Wednesday 21 July 2021

NIGERIA’S MOST INFLUENTIAL NEWSPAPER

N200 | www.leadership.ng | No. 3,722 Leadership Newspapers | @leadershipNGA

Nigeria To Leverage ECOWAS Network To Boost Trade Volume

BY MARK ITSIBOR, Abuja can States (ECOWAS) Trade region, Nigeria is poised to Nigerian Export Promoti- NEPC, is now repositioning (EEFP), a part of the eco-
Promotion Organisations boost its non-oil exports le- on Council (NEPC), Mr. Se- the nation’s export through nomic sustainability plan
Following the official (TPO) Network last Friday, veraging the platform. gun Awolowo, who is also the implementation of its which development and
launch of the Economic towards increasing the vo- The Executive director / the inaugural president of N50 billion Export Expan- implementation is being
Community of West Afri- lume of trade within the chief executive officer of the the ECOWAS TPOs and the sion Facility Programme PAGE 4

Muslims Observe Peaceful Sallah

Amid Security Challenges 4

Governors, Abdulsalami, others reiterate call for peace, end to insecurity Police rescue 100
victims from bandits' den in Zamfara PMB gives corps members N1m, 2 cows, 20 bags of rice
Tokyo 2020:
Football, Softball
Events Begin Today
PAGE 30

NCDC Confirms
15 Cases Of
Monkeypox
L-R: Former head of PAGE 6
state, General Ibra-
him Babangida (retd)
with Niger State
governor, Abubakar
Sani Bello, at his
uphill residence after
the two rakat prayers Controversy Trails
to mark Eid-el- Kabir
in Minna, Niger State, Igboho’s ‘Arrest’ In
yesterday
Cotonou
Forget 2023, Presidency Tells PDP FG Must
PAGE 6

Says you can’t dismantle PMB’s political structure Address

Hardship
BY CHIBUZO UKAIBE Abuja les Democratic Party (PDP) Faced By
and GODWIN ENNA, Katsina and other opposition parties
Nigerians 10 Die In Kwara
President Muhammadu
not to entertain high hopes
in the 2023 general election – Sultan Road Accident
Buhari has told the Peop- because the Nigerian mas-
PAGE 6 PAGE 6
PAGE 7
 2 21.07.2021
BY ZAKA KHALIQ, Lagos
E
id el Kabir is a symbolic
muslim festival
celebrated annually with
fun-fare and slaughtering
of rams . It is a festivity
marked with friends, relatives,
families and well-wishers.
However, cut-throat price as a
result of inflation has made cost
of rams and other staple food
difficult to purchase , robbing most
celebrants of a luxury celebration.
Across Lagos, Abuja, Ogun,
Oyo among other states, my
investigation shows a price
increase across most goods and
food items needed for the festival.
Maimuna’s Memoir
Driving On Nigerian Roads
This is quite an interesting
story to tell. And you would
know why? I mean if you drive
on Nigerian roads you would!
This is definitely asides where
you have to dodge crazy drivers
who would rather, because they
are trying to avoid a pothole
and possible injury to their car,
would not mind having a head on
collision with another oncoming
vehicle. Well, I don’t know how
some people think!
So, on that fateful day, I was
minding my business driving
on the slow side of the lane and
really taking my time because
I was in unfamiliar territory. I
was even humming to a song as
I drove, just for a car to drive up
close behind mine. And as I began
to wonder what was happening,
this man began blaring his horn.
Infuriated I ignored him. Can’t
he see that I’m on the slow lane?
Why wouldn’t he get on the fast
lane if he was in such a hurry?
But no, he just kept on blaring
and blaring.
SUDOKU PUZZLE AND SOLUTIONS
Each Sudoku puzzle comes with some numbers already filled and each box has a
corresponding row, column and 3x3 grid where the numbers cannot be repeated. The
row, column or 3x3 grid with the most numbers filled is the best place to start, filling new
numbers because there you have fewer options to choose from. As you fill each number on
a box, you increase your chances of getting new spaces filled.
5 8 7 3 2 9 6 1
1 2 9 4 5 6 3 8
6 3 4 8 7 1 9 5
7 1 8 6 4 3 2 9
9 4 6 5 8 2 7 3
2 5 3 9 1 7 4 6
4 6 1 7 9 8 5 2
8 9 5 2 3 4 1 7
3 7 2 1 6 5 8 4
Solution To Yesterday’s Sudoku
Celebrating Sallah Amid Rising
Costs Of Food, Goods
Some traders attributed the
rise to insecurity in the north,
the current weather as well as the
Sallah festivities.
Those food affected due to high
demands are: rice, beans, onions,
frozen food, ram, oil, garri, yam,
tomato and pepper among others.
According to a trader in Ile -
Epo Market, Lagos, known as Mr
Emeka, the price of rice was same
as in January. Emeka said a bag
of the long grain rice is N26,000
while the short grain is N24,000,
describing beans as ‘hot cake’ and
presently a rich man’s food.
“A bag of Oloyin beans is
now N42,000 from N15,000 in
January. A De rica is now N600,
I was even humming to a
song as I drove, just for a car
to drive up close behind mine.
4 8 2 4 5 3
7 5 7 6
2 enhance South Africa’s stewardship
4 5 8 7
5 6 2 8
1 1 8 3 7 Industries.
8 2 7 1 9 6
3 9 7 3
6 1 3 4
9 8 6 4
Sudoku For Today
BACK STORY OF THE DAY
Miss Esther, she explained to me Today, when I went to buy, it
that the increase in the price of was N18,000. Price of tomato is
crayfish is due to the fact that less now but its price cannot be
it is a rainy season and the predicted.”
fishermen find it and most sea According to Ogunbo Rasaq,
food difficult to get. the ram he bought at N50,000
Meanwhile, a consumer Mrs last year now sells at N80,000
Taiwo, also attributed the price to N90,000 . He said most of his
of pepper and tomatoes to the colleagues had to contribute to
weather, saying when it rains buy a cow in order to cut down
heavily, the water flushes away on cost and have more meat.
yet it was previously N400 this pepper and tomatoes. She thinks Most of the celebrants I spoke
year. Drum beans was N250 but by August or September there to appreciated God for keeping
now N550 per De rica. White will be a reduction in price. them alive till this moment,
beans was N300 for a De rica but However, Muhammad Ali, even though times are hard. They
now N550. I think it’s because of who sells varieties of pepper and called on the federal government
what is going on in the north,” tomatoes at the Ibafo market, to fight the challenges as they
he said. Ogun State said, “As at last week, hoped for a better festivity next
Chatting with a crayfish trader, tomato was sold at N22,000 . year.
SEVEN TIPS: ON SAFE WAYS TO CELEBRATE FESTIVITIES DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC
When celebrating festivities during this period of COVID-19, there are certain guidelines that need to be
followed. Gatherings are limited to a maximum of 50 people, with anything above needing the permission
of the federal government. Here are a few tips on staying safe in small gatherings!
OUTDOOR GATHERINGS ARE SAFEST using the restroom at high-traffic times. In-
If weather permits, celebrate in your back-
yard or in a park. For indoor gatherings, open-
ing windows and doors can ensure proper
stead of hugging or even bumping elbows,
wave or verbally greet others.
ventilation and help lower the risk. Indoor WEAR A MASK
gatherings with poor ventilation pose the Keep masks on when you are around peo-
greatest risk. ple, except when eating or drinking, unless
you’ve been fully vaccinated and you’re at a
CHECK CURRENT LEVELS OF COVID-19 small gathering. Avoid singing, chanting or shouting, especially
Check the number and rate of COVID-19 cases in your commu- when not wearing a mask and within 6 feet (2 meters) of others.
nity, in the community where the event is being held and in
the community where guests are coming from. The greater the ENCOURAGE PROPER HYGIENE
numbers and rates, the greater the risk of infection and spread Make sure everyone washes hands or uses hand sanitizer before
among guests. and after preparing, serving and eating food. If you are hosting
a gathering, provide plenty of soap and single-use towels or pa-
BRING SUPPLIES TO THE EVENTS TO PROMOTE SAFETY per towels in the kitchen and bathroom.
The host can provide or guests can bring supplies to the event to
promote safety, such as extra masks, hand sanitizer that contains PROMOTE SAFETY AROUND FOOD AND DRINKS
at least 60 per cent alcohol and tissues. Get vaccinated when you Limit people going in and out of areas where food is being pre-
can, and ask your guests if they are fully vaccinated. You can pared. Encourage guests to bring food and drinks for themselves
gather more safely if you and your guests are fully vaccinated. and members of their households only. If that’s not possible,
avoid self-serve food or drink options, such as buffets or drink
KEEP A SAFE DISTANCE stations. Consider having one person serve all of the food and
At the event, avoid close contact with others outside of your sharable items, such as salad dressing or condiments. Or provide
household. Avoid closely gathering around one table. Instead, single servings of food and condiments. Wear a mask if you’re
provide multiple tables or seating areas so that people from dif- preparing or serving food to people outside of your household.
ferent households can be at least 6 feet (2 meters) apart. Consid-
er assigned seating. Also, avoid being in busy eating areas and Culled From: www.mayoclinic.org
AFRICAN CONTINENTAL FREE TRADE AGREEMENT
(AfCFTA) - TRADE NEWS FROM THE CONTINENT
SOUTH AFRICA KENYA NIGERIA
South Africa is stepping up Kenyan manufacturers are hopeful Nigeria’s lawmakers are on the cusp of
investment for its wildlife and the just concluded trade mission to clearing an oil industry overhaul that
biodiversity sectors thanks to a Tanzania will help open up trade has eluded the nation for two decades.
grant of $8.9 million from the Global between the two countries. The visit Final passage of a package of measures
Environment Facility (GEF). The comes amid renewed political ties is expected as early as Wednesday due
Catalyzing Financing and Capacity between the two countries. Last week, to alignment between the National
for the Biodiversity Economy Around local manufacturers led by the Kenya Assembly and President Muhammadu
4 Protected Areas Project aims to Association of Manufacturers (KAM) Buhari. But added provisions, including
were on a trade a trade mission to one that could give the Dangote Group
of its rich biodiversity and expand Tanzania, organised in partnership an effective monopoly on fuel, launched
1
the benefits of protected areas for with the Confederation of Tanzania last-minute battles in Africa’s largest oil
local communities. exporter.
1 Culled From:www.tralac.org
9
3 As part of ongoing efforts to improve standards, opinion articles by readers will be accompanied with photographs and also
what the writer does and actual address. All opinions should be emailed to: opinion@leadership.ng
 Wednesday July 21, 2021
our stand
Delta Variant And Resurgence Of COVID-19
W
ith the feared re-
surgence of COV-
ID-19 in Nigeria
and the spread
of the new delta variant and
as the country faces the risk
of a third wave of the deadly
virus, the federal government
may need to enforce stricter
compliance to the pandem-
ic guidelines to prevent it
spreading further. The ur-
gency involved is made more
compelling as the rainy sea-
son sets in.
As a proactive measure,
the authorities have already
placed six states, namely: La-
gos, Abuja, Oyo, Rivers, Kadu-
na, Kano, and Plateau on 'red
alert' for the delta variant also
known as lineage B.1.617.2.
This variant of the virus is
said to be highly contagious.
Available reports indicate
that it is about 225 per cent
more transmissible than the
original SARS-CoV-2 strains.
A study from China point
to the fact that those infect-
ed with the delta strain have
on average about 1000 times
more copies of the virus in
their respiratory tracts than
those infected with the origi-
nal strain. It has been discov-
ered that while vaccines are
effective against the delta var-
iant, it is still possible to get
infected as the vaccines would
only reduce the risk of the
gravity of the illness which
would have led to a victim
being hospitalized or even
worse, in some cases death, a
study from the United King-
dom reveals.
Latest report from the
health authorities claim that
Nigeria had recorded a total
of 169,329 confirmed cases
of COVID-19, with 2,531 ac-
tive cases; while 164,672 pa-
tients had been discharged.
The deaths recorded as at the
time of writing this editorial
were 2,126.
In all of these, Lagos State
records the highest cases of
the virus, with number of
laboratory confirmed cases
at 60,936, the cases on ad-
mission at 1,965 the number
discharged is at 58,515 and
number of deaths at 456 as of
www.leadership.ng Leadership Newspapers @leadershipNGA
July 18, 2021. iterranean 11,644,006. The
Kogi State records the low- records also claims that Afri-
est cases with number of lab- ca has 4,531,636 confirmed
oratory confirmed cases at cases and Western Pacific
5, with 0 cases on admission 3,905,375. Also, as of 15 July
and 3 discharged while deaths 2021, a total of 3,402,275,866
have been recorded at 2 as of vaccine doses have been ad-
July 18, 2021. ministered worldwide accord-
However, World Health Or- ing to WHO.
ganization (WHO) Nigeria The organization had pre-
Vaccine Progress records that viously warned that Africa
the first dose of vaccine was was facing a third wave of
administered to 2,534,205 the virus. It also said that the
that is 1.6 per cent of the current rate of infections, the
population, while the second on-going surge, was set to sur-
dose was administered to pass the previous one by early
1,404,740 that is 0.9 per cent July. Data obtained from the
of the population as of 12 Nigerian Centre for Disease
July, 2021. Control (NCDC) showed that
According to global records the country recorded only
by the same WHO, as of 16 two cases on June 27th with
July 2021, there have been no case in Lagos. On the 28th
188,655,968 confirmed cas- there were 65 cases, with La-
es and 4,067,517 deaths. In gos recording 44 cases. 75
the Americas for example, cases were recorded on 30th
there have been confirmed of June.
cases of 74,411,952, Europe The delta variant was dis-
57,636,847, South-East Asia covered in India last year
36,525,388 and Eastern Med- December but it was in May
EDITOR: Ekele Peter Agbo
FOUNDING CHAIRMAN
Sam Nda-Isaiah (1962 - 2020)
CHAIRMAN: Zainab Nda-Isaiah
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Azu Ishiekwene
DIRECTORS: Mike Okpere
Muazu Elazeh
Abraham Nda-Isaiah
LEADERSHIP is a national paper symbolically
embedded in the nation’s capital.
We shall stand up for good governance. We shall
defend the interest of Nigerian people even against
their rulers, and we shall raise our pen at all times
in defence of what is right. These are the values by
which we intend to be assessed.
We shall never, ever for any reason forget the noble
reason of our coming into being:
For God and Country!
3
2021 that WHO named the
delta variant while declaring
it a ‘variant of concern.’ It was
this new variant in April 2021
that was responsible for the
new COVID-19 cases in India.
The Director General of
WHO, Tedros Adhanom Ge-
breyesus, disclosed that the
delta variant is ‘dangerous’
and continues to evolve and
mutate, and as such requires
constant evaluation and ‘care-
ful adjustment of the public
health response’. He disclosed
that the variant has been de-
tected in about 98 countries
and is spreading rapidly in
countries that have low and
high vaccination coverage.
Given the import of this
report and data, this newspa-
per is of the opinion that the
federal government should,
at this period, place further
restriction on internation-
al travel. And while it might
not be good for the country’s
economy to impose another
lock down, the government
should put in place strict-
er measures and public
enlightenment campaigns
as regards wearing of face
masks in public places, hand
washing regularly, the use
of alcohol based hand san-
itizers, regular cleaning of
frequently used surfaces as
well as temperature checks.
The federal government
should also create more
awareness on the delta var-
iant, urging the public, es-
pecially those who have not
been vaccinated to go for
tests and take the vaccines.
Those vaccinated should
equally still abide by the
guidelines as the chances of
being infected and falling ill
are still high.
Furthermore, as a Nige-
rian scientists previously
implored, Nigerians should
keep warm and safe in this
rainy season as the chanc-
es of catching influenza is
high. Catching a flu could
weaken one’s immune sys-
tem, leaving the body sus-
ceptible to the COVID-19
virus thereby leading to a
spike in the spread of the
virus.
 4 Wednesday, July 21, 2021
Muslims Observe Peaceful Sallah Amid Security Challenges
BY JONATHAN NDA-ISAIAH,
Abuja, ABU NMODU, Min-
na, FRANCIS OKOYE, Maidu-
guri ABUBAKAR SADEEQ MO-
HAMMED, Zaria and UMAR
MOHAMMED, Zamfara
Muslim faithful across Ni-
geria yesterday marked this
year’s Eid-el-Kabir festival
without any major untoward
incidences.
This is a welcome relief in a
country where daily reports
of violence and bloodshed
are all too common from at-
tacks on citizens and public
institutions by terrorists,
bandits, rustlers, marauding
herdsmen militia and separa-
tist agitators.
In his goodwill messages,
former head of state Gene-
ral Abdulsalami Abubakar
(retd.) called on bandits to
have a rethink and repent
even as the Etsu Nupe, Al-
haji Yahaya Abubakar iden-
tified peace as the panacea
for growth and develop-
ment General Abdulsalami,
while calling on the bandits
and others causing insecurity
in Nigeria to lay down their
arms and embrace peace,
said it was the prayer of eve-
ry well-meaning Nigerian
that "Allah will touch their
heart to denounce banditry,
kidnapping, cattle rustling
and all forms of criminal ac-
tivities."
He congratulated Muslim
ummah and Nigerians for
witnessing this year's Sallah
and advised them to conti-
nue to remain peaceful and
orderly in their conduct.
On his part, the Etsu
Nupe, Alhaji Yahaya Abu-
bakar urged Muslims to use
the Eid-el-Kabir celebration
to pray for the peace and uni-
ty of Nigeria.
The Etsu Nupe, who is
also chairman, Niger State
Council of Traditional Rulers,
yesterday at the Eid praying
Nigeria To Leverage ECOWAS Network To Boost Trade Volume
 FROM COVER
led by the Vice President.
The export expansion fa-
cility programme (EEFP)
is expected to significant-
ly raise the volume of non-
oil exports in Nigeria, and
it's a spin-off of the zero
oil plan developed by Mr.
Awolowo and approved by
the president.
Besides providing finan-
cial support for the ave-
rage Nigerian exporter, the
EEFP is also going to see
the establishment of top-
notch warehouses in the
country close to airports
where Nigerian goods
meant for export would be
Sultan
ground in Bida expressed op-
timism that Nigeria would
benefit from the spiritual
lessons of Eid-el-Kabir
He said prayers and fear of
Allah, peaceful coexistence,
mutual respect and love will
make Nigerians work tog-
ether to harness the abun-
dant resources as a progres-
sive nation.
The royal father called on
the citizens to build bridges
of brotherhood for the
nation's unity and appealed
to Muslims to emulate Pro-
phet Ibrahim’s virtues of sac-
rifice, obedience and submis-
siveness to the will of Allah
“Today’s celebration is
a commemoration of to-
tal submissiveness and ob-
edience to the will of Allah,
as exemplified by Prophets
Ibrahim and Ismail. It is also
packaged to global compe-
titive standards ahead of
their exportation.
The EEFP, in line with
the federal government’s
Economic Sustainability
Plan (ESP), is focused on
cushioning the effects of
the COVID-19 pandemic
on non-oil export busines-
ses, thereby safeguarding
jobs and creating new ones.
Earlier in March this
year, the minister of indu-
stry, trade and investment
(MITI), Otunba Niyi Ade-
bayo, officially flagged off
the EEFP and also laun-
ched the first online grant
management portal (GMP)
for non-oil exports. While
a lesson on the virtue of kee-
ping our promises to Allah
and to our fellow man,” Ab-
ubakar said.
The monarch, therefore,
advised Muslims to shun
societal ills and to always
endeavour to do good for
the betterment of all, and to
live in peace with another, ir-
respective of religious, poli-
tical, cultural and ethnic af-
finity.
Also speaking after the
two rakat prayers, Niger
State Governor Abubakar
Sani Bello stressed the need
for Nigerians, irrespecti-
ve of ethnic and religious
differences, to pray for the
nation’s security agencies to
be bestowed with the wis-
dom to overcome current
security challenges bedevi-
ling the country.
the EEFP is being imple-
mented by the NEPC, the
federal ministry of indu-
stry, trade & investment is
the supervisory body over
the agency and its operati-
ons.
It was disclosed that alt-
hough the programme an-
ticipated 500 beneficiaries,
since the launch, it has re-
ceived over 3,500 applica-
tions for the grant, out of
which over 2,000 were ve-
rified after meeting the eli-
gibility criteria.
Federal government of-
ficials said further details
and plans on disbursement
to final successful beneficia-
ries are being awaited.
He appealed to the people
to provide security agencies
with genuine security infor-
mation that will help them to
combat the challenges, just
as he expressed confidence
that Niger State and Nige-
ria will soon overcome the
current insecurity, especial-
ly those caused by banditry.
The chief Imam of Bida,
Sheik Adamu Yakatu, con-
ducted the eid prayers in
Bida while at Minna central
mosque, Sheik Ibrahim Isa
Fari, led the two rakat pray-
ers before the faithful pro-
ceeded with slaughtering of
their rams.
Emir Of Zazzau Tasks
Islamic Scholars On Pray-
ers Against Insecurity
The Emir of Zazzau, Ma-
lam Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli,
in his Eid-el-Kabir message
delivered at his palace in Za-
ria, urged scholars to engage
in fervent prayers for peace
and security in the emirate
and the country as a whole.
The Emir said, "Prayer is
the only panacea to the cur-
rent security challenges be-
deviling the country.
"I therefore urge Islamic
and Christian scholars as
well as Imams and Pastors
to engage in fervent prayers
against kidnapping, banditry
and all forms of crimes in so-
ciety.”
While congratulating
Muslim ummah on the cele-
bration of Eid-el-Kabir, the
emir appealed to govern-
ment and security agencies
to redouble their commit-
ment in ensuring peace and
security among Nigerians.
He lauded the efforts of
both federal and state go-
vernments for their unti-
ring support to security
agencies in terms of provi-
sion of equipment and logi-
stics towards combating cri-
mes but called for a review of
Aside from being an in-
tervention to save and
create jobs, Adebayo no-
ted that the programme
“will support resilience
in shoring up foreign ex-
change, diversification, mo-
dernisation of Nigeria’s eco-
nomy and acceleration of
economic growth and eco-
nomic support."
Under the export expan-
sion facility, there are 16
programmes as approved in
the implementation work
plan under seven Work-
streams namely – capacity
building, emergency inter-
ventions, export aggregati-
on, export inclusion, export
trade facilitation, institu-
their welfare packages safety.
He warned farmers not to
be deterred by insecurity to
abandon their farmland, as-
suring them that measures
are being taken to impro-
ve security situation in the
emirate.
Katsina State Governor
Aminu Masari called on lea-
ders to promote peace and
unity among various natio-
nalities irrespective of eth-
nic, religious and political
affiliations.
“As leaders, we must em-
phasize things that would
promote peace, unity and
mutual coexistence among
the people,” he said.
The governor stressed that
no nation would develop in
atmosphere of differences
and crises, even as he called
for collaborative efforts to
confront the security chal-
lenges facing the country as
government alone cannot
do it.
In Kano State, Governor
Abdullahi Ganduje urged
Muslims to pray for peace,
unity and stability in the
country.
Ganduje also called on Ni-
gerians to continue to pray
against insurgency, banditry,
kidnapping and other forms
of criminality in the country.
“I also urge Muslims to re-
main steadfast and imbibe
honesty and peaceful coexi-
stence,’’ he said.
The governor advised the
residents to abide by all the
COVID-19 protocols while
celebrating the Eid-el-Ka-
bir. In his sermon, the Chief
Imam of Kano, Prof. Sani
Zahradeen, urged Muslim
faithful to pray for an end to
insecurity in the country.
Zahradeen admonished
Muslims to use the tea-
chings of the Eid to promo-
te love and brotherhood as
well as live in peace with one
another.
tional strengthening and
market development.
For instance, the emer-
gency intervention is to
support existing expor-
ters in responding to
shocks caused by CO-
VID-19, while market de-
velopment involves pene-
trating identified export
markets, value chain ana-
lysis for priority products,
leveraging Africa Grow-
th and Opportunities Act
(AGOA) and other trade
treaties.
Considering the signi-
ficant role it plays in gro-
wing the Nigerian eco-
nomy, micro, small and
medium enterprises (MS-
The chief Imam also ad-
vised the people of the sta-
te irrespective of their religi-
on to observe all COVID-19
protocols and pray against
the spread of the disease.
Yesterday, Muslim faithful
in thousands including child-
ren in their colourful attire,
thronged to the various Eid
praying grounds in the me-
tropolis as early as 7am to at-
tend the prayer session.
The Ramat Square Eid
ground in Maiduguri was
filled to capacity as Muslim
faithful trooped out en mas-
se to make their prayers mar-
king the eid-el-kabir celebra-
tion.
The prayer session was
led by Imam Idiani of Borno
, Imam Shettima Mamman
Shettima Saleh, who prayed
Allah to restore peace in the
state and Nigeria in general.
He traced the origin of Eid
and lay emphasis on the im-
portance of sacrificing ram
as against any other animal
on earth and urged faithful
to emulate Prophet Muham-
med who made sacrifices for
peace among brethren.
The Eid prayers was at-
tended by Borno State Go-
vernor Babagana Umara Zu-
lum, former governor of the
state, Senator Kashim Shet-
tima, Senator Mohammed
Ali Ndume, Senator Abuba-
kar Kyari, the Inspector Ge-
neral of Police, Usman Baba,
members of House of Repre-
sentatives from Borno, and
members of the state execu-
tive council, among other di-
gnitaries.
PMB Gives Corps Mem-
bers N1m, 2 Cows, 20
Bags Of Rice
It was a happy moment
yesterday for visiting mem-
bers of the National Youth
Service Corps (NYSC) as Pre-
 CONTINUED ON PAGE 7
MEs) are the target group
of support from the EEFP
and the export develop-
ment fund (EDF).
At the launch of the TPO
Network, vice president
Yemi Osinbajo stated that
there was need to expand
intra-regional trade in the
ECOWAS sub-region, with
the opportunities presen-
ted by the African Conti-
nental Free Trade Area (Af-
CFTA) agreement.
In the same vein, Awo-
lowo further stated that
the network will work to-
wards facilitating the ease
of trade for MSMEs within
the ECOWAS region and
Africa in general.
Wednesday July 21, 2021 www.leadership.ng Leadership Newspapers @leadershipNGA 5
6 COVER PROMO
Northern Youths Insist
On Referendum, Says
Igboho, Kanu Arrest
Not Enough
BY ISAIAH BENJAMIN, Kaduna
Coalition of Northern Groups
(CNG) said the arrest of Nnamdi
Kanu and Sunday Igboho is not the
solution to separatist agitations
insisting that referendum is the way
to go.
CNG in press statement issued
by the spokesperson Abdul-Azeez
Suleiman said, “ From the outset, we
wish to be categoric that the arrest
of Igboho and Kanu should not be
mistaken as bringing about the end
to the uprisings and disturbances
over self-determination perpetrated
by southern Nigerian elites and
governments who use thugs like
Igboho and Kanu.
“We insist that rather than
seeing the arrest as an end in itself,
it should be the beginning of the
processes for self-determination by
any unit that wants to go. Therefore,
we insist on a peaceful referendum
for separation from a people who
would at the slightest of pretexts,
attack, kill and destroy people of
other regions and their properties
especially those from the North”.
CNG said the arrest of Igboho is
government business and so long
as it conforms with the principle
of rule of law and international
criminal justice procedures,
stressing that “We are not yet sure
what he is going to be charged
with, but expectedly incitement
to violence against northerners
would be one of them.
“We all know that threats of
violent secession anywhere is a
grave offence that no government
will condone. From records
of history, it is only northern
Nigeria that has not called for
the breakup of the country at
the slightest of pretence. With
the arrest of Kanu and now
Igboho, we are hoping that the
government would go beyond
prosecution to digging up and
exposing their sponsors and the
agenda behind them.
“While Kanu’s case may be
attributed to some form of
insanity which was exploited by
the South East elite who were
playing a double game, Igboho
is a deliberate and calculated,
supported and encouraged
attempt by the Yoruba leaders
including their governments to
scare the North into agreeing to
cede power without competition.
“Unfortunately, they took it too
far by arming Igboho and setting
him against law abiding citizens
from other regions particularly the
North”.
10 Die In Kwara Road Accident
BY ABDULLAHI OLESIN, Ilorin
An auto crash along Ilorin-
Jebba expressway yesterday
claimed the lives of 10 persons.
The lone auto crash which
involved an 18-seater com-
mercial Hiace bus occurred at
Controversy Trails Igboho’s ‘Arrest’ In Cotonou
BY ADEBAYO WAHEED, Ibadan
Yoruba Nation agitator, Sunday
Igboho, who was reportedly
arrested in Benin Republic has
been released and has moved to
Germany.
The Yoruba Nation Global
Directorate in a statement signed
by its director, Princess Adeola
Atayero Olamijulo, expressed its
appreciation to the government
and people of Benin Republic for
their intervention in the release of
Igboho.
The group expressed gratitude to
all those whose prayers, calls and
participation led to the release of
FG Must Address Hardship Faced By Nigerians – Sultan
The sultan of Sokoto and president-
general Nigeria Supreme Council
for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Alhaji
Sa’ad Abubakar III, has urged the
federal government and other
Nigerian leaders to fear Allah and
save the citizens from further
hardship.
In his Sallah massage in Sokoto
yesterday, Sultan Abubakar
said the current hardship in the
country is of great concern and
called for proper measures to
address it.
He said, “Nigeria leaders need
NCDC Confirms 15 Cases Of Monkeypox
Nigeria Centre for Disease Control
(NCDC) has registered 59 suspect-
ed cases of monkeypox with 15
confirmed, its director-general, Dr
Chikwe Ihekweazu, said yesterday
in Abuja.
Ihekweazu was reacting to the
Dallas, Texas resident who re-
cently returned from Nigeria and
tested positive to the disease.
The News Agency of Nigeria
(NAN) reports that it was the first
confirmed case of the virus in the
U.S. since 2003, with health offi-
Mali’s Interim President, Assimi Goita, Targeted In Knife Attack
BY INNOCENT ODOH WITH AGENCY
REPORTS
Mali’s interim president Assimi
Goita has been targeted in an at-
tempted stabbing attack after
Eid al-Adha prayers at the Grand
Mosque in the capital, Bamako, his
office said.
“The attacker was immediately
overpowered by security. Inves-
tigations are ongoing,” the presi-
dency said in a Twitter post on
Tuesday.
The interim leader was whisked
away, according to an AFP news
a location called Iyemoja along
Olooru-Okolowo area of the ex-
pressway in the Moro local gov-
ernment area of Kwara State.
It was gathered that the ac-
cident was caused by a speed
violation.
The sector commander of
the activist.
It also thanked all the Beninoise
lawyers in Cotonou who promptly
stepped into the matter for their
support.
But a source whio claimed to
have contacted Igboho’s lawyer
said he had not be released.
The source said the authorities
of Benin Republic asked the lawyer
to come at 8am today for talks.
According to the statement,
Adeyemo is on his way to Germany.
The counsel to Igboho, Chief
Yomi Alliyu (SAN), described
the Yoruba activist as a political
offender who cannot be extradited
from the Republic of Benin.
to evolve more measures to
address our level of poverty and
insecurity, as such will further
sustain the unity and peaceful co-
existence that is in existence in
the country.
“It is no longer a story but a
reality, people are in dire need
of the leaders’ commitment to
address the high rate of poverty,
insecurity and hunger among
other numerous challenges.
“Therefore, leaders should
fear Allah and shoulder their
responsibilities in order to
cials saying that the public should
not be concerned.
Laboratory tests confirmed that
the patient was infected with a
strain of the virus mainly seen in
West Africa, which included Nige-
ria.
“While rare, this case is not a
reason for alarm and we do not
expect any threat to the general
public,” Dallas County Judge,
Clay Jenkins, said in a statement
by Dallas County’s health depart-
ment.
agency journalist, who also said
he saw blood at the scene, though
it was not clear who had been
wounded.
Later on Tuesday, Goita an-
nounced that he was doing “very
well” following the attack.
“That’s part of being a leader,
there are always malcontents,” he
said in a statement broadcast on
state television channel ORTM.
“There are people who at any
time may want to try things to
cause instability,” he added.
The attack happened as an imam
was directing worshippers outside
the Federal Road Safety Corps
(FRSC) in the state, Jonathan
Owoade, confirmed the inci-
dent.
He gave the registration
number of the commercial ve-
hicle as LND 742XK, saying
that the rescue team took the
Wednesday, July 21, 2021
Igboho, who has been declared
wanted by the Department of State
Security (DSS) three weeks ago,
was arrested by security operatives
at a Cotonou airport, on Monday
night, reportedly on his way to
Germany.
Reacting to the arrest, his
counsel, Yomi Alliyu, in a release,
said Igboho is an activist who is
seeking for self-determination and
thus cannot be extradited, being a
political fugitive.
He said it was shocking to hear
that the Nigerian government
has gotten him arrested by the
INTERPOL in the Republic of
Benin.
Sultan
enhance Nigerians’ living
conditions,’’ the Sultan said.
(NAN).
With passengers wearing masks
on the flight and in the airport,
the health department said that
the risk of spreading monkeypox
via respiratory droplets to others
on the planes and in the airports
was low.
Ihekweazu said just as the agen-
cy responded to other epidemic
prone diseases in the country, an
outbreak would be declared when
there was a large cluster of mon-
keypox cases that constituted an
emergency.
the mosque for a ritual animal sac-
rifice.
Religious affairs minister Mam-
adou Kone told AFP that a man
had “tried to kill the president with
a knife” but was apprehended.
Al Jazeera’s Ahmed Idris report-
ing from Abuja, Nigeria, said on
the ground reports suggested the
attacker “posed as an usher” for
the mosque.
“When Goita was passing by, the
attacker lunged at him. Another
report said he was stabbed in the
arm, but these are not confirmed
yet,” Idris said.
injured people to Ayo Hospital,
Okolowo and the state General
Hospital, Ilorin for medical at-
tention.
Owoade said the corpses of
the victims had been deposited
at the morgue of General Hos-
pital, Ilorin.
COVID-19
GLOBAL
UPDATE
Muslims Mark Eid al-Adha
Holiday Overshadowed By
Pandemic
Muslims around the world are
observing another major Islamic
holiday in the shadow of the
pandemic and amid growing
concerns about the highly
infectious Delta variant of the
coronavirus.
Eid al-Adha, or the “Feast of
Sacrifice,” is typically marked
by communal prayers, large
social gatherings and, for many,
slaughtering of livestock and giving
meat to the needy.
This year, the holiday – which
started yesterday – comes as many
countries battle the Delta variant
first identified in India, prompting
some to impose new restrictions or
issue appeals for people to avoid
congregating and follow safety
protocols.
The pandemic has already
taken a toll for the second year
on a sacred mainstay of Islam,
the Hajj pilgrimage, whose last
days coincide with Eid al-Adha.
Once drawing some 2.5 million
Muslims from across the globe
to the holy city of Mecca in Saudi
Arabia, the Islamic pilgrimage has
been dramatically scaled back due
to the virus.
This year, 60,000 vaccinated
Saudi citizens or residents of
Saudi Arabia have been allowed
to perform the Hajj, preventing
Muslims from other countries from
fulfilling the Islamic obligation.
India’s Excess Deaths Could
Be Over 4 Million – Study
India’s excess deaths during the
pandemic could be a staggering 10
times the official COVID-19 toll,
likely making it modern India’s
worst human tragedy, according
to the most comprehensive
research yet on the ravages of the
virus in the South Asian country.
Most experts believe India’s
official toll of more than 414,000
dead is a vast undercount but the
government has dismissed those
concerns as exaggerated and
misleading.
The report released yesterday
estimated excess deaths – the gap
between those recorded and those
that would have been expected –
to be between 3 to 4.7 million
between January 2020 and June
2021.
Published by Arvind
Subramanian, the Indian
government’s former chief
economic adviser and two
other researchers at the Center
for Global Development and
Harvard University, the report
said an accurate figure may “prove
elusive” but the true death toll “is
likely to be an order of magnitude
greater than the official count”.
The report said the count could
have missed deaths occurring
in overwhelmed hospitals or
while healthcare was delayed or
disrupted, especially during the
devastating second wave of the
pandemic earlier this year.
 Wednesday July 21, 2021 www.leadership.ng Leadership Newspapers @leadershipNGA 7

Forget 2023, Presidency Tells PDP

 FROM COVER
ses look up to his leader-
ship on how the next lea-
dership will emerge.
The president spoke at
his residence in Daura, Ka-
tsina State while receiving
92 National Youth Service
Corps (NYSC) members
serving in his hometown
Daura who paid him sallah
homage.
Speaking through his
senior special assistant on
media and publicity, Ma-
lam Garba Shehu, the pre-
sident acknowledged that
the unshakable support
he enjoys not only in his
hometown but also across
the country is enough for
the opposition to admit
that the president matters
a lot to the ruling party and
Nigerians in general.
He said, "The masses
will never abandon the
President Buhari leader-
ship. I assure you that in
2023, the masses will be
waiting for the president
to show the way in cour-
tesy of what he has been
building for the country in
terms of infrastructure and
wellbeing of young people
in the country.
"Nobody will take the
risk by inviting another
party to come and take
over in 2023."
He also warned Nigeri-
ans to desist from telling
bad things about the coun-
try in other countries.
The president further
explained that most of the
challenges the nation is fa-
cing were created by peop-
le who don't mean well for
the nation.
He urged traditional ru-
lers to help fish out ene-
mies of peace and other
evil people living in their
domain in order to ensu-
re peace in all parts of the
country.
He equally charged citi-
zens to embrace agricultu-
re so as to lead a better and
safer life.
Buhari's comment
smacks of self-successi-
on plot
However, PDP said the
assertion by the Buhari Pre-
sidency has further heigh-
tened public apprehensions
of self-succession plot by
Shehu
the cabal in the Presidency.
The national publici-
ty secretary of PDP, Kola
Ologbondiyan said Nige-
rians were jolted when
President Buhari’s spo-
kesman, Shehu Garba, pu-
blicly announced in Daura,
Mr. President’s hometown,
that President Buhari “con-
stitutes a political obstac-
le” which those who seek
to succeed him come 2023
“cannot dismantle”.
Ologbondiyan in a state-
ment said, "Such statement
by the Presidency, which
is in its last lap of the se-
cond and final tenure in of-
fice, is not only provocati-
ve but also smacks of plots
to derail our constitutional
democratic order.
"Perhaps the comment
by the Buhari Presidency
explains why there have
been heavy onslaught
against our institutions of
democracy as well as the
Electoral Act.
"Our party and inde-
ed the majority of Nigeri-
an across board and even
across party lines caution
President Buhari’s hand-
lers to note that such plots
cannot stand as they will be
firmly resisted by the peop-
le.
"Shehu Garba should be
bold enough to announce
that President Buhari will
be on the ballot for another
term in 2023 and watch how Ni-
gerians will respond.
"The 1999 Constitution (as
amended) is clear on the ten-
ure of office of the President
and such cannot be extended
under any guise or conditions
whatsoever.”
He added that Nigerians
have been subjected to the
worst forms of hardship under
the Buhari-led All Progressives
Congress (APC) administra-
tion and will never allow
anything that will keep this
administration in office a
day beyond May 29, 2023.

Muslims Observe Peaceful Sallah Amid Security Challenges

 FROM PAGE 4
sident Muhammadu Buhari
in Daura, Katsina State, gave
them N1million, 20 bags of
rice and two cows to celebra-
te the Eid-el-Kabir feast.
The president used the
event to express his deep at-
tachment to the NYSC and
highlighted some of its im-
pacts on Nigerians.
The president said the
scheme had broaden the ho-
rizon of citizens, opened up
opportunities and enhanced
understanding of cultural dif-
ferences.
Speaking at his country
home to youth corps mem-
bers serving in Daura, who
paid him Eid-el-Kabir ho-
mage, the president in a
statement issued by his spo-
kesman, Garba Shehu, said he
had consistently commended
former head of state, Gen.
Yakubu Gowon, for the initia-
tive which had created more
opportunities for uniting the
country.
The president said the
NYSC scheme was well
thought-out to unite the
country through understan-
ding.
President Buhari urged the
corps members to make the
most out of the opportunity
of travelling around the coun-
try, especially in understan-
ding different climates, cul-
tures, languages and other
people’s views on life.
"Every time I meet with
former head of state, Gen.
Yakubu Gowon, like re-
cently, I still commended
him for the NYSC initiative.
The NYSC is spectacular in
many ways.
"Some of you have come
from Port Harcourt, Lagos
and Calabar and you can
now feel the heat of Daura
and how close it is to the de-
sert," he said.
“I feel very strongly about
the NYSC and I am wishing
you all the very best. I assu-
re you that you will be much
better as Nigerians after
your experience,’’ he said.
President Buhari gave the
corps members two cows
from his farm, 20 bags of
rice and N1million.
The corps liaison officer,
Umaru Babayo, thanked
the president for all the ef-
forts and sacrifices to resto-
re peace in the country, and
the policies to diversify the
economy, with agriculture as
the main driver.
Babayo assured the pre-
sident of prayers for a suc-
cessful time in office, and
God's providence in decisi-
on making that will move
the country forward.
Meanwhile, President
Buhari has commended the
gallant pilot of the Nigerian
Air Force Alpha Jet, Flight
Lieutenant Abayomi Dai-
ro, who successfully ejected
from an aircraft that came
under “intense ground fire
from bandits” in Zamfara
State at the weekend.
The president, according
to a statement by presiden-
tial spokesman, Garba She-
hu, who was briefed on the
successful operation by the
nation’s defence forces to
rescue the pilot, said he was
pained by news of the air
crash.
“I was shocked by the de-
vastating news of the air
crash but felt much relieved
following the successful ejec-
tion by the pilot and his even-
tual rescue. May the injured
pilot recover at the earliest
time,” he said.
Police rescue 100 Kid-
nap Victims from Bandits’
Den In Zamfara
Meanwhile, it is a joyous
sallah for the families 100
kidnapped villagers in Zam-
fara State as they regained
their freedom yesterday.
The Zamfara State Police
Command said they rescued
about 100 kidnapped vic-
tims in the state, saying that
most of them were nursing
mothers.
Briefing newsmen, the po-
lice public relations officer of
the command, SP Moham-
med Shehu, said all the vic-
tims were from Manawa
village of Maru Local Govern-
ment Area of the state.
The police spokesman said
they were kidnapped on June
8 this year by bandits and ta-
ken to Kabaro village in Maru
Local Government Area of
the state where they had been
until they were rescued by the
police operatives.
He said the victims were
released unconditionally, ad-
ding that “we used carrot ap-
proach to rescue them.”
“We dialogued with the
bandits that had kidnap-
ped them and at the end of
the dialogue, they (bandits)
agreed to release them wit-
hout paying ransom.
“The police command in
collaboration with the mini-
stry of security did our best
to rescue them without pa-
ying ransom”.
The state police spokes-
man, who presented 80 res-
cued victims before the jour-
nalists, maintained that the
remaining 20 were being
treated in the hospital.
“We brought 80 here and
the remaining 20 are in hos-
pital for treatment and would
be returned to their families
as soon as they are medical-
ly fit.”
“Although we have secu-
rity problems here and the-
re in the state, I can say that
we are achieving a lot in resto-
ring peace in the state”.
“We will continue to do our
best to ensure that the state
becomes peaceful and com-
fortable”.
The Special Adviser to Go-
vernor Matawalle on Secu-
rity Matters, DIG Mamman
Tsafe (retd.) explained that
the state government would
continue to use both soft and
tough approaches in dealing
with banditry issues.
“The state government
would continue to dialogue
with the bandits and will also
use force in dealing with re-
calcitrant bandits,” he said.
Tolerance, Consistent
Prayers, Path To Tackling
Nigeria’s Security Chal-
lenges – Bagudu
Meanwhile, Kebbi State
Governor Atiku Bagudu has
identified tolerance, love, pa-
triotism and consistent pray-
ers by Nigerians as the pos-
sible remedy for the lingering
security challenges bedeviling
the country.
Bagudu, who is also the
chairman of APC Governors’
Forum, made the observation
in a message to felicitate with
the people of the state on the
occasion of the Eid-el-Kabir.
The governor stressed the
need for citizens of the coun-
try to show love, tolerance
and respect for each other’s
religion, tribe, ethnicity, cul-
ture and tradition for the na-
tion to progress.
Bagudu, who congratula-
ted Muslims, urged them to
rally round the present ad-
ministration at all levels to
gain more dividends of de-
mocracy.
According to him, Sallah
period is a time for sober
reflections, hence the need
to sustain its virtues of as-
sistance and extending hel-
ping hands to those in need.
“There is no better period
than now to exhibit the vir-
tues and sterling qualities
of our noble Prophet Mu-
hammad (SAW) in this Holy
Month.
“This is a time for all of us
to go out to reiterate our be-
lief in Nigeria, as well as en-
gage in acts that can solidify
the peace, unity and socio-
economic prosperity of the
nation.
“All hands must, therefore,
be on deck by all peace loving
and law-abiding Nigerians,
to make the country more
secure and restore its lost
glory,” he admonished.
8 Wednesday, July 21, 2021
life stories
WouldYouAllowYourTeenHaveASmartPhone?
The debate on exposing children to phones and internet has been ongoing and in this week’s edition of Life Stories, LEADERSHIP conducts
random interviews on whether parents should allow their teen own a smart phone.
LUCY NWACHUKWU, No!
Lucy believes teen could
own a smart phone with re-
strictions.
According to the moth-
er of two and a working
class lady, “I would allow
my teen own a restricted
smart phone. This means a
phone that has limited ca-
pabilities. Teens should use
phones only to communi-
cate their locations to par-
ents and guardians and only
during educational purpos-
es.” On the benefits, she
said, “the consequences of
owning a smart phone out-
weighs the benefits. When
the consequences outweigh
the good, I would rather not
state the benefits. However,
some of the benefits are: for
communication and educa-
tional purposes. It keeps
the child connected to the
KEMI KINDNESS: No!
For mother of teens and
a working class mother,
Kemi Kindness, it is a ‘No,
no’ for her. She believes that
as far as the child is below
15, the child should not
be allowed to have a smart
phone.
According to Kemi, “No,
I won’t allow my teen own a
smart phone. As far as the
child is under the age of 15,
the child is not allowed to
own a smart phone. Howev-
er, when the child is 18, it is
possible to have one.
“Even at that, such trust
must come with giving the
child adequate knowledge
on the good and bad of hav-
ing phone. Allowing him to
own a phone should come
with a lot of monitoring.”
On the benefits of teens
having a smart phone, Kemi
world and abreast with
the trend and happenings
around the globe.
In a way, it also gives the
child some sense of belong-
ing.”
On the risks of teens
having a smart phone, she
said, “the list is endless;
when a child is not proper-
ly guided, there is a tenden-
cy for him to misbehave,
the child could end up be-
coming useless and lost;
especially in this era where
anyone can easily access all
manner of items via the
internet. Porn sites, gam-
bling, fake lifestyle, immor-
al activity, and all the neg-
ative things of this earth
are visible free on the inter-
net. Therefore, teens are not
ready to dive into this area
at such a young age.”
said it is only for education-
al benefits and there could
be no other benefits.
On the risks of teens
having a smart phone, Kemi
said “The risk of a teen hav-
ing a smart phone is un-
quantifiable particularly
if not monitored. They in-
clude abuse of social me-
dia, the false feeling of hav-
ing arrived, peer pressure
to date comes in and lack of
concentration on studies, if
not monitored.
“However, I am not of
the view that a teen should
not have a phone, in this
days and time, it is a neces-
sity. So, they can be hand-
ed non-android phone but
even if they must be given
one, it should come with a
lot of monitoring and su-
pervision.”
INTERVIEWS BY EJIKE EJIKE AND MARGARET COFFIE
CHARITY UMOH EFFIONG, No!
Charity believes the risks
of allowing a teen have a
smart phone outweighs the
benefits.
According to her, it ex-
poses them to the world
at large, distraction from
study, lack of concentration,
pornography and the nega-
tive side of technology.
She also said “The risks
involved here depends on
OZIOMACHUKWU BEULAH ONOH: Yes! SHIKTRA SHALANGWA, Yes!
For Oziomachukwu, it
is a yes. She believes that
a teen should have a smart
phone.
Some of the benefits of
having a smart phone ac-
cording to Oziomachukwu
the kind of smart phone
you give to them, there are
smart phones customized
for children to aid them in
reading and other form of
learning.”
She, however, said the
benefits of teen having a
smart phone include help-
ing them to do their school
assignment and it also
helps them learn fast.
include: ease of access to in-
ternet, ease of contact with
my ward, introduction to the
wild space of the internet
and early exposure to visu-
als or information that may
be harmful to the child.
UCHENNA EZEH, No!
For Uchenna, it is a no!
He believes that smart
phone exposes the teen to
dangerous Internet materi-
als and causes distraction.
According to him, “The
risks are many. Too much
concentration on smart
serves as distraction from
studies. Most kids these
days play PS games on
smart phone. Most of
them download pornogra-
phy films and photos. So-
For the mother of two
and a media practitioner,
the answer is yes.
According to her, “ I will
allow my teen have a smart
phone but with control. I
will open a Gmail account
with their correct age and
register it to family google
account to give me control
of what they do or view.”
Speaking on the
benefits of exposing teen
cial media is the order of
the day, most teen who are
not supposed to be on so-
cial media has taking Face-
book and WhatsApp as fun
there by distracting them
from their studies.
On the benefits of teen
owing a smart phone, he
said Smart phone can serve
as learning tools for teen.
Teens can use smart phone
to do their assignments
from school.
to smart phones, she said
“The benefit is simple; it
makes learning easier,
access to information
especially educational
materials and also for
entertainments.”
In the risks, Shiktra
said, “the risk is if not
properly controlled
children could be exposed
to pornography, cyber
bullies or even scammers.
 Wednesday July 21, 2021
Group Lauds CDS,
Retired Military Officers’
Security Parley
BY TARKAA DAVID, Abuja
A group, Unity Advocacy
Group (UAG) has lauded
the interaction between the
chief of defence staff (CDS)
with retired senior military
officers which is being held
across the different geo-
political zones of the country.
The group in a press
release said the parley was
timely and will ensure
that stakeholders key into
peace building efforts of
the leadership of the Armed
Forces of Nigeria.
Convener of UAG, Ifeanyi
Aigbedion, in a press release,
said the revelation by the
chief of defence staff, General
LEO Irabor, at the parley led
in part to the rescue and safe
return of the Nigerian Air
Force (NAF) fighter pilot,
Flight Lieutenant Abayomi
Dairo who was involved
in air crash on Sunday was
worth commending.
According to him, “We
must commend the leadership
of the Armed Forces of
Nigeria for the party, which
we are optimistic will bring
the needed peace to our
country.
EFCC Arrests Lawyer For
Alleged Forging Of Bail
Documents
BY EJIKE EJIKE, Abuja
Economic and Financial
Crimes Commission (EFCC)
has arrested one Ewa
Okpo Edmund, popularly
known as ‘street lawyer’ for
allegedly presenting forged
a medical report to procure
the bail of his client, Noble
Dainge Tamunoateli (a.k.a.
Frederick Collins).
Tamunoateli is an
alleged internet fraudster
currently under prosecution
on charges bordering on
criminal impersonation
and possession of over N14
million suspected to be
proceeds of crime.
The offence is contrary to
Section 22 (2)(b)(i) of the
Cybercrimes (Prohibition,
Prevention Etc ) Act, 2015
and punishable under
Section 22 ( 2 ) ( b ) ( iv ) of
the same Act.
The commission’s
spokesperson, Wilson
Uwujaren, who confirmed
the arrest, said in receiving
the bail documents,
operatives of the commission
proceeded to University of
Calabar Teaching Hospital
to verify the authenticity
of the medical report which
looked suspicious as the
defendant had undergone
several medical checks,
including COVID-19 test
and had never shown any
sign of ulcer as indicated in
the report.
President Mhammadu Buhari (middle), with his son Yusuf Buhari (Taliban Daura), (left), and his nephew Musa Daura (Dan Madamin Daura) shortly before
Eid-el-Kabir prayers in Daura, Katsina State, yesterday
Security Now Better In North East, South-South, President Declares
BY JONATHAN NDA-ISAIAH,
Abuja
President Muhammadu
Buhari yesterday in Daura,
Katsina State, said the
security situation has
improved considerably in
the North East and South
South zones.
He said more efforts
were being made to achieve
better results in North
Central and North West
regions.
The president promised
to fish out those that had
been troubling the peace of
Police Await Report On Kidnap Of 5 Maritime Workers, 3 Others In Rivers
BY ANAYO ONUKWUGHA, Port
Harcourt
More than 48 hours after
the kidnapping of eight
passengers along the
Kula-Abonnema route
by suspected sea pirates,
the Rivers State Police
Command has not issued
any statement about the
incident.
The victims, including a
woman and five members
of the Maritime Workers
Malaysian Group Donates 100 Cows, 50 Goats To Borno IDPs, Widows
BY FRANCIS OKOYE, Maiduguri
A Malaysian Muslim Group,
Yayasan Budi Ihsan, has
donated 100 cows and 50
goats to internally displaced
persons (IDPs) in 13 IDPs
camps in Maiduguri, as well
as host communities and
widows.
At the symbolic
slaughtering of the cows
yesterday at the Bakassi
IDPs camp with over
40,000 displaced persons,
coordinator of the Malaysian
Muslim Group, Dr
www.leadership.ng
Nigeria and her citizens.
Buhari urged more
Nigerians to embrace
farming, saying he was
surprised to hear that only
2.5 per cent of arable lands
in the country is being
cultivated.
In a statement issued by
presidential spokesman,
Garba Shehu, he said
Buhari told newsmen at
his residence, after the
Eid-el-Kabir prayers, that
the Presidential Economic
Advisory Council had
notified him that only a
small percentage of the land
Union of Nigeria (MWUN)
were on their way from Kula
in Degema local government
area, to Abonnema,
headquarters of Akuku-
Toru local government area
when the incident occurred.
The state police
command’s public relations
officer, Nnamdi Omoni,
told LEADERSHIP via the
telephone that he was yet
to be briefed about the
incident.
NWUN chairman in
Mohammed Amin Umar, said
the donors are Muslim based
group that is indigenous to
Malaysia. He added that they
often donate cows, goats and
rams to the faithful all over
the world in the event of
Sallah celebrations.
Umar said this is the
second time the Malaysian
Group would be donating to
the less privileged in Nigeria.
He said, “Initially, last year,
we did the same thing but the
number of cows slaughtered
was just nine. However,
because of the impact of
Leadership Newspapers
in the country had been
used for farming, directing
security outfits to work
more with communities
to create a more friendly
environment for farmers.
The president mandated
security outfits to be more
relentless in maintaining
peace in the country, and
ensure a more harmonious
relationship with
communities so that they
can glean intelligence.
Earlier at the prayer
ground, the Emir of Daura,
Faruk Umar Faruk, called
on citizens to be more
the state, Jonah Jumbo,
had on Monday raised the
alarm about the number of
members of the Union and
three others along the Kula-
Abonnema route.
Jumbo, who said the
union members were on
their way to Port Harcourt
for a meeting when the
incident occurred, called for
unconditional release of the
victims.
He said: “The Kula unit
and the Abonnema unit
the nine slaughtered, the
organisation deemed fit to
increase the number of the
donation.
“So now we are having
100 cows and out of these
100, 80 will be slaughtered
for the IDPs in the 13 camps
while 20 other remaining
will be slaughtered to the
less privileged in the host
communities.
“The 50 goats on the
other hand are dedicated to
orphans. So, we sample how
many Widows are there with
their children in the home.
@leadershipNGA
supportive of the President
so that he can actualize
his vision of improving
security and boosting the
economy.
“Since the president
came into power, we have
seen some positive changes
in the country.
“May God continue to
strengthen the president
with good health and
courage to bring peace to
the country. God will not
allow Nigeria to see shame,’’
he said. “God has been
keeping the country and he
will keep the country.’’
were asked to come to Port
Harcourt to the state office
for a meeting but we got a
complaint that our officers
who were coming from Kula
were kidnapped, all our five
members were kidnapped
including three other
passengers.
“Up till now, nothing
has been heard from
the kidnappers. We are
appealing to the government
and security agencies to
come to our aid,” he said.
So, we got 42 widows while
the remaining eight will be
given to the less privileged.
We are doing this based on
the teachings of sharing as
obtained in Islam “, Dr Umar
added.
In his remarks, the director
of planning, research and
statistics, State Emergency
Management Agency
(SEMA), Ali Abdullahi Musa,
lauded the Malaysian group
for assisting the displaced
persons, widows and
orphans to mark the Eid-el-
Kabir celebration.
9
APGA, PDP, APC Not Fit
For Anambra Gov’ship,
ADC Tells INEC
BY OKECHUKWU OBETA, Awka
National chairman of
the African Democratic
Congress (ADC), Chief
Ralphs Okey-Nwosu, has
charged the Independent
National Electoral
Commission (INEC) to
disqualify the trio of All
Progressive Grand Alliance,
(APGA) Peoples Democratic
Party, (PDP) and All
Progressives Congress
(APC) from participating
in the coming Anambra
State governorship election
holding on November 6 this
year.
Nwosu told newsmen
in Awka, Anambra State
capital, yesterday that
processes through which
the parties nominated
their candidates were
characterised by “gross
indiscipline” and, therefore
undermined democratic
procedures, and, argued
that allowing them to take
part in the governorship
poll would undermine any
gain the country had made
so far in the last 22 years of
our current democratic era.
Uba Sani Foresees Quick
End To Banditry
BY AZA MSUE, Kaduna
Senator representing
Kaduna Central Senatorial
District, Uba Sani, yesterday
said the efforts by Governor
Nasir El-Rufai and security
agencies will soon end
the long sufferings of his
constituents who have
been constantly attacked by
bandits.
Sani in a message to his
constituents to mark the
Eid-el-Kabir celebrations
said bandits, kidnappers
and other criminal
elements have laid siege
on the strategic senatorial
zone.
The lawmaker who is
also the chairman Senate
Committee on Banking,
Insurance and other
Financial Institutions,
urged his constituents
to continue to cooperate
with security agencies and
“Organise yourselves at the
community level and put in
place vigilance groups for
intelligence gathering and
early warning.”
Sani also called on his
constituents to continue
to persevere and remain
strong in the face of
adversity.
The statement said: “I
dedicate this Sallah message
to the long suffering
people of Kaduna Central
Senatorial Zone. Bandits,
kidnappers and other
criminal elements have laid
siege to our important and
strategic zone.”
10 NEWS NATIONAL
Pirates Kill Soldier, 2 Others In Delta
BY FELIX IGBEKOYI, Asaba
A clash between military opera-
tives and suspected sea pirates
in Tuomo community, Burutu
local government area of Del-
ta State has claimed three per-
sons including a soldier.
It was gathered that the in-
cident which is currently brew-
ing tension among residents of
Tuomo and other neigbouring
communities in Burutu oc-
curred at about 10:30pm on
APC Warns Against Conduct Of Congresses In Worship Centres
BY SUNDAY ISUWA, Abuja
BY NNAMDI MBAWIKE,
Enugu
Chairman of the caretaker
committee of the All Progres-
sives Congress (APC) Dr Ben
Nwoye has warned leaders of
the party against conducting
the forthcoming congresses
of the party in religious and
private houses.
Nwoye, who spoke dur-
Sallah: CG Directs Commanders To Respond To Fire Incidents
BY DAVID ADUGE-ANI, Abuja
Controller-general of the
Federal Fire Service, Dr Li-
man Ibrahim has directed all
zonal and state commanders
of fire service to ensure that
all fire stations are ready to
Monday.
Sources confirmed that the
hoodlums had launched an at-
tack on a military checkpoint
in the community with the
aim of dispossessing soldiers
attached to the checkpoint of
their ammunition.
The gallant soldiers, we
learnt, repelled the gunmen
who stormed the area with a
speedboat.
Aside from the two pirates
killed, the soldiers also arrest-
ing a stakeholders’ meeting
at the party’s secretariat in
Enugu, advised them not to
carry out the exercise in ar-
eas that are not approved by
the party.
He urged those plotting to
manipulate the lists at the
various levels to retrace their
steps, as it will only incur the
wrath of the party.
The Enugu State outgo-
ing APC boss assured all the
respond to any fire call with-
in the quickest possible time.
Ibrahim, who gave the di-
rective as part of his Eid-el-
Kabir message to officers
and men of the fire service,
said all fire stations across
the country have been put
ed one of the fleeing gunmen
during the attack.
Efforts to reach authorities
of Operation Delta Safe on the
incident proved abortive while
the Delta police spokesperson,
DSP Bright Edafe, said he had
not been briefed on the inci-
dent.
The commissioner of police,
Ari Mohammed Ali, while as-
suring Muslims of adequate
security during and after the
festive season, warned cult-
contestants and party faith-
ful that the congresses will be
transparent at all levels, stat-
ing that there will be no ma-
nipulation of eligible dele-
gates lists.
Nwoye further disclosed
that there is a directive that
those who were suspend-
ed because they refused to
withdraw their pending cas-
es against the party remained
disqualified to contest any
on red alert, to respond to
any fire incident.
He admonished Muslim
faithful to apply all the nec-
essary fire safety precautions
during this year’s Eid-el-Ka-
bir celebration, noting that
the celebration comes with
ists and mischief makers to
avoid Delta State as the police
and other sister security op-
eratives would not hesitate to
clampdown on them.
The state police command
deployed a total number of
2,153 police personnel, which
include special constabularies
across the state for the purpose
of providing adequate security
in all Muslim praying grounds
and strategic locations in the
state.
position in the congress.
He said the names of those
suspended over pending cas-
es in the court will be made
available to those responsible
for conducting the congress-
es at the different levels.
“No juju house or reli-
gious houses should be used
for congresses. No worship
house, private or juju house
should be used for congress,”
he said.
slaughtering and roasting
of animals, as well as cook-
ing. This is even as he ad-
vised Muslim faithful to be
very careful and conscious
so as to avoid careless acts
that could result to fire out-
breaks.
Wednesday, July 21, 2021
Imansuagbon Faults Viral Video, Says
Esan Respect Oba Of Benin, Obaseki
BY PATRICK OCHOGA, Benin
City
Billionaire businessman
and proprietor of Paceset-
ters Schools, Abuja, Kenneth
Imansuangbon, has said a
tending video where a man of
Esan extraction poured invec-
tives on the Oba of Benin, His
Royal Majesty, Omo N’Oba
N’Edo, Oba Ewuare II, should
be ignored.
He said the Esan and Afe-
mai hold the Benin monarch
and Governor Godwin Obase-
ki in high esteem.
The former Peoples Dem-
ocratic Party (PDP) aspirant
in the September 2020 gov-
ernorship election said there
is no doubt that the Esan and
the Afemai draw their lin-
age from the respected Benin
Kingdom and therefore they
are brothers and sisters with
the Bini people.
Imansuagbon in a state-
ment made available to news-
men said Esan world over
According to him, “All fire
safety precautions must be
adhered to. The roasting of
animals must be in an open
space, gas cylinders should
be kept outside the kitch-
en, cooking must not be
left unattended. When go-
pledged their loyalty to the
Oba of Benin and Governor
Godwin Obaseki.
While noting that the viral
video was provocative, he add-
ed that the comment does not
represent the Esan people or
any well-meaning Edo State
indigene.
Part of the statement reads:
“I was shocked on watching
the video and hearing the
rubbish the lunatic was say-
ing. The Esan and the Bini are
brothers. It is a fact that was
passed to us from generation
to generation and nothing can
change that. Whatever he said
should not be taken serious.
“Giving him such level of
recognition by listening to
his rubbish talk is making him
feel important. He should just
be ignored for who he is.
“I will also like to seize this
opportunity to call on his fam-
ily to take him for psychiatric
test so as to get to the founda-
tion of his problem and save
him from destruction.”
ing out electrical appliances
should be switched off. Chil-
dren must not be allowed to
play with matches or go near
fire and more importantly a
functional fire extinguish-
er should be at sight in the
home.”
 Wednesday, July 21, 2021 www.leadership.ng
Electoral Act: PDP Reps Accuses NCC Officials Of Lying On Oath
geria, to guide the decision when they knew or ought to stated.
BY ADEBIYI ADEDAPO, Abuja
Peoples Democratic Party
(PDP) Caucus in the House of
Representatives has called for
the immediate arrest of the ex-
ecutive commissioner (Tech-
nical Services) of the Nigerian
Communications Commission
(NCC), Ubale Maska and his
team, for lying under the oath
before the Lower House.
The officials of the NCC
led by the executive director,
Stakeholder Management,
Adeleke Adewolu, represent-
ed the executive vice chairman,
Prof. Umaru Garba Danbatta,
before the House of Represen-
tatives to give details of broad-
band Internet coverage In Ni-
L-R: Former Niger State governor, Dr Babangida Aliyu; deputy governor, Alhaji Ahmed Mohammed Ketso; Governor Abubakar
Sani Bello; Emir of Minna, Alhaji Umar Faruk Bahago and former head of state, Gen Abdulsalami Abubakar, during the 2 raka’at
prayer at the eid praying ground, Minna, yesterday.
Police Arrest 6 Suspected Kidnappers In Imo
BY EMMANUEL
MGBEAHURIKE, Owerri
Operatives of the Imo State Po-
lice Command have smashed a
kidnapping syndicate that has
allegedly been terrorising resi-
dents the state.
The police public relations of-
ficer Michael Abattam, said yes-
terday that on July 3, 2021, at
about 0430 hours, one Cornelia
Oluebube” F” of Amakohia in
Owerri North local government
area of Imo State, was kidnapped
by gunmen and taken to an un-
known destination.
PMB Applauds Air Force Pilot Gallantry
By Jonathan Nda- Isaiah,
Abuja
President Muhammadu Bu-
hari has commended the gal-
lant pilot of the Nigerian Air
Force (NAF) Alpha Jet, Flight
Kwara Gets 2 More Dialysis Machines
BY ABDULLAHI OLESIN, Ilorin
Kwara State government has
bought two dialysis machines
for the General Hospital, Ilorin.
This came a few weeks after
the state government com-
pleted the largest intensive
care unit (ICU) facility in the
North Central zone, equipped
of the House on the ongoing
amendment to the Elector-
al Act, particularly as regards
direct electronic transmission
of election results from poll-
ing units.
Oath was administered on
them consistent with Section 5
of the Legislative House (Pow-
ers and Privileges) Act 2017.
But chairman of the PDP
Caucus, Kingsley Chinda, in a
statement he signed, said the
details on the NCC website and
information on the website of
telecommunication companies
were contrary to Maska’s claim.
According to him, Maska
and his team cleverly sought
to rely on 2018 data in 2021,
He said the command’s tacti-
cal team on receipt of the report
swung into action after gather-
ing technical intelligence which
led them to Delta State where the
following suspects were arrested:
Terry’s Mez “M” age 31 years of
Aguleri in Anambra State, Wil-
line Ebefal “M” age 21 years of
Ogbokuno in Burutu local gov-
ernment area of Delta State,
Obasanjo Kimakia “ M” age 20
years of Tamime in Burutu local
government area of Delta State.
Abattam said the command
upon the interrogation of the
three suspects, they volun-
Lieutenant Abayomi Dairo,
who successfully ejected from
an aircraft that came under “in-
tense ground fire from bandits”
in Zamfara State at the week-
end.
The president, according to a
with modern equipment to
manage patients in dire need
of life-support gadgets before
or after surgeries.
The additional dialysis ma-
chines will enable the hospital
to offer more efficient servic-
es and attend to patients with
special needs.
It will also end referrals of
Leadership Newspapers
know that internet penetra-
tion had advanced substantial-
ly in Nigeria since 2018.
“For a witness to be sworn
under Section 5 of the Legisla-
tive House (Powers and Privi-
leges) Act 2017, then proceed
to lie under oath and give false
evidence to the House is an of-
fence under Section 7 of the
same Act. We call on the pros-
ecuting authorities to immedi-
ately arrest the officials of the
NCC, under Prof. Danbatta and
all those who procured Ubale
Maska and other officials to
lie under oath to be criminal-
ly investigated and when found
culpable, be brought to justice
by standing criminal trial,” he
teered useful information that
took the tactical team to Delta
State on July 19, 2021 at about
1130 hours, for the rescue of the
kidnapped victim.
The police spokesperson said-
after diligent gathering of intel-
ligence and planning, the oper-
atives stormed the hideout of
the kidnappers in Tebegbe Wa-
terside in Delta State and arrest-
ed Augustine Irishaye “M” age 21
years , Jennifer Awolowo “ F”
age 16 years, and Eyemgblausi
Chugbwugburefa age 17 years,
all of Tibegbe in Burutu local
government area of Delta State .
statement issued by presiden-
tial spokesman, Garba Shehu,
who was briefed on the suc-
cessful operation by the na-
tion’s defence forces to rescue
the pilot, said he was pained by
news of the air crash.
some categories of patients to
the University of Ilorin Teach-
ing Hospital, according to a
statement issued by the direc-
tor-general of Hospital Board
Management, Mr Saad Aluko.
“Governor AbdulRahman
AbdulRazaq saw the need to
meet the state’s dialysis ser-
vices through the procure-
Chinda said the comedy of
errors started by the House
stopping INEC from appear-
ing before it to prevent Nige-
ria from learning the truth and
allowing only NCC to appear to
discuss issues on the ability or
otherwise of the electoral com-
mission to handle electronic
transmission of votes.
“The icing on the cake is the
categorical declaration by INEC
through Festus Okoye, their
spokesman that it has the ca-
pacity to transmit election
results from any part of the
country, no matter the terrain
has put the final nail on the
coffin of the purveyors of the
fallacy that it cannot be done.
He said the victim, Cornelia
Oluebube “ F”, who was kid-
napped in Owerri was rescued
unhurt. While the tactical team
was escorting the suspects out
of their hideout, one Terry Mez
“M” took to his heels and was
shot on the leg to prevent him
from escaping from lawful cus-
tody.
The police said on arrival in
the command, the escaping sus-
pect was taken to the Nigeria Po-
lice Hospital Amakohia, Owerri,
Imo State while the victim was
reunited with her parents by the
commissioner of police.
He said, “I was shocked by
the devastating news of the
air crash but felt much relieved,
following the successful ejec-
tion by the pilot and his even-
tual rescue. May the injured pi-
lot recover at the earliest time.”
ment of additional two brand
new 2021 model dialysis ma-
chines. The state’s dialysis ser-
vice was formerly running on
two machines leading to longer
waiting time or referral to oth-
er centres such as the UITH
that is equally operating on two
or three dialysis machines,” he
said.
NEWS NATIONAL 11
Bauchi JUSUN Fails To Conduct
Election In 5 Years
BY HARUNA MOHAMMED,
Bauchi
Concerned members of
the Judiciary Staff Union of
Nigeria (JUSUN) in Bauchi
State have faulted the ina-
bility of the union to elect
substantive leaders to man-
age its affairs for five years.
The state chapter of the
union has been under vari-
ous caretaking committees
instituted by the National
Working Committee (NWC)
of the association following
the controversial dissolu-
tion of the branch’s substan-
tive leaders elected about five
years ago.
Since then, the union has
failed to elect substantive
leaders, an omen that con-
tinues to worry many of its
members.
A source familiar with the
leadership imbroglio told
LEADERSHIP that Murta-
la Muhammed who is now
late was the last duly elected
chairman of the union.
A few months after his vic-
tory, he was confirmed as a
judge which prompted the
NWC to dissolve the excos
and “verbally” appointed a
caretaker committee.
The source said the last crop
of duly elected leaders of the
union in Bauchi was ousted
following their doggedness
against “the exploitative ten-
dencies of the national body.”
He alleged that the NWC
used to receive null financial
patronage from state excos,
which is the sole factor that
determines how long a set of
MAJI Trains 30 CSOs On Data Analysis For
Environmental Protection
BY ANAYO ONUKWUGHA,
Port Harcourt
A group, the Media Aware-
ness and Justice Initiative
(MAJI) has organised a one-
training workshop for 30 civ-
il society organisations in the
Niger Delta region on data
analysis for environmen-
tal protection and climate
change.
Organised with support from
the French Embassy in Nige-
ria, the workshop, held under
the Data Casting Biodiversity
(DATACAB) Project, attracted
representatives of CSOs from
Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa and Riv-
ers States.
At the opening ceremony of
the workshop in Port Har-
court, MAJI coordinator,
Okoro Onyekachi Emma-
nuel, said the next phase of
the training will involve about
60 community-based organi-
sations (CBOs) and communi-
ty women leaders.
Okoro stated that the project
was specifically targeted at
empowering CSOs and stra-
tegic stakeholders to be able
to use available data to anal-
ysis strategic information for
excos would be in office.
He said that current narra-
tives in Bauchi JUSUN sug-
gested that in one way or the
other, the national umbrella
of professionals working in
the temple of justice in Ni-
geria supported the contin-
uous handling of the affairs
of the union in the state
through caretaker commit-
tee for either material or fi-
nancial gain.
The Concerned Members of
JUSUN Bauchi State Chapter
in a letter to the chief registrar
Bauchi State High Court dat-
ed 8th July, 2021 and made
available to LEADERSHIP,
noted with dismay how the
body saddled with the chore
of being the custodian of jus-
tice in the society, the situa-
tion at hand is “degenerating
into a lawless” state.
JUSUN’s statue book stipu-
lates a tenure of not more than
three months for a caretaker
committee subject to review
of the NWC and four years
for elected officials.
“With all due respect and
sense of commitment, we
write as Concerned Members
of JUSUN Bauchi Branch to
notify you of our decision to
call for an emergency meet-
ing of the Judiciary Staff Un-
ion of Nigeria (JUSUN) Bauchi
Branch.
“This decision is informed
by our collective desire to
be the face of the Judiciary
Staff of Bauchi State and
truly represent the judici-
ary as men of conscience,
considering our bitter reali-
ty over the years,” they said.
sustainable development.
He said: “The project was sup-
ported by the French Embas-
sy in Nigeria and it is specifi-
cally targeted at empowering
CSOs and strategic stakehold-
ers to be able to use available
data to analysis strategic in-
formation for sustainable de-
velopment.
“Over the years, we have no-
ticed as an organisation that
CSOs and CBOs at commu-
nity level have been collect-
ing information and sharing
with stakeholders. However,
that information have been
shared unrefined.
“For us, we see it as a gap, if
data is unrefined, why can’t
we refine that data in such a
way that it becomes simple,
becomes easy to read and be-
comes a tool that key stake-
holders can use to engage the
government, strategic stake-
holders and agencies in charge
of environmental protection.”
Delivery a paper on the topic:
“Data Collection And Analysis
Techniques For Environmen-
tal Monitoring”, Mr. Tijah
Bolton-Akpan, said environ-
mental data was important to
whatever CSOs do.
12 NORTH CENTRAL
Tackle Insecurity With
Sincerity, Cleric Urges FG
BY ABUBAKAR YUNUSA, Abuja
The parish priest of St John
II Catholic Church, Karasana
District Abuja, Rev Fr
Sebastian Musa, has called
on the federal government
to tackle insecurity in the
country with sincerity,
adding that it should not be
selective.
The cleric who stated this
while addressing journalists
at the weekend shortly after
mass in commemoration
of his 25th priestly
anniversary, said selective
arrest and attack on
particular set of Nigerians
cannot solve the problem of
insecurity in the country.
He said if anybody does
anything against those in
Nigeria and living abroad,
the government should be
bold enough to arrest the
person no matter his status
in the society.
“It is like everything has
been selective, the way we
are seeing it going, some are
free while some are not, but
we pray that they have the
courage to deliver justice to
the rest of Nigeria,” he said.
Speaking on his priestly
journey, he explained that
it has been up and down
like any other profession. As
part of the anniversary
Lawmaker Urges Patience,
Sacrifice At Sallah
BY JONATHAN NDA-ISAIAH,
Abuja
A member of the House
of Representatives Hon
Olajide Olatubosun has
called on Nigerians to
exercise patience and
spirit of sacrifice as the
Muslim Ummah celebrate
Eid-el-Kabir across the
country.
Olatubosun, who
represents Atisbo/Saki-
west/Saki-east federal
constituency felicitated
with all Muslims and
other Nigerians on the
celebration of Sallah.
In a statement he made
available to newsmen
in Abuja yesterday, the
lawmaker urged Nigerians
to always reflect on the
teachings of Prophet
Muhammed (SAW)
in their conduct and
relationship with one
another and members
of other faiths in the
country.
Olatubosun, who
reached out to his
constituents in cash and
kind, including rams,
food and other ancillary
items for the festivity,
said the Sallah celebration
has again brought an
opportunity for the rich to
bring succour to the less
privileged in the society.
Sallah: Governor Sule, Al-Makura, Speaker Preach Peace, Unity
Umaru Tanko Al-Makura,
BY DANJUMA JOSEPH, Lafia
has felicitated with Muslims
Governor of Nasarawa as they celebrate the feast of
State Abdullahi Sule has
sacrifice.
congratulated Muslims in Governor Sule who stated
the state for joining their this in a press statement
counterparts all over the made available to newsmen
world in celebrating Sallah in Lafia said the feast of Eid
and called on the people to el-Kabir is a test of faith
live in peace and harmony. in commemoration of the
Similarly, the senator sublime submission by
representing Nasarawa the Prophet to the call for
South senatorial district sacrifice.
at the National Assembly,
“My dear people of
Eid-el-Kabir: Kwara Governor Urges Tolerance Among Nigerians
BY ABDULLAHI OLESIN, Ilorin by the chief imam of Ilorin,
Sheik Mohammed Bashir
Kwara State governor Salihu, had in attendance
AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq Governor AbdulRazaq,
yesterday stressed the need the emir of Ilorin, Alhaji
for peace and tolerance
Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari,
among Nigerians. the immediate past senate
AbdulRazaq spoke with president, Dr Abubakar
newsmen shortly before
the two rakah prayers at the
Bukola Saraki, and a national
chairmanship aspirant
Ilorin Eid praying ground. of the All Progressives
The observance of the prayer Congress (APC), Malam
was peaceful and orderly Salihu Mustapha, amongst
in spite of the mammoth other very important
crowd that was at the venue. personalities.
The prayer which was led In a short interview
Group Canvasses National Reconciliation Summit
BY ORJIME MOSES, Abuja Onwubuya John Abraham,
yesterday in Abuja. The
Patriotic Presidential PPCF, which mobilised
Candidates Forum (PPCF) for and supported the re-
has advised President election of President Buhari
Muhammdu Buhari to in 2019, stated that as a
organise a national summit major stakeholder in the
where every ethnic group and
democratic experience
religion will be represented having contested for
to proffer solutions to the presidency, it reserves
country’s challenges and legitimate right to advice or
foster national unity. proffer solutions.
This was contained in It further said that it is
a statement released by fully aware of the challenges
the chairman of PPCF, Dr of youth unemployment,
Monarch Urges Job Creation To End Insecurity
BY DAVID ADUGE-ANI, Abuja yesterday, noted that lack
of jobs to engage the youths
Emir of Jiwa Chiefdom has made them take to drugs
in Abuja Municipal Area and criminality.
Council (AMAC) HRH Alhaji He maintained that the
Idris Musa, has advocated government and individuals
the creation of more jobs to should as a matter of urgency
engage the youths in order create more jobs so that all
to end the wave of insecurity
those that have nothing to
in the country. do could be accommodated
Musa, who made the thereby reducing insecurity.
call in an interview with “Lack of jobs is the cause
LEADERSHIP in his palace of insecurity in the country.
Nasarawa State, you will
recall that the Sultanate
Council Advisory Committee
on religious affairs has
announced 19th of July,
2021 as Arafat day. Following
this announcement,
therefore, Tuesday, 20th
July 2021 marks the Eid-el-
Kabir festival.
“My brothers and sisters,
I wish to remind us that
occasions such as this call
for the Ummah to reflect
with newsmen before
paying Eid homage to Emir
Sulu-Gambari, AbdulRazaq
said development occurs
only in an atmosphere of
peace, mutual tolerance and
understanding.
"It is a message of peace.
There is no alternative to
peace. This is a state of
harmony and we should
let it remain like that. Our
founding fathers worked
so hard to entrench peace
in the state and we will
continue to promote peace
ungodliness and lack of
patriotism among others.
The group proffered
the following solutions to
Nigeria’s problems, “Mr
President to convoke a
National Reconciliation
Summit (National
Discourse) where every
ethnic group, tribe and
religion will be highly
represented to proffer
solutions and foster
national unity and cohesion.
“We suggest strongly
Those who have packed
money in their houses
should bring them out so
that we can use them to
create jobs and engage the
youths.
The government should
create more jobs for the
youths, so that they can be
engaged, because lack of
engagement makes them
take to drugs and involve
themselves in what they are
Wednesday, July 21, 2021
on their relationship with
God and fellow humans as
a yardstick for righteous
living, love and peaceful co-
existence in the society,” he
said.
Senator Al-Makura,
who is the immediate past
governor of the state also
said that Eid-el-Kabir teaches
and reminds people of the
meaning of sacrifice, love and
tolerance, in relationships
with one another.
L-R: Deputy Speak-
er of the House of
Representatives, Rt
Hon Ahmed Idris
Wase, exchanging
greetings with the
chief Imam of Fiber
Mosque, Sheikh Dr.
Khalid Aliyu after
the eid-prayers in
Jos, yesterday.
and unity in our dear state.
"It is a new frontier.
Security wise, we have seen
improvements across the
country. We are certain that
things will continue to get
better,” he said.
AbdulRazaq commended
President Muhammadu
Buhari for the fight against
insecurity in different parts
of the country, saying the
current efforts have led
to glaring improvements
and checkmated agents of
insecurity in Nigeria.
that Mr President should
take the place of servant
leader and call a critical
stakeholder reconciliation
meeting with former
Presidents and Heads
of State and the family
members of late former
Heads of State to a special
meeting to solicit for
cooperation and remedies
to our national security
challenges, where there is
insecurity, there can never
be development.”
not supposed to do, such as
insecurity.”
The royal father also
appealed to Nigerians to
always be their brother’s
keepers, and to reduce
greediness, religious and
tribal sentiments, noting
however, that despite
the challenges facing the
country, Nigerians are
still living together as one
country.
Tulip Colleges Unveil
N180m Scholarship For
26 Nigerian Students
BY HENRY TYOHEMBA, Abuja
Nigerian Tulip International
Colleges (NTIC) has
announced another
N180million full scholarship
for students seeking entry
into Senior Secondary
School (SSS) 1.
NTIC, which is one of
the leading international
secondary schools in the
country, said the scholarship
covers tuition and boarding
fees up to university.
A statement issued
by NTIC's management
yesterday, said the
scholarship is open to
students who are currently
in Junior Secondary School
3 in any school across the
country and are eager to
proceed to SSS1.
It also added that
the students must have
also participated in the
scholarship examinations
organised by NTIC.
"The Nigerian Tulip
International Colleges
commences 100% Full
scholarship for students
seeking entry into SS1
all over Nigeria. This
scholarship, termed NESS
(NTIC Examination for
Senior Secondary School
Scholarship), is a full
scholarship covering tuition
and boarding fees. The
scholarship scheme is for
Senior Secondary students
and aimed at contributing to
the educational development
of our society and country.
NGO Trains 100 Children
On Road Safety
Automobile & Touring
Club of Nigeria (ATCN)
has trained over 100
children on road safety
awareness as part of the
events to mark the 2021
United Nations 6th Global
Road Safety.
The UN Global Road
Safety commemoration in
Nigeria took place at the
Radio House, Abuja, and
was opened by the corps
marshal of the Federal
Road Safety Corps (FRSC),
Boboye Oyeyemi.
This year’s theme was
“Managing Speed” with
the slogan “Street for
Life”#love30km/h.
As a major part of the
event, ATCN organised
a radio chat for kids
to speak up as they
demanded for Street for
Life on the FRSC Radio
Station, emphasising on
the need to promote road
safety through public
enlightenment, awareness
and education.
Another campaign was
organised at the Central
Mosque where flyers and
other campaign materials
were distributed.
Similarly, an outdoor/
church campaign was held
and flyers and T-shirts
were distributed to further
create awareness among
road users.
 Wednesday July 21, 2021
Governor Zulum
Releases N55m,
Food To CJTF,
Others
BY FRANCIS OKOYE,
Maiduguri
Governor of Borno State
Babagana Zulum has
directed the release of
N55 million, 5,500 bags
of rice and 5,500 gallons
of oil to volunteers
and Civilian Joint Task
Force (CJTF), hunters
and vigilantes to enable
them mark the Sallah
celebration.
Zulum gave the order
when he met with the
leadership of the CJTF,
hunters and vigilantes at
the council chamber of
the Government House
in Maiduguri.
The governor said
supporting the volunteers
is critical to the efforts of
the Nigerian military and
other security agencies
in the war against Boko
Haram insurgents.
He paid tribute to the
fighters and the state’s
attorney general and
commissioner for justice,
Barrister Kaka Shehu
Lawan, whose ministry
oversees the volunteers
through the department
of civil rights protection.
Zulum said, “I invited
you to register my deepest
appreciation to all of
you in the Civilian JTF,
hunters and vigilantes for
your enormous sacrifices
and support to the
military in securing the
lives and property of the
people of Borno State”,
the governor said.
“I also extend my
appreciation to the
attorney general who
is leading this very
important team, the
permanent secretary
security, the SSA
security and executive
secretary and members
of Borno’s Security Trust
Fund, for the combined
efforts in repositioning
our security responses
in the state. May Allah
in His infinite wisdom
reward all of you
abundantly. In addition
to my gratitude to the
hunters, vigilantes
and CJTF, I also wish
to provide a token of
support to volunteers
towards this Sallah
Celebration.”
After announcing cash
and food support to the
volunteers, Zulum said,
“No amount of money or
support can match the
critical sacrifices made by
volunteers, I really wish
we can do so much more,
but insha Allah, whenever
our financial condition
improves, government
will offer bigger support.”
www.leadership.ng
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo supported by chairman, Senate Committee on the Navy, Senator George Sekibo (3rd right), Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo
(2nd right) and chairman, House Committee on the Navy, Yusuf Gagdi, cutting the commissioning tape of the nation’s newest and most sophisticated maritime surveillance
system, The Falcon Eye, at the Naval Headquarters in Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO BY DINFO NHQ
Emulate Prophet Ibrahim, Gov Bala Tells Muslims
BY KHALID IDRIS DOYA, emulation especially by the
Bauchi
Muslim Ummah. Mohammed
in Eid-el-Kabir message said
The total submission of
that Muslims should use the
Prophet Ibrahim (AS) to
occasion to reflect on how
the will of Allah when he
they have fared morally and
answered the Divine call to
spiritually during the last one
sacrifice his only son, Prophet
year so as to take corrective
Isma’il is the highest spiritual
measures where necessary.
sacrifice that has ever been
He said the religion of Islam
made in observance of divine
propagates total submission
injunction, Bauchi State
to the will of Allah (SWT) and
governor Bala Abdulkadir
peaceful co-existence amongst
Mohammed has said.
the Muslim Ummah and with
According to the governor,
adherents of other faiths.
the sacrifice by Prophet
He said the Holy Qur’an has
Ibrahim is worthy of
also commanded all Muslims
PMB Orders Agencies To Partner NALDA On 109 Farm Estates
BY GODWIN ENNA, Katsina at Suduje community located
President Muhammadu
on the outskirts of the town.
He also urged state
Buhari has directed all governors to support
federal agencies to partner federal agencies mandated
with the National Land to transform the country’s
Development Authority economy.
(NALDA) to establish the He said Nigeria is
109 organic integrated farm witnessing a revolution in
estates across the country. the agricultural sector and
Buhari gave the directive expressed confidence that
in his hometown, Daura, Nigeria under his watch will
when he commissioned the achieve food security.
first organic integrated farm Restating the
estate established by NALDA commitment of the federal
Archbishop Filibus Greets Muslims At Sallah
BY HUSSAINI celebration.
HAMMANGABDO, Yola In a Sallah message, the
cleric said the occasion
Archbishop of Lutheran demonstrates sacrifice and
Church of Christ in Nigeria love for God, which also
(LCCN) and president of means love for one another
Lutheran World Federation and the making of daily
(LWF), Panti Filibus, has sacrifices for fellow human
felicitated with Muslims on beings as God’s creation,
the occasion of the Sallah irrespective of race, colour or
PRP Seeks Prayer For Nigeria On Insecurity, Hunger
BY TUNDE OGUNTOLA, Abuja statement made available to
LEADERSHIP in Abuja, said
Peoples Redemption Party the security situation in the
(PRP) has called on Muslims in country is worsening by the
Nigeria to pray for the country day coupled with the gnawing
over the worsening economic poverty in the land, adding
situation as they mark the Eid- that it is obvious that millions
el-Kabir celebration. of Nigerians do not have the
The national chairman of luxury of reveling in the season.
PRP, Alhaji Falalu Bello, in a Bello said the PRP considers
Leadership Newspapers
to give something in charity
out of the treasure which
Allah has bestowed on them,
adding that this should be
done without consideration
for religious, ethnic or
political differences.
The governor also urged
Muslims to use the occasion of
the Eid–el-Kabir celebration
to strengthen the existing
interpersonal relationships
among them and create new
ones, saying there is also the
need for them to imbibe the
spirit of forgiveness, humility
and respect for one another.
government in lifting
100million Nigerians out
of poverty, the president
thanked the Katsina State
government for allocating
100 hectares of land for the
establishment of the farm
estate.
On his part, Governor
Aminu Masari promised
to support and provide
whatever is needed in
making the investment
a success, saying the
opportunities in agriculture
religion.
He said, “I felicitate with
the Muslims all over Nigeria
and around the world at the
return of this great feast.
“May I use this opportunity
to also call for continued
prayer for Nigeria, that God
may intervene in ways beyond
human understanding,
it pertinent to call on the
Muslims nationwide to
fervently pray for the nation as
they celebrate the Eid-el-Kabir.
He also called on the
government at all levels to come
up with urgent and proactive
strategies that will put an
end to the general insecurity,
banditry, unemployment,
@leadershipNGA
“We should pray for the
prevailing peace in the state to
be sustained and for adequate
rainfall for us to have a
bumper harvest during this
farming season,” he added.
He reiterated his
administration’s
commitment to continue
to serve the people of the
state and to take Bauchi to
greater heights, stressing
“We are making our modest
efforts in infrastructural
development, education,
health, youth empowerment
and agriculture”.
are limitless as over 70 per
cent of Nigerians depend
directly on agriculture which
has been the mainstay of
the country’s economy
but abandoned with the
discovery of oil.
“When the president
banned the importation of
rice and other commodities,
many people were skeptical
that they cannot produce
enough as such there will
be hunger and other related
problems in the country.
that there may be justice,
a precondition for peace,
security and development of
our nation. Let our prayers
translate into the will and
concrete actions towards the
elimination of hunger and
poverty and the challenge
of the coronavirus that is a
global threat to all of us.
hunger, bad economy, among
others bedeviling the country.
“As we celebrate, let us all
commit ourselves, individually
and collectively to make Nigeria
safer, equitable, progressive
and more egalitarian fatherland
for all irrespective of ethnic,
religious and/or cultural
plurality,” Bello said.
NORTH WEST 13
Senator Kwari
Tasks Constituents
On War Against
Insecurity
BY ISAIAH BENJAMIN, Kaduna
The senator representing
Kaduna North senatorial
district, Suleiman Abdu Kwari
has urged the people of his
constituency to use the occasion
of Eid-el-Kabir to pray for peace,
security and national economic
development.
He also charged them to
support security agencies in
the fight against banditry
and related crimes in their
communities, stressing that
intelligence gathering is a
collective responsibility.
Kwari said, “I call on the
people to be vigilant and
continue to offer useful
information about criminal
elements in their midst to
the security agencies as they
intensify efforts towards
curbing banditry in the country.
We should also not relent in our
prayers for peace, security and
economy of our country.”
The lawmaker, who is also
the chairman of the Senate
Committee on Anti-corruption
and Financial Crimes, gave the
charge in a message to mark this
year’s Eid-el-Kabir celebration.
“I felicitate with my
constituents on this auspicious
occasion of Eid-el-Kabir.
Sallah: Kano NUJ
Felicitates With
Muslim Ummah
BY ABDULLAHI YAKUBU, Kano
Kano State Council of the
Nigeria Union of Journalists
(NUJ) has rejoiced with Muslim
faithful on the occasion of Eid-
el-Kabir festival.
The council particularly
celebrated with its members
and Nigerians in general as they
join the rest of the world to
commemorate the Eid-el-Kabir
festival.
The union urged Nigerians
irrespective of ethnic or
religious affiliations to work in
synergy with security agencies
so as to collectively defeat the
evildoers holding the nation
down.
The NUJ also called on the
citizens to adhere to the
COVID-19 protocols as the
new Delta variant has been
confirmed in the country.
It enjoined the public to ensure
proper dumping of animal
waste so as to guard against the
outbreak of any disease.
The union called on people
to fully participate in the
ongoing voter registration
across the country and urged
the Independent National
Electoral Commission (INEC)
to strengthen its apparatuses to
ensure smooth conduct of the
continuous voter registration in
the state.
14 SOUTH/ WEST
Hamzat, Cleric Sue For
Peaceful Co-existence At
Sallah
BY GEORGE OKOJIE, Lagos
Lagos State Deputy
Governor, Dr. Kadri
Obafemi Hamzat has urged
Nigerians to embrace peace
with one another as the
nation’s economy can only
thrive in a peaceful and
tranquil environment.
Speaking during the
Eid El Kabir prayer held at
the Dodan Barrack Prayer
Ground, Obalende, the
Deputy Governor noted
that peace is a pre-condition
for stability and economic
development in any society.
According to Hamzat,
for the nation’s economy to
grow, there must be peace
in the country; stating that
insurgency brings about
war, poverty and under-
development.
“For us as a country, we
need to grow our economy.
For this to happen, there
must be peace in our
country. Insurgency brings
war, poverty, and under-
development. We must, as
people, do everything to
ensure that peace reigns
in our country, so that
everyone can live well
and go about their daily
activities without fear or
molestation” he said, adding
that “It is our prayer that all
will be resolved and peace be
restored in our country.”
More Efforts Required
To Save Nigeria – PFN
BY ADEBAYO WAHEED, Ibadan
The President of the
Pentecostal Fellowship
of Nigeria (PFN), Bishop
Francis Wale Oke has
asserted that concerted
efforts must be made by
all Nigerians to ensure the
nation does not become a
failed state as envisaged in
some quarters.
Wale Oke who is also
the presiding Bishop of the
Spirit Ministries, Ibadan
also advised Nigerians in
the Diaspora to develop a
positive attitude about the
nation and contribute to the
nation’s economic growth.
The clergyman who
stated this while dedicating
a branch of his church in
Maryland, United States of
America said though Nigeria
is currently at crossroads
and going through some
challenges that bother on
insecurity and economic
hardship, among others, the
situation he maintained was
not irredeemable.
"The truth of the matter
is that there is no place like
home. In this wise, I want to
implore all Nigerians living
in other countries of the
world, to develop a positive
disposition towards Nigeria.
Eid-el-Kabir: Nigeria Won't Go To War, Says Abiodun
BY FEMI OYEWESO, Abeokuta the State League of Imams
and Alfas in his Iperu
As Muslims in Nigeria country home in Ikenne
joined their counterparts Local Government Area,
around the world to said though the country
celebrate this year's Eid- was going through difficult
el-Kabir, the Ogun State times, owing to insecurity,
Governor, Prince Dapo Nigerians would come out
Abiodun has said the nation victorious in the end.
will not experience any "This country will not
war, saying the problems break into two, nothing
confronting the nation were will happen to us in this
surmountable. country, we will not go into
Governor Abiodun who civil war, the unity of this
stated this when he hosted country is non-negotiable,
Oyetola Charges Nigerians On Religious Tolerance, Peaceful Coexistence
BY JOSHUA DADA, Osogbo the Osogbo Central prayer
ground and it witnessed
Osun Governor, mass attendance of devotes
Adegboyega Oyetola, on and supporters of the
Tuesday charged Muslims governor who thronged
to continue to abide by the out in large numbers to
significance of the festival welcome the Governor.
and take it as their way of Addressing the Muslim
life.
The governor joined
Ummah shortly after
other Muslim faithful in
the two Rakaat Prayers,
Governor Oyetola who
Osogbo, the state capital described Eid-el-Kabir as a
to observe the two Rakaat period of sober reflection
Eid-el-Kabir prayerheld at called on Muslims to live
Court Frees Undergraduate Accused Of Murder
BY OLUGBENGA SOYELE, the murder charge against
Lagos
Ameh following a Legal
Advice issued by the Lagos
Two years after he was State Directorate of Public
accused of killing a
Prosecution (DPP) stating
neighbour 14 year old boy, that there is no prima facie
a Lagos State High Court
case against the defendant,
has discharged a student the 14 year-old, Qudus
of the Olabisi Onabanjo
Anifowoshe,
University (OOU), Ago- According to the
Iwoye, Ogun State, Daniel
legal advice signed by
Ameh of the offence. the Director of Public
The trial judge, Justice
Prosecution (DPP), Mrs. A
Owolabi Dabiri dismissed O Adeyemi, there was no
Anglican Bishop Faults NASS Rejection Of Electronic Transmission Of Results
BY TOPE FAYEHUN, Akure electronic transmission
of results in the Electoral
Bishop of Akure Diocese Amendment Bill clearly
of Anglican Communion, shows that they have
Rt. Revd. Simeon Oluwole something to hide.
Borokini, has faulted the Speaking at his 65th
decision of the National birthday thanksgiving held
Assembly to vote against in Akure, the Ondo state
electronic transmission capital, the cleric noted
of results in the Electoral that since over 70 percent
Amendment Bill. of Nigerians used mobile
Borokini said their phones for money transfer
resolve to vote against and do other things online, it
God will give us peace in this
country, He will give us rest.
"As a government we will
try our best, please continue
to pray for us", he said.
While urging Nigerians
not to give up, but continue
to have faith and trust in
God, the Governor noted
that no problem was
too big for God to solve,
saying, "I have a mountain
moving faith in God
because he alone can do the
impossible".
in peace and celebrate the
festival moderately.
He tasked them to see
the celebration as a period
to double their efforts on
good deeds by extending the
hands of fellowship to the
less privileged who he said
deserve to celebrate as well.
Governor Oyetola noted
that the state of things in
the country required the
citizens to continue to
maintain the peace and
sufficient fact to prosecute
him for the offence of
murder contrary to Section
222 of the Criminal Law,
Ch.17, Vol.3, Laws of Lagos
State, 2015 or any offence
whatsoever.
The state had accused
the defendant of the
gruesome murder of a
14-year-old student of Icon
Primary and Secondary
school Ikorodu, Qudus
Anifowoshe on October 14,
should not be difficult for the
country to transmit election
results online.
According to the Bishop,
"For NASS to have voted
against the electronic
transfer of votes, I think
they have what they are
hiding.
"If over 70 percent of
Nigerians are used to mobile
phones where they do the
transfer of money and other
Wednesday, July 21, 2021
A Cross-section
of Muslim Faithful
Praying at Police
College Praying
Ground during the
2021 Eil-el-kabeer
Prayer at GRA Ikeja
Lagos,yesterday.
PHOTO BY KOLAWOLE
ALIU
The Governor harped
on the need for Nigerians
to unite and fight their
common enemies as the
diversity of the country was
her strength.
While advocating for
religious tolerance among
adherents of different
faith, Prince Abiodun urged
them to imbibe the virtues
of Prophet Ibrahim who
was regarded as the father
of faith by having absolute
trust and faith in God.
promote religious tolerance.
In his sermon, the Chief
Imam of Osogbo, Sheikh
Musa Animasahun, urged
Muslims on good deeds, love
and good neighbourliness.
He called on Muslims to
abstain from sins and always
obey the commandments
of God as part of worship,
saying the time has come
for humanity to move closer
to God than before as the
world is moving to an end.
2019, in Ikorodu.
The state had told the
court that the victim’s
body was found mutilated
with missing parts, in an
uncompleted building
at Igbogbo, Agunfoye in
Ikorodu area of Lagos state.
However, his lawyer,
Mike Akinfolarin challenged
the investigation conducted
by the Operatives of SCID,
Panti that found Daniel
culpable of the offence.
things, definitely, electronic
transfer of votes will work
in the country unless they
have a hidden agenda.
" I support it because we
are improving every day. The
telecommunications mast
has gone to all the nook and
cranny of the country. Only
a few places are yet to have it
and we can't because of that
stop it. I am in support of the
electronic transfer of votes."
Firm Chief Urges
Uprightness, Peaceful
Co-existence
BY ISMAILA OGUNTADE, Lagos
As Muslims in the country
marked Eid-el-Kabir, Rite
Foods Limited, has urged
the faithful to always sustain
the virtues of love, tolerance,
and brotherhood which the
Islamic religion upholds.
The managing director
of Rite Foods Limited, Mr.
Seleem Adegunwa in his
Eid-el-Kabir messages to
Muslim faithful noted that
it is also a time for mutual
co-existence, where parts of
the sacrifice offered to Allah
are given as a gift to the poor
and needy.
Adegunwa enjoined
Islamic scholars, leaders,
and believers to use the
festive period to sustain
virtues that would lead to
peace and harmonious co-
existence for a more united
and prosperous nation.
He admonishes them
to always reflect on the
sacred teachings of Prophet
Muhammad which depicts
uprightness and love for one
another, following the tenets
of the Islamic religion.
Adegunwa further
enjoined the believers to
always stay healthy during
the celebration and with the
company's array of quality
products that have set the
standard for others in the
food and beverage industry,
celebrating can be a lot more
enjoyable.
Labour Asks Nigerian
Youths To Shun Violence
BY ANDREW OJIEZEL, Lagos
The leadership of organised
labour comprising the
Nigeria Labour Congress
(NLC) and Trade Union
Congress (TUC) have
felicitated with Nigerian
workers and all Nigerians
taking part in the 2021 Eid-
el Kabir celebration.
The labour unions
appealed to them, especially
youths to shun all forms of
violence and urge them to
reject being used as political
thugs.
The president of NLC,
Comrade Ayuba Wabba in
his Salah message reminded
all constituted authorities
that peaceful protest is a
legal right for all citizens
worldwide. Thus, any effort
to criminalise peaceful
protests by anybody could
lead to anarchy in the land.
Wabba said, "On
behalf of the leadership
of the Nigeria Labour
Congress, I extend very
hearty felicitation with the
Muslim Umma all over the
world especially Nigerian
Muslims and workers on
the occasion of this year’s
Eid-el-Kabir celebration.
 Wednesday July 21, 2021 www.leadership.ng
Ikpeazu Tasks Hospital NASS Rejection Of Electronic Transmission Of Election Results Major Setback – Okowa FRSC Arrests 108
Chief On Humanitarian
BY FELIX IGBEKOYI, Asaba results in the Electoral Act
Services
BY KALU EZIYI, Umuahia
A multi-million naira
surgical centre of the
Nkechi Hospital, Ohaneze
has been commissioned,
with Abia State governor
Okezie Ikpeazu pledging
N3 million to defray the
medical bills of the first set
of patients.
The hospital, which
is in Obingwa local
government area of the
state was established by
the late wife of the former
deputy governor of the
state, Deaconess Jemimah
Nwakanma.
At the occasion,
Ikpeazu urged the chief
medical director (CMD)
of the hospital, Dr Emeka
Nwakanma to sustain the
humanitarian spirit of their
mother and commended
him for upgrading it.
Similarly, the former
deputy governor, Chief
Eric Acho Nwakanma,
said their late mother had
foresight to establish the
hospital to serve the health
needs of the people and the
neighbouring communities.
In his address, the
commissioner for health,
Dr Jeo Osuji described the
upgrading of the hospital
with modern equipment
as a welcome development
and urged the people to
patronise it.
Akwa Ibom Boosts
Primary Healthcare
With N300m
Akwa Ibom State
government is to inject
more than N300 million
into the state primary
healthcare system to
enhance service delivery to
people in the rural areas.
The commissioner for
health, Prof Augustine
Umoh, said this in an
interview with the News
Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in
Uyo, yesterday.
Umoh also said that
the state government had
concluded plans to revive
its primary healthcare
system through the Basic
Healthcare Provision Fund
by paying its counterpart
funding to access the fund.
He said the basic
healthcare provision
fund would help to get
the primary healthcare
system back on track to
ensure effective healthcare
delivery.
The commissioner said
that the fund would also
help to implement more
equitable and efficient
health care financing to
provide essential services
to the most vulnerable
members of the state.
Amendment Bill.
Delta State governor Ifeanyi
Okowa has warned that
the rejection of electronic
transmission of election
results could hinder the
country's efforts at attracting
Foreign Direct Investments
(FDIs).
His warning was prompted
by the National Assembly’s
rejection of electronic
transmission of elections
Imo PDP Lawmakers Deserve Suspension, Assembly Insists
BY EMMANUEL
MGBEAHURIKE, OWERRI
Imo State House of
Assembly led by Hon Paul
Emeziem has berated
the Peoples Democratic
Party (PDP) lawmakers
for misleading the public
with falsehood and
unwholesome utterances.
The House insisted that
the recent suspension
of six members was
legal, constitutional and
EBSU Begins Planting Of 20,000 Trees To Check Flooding
BY OBINNA OGBONNAYA,
ABAKALIKI
Authorities of Ebonyi
State University (EBSU),
Abakaliki, have commenced
the planting of 20,000
trees in the school to check
“forced migration and
displacement” arising from
flooding, high temperature
and scorching sun.
The deputy vice chancellor
(Administration) and
'76’, Nigeria's Film Hits Global Audience August 4
BY ANAYO ONUKWUGHA, PORT
HARCOURT
Nigeria's renowned feature
film, '76’ will from August
4, 2021 be available to
audiences worldwide on the
global streaming service,
Netflix.
The film, which was
produced by Adonis
Production & Princewill's
Trust, was originally
released in cinemas in
Leadership Newspapers
He, however, commended move our electoral system
the Independent National forward such that we are able Defaulters In Anambra
While receiving the
state’s resident electoral
commissioner (REC), Pastor
Monday Udoh-Tom and
his management team on
Monday during an advocacy
visit on Continuous Voter
Registration (CVR), Okowa
said the lawmakers' action
could be interpreted to mean
that there is a plan to rig
future elections.
necessary in order to
preserve peace, stability
and ensure progress of
the legislative arm in the
state.
The House committee
chairman on information,
ethics and privileges, Hon
Johnson Duru stated this
while reacting to media
report credited to some
PDP caucus in the House
led by the minority leader,
Hon Anyadike Nwosu.
Duru accused the PDP
chairman of the university’s
Eco Friendly Initiative
(EFI), Prof Happiness
Oselebe, announced this in
Abakaliki during the launch
of the project.
She said EFI was
envisioned to plant 20,000
trees in Ebonyi State
University over the next
five years for tripartite
reasons, which according to
her include beautification
of the university to achieve
Nigeria in 2016.
Leader of Princewill's
Trust, Prince Tonye
Princewill, in a statement
made available to
LEADERSHIP in Port
Harcourt, said the film
was set six years after the
Nigerian civil war.
He said the film tells the
story of Joseph Dewa, a
young military officer from
the Middle Belt, who gets
into a romantic relationship
@leadershipNGA
Driver’s Licence
Electoral Commission
(INEC) for its efforts at
ensuring the credibility of
the electoral process and
for declaring that it had
capacity to transmit results
electronically.
According to him,
Nigerians must truly
appreciate INEC for the fact
that on a daily basis they are
thinking of the best ways to
lawmakers of behaving
in manner unexpected
of parliamentarians,
stressing that some of
them deserve to be recalled
by their constituents
for misrepresentation,
ineffectiveness and lack of
leadership acumen.
"The PDP lawmakers
are not deserving to
be lawmakers. A good
number of them should
be recalled by their
constituents for reasons
the concept of "University
in a garden".
Oselebe stated that
when individuals and
students are around
engaging landscapes, they
tend to perform better
adding that they enjoy
better mental health along
with improved scholastic
performances.
According to her,
other reasons include
the mitigation of climate
with an O-level student,
Suzy, from the South-
eastern region.
The statement reads in
part: "The film is set six years
after the Nigerian civil war
and tells the story of Joseph
Dewa, a young military
officer from the Middle Belt,
who gets into a romantic
relationship with an O-level
student, Suzy, from the
South-eastern region.
"However, their
SOUTH SOUTH / SOUTH EAST 15
to minimise all possibilities
of fraud.
"Once Nigerians trust
our electoral process, many
Nigerians will come out to
register and vote during
elections. We need to change
the narrative of many
Nigerians that whether they
vote or not, results will still
come out the way they want
it.
Chief Imam,
Muslim
community,
Rivers State,
Alhaji Ahmed
Olanrewaju
(middle)
slaughter-
ing a ram
to mark the
2021 Eid-
el-Kabir in
Port Harcourt
yesterday
PHOTO BY NAN.
of ineptitude, truancy and
lack of decorum," he said.
The Imo Assembly
spokesman also lauded
the speaker for his
proactive leadership,
adding, "For the first time
since the inauguration of
the 9th House, the House
enjoyed stability. Rt.
Hon Paul Emeziem has
stabilised the House and
the House has achieved
tremendous legislative
scorecard.
change.
"The warming of the
climate is 'unequivocal',
and the impact of global
warming are very evident
on the agricultural
landscape, and on human
systems in form of rising
temperatures, scorching
sun and forced migrations
as a result of flooding.
Trees act as carbon which
in turn helps to mitigate
climate change," she added.
relationship is strained by
constant military postings
and Suzy's family, who would
not tolerate a relationship
with Joseph’s people.
"In a series of events
that unfold amid betrayal
from a close friend, Joseph
is falsely accused of being
a co-conspirator of the
unsuccessful 1976 military
coup that ultimately led to
the assassination of General
Murtala Mohammed.
Federal Road Safety Corps
(FRSC), Anambra Sector
Command, said it has
apprehended 108 motorists
for driver’s licence violation
in the “Operation Show
Your Driver’s Licence” in
the state.
The sector commander,
Mr Adeoye Irelewuyi, told
the News Agency of Nigeria
(NAN) yesterday in Awka,
that the operation would
help reduce the number of
unqualified drivers on the
highways.
The FRSC headquarters
in Abuja has directed state
commands to go after
driver’s licence defaulters
from July 5 to July 11.
The operation targets
motorists without valid
licences, expired ones
and those with expired
temporary copies.
Irelewuyi decried the
habit of driving without
valid licence, saying it was
the only legal document
that permitted anyone to
drive on Nigerian roads.
“Many people we see
behind the wheels are not
even licenced and anybody
that is not licenced to drive
should not be on the road.
Shortage Of Teachers
Stalling Education In
Delta – NUT
BY FELIX IGBEKOYI, ASABA
Delta State chapter of the
Nigeria Union of Teachers
(NUT) has warned that
education is under threat of
imminent collapse over the
acute shortage of teachers in
public schools in the state.
The state NUT chairman,
Comrade Titus Okotie,
stated this during the
opening of the 7th
Quadrennial (8th) State
Delegates Conference of the
NUT in Warri.
The conference which
had as its theme; ‘’Adequate
Personnel: An imperative
for the sustainability of our
educational system’’ has
delegates drawn from the 25
local government areas of
the state.
Okotie who posited
that no education system
could grow above the level
of its teachers, insisted
that adequate teaching
force is required for the
advancement of the
education system.
The union further
lamented the continued
stagnation of university
graduate teachers in the
primary school system
on SGL 14, stressing that
Delta NUT would soon
communicate to the state
government on the next line
of action on the issue.
16 www.leadership.ng Leadership Newspapers @leadershipNGA Wednesday, July 21, 2021

BORDER COMMUNITIES In Focus

THE PRESIDENCY A Weekly Publication Highlighting Border Communities
Border Communities Development Agency Challenges And Development Initiatives Of The Federal
No. 4 Augustus Aikhomu Street, Utako, Abuja, FCT Email: contact@bcda.gov.ng Website: bcda.gov.ng Government
twitter: @bcdagov facebook: m.facebook.com

ONIMEKO OF IMEKO BORDER TOWN, HRM OBA BENJAMIN ALABI ONITE (LEFT)
DISCUSSING ISSUES OF INTREST WITH THE EXECUTIVE SECRETARY BCDA, CAPTAIN
JUNAID ABDULLAHI (2ND RIGHT)AND A RENOWNED ACADEMIC ON BORDER STUDIES,
PROFESSOR ASIWAJU (RIGHT), DURING THE INSPECTION OF THE PROPOSED SITE FOR A
BORDER MARKET IN IMEKO BORDER COMMUNITY, OGUN STATE.
THE EXECUTIVE SECRETARY BCDA, CAPTAIN JUNAID ABDULLAHI TALKING TO THE PRESS DURING
THE COMMISSIONING/HANDING-OVER OF A PRIMARY HEALTH CARE CENTRE EXECUTED BY BCDA IN
GURIN BORDER COMMUNITY, FUFORE L.G.A, ADAMAWA STATE, WHILE HON. COMMISSIONER, MIN. OF
REHABILITATION, RECONSTRUCTION, REINTEGRATION AND HUMANITARIAN SERVICES, MR. ELIJAH
TUMBA (RIGHT) AND THE EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN, FUFORE L.G.A, ALHAJI MUSA JAURO LOOKS ON.

PROVISION AND INSTALLATION OF SOLAR STREET LIGHTS BY BCDA AT THE NEMBE GENERAL HOSPITAL AND ENVIRONS, NEMBE BORDER COMMUNITY, BAYELSA STATE.

TRAINING ON STARTEGIC MODERN FARMING TECHNOLOGY AND PROVISION OF GRANTS TO YOUTH AND WOMEN ORGANIZED BY BCDA IN GASHUA BORDER COMMUNITY, YOBE STATE.

CONSTRUCTION OF AN ICT CENTRE BY BCDA IN GURI L.G.A, BIRNIWA-GURI-KIRIKASAMMA FED. CONSTITUENCY, JIGAWA STATE.
Wednesday July 21, 2021 www.leadership.ng Leadership Newspapers @leadershipNGA 17
business
NEWS MONEY CAPITAL MARKET
Chaka Secures $1.5m To
Power Digital Investments
For African Businesses
BY OLUSHOLA BELLO, Lagos
Chaka Technologies has raised
$1.5million in a pre-seed fund-
ing round led by Breyer Capital to
boost digital investments for Afri-
can businesses.
According to Chaka Technolo-
gies, this funding will serve as a
catalyst to enable it power its mis-
sion of enabling borderless invest-
ments across Africa and deliver
digital investments solutions for
African businesses.
It will also be used towards the
expansion of Fintech’s footprints
in West Africa to reach more retail
investors and attract more foreign
players to African capital markets.
Speaking on the funding, co-
founder and chief executive of-
ficer, Chaka Technologies, Tosin
Osibodu, said: “This is indeed a
significant milestone for us at Cha-
ka. We see digital investments as
an opportunity to boost economic
transformation in Africa, and our
goal is to use this funding to bring
this vision to life.
“With this capital, we will fo-
cus on our goals to build a roster
of formidable partners and accel-
erate our expansion to other mar-
kets within Africa. This investment
also enables us to hire top talent
and integrate more advanced func-
tionalities into our investment and
wealth management solutions for
businesses.”
Chief executive officer of Brey-
er Capital, Jim Breyer, said: “We
are proud to combine efforts with
a company that is levelling the in-
vestment playing field for Nigeri-
ans (and Africans at large). We are
confident in the value Chaka pro-
vides through its digital tools, and
we look forward to playing our
part in supporting Chaka’s team
on their mission to drive border-
less investments in Africa.”
This pre-seed round comes on
the heels of the Chaka becoming
the first start-up to acquire the new
digital sub-broker licence issued by
Nigeria’s Securities and Exchange
Commission (SEC), in line with the
regulator’s efforts to safeguard the
investing public and accelerate in-
novation within the sector.
Group Business Editor
Isaac Aimurie
Business Editor
Nse Anthony-Uko
Assistant Business Editor (Lagos)
Zaka Khaliq
Correspondents/Reporters
Chika Izuora
Mark Itsibor
Bukola Idowu
Olushola Bello
Yusuf Babalola
INSURANCE INTERVIEW ANALYSIS
INFLATION 2021 2020 INTER BANK LENDING RATE
RATE (%) RATE(AS AT JUNE 7 2021)
O/N 14.6250
FEB 17.33 12.20 1M 12.2044
MARCH 18.17 12.26 3M 13.5297
APRIL 18.12 12.34 6M 14.8144
L-R: MD/CEO, Afri Air International Ltd,. Captain Shehu Usman Iyal; Hon. Aminu Suleiman; Prince Isa Ado Bayero and Alhaji
Aminu Ado Bayero, Emir of Kano during courtesy visit of Emir of Kano to the premises of Afri Air International at the Murtala
Muhammed Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, yesterday.PHOTO BY KOLAWOLE ALIU
Nigeria Needs N1.3trn To Convert 8m
Public Vehicles From Petrol To Gas
BY NSE ANTHONY-UKO, Abuja purchase. So, to eliminate under-re-
covery, what you need is alternative
The Nigerian government would fuel. Without alternatives, you will
require no less than N1.32 trillion subject people to higher prices and
(3.2 billion) to be able to transition that is why we go for price freedom.
its vehicles from the use of premi- “As of today, there are 22 million
um motor spirit, popularly known cars in Nigeria. Eight million are for
as petrol, to the use of natural gas. public use. Imagine if you want to
The cost is to enable the govern- convert every car into gas, the aver-
ment to convert eight million pub- age cost of conversion is $400. Con-
lic vehicles from running on petrol verting eight million cars requires
or diesel to running on either Liq- $3.2 billion. To do that, there are
uefied Natural Gas (LNG) or Com- a lot of environmental investors
pressed Natural Gas (CNG) at the which can invest and recover from
value of $400 per vehicle. the sale of gas and we are encour-
Director, Department of Petrole-
aging that.
um Resources (DPR), Mr. Sarki Au- “Once that is achieved, you will
walu, who gave this estimate, said
see that PMS can be sold at N1000.
this was what it would cost the After all, the average distance cov-
country to switch to an alternative ered by one gallon equivalent when
fuel regime in its bid to eliminate you compare it with LNG or CNG
fuel subsidy and its attendant drain with respect to energy for mobili-
in the nation’s resources. ty, is 2.7 against one. One for PMS,
Speaking in Lagos recently, Au- 2.7 for LNG or CNG.
walu who has already advocated “So, with that advantage, you
that Nigeria should consider hav- will see that it creates opportuni-
ing an alternative fuel regime be- ties for this industry again. The is-
fore removing fuel subsidy, however sue of subsidy, volume will all van-
warned that the alternative regime ish and that is what we are working
will come with initial cost. towards.”
He maintained that converting He, however, warned that the rise
eight million public vehicles cur- in Nigeria’s local refining capacity as
rently present in Nigeria to gas-
seen in the coming on stream of a
powered will cumulatively cost $3.2 number of refineries in the country
billion to achieve. without a corresponding increase in
He said: “So, to eliminate sub- the country’s oil production vol-
sidy, they don’t call it subsidy an- ume may threaten the country’s
ymore now, it’s under-recovery of membership of the Organisation
Leadership Newspapers
CHANGE%)
-0.39
0.50
0.63
0.22
of Petroleum Exporting Countries
(OPEC).
The director lamented that out
of Nigeria’s over 7100 reservoirs
and its mature basins, the country
was recovering just as low as about
1000, a situation he said needs the
collaboration of all industry play-
ers to find a solution before Nige-
ria gets evicted from OPEC due to
low contribution.
“How do we now get the nation-
al production capacity so that we
export more, and consume more?
Today, we have huge additional ca-
pacity in domestic refining. If we
don’t increase production, we have
to get out of OPEC, because you
can’t be a net consumer to stay in
exporting countries.
“The challenge is for all of us. As
the refining capacity is increasing,
we have to now get production ca-
pacity to increase so that we re-
main the net exporter. We believe
this will guarantee and fortify the
future,” he said.
Responding to Kupolokun’s
question on the need to address
the low contribution of the oil and
gas sector to the country’s Gross
Domestic Product (GDP), which
is less than 10 per cent, Auwalu
attributed the abysmal contribu-
tion to lack of deep investment
into the value chain of the sector
as well as the export mentality of
the players.
21.07.2021
@leadershipNGA
Wema Bank To Enlighten Young
Nigerians On Wealth Management
BY OLUSHOLA BELLO, Lagos
Wema Bank, through its prod-
uct, ALAT, has restated its com-
mitment in providing advisory
services for small and medium
scale enterprises through loans
and other business support ini-
tiatives.
ALAT by Wema, on July 15,
2021, hosted the first edition of
its Talk Series targeting the young
Nigerians. The session which
was held on the social network-
ing application Clubhouse, was
themed, ‘Wealth Creation and
Wealth Management for Nigeri-
ans Under 30’.
The session was moderated by
personal finance guru, Tosin Olas-
einde with the chief digital officer
Of Wema Bank, Olusegun Adeni-
yi, and popular Nigerian Vlogger,
Sisi Yemmie as speakers.
The ALAT Talk Series is one of
the many ways the bank is show-
ing support for young Nigerians
across the country and in its first
session, they provided an oppor-
tunity to discuss key issues such
as money and finance as well as
business management and en-
trepreneurship.
For Tosin Olaseinde, her for-
ay into the promotion of finan-
cial literacy began when she kept
getting broke despite earning a
considerable wage. Yemisi Odu-
sanya, popularly known as Sisi
Yemmie, on the other hand, was
able to monetise her skills and
things she loves doing. Now,
she is a renowned vlogger mak-
ing money from her vlogs, meal
plans and recipes.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“In a couple of weeks they should
be commencing production of
gold in Nigeria. That is the kind
of success story I am looking
forward to from Aurelia– Minister
of Mines and Steel Development,
Olamilekan Adegbite
Adegbite
 Wednesday July 21, 2021 www.leadership.ng
Canadian Firm Set To Commence
Gold Production In Nigeria
Minister of Mines and Steel
Development, Olamilekan
Adegbite, has hinted that
in a couple of weeks, the
Segilola Gold project owned
by a Canadian gold explora-
tion and development com-
pany, Thor Exploration Ltd,
in Ogun State, Southwest
Nigeria will start producing
gold in the country.
Adegbite made the dis-
closure on Monday while
playing host to a delegation
from a British Gold mining
firm, Aurelia Mining Com-
pany Ltd, led by the compa-
ny’s director, Julian Ham-
mond, to his office in Abuja,
seeking to invest in gold.
“In the next couple of
L-R: Director Corporate Services, Palton Morgan, John Fanibuyan; Assistant GM, Commercial, BCL, Justin Nwampere; managing director, BCL, Roda
Fadlallah; group chief operating officer, Palton Morgan, Nidal Turjman; development and projects director, Palton Morgan, Peter Raven, and managing
partner, APD Project Management Company, Andy Jibunoh, at the contract signing ceremony for SkyVilla Apartments, Probyn Road, Ikoyi, Lagos.
PHOTO BY KOLAWOLE ALIU
Emerging Markets Take Fresh Leap In Renewables
BY CHIKA IZUORA, Lagos
Researchers have seen an ener-
getic leap in renewable energy
initiative by emerging markets
as they spring in a swift, frisky
curvet investing in that space.
They expressed the opinion
that the amount of electricity
generated from burning fossil
fuels has likely peaked world-
wide, as emerging markets in-
vest in clean and cheap renewa-
bles over coal, oil and gas.
That was the finding of a re-
port published recently by envi-
ronmental think tanks, Carbon
Tracker in the United Kingdom
Bora Harps On Personal Branding For Media Practitioners
BY KINGSLEY OKOH, Lagos
Pan-African public rela-
tions company, Bora Com-
munications, has reiterated
the need to drive conversa-
tion on personal branding
for media practitioners to
revamp social media pres-
ence and prioritise their
brands to remain relevant
in the 21st century.
It added that as media
weeks we will start gold pro-
duction from Illesha; it was
a little bit delayed because
of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We all know about
Segilola gold project in
Ogun State, owned by Thor
Exploration, a Canadian
company that is into explo-
ration and they are quoted
on the Toronto Exchange,
and recently in the last three
weeks quoted on the Lon-
don Exchange as well.
“In a couple of weeks they
should be commencing pro-
duction of gold in Nigeria.
That is the kind of success
story I am looking forward
to from Aurelia at the end of
the day,” the minister said.
and the Council on Energy, En-
vironment and Water (CEEW)
in India.
The researchers said emerg-
ing markets would provide 88
per cent of the growth in elec-
tricity demand over the next
two decades, and say these
markets are increasingly leap-
frogging polluting energy
sources that are uncompetitive.
Clearly, fossil fuel plants
have not disappeared, said
Arunabha Ghosh, chief exec-
utive officer of CEEW and co-
author of the report. But the
new electricity capacity is “al-
most entirely likely to be non-
landscape becomes increas-
ingly unstable, there’s need
to find viable business mod-
els.
This, it said, was imper-
ative to drive media prac-
titioners to build brands
across social media spec-
trums by establishing strong
online identities to grow
large and dedicated follow-
ers to restore the reputation
of journalism in Africa.
Leadership Newspapers
He noted that the ag-
gressive investment driv-
ing campaign embarked
upon by the ministry in the
recent past, including the
tour of some mining coun-
tries to sensitise them on
Nigeria’s solid minerals po-
tentials, have started yield-
ing results in the foreign in-
vestors that are now coming
in, noting that it was also in
the course of that they en-
countered Aurelia in the
United Kingdom.
“I was in South Africa,
London, Toronto among
others, and with all these we
were able to convince inves-
tors, to say, look, Nigeria is
a place to come to,” he said.
fossil fuels.”
About one in every nine peo-
ple on the planet lacks access to
electricity, mostly in Asia and
sub-Saharan Africa. Leaders of
poorer countries have histori-
cally had to choose between
raising living standards and
protecting the climate and peo-
ple’s health.
Two recent studies esti-
mate that between 1 million
and 8 million people die each
year from breathing in dirty air
that comes from burning coal,
oil and gas.
But as the cost of renewable
energy plummets, that trade-
This was made known at
the company’s first-ever ex-
clusive virtual media confer-
ence themed ‘The Journal-
ist As A Brand’ held on July,
17, 2021 to discuss the is-
sues surrounding the media
landscape.
Those who spoke at the
virtual conference include
investigative journalist and
broadcaster; David Hun-
deyin; deputy director, pro-
@leadershipNGA
He expressed delight in
the success stories record-
ed in the Nigerian mining
sector in terms attracting
more local and internation-
al investors in recent times,
noting that the federal gov-
ernment has done lots of ex-
ploration on gold and oth-
er minerals to acquire data
with a view to making Nige-
ria a mining destination of
the world.
“We have a project called
the National Integrated
Mineral Exploration Project
(NIMEP) going on in parts
of the country even as the
Nigerian Geological Survey
Agency (NGSA) is doing ex-
ploration,” he said.
off is starting to vanish. Coun-
tries like Kenya and Nigeria
with fast-growing populations
but low emissions could skip
fossil fuel electricity altogether
and avoid the destructive path-
way taken in many industrial-
ised countries.
A landmark IEA report pub-
lished in May charted out a
path to reaching net-zero emis-
sions by 2050. As well as a mas-
sive expansion of renewable en-
ergy, the policy shifts include
near-term changes like banning
the sale of fossil fuel boilers by
2025 and new combustion en-
gine vehicles by 2035.
grammes at The Beat 99.9fm
Lagos, Osikhena Dirisu; and
communications specialist
and project manager, Me-
dia Focus On Africa, Ugan-
da, Jan Ajwang.
The virtual conference,
which was well attended by
media professionals across
Africa featured personal
brand stories from all ex-
perts on their journey in
the media world which ad-
NEWS/BUSINESS 19
Food Security: RIFAN Assures Nigerians
Of Increased Rice Production
The Rice Farmers Associa-
tion of Nigeria (RIFAN) Oyo
chapter, has assured Nigeri-
ans of their commitment to
boost rice production to re-
duce high cost of the com-
modity.
Mr Samuel Akande, the
Oyo RIFAN Chairman, gave
the assurance in Ibadan, yes-
terday.
Akande said that the farm-
ers’ target for years was to
get quality rice to the table
regularly and cheaper than it
is presently.
He noted that the associ-
ation encouraged members
to engage in commercial
farming of the commodity
on good land size in order
to achieve its goals. “In Oyo
State, it is not the nonavaila-
bility of farmers to plant rice,
but the nonavailability of the
enabling facilities.
“We are still hoping to
know what the government
may have for us in the area of
land, land clearing and trac-
tors, hitherto, it has been
the sole responsibility of the
farmers here,” he said.
Akande remarked that the
RIFAN/CBN/Unity bank An-
chor Borrowers Programme
(ABP) had been the only sure
hope for rice farmers in the
state.
He said that all relevant in-
puts required by smallhold-
er farmers were included
in the ABP package, based
on the assumed capacity of
the farmer. “All over Nige-
ria, rice pyramids are com-
ing back on a serious note,
RIFAN has been selling rice
paddy to millers with the in-
Minister Of Power Promises Improved
Electricity Supply To Nigerians
The Minister of Power,
Alhaji Saleh Mammam, has
promised that his ministry
will improve electricity
supply to Nigerians.
Mamman who gave the
assurance while speaking
with journalists during the
Eld-el-Kabir celebration
in Jalingo, said that
communities that were
underserved would enjoy
adequate service soonest.
He also assured those
communities yet to be
connected to the national
grid that alternative sources
dressed several ways mod-
ern journalists can build
their brands beyond their
media organisations.
Speaking, founder and
chief communications of-
ficer, Bora; Kemi Olawoye
emphasised the need for
modern journalists to prior-
itise their brands and con-
tinue to hold brands, gov-
ernments, and individuals
publicly accountable as they
tention to bring the price of
rice down.
“Farmers are really not
feeling safe to work their full
capacity to produce food on a
daily basis as they are being
attacked and their rice farm
grazed without hindrance.
“No land clearing equip-
ment, irrigation systems are
not being maintained where
they are available.
“Another area of challenge
is the flood/drought expe-
riences which the farmers
can’t control unless there
is a well planned and man-
aged irrigation system, small
holder farmers cannot put
this in place without govern-
ment’s intervention.
“To boost rice production,
what we, the farmers can do
and which we have been do-
ing is to recruit more people
to plant rice and train them,
with farmers on ground, any
willing government will find
it easy to identify and locate
the right farmers to sup-
port,” he said.
According to him, RIFAN
has been getting fertiliser,
water pumps, hoses, spray-
ers, herbicides, insecticides,
fungicides, among others as
input loans.
Akande said that to beat
down the market price of
rice, governments at the
various levels need to make
conscious efforts in that di-
rection.
“Farmers can only produce
for the market, our middle-
men buy low and sell high so
only the government has the
wherewithal to fix the price
at a desirable level.
of power generation would
be provided for them.
The minister urged
Nigerians to embrace
peace, saying only peaceful
coexistence would bring
development.
Mamman also called on
agitators to give peace a
chance and contribute to
the ‘one Nigeria project’.
According to him, “we do
not have another country
of our own and we must
join hands together to
build the Nigeria of our
dream”.
continue to be gatekeepers
in society.
Commenting on the is-
sue, investigative journal-
ist, David Hundeyin, ad-
vised journalists to use their
real names for social media
accounts, adding that so-
cial media is now unavoid-
ably part of a journalist’s job
as against the old belief that
it was at odds with one’s ca-
reer in journalism.
20 NEWS/BUSINESS
Two motorcyclists carrying passengers with ram and goat along
Gombe-Dukku Road, Gombe State, after shopping yesterday
Nigeria’s Oil Production Drops 11.47%
To 1.343mbpd In Q2 – OPEC
BY NSE ANTHONY-UKO, Abuja
Nigeria’s oil output dropped
by 11.47 per cent year-on-
year, YoY, in the second
quarter of 2021 (Q2’21).
But the decline also
showed significant under-
production against the quo-
ta, Organisation of Petrole-
um Exporting Countries,
(OPEC) data have shown.
In its July 2021 Monthly
Oil Market Report (MOMR),
obtained by LEADERSHIP,
OPEC disclosed that on the
average, the nation pro-
duced 1.343 million barrels
per day in Q2’21 compared
to 1.517 mb/d produced in
Q2’20. This also compares
negatively with the OPEC
quota of 1.4 mb/d.
Specifically, the report
has it that the country pro-
duced 1.372 mb/d, 1.344
mb/d and 1.313 mb/d, in
April, May and June, 2021
respectively, compared to
1.705 mb/d, 1.436 mb/d
and 1.411 mb/d, pro-
duced in the corresponding
Edo Ranks Lowest In Accountability Index, As Kaduna Tops Ladder
BY MARK ITSIBOR, Abuja
Edo State ranked worst per-
former in terms of account-
ability in the management
of public finance, scoring
3 per cent of the required
information in an assess-
ment report (for 2018 fis-
cal year) that was conducted
by the Institute of Char-
tered Accountants of Nige-
ria (ICAN).
Edo State scored 5 per
cent in 2018 in the same
survey but dropped by 2
points in 2019. In terms of
non access to information to
rate the state’s handling of
state funds, Edo State was
rated 97 per cent in 2019,
and 95 per cent in 2018.
Some of the states like
Rivers and Adamawa which
recorded 2 per cent each in
months of 2020.
At the Q2’21 average out-
put the country requires
about 500 mb/d output
of condensate to meet its
2021 budgetary target of
1.8 mb/d. But currently the
estimated condensate out-
put is put at 400 mb/d, in-
dicating a likely significant
shortfall.
However, the shortfall
may not affect revenue esti-
mates since the 2021 oil rev-
enue was based on oil price
of $40 per barrel, while ac-
tual price in recent weeks
have hovered above $70 per
barrel.
Meanwhile the OPEC re-
port, which painted a bright
prospect for the oil mar-
ket in the remaining part
of 2021, stated: “World oil
demand growth in 2021 is
forecast at 6.0 mb/d, un-
changed from last month’s
assessment, although there
have been some regional re-
visions. Total oil demand is
projected to average 96.6
mb/d.
2018, recorded significant
improvement in public fine
management by 37 per cent
and 11 per cent respectively.
Out of the 36 states of the
federation, Kaduna state
has the highest score of 72.7
per cent of the required in-
formation for the survey on
public finance, according to
the report that was obtained
by this Newspaper. Kaduna
State improved from 74 per
cent in 2018 to 87 per cent
in 2018, the report showed.
In general, the entire
country showed a low lev-
el of transparency. The
year’s report showed a
7 per cent improvement
over the previous year’s
assessment. This is so de-
spite the various regula-
tions and laws in Nigeria
mandating the availabil-
“The Q1’21 was revised
lower, amid slower than
anticipated demand in the
main Organisation for Eco-
nomic Co-operation and De-
velopment (OECD), OECD
consuming countries. This
was counter-balanced by
better-than-expected data
from OECD Americas in
Q2’21, which is now pro-
jected to last through the
Q3’21.
“Solid expectations exist
for global economic growth
in 2022. These include im-
proved containment of
COVID-19, particularly in
emerging and developing
countries, which are fore-
cast to spur oil demand to
reach pre-pandemic levels
in 2022.”
Meanwhile, Nigeria’s
crude oil exports fell by a
whopping 41.9 per cent
year-on-year in the first
quarter of 2021. This is ac-
cording to data contained
in the Central Bank of Ni-
geria’s balance of payment
report.
ity of such information
for public consumption.
“The situation does not
only show lack of credibil-
ity on the part of govern-
ments at all levels; it also
shows the need to identi-
fy and strengthen all are-
as militating against pub-
lic finance management
system in Nigeria, ICAN
said in reaction to the
outcome of the report.
The organisation ob-
served that there is a
need to review some of
the laws that have be-
come obsolete in the con-
text of recent global and
local developments and
also harmonise the many
laws and regulations deal-
ing with public finance
management system in
Nigeria.
Faulty Business Structure Denies 20m MSMEs
Access To N1.65trn Intervention Fund
BY KINGSLEY OKOH, Lagos
There are strong indications that
more than 50 per cent of the 40 mil-
lion micro, small and medium enter-
prises (MSMEs) in the country could
not access any of the N1.65 trillion
intervention funds allotted to MS-
MEs sector because of faulty busi-
ness structures, bad record keeping
and high interest rates.
The federal government, in recent
times, has floated intervention funds
which total value runs into several
billions of naira specifically for the
SMEs sector, such as: N220 billion for
Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise
Development Fund; the N330 billion
Real Sector Support Facility and the
N1.1 trillion Covid-19 stimulus fund.
But the major requirements of
good business structure and record
keeping have denied about 20 mil-
lion of these SMEs access to these in-
tervention funds.
Undoubtedly, SMEs are critical
to the development of any econo-
my as they contribute 50 per cent to
the country’s Gross Domestic Prod-
uct (GDP) and 85 per cent employ-
ment to the informal sector, while it
possesses great potential to reduce
poverty through employment crea-
tion and income generation.
In spite of the intervention funds,
the funding gap in the MSMEs sec-
tor is very huge with several busi-
nesses struggling to survive while a
vast majority of MSMEs have been
denied access to procure grants and
loans needed to revamp the SME sec-
tor because of the above challenges.
Speaking on the MSMEs inter-
vention funds, the president, Lagos
Chamber of Commerce and Industry,
(LCCI), Mrs. Toki Mabogunje, said the
feedback from the wider business
community revealed that the access
to tntervention funds for MSMEs was
not encouraging.
She commended the sustained
intervention of the CBN in the real
sector through its numerous inter-
vention programmes including the
N220billion for Micro, Small and Me-
dium Enterprise Development Fund;
the N330billion Real Sector Support
Facility and the N1.1 trillion Covid
19 stimulus funds while she posited
Oil Prices Rebound As Market Set For Stability
BY CHIKA IZUORA, Lagos
Crude oil futures rebound-
ed yesterday as market par-
ticipants vied to take ad-
vantage of oil’s two-month
low hit in the previous ses-
sion.
Monday’s selloff, spurred
by demand destruction
fears amid rising COVID-19
cases, pushed oil about 7
per cent lower and hit oth-
er riskier assets. While eq-
uities avoided a new selloff
yesterday, United States
Treasury and German bond
yields also slipped as a re-
minder that investors re-
mained worried.
“There are bottom pickers
trying to get into this dip,”
said Bob Yawger, director of
Wednesday, July 21, 2021Ebus,
that the CBN should undertake fur-
ther review of its strategies to elimi-
nate the bottlenecks associated with
accessing intervention funds for the
SMEs.
The LCCI president said the en-
vironment must support business-
es, preserve investments and create
job opportunities while she stressed
that the genuine commitment in im-
plementing key reforms would not
only stimulate the output growth
but would also put the nation on
the path of macroeconomic stabili-
ty over the medium term.
Mabogunje pointed out that the
situation was taking a huge toll on
capacity utilisation, recovery and
sustainability of businesses in the
production sector.
Similarly, economic expert and
former director-general, LCCI, Muda
Yusuf, explained that the funding
gap in the MSMEs space is still huge
while he hinted that the gap was es-
timated at over N600 billion in a re-
cent study by PWC.
He argued that the fact that many
MSMEs seek funds from microfinance
banks, finance companies, money
lenders at outrageous interest rates
is a reflection of this funding gap
while he noted that the rates could
be as high as 60 per cent per annum
or more in some of these institutions.
He lauded the efforts of the CBN
in supporting MSMEs through the in-
tervention programmes, saying, for
an economy that has over 40million
MSMEs, the CBN can only do so much
but it is fair to say the CBN is doing
its best in this delivery although the
credit delivery framework could be
better.
Yusuf lamented that most of the
MSMEs operates informally while
presenting themselves as credible
candidates for credits. He revealed
that many do not have records of
their transactions and most of them
have no financial records and clear
convincing business models.
He added that most of them
need the help of business develop-
ment experts and services providers
to help build their capacity and tai-
lor their business models in these
areas.
Further to this, Yusuf said, the
energy futures at Mizuho in
New York.
Brent crude rose 50
cents, or 0.7 per cent, to
$69.12 a barrel having slid
by 6.8 per cent on Monday.
The global benchmark has
fallen from over $77 hit in
early July - its highest since
late 2018.
Tuesday is the final trad-
ing day for August US crude
futures, adding volatility to
the market, Yawger said.
The expiring US crude
August contract was up 43
cents a barrel at $66.85 af-
ter earlier touching a ses-
sion low of $65.21. The
contract fell 7.5 per cent
on Monday. The next front
month, September , was up
55 cents, or 0.8 per cent at
commercial banks are often not
excited about the intervention
funds because they bear the cred-
it risk which implies that they will
bear the responsibility for loan de-
faults while he stated that with the
perception of MSMEs as high credit
risk, this could be an impediment to
MSMEs financing.
Similarly, business development
expert, Timi Olubiyi, said SMEs face
credit discriminations from banks
because of opacity of information,
lack of business structure which he
noted was quite common with SME
operators who do not have in place
audited financial statements.
He noted that for these reasons
and more, it is usually difficult for
SMEs to show credit quality to
banks and other financial institu-
tions, hence, they’re seen to expe-
rience more stringent credit terms
than the large companies which are
are seen as less risky.
Olubiyi further stated that banks
and credit institutions perceive
MSMEs in Nigeria as risky struc-
tures not very resilient but fragile
in terms of activity, solvency and
management particularly the start-
ups and micro business in Nigeria.
He said other factors that affects
access to finance for MSMEs are; as-
set use for collateral requirements,
cumbersome application process,
short loan maturities, high inter-
est rates among others.
While stressing that social and
fiscal policy should be targeted at
the SMEs to provide low interest
credit facilities and tax breaks par-
ticularly cutting taxes to increase
disposable income as most SMEs
run their businesses on loan facil-
ity as the current situation has im-
peded their capacity to service the
current loans.
Managing director of TBWA Con-
cept, Mr. Kelechi Nwosu also said,
SMEs need to upskill their business
knowledge and understand the
prerequisites to apply for funds/
loans while ensuring that they re-
port the progress of such loans. He
noted that MSME operators need to
learn business management and
marketing skills to evolve with the
changing consumers’ motivations.
$66.90.
Still, the market re-
mained skeptical that the
price increase would last.
“As things stand, it is
hard to see prices staging a
comeback unless virus jit-
ters are brought back under
control,” said Stephen Bren-
nock of oil broker PVM.
“The market is clearly un-
settled about the demand
outlook.”
The Delta coronavirus
variant has becomethe
dominant strain worldwide,
U.S. officials said on Friday.
The variant is unlikely
to jeopardise the recovery
of global growth, though it
could cause “regional hic-
cups,” said Julius Baer an-
alyst Carsten Menke.
 Wednesday July 21, 2021 www.leadership.ng Leadership Newspapers @leadershipNGA 21

FOCUS ON GOMBE Every Wednesday

Food Security: Gombe

To Partner Notore
Gombe State governor,
On Rice Production,
Muhammadu Inuwa Ya- Other Agro-allied
haya (2nd right); Emir
of Gombe, Dr Abuba- Ventures
kar Shehu Abubakar lll Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya
(right); minister of com- has assured investors that Gombe
munications and digital State is ready and willing to receive
economy, Dr Isa Ali Ibra- and partner any individual or group
him Pantami (middle); wishing to advance the economy of
Speaker of Gombe State the state through legitimate business
that will guarantee job creation and
House of Assembly, Hon enhance productivity on the long run.
Abubakar Luggerewo, The governor stated this when
and other dignitaries, he granted audience to a delegation
during the Eid-el-Kabir from Nomier Group, owners of No-
prayer at Gombe Central tore Company, led by its chairman,
Eid praying ground, yes- Mr. Jite Okoloko, at the Government
terday. House, Gombe.
Governor Yahaya informed his

Sallah: Gombe Governor Leads Dignitaries To Observe Eid Prayer guests that his administration had
already concluded arrangements and
processes for the establishment of the
Gombe State governor, Muhammadu relationships so that Nigerians can leave The governor prayed the Almighty Al- In his message to mark the religious Gombe Industrial Park that has pro-
Inuwa Yahaya, yesterday led digniteries together as brothers and sisters. lah to sustain and protect the country festival, the Emir of Gombe, Dr. Abuba- vision for agro-allied industries with
to observe the two Raka’at Eid prayer at “Our understanding transcends from the current calamities confronting kar Shehu Abubakar lll, called for sus- the complement of the 40 megawatts
the central Eid praying ground in Gombe. through religious divides and through her and for a successful and hitch free tained prayers for the nation and its Dadin kowa Hydro electricity plant.
Governor Yahaya and the dignitaries our cultural, geographical or political dif- Sallah festivity.. leaders. He said, “So that will be an oppor-
joined the Emir of Gombe, Dr Abubakar ference; that spirit and brotherhood we In a sermon delivered by the chief He equally enjoined farmers to brace tunity for you to expand more know-
Shehu Abubakar lll, at the prayer ground should maintain and ensure the surviv- Imam of Gombe Central mosque, up for the rainy season, just as he em- ing fully well that you are equally in-
to commemorate the start of the Eid-el- al and success of the Federal Republic of Sheikh Mohammed Umar Pindiga phasized the need for harmonious re- terested in Agricultural production
Kabir festival. Nigeria”, he stated. shortly after the two raka’at prayer, the lationship among the diverse people not only in producing fertiliser and
They include former governor of the Governor Yahaya urged Nigerians to cleric charged the congregation to trans- of the state and in particular between chemicals.
state, Sen Muhammad Danjuma Goje, continually to pray for President Muham- late the good virtues of Eid el-Kabir into farmers and herders for a peaceful “Aside the Dadin kowa Dam we
Minister of communications and digital madu Buhari and all leaders at all levels. the art of nation building through obe- Gombe state. have two more Dams, making it three
economy, Dr. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, He stated: “And here in Gombe, the dience to constituted authorities and The monarch commended governor all together: Balanga Dam and Cham
Speaker of the state House of Assembly Government, the traditional leadership sacrifice for the good of all. Yahaya’s leadership style and his un- Dam and even along the coast of
and members of both federal and state and the leadership of the Ummah and He called on Muslim faithful to inten- precedented achievements in all facets Gongola river basin that comes from
legislatures. our Christian brothers, the Clerics and sify prayers for return of peace in Nige- of human endeavours within the last Plateau state through Bauchi, through
Governor Yahaya, while addressing the Church leaders are all collaborating so ria and bumper harvest, especially at a two years. Gombe and ends at Kiri and Numan
journalists shortly after a reception he that all of us work together for the bene- time when rainy season is in full swing. The governor was accompanied to the joining river Benue.
hosted for the guests, further re-echoed fit of mankind and for the upliftment of Sheikh Mohammed Umar Pindi- Durbar by former Governor of Gombe There is a lot of fertile land that
his Sallah message which he had earlier the Nigerian society”. ga thereafter performed the symbol- State, Senator Muhammadu Danjuma needs the attention and the cooper-
issued to the people of the State, calling He noted that the country was going ic slaughtering of a ram, signifying the Goje, the Minister of Communications ation of people that have the knowl-
on the ummah to sacrifice more for the through hard times in its social, econom- commencement of the festival in ear- and Digital Economy, the Speaker Gombe edge, finances and the capacity to in-
corporate existence of the country and in ic and political spheres as well as health nest. State House of Assembly, Abubakar Mo- crease productivity. So your idea of
the spirit of the season. wise, particularly with the challenges At the palace of the Emir of Gombe, hammed Luggerewo, member of House of coming to see how you can produce
The governor said the virtue of Eid El- posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, stress- Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya Representatives, Hon. Abubakar Ahmed rice is a very welcome development
Kabir which connotes love, obedience and ing that Nigerians need to be together and other dignitaries were treated to a Yunusa, former Minister of FCT, Dr. Al- to us. We shall join hands with you to
sacrifice are needed for the corporate ex- and support one another as the nation colourful durbar to the admiration of iyu Modibbo Umar among other digni- achieve that lofty objective”.
istence of the country and for individual meanders through the trying period. all. taries from within and outside the State. Governor Yahaya said the location
of Gombe at the centre of the North
East and being the most peaceful
Salary Upgrade: ‘Governor Yahaya Committed To Strengthening Traditional Institution’ among the six states in the zone
with number one status in ease of
Gombe State government preciated the Mai Kaltungo state, especially those who conveying the Sallah good- ernment has over the people doing business, places it at a van-
has said the recent upgrade for initiating programmes live in places that have water will message of Governor of Kaltungo Chiefdom. tage position of production, mar-
in salaries of district and capable of uniting his sub- bodies to be used for irriga- Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya The Mai Kaltungo in- keting and distribution.
ward heads in the state was jects through creation of at- tion to engage in irrigation to the Mai Kaltungo and his formed the deputy governor The governor disclosed that the
informed by Governor Mu- mosphere of cohesion, peace when the dry season sets in. subjects, praying God for sta- that the people of Kaltungo North East has a market of about
hammadu Inuwa Yahaya’s and harmony amongst the He stressed that the peo- ble rainy season and bumper are very happy with the de- 22 million people and that being
commitment to boost their diverse people in his chief- ple of Gombe South are not harvest. velopmental projects in the the most peaceful state, the peo-
morale and enhance their per- dom, and the entire state. known for begging, urging Responding, the Mai Kal- chiefdom, especially that the ple inter-relate not only with the
formance, in view of the im- He enjoined the people of them to maintain their sta- tungo, Engineer Saleh Mo- projects have direct bearing remaining five states but with
mense contributions they are Kaltungo and by extension tus by engaging in gainful hammed , appreciated the on the needs, yearnings and Kano, Kaduna and other parts of
rendering to the state, nation the entire people of Gombe economic activities, thereby visit, and the concern the gov- aspirations of the people. the North and Nigeria in general.
and humanity. “Not only that, Cameroon
The state’s deputy gover- which is at our southern end
nor, Dr Manassah Daniel Ja- through Adamawa and Borno
tau stated this while address- and Chad and even Niger Repub-
ing a gathering at the Mai lic through Yobe and Borno States
Kaltungo palace during a Sal- are all close to us and we have very
lah homage. good and peaceful business rela-
Jatau noted that the role of tionship with them but not for the
the Traditional Institutions issue of this insurgency which we
of mobilising support, adher- have been able to overcome and
ence to rules and implement- which we are trying to make sure
ing government policies can- it doesn’t extend to other parts of the
not be overemphasized. north East,” he added.
He said the present admin- The governor urged the manage-
istration will continue to pro- Gombe State governor, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya (middle); chairman ment of Notore Company Plc to feel
vide dividends of democracy L- R: Former FCT minister, Dr Aliyu Modibbo Umar; minister of communications and digital of Nomier Group, Jite Okoloko (right), and group managing director of No- free and explore more possibilities
to the people of the state, in- economy, Dr Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami; Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya and former gov- tore Chemicals Industries Plc, Phil Ohewerei during a courtesy visit to the because the State is not only blessed
cluding Kaltungo chiefdom. with arable land and people but with
ernor, Sen Muhammad Danjuma Goje during the celebration of Eid el-Kabir sallah in Gombe. governor in Gombe, yesterday. solid minerals and human resources.
The deputy governor ap-
22 NEWS/BUSINESS
L-R: Director, Sustainability & Corporate Communications, IHS Nigeria Limited, Cima Sholotan; co-founder, Education Reform Innovation Team (ERIT), Alero Ayida-Otobo; Special Advisor to
the President on Social Investments, Mrs Maryam Uwais (MFR); and legal practitioner, Ayo Obe, during the ‘At-Risk-Children Programme’ (ARC-P) private sector engagement meeting that
took place at The Wheatbaker Hotel, Ikoyi Lagos, yesterday. PHOTO BY KOLAWOLE ALIU
PTAD Pays More Pension Increment
Arrears To DBS Pensioners
BY MARK ITSIBOR, Abuja
The Pension Transitional
Arrangement Directorate
( PTAD) says it has paid
an additional nine
months of consequential
adjustment arrears
occasioned by the new
minimum wage increase
of 2019 to Civil Service
Pension Department
Pensioners and six
months of the same
arrears to parastatals,
Police, Customs,
Immigration and Prisons
Department Pensioners.
This brings the arrears
paid so far to a total of
18 out of the 24 months
arrears of the pension
increment.
Executive secretary
PTAD, Dr Chioma
Tangerine Deepens Financial Inclusion With Tech-driven Solutions
BY OLUSHOLA BELLO, Lagos
Tangerine has restated
its commitment to
deepening financial
inclusion in Nigeria with
the deployment of tech-
driven solutions.
The company recently
stated this at the official
launch of the company’s
financial service product
offerings in Lagos.
According to the firm,
Tangerine is positioned to
be Africa’s preferred one-
stop financial solutions
provider, leveraging a
tech-driven, flexible,
high-access platform to
drive business across
all the financial services
segments in Africa
to deepen financial
inclusion, facilitate
wealth creation and
protection.
The head, Pensions,
Ejikeme, made this
statement yesterday,
in her response to the
commendations from
pensioners on the
payment of the arrears.
Recall that in May,
2021, the directorate
implemented the
consequential
adjustment on
pensions as a result
of the minimum wage
increment of 2019 and
commenced payment
of arrears to the
pensioners of the four
operational departments
as directed by president
Muhammadu Buhari.
The civil service
pensioners were paid
nine months of the
arrears while parastatals,
police and customs
Tangerine Nigeria, Dapo
Akinsanya, stated that,
“in less than two years,
we have been able to
successfully acquire
and rebrand several
businesses, firmly
establishing Tangerine.
We have also made
significant strides
in repositioning our
businesses in readiness
for growth by assembling
a strong, agile and
experienced team that
aligns with our strategic
thinking.”
Speaking on their
plans to deepen financial
inclusion and impact the
Nigerian socio-economic
landscape, he added that,
“at Tangerine, we believe
in democratising access
to financial services
and products and we
seek to achieve this by
developing simple value-
immigration and prisons
pensioners were paid 12
months arrears in May.
With this payment,
each of the pensioners
in the four operational
departments would have
a balance of six months
arrears left to be paid.
According to the ES,
the payment was to
further support DBS
pensioners especially
during this festive period
of the celebration of this
year’s Eid el Kabir.
While wishing all
Muslim pensioners a
Happy Eid El Kabir, she
promised to continue
to support and promote
the welfare of the senior
citizens in accordance
with the mandate of the
directorate.
adding products that
are easy to understand
and, which leverage
technology to increase
ease of accessibility,
helping millions of
uninsured Nigerians have
protection or save for the
future.”
Also, head, Life
Insurance, Tangerine
Nigeria, Livingstone
Magorimbo stated
that the company
has planned to be the
number one financial
solutions provider of
choice in Africa by driving
efficiency, value addition
and growth.
According to him, “our
intention over the next
four years is to build
strong businesses that are
profitable and have a fair
share of the larger market
in all of the segments we
participate in.”
African Energy Chamber Promotes
Impactful Energy Deals For Nigeria
BY CHIKA IZUORA, Lagos
The African Energy Chamber
(AEC) is calling investors’ at-
tention to explore huge poten-
tial offered by Nigeria’s oil and
gas industry with the passage
of the Petroleum Industry Bill
by the National Assembly.
Mr. NJ Ayuk, executive
chairman of the African En-
ergy Chamber, recently con-
ducted a working visit to Ni-
geria with the sole mandate
to expand cooperation, reaf-
firm critical energy partner-
ships and promote the coun-
try as a premier investment
destination, backed by the re-
cently passed PIB and the Dec-
ade of Gas initiative.
By reiterating the value of
the Cape Town-hosted African
Energy Week (AEW) 2021 as
a platform whereby Nigeria
can facilitate impactful ener-
gy deals, market the country’s
reformed energy sector and
attract both regional and in-
ternational investor interest,
both the AEC and AEW 2021
remain committed to driving
investment and associated
deals in Nigeria.
Backed by the country’s re-
cently passed Petroleum In-
dustry Bill (PIB), the ‘Decade
of Gas’ initiative and the pri-
oritisation of local content,
Ayuk’s visit to Nigeria com-
prised meetings with indus-
try leaders, including chief Ti-
mipre Sylva, minister of state
for petroleum resources, and
officials of the Department of
Petroleum Resources (DPR);
private sector executives and
representatives of national oil
companies including the Nige-
rian National Petroleum Cor-
poration.
As Nigeria assures that it
is officially open for business,
AEW 2021 serves as the ideal
platform to market the coun-
try, uniting international in-
vestors with lucrative Nigeri-
an opportunities.
Notably, the visit aimed to
Wednesday, July 21, 2021
emphasize the role of Nigeri-
an oil and gas developments
in a bid to attract internation-
al investor interest to new and
existing projects.
Through meetings with
marginal field producers, the
NNPC and the DPR, Ayuk
opened a discussion on the
role of oil and gas in Africa’s
energy transition, drawing at-
tention to the value and com-
petitiveness of African pro-
jects.
By showcasing the coun-
try’s new and existing oil and
gas projects such as the $2.8
billion 614km Ajaokuta-Ka-
duna-Kano pipeline and the
$10 billion Nigerian Lique-
fied Natural Gas Train 7 pro-
ject both Nigeria and AEW
2021 aim to drive oil and gas
directed investment, expand-
ing Nigeria’s sector and accel-
erating long-term socio-eco-
nomic growth.
Meanwhile, with the coun-
try’s Decade of Gas initiative a
comprehensive strategy to en-
hance gas monetisation and
utilisation through a num-
ber of large-scale projects –
comprising top of the coun-
try’s energy agenda in 2021,
a meeting with Sylva served to
promote Nigeria’s gas indus-
try, with the minister declar-
ing an ambition to enhance
gas-directed investments, ac-
celerating growth across the
sector and the wider economy.
Under the Decade of Gas in-
itiative, Nigeria is committed
to fully exploiting its natural
gas reserves – which represent
the largest in Africa estimated
at 206.53 trillion cubic feet –
and is, therefore, prioritizing
gas-to-power projects and as-
sociated developments.
Sylva remains committed
to energy investments and
has confirmed that the up-
coming AEW 2021 will serve
as the ideal platform for deals
to be made that will kickstart
Nigeria’s Decade of Gas ena-
bled by the passage of the PIB.
Group, UNESCO
To Deliberate
On Internet
Governance Policy
BY ROYAL IBEH, Lagos
The African ICT foundation is partner-
ing UNESCO to host a stakeholders’en-
gagement for the advancement of evi-
dence-based policy making of Internet
governance.
The virtual event, which holds
Thursday, July 29th, is the first of the
foundation’s partnership with glob-
al organisations to deepen internet
penetration in Africa.
In a press statement issued by the
foundation’s director of communica-
tion, Mr. Isaiah Erhiawarien, and made
available to LEADERSHIP, internet gov-
ernance-related issues will be ad-
dressed and covered during the event.
According to the statement, the fo-
rum will allow national leading experts
from West African sub-region countries
to present their national assessment
projects using Internet Universality
Indicators (IUIs) and foster further en-
gagement with West African commu-
nities and stakeholders.
The forum is also expected to hold
panel discussion with emphasis on
knowledge-sharing as well as an in-
teractive session whereby the moder-
ator will allow very short statements
from speakers to trigger discussions.
According to the statement, the
event seeks to engage in an extensive
partnership with the West African In-
ternet Governance Forum community
via the newly launched Dynamic Coa-
lition of IUIs, so as to join forces for ad-
vancing evidence-based policy making
of internet governance and fostering
digital collaboration in line with UN
SDG’s roadmap of digital cooperation.
EEDC Resumes Prepaid
Meter Installation In
Umuahia
BY KALU EZIYI, Umuahia
Enugu Electricity Distribution
Company (EEDC) has resumed
the installation of prepaid elec-
tricity meter in Umuahia, the
Abia State capital, aimed at end-
ing the distribution of estimat-
ed bills.
Umuahia Network manager,
Mr. Ozoeze Onyebuchi, confirmed
this to LEADERSHIP in the capital,
yesterday, adding that the excer-
cise is in fulfilment of the compa-
ny’s pledge to consumers across
the South East region.
He explained that the compa-
ny’s target is to reach between
10,000 and 15,000 households
before the end of the year, add-
ing that the exercise began along
Afara Street where over 70 per-
cent of the houses had earlier
been covered.
Onyebuchi expressed opti-
mism that the consumers will
enjoy the system which he said
is free, urging them to recharge
the meters as quickly as possible
for their own benefits.
In his reaction, the chairman
of Afara Street Residents, Com-
rade Uche Ogbonnaya, expressed
satisfaction with the develop-
ment, saying it is what the res-
idents have been clamouring for.
Wednesday July 21, 2021 www.leadership.ng Leadership Newspapers @leadershipNGA 23
24 www.leadership.ng Leadership Newspapers @leadershipNGA Wednesday, July 21, 2021
Wednesday July 21, 2021 www.leadership.ng Leadership Newspapers @leadershipNGA 25
26 NEWS/BUSINESS Wednesday, July 21, 2021

NPA Says 21 Ships Discharging Bulk Wheat, Muslim Faithful Celebrate Sallah Amid
High Food Prices In Lagos
Petroleum Products, Others At Ports BY AUGUSTUS CHERISH, Lagos

As Muslim faithful across the world

The Nigerian Ports Authori-
ty (NPA) yesterday said that
21 ships are currently at the
Lagos ports discharging
bulk wheat, general cargo,
frozen fish, container, bulk
salt, bulk soya, petrol and
butane gas.
The NPA disclosed this in
its publication, ‘Shipping
Position’, a copy of which
was made available to jour-
nalists in Lagos.
The NPA said it was also
expecting 20 other laden
with petroleum products,
food items and other goods
from July 20 to 30.
The agency added that the
ships contain general cargo,
bulk salt, bulk wheat, bulk
sugar, container, trucks,
bulk gypsum, base oil, au-
tomobile gasoline, jet fuel,
petrol, palmitic palm fatty
acids, bulk steam coal and
bulk fertiliser.
Five more ships that had
arrived the ports were wait-
ing to berth with contain-
er, general cargo, and petrol,
NPA further said.
celebrated Eid el Kabir yesterday,
the high prices of food items damp-
ened the mood of Lagosians, who
lamented the persistent increase in
food prices, when compared to the
trend earlier in the year.
Some traders attributed the rise
to insecurity in the North, the rainy
season as well as the rush to shop
for Salah.
earlier in the years for a derica but
now sells for N550 and I think it’s
because of what is going on in the
North,” he said.
But for Tobi Farinto, a Lagos resi-
dent, “the prices of food items have
increased due to the ongoing Sallah
celebrations.”
Miss Farinto added that she was
not able to get all she planned to get
because she ran out of cash.
During a chat with Miss Esther,
a crayfish seller, she explained that

Experts Urge FG To Support Productive Sector
Financial experts endeavour to give quoted
have urged the federal companies adequate
government to support the volume of foreign
productive sector support exchange and in good time
in order to boost output for their transactions.
and check inflationary “As this will enable them
pressure. to produce at optimal
The experts who gave the levels and substitute
charge in Lagos, said that imported goods locally,”
ensuring more support to he said.
local manufacturers would He noted the
spur economic growth and government should
curb inflation. continue to address the
The founder, various headwinds in the
Independent Shareholders electricity sector so as to
Association of Nigeria, reduce cost of production.
Mr Sunny Nwosu, urged Mr Godwin Anono,
the federal government President, Standard
to tackle inflation by Shareholders Association
ensuring availability of of Nigeria, said inflation
foreign exchange to the rate would reduce if raw
productive sector. materials for productions
“The apex bank should were sourced locally.
“Most of the raw
materials used in
producing are imported,
particularly in this tough
time of the COVID- 19 era.
“Accessing them have
been quite challenging
and exorbitant for most
organisation, “ Anono
said.
Also speaking, the
executive director, Bee
Institute, Mr Bidemi
Ojelewe, said the
government should
resolve the insecurity in
the country so as not to
impede food supplies.
“The farmers and
herders crises in some
parts of the country is
partially responsible for
the insufficient farm
produce.
“Food produce is one
of the major factors
that drives the spike in
inflation rate,” Ojelewe
said
The National Bureau
of Statistics says the
consumer price index
which measures inflation
(rate of change in the
increase in prices)
increased by 17.75 per
cent (year-on-year) in
June.
This is said to be 0.18
percentage points lower
than the rate recorded in
May (17.93) per cent.
This implies that prices
continued to rise in June
but at a slightly slower rise
than it did in May.
Major food items such as rice,
beans, onions, frozen foods, ram, oil,
garri, yam, tomato, pepper, among
others sold for higher prices due to
demand pressure in parts of Lagos.
However, there has been a gen-
eral increase in all major food prices
because of the high rate of inflation
in the country particularly since the
beginning of this year.
According to Mr Emeka, a trader
in Ile-Epo Market, Lagos State, some
food prices have not really changed
compared to January prices. He said
a bag of long grain rice is N26,000
while the short one is N24,000 , un-
like the price of beans that has in-
creased tremendously.
He described beans as ‘hot cake’
and a rich man’s food.
“A bag of oloyin beans is N42,000
now from N15,000 in January; a deri-
ca is now N600, yet it was N300 earli-
er this year. Drum beans sold for N250
earlier, but now sells N550 per deri-
ca. Also, white beans sold for N300
the increase in the price of crayfish is
because we are in the rainy season.
“Fishermen find it difficult catch-
ing sea foods during the rainy sea-
son,” she said.
Meanwhile, Mrs Taiwo, anoth-
er Lagos resident attributed the in-
crease in the prices of pepper and to-
matoes to the weather.
“Pepper and tomatoes are now
expensive, that is why I bought small
quantities and I believe it is because
of the rain. When it rains heavily, the
rain water affects pepper and toma-
toes but I think by August or Septem-
ber, there will be a price reduction.”
However, Muhammad Ali, who
sells varieties of pepper and toma-
toes at Ibafo Market in Ogun State
said, he bought a small bag of pep-
per at the rate of N16, 000 last week,
which has increased to N17,500 a
week after, adding that the big bag
increased to N30,000 from N27,000.
He however said there was a slight
reduction in the price of tomatoes.

CROSSWORD PUZZLE

Puzzle For Today Sociology

Satire

Solution To Yesterday’s Puzzle *Hint for today’s puzzle”

ACROSS DOWN

1. The institution 9. A religious group 2. Marriage between on tudes and personality ing into one new unit.
responsible of the integrated with society man and one woman characteristics expect- 8. A collection of people
rearing of children 11. Includes at least 3. A norm that is written ed and encouraged of a with territory, interac-
7. According to frued, three generations: down and enforced by person based on his or tion and culture
the part of the mind grandparents, an official agency her sex 10. The well being of peo-
that resolves conflicts married offspring, and 4. One of both parents 6. This is a blended fam- ple
between the ID and grandchildren. and their children ily which involves two 12. A guideline or an ex-
SUPEREGO 5. A set of behaviors, atti- separate families merg- pectation or a behavior
 Wednesday July 21, 2021
PDP And The Battle
Ahead Of 2023
CHIBUZO UKAIBE writes on the task ahead of Peoples Democratic
Party (PDP) in the face of the evolving political climate
T
hese are interesting
times for opposition
politics with the
perception that
the rejection of
e-transmission of election results
in 2023 general elections does
not augur well for credibility of
the polls.
This concern is reinforced by a
perception that lawmakers voted
on that contentious amendment
clause along party lines which
saw the ruling APC having the
day.
For the flagship opposition
platform and former ruling party
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)
the political horizon seems dire.
While PDP might have to bear
the brunt of the rejection of
e-transmission of votes, it has
had to suffer depletion within
its ranks with the defection of
governors as well as deal with
internal wrangling within its fold.
The unfolding intrigues put
the party in a rather awkward
position despite its seeming
good start especially in the build
up to 2019 polls.
Many pundits had noted that
the 2018 presidential primary
of PDP which was regarded as
transparent and rancour-free
as no candidate complained of
being shortchanged after the
event.
Although there were silent
rumours about power play, there
was no issue about a “big man”
single handedly influencing the
process at the level of stopping
the votes of delegates from being
counted.
More so, party watchers were
mindful of reforms made by the
party like the empowering of
party structures in the states and
regions, even though it had it’s
imperfections anywhere.
Also, the party leadership
was noted for its management
of governorship primaries in
the states such that there was
less or almost not mention of
the influence of any godfather
which gave some measure of
confidence to the intra party.
Above all was the number
The talk of of states won by the party vis
a vis senators and House of
a third force Representatives members.
ahead of Sadly however the recent spate
of defections seems to have put
2023 has the party leadership in a tight
been rife. spot with regards to its ability
www.leadership.ng
to overcome the perceived
onslaught by the ruling party.
So far some groups like PDP
Youth Vanguard blamed the
national leadership for the
defections. They argue that
the party leadership didn’t do
enough to stem the tide of
defections from the party.
The situation was further
compounded with the recent
chastising of the party leadership
by the Rivers State governor
Nyesom Wike who accused the
national chairman of the party,
Prince Uche Secondus, of the
recent woes affecting the party.
Wike at the birthday reception
of former governor of Cross
River State, Liyel Imoke, blamed
Secondus for not being proactive
in tackling the defection of PDP
governors. Although Wike’s
outburst isn’t so strange in light
of his tendency to take a jab at
the party structure, many were
taken aback by his direct attack
on the national chairman whom
he had worked for to ensure his
emergence.
Secondus in a rather deft
response said no amount of
provocation will make him
join issues with any leader of
the party talk less than a state
governor.
A statement from his media
office signed by Ike Abonyi said,
“To do that is to remove the
toga of a leader of the party. The
impact of such a response from
the National Chairman on the
party will be worse than silence.
“The national chairman
considers whatever negative
outburst against him from any
quarter as one of the punches a
leader must receive and endure
to get stronger especially when
truth is unhidden that Secondus
is not a liar.”
While the intervention by the
Benue State governor, Samuel
Ortom who shares common
political agility with Wike (as
minister) and Secondus (a former
NWC member) would serve to
arrest the faceoff between the
two political gladiators, many
believe that the party leadership
would have more going forward.
Reacting, political
commentator and lawyer
Maxwell Obiekwe, said “As much
as one cannot hold forth for these
our political actors, it is clear that
defectors are ungrateful lots
Leadership Newspapers @leadershipNGA
Secondus
especially in the context of our
political culture. Their action
is borne out of personal greed
and not because the leadership
of the party at the National level
had done anything wrong.
“Recall how the PDP fought
to get Zamfara State, recall how
Ayade had not taken part in
PDP activities despite the fact
the state is a PDP state and how
Liyel Imoke fought to put him in
office, Recall how members of
the PDP in the state had refused
to defect with him. Recall how
former Senate President Pius
Ayim, Sam Egwu and others
fought Elechi to put the governor
of Ebonyi State in office despite
being from a minority in the
state. So I think their decision to
defect from the PDP to the APC
is an act of ungratefulness and
should be condemned.”
Speaking also, a PDP member
from Gombe, Salihu Magaji, said
the task before the party is not
to allow what has transpired to
affect the opposition.
“The PDP is still the best
option to the cluelessness the
APC has brought to the country.
PDP must be united. Taking
over power without unity is
impossible as a house divided
against itself will not stand.
Nigeria has fallen and the people
are looking up to the PDP. The
leadership must forget about
personal ambition and come
together to lead the people out
of the present predicament that
the nation is.
“We can’t afford to allow the
APC to divide the party. It is
the duty of the ruling party to
attempt to, but the PDP should
know this is the right time for its
members to come together.
“No political zone can do
it alone. All the six zones are
important. To wrestle power, all
the zones must come together.
The issue of zoning is not now.
27
All organs of the party from the
ward to the NEC must come
together. The rally point is the
masses and we can’t afford to
disappoint them,” he said.
But political activist, Bolarinwa
Oyebanji, said it’s easier said than
done for the PDP.
“The PDP has to show that it
has not just learnt from it’s past
mistakes but that it is ready
to chart a new course going
forward. This is a party that has
been in a ruling party position
since 1999 until 2015 and had
ample time to fix some things.
But we can’t continue to cry
over spilled milk. The new party
leadership sometime back
apologised for some actions
taken by the party as the party
was tongue-lashed for that at
the time. But I think they are a
lot more sober now.
“It is good that the party’s
siding with some positions
that appeal to the quest for
credible elections and other
acts that will enthrone quality
governance. We hope that the
leadership of the party, being
the main platform, will continue
to make itself available to fight
conscientious battles in the
interest of Nigerians and not for We can’t af-
mere political gains. Nigerians ford to allow
will expect more from them
considering that they seem to be the APC to
the only other viable platform at divide the
the moment,” he said. party. It is the
The talk of a third force ahead
of 2023 has been rife. Whether duty of the
PDP will be able to prove it ruling party
has the depth to galvanise the to attempt
opposition platform is another
matter. to, but the
Evidently the prospect of the PDP should
party winning further election know this is
will come to the fore especially
after the defection of governors the right time
and the e-transmission of results for its mem-
but how the party leadership
rallies it members to respond to bers to come
the challenges will be key. together.
28 www.leadership.ng Leadership Newspapers @leadershipNGA Wednesday, July 21, 2021

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as ONYEUKWU EVA now wish BLESSING KAMSI now wish SUNDAY ADAMS now wish to be SIMEON ODOMA now wish CHIOMA now wish to be called SAFIYAT OYIZA now wish to be
to be known and addressed as to be called and addressed as called and addressed as OBADIAH to be called and addressed and addressed as ONYEMA called and addressed as HASSAN
ONYEUKWU BLESSING EVA. All ORJI BLESSING. All former RIHTSE SUNDAY. All former as ETUH SIMEON. All former CHIOMA PRISCA. All former SAFU OYIZA. All former
former documents remain valid. documents remain valid. General documents remain valid. General documents remain valid. General documents remain valid. General documents remain valid. General
General public to take note. public should please take note. public should please take note. public should please take note. public should please take note. public should please take note.

EGBOGU ENIMOLA ANI ANI ABDULSALAM PAUL

I, formerly known as ANYELEBECHI
OGECHI now wish to be called and
addressed as EGBOGU OGECHI
JUSTINA. All former documents
remain valid. General public should
please take note.
I open bank accoun with name as
ENIMOLA VICTORIA TOPE. Now wish to
be known and called as ENIMOLA TOPE
CLARA. My date of birth is 30/5/1989
NOT 30/5/1984. Former documents
remain valid. GT bank / FCMB bank PLC
and general public to take note.
I, formerly known as EMMANUEL
CHISOM now wish to be called
and addressed as ANI CHISOM
DIVINEGRACE. All former
documents remain valid. General
public should please take note.
I, formerly known as EMMANUEL
CHIDIEBUBE now wish to be called
and addressed as ANI CHIDIEBUBE
TESTIMONY. All former documents
remain valid. General public should
please take note.
I, formerly known as ABDULSALAMI
FATI. now wish to be called and
addressed as ABDULSALAM FATIMAT
OYIZA. MY DATE OF BIRTH IS
5/1/1992 NOT 1/1/1994. All former
documents remain valid. Authority
concern and general public to take note.
I, formerly known as PAUL
MARY now wish to be called
and addressed as PAUL
MARY OHUNENE. All former
documents remain valid. General
public should please take note.

ONUMMADU FLORENCE UGWUEZE ELOCHUKWU OKONKWO EZINWANNE

I, formerly known as ONUMMADU
OBIANUUJU MARINA now wish to be
called and addressed as ONUMMADU
OBIANUJU MATINA. All former
documents remain valid. General
public should please take note.
I, formerly known as MISS.
FLORENCE IGWE now wish to
be called and addressed as MRS.
FLORENCE ANIGBO. All former
documents remain valid. General
public should please take note.
I, formerly known as MISS. EDEH
CALISTA ONYINYE now wish to
be called and addressed as MRS.
UGWUEZE CALISTA ONYINYE.
All former documents remain valid.
General public should please take note.
I, formerly known as OKAFOR
UZOMA S. now wish to be called
and addressed as ELOCHUKWU
UZOMA SCHOLASTICA. All former
documents remain valid. General
public should please take note.
I, formerly known as MISS. OKONTA
VERA CHIDIMMA now wish to
be called and addressed as MRS.
OKONKWO VERA CHIDIMMA. All
former documents remain valid.
General public should please take note.
I, formerly known as MISS.
EZINWANNE ANULIKA OKEKE
now wish to be called and addressed
as MRS. EZINWANNE ANULIKA
NDIANATUEGWU. All former
documents remain valid. General
public should please take note.

OFFOR UGWU UDENEH ONWE IKEJEHOVA MADUEKE

I, formerly known as MISS.
CHIBUOKE IJEOMA JOYCE now
wish to be called and addressed as
MRS. OFFOR IFEOMA JOYCE. All
former documents remain valid.
Banks, NIN, UNTH and general
public should please take note.
I, formerly known as SAMUEL
ONYEBUCHUKWU DORCAS now
wish to be called and addressed
as UGWU ONYEBUCHUKWU
DORCAS. All former documents
remain valid. General public
should please take note.
I, formerly known as UDEH
CAROLINE UCHE now wish to be
called and addressed as UDENEH
CAROLINE UCHECHUKWU. All
former documents remain valid.
Banks and General public should
please take note.
I, formerly known as NGENE
MAUREEN. C. now wish to be
called and addressed as ONWE
CHINONSO PRECIOUS. All former
documents remain valid. General
public should please take note.
I, formerly known as NNENE,
NDUDINANJI JOANA
NWAEZIMUZO now wish to be
called and addressed as IKEJEHOVA,
JOANA NWAEZIMUZO. All former
documents remain valid. General
public should please take note.
I, formerly known as MISS. ATU
GLORIA CHINONYE now wish to
be called and addressed as MRS.
MADUEKE GLORIA CHINONYE.
All former documents remain valid.
General public should please take note.

EMMANUEL-ONUIGBO FERDINAND ONU UCHE ADDITION OF NAME ADDITION OF NAME

I, formerly known as GEORGE
AMARACHI DIVINE now wish to be
called and addressed as EMMANUEL-
ONUIGBO AMARACHI DIVINE.
All former documents remain valid.
General public should please take note.
I, formerly known as EMMANUEL
IFEBUNANDU NWOBODO now
wish to be called and addressed
as FERDINAND IFEBUNANDU
NWOBODO. All former
documents remain valid. General
public should please take note.
I, formerly known as MISS.
NWOBODO STELLA CHEKWUBE
now wish to be called and addressed
as MRS. ONU CECILIA. All former
documents remain valid. General
public should please take note.
I, formerly known as SHAIBU
SALAMETUS EBERE now wish to
be called and addressed as UCHE
MARIAGORETTI EBERE. All former
documents remain valid. Banks and
General public should please take note.
I formerly known and addressed as
ANIEGBOKA FRANCISCA AMAKA. now
wish to add OBI to my former name that I
now wish to be known and addressed as
ANIEGBOKA FRANCISCA OBIAMAKA.
All former documents remain valid.
General public should please take note.
I, formerly known as ANUM
HEMBAFAN now wish to be called
and addressed as ANUM HEMBAFAN
STELLA. All former documents
remain valid. Access Bank and General
public should please take note.

ABIODUN CHIJIOKE OCHAPA UDEACHAKA JENNIFER EKEM

I, formerly known as ELEGBE
FADEKE OLANREWAJU now
wish to be called and addressed as
ABIODUN FADEKE OLANREWAJU.
All former documents remain valid.
Federal University of Lafia and the
general public should take note.
I, formerly known as CHIJIOKE
MICHAEL DANIEL now wish to be
called and addressed as CHIJIOKE
MICHAEL ADIMIBE. All former
documents remain valid. General
public should please take note.
I, formerly known as OCHE ENAYI
ESTHER now wish to be called
and addressed as OCHAPA ENAYI
ESTHER. All former documents
remain valid. General public
should please take note.
I, formerly known as MISS
CESALTINA GOMES now wish to
be called and addressed as MRS.
UDEACHAKA CESALTINA. All former
documents remain valid. General
public should please take note.
I, formerly known as MISS UZOHO
JENNIFER CHIDIEBERE now wish
to be called and addressed as MRS
JENNIFER MERCY EBERE EMEKA.
All former documents remain valid.
General public should please take note.
I, formerly known as MISS NWINEEDAM
GIFT BARIDANAMUE now wish to be
called and addressed as MRS EKEM
PROMISE GIFT. All Documents Bearing
My Former Name Remain Valid. Any
Other Concerned Authority And The
General Public Should Please Take Note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAMES TERHEMBA OKPALEKE ESTHER EDITH AMAECHI

This is to notify the general public that
OGENYI MARY PEACE and OGENYI
MARYPEACE OYILONYE is one and same
person who now wish to be known and
addressed as OGENYI MARYPEACE
OYILONYE. All former documents remain
valid. General public should please take note.
I, formerly known as AONDOVER
SANDRA SELUMUN now wish
to be called and addressed as MRS.
TERHEMBA, SANDRA SELUMUN.
All former documents remain valid.
General public should please take note.
I, formerly known as AZUBUINE
UCHENNA ANITA now wish to be
called and addressed as OKPALEKE
UCHENNA ANITA. All former
documents remain valid. General
public should please take note.
I, formerly known as MISS. ESTHER
AMBROSE ANTIGHA now wish to be
called and addressed as MRS. ESTHER
LAWRENCE OKANYA. All documents
bearing my former name remain valid.
The general public take note.
I, formerly known as ONAH
EDITH OGOCHUKWU now
wish to be called and addressed
as EDITH BRIGHT. All former
documents remain valid. General
public should please take note.
I, formerly known as POTTER
AMAECHI now wish to be called
and addressed as AMAECHI
UGOCHUKWU EVERESTUS. All
former documents remain valid.
General public should please take note.

TANKO MOHAMMED JEREMIAH IBRAHIM ENEOJO TOYIN

I, formerly known as JATAU
GRACE JOHN now wish to be
called and addressed as TANKO
GRACE DANBOYI. All former
documents remain valid. General
public should please take note.
I, formerly known as MAIKUDI
JIBRIN now wish to be called
and addressed as MOHAMMED
ALIYU. All former documents
remain valid. General public
should please take note.
I, formerly known as JEREMIAH
EMMANUEL .K., now wish to be called
and addressed as JEREMIAH EMMANUEL
REMILEKUN. MY CORRECT DATE OF
BIRTH IS 19TH JANUARY, 2004. All
former documents remain valid. General
public should please take note.
I, formerly known as MUSA
NAZIRU now wish to be called
and addressed as IBRAHIM
NAZIRU MUSA. All former
documents remain valid. General
public should please take note.
I, formerly known as ENEOJO
ABEL now wish to be called and
addressed as ENEOJO UMORU
ABEL. All former documents
remain valid. General public
should please take note.
I, formerly known as TOYIN
GRACE TAIWO now wish to be
called and addressed as TOYIN
GRACE FAGBOHUN. All former
documents remain valid. General
public should please take note.

KAWU ABDULKADIR PADOS ESTHER EMMANUEL STEPHEN

I, formerly known as MUHAMMED
HAMMADU 3\7/1967 now wish to be
called and addressed as KAWU BABA
HAMMADU 18\12/1969. All former
documents remain valid. General
public should please take note.
I, formerly known as BABA
ABDULKADIR 1\/1978 now
wish to be called and addressed
as ABDULKADIR AHMED
MAGBA 23\8/1969. All former
documents remain valid. General
public should please take note.
I, formerly known as BOBBY
DENNIS KPADONOU now wish
to be called and addressed as
PADOS CRISPIN ETOBI. All former
documents remain valid. General
public should please take note.
I, formerly known as ESTHER
OVOKE ETAKEFE now wish to be
called and addressed as ESTHER
OVOKE OKOFO. All former
documents remain valid. General
public should please take note.
I, formerly known as OGBU EMMANUEL
IGAH now wish to be called and
addressed as EMMANUEL OGBU
IGAH. All former documents remains
Bank authorities, Corporate Affairs
Commison,Federal Inland Revenue
Service and general public to take note.
I, formerly known as EGWU STEPHEW
ONJE now wish to be called and
addressed as STEPHEN EGWU ONJE
WITH MY ACTUAL DATE OF BIRTH 8TH
AUGUST, 1973. All former documents
remain valid. Stanbic IBTC bank authority
and general public to take note.

MBONU MOSES CLETUS ERIBA CORRECTION OF NAME SIMON

I, formerly known as UMEH
BLESSING IFEOMA now wish to
be called and addressed as MBONU
BLESSING IFEOMA. All former
documents remain valid. General
public should please take note.
I, formerly known as MUSA
ISAAC ONALO now wish to be
called and addressed as MOSES
ISAAC ONALO. All former
documents remain valid. General
public should please take note.
I, formerly known as CLETUS
EMMANUEL now wish to be
called and addressed as CLETUS
EMMANUEL NZEKWE. All former
documents remain valid. General
public should please take note.
I, formerly known as MRS. EKPO JUDITH
OFIE now wish to be called and addressed
as MRS. ERIBA JUDITH OFIE. All the former
documents bearing the former name still
remain valid. The National Assembly Service
Commission and National Assembly with
the general public should take note.
I was formerly known as RAJI
MOHAMMED NUHU. that my correct
name is RAJI NUHU & that RAJI
NUHU & MOHAMMED NUHU is
referred one & same person. All former
documents remain valid. General
public should please take note.
I, formerly known as NATHANIEL
AJUMA now wish to be called
and addressed as SIMON
AJUMA NATHANIEL. All former
documents remain valid. General
public should please take note.

ADDITION OF NAME DANJUMA MATHEW

I, formerly known as UKEJE
FELICIA now wish to be called
and addressed as UKEJE NGOZI
FELICIA. All former documents
remain valid. General public
should please take note.
I, formerly known
AUDUDANJUMA AMINAT now
wish to be called and addressed
as DANJUMA AMINA. All former
documents remain valid. General
public should please take note.
as I, formerly known as ABBA FELICIA UNEKWU
reflected on my national ID card correct names
is MATHEW FELICIA UNEKWU reflected on
my voter’s card and 15/6/1967 was wrongly SPACE FOR SALE SPACE FOR SALE SPACE FOR SALE
captured on my voter’s card instead of
15/6/1972 as d correct date of birth on my
national ID card. All former documents remain
valid. General public should please take note.

HIMMAN WOMEN FAITH OVERFLOWING

PUBLIC NOTICE ADVOCACY NETWORK IN AFRICA PRAYER MINISTRY KADUNA NIGERIA
CENTER FOR AWARENESS AND LEGAL AID IN MARRIED This is to inform the general public that the above named has applied to the Corporate This is to inform the General public that the above named Foundation has
(TSANGAYAR MA’AURATA ) Affairs Commission (CAC), Abuja for Registration under part ‘C’ of Companies and Allied applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for Registration under Part
Matters Act, 1990.
“C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 2020.
The general public is hereby notified that the above named Association has TRUSTEES ARE:
applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) Abuja for Registration 1. Himaga Yayirus - Chairman NAMES OF TRUSTEES:
under Part ‘C’ of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 1 of 1990. 2. Hellen Caleb - Secretary
3. Hajiya Mariya Adamu Nyako 1. Pastor, Ugbede Shaibu
TRUSTEES ARE:
4. Hon Kate Remond Mamuno 2. Revd, Ibrahim Benard Ameh
5. Hajiya Maisaratu Bello 3. Mrs. Aisha Adama
1. Umar Ridwan (Chairman) 6. Liurayaunan Yayirus
2. Nuhu Sambo 7. Aishatu Dahiru Ahmed Binani 4. Mr. Alpha Daniel
3. Asmau Bello 8. Dame Pauline Tallen 5. Mr. Nelson Aliyu
9. Glory Abolusoro 6. Mr. Jacob Ebiloma
4. Hafsat Badamasi 10. Amb Fatima Adams
5. Hauwa Hussain Hussain 7. Mrs. Eleojo Shaibu.
6. Abdulrazaq Bayalat (Secretary ) AIM AND OBJECTIVE:
1. To encourage african women to develop their communities using sustainable methods AIMS AND OBJECTIVES:
2. To increase the amount of resources available for women’s projects
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 3. To establish a network of organizations and individuals committed to promoting and 1. To preach the gospel of our lord Jesus Christ.
1. To create a world class center that would be in the fore-front of ensuring protecting women’s rights 2. To promote Active Relationship that reflects the true Essence of
a happy and a blissful marriage for all. 4. To educate women on their human rights and empower them to create social change friendship Among Members
2. To achieve blissful matrimonial homes through pre-marriage seminar, through peace building activities
5. To strengthen youth and women’s political participation and decision-making power 3. To foster unity, cooperation and progress among members
counselling, legal awareness and empowerment. as we well as to build a gender responsive budgeting, stronger family ties, healthier
women and children, economic prosperity. Any Objection to this Registration should be forwarded to the Registrar
Any objection to this Registration should be forwarded to the Registrar- General, Corporate Affairs Commission plot 420 Tigris Crescent off Aguiyi
General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420 Tigris Crescent, Off Aguiyi Any objection to this Registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General, Corporate
Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication. Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, P.M.B 198, Maitama, Ironsi street Pmb 198 Maitama Abuja within 28 Days of this Publication.
Abuja within 28 days of this publication.
SIGNED: SECRETARY SIGNED: SECRETARY SIGNED: SECRETARY
 Wednesday July 21, 2021 www.leadership.ng Leadership Newspapers @leadershipNGA 29

T RU S T E E S
ANTHONY UZOMA
OBINNA UCHENDU EDUCATION FOUNDATION UCHEBUNJO FOUNDATION LOSS OF DOCUMENT
This is to inform the General public that the above named
Foundation has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for
The general public is hereby notified that the above named
Foundation has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission
This is to inform the general public of loss
Registration under Part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters (CAC) Abuja, for Registration under Part “C” of the Companions of ORIGINAL CERTIFICATE OF DEED OF
Act, 2020. and Allied Matters Act, 1990. CONVEYANCE belonging to JOSEPH NEBO.
NAMES OF TRUSTEES: TRUSTEES ARE: The plot of land situate at EMENE, NKANU
1. Uchendu Chineye 1. Anthony Uzoma Uchebunjo - Chairman LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF ENUGU
2. Uche Uloaku Chidinma - Secretary
2. Uchendu Onyebuchi Louis
3. Uchendu Chinwe Caroline 3. Justine Emenike Uchebunjo STATE, With Registration No. 82 at page 82 in
volume 447, in the ministry of Lands office
THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES:
AIM AND OBJECTIVE:
1. To form a charity organisation aimed at helping, supporting Enugu, measuring approximately 824.348
1. To assist in providing basic education to the less privileged
youths. and promoting the welfare of poor indigenes of Imo State square meters and bounded by Beacon
2. To ensure a better and better future for the orphan child. and by extension the rest of Nigeria. Nos: CJ 50668 Nos: CJ 50669, CJ 50670
Any Objection to this Registration should be forwarded to the
Any objection to this Registration should be forwarded to the and CJ 50671 shown in survey plan No: AN/
Registrar General, Corporate Affairs Commission Plot 420 Tigris
Registrar-General Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris
Crescent, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days from the date of this
GA972/77 at Enugu Land Registry. All effort
Crescent off Aguiyi Ironsi street PMB 198 Maitama Abuja within publication. to trace those documents proved abortive. If
28 Days of this Publication.
SIGNED: ANTHONY UZOMA UCHEBUNJO
found, please, contact the Ministry of Lands
SIGNED: SECRETARY CHAIRMAN. and Urban Development, Enugu.

FELLOWSHIP OF TEKAN
PUBLIC NOTICE THEOLOGICAL INSTITUTIONS
THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC This is to inform the general public that the above named ASSOCIATION
has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for Registration under
THAT THERE WILL BE AN AUCTION SALES Part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 1990.

OF MOTOR VEHICLES AND HOUSE HOLD THE TRUSTEES ARE:

1. Rev. Dr. Dashan Obed Gudeke - Chairman
ITEMS AT ELEKAHIA DIVISIONAL POLICE 2. Rev. Dr. Bartimawus Peter Amana
3. Hon. Justice Tuktur Josephine Yakubu
- Secretary
HEADQUARTER PORT HARCOURT OF THE 4. Rev. Dr. Mbaya Daniel Yusufu
5. Rev. Dr. Nasara Zechariah
RIVERS STATE POLICE COMMAND AFTER 21
DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION.
THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES:
1. To bring together theologians within Tekan Theological Institutions SPACE FOR SALE
and hold conferences, rubbing minds on contemporary issues and to
exchange ideas on theological issues.
2. To be a reference point for academic discussions on the relationship
ITEMS ARE: between christianity and educational theory, practice in formal and
informal settings.
1. ONE SCRAP JETA CAR REG NO AG 15 PBT 3. To encourage theological research by publishing high quality articles
bordering on theology and issues across a wide range of educational
2. SCRAP GENERATORS, LAPTOPS AND ETC contexts, towards enhancing the development of theological education
Any objection to the Registration should be forwarded to the Registrar
SIGNED: POLICE AUCTIONEER General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Off
Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication.
IFY FLOXY EZE ENTERPRISES SIGNED: SECRETARY

On THE BIG ISSUE (TBI), we dissect major issues in
Nigeria and beyond. The programme provides context
and insight into various topics. On this show, our
analysts discuss major issues in Nigeria in a no-holds-
bare manner. The show runs from Monday to Friday
every week on LEADERSHIP Podcast.
Since the first episode of EVERYDAY TORI on
LEADERSHIP Podcast, this programme in Pidgin,
which runs from Monday to Friday every week, has
become a must-listen-to on all the major podcast
channels. On Everyday Tori, we discuss everyday
issues, trending political and entertainment stories.
BARKA DE HANTSI NIJERIYA is a daily news
magazine programme on LEADERSHIP Podcast.
BABBAR MAGANA is an interesting segment of
the show where we analyse trending issues in
Nigeria. The show is already on the top ten chart
on major podcast platforms.

NIGERIAN

SPORTS ORBIT is a programme where we provide
latest news and analysis of happenings in the world
of sports especially the Nigerian local league. There is
also Sports Business segment on the show where we
discuss the business side of sports. The show runs from
Monday to Friday every week on LEADERSHIP Podcast.
On MONEY RADIO, we discuss latest
developments in Nigeria’s Business and
Economy. We cover all the major sectors
in the nation’s economy. The show runs
from Monday to Friday every week on
LEADERSHIP Podcast.
INSIDE NIGERIA is a live morning show on
LEADERSHIP Podcast which runs from Monday to
Friday every week. On this show, we analyze current
affairs in our unique Newspaper Review segment.
The maiden edition of this programme comes up on
July 18th,2021.

We’ve got nearly 400 plays for 44 episodes of six shows

on our programmes in 17 days...and this official from Anchor!
Go to podcast.leadership.ng
...You have the last word!
sports 2020 Tokyo: Team Nigeria
Needs Prayers To Win
Medals- Sports Minister
BY OLAWALE AYENI, Abuja
Minister of youth and sports de-
velopment, Sunday Dare has pled
with Nigerians to pray for the
country’s athletes to win medals at
the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games
In Japan.
Team Nigeria made up of 58
atheletes would be competing in
10 sporting events at the com-
mencement of the rescheduled
Games from today to 8 August
2021.
Recall that, at the last Olympic
Games in Rio 2016 , Team Ni-
geria won just one bronze med-
al in men’s football to claim the
country’s first podium finish since
2008. The Nigerian team were
beaten 2-0 in the semifinals by
Germany but regrouped to beat
Honduras 3-2 in the bronze play-
off.
Speaking at a brief ceremony
organised by the Ethiopian Air-
line to send the minister and oth-
ers forth, at the Nnamdi Aziki-
we International airport in Abuja
yesterday, the minister appreciat-
ed the efforts of the airline compa-
ny and others who have supported
the sporting sector and called on
all Nigerians to pray for the team
for a victorious outing ,while giv-
ing his best wishes to the team.
He said, “ We thank Ethiopian
Tokyo 2020: Football, Softball
Events Begin Today
OLAWALE AYENi With Agency Re-
ports
The Tokyo Olympics start in earnest to-
day, two days before Friday’sopening
ceremony, and it can possibly see some
first athletes enjoying more freedom in
expressing themselves.
The head of the organising commit-
tee for the Tokyo Olympics, Mr Toshi-
ro Muto yesterday did not rule out a
last-minute cancellation of the global
sporting showpiece, amid rising COV-
ID-19 cases that have presented organ-
isers with mounting challenges.
“We can’t predict what will happen
with the number of coronavirus cas-
es. So, we will continue discussions if
there is a spike in cases,” he said.
Games officials on Sunday report-
ed the first coronavirus case among
competitors in the village in Tokyo
where 11,000 athletes are expected
to stay. There have been 67 cases de-
tected among those accredited for the
Games since July 1, organisers said on
Tuesday.
www.leadership.ng
Airlines for successfully air lifting
our Team and hope that we shall
have cause to celebrate when we
return with medals. So my mes-
sage is best wishes Team Nigeria,
above all we need the prayers of
Nigerians so that the athletes com-
pete excellently, cleanly and win
medals and bring glory to our Na-
tion”.
“ We are grateful to the feder-
al government, corporate Nigeria
and all those who supported Team
Nigeria by adopting our athletes.
He further reaffirmed the team’
s effort geared towards putting in
their best and coming out top and
encouraged Nigerians to contin-
ually support the team as they go
ahead to put the country on the
map of greatness.
‘’I want Nigerians to wish the
Team Nigeria the very best as we
compete with the very best in the
world at the Tokyo 2020 Olym-
pics. 205 countries with over
11,000 Athletes from around the
world validates the Olympics as
the biggest sporting event in the
world.
The fact that we have a team of
58 athletes that qualified to partic-
ipate, some of whom are the very
best in their events shows that this
country is going to Tokyo not just
to show up but to compete clean
and win medals”.
Three softball and six women’s
football matches are scheduled for
Wednesday.
A softball date between hosts Japan
and Australia starts the Games in Fu-
kushima.
This is the city hit hard by the tsu-
nami-caused meltdown at the nuclear
power station in 2011.
Also in action is the U.S women’s
football team who as world champions
seek revenge against Sweden against
whom they lost in the 2016 quarter-
finals.
The American women were on the
forefront of a fight against racial injus-
tice when they took a knee during na-
tional anthems before games, but they
have given it up since February.
The gesture, and others, are now
possible for the first time at the Olym-
pics.
This is because a revision of the rule
50 of the Olympic Charter allows ath-
letes to express themselves ahead of
their competitions, in social media and
in interviews.
Leadership Newspapers
Minister of youth and sports development, Sunday Dare, (5th left) leads the last batch of Team Nigeria contingent to Tokyo
Olympics during their departure at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, In Abuja, yesterday
Joshua To Defend Heavyweight Titles
Against Usyk Sept 25
Anthony Joshua will put his IBF,
WBA and WBO heavyweight cham-
pionships on the line against Olek-
sandr Usyk at the Tottenham Hotspur
Stadium in London on Saturday Sep-
tember 25.
Joshua dominated and then floored
Kubrat Pulev to score a brutal ninth-
round knockout at The SSE Arena,
Wembley last time out in December
in what was his first fight on UK soil
since he stopped Alexander Povetkin
NFF Vows To Unmask Fellow Who Harass Super Falcons
Nigeria Football Federation (NFF)
says it has initiated moves to ensure
the unmasking of the self-acclaimed
Nigerian who got on the train with
the Super Falcons in Vienna, Austria
on Tuesday and made the players un-
comfortable with inflammatory po-
litical talks.
Team officials explained on Tues-
day afternoon that the girls, who had
been in the Austrian capital since
Thursday preparing for upcoming
international engagements, opted
to have a view of the city after their
morning training, and decided on
public transport to the city centre.
The guy, whose claim to be a Ni-
gerian was much doubtful from his
accent, launched into abuses against
the girls for representing Nigeria, and
kept saying that no one could touch
him because that would amount to as-
Rangers Target Maximum Points Against Pillars In Enugu
Rangers International F.C of Enugu
will be pulling all the stops to en-
sure that the maximum points from
the match day 34 fixture against the
visiting ‘Kano Pillars F.C is annexed
to keep the hope of picking a conti-
nental ticket alive.
With the reflections of the ‘Asa-
ba Miracle’ still playing around as
well as other interesting encounters
involving both sides very fresh in the
minds of the club’ followers, the en-
counter at ‘The Cathedral’, Nnam-
@leadershipNGA
in seven explosive rounds at Wemb-
ley Stadium back in September 2018.
The heavyweight division’s big-
gest attraction has sold out stadi-
ums and arenas around the world
and now returns to the capital for his
fifth stadium fight looking to create
more history as he faces his latest
WBO mandatory challenger at the
new state of the art home of Spurs,
following in the footsteps of Frank
Bruno, who defeated Joe Bugner in
sault as he had not touched anyone.
His tirade did not unsettle the
girls in any way as he was ignored
throughout, and the disciplined re-
sponse infuriated him the more.
However, Nigeria’s FIFA Match
Agent, Jairo Pachon told thenff.com
that the matter has been immediate-
ly reported to the Austrian Police and
the Embassy of Nigeria, and the fel-
low, who was bundled out of the
train at the next station, would be
fished out.
“It is unfortunate. The girls were
on the way to the city centre which
was just a few minutes from the
hotel. They entered this train and
the guy got inside and started insult-
ing them. He was bundled out at the
next station and we have reported the
matter to the Embassy of Nigeria and
the Austrian Police. We have never
di Azikiwe stadium, Enugu today is
expected to be a top-of-the table fix-
ture.
Coach Salisu Yusuf, the Rangers
gaffer is very positive going into this
encounter with his former employ-
ers as he has charged his wards to up
their game to get all the three points
at stake stressing that Kano Pillars is
not a small team by any rate.
“We are taking every game as a
cup final and this won’t be an ex-
ception. I believe that we have done
Wednesday, July 21, 2021
Matchroom Boxing’s first heavy-
weight promotion at the old White
Hart Lane in October 1987.
Ukrainian pound-for-pound star
Usyk made the move to the heavy-
weight division after dominating at
cruiserweight, ending his extraordi-
nary spell at 200lbs as the undisput-
ed king with a phenomenal run of
victories in his opponent’s backyard
against Marco Huck, Mairis Briedis,
Murat Gassiev and Tony Bellew.
had this kind of case with any of our
teams and lessons have been learnt
and we will be guided appropriately
going forward.
“This incident will not in any way
affect the team’s camping programme
and they will remain in Austria until
Saturday, 24th July as scheduled.”
President of the NFF and FIFA
Council Member, Mr Amaju Mel-
vin Pinnick said the NFF will im-
mediately report the matter to world
football –governing body, FIFA and
would pursue the case to its logical
conclusion.
“We are infuriated because these
are young ladies who are our ambas-
sadors and are there in Austria pre-
paring for major international com-
petitions. That was a dastardly act by
that fellow and we are not taking it
lightly.
all we can to ensure that victory is
achieved on Wednesday in Enugu. I
expect a tough match from them but
we have what it takes to get what we
want,” stated the widely travelled and
vastly experienced gaffer who once
handled the ‘Sai Masu Gida’ side.
Also speaking ahead of the crunch
tie, captain of the side and Super Ea-
gles B player, Tope Olusesi, said,
“Kano Pillars are a strong team but
I believe that we have what it takes
to get a win on Wednesday.
 Wednesday July 21, 2021
Nigerian Singer Barzini To
Host National Chess Tourney
BY TUNDE OGUNTOLA, Abuja
A Nigerian singer and entrepreneur,
David ‘Barzini’ Nwobodo is blazing
the trail across the sports and enter-
tainment sector, with the announce-
ment of the ‘Barzini King’s Open-
ing’ chess tournament to promote the
game of chess in the nation through
music.
The tournament is aimed at pro-
moting mental acuity among Nigeri-
an students.
Speaking with newsmen ahead
of the tournament organised in col-
laboration with the Orchid Lekki
Chess Club (OLCC) and MacDaniel
& Friends Initiative, Barzini said, “I
hope to make this tournament an an-
nual one.”
Barzini said chess is a sport that
requires and boosts critical thinking
hence the desire that more young peo-
ple in Nigeria pick interest in the game
enough to benefit from it.
He said the tournament, which will
reward winners with over 200,000 in
cash prizes, will be played simulta-
neously with the release of a chess-
themed album.
With this innovation, the 28-year-
old Barzini said his vision is to boost
mental acuity among Nigerian stu-
6 Federations Gets IOC Recognition
Six Sports federations have been
granted full recognition by the Inter-
national Olympic Committee (IOC)
at the organisation’s 138th Session
on Tuesday.
The six include the International
Sambo Federation (FIAS), World
Eid el-Kabir: FCT Golf Chair, Oladapo
Felicitates With Muslims
BY OLAWALE AYENI, Abuja
As Muslims all over the world cele-
brates Eid Mubarak on Tuesday, the
FCT Golf Association, chairman, Engr
Oladapo Olaide Mohammed, has con-
gratulated Muslims, particularly his
board members, officials, coaches,
players and the media.
Oladapo in a statement, rejoiced
with Muslim and enjoined them to re-
main steadfast in their prayers to al-
mighty Allah to intervene in the coun-
try’s challenges.
“On behalf of my family and FCT
Golf Association, I heartily congrat-
ulate all Nigerian and Happy Eid el-
Kabir to all our Muslim brothers and
sisters. As we celebrate the festivities,
may our prayers and sacrifices be ac-
cepted by Allah.
I Mentored Sweden Legend Ibrahimovic – Ijeh
Former Nigeria international Peter Ijeh
has revealed how he nureed up good re-
lationship with Sweden legend, Zlatan
Ibrahimovic, and the superstar duly rec-
ognised him in his popular book.
Ijeh who played for Nitel United FC
and Julius Berger FC in the Nigerian
domestic league before heading for
Sweden, revealed that he once men-
tored Ibrahimovic in the game of foot-
ball while the Swede’s was growing up.
Ijeh played alongside Ibrahimov-
ic at Malmo FF in Sweden – a team
he joined after emerging as the highest
www.leadership.ng
dents, through the fusion of chess and
music - the first-of-its-kind initiative
in Nigeria.
He said the tour will begin on the
24th of July at the University of Nige-
ria, Nsukka which is home to the larg-
est student community of chess play-
ers in Nigeria, according to OLCC.
He noted that the Lagos leg of the
tournament will be played on the 1st
of August on the online chess platform
‘Lichess’.
“The tournament will be played
in nine rounds with 10-minute time
control. The theme of the tournament
mandates white to play e4, The King’s
Opening, as the first move in all the
games. This is a tribute to former
world chess champion Bobby Fisch-
er who described the popular and old-
est opening as “Best by Test,” he said.
According to him, “Fischer’s atti-
tude towards excellence in chess in-
spired me a lot while organizing this
tournament and making the album, I
had him in mind all through the pro-
cess”.
An active member of the Orchid
Lekki Chess Club in Lagos, Nigeria,
Barzini is an avid promoter of chess
and hopes the poetry of the beauti-
ful game will come to appeal to more
young people in the country.
Lacrosse and the World Associa-
tion of Kickboxing Organisations.
The others are the Internation-
al Federation of Muaythai Asso-
ciations, the International Federa-
tion Icestocksport and International
Cheer Union.
“In the spirit of Celebrating the
Sacrifice of Prophet Ibraheem and
subsequent blessings by Allah, let us
do more in sacrificing for others, so
that the nation can be blessed with re-
wards for patriotic and selfless efforts,”
he said.
The FGA Boss, reiterated the need
to be conscious of the COVID-19 pan-
demic during festive period “I urge
Muslims and entire nation to be cau-
tious of COVID-19 especially during
this period”.
The FGA chairman noted that “as we
celebrate, I also urge us to remember
the poor and the needy in our society.
He, however used the opportunity
to re-affirmed the commitment of FCT
Golf leadership in making the asso-
ciation a rallying point for members,
coaches, and players at all time.
goal scorer in the Nigerian league with
Julius Berger of Lagos in the 1999/2000
season.
“Zlatan was 16 years old when I
started putting him through on the var-
ious ways of achieving the ultimate in
the game,” Ijeh disclosed while field-
ing questions as an interviewee on FCT
Football Updates.
“Then, he [Ibrahimovic] always said
he wanna be like me, play like me. I
mentored him.
“That’s why he wrote about me in his
book “I’m Zlatan”.
Leadership Newspapers
Awoniyi Quits Liverpool For
Union Berlin In £6.5m Deal
Liverpool have confirmed that
Nigerian striker Taiwo Awoniyi
has joined Union Berlin in a
£6.5million (€7.5m/$9m) deal.
The Nigerian spent last sea-
son on loan with the Bundesli-
ga outfit, but has now moved to
the German capital on a perma-
nent basis after Union beat rivals
Mainz to the 23-year-old’s signa-
ture.
Awoniyi had been away with
Liverpool’s first-team squad at
their pre-season training camp in
Austria, but underwent a medical
Kwara Pledges Support For 2021 NYG Participation
Gov. AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of
Kwara has pledged to support the
hosting of the upcoming National
Youth Games (NYG) scheduled for
October in Ilorin.
The NYG will hold at the Sports
Complex of the University of Ilorin.
AbdulRazaq made the prom-
ise while receiving awards and the
state’s contingents to the Edo 2020
National Sports Festival in Ilorin
United, Liverpool Set To Battle For Saul
Both Manchester United and Liv-
erpool will reportedly bid for Saul
Niguez if talks with Barcelona fall
through.
Barcelona are currently in advanced
negotiations about a swap deal with
Saul moving to the Camp Nou, having
offered Antoine Griezmann as a make-
weight to sign the midfielder.
Following the departure of Geor-
ginio Wijnaldum to Paris Saint-Ger-
“He is a great guy, and a humble per-
son,” Ijeh said.
Ibrahimovic, now 39, currently plays
for erie A side, AC Milan. Obviously
in the very twilight of his career, the
big Swede who prides himself as ‘The
Lion’is one of the most awarded play-
ers in world football today with 31 tro-
phies won across different top Euro-
pean leagues and clubs, such as; Ajax,
Juventus, Barcelona, AC Milan, PSG
and Manchester United. He has so far
netted over 500 goals for both Sweden
and his clubs.
@leadershipNGA
on Tuesday ahead of his switch to
Union, whose own training camp
is in Tirol, before putting pen to
paper on a five-year contract.
Awoniyi joined Liverpool
in 2015, with the Reds paying
£400,000 ($550,000) to the Impe-
rial Soccer Academy having spot-
ted him playing for Nigeria at the
U20 World Cup in New Zealand.
Unable to secure a UK work
permit, he spent the next six sea-
sons out on a series of loans,
spending time at FSV Frankfurt
in the German Second Division,
He said that the performance of
the state athletes at the Edo 2020
was a direct impact of his admin-
istration’s investment and commit-
ment to sports and youth develop-
ment.
Represented by the State Head
of Service, Mrs Susan Oluwole, he
said his government has embarked
on renovation and construction of
facilities, aimed at not only encour-
main earlier this month, the Reds will
be particularly interested in central
midfield reinforcements with Saul fit-
ting just that bill.
The 26-year-old has been with
Atletico his entire professional ca-
reer having progressed through their
youth ranks and has transitioned into
a world-class midfielder since estab-
lishing himself in the first-team set-up.
Spending almost a decade at the
SPORTS 31
Nigeria
International,
Taiwo Awoniyi
(right) managing
director FC Union
Berlin, Oliver
Ruhnert during
the unveiling
of Awoniyi in
Germany
Eredivisie outfit NEC Nijmegen
and Belgian pair Mouscron and
Gent.
Then came a season with
Mainz in 2019-20, before he
joined Union Berlin last sum-
mer. He would go on to make 22
appearances there, scoring five
times to help the unfancied club
secure qualification for the UEFA
Europa Conference League.
Union pursued a permanent
deal aggressively thereafter, hav-
ing been taken by the forward’s
power, selflessness and quality.
aging more participation of youth in
sports, but to add value to the sector.
He advised the athletes never to
rest on their oars, but continue to
work hard and be the best they can
be in their chosen career.
As a reward for good work from
the athletes, the governor announced
N250,000 for each gold medalist,
N150,000 for silver medalists and
N75,000 for bronze medalists.
Spanish capital club, Saul has made a
total of 337 appearances for Atletico,
winning the La Liga, Copa del Rey and
Europa League titles in the process.
However, the Spaniard has fall-
en out of favour with manager Diego
Simeone, losing a spot in his preferred
area of central midfield, with the arriv-
al of Rodrigo De Paul from Udinese
pushing him further down the peck-
ing order.
Ijeh
 21.07.21
www.leadership.ng
The Wednesday
Column
Hannatu Musawa Of Sacrifice
hannatu.musawa@leadership.ng 0807 669 6000 only sms WhatsApp
I
t is another “Baban
Sallah” like we call it in
the North and “Illeya”
like it is called in the
Southwest, and this
auspicious Islamic celebration
is quite unique in Islam. The
latter of the two official
holidays celebrated within
Islam (the other being Eid-El-
Fitr), is a time where families
gather from far and wide in
merriment and celebrations.
It is a time where children
put on their best dresses and
shoes, visiting relatives and
neighbors. The climax of the
celebrations is of course when
the ram meat is served.
Eid-El-Kabir celebrations
for me have always been
about celebrating with
family and friends as well
as reflecting on the lessons
of sacrifice, charity and love
that the feast of the Eid-El-
Kabirepitomizes. It is a time I
count my blessings and renew
my love, faith and obedience
to my creator. It is a time that
teaches and reminds us of the
meaning of sacrifice, love,
and forbearance with Allah
and in our relationships with
one another. It is also a time
I often reflect on back on the
inspirational story behind
Eid-El-Kabir.
Eid-El-Kabir festival
predates Prophet Muhammad
(May the peace and blessings
of Allah be upon him). The
story that engendered the
celebrations is one of a
man and his pious family.
It is a story of faith and the
ultimate sacrifice. It is the
story of belief in a season
of disbelief. It is one of
total submission, love and
devotion. Through Prophet
Ibrahim and his son Isma’il
(upon them be peace and
blessings of Allah), Almighty
Allah showed us how he often
intervenes to turn a situation
of hopelessness to that of
hope and happiness.
Prophet Ibrahim had
a dream in which he was
offering his son Isma’il as a
sacrifice to Allah. He told his
son about the dream, and
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No. 3,722
both father and son, being so
devoted to Allah, both agreed
and they prepared to follow
Allah’s Will. But just as the
sharpened knife was about to
pierce Ismail’s jugular Allah put
a sheep in his place. Ismail’s
life was thus spared. Both
father and son proved their
love and obedience to Allah.
They passed the acid test of
sincerity, which is “Ikhlas.”
Prophet Ibrahim chose to
believe in the Almighty. But
to believe in the Almighty is to
make a difficult but extremely
rewarding choice. The Qur’an
extols him as a model, an
exemplar, obedient and not
an idolater. In this sense,
ProphetAbraham has been
described as representing
“primordial man in universal
surrender to the Divine Reality
before its fragmentation into
religions separated from each
other by differences in form.”
Another major protagonist
of this story is the mother of
Ismail, Hajar. In silence, she
WEDNESDAY
AMUSEMENT PARK
I PREFER TELEVISION TO MOVIES. IT'S NOT SO FAR TO THE BATHROOM.
N200
Eid-El-Kabir Celebration
bore the pain of the inevitable
loss of her son.As a mother
one can only imagine what she
must have been going through
knowing full well her son was
about to be sacrificed. Ismail
was the only fruit of her womb,
but she submitted her desires
and aspirations to Almighty
Allah. She knew Allah was there
watching over her son as he
went through the most painful
experience in submission and
devotion.
The continued practice of
sacrifice therefore acts as a
reminder of Prophet Ibrahim’s
obedience to Allah. However,
the purpose of sacrifice in Eid
El-Kabir is not about offering
a ram or sheep as sacrifice to
satisfy Allah. It is also about
sacrificing something devotees
love the most to advance the
message of Eid El-Kabir. In
other words, the sacrifice can
be something other than an
animal such as money or time
spent on community service.
There are several historical
— FRED ALLEN
also ensure we continue to obey
the laws of the land as well as
respect for authorities.
As Muslims, we must
continue to adopt and
demonstrate the good virtues
of Islam through personal
examples and practices.
As is often the case, taking
advantage of the celebration
to exploit fellow Muslims and
non-Muslims alike through
outrageous prices of food items
is inconsistent with the virtues
of Islam.
As practicing believers, we
shouldn’t seek obscene profits
by making life difficult and
miserable for others. Islam is
a religion of charity that urges
us to love our neighbor as we
love ourselves.
I hope Eid touches families
throughout Nigeria and the
world, in the most pious way.
During this beautiful and
wonderful time, I would like
to send my best wishes to all
who observed the festival and
celebration of Eid al-Adha and
thank those who rejoice and
celebrate with us.
precedence of caliphs sacrificing
items other than meat. After
all, the animal sacrifice is only
GHANA MUST GO
a sunnah, which is habitual
rather than required. The We work too hard
Qur’an states that the meat in the House of
will not reach Allah (SWA), nor
will the blood, but what reaches
Representatives
Him is the devotion of devotees
(it is neither their meat nor — Speaker
their blood that reaches Him
but your piety… Q22: 36-37).
As Muslims across the
country commemorate Eid El-
Kabir, I urge all adherents to
use the celebration to promote
peace and co-existence between
all Nigerians, regardless of faith
or ethnic background.
As Muslims, we must
continue to show love to one
another, as well as to people of
other faith. The act of sacrifice,
one of the major lessons of Eid-
El-Kabir, should be part of our
lives at all times.
We must make sacrifices
for ourselves, our families, our
friends, our neighbors and of I can't laugh o!
course, our country. We must