Your Excellency,
LETTER OF APPRECIATION: REFUND OF SURPLUS PROJECT FUNDS TO THE WORLD BANK UNDER THE NIGERIA EROSION AND WATERSHED MANAGEMENT PROJECT (NEWMAP) (ID A Credits: 62770, 62780)


I am writing to convey my sincere appreciation for the transfer to Plateau State of the surplus project funds, amounting to USD 4.63 million, that was available in the State's NEWMAP Designated Account.

This action was made possible by your Excellency's leadership, and its timeliness helped the Bank's decision to extend the closing date of the project from June 30, 2021 to June 30, 2022.

The returned surplus funds will ensure that other States facing a deficit of funds are able to complete their civil works, while Kogi state focuses on completing its approved ongoing works.

We look forward to your continued leadership in following up on the progress and completion of such works. We trust the project can be brought to an orderly closure in your state, while achieving its intended objective and contributing to transforming lives and alleviating poverty.

We also take this opportunity to request that you kindly also expedite the issuance of a required Letter of Comfort assuring the Bank that the state will deploy the necessary funds for completion of any works that may exceed the extended period of the project.
We have attached
the template for ease of reference.

Allow me to thank your Excellency once again, for your continuous support to NEWMAP activities in Kogi State.
Please accept the assurances of my highest regards.

Sincerely,
Shubhamn Chaudhuri
Country Director, Nigeria
Western and Central Africa Region

Right now, the headquarters of corruption in Nigeria is MTN Nigeria Limited.

Does it not amount to the height of conflict of interest for the former head of the Nigerian Communications Commission, Ernest Ndukwe, who still has his loyalists in the NCC, to be not just on the board of MTN Nigeria Limited, but also the board Chairman? Where else on Earth can this anomaly be tolerated?

The NCC is the regulator of the telecommunications industry. It is like the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria finishing his tenure and then going to chair a foreign bank doing business in Nigeria.

Recent revelations surrounding MTN Nigeria's governance and business practices cut to the heart of what is broken in Nigeria. They show that there is a revolving door between key regulatory offices in government and the board of MTN Nigeria. A cosy relationship between the two can only mean biased rules in their favour, unfair competition and a rotten deal for the people of Nigeria. The costs are not just in the form of higher prices, they also are costs to our reputation and trustworthiness as a destination for foreign investment.

Even in South Africa, MTN's home country, such a travesty would not be accepted. For a foreign company engaged in cannibalistic exploitation of its competitors to pick as its Chairman of the board the former CEO of the public corporation that regulates the industry. This is why South Africa is presently prosecuting Meta, the parent company of Facebook, for unfair competition because WhatsApp is allegedly unduly suffocating South African companies, GovChat and #LetsTalk.
South Africa's Competition Commission is not allowing Meta to do in their country what we allow MTN to do in Nigeria.

Not done with such brazen antitrust practices, MTN appointed the former Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service, Ifueko Omoigui Okauru, as a board member. Imagine the conflict of interest here. No wonder they had the guts to unilaterally charge other telecommunications providers interests on tax that they had no business collecting. Because they have inside men giving them insight.

Who is actually the Government of Nigeria? Is it the one headed by President Bola Tinubu, or the alternative government led by MTN's board? Because when any organisation starts imposing and collecting tax on others. It has become a government.

The government of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu ought to look into this corporate corruption. The President is an accountant. He must be familiar with antitrust and how it destroys healthy competition and fosters monopolies.

Nigeria's regulatory bodies must demonstrate their autonomy and impartiality by conducting a thorough investigation into MTN Nigeria's business practices. The potential collusion between former government officials and corporate entities undermines public trust and erodes the credibility of Nigeria's regulatory institutions. Investors need certainty and respect for the rule of law, or else they will overlook Nigeria and take their money to our competitors.

Because you cannot have a company which has been officially branded a dominant and hostile monopoly by Ghana, a neighbouring country, now taking advantage of Nigeria's weak regulatory regime by packing its board with former heads of critical regulatory agencies, who have an undue advantage with the regulators and can influence them against Nigeria's interest and for the benefit of MTN.

Not only have they sunk their fangs deep into the state and created their own deep state, which is a swamp that needs to be drained, where regulators are undermined and no longer independent, they have even undermined our legal system by having a former Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association, Abubakar Balarabe Mahmoud, on their board.

The Nigerian government should ask themselves whether or not it is in Nigeria's interest to have a former minister with regulatory authority over telecoms on the board of MTN. Imagine that these individuals approach their former subordinates in these Ministries, Departments and Agencies and ask them to bend the rules in favour of MTN. What does the government of Nigeria think will happen?

Recently, veteran journalist, Bayo Onanugu, Special Adviser Information and Strategy to President Tinubu, complained about moles in the civil service feeding official secrets to the opposition and other outside parties. It is because of practices like the shenanigans MTN is engaged in, that this is possible.

Is it not because of practices like this that the United States moved against Microsoft for antitrust violations in the United States v. Microsoft Corp.

Timing is critical. The Italy-Africa Summit underscored Europe's commitment to fostering economic development and partnership with African nations. Nigeria must seize this opportunity to reassess its policies and practices. By aligning with international standards and leveraging partnerships with the European Union, Nigeria can enhance its credibility and foster a transparent business environment conducive to sustainable economic growth. The benefits will stretch beyond the telecoms sector and be felt across the wider economy.

MTN's undermining of the system is too brazen. Too brazen. Imagine having Omotola Johnson, a Minister of Communication Technology, on the MTN board. Again, who is the government of Nigeria between the Tinubu administration and the MTN monopoly?

What is the definition of antitrust? Actions of a corporate entity that prohibits fair competition and promotes monopoly. MTN is the classic dictionary definition of antitrust violations, and the Nigerian government will do well to intervene now, like Ghana, which fined MTN $773 million for similar practices, before this behemoth becomes bigger than the government. We have heard of Banana Republics. May Nigeria not end up as a Telecom Republic!

One challenge that the Tinubu administration has is modesty. Surprisingly so, because we thought that those who made noise instead of news under Buhari would naturally flow into this regime, like a river flowing into the ocean. But gone are the days of Lai Mohammed and his Goebbels-level propaganda. Now, this is a double-edged sword. Modesty is, after all, a virtue. But when you have networks like Arise TV and a movement, like Obidients, you might have to do a little more chest-beating. If not, you may receive a good beating in the media.

The Obidient movement cannot match BATists in savvy politics, political networking and getting out the votes. But they can and will defeat this administration in gaslighting and propaganda if they do not step up their game.

The new Ministry of Information and National Orientation has moved away from the propaganda of the past to a more engaging one. Every MDA is invited to engage with Nigerians in critical areas that affect them. The recent outing of the Minister and his team to Lagos, Kano, Jigawa, kebbi etc and others to meet with Nigerians in town hall meetings is unique, and Lanre Onilu of the National Orientation Agency’s efforts to keep even us in the opposition informed, via his ‘The Explainer’.

Without the information ministry and Lanre, I would still have been fighting this government, being ignorant of their strides.

First, the economic miracle that the Tinubu administration has pulled off with the floated Naira needs to be studied at ivory towers around the globe. Harvard Business School would have to develop a course to learn and replicate Nigeria’s recent economic revamp.

Never in the history of human endeavour has a nation’s currency gone from being the worst-performing currency on Earth, to becoming the undisputed best-performing banknote in the world, in the space of just four months.

How did they do it? Central to this is the National Security Adviser. Yes, his decisiveness against Binance sparked the recovery of the Naira from the price-gouging mafia that operated on that platform. But his clinical surgery on our economy goes beyond that.

The revocation of the licenses of 4173 allegedly shady Bureau de Changes, which has reduced speculation against the Naira, also the brainchild of Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, played a significant role in first stabilising, then appreciating the Naira. Because, as my sources in the Central Bank of Nigeria told me, many commercial banks had cyclical relations with these Bureau de Changes, which was an avenue for economic sabotage against the Naira.

Now, with all eyes on Bureau de Changes, everybody is shaping up. What the Central Bank of Nigeria is now doing is procedural regulatory functions, which, coupled with what the National Security Agency had done, sanitised the system.

And then we just had Eid el Fitri, and contrary to expectations, the prices of foodstuffs did not go up throughout Ramadan and during Sallah. How was that achieved?

Because the Tinubu administration took the unique step of sending agents to the border to stop grains from leaving Nigeria, while simultaneously releasing 42,000 metric tonnes of grains from the Strategic Grain Reserves into the market. These grains were tracked by operatives domestically from silos to markets, and not just at the border, to prevent racketeering. But for the action at the border, the grains would have left the silos and ended up in Niger Republic, Chad and Cameroon. Others would have been hoarded in warehouses. And the result would have been artificial scarcity, just so the usual suspects could make their unusual money.

So, we saw financial and food security restored by proactive security measures. A reflection of the fact that National Security has extended from the nonsensical level of rehabilitating Boko Haram and romancing bandits under Buhari, to a much more intellectual level of preventing discontent amongst the citizenry by ensuring their economic viability.

And speaking of that, let me ask you this question. What do the bandit leaders, Ali Kachala, Boderi Isyaku, and Sani Dangote, have in common? The answer is that they have all been killed this year by the Tinubu regime in security operations organised by the National Security Adviser.

That is why you can now drive from Abuja to Kaduna without being kidnapped. Or am I lying? When was the last time you read, heard, or even imagined an abduction on that route? The Abuja-Kaduna trains are safe. The Kaduna airport is secure. We are gradually moving from the dystopia of hundreds of bandits riding with their motorcycles right on the tarmac of the Kaduna International Airport, to a utopia where they are being bombed by air, gunned down by land, and cordoned off in the forests.

Yes, there are still incidences of opportunistic kidnappings and abductions here and there, which my party and I will use against Tinubu if they continue until 2027. We also know that a high incidence of these crimes are self-organised by unpatriotic Nigerians to extort money from their families.

But for now, I must admit that the government has dramatically improved on what it inherited from the Buhari administration.

As this administration is on the cusp of marking its first anniversary in office, we seem to have moved from eight wasteful years of Buhari to at least one tasteful year of Tinubu.

The Naira is now the world’s best-performing currency, according to Goldman Sachs.

In the Northwest, bandits are now being kidnapped themselves by our military and are being tried.

Every weekday is now a working day in the Southeast.

Boko Haram is now reduced as a threat in the Northeast.

The coastal highway is becoming a reality, and the Abuja metro is now ready for commissioning.

Fuel importation had reduced by more than 50%.

The Dangote and Port Harcourt Refineries are crashing the price of diesel.

The Federal Government has negotiated direct Lagos-London flights for Air Peace.

Our GDP is now grieving at 3.4%

Passport shortages are now a thing of the past, as Nigerians now get their passports speedily and with ease.

Wage support of ₦35,000 is being paid to all federal employees

And Nigeria has a trade surplus

Say what you will about Tinubu, but you cannot deny the fact that the President is gradually making us feel proud to be Nigerians again. I repeat that If God spares my life, my party and I will challenge him in 2027. Until then, I will commend him when he does well. And for now, he is doing well.

Reno Omokri

Gospeller. Deep Thinker. #TableShaker. Ruffler of the Feathers of Obidents. #1 Bestselling author of Facts Versus Fiction: The True Story of the Jonathan Years. Hodophile. Hollywood Magazine Humanitarian of the Year, 2019. Business Insider Influencer of the Year 2022.

Air Peace is a Nigerian project, and every Nigerian should be proud of their prowess. Our government must do everything to ensure that this national project succeeds. It must not fail, like Arik. And, it must not sail like the Titanic. Air Peace must succeed and go ballistic for the sake of Nigeria.

However, the biggest threat to Air Peace is not the foreign airlines that have now launched a price war against the airlines, no the Nigerian bureaucracy that is not always well oiled. No.

The peril in overshadowing Air Peace today is Allen Onyema, its CEO. Mr. Onyema talks too much for a CEO. In fact, he is more of a spokesperson and a brand ambassador than a CEO, and he is wearing himself too thin and making unforced errors that will arm his enemies.

In an interview with Arise TV on Monday, April 1. 2024, Mr. Onyema said “We are planning to hit New York or Houston towards the end of the year, because we are bringing in more 777s. As I speak to you, my staff, they’re in California, the engineering technical services department, they’re in California inspecting some three 777s we want to acquire, we want to buy. So, if we could get them in the next two or three months, then of course, we are good to go anywhere.”

For a man who is taking on the big global airlines and complaining that they are trying to run him out of business, Mr. Onyema is somewhat naive. Why talk about your plans?

I love Air Peace. I want them to succeed. But, how many 777s can he buy from Boeing? Maybe five. Probably ten. Those he is accusing of fighting him order hundreds in a tear. In 2022 alone, British Airways ordered 50 Boeing 737 MAX for $6.25 billion, as well as 11 Airbus A320neo aircraft and three A321neos worth $1.7 billion. That is just for one year alone. And from one airline.

Collectively, this European cartel of airlines can approach Boeing or Airbus to frustrate Air Peace. What was the point of Onyeka's revelations? The public is already happy with you for the Lagos-Gatwick feat. Why expose your plans? Onyema and Air Peace are already popular. What they need now is a vision to attract provision and avoid division.

And again, a week ago, Mr. Onyema was on television, again. And this time, he says:

“When you say what has it been like, right from the day we published our fares, even that inaugural flight got sold out within days.

“It got sold out in days and even up to September.

Then, four days later he was at the same station crying to the government and Nigerians to stick with him as the foreign airlines cabal had launched a price war against him for recent flights on the Lagos-London route. Well, if his first assertion were true, then Air Peace would not be bothered about a price war for ticket prices in April-May. They would have already sold out those tickets. 

Perhaps Mr. Onyema may want to learn how to defeat foreign exploiters from Dr. Mike Adenuga.

How many times have you seen Dr. Adenuga in the news? Or giving an interview? Or defending himself or his brand? Or even accepting the Silverbird Man of the Year award when he won? The answer is never.

But no corporation in Nigeria advertises like Glo. Nobody. Bar none. And Glo's adverts can't be ignored. They are unputdownable! They grab you by overwhelming your senses.

And if you come after them, the way some have tried and failed, they launch a blitzkrieg of well articulated narratives that will make you regret the day the devil put the thought of fighting Adenuga into your mind.

That is how you do it. If your opponents and rivals cannot preempt you, then they cannot forestall you.

Dr. Adenuga had bragging rights when he was launching the first of its kind in Africa and the developing world Glo 1 submarine cable, which ran from Bude, a seaside rural town in north Cornwall, England and traversed seventeen countries, including Ghana, before terminating in Nigeria.

And what was the result? When EVERY other network was down due to the Red Sea submarine cable sabotage, ONLY Glo was up. While MTN is declaring a major loss, Glo is celebrating a major profit.

If Dr. Adenuga had gone on CNN to brag that such a wonder was in the offing, it would have been just too easy for his competitors to frustrate the project. By the time they knew about it, it was already too late.

The summary of what Mr. Onyema can assimilate from Dr. Adenuga is this: Build in silence and let your actions speak for themselves, or you will deliver activity instead of productivity.

Mr. Onyema may want to be seen more and heard less. Perhaps he could consider separating ownership from speakership.

Air Peace may consider hiring a professional PR person. Nigerians may have noticed the abrupt and positive change from the propaganda of the Buhari administration to the proper agenda of the Tinubu government. The reason is not far-fetched. Lai Mohammed is gone. The new Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris Malagi, is a fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, as well as a leading newspaper publisher.

Onyema should stop talking too often before he becomes a Lai and get a qualified spox.

Mr. Onyema must know by now that he is in the crosshairs of the foreign airlines mafia, and when you are soaked in petrol, you must not hug the limelight, lest a spark set you on fire.

And one final thing Mr. Onyema should emulate from the Bull is branding. Onyema believes he is the big picture, so he is not seeing the big picture. Follow the Glo template. Spend on advertising. Use Nigerian stars. Project them on CNN. Stop thinking locally and acting erratically. Instead, think globally and act strategically.

I have never met Dr. Mike Adenuga, yet I have been mesmerised by the emancipation of the Glo brand tight from inception and conception. And now I know why.

I launched the #FreeLeahSharibu campaign at Boris Johnson's office at Parliament in Westminster. While there, I met one of the finest brand specialists on Earth. 'You are from Nigeria?', he asked me. I responded in the affirmative. And then he tells me how Dr. Adenuga flew him into Nigeria 48 times to brainstorm, sometimes till 3 AM, about how to take the Glo brand into orbit.

Now( that is dedication! Onyema should take a cue and move from glorification to dedication.

The newly appointed Chancellor of Ekiti State University, Dr. Tunji Olowolafe has announced the launch of a groundbreaking one billion naira Innovation Fund aimed at empowering agro-tech enterprises founded by the university’s students and graduates.

In a rousing address at the 28th convocation of the Ekiti State University, which took place 3-4th April 2024, Dr Olowolafe while congratulating the graduands and the institution, unveiled the bold initiative, stressing that it underscores the urgent need to drive innovation and enterprise in agriculture to bolster food security across Nigeria.

Dr Olowolafe thanked the Visitor of the university and Governor of Ekiti State, His Excellency, Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji, for finding him worthy to be appointed as Chancellor.

Addressing thousands of graduands, faculty, and guests, Dr. Olowolafe emphasized the vital role agriculture plays as the backbone of the nation’s economy. He highlighted the immense potential for innovation and inclusive growth within local agricultural communities.

“Agriculture stands as the backbone of our nation, and it is here that I see the greatest potential for innovation and economic prosperity,” stated Dr. Olowolafe. “The one billion naira Innovation Fund is designed to empower agro-tech companies founded by present graduands and students of our great Ekiti State University.”

The Chancellor further urged students and academics alike to actively engage in food production efforts. “Today your excellency, the general discussion in Nigeria is about cost of living and food security. All of us eat. But many of us do not spend time to think about what we eat, how it is produced and how did it get to our table. These are very important questions.”

He proposed optimizing the university’s fertile lands for agricultural purposes, enabling students to lease small plots and gain hands-on experience in farming, while simultaneously earning a living.

“Each student can lease a small plot of land for production. As we learn to pass our exams, we can also use these farms to eat and earn a living,” Dr. Olowolafe suggested. “My view is regardless of what we are studying at university, we must all think about how we can do our bit to produce food. This means both the academic and student faculties must come together to think and act.“

Recognizing the multifaceted nature of agriculture, the Chancellor encouraged students to explore diverse avenues, from grains and vegetables to poultry, fisheries, and even agri-logistics and app development.

Dr. Olowolafe further extended his intervention initiative beyond agriculture, as he announced plans to create a platform for 100 of the university’s brightest minds to engage in global business process outsourcing, enabling them to contribute to the world economy while honing their skills.

In the letter dated December 22, 2023, Obazee requested funds for surveillance, vetting, security, addressing black spots, monitoring hotels, and acquiring vehicles.

A letter addressed to the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Yemi Cardoso, by the Chairman of the Special Investigative Committee, Jim Obazee, requesting N2 billion for various assignments has been exclusively obtained by SaharaReporters.

In the letter dated December 22, 2023, Obazee requested funds for surveillance, vetting, security, addressing black spots, monitoring hotels, and acquiring vehicles.

President Bola Tinubu appointed Obazee, a former chief executive officer of the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria, in July 2023 as the special investigator to investigate the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and related entities.

Obazee, who was fired by President Muhammadu Buhari in 2017, investigated the CBN under the tenure of Sanusi Lamido Sanusi.

His investigation uncovered massive corruption in Nigeria's apex bank and his recommendation led to former President Goodluck Jonathan's suspension of Sanusi in February 2014.

Obazee reports directly to the President.

In his appointment letter dated July 28, 2023, President Tinubu said Obazee would also work on a comprehensive report on public wealth currently in the hands of corrupt individuals and establishments.

Part of his job schedule is to strengthen key Government Business Entities (GBEs), block leakages in CBN and related GBEs and provide a comprehensive report on public wealth currently in the hands of corrupt individuals and establishments.

Meanwhile, Obazee’s letter to the CBN governor, Olayemi Cardoso, reads in part: ''Please refer to our meeting with Mr President (with the Attorney General of the Federation and Honourable Minister of Justice in attendance) on 20th December 2023 wherein Mr President directed that I forward my invoice, so far, to you on the ongoing investigation that I am leading.''

Obazee asked for N750,000,000 for ''information sourcing, facts finding, synthesis and vetting.''

The Special Investigator asked for N800,000,000 for ''surveillance, black sites, private security and prying eyes.''

For ''logistics, outstation and team funding,'' Obazee demanded N550,000,000
He also demanded N35,000,000 for ''consumables, etc''. The total amount of money requested by the Special Investigator was N2,135,000,000, which was to be paid into a Premium Trust account number – 0010080287.

Concerned CBN officials shared a copy of the letter with SaharaReporters and questioned the rationale behind the request when the apex bank had already provided for such activities.

One official said, ''The duplication of efforts raises concerns about potential redundancy and misallocation of resources.''

He added, ''Moreover, there is uncertainty regarding Jim Obazee's authority to conduct surveillance and investigations, particularly if he needs the credentials of a spy or professional investigator.

''The lack of clarity on the approval process for these tasks and fund allocation is already causing confusion, raising questions about who authorized these activities and why.

''Transparency is urgently needed regarding the transactions being vetted and the beneficiaries being monitored.

''Without clear explanations, suspicions will arise about the potential misuse of information and the possibility of the Obazee-led committee employing blackmail tactics.''

Another official accused the Obazee-led committee of being indicted for tapping the telephone conversations of highly placed Nigerians. Hence, the source noted that the apex bank is careful in dealing with the panel.

''The unauthorized tapping of telephone conversations of high-ranking officials, including the Attorney General of the Federation and the Inspector General of Police is known to us, and it raises serious legal and ethical questions about privacy rights and abuse of power.

''We are also aware that some CBN staff members are providing information to Obazee on every transaction of current governments and governors that he is using as a blackmailing tool.

''We want the committee to explain the rationale behind the request and clarify the processes involved in approving such allocations.

''Additionally, the CBN is keen to ensure that any fund disbursements are under presidential orders and have received proper board approval.

''It is also essential to ensure that the allocated amount is within the approved budget and that funds are used appropriately and accountably.''

SaharaReporters further gathered that there are concerns about the storage of investigation documents in Obazee's Lagos home.

A member of the panel said, ''As I speak to you, there is vital national information and top secrets in Obazee's home.

''This could trigger potential breaches of national security and confidentiality.''

From a National Security perspective, what would have happened to Nigeria yesterday and today if we did not have Glo to rely on? MTN, Airtel and 9Mobile went off the air. They were down. And the reason they were down is because their infrastructure is not tailor-made for Nigeria. That is why the sabotage, allegedly by the Houthi rebels, affected them.

But why did it not affect Glo? Because their commitment level to Nigeria is not as strong as Glo's.

Globacom was the first African telecom company to build an intercontinental submarine cable, the Glo 1 cable, which ran from Bude, a seaside rural town in north Cornwall, England and traversed seventeen countries, including Ghana, before terminating in Nigeria.

By going from Europe to the West Coast of Africa, it avoids the more turbulent but cheaper to maintain MENA region (Middle-East and North Africa).

Contrast that with MTN. They did not build from scratch. They came into Nigeria by scavenging on another telco. Their purpose is to suck Nigeria dry and repatriate money made in Nigeria to South Africa. Is Airtel any better? Yesterday answered that question.

Let me ask Nigerians a question: With all the xenophobic attacks against Nigerians in South Africa, how much has MTN spent to educate our Black South African brothers to be more tolerant to their fellow brother Black Africans, which they derogatorily call 'makwerekwere'? Nothing. Did they provide a plane when Nigerians were running away from xenophobia in South Africa? No. I helped arranged free airlifts for those willing to return home. Let MTN tell us what they did.

So, let this Red Sea Cable sabotage open the eyes of our National Security architecture. If all we had to rely on were MTN, Airtel and 9Mobile, Nigeria would have been toast. And imagine that we were fighting a real war. Can we rely on undersea cables that could be turned off from South Africa and India? What happened in Niger after their quarrel with France? France turned off their satellite communications.

This has been the rationale behind my #GrowNairaBuyNaija campaign. We saw how DSTV had a 'blackout' when Nwabali saved goals for Nigeria against South Africa. Nigerians must control Nigeria's cable and satellite infrastructure, or we are not really an independent country.

Reno Omokri

Nigeria’s blue economy holds great potential for the country and can contribute 1.5 trillion dollars to the global economy if properly utilised.

The sector is also said to have the capacity to create over 30 million jobs as well as supply vital sources of protein to over three billion people globally.

The Vice Chancellor, Maduka University, Enugu State, Professor Charles Ogbulogo, made this known while delivering a paper as the Special Guest Lecturer at the 2023 Convocation, Matriculation, and Awards Ceremony of Crown Maritime Academy (CMA) with the theme “Marine and Blue Economy Ministry: ‘Catch-Alls and Caveats’ For The Tinubu Administration”.

While delivering his paper titled “The Force of Leadership in Maximising the Blue Economy: A Nigerian Challenge”, Prof. Ogbulogo noted that “humanity has desecrated the ‘bond with nature’ and aquatic life is in grave danger”.

Corroborating the World Bank, the unassuming Grade A academic who was represented at the event by the Rector, CMA, Dr. Musa Akinyemi, explained that the blue economy is the “sustainable use of the ocean resources for economic growth, improved livelihoods, and jobs while preserving the health of the ocean ecosystem.

He said, “The blue economy is also called the ocean economy." The ocean economy is concerned with the use of ocean resources, with an emphasis on the empowerment of its economic system. Since the core focus of the blue economy is anchored on the receptacle of sustainability, it is a part of the green economy.”

“The world has transitioned from the emphasis on brick-and-mortar business to the era of the knowledge economy, the care economy, the green economy, and the blue economy. And, therefore, there is the fear that, just as has been the case with previous paradigm shifts, many destitute nations would be left behind.”.

Meanwhile, indications emerged at the weekend that Nigeria’s efforts to raise crude oil production continued to yield results during the February circle, with output for the month rising by approximately 60,000bpd during the month.

Although the monthly oil production report by the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), usually released in the second week of the month, had yet to be officially announced, a survey of shipping data by Reuters arrived at the additional volume.

“Among those with higher output, the second-biggest gain of 60,000 bpd came from Nigeria, the survey found, as some crude was processed in the new Dangote refinery and exports rose,” it said.

In January, Nigeria’s oil production increased to 1.42 million barrels per day, representing the highest production level since March 2021 when output was about the same 1.42 million bpd.

But with the addition of condensate, the commission said Nigeria’s oil production rose to 1.64 million bpd in January 2024, from 1.55 million bpd in December 2023.

This comes as some relief for Nigeria which is currently in the middle of a foreign exchange shortage crisis, partly occasioned by the country’s prolonged inability to raise oil output from where it gets up to 90 per cent of its FX earnings.

If the 1.42 million bpd is added to the tentative 60,000 bpd shipping data figure, this would total 1.48 million bpd and Nigeria could be just about 20,000 bpd away from meeting the 1.5 million bpd Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) quota for 2024.

But it is still below the daily oil production benchmark of 1.78 million barrels in Nigeria’s 2024 budget, although that also includes condensate, which is exempted from OPEC calculations.

OPEC gave Nigeria the 1.5 million bpd quota last November after intense negotiations that lasted several days, but it was significantly lower than Africa’s largest oil producer had hoped for. Angola left the group after disagreement with OPEC in its own quota at the time.

As part of efforts towards advancing Information and Technology development in Nigeria, Anambra and Lagos states have agreed to a partnership that will see to the strengthening of IT ecosystems in their respective states.

The objectives and key highlights of the Anambra/Lagos partnership include cybersecurity collaboration, protection of IT assets, cyber protection measures, and expansion of IT service platforms.

A statement on Saturday by Managing Director/CEO of Anambra State ICT Agency, Chukwuemeka Agbata, said the collaborative effort stemmed from bilateral meetings with the IT ecosystem members during the Reverse Trade Mission in the United States of America, geared towards addressing emerging challenges, fostering innovation, and enhancing the overall cybersecurity infrastructure.

Agbata said collaborating with Lagos State is an opportunity to leverage each other’s strengths and elevate the IT services market with a view to achieve technological excellence and contribute significantly to Nigeria’s digital transformation.



He said, “This no doubt resonates with the Federal Government’s call, through the Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, at the recently concluded meeting of the Nigeria National Council of ICT Heads of Ministries, Departments and Agencies in Abeokuta, Ogun State, for the digitalisation of MDAs operations.

“According to the Minister, there was a need for immediate provision of ICT Infrastructure that would aid data sharing among government agencies, which in turn, would not only aid proactiveness in the business of governance but would also block fraudulent activities, help improve Nigeria’s economy, and set government priorities right at all times.

“Both states will also explore the Introduction of advanced cyber protection measures for safeguarding critical IT assets, familiarisation with cutting-edge tools to mitigate and reduce cybercrime risks, and understanding new tools to enrich IT service platforms, including cloud solutions like AWS.

“There is also the issue of aligning with digitisation and customer service agenda, to enhance service delivery and developing initiatives for rapid onboarding of new skills in the IT sector as well as Upscaling the skill system to meet the evolving demands of the IT landscape. Both parties will equally seek joint efforts to bolster the pool of skilled professionals in the Information Technology sector.

“This imminent partnership between Anambra and Lagos states is poised to make tangible strides in the Information Technology sector, setting a precedent for collaborative efforts in advancing the nation’s technological landscape.

According to the statement, the Lagos State Commissioner for Innovation, Science and Technology, Tunbosun Alake, expressed optimism about the collaboration, stating, “This partnership signifies a crucial step in fortifying our technological capabilities. By combining forces with Anambra State, we aim to create a resilient IT infrastructure that not only addresses current challenges but also anticipates and adapts to future advancements.”

The Minister of Works, David Umahi, has called for a meeting with cement manufacturers on Monday to discuss the issue of over the increasing costs of cement.

In a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the Minister, Edward Uchenna Orji, it was highlighted that the Minister is concerned about the rising price of cement, especially considering the significant demand from road and housing contractors to cement manufacturers.

Those invited to the urgent meeting include Dangote Plc, BUA Plc, Larfarge and the other manufacturers.

The Minister was quoted as saying that “It is common knowledge that the manufacturers have their challenges, which we shall look into, but from our findings, the disparity between ex-factory price and the market price is wide.

“We therefore need to look into the situation and other issues with a view to finding a common front”