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Part 1: Moderating Effect Of Big4 On Audit Committee Characteristics And Financial Performance Of Quoted Nigerian Industrial Goods Companies- By Emmanuel Huleji Daudu, Edogbanya, Adejoh Ph.D.

EMMANUEL Huleji Dauda and EDOGBANYA,Adejoh Ph.D.
daudupress@gmail.com and adejoh17@yahoo.com.

Abstract
The primary role of the audit committee is to supervise the internal process of preparing financial reports and ensure that the conflict of interest between management and shareholders is minimized by instituting internal control mechanisms so as to enhance overall performance of the firms. A function that is critical for the survival of every business. Against this background, this study examines the Moderating effect of Big4 on Audit Committee and Financial Performance of Quoted Nigerian Industrial Goods Companies in Nigeria from 2011-2020. Audit Committee was proxied by Audit Committee Diligence, Audit Committee Financial Expertise, and Audit Committee Gender Diversity.

Financial Performance was measured by Return on Asset. The population and the sample size are the same Twenty-One Industrial Goods Companies Quoted on the Nigerian Exchange as at 31st December, 2020. The data were sourced from the financial statements of the companies. Descriptive statistics, Pearson Correlation, Shapiro-Wilk data normality test and Heteroskedasticy test were the diagnostic tests conducted. The analysis was by Pooled Ordinary Least Square multiple regression method. It was recommended that there is significant relationship between audit committee characteristics and financial performances, companies should ensures expertise are seriously considered in formation of audit committee of any corporation.
Keywords: Audit Committee, Financial Performance, Return on Assets, Moderating Variable.

Introduction

Audit committee is a central element of one of such reforms engendered by corporate governance practice that can improve the quality of financial reporting through an open and candid communication and a good working relationship with a company’s board of directors, internal auditors and external auditors (Mustafa, 2012). The existence of an appropriately constituted audit committee is now a necessity for all listed companies in Nigeria. According to CAMA (2020) Section 359 (4) as amended,(2020) the make-up of the statutory audit committee shall consist of an equal number of directors and representatives of the shareholders of the company subject to a maximum number of six members (Eriabie & Izedonmi, 2016). For the purpose of this study, audit committee referred to is the statutory audit committee.

Audit committee is an important corporate governance mechanism designed to ensure that a company produces relevant, adequate and credible information that investors as well as independent observers can use to assess company performance with high reliability (Bansal & Sharma, 2016).

The Audit committee’s establishment comes as a solution to the corporate scandal that was rocking numerous companies across the globe. For instance, in Nigeria, Chief Executives of Oceanic, Afribank and Intercontinental Banks were found guilty of high level fraud running into billions of Naira and money laundering cases while, the CEO of Cadbury Plc and Lever Brothers (now Unilever Plc), an Anglo-Dutch company were accused of doctoring their financial statements (Afolabi & Amupitan, 2015; Chukwunedu et al. 2013). These crises arose despite the fact that their books of accounts were certified to be true and fair representation of their financial position by external auditors.

The most important roles of the audit committee include overseeing the financial reporting process and monitoring the management since management intends to manipulate figures for their own interest (Al-Mamun et al., 2014). The Audit Committee could be either Board audit committee or statutory audit committee electable only by the Annual General Meetings (AGM). Audit committee is a central element of one of such reforms engendered by corporate governance practice that can improve the Profitability by ensuring strict internal control and fostering a good working relationship with a company’s board of directors, internal auditors and external auditors (Mustafa, 2012).

The existence of an appropriately constituted audit committee is now a necessity for all listed companies in Nigeria. According to CAMA (2004) as amended in 2020, Section 359 (4) the make-up of the statutory audit committee shall consist of an equal number of directors and representatives of the shareholders of the company subject to a maximum number of six members (Eriabie & Izedonmi, 2016). For the purpose of this study, audit committee referred to is the statutory audit committee.

Audit Committee Diligence refers to the level of commitment exercised by the members of the audit committee can be measured by the number of meeting they hold in an accounting year. The Nigerian Code of Corporate Governance (2018) states in Section 11.4.5 that the committee should meet at least once every quarter and in Section 11.4.8 added that at least, once in a year, the committee should hold a discussion with the head of the internal audit function and the external auditors without the presence of management, to facilitate an exchange of views and concerns that may not be appropriate for open discussion. Common sense dictates that the more regularly the members of an audit committee meet, the better for the company as issues demanding their attention would not pile up or remain unattended to for a long time thereby assisting the internal control system as a whole to function effective, thereby remain a factor that affects financial performance.

Audit Committee Financial Expertise refers to the proportion of the committee members with a good knowledge of accounting and finance. Financial experts inclusion in audit committee was first recognized under Section 359 (3) and (4) of CAMA 2004 (as amended) and was further reflected in the SEC code of 2011 mandating that at least one of the audit committee members should have sound knowledge in financial and accounting matters (Osemene & Fakile, 2018). Section 11.4.2 of the Nigerian Code of Corporate Governance (2018) puts it succinctly clear that all members of the audit committee should be financially literate and should be able to read and understand financial statements and that at least one member of the committee should be a financial expert in accounting and financial management and be able to interpret financial statements.

Audit Committee Gender Diversity refers to the differences in the number of male and female members of the audit committee of companies. There has been a steady demand for female representation on corporate boards and hence audit committees since the Benjing declaration in 1995 where it was argued that women have not been given their rightful place in corporate governance (Omotoye et al., 2021). This call finds support in the Resource dependency theory which aligns with the view that inclusion of women on the board would afford the firm different ideas, views and experience. Audit committee gender diversity which is concerned with the presence of women on audit committee has the potential of influencing financial performance since it has been argued according to Wakaba (2014), that women are more likely to be through and vigilant in their statutory responsibilities and therefore detect misstatements and fraud easily.

The main objective of this study will be to examine the Moderating effect of Audit Firm Type on Audit Committee and Financial Performance of quoted Industrial Goods Companies in Nigeria, while the specific objectives are to:

I. Establish the effect of Audit Committee Diligence and Financial Performance of Quoted Industrial Goods Companies in Nigeria.
II. Determine the effect of Audit Committee Financial Expertise on Financial Performance of Quoted Industrial Goods Companies in Nigeria.

I. Investigate the Audit Committee Gender Diversity on Financial Performance of Quoted Industrial Goods Companies in Nigeria.
In order to achieve the stated objectives of this study, the following null hypotheses were developed:
I. Audit Committee Diligence does not have significant effect on Financial Performance of Industrial Goods Companies in Nigeria;
II. Audit Committee Financial Expertise has no significant effect on Financial Performance of Industrial Goods Companies in Nigeria;
III. Audit Committee Gender Diversity shows no significant effect on Financial Performance of Industrial Goods Companies in Nigeria;
2 Conceptual Review of the Study
The conceptual framework of this study is made up of the independent variable (Audit Committee) proxied by Audit Committee Diligence (ACD), Audit Committee Financial Expertise (ACFE), and Audit Committee Gender Diversity (ACGD), the dependent variable Financial Performance measured by Return on Asset (ROA).

Concept Audit Committee
Qeshta et al. (2021) refer to an Audit Committees as a supervisory body on behalf of all stakeholders that is mandated to ensure financial information’s trustworthiness by creating a management-free environment where external auditors can certify the company’s accounts and financial statements, adding that an audit committee must have the competence and be empowered to perform its role as a catalyst for implementing, observing and maintaining acceptable corporate governance practices to benefit all stakeholders and management. Olayinka (2019) reports that Audit Committees establish checks and balances in the internal control system through the association of internal auditors and external auditors to ensure that the management comply with the laid down rules. Salloum et al. (2014) maintain that Audit Committee is to assist the board of directors in effective management monitoring with the aim of protecting the interest of the shareholders.

Samoei and Rono (2016) note that Audit committees have a significant impact on the financial performance of a firm because they act as watchdogs and can prevent fraudulent financial reporting by ensuring that the financial statement reflects the actual state of affairs on the ground.

Audit committees play an important role in supervising and monitoring the management of the company in order to protect the interests of the owners (Oroud, 2019). The audit committee, in the opinion of Arshad et al. (2011) is a critical link between a firm’s financial reporting function and its external shareholders, noting that when this link is compromised, it can lead to even larger corporate governance failures. Olayinka (2019) also affirms that firms with high-quality audit committees are less likely to have internal control weaknesses which will adversely affect financial performance than firms with low-quality audit committees. For the purpose of this study, Audit Committee characteristics are Audit Committee Size, Audit Committee Independence, Audit Committee Financial Expertise and Audit Committee Gender Diversity

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Courtesy Visit: MD NAMA receives in audience ATACA Exco

… Says with primary radar facility, Nigeria will achieve total coverage

Director General of the the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Mr. Lawrence Pwajok on Thursday received in audience the Executive Members of The Abuja Transport and Aviation Correspondents Association (ATACA).

Speaking during the meeting the NAMA Boss who was elated about the visit used the opportunity to explain trending issues on the aviation infrastructure development by the President Muhammadu Buhari’s regime.

He disclosed that NAMA is procuring a primary radar facility that can detect unauthorized helicopters and other aircraft even when they turn off their transponders.

“The facility already being procured will complement the current secondary radar which doesn’t have the capability to detect low flying aircraft and aircraft that turn off their transponders to avoid being detected”, Pwajok said.

He further added that with the facility Nigeria would have the capability of achieving total radar coverage and no part of Nigeria will be blind to security watch.

According to him: The primary radar has the capacity to detect every flying object, whether it wants to be seen or not but unfortunately, it requires a whole lot of power and energy which makes it expensive. So, for civil aviation, they are deployed within very busy and complex airspace like Lagos, Abuja, Kano, and Port Harcourt.

He further explained that in 2008/09 when the Total Radar Coverage of Nigeria (TRACON) was installed, the military was supposed to also have its own using the Primary radar system but the huge costs involved made implementation almost impossible.

“The civil and military aviation would appreciate the funding of primary radar that would be total as both can interface on its usage and the benefits are humongous”, MD NAMA concluded.

Also speaking, the ATACA Chairman, Mr Oru Leonard Oru who led the Exco team, applauded the NAMA Boss for his passion, zeal and commitment in managing the Agency, the national airspace infrastructure and operations.

Mr Oru said ATACA has come to identify areas of collaboration and join hands with Mr Lawrence Pwajok led NAMA, to achieve or surpass It’s mandate.

ATACA Chairman therefore requested for closer regular updates, interactions and urgent technical training for ATACA members to enhance information dissemination and proper reportage.

In the last two months of assuming office the New ATACA Executive Team has been engaging stakeholders to seek ways of enhancing collaboration and building capacity.

ECOWAS Commission Assesses ownership & implementation of Revised Operational Manual for ECOWAS National Office in Senegal

Delegation led by the Director of External Relations of the ECOWAS Commission, Mr. Jérôme BOA

In the context of efforts to ensure consistency and coherence in the ownership and implementation of the Revised Operational Manual for the ECOWAS National Offices, an ECOWAS delegation began the first leg of its three-countries (Senegal, Ghana, and Côte d’Ivoire) assessment mission with a working session with the ECOWAS National Office in Dakar, Senegal from 12th to 13th April 2023.

The assessment was aimed at ascertaining the level of support and commitment of the Member States in their implementation of the Revised Operational Manual as well as to identify challenges and constraints that could emerge from its ownership so as to put in place corrective measures.

The Revised Operational Manual was adopted by the Council of Ministers in December 2021 in Abuja, Nigeria.

The Assessment team was led by Mr. Jerome BOA, Director of External Relations and supported by officials from the Directorate of External Relations.

The team met with Amb. Stephan Sylvain SAMBOU, Head of the ECOWAS National Office in Senegal and Amb. Jean Antoine DIOUF, Chief of Staff of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Senegalese Abroad, who was previously the Head of ECOWAS National Office in Senegal.

Amb. Stephan Sylvain Sambou, welcomed the assessment team and expressed his deep gratitude for the assessment mission as it offered the opportunity to identify areas for improvement in the ownership and implementation the Manual. Leveraging on his experience as the former Head of ECOWAS National Office, Amb. Diouf noted that there is a need for enhanced flow of communication between the Commission and ECOWAS National Offices.

He also highlighted the importance of synergy and coordination in enhancing ECOWAS visibility at the national level. He reiterated the commitment of the Senegalese Government H.E. Madame Aissata TALL SALL, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Senegalese Abroad, towards supporting the 4X4 objectives of the ECOWAS Management and ECOWAS Vision 2050.

Mr. Jerome Boa briefed the Senegalese interlocutors about the Revised Operational Manual and reassured them of the continuing availability of the Commission and the Directorate of External Relations in supporting the ECOWAS National Office as it implements and operationalises the Revised Manual. He also used the opportunity to update the ECOWAS National Offices about the Aid Management Platform (AMP) being developed at the

Commission as information and communication tool to enable the Commission and Member states through the ECOWAS National Offices and Development Partners to gather access, and monitor information on regional partners’ projects, with the overarching goal of increasing aid effectiveness. The AMP aims to help users to track specific projects through the planning, implementation, and evaluation stages. Furthermore, its features such as online workspaces, data entry, reporting, interactive dashboards and maps provide the Commission and Member states with strategic information for efficient decision-making.

The Assessment team also took a detour of the ECOWAS National Office in Senegal with view to review the physical and staff complement of the office in line with the provisions of Article 2 of the Revised Operational Manual.

The observations and recommendations of the Assessment team as well as the suggestions for improving the ownership and implementation of the Revised Operational made by the Senegalese interlocutors will be shared with the other ECOWAS National Offices and the Commission. From Senegal, the assessment team will proceed to Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire.

UNESCO Laureate Congratulates Prof Asaolu On His Appointment As Pioneer VC, University Of Ilesa

…UNESCO Laureate, and Vice-Chancellor Crown University Int’l Chartered Inc.,

…Prof Sir Bashiru Aremu, has congratulated Prof Taiwo Olufemi Asaolu as the pioneer Vice-Chancellor of University…

UNESCO Laureate, and Vice-Chancellor Crown University Int’l Chartered Inc., Prof Sir Bashiru Aremu, has congratulated Prof Taiwo Olufemi Asaolu as the pioneer Vice-Chancellor of University of Ilesa, Osun State Nigeria.

This was contained in a press statement personally signed by Aremu on Monday and made available to journalists by his Assistant on Media, Publicity and Communication Matters, Comrade Sir Bieni Victor Emenike.

Aremu urged the new institution’s VC to lead with the fear of God.

“Congratulations My Dearest Distinguished Most Senior Professor of Accounting. Congratulations once again on your new appointment as pioneer Vice-Chancellor, University of Ilesa, Osun State, Nigeria. I wish you long life, good health, wisdom, fear of God, happiness, prosperity and future success as you assume office in your new appointment.

“I, UNESCO Laureate World Acclaimed Distinguished Universities Research Professor Sir Bashiru Aremu can attest to you capacity to deliver on your new appointment as pioneer Vice-Chancellor of University of Ilesa, Osun State, Nigeria. He served as Head, Department of Management and Accounting and Coordinator, Executive MBA Programme for 5 years between 2008 and 2014. He was elected to serve as the Dean, Faculty of Administration between 2014 and 2016.

“He has published over 60 journal articles and textbooks covering different areas of Accounting, Management and Entrepreneurs. He attended primary and secondary schools in Ibadan and sat for the WASCE in 1980. He attended the University of Ife in 1983 to study Accounting and graduated in 1987.

“He completed his PG.D (Computer Science) in 1990, MBA in 1993, M. Phil in 2001 and Ph. D in 2004. He was promoted Senior Lecturer in 1996, Reader in 2005 and Professor of Accounting in 2008. Prof. Asaolu is currently a Council Member of the Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers and once served as a member of the Governing Board of the Administrative Staff College of Nigeria (ASCON).

“Prof. Asaolu has visited countries like USA, UK, Singapore, China, Canada, India, South Africa, Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia, Ghana, Gambia, Senegal, UAE, and others. He has successfully supervised more than 30 Ph. D holders and over 200 M. Sc/ M. Phil graduates. 6 of his Ph. D students are full professors today to the glory of God. Professor Asaolu is married, has 6 children and 4 grandchildren,” the statement read in part.

NiMeT alerts public against fake FB, Whatsapp, LinkedIn, emails, phone numbers for DG, Prof Matazu

By Emmanuel Daudu

The management of Nigerian Meteorological Agency, (NiMet) has dissociate itself from the Facebook, WhatsApp, LinkedIn, email, phone numbers created on behalf it’s Director-General, Prof Mansur Bako Matazu and warned unsuspecting public against such accounts.

This is to notify the general public that some unscrupulous persons have created fake Facebook, WhatsApp, LinkedIn accounts as well as email and phone numbers for the Director General/CEO of Prof. Mansur Bako Matazu and have been using such to defraud the innocent unsuspecting public.

NiMeT, in a statement singed by the General Manager of Public Relations Department, Mallam Muntari Yusuf Ibrahim, advised the public against falling prey to such accounts by unscrupulous elements for the Nigerian Meteorological Agency.
“The general public is therefore advised to be careful of these people.
Any enquires should be directed through our website or using our mail, info@nimet.gov.ng”
While pledging our continuous services, to stakeholders and the general public, we assure you that the relevant security agencies have been notified and are on the trail of those committing this act.

“They will soon be caught and made to face the wrath of the law”, the statement added.

WHO marks it’s 75th anniversary alongside it’s day

Today is World Health Day, and this year’s commemoration also marks the 75th anniversary of the founding of the World Health Organisation (WHO).

Founded in 1948, WHO is the United Nations’ agency that connects nations, partners and people to promote health, keep the world safe and serve the vulnerable – so everyone, everywhere can attain the highest level of health and well-being. 

It works with 194 Member States, including Nigeria, across six regions with more than 150 offices.

The organisation said in the past 75 years, there has been progress in protecting people from diseases and destruction, including smallpox eradication, reducing the incidence of polio by 99%, saving millions of lives through childhood immunization, decline in maternal mortality and improving health and well-being for millions more.

Five Kannywood actresses who dated their colleagues

Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, said the history of WHO demonstrates what is possible when nations come together for a common purpose.

“We have much to be proud of, but much work to do to realise our founding vision of the highest attainable standard of health for all people. We continue to face vast inequities in access to health services, major gaps in the world’s defences against health emergencies, and threats from health harming products and the climate crisis. We can only meet these global challenges with global cooperation.”

He urged countries to take urgent action to protect, support and expand the health workforce as a strategic priority. Investments in education, skills and decent jobs for health need to be prioritised to meet the rapidly growing demand for health services and avert a projected shortage of 10 million health workers by 2030; primarily in low- and middle-income countries.

WHO says looking forward to the next 75 years and close to the turn of the next century, a renewed commitment to health equity will be the key to addressing future health challenges. “In the shadow of the COVID-19 pandemic, WHO’s roadmap to recovery includes an urgent paradigm shift towards promoting health and well-being and preventing disease by addressing its root causes and creating the conditions for health to thrive.’’

The WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Matshidiso Moeti said 75 years ago, WHO was founded with an ambitious objective, “the attainment of all peoples of the highest possible level of health.”

She said important achievements have been realised towards the aspirations of the leaders who founded WHO.

“Smallpox, which claimed an estimated 300 million lives in the 20th century alone, has been eradicated. Since 1974, millions of children have received life-saving vaccines and other child survival interventions. In 2020, the WHO Africa Region received certification for eradicating wild polioviruses.

“Scaling up essential health services and coverage with key interventions has yielded results. Between 2011 and 2021, new HIV infections in the WHO African Region were reduced by 44% and AIDS-related deaths by 55%. TB deaths in the region fell by 26% between 2015 and 2021. Simultaneously, healthy life expectancy in the African Region increased on average by 10 years per person between 2000 and 2019,” she said.

She said although most Member States in the African Region have integrated the attainment of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) as a central goal of their national health strategies, progress remains varied in translating this into equitable and quality services as well as increasing financial protection for the population.

Dr Moeti said, “About half of Africa’s citizens (48%) – some 672 million people – still do not have access to the health care they need. This results from weak health systems characterised by inadequate health infrastructure; poorly designed policies to limit financial barriers to health services; shortage of qualified health workers; inadequate access to quality medicines, medical products, and innovative technologies.”

Nigeria’s experience

The WHO representative to Nigeria, Dr Walter Kazadi Mulombo said the organization in collaboration with the government have been achieving notable strides in keeping the people safe and serving vulnerable population, in such areas as combatting infectious diseases, HIV treatment, reducing maternal mortality, increase in life expectancy, and supporting disease eradication.

He said some notable achievements recorded in Nigeria include the eradication of smallpox.

“In 1969, the WHO effort in Nigeria was historical during the interruption of the smallpox outbreak in the country. A key element in the eradication effort was the surveillance-containment strategy, which was first tested in Nigeria in 1966, and led to its adoption throughout the world.

“This paved a way for the 33rd World Health Assembly to adopt a resolution accepting the report of the Global Commission for the Certification of Smallpox Eradication in May 1980.

“Nigeria was certified Guinea worm free by WHO in December 2013. A recent milestone is Nigeria and the WHO AFRO Region were certified wild polio-free in August 2020, creating WPV free environment to children to prevent paralysis.’’

He said WHO Nigeria implemented Accountability Framework to monitor its 2000+ Polio workforce at field level. This has significantly contributed to the WPV eradication from Nigeria.

“Currently, WHO Nigeria is supporting the government in interrupting (circulating vaccine derived polio virus type 2) cVDPV2 outbreak. In 2022, 84% reduction in cVDPV2 was registered.

“In 2014, WHO supported Nigeria to successfully respond to the Ebola virus disease; making it a best practice that is widely cited in scientific cycles.’’

Similarly, WHO has been supporting the government across all levels to build the capacity of health workers to improve health resources and services provided in the country.

WHO’s role in tackling HIV

WHO’s Technical Officer in charge of HIV and Viral Hepatitis, Dr Funke Ilesanmi Odunlade said over 90 per cent of the people living with HIV in Nigeria has been discovered, and over majority of them has been placed on treatment. “This has been made possible because the country actually adopted the WHO treat all policy, which means everybody living with HIV is put on treatment and this has actually helped to increase the quality of life for people living with HIV.”

She said a notable feat of WHO and other partners support is the extension of services to the communities thereby providing access for women and children who don’t come to health facilities.

She said WHO worked with the government for inclusion of viral hepatitis in the immunisation schedule while with worked against polio.

Malaria vaccine introduction

Lynda Ozor, Malaria Programme Manager , WHO said Nigeria has witnessed reduction in malaria prevalence. “In 2010 the prevalence was 42 per cent, just in the space of less than 10 years, it had come down to 2021 that is unprecedented given the sheer size of the country. This could not have been achieved without the introduction of new tools and a combination of tools that work.”

She said malaria vaccine is the latest tool in the block and that Nigeria has applied for in the current window that is closing on April 19. “We’re hoping that by 2024 we will have the introduction of the malaria vaccine in the country,” she said.

She said with WHO’s support the strategic policy in Nigeria was now focused on everyone.

It is helping to address manpower shortage -Ojo

Dr Olumuyiwa Ojo said WHO recently came up with the new safeguards list a list of 55 countries (including Nigeria) that are most impacted by shortage of health workers. He said it calls for support for health workforce development and health system strengthening.

He said WHO’s support for the health workforce in the country helped enhanced access to care, ensured retention of manpower where they are needed most and also improved their training and remuneration.

Speaking on the impact of WHO, Prof Oyewale Tomori, a renowned virologist and public health expert said: “The health of the world would have been in a worse situation without the WHO. At least, none thinks anymore of the dreaded and terrible smallpox, now eradicated with WHO’s leadership guidance and coordination. Soon the world will be free of poliomyelitis, another disease slated for eradication, by the WHO.

“There have been improvements in standards of living….My generation survived by CHANCE…But with WHO, this generation has a CHOICE of several interventions for a longer better and healthier life. “

To fully attain the status of health within the next 75 years, he said, “very much more needs to be done, not just by the WHO, but especially by individual governments and communities. The challenges are multifactorial, far beyond what WHO alone can handle…Climate change, under funding of health systems and activities, social inequities, political inadequacy and irresponsibility. There is the need for an all-inclusive commitment.”

The Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, thanked WHO for its support for Nigeria over the years.“ I want to congratulate the WHO on this 75th anniversary of active service to humanity and to thank WHO for supporting the entire health sector in Nigeria technically and financially these years.”

Source: Daily Trust

NGO shares 360 crutches to people with disability in Karumajigi

By Emmanuel Daudu

A nongovernmental organization, Poverty and Disability Initiative in Nigeria, (PADIN) has lamented the increased rate of poverty among people living with disability in Nigeria while promising to contribute their quota in filling the gap as it shared 360 crutches to people living with disability

This much was said by the president and founder of the NGO, Olatunji Oladaya Lincoln while speaking with our correspondent on Saturday during the occasion of the distribution of crutches to people living with disability at the Disable colony, Karumajigi, a suburb in the Federal Capital Territory.

He maintained that there has been a lot of talk about taking care of the disabled once in Nigeria but nothing much has been done by the Government to alleviate the suffering of these persons, which he said prompted their Organization in collaboration with their partner, NCGI to donate crutches to them, with the promise to make more deliveries in the nearest future.

He explained further, “I was born as a person with a disability, and if you look at over thirty million Nigerians that are persons with disabilities, we need people to fill the gap for them. The rate of poverty increases within the range of these persons within the disabled community is very high and alarming. Thank God I had the privilege to have gone to school.

“And as the person with a disability that I am, I think I have to represent the thirty million people, I have to fill the gap too which is why you saw me here doing this for my people. They are my people.”

Also speaking at the event, Mr. Taiwo Ibukun Oluwa Okpeyo who is one of the volunteers for NCGI Nigeria, said, “Today we are partnering with PADIN to distribute crutches for disabled people here. Our main aim and objective are to help people living with disability by giving them clutches, walking aides, and wheelchairs, and again we cater for elderly persons in our society. Most people have one form of deformity or the other.

Meanwhile, the project Director of PADIN, Christina Obinna Okafor explained why the choice of Karumajigi for the delivery of the clutches,

“We discovered that this Karumajigi is actually the disability colony in Abuja. This is where you have the majority of people living with a disability residing. So rather than going about seeking disabled people on the street we felt it is better we can come here. When you talk to the chief there is actually somebody who is the leader of the people living with disability here which makes it easier to reach out to all manner of people living with disability, because they have them on record. Like you have seen they actually have the list, they have it typed out and it made our work easier.

She explained further that the joy they see on the faces of the recipients is what motivates them to want to do more, “As you saw on the NCJI T-shirt, we are sharing love, we are sharing passion, and we are sharing joy. It’s unbelievable the relief you see on the faces of these people. As we tagged it UNBURDEN, we are actually lifting off the burden of having to look for proteases for these people, because I don’t know when you look at them to get proteases like the crutches, or the wheelchairs it’s quite expensive. And so when you have these things and you can give it out to them you are actually lifting lots of loads.

The Country Director of PADIN in Nigeria, Paul Mubuchi Ogbonna on his part stressed that the job of trying to alleviate the suffering of the people living with a disability does not end at shearing crutches, “As a matter of fact we are going to be bringing a lot of things on the table like entrepreneurship. We are going to bring such things to the table to make them understand that they can be more useful to themselves despite their disability. We plan to move a lot of them out off the street and empower them, giving them entrepreneurship spirit. And it all starts with teaching. Once you can impart knowledge and education into someone you have helped the person.

About 360 crutches were shared to the persons living with disability at Karumajigi on Saturday.

Troops Of Op. Hadarin Daji Neutralise Bandits, Recover Arms Ammunitions In Zamfara, Katsina States

By Emmanuel Daudu

In the early hours of 8 April 2023, troops of Operation HADARIN DAJI conducted offensive operations to the hideout of some Bandits’ kingpins at Yartasha and Chabi villages in Maru Local Government Area of Zamfara State.

According to Major General Musa Danmadami, Director Defence Media Operations, Defence Headquarters in a press release he signed on the
9 April 2023, stated that troops made contact with the kingpins and their foot soldiers and in an attempt to escape, troops neutralized two (2 )bandits, arrested one (1) while others fled.

In another development, on the same day troops conducted ambush operations on bandits conveying large quantities of rustled animals at DAN MARKE village in KANKARA Local Government Area of Katsina State. Troops in ambush positions neutralized one (1 ) bandits while others fled with gunshots injuries. Troops recovered two (2) AK 47 rifles, one hundred and fifty (150) rustled cattles, forty (40) rustled sheeps amongst other items.

The military high command commends troops of Operation HADARIN DAJI and encourages the general public to avail troops with credible and timely information on criminal activities.

Insecurity: Troops neutralize scores of Boko Haram terrorists

By Emmanuel Daudu

The Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Musa Danmadami, has stated that the military troops have neutralized scores of Boko Haram and Islamic West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorist groups and recovered N2.3 million in the North-East zone of the country.

He added that 974 terrorists and their family members surrendered to troops in the Northeast in the past two weeks.

The troops conducted both kinetic and non-kinetic operations in the various theatres of operations, with significant outcomes recorded.

Major General Danmadami also condemned those Nigerians calling for the formation of an Interim Government come May 29 this year in place of a democratically elected Government, describing it as unconstitutional.

He explained that the Armed Forces of Nigeria does not support this because it’s unconstitutional and that the Independent National Electoral Commission has conducted elections and results declared anything short of it.

In the North-East zone of the country, troops of Operation Hadin Kai have sustained the offensive operation to curb the activities of Boko Haram terrorists/Islamic State of West Africa Province terrorists in the Joint Area of Operations within the zone.

The troops have conducted offensive operations in villages in Bama, Askira Uba and Mafa Local Government Areas of Borno State, neutralizing seven terrorists while others fled.

Troops also recovered various weapons and items from the terrorists. In addition, troops have arrested suspected terrorists’ logistics couriers and suppliers, and rescued kidnapped civilians in different parts of the zone.

CDS Easter Message to AFN

By Emmanuel Daudu

The Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor CFR felicitates with members of the Armed forces of Nigeria on the occasion of Easter celebrations.

The CDS wishes members of the Armed Forces and their families happy Easter filled with love and joy.

According to Brigadier General Tukur Gusau, Acting Director Defence Information in a press release on the
7 April 2023 called on all to use this period to reflect on the love of Jesus Christ for which this season is celebrated and continue to manifest Love for Country in all dispositions. He urged all to continue to pray to the Lord for more success in our operations and smooth democratic transition in the nation.

General Irabor thanked Members of the Armed Forces for making our nation proud in various operations at home and abroad.

The CDS also uses the festive period to appreciate the noble role played by the Armed Forces of Nigeria in the just concluded general elections which has continued to attract commendations from around the world.

The CDS uses this occasion to once again express the loyalty and commitment of the Armed Forces of Nigeria to Mr President, C-in-C and the Constitution of the Federal Republic. We pledge to continue to respect and protect the constitution and democratic governance in the Country.