THURSDAY 12TH MARCH 2020

Buhari: I Have No Hand in Sanusi’s Dethronement Kano govt denies banishing former emir, says claim of right abuse premature

Omololu Ogunmade, Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja and Ibrahim Shuaibu in Kano President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday refuted a claim that he was instrumental to the

dethronement of former Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi II, describing such insinuations as untrue, malicious and politically motivated. Apparently responding

to an allegation by a former governor of Kano State, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, claiming Buhari was behind the dethronement, presidential spokesman, Malam Garba Shehu, said

in a statement in Abuja that the president had a history of not intervening in state affairs unless national security is involved. The presidential disclaimer coincided with the Kano State

government’s clarification that it did not banish Sanusi, saying the claim that his right had been abridged was premature. Responding to the growing outrage over Sanusi's banishment, the

state’s Attorney General, Mr. Ibrahim Muktar, said the state government was not behind the former emir's forcible relocation to Nasarawa State. Continued on page 8

Court Restrains APC Officials from Interfering with NEC Meeting... Page 5 Thursday 12 March, 2020 Vol 25. No 9103. Price: N250

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WHO Declares Coronavirus Outbreak Pandemic Martins Ifijeh with agency reports

CEMENTING THE FUTURE... L-R: Director, Communications, Public Affairs & Sustainable Development, Lafarge Africa, Ms. Folashade Ambrose-Medebem; Special Adviser to Lagos State Governor on SDGs & Investments, Ms. Solape Hammond; Chief Executive Officer, Lafarge Africa, Mr. Khaled El Dokani; Governor Babajide SanwoOlu; Lagos State Commissioner for Works & Infrastructure, Mrs. Aramide Adeyoye; and Head of Geocycle, Lafarge Africa, Mr. Daniel Adedokun, during Lafarge management’s visit to the governor in Lagos…yesterday

For rapidly spreading across the world, the World Health Organisation (WHO) yesterday declared coronavirus, otherwise known as Covid-19, a pandemic, acknowledging that the virus might likely spread to all countries on the globe. WHO Director-General, Mr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said in Geneva that the situation would worsen. Continued on page 8

Amidst Oil Price Crash, FG Says No Cause to Panic Emefiele: Banking sector credit rises to over N17.4tn NNPC targets production cost reduction Dangote tasks govt on economic diversification Obinna Chima and James Emejo in Abuja The federal government yesterday allayed fears of an economic crisis in view of the effects of the crash in global oil prices and the

Coronavirus epidemic on the nation’s economy. Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed, called on Nigerians not to panic as the drastic fall in global oil price threatens the country’s

2020 budget as well as its macroeconomic stability. She gave the assurance just as the Central Bank of Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, said the CBN had already embarked on measures to significantly

reduce lending rates, which have resulted in total banking credit rising to over N17.4 trillion as of January. Also, the Group Managing Director, Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mallam Mele Kyari,

has expressed the corporation’s readiness to strategically put in place measures that would reduce the cost of crude oil production in Nigeria to create a market for Nigeria’s crude and make the country a choice destination for Foreign Direct

Investment (FDI). He, however, said the country should plan for the possibility of a further drop in crude oil price, saying “we haven’t seen the bottom yet.”

FG Declares ASUU Strike Illegal, Act of Corruption...

Continued on page 8

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NEWS Court Restrains APC Officials from Interfering with NEC Meeting Group News Editor Ejiofor Alike

Email Ejiofor.Alike@thisdaylive.com, 08066066268

Obaseki convenes South-south summit Alex Enumah and Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja There was a new twist yesterday to the crisis in the ruling All Progressives

Congress (APC) as a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) restrained the party’s National Legal Adviser, Mr. Babatunde Ogala, and two other executive members of

10 Killed in Benue, Ebonyi Boundary Clash Benjamin Nworie in Abakaliki About 10 persons have been killed in Ndiagu Orie, UmuguduAkpu Ngbo community in Ohaukwu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, following an attack by the Agila people of Ado Local Government Area of Benue State. THISDAY gathered yesterday that the attack occurred on Tuesday despite heavy security presence in the area. The attack came barely two weeks after a naval officer from Agila disappeared at Ngbo where he was last seen. Investigation revealed that four members of the family of a staff of the Ebonyi State Broadcasting Corporation (EBBC), Mrs. Pauline Nwaneri, were reportedly killed in the latest incident. THISDAY also learnt that some family members of the Public Relations Officer (PRO), Ebonyi State Ministry of Information, Mr. Eugene Ebenyi, were among the victims of the attack. The incident also caused destruction of property worth millions of naira. Confirming the incident, the Ebonyi State Police Command said the attack arose from renewed communal crisis between Agila and Ngbo. In a statement issued by the spokesman of the command, Ms. Loveth Odah, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), the police attributed the crisis to a re-enactment of the age-long border crisis between the two warring communities, which has led to loss of lives and destruction of property. She said the people of Agila, numbering about 35, attacked the people of Ndiegu Orie in Umuogudu Akpo Ngbo, adding that the police swiftly mobilised to the area and “discovered that one Fidelis Ali Omem, 70 years old, one Helen Ali, 55yrs old and seven others had been murdered while one Titus Ugadu, 50 years

old, was wounded and admitted to the hospital. "The Commissioner of Police, Ebonyi State, Mr. Awosola Awotinde, undertook a tour to the crisis areas where he admonished the people to remain calm and not to carry out any action that will further jeopardise the peace process already initiated by the government, both at the state and federal level, especially the anticipated arrival of the National Boundary Adjustment Commission slated to visit Makurdi on March 26, 2020, for demarcation, as it is an age-long dispute that has defied previous peace initiatives. But the government of the day is working assiduously towards finding a permanent solution to it. Members of the public should not allow themselves to be manipulated and misled by agents of darkness using social media," she added. Odah noted that security had been beefed up in the area with the deployment of riot policemen to avert further breakdown of law and order. She appealed to the people of Ebonyi State to remain calm and law-abiding as the Police are doing everything possible to ensure the safety of lives and property in the troubled communities. Meanwhile, the Chairman of Ohaukwu Local Government Area, Mr. Clement Odah, said nine persons were killed in the attack. He accused the people of Agila of flouting the peace pact reached between the two communities. Odah also called on the NBC to hasten up with the boundary demarcation to forestall further loss of lives. According to him, "It is a thing of worry and shock that in spite of the efforts put so far, this magnitude of injury will be done to our people. We feel very bad about it. We condemn the killings.

the APC from interfering with the scheduled meeting of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party slated for March 17, 2020. Ahead of the emergency NEC meeting of the ruling party, the Governor of Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, will today hold a consultative meeting with the leaders of the party from the Southsouth. Also restrained alongside Ogala are the National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Lanre Issa-Onilu, and ‘National Secretary,’ Mr. Waziri Bulama. Justice S. U. Bature restrained the trio while ruling on an ex-parte application filed by the party’s National Vice Chairman (North-east), Mr. Mustapha Salihu. The motion marked: CV/1385/2020 was filed and argued on behalf of Salihu by his lawyer, Mr. Afamefuna Ekekwe. Also sued as the fourth defendant is the APC. Salihu in the ex-parte

application prayed the court for: "An order restraining the 1st, 2nd and 3rd defendants either by themselves or agents or any member of the APC from interfering with, disturbing or taking any steps or action described howsoever towards disrupting the meeting of the National Executive Committee convened by the 4th defendant, National Working Committee members, scheduled for March 17, 2020 or any subsequent date pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice already filed." He also prayed the court to compel the APC to give effect to the resolution of the NWC convening the NEC meeting of the APC scheduled for March 17, 2020. In his ruling, Justice Bature granted the application as prayed and adjourned till March 20, 2020, for the hearing of the motion on notice. He also ordered the service of the originating summons

and all processes in the matter on the defendants through substituted means - any adult at the office of the Deputy National Secretary at the APC's National Secretariat at No. 40 Blantyre Crescent, Wuse 2, Abuja.

Obaseki Convenes APC South-south Meeting Meanwhile, ahead of the emergency NEC meeting of the APC, scheduled for next week, Obaseki will today hold a consultative meeting with the leaders of the party in the South-south. It was gathered that the meeting is part of the plan to discuss the embattled National Chairman of the APC, Mr. Adams Oshiomhole, whom he has been at loggerhead with. However, the Vice-Chairman of the APC in the South-south, Mr. Hilliard Eta, in a statement yesterday distanced the leaders of the party in the region from

the meeting. He said the governor had no powers to call such a meeting. Eta stated: “I saw the invitation the governor is sending out to people inviting them for a meeting. But I am calling on all our party leaders to shun the meeting because he has no right to convene such a meeting. I am the South-south vice chairman of the party and any APC leadership meeting is convened by me. “I have also communicated to our political leader in the zone, the Deputy Senate President, Senator Ovie OmoAgege, and he is not aware of any such a meeting. So, we are calling on all our leaders not to attend any such meeting because it is ill-conceived and ill-motivated.� Eta urged all stakeholders, including Obaseki to follow the constitution of the party, which he said is supreme, stressing that any meeting called by him without the proper procedure is null and void.

GOING FOR GROWTH... L–R: Minister of Transportation, Hon. Rotimi Amaechi; Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola; Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed; and Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr. Godwin EmeďŹ ele, at the Going for Growth Conference in Abuja‌yesterday godwin omoigui

FG Opens Sowore’s Trial in Treasonable Felony Charge Alex Enumah in Abuja The federal government yesterday opened its case in the trial of convener of #RevolutionNow protest, Mr. Omoyele Sowore, by calling its first witness, one Mr. Rasheed Olawale, an operative of the Department of State Service (DSS). Sowore and Olawale Bakare are standing trial on a two-count charge bordering on treasonable felony. They were initially arraigned by the DSS last September but the Ministry of Justice later took over the prosecution of the case. Led in evidence by

prosecution counsel, Aminu Alilu, the first prosecution witness (PW1), disclosed that he led the team of operatives who arrested Sowore last August in Lagos. According to the witness, Sowore was arrested around 1 am at Montana residence and hotel at 16 Oduduwa road GRA Ikeja, Lagos. He said Sowore was arrested following intelligence report that he (Sowore) had planned to carry out a revolution along with his associates on August 5, 2019, against the democratic government of Nigeria. Speaking further, the witness said their “investigation

report revealed that Sowore was in Maryland with his associates and cohorts, making graphic inscriptions tagged #RevolutionNow on the wall of Maryland bridge. “He was sensitising passersby of the particular day for the protest and what they planned to do. He also claimed that the government of the day would cease to exist through the procession". At this stage, lead counsel to the first defendants Mr Femi Falana SAN raised an objection, claiming that the witness was given evidence not contained in his earlier statement which was served on the defence team.

Falana argued that the defendant is entitled to know the entirety of the case, adding that it was for that reason they demanded the full statement of the witnesses as enshrined in section 36(6) of the 1999 constitution as amended. The senior lawyer submitted that allowing the evidence would amount to an “ambush� against his client. He urged the court to direct the prosecution counsel to limit the witness to his earlier statement. However, prosecution counsel in a quick response said that the law allows them to only serve a “summary� of a witness'

statement on the defence. Alilu then urged the court to allow the witness continue with his evidence, adding that the defence would also get the opportunity to cross-examine the witness. In a short ruling, trial jyudge, Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu, held that the witness was giving his testimony outside the scope of his written statement made earlier. She said although the witness does not have to use the exact words used in his written statement, he is limited to the scope of evidence adduced. Consequently, she ordered the prosecution to go back and

reproduce the statements of all the witnesses. Justice Ojukwu however said ruling on the application seeking witness protection would be delivered on the next adjourned date. She subsequently adjourned to April 1 and 2 for continuation of the first witness' evidence and trial. The prosecution had applied to the court to shield the witnesses that would be testifying against the defendants, but the request was opposed by Falana on the grounds that the identities of the witnesses listed are already in the public domain.

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FG Declares ASUU Strike Illegal, Act of Corruption Approves retention of 5% VAT for old contracts Omololu Ogunmade in Abuja Ahead of today’s meeting between officials of the federal government and the leaders of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) over the union’s two-week warning strike, the government yesterday described as illegal and a pure act of corruption the warning strike, which the union began on Monday. The government described the action as illegal because the union failed to notify it as it ought to do before embarking on the strike, adding that it is an act of corruption because the lecturers have already withdrawn their services and yet expect to be paid for the period. Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, while answering questions from journalists after the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting in the State House, Abuja, said he was shocked to read on Monday that the union had embarked on a warning strike. He described the industrial action as a pure strike and nothing like a warning strike as claimed by the lecturers. He said a strike means withdrawal of services, what the lecturers have embarked upon is not different and should not be given a different name. Ngige faulted ASUU's continued opposition to the federal government's directive that lecturers should register on the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) platform, saying there is nowhere employees dictate to their employers how they should be paid. While expressing hope that the matter would be resolved, he said he would meet with

the union today along with the Minister of Education, Minister of Finance and the Accountant General of the Federation. The minister, who also said he was aware that the National Assembly and the Ministry of Education met with ASUU yesterday, explained that the decision to bring university lecturers into IPPIS platform began two years ago. He said the platform was designed generally to plug leakages in the system. He said: "So, I was shocked on Monday when I read and saw some people coming out of the university that lecturers have gone on strike. I have my children in Nigerian universities and I saw them and it is not very cheery news. They didn’t give us the mandatory notice before going on strike. So for a start, this strike is illegal. "They said it is a warning strike but there is nothing like warning strike. A strike is the withdrawal of services for which you are being paid. Then, the question will arise - if you don’t go to work, do you want to be paid? Is it not corruption? So, this is the dilemma. "So, to solve the dilemma I have invited them to the meeting for tomorrow (Thursday). I have invited the minister of education, their principal employer, the finance ministry and the accountant general of the federation. So, we will meet and discuss the way forward because no employee is empowered to dictate to his employer on how he or she should be paid. There is an ILO convention on it. The important thing is that you receive your compensation for services rendered or work done as and when due. "So, we hope to solve the problems. ASUU members are

UNILAG ASUU Passes Vote of No Confidence in Pro-Chancellor Uche Nnaike and Funmi Ogundare The University of Lagos (UNILAG) branch of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), yesterday, passed a vote of no confidence on the Pro-chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council, Dr. Wale Babalakin. The ASUU Chairman, Dr. Dele Ashiru, told THISDAY in a telephone interview that the union took the decision at its congress. He said the union would today issue a statement detailing other resolutions passed at the congress. The varsity management, led by the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Toyin Ogundipe, had been embroiled in a dispute with the governing council, since the suspension of the institution's convocation scheduled to kick-off last Monday. Babalakin was accused of being instrumental to the suspension of the convocation. However, the university’s convocation had been suspended by the National Universities Commission (NUC) on the grounds that the school management did not get the

approval of the commission before fixing the date. Documents shown to THISDAY also indicated that the university’s management failed to get approval from the governing council before fixing the date for the convocation. But Ashiru said the congress underscored the fact that Babalakin misinformed the federal government about the events in the university, adding that based on the strength of that misinformation, the government suspended the convocation. "Congress believes that this is an affront on our collective integrity as scholars in this university and gross insensitivity to the agony that the cancellation can cause to the graduates, their relatives, friends and well-wishers of the university, and particularly the image and the reputation of the university," he stated. He said considering all the reports, the congress resolved to pass a vote of no confidence in the leadership of the prochancellor. At the end of the meeting, the union also staged a peaceful protest within the main campus of the university to make its position known to management.

Nigerians. They are patriotic but tomorrow we hope to engage them." However, Ngige said ASUU had claimed it could not be brought into the IPPIS platform because it had unique characteristics because lecturers go on sabbatical and some of them teach in more than one university. He said whereas bringing them into the IPPIS wouldn't allow them to be paid twice along with the existence of the bank verification number (BVN), government decision is that those on sabbatical are only paid allowances just as their counterparts in medical departments receive clinical allowances for clinical duties and consultations. He said ASUU claimed that it had introduced a platform in the university to fight corruption and the government described it as a welcome development and requested that the platform be merged with IPPIS. According to him, at the last

meeting with the union, the government asked ASUU to nominate members to serve in IPPIS committee in every university only for the union to suddenly make a u-turn and embark on strike. "So, if you go on sabbatical, this is the government’s position. What you should receive in that other place is an allowance, and allowance has a different portal. That is the portal that doctors are using. You know that medical consultants have an arrangement by which they are employed at the universities as lecturers 1, 2 until they ascend to become professors but hospitals are paying them allowances for clinical duties being done, the teaching of medical students, surgical operations, consultations in clinics if you are a physician. "So, these allowances are captured but IPPIS will not capture two salaries for one person, and the government also said that sabbatical is always

after seven years. So, there is no frequency for one person on sabbatical. "Now we are on the same page because they say they want to help fight corruption and weed away ghost workers and they said they have developed a University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS). "At the last visit to Mr. President, we said bring UTAS and we will merge it with IPPIS for you as a special peculiarity because the staff that will manage the IPPIS in the university are staff of the university not people in Abuja. We asked ASUU to nominate those to serve in the IPPIS committee in every institution. So, that is where we are after the visit to Mr. President." Earlier, Ngige said he briefed the council on the activities of his ministry in his first 100 days in office in accordance with the mandate given to all ministers, saying one of the ministry's moves is to ensure that every worker is protected through

insurance by his employer. According to him, it is compulsory for all employers in both the private and public sectors to procure two forms of insurance for their employees. He identified the first one as a package to protect workers against work hazards while the other is group life insurance meant to insure the lives of employees in case of death. Ngige, who said all employers must pay insurance fees for every employee noted that children of employees would benefit from group life insurance until they attain the age of 21. Also briefing journalists on behalf of the Minister of Finance, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed, the presidential spokesman, Malam Garba Shehu, said whereas the council approved the take-off of the new Value Added Tax (VAT) from February 1, this year, the new VAT of 7.5 per cent would not be applicable to contracts awarded before the implementation of the new VAT.

ACTORS IN THE HOUSE... L-R: Osun State Deputy Governor, Mr. Benedict Alabi, Governor Adegboyega Oyetola; Worldwide President, Theatre Arts and Non-Motion Pictures Practitioners Association of Nigeria, Mr. Bolaji Amusan; and Chairman, Board of Trustees, TAMPAN, Mr. Adebayo Bello, during the TAMPAN's oďŹƒcials courtesy visit to the governor in Osogbo‌yesterday

Babalola, Olanipekun Write NBA, Protest S’Court’s Fine Alex Enumah in Abuja Two Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SAN), Chief Afe Babalola and Chief Wole Olanipekun, have protested the N60 million penalty imposed on them by the Supreme Court for daring to ask for a review of the apex court's judgment on the Bayelsa State governorship election dispute. The SANs, in their separate letters to the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), also protested what they described as harsh words used on them during the delivery of the ruling in the application they filed on behalf of the All Progressives Congresses (APC) and its candidates in the last governorship election in Bayelsa State, Mr. David Lyon and Mr. Biobarakuma Degi-Eremienyo. Babalola and Olanipekun had appeared before the Supreme Court to persuade it to set aside its judgment, voiding APC’s

victory in the election. A seven-man panel of the apex court on February 26, 2020, had dismissed the application for lacking in merit. In the ruling delivered by Justice Amina Augie, the apex court rebuked both lawyers and awarded N30 million punitive cost against each of them. However, the senior lawyers in their letters addressed to the National Executive Council (NEC) of the NBA, said they did no wrong by asking the court to take a second look at its earlier judgment. According to them, their actions could not be said to be unlawful and unprofessional as to warrant the harsh words used on them and the unprecedented cost awarded against them for merely carrying out their professional responsibilities as lawyers. Babalola and Olanipekun warned that the decision of the Supreme Court, as it relates to

them, was capable of laying the wrong precedence that lawyers could be penalised for merely seeking to explore the justice administration process for the benefit of their clients. Olanipekun’s letter was dated March 10, 2020, while Babalola's letter dated March 11, 2020, was signed by the Managing Partner of his law firm, Mr. Adebayo Adenipekun (SAN). Both letters were addressed to the NBA President, Mr. Paul Usoro (SAN). In his letter, to which he attached all processes in respect of the case, Olanipekun said: "I and the team of lawyers that I led in the matter did no wrong, either in terms of our presentation through the filling of the application or during the oral adumbration in court. "I repeat again, with every emphasis at my disposal and all sense of responsibility that I/we did no wrong, committed

no error and did/do not deserve the harsh comments (to put it mildly) in the leading ruling of the Honourable Justice Amina Augie. "It might interest you to note that there is no nexus or proximity or even bearing between the processes filed by us and the most unfair and least expected stern expressions of her lordship, Amina Augie." Part of Babalola's letter reads: "I write to bring to the formal attention of the National Executive of the Nigerian Bar Association, the unfortunate events, which occurred that day, but more importantly, to protest and draw the attention of the NBA to the danger posed to the due administration of justice by the disparaging remarks made in the ruling of the court concerning our principal, Afe Babalola, and the imposition on him of the unprecedented cost of N30 million.

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PAGE EIGHT WHO DECLARES CORONAVIRUS OUTBREAK PANDEMIC And in Nigeria, where the index case occurred last month, the Lagos State Government has quarantined six more persons in its Infectious Disease Centre in Yaba. It has also found the two missing Nigerians suspected of having close contact with the Italian index case during his flight from Istanbul to Lagos on February 27. Ghebreyesus said WHO was expecting a spike in the number of cases, deaths and the number of affected countries. As of yesterday, 114 countries have reported that 4,291 had died, with 118,000 contracting Covid-19, the disease caused by the virus, known as SARS-CoV2. In the United States, over 1,000 cases have been diagnosed and 29 people have died. The virus causes mild respiratory infections in about 80 per cent of those infected, though about half will have pneumonia. Another 15 per cent develop severe illness and five per cent need critical care. He stated: “Describing the

situation as a pandemic does not change WHO’s assessment of the threat posed by this coronavirus. “It doesn’t change what WHO is doing, and it doesn’t change what countries should do. “This is not just a public health crisis; it is a crisis that will touch every sector; so every sector and every individual must be involved in the fight.� While China appears on the verge of stopping its outbreak — it reported only 24 cases on Tuesday— outbreaks are occurring and growing in some locations around the world, including Italy, Iran and the US. South Korea, which has reported nearly 8,000 cases, also appears poised to bring its outbreak under control with aggressive measures and widespread testing. But other countries have struggled to follow the leads of China and South Korea, a reality that has frustrated WHO officials who have exhorted the world to do everything possible to end transmission of the virus. “The bottom line is: We’re

not at the mercy of the virus,� Tedros had said on Monday. “The great advantage is that the decisions we all make as governments, businesses, communities, families and individuals can influence the trajectory of this epidemic.� “The rule of the game is: Never give up,� he added. The WHO has been criticised for not declaring the outbreak a pandemic sooner. The Head of the agency’s Health Emergencies Programme, Mr. Mike Ryan, admitted in a press conference on Monday that the agency fears that countries may interpret a pandemic declaration as a sign that efforts to contain the virus have failed. “For me, I’m not worried about the word. I’m more concerned about what the world’s reaction will be to that word. Will we use it as a call to action? Will we use it to fight? Or will we use it to give up?� Ryan asked.

Lagos Quarantines Six More Persons, Finds

Two Wanted Contacts of Index Case As Nigeria continues to battle the virus, the Lagos State Government has quarantined six more persons over suspected case of the virus. This figure excludes the two confirmed cases. The state government has also found the two missing Nigerians who sat close to the Italian index case during his flight from Istanbul to Lagos on February 27. Addressing journalists yesterday, the Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Abayomi Ajayi, said the six cases comprised a family of four children and their teacher, who came into Nigeria from the United States, and were believed to have been in close proximity with someone suspected to be infected with the disease prior to their trip, and a traveller from the United Kingdom, who showed certain symptoms associated with the

disease. He said: “We have kept the family in our centre now for two days. Their first test came out negative. We will repeat it within the next 48 hours. The one from the UK will be tested this evening. “The three persons, who were in isolation earlier this week, have been released because they tested negative to the virus.� According to him, the two names released on Monday to the media by the Lagos State Government were persons who had contact with the index case, but that they have now been identified, adding that necessary protocol has been instituted to ascertain their status. “The media really did well. It was very quick to have them identified. I was surprised at the speed at which they reached us,� he added. He also stated that the Italian index case was recovering fast even though he was still secreting the virus. He said: “The other confirmed case is in a stable condition. He

had little symptoms, which have now been taken care of. We will repeat his test tomorrow to be sure he is no longer secreting the virus.� Abayomi cautioned Nigerians against buying face masks, noting that the commodity should be left for sick persons and healthcare workers. “What Nigerians need to do is wash their hands under running water. We have now moved to address issues of shortage of hand sanitisers in Lagos State. The Ministry of Health has started producing its own sanitisers. In a matter of days, we will release it into the market. “We embarked on this because it is not good for people to start profiteering from hand sanitisers because of Coronavirus. This product is very easy to make. It is a simple combination of alcohol, gel, glycerin, water and other materials in the correct proportion. It is not rocket science. Everyone can actually make it,� he noted.

authorities, we will not hesitate to deploy additional measures to strengthen our buffers and insulate the Nigerian economy from the global headwinds,� he said. According to him, in the last three years, the Nigerian economy had remained on a positive growth path as Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth has remained in positive territory for 11th consecutive quarter, following the 2016 – 2017 economic recession. “One of the critical measures that helped to boost growth in 2019 was the impact of the central bank’s new minimum loan to deposit ratio, which was initially at 60 per cent and subsequently raised to 65 per cent. “We also imposed restriction on access to open market operations (OMO) auctions in order to encourage banks to lend to the real sector. “Indeed, the banking sector has responded positively with the rise in aggregate industry credit from N15.3 trillion in May

2019 to over N17.4 trillion in January 2020. “I am aware that these loans have been granted to borrowers across different sectors at considerably lower rates. Although a lot more still needs to be done; we intend to sustain these policy measures as it will help support improved economic growth and create more employment opportunities,� Emefiele added. He explained that notwithstanding current measures aimed at supporting growth, the economy faces challenges as GDP growth remains below annual population growth rate at 2.6 per cent. He said: “Second, our reliance on crude oil for more than 80 per cent of our foreign exchange earnings and 60 per cent of government revenues means our economy is exposed to the impact of the Coronavirus on crude oil prices. “Projected declines in revenues

corruption probe but because of insubordination. “The state government has not taken the law into its own hands. Let me explain that the decision to remove the emir from office is administrative and was not based on the issues pending before the court. All the issues pending before the court have nothing to do with the removal of the emir or the dethronement,� he had told Channels Television yesterday. On whether or not the anticorruption agency in Kano would continue with Sanusi’s probe, Muktar said: “No decision on that actually. “I cannot pre-empt the position of the government on whether the investigation will stop or will continue. I cannot say as of now.� The Commissioner for Information, Mr. Garba Mohammed also toed the same line yesterday, saying the tradition was for a deposed emir to go into exile, citing the Sultan Ibrahim Dasuki and Emir Mustapha Jokolo cases. “I, however, understand that Jokolo has a judgment that is on appeal, which means we have to wait for the outcome of the matter at the Supreme Court for us to make a definitive statement on the position of the law on this matter,� he told THISDAY yesterday, adding: “The Kano State government followed all the processes laid down by the law and tradition.� He said Governor Abdullahi Ganduje and his Nasarawa State counterpart, Mr. Abdullahi Sule, interacted and agreed that Sanusi

would be provided an abode that would be conducive enough for him to move on with his life. However, the state’s anticorruption agency yesterday said it would continue the investigation into the allegation of corruption against the deposed emir. The chairman of the commission, Mr. Muhuyi Rimingado, said the investigation was still ongoing. “Even on Monday, some

AMIDST OIL PRICE CRASH, FG SAYS NO CAUSE TO PANIC They all spoke at the, “Going for Growth 2.0,� organised in Abuja yesterday, which also saw presentations from the Minister of Transportation, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi; his counterpart from the Works and Housing Ministry, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, as well as many leading private sector operators. The benchmark Brent crude slid to $36.09 per barrel yesterday, slightly lower than the $37 per barrel it closed the previous day. According to Ahmed, Nigerians must adjust to life beyond oil, following the bleak outlook on the global economy occasioned by the Coronavirus outbreak. She said there was no doubt that the combination of crude oil price crash and Coronavirus epidemic would put severe strain on revenue, foreign exchange and other sectors of the economy. The minister said the current economic challenges arising from the dramatic drop in oil price came as a huge surprise to the government.

She called on stakeholders to work together and seize the opportunities provided by the crisis to reset the economy. She said the government would need to resort to measures which were hitherto delayed, adding that this is the right time to act. Ahmed explained: “For us it was a shock and unexpected; we didn't think the price of oil would go as low as $30 per barrel. So, it came to us as a great surprise. These are very strong headwinds and these headwinds reinforce a wake-up call for us as a country to look towards a life without oil and the time to do that is now. "But for all of us in this room, we have a responsibility to ensure that we do not spread panic and that we don't allow speculation, which will not be in favour of our country. We need to put our hands together to weather this storm. “This is not something that the government can do alone nor is it something that the private sector can do alone; it has to be

a partnership- a very strong one. We need to work together to take the opportunities that this same crisis has provided for us. "For us in government, there are some measures that we need to take which we have not taken and this is the right time to take those measures. “We are working as a government to strengthen our macroeconomic fundamentals, which some sectors of the economy were already dished before the crisis and so the crisis is only exacerbating the situation and we knew about that. "There is no doubt that the combination of crude oil price crash and Coronavirus will put severe strain on our budget revenue, forex and many sectors, we are drastically reviewing the budget as well as redoubling our efforts to raise revenue and plug the leakages and intensify engagement and support of subnational entities and the private sector in our economic recovery and growth programmes."

EmeďŹ ele: Banking Sector Credit Rises to over N17.4tn On his part, Emefiele stated that the banking sector has responded positively with the rise in aggregate industry credit from N15.3 trillion in May 2019 to over N17.4 trillion in January 2020. He reiterated the need to adopt measures that would diversify the economy given the external headwinds that the Nigerian economy faces, which have emerged as a major threat to global growth in 2020. He added that the impact of the Coronavirus across over 100 countries has affected global supply chains, as well as demand for goods and services. “The CBN fortunately had already embarked on similar measures, which have resulted in significant reduction in lending rates, as part of our efforts to boost growth. “Working with the fiscal

BUHARI: I HAVE NO HAND IN SANUSI’S DETHRONEMENT But the Kano State Commissioner for Police, Mr. Habu Sani Ahmadu, said contrary to the belief in some quarters that the movement of the deposed emir from Kano to Nasarawa State was illegal and infringed on his fundamental human rights, his movement was ‘spelt out.’ However, barely 24 hours after the Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir el-Rufai, appointed Sanusi into the board of the state's investment promotion agency, the governor yesterday appointed the dethroned emir as the chancellor of the Kaduna State University. The presidential statement said Buhari would only dabble into any issue in a state when such a matter borders on national security because he has a responsibility to comply with the law in that regard. It explained that issues bordering on the appointments and removal of traditional rulers are within the purview of states and hence, linking the president with what happened in Kano was unfair. "As outlined in the constitution, the appointment or removal of emirs and other traditional leaders is strictly within the jurisdiction of state governments. It is unfair and disingenuous of opposition politicians to try to link the situation in Kano State to the federal government and the Nigerian president. "Although a retired General and former military head of state, President Buhari clearly understands that under the current democratic dispensation,

the government at the center cannot read instructions or twist the arms of all or any of the 36 state governments making up the federation. They all have their powers specified under the constitution," it said. Buhari commended the people of Kano State for remaining calm since the dethronement of Sanusi. He also prayed that God's will be done at all times in both the emirate and the state.

President behind Sanusi’s Removal, Kwankwaso Alleges Hours before the president's rebuttal, Kwankwaso had accused Buhari of being behind the removal of the emir and expressed disaffection with the dethronement. Kwankwaso, in an interview with BBC Hausa Service, monitored in Kano by THISDAY yesterday, described the removal of the emir as an act of impunity, which is also beyond the powers of the governor alone. He said the removal of Sanusi was tied to his comments and advice on ways to move the country forward, adding that the Buhari administration was not comfortable with the comments. He said: "Honestly speaking, what happened on Monday 9th of March 2020 is a sad thing for the entire people of Kano, Nigerians and the entire people of the world because the dethroned emir is a global figure because of the struggles he leads in his entire life, especially when he

served as the CBN governor and this job at the Kano Emirate. "On this day, we have seen very annoying things, especially the way impunity and disregard to the constitution and the laws were employed in dethroning His Highness, the Emir of Kano. We see this action as totally unjust. "More so, the way we saw the deployment of security agents, it is clear that this is beyond what a state governor alone can do. Despite the intervention of his (Sanusi II) lawyers seeking for him to be allowed to move to Lagos where he chose, he was forcibly put in a plane and taken to the remotest place in the country and after some plea, he was taken to another part of the same Nasarawa State. "We see this as a violation of the constitution, especially as Nigeria has grown above this. It is especially a violation of Section 35 of the constitution, which emphasises on the rights of the citizen. "But even as you have chosen to use impunity to dethrone him, I wish to remind you that this is a democratic dispensation and not a military regime. "Kano State government officials have been saying they were directed to dethrone Emir Sanusi. He (Buhari) instructed them. "We believe here in Kano that he (Buhari) interferes where he wishes. He doesn't interfere where his intervention is needed but interferes with issues where he is supposed to be neutral about."

We Didn’t Banish Sanusi from Kano, Says Kano AG But the state government denied banishing Sanusi, saying the movement of the former emir from Kano might have been a security decision by the security agencies to secure the peace of the town. “The decision of the government as stated in the statement of the Secretary to the Government was clear and it was that the former emir had been removed. There was no word “banishment� in the statement,� the state Attorney-General, Muktar, told THISDAY yesterday in a telephone interview. He said the security agencies might have taken the decision in the interest of Sanusi, explaining that unless the security agencies rendered their security report, it might be premature to conclude that the former emir’s right had been breached. “This might be a security decision, and until you have the details of the security report, it might be premature to make a claim of right abuse,� he said, adding, “He might have been relocated for his personal safety, safety of his family or that of the public.� He said it was normal practice for deposed emirs to be moved away to maintain peace in the state, adding that such an action does not contravene the constitution. The AG explained that Sanusi was not removed because of the

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THURSDAY, ÍšÍşËœ ͺ͸ͺ͸ Ëž T H I S D AY

NEWS

Bill to Prohibit Use of Generators Passes First Reading in Senate Chuks Okocha and Deji Elumoye in Abuja The Senate, at its plenary yesterday, commenced the passage of a bill to ban the use of electricity generating sets in Nigeria as the bill in that regard, sponsored by Senator Binta Enagi, from Niger South Senatorial District, passed first reading. The bill which specifically seeks to prohibit anyone from importing or knowingly selling generating sets, however, prescribed a prison term of not less than ten years, if found guilty upon conviction, as punishment. The bill, however, provides

for an exception as it stated that the ban will not affect those that are into essential services, like hospitals, nursing homes and healthcare facilities, airports, railway stations/services, elevators, escalators, research institutions, and other such facilities that require 24 hours electric power supply. According to the bill, approval for exclusion shall be obtained from the minister in charge of power, who shall brief the Federal Executive Council (FEC) quarterly on approvals granted. It equally stipulated that the ban shall affect all persons using electricity generating sets which

run on diesel/petrol/kerosene of all capacities with immediate effect in the country. However, the Senate referred the bill seeking to preclude courts at all levels in the country from interfering in affairs of political parties on all issues on pre-election matters to its Adhoc Committee on Constitution Review. The bills which are three in number and sponsored by the Deputy Senate President, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, include bills for Acts, to alter the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, to preclude the Federal High

Court, the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, and state High Courts, respectively, from entertaining pre-election disputes emanating from congress, conferences, conventions or other meetings convened by political parties for the purpose of electing members of its executive committees or other governing bodies and for related matters 2020. The Omo-Agege’s bills which proposed establishment of special courts or tribunals to handle all pre-election matters within the political parties were subsequently forwarded to the Constitution Review

Committee of the Senate for further legislative processes. Also, a bill sponsored by Senator Adamu Abdullahi (Nasarawa West), which seeks for an Act to alter the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to make provisions for Right to Food and Food Security in Nigeria and for related matters, 2020, passed Second Reading. Similarly, a bill for an Act to alter the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to provide for the regulation of the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal and for

related matters, 2020, sponsored by Senator Basiru Ajibola (Osun Central), also scaled the Second Reading. The Senate also passed for second reading a bill sponsored by Senator Bamidele Opeyemi (Ekiti Central) which seeks for an Act to alter the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to provide immunity for members of the legislature in respect of words spoken or written at plenary sessions or committee proceedings and institutionalise legislative bureaucracy in the Constitution; and for related matters, 2020.

order to fund infrastructure," he added. Also speaking on the panel, Amaechi gave reasons why the country was yet to float a national shipping line. He explained that the failure of the petroleum ministry to implement the Cabotage law had not encouraged private sector investment. He said: "When we were to bring in the metals, the iron for the tracks, just to move it from China to Nigeria and I was excited to support a Nigerian company that has a shipping line to bring it from China to Nigeria. "And you know the response we got? That there's a Chinese law that says only Chinese vessels can carry Chinese cargoes. "Now, we had that law but either NNPC or the Minister of Petroleum has refused to implement that law...Now if you want to encourage private sector investment in Nigeria, then that law should be implemented. "In fact, when I became minister for transport, I announced to the country that we will establish a national shipping line. So what does the law say - 60 per cent of Nigerian investors and 40 per cent of foreign. "We travelled to Singapore and a foreign company in Singapore was ready to invest. We came back here, till today no Nigerian has brought one kobo even though we installed a committee for that purpose. That's why we don't have a national shipping line today." In his speech, the founder of Zenith Bank Plc, Mr. Jim Ovia, stressed the importance of a vibrant banking sector for the diversification of the Nigerian economy. Ovia said Nigerian banks over the years, had contributed significantly to the growth of the economy.

“In 2004, before consolidation, all the Nigerian banks put together, their total market capitalisation was below N12 billion and all of them put together could not lend onetenth of what Dangote Cement required. But today, one of the top tier banks is much larger than all the banks’ shareholders’ funds put together in 2004. “So, that is a testimony that Nigerian banks are solid. We have even started to export our expertise to West and East African countries. Nigerian banks in Ghana are the ones showing the way. They didn’t know about recapitalisation, until we thought them,� he said.

makes sense and also makes it an inclusive growth, then you need to actually do what we call backward integration or import substitution.�. Dangote noted that Nigeria has a readily available market because of its huge population and stressed the need for government to remove factors that have continued to constrain the manufacturing sector. According to him, providing enablers such as road and power infrastructure would have the government effectively diversify the economy from crude oil. He said: "Well as you know, for the crash of the oil price, it is imperative that we diversify this economy. Our economy is great because we have a local market because when you look at the economy of Asia, it's mainly focused on exports. But we have a domestic market: this is a country with about 200 million people apart from the rest of the ECOWAS market where our imports last year was almost $47 billion. "It is not sustainable, we cannot have 200 million people growing at about 2.7 per cent and then we are importing most of the things that we are consuming. I think we really need to be serious this time around so we don't just keep talking about diversification...it has been very elusive I don't know why. It is possible but we are not really focusing on that. "We need to reduce the cost of doing business: the cost of doing business can actually affect everybody. I can tell you the truth, the government lost so much money last year in the traffic logjam of Apapa alone. We as a company, our three companies lost over N30 billion in terms of profits, which means the government will also collect less taxes. So we need to look at infrastructure, we need to look at power."

AMIDST OIL PRICE CRASH, FG SAYS NO CAUSE TO PANIC as occasioned by the drop in crude oil prices, constrains the government’s ability to meet its infrastructure commitments in 2020, which is vital if we are to achieve double digit growth. “Given this challenge, it is imperative that this roundtable session comes up with wellstructured funding models that will mobilise funds from banks and other financial institutions to fund critical infrastructure projects, while providing attractive returns to investors. “We must also use this opportunity to consider funding for infrastructure projects that improve access to markets for farmers and SMEs, while also connecting the railways to our ports, in order to increase our non-oil exports. “Such schemes will support greater economic growth and help free up funds for the government to focus on other priority objectives.� According to him, the current oil price shock validates some of the measures taken by the fiscal and monetary authorities on diversification of the Nigerian economy.

NNPC Targets Production Cost Reduction In his contribution, Kyari expressed the corporation’s readiness to strategically put in place measures to alleviate the cost of crude oil production in Nigeria to create market for Nigeria’s crude. He noted that due to the Coronavirus pandemic, Nigeria has about 50 cargoes of crude oil that have not found landing, adding that this implies that there are no off-takers for them for now due to drop in demand. He said in the face of the Coronavirus global pandemic, countries like Saudi Arabia have given discount of $8 and Iraq $5 to

their off-takers in some locations meaning that when crude oil sells at $30 per barrel, countries like Saudi Arabia is selling at $22 per barrel and Iraq selling their crude at $25 per barrel. According to him, the oil price crash on Monday signified the importance of oil to the global economy. He added that oil price will continue to shape activities in the global economy. “We used to say when the financial sector collapses, everything collapse. But certainly, it is the other way round. When the oil market collapses, everything collapses. So oil is the only commodity that the beneficiaries panic when the price goes up,� Kyari said. He predicted that fossil fuel would remain significant contributor to energy need in the next 40 years. “But what would not be there in the next 40 years would be inefficient producers because as we speak today, we are getting production from the least expected places. Nearly every country now produces oil and that means that the best of people who would remain are the people who would produce oil at the cheapest cost. “Much as these are high expectations, but you must produce them today even at low prices. And the assumption for this year was $60 per barrel. Now, we are facing sub $30 per barrel and potentially we haven’t seen the bottom. We haven’t! And this is a challenge to us as a country and it is difficult to manage. It simply implies huge deficit for all of us and it would radiate in all sectors, including the financial sector,� he said. He added: “Today, I can share with you there are LNG cargoes that are stranded because there is an abrupt collapse in demand associated with the Coronavirus. We hope that is the only reason.

Today, for Nigeria’s crude, we have about 50 cargoes that have not found landing. “It means that they don’t know where to take them to and this is so with many other jurisdictions. So, when you sell in the market at $32, there is a huge problem. There are so many countries whose cost of production is at $30. So, when you produce at $30 per barrel, you are out of business. “Beyond that, you have competition, which depresses the potential of coming out of the impact of Coronavirus for at least three months. So, we need to prepare for the shock. Even if price rise up again - we have backlog of production that is hanging and has to be resolved. What that means is that we would have the impact of this shock for sometimes.� To Fashola, funding remains a key factor to infrastructure development. He said it would require N288.72 billion to complete critical road projects, particularly those that lead from the Lagos, Warri, Port Harcourt and Calabar ports to the savannah and to the borders with Niger Republic to Cameroon. He said: "If we make those roads work, then we score a big dent in easing transportation by road across Nigeria. The rail is progressing because the money is there: Lagos-Ibadan, second Niger Bridge and Abuja-Kano are progressing because the money is there. So the big elephant is how do we find the money?" He also decried a situation where budget releases to finance infrastructure had often fallen 50 per cent between 2016 and 2020. "What we have seen from our 2016 to 2020 budget is that we are getting just under 50 per cent budget releases. And that speaks again to the challenge that the minister had had to deal with: raising revenues in

Dangote Tasks FG on Economic DiversiďŹ cation To the President of the Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, the government must stop paying lip service to economic diversification, adding that the diversification of the economy needs to be achieved urgently, following Monday’s crash in the price of crude oil. Dangote said the country must also take advantage of its huge market and address the high cost of doing business, diversify into agriculture and manufacturing to reset the economy in the right path. He added: “The diversification of this economy is very important, in fact, we are late. Since 1979 that I came to Lagos, people have been talking about the diversification of the Nigerian economy. You can only diversify the economy through manufacturing and agriculture. Manufacturing actually creates a lot of jobs, creates middle class and also transforms countries. “These are areas we need to really focus on. But how do you diversify an economy and go into manufacturing that

BUHARI: I HAVE NO HAND IN SANUSI’S DETHRONEMENT companies were invited by the commission. But on the deposed emir, the investigation will continue after the court order," he added. Magaji said with the deposition of the monarch, the commission would now have what he described as ‘fertile ground’ to carry out its investigation without any interference. Meanwhile, the Kano State Commissioner for Police, Habu Ahmadu, said yesterday that Sanusi's freedom was not tampered with as his movement was spelt out. He stated that counsel to the deposed emir was economical with the truth on what transpired in Kano after the former emir's deposition. "The lawyers did not mention everything that happened. They

ought to have mentioned what happened, the counsel to the deposed emir. I saw the press conference yesterday. Everything (deposed emir's movement) was spelt out," Ahmadu told THISDAY. On the Kano AG's position that Sanusi was not banished by the state government, he said he would speak on it after receiving a full briefing on the matter. "I have not watched the AG's video. When I do so, I will be able to speak on it," he said.

Bayero Weeps, Receives Letter of Appointment Meanwhile, Sanusi's successor, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero, yesterday wept while delivering his address a few minutes after he received the letter of appointment

as emir. In his emotional address, Bayero said his late father, Alhaji Ado Bayero, trained them to always respect leaders, elders, and constituted authorities. Aminu pledged to support Ganduje’s and Buhari's governments. The emir said as Muslims, they believe in fate and Allah's will as He does not make a mistake. "We also believe that everything has an end. We must recall our late Emir Ado Bayero’s admonition that we keep on believing in God. He also trained us on patience and obedience to elders. "He assured us that patience leads to success. Now we have seen the lessons taught to us in reality. I urge people to believe in Allah and be our brothers' keeper

in a bid to bring development to the emirate, Kano and Nigeria as a whole," he said The emir also thanked the governor and the four kingmakers for the appointment, promising to keep the legacy and history of the two-century-old emirate. Speaking also, the Emir of Bichi, Alhaji Nasiru Ado Bayero, thanked God for their new positions. He also thanked Ganduje for what he described as a gift given to him by Allah through the governor, praying for unity among the royal family and the state as a whole. Ganduje said it was a historic occasion being the first time two brothers would become first-class emirs in the state. According to him, it is also the first time in the history of Nigeria

to create five first-class emirates.

el-Rufai Appoints Sanusi Kaduna Varsity Chancellor However, within 24 hours after el-Rufai appointed Sanusi into the board of the state's investment promotion agency, the governor yesterday appointed him as the chancellor of the Kaduna State University. A statement by el-Rufai’s Special Adviser on Media and Communication, Mr. Muyiwa Adekeye, said the dethroned emir succeeded the pioneer Chancellor of KASU, His Highness, Malam Tagwai Sambo, the Chief of Moro’a in Southern Kaduna. It added that the appointment was based on the fact that

“In public life, His Highness has demonstrated a strong commitment to education. “Kaduna State Government has no doubt that as Chancellor, His Highness Muhammadu Sanusi II, would provide symbolic and substantive leadership in raising the profile of KASU as an emerging center of learning on the national and global level,� it said.

President, Nasarawa Gov Meet Meanwhile, Buhari yesterday held a closed-door meeting with the governor of Nasarawa State, Abdullahi Sule. Sule arrived at the Presidential Villa about 10 a.m ahead of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting.

10

THURSDAY MARCH 12, 2020 ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

Sanusi’s Dethronement: Our Efforts Didn’t Yield Results, Says Abdulsalami A former military Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar (rtd), has revealed that the efforts to reconcile Governor Abdullahi Ganduje and the former Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, did not yield the desired result. In 2019, Abdulsalami was appointed as chairman of the reconciliation committee set up to intervene in the crisis between Sanusi and Ganduje. Speaking in an interview with Voice of America (VOA) Hausa on the development, Abdulsalami said: “Well, I can say so in view of the latest development. In my view, all the committee’s efforts are wasted.” He said after the committee submitted its report to the President Muhammadu Buhari, he “expressed willingness” to

intervene. Abdulsalami, according to TheCable added that he cannot say categorically if Buhari intervened, but that if the president did, “I’ll be surprised that we got to this point.” “After conclusion of the assignment, we realised that there was amicable resolution to the crisis. Surprisingly, this is what happened at last,” Abdulsalami said. “I can’t really say whether Buhari has a hand in the matter because I am currently not in Nigeria. But before I left the country, we submitted our report to him, and he expressed willingness to intervene in the matter in order to have amicable resolution, despite being a constitutional matter.

I really don’t know if he had intervened. “The way this is, I don’t know if he was involved or not. There are signs that he did because of this our report but I can’t

be completely sure, but if he involved himself, I’ll be surprised that we got to this point. But then you know no matter what was said, no matter the advice given, it is what Allah had willed

to happen and there’s no one who can change it. Former Governor of Kano State, Rabiu Kwankwaso, had accused Buhari of ordering Sanusi’s dethronement.

The presidency, however, said the president had no hands in the matter. Buhari had earlier said he would not interfere in the crisis between the governor and the former monarch.

FG Relaxes Policy on Yellow Card for Inbound Passengers Chinedu Eze The federal government has relaxed the policy that makes it compulsory for passengers travelling into the country to have their International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis (ICVP), known as yellow card. Under the new arrangement, the government has directed airlines to airlift travellers who do not possess the cards with a caveat that they must be vaccinated on arrival. The federal government’s new position may have followed reports that many inbound passengers without the travel document were barred from boarding flights to Nigeria, leaving many of them stranded at different airports, especially the Heathrow in London. In a circular issued to this effect by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) yesterday with Reference Number: NCAA/DG/ AMS/74/VOL.111/65 and signed by the General Manager, Aeromedical Standards, Dr. WT Haggai on behalf of the director general, the agency said passengers coming to

Nigeria without documented proof of vaccination, which is the yellow card, should be allowed to board the fight but be “advised they will be vaccinated accordingly at points of entry.” NCAA said the process of obtaining the yellow card must also be initiated on arrival. For passengers leaving Nigeria, NCAA said a valid yellow card would be required for boarding, insisting that airlines must communicate this policy to their passengers accordingly, adding that this policy took effect from yesterday, March 11, 2020. NCAA explained that the circular was in response to a letter from the Ministry of Health reviewing the “implementation of the operationalisation of Nigeria point of entry policy on the prevention and control of cross border transmission of yellow fever. “I have been directed by the Director General to inform airlines operating regional and international flights into and out of Nigeria to implement the reviewed policy of the Federal Ministry of Health,” the circular said.

Policeman Allegedly Kills Wife, Self in Ondo James Sowole in Akure A policeman with the Ondo State Police Command, who was simply identified as Tolulope, was alleged to have shot his wife dead on Tuesday before committing suicide at Akungba Akoko in Akoko South West Local Government Area of the state. The policeman, who was attached to the Akungba Division, was alleged to have carried out the actions after he returned from work. Sources said the deceased policeman had been having issues with his wife for receiving phone calls from men. The late couple were said to have left behind two children,

one of them is a baby of two years while the other is three weeks old. Confirming the development, the State’s Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Tee-Leo Ikoro, described the incident as unfortunate and assured that investigation has commenced to ascertain the actual cause of the deaths. Ikoro stated that the couple was the only one at home when the incident happened hence no one can actually pinpoint that it was a case of murder and suicide. He added that the police are not ruling out the possibility of explosion due to the loud noise that was heard at the time the incident occurred.

FEAR OF EPIDEMIC...

L-R: Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, Prince Clem Ikanade Agba; Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Mr. Olamilekan Adegbite; and Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, exchanging banter amid concerns over the global spread of COVID-19, during the Federal Executive Council (FEC) at the Presidential Villa in Abuja...yesterday

Lagos Vows to Arrest Policemen, Military Personnel Engaging in Commercial Motorcycle Operations The Lagos State Government has issued a stern warning to uniform men flouting the State’s Transport Sector Reform Laws. It said it is illegal for any security operative in mufti to ride commercial motorcycles on routes where Okada and tricycles have been restricted. The pronouncement was part of the issues discussed during a security meeting held at the State House in Marina yesterday. Governor Babajide SanwoOlu chaired the meeting, which was attended by the commanders of all security formations in the state. Briefing the press after the meeting, the Commissioner

for Information and Strategy, Mr. Gbenga Omotoso, said the enforcement of the restriction order would be executed with more force to completely keep Okada and tricycles away from the restricted routes. Members of the security council, the commissioner said, frowned at a situation in which uniform men flouted the State’s Transport Sector Reform Laws, warning security operatives, especially police officers and military personnel, to stop taking passengers on their motorcycles on restricted routes. Omotoso said: “We have just concluded the State Security Council meeting, where we reviewed the ongoing

enforcement of Okada and Keke restriction order in the six Local Government Areas. Matters concerning uniform men engaging in commercial motorcycle operation came up in our discussion and there has been an order restricting them from doing that. “Only a uniform man who is fully kitted and who rides motorcycle as his own personal mode of transportation is allowed. If any uniform man ventures into commercial motorcycle operation or Keke, the action of such a person is illegal and such persons are going to be arrested if they are caught.” The commissioner reiterated that the state would not relax

the laws restricting Okada and tricycles on the highways, praising the residents of the state for standing firm behind the government in the ongoing enforcement of the restriction order. Omotoso had reportedly said the State Government would be assuaging the pain being felt by residents by injecting buses of different sizes and capacities into the public transportation space to serve as alternative to Okada and Keke. “We are using this opportunity to inform Lagosians that the palliatives promised by the Government will be coming very soon, most likely in April,” the Commissioner said.

Scores Injured as Armed Thugs Invade Lagos Suburb, Loot Shops Chiemelie Ezeobi Scores of people, including truck drivers, sustained varying degrees of injuries after some heavily-armed thugs invaded Vinager and Abule-Ado areas in Satellite Town in Lagos yesterday. The thugs also looted many shops while trucks were torched. As expected, the crisis crippled business activities and even led to the temporary

closure of banks and other business interest. According to eyewitness reports, trouble started when the armed thugs said to have been recruited from Benin Republic by a suspected gang with base at Oguntade village in Old Ojo road, Satellite town, invaded shops and residential areas demanding money forcefully from people. They disclosed that the thugs, who were heavily armed with

sophisticated weapons, were shooting sporadically into the air to scare people. It was gathered that they succeeded in breaking into homes and carting away valuables after which they subjected their victims to thorough beatings. They further alleged that some people who tried to resist them were shot while others were seriously injured. Aside looting shops, the

thugs, who were masked and had set bonfires with used tyres on the road, also attacked and damaged the vehicles of truck drivers who refused to be extorted. It was however gathered that a team of policemen from Satellite Police Division were deployed to restore sanity. Lagos State Police Spokesperson, DSP Bala Elkana said normalcy has been restored to the area.

Dangote to Begin Crude Oil Production in July Africa’s richest man and President of Dangote Industries Limited, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, will begin oil production in July from two assets he acquired from

Royal Dutch Shell Plc. The Group Executive Director, Dangote Industries Limited, Mr. Devakumar Edwin that Dangote is working with Chinese and

Malaysian contractors to begin production in Oil Mining Lease (OML) 72. According to Edwin, the company has completed a development plan for the

Kalaekule field in OML 72 He said work would then move to an undeveloped KI discovery on Block 71, a small shallow water asset in southeastern Niger River Delta.

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NEWS

Falana Urges Buhari to Order Release of Sanusi Ejiofor Alike Human rights activist and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mr. Femi Falana has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to order the release of the dethroned emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi II. In a statement issued yesterday, the senior lawyer

noted that following the dethronement of the former emir, he was flown to Lafia, Nasarawa State by a combined team of the police and the Department of State Services (DSS) on the orders of the Kano State Government. Falana also noted that based on what he described as the illegality of the banishment and detention of Sanusi in Nasarawa

House to Query Imo Security Chiefs over Okigwe Killings Udora Orizu in Abuja The House of Representatives has resolved to question the Imo security chiefs over the gruesome killings in Okigwe Local Government Area of Imo state. The House also directed its Committee on Police Affairs and National Security to investigate the killings. It further urged the security agencies to beef up security within Okigwe zone to avoid future occurrence. These resolutions were sequel to the adoption of a motion of urgent national importance, titled, ‘Motion of Urgent National Importance on the Need to Increase Security Presence in Okigwe Zone to Forestall Occurrences of Unwarranted Killings of Innocent Constituents,’ that was sponsored by Hon. Princess Miriam Onuoha. Onuoha said there was massive shooting at Okigwe metropolis by unknown gunmen where lives were lost and several injuries were recorded. She noted that a meaningful development could not be possible in an environment that is characterised by insecurity and avoidable casualties and

fatalities. She said: “The security of lives and property is the responsibility of government and my constituency, Isiala Mbano/Onuimo/Okigwe Federal Constituency inclusive. I’m shocked that on this fateful day 4th March, 2020, my people were helpless and unprotected as hoodlums and criminals terrorised them for several hours leading to loss of lives and injuries. “Remember, a motion of urgent National Importance was moved in this House on the 26th of January, 2020 over the killing of one Mr. Ndubuisi Emenike in my constituency sometimes back. It was observed that their target was the leader and members of the neighborhood vigilante group who have been collaborating with the Nigerian Police to stop robberies and crime within the area.” “Even though the criminals informed the leader of the vigilante about their coming and information was passed to security agencies, yet nothing was done to prevent these needless attacks. It simply shows that there was no security presence at the time of the attack that lasted for several hours without any response from security agencies.”

Bill to Criminalise Stigmatisation of Victims of Insurgency Passes Second Reading Udora Orizu in Abuja The House of Representatives yesterday passed for second reading a bill for an Act meant to prohibit the stigmatisation of victims of insurgency or militancy. The proposed legislation, which was sponsored by Hon. Ben Rollands Igbakpa, would provide for the arrest, prosecution and punishment of those found guilty of stigmatising victims of insurgency. Leading the debate on the bill, Igbakpa said stigmatisation against victims of insurgency and militancy should qualify as an offence with prescribed terms of imprisonment. He listed the categories of victims of insurgency as direct casualties rape, molested men and internally displaced persons. The lawmaker said the implications of stigmatisation are dire public embarrassment, social disorientation, solitude, compromised sense of identity and sometimes suicide. He lamented that instead of getting embraced and fully integrated back to society, the victims were further estranged from the society. Igbakpa urged other

lawmakers to provide necessary legal framework to safeguard and protect victims of insurgency as vulnerable members of society. “Stigmatisation is a damaging social phenomenon that is potent enough to severely alter the existential realities of its victims,” he said. However, the bill was opposed by Hon. Obinna Chidoka, who pointed out that both the head and body of the bill were disjointed. Also, Hon. Toby Okechukwu said the bill was not necessary because what the bill sought to remedy has been taken care of by the Human Rights Act. Okechukwu said: “The constitution is very clear as regards to our rights. The provisions of the constitution said that no person should be stigmatised or discriminated upon. Anyone one who goes against that law would be going against the constitution.” Meanwhile, the House has also adopted a motion on the ‘Need to Provide and Protect the Interests of Blind Students (Special Students) in the Higher Institutions of Learning,’ which was sponsored by Hon. Henry Nwawuba.

State, the Kano State Governor, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje has “attempted to wash off his hands like Pontius Pilate”. Falana commended the members of the Nasarawa State Council of Traditional Rulers for

protesting the degrading and humiliating treatment meted out to Sanusi in his detention centre at Loko. “We are not unaware that the Presidency has distanced itself from the serial infringements of the

fundamental rights of Sanusi,” he said. He, however, insisted that the Presidency must go beyond distancing itself from such violations and order his release without further delay.

“With the denial of the Kano State Government in the banishment and detention of Sanusi in Nasarawa State, President Buhari should order his release without any further delay,” he added.

Bauchi to Prosecute Former Govs Yuguda, Abubakar over Alleged Diversion of N1tn Segun Awofadeji in Bauchi Bauchi State Governor, Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed has directed the State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice to commence processes for the prosecution of his predecessors former Govs Isa Yuguda, and Muhammed Abdullahi Abubakar, as well as other government officials indicted for alleged diversion of government funds and assets

worth over a N1trillion. The governor who disclosed this yesterday when he received the report of of the state’s Asset and Funds Recovery Committee constituted on July 12, 2019 to investigate assets and funds allegedly diverted between 2007 to 2019 at the Executive Chambers, Government House, Bauchi. Mohammed directed the State Attorney General to partner the committee with a view to studying their recommendations

and prosecuting the former governors indicted. The governor vowed that all government officials indicted by the committee, including the ex-governors must remain accountable, adding that the Attorney General will synergise with some members of the committee to implement the recommendations of the committee for the full prosecution of the offenders. Speaking while submitting

the report, Acting Chairman of the Committee General Markus Koko Yake (rtd) told the governor that the committee recovered 23 vehicles, four tractors alongside farm implements among others, adding that based on their findings, the administrations of Yuguda and Abubakar received allocations of over N1 trillion in addition to over N65 billion special releases to t.he immediate administration.

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COMMENT

Editor, Editorial Page PETER ISHAKA Email peter.ishaka@thisdaylive.com

THE BEAUTIFUL LADY CALLED TRIBE The drama of ‘It is our turn to dance’ often makes ethnicity brutal, writes Okello Oculi

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ladimir Lenin caused panic with his assertion that Soviet Union would defeat Euro-American bankers and trading corporations in economic war and class conflict with exploited peoples in Africa and Asia. American scholars countered by locating conflict in the ethnic among peoples in Asia and Africa. Professor John Armstrong declared that nationalism by ethnic groups inside the Soviet Union would destroy her. Crawford Young, had a decade earlier reported a plot by Belgian colonial officials to wreck the countrywide appeal of Patrice Lumumba by encouraging sproutings of political parties based on ‘’tribal’’ loyalties. Although Lumumba’s nationalist party won the largest number of seats in parliament, he had to contend with scores of small tribal parties. Belgian, French, British and American companies were hidden. The overwhelming following for Mahatma Gandhi’s economic self-reliance drove desperate Britain into inflaming Muslim fears of being dominated by a Hindu majority. Critics accused British intelligence officers of organizing violent protests which killed over 40 million people as the prize for the creation of Pakistan. The exploitation of India by British companies was buried under floods of blood as religious loyalties erupted as ethnic identities while British officials drank whisky. In West Africa, Kwame Nkrumah belonged to a minority ‘’tribe’ in the Gold Coast (now Ghana), but his anti-colonial campaign drew massive support countrywide. British political engineers in London responded by balkanizing anti-colonial passions in Nigeria by creating regions from which ‘’tribes’’ shouted out fears and aspirations for domination. Nnamdi Azikiwe’s use of his newspaper THE WEST AFRICAN PILOT to replay Nkrumah’s political miracle was, thereby, punctured, and fatally wounded. Violence against his attempt to drive in a political marathon around Northern Nigeria combined with British threats of imprisonment for government workers caught reading his newspaper, also blocked his trans-tribal ambition. French and British colonial officials shared notes on how to court the beautiful lady called ‘’tribe’’; including investing in future political instability by encouraging school attendance by communities along West Africa’s Atlantic coast, while recruiting military foot soldiers from northern communities. In Togo, Sierra Leone, Dahomey (now Benin), and Nigeria, this cocktail has incited violence. Kwame Nkrumah, however, diluted this toxic brew by immediately taking schools to northern Ghana. Togo’s 2020 elections still choked on this political virus. Drainage of incomes

AHMED JODA’S CALL TO ‘ALLOW FULL ACCESS TO EDUCATION’ FOR THE ‘MUSLIM HAUSA COMMUNITY IN NORTHERN NIGERIA’ IS CONFRONTING THOSE AFRAID OF A HAUSA SURGE

into French banks hides in silence covered by hateful speeches by ethnic politicians. An interesting formula of ‘’tribal’’ minorities in Ethiopia, Uganda, Rwanda and South Sudan using the gun to win and keep power emerged in the post-Cold War era. Robert Mugabe accused Uganda and Rwanda of dreaming of a ‘’super tribal colonization’’ of the vast Democratic Republic of Congo. In Ethiopia a ‘’tribal’’ Amhara ruling class lost Owerto a Tigre minority which built security on forcing freedom on ‘’tribes’’ long subjected to brutal Amhara domination. The Tigre rulers are now struggling to live with the rise of a freed majority Oromo ‘’tribe’’. The drama of ‘It is our turn to dance’’ often makes ethnicity brutal. In Uganda, Museveni is subjecting ‘’tribes’’ from Rwanda, Kigezi, Ankole and West Nile areas to Franz Fanon’s cure for a psychological virus known as ‘’inferiority complex’’ in their relations with a numerically larger Baganda. Mahmoud Mamdani has noted that Frederick Lugard had imported labourers from there to do forced labour on large plots of land he had allocated to Ganda chiefs. A contempt had grown out of this economy of ‘’tribal’’ structural violence. British allocation of educational institutions, including Makerere University, in Buganda reinforced her high status. As a student of Franz Fanon’s curative violence, laced with native corruption, Museveni seems set to drain swamps of psychological violence. In electoral politics for the presidency in 2021, both Bobby Wine, the challenger from Buganda’s grief, and President Yoweri Museveni are hunting for votes from assumed ‘’enemy tribes’’ in eastern, northern and western areas of Uganda. In an interview published in Daily Trust Sunday (March 1, 2020), a former federal permanent secretary, Ahmed Joda, used the term ‘’So-called Hausa-Fulani’’, thereby suggesting that European colonial officials had no monopoly in inventing ‘’tribes’’ in managing power. The Sokoto Caliphate, like Bunyoro-Kitara Kingdom, had adopted the language of those they became rulers over as protection against political ‘‘renaissance’’ by subjected ‘’tribes’’. President Paul Kagame’s project of wiping out ‘’Tutsi’’ and ‘’Hutu’’ tribal marks in Rwanda, is threatened by such a majority Hutu surge. Ahmed Joda’s call to ‘’allow full access to education’’ for the ‘’Muslim Hausa community in northern Nigeria’’ is confronting those afraid of a Hausa surge. Unless this historic ‘’ethnic restructuring’’ takes place, he argues, ‘’we are absolutely not going anywhere’’. Boko Haram is on one fatal direction.

INEC’S DEREGISTRATION OF POLITICAL PARTIES Ayodele Okunfolami argues the right of the electoral umpire to deregister parties that failed to meet the requirements

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Federal High Court has stopped the Independent National Electoral Commission from deregistering 31 political parties. The suit which was filed by 33 political parties followed the deregistration of 74 political parties by the electoral body earlier in February. INEC had claimed it was exercising its constitutional rights to strip parties that didn’t meet the requirements to remain on the ballot when it announced the deregistration of the political parties. INEC was quite empirical in its approach. It just didn’t go about disrobing the political parties randomly, it used their electoral performances in the last general elections in which these political parties didn’t win any seat. Must a political party win to affirm its continued existence? The answer is yes. Unlike pressure groups, civil society organizations, nongovernmental organizations or any other political concerns, political parties are set up primarily to win elections for the sake of being in government. And according to INEC’s incontrovertible evidence, these parties were found wanting. After all, if INEC has the right to register, it is just commonsensical that it should have the right to withdraw such registration if and when necessary. Another way to look at it is that elections is a competition. And like many professional sports, there are seasonal promotions to the main league and relegations to the minor league following certain performance benchmarks. What INEC simply did, as it has done in the past, is to “relegate� these 74 parties for not fulfilling their terms for remaining in the premier division. Besides these parties’ polls performance, many Nigerians see them as a nuisance on the ballot flummoxing the voter all the more.

Accommodating them makes the ballot paper unnecessarily bulkier and more expensive to produce. So, one wonders why these political parties are contesting a decision that was well celebrated by majority of Nigerians if the vox pop in the electronic and wireless is anything to go by. If these deregistered political parties are dogged in moving against a seemingly popular decision, it presents them as political parties that could shun the voice of the electorate or that of established institutions for their own parochial interests. These parties have also not helped their cause in their wintry custom of hibernating from the political scene only to show up once in four years. They preach the “third force� or “third alternative� message only as it pertains presidency. Elections or politics is not only about the who presides from Aso Rock. Where was the third force in Bayelsa and Kogi? Is the voter going to have any for Edo and Ondo or other legislative off season byelection besides the usual PDP-APC? In the last general elections, over 70 candidates vied for the presidency and an average of 40 per gubernatorial seats and 20 per legislative unlike the big PDP and APC that fielded candidates for every elective post. This is where they keep missing it by keeping their eye only on executive seats. INEC’s requirement is simply to win a state legislative seat which in some constituencies is as small as a handful of political wards. Any serious party should be able to achieve that even if it is for the sake of retaining their registration and capitalizing for future elections. Unfortunately, because these parties are not pan-Nigerian in physiognomy, they are only seen as platforms for politicians who present themselves as puritans who are not only discontent with the PDP-APC duopoly but

also can’t align with any other already existing parties. They are bereft of any inclusive ideology outside the identity of their presidential candidates that is enough to capture any particular demography. At the end of the elections, their results appear only in hundreds, tens and units. Even the APCs and PDPs that have history, spread and cash, still bank on the sentimental votes of certain geopolitical regions or the endorsements of professional bodies, socio-cultural groups. But these small parties with serial failures keep wishing the electorate would uncharacteristically change their age-long voting patterns away from the dominant binary options. Another argument INEC’s action generated was the number of political parties that should be ideal for a polarized nation like Nigeria with her multiple complexities at the same time not disenfranchising certain ideologies or demographics. Like other established democracies, “market forces� of the political space have also forged Nigeria into a dominant two-party system where dozens of other “small� parties flex their muscles. It is the number of these other alternatives that is usually debated. One thing is clear, two parties have never been forced down the throats of Nigerians, aside the fiat of the hoodwinked third republic. Nigerian democracy has always been multi-partied, what irritates the Nigerian voter is pretenders on the ballot paper and not the number of options. One can understand the nagging insistence of these parties wanting to participate in the general elections. First, they have the right to float a political party and in turn field candidates as long as they fulfil the constitutional requirements. Secondly, with the dividends of democracy still a mirage, they will want to continue to raise the hopes of the electorate as the alternatives to the status quo. However,

they should be more tactical. I previously mentioned the oligopolistic nature of democracies that thins options into indifferentiable choices, so that the dissimilarities of the leading political parties are blurred. It is this pretense of choices this wonky electoral democracy presents that is making the European and American elector throw the dice on far-right populism. This is what is making the Republicans and Democrats in America, Conservatives and Labour in the United Kingdom, and other binaries of developed democracies to be less moderate and centrist to more distinguishable campaigns and ideologies. These smaller parties can cash in on this. They should work on themselves and build workable programmes that is indigenous to them and sell it to Nigerians. They should also be transparent and democratic in their internal affairs because PDP and APC may have their share of woes, both have sustained organizational structure with membership that cuts across ethnic lines, open conventions and primaries, etc. The culture of just picking anybody as flagbearers only because the fellows possess a degree of hutzpah have not done these small parties any good. There should be a democratic way where interested party members can vie and canvass for support amongst themselves before they are presented to the larger electorate. Finally, they should unhesitatingly wake up before the alarm clock of the next elections because INEC will again open the windows for party registration. These small parties can then adopt the APC-style of mergers. Of the 18 parties that remain in INEC’s log, some can only boast of a State House of Assembly seat. Those that got weeded out can build alliances and mergers with them to consolidate for future elections. Okunfolami wrote from Festac, Lagos

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EDITORIAL DEALING WITH THE APC CRISIS The All Progressives Congress should put its house in order

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s the main pillar of the architecture of democracy, the health of the political parties in any country is a strategic national security issue. To that extent, the crisis within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) poses a threat to general peace and order in the country. We therefore urge the APC National Chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, and other ofďŹ cials of the party to live up to their strategic responsibility by using their internal mechanisms to resolve whatever problems they may have in the overall interest of our democracy. There is a maxim that politicking comes to an end once electoral votes have been counted and results declared. The victorious candidates and their political platforms simply move on to deliver on campaign promises or what is called “democracy dividendsâ€? in this part of the world. But that conventional wisdom seems to be lost on the APC. What we have been witnessing since May 29 last year from their members is an unhealthy IN THIS ERA OF SECURITY dissipation of energy CHALLENGES IN SEVERAL in petty politics to the THEATRES, THE POLICE, detriment of serious SSS AND OTHER SECURITY governance at practically all levels. More AGENCIES HAVE MORE THAN ENOUGH ON THEIR disturbing is that the judiciary is being HANDS THAN KEEPING VIGIL IN THE OFFICE OF A increasingly drawn to fuel confusion in the POLITICAL PARTY party. The person to blame in all this is President Muhammadu Buhari who, as leader of the party, ought to have called the combatants to order. He cannot pretend that all is well when his political party is in deep crisis. Neither can he afford to play the ostrich game or become Emperor Nero who ďŹ ddled while Rome burnt. A situation where within 24 hours, two courts of coordinate jurisdictions

were giving contrary orders is an invitation to anarchy. And so is the abuse of state institutions like the police and State Security Service (SSS) whose men and ofďŹ cers are being deployed on guard duties at the APC National secretariat.

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T H I S DAY EDITOR BOLAJI ADEBIYI DEPUTY EDITOR YEMI AJAYI, DAVIDSON IRIEKPEN, MANAGING DIRECTOR ENIOLA BELLO DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR KAYODE KOMOLAFE CHAIRMAN EDITORIAL BOARD OLUSEGUN ADENIYI EDITOR NATION’S CAPITAL IYOBOSA UWUGIAREN MANAGING EDITOR JOSEPH USHIGIALE

T H I S DAY N E W S PA P E R S L I M I T E D EDITOR-IN-CHIEF/CHAIRMAN NDUKA OBAIGBENA GROUP EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS ENIOLA BELLO, KAYODE KOMOLAFE, ISRAEL IWEGBU, IJEOMA NWOGWUGWU, EMMANUEL EFENI DIVISIONAL DIRECTORS BOLAJI ADEBIYI, PETER IWEGBU, ANTHONY OGEDENGBE DEPUTY DIVISIONAL DIRECTOR OJOGUN VICTOR DANBOYI SNR. ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR ERIC OJEH ASSOCIATE DIRECTORS PATRICK EIMIUHI, SAHEED ADEYEMO CONTROLLERS ABIMBOLA TAIWO, UCHENNA DIBIAGWU, NDUKA MOSERI DIRECTOR, PRINTING PRODUCTION CHUKS ONWUDINJO HEAD, COMPUTER DEPARTMENT PATRICIA UBAKA-ADEKOYA

s we have noted in the past, our democracy has today lost its shape essentially because the political parties want to be democratic in a manner that advances only the personal interests of some politicians and not that of the society. Some 21 years into civil rule, we are indeed at pains to admit that internal democracy has been a very scarce commodity within Nigeria’s political parties. Like the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) it displaced in 2015, the APC has become notorious for disregarding its own internal rules in the bid to achieve predetermined ends. Yet, the failure by the party to follow the democratic path in the conduct of its internal affairs has continued to pose grievous challenge for the larger polity. Also like the PDP, the ruling APC that came to power with the mantra of ‘Change’ has become an election-winning machine whose members do not necessarily share the same values in a political system where rent seeking is the order of the day. To worsen matters, the bickering and inďŹ ghting within the party are not about the interest of the people but rather about cold calculations for the 2023 general election that is still three years away. However, what we ďŹ nd curious, and at the same time worrisome, is the misuse to which critical state institutions are being deployed. In this era of security challenges in several theatres across the country, the police, SSS and other security agencies have more than enough on their hands than keeping vigil in the ofďŹ ce of a political party. At a period the nation is plagued by a national health emergency in Coronavirus which has in turn affected the economy given the downturn in oil price, the APC crisis is a disgrace that should be halted. But for that to happen, the president cannot continue to be aloof. The time to show leadership is now.

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THE FALLEN STATE, LAW AND ORDER

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wo week before the swearing-in in May 2015, a ceremony I attended, I wrote a piece (widely published) –“Hope is alive again�. Hope is not given as a gift, it is the reaction of a being in his physical and spiritual self, in expectation of better things happening to him. It is the driver of courage in a being. Opinion is divided as to how things have turned out since then, but a journey down the memory lane, and a record of denials by key actors as milestones, may perhaps bring new perspectives to the conversation and hopefully awaken the national conscience to appropriate behaviour. Political leaders are people, often the embodiment of beliefs, who have a followership, whose faith in them, is enough for the followership to take the pain for now in the hope of a better future. Leader after leader have betrayed that hope, such that our national leadership narratives have truly become gangster chronicles. r -BXZFST XIP ESBGUFE ESBDPOJBO EFDSFFT JO UIF EFBE PG OJHIU and we all woke up to a broken bottle shaven Minere Amakiri, now want to fight for human rights r "ENJOJTUSBUPST XIP SBUJPOBMJ[FE UIF TBDLJOH PG TXBUIFT PG civil servants, in the federal work force and destroyed the career paths of federal civil servants, now wondering why the civil service doesn’t work. r /FP NBSLFU BOBMZTUT XIP XSPOHMZ JNQMFNFOUFE DVSSFODZ deregulation and silenced our factory machines, now talking about low productivity and industrial output (the markets sure took it!) r %FWJPVT DFOUSBM QMBOOFST XIP BEWJTFE PO MBCPVS BQQFBTFNFOU and made salary awards not related to productivity, thereby releasing the genie of inflation, wonder why we can’t balance our budgets I spoke too soon about hope coming alive again, as the death of hope

remains reflected in the inequity of our system. Equity unfortunately for us, is the precedent of the rule of law. What we needed from the new administration in 2015 were merchants of hope, who will bring a cheer back to the forlorn faces of the “Sai Baba� crowds, central planners who would believe in possibilities, not a whimpering bunch who will withdraw into their shells of self-preservation and narrow self-interest. Succour is not enough, only hope for a future planned for would do. Our markets need to work well, and they haven’t worked well for a long time. Our currency has been in decline against major global currencies for over 30 years, national and states’ have run with compounding deficits over the same period and no growth plans for adjustments. Commerce is stupid as bounty harvests are not reflected in market prices of food staples. Against that background, what we need is industrial character, not federal character. 8F NVTU SF PSHBOJ[F PVSTFMWFT BHBJO JOUP QSPEVDUJPO BOE QSPEVDUJWJUZ [POFT TVQQPSUFE BOE OPU VOEFSNJOFE CZ GFEFSBM JOTUJUVUJPOT We have been playing musical chairs for leadership since 1960. Every nationality believing their fortunes will change if they have their kith and kin in office. They have secured those offices by lies, deceit and perhaps guns, only to find out there isn’t much they can constructively do for their groupings because the system is stupid. They very quickly descend to their bestial selves weaving through the chicanes they set up (policy inconsistency). %FWFMPQNFOU DBO CF VOJGPSN BOE JODMVTJWF JG SFHJPOT BSF JO UIFJS DPNGPSU [POFT EPJOH XIBU UIFZ EP CFTU BOE TVQQPSUFE CZ GFEFSBM Institutions. Charles Iyore, dioncta@aol.com

IT’S TOO LATE TO SHUT THE GATE

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he Italian team from Ferrari will be at the Australian Grand Prix races this Sunday despite Italy being a closed country due to the Corona Virus. Apparently, they received a special exemption from the Italian government. The Australian Football Association has decided that if there is an equivalent need for isolation here the football matches will be played in empty stadiums. With about 50 players there and a similar number of team officials, about 10 umpires and several tv crews there should be enough to spread it about if any of the players catch the virus. Is there something that stops young fit sports people and old unfit team officials from getting the virus and spreading it? The younger ones will probably survive it better if they are infected. Is there a possibility that cancelling these sports or teams may have a negative financial cost or bad publicity or will they just be lucky? Dennis Fitzgerald, Melbourne, Australia

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POLITICS

Group Politics Editor NSEOBONG OKON-EKONG Email nseobong.okonekong@thisdaylive.com (08114495324 SMS ONLY)

‘S’East Will Adopt Name, Operational Template for Regional Security Outfit Soon’ David-Chyddy Eleke holds a conversation with Mr. Oseloka H. Obaze, a diplomat, politician, writer and expert on public policy and governance on insecurity in Nigeria, Anambra State politics and other issues

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2017 I have been in the race; I remain in the race and will always be in the race, because I have been proactively engaged in the process of engendering purposeful leadership and sustainable development change in Anambra State. Like most, I remain painfully conscious of Anambra’s need for a skilled leader that is committed to redirecting the state towards sustainable development and greatness. I’m also mindful that Anambra has experienced huge missed opportunities and loss of time, financial and material resources. That ought to be redressed urgently.

onsidering the insecurity in the country, do you think the South East governors are doing enough to secure the zone? What is your take on the delay by the Southeast Governors in establishing central security outfit like Amotekun in the Southwest? From outside looking in, it might seem that the Southeast governors are not doing enough. But I am aware that they are fully engaged. I also know that the Southeast people, as well as, Ohaneze Ndigbo are pushing them to be overtly proactive in order to reassure Ndigbo that Igboland is secure. The Southeast Security Committee is also hard at work. From a policy perspective, one-size security arrangement will not fit every regional need. The Southwest, Northeast, Southeast and Southsouth regions all have their respective security needs and peculiarities. As such, each zone must fashion out what works best for them with a view to securing their respective zones. Whatever the states or regions plan to do, must however be done in partnership with the Federal Government to ensure synergy. How do you compare the Southeast regional security arrangement with that by the Southwest? Do you think anything has changed from the existing security arrangement? The core tenets of security are universal. There are hardly any novelties. As such, one should be looking at similarities instead of comparisons. Security is about collaborative teamwork. The Southwest Governors have teamed up to do their bit. The North has come up with its own model. Now it is up to the Southeast Governors to do their part, taking into account peculiarities and needs of the Southeast region. But they cannot do so unilaterally under the present circumstances. Ultimately, the Southeastern states, which by the way have their respective state vigilante outfits, will have to rally together. What might be different is that they will have better inter-state command, coordination, as well as agreed response modalities. The way I see it, since there are no regional legislatures to pass the enabling laws, whatever the Southeast states decide to do on security, must be state-based. I envisage that they will agree on common name, nomenclature and operational template. Will the setting up of regional security outfits by geo-political zones solve the problem of insecurity in Nigeria? What do you think could be the best way to achieve regional security since South-east governors accepted Community Policing in line with the security policy of the Federal Government. Perhaps not, but it will definitely enhance overall security and give the local populations peace of mind. The goal is to undertake measures that will enhance the efficacy of existing security architecture and solve existing problems. Whatever security arrangements we have in place presently are evidently not working efficiently. But if improving on them means each geopolitical zone or each federating unit being allowed to pick what works best for them on security, then so be it. I believe that some form of decentralization will enhance the efficient delivery of security services across board. If the ultimate and holistic answer to our national security challenges is regional policing, state policing or community policing, then each federating unit must be allowed to pick what works best for them. What is your view concerning security situation in Anambra state? The long-standing security regime and foundation laid in Anambra State has been improved on. Comparably, Anambra is safer than many other states. But that said, you can never be ambivalent about security. Insecurity is very dynamic; it can be spontaneous or creeping. What matters most, is sustainability and

Obaze eternal vigilance. Your party, PDP is mobilizing very strongly to recover, the governorship seat of Anambra from APGA in 2021 election. Do you have the confidence that the stakeholders will not betray the party as they did in the last governorship which cost your ambition in that election? I will use your words guardedly. If indeed, as you suggest they were PDP stakeholders that “betrayed” their party, and there may very well be; I believe they are now reaping the consequences of their action. If they did that because they were individually or collectively incentivized or compromised, or did so because they had an axe to grind; they are now suffering the consequences along with the rest of us. An Igbo adage says you “don’t cut your nose to spite your face.” Another says that when “an aged woman trips twice, the village children will count the contents of her basket.” Ahead of the 2021 gubernatorial election, the Anambra PDP appears factionalised. How is the party going about it? How ready is your party for 2021 governorship election, knowing full well that APGA is in total control and APC not relenting?

PDP Anambra factionalized? I don’t think so. We have one chairman, Chief Ndubisi Nwobu and one State Executive. And as far as I know, Anambra PDP is not due for a State Congress until the last quarter of 2021, actually after the governorship elections. I must admit, however, that there are some people within and on the fringes of the party, who like to create uncertainties that give impetus to “mercantile politics.” Such people believe we are yet in another “trading season.” But my personal view is that the party is supreme and must ensure discipline within its rank and file. Those who undermine the party ought to be disciplined. We witnessed such disciplinary actions in the recent past. Your party, PDP, has said it is not zoning the governorship ticket for Anambra 2021 election to any zone in the state. Since the party has thrown it open, will you be vying for governorship in 2021? Zoning is a red herring, since it’s party-based. And what is applicable is what the party Constitution says. If the operative words here are “thrown open”, it presupposes that the party is jettisoning its extant zoning policy, which is not the case. As far as I know, PDP is not into zoning. As to my personal disposition, since

If the northern elite want Nigeria to stay whole, they must voluntarily yield to reform and restructuring. Such reforms will benefit the North immensely in terms of poverty alleviation, enhanced education and development. We have a large swathe of unemployed and under educated youth population in this country. The majority are domiciled in the North. That is a ticking timebomb. These challenges must be addressed. If Nigeria, which has been ruled predominantly by the northerners, has not done so well even in the North, it becomes commonsensical to try other leadership alternatives

Kaduna State governor, Nasir el-Rufai recently called for a power shift to the south come 2023. Do you think the northerners are ready to hand over leadership baton to the south? I am sufficiently not to second-guess the esteemed Governor of Kaduna State. I don’t always agree with him, but I respect him. In this instance, he seems to have hit the right chord. But circumspection is called for when dealing with strangers bearing gifts. In reality, however, anyone talking about power not shifting to the south in 2023 cannot be deemed serious and indeed, does not wish Nigeria well. That said, the south as a collective, has to be strategic in handling this matter. Once you encounter an intra-south jostling and bickering, the default option will kick in, which is to maintain the status quo. That will be utterly unacceptable. Now, let me be frank and categorical even at the risk of being controversial. If the northern elite want Nigeria to stay whole, they must voluntarily yield to reform and restructuring. Such reforms will benefit the North immensely in terms of poverty alleviation, enhanced education and development. We have a large swathe of unemployed and under educated youth population in this country. The majority are domiciled in the North. That is a ticking time-bomb. These challenges must be addressed. If Nigeria, which has been ruled predominantly by the northerners, has not done so well even in the North, it becomes commonsensical to try other leadership alternatives. The North has an advantage they must recognize. Routinely, the number one and two positions in this country will always rotate between the North and the South. Yet any position allotted to the Southerners will also rotate between the Southeast, Southwest and South-south. The upshot is that the necessary concessions will be made when the cost of not doing so outweighs the cost of doing so. As I see it, restructuring will be incremental rather than a one-off event. We already see that manifesting in the security sector reform and governance. With the spate of killings currently experienced in the country, do you think President Buhari still has a grip and control of this country? National security is a joint and shared responsibility. The people, the federal, state and local governments have their respective roles to play in ensuring national security. But security of the citizens is the primary responsibility of the government. And in a democracy, the buck stops on the desk of the President. I’m sure Mr. President is fully aware of the huge outcry about the spiraling insecurity in the country. I believe he must have at his disposal, intelligence and security assessments, which we are not privy to. He alone can determine what scope of national resources he needs to deploy to mitigate the prevailing insecurity. From where I stand, I believe this nation has sufficient human and materiel resources, to totally dominate the national security environment. If the will is there, then the way is also there. NOTE: Interested readers should continue in the online edition on www.thisdaylive.com

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POLITICS DISSENTING VOICE...IN HIS OWN WORDS ‘Nweze’s Dissenting Judgment Will haunt us as Why Restructuring is the Only Option Nation for a Long Time’ Elliot Ugochukwu-Uko, Founder of Igbo Youth

Alex Enumah interviews Mr. John Baiyeshea, a Movement argues that there is an urgent need to Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) on the recent conclude the business of restructuring Nigeria Supreme Court on the Imo State governorship election

W

ould you say that the Imo governorship final verdict by the Supreme Court was a convenient escape route by the court to redeem

its image? The Court just decided to insist on its ‘finality’ posture at the expense of Justice. I truly and sincerely believe that the Court knew that a mistake was made in the judgment that removed Ihedioaha. But I think they had great difficulty reversing themselves so soon, probably thinking of the image of the Court in the international community. It seems to me that Justice was sacrificed on the alter of some mundane and hidden considerations.

Having established several past precedents, why do you think the Supreme Court refused to reverse itself? The answer to this second question is same as the answer to the first question. Supreme Court found itself in a ‘culdesac’ or a ‘dead end’ of some sort. It just decided to stand by its earlier judgment (even if it was wrong). That is why Justice Nweze in dissenting judgment said the judgment will haunt us as Nation for a long time. It is as if our long established jurisprudence on election matters has been turned ‘upside’ down. We, in the legal profession ,know that we have serious legal issues to contend with now and in future election cases. Nothing is sacrosanct anymore. The Bayelsa judgment too has the same ripple effect. How do you think the Ihedioha case will affect future litigants in similar circumstance? I adopt my answer above for this question. The Supreme Court recently imposed unprecedented heavy fines on counsels. What other measures should the Court take to forestall abuse of court processes, particularly by politicians Well, the issue of imposition of heavy fines on the senior lawyers for approaching the Supreme Court to review its judgment is unprecedented and frightening. Actually, no Lawyer should be happy about that because it could have been anybody. The question whether or not the application for review was an abuse of Court process is judgmental. That is what the Justices said. I personally believe that whether they were right or wrong to come to that conclusion, time will tell. But one thing

Baiyeshea

I am sure of is that there is no unanimity of opinion on that issue in the legal profession. So, the debate will go on for a long time. God who is ultimate Judge, and he is the Almighty one that will eventually have the final/conclusive say in the matter. Are you concerned that elections, in many instances, now appear to be decided by the courts and not the electorates? The trend of the decision of the Supreme Court in the cases of Zamfara, Rivers, Imo and Bayelsa, cannot add value to our democratic and electoral processes in this Country. Any judgment that changes the will of the people expressed in voting at elections, through such judgments is what I refer to as ‘judicial shortchange’. It is doing more harm than good. What is your take on the dissenting judgment by Justice Centus Nweze? The dissenting judgment of Justice Centus Nweze was bold, courageous, factual and truthful. I foresee a situation in which that minority judgment will one day (very soon), be not just the ‘majority’ judgment, but it will be the only (celebrated) judgment. Should the right of a litigant be sacrificed because the Supreme Court is final? It is not just that the right of a litigant is being sacrificed by the finality of the Court. Justice is being sacrificed. If people are not convinced that Justice has been done, then the Supreme Court itself cannot be happy and must be concerned that it is not serving the people well. After all,the Court’s ultimate relevance is that it is looking after the welfare and wellbeing of the Nation. There is too much criticism of the Court’s showing in recent times. So,the Court must do a critical appraisal with a view to making necessary adjustments. With signal from the Supreme Court can we conviniently say that the Judiciary is the last hope of the common man. Quite honestly, it will be a sign of strength and not of weakness, if the Court can examine the avalanche of criticisms and and come to terms with them. Finally, inspite of the finality status of the Supreme Court, I make bold to say that nobody has monopoly of wisdom and judgment. So, we all must defer and give reverence to God.

Ugochuckwu-Uko

T

he continuous silence of the authorities in the face of the twin scourge ravaging the land, namely, the ruthless brigandage of the Fulani herdsmen and blood thirsty Boko Haram warriors, and their seemingly free reign, has become odious. The slaughter, abduction, beheading and rape, currently trending all over, is to say the least, frightening and sickening. That state governors have found the courage to hurriedly establish regional security outfits, is a loud confirmation, that Nigeria is heading towards the abyss. That 200 million Nigerians have had enough, may actually, be an understatement. But what is really worrisome, is the continuous unhelpful hypocrisy by the central government, that a piecemeal amendment of the untidy 1999 unitary constitution, would return sanity to the land. Nothing could be farther from the truth. What may be true, is the unpalatable fact, that people in power today, are willing to allow the bloodbath thrive, just so they could hang unto power, deciding the fate of 200 million Nigerians. People in power today, and their handlers, know all too well, that no amount of constitutional amendment would save Nigeria now, they, therefore should urgently quit exploiting our ethnic and religious divisions in order to sustain their false narrative that Nigeria can survive without fundamental restructuring of the polity into true federalism and regional autonomy, anchored on power devolution, delivered through a brand new people’s constitution affirmed by a referendum. The ugly sores afflicting the nation today, hunger, poverty and other economic woes bedevilling our land today, e.g. unemployment, violent crimes, corruption that has seized our soul as a people, the damaging self centered political culture of our elite club, loss of hope and faith, as seen by various agitations and the confusion and anger that has enveloped our country, all point to one thing: the unitary structure inspired and enthroned by unelected military leaders, cannot carry the edifice any longer. We either decentralise or crash. The unitary structure may have helped win the civil war, forcefully wedge the country as one, but it certainly cannot sustain the edifice today, with the ever growing population. We are clearly passing through the discomforting season, known by political historians as the calm before the storm. Our prayer: May the storm never arise. But even as we pray, that this destructive cup passes over us, we also know, that it

is important we sound a note of warning to the obstinate and recalcitrant people of power today. Our people have had enough. Our patience and tolerance point, have ran over. We can’t take it anymore. We believe the bedlam and anguish visited on the land could be deliberate. It seems lovers and protagonists of unworkable unitary Nigeria are merely testing the ground to gauge the tolerance level of the people they are scheming to enslave forever. There are no new convincing excuses, to why the endless stream of blood flowing all over the land in the last four years, must continue. It is obvious, both to the masses of this country and the watchful global community, that it is simply impossible to run the complex behemoth called Nigeria from one unitary structure, sharing monthly allocation to states and issuing directives from Aso villa. Everybody knows it is not working and will never work. The signs are so clear, even the blind could see it. The pretense and hypocrisy has become sickening. The gathering storm, though avoidable through immediate restructuring, would be disastrous if it is allowed, due to hubris, to fall on us. Those who have ears, let them hear. Which brings us to General Yakubu Gowon’s statement the other day, that “a lot of injustice has been done to Ndigbo.” General Gowon was endorsing restructuring Nigeria. General Gowon should kindly make proactive efforts to inspire and influence other leaders from all the regions of Nigeria, especially those who still do not understand that restructuring the polity is good for everyone,to join hands and save Nigeria. General Gowon should consider the fact that his stature and position would greatly help those apprehensive of restructuring Nigeria to understand that Nigeria would die, if restructuring is delayed much longer. It’s not about the Igbo, Dear Sir. It’s really about equity, about granting a breath of fresh air to all.Its about empowering the people of Nigeria, opening up the land and creating new opportunities. It’s about growing the economy, accelerating both academic and economic growth. It’s about opening up the Middle-belt, the North-east and North-west. It’s about freeing our selves from stagnation and dependence on mono source of income. It’s about creating a new beautiful, rich and powerful Nigeria and time is running out. General Gowon, Sir, you do have a key role to play, Sir, in the urgent business of restructuring Nigeria. Your place in history sir, demands that you drive the restructuring of the country in order to save Nigeria.

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FEATURES

Group Features Editor: Chiemelie Ezeobi Email chiemelie.ezeobi@thisdaylive.com, Tel: 08038901925

Celebrating Professor Adegbeyeni at 80 Eric Teniola

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n Friday, March 13, Professor Emmanuel Ola Adegbeyeni will be 80. A man of humble background, Professor rose to be acting Permanent Secretary in the Federal Civil Service. He was President United Nations Committee on Shipping, Geneva, (with the late Secretary General of United Nations, Kofi Annan as Executive Secretary),1982-1986, Global Program of Economic Development Institute of the World Bank in Transport Policy (USA), 1980-1981, International Certificate of Outstanding Contribution to Information Technology and Mass Transit in the World (USA),1980, Chairman, African Group and Accredited Nigerian Signatory To diplomatic Conference on the International Multimodal Transport of Goods (UNCTAD) (1ST part) 1980, Chairman, African International Preparatory Group (IPC) On International Multimodal Transport of Goods , (UNCTAD), Geneva, 1982, Chairman, African Group (Diplomatic Conference on Convention on International Multimodal Transport of Goods, UNCTAD, (2ND Part), 1983, Leader of Nigerian Delegate (Diplomatic Conference Convention on the condition for registration of ships (1st part), 1984, Leader of Nigerian Delegation (Plenipotentiary Convention on the conditions for Registration of ships (2nd part, 1985, Chairman African Group (UNCTAD Committee on shipping), 14th session Geneva, 1991, Chairman, African Group (The Resumed Session of the Review Conference, Geneva, 1991, Chairman, UNCTAD Expert Group on Multimodal Transport (Diplomatic Conference, Ghana), 1993, Leader of Nigeria Delegate and accredited representative of Honorable Minister (7th min meeting of Transport, Communications), 1989, Chairman International Groups of Experts (African Ministers of Maritime Transport, 1st, 2nd, 3rd meeting: Addis Ababa, Lagos), ECA, 1989-1990, Accredited Representative of Nigerian Minister and Chairman (African Ministers of Transport, Communication and Planning), Morocco, ECA,1989, Chairman of Experts (International Group of Experts), Chairman, African Experts (8th Intergovernment meeting of expert of transport, Communications and Planning, Abuja), 1991, Chairman, Group experts (African Ministers of Maritime, Abuja), 1991, Delegate 12th session of Economic Commission Committee for African and 17th Conference of Minister, Addis Ababa, 1991, Chairman of African Expert (Negotiating Committee for African Countries with EEC and others on shipping matters in Brussels,1989-1991, Experts and Coordinator for Nigeria (ECA preparatory meeting on preparation UNCTAD II Program, Addis Ababa, 1980-1990, Expert and Coordinator for Nigeria (ECA preparatory meeting on preparation, articulation and implementation of UNCTAD I, 1980-1991, Leader of Nigerian Delegation (Conference of MICROMAR in West Africa Countries) spanning over ten years, 1980-1990. He was born in Idanre in Ondo state. He attended Ibadan Grammar School ,1957-1963, University of Lagos, Akoka,

Prof Adegbeyeni

Lagos, 1964-1967, University of Aston, Birmingham, England, 1968-1970, University of Lagos, Akoka, Lagos, 1975-1977, Indian Institution of Science, Bangalore, India, 1976-1977and the Economics Development Institute of World Bank, Washington, DC., USA, 1980-1981. Professor Adegbeyeni started his professional career at Unilever, London as a Data Processing Manager in 1970 and a Research Executive at RBNL (UAC) in 1971. He moved to University of Lagos, Akoka as a System Designer/Lecturer II from 1971-1976 and a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Computer Science, Faculty of Science, from 1976-1979. Professor Adegbeyeni was as an Assistant

Director at the Federal Ministry of Transport and Communication from 1979-1982, a Director National Transport, Coordinating Department (grade level 17) from1982-1992. He was Director, Maritime Service Department from 1992-1997 and Acting Federal Permanent Secretary, 1999-2003 of the same Ministry. He was a Professor of Computer Applications, M.B.A., Faculty of Business Administration, University of Lagos (on contract), 2000-2006, Professor, Master of Information System (on contract part time), Lagos State University, LASU, 2003-2005 and a council member, Institute of Operational Research. Professor Adegbeyeni was one of the brains behind the National Shipping Policy.

He is indeed the architect of the National Transport Policy. He was the Secretary of Presidential Task Force and Committee on Urban Mass Transit of Nigeria. He also rose to the plum post of coordinator of World Bank project till 1994, as well as one of the few Africans to become the president of the entire committee of shipping of UNCTAD, and United Nations for 2years. He is a member of the Anglican Communion. Professor Adegbeyeni is married to Mrs Funke Adegebeyeni nee Olaborede who is also from Idanre and they are blessed with children and grandchildren. t5FOJPMB XSPUF JO GSPN -BHPT

Humanitarian Affairs Ministry, FCTA Set up Joint Committee on 26,460 IDPs Welfare Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja The Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development and the Federal Capital Territory Administration yesterday appointed a four-member joint committee to fashion out modality that will enhance the welfare of 26,460 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in 41 camps

in the FCT. The committee has as members the Chief of Staff to the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, AVM Aliyu Shinkafi; and the Director Rehabilitation in the Ministry, Mrs Florence Nkechi, while the two nominees are the Special Assistant to the Minister of State, FCT, Professor M.T Usman and the Director of the FCT Emergency Management Agency, Alhaji Abbas

Idriss. The committee is to harmonise mechanisms for ensuring that the IDPs get the best services from the two ministries in discharging their responsibilities to them. The decision to form the committee was one of the outcomes of a discussion yesterday during a courtesy call on the FCT Minister, Mohammed Musa Bello, by the Minister of Humanitarian

Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Farouq. While briefing the Minister of the FCT, Farouq explained the mandate of her ministry, which he said include the coordination of National and International humanitarian efforts, the creation of institutional and legal frameworks for humanitarian policy, effective implementation of

the four components of the National Social Investment Programmes (NSIPs) and the optimisation of the generation of funding for humanitarian activities. She sought for close collaboration from the FCTA to provide various skills orientation for the IDPs camped in the territory as well as rehabilitate them properly by making sure that those among them willing

to return to their homes in the North-east can do so. In his remark, Bello, asked his counterpart in charge of humanitarian affairs for full cooperation and collaboration to give maximum care and uplift the wellbeing of the IDPs. He said that the FCTA had been providing healthcare services, food stuff, accommodation, training in various skills for the IDPs.

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#THISISNIGERIA -David Hundeyin

Finally, The Hour is Upon Us - What Now?

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he 20th century Russian politician Vladmir Lenin once famously remarked: “There are decades where nothing happens; there are weeks where decades happen.� The past seven-day period in Nigeria has been one of that proverbial decade-weeks, with at least three major local and international stories emerging with seismic implications for the country’s future. First, we heard that the National Assembly approved Aso Rock’s controversial $22.8bn borrowing plan, which would bring Nigeria’s total sovereign debt stock to over $108bn from its current level of $85.3bn. While we were still working out the math behind the projected impact of the mega loan and its proposed repayment schedule, markets around the world went into a tailspin driven by coronavirus fears, signaling an oncoming global recession. The last of the triple whammy headlines came in on Sunday evening with news that crude oil prices went into freefall, breaching $30 for the first time since 2016. Overnight, Nigeria’s 2020 budget - benchmarked to an expected crude oil price of $57 - became an outdated scrap of paper. After years of frenzied warnings about the dangers of relying on a single source of export income, it would now seem that we woke up on Monday morning and discovered that the world has changed. Nigeria’s long-dreaded day of reckoning is finally here. So, what now? What is Nigeria’s Place in this Brave New World? It is important to note that the last time the world went into a recession, relatively strong oil prices kept Nigeria insulated from the worst of it. For reference, during the fallout of the 2008 financial crisis, oil prices still managed to hover around $53.48 in 2009, before rebounding toward the $100 mark the following year. With a budget estimate of N2.67trn that year ($17.8bn

in 2009 dollars), Nigeria actually planned to have a budget surplus. This time will be completely different. The unfolding price war led by the Russians and the Saudis does not look to be a short-term blip that will ease up after a few months, but a genuine war of attrition taking place over the next six years to a decade. According to senior officials from both countries, they have sufficient reserves to cushion the impact of oil at $30 and below for at least six years. The Saudis especially have an inbuilt advantage because unlike American shale oil or Nigerian light sweet crude, their oil is extremely cheap to produce - costing about $10/barrel. On paper, at just $14 per barrel, Saudi Arabian oil production will still be profitable. At such a price, of course, Nigerian oil production of any description would have gone the way of the groundnut pyramids in Kano. So where does an impoverished West African oil exporter with no other source of export income, plus 200 million people with a median age of just 17.9 fit into this new reality? Short answer - we don’t. Nigeria as we currently know it is the Jurassic Park of oil exporters - a lumbering 20th-century entity populated with dinosaurs that think it is still 1976 and more good times are just around the corner. While other major oil exporters have spent the past two decades furiously retooling their economies preparing for this eventuality, we spent that period refusing to evolve and fighting over who gets what share of the crude oil pie. Now, not only is the pie almost worthless, but we are also supposedly taking on our single largest batch of foreign debt in history. When you add drastically reduced or nonexistent export income to prodigiously expanded foreign debt that must be repaid in dollars, what picture do you see? Some see a government that will finally be forced to google the word

“diversify� because it is left with no other choice. Others see a chaotic breakdown of law and order as the state loses its capacity to fund itself and impose its will territorially - something that may already be happening. Another school of thought sees foreign lenders such as China swooping in to claim income-generating Nigerian assets in lieu of unpaid debts, a la Sri Lanka. How About all Three? Informed ahead of time about the upcoming changes in global economic dynamics, the dinosaurs leading Nigeria have made a hash of diversification. Under Tyrannosaurus Buharis in particular, “diversification� has been misidentified as “shaking down corporates and foreign investors,� “using the FIRS as an extortion racket,� and “trying to develop solid mineral extraction using the same state-dominated model as the now-obsolete crude oil extraction space.� I fully expect these wrong-headed and doomed efforts to continue and double in intensity. The small matter of being catastrophically wrong has never been enough to convince a Nigerian government to change its approach to engaging the economy, after all. While this is happening, the Nigerian state will continue to lose its monopoly of violence as armed forces budgets suffer. New insurgent groups in both the north and south will emerge, and the military will find itself bleeding from a thousand cuts inflicted across 993,000 km2 of what will be an increasingly ungovernable country. Then there is the small matter of the debt stock, which is projected to hit the scarcely believable sum of $200bn by 2024. Chinese funding arrangements across Africa already have oil-for-infrastructure deals in place, so it is more than just oil that will be on the table when the inevitable default happens. Nigeria’s solid mineral sector will be in the crosshairs, but so also will Nigeria’s public infrastructure stock, as the example of Sri

Lanka shows. When Sri Lanka defaulted on a Chinese EXIM bank loan used to construct its $361 Hambanthota Port, the country was forced to hand it over to the Chinese government along with 15,000 acres of land on a 99-year lease. It may be a coincidence that this move gave China the strategic naval influence it had been seeking barely a few hundred miles off the shore of its strategic regional rival India, as well as control over a key shipping route. It may be a coincidence that no other lender would fund 85% of a port that all feasibility studies said would fail. Maybe it was Christmas in the Chinese EXIM Bank boardroom. It may also be a coincidence that like in Sri Lanka, the Chinese EXIM bank is the only lender apparently willing to give a broke, unserious and strategically unfocused Nigerian government the ludicrous sum of $17bn that it cannot possibly pay back. It sure would be a great coincidence if Nigeria’s new standard gauge rail lines and airport terminals being constructed with Chinese funding had to be handed over to them, giving China control over critical transport infrastructure in West Africa’s biggest economy. What a coincidence that would be! Some might even suggest that this is in fact part of a long-term Chinese strategy to gain a strategic presence on the West African coast and thus bring Africa’s largest population into its sphere of influence in its game of chess against NATO. Some others might disagree because the implication would be that while Nigeria labours under the mistaken self-impression of giant-hood, we are in fact little more than spectators - pieces on a chessboard being moved by the actual players. The only way to know for sure is to observe the events that will shortly unfold. - David Hundeyin is a writer, travel addict and journalist majoring in politics, tech and ďŹ nance. He tweets @DavidHundeyin

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BUSINESSWORLD R A T E S

A S

MONEY MARKET OBB OVERNIGHT

A T

REPO 11.71 % 12.86 %

CALL 1-MONTH

12 % 12 %

M A R C H S & P INDEX INDEX INDEX LEVEL 1-DAY

Group Business Editor Obinna Chima Email obinna.chima@thisdaylive.com 08152447875

6 , 2 0 2 0 S&P 513.57 % -0.28 %

1/4 TO DATE YEAR TO DATE

EXCHANGE RATE 6.74 % 6.74 %

N307/1US DOLLAR* *AS AT LAST FRIDAY

Quick Takes BJAN to Mark Consumer Rights Day

TheBrandJournalistsAssociationofNigeria(BJAN)hasconcludedplans toholdthe2020WorldConsumerRightsDayinLagos. BJANwillmarkthe8theditionofitsConsumerRightsDaywiththetheme ‘SustainableConsumerBehaviour’. TheWorldConsumerRightDay,anannualeventbeingorganisedaspart ofBJAN’sefforttojointherestoftheglobalcommunitywithconsumer advocate(s)invitedtospeaktoconsumersontheneedtobeglobalchange agentstoavertenvironmentalbreakdown. This year, BJAN will embark on a walk to sensitise consumers on their rightsandtheneedtobeasustainableconsumerastheassociationwill beembarkingondrainageclearing,cleaningandpickingoffoodpackage materialslitteringthestreets. Thisyear’seditionfallsonSunday,March15,2020,asaresultofthatthe associationhasresolvedtocelebrateitonSaturday,March14,2020. According to the Chairman of the Association, Mr. Princewill Ekwujuru said:“Inordertoprotecttheplanet,providefairsocialconditionsforcurrentandfuturegenerations,weneedtothinkaboutthewayweproduce consumer goods and services. The aim of sustainable consumption is to increase resource efficiency and fair trade while helping to alleviate poverty and enable everyone to enjoy a good quality of life with access tofood,water,energy,medicineandmore.” He added that, “The decision to join the rest of the global community in celebratingconsumersistodeepenthecampaignanddiscusstheneed forsustainableconsumptionglobally.”

BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION

L-R: Group Chief Executive, FCMB Group Plc, Mr. Ladi Balogun; Chief Executive Officer, Primrose Development Company Limited, Mr. Jide Balogun; the Celebrant/Founder of FCMB Group, Otunba Olasubomi Balogun; his wife, Abimbola Balogun; Chairman, Lafarge Africa Plc, Mr. Bolaji Balogun and Director of CSL Stockbrokers and FCMB Trustees, Mr. Gboyega Balogun, during the 86th birthday celebration of the FCMB founder held in Lagos...recently

Mobile Subscription Hits 185.74 Million Stories by Emma Okonji Mobile voice subscription across networks moved up slightly from 184.7 million in December 2019, to 185.74 million in January 2020, according to statistics released recently by the telecoms industry regulator, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC). The statistics, which THISDAY obtained from the NCC website, however showed that fixed wired line subscription reached 107,272 in January this year, up from 107,154 in December last year. According to the statistics, 21st Century Technologies recorded 96,234 fixed wired subscribers on its network to maintain the highest number of fixed wired lines, followed by MTN, which has 5,996 fixed wired subscribers on its network, and Glo, which has 2,955 fixed wired subscribers on its Glo fixed line. IPNX, one

TELECOM of the oldest fixed line service provider got the least number of fixed wired line subscribers of 2,087 as at January 2020. From the statistics, Visafone and Multilinks have not added any fixed wireless subscriber to their networks since April last year. While Visafone’s fixed wireless subscription number was 26,437 as at March last year, Multilinks’ fixed wireless subscription number was 428 as at March last year. In the area of mobile voice subscription, the NCC statistics showed that MTN maintained the position of the largest Mobile Network Operator (MNO) with a subscriber number of 70.7 million, followed by Globacom with a subscriber number of 51.8

million, while Airtel maintained its position as the third largest MNOs in the country, with a subscriber number of 49.9 million, followed by 9mobile, which is placed the fourth largest MNOs in the country with a subscriber number of 13.2 million. Smile Communications was ranked the fifth largest telecoms operator, with a subscriber number of 170,726, followed by 21 Century Technologies as the sixth largest telecoms operator with a subscriber number of 96,234, while ntel comes next to 21st Century as seventh largest telecoms operator with a subscriber number of 3,595. The statistics revealed that MTN maintained the position of the largest telecoms operator in the country since its rollout in 2001, adding huge number of subscribers on its network

on a yearly basis. According to the report, as at January 2019, MTN recorded voice subscriber number of 66.7 million, and in March 2019, it recorded 65 million subscribers. In May same year, subscriber number dropped again to 64.8 million, but in July 2019, its subscription number rose to 65.3 million and in September 2019, it further increased to 65.33 million. In October 2019, its subscription increased to 65.9 million and in December 2019, it recorded 68.8 million, before reaching 70.7 million in January 2020. In January, Globacom recorded 45.6 million mobile subscribers, and in March same year, Globacom subscription dropped to 46.2 subscribers, but in May 2019, Globacom subscription Continued on page 24

Report: Pay-on-Demand Will Drive Financial Inclusion The Pay-on-Demand solution model will continue to drive digital and financial inclusion across African countries, according to a recent research report released by MasterCard. The research, which surveyed users in Nigeria, Kenya and Uganda highlighted how Payon-Demand model provides new revenue opportunities for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs). It therefore called on all key players in the financial ecosystem space to come together to scale Pay-on-Demand solutions to enable them unlock opportunities for millions of people across Africa. The report titled: ‘Pay-on-

TELECOM Demand: The Digital Path to Financial Inclusion,’ explored how digital inclusion has been proven to provide better access to financial and other services. The report, showed that a focused deployment of solutions like Pay-on-Demand was key to increasing connectivity. It, however said for these solutions to function effectively, it would be critical that all stakeholders such as governments, mobile network operators (MNOs), financial service companies and regulators, come together to unlock opportunities to enable greater financial inclusion. According to the report,

technology and connectivity enabled by MNOs initially made digital inclusion possible. Mobile devices became a viable instrument of digital inclusion when prepaid plans allowed individuals to recharge for as low as the smallest denomination of currency at a time. Currently, prepaid connections are at 98.8 per cent in Kenya, 97.5 per cent in Nigeria, and 99.1 per cent in Uganda with smartphone penetration in Africa projected to reach 66 per cent by 2025, up from 36 per cent in 2018. Pay on Demand applies the same principle for goods ranging from mobile phones to solar panels, water filters or laundry machines.

The model, often underpinned by the Internet of Things (IoT), further bridges the ownership divide by providing affordable services and assets, driving the next wave of inclusion by keeping people connected. Executive Vice President, Digital Solutions, MasterCard, Jorn Lambert, said: “The growth of digital technology has presented people in Africa with access to innovative, affordable solutions that help them meet their basic needs, ultimately leading to greater access to capital that can scale businesses and increase prosperity. “The Pay-on-Demand model Continued on page 24

Voting for Beacon of ICT Awards Opens

The board and management of Communication Week Media Limited hasopeneditsportaltothegeneralpublictovotefornomineesoftheir choiceforthisyear’sBeaconofICT(BoICT)Awards. The Beacon of Information and Communication Technology awards seriesrewardsbestpracticesandrecognizeoutstandingcontributions tothegrowthofthesector,accordingtoMr.kenNwogbo,chiefexecutive officer and editor in-chief, CommunicationsWeek Media Limited, and theorganisersofthelecture. Nwogbosaidthisyear’slecturewouldbedeliveredbytheFounder/Chief OperatingOfficer,DigitalEncodeLimited,ObadarePeterAdewale,with thetheme: “CybersecurityanditsCriticalRoleinNigeriaEconomy”. “TheawardsarefreeandawardeesarechosenbyreadersofNigeriaCommunicationsWeekthroughatransparentvotingprocess,”Mr.Nwogbosaid. Nowinitseleventhyear,theawardisthehighlightoftheeventwhichstarts withthedistinguishedlectureseries. ThelectureandawardareslatedforSaturday,April25,2020,attheEko HotelsandSuites,Lagos. TheBeaconofICTDistinguishedLectureisdesignedtoexploreeffortstoput NigeriaontheglobalInformationandCommunicationsTechnologiesmap. The lecture series however is reserved for distinguished achievers in theICTsector.

Nokia Unveils New Campaign

HMDGlobal,homeofNokiaphones,hasunveilednewcampaign,starring LashanaLynch Thisissaidtobethecompany’slargesteverglobalmarketingcampaignand kicksoffwithacommercialshowcasingoneofthesoontobeannounced newNokiasmartphones-‘TheOnlyGadgetYou’llEverNeed’ AccordingtoHMDGlobal,thehomeofNokiaphones,thevisualteaser, featuringLashanaLynchasAgentNomi,wasinspiredbythefilmanddirected byBAFTAAward-winningdirectorAmmaAsante.Thecommercialwas partofHMDGlobal’slargesteverglobalmarketingcampaignshowcasing Nokiasmartphonesas‘TheOnlyGadgetYou’llEverNeed’. LynchhasthistosayonherexperiencewithHMDGlobal:“Myfirstphone wasactuallyaNokia3210whenIwasabouttenyearsold.Inretrospect, itwasmysmartphoneofthe90’s.Beingabletochangethebuttonsand faces, whilst playing Snake blew my mind! So, after seeing how much Nokia smartphones have evolved over the years from my childhood to now,it’sexcitingtoplayNomiwhohelpsunveilanewsmartphoneforthis iconicbrand.” ArangeofNokiaphoneswillappearinthe‘NoTimeToDie’film,formingpart ofanintegratedcampaignrunningacrosscinema,digital,social,OOHand retailwhichwilllaunchgloballyonSunday8March,InternationalWomen’s Day.Itkicksoffwitha90secondvideorevealingaglimpseofthesoonto beannouncedNokiasmartphones.

“The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Pantami has demonstrated a strong commitment to deepening broadband penetration, which is a potent tool for economic transformation. The broadband drives of the minister will lift the country’s economy” First Vice President of ATCON,

Mr. Ikechukwu Nnamani

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BUSINESSWORLD MOBILE SUBSCRIPTION HITS 185.74 MILLION rose to 46.5 million and July 2019, Globacom subscription rose further to 46.7 million. In September 2019, Globacom subscription rose again to 49.2 million, and in November 2019, the subscription figure reached 51.2 million, and December 2019, it climbed to 51.7 million, before reaching 51.8 in January 2020. Airtel, according to the NCC’s statistics, recorded 44.9 million in January 2019, and in March same year, it recorded 45.2 million mobile subscribers. In May 2019, Airtel recorded 45.6 million subscribers and in July 2019, it recorded 46.8 million subscribers. In September 2019, it recorded 48.9 million subscribers and in November same year, it recorded 49.6 million subscribers on its network. In December 2019, Airtel recorded 50.19, before dropping to 49.99 in January 2020. For Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), which ntel and Smile are currently operating, ntel had in January 2019 recorded subscriber number of 6,498, but the figure dropped consecutively same year in February, March, April, and May, to reach 4,321 subscribers in June 2019, before picking up in July same year to 4,556 subscribers and further increased to 4,579 in August but dropped again to 4,562 in September, with a further drop in October, November and December same year to 4,450, 4,231 and 3,904 respectively. In January 2020, it further dropped to 3,595.

REPORT: PAY-ONDEMAND WILL DRIVE FINANCIAL INCLUSION is an incredible example of this, which has already empowered millions of people by making solar energy more accessible and affordable. “But now, with the expansion of Pay-on-Demand to any connected device like smartphones, water filters or white goods, we have a real opportunity to positively impact the lives of a billion people, in the same way the telecoms industry did two decades ago. “To further scale the model effectively and create a digital economy that works for everyone, key players in the ecosystem must collaborate to drive a new wave of inclusion through connectivity and smart devices.�

Group Business Editor

Obinna Chima

Expert Highlights Storage Trends to Watch in 2020 Stories by Emma Okonji

Comms/e-Business Editor

Emma Okonji

Senior Correspondent

Raheem Akingbolu (Advertising) Correspondents

Chinedu Eze (Aviation) Eromosele Abiodun (Maritime) James Emejo (Finance) Ebere Nwoji (Insurance) Chineme Okafo (Energy) Reporters

Nume Ekeghe (Money Market) Nosa Alekhuogie (ICT)

data centres. “The first is data regulatory requirement and the second is cloud repatriation. Larger enterprises are looking to own their data and rent the cloud for better costs and controls, including security features, latency, and data access, increasing the need for localised data storage capability. “Further to that, new data centre architectures will emerge to manage the growing volume and variety of data,� Azzi said. The second trend according to him, is Artificial Intelligence (AI) standardisation that would make edge deployments simple. He explained that analytics were a definitive competitive advantage, and that there were

just too much company data that can be collected, processed, and then turned into insights. With this, he added, the new connected world has more of the workloads moving to the edge, increasing the need to ensure these very small edge devices have the capability to run and analyse increasingly large amounts of data. The third trend is the tiering of data leveraging devices, media and fabric innovation to expand not contract, which he said, there would be continued strong exabyte growth in read-centric applications in the data centre, driving a diverse set of performance, capacity and cost-efficiency demands on storage tiers, as

enterprises deliver increasingly differentiated services on their data infrastructure. To meet these demands, Azzi said data centre architectures would continue to advance toward a model where data storage solutions would be consistently provisioned and accessed over fabrics, with the underlying storage platforms and devices delivering to a variety of service level agreements (SLAs), aligned with specific application needs. The fourth trend is around fabrics that will unify storage sharing. Azzi said with the exponential growth in data, along with the increasing diversity of workflows and demands on IT infrastructure, businesses need

to increase speed, agility and time-to-value for their customers. Ethernet fabrics are becoming the “Universal Backplane� of the data centre, unifying how storage is shared, composed and managed at scale to meet the demands of increasingly varied applications and workloads. The fifth trend, according to him, would be that HDDs would continue to thrive in the data centre environment. He explained that while many have predicted the demise of HDDs for years, there’s simply no substitute for capacity-enterprise HDDs, which consistently meet the growing data demands and deliver total-cost-of-ownership (TCO) value at scale for hyperscale data centres.

Senior Manager, Sales, Africa Business at Western Digital, Ghassan Azzi, has predicted five new storage trends that will shape the technology device storage ecosystem. Western Digital is a global producer of different data storage devices. According to Azzi, increase in areal density in both traditional air and helium-filled hard disk drives (HDDs) mean that the latest drives have capacities up to 16 terabytes with 18 terabytes conventional magnetic recording (CMR) and 20 terabytes shingled magnetic recording (SMR) HDDs currently sampling, and available later this year. He said: “Over the next five years, SMR adoption is expected to grow significantly, enabling more efficient workloads and innovations such as zoned storage. “Areal density growth is key to delivering higher capacities with attractive total cost of ownership (TCO) at scale, and SMR innovation will contribute to this. “Meanwhile, the value that flash presents for workloads such as analytics and AI has increased the use of all-flash storage systems.â€? He said key driver in unleashing the power of flash memory in SSD, would be the move from SATA to Non-Volatile Memory Express (NVMe). One of the five trends to watch in 2020, according to him, is that the number of localised data centres would increase, alongside the emergence of new architectures. Azzi, said although cloud adoption is in no way slowing, L-R: Director, Database/ ICT, Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), Aliyu Edogi Aliyu; Director, Compliance CertiďŹ cation and there are two factors which drive Monitoring, BPP, Ishaq Yahya, and Director General, BPP, Mammam Ahmadu, at a one-day interactive session with procurement the continued growth of localised oďŹƒcers in Abuja...recently

INTERACTIVE SESSION

AfDB Signs First Private Sector Loan The African Development Bank (AfDB) has signed an agreement with DAL Group, one of Sudan’s largest conglomerates, for the provision of up to $75 million to improve food security and household incomes in the country. The agreement is the Bank’s first private sector loan to the East African nation. The agreement was signed at a ceremony held at the Bank’s Sudan Country Office by Dr. Jennifer Blanke, Bank Vice President for Agriculture,

Human and Social Development representing the Bank, and DAL Group Chairman Osama Daoud Abdellatif. The financing facility comes in the form of a senior corporate loan of up to the equivalent of $75 million in multiple currencies, which includes $40 million and EUR 30 million. Speaking after the signing ceremony, Abdellatif said business in Sudan has suffered for years due to lack of finance for agriculture, and noted the agreement marks the first

significant financing DAL Group has received. “At the end of the day, Sudan is an agricultural country, and there is so much we can do. I hope this is the beginning of many projects we can do together,� Abdellatif said. DAL Group is Sudan’s largest foods and agriculture business company. The Bank loan will contribute to DAL Group’s Investment Program, part of the company’s strategic growth initiative for Sudan and the East African region. Under this

program, DAL Group aims to reduce the nation’s dependence on imports and increase its capacity to source and produce raw material locally. The DAL Group employs over 8,200 people and with the new support from the African Development Bank, the Group will be in a position to create over 2,000 additional jobs over an 8-year period. Blanke said the agreement was historic. ‘This is African Development Bank’s first private sector loan in Sudan. I am

delighted that it is in agriculture and agri-business, which is so important for Sudan’s development,� she added. The financing will also support DAL Group initiatives toward creating a conducive work environment for women and promoting equal opportunity for employment, such as up-skilling and training, creating an adapted industrial working environment that accommodates the cultural needs of women, as well as family-friendly work schedules and social benefits.

Firm Pledges to Bridge Metering Gap in Electricity Sector Sunday Okobi

Capital Market Editor

Goddy Egene

NEWS

Mojec International has stated that its commitment to bridging the metering gap in the Nigerian electric industry remains unwavering. Mojec noted that the solution it was bringing to the Nigeria’s power sector was beyond profit making. It stated that solving the power problem remains a major puzzle in solving the country’s socio-economic problems. While interacting with some

journalists recently, the Chief Executive Officer of Mojec International, Ms. Chantelle Abdul, lamented that the Nigeria power sector was faced with many challenges, one of them being the ATC and C losses, mostly since the privatisation of the sector when it struggled under the weight of supplying electric meters as quickly as they are demanded. She added that consequently, significant efforts were being made to increase efficiency

in the metering process with Mojec, “one of the MAP companies taking a particularly interesting approach to bridging the metering gap.� According to Abdul, “Mojec has been providing meters for electricity consumers in Nigeria since the 1980s. We birthed the idea to begin manufacturing meters in Nigeria following the constant improvement of meters to our manufacturers outside Nigeria, which made meters more durable, less tamperproof and so many

other improvements. “After the privatisation of the power sector, we were one of the first companies to introduce remote meter reading as far back as 2014. “This was our approach to solving meter reading problems which was a stumbling block for utility companies then. Today, not only are we the biggest manufacturing meter company, we are also working to triple our production capacity. “We have also created over 5,000 jobs across the country

for installers.� She stated that metering effectively also represents the foundation for sustainable revenue generation and the commercial viability of the electricity sector, adding that from the suppliers’ point of view, “it is only through effective metering that we can have the assurance of fair billing and payments; this should not come as a burden to the consumer, and this is majorly why MOJEC is committed to the cause.�

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BUSINESSWORLD

ANALYSIS

Achieving 70% Broadband Penetration The Nigerian Communications Commission is committed to lead Nigeria in achieving the 70 per cent broadband penetration target by 2025, writes Emma Okonji

Pantami

T

Danbatta

he second broadband committee with a mandate to develop the 2020 – 2025 National Broadband Plan, targeted at achieving 70 per cent broadband penetration by 2025 was recently inaugurated. However, most industry analysts are afraid that the mandate may be a tough one to achieve, given the state of telecoms and broadband infrastructure in the country. Industry analysts are of the view that government needed to develop a national broadband backbone infrastructure that will transmit broadband capacities from the shores of the country to the hinterlands, where demand for broadband services is equally high, if the country must achieve 70 per cent broadband penetration. But confident that the country will achieve the set target the Executive Vice Chairman of Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, has assured Nigerians that through the implementation of proper regulatory procedures, Nigeria could achieve the broadband target, just the same way it achieved the previous 30 per cent broadband target, which was the mandate of the first broadband committee to by December 2018. Danbatta, who admitted that Nigeria needed to deploy more broadband infrastructure in order to achieve ubiquitous broadband access, however said the deployment of additional broadband infrastructure must be complemented with policy drive and regulation, in order to further deepen broadband penetration in the country. Investment in broadband infrastructure has been described as a sure way to deepen access to internet and online activities among Nigerians. With ubiquitous broadband access, government activities could be accessed online real time, while businesses could grow much faster via online transactions in the area of e-commerce. Having successfully achieved and surpassed the 30 per cent broadband penetration in 2018, the Federal Government, last year, set up another broadband committee, with a five-year mandate (2020-2025) to achieve 70 per cent broadband penetration by 2025.

Before the committee was set up, the President of the Association of Telecoms Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), Mr. Olusola Teniola, had proposed another five-year broadband plan for the country, with 70 per cent broadband target. While stressing the importance of another broadband roadmap for Nigeria, Teniola said the country was able to attain and surpass the 30 per cent broadband target in 2018 because there was a roadmap. According to him, “The general Nigerian economy is currently struggling between 1-2 per cent growth in gross domestic product (GDP), but by the time we attain the proposed 70 per cent broadband penetration level, Nigerian GDP will reach 9.6 per cent, which is high in global ranking.� Asked the rationale in attaining 70 per cent broadband penetration in spite of the country’s broadband infrastructure challenges, Teniola said: “What matters is the will of the telecoms regulator and that of the people and the government at all levels. Nigeria has talented youths that can maximise broadband opportunity to develop technology solutions that will address specific challenges and drive national development.� He assured Nigerians that national development would be faster if the country gets its broadband priorities right, through the implementation of policies, which the NCC has long assured. From the inception of the rollout of Global Service for Mobile Communications (GSM) in Nigeria In 2001, poor telecoms service had always been an issue affecting telecoms growth, including broadband penetration. From the inception, telecoms operators and the telecoms industry regulator, have introduced different measures to address the issue, but it prevailed at different levels and at different years in the history of telecoms in Nigeria. NCC had in the past, introduced the Telecoms Consumer Parliament (TCP), where it brought together, telecoms operators and subscribers together to address the challenges faced by telecoms subscribers on the various networks. Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) threshold was introduced and operators were compelled

to expand their network capacities and maintain certain level of the KPI threshold in order to have stable network and improved telecoms service. But in all of these, the situation of poor service quality persisted over the years, despite the sanctions imposed on operators by NCC, for those that could not maintain the minimum standard of KPIs set by the NCC. The telecoms operators however, were bold to tell NCC that challenges were above what they could handle, and blamed the situation of poor service quality on willful destruction and theft of telecoms facilities by social miscreants who often extort money from staff of telecoms companies and prevent them from carrying out network expansion along major roads and streets. The telecoms operators also identified fibre optic cable cuts during road construction as well as incessant closure of telecoms sites by government agencies over issues on Right of Ways (RoWs), which they said, were responsible for poor service quality on their networks. Chairman, Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), Mr. Gbenga Adebayo had told NCC that the issue of poor service quality was beyond the control of telecoms operators, and called on NCC to address issues such as incessant closure of telecoms sites by state and federal government agencies and the willful destruction and theft of telecoms facilities, among others. Adebayo said unless telecoms facilities are declared as Critical National Infrastructure (CNI), that will lead to protection of telecoms facilities by law, the issue of poor telecoms service would persist. 5G deployment Another readiness index for the NCC is its ongoing plan to facilitate the deployment of 5G networks in the country. Already, Proof of Concept (PoC) trial has been conducted by MTN through the platform created by the Commission to test the speed, latency and capacity, which 5G offers ahead of other generational technology platforms such as 2G, 3G and 4G. At the just concluded Social Media Week in Lagos, the commission restated its commitment to begin the auction process of 5G to enable

Nigerians partake from its many benefits, but decried the poor state of power infrastructure in the country, which the Commission said, could hinder its deployment. NCC therefore, called on the federal government to prioritise adequate power generation and distribution in the country to address the challenge. The Director, Technical Standard and Network Integrity at NCC, Mr. Bako Wakil, said 5G remained a clear departure from 3G and 4G networks. According to Wakil, “5G also known as IMT 2020 has been designed with huge capability and requirements for today and future need. Having carried out successful trial in the country, the next is commercialisation, but we have identified the erratic power situation and low fibre infrastructure as major limitations to 5G deployment on a large scale in Nigeria.� While NCC can comfortably address the fibre infrastructure gap, Wakil said “power generation and distribution is not within our purview of NCC, but we are working with the relevant agencies to see what can be done.� In his contribution, at the panel moderated by NCC Head of Online and Special Publication, Dr. Niyi Ibietan, the commission’s Assistant Director, Spectrum Administration, Mr. Kenneth Uzoekwe, said lots of spectrum have been identified by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU). Uzoekwe, who represented the Commission’s Director of Spectrum Administration, Mr. Austin Nwaulune, said about six spectrum at higher bands have been marked down, “they are available, but yet to be assigned.� According to him, 5G’s importance and beauty also lies in the availability of spectrum. He stressed that whenever Nigeria is ready for commercial deployment of 5G network, there would be some re-assignment of some spectrum to fast track deployment. On what 5G holds for Nigeria if successfully deployed, Uzoekwe said broadband would improve, leading to faster download and upload of contents; encourage financial inclusion, faster health care service delivery, smarter transport system and appliances.

MTN Nigeria Invests N4.55trn in Fixed Assets Emma Okonji For a period spanning 19 years since the first commercial rollout of its telecoms services in Nigeria in 2001, MTN Nigeria has invested as much as N4.55 trillion ($14.67 billion) in fixed assets and facilities across Nigeria till date. The telco disclosed this in a statement. It disclosed that bulk of the money spent on fixed assets and facilities, was on Base Transceiver Stations (BTS) otherwise known as Base

Stations, as well as fibre optic cables and microwave facilities, designed for the transmission of voice and data services across the country. Having the most expansive telecoms network in the country, with the largest subscriber number of 70.67 million, MTN said it would continue to invest in fixed assets and facilities in the country, and has earmarked additional N600 billion on network expansion in the next three years. The planned investment in the next three years, according

to the Chief Executive Officer of MTN Nigeria, would enable it to accelerate its 4G network expansion, deepen population coverage and support the Federal Government’s broadband initiative. Aside investing N4.55 trillion ($14.67 billion) in fixed assets and facilities in Nigeria nationwide, MTN said in the published information that it had also spent over N20 billion on projects carried out and funded by MTN Foundation in 860 locations across the 36 states of Nigeria, including the

Federal Capital Territory, where it sets aside one per cent of profit after tax annually to fund the activities of the MTN Foundation. MTN said its network expansion helped it in reducing the country’s unemployment figure by employing over 500,000 Nigerians directly and indirectly, since the inception of its commercial rollout of telecoms services in Nigeria in 2001. Some of the rollout plans for this year in the area subscribers’ products, include the MTN Data

Plan, MTN 4G LTE coverage, free Facebook service, MTN Social Bundle, Data Gifting, BetaTalk, among others. “MTN Nigeria will continue to offer a wide variety of products and services designed #JustForYou. We are providing tools to boost productivity, promote passions, champion aspirations and make life a whole lot brighter for subscribers,� MTN said in the published information. In the area of specific industry solutions for the public sector, MTN said: “In 2020 and beyond, we will

work with public institutions and government at different levels to create and deploy solutions that simplify complex operations. “For instance, we will work with insurance companies to provide MTN Enterprise Mobility solutions that suit their needs. In addition, collaborate with Instance Companies to deliver insurance services that are both affordable and accessible that will help more businesses and individuals enjoy the benefits of insurance policy.�

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Learning App Launched Firm Harps on Measures to Curb to Empower Students Cyber Attacks Nigeria’s Ed-tech startup, uLesson Education Limited has launched the uLesson app. The app offers students in Nigeria (SS1-3), Ghana (SHS1-3), Liberia (Grade 10-12), Sierra Leone (S1-3), and Gambia (S1-3) a holistic curriculum-relevant learning experience in Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry and Biology preparing them for critical regional exams- WASSCE, SSCE, GCE and UTME as well as international tests like the SATs. It employs a simple and personalised approach to learning, leveraging quality lesson plans from the best tutors to amplify each student’s learning ability. Thus, encouraging deep and continued learning for students. The learning content from the app is planned, executed and reviewed by subject matter experts using videos, interactive animations, quizzes, assessments and several years of official WAEC past examinations along with solutions. Commenting on the app, Founder and CEO of uLesson Education Limited, Sim Shagaya, said: “Learning is a crucial part of a child’s quest for academic excellence and success in life. The kind of universities and other tertiary institutions that they get into and, to some

degree, the future that awaits them beyond their school years is largely determined by the learning opportunities and platforms available to them in their secondary school years. “It is imperative then that investments are made in education that will help students be the best they can be, and in learning platforms that prepare them for a future in various disciplines and subjects, thus making them citizens for the world of tomorrow. “It is with this knowledge that we designed the uLesson App; to particularly meet the needs of African students at the secondary school level and at all levels in the future.� Also speaking about the app, Vice President, Marketing and Analytics uLesson, Al-hassan Yusuf Junior, said the app was built to help students learn and maximize their academic potential. “uLesson is the first of its kind in Africa. We have leveraged technology to provide a learning solution that is of high-quality, affordable and accessible. Our team of passionate and talented people have built a learning experience that is unprecedented in richness, scope, interactivity, and effectiveness.�

Stories by Emma Okonji Tanta Innovative Limited, an indigenous information technology (IT) and software development company has encouraged firms in the country to invest in cyber security solutions with emphasis on penetration testing for Nigerian firms in order to limit their exposure and security breaches. According to Tanta Innovative Limited, “Over $270.22 million was spent in 2018 to prevent cyber attacks by organisations and government. This has prompted Tanta Innovation Limited to introduce cost effective penetration testing for organisations.�

Speaking on the importance of penetration testing for organisations, the Chief Executive Officer of Tanta Innovative Limited, Abraham Tanta, said: “We strongly believe at Tanta Innovative that penetration testing for organisations in Nigeria should be a thing that corporates do on a periodic basis. It offers the organization insights on the areas of vulnerabilities and how they can protect themselves better against cyber breaches. We have made this pen testing a simple process and cost effective. “The importance of penetration and vulnerability testing is critical to us. We follow the laid down processes of penetra-

tion testing such as Planning and data gathering, Scanning, gaining access, maintaining access and more importantly Covering tracks. We also look at various methods which we might deploy such as External testing, Internal testing, Blind testing and Targeted testing. We apply a high level of skill to properly identify all of the exploitable vulnerabilities.� “As the country has embraced digital payment, the need for periodic testing for organizations with online presence especially those with digital payment portals and gateway becomes increasingly inevitable. having partnered with reputable international firms, Tanta In-

novative plans to bring the best global practices to Nigeria, the company,�further said. The company reiterated the need for corporates and privates to start looking inward for their software needs. “We are creating solutions that can change how people work and make life easier. With a lot of collaboration in place, we have a mission to bring to the fore indigenous robust solutions that would make people forget about all these foreign products and focus on locally made ones because we are trying to solve their problems better than the other ones they buy over the counter,�Tanta added.

ARM Rewards Winner in Young Talent Award The winner of the Deji Alli ARM Young Talent Award (DAAYTA) 2020 programme has been announced. Eferobosa Oguegbu of Paper Packaging Company emerged winner out of six contestants to claim the N12 million grant. Her business idea – The Paper Packaging Company provides a biodegradable paper-based alternative that is friendly to the environment for the food industry. DAAYTA 2020 focused on start-ups with a minimum viable product (MVP) and at least one customer. Over 425 applications from start-up entrepreneurs were received and following a review process, the top six contestants were identified and chosen. These six made their pitches at the event in the hope of winning the N12 million grant. The top six contestants in order of winning were the final winner - Eferobosa Oguegbu of The Paper Packaging Company; 1st runner up - Emmanuel Ezenwere of Arone; 2nd runner up - Chidi Nwaogu of Publiseer; 3rd runner up - Debo Odulana of Doctoora e-Health Limited; 4th

runner up - Bright Williams of Neohaul Technologies; and 5th runner up - Ahamefula Uzoma of Livekampus Technologies. The DAAYTA Programme is a youth awards initiative founded in 2015 by Asset & Resource Management Holding Company Limited (ARM) in honour of its founding CEO Deji Alli with the goal of providing support to young entrepreneurs with smart and innovative ideas that have a positive impact on people’s lives and the communities that surround them. This is the second edition of DAAYTA after the first edition in 2019 with WeSabi Solutions emerging winner –claiming the N12 million grant to fund his businesses and make a sustainable impact in the society. The judges, who made the final decision of choosing the winner were made up from a vast diverse group of experienced angel investors, skilled entrepreneurs and knowledgeable intrapreneurs in their areas of expertise, which include Victor Asemota, Eric Idiahi, Dr. Ndidi Nnoli-Edozien, Sadiq Mohammed, Folashade Olusanya, Kola Aina and Mitchell Elegbe.

AGILE CONFERENCE

L-R: Head, Innovation and Design, The Agile Advisor Africa/Speaker, Mr. Emmanuel Obinne; Managing Director, Caleb Consultants/ Speaker, Mrs. Ady Dike; Founder/Chief Executive OďŹƒcer, The Agile Advisor Africa/Chairman, Agile Practitioners Association of Nigeria, Mrs. Abiodun Osoba, and Chief Executive OďŹƒcer, Just Plain Agile/Speaker, Mrs. Antoinette Coetzee, during the 2020 Annual Agile Nigeria conference held in Lagos...recently

Ericsson Spectrum Sharing Ready to Enhance 5G Rollout Ericsson has announced that its unique dynamic spectrum sharing solution has become commercially available for the first time, with the capacity to allow communications service providers to quickly and cost-effectively launch 5G on a nationwide scale. Executive Vice President and Head of Networks, Ericsson, Fredrik Jejdling, who made the disclosure in a statement issued by the company, said: “For the first time, our customers do not have to re-farm spectrum before deploying a new generation technology and can quickly get 5G on the same footprint as they have with 4G today. In the next 12 months, more than 80 per cent of the commercial 5G networks we support will use our spectrum sharing solution to achieve broad 5G coverage.�

Ericsson Spectrum Sharing allows both 4G and 5G to be deployed in the same band and on the same radio through a software upgrade and dynamically allocates spectrum based on user demand. Ericsson’s dynamic spectrum sharing is the most economically feasible way to deploy 5G on existing bands – enabling wide 5G coverage from day one – making more efficient use of spectrum and enabling superior user performance. Senior Analyst, Ovum/Omdia, Julian Bright, said: “Spectrum is a scarce and costly resource that should be used efficiently. Ericsson Spectrum Sharing will mean that service providers can rapidly roll out 5G on their FDD bands without the need to re-invest. It means they can use both their new and existing bands for 5G high-speed, high-

COVID-19: Jumia Delists 390 Products over Price Manipulations James Emejo in Abuja The Director General/Chief Executive, Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), Mr. Babatunde Irukera, has disclosed that online retailer, JUMIA Nigeria, has delisted 390 products belonging to 168 sellers of hand sanitisers and face masks from its platform, following a warning issued by the council to vendors

engaged in price gouging and arbitrary increases in prices of protective and hygiene products in the wake of the recent outbreak of Coronavirus. He said the Chairperson, Nigeria and Head of Institutional Affairs, Jumia Group, Juliet Anammah, had conveyed its action to FCCPC following the latter’s allegations that some sellers arbitrarily manipulated prices of hygiene products to undermine consumers.

Irukera had recently issued a statement vowing to invoke relevant sections of its establishment act to prosecute pharmaceutical companies which take undue advantage of consumers following the recent outbreak and spread of the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) disease. Specifically, he said certain suppliers and retailers are currently taking undue advantage of citizens and engaging in unconscionable trade practices

with respect to basic safety and protective apparel including as face masks and latex gloves, as well as personal hygiene products namely sanitizers and anti-bacterial wipes as these products are relevant and necessary in preventing infection or spread of COVID-19. In a statement, he said:�This unusual and inordinate practice of unreasonably increasing the price of these products in an indiscriminate manner, on

capacity services. Dynamically allocating spectrum between 4G and 5G is going to be the best way to start deploying 5G.� Ericsson, with its sole mobile network vendor and strategic partner, Swisscom was the first communications service provider in Europe to launch commercial 5G services in April 2019. In December 2019, Swisscom achieved nationwide 5G coverage and is upgrading their network with Ericsson Spectrum Sharing. According to Head of IT, Network and Infrastructure Group division, Swisscom, Christoph Aeschlimann: “ESS is key for a fast adoption of 5G. It’s a win-win approach for customers and operators. Customers benefit from 5G in no time and operators use their precious spectrum in a most

efficient manner. We are proud of being part of the ESS journey from the very beginning. In the meantime, we already reached a nationwide coverage with 90 percent of the population with 5G.� Network and Engineering Infrastructure Executive at Telstra, Channa Seneviratne, said: “Ericsson Spectrum Sharing will continue to play a crucial role in helping Telstra pave the way for a faster rollout of 5G, allowing us to serve the needs of 4G and 5G customers in the same location at the same time. These milestones are especially important for Telstra and the Australian landscape, where expanding 5G coverage over wide areas quickly and efficiently are key to providing more Australians with access to 5G services.�

account of the national public health concern (Coronavirus) violates both moral codes and extant law. He said:�Abusing citizens’ sensitivity, apprehension, anxiety and vulnerability, especially during emergencies that could adversely affect national security is a violation of law. Specifically, S. 17(s) of the Federal Competition & Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) prohibits “obnoxious trade practices�, or the

“unscrupulous exploitation of consumers.� The FCCPC boss further stated that the commission’s surveillance efforts had revealed that some otherwise reputable pharmacies and department stores are engaging in price gouging and manipulating supplies in a manner that distorts the market, or temporarily restricts availability in order to unreasonably/unfairly increase prices.

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Consumers’ Quest for Improved Power Supply Nigerian electricity consumers are demanding for improved power supply in the country, Raheem Akingbolu reports.

Shatti

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he just concluded town hall meetings at the instance of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), to sensitise members of the public ahead of the new tariff regime being proposed by distribution companies gave consumers fresh opportunity to speak their minds. The consumers tackled the power distribution companies (Discos) for not living up to the expectation of Nigerians. From Akure to Lagos, Port Harcourt to Abuja, electricity consumers decried the poor performance by the power investors. The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission had early this year approved increase in electricity tariff by the 11 Electricity Distribution Companies (DisCos) in the country. As soon as the statement was issued, consumers reacted and asked for justification, which called for the just concluded town hall meetings. At the Public Consultation Forum held in Akure, the the management of Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) Plc promised a dedicated express feeder to supply 24x7 power to identified customer groups, among other promises. It was the same rhetoric in Lagos and other places but consumers were not swayed by the sweet talk as the rose in unison at both Lekki and Ikeja meetings to condemn tariff increment without justification. DISCOs’ Defense In what looked like a desperate move to justify increment and reason for their failure to provide adequate services, the electricity Distribution Companies, DISCOs, had declared in a statement obtained by THISDAY that they have not received any subsidy from the federal government since the power sector was privatised in November 2013. The 11 distribution companies operating under the aegis of Association Nigerian Electricity Distributors, ANED, through a statement by its Executive Director, Research and Advocacy, Mr. Sunday Oduntan, insisted that none of the companies ever received subsidy from the government. Apparently reacting to the remarks credited to the Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman, to the extent that the federal government will not continue to subsidise the power sector, ANED said government only made payments to the generating and gas supply. According to Oduntan, “To date, the DISCOs have not received any subsidy from the federal government. References to the N1.7 trillion in subsidies paid by the government are associated with payments that have been made to the generating and gas supply companies, under the Payment Assurance Guarantees, PAG, initiative and the Nigerian Electricity Market Stabilisation

CEO, IKDC, Kola Adesina

Fund, NEMSF. “As a matter of fact, NERC’s December 2019 Minor Review Order specifies federal government debt to the DISCOs, correspondingly, the rest of the NESI value chain), due to tariff shortfalls, of N1.728 trillion. DISCO’s liability to NESI, due to market shortfalls, is N81 billion. “Significantly, government Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDA) owe the DISCOs in excess of N100 billion, for energy consumed but not paid for – a federal government commitment, yet again, unmet under the privatisation agreement and MYTO-2015. In Akure, the BEDC State Head for Ondo and Ekiti States, Mrs Kunbi Fabiyi Said the company would actualise its proposal for an embedded power of about 300megawatts under the willing buyer, willing seller arrangement with independent power generators outside the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) national grid, to boost power supply and meet needs of customers. BEDC assured customers that it would also improve supply to commercial entities across its coverage states due to the need to enable the companies ensure job creation and balance social lives by adding new injection substations and 500 number distribution substations to strengthen existing network. Labiyi explained that the upcoming number of transmission stations would help BEDC reduce overloading and mitigate load growth, stressing that “ageing equipment would be replaced in the next years to improve general public safety and ensure quality power to customers. “Plan is ongoing to invest in electrification of electrified areas and strengthening of existing network,� Labiyi said. She added, that the company also plans to ensure 100 per cent metering under the Meter Asset Provider (MAP) and 100 per cent enumeration and proper mapping of customers to transformers and feeders. FCCPC as Defender In the last two years, FCCPC, has remained the major defender of consumer right as far as relationship between the DISCOs and electricity consumers is concerned. Two years ago, the regulatory body had called on customers to desist from purchasing for themselves transformers, meters and other relative electricity materials, saying the Distribution Companies (DISCOs), are responsible for such. While the just concluded town hall meetings lasted, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), maintained that increasing electricity tariff will not guarantee light or efficiency. The Director General of the commission, Tunde Irukera said it would amount to adding

Irukera

more burden on consumers that are not even getting value for money they pay to get light. He spoke at both at both the Eko DISCO and Ikeja DISCO public hearing at the Lekki Events Centre and Summit Hotel Alausa respectively. The DISCOs had at separate events, made proposals to the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission [NERC] for upward review of electricity tariff. Taking a swipe at the management of the DISCOs in the halls filled with NERC officials, stakeholders in the energy industry and mostly unsatisfied consumers, Irukera said he would not even score them pass mark, as there is complete general energy inefficiency in the industry. The DG said the Discos have failed on the mutual agreement to assign metres to all Nigerians and increasing tariffs means increasing burden of a broken inefficiency by the service provider on the consumer. He urged NERC to constitute a framework that would protect consumers. Condemning their proposal to increase energy tariff, the DG described the action as insensitive. “It is simply another way of over stressing the responsible payers with additional burden of paying more. Consumers are not getting the light they are paying for and you are talking of increasing energy tariff. It is just a case of adding salt to injury. How will the increase in tariff guarantee light?� he questioned. He noted that the DISCOs would have to address the issues of metering and estimated crazy billings, which are major concerns of the customers, instead of only addressing its low revenue generation. Speaking further, he cautioned the DISCOs against the belief that constant power supply would only be available when tariff is increased. Lamenting that the proposals to NERC did not even mention what the DISCOs have always complained as their major concerns, he said the proposals only mentioned one, which is low revenue generation, leaving out energy theft, and how to abridge the gap in metering. �If you are going to promote efficiency, address these issues. “When more people are metered, you will generate more money, when energy theft is stopped your revenue will increase and when people get steady supply of light they will be happy to pay,� said the DG. The DG, who was getting applause from the consumers as he was speaking, noted that “The framework as it is today does not encourage people to pay more. Consumers are not resisting paying a fair price. We do not receive complaints that the bill is high, they complain that they do not get light and yet they are billed. “They do not resist a fair transparent bill but asking them to pay for what they

do not get is wrong. There is no law that justifies making people pay for what they do not receive.� Irukera warned that “any increase in tariffs without proper commitment to metering is already problematic, as you don’t exploit consumers as it is. The reality of it is that people want transparent thing and want to pay for what they consume. Hence, estimated billing has become arbitrarily crazy. How do you fight a cost regulation tariff when your billings are based on assumptions?� NERC Position The chairman at the two public hearing, Commissioner, Finance and Management Services, NERC, Nathan Rogers Shatti, said that the commission had recently set up a cap to protect consumers from crazy billing by the service providers, when it instructed the distribution companies not to charge the consumers beyond the cap set. Shatti said with the current metering gap of over five million consumers, the cap measure was imperative. He pointed out that though, as regulators, setting tariff was easy, but that the commission could not do so without getting the contributions of the general public and stakeholders, hence the need for the hearing, where, “The discos would present their application to Nigerians, the stakeholders and consumers can ask of the benefit from the proposed investment. “As regulators, we will harvest all the contributions from all sides and review before arriving at a decision on the application of the DISCOs. Due to the issues around estimated billing, which consumers tagged crazy billing, the commission agreed that the billings are not done properly and just on Monday, we came up with a cap and instructs every distribution company not to charge the consumers beyond the cap we have set,� stressed Shatti. This is not to solve the metering issue, he added, but it is a transitional measure to fasten the process. “We know that having metres is important for the industry, it is a revenue protection for the service provider and it is good for the consumer. But while we are working on ensuring Nigerians get these metres, we came up with this capping to ensure that there will be no more estimated crazy billing. This means that every consumer must not pay above what his neighbour who has a metre pays. “This has taken effect and the distributors have the next two years to metre all Nigerians. Pending when this is achieved, we will ensure that Nigerians are not exploited.� As things are, fingers are crossed but the consumers have set agenda for the DISCOs and regulators for efficient electricity supply.

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BUSINESSWORLD

SMALL BUSINESS SOLUTION

Investing in Rice Production, Processing Business Godwin Uba

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he federal government plans to make Nigeria self- sufficient in rice production. That is highly commendable. From research it has been proven that Nigeria rice is the best rice in the world as the taste and quality is far better than the imported ones from other parts of the world. In Nigeria today, some states produce paddy rice in abundance. Some of these states are Enugu, Anambra, Abia, Kebbi, Imo, Kwara, Edo, Ogun, Ondo, Cross River State and some Northern States such as Sokoto to mention but few. Therefore, with serious efforts not only by Government but private companies and individuals, the self-sufficient policy is achievable. Rice is now a staple food in Nigeria. Every household both rich and poor consumes a great quantity of rice every day. The demand for rice is very high. The huge demand for rice is further accentuated by increasing and expanding urbanization, endless social parties where rice is the main menu, Nigerians eating habits (preference for foreign rice). The preference for foreign rice should be stopped. Of the total projected population figure of 200million, over 70% feed on rice. Because of the demand, many Nigerians have embarked on importation of rice. This situation should not be allowed to continue forever. These importers must channel their huge resources to establishment of modern milling plants in Nigeria instead of fastening the growth of some foreign countries. From publications made by the Bureau of Statistics and Federal Ministry of Finance the importation figures of rice amounted to about N1 trillion as the end of 2012. This figure increased to over two (2) trillion Naira in 2016 and about N3 trillion in 2018. The figure has always on an increase. Rice importation has the greatest figure of over 60 per cent of total import figures. The federal government had total closure of the neighbouring borders and it became clear indication that large quantities of foreign rice come into the country through the neighbouring ports. It became clear that there was huge importation of rice through illegal means. During this period of total ban and closure of borders, it became imperative that Nigerians can actually produce enough rice to sustain itself. Nigerians had survived and are

A complete set of rice milling plant

gradually adapted to eating of local rice. Famers were happier, local processors of rice came back to life and they all make more money with less competition with imported products. However, the prices of rice, the staple food in the country rose on top of the roof. A common man can no longer afford the commodity, both locally produced and imported. Currently a bag of imported rice is as high as between N28, 000 and N30, 000 for a bag of 50kg; while the locally made rice is between N18, 000 and N20, 000. Government must therefore have to sustain the tempo of not allowing massive importation of rice into the country, but have a relaxed but full control of rice imports. It is not advisable to impose a total ban on importation of rice without first assessing and establishing exactly what the country can afford to produce; ensure that the country can produce at least 70 per cent of what is needed in this country. There must be full record of what we can produce internally with projection of what our farmers can produce at full capacity. Generally, encouraging local production or manufacturing, Agricultural production and processing is one of the good things that can happen to this country because the policy will generate more employment opportunities and put more foods in our tables. The federal government has also concluded arrangements to roll out a new policy that will ensure that loans are available at single

digit interest rate to farmers with effect from this year. Corporate organisations such as Coscharis Group have gone into production, processing and bagging of rice. More individuals are being encouraged by the Government to invest into this sector. Here we discussed on how you can invest into rice processing and packaging business. Investors can invest in rice farming and rice processing or rice milling plant. Rice milling project will best be sited in these areas where rice is grown in order to reduce cost of transportation of the paddy. To set up this project, a minimum space of a plot of land is required to dry paddy rice after harvesting. The components of machines required to set up this project are cleaning facilities, Dehuller, Boiling tank, Polisher, Bagger and other miscellaneous equipment such as wheel barrows, weighing scales. These machines can be fabricated locally. They can also be imported from Europe and some known Asian companies that specialize in the area. Prospective investors would be given details on these machine produces and specialists. Also project vehicles and generating sets are essential for smooth running of this project. Rice milling could be done on cottage, small, medium and large scale bases depending on availability of capital and the raw materials- paddy rice. Output could be from 2MT to 150MT per day.

Generally, one metric tonne of paddy rice yields about 60kg- 70kg of milled rice, depending on milling efficiency company management practice and the variety of rice purchased. In the process of milling well parboiled rice free from sand, stones, unpleasant ordour with fewer breakages, a whole rice, broken rice and bran are obtained. Whole rice is packed and sold for human consumption. Broken rice is further milled into ‘’Tuwo Shinkafa’’ (a flour meal) while bran is very important input for manufacturing dietary products like rice bran bread which has been acclaimed good for the decrease of blood cholesterol, rice bran oil and livestock feeds. From rice you can also be obtained puffed rice, rice cakes, rice pudding etc. The husks are used for the production of potassium Hydroxide solution or as fuel for milling plants. It can be seen that virtually all parts of paddy rice is useful. The likely cost of total project will not actually be stated safely unless one knows the scope (whether cottage, small, medium or large scale) proposed investors would like to embark upon. However, the cost ranges from N550, 000 – N10.2million for cottage level to N57million for medium size plant and over N500million for large scale. Basic factors to consider in determining the initial cost includes the capacity to produce, the source(s) of the machinery, whether to construct his own building or rent one, the location etc. Therefore, to embark upon this project, one needs a business plan (feasibility studies), with detailed costing for all the aspects of inputs, and before one can obtain the likely total estimated cost. In conclusion, rice milling; an agro-based business is very profitable (45-55% return on investment), and sustainable. It has low capital requirement; technical know-how is not complicated. The machinery and equipment can be sourced locally. The project has a short pay–back period. It is highly recommended for serious and aggressive promoters, local and state Governments and private investors particularly those that are thinking good for this country. For details on comprehensive and bankable feasibility studies, investment Advisory services, funding arrangements, please contact the writer. -Uba can be reached via ubagodwin@ yahoo.com

Strengthening Relationship with Consumers Brand loyalty can only be guaranteed thorough understanding of the consumer and deploring of reward system to satisfy customers’ expectations, writes Raheem Akingbolu

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lobally, customer reward and promotions have been identified as marketing strategies to reinforce existing relationship between organisations and customers who are global citizens resident in a locality. The primary reason is to ensure brand loyalty and generate profit. Employment of these strategies by organisations is with understanding that consumer loyalty is pre-requisite for success in a highly competitive environment like the Nigerian market. But more important to customer reward and promotions is the drive of value and trust. Many organisations like La Casera Company, pioneer of PET bottled Carbonated Soft Drinks in Nigeria which recognize that promotions alone which are normally short-lived cannot continuously guarantee consumer loyalty have been able to fuse into this strategy value and trust schemes driven by consumer insight. As said by experts, organisations cannot buy customer loyalty, it is earned. According to them, the value perception by the customer has a direct impact on the level of loyalty to the brand. For instance, in 2001 when The La Casera Company with plant at Mile2 launched apple non-alcoholic drink in a PET bottle, the drink immediately received market traction for its refreshing taste and for handy pet bottle which offered Nigerians the opportunity to drink on the go. Apart from various consumer engagements and trade support programmes employed by the company to build brand equity with consumers, other factors that assisted to create appeal of consumers for the innovative soft drinks in various flavours were product visibility and price.

In the last 18 years, the brand has found its way into the hearts and minds of consumers and has grown to become an iconic brand. The company is still innovating which is an indication that the company is striving to remain focused in its ability to offer quality customer service to its targeted audience. It recently introduced Bold drinks in variants such as Ginger, Orange. The company’s value propositions of customer- satisfaction niche and trust have combined to build consumer loyalty for it. Sustaining brand loyalty For any brand, it is important to sustain the already built brand loyalty and create new ones. This is what La Casera which maintains prime position in the Apple segment for 18 years in the Nigerian CSD market, did recently when it held consumer reward through market promotions pan Nigeria. Late last year, the brand owners held a promo called ‘under the crown consumer promotion - Refresh & Connect’ aimed at rewarding the brand’s esteemed consumers and to further strengthen the existing bond with the consumers while also reinforcing its brand positioning as a major player in the CSD category. La Casera ‘Refresh and Connect’ consumer promo was an expression of appreciation to consumers who have remained loyal and committed to the brand over the years, Managing Director of The La Casera Company (TLCC), Chinedum Okereke, said. According to Okereke “we are in business because our teeming consumers have chosen to remain loyal and committed to our brand, the La Casera apple drink, which has been in the

market for almost two decades�. He stressed further that the Refresh and Connect promo was based on deep insight which reveals that the average Nigerian relish staying refreshed and connected to love ones, hence the promo idea. The promo was an avenue for every consumer to enjoy a refreshing bottle of La Casera Apple drink with natural apple taste and also win big. With the La Casera Refresh and Connect Consumer promo, the brand further connected with consumers as it encouraged them to partake in the promo and win big. Various prizes won include Smart TVs, Laptops, Mobile phones, Bluetooth Headsets, La Casera products and airtime worth millions of Naira. Under the promo, crowns for the La Casera Apple drink were specifically designed and come in Yellow as against the regular Blue colour. Consumers who purchased La Casera promotional bottles in 35cL, 50cL or 60cL with a yellow cover participated in the promo. He explained that consumers who bought La Casera apple drink showed that they trust the brand and the company, as the company would always ensure that its consumers get the highest quality of products always. Okereke noted that The La Casera Company has resolved to continue to give Nigerians more innovative products, urging consumers to keep refreshing with the brand. Consumers’ feedback While explaining the idea behind the consumer promotion, the Marketing Director, The La Casera Company (TLCC), Emmanuel Agu expressed excitement how the promo generated joy among consumers across the country. Also speaking, the Senior Brand Manager of the company, Ruth Ode, said that La Casera

decided to hold the draws across several regions of the country in order to give consumers in all parts of the country the opportunity to win the prizes being offered in the promotion. Some of the winners included John Emeh, a clothing trader based in Port Harcourt who won a 43’ Hisense smart TV in the promo said he was very delighted to have been picked as a winner in the grand draw. “I am so happy and excited�, he said. Another winner, of an IPhone X mobile phone in the promo is a cook, Esther Tobechukwu. She explained that she never expected to win but just enjoying her favourite apple drink La Casera anytime she craved for the taste of apple, but never believed she could win anything from La Casera. “Today, I am glad and overwhelmed. La Casera have made me an IPhone owner. I advise others to continue enjoying La Casera Apple Drink. I now know clearly that La Casera rewards�, she stated. Oyekan Victor from Ibadan also won 43� Smart TV in the draw while Jeremiah Amobi and Oluwatobi Femi from Lagos won Smart TV winner and iPhone X winner respectively. To underscore the promo as investment in people’s lives while driving growth , the management of La Casera had visited the immediate past Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi. Managing Director TLCC, Chinedum Okereke, had thanked Sanusi for the rare privilege of such a historical visit. He highlighted the pedigree of the company, which houses household brand names such as La Casera Apple drink, Smoov Chapman, Nirvana range of products and Bold Bitter lemon along with the newly introduced variants that form the Bold Franchise.

THURSDAY MARCH 12, 2020 • T H I S D AY

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THURSDAY MARCH 12, 2020 •T H I S D AY

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FMBN: New Dawn in Affordable Housing Delivery John Ikyaave

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igerians who are subscribers of the National Housing Fund (NHF) Scheme with the aspiration to access affordable mortgage loans to build or purchase a home of their own have good reason to be hopeful. A lot has changed for good at the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN), the country’s apex mortgage institution that manage the NHF scheme for the government. Under the leadership of Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Arc. Ahmed Dangiwa, a competent Board that is chaired by Dr. Adewale Adeeyo, and the visionary direction of the Minister of Works & Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola, the Bank is witnessing a historic turnaround. Between April 2017 and January 2020, the bank made historic loan disbursements totaling N88.6 billion, averaging N29.5 billion per year. Some of the notable disbursements include home renovation loans worth N32.7 billion, NHF loans totaling N29.3 billion, estate development loans in the sum of N17.2 billion, cooperative housing development loans totaling N6.2 billion and N3.1billion financing of the Ministerial Pilot Housing Scheme (MPHS). While there is still room for improvement, it is important to acknowledge that the narrative is changing at the FMBN. From easing accessibility and affordability of homeownership - through the review of equity requirement for NHF loans from 10 per cent to zero per cent for loans of up to N5 million; 20 per cent to 10 per cent for loans from N5 million to N10 million and 30 per cent to 10 per cent for loans of N10 to N15 million – to development of innovative home products such as individual construction loans of up to N15 million and the rent to own scheme that enables immediate access to houses under a rental arrangement, it has been a refreshing potpourri of commendable strides at the bank over these past three years. More than ever before, FMBN is gradually playing the role of facilitating increased access to affordable housing as was conceived in the Act that established the bank decades ago. In line with the aggressive drive of the Dangiwa-led management of the FMBN to make a difference has defined this still strong, the bank started 2020 on a strong and practical note. Last month, the Minister for Works & Housing, Babatunde Fashola, in quick succession, commissioned two FMBN housing projects with a total of 304 housing units in Abuja and Gombe. First was the 154-housing unit Woodhill Estate in Kuje, Abuja, which FMBN financed under its Cooperative Housing Development Loan window for members of the Akacare Multipurpose Cooperative Society. The estate comprises 2-bedroom semidetached and 3-bedroom detached bungalows at the selling price of N7.5 million and 3-bedroom detached bungalows at the selling price of N9.5 million respectively. In his address at the event, Fashola, announced the official flag-off the National Cooperative Housing Development that is designed to serve as the umbrella policy thrust of the Federal Government for promoting the delivery of affordable housing based on the actual needs and financial capacity of workers. The underlying principle of the scheme, an initiative of the Minister of Works & Housing, was to promote targeted building of housing stock that speaks to the peculiar financial needs and incomes of workers within the low- and medium-income bracket by focusing on houses that they can afford. Under the framework, workers are encouraged to organize themselves into structured cooperatives; collectively purchase a piece of land, get an architect to design the types of houses that they want and can afford. The FMBN is to play a strong role as the provider of affordable housing estate construction finance to the Cooperatives through reputable developers under the banks Cooperative Housing Development

Minister of Works & Housing, Babatunde Fashola handing key to one of the beneďŹ ciaries of the FMBN funded 154-unit Cooperative Housing Estate as the MD/CEO, FMBN, Ahmed Dangiwa and other oďŹƒcials and dignitaries watch Loan Portfolio. Members of the Cooperatives are expected to join the NHF Scheme and make monthly contributions of 2.5 per cent of their salaries. Upon completion of the housing estates, the FMBN will package NHF Mortgage Loans of up to N15million to the members of the cooperatives at nine per cent interest rate per annum with tenors of up to 30 years depending on the age of the contributors through one of its primary mortgage institutions. Fashola noted at the commissioning ceremony that “FMBN as an agent of the Buhari administration is addressing the problem of housing affordability frontally. I commend the Board and Management of FMBN for this first in a series of many events that define our new partnership with cooperative societies. “Yes, we have come to commission a housing estate and I commend the architect, the property development company, the cooperative members and the subscribers. “This string of partnerships, including subscribers who want a house, who are ready to pay for it, who can afford it; the developer who is committed to delivering it, an architect who can meet the needs of the subscribers and most importantly a bank that can translate their dreams and vision into an actual homestead, where people can say I have shelter, is important and we want to do more of it,â€? Fashola said. The minister decried the prevalence of empty houses in Nigerian cities saying that they speak eloquently to the problem that FMBN in collaboration with the Developer of the estate, Perfect Estate Developers Limited have solved for members of Akacare Cooperative Society. “You will hear that 150 houses are already fully subscribed. That means they are affordable. You will hear that 77 units have been delivered, that means there is a waiting list for a house that has been paid as distinct from an empty house that nobody can afford. “Therefore, cooperatives have become a critical tool to address this problem. So apart from commissioning the estate, we are flagging off our National Cooperative Housing Development Scheme today in the FCT. This will be followed by zonal flag offs in each of the six geopolitical zonesâ€? In his remarks at the event, Dangiwa stated that the commissioning of the housing project is an affirmation that the NHF scheme is meeting its mandate of delivering houses that are well-built, decent and affordable to Nigerian workers, especially those within the medium and low-income bracket. Dangiwa added that the estate is fully serviced with basic infrastructure including

an internal road network, electricity and water works to create a conducive and livable environment for residents. He assured the Hon. Minister for Works & Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN that the second phase of the project is on course to deliver the additional 77 housing units and that FMBN would provide additional finance to complete the 2.1-kilometer access road. “This is our socio-economic contribution to opening up this area of Kuje for other real estate developments. Already at about 17 jobs per unit, this project has created 1,309 direct jobs to the local environment. The FMBN boss thanked the Minister for his visionary leadership and aggressive drive to deepen cooperatives as a veritable tool for the provision of affordable housing to Nigerian workers. Adeeyo, in his remarks commended the Minister of Works & Housing and pleaded for the increase of FMBN’s capitalisation to N500 billion. He noted that the injection of the funds will boost FMBN’s capacity to scale up its activities and make a greater impact on tackling the housing deficit. Three days after the commissioning of the Woodhill estate in Abuja, Fashola commissioned a 150-housing unit FMBN/Gombe State Investment & Property Development Company Housing Estate in Gombe. The estate comprised 82 units of 2-bedroom detached bungalows at N6.5 million and 68 units of 3-bedroom detached bungalows at N7.3 million. The completion of these estate - the latest in the series of many others that the bank has recorded over the past three years under the dynamic leadership of Arc. Ahmed Musa Dangiwa - is significant on many counts. One, it provides practical evidence that FMBN is working and Nigerians are benefitting from its affordable portfolio of housing products. Consider the 154housing unit Woodhill Estate in Abuja for instance. FMBN approved N997.9billion for its construction – inclusive of infrastructure and 1.2kilomer access road - under its Cooperative Housing Development Loan (CHDL) window. It is noteworthy that the FMBN CHDL is a legacy FMBN housing construction loan for cooperative societies that have secured land to build houses for their members. Qualified Cooperative societies can access up to N500M using reputable developers. The loan is payable over a 24month period at 10 per cent interest rate. In the case of Woodhill estate, all the houses have already been fully subscribed by members of the Akacare Multipurpose Cooperative Society. As contributors to the NHF Scheme, the beneficiaries will be

granted NHF Mortgage Loans at unrivalled convenient terms that they can use to purchase the houses and pay over a long period of time. With the prices of the houses ranging from N6.5 million to N7.5 million and equity requirement of a mere 10 per cent, this means members can own their homes by raising only N650,000 or N750,000 plus some marginal charges to move into their homes. Another notable benefit is that the loans are payable over a 30-year period and attract a very low interest rate of merely six per cent The second point of note is the shift in the old narrative of uncompleted/abandoned housing projects nationwide. The past three years have witnessed a commendable timeliness in the completion of housing projects. The FMBN management has disbursed unprecedented levels of funds towards the completion of old and abandoned projects nationwide. They have also commendably ensured that new housing projects are adequately funded to enable developers meet delivery timelines. Take the case of the National Affordable Housing Scheme for Workers, a collaborative housing programme in partnership with the Nigeria Labor Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC) and the Nigeria Employers Consultative Association (NECA), to deliver affordable houses for Nigerian workers. The groundbreaking ceremonies for the first phase of the scheme was launched in October 2018 to deliver about 1,400 housing units. As at date all the projects are at advanced levels of completion and would soon be ready for commissioning. In a recent presentation to the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF), Dangiwa stated that 52 housing projects comprising 4,624 housing units are scheduled for completion in the second and third quarter of 2020. The broad implication of the shifting narrative at the FMBN and the launch of the National Housing Cooperative Development Scheme by Fashola, provides proof that the government and the FMBN is serious and committed to supporting workers to own their own homes in line with the Next Level Agenda of the Buhari administration. Indeed, it is a call on state governments, political and community leaders as well as other interested organisations that are interested in helping Nigerians – in their areas of influence - to own their homes, to take a cue and organize them into cooperatives so they can take advantage of the cooperative housing development loans from the FMBN. Ikyaave, is a public affairs analyst based in Abuja

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IMAGES

L-R; Director, Database/ ICT, bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), Aliyu Edogi Aliyu; Director, Compliance Certification and Monitoring, BPP, Ishaq Yahya; and Director General, BPP, Mammam Ahmadu, at the one day interactive session with procurement officers in Abuja... recently

L-R President, Nigeria Union of Journalists, Chris Isiguzo; ED, International Press Centre (IPC) Lanre Arogundade; Executive Vice-Chairman, NCC, Prof Umar Dambata and Executive Director PLAC, Clement Nwankwo, during a Public Hearing on the protection from Internent falsehood and manipulation and for other related matters bill 2019 (sb 132) organised by Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Mattersheld in Abuja...recently Julius Atoi.

L R: Executive Director, the Osasu show Foundation, Chief Miss Osasu Igbinedion; Minister of women affairs and social development, Pauline Tallen and Chief Executive Officer, Connected Development, Hamza Lawal, during a press conference on the official launch of TOS Decade of Action which seeks to empower youths, women and girls in Abuja‌recently

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Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodimma (2nd left) Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila and members of National Assembly,during the visit of Hon Speaker and his entourage to the governor in Owerri...recently

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L-R; President Muhammadu Buhari ; Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta state ; Deputy Governor of Abia state , Mr. Ude Oko Chukwu ; Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibomm state ; new Governor Diri Duoye of Bayelsa state ; Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River state and Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo state at the Inauguration of the new Board of NDDC at the Presidential Villa ,Abuja...recently . GODWIN OMOIGUI

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L-R – Managing Director, GSK Pharmaceutical Nigeria, Kunle Oyelana; Chairman, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, Oyo state, Pharmacist Abiodun Ajibade; Pediatric Pulmonologist, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Prof Adegoke Falade; Marketing Manager, GSK Pharmaceutical Nigeria; Ibukunoluwa Tola-Ogunyemi and Medical Director, GSK Pharmaceutical Nigeria, Dr ‘Laja Odunuga at the GSK Antibiotic dosing app launch held in Ibadan...recently.

.L-R: President, Middle Belt Youth Council, Mr. Emmanuel Zopmal; Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu and Chairman of the occasion, Dr. Nankin Bagudu, during the Middle Belt youth Council Leaders Summit 2020 held in Jos, Plateau state...recently

L-R; Chairman, Nigeria Union of Journalists, (NUJ), Lagos State Council, Dr. Qasim Akinreti; Zonal Director, National Broadcasting Commission, (NBC), Kaduna, Mr. Abubakar Umar Kumo and Executive Director, Institute for Media Society, (IMS), Dr. Akin Aknigbolu at the NBC-BON Post-Election Lessons Learned Retreat organized by Institute for Media and Society/ EuropeanSupport to Democratic Governance in Nigeria Component 4A: Support to Media held in Lagos...recently

L-R; General manager, Julius Berger Abumet, Tamas Hovarth; Executive, Director Admin. Alh. Zubairu Bayi and Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Otunba Niyi Adebayo during the launch of Evonig Glass Product and commissioning of the plant in Abuja...recently

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L-R: CEO, Renal Dailysis Centre (RDC), Dr. John Olugbenga Okoh; Wife of Minister of Works and Housing, Dame Abimbola Fashola; CEO, Tempo Managements, Mr. Idris Olorunnimbe and Chairman, House of Representative Committee on Women and Social Development, Hon Yomi Onanuga, during a symposium to mark 2020 World Kidney Day, with Theme: Kidney Health for Everyone Everywhere from Prevention to Detection organized by Renal Dailysis Centre, in Lagos...recently

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T H I S D AY ˾ , MARCH 12, 2020

HEALTH & LIFESTYLE

ÜÙßÚ ÏËÞßÜÏÝ ÎÓÞÙÜ˝ ÒÓÏ×ÏÖÓÏ äÏÙÌÓ ×ËÓÖ chiemelie.ezeobi@thisdaylive.com, Tel: 08038901925

National Demographic Health Survey and Push to Achieving SDG The recently released National Demographic and Health Survey by the Nigerian government has opened another vista of discussion on whether or not the country is pushing towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. Martins Ifijeh writes

I

It is no longer news that Nigeria has one of the worse health indices globally especially in areas of maternal and child health, immunisation, malnutrition, malaria, communicable diseases, as well as life expectancy rate. On specifics, Nigeria has been described by the co-Chair of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Bill Gates in 2018 as one of the most dangerous places to give birth due to the high maternal and child deaths occasioned by pregnancy and child bearing. Also, according to the Global Hunger Index, Nigeria has one of the worst indices on malnutrition, with at least 2.5 million children said to be malnourished and another 11 million stunted. Same indices are seen in immunisation coverage, malaria rates, among others. It is also obvious in terms of funding, as the Nigerian government still budgets too little for the healthcare of Nigerians. This, pundits have projected will affect the country’s drive towards achieving Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) set by the United Nations. However, with the recent release of the NDHS, there seems to be a push by the government and stakeholders to analyse data generated from the exercise and make adjustments in preparation to ensuring the country meets the 2030 SDGs. Revealing details of the data generated from the NDHS to journalists during a two-day media dialogue on Data Driven Reporting organised by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture held in Rivers State recently, the Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist, UNICEF, Maureen Zubie-Okolo believed the main objective of the NDHS was to provide estimates on fertility levels, marriage, sexual activity, family planning, breastfeeding practices, nutrition, childhood and maternal mortality, maternal and child health, malaria, domestic violence, disability, and female genital mutilation, adding that the information generated was essential for programme managers and policymakers to evaluate and design programmes and strategies for improving the health of Nigerians.

Ehanire

violation of human rights, is deeply rooted in beliefs and perceptions over decades and generations. This survey suggests the prevalence of female mutilation seems to be decreasing in Nigeria. By ethnic group, the prevalence is highest among Yoruba women (35 per cent) and lowest among Tiv and Igala women (one per cent each). “Urban women are more likely than rural women to have experienced FGM (24 per cent and 16 per cent, respectively). The prevalence is highest in the South East (35 per cent) and South West (30 per cent) and lowest in the North East (six per cent)” she added.

20 Percent of Nigerian Females are Mutilated According to Zubie-Okolo, the new survey suggests that 20 per cent of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) occurs in the country, although she emphasized that the overall proportion of women who are circumcised decreased from 25 per cent in 2013 to 20 per cent in 2018. According to the World Health Organisa-

Also, according to the Global Hunger Index, Nigeria has one of the worst indices on malnutrition, with at least 2.5 million children said to be malnourished and another 11 million stunted. Same indices are seen in immunisation coverage, malaria rates, among others

tion (WHO), FGM refers to any procedure that involves partial or total removal of the external genitalia and/or injury to the female

genital organs whether for cultural or any other non-therapeutic reasons She said: “FGM, widely recognised as a

Ownership of Insecticide Treated Nets now 61 Percent While Malaria kills about 400,000 Nigerians every year, the number of ownerships of insecticide treated nets has dropped from 69 per cent in 2015 to 61 per cent in 2018. Zubie-Okolo said Africa still bears over 80 per cent of the global malaria burden, of which Nigeria accounts for about 25 per cent globally. She believed the NDHS on malaria will now aid the government and stakeholders in analyzing the reason for the drop in use of insecticide treated nets and then proffer programmes that would improve it. Malaria a preventable, treatable, and curable disease, is endemic in Nigeria, and has remained CONTINUED ON PAGE 35

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HEALTH NATIONAL DEMOGRAPHIC HEALTH SURVEY AND PUSH TO ACHIEVING SDG However, with the recent release of the National Demographic Health Survey, there seems to be a push by the government and stakeholders to analyse data generated from the exercise and make adjustments in preparation to ensuring the country meets the 2030 SDGs the foremost public health problem in the country, taking its greatest toll on children under age five and pregnant women. Exclusive Breastfeeding in Nigeria is 29 Percent The NDHS data has shown that only 29 per cent of Nigerian women give their babies of under five months exclusive breastfeeding. Although the data showed that this figure has increased since 2013 from 17 per cent to 29 per cent. The UNICEF specialist said the percentage of children who had ever been breastfed was 97 per cent in both 2008 and 2018. “The percentage of children who started breastfeeding within one hour of birth has increased by nine percentages; that is from 33 per cent in 2013 to 42 per cent in 2018. The data also showed that the number of babies who start breastfeeding within the first day has increased from 65 per cent to 82 per cent since 2008.” According to WHO, exclusive breastfeeding for six months prevents infections such as diarrhoea and respiratory illnesses and provides all of the nutrients an infant requires for optimal growth and development Zubie-Okolo said: “Initiation of breastfeeding within the first hour of life is important for both the mother and the child. The first breast milk contains colostrum, which is highly nutritious and has antibodies that protect the newborn from diseases. Early initiation of breastfeeding also encourages bonding between the mother and her newborn, facilitating the production of regular breast milk.” She also explained that from the NDHS, the prevalence of stunting has increased from 19 per cent among children less than six months to a peak of 47 per cent among children age 24-35 months, adding that this represent the impact of under-nutrition in the first 1,000 days of life. Only 67 Percent of Women Receive Ante-natal Care in Nigeria The recent data also suggests that only 67 per cent of pregnant Nigerian women receive ante natal care, although the figure has improved from 2013 when it was only 58 per cent. Zubie-Okolo said over the same period, there was a 10 percentage point reduction in the proportion of mothers with no antenatal care. “Women age 20-34 were more likely (69 per cent) to receive antenatal care services from a skilled provider than women in other age groups. Urban women (84 per cent) were more likely than rural women (56per cent) to receive antenatal care from a skilled provider. The proportion of pregnant women who received antenatal care from a skilled provider ranged from 15 per cent in Kebbi to 97 per cent in Imo,” she added. She explained that health care services during pregnancy and childbirth and after delivery were important for the survival and well-being of both the mother and the infant, adding that this ensures access to a continuum of care for women during the antenatal, intrapartum, and postpartum periods. 31 Percent of Nigerian Children are Vaccinated The NDHS data has also shown that Nigeria was still lagging behind on vaccination, as only 31 per cent of children between 12 to 23 months received all basic vaccinations. Although, this figure increased from 23 per cent in 2008 to 31 per cent in 2018, which signaled an improvement over the last 10 years. It also showed that the percentage of children

who received none of the basic vaccinations declined from 29 per cent to 19 per cent during the same period. However, while these trends show improvement, they still fall short of SDG3, for which the target is achieving more than 90 per cent coverage of all basic vaccinations among children age 12-23 months Experts believed immunisation coverage was one of the indicators used in monitoring

progress toward reductions in child morbidity and mortality, as it is one of the most cost-effective public health interventions According to WHO, all basic vaccinations for children age 12-23 months include; one dose of BCG vaccine, which protects against tuberculosis, three doses of DPT-containing vaccine, which protects against diphtheria, pertussis (whooping cough), and tetanus, three doses of oral polio vaccine (excluding

polio vaccine given at birth), and one dose of measles vaccine. Public health experts often believe one of the major steps to addressing healthcare issues was to be armed with data on issues of focus. With the Nigerian government now armed with information from the latest NDHS data, it is believed it would help in addressing issues that poses threat to the country achieving SDG by 2030.

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HEALTH

Addressing Male Infertility in Nigeria While the Nigerian society has placed the burden of infertility on women alone, studies have shown that men and women are both equally affected by fertility issues and that men should also seek treatments like the women. Martins Ifijeh writes

E

ver wondered why many churches and other religious homes organise special prayers for ‘barren women’ and not ‘impotent men’? Ever asked why women are the ones who answer altar calls when those looking for the fruit of the womb are called upon by pastors and imams? Why do Nigerian movies suggest a childless couple have the challenge because the woman had many abortions or is possessed by a water spirit, and not because the man has sexually transmitted diseases? Wonder no further. The society, culture and religion has made childlessness a woman’s problem, and subconsciously, many women have accepted it so. They put pressure on themselves to ensure they get pregnant and wipe out the shame and mockery associated with the reproductive challenge. For the men, who unfortunately dictate how societies should think, it is a game of wits and patriarchy. In their minds, they have divided family worries among themselves and their wives. While women should worry over inability to get pregnant, theirs is whether they are able to give their late fathers befitting burial, whether they are able to get that most admired chieftaincy title, or whether they have larger farms than that of their kinsmen. And then, also assume the responsibility of pressuring their wives to get pregnant or get ‘booted out’. Unfortunately, infertility is not solely a woman’s problem. Many Nigerian families have been unable to have children because the husbands are unable to impregnate their wives and have refused to seek help. Sharing an experience, a mother of two, Modupe Ganiyu, who is now married for the second time, said her first marriage ended due to childlessness and the consequent reaction from her in-laws, husband and the society. “We had barely stayed two years in marriage when my ex-husband and his people started pressuring me to give them a child. There is no where I didn’t go to. From Imams to pastors, doctors and herbalists, life was daily becoming hell for me. “He threatened a number of occasions to send me out of the house. His mother and siblings didn’t help matters. Four years into the marriage, they finally had their wish. I was driven out of the house because they had arranged another woman for him, whom they assumed was going to give him children. “It’s been several years now and he is yet to have a child of his own. But on my part, few months after I married Ganiyu, I took in; within four years I have had two beautiful boys. I wasn’t the one with the health challenge, but there was no way he would have agreed to go check himself. He is still living in denial till date,” she said. The Managing Director, Nordica Fertility Centre, Dr. Abaomi Ajayi believes infertility is not solely a woman’s problem, adding that 40 per cent of infertility could be caused by men, while women share another 40 per cent, with 20 per cent referred to as unexplained cause. Abayomi said men should stop assuming it is their wives that have fertility challenges, adding that couples with infertility should access treatments, as it might end up being the man that has the issue.

Ajayi

“If men don’t come out, they can’t be treated. We are seeing more men now who are having bad sperms, weak sperms and abnormal sperms, and there is a real need to explore a suitable intervention to meet the growing proportion of men that need help in this direction.” He said the spate of declining male fertility was due to many factors including the environment, adding that oestrogenisation was now becoming a trend. “Increasing rate of infertility in men is a worldwide thing now. We really don’t know why it is so. There are so many factors we are looking, including the environment. We are looking at genetic factors, but people are saying that the problem is more in the environment because the environment is becoming more and more estrogenized. Industrialisation is producing all kinds of harmful gasses, etc. “We are doing all kinds of things and it’s affecting the man. There was a study done in Denmark and it was shown that over 40 per cent of their men don’t have good sperm quality. So the situation is becoming an epidemic. It seems

men are going into extinction,” he added. On treatment regime available to address the growing infertility among men, the renowned invitro fertilisation expert said the latest technology was available in Nordica, adding that they have using advance tools to ensure men with infertility were getting adequate treatment. “Everybody does what we call ICSI (intra cytoplasmic sperm injection). We not only do this, we also do IMSI (intracytoplasmic morphologically selected sperm injection), and PICSI (physiological ICSI). “In the past, we believed that the egg is the most important thing that determines the quality of the embryo. But we now know that the quality of the sperm, contributes 20-40 per cent to the quality of the embryo. Don’t forget that all the doctor can do is get embryos. We can’t get babies. So the thing for the doctor is to be able to get an embryo that is able to become a baby. “And because now, we are able to know the genes of the baby, we can tell you which embryo that can become a baby and which

one that cannot become a baby; because we now know also that about 70-75 per cent of embryos produced in labs all over the world cannot become a baby because God is still God. He has made it in such a way that normally, a woman should not give you more than one or two eggs every month, but because we use drugs, we can get 15-20. About 70 per cent of that cannot become babies!” On what couples can do in advance, especially when age is no longer on their side, he said the woman can engage in egg freezing. “For men, they continue to produce sperm for a very long time though the quality decreases after 45 years, and the chances of congenital abnormality like downs syndrome increases. “And that is why we are doing some of the things that we are doing now because we now know that your DNA fragmentation increases when you are over 45 which lead to miscarriages and all those kinds of things. We can screen for that when a man is advancing in age. So for the man, and with technology, as long as he produces sperm, he can continue to have babies.“

Elekta Pledges Support against Cancer in Nigeria Martins Ifijeh The Executive Vice President, Elekta AB, Sweden, Mr. Habib Nehme has pledged his organisation’s support to address cancer in Nigeria through the scaling up of radiotherapy programmes. Nehme is in charge of Turkey, India, Middle East and Africa (TIMEA) region for the organisation, which provides radiation therapy, radiosurgery, related equipment and clinical

management for the treatment of cancer and brain disorders. Speaking with stakeholders in Lagos recently, he said Elekta was committed at the highest level to support in the sustainable development and scale up of radiotherapy treatment programs in Nigeria through equipment financing support, and clinical skills capacity development programmes for radiotherapy multidisciplinary teams advocacy for cancer care in Nigeria.

According to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Nigeria needs a minimum of 200 radiotherapy machines to cater for an estimated population of 200 million Nigerians. Also, according to the IAEA, 70 per cent of all cancer patients will need at least one form of radiotherapy treatment, as this situation underscores the urgent need for strategic partnerships with companies like Elekta to make more Linear Accelerators available in the country.

The CEO, JNC International Ltd. (JNCI), Mrs. Clare Omatseye, who is Elekta’s Nigerian representative, reiterated JNCI’s commitment as a proudly Nigerian company to provide locally available after sales and technical support that guarantees machine uptime such that cancer patients are assured of Radiotherapy treatment from Elekta Linear Accelerators as and when required. Recall that late 2018, Elekta in JNCI, successfully deployed

an additional Synergy Linear Accelerator Radiotherapy with modern treatment capabilities comparable to other centres globally to the previously installed Synergy Linear Accelerator owned by The National Hospital, Abuja. The new additional Synergy Platform was the first installation in Nigeria to have a Volume Modulated Arc Therapy (VMAT) treatment technique which significantly reduces treatment time and was awarded by Shell

Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCo) on behalf of the Shell - Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and other partners Joint Venture. Elekta also invested in an intensive clinical capacity development programme working with the hospital management to initiate a hand on onsite clinical training for the cohort of very passionate and dedicated multidisciplinary team at National Hospital Abuja.

THURSDAY MARCH 12, 2020 • T H I S D AY

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T H I S D AY Ëž ÍŻÍ°Ëœ 2020

BUSINESS/MONEYGUIDE

CBN Extends NUBAN to OFIs, Sets March 2021 Deadline for Compliance Nume Ekeghe The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has extended the Nigeria Uniform Bank Account Number (NUBAN) Other Financial Institutions (OFIs) under its regulation. The Bank disclosed this in a circular posted on its website yesterday, It stated that the extension of the NUBAN to OFIs would take effect from April 20, 2020, with a deadline of March 15, 2021, for full compliance, after which appropriate sanctions would be imposed for contraventions and non-compliance. The circular stated that in furtherance of its mandate for

the development of electronic payments system in Nigeria, the CBN issued the Revised Standards on NUBAN for banks and other financial institutions, for the efficient operations of electronic funds transfer and cheque clearing operations by DMBs and OFIs. “The CBN first issued the NUBAN Standards in August 2010, to achieve uniform customer bank account numbering structure among all DMBs in Nigeria. ln View of the success of the NUBAN Standards across DMBs and the increasing role of the OFls in the Electronic Payments System, it is imperative that

the scope of the Standards be expanded to include the OFls. “It is in this regard that the revised standards on NUBAN scheme for banks in Nigeria was revised to include the OFls.� It added: “The CBN first issued the NUBAN in August 2010, to achieve uniform customer bank account numbering structure among all Deposit Money Banks in Nigeria. “In view of the success of the NUBAN Standards across DMBs and the increasing role of the OFIs in the Electronic Payments System, it is imperative that the scope of the Standards be expanded to include the OFIs.�

Nwagbara-Oyetunde Appointed NPSL MD Mrs. Ada Nwagbara Oyetunde has been appointed as the new Managing Director of the Nigerian Pipelines and Storage Limited (NPSL). She is one of the many women who moved up in the recent management repositioning the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), according to a statement obtained yesterday. Until her appointment, Nwagbara-Oyetunde was the General Manager/Technical Adviser, Admin, to the Group Managing Director of NNPC, where her management and planning expertise were invaluable. She is a technocrat reputed to be a diligent, meticulous and also an aggressive go-getter who is always focussed on getting results. Her goal-driven work ethics has been largely responsible for her career rise, and the reason she was moved to head the NPSL. She is one of the management staff whose appointments were approved by President Muhammadu

Buhari as part of “commitments to reposition the Corporation for delivery of the TAPE Agenda� and the “strategic priorities� of the NNPC. “Nwagbara-Oyetunde would be expected to confront headlong the challenges bedevilling the downstream sector where pipelines vandalism had threatened products supply across the country. Her energy would be needed to oversee the safety of NNPC’s pipelines stretching over 5,120 kilometers across the country. “She would also be expected to tackle the problems of oil theft and products diversion across the country,� it added. The NNPC GMD, Mallam Mele Kyari, recently disclosed that the country lost about N230.2 billion to oil theft in 2019, a development he said threatened the country’s economy. A stickler for integrity and transparency, NwagbaraOyetunde would also have under her belt, responsibilities

for transportation of crude oil to the nation’s four refineries in Port Harcourt, Warri and Kaduna, and ensure timely deliveries of products across the country. She joined the NNPC in 1991, and was also Manager, Human Resources, NETCO, between 2015 and 2018. A 1987 graduate of English from the University of Benin, she started her professional career as a Personnel Officer in Pipeline Product and Marketing Company before moving to NAPIMS in 2010 as Deputy Manager Human Resources. After a stint at NAPIMS, she was promoted to the position of Manager Human Resources in NETCO in 2015. Three years later, she was appointed GM/Technical Assistant to the GMD of NNPC in 2018, a position she held until her new appointment. NwagbaraOyetunde had attended several professional courses at home and abroad in management and leadership including at Harvard Business School.

Group Honours Women Hamid Ayodeji NECA’s Network of Entrepreneurial Women (NNEW), a platform established to promote and nurture entrepreneurship amongst women in partnership with the Alive & Thrive Initiative and other stakeholders have held a rally and plenary session to commemorate this year’s International women’s day. The event took place in Lagos, recently. The 2020 International women’s day with the theme Generation Equality, Each for Equal, drew attention to the efforts individuals could make in building a balanced and just world to bring about gender equality. Speaking at the event, President of NNEW, Modupe Oyekunle, stated that the occa-

sion offered an opportunity to draw attention to the challenges of maternal protection at the workplace and improved enabling environment for nursing mothers. Modupe lamented the challenges the organisation in partnership with Alive & Thrive had been facing in persuading corporate organisations to put in place facilities like lactation rooms in their work place to enable nursing mothers exclusively breastfeed for six months. She noted that this gesture would increase productivity and give them peace of mind. She stated that, “the problem of gender inequality is no longer a women’s issue, but a business one and every one of us has a role to play in achieving a gender balanced Nigeria that does become an enabled society

and economic giant� The keynote speaker and Group CEO of Mandilas, Ms. Ola Debayo-Doherty, stated that an average woman was naturally gifted in multitasking, organising themselves, their deliverables at work and at home. “And this inborn gift is one which has propelled the active role of women globally in being at the fore front of changing societies,� she said. She urged women to collectively support one another, grow individual capacity & competence, take chances and maximise opportunities put a stop to the apologetic attitude on expectation of being a woman in getting favorable decisions which would ensure their continued growth in their various areas of engagements.

FAMFA Oil Promotes Reading Culture Peter Uzoho Children from over 50 nursery and primary schools in Lagos State were recently hosted during the FAMFA Oil Literacy Day (FOLD) 2020. The event was an educative corporate social responsibility initiative by FAMFA Oil Limited, to foster a reading culture among children in primary schools, empowering them to lead through the exercise of their creativity, now

and in their future careers or industries. The programme themed, “Readers are Leaders,� had the kids and their teachers empowered through various educative programmes, and particularly enlightening them about the nexus between reading and leading. During the programme, the children were led in a reading exercise by some of the dignitaries and captains of industry, who all creatively read along

with the children from chapters of the book written by child author, Miss Oluwatofunmi Ayomikun Lawal, titled: “The First Female Ruler of L’Eko.� There was a FOLD quiz based on the story and other activities including a drama presentation by Proud African Roots, which showcased the resilience of an orphan in receiving educational empowerment resulting in his rise to leadership within his community.

R-L: Vice Chairman, FAMFA Oil Limited, Mrs. Folorunso Alakija; winner of the FAMFA Oil Literacy Day Spelling competition, Oscar Elizabeth, and her teacher, Mary Monday, during the presentation of prize and certificate to Elizabeth, at the FAMFA Oil Literacy Day held in Lagos...recently

MARKET INDICATORS MONEY AND CREDIT STATISTICS

(MILLION NAIRA)

SEPTEMBER 2019 Money Supply (M3)

35,029,779.72

-- CBN Bills Held by Money Holding Sectors

7,374,356.91

Money Supply (M2)

27,655,422.82

-- Quasi Money

116,533,891.21

-- Narrow Money (M1)

11,121,531.60

---- Currency Outside Banks

1,625,047.69

---- Demand Deposits

9,496,483.91

Net Foreign Assets (NFA)

13,911,335.83

Net Domestic Assets(NDA)

21,118,443.89

-- Net Domestic Credit (NDC)

35,918,179.45

---- Credit to Government (Net)

10,452,199.38

---- Memo: Credit to Govt. (Net) less FMA

11,007,422.79

---- Memo: Fed. and Mirror Accounts (FMA)

25,465,980.07

---- Credit to Private Sector (CPS)

-14,799,735.56

--Other Assets Net

7,000,253.07

Reserve Money (Base Money

2,005,600.83

--Currency in Circulation

4,677,530.81

--Banks Reserves

317,121.43

Ëž Ă™Ă&#x;ĂœĂ?Ă? Ě‹

Money Market Indicators (in Percentage) Month

March 2018

Inter-Bank Call Rate

15.16

Minimum Rediscount Rate (MRR) Monetary Policy Rate (MPR)

14.00

Treasury Bill Rate

11.84

Savings Deposit Rate

4.07

1 Month Deposit Rate

8.82

3 Months Deposit Rate

9.72

6 Months Deposit Rate

10.93

12 Months Deposit Rate

10.21

Prime Lending rate

17.35

Maximum Lending Rate

31.55

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OPEC DAILY BASKET PRICE Ëœ ͡ Í°ÍŽÍ°ÍŽ

The price of OPEC basket of fourteen crudes stood at $34.71 a barrel on Monday, compared with $48.33 the previous Friday, according to OPEC Secretariat calculations.. The OPEC Reference Basket of Crudes (ORB) is made up of the following: Saharan Blend (Algeria), Girassol (Angola), Djeno (Congo), ZaďŹ ro (Equatorial Guinea), Rabi Light (Gabon), Iran Heavy (Islamic Republic of Iran), Basra Light (Iraq), Kuwait Export (Kuwait), Es Sider (Libya), Bonny Light (Nigeria), Arab Light (Saudi Arabia), Murban (UAE) and Merey (Venezuela SOURCE: OPEC headquarters, Vienna

39

T H I S D AY Ëž ÍŻÍ°Ëœ Í°ÍŽÍ°ÍŽ

MARKET NEWS

Market Sheds N1.4tr in Three Days as Investors Dump Shares Goddy Egene The stock market plunged for the third day running yesterday as investors continued to dump shares following panic over the effects of the Coronavirus and declining global crude oil prices. The stock market has depreciated by a whopping N1.4 trillion in the last three days with the market capitalisation falling from N13.695 trillion to N12.284 trillion yesterday,

while the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) All-Share Index fell from 26,279.61 to 23,572.75. Out of the N1.4 trillion, N425 billion was lost yesterday, while the previous day accounted for the highest decline of N656 billion. The NSE All-Share Index shed 3.4 per cent yesterday, bringing the year-to-date(YTD) to 12.2 per cent. Bellwethers such as Dangote Cement Plc, Nestle Nigeria Plc and Zenith Bank Plc were among the 20

P R I C E S MAIN BOARD

F O R DEALS

price losers. Although the unprecedented bearish trend in the past three days is sending more panic among some investors, the Chairman of Association of Securities Dealing Houses of Nigeria (ASHON), Chief Oyinyechukwu Ezeagu said the trend was not limited to Nigeria. “The effect of the coronavirus is gradually affecting trading all over the world and whatever happens elsewhere

S E C U R I T I E S MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N )

reflects in our market. The centre of it all is China and being a major world power both in productive and consumption capacities, any ill wind affecting China would naturally cause a big sneezing to the rest of world,� he said. At the close of trading, 20 stocks depreciated while 16 appreciated. The bears were led by two bellwethers, Dangote Cement Plc and Nestle Nigeria Plc that shed 10 per cent apiece. Nestle Nigeria for the first

T R A D E D MAIN BOARD

A S

time in recent years, fell below N1,000 threshold, falling from N1,017 to N915.30 per share. The company recently announced profit after tax (PAT) of N45.651 billion for 2019 financial year, from N43.008 billion and declined a final dividend of N45 per share. In all, the shareholders are to receive a total dividend of N70 per share, having paid an interim dividend of N25 per share. Despite the plunge in prices, activity level surged as

O F

volume and value traded rose 134 per cent and 319.4 per cent to 1.4 billion shares and N17.6 billion respectively. The most actively traded stocks by volume were Zenith Bank Plc (412.4 million shares), Guaranty Trust Bank Plc (385.2 million shares) and FBN Holdings Plc (303 million shares) while GTBank Plc (N7.2 billion), Zenith Bank Plc (N5.1 billion) and Nestle Nigeria (N1.8 billion) led by value.

1 0 / 0 3 / 2 0 2 0 DEALS

MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N)

THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2020 ˾ T H I S D AY

40

MARKET NEWS

VFD Microfinance Launches V App for Easy Banking Judith Obaze

like all other digital banking that the company thought platforms, users can create seriously about how to VFD Microfinance Bank an account in less than two make banking a bit easier has launched its flagship minutes using the mobile for people before creating product called V, Nigeria’s app. Speaking at the event the digital bank. According to him, the app first truly virtual bank as part held in Lagos, the Managing of efforts to change the face Director, VFD Microfinance is a fully digital one-stop of banking in Nigeria. Just Bank, Azubike Emodi, said platform offering more to A Mutual fund (Unit Trust) is an investment floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange. vehicle managed by a SEC (Securities and A REIT (Real Estate Investment Trust) is an Exchange Commission) registered Fund Manager. investment vehicle that allows both small and Investors with similar objectives buy units of the large investors to part-own real estate ventures (eg. Fund so that the Fund Manager can buy securities Offices, Houses, Hospitals) in proportion to their that willl generate their desired return. investments. The assets are divided into shares that An ETF (Exchange Traded Fund) is a type are traded on the Nigerian Stock Exchange. of fund which owns the assets (shares of stock, bonds, oil futures, gold bars, foreign currency, GUIDE TO DATA: etc.) and divides ownership of those assets into Date: All fund prices are quoted in Naira as at 10shares. Investors can buy these ‘shares’ on the Mar-2020, unless otherwise stated.

the banked and unbanked available but V is capitalising Nigerian users. on essential customer-centric “We believe the banking features that are currently customers should have being ignored. One of such better oversight of their features is the fixed deposit account activities than what option directly on V which is currently obtainable; there empowers users to make key are similar banking apps investment choice. At the Offer price: The price at which units of a trust or ETF are bought by investors. Bid Price: The price at which Investors redeem (sell) units of a trust or ETF. Yield/Total Return: Denotes the total return an investor would have earned on his investment. Money Market Funds report Yield while others report Year- to-date Total Return. NAV: Is value per share of the real estate assets held by a REIT on a specific date.

heart of what we do is the customer, hence, we ensured V is built around the users. As new features are added and released every quarter, this roll out plan incorporates consumer feedback into every release,” he said.

DAILY PRICE LIST FOR MUTUAL FUNDS, REITS and ETFS MUTUAL FUNDS / UNIT TRUSTS AFRINVEST ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD aaml@afrinvest.com Web: www.afrinvest.com; Tel: +234 818 885 6757 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Afrinvest Equity Fund 125.57 129.11 -4.45% Afrinvest Plutus Fund 100.00 100.00 6.27% Nigeria International Debt Fund 307.41 307.41 -1.68% ALTERNATIVE CAPITAL PARTNERS LTD info@acapng.com Web: www.acapng.com, Tel: +234 1 291 2406, +234 1 291 2868 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn ACAP Canary Growth Fund 0.88 0.89 4.65% ACAP Income Funds 0.76 0.76 34.25% AIICO CAPITAL LTD ammf@aiicocapital.com Web: www.aiicocapital.com, Tel: +234-1-2792974 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AIICO Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 6.46% AIICO Balanced Fund 2.42 2.47 -1.64% info@anchoriaam.com ANCHORIA ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED Web:www.anchoriaam.com, Tel: 08166830267; 08036814510; 08028419180 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Anchoria Money Market N/A N/A N/A Anchoria Equity Fund N/A N/A N/A Anchoria Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A ARM INVESTMENT MANAGERS LTD enquiries@arminvestmentcenter.com Web: www.arm.com.ng; Tel: 0700 CALLARM (0700 225 5276) Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn ARM Aggressive Growth Fund 14.27 14.70 -6.82% ARM Discovery Fund 332.05 342.07 -3.88% ARM Ethical Fund 26.83 27.64 -7.77% ARM Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 6.42% AXA MANSARD INVESTMENTS LIMITED investmentcare@axamansard.com Web: www.axamansard.com; Tel: +2341-4488482 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AXA Mansard Equity Income Fund 91.06 91.70 -5.23% AXA Mansard Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 NA CAPITAL EXPRESS ASSET AND TRUST LIMITED info@capitalexpressassetandtrust.com Web: www.capitalexpressassetandtrust.com ; Tel: +234 803 307 5048 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn CEAT Fixed Income Fund 1.97 1.97 13.00% CHAPELHILL DENHAM MANAGEMENT LTD investmentmanagement@chapelhilldenham.com Web: www.chapelhilldenham.com, Tel: +234 461 0691 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Chapelhill Denham Money Market Fund 0.07 0.05 7.15% Paramount Equity Fund 11.10 12.23 -7.64% Women's Investment Fund 107.94 108.86 -2.25% CORDROS ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmgtteam@cordros.com Web: www.cordros.com, Tel: 019036947 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Cordros Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 6.46% Cordros Milestone Fund 2023 98.03 98.50 Cordros Milestone Fund 2028 104.79 105.38 CORONATION ASSEST MANAGEMENT investment@coronationam.com Web:www.coronationam.com , Tel: 012366215 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Coronation Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 5.19% Coronation Balanced Fund 0.85 0.86 -8.15% Coronation Fixed Income Fund 1.34 1.34 1.05% EDC FUNDS MANAGEMENT LIMITED mutualfundng@ecobank.com Web: www.ecobank.com Tel: 012265281 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class A 100.00 100.00 5.53% EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class B 1,000,000.00 1,000,000.00 4.75% EDC Nigeria Fixed Income Fund 1,196.06 1,198.58 2.95% FBNQUEST ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD invest@fbnquest.com Web: www.fbnquest.com/asset-management; Tel: +234-81 0082 0082 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn FBN Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A FBN Balanced Fund 135.65 136.59 -7.61% FBN Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Institutional 115.63 116.03 -3.03% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Retail 116.39 116.79 -2.87% FBN Nigeria Smart Beta Equity Fund 109.57 110.89 -15.80% FCMB ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED fcmbamhelpdesk@fcmb.com Web: www.fcmbassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 1 462 2596 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Legacy Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 8.27% Legacy Debt Fund 3.70 3.70 1.38% Legacy Equity Fund 1.00 1.02 -11.49% Legacy USD Bond Fund 1.09 1.09 0.83% FSDH ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD coralfunds@fsdhgroup.com Web: www.fsdhaml.com; Tel: 01-270 4884-5; 01-280 9740-1 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Coral Growth Fund 2,975.11 3,007.69 -0.26% Coral Income Fund 3,130.75 3,130.75 14.21% FSDH Treasury Bills Fund 100.00 100.00 6.24% GREENWICH ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmanagement@gtlgroup.com Web: www.gtlgroup.com ; Tel: +234 1 4619261-2 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Greenwich Plus Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 5.26% Nigeria Entertainment Fund 115.56 116.22 9.32%

GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmanagement@gdl.com.ng Web: www.gdl.com.ng ; Tel: +234 9055691122 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn GDL Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A INVESTMENT ONE FUNDS MANAGEMENT LTD enquiries@investment-one.com Web: www.investment-one.com; Tel: +234 812 992 1045,+234 1 448 8888 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Abacus Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 4.98% Vantage Balanced Fund 2.07 2.10 -3.89% Vantage Guaranteed Income Fund 1.00 1.00 10.97% Kedari Investment Fund (KIF) 139.14 139.57 11.47% LOTUS CAPITAL LTD fincon@lotuscapitallimited.com Web: www.lotuscapitallimited.com; Tel: +234 1-291 4626 / +234 1-291 4624 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Lotus Halal Investment Fund 1.17 1.19 0.28% Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund 1,122.48 1,122.48 2.18% MERISTEM WEALTH MANAGEMENT LTD info@meristemwealth.com Web: http://www.meristemwealth.com/funds/ ; Tel: +234 1-4488260 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Meristem Equity Market Fund 8.07 8.15 -17.66% Meristem Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 4.37% PAC ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD info@pacassetmanagement.com Web: www.pacassetmanagement.com/mutualfunds; Tel: +234 1 271 8632 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn PACAM Balanced Fund 1.39 1.41 13.56% PACAM Fixed Income Fund 12.27 12.29 8.50% PACAM Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 7.00% PACAM Equity Fund 1.07 1.09 PACAM EuroBond Fund 100.37 102.28 SCM CAPITAL LIMITED info@scmcapitalng.com Web: www.scmcapitalng.com; Tel: +234 1-280 2226,+234 1- 280 2227 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn SCM Capital Frontier Fund 122.87 125.41 1.86% SFS CAPITAL NIGERIA LTD investments@sfsnigeria.com Web: www.sfsnigeria.com, Tel: +234 (01) 2801400 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn SFS Fixed Income Fund 1.02 1.02 2.21% STANBIC IBTC ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD assetmanagement@stanbicibtc.com Web: www.stanbicibtcassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 1 280 1266; 0700 MUTUALFUNDS Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Stanbic IBTC Balanced Fund 2,521.35 2,532.80 -2.40% Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund 210.33 210.33 1.28% Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund 0.88 0.89 -6.18% Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund 273.87 273.95 1.64% Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund 154.92 156.64 -5.30% Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 5.14% Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund 7,674.15 7,756.30 -6.63% Stanbic IBTC Dollar Fund (USD) 1.16 1.16 1.12% Stanbic IBTC Shariah Fixed Income Fund 118.18 118.18 0.00% UNITED CAPITAL ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD Web: www.unitedcapitalplcgroup.com; Tel: +234 803 306 2887 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn United Capital Balanced Fund 1.13 1.15 8.59% United Capital Bond Fund 1.77 1.77 2.04% United Capital Equity Fund 0.64 0.66 -12.95% United Capital Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 7.37% United Capital Eurobond Fund 113.36 113.36 1.37% United Capital Wealth for Women Fund 1.06 1.07 -3.45% QUANTUM ZENITH ASSET MANAGEMENT & INVESTMENTS LTD service@quantumzenithasset.com.ng Web: www.quantumzenith.com.ng; Tel: +234 1-2784219 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Zenith Equity Fund 9.59 9.72 -6.60% Zenith Ethical Fund 11.38 11.52 -1.96% Zenith Income Fund 23.19 23.19 4.31% Zenith Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 3.54%

REITS NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

3.20 120.62 52.41

-66.85% 1.28% 0.69%

Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

8.45 81.46 64.47

8.55 83.18 65.67

-2.93% -11.92% -12.55%

Fund Name FSDH UPDC Real Estate Investment Fund SFS Skye Shelter Fund Union Homes REIT

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS Fund Name Lotus Halal Equity Exchange Traded Fund SIAML Pension ETF 40 Stanbic IBTC ETF 30 Fund

VETIVA FUND MANAGERS LTD Web: www.vetiva.com; Tel: +234 1 453 0697 Fund Name Vetiva Banking Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva Consumer Goods Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva Griffin 30 Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva Industrial Goods Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva S&P Nigeria Sovereign Bond Exchange Traded Fund

funds@vetiva.com Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

2.59 3.98 11.27 11.40 172.16

2.63 4.06 11.37 11.60 174.16

-26.96% -32.46% -6.93% 9.63% -8.07%

NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

108.69

17.60%

INFRASTRUCTURE FUND Fund Name Chapel Hill Denham Nigeria Infrastructure Debt Fund

The value of investments and the income from them may fall as well as rise. Past performance is a guide and not an indication of future returns. Fund prices published in this edition are also available on each fund manager’s website and FMAN’s website at www.fman.com.ng. Fund prices are supplied by the operator of the relevant fund and are published for information purposes only.

THURDAY MARCH 12, 2020 ˾ T H I S D AY

41

NEWS XTRA

Court Docks Eleven Suspects over Attack on Kwara APC Chairman’s Convoy Hammed Shittu in Ilorin Kwara State Chief Magistrate Court in Ilorin, the state capital, yesterday docked 11 suspects for allegedly attacking the

convoy of the state Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and other members of his executives in Shao town in Moro Local Government Council Area of the state recently.

Anambra Police Begin Recruitment of Constables for Community Policing David-Chyddy Eleke in Awka Anambra State Police Command has begun the recruitment of Special Constables for the community policing project earlier approved by the Inspector General of Police (IG), Mohammed Abubakar. In a statement signed by the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Haruna Mohammed, the command said the exercise which started on March 9, would last for two weeks from the date of commencement. It invited interested candidates to report at the nearest police divisional headquarters in their areas of jurisdiction within the state to undergo the required process. The statement by Haruna

stated that: “Interested candidates must be between the ages of 21 and 49; a resident of the locality where the exercise is scheduled to hold, and must be physically fit and willing to serve his or her fatherland. “Other requirements include possession of sound mind and without any criminal record. “Candidates for the exercise are also expected to obtain the engagement forms at the venues of the exercise, and are required to conduct themselves in a proper manner throughout the period of the exercise which would take place daily by 8 o’clock in the morning.” THISDAY gathered that about 50 youths, consisting of males and females, will be employed from each of the 179 communities of the state for the project.

The party’s executives were allegedly attacked February 26, 2020, in Shao town during a thank-you tour of the council area for the massive support APC got at the last general election. The suspects are Adebayo Jimoh, Salman Amidu, Mahmoud Afolabi, Olaofe Oladeji, among others. The suspects, who pleaded not guilty to the offences preferred against them, were accused of criminal conspiracy, criminal force and assault, inciting disturbances and mischief contrary to Sections 97, 266, 243, 114 and 327 of Penal Code Law.

Police First Information Report (FIR) said: “Some aggrieved members of the party on February 26 criminally conspired to disrupt the programme by inciting members of their group against the visiting state executives which later resulted in an attack on the visiting APC executives with stones and other dangerous weapons as a result of which the programme was disrupted and the vehicle conveying the party officials were equally damaged. “In the process, three persons, including Jimoh Saliu, Akanbi Rufiat and Ogunremi Akinjide,

at the venue of the meeting, sustained various degrees of injuries. “Investigation further revealed that the attack was planned and hatched by the aggrieved suspects.” Reacting to the suspects’ denial to the commission of the crime, the Police Prosecutor, Zacheous Folorunsho, told the court that investigation into the matter “is still in progress. “It is trite in law that bail is at the discretion of the court; we are waiting for another day for further notice.” Lead counsel to the

defendants, Lawal V Jimoh, in applying for their bail, said: “First Information Report (FIR), no matter how beautifully written, cannot take the place of an evident, as bail is also guided by Section 169 of the Kwara State Administration of Criminal Justice of 2018. It means that the defendants are not going to commit the same offence if granted bail, and they are not going to jump bail. “They are also responsible people, and if granted bail, they will not evade court proceedings. Therefore, I am asking for their bail on liberal terms.”

NERC Public Hearing Ends Abruptly as TCN Fails to Make Case for Tariff Hike Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) yesterday came under fire from the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) over the company’s inability to present a good case for a raise in the electricity tariffs currently being paid by Nigerians. The public hearing scheduled to apprise stakeholders with comprehensive reasons why

the regulatory agency should consider the request by the transmission company ended abruptly in Abuja after the TCN for several hours failed to convince the stakeholders. TCN, represented by Mr. Edmond Eje, told the threemember NERC panel that all the details were already with the regulatory agency, stressing that there was no need to rehash them. But Chairman of the panel

and Vice Chairman, NERC, Mr. Sanusi Garba, reminded TCN that the hearing was in line with the business rules of the commission in relevant portions of the Act setting it up, which requires the transmission company to present its case to the panel of three and some conveners to interrogate the submission of TCN whether they deserved the hike in tariffs or not. “Our opinion is that the

presentation has not displayed any justification why the hike should be effected. “The focus should be more about why you want an increase. Because whatever we approve as a commission is going to be paid by somebody else-the consumer. “That is why the stakeholders are asking why this needs to be done. We were expecting a comprehensive presentation of what you want and why you want it.

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A’Ibom Demands Resignation of CP for Violation of Court Order Okon Bassey in Uyo The Akwa Ibom State Government has demanded the immediate resignation of the state Commissioner of Police, Imohimi Edgal, for interfering with judicial process and violation of court order. The state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Uwemedimo Nwoko, made the call yesterday during media interaction in Uyo, the state capital.

Nwoko added that the state police boss would also face immediate prosecution for flouting an order of court which directed the police to commit an accused person to the Correctional Service Centre pending the next adjourned date of March 23. He explained that the police commissioner aided the release of one Leo Ekpenyong, who was earlier ordered to be remanded in the Uyo Correctional Centre by the court for criminal libel,

false publication and terrorism after medical treatment in any government hospital. “The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and the O/C Legal of the Police with the court officials took the accused person to the Police Hospital in Uyo for medical attention.

“While the team was at the police clinic, Imohimi called the O/C Legal and ordered him to bring the accused person to his office. “When the accused person was taken to his office, the commissioner shockingly apologised to him and ordered that all the phones of the

accused person be returned to him. “The commissioner then set aside the opinion of the first doctor that examined the accused person which concluded that there was nothing wrong with him and that he should be taken to the correctional facility. “The police commissioner

on his own set up another medical team to re-examine the accused person and give him a report. “Meanwhile, Imohimi gave total liberty to the accused person, returning his five handsets to him and was allowed to parade the police headquarters freely.

Lawan Seeks UN’s Intervention to Repatriate Nigeria’s Looted Funds Deji Elumoye and Chuks Okocha in Abuja The Senate President, Dr. Ahmad Lawan, yesterday disclosed that a large chunk of Nigeria’s funds stolen over the years are still in several bank accounts domiciled in some foreign countries. He has, therefore, appealed to the United Nations Organisation (UNO) to assist in the repatriation of the identified looted funds. Lawan, made the appeal yesterday evening while playing host to the United Nations Country delegation led by Mr. Edward Kallon, at the National Assembly, Abuja. The Senate President, who was responding to concerns raised by the visiting delegation, said the fight against corruption in Nigeria continues to suffer setbacks due to the inability of the federal government to repatriate looted funds stashed away in foreign countries across the world. He posited that such resources, if at the disposal of government, would go a long way towards addressing

critical developmental and infrastructural deficits faced by the nation. “So, much of Nigeria’s resources have been taken out of the country. But even when we identify embezzled funds, to get them back to Nigeria is a big deal. And in fact, we are suffering from that for years. We have had few occasions when we received some repatriation, but the bulk is still out there. “We need UN to help us, because the kind of resources that are alleged to have been taken out of Nigeria will make the country a rich country if they are repatriated. We have never been a rich country, comparing the resources we have had, and the development challenges facing us till date. We are blessed and endowed, but we need every single kobo to be put into the development of this country,” the Senate President said Lawan further lamented that due to lack of funds, the federal government resorted to obtaining domestic and foreign loans to fund capital projects in the 2020 budget.

House Postpones Consideration of Buhari’s $22.79bn Loan Request Udora Orizu in Abuja The House of Representatives has postponed deliberation on the $22.79 billion external borrowing, which was requested by President Muhammadu Buhari. The Speaker, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, made this known yesterday at the plenary. Gbajabiamila said the consideration of loan requested by the President should be stepped down. No new date has been set yet. It would be recalled that a member of the House, Mr. Henry Nwawuba, presented a petition by a group of South-East elite at the plenary on Tuesday against consideration and approval of the external loan. Nwawuba said the petition would save the National Assembly from embarrassment, adding that there was a disconnect between the loan proposal and the Fiscal Responsibility Act. Responding, the Speaker told him that the request by the President to the House to consider the loan was listed in yesterday’s order paper and was to be presented by the Chairman

House Committee on Aids, Loans and Debt Management, Hon. Ahmed Dayyabu Safana. It requested that: “The House do consider the Report of the Committee on Aids, Loans and Debt Management on the 2016–2018 Federal Government External Borrowing (Rolling) Plan and approve the recommendations therein” (Laid: 5/3/2020) (Committee on Supply). “Approve the under listed ongoing negotiation of External Borrowing in the sum of $22,798,446,773 (Twenty-Two Billion, Seven Hundred and Ninety-Eight Million, Four Hundred and Forty-Six Thousand, Seven Hundred and SeventyThree United States Dollars) under the 2016-2018 Medium Term External Borrowing (Rolling) plan; (a) World Bank 2,854,000,000; (b) Africa Development Bank 1,888,950,000; (c) Islamic Development Bank (IDB) 110,000,000; (d) Jica 200,000,000; (e)German Development Bank 200,000,000; (f) China Eximbank 17,065,496,773 and (g) AFD 480,000,000, (h)Grand Total ($) 22,798,446,773.”

SOLIDARITY FOREVER...

L-R: Oyo State Deputy Governor, Mr. Rauf Olaniyan; state Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Kunmi Mustapha; Governor of Oyo State, Mr. Seyi Makinde; and Speaker, state House of Assembly, Hon. Debo Ogundoyin, during the state PDP expanded stakeholders meeting at the party’s secretariat, Ibadan…yesterday

North West Development Bill Passes Second Reading in Senate Deji Elumoye and Chuks Okocha in Abuja A bill for the establishment of the North West Development Commission yesterday passed through second reading at the Senate. The bill, which was sponsored by Senator Barau Jibrin (Kano North) and all the Senators from the North west geo-political zone, has also been referred to the Senate Committee on Establishment and Public

Service, which is headed by Senator Ibrahim Shekarau, for further legislative input within four weeks. According to the bill, the establishment of the commission would act as a catalyst to develop the potentials of the region as well as address the gap in the infrastructural development of the area. Leading the debate on the bill, Jibrin said the North west has contributed immensely to the overall development of Nigeria

in terms of agriculture and other areas of endevour. He, however, added that Boko Haram crisis, banditry and kidnapping have impacted negatively on the region with houses, hospitals and schools damaged as a result of the crisis. Jibrin said what the North west region required from the federal government is the support to develop its infrastructure and educate its youths so as to drive the process of developing the zone in its

entirety in order to be at per with the more developed zones of the country. He lamented that the zone has the highest population of people among the six geopolitical zones in the country with about 70 percent of the population made up of the youth mostly jobless. His words: “The sad fact is that majority of these youths are uneducated in the region that has the highest out of school children in the country.

Lalong: I will Go into Farming, after My Tenure as Gov Seriki Adinoyi in Jos The Governor of Plateau State, Mr. Simon Lalong, has declared that he would be going into a full – scale farming after his tenure as governor expires in May 2023. This declaration was to counter the insinuation that Lalong was planning to to move from the Government House to the Senate’s chamber in 2023. Lalong stated this yesterday during the distribution of 500 water pumps for irrigation farming in the state, which was held at the premises

of the Plateau Agricultural Development Programme (PADP), Dogon Dutse, Jos in Jos North Local Government Council. The governor said that he would resuscitate the state’s agricultural training centers. He said: “Even me, I will go there for three – month course. Yes, because after governor, I am going back to the farm. So, if I don’t go for that training, I will not know how to farm.” Agriculture, according to him, took the country’s economy out of recession. “So, why should

we joke with agriculture? So, any time I see insecurity anywhere, I try to address the insecurity because I know when there is crisis, there will be no opportunity for farmers to go and farm. “Those who think they can get money through crisis, their days are over. So, if you want to make money, I say, come to agriculture. You will become millionaires in Plateau State. So, we cannot afford to joke with the support of big development partners such as the African Development Bank.”

Lalong added that his administration is also carrying out the construction of 200 kilometer rural roads spread across the 17 councils of the state, which would create access for transporting farm inputs and evacuating harvested crops with ease. “To facilitate irrigation farming of potatoes and other vegetables, this administration has procured 1,500 irrigation water pumps to be distributed for farmers across the 17 local government areas of the state,” he said.

Sokoto Seeks Deeper Ties with Qatar The Sokoto State Governor, Mr. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, has declared the intention to forge a partnership with the State of Qatar for the socio-economic development of Sokoto State. Tambuwal made this known yesterday in Abuja when he held a meeting with the Qatari envoy to Nigeria, Mr. Abdulaziz

Ibn Mubarak al-Muhannadi. He hoped that the Qatar government would be a partner for the state’s rapid development. He also requested the Qatar embassy to arrange a “meeting with the government of Qatar at Doha to discuss further on ‘Education for all Initiatives.”

In a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Publicity, Muhammad Bello, said the government of Sokoto State would like to parley with the Qatar Foundation and Qatar Charity in order to attract their contributions to the development of the Sokoto State,

while furthering discussions on education, agriculture and infrastructural development in the state. Tambuwal commended the Qatar Charity for the construction of a multimillion naira center, 35 mosques, 30 boreholes and the enrollment of over 700 orphans.

THURSDAY MARCH 12, 2020 ˾ T H I S D AY

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Nigeria Suspends Emergency Passport Services in New York The Consulate General of Nigeria in New York, United States, has suspended emergency passport services due to shortage of old booklets. In a notice dated March 6, 2020, the consulate said only applicants on appointment would be attended to henceforth. “The Consulate General will resume attending to all and sundry when the passport booklet supply improves,” the notice said.

The shortage, according to the Consul General, Mr Benaoyagha Okoyen, is occasioned by the gradual phase-out of the old passport and transition to the new 10-year enhanced E-Passport. Okoyen gave the explanation while addressing a group of emergency passport applicants in his office in New York. The applicants, who had showed up at the consulate before their respective interview dates, said they had no prior

knowledge of the new policy. Some became displeased after consular officials refused to attend to them for fear of flouting the policy. Attempts at explanation fell on deaf ears as some said they came from far states, and could not afford the cost of putting up in New York. On arrival at the premises, Okoyen took them to his office where he explained

the situation. “There is a transition going on from the five-year to the 10-year validity passport, and we are trying to manage the old stock. “We hope the transition process is completed soon, and once that is done this issue will be over. “Currently, we only have limited number of booklets, which have been allocated

according to our scheduled appointments,” he said. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that some of the applicants, most of whom were seeking renewal of their passports, came from other consular jurisdictions. Besides New York, Nigeria has two other consulates in the United States located in Atlanta and Washington, serving allotted numbers of

the country’s 50 states. There are 20 states under the New York consular jurisdiction, including Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire and New Jersey, Others are New York, Nebraska, Ohio, North Dakota, South Dakota, Rhode Island, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Vermont and Pennsylvania.

Jonathan Denies Receiving N300m, Bulletproof Cars from Sacked Bayelsa Gov-elect Former President Goodluck Jonathan has refuted social media reports that he received N300 million and bulletproof cars from the sacked Governorelect of Bayelsa State, Mr. David Lyon of the All Progressives Congress (APC). Jonathan, who made the rebuttal in a statement issued by his Media Adviser, Mr. Ikechukwu Eze, yesterday in Yenagoa, described the allegations as “patently fictitious, malevolent, inciting and provocative”. According to the former president, the story is planted in the social media by a nebulous group known as “Reformation Forum” which claims links with the APC in Bayelsa. He said the group was calling for the refund of the alleged N300 million and bulletproof cars, which were allegedly given to him to cater for guests during the planned inauguration of Lyon. The Supreme Court sacked Lyon of the APC as the governor-elect of Bayelsa State barely 24 hours to his

inauguration. The Reformation Forum had alleged that the gifts were delivered to the former president prior to the annulment of Lyon’s victory by the apex court. He said, “the story which claimed that the alleged money and vehicles were part of logistics given to Jonathan’s family to cater for their guests ahead of the botched inauguration is not only patently fictitious but malevolent, inciting and provocative. “In the first place, there was no reason for APC or anybody else to offer money and vehicles to the former president for logistics over an inauguration programme in which he was not involved. “We make bold to state that there is no vehicle in the possession of former President Jonathan given to him by the APC. This is an insufferable lie. “If anyone on earth knows of such a vehicle, they should expose the particulars of the said vehicle to the public.

Police Parade 108 Crime Suspects Nab phone ID thief Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja The Nigerian Police yesterday paraded 108 suspected criminals in Abuja. The suspects were arrested for their involvement in kidnapping, drug dealing, possession and trade in prohibited firearms and manufacturing of weapons. The police also arrested five suspects who specialised in selling illicit drugs to armed bandits. Speaking during the parade, the Force Public Relations Officer, DCP Frank Mba, said 30 assorted rifles were recovered while 5, 120 live ammunitions were mopped up. Mba said the arrests followed renewed onslaught against criminal elements and enablers of crime. He said the Police High Command was committed to “mopping up weapons, cutting down supply of arms and drugs. “We are committed to cutting the flow to the camps of the criminals in order to reduce their capacity to operate”.

One of the suspects, Abdullahi Ali, specialised in altering the International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) number. The 29-year old suspect without any formal education, alters phone identities of kidnappers and armed bandits in order to evade tracking tools of the police. The Force PRO said tracking criminals with such reprogrammed phones by manufacturers and police detectives was like walking a dark alley. During an interview session with journalists, the suspect said he charged between N500 and N1, 000 per phone. The IMEI is a number, usually unique to identify 3GPP and iDEN mobile phones, as well as some satellite phones. It is usually found printed inside the battery compartment of the phone, but can also be displayed on-screen on most phones by entering *#06# on the dialpad, or alongside other system information in the settings menu on smartphone operating systems.

COURTESY VISIT...

L-R: Bayelsa State Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo; Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri; and General Overseer, Omega Fire Ministry, Apostle Johnson Suleiman, during the latter’s courtesy visit to Government House, Yenagoa...yesterday

SEC Laments Poor Banks’ Lending to Agriculture Ndubuisi Francis in Abuja The Acting Director General of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Ms. Mary Uduk, has lamented the poor bank lending to the agricultural sector in spite of its vast potential of delivering on the nation’s food security needs, job creation and increasing foreign exchange earnings. Uduk regretted that despite the sector’s enormous potential to deliver on these important

metrics, credit to it has remained below five per cent of bank lending for the past 10 years, thereby severely hampering its development. Uduk, who spoke in Abuja, yesterday at a press briefing on the forthcoming international conference on Nigeria’s commodities market, stressed that the capital market has the capacity to unlock better access to credit and finance for the sector through innovative financing structures and products.

Uduk said: “It is necessary, first, to recognise and applaud the federal government’s actions in diversifying the Nigerian economy and moving us away from an overreliance on one commodity. “Agriculture remains an important part of that plan holding the potential of delivering on the country’s food security needs, providing jobs and increasing our foreign exchange earnings. Despite this potential of the sector to

deliver on these important metrics, credit to the sector has remained less than five per cent of bank lending for the past 10 years severely hampering its development.” Noting that the capital market has the capacity to unlock better access to credit and finance for the sector through innovative financing structures and products, she observed that this is also true for Nigeria’s abundant minerals, especially the solid ones.

Scores Killed as NAF Bombs Sambisa Forest B’Haram structures destroyed The dreaded Boko Haram Islamic Zect once more suffered heavy casualties as the Nigerian Air Force fighter jets their hideouts in Bula Koroge on the fringes of the Sambisa forest in Borno State. This was revealed in a statement by the Director of Public Relations and Information, Nigerian Air Force, Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola. According to the NAF Spokeswoman, “in continuation

of Operation Decisive Edge, the Air Task Force (ATF) of Operation Lafiya Dole has neutralised dozens of Boko Haram terrorists at Bula Korege on the fringes of the Sambisa Forest in Borno State. “The massive air strikes were conducted in two waves of attack on March 6, 2020 sequel to credible Intelligence reports indicating that the Boko Haram had relocated some of their fighters to the settlement to reinforce the location preparatory

to attacks on troops’ locations and surrounding civilian settlements. “Consequently, the ATF dispatched an enhanced force package of several attack aircraft and a surveillance platform to engage the location”. He added that, “overhead the target area, significant activity of the fighters was observed in different parts of the settlements. The NAF fighter jets took turns in attacking the target area, neutralising many

Boko Haram and destroying their structures in successive passes. After the first wave of strikes, the terrorists reassembled at another part of the settlement where they were tracked and mopped-up. “The Nigerian Air Force (NAF), operating in concert with surface forces, will sustain its air campaign against the terrorists’ hideouts to shape the battlespace for the effective conduct of further ground and air operations.”

Uzodinma Sends List of 22 Commissioner-nominees to State Assembly Amby Uneze in Owerri The Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma, has transmitted 22 commissioner-nominees to the state House of Assembly for confirmation. Two months after the Supreme Court declared him governor, Uzodinma finally decided to

shortlist names of his supporters for onward confirmation by the state assembly. The list included five women and 17 men. They are Dr. Mrs. Osunkwo, Iyke Njoku, Prof. V. E. O Ikegwuoha, Francis Dibiagwu, Doris Akubuo, Dan Oguh, Noble Atulegwu, C C Osuala, Lambert Orisakwe, Obiageri Ajoku, and

Nkechi Ugwu. Others are Simeon Ibegbulem, Kingsley Ononuju, Declan Emelumba, Enyinnaya Onuegbu, Rex Anunobi, Raph Nwosu, Fabian Ihekwueme, Tony Umezuruike, Iyke Umeh, Mathias Emejuonu and Love Ineh. Meanwhile, the Speaker of

the House of Assembly, Chiji Collins, had set up an ad-hoc committee for screening of the commissioner-nominees. The committee is to be headed by Hon. Obinna Okwara; other members are Hons. Kennedy Ibeh, Frank Ugboma, Eddy Obinna, and Uju Onwudiwe.

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Group Asks S’ Court to Dismiss APC’s Application to Review Zamfara Judgment Tobi Soniyi As the Supreme Court is set to hear the application for it to review its judgment invalidating the election of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidates in Zamfara State, a non-governmental organisation, Patriots for the Advancement of

Peace and Social Justice (PAPSJ), has asked the apex court not to hesitate in throwing out the application. The group, in a statement issued by its Executive Director, Dr. Sanni Abdualhi Shinkafi, said APC problem in Zamfara State was self-inflicted-caused by the party’s inability to conduct

a valid primary. It stated that the state APC case did not fall within the category of cases the apex court could review. The group also advised the APC to withdraw the application to save itself from further embarrassment. It advised the party to be guided by the Supreme Court pronouncement on similar application made by the party in the Bayelsa State governorship

case. The body said the apex court made accurate findings when it punished the APC for its failure to follow the party’s constitution requiring the party to conduct primary and feature qualified candidates. According to it, “The electoral jurisprudence is settled for decades that for there to be a valid ticket, both the candidate and his deputy governorship candidates sponsored by a

political party must be qualified in all ramifications. “Once there is an affliction on one, the candidature of the party collapses in its entirety rendering the joint ticket to be no-ticket at all. “Two subsections of Section 187 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as altered), carry neither ambiguity nor vagueness in this regard. Little wonder, therefore, that the votes

garnered by the ruling party were discountenanced on the ground that there was no valid nomination as at the time of the election. “Where a political party fails in the screening of the candidates and presents an unqualified candidate, the sanction is not only disqualification but also penalty of N500, 000, which the Supreme Court probably forgot to impose on APC in the Bayelsa State case.

As part of his plan to breathe new life into the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), the Group Managing Director, Mr. Mele Kyari has directed 36 top management staff at General Manager and Group General Manager ranks due to retire by December 31, 2020 to proceed on retirement with immediate effect. This resulted in the need for the promotion of 68 senior managers to fill those vacancies and other prior vacancies in an exercise that has been described as fair, even and balanced. All the six geopolitical zones were proportionately accommodated with at least 11 positions to each zone. This is the first time in the history of NNPC that a GMD has delivered a promotion exercise reflecting the diversity and ethnic mix of Nigeria. Another commendable feature of the exercise was the elevation of women into the echelons of leadership. More women than ever will now occupy the ranks of General Manager and Group General Manager. At the top of the chain, three Chief Operating Officers (COOs) swapped roles with Yemi Adetunji replacing Mr. Roland Ewubare as the COO Upstream. Laura Ndupu replaces Adetunji as COO Downstream and Ewubare replaces Ndupu

with an expansion of his portfolio to include Business Development in a renamed Directorate of Ventures and Business Development. Musa Lawan, the GGM NAPIMS is posted to Abuja to become the MD PPMC in a swap of roles with Bala Wunti who now moves from PPMC to NAPIMS. Inuwa Wya the MD of Duke Oil / NNPC trading is posted to become MD NNPC Shipping. Lawal Sade replaces him as MD Duke Oil / Trading. Dr Salihu Jamari moves from MD

NGC Warri to become MD Gas and Power Investment Company while Seyi Omotowa moves to NGC Warri as MD. Ada Oyetunde becomes the MD of Nigerian Pipeline and Storage Company as part of the effort to elevate women in NNPC. A new position of Chief Innovation Officer is also created to replace the Research and Development Division and the position and a senior female officer had been deployed to the role. Inside sources reveal that the changes were the result

of months of deliberate and strategic consultations by the GMD with his inner cadre of trusted advisors. These advisors are led by Umar Ajiya, the Chief Financial Officer. Other members of the cabal include Roland Ewubare (who is redeployed to an expanded role said to have been designed by Kyari and himself), Abdulkadir Ahmed (MD Nigerian Gas Marketing Company), Adokie Tombomieye (Group General Manager Crude Oil Marketing) and Mansur Sambo (MD NPDC).

PDP Govs are Pillars of Nigeria, Says NNPC Promotes 68 Senior Managers Secondus to Fill Vacant Positions Wike: Opposition party only hope for Nigeria

Ernest Chinwo in Port Harcourt National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Uche Secondus, has declared that governors elected on the platform of his party are the pillars of the country, “as they are the only leaders executing key projects in the country.” He stated this just as the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, stated that PDP remains the only hope for the sustenance of development in the country . They spoke at the Government House in Port Harcourt during a condolence visit by the National Working Committee (NWC) of the PDP to Wike over the passage of his uncle, late Chief Charles Wike, and the chaplain of the Government House, Venerable Sunday Opara. The party national chairman noted that without the outstanding performance of PDP governors, there would not be Nigeria. According to Secondus, “PDP governors are the pillars of our party. They are also the pillars of Nigeria. Without the performance

of the PDP governors, there would be no country like Nigeria. “In the past few weeks, the country has been on a free fall, but the PDP governors continue to perform.” He said Wike has turned Rivers State into a huge construction site, delivering on his campaign promises to the people. “Rivers State has been turned into a construction site. We pray God to give you the strength to continue to work for the Rivers people,” he said. Secondus said the state governor has been a strong source of support and inspiration to the NWC of the party. He prayed God to continue to strengthen and embolden Wike to continue to deliver the dividends of democracy to his people and state. The PDP leader said the leadership of the party was in state to share the moment of grief with the governor. “We are here to share your pain with you. Our prayer to God is that you are not distracted. We believe that only God can comfort you and your family,” he said.

Residents Groan as Power Outage Paralyses Ogun Yobe Airport Communities Lamenting the lingering state Kayode Fasua in Abeokuta of power failure in Abeokuta, Ready Next Many communities in Ogun a welder, Mr. Jimoh Adekunle, State, particularly Abeokuta said: “I have abandoned my Month, Says Buni and Sagamu areas, have been without electricity supply for close to one month, THISDAY investigations have revealed. The situation is also worsened in Abeokuta, the state capital, as water scarcity has left majority of the residents searching endlessly for water as a result of the blackout. An official of the state Water Corporation, who spoke to THISDAY on condition of anonymity, attributed the scarcity of water to lack of electricity supply to power the station pumping machine. According to official, “Governor Dapo Abiodun has intervened by replacing our damaged electric transformer, but when there is no power generation, there is little we can achieve through the intervention of our generating set, particularly considering that we have a large population of water consumers.”

job and taken to commercial motorcycling to survive.” Speaking too, a bar owner in Shaje area of the community, Mrs. Silifat Balogun, said the electricity challenge had virtually run her out of business, as “my customers have been complaining bitterly of not getting cold beer to drink in the last one month.” But explaining why most parts of Ogun State have been without power supply, the Head, Public Relations Unit of the Ibadan Distribution Company (IBDC) which oversees power supplies to Oyo, Ogun and Osun States, Mrs. Busola Tunwase, said the problems were beyond her office to resolve at the moment. According to her, “A fire outbreak that gutted our Ayede sub-station last month affected supplies to many communities in not only Ogun State but in Oyo and Osun States also.

Michael Olugbode in Damaturu The Yobe State Governor, Mr. Mai-Mala Buni has assured that the Yobe International Cargo Airport would be ready next month. Buni said he has received assurances from the contractors that the project would be handed over to the state government by next month and would be commissioned for public use in May 2020. The Governor made the announcement on Tuesday after an inspection to the site of the airport project, which is under construction. The governor commended the contractors for the quality of work done and emphasised that timely completion and finishing were of paramount importance.

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THURSDAYSPORTS

Group Sports Editor Duro Ikhazuagbe Email duro.ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com 0811 181 3083 SMS ONLY

AFCON 2021 QUALIFIERS

Coronavirus Delays Rohr’s Return from France to Open Eagles Camp Duro Ikhazuagbe Super Eagles Franco-German Technical Adviser, Gernot Rohr,

Gernot Rohr

who is scheduled to arrive Nigeria today ahead of his wards to begin preparations for the AFCON 2020 qualifier against Sierra Leone is believed to be stranded in France as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. THISDAY checks revealed yesterday that the gaffer has communicated his inability to return as scheduled to chiefs of the Nigerian federation. Although none of the NFF officials contacted by THISDAY at the Sunday Dankaro House in Abuja yesterday was willing to confirm Rohr’s travel problems as a result of the

virus, reliable sources close to the Coach said his return has been put on hold for now. It was not however confirmed if the AFCON 2019 bronze winning coach has tested positive to warrant his staying back in France. Nigeria’s camp for the March 27 clash with Sierra Leone is billed to open on Monday in Asaba, Delta State with almost the entire team coming home from Europe. Messages to the leadership

of the NFF to ascertain whether the duo of Williams Troost Ekong and Ola Aina who ply their trades with Italy based clubs were going to be part of the Eagles to play the crucial AFCON 2021 cracker were yet to be replied before the scoop on Rohr. Italy has the most cases outside China with more than 10,000 and the entire country has been placed in lockdown. Some 60 million Italians

have been told to stay at home in a bid to stop the spread of coronavirus. The region of Lombardy, where Milan is located, is at the epicentre of Europe’s worse coronavirus outbreak. Serie A, along with all sport in Italy, is currently suspended until 3 April, but this does not include Italian clubs or national teams participating in international competitions. In Spain, La Liga games are to be played

without fans present until 15 April. On Tuesday, the Spanish government decided to refuse entry to planes from Italy but UEFA requested an exception on behalf of Roma. That request was denied by the Spanish government on Wednesday. The Spanish (AFE) and Italian (AIC) players’ unions have asked UEFA that games between Italian and Spanish teams be suspended.

Edo 2020 Organisers to Test Run Facilities with Athletic Meet Saturday As the countdown to the 20th National Sports Festival in Benin City hits the homestretch, organizers of the Edo 2020 have scheduled a track and field meet to test run the facilities at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium this weekend. Technical Director of the Athletic Federation of Nigeria, Brown Ebewele, confirmed yesterday that some of the best home-based athletes are going to feature in the Meet ahead of the opening ceremony of the festival scheduled to begin on March 22. Already, some selected athletes have been scheduled to run in the 100m, 400m, 800m and the relays (4x100m and the 4x400m). Ebewele who also doubles as the Coordinator of Team Edo, stretched that field events like High Jump (women), Long Jump (men) and Shot Put are going to be competed for honours in the rest run meet. “Already, we have entries

from Delta, host Edo and few other states and the paramilitary sports teams like the NSCDC (Civil Defence) and the Police. These are two of the paramilitary institutions in the country with some of the best athletes in the country,� observed the former national decathlon Star. Meanwhile, Technical officials and some lawmakers from Abuja arrived Benin yesterday to inspect the facilities provided by Edo State to host the 2020 Games. Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki joined the inspection team shortly after the state’s Exco meeting. Obaseki who had earlier on Tuesday night did an unscheduled visit to the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium to check some of the facilities the contractor was putting finishing touches to, expressed his happiness at the speed with which the contractor was working day and night to meet the target of delivery one week before the opening ceremony.

Eunisell Boot: Abia Misses Top Spot Chance as Auwalu Joins Race Rangers forward, Israel Abia missed a big chance to go in front in the battle for the Eunisell Boot over the weekend, when he fluffed a spot-kick in his teams 0-0 draw at MFM FC in a Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) match on Sunday. Abia currently tied on 10 goals with Akwa United’s Ndifreke Effiong would have moved one goal clear if he had converted a 50th-minute penalty at the Agege Stadium. He fired his attempt from 12 yards over the bar, which leaves the race for the Eunisell Boot wide open. However, there is a new entrant in the race for the

coveted award that is given the league’s leading marksman by the sponsors of the award. Kano Pillars striker, Auwalu Ali, has moved up in the chart, after scoring twice to secure a 2-2 draw at Lobi Stars for his club in a thrilling contest at the Aper Aku Stadium in Makurdi. Auwalu now joins Victor Mbaoma of Enyimba on nine goals as the race for this season’s prestigious award is gradually inching closer to the finish line with 15 match weeks remaining. The race for the Eunisell Boot continues with 10 matches on Matchday 24 on March 15.

Delta State Governor Senator Ifeanyi Okowa (2nd left), receiving the Torch of Unity for the 20th National Sports Festival in Benin City from the Representative of the Minister of Sport Mr. Sylvester Essiet (right), while the Deputy Governor Barr. Kingsley Otuaro share the moment with them in Asaba...yesterday

Delta Inaugurates LGs Sports Festival Committee The Delta State chapter of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria on Wednesday inaugurated the Central Organising Committee for its maiden Delta State Local Governments Sports Festival. Chairman of Delta ALGON, Constantine Ikpokpo, revealed that the programme, first of kind in the country, is an effort by the local governments to contribute their quota towards the development

and promotion of grassroots sports in “realisation that more needs to be done to frequently oil the talent mill to produce more athletes that can represent Delta State and Nigeria in various national and international events.� The committee which is chaired by Special Adviser to the Delta State Governor on Local Government Affairs, Kelly Penawou, is composed of two Local Government chairmen from each zone of the state, a selection of

notable Delta State sports personalities and veteran and seasoned sportsmen and administrators, including Yusuf Ali and Seigha Porbeni. Penawou commended the Delta State Governor, Senator IFeanyi Arthur Okowa, for expressly endorsing the festival and agreeing to be its Chief Ambassador. Harrison Ocholor, Managing Director of Hightime Media Management Limited, the project consultants informed that

the first edition scheduled for October 2020 shall feature Athletics, boxing, football, tennis, swimming, chess and scrabble. In order to raise the profile of the event and inspire competition among participants, the Organisers said the event shall be open to all categories and ages of athletes indigent or resident in the local government areas. will determine if they are materials to be groomed for higher events.�

Cup Holders Liverpool Knocked out of Champion League Liverpool’s hold on the Champions League was wrestled from them by Atletico Madrid on Wednesday night after a dramatic last-16 second leg went into extra time - and a finely balanced game turned on a catastrophic blunder by goalkeeper Adrian. Jurgen Klopp’s side - seeking to win the trophy for a

seventh time - thought they had overturned Atletico’s 1-0 advantage from the first leg when Roberto Firmino’s first goal at Anfield this season at the start of the added 30 minutes gave them the lead in the tie. Georginio Wijnaldum’s firsthalf header was full reward for Liverpool laying siege to

the Atletico goal for much of the first 90 minutes And yet, as the Kop sensed another memorable Champions League victory, Adrian - deputising for the injured Alisson - paid the price for a dreadful clearance as substitute Marcos Llorente pounced with a low finish to secure Atletico’s crucial away

goal. Llorente struck again with another composed finish in the 105th minute and with the spirit draining out of Liverpool and their supporters, former Chelsea striker Alvaro Morata adding insult to injury with a third in the dying seconds to send Atletico through to the last eight.

46

Ëœ ÍšÍşËœ ͺ͸ͺ͸ Ëž T H I S D AY

ThursdaySports

European Football Hit as Clubs Dump Matches over Coronavirus Roma announced yesterday they will not be travelling to their Europa League tie with Sevilla on Thursday because their plane from Italy is not authorised to land in Spain. The last-16 first-leg game in Seville was already due to be played behind closed doors amid coronavirus fears. On Tuesday, Italian side Atalanta’s Champions League game at Valencia on Wednesday went ahead as planned. Italy has the most cases outside China with more than 10,000 and the entire country has been placed in lockdown. Some 60 million Italians have been told to stay at home in a bid to stop the spread of coronavirus. Serie A, along with all sport in Italy, is currently suspended until 3 April, but this does not include Italian clubs or national teams participating in international competitions. In Spain, La Liga games are to be played without fans present until 15 April. On Tuesday, the Spanish government decided to refuse entry to planes from Italy but Uefa requested an exception on behalf of Roma. That request was denied by the Spanish government on Wednesday. UEFA has yet to publicly comment but is expected to reschedule the game. Meanwhile, Spanish side Getafe are reportedly refusing to travel to Italy to face Inter Milan in their Europa League match on Thursday.

The Spanish (AFE) and Italian (AIC) players’ unions have asked Uefa that games between Italian and Spanish teams be suspended. The AFE has also called for the suspension of all matches in Spain instead of having them played behind closed doors. Earlier, Getafe president Angel Torres told reporters his club refused to travel to Italy for their game at Inter, even if it meant they were kicked out of the competition. The region of Lombardy, where Milan is located, is at the epicentre of Europe’s worse coronavirus outbreak. The match at San Siro is due to be played without fans. “We’re not going to play, we’re not going to travel to Italy, that has been decided,� Torres told reporters outside the club’s stadium. “I can guarantee that we will not travel to Italy. Uefa will decide what happens next.� The first leg of Manchester United’s Europa League last16 tie at LASK in Austria on Thursday will be played behind closed doors, as will Chelsea’s Champions League last-16 tie at Bayern Munich on 18 March. Wolves’ Europa League last-16 first-leg match at Olympiakos on Thursday will also be played in a near-empty stadium, as will Rangers’ second-leg tie at Bayer Leverkusen on 19 March in the same competition. UEFA rejected Wolves’ request to postpone the

...Arsenal Players Quarantined, Game with Man City Postponed Arsenal’s game at Manchester City yesterday was postponed after players from the London club were put into quarantine, making it the first Premier League football fixture to be called off because of coronavirus. Arsenal said players and four staff had been isolated at their homes after coming into contact with the owner of Greek club Olympiakos, Vangelis Marinakis, who has since tested positive for COVID-19. “We are strictly following the government guidelines which recommend that anyone coming into close contact with someone with the virus should self-isolate at home for 14 days from the last time they had contact,� an Arsenal statement said. “As a result, the players are unavailable for tonight’s (Wednesday’s) match against Manchester City and the Premier League has decided the game should be postponed.� The first postponement in the Premier League, which has a huge worldwide following, follows widespread disruption to football and other sports across the globe. Arsenal were knocked out of the Europa League

by Olympiakos on February 27. Marinakis, owner of the Greek club and English side Nottingham Forest, announced on Tuesday that he had tested positive for the coronavirus. But Arsenal said the players and staff, who met Marinakis after the game at the Emirates Stadium, will return to work on Friday ahead of Saturday’s trip to Brighton. “The medical advice we have received puts the risk of them developing COVID-19 at extremely low,� it added. Olympiakos players, backroom staff and board members have all tested negative, the club said on Wednesday. The Premier League called the move a “precautionary measure� and said there were no plans to postpone any other games. Arsenal’s opponents on Saturday, relegation-threatened Brighton, tweeted that their game was still on. “Albion’s match against Arsenal this Saturday remains scheduled to go ahead as planned, in line with government advice, and following consultation with the Premier League and medical advisors. #BHAFC,� they tweeted.

match in Greece - which the club said was an “unnecessary risk�.

The disease, which can cause a fever, cough and breathing problems, is

spreading around the world and has already affected more than 116,000 people.

Scientists have confirmed it takes an average of five days for symptoms to show.

The Europa League match was due to take place at Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan Stadium

FIFA Congress in Ethiopia Delayed Due to Coronavirus Football’s world governing body FIFA has postponed its Congress in Ethiopia, scheduled to take place in June, by three months owing to the outbreak of the coronavirus. The Congress has been set to take place in the capital Addis Ababa with events between 3-5 June,the day on which the Congress had been set to take place. This has now been postponed until 18 September. Meanwhile the body’s council meeting will now be held in Zurich or

Gathering like this of world’s football chiefs has been shifted by three months due to the coronavirus pandemic

as a video conference in June or July.

Should Addis Ababa stage the event later this year, which

will be at the headquarters of the African Union, it will be the fourth time Congress has been held on the African continent in 70 years. Marrakesh in Morocco was the first African city to host a Congress in 2005, followed by South Africa in 2010 and Mauritius in 2013. The first FIFA Congress was held in Paris in 1904, with just five member associations attending, and returned to the French capital this weekend with a full house of 211 members present.

NBB of C to Confer GOtv Biggest Nigerian Boxing Award The Nigeria Boxing Board of Control (NBB of C) has announced plans to bestow on GOtv, sponsors of GOtv Boxing Night, with its biggest boxing award for continued support towards the development of boxing in the country. This was disclosed on Tuesday by NBB of C President, Dr Rafiu Ladipo at a press conference to announce GOtv Boxing Night 21, slated for 12 Aprilat the Indoor Sports Hall of the National Stadium, Lagos. Ladipo lauded GOtv for remaining steadfast in the effort

to revamp boxing in Nigeria, explaining that the scale of the sponsors’ investment in the sport is unprecedented. He also commended the organisers, Flykite Producti “We want to thank GOtv and Flykite for their continued organisation of GOtv Boxing Night. It is not easy to host 21 editions of this event year after year. It is a big deal that GOtv has invested so much resources to help develop boxing. “For this, GOtv will receive the biggest award of the NBB of C for their major support

of boxing in Nigeria,� he said. Ladipo also called on other corporate organisations to emulate GOtv by supporting boxing promotions in the country. “If only we have two or more corporate organisations doing what GOtv is doing, Nigerian boxing will be in a much better state. I am, therefore, using this medium to ask other organisations to support the development of Nigerian boxing,� he said. GOtv Boxing Night 21 will be headlined by the World Boxing Federation (WBF) International lightweight title

bout between Nigeria’s Rilwan “Real One� Oladosu, the West African Boxing Union (WABU) lightweight champion and Ghana’s Emmanuel Quartey. Also on the cards are the WBF Africa welterweight title between Rilwan “Baby Face� Babatunde of Nigeria, the WABU welterweight champion, and Mkwalekwa Salehe of Tanzania; and an international featherweight challenge bout between Taiwo “Esepo� Agbaje of Nigeria, the national featherweight champion, and Moses Dodzi of Ghana.

Ojo Emerges Best Overall Athlete as Lagos Dominates Maltina School Games The maiden edition of Maltina School Games ended last night as 17-year old Joy Ojo of Ijaiye Housing Estate Senior High School emerged as the Overall Best Athlete of the national final that was rounded up at the Sports Complex of Yaba College of Technology, Yaba, Lagos. The budding star won three gold medals in 100m, 200m and 4x 100 meters races to become the first winner of the major prize and earn for herself a scholarship to any federal university of choice. Aside Ojo’s feat, Lagos State also emerged as the overall winner of this maiden edition with

Finance Director, Nigerian Breweries Plc, Rob Kleinjan (Right) poses with some of the deserve medals winners yesterday at the ďŹ nal of maiden edition of Maltina School Games in Lagos... yesterday

21 gold, 15 silver and 5 bronze medals just as Federal Capital Territory (FCT) placed second with 4 gold, 13 silver and 10

bronze. Kano State placed third with 4 gold, and 6 bronze medals. Anambra took the rear position with 3 gold, 4 silver and 11 bronze

medals. In other awards, Sikirat Anifowoshe won the Best Junior Girl award with gold medals in 100 m and 4 x 100 gold races while Moses Okon of EUBA Junior Secondary School, Lagos won the Best Junior Boy athlete with gold medals in 400 m and 4 x 100 relay. Ojo also doubled as the Best Senior Girl with gold medals in the events that gave her the best overall winner just as Onyebuchi Nnebedum of Christ Redeemer College, Anambra State won the Best Male Athlete with gold medals in Javelin and Shot Put events.

THURSDAY MARCH 12, 2020 • T H I S D AY

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Thursday, March 12, 2020

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Price: N250

MISSILE A. B. Mahmoud to Police

The Emir informed the Commissioner of Police that his friends had sent an aircraft to fly him and his family to Lagos... The Commissioner refused saying that was not their instruction. They were willing to allow the family to leave for Lagos but he was to be flown to Abuja then onwards taken to Nasarawa State. It was clear to us that the police and other security agents were willing to take any measure and use force to achieve their objective.

OLUSEGUNADENIYI THE VERDICT

olusegun.adeniyi@thisdaylive.com

What Muhammadu Sanusi ll Told Me

O

n Monday, Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State finally mustered the courage to do what he had been planning for almost three years: He dethroned the 14th Emir of Kano, HH Muhammadu Sanusi ll. Interestingly, the statement by the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Usman Alhaji, made no reference to the rash of probes that had been instituted in recent months. Nor was there any pretence that this is about transparency and accountability. HH Sanusi ll was dethroned for “total disrespect to lawful instructions from the office of the governor and other lawful authorities...” In the past 13 years, I have exchanged numerous emails and text messages with HH Sanusi ll. But the one I found most profound, even if disturbing, was his reply to my mail ten months ago. I read it several times that day because I had a premonition that it was for the record, as it has turned out to be. Following the announcement by Ganduje that he was splitting the Kano Emirates into five to “take Kano to the next level”, I sent HH Sanusi ll a ‘my thoughts and prayers are with you’ message and ended it by enclosing a piece that was being circulated on WhatsApp at the time. “I don’t agree with the entire content but there is a lot in the piece that I agree with”, I ended my terse mail. Incidentally, the message remains on a few websites but none indicate the writer’s name. Before I come to what HH Sanusi ll said on 10th May 2019, let me first share the WhatsApp message I forwarded to him: “If the man formerly known as Sanusi Lamido Sanusi had carried out a dispassionate SWOT analysis on his good self, he would have opted for a political career instead of ascending the throne of his ancestors. He is too imaginative and effusive to be a monarch because it is a system that inherently neither encourages, questions nor is open to innovation. That antiquated contraption will never allow the kind of thinking outside the box that he is so adept at. “The last place Nigeria’s former apex banker should be is under the travel restriction of a Local Government Chairman or being blackmailed to have the Kano Emirate decentralized by a hapless State House of Assembly. It is however not easy to be a victim of circumstances, especially if you helped in creating those circumstances in the first place. The ascendancy of the current Emir of Kano was against the backdrop of high wire politicking as he is unapologetically a Kwankwasiyya loyalist. What are the real intentions of Governor Ganduje towards His Royal Highness: Just clipping the emir’s wings or removing him? “Whatever it is, Ganduje is not inspired by good governance or probity. The governor is motivated for political reasons, the revenge kind that would have extensive collateral damage on him whenever he vacates office. No doubt, the petition by Messrs Ibrahim Salisu & Chambers submitted to the state parliament to review

Sanusi the extant law establishing the Kano emirate as the sole royal stool in Nigeria’s most populous state has Ganduje’s finger prints all over it. As if seeking to decentralize the emirate is not enough, the governor has also gone for the jugular. The Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission have reopened the probe into the emirate’s finances started and suspended two years ago. Perhaps for the first time in his illustrious life, the emir is now lost on his usual pinstripe quotations from Johann Wolfgang von Goethe to Friedrich Nietzsche as the governor ruthlessly brutalizes the scion of the Sullubawa ruling house with an abundance of Niccolo Machiavelli. “The million Naira question is: Who will blink first between the economist and the governor? By exchanging his trademark bow tie for a full blown turban, the emir precariously took the route to involuntary self-abdication by voluntary devaluation. From hobnobbing with development economists and investment bankers, his days are now spent listening to idle royal gossip, intervening between bickering courtiers and surviving palace intrigues. For such a maverick once known in banking circles as ‘Sanusi Tsunami’ to become a victim of pedestrian political machinations is a bad Humpty Dumpty fall for somebody who in 2011 was eminently listed among TIME magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in the World. If there is ever a Northern First Eleven, the emir would be its most valuable center-forward. This is somebody that has all the attributes of a president. He has the clout and capacity to reinvent Nigeria if he had jumped into the political fray. It is very difficult for me to discern how blue bloods think. “That is why I am unsympathetic to the present plight of His Highness. The throne of Kano cannot be said to be on the same pedestal as the President of Nigeria. As a red blooded commoner, I sincerely believe the man formerly known as Sanusi Lamido

Sanusi would have impacted Kano much more positively on national assignment rather than as emir. My reason? He has a sufficiency of imagination that would have facilitated the return of Kano’s famous Groundnut Pyramids among other more sustainable ‘Next Level’ accomplishments across Nigeria he would have initiated. Regrettably, he is now under the mercy of an executive Hyperbolus far below his peer in all ramifications but well-armed with the 1999 Constitution and an awful lot of grievance. What an irony!” Now, here is the response by HH Sanusi ll, although I have removed some parts that would be unhelpful to publish, especially at a time like this: “My brother, thank you. I appreciate this. People forget history. In the 80s, the late Abubakar Rimi did this same thing to Ado Bayero, creating five new emirates (four out of Kano and one out of Hadejia) in the old Kano State to humiliate the emirs of Kano and Hadejia, both of whom he accused of being sympathizers of the then ruling National Party of Nigeria (NPN) without any evidence. What happened? A short while later, Rimi was voted out of office and Sabo Bakin Zuwo cancelled all the ‘emirates’ at his swearing in ceremony. We just need patience and to hold on to principle. “In a sense, there is a lot of good in this; only that people are thinking about today and not how history will record it. For those of us who come from families with a history, we are more interested in how future generations will see us than in the petty tribulations that fate inflicts upon us… “Whichever way this turns out, I am not a loser and Insha Allah, justice will be done. My only crime was working hard to see we had a peaceful and credible election and condemning rigging and the use of thugs and police to disenfranchise my people and deny them their legitimate choice. In other words, my crime was asking politicians to play by the rules they themselves had set… “But ultimately my life is always a tragedy in the Hegelian sense of two mutually justifiable lines of action. I had the choice to watch in silence as thugs mowed down and intimidated my people… “This would have given me peace with government and even praise and financial support. The other option was to speak up and risk their wrath and harassment and even removal. There is an argument for both. In one, I sacrifice my throne possibly. In the other, I sacrifice my soul and my conscience. Since I place greater value on my soul than my throne, then for me the choice is clear. So, fate never really happens to us. We help it along, we tempt it, we play into its hands. If you stand for what you think is right in the midst of madness, your fate is already determined as one of great discomfort and pain. That really is the true meaning of the tragedy of life- as far back as Aeschylus, Sophocles and Euripides. We are living in history and making history as we live. Thank you my brother. We speak soon. MSII.”

ENDNOTE: It would seem from the foregoing that HH Sanusi ll prefigured the fate that has now befallen him. Like the great heroes of ancient Greek tragedy, his fall can be attributed to the road he did not travel and the choices he consciously made. He shunned the route of partisan politics and the pursuit of elected executive positions where his brilliance and sagacity would have served the greater good of the people. Instead, he chose to fulfil a hereditary obligation. But he is also smart enough to know the constraints of subordinating his lofty ideals to some custodians of local state authority. It is this latter choice, and the inherent contradictions therein, that have toppled him from the position of Emir of Kano. However, there is also an issue about abuse of power that will be a subject of interrogation another day. Despite the monumental challenges that plague Kano State, the governor has for weeks preoccupied his entire government with how to settle personal scores with a traditional ruler. But whatever may be the current travails of the deposed emir, not even Ganduje can legislate for tomorrow. Besides, the ideas and ideals that propel HH Sanusi ll cannot die with the termination of what is really no more than a local titular stool, however important it may have been to him. All factors considered, I have a hunch that for HH Muhammadu Sanusi ll, this is simply the close of a chapter. Definitely not the end of the book!

Sex for Grades Education Minister, Mallam Adamu Adamu, who described sexual harassment in tertiary institutions as “the worst form of corruption” because of its implications on the future of our girls and women, will deliver the keynote speech at the public presentation of my book, ‘NAKED ABUSE: Sex for Grades in African Universities’ at the Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja on Tuesday 31st March. The event will be chaired by Senator Daisy Danjuma while the First Lady of Kaduna State, Mrs Hadiza Isma El-Rufai will present the book after a review by Ms Maupe Ogun-Yusuf of Channels Television. The First Lady of Ekiti State, Mrs Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi, who wrote the foreword to the book, will also be in attendance along with renowned educationist, Mrs Yoyinsola Makanjuola and several other eminent personalities as we begin a conversation on a serious social problem now prevalent on the continent.

Ofeimum at 70

Respected writer and one of Nigeria’s foremost poets, Mr Odia Ofeimum will be 70 this coming Monday. I join his numerous admirers (of which I am one) in wishing happy birthday to a man who uses words not only to illuminate the darkness of our national existence but also to fire our imagination about endless possibilities for renewal if only we are ready to make the requisite sacrifice.

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