APC: Consensus ‘ll abridge political space, cause imposition – Ex-gov by Emeka Nze

Former governor of Cross River state and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Clement Ebri has faulted the recent consensus arrangements being mulled by the Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee in the election of its candidates. According to the ex-governor, the arrangement is would abridge the political space, just as it would cause imposition of candidates. Ebri said this Wednesday in Abuja in response to the recent declaration by the Secretary of the Caretaker Committee, Senator John AkpanUdoedehe that the Presidential candidate of APC would emerge by consensus. AkpanUdoedehe had said that the party would present its Presidential candidate for 2023 by consensus why reacting to opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) allegation that President Muhammadu Buhari was plotting a “self-succession”. The position of the Caretaker Committee has attracted criticisms from party members. Ebri, in his reaction said “it will precipitate a crisis of monumental proportions. No organ of the party has the power to abridge the political space. “Note that the President did say only recently that a group of people cannot sit somewhere and decide zoning without mass participation. In the same manner no individual nor groups of persons have the right to opt for consensus without the inputs of the party membership. “Party members must have a sense of ownership around the party constitution. It is patently wrong for the party’s future to be determined and/ or defined by just one organ. “Consensus can also lead to a rash of promissory notes that end up keeping the beneficiary perpetually at the point of a spear owing to his or her inability to implement the terms agreed upon , to the letter.” Speaking further, he said, “Consensus is not a bad idea in choosing candidates if managed properly but it can also provide an avenue for a handful of privileged politicians to manufacture consent and call it party supremacy. The bane of our politics has always been our inability to provide for free and fair electoral contest. At the party level I believe that all that is required is for political parties to organise free, fair and transparent congresses, primaries or conventions. I am yet to see an aspirant who lost a free and fair election question the outcome. “So, for me I believe it is safer for parties to come to terms with perfecting internal democracy rather than shelter behind consensus to perpetrate more evil. “Every aspirant is a potential political athlete and so he or she must be allowed to test his or her popularity rather than remain in a holding pattern that sounds more like a lottery than a competition ground for our best. We must resolve to always put our best foot forward. As the ruling party, the APC must not shy away from parading its best. The younger generation must be given the opportunity to learn political organisation from the older politicians; learn the theatrics of campaigns, the rhetorics and political philosophies of the respective aspirants. That is the best way to grow politics. “A number of us joined politics because we were carried away by the oratorical skills of our forbears in politics. Some others were carried away by their philosophies and so on. That is democracy.”

Naira fluctuates in Abuja after CBN decision on Forex By Nduka Chiejina (Assistant Editor)

Twenty four hours after the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) came down hard on Bureaux De Chnage for allegedly facilitating money laundering and other forex infractions, the Naira has been fluctuating against the dollar in the market in Abuja. Bureaux De Change operators told The Nation the Naira fell to dollar steadily after the announcement by the CBN. An operator Nura told The Nation that they “buy dollar around N507 and N510 while they sell around N512 and N513.” However he noted that it appears the reaction “is not strong as the value of the Naira has started to appreciate by evening time”. Professor Uche Uwaleke of the Nasarawa State university said: “The decision by the CBN to stop forex sales to BDCs has merits and demerits but I think it is in the best interest of the Nigerian economy. “On the positive side, it is consistent with the move by the CBN to unify exchange rates and bring more transparency to the forex market. “Exchange rate unification is in line with the IMF and World Bank’s recommendations and so improves the country’s profile and credit standing before International financial institutions. It signifies that the country is serious in her reform efforts” he said. The CBN decision, he said, “will slow down the rate of depletion in external reserves and will likely check round tripping of forex and reduce supply of forex in the parallel market”. Stopping the sale of Forex to BDCs, he added, “will reduce speculative demand for forex. I am aware that BDCs have been accused of being vehicles for bribery and corruption. This will likely reduce”. A more transparent forex market he stated “will improve confidence in the economy and could lead to increased foreign investments”. On the flip side, this measure he warned could “wipe out the employment opportunities created in the sector with over 5,000 BDCs and several others waiting to be licensed. There is no doubt that many of them will fold up. “Also, the gap between the AFEX rates and parallel market rates is likely to widen further with dollar shortages in BDC and parallel market segments”. Going forward, he urged the CBN to “ensure that purchase of forex via the banks which will now increase is made stress free with minimal documentation. “This is what pushes people to the parallel market. Overall, it is a bold and salutary decision that deserves commendation”.

Why Supreme Court allowed Akeredolu’s election by Abiolapaul

With a split decision of four-to-three, the Supreme Court on Wednesday upheld the victory of Oluwarotimi Akeredolu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the last governorship election in Ondo State. Four Justices, out of a seven-member panel, agreed that the petition filed against Akeredolu’s victory was incompetent because chairman of the National Caretaker Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Governor Mai Mala Buni of Yobe State was not made a party. Justice Emmanuel Agim read the lead majority judgment, which was supported by Justices John Okoro, Lawal Garba and Tijani Abubakar. The other three, Justices Mary Peter-Odili, Ejembi Eko and Mohammed Saulawa, held otherwise in their dissenting minority judgment. The judgment was on the appeal marked: SC/448/21; including the cross-appeals marked: SC/501/21; SC/508/21 and SC/509/21. The candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the election, Eyitayo Jegede and his party had challenged the competence of Akeredolu’s nomination/sponsorship for the election by the APC, claiming the letter conveying his nomination/sponsorship to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was incompetent, having been signed by Buni and others. They contended by the provision of Section 183 of the Constitution and Article 17 (4) of the APC constitution, Buni acted unlawfully by being the Yobe Governor and serving as APC’s Chairman at the same time, and as such the nomination/sponsorship letter of he signed for the APC, notifying INEC of the candidacy of Akeredolu and Lucky Aiydatiwa (as governorship and deputy governorship candidates) was void. In his lead majority judgment, Justice Agim held that, since Jegede and the PDP made Buni the centre of their allegation constitutional breaches, he ought to have been made a party in the case to enable him defend himself in line with the doctrine of fair hearing. He proceeded to uphold an earlier judgment of the Court of Appeal, to the effect that the petition filed by Jegede and his party a the election tribunal was incompetent because they failed to include Buni as a party. Agim said: “The appeal was based on the ground that Mai Mala Buni, the Chairman of the National Caretaker Committee of the party, that is, the second respondent (APC) was holding office as the Governor of Yobe State, contrary to the provision of Section 183 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999). “All the issues raised revolved around Mala Buni. But, Mala Buni,who is at the centre of the dispute was not made party to the petition. It is obvious that the determination of the said issues will affect him. “Therefore, the court below was right to have held that he was a necessary party to this suit. Failure to join him render the determination of the matter impossible. To proceed to do so would have violated the fair trial of the case. “Therefore, we affirm the lower court that the petitioner was incompetent.” Justices Okoro, Garba and Tijani agreed with him. In the lead minority judgment, Justice Peter-Odili upheld the appeal and dismiss the cross-appeals by INEC), aPC Akeredolu and Aiyedatiwa. Odili was of the view that since the APC, for which Buni acted, was a party in the case, there was no need to include him as a party. She added that having allowed Buni to act on its behalf in signing the nomination/sponsorship letter of its candidates in Ondo despite the clare provisions of section 183 of the 1999 Constitution and Article 17(4) of the APC constitution, the party should leave by the consequences of its lawlessness. “I do not agree with the majority judgment,” she said, noting that the APC, by Article 17(4) of its constitution has provided for how its affairs should be manage and what offices its memebrscab occupy at a time. “This Article draws strength from Section 183 of the 1999 Constitution. Therefore when the second respondent (APC) put up a person not qualified to author its nomination by virtue of the provision of Article 1z(4) of its constitution and Section183 of the 1999 Constitution to do so. Therefore, that document has no validity, and thereby void,” she said. She noted the implication was the nomination and candidacy of Akeredolu and his deputy was a nullity. She held that the person, who ought to be declared winner of the election ” is the first appellant (Jegede), who has the majority of valid votes.” Peter-Odili held it was unlawful and a violation of Article 17(4) of the APC constitution and Section 183 of the 1999 Constitution for Buni to be serving as the National Chairman of the APC and the Governor of Yobe State at the same time. Justices Ejembi Eko and Mohammed Saulawa agreed with Justice Peter-Odili in upholding the appeal and dismissing the cross-appeals by INEC, APC, Akeredolu and Aiyedatiwa.

Buhari’s Ally Mustapha Replaces Saraki As Turaki Of Ilorin

Saliu Mustapha, a long-standing friend and supporter of President Muhammadu Buhari, has been named the new Turaki of Ilorin. Naija News reports that the Emir of Ilorin, Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, conferred Mustapha with the title on Thursday. The new Turaki is the founder of Saliu Mustapha Foundation and a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), The late Olusola Saraki once held the title before he was elevated to the position of a Waziri. His son, and a former Senate President, Bukola Saraki, stepped into the father’s shoes between 2006 and 2018. The Younger Saraki was later turbaned as the Waziri, succeeding his father for the second time. Speaking at the event on Thursday, Sulu-Gambari said: “If someone is contributing to the development of the Emirates, we have to reciprocate it by honoring him with a traditional title. In Ilorin Emirates, only someone deserving of a title is conferred with one. It is our way of appreciating their efforts.” “One person we all know that expends all his resources to the growth and development of the Ilorin emirate and its affairs is Saliu Mustapha. I therefore confer him with the traditional title of the Turaki of Ilorin.” The 48-year-old Mustapha is reportedly eyeing the national Chairmanship position of the ruling APC. Others honoured at the event include Ilorin-born Islamic scholars; Sheikh Farouq Suleiman Onikijipa, Professor Yakubu Aliaganm, the state Governor’s elder brother, Dr Alimi AbdulRazaq and Sheikh AbdulRahman Sholagberu.

No country can demarket Nigeria as Dubai’s loss is our gains —Akporiaye

AT the end of the ongoing breakdown in communication created by the United Arab Emirates authorities following its COVID-19 protocols which singled out Nigerian travelers for discriminatory treatment, the Arab nation may be the greatest loser as indications have emerged that the huge passengers traffic hitherto enjoyed by the Dubai authorities from the Nigerian travelers with billions going to its coffers, has now been diverted to Egypt, an African country also known as a tourist destination like Dubai. The communication breakdown between the two countries started early this year when UAE in its determination to prevent a spike in the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic in its country announced the ban of airlines except Emirates from carrying Nigerian passengers into the United Arab Emirates’ country. A circular which emanated from the Dubai Airport Operations Control Center in January this year titled ‘Dubai Travel Protocol Update-Travel from Nigeria’ and dated, Friday, January, 2021, the Dubai authorities had declared: that from February 1, 2021 that all passengers departing from Nigeria to Dubai are required to obtain a negative COVID-19 certificate. Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) should be conducted within 72 hours of the date of departure. According to the new UAE policy, all Nigerian passengers were required to conduct a rapid COVID-19 test and obtain a negative result within four hours of their departure time even while the Dubai government insisted that passengers from Nigeria must travel directly from Nigeria to Dubai while adding that; “No passengers may enter Dubai from any other country /station if they have visited or transited via Nigeria in the last 14 days.” Even after stopping other airlines from flying Nigerian passengers into Dubai coupled with the forceful prevention of the only Nigerian carrier, Air Peace from operating into the Arab country, it was discovered that Emirates airlines still continued to violate the two options discussed with the UAE authorities. Reacting on behalf of the Nigerian government then, the director general of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Captain Musa Nuhu declared: “This is a violation of paragraph five of NCAA letter with Re: NCAA/DG/AIR11/16/281 of 02, February2021 addressed to your good self. The paragraphs clearly states: Based on the foregoing and to enable the Nigerian government to put in place the needed infrastructure and logistics for COVID-19 RTD testing for departing passengers, the PTF has directed that Emirates airlines should either accept passengers without RTD pending when the infrastructure and logistics are put in place or suspend its flights to and from Nigeria until such a time when the required infrastructure and logistics are fully implemented.” The NCAA Director-General had accused Emirates Airlines of not been in compliance with the two options given by the Nigeria’s Presidential Task Force committee on COVID-19 as records obtained from the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (BAMA) indicated that Emirates Airlines operated the following flights from both the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos dated February 3, 2021 with flight UAE784 with aircraft type B777-300 marked A6EEQA and another flight on February 04, 2021 with aircraft type B777-300, flight UAE 784 and marked A6EQC. The airline in violation of the agreement also operated two flights through the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja, dated February 3, 2021 with flight UAE786 and flight: UAE786 with aircraft type B777W marked A6ECV respectively. “This is in addition to an advert by Emirates Airlines (attached) for PTF to conduct RTD that are not approved by the appropriate regulatory bodies and PTF to conduct RTD for departing passengers. Last blow Following the violations of the agreement, the obvious facts that the UAE new policy has mainly targeted Nigerian travellers and coupled with the refusal of the Dubai authorities to come down from their ‘high horse’, Nigeria government retaliated the hostility by also banning Emirates airlines from operating into Nigeria. While the crisis seemed to have been resolved with the Emirates airlines recently announcing plans to resume operations into the country by June 23, 2021, the airline within few hours rescinded its decision saying flight resumption between the two countries had been suspended till further notice. The latest sudden reversal of the UAE airlines earlier decision has sparked anger and hopelessness amongst the Nigerian travelling public including the business class, tour operators, students and leisure travellers. Dubai’s loss is the gain of Egypt As there seems to be no end in sight to the crisis, Nigerians according to investigations may soon call the bluff of the UAE authorities as they have now discovered other countries that may offer them the same interests that had hitherto attracted them to Dubai. The efforts of the Nigerian tour operators to think out of the box as the crisis lingers on with the stubbornness of the UAE authorities to withdraw its unpopular COVID-19 policy targeted at Nigerians has started yielding positive dividends. From the latest information, the Nigerians traveling to Dubai for pleasures and other business interests have now found an alternative in Egypt. Attesting to this fact, President of the National Association Nigerian Travels Agents (NANTA), Mrs Susan Akporiaye in an exclusive interview with the Nigerian Tribune cited how the association has been able to use the African Continental Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) agenda of government to railroad into Egypt. “Am a tour operator, am I losing business to Dubai, yes, but you know interestingly, it’s a case of when one door closes another one opens. I don’t know if you have seen my publication on Egypt Air, its not all bad for us because we have channelled our Dubai passengers to Egypt. What is it that people are looking for in Dubai, we have been able to prove to our members and the traveling public that they can get it in Egypt also? The AfCFTA agenda that NANTA is pushing from the aspect of tourism, promoting traveling within Africa is working because we needed to let our members know that the closure of Dubai is not the end of our business except that particular tour operator or agency does not really want to think outside the box. Ghana is not an alternative route for Nigerians Presently, Nigerians caught up in the crisis have taken their destiny in their hands as they now fulfill their desire to travel to Dubai by going through Accra, Ghana. Reacting, the NANTA President said that the alternative route to Dubai through Ghana is not really an alternative because the cost implication is high as you need to observe the two weeks quarantine in Ghana before you start proceeding to Dubai. “Even if you are not staying in a hotel, you will be staying with friends, may be a sister and you are going to go out and there is a cost on that. Time they say is money and then you will now proceed to Dubai on a five-day, one week or two weeks maximum trip. And for a two weeks trip in Dubai you spend one month away from home, no serious business person is going to do that. What business people do right now is so interesting, with the advent of technology, they are now meeting their clients via zoom to discuss their business, those that want to buy things they discuss it, check out what they want to buy, they pick up their choice, conclude their price and their partners in Dubai ship it for them. No business person will spend one month for a five day trip, it is not economical at all, it’s a lot of time wasting and the percentage of people using this route because of the cost implications is very small, it is not even up to one per cent of the travelling public to Dubai. No country can demarket Nigeria Akporiaye while reacting to the notion that the decision of the UAE to prevent Nigerian travellers from travelling directly to Dubai may be a ploy to divert market from Nigeria to other places like Ghana among others, rejected the school of thought saying “on the ploy to demarket Nigeria, that’s a big laugh because Nigeria can never be demarketed not by Ghana, not by any West African country and not even by any foreign country either. Our strength is our population, we are definitely not where we want to be and a lot of things are still not in place as we wish them to be. But if there is one thing I know about Nigerians is that our strength is in our population, so we can never be demarketed. Fine, Accra has an advantage, it’s making money now but once the face off is over, they will be back to status quo, they are making more money now as every Nigerian passing through there now will run the COVID-19 test on arrival there, they will do the same while going out from Accra to Dubai. Accra is making more money and may be seeing a little more traffic but mind you it’s not only through Accra, Nigerians go through Cotonou and other West African countries, so the few people that are doing this has made the market splitted between the West African countries that have flights to Dubai. And the ploy of demarketing Nigeria is not possible, Nigeria can never be demarketed because there was a recent publication that said for the first time in 33 years that Emirates recorded a loss so if the Accra business was working for them, they won’t record a loss. We stand by FG The tour operator expressed full support for the action of the Nigerian government to ensure Nigerians are treated with respect. “The Federal Government should stand its ground. Honestly, I’m supporting them, you know this is the time to raise our head very high and stand tall. We may have our issues but we shouldn’t be taken advantage of, nobody should treat us anyhow they want; nobody should come up with any policy and dump it on Nigerians. We have issues like every other country, our own issues might be more, o yes, but we still have our pride as citizens of Nigeria. So to our government, I will say kudos to them, let them not back down until they come to a place to ensure whatever decisions the UAE is giving is what is acceptable by Nigerians, they should not accept anything less than Nigerians being treated with respect. We need to be treated with respect. So we need to continue to stand with our head tall until we win this battle. I’m a tour operator, am I losing business to Dubai, yes but you know interestingly, it’s a case of when one door closes another one opens. I don’t know if you have seen my publication on Egypt air, it’s not all bad for us because we have channelled our Dubai passengers to Egypt. What is it that people are looking for in Dubai, we have been able to prove to our members and the travelling public that they can get it in Egypt also.

Experts blame Govs, NDDC for oil-producing communities’ underdevelopment By Obas Esiedesa

As the controversy surrounding the provision of just three percent of operator’s expenditure as funding for oil-producing communities in the Petroleum Industry Bill rages, energy experts have blamed state governors in the region and the Niger Delta Development, NDDC, for the lack of development in the communities. They also blamed poor performance by the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs for the challenges in the region. Speaking to the Vanguard on Tuesday in Abuja at the sidelines of the ongoing 14th annual conference of the Nigerian Association of Energy Economics, NAEE, immediate past President NAEE, Prof. Wumi Iledare urged oil-producing communities to hold their state governors responsible for the underdevelopment in the area. Prof. Iledare who is the current GNPC Petroleum Commerce Chair in Oil and Gas Studies, University of Cape Coast, Ghana, said the 13 percent derivation, NDDC, and Ministry of Niger Delta Affair revenue allocations were all meant for the development of oil host communities. He explained: “I think the host communities are not being fair to themselves. If they are fair to themselves, they will hold their state governors responsible for not developing the host communities. The NDDC is meant for the host communities, the derivation fund is meant for the host communities, the Ministry of Niger Delta is meant for the host communities. Hold the governors responsible. “You are leaving the people that are stopping the development of host communities alone and you are blaming somebody else. The money for the development of host communities is given to the oil-producing region on annual basis significantly, including the state budget. That is what should be surrendered to them and it begins with the state assembly”. On the agitation by some sections of the host communities for 10 percent equity, Prof. Iledare stated: “It is stochastic because if you have equity in a business the only thing you get is dividend. And dividend depends on retained earnings. No profit, no dividend, and what determines profit is the cost. “And at the end of the year, the companies can decide to retain a significant portion of their earnings. If you are a shareholder, and they carry you because you have equity and you don’t put money down, that means the cost they incur for carrying you must be developed. “Three percent is better than nothing”, he added. On her part, the President of NAEE, Prof. Yinka Omorogbe noted that three percent provisions remained a good deal, observing that controversial sections could be amended in the future. According to her, not having the PIB or further delay in its passage and assent was not an option given the dynamics of the oil and gas industry. She said: “My opinion is premised on the fact that there is no alternative to a total reform of the Nigerian oil industry if Nigeria is ever to realise its full potentials. There has never been. Every draft of the PIB has been controversial. “In fact, controversies surrounding it are the reasons that the process has dragged on for so long, and in the meantime, the nation has suffered, with dwindling investments in Nigeria, particularly in the Nigerian oil and gas sector. However, the world is not waiting for Nigeria and can actually do without Nigerian crude”. Mrs. Omorogbe observed that “as the nation debates the Bill, it is necessary to focus on its actual contents and not on interpretations that are not always supported by fact. “It is important for those who can, to come out with actual numbers and eschew the present discussions on percentages, based on the perception that they refer to the same thing when in fact they do not. Daily we hear about 3% as against 30%”. She stressed that the funding process for new frontier basins and for host communities was significantly different with the host communities funding almost equating what is currently obtainable. Vanguard News Nigeria

Inadequate funding impacts negatively on education – Agbonlahor

December 8, 2010 Air Commodore Augustine Agbonlahor (RTD) is the president of Immaculate Conception College Benin Old Boys Association (ICCOBA), Lagos Branch; he spoke recently to Vanguard on the education system of the country and other national issues. Excerpts. Can you tell us a little bit about yourself and your childhood I joined the Nigeria Air Force (NAF) as a potential pilot in 1973 and was commissioned as a Regular Combatant officer with the rank of Pilot Officer on 20 December 1975. I had flying and administrative training in the NAF. As a pilot and a flying instructor I flew over 4000 flying hours. I participated in ECOMOG operations in the Liberia war and as well held a number of command appointments, which include; Military Airport Commandant Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Commander military airlift group and various Nigerian Air Force Units. I retired from military Service in 2007 as an air commodore. I also bagged a master degree in business administration. Air Commodore Augustine Agbonlahor (RTD) I have been the President of Immaculate Conception College Benin City Old Boys Association for 8 years and counting. I am married to Mrs Christy Agbonlahor and we are blessed with 5 children What is your view about Secondary School Education today in comparison to your time. I can say in my time it was of better standard as there were quality and devoted teachers, good teacher to students’ ratio, well equipped laboratories, absence of strikes and good students’ discipline and performance. Today, political pressure, younger intakes, exposure to various vices and inadequate funding impacting negatively on SSE. Notwithstanding, advancement in ICT, state of the art facilities and rapid growth of private secondary schools have added quality to today’s SSE. With good governance and a well articulated and stable National Education policy SSE today should equal if not surpass that of my time. What distinguish Immaculate Conception College from others. Immaculate Conception College was a premier, prestigious and well rounded institution. As a Catholic mission school moral education was at its best which engender high discipline, honesty and hard work. The students never lost focus on the School’s motto: “ Semper et ubique fidelis” meaning Always and everywhere be faithful. The results of these enviable character traits enhanced intellectual development. The staff composed the best teachers around who spared no time in molding the students for higher leadership and professional responsibilities for their future careers. Of course the school result for many years was 100% with high grades in the core subjects. It also excelled in sports both the football and athletics. How did the values at ICC impact on your military career. The values imbibed at ICC had a profound impact on my military career. The hallmark of the military profession is discipline and having been well grounded on the attribute of discipline, honesty, hard work at ICC, I blended seamlessly into the job. Don’t forget that respect for our seniors in ICC was sacrosanct just as it is in the military. All the values helped me to be loyal, respect constituted authority and to remain focused on my task as an air force officer. Sports in Nigeria is a Unifying factor, what was Sports like in ICC. Sports was great in ICC as I said earlier. It was played with passion. The authority of the School encouraged it and provided first class infrastructure and facilities. Even sport like Rugby which was not popular then and now in Nigeria was introduced and played by the students. The school excelled in football and athletics and won many prize trophies. What memorable incident can you recall about ICC. Hmm…. what I recall right now is when I won the best prize for mathematics in class 3. I had missed it the year before to my friend and competitor in the subject and he boasted he was going to do it again and we placed a bet. I devoted extra hours to the subject and leapt for joy when I was at the end called as the recipient of the prize and of course I won the bet. How does the Lagos Branch effectively harmonize Developmental effort with the National Body. The National Body which has its headquarters in Benin orchestrates the outstanding projects of the School and then decides on which project to undertake or assign to its branches to execute. Where it undertakes a project it calls for contribution of funds from its branches. Also the Branch can select and execute from the list of projects in consultation with the National body and the School. What has ICCOBA Lagos Branch achieved this year that the students will remember. We have continued to support our alma mater and this year we contributed to the renovation and equipping of the Biology Laboratory which has been completed and put into use by the students. Air Commodore Augustine Uyinmwen Agbonlahor passed on to glory on July 20th, 2021. May his gentle soul continue to rest in perfect peace. Amen.