Green Energy: Osinbajo Frets over Looming Fall in Funding for Gas Says Nigeria will continue frontline advocacy for a just transition to zero emissions Vice President Yemi Osinbajo international bodies and Ministers of Environment, and the Permanent Secretary, Nigeria and other developing He also asserted that Nigeria is worried about the global institutions. Dr. Mohammad Mahmood Federal Ministry of Petroleum countries be sustained during would play a critical role with clamour for green energy As a result, he summoned a Abubakar; Foreign Affairs, Resources, Bitrus Bako Nabasu. the global transition to net-zero other gas exporting countries and the looming reduction virtual meeting on the subject Geoffrey Onyeama; Minister At the virtual meeting, emissions and said Nigeria to stop the defunding of gas in funding for gas and fossil last Thursday, with other top of State, Environment, Sharon Osinbajo maintained his would continue its frontline and fossil fuel projects in fuel projects, especially in federal government officials Ikeazor; Minister of State, position that the funding for advocacy for a just transition developing countries, by in attendance; including the Power, Goddy Jedy Agba, gas and fossil fuel projects in to zero-emission. Continued on page 5

DSS Grills, Cautions Ahmad Gumi over Comments on Bandits, Security Agents… Page 5

Saturday 26 June, 2021 Vol 26. No 9574

www.thisdaylive.com T N250 RU N TH & REASO President Approves Extra 6 Months for APC’s Caretaker Committee Says crisis-ridden party back to life Dates for congresses at all levels ratified Deji Elumoye and Adedayo months tenure extension to the Congress (APC). Committee at the State House, extension after doing 12 The Caretaker Chairman Akinwale in Abuja Mai Mala Buni-led Caretaker/ The President gave the Abuja. months, to enable them and Governor of Yobe State, Extraordinary Convention approval yesterday morning Sources said the Buni-led “put the party in very good Buni presented a summary President Muhammadu Planning Committee of after a closed-door meeting committee requested for shape and conduct a seamless Buhari has granted another six the ruling All Progressives with members of the another six months tenure elective National Convention.” Continued on page 5 Buhari Projects Amina Mohammed as Next UN’s Secretary-General Global organisation’s deputy scribe marks 60th birthday in Abuja Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf wants her as 2nd female African President Olawale Ajimotokan and He said Amina’s recent Emameh Gabriel in Abuja reappointment was one of the testaments of her credentials. President Muhammadu Buhari Gambari said: "It’s not yesterday joined dignitaries surprising therefore that after and world leaders in Abuja completing her first term as to extol the virtues of Amina Deputy Secretary-General, Mohammed, Deputy Secretary- the UN Secretary-General General of the United Nations, graciously reappointed her on her 60th birthday, just as for a second term, the second he projected her to take over African and the first to be done the world's number one civil by a female African, of course, servant's position in six years. a Nigerian. Buhari presented his “On this note, I am optimistic goodwill message at a that she will become the first symposium organised by the female Secretary-General. Who Centre for Public Research and knows, six years is not far from Development to commemorate here.” Amina's 60th birthday. Similarly, former Liberian The President who was President Ellen Sirleaf-Johnson represented by his Chief of called on Nigerian politicians Staff, Agboola Ibrahim Gambari to take a cue from Liberia to congratulated her for the feat elect the first female president she has attained on the global stage. Continued on page 5 Maiduguri-Damaturu Road Shut FOR A SAFER KWARA STATE... Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, with the Commissioner of Police, Kwara State Command, Muhammed Page 38 Bagega, during the inspection of one of the 20 operational vehicles and dozens of bulletproof vests presented to security as RRS Engages Boko Haram... agencies in the state by the state’s government at Government House, Ilorin…Thursday 2 SATURDAY JUNE 26, 2021 • THISDAY SATURDAY JUNE 26, 2021 • THISDAY 3 4 SATURDAY JUNE 26, 2021 • THISDAY THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾
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ͺ͸ͺ͹ 5 PAGE FIVE DSS Grills, Cautions Ahmad Gumi over Comments on Bandits, Security Agents Charles Ajunwa
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The sources said the cleric said: “These bandits, if you efforts. nowhere in the TV interview said all his interventions with Kingsley Nwezeh
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ÌßÔË was subsequently cautioned don’t know, are cooperating Onyema Nwachukwu, the when the cleric categorically bandits inside the forest were on his utterances by the DSS with a lot of bad elements in Army’s spokesperson, said: “It accused the entire military of done in collaboration with the The Kaduna State office of the detectives and allowed to go our security system. This is a is essential to remind ourselves aiding bandits. support of the government and Department of State Services, home. business. So many people are that this same military, being The spokesman explained security agencies, hence he did DSS, yesterday invited and Spokesman of the DSS, Dr. involved, you’ll be so surprised. accused of connivance, are the that what Gumi said was “what not commit any offence. questioned controversial cleric, Peter Afunanya, confirmed “They were caught in ones who recently put their people have been saying and “Nobody Invited me for Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, over his the invitation of Gumi by Zamfara; they were caught lives on the line to rescue even the soldiers have been questioning or any arrest, I can recent allegations, during an the service, adding, “It may everywhere, how do these big abductees of the Government saying is that there could be say that categorically,” the Sheik interview on Arise Television not be unconnected with his weapons cross our borders? Secondary School, Birnin Yauri, some bad eggs among them.” said, adding, “since I ventured that some security agents were claim that security agencies How can these big weapons from kidnappers. into the forest, I went there aiding and benefiting from were colluding with bandits cross our borders and get “While the Nigerian Army Gumi: I was Never with full security, the police, bandits ravaging communities in the spate of kidnapping for into the forest without the will not attempt to excuse Quizzed By DSS with the knowledge of the DSS, in the North. ransom afflicting the nation.” cooperation of some bad the possibility of black sheep traditional rulers and the Fulani At the DSS office, sources Afunanya said further: element of the security amongst its fold, it must be But the Kaduna-based cleric leaders, I never went alone”. close to Gumi said he was “Gumi was invited as a person operatives assisting them? It’s stated unambiguously that it yesterday evening debunked He also insisted that he never questioned on his statement of interest. The service invited not possible. If I give you the will not condone any form of reports that he was either made any disparaging remarks during the interview, “and the Sheikh Gumi. It is not out of same amount of guns, can you sabotage or aiding and assisting quizzed or invited for against the military during his cleric clarified his declaration, place for it to invite any person take them to the UK? You can’t the enemy by any personnel.” questioning by the DSS over his recent live interview on national saying he did not accuse the of interest." because the security is alert.” Also, Gumi’s spokesman, remarks on security agencies. television. entire military and other During the Arise TV The Nigerian Army kicked Tukur Mamu, in an interview Speaking after presiding According to him, there was security agencies of aiding interview last Wednesday, against the cleric’s claims and with the VOA yesterday, over a Jummat service at nowhere in the TV interview bandits but “the bad eggs in the cleric, who is known to warned that it would not dismissed the allegation the Sultan Bello Mosque in that he categorically accused the security agencies.” have access to the bandits, condone acts sabotaging its against Gumi, saying there was Kaduna State, Sheikh Gumi the entire military. GREEN ENERGY: OSINBAJO FRETS OVER LOOMING FALL IN FUNDING FOR GAS fuel projects in developing on defunding of gas/fossil on Climate Change, led that reflects Nigeria’s(EU), led by its Executive the planned restrictions on countries. fuel projects as it does not by the Federal Ministry of advocacy on defunding of Vice President, Mr. Valdis financing of gas projects in The Vice President noted benefit developing countries Environment, to finetune gas projects. Dombrovskis, the VP African countries as a potential that it was vital that the especially. Nigeria’s position for COP26, Before now, Osinbajo had, reaffirmed Nigeria’ssetback. Forum of Gas Exporting He noted that it was vital while the Federal Ministry of at different forums in the past commitment to the global At the UN Dialogue on Countries (GEC) join forces Nigeria plays a significant Petroleum Resources would months, raised the issue of green energy initiative, but Food Systems, also in February, to prevent the defunding of role in achieving a consensus focus on strengthening the financing of gas projects called for a just transition the Vice President stressed the gas and fossil fuel projects, with the GEC Forum on these country’s strategy, particularly in developing countries, to zero-emission. need for the international especially from developing issues, even as the 26th United in its initiative to use gas as especially Nigeria, advocating At another meeting held community to consider, as countries, by international Nations (UN) Climate Change a transition fuel. a just transition and more in February with the British an option, the use of gas and bodies and institutions. Conference of the Parties Both the Minister of State effective engagements since Member of Parliament and other more environmentally According to the VP, (COP26) scheduled to hold for Petroleum Resources and the campaign for the net-zero COP26 President-Designate, friendly fuel sources, as against concrete steps should be taken later this year approaches. Minister of Foreign Affairs emission by 2050 resumed. Mr. Alok Sharma, Osinbajo what he termed “defunding by the GEC Forum to stop In the same vein, the were directed to work In March this year, at a restated Nigeria’s support and gas projects” based on gas further plans by international Vice President asked the together, to ensure the GEC meeting with a delegation commitment to the Climate not being environmentally bodies and Western countries Inter-ministerial committee Forum reaches a consensus from the European Union Change agreement, but cited friendly enough. PRESIDENT APPROVES EXTRA 6 MONTHS FOR APC’S CARETAKER COMMITTEE of the Committee’s progress said the President approved The secretary recalled that at Congresses will hold 24th genuine reconciliation on indicated interest to contest report to the President at the the tenure extension after a its last meeting, the National July, 2021 followed by Local solid foundation, by giving the election through purchase meeting. detailed consideration of the Executive Committee (NEC) Government Congresses on all issues and every aggrieved of expression of interest and The Chairman was progress report, the schedule conferred on the Committee, 14th August, 2021 and State member fair hearing and nomination forms, and that accompanied to the meeting of outstanding activities with the power of the National Congresses on 18th September, objectively placing party all of them had been cleared with the President by other regards to congresses, the Convention, “which is in 2021." interests above individual by the Screening Committee members of the committee National Convention and line with powers provided Akpanudoedehe noted that interests. as eligible to contest. – Governor Isiaka Oyetola the forthcoming Anambra in Article 13.3 of the party's Buni informed the President "I am pleased to state He added: "Among other of Osun State, Governor State Governorship election. constitution.” that the Committee had during that the party is now achievements in the CECPC’s Abubakar Sani Bello of He said by virtue of the Akpanudoedehe stated: the period under review, led more peaceful, more administration of the party, the Niger State, Ken Nnamani, extension, the tenure of "President Buhari on Friday the party to contest in several accommodating, and more National Chairman informed Abubakar Yusuf, Akinyemi the caretaker committees approved the review of the elections and bye-elections, united with greater prospects the President that “the CECPC Olaide, Mrs. Stella Oketete, at each level from wards, timelines available to the with an overall success rate than when we came on inherited liability of unpaid Dr. James Lulu, Chief David local governments, states APC Caretaker/Extraordinary of 95 per cent. board," Akpanudoedehe legal fee to the tune of N340 Lyon, Abba Ali, Prof. Tahir and national, would end Convention Planning On the peace and quoted Buni as telling Buhari. million, but successfully Mamman, Ismail Ahmed and immediately elections were Committee (CECPC). reconciliation efforts, he said On the Anambra negotiated and brought down the committee’s Secretary, John held at their respective levels "The President also the Chairman informed the governorship election, the fees to N179 million which Akpanudoedehe. with officers immediately take approved the timetable for President that the committee the secretary stressed that is now fully paid." Akpanudoedehe, in a oath of office, terminating with APC Ward, Local Government commenced its assignment the chairman notified the statement after the meeting, the National Convention. and State Congresses. Ward with the desire to foster President that 14 aspirants Continued on page 38 BUHARI PROJECTS AMINA MOHAMMED AS NEXT UN’S SECRETARY-GENERAL in the country and second in El-Rufai: Amina, An may just be there for another gender iniquity has continued during the visit of Amina than two kilometres to school. the African continent. Inspiration to Young 40 years. I doubt if I would to create.” to Government Secondary He added that She made the call in her Daughters be there because I take too She said Kaduna State School Kabusa, Abuja, as part entrepreneurial and vocational keynote address at the many risks and create many Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, of activities to mark her 60th educations were also being symposium in honour of At the symposium, Governor problems. I don't think I would had set an example in his birthday. prioritised in the FCT with Amina. She described her as a Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna be allowed to last for so long." administration by giving The minister, who was the intention that upon force of nature and consensus State described Amina as an He continued: "I said this women equal opportunity represented by his Chief of graduation, students would builder, who had over time inspiration to girls. because Amina may have for political offices and Staff, Malam Bashir Mai Borno, become self-employed. beaten every odd to pride He said, "She is an inspiration origin in Gombe State but she appointments and such most noted that the visit would The UN Deputy Secretary- herself as a global brand. not only to us but to all our spent most of her life not in be replicated both at state and further spur the students to General, who was visibly She said Amina “is not young daughters who can Gombe State but Kaduna State national levels in Nigeria. realise their fullest potentials touched by the reception the only ripe for the plum job now grow up confident that to the extent that when she "I am elated by the example through hard work and students accorded her, urged but also qualified, given her their role is not just relegated was nominated as ministerial of the Governor of Kaduna determination. them to focus on their studies experience.” to being a housewife, they can nominee as cabinet minister State because in Liberia, “We are particularly as “they can be whatever they Sirleaf-Johnson adds: be anything they want to be, by President Buhari, there we look up to women in delighted that you will be wish to be with education on “Would it not be good to from being a minister to being were petitions from people leadership, leadership in all spending some time in their side,” adding, “education have a second elected female governor. in Kaduna State accusing aspects. Would it not be good our schools in Kabusa and is the foundation of any African president in Nigeria. "You do not know how many me of nominating my friend to have a second elected female interacting with the pupils great nation… and the first The support by men would be female young girls you have and sister as minister from African president in Nigeria?” and their teachers. This will building blocks of your lives a stepping stone because they inspired and whose lives you our State, referring to the gladden them and we thank is education.” must recognise the capabilities will change simply from your constitution that even though ‘Amina Mohammed, you for this,” Bello said. Earlier in his welcome and contributions of women examples. The responsibilities she was born and brought up Role Model for Young He disclosed that as part address, the Chairman, to sustain the government that exist when a person gets in Kaduna State, they don't Nigerians’ of efforts to ensure that FCT Secondary Education for the peace and security of educated, develop networks, care what the constitution says, children have access to quality Board, Hon Yahaya Musa the nation. Those of you our and do things to pursue better she has to be an indigene of In a related development, education, as contained in the Mohammed congratulated fathers, our brothers, our sons humanity for all of us. Kaduna State, which she was the FCT Minister, Malam UN’s Sustainable Development Amina Mohammed on her in this room; we are wives, we "We hope and wish you not." Mohammed Musa Bello has Goals, the FCTA had in the reappointment as the Deputy are sisters, we are daughters, many more years. We hope Sirleaf emphasised on the described the UN Deputy last three years, established 25 Secretary-General of the UN you have all the rights, they to be here one day to celebrate need to strengthen gender Secretary-General as an new secondary schools spread and urged her to use her look to you to give them votes your 100th birthday, there may equality globally and allow inspiration and a role model across the FCT in keeping with global position to impact to bring the change.” be advances in medical sciences women exercise their rights to millions of young Nigerians. UNESCO’s recommendation positively on the Nigerian and obviously, she knows, she politically “to bridge the gaps He stated this yesterday that no child should walk more education system. 6 THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

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[email protected] Buhari Should be Open to Clamour for Restructuring, Say NEF, Ndigbo

Adedayo Akinwale
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ÌßÔË for more substantive changes Obiozor, President General The meeting which was on the need to strengthen the It added, “The meeting in the structures of the country. Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide. held on Wednesday in Abuja unity of the country and noted the damage of The leaders of Northern The two socio-political groups It said, “The meeting noted discussed matters around the steps which need to be misperceptions, deliber- Elders Forum (NEF) and made the call in a communique the need to improve the capaci- improvement of security of taken to address disaf- ate misinformation and Ohanaeze Ndigbo have called issued yesterday and jointly ties of security agencies to deal communities living all over fection with the nature the alienation of particu- on President Muhammadu signed by Amb. Yahaya Kwande with threats to the country. It the country and the matter of the federal system and larly young people from Buhari to be more open to the on behalf of NEF and as the noted the need for President of security and livelihood of the entrenchment of the mainstream economic and legitimate clamour of Nigerians Co-Chairman and Prof. George Buhari to be more open to the Northerners in the South-east values of justice, equity and political activities were legitimate clamour of Nigerians and Igbo people living in the fairness for all Nigerians feeding restiveness, fear and for more substantive changes in North was discussed. into our basic structures, distances between Nigerian Nwaoboshi Defects to the structures of our country.” The meeting also deliberated processes and laws. people.” APC, Meets Buhari

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ÌßÔË in Abuja welcomed Sen. Peter Nwaoboshi to the All Progres- The senator representing Delta sives Congress, after he left North, Peter Nwaoboshi, has the Peoples Democratic Party, defected to the All Progressives saying ‘you are welcome to the Congress, days after his suspen- progressives family.’ sion from the state’s Peoples “Sen. Nwaoboshi, representing Democratic Party. Delta North District, Delta State, President Muhammadu was presented to President Buhari yesterday welcomed Buhari and National Caretaker/ Nwaoboshi to the APC. Extraordinary Convention The Senior Special Assistant Planning Committee at the to the President on Media State House by Deputy Senate and Publicity, Garba Shehu, President, Ovie Omo-Agege. announced the defection in “The Deputy Senate President a statement titled ‘President said Senator Nwaoboshi’s Buhari congratulates Senator decision to join the APC clearly Peter Nwaoboshi for decamping shows that the effort of the to APC’. CECPC was yielding fruit. The The statement read, ‘President Senator was warmly welcomed Muhammadu Buhari on Friday by party members.” Buhari Postpones AMINA MOHAMMED@60... L-R: President, Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote; Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya; United Nations’ Deputy Secretary General, Medical Trip to London Amina Mohammed; and former president of Liberia, Mrs. Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, during a symposium to celebrate Amina’s 60th birthday in Abuja… yesterday KINGSLEY ADEBOYE Come Clean on Cancelled Trip, PDP tells Buhari JAMB Releases 2021 UTME Results, to Review CCTV Footages Deji Elumoye ËØÎ Chuks Kola Ologbondiyan, said that

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ÌßÔË detection of possible examination concerned candidate is advised since the inception of the CBT to sort out whatever impedi- misconducts. to check his/her result by send- examinations in Nigeria. President Muhammadu ments or constraints that led to The Joint Admissions and Spokesperson of the Board, ing UTMERESULT to 55019 “Nevertheless, the Board Buhari postponed indefinitely the sudden cancellation of his Matriculation Board (JAMB) Dr. Fabian Benjamin who through the GSM number would still review all the CCTV his medical follow-up trip to the scheduled medical trip, the PDP has released the results of disclosed this yesterday in a used by to obtain profile footages and other technical United Kingdom which was urged him to use this period candidates who sat in more than statement, said candidates were code and UTME registration gadgets for detection of possible earlier scheduled for yesterday. to have some introspection on 720 CBT centres for the 2021 advised to check their results with the Board and their examination misconducts. This is as the Peoples the sorry situation in which his Unified Tertiary Matriculation by sending UTMERESULT to results would be relayed “Extremely comparatively few Democratic Party (PDP) charged incompetent, divisive, vindictive Examination conducted between 55019 through the GSM number to them. results are being withheld for President Buhari to come clean and suppressive administration Saturday, 19th and Tuesday, 22 used to obtain profile code “The Board notes with further investigation. on the real reason his scheduled has pushed our nation into in June 2021. and UTME registration with satisfaction that the utilisa- “In addition, the Board would medical trip to London was the last six years. While withholding few of the the Board. tion of National Identification not hesitate to withdraw the cancelled at the last minute. According to the PDP, “Our results for further investigation, It added that result for Number has helped in curb- results of any candidate Buhari’s Special Adviser party urges President Buhari to use the Board added that it would subsequent days would be ing examination malpractices as subsequently found to have on Media and Publicity, Femi this period to reflect on the suffering of review all the CCTV footages released daily. the 2021 UTME has recorded the committed any form of examina- Adesina, had on Thursday millions of Nigerians who do not have and other technical gadgets for The statement reads: “Each least incidence of irregularities tion misconduct. disclosed that the President would access to foreign medical treatment, but yesterday proceed to London for who are dying on daily basis because “a scheduled medical follow-up.” of his failure to pay attention to But Adesina in another our healthcare system, which statement titled, ‘President has become decrepit under Nigeria Seeks Intellectual Property Rights Waiver on COVID-19 Vaccine Buhari postpones London trip’, his watch. announced the postponemet. “In his consideration, Mr. Onyebuchi Ezigbo
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ÌßÔË to COVID-19 vaccines be waived of the ILO Governing Board on voted in again, this time, to the The statement read, “The President must also reflect so that developing countries can June 11, 2021. highest membership of the medical follow-up visit of on how he has wrecked our Nigeria has solicited the manufacture them to fight the “We want to put on record Governing Board as a Regular.” President Muhammadu country’s once robust economy assistance of the International pandemic,” Ngige said. the assistance and the working The minister also told the ILO Buhari to the United Kingdom that was handed over to him Labour Organisation (ILO) to In a statement issued by the relationship we enjoyed with team that Nigeria was adapt- earlier scheduled for today, in 2015 by the PDP, to the lobby for a waiver on global ministry’s Deputy Director Press your predecessor, the Director ing to the changing dynamics Friday, June 25, 2021, has been extent that Nigerians can no intellectual property rights so and Public Relations, Charles General and the Regional Direc- in the world of work, reason postponed.” longer afford to feed because that developing countries could Akpan, the minister also said that tor for Africa. Their unceasing the country domesticated the Adesina said a new date would their purchasing power has produce COVID-19 vaccines and more assistance from the ILO support all through the years ILO conventions and repealed be announced in due course. become depressingly low while effectively check the wave of the would be needed by Nigeria in was instrumental to the election some of the obsolete labour laws, The party’s position is amidst he (Mr. President) recedes pandemic. the area of job creation to enable of Nigeria into the Governing currently undergoing review. He increasing international disap- further into the luxury and Minister of Labour and Em- it recover from the disruptions Board of the ILO. asked for the technical assistance provals to the escalated human the safety of the Aso Rock ployment, Senator Chris Ngige, caused by COVID-19 pandemic. “It is quite heartwarming towards legal finesse and early right violations, constitutional Villa at the expense of the stated this while welcoming the Ngige who traced the history that after nearly seven years completion of the amendment. breaches, clampdown on citizens, well-being of the ordinary new ILO Country Director for of Nigeria as a pioneer member absence, we came back to the “We have moved from retreat suppression of free speech and citizens.” Nigeria and English speaking state of the ILO, with country Governing Board as a titular in held in Lagos, where the tripartite other excesses by the Buhari The party said that it West Africa, who is also the office opened in Lagos in 1956, 2017 under my tenure. While partners participated and now, administration, for which there was indeed heartrending that ILO liaison for ECOWAS, also commended the ILO Africa serving as titular, they found us further working on the outcome have been concerted demands for President Buhari appeared to Miss Vanessa Phala in his office regional team, especially the worthy to be the President of of that retreat and harmonising travel restrictions against officials think of himself only even yesterday. immediate past Country Direc- the Government Group of the in-house, before transmitting to of the Buhari Presidency. as Nigerians passed through “Nigeria is in the league of tor, Mr. Dennis Zulu for the ILO Governing Board between the Federal Executive Council The PDP in a statement by these worst forms of hardship countries who want the intel- efforts towards the emergence 2019- 2021.And now this year, and finally, to the National the National Publicity Secretary, occasioned by his own misrule. lectual property rights as it relates of Nigeria as a Regular Member barely fortnight ago, we were Assembly.” SATURDAY JUNE 26, 2021 • THISDAY 7 8 THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

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ͺ;, 2021 NEWS Nigerian Scholars in Russia Protest Exclusion from Summer Practicals Festus Akanbi noticed that over the years, some scholars have been denied the The Association of Nigerian opportunity to benefit from the Scholarship Students in Russia programme. has protested discrimination “They are left to write theory against Nigerian students who instead of practical or are forced are allegedly being denied the to make do with their universi- opportunity to benefit from ties’ research facilities which are the summer practicals in the most times limited.” second and third years of study Some students also com- in Russia. plained that while their Russian Their protest also coincided mates have been allowed to with the report that some attend physical classes, Nige- universities in Russia were yet rian students in some schools to allow Nigerian students to are yet to be allowed access. access physical classes, unlike Those affected are students their Russian counterparts. pursuing courses like Nuclear In a protest letter by the Physics, Medicine, and aircraft association of Nigerian engineering. PARTNERING FOR DEVELOPMENT . . . students addressed to the The Minister of State for Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State (right) with the General Manager, Enugu State Housing Development Corporation (ESHDC), Hon. National Coordinator, Soyuznik Education, Mr. Chukwuemeka Chukwuemelie Agu (left), Chairman, Alpha Mead Group, Mr. Mutiu Summonu (2nd right) and the Chairman, Project Development of the company, Alumni, Nigeria, the association Nwajuba, however, told THIS- Mr. Thomas Dada, when the governor inspected the Coal City View Satellite Estate project in Enugu, being constructed for civil servants by ESHDC in explained that usually, sum- DAY he would investigate the partnership with Alpha Mead Group, Marfas Group and AG Mortgage Bank, yesterday. mer practicals take place in complaints with the Nigerian the second and third years Scholarship Board. of study in most universities, “We allowed online participa- Plateau Group Raises the Alarm, Says Terrorists when students work with a tion during COVID and have company to gain field skills enabled their return. and experience for a specified “I will cross-reference this Camping Around to Attack Communities duration. with the scholarship unit,” he It however said, “We have said in a SMS chat. Seriki Adinoyi
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ÙÝ state government to “urgently ful co-existence. We have also perfecting plans to attack the ‘Ngwang Ishi O’Tarok (NIO), address the continuous targeting participated in several peace people of Wase, Langtang a socio-cultural group of Tarok and profiling of Tarok. building processes that are North, Langtang South Local Nasarawa Won’t Borrow to Pay communities in Plateau State, Dashe recalled that between aimed at entrenching peace Government Areas occupied by has raised the alarm over alleged 2002 and 2013, Tarok was and deleting the memory of war. Tarok people, and by extension plans by terrorists to attack, isolated as target of count- “Over the last few years, the the entire Southern Plateau. Minimum Wage, Sule Tells Striking Workers adding that the terrorists are less attacks, conspiracy and terrorist’s threats against our “In recent weeks Tarok in Lafia already camping around their molestations by terrorists for people have continued unabated communities of Wase, Langtang Igbawase Ukumba Dangana said: “In view of its communities. unprovoked reasons which in new phases, justifying the North, Langtang South and negative impact, government It has therefore called on claimed the lives of people fear that we face a fragile future. indeed neighbouring com- The Nasarawa State Governor, shall on no account borrow to government and security agents and property worth millions We have continued to read hate munities have continued to Abdullahi Sule, yesterday told pay salaries, considering that to protect its people against of naira were destroyed. speeches and other forms of witness unprecedented influx striking workers in the state that doing so will further burden the “merchants of violence and He said, ”We have continued orchestrations against our people of war-like strangers in the the state government would not state economy and the attendant attacks.” to nurse the scars of that ex- in the media, including online communities. Areas where these borrow to pay them the N30,000 consequences of mortgaging the Addressing the press in perience. Despite the situation blogs.” strangers are camped are Aving, minimum wage in order not future of the state. Jos yesterday, President and we found ourselves, we have Dashe added that the plots Jawando,Gwiwa-kogi-Pino, to burden the state economy. “Accordingly, salaries for the Secretary of the group, David exercised restraint, minimised against the Tarok people had Timman,Tungaand zam-Bwarat The Organised Labour in the month of June, 2021 shall be paid Dashe and Nangor Ndam the tendency for retaliation and been intensified in recent weeks of Wase Local Government state on June 15, 2021 began based on the attendance registers, respectively also called on the preached the benefit of peace- as the terrorists were allegedly Area.” an indefinite strike over partial therefore, willing workers are implementation of N30, 000 enjoined to resume duties minimum wage and other immediately. welfare-related issues. “Ministries, Departments Forensic Firms Conduct Training for EFCC, FIRS, NASS But the state government and Agencies should submit Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja serology, fingerprint science the lecture and practical sessions. affirmed that the training during a press conference at valid attendance registers for and questioned document “Participants were also ended on Sunday, the 20th the end of an emergency the month of June, 2021 to the Forensic firms, JJTC Consult- examination. grouped into investigative of June 2021, with a closing expanded executive council Office Head of Civil Service ing Ltd and the International It said over 50 participants teams to undergo well-structured ceremony and awards were meeting in the Government through their Permanent Academy of Forensics in col- comprising medical doctors, simulated crime scene set-ups presented to several participants House, Lafia,maintained that Secretaries or Chief Executive laboration with International lawyers, academia, security to collect various evidence for who distinguished themselves government shall on no ac- Officers.” Institute of Certified Forensic personnel and students from the diverse forensic investigation throughout the training. count borrow to pay salaries. Dangana concluded that Investigation Professionals Nile University attended the tests at the crime laboratory. It said the best team in crime These were resolutions taken essential services, such as (USA) organised a four-day training. The evidence collected were scene investigation, questioned at the Emergency State Execu- health and water supply shall intensive forensic biometrics Others include senior staff biological (blood, urine, sweat, documents, Serology/DNA tive Council meeting as read be rendered to the citizenry and practical training to acquaint of the Federal Inland Revenue saliva, hair, etc), documents and fingerprints also received by Chairman of the Nasarawa any form of interference shall government agencies and Service (FIRS), officials of the and fingerprints,” he said. recognition. State Civil Service Commis- be dealt-with appropriately by various group of professionals Economic and Financial Crimes The training exercise also The programme was facili- sion, Alhaji Musa Dangana. the government. with the knowledge and the Commission (EFCC), staff of covered lectures on the tated by seasoned experts in role of biometric forensics in the National Assembly as well various evidence collected the field of forensic science New FOREX Measures May Further criminal investigations. as others from several private at the various simulated and strategic/risk financial A statement signed by organisations. crime scenes followed by the experts. Crash Naira, Onuesoke Warns CBN Country Director, International “The training comprised techniques used in forensic The JJTC Consulting Ltd/ Institute of Certified Forensic both theoretical and practical questioned document, the IAF is geared towards providing Sylvester Idowu in Warri bad situation worse by creating Investigation Professionals sessions to help participants basis of fingerprint science certification in various fields of two exchange rates. (IICFIP) -USA, Dr. Stacy Nwodo, apply whatever they learnt and its application, as well forensic studies by liaising with Chairman and Managing According to him, “One is said the training was designed from the preliminary lecture. as the collection, packaging both locally and internationally Director of DAS Energy Services, for highly placed Nigerians, to create the needed awareness The participants went through and subsequent examination accredited forensic institutions, Udu in Delta State, Chief Sunny government lackeys and the through a structured hands-on a pre-test and post-test assess- of biological evidence such as to offer the needed solution in Onuesoke has warned that the other for everyone else. The practical training in crime ment structure to evaluate their DNA. forensic investigation in the new foreign exchange measures official rate is not backed by any scene investigation, forensic level of understanding in both The JJTC Consulting Ltd administration of Justice. introduced by the Central Bank known economic principles. It of Nigeria (CBN) would rather is simply arbitrarily chosen crash the Naira further instead “This rate cannot be Police Go Tough on Armed Robbers, Miscreants, Form Special Squads of salvaging it. sustained and made ac- Onuesoke, who spoke to cessible to everyone who Ayodeji Ake of Lagos State. to adopt scientific and forensic Adaora Ojukwu on Wednesday. journalists at Asaba International needs foreign exchange. The Command had also measures of unravelling crimes Similarly, the Commissioner Airport, Asaba, Delta State Because of this, there is The Lagos State Police confirmed arrest of suspected and criminality in Lagos State. of Police recently created two yesterday while returning from a a flow over to the so called Command has reiterated its armed robbers with dangerous Stated in the release, the Squads, the Special Squad Lagos trip said the problem with black market, where the rate commitment to continually weapons in some areas in Lagos unit named D23, headed by a and the Strike Team, at the the new exchange rate policy is determined by market tackle crimes and criminality State. Computer Scientist, SP Kasumu Command Headquarters, was that it was designed for principles of demand and in the state, especially armed According to the press Rilwan, has been instrumental Ikeja-Lagos, to complement the the elites with government supply.” robbery, robbery in traffic, release made available to to the landmark achievements existing department and units connections. The Businessman warned stealing from persons, ‘One THISDAY, the Commissioner and many feats recorded by the of the command in combating He maintained that the that the racketeers might hijack Chance’ and cultism as the of Police, recently established command under the watch of crimes in the state. The new government does not truly the CBN’s gesture and that it Commissioner of Police, Lagos Information Communication CP Odumosu, including the latest squads, as well, have played have the foreign reserve, or the was not sustainable, just as he State, CP Hakeem Odumosu, Technologies,Tracking Unit at arrest of the prime suspect in the many roles in suppressing and economic prudence to realisti- observed that those applying for injects new policing ideas and the State Criminal Investigation alleged murder of Mr. Michael keeping criminals and hoodlums cally defend the naira, so it’s Foreign Exchange for PTA might strategies into the security system Department, Panti, Yaba-Lagos, Usifo Ataga, one Chidimma at bay in Lagos State. half measures were making a be doing so for the arbitrage. SATURDAY JUNE 26, 2021 • THISDAY 9 10 THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER JUNE 26,2021 NEWS Health Professionals Carpet Senate over Provisions in Medical Council Bill The Senate has come under fire grounded in being Medically for approving some sections of the qualified’. contentious Medical and Dental Mr. Josiah accused Senator Council of Nigeria (MDCN) Act Ibrahim Oloriegbe of allegedly Amendment Bill which includes conniving with the Nigeria Medical the power to control Clinical Council (NMA) in spearheading Laboratory practice in the country the inclusion of offensive provisions on the council. into the MDCN Act Amendment Chairman of the Joint Health Bill 2020. Sector Union (JOHESU), the ‘’Dr. Oloriegbe did everything umbrella body of health workers humanly possible to supplant and in the country, Comrade Bio Josiah, suppress the rights of stakeholders who described as aberration, the in health and beyond at Public Senate approval, including Section Hearing (Third Hearing) through 40(1)b and (2)b of the bill which glaring unconstitutional acts suggested that only Medical especially through disenfranchising practitioners and Dentists could representatives of Associations hold the title of Doctor. and Unions. He introduced alien He also decried interpretations standards to Public Hearings by of a provision in the bill which insisting individuals could not confirm that it was the MDCN take positions contrary to the that certifies ‘medically qualified’ 1999 Constitution. All hell was persons in Nigeria, and describing let loose as people protested the HONOURED FOR SERVICES … it as an attempt to formally institu- high-handedness of Dr. Oloriegbe L-R: HRM Oba Michael Ajibola Babalola, Onijale of Ijale land; Rtn. (Dcn.) Segun Adebowale; and President, Rotary Club of Ikeja, District 9110, Dotun Lampejo, at tionalise the ‘unholy clauses in the to the high heavens. the decoration and presentation of Paul Harris Fellow Certificate to Adebowale at the Airport Hotel, Ikeja…recently University Teaching Hospital Act ‘’Despite repeated assurances where the condition precedent to in high places, the Senate at its emerge the Chief Medical Director proceedings of Tuesday June 8, and Chairman - Medical Advisory 2021 has gone ahead to approve Anambra Governorship: PDP to Go Committee of these hospitals is the aberrations. Ahead with Primary On June 26 Evolance Technologies Enters Chuks Okocha in Abuja proved the appointment of the the executives in our Anambra Accordingly, the PDP said, Governor of Benue State, Dr. State chapter. “the governorship primary to elect African Market with Ndali App In view of the two judgments Samuel Ortom as the Chairman By implication, all the three-man our candidate for the Anambra of the court served on the the of the Anambra State PDP congress delegates elected on June 9 and governorship election holds as Tolulope Ibukunoluwa these diet changes comes the Peoples Democratic Party and committee. 17, 2021, will not participate in scheduled on Saturday, June 26, struggle to adjust to new cooking the National Working Committee Other members of the committee the June 26 congress to elect the 2021.” Evolance Technologies based styles or find tasty healthy meals (NWC), the party has discarded are Bauchi State Governor, Bala governorship candidate of the The PDP directed the South in Houston, Texas in United suited for their health goals. the use of the three-man ad-hoc Abdulkadir Mohammed, Rt. Hon. PDP today. East Zonal Caretaker Committee of States of America is set to make The desire to bridge this gap delegates for the election of its George Kaika, Hajiya Habiba, However, Ologbondiyan said, the party to oversee and manage its entrance into the African inspired us to launch Ndali. The governorship candidate in the Muhammed Deen as members and “our processes towards electing the affairs of the activities of the market with the launch of Ndali, platform will enable customers November 6 election. the Deputy governor of Edo State, a candidate for the purpose of Anambra State chapter of the party, a healthy food delivery app. The to order curated meals prepared Rather, it has adopted an Hon. Philip Shaibu as Secretary. the November 6, 2021 Anambra pending when new executives will platform is the first of its kind by professional chefs and are automatic delegate system for the In a statement yesterday by the governorship election subsist. be elected for the state. in the country dedicated to customized to their health needs election, which are members of the National Publicity Secretary, Kola “Our processes continue as we It further said, “All governorship making healthy meals accessible within minutes. statutory delegates as approved Ologbondiyan, the party said that adopt a lawful process of allowing aspirants on the platform of our to people on different healthy “Ndali was borne out of the by the PDP constitution. acting “on behalf of the National our eligible automatic delegates party, leaders, critical stakeholders, lifestyle journeys. The beta test need to bridge the gap between It also dissolved all the execu- Executive Committee (NEC) and to carry out the responsibilities teeming members and, supporters will give people early access the demand for well-cooked tive committees of the party in pursuant to Section 29(2)(b) of of electing our candidate for the of our party as well as the people to test the app and provide a healthy meals and the profes- Anambra State. the PDP Constitution (2017 as governorship election,” the party of Anambra State are guided feedback on their experience sionals who provide these meals. Meanwhile, the PDP has ap- amended) hereby dissolves all explained . accordingly.” According to the CEO of Our goal is to ease the burden Evolance Technologies, Henry of preparing or sourcing healthy Uti, “The impact of the pandemic meal options for everyday has resulted in people being more Nigerians on their journey to Rainoil Debunks Gas Leak Rumour , 2023: Abia APC Mobilises to conscious of what they eat to healthy living by connecting boost their immunity. There is them to seasoned professionals. Says no Cause for Alarm also a rise in the number of “Since the pandemic, more Wrest Power from PDP people dealing with different people have adopted the idea Contrary to reported gas Resources (DPR) was on health conditions that require of online food delivery through Emmanuel Ugwu-Nwogo in leak on Rainoil Limited facility ground to witness the entire Umuahia beloved state stagnated for a change in their diet. And with apps and social media. “ in Ijegun, the company has process, adding, “This routine long, all well-meaning Abians debunked the rumour and Àre drill was apparently should come together, identify assured residents of safety mistaken to be a result of Stakeholders of the All and support the person with the Party Faithful Calls for Unity around the Ijegun-Egba com- gas leak in the facility.” Progressives Congress (APC) capacity to lift the state from munity where its LPG depot The company called on across Abia State have begun underdevelopment. in PDP Ahead of 2023 is located. the community and other to rally ‘quality people’ for “We cannot be great as In a press statement from stakeholders to dispel the the liberation of the state from individuals if Abia is allowed Bennett Oghifo what was really urgently required the company, it explained that gas leakage rumours as the the ruling Peoples Democratic to continue to wallow in this was for the party to churn out a the speculation and rumours depot has since resumed Party(PDP) come 2023. pitiable condition,” he said. A group of stakeholders in Northern presidential candidate with of a gas leak was unfounded, operations following the The quest manifested at an According to him, if all the South-west Peoples Democratic pedigree and clout to salvage the pointing out that a routine Àre safety drill. expanded stakeholders meeting quality people in Abia should Party (PDP) has urged the party country from the sorry state, the Àre safety drill to ensure the “We will continue to en- involving all the 184 wards in come out and work with to put its house in order ahead of All Progressives Congress party preparedness of staͿ in the sure that all safety measures Abia held at the Umukabia unity of purpose, the people 2023 election for it not to lose and be has led it. event of an emergency was are in place in all our opera- Okpuala country home of Chief holding the state down would in opposition again after the polls. He reiterated that the party mistaken for leakage and tions. We are safety conscious Ikechi Emenike, a chieftain of be overwhelmed and forced to The group’s Executive Director, needed to field a candidate with containment on their facility. and remain committed to the Abia APC. lose their vicious grip on God’s Mr. Bukky Adeojo, who is also the the capability to ruthlessly tackle The company stated that safety of our community Chief Emenike in his address own state. Director General of an NGO-Face of insecurity, unemployment, poverty a representative from the and the environment,” the urged the stakeholders to rec- Former governorship aspirant Waziri-Nigeria made the statement and other worrisome conditions Department of Petroleum statement said. ognise that the battle to liberate of APC, Mr. Friday Nwosu, who in Lagos recently, stressing the need that plaque Nigeria and Nigerians. Abia from bad governance was brought his support groups to cure the malignant virus of divi- He said, “I’m of the opinion that still raving and good people must to team up with Emenike’s sion and disharmony bedeviling our great party PDP cannot afford to join forces to save Abia. structure, noted that “Emenike the party ahead of another general be in the opposition for another four Buhari Appoints Chairman, He said that any Abian that is the man to change Abia for election. years because of what is happening had the interest of the state at good”. Adeojo advised that it was now to the teeming populace of Nigeria. Executive Secretary for PPPRA heart should not be pandering to “We want Emenike to come time for PDP members all over “Nigerians are suffering, crying sectional interests at the expense out and build Abia,” he said, Nigeria and in the diaspora to and wailing that they need another President Muhammadu Secretary is Mr Abdulkadir of the collective interest of Abia adding that he has seen in close ranks and do the needful, party, an alternative to what they Buhari has approved the Saidu, who is reappointed anchored on the yearnings for Emenike “a man who can stating that it was important for are experiencing today. appointment of a Chairman, for another four years. rapid development of the state. take the state to great level of the party’s chairmanship position “We need someone that will and an Executive Secretary for The appointment of Obinna “I don’t believe in blocs; I development.” remained in the Southern geopolitical bring succour and joy to every the Petroleum Product Pricing as Chairman Governing Board believe in Abia,” Chief Emenike Though Chief Emenike, who zones of the country, especially the home like we used to have it in Regulatory Agency (PPPRA). for a four-year term is in ac- said, adding, “We are going to is the secretary of APC contact/ “South-west which had been denied 2015. For this to happen PDP has to According to a release issued cordance with Section 2 (1-3) accommodate those that believe strategy committee, was noncom- for far too long.” put their house in order to occupy on Friday by the Media Adviser and 3 (a) of the Petroleum in our agenda for the liberation mittal to the call to prepare for He, however, proposed that the this position in 2023 and if we don’t to the President, Femi Adesina, Product Pricing Regulatory and development of Abia State.” the 2023 governorship race, the zoning arrangements for the emer- get it right internally, resolving all theChairman is Mr Atuonwo Agency (Establishment, ETC) The development economist party stakeholders echoed and gence of the presidential candidate crisis ailing us from within it may A. Obinna, while the Executive Act 2003. stated that having seen their reechoed the call. should be rested now, adding that spell doom for our party. SATURDAY JUNE 26, 2021 • THISDAY 11 12 JUNE 26, 2021 • THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER COMMENTARY ARTICULATED V EHICLES AND ROAD CARNAGE There is need to invest more in rail transportation, writes Tayo Ogunbiyi

ive people were officially confirmed dead as a result of the explo- sea trade in the country. sion that recently occurred from a fully loaded Liquefied Petroleum With all these indicators, it would be difficult, for now, to banish Gas (LPG) tanker, at Maryland, along Mobolaji Bank-Anthony Way articulated vehicles and trucks on Lagos roads. However, with the area of Lagos. The sad episode led to the destruction of several cooperation of major stakeholders in related sectors, the havoc being Fvehicles as well as properties running into billions of naira. Several others wreaked on lives and properties by articulated vehicles on residents of also experienced a diverse degree of burns, while others suffered different the state could be grossly reduced. physical injuries. For instance, the continuous importation of locally consumed fuel According to eyewitness accounts, the incident occurred when in the country, arising from the inability of the federal government, the gas tanker, which was on top speed, suddenly slipped and over the years, to fix local refineries places a serious burden on the exploded, thus leaving in its trail ball of fire that spread with the state. With more than 50 fuel depots in Lagos alone, at least over 3,000 speed of lightning. Reports also had it that some motorists abandoned trucks travel to the state on a daily basis with the intention of lifting their vehicles and fled in different directions as the inferno gathered petroleum products. momentum, thereby creating intense pandemonium across the axis. To redress the current trend, there is a need to encourage more Watching the episode on the television was such a gory sight that will investors to build new refineries, just as the Dangote Group is certainly make hearts of steel melt. The cost of the ill-fated incident is currently doing along the Lekki Free Trade Zone axis. Continuous obviously enormous. Indeed, many are still counting their losses. importation of fuel, no doubt, will exacerbate the pressure on road Unfortunately, as victims of the Maryland incident were still infrastructure across the country. Various stakeholders in the oil sector coming to terms with the reality of their pains, came the sad report need to ingeniously look into the petroleum distributive arrangement that another articulated truck fell into the Oshodi BRT terminal due to evolve a more scientific and less cumbersome order of distribution. to mechanical failure. Fortunately, no casualty was recorded from the Equally, we need to invest massively in the infrastructure incident, as the state’s emergency responders swiftly responded. development of the transportation sector. Investment in transportation In view of the needless agony and losses caused by the reckless infrastructure enhances private sector activities as it lowers operational actions of articulated vehicle drivers, the time has come for stakehold- cost; enhances productivity, job and wealth creation through exchange ers to put up a common front against their menace. of goods and services. Infrastructure development in the sector is, Many pointless mishaps and carnages on our road are often caused therefore, critical to achieving human capital development and safety by reckless driving. Articulated vehicles drivers, in particular, need to in the country. be more careful and professional in their operation. Across the country, One vital way through which this could be done is for us to they are mostly notorious for the sloppy manner they function. de-emphasise road transportation and revitalize rail transport. If we Findings have shown that several carnages recorded on most roads in had developed a viable rail mode of transportation, most of the road the country have been caused by their complicity. carnages that result in monumental loss of lives and properties could A recent research indicated that out of about 358 transport accidents have been avoided. recorded in Nigeria between 2019 and 2020, 70 % involved articulated The rail option is a cheaper, effective and less cumbersome trucks and heavyduty vehicles. The survey further shows that about alternative through which millions of liters of fuel and, indeed, people, 32 per cent of truck drivers are below 30 years and probably immature goods and products could be effectively and effortlessly transported and inexperienced to handle such psychologically demanding tasks. across the country. Hopefully, by the time the ongoing efforts by the Studies have equally confirmed that 62 per cent of trucks involved federal government to revamp rail transportation fully sees the light of in serious road mishaps that resulted in monumental disasters were the day, things would improve considerably. of poor quality which probably aided fire outbreaks whenever there While commiserating with those who lost loved ones and valuables was an accident. Study has also shown that about 54 per cent of fuel in the ill-fated episode, kudos should be given to operatives of spilling that had led to fire outbreaks was as a result of negligence on the Nigerian Police, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency the part of truck drivers. (LASEMA); Lagos State Fire Service; the state’s Ambulance Service; For obvious reasons, Lagos will continue to attract articulated Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, the Federal Road Safety vehicles and trucks of all shades because of its prime socio-economic Commission, among others who worked tirelessly and endlessly to status. Lagos accounts for over 60% of Nigeria’s industrial and A RECENT RESEARCH INDICATED THAT OUT OF coordinate rescue and emergency operation that mitigated the effects if commercial activities; 70% of national maritime cargo freight, over ABOUT 358 TRANSPORT ACCIDENTS RECORDED IN the gory episode. 80% of international aviation traffic and over 50% of Nigeria’s energy NIGERIA BETWEEN 2019 AND 2020, 70 % INVOLVED Ogunbiyi is Deputy Director (Public Affairs), Ministry of consumption. The two seaports in Lagos account for 70 percent of the ARTICULATED TRUCKS AND HEAVY-DUTY VEHICLES Information and Strategy, Alausa, Ikeja ODUMAKIN: A SAMURAI OF T HE STRUGGLE Jimi Agbaje pays tribute to Odumakin, human rights activist and politician Yinka could not have died now. That was not Yinka wasted no time in telling them off. That was of Kwara State. This committee met every Tuesday the face and spoke for like 15 minutes. The summary the plan. Yinka had only achieved one percent Odumakin for you. and comprised a younger generation of committed of his statement was that he was his own person of what he planned to do. This was not our Yinka “omo Akin”, fought like a blindfolded members. They included Prince Dayo Adeyeye, and nobody, however powerful, could change him understanding….” Samurai. He wielded his sword in all directions, cut- Chief Supo Shonibare, Rt. Hon. Niyi Afuye, Dr. Akin from a course he believed in. He told me I was free “That was the outpouring of a completely shattered ting friends and foes alike with the truth. Yinka was Onigbinde, Kola Awodein SAN, Sola Lawal, Yinka to sack him but assured me that even if I did, he Joe, on receiving the news that her husband of over all about the MESSAGE and cared very little about Odumakin and myself. In addition to the Monday would not work with Asiwaju. I want to believe that two decades was no more. That Joe and Yinka were the messenger. He was ready to work with anyone, caucus and Tuesday political committee meetings we was the first major fall out Yinka had with Asiwaju. of the opinion that only one percent of their plan for as long as they were on the same page with the would meet on at least one or two other occasions Yinka gave his ALL to that campaign and I never for a better Nigeria had been achieved puts Yinka’s message. However, he would not think twice about in the course of the week. This was how Yinka and had any reason to doubt his commitment, loyalty struggle in better perspective. It explains why he was stepping back if the message no longer aligned. I bonded. This close relationship cemented even and financial transparency. always focused on what he considered important Heaven help the messenger if Yinka suspected more when I decided to run for Governor of Lagos Yinka went everywhere he felt could bring and why he refused to take a break. He never took betrayal of the cause. Any wonder, over the years, at State in 2007 and made me comfortable enough about a better Nigeria. The word passive was not credit for anything because, in his own thinking, a his on and off relationships with President Buhari, to have him as Director General of the campaign. in his dictionary. He co-founded Afenifere Renewal lot was still left to be done. former Presidents Obasanjo and Jonathan, Pa Ayo I owe Yinka a debt of gratitude for the role he Group (ARG) with Hon. Wale Oshun, Gov. Kayode Since his demise, I have had an avalanche of Adebanjo, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Afenifere Renewal played during the course of the campaign. Many Fayemi, Babafemi Ojudu, late Dipo Famakinwa, Tola commiserations from those who knew the relation- Group and so many more. may not know how very close Yinka was to the Mobolurin, Alh. Lai Oyeduntan, Kunle Famoriyo ship Yinka and I shared. My wife and I could not Our paths crossed in 1998, just before the then Governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu. and myself. He was also right beside Pastor Tunde have sunk into greater grief than we are in now. He beginning of the fourth republic. Yinka had been Asiwaju has already published a tribute and I recom- Bakare in the Save Nigeria Group (SNG). was always a phone call away. a student union activist in his university days, mend it to all. Yinka deserves no less. Save Nigeria Group (SNG) fought for the What manner of man did God give us in Yinka, rusticated for student union politics and reabsorbed Having decided to run for office in 2007, I validation of Dr. Goodluck Jonathan who as Vice son of Odumakin? Unlike many mortals made of on a court order. His reputation as a civil rights informed Asiwaju Tinubu of my intention. I felt to President Umaru Yar’Adua, faced the existential topsoil dust, Yinka appeared to have been fashioned activist followed him after university during the it proper to ask the incumbent and leading party threat of being sidelined by the cabal in the Aso in the depths of the earth from gold dust. He was pro-democracy struggle. He was an active member member if there was any serious objection to my Villa during the absence, incapacitation and eventual such a dynamic person. Shakespeare said of Mark of the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO). aspiration. I was not asking for endorsement, only death of the then President. SNG came into the Anthony in Julius Caesar, “This was the noblest I, being involved in the pro-democracy struggle on a level playing field to be provided for the party picture, organised protests and with other civil Roman of them all. All the rest of the conspirators other platforms knew of him. We however got to primaries. In his response, Asiwaju Tinubu assured society organisations forced the hand of the National acted out of jealousy of great Caesar. Only he acted meet when some of us decided to be more involved me that one legacy he would want to leave is to Assembly to declare the “Doctrine of Necessity.” This from honesty and for the general good. His life was in the socio-political organisation, Afenifere, credited hand over Lagos State to a successor that was the paved way for Jonathan to become Acting President gentle, and the elements mixed so well in him that for spearheading the founding of the Alliance for party’s choice and ultimately the choice of the and later be sworn in as President when President Nature might stand up and say to all the world, This Democracy (AD). We then began working together people of Lagos State in free and fair elections. He Yar’Adua died. was a man.’” Yes, Yinka was such a man. organising the various Pan-Yoruba Congresses made it clear that he had no anointed candidate Yinka’s commitment to ‘the message’ played out Like the oracle “Oduifa” in his pedigree, Yinka under the leadership of the late Senator Abraham and encouraged me to join others who had already when President Jonathan’s government increased the had wisdom, knowledge, understanding and vision. Adesanya. thrown their hats into the ring. price of fuel from N67 to N87 on New Year’s day His analyses were outstanding. He had an uncanny Afenifere at that time did not have a formal Yinka also decided to approach his close ally to 2012. For Yinka it was the message that mattered, grasp of Nigerian history and current affairs; about structure, neither did it have an official secretariat. reconfirm the feedback I gave him. He got the same not the messenger involved. Jonathan had been a his native South-West, the Niger-Delta, the South- It took some effort to convince the elders in the assurance Asiwaju had given me. We therefore friend, now that His Excellency had stepped out of East, the Middle-Belt, and the twin wings of the core organisation to agree to a formal structure. When started the rigorous work of campaigning in the line with what he considered an anti-people policy, North. Odumakin’s network of connections was they did, Yinka Odumakin became Administrative Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN). Weeks before the Yinka the Samurai wielded his sword. as formidable as his knowledge of all. Governors Secretary and later the Spokesperson of Afenifere. I primaries, Yinka then informed me that Asiwaju had It was yet another matter when Jonathan bought formed his retinue of friends. So were electoral of- became the National Treasurer as well as Secretary walked back on his commitment to a level playing into the idea of a Sovereign National Conference ficials and security agents. Ditto journalists. So were of the Political Committee of the Organisation. As field for all aspirants. He had now decided on a (SNC) and convened the 2014 National Conference civil society aficionados. He befriended the drivers of members of the caucus we held meetings with the preferred successor and asked other aspirants to step to discuss the National Question. Since Yinka had his friends and the friends of his drivers. leadership every Monday, unless there were other down. I had personally gone too far to withdraw always advocated for a national dialogue he had no He moved with the high and mighty but he engagements for the organisation. The Political and told Yinka I would understand his leaving my reservations to being a part of the process and was a was down to earth with them. If they messed up Committee had as its Chairman, Chief Cornelius campaign because of his close relationship with very vocal delegate. on principle and compromised on agreed goals, Adebayo, former senator and one-time governor Asiwaju Bola Tinubu. Yinka looked me straight in Agbaje is a pharmacist and a politician JUNE 26, 2021 • THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER 13 INSIGHT

Yet another explosion, and waste...

The Threat of Famine JAMB and the Plight of Literature Students ot many people may know how the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board “Farming can prevent Famine” -Daniel Ighakpe becomes more and more limited, putting many at higher (JAMB) caused the mass failure in the just concluded Unified Tertiary Matriculation recent newspaper report shows that 41 million risk of hunger. Examination (UTME). persons are at risk of famine worldwide. Based on The primary cause of climate change is the burning of Sadly, the board having set Literature-in-English questions from the 2021-2025 this report, “The World Food Programme (WFP), . . fossil fuels, such as oil and coal, which emits greenhouse Ncurriculum in the last year examination, reversed to the old curriculum that began in 2016 . warned that 41 million people in 43 countries “are gases into the atmosphere - primarily carbon dioxide. and expired in the year 2020. teeteringA on the very edge of famine,” up from 27 million two Unless climate change is reduced by substantial reductions A reasonable literature teacher must have been preparing his students using the new years ago.” Conflicts, climate change, economic shocks, and of greenhouse gases, it will greatly increase hunger and syllabus. Many students have been reading the nine texts and 12 poems apart from the soaring food prices have been identified as the main drivers of famine, especially in the poorest parts of the world. normal literary appreciation so hard that they were put into shame and were confused by hunger. Currency depreciation in many countries has also been It is also important to note that agriculture/farming can the official examination body —JAMB. It is sad. listed as a factor to the problem. help to prevent famine. Preventing further spread of acute What this means is that those that are hoping to study courses that require Lit-in-English The WFP, an agency of the United Nations (UN) said food shortages must start with producing food where it in the university will spend another year or will be forced to study courses outside their 584,000 people were experiencing famine-like conditions in is needed the most. Prevention of famine must begin in choice. As a parent and Nigerian, I’m aware of the integrity of the Registrar of the Board, Ethiopia, Madagascar, South Sudan and Yemen. Nigeria and the rural areas where people coping with high levels of Prof Ishaq Oloyede. I have seen him on a viral video where he was questioning a teacher Burkina Faso are also mentioned to be of particular concern. food insecurity live. The focus in such areas should be on from Baptist School all in the spirit of ensuring justice on the part of the student and their What can help with this threat of famine? David Beasley, growing food where it is needed the most, and keeping parents. To save his name the issue of reversal to the old curriculum must be explained and the Executive Director of the United Nations World Food animals alive. This can help to stabilize and increase local justice must be done to these innocent teenagers, otherwise, we are setting a precedent for Programme, emphasized the urgent need for financial food production, in order to prevent a breakout of famine. the generations to come. support. He said that the price tag to reach those 41 million In more isolated rural areas especially, the critical role Many of the students came out of their exams looking so forlorn and weak because they people who are literally knocking on famine’s door is about of local and backyard food production in keeping families were not in any way expecting what JAMB gave them to write. I have seen where students $6 billion. “We need funding and we need it now,” he said. alive cannot be overemphasized. The importance of boldly insulted their teachers for not preparing them for the exam. He did but the JAMB’s Apart from funding, there is also a need to revive and sustaining livestock can also not be overstated. Also, just inconsistency failed him. This is unknown to the students, how can he explain? What this transform our agricultural and food systems to, among one cup of milk a day can make the difference between life means is that learners may grow and study something they probably did not have an other things, deliver improved nutrition. All stakeholders and death! need to redouble their efforts in order to boost food suf- Additionally, it is important that both private and public interest in. They won’t forgive and forget the teacher. ficiency and improve nutrition. It is not just about feeding schools at all levels establish viable school farms. School Similarly, the students who also wrote the Hausa Language fell victim to this ridiculous people, it is also about providing the necessary nutrients for farms are not just spaces for growing food items. They are step taken by JAMB. The board should prioritise quality examination instead of trying to a healthy life. complete learning zones, which largely succeed in taking become a financial institution only. Also, Nigeria is currently grappling with security chal- learning to new heights. Moreover, the board, while trying to save the already battered image, could reschedule a lenges, especially in the North-East and Middle-Belt areas Daniel Ighakpe, FESTAC Town, Lagos fresh literature exam and for other affected subjects. of the country. This has also affected agriculture/farming in Rauf Oyewole, a journalist, wrote from Bauchi such areas, as many people are being hindered from planting or harvesting crops. In some cases, armed Hail To Emir Of Daura bandits insist on payments before farmers are allowed lhaji Faruk Umar Faruk is the 60th Emir of Daura to have access to farmlands during the planting THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER Emirate. We need to give honour to whom honour is season. They return during the harvest season and EDITOR YEMI ADEBOWALE due. The Emir of Daura has exhibited an exemplary DEPUTY EDITOR FESTUS AKANBI extort money from farmers before any access to the MANAGING DIRECTOR ENIOLA BELLO character within his domain and outside, and has farmlands is granted. This has contributed to scarcity DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR KAYODE KOMOLAFE shownA leadership worthy of emulation. He was born and brought of food and a surge in the prices of certain food CHAIRMAN EDITORIAL BOARD OLUSEGUN ADENIYI up with humility, he has distinguished his reign by making peace commodities. This situation is made even worse EDITOR NATION’S CAPITAL IYOBOSA UWUGIAREN to reign in Daura. Alh. Faruk Faruk has empowered jobless MANAGING EDITOR JOSEPH USHIGIALE by a second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in youths in his domain by providing the basic necessity of life which northern states such as Borno, Adamawa and for them; he made life easy for widows in Daura by paying Yobe, have recorded new cases. Also, what began as their children’s school fees. He also provides security by giving localized clashes between farmers and herders over them vigilance group to complement the effort of security access to land, has degenerated into a major conflict THISDAY NEWSPAPERS LIMITED agencies in Daura. Indeed, he supports the vigilance group and loss of lives across northern Nigeria. If all these EDITOR-IN-CHIEF/CHAIRMAN NDUKA OBAIGBENA by providing vehicles to enable them to discharge their duties security challenges are properly addressed, it can GROUP EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS ENIOLA BELLO, KAYODE KOMOLAFE, effectively and efficiently. ISRAEL IWEGBU, IJEOMA NWOGWUGWU, EMMANUEL EFENI reduce the high risk of famine. DIVISIONAL DIRECTORS BOLAJI ADEBIYI, PETER IWEGBU, ANTHONY OGEDENGBE The emir is a detribalized Nigerian. He single-handedly Climate change is another factor that contributes DEPUTY DIVISIONAL DIRECTOR OJOGUN VICTOR DANBOYI sponsored many children to Quranic school because he to famine. Climate change refers to the increase in SNR. ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR ERIC OJEH belongs to the school of thought that says “if you train your temperatures of the atmosphere over a long period of ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR PATRICK EIMIUHI child in the way of God he won’t depart from it”. He also time. How does climate change affect food supply? CONTROLLERS ABIMBOLA TAIWO, UCHENNA DIBIAGWU, NDUKA MOSERI sponsored hundreds of children to theological school because Floods and drought brought on by climate change DIRECTOR, PRINTING PRODUCTION CHUKS ONWUDINJO he doesn’t discriminate between Christians and Muslims. He HEAD, COMPUTER DEPARTMENT PATRICIA UBAKA-ADEKOYA make it harder to produce food. Erratic rainfall has sponsored many youths whose parents cannot afford to patterns can also severely disrupt local food produc- TO SEND EMAIL: first [email protected] pay their school fees. tion. As a result, the price of food increases and access Anjorin Adeolu Joseph, Abuja 14 THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ JUNE 26, 2021 SUPER SATURDAY Odion and Sonia Ighalo Still Fighting Dirty

Former Super Eagles forward, Odion Jude Ighalo and his estranged wife, Sonia, intensify their matrimonial face-off, throwing caution to the wind. Ferdinand Ekechukwu reports

Congrats Ighalo on the arrival of your baby (Feb). I just dey receive court email now lmao. We don many. Ah Father Abraham. Still one legally married wife. 2baby mamas 5kids and some slay queens still dey fight to enter. Y’all dey ment. Adesuwa baby, you are doing well

Odion and Sonia he matrimonial squabble of footballer another woman, Sonia however maintains her position Ighalo’s sparks of romantic relationship. The Nol- Odion Jude Ighalo and his wife Sonia as his legal wife. According to Sonia’s Instastories in lywood actress and the footballer ignited relationship seems to be playing out real. Many now pidgin and English, “Congrats Ighalo on the arrival rumour that stemmed from the posts they shared wonder if there’s actually any room for of your baby (Feb) I just dey receive court email now online following a tryst and the caption it came with. both couple to put aside their differences lmao. We don many. Ah Father Abraham. Still one Busybodies who had reposted it and wanted Sonia to and embrace their once admirable union/ legally married wife. 2baby mamas 5kids and some see it tagged her. T home. In the eyes of quite a good num- slay queens still dey fight to enter. Y’all dey ment. However, Sonia having seen it, warned mischief ber of their concerned fans and followers, Adesuwa baby, you are doing well.” makers to stop tagging her to certain photos. The latest Ighalo and Sonia are needlessly fighting dirty! Ighalo, who currently plies his trade with Al-Shabab gist is that the recently divorced actress was spotted Recall that in January 2020, the ex-Super Eagles of Saudi Arabia, circuitously responded to the mes- at an exclusive restaurant where she shared a photo forward and his childhood sweetheart turned wife, sage which claimed he already has another child of herself with the caption; “Candid moments are the Sonia, deleted their photos from their respective with another woman. Obviously, Sonia attempted to best! The boo gets me always!” Interestingly, Ighalo Instagram pages, furling speculations of their marriage shame him via Instagram when she made the post also shared a photo from the same restaurant on his crisis. Since then, both have not been seen together that another woman had just delivered a child for the IG page. “When God says it’s your time, no one can and have neither shared each other’s photos as they former Manchester United striker. She also alleged that stop it #birthdayinabit,” he captioned the photo. ceased celebrating their wedding anniversary. They Ighalo, who is back in the country after the Saudi Pro The post was also liked by Lilian Esoro who even went as far as pulling off their wedding bands. League ended, refused to pay child support. Ighalo, finalized her divorce from music business executive Following which Sonia reverted to her maiden name, in a post on his Instagram handle, replied: “You can Ubi Franklin in February 2021. Even though they “Adesuwa”, on social media. never bring a good man down. Who God has blessed, shared the photos two days apart, it is believed that Their face-off just of late reignited when Sonia subtly no one can curse #itstoolatetofail.” the actress and the footballer were at the restaurant called out Ighalo, via her post, for allegedly welcom- Moments after his reaction to the accusations, Sonia together with the setting quite identical. ing two babies now from two different women and took again to her Instastories to respond thus: “He Esoro and Ighalo’s relationship rumours first purportedly refusing to pay child support. who lives by the sword dies by the sword. You can’t sparked in 2020. Esoro used to be married to Ubi Taking a swipe at him in the process, while bring a good woman down.” Also in the picture, Franklin who is now SA to the Governor of Cross congratulating him on the birth of his baby from was Sonia’s light reaction to actress Lilian Esoro and River and they have a son. THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾

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08054699539 ‘Bandits are Foreigners’ and Other Absurdities hose we have elected to protect us at the state and federal levels are persis- government are frightening, ceaseless and tently busy complaining and shifting People who took oaths to shield Nigerians persistently consuming too many innocent lives. How can blames instead of taking no-nonsense this government explain the Jangebe, Kankara, action to tame raging insecurity across tell us that bandits, killer herders and kidnapper Kagara, Greenfield University, Afaka, Tegina, T Yauri and other abductions carried out with so Nigeria. People who took oaths to shield Nigerians persistently tell us that bandits, killer ravaging the country are foreigners as if our law says much ease? Culprits are hardly arrested to account herders and kidnapper ravaging the country are for their crimes. It is outlandish that kidnappers foreigners as if our law says foreign criminals foreign criminals in Nigeria must not be tackled. Even communicate with families of victims via GSM in Nigeria must not be tackled. for months and regularly pick ransom undetected. Even those sitting in Abuja are echoing those sitting in Abuja are echoing this nonsense. How can one explain hundreds of AK47-wielding this nonsense. Governor Abubakar Sani-Bello Fulani militias in the forests of Zamfara, Katsina, of Niger State, in whose jurisdiction 135 Islamiya Governor Abubakar Sani-Bello of Niger State, in whose Kebbi, Sokoto, Niger and Kaduna states? As usual, school pupils are still being held by bandits, has Buhari openly orders arrest of these criminals but joined the prickly band chorusing ‘bandits are jurisdiction 135 Islamiya school pupils are still being it hardly happens. The political leaders in Abuja foreigners’. “Most of these bandits are from outside controlling the security agencies often display the country. They are hired to cause problems held by bandits, has joined the prickly band chorusing startling ineptitude. for us. It is not the habit of the true Fulani to The security and welfare of our gallant soldiers indulge in this kind of act,” declared the Niger ‘bandits are foreigners’ have also been bungled. So, how will they secure the State Governor early this week. country? They are ill- equipped and ill-motivated. What has being “a foreign criminal” got to Images of soldiers of an unidentified battalion staging a protest over their posting to a location do with getting a job done by destroying the Naira over six years as security vote, he still can’t The Kaduna State Government joined the Army murderers? Leaders with nothing to offer this in the Theatre of Operation, due to poor working come up with proactive actions to protect his to spread the falsehood by saying the Army condition, remain fresh. country will always come up with mundane people, then, this governor should at least stop “recovered” the five students. It was a charade. reasons for their failure. This position of Sani- I concur with the spokesman of the Northern disgorging garbage. One of the five freed students blew the whistle Elders Forum (NEF), Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, who Bello is depressing and a confirmation of his I also find depressing, the obstinate lies on the Army and the Kaduna State Government cluelessness. No wonder Niger State is bleeding argued that President Buhari should be impeached untiringly peddled by security agencies, as by revealing that the bandits released them if he’s incapable of solving this country’s insecurity. profusely. 135 abducted students from Salihu Tanko they struggle against bandits, Fulani militias voluntarily. Francis Paul, a 200 Level Student Islamiya School in Tegina, Rafi Local Government Baba-Ahmed remarked: “This nation cannot wait and kidnappers. In the case of the abducted at the institution said: “One afternoon, they two more years for President Buhari to address the Area of Niger state, have been languishing in students of Federal Government College, Yauri, (the bandits) came and started selecting us… the dungeons of their captors for four weeks. issues of insecurity. Those who have constitutional Kebbi State, the Army reported nine days ago I was very ill that day. So, they asked me to sit responsibility must realise that the country is in Some of the kidnapped pupils are between ages that the fleeing kidnappers ran into men of aside and they added some girls and put us on four, and 13. They are vulnerable to sickness a dire state, and do something other than just the Joint Taskforce of Operation Hadarin Daji motorbikes. They dropped us at a village close to talking and making promises.” in the bush where they are being held. In fact, in the North-West Zone, at a roadblock, and the main road and said we should walk towards one of them has died and all we get from the Unfortunately, majority of our federal lawmak- a firefight occurred. According to the Deputy the road and we did.” This is the true story. The ers are there to serve the President instead of Niger State governor is that “the kidnappers Force Commander, Operation Hadarin Daji, Air next set of five students released followed this are foreigners.” Nigerians. So, the issue of impeaching a maladroit Commodore Abubakar Abdulkadir, as a result process. This school is situated near Nigeria’s President becomes a mirage. Sani-Bello’s beloved Niger State is on the of the duel, the bandits were forced to abandon foremost military institution, yet, bandits slipped long list of states ravaged by killings and abduc- five students and a teacher; but sadly, one of the in with ease and abducted dozens of students. tions by bandits, yet, he goes about spewing students died in the crossfire. They also went out unopposed. How can this rubbish. In this state, bandits control eight local So, there was a firefight and not a single bandit be explained? Candid Epistle of governments and people pay them for security. was killed or captured? The bandits abandoned Security agents should move out and rescue The likes of Shiroro, Munya, Rafi and Mariga only five of the students and crossed the road all abductees still with bandits instead of peddling local government areas have been surrendered block with the others unhindered? How did they falsehood. It is not good for the image of these Gbajabiamila to APC to bandits. Sympathisers of the abducted Tegina escape through the fortified road block, if indeed, security agencies. The biggest drawback to this pupils have paid N11 million to the abductors, there was a firefight? This story is outrageous. war against bandits, kidnappers and Boko Haram yet, freedom is not in sight. The army reported further that the land troops is the endless lies by governments and security The headmaster of the Islamiya School, tackled the bandits in conjunction with elements agencies at all levels. Abubakar Alhassan, laments: “I have witnessed of the Nigerian Air Force, who provided close air Let’s talk about the Air Force’s farce. It’s almost the funeral prayer of one of the parents here very support, yet, they could not gun down a single three months that an Alpha light attack jet on a close to the school. She died because she had bandit during the rescue mission. Commodore mission to support troops fighting the terrorists just one child who is our student. She was not Abdulkadir’s men, who could not rescue the crashed in Borno State. After spending weeks around when the incident happened. When she traumatised students, reported that they were struggling to locate the crash spot, the Nigerian came back they told her and within 30 minutes, able to recover 800 cattle from the bandits. What Air Force is now mum on rescue update. Boko she collapsed and died. That was the day before a country! Haram’s claim that it shot the jet is looking real. yesterday. A day after the incident, another parent Also, midway into the case of the abducted 39 The failure of the military to locate the so-called died. She had two children. One was sent to the students of Federal College of Forestry Mechaniza- true crash site reflects the level of decay in the town while the one with her was kidnapped. tion, Afaka, Kaduna State, the Army Spokesperson, military. Modern search and rescue is about She died of a heart attack.” Yerima Mohammed reported that five of the technology, equipment and quality manpower. Yes, we can’t heap all the blames on Governor abducted students had been rescued by the military. This country lacks capacity for these and it’s Sani-Bello because he does not control the security That was not the true story. The military was unwilling to seek help from abroad. agencies. However, if after collecting billions of merely trying to take credit for a job not done. The security glitches under the Buhari Gbajabiamila

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Akeredolu’s Marijuana Mission Femi Gbajabiamila, spoke wisely at the recent Progressives Youth Conference of the APC in The governor said: “We must find a way to is already a big problem in this country, with Abuja. At least for once, a key member of the legalise the cultivation of cannabis for medicinal millions of people hooked onto it. Marijuana is party pointed out that it had not been committed purposes. There is nothing wrong about it. We largely the motivator for all sorts of crimes in to its manifesto at all levels of government. He are only shooting ourselves in the foot. It is a Nigeria. The relationship between Marijuana also reminded party members holding political foreign exchange earner for people outside the abuse and crime is a fact. The present figure of positions that they “will answer” for what they country. People want this. We ourselves, even 10.6 million Nigerians abusing Cannabis is already did with their time in government. our pharmacies want to develop it.” frightening. Marijuana is a psychotropic drug that Gbajabiamila remarked: “As is the case with Akeredolu has even travelled to Thailand to goes straight into the brain and destroys it. Many all other contractual documents, the commitments study the cultivation of Cannabis for pharmaceuti- of our youths are languishing in mental homes contained in the party’s manifesto are the basis cal use. He disagrees with those who argue because of Cannabis. This drug has destroyed upon which the party’s record in government will that decriminalizing Cannabis would lead to many homes and families. Now, somebody is be measured and its leaders will be assessed both more Nigerians being sucked into drug abuse: talking about permitting it. It’s impossible to in real-time and in the judgment of history. If the “Every country has drug problem. We have it differentiate Cannabis cultivated for medicinal manifesto of the party is merely a compendium here; it is not as pronounced here as in other use and those for “smoking.” of promises put together for electoral purposes places. When we talk about cultivation, we are Akeredolu is not talking about generating without any consideration of the personnel/ saying a monitored one, in which NDLEA will forex from the good old cocoa, coffee, palm oil resources required for achieving them, then it Akeredolu have an office near the farms.” and other export produce his state was known for is unlikely to succeed.” Akeredolu has an ally in the House of during the Western Region era. He is dreaming APC’s manifesto has long been abandoned by Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo is the Representatives, in the person of Miriam Onu- about earning forex from Cannabis. If there its political office holders at the state and federal frontrunner in the campaign for the legalisa- oha. She is pushing a bill for the validation of is so much forex in Cannabis, then, Thailand levels. President Buhari dumped it few weeks tion of Cannabis Sativa (Marijuana) or Indian cultivation and trading in cannabis for medical that legally grows and exports it for medicinal into his Presidency. Buhari reneged on the party’s Hemp in Nigeria. He has been going about this and cosmetic use, research purposes as well purpose will be a prosperous country today. promise to pay N5000 monthly stipend to jobless campaign with so much passion. For Akeredolu, as revenue generation for Nigeria. This is the But Thailand remains a third world country. Nigerians and nothing happened. When he was Nigeria stands to benefit a lot from this banned Cannabis Control Bill 2020, which has passed I urge lawmakers in the National Assembly to challenged for not implementing the promised psychotropic drug, particularly in the area of second reading. throw out the prickly bill seeking to decriminalize N5000 monthly stipend, he said it was the party medicine. The Ondo State governor also said For me, Akeredolu’s campaign is all balder- Marijuana. It is simply aiming to reverse the that made the promises and not him. Buhari is cannabis could be a strong foreign exchange dash. Nigeria does not need to legalise Marijuana little progress so far recorded in the fight against also unaware that restructuring is contained in his earner for Nigeria. growing for any reason. The destructive Marijuana drug abuse in Nigeria. party’s manifesto. It can only happen in Nigeria. 16 SATURDAY JUNE 26, 2021 • THISDAY THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER JUNE 26, 2021 17

Ferdinand Ekechukwu 08035011394 Email: [email protected] SHOWBIZFLAIR

L-R: Blessing Jessica Obasi, Lizzy Jay, and Rachael Oniga on set of the movie Anthill Studios Back with ‘Progressive Tailors Club’ Ferdinand Ekechukwu female director, Biodun Stephen. Ac- “Joba,” and “Perfect Picture”. Ever tor Baby”. Alongside production cording to the executive producer Niyi since her debut hit, The Visit, Stephen updates, the studio recently unveiled Akinmolayan via an Instgram post, has consistently shown she is one of some of its cast including veteran new Anthill Studios “Anthill Studios is back with another the most charming screenwriters in actors Rachael Oniga and Jaiye Kuti. production titled delicious movie in production.” Nollywood. Other thespians on the bill include ‘Progressive Tailors The post further reads “This is very She is credited with relatable, Adedimeji Lateef, Bolaji Ogunmola, Club’ has presented its special because it will be directed engaging stories with themes of love, Uzor Arukwe and Blessing Jessica cast for the upcoming by the legendary @biodunstephen abuse, grief, faith and comedy. For Obasi. Progressive Tailors Club” is a satire which parodies (Breaded Life, Joba, Perfect Picture) the new Anthill project, she will be beautiful and engaging satire about community politics. The new comedy and will be produced by the amazing working with Victoria Akujobi who community, politics and account- A @victoria_akujobi (prophetess, DOD, will serve as the producer. Akujobi has ability. More updates on the movie drama which o΀cially commenced principal photography recently will be Elevatorbaby).” Biodun Stephen also worked on several movies such and release date will be known in the the Àrst Anthill Studios’ movie with a was the director of “Breaded Life,” as “Prophetess”, “DOD”, and “Eleva- coming weeks. ‘Devil in Agbada’ Comes to the Cinemas Ferdinand Ekechukwu

Upcoming Nollywood drama, ‘Devil in Agbada’ will open in cinemas from July 2, 2021. The ChinneyLove Eze features BBNaija reality star Erica Nlewedim, Linda Osifo and Efe Irele as its lead cast. Devil in Agbada also stars Uche Jombo, Desmond Elliot, Uzor Arukwe, Soso Sobrekan and Nosa Rex in supporting roles. The movie caused quite buzz in March with its stunning poster featuring its leading ladies. Recall star actress, Uche Jombo released a teaser for the new movie back in May. Distributed by FilmOne, the new action drama, follows three young strangers teaming up to bring down a very ruthless politician in a mission that involves inÀltrating his heavily guarded and impenetrable mansion. In an earlier post shared by all three lead cast and the producer via their Instagram handles goes with the following caption: “Something exciting is coming to a cinema near you this 2021 courtesy Chinneylove Eze Productions! “Synopsis: Three young strangers team up to bring down a very ruthless politician in a mission that involves inÀltrating his heavily guarded and impenetrable mansion. Meet the three leading women in Devil in Agbada – @ ericanlewedim @efeirele and @lindaosifo who will be taking you on this roller coaster journey that will leave you screaming, giggling and clamping your feet’s all at the same time! . . .” This movie is produced by @chinneyloveof- Àcial who also brought you ‘Hire a man’ and ‘Hire a woman’”. For one of the lead cast Erica, this will be her Àrst feature after the Big Brother Naija show. But not her Àrst time working with the producer, ChinneyLove. She had featured Erica Nlewedim in ‘Hire A Woman’ by Chinneylove Eze. 18 THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾

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Ferdinand Ekechukwu

hat was it like growing up for the year 2021. We decided to search for the winner in Nigeria before relocat- in Nigeria and organize the event in Lagos to ing abroad? showcase the Nigerian culture. We needed to put in a Life was good. I really lot of logistics to ensure success. enjoyed my childhood in Nigeria. I was born in my Did you face any challenge in organising the W native town of Owo, in Ondo event? state. I spent part of my child- We were planning the event when COVID-19 was hood in Ibadan and Lagos, before relocating to United declared as a pandemic throughout the world. This Kingdom as an adult. My dad was a businessman, caused a lot of disruptions in our plans. Events were dealing in importation of cars and I used to assist him banned from taking place in Lagos due to health in his business. As a young boy, I was good in fixing hazards. Because we did not know when the ban faulty things in the house, and I made myself useful would be lifted, we had to keep things on hold for a in fixing some of the faults in the imported cars, before while. This had adverse effect on the planned budget. my dad would sell them to buyers. My parents were When we finally got an approval from the Lagos disciplinarians, and both of them were into business. I State government, with the understanding that we learnt the rudiments of business from them. would observe all the COVID-19 protocols, I heaved a sigh of relief. The event was held at Landmark Why did you go into fashion business? Event Centre, Oniru, Lekki, Lagos. The Nigeria Center Fashion is a way of life. I felt the African fashion for Disease Control, (NCDC), and the Lagos State is so unique and has to be promoted in the Western Safety Commission, (LSSC), were very supportive. world. In summer, our African dresses are admired by We collaborated with event managers like Allevents, all and sundry, but the market for it is still developing DopeBoy Entertainment, and Brendance and Crusad- at a slow pace, due to a lot of issues. The way the ers Limited. We had over 20 professional models foreigners admire quality African designs shows it from Nigeria and the Diaspora on the stage, wearing will be widely accepted all over the world, if huge various cultural and urban wears created by us. Over investment is made in it. I realized there is so much 700 guests were in attendance. It was made colorful potential in massively producing the African wears with the presence of DJ Xclusive, Denrele Edun, and I decided to develop a brand that will stand the Brymo, Acapella, MC Smart and Kulh. They engaged test of time. the audience in their own ways. For the search for the Face of BanKola 2021, we had a total of 1,400 How have you being sustaining the brand? registered contestants. The grand prize of a brand From the world go, I had my mind set on capturing new car and an ambassadorship deal for the year 2021; a wide market and not limiting demand to the United N300,000 and N100,000 cash prizes were given to the Kingdom. The concept I developed is online ordering first, second and third prize winners respectively. We of our wears through our website, from different overcame the challenges because we were focused on parts of the world, and over time, we have perfected achieving success, in spite of the prevailing situation. a seamless way of delivering orders in affordable prices, promptly. We get orders from different parts As an African involved in fashion business, of Europe, United States of America and Africa. Our what do you think should be done to improve designs are for both sexes and done with optimal the African fashion industry? quality in mind. We produce both the cultural and Africa has approximately 1.4 billion populations. urban wears. We also specialize in clothing trendy This is huge. The bulk of this population is favourably and fashionable people who love street style. We use disposed to wearing home grown clothes, though reputable courier services to deliver our orders within 5 these people have low purchasing power and this to 15 working days, in any part of the world. We also invariably limits their demands. The African design have a social media presence on Facebook, Instagram could be less expensive, if mass production is used in a and YouTube. more structured industry. The African designer places a value on his garment-which could be considered What differentiates your brand from others in high by the populace-because he does not mass the competitive fashion industry? produce and has limited reach. The production chain The BanKola brand’s uniqueness is in its creation needs to be developed to optimal level to reduce cost of ready-to-wear contemporary urban and cultural and encourage affordability. China is the second largest designs, at affordable prices. Through branding, our apparel market in the world, valued at over $1.7 billion, designs are distinctive and easily recognizable. The because the country mass produces garments. Many fact that we design tastefully-made cultural wears in international brands produce their garments in China the United Kingdom also stands us out. Our trendy for the fact that the labour is cheap. This enables the wears are very fashionable. We give people quality at brands to sell at competitive prices in different parts minimal cost. of the world, most especially, in the Western world. The retail prices of some garments sold in Europe and As the creative director of your brand, what America would triple if they were to be produced inspires you? there, due to minimum wage issue. I get inspiration from my African roots, as well as from where I am currently based. I love to create As an entrepreneur, how do you give back to wears that make people feel exquisite. The fact that the society? many of our clients also find what we produce exciting I am involved in charity works that focus primarily and satisfactory inspires me. I feel highly exhilarated on poverty alleviation and health concerns. These seeing people wearing our African clothing. organizations empower vulnerable communities in Nigeria and the UK. Do you have a forerunner who inspires you in the business? What are your plans for the future? Akon is one individual I respect a lot in view of The Face of BanKola competition is planned as an the success he has recorded with his fashion brand. annual event. Having done this year’s edition more He launched his clothing line in 2007 and since will come. We are also going to establish a fashion, art then, he has never looked back. I admire his tenacity. and dance school to help develop our culture in Africa He is putting Africa on the map as far as fashion is and the UK. My optimum goal on the brand is to give concerned and I hope to replicate that soon. the masses in different parts of the world, affordable casual and cultural wears, tastefully done with unique Why did you decide to organize The BanKola materials. We plan to have the brand growing at a Brand Fashion Event in Lagos? steady pace. We are also going to have a chain of The idea was conceived to find the Face of BanKola BanKola fashion stores in Nigeria. Folarin THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER
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JUNE 26, 2021 POLITY19 Broadcast Piracy: Encouraging Signs of Africa’s Rejection

Edamisan Job illegally down-linked via Showtime smart cards purchased in the Middle East and re-transmitted to subscribers in Port Harcourt, knockout punch it may not be, but the 8 June Onitsha and Asaba by Metro Digital. judgment of the Port Harcourt Division of In 2010, Communication Trends Limited (CTL), a member of the Federal High qualifies as major blow on ACON, had its licence suspended for pirating HiTv signal. In 2018, broadcast signal piracy and other strains of the NCC cautioned two Kaduna-based cable television opera- intellectual property theft in Nigeria. tors, ABG and QTV, that they risked suspension for unlicensed For long, broadcast signal pirates, with no broadcasting. News reports quoted Augustine Amodu, NCC’s A little chutzpah, have run rings around content Enforcement Director in Kaduna, as saying that the warning was creators and rights holders. But on 8 June, they issued after the commission received letters from international had the stuffing knocked out of them when the Federal High Court broadcasters such as Aljazeera, BeiN and Canal Plus that their delivered judgment that will have significant impact on intellectual content was being redistributed illegally. property rights in the country. “The only people with the exclusive license to broadcast English The judgment, in my view, represents a chance to loosen the Premier League, UEFA Champions League, LaLiga among others chokehold of piracy on the content economy, thereby engendering is MultiChoice Nigeria. So, we are here to issue a very stern warning a healthier creative ecosystem as obtainable in progressive societies to you to desist from this illegal act or run the risk of been shut around the world. down,” the NCC said in its letter to the cable operators. The judgment was in a suit was filed last year by cable television Two years ago, TStv, which operated for a short while, claimed operator, Metro Digital Limited, against MultiChoice Nigeria. to have acquired rights to premium sporting, news and general Joined as co-respondents were the National Broadcasting Com- entertainment content, which it was offering to subscribers at mission (NBC) and Minister of Information. Metro Digital, which implausible low rates. Just before it rolled out, CNN, FOX Entertain- was pirating the signal of MultiChoice, in addition to the content ment and BeiN wrote separately to the NCC to deny that they had of football authorities, LaLiga and UEFA, via a Belorussian satellite any content redistribution agreements with TStv, adding that it is ineligible to operate in sub-Saharan Africa. company and redistributing same to its subscribers in Nigeria, Lai Mohammed had aroused the interest of the Economic and Financial Crimes The recent Court of Appeal judgment is a credit to the judicial and Commission (EFCC), which raided its office along with those of it to rebroadcast content on MultiChoice platforms, as it prohibits law enforcement arms of the government, as it indicates a readiness members of the Association of Cable Operators of Nigeria (ACON) content exclusivity in the country and empowers the regulator not to protect the intellectual content landscape and the wider economy. involved in rebroadcasting MultiChoice content without authorisa- just to compel broadcasters to share exclusive content with competi- Across Africa, there is growing realization of the danger that tion. tors, but also determine prices payable. intellectual property theft represents to the content creator, rights With their operations disrupted by raid, which led to seizure But in its ruling the Federal High Court dismissed Metro Digital’s owners and the wider society. This realization has given rise to the of equipment used in the illegal activity, Metro Digital Limited case, stating that the cable television operator had failed to contradict development of policies and passage of legislations against piracy approached the Federal High Court (Port Harcourt) seeking a MultiChoice’s claim of lack of ownership rights/sublicensing rights as well as their implementation and enforcement. By its simplest bouquet of reliefs. to the content sought. The court refused to grant the reliefs sought definition, broadcast content piracy entails the unauthorized Prior to its litigation, Metro Digital had written to MultiChoice, by Metro Digital and dismissed the matter in favour of MCN and broadcast, streaming and sharing of copyright-protected content. asking that it be authorised to retail some of its channels and NBC, with the latter adjudged as lacking in powers to compel The illegal distribution of content, especially on a commercial programmes to its subscribers, a request that was rejected. The sub-licensing. basis, denies content creators, artists and the whole of the creative rejection was based on the fact that the channels and programmes The court also held that the Minister of Information, whose minis- landscape revenues from their investments and talents. Without for which Metro Digital sought sub-licensing rights are not owned try supervises the NBC, was not a necessary party to the proceed- the revenues, creative industry professionals cannot have a viable by MultiChoice and that granting such a request will be in violation ings and struck off the minister as a party to the proceedings. livelihood let alone bequeath a legacy to coming generations. The of agreements with the owners of those properties. It was not the first time that Metro Digital had sought to illegally same realization is also kept aglow by Africa’s desire to attract From the foregoing, it should have been obvious that Multi- feed off other operators. In 2007, the National Copyright Com- foreign investments, which are crucial to the economic well-being of Choice itself is a sub-licensee. But while the case was still in court, mission (NCC) raided the office of the cable television operator, the individual nations. Speaking directly to this is African Growth Metro Digital and other ACON members continued to redistribute which responded with a lawsuit in which it demanded $200,000 as and Opportunity Act (AGOA), a United States Trade Act enacted in MultiChoice’s content for which they charged between N3, 000 and compensation for alleged human right breach. The raid was at the May 2000 as Public Law 106 of the 200th Congress. N5, 000 monthly. instance of the defunct HiTv, which complained to the commission ––Job, a copyright activist, writes from Lagos In court, Metro Digital hung its case on the belief that the 6th that its signal to the matches of the English Premier League meant National Broadcasting Code issued by the NBC last year entitles for the Middle East (HiTv held the rights in Nigeria at the time) were Read full article on www.thisdaylive.com TRIBUTE Remembering My Time With Okot p’Bitek At Great Ife

Uzor Maxim Uzoatu ducked and ran. Okot felt then that I was a fully-formed poet who had no kot p’Bitek, the great Ugandan poet, author of business being a student. It was under his influence that I wrote Song of Lawino, always held court at the bar in the long poem “When I Shall Marry (Eater of my Wealth)” which the foyer of Oduduwa Hall, the big theatre of the was published in the university’s arts magazine Sokoti. then University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo “Sharpen your pen!” This was the unique piece of advice I got University). Anything could happen during those from Okot on the art of writing. He discussed everything but the O drinking sessions. The Deputy Vice-Chancellor nitty-gritty of creative writing. I once tried to discuss my Head of accosted Okot one day and said: “This is wrong, Department Prof Wole Soyinka’s novel The Interpreters with him. Professor p’Bitek. How can you take your students out to drink?” Picking up the book, he said: “Fine book by my friend Soyinka.” Okot stared at the man for a good minute before saying: “You Then he tossed the book aside and said, “Let’s go and drink.” must have gone to a bush university! Otherwise you would have He told me he was working on a book on his experiences in known that professors share drinks with their students. By the Nigeria to be dedicated to me. To him, everybody in Nigeria was way, why do you part your hair?” The man fled! a lizard, starting from the country’s leader who was the big lizard The proprietress of the bar once remonstrated with Okot on not then based in Lagos. He had actually written the first line of the clearing the huge bill he had accumulated and the poet promptly book which goes thus: “The lizard says he is coming, but the lizard told the woman: “I am sure your husband didn’t do you well last never comes.” Whatever became of the book is in the lap of the night. When you go home, tell him to do you thoroughly!” And gods. There was also mention of a long poem entitled “Song of the woman, too, fled! Soldier.” Even with the talk of unpaid bills, Okot would order a big bottle He would not discuss his fellow writers except to say, for of White Horse whisky for the great actress Florence Toun Oni instance, that Chinua Achebe is “a beautiful man.” He told the who had joined the table. Presenting the whisky with a flourish story of how Ugandans broke down and cried when Achebe was Okot blew a kiss to the smiling lady. Watching in a safe distance flying back to Biafra during the Nigerian Civil War after a visit the proprietress simply shook her head. A friend of mine, Patrick to Kampala. The East Africans could not bear the thought of not Okot p’Bitek Izobo-Agbebeaku who would later make history as the first seeing the author of Things Fall Apart ever again as had happened university graduate bus conductor in Nigeria, demanded to see to Christopher Okigbo. that he chased me out of the examination hall of the GNS 1 “Use Okot’s debts. Patrick wondered aloud why the madam should be Okot took ill towards the end of his stay at Ife. He discharged of English” course. I left the exam hall to help him buy meat at the insulting “Prof Okot for a small amount of money”. Okot quickly himself from the hospital on regaining consciousness. He got back Leventis Stores near the staff quarters. Then we retired to drinking shut up my friend with these words: “If you think it’s a small to his house to discover that all the drinks and alcohol had been beer and whisky while my mates were writing the exams! amount, then pay!” removed. He was dying to have a quick drink. Then he saw David Okot was open to a fault. He showed me letters from universi- Okot would not use the urinary of the bar, stressing that the Rubadiri’s houseboy learning to ride a motorcycle. Okot promptly ties like Iowa, Harvard, Texas, Makerere etc offering him profes- place was dirty. Motioning to me, Okot started out of the bar. I got ordered the learner to ferry him to the nearest watering-hole. Both sorships in diverse disciplines such as Creative Writing, African the message. He only made use of the Vice-Chancellor’s toilet of them fell down from the bike, and Okot had a big gash for his Studies, English and Divinity. In the end I could not summon up which he said was the only clean toilet in the entire campus. It was efforts. enough courage to abandon my studies at Ife for the journey with drizzling, and I pointed at the falling rain. When Idi Amin was chased away from power Okot celebrated. Okot to Uganda’s Makerere University. Schoolwork and passing “Come on, the rain makes you grow,” Okot said to me, walking He pointedly told me that I would follow him to Makerere exams may not have mattered to me, but damaging my parents in the rain. University as he would not want me to continue my studies at and sundry loved ones through transnational rascality did. It was Walking with him up the staircase, we came into the office of the Ife which he dismissed as a “University of Lizards”. He spoke while writing my degree exams that the news was broken to me VC’s mixed race secretary. “Watch me do some beautiful things glowingly of Yusuf Lule who was poised to take over from Idi that my great friend Okot was dead on July 19, 1982. I dedicated to this beautiful woman,” Okot said, grabbing at the lady who Amin. He was so determined to take me to Makerere University my final year thesis to him. He deserved no less. 20 THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER
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JUNE 26, 2021 POLITY A Sexual Rendezvous Gone Awry As the Lagos Command of the Nigeria Police works round the clock to unravel the gruesome murder of Chief Executive Officer of Super TV Usifo Ataga, analysts argue that the deceased’s entanglement with the principal suspect, Chidinma Ojukwu in a sex and drug binge at their hideout in Lagos underscores the failure of parenting in the society, writes Festus Akanbi

rom time immemorial, there is always a thin line between peace and trouble, life and death, joy and despair. Naturally, what comes to mind after each episode of such a self-inflicted calamity is the question, why Fdid I venture into it. From her looks when she was paraded by the Lagos Command of the Nigeria Police Force, the 21-year-old 300 level student of the University of Lagos, Miss Chidinma Ojukwu, the principal suspect in the gruesome murder of the Chief Executive Officer of Super TV, Usifo Ataga would have wished she didn’t embark on the sex escapades that have left bloodstains on her hands. Before the news of the death of her lover hit the media landscape, Chidinma would have passed any street without attracting any attention. She looks innocent and harmless. However, the depths of depravity she was linked with that heart-rendering account of the police during her parade on Thursday will make one understand the link between chaos and charm. As she gave a chilling account of the bloody encounter with her dead lover, Chidinma cuts a gory picture of a hooker-with-a- heart-of-gold. She was arrested alongside her father at their residence, No. 57 Akinwunmi Street, Alagomeji, Yaba, on Wednesday. According to a source, her father was detained at the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, Panti, Chidinma Yaba, for resisting Chidinma’s arrest because he never believed Ataga his adorable daughter was a younger version of the Biblical Jezebel with blood on her hands until she gave her account of the complimentary cards, Access Bank’s statement of account, a beautiful girls as baits for randy men in the country. savage killing of her secret lover. Nigerian passport with number B50010434 belonging to the For instance, they argued that it would be practically difficult suspect, one fake driving licence bearing Mary Johnson with the for her to overpower Ataga, who she claimed to have been Police Report suspect’s photograph, one National Identification card bearing stabbed three times over argument over sex. The state Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, had the suspect’s name, UBA Automated Teller Machine debit card One of the issues they raised is the need to get the identities earlier said the 21-year-old undergraduate was tracked for 48 bearing the suspect’s name and a University of Lagos ID card in of those who made additional withdrawals from the victim’s hours and was arrested at her parent’s residence in the Yaba area her name. account since Chidinma insisted she only withdrew N380,000. of the state on Wednesday. From all indications, Chidinma is not as innocent and naïve He stated that casual workers cleaning the building, where as she looks. For a 21-year-old lady to be going about with fake Bad Parenting the incident took place, discovered Ataga’s remains in the items like a driving licence, it means she is neck-deep in crime However, a Lagos-based psychologist and Founder, Total service apartment. and who knows, Ataga might not be her first victim. Psyche Services and Consult, Mrs. Olasumbo Oshinubi Odumosu said, “The victim, one Usifo Michael Ataga, hap- explained that whatever roles played by Chidinma in the pened to operate a media house. The lady, Chidinma Ojukwu, Chidinma: Why I struck unfolding drama should be seen as a failure of parenting. 21, a 300-level Mass Communication student of the University Curiously, the suspect did not make any attempt to shield She said, “Parenting, done properly, is a heroic act”. It is a very of Lagos, checked into the service apartment in Lekki with the herself from the dastardly act, admitting her complicity in a defi- hard job that if care is not taken, losing one’s responsibility as a man on a Sunday. ant manner that shocked even the police team investigating her. parent to the modern-day idea of what parenting should look “They were there together as friends, but on Tuesday, she de- During her parade, Chidinma confessed that she had like, in an individualistic system we have adopted recently, is parted and left the man inside. So, when the man did not come withdrawn N380,000 from the deceased’s account to pay her very easy. out on Tuesday and Wednesday, those who were evacuating the school fees. She alleged that Ataga became violent after she “Once parenting starts, it doesn’t end and no one has a final trash bins went in to do their normal duty and discovered that turned down his request for more sex, adding that she stabbed grip on it yet; especially these days. So, growing with one’s the door to the apartment was half-opened. him under the influence of drugs and alcohol. children and equipping them with a solid foundation requires: “When they entered, Ataga was found on the floor in a pool She said, “I checked for the place we lodged in online on unlearning faulty patterns, relearning poorly learned ones, and of blood. He wore only his pair of boxers. So, we started our Sunday and sent the details to him and he paid. On Monday, we learning new and well-grounded patterns to prevent dangerous investigation and we were able to track the prime suspect and were together drinking and smoking, we had fun and so I went surprises as a parent.” got her arrested. She has confessed to the crime. to get food. On Tuesday, he was trying to make advances at me, However, speaking on the role of drugs in crimes, Oshinubi “She said the drugs and alcohol that both of them took got but I was tired and he became violent and forced his way and I said incidents like the Chidinma’s case have underscored the them high and they were trying to have fun, but she resisted and gave in. urgency of the need to fight drug addiction among Nigerians. the man insisted on having his way and that led to the fracas. “In the afternoon, we smoked and ate. We became high and According to her, “People, especially young people, use drugs She reached out for the kitchen knife and stabbed the man twice I wasn’t happy with the first round of sex; so, I was on my own for several reasons which include: fitting in with peers; self-med- in the neck and once in the stomach. After he died, she took his smoking, drinking, and eating my food when he came to me, icating pains ( mostly psychological pains) to feel good because belongings and fled.” while I was watching a movie. abused drugs interact with the brain chemistry to produce Her confession of a drug binge with the deceased has “I told him I was not happy with what he did the first time. I feelings of pleasure; some youths may take drugs because they however shown that if the Super TV boss had survived the told him he was not assisting me with anything but was playing think the substance will enhance their performance; seeking attack that claimed his life, he would have joined his mistress at around with me. He told me to take his ATM card and withdraw new and adventurous experiences are some of the experiments the police station for sundry offences including the use of hard any amount I wanted and gave me the PIN, but I told him that young people perceive as thrilling and daring, so they experi- drugs. was not what I meant. ment with drugs. “So, he became violent; I was defending myself and at some In her reaction, a parent, who is also a retired school principal, Gentle and Dangerous point, he hit my head on the wall and I retaliated. He was who spoke under the condition of anonymity described the Few hours after she was paraded, a video surfaced on social choking me and I was on the kitchen cabinet, so I stretched out murder incident as a manifestation of the decadence in the media showing her sitting in a roadside beer shop, with a pair of and grabbed a knife and stabbed him twice in the neck and once society. scissors dangling menacingly in her hand. It was an encounter in the stomach.” She wondered why Alaga would settle for a lady as young as with two men who exchanged banters with her. In the video, When Ataga became weak, Chidinma said she fled the apart- his daughter for his uncontrolled sexual and drug binges. Chidinma was seeing laughing loudly as the two men contin- ment and withdrew money from his account for her school fees. “When you lodge a girl as young as your daughter in a private ued to hail her for an undisclosed reason. But unfolding realities She said, “We smoked SK and Loud. While he was lying there, apartment, feeding her with drugs and alcohol to take advan- have shown that beneath that innocent laughter was a drug I changed my cloth, looked for the key from where he kept it and tage of her assumed innocence, then you should blame yourself addict, a criminal with uncommon savagery. That was days or left the room. When I left, I didn’t reach out to anybody. I didn’t for whatever level of stress you put yourself.” even months before she was introduced to Ataga. feel good about what I did. For Chidinma’s father, the parent said the man should cover Those who know her described her as a recluse. She however “I withdrew N380,000 and not N5m from his account. I feel a his face in shame, for living with a child he didn’t know very turned out to be a beautiful, soft-spoken lady with the fury of a lot of remorse. I wanted to use the money I withdrew to pay my well. rattlesnake. One of her classmates in Unilag, where she schools school fees. I felt disappointed when the police arrested me at She believed Chidinma’s father has failed in his responsibility as a 300-level part-time Mass Communication student, who my parents’ house and it was when I was arrested around 10 pm by watching helplessly while his child was becoming a monster. spoke on condition of anonymity said, “Yes, she (Chidinma) is that my parents got to know about the incident. From the account of a senior lecturer of the Mass Communica- a 300-level part-time student of Mass Communication. I know “I live with my parents; I left home on Sunday and told them tions Department of the University of Lagos, Dr. Bunmi Ajibade, her, but we are not on talking terms; she doesn’t interact with that I was going for ushering job. I used the foreign number I Chidinma has been a truant, who was last seen on campus many people. She is a recluse.” generated in texting the owner of the apartment.” before the Covid-19 lockdown. Ajibade, who lamented that Perhaps, what best described the character of the suspect are Some commentators argued that the suspect might not Nigerian students are taking to drugs, sex, and alcohol, blamed the items recovered from her by the police. be telling the whole truth about the incident, suspecting that Chidinma’s parents for their insensitivity to the changing The exhibits found in her possession include a driving licence, Chidinma might be a member of a syndicate using young and behaviour of their daughter. THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER
˾ JUNE 26, 2021 21 POLITY We are Stranded, Residents Cry to Ogun Governor Festus Akanbi

esidents of Akute, Olambe, Agbado, and Ijoko in the Ifo Local Government area of Ogun State have appealed to the state governor, Mr. Dapo Abiodun to come to their aid given the total collapse of the road linking these and other communities. R The coming of the rainy season, and the at- tendant impacts on the abandoned road project in the area, have forced many vehicle owners to resort to motorbikes as a means of transportation as well as raising security concerns for a couple of weeks now. A random tour of the area showed that some long stretches of the road had been taken over by flood as water and weeds now occupy the road, making it difficult for small car owners to pass the area. For instance, the road from Olambe to the major market in the area, Jolasco market has been separated into two by water and weeds. Residents said the collapse of the road also inhibit them from approaching the Ajuwon Police station in times of distress. Also, the abandoned bridge at the Giwa area has been taken Olambe Jolasco Road, Akute, Ogun State over by flood and sand, forcing vehicle owners to turn back was no way he would fix all the state’s roads within two years who spoke under the condition of anonymity, appealed to and resort to motorcycles. because of paucity of funds. Governor Abiodun to visit the area and rescue them and not to When contacted, the state Governor told THISDAY that there However, the chairman of one of the resident associations, wait till it’s time for the campaign for his second term in office. Olufi of Gbongan Appeals for Better Security n order to ensure continuous safety of lives and property in the hard economic situation of the country, assuring them of huge Community High School Old Students Association. They promised the country, the Olufi of Gbongan, His Royal Majesty, Oba Dr. reward from God. to discharge their duties in accordance with the constitution of the Adetoyese Oyeniyi, Odugbemi 1, has appealed to both state “God is not mocked. Whatever a man soweth, he will reap. Don’t association. and federal governments not to relent their effort to curb the say men do not recognise you. Once heaven does, it is finished. You The BoT members include the chairman, Mr. Aderemi Louis menace in the society. He stressed that for plausible develop- have played a philanthropic role in this community. Generation Oyedele, a member of prestigious Chartered Ship Broker, private ment and peace to reign in any community, the security unborn will remember your goodwill. I want to thank you. The investigator, media management and shipping consultant; the I architecture must be strong and reliable. family of Oloba that gave us the land to build this school has been secretary, Dr. Femi Awodiran, a lecturer at the Obafemi Awolowo Speaking recently at the formal inauguration of members so magnanimous. I also commend and congratulate the pioneer University, Ile-Ife; Professor Clement Adebooye and Dr. Kola Oke, of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Old Students Association of principal, Overseer J.O. Ojeleye. That Ojeleye is alive today to witness lecturers at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife. Others are Gbongan Community High School, Gbongan, Osun State, the this ceremony is a miracle,” he said. Isiaka Aderemi, a successful businessman in Abeokuta, Dayo revered monarch advised all and sundry to join hands together to Pa Ojeleye, who was physically present at the ceremony prayed for Adeleke, accountant, Netherland Business School Ikeja and Major build a virile nation that is devoid of violence. all the students, saying “you will prosper in all your endeavours.” Pastor Femi Olojede, CEO, G4 Automobile Nigeria Enterprises. Oba Oyeniyi, therefore, commended the efforts of the Old Students In an oath of office administered by one of the leading lights in the The coordinator of the Interim Management Committee (IMC), Association for employment of 10 teaching staff for the school to law profession in the country, Barrister Kayode Oyedeji, (member Dr. Lateef Adisa, chairman of Interim Management Committee augment the government’s effort, renovation of several classrooms, of 83 set of the school), Board of Trustees members declared publicly (IMC) handed over the account and other relevant documents to the award of scholarships to 15 indigent students among others, despite their readiness to be faithful, bearing true allegiance to Gbongan chairman of BoT, Mr. Oyedele. PHOTO NEWS

L-R: Angel Investor and Member Rising Tide Africa, Folashade Ambrose-Medebem; CEO, Oncopad Tech/Pearl Oncology Clinic, Omolola Salako; Chairman/CEO, Platform Capital/Guest Speaker, Dr. Akintoye Akindele; Associate Partner, Olisa Agbakoba Legal, Beverly Agbakoba-Onyejianya; and L-R: Head, Consumer Banking, Ecobank Nigeria, Korede Demola-Adeniyi; Blogger and Initiator, Regional Director Africa, BBC Global News, Yewande Adewusi, at the Future Females Invest Iconic Selfmade Woman Conference, Linda Ikeji; Executive Director, Commercial Banking, Ecobank Ni- Network Programme, held in Lagos…. yesterday SUNDAY ADIGUN geria, Carol Oyedeji; and Founder, House of Tara, Tara Fela-Durotoye, at the Linda Ikeji’s Self-made Woman Conference sponsored by Ecobank Nigeria, held in Lagos…recently SUNDAY ADIGUN

L-R: Groom father, Mr. Abiodun Udebhulu; bride’s mother, evangelist Olufunke Edidi; groom, Omohkhodion Elddy; bride, Esther Oluwakorede; groom mother, Pastor Mrs. Yetunde Udebhulu; L-R: Co-founder, Rovingheights bookstore, Mrs. Adebola Eyinade; Minister of Industry, Trade and and bride’s father, Pastor Abiodun Edidi, during the holy matrimony between Eddy and Esther Investment, Otunba Niyi Adebayo; Store Manager, Rovingheights bookstore, Miss Nike Timothy; held at Christ Apostolic Church, Gloryland Assembly, Gloryland Estate, Isheri Olofin in Lagos... and Vice President, Federal Republic of Nigeria, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, during the Vice President’s recently visit to Roving Heights Bookstore, one of the MSMEs held in Lagos...recently 22 THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER
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JUNE 26, 2021 POLITY Road Construction as Democratic Dividends in Ogun Femi Ezekiel and a landmark for a leader to beqqgueath his lega- cies to the peopleppp who have entrusted him with the overnance in anyy form transcends the exalted office of leadership. old ppgpypractices of makinggpyp empty prom- Governor Abiodun’s utmost joyjy is hinged g on his ises wherebyypp the people would easily y commitment and resolve to embark on landmark fall for half-truths, deceit and ppretence projectspj and pgprogrammes that would have direct in the name of playingpygp politics. Aside bearingsgppg on the people’spp well-being g and also sub- from the well-known pyprimary duty sequentlyqy have his name etched in goldg for coming g G of anyyp responsible g overnment in ggppenerations. In retrospect, the promises of an even, improvingpg the lots of the citizenry y in fair, justjq and equitableqpp development p of all pparts of the terms of economic empowerment,p it is remarkable state, that no partppp of the state will be developed at the that takinggy dividends of democracy to the doorsteps expensep of others stand outs the administration in its of the pppeople is to reward them for the trust the y renewed commitment and resolve to better the lives have in the leadershippp to provide basic amenities and of the people.pp protect lives and property.pp y It is on record that the completionp of all inherited Livinggp up to its billing g as a responsible p ggovern- projectspj attests to the philosophy p pyyg that ggovernment ment, therefore, the administration of Governor is a continuum no matter partypy differences and Dapop Abiodun officiallyyp opened a 2.1-kilometre affiliations. This philosophyppyjp is a major pillar of the Lantoro-Elite-Idi-Aba Road, Abeokuta, in Abeokuta administration of the dynamicyg governor. As an South Local Government Area of Ogung State, on June innovative leader too, Abiodun has clear visions 16, 2021. Unexppyectedly, the official event later crystaly - about how his administration would deliver benefits lized into a carnival-like receptionp for the Governor of democracyyyy to the state and her citizenryyy by initiat- and his entouragggpgge, with various interest groups inggpj new projectspj and pgprogrammes in line with the such as supporterspp of the All Progressives g Congress g five Developmentalpp pillars, ISEYA. This clear vision (APC), student union leaders, youth council, trade speaksp volumes of the landmark achievements the unions, market men and women, communityy leaders, administration has recorded within two years it has amonggg others, seizing the occasion to beckon on the come into office. Governor Abiodun, to seek re-election and pledgingpgg Of pppgparamount importance,ppg to providing basic ame- their unalloyed support to make him realise the bid nities in line with the people’spp wishes and demands, in 2023. the choice of buildingg the Lantoro-Elite-Idi-Aba road, Higgyhly elated at the s ppyeed y com pletion of the as a classical examplpjp e, was initiated in conjunction strategicallygy located road project, pj which connects with the various Communityyp Development Associa- well over 50 others, within two yearsy in office, tions (CDAs), traditional rulers and other stakehold- dignitariesg and notable residents who could not hide Abiodun ers. This synergyygygy has created direct employment pyp y their joy,jy including g the Alake and Paramount Ruler of opportunitiespp for the youths yypj in the project p j catchment Egbagy land, Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo, Iyalode roads. area and also in engaginggg g local suppliers pp of materials, of Yorubaland, Chief (Mrs) Alaba Lawson, Esther, The 2.1 kilometre Elite-Idi-Aba road which is the throughg the direct intervention of the direct labour widow of the first Civilian Deputy-Governorpy of the first phaseppjg of the project linking the four kilometre under the close watch of the Ogung State Public Works state between 1979 and 1983, Chief Sesan Soluade, Oke-Lantoro-Isale-Ake jjunction is a world class Agencygy (OGPWA). The lofty y idea was in support pp of and Chief Nurudeen Olaleye, Chairman, Traditional standard, with befittingg features like covered drains, the socio-economic developmentpg agenda to ensure Medical Practitioners Council of Nigeria,ggg Ogun State walkway,yg among others. Interestingly, gy the road is individual ppprosperity y of the citizens. chapter,p commended the Governor for living up to expectedpypg to serve as a bypass, connecting Moshood Meanwhile, despiteppp the sharp decline in revenues his electoral promise.p Abiola Way,y Isale-Ake, Adatan and OGTV roads. It accruinggg to the coffers of the state government,g Without mincingg words, the road which was ini- will equallyqy make traffic lighg t on the hitherto con- occasioned byy the outbreak of the dreaded COVID-19 tiallyyy constructed by the Administration of Chief Bisi gestedg routes, and with its well-constructed drainageg pandemicpy in Februaryy 2020, the administration has Onabanjojpyg (1979-1983) and asphalted by the regime system,y and also, it will control floodingg around the not been found wanting.g It is commendable that it has of Chief Olusegun Osoba (1999-2003) remained an area. No doubt, with goodg access to the area and worked out realistic mechanisms that have ensured eyesoreyg and a nightmareg to motorists and other road other adjoiningjg routes, the security network of the that it catches uppp and even continues to complete users pyplying g the route in the recent past. p The current localityy will be enhanced. the ongoingggpj projectsj it has initiated, including g the administration’s drive to ensure that its citizens The drive of the current administration in the state, commissioned Lantoro-Elite-Idi-Ara road, amongg enjjyoy dividends of democracy is a manifestation of not to embark on white elephantppj projects, unlike others. And this has been made possiblepgp through the the premiumpp placed on infrastructural development p the predecessors,pp has in no small measure paidp off boost received from the Internallyy Generated Rev- which is an integralgp part of the “building g our future to ensure that viable projectspj and programmes pg of enue (IGR) drive of the state government to enable it together”ggyp mantra to strategically position the state economic benefits are initiated and executed for the execute more projects.pj for economic growth,gp improve standard of living g of common goodgy of all and sundry.y Result-oriented –––Ezekiel writes from Abeokuta, Ogun State the people and decongest tragic jams along major governance, to Prince Dapo Abiodun, is a necessity capital. AAAN Gets FG’s Nod for National Unity Campaign Olaoluwakitan Babatunde

he Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria (AAAN) has secured the endorse- ment of the Ministry of Information and Culture for its plan to launch a national unity campaign on 1 October. This was disclosed in a release signed by its Publicity T Secretary, Mrs. Temitope Jemerigbe. Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai According to the release, the endorsement was given in Lagos yesterday by the Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, during a meeting with AAAN’s Executive Board. The release quoted AAAN President, Mr. Steve Babaeko, as saying that the purpose of the meeting was to push for better cooperation with the ministry. He also noted that the decision to launch the national unity campaign was informed by the current situation in the country. Responding, Mohammed described the proposed campaign as a very “very patriotic move”. “What has really impressed me most today is your readiness to partner with the Federal Government to actually run a campaign on national unity. I think this is L-R: Mr Jenkins Alumina, Vice President,, Association of Advertisingggg Agencies g of Nigeria g ((AAAN); ); Dr. Lekan Fadolapo, p,p a very patriotic move, we commend it and we are very Registrar/Cg/EO, Advertisingg Practitioners Council of Nigeriag( (APCON);) Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed; eager to partner with you. and Mr. Steve Babaeko, President, AAAN, at a meeting with the Minister in Lagos...yesterday. “We must resist the temptation of some very selfish elite, who are giving the impression that Nigerians will Council of Nigeria (APCON), saying he came to the job Dr. Fadolapo; as well as the Directors-General of the not want to stay as a nation,” he said. with a huge wealth of experience from the industry and Nigerian Babaeko commended the Federal Government for the that his appointment will further strengthen the relation- Television Authority and the National Broadcasting appointment of Dr Olalekan Fadolapo as the Registrar and ship between the government and the advertising industry. Commission, Mallam Yakubu Ibn Mohammed and Mallam Chief Executive Offficer of the Advertising Practitioners The Minister was accompanied to the meeting by Balarabe Shehu Ilelah, respectively. THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾
JUNE 26, 2021 23 PERSPECTIVE NIDCOM at Two: Beyond Expectations Abdur-Rahman Balogun International called “The Diaspora’’ wherein the programmes and activities of the commission are showcased. Similarly, there he month of May can aptly be described as is monthly Diaspora Newsletter being produced by the Com- Diaspora month in Nigeria. This, apart from July mission where all the activities of the Commission within the 25, designated as National Diaspora Day by the month are well stated out. Federal Government, was the month when the Added to that is the new online global radio station being dream of most fundamentals of diaspora was test run for the commission. It is expected to start full operation birthed. It was in May 19, 2019, the hitherto office before the year runs out. All these are in addition to NIDCOM T of Senior Special Assistant to the President on social media handles. Diaspora Affairs and the occupier, Hon. Abike Petitions: On daily basis, NIDCOM treats petitions of Nigeri- Dabiri-Erewa transmuted to Nigerians in Diaspora Commission ans in the Diaspora received in its known mail addresses: ssa@ (NIDCOM) following the Senate approval and her confirmation diaspora.gov.ng and [email protected], as it affects their as the Chairman/CEO of the new Commission. welfare and get it resolved as soon as possible. NIDCOM Chair- It was indeed a dream nurtured when in May 2017 President man or her representatives devote time to engage Nigerians Muhammadu Buhari signed the bill into law through the acting both within and outside the country on advocacy and enlighten- President then, Yemi Osinbajo, following the eventual passage ment on the mandate of the Commission by delivering lectures, by the eighth National Assembly. Similarly, it was also in the goodwill messages and talks on various Diaspora related issues. month of May that the Federal Executive Council ratified and The Commission in conjunction with some private sector approved the much-awaited and expected National Diaspora NGOs held the third in the series of Diaspora Door of Return in Policy, the first of its kind in Nigeria and a holistic policy geared Badagry in Lagos from October 15 to 20, 2019 where the Diaspo- towards engagement of Nigerians in the diaspora in policies, ras made a pilgrimage to the motherland, reminiscencing of the projects and in participation in the development of Nigeria. slaves’ trade of the 18th and 19th centuries. Due to Covid-19, the So, the formation of NIDCOM through the Act of Parliament, 2020/2021 editions of the festival could not hold as planned. the appointment of the first Chairman and Chief Executive Due to the efforts of Dabiri-Erewa, some individuals and Officer, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa as the pioneer boss of the groups from the diaspora donated both medical equipment Commission, the ratification and final approval of National and services worth millions of Naira towards ameliorating the Diaspora Policy by the Federal Government all took place in the impacts of Covid--19 pandemic in the country as a way of giving respective years in the month of May as well as the final public back to their fatherland. presentation and launch of the National Diaspora policy, also Many more Nigerians were recognized for their wonderful took place in the month of May 2021. contributions to their host country and Nigeria as a way of With the stage set for the commission to justify the need for encouraging others and for them to do more. To this extent, the its establishment, among which is the reduction in the massive Commission is presenting to the public soon a compendium of exodus of Nigerian professionals abroad in search of greener great Nigeria achievers in the diaspora as a way of celebrating pasture thus creating a ‘brain drain’ in the system and efforts by Abike Dabiri-Erewa and encouraging them to do more. the commission in stemming the tide and change the narrative Despite the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic to brain-gain through a constructive engagement with the the best brains in the Americas lockdown, the Commission remains active online as a necessary Diasporas and tapping their potentials for national develop- In line with President Muhammadu Buhari’s desire that the tool to link up with the Nigerians abroad. It was through this ment. Not backing down due to daunting challenges starring at welfare and well-being of Nigerians anywhere in the world effort that the commission launched a portal wherein it coor- it in the face, the Commission has been able to live up and even is top priority, the Commission paid swift intervention visits dinated the collation of data of Nigerians stranded abroad and beyond expectations in its two years of existence. to many High Commissioners and Embassies in Abuja to facilitated the evacuation of over 9,000 stranded Nigerians back It must be mentioned here that the Nigerian Diaspora is put a stop to the indiscriminate xenophobic related killings of home in conjunction with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and part and parcel of the population to bring about accelerated Nigerians, discrimination, inhuman treatment, illegal detention other agencies. Regrettably, Nigeria lost over 60 of her citizens to economic growth using their resources, intellect and global among others, insisting that it is highly reprehensible, condem- Covid-19 pandemic abroad. May their gentle souls rest in perfect exposure. They are the real catalyst and asset for economic nable and unacceptable. peace. development of the country. The Commission was at the forefront for the release of Zainab Staff welfare is a top priority at the Commission. Apart from Aliyu on death row by the Saudi Arabian government for internal training, some of the staff across the departments and NIDCOM Activities/Achievements alleged drug related offences as well as Ibrahim Ibrahim. The units were sent on capacity building training both within and Since the establishment of Nigerians in Diaspora Commis- Commission intervened positively in rescuing other Nigerians outside the country to enhance their performance amidst other sion, a lot of activities have been embarked upon to fulfil the in such dilemma in Malaysia, Oman, U.A.E., China, Brazil, Mo- welfare packages by the management. mandates of the Commission. Within two years, the Commis- rocco, Singapore, India, Kenya, Lebanon, Qatar and Ethiopia. It is gratifying to note that owing to some of the modest sion has lived up to expectations and even beyond it despite One of the objectives of the Commission is to have adequate achievements within two years of the existence, a lot of daunting challenges. Such activities include advocacy to states data of Nigerians living abroad for effective planning purposes accolades, awards and recognition were bestowed on the to key into the larger Diaspora movement with the inauguration and the flag off was done in partnership with National Identity Chairman/CEO and the Commission by various groups such of Diaspora focal point offices and officers in 33 out of the 36 Management Commission (NIMC) where the enrolment took as Business Day Award and Guardian Distinguished Award states of the Federation including the FCT. the Commission to some parts of West Africa, Europe, Asia and amongst several others in recognition of the contributions of In May 2021, the focal point officers coordinated by NIDCOM Americas. This is a continuous exercise under the commission NIDCOM to Diaspora affairs in the country. had a successful three-day Summit in Abuja, the third in the Diaspora Mapping policy. Also in May 2021, NIDCOM was listed among the 20 out- series since 2019. Dabiri-Erewa, assisted by the Secretary of the Commission, standing Ministries, Departments and Agencies of government NIDCOM also ensured the consolidation of the declaration Engr. Dr. Yakubu Sule Bassi and other top management of the adjudged as performing in the year 2021. This was disclosed of July 25 every year, by the Federal Government of Nigeria Commission at various times do interact with stakeholders such by the CEO, Profiles & Biographies, Mr. Kammonke Abam, in as `National Diaspora Day’, a date set aside to recognise and as International Organization for Migration (IOM), National a statement in Abuja, as an update on the firm’s research and appraise Nigerians in the Diaspora on their contributions to Youth Service Commission, EFCC, Governor of Central Bank compilation of the accomplishments of MDAs to mark the sixth national development. This is to ensure networking, dialogue of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, Minister of Finance, Mrs Zainab anniversary of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration. and constructive interface between Nigerian professionals and Ahmed, International Centre for Migration Policy Development He said the assessment result is relative to the MDAs fulfilling experts in the Diaspora and Nigerians at home on development (ICMPD), International Labour Organization and Association their ministerial mandate in line with the administration’s challenges and opportunities. The third in the series will hold on of Bureau De Change Operators of Nigeria, NAPTIP, NDLEA, 9-point development agenda, and his firm’s evaluation bench- Sunday July 25, 2021 via hybrid and webinar. among several others to see how collaboration with the Com- mark. Similarly, by Nov. 2021, the Commission will be organising mission will enhance better opportunities for the Nigerians the third in the series of Nigeria Diaspora Investment Summit abroad. Future Plans (NDIS) in Abuja with other stakeholders from across the globe The Commission also led some Commission staff to witness Undoubtedly, it is a statement of fact that within 24 months of via webinar thus lubricating the Diasporas interest and partici- the inauguration of some of the NIDO Chapters wherein they the Commission existence, it has really lived up to expectations pation in investing back home in any sector of their choice. It will were counselled to be good ambassadors of Nigeria. and even surpassed it, though not yet uhuru, as Nigerians in the be recalled that as a follow-up to the Summit, on 18th and 19th Securing a Nigeria passport abroad has been a recurring Diaspora is assured that their interest and welfare will continue December, 2019, two young Nigerians resident in Saudi Arabia, headache to many Nigerians in the Diaspora. To ease the to be adequately taken care of. put together the first Saudi Arabia/Nigeria Investment Forum, process, Dabiri-Erewa took out time to engage with Minister In addition to the sustainability of the above achievements, the an offshoot of the Nigerian Diaspora Investment Summit in of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola as well as the Comptroller Commission intends in the years ahead to work with stakehold- Abuja and it was also a great success. General of Immigration Service. These efforts have paid off as ers to do DIASPORA MAPPING geared towards having a data As part of the Commission’s collaborative efforts with other backlog of the passports issuance occasioned by the lockdown of Nigerians living abroad for effective planning. stakeholders, some 19,085 Nigerians were evacuated and of covid -19 in many countries have been eased out. More importantly, the commission intends to re- launch brought back home from various countries due to reasons of During the year under review, the Commission had its Diaspora Bonds in collaboration with Debt Management deportation, human abuses and trafficking, voluntary returnees maiden Diaspora Quarterly Lecture with both Minister of State Office just as the $300 million Diaspora bonds was successfully and effects of Covid-19 pandemic from June 2020 to March 2021. for Foreign Affairs Amb. Zubairu Dada and Rauf Aregbesola, launched in 2017. In the years ahead, the Commission intends to Of course, with Nigerians in Diaspora contributing so much Minister of Interior Affairs. The duo engaged the Nigerians have a regular Diaspora Champions and Awards to deserving to the Nigerian Economy, estimated at over $25 billion US abroad on many issues of great concern with Dabiri-Erewa Nigerians in the Diaspora as a way of encouraging them to be dollars in 2019, it is widely believe that they deserve to vote. So, moderating for over four hours. It was indeed a fruitful engage- good ambassadors of the country. the Commission already working with the National Assembly ment and mutually rewarding. Equally, the Commission will work with National Assembly and other stakeholders like National Diaspora Voting Council, In exercising its over-sighting functions, various stand- relevant committees to ensure Diaspora Voting for Nigerians to hopefully make this a reality in Nigeria through amendment ing committees of the National Assembly do engage with living abroad through amendments to some electoral laws. to the country’s Electoral Act and the 1999 Constitution. NIDCOM Management from time to time to brief them on Talks are on with relevant government agencies to have a The Commission through its Chairman/CEO or her the activities of the Commission and solicit for more support befitting Diaspora City in Abuja with over 17,000 housing units. representatives had participated in many activities within and especially in the areas of funding and necessary legislative This will be replicated in some states of the federation. outside the country geared towards advancing the course of interventions to ease the task of the two-year old Commission. ––Balogun is the Head, Media, Public Relations Nigerians in the Diaspora. Such activities include the participa- Media Engagements: From time to time as it may be required, and Protocols Unit NIDCOM, Abuja. rahmor2001@ tion of Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa in the 25th anniversary of NIDCOM issued various statements and interfaced with the yahoo.com Association of Nigerian Physicians in the Americas (ANPA) media especially on issues as it affects the welfare of Nigerians Read full article online - www.thisdaylive.com wherein she was amazed at the quality of Nigerians doctors as in the Diaspora. It has also a 30-minute weekly package on NTA 24  ˜
 



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JUNE 26, 2021 MEDIAGAFFES EXPRESSION BY EBERE The Aged: Plural, Not Singular WABARA HE NATION ON SUNDAY of (which is the right word here). government.” [email protected], 08055001948 June 20 welcomes us this week “Although the governor’s last minute “Nigerian leaders and politicians have with just three gaffes: “Mixed romance with the main opposition party continued to adopt and acquiesce to (in).…” reaction greets sackings” This is is held against him.…” Saturday People: “Globacom sets (set) to rule domestic They had better not rely on INEC. no news: mixed reactions greet last-minute (take note of the hyphen) romance market” (Nigerian Tribune, April 20) “Like (As) we had said at various forums. sackings “Thus, a core investor…with regards to “I have been briefed that the wrangling …” (News Focus, April 18) T “DIG commends army, police optimal use of the machinery.…” (THE among the leaders of PDP are (is) over.” “So, the government cannot ask the over (for/on) Yobe attacks” GUARDIAN, April 12) Either: as regards or (SUNDAY VANGUARD, June 20) Supreme Court to interprete the law.” Spell- Lastly from Fatai Atere Way: “Onitsha is with regard to…. BusinessDay of April 20 disseminated a check: interpret. (Source: as above) better now, say Obiano” What’s going on “In the heydays of the goggled General recurring impropriety: “Now that the Police “…the reduction in the number of road here? when fuel was often unavailable…” (THE has (have) taken over the supervision of accidents and causalities.” (National News, Let us continue with a visit to Ogba, Lagos: GUARDIAN, April 20) Stranglehold of oil the….” April 20) This way: casualties. “Soldiers take over troubled spots” (Daily workers: heyday (uncountable). “…and ensure it does not reoccur again.” “...to that extent, we shall congratulate its Independent, April 20) Let peace reign: trouble “Last year, many houses of the Igbo in (THE GUARDIAN, April 20) ‘Reoccur again’? authors for (on/upon) hearing the deafening spots. Ajegunle, a suburb of Lagos, were razed Run for cover, my dear reader! Just recur. cry of Nigerians for an effective legislature.” “Post election violence spreads” (Vanguard, down.…” (THISDAY, April 20) No word Recur, recurrence, recurrent. Occur, occurred, (Nigerian Tribune, April 20) April 19) Towards a better life for the people: abuse: simply razed (not razed down). Discard occurrence. “…were simultaneously a continuation Post-election violence…. the contrary views by some registers! When a “Lack of incentives anger (angers) local of the power-bloc struggle in Nigeria and Yet another headline solecism from house is razed, does it go up without holistic manufacturers” (THE GUARDIAN, April 20) unanticipated fallouts from that struggle.” Vanguard of the next day: “Post poll violence structural intervention? “They provide temporary relief.” (Source: (DAILY INDEPENDENT, April 20) ‘Fallout’ is continues” Solution as above. Somebody Yet another routine headline gaffe: “Restric- as above) ‘Temporary relief? I strongly object uncountable. should inform editors at Kirikiri Canal of this tions on inter-bank foreign exchange trading is to that clumsy expression because there is no “Out-of-control trailer crushes 15 persons to recurring lapse. (are) killing the market.” permanence in ‘relief’. death” When people are crushed by a trailer, “President Buhari, yesterday, expressed sad- “Armed robbers now have good company– The PUNCH of April 20 circulated three they cannot be alive except there is divine ness over the sporadic violent protest (protests) street thugs and unofficial vigilante groups.” solecisms: “The patients pay for each act of intervention. So, ‘crushed to death’, to me, in the South East” (Vanguard, June 19) (THE GUARDIAN, April 20) Democracy as a ‘healing’ through their noses.” Get it right: they smacks of lexical insensitivity. This is my own The next headline blunder is from last disincentive: vigilance groups. pay through the nose. perception of ‘crush’, especially in vehicular week’s edition of this medium: “Police arrest “Buhari points accusing fingers at INEC….” “At the launching programme (launch) in circumstances. You are at liberty to accept or four over Maiduguri explosion” Do we arrest (DAILY TRUST, April 20) People in the news: Abuja.…” not. After all, some dictionaries question my the entire editorial team for (not over) lexical Buhari points the finger. No obtuse addition. “A cursory look at the figures show (shows) poetic licence on this! recklessness? “Nigeria is at a crossroad” (VANGUARD, that.…” “This time around we want change through April 20) Fixed expression: at a/the crossroads Daily Times (Online) of April 19 circulated FEEDBACK the power of….” (London Mirror Praise & “Stationeries badly needed by.…” (DAILY copious shibboleths: “The end point is that EBERE, the aged is for someone (sic: Worship, 17 April) Edifying God: This time INDEPENDENT, April 20) ‘Stationery’ is people wait for between three to five hours people) 80 years and above in medicine. (Dr. round—error coming from England of all non-count. to pay in their drafts.” English without tears: Nwagwu, CC., 08037055728) places! “But what appears criminal is the desire of between three and five. “Bribery enthrones mediocrity and crucify these off-springs of.…” (DAILY CHAMPION, “With the attainment of the highest office at COLUMNIST’S RESPONSE merit.” (Source: as above) The Tabernacle of April 20) ‘Offspring’ does not take any any strata of government….” Singular: stratum; PERHAPS, in medicine! In this column, bribery crucifies merit. inflection. plural: strata. the reference is to general, modern, formal, “Gang up against Buhari will fail” (NIGE- The next three goofs are from VANGUARD “It may be difficult for Alhaji Nuhu Ribadu standard and universal (not regionalized) Eng- RIAN Tribune, 15 April) Phrasal verb: gang of April 20:”…the process of economic integra- to resurrect again politically after his disastrous lish language—which discards specialized/ up; noun: gang-up (which applies here). tion from which will emerge an economic outing in the presidential elections.” Please, circumscribed/informal/possibly substandard “We were treated to another similar block (bloc).…” yank away ‘again’ in the interest of lexical versions of the language. Therefore, ‘the aged’ incidence.…” All newspapers should know the “There is a tussle going on between these sanity and our democracy. (plural) refers to ‘old people’ generally—no age difference between ‘incidence’ and ‘incident’ two (would it have been three?) arms of “They better not rely on INEC.” This way: limitation or classificatory requirement! Of Tributes and a Memory: COUNTERPOINT When Thunder Struck at 60! FEMI or several weeks, former maverick entertainment ‘collude’ with Azuka to make this N160m dream possible. Keep AKINTUNDE-JOHNSON editor, radio broadcaster and runaway friend, pace with this admirable humanitarian march, and make Nigeria [email protected] 08182223348 - (SMS Only) Azuka Molokwu Jebose, has been planning to proud. celebrate the 60th anniversary of his birth (June Stay with Azuka, go to his Facebook page and Twitter handle 22, 1961) with a landmarking, groundmaking (he’s not in Nigeria, and so the Twitter ban should not affect him), milestone: galvanising efforts and enthusiasm to and make this year a wow-full one for him. Mama Reggie would to spread it across your canvass, casting benevolent shadows F build a community health centre worth at least be beaming all through. Happy birthday, Zukkyman, my gra-gra around the lawns of your hope. N160m in the name of his late mother, Mama brother whom my mother never met. When you were down and troubled, and the news filtered Reggie, somewhere in his homestead, Onicha Ugbo, Delta State, to him with the slightest draught, baba would summon mates Nigeria. Olusegun Olusola, OFR, mni (March 18, 1935 - June 21, and palates to reach across the ages and rages... so that joy could This massive humanitarian project is expected to turn sod 2012) return and hope be restored. from late July, and hopefully be handed over to the community A native of Iperu-Remo, Ogun State, he walked off this stage That is Baba... our father in the art.... mellowed was your before the end of 2022. on Thursday, June 21, 2012. He was 77 years old. The Baba of gaze... your kith and kin are torn... your shrill was heard on earth Though a resident of the United States of America for tele-drama and patron-saint of the creative art, Chief Olusegun and it’ll be in heaven... over 30 years, prospering and multiplying the earth - among Olusola’s story is one of those rarities where re-telling it will never May you find peace yonder that is greater than Ajibulu other exertions - Azuka wants the Health Center to provide be a bore. Moniya.... effective and affordable healthcare to every indigent Nigerian Distinguished as black Africa’s first television producer, Rest in glorious ambience... Baba, Ambassador Chief who can find his or her way there. He dreams of the clinic’s Olusola created the apogee of his career, The Village Headmaster Olusegun Olusola. doors remaining open, welcoming all Nigerians, irrespective of over 50 years ago, barely four years after he joined broadcasting differing tongues, tribes or treasures. (radio) in 1955. Lancelot Imasuen: Champion of Cultural Exposition at He once passionately shared his dream with me: “It is my This incredibly hilarious nationwide situational comedy/ 50 hope that this health center shall provide affordable healthcare to drama ran for over 30 years. And even in the 2020s there are still This week’s Sunday, June 20 he clocked 50 in a career choke every sick Nigerian that can find his or her ways to the health agitations and controversies on who has the copyright power to full of creative entanglements. center. No sick person shall be denied treatment for lack of re-stage or re-shoot the enigmatic series. “He is unapologetically fascinated by his deep concept money or not able to pay”... Typically Azuka... always carrying In 1959, with the great excitement at the advent of television of Bini historicism...the young prolific director, producer and loads for others...in pursuit of making the society better than he in Africa, and at just 24 years old, Olusola joined WNTV as a scriptwriter, Lancelot Oduwa Imasuen kicked off his career in met it. producer. Dogged almost to the fringe of fanaticism on the quest the mid ‘90s with his first film Adaku (1995), an Igbo language He has promised to dredge up a large chunk of his savings to project indigenous TV productions, Olusola was once queried movie. This was, in quick succession, followed by Kill or Die over the years in fulfilling this vision, while hoping that he for insisting on producing an all-Nigerian programme - thereby (1996), The Year 2000 (both 1996), Yesterday (1997), The Soul that would be joined by hundreds of friends, home and away, to ‘wasting’ a princely sum of 75 pound sterling on local thespians! Sinneth (1999). And thus the gladiator of the Nigerian native ignite the fire that can stoke the fundraising drive which should Throughout the 80’s until his demise, the former ambassador narratives, the unabashed ‘Captain Prolific’ was born! culminate in a Mama Reggie Hospital Fundraiser/Birthday to Ethiopia (1987 to 1992) became the centerfold of Nigeria’s Always driven by the creative process from childhood, Party on July 31, slated for Raleigh, North Carolina, USA. ‘moving’ art, spreading his colossal shoulders for new generations Imasuen started his romance with the director’s chair in 1990 Metaphorically, if you can slice open a heart to observe of practitioners to lean on, and drawing elemental directions. What as the 19-year old director of a gospel TV drama in Benin, the emotions and motives, you’ll likely find in Azuka’s heart a pure a way to live! Evangel Theatre. And five years later, after a stint at the NTA, breed of selflessness in helping friends and family members; a All ceased for him, as surely as no one would escape it, Lagos as production assistant, Imasuen swiveled into Nol- dogged chivalry on the side of the poor and oppressed; a volatile Olusola’s fire was extinguished this week in 2012 - and this eulogy lywood, and it has never been the same again.” (Extracted from crusade against corrupt leadership, and docile followership, came forth, instinctively. Deservedly. Page 240 of Reflections, published June 2021). anywhere; and above all, a searing resentment against man’s BABA IS GONE OH! Contrary to most of his ‘surrogate parents’ on the internet inhumanity to another of his kind. That’s Azuka for you, to a “He would welcome us to his house, his office, his gallery who birthed him, severally, in July... we can confirm that on June Zed! across the years, in the different climates, with constant warmness, 20, 2021, the devout historian-dramatist-teacher of one of our So, while wishing a redoubtable colleague and an essential enthusiasm, joyfulness, and apparent felicity. ancient heritages was fifty. And as unsurprising as the ancestral humanist a wonderful diamond jubilee, we also use this If his presence would lift your spirit and buoy your aspiration, craft of Bini welcoming you into Benin City, he marked it in a moment to encourage lovers of goodwill, and those who enjoy Baba would gladly give it. dramatic fashion. helping the downtrodden in getting a fair shot at survival to If your dreams needed his faculty, baba would not hesitate We felicitate a trojan of modern Nigerian film making. THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER
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JUNE 26, 2021 25 INTERVIEW Olatimbo Ayinde Marginal Oil Field’s Bid Processes Followed International Standard The Managing Director/CEO, Dutchess Energy Limited, Ms. Olatimbo Ayinde, has been an active player in the petroleum industry for over 15 years. Her company is one of the winners of the last marginal oil field bid organised by the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR). In this interview with select journalists, including Olaoluwakitan Babatunde, Ayinde speaks on her experience during the bid process, the situation in the downstream sector, modular refinery, and other topical issues

utchess Energy Limited, emerged as one world is moving away from dirtier fossil fuels to of the successful bidders of the last oil cleaner energy, Nigeria is looking towards gas. marginal field, what was the experience As you may be aware that even the government going through the bid process? is encouraging the conversion of cars (vehicles) We went into the bid exactly about a year from petrol into gas as a source of energy. There ago. For us, the process was quite exciting is a lot more and the government is gradually D and good enough, we were successful amid phasing out the use of Kerosene for cooking. many other competitors. it was an exciting The two sectors are interwoven always, just as process because, in my humble opinion, it was a process that we explore and produce the crude oil upstream, was guided by the best international standards. We put in refine it in the mid-stream and distribute it down- our application and as revealed by the DPR, so many of us stream for domestic consumption. So there is applied for the bid-offer. I think about 600 applicants expressed quite a bit of transition taking place downstream. interest and that was the first phase of the process where a I believe that our strength in the downstream and technical and financial evaluation was carried out. Thereafter, mid-stream will give us an added advantage as upon rigorous evaluation by the DPR, 540 companies were we venture upstream. shortlisted. After that, we went through a more rigorous commercial Some experts, including your humble self, and technical bid phase. We submitted the economics of our believe that there is a need to change the nar- chosen fields, and also made known our plans for the host rative in the petroleum sector. How do you community in our chosen geographical location. Whatever want to go about achieving this worthy goal? fields you were interested in, we had to purchase and review First of all, I would like to emphasize that the data as provided by the DPR and also show our financial there is not a lot of people of my gender in the capabilities to execute our field development plan. It was also petroleum industry. We have been few that have very important to showcase whatever experience you have in participated or played actively in all sectors. I the oil sector. Subsequently, 161 companies were shortlisted as want them to see that this is not a male-dominat- potential awardees. ed only business. There are few women players At this point, it became even more exciting because you had in the upstream, but with this exercise, hopefully, to now approach the banks, try to raise money, leverage on there are more openings for women participation. your financial capabilities and it was very daunting as there I’m hoping that my coming into this sector, it was a time limit of 45 days. What that means is that you must is showing that there is a lot of good prospects have been prepared, before the exercise. With this advantage, for the women folks in the industry. This space we were able to secure the necessary assistance from our banks. is made for indigenous companies, giving all, As you may be aware, many companies were not successful whether male or female the full-fledged benefits in this particular phase. This is partly due to difficulties that the Ayinde of being a Nigerian to participate. As I said earlier, industry has faced over the last couple of years. And we were this is a huge opportunity for anyone who is a Nigerian as it gives very excited to be able to participate and grateful to be successful. in which case you must have proven and verifiable reserves or you an added advantage over the expatriates that would come As it turns out, the award was given to us exactly a year after we straight debt financing, where you may be required to have other into the sector. entered into the bid process. Precisely on the 31st of May, 2021, sources of income. Private equity on the other hand would look at Moreover, it is exciting because I’m a woman in a male-domi- we were awarded our licence letters amongst other successful private investors who could be interested in private equity or debt nated sector, and we have been seriously embraced by the whole companies. financing through the use of technical partners. Unfortunately, value chain. I feel there is a lot of encouragement for a lot of us the banks are not interested at this time to lend aggressively to the (females) to participate. So in changing the narrative, it would be How will you judge the role of the DPR in the process? sector as they like to come in after you have hit first oil, they may that more Nigerians and particularly women can do this. There is Oh, for the first time, I would say that we had a process where then consider reserve-based lending. a lot to achieve as being a Nigerian. If you consider the advantage the DPR was very transparent. We were expecting the usual So, most of us awardees would be looking at private equity, offered by the Local Content Act on indigenous owners, there are kind of bids process we have seen in the past but this was very where we will get technical partners to farm into the assets and we certain aspects left exclusively for Nigerians only. So you would different. There was a period that was designated for each process can give up some percentage. By law, we are not allowed to give feel privileged to participate in something like this and be ‘Proudly and there were no extensions. The entire process was cast in stone. anyone else more than 49% of the asset. This means that you as an Nigerian’. That meant you had to be well-prepared. There were no cutting indigenous partner will hold onto 51% of the asset and will always corners with this one. I mean, you just knew you couldn’t just get be the majority. This is one good advantage of being a Nigerian in A lot of people have expressed difficulty in raising any information outside of the usual. All information was avail- owning an asset. finances in this sector. What is your take on this? able on the website and they followed everything and dates to the First of all, it is good for you to understand why people are find- letter. It’s very unusual to see how this development happened in Your company has been a key player in the downstream ing it difficult to raise funds. Some unusual things have happened this industry. You see, a lot of people felt, well, there would be an sector. What gives you the confidence that you can transit to in this sector. For example in the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic extension of the deadline, we have had this in the past. This was the upstream sector? on April 20, 2020, the price of oil nosedived to $0 and then it went one of the many surprises with this bid. If you missed a deadline We have been in the petroleum industry for over 15 years. even lower to -$35 until it was pegged by the New York Stock over the submission of a particular document, you are out. It We’ve participated actively in the Marine Logistics subsector, Exchange. This is something unusual and most unfortunate, it seemed everything was computerized. Unfortunately, many moving large volumes of petroleum products from one place to shook the entire industry. Before this time, oil was trading at very applicants fell out because you could not submit once midnight the other. I’m someone who likes to say that I came from the sea to low levels, WTI was trading at $20 and Brent, which affects us in had gone past on the day of submission. It was transparent. Also, land. We then ventured into the downstream sector. We have been Nigeria, was trading at $25. Before now, oil was seen as very stable remember this was done during the pandemic, so the automation able to go through the entire value chain and it has been a wonder- and unshakable. But during the pandemic, oil became cheaper was necessary, but interestingly, and because the process was ful experience. Behind all of that, is the upstream which completes than McDonald’s happy meal. computerized, there was no room for human error. So the DPR the entire value chain of the oil and gas sector. It is an area we have On that unfortunate day (April 20, 2020), the price of crude WTI performed above expectations in quite unusual times, consider- always wanted to go into. The last marginal fields bid rounds crude oil nosedived to -$35 per barrel, which meant at some point, ing the Covid 19 pandemic. It was the very best standard that we were in 2003, and that was 18 years ago. We as a company have you were paying someone $35 per barrel to take your oil. Now, have had in the industry and the DPR should be commended for been waiting for this opportunity for 15 years. if you consider the cost of exploration, production and in places this effort. The world including Nigeria is moving into alternative energy like Nigeria with community disruption & expenses, bringing and for Nigeria, we are looking for more gas for cleaner energy. production cost in most cases from between $18 - $25 per barrel, So, how do you think you would be able to operate There is a huge opportunity in that sector that is untapped. you will see that for quite a while they were trading at a huge loss successfully in this sector with a demand for huge financial Nigeria is more of a gas reserve country than a crude oil reserve. and when the sector loses money, the Banks are badly hit. This has resources? Globally, gas is taking the central stage in line with the concept left a dent in the banks considering that when they took up many In this sector, it is a lot of investment that you have to put in of going towards cleaner energy. There is a lot of emphasis of these investments, oil was trading at $100 per barrel. This has depending on your terrain. There are different terrains, there is in Nigeria today on gas because we have a lot more gas with made banks extremely cautious of the Oil and Gas sector and their land, swamp, shallow offshore, and deep offshore. I’m almost proven reserves at 200 Trillion TCF largest in Africa and probably risk departments don’t forget easily. Although oil is now trading at certain for most of the fields, regardless of your terrain, you will the seventh-largest in the world. However, this is a massively $70 per barrel, the low prices of oil in recent times has been a major be looking from about $50 million to $200 million to hit first oil. untapped area and our production is low. These are areas that a obstacle in funding. Hopefully, as time goes on, their wounds Regardless of terrain, it is quite a huge investment. There are dif- lot of us in the downstream, or even in other sectors, are looking would heal and memories will fade, provided oil remains stable ferent ways of financing, for example via banks or private equity. forward to as the next level as we will bring in some of this gas and trades above $50 per barrel. I am optimistic that we will If you go the bank route, you may look at reserve-based lending, from the upstream to the domestic market as LPG. Even as the become the beautiful bride of the banking sector once again. 26 THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER
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JUNE 26, 2021 TRIBUTE Fola-Alade Life and Times of a Public Servant who Lived for All Raheem Akingbolu pays tribute to one of the four pioneer Architecture graduates of the Nigerian College (now Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria), Chief (Arc.) Isaac Fola Alade, who died last week at 87 and left a legacy of building the nation and nurturing five kids alone as a single father after his wife died in 1976 at 38

n life and death, Chief (Arc.) Isaac Fola Alade, OFR, graphical Institute Medal of Honours, 1987; Albert Einstein FNIA, RIBA, D.Sc. (Hons.), was a newsmaker. As a International Academy Award, 1988. hd: Doctor of Science public servant, stories abound about Chief Alade’s in Architecture (Hon. D.Sc), Marquis Guisepe Scicluna, integrity and commitment to service. Since Friday, University Foundation, Malta, 1988. For those of us who grew last week, when he breathed his last, Nigerians have up in Aramoko, the memory is still fresh about how Chief I continued to pour in tributes about the iconic structures Alade would come home with the then Head of State, General he designed and built in Nigeria and other countries. Olusegun Obasanjo (Rtd) and other prominent men and Some people have gone deeper by pointing out his simple women between 1976 and 1979 to play squash. lifestyle and zero tolerance for corruption. According to those who knew him while in active service A Man for his Community till he bowed out gloriously in 1979 as Federal Permanent In the words of two illustrious sons of Aramoko Ekiti, Messrs Secretary, Chief Alade was said to have singled out himself Laolu Akinluyi and Gani Musa-Fakanle, Aramoko was like a as a man of integrity by not dipping his hands into public glorified village until the 70s when Chief Fola-Alade appeared funds. Growing up in Aramoko Ekiti in the 80s, my father on the scene to change the game. According to them, the story was always quick to tell us the story of how Chief Alade began to change when the respected Chief joined hands with returned money to the government coffers after execution of other prominent citizens from the district (Aramoko, Erinjiyan, a particular project to the consternation of his colleagues and Ikogoasi, Ipole and Erio Ekiti) to see to the establishment of junior officers. Aramoko District Commercial Secondary School. This was also corroborated by the President, Aramoko Phenomenal single father... Development Association, Dr. Dipo Aladeloye, who described In 1976, friends and family of Chief Alade woke up to the late renowned public servant as a “priceless national asset” the sad news of the death of his darling wife Late Eunice that never lost touch with his community despite his robust Olayemi Fola-Alade at a young age of 38. Perhaps because national and international profile. of the young age of the late woman, many had suggested he In a statement issued by ADA to appeal to Governor Kayode buried her in Lagos and quickly moved on with his life but Fayemi of Ekiti State and President Muhammadu Buhari to Chief Alade stood his ground that the remains of his darling immortalize his name with appropriate monuments. Alade- partner must be taken to his home town in Aramoko Ekiti. loye declared that ‘Chief Alade was not only the architect of the In a jiffy, Chief Alade had sent delegates to the ancient town modern Aramoko Ekiti but a special angel in human flesh sent to construct a well-designed tomb that could accommodate by God Almighty to take the ancient town to its Promised land. him, his wife and mother at the burial ground of the St. He said: “From anywhere you take the story, it is difficult, if Phillips Anglican Church. As the star of the community, this not impossible to profile Aramoko without a special mention was considered a taboo as some local folks argued that such of Chief Fola Alade, the Mayegun and Asiwaju of the town. an initiative could shorten his own life. Again, he stuck to In 1976, arising from his contributions, prodigious delivery his gun and the grave was constructed. As a primary school on assignments and integrity; the Federal government of the pupil in the 70s/80s, this reporter, with other pupils who day then sited the headquarters of the present Ekiti West Local attended the Ansar-u-deen Primary School, daily trekked Government in Aramoko to encourage him for his unparal- along the route and stopped by to appreciate the simple leled stewardship and dedication. architectural design of that particular tomb amidst others “In 1970, he worked assiduously with some notable person- in the burial site. Then we would conjure stories that the alities from the district then (Aramoko, Erijiyan, and Ikogosi remains of the late woman in the grave were as fresh as ever, towns) and brought what is today known as Aramoko District even when we didn’t see them. It’s a beauty to behold with Commercial Secondary School, Aramoko Ekiti. lights and flowers that were alien to our community. Fola Alade “In the 80s, Aramoko got into global reckoning when, as a As a 46-year old man, with a busy career, many had result of Chief Alade’s contributions to national development, wondered how the young widower would cope. Of course, demic performance in 1958. He concluded his Architecture prodigious delivery on assignments and integrity; the govern- many friends and family members suggested he picked a studies on a Commonwealth Scholarship at the Architec- ment of the day sited Nitel IDD and NIPOST in Aramoko to new wife to help him train the kids while he faced his job tural Association School, Bedford Square in London. encourage and reward him for his unparalleled stewardship. which was then at the peak. As a loving father, Fola-Alade He was the first Architect to become a Federal Permanent “As one of his efforts to attract development and foster unity valued his kids and was not prepared to allow a strange Secretary, the Permanent Secretary Special Duties. By the among his people, Chief Fola Alade, in 1978, brought in the woman to toil with them. Those who were expecting him time he would retire in 1979, he had carved a niche for National Electricity Power Authority (NEPA) to Aramoko, to take a new wife waited in vain as Chief Alade remained himself. His works spanned across five decades with his including installation of street lights. It was the same year single since 1976 till last Friday when he died. His plum distinct Architectural signature in cities and countries. he spearheaded the maiden Aramoko Day Celebration to job notwithstanding, by 1979, he must have considered his He designed, and supervised the construction of the which he brought in some notable business moguls; Henry busy schedule as a distraction for him to properly take care following projects; National Institute of Sports, National Fajemirokun, S.B Bakare, Moshood Abiola and a host of others. of his kids and he threw in the towel. Despite pleas from Stadium, Surulere in readiness for the 2nd All African This feat of ‘AraDay’ celebration in grand style he repeated at his close friend, including the then head of state, General Games in January 73, Office of the Head of State and Council Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos in 1982 and a few subsequent Olusegun Obasanjo, General Adeyinka Adebayo and a host of Chambers, Dodan Barracks (1971), The Twin Federal Sec- years,” of others, Alade quitted public service and went into private retariat, Ikoyi, Lagos (76) and Prototype Federal Secretariats All these did not however go unnoticed as Aramoko never practice to be able to have unbridled time for his kids. Today, in all nineteen State capitals in Nigeria (1973-76). Others are; failed to pay back. Until last Friday when he died, he remained to the glory of God, all his five kids are doing well in their Satellite Town, Lagos (1975-78), Heads of States, Federal the Mayegun and Asiwaju of Aramoko Ekiti. respective fields. He’s survived by two Architects, a Medical Govt Guest Houses, V/Island, Lagos (1975), Ministry of Doctor turned Pastor, a Lawyer and a Sociologist. External Affairs, Marina (76) and many others. A life of service and reward However, his love for the children didn’t include lobbying As captured in his autobiography ‘Remember Whose Chief Fola-Alade chose nothing but a good name instead of for them or going extra miles to influence admissions or jobs. Son Thou Art,’ his appointment as Permanent Secretary great riches and this manifested in all his dealings while alive. In a friendly chat with one of his kids, Kola Fola-Alade while was dramatic. The then head of state, General Olusegun He lived a life of service which was appreciated by all. As an working on the mandate Estate, Ilorin a few years back, the Obasanjo, who took over after General Murtala Muhammad old boy of the prestigious Christ’s School, Ado Ekiti, where then young Architect had displayed a rare humility without was gruesomely murdered faced the problems of getting he once served as President of the Old Students, his name any airs around him as he took time to regale yours sincerely accommodation for the humongous Nigerian soldiers after is written in gold. As a believer of Christ, the late Chief took with the exemplary lifestyle of his father. “At a time, we the civil war and he reached out to Alade for professional Anglican Church seriously and helped to grow the church thought he was wicked when we expected him to just put a advice. Obasanjo had, in humourous manner asked Fola monumentally. call across to a friend to assist us for either admission or job Alade if he knew “… a mad man who could help him build A former Pro-Chancellor of the University of Port Harcourt opportunities but we later realized he was only living his life barracks rapidly to house poorly accommodated soldiers”. (1990), Chief Alade also once served as Chairman, Board of and today we are better for it,” Kola had stated. “This mad man must operate out of civil service rules not Directors of Lafarge Cement (WAPCO) Nigeria. The same story was shared with this reporter by one of shackled by memos, bureaucratic rules and carrying files He clinched the Albert Einstein Bronze Medal in 1985 and his sons-in-law, Soji Oyawoye at the Federal Palace Hotel, around for approval thus delaying matters of national American Biographical Institute Medal of Honours in1987. In Lagos shortly after the meeting with Kola. Oyawoye relayed urgency”. Fola Alade told the head of state: “I know no such 1988, he won Albert Einstein International Academy Award various stories shared by his wife, Bisi, on the disciplinarian mad man” to which Obasanjo then responded “you are the and in 1988, he was honoured with Doctor of Science in Ar- lifestyle of Chief Alade. If there is anything that caught my mad man!” chitecture (Hon. D.Sc), Marquis Guisepe Scicluna, University attention in the two encounters, it was the discovery that the This was how his appointment as permanent secretary Foundation, Malta. late chief insisted that his kids must attend public secondary projects was announced. As expected, Fola Alade delivered He started work as a Resident architect in the old Western schools and universities in Nigeria at a time many people in his assignment with panache, grace, efficiency, flair and Region and later Lagos City Council. In 1969, he became the his class would do anything humanly possible to send theirs integrity, building army barracks all over the country first Registrar of the Architects Registration Council (ARCON). abroad for studies. before Obasanjo handed over government to the civilian He later joined the Federal Civil Service and rose to become Di- government of Shehu Shagari who did not have to worry of rector of Public Buildings. In 1976, he became the first architect His Accomplishments and Iconic struc- disquiet about accommodations from the army. to be appointed a Permanent Secretary. He went into private tures For Chief Fola-Alade, it was not a case of work and work practice in 1979. Fola-Alade was awarded the prestigious title That Chief Fola-Alade was one of the four pioneer Archi- without play. He’s as great in Architecture as he is in Sports. of OFR in 1979. tecture graduates of the Nigerian College (now Ahmadu He loved playing Golf, Squash, Swimming, and Billiards A role model and destiny helper to many Nigerians, Arc. Bello University, Zaria) is no longer news. The icing on the Pro-Chancellor, University of Port Harcourt (1990), Fola-Alade sure lived a fulfilling life and left a legacy worthy of cake was that he won the “Atlas Award” for the best aca- Albert Einstein Bronze Medal, 1985; American Bio- emulation by all. Rest well Papa! THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾
APRIL 24, 2011 3 GLOBAL NEWS SOCCER ROUND 16 TICKET AT STAKE

A WEEKLY PULL-OUT 26.06.2021 PAGE. 31

Emmanuel Dennis Succour from Vicarage Road 28 THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

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ͺ;, 2021 GLOBAL SOCCER

Emmanuel Dennis in action for FC Cologne the Champions League. In 2018/19, Dennis had 10 goal contributions in 32 matches. The season before that he scored 12 goals and provided five assists across 38 matches. He can play in both central and wide roles. Emmanuel Dennis His attacking numbers are impressive; his age and progress indicate he still has plenty of time to further improve. The 23-year-old’s versatility means he provides firm starting competition for both wing positions and, more notably, the Succour from Vicarage Road central-forward role. The right-wing is to be occupied by Ismaila Sarr unless an improb- able, irrefutable offer arrives. The starting role for the left-wing position, however, Club Brugge were emphatic in rejecting him, while FC Klon where he spent remains firmly up for grabs. Dennis will provide a speedy inverted-winger option. half of last reason on loan did not mince words in expressing their regrets at Dennis also provides much-desired start- ing competition in the centre of the attack, signing him. Against all odds, however, newly promoted Premier League side, though the Hornets are said to be working on a deal for yet another striker. So, his main Watford have decided to take a gamble on Emmanuel Dennis to add to the position at Vicarage Road remains to be seen. Adept to both wide and central attacking three Nigerians in their fold. The big question however is whether he could play, the Hornets have themselves a player who has played naturally, and considerably leverage on the Vicarage Road move to revive his dwindling career well, in whichever attacking position they want him to play in. The Hornets do not have another striker n modern football, most transfers sonal terms with the pacy striker – capped that Dennis was a fine footballer but that like Dennis in their squad. No other Watford come after many links arise on twice by Nigeria so far. his character affected his integration with centre-forward is characterised by their rapid websites and social media. How- Watford have demonstrated huge confi- his teammates and the club. pace. Frequently when on the counter-attack, ever, Watford moved swiftly and dence in Dennis despite the many contro- “He’s not an easy guy,” Heldt said of star-winger Sarr’s speed means the support- in silence to secure the services of versies surrounding him by giving him a Dennis, We knew about this problem, but ing Watford cavalry does not arrive until Nigerian international Emmanuel five-year contract. we took too much risk. We misjudged that.” the defense has already retreated. Dennis Dennis from Club Brugge. Reports of any The 23-year-old winger, who Watford “Dennis caused a stir because his behaviour provides a player who can match Sarr’s I described as “exciting, young forward”, blistering sprints on the counter-attack. negotiations between Watford and Dennis was not what the squad needs to be doing. were non-existent prior to the confirmation has signed a contract with Watford till June We then dropped him because our priority Dennis is also known for his well-timed of the deal. 2026 after Belgian champions Club Brugge was the group. runs behind the defense. Fellow new-signings Dennis on Monday completed his transfer made it very clear he does not have a “That was a bad transfer that is my re- Imran Louza and Danny Rose have previ- from Belgian champions Club Brugge to future with them. sponsibility.” ously provided service for such movement newly-promoted English Premier League Club Brugge will also receive between The Yola, Nigeria-born striker managed to well at their former clubs. side Watford FC for an undisclosed fee. four and five million Euros as transfer register a goal in a DFB Pokal game against Besides, for the cut-rate price Watford The speedy striker spent half of the 2020/21 fee on the player. Jahn Regensburg but did not find the back likely coughed up for his signature, the season out on loan at FC Cologne where Dennis was accused of being a bad of the net in any Bundesliga game during very low risk, super high reward nature of he played nine matches in the German influence in the Club Brugge dressing his time with Cologne. this transfer makes this move yet another Bundesliga without scoring a single goal. room. Part of his reportedly bad attitude while extremely shrewd piece of business by According to the club’s official website: He was also handed a ban for dangerous under contract this past season with Club Gino Pozzo. How well he integrates at “An agreement with Club Brugge has been driving and he was involved in a row Brugge was also down to his desire to depart Vicarage Road in his attempt to revive reached for the transfer of exciting young over sitting arrangement in Club Brugge in the 2020 summer transfer window, but his career remains to be seen. forward Emmanuel Dennis, Watford FC is team bus ahead of a UEFA Champions the Belgian champions did not let him leave. Dennis began his professional career delighted to confirm,” a statement read. League tie. Reports suggested that in 2020, Arsenal saw with some experience as a teenager in the The 23-year-old Nigerian spent part of last Cologne sporting director Horst Heldt a £15 million bid rejected, as well as a £12 Ukrainian Premier League with Zorya season on loan in Germany’s Bundesliga expressed his regret in signing Dennis million bid turned away the summer prior. Luhansk. with FC Koln, having first joined the Belgian after he joined the Bundesliga side from Considering clubs such as Arsenal were He is the eighth African player on top-flight side in the summer of 2017. Club Brugge temporarily in January as willing to offer eight figures for his signature, the books of Watford joining William A scorer of 27 goals in just over 90 club the German side try to explore every the player’s qualities are well-documented. Troost-Ekong (Nigeria), Tom Dele-Bashiru appearances for Brugge, he has featured available options to find the back of the In the 2019/20 season, Dennis scored nine (Nigeria), Adam Masina (Morocco), Isaac in both the UEFA Champions League and net in the 2020/2021 campaign. times and assisted twice in 33 matches across Success (Nigeria), Ismaïla Sarr (Senegal), UEFA Europa League. According to a German website Mobil all competitions, including a memorable Imran Louza (Morocco) and Kwadwo Baah The Hornets are currently finalising per- express, the 51-year-old Heldt confessed brace at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in (Ghana). THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

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history” and progress through the first stage of any major tournament for the first time since their notorious 1982 World Cup campaign. In fact, the former West Germany Alaba-Inspired Austria Set international has hardly taken a wrong step while at the helm; guiding the Austrians to League A promotion in the Nations League and through the Euro 2020 qualifiers since his appoint- ment at the start of 2018. The Mainz-born tactician now leads to Upset Italy for a Q’Final Place his adopted nation into a tantalising last-16 encounter, still seeking to offer his star man David Alaba a settled role in the side. Against all odd Austria inspired by the Austro-Nigerian born Wherever he plays, the Real Madrid- bound 29-year-old - known for his Captain David Alaba progressed from the group stage in an versatility which has seen him play at left-back, in central midfield and on Euro championship for the first time in their history and would either flank - will be essential to his country’s hopes of causing a seismic be craving for more against a well-knitted Italy that are yet to upset this evening. Having tasted Wembley glory once before in 2013, when Bayern beat Dortmund there in concede a goal so far in the tournament the Champions League final, the cap- tain’s presence may even be enough to keep the Austrian dream alive. Meanwhile, Johan Cruijff ArenA in Amsterdam plays host to the first of the Euro 2020 last-16 ties this evening as Wales take on Denmark. Wales finished second to Italy in Group A, while Denmark defied the odds to finish as runners-up to Bel- gium in Group B despite losing their first two games. Five years on from their memorable run to the Euro 2016 semi-finals, Wales have a chance to create more happy memories after reaching the knockouts in successive tournaments. The Dragons lost 1-0 to Italy in their final group match, but that is a result Rob Page likely would have accepted ahead of the match as it ensured his side remained in second. Page was able to rotate his side for the Italy game, which was the Dragons’ second loss in 16 competitive matches. Not since June 2019 have they lost successive competitive games. However, Wales have lost their only two previous matches in Amsterdam - against the Netherlands in 1988 and 2014 - and they will not have any sup- porters present in the ground. COVID-19 travel restrictions have prevented the ‘Red Wall’ from making the trip, whereas Denmark supporters will be allowed to attend en masse in what should be a huge advantage. Denmark will also have the backing of the neutrals, no doubt, given the David Alaba inspired Austria to beat Ukraine in their last group game to book a Round 16 place events that unfolded in their opening group match against Finland. Having emerged as one of the the draw, as they will face Belgium or With the odds already stacked The sight of Christian Eriksen being tournament favourites, Italy meet Portugal in the next round should they against them due to a gulf in world resuscitated on the field will live long unfancied Austria at Wembley today, progress, and then potentially France, ranking and historic stature, Austria in the memory of those who watched in the last 16 of Euro 2020. Spain or Croatia in a semi-final. will potentially tackle their first-ever on, not least the playmaker’s own While the Azzurri’s sparkling start First, though, La Nazionale must knockout fixture in European Cham- teammates. to the championships has continued leave their Roman stronghold at Sta- pionship history with few partisan This will be the Red and White’s a record-equalling unbeaten run, the dio Olimpico to meet Austria on neu- fans present at ‘the home of football’. first appearance in the latter stages of Austrians are into the knockout phase tral turf. Nonetheless, they will travel Earlier this week, their football the Euros since 2004, and like on that for the first time ever, after finally north in the knowledge that no Italian federation urged supporters not occasion they will be aiming to reach at ending their Euros drought with two team has lost to their neighbours since to travel to London for the clash least the quarter-finals. group-stage wins. 1960, and they have emerged as win- with Italy, after they unsuccessfully Denmark have won their last three Keeping expectations in check may ners in each of the nations’ four major attempted to have the match moved competitive meetings with Wales in be Italy’s most difficult task heading tournament meetings. from England due to health and a run stretching back to June 1999, into the latter stages of this summer’s Yet to concede a goal in the competi- safety concerns. though this is the first meeting be- European Championships, as an 11th tion, a clearly united squad - in which As there is also a quarantine tween the sides at a major tournament. win in a row last time out helped them even substitute goalkeeper Salvatore requirement for Austrians travelling extend their undefeated streak to a to- Sirigu has been awarded a handful to and from London, the prospect of tal of 30 games. Tying a national record of minutes - have not only proved an Das Team being roared on by thou- set back in the 1930s under legendary entertaining prospect for neutrals, sands of success-starved fans may FIXTURES coach Vittorio Pozzo, the 1-0 victory but also shown they are made of stern be diminished, but they will at least over Wales was scant reward for their stuff at the back. In fact, the last time arrive there having risen to the chal- ROUND OF 16 shadow side’s complete domination Italy failed to keep a clean sheet was lenge of escaping Group C by beating last Sunday. in a 1-1 draw with the Netherlands Ukraine last time out. SATURDAY Wales vs Denmark 18:00 Roberto Mancini managed to keep last October - over 1,000 minutes of While Austria would still have Italy vs Austria 21:00 his team’s momentum going despite football ago. qualified along with their opponents Netherlands vs Czech Rep 18:00, wholesale changes - with eight of the The four-time world champions had they drawn, in the end they Belgium vs Portugal 21:00 previous starting XI dropping out - to have now reached 10 straight wins for deserved to win by more than just MONDAY claim maximum points once again, only the second time in their illustri- Christoph Baumgartner’s first-half Croatia vs Spain 18:00 following back-to-back 3-0 victories ous history - the first such streak goal, which left coach Franco Foda France vs Switzerland 21:00 over Turkey and Switzerland. having come during qualifying and enthused about his team’s unprec- However, their prize for cruising have not lost at all since 2018, so are edented achievement. TUESDAY through as winners of Group A is a in pole position to sweep past their After the match, Foda noted that his England vs Germany 18:00 place in the more challenging side of Alpine counterparts this weekend. squad had been determined “to write Sweden vs Ukraine 21:00 30 THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

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NFF President Pinnick (second left) in handshake with Bamidele Onalaja (CEO of Revolution Plus, first Orji and Chukwueze’s at the Abia Speaker’s country home in Umuahia right) while Mr Taye Ige(middle), Mrs Onalaja (second right) and Barr. Obi (first left) look on. Nigerian Women Relay Teams Book Tokyo Olympics Ticket The 4×400 metres team picked pionships which held on June 17 failed to pick their qualification Samuel Chukwueze: A Justification of their qualification after recording in Lagos when they recorded a immediately as their recorded the best time of 3:26.84 at the just time lag short of qualification. race time was average but for concluded Lagos Open Athletics The Lagos Open Athletics the inability of athletes from Championships. Championships at the Teslim other African nations to beat Abia Speaker’s Several Stadium Projects Nigerian women athletic Balogun stadium was the last the race time. When Nigerian-born European football champion, Samuel Chukwueze of Villarreal FC of teams for the 4×100 and 4×400 straw for their qualification Disappointment came from Spain visited the Speaker of Abia State House of Assembly, Rt Hon. Chinedum Enyinnaya metres relay race have qualified with athletes from other African the men’s team both in 4×100 Orji, on Sunday in Umuahia, it resonated the importance of the Speaker’s several mini for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics Countries competing for the To- and 4×400 metres who failed stadiums in different parts of his constituency and beyond. while the men’s teams are yet kyo Olympics qualification. to capitalise on the Lagos No doubt, Samuel Chukwueze who played football in the local streets and makeshift to pick their own tickets for the Blessing Okagbare led championships to qualify fields as a kid will be happy with what Mr. Speaker is doing knowing that the several summer games. Rosemary Chukwuma, and will now have their last mini stadiums serve as an impetus and extra motivation for the younger ones to The 4×400 metres team Favor Ofilli, and Grace opportunity on Sunday at the comprising Favor Ofilli, Okon- Nwokocha in the 4×100 Making of Champions, MOC hone their skills, become sports champions, prosper from it, make society proud George, Imaobong Nse Ukoh metres team to secure their Relays also at Yabatech. and give back to humanity, just exactly like the Villarreal star who hails from and Knowledge Omovoh finally own Olympics qualifica- Nigeria’s women’s best record the same Amaokwe Ugba community in Umuahia North LGA as the Speaker, picked their qualification after tion at the trials which took at the 4×100 metres is held by is doing today. recording the best time of 3:26.84 place at the Yaba College the quartet, Beatrice Utondu, The Ibeku Egwu Asaa mini stadium, Isieke, Umuahia, is one of Mr. Speaker’s at the just concluded Lagos Open of Technology track-field, Faith Idehen, Christy Opara- several stadiums. Its construction has reached advanced stage and very soon, Athletics Championships. where they pulled a 42.97 thompson and Mary Omagbemi trainings and formal sporting competitions will be holding there, youths will The team had failed to scale time. in 1992 at Barcelona where they be meaningfully occupied and taken away from social vices, the streets will be through at the National Cham- The 4×100 team had also recorded 42.39 race time. more peaceful, talents will be discovered, and many more Samuel Chukwuezes will emerge. So whenever you come across any of the mini stadiums embarked upon by Mr. Speaker, whether at Isieke, or at St. Stephen’s Primary School in the heart of Ahead of Mexico Friendly NFF Names 23-man Super Eagles Team Umuahia, or at Ubakala, or at Umuopara, or at Ikwuano; or even the upcoming Augustine Eguavoen the arduous task of putting defender, however, sent ones at Olokoro and Ohuhu, just remember that Abia State is in the process of has named Enyimba’s trio together a team that will not home Rivers United’s Ifeanyi birthing sports prodigies like the Speaker’s brother Samuel Chukwueze to be of John Noble, Imoh Obot, disgrace the nation against the Anaemena, Kwara United’s unleashed on the world courtesy of Rt. Hon. Chinedum Enyinnaya Orji, the multiple and Anayo Iwuala in the best team in North America. Christopher Nwaeze, PKE FC’s Award-winning Speaker of the 7th Abia State House of Assembly, and thanks to the final 23-man team departing And the Nigeria Football Shaibu Suleman, and Enyimba’s ever reliable Kinetic Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu for all his support. Abuja for the United States, Federation technical director Ekundayo Ojo. The Speaker is seeing very far and investing heavily in the youths. In due course, where they will face reigning is counting on the experience Rangers International’s posterity will judge him both kindly and justly. Concacaf champions Mexico of Heartland’s goalkeeper Chinonso Ezekwe also did in an international friendly Ikechukwu Ezenwa, Abia not make the travelling party match next week. Warriors’ Adekunle Adeleke, after leaving camp to seal a deal With head coach Gernot Noble, and Iwuala – players abroad. Over 140 Players for 1st Chief Chizea Rohr stepping aside in the who have spent time with the Nigeria’s CHAN Eagles battle absence of regular Super Super Eagles A team. Mexico’s El Tri on July 4th at Eagles stars, Eguavoen has The former international the LA Coliseum in California Memorial Asaba Golf Tourney No fewer than 140 golfers are expected to grace the maiden NFF, RevolutionPlus Sign Agreement to Nigeria Football to New Heights edition of Chief Nicholas Onyeogali Chizea Memorial Golf Tournament holding and Tree Planting Ceremony at lbori The Nigeria Football Federation and estate encomiums on the estate firm, saying that it Golf and Country Club (IGCC), Asaba, Delta State. giants Revolution Plus Property Limited is a top- flight company with admirable local The tournament bankrolled and hosted by Mrs. Christy yesterday in Lagos put pen to paper in content and a vision for growth, vitality, dynamism Nkechi Chizea is to be organised annually in memory of her an agreement that both parties believe and giving joy to Nigerians, which dovetail late husband who during his lifetime was an avid golfer. will engender the rapid development with that of the NFF. Speaking on the event, IGCC Captain, Mr. Alfred Ebreneyin of Nigeria Football to desired new “We are indeed proud to come into assured all players that the venue was safe and the course heights. partnership with Revolution Plus. would be in top notch condition to honour his late predecessor, while reiterating that all logistics were in place to transport The event held at the Studio 2 of Check out all our partners and spon- guests from airport and hotels to the golf club. HotSports Media Group, was witnessed sors – they are all at the top of their Ebreneyin said: “The premier edition of the tournament by Mr Taye Ige, President of HotSports Media various games and endeavours. We do which teed-off from June 24 - 26th, 2021 is featuring caddie’s Past Captain of IGCC, Chief Chizea Group – facilitators of the agreement. our thorough intel on prospective partners tournament, then Pro golfers outing with selected amateurs, President of the NFF Amaju Pinnick showered before we draft an agreement.” and finally, amateurs featuring ladies, gentlemen and veterans. Chief Chizea was the past captain of IGCC for two years and passed on after a brief illness last year. He left a solid legacy in the club notably the caddy hut he built with office at the club, and he was well loved by all who knew him. Eko Boys, Lead Forte Win GTBank Masters Cup Season 9 There will be a presentation ceremony to honour players that excelled at the end of the games Fifteen months after the Boys had tried for many years Officer and Managing Director today. This will be preceded by the tree planting in his honour a tradition of the club before the COVID-19 pandemic put a pause to win the coveted trophy. In the of Guaranty Trust Bank Plc, ceremonial tee off. We look forward to the grace of God and favourable weather as the event to one of Nigeria’s illustrious third-place game, Kings College Segun Agbaje, said; “Sports unfolds.” grassroots football competi- were winners in a 3-0 walkover has an immense capacity to tions, the GTBank Masters Cup in the absence of Greensprings shape young minds, and after returned on Thursday, June 17 College, Lekki. the unprecedented disruptions Lagos SWAN Commends Sanwo-Olu over Athletes’ Welfare to decide the winners of the 9th In the female category, the of the previous year, we are season. The final and third-place highlight of the day was the delighted that young people The leadership of the Lagos State chapter of to the First Olympic Gold Medalist in Nigeria matches for the male and female third-place match that ended can get back on the pitch to the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria and in Africa, Chioma Ajunwa-Okpara (MON), category were played on June 17 in a 5-1 victory for Queens imbibe the values of excellence, has commended the Governor of Lagos in fulfilment of a 25-year-old pledge by the then and 18 at the Campos Stadium, College, Yaba over Ansar Ur teamwork and fairplay. At State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, over his Governor, Olagunsoye Oyinlola. Lagos Island. Deen College, Itire. In the GTBank, we will continue to continued support for sports and quality The gesture, according to the association, will In the male category, the finals, Greensprings College, champion programmes that bring leadership. not only encourage others to strive for greatness, GTBank Masters Cup final Lekki, lost 3-0 to the defending the values of sports to school Lagos SWAN Executive Committee, but is also a testimony of the labours of our lived up to its billing as Eko champions, Lead Forte Garden compounds and give young under the leadership of Debo Oshundun, heroes not being in vain. Boys showed grit to edge out College. people the platform to hone applauded the latest announcement which saw “We wish to thank His Excellency for this Anwar Ul Islam in a match that Commenting on the resump- their talents and build character the official hand over of a 3-bedroom flat at the noble gesture of honoring our heroes, and in ended 2-0. The victory was a tion of the GTBank Masters whilst staying focused on their Babatunde Raji Fashola Housing Estate, Iponri, the process, encouraging those coming behind. testimony to resilience as Eko Cup, the Chief Executive academics.” THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

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Frank Onyeka it ends. The 23-year-old defensive midfielder came through Midtjylland’s academy but Frank is said to believe that he is ready for a move to England. Frank Onyeka The Super Eagles star hasn’t turned up for the Danish side’s pre-season prepa- rations and has been removed from the club’s list of available players. Onyeka joined Midtylland from FC Ebedei. He started with the club’s U-19 Living His Dream team before making the grade to the first team, where he became one of the best midfielders in the Danish top-flight. He has always craved to play in the Premier League, but for the Blues of Onyeka made his first-team debut in 2017 and has gone on to score 17 Chelsea, however, when newly promoted Premiership side, Brentford came goals and provide 10 assists in 123 appearances for the Danish club. calling, it was still a welcome development for Frank Onyeka. Whether the The Bees are signing a player with Champions League and international one-cap Super Eagle can re-enact his form with FC Midtjylland in the most experience. Onyeka made his debut for Nigeria in the friendly clash competitive league is another question altogether against Algeria last year’s October. He also played in all of Midtjylland’s f things go as expected, one-cap to stay focused on the Super League so land prevented him from joining a Champions League games. Nigeria international, Frank I’ve said we can talk about it afterwards, new club last summer because they Last year, the Nigerian midfielder Onyeka will be a Bee next season but I’m excited about what the future needed his services for the 2020-2021 was voted FC Midtylland’s Player of after Brentford are in talks with the will bring me.” Champions League. the Year after an outstanding season. midfielder as the Premier League On Brentford’s style, he continued: Ankersen joked that negotiations He scored four goals made two assists newcomers close in on their first “They play a lot on strength, and they with Midtjylland would be tough as in 35 appearances in all competitions for summer signing. run a lot. I think I will fit in well. I watch he dismissed suggestions that it is Midtylland in penultimate season. I His impressive performance helped The 23-year-old, who has one cap for English football more or less every easy to bring players from Denmark Nigeria, plays for the Bees’ sister club in weekend because Chelsea is my favou- to the Premier League. the club clinch their third league title Denmark, FC Midtjylland. rite team. So, I’ve seen how they play He added : “It’s going to be a long, which they last won in 2018. Onyeka impressed for Midtjylland in in England and I think it suits my style long conversation to have”. the Champions League group stage last well. It could be a good opportunity for Onyeka started all the six match- season, and as the club finished runners- me to switch there.” es contested by Midtjylland in the up in the Danish Superliga. Onyeka, 23, is coming up to his fifth Champions League and showed off GLOBAL SOCCER As Thomas Frank and his recruitment year with FC Midtjylland. The Danes his tackling abilities in the middle chiefs, Phil Giles and Rasmus Ankersen snapped up the midfielder from Nige- of the field. ASSISTANT EDITOR look to strengthen the squad this sum- ria’s Ebedei, which are a satellite club Meanwhile, Midtjylland sporting  
  mer, they believe Onyeka is ready for the of FC Midtjylland. Since then, Onyeka director Svend Graversen expects move to England. has helped FC Midtjylland twice win Onyeka to make instant impact in THISDAY ON SATURDAY A financial agreement between the the Danish Superliga in his burgeoning the English Premier League. EDITOR clubs is expected to be a simple to con- career. The 23-year-old has been one of 
  clude given both are owned by Matthew In a lighthearted conversation with the top performers for the Danish Benham. Beesotted Brentford podcast, Brentford Superliga outfit since arriving from The Bees also want to strengthen this Director of Football Rasmus Ankersen Nigeria Nationwide League club THISDAY NEWSPAPERS summer at right-back, right centre-back, was asked about the potential signing of FC Ebedei in 2016. midfield, on the wings and at centre- Onyeka in the summer transfer window ” It’s there. There is also something EDITOR-IN-CHIEF/CHAIRMAN forward, as they prepare for their first and he responded : “He’s a good player, in the fact that he has the interest of a  
  season in the Premier League. where did you hear about him?” lot of clubs. Our evaluation of Frank Onyeka once admitted he dreams of Ankersen also works for FC Midtjyl- is that he is ready for one of the big MANAGING DIRECTOR playing for Chelsea, but it was Brentford land, the team Onyeka has been repre- leagues,” Graversen told tipsblade.dk   
  that has been the front runner even senting since 2016, so there’s apparently ” There one has to assess that the while they are still a contender for a big brother-little brother relationship Premier League is perhaps the big- DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR Premier League promotion. between Brentford and the Danish club. gest, so he is ready for that. Then we 
  Quizzed then about the Bees, Onyeka There is a gentleman’s agreement must find the right solution, and he told bold.dk: “No, I have not heard. I’ve in place for Onyeka to be sold in the must not least think it is the right not talked to my agent lately. I’m trying summer transfer window after Midtjyl- solution. Then we have to see where 32 THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

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Bennett Oghifo AUTO WORLD 07052343083 Email:[email protected] TIPS OF THE WEEK How to Declutter Your Car Is your car disappearing under the weight of all the family clutter? Is car clutter driving you round the bend? Has the tidiness of the family motor sunk to new lows post half-term? Steer things around and get on the road to lasting cleanliness with our tips and tricks. Here is where to start: 1. Clean First job, clear out all rubbish. Start from the front and work your way to the back, including under the seats. Organise items into those that are to stay in the car, those that belong in the house or garage and what you’re going to throw away. 2. Wipes Clean the dashboard, armrests and steering wheel with wipes. Halfords Car Dashboard Wipes come in packs of 24 and are ideal for storing in the car, but you don’t need a speciality product, as regular baby wipes are equally effective. 3. Floor mats Remove, shake out and vacuum the floor mats. Treat spills and stains with a carpet cleaner – Simoniz Upholstery & Carpet Cleaner is simple to apply, and you just wipe it away with a damp cloth. Before you Omaa bus slip the mats back in, try sprinkling with baking soda overnight and vacuuming the next morning, as this will get rid of any lingering odours. 4. Door pockets Transform the door pockets from a space for empty OMAA Gas-powered Buses take wrappers and plastic bottles to a useful one. Fill an empty cleaning-wipes tube with plastic shopping bags for rubbish, wet umbrellas or muddy shoes and store Centre-stage at Lagos Motorfair it in the door pocket. 5. Glove compartment Your glove compartment should contain essential ublic attention within the are guaranteed good returns of their investment Present at the event were M. M. Ibrahim, chair- items, such as insurance and registration documents, Nigeria’s automotive sector will as OMAA is cheap to run and less expensive man of the National Gas Expansion Programme, and roadside assistance information. A pen and a small be shifting to the 15th Lagos to maintained when compared to other buses NGEP; Ishaku Abner, technical sdviser to the notepad are also handy additions. Motor Fair inside the Indoor on the road. minister of state for petroleum and Pat Igwebuike, 6. Visor Hall of the Federal Palace Earlier this month, OMAA vehicles were Special adviser on legal matters to the governor An organiser attached over the passenger-side or driver’s Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos showcased at the just concluded Nigeria Willie Obiano of Anambra State, among others. side visor means you can store sunglasses, a phone or as some visitors will for the International Petroleum Summit NIPS 2021 Chinedu Oguegbu, founder and chief execu- receipts easily. Amazon and Ebay stock a wide range. Àrst time catch a glimpse of the OMAA range at the International Conference Centre, Abuja, tive of OMAA had at diͿerent for a where the 7. Cup holders of Pmedium and high roof passenger buses that where the minister of state of petroleum resources, OMAA buses are presented or are on exhibition To avoid cup holders becoming sticky, pop in a couple is powered by gas. Timipre Sylva and the executive secretary Nigeria or display reiterated that, the locally assembled of silicone cupcake liners to keep them clean. Lakeland Expected as a special guest during the 15th Content Development and Monitoring Board buses can be used as passenger bus for school does a variety of sizes and colours. Keep loose change Edition of the Lagos Motorfair is Jelani Aliyu, NCDMB Simbi Wabote inspected the vehicles. shuttle, commercial transportation, cargo vans for in a small empty jar and store it in your centre console. director-general of the National Automotive The OMAA team were also at the at Eagle Square moving farm produce, ambulances for critical life Toys, food wrappers, and items of clothing can all Design & Development Council (NADDC) who where the VP and several ministers including care, logistics van for the burgeoning e-commerce, add to the clutter in the rear of the car, so utilise the is also championing the narrative of Nigeria’s that of trade and his information counterpart utility vehicles, and for various other needs of back of the front seat for a hanging organiser to store gradual migration from petrol to gas-powered inspected the vehicles. SMEs, large or multinationals, corporate and books, games or whatever else your little ones need in and electric vehicles as an alternative source of It would be recalled that in April this year, government agencies. the car. The Diono Stow N Go Backseat Organiser comes energy to move vehicles. OMAA, right inside the local assembly plant Oguegbu expressed delight that the commence- with seven full-sized pockets and two drink holders in The display of OMAA range of gas-powered located at Igbo-Ukwu, Anambra state, OMAA ment of OMAA roll out is the beginning of a trend a washable, waterproof fabric. You can also make use passenger buses that can also be adapted to other launched the Àrst batch of the dual-fuel natural that will revolutionise not just the transportation of a shoe organiser, as the pockets are the ideal fit for uses according the owners of the brand is part gas-powered buses into the Nigerian market, industry, but also the energy industry in Africa, toys or snacks. of conscious eͿort by the local assemblers to which are 30-40 per cent cheaper to run and by transforming the way we utilise the abundant 9. Boot ensure that prospective buyers of the vehicles can be used for various purposes. natural gas energy resources available. The boot is a handy storage space for essentials such as a first aid kit. A boot organiser is also worth investing in for those ‘just in case’ items. The Streetwize 2 In 1 Car Boot Shopping Organiser from Argos comes with a detachable cooler and base, including a zip-up cooler PAN Nigeria Hosts Air Force War College on Inter-Agency Collaboration pocket. (Source: Goodhousekeeping) AN Nigeria Limited recently in knowledge sharing. In his Ànal words, the tour of the PAN Learning Centre facility hosted participants of the Commandant urged PAN Nigeria to ensure and the Industrial Assembly plants. Air Force War College at its product quality sustainability while assuring PAN Nigeria Limited, assemblers of Higer Transporters Refute Alleged Hijack plant in Kaduna. The visit to the Company of support and patronage. buses and ambulances, Chery vehicles as Nigeria’s foremost automobile The event was wrapped up by a guided well as Peugeot cars. manufacturing plant was part of Luxury Buses, Travellers of the Institution’s training programmes An umbrella body, Public Transport Owners of onP national security, defense architecture and inter-agency cooperation. Nigeria Association (PTONA), and one of its affiliates, The programme, which involved tours the Association of Luxury Bus Transporters of Nigeria to institutions of strategic relevance to the (ALBON), have described the alleged kidnap of Igbo nation, was led by Air Vice Marshall I.T. Ali, passengers travelling on board Young Shall Grow Motors, the Commandant of the College. PAN Nigeria GUO Transport and Ezenwata luxurious buses, as “fake was selected as one of the key institutions news.” to be studied due to the importance of its industry to national development and The transporters’ associations said the ‘news’ is employment, according to a statement by a conjecture which is capable of upsetting the peace the Group Head, Corporate Services, PAN and tranquility of the nation, and should, therefore, be Nigeria Limited, Abdulkadir Yinusa. disregarded. In her welcome address to the participants, A statement signed by the Public Relations Officer of the Acting Managing Director of PAN, Ms. PTONA, Paul Okoghenun, explained that at no time Taiwo Oluleye, FCIS stated that despite various challenges confronting manufactur- were buses belonging to the said companies hijacked, ers in the country such as rising foreign explaining that no traveller in any of their vehicles has exchange rates and shortages, Insecurity been kidnapped by bandits anywhere in Nigeria. and contracting purchasing power, the Okoghenun, who is also the Managing Director/ Management of PAN has continued to CEO of Rahony Travels Limited, Lagos, stated, “None invest in critical areas that means much of the luxury buses belonging to our members - GUO, to users of the Company’s product range as a way of sustaining its operations. The Ezenwata and The Young Shall Grow Motors - has areas include deepening customers’ service been hijacked by bandits, whether at Kogi or anywhere and aftersales support. else in Nigeria. Therefore, no traveller has experienced In his remarks, the Commandant, Air vice kidnapping in the said buses. Marshal I.T Ali acknowledged the role PAN Also reacting, Chief Nonso Ubajaka, who is the Vice L-R: The DDG PAN Learning Centre Mr. Husseini Abubakar; G.M Planning and Strategy, PAN, Mr. Bawo Omagbitse; has played over the years in rolling out President of ALBON, as well as the Financial Secretary products that meets local and international Commandant, Air Force College, Air Vice Marshal I.T Ali; Acting M.D PAN Nigeria Limited Ms. Taiwo Oluleye; Group of PTONA, said the fake news is the handiwork of quality standards. He further mentioned that Head, Corporate Services PAN, Mr. Abdulkadir Yinusa; and Head of Industrial Operations, Mr. Oladapo Ojo, during the College is readily available to collaborate mischief-makers who do not mean well for the road with PAN in areas of technology, especially the Air Force War College visit to PAN Nigeria… recently transportation sector and the society at large. THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER JUNE 26, 2021 35 AUTO WORLD Coscharis Motors Storms 2021 Lagos Motor Fair With 3 Big Brands ll is set for the foremost automobile dealer in Ni- geria, Coscharis Motors Plc., and the exclusive distributors of Ford, Ford Truck, Renault, amongst a number of other iconic global automobile brands in theA country to participate in this years’ Lagos Auto Fair. The Fair, is in its 16th edition, and will be held from June 28 to July 3, 2021 at the Federal Palace Hotel, Lagos. The focus is to showcase the Ford and Renault brands and at the same time introduce the Ford Trucks brand of Heavy Duty Commercial Vehicles (HDCV) into the Nigerian market. Also at the fair, Coscharis will formally reveal the all new Ford Explorer, which cur- rently is the Ford Flagship in Nigeria. According to the Coscharis Group General Manager, Marketing and Corpo- rate Communications, Abiona Babarinde, “For the Àrst time, as the exclusive L-R: Lagos State Head of Service, Mr. Hakeem Muri-Okunola; GM, Marketing and Corporate Communications, Coscharis Group, Mr. Abiona Babarinde; distributors of these great brands in Chairman, House Committee on Defence, Federal House of Representative, Hon. Babajimi Benson, at the presentation of a brand newFord EcoSport Nigeria, we are excited to showcase the locally assembled Renault Brands, the SUV, as the star prize donated by Coscharis Motors to celebrate the 2021 Public Service Week held at Alausa Secretariat, Ikeja, Lagos… recently new Ford Trucks lines and also keen to reveal the latest model of the Ford the newer models in our custody. More participation this time around amongst availability for existing owners of any of Explorer.” importantly is to equally make the pur- other oͿerings to delight our numerous our brands. “In addition, the Auto fair will be chase of any of our brands on display stakeholders to continually deliver value Coscharis Motors Plc has the exclusive an opportunity to bring these vehicles very friendly with the introduction of for their money”. It’s also notable to franchise for Ford, Renault and Ford closer to our customers and prospects our Ànance scheme packages through mention that our aftersales teams will Truck brands in Nigeria with dedi- alike who have been unable to visit our select Ànance partner platforms. also be on ground to attend to aftersales cated sales and service showrooms and our dealerships recently to avail them These are some of the highlights of our issues relating to repairs and parts workshops in all the geopolitical zones. FG Urged to Address Challenges in Autogas Policy layers in the nation’s energy sector downstream operators to fix their filling stations, so have said advised the federal govern- that when we fit the two together, it will work. ment to address inherent challenges PWC’s Habeeb Jaiyeola across the world, government as it relies on intervention by the interventions are being used to catalyse economic Central Bank of Nigeria to imple- development. ment the National Gas Expansion “In many cases government interventions are quite Programme and National Autogas critical in controlling cost of borrowing in developing Roll-out Initiative. sectors. The CBN intervention remains a positive tool Recently,P the CBN introduced a N250 billion for the development of the domestic gas sector,” he said. intervention fund under the National Gas Expansion However, the payback has to be enforced to ensure the Programme, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, fund remains available for further critical interventions, Timipre Sylva, had disclosed that the government would Jaiyeola noted, adding that further sensitization on the work with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to ensure autogas initiative would be needed for its acceptability. full implementation of the Auto Gas Policy. “This is a highly technical area where safety is of high CBN had, in gas policy framework, said low level importance especially where a mechanical item is made of investment was hindering domestic gas consump- to run on fuel feedstock different from its original design. tion, adding that the would stimulate production and The global acceptability of this needs to be obtained, utilization of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and especially from the original manufacturers. Possible Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) as clean alternative negative impact needs to be identified as well to enable sources . informed decision prior to implementation,” he added. Sylva had said: “We are working right now with the Appropriate pricing system needs according him Central Bank of Nigeria to ensure that we are able to must be instituted to enable the forces of demand bring in conversion kits for a critical mass of vehicles. and supply determine the price and enable adequate “And then also give soft loans at the same time to returns on investment. National Autogas Expansion Programme

the Nigerian syndrome has a way of creeping up as DEJI YESUFU : The Road Safety Guy at Agodi Secretariat he climbs the ladder. Very commendable while another said;You are right Deji Yesufu, individual efforts is key He cannot be more than 35 years old but he apparently SAFE different .Hear him speak his mind: I beg to differ. in any society. Thanks for sharing your experience. I heads the Road Safety Unit at State Secretariat, Agodi, We already have a mess and it was created by the am an albino .do u think I can pass the test and Ibadan. I needed to renew my driver’s licence. DRIVING leaders. What will fix this nation, are the leaders not There was yet another view from Adeosun Kemi I showed them my form which I filled online. This with the followers. The FRSC man, chose to be different. who said, I was told that there are different licences How many of him will you see if you gather 100s of granted drivers. See an eye doctor. Let them give you guy explains to me that since I use glasses to drive, Jonas Agwu I will need to get a doctor’s report ascertaining that his type? How many correct policemen will you find a written report of the state of your eyes (on a hospital I can drive with or without glasses. I saw my eye amnipr, mcipr,mprsa,arpa if you gather 100s of them? If we are waiting for all of letter head) and FRSC will give you the permit suited Assistant Corps Marshal doctor, Dr Oluleye Tunji Jeff at UCH. The first thing Zonal Commanding Officer us to be correct, it won’t happen till Jesus come. But if for you while Adedapo Sunday Adeniyi said Kudos Sir, my doctor said when he saw the request was: “Nigeria Federal Road Safety Corps. there’s a single leader, who gave laws and followed up Good name is better than Gold. Keep it up Sir. Greater is getting better”. Eye doctors have been asking FRSC with the laws, and actually enforce them, 100percent of heights in Jesus name as well as Bolaji Alabi-Makanjuola to pay attention to drivers’ eyes for decades now in the policemen will change within the shortest possible who said-Well done officer Adedokun, God bless you. Nigeria. They are now putting the advice to practice. time.100percent of the Nigerian institutions will work To Amuzie Nwachukwu ,both the leaders and the I underwent the eye tests with my doctor and I branch. I don’t know his name but I pray for more of within the shortest possible time. I salute the FRSC man. general public must be involved for any meaningful was certified fit to drive. I then returned to Agodi for his tribe to increase in this country. Postscript: Found Just like football supporters with varying view points change to take place. But it must start with the leaders. my licence. Now I am on the way to renewing my his name on the badge on his chest when I went to ,please hear this reaction to -Tunde Tudor; Mess, created If for example, you are a seating governor of a state driver’s license in Ibadan, Nigeria. collect my “temporary”. He is O. A. Adedokun and his by our leader! Yes we agree. But if we will individually and walk into that FRSC office to renew your drivers Moral of the story: I have often argued in this space men. I published his name without his permission but make efforts to do that which is right, it’s the beginning license and encounter the same discussion and obeyed that what will fix Nigeria is not Government. What I think I have such a liberty to since this is a positive of progress which will in time lead to change. Take it as you did, there is no way that FRSC man will do a will fix this country is our individual contribution to reportage. or leave it, we must start from somewhere!Nice post, different thing for any member of the public who came nation’s building. Take the example of this guy. Before Since this publication which I stumbled on the Federal let not focus on leaders that are not doing well but to renew his own. When the leaders are leading by he assumed the position in that office, FRSC Agodi Road Safety Corps social media platform, I have been we the followers contribute our positive quota to the example, it will be easy for the ordinary man on the used to be a beehive of activities. People loitering elated at the positives for the Corps. Meanwhile there development of the country.Yes I testify, the man is street to follow. You will lead me to follow you, not around, etc. are varying reactions and I have also chosen while overly nice and really good!. Since I met him during the opposite. In my opinion 70% of Nigerian problem Now, there is a waiting room for people who may honoring him to run these commentaries by interested the process, he made the process seamless. Oluyomi is with leadership. Olufisayo Awe; My own story is need to have their data captured. Then you have this members of the public. Please enjoy the comments which Femi observed that ,I suspected that a lot more people this I never belief the renewal of my driver’s license guy or one of his assistants asking anyone hanging are run unedited; Lovely story. And it inadvertently have met him.Same kind of experience I had with the can be that smooth and easy. Everything was done to around “what is the problem... what do you wish we asserts that good people in government will go a long port health service at Abuja Airport. One Dr Izu and a time and in an organised manner. Gone are the days do for you...”, minimizing loitering and ensuring swift way to change our country. The FRSC Boss here is guy named Joseph. Their professionalism have given when you will have to come to register your name attendance to everyone’s business. Without preference “government” We need more of him in other MDAs. me a lot of hope for Nigeria by 5am when you get there you… Ojelade Olalekan or anyone taking a bribe. I genuinely commend the May we have a positive change of attitude to be able to Chibuzor Sleekcheese Leopardi L’Infinito summed Matthew JP-Sir is bcos u av a good heart & stand to man heading the Road Safety Unit at Agodi Secretariat change Nigeria positively. Tunde Tudor was however up his views this way:Hope he keeps it up, because be corrected too. 36 THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER JUNE 26, 2021 MARKET PLACE with Omolabake Fasogbon... 08155131874 Teens & Tweens Summit Holds Amid Excitement, Hopes The Mum 2 Mum Global need for them to be heard and Foundation has gathered the Teens guided. She urged government and Tweens across Lagos State to make the G&C unit a major for a one-day summit to address prerequisite for approval of social issues among them. schools. The summit themed, “My mind, She said, “Most of the things my Power; My body, My Right that happen in the society aͿect “oͿered a platform for children teenagers, yet, they are given less in both primary and secondary attention. The teens and tweens schools to connect with seasoned are confronted with issues like educationists and counsellors to peer pressure, molest and discuss, ask questions shared per- misunderstanding with parent, sonal experiences, and learn from e.t.c, that they want to talk about the adults wealth of experience. but have no means to do , as Founder of Mum 2 Mum, such bottle up their experiences Chinyere Jerry noted that the or better still, resort to the social summit was in lined with the media for answers to questions L-R: Project Director, the execution team of STEAM UP Lagos, Dr. Kemak Onyenaucheya; founder The Legend Life Foundation, Enitan Ibironke; found- vision of the foundation which which sometimes might give existed to address intimate issues misleading answers. er, Donors For Africa Foundation, Chidi Koldsweat; Senior Special Assistant to the Governor of Lagos State on STEM Education, Hon. Adetola Salau; between mothers and children, “At Mum 2 Mum Global and Programme Director, Bunmi Adedayo Foundation, Femi Martins, at the DFA Award ceremony, in Lagos… recently teachers and children as well Foundation, we provide platform as children, through advocacy, for such intimate discussion. We supports, counselling and charity want to have a platform where works. these ones can freely express self Jerry worried about the lack when their parent are not there, Chivita Launches Chivita Active of functioning guidance and ask questions and get answers. counselling unit in schools which The founder further suggested she said contributed greatly to the inclusion of mind power in social ills in the country today. schools curriculum as she said Zest in a new Can Format According to her, children are this would go in pari passu in their formative years which are with children’s career to aͿect CHI Limited has unveiled and it is made from a mix of The new Chivita Active Zest that compliments their non-stop mostly spent in school, hence, the the society positively. Chivita Active Zest, a new and citrus fruits with all-natural 330ml Can exudes conÀdence active lifestyle. exciting sub-brand under the ingredients, no artiÀcial preserva- and style, and appeals to the “We are excited to introduce Chivita Active franchise. The tives, and Áavours. youth, providing satisfaction the new Chivita Active Zest launch intends to disrupt Additionally, Chivita Active and refreshment away from in a premium 330ml Can that the mid-pack segment of the Zest is fortiÀed with vitamin C home in line with changing guarantees ease of handling and CITN Announces New juice category by fulÀlling the for immunity support, is a good lifestyle trends. appeal, which makes it a format growing consumer demand for source of vitamin B1 and D3 for CHI Limited Marketing of choice for young consumers. a healthy on-the-go beverage faster body metabolism. Chivita Director, Mrs. Toyin Nnodi, In addition, with its all-natural Executives to support their active lifestyle Active Zest also contains calcium stated that the new Chivita ingredients, we are conÀdent The Chartered Institute of Taxa- and a Fellow of the Institute, was without compromising on great for optimum bone health, mak- Active Zest premium 330ml Chivita Active Zest will connect tion of Nigeria, CITN, has elected appointed as Deputy Registrar, taste, convenience, and enhanced ing it a smart choice to get the Can is designed to provide a with trendy consumers as the new o΀cers that would steer its Research and Professional Services. nourishment. right dose of essential vitamins healthy and natural on-the-go preferred on-the-go beverage aͿairs in the next two years. Adedayo, the new President Chivita Active Zest comes in and minerals for a healthy active option for trendy consumers companion of choice for a The election of the new of CITN is a Risk Management a premium 330ml Can format, life on the go. desirous of a beverage option healthy active life,” she said. executives followed a successful and Economic Model Building conduct of the institute’s 29th specialist. Annual General Meeting that He obtained his B.Sc. degree in held recently in Lagos. Accounting from the Nasarawa Donors For Africa Unveils Winners of Social Innovators Bootcamp 2021 The institute announced Mr. State University, Ke΀ in 2017. Adesina Adedayo its 15th President. A Fellow of both the Chartered Donors For Africa, a non- Africa’s biggest problems. Chidi Koldsweat, Founder and Lead in return continue to design new Adedayo took over the mantle Institute of Taxation of Nigeria governmental organisation that Three winners emerged after a Strategist of, Donors for Africa solutions needed to transform their of leadership from the immediate and the Institute of Chartered specialises in designing solutions 4-month intensive training, with Foundation noted that the Bootcamp communities and countries.” past President of the institute, Dame Accountants of Nigeria, Adedayo for Africans to impact indigenous courses delivered by leading local is aimed at building empowered Olamde Sopien, the Project Lead, Gladys Olajumoke Simplice. is also a member of the Business communities, has unveiled this and international experts, who institutions with the right internal revealed that this second edition of Samuel Olushola Agbeluyi Recovery and Insolvency Practi- year’s winner of the African Social equipped the change-makers with structures and processes, armed the African Social Innovators Boot became the Vice President and tioners Association of Nigeria Innovators Bootcamp. all they need to thrive. with a clear road map for action. Camp, had over 187 applications, Inocent Chinyere Ohagwa the (BRIPAN) and a CertiÀed Fraud The African Social Innovators Judged by leading founders She reiterated that “at Donors and 45 innovators were selected Deputy Vice President, while Examiner. Boot Camp, the premier boot camp in development, the 2021 win- For Africa Foundation, we strongly from 23 African countries. According Mr. Simon Nwanmaghyi Kato He holds a Special Executive in Africa is a fellowship program ner is Gbenga Owoye, founder, believe that to achieve the SDG’s to her, 17 experts facilitated diͿerent was elected the Treasurer of the Masters in Leadership & Strategy funded by MARITEAM Nigeria AjoBank.ng while Omobolanle we need to increase investment sessions in the camp, and the pitch institute. from the Metropolitan School of and held in partnership with the Ajijola, (founder Bina Al-Amal in the human capital especially was judged by leading founders The institute also created the po- Business and Management (UK). African Union Youth Envoy. It is Foundation), and Daniel Kisitu for development professionals in development. sition of two new Deputy Registrars He is presently undergoing the designed to strengthen the capacity (Muafrica Repurpose, Uganda) working at the grassroots. If these Partners at the event include where Dr. Lanre Olasunkanmi was Senior Executive Course 43, 2021 of leading development professionals came in second and third place grassroots organization signs are the African Union O΀ce of the appointed as the Deputy Registrar at the National Institute for Policy and provide them with the technical respectively. trained, supported handheld held, Youth Envoy, MARITEAM Nigeria Corporate and Internal Services and Strategic Studies, Kuru, near expertise required to solve some of Speaking at the award ceremony, many of them will survive and Limited, and STEAM UP Lagos. whole Mrs. Afolake Oso, a lawyer Jos in Plateau State. Lawmakers, NEPZA Commend Power Oil Launches Thematic Alaro City’s Attraction of FDI Campaign on Healthy Heart Members of the Senate Com- to attracting investment, boosting that industrialisation grows, and mittee on Trade and Investment manufacturing and creating jobs. jobs are created so that this place Foremost Vegetable oil brand, that we all take a break and listen of coronary heart disease, stroke, and executives of Nigeria Export The results of the visit will inform and all other zones will be fully Power Oil has launched a new carefully to the clues which our breast and colon cancer etc). In Processing Zones Authority the National Assembly as it makes developed to ease the problems thematic campaign- “Listen to your bodies are sending to us. If we the same vein, the Nigerian Heart (NEPZA) have commended Alaro progress on amending the NEPZA of this country.” Heart” to drive awareness on how must interpret the condition of Foundation, NHF has corroborated City for the signiÀcant Foreign Act. “We are amazed with the level Launched in January 2019, Alaro to maintain healthy heart. our heart judging from the kind the fact that “an active life ensures Direct Investment (FDI) and new of multi-billion-dollar investments City is planned as a 2,000-hectare The campaign which also sought of treatment it’s being exposed to, an active heart”. industrial businesses the new city in the Lekki Free Zone, which mixed-income, city-scale develop- to enhance healthy lifestyle among what will it be? Valerie assured that the brand has attracted in the two years since harbours various mega projects ment with industrial and logistics Nigerians further reinstated the “Is it being subjected to the right remained committed to the produc- its launch in the Lekki Free Zone. of global magnitude like Alaro locations, complemented by o΀ces, brand’s commitment to a healthy diet and the appropriate amount of tion of a healthy and quality cooking Led by the Senate Committee City and the Dangote ReÀnery,” homes, schools, healthcare facilities, nation. physical activity to keep it healthy vegetable oil in Nigeria. Chairman on Trade and Investment, he said. hotels, entertainment and 150 According to the organisation, or otherwise? With the campaign, She said, Power Oil is made Senator Francis Adenigba Fada- “The level of progress in Alaro hectares (370 acres) of parks and the exercise would sensitise every we are only calling on Nigerians to only with pure ingredients with hunsi, the federal lawmakers visited City and the Lekki Free Zone is open spaces. Alaro City, a model for Nigerian to become more aware and pay close attention to their hearts No Cholesterol and zero Trans-fat, Alaro City in the company of the encouraging and paints a clear Public-Private-Partnerships, which intentional about the heart health and ways to fortify it by keeping an it is also fortiÀed with Vitamin A & NEPZA Board of Directors, led by picture of the direction we want are a key focus for the Lagos State and enlighten on the right path to active lifestyle and being mindful E, & Omega 6 & 9, to ensure that its Board Chairman, Alhaji Adamu our free zones to take,” added Government, is a joint venture a healthy lifestyle. of the kind of cooking oil they consumers and their families get Fanda, and Managing Director, Prof. Senator Fadahunsi. “The amount between Rendeavour, Africa’s Brand Manager of Power Oil, Ms. consume as the wrong choice of the absolute best in every meal and Adesoji Adesugba. The progress of FDI attracted so far, with the largest new city builder and Lagos Valerie Amakulor stated that the oil contributes to clogging of the a great start to maintain a healthy assessment of free zones was part attendant jobs created and boost to State, the economic and Ànancial ‘Listen to your Heart’ campaign arteries and distorted Áow of blood lifestyle.”. of ongoing updates of the NEPZA manufacturing, is commendable, nerve centre of Nigeria. Over 3.5km highlights the adverse eͿects of poor to the heart. As part of the campaign plans, the Act before the National Assembly. and we pledge our commitment to of initial road networks with rain lifestyle choices and unhealthy oil “Research according to the Àrm has dedicated a day to engage Senator Fadahunsi said the work with Alaro City to sustain this garden drainages and cycling lanes consumption habits popular among American Heart Association has and encourage all corporate staͿ to lawmakers visited to see the pace. We encourage NEPZA to step are under construction; as well Nigerians, while addressing its shown that keeping active is another listen to their heart through one of its progress of free zones operators like up its activities, and we on our own as power, water and sewerage implication on general wellbeing. way to care for the heart. A daily health advocacy initiatives – Health Alaro City, especially with regards part will aid legislatively to ensure infrastructure. Amakulor said, “It is important 30-minute walk can help reduce risks Camp. w THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER JUNE 26,2021 37 NEWS Violence against Women: ,QVXUJHQF\&DQDGD*HUPDQ\(8DQG 2WKHUV,QYHVWLQ1RUWKHDVW)DUPLQJ Michael Olugbode in Abuja The 2021 rainy season is funded 7DOOHQ3UR;HUV6ROXWLRQ by the People and Government of Michael Olugbode in Abuja The People and Government of Canada, the European Union Trust building (WANEP-Nigeria) women networks in selected conÁict associated violence Canada, the European Union Trust Fund for Africa, the European Civil The Minister of Women and the Norwegian Agency communities in Edo, Delta and against women and girls as Fund for Africa, the European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid AͿairs, Dame Pauline Tallen, for Development Co-operation Rivers states. well as integrate them into Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations, the Federal Republic of has asked for the immediate (NORAD). She noted that localising mediation and restoration of Operations, the Federal Republic of Germany, the Kingdom of Norway domestication of the National The conference is an activ- the National Action Plan on peace in conÁict situations.” Germany, the Kingdom of Norway and the Kingdom of Sweden. Action Plan (NAP) on the ity under WANEP-Nigeria’s UNSCR 1325 in selected local She noted that: “The pro- and the Kingdom of Sweden are The Country Representative of United Nations Security ‘Enhancing Women’s Participa- government areas in Bauchi, gramme has greatly harnessed funding the 2021 rainy season FAO in Nigeria, Fred Kafeero had Council Resolution (UNSCR) tion in Peace and Security in Borno and Gombe states has women’s important roles and farming in troubled North-east at the flag off of the 2021 rainy 1325 on Women Peace and Nigeria’ which aims at reÁect- led to women’s participation in responsibilities in constructing Nigeria. season farming interventions on Security by states still foot ing on the processes adopted countering violent extremism an enduring peace and security This funding which is imple- Thursday in Maiduguri, lamented dragging. to strengthen women’s social in the region, urging WANEP as well as achieving great feat mented through the Food and that inaccessibility to improved She said it was only by doing networking capacities towards to ensure the achievement of in the implementation of the Agriculture Organisation of the seeds and fertilisers have resulted this that women’s voice would eͿective participation in formal the aims of the project. UNSCR 1325 in the country.” United Nations (FAO) is providing into food insecurity and poverty be further strengthened and peace processes in three states She said: “It gladdens my Earlier, the National Co- farming inputs to 65,800 farmers among the populace. add to the ending of all forms in the Niger Delta (Delta, Edo heart the extent of progress ordinator WANEP-Nigeria, in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe He said supporting the rainy of conÁict associated with and Rivers states). we are all making towards Bridget Osakwe lamented states adversely affected by over a season farming was key to the Violence Against Women and Represented by the Direc- ensuring that women are fully that women’s contribution to decade Boko Haram insurgency. entire insurgency affected region, Girls (VAWG) in the country. tor of Women Development integrated into peace building security has been overlooked A statement yesterday by noting that farmers’ harvests Tallen made the call in Abuja in the Ministry of Women processes and decision making even when they are relevant to FAO recognised that the rainy contribute significantly to food yesterday in her remarks at AͿairs, Funke Oladipo, she at all levels. the issues of mediation both at season farm cultivation is critical security and income generation ‘The Lessons Learnt Confer- lauded the progress so far “The women peace and secu- home and in the community, to food production in Nigeria, as throughout the year. ence on Promoting Women in mainstreaming gender rity agenda in Nigeria is a very adding that women have the it ensures food availability and He said: “Access to agricultural Participating in Peacebuilding capacities and platforms for key and strategic programme capacity to bring fresh dimen- income generation, especially inputs for high yields, also saves in Nigeria’, organised by the peace building, human security towards strengthening women’s sions to the conversation about for smallholder and low-income lives and livelihoods of farmers,” West Africa Network for Peace- and social change among local voice to ending all forms of peace. households. adding that the distribution The statement read that: “In the of seeds and fertilisers have context of conflict, food production contributed to the building of is central to entrenching peace, people’s resilience to conÁict. building resilience, and FAO He said that this year, 65,800 is reaching 65,800 farmers in household farmers were sup- Borno, Adamawa and Yobe ported with agricultural inputs states. 40,000 of the farmers are and livestock restocking for in Borno. The farmers will receive fattening, while 40,000 farmers inputs including seeds and wet were targeted for the distribution blended fertiliser.” of inputs. The statement added that He disclosed that: “They the intervention was the sixth will receive wet blended successive rainy season farming fertiliser and a variety of seeds intervention which FAO has of crops including vegetables, implemented in Borno, Adamawa cereals and pulses,” noting that and Yobe states, the three states this will engage the farmers in which have been at the centre of agricultural production for food the long drawn conflict. security and income generation. %DNHUV/DPHQW,QFUHDVHLQ)ORXU3ULFH 6HHNV*RYHUQPHQW·V,QWHUYHQWLRQ Ibrahim Shuaibu in Kano always be at a loss. He disclosed that the association Bread bakers in Kano State, had tried severally to meet with under the auspices of Association the managements of the flour STRENGTHENING RULING PARTY… of Master Bakers and Caterers of companies in a bid to bring down L-R: Vice President Yemi Osinbajo; President Muhammadu Buhari; APC Caretaker Chairman, Mai Mala Buni, Governor Abubakar Bello of Niger State and Nigeria, Kano chapter have said the price, but their efforts were Governor Gboyega Oyetola of Osun State, during the submission of the Caretaker Committee’s report to the President at the Presidential Villa, Abuja … that increase in the price of flour unsuccessful as the mills cited yesterday. GODWIN OMOIGUI had left them with no option than COVID-19 as the reason why to increase the price of bread for the meeting could not hold. their business to survive in the state. The secretary wondered why Speaking to journalists in Kano the price of flour was N9, 000 from $NSDELR%XKDUL3RLVHGWR 1LJHULDQ3URVWKHWLFV0DNHU+HDULQJ yesterday, Secretary of the associa- late 2019 and early 2020 when the tion, Kabiru Hassan Abdullahi said dollar exchange rate was N400 or &KDQJH1·'HOWD1DUUDWLYH $LG7HFKQLFLDQRQ$IULFDQ9RLFHV the decision was due to increase above, but it has now reached over in Abuja in the price of flour and other N16,000 while the dollar rate is Ndubuisi Francis in Abuja which should be a source of Adedayo Akinwale challenges of living with limb ingredients used in making bread. still not more than N500. livelihood for the people, not- loss gave vent to the creation According to him, the association He said IRS flour, made by BUA, The Minister of Niger Delta ing that what led to militancy African Voices Change- of Irede Foundation which could take both decision to shut which had been scarce at market, AͿairs, Senator Godswill Ak- was the attitude and method makers programme will has, since inception, restored down business and subsequently was the most expensive product pabio, has restated President of operations adopted by the this week feature Crystal hope to children living with increase the price, but in order among other brands. Muhammadu Buhari’s deter- international oil companies Chigbu, a Nigerian prosthet- loss of limbs by giving them not to render thousands of youths While calling on Abdussamad mination to change the story (IOCs). ics maker who recalls how prosthetics.” jobless which could be a threat to Isyaku Rabiu, the Chairman of of the Niger Delta region from The IOCs, he said, displayed she surmounted the trauma Katsiga, who had a chance peaceful coexistence of the state, BUA Group of Companies to decades-long decay in infrastruc- insensitivity and lack of corporate of caring for a child who encounter with a 15-year-old they decided to increase the price reduce the price of his flour ture to that of access to services social responsibility, which led was born with a congenital boy who could not aͿord in the near future. product, the secretary also called and infrastructural development. to the people being sidelined. limb deformity to establish a functional hearing aid, Abdullahi blamed the fed- on him to improve the supply of Akpabio stated this when He said: “The present adminis- a foundation which gives was motivated to establish eral government for its failure his product in order to be available he met with the Charge ‘d’ tration even when working under succour to children whose Deaftronics from a workshop to respond to their appeals for at market. AͿaires of the Embassy of very di΀cult circumstances is limbs had been severed as in Botswana from where he intervention to bring lasting He said “ I have many appeals Ireland to Nigeria, Mr. Conor doing everything to alleviate the a result of health challenges. manufactured the world’s solution to the problem. to Abdussamad. Firstly, he should Finn and his team who paid peoples suͿering and the Àrst The 30-minute magazine Àrst solar-powered hearing He said the association had improve his production in order him a courtesy visit in Abuja thing that must change is the programme which is spon- device complete with battery provided jobs to thousands of to make his product available in on Thursday. attitude, not just of the IOC’S, sored by Globacom, also charger called ‘Solar Ear’. youths in the state and contributes the markets. A statement issued by the but also of the people because features Tendekayi Katsiga, The duo will be on CNN tremendously to food security, “Secondly, I call on Abdus- Director, Press and Public Rela- they are part of the problem. a Zimbabwean electronics on DSTV channel 401 on but there were problems that samad to ensure that the price tions, Patricia Deworitshe, said “So, there must be a change technician who fabricated a Saturday at 9.30 a.m. Repeats pose danger to the business but of flour is reduced. The issue of the minister noted that the people of attitude from that of receiving solar-powered hearing aid with of the engaging edition will the government had not done flour price increase goes hand in of the Niger Delta region have tokenism to that of insisting on battery chargers for children be broadcast on Sunday at anything to save it. hand with exchange rate. The price had to bear with violence and access to development and with hearing defects. 4.30 a.m., 7.30 a.m., 12.30 p.m. The secretary pointed out that of flour was N9, 000 from late deprivation since 1956 when oil services.” Chigbu, a 2002 graduate and 7.30 p.m. after painstaking efforts to continue 2019 and early 2020 when the was Àrst discovered in Oloibiri, The minister who has also of Biochemistry from the Another repeat comes up with the business without increas- dollar exchange rate was N400 Bayelsa State. been on the frontline of engaging University of Lagos, Nigeria, on Monday at 4.00 a.m., while ing the price of bread, despite or above, but it has now reached The former Akwa Ibom stakeholders in ensuring sustain- said, “seeing other children a two-part, Àfteen-minute the hike in the price of flour, the over N16,000 while the dollar rate State governor said pollution able peace within the region said and families go through the repeat will be shown on market forces had compelled the is still not more than N500. If you in most areas was so serious things were deÀnitely going to same process without a clear Tuesday and Wednesday at association to take the decision, look at the increment, it is about that it destroyed aquatic life, change. view on how to adapt to the 6.45 p.m. otherwise its members would 50 per cent. 38 THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾


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ͺͮͰͯ NEWSXTRA Maiduguri-Damaturu Road Shut as RRS Engages Boko Haram Michael Olugbode ÓØ
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highway to kidnap travellers. According to the source, the the police upper hand, while State, Abioye Babalola Abioye Babalola confirmed the The source said they were insurgents had to retreat as they Boko Haram launched attacks The security source also incident when he was called by The major highway between however spotted by men could not withstand the teargas on CTU and RRS Vehicle, the revealed that two vehicles, a our correspondent but did not Borno and Yobe states, Maid- of the RRS deployed on the Though no one was said road was blocked for the com- Sharon and Toyota Camry with however give the details uguri-Damaturu highway was Maiduguri-Damaturu highway to have been lost on the two muters, after neutralising the registration number PKM 512 He said normalcy had been closed to traffic for about two who engaged them in shootout sides, but two armored vehicles road and ensuring safety of the XA and KANO TRN 77 SY were brought to the highway and hours yesterday as men of the The shootout which started belonging to the RRS were said civilians, they were escorted recovered from the insurgents. commuters were able to travel Borno State Rapid Respond at about 3p.m. lasted for about to be destroyed in the attack. to Auno, The Commandant RRS, on the road again. Squad engaged Boko Haram an hour and half. The source said: “Boko Ha- “Efforts to kidnap passengers in a long shootout. The RRS was about to thwart ram terrorist attacks at Garin was thwarted, the road is safe, According to security source, their movement as they were Kuturu along Maiduguri- no any form of abduction,” the insurgents had taken a drive able to destabilise the insurgents Damaturu road today at about the source said the operation Derek Chauvin Bags 22 Years through the desert part with after several shot of canisters 1630hrs was thwarted by RRS. against the insurgents was led Prison Sentence for George the intention of blocking the of teargas. “The use of tear gas gave by Commander RRS Borno Floyd's Murder Festus Akanbi áÓÞÒ
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 Olanipekun’s Killers The secretary added that the ciliation of members across the the conduct and outcome of the group. We had a youth and Kemi Olaitan ÓØ
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Present at the event include Chairman informed the President party, saying “with the work done congresses and National Conven- women committee, and also
his wife, Khadijat, family mem- that the Committee had been by the committee the party has tion are done in a manner that people with disability,” he added. Eighteen years after he was as- bers, the South-west Peoples very cautious and meticulous in bounced back to life. conforms with our desire to leave According to him, a Contact sassinated, family and associates Democratic Party (PDP) Chair- making arrangements to conduct “I have listened with great indelible footprints of all-round and Strategy Team had been set of Chief Ajibola Olanipekun man, Ambassador Taofeek credible, transparent, flawless and interest to the remarkable job development and a lasting legacy up in every state to come up with (SAN), yesterday called on Arapaja; Oyo State Head of generally acceptable congresses you have done so far. We are for future generations." an acceptable template that would the Nigerian police and other Service (HOS), Alhaja Ololade and convention for the party to all witnesses to the crisis that Earlier in his remarks, the ensure transparency, credibility security agencies in the country Agboola; and Islamic clerics, produce a strong leadership that engulfed the party leading to Chairman of APC Caretaker and acceptability of the internal to unmask his killers. among many others. will enjoy the support, trust and litigations and presented a picture Committee said they approached electoral processes. The Senior Advocate of Adewuyi who was a friend to confidence of all members. of selfishness and division,” said their duty with commitment and Buni also said the committee Nigeria and former Commis- the deceased for over 20 years, "At all times, we have enjoyed the President. dedication to rescue the party had instituted a process to review sioner for Finance in Oyo State, said till now there had not been the confidence of Mr. President President Buhari said the from imminent collapse. the party’s constitution and look was assassinated at his Ibadan any clue on his assassination, and enjoyed your leadership. In party’s structure was disturbed The Yobe State Governor noted into loopholes that usually fan residence on 20 June, 2003. noting that no one knew the developing the timetable for the by the conflicts that preceded and that all issues and members conflict and litigations among A friend of the deceased, reason for the assassination of congresses and convention, the followed various elections, not- were given a fair hearing, and members, with more than 500 Chief Moyo Adewuyi, while the late SAN who was a straight support to conduct a credible elec- ing that the secretariat had been an open-door policy was cre- memoranda already received. speaking during the 18th forward person. tion cannot be over-emphasised; witnessing a beehive of peaceful ated to accommodate all those He told the President and remembrance prayers, held According to him, "He faced this will also justify the successes activities after the reconciliation. that were aggrieved, leading to other party members that 14 in Ibadan, lamented that his his legal practice after he was recorded and the status of the new The President said: "It is gratify- withdrawal of cases in court and party members had indicated life was cut short in his prime removed as commissioner by APC that we have all dreamt of," ing to note that with the coming peaceful settlements. their interest to contest for the while making progress in the the administration of Chief Akpanudoedehe quoted Buni as of the Caretaker Extraordinary “We are currently witnessing Anambra State elections, assuring law profession, stating that he Kolapo Ishola and was making telling the President. Convention Planning Committee high powered decamping to that the primary elections will be was a straight forward person progress as he became SAN after During the meeting at the State and its effective management of our party, including governors free, fair and transparent. who never engaged in shady he left office. His killers got him House, President Buhari took a the affairs of the party and the from the PDP. The party is now The Yobe State governor said business with anybody while exactly 100 days after he was holistic look at the activities of pursuit of its mandate, the party more peaceful, orderly and ac- huge legal fees were inherited, alive. first attacked in his residence." the APC in recent times and con- has bounced back to life and the commodating than what we met and the committee had worked cluded that the party, which was National Secretariat of our party on the ground. Although there with members to settle all the CHANGE OF NAME crisis ridden, had been revived has once again become a beehive was initial fear, the mobilisation outstanding, after scaling them 
 


  

 


  
and now fully back to life. of activities, as it used to be in the and sensitisation was able to allay down, noting that payment for 
 


 

He, therefore, congratulated good old days before the crisis." the fears of members,” Buni said. the APC National Secretariat had  





 


the Mala Buni-led committee The President told members of The Yobe State governor said been completed. 

  





  
for its task to return the party the committee that they would the registration and revalidation “The party members have  


  
 

 
  
 


 
from a comatose state to proper continue to enjoy the support of of members across the country agreed to name the secretariat,  
 

  
 
  
 
 

reorganisation at all levels. all party stalwarts and members recorded more than 40 million Muhammadu Buhari House,” 

    
 


  The President said the APC to complete their assignment with members, and an appeal com- he added. 
 


  
&RQ¿UPDWLRQRIQDPH7KLVLVWRQRWLI\ had been revived, energised and the actualisation of the conven- mittee was also set up to hear all While thanking the President for 
  
 

 
repositioned for its forthcoming tion and leave an “indelible matters related to the process so his support and insight, Buni noted 
 
 
 

 


 
national convention and future footprint’’. that no member gets disenfran- that a National Conference for the 




  


 



 


 





elections. He said: "I wish to assure you chised. Youths was organised recently as 

 
 

 
 







According to him, the fortunes that your committee will continue “We have observed that part of the bottom-up approach to   
 
 

 
 


of the party had been brightened to enjoy my support and that of youth and women constitute strengthening the party and ensur- 
 
  
 
 
by the re-organisation and recon- other stakeholders to ensure that huge population of the voting ing relevance of all stakeholders.   
 


    
 

  THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

˾ 
ͺ;, 2021 39 SPORTS XTRA Rohr Motivates Home-based Super Eagles Players Ahead of Mexico Friendly itha num- of the encounter. likes of Victor Osimhen, man football tactician said win against Mexico, they have well, Austin and Paul with ber of Rohr continues to observe Wilfred Ndidi and William : “They are doing well, they a great team but each match my goalkeeper coach Alloy, regular the home-based Super Eagles Troost-Ekong. Rohr believes the are learning. The home-based is open and I see here some and selection will be okay.” Super players before their departure Super Eagles can cause an upset player are in the rhythm of the players with good qualities. History suggests that the Eagles to the United States, where they when they face off against a team competition. “They are working hard, Mexicans are favourites to stars face CONCACAF powerhouse ranked eleventh in the world by “All the Super Eagles now are they are doing two training ses- win the friendly as they have absentW for next week’s Nigeria in an international friendly on FIFA. actually on holidays, resuming sions a day and we are watching not lost to the three-time Afri- versus Mexico international July 4, 2021. Rohr has been left impressed very soon training sessions with them, we are monitoring what can champions with their full friendly, Franco-German senior The Super Eagles are by the performance of the invited the clubs so they could not come they are doing as there will be a complement of players in five national team Manager, Gernot without their top players for players during the training ses- that’s why it’s good to encour- friendly also I hope, and a good previous meetings., but the Rohr had little choice but to fill the upcoming game because sions in Abuja. age these home-based players. selection for the departure to the North Americans managed just in the gap with home-based most of them are gearing up Speaking to the Super Eagles “They will have a difficult United States. one win in regulation time in players, who he hitherto does to resume pre-season training Media team yesterday, the Ger- game, it is not impossible to “The coaches are doing those matches. not believe in and has been try- at their European clubs. ing to encourage them ahead Despite the absence of the Siasia: I was Abandoned by Government, Teammates during Life Ban Case Former Super Eagles coach, “That was it. Samson Siasia has expressed I think what he could’ve done disappointment in how the was to go to the president be- Nigerian government and cause I’m a legend – I’ve played, his Super Eagles teammates broke my legs, coached for this all abandoned him during his country. life ban case. But, unfortunately, the gov- In 2019, Siasia was banned ernment has not done well when for acceding to fix match in it comes to my case. So I’m not exchange for bribe. But Siasia happy.” denied the allegations, appeal- “The most disappointing ing FIFA sanctions. moments were when your Earlier in the week Siasia’s colleagues that you played with life ban from football was never called you to ask you how reduced to a five-year ban by you’re doing. the Court of Arbitration for Even the legend games – I Sports (CAS). A fine of CHF don’t know what FIFA ban 50,000 (US$50,000) imposed had to do with legend games by FIFA on Mr Siasia as part – they don’t even invite me or of the sanctions was also “set put me amongst whatever they Super Eagles aside”. are doing. Siasia, however, said in spite So I’m very disappointed with of his sacrifice for Nigeria as a that,” Siasia said. La Liga Expert Hails Chukwueze’s Europa League Performance player and a coach, he was In 1994, Siasia won the Af- abandoned by the Nigerian rica Cup of Nations with the La Liga expert François of European clubs. vs Manchester United. the second point, he has government, while his team- Nigerian Super Eagles. Under Miguel Boudet was con- Boudet sang the praises “He’s a very good player, the qualities even if it re- mates showed no concern his watch, Nigeria’s under-20 tacted by the French press of Chukwueze and high- he has a very good quality mains mainly a winger. He during his ordeal. emerged runners-up at the 2005 to give the lowdown on lighted that he shone as a winger. Against Arsenal lacks the finish to perform “The minister for sports came World Youth Championships. Samuel Chukwueze amid against Arsenal in the in the semi-final, he is excel- consistently as a goalscorer. in few weeks after my ban. Winning a silver medal at the audacious reports sug- Europa League semifinal lent, we saw a winger with “But, he’s the kind of And the minister called me Beijing Olympics in 2008 and a gesting that he is wanted first leg back in April but a lot of ball even if he can guy you like to see at the and said, ‘coach, I know about bronze at 2016 Olympics at Rio, by Marseille in the summer added that he still has room still be improved,” Boudet stadium, he’s spectacular, your problem, but we don’t have Siasia is rated the most decorated transfer window. for improvement. said to Football Club de with great speed and great money,” Siasia told journalists football coach at the Olympics If a deal were to happen, The Diamond Academy Marseille. dribbling quality.” in Abuja yesterday. in Africa. Marseille have to active the product went through some “He’s very interesting, Since making his La Liga winger’s release clause of difficult times last season, he’s one of the revelations debut against Levante in 100 million euros - some- struggling with injury of La Liga two years ago. He November 2018, Chuk- thing that might not be problems which saw him is post trained at Villarreal, wueze has accumulated 91 Man Utd Closing in on feasible considering the miss fourteen games in all it is very surprising that the matches in the top-flight, effects of the coronavirus competitions including the club wants to let him go.” scoring 12 goals with 10 £77m Sancho Deal pandemic on the finances Europa League showpiece “He is able to play in assists. A proposed deal between payment structure and potential Man Utd and Borussia Dort- add-ons. mund for £77m is close to being The Bundesliga side have Super Eagles fullback, Ebuehi Inches Towards Venezia Move agreed; German club willing to pushed for more of the fee to Venezia sporting director having held transfer talks with Collauto said to Italian regional ing one goal in 33 appearances accept lower fee if more money be paid up front and are now Mattia Collauto has confirmed the club’s sporting director and daily newspaper based in Ven- in the E redivisie and was paid up front; personal terms willing to lower their asking that the newly-promoted side technical director Paolo Poggi. ice. “He is a player we know cautioned only once in unlikely to be agreed while price if United agree to front- are working on a deal to sign Should the deal go through, and have been following for 2,841 minutes of action. Sancho remains on international load the payment. Super Eagles right-back Tyronne a loan move with a purchase some time, we are doing the The 25-year-old has duty at Euro 2020. It is understood Dortmund’s Ebuehi. clause inserted into the contract evaluations.” a contract with Benfica A proposed deal for the asking price for the 21-year- The Benfica defender is edg- is being mooted. Ebuehi spent the whole of last until the end of the 2022-2023 England winger is worth in the old at the start of the summer ing closer to a move to Venezia “We talked to each other,” season on loan at Twente, scor- season. region of £77m, with the clubs transfer window was in excess in the process of finalising the of £85m. Joshua may Fight in Nigeria Soon 2021 Total Division One Basketball Dunks off Action will commence on Touch, Safety Knights, Nile Serena’s 24th Grand Slam Title Anthony Joshua’s dream of a are both of Nigerian descent today at the Indoor Sports Hall University of Abuja and Ahmadu fight in Nigeria could be aided so that could be huge. of the National Stadium as 2021 Bello University Kings from Zaria by the emergence of Joe Joyce “If AJ needs a dance partner in men’s Total Division One gets completes the team in the Savannah Quest Begins against Sasnovich as a challenger, says Sam Jones. Nigeria, look no further. That underway. 11 teams in the Savan- Division. Joyce could become the fight would be something nah conference and 9 teams in In the Atlantic conference, Nigerian Serena Williams will begin The Romanian, who tore mandatory challenger to Joshua very, very special. the Atlantic Conference will be Air Force Rockets will be up against her latest quest for a 24th her left calf muscle during a and enforce a world title fight, “Joe would relish the competing for four available slots OS Lions from Osun, Comets Grand Slam title by meeting match in Rome in May, announced his manager Jones says. thought of fighting Joshua in in the Total sponsored National (Lagos), Police Bombers (Lagos), the world No 100 Aliaksandra directly before the draw took Undefeated Joyce will face Nigeria, but he also would finals. Brave Heart, Oilers of Lagos, Chuba Sasnovich in the first round of place that she is not fit and cannot Carlos Takam on July 24, while to fight Tyson Fury in Las Apa Flames (Benue) will Ikpeazu of Anambra, Enugu Coal the 2021 Wimbledon Cham- compete at this year’s Wimbledon pionships. Championships. Joshua is set to defend his IBF, Vegas or in a stadium in compete against Kano Pyra- City Basketball and Edo Beads One opponent that Williams If Williams prevails over Sas- WBA and WBO heavyweight the UK.” mid (Kano), Zamfara Shooters from Benin City. will not face in her bid to create novich and her second-round belts against Oleksandr Usyk Joshua’s undisputed title fight (Zamfara), Yobe Desert Warriors With most teams already on history in SW19, will opponent too, then she will at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium with WBC champion Fury could (Yobe), AHIP Giants (Kano) and ground, the mandatory pre-match be the athlete who beat her potentially meet Angelique in September. be resurrected if they each come Gombe Jewels (Gombe) in the and Technical meeting has been to the title in 2019 - Simona Kerber, who she lost to in the “There is a possibility Joe and through summer fights. Fury will Savannah Conference. fixed for Saturday, 26th of June by Halep. 2018 final. Joshua could fight in Nigeria,” face Deontay Wilder on July 24, Other teams include Taraba 8:00am at the secretariat of the Nigeria Jones told Sky Sports. “They hours after Joyce fights Takam. Hurricanes (Taraba), Golden Basketball Federation in Lagos.

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COVID-19 Tests & Vaccinations “It is a terrible draconian law. It has never happened in the TEXT‘COVID’ TO58123 history of Nigeria that a law as sweeping as this will 26years be proposed. Not even under the military was this done” – Former Governor of Ogun State, Chief Olusegun Osoba,

This service is provided in association with accredited service providers condemning the proposed amendment of the Nigeria Press Council Act. RIGHT OFREPLY DAKUKU PETERSIDE What Gov Wike did not tell his Guest was privileged to read Dele Momodu’s column, and he deserves nothing but pity. of Reply was one of pleasure and appreciation. the Pendulum, of Saturday, 19 June 2021, to The column further claimed that Wike constructed However, I wish to emphasize the following points which he gave the title, “My close encounters the Abonema ring road. This claim is laughable and where I disagree with the riposte from Mr Dakuku with Governor Wike”. Over the years, I have metaphorically calls “a butterfl y a bird” to dress Peterside in which he suggested I was misled by painstakingly followed this incisive column, her on a borrowed robe. Wike awarded a less than Governor Wike. butI this is one occasion when I beg to differ with 4km contract for Abonema bypass and not a ring One. I must instantly correct the impression his assertions for reasons you will see in this article. road without streetlight for a project in the heart that Governor Wike was aware of my column on This right of reply would not have been necessary of an ancient city. I will not bother my audience him before its publication, and that he somehow except that the author, Dele Momodu, better known with the fact that Wike has completely abandoned teleguided me with respect to it. Nothing could as Bob Dee, has a solid social profi le, has earned the rural areas in every facet of development . be far from the truth. I was given access to the credibility among discerning Nigerians, and his The only attempt for Wike to create employment projects of the Government and as I stated in my column commands considerable followership. The and local industries and his signature project in Column the views I expressed on what I saw were import is that whatever he puts out is assumed to agriculture is the Cassava processing plant in mine only. Other than the invitation to inspect the have passed through the rigour of proper verifi cation Oyigbo. Unfortunately, Gov Amaechi initiated projects, nobody had any input into my column and analysis and therefore to a reasonable degree multiple agro-industries projects, including the apart from me. has the seal of truth. But this is one occasion Mr Dele Rivers Songhai farms, Fish farms, agro-industrial Two. I made no links, connections or comparisons Momodu may have been misled to unwittingly villages, rice farms, amongst others for which this between previous administrations and Wike’s, market half-truth, cover-ups, outright lies and is one. Amaechi’s administration, in partnership so Mr Peterside should have, at the very least, distorted facts. with DADTCO (a Dutch fi rm) and Shell (SPDC), tolerated my observations. I was not concerned Therefore, it is only fair that as a signifi cant set up the cassava processing plant with a defi nite with the past, only with the present. If Governor stakeholder in the development and politics of Rivers blueprint. The administration brought in all needed Wike has earnestly completed work initiated by State, I put the records straight. But, unfortunately, Wike equipment and installed them. The only part of his predecessors, as Mr Peterside claims, then it in our highly politicised environment, the falsehood if My great brother Dele Momodu will critically the project left was to connect it to a source of is another feather to his cap, in a clime where the ignored is reframed as a Public Relations stunt, examine and engage with Wike’s work and position power. Perhaps connecting an already completed tendency is to rubbish the original and creative and facts become debatable. them in the milieu and contest of history of these project by his predecessor to a power source is the work of one’s predecessors. Everything I wrote For those who may be new to the politics of Rivers projects to let people know what part Wike did. For “real signature” agricultural project of the Wike is solidly backed by original pictures and videos. State, it suffi ces to provide background and context instance, you cannot claim to have built a house administration in six years. Three. It is uncharitable and unfair to say Wike to situate any of the information provided in Bob when you only painted an existing one. That is On Sports, Wike’s predecessor initiated a has done nothing in Rivers State or even to try and Dee’s article under consideration and the critical simply fraud! sports academy in Afara, Etche to compliment detract from his achievements. I know Mr Peterside analyses provided in this article to establish the truth Also, the column claimed Wike has miraculously the new 38,000 capacity multi-facility stadium the to be a scholar and the hallmark of scholarship and distinguish them from half-truth and outright restored law and order. As I write, the state has administration built. That project had reached 40% is acknowledgement of the good of others just as falsehood. The following verifi able facts paint a had more curfew imposed than any other state in completion, but Gov Wike, as a Real Madrid fan, much as backing up negative assertions with proper realistic picture of the socio-economic situation of the the southern part of Nigeria. The state is currently abandoned the ongoing project and started a new and accurate facts which are borne out of research state: the state in 2020 has 41.59% of its workforce under the siege of 7pm to 6am curfew in all LGAs. Sports Academy within the precincts of Yakubu and empirical data. If you continue to insist on as unemployed and ranked 8th in unemployment It has the unenviable record of the top 3 states in Gowon Stadium in PH. Unfortunately, Wike has this jaundiced perception of events in your home by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS); the state kidnapping and cult wars in southern Nigeria. SBM not done anything novel in sports to harvest the State, I can only think and conclude that you’re is number one in poverty index among South-South Intelligence report puts the state as the number multiple talents that abound in the state. It is six no longer familiar or conversant with occurrences states; the US travel advisory has consistently put one state in kidnapping and robbery. Are these years of wasted opportunity. at home after spending six years between Lagos the state among the most security challenged states indicators of a safe state? Residents of Rivers State If there is one area Gov Wike neglected utterly, it and Abuja. in the southern part of Nigeria from 2017 to 2020; know they have no business being outside after is in education. Bob Dee’s only credit to Gov Wike Four. Mr Peterside said Wike merely completed Nigeria Police record ranked Rivers state as the top 9pm any day. This situation sounded absurd given is the renovation of 6 schools in six years. When what the Rotimi Amaechi government conceptualised crime infected state in the South-South geopolitical the secure nature of Rivers State just a decade ago. you juxtapose this with the fact that the government or started. That’s how good and responsible leaders region from 2017 to 2020; both by Central Bank of Gov Wike has not put any security architecture in before his constructed 400 new primary schools, should behave. But it is not true that Wike has Nigeria and NBS admission Rivers state recorded place to fi ght crime. Instead, he has been consistently 21 model secondary schools at different stages of not initiated and executed his own projects. We no foreign direct investment from 2017 to 2020; fi ngered as patronising criminals on account of completion and initiated a new campus for Rivers made enquiries on this issue and got favourable Rivers state is among top 3 indebted states by 2020 his politics. State university, it becomes a case of light versus responses from independent bystanders. I challenge despite an average internally generated revenue of Mr Dele Momodu was told that after 41 years, darkness. Unfortunately, Mr Dele Momodu’s anyone with similar or more projects in Nigeria N10-13bn monthly and average of N15-18billion Wike had begun implementing the multiple campuses tour guide, who traded on half-truths, was very today, or in the immediate past to send in pictures monthly FAAC allocation plus 13% derivation. envisaged for Rivers State University. However, uncharitable to the people of Rivers State. and videos of such projects. I will publish and Another important fact that must be put into Wike did not tell his guest that he has converted I am aware that Gov Wike’s main signature project broadcast massively because they contribute to consideration when measuring any fi nancial the world-class model secondary schools and the is the replica of the Government house he has built the enhancement of the development of our polity! expenditures on projects done by the Wike Sports College of Excellence at Afara, Etche built in his village for himself, the poverty visited on the Five. It is noteworthy that unlike Mr Peterside, administration is that his administration received by Gov Amaechi into University campuses . There people, hundreds of Rivers sons and daughters who many distinguished members of his party APC two heavy bulk payments of N78bn and N100bn is nothing wrong with this save that he should put were on scholarship withdrawn from universities have been special guests of Governor Wike; they respectively from FGN on account of work done in context. For example, on Andoni- Opobo-Nkoro overseas, destruction of primary health care and have inspected and sometimes commissioned his by Rt Hon C R Amaechi administration and Paris Unity Road leading to my home LGA. The column basic education system. If in the 21st century, the projects, and they have all attested to the stupendous club-related refund. These funds add to receiving claimed that Wike is constructing a road to Opobo. hallmark of progress for a resource-rich state is work he is doing across the State. The spate and regular monthly federally allocated revenue and This claim is a dangerous fabricated story. The fact the beautifi cation of two roads in Port Harcourt variety of Wike’s work is audacious and stunning! internally generated revenue . The sheer size of of the matter is that Gov Peter Odili conceptualised with multiple fl yovers, then our future and that He has touched every facet of human endeavor. these monies is staggering, and when you compare and awarded a 37.71km road, with ten bridges of our children is bleak. Six. I disagree with Mr Peterside’s bland statistics that to the value of the paltry legacy projects done crisscrossing 3 LGAs in the year 2005. Before his Let me acknowledge one thing my Governor on the fi nancial status of Rivers. I expect him to by the Wike’s administration, you will weep for tenure wound up in May 2007, he has accomplished is doing great in this administration - pernicious publish the fi gures of the debt exposure of Rivers Rivers State. 26% of the scope of work with two major bridges propaganda that has turned underdevelopment to State and demonstrate how, if he is accurate, the When you compare the above verifi able facts completed stopping at Iwoama-Ashrama. development and “man to woman”. Development development does not justify the debt. Please note, with the impression created by the column that Governor Amaechi’s administration took it from and economic growth anywhere can be seen, felt, that debt itself is not the problem, it is the lack of started on a note of “bringing some good news there, altered the scope, added a spur to Nkoro, and appreciated. The people of Rivers State know tangible evidence to what the money borrowed in this season of anomie”, you will notice a sharp Kalaibiama to Opobo Town. The road redesign that they have been impoverished terribly in the has been put that is anathema to all people of contrast in meaning and signifi cance. Thus, the increased the length from 37.7km to 44.1km and past six years. No amount of propaganda, not even conscience. No country or government worth its portrayal by the column that remarkable development bridges from 10 to 11, expanding the bridges and leveraging on the reputation of Bob Dee, can garnish salt beats its chest by proclaiming its debt free indicators are emerging from Rivers State is not retaining walls. By the time he left offi ce in May 2015, a lousy case or “a soured soup”. status. It immediately stands to reason that such only misleading but fantastical. One wonders where the administration had completed 80% of the work. a country or government has stunted growth. In the good news or economic management wizardry The administration of C R Amaechi completed 9 of DELE MOMODU’S COMMENTS: fact the popular question in town is “where’s Wike is emanating. the 11 bridges on the road, with considerable work getting money to execute his marathon projects?” The other contentious point is Bob Dee’s positing done on the remaining two bridges. I can say with I thank my dear Brother Dakuku for the response Seven. I don’t know how often Mr Peterside he will do a “critical examination and evaluation of boldness that as a Governorship candidate in 2015, to my column of last week on Governor Nyesom goes to Rivers State. He should endeavor to do the work Gov Wike was doing in Rivers through his I drove by road to campaign in Kalaibiama-Opobo Wike. I am always open to a critique of everything so again soon. He is unlikely to recognise some of pictorial lenses (rephrased)”. These lenses, granted, and most parts of Andoni. I write, and indeed, I am one of my own greatest those roads he mentioned or indeed most parts of may capture beautiful images of projects executed From May 2015 till June 2021, a period of 6 years, critics, even if I say so myself. This is why I am the State. Governor Wike deserves support and in Rivers State, but what it will not do is to tell the Wike led administration is yet to complete less than often not fazed by abuse unless they are uncouth or encouragement, despite political differences, for true stories of who initiated, started, and sometimes 20% of the work left on both the Ikuru and Opobo scurrilous. I am quick to accept superior argument the progress of the State. completed them but have been pushed aside by axis of the Unity Road. These are incontrovertible and facts when they are presented, but my emphasis The simple truth is that Wike is indeed a a well-rehearsed and intentioned attempt to give facts. For Wike to attempt to claim credit for this is on those facts and arguments being accurate and phenomenon, and no tirade or diatribe can belie credit to whom it is not due. It will be signifi cant road is self-deceit and personal aggrandisement, superior. That is why my fi rst reaction to this Right or belittle this fact… Printed and Published in Lagos by THISDAY Newspapers Limited. Lagos: 35 Creek Road, Apapa, Lagos. Abuja: Plot 1, Sector Centre B, Jabi Business District, Solomon Lar Way, Jabi North East, Abuja . All Correspondence to POBox 54749, Ikoyi, Lagos. EMAIL: [email protected], [email protected]. TELEPHONE Lagos: 0802 2924721-2, 08022924485. Abuja: Tel: 08155555292, 08155555929 24/7 ADVERTISING HOT LINES: 0811 181 3085, 0811 181 3086, 0811 181 3087, 0811 181 3088, 0811 181 3089, 0811 181 3090. ENQUIRIES & BOOKING: [email protected]