Issuu

What new gimmicks does Oshiomhole have to sell IzeIyamu to Edo 11 electorate?

What does arrest, indictment of Magu mean to Buhari’s war on corruption?

How FG’s neglect of Obehie-AkweteAzumini-Ukanafun highway ruins businesses, social lives

How attack on UN helicopter demystified Nigeria’s Military claims of ‘degrading’ Boko Haram

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Vol 1, No. 320

N300

Where is Nigeria on Covid-19 cure? FG not just waiting for vaccine - NCDC Madagascar herb not effective - Oyetomi Lack of confidence in locally-produced drugs a major drawback - Iwu

See page 2

Vivianne Olufunke Adelagun: Finding fulfillment in giving her services

COVID-19: Stakeholders count losses during four months shutdown as airports re-open L-R : Zainab Ahmed, minister of finance, budget and national planning; Ben Akabueze, director-general, budget office, and Celement Agba, minister of State for finance, budget and national planning, during signing of the Reviewed 2020 Appropriation Bill by President Muhammadu Buhari at the State House, Abauja, NAN

Igbos must be mindful of their utterances over 2023 - President Ohanaeze Lagos 29

774,000 jobs: Nigerians fear repeat of 2014 Immigration recruitment tragedy As signs of racketeering pits Keyamo against NASS Amaka Anagor-Ewuzie (Lagos) & Solomon Ayado, Abuja

hen in 2015 Muhammadu Buhari was soliciting for votes from Nigerians, he

said “Jobs, jobs and jobs” were going to be his focus. But five years down the line, the unemployment rate has continued to trend upward. In fact, it is currently 23.ipercent from less than 7 percent five years ago. What that means is that many Nigerians have

since joined the burgeoning unemployment market. Although government has done one or two things aimed at lifting the citizens from the unemployment bracket, in other words, poverty, the efforts can be best described as scratching the surface.

Through the Social Investment Programme which has four legs- Home grown school feeding programme; Conditional cash transfer (CCT); Government enterprise and empower programme (GEEP), and N-Power- a few Nigerians have been

reached. The current effort to recruit some youths for some menial jobs, for a period of three months, may have pitted the National Assembly against Festus Keyamo, minister of state for Labour

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Where is Nigeria on Covid-19 cure? CHUKA UROKO(Lagos), Tony Ailemen and Godsgift Onyedinefu, Abuja

s death rate in Nigeria continues to increase as a result of the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic, many citizens have wondered what the Federal Government is doing about developing a local remedy to tackle the virus. But the Federal Government has said it was not sleeping on guard. Some observers say that it beats the imagination that since February 27, 2020 when the first case of coronavirus was reported in the country, the number of citizens who have been tested for the virus is still a far cry from one million in a country with an estimated population of 200,000 million. “My worry in all of this is that the numbers are spiking everyday and no effort is being made to stem the tide. Other countries are making efforts to find a cure for the virus and what we hear from our government is what has become a sermon on the mountain,” George Okhira, a public health worker, told BDSUNDAY. Continuing, Okhira wondered that the task force is not telling Nigerians what their main problem is. “I personally do not think that their problem is money to sponsor research by scientists because nobody has told me what all the money given to the government by both local and foreign donors has been used to do,” he said. Ndadilnasiya Wasiri, an epidemiologist, says government needs to do more. “There should be communication for education; government should engage the people through their local and church leaders. They listen to these people more, not those who talk to them on television,” she advised. This communication gap is the reason many Nigerians do not know what has become of the herbal cure that the government took delivery of from the president of Madagascar who personally delivered the drugs to President Muhammadu Buhari in Abuja. In response to these concerns, the Federal Government has said it would identify few key local pharmaceutical companies that will be granted funding facilities to support the procurement of raw materials and equipment required to boost local drug production. The government through the Central Bank of Nigeria also set aside the sum of N1trillion in loans to boost local manufacturing and production across critical sectors. The early development of cure for the coronavirus disease is seen as necessary for citizens’ protec-

tion from the ravaging virus A recent finding by Oxfam, indicates that many Nigerians may die daily by the end of 2020, unless a cure is found urgently. According to Oxfam, “As many as 12,000 people could die per day by the end of the year as a result of hunger linked to COVID-19, potentially more could die from the disease” For instance, government had set aside the sum of N44.5billion consisting of N381bn for recurrent expenditure and N59.9bn for capital expenditure in the 2020 budget before the advent of the pandemic. But, in the revised budget, the basic healthcare care provision fund was cut by 43% from 44.5 billion to N25.6 billion. The budget for the procurement of outbreak (emergency) response vaccine, devices and operational cost is N1,028,363,525. Maurice Iwu, a professor of Pharmacognosy, and chairman of the Imo State Taskforce on COVID-19, who spoke to BDSUNDAY on government efforts to develop local vaccines, said the Federal Government was collaborating with researchers to find local drugs. “Efforts are being made by the Federal Government through various intervention funds to support local scientists,” he said. These efforts, Iwu explained “will yield positive results with time.” The Professor, who is also the Chief Officer (CEO) of Bioresources Development Group (BDG), however, sees lack of confidence in the locally produced drugs by Nigerian Scientists as a major factor militating against advancement. Iwu had developed the IHP Detox tea, which is currently undergoing testing on the feasibility and acceptability of an

emergency trial in the context of Covid-19 pandemic. The testing is to satisfy its safety and effectiveness in reducing mortality and viral load in patients with the virus. Federal Government in a recent development said the country developed and validated an indigenous RNA-Swift test kits for the identification of SARCoV-2, the causative agent for the Covid-19. The Minister of Science and Technology, Ogbonnaya Onu said the RNA-Swift test kits have an amazing precision for the detection of the SAR-CoV-2. He announced that consultations are on with the African Development Bank for the funding of the Africa-wide testing programme for Covid-19 and the establishment of the RNA-Swift

On partnership with local researchers, the independent researchers in Nigeria have publicly claimed to have developed a local solution to treat Covid-19, but said they have been repeatedly denied audience by the Federal Government

production in Nigeria. The test kits, he said, will be readily available at a price that places it ahead of competitors in terms of sensitivity and affordability. “Five million farmers are expected to be tested with the kits, from the first 10million kits to be produced,” he said. On partnership with local researchers, the independent researchers in Nigeria have publicly claimed to have developed a local solution to treat Covid-19, but said they have been repeatedly denied audience by the Federal Government. But, late May, the Federal Ministry of Health finally held a virtual meeting with a number of these researchers. Only three were selected and sent to the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD) for further investigation. Patrick Dakum, CEO, Institute of Human Virology Nigeria (IHVN), noted that the discovery and availability of a vaccine for Covid-19 is only good for the future, but for Nigeria to be able to get the pandemic under control, finding and treating cases is key. He said Nigeria must look inward for local solutions by funding its scientists and researchers in addition to international partnerships. The risk communication officer at the NCDC, Emeka Oguanuo said the local drugs are still under scrutiny. He also said Nigeria is not just waiting until a vaccine is developed, but the country is part of the WHO global solidarity trials to test the efficacy of certain drugs to treat Covid-19. The Madagascar remedy Early this month, the Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire, said

the “so-called” Madagascar herb is grown in Nigeria. He said preliminary results of the analysis of the herbal cure found that it has the same as Artemisia annua, also known as ‘sweet annie’ which is grown in the NIPRID research farm in Abuja. Ehanire said the Artemisia annua which is a component of malarial treatment medicine was imported by government some years back. The minister said further research on the efficacy of the plant to treat COVID-19 will be conducted when a grant is approved. Ehanire also said that the species of the plant available in the country had a very high concentration of Artemisinin, an active ingredient for anti-malaria. According to him, NIPRID is trying to develop its own production of ACT and the process is still under supervision. The minister said the type in Nigeria showed that it has a very high concentration of Artemisia annua when tested, which is the active ingredient for anti-malaria. Why process is taking a long time The Director, Information, media and public relations Olujimi Oyetomi, Federal Ministry of Health, said one of major constraints stalling the development of local solutions to treat Covid-19 is the human trial stage. He recalled the three potential herbs, selected from 17 claimants are still undergoing investigation by the relevant agencies, NIPRD and NAFDAC, but said finding volunteers willing to sign an MoU not to institute any legal action if anything goes wrong, is a problem. He noted that every acclaimed cure could be a potential poison and that is why the process is taking a long time to ensure that solutions are safe. Oyetomi added that the Ministry of Health does not only want to develop a solution that is safe, but one that cures perfectly and not just some of the symptoms of COVID-19. He said the Ministry is still expecting report from NIPRID on the three local herbs, adding that the only report received so far, is the one on Madagascar of which preliminary analysis shows that the basic ingredients in the solution is in Nigeria. Oyetomi also said the Madagascar herb is not effective in treating Covid-19, hence government may no longer consider it. “Madagascar has imposed a total lockdown due to resurgence in cases despite claiming that they have a cure”, he said. Oyetomi further said funding is another constraint. He noted that no special fund was committed for research in local solutions for the treatment of Covid-19, apart from the yearly allocation given to the agencies.

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774,000 jobs: Nigerians fear repeat of 2014 ... Continued from Page 1 and Employment. The face-off between the federal lawmakers and Keyamo, over the recruitment of 774,000 community workers by the National Directorate of Employment (NDE), has taken a frosty dimension as the minister has insisted on driving the programme despite directive by lawmakers to suspend it. The lawmakers vehemently opposed the recruitment scheme and have resolved they would do everything within their legislative powers to right the wrong. Keyamo has also accused the lawmakers of pecuniary motive to snatch the recruitment scheme and share the slots among themselves, a situation he described as unconstitutional. He pointedly said that 15 percent slots had been given to the lawmakers and that they wanted to hijack the entire thing. The recruitment programme is an initiative of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration, and was on Monday, 6th of April, 2020, announced for implementation by the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed. The scheme, which is to be extended to the 36 states and FCT from October- December, 2020 as a means of mitigating the effect of the Covid-19 pandemic on the economy, was expected to last for only three months. According to the government, the Programme would provide modest stipends for itinerant workers to undertake roads rehabilitation and social housing construction, urban and rural sanitation, health extension and other critical services. Buhari had directed that the NDE should collaborate with other Ministries with rural components in their mandates to work out the modalities for the execution of the programme. However, the Minister of state for labour and employment, Festus Keyamo claims that he was, through a letter from the President, referenced SH/ COS/14/A/1217 and dated 6 May, 2020, authorised to supervise the execution of the Special Public Works Programme domiciled under the NDE. He said he was fully backed by Section 6(2) of the NED Act, which stipulates that “DirectorGeneral of NDE shall, subject to this Act, be the Chief Executive of the Directorate and shall be responsible to the Minister for the day-to-day management of the affairs of the Directorate.” By halting of the recruitment programme by the National Assembly upon constitutional claims by the minister to necessarily drive it, it remains a big question for who is actually right or wrong. According to NDE, N52 billion has been appropriated for execution of the programme. It further revealed that out of this

amount, the sum of N46.44 billion is for actual payment of the stipends of those to be engaged while the balance of N5.56 billion is for the purchase of tools and light equipment, transportation, storage and security of the equipment in all the 774 LGAs in the country. Approximately, the sum of N7.183 million is to be expended per LGA for the three-month period while the 774,000 Nigerians that are to be employed will be paid N60,000.00 each for services rendered. A 20-member States’ Selection Committee that will draw out the 774,000 Nigerians for the jobs has since been formed by Keyamo. This is where disagreement between the legislators and the Minister began. Going by what Keyamo has claimed, the States’ Selection Committees have been instructed to allot to political office holders 15 percent of the total beneficiaries in each state. Trouble started when the National Assembly joint committee on labour, employment and productivity invited Keyamo to appear before it. But the meeting however, ended in chaos as the Minister, and the lawmakers openly traded harsh words. Serious disagreement erupted when Nasiru Ladan Argungu, director general of NDE, could not defend satisfactorily how the 20-member state selection committee was constituted. Kayemo, who refused to give adequate explanations, however, insisted that the lawmakers lacked powers to question him on the constitution of the committees. Decorum was thrown to the wind as the lawmakers accused the Minister of inappropriately hijacking the programme. Godiya Akwashiki, chairman of the joint committee, ruled that the meeting be moved into a closed session, when it became rowdy but, Keyamo firmly protested. They accused Kayamo of

attempting to bend the rules, and to dictate the proceedings. They asked him to apologise. But, Keyamo, who angrily walked out, told journalists that the lawmakers were intimidating him because he refused to allow them hijack the employment process. “The root of the matter is that they want me to bring the entire programme to the committees, for them to direct as to how it will be executed. And that is not their powers,” he stated. But Akwashiki denied the allegations levelled against the lawmakers. He insisted “they were duly carrying out their oversight function.” Consequently, the National Assembly directed that the programme be suspended. The Senate spokesperson, Ajibola Basiru and his House of Representatives counterpart, Benjamin Kalu gave the directive in a statement. It stated that the National Assembly was concerned about the proper and effective implementation of the engagement process. Meanwhile, Senate President Ahmad Lawan insisted that the recruitment will remain suspended till a valid explanation on the modalities of execution is given by the NDE, and the Minister. Despite the visit of Chris Ngige, the Minister of Labour, to the leadership of NASS where he apologised on behalf of Keyamo, the National Assembly has maintained its stance, and Keyamo has also insisted the programme would not in any way be suspended. Keyamo said that the directives by the lawmakers are against the provisions of the NDE Act made by the National Assembly itself and the Constitutional provisions on Separation of Powers. “By virtue of Section 3 (2) of the NDE Act, as supervising Minister, I am the Chairman of the Board of NDE that superin-

tendents and gives directions to the Management of the NDE. By virtue of section 15 of the NDE Act, I am authorized to give general directives to the Board and Management, with which they must comply. “By virtue of Section 16 (1) of the NDE Act, the supervising Minister has the sole prerogative to constitute Committees for the Agency. Also, by a memo Ref: CAO.143/S.1/T11/8 dated October 18, 2019, and forwarded to all Government functionaries by the S ecretary to the Government of the Federation, I was mandated b y Mr. President to oversee all the activities of the National Directorate of Employment. “In addition, by a letter, Ref: SH/COS/14/A/1217 d ated 6 May, 2020, Mr. President, once again, approved that I supervise the preparation and execution of the Special PublicWorks Programme domiciled under the NDE “However, the National Assembly swept aside all these provisions of the law and Presidential directives and authorised the DG of NDE to proceed to submit a plan without the express approval of the Minister. This was done in a desperate bid to get me out of the way at all cost,” Kayemo claimed. Meanwhile, since the Federal Government announced plans to begin this recruitment process, fear and apprehension have not left the minds of many concerned Nigerians. These worries, understandably, was against the backdrop of what happened six years back (2014) during the Nigerian Immigration Services (NIS) recruitment tragedy, where at least 16 people lost their lives in desperate stampedes for government jobs and many were sustained several degrees of injuries. Sadly, the careless way and manner in which the lives of about 16 youths were loss in 2014, when hundreds of thou-

sands were invited to apply for fewer than 5,000 positions into Nigerian Immigration Service, is very fresh in the memories of many Nigerians. Though, many Nigerians are currently out of paid employment as the National Bureau Statistics (NBS) 2019 report, states that unemployment rate stood at 23.1 percent, and underemployment of 16.6 percent, largely due to the unstable economic situation, and closure of companies due to harsh operating business environment, but pundits believed that carrying out an examination exercise that would enable the employment of 774,000 Nigerians, signals the return of the dark era. The above listed factors were further compounded by the outbreak of coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic that brought the prices of crude oil, Nigeria’s main source of revenue, below the production cost of $30 per barrel. BDSUNDAY can recall that apart from the 16 persons that died during the Immigration recruitment saga, several others also sustained injuries as a result of overcrowding and stampedes that took place in the examination centres located across the country. The lives of these young Nigerians were cut short in their prime, which explains the little or no value political leadership in Africa’s most populous and oil rich economy, places on lives. It is very certain, without doubt, that the families of those who lost their lives in this unfortunate incident are still mourning their loved ones, and the Federal Government wants to put another millions of Nigerians through the tortuous experience of Nigeria’s recruitment process. “It is very sad that leadership in Nigeria does not value human life especially those of the people they sworn by oath to govern. To me, it does not make any economic sense that government would spend billions of naira to employ hundreds of thousands of Nigeria that would be paid peanut as monthly allowance, just for three months,” said Tony Anakebe, a renowned analyst. Continuing, he questioned, “What would N20,000 do for a family man or woman that would make such a person to put his life in danger of going through recruitment exercise in Nigeria, which would probably be like what happened in 2014 during the Nigeria Immigration recruitment tragedy.” He said that he has always been an advocate of industrialisation and promotion of good business environment that would enable intended investors as well as existing businesses to grow. “When government creates friendly business environment many jobs would be created as companies continue to thrive, and by that way, many Nigerians would be taken away from the unemployment market,” he said.

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News Osinnowo: Succession pendulum swings towards Epe Iniobong Iwok

he sudden death of the representative of the Lagos East at the Senate, Bayo Osinnowo came as a shock to politicians and political watchers across the country. His untimely demise has thrown Lagos State and in fact, the whole country into a mourning mood. The shock that the death caused must have informed keeping mute of those likely contenders to replace him at the Upper Chambers of the country’s legislative house in line of the Yoruba tradition of keeping calm to mourn the dead. However, since it is imperative to choose a replacement to fill up the vacant seat, analysts have gone to town to sample various opinions about who should succeed the deceased lawmaker. During the campaign for the seat last year, not a few contestants showed interests at occupying the seat to represent the Lagos East senatorial District at the Highest Law-making House. All the aspirants, including the then incumbent, Barihu Olugbenga Ashafa showcased their high points that they considered effective political tools that could earn them their electoral successes at the polls.

Osinnowo

While individuals are intensifying their efforts through mobilisation, sensitisation and consultations towards achievement of their goals, some groups have also sprung up as campaign mouthpieces either for some particular aspirants or for their catchment areas in their various divisions. In this game of ‘It is our turn’ (Awa L’okan), Epe Division in the Lagos Senatorial District did not want to be left out. But at the end of the day, the slot went to Kosofe Division when the leadership of the party urged other aspirants to step down for the late Osinnowo.

And in the spirit of party loyalty and patriotism, when all the aspirants were asked to step down, only the Epe High Chief, Lanre Razak complied without minding the huge amount of money he had already spent to canvass for support across his districts. Analysts are of the views that, compensating Chief Razak with the slot this time to reward his loyalty to the party would serve as incentives to others that may be asked to step down in the future. Th e l o b b y i s t g r o u p reasoned that, out of the five (5) Divisions in the districtIbeju-Lekki, Somolu, Kosofe, Ikorodu and Epe, only Epe

has not been considered for the seat while a couple of divisions have had the opportunities to be there twice. Here is how they stand since 1979 till date: Senator Adebanjo (Ibeju-Lekki); Anthony Adefuye (Somolu 1992 to 1993); Adeseye Ogunlewe (Ikorodu -1999 to 2003); Olorunnimbe Mamora (Kosofe -2003 to 2011); Olugbenga Ashafa (Ibeju-Lekki -2011 to 2019, and Bayo Osinnowo (KosofeMay 2019 till June 2020) From the above, while Ibeju-Lekki Division has enjoyed a second chance, and Kosofe also started its second term before its representative’s sudden death, Epe Division is yet to have a chance to occupy the seat, hence, the need for consideration for Epe in the spirit of fair play and principle of power rotation. It is no gainsaying that Epe Division is never in short supply of highly experienced and eminently qualified materials to replace Osinnowo. A source that spoke with our correspondent said: “The name of the former Lagos State Public Transportation Commissioner and current member of the State’s G o v e r n o r ’s Ad v i s o r y Council (GAC), Lanre Razak severally came up as a suitable aspirant to take up the seat vacated by Senator Osinnowo.

UNIC partners UNAN to celebrate United Nations at 75 …calls for respect of human rights Ngozi Okpalakunne

ack of respect for human rights has been described as one of the major reasons responsible for global crises. Speaking at a oneday webinar tagged, “UN @ 75: Ideas that changed the world -human rights at the centre of multilateral diplomacy” organised by the United Nations Information Centre (UNIC) Lagos in collaboration with United NationsAssociationofNigeria (UNAN) to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the UN, Director, UNIC Lagos, Ronald Kayanja affirmed that human rights globally is under stress, adding that something needed to be done urgently to salvage the situation. Ka y a n j a , w h o w a s

represented by the National Information officer of the UNIC, Lagos Oluseyi Soremekun pointed out that one community cannot solve the world problem and therefore called on the entire world to come together so as to proffer lasting solution in order to achieve global peace. While commending UNAN for partnering with them to celebrate UN at 75, he described the theme of the webinar as apt, adding, “if you look at the charter of the UN and juxtapose it with the theme of the webinar, you will realise that there is a correlation. “ Th e r e a r e a l o t o f activities mapped out for the 75th anniversary of the UN and this is compounded by a global health issue that is Covid-19 which we all know has a lot of economic

and social implication. We are gradually coming out of it, the lockdown is gradually eased off, we are of the belief that the world will emerge stronger and be better equipped to work together,” he added. Also speaking at the event, President, Retired Careers Ambassadors of Nigeria, Lagos chapter, Olusegun Akinsanya affirmed that since the establishment of UN in 1945, the organisation has continued to play a major role in the global landscape, promoting international peace and security, peaceful coexistence, understanding and cooperation among nations. Akinsanya who is a former Nigerian Ambassador to Ethiopia including some other countries of the world explained that based on the UN Charter, human rights

constitute one of the basic shared values that underpin conduct of international relations. According to him, “It also derives its significance from the sanctity of multilateralism since the end of the cold war, now characterise the conduct of relations among nations. “While human right is universal, interrelated, and interconnected, it is still subject of varied interpretations guided by international treaties, conventions and instruments that guide global governance systems.” “ Th e s e d i f f e r e n c e s amongst nations and regions still subsist, but the greatest challenge facing the UN is the dichotomy between civil and political rights, as against economic, social and cultural rights including rights to development.

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COVID-19: Nine Nigerians in global response team SEYI JOHN SALAU

t a time when a few Nigerians are gaining notoriety for involving themselves in some ignoble acts around the world, another set of people from the country are being honoured for their contributions to the global fight against COVID-19. The outbreak of coronavirus saw an outpouring of generosity and earnest desire to help others around the world, and Nigerians were not left out in the gesture. While some contributed money and material resources to help the government tackle the rising cases of COVID-19, others were at the forefront of the pandemic offering their expertise and helping people navigate the devastating situation. In recognition of these sacrifices, the recently released Neusroom 100 which highlighted 100 people, organisations, countries, and things helping the world conquer COVID-19, featured nine Nigerians among the 40 individuals that were honoured in the list.

These individuals played important roles, alongside many others in ensuring that Africa’s most populous country does not slip into a devastating COVID-19 outbreak. Through their donations, expertise, and leadership, the spread of the coronavirus in Nigeria was reduced to the barest minimum. Femi Falodun, the CEO of ID Africa, said the Neusroom 100 project was created as a celebration of hope, and an acknowledgement of humanity’s collective will to survive. “...highlights the sacrifices and contributions of women, men, organisations, nations and even things – products of humanity’s creativity that are helping the world win in this long fight against COVID-19,” stated Falodun. The list also recognized some organizations in Nigeria , including the NCDC, MTN, MultiChoice, UBA, Reckitt Benckiser, CACOVID, and GTBank. The pandemic which caught the world unawares persists to date. At the beginning of the year when it all began, nobody knew it was going to subdue or change the world as we know it.

Covid-19 presents uncertainties around AfCFTA take-off, implementation - PwC

h i l e coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) presents significant challenges to people and organisations around the globe and the disruption continues to evolve, it has also presented a big challenge for the smooth take-off and implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement (AfCFTA). Th e l o n g - a w a i t e d AfCFTA, which is supposed to take off on July 1, 2020 is likely not going to happen because of the devastating impact of coronavirus pandemic on lives, governments and businesses across Africa, making many nations fearing for possible recession. According to COVID-19 and the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement, the latest publication by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), AfCFTA, which is expected to enhance intra-Africa trade, is being hampered by challenges such as border closure, travel bans, nationalism and uncertainty in tariffs and exchange rates. As well, PwC’s latest publication noted that with

the rescheduling of the take-off to January 2021, it has also delayed the implementation and benefits expected in the first year of implementation across the continent, especially the integration, diversification and industrialisation of African economies of about 1.3 billion people with a combined gross domestic product (GDP) of USD 3.4 trillion. Looking at the above benefits, which are core objectives of AfCFTA , PwC regretted that they may not be realised for now as COVID-19 seems to undermine the possibilities through the crippling effects that is causing a global economic crisis, as well as, in Africa. PwC’s latest publication also noted that travel restrictions are having direct impact on the economic integration and intra Africa trade, hence it called on governments within Africa to prepare for the possible negative impact the virus will have on the implementation of the agreement of and seek out ways to convert the pandemic to opportunities for stronger economic and political integration.

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As FG’s $1.1bn Brazil tractor deal falls through Indigenous tractor manufacturers insist on ‘piece of the action’ to save local economy

• BobTract, said to be only indigenous tractor manufacturer in West Africa, says its tractors shook China and America • Local tractor manufacturers open talks with FG on how to avoid breach of local content objectives Ignatius Chukwu

he Federal G o v e r n m e n t ’s $1.1bn tractor deal with Brazil is said to have fallen through, leading to excitement in Nigeria’s agric sector. This has however poured mixed feelings within Nigeria’s local manufacturing enclave which insists on a piece of the action. They told BusinessDay that dumping the expected high number of tractors in Nigeria would snuff out local technological efforts that have been upbeat in recent years. The president of the Rivers Entrepreneurs and Investors Forum (REIF), Ibifir Bobmanuel, who is the

CEO of a Port Harcourtbased tractor manufacturing company, BobTrack Nigeria Limited, in an exclusive interview with BusinessDay, disclosed that the FG has finally approved the muchtalked about $1.1Bn loan from a Brazilian backed consortium to finance an aspect of agriculture. Bobmanuel said: “For $1.1Bn loan deal to be a success, we must have to look out for any likely benefits that would accrue to our home-grown technological base. There are local tractor manufacturers trying to play in the space that have invested hugely to give Nigeria a tractor manufacturing sub-sector. “It will interest people to know that BobTrack Limited is the first indigenous tractor

manufacture outfit in West Africa. BobTrack invested so much and so today, we produce tractors head and shoulders over of any tractor you have in the market. So, you cannot jettison all of that achievement by going outside to buy tractors and dump in Nigerians.” The top investor disclosed that tractor manufacturers were opening talks with the FG through the federal Ministry of Agriculture, hoping that in the course of implementation, the government would respect the local content laws by giving the local investors space to participate in the scheme. He said: “The amount of arable land we have in Nigeria and Africa is the highest in the world and this has not been

translated to amount of farm produceinproportionandwe cannot still feed ourselves. We are still importing all sorts of food items and we have not made that curve. This is because you cannot run on borrowed technology and hope to run better than the lender of that technology. We must look inward. “That is why we invested hugely in BobTrack. Now, today, the tractors we manufacture the implements and plough and all gamut are made in Nigeria. The amount of jobs we create in the county is huge. You get people calling from many remote parts of the country asking for dealership. Now, you sit back and ask yourself, why is it that our government has not been able to invest confident in and go the whole hog with the indigenous manufacturers.” Asked this is so, he said: “Look, without backward integration, there is no way this country would be able to make any headway in any policy around the agric space because technologies are localised anywhere in the world. “If you get any equipment made for one clime it will never work well in another environment. If an automobile is made for the American region

President of Rivers Entrepreneurs and Investors Forum, Ibifiri Bobmanuel, asking for market share for local manufacturers

(American spec), if there is a defect, you can activate the warranty. You cannot do that in another region. This is same with tractors. A tractor manufactured to work in Europe or so cannot run well in Africa. That is why we keep going round in circles. I could remember when the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) once bought tractors in thousands and distributed. Where are those tractors today? Every year, the FG and its agencies buy tractors and share out, where are they today? They are not meant for this region. Our temperature is very high. Our soil is very strong because we have not tilled the soil till it gets to soft levels.

“In the US, one man can farm on very large size of land but in Nigeria, you can’t till large sizes. We are in the tropics and we have a kind of soil; very strong and highly untamed and untapped. You don’t expect those tractors to perform same way they do in their continents.” According to him, “I have a handful of tractors in the market claiming 80, 100, 120 horsepower but if you open the engines, you see they are running on three-stroke engines. This is equivalent to a Keke Napep. If you use such power to pull a tractor, you can never get satisfaction. These are the issues on hand. “That is why we built BobTrack from the scratch. Every pin is developed from Africa. That is why all our customers have certified tractors on yearly basis. We have done this for three years and none has failed. Even if that happens, we have backup arrangement. “Another story: when we finished manufacturing our first set of tractors, we were satisfied so much that we were ready to test them in other climes. We shipped them to America and China. The ones in China went to a trade fair and same day, six of them were snapped up. You could only imagine the crowd that came around the tractor.

Made-in-Nigeria tractors

Closure of FMC Lokoja: Group condemns attack, calls for health workers’ safety

Colleagues lament as Braimoh, Lagos lawmaker, bows out Iniobong Iwok

he news of the passing away of a member of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Tunde Braimoh last Friday, came as a rude shock to many Lagosians and indeed Nigerians. Braimoh, who has since been buried, was a trained lawyer and businessman. He represented Kosofe constituency (II) in the Assembly and was until his death, the chairman, House Committee on information, security and strategy. Sources say he died of Covid-19 complications in his sleep. He was born on, 30th Se p t e m b e r, 1 9 6 0 a n d graduated from the Ogun State University, Ago-Iwoye with LL.B Hons in 1988, while also graduating from the Nigerian Law School in 1989. He was the chairman of Kosofe Local Government Area (LGA) between 1999

and 2003. Braimoh’s death, however, came at a time when the state and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) were still coming to terms with the demise of Bayo Osinnowo, who hailed from the same constituency and represented Lagos East senatorial district in the Senate until his death. The deceased was a brilliant, eloquent and shining member of the Lagos

Braimoh

Assembly, whose robust contributions to debates in the House was always eagerly expected and would be missed. Being a socialite and a grassroots politician, it would be doubtful if anyone, particularly a politicallyconscious Lagosian, can forget his name so easily. Speaking to newsmen shortly after his death, Hakeem Sokunle, chairman, House Committee on Health, said the lawmaker had been battling with Covid-19 complications in the last few days, adding that he might have contracted it from the last Osinnowo who was his close friend. “He had been battling it for a while now before his sudden demise. It is so sad we eventually lost him. “Itisassumedhemayhave likely contracted the virus from the late ‘Pepperito’ with whom you are much aware he was a close confidant. It is confirmed he died of Covid-19,” Sokunle said.

VICTORIA NNAKAIKE, Lokoja

he Rehoboth Community Advancement Initiative (RECAN) and a coalition of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) have condemned the recent invasion of Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Lokoja by hoodlums who destroyed and carted away personal and hospital property. Recall that on July 1, some hoodlums invaded FMC Lokoja, destroyed and carted away some personal and hospital property. The RECAN Executive Director, Abaniwo Nathaniel, in a statement on Friday in Lokoja, and was made available to journalists, expressed his heartfelt support to all the health workers responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, and for those working tirelessly in so many other areas of health care as well. Stressing that healthcare workers, facilities and medical vehicles should never be a target of violence, while urging governments, communities and all weapon bearers

to respect and protect health care workers at all times. Nathaniel also urged the people to contribute to creating a protective environment in which health care services could be provided safely, saying, ‘’safety and protection of health care workers and health care infrastructure is paramount during the coronavirus pandemic’’. He further said that ‘’Ensuring that health care workers are safe and able to carry out their jobs is crucial for their protection and that can be guaranteed by any responsible Government. ‘’Their protection is essential in ensuring the continuing care of the lives of people affected by diseases. ‘’Healthcare workers are often exposed to all forms of infectious diseases in their life-saving activity and they should not also be made vulnerable to any form of physical attack. ‘’Unfortunately, the deplorable state of our health institutions in Kogi State and the entire country remains a major concern to all and sundry. ‘’Conversely, the years

of total neglect and lack of political will and interest to by our leaders to invest massively in our health sector has clearly demonstrated how bad governance has deeply affected all the fabrics of governance across the country. ‘’The sad reality we have got to live and deal with is the outbreak of coronavirus pandemic which has exposed the nations across the globe to the gaps and age long decay in our health care system particularly within developing nations like Nigeria. ‘’The recent displays of public support for COVID-19 responders are heartwarming, but many responders are nevertheless experiencing harassment, stigmatisation and physical violence as recently observed in the attack on Federal Medical Center, Lokoja by unknown gun men.” He warned that ‘’Violence against health care workers should not be tolerated, therefore we stand firmly against it and advised Kogi Government to build a state where health workers and patients are safe and well protected.’’

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APC, Ganduje, and fear of ‘Gama Option’ in Edo gubernatorial election Adeola Ajakaiye, in Kano

ne of the global scholars in the field of Comparative Politics, Karl Deutsch, in one of his publications, recently, submits that modern social science has increased man`s power to observe and compare systematically the empirical world of facts around us and to subject many of these and processes to quantitative measurement and logical and mathematical analysis. Deutsch also added that the behavioral sciences have given us a good deal of new and partly verified information as to how people think, feel, perceive, and act, individually and in groups. If one is to use the postulation from Karl Deutsch as a baseline for considerations as to the anxiety and the excitement which the coming gubernatorial election in the Edo State, commonly referred to as the ‘Heart Beat of the Nation’ is generating, one can conclude that the Edo people are set for an interesting electoral experience. This assumption is driven by the tremendous energy being expended by the political parties in the country towards the gubernatorial contest which the country `s national electoral body- Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)- says

Ganduje

is set to hold on the 19th of September, this year. Judging from the preparations on the ground so far, the two dominant political parties in the country-People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) seem to be the two top contenders for the election. As usual with every period of election in Nigeria, the recently concluded primaries of the two political parties were not without the drama of decamping and counter-decamping which is associated with Nigerian democracy. So far, the biggest gainer in the drama of decamping and counter-decamping since the commencement of electioneering activities in the state is the PDP, which was the oppo-

sition party in the state that has suddenly become the ruling party, courtesy of the decamping of the Governor, Godwin Obaseki from the ruling APC to the umbrella party. Despite losing the governorship seat of the state, indications are suggesting that the APC is bent on recovering Edo State which was the only state in SouthSouth geo-political zone of the country it was controlling, having lost Bayelsa in a controversial circumstance to the PDP. Moved by the need to recover the state, the new national caretaker committee of the party, being presided over by the Governor of Yobe State has recently announced the duo of Governors Abdullahi Umar Gan-

duje of Kano State and Yahaya Bello of Kogi State as the two men to drive campaign machinery of the party in the recovery task ahead of the election. The appointment of the two men, particularly, Governor Ganduje as the chairman of the APC, Gubernatorial Campaign Council has been throwing up public comments from political analysts, and many Nigerians. What is particularly triggering comments was the statement made by Governor Ganduje, who many political pundits see to be in the celebration mood over his tactical defeat of his former boss, former governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, and his flamboyant Kwankwasiyya Political Movement in Kano State, promising to lead him to a perfect defeat of Governor Obaseki. While speaking after the inauguration of the party’s campaign council at the party National Secretariat in Abuja, in a joking manner, Ganduje told the gathering that his PDP counterpart from Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, who has been selected to lead the PDP campaign team for the election would be sent to Isolation Centre, in order to create victory for the party during the 19th September Poll. “The art of governance is to provide social and economic development, infrastructural facilities, peace,

and stability, but all of these are lacking in Edo State under Mr. Obaseki. “What has he on the ground to show to Edo people that he deserves reelection? He has 53 cases in courts and busy with in-fight with his people. Apart from all litigations, he has crosscarpeted to another party, and abandoned the governance of his people. What we are saying to Edo people is that the APC gubernatorial candidate Pastor Osagie IzeIyamu is a man of God, whose commitment in the service of his people, made it deserving for all his people to follow him to APC because he has his people at heart. “When he came to our party he came with all his people. But when Governor Obaseki cross-carpeted to PDP he was followed only by his cabinet, because the people have not seen any reason why he should be followed”, Governor Ganduje told the APC leaders and supporters that witnessed the inauguration ceremony. Governor Nyesom Wike has since responded last to Ganduje`s joke saying he cannot be isolated by a man caught pocketing dollars. “Between me and a man who has been caught pocketing dollars, who deserves to be isolated”, Wike asked, during a news conference he granted. However, just as the exchanges between the two

governors continue to generate public attention, political pundits are contemplating the type of electioneering campaign strategy that the duo of Governor Ganduje and Governor Yahaya Bello, both of whom were re-elected in their states in controversial elections described to be the worst in the country, got to offer APC in Edo. The political pundits are arguing that when they learnt that Governor Ganduje is the one heading the APC campaign team in Edo, the memory of the strategy adopted by the APC in a re-run election held in Gama Ward, which gave Ganduje his second tenure chance, quickly came to mind. To many of these observers, Gama strategy entails a situation in which anything goes in winning election, and are hoping and wishing that the 19th September election will not follow what they described as a “terrible pattern” where everything is compromised by the electoral body and security agents. The pundits are asking the INEC and security agents to ensure that in line with Karl Deutsch opening submission, ‘a good deal of new and partly verified information as to how people think, feel, perceive, and act, individually and in groups’ reflect the most civilised conducts that can stand the test of time in any internationally democratic arena.

‘Human capital development, employment as key to achieving sustainable economic development’ Arinze Chilo-Offiah is the special adviser, SME Development and Investment Promotion, as well as, head, Enugu SME Centre. Since his appointment in 2019, he has worked to refocus the interest of the youth in the state, train and empower them to earn good living and impact the state economy. In this interview, Chilo-Offiah unveils to Obinna Emelike, feats at the SME Centre, the novel e-YES initiative, among other empowerment schemes in the state. Congratulations on your appointment. How has it been at the SME Centre and what is e-YES all about? he SME Centre is all about job creation and empowerment. It has been a wonderful experience engaging and helping people to realise their ambitions. Moreover, since the commencement of my tenure as the Special Adviser, SME Development and Investment Promotion & Head, Enugu SME Centre in November 2019, we decided to refocus our strategies on the following impact areas: access to credit (Enugu Loan), access to job creation schemes (Enugu Jobs) and access to capacity development programs. Well, the Enugu Youth Em p l o y m e n t S c h e m e (e-YES), is one of the many programs in our resultoriented Enugu Human Capital Development Loan scheme. The e-YES program is a partnership with Wild Fusion

Limited, an IT and technology company, through its Wild Fusion Digital Center to up-skill hundreds in several certified digital marketing capacities. It is expected to run for 4 weeks and consists of in class sessions, offline sessions. However, after the training period, some applicants would be assisted in getting job placements. Others would be supported through the Gig economy where the program would provide access to jobs for these “entrepreneurs”, tracking , and enabling repayment of the human capital development loan (HCDL). Why the focus on youths and digital economy? The youths constitute almost half of the state’s population and engaging them productively implies more productivity, positive impact on the gross domestic product (GDP), and most importantly, reduction in crime and restiveness in the state.

Also Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Gburu Gburu), the Executive Governor, Enugu State, has the interest of the youths in mind, hence the initiative is part of his critical human development projects. We are focusing on the digital economy because we are a forward-looking government and we have also recognized the place of technology and digitisation, which are obviously the new currencies in the world today. As well, the digital world offers limitless opportunities and space to everyone to

Chilo-Offiah

work from anywhere and earn a living. What makes e-YES different and how sustainable is it beyond the first phase? The difference is our realistic approach and the commitment of our working Governor Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi to the empowerment of youths across the state. Also, we are not going the whole mile alone. We are partnering with a renowned technology company, but the HCDL program will definitely make the scheme work because it is practical and deliverable. There are many youths from the state who may be interested in the initiative, how do you ensure that those who really need it are engaged in the training and empowerment? We run an open system devoid of any form of nepotism and that is why we made the training open to all youths from the state. Registration is free. Again, it is limited to job seekers and

youths who are interested in acquiring digital skills in areas such as: Advertising, Digital Marketing, Internet Promotion, SMS Marketing, Search Engine Optimisation ( S E O ) , An a l y t i c s a n d Content Marketing. Moreover, Wild Fusion is a competent partner and it is helping us to get the right people and the best out of the training. It is stated that the state is providing the training loan, why loan and how are the beneficiaries going to repay the loan? At the Agency, we have taken the radical step of identifying Human Capital as the most important sector for funding. We have prioritised human capital development and employment as key to achieving sustainable economic development in the state. The LoanFor-Jobs Scheme is for youths, unemployed and underemployed to access training. In conjunction with a private sector

anchor, we shall conduct intensive up-skilling training programs across various competencies in all sectors. These newly evolved human capital then get retained by the private sector firms that have partnered with the program. We then recover the loan for their training through small monthly deductions over 6-10 months (depending on the cost of the training) from their monthly salaries. This would ensure they take the program seriously and gives comfort to the employer with respect to the retention rates. Who are you engaging to do the training on behalf of the state and what is their track record and competence? Ou r p r i v a t e s e c t o r partner, Wild Fusion, is a certified and experienced trainer with affiliation to the Digital Marketing Institute of Ireland; a globally recognized digital training body, to equip the youths with the gainful digital skills.

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Feature Appraising and re-tooling Nigeria’s public health delivery model in the post COVID-19 era For instance, in the aftermath of the Ebola crisis, many people died because of the inability of the overwhelmed health systems to treat malaria, HIV, and tuberculosis than from Ebola itself. A similar trend can only be avoided in the aftermath of this fight against COVID-19 if efforts are geared towards putting in place a proactive, revolutionary and easily affordable and accessible health services delivery model that can ride on strong deployment of technology to strengthen healthcare accessibility at the grassroots. Nigeria needs to urgently come up with an innovative approach to creating different layers of health services delivery model that can deliver effective and efficient medical services to the most vulnerable in the society, to achieve the best health outcomes, such that location and socio-econom ic status w ill not be a barrier to accessing quality healthcare services. This needs to also be done as cheaply as possible, given the dwindling economic fortunes of the country.

Christopher Samuel

hat the ravaging COVID-19 which has since the beginning of the year spread rapidly around the globe could leave a very serious public health crisis in its wake is no longer news. In many parts of the world, attention is shifting to how to concretise local, regional and continental health partnerships that focus on not just how to successfully contain or tackle the virus, but, more importantly, to ensure that life saving and essential health delivery services are sustained and maintained to entrench a robust system that maximizes the learning gained from the current pandemic. Like other developing countries, Nigeria now, more than ever before, has to seriously confront the challenge of creating a modern health services delivery system that guarantees efficient, fast and accessible solutions capable of curtailing fatalities associated with common diseases and their devastating impact on families, communities and development. While speaking recently on the threat of malaria in the country, the Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, revealed that “though fever testing amongst children under 5 has increased consistently from 5% in 2010 to 11% in 2013, to 13% in 2015 and 14% in 2018, it is still very low when compared with the second objective of the Malaria Strategic plan which is to test all care-seeking persons with suspected malaria using RDT or microscopy.” According to the World Malaria Report, Nigeria still accounts for 25% of the global malaria burden and 19% of global malaria deaths. Nigeria, it is estimated, accounts for 81,640 annual malaria deaths about 9 deaths per hour – and the situation is worsened by very low levels of investment in malaria elimination at both the sub-national levels and the private sector. Apart from the frightening mortality and morbidity data on malaria, lack of access to functional health services delivery system has also been responsible for avoidable havoc caused by many other common but potentially deadly illnesses, such as STDs, diarrhea, hypertension, and diabetes on a large segment of the 52% of the country’s population that live in the rural areas. To compound the situation, the country’s rural areas mostly lack good and functional infrastructure while unavailability of competent healthcare personnel, coupled with high levels of poverty and illiteracy

continue to make public health a daunting task in the country Despite the country’s strategic position in Africa, it is highly underserved in the health care delivery sphere. Health resources such as facilities, personnel, and medical equipment are inadequate, especially in rural areas. Latest data from a survey of Africa’s 10 largest economies show that only Ethiopia has fewer hospital beds per capita than Nigeria. The most recent WHO data puts the number of hospital beds at only five per 10,000 people in Nigeria. Beyond hospital beds, however, public healthcare delivery is hampered more by inadequacy of healthcare resources particularly personnel, drugs and other medical equipment needed for holistic patient treatment. For instance, the doctor to patient ratio is currently 1:6000. Most of the available qualified doctors are concentrated in urban cities and towns while the rural areas have next to nothing, thereby leaving room for quacks and other unqualified hands to tend citizens’ health needs. This poor picture makes the healthcare system particularly fragile and always at major risk of being overwhelmed at the breakout or in the aftermath of any pandemic with serious presence in the country. Yet, as an important element of national security, the need for public health is non-negotiable. Public health not only functions to provide adequate and timely medical care but also tracks, monitors and controls disease outbreak.

The Nigerian health care environment has suffered several infectious disease outbreaks year after year. Hence, there is need to tackle the problem decisively now in order to forestall a repeat of the chaotic national response to the COVID-19 pandemic. While government has regularly come up with reforms to address the wide ranging issues in the health care system, implementation has sadly been poor. According to the 2009 communiqué of the National H e a l t h C o n f e re n c e , h e a l t h care system remains weak as evidenced by lack of coordination, fragmentation of services, dearth of resources, including drug and supplies, inadequate and decaying infrastructure, inequity in resource distribution, lack of access to care and very deplorable quality of care. The communiqué also pinpointed lack of clarity of roles and responsibilities among the different levels of government to have compounded the situation. To further underline the fact that the Nigerian health care system is poorly developed, experts have often observed that there are no discernible and well maintained adequate and functional surveillance systems in the sector. A successful modern day health care delivery model requires routine surveillance and medical intelligence as the backbone of the health sector. This is because medical intelligence and surveillance represent a very useful component in the health care sys-

tem and control of diseases outbreak. Provision of timely information aimed at combating possible health menace among many other things is an important function of public health. Hence, inadequate tracking techniques in the public health sector can lead to huge health insecurity, and thereby endanger national development, peace and security. There is therefore an increasing role of automatedbased medical intelligence and surveillance systems to complement the traditional manual pattern of document retrieval in advanced medical setting as seen in western and European countries. Given the above prognosis, the primary challenge confronting the country’s public health today could therefore be framed as how to create and sustain an informationrich and patient-focused health care system that reliably delivers high-quality care. Learning from experience is crucial, both for effective emergency response and to rebuild for the future. Past experiences have shown that in the wake of health pandemics, government has often been discovered to have diverted statutory health budget and resources to tackle the immediate challenge of the pandemic. This often leaves the healthcare services delivery sector more fragile, weaker and more overwhelmed, especially in the efforts to contain common citizen health needs.

In this regard, the country needs to look towards the innovative and revolutionary Community health hub idea which is capable of leveraging technology to offer holistic solution to the identified gaps in the existing healthcare delivery systems, particularly in the undeserved areas, as a way of maximizing the scarce human resources for health (HRH). The best of these community health hub ideas is grounded on tele-healthcare model and not the anachronistic brick and mortar community healthcare facility model. The grow ing popularity, spread, reach and utility value of mobile telephony and other digital devices should challenge health administrators and service providers to think out of the box in coming up with solutions that can deliver efficient health services to majority of Nigerians, especially in the lower socio-economic cadre. The current pandemic has demonstrated the central importance of health in our national life — without it, we have nothing. It has also shown how we can do things differently as regards to making our public healthcare system truly patient-focused. We should not expect the world to stand still for us to move at a pedestrian pace when everybody else is sprinting to make their systems better. •Samuel is the Project Coordinator for Telehealth Nigeria Initiative (TENI) based in FCT, Abuja.

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Democracy and imperatives of enduring institutions

editor Zebulon Agomuo

countable to the people, to whom it owes its existence. The other is the conduct of free and fair elections. The true representatives of the people must emerge through credible electoral process. One other basic component of democracy is the availability and sustenance of basic democratic institutions. Now that democracy is gradually being entrenched into the nation’s polity, is the precise time to encourage certain tendencies that would further help in consolidating democratic principles and values in the country. One of such tendencies is institution building. A good number of the crisis usually experienced in the system is a reflection of the faulty nature of democratic institutions in the country. Non adherence to the principle of internal democracy is partially responsible for the stalemates heating up the polity. Rather than adopt arbitrary rules in the way they are run, political parties need to tilt towards institutionalizing their mode of operation. One of the distinguishing features of democracy is its participatory nature. For democracy to really overcome its teething stage in the country, political parties must truly promote participatory democracy. Also of equal significance is the necessity for a clear cut separation, as affirms by the constitution, between the executive arm and other arms of government. Fortunately, there seems to be a relative

Frank Aigbogun

DEPUTY EDITOR John Osadolor, Abuja MANAGING DIRECTOR Dr. Ogho Okiti EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, OPERATIONS Fabian Akagha EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, STRATEGY, INNOVATION & PARTNERSHIPS Oghenevwoke Ighure ADVERT MANAGER Ijeoma Ude MANAGER, CONFERENCES & EVENTS Obiora Onyeaso BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER (South East, South South) Patrick Ijegbai COPY SALES MANAGER Florence Kadiri DIGITAL SALES MANAGER Linda Ochugbua GM, BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT (North)

Bashir Ibrahim Hassan

GM, BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT (South) Ignatius Chukwu HEAD, HUMAN RESOURCES Adeola Obisesan

Tayo Ogunbiyi Ogunbiyi is of the Lagos State Ministry of Information & Strategy, Alausa, Ikeja

he concept of democracy has received varying definitions and interpretations from scholars and political observers depending on the ideological leaning or interest of the contending scholars. Samuel Lipset offered one of the initially recognized classifications of contemporary democracy which he hinges on majority rule and minority rights. Morlino further builds on Lipset’s hypothesis by describing a democratic system as “a set of institutions and rules that allow competition and participation for all citizens considered as equals, characterized by free, fair and recurring elections. Though, scholars’ definitions of democracy may vary for obvious reasons, there are, however, certain basic features of democracy that serve as consensus among the contending perspectives. One of such is accountability. Every democratically elected government is ac-

EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD

measure of independence in the way the legislative arms across the country now carry out their functions. This is against the backdrop of what used to be the trend in the early years of the current political dispensation. However, there is still much to be done in ensuring that every arm of government operates independently and interdependently according to the spirit of the constitution. Since legislatures are elected representatives of the people, it is important that they truly provide the check and balance needed to guarantee transparency and accountability in the system. Any attempt by the two arms of government to deliberately short-change the people, aside being a betrayal of trust, would be fundamentally injurious to the system. This is no less correct in respect of the judiciary arm of government. Indeed, if there is any government institution that needs to function devoid of external influence, it is the judiciary. As it is often said, the judiciary is the last hope of the ordinary citizens. But for this to remain a reality, the judiciary must remain strictly independent, principled and upright. There had been instances in the past that painted the judiciary in bad light with judges giving frivolous injunctions. Since ‘what goes around comes around’, it is in the best interest of the polity, and indeed everyone, that the judicial organ of the state is preserved and protected from all manners of

compromise. This is the only way to build an effective and enduring democratic culture. Same goes for all the state’s security organs. Over the years, the tendency have been for the security forces to operate as a stooge of the central government. When the public security operatives function under the rule of law they may protect democracy by their example of respect for the law, but when they act contrarily they threaten democracy. The relentless vulnerability of government institutions and, in some instances, the wearing down of the state’s capability to carry out its most basic functions and make available public goods eventually damages the authenticity and sustainability of democracy. To consolidate democracy, restore a functioning economy, and promote sustainable economic growth, we need to strengthen the various organs of government and other institutions of governance. Perhaps more importantly, the people must begin to hold government accountable by becoming more active in terms of political culture and engaging the leaders more constructively. For democracy to truly be the government of the people, it is important that the people really understand the power they hold in a democracy. Indeed, as it is often said, and truly so, power belongs to the people, but certainly not for docile, weak and apolitical people.

Imo Itsueli Mohammed Hayatudeen Afolabi Oladele Vincent Maduka Opeyemi Agbaje Amina Oyagbola Bolanle Onagoruwa Fola Laoye Chuka Mordi Mezuo Nwuneli Charles Anudu Tunji Adegbesan Eyo Ekpo Wiebe Boer Paul Arinze Boye Olusanya Ayo Gbeleyi Haruna Jalo-Waziri Clement Isong

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Avoiding or mitigating recession in post Covid-19 Nigeria (Part 2) fashion industry directly employs and benefits farmers, distributors, designers, and more.

OLISA AGBAKOBA Agbakoba (SAN), a human rights activist, maritime lawyer and former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), writes from Lagos.

Entertainment igeria’s entertainment industry already plays an important role in the Nigerian economy but their full potential remains untapped. The industry was projected to generate $1 billion in export revenues this year and bring in crucial foreign currency. The industry has an added benefit over the natural resource sectors since entertainment products are non-rival goods. This means that the local consumption of a movie or a song, for example, does not prevent the export of that same song to international markets. This allows Nigerian entertainment products like songs, movies, and books to generate wealth indefinitely. The entertainment industry drives job growth and employs millions of Nigerians in complex value chains. Nollywood, Nigeria’s film industry, produces an average of forty films a week and directly employs 300,000 Nigerians. Nigeria’s upcoming fashion industry is perhaps the best example of old value chains meeting new ones: designers are using local cotton to create garments being modeled at international fashion weeks. The

Trade policy Nigeria has no trade policy which is why it is a major dumping ground for foreign goods. We spend billions of dollars importing basic food commodities that can grow locally. We must grow what we eat. We need to reverse this with a robust trade policy. Trade policy refers to the rules and regulations on imports, exports, tariffs, duty etc. Trade policy rests on a tripod of critical factors –import substitution, tariffs, border enforcement and compliance. We need to enact trade remedies legislation and a trade Expansion Act. These legislation will impose anti-dumping duties on non-essential products. There are also special duties and measures we can impose on exports into Nigeria which are subsidized by a foreign country. The trade remedies legislation will prohibit imports if it is adjudged that they will cause material injury to local industries, for example by impeding local growth. It is also important to enact legislation that will support the recently established Nigerian Office for trade negotiation (NOTN). It is crucial that the office is elevated to ministerial level. We need to establish a National Customs and Border Enforcement Services. This Border Enforcement Services will need new legislation to merge immigration and customs services. The Border Enforcement Service will replicate the US Customs and Border Enforcement Agency. The merged service will

reduce duplication and proliferation of agencies at the borders. To comply with ECOWAS protocol and the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), the border closure policy should be replaced by a border enforcement policy. A strong trade policy will help create millions of jobs, grow local industries and expand the economy. Access to Capital Capital is the oxygen and life blood of the economy. One of the areas where we can tap into capital is the Housing/property market. Eighty per cent (80percent) of Nigeria’s businesses rely on land and housing as collateral. Unfortunately, the slow administration of the Land Use Act in terms of consents and permits has meant that the banks have not accepted untitled property as collateral. This has caused incalculable damage to businesses in need of capital. A recent study shows that the housing inventory of Nigerian property exceeds six trillion dollars. Nigerian property and housing market is dead capital because 80percent of them have no title or bad title and therefore not good as collateral for bank loans. So creating the proper legal framework to make dead capital fungible (easily transferable) will create an instant credit market and enable Nigerians to borrow on their property. A Land Use Administration Act will introduce new rules to make the consent process more efficient and give confidence to banks to accept title documents as collateral. This process will create an instant credit market to drive the economy

and will easily contribute at least 5percent to GDP. Government stimulus intervention Because of Covid-19, the economy has taken a very big knock. It is the responsibility of government (like most western countries) to reboot the economy by supporting businesses with a business support fund of at least 50 trillion. We applaud the government for the injection of funds to support the economy. We note the following: • Nigeria Economic Sustainability Plan (NESP), 12-month, 2.3 Trillion Naira ‘Transit’ Plan between the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) and the successor plan to the ERGP • Ministry of Trade and Industry, MSME Survival Fund, The Guaranteed Off take Stimulus Scheme and the Credit Support to MSMEs and Priority Sector and • Central Bank of Nigeria N10 billion loans and grants approved for various groups and organisations for pharmaceutical and healthcare-related research, under the COVID-19 intervention scheme. • The Special Public Works programme expected to engage 774, 000 Nigerians to cushion the effect of COVID-19 pandemic. It is a good start but not enough. The Government should look to ways and means by the CBN to inject at least 50 trillion into the economy. Government can intervene through a National Credit Guarantee Agency to support viable business proposals so they Business can easily access credit. Major economies of the world run

on credit. The key is that the creditor is assured that he will be paid by government guarantee. Another key institution is the Development Bank (DBN). Nigeria has a Development Bank, but unfortunately undercapitalised. The DBN needs to be properly capitalised to boost the economy. Enabling Business Environment The factors listed above will not work without an enabling business environment. The first step is to have an efficient legal and regulatory system. For instance, the Nigerian judicature is based on the 1875 Judicature Act. The consequence is that cases take too long to resolve. It takes between 5 to 20 years to resolve simple contractual disputes. Investors, both local and international, will not invest in a country where simple contractual disputes take between 5 to 20 years to resolve. We must give urgency to this sector and reverse legal failure. A speed of justice policy will reduce delays. In this regard, the National Assembly must consider enacting the Administration of Civil Justice Bill to ensure efficient administration of civil disputes. Also, new methods of dispute resolution should be considered such as Alternative Dispute Resolutions, small claims courts, traditional and customary arbitration. Quasi-judicial administrative tribunals can be established for sectors, following the UK example. In England there are many administrative courts for Telecommunications, Taxation, Transportation, Insurance, Education, Financial Services, Trade, Investments, etc.

The Nigerian power sector reform: Wherein lies the missing link? AYO ABELEGBE

he Power Sector reform was an integral part of the ambitious economic reform programme of the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) that was unveiled in the year 2000. Prior to that time epileptic power supply from the state-run monopoly – the National Electric Power Authority (NEPA)- had been a major challenge the government was grappling with. NEPA was singularly responsible for the generation, transmission and distribution of electricity to consumers across the country. Something had to be done urgently to secure stable power supply with a resultant effect of reducing the cost of doing business in Nigeria. Borrowing a leaf from the philosophy of Alan Lakein that: “…Planning is bringing the future into the present so that you can do something about

it now” the NCP rolled out a clear and ambitious roadmap for restructuring the power sector. The plan included: promoting competition in the power sector; and creating a new legal and regulatory framework that could engender private investment. The Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) which is the secretariat of the National Council on Privatisation (NCP) was responsible for implementing NCP’s roadmap. A particularly challenging aspect of the reform of the power sector reform involved putting in place the appropriate legislation. The Electric Power Sector Reform Act (EPSRA) was eventually enacted in 2005. With the Act in place, three major strands of the reform process came into being. The first strand involved the metamorphosis of NEPA into a special purpose vehicle - the Power Holding Company (PHCN). This was essential because NEPA was

a parastatal under the Federal Ministry of Power. The second strand included the creation of the Nigerian Electric Regulatory Commission (NERC) as the sector regulator. NERC has been imbued with the power to regulate the activities of operators and set costreflective tariffs. The third strand related to the unbundling of PHCN into 18 succession companies: 6 generation (Gencos); 11 Distribution companies (Discos) and the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN). The assets, liabilities and staff of PHCN were transferred to the successor companies. Subsequently, FGN sold its majority equity holding in the Gencos and Discos to private investors. However, TCN has remained fully owned by Government. EPSRA also created the Rural Electrification Agency to enhance access to electricity by rural communities within a short space of time. The public had a high ex-

pectation that once privatised the sector would be capable of providing adequate and stable electricity supply nationwide. The expectation was based on the successful reform of the telecoms sector which had improved tremendously postprivatisation. It is however instructive to note that the structure in the telecommunications sector is not identical with the power sector. In assessing the adequacy or otherwise of the reform of the power sector, the focus has always been on the distribution end as the portal that is supposed to deliver electricity to the electricity consumers. A cursory assessment of the Discos suggests that their performance appears to be abysmal in the past seven years: epileptic power supply has continued to plague the sector; and Discos have failed to supply pre-paid meters to consumers, instead relying on estimated billing. One is thus compelled to

ask the question: ‘what are the factors militating against the expediency of the power sector?’ Could it have been the regulatory framework that created the problem? A critical review has shown that the EPSRA is an adequate piece of legislation. The Act has made adequate provision for a market structure designed to work through industry regulatory rules, while allowing competitiveness through phased progression. Apart from creating NERC as a sector regulator, the Act provides for a range of regulatory instruments that drive both technical and economic performance such as Multi-Year Tariff Order (MYTO) and market rules. The protection of the poor is well provided for in the legislation. Rural Electrification programmes are promoted through the creation of the Continues on page 10

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Perspective PROF. B. CHIMA ONUOHA (Onuoha, a professor of Management and a former ASUU leader, writes from University of Port Harcourt)

hey want public education privatised as they bought over all our national assets – our patrimony. And Nigerians, majority of them, poor and cannot afford private secondary and tertiary education, are standing with hands akimbo without protests, complaints or resistance. I wish them luck. And when ASUU tries to get the government to do the needful, Nigerians will only be interested in their children graduating on record time. They are not interested in the quality of education their children are graduating with. That explains why we have many unemployable graduates. The mode of appointing Vice Chancellors and heads of tertiary institutions in Nigeria is also contributing to the crises and lowering of academic standards. A Vice Chancellor is the first among equals. No Vice Chancellor is superior to other Professors in the university system. More so, when all of them are appointed on our usual warped political structure – state where the university is located, catchment area, religious considerations and political connections. Vice Chancellors and Presidents of the Ivy League Institutions, Ivy League Plus, Coimbra and Russel universities/institutions are appointed based on solid foundations – academic feats, adminis-

Radical solution to educational crises in Nigeria (Part 2) trative prowess, ability to attract external funding to the school, capacity to grow the institution and position it for global recognition, visibility and respect; ability to solve societal problems or impact on the environment, etc. Is it therefore surprising that all internationally visible institutions have huge endowment funds and rated highly? In the area of impacting the environment, you cannot mention Silicon Valley (in California, USA), a home to many of the world’s largest and richest high-tech corporations and thousands of start-up companies, without mentioning the role of Stanford University, its industrial park (now Stanford Research Park), affiliates and graduates. Most global technological centres trace their foundation and visibility to nearby universities. Space will not allow me to mention some of them here. Do we have any university in Nigeria that has pioneered any industrial hub or serious, visible business environment? Most Vice Chancellors have external godfathers. As such, they constitute themselves into demigods or tyrants. We now hear about VC’s boys (not even VC’s men), loyalty and all worth not. Nobody is interested in one’s contributions to the university via serious research efforts or dedication to duty. What counts most is your loyalty and subservience. Sycophancy is at the highest level. Appointments to strategic posts, promotions and other favours are steadily being based on loyalty. There is no level playing ground for contestants of elective positions. Academics

and non-teaching staff are now struggling hard to belong to the camp of VC’s boys. Top government officials are paying lip service to our own system because they have abundant resources (through unethical and corrupt practices) to train their children in the best schools anywhere in the world. The docility of Nigerians, their unrivalled endurance for man-made economic hardships and our warped value system are all elements that seem to perpetuate this culpable un-seriousness of successive governments to our school system in Nigeria. It should give Nigerian leaders – politicians and policy makers great concerns that in a recent report of 2020-2021 world ranking of universities (by the Centre for World University Rankings), no Nigerian university made the first 1000 list! Only two miserably made the second 1000. They are University of Ibadan (UI) at 1163 position and University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN) at 1882 position. Other countries in Africa like South Africa, Egypt and Ghana did better than Nigeria. This is pathetic and shameful! In the second edition of my book – The Evils of Campus Life: The Problems of Education in Nigeria (2009). I made some radical, straight forward and sincere suggestions on how to stop (with immediate effect) politicians’, and top public servants’ insincerity and un-seriousness with education in Nigeria. My suggestion in this direction is very simple, and if implemented religiously (with severe penalties or punishments, for defaulters) will surely lead to

the solution of all the problems in our school system. My suggestion is still relevant today. In fact, it is only radical solution to all education crises in the country. TheNationalAssemblyshould be caused to pass a law, or there should be a presidential directive, making it compulsory for children of politicians and top government officials to attend public schools – nursery, primary, secondary and tertiary. Those to be covered by this law or directive include: Local government chairmen, state and federal commissioners, special Advisers/ Assistants, Chairmen of boards, MDs/CEOs of parastatals, ministers, governors, registrars, Vice Chancellors, Provosts, Rectors, members of state and national assemblies, secretaries to state and federal governments, Vice president, the president himself, etc; Assistant directors, directors, - Deputy registrars, permanent secretaries and their equivalents in all government establishments (MDAs), Colonels and their equivalents in Police, Immigration, Custom Service, Prisons Service, Navy, Air Force, NDLEA, Civil Defense, etc; Other categories of politicians or public servants that the law or directive deems necessary to be included. A close monitoring system should be put in place to fish out defaulters. I would like to head such monitoring committee or agency. Enough of this lip service to education. Let me state unequivocally that no development initiative or plan like the defunct Vision 20:2020 or the SevenPoint Agenda, and the likes, can be attained without sound edu-

cation. Let nobody be deceived. What you sow is what you reap. Japan,America,France,Germany, Ghana, Botswana, to mention just a few; have qualitative education sector and they are reaping economic and technological advancement. On the other hand, Nigeria is reaping poor governance, corruption, youth restiveness and militancy, kidnapping for ransom, abject poverty, high crime rates, poor infrastructures and general underdevelopment. A politician or public official is free to relinquish his or her position, if the law or directive is unacceptable to him or her or face severe fines or punishments if found wanting. The media, as part of its corporate social responsibility, is in a position to expose defaulters, no matter how highly placed. If this is done, the approach and attitude of governments, policy makers and elite toward education will change overnight. Bet me. Due to the COVID-19 lockdown, the federal governmentrecently gave the directive that schools should commence online learning. See the hypocrisy … can Nigerians see what ASUU has been shouting about for decades now? Where are the funding and facilities for the online learning? Where is the ICT infrastructure? Can you eat your cake and have it back? Why all these self-deceits? Like I said earlier, you reap what you sow. Successive governments in Nigeria have neglected the educational sector for too long. Can the COVID-19 pandemic be a wake-up call for us to do things right? I am only thinking aloud …

The Nigerian power sector reform: Wherein lies the missing link? Rural Electrification Agency (REA); Rural Electrification Fund; and the Power Consumer Assistance Fund to subsidise underprivileged power consumer. However, an independent analysis has shown a myriad of factors militating against expedient performance by the Discos. They are a combination of market factors and corporate governance issues. Were any of such factors directly related to the reform process as executed by NCP/BPE? It has been argued in some quarters that there might have been some incorrect assumptions, at the point

of privatising the Discos, such as: level of metering, technical capability of the investors, collection/commercial losses and CAPEX allowance. There are yet other more serious factors militating against the success of the reform programme. One such factor is an ineffective sector regulator. NERC has not implemented a cost-reflective tariff. Furthermore, its failure to appropriately sanction the Discos for breach of its regulations and vesting contracts has eroded investors’ confidence in the market. The Discos continually reject electricity thus

compromising grid safety and reliability of power supply. Another serious challenge is the lack of synergy between the Discos, TCN and REA. The Discos have complained that expensive infrastructure have been installed by FGN agencies in locations where they have no customers needing supply. Lack of adequate corporate governance in the Discos also poses a significant challenge to the success of the power sector reforms. The words of the 34th US President, Dwight D. Eisenhower come reverberating at this juncture: “…Good plan-

ning without good working is nothing”. A well thought out and dutifully executed reform process is being hampered by extenuating operational, market and regulatory deficiencies. It is public knowledge that the FGN is currently seeking assistance from the German power giant - Siemens and the World Bank to reinvigorate the power sector. Before embarking on these initiatives and in order to ensure their success, there is need for the following to occur: There must be evolution of market rules that would enhance effec-

tive contracts between Gencos and Independent Power plants (IPPs), TCN, Discos and gas suppliers with adequate backing for payment and performance guarantees; The Gencos/Discos must be properly recapitalised by the shareholders: FGN, States and the Core investors; and Proper Corporate Governance has to be instituted in the Discos. The full repositioning of the power sector is attainable if cautiously approached.

·Abelegbe is a public Affairs analyst in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State of Nigeria.

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Politics What new gimmicks does Oshiomhole have to sell Ize-Iyamu to Edo electorate?

Zebulon Agomuo

n politics, there are no sentiments. Players employ everything, including slander, debauchery and character assassination to score cheap goals and get to power. It did not start today. In the family of Isaac, as recorded in the scriptures, the two sons- Esau and Jacob- struggled for a blessing that could make them allpowerful and unconquerable in Israel. Their mother- Rachel, had positioned her favourite son, Jacob, to get the “vote” from his father, who by virtue of old age, was no longer seeing well. Isaac was tricked into believing that Jacob was Esau and so he poured all the blessings from his bowels on Jacob. As it were, he gave his second son the vote to rule and triumph over his elder brother. He said: “And may the Lord give you of the dew of the heavens and (of) the fatness of the earth and an abundance of corn and wine. Nations shall serve you and kingdoms shall bow down to you; you shall be a master over your brothers, and your mother’s sons shall bow down to you. Those who curse you shall be cursed, and those who bless you shall be blessed!” When Esau returned with a sumptuous meal from a game he had hunted to please his father, he was told that all that needed to be said had been said to Jacob. Esau’s profuse wailing and plea for a manufacture of fresh round of blessing only produced a make-belief or fake copy. Isaac told him that what had been said of Jacob has stuck. In 2016 in Edo State, Adams Oshiomhole, in a bid to sell Godwin Obaseki, so demarketed Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, who was then the gubernatorial candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), that Ize-Iyamu could not weigh one kobo in the eyes of many voters. On the strength of his exposé, the then candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) was roundly defeated by Oshiomhole’s candidate. Four years down the line, Oshiomhole, who had said all the unprintable things against Ize-Iyamu, is today listed as chief campaigners for the man in the same race he savagely pulled him down at that time. Talk of the “tomorrow is pregnant” allegory! The question is, what would Oshiomhole be telling the Edo voters this time around? How would he be prancing the podium this time as he did in 2016 to sing the praise of a man he verbally destroyed? Between 2016 and now, a lot has changed. Whereas Ize-Iyamu was of the PDP and contested the election on that opposition platform, Obaseki was of the APC on the platform of which he contested the seat and won. Whereas Ize-Iyamu was a sworn political foe at that time, today, he has swapped parties and roles with Obaseki, in dramatic circumstances. While campaigning for Obaseki in

Adams Oshiomhole

Godwin Obaseki

Osagie Ize-Iyamu

2016, Oshiomhole, like Isaac, had poured all the blessings he had in his kitty, saying: “God knows that Godwin comes from a large family in Benin Kingdom; he went to school, he finished his secondary school; he went to the University of Ibadan, he finished; there were no issues, he finished in flying colours. “He went to the US, he did his Masters; he came back home, started helping people to set up businesses. He helped to manage businesses; he helped to set up many banks, including several second-generation banks. I don’t care if Obaseki betrays me at the end of the day; Obaseki’s allegiance should be to the people and not me.” He did not stop there. Oshiomhole continued: “The oath of office he is going to subscribe to says that he will defend the Constitution of Nigeria; he will do everything to uplift the quality of life of Edo people. Nothing in his oath of office will include ‘I shall not betray my predecessor’ because I have no interest to be betrayed. “Obaseki had been part of the tradition, he knows the vision; he knows the mission; he knows the target; he knows where we are; he knows the challenges and he knows how to overcome them. “He sits in the Office of the Economic Team which he built using his network of friends inside the heart of Government House without demanding one Naira. “I know my limit; he knows his limit. Godwin Obaseki has worked for sevenand-half years for the people of Edo State, using his brain, creativity, quietly, not making noise. “A man like Obaseki who will not ask me to give him contracts, but will promise me, Comrade, you just do the thinking, we will create the means to actualise your thoughts. “And to his credit today, check the books of Edo State, we did not build new structures in Government House with government money. That economic team office was built through Godwin’s network. Today, it remains a permanent

asset of the state government.” In his I-don’t-care employment of adjectives, Oshiomhole hit Ize-Iyamu below the belt. Of Ize-Iyamu, he said: “By his own CV he was rusticated for two years; his father begged and the school allowed him to do ‘patch-patch’ examination, but could not beg them in Lagos to admit him to the Nigerian Law School. That’s why, although he read law, he is not a barrister”, and that the man’s community service is zero. He alleged that Ize-Iyamu belonged to some clandestine organisation while in school; bathed a student with acid and got rustication as punishment. He also said that Ize-Iyamu never had any experience aside working with Lucky Igbinedion. First, as personal assistant; second job, GM of one ‘wuruwuru’(company) which, according to him, is dead today. “Then he became secretary to government to Lucky Igbinedion. It is true we found ourselves in the region of politics working together, but I never gave him government job; I never gave him government job, but other people that I trusted. I kept him busy holding meetings which he’s used to. It’s not a mistake. He begged me to make him the director-general of my campaign. Now, ask him, since he was the DG, why didn’t I appoint him to government? ‘Cunning man dies, cunning man bury am’. I didn’t want to spend my time watching his files; so, I kept him busy; let him be holding midnight meetings where he can tell lies as many lies as he can; while he’s telling lies, I am busy running government. “Because, if I did not do that, he could have done to me what he did to Lucky. But when he came to me, we kept him away, no access to public funds, and that is how we were able to channel our resources the way that we have done, that today Edo whether you like it or not, it can’t be like before; it can only get better. Look at the road to his house, in our books, was a dual-carriage way; they took the money, they constructed the road near his house, they stopped; can

you imagine that? Just to the foot of his gate, the road stopped. Is that the kind of man who wants to lead Edo State?” Oshiomhole pummeled. In another recorded interview with Channels Television, Oshiomhole had also said of Ize-Iyamu: “I will recommend strongly to PDP to make Pastor their gubernatorial candidate. If they do, we can put any character and we will win. Because we will be testing a well known non-performer…” It was upon this great endorsement that Godwin Obaseki clinched victory at the gubernatorial election. Nearly four years down the line the former governor of Edo State is singing a new song, which observers say is tantamount to committing political suicide. In his effort to dismiss the possible backlash of the negative categorisation on his renewed ambition to govern Edo this time around, Ize-Iyamu has said that all that Oshiomhole said about him in the past did not come from his heart. From the look of things, the voting masses of Edo are anxiously waiting to hear the new adjectives Oshiomhole will reel out to dress Ize-Iyamu when the party’s campaign train berths on the streets of the state, any moment from now. But we live in a funny, indeterminate world where people’s sense of history is sometimes dim and of curious elasticity. Again, poverty has always compelled many to return to their vomit. But, it is hoped that an average Edo man will not forget Oshiomhole’s antics in a hurry. If Edo electorates are able to remember yesterday and keep appointment with history, it will be a huge lesson to Great Oshiomhole and other demagogues like him that you do not throw stone into the market because it could fall on anybody who could be your mother, sister or aunt. Again, it is not wise to mess up the market and go home because whatever took you there the first time could take you back a second time and face-to-face you will meet with your mess.

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Politics We did not overthrow court judgment, says Rivers new APC boss …Wants power to return to the grassroots … Top leaders begin engagement to avoid easy crisis …New mood in the party in Rivers does not care about the leaders

Ignatius Chukwu

he new caretaker committee of the ever-troubled Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) says it did not overthrow the court judgment that installed Igo Aguma as caretaker committee chairman but only exploited the opportunity in it to remove him. This is as the party says it is returning power to the grassroots levels of the party, haven learnt from the enormous powers at ward level as exemplified by the Adams Oshiomhole debacle where his ward suspended him and it led to his travails at the national levels up to the Federal Appeal Court in Abuja. The new chairman, Sokonte Davis, told the press in the week that it did not overthrow the judgment of the court that installed Aguma. “We were brought in by the same court order. We only changed our chairman. The action is within the constitution of the APC on disciplinary actions. Aguma may not have anticipated this aspect of the judgment. We are not in contempt.” In an interactive session with newsmen, the former executive director in the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) admitted that the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party has written them to withdraw all cases in court. “Aguma is the one that has filed a case against us. He has not stepped into the officially recognised state secretariat.” On how to manage the crisis this time around and avoid the 2019 debacle in 2023, Davis said: “Some supporters of the Aguma side are now supporting us. We are talking with everybody because we want to build a strong party.” He said they must get the grassroots right because they elect the next level authority of the party. “We have found out that the grassroots people have no issue. It is those at the top that cause the crisis. They go to court and procure court orders to cause trouble. About 30 top leaders are the ones creating all the heat in the party. The Oshiomhole crisis has proved the power of the ward authority. It is good it happened to the party so we all

Sokonte Davis

can appreciate the power of the ward level people. Now, we have learned.” Giving the sequence of events in the party in recent times, the new boss the party has been in crisis for long. It led us not to conduct our congress or to participate in the 2019 elections. All executive council (excos) members were dissolved. “Now, with last year elections over, it was time to rebuild from the wards. Just then, when ward congresses were about to start, another court order struck. Court granted Igo Aguma right to be caretaker committee chairman, and ruled that statutory members of exco should be part of the Committee and that they should rebuild the party. “But Aguma wanted to operate like a sole administrator and took sole decisions. We want to put an end to impunity in Rivers State APC. Members are frustrated because of lack access to participations. Our committee is popular as evidenced by the many solidarity visits from many group including market women. “Rivers State APC cannot continue to be voiceless. It is not proper for the Rivers State APC not to have representatives at various levels and organs of government. Nobody is happy with what is happening, and people want an alternative voice in Rivers politics”. The party boss said they were lucky this

APC leaders at war

time that elections were not near. “Reconciliation between the Amaechi and Abe: Don’t play with the ordinary members of the party. No faction with the grassroots people. We have listened to them and we see they are not our problem. Do not just talk only to the big people and top men but talk to the ordinary people. “The reason we talk to the top members is because they are the ones that can go to court and procure court orders. They can create problems. They can procure big lawyers and get judgment.” He said it was mismanagement of ambitions and disputes that caused the problem in the APC, and nothing more. Now, nobody gained anything from it. “There are many

others who have legitimate ambitions and gubernatorial, senatorial and other ambitions. It is wrong to keep harping on the ambition and whims of one or two persons. “Chibuike Amaechi and Magnus Abe are friends. Party constitution empowers exco to discipline any of its members. Court did not oust the party constitution. Court did not make Aguma chairman in perpetuity. We want to return power to the grassroots. “We will appeal to the national body to allow everybody who bought forms or buys forms to participate in the coming congresses. Whoever wins is it. We want an all-inclusive party. APC is intact; its juts clash of interests. Our big shots are currently being engaged and are engaging.”

Covid-19: Lagos Assembly urges Sanwo-Olu to accredit more private hospitals Iniobong Iwok

he Lagos State House of Assembly has called on Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu to direct the state Commissioner for Health, Akin Abayomi to accredit more private hospitals to treat those that are infected with coronavirus in the state. The governor was also urged to work with the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) on the fight against pandemic. The issue was part of the resolutions of the Assembly on Motion Number 23, 2020 titled, ‘Need to Allow Private Hospitals Participate In The Treatment of Covid-19 Patients,’ by Hakeem Sokunle (Oshodi/Isolo 1) during plenary. Sokunle stated that the House was aware

of the Lagos State government effort in fighting the coronavirus pandemic and the creation of seven isolation centres. “The House notes that Covid-19 keeps spreading based on reports that over 11,000 people contracted the disease. “We feel that private hospitals with the necessary facilities should be involved in the treatment. “Most of the doctors treating the patients are being paid by the state government. “The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) once warned their members over treatment of Covid-19 patients. We need to involve private hospitals so that they could support the state government and prevent another lockdown. “If the government involves private doctors and members of the state chapter of NMA, and train them, it will be easy to

handle. “We call on the state Governor, Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu to call on the state Commissioner for Health, Akin Abayomi to see how we could work with private hospitals to reduce the spread of COVID-19. “We call on Governor Babajjde SanwoOlu to call on the state Commissioner for Health to see how they can work with private hospitals on treating COVID-19 patients. The government should also find means of working with NMA on the great of the patients,” he said. Sokunle added that the state government admits people that test positive and discharges those who test negative in the isolation centres. He then said that the state government should be empowered so that doctors in

public hospitals would train doctors that work in private hospitals who would then be certified. “After that we should screen the hospitals and validate their equipment, certify them and accredit the hospitals. “Such hospitals can now admit Covid-19 patients. The government has approved seven private laboratories so far on Covid-19. In his comment, the Speaker of the House, Mudashiru Obasa, said that it was important that the NMA join hands with the government to reduce the spread of the disease. Obasa stated that the doctors that are working with the government should train the doctors in private hospitals. “If we leave it to only doctors in government hospitals, the disease would spread further.

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Politics One year after: A peep into the scorecard of Akwa Ibom 7th Assembly ANIEFIOK UDONQUAK, Uyo

he 7th Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly being presided over by Aniekan Bassey who represents Uruan state constituency and elected on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) is believed to have recorded many significant achievements since it was inaugurated more than a year ago. Predominately made up of members of the PDP, the 26-member assembly has only one member who was elected on the ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC). The 7th assembly recently completed one year in office, thus giving room for an assessment of its scorecard, pitfalls as well as challenges. After the initial intrigues that gripped the assembly over the election of the speaker and principal officers, it was time for the assembly which has only a female member, Charity Ido representing Ukanafun state constituency in Ikot Ekpene district, to begin the business of lawmaking and this was greeted with the initial enthusiasm and optimism. When it marked its first anniversary last month, it has tabled several motions, adopted a good number of them and passed many significant bills with overwhelming support from a cross section of members cutting across party affiliations. Comprising new and returning members, the assembly has been able to tap from the experience of some of the returning members who have garnered expertise in legislative business over the years. One of the lawmakers who have spent three terms thus making him one of the most knowledgeable prominent members is Udo Kierian represents Ork Anam State Constituency in the assembly. In all, 31 people-oriented bills had been brought before the house, out of which 11 had been passed while others are at the various stages of legislation which is between 1st reading and public hearing/ stakeholders engagement, according to Aniefiok Denis, a member of the assembly and its spokesman He said over 35 motions and matters of public importance have been raised on the floor of the 7th assembly and several committee reports submitted between inauguration to date. One the bills passed by the assembly which has been signed into law by Governor Udom Emmanuel is the Violence Against Persons 2020 (Prohibition) bill which has received much applause because it came at a time reports of Sexual And Gender-Based Violence had continued to occupy the front burner of public discourse of recent. One of the provisions of the bill is that those convicted of rape and other violence crimes and found guilty under the new law will face life in prison unlike in the past where offenders were jailed for few years. In some other cases, offenders were often granted bail due to absence of diligent prosecution. It is believed that both the law enforcement officials and the judicial officers would work together to ensure that gains from the new law are maximised in bringing offenders to face justice. For instance, the state police command

Martin Onovo

few months ago, paraded a man who allegedly slept with his daughter severally in the church where he was the pastor, he was said to have impregnated his daughter and gave her money to abort the pregnancy. Nothing has been heard of what transpired after he was paraded. With the new law, it is believed that it would be pretty tough for such cases to be swept under the carpet. Quite significantly, the bill was sponsored by Aniefiok Denis, a lawyer and chairman, house committee on information and member representing Etinan State constituency who might have been worried by the upsurge in reported cases of sexual assault against girls, babies and women. Apart from a law to establish Akwa Ibom state college of health technology also sponsored by Aniefiok Denis, intended to ensure that the institution is brought to up-to-date and well equipped in the training of the needed manpower in the health sector, there are also other significant bills including a bill for a law to establish Akwa Ibom State College of Science & Technology, NnungUkim, Ikono Local Government Council sponsored by Godwin Ekpo (Ibiono Ibom), a bill for a law to provide for the establishment of Akwa Ibom Debt Management office by Uduak Odudoh and passed and assented to, and a bill for a law to establish Akwa Ibom Bureau of Public Procurement and budget monitoring by Uduak Odudoh, passed and assented to. There are also other bills including a bill for a law to establish the Akwa Ibom House of Assembly Legislative Fund Management and other matters connected therewith sponsored by Udo Kierian Akpan which has been passed, and a bill for a law for the establishment of Akwa Ibom Environmental Protection and Waste Management Agency by Mark Esset, a member representing Nsit Atai State constituency which has been passed, among others. The importance of the bills passed by the assembly should be best appreciated given their contributions to governance and improving the welfare of the people and in helping to provide the people with ‘dividends of democracy.’

Specifically, the Akwa Ibom Environmental Protection and Waste Management Agency bill sponsored by Mark Esset brings to the fore the need for proper management of the environment in view of the challenges caused by rapid urbanisation, environmental disasters and oil production in the region that is home to the country’s oil wells. Furthermore, the current approach to environmental sanitation in the state in which refuse is carted away by dilapidated trucks seen across the streets of Uyo, the state capital, needs a new consideration. In fact, in many instances, the refuse is left at the various dump sites in the city after the monthly sanitation exercise held every last Saturday of the month. Many analysts believe that with the new law on environmental protection and waste management, the state government would consider and adopt a new approach to ensure sustainable environmental policies and programmes. Similarly, the assembly has been adjudged to have acquitted itself creditably in terms of its relationship with members of the public as seen in its readiness to organise public hearing and interactions on bills regularly, thus seeking the opinion and contributions of members of the larger society on many sensitive bills. From the appropriation bill which is its statutory responsibility to vet and pass it accordingly, giving the executive arm led by Governor Udom Emmanuel the enabling law to spend money budgeted for in which it has regularly organised public interactions with members of the public. Despite the achievements, the assembly has also courted controversies. First, the issue of autonomy for state houses of assembly which made room for financial independence of the legislative arm of the government in the states, almost polarised debate on the issue. The assembly had voted against the bill which later forced President Muhammadu Buhari to use an executive order to sign the bill into law. This has however, been put on hold following a presentation by the state governors to the President. Again recently, the suspension of two chairmen of local government councils in the state has not portrayed the lawmakers in good light, according to many observers. It seems to indicate that the assembly had overstepped its bounds by dabbling into local government affairs where each local government has a legislative council. The chairman of Uyo Local Government Council and that of Nsit Atai were suspended by the assembly for alleged gross misconduct and this singular action has further generated debate in many quarters. Speaking recently, Denis, chairman, house committee on information, acknowledged the role of the assembly under a democratic governance saying the constitution in giving the legislature the “powers to make laws for the peace, order and good governance of the state,” has helped to promote checks and balances. In addition to the legislative achievements recorded, the assembly did not fail to provide a conducive working environment for its members as it witnessed “massive renovation of offices, committee rooms, replacement of furniture, generating set, repainting, landscaping” to earn it a “Working Assembly” led by a “Working Speaker,” during the last one year.

APC clears Akeredolu, Adelaml, others for Ondo governorship primary ...Disqualifies Segun for not meeting requirements James Kwen, Abuja

he All Progressives Congress (APC) has cleared Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, Olayide Adelami Issac Duerimini Kekemeke and Olusola Oke to participate in its July 20 Governorhip primary election in Ondo State. Also cleared are: Joseph Iji, Odimayo Okunjimi, lfeoluwa Oyedele and Olajumoke Anifowoshe, Awodeyi Akinsehinwa, Akinola Colinus, Olubukola Adetula, Abraham Olusegun and Nathaniel Adojutelegan while Segun Abraham has been disqualified from participating in the exercise. Chairman of the APC Ondo State Governorhip screening Committee Tijani Tumsa disclosed this Friday while submitting the report of the panel to the Mai-Mala Buni led-APC Caretaker/ Extra-Ordinary National Convention Planning Committee. Tumsa said the aspirants were scored based on their presentations, education qualifications, among others but one of the twelve aspirants failed to meet up with the requirements set by the party. “We commenced the screening exercise two days ago. There were twelve aspirants in all and I’m glad to report that they all showed up for the exercise and we were able to conduct the screening within the two days stipulated. “The committee decided that the aspirants be scored base on their presentations, educational qualifications, their commitment to the party, knowledge of the constitution, community service, manifestoes of the APC their team spirit and working experience. “Of the 12 aspirants fit the election, the committee has deemed it possible to qualify eleven of the aspirants to contest for the primary. We understand of course that the 12th aspirant has the option of appealing the decision of the committee. “I will like to emphasise and to commend the aspirants who cooperated in no small measures for the success of this exercise. I will like to seize this opportunity to thank the party for finding us worthy to conduct exercise,” he said. Receiving report, the Caretaker Committee’s secretary, John Udoehe commended the Screening panel for the diligent exercise and assured that the report will be transferred to the Appeal Committee for further action.

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Sunday 12 July 2020

PersonInTheNews What does arrest, indictment of Magu mean to Buhari’s war on corruption? Innocent Odoh, Abuja

igerians were on Monday, July 6, 2020, stunned by the news that men of the Department of Security Services (DSS) had arrested the now suspended Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC, Ibrahim Magu and whisked him away to the Aso Rock Villa for interrogation over alleged fraud. At the time of filing this story, Magu was in detention for days now at the Police Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) and is being questioned by the Ayo-Salami-led Presidential Panel. His latest travails began with a memo written by the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami over alleged misappropriation of recovered funds, gross misconduct and insubordination. The multiple allegations of fraud leveled against the anticorruption czar were to the tune of a whopping N37 billion including confiscated property he was said to have cornered to himself and his cronies across the country. Magu was also accused of living in an apartment of N20 million annually allegedly paid for upfront of N40 million by an alleged corrupt retired Air Commodore, who is being investigated by the EFCC. The multiple allegations against him led to his presumed suspension by President Muhammadu Buhari and his replacement on Tuesday by the Director of Operations in the EFCC, Muhammed Umar in acting capacity. Magu has been in the vortex of controversy in the last five years, following the refusal of the 8th Senate led by Bukola Saraki to confirm him as substantive Chairman of the EFCC. The Senate rejected him because of a damning report of the DSS in 2016, which advised the upper legislative chamber not to confirm him on account of fraud and incompetence. However, President Muhammadu Buhari re-nominated him but he was again rejected by the Senate in 2017 yet the President allowed him to act in clear violation of the EFCC ACT 2004, which stipulates that the Senate must confirm him before he can commence operations in the commission. This development has stirred the nation and opinions are as

Ibrahim Magu

diverse as they are passionate. While the Presidency in a statement insisted that the trial of Magu signifies the intention of the Buhari administration to ensure that no one is above the law in the anti-graft war, some analysts debunked the Presidency’s position and alluded to the fact that the administration reeks of high profile corruption. Speaking to BDSUNDAY, security analyst and columnist, Majeed Dahiru said the Magu saga has tainted the credibility of the Buhari’s administration to fight corruption. Majeed said: “The events of the past few days have simply made meaningless of the fiveyear-old war on corruption of the Buhari administration because if they are now accusing the arrow head of the war on corruption, it means everything that he has done in the last five years and by implication the entire war on corruption is questionable both in intention, execution both implementation. “So, that goes to prove some pundits right that Nigeria is actually more corrupt today than it was before the Buhari administration came on board.” He advised for a holistic war against corruption even as he regretted that corruption has been narrowed down to graft and stealing of money while in reality is more than that. “Corruption is much deeper and broader than that and that is why in the first place the EFCC is not supposed to be termed or classified as an anti-corruption agency, the EFCC is an anti graft agency.

“There are corrupt practices that preceded stealing of public funds these corrupt practices include; nepotism, sectionalism, cronyism, influence-peddling leading to conflict of interest and in some cases appropriation of government business for personal gains as well as outright abuse of office and undermining the rule of law. All of these are corrupt practices,” he said. Also speaking to BDSUNDAY, a public intellectual and analyst, Katch Ononuju, dismissed the Buhari’s war on corruption as a sham and full of incompetence. He said. “It is a validation of what we have been saying that Magu and the Buhari’s government are riddled with corruption, there is a replication of corruption everywhere in the Buhari government. It is the incompetence of the Buhari government

It is a validation of what we have been saying that Magu and the Buhari’s government are riddled with corruption, there is a replication of corruption everywhere in the Buhari government

that caused different departments of his administration to be dirty. “We have only just interrogated one single department of the government and we are seeing this massive fraud. Imagine what will happen if we turn our eyes to the presidency. How come the grass cutter has not been prosecuted, how come the bullion vans in Lagos nobody has asked a question about Tinubu’s offensively cocky position?” He called for a holistic investigation of all the directors in the EFCC from the time of the pioneer chairman, Nuhu Ribadu, adding that Magu must have conspired with the directors to allegedly loot the nation. “Magu could never have acted alone, we want them to holistically investigate the director of operation, the directors of records and audits from the time of Nuhu Ribadu and we heard the stories about the Kangaroo execution of orders that are not known to law. Shakedowns were used to strip people of property and such property should have been recorded. So, it is not just about Magu but those that helped him to work against the provisions of section 516, they conspired to commit the same crime with him. “Let us have a public declaration about the true collections, the true retrievals and the number of property retrieved. That is why the directors must be questioned,” Ononuju said. Contributing, the Executive Director of the Civil Society Advocacy and Legislative Centre (CISLAC) Auwal Ibrahim Musa Rafsanjani, said the allegations against Magu although not proven yet, has put to question the credibility and integrity of the fight against corruption of the Buhari government. He said, “It is going to demoralise other Nigerians who will not have confidence in the fight against corruption anymore because this has brought in certain doubts in the minds of Nigerians and the international community that is why it was not a good development. Nobody is covering any public official for doing something wrong, the government created condition for this to happen. “If they received previous reports of wrong doing against Magu, why did they not take action on it? Secondly, why should they continue to confiscate asset without legal framework? They have allowed Magu to accumulate so much power and are now complaining,” he said. He advised the Buhari admin-

istration to use this opportunity to correct some of the wrong things going on in the anti-corruption fight instead of blackmail and media trial. He also called for the establishment of Assets Recovery Management framework to harmonise recoveries instead of the haphazard way the Police, the Customs Service, the EFCC and ICPC are doing the recoveries. His lawyers file bail application, insist he will return as EFCC chairman Meanwhile, his lawyers have filed an application to the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Adamu seeking for his bail. One of the lawyers, Tosin Ojaomo who spoke to BDSUNDAY, said: “We have written to the Inspector-General of Police Mohammad Adamu and we are waiting for his response and that will determine our next line action. But this IG is very law abiding IG, we have confidence that on the receipt of our letter, immediately an administrative bail will be granted to Ibrahim Magu. “We sent this application today and we have copied the panel investigating him, we have also copied the Chairman of the Presidential Action Committee Against Corruption (PACAC), Itse Sagay. So, we hope that any moment from now, we will be called upon to either take him on bail on self-recognisance or to come and provide sureties because everybody is equal before the law.” He noted that all these allegations leveled against Magu will be debunked in the long run and after the investigation, he will return to his office despite the “purported suspension”. He said that Magu is a victim of some powerful cabal who are against the war against corruption. He said however, that the embattled EFCC boss will come out victorious and will resume the war against corruption with more vigour. “I want you to know that the corruption in this country is so endemic, it is so cancerous and it’s almost like way of life in Nigeria such that whoever comes out to fight corruption they will always find a means to ensure that the war consumes that person that is what is playing out. So, it is not easy to fight corruption in this country “There is a corrupt but powerful cabal that made it impossible for Magu to come to power for so many years. But he will come out victorious,” he added.

Sunday 12 July 2020

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Focus How FG’s neglect of Obehie-Akwete-AzuminiUkanafun highway ruins businesses, social lives The 50 kilometre road that connects Abia, Akwa-Ibom and some parts of Rivers State was awarded for reconstruction in 2010, by the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs. However, the contract has been abandoned, turning the road into a death trap. GODFREY OFURUM reports

he approval for the reconstruction of Obehie-Akwete-Azumini-Ukanafun highway, a federal road linkingagrarianandoilproducing areas of Abia, Akwa Ibom and some parts of River State, which was initially seen as a blessing by the people, has turned to be a nightmare. Thecontractforthedualisationof the 50-kilometre road, was awarded to Chinese Civil Engineering Construction Company, (CCECC) Nigeria Limited in 2010 at the tune of N34 billion. The road has two sections that wereawardedseparatelytothesame company. The first section starts from Obehie Junction, off Aba-Port Harcourt highway to Akwete and covers 20 kilometres, while the section, covering Azumini to Ukanafun in Akwa-Ibom State is 30 kilometres. It was gathered that the first sectionfromObehieJunctiontoAkwete, covering20kilometreswasawarded at the cost of N12, 257,556,596, in March 2010, while the second section, which is about 30 kilometres and links Azumini to Ukanafun, was awarded in November 2010 at the cost of N20, 972,763,132. The first section from Obehie Junction to Akwete, which has been abandoned,isfilledwithlifethreatening and vehicle damaging potholes, down to Ohambele community in Ukwa East LGA. Entrance to Ukwa West LGA Secretariat at Okeikpe has become an eyesore, as well as a dead trap to motorists and commuters. Small vehiclesgettrappedonthatsectionof theroad,whilelongvehiclesoverturn daily there, due to its bad condition. The road leads to the main agricultural hub of both Abia and AkwaIbom States, as all the communities covered by the road, are agrarian communities. Uzoma Abonta, member, representing Ukwa East/ Ukwa West Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, described the road as a regional road that should be taken over and completed by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC). According to him, that road was awarded many years ago, by the Federal Executive Council. It is not a stateroad.Itwasactuallyinitiated,by me and the contract was awarded to a Chinese firm. “And they were waiting payment of compensations and all that on the road. I’ve written to the Ministry of NigerDeltatopleasepaytheChinese company,whoclaimedtheyarebeen owed to continue work and possibly complete it fast to reduce the suffering of the people. “The federal constituency is an oil producing area. Till now, the people have been subjected to unbearable hardship, because of the nature of that road. “We are cut off during raining seasons.I’vemadeseveralappealstothe Ministry of Niger Delta. We’ve also called on the NDDC, who continues

The abandoned highway to provide palliatives on that road. “Our argument is that NDDC, should take it fully and pay the Chinese company, to do the needful, because what we’re getting now from the palliatives cannot put the road in order. “FromAzuminitoOpoboJunction is bad, while Obehie axis, is a death trap, thereby cutting off people of Ukwa from the rest of the country, despite our contribution to the economic development of Nigeria. “We have written to NDDC, to please take over funding of the road, since their parent body, the Ministry of Niger Delta is also involved. They shouldassumethatroad,asaregional project”. He continued, “The road moves from Abia to Akwa-Ibom and Rivers States. It is qualified as a regional project, therefore NDDC should take it over. “I have written; Enyi Abaribe, senator, representing Abia South senatorial zone in the Senate, has also written to the Ministry, but they kept on saying they will put it in their budget and when the budget comes, theywillvotelittlesumfortheproject. “The last time, they approved N200 million for it. What will that amount do on that road? We argued andsaid,makeitN1billion,sothatthe companycancomeback,butitfellon deaf ears. But we will not relent. We will keep doing the right thing. “The road has economic value. It leadstoAkwa-Ibomandpeoplecoming from Rivers State and Abia use the same road. If people must move agricultural produce, that road must be in good condition”. For Obum Mao Azunna, chairman, Grand Council of Niger Delta YouthLeaders,Abiachapter,CCECC only did about 500 meters quasi construction at Okeikpe area in Ukwa West, since 2012 till date, stressing thattheroadhassubjectedtheUkwa people, their Annang and Ogoni neighbours to economic hardship. “Propertiesworthmillionsofnaira were destroyed, by the company in the course of executing the project, but less than 7percent of the people affected were paid compensation. “The road is important, due to

its usage by the Ogonis and Ndokis of Rivers State, The Ukwa-East and Ukwa-WestindigenesofAbiaandthe Akwa-Ibomites, who use the road on daily basis. “However, the condition of the road has caused untold hardship to the rural people and farmers, who now find it difficult to sell their produce in the semi urban markets. A journey of 30 minutes now takes 2 hours or more, due to the deplorable condition of the road. “Ukwa land is the only oil producingterritoryinAbiaStateandIwonder why the Federal Government would abandon an important project that would enhance the wellbeing of Ukwa people, Abians and Nigerians in general. Ukwa people do not find it easy with the road, especially at this rainy season. “The road was awarded to CCECC, by the federal government, duringtheadministrationofPresident Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, sometime in 2010. The road network traverses Obehie town in Ukwa-West Local Government, through Akwete and Azumini in Ukwa-East Local Government and ended at Ukanufun town, in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. “Obehie to Akwete was captured in the first phase of the project, according to available public document (sign-board)atObehie.However,the company commenced the project at Ukanafun in Akwa Ibom, which was supposed to be on the second phase

of the project and stopped somewhere after Azumini”. The condition of the road is a reason for every Ukwa person to weep, Onyema Olujie, former chairman, Akwete Joint Council of Chiefs said. He argued that his Akwete community has totally been cut off, by the deplorable condition of the road, noting that his people now find it difficult to access either Aba or Port Harcourt for their daily businesses. “Our communities are agrarian, our constituency is oil producing, we have every natural gift that can make usrich.Infact,we’rerichbynature,but we have no roads at all. “Majorityofourpeoplecan’teven access Aba or Port Harcourt again to go and buy something needed for household or farm. They can’t even go to sell. Our people are suffering terribly. “The road in question is supposed to be part of the Niger Delta road network. Unfortunately all the Ministers of Niger Delta have not been able to complete that road since Jonathan’s regime. We’ve been having a lot of hardship. “For those of us from Akwete, we are saying they’ve inadvertently created a republic for us, because we can’t access Obehie andwecan’talsoaccessAba,through Opobo/Azumini road. “I don’t know if they’ve abandoned the road. At a point we learnt that the Federal Government was owingthemlotsofmoney.Whenlittle was paid to them, they did not do the road from Ukanafun to join Azumini. “After then, nobody knows whether they’ve abandoned it. We wereallhappyattheinitialstagewhen theyawardedthatroad,butcurrently I don’t think there’s anything to be happy about. “Again to think that the worst two spot on that road are in front of UkwaWestLocalGovernmentHeadquarters in Okeikpe and then the terrible one at Ohambele is worrisome, because the Local Government at Okeikpe ought to at least do some palliatives there. “So you’ll wonder what the state government is doing there. Yes, it’s a Federal road, but those using it are mostly Abia and Ukwa people. It’s very sad. We’ve been suffering”. John Uko, a 70year old retired school teacher and native of Ukana-

fun, a commuter in a stranded public vehicle at Ohambele axis of ObehieAkwete-Azumini-Ukanafun road, observed that abandonment of the road is anti-trade and commerce. “I don’t know why we love doing wrong things in this country and ignore the right things. Even a child knows that a motorable ObehieAkwete-Azumini-Ukanafun road will change people’s lives and create a new busy commercial centre in the middle of Rivers, Akwa-Ibom and Abia State. “There’s something significant about this road. People always talk about economic diversification, especially on agriculture. If there’s any road in Nigeria that can improve agriculture in terms of moving farm produce into cities and also improve trade and commerce between rural, suburbsandurbanareasit’sthisroad”, Uko stated. He explained that the road is also capable of strengthening the unity of Nigeria, as it connects five ancient tribes that have been doing businesses together, pre-colonial era. “The road leads to Ibibio ethnic group and the mainland of the Annang ethnic group. From Ukanafun LGA, which is an Annang land, you will get to Oruk Anam LGA, which is also Annang. In fact, it connects all the eight Annang speaking LGAs in Akwa-Ibom State. It’s also a link to Ikot Abasi, which is in Ibiobio land in Akwa-Ibom State. “From where we are, you already know it came into Ukwa land, who are Igbos. From the other side, the road leads to Ogoni land in Rivers State.“So,tome,itisaneconomicand unity road. I am from Ukanafun and often go to Ikot Abasi for business. I must pass through Ukanafun and Oruk Anam, before accessing IkotAbasi. I’m already in Ukwa, which is an Igboland. Can’t you see the link? “What else can boost unity more than trade and commerce? When people do business together, they knoweachotherculturallyandotherwise. The old ports that connect each otheraroundthisareaaren’tworking again. Now, the road, especially this Abia section is a shame. “From here to Opobo and other nearby local ports, were all active in the past and the people in government know the resources here. “For me I don’t know why they enjoy watching people suffer. This road can create a new commercial city for Akwa-Ibom, Abia and Rivers States, if things are done properly in this country. “I plead with whoever that is in charge, whether Abia or Federal Government or even the NDDC, to quickly fix this road, because it will help our people to survive on their own, through trade and commerce. That’s all I ask for”. Edidem Sunday, a motorcyclist, explained that the condition of the road, from Ohambele community, Obohia,Ohanso,AkwetetoOkeikpe, allinUkwa-EastandUkwa-WestLGA are bad to compare to the smooth side of Azumini to Ukanafun.

16BDSUNDAY

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VIVIANNE OLUFUNKE ADELAGUN: Vivianne OLUFUNKE Olufunke Adelagun: VIVIANNE ADELAGUN: Finding fulfillment in giving services to the needy Finding fulfillment in giving in hergiving services toher the her needy Finding fulfillment services to the needy

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KEMI AJUMOBI EMI AJUMOBI as a result ofshe her clinical background, has been able to initiate sheis the has been able to initiatepromoting Vivianne Olufunke Adelagun meaningful programs vianne Olufunke is the Non-profit meaningfulwellness programs founderAdelagun and CEO of andpromoting health care for those under andcharity CEO oforganisation the Non-profit wellness health care for those named Hope and who are underserved. She attended harity organisation named Hope who are underserved. Sheprimary attended school in Emerge. She initiated and registered nursery and organisation in 2018 in response Lagos, Nigeria and obtained her merge. 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Law risk school inalso Chicago Illinois. degree in English and Political Aside he works asmanager a clinicaldirector and legalfor riska renowned She also has a bachelor’s degreeScience. in “We would allow free company in theEnglish Unitedandfrom her Science. career life, she owns a anager director forin a Illinois renowned Political Aside accommodation “ W e w o u l d a l l o w forf rup e eto 2 years small business, volunteers her ompany inStates. Illinois in the United from her career life, she she owns a while people get back on their feet. accommodation for up to 2 years Hope Emerge organisation is time at church and various charity ates. small business, she volunteers her We have assisted a few people with while people get back on their feet. registered in the United aschurch organisations. loves listening ope Emerge organisation is States time at and variousShe charity getting apartments and we would We have assisted a few people with well in Nigeria, and focus is to music, spending time with her gistered in theasUnited States asthe organisations. She loves listening usually payand for 1we year or 2 years at a getting apartments would to provide health and spending immediate family, ell as in Nigeria, and good the focus is care to music, time with and her watching time, but the cost of living usually pay for 1 year or 2 years at a in Lagos financial initiatives for the less meaningful movies. Her passion is provide good health care and immediate family, and watching is high, my goal is to eventually time, but the cost so of living in Lagos privileged for andthe theless underserved. andpassion caring for nancial initiatives meaningfuladvocating movies. Her is others and our own is high, sohave my goal is toapartment eventuallycomplex. It itsunderserved. inception, they have and she believes is achievable rivileged Since and the advocating caring foranything others and would be a great initiative. have our own apartment complex. It My short been able they to gethave recipients of if anything you put is your mind to it. She is nce its inception, she believes achievable term goal is to getMy financial sponsors would be a great initiative. short their initiatives on their way to blessed with a beautiful family. een able to get recipients of if you put your mind to it. She is who will invest in the organisation term goal is to get financial sponsors experiencing a meaningful life. Her As a clinical Director of Risk eir initiatives on their way to blessed with a beautiful family. so that continue to help who will invest in we the can organisation philosophy as an Management, xperiencing a meaningful life.individual Her As is a to clinical DirectorVivianne of Riskis employed people.” so that we can continue to help personiswith and by aVivianne big health care company where hilosophytreat as anevery individual to love Management, is employed Giving her parting shots, she says “I people.” compassion when faced with the she works with a group of Lawyers to eat every person with love and by a big health care company where things are possible when Giving herbelieve partingall shots, she says “I proactively and reactively ompassionopportunity. when faced with the she works with a group of Lawyers to mitigate we put God first. When I started believe all things are possible when nurse risk the company. “We address pportunity.Vivianne is a registeredproactively andfor reactively mitigate the first. organisation, lot of people, a we put God When I astarted practitioner as well as a Lawyer issues that lead to litigation ivianne is a registered nurse risk and for theany company. “Wecan address organisations. For her, sometimes, and not enough time in a the dayorganisation, to lot of things and a lot ofasituations a lot of people, actitioner as well as a Lawyer and any issues that can lead to litigation it’s not about money. “I know fulfill alltime those head.” discouraged However, two organisations. Foralways her, sometimes, and not enough in ideas a dayintomy lot of things and a lot ofme. situations that there is much more to render She revealed. years later, and with that we have it’s not always about money. “I know fulfill all those ideas in my head.” discouraged me. However,alltwo EDITOR other than money alone. At times, all On providing financial support accomplished, people are coming that there is much more to render She revealed. years later, and with all that we have that is needed makeall a difference for the less privileged the back to ask me exactly did EDITOR Kemi Ajumobi other than money alone. Attotimes, On providing financial support and accomplished, people are “How coming Email: kemi@businessdayonline.com is toto render services and underserved, they youme do“How it?” My response Kemi Ajumobi that is needed makeone’s a difference fortime. the less privileged she and tells the me back to ask exactly did is always truly enjoy volunteering provide financial support sayingisthat translates to Email: kemi@businessdayonline.com TEAM: is to renderIone’s services and time. at church. underserved, she tells me theyin America you do it?”a yoruba My response always I oversee the risk and health care and Nigeria, but the major focus is ‘There is nothing more Desmond Okon I truly enjoy volunteering at church. provide financial support in America a yoruba saying that translates to easy and TEAM: team, drama ministry, Nigeria. In major her words, “The is to is more beautiful to achieve than Osaromena Ogbeide I oversee the riskthe and health care and andI am Nigeria, but the focus is goal ‘There nothing more easy and Desmond Okon also a ministry, part of theand Media team. I love Inempower the people so that they canbeautiful something that has the hand prints Designed by Aderemi Ayeni team, the drama I am Nigeria. her words, “The goal is to more to achieve than Osaromena Ogbeide every of my timeIrendered in the the be people self-sufficient. Aside from something paying ofthat Godhas in it’ . hand prints also a part of the bit Media team. love empower so that they can the Designed by Aderemi Ayeni every bit of my time rendered in the be self-sufficient. Aside from paying of God in it’.

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full cream milk) . MEALS TO ENJOY MEALS TO ENJOYEBUNOLUWA JAMES full cream milk) . BY CHEF • 1 tsp baking soda BY CHEF EBUNOLUWA JAMES • 1 tsp baking soda • 2tsp baking powder ake this yummy • 2tsp baking powder ake thiscomforting yummy curry • 1tsp salt • 1tsp salt comforting curry at h o m e . Yo u • 2 cups flour 2 cups flour a t h o mcan e . Yo u it •with • 2tbsp sugar pair • 2tbsp• sugar can pairNaan it with bread, rice, 2 eggs rice, • 2a eggs potatoes Naan or eatbread, it as is, if you’re • 1 fresh cherry mango potatoesweight or eat watcher. it as is, if you’re a • 1 fresh cherry mango • 2 strawberries weight watcher. • 2 strawberries • Syrup of choice to garnish. RECIPE • Syrup of choice to garnish. RECIPE PREPARATION • 1 big bunch Ugu leaves PREPARATION • 1 big•bunch Uguroughly leaves ground fresh ½ cup 1. Add first seven (7), ingredients • ½ cup roughly ground fresh 1. Add first seven (7), ingredients pepper in a bowl with one egg, mix till pepper in a bowl withno one egg, mix it has lumps. Beattill the other • Smoked catfish it has no lumps. Beat the other • Smoked catfish • ½ kg prawns 2. egg aside till it is frothy, add to • ½ kg•prawns 2. egg aside tillmix it isand frothy, the fold add into to the batter Pomo ( as you wish) the mix and fold into the batter • Pomo• ( as you wish) with a spatula. Set aside for ½ kg sweet potatoes (boiled) with a spatula. Set aside for • ½ kg•sweet potatoes (boiled) Palm oil 3. 10 minutes • Palm•oil 2tbsp crayfish 3. 10 minutes 4. Wash and cut your fruit as • 2tbsp• crayfish 2 Classic beef seasoning 4. Wash and cut and your as desired setfruit it aside. • 2 Classic beefasseasoning desired and set it aside. • Salt desired Long sleeve Lani style 5. Heat a large non-stick pan over • Salt as desired Long sleeve Lani style 5. Heat a large non-stick medium heat.pan Addover a knob of PREPARATION mediumbutter heat.fry Add a knobinofbatches. pancakes PREPARATION butter fry pancakes in batches. 1. Add the first 6 ingredients to 6. When the sides sizzle to the top, the prawnstopossibly 1. Add theseason first 6 ingredients flip the sizzle doughtotothe thetop, other side 6. When the sides season overnight. the prawns possibly and that’s it. other side flip the dough to the overnight. and that’s it. as many as you like. Serve 2. Sear in a hot pan with butter Stack up

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sauce 4. Cover to3-4mins steam ontill low heatisfornice and thick. Slightly 3-4minsslightly till sauce is nice andcoat the back ofSlightly a spoon. slightly thick. coat the backPS: of a(pro spoon. tip): Resist the temptation continue to add salt or seasoning, PS: (pro to tip): Resist the temptation if flavour balanced, add some to continue to add isn’t salt or seasoning, juice or a some quarter tsp of if flavourmore isn’t lime balanced, add rich brown more lime juice or asugar. quarter tsp of rich brown sugar.

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actitioner as well as a Lawyer and

any issues that can lead to litigation

EDITOR Kemi Ajumobi EDITOR Email: kemi@businessdayonline.com Kemi Ajumobi

Email: kemi@businessdayonline.com TEAM: Desmond Okon TEAM: Osaromena Ogbeide Desmond Okon OsaromenaDesigned Ogbeide by Aderemi Ayeni Designed by Aderemi Ayeni

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“We would allow free “ W e w accommodation o u l d a l l o w forf rup e eto 2 years while people on their feet. accommodation for upget toback 2 years We get have assisted a few people with while people back on their feet. getting aapartments We have assisted few peopleand withwe would usually payand for 1we year or 2 years at a getting apartments would time, the of living usually pay for 1but year orcost 2 years at a in Lagos is high, my goal is to eventually time, but the cost so of living in Lagos our own is high, sohave my goal is toapartment eventuallycomplex. It would be a great initiative. have our own apartment complex. It My short is to getMy financial would be aterm greatgoal initiative. short sponsors who will invest in the organisation term goal is to get financial sponsors so that we can continue who will invest in the organisation to help people.” so that we can continue to help people.” Giving her parting shots, she says “I things are possible when Giving herbelieve partingall shots, she says “I we put God first. When I started believe all things are possible when the first. organisation, lot of people, a we put God When I astarted organisations. For her, sometimes, and not enough time in a the dayorganisation, to lot of things a lot ofasituations a lot and of people, it’s not about money. “I know fulfill alltime those head.” discouraged However, two organisations. Foralways her, sometimes, and not enough in ideas a dayintomy lot of things and a lot ofme. situations that there is much more to render She revealed. years later, and with that we have it’s not always about money. “I know fulfill all those ideas in my head.” discouraged me. However,alltwo other than money alone. At times, all On providing financial support accomplished, people are coming that there is much more to render She revealed. years later, and with all that we have that is needed makeall a difference for the less privileged the back to ask me exactly did other than money alone. Attotimes, On providing financial support and accomplished, people are “How coming is toto render services and underserved, they youme do“How it?” My response that is needed makeone’s a difference fortime. the less privileged she and tells the me back to ask exactly did is always truly enjoy volunteering provide financial support sayingisthat translates to is to renderIone’s services and time. at church. underserved, she tells me theyin America you do it?”a yoruba My response always I oversee the risk and health care and Nigeria, but the major focus is ‘There is nothing more I truly enjoy volunteering at church. provide financial support in America a yoruba saying that translates to easy and team, drama ministry, Nigeria. In major her words, “The is to is more beautiful to achieve than I oversee the riskthe and health care and andI am Nigeria, but the focus is goal ‘There nothing more easy and also a ministry, part of theand Media I love Inempower people canbeautiful something that has the hand prints team, the drama I amteam. Nigeria. her words,the “The goalso is that to they more to achieve than every of my timeIrendered in the the be people self-sufficient. Aside from something paying ofthat Godhas in it’ . hand prints also a part of the bit Media team. love empower so that they can the

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Interview Why real estate industry is still flying high despite the pandemic, by Oyedemi Julius Oyedemi, a real estate guru and managing director PWAN Plus Business Concerns, an affiliate of Property World Network Africa (PWAN Group), in this interview with SEYI JOHN SALAU, says despite Covid-19 pandemic, the real estate industry has continued to flourish. He tells a success story of his group, urging inventors to take advantage in the industry now. Excerpts:

ould you introduce yourself and organisation to our readers? My name is Julius Oyedemi. I am the managing director and chief executive officer, PWAN Plus Business Concern Limited, owners of Cedarwood Estate with headquarters in the city of Lagos. Basically, we are a real estate network marketing firm with stations in Aba, Owerri and other major cities in Nigeria. We are one of the fastest real estate marketing companies in Africa. Our vision is to make home ownership dream a reality for all. At PWAN Plus, we are very civil and highly professional in our dealings. One of our core values is customer satisfaction. No matter how good one’s integrity is, if customers are not satisfied, one’s character becomes questionable. Hence, our focal point is customer satisfaction. Cedarwood Estates by PWAN Plus is just a little above three years. From 2017 till date we have several estates in Lagos, Imo, Abia states and we are now moving into Akwa-Ibom State. We have also recorded significant achievements in the area of infrastructural development in all our estates. I can tell our customers that we are concerned about you buying a property from us and you have easy access to your property or your allocation. Prospective customers may want to know your core area. Do you specialise in site and service or build and sale? We basically function in the area of site and service though we are delving into build and sale. By site and service, I mean we acquire large expanse of land and develop it. We clear it, fence it, erect gatehouse, put security facilities and develop road networks. Of course, we don’t stop there. We do the electrification and lighting and also create recreational centres, sporting arenas, estate launch, other basic infrastructure; and then we allow our investors to build to their taste. We allow them to build to their taste. We know that like they say; variety is the spice of life. So, we allow people to play with their creative ability. Hence, when you acquire a property from us, you submit your building plan; it undergoes approval process and you are off to site. How does PWAN Plus make home ownership easy for everyone? We believe that every man dreams of having a home that he calls his own, but how to actualise it becomes the challenge. At PWAN Plus, we go into developing area, acquire properties, develop them within a time frame and make the properties very affordable for everyone. We operate a system that allows even the low income earners to acquire properties with ease. This is because, if you are trying to make home ownership dream a reality for all you should also consider people’s incomes. You need to check their pockets. At Cedarwood’s Estates, we are budget friendly. I can tell you, we sold properties like Cedarwood Vista at the rate N270,000 here in the city of Lagos in 2019; and it was a boom. A lot of people thought it was a scam until they were invited to get their allocations. We heard testimonials. A lot of people said: ‘I thought it was a scam so I said let me just buy one plot.’ Now that they have allocations they want buy more. That is part of our own style of fulfilling our vision, by making our properties affordable and easy for clients to take possession. We are also very choosy regarding the location we invest in. We go for prime locations where either government or private developmental efforts will hit the area. We are careful not to take people to areas where nothing can spark off more development. Considering the current economic

challenges posed by Civid-19 pandemic, one would expect that these are dull momentsfortherealestatesectorbutinstead youarelaunchingnewproductshereand there. Could you explain the secret? Nigeria is fully dependent on crude oil, but it has become a reality today that crude cannot sustain the country. Many multinational oil companies are relocating out of Nigeria. I want people to know that one sure industry that has contributed significantly to the economies of the world at large is real estate. In Nigeria today, real estate is contributing immensely to the country. No matter the economic challenge, real estate remains a booming industry in Nigeria. The reason as I said earlier is, everybody wants a roof over his/her head. And everyone wants to be a landlord or landlady; so, the quest for real estate is always high. The industry is a very busy one, and for us, the players, there is no resting moment because the demand is high. We have to improve our supply capabilities; that’s why the industry is still flying high despite the pandemic. On the other hand some people believe that living in an estate makes one a perpetual tenant, how do you reconcile that? I think that’s not a true statement. As real estate developers, our focal point is to solve housing problems. We provide basic amenities. Precisely, what we do is to have a functional estate, where there will be good ambience, serenity, organisation, accountability and security of lives and property. One of the challenges of man is security. At PWAN Plus, we are developing properties where these aspects of man’s worries are taken care of. Why should anybody say that he or she is a perpetual tenant because he lives in an organised and secure estate? Let me stress here that the reason some people may think that living in an estate makes one a perpetual tenant, is because there is a control system, there is organisation and there is management. Yes; no estate functions well without a management. No organisation functions well without systems and structures. The fact that you have acquired land makes you a landlord or land owner; but a management which is also instituted by the landowners and landlords is there to serve occupants of the estate. I will give a simple illustration. When you live in neighbourhoods devoid of proper estate management, who is accountable to you when there is power failure for one month? When you live in such neighbourhood and there is no water supply, who is accountable to you? When you live in neighbourhoods and armed robbers are jumping into and bugling people’s homes, who is accountable? In a functional estate, there is a management which takes care of all the aspects such as security, water, electricity, cleaning services, general maintenance and the rest of them. So, you find out that people who live in functional estates enjoy a good measure of free life, with just a little sacrifice which is determined by the landlords. Who want to live in unorganised neighbourhood where anybody can just bash into your house and bang on your gate indiscriminately? In an organised estate like ours, there is robust security operated by competent private security professionals in conjunction with the Nigerian Police Force. In such environment, residents have peace of mind. They wake up in the morning, and their streets are cleaned; their neighbourhood is not littered with dead leaves, nobody dumps trash on the streets; like we see in neighbourhoods where anybody can just deface the streets. All of that does not happen in a functional estate. I want to say

Oyedemi clearly that you are indeed not a perpetual tenant. Rather you are privileged to be among the high class who enjoy good living environment because that’s what a functional estate provides. How can those who earn less than N150,000 a month enjoy this good life, considering how much it costs to own a property in your estates? I tell people that real estate investment is a journey; and every journey starts from a location. Every journey has a starting point and a finishing point, which is called destination. To be a real investor or one who acquires property, one needs to have foresight. Foresight makes you see the future right in the present. Foresight brings what is far nearer. For instance, about five or seven years ago, if you drove through Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, it was known as a deadly zone. If not accident, it was robbery, all because bushes dominated that environment. There were no physical developments; so, a lot of atrocities were happening until Redeemed Christian Church of God through the able leadership of Pastor Enoch Adeboye acquired several kilometres of land and planted their headquarters there. If you go to that axis now, the story has changed. You hardly hear of robbery cases around there because many other developments have moved there. The Redeemed Church has attracted a lot of people. You now have many beautiful estates in Mowe, Magodo in that axis today. The truth is; people should start from somewhere. When the likes of Daddy Adeboye moved to that axis, a lot of people misunderstood him. But today, a good number now have clearer understanding. The journey of real estate investment starts with a step. Let’s go back to your question. How can someone who earns below N150,000 live in an organised estate? I want to say that it’s very possible. It takes foresight and determination. Today in Cedarwood Estates, we have flexible payment plan. So, somebody earning N100,000 and below can acquire a property of N600,000 and spread the payment over 12 months. At some point, we even allow 18 months. That’s one way that PWAN Plus is assisting Nigerians to live a good life. In what ways does your firm help to reduce the number of our youths in the unemployment market? We have a platform called PWAN

Group Property Access Club. It is group of persons who are doing something legitimate to achieve a goal. I want to stress that in 2019, we got reports from Lagos Business School saying that PWAN Group is the third largest employer of labour in West Africa. There are over 79,000 independent partners and consultants working for PWAN. We have a training programme that we call ‘Walk With Us Nigeria’.We understand the position of our nation and we are saying that instead of just buying land from us, they can also own properties at zero cost and that is where the initiative, property access club, came into existence. It is a platform whereby individuals from different walks of life are trained to become real estate professionals. PWAN Group has been training people since 2012. I can boldly tell you that there is no real estate firm in Nigeria that runs trainings the way the PWAN Group does it. Our trainings are done in all of our centres nationwide. The PWAN brand is spread over 13 states in Nigeria. Every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, quality trainings simultaneously go on in the 13 states. The essence is; after the training, a beneficiary becomes a Consultant and Partner with the brand. He or she is thought on how to sell properties and how to network people into real estate. When a Consultant or Partner makes sales, he or she gets a generous commission to keep body and soul together. A lot of people, both in Nigeria and in the Diaspora, are working with PWAN Group to make home ownership dream a reality. That platform is actually PWAN’s arm devoted to empowering Nigerians, taking the jobless off the streets and helping them to earn a descent living. Investors have been testifying that real estate products by PWAN Plus and Cedarwood Estates sale out very quickly. What’s the secret? Like I said earlier, one of our core values is customer satisfaction. Whatever meaningful thing we can do to make sure that a customer goes home happily, we will do. From me, the managing director, to the least staff, we are all out. I drive people to site inspection at times. I follow up to inspect clients’ allocation regularly. I make sure that I follow up with contractors on site because if you must deliver effectively to clients and investors you have to place integrity above all things. I believe that with these inputs, God Almighty is not so partial not to reward our efforts. That is the secret.

If you check all the visuals on the internet, you see my face on site. All those things are not there for show. It’s just to show our customers that from top to bottom, our staff are responsible and accountable for their investments. I have the understanding that first is quality service; I can narrow it to service. With that my subordinates and all staff know that we are all out. One cannot do otherwise and expects good result. I believe this is one reason investor will choose to do business with us. Again, as the Managing Director, I am personally and easily available. In real estate business, investors should know and be able to interact with the people at the front line, to know what the plans and projections are like. The real estate CEO should be accountable to investors, give them feedback on the state of their properties, what and how the return on their investments has accrued. All of this is what we practise here in PWAN Plus. We are not there yet, but we are getting there. It has not been an easy one. It is time-consuming; sometimes you don’t even have time to attend to your urgent personal or family needs. Another secret of our success is that we are very professional in our approach to solving real estate problems. From the day we launched our estates, everyone in the organisation knows exactly what their duties are. We make sure that from the point that a client makes an investment, we make all relevant information available and development must start before we start selling any of our estates. When one gets to a property site that one wants to buy and sees people on site working, one has a rest of mind. We also take physical possession to reduce fear of land owning families in the minds of investors. Our track record in infrastructural development is another mark that endears us to investors. Each of our 26 estates enjoys good infrastructural facilities. None of Cedarwood estates is just bush. There is presence of gate house, perimeter fencing, internal road construction and one form of infrastructure going on at site. That is a key factor to why our estates sell very fast. Recently, we adopted a method whereby as a client makes payment he or she chooses his or her plot. Lush City Aba was introduced barely three weeks ago. In the fourth week we will begin to allocate plots to all subscribers in that estate. There are cases where some people said they have subscribed for a property and after two or three years they have not got their allocations. As a result they stopped investing. But here we are changing the rhythm. Would it be correct to say that Lagos is getting saturated with your estates? Could that be the reason for shift down to East or do you have any unique reason for the attention to the East? Lagos is not saturated because demand for properties here is still high. However, the dial is changing. There is a shift in property business in Lagos from site and service to functional estates; and we are already moving into that market. People want to avoid the stress of building before moving in. They are now more interested in readymade, nicely built and furnished apartments that they pay for and pack in. We already have Cedarwood residence (4- bedroom duplexes), specially designed to meet the need of this category of people around Lakowe area of Lagos. But our vision is to make home ownership easy, not only for Nigeria but also for all Africans. So, expanding our operation to other states of Nigeria is just fulfilling our vision; not because Lagos market is saturated.

Sunday 12 July 2020

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State of the Nation How attack on UN helicopter demystified Nigeria’s Military claims of ‘degrading’ Boko Haram TONY AILEMEN, INNOCENT ODOH and GODSGIFT ONYEDINEFU, Abuja

oko Haram’s attack on a helicopter belonging to the United Nations in Borno has further exposed not only the combat readiness of the Al-Qaeda and ISIS linked Jihadist operations in the region, but also the weakness of Nigeria’s security architecture, in dealing with insurgency. The UN Humanitarian Air Service helicopter was hit at Damasak, a community in Borno State, about 150 kilometres (90 miles) from Maiduguri, the State Capital, in the North Eastern part of Nigeria on Saturday, July 4, 2020. The attack on the UN helicopter reportedly killed two people including a five-year-old child and infuriated President Muhammadu Buhari who threatened severe consequences on the perpetrators. It was, however, reported that as at the time of the attacks, no aid worker was on board even as the crew members were lucky to escape unhurt. The attacks led to UN suspension of rotational flights for one week “to engage with government partners and conduct new risk assessments”. The helicopter was helping in providing aid to the war-hit people of Borno State and the UN has provided the aid to over 7.8 million people, according to Edward Kallon, the UN Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria. The attack is part of the propaganda mechanisms by the Boko Haram insurgents to attract attention and score cheap popularity with soft targets and international institutions. The terror groups have continued to find safe operational havens in the large civilian populated rural and remote communities located deep inside the Sambisa forests where they launch barrages of attacks on poorly secured villages, military units and critical state infrastructure. These attacks continue to make nonsense of Nigerian military’s claims that it has “degraded” Boko Haram capabilities, to justify the huge budget allocations which rose from about US$1.44 billion in 2009 to US2.81 billion in 2018. Available statistics indicate that the budget of the military has been on steady increase since 2008 (N191.5bn). With over N6.7 trillion allocated to the security sector between 2010 and 2017, the unending military campaign against Boko Haram now constitutes the largest drainpipe in Nigeria’s financial history. This amount however, does not include extra budgetary allocations such as the US$1 billion borrowed by the Federal Government in 2013 to fund counter-terrorism operations and the US$21 million approved for the Multinational

Joint Task Force (MNJTF) in June 2015. On 14th December, 2017, the Buhari administration withdrew yet another $1b from the Excess Crude Account with the approval of the National Economic Council NEC, made up of Governors of the 36 states. NEC had explained that the money was approved for amongst others, “the purchase of equipment, procuring intelligence, logistics and all that is required to ensure that we finally put to an end the scourge of insurgency.” The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu while reacting to allegations that the fund was used to prosecute the re-election of President Buhari, stated that part of the fund was used to procure 12 Super Tucano fighter jets. “It’s on record that the Buhari administration paid about USD 490 million for a dozen Super Tucano fighter aircraft in a direct, government-to-government (no Contractors or Commission Agents) transaction with the government of the United State. He gave the total of what was spent, at $880m, after the military procurements had been made. Despite these huge allocations, the military-led counter-insurgency operations have not achieved much in Nigeria. In the forest, the Boko Haram leadership conducts their jihadists operations and even carries out religious activities in a location named “Sabil-Huda”, deep inside Sambisa. The leader of the Boko Haram, Abubakar Shekau, is said to be heavily fortified with a well organised structured hierarchy of command made up of different layers, the closest to him being the senior commanders and members of the Shura council. These are closely followed by another layer made up of well paid foot soldiers and jihadist fighters, abducted women and children. Shekau is said to be protected by the local people who reside in the subdued communities in the thick

and rocky forest of Firgi, inside the Sambisa forest. He is reportedly protected by 10 loyal special fighters, who control about 40 Toyota Hilux mounted with Anti-Aircraft guns, 2 Armoured tanks and 2 APCs, all carefully concealed under the thickness of the Firgi forest, protected by camouflages. This well fortified stratified arrangement makes it easy for the Boko Haram leaders to run open markets that provide needed goods, such as telephones, recharge cards, petroleum products and basic food stuffs Boko Haram leaders also run a mini government where they collect taxes, govern and extract loyalty from the communities, using the carrot and stick to reward obedience and punish disloyalty. Security experts believe that these have largely been responsible for failures to make serious incursions into the Boko Haram camps, despite bombardments by the Nigerian Army artillery. The Nigerian Air Force had bombed several times but because of the strategic position, the insurgents always find a safe haven in ‘Farisu’ to conduct their activities. Sabil-Huda or ‘Farisu’ also serves as a jihadists market for the sale of basic items such as telephone, recharge cards, charging of phones and provision stores. It is estimated that about 25 Boko Haram jihadist camps headed by unit commanders, having no fewer than 1000 fighters currently exist within those remote locations in the deep and marshy Sambisa Forest. For these fighters who live perpetually on hard drugs, their rewards consist of regular supply of free women abducted from various raids, free food and cash from their sponsors. Many obviously have very little or no skills and therefore, feel very comfortable with their engagements and reward system. At least, 30 000 people in Nigeria have been killed in terror attacks since 2003, causing the displacement of more than 2.4 million

people. These groups include Boko Haram, operating in the Lake Chad Basin region, Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) and Ansaru, also called al-Qaeda in the lands beyond the Sahel. Since January 2020, least 2,771 Nigerians have been murdered in cold blood, according to figures released by the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR), a US-based thinktank under the Nigeria Security Tracker (NST) programme. Security experts say insurgents have continued to wreak havoc because the military lacks strategic and tactical imprecision largely due to poor intelligence gathering. The coordinator, Defence Media Operations (DMO), John Enenche blamed the weak intelligence on the lack of cooperation from citizens. Enenche also said these terrorists have managed to sustain attacks on civilians because they are heavily funded, but said their sponsors are still unknown largely because the military’s duty is to defeat the terrorists and not to uncover their source of funding. Enenche said the terrorists use sophisticated and expensive weapons, which indicates that they are sponsored. He said the DSS and NIA are working to unravel the sponsors. Following the attack on the United Nations Humanitarian helicopter, there is palpable fear that the Boko Haram insurgents and their allies may have acquired the dreaded Surface to Air Missiles (SAM) used in shooting down planes. Nigeria has battled Boko Haram for about 11 years now and spent huge amounts of money fighting the insurgents yet the Boko Haram men are perhaps more energised with the acquisition of more sophisticated weapons and massive recruitment of hapless citizens of the beleaguered north east of Nigeria. Speaking to BusinessDay about the scourge, former presidential candidate of the National Con-

science Party (NCP) in the 2019 general election, Tanko Yunusa expressed worries that much has not be achieved on the war against terrorism because of conspiracy against Nigeria. “Nothing has been done on security. For a long time now, I have been saying that there is a conspiracy against Nigeria both internationally and locally. If not, how on earth can Boko Haram have a weapon that can bring down a helicopter? The same Boko Haram that I know started with a bow and arrow. How did they come about sophisticated machine guns including rocket missiles? It is unbelievable,” he said. He further said that the conspiracy is probably because Nigeria’s intelligence is not doing the right thing, telling Nigerians exactly where the Boko Haram are getting this particular weapon from. On why the Nigerian government cannot bust the alleged international conspiracy, Yunusa said the situation is far beyond what Nigerians can think of. “I have a strong opinion that we don’t have a good relationship with France; the US who knows us very well and our parental country Britain are not helping us in this situation. I can tell you that they know exactly where these weapons are coming from; they know exactly who is financing Boko Haram; they know exactly where they are targeting at a particular time, and they know exactly the level of casualties they have inflicted. All these countries know these,” he said. He stressed that the Nigerian government is either incapacitated to knowing all of these things or they are playing to the gallery, adding that there is inefficiency and ineptitude in government. Yunusa regretted that President Buhari to whom much hope was reposed to fight Boko Haram because of his military background appears to have failed the nation. “This is a government headed by a former general in the Nigerian Army, who has been part of the civil war. That is to tell you that he has a deep knowledge of artillery and information gathering. But for him to have led this country to this particular level then it is regrettable because he told us that he is going to end Boko Haram in less than 6 months, but 6 months is turning out to be 6 years. “So, unfortunately he cannot account for the funds spent and he has refused whether directly or indirectly to relieve the service chiefs of their jobs to show that they are incapacitated and we need people who are more agile and capable of doing this job for Nigeria,” he said. He warned that there is very much danger ahead and advised Nigerians not to believe in the government story that the Boko Haram has been “technically defeated , incapacitated and downgraded,” saying that could give the people a false sense of security.

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Sunday 12 July 2020

Sunday Special COVID-19: Stakeholders count losses during four months shutdown as airports re-open

IFEOMA OKEKE

ith the resumption of domestic flight operations from Murtala Muhammed Airport General Aviation Terminal (GAT), Lagos and Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, after four months of airports closure, there are obviously new normal which will be observed as long as COVID-19 lasts. A visit to the Lagos airport on the day flights resumed showed that airlines had to operate skeletal flights with about 60 percent load factor in adherence to social distancing protocols on board. Passengers were required to wear face masks, observe social distancing, use hand sanitisers and thermometers to check their body temperatures. Airlines are heaving sighs of relief over the resumption of flights even though they may not realise as much revenues as they were making before the closure of the airports. With the re-opening, there may be hope for the industry again. However, the industry stakeholders are still counting their losses as a result of the airports closure which lasted for four months. Taxi driver recounts awful experience during closure Resting his two elbows on the roof of his car and watching the sky absent-mindedly as the dark, scattered clouds gradually chased the sunlight out of sight that evening, it was apparent Taiwo Razaq, a taxi driver at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Lagos, had a lot on his mind. But he sprang back to life abruptly when our correspondent gently knocked on his car, momentarily masking his worries with calculated smiles, perhaps hoping his first customer for the day had finally arrived. Time was already 4pm. The past few months have been the worst for the 57-yearold father of four and husband to a petty trader, following the closure of the airports on account of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has infected over 25,000 persons and killed over 500 persons in Nigeria alone. Thus, his taxi business, which is his only source of income and one that fetched him about an average of N45,000 daily, has, like many other businesses, been badly hit by the lockdown imposed by the government to contain the spread of the virus. His daily income did not only plummet to about N3,000 on days when business is good, there were days he went back home with nothing. The once

bubbling car park used by millions of travelers, had become a shadow of itself. “You know airports are closed and people are not flying, so there are no passengers,” he muttered when our correspondent asked how the airport closure had affected his business and public transportation around the airport generally. Surrounded by an unusually quiet car park that is now characterised by inactivity that could make an idle mind slip into boredom or frustration, Razaq said he was going through the worst moments of his life. “Feeding my family has become a problem and the many things I had planned to accomplish in the year had all been on a standstill,” he added. In an emotive voice that betrayed his stern looks, he said, “It has been four months of depression and living from hand to mouth. Before this COVID-19, I made an average of N40,000 to N50,000 daily. I had planned the things I wanted to accomplish this year, relying on my average daily income. “All of a sudden, those expectations have been dashed because of the hardship brought about by the pandemic. Sometimes I can’t even boast of making N1,000 throughout the day. You can imagine that, in spite of the five people I have to feed. It’s been so rough these four months. I can’t wait for

this nightmare to end.” Meanwhile, as pitiable as Razaq’s situation sounds, it is a sad reflection of how many businesses and stakeholders in the aviation industry have been negatively affected by the raging coronavirus disease. Individuals, corporate organisations and government establishments, airlines, regulatory agencies, air traffic controllers, ground handlers, pilots, crew members, engineers and other stakeholders have their respective bitter stories to tell as they have all suffered from the impact of the pandemic and the lockdown imposed to contain its spread. BusinessDay’s checks show that about 250 taxi drivers operate around Lagos airport. Daily income of these drivers is between N35,000 to N50,000. This implies that in a day, taxi drivers at the Lagos airport make between N8.75million to N12.5million on the aggregate. However, while the airport was closed, these drivers made a daily return of between N1,000 to N3000, thereby realising between N250,000 to N750,000 daily. The Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, had said that Nigeria’s aviation sector had been losing N21bn monthly since the outbreak of COVID-19 in the country – N7 billion monthly for

aviation agencies; N10 billion for airlines and N4 billion for ground handling, catering and others and the tangential N3 billion. Beyond the losses incurred by the major stakeholders, the taxi drivers are no longer finding it easy. Airlines park 120 aircraft, lose N40 billion The Nigerian aviation industry which is totally denominated in foreign exchange has been badly hit by the pandemic. (other currencies are used for aircraft procurement, training of pilots, sourcing for jet oil and spare parts, as well as maintenance). BusinessDay’s checks show that airlines operating in the country have since parked 120 airplanes and have lost an aggregated N10billion monthly as a result of the pandemic. This implies that in four months, airlines have lost N40 billion as a result of the airport closure. The Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) disclosed that with over 120 aircraft parked at various airports across the country, airlines are still required to pay accumulated cost on leased aircraft, staff salaries, allowances for crew, parking and maintenance fees, and recurrent training. BusinessDay’s checks show that domestic airlines, on average, pay about 35 percent to 40 percent of a ticket cost as taxes and charges that come under the guise of statutory levies in addition to other charges. These include 5 percent Ticket Sales Charge, 5 percent Cargo Sales Charge, 5 percent Value Added Tax (VAT), Passenger Service Charge, Charter Sales Charge, Aircraft Inspection Fees, Simulator Inspection Fees, Landing Charges and Parking Charges. Others are Terminal Navigation Charge, Enroute Charge, Fuel Surcharge, Airport Space Rent, Electricity Charges, and Apron Pass, Ramp Access Charges, ODC and a newly imposed Reg-

istration Fee, all of which are paid to government agencies. Many of these taxes and charges amount to double taxation such that any incentive seemingly provided by the government to airlines is taken back by the agencies. Nogie Meggison, President of AON, acknowledged the adverse impact of the virus on the globe and Nigeria’s economy specifically, while urging the aviation agencies to take a cue from the Central Bank of Nigeria and seek ways to help airlines cushion the effect of the pandemic. Meggison said: “It is instructive to note that about four weeks before domestic airlines decided to take the difficult decision to suspend both local and international flights to urgently support the government’s effort to curtail the virus, passenger traffic had declined drastically to about nine percent, leaving the domestic airlines in dire financial strait while raking avoidable cost. He said he aligned with global concerns and reports which puts aviation sub-sector as the worst hit by the various containment efforts and strategies world-over, coupled with the recent announcement by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) that passenger airliners could lose up to $133billion in revenues this year. He l a m e n t e d t h a t t h e s e troubling statistics are likely to threaten the existence of many domestic airlines in Nigeria who are still grappling with over 32 multiple charges if, nothing urgent in the form of palliatives are not provided for the airlines. Impact on government agencies The minister of aviation had put losses incurred by all government agencies in the aviation sector as a result of the pandemic at N7 billion monthly. This implies that for the four months, all government agencies lost N28 billion as a result of the airport closure. A document titled: ‘The Future of Aviation in Africa: Focus on Nigeria’ by Tolu Odutola indicated that the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has been most affected, cognizant of the fact that it has a workforce spread across a total of 22 airports in the country, and without an alternative source of revenue. Other agencies with similar predicament include the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), which is the apex regulatory body for aviation, and whose monthly overhead stands at N750 million; the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), which requires N150 million monthly; the Nigerian Meterological Agency (NIMET), which requires N290 million monthly; and the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), which requires more than N500 million monthly, to sustain overhead expenditure.

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Sunday Special

These agencies are funded through budgetary allocations by Federal Government and their Internally Generated Revenue. The current crisis has left the agencies solely at the mercy of allocations by the Federal Government, whose revenue has equally plummeted substantially due to the drastic global fall in oil prices. This is further compounded by the downturn in the travel and tourism industry which has been left on its knees by the pandemic. Impact on the economy/job losses Prior to the COVID-19 crisis, aviation contributed $1.7 billion to Nigeria’s GDP, offering employment support to 241,000 persons. Figures by the Nigeria Bureau of Statistics indicate that by the end of Q4 in 2018, aviation was the second fastest growing sector in the country, taking the lead by Q4 in 2019. According to IATA, this pandemic risks 124,000 Nigerian aviation jobs, which would see the country lose up to $900 million in GDP, (N328.5bn using N365 to a dollar). Already, the major carrier in Nigeria, Arik Air, has asked 90 percent of its 1800 staff to proceed on indefinite unpaid leave, with the remaining 10percent subjected to an 80 percent pay cut on their salaries/ wages. There are fears that up to 50 percent of the workforce may be compelled to resign, as the airline plans to right-size the workforce before flight resumption. In April, Max Air followed suit by sending its staff on unpaid leave for the period of the imposed lockdown. BusinessDay’s checks show that there are plans to bring back these staff but over 50 per cent workforce may be asked to go. Ground handlers project loss of N20bn in 2020 The Association of Aviation Ground Handlers (AGHAN),which is made up of Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO) Plc, the Skyway Aviation Handling Company (SAHCO) and Aviation Handling Services (AHS) has forecasted N20bn loss in revenue generations in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which has hammered the global economy since the beginning of the year. Adigun Olaniyi, Chairman, AGHAN, in an interview with BusinessDay decried the advent of COVID-19 virus, saying it had grounded handling business in the sector. He stressed that the partial unlocking of the economy

by the Federal Government did not indicate the end to the crisis in the country. Olaniyi regretted that due to the pandemic, the entire first quarter of 2020 was wasted, while a major part of the second quarter was also lost to the crisis, stressing that only the third and fourth quarter could be salvaged from 2020. “We buy our equipment in dollars and when we purchased these equipment, the naira was still N360 to a dollar. We have import duties to pay to respective bodies. The government did not give us import waiver as it did to the airlines and others, yet, an ordinary forklift is not produced here in Nigeria, we only assemble them in the country. Furthermore, the ground handlers charge for their services in naira. “One can say cargo is coming in, but remember what we call the multiplier effect. If America can lose up to 30 million jobs so far because of the crisis, can you quantify the number of jobs we are going to lose in Nigeria? “If the importers bring in goods for instance, and we decided to clear it free of charge and Nigerians don’t have enough capital to purchase the goods because they have lost their jobs, recession will set it and the importers will not be encouraged to bring in additional goods. So, there is going to be reduction in the cargo inflow because there is no economic power to buy these goods and services.” Travel agencies lament huge losses Susan Akporiaye, the National Association of Nigerian Travel Agencies (NANTA) told BusinessDay that in the past four months; travel agencies lost N45 billion in ticket sales, when compared with sales from last year. Akporiaye disclosed that an estimate of 50,000 jobs have been lost already, adding that as a result of the lockdown, all travel agencies have been temporarily unemployed. “We are, therefore, pleading with the government to give us grants because loans cannot work for us since we don’t have a product. “We are service providers and we can’t collect loans to pay our staff. Loans are interest based. We have to pay staff from income made. For the government to help save our jobs, they need to provide grants,” she said. Tourism and hospitality industry not spared The hospitality and tourism industry have also lost a huge sum

of resources which has caused not only economic but psychological loss to the industry players. Dauud Gbenga Sunmonu, the Lagos State Coordinator, Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria (FTAN), told BuinessDay that in the valuation of loss, the industry had lost well over N10billion naira. Sunmonu said he expected government intervention to come in several ways, not limited to access to soft loans to hasten quick reopening of the MSMEs establishment; the provision of grants to the vulnerable micro establishment in the hospitality, arts and culture industry and the provision of enabling infrastructural support that will aid quick reopening. “This is the time to promote Domestic Tourism, taking every site as an entity. The government needs to use agencies to provide business support and advisory services to investors in line with the new business order,” he said. Way forward Nogie Meggison, the AON President, suggested an option of approving corporate bonds through the CBN and completely waiving some charges to guarantee the survival of airlines and avoid over 100,000 direct job losses post COVID-19. “We are aware that Russia, the U.S, Canada, Britain, and some other countries have come up with one measure of support or another for their airlines and Nigeria will not be defaulting, if it looks at options of supporting the aviation industry. “AON are the only airline operators still paying VAT on commercial air transportation, which is not obtainable anywhere in the world. We have said this countless times that the VAT is adversely affecting the sector by subtly reducing the number of those who can afford air travel due to high fares, and in view of the impact that this pandemic will have on the economy, the VAT will continue to be an increased burden on Nigerian travelers,” Meggison said. Seyi Adewale, the chief executive officer of Mainstream Cargo Ltd., suggested that the starting point would be to begin to plan for the next pandemic because this had become a recurrent feature that affected the aviation subsector more than other sectors within the polity, adding that the outbreak of Ebola, MERS, SARS and now COVID-19 should be enough lessons to know this, with reference to Bill Gates inspired next global threats and suggested next course of actions.

“Airlines, airports, fuelers and many other aviation services providers need to review their risk management documents and Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) to include proactive, preventive, containment and mitigation actions against the next Bio-Threat. “These strategy documents must also be robust and broadbased to include actions from all departments and business units. This is particularly important for organisations that have business operations in different regions or states. A well thought-out strategy document would impact positively on the future survival of such entities in the next pandemic, hoping they survive the COVID-19 crises,” he suggested. Adewale also suggested that government stimulus led packages and incentives must be given to limit the negative impact of this pandemic on the aviation sector. These, he said, included deliberate sourcing, loans, grants, tax waivers, special forex windows and rates, airport infrastructure deliberate upgrades or construction, and reduction of airport taxes or surcharges. He stated that locally, the Nigerian government could consider the followings: “Expand definition of aircraft spare parts to include other important aircraft items such as brake ASSY, safety appliances, rafts, aircraft tires in order to enjoy zero per cent duty waivers. “In consultation with relevant bodies, companies and associations, increase the seven-day grace to clear cargoes to 14 days and reduce the Airport Authority concession fee from five percent to 2.5 percent with at least three months concession payment free period. This frees cash for aviation service providers that are tenants to these airport authorities.” ‘New normal’ as airlines resume flights Domestic airlines have raised fares by almost 50 per cent since flight resumed. BusinessDay’s check show that a one-way ticket from Lagos to major destinations such as Abuja, Port Harcourt or Owerri increased by 48 per cent from between N22,000 to N28,000 to between N33,000 to N41,000. For instance a one way ticket from Lagos to Abuja on Arik Air now costs N32,699, for Dana it costs N35,099 and on AirPeace it costs N40, 299. With the implementation of social distancing on board, airlines may be having between 60 to 65 percent load factor when

passenger traffic kicks off. In a Boeing 737 aircraft with 200 passenger capacity, airlines could make N5 million on a trip. However, with about 120 passengers on a Boeing 737, with an average air fare of 33,000, airlines will now be making about N3.96million on a trip. Airport taxies are required to carry one passenger in the front seat and two passengers in the back seat as against three passengers. This has made taxi drivers increase fares by 50 per cent. For instance a trip from the airport to Ikeja which cost N100 before, now goes for N150. Following the approval of flight operations, FAAN released new procedural guidelines for air travelers and other airport users. The new Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) is aimed at protecting all stakeholders and preventing further spread of the COVID-19 virus. In the ‘New Normal,’ departing passengers must comply with the following guidelines; All passengers must arrive the airport properly kitted with their face masks on. They must also ensure a minimum of one point five meters (1.5m) physical distancing, Aviation Medical/Port Health personnel would screen each passenger and ensure the use of face masks, those travelling with pets must get necessary clearance from Nigerian Agricultural Quarantine Services, All passengers’ luggage would be disinfected before entry into the departure halls. Passengers are required to wash their hands as often as possible, hand sanitisers would be provided for passengers before entrance, at the waiting halls/ lounges and pre-boarding gates, All footwear would be disinfected or sanitised by foot mats placed at all entrances to the terminal building, amongst others. For arriving passengers, on disembarkation from the aircraft, passengers would observe physical distancing, as they board the Co-Buses (hand sanitisers would be provided in the buses), physical distancing protocols must be observed at the baggage claim area, where hand sanitisers are also provided, disinfected trolleys would be made available for passengers. All COVID-19 protocols must be observed while undergoing customs check, passengers would exit the halls and head straight to the car park for pick up. If they must speak to anyone around, then to a properly tagged Aviation Security (AVSEC) officer, physical distancing would be maintained while waiting to be screened by personnel of port health services, amongst others. In addition to the above guidelines, passengers are required to observe social distancing and make use of the floor markings at the security screening area. This report was facilitated by the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism (WSCIJ) under its COVID-19 Reality Check project.

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Sunday 12 July 2020

Travel Looking inwards post Covid-19 for leisure Obinna Emelike

s the world begins to reopen, and economies restart after months under lockdown occasioned by the ‘still ravaging’ Coronavirus pandemic, global destinations are also reopening and inviting visitors for an abridged summer vacation. The invitations are backed with assurances on safety, health and incentives, especially amazing discounts to woo would-be guests who are now unwilling to travel for the obvious reasons. However, there are some wanderlusts who are willing to take the risk post Covid-19, to jet out to available destinations for leisure. Considering the cost, cumbersome protocols and, most especially, health and safety concerns, it is better to look inwards for leisure going forward, if you must have fun. Moreover, with the social distancing, fumigation and other safety protocols in place, airfares and hotel accommodation abroad are going to be very expensive, coupled with the very weak Naira. So, if you are looking for somewhere very exclusive and yet safe to unwind post Covid-19, then read further to discover some of the beautiful places within. Smokin Hills Golf Resort, Ilara Mokin in Ondo State, is one place to go with family or friends when normalcy returns. The golf resort, which is just 15 minutes from Akure, the Ondo State capital, is a relatively new offering, so pristine, enticing and will make a good escape. The resort sets on 140 acres of virgin land carved out of surrounding jungle and rolling hills that emit smoke early in the morning and also at dawn. The unique smoke feature, which is also where the resort derived it name, is something that will thrill any guest. For golf enthusiasts, an experience at the resort will worth your time, stress and money.

Nike Lake If you are in the South East, there is no need traveling far for leisure again. There are unique places to unwind. Of course, Nike Lake Resort in Enugu State is one place that is evergreen because of the pristine environment and therapeutic impact of the natural lake resort. A few metres to the resort, you will behold with great awe the natural lake stretching over three kilometres with its incredible and rare aquatic population. On getting closer, a look into the mud-coloured lake water mirrors not just your true self, but the whole essence of leisure. A deep of your feet into the water (though with caution), which chills all day long, will cool off the heat and stretch wornout body tissues. Like a sort of confluence, a Vshape point on the lake seems to connect bold leisure seekers to another point of the lake that flows towards the hinterland of the Agbakpa-Nike community. You can enjoy a ride on the lake with trained boat riders or if you are more daring, you can join the local fishermen. Pictures

taken afterwards will tell the story of how much you enjoyed your escape. Having enjoyed an environment that offers breathtaking views in secure and tranquil setting, visitors can retire into one of the resort’s 210 well-appointed and tastefully furnished rooms and suites, suitable for all tasted and budgets. On a visit to Ibom Golf Hotel and Resort in Nwaniba, an outskirt of Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, you will discover that life is different and lovely. The greenness and friendly of everything around the golf resort will aid a memorable escape. It will be more fun trying to practice golf just for the sake of pictures, or holding the paddle in pretense of ridding a boat at the Nwaniba River in the resort. There is an expanse of lush vegetation, top range of accommodation, set out lounge, private balconies and whatever you want for an escape at the resort. Now that flights have resumed and hotels open, you can book your flight ahead on Air Peace,

Dana or Ibom Air to Uyo and to the resort. You can also drive, but it takes longer from places like Lagos and Abuja to get to Uyo. If you are in Lagos and want something very exclusive, Inagbe Grand Resort and Leisure; it is relatively new, sparkling, inviting and exclusive. Set in-between the Lagos Lagoon and the Atlantic Ocean, the resort offers a rustic living in a lush island haven, resonating air of simple luxury and refined elegance that makes it an ideal escape than vacation abroad. There, you are in your own world. You do things your own way with mother nature as the only witness. There are many accommodation options, games, facilities and most importantly nature to enjoy-all at pocket friendly rates. The resort is just 15 minutes boat ride from Paradise Jetty on Walter Carrington, Victoria Island. But if you are a spa fan, a visit to Clear Essence California Spa and Wellness Resort in Ikoyi is fine. From the outside, the spa and accommodation outfit

does not tell its true worth. Inside is a different story as garden full of rare flowers and well-trimmed grass lawn ooze freshness. But the prime offering is the spa, managed by trained Balinese therapists. The therapists use their talents to send you into a journey away from reality, and that may just be a perfect escape. Whether you are an avid spa patron or have never experienced spa therapies, the intuitive experts will leave you feeling relaxed and pampered. That is the reason you should try the spa going forward instead of traveling abroad for same experience. The spa offers 10 treatment rooms - a dipping pool, scented steam showers, sauna, a fitness centre with state-of-the-art gym equipment and certified personnel to ensure personalised spa experience. On offer are different spa treatments, including fitness and nutritional sessions, body massage, facial treatment, classic signature pedicure and manicure, California themed food and drink menu. If you are in Abuja, you can visit the 5th Chukka Resort in Kaduna to enjoy the best of prime sports, unique accommodation and nature. Remember, some people are leaving far places just to swim in the beach in your neighborhood, some are flying to see an exhibition in a local museum near you, while many are visiting a forest reserve in your village, but you hardly see sense in all these. It is time to look inwards and patronise local attractions and destinations, especially after the coronavirus pandemic in order to enjoy unique offerings and boost domestic tourism as well. But if you cannot afford any of these places or you are too far from any of these choice places, try something within. There is always something within; all you need do is to see them with new eyes. Do that and your leisure outing going forward will be memorable.

The National Council for Arts and Culture unveils virtual cultural tour of Nigeria

he National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC), has unveiled a virtual cultural tour of Nigeria. The tour, which was unveiled recently, was the seventh in the series of zoom meetings the Council has held since the Covid-19 lockdown. Speaking during the programme, Olusegun Runsewe, director general, NCAC, said that the essence of the weekly virtual meetings was to keep stakeholders engaged and the sector busy at this period of global health emergency. He said that rather than keep the sector idle, the virtual meetings were evolved to get the views and opinions of experts, members of the diplomatic community and industry players on emerging trends and how to reposition the sector to mitigate the effects of post Covid-19. R u n s ew e s a i d t h a t t h e

Agbokim Waterfall

Igue Festival in Benin

virtual cultural tour was held to give opportunity for par-

ticipants worldwide to tour Nigeria from the comfort of

their homes and to mark the end of the first series of online meetings of the Council. He noted that Nigeria has d i v e r s e c u l t u ra l m a n i f e s tations, which offer great opportunity for investment in tourism and other recreational services. “Covid-19 is like rain falling and it gives us an opportunity to think outside the box and to come up with this virtual cultural tour, which serves as a therapy and rain jacket for the pandemic”. The online cultural tour is made up of two parts, the executive summary and an array of cultural manifestations across the states of the country. The executive summary showcases Ikot Abasi in Akwa Ibom State, South-South Nigeria; Tafawa Balewa Tomb in Bauchi State, North-Eastern Nigeria; Ikogosi Warm

Spring in Ekiti State, SouthWest Nigeria. Others are; Leje Iron Smithing Kingdom in Enugu State, South-Eastern Nigeria; Kanta Museum in Kebbi State, North-Western Nigeria and Military Cemetery in Zugeru, Niger State in NorthCentral Nigeria. The NCAC DG said that the virtual cultural tour shall be used as a template for the forthcoming National Festival of Arts and Culture (NAFEST) slated to hold in Jos, Plateau State in October this year. Plateau State shall be the first state to experience NCAC drive-in theatre with all the Covid-19 protocol, Runsewe added. The director general said that a link shall be provided to enable Nigerians view the complete package from across the country.

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Arts

Despite protests Christie’s auctions rare Nigerian sculptures, claims sale legal OBINNA EMELIKE

arlier in June, some concerned Africans and heritage lovers started a seeming online protest to pressurise Christie’s, a British auction house, to stop the public sales of some stolen African objects at the African Art Sale at its Paris salesroom auction on June 29, 2020. The works include; Alusi or “sacred sculptures”, a pair of Igbo objects, a fish sculpture, among others. While Alusi were removed from Nigeria during the civil war by Jacques Kerchache, a French collector of African art objects who died in 2001, the fish sculpture, made in Benin Kingdom, was among the objects looted by the British army during the punitive expedition by United Kingdom force in 1897, among other African works. According to the protesters, the works, representing African heritage and history were stolen several decades ago, while debunking claims of legitimate acquisition by present owners of the works, museums and auction houses. The protests were followed

by an online petition with the hashtags BlackArtsMatter and MyHeritageMatters, which collected more than 3,000 signatures demanding the auction be halted. The petition said “as the world awakens to the reality of systemic racial injustice and inequality, thanks to the #BlackLivesMatter movement, we must not forget that it is not just the Black body, but also Black culture, identity and especially art that is being misappropriated.” Moreover, the protests across notable museums in Europe, especially the United Kingdom, reignited calls for the repatriation of African artefacts in foreign museums and private collections. Offering reasons for leading the campaign against the auction sales of the objects, Chika Okeke-Agulu, one of the protesters, said while the removal and transport of the sculptures by Kerchache would be considered illegal now, it occurred before the 1970 UNESCO Convention, which formally prohibited the acquisition and transfer of cultural property. Okeke-Agulu, a professor of indigenous, modern, and contemporary African and

A pair of Igbo objects, also called ‘Alusi’ or “sacred sculptures.”

African Diaspora art history and theory at Princeton University in the United States of America, decried Christie’s description of the provenance of the works as having been “acquired in situ” between

Nwafor’s spoken words of art emerges winning entry in Spangler Got Talent Josephine Okojie

ollowing weeks of intense competition, Nwafor Akunna Claire, a 24-year-old lawyer, and entrepreneur has emerged the winner of the 2020 online edition of the talent show, ‘Spangler Got Talent’. Claire, an indigene of Umuoye, Agbogugu in Awgu Local Government Area, in

Nwafor Akunna Claire

Enugu State, emerged the winner with her spoken words of arts on sexual abuse/rape, sickle cell disorder, mental health, depression and abuse and the diaries of a fed-up woman. Speaking on her victory, she said “I have learned yet again, that consistency and confidence are vital spices to greatness and I intend leveraging on this duo to achieve my goals.” “My plan is simply to get

the best out of myself and everyone I can reach through the process of expressing my art,” she added. She explained that her unfailing trust in God and her guts have gotten her to where she is with constant push from fans, as well as, friends. She said the competition has taught her to be consistent and confident in whatever she does, adding that they are vital spices for greatness. Claire is not just a winner of the contest but also an outstanding entrepreneur and a fashion enthusiast. The young lawyer, who is currently studying History and International Relations at Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK) Awka, said she entered for the contest owing to her high-level self-confidence. Beyond the cash and gifts attached to the Talent Hunts, Claire has promised to give back to society as she looks forward to completing a Resource Center for ROCC Africa, her Foundation, which she started in 2019 at UgboOdogwu, TransEkulu Enugu, while other things follow. For winning the competition, Claire goes home with N1 million and a landed property in Abuja metropolitan.

1968–69. Clearing the air on the acquisition, Okeke-Agulu explained that the works were looted from the region of NriAwka in Nigeria, an area that is only 30 minutes away from

where he grew up, during the civil war between Nigeria’s government and the Republic of Biafra, which seceded from Nigeria as part of an independence movement by primarily Igbo people, and the conflict lasted from 1967 to 1970. For him, the works should not go on sale because they are stained with the innocent blood of Biafran children who died during the war. “I write this so no one, including Christie’s and any potential buyer of these loots from Biafra can claim ignorance of their true provenance. These artworks are stained with the blood of Biafra’s children”, he said on his Instagram post. However, despite the protests and petitions, Christie’s sold the objects for just €212,500 ($239,000) in the June 29th auction sales in Paris, below the estimated €250,000–€350,000 worth. Reacting to the sales, Okeke-Agulu has accused Christie’s and other art collectors involved in the sales of the objects of expropriation. “To pretend we do not matter and what we think does not matter, for me is a recast of the colonial arrogance that we are still dealing with in other parts

of the African continent, the professor lamented. As well, the National Commission for Museums and Monuments of Nigeria (NCMM), which had contacted Christie’s on June 17, 2020 and had asked the auction house to suspend the sales pending further investigation into their origins, is not happy with the sales. According to Babatunde Adebiyi, legal adviser for the Commission, NCMM was shocked that the sales of the contested objects went on, as the development posed a challenge to the Commission’s efforts at repatriating African artifacts abroad. Meanwhile, the June 29th auction is not the first time Christie’s is neglecting calls against offering alleged stolen African artifacts in its auction sales. In July 2019, a brown quartzite head of young king Tutankhamun was sold at auction in London for more than £4.7m despite Egyptian demands for its return. The more than 3,000-yearold sculpture, displayed at Christie’s London auction house, showed the boy king taking the form of the ancient Egyptian god Amen.

‘Ogelle will bridge creative industry divide between Africans at home, in diaspora’ Desmond Okon

endell Vincent Carlton De Landro, the High Commissioner of the Republic of Trinidad & Tobago, on Thursday commended the founders of Ogelle, Africa’s first user generated content platform with 100 percent focus on African content, saying the platform will bridge the creative industry divide between Africans in Africa and those in diaspora. He gave this commendation when the Ogelle team, led by its founder, Osita Oparaugo, paid him a visit at the High Commission of the Trinidad & Tobago in Abuja. “As the High Commissioner and on behalf of the good people of Trinidad & Tobago, I want to thank you for finding time to come for this wonderful meeting that will open massive doors for the creative industry in Trinidad & Tobago and by extension the entire Carribean countries. I invite you as a company to take part in the next carnival in Trinidad & Tobago,” De Landro said. He described the creative industry as a powerful sector, adding that an indigenous user generated video content dis-

Wendell Vincent Carlton De Landro (l), High Commissioner of the Republic of Trinidad & Tobago, and Osita Oparaugo, founder, Ogelle, when the Ogelle team paid the High Commissioner a visit in his office in Abuja.

tribution platform like Ogelle is what Africans, no matter their geographical location, need today. The High Commissioner said he had met with Aliko Dangote, president, Dangote Group, a leader in industrialisation and Africa’s richest man, and had told him to come to Trinidad & Tobago and use the country as a hub for the region. “My supervising minister, my Prime Minister and President will be happy to see a production and distribution of entertainment content cooperation between your platform and indeed African

creatives and those of them in my country and region,” the High Commissioner said. In his response, Osita Oparaugo, CEO, Reddot Television Network and founder of Ogelle, thanked the High Commissioner for receiving him and his team and expressed willingness to partner with the government of Trinidad & Tobago in fostering a vibrant entertainment industry between Africa and the entire Carribean countries. He said the time to unite Africa, promote and preserve the cultural heritage and value is now and that the platform to do that is Ogelle.

24 BDSUNDAY

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Sunday 12 July 2020

TheWorshipper Christ cannot allow the pandemic to destroy his church - Udofia In this interview with SEYI JOHN SALAU, Emmanuel Udofia, primate of the African Church, speaks on the need for government to reopen worship centres, why the leadership of African Church took the legal route in search of solution to the misunderstanding in the church, and what the sudden suspension of Ibrahim Magu as the chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) means to Nigeria’s anti-corruption war. Excerpts: Nigerian Christians have been accused of exhibiting reckless confidence in regard to the COVID-19 pandemic; what is your take on this? ccording to what we have been told, that there is COVID-19 in Nigeria and based on what we have heard from other countries which also means that there is COVID-19 in Nigeria. But, what I know is that although people are talking about precautionary measures and others; personally I know that it is God’s divine intervention; that is why the scourge of the pandemic is not seriously felt in Nigeria. Some medical experts are of the view that the virus has come to stay and have advised that we use face mask in public to limit its spread; why are people not using their mask? I want to say that it is not only about COVID-19; Nigerians generally do not follow guidelines. The truth is that it is only by the mercies of God that we are surviving, and I will key it into the issue of HIV/ AIDS. Everybody knows that HIV/AIDS is real, but upon all the enlightenment, instructions, and other measures, people are still indulging themselves in all sorts of immorality and other things that could cause HIV/AIDS to spread. So, I want to advise Nigerians that we should keep to the simple instructions as given by the WHO and other medical experts. It is for our own good and wellbeing, because if anybody dies today that is the end. So, we should keep to the instructions and guidelines so as to live; and it is by being alive that we can fulfil our expectations

Emmanuel Udofia

and whatever may be our heart desires. What is your take on the continued closure of worship centres in places like Lagos and Ogun states? I am saying this as a servant of God; from the time of the Old Testament till now; anytime there is a pandemic like this, people always cry to God. When they are faced with situation nobody could control, situation where nobody could provide any form of remedy, everybody used to run to

God. I know that people can pray in their houses, people can pray in their closets and other places, But, gathering together have also been approved by God as we have in the scriptures; for instance, markets are allowed to open, but the situation in the church cannot be as worse as we have in the markets considering the number of people that visit the markets. If you go to the market to see how people behave in the markets; how people touch one another in the market; whereas if the church is open, the kind of

friction you have in the market you cannot have in the church. So, I believe the church is more organised than the market they are opening; and I want to believe that the God of heaven that we serve will not allow any negative outcome, because people are gathered to worship him; people are gathered to praise him. He will not allow the pandemic to destroy his church - Christ can never allow that to happen. Yes, I believe that people gathered endlessly to serve God; that is where solutions are all provided for problems. Those people who gathered to worship this God with sincerity of heart that is where solutions to whatever people encountered are provided. The African Church is in a leadership crisis that is currently in court; why is the church taking a legal route in search of solution? Well, it is unfortunate that that has happened because I have been preaching against it and up till now am still against it - whether we are in court or not, am still against it. Sometime last year, they took me to court and so many things began to happen; harassment and many other things, and in response to that, this side of the church also went to court. But, we are trusting God as a family after all, there is no family without some misunderstanding; so, we are trusting God that in one way or the other, God will see us through so that we can become true brothers and sisters. Away from the legal issue, what other options are available to both parties? Well, by the grace of God there are some moves for reconciliation and I want to believe when we get there - that is where and when what

you are asking me now will come to play. But we are trusting God to help us; we cannot trust ourselves. The EFCC acting chairman was recently suspended by the President on allegation of corruption; what does this say about the anti-corruption fight as a country? Well, since it is said to be an allegation, but if at the end of the day the man is found guilty; it therefore, means Nigeria is at a place to be pitied. Because, only God knows how much havoc that man could have caused this nation since he was made the chairman of that particular body. If that man is found guilty, I repeat; only God knows the kind of transactions that man could have done in the secret before being revealed - it therefore, means that Nigeria is a country that should be pitied. Because, this was somebody who was so much trusted even by our President; somebody who was being trusted by so many people - if he could be found guilty, it means that this nation needs divine intervention. If he is found guilty, would that suggest that Nigerians should apologise to the 8th Senate led by Bukola Saraki over the allegation against Magu which was treated as mere politics? Well, whether they apologise to Saraki or not; if this man is found guilty - apart from apologising, it also means all those who supported him then will be ashamed because they were supporting somebody they never knew. They were supporting somebody who was committing criminal act they themselves did not know about and have now brought shame over all of them. So, it is a pity that all these are happening in our country.

PFN congratulates Yakubu Pam, commends Nweke, Ogbonna’s exemplary life SEYI JOHN SALAU

he Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) has congratulated the former National Vice President (North-Central) of the PFN, Rev. Yakubu Pam on his appointment by President Muhammadu Buhari as the Executive Secretary, National Christian Pilgrims Commission (NCPC). In a statement signed by Simbo Olorunfemi on behalf of

Yakubu Pam

the National President of the PFN, Felux Omobude, the body said: “His appointment is one that the PFN takes great pride in, confident that he is well equipped for the assignment and that he would discharge the responsibilities of that office with integrity, to the glory of God and the benefit of all Nigerian Christians.” The PFN equally commended Ikenna Nweke, the Nigerian PhD Student in Japan, for his exemplary act of honesty in returning to the police a wallet he found containing huge sum of money and then turning

down an offer to be compensated for his action by the authorities. Omobude described him as a pride to Nigeria and a testament to the fact that Nigerians are essentially good people. He commended Nweke for being a great Ambassador for Nigeria in a foreign land, commending to young Nigerians as a worthy example to emulate. The PFN assures Nweke of her prayer that the Lord will grant him success in his study and encompass him with grace and favour to enable

him achieve the goals he has set for himself. Omobude also commends Chidiebere Ogbonna who found N1.8million in a carton he had purchased and returned it to the place he got the product from. “He is a proof that even in the face of the challenges all around, the values of integrity and honesty are still highly cherished by many Nigerians. He is anexemplardeservingofrecognition and reward to encourage more people to continue to follow the precepts laid down by our faith.”

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BDSUNDAY 25

TheWorshipper Inspiration With Rev. Yomi Kasali

info@yomikasali.com

wise man once said, ‘people don’t think’ but I believe people think but not just the right thoughts. Thinking is probably the most difficult thing to do on earth. It’s very important to use the Mind well and positively by thinking right, it’s the place of incubating ideas and processing words before acting them out and developing our character. The Bible tells us about what to Think on so that

Think on these things we can become what God wants us to be. Paul was a Man of great words and deep spirituality because of many things, one of which was his mindset. Solomon says, ‘as a man thinks, so is he...’ (Prov 23 v 7) meaning we are our thoughts not our thoughts make us who we are. Social media has indeed become a place of expressing social madness in the name of liberty. The other day, someone showed me a lady’s nude picture in front of her 7 year old son, she was stark naked and claimed she wanted to show the Innocent boy how she gave birth to him years before. I didn’t see any show of wisdom and wit but rather insanity in the name of liberty, it’s sheer child abuse on social media. Let me Inspire you on what to Think on and how to guard Your pure minds jealously from the deadly influences out there in the digital space. We have to go back to biblical reason by embracing God’s wise counsel in managing our thoughts by simply obeying Paul’s advice to the Philippians when he said, ‘... Think on These Things’ (Phil. 4 v 8) ‘finally brethren, whatsoever things are TRUE, whatsoever things are HONEST, whatsoever things are JUST,

whatsoever things are PURE, whatsoever things are of GOOD REPORT, if there be any VIRTUE, and if there be any PRAISE, think on these things (Philippians 4 v 8). ‘finally brethren, whatsoever things are TRUE, whatsoever things are HONEST, whatsoever things are JUST, whatsoever things are PURE, whatsoever things are of GOOD REPORT, if there be any VIRTUE, and if there be any PRAISE, think on these things (Philippians 4 v 8). Let’s take a closer look at the 7 Pillars of Moral Thoughts and Good thinking. 7 Pillars of moral thoughts True: Paul started with truth not falsehood. Many people don’t fact-check the

COVID-19: Jehovah’s Witnesses moves 2020 Convention to streaming platform ISAAC ANYAOGU

he annual conventions of Jehovah’s Witnesses will be held worldwide over a streaming platform in response to the outbreak of the Coronavirus, a representative of the organisation has said. Jama Onwubuariri, spokesman for Jehovah’s Witnesses, says: “The decision to hold our conventions online was not made lightly. Millions of people benefit from these public gatherings, which are always free of charge, around the world each year. “Therefore, in the interest of public health and safety, it was clear that cancelling our gatherings was the right course, even in places where they would have been permitted. Our Creator values life highly, and we believe this arrangement honors that high standard.” Congregations, families, and guests will view the program during July and August 2020 on the theme ‘Always Rejoice’. Typically, these conventions are held in stadiums, arenas, conference halls, and smaller gathering places around the world. In Lagos and most cities in Nigeria, the convention was scheduled to be held from September 4, 2020 to December 18,2020 at the Daluwon, Lek-

ki, Ota and Badagry Assembly Halls, where a total total peak attendance of 119,000 was expected to attend In 2019, Jehovah’s Witnesses held over 50 of such conventions in and around Lagos at the abovementioned venues. The program was presented in English, Gun, Pidgin, Yoruba, Igbo and French. Conventions of Jehovah’s Witnesses usually result in increased commercial activities around the venue, with hotels, stores and transport service providers making brisk businesses The 2020 convention series was canceled in March 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. “Our worship is centered on our mutual love for our God and for each other, irrespective of where we are physically,” said Onwubuariri. “This year’s convention program underscores the unity of our international family and the joy that people can have against a backdrop of stress and despair.” The two Christian principles guiding the Witnesses’ historic decision are respect for the sanctity of life and love of neighbor. “As much as we long to meet together, life is far too precious to be put at risk,” said Onwubuariri. “The virtual meetings we have held over the past four months have proved to all of

us that it’s not about where we are physically. It’s about where we are spiritually. In many ways we are closer as a spiritual family than ever before.” The program is to be released in six installments, each corresponding to a morning or afternoon session of what would have been three successive convention days. Many congregations and families will view the first convention session during the weekend of July 11-12. Congregations have been encouraged to hold a brief spiritual discussion over a videoconferencingplatformtoopen thesessionandthenannounce that the convention program can be viewed on JW Broadcasting from the participants’ homes. Arrangements have been made to bring smaller “breakout” groups together at the conclusion of each session to discuss convention highlights. The final weekend of the virtual event is scheduled for August 29-30. The program explores questions like: What contributes to finding and sustaining joy? How can you cultivate joy in the family? How can you remain joyful in difficult times? A key feature will be a Biblebased drama that considers the life of Nehemiah and how he helped the ancient nation of Israel find joy in their worship of God.

information they spread on social media, they just push out so much gossip and rumours because of the ‘breaking news’ syndrome. We want to be the first to break it even if it’s not fact checked. We should ONLY share true news and not peddle falsehood, let’s always check what we believe and get it right. Honest: We are to concentrate our minds on Honest things not dishonest things. That’s why I’m unhappy at the way young people follow criminals on social media when they know the source of their wealth and are aware that it was gotten through dishonest means. Let’s once again love Honest hard-working people not follow terrible corrupt Politicians and fraudsters. Just: Thinking on Just and Fair things is simply mor-

ally right. We should push Justice for the women who are Raped, fight for the weak and feeble in our land, ponder on Justice and Equity at workplace and Meditate constantly on these things only. God hates injustice and so should we, we serve a Just God and we must reflect that in our walk with Him. Pure: To become Pure in life starts with cultivating a Pure mind and not otherwise. I ask you to think only Pure Thoughts and not Impure thoughts of betrayals, pornography, slander, and evil intent. Let’s all ask God to purify our hearts. Good report: This is where a believer should be different from an unbeliever, getting it right with the report we share always reveals a lot about us and our character. We should not be hasty in sharing Bad Reports about people in our church, workplace, household, and family. Many people share Bad Reports like its gospel and it’s certainly not. VIRTUE: Paul says we should Think On Things That Are Virtuous, we should devote our minds to Think on things that have Virtues not Vices, to Think on them is to like those thoughts and embrace them joyfully. Many people magnify Vices like

Lying, Cheating, Stealing, Betrayals, Slandering etc. They are simply Vices and not Virtues regardless of who is practicing them, the actors don’t make it right. Praise: Let me ask you a question, do you think people will Praise you if they Know the Thoughts of your heart? if the answer is NO, then don’t think about those things. Think only about things that can project Praise and Praiseworthy actions, don’t think on things that will bring shame not Praise. These are the 7 Pillars of Moral Thoughts that we should all devote our minds to process as Thoughts regularly. Drop me a note of acknowledgment and encouragement and also follow me on my Social media handles below: Instagram: @yomi_kasali Twitter: @yomi_kasali Facebook: www.facebook. com/revyomikasali Youtube: www.youtube.com/ revyomikasali Be Inspired! Rev Yomi Kasali is Senior Pastor, Foundation of Truth Assembly (FOTA), Surulere, Lagos.

NEWS

Coca-Cola, African Cleanup Initiative partner for community recycling project SEYI JOHN SALAU

ollowing the incessant rain in Lagos and other cities across Nigeria which has resulted in the flooding witnessed in most parts of the Lagos metropolis, the Coca-Cola Foundation through its local implementing partner, African Cleanup Initiative (ACI), kicked off its flagship ‘RecyclesPay COVID-19 Support’ project which seeks to assist low-income families by encouraging recycling practices within such communities. Through this project, families are encouraged to donate their plastic bottles and are provided tokens in the form of double the amount originally paid for these recyclables per kilogram. The RecyclesPay programme, originally launched in 2019, allowed parents to cover a portion of their children’s school fees at some selected primary schools, by donating PET bottles which are subsequently handed over to ACI for onward recycling. N w a m a k a Onyemelukwe, public

affairs, communications & sustainability manager, Coca-Cola Nigeria Limited, said the initiative aims to support communities in their response to the pandemic and also to fight against flooding. “The global pandemic has affected countless communities across Nigeria. With programs like this, our goal is to support as many people as possible while also fostering a world without waste,” Onyemelukwe stated. According to Onyemelukwe, Coca-Cola is proud to be associated with the ACI as a means of educating more families to adopt proper recycling practices. These recovered PET bottles are handed over to recycling companies and the proceeds channeled into RecyclesPay ‘PlasticFor-Tuition’ project with the goal of paying the tuition fees of over 2000 vulnerable students who cannot afford it. Presently, the program is lending a much-needed hand to communities a r o u n d La g o s t h r o u g h its COVID-19 support program themed ‘Double-

Double’. This is done by rewarding residents who donate plastic waste with 40 Naira per kilogram of recyclables as against the initial standard of 20 Naira. Th e Do u b l e - Do u b l e programme, which kicked off on 2 July at Ijora-Oloye community in the Apapa area of Lagos State, is set to be rolled out in the coming weeks to three other communities across Lagos namely Sango, Epe and Ajegunle communities. Muniratu Raimi, one of several beneficiaries, said, “I have been gathering these PET bottles for over a year and was hoping to pay my house rent from the proceeds. With the N9,570 I received from donating 239.2 kg of PET bottles, I no longer have to worry about shelter for my children.” Al e x a n d e r Ak h i g b e , founder of African Cleanup Initiative, stated that the programme was organised to support communities that have been hard hit by the COVID-19 pandemic while promoting better recycling habits in these areas. “We are grateful for the support of The Coca-Cola Foundation to help uplift more families,” he said.

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Sunday 12 July 2020

SundayBusiness Shippers Council, CRCC set to complete negotiation for 80,000TEUs Ibadan port

Glo customers get 55% reduction on international call tariffs Jumoke Akiyode-Lawanson

AMAKA ANAGOR-EWUZIE

he Nigerian Sh i p p e r s ’ Council (NSC) has said that the contract negotiation between the Federal Government and CRCC, the preferred bidder for the construction of the Ibadan Inland Dry Port, is nearing completion. According to a statement by Rakiya Zubairu, head, Public Relations of the Council, Nigerian Shippers’ Council is the guarantor to the concession of the 8 0 , 0 0 0 Tw e n t y - f o o t Equivalent Units (TEUs) capacity dry port to be built on the basis of Public Private Partnership agreement in Ibadan, Oyo State capital. On completion, she said, the facility is expected to contribute to addressing the problem of port congestion and gridlock in Apapa as it will be designated as port of destination where cargo would be consolidated for import and export, especially in the SouthWestern part of Nigeria. She stated that the dry port would provide a competitive cargo sorting centre, bulk breaking as well as cargo-tracking and truck management services. “This project, which has been estimated at US$94,000,000.00 (N43,240,000,000.00), would also boost employment in Oyo State and other cities in the environs,” she stated.

Wang Qiongyu of CRCC and Hassan Bello, executive secretary /CEO of Nigerian Shippers’Council during the negotiation meeting between the Federal Government and CRCC for the construction of the Ibadan Inland Dry Port.

On e f f e c t i v e c a r g o evacuation, she stated that the Lagos-Kano standard gauge railway currently under construction is aligned to the proposed dry port, making it easy to convey cargo from the seaports in Lagos and to all destinations along the route. “ Th e n e g o t i a t i o n s emphasised the utilisation of local content at each stage of development and operation of the facility. Having concluded this stage, an Updated Full Business Case Compliance report will be produced. A draft agreement will be presented to the Federal Ministry of Justice and sent to the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory

Commission (ICRC) for vetting, after which the Minister of Transportation will present the agreement to the Federal Executive Council (FEC),” Zubairu explained. According to her, the concessionaire will then be taken to the site for sodturning, and it is expected that construction will commence immediately after the ceremony with 12 months completion timeline. At t h e n e g o t i a t i o n meeting, which was enabled by Aminu Dikko and Mohammed Kumalia, transaction advisors, Hassan Bello, executive Secretary/ CEO of Shippers’ Council, expressed satisfaction with the proceedings.

Positive affirmations changed my life

year ago, on a sombre evening, I sat on my bed, with tears in my eyes, I wrote on pieces of papers, ‘I AM ENOUGH’. When I finished, I glued these affirmations all over my room, to remind me whenever I felt low, unworthy, hatred, self-pity, sought validation and lacked self-love, that I am not these negative emotions. Affirmations are sentences aimed to affect the conscious and the subconscious mind so that in turn, they affect our behaviour,

thinking patterns, habits, and environment. They are statements aimed to inspire, motivate, and to attract the things we want. Affirmations strengthen us by helping us believe in the potential of an action we desire to manifest. When we verbally affirm our dreams and ambitions, we are instantly empowered with a deep sense of reassurance that our wishful words will become reality. Positive affirmations reconnect you with feelings of gratitude and enhance your perspective on the good things in

life. Affirmations can also help you can help you to challenge and overcome self-sabotaging and negative thoughts. You can use affirmations in any situation where you’d like to see a positive change take place in your life. These might include times when you want to: Improve your self-esteem Raise your confidence before presentations or important meetings. Control negative feelings such as frustration, anger, or impatience. Overcome a bad habit.

He disclosed that all parties expressed firm commitment to the actualisation of the project. The negotiation was moderated by the Federal Ministry of Transportation led by the acting Permanent Secretary, and Auwalu S u l e i m a n , d i r e c t o r, Maritime Services while Chidi Izuwa , directorgeneral of ICRC together with Jummai Katagum, who represented the Federal Ministry of Finance, were also part of the 4-day negotiation. Al s o p r e s e n t , w a s O l u b a m i w o Ad e o s u n , secretary to Government of Oyo State and CRCC, which is the preferred bidder, led by Jacques Liao, deputy managing director.

lobacom has announced a 55percent cut on tariffs to international destinations. With the increasing need for people to connect with family and friends around the world, especially during the current Covid-19 pandemic, the telecommunications company said it has become necessary to offer extremely competitive rates to its subscribers. Th e c o m p a n y, i n a statement, disclosed that the reduced tariffs do not attract subscription fees and are applicable to major destinations such as the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Ireland, South Africa, Spain and Saudi Arabia. On the African continent, the new tariffs cover Cameroon, Niger, Benin Republic, Togo and Cote d’Ivoire. According to Glo, the tariffs differ from one country to another, though they are still the most competitive in the market. “United Kingdom which used to cost between N30 and N130 per minute now cost between N24 and N100 per minute depending on the network the call is landing. Similarly, calls to Spain and Italy have been reduced to N75andN60perminutefrom N90 and N130 respectively,” Globacom stated. The company further said that calls to South Africa will now attract N85 per minute instead of N150, while calls to Saudi Arabia will cost N55 per minute instead of the

former N60 per minute. The tariff for France and Ireland, has been reduced to N50 and N40 respectively from N65 and N60, while calls to Cote d’Ivoire, Benin Republic, Cameroon, Togo and Niger will now attract N150 instead of the old N200 per minute tariff. The network enthused that these reductions have made calls to loved ones abroad more affordable, as it emphasised that its tariffs to other major destinations such as the United States, India and China are still the most competitive in the market. “Subscribers can enjoy premium quality calls to these countries for just 50 kobo per second,” the company said. “We understand the need for our subscribers to stay in touch with their friends and family overseas now more than ever before. With the ban on international travels imposed by most countries because of the Covid-19 pandemic, people are unable to travel to reunite with loved ones. They now rely heavily on efficient and affordable telecom services to communicate with them. We have, therefore, reduced tariffs to these major destinations to make our subscribers still feel at home even when they are thousands of miles apart from their loved ones,” Globacom stated. Globacom therefore encouraged its customers to avail themselves of the tariff slash to communicate at cost-effective rates with their friends and relations in the destinations covered by the new tariffs.

MindBody & Soul

with Chioma Nwosu Finish projects you’ve started. Improve your productivity. Here are some affirmations you can use daily. My business is growing, expanding, and thriving. Mo n e y a n d w e a l t h comes easily to me My thoughts are filled with positivity and my life is plentiful with prosperity. Today, I abandon my old habits and take up new, more positive ones My marriage is becoming stronger, deeper, and more stable each day.

I acknowledge my selfworth; my confidence is soaring. I radiate beauty, charm, and grace. Today, I am brimming with energy and overflowing with joy. My body is healthy; my mind is brilliant; my soul is tranquil. I am superior to negative thoughts and low actions. Affirmations changed my life, I’m positive it can do the same for you. Source: What are affirmations

and how to affirm yourself ? huffpost.com/entry/ affirmations_b_3527028 Chioma Nwosu is a mental health/positive psychology advocate, speaker and founder of Olamma Cares Foundation an NGO focused on encouraging the social acceptance of developmental disabilities and mental disorders, finding and implementing long term solutions of these conditions through training, capacity building, advocacy and intervention. Email: cnwosu@olammacares.com Instagram: _olamma_

Sunday 12 July 2020

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BDSUNDAY 27

SundayBusiness The inside story of mortgage Talking Mortgage with sector slow growth

ost Nigerians outside the financial system who have interest in the country’s mortgage sector have always heard that the sector’s slow growth find explanation in the inaccessibility and unaffordability of loans due to high cost of funds reflected in high interest rate, and demand for high equity contribution from borrowers by lenders. But there are more to the causes of the slow growth of this sector which are almost always not talked about. Essentially, little or no note is taken of these other contributing factors to this slow growth among which are the huge stress which mortgage lenders pile on borrowers. There is also the issue of nonexistent partnerships which some of the mortgage lenders deceive home seekers into believing that they have with developers, giving the borrowers baseless hope and false impression that they are just a few steps away from home ownership. Part of the statutory functions of primary mortgage banks (PMBs), and mortgage institutions generally, is to provide housing finance or loan to those who need same to build, buy or

renovate existing houses. But, in more cases than one, those who apply for loans from these lenders hardly get them and, where they do, they are often subjected to harrowing experiences through near-impossible requirements that leave the borrowers stressed out and almost frustrated. Many have been cajoled by developers into subscribing to their houses through mortgage only to get in and find out that the invitation is a mere cover shielding the stress and pain in accessing loans for their dream houses. “My experience with one of these lenders is better imagined than expressed”, says Israel Okafor, a staff of an oil company who applied for mortgage loan from one of the PMBs. Okafor explains that he was “deceived” by the PMB into believing that it was in partnership with a developer who was building over 500 housing units of various house-types at relatively low prices for mid-low income earners. “The PMB told me that it was also financing and marketing the estate and, at the same time, providing mortgage for prospective buyers. My attraction was not as much in the financing and marketing aspect as it was in

the comparatively low interest rate of 17 percent and 10-year loan repayment period which the bank dangled to me”, he said. According to Okafor, the bank demanded just 20 percent equity contribution from him for any of the housing units that he wanted to buy from the estate selling for between N5million and N8 million per unit, adding that as a demonstration of his readiness to take up the mortgage and buy the house, he made an equity contribution in excess of 30 percent of the cost of the house. “Over six months down the line, the developer, the mortgage bank and I have been on a Round Robbin, occasionally stopping at the middle of nowhere only to discover that, in all of this, it has been motion without movement. It has been one story after another”, he fumes. Ayodeji Adediji, is an ex-banker who worked with one of the big names in the industry, but resigned because “I want to do my own thing and see what impact I can make on the economy from this point”. He also has a similar experience, differing only in the approach adopted by his own lender who, he said, has kept his N5 million which he paid as equity for the house he wants

CHUKA UROKO

(08037156969, chukuroko@yahoo.com)

to buy from a developer who is also in another phantom partnership with the same mortgage bank. “As I speak to you, my money has been with the mortgage bank since the past eight months; I am told it is in an escrow account in which case it is not yielding any interest for me; the developer is very slippery and insincere with delivery date for the estate. Every day, like a fraudulent referee, he shifts the goal post. By the last count, he has shifted the delivery time three times and still counting”, he lamented. A banker, who does not want his name mentioned also shared his experience, saying he came close to losing his money to developers over unrealistic delivery dates, lamenting that on each occasion, his money was given back to him after he had nurtured and came close to real-

izing a home ownership dream. People with these experiences will hardly ever seek mortgage facility, nor will they encourage any of their relations or friends to have same experience and this is a major factor that can slow the growth of the mortgage industry. Not too long ago, in a move aimed to address the housing problems in Nigeria, some notable PMBs and real estate developers entered into another strategic partnership aimed to provide housing and mortgage for prospective home buyers. That partnership which, it was hoped, would in 24 months deliver a residential community comprising 554 housing units is yet to make any impact. These are worrisome developments that may continue to stultify the growth of this all important sector.

L-R: Akinkunmi John, MD/CEO, Laba Foods Limited; Jaiye Kuti, brand ambassador, Laba Foods; Morayo John, executive director, Laba Foods Limited, and Olubunmi Jinadu, marketing consultant, Laba Foods, during the unveiling of Kuti’s as Laba Foods brand ambassador in Lagos, yesterday. Pic by Olawale Amoo

Mambilla Beverages call for investment in Taraba Highland Tea MIKE ABANG, Calabar

ambilla Beverages Limited, a subsidiary of the Taraba Investment and Properties Limited (TRIP), has called on the general

public to invest in the Highland Tea. Mambilla Beverages are the developers, manufacturers and marketers of Highland Tea and Highland Green Tea in Gembu, Sadauna local area of Taraba state Secretary To the State Government and Chair-

L-R: Sakiru Adekola, Meat Seller chairman, Orisunmi Baare Olumegbon Market Ajah; Funmilayo Taoreed, Marketing Assistant, UAC Restaurants Limited; Maryam Lawal, Iya’ Loja, Orisunmi Baare Olumegbon Market Ajah, and Eustesia Ogunsusi, Marketing Services manager, UAC Restaurants Limited, during the Mr. Bigg’s CSR initiative to mark 1st anniversary of the Combo Store in Lekki.

man Board of Directors, Anthony Jellason made the call on Thursday while briefing newsmen after the 2019 Annual General Meeting (AGM) held in Jalingo. He said that the company had paid ordinary

shares to the Taraba government amounting to N50million as well as generated employment opportunities to youths of the state. According to Jellason, an award would be given to Gov. Darius Ishaku of

Taraba as the best developer and promoter of Tea in Nigeria adding that it was part of the recognition for the stabilisation and improvement in production capacity of the company under the Ishaku administration.

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Sunday 12 July 2020

BrandsOnSunday SPOTLIGHTING BRAND VALUE

Covid-19 creates fundamental shifts in Africa’s consumers

he Covid-19 pandemic has given rise to a new kind of African consumer who is already displaying fundamental shifts in consumption and purchase behaviour driven by factors such as heightened health awareness, a focus on quality and safety, a renewed desire to stay at home and a tight wallet squeeze. As a result of this a recent Nielsen industry webinar navigating the New Normal discussed the realities and effects of this rapidly evolving outlook. Speaking during the webinar, Nielsen Africa MD Bryan Sun outlined the consumer evolution since the onset of the pandemic and the fact that crisis-buying patterns have accelerated the adoption of permanent behaviour change. “As the prospect of looming lockdowns first hit, consumers realised they needed to stock up which saw a spike in store visits, stockpiling of shelf staples and growing basket sizes. However, as restricted living became more common place, there was a change in behaviour with consumers seeking out products without putting their health at risk. “We have therefore seen growth in online shopping, declining store visits and a rise in out of stocks. Supply chain challenges

have also driven consumers to be less price sensitive on high demand packaged goods or those that guarantee hygiene standards,” explained Sun. The expectation is that once quarantines lift and consumers return to “business as usual” they will continue to operate with a renewed consciousness about health, which will remain for a long time. There will also be shifts in the way consumers perceive products with the increased importance of safety and efficacy claims, and a willingness to spend more on hygiene needs and healthy foods.

Future mindsets As countries move from restricted living to precautionary living, Nielsen has also created an in-depth view of current and future SSA consumer mindset and purchase patterns based on learnings from other markets: Heightened health awareness will drive consumers to be less price sensitive on high demand packaged goods or those that guarantee hygiene standards as food safety becomes paramount to consumers. The renewed desire to stay at home and the preparation of home

meals might require brand extensions and a need to address declining store visits, growth in online and proximity shopping. As consumers are impacted by less income and smaller purchasing wallets, value for money offerings and more aggressive promotions – over that of just in-store promotions - are needed. eCommerce growth has reached double digits in many countries with Italy at 82%, China 50%, and Korea 30% where older shoppers are trying eCommerce for the first time. Technology catalysts are driving behavioural change and will penetrate the market despite previous scepticism around this platform. Looking to the future, Sun commented that the path to recovery means retailers must urgently look at factors such as pricing mechanisms and brand relationships in order to maintain and strengthen consumer trust in their brand. “Successful retail regeneration across the continent, following the impact of COVID-19 on the African consumer and retail landscape, will rely on an agile and innovative response that sets the groundwork for a future unlike any we have ever known.” Report by MediaInk Communications

2020 Pitchers Award: Noah’s Ark emerges agency of the Year

igeria’s multiple award winning creative marketing communications agency, Noah’s Ark Communications Limited, has re-enacted its winning streak once again as it recently shone brilliantly by winning the Agency of the Year and Digital Agency of the Year at the prestigious 2020 Pitcher’s Award held in Lagos. This is the second time in a row that the agency would be winning the Agency of the Year having won the same award last year. The agency which is reputed for its brilliant works across the continent showed class once again by winning a total of 33 laurels at the event including one Gold, six silver and twenty-six Bronze medals. Speaking on the awards, the Managing Director/Chief Creative Officer, Noah’s Ark Communications Limited, Lanre Adisa, in a statement attributed the achievement recorded by the agency to hard work, immense support received from clients who created the enabling environment for creativity to thrive as well as the invaluable contribution of the team. According to Adisa, this milestone would serve as a huge motivation for the agency to continue on its path of excellence, which would help in reaching the goal of putting Nigeria on the global map as far as the marketing communication landscape, is concerned.

Africa Magic: Building a global brand through local television content creation Steve Maduka

am not a believer in awards. Perhaps I am of the school of thought that thinks winning an award is not a testament of who you truly are or what you can achieve. However, when at the recently concluded Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA), the organisers bestowed on veteran television producer, Peter Igho the prestigious Industry Merit Award at the seventh edition of the award, I started having second thoughts about awards, because the award given to Igho, who is best known for his achievements with the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) in the promotion of local television content was well-deserved. This worthy Nigerian television veteran has produced and directed television classics like ‘Cockcrow at Dawn’, ‘Village Headmaster’, ‘Samanja’ and many others. These are local television content that Nigerians born in the 60s and 70s could relate to. But in the 90s, there was a shift among television audience as they became more interested in watch-

ing foreign television content. But this was short-lived because the viewing experience of foreign content all changed when Africa Magic which was established in 2003 with just one channel started promoting indigenous television content. Like Igho, Africa Magic promoted and advocated for local television content that promoted Nigeria’s rich cultural heritage, customs, and traditions. Today, Africa Magic which started with just one channel now has over seven channels on the DStv and GOtv platform. The channel owners went further to

Wangi Mba-Uzoukwu, channel director, Africa Magic

establish dedicated channels for the three major Nigerian languages namely, Africa Magic Yoruba (Channel 157), Africa Magic Igbo (Channel 159) and Africa Magic Hausa (Channel 156). Besides having more channels on the DStv and GOtv platform, Africa Magic has been committed to the production of home-grown television content. For example, they produced content such as ‘Doctors Quarters’, ‘Edge of Paradise’, ‘Big Brother Naija’ the biggest reality show in the sub-Sahara Africa, ‘Tinsel’; which today is unarguably the longest-running soap opera on Nigeria television, ‘Hotel Majestic’, ‘Hush’, ‘Battleground’, ‘Do Good’, ‘Jemeji’, ‘Forbidden’, ‘Eve’, ‘The Johnsons’, ‘Ajoche’, and in recent time ‘Flatmates’, ‘The Mercy and Ike Show’, ‘Judging Matters’ among others. These wholesome family content has not only brought laughter, tears, joy, anger, and entertainment to our homes, but it has also created employment opportunity for young Nigerians in the supply chain of television productions. Some may not understand that the cost of producing content locally, especially if it runs for a number

of years as Tinsel is currently doing, costs more than some international content. In a report compiled by Accenture; a global management consulting firm of repute, it was reported that Africa Magic through its parent company MultiChoice Nigeria, has invested over N32.6billion from 2015 to 2019 in the nation’s creative industry. Also, Africa Magic has spent over 177.459 hours of content and has spent over N47.3billion in commissioned content and production infrastructure and in job creation over 9,955 jobs have been created within the creative industry. This is indeed commendable! In showing commitment to these financial investments, Africa Magic has built a multi-million-dollar state-of-art multi-purpose studio in Lagos where they produce these local television content such as ‘Tinsel’ and ‘BBNaija’. In addition to the huge financial investment that Africa Magic has made to promote local television content in Nigeria, the organization has used its platform as a vehicle for the promotion of Nigeria’s rich cultural heritage across the continent. With the support of Africa Mag-

ic, the creative industry in Nigeria has cultivated a massive African audience. For example, in African countries like Ghana, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, and even South Africa some of their citizens can speak the pidgin English which is synonymous with Nigeria and this makes it easier for them to relate with Nigerians when they encounter them. Whether we accept it or not, in the Nigeria creative industry, Africa Magic holds up a candle to future generations who are eager to find the pathway to success in the creative industry. They have fully supported the ongoing training programme for young creative talent at the MultiChoice Talent Factory (MTF) as they provide participants of the MTF Academy practical skills and training they would find useful in the industry. For the creative industry in Nigeria to make a more positive impact in the global market, stakeholders in this industry need more collaboration with Africa Magic as the organization has set out on a mission towards building the nation’s creative industry into a global brand. Maduka is a media analyst based in Lagos

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Leadership Igbos must be mindful of their utterances over 2023 - President Ohanaeze Lagos Solomon Ogbonna Aguene, president Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Lagos chapter, and founder of Aguene Arts Foundation, in this interview with NGOZI OKPALAKUNNE, talks about the state of the Igbos in Lagos, the crisis facing the socio-cultural group, what it takes to be a successful leader, among other national issues. Excerpts:

ecently, you celebrated two years in office as the president of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Lagos; how have you been able to manage the affairs of the Igbos in the state? It has not been easy because leadership is not something you sit down and take any decision that pleases you without consulting the executive members. What I did initially was to study those who are working with me because we all came from different backgrounds. I did that so as to know those who are by my side and those who are in opposition with me. Before now, we have been holding meetings in clubs and hotels, but recently, my administration acquired a secretariat where we can call our own. We no longer hold meetings in public places where sometimes, it is difficult for us to book down for any gathering. On the other hand, l have brought the leadership of Ohanaeze closer to the government of Lagos state. Because of such closeness, sometimes last year, Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu empowered about 100 Igbo women with an unrefundable cash of one-hundred thousand naira each. During the lockdown order due to Covid-19, the state government gave us palliatives which we distributed among our members and other tribes including Yorubas and the Hausas. The ruling party in the state has been kind to the Igbos, we no longer face harassment in the markets or streets except one finds such trouble by him or herself. l told my people here in Lagos to be mindful of their utterances. They should

plies to Ohanaeze Ndigbo, you cannot be the president without speaking Igbo Language very well.

Ikem

President, Ohanaeze Lagos

not utter words that will seem as if they are dragging the land with their host community. To say that Lagos is no man’s land is not true, Lagos is man’s land, it is a Yoruba land except you buy land. My administration has tried, obviously, managing human affairs is quiet challenging and the Igbos are one of the most difficult tribes in the black race. In all, what has kept me till date is transparency. You were accused of presenting fake certificate to assume office as the Ohanaeze Ndigbo of Lagos; what is your reaction on that? It is a false accusation. They

came up with such issue because l refused to compromise with some people’s demand; they requested l should be giving them sixty percent of what l get from Ohanaeze and l refused because if such happens, the group will not progress. They even made it clear that such system has been their mode of operation in the past. Besides, certificate is not a precondition for being elected as the president of Ohanaeze, all you need is the ability to speak lgbo Language fluently, wisdom, intelligence, human relation and altruism, even if you are a professor you cannot rule Japanese or Columbia if you cannot speak their languages glibly, same ap-

Many are of the view that Igbos prefer to establish in their host communities than their home land; what do you think is responsible? It is like a controversy if l said that Igbos in foreign lands are tenants, that means that whatever establishment they have in foreign lands does not really matter, what count is the one they have in their home land. There is a proverb in Igbo land which says, ‘no matter how white people build a cemetery, it is not for a responsible Igbo man,’ this is because an lgbo man must go home either alive or dead. l always tell my people here that there is no place like home. They should endeavour to build and establish businesses at home. I am advising Ndigbo living abroad to think home, they should extend their wealth to their home land. I also want them to remember what happened to our fathers who built houses and owned landed properties in Port Harcourt, Rivers State before the civil war. After the war which ended in 1970, they were unable to claim those properties till date; it is a very big lesson to us. Why did you abandon your art work for leadership position of Igbos in Lagos? I have been a member of the group for decades and my desire has been to be in the helm of affairs so as to contribute my quota to the development of the group here in Lagos. I am glad to be in that position today. By His grace, l have been able to make

some positive changes in the group since l came into office two years ago. Since the formation of the group in the 70s, l am the first Ebonyi State man to be elected as the president of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, it has always been an Anambra, Imo or Abia man. I did not abandon my art work, l have been into it for over three decades. l have the biggest private museum in West Africa, it is tugged somewhere in Lekki, Lagos; l have done so many exhibitions in Europe and America. Government should invest in art, take a look at the National Art Theater, that place can be renovated; it can generate more revenue to the government when put into proper shape. Besides, a visit to some of the national museums across the country will reveal that a lot of items that should have been preserved for future generation have been removed and sold, it ought not to be so. If you visit museums in other countries of the world, you will see items of over two to three hundred years. All l know is that the government is not taking the issue of art and exhibition seriously in this country. What is your advice to Igbos come 2023 general election? The Igbos should be mindful of their utterances; they should abstain from boasting and mentioning war when there is no war. For those who are saying that 2023 is not negotiable, they should desist from making such statement in order not to put the Igbos in danger before the elections. They should remember that we are in a democratic government; those that are elected by the people will occupy the positions of authority.

Playing music is my passion, my life, Timon Gabriel

Gabriel

he controversy rages on as to whether stars are born or made. For Timon Ayodeji Gabriel, who will mark

his 10th birthday next August, the argument seems to favour those who think stars are born. Nigerians, and indeed, the world can be sure they have another music sensation to delight for the next generation. Even as a toddler, the boy would dance to good rhythms; by the time Timon was three he was already rapping about the things around him – the food he ate, the people around him, etc. By the time he turned five, he started writing his own songs – songs that would transfix his baby sister, Princess, mesmerise his parents, and spellbind his teachers, especially his music teachers who started seeking to mentor the lad. Now about to clock ten, Timon has already produced his debut

album that he’s poised to dazzle the world with. Basically, Timon sings and raps about everything around him, the food he eats, people around him, but especially the things that matter to a sane and healthy society. And the words flow from his mouth like mercury. Timon’s mother, Mirabel, says he’s a gift from God worth more than a hundred boys, bringing her delight in his natural talents from God, his spiritual life and his academic excellence. He can be heard singing about the situation around him, such as COVID-19, drug abuse, and not just that, he proffers solution to the problems he raps about. Timon says music is his breath, his passion, the person he’s meant to be – that a life

without music is like taking a part of him away. He plays the guitar, drums and also plays the piano. Speaking to his teacher Steve, his music teacher and manager, on his assessment of the lad, he relates how during a talent hunt in school, when all of his school mates chose to dance as a show of their talent, Timon chose to rap, a move that astounded all of his teachers. Upon giving him that chance to rap, Timon impressed so much that he personally took interest in the lad and contacted his mother, asking her to allow him mentor Timon. Ever since, Timon has been more and more a sensation. Timon’s raps are nothing short of amazing. He raps about issues such as COVID-19 ravaging the

world and crumbling economies, but offering hope that the world will overcome the scourge with the right attitude. He raps about drug abuse among the youth, as well as other social issues. He says he has a mission to use his music to win back the youth to sane character. He says he’s using his talent to give hope to the world. He hopes that his songs and lifestyle will give hope to the youth of today to lead better and cleaner lives. He says he’s inspired by the likes of Kanye West because he cares about children, Whizkid because he’s a kind person and obedient to his mother, loves people, humble and trying to do his best. He says he’s inspired by Davido also because he’s following his passion.

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Health&Science NHIS resolves HMOs, hospitals debt feud

GODSGIFT ONYEDINEFU, Abuja he National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) has embarked on a reconciliation exercise to resolve the disruptive contentions between Health Maintenance Organisations (HMOs) and Health Care Facilities (HCFs) over claims of unpaid bills, which have been known to result in service failure in certain instances. This followed strident complaints by HCFs over the failure of HMOs to effect payment of bills accruing from care given to enrolees under NHIS, as well as other private insurance plans operated HMOs. Ayo Osinlu Head Media & Public Relations Division, who disclosed this in a statement, added that the need

to address this as urgency arises from reported cases of consequent service failure, whereby some facilities in the country are withholding care from enrolees over unpaid capitation and fee-forservice by HMOs, inspite of receiving funds timely from NHIS for those purposes. According to him, other objectives of the exercise include ensuring that all stakeholders abide faithfully with their obligations under the Operational Guidelines of the Scheme, as well as the restoration of full stakeholder and public confidence in NHIS. “The process of the reconciliation exercise includes compulsory attendance by representatives of HMOs and HCFs, presentation and careful review of claims and counter-claims, bank state-

ments, contract documents, tariffs, and other relevant documents. Meanwhile, Osinlu informed that NHIS has directed that provisions of its Operational Guidelines which is the standard of procedure in the industry must be strictly adhered to in the course of the exercise, while payment of agreed figures after the painstaking reconciliation must be effected by the HMOs concerned within two (2) weeks from the date of reconciliation. He said the exercise is part of a series of confidence building initiatives of the new leadership of the Executive Secretary of the Scheme, Mohammed Nasir Sambo, aimed at restoring trust and credibility to the process and practice of health insurance in Nigeria.w

FRSC, Neimeth takeoff COVID-19 campaign to reduce mortality rate ANTHONIA OBOKOH

ollow-on the increasing COVID-19 deaths in Nigeria, the Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, Zone 2 Lagos and Neimeth International Pharmaceuticals in partnership launched a campaign on preventive messages in Lagos and Ogun State to reduce Covid-19 mortality rate in Nigeria. Speaking during the Media Launch and Public Presentation of FRSC Covid-19 Public Enlightenment Kiosks, recently in Lagos, Mattew Azoji, Chief Executive Officer, Neimeth, Pharm in his presented speech said that partnering with FRSC is to take the campaign against deadly Covid-19 to the grassroots across Lagos and Ogun state. “It’s awful that some Nigerians are yet to believe the existence of Covid-19,this campaign is designed at taking the campaign to the citizens as well as creating awareness on preventive measures as directed by the World Health Organisa-

tion (WHO),” he noted. According to Azoji, , partnership is historical on the FRSC Zone 2 Lagos is the first federal government establishment organization, I wish to commend the Federal Road Safety Corps Lagos Zone 2 for this excellent initiative of the provision of COVID-19 public Enlightenment kiosks. “COVID-l9 Enlightenment kiosks are a worthy campaign as it seeks to improve the quality of life of our citizens in this era of COVI9-l9 pandemic as we are all witnessing, we are proud of FRSC Zone 2 Lagos and are tremendously excited to be in partnership with you in a worthy cause such as this.

“Considering the overcrowded nature of different areas of our society as potential venues for spread of diseases and infections, appropriate steps and care must be taken to forestall the possibility of such diseases or infections spreading. This is what makes the FRSC partnership campaign through the provision of public enlightenment kiosks, a worthy objective. Antiseptics or Disinfectants are more or less used to promote personal and Environmental hygiene,” he said. Note: The rest of this article continues in the online edition of Business Day @https://businessday.ng

COVID-19: Ooni support Kwara govt with two motorised modular fumigators SIKIRAT SHEHU, ILORIN

he Kwara State Government has received two motorised modular fumigators from the Ooni of Ife, His Royal Majesty, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II as part of an effort to assist the government in the battle against the spread of Covid 19. The government, however, expressed gratitude to organisations and individuals for contributing to its fight against Covid-19 pandemic. According to a statement by Modupe Joel, Chief Press Secretary to the Deputy Governor, Kayode Alabi, had while receiving the two mo-

torised modular fumigators, appreciated the royal father for contributing to the Covid-19 fight as he describes him as illustrious, intelligent, and selfless, given his decision to commit personal resources to help humanity. According to him, the partnership and support of various individuals and organisations boosted the state government’s COVID-19 intervention in a significant way, as the government cannot win the battle alone. Speaking through Oba Muraina Adedinu Asoya of Isoya kingdom, who represented him, the Ooni of Ife commended the effort of Governor Abdulrahman Ab-

dulrazaq in the fight against the pandemic. He says the donation of two modular fumigators was to complement the state government’s quick response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Ooni affirmed that it was time people took the pandemic seriously, adding that disinfection of offices, schools and the environment was key to halting the spread of the virus. The Monarch, therefore, promised to continue to contribute his quota towards the development of the country and charged individuals to join hands with the government in the fight against COVID-19.

What every infertile couple should know CONTRIBUTOR

ABAYOMI AJAYI

reatment for infertility is now so diverse that choice may range from simple education and counseling, to the use of medications that treat infections or promote ovulation, to highly sophisticated medical procedures such as in vitro fertilization (IVF). These new advances in medical technology are giving hope to more couples, even though some are also raising questions about ethical and legal issues such as sex selection, the consequences of multiple births and the changing nature of the family. Nevertheless, conception and successfully carrying a baby to term remains a complex process. Even though there has been a revolution in the field of reproductive medicine to help couples achieve conception, success is still largely dependent on the couple. It may surprise you to know that 25 percent of couples have more than one factor contributing to infertility. Even when you have successfully conceived before, you might have fertility issues later in life. Infertility is defined as the inability to conceive and deliver a child despite trying for between six months to one year, depending on the age of the woman. This applies to you if you are a woman who is able to get pregnant but then have repeat miscarriages. A diagnosis of infertility means that becoming pregnant may be a challenge but not impossible. Your infertility may be temporary or permanent, depending on the cause and available treatments to correct it. It may be due to factors affecting the woman, the man, or both of you. It may be due to a single cause or a combination of factors. In some cases, a specific cause can’t be identified. If you want to get pregnant, the first step is working with your doctor to find out what your fertility issues are. In about 85 to 90 percent of infertile couples, a cause can be determined, but without any treatment intervention, 15 to 20 percent of couples previously diagnosed as infertile will eventually become pregnant. You should be aware that having difficulty getting pregnant can have many causes, and some of them you cannot change, such as your age; some of them you can change, such as your weight. Age is the single most important factor in whether you, as a woman, can conceive and deliver a

baby. In men, injury to the testicles or tubes which carry sperm are common reasons for male infertility. Assisted reproductive technology (ART) success rates are highly dependent on the age of the woman ranging from 37 percent in women under the age of 35, to around 11.0 percent or lower in women aged 41 and above. As an infertile couple, you need to be aware that pregnancy rates begin to decline slowly, beginning in your early 30s. Throughout your late 30s and early 40s there is an even greater decline in pregnancy rates. Only 2 percent of babies are born to women over the age of 40. As a woman, your fertility generally begins to decline much earlier than you think. Peak fertility occurs during your early 20s, begins to decline in your early 30s and accelerates after age 35. Few unassisted pregnancies are recorded after the age of 45. It’s estimated that up to a third of couples over 35 won’t be able to have a successful pregnancy without assistance. As you age the quality and quantity of your eggs that remain in your ovaries decrease while their chances of having health problems that may interfere with your fertility increase. A gradual decline in fertility is possible in men older than 45 too. While the changes may not be as clearly defined as they are in women, if you are a man aged 50-and-over, you often may find a decline in your quality of sperm, and sometimes discover a slight drop in testosterone levels and a dwindling libido. The problem of infertility used to be thought to be a problem with the woman only, but we now know that’s not the case. About 30-to-40 percent of infertility is diagnosed as a female problem, 30-to-40 percent as a male problem, 10-to20 percent related to both and the remainder remains unknown. There must be sufficient numbers of healthy sperm traveling through open pathways so that one can penetrate a healthy egg. The fertilized egg must then implant itself in the lining of the uterus and the uterine environment must remain hospitable for the egg to develop. When any one of these factors is impaired, infertility can result. Some of the significant factors for female infertility include, a history of absent, irregular or painful menstrual cycles, pelvic inflammatory disease or repeated miscarriages. In men, a low sperm count, history of testicular, prostate or sexual problems. Being overweight or underweight can affect hormone production. This imbalance may impair your ability to con-

ceive or produce a healthy child. Infertility treatment success is defined as the birth of a healthy infant. A cause can be determined for about 85 to 90 percent of infertile couples. Without any treatment intervention, 15 to 20 percent of couples previously diagnosed as infertile will eventually become pregnant. More than half of couples who seek infertility treatment get pregnant without advanced techniques such as IVF. There are medical and surgical therapies, but for assisted reproductive technology (ART), IVF is the most common and the most effective. The procedures sometimes involve the use of donor eggs, donor sperm, or previously frozen embryos. The evaluation process usually begins with physical examinations and health and sexual histories. In some cases, doctors uncover an obvious problem that can be easily corrected. Investigation of sexual issues such as sexual technique, problems with erectile dysfunction, premature ejaculation or painful intercourse, and psychological or relationship issues that contribute to problems with intimacy are carried out. Then you can proceed to more specific evaluations such as semen analysis, confirmation of ovulation and more. Once a specific diagnosis is obtained, appropriate treatments are recommended from medical therapy to reproductive surgery to intrauterine insemination to assisted reproductive technology. Assisted reproductive technology can be successful; however, your best treatment option will depend on your specific fertility issue, your age and your overall health. You need to be aware of all the implications up front so you can understand the process. Tests may reveal a cause right away and the solution may be relatively simple. On the other hand, diagnosis and treatment may extend over a long period. A variety of causes can produce infertility, each with its own treatment and each with its own chance of success. As options increase from the most simple to the most sophisticated assisted reproductive technologies, the rate of successful treatment is going up. While assisted reproductive technology gives hope to couples who otherwise could not conceive, there are many factors to consider such as ethical decisions you may have to make, financial investment, the time it may take to conceive and the stress on a relationship. You must be aware of the physical and ethical issues that come up during and after treatment.

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Sports

NFF adopts PPG to end season, sets France to welcome date for start of 2020/21 season back football fans

Stories by ANTHONY NLEBEM ollowing resolutions passed at an online meeting of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Committee, which had in attendance the Chairpersons of all the National Leagues and the President of the Nigeria Referees Association. The Executive Committee of the NFF after a holistic consideration of all the issues affecting the leagues (including the status of the leagues before the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic), the impact of the pandemic-induced disruptions, the health, safety and movement restrictive measures in the country, the potential protocols for football resumption, the costs, the financial status of the leagues and clubs, CAF calendar and resolutions of the various leagues as conveyed to the NFF, approved the following: NPFL The league ends at current Matchday 25 and the Points Per Game (PPG) table will be used to rank the teams in order to ensure sporting merit and sporting fairness. Th e n a m e s o f t h e To p 3 (three) clubs on the NPFL final PPG table as at Matchday 25 shall be submitted to CAF to represent Nigeria in the 2020/2021 CAF Inter - Club competitions (2 slots for CAF Champions League and 1 Slot for CAF Confederation Cup). There will be no promotion to, or relegation from, NPFL for the 2019/2020 season. The NPFL 2020/2021 season will start from September/October 2020 and end May 2021 subject to the full reopening of the country and the approval of the health authorities. The NNL The NNL 2019/2020 season which is at Match day 3 - 5 and has been on break since December 17, 2019 is cancelled, null and void.

There will be no promotion to, or relegation, from NNL. The NNL 2020/2021 season will start from September/October 2020 and end May 2021 subject to the full reopening of the country and the approval of the health authorities. The NFF will work with the NNL, the participating clubs and other stakeholders to ensure a successful fresh start from September/October 2020. This will include a review of the NNL structure to optimize its development. NWFL The yet-to-commence NWFL 2019/2020 season is aborted. The NWFL 2020/2021 to start from September/October 2020 and end May 2021 subject to the full reopening of the country and the approval of the health authorities. NLO The yet to commence NLO 2019/2020 Season aborted. There will be no promotion to or relegation from NLO. The NLO 2020/2021 season will start from September/October 2020 to end May 2021 subject to the full reopening of the country and the approval of the health authorities.

AITEO CUP The AITEO Cup 2019/20, which had only commenced at the State level, is aborted. The 2019 AITEO Cup Winners will be presented to CAF for the 2020/21 CAF Inter-Club competition (Nigeria’s 2nd slot in the CAF Confederation Cup), reserved for Federation Cup winners. The AITEO CUP 2020/21 season will start from September/October 2020 to end May 2021 subject to the full reopening of the country and the approval of the health authorities. All dates for the 2020/21season to start are subject to the directives of the Federal Government in line with COVID-19 protocols. In addition, the full enforcement of licensing regulations and financial controls for the NPFL will commence from the 2020/2021 season. All clubs are required to comply, failing which they will be barred from participating. The Nigeria Football Federation will formally take the resolutions to the next General Meeting of its Congress for ratification. In the meantime, these resolutions have been formally communicated to the Federal Ministry of Youth & Sports Development.

ootball fans will return to French football stadiums before Ligue 1 does. Domestic competitive football shut down in France in early March and the authorities decided to scrap their league season. The other four leading European leagues all resumed their seasons in empty stadiums. This weekend, French clubs will open their doors, slightly, as they play friendly matches with a maximum attendance of 5,000 and under strict health protocols. Some teams had already planned games for the weekend before the authorities announced that was the day stadiums could

and were snapped up in a matter of minutes, according to the Le Havre club. The attendance at the 25,000 seater Ocean Stadium will come close to the crowd at the club’s last home match: 5,948 spectators for a second division match against Auxerre in March. It should be the biggest football crowd to a match in one of the ‘big five’ European countries since March and will come close to the attendance at Le Havre’s last home game Spain’s LaLiga, due to end on July 19 without spectators, hopes to resume the following season with attendance at around 30 percent of stadium capacity.

reopen to the public. Two second-division grounds in the northwest of France will host matches on Saturday. Chambly host third-division Boulogne-sur-Mer and Caen are at home to Paris FC for matches which will probably draw only a few hundred spectators, at most. The large-scale test will come on Sunday when Le Havre, another second division club, host the stars of Paris Saint-Germain. Because the 5,000-limit includes teams, officials, journalists and security staff, between 4,000 and 4,500 tickets were made available to the spectators

In Germany, where the season has reached a conclusion, authorities are considering a similar progression while the English may hold test events over the summer. In Italy, the government does not plan to make a decision until “mid-July”. At all the games wearing a mask will be compulsory when moving around and fans must respect social distance unless they came with an established group of family and friends. These will serve as a healthy “crash test” for France’s two cup finals, which both involve PSG, and have been rescheduled for later this month.

UEFA ban: Man City to know fate on Monday

anchester City will discover the result of their appeal against a two-year ban from UEFA competitions on Monday, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) announced Friday. Man City were banned by UEFA and handed a $34 million (£27 million) fine for allegedly overstating sponsorship revenue to hide that they had not complied with financial fair-play (FFP) rules between 2012 and 2016. The English side steadfastly refuted the allegations and a three-day hearing on the case was held by videoconference last month. “The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) will announce the decision

taken in the arbitration procedure between Manchester City Football Club and the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) on Monday, 13 July 2020,” CAS said in a statement.

CAS added that the decision would be announced at 10:30 am local time (0830 GMT). City hold an 11-point lead over fifth-placed Manchester United in the Premier League and need

just one win from their remaining four games of the season to be sure of Champions League qualification. But, if their ban is upheld or only reduced to one season, whoever finishes fifth will take their Champions League spot. No matter the outcome of the appeal, Man City will be able to complete their 2019/20 Champions League campaign. They hold a 2-1 lead over Real Madrid after the first leg of the last 16 and host the Spanish giants on August 7 in the return match. The tournament will be concluded with a ‘Final 8’ event in Lisbon, with City to face either Juventus or Lyon in the quarter-finals if they get past Real Madrid.

Covid-19 surge forces rethink on Bulgarian season start date

he Bulgarian Football Union may delay the start of the next domestic season, scheduled for 24 July, due to a surge of coronavirus infections at several clubs. The virus has hit more than half of top-flight clubs as well as second-tier teams, with Cherno More Varna reporting 16 cases and Cup winners Lokomotiv Plovdiv nine.

“The medical commission made a proposal for the championship to start one or two weeks later than planned,” commission secretary Mihail Iliev told Reuters. “We believe it’s a reasonable step in view of the complicated epidemiological situation.” Iliev, a former Bulgarian national team doctor, said the BFU’s executive committee would take the final decision in the coming days. Bulgaria reported a daily record of 330 coronavirus cases on Friday. It has so far documented 6,672 confirmed cases and 262 fatalities.

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Of Magu and the maggots of corruption!

icoletta Battini, an IMF expert on economic matters took another critical look at the facts and figures on Nigeria’s socio-economic milieu, in the papers before him and shook his head in utter disbelief. He had never been confronted with such a graphic contrast of wanton wealth and grinding poverty for any country in all his years of research. That the world’s 6th largest crude oilproducing nation was ranked as one of the poorest and the 9th most illiterate, while still faced with an alarming inflation rate of 17percent, which by his projection could escalate to 22percent in a few years and stewing in staggering foreign debts simply confounded his intellectual acumen. What Battini must have heard but could not bring himself to comprehend, was and still remains the treacherous menace of crass corruption in high places, especially here in Nigeria. Elsewhere, when some stench oozes out of a rotten carcass or a decrepit gutter and permeates the air, passersby twinge their nostrils, increase their paces and cover their faces, lest they should throw up. But not with corruption in Nigeria, where it has been crowned as king for the untouchables, treated with kid gloves by the accomplices in government and worshipped with abiding passion by the poor and the illiterate citizens. My dear reader, what you have just read was written by yours truly and published by ‘The Integrity Magazine’ of Londonin 2005. That is some 15 years ago! A year before then, one had raised an instant alarmwith an opinion essay titled: “Ha! Nigerians stash $107 billion abroad?” in the ‘Daily Times’ edition of July 30, 2004. That came after a United Nations (UN) Report on the subject matter of corruption further confirmed the scandalous situation of increasing sleaze in the corridors of power. Back then, the list of those alleged to have stolen Nigeria’s common wealth to feather their pockets and enrich foreign banks included retired top military brass and old politicians. Some of them still walk our streets as free men till this day! Talk about unpardonable impunity! The recent steamy allegations of monumental financial crime against Ibrahim Magu, the erstwhile Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) boss,

“Money! Money is the curse of man, none greater. That’s what wrecks cities, banishes men from homes, tempts and deludes the most well-meaning soul, pointing out the way to infamy and shame.”

- Creon, a character in Sophocles’s play, ‘Antigone’. who was expected to be the number one czar in the frontal battle against financial crimes only comes as a paradox of the gate-keeper and the mansion. He is being accused of stealing from the very house he was supposed to be protecting! After Magu’s detention by the DSS and the government’s statement that he has appeared before a presidential probe panel headed by retired Justice Ayo Salami, the public has got to know about some of the allegations leveled against him. They border on acts of misconduct and financial irregularities. For instance, he is alleged of ‘relooting’ part of recovered loots’ and sale of seized assets to cronies, associates and friends. There are also that of favouritism towards selected EFCC investigators called the ‘Magu Boys’ for ‘juicy’ assignments and insubordination to the Office of the AGF. More allegations are on the discrepancies in the reconciliation of records of the EFCC and the Federal Ministry of Finance on recovered funds. In addition, he is alleged to have hand in the leakages of investigative reports that were prejudicial to some cases to selected media. Apart from reporting some judges to their presiding officers without deferring to the AGF, he is also accused of declaration of N539b as recovered funds instead of N504b earlier claimed. Other allegations include not respecting court order to unfreeze a N7b-judgment in favour of a former executive director of a bank, the late action on the investigation of P&ID leading to legal disputes and not providing enough concrete evidence against some suspects including Diezani

Alison-Madueke for her extradition. Obviously, Magu’s alleged misdeeds run against the tents of the anti-graft body established in 2003 to fight corruption and financial crimes which include embezzlement, money laundering and fraud (419). Although a government statement insists that Magu has been given ample opportunity to defend himself and that his probe is “in consonance with the principle of fairness and justice” there are some burning questions all these have ignited in the public sphere. For instance, is the government just waking up to these alleged malfeasances, years down the line? Have they anything to do with the current intraparty squabbles already snowballing into the formation of splinter groups within the ruling APC–led government, ahead of 2023 general elections? Has Magu stepped on some big toes to have enraged the powers that be? Or are these acts of witch -hunting? Time will certainly tell. But let it be known that he who comes to equity must do so with clean hands. If theallegation come true, it would further create a deepening dent on the fight against corruption, a mantra on which the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration came to power in 2015. In fact, it has been severally questioned that over those years, and even from inception the EFCC has been used asa tool of political treachery against the opposition and perceived political foes. After all didn’t Oshiomhole, the former APC National Chairman once claim that those alleged corrupt politicians who decamped to the APC would have their sins forgiven? That of a former governor who cross carpeted from PDP to APC and the other who recently came back from prison cell to occupy his senatorial seat continue to elicit questions on the sincerity of this administration to fight corruption, without providing a level playing field. Besides all these unanswered questions, one cannot but wonder why virtually all the former EFFC bosses ended in controversial circumstances. From NuhuRibadu (2003-2007 ), the

AYO OYOZE BAJE Baje is Nigerian first food technologist in the media and author of ‘Drumbeats of Democracy’

first EFCC chairman, through Ibrahim Lamorde (2008), Farida Waziri, (20082011), Ibrahim Lamorde,( 2011-2015) to Ibrahim Magu (2015 to 2020), the tales of financial scandals seem to have worsened by the years. Again, concerned Nigerian continue to ask why all of them came from the northern stock and all with background in the police force? To achieve any meaningful success in the war against corruption, the battle must be seen as part and parcel of our culture. The tenets should be imbibed right across the social gamut from the family unit, through the institutions of religion, education, business environment to the leadership landscape. Furthermore, strict penalties including life imprisonment should be considered for the unpatriotic perpetrators. No one should be above the law. It should not be used as a political tool against anybody. All loopholesidentified for criminal financial transactions should be plugged. There should also be public shaming for offenders and public awards for those who distinguish themselves as outstanding civil servants and professionals, in all fields of human endeavor. This would serve as motivation for fellow Nigerians. As late Tai Solarin, a social critic extraordinary once noted, questions must be asked about the sudden source of the wealth of some citizens, including top civil servants who own mansions that far exceed their salaries. Indeed, the maggots of corruption live within the fertile forests of Nigeria’s economy which they have ravaged with impunity. We therefore, need those with the will to identify and kill them without attraction to their beautiful flowers and succulent fruits. The search continues!

COVID-19: Why are we not celebrating Governor Akeredolu’s miraculous recovery?

IKEDDY ISIGUZO Isiguzo is a major commentator on minor national issues

ur politics is blinding. Does that explain why there is no nationwide celebration of the rapid recovery of Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State? Must we reduce everything to politics? A miracle has taken place before us. We have failed to recognise it. We have refused to recognise it. Again, politics is at play. The governor was out of isolation in five days. He defied the stated protocol of 14 days of observing the patient. His cure was that impressive. Yet we are not impressed? Why are we like this? Why have we decided to be blinkered in our view of this miracle that has happened before our eyes?

Are we no longer interested in what variant of coronavirus that the governor had? Could we not have deepened the conversations around the virus by learning from the governor? We have shut him up by our doubts. Why are we pointing at the proposed impeachment of the Deputy Governor as what hastened the governor’s recovery? If that is the case, should we not confirm the remedy for future uses? Would many governors not be delighted at the elevated usefulness of their otherwise ambitious deputies? Coronavirus is a serious pandemic that has changed our world. Governor Akeredolu most likely has the world record for the quickest recovery. Should we not have an interest in documenting it? How was he treated? Where was he treated for? Who was the leader of this miracle medical team? The leader and all team members deserve national honours. The international ones would follow. Is the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control disinterested in the governor’s cure? At 63, Akeredolu is in the range of those in greater risk with the virus. Does his recovery not open new flanks of discourses on coronavirus? Are there no lessons to learn? Who knows if there is something about

Ondo State, outside the renowned stubbornness of its indigenes that scares coronavirus? Could the trait be Owo specific? Should the governor’s medical team not be accorded special attention for the governor’s recovery? Had he gone abroad for treatment, our ears would have been filled with stories of their superior skills and tweaked technology? For a fleeting moment, imagine if one General Overseer claimed that his intercessions healed the governor. His church would have bloomed into a new healing ground. We would have put more pressure on governments to make exception for churches as isolation centres for quick healing of coronavirus patients. Crowds would have been flocking to the church in search of answers to all their challenges, including those induced by bad governance. Nigerians need to know what happened to Governor Akeredolu. Some of his colleagues in the same situation are taking weeks, months, to mend. He should share deeper sides of the miracle. His recovery calls for celebration. Those who refuse recognition of

the miracle because of their political difference or indifference are mistaken. The fight against coronavirus should blunt the lines. We should pull together in the fight for our collective survival. Akeredolu must be ready to receive streams of visitors with the latest gossip of what transpired in his absence, working from isolation. To those who cross seas, climb mount ains, descend valleys, trek through deserts in search of miracles, we suggest Ondo State as your next destination. It is cheaper; it is more contemporaneous. Ondo State is at the verge of becoming the most famous medical tourism destination in Africa. Just thinking the millions to be made from visitors from home and abroad. All that is left is for the State Government to decide whether the tourism centre should be in Owo or Akure. No one should allow politics to cost us this opportunity of the unintended consequence of the coronavirus pandemic. It is too good to miss. When Akeredolu said he would change the economy of Ondo State, not him, not his followers, not his detractors knew COVID-19 would provide the strategy in five days!

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