Thursday, November 25, 2021 Edition

Thursday, November 25 2021/ 20 Rabiʻ II 1443 AH

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Vol. 38 No. 071 N200

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Malam Wada Maida (1950-2020), founding Chairman, Board of the Peoples Media Limited

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BETHEL BAPTIST HIGH SCHOOL, KUJAMA

145 DAYS

Reps probe 774,000 youth employment scheme

>>PAGE 9

...Urges security chiefs to end banditry on federal highways

PG 10

Nigeria Air to begin flights April 2022 FG, Nigerians own 51 equity >>PAGE 9

Governor Aminu Bello Masari of Katsina State, 2nd right, with Governor AbdulLahi Umar Ganduje of Kano State, 2nd right, Governor Babajide Sanwo -Olu of Lagos State, middle, Senator Kabir Gaya, left and Alhaji AbdulLahi Abbas, APC Chairman Kano State at the Lekki, Lagos site of the collapsed 21 story building, which claimed scores of lives. Governor Masari led a powerful delegation on behalf of the North West Governors Forum, which he chairs, to condole and commiserate with the government and people of Lagos State over the sad incident.

NCC commits over N200m to research, development promotion -Danbatta Why Nigerians won’t feel impact of economic growth now - FG PAGE 3

Insufficient funds hindering qualitative education- NAPPS PAGE 8

NGO advocates free education for PWDs PAGE 5

>>PG 19

Ocean Surge: Lawmakers want relief for Dalta communities PAGE 14

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PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2021

NEWS

CONTENTS Armed Forces Reform: Presidential C’ttee advocates

integration of civilians in security architecture

News

2-14

Op.Ed

12-13

Politics

15-17

Stock Watch Business Metro

18 19-20 21

World Analysis 22 Africa News

23

World News

24

By Christiana Ekpa

T

he Presidential Implementation/ Advisory Committee for the implementation of the recommendations of the Reform Committee on the Ministry of Defence and Armed Forces of Nigeria has recommended the integration of civilians into a new security architecture to address the contemporary challenges.

The Chairman of the Presidential Committee, Maj Gen Alwari Kazir (rtd), who paid an advocacy visit to the House of Representatives Committee on Defence, said the national and global strategic environment within which the Armed Forces operate have significantly changed in the last two decades.

He said the way the Nigerian Armed Forces are organized, trained, equipped and managed by the Ministry of Defence was based on the need to confront conventional threats, making it imperative to reform the defence and security architecture to match contemporary challenges.

“The end of the cold war has enhanced globalization with its attendant features of interdependence and internationalization. Regrettably, globalization has also precipitated and brought about actors in the international and international stages in the form of non-state actors.

He said a requisite mix of civilians and the military into the Ministry of Defence and the Armed Forces was necessary to check the myriad of security problems facing the country today.

“These new actors participate in different native engagements ranging from religious extremism to ethnic

chauvinism etc, leading to a series of conflicts. These are things that are happening the world over.

According to him, “On that hand, despite some recent adjustment, the way our armed forces are organized, trained, equipped and managed by the Ministry of Defence was based on the need to confront conventional threats.

“This makes the reform of our defence and security architecture imperative.

“Today in effect, the Ministry of Defense and the Armed Forces of Nigeria need to be properly organized, structured, manned with the required mix of military and civilian personnel as is the global best practice in almost all countries, especially developed countries.

“Reforming the Ministry of Defence and Armed Forces of Nigeria will also ensure that we have an Armed Forces that is affordable for the national economy while sufficient in size, structure, training and equipment to respond effectively to both conventional and asymmetric warfare.

“The need to re-position the AFN to meet its national and international obligations particularly at this time when a myriad of security challenges are confronting our country is apt and timely.

“In the final analysis, we are working towards an integrated Ministry of Defence with a requisite mix of civilian and military staff.

“An Armed forces that is well structured, adequately sized for the national economy and adequately manned, trained and equipped to meet contemporary security challenges. This is repeated for the sake of emphasis.

“We are also looking at an Armed Forces that is adequately financed and resourced with assurance for value for money. We are also looking for an armed forces that looks towards selfsufficiency, at least in some areas of local production of arms, ammunition, equipment and services.

“We are also working toward an armed forces that operates within the confines of democratic control and in compliance with domestic and international laws.”

He said no effort at the reform of the Ministry of Defence and the Armed Forces of Nigeria can succeed without the support and guidance of the legislative branch and called for the support of the lawmakers.

Chairman of the House Committee on Defence, Babajimi Benson, said the 9th House of Representatives is concerned about the certain issues that tend to affect the operations of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, including , among others, the weak civil-military relations and the negative perception by the public.

This, he said, is evident in the controversies surrounding the EndSars protest of October 2020 and the role of the military.

He said the House believes effective Civil-Military relations are vital for success in protecting lives and promoting national interest as well as harmony in the society.

Benson said the House is deeply concerned about reforms in the defence sector and believes it is clearly one of the ways to improve the security architecture of the country.

“It is in the light of this that the Speaker of the House of Representatives,

Rt. Honourable Femi Gbajabiamila set up a committee to organise a National Security Summit with a view to conducting a holistic legislative review of the National Security Policy, provide an avenue for robust conversations among critical stakeholders in the national security space and make recommendations that will inform both Executive and Legislative reforms.

“The recommendations have since been commissioned and presented to the Executive for necessary action.

Furthermore, the House Committee on Defence has successfully sponsored and ensured the passage of the Armed Forces Support Trust Fund Bill to provide for additional funding for the Armed Forces.

“This bill has since been transmitted to the Senate for concurrence and passage before the presidential assent.

“In addition to these innovative measures already taken by the House are several other legislative interventions all geared towards ensuring the safety of lives and property of Nigerians,” he said.

He however, expressed worry about alleged human rights abuses both within and outside the Armed Forces.

On his part, Chairman of the House Committee on Army, Abdulrazak Namdas, stressed the need to deal with overlapping mandates amongst security agencies.

He said they were going to carry out legislation to address such challenges.

Similarly, Chairman of the House Committee on Air Force, Shehu Koko, reform of the Ministry of Defence and the Armed Forces was a welcome development.

Elumelu optimistic of economic recovery under PDP Page 8

Digest

25

Feature 26 Sports Back Page

30-31 32

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L-R; Chairman House of Reps Committee on Army, Hon. Abdulrasaq Namdas, Chairman , Committee to implement the recommendation of the reform of Defence and Armed forces of Nigeria, Gen. Alwali Kazir and Chairman ,house of Reps Committee on Defence, Hon. Babajimi Benson during the meeting at National Assembl, yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

Corruption bane of education development in Nigeria From Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

A

legal practitioner, Barr. Laura B. Emereole has said corruption is the bane of the development of education in Nigeria.

She stated this during the Annual Consultative Forum on Implementation of the Right to Basic Education, organized

by Legal Defence and Assistance Project(LEDPA) and supported by MALALA FUND in Kaduna state yesterday.

She said Corruption in the sector is evident today by the number of decayed infrastructure and deficiency in human

capital development.

According to her, many schools in the country are in shambles because of the cankerworm.

She lamented that though, various governments own these schools, however, because of the turndown of the economy, they can’t do much, whereas education requires adequate fundings to transform the mind and shape the future of the country.

Barrister Emereole, who was Speaking on the topic: “Right to Basic Education in the light of National and State law and policies”, expressed dismay that there is a

high level of corruption whereby people who are not accountable to the resources put in their care, saying this has affected how education is managed and its outcome in the country.

The legal practitioner, however, commended the Kaduna State government for putting in place policies that encourage reform in the education sector which includes; Child welfare law, free uniform to pupils and students, the establishment of Education Marshals, and making Education free to all.

Meanwhile, the participants at the forum agreed that these reforms have

brought aboard increase in the enrolment of students and reduced out-of-school children.

They, however, call on the State Government to address some challenges confronting the education sector in the state such as; Insecurity, Dilapidated schools, and Manpower, especially in the rural areas.

According to the Project Manager of LEDAP, Mr. Micheal About, the participants were gathered to brainstorm and come out with a recommendation that will contribute positively to the education sector in Kaduna State.

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2021

NEWS

By Egena Sunday Ode Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed, has said the impact of the the present economic growth being recorded will not be felt until it surpasses population growth rate.

She stated this Wednesday while briefing State House correspondents on the outcome of the weekly Federal Executive Council, FEC, meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa, Abuja.

According to her, she briefed council on the third quarter GDP report for 2021 which was released on Thursday last week by the National Bureau of Statistics, affirming that the result showed an improvement from the contraction that was witnessed in 2020.

Asked why the growth has not impacted on Nigerians, she said: “Let me say that, again, the Nigeria economy is growing. And right now we witnessed four consecutive quarters of GDP growth. We also said that we aspire to continue to push this growth to the point where the growth supersedes the growth in our population, because that’s the time that people will actually feel the benefits.

“So, we’re pushing the bar at the third quarter of 2021. The average annual growth is now 3.3%. Our population growth is roughly about

2023 Presidency : Yahaya Bello’s poster floods Jigawa

PAGE 3

Ag. News Editor, Tobias Lengnam

Why Nigerians won’t feel impact of economic growth now -FG

3.2%. So, we still need to do a lot more for people to feel this. But the fact that the service sector is not in positive territory, it also means that people will actually begin to feel the difference, because it is the service sector that has the first direct impact on people.”

The minister recalled that Nigeria had negative growth in Q2 and Q3 2020., noting: “We entered into a recession technically and then exited recession by the fourth quarter of 2020.

“So, this report shows that we now have four consistent quarters of growth from Q4 2020 to Q3 2021. The GDP third quarter report shows a growth of 4.03% in the third quarter 2021 compared to a contraction of minus 3.62% in the third quarter of last year.

“So, part of the economic activities that were the major drivers of growth within this reporting period is services which grew by 8.41%. Growth in the service sector was largely driven by better performance in the rail transport sector, pipeline sector, air transport, financial institutions, road transport sector, water transport as well as crude.

“Agriculture also grew by 1.22%.

This is a slight dip compared to the 1.3% in the second quarter of 2021. And the reason for the dip has to do with a slight slowdown in agricultural activities in some parts of the country due to security.

“The growth in agriculture that is reported in this quarter is largely driven by crop production.

The growth in industry has been consistent, but we have seen a slight slowdown compared to the last quarter 2021 and the contraction of the industry is driven by the poor performance of the crude oil and natural gas sectors, coal mining, quarrying, minerals as well as oil refinery.

“The Q3 GDP report indicates that the oil sector’s contribution to the GDP today stands at 7.49% while the non oil sector contribution to the GDP stands at 2.51%. This indicates that the Nigerian economy is truly very diversified with the oil sector contributing just 7.49%.

“So, factors that are responsible for this growth include the commitment of the government to continued containment of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the implementation of fiscal and monetary measures to support businesses contained in the Economic Sustainability Plan.

“It includes the improvement that we’ve witnessed in the rail transport sector, pipelines, air transport, road transport, as well as water transport. It includes improvement in the transportation and the free movement of people as well as goods as the containment measures have been really improved.

“We’ve seen also improvement in the financial services sector with higher supplementary incomes compared to 2020. There’s been improvement in electricity generation and distribution during this quarter as well as improvement

in water supply, sewage and waste management and remediation activities.

“There is also indication of higher trade activities which have significantly improved compared to 2020 because of the containment measures that slowed down trade significantly. Also reported is the inflation numbers for the month of October 2021 at 15.99%.

“This is consistent with the decline that we have seen in inflation from April 2021 to date. We expect this decline to continue through the rest of the year and also throughout the year 2022. On the other hand, we have seen an adjustment that has been done in the inflation largely caused by the improvement in the food basket in the inflation mix. And this is largely due to the agricultural harvest which constitutes 50% of the basket and inflation.”

On the N5,000 per month the federal government plans to give poor Nigerians as a transportation grant after the removal of fuel subsidies, Ahmed revealed that it will last for a duration of 12 months.

“How long will this intervention last? Okay, six months to 12 months.

And we’re saying the committee is still working. So, we’ll know on Monday, how long, how much and then the procedure on a state by state basis,” she stated.

She further explained the need for the support, saying: “Government is providing the support and support is to augment what the families already have. We wish we can do more.

“But we’re also limited in terms of the maximum of what government can afford. But there nothing’s stopping the states to add more than the N5,000 that is going to come from the federation.

So, some states might decide to do more where they can afford it. The federal government right now is just looking, under this committee looking at N5000 per month.”

In his remark at the briefing, minister of transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, said he presented a memo to the cabinet for approval for the award of contract for the provision of training logistics, operational equipment and maintenance support for government… equipment and personnel, under the Integrated National Surveillance and Waterways Protection Solution Infrastructure in Nigeria.

He explained: “This is also what we call the Deep Blue Project.

That’s the project that the president launched some months ago, around May or June.

“The contract was awarded at N6,347,967,644.21, inclusive of 7.5% VAT for a period of two years.

It’s also important to say that the cabinet was briefed that there’s huge improvement in the security on our waterways now and we hope that it will continue as we progress.”

Just before the commencement of the council meeting, President Buhari led cabinet members to wish his Chief of Staff, Professor Ibrahim Agboola Gambari a happy 77th birthday celebration.

From Mika’il Tsoho, Dutse

I

n what appeared to be a strategic move of indication of interest for the 2023 presidency, the posters of Kogi state governor Alhaji Yahaya Bello flooded the capital city of Dutse Jigawa state.

The posters that carried his picture indicating his interest to contest for the seat of president under the platform of All Progressive Congress APC flooded all the major roundabouts in the city.

Also, the posters contained a messages that described Kogi state Governor as the best new generation candidate who will take Nigeria to the next level.

The development is happening at the time when some citizens particularly the youths groups in the state started calling for governor Badaru to contest for the presidency in the forthcoming 2023 general elections.

When contacted, some of the APC stalwarts whom names with held said, Kogi state Governor Yahaya Bello have a right to contest for any position as a legal member of APC. The party stalwarts maintained that, APC is a party that exercise full democracy as every member have right to vote for his choice or to be voted into any position adding that, their hope is APC to retain power in forthcoming 2023 general elections at any level.

L-R: Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State and Founder/President of Dangote Group of Industries, Alhaji Aliko Dangote when the Governor paid a condolence visit to the business mogul, at the corporate headquarters of his company in Lagos over the demise of his brother, Sani Dangote who died recently

APC C’ttee opens floor for complaints in Zamfara From Ibrahim Sidi Muh’d, Gusau

A

5-man committee constituted by the national headquarters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) which organized and monitored the just concluded local government congress in Zamfara State has opened the floor to handle possible complaints from

the party members.

In a press briefing at APC headquarters in Gusau Zamfara State capital yesterday, the Committee Chairman, Hon. Hammah Adama Kumo, said the primary assignment vested on the Committee was to maintain a perfect unity between the entire members of the party who may lodge complaints in regard to the congress.

“The aim of our party APC was to ensure that, no crisis must have way to throw our teeming members into serious misunderstanding that will affect the party’s popularity, but rather to remain one family that has political targets in common.

“The Committee will remain in Zamfara State for consecutive five days from Monday to Friday within which if there were

grievances from any member or groups in the party could be addressed amicably within the party”, honorable Kumo stressed.

Also responding on whether the Committee was aware of the prevailing factions in the party, the Chairman said there has not been any grudges before the Committee whether in written or verbally from any where in the party.

PAGE 4

NEWS

Tourism professionals receives ISO quality management system certificate

By Mashe Umaru Gwamna

T

he Institute for Tourism Professional of Nigeria (ITPN), have been presented with certificate of conformity to the requirements of ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management System Standard by the Standard Organization of Nigeria (SON).

This was contained in statement signed and issued

by National President, ITPN, Abiodun Odusaneo.

The Director General and Chief Executive Officer of SON, Farouq Salim made presented recently in Abuja, saying ITPN is the first body to receive ISO certificate in Nigeria .

Salim said that,this is a milestone achievement in the pursuit of excellence in service delivery.

He noted that,implementing the ISO 9001:2015 system certification is a demonstration of ITPN’s management system of conforming to internationally acceptable standard requirements and the ability of the Institute to get it right the first time and always.

“The certificate issued to your organization today is globally recognize by virtue of accreditation of our certification system by the National Accreditation Board for Certification Bodies that has mutual recognition agreement with accreditation bodies across continents”,he said.

Receiving the certificate on behalf of the Institute, National President of ITPN, Abiodun Odusanwo, said the epoch making event of the receipt of the ISO 9001 certificate is a clarion call for dedication and commitment of the professional body to adhere strictly to global standards in the discharge of its duties as a service provider and certification in professional service and conduct in the Nigerian Tourism and other related industries.

“The Institute has also shown sufficient commitment to the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) Global Code of Ethics for Tourism with concerted efforts to practice and develop the principles for tourism of the UNWTO globally”.

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2021

Climate change: Reps move to set up 10-yr economic framework for non-oil sector

By Christiana Ekpa

T

he House of Representatives on Wednesday mandated its relevant committees to work with stakeholders to provide a 10year framework for the utilization of current resources towards developing other non oil sectors.

The mandated Committees are: Climate Change, Gas Resources, Environment, Petroleum Resources (Upstream), Solid Minerals and they are to report back within 12 weeks for further legislative action.

The Green Chamber resolutions followed a motion on the “Need to Create an Economic Revenue Road Map for the Future of Nigeria” by Hon. Dennis Idahosa moved on the floor of the House on Wednesday Presenting the motion, the lawmaker noted that the 26th meeting of the Conference Parties to the UN Framework Convention

on Climate Change (UNCOP26) focusing on addressing the climate crisis in decades ahead was held in Glasgow from 31st October to 12th November 2021.

He said it was aware that a resolution was passed at UNCOP26 2021 Summit in Glasgow on the 12th of November 2021 to phase down Fossil Fuel ‘COAL’ to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius compared to pre-industrial levels.

Hon. Idahosa said that parties to the Paris Agreement adopted at COP21 in Paris on 12th December 2015, entering into force on the 4th November 2016 are expected to transit from fossil fuel to clean energy and reach a Net Zero ambition for greenhouse gases emission.

“Recognised that the oil and gas sector is Nigeria’s biggest revenue-generating sector accounting for over 65% of the country’s total revenue with a

production capacity of 25 million barrels per day.

“Aware that all over the world and with the advent of rapid technological advancement, the need for Fossil Fuels and hydrocarbons is declining, some countries like Sweden, China, Costa Rica, Nicaragua and many others are taking actions that will lead to complete dependence on renewable energy soon.

“Concerned that following the recent resolution by all major countries at the UNCOP26 2021 Summit, countries like Nigeria, which depend mainly on hydrocarbon and Fossil Fuels for revenue and survival, will be the worst hit unless careful and intentional precautions are taken to secure the future of Nigeria.

“Worried that Nigeria has come up with futuristic plans in the past like the Vision 20:2020 plan and the desired result was not fully achieved.

“Aware that Nigeria has numerous potential sources of revenue, and if attention is not placed on them early, it will be of no benefit to citizens and the nation at large”, he stated.

The House said the President while delivering his statement at the COP26 Leaders Summit further emphasized that for Nigeria, climate change is not about the perils of tomorrow but what is happening today and pledged that Nigeria would cut its emissions to net-zero by 2060.

Also, the House further noted the President had recently stated from an “expert source” that the viability of fossil fuels and hydrocarbons is speculated to last for another 20 years which gives the nation time to utilize and redirect the resources gained from oil and gas towards the development of other sectors of the economy for the overall benefit of the nation.

From left: National Coordinator, National AIDS, STI and Hepatitis Control Programme, Dr Akudo Ikpeazu; Deputy Chief of Mission U.S Government, Kathleen Fitzggibon; Director General, of NACA, Dr Gambo Aliyu; Coordinator, Network of People living with Aids in Nigeria, Mr Abdulkadir Ibrahim and Country Director of UNAIDS, Dr Erasmus Morah, during a news conference on the 2021 World AIDS Day in Abuja on Wednesday (24/11/21).

Groups laud Gov Badaru for youth inclusion in governance From Mika’il Tsoho, Dutse

Y

outh groups, Northwest Progressive Movement NPM and Coalition of Badaru Disciples has commended Jigawa state Governor Muhammad Badaru Abubakar for promoting effective youth participation in politics and governance.

The two groups, which described the efforts as building for strong future of the nation, made the commendation during an award presentation and dinner organised by the groups held at Royal Golf Course Dutse capital.

Speaking at the occasion, the National Coordinator of Northwest Progressive Movement Barrister Sa”adatu Yunusa Sokoto said, the youth group deemed it compulsory to present the award of honour to the Governor for being at for front in encouraging youth to participate into national building.

The coordinator who was represented by the comrade Saleh Ahmed Birniwa explained that, it is in record that, the number of youth appointed in to Governor Badaru government, elected local government chairmen and party executives in Jigawa state is above average.

She said the way governor Badaru encouraging youth inclusiveness in politics and government is a clear testimony on his passion in laying foundation for a prosperous and strong future of Nigeria.

In his speech at the occasion, the chairman of Collation of Badaru Disciples, Hon Sadiq Jallo testified that, since assuming office Governor Badaru has been grooming youth to be the..good leaders of tomorrow.

“Governor. Badaru brought many of us close to him and taught us discipline, honesty integrity, patriotism, transparency and

selfless service to humanity for predating us to be a good leaders of tomorrow.

“Today we are confidently and proud to tell the world that, we are students of governor Badaru School of Thought and we have all the virtues and qualities to participate in national building in all ramification”, he stressed.

Responding, Governor Badaru expressed his delight for the award of honour given to him and charged the youth keep adhering to the virtues of Unity,Integrity, transparency and selfless service for sustainable democracy, peace and development of Nigeria.

NECO pays AD-HOC staff involved in 2021 SSCE Maryam Abeeb, Abuja

A

ll ad-hoc staff involved in the conduct of the 2021 Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) for school based candidates have been fully paid, according to the

National Examinations Council (NECO).

NECO, in a statement by the Head, Information and Public Relations Division, Azeez Sani, stated that the ad-hoc staff includes, 18,243 Supervisors, 887 Assistant Supervisors and 65,159

Examiners. The payment which commenced last week has been concluded.

The Council also expressed appreciation for the invaluable contributions of the Supervisors and Examiners in the success story of the Council over the years, and reiterates its

determination to strengthening the existing cordial relationship between them.

It however appeals to State Governments yet to pay the examination fees of their candidates who sat for the SSCE (Internal), to do so in order to facilitate the release of the result

of such candidates.

It would be recalled that the Registrar/Chief Executive, Prof.

Dantani Ibrahim Wushishi had on 29th October, 2021 announced the release of the results of the 2021 SSCE for School based candidates.

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2021

From Umar Dankano, Yola.

A

magistrate court sitting in Yola, Adamawa state capital has sentenced a 22 year old,Gaddafi Musa of Wuro-kuturu Quarters to 8 years imprisonment for conspiracy and theft.

Delivering the judgement yesterday, Magistrate Jiyina Ayuba, pronounced that the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt against the convict in which the court found him (Gaddafi Musa) guilty as charged.

Magistrate Ayuba ruled that the offence committed by Gaddafi has contravened S.285 of the state penal code law,2018 and

PAGE 5

NEWS

Theft: 22-yr old man bags 8 years jail term therefore jailed him to 8 years imprisonment without option of fine.

Earlier, the prosecutor, Police sergeant Kabiru Abubakar has informed the court that Gaddafi and his accomplices (Aminu Adamu and Yusuf Adamu) conspired and invaded the residence of their victim (Umar Faruq) at wee hours of the night (2:00AM)some months back

where they threatened to kill me and his brother.

According to him,the trio armed with dangerous weapons forcefully seized two mobile phones of their victims valued N100,000 and N20,000 respectively which they sold to one Ayuba Abdullahi of shopping complex handsets market at N10,000 only.

But as fate had it, the

receiver of the stolen phones was traced,arrested and prosecuted by a former judge of same court as they were sentenced to serve 7 years and 5 years jail terms while Gaddafi escaped to Cameroon Republic for almost two months to avoid judgement.

The prosecution told the court that Gaddafi was apprehended on the 21 October,2021 following a tip off after information of his

return to Yola .

Our correspondent reports that it was Gaddafi and his accomplices belonged to a youth criminal group christened “Shila boys” whose specialises in attacking their victims for monetary valuables and physical cash either at homes or in their tricycles posing as commercial tricyclists at night in the state.

Non-involvement of qualified engineers responsible for failed projects - NSE claims

By Nosa Akenzua, Asab

T

he Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) has declared that the non involvement of qualified engineers in commencement and completion of projects was a major cause of failure of most projects in Nigeria.

The NSE Chairman , Warri Branch, Delta State, Engineer Godwin Onoriode Enibueta made the assertion during a press conference during the 40th anniversary of NSE in Warri.

Enibueta noted that government and other project owners often involved qualified engineers at the initial stages of projects but later brought in unqualified ones to complete such projects.

Noting that quality projects were executed, Enibueta disclosed that NSE had an engineering monitoring and administration committee and that the committee was also saddled with the responsibility of checkmating the activities of quacks in the engineering profession.

While promising to make Delta a better state in terms of execution of quality projects, NSE secribe suggested that Governor Ifeanyi Okowa should set up an engineering monitoring committee, made up of technocrats and that the committee should be directly under the governor.

The chairman seized the opportunity to appeal to Governor Okowa to raise the salary grade level of fresh employed engineers in the state to level 09 in conformity with that of the Federal Government policy.

While stating that Lagos State Government had started the implementation of the salary scale policy, he noted that engineering courses were a five and not four years course in higher institutions of learning.

As parts of the achievements of the body in Warri, Enibueta disclosed that NSE championed the flood control and beautification projects in Warri, Effurun and environs during the administration the former Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan in the state.

From left: Communication Officer, Baywood Foundation (BF), Comrade Maxwell Odimkpa; Resource Partner, Ms Kobi Ikpo; Country Director of BF, Mr Ojielo Chukwudi and Head of Administration of the foundation, Lady Juliet Use, during the pre-closing ceremony briefing of Coca Cola Foundation funded Youth ICT Skills Acquisition Project (YISAP) in conjunction with BF in Enugu on Wednesday (24/11/21).

NGO tasks Govt on free education, others for PWDs

By Musa Baba Adamu

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Non Governmental Organisation (NGO), Inclusive Friends Association (IFA) , has stressed the need for government at all levels to facilitate access to free education and other basic essential amenities for Persons With Disability (PWDs) in the society.

The group also urged stakeholders to booster identified number of ways through which life for PWDs could be made more meaningful and inclusive in the county.

Executive Director, IFA, Grace Jerry, disclosed this at a programme titled: “Building Young persons with disabilities to advocate on Gender based violence against women and girls with disabilities”, held in Abuja.

According to the Association, from its findings it found that there were gender based violence

against women and girls with disabilities.

Jerry explained that these groups of people do not get enough attention of the security and other government agencies whenever they approached them for redress and accommodation.

She said to overcome the plight of the PWDs, the group has suggested more Persons with disabilities, their family members and care givers should be enlightened on what Disability Based Violence is.

According to her, PWDs should be enlightened to know what and what is not acceptable, what amounts to a violation, what to do when they are being violated and how to go about it.

The Organisation therefore called for the building of the law enforcement agents capacity to deal with issues that have to do with persons “with disability with a view to eradicating attitudinal, physical or systemic barriers that persons with

disabilities face when trying to access their services.”

It further recommended that “Media outfits should take it upon themselves as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility to report issues of persons with Disabilities so as to enlighten the public and make them more aware and concerned with issues of persons with disabilities such that they no longer stigmatize a survivor of any form of violence or their family, and are able to stand up and speak up for them from now on.”

To support this, it called on “other Corporate organizations should sponsor media campaigns and projects that protect the rights of persons with disabilities.

Government should strengthen social protection systems and mainstream such programme to cater for the needs of persons with disabilities.”

Also, to help tackle the widespread unemployment among the PWDs, the group

tasked “Government should also implement the 5% employment quota provided for in the Disability Act. “Putting these and other poverty alleviation measures in place will reduce the vulnerability of persons with disabilities to Disability Based Violence and give them the means to seek for justice when the need arises.

“Education should be made free for persons with disabilities of school age; and their capacity should be built around defence mechanisms and how to seek redress. “ This will drastically reduce the silence culture among survivors because apart from the lack of resources or knowing the appropriate quarters to channel their complaints, a lot of persons with disabilities are afraid of not being able to express themselves or properly articulate their issues and would rather keep silent than embarrass themselves.”

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2021

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NEWS

L-R: Member of the House of Representatives Committee on Ad-Hoc Committee on Assessment and Status of All Recovered Loots, Hon. Komsol Longgap, Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Adejoro Adeogun and a member of the Committee, Hon. Raphael Igbokwe, during the committee investigative hearing, at the National Assembly, yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

IBB Varsity matriculates 5,493 students for 2020/21 academic session From Yakubu Minna

Mustapha,

T

he Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University Lapai has matriculated 5,493 students out of 15,435 applicants that make the Institution as their first choice in their JAMB/ UTME for the session.

By Nosa Akenzua, Asaba

A

one-day training on hand washing and clean Nigeria campaign on COVID-19 prevention for the National Youth Volunteers has commenced at Issele Uku, in Aniocha North Local Government Area of Delta State.

Declaring the training open yesterday, the Zonal Coordinator, South South states of the body, Mrs Susan Offiono of the Federal Ministry of Water Resources,

The Vice Chancellor, Professor Abu Kasim Adamu disclosed this at the 15th Matriculation ceremony for the new students of the institution at the main campus in Lapai.

Professor Adamu said that 4,703 students were admitted for regular degree programmes, 652 for part - time students and 137 students for long vacation

training programme out of the total that were offered admission.

He further revealed that 64 students are to benefit from the Vice Chancellor’s Scholarship Award across various departments for their academic outstanding as best students in performance which covers one year registration fees and accommodation expenses.

The Vice Chancellor urged the new students to abide by all the rules and regulations and participate in lawful activities worthy in character and learning Professor Adamu who applauded the state government support to the university however noted that National University Commission has approved the commencement of

4 undergraduate programmes and 24 postgraduate Programmes for 2022/2023 and 2023/2024 academic session respectively.

According to him, the four approved undergraduate programmes include; Medicine, Actuarial Science, Biotechnology and Islamic Studies.

COVID-19: Ministry trains youth volunteers on preventive measures enjoined participants to take the training seriously, saying that it would equipped them with the necessary knowledge that would be impacted on the residents in the various communities they would be posted to for sensitisation.

The zonal coordinator, who was represented by Mr Precious Elue Ainocha,

disclosed that Local Government Area (LGA) WASH UNITS officers would support the programme implementation in their respective localities.

According to her, the youth were expected to commence field implementation immediately after the training.

She explained that the youths were to go

into the various communities to sensitise the people on the need to build decent toilets and embrace proper hand washing culture.

She added that they were expected to visit schools and health centres in their respective areas of coverage and expressed the hope that the local government chairmen in the state would support the programme to succeed.

NGO advocates inclusive approach to eradicate malaria in Nigeria

By Nosa Akenzua, Asaba

A

non governmental organisation (NGO), ACOMIN has advocated an all inclusive approache towards the elimination of the malaria scourge in Nigeria.

The NGO through its State Programme Officer, Sir Austin Uwede, stated this while briefing the press at the temporary press centre of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Asaba, the Delta State capital yesterday.

He said that Malaria “ is a public health challenge in Nigeria,” adding that more than

half the population of the world “ are at the risk of the preventable disease caused by the female anopheles mosquitoes. “ Sir Uwede stated that ACOMIN had been engaged by the Catholic Relief Services (CRS) under an ongoing Global Fund Malaria Grant to continue the implementation of the civil society component after successfully done that from 2019 to 2020.

He said that the programme was being implemented in 13 supported states in the country, including Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Ogun, Osun, Delta and others, adding that the project “covers 18 Local Government areas (LGAs) of each of the states, just as he

disclosed that in Delta State Isoko North, Ughelli North and South, Sapele, Patani, Ndokwa West, Aniocha South and Oshimili South LGAs have been earmarked for coverage in the project.

Uwede said that several efforts, including provision of free insecticide treated nets, deployment of volunteers to sensitise the grassroots populace, provision of free malaria test kits and medicines at some health centres and monitoring to ensure to ensure accountability in malaria intervention at the community level.

He stated that the scourge of malaria had continued unabated owing to some

challenges, including difficulty in accessing some communities and drug resistance by the malaria parasite.

Uwede pointed out that to fully combat malaria, there was the need for all ministries and agencies to scale up community-centred initiatives in their programmes, adding that donors should increase their support in that regard, while the mass media should assist in the dissemination of relevant information to the public, just as he stressed that youth bodies in the communities should be sensitised as veritable tools in the cleaning up of the environment to forestall the breeding of mosquitoes

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2021

Police reaffirm power to arrest, prosecute criminal breach of trust

PAGE 7

NEWS

HIV/AIDS: NACA, Lawmaker offer free test, treatment for 600 people in Benue From Uche Makurdi

Nnorom,

N

o fewer than 600 people received free treatment from a-two day medical outreach by National Agency for the Control of Aids in collaboration with a member of House of Representatives, representing

Buruku federal constituency of Benue State, Jimin Sokpo.

The two day medical outreach held at Buruku, headquarters of Buruku local government area of Benue State.

The medical outreach focused on human immunodeficiency virus counselling and testing as well as treatment of other illness

such as malaria, blood pressure, sugar level and other medical problems Flagging off the medical outreach, a federal lawmaker representing Buruku federal constituency, Jimin Sokpo said the event was primarily to carry out HIV testing and counselling as well as diagnose and treat other

opportunistic infections that come along with HIV. Represented by his legislative aide, Valentine Vembe, the lawmaker said, “NACA medical team is already on ground to monitor how well the HIV cases have been managed to know whether the virus is reducing or increasing in the area.

By Albert Akota

T

he Nigerian Police Force yesterday told the IIP-SARS that they have the power to investigate, arrest and prosecute any person allegedly involved in criminal breach of trust and cheating.

The police was responding to Engr. Nicholas Ogbedo Azuka’s petition over alleged abuse of office and arbitrary arrest in a case of criminal breach of trust reported against him by Mr. Uzoma Nwachukwu and Mrs. Victoria Nwachukwu (couple), who had informed the panel that Engr. Azuka defrauded them while trying to purchase a property (house) from him.

Counsel to the police, Fidelis Ogwobe reiterated the powers of the police to effect arrest while investigating criminal breach of trust before the 11-Member Panel Chaired by Justice Suleiman Galadima (rtd) in respect of the petition.

According to Ogwobe, from the evidence before the panel, there is a valid criminal allegation against the complainant (Engr. Azuka) for which the police arrested and detained him.

He cited Section 66 of the Police Act which he noted empowers the police to deal with such matters.

On the contention by the complainant that the money recovered by the police during investigation should be returned to him.

He argued that the Supreme Court has already taken a decision on similar matters, citing the case of Ajiboye Versus Federal Republic of Nigeria (FRN) where the Supreme Court held that courts (and by extension panel) should not allow any person to take a benefit of his crime.

Rather, the police lawyer urged the panel to order the complainant to return the remaining alleged proceeds of crime still with him which he said amounts to N2.3m.

L-R; Programme Manager, Rule of Law and Anti-corruption (ROLAC) Programme of the British Council, Mr. Toyin Badejogbin; Programme Officer, ROLAC, Mrs. Hannatu Essien; and Member of ROLAC Programme, Ms. Salina Dako, during the Pre- Conference press briefing on Days of Atictivism against Sexual and Gender Based Violence, held on Tuesday in Abuja. Photo: Justin Imo-owo

Group slams Gov Okowa over N18.7bn CBN loan

By Nosa Akenzua, Asaba

A

civil society group, Delta For Good Governance has described as reckless abandoned, the recent loan of N18.7bn from the Central Bank of Nigeria ( CBN), which was approved for the state governor Dr Ifeanyi Okowa by the State House of Assembly.

The group in a statement signed by its Public Relations Officer, Mr Theophilus Okorie, a copy made available to our correspondent in Asaba described as unfortunate the debit profile of the state that had allegedly risen to the sum of N832bn.

It added that Okowa may have been doing well in the last six years but might be leaving the office with huge debts especially with the way and manners he had been allegedly squandering the state’s resources in the recent times.

Part of the statement reads:”

We are shocked on the debt profile of our great state and the Governor gone ahead for a fresh loan of N18.7bn from the CBN. We are afraid that the Governor may cripple the state economic development with huge debts especially as he is leaving the office in 2023.

“We are not comfortable with this at all even though Okowa is working but most of his workings are taking so much money and they are all on loans”.

While noting that the group is not in any way affiliated to any political party, Mr Thoephilous Okorie alleged that several roads constructed by Governor Ifeanyi Okowa were already washed for shoddy execution.

We discovered that some of the contractors being used by the Governor are substandard and they have done many poor Jobs in the state even in the face of the Governor being addressed as “ Roadmaster”. We urge him to

stop forthwith unnecessary loans that may cripple the state when he leaves office come 2023”, the group said.

But in a swift reaction, the state information Commissioner, Mr Charles Ehiedu Aniagwu however described the group as faceless and unknown adding that” We don’t know such group in Delta State. The group does not exist at all, and a group without an address.

“All it stated in its press release shows that such group is working on figment of imaginations and we as a government cannot dignify it by responding to Its frivolous criticisms and statement because Governor Ifeanyi Okowa works hitherto speak volumes in the state”.

Recall that the Delta State House of Assembly recently gave nod to two separate requests by the state governor, Dr. Okowa as one of such requests by the Governor was an approval by the lawmakers

for an N18.7bn bridging finance from the CBN to cushion the effects of repayment of the Federal Government Intervention Facilities on expiration of the forbearance period.

The other was also an approval by the State Legislators for a Memorandum of Understanding ( MOU) executed between Cajul Services Nigeria Limited and the State Government for the development of Truck Transit Park ( TTP) at the Delta State Rest Park ( DRP) at Umunede, Emuhu Both requests were contained in two separate letters by the Governor Okowa, which he addressed to members of the State House of Assembly as it was read on the floor of the House.

It was however approved when the Majority Leader of the House, Mr Ferguson Onwo moved for it and the Speaker, Mr Sheriff Oborevwore granted the motion as supported by others in the House.

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2021

PAGE 8

NEWS Elumelu optimistic of economic recovery under PDP

By Folorunso Alagbede, Abuja

T

he Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Hon. Ndudi Elumelu has called on leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to commence articulation of economic recovery strategies that will lead to single digit or at most double-digit dollar exchange rate immediately the party democratically takes over governance come 2023.

Elumelu, said this in a speech at the on-going 2-day retreat organized by the PDP National Working Committee-elect in Abuja.

The Minority Leader, who described the PDP as a government in waiting, insisted that such rapid economic recovery is achievable under the right leadership direction which only the PDP can offer under the prevailing circumstance.

Elumelu, who maintained that Nigeria is blessed with abundant human and natural resources, lamented that the nation is currently in the woods due to the misrule of the corrupt and rudderless All Progressives Congress (APC) administration.

He stressed that working along the vision of the PDP for a new Nigeria, the nation has the potential for rapid economic renewal that can lead to “a single digit unemployment rate, single digit bank lending rate; a double-digit fuel price and drastic drop in the cost of food, healthcare and other necessities of life.

“These feats are achievable if Nigerians collectively vote out the APC and exert themselves along the line of PDP’s vision for a new Nigeria.

“Nigeria is blessed with abundant resources and we always excel under the right leadership direction”, Elumelu stated.

The Minority leader however stressed that the nation’s problem is the APC adding that Nigerians are eagerly waiting for the APC to vacate office in 2023.

His words, “Nigerians cannot wait for the APC, a party of barefaced liars, swindlers, treasury looters and accursed oppressors, to go in 2023, so that our country can again experience the peace and economic prosperity they once enjoyed under the PDP. “The APC is a fascist-minded party. It does not believe in the prosperity, freedom and personal liberty of citizens. It does not believe in development and even distribution of resources.

“It is at best, a cartel of power mongers and political bandits seeking only to devour the nation for their selfish gains.

“The APC and its administration have no answers to the myriad of problems they created for our nation.

In fact, APC’s inability to conduct a national convention and achieve a structured leadership at all levels across the country explains why our nation is in shambles under its watch.

“So, the APC cannot be part of the new Nigeria our citizens yearn for.

It should therefore fizzle out of our political atmosphere, come 2023”.

The minority leader also cautioned that despite its failures, the APC will fight to keep its “claws in the neck of our nation” by deploying “its stock-in-trade of propaganda, fake promises, false performance claims, intimidation of citizens and electoral manipulations in a desperate attempt to cling to power.

He therefore urged Nigerians to unite in resisting APC’s shenanigans and rigging plots ahead of the 2023 elections.

Insufficient fund hindering qualitative education -NAPPS Maryam Abeeb, Abuja

T

he National President, National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools, Nigeria (NAPPS),Mr Yomi Otubela has said that the challenge of paucity of funds has been hindering the provision of qualitative education in the country.

Otubela disclosed this at the 14th National Conference of the association in Abuja, yeeterday with the theme: “ Transformation and Innovation in Education:NAPPS-Future Proofing Nigeria Workspace”.

Otubela said that majority of financial institutions were not willing to lend to the educational institutions at concessionary interest rates.

According to him, paucity of funds, therefore, has a lot of impact on school growth and development as standard private school should be well equipped with facilities and aid learning.

“The costs of providing these facilities are so enormous for average private school owners to shoulder without some form of intervention in form of collaboration. “ Given this challenge, NAPPS, at the national level, has partnered with first bank and FCMB to offer loans to our members at

concessionary interest rates.

“We thank God that quite a substantial number of proprietors have keyed into this arrangement with our partner banks to enjoy this opportunity.

“However. NAPPS at the national level is also committed to growing the NAPPS cooperative society into micro finance bank status where we can be of help to each other,” he said.

Otubela also bemoaned the issue of multiple taxation saying that despite several passionate pleas to the authority to look into it, nothing has been done to review it.

He added that numerous changes in the education policies with their attendant implication for curriculum implementation had been a cause of concern as curriculum implementation was pivotal for the achievement of educational goals.

He, therefore, enjoined policy makers to always carry along various stakeholders in the process of policy planning and implementation.

In the same vein, Mr Yaren Maikawuwa, from the Department of Senior Secondary, Gender Branch, Federal Ministry of Education, said the Federal Government had adopted practical education designed to meet the needs of her citizens in the area of technology and

science.

Maikasuwa, who represented the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, said this was helping the citizens to be self reliant and independent with a view to preferring solutions to the challenges.

“The era of do-it-alone is gone in the country. United we stand is the slogan.

“The ministry in her efforts to evolve education that is suitable for the environment has inculcated in its curricula entrepreneurial skills acquisition designed to equip our leaders self employed and employers of labour. “ Current reforms in education enable the learner to be innovative and producers rather than mere consumers of finished products.

“Of equal importance is the inclusion of trade subjects in the academic curriculum to equip our young learners with practical skills of developing self actualisation,” he said.

Also, Dr Omahachi Oklobia, a lecturer of Public Administration.

Nasarawa State University, said there was need for NAPPS to leverage on the emerging opportunities using innovative educational technology solutions.

“Some of the challenges they(NAPPS) face in my view are also opportunities.

“You can sit down and say

you have challenges and do nothing about it or see it as an opportunity, work on it and find a way out particularly in the area of technology and innovation,” he said.

On her part, Hajia Samira Jibir, Director of Conference, said the conference was designed to enable teachers to be more prepared, focused and be able to deliver to meet the current aspirations and societal needs of the nation.

Not left out, Mallam Abdulrazak Leramoh, Acting Secretary, FCT Education Secretariat, said there was need to partner private service providers to ensure quality education services are provided to residents of the territory.

Leramoh, who represented the Minister of State for FCT, Dr Ramatu Tijani, said the FCT administration would continue to partner with NAPPS to deliver on the objectives of providing quality service education in the FCT. “As we partner together, we will continue to engage with the private school owners and the areas of their challenges are shared with us. “ And we will continue to assist them so that they can operate in a very smooth environment that will promote learning and teaching,” he said.

Consul-General of Nigeria in New York, Amb. Lot Egopija (R) with the Director-General, National Commission for Museums and Monuments, Prof. Abba Tijjani, during the official handing-over of three looted Nigerian artefacts by the Metropolitan Museum in New York on Monday (24/11/21).

Alleged misappropriation: Court grants bail to Fagge LG Boss in Kano From Kano

A

Mustapha

Adamu,

High Court in Kano state yesterday granted bail to the Chairman, Fagge Local Government, Ibrahim Abdullahi Shehi.

Shehi was arraigned on Wednesday before the court by Independent Corrupt Practices

and other related offences Commission, ICPC on a fourcount charges bordering on alleged misappropriation of Internally Generated Revenue, IGR funds of the Local Government council.

The four-count charges filed against the Chairman,include, using his office to confer unfair advantage on some public

servants and also issuing 20% of revenues generated four times to the collection team.

It was gathered that the offences had contravened the provision of section 19 of the ICPC act 2000.

At the sitting, when the four charges were read to him, Shehi pleaded not guilty.

The presiding judge, Justice

Jamilu Sulaiman however granted him bail in the sum of N500,000 and self recognition.

“I hereby admit the defendant to bail due to the fact that he is an incumbent chairman of Fagge Local government to the sum of N500,000.”

Justice Sulaiman further adjourned the case toJanuary 17, 2022 for hearing.

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2021

PAGE 9

NEWS

Union wants FG to domesticate ILO Convention on Gender based Violence

Concerned Tarok Women of Langtang North Local Government Area (LGA) in a peaceful protest over the alleged closure of the LGA Secretariat by the State Government, in Plateau on Wednesday,

From: Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

T

he National Union of Textile, Garment, and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria(NUTGTWN) has urged the Federal Government to domesticate the ILO Convention 190 (C190) to discourage GenderBased Violence and Harassment (GBVH) in workplaces.

The National President of the Union, Comrade John Adaji made the call at the 5th Women Conference of the Union with the theme “ Women in the World Work: Gender and Based on Violence and Harassment held yesterday, in Kaduna.

The NUTGTWN President expressed concern that Nigeria had not ratified or domesticated the convention, two years after the C190 was adopted in Geneva, Switzerland.

According to him, Nigeria stands to gain a lot by ratifying the C190, because it would make workplaces free from violence and harassment while boosting productivity.

While explaining that the convention is not limited only to issues of harassment of women within the workplace, Comrade Adaji added that some cultural norms have also stereotyped women in certain social conditions that expose them to the uncomfortable situation within the workplace and the wider society.

He also clarified that sex and gender, though similar, do not have the same meaning.

“When sex is referred to, it means the human physiology. The features that distinguish women from men. On the other hand, gender means the way men and women are perceived in society.

“There are certain jobs that the society allocates to women and men. Most domestic jobs are for women. ,” Therefore, there are some inequalities in the workplace that do not favour women. When we talk about gender balance, we are simply saying let both men and women be exposed to the same opportunities in the workplace.

‘There is an urgent need for the removal of all barriers that are threatening carrier growth of women.

“When the ILO C190 was adopted, Nigerian government committed that it will be among the first countries to ratify and domesticate it but that is yet to be done,” she reiterated.

In her remarks, the National Chairperson of the women’s Committee of NUTGTWN Comrade Funmilayo Issa said the Union is committed to campaigns that encourage women to speak up against GBVH. She added that they will continue to campaigns that encourage women to speak up against GBVH, saying the campaign would be sustained to propel the government and employers to protect women in Nigeria.

Nigeria Air to begin flight April 2022 -FG, Nigerians own 51 equity

By Egena Sunday Ode

T

he new national carrier, Nigeria Air will commence flight in April 2022.

This is barring any unforeseen circumstance, Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika has disclosed.

Briefing State House correspondents on the outcome of the weekly Federal Executive Council, FEC, meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, Sirika said FEC has given approval for the commencement of operation by the carrier.

The Minister said the Federal Government and Nigerians would own only 51percent equity in the airline.

He explained further that the Federal Government will have not more than five percent equity shares, Nigerian entrepreneurs 46 percent equity, while the would be international strategic partners will have 49 shares in the new national carrier.

According to him, the new national carrier when it becomes operational, would generate about 70 thousand jobs, a figure he said is higher than the total number of federal civil servants in the country.

Sirika said over 400 thousand Nigerians participated in choosing the name which was launched in

2018.

His words: “Today (Wednesday) in Council, civil aviation presented two memoranda. The first one is approval for the award of contract for the provision of Automated Civil Aviation Regulatory Equipment, including software support and training, which will be located in Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport.

“In summary, this is a software that will allow all of the activities of civil aviation regulation to be done electronically on one platform, including payments, including follow ups on personnel licensing, the medicals, the economic regulation of airlines, safety regulation of airlines and all other businesses within the envelope of civil aviation will be monitored by this single software.

“It is called ‘the truth machine’ in quotation in Europe, because all of the truth of regulation of civilization will appear on this platform, it’s an extremely important software that the world has now come to terms with.

“The contract was given to Messrs. Arif Investment Nigeria Limited, who are representatives of Empik GmbH. This Empik are the creators of this software, one of its kind in the world, at the sum of N1,492,520,325, which will be including 7.5% VAT and

completion period of six months.

So that’s the first memoranda.

“The next one also is approval of the outline business case for the establishment of the national carrier and this is the sixth time the memorandum appeared before Council. The sixth time, we got lucky to be passed by Council.

“The structure of the proposed airline; government will be owning not more than 5%. So 5% is the maximum equity that government will take, then 46% will be owned

by Nigerian entrepreneurs. So, if you add that, it’s 51%. So, it’s 51% majority shareholding by Nigerians and then 49% will be held by strategic equity partner or partners that will be sourced during the procurement phase, which is the next phase.

“This airline, if started, and within the first few years will generate about 70,000 jobs. These 70,000 jobs are higher than the total number of civil servants that we have in the country. Its importance had been well discussed so, I’ll not go back to it. You had discussed it separately also on various fora as to the need for it.

“But one important item is the AU agenda 2063, which speaks to integration of Africa, which speaks to the cause and trade within Africa that is intra-Africa and to which also another flagship project of AU agenda 2063 called the Single

African Air Transport Market (SAATM).

“Now, the only way, the quickest way that you can integrate Africa is by air because if you want to interconnect all the 54 nations of Africa, via rail or road, or waterways, which is even impossible, the quantum of money that you need to do all of these, the time it will take to develop this infrastructure, as well as the maintenance cost, is almost prohibitive.

“It’s doable, it’s time-taking, but with aviation, within a year, once the right policy is in place, like SAATM, you can connect Africa and then of course, the needed integration will happen. Part of AU agenda 2063 So, these are the two memoranda that were submitted, and gladly they were passed by Council.

“The name is Nigerian Air which of course, if you remember back in time, this was subject to national debate and 400,000 people participated, choose the name, the colour, the logo, everything and it was produced that time. It was launched also in Farnborough as far back as 2018.

“So, the business case is a public document. It will be on our website, you can download it and we can give you copies. This airline will pick up and start, by God’s grace, on or before April 2022.”

774,000 youth employment: Reps to probe Presidential Empowerment Scheme

By Christiana Ekpa

T

he House of Representatives has moved to investigate the implementation of the Presidential Youth Empowerment Scheme across the country.

The resolution was passed yesterday, sequel to the adoption of a motion sponsored by Hon. Muhammed Gudaji Kazaure, who called for the House intervention with a view to ensure effective implementation of the scheme.

In the bid to ensure adequate funding of the scheme, the House mandated its Committee

on Appropriations to capture the Scheme in the 2022 budget estimates.

President Muhammadu Buhari had on 12 October 2020 launched the Presidential Youth Empowerment Scheme in Abuja with a view to create at least 774,000 empowerment opportunities through direct Youth Empowerment, which is one thousand youth per Local Governments across the six geopolitical zone in the efforts of the Federal Government to eradicate unemployment among the teeming youth.

“The House is aware that the primary role of the Scheme is to provide solutions to the Nigerian youth unemployment challenges through the execution of empowerment initiatives.

“The House also notes that the Scheme will be accessible to the literate, semi-literate and the non-literate population and the entry qualification is the ability and capacity to learn and be teachable.

“The House is worried that since the Scheme was launched in 2020, it is yet to be implemented despite applications by the

Nigerian youth.”

The House however, resolved to invite the Co-coordinator of the Scheme, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Youth and Students Affairs, to explain to Nigerians reasons for the non-implementation of the Scheme despite the Presidential directives.

The House unveiled plans to constitute an Ad-hoc Committee that will investigate reason(s) for the non-implementation of the Scheme and report back within two weeks for further legislative action.

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2021

PAGE 10

NEWS

Reps ask Security Chiefs to end banditry on federal highways

By Christiana Ekpa

T

he House of Representatives yesterday asked the Security Chiefs to take immediate steps to end act of banditry on the nation’s highways.

The House resolution followed the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance on the spate of attacks by armed bandits on the Abuja/Kaduna road, sponsored by Hon. Mohammed Nalaraba who called for the House intervention over the increasing insecurity on the nation’s highways.

In his lead debate, Hon. Nalaraba who raised alarm over security reports that bandits were regrouping at Rijana village along the Abuja/Kaduna highway, expressed displeasure over the non-response of security agencies despite of the information, nothing has been done to flush them out.

It directs all security related committees in the House to constantly liase with the security Agencies on what they are doing and brief the leadership of the house on a monthly basis and also brief the entire house on a quarterly basis.

While noting that there were reports that bandits has built their hide out at Rijana village on the Abuja/Kaduna highway from where they operate unhindered, he expressed grief over the rationale why security agents have not been able to flush them out of the community, saying “Rijana is not like the Zamfara forest. It is a small community and these bandits have regrouped there and if care is not taken, they will soon move to Suleja and then to Abuja.”

He also underscored the urgent need to roll out measures aimed at ending the rising security challenges in the country which has claimed the lives of many innocent persons without any sign of it abating, He lamented that on Sunday, bandits again attacked innocent travellers on the Abuja/Kaduna high way, killing and abducting Nigerians, adding that the operation of the bandits continued unabated on Monday, Tuesday and even Wednesday without security agents curbing their activities.

He argued that Nigerian roads, especially the Kaduna/Abuja road which is one of the busiest roads in the country are no longer safe,

especially on weekends, adding that the situation is such that even senior military and security officers with their convoy can no longer travel on the road.

To this end, he stressed the need for the House to direct security agencies to take immediate action to flush out the bandits from the hideouts and make the roads safe for Nigerians to travel for their businesses.

In his remarks, Hon. Ossai Nicholas Ossai said attack by

bandits on Nigerian road has become a daily affair inspite of the huge investment on security.

“The House recalled that in 2019, the federal government took N1 billion and invested it on security without recourse to the National Assembly. But we supported the move in the interest of all.

“In 2020, a lot of money was again budgeted for security. But a lot of lives has been lost which have gone unannounced. But because a politician is killed now,

it has become a national issue.

“We are in the process of working on the 2022 budget and I am aware that a large chunk of money in the budget is going to security even when Nigerians are dying.

“Abuja/Kaduna highway is one of the busiest roads in the country. It is the road used by our farmers in the north to transport their produce to the market in the south. If we can’t go to Kaduna or other parts of the north, then why are in the National Assembly?

“We have committees on security in the House. We should mandate them to brief the leadership of the House on a monthly basis on what is happening with security in the country and also brief the entire house on a quarterly basis.”

To this end, the House mandated the Chief of Army Staff, the In spector General of Police and Heads of other security agencies to take necessary proactive steps to end banditry in the country.

Army Chief hails troops for sacrifice From Yakubu Mustapha Minna

C

hief of Army Staff, Lt General Faruk Yahaya has commended Nigerian Army for their sustainable attacks on the criminals causing mayhem on the citizens across the country to ensure peace.

He spoke in Minna in an familiarization visit to 31 Artillery Brigade and Tradoc Minna,

urging the soldiers to be more resolute and decisive in dealing with criminals and when they are dealing they are looking for criminals of war.

According to Yahaya, “We are to killed them and bring their weapons and we will sustain that noting that troops noted their challenges that would be over come in no distance time.

“The visit is to interact and ginger them to do more and better hence security is not 100% but

there is mass improvements and acknowledged by many.”

He however appealed for accurate and timely information to the Nigerian Army for immediate action and seeking for collaboration from other security agencies in the country so as to ensure.

The Chief of Army Staff used the occasion to commission the Tradoc Officers Transit Accommodation Military Cantonment, Minna.

FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello (Right) being decorated with the 2022 Armed Forces Remembrance Day Emblem by the National Chairman, Nigerian Legion, Maj. Gen.Abdulmalik Jibrin (Rtd), yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

Women ask El-rufai to arrest parents of out-of-school children From: Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

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overnor of Kaduna State, Nasiru Elrufai have been enjoined to enforce the Kaduna State Child Welfare law, by arresting and prosecuting Parents who encourage their children to drop out of school.

This point was made by a woman leader in Makarfi Local government area of Kaduna State, Hajiya Aisha Muhammed.

Muhammed gave the charge while fielding questions from the media at a town hall meeting on Social Protection Policy and Girl Education organized by

Save the Children International(SCI) in collaboration with Kaduna Social Protection Accountability Mechanism (KADSPAC) held in Makarfi yesterday.

According to her, poverty is not the main reason that forces many children to be on the streets today rather it is the Ignorance and arrogance of some parents that encourages such acts.

She added that in the state education is free, but some parents are not taking advantage of it rather prefer to send their wards to the streets for begging and hawking.

The leader of women in the grassroot,

however, said the Government Social protection policy for the poor and vulnerable is a welcome development but the parents must also play their parts to ensure that the efforts are not jettisoned.

In his remarks, the chairman Makarfi Local Government Area, Engr. Kabiru Muazu Mayere said his administration will focus on girl’s child education and ensure the implementation of Kaduna state Social protection policy in the area.

The Chairman who was represented by the Executive secretary, Shuaibu Alkassim said there are some interventions by the council for people living with

Disabilities(PWDs) in the area.

He also said during the Covid-19 lockdown the local government distributed palliatives to the poor and vulnerable Similarly, the Social Protection Champion in the Local government, Ibrahim Bako Tanko said girls child education is a commitment Nigeria made with the United Nations ( UN).

He noted that the local government must work towards ensuring that barriers to girls’ Child education such as; Sociocultural, insecurity, access, among others which hitherto affects the girls’ child education must be addressed.

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2021

PAGE 11

Letter to the Editor

EDITORIAL

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Lagos #ENDSARS panel’s report

he integrity of the report of the #ENDSARS inquiry panel set up by the Lagos State government has been compromised by leaks and contradictory side comments by panel members as well as the government’s legal consultant. All this even before the government has published a promised white paper.

The panel was set up to investigate alleged massacre at Legos’ Lekki tollgate and protests against police brutality that preceded it on October 20, 2020. The panel sat for a year, taking testimonies of eyewitnesses, protesters and security personnel. It submitted its findings and recommendations to the Lagos government Nov. 15. Its major finding was that there was indeed a massacre by security forces. The report was, however, leaked to the news media before the government officially acknowledged receipt of it.

The leak was followed by comments by some members of the committee, contradicting each other, the Lagos government’s legal aide, the federal government and foreign governments. For example, the government’s counsel, Abiodun Jelili Owonikoko, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), speaking on Arise TV last Thursday, said that the panel’s report he had seen was “unsigned” and going through it, he could tell it was not “an unanimous decision of the members’ position. It may well be a draft of a minority report.”

and confidentiality, not to divulge the content of proceedings anywhere, except await government reports.”

The leak and the controversy it sparked led the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, to dismiss it as “tales by moonlight”. Speaking to journalists Tuesday Nov. 23 in Abuja, he noted that the report was filled with “discrepancies that invalidate its authenticity”. He repeated his claim that the incident was a “phantom massacre” and the panel’s conclusions “not backed by verifiable facts”. According to him, “There’s absolutely nothing in the report that is circulating to make us change our minds that there was a massacre in Lekki on October 20, 2020”.

President Muhammadu Buhari, meanwhile, has promised to look into the reports from the states that investigated the #ENDSARS protests “as soon as the Federal Government receives them through the National Economic Council. He told visiting U.S Secretary of State, Anthony Blinken last week at the State House in Abuja last week that his government was awaiting the submission of panels’ reports. Until then, he urged caution.

It is also the position of the Lagos government.

Its commissioner of information and strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, said, “There have been arguments in the public space over the report. There is a need for us to restrain ourselves from nullifying the good intentions of the government in setting up this panel, which was well encouraged to do its job, a fact that was acknowledged by the panel.

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He said he was shocked to read in the report “particular findings with regard to 40 something victims, some of whom were described as deceased or missing and some of whom had come out to say they did not die, especially a man who came to testify at his brother’s death to whom damages amounting to N15 million were to be awarded.

Any report that had that fundamental error will not be supported by any reasonable person.”

The panel was set up to investigate alleged massacre at Legos’ Lekki tollgate and protests against police brutality that preceded it on October 20, 2020. The panel sat for a year, taking testimonies of eyewitnesses, protesters and security personnel.

Owonikoko added, “The mistake by the government is that it should have appointed two panels. The panel was set up to address police brutality and EndSARS and in the course of its work, the Lekki incident happened. The panel’s work had to be expanded. Three members of that panel are protagonists. They are not entitled to sit on that panel. That was why they initially had dissenting opinions as soon as the tollgate incident happened. Some of them were in the position to express dispassionate opinions.

The one that issued a statement, “Adegboruwa, stopped coming to sitting for five months. These people swore to an oath of fidelity, impartiality

OUR MISSION “To be the market place of ideas and the leading player in the industry by putting the people first, upholding the truth, maintaining the highest professional and ethical standards while delivering value to our stakeholders”

“In accordance with the Tribunal of Inquiry Law 2015, a committee has been set up to bring up a White Paper on the report to determine the next line of action. At the appropriate time, the government will make known its views on all the issues raised by the panel through the release of a White Paper.”

We regret this avoidable controversy trailing the Lagos report. It is emotive because Lagos was the epicenter of the protests and more physical destruction and loss of life happened there than did elsewhere. But these facts do not justify this needless controversy that threatens to undo a very good intention.

We condemn it but we note the voices of reason that President Buhari and Lagos State government represent. Caution and patience they have urged. So it should be.

OUR PEOPLE Chief Operating Officer /Editor, Hameed M. Bello, PhD Manager, administration Hassan Hammanyaji

HEAD, ADVERT Patrick UGAMA

OUR VISION

“To be a reputable, profitable, innovative and technologically reliant media company offering world class services and products”

Raising the bar in medical practice

By Jude Eze

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ne of the markers of underdevelopment is that while other nations are progressively raising the bar to epical level in advancement of man’s fortune, lowlyrated nations are trailing in the rear, struggling with obsolete ideas, feigning delusionally, to be champions in their own continental milieu. As news flashes around the globe disclose novel breakthroughs across diverse fields of human endeavour, some third world countries in their insolent and lethargic indolence, continue take solace in the loathsome quote that “in the land of the blind, an eyed-man is a king.” And so, Nigeria is the “Giant of Africa.”

Ikoyi may have exposed the flaws in construction industry, but there is one other vital industry serially bedeviled by such monumental system/personnel errors -- the Health sector. Nigerian nay Africa add very little to nothing in advancement of science/ technology. We are at best, mere consumers of scientific knowledge, a poor one at that. Most Medical Science text books which guides health professional practice in Nigeria were authored

by Euro-Asian or American scientists. Our indigenous medical professionals like Professor Ezillo (who wrote Essentials of Human Physiology) had tried to put up something in global medical literature, but their efforts have their bases from already Western-defined principles. They don’t have any peculiarity to tropical medicine which is unique to Africa.

There is no homegrown illustrative knowledge, like China had, to show that we can effectively be considered as a big name in global health sphere.

In Nigeria, the most popular Medical Laboratory Science text books remained the “District Laboratory practice in the tropics” written by Monica Chesbrough and “Introduction to Medical Laboratory Technology” authored by Mayer and Baker, both Western Medical Scientists.

In 2002, there arose from University of Ibadan, the Delta-born Prof. J. Ochei who wrote “The Principles and practice of Medical Laboratory Science.” It connotes to appreciable extent, the African experience in laboratory medicine.

Yet, many indigenous practitioners don’t observe any of the universally accepted guidelines. ‘Cutting corners’ continues to be the acceptable indoctrinated culture.

However, unprofessionalism is more defined not by Medical and Healthcare professionals who despise the established procedures to reproducible diagnostic results, but by the gory incidents of those practitioners within the health profession, who drift into a field that is not their core call. Such intrusion has caused untold disharmony within the healthcare family Each medical and healthcare profession have well-defined career path and professional fiat. But usurpation of other sister professions are rampart. For instance, there were so many cases in court where Medical Laboratory Scientists and Clinical Pathologists drag ownership of the Lab. Pharmacists and Physicians are in contest over who superintends drug administrations, Radiologists and Medical Radiographers/Medical Imaging Scientists are at loggerhead over supremacy etc.

While such intra-sectoral friction over illegal encroachment into other’s fundamental duties are detested, the worst is happening clandestinely within the family. In asmuch as it is defined as “quackery,” Nigerians are tragically at the receiving end.

Over the years, encroachment into the Medical Laboratory Science (MLS) Profession by graduates of Basic Science courses has increased alarmingly. Those who study Biochemistry, Microbiology, Parasitology and zoology (in faculty of natural sciences in our universities) and those from Food Science Tech, Science Lab Tech and allied Science courses (from Polytechnics), all claim to be Medical Laboratory Scientists, and thus compete for

employment spaces with qualified, certified and licensed Medical Laboratory Scientists, who are the only Health Professionals authorized by the Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria (MLSCN) in line with Act 11, of 2003, of the National Assembly to practice Medical Laboratory Science in Nigeria.

The law was unambiguous but deliberate deviants refused to observe them. Simply put: unless one obtains a Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Science (BMLS) degree in an NUCaccreditated university, gets sworn-in/inducted into the Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria (MLSCN) and licensed by same, one is not a Medical Laboratory Scientist; and cannot and shall not practice Medical Laboratory Science in Nigeria. Anything else is quackery.

Meanwhile, there is some traces of in-house compromise among the MLS practitioners that accommodates such paroxysmal illegality.

And this is how it occurs: In the course of their studies, students of Basic Natural and allied Sciences either in the Universities or Polytechnics desperately solicit to undergo their 4-month or 12-month Students’ Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES), more commonly called Industrial Training (I.T) program in hospital laboratories, which is outside their scope. Some MLS professionals naively accept them.

And at the end of their studies, they go for NYSC Scheme, and surreptitiously demand to be posted to medical laboratories under false pretext that they are Medical Laboratory Scientists. NYSC officials are seemingly oblivious of these distinctions in career paths, thereby falling to their gimmicks.

There is no similiarities between the two. It is akin to Veterinary Doctors claiming Medical Doctors.

These impostors lack the knowledge of Human biochemistry, Anatomy, Physiology, Medical Microbiology, Haematology, etc (the list is endless), not to talk of patient care and management. Their curriculum and training was not in laboratory medicine.

It is worrisome how a life-saving profession could be witnessing such wanton infiltration by quacks. In all these, the unsuspecting patients, bears the brunt as end-reciever of consequences of quackery. Lack of knowledge of the principles governing Medical Laboratory tests leads to issuance of fake and non-reproducible test results that does not represent the true picture of the patients’ health. This misguides the doctors/nurses and ultimately culminates in patients suffering irremediable damage in their health.

Nigerians beware of these impersonators.

Physicians (especially those in private practice) should neglect the cheap cost of running their side-Labs with these quacks and rather, in the interest of the patients, seek the services and expertise of a qualified, Medical Laboratory professionals, for life is sacred. MLS professionals should as well censor off SIWES and IT students from clinical laboratories, for the collateral damage of false lab test results in the life Nigerians are unquantifiable.

But in the final analysis, the buck stops at MLSCN desk. The onus to salvage this cataclysmic misadventure in the profession rests on them. It is noteworthy that the Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists of Nigeria (AMSLN) has constituted antiquackery committee with MLSCN mandate to clampdown on defaulters. We wait to see the sincerity of this mission.

This leads us back to the premise of our opening paragraphs; that while advanced countries are aiming at the use of sophisticated automated robots in diagnostic medicine, we are still here debating the ignominy of quackery and illegitimacy of professional usurpation.

May daylight spare us!

Jude Eze. Mobile: +2348062494912. ezejudeogechi@gmail.com

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2021

PAGE 12

Opinion

On fuel subsidy removal and the thoughtless nature of PMB’s administration!

By Abdulrahman Yunusa …as a government who has the legal power to regulate our affairs, they have the power to make strict policies against us but they are in dearth of power to make everyone suffer in that particular cause.

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ell, If sanity and humanity is to be given due concern and respect, any govt should crave hard toward improving the wellbeing of its people through implementation of simple and affordable policies that would surely throw the bags of happiness to makes every heart sound mirthful. But here, in our own land the reverse is the case.

As it’s obvious to all that this govt, have under any yardstick, woefully failed Nigerians and the fact that this govt have lied and make several fake promises to Nigerians in their course to win the heart of Nigerians in the election time is open to all that they are bound to fail, to that regards, treachery and falsy accusations and faulty narrations have been made to paint the past administration of PDP black despite their tireless effort in making Nigeria great, they won that way and sadly here we

are today.

Concomitantly, prior to the arrival of APC to power, none has ever witnessed such an unprecedented hardship at the moment when the country is economically buoyant but only under PMBs administration that the citizens despite enough natural endowment the country is blessed with, are suffering incessantly beyond one thought. To say the least, that’s the repercussions of choosing incompetency and mediocrity to fit the position that isn’t meant for them.

Now that they are about to conform with IMF sorry-nature conditions t h r o u g h application of drastic Socioeconomic measures upon the powerless citizens of Nigeria, it’s now that we will see the true color of those pseudo change agents.

Ideally, as we all know govt is meant to regulate the affairs of it people thereby bringing them

a solution to their ordeals, so this govt of charlatans shrew and illiterates is not in anyway in conformity with the idea govt.

Since they can’t shower their altruistic hands to console with their people who are wallowing amidst of thorny terrain, then we can no longer take them serious and we shall henceforth consider them as our enemies as well.

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the people we trust the most that are beating our back torrentially despite the odds we are facing day by day.

Please, can we still consider such useless govt and it’s boyish and antimassess policies as our true lovers ? I think the answer to this question will be a capital ” NO ” from people of a discerning minds, hence we shall not pay them the respect they suppose to enjoy from us because under no saner rule ” one could be pampering his killer ” and he tries to do something, he is either a bastard or an illiterate and I guess Nigerians doesn’t belong to either of the duo categories.

H a b a what kind of a miserable life we are witnessing for God sake? Would they now totally remove the fuel subsidy and let us pay the price of their twaddle and insensible policies with a teary eyes and anxious hearts ? What do they want from us ? Do they want us perish despite the country is ours ? Oh !

Now that they are about to conform with IMF sorry-nature conditions through application of drastic Socio-economic measures upon the powerless citizens of Nigeria, it’s now that we will see the true color of those pseudo change agents.

Nevertheless, Subsidy is meant by a wise people to help the needy, and every sensible govt will tend to go with the idea when things become hard for their governed.

But unfortunately in our case it appears to be upside down, for it’s

There is Allah who is the provider of anything to a Man and we do believe he won’t let us go down, in his infinit mercy, we shall find happiness despite their wicked plots against Us. Meanwhile the most nauseating part of the scenario is that the beast are going hellbent to hoodwink the psyche of the gullible ones among us by promising to give them 5000 Naira each month as a stipend to recover the money that they’d lost in the course of affording fuel in that costly price of which they imposed without giving a second thought to their gibberish.

However, as a government who has the legal power to regulate our affairs, they have the power to make strict policies against us but they are in dearth of power to make everyone suffer in that particular cause.

In God we trust and he shall emacipate us from the shackles of misery which is being masterminded by the people we revere the most in those days.

Talaka will not die for their actions Insha Allah !

Abdulrahman Yunusa is a political and social affairs analyst, he writes from Bauchi and can be reached through abdulrahmanyunusa10@ gmail.com

Nigerian “Japa” trend and the issue of Brain Drain

By Ezinwanne Onwuka

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utting an end to Nigeria’s brain drain requires the collective approach of all and sundry towards ensuring that the juicy offers which warrant many Nigerian professionals moving abroad are also made available here. Our inability to achieve this will continue to be the clog in the wheel of our national progress.

If you are to ask the average Nigerian today about their plans in the next five years or thereabout, it is almost certain that many, if not all of them, would intimate you about their decision and plan to “japa”, which literally means to emigrate or travel out.

Migration is not wrong.

It has been part of humanity over centuries. People migrate due to various reasons, such as economic, political, educational and in search of greener pastures.

In Nigeria, however, one of the major factors that cause people to migrate is the search of economic opportunities. This type of migration is referred to as economic migration. Economic migration is, basically, the movement of people from one country to another in search of better economic opportunities.

Considering the opportunities outside the country, people, notwithstanding, the challenges of starting a new life in a new place take their chances, hoping it would be a ticket out of poverty.

Do we blame them, considering the various crisis and societal challenges which continually threaten their existence as well as make their chances of survival bleak in Nigeria?

The persistent migration of Nigerians to more developed countries like Dubai, Italy, Spain, Germany, C a n a d a etc. has increased the transfer of skilled individuals and assets to other countries and that has increased the rate of brain drain in the country, which, in turn, affects the level of development and growth in the nation.

Indeed, there is a link between economic migration and brain drain. Brain drain occurs due to economic migration.

Against this background, brain drain, also known as human capital flight, is the emigration of individuals with technical skills or knowledge from one country to another, usually for better conditions of service and good living environment.

The availability of better professional opportunities in other countries, a crippled

national economy, turmoil within a nation, a desire to seek better education and higher standard of living, insecurity, human rights violations and high unemployment rates are just few of the reasons people emigrate out of their countries to greener pastures.

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and political in origin.

The push factors in Nigeria includes insecurity, lack of social amenities, political instability in some regions of the country, under employment, unemployment, better career expectation and desire for a better life. The pull factors include: economic prosperity in other countries, easy access to health care services, substantial funds for research and better facilities that ease movement of people like better transport services, good roads etc.

All these factors are some of the many reasons young people are bailing out of the country to greener pastures.

People are tired of waiting for a miracle. They are tired of dreaming that one day Nigeria would rise from being among the poorest countries to a developed country. Dollar rate keeps increasing and the worth of the Naira is diminishing. All these and more motivates people to “japa”. At the current rate, the mass exodus does not appear to be ending any time soon.

The advanced countries have capitalized on our economic lapses and have astutely established some programmes whose ultimate aim is to scout for

Migration is not wrong. It has been part of humanity over centuries. People migrate due to various reasons, such as economic, political, educational and in search of greener pastures.

Brain drain in Nigeria is common among educated and skilled individuals like doctors, nurses, engineers, professors, computer scientists, college teachers, and attorneys.

At this juncture, it is pertinent to ask: why have highly skilled educated citizens left the country and why are most people genuinely considering leaving the country?

Numerous reasons account for the exodus of the best minds from Nigeria to the developed world. Most of these reasons tend to be skewed towards push and pull factors that are economic

the best brains across the globe and lure them to their domains.

These programmes come in the form of refugee programmes, visa lotteries, skilled migrant visas, international exchange programmes, fellowships, scholarships and the like. And Nigerians have been among the greatest beneficiaries!

Consequently, while Nigeria is remarkably losing from brain drain, the host countries for emigrating Nigerians notably benefit from such trained experts – brain gain. This scenario has continued to have a debilitating effect on the growth and socioeconomic development of the country.

Undoubtedly, this erosion of Nigeria’s human capital has had far-reaching negative effects on our development trajectory as the vital highly-skilled personnel needed for national development are being lost.

Putting an end to Nigeria’s brain drain requires the collective approach of all and sundry towards ensuring that the juicy offers which warrant many Nigerian professionals moving abroad are also made available here. Our inability to achieve this will continue to be the clog in the wheel of our national progress.

Ezinwanne Onwuka writes from Cross River State and may be reached at ezinwanne.dominion@ gmail.com.

PAGE 13

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2021

Comment

Destroying South East: Task that must be Accomplished, Gospel of IPOB, ESN, UGM

By Obinna Akukwe

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he task of destroying South East Nigeria, and reducing it to Afganistan, is a task that must be accomplished according to the gospel of enemies of Ndigbo using IPOB,ESN, Unknown Gunmen UGM and different IPOB splinter groups who have vowed to actualize Biafra whether Nnamdi Kanu is released or not.

I saw this task of destroying South East gather momentum since July 2020, and have warned Igbo leaders, clerics and government officials to take steps to initiate a dialogue with the brainwashed youth before South East is turned to Afghanistan.

During the Endsars Protests of October, 2020, I led many veteran Igbo Activists from State to State visit and warned the rampaging IPOB Commanders not to hijack the process, and use it against the state.

I know what we told many IPOB Commanders in Enugu, Abakaliki, Owerri, Umuahia, Nnewi, Awka and Aba. We told them in many fora that the ENDSARS is a Youth Outrage against a Rogue Nigerian Police Malfeasance, and IPOB should not hijack it for other purposes. With all fairness to many IPOB leaders in many places, they listened to us and stopped the carnage initiated by them especially in places where we identified ourselves and engaged them, citing superior arguments.

However, At Aba we met the most stubborn set of IPOB Commanders.

They told us that they will march to Obigbo, link with the local chapter and sack the Hausa community and Governor Wike. Against our counsels, they embarked upon the infamous Obigbo trip, and by the time the casualties were counted, about six soldiers, four Hausa Traders and over eighty two Igbos of Biafran descent were killed in the infamous massacre ordered by the government. Over six hundred Igbos of Biafran descent were arrested and incarcerated in various prisons especially in Abuja and Niger States over crisis they know nothing about.

The Owerri Jail Break of Easter Eve 2021 did not get us napping. We

warned stakeholders and key Igbo leader of impending jailbreak, and we asked the separatists not to get involved, because politicians will settle themselves, while the separatists will be slaughtered like fowl. We also warned key stakeholders of the impending attacks at Zone 13 Ukpo, Anambra State. By the time the attacks came, many persons were arrested, killed, incarcerated to the level that at one point over One Hundred and Seventy 170 corpses were abandoned at Federal Medical Centre Owerri, mostly innocent Igbos , who knew nothing about the jailbreaks and attacks on police barracks.

The Emene Massacre did not go without our warnings to those who have turned the school into a training ground for separatist activities. We cautioned as early as July 2020 that they should act discreetly, and not advertise the separatist agitations in Emene because one day innocent persons will be massacred. On the 23rd of August, an altercation between the DSS, Nigeria’s Secret Police and the separatists led to the massacre of over twelve persons and two DSS personnel, while dozens were wounded.

I have variously warned Igbo leaders, including some of them that visited Buhari recently, to plead for Nnamdi Kanu, that soon the Unknown Gunmen will engulf the South East if it is not tamed. I even initiated attempts to galvanize all veteran Igbo activists to call them for open negotiations.

The Igbo elites dismissed the idea and blamed the Hausa-Fulani for the UGM phenomenon while the Governors initiated fruitless Igbo Leaders Meetings where they just sermonized to the assembled clerics and traditional rulers. The elites claimed UGM is also fighting for Igbo interests. They encouraged UGM and even when we asked some of them to call their various leaders and sponsors for debriefings; they claimed that Buhari deserves being destabilized

by UGM. The IPOB, ESN and UGM mob actions continued until they started killing high profile citizens. By the time Dr Chike Akunyili was murdered, and two traditional rulers in Owerri, the

Igbo leaders, elders and elites woke up to a monster. With Anambra elections being threatened by the IPOB, ESN and UGM, the Igbo elites, sensing a foreboding of self inflicted bloodshed, ran up and down like scrotal sack to force IPOB to rescind their ‘no election’ order. Every Igbo group that pampered the malfeasance, were breathing and threatening IPOB over Anambra elections. Politicians were singing Nnamdi Kanu’s praise in order for their followers not to be attacked on Election Day By the Grace of God, and numerous pressures mounted, IPOB, sensing implosion, cancelled the One Week sit at Home Order, and politicians heaved a sigh of relief.

The problem is that there is no relief in sight. IPOB have broken into different splinter groups, and these splinter groups are neither interested in Nnamdi Kanu, Kalunta Lanu, Emma Powerful, Chika Edozien, Alloy Ejimakor or Ifeanyi Ejiofor. These splinter groups see them as betrayers of the Biafran cause. They have variously accused them of collecting various sums, ranging from N5 billion to N500 million naira to betray the Biafran cause, despite no concrete evidences to back up their claims except some unsubstantiated whatsapp and facebook posts.

These splinter groups, according to our intelligence, will strike variously during the yuletide, engage security agents and perceived enemies of Ndigbo, and if the insecurity becomes tensed, they will make a public declaration of Biafra, and gather public sympathy.

I have asked Igbo elites on the eve of Kanu’s November 10TH arraignment in a releas titled ‘Amended Charges: Buhari to Give Nnamdi Kanu Soft Landings’ I revealed that; “President Muhammadu Buhari has given the leader of Indigenous Peoples of Biafra IPOB Mazi Nnamdi Kanu soft landings with the flimsy amended charges brought before Justice Binta Nyako by the office of the Attorney General.

“Sources within the presidency conversant with the case of Nnamdi Kanu and our efforts to secure a pardon

for him and all Biafrans detained over secessionist agitations, told me that Buhari sees Nnamdi Kanu as a talkative without home training, and does not deserve his attention.

“I was informed that the seven count amended charges was deliberately construed by the office of the Attorney General whereby Nnamdi Kanu is not accused of any act bordering on murder, and where incitement was mentioned, it was not linked to the death of anybody.

“The purpose of the flimsy charges is to make it easier for Nnamdi Kanu to get bail, if his counsels understand the game plan, and stop all the statements of unnecessary vituperations “I counsel the solicitors to Nnamdi Kanu to caution the numerous IPOB faithful over uncouth language and activities capable of overheating the polity. The flimsy charges against Nnamdi Kanu is not a sign of foolishness by Buhari as IPOB High Command had erroneously suggested and gloated about, it is a judicial soft landings in response to the efforts of many persons to secure a political solution to Nnamdi Kanu’s case, including my efforts, our efforts as a group, and that of some prominent Igbo leaders whom we encountered while covertly seeking solution to Kanu’s case “However, if IPOB faithful continue in acts of indiscretion, killing of security agents, and enforcing the Sit-at Home Order in a bloody and violent manner, the Nigerian Government will jettison the judicial soft landing and send him to jail”.

Two days after my piece, Nigeria’s Attorney General, Malami echoed the path of political solution, and two weeks later Buhari accepted to see a delegation of Igbo leaders and acceded to the demands of Igbo elders led by Mbazulike Amechi for the political solution to Nnamdi Kanu. Thus we work with superior intelligence, but the IPOB lawyers, instead of listening to our publicized advise, approached the court with a combative posture on November 10th, staged an unprofessional walkout, and got Nnamdi Kanu sentenced to two months adjournment.

Many Igbo groups who are intellectually inclined, including Igbo Mandate Congress IMC , Ohanaeze Integrity Groups IOIG, Igbo Think Tank ITT , General Assembly of all Igbo Christian Organizations and Ministers GAAICOM have variously asked stakeholders to initiate a debriefing of the irate youth of the South East, settle the aggrieved boys from security votes of governors, and stem the tide of UGM, but the elders running about now like scrotal sack , thought that UGM attacks and destruction of the South East will sack Buhari from Aso Rock.

There is a task of destroying South East, and turning it into Afghanistan, is a task IPOB, ESN,UGM set to do with the cheering of Igbo leaders, elites and elders, now the spirit of the movement have entered the splinter groups coming out of IPOB using different names, Biafra National Guard, Angry Vipers and many others not interested in any publicity, are all preparing for a showdown with both the security agents and Igbo elites and politicians.

Northerners in the South East will not be left out.

By the Grace of God , we shall continue all our efforts to dialogue with the angry separatist youth, but if all these overtures fails, Igbos should be prepared for the destruction of the South East.

The only thing that will stop South East from being turned into Afghanistan War Zone starting from Yuletide Season is either the release of Nnamdi Kanu or the settlement of the separatist IPOB with their share of Biafran Cake from the security votes of the Confused Governors of the South East. The task of destroying South East is nearing explosion stage and I will continue to Pray to God and Engage the angry youth that this Cup Will Pass Over Us in Jesus Name.

(Rev Obinna Akukwe , Director General of Igbo Mandate Congress , is releasing this piece by the authority of some Veteran Igbo Activists and Groups who are concerned about the gradual Afghanistanization of Igbolandigbomandate@ yahoo.com,)

A blueprint on containing nuclear weapon proliferation

By Moshood Olajide

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ibya government led by Muammar Ghaddafi had give up its nuclear programme in 2003 in exchange for economic aids and lifting of sanctions but seven years later, Ghadaffi’s government was toppled. Bashir Al Assad of Syria, Imran Khan of Pakistan, and Kim Jong Un of North Korea have often cited these reasons secretly on why they won’t give up their nuclear weapon. What happen to Gaddafi after giving up his Nuclear programme?

Nuclear weapon was first deployed by the United States in 1945 when the Imperial Japan Navy attacked Pearl harbor leaving over 2000 Americans dead with battleships destroyed, in retaliation, the American government under the leadership of Harry Truman attacked the Japanese city of Hiroshima and Nagasaki with atomic bomb, killing over 105, 000 people according to estimate from Atomic Archive.

Industrialized and powerful countries recognize how this weapon will be strategic in strengthening their military, diplomatic, and economic power. This is when the battle for the soul of nuclear weapons was initiated with the Soviet Union conducting its nuclear test in 1949, the United Kingdom 1952, France and China in 1960 and 1964 respectively.

Efforts to prevent the spread of nuclear technology by the five superpowers failed as Israel, Pakistan, India and North Korea possess this dangerous weapon without signing the Non-Proliferation Treaty.

While the West and the United N a t i o n s co n t i n ue t o push for total

Trust – Ever since the NATO backed invasion of Muammar Ghadaffi government in 2011, authoritarian governments with the agenda of nuclear weapons have refused to back down. Libya government led by Muammar

from these countries have often queried. For denuclearization to be achieved, climate of trust needs to be improved on.

Sanctions Need to be Reviewed – Oil export, aeronautical, automotive, freezing of assets, and financial sanctions against Iran and North Korea has not deterred both countries from CBN’s order ‘lend more money, or hand pursuing nuclear e x p a n s i o n it over to the central bank and earn programmes.

Multidimensional nothing on it’, effects of which the across all economy and many small businesses sanctions sectors should be explored extending are yet to feel. If the lending rate is to limited lower and other financial obstacles International diplomacy. remove, it will not only attract Win – Win borrowers but drive the economy faster Deal – Political solutions aimed and perhaps better. at getting North denuclearization of the Korean – Ghaddafi had give up its nuclear Korea denuclearized through the Peninsula, Iran and containment programme in 2003 in exchange peace summit between Kim Jong of it in other countries, these moves for economic aids and lifting of Un and Donald Trump in Singapore have been largely unsuccessful, why sanctions but seven years later, and Hanoi in 2018 and 2019 failed are genuine moves against nuclear Ghadaffi’s government was toppled. to yield results but political solutions proliferation failing despite heavy Bashir Al Assad of Syria, Imran Khan can be better explored in a win – UN sanctions against authoritarian of Pakistan, and Kim Jong Un of win approach negotiation. The US r e g i m e s p u r s u i n g n u c l e a r North Korea have often cited these under George Bush in 1999 for programmes in North Korea, Syria reasons secretly on why they won’t example lifted nuclear sanctions on and Iran? Here are 4 Reasons why give up their nuclear weapon. What Pakistan after the country provided the denuclearization policy is failing happen to Gaddafi after giving up security cooperation with the US and how it can be better pursued. his Nuclear programme? Official after September 11 terrorist attacks

“

on Newyork and Washington.

Security cooperation in exchange for lifting of sanctions to aid economic development is a win – win deal for both parties which can be the standard prototype for future negotiation, rather than the use of threat.

Policy of Regime Change should be discarded – United States invasion of Iraq in 2003 and the toppling of Gaddafi’s government in Libya by Western backed forces in 2011 encourage authoritarians to be resilient in pursuing nuclear programmes as a last resort of survival. Dialogue, diplomatic sanctions and other democratic instruments should always be employed in dealing with autocrats and in convincing governments with nuclear weapons towards disarmament. In fact, the policy of regime change should be discarded.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Policy makers, and authorities should consider these measures as part of plans in getting positive results achieved in denuclearization and contain unceasing rearmament from both developed and developing countries.

Moshood Olajide, a Policy Development Analyst, can be reached via,moshoododunay oolajidemoshood@gmail.com

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2021

PAGE 14

NEWS Extra judicial killing: Panel orders police to produce evidence

By Albert Akota

T

he Independent Investigative Panel on allegations of human rights violations by the defunct Special Anti - Robbery Squad (SARS) and other units of the Nigerian Police has ordered the Police to produce the certified of proceedings from the National Assembly Public petition in the case of alleged extra judicial killing of one Mr. Kennedy Yusuf.

Justice Suleiman Galadima retd, while receiving other documents tendered by the police from the Public Petition, insisted that the police must tender the certified true copies of proceedings from the House Committee on Public Petition to enable the panel arrive at an informed and just decision on the matter.

The Chairman who led the 11 man panel noted that the Police respondent, James Idachaba, at the last hearing in this matter had asked the panel to dismiss the case because same was done at the National Assembly’s Public Petition, because the case was frivolous and lacked merit.

James Idachaba informed the panel that the matter had already been settled by the post mortem carried out by an independent pathologist from the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, which indicated that Kenney Yusuf died from natural causes and not killed by the police as alleged by the family.

Continuing Idachaba disclosed that the post mortem was not carried out by the police, rather it was done by the family of Kennedy Yusuf and the result was submitted by the family to the panel and admitted as exhibit, therefore the matter has been settled by the result of the post mortem that the police was not involved in Kennedy’s death while in police custody.

It could be recalled that Mamman Danladi in his testimony pleaded with the panel that the police be ordered to compensate the family for the extrajudicial killing of his nephew, Kennedy Yusuf.

The Chairman in his ruling, declared that the panel “insists the police must produce certified true copies of proceedings from the National Assembly’s Committee on Public Petition at the next adjourned date”.

The matter was adjourned to 29th November,2021 for continuation of hearing and earlier order made to produce proceedings subsist.

Ocean Surge: Reps want relief for Dalta communities

By Christiana Ekpa

T

he House of Representatives have urged the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to provide relief materials to residents of communities affected by ocean surge in Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State.

The House equally urged the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development to ensure that the displaced families in the communities are rehabilitated.

The Green Chamber further urged the National Primary Health Care Development Agency

(NPHCDA) to provide drugs, vaccines and medical personnel to affected communities to help combat any impending outbreak.

These resolutions followed a motion on the “Devastating Ocean Surge in Costain Community of Ugborodo, Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State” by Hon. Thomas Ereyitomi.

The House noted that the surge rendered residents homeless, submerged considerable parts of the area, and destroyed properties and means of livelihood; It also noted the recurring ocean surge and coastal erosion in addition to increased rainfall that has disrupted the activities

of multinational oil companies through oil exploration and exploitation.

The House was concerned that the main occupation of Costain residents and neighbouring riverine settlements is fishing, thus the effect of the ocean surge has rendered them helpless and jobless.

It worried that despite repeated calls and resolutions of the House on the need to address the menace of ocean surge ravaging Ugborodo, Ogidigben, Orere, Ogheye, Idimugun, Akpakpka, Ajudaibo, Madangho, Kokodiagbene, Opuama and other communities in Warri

Federal Constituency of Delta state nothing has been done to mitigate the devastating effect borne by those communities.

It was also concerned that the recent surge has not only rendered the residents of the communities homeless but also poses a threat to the health of residents which may lead to disease outbreak thus increasing the risk of transmitting COVID-19, as residents have resulted to make-shift shelters.

The House mandated the Committees on Emergency and Disaster Preparedness and Healthcare Services to ensure compliance.

Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, (middle); the Nigerian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, His Excellency, Sarafa Tunji Ishola, (right) Acting Comptroller General of the Nigeria Immigration Service, DCG Isa Jere (left), and other dignitaries at the official Rollout of the Enhanced e-Passport at the Nigerian High Commission, recently in London, United Kingdom .

Benue monarch assumes duty as 10th UNIBEN Chancellor

By Osaigbovo Iguobaro

T

he Tor Tiv, His Royal Majesty, Prof.

James Ayatse, has assumed duty as the 10th substantive Chancellor of University of Benin (UNIBEN).

He succeeded the deposed Kanu Emir and former Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN who was appointed by former President Goodluck Jonathan in 2015.

The installation Ceremony took which took place on Monday at the main Campus of institution, coincide with the Launching of the Golden Jubilee titled, Fifty years of University of Benin: 19702020.

The book launch was supposed to have been launched in 2020, but due to the outbreak of Covid-19 pandemic and prolonged

strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, was postponed indefinitely.

In his acceptance speech, Prof. Ayatse, announced annual prize for the best well-behaved student of the institution after the assessment of UNIBEN Senate, beginning from next academic session.

He commended the visitor of the University and President Muhammadu Buhari for finding him worthy for the position.

The paramount Benue traditional ruler, described his new assignment as a familiar terrain and promised to work diligently to take the University to a greater heights.

He noted that he is not oblivious of the challenges confronting public Universities in Nigeria, assuring that he will use

his influence to take UNIBEN to greater heights.

In her remarks, the Vice Chancellor of University of Benin (UNIBEN), Prof. Lilian Salami, expressed optimism that the newly installed Chancellor will steer the University to a greater heights.

The book Reviewer, Prof.

Austin Monye from the Faculty of Arts, University of Benin and the Acting Vice Chancellor of Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Edo State, Prof. Benson Osarieme Osadolor, gave the ideas behind the book.

Monye, said the 431-page book with 19 Chapters, was authored by erudite scholars in the school adding that, the book is a must read.

The first phase of the book dwelt on insights and intrigues

that scuttled the plans by the University of Ibadan (UI) to establish a Campus in Benin City decades ago.

He noted that following the inability to realise the mandate, UNIBEN which was formerly known as Institute of Management Technology located at Iyaro before it transformed into a full fledge University in 1971.

“This became a blessing in disguise” for the Founding fathers including the late Brig.-General Samuel Ogbemudia.

According to him, second and third phases of UNIBEN evolution, dwell on the key factors of development and growth as well as the invaluable contributions of some patriotic Nigerians to the University.

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2021

2023: North Central has performed, time to produce president – Saraki to Ortom

By Musa Baba Adamu

F

ormer Senate President, Bukola Saraki has said the North Central geo-political zone has worked hard for the unity of the country, stressing that it is time for the region to produce the next President.

Saraki stated this at the Benue Peoples House, Makurdi, while interfacing with the State Working Committee of the PDP and select stakeholders across the State, as he began consultations for his Presidential ambition in the 2023 polls.

The former lawmaker also lauded Governor Samuel Ortom for his efforts in ensuring PDP remains strong in the region and the entire country.

He said, “We are here to thank the Governor for the leadership he has provided for the PDP in the North Central region and entire Northern Nigeria which has metamorphosed into a vibrant leadership at the national level of the party.

“The North Central has worked so hard for the preservation of the country. Now is the time for the region to produce the leadership of the nation”, he stated The former Senate President gave assurances that he will continue to work with other stakeholders to preserve the zone and the country at large.

Governor Ortom while welcoming Saraki and his entourage, commended the PDP in the state for making the party strong, stressing that the gale of defections across the state shows that the party is fully on the ground and ready to rescue Nigeria from misrule.

The Governor reiterated his commitment to providing the needed leadership and joining forces with other people to bring Nigeria back on course.

Responding, Deputy Chairman of PDP in Benue State, Isaac Mfo, informed Senator Sarki that the party in the state is intact and will team up with other patriotic Nigerians to take over power from the APC at the center in 2023.

Sarki was accompanied on the visit by the chairman of the council, Sarki 2023, Ambassador Iorwuese Higher; former National Chairman of PDP, Alhaji Kawu Baraje; former Governor of Kogi State, Idris Wada and Senator Suleiman Adokwe.

PAGE 15

Zamfara APC: No petition from aggrieved members yet – Appeal Committee T

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

he appeal committee constituted by the All Progressive Congress (APC) from the national headquarters of the party to look into complaints from aggrieved members of the party in Zamfara State has lamented the committee has not received any complaint from anybody.

Addressing newsmen at the State Secretariat of the party, the Secretary of the Committee, Barrister Usman Mohammed Eleju said they have been in the State since last week, saying that nobody has come forward with any complaints.

“Even though we made adequate public enlightenment we have not received anybody with a complaint”, he said.

Fielding questions from newsmen over whether the committee would listen to all the factions of the party in the state, the secretary said to the best of his knowledge there was no faction of the party in the state.

He said there has been no official letter to the national headquarters of the party given any faction in the state, saying that since the party has not received

any official complaint, there was no official faction.

Recall that the faction of former Governor Abdulaziz Yari boycotted all the Congresses in the state while senator Kabiru Garba Marafa conducted parallel ward and Local Government Congress.

However, the case was taken to the Federal High court in Gusau, the state capital to rule on December 2nd 2021.

President Muhammadu Buhari presides over the Federal Executive Council Meeting in State House on 24th Nov 2021

Senate wades into NIEPA crisis, seeks intervention of HoS, Ministry of Education

By Musa Baba Adamu

T

he Senate on Wednesday waded into the lingering crisis at the National Institute for Educational Planning and Administration.

The decision by the chamber to intervene in the leadership feud followed the consideration of a report by the Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions during plenary.

The Committee’s report was on a petition received by the upper chamber against the Director-General of the Institute, Prof. Olivet Jagusah for abandoning his duty post and operating from Abuja.

Chairman of the Committee, Senator Patrick Akinyelure, in his presentation, said one Alhaji Haruna Yahaya accused the Director-General of NIEPA of gross misconduct and deliberate attempts to frustrate and humiliate former Principal Officers of the Institute by scrapping their offices.

According to the Akinyelure, those affected include Prof. (Mrs) Olatoun

Akinsolu, a most senior academic staff and former Acting DG of the Institute that handed over to the present DG; Dr. (Mrs) Adebola Agbaje, former librarian of the Institute; and Dr. Olaolu Festus, former Acting Register and Secretary to the Council between 2006 and 2009.

The lawmaker said the petitioner also accused the DG and the Governing Council of violating the rule of seniority in public service by supplanting Mrs. Abimbola Fayanju as the Acting Registrar of the Institute over her senior colleague Dr. Olaolu Festus.

However, the Director-General of the Institute, Prof. Olivet Jagusah, in his submission to the Ethics and Privileges Committee, said he was appointed as Chief Executive of the National Institute for Educational Planning and Administration by the Federal Ministry of Education with the approval of President Muhammadu Buhari on June 1, 2020.

He explained that the Institute was established in 1992 by the Federal Government in collaboration with

UNESCO-IIEP, Paris with a mandate to develop a critical mass of Education Sector Planners, Manager ms and Administrators with its take off in the defunct Federal School of Arts and Science, Ondo State.

He said his appointment as DG of the institution witnessed stiff resistance and protest by some individuals from the institute who organized a blockade against him, adding that, “the actions affected his assumption of duty”.

Jagusah recalled that for three months on assumption of duty, he stayed in a hotel because there was no apartment for him to live in around the school vicinity.

He explained further that the idea of relocating the Institute to Abuja was mooted by his predecessor, Prof.

Lilian Imuetinyan Salami, through a letter with reference No. NIEPA/ LANREQ/001 dated March 20, 2017, and addressed to the Minister, Federal Ministry of Education.

He said based on the idea of relocating the institute, correspondences

were exchanged between the Federal Ministry of Education, Federal Capital Territory Administration and the InterMinisterial Committee on the Disposal of Assets forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria for possible allocation to NIEPA. The Director-General stated that as at date, the Institute has no enabling law establishing it, which, according to him, “has been a clog in the wheel of its progress”.

He disclosed that before he assumed duty, the institute had no administrative structure and organogram.

Jagusah said this prompted him to demand for its restructuring, a request which was approved by the Head of Civil Service and resulted in the creation of six departments, seven units and nine liaison offices.

He said at a virtual meeting of the Governing Council of the Institute held in December 18, 2020, the restructuring of the Institute was approved in line with the organogram.

N656bn bailout confirms Buhari as caring leader, PDP govt didn’t help States – BMO

By Christiana Ekpa

T

he Buhari Media Organisation (BMO) has said the fresh N656 billion bailout to 36 States of the Federation confirms that President Muhammadu Buhari is a caring leader.

A statement on Wednesday by the Chairman, Niyi Akinsiju,

and Secretary, Cassidy Madueke, said the latest facility is the fourth in six years.

Each state will get N18.2 billion to help them meet financial obligations and budget support due for repayment.

The funds will be disbursed in six tranches over six months, with a 30-year tenor, and a 2-year moratorium at an interest

rate of 9 percent.

BMO noted that the presidential gesture was unprecedented and commendable.

“Not even in the oil boom years of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) did the country witness anything close to this”, the statement read.

It recalled that the first bailout

was within the first few months of the Buhari administration when about 27 states could not pay salaries and pensions.

“Another was in 2016 while a third was disbursed in 2017 with President Buhari specifically insisting that Governors should prioritize payment of salaries,” it added.

BMO said the most

recent shows Buhari “is so compassionate that he once asked some Governors how they sleep at night knowing that workers salaries had not been paid”.

The body advised Governors to use the N18.2 billion judiciously on projects and programmes that would be beneficial to the people.

PAGE 16

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2021

POLITICS

APC Crisis in Enugu worsens as stakeholders declare party has no leader

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

S

takeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Enugu West Senatorial Zone, on Tuesday, declared that the party has no chairman in Enugu State.

This came amidst claims by Barr. Ugo Agballa that he was elected chairman during one of the congresses conducted in the State earlier in October.

Another congress also produced Comrade Adolphus Ude as chairman of the party in the Coal City State.

But at a stakeholders meeting held in Oji-River Local Government Area, the stakeholders said Agballah, a non-member of the party could not in any way be said to be the party’s chairman.

They recalled that prior to the State elective congress, a zoning committee was set up and its recommendations were adopted by all the leaders of the party from the three senatorial zones of the State.

The stakeholders said the recommendations led to further micro-zoning of positions which saw to the choice of Group Capt.

Joe Orji (rtd.) as a consensus chairman.

They disclosed that the recommendations were signed by all the leaders, with the exception of the foreign affairs minister, Geofrey Onyeama.

In a communique issued after their meeting, the stakeholders said they had “watched with disgust and disappointment the intentional efforts of disgruntled elements in APC within and outside our Senatorial zone, in the past several weeks, to destroy APC in Enugu State, we met today, 23rd of November, 2021.”

The communique was signed

by Hon. Vinmartins Obiora Ilo, Ozo Joe Mmamel, Group Capt.

Joe Orji, (rtd.), Rt. Hon. Nwafor Chiedozie, Hon. Maureen Anosike, among others.

While maintaining that no congress was held in the State, the stakeholders said in

the communique that “on the 16th of October, 2021, which was the day scheduled for the State Congress, the said Congress Committee without publishing the list of delegates for the Congress and without conducting the accreditation of delegates arbitrarily without prior notice moved the Congress from its original venue at the Golden Royale Event Centre, Independence Layout, Enugu to Destiny Event Centre, New Haven Enugu.

“That on getting wind of the change of venue, thousands of delegates who had come to formally ratify all the consensus candidates as elected officials of the Party arrived at the new venue but were denied access to the venue by hired thugs stationed at the entrance. While at the gate, the members of the Congress Committee arrived and were let into the new venue by the said thugs.

“That within ten minutes of their said arrival, the said Committee were whisked away

from the venue consequent upon the commotion and fracas that ensued within and outside the venue between the delegates and the thugs.

“That though we were denied access into the venue, we could see all the happenings within the Event Centre as it was an open arena.

“That the members of the Committee were taken straight to the Enugu Airport, from where they flew back to Abuja that evening without any Congress activity taking place.

“That no Congress held in Enugu on the 16th of October, 2021.

“That no local State Congress Committee was constituted or participated in the purported Congress.

“That we later heard and saw on the social media that one Hyacinth Ugochukwu Agballah from Udi in Ezeagu/Udi Federal Constituency claimed to have been declared elected as the Chairman by the said Committee.

“That the said Ugochukwu Agballa was a member of the PDP, a rival political party in the State as at the second week of July, 2021, when he publicly indicated intention to join our dear party as a member and by which time the revalidation/ registration exercise of members and new members of the party had been suspended pending the conclusion of Congresses and National Convention.

“That the said Ugochukwu Agballa purportedly obtained an old discarded membership card slip which was backdated and attached same to his nomination form.

“That the said Ugochukwu Agballa is not a registered member of APC and therefore lacks the right to vote or be voted for into any of the elective positions of the Party (See Article 9.3(i) of the Constitution of the Party).

“That the said Ugochukwu Agballa is not a registered voter and does not have an INEC Voters Card.”

Attack on Igbo leaders won’t go unpunished – MASSOB warns Northern group

By Christiana Ekpa

M

ovement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) has condemned the Coalition of Northern Group (CNG) for attacking Chief Mbazuruike Amaechi and Igbo patriotic leaders who visited President Muhammadu Buhari in Aso Villa concerning the detention of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.

CNG, in a statement by its spokesman, Abdul-Azeez Suleiman, had said that the Igbo leaders’ demand and Buhari’s promise represent a grand conspiracy to accommodate an agenda of destruction and collective mayhem seen in the unacceptable actions that have been perpetrated against Nigerians by Nnamdi Kanu.

MASSOB, responding in a statement by Comrade Edeson Samuel, National Director of Information, described the attack on honorable Igbo leaders as an attack against the Igbo nation.

According to MASSOB, such a statement that is unpatriotic, parasitic and insensitive will never go unpunished.

“MASSOB will always see CNG as a bunch of cowards, charlatans and street boys that are always at the service of the Fulani northern oligarchy.

“The Suleiman Abdul-led CNG has failed to call for the arrest of Sheik Gummi who has been negotiating, dining and speaking for terrorist criminals and bandits that are killing, kidnapping and causing genocide in northern Nigeria,” it said.

A group photograph taken to mark the graduation of Naval Warfare Course 5, recently in Calabar, Cross River State...DINFO NHQ

Lawan seeks closer parliamentary ties between Nigeria and Turkey, S/Korea

By Musa Baba Adamu

T

he President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan has advocated for closer collaboration between Nigeria, Turkey and South Korea particularly in parliamentary engagements and also in the areas of economy and technology.

Lawan made the call on Wednesday in separate audiences with the Ambassadors of Turkey, Hidayet Bayraktar and South Korea, Kim Young-Chae who paid him visits in his office at the National Assembly.

The President of Turkey was on a visit to Nigeria last month during which some agreements were signed between the two countries.

The Senate President told his first guest the Ambassador of Turkey, that the National Assembly, particularly the Senate “will be glad to have a parliamentary relationship with the Turkish Grand Parliament.

“Whatever we do at the executive level and I know so many agreements were signed the last time the President was here.

“The National Assembly can be of help here because some of the agreements need to be actually activated or supported by legislation so that we have a better and more enduring arrangement that withstand the test of time.

“So the relationship between the two parliaments of Nigeria and

Turkey is very important.

“We have already established a Senate Nigeria/Turkey Tarliament Friendship Group but we are yet to start any activities.

“So with this visit, I want to tell you clearly that we are ready as a parliament to engage with our colleagues in Turkey and convey our message to the Speaker of the Grand Parliament of Turkey that the Senate particularly is also willing to share experience with them and we are prepared to exchange visits so that we benefit from each other.”

Lawan thanked the Turkish authourities for the support that Nigeria received in the fight against insurgency and also for granting Nigerian students scholarship to

study in Turkish Universities.

“We will continue to hope that this relationship is improved further and further at all times and from 1962 to date, definitely the relationship has grown but we want it to be faster and I believe that when we have more economic engagements and more parliamentary relationship, the relationship can be stronger,” Lawan said.

Earlier, the Turkish Ambassador told the Senate President that “during our President’s visit, the thing that we have noticed is that the parliamentary dimension of our relationship is not too strong.

“We are trying to intensify relationship in that field.”

Also speaking to the Ambassador of South Korea, the Senate President applauded the relationship between Nigeria and South Korea.

“The relationship between South Korea and Nigeria can only be better. The growing trade relationship is commendable but we need to improve on it so that we can benefit from your technological advancement in agriculture sector particularly.

“We need to introduce a lot of technology so that we increase and enhance our agricultural performance in many areas including the mechanisation of our system here for better and improved output.”

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2021

PAGE 17

POLITICS

Nigeria: Senate moves against importation of fake goods

By Musa Baba Adamu

A

bill seeking to prohibit the importation of fake goods into Nigeria on Wednesday scaled second reading in the Senate.

Such fake goods targeted by the bill are unauthorized or illegally manufactured, reproduced, altered or distributed products associated with abuse of recognized intellectual property right, such as trademark, patents, design or copyright in goods.

Among fake goods to be prohibited are counterfeited and pirated currencies, apparel, consumer electronics, automotive parts, pharmaceuticals, foods and drinks and chemicals among others.

The bill tagged “Counterfeit Goods Bill 2021” was sponsored

by Senator Ibikunle Amosun (APC, Ogun Central).

Leading debate on the principles of the bill, Amosun said the bill which was read for the first time on Tuesday, 6th July, 2021, is a 26-Clause legislative proposal.

According to him, it provides for the prohibition of manufacturing, production, possession, and distribution of counterfeit goods.

“It simplifies the process of laying complaints by persons interested in protected goods that are counterfeited and provides an enhanced enforcement capacity.

“The Bill also provides for administration of criminal investigation; and seeks to make prosecution a lot less cumbersome so as to provide effective control of counterfeit goods in the country.

“While the Customs Service is further empowered to check and control imported counterfeit goods, the police is given the power to demand information for efficient crime prevention and prosecution”, the lawmaker said.

Amosun lamented that over the years, Nigeria has become a major destination for counterfeit and pirated goods and a significant transit route to other West African countries.

The bill after consideration was referred by the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, to the Committee on Trade and Investments for further legislative work.

The Committee was given four weeks to report back to the chamber in plenary.

Meanwhile, a bill seeking to establish the Nigerian Institute for Border Studies, Kosubosu Baruten in Kwara State, has also scaled second reading.

The bill sponsored by Senator Sadiq Suleiman Umar (Kwara North), was referred by the Senate President to the Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFUND for further inputs.

Sanwo-Olu presents N1.3trn 2022 budget to Lagos Assembly T he governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Wednesday, presented the budget for year 2022 to the state House of Assembly.

Sanwo-Olu presented a total sum of N1.3 trillion to the Assembly, tagged the 2022 Budget Of Consolidation.

During the formal presentation of the budget, Sanwo-Olu said it is to consolidate the efforts of his administration for the past two years, adding the budget is significant being the last budget before 2023 election.

“Today, I stand before you to present the Year 2022 Appropriation Bill, which will be the final full-year Budget before the next elections in 2023.

“This makes it a very significant budget, which we have aptly christened the Budget of Consolidation. 2022 is a year in which we will focus obsessively on completing ongoing projects, while also expanding our social intervention programmes and

support for citizens, and for micro and small businesses.

“The Y2022 Budget is aimed at consolidating all our efforts so far, into timely delivery of our electoral promises of a Greater Lagos to all citizens and residents of the State.

Our destination is now in sight,” he said.

The state governor said budgets for 2020 and 2021 ”were used to improve the standard of infrastructure in the 377 wards across the state, in alignment with his administration’s mission to eradicate poverty and promote economic growth through infrastructural renewal and development”.

“We cannot afford to rest on our oars. We are therefore using this opportunity to again announce our commitment to delivering the Lagos of our dreams: Africa’s model mega city, a global economic and financial hub that is safe, secure, and productive,” the governor said.

Speaking at the presentation, Mudasiru Obasa, the Speaker of

the Lagos State House of Assembly, passed a vote of confidence on Mr Sanwo-Olu for the achievements of his administration.

“Babajide Sanwo-Olu, permit me to commend your astuteness, courage, forthrightness as well as your determined spirit all geared towards a greater Lagos within the period you have been in office. No doubt, you have maintained a track record of resourceful consistency in the state,” he said.

Obasa also praised the House of Assembly “for its pro-people orientation and for constantly supporting the Governor to meet the yearnings of the people of the State.”

He said “the support the governor enjoys from the Assembly had reflected in the successes so far achieved by the government”.

“This will be the last full year budget to be implemented by this administration. Expectedly, the responsibility is now on the members of this Honourable House to do the needful, by meticulously

performing our constitutional duty.

“It is, however, pertinent to note that the very cordial relationship existing between this Legislative House and the Executive has not stopped us from performing our constitutionally assigned roles of exercising control over the state’s purse,” Obasa said.

The speaker urged the governor to focus on projects that will alleviate poverty, empower Lagosians, and boost employment.

Obasa also urged President Muhammadu Buhari to address the state of economy, and reduce unemployment, inflation, insecurity, infrastructural decay in the country to its barest minimum.

“I urge Mr President to work towards rejigging the economy.

The federal government should at the same time work with the component units, which are the states, to further empower them to develop the natural endowment resources. This will no doubt boost the economy,” he said.

L-R: Director of Education, Independent Corrupt Practices and Other related Offences Commission (ICPC), Mr. Ufort Edet; Executive Director, Whistleblowers Anti-Corruption Reporting Network (WARN), Mr.Gabriel Onwe and Representative of Federal Commissioner, National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons, Barr. Grace Ukpong, during the inauguration of WARN, in Abuja. Photo: Justin Imo-owo

Prioritize safety of investments in Nigeria, Lawan tells FG

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

P

resident of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, has said that efforts by the Federal Government to prioritize the safety and security of private sector investments across the country would guarantee an improved economy for Nigeria.

Lawan stated this on Wednesday in his remarks moments after the upper chamber considered a bill to enact the Public-Private Partnership Regulatory Commission Bill 2021.

The bill which scaled second reading during plenary was sponsored by Senator Muhammad Adamu Aliero (APC, Kebbi Central).

According to the Senate President, the provision of a safe environment which allows ease of doing business would encourage public-private partnerships needed to drive investments and develop the various sectors of the economy.

He, therefore, called on the executive to ensure that the PublicPrivate Partnership Regulatory Commission bill, is assented into law when eventually passed by the National Assembly.

Lawan said, “Let me say that our country at this point and, indeed, at any point, should embark on public private partnership to ensure that we free our scarce resources for social development, particularly education and health, and similar sub-sectors.

“I believe that at this point in our history, with very limited resources, we need to encourage the private sector to participate in the development of infrastructure in our country. “[And] of course, this is the practice, but one thing is clear, that we have to provide a convenient and safe environment for the public and private sector to be convinced that their investments would provide the kind of return that they aspire to get, and that there’s the legal framework to

protect their investments.

“No matter how hard we wish to encourage the private sector to participate in our economy, if the investments do not appear to be fully protected, or they feel unsafe, we will be disappointed.

“So, I believe that this is a very important bill. And it is for us in government – both the executive and the legislature – particularly the two arms government, to work hard to provide the kind of climate of ease of doing business, security and safety to promote and protect private sector investments in our country.

“I believe that Nigeria has the kind of population that will encourage any private sector investment to come.

“What may be a setback at the moment, is the security challenge that we face, but thank God we are doing well and would continue to do so, but this is one bill that all of us in the legislature and executive arm of government would like to see become a law that will also be

fully implemented for the benefit of our country.”

Senator Aliero, in his lead debate on the Public-Private Partnership Regulatory Commission Bill 2021, said the piece of legislation seeks to repeal the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (Establishment) Act 2005 and enact the Public Private Partnership Regulatory Commission Bill 2021.

According to the lawmaker, “One of the major challenges affecting the growth of the Nigerian economy is the huge deficit in both the areas of social and economic infrastructure; roads, railway, seaports, and airports, the provision of affordable health care and medical facilities to mention a few.

The bill after scaling second reading was referred by the Senate President to the Committee on Works.

The Committee was given four weeks to report back to the chamber in plenary.

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2021

PAGE 18

Stock Watch: Wednesday, November 24, 2021 Low

OPEN Volume Close High

2.80 3.15 0 1.94 3.94 0 0.27 0.27 0 0.64 0.64 0 4.60 8.60 0 37.00 68.30 0 3.79 4.21 0 9.65 10.05 0 31.50 34.00 0 1.90 1.92 0 18.45 18.45 0 1.72 1.84 0 23.25 23.25 0 0.20 0.20 0 0.20 0.20 0 6.10 6.10 0 1.75 1.75 0 186.00 186.00 0 6.00 6.65 0 14.60 14.55 0 1.80 2.00 0 3.37 3.37 0 4.30 4.70 0 14.00 14.00 0 7.35 7.80 0 1.62 1.65 0 1.91 1.96 0 4.95 4.95 99 0.33 0.33 0 21.85 21.85 0 29.60 30.70 0 0.20 0.20 0 12.20 13.05 0 32.60 32.95 0 72.00 72.00 0 1.18 1.18 0 1.53 1.53 0 31.50 31.50 0 0.51 0.54 0 0.20 0.20 0 23.25 23.25 0 0.44 0.44 0 0.30 0.30 0 1.36 1.36 0 0.72 0.72 0 0.52 0.49 0 1.83 1.83 0 2.45 2.45 0

Top Gainers

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Trades

5.80 6.00 ACCESS -0.35 3.94 3.94 AFRIPRUD 0.00 0.27 0.27 AGLEVENT 0.00 0.64 0.64 AIICO 0.00 8.60 8.60 BERGER 0.00 67.00 67.00 BETAGLAS -1.30 3.79 3.79 BOCGAS -0.42 9.65 10.05 CADBURY -0.40 31.50 31.50 CAP -2.50 1.90 1.90 CAVERTON -0.02 18.45 18.45 CCNN 0.00 1.72 1.72 CHAMPION -0.12 23.25 23.25 CONOIL 0.00 0.20 0.20 CORNERST 0.00 0.20 0.20 COURTVILLE 0.00 6.10 6.10 CUSTODIAN 0.00 1.75 1.75 CUTIX 0.00 186.00 186.00 DANGCEM 0.00 6.00 6.25 DANGFLOUR -0.65 14.60 14.60 DANGSUGAR 0.05 1.80 2.00 DIAMONDBNK -0.20 3.37 3.37 EKOCORP 0.00 4.30 4.30 ETERNA -0.40 14.00 14.00 ETI 0.00 7.45 7.60 FBNH -0.35 1.62 1.67 FCMB -0.03 1.92 1.98 FIDELITYBK -0.04 4.95 4.95 FIDSON 0.00 0.33 0.33 FIRSTALUM 0.00 21.85 21.85 FLOURMILL 0.00 29.60 29.60 FO -1.10 0.20 0.20 FTNCOCOA 0.00 12.20 12.20 GLAXOSMITH -0.85 33.50 33.50 GUARANTY 0.55 72.00 72.00 GUINNESS 0.00 1.18 1.18 HONYFLOUR 0.00 1.53 1.53 IKEJAHOTEL 0.00 31.50 31.50 INTBREW 0.00 0.53 0.53 JAIZBANK -0.01 0.20 0.21 JAPAULOIL 0.00 23.25 23.25 JBERGER 0.00 0.44 0.44 JOHNHOLT 0.00 0.30 0.30 LASACO 0.00 1.36 1.36 LEARNAFRCA 0.00 0.72 0.72 LINKASSURE 0.00 0.52 0.52 LIVESTOCK 0.03 1.83 1.83 MANSARD 0.00 2.45 2.45 MAYBAKER 0.00

Stock Close Gain UPL 1.14 0.13 LIVESTOCK 0.52 0.01 SOVRENINS 0.21 0.03 OKOMUOIL 60.00 1.80 GUARANTY 23.50 0.55

Low 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

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0.11 0.21 0 0.21 0.21 MBENEFIT 0.00 0 0.43 0.43 0 0.43 0.43 MCNICHOLS 0.00 0 1.05 2.05 261 2.05 2.05 MEDVIEWAIR 0.00 0 124.80 184.80 0 184.80 184.80 MOBIL 0.00 0 0.20 0.20 970 0.20 0.20 MULTIVERSE 0.00 0 3.50 3.50 0 3.50 3.50 NAHCO 0.00 0 18.00 18.00 0 18.00 18.00 NASCON 0.00 0 78.50 78.70 0 79.50 79.50 NB 0.80 0 0.78 0.78 0 0.78 0.78 NEIMETH 0.00 0 2.60 2.60 0 2.60 2.60 NEM 0.00 0 552.20 552.20 150 552.20 552.20 NESF 0.00 0 1,475.00 1,475.00 0 1,475.00 1,475.00 NESTLE 0.00 0 1.60 1.65 0 1.60 1.60 NPFMCRFBK -0.05 0 4.60 4.80 0 4.60 4.75 OANDO -0.20 0 80.00 76.20 0 80.00 80.00 OKOMUOIL 3.80 0 64.00 64.00 0 64.00 64.00 PRESCO 0.00 0 0.50 0.50 0 0.50 0.50 PRESTIGE 0.00 0 12.30 12.30 0 12.30 12.30 PZ 0.00 0 4.20 4.20 0 4.20 4.20 REDSTAREX 0.00 0 0.20 0.21 0 0.20 0.21 REGALINS -0.01 0 0.50 0.50 0 0.50 0.50 RESORTSAL 0.00 0 0.21 0.23 0 0.21 0.22 ROYALEX -0.02 0 640.00 640.00 405 640.00 640.00 SEPLAT 0.00 0 0.20 0.20 0 0.21 0.21 SOVRENINS 0.01 0 46.50 46.00 0 46.50 46.50 STANBIC 0.50 0 102.00 102.00 122 102.00 102.00 STANBICETF30 0.00 0 1.97 1.96 0 1.97 1.97 STERLNBANK 0.01 0 203.00 203.00 0 203.00 203.00 TOTAL 0.00 0 6.10 6.10 632 6.10 6.10 TRANSCOHOT 0.00 0 1.15 1.21 0 1.16 1.18 TRANSCORP -0.05 0 9.60 9.60 0 9.60 9.60 UACN 0.00 0 1.74 1.92 0 1.74 1.74 UAC-PROP -0.18 0 7.60 7.80 0 7.90 7.95 UBA 0.10 0 6.00 6.05 0 6.00 6.05 UBN -0.05 0 2.89 2.94 0 2.89 2.91 UCAP -0.05 0 36.30 37.00 0 36.30 36.30 UNILEVER -0.70 0 0.27 0.27 0 0.27 0.27 UNIONDAC 0.00 0 1.00 0.99 0 1.00 1.00 UNITYBNK 0.01 0 2.04 1.97 0 2.14 2.14 UPL 0.17 0 0.23 0.23 0 0.23 0.23 VERITASKAP 0.00 0 4.50 4.99 0 4.50 4.50 VITAFOAM -0.49 0 11.30 11.50 0 11.30 11.65 WAPCO -0.20 0 0.40 0.40 0 0.40 0.40 WAPIC 0.00 0 0.59 0.61 0 0.59 0.61 WEMABANK -0.02 0 21.20 22.70 0 21.70 22.50 ZENITHBANK -1.00 0 Copyright © 2019 NgTradeOnline

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Stock Close Loss DIAMONDBNK 1.30 -0.10 BOCGAS 2.59 -0.22 VITAFOAM 3.50 -0.39 DANGFLOUR 6.00 -0.45 UAC-PROP 1.74 -0.18

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2021

PAGE 20

NCC commits over N200m to research, development promotion -Danbatta

By Etuka Sunday

T

he Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (EVC/CEO) of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, has declared that the Commission had committed over N200 million into the promotion of research and development (R&D) in order to drive innovation in the country’s telecommunications sector.

Danbatta stated this during the prize presentation ceremony of the 2021 NCC National Essay Competition held on Tuesday, November 23, 2021, at the Conference Room of the Commission’s Head Office in Abuja.

At the event which marked the 3rd edition of the annual competition organised by the Commission, the EVC said the Commission has invested modestly in research grants, instituted professorial chairs in universities across the country, supported tech startups, and sponsored national essay competitions and many more social investments in order to ensure synergy and linkages among industry, the academia and the youth.

Over 2,000 entries were received from 97 public and private tertiary institutions for the competition in which Esther Oluwabukola Gbeja, a 600-Level student of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Ilorin, was declared overall winner. Gbeja received a cash prize of N500,000.00, a laptop, and a printer; while the first runner-up, Moses Nosa Edosa, a final year student of Accounting at the University of Port Harcourt, received a cash prize of N300,000.00 only.

Two second runners-up emerged from the competition to pick the third prize. MarcPatrick Efevuriri Efeni, a 200-Level student of Cybersecurity at the Airforce Institute of Technology, Kaduna; and Nasiru Abdul Karim, a 400-Level student of Computer Engineering at the Obafemi Awolowo University, IleIfe, both came third having scored same number of points. They both received cash prizes of N200,000 each. The EVC said NCC gladly accommodated the additional prize due to the tie in the third place, as a mark of encouragement.

According to Danbatta, the topic for this year’s essay competition, “5G Technology: Opportunities & challenges”, was carefully chosen to ensure that the youths have a good understanding of the new technology.

He said Nigeria’s vibrant youth populace stands to benefit massively from the deployment of 5G technology, which the Commission is set to launch in 2022.

The NCC CEO said the Commission initiated and has maintained the annual essay competition to stimulate the interest of Nigerians especially the young people, to contribute to efforts in driving innovation in the technological ecosystem of Nigeria.

“It is on this premise that NCC took the step to encourage Nigerian students to remain pro-active and partake in the national competition that challenges students to be competitive and engage their best efforts,” he said.

While emphasising the critical importance of communications as the foundation for the technological

development of society and its role in the provision of vital infrastructure for national security, the EVC highlighted the need to invest in research programmes as observed in advanced nations, where a lot of resources are channeled into R&D. The Director, Public Affairs, NCC, Dr. Ikechukwu Adinde in a statement said, Prof. Danbatta seized the opportunity provided by the event to reiterate the assurances of the Commission to Nigerians that 5G technology will expand the mobile ecosystem into a new realm and the impact will be felt in various sectors of the economy.

The Chairman of the 3rd NCC National Essay Competition Committee, Edoyemi Ogoh, who is also a Deputy Director in the Commission’s Technical Standards and Network Integrity Department, commended the EVC’s effort in recognising the academia as a key stakeholder in the development of the communications sector, and in encouraging that critical sector to have

a natural connection with the industry.

Ogoh further said that the Commission “knows the importance of innovative thinking in the growing ICT industry in Nigeria and as such, this has made the Commission to engage youths in various tertiary institutions across the nation to compete in essay writing on 5G technology.”

Also speaking at the event, Director, Public Affairs at the NCC, Dr. Ikechukwu Adinde, said the essay competition is one of the most important initiatives the Commission, and expressed his delight at the ability of the winners who have demonstrated vast knowledge on the subject matter during their presentation. Adinde also emphasised the influence of the competition in the stimulation of the minds of the target audience and the creation of positive awareness to debunk misconceptions about the 5G technologies.

The Director Public Affairs said, the outcome of the competition is an encouragement to the NCC

Management to continue to support the national essay competition while ensuring that the Commission sustains such programme. He said the results are evident today as the NCC has, through the essay contest, produced four ambassadors of 5G. “These youths can go out and engage their peers about 5G, its benefits, opportunities and address the negative preconceptions about the 5G network,” Adinde said.

The essay competition was initiated by the NCC to deepen awareness and knowledge of telecommunications stakeholders in the country, especially the young people. Interestingly, every successive year, the competition is marked by massive responses in the number of essays submitted by students. Though the Commission has been able to organise three of such national essay competitions, the resultant social and emotional equity has had impressive and quantifiable values on the Commission as a leading Nigerian public sector brand.

CIPM 3:-L-R, Former President Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria (CIPM), Mr Olawale Adediran, Registrar/CEO CIPM, Ms Busola Alofe, Vice President CIPM, Mr Henry Unuakpor, President CIPM, Mr Olusegun Mojeed and National Treasurer CIPM, Mrs Chidinma Obiegesi during the CIPM 53rd annual national conference, theme “ Reskilling: Growing People, Growing Economies” held in Abuja, yesterday

IATF 2021 ends with commitment to strengthen AfCFTA

By Etuka Sunday

T

he second Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF 2021) has ended on Sunday in Durban, KwaZuluNatal, South Africa, with a collective commitment to ensure that the economic stimulation triggered by the event translates into the continued strengthening of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

Speaking during the closing ceremony of IATF 2021 at the Durban International Convention Centre, H.E Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, Chairman of the IATF 2021 Advisory Council and former President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, expressed his gratitude to the KwaZulu-Natal Province for successfully hosting IATF 2021, and fully bringing the vision of the AfCFTA to life in a tangible and measurable way.

“It is no mean feat to have secured seven sitting presidents for

the opening ceremony who stayed for hours during the entire programme,” said Chief Obasanjo. “Thank you immensely for all you have done to make sure this event takes place,” he added, promising to meet everyone in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, in 2023.

Prof. Benedict Oramah, President of Afreximbank, indicated that the road to Abidjan would commence immediately, with the launch of the IATF 2023 website registration portal, which is now live.

“We will overcome the challenges we experienced with IATF 2021 and leverage the progress of the AfCFTA over the coming two years to make IATF 2023 an even more resounding success,” he concluded.

Responding to a question about the free movement of people across the continent, H.E Ambassador Albert Muchanga, AU Commissioner for Economic Development, Trade, Industry and Mining, told the press conference that the work

of the AfCFTA would be further strengthened by the ratification of the African Union protocol on free movement of persons in Africa, which still needed eleven signatories in order to be passed.

“Once the protocol is ratified, there will then be visa-free movement of people, and ultimately, the mainstream introduction of the African passport,” he said.

H.E Wamkele Mene, Secretary General of the AfCFTA Secretariat, complimented Afreximbank’s efforts in empowering and supporting free trade in the continent, saying the Bank had in the last two years pumped in close to US$25 Billion towards financing trade engagements within the Continent.

“Not a single Country in Africa will be able to compete globally alone, hence African Countries must just integrate the market, something that has been evaded Africa from 1963, when our forefathers hatched African

Unity,” said Mr. Mene.

Speaking on behalf of the Premier of KwaZulu-Natal, the MEC for Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs, Hon. Ravi Pillay underscored the need for the prioritisation of Africa’s industrialisation process.

“It is important that we trade in products we have made - how can we be proud to trade in goods that were made elsewhere?” he said.

On the topic of Africa’s willingness to adjust, Mr. Pillay said that the IATF 2021 had been a great demonstration of the combined political will towards supporting the AfCFTA. He expressed the province’s gratitude for the privilege of hosting the IATF 2021.

Mrs. Kanayo Awani, Managing Director of Afreximbank’s IntraAfrican Trade Initiative, explaining that the standards that had been set for this second edition had been based upon the learnings from IATF 2018 in Cairo, Egypt.

Mrs. Awani announced that the business deals signed and concluded as of 21 November 2021 amounted to US$36 billion, exceeding the US$32 billion mark set at IATF 2018. She explained that additional deals were still going on and that some of the deals already closed were still being compiled.

Other key event statistics were: • 11,828 attendees recorded at IATF 2021, against a target of 10,000 • 0ver 27,000 registrations on the IATF Virtual platform • 1,161 exhibitors across all verticals, against a target of 1,100 • 59 countries attended and exhibited at IATF 2021, including 46 African states • Participants at IATF 2021 came from 128 countries around the world • 70 sponsors, 51 of whom had exhibition stands.

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2021

PAGE 20

BU$IN€SS

AGF Idris calls for strategies to Manage Pandemic-Induced financial challenges

By Etuka Sunday

T

he Accountant General of the Federation, Ahmed Idris has called on managers of the country’s economy, economic experts and critical stakeholders in the country’s economy to come up with strategies and practices that could be deployed in the effective management of inevitable financial challenges such as that caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Director, Information, Press and Public Relations, OAGF, Henshaw Ogubike in a statement said, Idris made the call at a two-day National Treasury Workshop, in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State with theme, “COVID-19 and the global economy, implications on the Nigerian national treasury”.

The workshop was meant to provide a forum for economic experts, officials of the Federal and State Governments, the academia and the private sector to brainstorm and come up with effective strategies for managing national economies in the face of pandemics and other global disasters.

The Accountant General of the Federation maintained that the reality of the pains inflicted on the Nigerian economy and the national treasury by the COVID-19 pandemic has made it overtly imperative to fashion out ways to effectively manage the economy during pandemics and handle any pandemic-induced financial challenges.

He tasked the economic experts and government officials to come up with viable ideas that will, among other things,

help the country withstand financial shock caused by any pandemic and also help control aggregate cash flows within fiscal, monetary and legal limits to improve the management of critical government borrowings.

Furthermore, he said ideas should be evolved that will help establish and sustain the consciousness of and accountability for public expenditure, efficient budget execution and resource allocation as well as effective public service delivery that accords value for money at all times.

In his address at the Workshop, the Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, Prince Clem Agba noted that the dwindling revenue profile of the country and the attendant challenges on the cash

flow occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic called for prudent management of available resources and evolution of better, more effective and robust administrative mechanisms to resolve the revenue challenges.

He made known that in an effort to mitigate the impact of the pandemic, prevent potentially deep recession and accelerate quick recovery of the economy, the Federal Government had developed three broad strategies namely, provision of economic stimulus packages, mobilisation of external support/funding and increased the Non-Oil revenue generation.

He said as a result of these measures adopted by the government, health and economic data have continued to be on the positive trajectory despite the impact of the

COVID-19 pandemic.

Also speaking, the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Udom Emmanuel commended the initiative of the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation in organising a workshop to look into ways and means of repositioning the Nigerian economy in a post COVID-19 era.

He expressed optimism that the workshop will come up with ideas and approaches to stimulate and grow the Nigerian economy in a new world put forth by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The fourth National Treasury Workshop, earlier scheduled to take place from Monday 18th to Wednesday 20th January 2021 was put off due to the rise in the COVID-19 cases as announced by the Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19.

PRESIDENT MUHAMMADU BUHARI PRESIDES OVER e-FEC MEETING HELD AT THE STATE HOUSE. PHOTO; SUNDAY AGHAEZE.

Power: Stakeholders to develop plan of action from forthcoming Seminar

S

takeholders from private and public sectors are to converge on Abuja on December 6th to develop a plan of action for resolving the many challenges facing the Nigerian power sector.

The event with the theme: “Consolidating the Privatisation of the Power Sector: Issues and challenges”, is to be chaired by the Minister of Power, Engr Abubakar Aliyu, while the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Nigeria Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs. Zainab Shamsuna

Ahmed and the Minister of Water Resources, Engr. Suleiman Hussein Adamu will also address the gathering.

Tagged 1st Abuja Electric Power Conference, those billed to address the seminar include the Bureau of Public Enterprises, the Association of Electricity Generators of Nigeria, the Association of Nigerian Electricity Distributors, the Meters Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, the Transmission Company of Nigeria, the Electricity Consumers Group as well as each of the parastatals of the Federal Ministry of Power.

Also expected are power sector professionals, past and present operators of the sector alongside related Ministries such as the Federal Ministry of Water Resources on dams and power generation, Federal Ministry of Justice on power contracts controversy and Federal Ministry of Finance on government position on the 40 percent shareholding in the privatised generation and distribution companies.

Speaking on the forthcoming event organised by the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the chairman of

the planning committee, Mr. Olawale Rasheed stated that, the conference is designed to review and refocus on the consolidation of the ongoing privatisation and commercialisation of the Nigerian Power Sector.

He said Nigeria has taken and is still pursuing giant steps in the reform of the power sector adding that many issues have cropped up since the commencement of the privatisation exercise even as it has recorded successes and setbacks.

Mr. Olawale mentioned some of the objectives of the conference to include; reviewing the privatisation

outcomes; analysing the gains of the exercise, focussing on continuation of the exercise; assessing private sector’s role in the privatization process and proffering consolidated solutions to challenges of the privatization process.

“The gathering is a solution providing platform. We hope to generate a plan of action with timelines for deliverables which will be submitted to the Minister of Power. The Chamber is organising this event because power sector affects to a large extent the ease of operations of our members within and outside Abuja”, he said.

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2021

Adesola harps on collective approach to improve city’s aesthetic

By Stanley Onyekwere

T

he Permanent Secretary of the FCT Administration (FCTA), Mr. Olusade Adesola has called on Residents, Government Agencies and private organisations in the FCT to join hand with the FCT Administration to beautify and maintain the city’s green areas, open spaces and buffer zones as part of Corporate Social Responsibility(CSR).

Adesola made the call during an interactive meeting with different private organisations and government agencies in Abuja.

He noted that even though, the FCT Administration has over the years done extremely well to maintain and beautify the city’s green areas, open spaces and buffer zones, it has become necessary to bring onboard relevant stakeholders in the territory to contribute their quota to further improve the territory’s aesthetic.

He further used the opportunity to appeal to residents to take personal responsibility to protect government critical infrastructure from vandalization and theft, adding that all hands must be on deck to safeguard the city’s infrastructure.

The Permanent Secretary assured residents of the Territory that the present leadership of the FCT Administration is working assiduously to make life meaningful for them through massive upscaling of the infrastructural development of the city.

Earlier, while delivering a welcome address, the Director of Parks and Recreation, FCTA, Hajiya Risikatu Abdulazeez, disclosed that already the Department of Parks and Recreation had developed a 3 landscape concepts for stakeholders to adopt.

She called on all stakeholders to adhere to the stipulated guidelines such as 25m setback from the road shoulder must be grassed and maintained green without trees, ensuring that the land use of the area remains green area, security of the green area shall be the sole responsibility of the organization, among others.

METRO

PAGE 21

Abuja residents urged to consume ‘homegrown’ vegetables

By Stanley Onyekwere

T

he Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello has urged residents to grow and consume their own vegetables for economic and health benefits.

Bello said this when he flagged off the “Grow Your Vegetable” programme, an initiative of the National Agricultural Land Development Authority (NALDA), which is designed to encourage citizens to grow their vegetables in and around their homes.

Speaking during the flag-off exercise in Abuja, the Minister

noted that the programme is in line with President Muhammadu Buhari’s advise that Nigerians should grow what they eat and eat what they grow in order to boost the economy and the agricultural sector.

The Minister who was represented at the occasion by the Managing Director, Abuja Enterprises Agency, Shehu Abdulkadir, also stated that the initiative by NALDA will, in addition to reducing the cost of living in the urban centres, also boost the implementation of the Federal Government’s Back to Farm Initiative.

He further expressed the

optimism that the initiative will rekindle the interest of young Nigerians in small homestead farming, a practice which he said is fast losing value among the youths, in addition to encouraging the consumption of home-grown food.

According to him, “It is my sincere hope that this programme will once more increase awareness amongst Nigerians on the benefits of backyard vegetable farming not just for healthy and more nutritious diets but also the renaissance of agriculture as the mainstay of our economy” He therefore called on FCT residents to take advantage of the

opportunity provided by NALDA and be trained on how best to use everyday household objects such as broken buckets, flower pots, abandoned cans and plastic bags amongst other items, to grow vegetables in and around the house and immediate environs.

Furthermore, the Minister added that agricultural implements such as right soil, seedlings and bags would also be provided for interested individuals and families.

He however, advised residents to carry out the practice within the environmental laws regulating backyard farming especially within the FCT city centre.

FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello (5th left) National Chairman, Nigerian Legion, Maj. Gen.Abdulmalik Jibrin (Rtd).(4th left), Permanent Secretary, FCTA, Mr Olusade Adesola (6th left) and other members of the Nigerian Legion and officials of the FCTA during the visit of the Nigerian Legion to the FCTA, yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

FCTA to support 2022 Armed Forces Remembrance Day celebration

By Stanley Onyekwere

A

s the Nigerian Legion begins activities to mark the 2022 Armed Forces Remembrance Day Celebration, the FCT Administration has pledged its support to ensure its success.

Also, the FCTA assured that it will make increased donations towards the welfare of the veterans and widows of the departed heroes in the armed forces as a mark of appreciation for their sacrifices.

The FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello, made this pledge while receiving a delegation from the Nigerian Legion in his office.

According to him, “The FCT Administration will provide the needed support to the Nigerian Legion towards your good efforts

of getting donations to the widows and also members of the Legion who are incapacitated and who have challenges.

“We will this year increase what we donated last year by 50 percent as a mark of appreciation to all the veterans for all their services to this country and also as a mark of support to all the widows and the children that they left behind.”

The Minister, who was also decorated with the 2022 Armed Forces Remembrance Day Emblem during the visit, also acclaimed the longstanding relationship between the Legion and the FCT Administration, saying that their working relationship has helped in the timely management of emergency situations.

He said the FCT

Administration over the years has worked very closely with the Nigerian Legion through the employment of many of its members who served to provide supplementary services, especially security as well as intelligence gathering, adding that they have proven to be very hard working and professional in the discharge of their responsibilities.

Bello adds, “On some occasions, when we have had fire incidents during off-duty hours, your vigilant members were the ones that were always the first line of defence before other supporting activities come.” In a similar vein, he also commended them for their timely intervention during flooding mishaps.”

Earlier in his remarks, the leader of the delegation and

National Chairman of the Legion, Major General Abdulmalik Jubril (rtd), said the Legion has been mandated by President Muhammadu Buhari to solicit for the support and cooperation of well-meaning Nigerians, in order to keep alive, memories of the sacrifices made by the departed heroes in the Nigerian Armed Forces.

He said: “The President is the Grand Patron of Nigerian Legion and he has asked us to go round to meet well-meaning Nigerians and through Ministers, Ministries, and other government stakeholders in order to solicit for your cooperation and understanding to help convey, through their own Ministries, through their own staff, to keep fresh this memory of the sacrifices made.”

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2021

PAGE 22

world news

international_peoplesdailyng@yahoo.com

Many migrants heading for UK die after boat sinks

A

number of migrants headed for the UK have drowned in the Channel near Calais after their boat sank.

French prime minister Jean Castex said the shipwreck was a “tragedy”, adding those who died were victims of “criminal smugglers”.

Police say 27 people have died, AFP news agency has reported.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson is to chair an emergency Cobra meeting this afternoon in response to the deaths, his spokesman said.

An official at the International Organisation for Migration has called the drownings the biggest single loss of life in the Channel since they began collecting data in 2014.

French and British authorities are conducting a rescue operation in the Channel by air and sea.

A fishing boat sounded the alarm earlier on Wednesday after spotting several people at sea off the coast of France.

“My thoughts are with the many missing and injured, victims of criminal smugglers who exploit their distress and injury,” Mr Castex said.

Franck Dhersin, the vicepresident of mobility, transport

Record numbers of migrants are making the crossing from France to the UK infrastructure and ports in the Hauts de France region and mayor of Téteghem, said 24 bodies had been recovered off Dunkirk but also some survivors.

French interior minister Gerald Darmanin said on Twitter that many people had died, but did not give a number.

Conservative MP for Dover and Deal, Natalie Elphicke, said the incident was an “absolute tragedy” that underlined why boats needed to be stopped from entering the water.

“As winter is approaching the seas will get rougher, the water colder, the risk of even more lives tragically being lost greater,” she said. “That’s why stopping these dangerous crossings is the humanitarian and right thing to do.”

A number of people are believed to have reached Britain in small boats on Wednesday, with people seen being brought ashore in Dover by immigration officials.

BBC Newsnight’s policy editor, Lewis Goodall, said he understood about 25 boats had

attempted the crossing so far on Wednesday.

He added that an aid agency warned there was a risk the Channel could become a “graveyard”.

It comes amid record numbers of migrants making the crossing from France to the UK. More than 25,700 people have made the dangerous journey to the UK in small boats this year - more than three times the 2020 total.

The Dover Strait is the busiest shipping lane in the world and has claimed many

lives of people trying to cross to Britain in inflatable dinghies.

Until today, it was thought at least 10 people had died in the past few weeks while attempting to make the crossing.

Earlier this week, Home Secretary Priti Patel described the number of illegal migrants departing France as “unacceptable”.

She said the government’s Nationality and Borders Bill was the “long-term solution” to tackling the issue “on top of a raft of operational and diplomatic work”.

The UK has promised to give France €62.7m (£54m) during 2021-22 to help tackle the issue.

But Labour has accused the government of failing to deliver on pledges to reduce the crossings.

Leader Sir Keir Starmer said the UK had not secured “strong” agreements with France to prevent journeys from taking place.

Cabinet Office minister Stephen Barclay is to lead a review into the issue to explore what ministerial departments can do to make it more of a priority in government.

Source: BBC

Lithuania needs to take consequences for publicly violating one-China principle

By Zhong Sheng

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he Lithuanian government, in disregard of China’s strong objection and repeated dissuasion, has approved the establishment of the so-called “Taiwanese Representative Office in Lithuania” by the Taiwan authorities.

This act has created the false impression of “one China, one Taiwan” in the world, flagrantly violated the oneChina principle, renounced the political commitment made by Lithuania in the communiqué on the establishment of diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China (PRC), undermined China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and grossly interfered in China’s internal affairs.

The Chinese government made it clear that it will take all necessary measures to defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity. The Lithuanian side shall be responsible for all the ensuing consequences.

There is but one China in the world, and Taiwan is an inalienable part of China’s territory. The government of the PRC is the sole legal government representing the whole of China.

The one-China principle is a consensus of the international community, a universally recognized norm governing international relations, as well as a political foundation for the development of bilateral relations between China and other countries.

In the joint communiqué signed by Lithuania and the PRC on the establishment of diplomatic relations, the Lithuanian government recognized the government of the PRC as the sole legal government of China and Taiwan as an inalienable part of the Chinese territory. It also promised in black and white the obligation not to establish official relations or engage in official contacts with the Chinese island province of Taiwan.

However, Lithuania now

openly engages in official contacts with the Taiwan authorities, and even backs up “Taiwan independence” supporters, which is a serious betrayal of its promise. Its wicked deed will never be tolerated by the Chinese people.

Lithuania’s attempt to undermine China’s core interests by playing the “Taiwan card” is a total miscalculation.

The Taiwan question concerns China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as core interests, on which China will never make compromises and concessions.

Lithuania’s approval for the establishment of the so-called “Taiwanese Representative Office in Lithuania” by the Taiwan authorities will not change the fact that the Chinese mainland and Taiwan on both sides of the Taiwan Strait belong to one China. On the contrary, it will make the Chinese people more determined to defend sovereignty and

territorial integrity and realize the complete national reunification.

China will take all necessary countermeasures in response to Lithuania’s act that has seriously violated the oneChina principle to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Going further and further down the wrong path, the Lithuanian government thought that it could attract some attention and gain political capital. The truth is it will only end up shooting itself in the foot.

In 1975, the European Economic Community (EEC), the predecessor to the European Union (EU), and China reached an agreement on the establishment of formal relations. In terms of the Taiwan question, the EEC confirmed that all members of the community recognize the government of the PRC, adopt a position accepted by the PRC on the Taiwan question, and does not entertain any official relations with Taiwan or have

any agreement with it.

As a member of the EU, Lithuania has broken the promise of the EU on the Taiwan question and stood on the opposite of all countries that adhere to the one-China principle.

The determination of the Chinese government and people to realize the reunification of the nation is unshakable, and the red line of safeguarding national sovereignty and territorial integrity cannot be crossed.

Any action that challenges the one-China principle and runs counter to the general trend of China’s reunification will be resolutely opposed, and any attempt to support “Taiwan independence” advocates and resist the historical trend will end in failure.

Lithuania should immediately correct the wrong decision, take practical measures to eliminate the adverse effects, and earnestly fulfill its commitment to upholding the one-China principle.

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Ethiopia’s Haile Gebrselassie and Feyisa Lilesa ready to join Tigray war

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thiopian Olympic heroes Haile Gebrselassie and Feyisa Lilesa say they are ready to go to the front line in the war against rebel forces.

Their announcement comes after Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said he would go to the front to lead the war.

Tigrayan rebels say they are advancing towards the capital Addis Ababa.

The UK has urged its nationals to leave Ethiopia immediately, saying the fighting may move closer to Addis Ababa in the coming days.

The rebels earlier this week said that they had taken control of Shewa Robit, a town about 225km (140 miles) north-east of Addis Ababa. There is no independent confirmation of the claim.

Communication Minister Legese Tulu said the military has had “many successes” since Mr Abiy’s decision to lead the battle, and victory was “so close”.

In other developments: • With Mr Abiy gone to direct the war effort, his deputy, Demeke Mekonnen Hasse, has taken charge of routine government business • Ireland says four of its diplomats have been expelled from Ethiopia • Hundreds of new recruits to the army have attended a ceremony, marked by patriotic songs, in Addis Ababa.

Earlier, Gebrselassie, 48, was quoted by state television as saying: “I am ready to do whatever is required of me, including going to the front line.”

Gebrselassie is regarded as a legend in Ethiopia, and his comments were seen as an attempt to rally public support behind the war effort.

During his 25-year career as an athlete, he claimed two Olympic gold medals, eight World Championship victories and set 27 world records.

He announced his retirement from competitive

Haile Gebrselassie is regarded as a legend in Ethiopia running in 2015.

Expressing his support for the war, Feyisa, 31, was quoted by the state-affiliated Fana Broadcasting Corporation website as saying that he was ready to draw inspiration from the “gallantry of my forefathers” and go to the front line to “save my country”.

The athlete won the marathon silver at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

He became famous for holding up his crossed wrists as if they were shackled to draw global attention to the crackdown on demonstrators demanding political reforms in Ethiopia.

The Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) was the dominant party in government at the time.

Following the protests, Mr Abiy became prime minister and the TPLF lost the grip on the country it had held for 27 years.

It later retreated to its stronghold of Tigray, from where it launched a rebellion last November after a huge fall-out with Mr Abiy over his reforms.

The war has created a massive humanitarian crisis, leaving thousands dead, forcing millions from their homes, and several hundred thousand in famine-like conditions as aid agencies battle to get food in war-affected areas.

The African Union is leading efforts to find a negotiated end to the fighting, but neither side has committed to talks.

The TPLF are advancing towards Addis Ababa on the A2 highway.

On Tuesday, Germany and France advised their citizens to leave Ethiopia.

The prospect of some of Ethiopia’s most venerated sporting figures heading to the front lines to fight captures something profound and powerful about the mood in Addis Ababa and beyond.

At a time of intense crisis, many Ethiopians are clearly rallying behind their flag and prime minister, and are keen to play their part in galvanising public support for a military campaign that has suffered undeniable setbacks in recent months, though much remains in dispute in terms of casualty figures and battlefield momentum.

It is clear many people see the military threat posed by the TPLF and their assorted allies as an existential one for Ethiopia.

Added to that is a profound dislike of the TPLF itself, which stems from its decades heading an authoritarian national government. But there is more to it than that.

The prime minister has sought to portray his country as a victim, not just of Tigrayan aggression, but of a vast international conspiracy designed to weaken Ethiopia and punish it for, allegedly, challenging Western colonial interests on the continent.

Western media are portrayed as enthusiastic backers of that conspiracy theory - one which appears to have gained widespread credibility in a country struggling to explain how the rebel group could have made such startling headway.

Uganda suicide attacks: Inside view of the IS-linked ADF rebels

By Patience Atuhaire BBC News, Kampala

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former member of the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), the rebels blamed for the recent suicide bombings in Uganda’s capital, says the Islamic-State linked group uses fear to keep its recruits in line.

“The group is run on Sharia. If you steal, you lose an arm. If you rape a child, you die. If you tell a lie about someone and you’re found out, you die,” Peter, whose name has been changed to protect his identity, told the BBC. He chuckles rather menacingly throughout our conversation - seemingly to deflect from the trauma he carries.

The young man was forcibly recruited and spent two years as a militant, witnessing amputations and beheadings - sometimes of his comrades.

The fear this engendered, as well as an Islamist ideology and the establishment of links with the Islamic State (IS) group, has made the ADF a threat to Uganda once again.

For years, Uganda’s government has said the ADF was a defeated force, but that no longer seems true.

A spate of violence since October, including the twin suicide attacks in the centre of Kampala, have killed at least eight people, including three militants, and injured more than 40.

The ADF was originally formed in the 1990s

by Jamil Mukulu whose adherents were Ugandans disgruntled with government’s treatment of Muslims.

It was routed and removed from bases in the western mountainous Rwenzori region, where its fighters had been attacking villages and torching schools in the early 2000s.

The remnants fled across the border, to the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Initially, ADF rebels there worked with local communities to set up businesses, which made them popular with many around the town on Beni, according to a 2011 UN report.

But that changed when they started attacking local Christian communities.

Tricked into rebel ranks It was after this time that Peter, who was living in Uganda, decided to go to DR Congo to look for a job. Someone had told him there was money to be made there.

He only realised the real reason he was lured across the border when armed men emerged from

Ugandan soldiers operating in the west of the country forced the ADF rebels across the border the bushes as he was travelling deep in DR Congo “Those are quick to volunteer themselves for and ordered him to march. missions. They have no fear, because they believe “I didn’t have a moment to absorb what was the teachings of going to Janaah [heaven]. Many happening. We took several modes of transport, are Congolese children, taken away from families including boats, before arriving at the training during attacks on villages,” he says. camp,” he told the BBC. Investigations by the UN Joint Human Rights “When you arrive they read you the rules: if Office show that between January 2019 and June you try to escape you will be beheaded, if you resist 2020, 1,066 civilians were killed and 59 children training you will be beheaded.” recruited by ADF in DR Congo’s North Kivu and Peter says MTM had pledged allegiance to IS Ituri provinces. at the time it was led Abu Bakr Baghdadi.

The ADF transformed into a group with a more He had come to prominence in 2014, global outlook when Musa Baluku, a Ugandan in announcing the creation of a “caliphate” in areas of his mid-40s, inherited the leadership.

Iraq and Syria - and led the group until 2019 when His predecessor had been arrested in 2015 in he killed himself during a US military operation.

Tanzania, which neighbours both DR Congo and “We would not do anything, like attack an Uganda, and was extradited to Uganda where he army barracks, before receiving orders from the is on trial. top,” Peter says.

“While Mukulu founded the ADF with the “All fighters know that their one leader is the intention of returning to Uganda to establish an head of IS. They are Allah’s army.”

Islamic government that would be the envy of ‘Fearless’ child fighters similarly minded militants around the world, Plotting an escape was tricky as it was Baluku wanted to position the ADF as part of a impossible to work with anyone without fear of broader global movement,” a recent report from being reported, he says the George Washington University’s Program on However, over time many of them became Extremism says. committed to the cause, seeing the AK-47 as “part In a video released via Mujahideen TV last of their body”, according to Peter. year, Baluku declared: “There is no ADF anymore.

Some of the most dedicated fighters were Allah willing, ADF ceased to exist a long time ago. children between 10 and 15 years old, he says.

“Currently, we are a province, the Central

Africa Province, which is one province among the numerous provinces that make up the Islamic State.”

Under his leadership, the organisation is said to have gained access to funding through IS financial networks.

In addition, between 2016 and 2017, ADF posted more than 30 videos across IS’s social media platforms, prominently featuring the MTM logo and showing that it was now part of an international jihadist movement.

When Kangbayi prison in Beni was attacked in October 2020 and more than 1,000 prisoners freed, both ADF and IS said they were behind it.

Baluku, who was added to the UN Security Council’s sanctions list in August 2020, seems to have attracted fighters from the Great Lakes region and beyond.

“The group’s objective is not just Uganda,” says Peter.

“Their target is having Islam dominate the whole world. There are Tanzanian fighters, Kenyans, Rwandans, Burundians, Somalis, even Arabs,” the former militant says.

Amnesty for fighters What is not clear following the recent attacks is whether the suicide bombers came across the border or whether they were recruited, trained and armed within Uganda.

The authorities say they have managed to dismantle what they call domestic terror cells across the country - from Rwenzori to Kampala’s slums, which indicates a widespread threat.

In its crackdown following last week’s attacks, the government has arrested more than 100 people and killed seven suspects.

It is also trying to entice militants away from a life of violence.

Peter finally made his escape a few months ago and has received an official pardon through Uganda’s Amnesty Commission, one of 23 ADF ex-combatants who have sought amnesty since 2019.

He received a small resettlement package worth around $100 (£75).

But he has not received any psychological support or rehabilitation and has found it difficult to find regular work.

Such issues will make it harder for the authorities to dismantle the emboldened militant network.

Source: BBC

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2021

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N e w s F r o m A SI A All 10 companies newly listed on Beijing Stock Exchange see their share prices surge

By Zhao Zhanhui, People’s Daily

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s of Nov. 19, the first batch of 81 companies debuted on the Beijing Stock Exchange (BSE), which officially started trading at 9:30 a.m. on Nov. 15, registered a cumulative combined trading volume of about 21.25 billion yuan (about $3.33 billion) since the first day of trading.

Among the 81 companies, 10 newly approved firms had seen their share prices rocket 123.91 percent on average, and the rest 71 companies transferred from the selected layer of China’s National Equities Exchange and Quotations (NEEQ), also known as the New Third Board, had recorded a cumulative total trading volume of 13.01 billion yuan since the opening of the new bourse.

The BSE focuses on serving innovation-oriented enterprises that are in its earlier development stages, have smaller scale and show stronger innovation, compared with China’s Science and Technology Innovation Board, commonly known as the STAR Market, and the ChiNext board, which were also launched to provide services for innovation-oriented enterprises.

Trading activities at the new Beijing bourse have met expectations. At the same time, the BSE has shown better liquidity than the selected layer of the New Third Board.

The new Beijing bourse will benefit innovation-oriented enterprises, which are considered dynamic market entities, with favorable policies and systems, Cheng Yongqing, chairman of the board of directors of the Beijing Tri-Prime Gene Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., said while addressing the opening ceremony of the BSE as a representative of the first companies debuted on the new bourse.

The first batch of 81 companies listed on the BSE has caught great attention. Although from different industries, these companies have fully

demonstrated the role of the BSE R&D expenditure 25.36 million by the four parallel sets of listing Photo shows the Beijing Stock Exchange located on the Beijing Financial Street in Xicheng district, Beijing, Nov. 15, 2021. (Photo by Fan Jiashan/People’s Daily Online) as a platform serving innovationoriented small and mediumsized enterprises (SMEs).

Standing out from more than 7,000 companies on the New Third Board, the 71 companies transferred from the selected layer of the New Third Board are star performers that enjoy sound business operations and relatively strong growth prospects.

Of the first batch of enterprises, 17 are “little giant enterprises” with specialized, sophisticated techniques and unique, novel products.

The first batch of enterprises cover 25 major industries of the national economy, and most are in the vanguard of industry segments. Their average research and development (R&D) intensity reaches 4.2 percent and

yuan.

A sound financing environment requires suitable systems. Within about two months during the preparations for the opening of the BSE, China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC), the country’s securities regulator, released six regulations and 13 normative documents, and the new bourse formulated 51 sets of systems and rules, fostering a more inclusive, flexible, and universally beneficial financing environment.

The inclusive and precise issuance and listing systems of the BSE accommodate the needs of different types of SMEs with different characteristics, said Tian Xuan, associate dean of the Tsinghua University PBC School of Finance.

The minimum market capitalization threshold required

standards of the BSE is 200 million yuan, much lower than the one billion yuan threshold of the STAR Market and the ChiNext board, Tian pointed out.

The new Beijing bourse also rolls out listing standards that focus on the growth potential and R&D capabilities of enterprises, offering more opportunities to businesses with strong innovation capability and high R&D expenditure, according to Tian.

Adopting the registrationbased initial public offering (IPO) system, the new exchange requires companies seeking listings to submit IPO applications to the BSE and register at the CSRC. The examination and approval procedures at the BSE take two months, one month less than the time needed at other stock

exchanges that also pilot the registration-based IPO system, such as the STAR Market and the ChiNext board.

As a newly established stock market, the BSE aims to, based on its market positioning and characteristics, improve the quality of listed companies from three main aspects, according to an executive of the new bourse.

First, the BSE will strengthen supervision on the entry of companies to the exchange.

It will earnestly implement the pilot registration-based IPO system, lay emphasis on information disclosure by listed companies, keep various arrangements in line with those of the STAR Market and the ChiNext board, ensure that its listing requirements are precise, inclusive and suitable for SMEs, and clarify responsibilities of various parties in IPO screening to avoid risks.

Second, the BSE will ensure that responsibilities of key entities are fulfilled. Corporate governance and information disclosure, among other aspects of the daily round of the new bourse, will be comprehensively aligned with main current regulatory arrangements for listed companies. The BSE will further make sure in continuous supervision that responsibilities of intermediaries, including sponsor institutions, are fulfilled. It will also require listed companies to shoulder the primary responsibility for standardizing operations so as to stimulate their endogenous power for improving their quality.

Third, the BSE will make sure channels of delisting are clear.

While fully tolerating inherent characteristics of SMEs, such as the fact that their performance is vulnerable to external influences, the exchange will resolutely remove companies in extreme situations from its register, including the ones that have seriously violated the law or are no longer able to continue its operations.

Communist Party of China to keep making new contributions to progress of human civilization

By He Yin, People’s Daily

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s a grand meeting carrying forward China’s past achievements into the future, the sixth plenary session of the 19th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) has attracted continuous attention from the international society.

The meeting adopted the Resolution of the CPC Central Committee on the Major Achievements and Historical Experience of the Party over the Past Century, which profoundly explains why the CPC was successful in the past and how it can continue to succeed in the future. The Resolution is an important reference for the international society to decode the success of the CPC. The Party’s endeavors over the past century have fundamentally transformed the future of the Chinese people, opened up the right path for achieving rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

The CPC has accumulated valuable historical experience over the past century. It has been upholding the Party’s leadership, putting the people first, advancing theoretical innovation, staying independent, following the

Chinese path, maintaining a global vision, breaking new ground, standing up for the Chinese people, promoting the united front, and remaining committed to self-reform.

In the world today, changes unseen in a century are accelerating, and the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation has entered a critical stage. At the special historic juncture, the review of the Party’s major achievements and historical experience over the past century demonstrated to the international society the capability of the CPC and why it is capable.

The sixth plenary session of the 19th Central Committee of the CPC, as well as the resolution it has passed, proved to the international society that the CPC, with robust leadership and strong governance, is the backbone of the Chinese people and the most reliable leader for uniting and guiding them in overcoming difficulties and forging ahead.

Over the past hundred years, at every historic juncture, the CPC has been able to analyze the situation from an overall, objective and forward-looking perspective, and set forth practical goals, tasks, policies and roadmaps. It

is the Party’s sound guidelines that have enabled it to carry out its work in a wellorganized and systematic manner.

Chandra Prakash Mainali, general secretary of the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist–Leninist), said the CPC is a great party that seeks truth from facts and values concrete actions.

Doraisamy Raja, General Secretary of the Communist Party of India, noted that the CPC has blazed a trail of socialism with Chinese characteristics by integrating Marxism with Chinese practices, and that’s why it is so successful.

Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era has chartered the course for the development of the CPC and China, and is conducive to global development and prosperity, said Andrei Vinogradov, head of the Center for Political Studies and Forecasting at the Institute of Far Eastern Studies, Russian Academy of Science.

Over the past hundred years, the Party has been consistent in building its organization, tightening its discipline and strengthening the rule of law. It has united tens of millions of Party members and organized hundreds of

millions of Chinese people, thereby ensuring that its decisions and plans are implemented in a timely, resolute and forceful manner.

First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba Central Committee and Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel called the CPC a political party that is both committed and flexible when facing huge challenges, and one that is peoplecentered and values comprehensive development, institutional construction and legal construction in all work procedures. He said China’s successful response to the COVID-19 pandemic and eradication of extreme poverty were a result of the CPC’s efforts to address people’s demands and work in an effective manner.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, also president of the ruling Serbian Progressive Party, noted that the creativity released by the CPC in the national construction of China has brought inspiration and hopes to the rest of the world.

The CPC has in the people its roots, its lifeblood, and its source of strength. The people are the Party’s greatest strength in governance. The Party has always been committed

to seeking happiness for the people, followed a people-centered philosophy, continuously worked to enhance people’s wellbeing, and inspired the people to work together and make progress.

Pakistani Prime Minister and Head of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, or Movement for Justice Imran Khan noted that the practice of the CPC proved that a political party is supported only when it serves the people wholeheartedly.

The cause of the CPC and the Chinese people constitutes an important part of the cause of human progress. Over the past century, the Party has secured extraordinary historical achievements on behalf of the people, profoundly altering the trends and landscape of world development.

The CPC will keep uniting and leading all Chinese people to work hard, forge ahead for a better future, and make tireless efforts to realize the Second Centenary Goal and the Chinese Dream of national rejuvenation. It will be able to continue contributing its wisdom and strength to the progress of human civilization.

Environment

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FG stops operations at Santa Barbara Oilfields

By Mashe Umaru Gwamna

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n a proactive measure to address the recent unfortunate oil spillage at Santa Barbara in Nembe Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, the Federal Government has directed the exploration company, AITEO Eastern Exploration and Production Company Limited (AEEPCo) to halt operations in the area until proper investigation is carried out and adequate measures put in place to ensure the safety of lives and property in the area.

This was contained in statement signed and issued

by Director, Press and Public Relations federal ministry of Enviroment, Saghir el Mohammed.

It can be recalled that the spill occured on November 5, 2021 in a form of fountainon

within the proximity of Opu Nembe Community at Well 1, Well Head located at the Southern Field of Sant Barbara.

Upon receipt of the report of the incident, a Joint Investigation Team (JIT) comprising the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regualtory Commission (NUPRC), Bayelsa State Ministry of Environment, Community representatives and Aiteo Eastern Exploration and Production Company was set up on November 6, 2021 to immediately address the situation. The exercise was inclusive because of inaccessibility to the well head location due to the hydrocarbon fumes that saturated the atmosphere in the area.

Consequently, the JIT directed AEEPCo to shut in

Rich countries foiling global efforts to stop tobacco smuggling – CSOs

By Mashe Umaru Gwamna

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ivil Society Organisations has alerted that rich countries are foiling global efforts to stop tobacco smuggling.

They said nations that are home to the largest tobacco corporations need to contribute more if countries are to recoup the US$47 billion lost to the illicit tobacco trade each year. That is the message that rang out of talks around the Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products which ended yesterday.

The message from antitobacco organisations - Corporate Accountability, and Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) echo the frustration of low- and middleincome countries during last week’s climate talks around the ongoing refusal of the world’s largest emitters to pay for the harms they’ve foisted on the rest of the planet. In the case of the illicit trade protocol, just a little over US$4 million in additional funds are required over the next two years to ensure vital treaty implementation plans are not reduced or abandoned altogether.

“We’re struggling to muster millions that could net the global community tens of billions in reversing the tobacco epidemic. It’s inexcusable,” says Daniel Dorado, tobacco campaign director for Corporate Accountability.

One upshot of this week’s talks is the establishment of a $25 million investment fund that could provide about $1 million annually for treaty implementation. But as with the Protocol Secretariat’s budget, it’s realization will require that countries not only fulfill assessed contributions (which many have failed to), but to increase their commitments.

Other sources of revenue may include no interest loans and contributions by new parties to the treaty. Though there are 182 parties to the World Health Organization’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC), only 64 parties have thus far adopted the illicit trade protocol.

The Protocol also has a provision to hold the tobacco industry legally liable for its historic complicity in tobacco smuggling. This could prove

an important deterrent to Big Tobacco and a means of resourcing antismuggling operations.

“Illicit trade is a global issue that requires a coordinated, global response,” Blanca Llorente, an economist with Fundación AnaásColombia. “It is clearly to the benefit of all parties to improve every country’s capacity to control illicit trade. Pooling resources is far more efficient than each country doing it alone.”

According to the Director-General of the World Health Organization, ending illicit trade would reduce cigarette consumption by two percent.

This would have the most profound public health benefits in the low- and middle-income countries where most tobacco users reside.

And as Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO FCTC Secretariat Head Dr. Adriana Blanco Marquizo, and other officials have punctuated in this week’s talks: for the Protocol to see such success, the industry can’t be allowed to meddle in its own regulation.

As at last week’s WHO FCTC talks, parties unified around a commitment to voluntarily disclose potential conflicts of interest, with the Latin America region taking the lead.

Some civil society organizations, like Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa, attributed the speed, efficacy, and consensus during Protocol talks to the seeming lack of industry presence.

“After two weeks of climate talks overrun by fossil fuel industry lobbyists, the difference in how these talks is conducted is palpable,” says Philip Jakpor of CAPPA “Big Tobacco is still doing everything it can to derail progress, but this treaty and protocol haven’t been captured by industry. Both have safeguards against industry interference. Both have and continue to make critical progress.”

The next Conference of the Parties (COP) on the WHO FCTC and Meeting of the Parties (MOP) on its illicit trade protocol will be in Panama in 2023.

For more information on both this month’s WHO FCTC COP and MOP, developments around global tobacco industry liability, and efforts to curb industry interference visit the Corporate Accountability resource hub.

the impacted asset (well head) for appropriate oil II response.

Accordingly, AEEPCo deployed booms and skimmers to contain the spill crude oil from spreading.

As at November 10, 2021, efforts to shut in the well has proven difficult due to inaccessibility. But in an effort to safeguard the environment and livelihood, staff from the NOSDRA’s Yenagoa Field Office were deployed to the site to monitor and give progress report on the measures being taken to address the issue.

There is further directives to AEEPCo to engage all relevant stakeholders in the spilled oil recovery process.

In this vein, 3000 barrels of emulsified crude oil have been recovered and held in a recovery barge. Also, additional booms were deployed by the

Clean Nigeria Associates, a Tier II response (CNA) System to work with the on-site recovery contractor.

Further effort yielded result as containment and recovery within the leak area have been reinforced by 15th November.

Clean Nigeria Associates (CNA) has mobilized to site for enhanced containment and recovery. Boot & Coots, mobilized for well control and securing. AEEPCo has secured temporary Work Permit for expatriates expected in the country for the activity. Logistics support and arrangement buildup for the Well kill activity is currently ongoing.

Based on JIT reports, a well control company (Kenyon International) was at the incident location for an onsite assessment. Meanwhile containment and recovery is

still on-going. It is instructive to note that the well head experts have arrived Nigeria and will commence work on the killing of the well tomorrow.

However, in order to ensure safety and guaranty future operations in the area

by AEEPCo, NOSDRA has mandated the company to carry out concrete actions to address the situation that include clean-up of impacted areas, remediation of spill site as well as damage assessment and post spill impact assessment.

The National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency through the Federal Ministry of Environment will keep the public informed of future developments on the spill incident with an effort to contained further spread and limit the effect on the environment.

WTD: FG calls for reawakening of societal consciousness on eco-friendly toilet

By Mashe Umaru Gwamna

T

he Federal Government has called on the reawakening of societal consciousness on the importance of having eco-friendly sanitary facilities in every household and ensuring proper management of sewage.

The State Minister of Environment Sharon Ikeazor made the disclosure recently in Abuja, to commemorate 2021 world toilet day and second anniversary of the Clean Nigeria :Use the Toilet in collaboration with Ministry of Water Resources, with the theme ‘Valuing Toilet’.

She urged Nigerians on the need to have a clean healthy toilets .

Ikeazor represented by the permeant Secretary ministry environment Engr.

Hassan Musa said this year’s celebration focuses on appreciating the importance and benefits of having toilets and sanitation system.

The minister explained that, the fact that, without toilet and sanitation system, the world would be filthy and unhealthy for living.

“Billions of people across the globe do not have access to toilet this has contribute massively to the human faeces that are not being captured or treated, hence, contaminating the water and soil that sustain human life thereby turning our environment into an open sewer”.

She also said the ending of open defecation by 2030 is one of the core mandates for commemorating the World Toilet day every year globally.

“I hereby charge government at all levels, Development Partners, Private sectors, etc to empower these professionals to effectively carry out their duties in the country for the attainment

of open defecation free Nigeria by 2030.”

She noted that toilets play a crucial role in creating a strong economy as well as improving health and protecting people’s safety and dignity especially women and girls, who need clean and separate facilities to manage menstruation.

“Using toilets prevents the germs in human excreta from entering the environment and protect the health of the entire community,” she said.

“Using toilets prevents the germs in human excreta from entering the environment and protect the health of the entire community,” she said.

She noted that the ministry and other stakeholders in efforts to ensure a sanitised environment ensure the nation took steps to deliver adequate sanitation and hygiene services to the citizenry prior the commemoration.

She identified the activities to include sanitary inspection of shopping Malls and sensitization of their managements, community outreach, awareness campaign to open defecation practicing communities in Chika community, on airport road and AMAC. She emphasized that with increased surveillance those public buildings that needed upgrade would have no choice than to do the needful.

She maintained that the issue of open defecation is not only on the Federal government level, we have the state, we have also the local government.

According to her,intersectoral collaboration is the way to go if we must achieve SDG 6 and end open defecation by 2025 in the country.

“Ending open defecation required a very big collaboration.

The ministry and others will

work together and all hands must be on deck.

The private sector is doing well but they can do better.

Individuals have a big role to play too not only the government. For example while on transit instead of urinating indiscriminately you can stop over in any restaurants.

“The ministry has already recently done inspection of shopping mall and schools, and we came about with a lot of findings.

“We are going to improve on our surveillance system and we are going to start making and shaming, maybe we will try to get some TVs and some radio station when we visit some bad places and show it to the world.

“May improve and make people sit up. All buildings in this country must be approved.

The number of toilets, door for exits the are all decided.

I believe also that from the approval system and drawings they should also follow up to ensure compliance”.

Also speaking, the minister of Water Resources,Sulemain Adamu said “It has been established that investment in sanitation yields a five-fold returns on investment.

“We must therefore prioritize investment and innovations towards improving sustainable access to sanitation and hygiene in our communities”.

He stated that, the adoption of Community Led Total Sanitation approach to generate demand for toilet, addressing the supply chain for construction of durable and improved toilet facilities through Sanitation Marketing is Key .

“As well as harnessing innovations across the sanitation service chain such as treatment and reuse of faecal waste are some of the strategies we have adopted in this regard”, he said

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2021

26

FEATURE

Kerala adoption row: A mother’s search for her missing baby in India

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mother’s year-long search for her missing baby in India came to an end on Wednesday when a court handed over the child to her. Soutik Biswas and Ashraf Padanna report on a scandal which has caused outrage and whipped up a political storm.

For more than two weeks now, a couple has been protesting outside an adoption agency in the southern state of Kerala, demanding the return of their missing child.

Amid pounding rains and under the glare of cameras, they have camped under a tarp on a thrumming thoroughfare in the capital, Thiruvananthapuram (formerly Trivandrum). When night falls, the couple retire to a Suzuki minivan, parked alongside the road.

The woman holds up a placard, saying “Give me my baby”. She says her family gave away her child for adoption without her consent, an accusation that her father denies.

On 19 October last year, Anupama S Chandran, gave birth to a boy, weighing about 2kg (4.4 pounds), in a local hospital.

The 22-year-old activist had braved social stigma by having a child out of wedlock with her already-married boyfriend, Ajith Kumar Baby, 34, who worked as a public relations officer in a hospital.

The relationship and the pregnancy had whipped up a storm in the woman’s family.

Having a child out of wedlock is anathema in India. Making matters more fraught was the fact that Anupama belongs to a dominant caste compared to Ajith, who’s a Dalit (formerly untouchables), who languish at the bottom of India’s rigid caste hierarchy. Inter-caste and interfaith marriages are frowned upon.

Yet both Anupama and Ajith hailed from what many Indians would regard as middle class, progressive families.

Both families were staunch supporters of the state’s ruling Communist Party of India (Marxist) - Kerala is a traditional redoubt of parliamentary

Anupama S Chandran alleges that her father took away her child without her consent

Anupama and Ajith met while working for the Communist party

separated from his wife by then - the couple had no children.

“It was not love at first sight or anything. We began as friends.

Then eventually we decided to live together,” Anupama said.

Last year, Anupama became pregnant and the couple decided to have the baby. “We never had doubts about having the baby. We were ready to become parents,” she said. She broke the news to her “shocked” parents a month-anda-half before she delivered. They persuaded her to return home to prepare for her pregnancy and forbade her to keep in touch with Ajith.

When Anupama was discharged from the hospital, her parents arrived to take her and the child home. They told her she would stay at a friend’s place and return home after the marriage of Anupama’s sister, which was three months away. They said they didn’t want inquisitive guests asking about a new-born in the house.

She claims that her father took the baby away on a car-ride back from hospital. “He told me he was taking the child to a safer place where I could meet him later,” she said.

“My bundle of joy just disappeared.”

The court handed over the baby to Anupama on Wednesday evening Communism.

Anupama’s father, a bank manager, was also a local party leader, while her grandparents had been prominent trade unionists and municipal councillors.

A physics graduate, Anupama, was the first woman to head the students’ union of Communist party in her college. Ajith was a leader of the party’s youth wing.

They had grown up up in the same neighbourhood and met while working for the Communist party. Three years ago, they began living together. Ajith said he was

Over the next few months, they shuttled her between two homes before taking her to her grandmother’s home, some 200km (124 miles) away from the city.

When she returned home to attend her sister’s wedding in February this year, she called Ajith and told him that their son was missing. Anupama said her parents had put her child up for adoption. She finally left their home in March and began living with Ajith and his parents. They also began looking for their child.

It turned out to be an ordeal.

At the hospital, they found that their child’s birth certificate contained the name of an unknown man - not Ajith - as the father. The police initially refused to register their complaint of a missing baby. Instead they told her they were investigating a complaint made by her father about Anupama “going missing” from her parent’s home.

In August, the police sprang a surprise on the couple. They said her father had informed them that Anupama had voluntarily given up the child for adoption.

The distraught couple now registered complaints with the ruling party, the chief minister, the adoption agency and the

state’s police chief. They also filed a police complaint against the state’s minister of culture Saji Cheriyan for allegedly defaming Anupama after he told a news channel that “her parents have done what everyone will do”.

Last month, Anupama and Ajith also went on news networks, narrating their experience.

Politicians and officials finally sat up and took notice. Opposition lawmakers raised a stink in the state assembly, saying this was an example of an “honour crime”. “It was an honour crime executed collectively by the state machinery,” said KK Rema, a female opposition legislator.

Anupama’s father, S Jayachandran, has defended his actions. “When something like this happens in our home, how do we handle it? I left the baby at the place where Anupama wanted him to be. She had no wherewithal to protect the child. We can’t do it either,” he told a news network.

“Anupama says the baby’s father is a man who has a wife.

How can I leave my daughter and her child with him? Anupama was not keeping well after giving birth.

So I entrusted the child with an adoption agency to look after it.”

Mr Jayachandran wondered how the family could keep an “illegal child”. He said he handed over the infant to the adoption agency only after taking the advice of the Communist party and a lawyer. When the anchor asked him if he had anything to tell his daughter, he said: “I don’t want to hear anything from her.”

Following the uproar, the police registered cases against six people, including Anupama’s parents, sister and brother-inlaw. They face charges of wrongful confinement, kidnapping and forgery: all have denied the allegations.

A court ordered DNA tests on a baby the adoption agency had handed over to a foster couple in Andhra Pradesh state in August this year. The infant was taken back from the adoptive parents and bought back to Trivandrum.

On Tuesday evening, Anupama and Ajith were told that their DNA matched with that of the baby. And they finally saw him briefly at a home for children run by a charity. They say they will continue their protest until the people responsible for “trafficking” the baby are punished.

The court heard the DNA evidence on Wednesday, and handed over the infant to the parents.

It has been a very tough year, say the couple. Anupama has worried incessantly about her child, who is more than a year old now.

“Isn’t it my right to choose with whom I should live and have a child?”

Source: BBC

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY NOVEMBER 25, 2021

PAGE 27

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2021

28

INTERVIEW

I was removed from Tetfund based on frivolous allegations -Prof Bogoro In this interview with our correspondent, the Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund, Prof. Suleiman Bogoro underscored the need to shore up research funding to Nigerian universities to boost national transformation and developement.

He gave insight into the annual N7.5 billion research grants and COVID-19 vaccine research among other issues Excerpts:

W

hy were you sacked a few months after assuming office and brought back later?

My first tenure of five years by law was aborted by my disengagement after just one year and 10 months, along with many others on the basis of frivolous allegations. At some point in time, the allegations and petitions against me were coming from virtually everywhere. Some of the times when I read some of the allegations, I knew some people just fabricated it just to see me out. It was bad an allegation that the then-Senate president asked the committee on education led by Senator Binta Marsi Garba of Adamawa State to investigate and report back to the whole house.

Firstly, the allegation was that as the executive secretary, I diverted N200 billion. They added that I used the money to finance the ruling party at that time which was PDP. I knew instantly that there was never a N200 billion missing in TETFund records. What I knew, however, was that there was N279.3 billion diverted, on the instruction of thenPresident Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, to the Minister of Finance, then Prof. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala to fund the ASUU negotiations and agreement.

Today, as I speak, there have been similar instructions of such money belonging to TETFund even by this government. I can confirm it. I have the records. It happens once in a while. The beauty of the entire thing is that the day I appeared before the senate committee, I told them, first and foremost, there was never N200 billion missing. Incidentally, most of the money was diverted between 2013 to pay the ASUU agreement mainly.

They also used part of it to give PTDF to pay the scholarship fees for some students under the scheme and another agency. At that time, I said I was not the executive secretary of TETFund, yet I was accused of diverting the money to give PDP for funding the elections. But then the election was in 2015 while the money was used in 2013. Ordinarily, you should know that the money couldn’t have been directed to the election. They just wanted to paint me negative.

They felt that a new government had come and if you want to finish the man, just link him with the allegation. I am saying this because it could be any of you accused wrongly for what you did not do in the near future.

The day I appeared before the Senate committee, as is the rule of formal protocol, I responded in writing, but when I appeared before the committee on tertiary institutions led by Senator Binta Marsi Garba, they had gone through all the documents, they asked the media to leave and decided to go into closed hearing with me so they could invite them back at the end of the engagement. This was because they were ashamed seeing me stand before them because I had destroyed all their arguments when I responded in writing with attachments and evidence.

When the Accountant General of the Federation came in, he told the members of the red chambers that all the documents I provided were correct while confirming that the money was diverted by the then president, instructing the minister of finance to comply. He disclosed to them that TETFund did not know because they were not informed about the money from the government treasury to settle ASUU. Unfortunately, it was while the investigation was ongoing that I was sacked because I knew that some people had vowed that they would remove me. It was somebody that wanted me to drop a bag of money in his house every week. I am sorry to say this, but I wouldn’t oblige him. Interestingly, exactly six months after I was sacked, they turned in their report exonerating me. I have the report for my children.

Luckily enough, each of the members of the senate spoke and not only exonerated me but also apologised because they went through the records and found out that I did not steal any money.

Where’s TETFund at the moment?

I met a TETFund that emerged from Education Trust Fund (ETF) and, a few days ago, gave credit to

September 24, 2020, we deliberately constituted 154 members made up of Nigerians in Nigeria and the diaspora. Some of the best researchers and academia, many from the industries, institutes and relevant centres of excellence of Nigeria, are there.

We involve the DG of NASENI, NOTAP Automotive Council, DICON in the military, and others. I made a case to the board of trustees to create a department for R&D for artificial intelligence.

Prof. Bogoro my predecessor, especially the transformation from ETF to TETFund. The education tax fund became TETFund in 2011 because we insisted because that was the original idea. The funds were applied to every sector of education- nursing schools, colleges of agriculture. Even the Nigerian Law Schools were benefiting from the ETF. We disagreed and got it corrected. In 1999 when President Olusegun Obasanjo put up the board of trustees under Eniola Olakunrin, unbelievably, you could now see the physical presence of the ETF. From 2011, we now insisted in ASUU that the fund should be applied in only public tertiary institutions which the monotechnics were benefitting, which was not right.

In the law of TETFund, as amended, we made sure it was only the universities, polytechnics and colleges of education, federal or state.

The effect of TETFund intervention became more manifest from 2011. With the emergence of TETFund, we now introduced academic staff training, though it was introduced in 2008. With TETFund taking over from the ETF, we focused more on the tertiary sub-sector, and there was more focus on physical infrastructure. Academic staff training and development became a priority because only 40 per cent of university lecturers had a PhD. By 2015, the percentage moved to 60 per cent. I can tell you, as it is now, most of our universities, particularly the first-generation universities, are getting close to between 85 and 90 per cent PhD holders.

The second- and third-generation (universities) have in the region of 70 – 90 per cent. We are hoping that very soon, you cannot be a lecturer without a PhD. We know that new universities have been emerging, and we are struggling to cope. When I came, however, I realised that too much emphasis had been placed on physical infrastructure. Yes, we needed classrooms and offices, and before TETFund came into being in 2011, there were no professorial offices. If you went to the universities, in fact, a professor’s office was similar to that of a messenger in any ministry, federal or state. Without exaggeration, it was as bad as that. It is TETFund that started what we now have decent and befitting professorial offices, and we prescribed and insisted on the must-haves in those offices. Today, virtually all public universities in Nigeria have professorial offices.

What are your thoughts on Nigerian universities’ rankings?

I will link that to infrastructural decay. The first question President Muhammadu Buhari asked in 2015 was why are Nigerian universities poorly ranked? When I came, I discovered that there was too much emphasis on physical infrastructure. It may

also interest you to know that there are two categories for research grants – Institution Based Research (IBR) with a ceiling of N2 million, then the National Research Fund, which is centrally controlled at TETFund. The IBR is given to institutions to manage largely for basic research. For applied research which we call problem-solving research, it has to be larger, which is N50 million. The problem, however, is that for eight years, from 2011 to 2019, only N4 billion was committed for research grant(s) of all Nigerian universities. I did not want that any longer. We had more money to build classrooms, lecture theatres, iconic senate buildings as if we were competing with the ministries with elegant buildings.

What about the content? I changed all that as I said we should not be working on seed money research grants to annual research grants, a case I presented to the board of trustees, and they approved. In 2019 we started with N5 billion, higher than all the eight years since the fund was started put together. Last year, we raised it to N7.5 billion, all at my discretion. This year, it is N8.5 billion. I actually wanted N10 billion, but the board chairman joked that if we leave the executive secretary, he will carry all the money for research because we politicians also want to see buildings. He, however, said that if they stop me, I will resign because I have not met the purpose I set for myself.

Are you satisfied with the impact of the interventions?

As I speak, the NRF, we are concluding on software to measure the impact of all NRF from when it started. We are now evaluating and will soon publish it. That of the IBR, at the institutional level, we will also proceed and see how we make it available to Nigerians. It may also interest you to know that it is my idea that we should harvest all postgraduate thesis and PhD in all our universities in Nigeria and dematerialise them, which simply means electronic copies or versions, and we have an inventory. We are handling only PG programmes for now but will come down to bachelor’s degrees. In the next 12 months, we should conclude on that project.

People are asking questions simply because they are not informed about the technology. We are putting more money into research. As a researcher, if you are hard-working, you will never be poor. If you have watched me, I have always talked about problemsolving research.

For too long, the academia, our universities, remember that the universities are traditionally and historically the leaders in research. That cannot change, and it has remained so. For industries, if you see the Research and Development Funding Committee the Minister of Education inaugurated

How has TETFund been assisting institutions in solving the COVID-19 pandemic?

Today, I brought a team and released N1.25 billion. Let me tell you the first cluster that is being led by National Veterinary Research Institute (NVRI) on vaccine production, with bias on veterinary vaccine against viral diseases as it were. The other one is improving the drug and vaccine production infrastructure in NVRI, Vom. The first partner working with them is NIMAR in Yaba, Lagos.

Again, the DG for the National Research Institute for Chemical Technology, they were carefully brought for the cluster in veterinary.

The other one is the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research on drug development, the Defence Industries research and dairy research and development. Prof. Lawal Bilbis of the University of Sokoto said we should give them 18 months “we are going for candidate vaccine against COVID. Chemists in this country respect him. We work together in the TETFund journals sub-committee.

These are the brilliant guys we have brought together.

Redeemers University has gone far also on DNA sequencing, which is a component leading for the characterisation of vaccine production. I can tell you that our universities have had capacities. The major problem is that they did not have the money for the research and proper investigations. Honestly, what I don’t like is for somebody to imagine that Nigeria can’t produce vaccines. We have been producing vaccines. The truth is that we are not funding it.

The R&D of TETFund has recommended a national R&D foundation that will be the largest funding basket for research in Nigeria. At the moment, TETFund is the largest research funding entity. We are holding the largest research grant in Nigeria. I can tell you that we in Nigeria are not funding research. It is that poor hence we are making a case for the NRDF that can have up to $5 billion annually. The Dangotes, the Innosons, the government agencies must have R&D funds prescribed with a certain percentage. You cannot use that money for anything else. The industries, if they have that money, must go to the universities, the polytechnics and invite the best hands in research science, investigators, and they are there.

We have gone far, a committee chaired by Prof.

Awal Yadudu, they are giving me their report. It will go to the ministry; the Federal Executive Council and Mr. President will approve it before transmitting it to the National Assembly. If we have an NRDF emerging in the next few months, we would have solved a major problem.

The knowledge economy in the 21st century is driven by research, and where there is no research, there cannot be value addition. Today, go to the universities you will see that the attitude has changed. People are now more preoccupied. If we don’t do it, we cannot be ranked.

What are the criteria for ranking?

First is the quality of faculty – the quality of the lecturers. No matter how brilliant a lecturer is, if there are no facilities for research, you go to a laboratory and the equipment there was bought 50 years ago when it is now soft-touch, cuttingedge equipment used in other parts of the world, how can you be competitive? The next option is the quality of research equipment. Today, TETFund gave molecular labs to the universities for research and clinical purposes so that they can conduct research and use it to conduct analyses on patients.

PEOPLES DAILY

Sports

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29

sports@peoplesdailyng.com, SMS- 08142929046

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2021

Victor Osimhen ruled out of 2021 Africa Cup of Nations

By Amaechi Agbo

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uper Eagles will be without their prolific striker, Victor Osimhen in the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON in Cameroon in January after the Napoli of Italy striker, Tuesday underwent successful facial surgery which would keep him out of action for three months.

Sporting Club Napoli confirmed that their prized asset would be unavailable for at least 90 days as he recuperates from the facial surgery.

The 22-year old former Lille of France starman was diagnosed with multiple displaced facial fractures after a clash of heads with Inter defender Milan Skriniar on Sunday.

Napoli coach Luciano Spalletti had earlier said that the striker could be back as early as December 19 but the club has confirmed that Osimhen will spend more time on the sideline than earlier projected “Titanium plates and screws were used in the operation,” Napoli said on their website.

“The player is doing well and will remain under observation for the next few days.”

The news will be a blow for both club and country, with Osimhen in a rich vein of form at the moment.

Osimhen, who is Napoli’s top scorer this season with nine goals in 14 appearances, was substituted in the 52nd minute following a nasty clash of heads with Inter’s Milan Skriniar.

Napoli face Spartak Moscow in Europa League tomorrow and Spalletti must cope without Osimhen, Zambo Anguissa and Lorenzo Insigne, who hasn’t trained with the team due to knee problems.

Osimhen’s is a fatal blow to Nigeria’s as they aim to win their 4th Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON trophy in Cameroon next year.

Osimhen played pivotal role in Super Eagles qualification to the continental showpiece as he scored a join highest scorer 5 goals but would now miss what would have been his second appearance at the biennial competition.

The ex VfL Wolfsburg of German scored a goal each against Liberia and Cape Verde as the Super Eagles booked a place in the play-off of the 2022 World Cup qualifying series.

Victor Osimhen

2022 AWCON Qualifier: 29 Falcons train in Abuja ahead of Ivory Coast matches

By Amaechi Agbo

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wenty-nine players of the Nigeria National female football team, the Super Falcons began training in Abuja on Tuesday ahead of their 2022 Africa Women’s Cup of Nations, AWCON qualifiers next year.

The Super Falcons will take on the Lady Elephants of Ivory Coast in the last qualifying first leg on February 13th while the return leg will hold in Abidjan Ivory Coast 4 days later.

The team had their 3rd training session at the Goal Project of the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Package B Abuja on Wednesday morning after they had two sessions on Tuesday.

Coach of the side, Randy Waldrum invited 30 players to camp for blending ahead of the all-important qualifiers.

However, 29 players reported to camp with the exception of goal poacher, Gift Monday. Her reasons for not reporting to camp was not stated at the time of this report.

“The Super Falcons are in a training camp in Abuja ahead of crucial qualifying matches against Ivory Coast.

“We have 29 players in camp , only expecting Gift Monday (NWFL Premiership highest goal scorer) “We had our 3rd training session this morning,” the media officer said in a post on Facebook.

The nine-day camping which is aimed at further improving the bond, affinity and familiarity among the group as well as the curation of tactical and technical methods that would work best for the squad in match situations with 15 home girls and 15 foreign – based stars started on Monday 22nd November and will climax on 30th November,

Super Falcons in training ahead of Ghana clash in October 2021 .

Leading the home girls are forwards Gift Monday and Vivian Ikechukwu, who scored two goals each during the Aisha Buhari Invitational Tournament in Lagos in September, and there are also goalkeeper Onyinyechukwu Okeke, defender Akudo

Ogbonna, midfielder Goodness Onyebuchi and forward Mary-Ann Ezenagu.

Defender Onome Ebi leads the overseas based crew, alongside midfieder Rasheedat Ajibade, defenders Patricia George and Ashley Plumptre and forward Desire Oparanozie.

Super Falcons reached the last qualifying

round after a laboured 2-1 aggregate win against the Black Queens of Ghana. They won the first leg 2-0 but lost the second leg 1-0 in Accra.

Super Falcons are the most successful team in the continent having won the competition a record nine times

PAGE 30

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Three Africans in the running for World Athlete of the Year Awards

K

enyan duo, Faith Kipyegon and Eliud Kipchoge along with Uganda’s Joshua Cheptegei have all been named on the final shortlists for the World Athlete of the Year awards.

World Athletics has cut down the original lists of nominees, for the men’s and women’s awards, announced in October from 10 to five.

The winners of the two main awards and those in other categories will be named at a virtual ceremony on 1 December.

Kipyegon, 27, won the Olympic 1500m title in August, becoming only the third woman to retain her title after becoming a mother in-between Games.

Cheptegei’s nomination came after a year in which the 25-yearold became the 5,000m Olympic champion and also won 10,000m silver in Tokyo.

Already a two-time World Athlete of the Year, Kipchoge, 36, won the men’s marathon title at the Olympics, so furthering his domination of the event.

Not only does the Kenyan hold the world record but the two-time Olympic gold medallist is also the only man to have run the distance in under two hours, in assisted conditions in 2019.

There are four Africans on the shortlists for the Rising Star Awards, for under-20 athletes.

Nominated in the women’s category are Namibian sprinter Christine Mboma and Ethiopian steeplechaser Zerfe Wondemagegn.

Aged just 18 Mboma shot to prominence when she won silver in the 200m at the Olympics and broke the under-20 world record for the distance three times in Tokyo.

Wondemagegn, 19, won silver at the Under-20 World Championships in Kenya, after having finished eighth in the Olympic final.

Among the men are Kenya’s 800m specialist Emmanuel Wanyonyi and Ethiopian longdistance runner Tadese Worku.

Wanyonyi, at the age of 17, won gold at the Under-20 World Championships on home soil as he set the fastest time of the year for an under-20s athlete.

Worku’s success came both on the track and the road as the 18-year-old won the Under-20 World Championship gold for 3000m and silver over 5000m as well setting a senior national record for the 10km.

A voting process involving World Athletics members and an online poll will determine which individuals make the final shortlist for the event.

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2021

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Karim Benzema jailed one year, fined $84, 000 over rape R eal Madrid striker, Karim Benzima has been found guilty of being complicit in attempted rape blackmail and handed a one-year suspended prison sentence and an $84,000 fine.

A French court gave the judgement on Wednesday after he was found to be complicity in a bid to blackmail his former France team-mate Mathieu Valbuena with a sex tape.

However, his lawyer has announced that he’s going to appeal the decision: “It was clearly shown by the tribunal that Karim Benzema wasn’t aware of any plans beforehand.

We’re quite stunned by this judgement. It requires appeal.

He’ll be found innocent upon appeal.”

The sentence was tougher than that sought by prosecutors against the 33-year-old star over the 2015 extortion attempt, which led Benzema to be cast out of the France team for five-and-ahalf years.

Benzema was not in court in the Paris suburb of Versailles for the verdict, which comes hours before Real Madrid take on Sheriff Tiraspol in a Champions League game in Moldova.

He was not accused of being behind the extortion attempt

Karim Benzema

but rather of conspiring with the suspected blackmailers by putting pressure on Valbuena to pay them off.

The court ruled that he had “implicated himself personally, through subterfuge and lies, to convince his team-mate to submit to the blackmail.”

It added that he had shown “no kindness towards Valbuena”, as he had claimed, “just the opposite” and had

even appeared to take pleasure in his fellow player’s demise.

His defence team immediately announced plans for an appeal.

Speaking to reporters at the courthouse, one of his lawyers, Sylvain Cormier, said he was “stunned” by the sentence which he called “very severe, unfair and unfounded”.

A second lawyer, Antoine Vey, said that Benzema, who

did not attend his trial, would “come and explain himself” when the case went to an appeal.

The prosecution had called for Benzema to be given a 10-month suspended sentence.

Benzema was one of five people tried over the ultimately unsuccessful attempt to blackmail Valbuena with a sexually explicit video stolen from his phone.

Osimhen’s injury is a blow for Super Eagles - Yobo

S

uper Eagles assistant coach, Joseph Yobo has described the absence of Victor Osimhen from the team in the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON in Cameroon next year as “a blow” to the three-time champions.

Osimhen was on Tuesday ruled out of the biennial competition after he underwent successful facial surgery following injury he sustained while playing for his club Napoli against rivals Inter Milan on Sunday in the Italian Serie A. The 22-year-old was forced off as Napoli lost 3-2 to Inter Milan following a clash of heads with Milan Skriniar.

A statement from his Serie A club confirmed Osimhen had a successful surgery but would be out of action for at least three months.

Reacting to his injury, Yobo who captained the team to her third AFCON title in South Africa in 2013 said it was shocking news.

“It is shocking to hear that such an integral part of the national team is going to be missing the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations.

“He is a big player, but his health is more important. It is

a blow for the national team.

“Osimhen is a young lad who has a lot of potential and is still developing. I had a chat with him recently and I reminded him of how great he could be. I wish him a

speedy recovery.

“His talent is unmeasurable, his presence, his energy and what he brings to the team as a no.

9 is frightening,” Yobo told Goal.

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2021

PAGE 31

. . . putting the people first

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2021

SPORTS LATEST

13 Weightlifters suspended ahead of World Weightlifting Championship

By Amaechi Agbo

N

o fewer than 13 weightlifters have been provisionally suspended weightlifting ahead of the World Weightlifting Championship in Uzbekistan following doping violations The International Weightlifting Federation, IWF announced last week through International Testing Agency, ITA, that the 13 athletes who were found to have violated the anti-doping rules during 2012 said the affected lifters have been suspended pending the resolution not the analyses.

The International Testing Agency (ITA), leading an independent antidoping program for the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF), detected anti-doping rule violations against 13 Weightlifters after the re-analysis of samples collected in 2012.

In the scope of the work carried out by the ITA on the series of allegations of mishandling of anti-doping matters by the International Weightlifting Federation (“IWF”) over the 2009-2019 period, the ITA ordered further analysis on samples provided by weightlifters during the 2012 IWF European Championships in Antalya, Turkey, held in April 2012.

The samples had initially been reported as “negative” back in 2012, but thanks to the improvements in the detection methods, the ITA requested their re-analysis in 2021 which identified several banned anabolic steroids. The further analyses were conducted by the WADA-accredited laboratory of Cologne.

The ITA can report that it has notified 13 weightlifters of adverse analytical findings for one or multiple prohibited anabolic steroids detected in their respective samples provided in April 2012: Hysen Pulaku (Albania) Hanna Batsiushka (Belarus) Dimitris Minasidis (Cyprus) Irakli Turmanidze (Georgia) Rauli Tsirekidze (Georgia) Cristina Iovu (Moldova) Florin Ionut Croitoru (Romania) Razvan Constantin Martin (Romania) Oxana Slivenko (Russia) Gokhan Kilic (Turkey) Bunyami Sezer (Turkey) Hatice Yilmaz (Turkey) Fatih Baydar (Turkey) The weightlifters have been provisionally suspended until the resolution of the affair.

The weightlifters have the right to ask for their respective B-sample analysis.

Pursuant to the IWF’s delegation of its anti-doping program to the ITA, the prosecution of these cases is being handled entirely by the ITA. Given that the cases are underway, there will be no further comments during the ongoing proceedings.

Taye Taiwo and Oduamadi

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Raising the bar in healthcare practice (II)

T

oday, we’ll round off the last part of this topic. I am continuing it against popular demands and persuasion from numerous followers and readers, to discuss either Anambra election or the #EndSARS judicial panel report.

Those were current affairs.

But this space is not all about current affairs. It inclines more to discourses on topical issues across all sectors of national and international life. I resisted them for obvious reasons.

First, Anambra guber election was a shamble outing, not just because whenever INEC says they are ‘ready’, the exact opposite obtains in the field, but due to record-breaking voter apathy that markedly trailed it, yet many hail it as a success.

How could a state with more than 2million voters sit back and allow a fraction of less than 5% of the registered voters determine the fate of the whole state?

A great Anambra son, former FRSC Boss, and former Aviation minister, Osita Chidoka’s reaction summed my opinion: “You sat at home screaming No Elections, 104,037 voters determined the Governor of Anambra State, less than 5 per cent of registered voters. The elected Governor will oversee state budget of at least 400 billion Naira over the next four years. If you add Local Government funds, it will be over 700 billion Naira.

You sat at home and said voting does not count, the election is already rigged. Two hundred nineteen thousand five hundred and eighteen persons (219,518) less than 10% of registered voters went out, and the parties bought votes from between 1000 and 5000 Naira per vote.

If voters don’t count, why did the Politicians buy votes?

At an average of 3,000 per vote, a Governor can be elected with less than 350 million Naira by a hungry minority. If 1m voters had come out, it would have been difficult...”

Secondly, I avoided discussing the #EndSARS report because, I could not resist being emotional each time I reflect on that most patriotic civil match ever, in the anal of our history that exposed the despotism of our leaders. And as a writer, emotions should not mingle with your sentiments, otherwise your judgements would be fraut with logical errors and misconstrued by sane minds.

So, let’s continue with the epilogue of last week’s discourse on the obloquious opprobrium of quackery in our healthcare practice. We had implicated the dangers of amateurish infiltration of health care by jackleg practitioners previously.

0806 564 8620 0814 292 9046 0803 587 5846 08074420617

Guest Columnist By

Jude Eze This piece will tone up as open letter to all regulatory agencies of the various professional medical/health workers. The Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN), Radiographers Registration Board of Nigeria (RRBN), Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN), Medical Laboratory Council of Nigeria (MLSCN), Medical Rehabilitation and Physiotherapist Board of Nigeria (MRTBN), Pharmaceutical Council of Nigeria (PCN), Medical Records Registion Board of Nigeria (MRRBN) etc had in their respective complacency been accomplices to quackery of any sort in Nigeria. These sleeping giants need to wake up if we are to make any headway.

On the part of the patients (who can be me or you), there is need for them to know their rights. They should learn to demand their rights. Ask questions bordering on what, why and how their care is being or will be administered. There is a thing called Patients’ Bill of Rights (PBoR) launched by the federal government in July, 2018. It empowers the patients and tasks healthcare givers the rights and obligations of getting the best, and giving out correct information regarding treatments respectively.

That document has not been implemented since its launch.

And some healthcare operators are taking undue advantage of the situation to take toll on the patients. Nigeria’s problem has always been implementation of laws. Recall the presidential executive order, eight months ago, which empowered law enforcement agencies to

“

arrest and prosecute anyone not complying with Covid-19 prevention protocols. Till date, there is no implementation.

PBoR presents the needed checks on practitioners in diverse fields of medicine against abuse of rights/privileges. The era of physicians posing like unquestionable maximum arbiter of life and death should have gone, if this bill had taken full force. Patients will leverage on available medico-legal instruments to probe their loved one’s management by health workers. Questions like: “what was the provisional diagnosis?

What is the Laboratory and radiodiagnostic test results? what is the relevance of drug prescriptions to clinical manifestations? Are referrals made in tandem with clinical diagnosis?” etc will arise PBoR also checkmates the evil of kickbacks and rebaits in healthcare practice.

Physicians and other healthcare professionals are in position to refer business to a variety of individuals and entities: specialists, home health agencies, and others. But what criteria are used when deciding where patient referrals should go? Is it always what is in the best interest of the patient? Are there other unethical and pecuniary motivating factors?

Have you ever reported sick to a clinic and found yourself being refered to another clinic for a particular procedure, be it diagnostic or curative? Chances are high that someone has made thousands of naira off your coffers by that referral, as an inducement called ‘kickback’ which is the payment to a recipient as compensation or

If voters don’t count, why did the Politicians buy votes? At an average of 3,000 per vote, a Governor can be elected with less than 350 million Naira by a hungry minority. If 1m voters had come out, it would have been difficult...”

reward for providing ‘favorable’ treatment or services to another party. It can come in the form of money, gifts, credit or anything of value and may be viewed as a corrupt practice that interferes with professional’s ability to make unbiased decisions.

Paraphrased, it is the underhand reward by a healthcare provider for anyone (mostly his/ her colleagues) that refers a patient/client to patronize his/her facility/services.

Some investigative studies released by Premium Times last year exposed the unsettling fact that most healthcare businesses in Nigeria are sullied by the evil of kickbacks.

There are threefold demerits of kickback.

First, it runs against the Hippocratic oath, by increasing the burden of the patient, akin to the adage of “curing someone with pills and killing him with bills.”

Second, it leads to compromise in the treatment the patient receives. The accuracy, precision and merits of the choice of referrals are questionable. For instance, patients will not be refered to the Laboratory facility that doesn’t give kickback even though it offers the best diagnostic service, but will be deceived (or prevailed upon) to patronize the one that may not meet the patient’s health demands, just because it played the underhand game of inducement.

Third, it is also a dehumanizing to use patients like commodities (slaves) to satisfy pecuniary interests.

It is the more reason why there is much clamour for ISO accreditation of all public and private healthcare facilities in the country, because kickback is outlawed by ISO codes.

In all, it is unethical to engage in kickbacks, whether as a receiver or giver.

DAN GAYE DANGAYE

NDLEA proposes N300bn for 10000 barracks across 36 States, FCT -News

A budget of a country!

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