Tracka, BudgIT’s platform for monitoring service delivery, has alleged that the Minister of Works, David Umahi disbursed a total of N9.3 billion from the Federal Ministry of Works to FIMS Microfinance Bank Ltd, an apparent violation of the 2007 Public Procurement Act. 

According to Tracka, the payment was made between June and December 2023 for 62 projects, including the construction of road projects across the country, amongst others. 

Providing complete details of the transactions in its publication seen by Nairametrics, the projects include the payment of N1.4 billion construction of Yaba-Yangoje Road in the FCT, the payment of N1.2 billion for the rehabilitation of a 2km road from Oriawo-boroboro-oke-medina School of Science Road in Atiba, Oyo state as well the payment of N1.2 billion for the rehabilitation of Ejule-otukpo Road in Benue State, among others  

The report claimed:  

• “Some of these projects, as revealed on the Govspend platform, include the payment of N1.4 billion in September 2023 for the construction of Yaba-Yangoje road in the Federal Capital Territory; the payment of N1.2 billion in October 2023 for the rehabilitation of a 2km road from Oriawo-boroboro-oke-medina school of sci. road in Atiba, Oyo state; the payment of N1.2 billion in October 2023 for the rehabilitation of Kosoboawe junction road in Oyo East LGA in Oyo state; and the payment of N1.2 billion between August and November 2023 for the rehabilitation of Ejule-otukpo road in Benue State; to mention a few.” 

Violation of the Public Procurement Acts 

The 2007 public procurement Acts (as amended) specifically section 16 (6) (a) (i), (iii), and (iv) as they state that: All bidders in addition to requirements contained in any solicitation documents shall (a) possess the necessary: (i) professional and technical.  

Qualifications to carry out particular procurements; (ii) financial capability; (iii) equipment and other relevant infrastructure; (iv) shall have adequate personnel to perform the obligations of the procurement contracts. 

The disbursement, therefore, raises legality concerns, as FIMS Microfinance Bank Ltd is not recognized as an institution providing construction services within the country. 

The report stated,  

• “According to its mission statement and information on its website, FIMS Microfinance Bank Ltd. Was incorporated on December 11, 2009, to conduct microfinance businesses/services with a certificate of incorporation number RC 858800. 
• “As a financial institution, the award of road construction contracts amongst others to this company is a violation of the Public Procurement Act 2007, specifically s.16 (6) (a) (i), (iii), and (iv) as they state that: All bidders in addition to qualifications to carry out particular procurements; (ii) financial capability; (iii) equipment and other relevant infrastructure; (iv) shall have adequate personnel to perform the obligations of the procurement contracts.”  

More Insights  

• According to BudgIT, Umahi has been sent a request to respond to the accusation.  
• The report also noted that they urged “Bureau of Public Procurement to review the transactions for violations of the Public Procurement Act 2007 and met out appropriate sanctions for breaches where identified.”  
• Furthermore, the organization called on anti-graft agencies, namely the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), to investigate these payments thoroughly and prosecute any officers found guilty. 
• “We call on the anti-graft agencies—the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission, ICPC, and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC—to question and probe these payments and prosecute the erring officers,” the report added. 

[Nairametrics]

•5th columnist, terror financiers deep in it
•How top Military men who tried to expose financiers of terrorists were eliminated
•Boko Haram financiers known by FG – Retired Military personnel

Insecurity in Nigeria has become an issue of grave concern to every Nigerian, with each passing day introducing new methods, more daring approaches and brazen displays of flagrant disregard for constituted authority, by violent non-state actors.

More worrisome is the continued spread of terrorism accentuated by the role of terror financiers.
Findings by Saturday Vanguard have revealed how some top Military officers who attempted to fight terrorists holistically were allegedly killed under questionable circumstances or had their plans botched.

Former CDS Badeh

One of them was the former Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, who served under former Presidents Goodluck Jonathan and Muhammadu Buhari, between 2014 and 2015 .

His vehicle was attacked on the evening of Tuesday, December 18, 2018 by gunmen on the Keffi- Abuja expressway, while returning from his farm.

Though two principal suspects who were linked to his murder, said he was killed during a robbery operation, revelations by his close lieutenants revealed that he was killed because he threatened to open a can of worms on activities of some government officials sponsoring terrorists in Nigeria.

Why he was killed

It would be recalled that while in office as CDS , in October 2014, terrorists briefly occupied his hometown in Vimtim, Adamawa State and killed one of his cousins who lived next door to his house. His house was burnt, including the hospital he built in memory of his late mother, for the community.

Irked by the terrorists’ effrontery, Saturday Vanguard was reliably informed that the General took some of his trusted lieutenants on a covert operation in Maiduguri.

Military sources said during the operation which lasted some days, he ran into some top government officials “as they were coming out of a meeting with Boko Haram Commanders, in the Nigerian Army underground Armory which was seized by Boko Haram.

“He exercised restraint and ordered us not to shoot. He took pictures of the scene which he never released to the government when he retired in July 2015, two months after Buhari assumed office as President..

Threat to expose sponsors

He was arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC on the directive of Buhari, over alleged misconduct established against some retired and serving officers in the Nigerian Air Force and Nigerian Army , of which late Badeh was included.

Sources alleged that Badeh’s inclusion was orchestrated by some government officials who got wind of the picture he took during the covert operation in Maiduguri. Sources further stated that he was never given the go-ahead to arrest or investigate those he saw with Boko Haram Commanders.

Sources said, “ Do you know he was assassinated because he threatened to expose government officials sponsoring terrorists in Nigeria? He threatened he would expose them at the next hearing in court. Before you knew it ,boom! He was assassinated.

“Till date , the only thing Nigerians were made to understand was that he was killed by robbers. If a whole General could be killed that way , then who is safe?

Fani Kayode’s view

In a press statement released by former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, on Badeh’s demise, he disclosed that it happened one month after the former CDS raised the alarm that two hooded men tried to break into his Asokoro house.

Part of the statement read: “ He knew many of the government’s excesses and secrets, he worked quietly against them from behind the scenes and, by his numerous actions and interventions, he saved the lives of many of his Middle Belt people.

“First it was Rear Admiral Daniel Ikoli, the Fleet Commander of the Western Naval Command, who reports suggest was conducting an investigation into secret arms sales to Boko Haram, that was assassinated.

“Then it was ex-Military Intelligence Chief and the former Director of Administration of Defence Headquarters, General Alkali, who was privy to a lot of damning information, that was assassinated.

“Then it was the ex-Chief of Defence Staff under whose leadership Boko Haram was annihilated, Air Vice Marshal Alex Badeh, that has been assassinated.

“All three of these worthy and noble warriors and sons of Nigeria were murdered in the last one year (2017-2018) and all three had quite a story to tell about what was really going on in certain circles in our country! I urge our people to ponder on this and to think, think and think again! ”, the statement read.

Botched attempt to end Boko Haram

These suspected financiers were reportedly responsible for the most botched attempt to address insurgency at its early stage during former President Goodluck Jonathan’s tenure in office.

He did not mince words when he admitted during a church service at the National Ecumenical Centre as part of the annual Armed Forces remembrance day celebrations, that members of the extremist Boko Haram sect had succeeded in infiltrating his government and planting its members in government agencies and security outfits.

Western Military intervention frustrated

Sources disclosed that at that time, one of the Western countries’ Military which volunteered to help the Jonathan’s government annihilate terrorists, left in anger , after its planned operation was leaked to terrorists.

Saturday Vanguard learned that a meeting between some selected government officials, top Military officers and the foreign Military was held, after which a survey of the Sambisa forest was conducted to map out strategy on how to get the terrorists .

A retired General in the Nigerian Army who claimed to be privy of the information expressed shock that what was supposed to be a top secret operation was leaked to the terrorists.

The General who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said, “ After the survey of the Sambisa forest, the plan was to use ‘ humane warfare’ which involved the use of sleeping gas to stun everyone in the forest, capture them alive , separate abducted victims from the terrorists and take detailed profile of the terrorists to ascertain the exact terrorist group they belong .

“But to everyone’s amazement, on the day of the operation, when the drones were flown to the forest , all the terrorists were discovered to be wearing respirator masks! The foreign Military left in anger. To date, no one knows how the terrorists got wind of the sting operation, which some top Military officers weren’t privy to.

Sabotage

Between 2011 and 2014, some military hardware reportedly procured were alleged to be below standard . Sources revealed that the difficulty to procure weapons outside the country that would match those of the terrorists was attributed to hindrances from financiers of terrorists.

Even in the face of the war then, soldiers were killed like chickens due to the limited and unsophisticated weapons that could not match those of the enemies then.

Fifth columnist in Military

The Military is aware there are saboteurs from within its ranks, who connive with the terrorists by leaking operational road-maps and strategies to the insurgents which resulted in soldiers being ambushed and killed by terrorists.

These saboteurs as gathered willfully donate arms and ammunition, including armoured personnel carriers, APC to terrorists.

Just last year , a Nigerian Army Lance Corporal and instructor with the Nigerian Army Special Forces in Geidam, Yobe State, identified simply as Jubrin, committed suicide after he was exposed as a Boko Haram agent and collaborator.

An army intelligence unit was reported to have tracked Jibrin, who disappeared from his duty post to Gashua , where he was seen among the Boko Haram terrorists who had earlier attacked Geidam town, in Yobe community.

Similarly, another soldier was arrested with 162 rounds of 7.62 mm Special, 60 rounds of 7.62 mm NATO and IED materials concealed in a travelling bag without a valid Identity Card. Preliminary investigation further led to the recovery of one AK47 rifle, three empty magazines and one magazine loaded with 10 f 7.62 mm Special.

In other instances, two Nigerian soldiers, Sergeant Alhaji Oloche (05NA/56/1435) and Lance Corporal Namo Daniel (09NA/62/1097) attached to the Operation Yaki security outfit in Kaduna State, were arrested in March 2022 for alleged kidnapping.

Another soldier attached to Headquarters 1 Division of the Nigerian Army, Kaduna, PTE Danladi Hadau (20NA/79/4219), was arrested along with two vigilantes identified as Mustapha Kasim and Ibrahim Mohammed for collaborating with bandits. In this case, they were arrested while attempting to collect ransom around Dumbi Dutse Road, in Zaria, Kaduna State , after orchestrating the abduction of a resident of Dorayi village in the Zaria Local Government Area of the state, Alhaji Lawal Ahmed on March 3, 2022.

The immediate past Chief of Defense Staff , Gen Lucky Irabor, who expressed outrage over activities of such fifth columnists, revealed an increase in cases of aiding and abetting by personnel, in various Theatres of Operations, TOO, in a letter to Field and Operational Commanders of troops, titled, “Need to Educate Personnel on the Implications of Collaborating with the Enemy” and signed by Commodore CE Orji.
The arrests of these personnel are indicative of insider action that has continued to aid the adversary, pertinently with immediate or potential impact on Military operations.

Way forward

To end the senseless killings of Nigerians by terrorists , many senior security agents are of the view that the Federal Government should muster the political will to fish out financiers of terrorists , be they serving government officials or not.

One of such views was shared by former General Officer Commanding ,GOC 1 Division of the Nigerian Army, Maj Gen Danjuma Ali-Keffi (rtd),in a recent interview , where he disclosed how he was arrested, detained and compulsorily retired, following the revelations of a presidential investigative task force he headed that exposed the involvement of senior government officials, a top banker, and top military brass in terrorism financing

He was quoted to say ”A syndicate, which had an extensive network in the country as well as being affiliated to an international criminal network, was at the centre of moving finances for terrorism for other criminal activities.

”The most worrisome aspect was that some of the individuals involved in terrorism financing of Boko Haram terrorists and who were also involved in procurement and movement of arms and ammunition for BH and other criminal organisations had links with the military.

“It was, thus, apparent that terrorism and insurgency in the North-East, North-West, and North-Central were a criminal enterprise and were largely undertaken with profit rather than any ideology, as the primary motive.

“Thus, we at the BOI arrived at the obvious conclusion that progress cannot be achieved except the financiers, collaborators, supporters and the leadership of the terrorists and insurgents groups are identified and the network dismantled”.

Government knows terror financiers

The notion that terror financiers are allegedly in government circles is not news to the Military and other security agents.

In 2021, Navy Commodore, Kunle Olawunmi(rtd) while barring his mind on insurgents attacks on the Nigerian Defence Academy,NDA during an interview with a television station, stated categorically that the fight against insurgency was beyond security agencies,

Like Ali-Keffi, he revealed that the centre of gravity of Boko Haram and insurgency in Nigeria were sponsors of the programme!

According to the retired operational Commander who served in the Military Intelligence for 35 years, ”When you have a problem at policy level, what you need to do is to identify the centre of gravity.

“If the President is changing Service Chiefs and buying Tocando, it is not the solution because it is not kinetic. The centre of gravity is what they should look at and that is the sponsors of Boko Haram.

“ When I worked with the DSS in 2007, I was surprised at the tremendous amount of information they had.

They had so much information about what I am talking about. If a fish is going to get spoiled, it must start from the head.

“It has to do with politics, the sponsors. Therefore 10 percent or 20 percent of casualty is allowed to achieve the end game

The end game for them is to just turn the country into a Taliban country. It is a mindset and anything goes.

The problem is not about the terrorists and bandits but the sponsors of Boko Haram are the problems.

“The defense headquarters can’t do anything about that because it lies within the policy strategic level. When they have a policy problem they can’t go beyond their masters. The Defense headquarters can’t conduct any operations that are not sanctioned by the Chief of Armed Forces. This government (previous government ) does not want to solve this problem ,they are escalating it because of tribal issues.

“The INTERPOL has a list of those sponsoring terrorists . The government of Dubai has a list of those people. During the trial of those people that were caught, names were mentioned.

“The government also told us they have arrested 400 sponsors of Boko Haram. Why won’t they try those people and bring peace and harmony to this country”, he asked.

Frustrations

Some security agents who spoke to Saturday Vanguard on the condition of anonymity said on several occasions , suggestions by committees set up by previous governments to end the war against insurgency were watered down due to counter opinions by those suspected to be sponsors of terrorists.

One of the suggestions as gathered was for the Federal Government to procure Blimps.

By the way , blimps are like airships used by the Military for various purposes such as surveillance, communication and transportation.

Sources said, “This equipment can fly some distance. They are used in Afghanistan and Kenya. This would have helped us with intelligence to know where these terrorists are, how they operate and where they go after their operations. This will help us in our operation.But till date, there had been no procurement”
A serving senior officer in one of the security agencies also expressed worry over the difficulty faced by heads of security agencies in the fight against terrorists.

He said, “ Most times when you journalists write, we laugh and shake our heads in pity because most Nigerians are bereft of the true position of things.

“ We are putting in our best to bring this fight to an end. But some saboteurs are frustrating our efforts, by working against decisions that would help tackle the menace. And if anyone acts otherwise , he will be taken off the lane. As it is, our hands are weakened”.

Those who spoke with Saturday Vanguard unanimously stated that except President Bola Tinubu musters the political will to fight this menace by fishing out terror financiers in Nigeria, his administration may end up like previous ones, with increasing killings of innocent and helpless Nigerians

When my uncle called me over the weekend, he had no time for the customary conversational courtesies that typically preceded our phone chats. He was agitated and wanted to know straight away why President Bola Ahmed Tinubu wanted to relocate Nigeria’s federal capital back to Lagos.

His questions were pregnant with anger, befuddlement, and a presumption of the truth of his claim. Unfortunately, he is not alone. The notion that Tinubu, the Fourth Republic’s first Lagos State governor and power behind all subsequent governors in the state, wants to strip Abuja of its federal capital status and make Lagos the effective administrative nucleus of Nigeria is gaining wild currency in Muslim northern Nigeria. 

The immediate sparks for the “back-to-Lagos” apprehensions in the North are, of course, the decisions of the Central Bank of Nigeria to move some of its departments to Lagos and of the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development’s resolve to relocate the headquarters of the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) from Abuja to Lagos.

Before the CBN’s policy became public knowledge, a northerner who works at the CBN had confided in me on January 11 that CBN governor Olayemi Cardoso had concluded plans to move the key departments of the Central Bank— or, as he called it, “the entire banking system”— back to Lagos. 

The key departments Cardoso wanted to move to Lagos, he said, were the Banking Supervision Department (BSD), the Other Financial Institutions Supervision Department (OFISD), the Consumer Protection Department (CPD), the Payment Systems Management Department (PSMD), and the Financial Policy and Regulations Department (FPRD).

“When you move all these departments and many more to come to Lagos,” he lamented, Abuja would become CBN headquarters in name only. Lagos would essentially return to being the real CBN headquarters. What was even more bothersome, he added, was the fact that “they are using one of us, the Deputy Governor Corporate Services Bala Bello” to emasculate the CBN headquarters in Abuja.

He shared this with me at a time when I was deluged with work and didn’t have the time to independently verify his claims—or to examine the merit of his worries. Two days later, the story appeared on the Abuja-based, digital-native Daily Nigerian, which has been instrumentalized to serve as grist to the conspiracy mills in the North.

This wasn’t helped by the fact that five days after the Daily Nigerian story came out and before the outrage in the North had blown over, FAAN announced the relocation of its headquarters back to Lagos. These twin events conspired to construct a semblance of intentional, Tinubu-backed first steps in an ultimate, long-hatched ditch-Abuja-for-Lagos scheme in the minds of some Northerners.

As I told my uncle, it’s legally impossible in a democratic setting to move Nigeria’s capital from Abuja back to Lagos. There is no provision of the constitution or the Federal Capital Territory Act for an option to change Abuja as the federal capital territory. Unless Nigeria disintegrates, Abuja will be the perpetual federal capital.

So, talk of sneaky designs by Tinubu to return Nigeria’s capital to Lagos is no more than a silly, idle conspiratorial whisper.

To be honest, I’ve tried really hard to inhabit the minds of some of our people who sense an anti-northern animus as the impetus for the relocation of certain core departments of the CBN to Lagos—or for the return of FAAN headquarters to Lagos.

Apart from the unwelcome disruption to family cohesion that the transfer of workers, especially married workers, from Abuja to Lagos would represent, I haven’t seen anything remotely anti-North in the policy. 

The CBN has almost zero symbolic, political, cultural, or even economic significance to the North. Plus, Lagos is Nigeria’s de facto commercial capital and the headquarters of most banks. It makes sense that the core operational units of the CBN should be there.

The return of FAAN to Lagos is an even more straightforward case. It was always in Lagos until former Aviation Minister Hadi Sirika moved it to Abuja. There didn’t seem to be any operational reasons to justify the move since Lagos is the nucleus of Nigeria’s aviation. 

In any case, there is no legal requirement that all government agencies and departments must be headquartered in Abuja. That is why, as Senator Shehu Sani pointed out on Twitter, the National Examination Council (NECO) is headquartered in Minna, the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) is headquartered in Kaduna, the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) is headquartered in Port Harcourt, the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) is headquartered in Lagos, the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) is headquartered in Lokoja, etc. 

However, it would be unwise to dismiss with a wave of the hand the anxieties of people who are troubled by what appears, at least on the surface, to be a systematic, carefully planned administrative and political denudation of Abuja which, while a federal territory that equally belongs to all Nigerians, is located in the North.

 It is particularly disappointing that the president’s spokesperson slurred all sceptics and critics of the back-to-Lagos moves as “mischief-makers,” “political opponents,” and “dishonest ethnic and regional champions.” That’s unwarranted and unhelpful bellicosity which, in addition, has no basis in facts.

It’s true, of course, that the people who started and amplified news of the relocation of some departments of the CBN to Lagos are northern workers, or benefactors of northern workers, at the CBN who do not want to move to Lagos. It is they who successfully elevated their personal discomfort to the status of a collective regional slight.  

For example, in a January 26 Twitter post, one Adamu Hayatu whom I’ve been told is an ally of Muhammad Sani “Dattijo” Abdullahi, one of the CBN’s deputy governors, claimed that “Senator [Ali] Ndume is angry [that some departments of the CBN are moving to Lagos] because his daughter in Consumer Protection Department is moving to Lagos. Her Husband and another guy who is also married to his Second Daughter are all working in CBN. So much for fighting for the North!”

If this information is accurate, it’s consistent with my initial suspicion. This is a personal fight masquerading as a regional battle. Nonetheless, there are at least two other reasons that fuel the fire of regional angst in the North about Tinubu’s moves.

One, Tinubu has been a profoundly provincial president whose insularity is outrivaled only by the late Umaru Musa Yar’adua. Just like Yar’adua was elected a Nigerian president but was in reality a Katsina governor in Abuja, Tinubu is also, so far, a Nigerian president only in name. His mindset is still that of the governor of Lagos.

With a few notable (and in some cases unavoidable) exceptions, Tinubu’s government is largely the re-enactment of his time as the governor of Lagos. It is, for all practical purposes, an unabashed Lagos-centric Yorubacracy. To be fair, though, with the possible exception of Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration, all civilian regimes since 1999 have been insular ethnocracies. 

So, it’s not unreasonable to nurse anxieties about a regional agenda when a Lagos-centric president appoints as Central Bank governor a Lagos native (who was the president’s Economic Planning and Budget commissioner when he was the governor of Lagos State) whose first major priority is to relocate central units of the CBN back to his hometown amid runaway inflation and an inexorably relentless slide in the value of the naira.

It doesn’t matter what the merit of the policy is. People are justified to read meanings into it. Had a president or a CBN governor with a different profile from Tinubu or Cardoso done this, it probably wouldn’t have been amenable to regional weaponization by disgruntled workers.

Second, although Tinubu got most of his votes from the Muslim North, there is a growing, if uninformed, unease in the region that his governance is being guided by a 53-page August 2011 Yoruba regional script. Written by the Afenifere Renewal Group, a breakaway faction of Afenifere that is associated with Tinubu, the document is titled “Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN)” and advances strategies to fast track the development of Yorubaland. More than 20 Northerners have shared the document with me in the last one week.

However, it appears that Northerners who think the document is some sinister roadmap to dominate and subdue other parts of the country haven’t really read it. It’s actually a forward-looking roadmap to regenerate Yorubaland. I think every region should have a similar blueprint for its uplift.

I searched the document for evidence that the group recommended the stripping of Abuja of substantive power or for the relocation of Nigeria’s capital to Lagos. I found none. The closest thing to this that the document said about Lagos was, “The Southwest states, in particular Lagos should take ownership and lead advocacy and execution of the FSS 2020 objective of Lagos as an International Financial Centre (IFC).” (p. 24). There is nothing ominous about that. 

Unfortunately, feelings, not evidence, drive narratives. 

Is the Non-Aligned Movement still around? Is the organisation still in existence? That was the weighty question Professor Ikechukwu Okoro, a visually impaired Nigerian and Iowa State University don, slammed on me the moment I informed him of my mission in Kampala, Uganda.

Professor Okoro and I had met on our way to Addis-Ababa, me en route Kampala and he, Atlanta, in the United States. It wasn’t as if the issue he raised had not previously crossed my mind, but I did not bother much about it since I was headed for the NAM conference anyway until I encountered the sharp and witty Professor Okoro. He then got me thinking about the question of importance and relevance of the Non-Aligned Movement in today’s global power structure and politics. Indeed, only an unwary observer or naive student of global politics would have missed the seeming emptiness about NAM.

Established in 1961, the group of countries in NAM had espoused non-alignment with either the Eastern bloc or Western bloc, opting for a middle ground and avoiding being part of the cold war. It was during the cold war era. The objectives of NAM then were cooperation, neutrality and self-determination. The cold war was an ideological conflict between the Western and Eastern blocs, which began shortly after the end of World War II in 1945.  It was a conflict over which political-economic system, West’s Capitalist system or Communism of the Eastern bloc- was supreme and more beneficial to countries around the world. However, the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991 marked the end of the cold war. With the end of the cold war, where is the relevance of the Non-Aligned Movement? Where is the place of NAM, one may ask, echoing Prof. Okoro.

The answer soon emerged as the 19th summit of Heads of State and Governments of the Non-Aligned Movement officially opened on January 19, 2024 when the leaders began delivering their national statements.

NAM offers the biggest gathering of countries, second only to the United Nations. Currently, 120 nations are members of the Non-Aligned Movement with another 18 nations as observers. Most African and Asian countries belong to NAM with others from Americas and Caribbean, Pacific and even Europe.

This organisation with such a strong and extensive membership is a veritable platform to be used to galvanize support for any issue or crusade, against the backdrop of the diverse challenges facing the world, including health pandemics, threats to international peace and security, climate change, terrorism and cyberspace attacks, conflict and wars like those between Russia and Ukraine and the on going wanton killings in Palestine by Israel over Gaza. It is a platform to be engaged for its capacity to galvanise concerted action on major global issues. Such is the significance of NAM that apart from the many heads of state and governments that attended this year’s summit, it had in attendance among other global dignitaries, United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres and President of UN General Assembly, Dennis Francis.

Two summits actually held in Kampala about within same week. NAM summit ended on January 20 while the Third South Summit of the Group of 77 and China was convened from January 21 to 22. It’s a case of two conferences, similar agenda, and one venue –  Speke Resort & Convention Center, Munyonyo, Uganda, some 15 minutes drive from capital Kampala. Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu was represented at the two summits by the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu. With Vice President Kashim Shettima in Davos, Switzerland attending the World Economic Summit, Senator Bagudu was tapped to lead the Federal Government delegation. In the delegation, among others, were Dr. Lanre Adekanye, a director in the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, and this writer. Minister Bagudu is profound, focused and committed to Nigeria’s economic development. He is very strong on issues of global finance and financing mechanisms. This deep understanding of the pressing global economic issues and dynamics of world finance and politics was evident enough in the way and manner he canvassed Nigeria’s position at the two summits, no wonder his presentation at NAM summit was greeted by a thunderous applause.

The highpoint of Nigeria’s presentation at NAM summit is the demand for equitable access to capital for developing countries. President Tinubu said such would provide the much-needed resources for development, adding, however, that the developing world was not seeking sympathy or begging for aid, but fair and equal opportunity.

Quoting President Tinubu, Senator Bagudu said: “The population of the 120 countries that make up the Non-Aligned Movement is 4.63 billion, which is more than half of the world’s population, yet the total financial resources available to all the countries is much less than that of some countries.

The total budgetary resources for the 120 countries are about $3.4 trillion, which is less than the budget of the United States, and aggregate public debt of $6.6 trillion.”

These startling statistics, according to him, are a clear indication that the Non-Aligned countries suffer from a lack of access to capital and resources for development. “More often than not, public debt available to developing countries is far more expensive and not substantial enough to make an impact.”

In consonance with the theme of the summit, which is “Deepening Cooperation for Shared Global Affluence,” the Nigerian leader called for greater collaboration among member-states of NAM to be able to address the multidimensional challenges facing them including inequality in access to capital.

The theme of the summit, bore relevance with respect to the current trend of wars, proliferation of small arms and light weapons, threat of use of nuclear weapons and the dangerous polarization between developed countries similar to the era of cold war, President Tinubu pointed out.

“In this regard, we must recommit to the foundational principles of Non-Aligned Movement to better assure of global peace and security,” the minister stated on behalf of the Nigerian leader.

In the speech, President Tinubu also lent Nigeria’s voice to NAM’s Member States’ common position, condemning the present wanton destruction of lives and properties in the State of Palestine, which has assumed a critical dimension.

“Nigeria supports and reiterates call for an immediate durable and sustained humanitarian truce in that region. Many lives, including women and children, have been lost since the commencement of the crisis between the States of Israel of Palestine with so many displaced.

“The daily increase of displaced persons and shortage of humanitarian supplies due to impeded access have greatly impacted on the people, exacerbated the humanitarian catastrophe in the region and increased civilian casualties,” he added.

He urged the parties in the conflict to uphold the fundamental values of international humanitarian law, which places premium on ensuring civilians’ safety and wellbeing.

At the Third South Summit of G77 and China, President Tinubu also put the same vital issue of capital on the front burner, advocating a review of global tax system, saying redressing the imbalance in the international tax regime had become imperative.

“The current international tax systems, largely shaped by the interests of more affluent nations, often leave developing countries at a disadvantage, especially in taxing digital economies. This systemic imbalance has led to significant revenue losses, hampering our efforts towards sustainable development and economic self-reliance,” the Minister of Budget posited, quoting the President.

On the sidelines of the two summits, Senator Bagudu had bilateral talks with leaders of delegation of several countries including those of Singapore and Venezuela during which they canvassed issues of mutual interests and the need to scale up relations between these countries and Nigeria.

In all the interactions, Minister Bagudu made a strong case for the countries to come and invest in the country, saying Nigeria is open and ready for business given the business-friendly policies and actions of President Tinubu.

Nigeria employed the NAM global stage to ventilate and garner global support for the matter of equal access to capital, which is dear to President Tinubu’s heart. Indeed, for the Nigerian President, the battle to secure equitable finance for the developing world, the Global South, is gradually emerging a major crusade, a global project if you like. It’s something akin to the struggle for reparations for Africa embarked upon then by the late business mogul and winner of the annulled June 12 presidential election in Nigeria, Chief MKO Abiola. Is the struggle for equitable access to capital for all nations a valuable and laudable project? Yes, I think so!

-Rahman is a Senior Presidential Aide

Gunmen have kidnapped the deputy vice chancellor of the Abia State University, ABSU, Uturu, Prof. Godwin Emezue.

Emezue was said to have been abducted at a filling station near Amachara, in Umuahia South council area where he had gone to refill his tank, along with his wife.

Eyewitnesses told Vanguard that the gunmen numbering about three, had accosted the don at the station and dragged him into a waiting Lexus SUV jeep.

Vanguard gathered that the gunmen sped off towards the Abia- Imo border.

Police Public Relations Officer, Abia State Command, ASP Maureen Chinaka, was yet to respond to a text message and calls placed on her mobile number.

Consider this: (1) The Executive arm of the government of South Africa is in Pretoria, the capital city, while the Parliament is in Cape Town. (2) There is a physical distance of 1,453.2 kilometres between the two cities. (3) The head of the country’s Judiciary, South Africa’s Supreme Court, is in Bloemfontein, while the country’s Constitutional Court is in Johannesburg. (4) That is 369.3 kilometres between the two cities. (5) The South African President and his ministers are not anywhere near the physical location of the other two arms of government.

And South Africa is better governed today than Nigeria, where all the apparatus of state, and all its most critical institutions are within a radius of less than two kilometres in Abuja. In summary, contiguity, physical proximity and pretensions about some imaginary direct relationship between “being in the same physical space” and effective service delivery and good governance is a delusion.

A simple administrative matter from the Central bank of Nigeria (CBN) has set many mouths on fire. The logic of the needed elbow room for staff, considerations about congestion, questions about a healthy working environment, concerns about underpopulated facilities, health issues and the need for greater institutional efficiency informed the decision. But see what has been made of it? ‘Ethnic bigots will always shout’, said Lamido Sanusi in support of this development. The presidency’s explanation, that Tinubu has no plan to move the federal capital to Lagos is not taken too seriously. So, what are the real issues?

Let us note, for the record, that the CBN did not hurriedly build some new facilities, with the intention of relocating some of its departments to the new-fangles facilities No! The bank headquarters is operating from a building designed for 2,700 staff. But the building currently plays host to 4,223 workers. That is well over 30% excess human and equipment load. There are subsisting warnings by CBN facility managers, pointing to the danger of exceeding the capacity limits of such a facility and maintaining that excess luggage. That this will also have security implications, besides the question of management of the physical space, is an issue on its own.

As indicated by the bank’s Human Resources department in its memo on the matter: “The action is … to ensure compliance with safety building standards and hence the efficient utilization of our office space”. The memo pointed out that the occupancy rate “… significantly exceeds the optimal capacity of 2,700 designed for the Head Office building”.

The foregoing and more give some context to the CBN internal memo notifying staff of management’s plan to move certain departments out of Abuja, specifically to Lagos, and under staffed branches in the country. Forthwith, allegations of bigotry and plans to denude ‘the north’ rented the air and the media. The issue of congestion at the headquarters did not matter to those talking. It was simply this: Those who felt duty-bound to speak for ‘the north’ on the internal fairs of the CBN staggered out in their numbers.

Senator Ndume fired the opening salvo, with all the heat and subtle threats that should ordinarily not be put out in the public domain. He warned of dire consequences. He warned the President to remember that they, the north, had the votes and that they would deal with him, more or less, if he toyed with the north. And Ndome’s submissions rested on one questionable, assumption, namely, that the Tinubu government was executing a well-designed plan to relocate the Federal Capital. Really?

Let us ask a few questions, before delving further into the substance of the political shadowboxing now on display. Is it true that the findings of a committee set up to examine, or review, the known concerns about the CBN facility made recommendations regarding what should be done – especially taking into account some considerations from the angle of structural engineering? Is it true that all the management did was to simply implement the recommendations of the committee? Can we honestly say that the new CBN Governor simply got a brain wave and decided to move some departments of the bank to wherever it pleased him? Is it fair, or honest, for those protesting to overlook the fact that the memo in question mentioned other facilities in Abuja, as well as “under-staffed branches.”

Now listen to Senator Ndume on this matter, during his interview on Channels Television: “…they do not know how Nigeria works and will not be able to help the President when the repercussions come.” Pray what repercussions is he talking about? Is he part of some kind of coup plot? Are there any “boys” working with, or for, the president? If the answer is ‘no’, then who are the ‘Lagos boys’ Ndume believes to be misleading the president?

He also seems to know both the boys in question and their thinking very well, because he goes further thus: “Some of them think that they know better than everybody. But they don’t know anything.  When you don’t know Nigeria, you only know Lagos, then you start doing things as if Nigeria is Lagos. Lagos is in Nigeria”. Hmm, some lesson in physical geography. Or, is it the political geography about which part of the country should always have its way?

Ndume went on to point out that Tinubu did not become president because of the votes he got from Lagos. “Those misleading the President are not doing him any good because this is going to have some political consequences”, he said. Then the clincher: “If Tinubu was not elected president, the CBN governor would not be there. It was not Lagos votes that put Tinubu there”.

This is way out of line for a Senator of the Federal Republic, if his focus is national cohesion, governance efficiency and much more. Oh, was Ndume here during Buhari’s eight years on mitigated nepotism and arbitrariness? Yes, he must have been. That is probably why he sees in the action of the CBN the imprimatur of Tinubu, who is not a staff of the bank.

“We will not accept it”, Ndume says. He continues, still: “…they are not doing any favour to Mr. President, because this will have political consequences. Yes, I’m telling you this. And these guys who are just sitting down there trying to hang on to Mr. President will not be there to amend the political mistakes or even to correct it because they don’t know anybody. They only know their offices. And they only know that they have brains.” Wow! Quite some heat.

In addition to Lamido’s comments mentioned earlier, Kingsley Moghalu who was a former Deputy Governor of the bank, has endorsed the move. It would seem, given the reactions to Ndume’s comments from various quarters, that the subject of congestion and other issues did not originate with this government at all. Kingsley has made us aware that the Lagos office of the bank was inaugurated 12 years ago. He was then a Deputy Governor of the bank.

Now just think about it. This Lagos office under reference has never been fully utilised. The relocation will simultaneously address the twin problems of congestion at the headquarters and the need to pay attention to structural issues and efficient service delivery. It is right and reasonable that the departments to be moved are the ones responsible for the business and financial processes and services needed by enterprises that are predominantly based in Lagos. Hear Kingsley Moghalu on this: “I don’t see any serious basis for such disquiet…Moreover, the market entities supervised by the departments that will move to Lagos are mostly in Lagos. So, what’s the problem? Seems a rational decision to me.”

This is what Mohammed Yakasai, a retired Director of the CBN, had to say, in response to the hullabaloo: “With the massive political employments in CBN, the Head Office is over populated. Majority of those young men and women prefer to work only in Abuja and the Head Office. I am of the view that what the current management is doing is corrective and should be supported. The thought has since been that most of the important banks Headquarters are in Lagos. Those departments that are supervisory in nature should relocate for effectiveness and cost minimization.”

He takes it further, by fingering the elite abuses that keeps populating the CBN headquarters with the pampered and entitled children of the political elite. In obvious satisfaction, Yakasai said: “Those young boys that were untouchable because of their political lineage are beginning to see the rule of law re-emerging. It is not their prerogative to determine where they should work. After all, everyone signed a declaration that the bank can post you anywhere. We are beginning to see the restoration of discipline in the system. The act of the new management should not be politicized.”

It would have actually been wonderful to relocate some of the branches to nearby Kaduna, Kogi, or Nasarawa states, as Ndume would have it. But are we talking of relocating just for the heck of it? And why his conspicuous preference for only northern states. Assuming that the CBN has existing, underutilised, facilities in the places in question, and would not have to rent a facility if it choses to send some departments to the states mentioned, how about security and the ease of doing business? Will Ndume travel to any of these states without continuous palpitations of the heart, because of fear of bandits and terrorists?

The fact that the South African Supreme Court is not in the same physical location as the country’s Constitutional Court does not undermine the country’s judiciary, or its administration of justice. The fact that the South African President and his ministers are not hugging the same building and lawns with the legislative arm of government has not undermined good governance, national security, or overall national service delivery.

The fact that the CBN Governor, Yemi Cardoso, and the bank’s Deputy Governors may now be functioning outside the same physical space with some departments that used to be in Abuja does not mean anything, one way or another, in this age of technological efficiency and ICT enabled service delivery.

Relocating the Federal Capital to Lagos? How? Lets get real, please.

.... President Joe Biden, Emmanuel Macron, Fumio Kishida, Paul Kagame, Tony Elumelu, Sen. God's will Akpabio, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, Apostle Dr Ken Nwakanma and others were winners of the GAMA Awards 2024.

The Quest for the Helpless Initiative, an NGO with passion to serve the interest of humanity. This NGO has taken the quest to help the less privilege in the society very seriously and also appreciating other NGOs and individuals doing same.

The Quest NGO Global Advancement Merit Award, GAMA, was born out of the need to honour people performing humanitarian service in the world. This award cut-across all walks of life, giving awards to all those who have done meritorious service for the advancement of humanity.

This year the award happens to have an expanded version with the addition of the Presidential and governor's humanitarian service awards. The award also recognizes other personalities who have distinguished themselves in the humanitarian field of service. This year's award saw the inclusion of dignitaries worldwide who have touched lives in humanitarian service.

The awards recipients is as follows:

Presidential Humanitarian Service Award

1. Rt. Hon Fumio Kishida
Prime Minister of Japan
Asian continent

2. President Paul Kagame
Rwanda President
African continent

3. Rt. Hon Anthony Albanese
Prime Minister of Australia
Australia continent

4. Rt. Hon Christopher Luxon
Prime Minister of New Zealand
Antarctica continent

5. President Emmanuel Macron
President of France
European continent

6. President Joe Biden
US President
North American continent

7. President Nayib Bukele
El Salvador President

CONTINENTAL HUMANITARIAN SERVICE AWARD

1. Mr. Tony Elumelu
Tony Elumelu Foundation
Nigeria- Africa

2. Mr. Adam's Abdullahi Basinu
UAE- Asian

3. Yvonne Chahhoud and Michael Tonbia
Hope Charitable Foundation
Australia- Australia continent

4. Mrs. Dame Jacinda Arden
Former Prime Minister of New Zealand
New Zealand- Antarctica

5. Robert Bosch Stiftung
Robert Bosch Stiftung foundation
Germany- Europe

6. Chuks Feeney
The Atlantic Philanthropist
America- North America

7. TECHO NGO
Chile- South America

PARLIAMENTARIANS/GOVERNOR'S HUMANITARIAN SERVICE AWARD

1. Senator Godswill Akpabio
Senate President Nigeria

2. Rt. Hon Tajudeen Abbas
Speaker House of Representatives

3. Governor Sheriff Oborevwori
Delta State governor

4. His Excellency Babajide Sanwo-lu
Governor of Lagos State

5. His Excellency Yusuf Abbas
Governor of Kaduna State

6. His Excellency Abdullahi Sule
Governor Nasarawa State

7. Rt. Hon Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru
Governor of Ebonyi

8. His Excellency Babagana Zulum
Governor of Bornu State

INDIVIDUAL HUMANITARIAN SERVICE STAR AWARD

1. Honourable Festus Keyamo,SAN, FCIArb
Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development.

2. Apostle Dr. (Amb.) Ken Nwakanma

3. Mr. Victor I.
CEO Visco Communication Limited

4. Hon Jonathan Onoriode Evwierhurhoma
CEO TESCO Engineering
Former Aspirant Delta State House of Assembly

5. Mr. Andy Kor

CEO

6. Chief Kayode Ajayi Akeogun

7. Mr. Oladele Daniel Jarba

8. Mrs. Jennifer Atalakpa

9. Mrs. Titilayo Gabriel

10. Mr. Odogwu Collins

HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST OF THE YEAR

1. Comerade Ustauz Dawood

2. Mrs. Jennifer Atalakpa

A quick look from the foregoing, it is very evident, all these persons have one way or the other in humanitarian service to humanity.

The Quest for the Helpless Initiative NGO board of Trustees said, after thorough scrutiny and voting process the winners were indeed deserving. The results of the 2024 winners was announced on the 26th January, 2024. According to the Chairman of the NGO, Mr. Sunday Silver Evwierhurhoma the award was was done on merit and all the recipients have met the NGO's standard requirements and have been awarded accordingly.

He also express hope that the year 2025 GAMA Awards, more efforts will be put into it and the lapses noticed in this particular award will be corrected. He congratulated all the winners and said the NGO considers it a thing of joy to be giving the winners the awards.

The award gala night comes up in a later date yet to be announced by the board of trustees. The Quest for the Helpless Initiative NGO will communicate the date to all winners to be present to receive their awards, the Secretary said.

With the current reality, there is an urgent need for the Mr President to revisit and realign the activities of the NCCC, particularly with the requirements for Nigeria to access climate finance for adaptation to and mitigation of climate effects, as well as to benefit from the rapidly developing voluntary action, and to participate in carbon trading markets.

In the contemporary landscape, the spectre of climate change looms large, compelling me to delve into a multifaceted exploration of perspectives and urgent imperatives.

As the world grapples with the far-reaching consequences of environmental shifts, it is worthy of note that our collective choices carry a profound weight, echoing through the tangible consequences of the shifts.

The concept of climate change revolves around long-term alterations in earth’s climate patterns, primarily attributed to human activities. It encompasses global warming, shifts in weather patterns, and the increasing frequency of extreme events (disasters such as flood, drought, earthquake, and fire outbreaks).

The idea underscores the impact of greenhouse gas emissions from activities like the burning of fossil fuels and deforestation, leading to an all-time warming planet, with temperatures higher than ever experienced in human history.

Addressing climate change involves mitigating the human-induced factors, adapting to the changes already underway, and fostering sustainable practices to ensure the health and resilience of our planet, while accessing emergency funding for the loss and damage suffered from the effects of climate change.

Man as the Driver

Human activities have significantly contributed to climate change and solutions. From the Stone Age to the Bronze Age, Iron Age, to the Classical Era, which led to the Industrial Revolution of the last 300 years.

The quest for progress, fueled by mankind’s insatiable appetite for resources — water, woods, sands, gravels, stones, granite, limestones, coal, oil, gas, and iron ores — has led to a profound transformation from our evolutionary ape-man to modern civilisation.

One can applaud humanity’s achievements in fossil-fuel-driven automobiles, aviation, and maritime voyages. All these have greatly benefited modernity and productivity.

Nevertheless, the widespread use of airplanes and ships, while boosting prosperity, comes with incalculable climate change costs in the form of emissions and rising temperatures. This is why the recent ESG policy framework for any investment and financing has become mandatory globally.

In the pursuit of resource mobilisation across the planet, man-made canals such as Suez and Panama interconnected seas and oceans. The repercussions of these endeavours, coupled with oil and gas drilling, quarrying, and mining, have resulted in significant distortions to our planet earth.

As a layperson, it appears that the profound impacts on geography are unfolding in an unprecedented manner and this is why climate finance has become imperative.

A typical success story of climate financing is what is going on in modern-day China, where renewable energy, solar, and wind are becoming very dominant in their energy mix.

The burning of fossil fuels, deforestation, industrial processes, and agricultural practices release greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere, leading to phenomenal global warming.

This warming has no boundaries, and the argument that Nigeria and Africa do not do up to four per cent of the global warming does not insulate us from the effects and consequences of climate change, and that is the more reason why Nigeria must quickly have well-coordinated climate change and energy transition policies.

The effects of warming include general increases in temperature; variations in rainfall; the rise in sea levels; resulting shoreline erosion and flooding (the UN recently estimated that at least 27 NIgerian states are now increasingly at the risk of serious continuous flooding); drought and desertification (which is causing the depletion of Lake Chad and the consequent southern migration of Fulani herdsmen and insecurity); land degradation (which is making farming more difficult and affecting our food security); and significant damage to the ecologically-sensitive Niger Delta.

Also, improper waste disposal, industrial emissions, and reliance on non-renewable resources contribute to pollution, thereby impacting air, water, and soil quality. Methane is a serious issue in climate change management.

All these elements gave man its food, clothing, and shelter – which is life sustenance. The evolutionary ape man transformed these natural elements into the era of modernity, which we can attribute to the special natural gift of brain power which is higher than that of the other lower animals.

Now the BIG Questions

• How rational has man been in extracting all these materials?
• How rational have all these materials been processed?
• How rational has man been in appropriating all these materials among his various multidimensional uses and applications across the large spectrum of needs – demands and supply?

From the primal use of wood for survival to the current reliance on hydrocarbons like coal, bitumen, and petroleum, the evolution of resource utilisation is a testament to the intricacies of human ingenuity.

According to the EU’s Copernicus Climate Change Service, December 2023 set a historic milestone as the warmest December globally, capping off a year marked by record-breaking temperatures.

Each month from June to December in 2023 surpassed previous temperature records, solidifying the year as the warmest ever recorded since the beginning of climate records.

In 2023, the global average air surface temperature reached 14.98°C, surpassing the previous 2016 record by a significant margin of 0.17°C.

According to Copernicus, 2023 exhibited an average temperature of 1.48°C higher than the pre-industrial levels, marking the period before the widespread human use of fossil fuels.

This inquiry is not merely a contemplation of the past but a call to action for a sustainable and conscientious future. Nigeria’s energy transition must be articulated and must accommodate our peculiar developmental needs for the next twenty-five years, because while fossil fuels are globally transiting away, yet Nigeria needs fossil resources to earn revenue for its urgent developmental requirement.

This highlights the concerning trend of escalating global temperatures and underscores the imperative of concerted efforts to address and mitigate the impacts of climate change.

The induced production of carbon and methane impacts air quality, and the rise in surface temperatures crystalises the narrative of intense resource exploitation from our activities on the planet earth.

The Elements

Water: Potable water, essential for survival, intertwines with activities like fishing, irrigation, river roads, and seas. Water is a lifeline for the global populations, regardless of their size.

As the global population hovers between seven and eight billion, the demand for potable water is intensifying. The River Nile water conflicts are escalating, and proliferation of boreholes worldwide for water extraction and agricultural irrigation. The impending consequences prompt us to question the rationale and optimisation of water resources across the spectrum: Must every household have a borehole?

Can’t neighbourhoods and communities have just one giant borehole for their use through reticulations?

Many related issues, such as the power generation system, must be rationalised, with optimisation employed to save our environment. The ecosystems of our national lives must be rationalised and holistically reviewed to comply with the new normal of green lifestyles.

These are serious and fundamental issues that will require the National Council on Climate Change, with the approval of Mr President, to revisit the energy transition policy and all the critical stakeholders for effective climate financing governance.

Land: A foundational support carrying all organic and inorganic elements, land plays a pivotal role in agriculture, housing, and mining activities — both on the surface and subsurface.

To what extent does mankind abuse the use of land in Nigeria, particularly whether in agricultural practice, urbanisation, or mining? The NCCC, as may be approved by Mr President, must revisit our land use and mining activities.

Hydrocarbons: From the early use of coal to the pervasive application of bitumen and petroleum, hydrocarbons have taken centre stage in modernity, permeating various aspects of human life.

As we reflect on the journey from evolutionary dependence on nature to the current anthropogenic era, the overarching question persists: To what extent have we exercised rationality in managing, extracting, processing, and appropriating these resources, recognising our responsibility as stewards of the earth?

This inquiry is not merely a contemplation of the past but a call to action for a sustainable and conscientious future. Nigeria’s energy transition must be articulated and must accommodate our peculiar developmental needs for the next twenty-five years, because while fossil fuels are globally transiting away, yet Nigeria needs fossil resources to earn revenue for its urgent developmental requirement.

It is a delicate policy that Mr President and the NCCC must deliberately pursue.

Solar: In the 19th century, the pillars of industry relied on coal, limestone, steel, and cement, as well as the advent of oil and gas. However, the 21st century has witnessed a transformative shift towards renewable energy sources, particularly solar and wind power.

Solar energy, in particular, has emerged as a sustainable alternative, prompting humanity to reconsider and reduce dependence on traditional, environmentally impactful sources.

This transition reflects a growing awareness of the need to harness cleaner energy options and minimise the exploitation of non-renewable resources.

Even farming and agricultural practices are fast transforming to smart agriculture with minimal use of fossil-driven apparatus.

The urgent call to action for Nigeria and the government of President Bola Tinubu

Fortunately, Nigeria is well placed to drive forward a dynamic and home-grown climate action agenda. The passage of the Climate Change Act 2021 paved the way for the creation of the National Council on Climate Change (NCCC), which reports directly to Mr President, with the mandate to act as a clearing house and convening platform for climate action initiatives within and across government. It is important to distinguish NCCC’s convening role from the still critically important operational role of the Ministry of Environment, which sits as a key member of the Council.

With the current reality, there is an urgent need for the Mr President to revisit and realign the activities of the NCCC, particularly with the requirements for Nigeria to access climate finance for adaptation to and mitigation of climate effects, as well as to benefit from the rapidly developing voluntary action, and to participate in carbon trading markets.

A big lesson from COP28 was that we need to accelerate action and take more deliberate steps to ensure greater coordination of activities, both in and between the public and private sectors. Also flowing from COP28 sessions, Mr President will need to reconstitute the NCCC and infuse new vibrance into the Council. It is important that all the critical stakeholders are co-ordinated and appropriate working groups are created around and within the Council.

His Excellency has already taken bold steps to accelerate the potential to access greater flows of climate finance through the recent creation of the Carbon Market Committee, ably led by Zach Adediji, the executive chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS). The NCCC provides a platform to ensure coordination with the Ministry of Finance.

In navigating Nigeria’s energy transition, a critical reassessment of existing policies is imperative, including a revision of the Energy Transition Plan promoted by the former Vice president, especially given the given the complex interplay of forces advocating for and against the phasing-out of fossil fuels in the new administration.

For example, the National Energy Commission is expected to play a significant role in the energy transmission policy. Given the new ministerial portfolios, the ministers, sitting as members of the Council, need to be re-designated. The Council already has provision for representatives from the organised private sector representatives, civil society, and all the state and local governments, and these representatives need to be appointed immediately. Also provided for is a role for the National Security Adviser in the NCCC, underscoring the potential role of climate change in worsening conditions that could increase conflict risks, such as poverty and food insecurity.

The past missed opportunities by Nigeria to access the Loss and Damages Fund can still be regained. Our position for the ability to access climate financing can be strengthened, while the building of technical capacity for the NCCC is urgently required if we are to catch up with countries like the UAE and Saudi Arabia. The establishment of the Climate Fund, as the repository of such funding, as well as other flows of climate finance, is a critical function of the NCCC under the Climate Change Act, and we must move quickly, working closely with the Ministry of Finance, to accelerate progress on this.

To expedite decarbonisation and achieve swift progress on carbon credit, it is crucial for Mr President to actively request monthly updates. This approach will ensure proper coordination and effective monitoring of the activities surrounding climate change issues in Nigeria.

In navigating Nigeria’s energy transition, a critical reassessment of existing policies is imperative, including a revision of the Energy Transition Plan promoted by the former Vice president, especially given the given the complex interplay of forces advocating for and against the phasing-out of fossil fuels in the new administration.

The National Energy Commission is also expected to play a significant role in the energy transition policy.

The nation stands at a pivotal juncture, carefully balancing the complex interplay of forces advocating for and against the phasing-out of fossil fuels; the need for continued oil and gas exploration against market constraints for petroleum products; and the delicate equilibrium between decarbonisation targets and credits,  which is essentially a debit and credit game. A revised plan must consider also the time-sensitive nature of attracting investments in both conventional and renewable energy sources, particularly solar, which necessitates meticulous oversight by the NCCC.

While acknowledging the significance of oil and gas as essential resources for economic growth, and the feeding of our sizable population, we must also recognise agriculture’s potential, albeit requiring substantial mechanisation.

Optimising power generation entails a strategic shift towards hydro, gas, and solar options, with the proposal of a 6,000 MW nuclear power base load to be constructed by the Chinese, as may be approved by the President.

This minimum nuclear power supply base for Nigeria, when added to our current 4,000MW per day, will give Nigeria a minimum of 10,000MW every day, and that can propel our GDP growth to two digits.

This choice becomes imperative for Nigeria to overcome its energy deficit and alleviate poverty. Careful consideration and progressive adjustments over the next two to three years will be essential in achieving a balanced and sustainable energy landscape.

In maintaining a delicate balance with fossil fuels, it’s crucial to consider transitioning fuels such as LPG (Liquified Petroleum Gas) and CNG (Compressed Natural Gas). While these alternatives offer cleaner options, their production is energy-intensive and carbon-laden. Nigeria currently requires about five million tonnes of LPG to replace traditional cooking methods involving firewood, charcoal, and kerosene.

One of the working groups of the NCCC could  be made to deliberately drive this LPG/CNG deployment, as was done in Indonesia 11 to 12 years ago.

Nigeria currently faces mounting pressure from the encroaching Sahara Desert, demanding immediate attention from the Ministry of Environment.

In the short term, a collaborative effort between the Ministry of Environment and the Sahelian states can swiftly implement the strategic planting of special desert trees. Such tree-planting campaigns must be supported with irrigation systems.

This proactive measure holds the potential to generate positive carbon credit footprints in Nigeria.

Concurrently, urbanisation and housing strategies must undergo rationalisation, adhering to set standards by various government agencies to ensure climate change compliances are captured in design and building.

These are just a few examples of the issues that need to be co-ordinated and become part of a holistic climate action plan. There are many other initiatives, including in transport and industry, that require accelerated development.

To expedite decarbonisation and achieve swift carbon credit progress, it is crucial for Mr President to actively request monthly updates from the NCCC on progress with these initiatives. This approach ensures proper coordination and effective monitoring of the activities surrounding climate change issues in Nigeria.

My submissions as articulated above are to guide Mr President Tinubu appropriately and to draw the attention of all the critical stakeholders to the urgent need for reorganising the NCCC and engaging in capacity building, as well as proper alignment with the Ministry of Environment, Finance, the National Energy Commission, the Federal inland Revenue Service, etc and others.

I share this reflection as a private citizen who had the privilege of attending COP28. I intend to ensure that the essence of the conference isn’t lost amidst the day-to-day dynamics of governance in this administration.

Dan D Kunle writes from Abuja, Nigeria.

Nigeria and Cameroon will renew their Africa Cup of Nations rivalry in a round of 16 clash of the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations at the Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium on Saturday (today) in Ivory Coast, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.

The Eagles finished second behind Equatorial Guinea in Group A, while Rigobert Song’s men relied on a late 3-2 comeback win against The Gambia to progress behind Senegal in Group C.

The Eagles will be aiming to avoiding another round of 16 AFCON exit as they were dumped out at this stage by Tunisia at the last edition in Cameroon.

And in a bid to reach his first ever AFCON quarter-final, Jose Peseiro has hinted that he will maintain the 3-4-3 formation that saw his team edge past both AFCON hosts Ivory Coast and Guinea Bissau by the odd goal.

This system evolves to five defenders (three centre backs and two full backs) when the team are defending to the frustration of the other team.

Peseiro is also expected to keep faith with mostly the same players who have got the team to this stage of the competition. This means means that the trio William Troost-Ekong – if fit, Alex Iwobi and Ademola Lookman are expected to be recalled to the starting line-up for the encounter.

Speaking ahead of the game, Peseiro revealed that he won’t be changing his team against the Indomitable Lions.

“At least one goal, we’ll attack well and defend together, you do that and we win,” Peseiro said.

“I have studied many of the matches between both teams but tomorrow (today) our objective is to win the match.

“I will try to stick with what I have been doing and hope our players start scoring more goals soon. The statistics say we are the team with the most goalscoring opportunities, and for that I cannot change my team or formation.”

Peseiro’s side has struggled for goals at tournament, netting three times despite heading into the knockout stage as the competition’s top creators, fashioning more clear-cut chances (13) than the other 23 sides.

The Nigerian Football Federation Technical Director, Austin Eguavoen, who was on-field captain for the squad that won the 1994 AFCON in Tunisia, believes that the Eagles can soar over the Indomitable Lions if they play with flair and flexibility.

“Cameroon will always come with determination and grit,”Eguavoen said.

“The Eagles have to be even more prepared for them and deploy the greater flair and flexibility that we have.”

Meanwhile, Cameroon’s head coach, Rigobert Song, has revealed that he is aware of the threat Nigeria poses to his team’s chances of reaching the quarter-final and was swift to add that a comprehensive strategy is in place to curtail the fearsome attack of the Eagles led by Victor Osimhen.

Song, converted the decisive penalty in a shoot-out at the 2000 AFCON final in Nigeria after extra time scores were level at 2-2.

The former Liverpool, West Ham United and Galatasaray player acknowledged Osimhen’s prowess, hailing him as a “wonderful striker”.

However, he swiftly shifted the narrative, emphasising that the concentration of his team is not singularly on Osimhen but extends to the entire Nigerian squad.

“We have strong respect for Nigeria because they’re a very good side. “But we have our plans in place on how to approach this game.

“We respect him (Osimhen). He’s a wonderful striker. But our concentration is not just on him. It is on the entire team. We know what we need to do, and our strategy is in place. We know that our main focus is for Nigeria. They are a strong team. We are doing everything because we are here to win.”

With reports pointing to the return of Vincent Aboubakar from injury, Cameroon could be tempted to play the centre-forward from the start against the Eagles.

A New York City jury awarded $83.3m to E Jean Carroll in her defamation trial against Donald Trump on Friday.

Carroll will receive $18.3m in compensatory damages and $65m in punitive retribution. The former president is paying Carroll compensatory damages of $18.3m – $11m to fund a reputational repair campaign. The $7.3m is for the emotional harm caused by Trump’s 2019 public statements. Carroll and her legal team were beaming as they left court in a black SUV. They did not answer questions immediately after court let out.

Moments after the decision was announced, Trump decried it as “absolutely ridiculous” on Truth Social, and said he would be filing an appeal.

“I fully disagree with both verdicts, and will be appealing this whole Biden Directed Witch Hunt focused on me and the Republican Party,” Trump wrote. “Our Legal System is out of control, and being used as a Political Weapon. They have taken away all First Amendment Rights. THIS IS NOT AMERICA!”

The Manhattan federal court decision comes less than one year after Carroll won $5m in her sexual abuse and defamation trial against Trump.

This sum stems from Carroll’s rape claim against the president in a June 2019 New York magazine article. The publication ran an excerpt of her then-forthcoming book, What Do We Need Men For? A Modest Proposal.

In that excerpt, Carroll said that Trump raped her inside the dressing room of a luxe Manhattan department store around early 1996. The tenor of Trump’s denials – saying, for example, that she lied and was a political operative – became the subject of her 2019 defamation suit against him.

At the time, Carroll could not sue Trump over the alleged assault, as it would have taken place outside the civil statute of limitations. A novel New York state law in 2022, the Adult Survivors Act, opened a one-year window for adult accusers to file suit for incidents outside the civil statute of limitations.

Carroll filed another lawsuit, this one over the incident and defamatory statements after Trump’s presidency ended. This lawsuit proceeded to trial first and the judge in both cases, Lewis Kaplan, determined jurors’ findings – that Trump sexually abused Carroll and tarnished her reputation – would be accepted as fact in this trial.

As a result, Trump could not re-litigate her sexual abuse claim. The jurors were tasked only with weighing financial penalties for damaging Carroll’s reputation – and the sum required to keep Trump from making still more defamatory statements.

“I’m here because Donald Trump assaulted me, and when I wrote about it, he said it never happened,” Carroll said on the stand. “He lied, and it shattered my reputation. I expected him to deny it, but to say it was consensual, when it was not. But that’s what I expected him to say.”

She continued: “The thing that really got me about this was, from the White House, he asked if anyone had any information about me, and if they did, to please come forward as soon as possible, because he wanted the world to know what’s really going on – and that people like me should pay dearly.”

Trump did not attend Carroll’s first trial but made appearances at the second – marking the first time she confronted him publicly in a courtroom. Trump’s comportment during the courtroom showdowns was in keeping with his infamously bombastic behavior, prompting warnings from the judge.

“Mr Trump has the right to be present here. That right can be forfeited, and it can be forfeited if he is disruptive, which is what has been reported to me, and if he disregards court orders,” Kaplan warned.

“Mr Trump, I hope I don’t have to consider excluding you from the trial … I understand you are probably very eager for me to do that.”

“I would love it, I would love it,” Trump retorted with a gesture.

“I know you would, you just can’t control yourself in this circumstance, apparently,” Kaplan said.

The end stages of this trial were also marked by another hallmark of Trump’s legacy: Covid-related chaos. On 22 January, trial proceedings were postponed as one juror experienced coronavirus symptoms; his leading attorney, Alina Habba, also told judge Kaplan that she felt unwell and had been exposed to Covid.

Trump did take the stand on 25 January. Kaplan restricted the scope of her questions and his responses, as per his prior ruling that he could not re-litigate her claims.

Habba was allowed to ask: “Do you stand by your testimony in the deposition?”

“One hundred percent, yes,” he said, referring to the deposition in which he denied her claims.

“Did you deny the allegation because Ms Carroll made an accusation?”

“That’s exactly right. She said something, I consider it a false accusation. No difference,” Trump retorted. This sparked an objection from Carroll’s camp. Kaplan said that everything after “yes, I did” was stricken.

“Did you ever instruct anyone to hurt Ms Carroll in your statements?”

“No. I just wanted to defend myself, my family, and frankly, the presidency,” Trump said. Carroll’s team objected again. Kaplan deemed that everything after “no” be stricken, so jurors were ordered to disregard this statement.

In total, Trump’s direct and cross testimony lasted about two or three minutes.