…as ABUAD/NSE hold maiden industrial park trade fair

Legal luminary and Elder Statesman, Aare Afe Babalola has said that Nigeria will remain perpetually poor it fails to produce rather than consume more.

Babalola made this known over the weekend in Ado-Ekiti, while performing the dual role of declaring open, the maiden edition of Afe Babalola University (ABUAD) Industrial Park Trade Fair, in conjunction with the state chapter of the Nigeria Society of Engineers, (NSE), and later, while receiving the executives of the Akure Branch of the Nigeria Bar Association, (NBA), who came to present to him, the Icon Award for Excellence.

Babalola warned that the country might continue in stagnation, for as long as the incurable attitude of indiscipline, poor work attitude, lack of vision and patriotism are tolerated.

He called Nigerians and its leaders to be genuinely ready and willing to change the narrative, for the country to grow while describing the industrial park as a technology hub, designed to bridge the gap between research and industry, as well as provide employment opportunities for many jobless graduates and youths.

He also expressed regrets over rising incidences of some Courts, now in the habit of fragrantly delivering contradictory judgments, on same subject matter, asking members of the NBA nationwide to urgently convey a meeting, and rise to the occasion, to put a stop to further dent and embarrassment such abnormality was daily causing the legal profession.

“It is true Nigeria today, is in the doldrums. That however does not mean we should throw patriotism and national interest into the mud. This is because to me, Nigeria can still become like USA of this world, or other great countries alike.

“But the bitter truth is that Nigeria can not suddenly become a USA with the way we do things continually and still expect different results. Nigeria is such a rich country, blessed with resources, good weather, friendly climate and money.

“Unfortunately however, aside many other obvious factors, the very point where we began to get things wrong is that Nigeria is a nation that consume more than it produces, and the bitter truth here is that, any country that does that, will remain perpetually poor.

“As a leader by example, even at my age, I abhor laziness and complacency. I do work for 18 hours daily. I do not buy food, I grow them in the farm, I do not buy pepper, tomatoes, chicken or fish, I produce them. How many Nigerians does that?

“As a result, ABUAD was conceived by me, not only as an innovative institution to change things for the better, but also as a deliberate way of giving back to the society, what I did not get, on a platter of gold.

“Even though I did not have the opportunity of going beyond conventional primary School, neither did I have opportunity of conventional, class studies of secondary or university education, I struggled on my own, out of strong determination to succeed, coupled with uncommon commitment, to get myself educated at both secondary level, and later university of London, all through correspondence studies.

“But I thank God today that in all, God has rewarded my dedication, and endowed me with something extra: the ability to work hard, to achieve desired results.

He therefore urged Nigerians to embrace hard work, honesty and faith in the country, to achieve greatness.

He expressed confidence that the country would be great again, only if leaders and the citizens can start emulating some of the principles that ABUAD had imbibed over the few years of it’s establishment.

“I make bold to say that our performance gives us the hope in this country that Nigeria can achieve what we have achieved, if we all agree to change the old ways of doing things.

“Nigeria can be greater. With hard work, the way we are doing things here, with hard work, honesty and faith, Nigeria can be better and get out of doldrums. I believe that hardship breeds determination, determination breeds faith, and faith never fails.” he said.

In his remarks, the NBA Akure, Ondo State Branch Chairman, Banjo Ayenakin, who described Babalola as a trailblazer and exceptional icon, commended him for being a most generous and versatile Nigerian.

He said: “If we have a few more of your type in this country, the story will change for the better. If we all work and lift individuals and groups, the way Baba Afe Babalola is doing on regular basis, across tribes, cultures and political divide, even at his age, and at the expense of his hard earned resources, there will be no much problems of any sort for anyone in this country.”

Also speaking, at the industrial park maiden trade fair, Chairman, Ekiti chapter of the NSE, Prof. Oluwasegun Aluko, expressed gratitude to Babalola for establishing the park, which he said was designed to accommodate124 cottage industries, and thereby give a boost to use of locally explored raw materials.

The Vice Chancellor of ABUAD, Prof. Smaranda Olarinde, in her welcome address at the events, commended Babalola for deploying his hard-earned resources in championing the needed revolution in the education sector with the establishment of both the University, and the industrial park, among others.

According to Olarinde, ABUAD was recently ranked the best Nigerian University for the third consecutive time, 4th in Africa and 142th in the world, as recently published in the 2024 Times Higher Education Impact Rankings.

Besides, she said the university also ranked first globally for SDG 7 on Affordable and Clean Energy, Outreach Programmes scoring 98%, and Stewardship Programmes with 98.2%.

She said though only about 15 years old, ABUAD’s accomplishments in Law, Medicine, Engineering, the Sciences and Social and Management Sciences in the past few years of its existence, had put the university on the international grid of world-class institutions.

A Nigerian couple, Agbakoba John Mmadu and Agbakoba Ijeoma Chinwe, who allegedly led a high-profile cocaine syndicate based in Lagos, have been arrested by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

The couple was apprehended along with an associate, Okoye Ifeoma Maryjane, during a raid where significant quantities of cocaine intended for export and local distribution were seized.

Femi Babafemi, the NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, announced in a statement on Sunday that the arrest followed months of intelligence gathering and surveillance by a special operations unit targeting the notorious drug syndicate.

The group is known for packaging, distributing, and trafficking cocaine within Nigeria and internationally.

Babafemi said, “The 54-year-old Agbakoba John Mmadu was arrested at Ago palace way, Okota while his wife, Agbakoba Ijeoma Chinwe, 39, and associate, Okoye Ifeoma Maryjane, 31, who doubles as their stash keeper, were nabbed at Plot 2205 Eugene Ndubisi close, Lilly Estate, Amuwo Odofin area of Lagos, all on Wednesday, 3rd July 2024.

“While seven parcels of cocaine with a total weight of 7.652 kilograms were recovered from Mmadu at Ago palace way, not less than one hundred and twenty-two (122) compressed pellets of the same drug weighing 2.42kg were seized from the duo of Ijeoma and Ifeoma at Lilly Estate, bringing the total seizure to 10.1 kilograms valued at over N2.1 billion in street value.”

President Bola Tinubu’s tenure as the chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government comes to an end today (Sunday).

The 65th Ordinary Session of the Authority is holding at the Presidential Villa in Abuja where he is expected to pass on the torch to another leader.

Tinubu was unanimously endorsed as chairman in July 2024 at the 63rd Ordinary Session of the Authority in Bissau, Guinea-Bissau.

Since then, the Nigerian leader has dealt with challenges particularly military coups in member states.

The president initially took a strong stance against unconstitutional changes of government in Niger Republic, Burkina Faso, Mali and Guinea, overseeing the imposition of sanctions on them.

However, the sanctions were later lifted as the sub-regional body opted for a more peaceful approach to resolve the issues.

The president played a critical role in ensuring the success of the 2024 Senegalese election by facilitating dialogue between stakeholders.

This was as he demonstrated a strong commitment to promoting democracy in the sub-region during the year.

The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), on Sunday, announced that the national grid, which experienced a partial disturbance yesterday, has been fully restored.

Recall that the grid collapse, which occurred for the fourth time in 2024, threw Nigerians into total darkness.

The incident, which occurred at approximately 15:09PM on July 6, 2024, and restored by 21:57PM, marked the third partial disturbance and the fourth overall grid disturbance this year.

However, TCN in a statement issued by its General Manager of Public Affairs, Ndidi Mbah, in Abuja, said the grid disturbance was triggered by the unexpected tripping of three units at a power generating station, resulting in a sudden loss of 313MW from the grid.

She said the restoration efforts began immediately after the incident, adding that by 21:57 hours on the same day, the affected sections of the grid were successfully restored.

“The Transmission Company of Nigeria, TCN, hereby states that there was a partial disturbance of the grid at about 15.09 hours yesterday, 6th July 2024.

“The system disturbance, which brings to three, the partial grid disturbances, with one total disturbance this year, is suspected to have been triggered by the unexpected tripping of three (3) units of a power generating station, which suddenly removed 313MW from the grid, causing system instability that led to the loss of bulk supply to a section of the national grid.

“Meanwhile, the System Operator reacted to the sudden drop in generation which led to a dip in frequency, by islanding a section of the grid which includes the Ibom Power Station through which the company continued to feed Uyo, Aba, Itu, Eket, Calabar e.t.c even when the other section of the grid had no supply.

“Also, the operators commenced grid restoration efforts immediately after the incident. At about 21.57 hrs yesterday, the entire part of the grid that was affected by today’s incident was successfully restored”, she said.

Following last Wednesday’s floods in Lagos State, occasioned by heavy rainfall, the state government has given a 48-hour vacation notice to squatters and owners of illegal structures along Gbagada-Bariga drainage channel.

The state’s Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, who disclosed this on Sunday, said the activities of squatters and property owners in the area had blocked drainage channels, thereby resulting in the flooding experienced during the week.

“Lagos State government gives property owners who built illegal structures and squatters along Gbagada Bariga Channel a 48-hour vacation notice.

“The drainage channel which defloods Bariga, Gbagada, Sholuyi downstream communities and environs, and discharges into System 1 has been taken over by squatters who has constituted nuisance and security risks to the Estate, and property owners who deliberately built to obstruct free flow of water in the area. Shanties were erected along the length of the channel and their activities had blocked collectors that are supposed to carry stormwater into the Channel which resulted to the flooding experienced during the week,” Wahab said in a post on X.

He noted that upon expiration of the notices served, the operatives of Lagos State Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources would commence removal of contravening structures in order to unflood the area.

Last Wednesday downpour lasted for about 10 hours, and affected areas such as Eredo, Bojije, Epe, Sangotedo, Ibeju-Lekki, Awoyaya, Labora, and Abijon.

Other areas affected include Iyana-Oworo, Agege, Ijegun-Isheri Osun and Gbagada.

The flood grounded vehicular movement, and led to the collapse of a two-storey building in the Mushin area of the state.

Also, a 61-year old man, while wading through the floods around Orile-Iganmu, held on to a street light pole and got electrocuted.

A Federal High Court in Lagos has ordered a former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disasters Management and Social Development, Sadia Umar-Farouk to account for the payments of ₦729 billion to 24.3 million poor Nigerians for six months.

Umar-Farouk was also ordered to provide the list and details of the beneficiaries who received the payments, the number of states covered and the payments per state.

The judgment was delivered in June by Hon. Justice Deinde Isaac Dipeolu following a Freedom of Information suit numbered FHC/L/CS/853/2021, brought by the Socio-Economic Rights And Accountability Project (SERAP).

SERAP disclosed that it obtained the certified true copy of the judgment last Friday.

In his judgment, Justice Dipeolu held that, “The former minister is compelled by the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act to give information to any person including SERAP.

“I therefore grant an order of mandamus directing and compelling the minister to provide the spending details of N729 billion to 24.3 million poor Nigerians in 2021.

Justice Dipeolu ordered the minister to “provide SERAP with details of how the beneficiaries have been selected and the mechanisms for the payments to the beneficiaries.”

Justice Dipeolu also ordered the minister to “explain the rationale for paying N5,000 to 24.3 million poor Nigerians, which translates to five percent of Nigeria’s budget of N13.6 trillion for 2021.”

Justice Dipeolu also stated that, “The minister did not give any reason for the refusal to disclose the details sought by SERAP.  SERAP has reeled out the relevant sections of the Freedom of Information Act 2011 that the minister contravened and has, in line with sections 20 and 25(1) of the Act, prayed this Court for an order of mandamus to direct and compel the minister to provide the information sought.”

Justice Dipeolu dismissed the objections raised by the minister’s counsel and upheld SERAP’s arguments. Consequently, the court entered judgment in favour of SERAP against the minister.

Abia State Governor Dr Alex otti will on Thursday, launch the Abia State Cooperatives Support Scheme through which an estimated 10, 000 men, women and young people running different micro and small scale businesses in their various communities will benefit from a revolving interest-free loan programme initiated and promoted by the State Government.

Beneficiaries are members of registered community cooperative groups with clearly defined businesses interests that are relevant within their communities.

In the selection of the present batch of beneficiaries, priority was given to women and young people with established micro and small scale businesses in sectors such as agriculture, food and consumables, petty trading, and local crafts, amongst others.

The process is managed by the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Cooperatives, Ishmael Onuoha, working very closely with the relevant community stakeholders across the 184 wards in the State- including elected and appointed officials from various parts of the State.

Beneficiaries will be required to repay the loan at no interests within a defined period so that other members within the community cooperatives structure can also benefit as the programme is designed as a revolving loan scheme.

Through this initiative, the Dr. Alex Otti administration is working to enhance business consciousness amongst the people at the grassroots by providing support to those who already have something they are doing but would do better through improved access to funds.

The initiative will help revive many micro and small scale businesses that have shut down in the various communities on account of economic difficulties, and peculiar circumstances.

Importantly, this effort will also support the people at the grassroots to fend for themselves through the proceeds of their businesses, enhancing their productive abilities and opening for them, the doors of bigger opportunities.

Some bandits in large numbers on Saturday night invaded Dahjonu Community in Millennium City of Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State and abducted two journalists -The Nation’s Abdulgafar Alabelewe and Blueprint newspaper’s AbdulRaheem Abdu as well as their wives and children.

Alabelewe is also the current chairman of the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Kaduna State Council.

One of the victims’ family member, Taofeeq Olayemi, who confirmed the incident, said the bandits invaded the area around 10:30pm and shot indiscriminately before carrying out their dastardly act.

Olayemi said the bandits kidnapped Alabelewe, his wife and two of his children while Aodu and his wife who was also sick were kidnapped, leaving behind their sick daughter.

He said, “Initially, they picked Abdulgafar,his wife and three of his children and a girl staying with them before asking the girl to return back with one of the children and left with Abdulgafar, his wife and two children.

“They shattered their doors, windows and removed their burglary after scaling the fence.”

Olayemi, who is also a neighbour to the victims, added, “they came around 10:30pm on Saturday night and started shooting sporadically. They first bursted Aodu’s door open and picked him and his wife and left their sick daughter behind.

“Then, they entered Abdulgafar’s house through the fence and jumped into his house. They went straight into his bedroom and picked him, his wife and two of their kids and left immediately, after which the vigilantes arrived and started shooting into the air.”

As of the time of filing this report, the State Command’s Police Public Relations Officer, Mansir Hassan, ASP, could not be reached because his telephone was not connecting.

The All Progressives Congress has expressed conviction that President Bola Tinubu will be re-elected in 2027 despite the economic hardship and planned alliance between mega opposition parties.

The lingering economic hardship resulting from ongoing reforms such as fuel subsidy removal and floating of the naira has given rise to palpable fear that Nigerians may vote out Tinubu in 2027.

But the Deputy National Organising Secretary of the ruling party, Nze Chidi Duru, in an interview with Sunday PUNCH, said the ongoing reforms had to come into play to steady the sinking ship of the economy.

He said, “Our party has always recognised the fact that the current challenging economic environment has not in any way got better. When Mr President took over, he asked Nigerians not to pity him. It is an office that he craved and worked hard for before offering himself to provide leadership to Nigeria.

 “What gives confidence is that Mr President is very much aware of the expectations of the person on the street. The minimum expectation will be that they need to be comfortable. So, the discussion around 2027 (election) is not out of place. In the life of a country, four years is like yesterday.

“Let me say every political office holder or politician knows that the first date in office is key because the citizens who elected you into office and those who did not elect you will begin to track your performance as a result of that. They can then decide whether or not to re-elect you.

“Concerning whether we will be re-elected, as a democrat and my personal view, we have always canvassed that unless His Excellency President Bola Tinubu will not contest, the APC government is bound to be represented by our candidate in 2027 to fly the flag for the simple reason that I want to bring up. And, of course, there is the incumbency factor.”

Uruguay beat Brazil on penalties (4-2) to reach the semi-finals of Copa America after an ugly game ended goalless on Saturday.

Uruguay, who finished the game with 10 men after Nahitan Nandez was sent off in the 74th minute, will face Colombia in Charlotte, North Carolina, in their semi-final on Wednesday.

Colombia, now unbeaten in 27 games, beat Panama 5-0 in Saturday’s other quarter-final earlier in Arizona.

The other semi-final, in New Jersey on Tuesday, will see world champions Argentina face surprise package Canada.

For five-times world champions Brazil it was a disappointing early end to a tournament in which they never truly clicked, and a lot of work remains to be done if Dorival Junior’s team are to be in shape to compete for the title in the 2026 World Cup.

In a city better known for boxing than for the beautiful game, it was a bruising contest with little quality play and a tournament high 41 fouls.

A poor quality playing field hardly helped with both teams struggling to produce their best football on an uneven surface.

The first – and best – chance of a game of few opportunities came in the 35th minute when Uruguay striker Darwin Nunez had a clear header in front of goal but mis-timed his effort which flew wide off his shoulder.

Within moments, Brazil created an opening of their own with Raphinha breaking clear, but Uruguay keeper Sergio Rochet stayed tall and made a vital save.

Marcelo Bielsa’s Uruguay were as tenacious as always, harrying Brazil in midfield and never afraid to interrupt their flow with a foul.

Brazil resorted too often to long balls forward but with only their 17-year-old talent Endrick, in for the suspended Vinicius Junior, as a central striker they lacked the physical presence to make that approach effective.

The game deteriorated the longer it went on with foul after foul, not deterred by lenient refereeing.

But Uruguay’s hopes of wearing Brazil down were dealt a blow when Nandez hacked down Rodrygo with a dangerous slide into his ankle and after a VAR review the defender was sent off.

From then on it was clear that Uruguay were simply trying to make it to full-time and penalties and with no extra-time in Copa America, they were able to achieve their aim.

– Tight game –

After Federico Valverde scored with the first spot kick, Eder Militao saw his effort saved by the diving Rochet.

When Douglas Luiz hit the post for Brazil, they trailed 3-1 and Jose Gimenez had the chance to clinch the game for Uruguay. His effort was superbly saved by Alisson Becker.

Substitute Gabriel Martinelli scored to keep Brazil alive but midfielder Manuel Ugarte kept his cool to drive home the decisive kick and send the 15-times Copa champions into the last four.

Bielsa praised his team’s calmness in the shoot-out and their desire during the 90 minutes.

“I’m more seduced by attacking than defending, but I have to appreciate that in a tight game we created one more situation than our opponents, we defended well and we played 15 minutes with one less player, which at this level is a real factor,” he said.

“If you ask me if I’m happy with having created three goal situations in 90 minutes, no, I’m not. But our opponents had two,” he said.

“Today we outplayed Brazil in segments of the game and were outplayed in others,” added the Argentine.

For Brazil the thoughts turn to the need to ensure they make it to the next World Cup after a poor start to CONMEBOL qualifying.

“We leave the tournament undefeated but not satisfied,” said Dorival Junior whose team won once and drew twice in the group stage.

“We didn’t play at a high level from a technical point of view, but I don’t dismiss any of the games. I think there was commitment, fighting spirit. At no time did the team stop going for the result,” he added.

“This process needs patience. We have two years to work before the World Cup. The first thing is to qualify for the World Cup because we are sixth in the (South American qualifiers) and it is a position that makes us uncomfortable,” he said.

The tournament’s final will be held in Miami on July 14.