15.5% above target, 

customs duties were 10% 

above target and independent 

revenues of government 

were up by 

17.8%.'' 

"We are buffeted on all 

sides : local security and 

economic challenges, global 



fronts. The Russia-Ukraine 

war and tensions amongst 

the great powers is impacting 

Africa, including 

through higher food prices 

and disruptions to democratic 

governance. 

"The global economy is 

yet to recover fully from the 

effects of COVID-19 especially 

the debts that were 

racked up to cope with economic 

slowdown and there 

is continuing disruption of 

global supply chains. 

"But It is still our revenue 

challenges that heighten 

the notion that we have a 

debt problem, which is 

really the case, given that 

our debt/GDP ratio is just 

23%.It is also true though 

that what matters right now 

is our debt service to revenue 

ratio which is undoubtedly 

high.'' 

This development might 

further delay the commencement 

of the national carrier 

which was proposed to take 

off before the end of the year. 

Vanguard had reported that 

the agitations and prophetic 

projections of Nigerian aviation 

stakeholders that ET’s 

involvement in Nigeria’s national 

carrier portended enslavement 

are gaining strong 

grounds, with the ceding of all 

the commanding positions, 

including the Chief Executive 

Officer, Director of Finance, 

Commercial, and Engineering 

as well as the key positions 

of purchasing, cargo sales and 

quality assurance to ET in a 

proposed organogram published 

exclusively on Saturday. 

“With these positions, ET 

will drive the life, growth and 

progression of Nigeria’s national 

carrier. This travesty is 

the fact that the Nigerian nation 

will have no representation 

at global and regional 

aviation forums as it will be 

represented by the ‘ET Nigeria 

Air’ CEO and Commercial 

Director.'' 

However, the development 

has further troubled the Ministry 

as an authoritative 

source had disclosed that the 

Federal Government would 

likely press to change that organogram. 

The source disclosed that 

Vanguard’s report 'opened the 

eyes' of the Nigerian authorities 

who were not well informed 

on the implications of 

the proposed organogram by 

ET which they were going to 

accept. 

ET’s officials arrive 

today for further 

deliberations 

Meanwhile, officials of ET 

will arrive Nigeria today to 

begin further deliberations on 

the structure of the new Nigeria 

Air. 

Another source told Vanguard 

that the federal government 

might press for a review 

of the organogram, even as 

they may not question the position 

of Director of Finance 

being held by ET as they are 

the major investors. 

He said: “Vanguard’s report 

has caused some rethinking 

among the Nigerian authorities 

who did not know the 

consequences of not controlling 

substantial ownership 

and management in the new 

Nigeria. “Ethiopian Airline 

officials are coming on Tuesday 

(today) and Nigeria will 

have to review the organogram, 

otherwise the Federal 

Executive Council may not 

approve the proposal sent in 

by ET which was going to sail 

By Johnbosco 

Agbakwuru 

ABUJA-The Federal 

Government lamented 

yesterday that the country's 

exchange rate regime 

has remained a thing of 

concern to the administration. 

The government also noted 

with concern that Nigeria 

was buffeted with local 

security and economic 

challenges as well as global 



fronts. 

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, 

who expressed the 

concerns while declaring 

open the 2022 Nigeria Economic 

Summit held in Abuja, 

said as the country continued 

to face economic 

challenges, urgent action 

should be taken to bring 

inflation down, explaining 

that inflation was both a tax 

on the poor and disrupts 

long term growth. 

Professor Osinbajo submitted 

that inflation in Nigeria 

was partly structural, 

arising from infrastructural 

deficiencies, increased 

money supply, imported 

inflation and depreciation 

of the naira. 

He said: "Our exchange 

rate regime remains of concern. 

The discussion that 

we must have, shun of sentiments, 

is how best to manage 

the situation by findthrough 

before now," one govt 

source said in Abuja. 

Stakeholders react 

Experts in the aviation sector 

have continued to kick 

against the country’s partnership 

with ET as key stakeholders. 

They alleged that the selection 

process was not transparent 

and wondered how only 

ET appeared as the only bidder 

for the new carrier. 

According to the Principal 

Partner, Avaero Capital, Sindy 

Foster, so many things didn't 

make any sense about the process. 

She said: “Now they are 

planning to sell the five per 

cent which the government 

owns to the public? We do not 

even know who the current 

shareholders are and what 

shares they hold. 

“If you hold stakeholder 

meetings and you withhold 

key elements of your plans 

and who your preferred bidder 

is, is that transparency? 

“The airlines have made it 

clear they do not want ET as 

the core investor. What’s there 

not to understand? They do 

not want an airline which is 

competing without a level 

playing field. What’s there not 

to understand? There are several 

areas listed in the business 

case listing what Nigeria 

Air will get, which no other 

airlines have got. It is not a 

level playing field. 

“It is clear that the problem 

for the indigenous airline has 

been a 'one-man-show' attitude 

from those who were put 

in a position to aid them. 

“I genuinely feel sorry for 

Nigerians who have no power 

over their public servants, 

to the point where they choose 

to do whatever they like without 

thought and consideration 

of the impact. 

“Where is the feasibility 

study and impact assessment 

of this scheme? The outcome 

of this will be the same as all 

the other schemes which over 

time people have cried foul 

over.” Also, aviation analyst, 

Olumide Ohunayo, stated: 

“Virgin Atlantic offered 10 per 

cent shares to Nigerians as 

reciprocity for the investment 

in Virgin Nigeria, what is ET 

offering Nigerians and shares 

in Ethiopia Airlines as reciprocity? 

“Why did ET, Eygpt Air, and 

two local airlines and other 

investors bid for the Ghanaian 

national carrier and only 

ET bidded for Nigeria, despite 

the huge market and potential? 

“Why did the Ghanaian 

government throw all their 

bids out and picked the local 

airline, Ashanti Airline. as the 

core investor for their carrier?"


By Dapo Akinrefon 

LAGOS—FOLLOWING the 

advice given by the Office of 

Directorate of Public 

Prosecution, DPP, Lagos, Centre 

Against Injustice and Domestic 

Violence, CAIDOV, has urged 

the Nigeria Police to promptly 

arrest Dr Femi Olaleye of 

Optimal Cancer Care 

Foundation for prosecution over 

the case of alleged defilement 

against him. 

The Medical Practitioner in 

Lagos was said to have defiled 

his wife's 15 years old niece. 

The DPP in its legal advice 

dated October 17, 2022, in the 

case between the Commissioner 


:@vanguardnews 

Alleged defilement: CAIDOV urges Lagos 

Police to arrest, prosecute medical doctor 

of Police Vs Olufemi Olaleye, had 

told the police to prosecute the 

accused person for the offence of 

defilement and sexual assault, 

contrary to sections 137 and 261 

of the Criminal Law Ch C17, Vol 

3, Laws of Lagos State 2015. 

CAIDOV, yesterday, in a 

statement by its Executive 

Director, Mr Gbenga Soloki, 

described the continuous 

flagrant disobedience of the 

police to the advice given by the 

Office of Directorate of Public 

Prosecution, DPP, as "an affront 

on the Judiciary." 

CAIDOV said that with the 

legal advice issued and served 

on the Police, via the Office of 

the Officer in Charge of Legal 

Services, State Criminal 

Investigation Department, the 

suspect still walks around a free 

man when he had been 

recommended for prosecution for 

child defilement by the DPP. 

Soloki, said: "It has become 

imperative to intimate the world 

of the controversial medical 

doctor, Femi Olaleye, who is 

alleged to have defiled his wife's 

niece. We are using this 

opportunity to call on the police 

in Lagos State to rise to the 

challenge by arresting and 

prosecuting the accused person 

since the advice from the Office 

of the DPP has been served on 

the Police through the Office of 

the OC Legal." 

A'Ibom govt clarifies demolition of market 

on Airport Road •Decries miscreants attack 

By Chioma 

Onuegbu 

UYO—AKWA Ibom State 

government, yesterday, 

clarified that the demolition of Ifa 

Ikot Akpan market, on the Airport 

Road on Sunday was an 

enforcement of the operation 

zero tolerance on street trading 

and illegal markets it announced 

last year. 

State Commissioner for 

Environment and Solid 

Minerals, Mr. Charles Udoh, 

who made the clarification in a 

statement, yesterday, added that 

there had been sustained public 

education and awareness 

campaign to mitigate the 

increasing menace within the 

capital city. 

Udoh, decried attacks on the 

demolition team by miscreants 

from the community, which left 

four members of team from his 

ministry injured. 

He noted that "The demolition 

exercise was, however, 

successful and the environment 

given a much-desired face-lift for 

the benefit of our people and 

befitting of the gateway to a state 

capital. 

"Our attention has been 

drawn to a series of news reports 

and videos in circulation on 

various platforms which have 

deliberately distorted facts in an 

attempt to whip up political 

sentiments. 

"It is, therefore, pertinent to 

clarify that on January 21, 2021, 

the Akwa Ibom State 

By EgufeYafugborhi 

PORT HARCOURT — 

SECRETARY of Nigerian 

Institute of Welding, NIW, Board 

of Trustees, Chief Solomon 

Eberiri, has faulted Prof. Shehu 

Ma'aji on recent comment 

accusing NIW of failure in 

allowing foreigners takeover 

welding jobs on the 4000Km 

Trans-Sahara Gas Pipeline, 

TSGP, while qualified Nigeria 

welders roam the labour market. 

Ma'aji, Professor of Metallurgy 

at the University of Technology, 

Minna, had made the comment 

at a supposed stakeholders 

meeting, last week, of the NIW in 

Port Harcourt, Rivers State, a 

gathering Edibiri also termed as 

unauthorised and its outcome, a 

nullity. 

He told Vanguard yesterday 

that, "The issue of TSGP, has not 

been presented in good faith and 

not fair to the Federal 

Government, by those who held 

that ill-advised, unauthorized Port 

Harcourt meeting in the name of 

NIW stakeholders. 

"FG is in agreement with other 

countries,which also are providing 

right of way to this pipeline that 

government through the 

Ministry of Environment and 

Solid Minerals announced the 

commencement of 'operation 

zero tolerance on street trading 

and illegal markets. 

"This was the last in a series of 

announcements which came on 

the heels of a sustained public 

education and awareness 

campaign to mitigate the 

increasing menace of the 

activities of illegal markets and 

street traders on major roads and 

other highbrow areas in the Uyo 

Capital City. 

"On November 13, 2022, I led 

a demolition team from the 

ministry to the Ifa Ikot Akpan 

Market on the Airport Road. 

"Some miscreants from Ifa Ikot 

Akpan, led by a young man who 

claims to be the CLO to the 

construction company handling 

the Airport Road expansion 

By Jimitota 

Onoyume 

WARRI—SOME roads in 

Warri, Delta State,has been 

closed to traffic for one week from 

yesterday. 

Chairman of Warri South Local 

Government Area of the state, 

Dr Michael Tidi, who disclosed 

this yesterday, advised motorists 

and commercial vehicles to use 

alternative routes. 

"Ubeji Roundabout, will be 

project, assaulted me and 

members of the Ministry's 

Enforcement Team but were 

repelled by law enforcement 

officers. 

"However, fourmembers of the 

team from the Ministry of 

Environment and Solid Minerals 

were injured in the process. An 

attempt by the miscreants to 

mount a blockade on the Airport 

Road was decisively crushed by 

a combined team of law 

enforcement agencies. Some of 

the miscreants have since been 

arrested and those on the run 

will be apprehended in due 

course" 

He noted that there would be 

no further announcements and 

notices on the demolition 

exercise as government has 

continually engaged those 

involved about their infractions 

and the need to leave the said 

locations. 

Govt announces one week 

closure of roads in Warri 

closed between 7a.m., and 9a.m., 

while motorists plying that route 

are enjoined to use Elizabeth 

Close. 

"Okere Square will also be 

affected by the weeklong closure. 

Motorists can use alternate 

routes like Eboh Road and Warri 

- Sapele Road. 

"Edjeba Community Road from 

SPDC Gate will also be 

temporarily shutdown. Vehicle 

owners can use the DBS Warri 

route as alternative." 

Edebiri faults Ma'aji on NIW interest on TSGP 

goes all the way to Algeria, 

Morocco and from there to 

provide gas to countries in 

Europe. So, it is expected that all 

countries to provide right of way 

for the pipeline will contribute 

workforce to the construction 

process. 

"The agreement to go ahead 

with the pipeline has been signed, 

but actual work has not 

commenced. I'm confident FG 

through relevant agencies, 

including the Nigerian Content 

Development Management 

Board, NCDMB, Federal Ministry 

of Science and Innovations, those 

of Works, Labour, Trade and 

Industry and Petroleum 

Resources will adequately tackle 

the labour engagement process. 

"NIW is not responsible to 

telling contractors they must 

employ Nigerians or foreigners. 

The responsibility of NIW is to 

work with FG to identify gainful 

projects, advise FG on roles 

Nigeria can play in such projects 

and how Nigerians can benefit 

from operations of such projects 

in order to earn much needed 

foreign exchange and limit capital 

flight." 

On the said crisis in NIW, Edebiri 

said: "There is no crisis. There are 

little internal issues that can be 

resolved internally. The BOT has 

been undermined by some people 

and the Ayorinde Adeniyi calling 

the purported stakeholders 

meeting was a staff of NIW. He is 

not a member. 

"The people he gathered in Port 

Harcourt are not members of NIW, 

except for a few, who are dissenting 

voices of the BOT that are 

probably regretting their actions 

by today. The Department of 

State Security, DSS, was alerted 

on the unauthotised meeting and 

the Rivers State Command 

invited the Adeniyi. We were also 

invited two days later. 

"Officers of the Command 

clearly identified that the activities 

and actions of that meeting were 

nullity, and that such should not 

be promoted. And going forward, 

since we have proposed a General 

Meeting for December 17, we 

should go ahead with that 

meeting and the DSS would be 

present to monitor proceedings. 

So, anyone with grievances about 

NIW and the management 

should bring it to the General 

Meeting." 

Buhari transmits FCT, NDDC budgets, 

CCT, constitution alteration bills to Reps 

By Levinus Nwabughiogu 

A Muhammadu 

BUJA-President 

Buhari yesterday forwarded 

the 2022 budget proposals 

of the Federal Capital 

Territory, FCT, and that of 

the Niger Delta Development 

Commission, NDDC, 

to the House of Representatives 

for consideration 

and approval. 

Also forwarded were the 

Code of Conduct Bureau 

and Tribunal, CCT, and the 

constitution of the Federal 

Republic of Nigeria alteration 

bills 2022 to the 

House. 

Speaker of the House, 

Femi Gbajabiamila, disclosed 

this in 

three separate letters 

from the President, read at 

the resumed plenary of the 

House. 

The letter read: "Pursuant 

to section 121 of the 

Constitution of the Federal 

Republic of Nigeria 

1999 as amended, I forward 

the Federal Capital 

Territory 2022 statutory 

budget proposal for the 

kind consideration of the 

Debt servicing likely to be higher by end of 

Dec — DMO DG 

By Levinus Nwabughiogu 

ABUJA-The Director- 

General, Debt 

Management Office, DMO, 

Ms. Patience Oniha, said 

yesterday that there was the 

likelihood of debt servicing 

becoming higher by the end 

of the year, attributing this to 

the low revenues earned by 

the country. 

Appearing before the 

House of Representatives 

Committee on Debt and 

Loans to defend the 2023 

budget of the Office, Oniha 

said there was the 

introduction of a new line, 

called ways and means, 

2023: Groups task presidential 

candidates on fact-based 

campaigns 

By Cynthia Alo 

AS political parties 

continue campaign 

towards the 2023 general 

election, the Professional E- 

hailing Driver & Private 

Owners Association of 

Nigeria, PEDPAN, in 

collaboration with Bola 

Ahmed Tinubu Youth 

Political Forum, BATYPF, 

have called on candidates of 

political parties to engage 

electorate with facts, figures 

and statistics. 

The groups stated this at 

the launch of a book 

produced by PEDPAN, 

entitled “110 Reasons 

Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu 

should be President in 2023.'' 

They noted that most of the 

information and news spread 

by supporters of other 

presidential candidates 

concerning the APC 

presidential candidate, Bola 

Ahmed Tinubu, were fake 

and misleading. 

Speaking with newsmen 

after the launch, speaker of 

Lagos House of Assembly, 

Mudashiru Obasa, who was 

represented by Yishawu 

Gbolahan, the member 

representing Eti Osa II, 

canvassed ssue based 

campaigns, following 

perceived misconceived 

House of Representatives. 

"In the preparation of the 

Federal Capital Territory's 

2022 budget, the Federal 

Capital Territory Administration 

aligns with the federal 

government's fiscal development 

policies. 

"Accordingly, the FCT 

2022 budget proposal priorities 

improvement in 

healthcare services, job 

creation, youth empowerment, 

social welfare services, 

education and increased 

productivity in agriculture 

in our determination 

to lift 100 million 

Nigerians out of poverty. 

"We also hope that this 

submission will receive the 

usual expeditious considerations 

of the House." 

Also on the NDDC budget, 

the letter read: "In accordance 

with section 

18(1) of the Niger Delta 

Development Commission 

Establishment Act, I 

forward herewith the 2023 

estimate of the Niger Delta 

Development Commission 

for the kind consideration 

and passage of the House 

where the federal government 

borrowed money from the 

Central Bank of Nigeria 

directly. 

She said the international 

market had closed its doors 

of borrowing, making it 

difficult for the country to 

borrow. 

The DMO DG, however, 

said measures were provided 

in the 2023 budget to service 

the loans, stressing that 

Nigeria had not defaulted so 

far. 

She said: "There is a new 

line called Ways and Means 

advances. This is a process 

where the Federal 

Government borrows from 

the Central Bank directly. 

This has been in the media a 

identity and misrepresentation 

of the APC presidential 

candidate in the media. 

He said: “This book is 

evident that Asiwaju Bola 

Ahmed Tinubu is accepted at 

the grassroots.This is not a 

politics of name calling. It is 

a politics of facts. So, I say to 

the naysayers to campaign 

with facts, statistics, and 

numbers. Asiwaju is coming 

to be the president to 

contribute back to the country. 

He is not coming to take from 

the country.” 

Also speaking, the National 

President of PEDPAN, Idris - 

Shonuga Oluwaseun, said it 

was high time Nigerians 

rewarded BAT for all his good 

deeds by voting for him. 

He said: “We believe in fact 

based evidence that is why 

we published this book in 

order to attest on the 

capability of Asiwaju. Our 

Principal is a capacity 

builder. He makes leaders. So 

it's a good thing to support a 

man who supports and build 

potential 

“We are doing this to give 

our support to governments 

to invest more in the youths. 

There is a disconnection 

between the youths and the 

government and we believe 

that Asiwaju is capable of 

addressing this challenge 

looking back at his past 

records.'' 

of Representatives." 

On the CCT and the constitution 

alteration bills, 

President Buhari said the 

aim was to ensure effective 

performance of the functions 

of the Code of Conduct 

and assist the Code of 

Conduct Tribunal in the 

effective and speedy dispensation 

of cases. 

"Pursuant to section 

58(2) of the 1999 


Republic of Nigeria, I 

forward, herewith, the 

Code of Conduct and 

Tribunal bill 2022 and the 


Republic of Nigeria 

Alteration bill 2022 for the 

kind consideration of the 

House of Representatives. 

"The constitution of the 

Federal Republic of Nigeria 

alteration bill 2022 

aims to ensure the effective 

performance of the 

functions of the Code of 

Conduct and assist the 

Code of Conduct Tribunal 

in the effective and speed 

dispensation of cases. 

lot. It is when the government 

runs an over draft with the 

Central Bank. 

''It is not free, you pay 

interest on it. For clarity, the 

ways and means are under the 

management of the Office of 

the Accountant-General but 

supervised by the Minister of 

Finance. 

"In 2022, no provision was 

made for payment of interest 

on ways and means. But if you 

look at the actual, you will 

discover that some amount 

has been incurred on ways 

and means advances. It is not 

free. So, we pay interest. 

"For domestic debt, the 

budget was N2.5 trillion, but 

we have spent N1.86 trillion. 

External debt is N866 billion, 

compared to N1.123 trillion. 

The figures are for three 

quarters. 

''On the Sinking Fund, we 

have N286 billion, while ways 

and means advances which 

was not provided for in the 

budget the Central Bank has 

charged over a trillion naira 

as interest. That is why in the 

MTEF/FSP, you discovered 

that revenue to debt service 

was very high. 

"For January to April, we 

actually exceeded 100 per 

cent of revenue. So, apart 

from revenue being very low, 

there is this issue of ways and 

means advances. So, by the 

end of December, debt 

services will be higher than 

what was budgeted, largely 

because of ways and means 

advances. 

"One thing to add is that 

interest rates are going up in 

the domestic market and 

even internationally, but we 

have provided for it in the 

2023 projections, including 

interest of N1.2 trillion on 

ways and means advances. It 

was not featuring before, but 

we felt it is the right thing to 

do since it is a loan which you 

are paying separately. 

"It is common knowledge 

that we are low on revenue. 

But what we do as a country 

is to make sure it is there in 

the budget and there is 

seamless process for it. So, in 

terms of debt servicing, 

provisions are made in the 

budget to service the loan and 

so far, we have not recorded 

any default.''


ONYEBUCHI 

I, formerly known and addressed 

as ONYEBUCHI HERBERT 

PATRICK, now wish to be known 

and addressed as HERBERT 

PATRICK ONYEBUCHI. All 

former documents remain valid. 

The general public should please 

take note. 


as 

MODUPEOLUWA ELIZABETH, 

now wish to be known and 

addressed as ADEWUMI 

MODUPEOLUWA ELIZABETH. 

All former documents remain 

valid. The general public should 

please take note. 

ODU 

I Formerly known and 

addressed as ODU ABIGAIL 


addressed as ODU OBARO 

ABIGAILhenceforth all 

former documents remain 

valid. General public take note. 

OBIAKOR 


as HARRETH NWANNEKA 

OBIAKOR, now wish to be known 

and addressed as HARRETH 

NWANNEKA TOCHUKWU. All 



take note. 

OMO 


as OMO BLESSING 

AGBONTAEN, now wish to be 

known and addressed as OMO 

BLESSING OKORO. All former 

documents remain valid. The 

general public should please take 

note. 

AYINUOLA OB 

BAFER IBIUKE 

I, formerly known as MISS 

AYINUOLA BAFER CHRISTABEL 

ABUGEWA, now wish to be 

known and addressed as MRS 

SOLOMON CHRISTABEL 

ABUGEWA. All former 

documents remain valid. 

General public please take 

note. 

ESOHE 

I, formerly known as Miss 

Osemwinyen Patience Esohe 

Will like to be known and 

addressed as Mrs Osagioduwa 

Patience Esohe. All former 



note. 

I, formerly known and 

addressed as PASCAL 

IBIUKE, now wish to be 

known and addressed as 

ETIMIENU PASCAL 

IBIUKE henceforth all former 


General public take note 

UMORU 


UMORU RAFATU GIFT, now 

wish to be known and addressed 

as MRS OSAWE RAFATU 

GIFT. All former documents 

remain valid. General public 


SIYANBOLA 


as MISS SIYANBOLA YETUNDE 

DORCAS, now wish to be known 

and addressed as MRS RAJI 

YETUNDE DORCAS. All former 

documents remain valid. The 


note. 

JOSEPH 


addressed as JOSEPH ERERE, 


addressed 

as 

EVWIERHURHOMA 

ERERE PROFIT henceforth 

all former documents remain 

valid. General public take note 

IBRAHIM OD 

I, Ibrahim Abdulrahman Ayomide am 

the same person as Abulrrahman 

Ibrahim as wrongly written in my 

NIMC and Ibrahim Abdulrahman. I 

now wish to be called Ibrahim 

Abdulrahman Ayomide. All former 

documents remain valid. Concerned 

Authorities and the general public 

should please take note. 

OMETA ONANEFE OJOTOWN 

OMENOGOR OD 

I, formerly known as OMETA I, formerly known and addressed as I, formerly known as I, formerly known as Jennifer 

KINGSLEY, now wish to be 

ONANEFE AYONUWE 

PRECIOUS as it was wrongly OJOTOWN FASASI, now wish Ngozi Omenogor, now wish 

known and addressed as arranged in my in my Account to be known and addressed as 

to be known and addressed as 

CHUKWU KINGSLEY details, now wish to be known as 

Omenogor-Abobo Ngozi 

AMODU FASASI. All former 

TOCHUKWU. All former AYONUWE ONANEFE 

Jennifer. All former 

PRECIOUS as it was captured in my documents remain valid. 



NIN. Henceforth all formal 



documents remain valid. General 


note. 

public take note. 

note. 

note. 

ATAKE 

OCHUKO 

EVUETAPHA 

ADEYEMI 

I, Atake Emmanuel Igbunu, I, formerly known and I, formerly known and I, formerly known and 

wish to notify the general 

public that in my BVN details 

addressed as Ochuko Justice addressed as Evuetapha Iroro addressed as ADEYEMI JOY 

my name was wrongly written Oghenero, now wish to be Angel, now wish to be known ABIMBOLA, now wish to be 

as Itila Emmanuel instead of 


known and addressed as and addressed as Ali Iroro 

Atake Emmanuel Igbunu 

OGUNDIPE 

JOY 

which is my correct name. All 

Godwin Justice Oghenero. All Angel. All former documents 

ABIMBOLA. All former 

former documents remain former documents remain remain valid. General public documents remain valid. 

valid. General public take note. valid. General public take note. take note. 

General public take note. 

OBARO 

OLUDEWA OBEH MOSES-OLUGHOR 

I, formerly known and I, formerly known and I, formerly known and I, formerly known and 

addressed as Miss 

addressed as PHILIP addressed as MISS OBEH TINA addressed as MOSES- 

IKUMARIENGBE PEACE 

OBARO, now wish to be DOROTHY OLUDEWA, now OGHENEKEVWE, now wish OLUGHOR Carolyn Ifeoma, 

known and addressed as Mrs. wish to be known and addressed to be known and addressed as now wish to be known and 

DEDEKUMO PEACE as AWANI PHILIP MRS EWERIKU TINA addressed as Mrs Olughor 

OBARO. All former DOROTHY. All former OGHENEKEVWE. All former Carolyn Ifeoma. All former 

documents remain valid. documents remain valid. documents remain valid. documents remain valid. 


note. 

General public take note. General public take note. General public take note. 

NWABUEZE 

ORAUKWU 

OKUBAMA 

MARTINS 

I, formerly known and I, formerly known and I, formerly known, called and I, formerly known called and 

addressed as NWABUEZE addressed as ORAUKWU, addressed as MISS OKUBAMA addressed as MISS. MARTINS 

CHIDIMMA PRECIOUS, now 

GIFT CHIDIMMA, now wish EBI LOVETH, now wish to be GENEVIEVE CHINAZA, now 


to be known and addressed as known, called and addressed as. wish to be known and addressed as 

as Mrs NKWACHI 

MRS. AFAGBOR EBI LOVETH. MRS. EKE GENEVIEVE 

CHIDIMMA PRECIOUS. All 

NWOBI, GIFT CHIDIMMA. 

All former documents remain valid. CHINAZA. All former documents 

former documents remain All former documents remain 

General public, banks and all remain valid. General public, banks 

valid. Banks and general public valid. General public take concerned institutions should and all concerned institutions 

take note 

note. 



OKPAKO 

EFE 

EJOBOKE 

DOSUNMU 

The names Okpako Joshua, Okpako I, formerly known as MISS I, FORMERLY KNOWN AS MISS. I, formerly known as Mr. 

Joshua Duke and Joshua Duke EFE AKPOMIEMIE, now EJOBOKE 

LOVETH 

DOSUNMU Taiwo Solomon, 

Okpako belongs to the same person 

AVURAKOGHENE, NOW WISH 


but now wish to be known and 

TO BE ADDRESSED AS MRS. now wish to be known and 

as MRS OGHRIGHA BETTY IGBERHI 

LOVETH addressed as Mr. TOPMAN 

addressed as OKPAKO JOSHUA 

AKPOMIEMIE. All former AVURAKOGHENE. ALL Taiwo Solomon. All former 

DUKE. All former documents remain 

valid, WAEC, NECO, JAMB, NIN, documents remain valid, any FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN documents remain valid. 

VALID. CONCERNED 

any authority it may concern and authority it may concern and 


AUTHORITIES AND GENERAL 

general public to take note. 

general public to take note. PUBLIC TAKE NOTE. 

note. 

OKAFOR 

OKOGUN 

IGWE 

ORIOMAH 

I, formerly known as MISS. I, formerly known as I, formerly known as IGWE I, formerly known as MISS 

OKAFOR OLUCHUKWU OKOGUN CAROLINE CHIOMA FAVOUR. Now wish ORIOMAH ONIOVOSA AGBRA 

EMMANUELLA. Now wish IZEGBUWA. Now wish to be to be known and addressed as and AGBRA ONIOVOSA 

to be known and addressed as known and addressed as MRS. 

MAFIANA CHIOMA EMMANUELLA, now wish to be 

MRS. AWAH OLUCHUKWU OTAH CAROLINE 


EMMANUELLA. All IZEGBUWA. All documents 

FAVOUR. All documents 

OYIBO 

ONIOVOSA 

documents bearing my former bearing my former name bearing my former name EMMANUELLA. All former 

name remain valid. General remain valid. General public remain valid. General public documents remain valid. General 


take note. 

take note. 

public please take note. 

OKAH 

AKA-BASHORUN 

EDEGBA 

ORRU 

I, formerly known as MISS I, formerly known as Morayo I, formerly known as MISS I, formerly known as MISS 

OKAH HELEN, now wish to 

EDEGBA OSEDEBAMEN 

AKA-BASHORUN, now wish 

ORRU MOFE FAVOUR, now 

be known and addressed as 

MARY, now wish to be known wish to be known and addressed 


MRS 

HELEN 

and addressed as MRS. 

as MRS AKINYOMI MOFE 

ERONMHONSELE. All 

Morayo Afolabi-Brown. All I L E N I K H E N A 

former documents remain former documents remain 

OSEDEBAMEN MARY. All 

FAVOUR. All former 

former documents remain documents remain valid. 

valid. General public please valid. General public please valid. General public please General public please take 

take note. 

take note. 

take note. 

note. 

IWUCHUKWU 

This is to notify the public, FAAN, 

IBTC, PENSION BOARD that 

IWUCHUKWU BLESSING 

JOHNBULL and JOHNBULL 

BLESSING IWUCHUKWU is 

one and the same person. All 



take note. 

PRINCE 


as PRINCE STANLEY, now wish 


STANLEY GOODNEWS. All 



take note. 

ITEDJERE NWOSU EG EYETA 

I Formerly known and I Formerly known and 

addressed as MISS ITEDJERE addressed as MISS EYETA 

COMFORT, nowwish to be TEMIWUMI now wish to be 

known and addressed as MRS. known and addressed as MRS. 

OGHENEOVO COMFORT PERKINS TEMIWUMI 

henceforth all former henceforth all former 

documents remain valid. documents remain valid. 

General public take note General public take note 

NWABUDIKE 

DAVID 

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

Nwabudike Isioma Prisca, David Destiny Osamudiamen, 

now wish to be known and now wish to be known and 

addressed as Mrs addressed as Mrs Goodluck 

Chukwuemeka Isioma Prisca. Destiny Osamudiamen. All 

All former documents remain former documents remain 

valid. General public please valid. General public please 

take note. 

take note. 

EZONFADE 

AGBO 

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

EZONFADE AKPOS MISS GOODNESS CYPRAIN 

SANDRA, now wish to be AGBO, now wish to be known and 


addressed as MRS GOODNESS 

EMGBOUFEHA AKPOS 

SOLOMON JOSEPH. All documents 

EZONFADE. All former 

documents remain valid. bearing my former name remain valid. 

General public please take General public, Bank and Relevant 

note. 

Authorities please take note. 

OKPOLERO 

NANAKUMO 

I, formerly known and This is to certify that the names 

addressed as Miss FORTUNE NANAKUMO ANDREW PREYE 

EMAMEZI OKPOLERO, now and NANAKUMO ANDREW 

wish to be known and addressed TAMARAPREYE as seen in my 

documents refer to one and same me. 

as Mrs. FORTUNE 

I now wish to be known and 

EMAMEZI OBIUWEVBI. All addressed as NANAKUMO 

former documents remain ANDREW TAMARAPREYE. All 

valid. General public please former documents remain valid. 

take note. 

General public please take note. 

EWENIKE 

IWUALA 

I, formerly known and I, FORMERLY KNOWN AND 

addressed as Ewenike Judith ADDRESSED AS IWUALA 

Ebere, now wish to be known GLORIA CHINELO, NOW WISH 

and addressed as Ibe Judith TO BE KNOWN AND 

Ebere. All documents bearing ADDRESSED AS MRS 

my former names remain ILECHUKWU GLORIA 

valid. United Kingdom Visa CHINELO. ALL FORMER 

and Immigration (UKVI) and DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. 

general public take note. GENERAL PUBLIC TAKE NOTE. 

IMOKHA 

OWHE 

I, formerly known as I, formerly known as OWHE 

IMOKHA ODINICHI OBUWHENYA VERO, now 

CHOICE, now wish to be wish to be known as 

known and addressed as O N O V U G H A K P O 

UGHIOBHE ODINICHI OBUVWERAYER VERO. All 

CHOICE. All former former documents remain 

documents remain valid, any valid, any authority it may 

authority it may concern and concern and general public to 

general public to take note. take note. 

AGHAGBON 

IZEKU 

I, formerly known as My correct name is IZEKU MASE. 

AGHAGBON ANNA My name appear in my Account/ 

CHINYERE. Now wish to be BVN as AZEKU MASE. The name 

known and addressed as IZEKU was spelt as AZEKU. I now 

SOLOMON-EZEAMAKA wish to correct the name and be 

ANNA CHINYERE. All known as IZEKU MASE. All 

documents bearing my former documents bearing any of the names 

name remain valid. General remain valid. Bank, General public 


take note. 

LALA 

ITOHAN 

I, formerly known as LALA I, formerly known as MISS 

AYABERE PROGRESS, now AGIMENZELU EDNA 

wish to be known and ITOHAN, now wish to be 

addressed as PATRICK known and addressed as MRS 

PROGRESS. All former EHIABHI EDNA ITOHAN. 

documents remain valid. All former documents remain 

General public please take valid. General public please 

note. 

take note. 

EBOLU 

EZEDOM IHEOMA 

I, formerly known as MISS I, formerly known and 

EBOLU FRANCA, now wish addressed as MERCY 


IHEOMA, now wish to be 


MRS OMO-AIHIELU 

CHIJIOKE MERCY 

FRANCA. All former 

IHEOMA. All former 


documents remain valid, 

General public please take general public please take 

note. 

note. 

C 

M 

Y 

K

Y 

K 


OLABIMPE 

CHANGE OF NAME 

I, formerly known and addressed as 

OLABIMPE OLUWATOSIN 

HANNAH. Now wish to be known 

and addressed as AKPEGHO 

OLUWATOSIN HANNAH. All 

former documents remain vaild. 

General public, banks and concerned 

institution should please take note. 

TAYE 


Taye Blessing, now wish to 

be known and addressed as 

Mrs Nonso Henry Blessing. 


valid. General public please 

take note. 

FELIX 

I, formerly known as FELIX 

LOUIS, now wish to be known 

and addressed as MRS UMORU 

LOUIS EKHENAGBOR. All 


valid. General public please take 

note. 

ODIKO 


addressed as ODIKO ALEX, 


addressed as EKOR ALEX. All 


valid, general public please 

take note. 

AIYAKHAIRE 


addressed as Miss 

Aiyakhaire Winifred 

Oseriemen, now wish to be 

known and addressed as Mrs 

Jerry Winifred Oseriemen, 

all former documents remain 

valid, general public take 

note. 

KIN 

I, formerly known as KIN 

RECHEAL, now wish to be 

known as MOSES RACHEL. 


valid henceforth, general 


EJIRO 


addressed as OMONEFE KEKE 

EJIRO, now wish to be known 

and addressed as KEKE 

DICKSON HARRISON. All 


valid, general public please 

take note. 

NKIRUKA 

I, FORMERLY KNOWN AS 

MISS.ORHUE-OKECHUKWU 

JENNIFER NKIRUKA, NOW WISH 

TO BE KNOWN AS MRS ORHUE 

JENNIFER. ALL FORMER 

DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. 

GENERAL PUBLIC AND 

AUTHORITY CONCERNED 

PLEASE TAKE NOTE. 

OBI 


addressed as OBI IWENNY 

SUNDAY, now wish to be 

known and addressed as OBI 

IWEANYA SUNDAY. All 


valid. Banks, concerned 

authorities and general public 


OKOLE 


as OKOLE FRANCA, now 


as OKOLIE FRANCA. All 

former document remain valid. 

Banks, concerned authorities 

and general public should please 

take note. 

OKOTIE 


OKOTIE 

SARAH 

OGHENEFEJIRO. Now wish 


Mrs. SAMUEL SARAH 

OGHENEFEJIRO. All former 


general public please take note 

SUBAI 

I, formerly known as MRS 

SUBAI OKIEMUTE 

BENARD. Now wish to be 

known and addressed as MISS 

OKPEWHO OKIEMUTE 

OMOWHO. All former 

documents remain valid 

general public please take 

note. 

OKON 


OKON MFON IMOH, now 


as MRS IGWE MFON 

CHUKWUDI. All former 



note. 

AGBA 


Agba, Chisom Vivian, now 

wish to be addressed as Mrs 

Chigbo, Chisom Vivian. All 


valid, general public note. 

OKODUWA 


addressed as Miss Okoduwa 

Linda Omonigho, now 

wish to be known and 

addressed as Mrs Uduojie 

Linda Omonigho, all 


valid, general public take 

note. 

EJAYETA 

This is to confirm that in my 

account I used the name 

EJAYETA JAMES OSEMENA 

instead of OKPORUANEFE 

EJAYETA. My correct name 

is OKPORUANEFE 

EJAYETA. All former 

documents remain valid 

general public please take note. 

OBI 


addressed as MISS OBI 

ADAEZE VIVIAN, now wish 


MRS. OJIEH ADAEZE 

VIVIAN. All former 



IWELU 

I, FORMERLY KNOWN AS 

IWELU FAITH, NOW WISH TO BE 

KNOWN CALLED AND 

ADDRESSED AS IWEGBU FAITH. 

ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS 

REMAIN VALID. GENERAL 

PUBLIC AND AUTHORITY 

CONCERNED PLEASE TAKE 

NOTE. 

ENENTA 


ENENTA LAURETTA 

IFESINACHUKWU, now wish to be 

known and addressed as EDOZIE 

LAURETTA IFESINACHUKWU. 

All former documents remain valid. 

Banks, concerned authorities and 


note. 

OKONJI OT 

I, formerly known as OKONJI 

CHIDINMA RITA, now wish 


OGABU CHIDINMA RITA. All 

former document remain valid. 

Banks, concerned authorities 

and general public should please 

take note. 

EKWAJU 


EKWAJU SAMSON, Now wish to 

be known and addressed as AREWA 

SAMSON JOSEPH which is my full 

name as stated in my BVN. All former 

documents remain valid general 


MONDAY 


addressed as CHIOMA 

MONDAY EJOMAFOR. Now 


CHIOMA GLADYS 

EJOMAFOR. All former 



:Vanguard :@vanguardnews NEWS HOTLINES: 08052867023, 

2023: Oborevwori's tenure as gov'll benefit Deltans —Uduaghan 

E FFURUN—FORMER 

governor of Delta State and a 

Pan Deltan, Dr Emmanuel 

Uduaghan has said that the good 

people of the State will benefit in 

multifaceted ways if the governorship 


Democratic Party, PDP, Sheriff 

Oborevwori, is elected governor in 

2023. 

Uduaghan gave the assurance 

at a special meeting of the Federal 

Government College, Warri Old 

Students Association in Effurun 

on Sunday, saying that he had to 

come out openly to support 

Oborevwori, so as to kill fake news 

making the rounds that he was 

against his governorship ambition. 

The former governor who is 

popularly known as “Asamaigor” 

due to his friendly disposition and 

high sense of humour, disclosed 

that he was never against 

Oborevwori’s candidature, pointing 

out that transition of political 

power in constitutional democracies 

from an incumbent governor 

to a nongovernor has never 

been on a platter of gold, judging 

from past experiences in political 

power transitions in Delta State 

and around the world. 

Uduaghan noted that the heat 

associated with struggles for political 

power can be likened to 

unavoidable heat taken by the 

kettle in the process of boiling 

water for tea consumption, adding 

that Oborevwori is obviously 

battling with his fair share of 

“the heat” but that at the end 

he will surely overcome by the 

grace of God. 

“I am sincerely excited that 

you are here today. I was never 

and still not against your governorship 

ambition. It has been 

trending on social media that I 

have finally decided to support 

your candidature. 

“I had to come out openly to 

support you, so as to kill the 

rumours making the rounds 

that I am against your governorship 

ticket. No, I am not 

and will never go against you. 

“I am supporting you based 

on my personal conviction. 

Deltans will benefit alot if you 

are elected governor of Delta 

State. This is the simple truth. 

“Transition of power from one 

Uzodimma appointments Ogbonna 

as Chairman, Imo State Sports 

Commission 

Mega Lifesciences sensitise 

Lagosians on dangers of diabetes 


LAGOS—AS the world marks 

2022 World Diabetes Day, Mega 

Lifesciences, a leading pharmaceutical 

company has embarked 

on a sensitization of Lagos 

State residents on the dangers 

of diabetes ailment which 

could be life-threatening if not 

detected on time. 

Speaking during the 9th edition 

of the company diabetes 

education and awareness campaign, 

Head of Business, Mega 

Lifesciences, Amit 

Raghunvanshy, said that Nigerians 

need to take their health 

into their own hands. 

Raghunvanshy said that the 

Mega Lifesciences’s initiative 

tagged, “Good health by yourself,” 

is a platform where Nigerians 

can check their health on 

the pharmaceutical company’s 

website. “As the word is explanatory, 

you can see good 

health; you are taking care of 

your own health, and you are 

responsible for your health. I 

have realised that if you keep 

on talking to someone to live a 

healthy lifestyle, they will not 

change unless they decide on 

their own and shun a crummy 

lifestyle, especially as it pertains 

to diet; then only will it hap- 

LAGOS—AS part of efforts to 

amicably resolve issues raised 

by some industry stakeholders, 

the Board of Trustees, BoT, of 

Nigerian Institute of Welding, 

NIW, has called on members and 

stakeholders to desist from actions 

intended to smear the 

good image of the institute. . 

A statement signed by the 

BoT chairman, Dr. Chudi 

Egbunike said the move which 

was aimed at availing 

stakeholders to discuss critical 

issues facing the development 

in the industry and institute 

has led to emergence of factions 

in the Board. 

"The move by some disgruntled 

persons to divide the Board 

and make false allegations 

against some members does not 

augur well in the best interest 

of the welding profession in Nigeria 

and the institute in particular. 

"We are therefore going to 

hold our annual general meeting, 

AGM, before the year ends 

so as to address the issues 

O WERRI—THE 

Governor of Imo State, 

Sen. Hope Uzodimma has approved 

the appointment of Sir 

Prince Eleazar Ognonna as the 

Chairman of Imo State Sports 

Commission. 

Prince Ogbonna's appointgovernor 

to another has never 

been easy. It’s like the heat that 

boils hot water for tea 

consumpton. Tea has to go 

through hot water for it to be drinkable 

“You have been going through 

fair share of the heat but you will 

surely succeed at the end in Jesus 

Name, Amen,” Uduaghan 

said. 

Responding, Delta PDP Governorship 

candidate and the longest 

serving Speaker since the creation 

of the state, Rt Hon 

Oborevwori Sheriff Francis 

Orohwedor, said when he saw his 

boss’s (Uduaghan) car at the meeting 

venue, he was shocked because 

nobody hinted him of the 

former governor’s intention to 

attend the meeting. 

ment is effective, November 9, 

2022. 

Governor Uzodimma congratulated 

Prince Ogbonna on his appointment 

and urged him to bring 

to bear his wealth of experience 

in the Commission in line with 

government's programmes in the 

Sports sector of Imo State. 

pen. 

“So, you have to take your 

health into your own hands. At 

megawecare website, one can 

check one’s levels of health. “On 

that website, one can register 

oneself for free and one can get 

health-related newsletters. You 

can see there are free tools, which 

are international tools. You can 

check your basal metabolic rate 

that is BMR. You can check your 

BMI, you can check your heart 

rate and you can check other conditions 

also even prostate. Not 

only on diabetes but also about 

other health conditions such as 

prostate enlargement; this is also 

a top issue in Nigeria,” he said. 

Product Manager of Diabetes 

Care, Mega Lifesciences, Adedayo 

Aremu, said the pharmaceutical 

company has reached over 

200,000 people in its quest to educate 

them on diabetes prevention 

and care. 

“Mega Lifescience is a company 

that is dedicated to wellness and 

Nigerians are very interested in 

it. That is why we are committed 

to various wellness education 

projects. One of them is the patient 

education process. In the last 

five years, for example, we’ve been 

able to reach out to no fewer than 

200,000 in our quest to educate 

them on diabetes,” he said. 

NIW BoT moves to resolve 

crisis 

raised by our aggrieved members 

and resolve them amicably for the 

advancement of the profession”. 

"We are concerned that at a time 

when we all should be working 

together to ensure the full implementation 

of the Welding policy 

framework recently approved by 

the Federal Execute Council, 

FEC, some persons are out to 

thwart our efforts”. 

"Some of our members held a 

stakeholders meeting in Port 

Harcourt last week and asked for 

the disbandment of the current 

BoT and management of the institute 

as well as the suspension 

of the constitution, these are serious 

issues that can only be resolved 

at an AGM. 

Coincindentally, most of the people 

who attended that meeting 

are not members as it is not all 

stakeholders that are members of 

the Institute. And as Board committed 

to advancement of the profession 

and the rule of law, we 

have decided to call for an AGM 

where the issues raised will be 

discussed by the generality of 

members and resolution passed."


•Amusan 

Partey to lead Ghana 

at the World Cup 

Arsenal midfielder 

Thomas Partey is set 

to lead Ghana at the World 

Cup after he was selected in 

the country’s 26-man squad 

for the tournament in 

Qatar. 

Partey is the headline 

name in the Black Stars 

side, which also includes 

Southampton defender 

Mohammed Salisu, 

Brighton full-back Tariq 

Lamptey - following his 

switch of allegiance from 

England - and Daniel 

Amartey of Leicester. 

Ajax star Mohammed 

Kudus, who has impressed 

with his performances in 

Holland so far this season, 

and Athletic Bilbao striker 

Inaki Williams - whose 

brother Nico has been 

picked for Spain - are also 

in the squad announced by 

manager Otto Addo 

yesterday. 

But there is no place for 

the likes of Leicester’s 

Jeffrey Schlupp and Genk 

midfielder Joseph Paintsil. 

Callum Hudson-Odoi, 

who is on loan at Bayer 

Leverkusen from Chelsea, 

reportedly rejected the 

chance to play for Ghana 

despite being snubbed by 

England. 

The 22-year-old is 

eligible to play for the 

African nation through his 

Ghanaian parents, meaning 

he could still switch his 

international allegiance 

despite making three senior 

appearances for England. 

All three of those caps 

were earned before he 

turned 21, which allows 

him to play for another 

nation if he wishes. 

Ghana face an uphill task 

to qualify for the knockout 

round in Qatar after being 

drawn in Group H 

alongside Portugal, 

Uruguay and South Korea. 

Ronaldo launches 

scathing attack on Man 

Utd, Erik ten Hag 

Cristiano Ronaldo has 

launched an 

extraordinary attack on 

Manchester United and 

manager Erik ten Hag, claiming 

that he feels “betrayed” by the 

club and insisting that he does 

not “have respect” for Ten Hag. 

The 37-year-old has been 

linked with a move away from 

Old Trafford during the January 

window, having fallen down the 

pecking order since Ten Hag’s 

arrival during the summer. 

Ronaldo was dropped from 

the first-team squad and forced 

to train with the 

reserves last month 

after refusing to come 

on as a substitute 

against Tottenham 

Hotspur and then 

leaving Old Trafford 

before the end of the 

game. 

Ten Hag has since 

brought him back in 

from the wilderness, 

with three of his four 

Premier League 

starts this season 

Manchester United 

have issued a 

statement following their 

forward Cristiano Ronaldo’s 

explosive interview with 

British veteran journalist Piers 

Morgan. 

Ronaldo recently did an 

exclusive interview with 

Morgan and hit out at 

Manchester United and their 

coming after his public fallout 

with the Dutch boss. 

However, just hours after the 

Red Devils played their final 

match before the World Cup 

break, an explosive interview 

with Piers Morgan has been 

released in which Ronaldo 

heavily criticises the club, his 

manager and former boss Ralf 

Rangnick. 

When asked whether he felt 

the club were trying to force him 

out, Ronaldo told Morgan: “Yes. 

Not only the coach, but the other 

two or three guys around the 

club. I felt betrayed. 

manager Erik ten Hag. 

The Portugal captain said 

Man United had betrayed 

him and that he does not 

respect Ten Hag. However, 

reacting to the development, 

Man United, in a statement 

via its website on Monday, 

said: “Manchester United 

notes the media coverage 

regarding an interview by 

•Osimhen 

Osimhen out of 

Super Eagles’ friendly 

with Portugal 

Napoli forward Victor 

Osimhen will not be 

available for the Super 

Eagles friendly match against 

Portugal on November 17 in 

Lisbon. 

The Nigerian Football 

Federation disclosed this via 

their official Twitter account on 

Monday. 

Injury has been cited as why 

Osimhen will not participate in 

the high-profile friendly match 

with the former European 

champions. 

Osimhen’s absence will be a 

big blow to Nigeria’s hopes of 

beating World Cup-bound 

Portugal.. 

The Napoli forward has been 

Mejbri makes 

Tunisia’s squad for 

the World Cup 

Manchester United 

youngster Hannibal 

Mejbri has been included in 

Tunisia’s squad for the 

Qatar World Cup. 

The 19-year-old is part of 

a generally experienced 26- 

man squad named by head 

coach Jalel Kadri yesterday, 

which includes veterans 

Wahbi Khazri and Youssef 

Msakni, who will share 

captaincy duties. 

Mejbri has made 18 

appearances for the country 

since making his debut in 

2021 after swapping 

Man Utd to investigate Ronaldo 

Cristiano Ronaldo. 

“The club will consider its 

response after the full facts 

have been established. 

“Our focus remains on 

preparing for the second half 

of the season and continuing 

the momentum, belief and 

togetherness being built 

among the players, manager, 

staff, and fans.” 

•Dessers 

one one of of the the best strikers in Europe 

so far this season. 

A couple of weeks ago, Osimhen 

became Nigeria’s all-time top 

scorer in the Italian Serie A after 

notching 32 goals for Napoli. 

The 23-year-old striker has 

scored nine goals for the 

Neapolitans to sit top of the Italian 

top-flight’s goalscorer chart. 

In Osimhen’s place for the 

Portugal friendly, Jose Peseiro has 

called up Cremonese attacker 

Cyriel Dessers. 

Dessers’ availability is also in 

doubt, as the former Genk ace has 

missed the club’s last couple of 

games due to injury. 

The kick-off is 18:45 pm Portugal 

time (19:45 pm in Nigeria). 

•Hannibal 

allegiances from France, 

who he played for at youth 

level. He qualifies to play for 

Tunisia through his parents. 

Former captain and 

goalkeeper Aymen 

Mathlouthi, 38, is included 

after a three-year absence 

from the squad. 

Via BBC Sport, Kadri 

wrote on social media: ‘It 

was not an easy decision to 

make. 

The list can only have 26 

players on it. There will 

always be mixed reactions.’ 

•Thuram 

Amusan 

makes final 

shortlist for 

2022 

Women’s 

World Athlete 

Nigeria’s queen of the 

track, Tobi Amusan has 

been named in the list of five 

finalists for the 2022 Women’s 

Athlete of the Year. 

The World Athletics 

released the name of the 

athletes on its official website 

on Monday. 

Amusan made the shortlist 

following a remarkable year 

which saw her set a new 

record of 12.12s in the 100m 

hurdles at the World Athletics 

Championships, Oregon 2022. 

The 24-year-old was the first 

Nigerian and African to 

achieve the feat. 

Amusan also successfully 

defended her Diamond 

League title and also claimed 

the Commonwealth and 

African crowns. 

Veteran Jamaican athlete, 

Shelly-Ann Fraser- Pryce, 

Peru’s Kimberly Garcia, 

Sydney McLaughlin of the 

United States of America and 

Venezuela’s Yulimar Rojas are 

the other athletes in the 

running for the award. 

France add 

Thuram to World 

Cup squad 

B 

o r u s s i a 

Monchengladbach 

forward Marcus Thuram 

has been added to France’s 

World Cup squad. 

Les Bleus manager 

Didier Deschamps had 

only named 25 players out 

of a possible 26 in his 

squad for the tournament 

in Qatar, but has now 

reached his full allocation 

with the addition of 

Thuram. 

It’s unclear why the 54- 

year-old didn’t originally 

select his full allocation of 

players, but he will now 

have a full squad to choose 

from when the tournament 

gets underway later this 

week. 

Drake loses £1.7M bet on 

Adesanya to beat Pereira 

Rap star Drake has lost 

a huge seven-figure 

sum on the UFC after 

Supercomputer predicts Chelsea to 

have worst season in 30 years 

Chelsea have been 

tipped to have one of 

their worst seasons in 30 

years... with Arsenal going on 

to win the Premier League 

title. 

That’s according to a 

supercomputer tasked with 

using data to predict how the 

season will play out. 

Boffins and brainiacs over 

at bettingexpert have built 

a supercomputer called 

BETSiE - which uses data 

points including xG and xA 

while running a simulation 

100,000 times. Chelsea have 

endured a difficult start to the 

season, with their fortunes 

having scarcely improved 

since replacing Thomas 

Tuchel with Graham Potter. 

The Blues fell to a 1-0 

defeat at high-flying 

Newcastle on Saturday to fall 

to eighth in the Prem table. 

backing ousted 

middleweight champion 

Israel Adesanya to beat 

Brazilian Alex Pereira at 

UFC 281 on Saturday 

evening. 

Adesanya, 33, was the 

bookies favourite going 

into the fight and would 

have earned Drake 

£2.4million if he could 

have found a way to victory 

inside the Octagon. 

Pereira snatched the win 

in the fifth and final round 

as he broke Adesanya’s 

standing guard with a left 

hook that sent the former 

champion to the canvas, 

and the bout to an end.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2022 

Sudoku 

TODAY’S PUZZLE 

FRIDAY’S ANSWER 

How to Play Sudoku 

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

of the same number). 

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

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

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

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

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

multiplication, just plain logic and your imagination. 

C 

M 

Y 

QUICK CROSSWORD 

TODAY’S CROSSWORD 

FRIDAY’S SOLUTION 

ACROSS 

1 Return on savings (8) 

6 Mischievous little creature (3) 

9 Intended (5) 10 Sumptuous meal (7) 

11 Lurch (7) 13 Capture (5) 

14 More expensive (6) 15 Sea trip (6) 

19 Arrive at (5) 

21 Immediate (7) 

22 Upset, agitate (7) 

23 Milk delivery vehicle (5) 

24 Be indebted (3) 

25 False teeth (8) 

DOWN 

2 North American falls (7) 

3 Devour (3) 

4 Go aboard (6) 

5 Dogged, unyielding (9) 

6 Burst forth (5) 

7 Go and get (5) 

8 Entertained (6) 

12 Racing dog (9) 16 Fashionable (1,2,4) 

17 Housing area (6) 

18 The capital of Portugal (6) 

19 Wild West show (5) 

20 Gangway (5) 

23 Common viral infection (3) 

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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.

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