The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

Wanted: Urban city master plan to address poverty, slums in Lagos

Lagos is Nigeria’s most populous city with a growth rate of about 11 per cent yearly, three times that of the country. The state occupies about 3,577km2 with about 787km2 or 22 per cent covered by the lagoon and other water bodies. Metropolitan Lagos is classified as the world’s fastest-growing city with a population of about 22 million. The United Nations projects that Lagos will likely be the third most populated city by 2030, with a projected population of about 30 million. OKWY IROEGBU-CHIKEZIE writes on the need for the state to have a viable urban development policy to tackle its challenges.

The main objectives of the proposed Lagos State Urban Development Policy are to prepare and reposition the state for development.

The Lagos urban space is suffering many challenges such as deterioration of quality of life, and inadequate basic facilities.

Others are the prevalence of poverty, proliferation of slums, unemployment, seasonal flooding, and increased crime.

Experts said sustainable development could not be achieved without a pragmatic, conscious and significant transformation of cities.

These gave impetus to a viable Urban Development Policy to tackle the urban challenges.

The Nation learnt that the objectives of the proposed Lagos State Urban Development Policy are in tandem with the development goals and THEMES Agenda of the administration.

In July 2021, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu approved the preparation of the Lagos State Urban Development Policy with a 30-year timeline.

At the agenda-setting workshop, for presentation of the Lagos State Urban Development Policy (LSUDP) 2023-2053 (30 years), held recently, the Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Mr. Tayo Bamgbose-Martins, said when in place, the policy would set agenda not only for Lagos, but also the country.

Bamgbose-Martins said the urban development policy would complement other initiatives of the administration to revamp the physical planning sector and birth a 21st Century Lagos economy.

He added that the policy would set the right tone for the development of the state, taking cognisance of planning indexes.

“Through this workshop, experts in the various fields are expected to give critical input to enrich the final outcome that we all can own.”

Former President, Nigeria Institute of Town Planners (NITP), Toyin Ayinde, called for a larger stakeholders’ involvement because of the cultural peculiarity of Nigerians who remained individualistic in land allocations, designs and layouts, resulting in scattered, discordant constructions. He canvassed a process that would produce an enduring policy, comparable to what obtained in other climes.

Others, who spoke at the event, were the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, Oluwole Sotire, an engineer; the Chairman, NITP, Lagos State, Tayo Awomosu, and National Chairman, Women in Town Planning, Riskat Bello.

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Transportation, Gbolahan Toriola, an engineer; the General Manager, Lagos State Urban Renewal Agency, Ms. Ajibike Shomade; the General Manager, Lagos State Building Control Agency, Gbolahan Oki, and the General Manager, Lagos State Planning and Environmental Monitoring Authority, Daisi Oso were also there.

Earlier, the Chairman, Technical Committee on the Preparation of the Lagos State Urban Development Policy, Adekunle Salami, said preparing the urban development blueprint for the state began in July 2021, with the approval of Sanwo-Olu.

“We have since covered many grounds, including the review of the United Nations Habitat’s concept note on the Lagos State Urban Development Policy, stakeholders engagement and advocacy, baseline assessment visits and requests for memoranda as well as the review of same, among others,” he said.

“The Lagos State Urban Development Policy, when fully in place, will complement other notable initiatives of this administration to revamp the physical planning sector in Lagos State and birth a 21st Century Lagos economy.”

He said the urban policy would help to determine what to expect from a master plan for effective space distribution and management.

He said: “Only 22 memoranda received by the Ministry of Physical Planning and Development were not good enough and expressed hope for more submissions.”

Salami gave the background of the project, saying the process started in 2021. He called for collaboration towards achieving the blueprint that would give direction for the next 30 years.

Project Director, Arctic Infrastructure, contractors on the project, Mr. Lookman Oshodi, said the policy was late in coming.

Oshodi said 75 per cent of the Lagos city settlement was within the informal setting with only 25 per cent capturing the formal sector, hence, the need for inclusiveness in planning.

He added that a simple and realistic policy was important for effective implementation.

According to him, the vision of the Lagos Urban Development Policy is to ensure sound legal foundation, capable institutions and financial instruments to design and build a sustainable as well as a resilient participatory and inclusive Lagos.

May 19, 2023
Union to Buhari: don’t sign NYSC Trust Fund Bill

The Association of Telecommunications. Information Technology, Cable Satellite Network Operators and Allied Services Employers of Nigeria (ATICEN) has called on President Muhammadu Buhari not to sign the NYSC Trust Fund Bill.

According to the union, the bill would further put more financial burden on the employers in the telecoms industry and organised private sector.

In a statement, the union’s President, Comrade Adede John Williams, said the NYSC Trust Fund should be added to the Tertiary Education Trust Fund to enable more people benefit from it.

He said: “Consequently, it is important to understand that the provision of Section 4 (1) (a) and (b) of the bill requiring companies to contribute a levy of one per cent of their net profits before tax to the Fund is a welcome development. However, it is going to be too much for the telecoms industry and ICT sub-sector. Considering that there are other taxes.

“We are using this opportunity to further call on the NYSC Board to re-route the bill to the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (Tetfund), because it is large enough to accommodate the initiative that the NYSC Trust Fund has in stock for the Nigeria Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members.

“The proposed Fund aims to provide sustainable funding for the monthly allowances of Corps members, skill acquisition, training, and empowerment of NYSC personnel, development of orientation camps, and such other purposes connected with the attainment of the objectives of the bill.’’

To the makers, the association advised: “We equally call on the two chambers of the National Assembly to look inward when passing bills that have to do with Trust Funds because it’s the employers that suffer the brunt.’’

May 19, 2023
How oil and gas sector can develop, by PENGASSAN
- Association re-elects Osifo as president
- He doubles as TUC chief
Comrade Festus Osifo has been re-elected as the President of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN).

He will also double as the President of the Trade Union Congress (TUC).

Also elected alongside Osifo to constitute a new Central Working Committee (CWC) for the next three years are Kabiru Dan Azumi, former national treasurer. He is the new deputy president. He replaced Owan Abua.

Dauda, the immediate past chairman of the Kaduna zone, was elected as the financial secretary, and Kingsley Udoidua, national public relations officer. He replaced Anietie Udoh.

Also elected is Ada Mbaneso Maryann, who is the chairperson of PENGASSAN Women’s Commission and Chidinma Anyanwu as Secretary.

Charles Ogbowu retained his position as National Auditor (I) while Ese Okusi is the new National Auditor II. David Owan defeated Leroy Musa to emerge the National Treasurer, and Dr. Eze Ifeanyi was elected as the National Industrial Relations Officer after defeating Innocent Ugwunta, former Port Harcourt Zone secretary.

The new national officers were sworn in by Lumumba Okugbawa, General Secretary, PENGASSAN, who served as the returning officer. The Registrar of Trade Unions supervised the election.

Osifo, in his acceptance speech, commended the association’s members for conducting one of the most peaceful union elections.

He said: “This is a testimony of the good programmes and policies of the past three years.”

To the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), the incoming government should ensure more development of the oil and gas sector.

The union called for the adoption of the Nigeria Liquified Natural Gas (NLNG) model for running the nation’s four refineries to boost adequate product supply.

PENGASSAN President, Comrade Festus Osifo stated this at the association’s Seventh Triennial Delegate Conference in Abuja.

Osifo advised the Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s incoming government to consult widely and fast-track the implementation of the the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).

Osifo noted that the development of the midstream sector should be on the top burner of the new government’s agenda.

This, he said, would lead to the provision of gas infrastructure that would, in turn, aid gas development and help in harnessing the mineral’s vast reserves.

He warned against the slow implementation of the PIA.

He added: “The Host Community Development Trust Funds should be constituted immediately.’’

He expressed happiness with the rehabilitation of the refineries, especially the Port Harcourt Refinery.

Osifo said following the NLNG model and with an enabling environment, which led to the establishment of more modular refineries, Nigeria could solve the problem of inadequate product supply.

He noted that the adoption of the model would end the reliance on imported petroleum products.

Osifo recalled that in the last two decades, the nation’s four refineries in Port Harcourt, Warri, and Kaduna have been comatose.

“This has spurred calls from many quarters, including members of the organised private sector, on the government to sell them.

“But, we are of the strong view that the four refineries can be made to work and reach their installed capacity if the NLNG model were adopted, with the government holding 49 per cent equity and 51 per cent owned by private investors, who will run the affairs of the refineries.

“We commend the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) management led by Mallam Mele Kyari for the steps he took to bring back the ailing refineries and efforts being put in place for the maintenance that may eventually bring about the desired change in the refineries.

“But, we will continue to advocate the adoption of the NLNG model in the running of the nation’s refineries when fully revamped.

“With the Dangote Refinery coming on board, there will be a significant impact on the fuel supply dynamics, including easing pressure on the economy, especially when combined with the ongoing revamping of the three refineries (those in Port Harcourt and Warri),” he said.

Osifo noted that the economy faced many challenges such as structural imbalance, corruption, weak human capital development, inequality, security challenges and excessive dependence on oil revenue.

“We have talked a lot about diversification of the economy and this is the time for implementation.

“The truth is that the revenue from the oil and gas sector can no longer sustain us as a nation and this is the most auspicious time to walk our talk.

“We commend the ongoing efforts of the government in the agriculture sector and expect the tempo to be sustained in the entire value chain.

“The efforts should be replicated in areas like solid minerals, tourism, and technology, among others.

“Efforts must be made by the incoming administration to address multiple exchange rates as the arbitrage created is negatively affecting the economy.”
May 19, 2023
NECA flays govt’s fiscal policies
- Says heavy taxes will kill private sector
The Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) has expressed concerns over the new Fiscal Policy Measures (FPM) and Tariff Amendment for 2023, scheduled to take effect from next month.

Its Director-General, Adewale-Smart Oyerinde, noted that the circular by the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning Zainab Ahmed, introducing the FPM and Tax Amendment, with increases ranging from 20-100 percent on previously approved rates for alcoholic beverages, tobacco, wines and spirits was not only worrisome, but also a landmine for businesses in the sector.

Oyerinde faulted the introduction of Green Tax, a 10 per cent excise duty on single use plastics, including plastic containers, films and bags and telecoms tax of five per cent.

He said: “While the government’s new fiscal policy measures would largely affect manufacturers, it also has the potential to disrupt the Organised Private Sector’s (OPS) value-chain, with consequential effects on Nigerians.”

“While we understand the revenue challenges faced by the government, its proposed increases will spike the cost of production and reduce the competitiveness of manufacturers in both local and international markets. With recent reports of unemployment rate hovering at over 40 per cent, the economy will be further hard-pressed to withstand the likely loss of jobs that will follow these increases.”

Oyerinde lamented that with over 60 taxes and levies being paid by organised businesses and about 20 bills pending at the National Assembly with financial implications for businesses, the best that the government could do was not to over-burden the sector or cause the relocation of many more to other climes.

“The FMP, as proposed, will neither promote economic growth nor achieve the long-term revenue projection of government.”

He called on the Federal Government to suspend the implementation of the fiscal policy.

“The government should, as a matter urgency and national importance, suspend the implementation of the Fiscal Policy Measure and Tariff Amendment and revert to the 2022 Fiscal Policy Measure roadmap, built to expire in 2024, while extensive consultation with organised businesses is stepped up.”

NECA also expressed concerns at the policy inconsistencies of recent years, which, he said, are responsible for the continued slump of Foreign Direct Investment to Nigeria as the country recorded only $1.06 billion in capital import in the fourth quarter (Q4) of 2022. This brought total capital importation for the 2022 fiscal year to $5.33 billion, the lowest since 2017.

“A major factor is the government’s seeming policy inconsistencies, which makes planning difficult. Beyond these consequences, the proposed increases, if implemented could aggravate smuggling, stifle growth of businesses in the sector, promote the production of fake products, reduce the purchasing power of Nigerians and, ultimately, reduce the government’s projected revenue across board,” he said.
May 19, 2023
Electrifying chase
- Nigerians await Guinness World Records’s review as Hilda Baci sets new record in marathon cooking
Not surprisingly, 26-year-old Hilda Effiong Bassey, popularly known as Hilda Baci, grabbed the headlines as she cooked continuously for over four days in pursuit of a world record.

Following her attention-grabbing performance from May 11 to May 15, the Guinness World Records (GWR) team, in a statement, said the Nigerian chef “began cooking on Thursday and continued through to Monday, reportedly whipping up 55 recipes and more than 100 meals in a whopping 100-hour stint.” Her goal, they said, was to “snap up the record title for the longest cooking marathon (individual) which currently belongs to Lata Tondon (India) with a time of 87 hrs. 45 min.” This record was set in 2019.

Hilda’s ‘cook-a-thon’ is over, but its electrifying effect lingers. The turnout at the venue, Amore Gardens in Lekki, Lagos, exceeded her team’s projection. By the second day, “the number of physical attendees reached over 8,000,” and “the online audience had surpassed one million,” according to the project lead. Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu was at the venue, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo phoned her, President Muhammadu Buhari and President-elect Bola Ahmed Tinubu praised her, and a number of celebrities associated themselves with the project. These were testimonies to the public interest the cook-a-thon generated in the country.

The British reference body said its officials “look forward to reviewing the evidence and hope to be able to verify Hilda’s efforts as a new record very soon.” It is unclear how long this will take. Notably, it was reported that Hilda’s team did not invite certified officials from GWR, which could have helped to speed up the verification.

The cooking marathon was a different experience for the Akwa Ibom State native and owner of ‘My Food by Hilda’ restaurant, who in August 2021 won the ‘Jollof Faceoff’ competition. She has a degree in Sociology from Madonna University, Okija, Anambra State.

She cooked round the clock in a transparent, open kitchen, and had a 5-minute rest per hour. Reports said she got a 30-minute break every 6 hours, which she spent in a medical van close by, within which she could take a nap, use the restroom, and also get a medical assessment or checkup by the medical team available on the spot.

There are other sides to her, actress, TV presenter, and talk show host; but she said in an interview, “I have been crazy about cooking.” In the interview published in March, she explained what led to the idea to set a cooking marathon record: “I used to be obsessed with watching the Guinness Book of Records on TV and YouTube… About five years ago, I said to my brother that I had not seen anyone doing the longest cooking marathon. It was always the biggest pizza, the largest this and that. So, I imagined someone cooking for a really long time, and my brother said that it was a really good idea… I now inquired about it to know if a record like that was existing.

“At the time, the current record holder just hit that record. I think that I kind of forgot it for a while. But, then somehow, I didn’t stop thinking about it. It was on my mind; it was something that I really wanted to do. I told my friends and family members, and here we are.”

Her story is a mix of passion, imagination, craft, creativity, determination and self-belief. The event was not only a food festival but also a celebration of positives.

It is noteworthy that the National Orientation Agency (NOA) said her record chasing performance “shows that there is dignity in labour and that everyone can do well in his or her endeavour.”

GWR is expected to confirm her record as official, and list it among world records of human achievements. That will underscore the significance of the record attempt.
May 19, 2023
Biden and his pathway to citizenship

He made the promise with all sense of responsibility. And it won him fans.

Joe Biden. That is the man of promise who made promises; promises of a better tomorrow on his journey to becoming the oldest man to lead America, the country my dear Nigeria is said to have patterned its democracy after once it dumped the bequeathed parliamentary system.

In a pouch in the hefty bag of promises Biden was laden with was a plan to create a pathway to citizenship for illegal immigrants in God’s own country.

“Joe Biden will work with Congress to pass legislation that creates a roadmap to citizenship for the nearly 11 million people who have been living in and strengthening our country for years,” his campaign promised.

The immigration challenge is a long-standing one which Biden looked “forward to working with leaders in the House and Senate to address”.

Now, the possibility of this promise ever being fulfilled is endangered. This is sad news for immigrants who lapped his words and looked forward to the day they will receive their passports and citizenship certificates.

While making the promise, Biden banked on the support of the legislature, whose composition he was not sure of at the time. Republicans now control the House of Representatives.

The president of a democratic nation in America’s mold cannot get any major reform, especially on immigration, security and others, done without majority of the members of the House of Representatives and Senate backing him. The president is as good as the support he has in the Congress. The little Biden has been able to accomplish via the Executive Order route is to stop the forceful removal of anyone who had been in the U.S. before he ascended power. As good as that is, the icing on the cake, which the affected migrants are waiting for, is the now elusive pathway to citizenship. They were excited that the illegal in their status would be removed. Now, Biden has started the race for a second term and there is no sign he will get the backing to fulfill this campaign promise. Will he renew the promise during this round of campaign?

It is not for want of trying that he has not been able to put smiles on the faces of the affected. He has tried. On his first day in office, he proposed the U.S. Citizenship Act 2021. This was to provide a citizenship path for farmworkers and immigrants who came to the U.S. illegally as children, and for beneficiaries of Temporary Protected Status. Democrats in the House of Representatives introduced the bill in February 2021, but it was stillbirth. Democrats in the Senate tried to get it passed as a budgetary bill because bills of this nature do not require a 60-vote majority. They were optimistic of getting it into the fiscal year 2022 spending bill. The majority didn’t allow them to include it in the budget reconciliation process. They tried two more times, but immigration reform didn’t make it into the bill. So, when the president assented to the bill, it was with mixed feelings.

Last November’s midterm election appeared to open another window to try again. Once the elections were over, Senators John Cornyn, a Republican from Texas, and Kyrsten Sinema, an Independent from Arizona, introduced an immigration bill that was to play a dual role: strengthen border security and provide a path to citizenship for some immigrants. Sadly, it didn’t get to the Senate floor. It remains a proposal, as useless as the paper it is typed on. The two senators this January said they would push the bill again, but hardly can anything come out of it because Democrats no longer control the House section of the Congress. Republicans want illegal immigrants to face fire. Democrats want paths to citizenship for them. With the two working at cross purpose, nothing can be achieved. Each is holding on to their rigid position. Compromise is the victim.

Negotiations have to be done to get the needed concessions. Without this, neither of the parties can get enough votes to either get the immigrants out or give them citizenship. So, illegal immigrants will continue to find ingenious ways of beating the system.

If Biden has had his way with the U.S. Citizenship Act 2021, some farmworkers, immigrants who arrived the U.S. illegally when they were kids and beneficiaries of a Temporary Protected Status designation would have been offered an expedited three-year path to citizenship. Beneficiaries would have included spouses and minor children of the eligible immigrants. About 3.3 million people, according to the Migration Policy Institute, are qualified for this. The second leg of the plan was aimed at immigrants without legal authorisation to be in the country. An eight-year path to citizenship was provided for them on the condition that they must pay taxes and have clean background checks.

My final take: Democracy is miles apart from military dictatorship where one man can decree things into existence in the twinkling of an eye. In a democracy, the legislature can make or mar the executive arm of government. It can make it fail spectacularly. It can make it succeed beyond imagination. So, the executive arm of government needs to consider the make-or-mar powers of the legislature before raising the people’s hope with promises of a glorious tomorrow.

May 19, 2023
Bountiful Agbado season is upon us
- By Fredrick Nwabufo
The time is ripe; the hour is nigh, when a new government takes the saddle – the government of President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. It comes bearing good tidings and a message of Renewed Hope. It comes on the wings of the stork betokening blue skies, luscious green and a clam of the deep.

What an auspicious time. What a profitable season. Agbado is here, and Agbado is here. Yes, it is the season of one of Nigeria’s staples – corn. It is also the season for a New Nigeria.

What is it about ‘Agbado’ that is taking over the faddism?

When President-elect Tinubu said Nigerians would not have to import food because ‘Agbado’, cassava, ‘Ewa’, and ‘Garri’ are produced locally, I believe he did not expect his candid and brilliant intervention on food sufficiency for Nigeria to be the fodder for uppity memes.

To everyday Nigerians ‘Agbado’ is a staple food which they live on, but to the stuck-up class, ‘Agbado’ is not sexy; they would rather like to have conversations on pizza, burger, lasagne, and all other synthetic foreign junk.

In a country where people struggle to feed, it is a show of synoptic ignorance to mock Agbado, cassava, ewa and dodo. These are Nigerian staples. In policymaking, addressing hunger is pivotal. Governments have fallen over scarcity and high cost of bread. Foodology is at the nucleus of existence.

Over the years, Nigerian governments have designed different policies to ensure food security for the country. In fact, agriculture has been a centrepiece of Nigeria’s policy thrust since the 1960s. The country’s agriculture blueprint includes policies foregrounded in surplus extraction and export adaptation in 1963; the National Accelerated Food Production Programme (NAAP) in 1972 by the General Yakubu Gowon-led government; Operation Feed the Nation in 1976 by General Olusegun Obasanjo’s government; a Green Revolution in 1980 by the Shehu Shagari administration; Goodluck Jonathan’s Growth Enhancement Scheme which revolutionised Nigeria’s agriculture value chains under the then Minister of Agriculture Akinwumi Adesina; and President Muhammadu Buhari’s more recent follow-up on rice production as a centrepiece of economic growth.

Agriculture provides employment for 35 percent of Nigeria’s population, according to the World Bank, and it is a principal contributor to the local economy. Nigeria is blessed with about 70.8m hectares of agricultural land, but the country is yet to actualise its full potential in agriculture. So, it made sense that a presidential candidate spoke on Nigeria’s food security with some gravitas.

Any government which fails to plan on agriculture and food security will have a crisis in its hands.

A bit on “Agbado”. Nigeria’s maize production was at its highest since 1960 in 2021, according to US Department of Agriculture. The rise was due to the Central Bank of Nigeria’s halting of forex for maize importation. Maize is a cash crop, a raw material for lots of our products. In processed form, it is consumed as pap, cornflakes, custard, etc. And about 60 percent of Agbado produced in the country is used for poultry feed.

Agbado is considered as the most consumed staple food in Nigeria. According to Babbangona (an NGO which specialises in agriculture), an IITA Nigeria Food Consumption and Nutrition Survey conducted in 2003 showed that Agbado is the most consumed staple food in households about 20%, followed by cassava – 16.5%, rice – 11.9%, and cowpea grain – 11.8%.

Also, it said agriculture contributed 22.35 percent of total GDP between January and March 2021, increasing nearly one percentage point over the same period in 2020. Agbado alone accounts for 5.88 percent of Nigeria’s agricultural GDP.

Nigeria is the largest producer of Agbado in Africa — with over 33 million tons, followed by South Africa, Egypt, and Ethiopia. So, why would anyone mock this elixir of the masses? Mocking Agbado or anyone speaking on its pride of place is tantamount to mocking millions of Nigeria who live on the staple food.

Beyond being a favourite snack, ‘Agbado’ has morphed into some sort of political identity. Post a photo of yourself snacking on roast corn on social media, and you will be summarily sentenced as a supporter of Tinubu. Supporters and admirers of Jagaban are now identified by what they choose to snack on. If you share a photo of yourself masticating Agbado, then you must be a Tinubu boy. It is a good badge to wear. We must embrace it. I am not too shy to say I have corn in my back pocket. By the way, Agbado is a healthy snack – and nutritious too.

Coincidentally, Agbado is the symbol of one of the parties (ANPP) which merged with the ACN, the CPC to form the APC. So, it is all in order.

Identifying with ‘Agbado’ is nothing to be mortified about. Agbado rings a bell for the masses. It is relatable. It represents food on their table and escape from the quotidian realm of hunger.

We must talk about feeding the nation. We must talk Agbado.

A new beginning for Nigeria is in the wings. I hear the joys of expectations from fellow citizens; I see the longing and desire for change. Our earnest prayers and wishes for a peaceful and progressive Nigeria will not be undone.

It is a bountiful season of Agbado. And may the land flourish.
- Nwabufo is a media executive.
May 19, 2023
Adeleke sacks Iyaloja-General appointed by Aregbesola

Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke has sacked the Iyaloja-General of Osun State, Chief Awawu Asindemade and appointed Chief Oyebode Aderonke Mary as replacement.

The Nation recalled that Asindemade was appointed as Iyaloja-General of the state under the administration of Rauf Aregbesola.

Adeleke, yesterday in a statement through his spokesman, Olawale Rasheed, noted: “We approve her appointment with all sense of responsibility and confidence in her ability to pilot the affairs of women in commerce for the collective prosperity of Osun state.”

He described Oyebode as “a strong leader of business women in Osun State, who has contributed immensely to the growth and development of commerce.”

Contacted, Asindemade said: “I remain the Iyaloja-General for the state.”

She added: “They can appoint another Iyaloja-General for their party as NGO does. I remain the recognised Iyaloja-General of Osun State.”

May 19, 2023
Re: Taiwan, WHO/WHA in post-pandemic era

Sir : Our attention has been drawn to an article titled “Taiwan, WHO/WHA in post-pandemic era”, written by Taipei representative/ Head of Mission in Nigeria and published in The Nation newspaper of May 17, which calls for the so-called “Taiwan region’s participation to the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Health Assembly(WHA)”. Against the misleading information contained in the article, the Embassy has to bring up the facts and full picture of the true story, and also to reiterate China’s basic and consistent position.

WHO is an international organization in which only sovereign states are entitled to join. The Taiwan region is an inalienable part of China, but not a sovereign country, which is globally recognized and generalized as the one-China principle. The Resolution 2758 of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in October 1971 and the Resolution 25.1 of WHA in May 1972 had endorsed the one-China principle, which provided solid legal basis for the WHO to abide by the one-China principle. In a word, Taiwan region has no qualification to participate in the WHO or any other intergovernmental organizations and agencies.

Taiwan region’s participation in the WHA must be handled in accordance with the one-China principle and through cross-strait consultations. The incumbent authorities in the Taiwan region since 2016 obstinately adhered to the separatist position of “Taiwan independence” and refused to recognize that both sides of the Taiwan Strait belong to one and the same China. As a result, the political foundation for the Taiwan region’s participation in WHA has ceased to exist.

However, based on the one-China principle, the Central Government of China has made appropriate arrangements for the Taiwan region’s participation in global health affairs. Since the outbreak of the pandemic, the Central Government of China has sent 260 notifications on COVID-19 to Taiwan region. Health experts in Taiwan region have participated in 16 WHO technical activities. The WHO Secretariat briefed health experts in Taiwan region several times on pandemic information. Consequently, the so-called “international epidemic prevention gap” does not exist, nor do experts of Taiwan region lack channels or platforms to share response and control practices with others.

We highly appreciate the long-term understanding and support to the one-China principle by the government and dear people of Nigeria. The Taiwan question is China’s internal affair that concerns China’s core interests and the Chinese People’s national sentiments. The Chinese government will never allow any activity by any force or any country to use the WHO/WHA, or any other intergovernmental arena, to harm China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

•Embassy of the People’s Republic of China,

Abuja.

May 19, 2023
Stop it!
- We disagree with court judgment barring NBC from imposing fines on broadcast stations, but…
The judgment of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, presided over by Justice James Omotosho has thrown the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) into a quandary. The judge held that NBC has no power to impose a fine on erring broadcast stations, as it is not a court. The judge held: “The action of the respondent qualifies as excessiveness as it had ascribed to itself the judicial and executive powers.” We wonder whether the judge is saying that administrative agencies cannot be imbued with quasi-judicial powers?

If such is the view of the court, we doubt if the judgment will stand, considering there are several administrative agencies imbued with adjudicatory or quasi-judicial powers. They include the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Security and Exchange Commission Tribunal, the National Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), amongst others. Justice Omotosho held that such imposition contravenes the provisions of sections 6(6) and 36 of the 1999 constitution, which deal with the exclusive powers of the court to hear and determine disputes between parties, and the right to fair hearing, respectively.

Of course we are not by any means justifying the excessive imposition of fines on broadcast stations for offences that may not stand the scrutiny of the courts of law, as in the instant case. In the case brought by the Incorporated Trustees of Media Rights Agenda, Justice Omotosho voided the N500,000 fine imposed by the commission on 45 broadcast stations on March 1, 2019. The court also restrained NBC from further imposing fines on broadcast stations.

Indeed, courts and learned authors have posited that adjudicatory powers of administrative agencies derive from section 36(1) and (2) of the 1999 constitution. Sub-section 1 provides for fair hearing by a “court or other tribunal established by law and constituted in such manner as to secure its independence and impartiality.” In sub-section 2, it confers on “any government or authority power to determine questions arising in the administration of a law that affects or may affect the civil rights and obligations of any person….”

There is however the proviso that there must be “an opportunity for the persons whose rights and obligations may be affected to make representation to the administering authority before that authority makes the decision affecting that person.” As different bodies of journalists have argued and we agree, a body to regulate the media industry must have journalists as members, and must be constituted in a manner to secure its independence. The law establishing the NBC does not imbue it with such independence.

As presently constituted, it is no more than a parastatal under the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture. The mode of appointment of its members and the authority to remove or sanction the appointees is squarely with the president through his minister. There is no way such a body would operate independently of the appointing and approving authority. That explains why the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) and many Nigerians hailed Justice Omotosho’s judgment as saving the industry from the stranglehold of executive authority.

We restate that administrative authorities should have powers to exercise quasi-judicial powers, but the NBC does not have the independence to guarantee fair hearing. That is the position of the NGE. In a statement signed by its president, Mustapha Isah, and general secretary, Dr. Iyobosa Uwugiaren, they said: “Our position has always been that an independent body or institution should be the one to examine any perceived infraction by the broadcast stations, which should be given the opportunity to defend themselves”.

The judgment of Justice Omotosho provides the Federal Government an opportunity to review its position and propose a law for an independent regulatory body for the broadcast industry.
May 19, 2023