TUESDAY 30TH MARCH 2021

Seplat Blazes Trail, Issues Historic $650m Five-year Bond Becomes largest-ever Nigerian oil and gas bond issuer Goddy Egene Seplat Petroleum Development Company Plc (Seplat), a leading Nigerian independent energy company listed on both

the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) and the London Stock Exchange (LSE), has priced its offering of $650 million in an aggregate principal amount of senior notes due 2026 (the

notes).

The notes were priced at a yield of 7.75 per cent, representing a significant pricing reduction from its $350 million debut issuance in 2018,

which priced at a yield of 9.50 per cent, with a coupon of 9.25 per cent. The size represents the largest ever Nigerian oil and gas bond issuance.

The offering was

oversubscribed with demand from 120 global investors from more than 20 countries resulting in a final overbook Continued on page 8

Buhari, Sylva, Barkindo Tip Gas as Economic Growth Driver... Page 6

CEO, Roger Brown

Tuesday 30 March, 2021 Vol 26. No 9487. Price: N250

www.thisdaylive.com TR

UT H

& RE A S O

N

Bandits, Kidnappers Funding Insurgency, Says Fayemi... Page 5

Buhari: Nigeria Better, Stronger as One Indivisible Nation Osinbajo, Ganduje, harp on essence of unity in diversity Tinubu seeks stimulus, jobs in security sector for youths

Deji Elumoye in Abuja and Ibrahim Shuaibu in Kano President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday canvassed the need for Nigeria to remain as an indivisible entity despite its diversity, saying that way, it will be a better and stronger nation.

The president also dismissed agitation for breaking up

Nigeria and restated his administration’s commitment to keeping the country as one.

Buhari, in a speech he delivered virtually at a colloquium in Kano to mark the 69th birthday anniversary of the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Bola Tinubu, Continued on page 8

Attahiru Outlines Plans to Rebuild Army Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, yesterday committed himself to rebuilding the army by procuring fighting equipment and rebuilding the fighting skills, capacity, confidence and morale of officers and soldiers.

Attahiru said the army would soon receive equipment and other combat enablers expected to boost its operations and contain the use of Improvised Explosive Devices (IDPs) by insurgents, which

has impeded troops' capacity to combat insurgency.

He stated that his administration will prioritise training, leadership development and welfare of personnel in order to produce "innovative commanders of the 21st century."

Attahiru, at the opening ceremony of the Combined Chief of Army Staff First Quarter Conference and the Nigerian Army Operations retreat in Abuja, said the army under his watch would Continued on page 8

LEAVING THE TARMAC...

Chairman, Coronation Capital Limited, Mr. Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, during the virtual global launch of his book, Leaving The Tarmac: Buying a Bank in Africa, in Lagos…yesterday

Buhari Leaves for Routine Medical Check-up in UK Today...Page 9

2

TUESDAY MARCH 30, 2021 • T H I S D AY

TUESDAY MARCH 30, 2021 • T H I S D AY

3

4

TUESDAY MARCH 30, 2021 • T H I S D AY

5

TUESDAY, ͻ͸˜ ͺ͸ͺ͹ ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

Group News Editor Ejiofor Alike Email Ejiofor.Alike@thisdaylive.com, 08066066268

Bandits, Kidnappers Funding Insurgency, Says Fayemi FG to prepare supplementary budget for arms purchase

Deji Elumoye in Abuja Ekiti State Governor and Chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF), Dr. Kayode Fayemi, yesterday drew a linkage between the insurgency in the North-east and the insecurity in the North-west and the Southwest, explaining that the proceeds of banditry and kidnapping are being used to sustain the insurgency.

Fayemi told journalists yesterday after a closeddoor meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the State House, Abuja that there is a direct correlation between Boko Haram insurgency and banditry as well as kidnapping in certain areas in the country.

He said: "There is a direct correlation between insurgency in the North-east and what we are seeing manifesting itself as banditry in the North-west or kidnapping in the South-west.

Some of the people involved in these are also the ones responsible for insurgency.

"They are using the resources that they make from kidnapping for the activities that they are conducting in the North-east. So, we need to take a comprehensive look at all these things and not treat them in compartments. We must treat them as a comprehensive issue and then tackle them collectively."

According to him, the security challenges facing the country could not be solved by only military action.

"I don't think we are naive

enough to think that it's simply a military action that will resolve all these security challenges,” he said.

He stated that the challenges have root causes, which require political will and political action to deal with the poverty, inequality, the disconnections between the youth and the government.

He said some of these challenges pushed the youth into harm's way and into becoming cannon fodder for those who didn’t have the interest of the country at heart and were ready to destroy the country.

Fayemi added that Buhari had assured him that a supplementary budget would soon be sent to the National Assembly for the procurement of additional equipment to address the security situation in the country.

He said: "I can tell you and I don't think I'll be breaching any confidence that one of the good news I came away with from the president now on this issue is that he's already informed the National Assembly that they will be receiving a special request from him on procurement of equipment on an accelerated basis for our security services, because that was one of the issues that we put before him and he was very categorical that yes, we have a point, some of the equipment that had been procured are on the way, they haven't arrived, but they will soon arrive.

“There is also a need to buy

more equipment and he is going into government-togovernment partnership with a number of countries and that would necessitate an accelerated clearance from the National Assembly."

On autonomy for state judiciary and legislature, he said even though the state governors supported it, they opposed Buhari’s Executive

Order issued earlier on for the implementation.

He explained: "The principle of autonomy itself was not in contention; that governors agree, and indeed, very supportive of autonomy to the legislature and the judiciary.

But what we were working out is the framework.

"What we objected to at the time was what led to the

intervention of Mr. President, that the Chief of Staff should coordinate an exit from that logjam, was that we felt that these were issues that were constitutional in nature and we really did not need an executive order for us to achieve the collective wish of the president as well as the [federal] government.

"What the meeting that

you saw held focused on was the mechanics for achieving legislative autonomy and judicial autonomy and very soon you will hear the full details of that. In a matter of one or two weeks, we'll come out with the full entire gamut of the agreement that we had with the speakers and the representatives of the judiciary in states."

SIXTY-NINE HEARTY CHEERS...

National Leader, All Progressives Congress, Senator Bola Tinubu (left), and Kano State Governor, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, during the colloquium in celebration of Tinubu’s 69th birthday in Kano…yesterday

PDP Suspends Ex-Niger Gov, Aliyu, for Funding APC Chuks Okocha in Abuja The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Niger State has suspended a former governor of the state, Dr. Mu'azu Babangida Aliyu, for alleged anti-party activities, leading to cracks in the party since 2014.

In a communiqué issued at the end of an emergency stakeholders’ meeting in Minna, the state capital, yesterday, the

Chanchaga Local Area chapter of the party accused Aliyu of channelling N450 million to the All Progressives Congress (APC) to fund its 2015 electioneering, thus undermining the victories of the PDP, especially in the presidential and governorship elections in the state.

With the alleged funding of the APC, the PDP, in a statement, titled: “Notice of suspension of Dr. Mu'azu

Babangida Aliyu from the PDP, Chanchaga LGA,” accused the former governor of working against former President Goodluck Jonathan and the party’s governorship candidate in Niger State, Alhaji Umar Nasko.

The communiqué, given to journalists in Minna, also accused the former governor of causing disaffection within the party hierarchy even after several peace efforts.

The party also cited: “String and verifiable allegations of anti-party activities leading to cracks in the party since 2014 that led to the loss of government at the centre and the state levels. This includes disobedience to former President Goodluck Jonathan and working against his re-election success in 2015.”

Other allegations include: “Refusal to participate and attend party activities;

Undermining and working against the resolutions of party organs, especially the state caucus and causing division that has led to the inability of the party to resolve the issues surrounding the position of state legal adviser that has been unoccupied since 2015 in his own local government area.

“These and many others have led to the immediate suspension of Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu from the

Peoples Democratic Party in Chanchaga Local Government Area,” it said.

The meeting was attended by eight ward chairmen of the party out of the 11 wards in the LGA, as well as elders and party members from Chanchaga LGA. The communiqué added that the allegations levelled against Aliyu had been forwarded to him to respond within 14 days from the date of the meeting.

Traditional Rulers Pledge Neutrality on National Issues Ibrahim Shuaibu in Kano The National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria (NCTRC) has vowed to remain neutral on all national issues in order to promote peace, unity and progress in the country.

Sultan of Sokoto and the Chairman of the council, Alhaji Muhammad Sa'ad Abubakar III, in his opening remarks at the 12th General Assembly of the council, which started in Kano yesterday, said the unity of the country is paramount, and called on all the participants

to continue working towards bringing the country together.

"We want to assure all political leaders of our neutrality in whatever we do because we care for this country and our people. We will continue to help to stabilise this nation.

"Let the political leaders have confidence in this institution because we are here to support and help them and inshallah, this country will continue to grow stronger and stronger and become united," he said.

He called on Nigerians to

accept the fact that COVID-19 is real and observe the protocols stipulated by the government and its agencies.

He also urged Nigerians to accept the vaccination to assist the country in ending the pandemic.

Declaring the assembly open, the Kano State Governor Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, thanked the monarchs for allowing Kano to host this year's general assembly at a time when peaceful coexistence, unity of the country and elimination of the COVID-19 pandemic

is important.

"This assembly has come at a time when our country, particularly the Northern region, has been faced with enormous security challenges in spite of the measures initiated by the government at various levels to check the menace and trend at which the crime is committed.

"Therefore, this informed the need for the royal fathers here present to focus much attention on scouting the remedies for this serious menace," he said.

According to him, Kano is

spared the menace of insecurity, adding that the relative peace enjoyed in the state is not by accident but the commitment of his administration to prevent any anticipated criminality.

However, the hazy weather, which resulted in poor visibility in Kano State prevented many important personalities from attending the event.

Some of those who could not make it were the special guest of honour and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Boss Mustapha; Co-chairman of the event, Ooni

of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi; Minister of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, Senator George Akume as well as Health Minister, Dr. Osagie Ehanire.

The 12th general assembly with the themes: “Imperative of unity, peace and development: The role of traditional rulers,” and “COVID-19: The role of traditional rulers for successful vaccination and prevention,” drew its participants from monarchs from the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory.

6

TUESDAY, ͻ͸˜ ͺ͸ͺ͹ ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

Buhari, Sylva, Barkindo Tip Gas as Economic Growth Driver

NLNG generates over $156bn Nigeria to play role in new world energy order, says Kyari

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja and Peter Uzoho in Lagos President Muhammadu Buhari; Minister of State, Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva; and the Secretary-General, Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), Dr. Sanusi Barkindo, yesterday underscored the need to drive the country’s economic development by tapping Nigeria’s enormous gas resources.

The president, who virtually launched “The Decade of Gas in Nigeria,” at the Nigeria International Petroleum Summit (NIPS), held in Abuja said given the country’s potential of about 600 trillion cubic feet of gas, the commodity has the capacity to diversify Nigeria’s economy if deployed appropriately.

He pledged that his administration would fully utilise the enormous gas resources in the country to grow the economy and drive industrialisation within 10 years.

According to him, the rising global demand for cleaner energy sources has offered Nigeria an opportunity to exploit gas resources for the good of the country and the government intends to seize the opportunity.

He said his administration had prioritised gas development and recorded remarkable progress, adding that Nigeria is a gas nation with a little oil, but the country has focused on oil over the years.

He said: ''Before the declaration of Year 2020 as The Year of Gas, this administration had shown commitment to the development of Nigeria’s vast gas resources and strengthening of the gas value chain by reviewing and gazetting policies and regulations to enhance operations in the sector as encapsulated in the National Gas Policy of 2017. ''Our major objective for the gas sector is to transform Nigeria into an industrialised nation with gas playing a major role and we demonstrated this through

enhanced accelerated gas revolution.''

Buhari added that Nigeria has consistently focused on crude oil to the detriment of its gas resources.

According to the president, Nigeria must take advantage of its vast gas resources and strengthen the gas value chain by reviewing and gazetting policies and regulations to enhance operations in the sector as encapsulated in the national gas policy of 2017.

Buhari listed the commercialisation of gas flares, development of industrial and transport gas markets and increasing gas to power as some of the ways the country is taking advantage of the commodity.

He listed projects like the National Gas Expansion Programme, autogas policy and the construction of the 614km Ajaokuta-KadunaKano gas pipeline as other ways Nigeria is deploying its huge gas potential. ‘‘After a thorough review of these laudable achievements and successes in the gas space, we acknowledge that Nigeria still has more work to do in the gas space.

‘‘This has led the federal government to begin a more proactive push towards gas development. This initiative will ensure further optimal exploitation and utilisation of the country’s vast gas resources,” the president stated.

He said Nigeria LNG, which contributes about one per cent to GDP, generated $114 billion in revenues over the years, $9 billion in taxes, $18 billion in dividends to the federal government and $15 billion in feed gas purchase.

These achievements, he added, were accomplished with 100 per cent Nigerian management and 95 per cent Nigerian workforce.

In his remarks, Sylva stated that Nigeria’s gas resources are the most extensive in Africa and in the top 10 globally.

He, however, lamented that in the area of domestic utilisation of gas to power the economy, there was a chronic shortage.

He said despite COVID-19, a venture partnership between the federal government and international oil majors closed a deal on its $6 billion Train 7 gas

expansion project expected to lift the country’s LNG output by more than 30 per cent.

The minister stated that the Ajaokuta-KadunaKano (AKK) pipeline, a 614-kilometre-long natural gas project estimated to cost $2.8 billion, was also kick-started as a response to the infrastructural deficit in the gas sector.

Sylva added that in 2020, Nigeria’s gasflare commercialisation programme, a deliberate strategy to focus on natural gas shortlisted 200 companies to bid for the development of 45 gas flare sites.

Also, the Nigerian Gas Transportation Network Code, which aims at enhancing the availability and affordability of domestic gas was launched to create guidelines for agreements between gas sellers, transporters and buyers.

Barkindo expressed the joy that the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) that seeks to reform Nigeria’s oil and gas industry is being considered by the National Assembly for passage into law.

He reiterated that oil and gas are still expected to make up over 50 per cent of the

global energy mix forecast period in 2045 according to OPEC projections.

“In fact, global primary energy demand is set to increase by 25 per cent in the period to 2045. The world needs more energy and Nigeria, as a reliable and dependable supplier of hydrocarbons to global markets, has a key role to play in this regard,” he said.

According to him, at the same time, there is the ongoing energy transition and the need to achieve it in a sustainable way, balancing the needs of people in relation to their social welfare, the economy, and the environment.

“In the oil sector alone, upstream oil capital expenditure could fall by more than 30 per cent in 2020, a shrill wake-up call, exceeding the annual dramatic declines seen in the severe industry downturn in 2015 and 2016," he added.

Group Managing Director, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mr. Mele Kyari, in his welcome address, said the pre-summit conference was coming at the most crucial time, as the world transits to cleaner

energy, and Nigeria is set to play a strategic role in the new world energy order.

Kyari stated that technology and innovation are facilitating a new global energy order aimed at decarbonising the world and safeguarding the climate.

He added that renewable energy sources such as solar and wind, which would be key components of the new energy mix, are largely influenced by seasons and are non-transportable to demand centres where they are in short supply.

According to him, Nigeria as a gas nation with over 203 trillion standard cubic feet (tscf) of proven gas reserves, is monetising the huge gas resources spurred by numerous policy and industry interventions since 2016.

This, he stated, culminated in the declaration of 2020 as the year of gas and progressing into the decade of gas from 2021.

Kyari stated that NNPC and its partners have embarked on some strategic projects to deepen delivery of gas to the domestic market and elevate the build-up of greater potentials for export.

FOR HEALTHY LAGOS...

L-R: Wife of Lagos State deputy governor, Mrs. Oluremi Hamzat; wife of the governor, Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu; Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi; and Chairman, Lagos State Health Management Agency (LASHMA), Dr. Adetokunbo Alakija, at the official launch of Ilera Eko Day Health Scheme, in Lagos…yesterday etop ukutt

JTF: 1,291 Attempts to Sabotage Oil Export Pipelines Foiled The immediate-past Commander of the Joint Task Force (JTF) in the Niger Delta, Rear Admiral Akinjide Akinrinade (rtd.), yesterday said the security outfit foiled 1,291 attacks on three crude export pipelines in the past two years.

Akinrinade stated that a total of 1,603 sabotage incidents were reported on the export trunk lines under the watch of the JTF. He spoke when he handed over affairs to his successor in

Yenagoa, Bayelsa State capital.

The pipelines - Trans Niger Pipeline (TNP), Trans Ramos Pipeline (TRP) and Trans Escravos Pipelines (TEP) are operated by Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC).

The former commander said the joint task force achieved the feat through kinetic and non-kinetic operations, which created a conducive environment for the oil and gas industry to operate.

He stated: “From January 2019 to date, the JF averted 1,291 out of 1,603 of the attempted infractions on SPDC’s major export lines that is Trans Niger Pipeline (TNP), Trans Ramos Pipeline (TRP) and Trans Escravos Pipelines (TEP).

“The number of aversions accounts for 85 per cent of the total attempts.

“These efforts have ensured that major export pipelines, marginal and infield lines are 97 per cent available and

functional which facilitate the evacuation of crude oil and gas to designated export terminals.

“The force demobilised about 2,859 illegally refinery sites, over 4,812 storage facilities, 905 Cotonou boats and other illegal bunkering ancillaries.

“Also, more than 681 suspected oil thieves, 38 vessels, 44 barges, 38 trucks and other vehicles were also arrested/impounded.

Additionally, about 51,078.32

metric tonnes of stolen crude oil and 57,114.146MT of illegally refined products were handled appropriately.”

He added that the JTF demobilised 297 militant camps and recovered about 121 assorted weapons and amicably resolved about 158 Corporate Social R e s p o n s i b i l i t y - re l a t e d disputes involving oil firms notably SEEPCO, SPDC, AITEO, Neconde and NAOC with their host communities.

The new Commander, Rear

Admiral Aminu Hassan, thanked Akinrinade for leaving for him a good legacy.

He said: “The highlighted achievements of the joint force under your watch are quite overwhelming. This can only be attributed to the laudable leadership, professionalism and experience you brought to bear as a commander.

“It looks intricate for us to surpass these achievements, but we will do our best to maintain the standard you already established."

TUESDAY MARCH 30, 2021 • T H I S D AY

7

8

TUESDAY, ͻ͸˜ ͺ͸ͺ͹ ˾ T H I S D AY

PAGE EIGHT BUHARI: NIGERIA BETTER, STRONGER AS ONE INDIVISIBLE NATION described the celebrant as a consistent advocate of unity and cohesion in the country.

Like the president, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo; Kano State Governor, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje; and Tinubu also harped on the need for unity and national integration.

Buhari said: “Despite occasional inter-ethnic tensions in our national history, it seems to me that we have all agreed on one point that, notwithstanding our diversity of ethnicity, culture, language and religion, Nigerians are better together; even stronger together."

According to him, his experience of working in all parts of the country showed possibilities of a strong, united nation.

“I can also relate personally to the ideals of one Nigeria. As a military officer, I have served with great comrades from all the nooks and crannies of our country. I have seen over and over again that their goodness or failings did not depend on ethnicity or religion. In the course of my career, I have also been opportune to serve in all parts of Nigeria, seeing first-hand, the enticing possibilities of a strong, united nation,” he said.

He referred to the civil war in which he fought as a young officer and commander and warned of the horrors of war.

“I fought for the unity of Nigeria during the civil war of 1967 to 1970, and I saw first-hand the unspeakable horrors of war, not just on fellow soldiers on both sides, but on the civilians: innocent children, women and elderly citizens that they left behind,” he recounted, adding: “As we all know, the peace-building, recovery and reconstruction that followed could also not have succeeded under an atmosphere of inter-ethnic

animosity.”

Buhari asked Nigerians to count their blessings and see in them the crucial factors of peace and unity.

According to him, “Our very best course of conduct both as leaders and citizens is to now ensure that justice and harmony reign in Nigeria till we devote the resources of our country solely for its development and benefits of our citizens and, in the process, ensure that every Nigerian feel comfortable in every part of Nigeria.

“We all have a stake in the Nigerian project and while playing our respective parts in its unity, peace and progress, we must constantly keep faith with the promise of a greater Nigeria.”

Buhari paid tribute to Tinubu, saying he has been a consistent politician since he ventured into politics during the aborted Third Republic.

He said: "This has been a constant factor in his outstanding political career, from the time he served in the short-lived Senate of the Third Republic to his involvement in the struggle for the actualisation of the June 12 mandate of the late Chief MKO Abiola, to his much-acclaimed period of service as governor of Lagos State from 1999 to 2007.

“The ranks of Asiwaju’s political collaborators, whether as party members, comrades in the struggle, members of his cabinet, or his advisers, assistants and political associates have always reflected a panNigeria attitude. I believe all of us here can also confirm that the same outlook of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and other like-minded Nigerians eventually made possible the coalition of four political parties into what we now see as our great party, the All Progressives Congress.”

He noted that the objectives of the 12th

edition of the annual colloquium, which seeks to provide answers to national issues, reflect the personal principles of Tinubu in promoting the unity and welfare of the country.

He stated that the colloquium is a fitting reflection of the service that Tinubu has given, not only to Lagos State but to Nigeria and Africa; as well as his continuing commitment and influence, as one of the great pillars of the APC. Buhari also gave kudos to all those who have kept the colloquium culture alive, making it a rich source of wisdom in the common quest for a better world and a greater Nigeria.

Osinbajo urged those calling for Nigeria to break up to have a rethink, saying that now is an opportunity to increase the number of a new tribe of men and women of all faiths, ethnicities committed to a country run on high values of integrity, hard work, justice, and love of country.

He said the new tribe of people should consist of professionals, businessmen, politicians, religious leaders and all others who believe that the new Nigeria is possible.

He warned that if Nigeria breaks up, visas may be needed to travel to places like Kano.

The vice president said: ''For the purveyors of breaking-up into small components, into small countries, perhaps they should be reminded that we would not have been able to accept Governor Ganduje’s offer to come to Kano at a short notice since we would all have needed visas to come to Kano. ''We are here today to engage at another of those crucial points in our national journey at a time when a combination of challenges worsened by the fallouts of a global pandemic has

created a storm of socioeconomic problems. The default mode of some at times like this is to stoke tendencies viewpoints and opinions that threaten the federation and our unity. ''Our theme focuses on peacebuilding and national cohesion. We intend to interrogate from a national and regional perspective innovative strategies for sustaining peace, and prosperity in a heterogeneous society.''

The vice president said the initial plan was to hold a virtual event but Ganduje offered to host a physical one to run alongside the virtual one.

"By this gesture, Governor Ganduje has helped us to tell two stories; this is the first time that the colloquium is being hosted outside Lagos and Abuja, the [federal] capital city. And it is befitting that Kano should be that place, this city of radical and progressive ideas and ideologies, a city whose leading political lights have been left off the centre, which is the dominant tendency within our great part, the APC," he stated.

Osinbajo eulogised Tinubu for his leadership style.

"Tinubu has become an institution in the country because he has paid his dues politically and has continued to do both in-kind and action," he stated.

According to him, Tinubu's leadership style is such that he is comfortable engaging across ethnic, religious, and partisan divides.

In his remarks, Tinubu stressed the need for peaceful co-existence among Nigerians and praised Ganduje for championing the cause of national cohesion by allowing his daughter to marry a Yoruba.

Ganduje’s daughter, Fatima, is married to Abolaji, the son of a former governor of Oyo State, the late Senator

Abiola Ajimobi.

According to him, for Ganduje, a Fulani man to give out his daughter to a Yoruba man was an indication of his belief in Nigeria’s unity.

He said Nigerians are better off together, faulting secessionists groups’ agitations.

He said: “Why are we in Kano? It is to demonstrate to Nigerians at this critical time. It is because there is a Fulani man, a herder man who gave his daughter to a farmer, Yoruba man. And that Fulani, that Yoruba and some people are agitating wrongly.

“If we can encourage support to go and spend a couple of days with my brother an in-law in Kano and demonstrate that he has not quarrelled with me, he has not seceded from Nigeria, I didn’t need a passport or visa to get to Kano, maybe others will have peace of conscience, live in peace and harmony and be loving to one another.

That is what Ganduje and I are showing to Nigerians and that is the purpose of this colloquium.”

Tinubu also urged Buhari and the National Assembly to end austerity measures and introduce stimulus expenditure.

He cited the recent stimulus package by the United States to reflate its economy in view of the devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the world and also lamented Nigeria’s unemployment rate.

"Your own unemployment rate is 33 per cent and you ask us to keep on fasting.

The one we are fasting spiritually is involuntary.

We have been fasting for so many years," he said.

He added that since sovereignty belongs to Nigeria, only the federal government has the sovereign power and must

use it to improve the quality of life of Nigerians.

The celebrator also called on the government to employ more youths in the security sector.

"We are under-policed and are competing with armed robbers and bandits to recruit from the youths who are unemployed."

Tinubu advised the Federal Government to recruit at least 50 million youths into the Army to aid the fight against insecurity.

“Recruit 50 million youths into the army,” he stated, adding that “what they will eat — cassava, corn, yam, will grow here.”

He said the recruitment process should not emphasise education or literacy but willingness to fight criminals.

"Don't call them illiterate; anybody that can handle guns is capable of handling tractors on the farm. We can create the jobs," he said.

Ganduje said national integration was low and called on Nigerians to rededicate themselves to national unity.

"The theme of this year's colloquium has exposed the level of national integration. The level of national integration is very low if a study would be conducted. It is a challenge to the politicians, elites and even ordinary Nigerians to come together to strive for national integration," Ganduje said.

The governor stated that unless Nigerians are committed to change the situation, tribalism, religion, ethnicity, sectionalism, suspicion, among others, would bring the country down.

Ganduje commended Buhari for his commitment to keeping Nigeria peaceful and united, noting that the president could not do it alone as he needed the cooperation and support of all the citizens.

second and third quarters of the year would be training.

I will ensure that through functional training, officers and soldiers of the Nigerian Army are equipped with the right competence and skills to effectively undertake missions in addition to developing special operations forces."

This, he added, would be closely followed by procurement that ensures appropriate kitting and provision of protective gear, weapons, equipment and platforms.

He reiterated that troops’ welfare will also be given paramount attention.

"Let me, however, remind

you all that while no effort will be spared in achieving these goals, it is command's responsibility to ensure the sustenance and maintenance of all equipment while measures must be emplaced to ensure sound administration of troops and their families," he said.

Attahiru commended officers and soldiers at the frontlines for the sacrifices they have made so far.

The army chief said he would unveil his 2021 Strategic Plan and give directives on his expectations from personnel.

He said the retreat would enable the army leadership

to chart a new road map to confront security challenges facing the nation.

He thanked Buhari for the support given the military and pledged the army's loyalty to the constitution and the president.

ATTAHIRU OUTLINES PLANS TO REBUILD ARMY be decisive and resolute in dealing with security threats.

"I have directed that serious attention must be given to sustaining and improving the tempo in all ongoing Nigerian Army operations across the country," he said.

Attahiru said in line with President Muhammadu Buhari's directive to end the insurgency war, he has developed a command philosophy titled: “A Nigerian Army that is repositioned to professionally defeat all adversaries in joint environment.”

He declared: "Commanders must, therefore, glean from my command philosophy to ensure that operational and administrative proficiencies of Nigerian Army formations and units are sustained and improved upon in line with the president’s directive and my intent to rebuild the Nigerian Army into a formidable force.

"To breathe life into this vision, I released my philosophy of command which has readiness, capacity, continuous leadership development and duty to country as cardinal pillars.”

He said readiness entailed mission-oriented training, functional manning and equipping while capacity would be built on the dependability of the Nigerian Army to accomplish any mission in line with norms enshrined in its core values and ethics.

He added that continuous leadership development on its own will ensure that the Nigerian Army continues to roll out innovative 21st century commanders, who will make sacrifices to the fatherland and remain loyal.

"As formation commanders and principal staff officers, your role is critical to the attainment of my vision.

"Therefore, I implore all of you to immediately key into the vision so that together, we can take the Nigerian Army to greater heights," he said.

Attahiru said the retreat would provide the army high command "a platform to reassess the threat environment and review our operations with a view to identifying gaps that could be addressed in the planning and conduct of future operations."

On equipment, Attahiru said the army would soon receive combat equipment

in order to boost its operations, adding that he has approved the purchase of spare parts for some equipment in need of repairs.

"As I speak, we will soon be receiving combat enablers that would enhance and boost our operations.

Concerted effort is also being made to eliminate the threat of improvised explosive devices which has been a major impediment to troops and our operations in Operation Lafiya Dole.

"Again, in order to increase our operational capabilities, I have approved the purchase of spare parts and directed that damaged and unserviceable equipment in the theater be back-loaded for immediate repairs," he said.

He stated that his administration was determined to rebuild fighting skills and capacity in addition to boosting the morale of personnel.

The COAS said: "I want to assure you that I am determined in rebuilding the fighting skills, capacity, confidence and morale of our troops across the various theatres of operations.

"In order to achieve this, my top priorities for the

SEPLAT BLAZES TRAIL, ISSUES HISTORIC $650M FIVE-YEAR BOND in excess of $1.1 billion, which was 1.7 times book coverage.

Orders came from high-quality institutional investors with long-term commitments to Seplat as well as new institutional investors. The transaction was well received in the market and traded above par post-pricing.

The transaction shows confidence by the international market in the Nigerian economy and the oil and gas sector, with some

of the investors committing to the transaction based on the strong gas story of Seplat.

The Global Coordinators on the transaction are Citi, J.P. Morgan, Standard Bank and Standard Chartered Bank, with Natixis, Rand Merchant Bank and Société Générale acting as joint book-runners and FCMB Capital Markets, Nedbank, United Bank for Africa and Zenith Bank Plc acting as co-managers.

TOP GAINERS COURTVILLE CUSTODIAN LINKASSURE CAVERTON JAIZBANK TOP LOSERS CORNERSTONE OANDO HONEYWELL

NGN NGN 0.02 0.22 0.60 6.60 0.05 0.56 0.18 2.07 0.05 0.64 NGN 0.06 0.55 0.20 3.10 0.06 1.18 PZCUSSONS 0.15 4.85 FCMB 0.08 2.90 HPE Nestle Nig Plc ₦1,375.00 Volume: 522.174 million shares Value: N10.651 billion Deals: 4,566 As at yesterday 29/3/2021 See details on Page 29

% 10 10 9.8 9.5 8.4 % 9.8 6.0 4.8 3.0 2.6

TUESDAY, ͻ͸˜ ͺ͸ͺ͹ ˾ T H I S D AY

9

NEWS

Buhari Leaves for Routine Medical Check-up in UK Today Expected back by mid-April Deji Elumoye in Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari

will today leave Abuja for London, the United Kingdom for a routine medical check-up.

The Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the President, Mr. Femi Adesina,

who disclosed this in a statement, last night, said the president will first meet with

security chiefs in the morning, after which he will embark on the journey.

He is due back in the country in the second week of April 2021.

Aig-Imoukhuede Commits Book Sales’ Proceeds to Healthcare Devt Wigwe, Sanusi, others eulogise former Access Bank CEO Dike Onwuamaeze The former Chief Executive Officer of Access Bank Plc, Mr. Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, has pledged to dedicate the proceeds from the sale of his book, “Leaving the Tarmac: Buying a Bank in Africa,” to the development of primary healthcare facilities in Nigeria.

Aig-Imoukhuede, during the virtual launch of the book yesterday also called on wealthy Nigerians to join hands in fixing the challenges facing the country.

He said: “Proceeds from the sale of my book will be channelled to adopted healthcare facility programmes.

“It takes a nation’s own people to fix its problems, so what are we waiting for? Let’s join forces and become partners in the business of saving lives.

“It has become evident to Nigerians that our PHC system must be improved urgently otherwise, our people may continue to die needlessly.”

He said he would dedicate his post-banking years to championing the course of strengthening the primary healthcare system in partnership with others.

He added that he has teamed up with the Chairman of the Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote and the Founder of the Zenith Bank Plc, Mr. Jim Ovia, among others, under the Private Sector Health Alliance of Nigeria, to establish a chain of primary healthcare centres across each of Nigeria’s 774 local governments.

The PHCs are to provide low-cost healthcare services at business standard to the

poor and the vulnerable.

“Doctors will adopt each healthcare centre and take responsibility for all aspects of its performance during the adoption period, which in the first instance is for five years,” he said, adding that the “multiimpact initiative has several benefits for Nigerians, including a reduction in mortality rate, the creation of new jobs, entrepreneurship and startup opportunities in true public sector accountability, female gender empowerment and increased uptake of health insurance.”

Aig-Imoukhuede said he established Access Bank with associates because of his entrepreneurial skills.

He stated: “If in your heart you want to work for yourself, you will not be happy working for someone else no matter how good the job or how highly respected is your employer might be.

I hope this story I have told would be an inspiration for young entrepreneurs who are stepping out with big dreams, big visions and high hopes.”

Aig-Imoukhuede's successor at Access Bank, Mr. Herbert Wigwe, said he had a strong career partnership with his predecessor that transformed into brotherhood.

He said: “Obviously, running a bank has tested our relationship, tested us professionally but for each of these tests, it has made us so much stronger. We have been through difficult times but we have been blessed with successful careers. He has retired but is still totally committed to the Access

Bank. And he remains my accountability partner.”

Similarly, a former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and deposed Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, said he admired the courage and principles Aig-Imoukhuede stood and stands for, that enabled him to position Access Bank as one of the leading banks in Africa.

Sanusi said he had known that the bank would go places in 2008 after looking at its books

a year before he became the CBN governor.

“It appeared to me that this is a forward-looking progressive bank … and I dubbed Access Bank the ‘bank of the future.’

And I was not proven wrong.

“The greatest contribution of Aig in my tenure as governor of the CBN was the decision to take over the Intercontinental Bank, which was a big bank with huge deposit base that had been so badly managed that nobody wanted to take

it. But it took a lot of courage and a lot of intelligence and strength in my view for Aig to take the decision and that decision has turned Access Bank into one of the biggest banks in the country and the African continent,” he added.

The President of the African Development Bank, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, said the book was written with brutal lucidity and honesty and contained “sound, practical and pragmatic principles that

were drawn out of the deep wells of personal experience, and inked with sincerity, honest rendition and transparency on what worked and did not worked, to help others.”

Director-General of the World Trade Organisation, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, recommended, “the book to all who want to get an inside view of what it takes to create and grow a successful business in Nigeria’s challenging but opportunity ridden business environment.”

LEGISLATIVE VISIT...

L-R: President Muhammadu Buhari; President of the Senate, Dr. Ahmad Lawan; and Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, during the legislators’ visit to the president in Abuja...yesterday godwin omoigui

AU, Johnson & Johnson Sign Agreement for 400m COVID-19 Vaccine Doses Obinna Chima The African Union (AU) and Johnson & Johnson have signed a historic COVID-19 vaccine procurement agreement for 400 million doses of the single-shot vaccine.

According to a statement yesterday, the vaccine procurement agreement signed on Sunday was expected to allow all AU Member States, through the African Vaccine Acquisition Trust (AVAT) set up last November 2020 under the chairmanship of President of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa, will have access to 220 million doses of the Johnson & Johnson single-shot COVID-19 vaccine, with the potential to order an additional 180 million doses.

Most of the supplies would be produced at the giant pharmaceutical manufacturing plant in South Africa operated

by Aspen Pharma.

The vaccines would be made

available to African countries through the African Medical Supplies Platform (AMSP), over a period of 18 months.

The statement revealed that Ramaphosa was expected to tour the facilities of Aspen Pharma in Port Elizabeth yesterday, with Johnson & Johnson Executives to inspect preparations for the production of vaccines. The production of vaccines at the facility would be a massive boost for jobs in South Africa.

The transaction was made possible through the $2 billion facility approved by the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), who also acted as Financial and Transaction Advisers, Guarantors, Installment Payment Advisers and Payment Agents.

“The successful conclusion of the Agreement was made possible by the support of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA)

and the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF), who supported the negotiation process with Johnson & Johnson.

UNICEF is also acting as procurement and logistics agent.

“The AVATT was supported in terms of advice on various aspects by the World Health Organisation (WHO),” it added.

Prior to the conclusion of the agreement with Johnson & Johnson, African Member States were asked to make pre-orders for the vaccines and many countries showed a strong preference for the vaccine.

The countries would be able to purchase the vaccines either using cash, or a facility from Afreximbank. Most countries have already completed their pre-orders.

The statement pointed out that the direct acquisition of vaccines by the African countries through the AVATT initiative was part of the continental

objective to achieve a minimum of 60 per cent immunisation of the African population, in order to eliminate COVID-19.

This target was in line with targets set in other regions such as Europe and the United States.

The international donor community had pledged to provide 27 per cent through the COVAX Initiative (which is coordinated by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) and the WHO), whilst Africa must find the rest. AVATT and COVAX work very closely together.

“This agreement is a significant milestone in protecting the health of all Africans. It is also a powerful demonstration of African unity and of what we can achieve through a partnership between the state sector, the private sector and international institutions that puts people first,” Ramaphosa said.

On his part, the President of Afreximbank, Prof. Benedict Oramah said: “Afreximbank is proud to be associated with this historic and collective effort.

In the midst of a very tight COVID-19 vaccine market, we are highly honoured to have been given the opportunity by the African Union to facilitate this impactful transaction under the auspices of the Africa Vaccine Acquisition Task Team (AVATT).

“Acting as Financial and Transaction Advisors, Guarantors, Instalment Payment Facility Arrangers and Payment Agents, we look forward to begin the deployment of the $2 billion Vaccine Procurement facility approved by the Bank's Board of Directors towards assisting the continent to begin to rid itself of the pandemic and rebuild its economy.

“This financing will support Intra-African Trade and we have already commenced engagement

with our financial partners to secure the additional funding that would support procurement if Africa decides to procure the additional 180 million doses.”

The Director of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), Dr. John Nkengasong, said: “The Africa CDC recommended to the African Union that a minimum of 750 million Africans (60%) must be immunised if we are to contain the spread of COVID-19.

“This transaction enables Africa to meet almost 50 per cent of that target. The key to this particular vaccine is that it is a single-shot vaccine which makes it easier to roll out quickly and effectively, thus saving lives.”

African Union Special Envoy signed, Mr. Strive Masiyiwa, signed for AVAT, while, Johnson & Johnson Special Envoy for COVID-19 vaccine, Mr. Jaak Peeters, signed on behalf of Johnson & Johnson.

10

TUESDAY MARCH 30, 2021 ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

UK, Nigeria Consolidate Defence Ties, Review Bi-lateral Agreements Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja Nigeria and the United Kingdom (UK) yesterday moved to consolidate defence ties between the two countries in the areas of training intelligence sharing and tactical inputs aimed at containing

security challenges in the country.

Minister of Defence, Major General Bashir Magashi (rtd), met yesterday in Abuja with the UK Minister for Armed Forces, Mr. James Heappe, to consolidate defence cooperation and review bi-lateral agreements aimed at

N’Assembly to Approve More Funds for Security Equipment, COVID-19Vaccine

expediting efforts to contain insurgency and other security challenges confronting Nigeria.

A statement issued by the Ministry of Defence, said both ministers “reviewed the existing bilateral agreements between the two countries with a view to working out a new framework of action to fast-

track actualisation of national aspirations to end insecurity bedeveling the country”.

Magashi said the defence cooperation between the two countries should be taken to a higher pedestal as Nigeria battles terrorism, banditry and kidnapping.

He said Nigerian military

had keyed into international best practices in combating violent extremism in the various theatres of operations in the country.

Magashi, who spoke while receiving the UK Defence Minister in his office, said the federal government appreciated the support of the

British government in building capacity and capabilities of the nation’s armed forces to be combat ready in dealing with threats by violent extremists.

In his remarks, the British Minister for Armed Forces, Heappe, commended Nigerian government’s efforts in tackling security threats.

To pass PIB latest by May Deji Elumoye in Abuja The leadership of the National Assembly yesterday evening gave an assurance that it would expedite action on supplementary budget for the procurement of security equipment and COVID-19 vaccine whenever it is presented before it by the Presidency.

It also informed that the age-long Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) which is at the point of its report being harmonised by both chambers of the National Assembly would be passed latest

by May, this year.

President of the Senate, Dr. Ahmad Lawan, in the company of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Femi Gbajabiamila, told journalists

after a closed-door meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the State House, Abuja, about the purpose of their visit saying “we have come to meet with Mr. President, to discuss issues of serious national concern, and one of those issues is the issue of supplementary budget.

“Both executive and legislative arms believe that we should have supplementary budget to provide for funding of the COVID-19 vaccination in Nigeria, as well as the security, providing more resources and platforms to our security agencies.”

He emphasised that the legislative arm would not hesitate to approve the 2021 supplementary budget of the Executive arm once it is sent to the Assembly.

FG, States’ Debt Profile Rises to N32.9tn Nigeria’s total public debt portfolio as at December 31, 2020, stood at N32.92 trillion, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), has revealed.

It made the revelation in its Nigerian Domestic and Foreign Debt report for Quarter Four, 2020, obtained from its website yesterday in Abuja.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the debt profile was for the states and the federal government.

According to the bureau, Nigeria’s total public debt showed that N12.71 trillion or 38.60 per cent of the debt was external, while N20.21 trillion or 61.40 per cent of the debt was domestic.

“Further disaggregation of Nigeria’s foreign debt showed

that 17.93 billion dollars of the debt was multilateral, 4.06 billion dollars was bilateral from the African Development Bank, Exim Bank of China, Japan International Cooperation Agency, India and KFW. “Meanwhile, 11.17 billion dollars was commercial which are Eurobonds and Diaspora Bonds and 186.70 million dollars as Promissory notes.”

The report said that the total States and Federal Capital Territory domestic debt was put at N4.19 trillion with Lagos State accounting for 12.15 per cent of the debt stock.

It added that Jigawa had the least debt stock in this category with a contribution of 0.74 per cent.

I am Not a Negotiator for Bandits, Says Gumi Kaduna-based Islamic scholar, Sheikh Ahmed Abubakar Gumi, said he was not a negotiator for bandits.

Gumi, who had on several occasions taken message of peace to bandits in the forests of Kaduna, Zamfara and Niger states, stated this in Kaduna yesterday while playing host to a former member of the National Assembly representing Kaduna Central, Senator Shehu Sani.

Sani visited him to seek the cleric’s assistance in the rescue of the 39 College students and eight members of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) who were kidnapped at the weekend.

The Sheikh however gave assurance that arrangements were ongoing through a

contact to secure release of the students of the Federal College of Forestry Mechanisation, Afaka, Kaduna who were kidnapped about 20 days ago in their hostel.

Gumi said: “As for the College students, we have done all we can do. In fact, I had a meeting with parents of the kidnapped students sequel to their meeting with the government.

“I showed them what the problem is and they went to visit government and returned.

“I am not a negotiator for bandits; we always ensured that government officials were present in our previous discussions with bandits in the forests, before the Federal Government’s shoot at sight order.

ALL EYES ON EXPORTS…

L-R: Vice Chairman of the Steering Committee and former Chief Executive Officer of Fidelity Bank, Mr. Nnamdi Okonkwo; Minister of State for Trade, Industry and Investment, Amb. Mariam Yalwaj Katagum; Minister of Trade, Industry and Investment, Mr. Niyi Adebayo; and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), Mr. Olusegun Awolowo, at the launch of the Export Expansion Facility Grant Management System and Export Development Fund in Abuja…yesterday

Alaafin Laments Release of Arrested Kidnappers By Police The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, has alleged that some Fulani people, who were arrested for kidnapping and handed over to the police were released in controversial circumstances, and lamented the way the police treated some cases involving some suspected criminals who are Fulani.

Speaking yesterday in Oyo when the Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abduraheed Akanbi, visited him in his palace, Oba Adeyemi also lamented that Nigeria is under a weak system.

“The system is no more working.

Nigeria’s system of government is failing most especially on security.

Security should not be under an exclusive legislative list.

“I’ve attended several fora where security issues were discussed and (where I) challenged our state governors. Security-wise, they are toothless. If the Inspector-General of Police orders for the release of a suspect, no state governor can reverse such order.

“We have put machinery in place

and arrested many kidnappers who are Fulanis. We handed them to the police but many of them were later released. This calls for sober reflection.”

On his part, Oluwo urged the Alaafin to do everything to bring Yoruba monarchs under one umbrella.

Oluwo advised those seeking Yoruba self-determination to recall the federal legislators in their zone, to convince the people that they needed a new nation of their own.

The monarch insisted that Nigerians, irrespective of ethnicity, would later appreciate it better if the country remained one.

Oluwo said, “Nigeria was created by the sacrifices of our forefathers. They committed their lives to nurture the baby from infancy to this time. The baby has matured with an ailing soul. We all acknowledge there is a problem, but must we throw away a child with the bathwater?”

THISDAY Editorial Board Chairman, Others Ask Media Not to Escalate Insecurity Alex Enumah in Abuja

The Chairman of THISDAY Newspapers Editorial Board, Mr. Segun Adeniyi, and other senior journalists in Nigeria yesterday tasked the Nigerian media to begin the de-escalation of insecurity as well as the violence in the country through mature way of reporting.

Speaking at a one-day roundtable on ‘The Media and

Security Challenges: The Way Forward’, Adeniyi charged the media to work towards comprehending the real issues of insecurity in the country before discharging their task of informing the public.

Also, others who spoke at the roundtable organised by a non-governmental organisation, Vision Centre for Communication and Development Advocacy,

(VICCDA), President of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Chris Isiguzo; acting Chairman of VICCDA, Otunba Onayiga, among other leading practicing journalists, called on the federal government to rise up to the challenge of insecurity threatening the peace and wellbeing of the country.

Adeniyi, who stated that there’s anger among the people in the

country owing to the devastating activities of bandits, charged journalists that before writing their reports, they should ask themselves: “What can I do to help de-escalate the crisis.”

He also warned against telling only one sided story, adding that instead of dwelling on negatives of the crisis, they should highlight instances of resilience and other inspiring human angles in conflict.

Encomiums as Shobowale Turns 80 Oluchi Chibuzor It was celebration galore as former Lagos State Commissioner for Education and an icon of contemporary journalism in Nigeria, Professor Idowu Shobowale, marked his 80th birthday yesterday.

The event, which was

marked virtually, witnessed encomiums from family members, contemporaries, friends, as well as well-wishers in an atmosphere of glamour for a well-deserved and an accomplished life that spanned across farming, education, and politics.

Guests, who turned out to honour the celebrant, described him as a man who emerged as

the pioneering founder of opinion writing in the country and shined as the beacon of journalism education in Nigeria despite his shortcomings and circumstances in life.

The Spokesperson of Class 64 of Baptist Academy, Mr. Oluremi Beckly, which Shobowale belongs, noted that attaining the new age in a country where life expectancy

for men and women is 62 and 58, respectively was a cause for celebration.

Beckly said: “You were detribalised in nature and always encouraged many young ones to aspire to their greatest height in life and we are grateful to God for keeping you and the work you have been doing in the House of God.”

Appeal Court Inaugurates Alternative Dispute Resolution System Alex Enumah in Abuja The Court of Appeal yesterday commenced the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) system of settling legal disputes.

The President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Monica DongbanMensem, at the official take off of

the system in Abuja, urged the judiciary to rise up and meet the challenges of adjudication in the 21st Century.

Dongban-Mensem said that this is necessary to make the country more attractive to International Trade and Foreign Direct Investment (FDI).

She said at the inaugural sitting of the Court of Appeal Mediation Center that good performance on the part of the judiciary would improve employment and domestic economic growth.

She also recalled that it was initiated in 2018 as a way of ensuring speedy and efficient

dispensation of justice as well as promoting amicable alternative to the adversarial justice system.

The President of the Court of Appeal said that the ADR represented an innovation that would introduce a multi-track justice delivery system and boost justice delivery if fully utilised.

TUESDAY MARCH 30, 2021 • T H I S D AY

11

12

TUESDAY MARCH 30, 2021 • T H I S D AY

TUESDAY MARCH 30, 2021 • T H I S D AY

13

14

T H I S D AY • TUESDAY, MARCH 30, 2021

COMMENT

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

FROM LEOPOLD TO TSHISEKEDI WITH BLOOD

President Tshisekedi must lead Africa against all forms of victimisation and terrorism, writes Okello Oculi

K

ing Leopold ruled Belgium carved out

by Europe’s barbaric 1810-1848 tribal and religious wars. His extermination of15 million people in the Congo River basin was a familiar use of power.

President Dwight Eisenhower earned military honours from slaughter fields of Europe’s barbarism during the 1938-1945 War. His instructions to American officials to murder Patrice Lumumba, Congo’s charismatic prime minister, was a habitual reflex. That the decision would turn Congo into a cauldron of civil wars and mass deaths was irrelevant.

Belgian military officers incited a mutiny which led to Joseph Desire Mobutu emerging as the local tool for the overthrow and death of Lumumba. Belgian officials had between 1959 and 1960, sprouted scores of political parties with ethnic loyalties to counter Patrice Lumumba’s countrywide appeal.

Mobutu used his attendance of a military school to read Belgian newspaper; probably enabling him to be a better schemer than Lumumba when faced with a shattered one-week old independence.

In 1965, he decreed the single ‘’Movement for the Popular Revolution (MPR)’’ which created branches into rural areas. Like Belgian colonial rule, local officials were appointed and not elected by local communities.

Mobutu sent money which military and civilian officials shared down the chain of power.

Military officials at the village level seized yam tubers, chicken, beans, salt and smoked fish and ‘’bushmeat’’ from traders and women on market days. Mobutu’s machine ensured loyalty, while leaving those with suspicious political ambitions vulnerable to being dismissed for stealing salaries of lower officials.

Mobutu was also accused of inciting attacks against Tutsi immigrants –the ‘’Banyamulenge” when their kin were massacred in Rwanda. He crushed students when they criticised his political and cultural engineering, including: the use of only ethnic names and banning Euro-American pop music. ‘’Congolese Music’’ seized Africa’s skies from Mombasa to Bamako. The name of the country was changed from ‘’Congo’’ to ‘’Zaire’’.

These aspects of Mobutu’s cultural rebirth or ‘’Authenticity’’ were easy diet for Laurent Kabila’s revolutionary appetite. Reinstating foreign religious names won him support from the Catholic Church. Descendants of the KONGO kingdom were happy to see Mobutu’s spiteful ‘’ZAIRE’’ drowned in the Congo river.

His war against Mobutu came along with armies from Uganda and Rwanda with rapacious appetites for the country’s natural resources. Conquering armies ransack and loot property and peoples they defeat. Armies of

MOBUTU RENAMED HIMSELF AS ‘SESE SEKO KUKUBENDU WA ZABANGA’. TSHISEKEDI COMPETES WELL WITH HIS ‘FELIX-ANTOINE TSHIKEDI TSHILOMBO

Rwanda and Uganda were fascinated by the prospect of repeating Congo’s colonisation by tiny Belgium; their small countries ruling a vast African territory. Kabila’s subsequent assassination was blamed on Rwanda’s agents furious with his turning against ‘hands that gave birth to his power’.

A zone of ethnic massacres, rape, forced recruitment of children to kill with guns, pillage of property and displacement of hundreds of thousands of people has replaced the social trust, social peace, and sense of national citizenship which Mobutu invested a lot of personal charisma into building. South Kivu, North Kivu and north-eastern Congo remain soaked in blood and death in the way King Leopold had tortured them.

Mobutu renamed himself as ‘’Sese Seko Kukubendu Wa Zabanga’’. Tshisekedi competes well with his ‘’Felix-Antoine Tshikedi Tshilombo’’. The Catholic clergy, however, opposed his election, awarding 60 per cent of votes in 2018 election to wealthy Martin Fayulu.

Joseph Kabila inherited Mobutu’s use of state money to feed political patronage but competed in an election populated by 599 political parties, most of them ethnic followers of a leader with money. NGOs numbering 5000 ‘’rarely act for common social benefit’’.

In 2016 Kabila extended social welfare with ‘’a daily allowance for women during maternity leave’’. The 86 per cent of the population in the ‘’informal sector’’ and subsistence agriculture are excluded.

Leopold killed to loot Congo’s resources. In 2000, a United Nations Committee accused 83 multinational corporations of arming killers who help them to loot.

Even the richest 10 per cent of Congolese own a mere 32 per cent, while the poorest 10 per cent take a wretched two per cent of Congo’s GDP. War is a tool for looting the Congo.

Tshisekedi is chairing the African Union when 75 million Americans furiously reject President Biden’s election; pushing Congress to vote trillions of dollars for eroding poverty by using a ‘New Capitalism driven by American IDEALS’. Africa must demand UBUNTU in Biden’s American relations with Africa.

Rebel Scientists are warning on Social Media against the use of anti-COVID-19 vaccines to commit genocide globally. Terroristic governance is herding people into taking these vaccines.

PresidentTshisekedi must protect African immunities developed over centuries; resist racist dismissals of preventive and curative power in plants, vegetables, mushrooms and wild fruits. German racists decimated the Herero nation. Fleeing into the Sahara Desert saved Libyans from genocidal Italian colonisers. COVID-19 must not be King Leopold inside mutating vaccines.

OSINBAJO/BELLO: A GOOD PAIR Salihu Nataro writes that the two eminent men will serve Nigeria with distinction

S

ometimes last year, the scholarly elder statesman, Mamman Daura, volunteered an opinion that for 2023 and thenceforth, the presidency of Nigeria should no longer be zoned to geo-political units of the country but rather, it should be based strictly on merit. Whoever from wherever part of the country that thinks he/she has what it takes and a majority of Nigerians agree that that Nigerian has the suitable qualities for national leadership should be allowed to become president of the republic.

I am sure that it is because he operates at the national level that his advocacy was restricted to the presidency. If not, the time has come for all Nigerians to agree that we should jettison the zoning idea for all offices in the polity and insist that whoever steps forward to contest for any seat in the land should do so because of his self-belief in his personal qualities and suitability to provide leadership at the level he/she is seeking to serve.

I say this because Nigerians from all parts of the country have, since 1999, practiced zoning at many levels, even with the councillorship election in the wards, and all have seen the severe limitation of that idea meant to give a

so-called sense of belonging to all. Nigerians have discovered to their chagrin that whether a position is zoned to the north, south, east or west, the quality of leadership has never been ennobling.

The tendency by all the politicians to be corrupt, directionless and to enthrone mediocrity has been the same.

Surely, this reality demands that we should shift our emphasis from seeking to give everybody, irrespective of ability a chance and now demand that only those who have ability and inclination to lift the society from its present level of poverty and destitution to a higher level of prosperity and high-mindedness.

The level of mediocrity we have so far witnessed in many places is simply suffocating. We cannot continue this way and hope to join the rest of the world in conquering hunger, malnutrition, diseases and poor living condition.

It is in line with the national call by the eminent citizen of Nigeria and being a living witness to the severe weakness of the zoning formula that I today make bold to suggest that while I am not in any way antagonistic to any Igbo man or woman aspiring to be president of Nigeria because their zone has not tasted it before, I wish to draw the nation’s attention to a pair of Nigerians that I consider very good for Nigeria.

The pair is Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo and the current Federal Capital Territory Minister, Mallam Muhammed Bello. Anyone who is fair-minded and who wants the country to make the type of rapid progress we all want Nigeria to make cannot but agree that Osinbajo is the person we should recruit as president in 2023 without a second thought as to where he comes from but based on his solid personal credentials as an able man capable of giving direction to Nigeria. Cerebral, humble, patriotic, obedient, and a loyal supporter of his principal, Osinbajo is very strong on the economy, one of the top qualities a candidate who desires to govern Nigeria and take her to the next level must possess.

If over the years we have, unfortunately, not learnt to forge a national consensus on most things, this time around, we must learn to almost unanimously agree across parties that Osinbajo is the man we should vote for as president.

We should rally round Osinbajo not only because of the excellent personal qualities he possesses but also because of the experiences he has acquired as vice president under President Muhammadu Buhari serving him and the nation loyally and without any advertised friction as has, unfortunately, been the case with

some other pairs at the helms of affairs of our country in some recent past.

To complement Osinbajo and balance the country’s political equation, I further suggest that the current FCT minister, Muhammed Bello, should also be brought in as Osinbajo’s deputy. Quiet but hardworking, frugal, broadminded and dedicated to duty, Bello today governs the most cosmopolitan political entity in the country and he has held sway in the FCT without ruffling feathers or a hail of unnecessary controversies. One of his most notable achievements is that he has initiated and vigorously pursued reforms that have led to major cost-cutting measures in the FCT which have saved the nation billions of naira.

The two eminent Nigerians have a few things in common which will cement their relationship and make them serve Nigeria with great distinction: they are both honest and dedicated to the service of Nigeria. What is more, they are both loyal to President Muhammadu Buhari who will naturally have a large say on who succeeds him come 2023. In a word, Osinbajo and Bello look like a natural pair created in heaven for Nigeria at a time like this.

Mallam Nataro is a governorship aspirant in Kebbi State

15

T H I S D AY • TUESDAY, MARCH 30, 2021

EDITORIAL LABOUR AND WAGE DIFFERENTIALS States should negotiate with labour and agree on what is feasible

A

bill seeking to remove negotiations on minimum wage from the concurrent list passed the second reading in the House of Representatives last month.

The essence of the legislation, according to the sponsor, is to allow both the federal and state governments to freely negotiate minimum wage in line with the idea of a federation which we still practice, although mostly in breach. It is titled, ‘A Bill for an Act to alter the constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) to, among others, transfer the subject matter of minimum wage prescription from the Exclusive Legislative List set out under Part I of the Second Schedule to the Concurrent Legislative List set out under Part II of the Second Schedule to the constitution; and for related matters’.

The proposed legislation has stoked anger from many stakeholders, including the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC). It is understandable. If the bill passes through concurrence in the Senate after passage in the House, it will translate to the federal government losing STATE GOVERNMENTS SHOULD DETERMINE THE its exclusive power to WAGES OF WORKERS AND negotiate and deterBE AT LIBERTY TO RETAIN mine the minimum wage for workers ONLY THOSE THAT ARE across the three tiers PRODUCTIVE of government in the country. And when such becomes law, each of the 36 states and 774 local governments will have the power to determine different wages for their workers. It therefore came as no surprise that, following passage of the bill by the House, there was a protest by organised labour.

Speaking at the National Assembly where he led workers to protest, NLC President, Ayuba Wabba, argued that if the bill passes, apart from creating minimum wage variations across the country, it will

Letters to the Editor

introduce politics into the wage determination and negate the collective bargaining principle. Wading in, the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) has held sessions with organised labour on the issue of minimum wage.

But their position remains the same: each state should negotiate with labour on how much they can afford.

W

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 TO SEND EMAIL: first name.surname@thisdaylive.com

hatever may be other misgivings, there is merit in the argument of the governors, especially at a period the clamour for restructuring the country to enthrone fiscal federalism is strident. As a newspaper, we have always queried the assumption that minimum wage should be uniform across the 36 states, without isolating the peculiarities and operating environment of each. Our position has therefore always been that state governments should determine the wages of workers and be at liberty to retain only those that are productive. We have always advocated the need to reflect on some of the cadres of workers in the civil service that are superfluous.

However, while we subscribe to a drastic re-orientation that requires labour leaders to understand that states cannot continue to pay the same wages due to several factors, the governors can also not continue to live in luxury and yet deny workers in their states living wages. That is precisely where the problem lies. Living like modern-day emperors with little or no checks from the legislative arm, it is difficult for many of the governors to offer logical persuasion to workers in the states that they indeed cannot pay the federal minimum wage. But we are also of the view that Labour must shift from its fixations. Standards of living, for instance, in states like Yobe and Rivers or Lagos are not the same. So, you cannot expect that workers in these two states be paid the same wages.

We urge the National Assembly to interrogate all the issues in the bill and take on board the arguments of all stakeholders. But we endorse the principles that underpin the idea that states cannot be compelled to pay the same wages.

TO OUR READERS Letters in response to specific publications in THISDAY should be brief (150-200 words) and straight to the point. Interested readers may send such letters along with their contact details to opinion@thisdaylive.com. We also welcome comments and opinions on topical local, national and international issues provided they are well-written and should also not be longer than (9501000 words). They should be sent to opinion@thisdaylive.com along with the email address and phone numbers of the writer.

Ikorodu And The ‘Greater Lagos’ Train

T

he fast moving ‘Greater Lagos’ train of the Babajide SanwoOlu administration recently berthed in Ikorodu, and, in its characteristic style, left behind enduring developmental footprints.

In continuation of its strategies to reduce the housing deficit in the state, Governor Sanwo-Olu and his team stormed the ancient town of Ikorodu to inaugurate yet another housing scheme at Igbogbo.

The housing scheme, constructed by the State’s Ministry of Housing has 360 home units, comprising of 120 units (one bedroom), 120 units (two bedrooms) and 120 units (three bedrooms) on an expanse of 6.24 hectares of land in Igbogbo, Igbogbo-Baiyeku Local Council Development Area (LCDA) . Each building within the estate, which was inherited and completed by the present administration through direct budgetary allocation, has home units designed for low-and middleincome earners. The completion and inauguration of the scheme bears ample testimony to the Sanwo-Olu administration’s avowed commitment to making Lagos a 21st Century Economy via the provision of decent homes and essential infrastructure for its citizenry.

The project is unique because it is constructed in line with global specifications. The houses are certified to yield maximum benefits to the future owners because they are built-in line with global standards.

The estate also comes with infrastructure such as a water treatment plant, central sewage treatment plant, street lights, spaces for community activities, road network, car parks and drainage as well as perimeter fence.

A major highlight of the inauguration ceremony was the presentation of a three-bedroom flat at the newly built estate to veteran Nollywood actress, Mrs. Lanre Hassan Adesina, aka Iya Awero’ as a

humanitarian gesture by the government.

Also, as a reward for their exemplary diligence and industry, Governor Sanwo-Olu presented two teachers in the state’s public schools with a gift of three-bedroom apartments each. They are the Principal of Government Junior College in Ketu-Epe, Mr. Dunni Ikuseyi (Principal of the Year) and recipient of Teacher of the Year, Mrs. Elusakin of Oriwu Model College.

Sanwo-Olu, who named the new housing scheme after a former Deputy Governor of the state, Prince Abiodun Ogunleye, restated his administration’s commitment to delivering more housing projects in the axis. He pledged to improve the socio-economic and infrastructural development of the axis via the rehabilitation of Bayeiku road, redevelopment of Ita-Elewa Roundabout as well as provision of needed amenities to accommodate the influx of people to the environment.

The governor disclosed that the piece of land adjoining the new estate has been earmarked for another housing project, stressing that his administration has adopted the Global Housing Policy, which gives people the option of becoming homeowners, over a period of time through the Rent to Own policy. According to him, this policy, which is targeted at the working class (in the formal and informal sectors), promotes continued prosperity and decent living as beneficiaries pay only a percentage of their earnings as mortgage on a monthly basis just like it is done in modern and developed economies.

Without a doubt, the newly inaugurated housing scheme, in addition to the earlier six commissioned by the current administration, would significantly alter the housing deficit narrative in the state.

It, however, needs to be stressed that the coming of the ‘Greater Lagos’ train to Ikorodu was not only about the inauguration of the new housing scheme. Governor Sanwo-Olu also inaugurated the

new Igbogbo-Bayeiku Local Council Development Area Secretariat, drove through the newly rehabilitated Igbe road, visited the Ikorodu Community Radio and inspected the Ikorodu Community Centre currently being rehabilitated by the government.

The good news for residents in the Ikorodu axis is that the Ijede/ Itamagun Road in Igbogbo/Baiyeku LCDA has also been slated for inauguration in May. Similarly, the Imota Rice Mill is scheduled for completion and official commissioning this year. Indeed, Governor Sanwo-Olu used the occasion to reiterate his administration’s resolve to complete all the ongoing projects in the Ikorodu axis before the end of the year.

While commissioning the Igbogbo/Baiyeku LCDA new ultramodern Council Secretariat, Governor Sanwo-Olu, who was warmly received by a massive crowd, promised to pay the compensation that is due for those affected by construction of the Igbogbo/Baiyeku Road.

He said the compensation will be paid within the next 30 to 60 days.

Governor Sanwo-Olu also disclosed that the construction of the Igbogbo Mini Stadium will be awarded before the end of the year, while the jetties around Ikorodu and Ibeshe Housing Estate will also be delivered this year.

In its mission not to leave any part of the state behind in its infrastructure renewal drive, the Sanwo-Olu administration has embarked on massive infrastructure development in the Ikorodu axis of the state.

For instance, several road projects are ongoing in the Ikorodu axis. The rehabilitation/upgrading of the Agric-Isawo Road into a four-lane dual carriageway is on course. It was conceived to link the Ikorodu axis with Lagos-Ibadan Expressway through Arepo in Ogun State.

Tayo Ogunbiyi, Deputy Director, Public Affairs, Ministry of Information and Strategy, Alausa, Ikeja

16

TUESDAY MARCH 30, 2021 •T H I S D AY

TUESDAY MARCH 30, 2021 • T H I S D AY

17

18

T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY MARCH 30, 2021

POLITICS

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

That Wase’s Unbending Stance on the Controversial Tiv Petition

Can the Federal High Court ignore the Supreme Court ruling on a dispute or give an order on a matter still pending before the court? These are questions Davidson Iriekpen is seeking answers to in the tussle between Ifeanyi Ararume and Frank Ibezim for the Imo North senatorial district contest

Odefa

Gillard

Wase

Gbajabiamila

O

Gbillah, however, countered Wase on the grounds that Nigeria has been pursuing a policy of inclusiveness for its citizens in the Diaspora, an aim he said would easily be defeated if the same category of Nigerians cannot be allowed to speak on raging matters of national concern.

Rejecting the petition, Wase said ‘’I’ll refer you to the functions of the committee on diaspora, if you go through that, it is nothing relevant to what you’re now presenting. I’m not convinced that we have to take that petition.’’

us and so none of us gave them the power to deny the opportunity to present petitions from our people.’’

On its part, the Tiv people in the United States (USA) decried the neglect given to their petition by the House leadership.

MUTA President, Mr. Simon Kusugh, and MUTA IDP Committee Chairman, Prof.

Joseph Zume, in a statement said the group viewed the deputy speaker’s action as “highly reprehensible”, given that the subject of the petition addressed the fate of thousands of authentic Nigerian citizens, who have been displaced from their communities for years.

The group said as national representatives of Nigerians, the lawmakers should ordinarily be expected to empathise with those hapless citizens they represent, whose normal livelihoods have been truncated by unfortunate circumstances.

The group described the incident as hostile to their cause and an extension of the general insensitivity that the national leadership has shown about the welfare of the internally displaced Tiv people over the years.

Also, Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation (NIDO) threatened to withhold home remittances after the deputy speaker’s statement.

The organisation said Wase’s utterances rubbished 20 years of the Federal Government’s Diaspora engagement at a time, when the contributions of Nigerians in Diaspora were highly needed and desired, insisting that it

is the fundamental right of the Nigerians in the Diaspora to intervene in respect of their kinsmen back home.

The organisation, therefore, asked the Speaker, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, to convene an urgent Virtual Meeting with NIDO within 14 days to address the issue and to reassure it of his full support, failing which it might be compelled to call out all Nigerians in Diaspora to withhold further home remittances with immediate effect.

They also demanded a retraction of the statement, a public apology from Wase to Diaspora Nigerians and a representation of the Tiv people petition.

n March 10, 2021 the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Idris Wase was enmeshed in an unnecessary controversy, when he stopped a Benue lawmaker, Hon. Mark Gbillah from presenting a petition against the Federal Government on an alleged taking over of their lands by herdsmen.

The rejection generated widespread condemnation and criticism with many accusing Wase of being an ethnic jingoist, who has total disregard for the plight of the displaced persons.

Nigeria is currently facing various security challenges. As the days go by, the country’s security situation moves from bad to worse.

From Boko Haram insurgency, to banditry in the North-west, armed robbery, kidnapping, arson in all parts of the country, to killer herdsmen going scot free as they continue to cause mayhem in various parts of the country.

With these security challenges bedevilling the country, public officials are expected to be wary of their utterances, as some statements can easily be seen as divisive with the possibility to cause unrest in the country. This is also because such utterances and actions of the people in position of authority seem to encourage perpetrators of these ignoble acts in their atrocious activities, leading to innocent citizens living in constant fear.

Petition Rejection At the House of Representatives, a fortnight ago, the Deputy Speaker, Hon. Idris Wase prevented a member representing Gwer East/ Gwer West Federal Constituency of Benue State, Hon. Mark Gbillah from presenting a petition against the Federal Government on the alleged plunder of their land by herdsmen.

The petition filed by Mzough U Tiv Amerika (MUTA) on insecurity in Benue, Nasarawa, and Taraba states accused the Federal Government of nonchalance towards the perils facing those who have been displaced as a result of the dastardly activities of herdsmen.

But Wase said Nigerians abroad are not eligible to file petitions against the Federal Government on crimes linked to herdsmen.

He argued that Nigerians abroad had no rights to file a petition on the crises, saying it would be understandable if the petition came from those in the country.

“Honourable Gbillah, did you say Tivs in America? What do they know about Nigeria?

What is their business? They can’t sit in their comfort zones and know what is happening in Nigeria,” Wase said.

Responding, Gbillah argued that Nigerians abroad should be able to file complaints, because they have family members residing in the state.

But Wase questioned whether or not MUTA was even registered with the Corporate Affairs of Commission to begin with.

Gbillah, Tivs, NIDO React Speaking later on the rejected petition, Hon. Gbillah said that he was shocked by the Deputy Speaker’s statement.

He said, ‘’I was completely shocked and outraged when I tried to present the petition.

Unfortunately for the Deputy Speaker and me, I did not carry the standing orders of the House on that day because at no point did I envisage that I have to refer to them to defend the presentation of a petition because the standing order did not require any condition or give the presiding officer any power like the Deputy Speaker claimed for it to be at his leave to accept a petition. ‘’There is no such position and it is important at this point to remind the Deputy Speaker and the leadership of the House that they serve at the leave of their colleagues. They are first among equals. They are not superior to

At the House of Representatives, a fortnight ago, the Deputy Speaker, Hon. Idris Wase prevented a member representing Gwer East/Gwer West Federal Constituency of Benue State, Hon. Mark Gbillah from presenting a petition against the Federal Government on the alleged plunder of their land by herdsmen. The petition filed by Mzough U Tiv Amerika (MUTA) on insecurity in Benue, Nasarawa, and Taraba states accused the Federal Government of nonchalance towards the perils facing those who have been displaced as a result of the dastardly activities of herdsmen. But Wase said Nigerians abroad are not eligible to file petitions against the Federal Government on crimes linked to herdsmen

Wase’s Justification Following the backlash, the Deputy Speaker, in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Umar Puma, on March 15, said the coverage and reportage of the incident have mostly been doctored, slanted and bent to give political and ethnic coloration to the event that was otherwise strictly based on rules of parliamentary procedures.

He reiterated that the crux of the encounter between him and Mark Gbillah was on the legal identity and flowing from that, the locus of the petitioners and not on the whether Nigerians in diaspora have a right to petition the House or not.

He noted that he was just guiding the sponsor of the petition on the proper procedure to adopt in presenting the said petition.

Wase added that it would have been unnecessary to respond to such show of clear mischief, but it has become imperative to clear the air on the matter in order to educate the ignorant and reassure the enlightened.

Abike Dabiri-Erewa Calls for Calm Meanwhile, the Chairman, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, has appealed to all stakeholders especially, Nigerians living abroad to remain calm over the issue.

Dabiri-Erewa, in a letter to Gbajabiamila, a copy of which was sent to the House Committee Chairman on Diaspora, Hon. Tolulope Akande-Sadipe, said the commission had received complaints from Nigerians in the Diaspora over the stand of the deputy speaker, when the matter was presented at the house.

“The video has inflamed tension and caused a significant uproar amongst the Nigerian in Diaspora community. In view of this, we appeal to Mr. speaker to intervene and use your good office to do all that can be done to mitigate the effect of this unfortunate incident,” she said.

NOTE: Interested readers should continue in the online edition on www.thisdaylive.com

19

T H I S D AY ˾TUESDAY MARCH 30, 2021

POLITICS

A Fresh Resolve to Win S’East for PDP Recently, Chief Ali Odefa was elected as the National Vice Chairman, South-east of the Peoples Democratic Party. David-Chyddy Eleke writes that the election will boost his resolve to win the zone for the party

Ugwuanyi

Umahi

Obi

Odefa

I

Vice Chairman of the party in the zone. This will give him the chance of proving that he can walk his talk, starting from November this year, when Anambra will elect a new governor, to 2023, when other states will also do same. This singular gesture may further embolden his resolve to ensure that the party takes over the South-east in 2023.

An elated Odefa who addressed leaders of the party after his election pledged to put the party interest first, and urged other party leaders to support him in the task. “At this same venue, five years ago I aspired for this position. At this very place where I was humiliated and dehumanized, the Lord has made it possible. I do not take your support for granted, and I am very happy for all those who aspired to occupy this position. Together with me and my colleagues, we pledge to put party interest first, and we shall always provide a level playing field for all. I appreciate the leader of the party, Governor Ugwuanyi of Enugu State he is an export material and in time to come you will know what we mean by that.”

For Odefa, it was not a time to make long speeches, but a time to start work and ensure that lost grounds are regained. He told THISDAY in an interview what he was doing to make PDP stronger, and the resolve to use Anambra as a test case to win the South east. He said, “I cannot

begin now to tell you our strategies.

If I disclose our strategies, our opposition will learn them and fashion out ways to counter them. But I want to tell you that we are working; we are meeting people, we are talking to people. We are reconciling people with differences; we are reaching out to the people who have left the party in anger. We are doing all of these and I can assure you that the PDP will come out stronger.”

“As for Anambra, I am convinced 100 percent of victory. Anambra people are tired and fed up with the ruling All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).

They are fed up with the lacklustre performance of the government of APGA in Anambra State. Nothing is working. So, the people are fed up. They are looking forward to us to come in and make things better in Anambra State. So, I am 100 per cent assured that with all the things we have in line, we will definitely win the governorship of Anambra State come 2021 election.”

On recovering Ebonyi State, he said, “It is not leaving a party and going to another party; it is not a shouting match. We are not in a shouting match with them (Ebonyi government). They are shouting. They are making noise.

We are on the table, we are drawing, we are planning, we are putting things together and we are arranging. At the fullness of time, they will see the result of all this effort and it will

shock them.”

The support he has received so far from leaders of the party in the zone will boost his performance. When the Ebonyi State born politician was elected in Enugu, it was a wonder to all who knew the divisive tendencies of the PDP as all its leaders came together and elected him, pledging to give him their support to succeed.

In Anambra, where factionalization of the party has remained for years, it was a surprise to some of the leaders, how Odefa was able to drag some of them to the venue, as party leaders who had long maintained a docile disposition came together. The roll call of political heavyweights include; The Deputy Governor of Abia State, Rt. Hon. Ude Oko Chukwu, the PDP National Organising Secretary, Col. Austin Akobundu, the National Youth Leader, Rt. Hon. Sunday Udeh-Okoye, former Governors of Ebonyi, Anambra and Imo states, Senator Sam Egwu, Peter Obi and Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha respectively, National and State Assembly members from the zone, Barr.

Olisa Metu, Chief (Mrs.) Josephine Anenih, Chief Chris Uba, and other esteemed leaders of the party in the zone, including the new returnee in Anambra State, Hon. Tony Nwoye.

Odefa will, in the next four years, steer the ship of PDP in the zone with other elected Zonal Working Committee members, who were sworn with him.

They are; Chief Ugwu James (Zonal Secretary); Hon Emeka Okeke (Zonal Treasurer); Hon. Casmir Ugwu (Zonal Financial Secretary); Hon. Mike Ahumibe (Zonal Organizing Secretary); Barr.

Ukpai Ukairo (Zonal Legal Adviser); Engr. Augustine Okeke; (Zonal Publicity Secretary); Hon. Lazarus Ogbe (Zonal Auditor); Hon. (Mrs.) Mary Omile (Zonal Woman Leader) and Comrade Chidiebere Egwu (Zonal Youth Leader).

Five others who were elected as Zonal Ex-officio members are Chief Damian Ozurumba (Abia); Hon. (Mrs.) Anthonia Nwankwu (Anambra); Engr. Francis Kalu (Ebonyi); Hon. Chief Romanus Edeh (Enugu) and Sir. Stanley Ekezie (Imo).

Already, the peace which has come with Odefa’s election has become noticeable by all. Former Vice President and presidential candidate of the party, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar in a message, congratulated Odefa and also urged other zones of the party to take a cue from the South-east zone to ensure that unity and oneness is returned to the party. Atiku said, “Ali Odefa, while steer the affairs of the PDP in the South-east zone. As caretaker Chairman, he demonstrated candour, courage and capacity to lead our party to a total takeover of the zone. I urge other zones of our party to be united and emulate what the South-east has done,” Atiku admonished.

n November 2020, shortly after the Governor of Ebonyi State, David Umahi took the decision to leave the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the All Progressives Congress (APC), the leadership of the PDP met and announced Chief Ali Odefa as the chairman of the party in the zone, on interim capacity. Chief Austin Umahi, younger brother of Governor Umahi had earlier been relieved of the position, immediately the older Umahi announced his defection.

For Odefa, his appointment as a replacement for the younger Umahi, though a thing of joy, did not come as a surprise as he had earlier, in 2014 vied for the position, but was denied. To say that he hit the ground running is not out of place as he already had a blueprint of where he desired to take the party many years before his appointment became a reality. He immediately settled down to work, visiting the five states of the zone, in the hope of finding out what needed to be fixed, and also proffering solutions to the problems in the party in various states of the South-east.

During such a visit to Anambra, Odefa stated strongly that he was not unaware that Anambra governorship election would be a test to his capacity to deliver the South-east to the PDP. He also stated most of the strategies he was employing to ensure that the party emerged victorious in the election, which comes up in November, 2021.

He said, “The truth of the matter is that our opposition is a party that has been totally rejected by the Igbo people. I want to tell you that the ideology and manner of administration of the ruling party is not favourable to Ndigbo. So, the Igbo can’t wait for the opportunity of election so that they can state this clearly, and that is the advantage I have.

“The states that the APC has in the South-east were taken from the backdoor. Imo State was clearly won by the PDP. They went to the courts, through one manipulation or the other, they took Imo State. Ebonyi State is clearly a PDP state. But due to one flimsy excuse or the other, but I believe it is selfish interest; the man (Umahi) defected to the APC. But I want to tell you that we are not shaken by these loses. We are not discouraged.

We have gone back to the drawing board to make sure that we recover all we lost. We will start with Anambra State. We will take Ebonyi back. Enugu is PDP. Abia is PDP.” Maybe, counting on his impressive performance within just months of taking over the leadership of PDP in the zone, the bigwigs of the party in the zone have decided to give him the task of leading the zone for a four year term. Two weeks ago, Odefa was elected as the substantive National

His appointment as a replacement for the younger Umahi, though a thing of joy, did not come as a surprise as he had earlier, in 2014 vied for the position, but was denied. To say that he hit the ground running is not out of place as he already had a blueprint of where he desired to take the party many years before his appointment became a reality. He immediately settled down to work, visiting the five states of the zone, in the hope of finding out what needed to be fixed, and also proffering solutions to the problems in the party in various states of the South-east. During such a visit to Anambra, Odefa stated strongly that he was not unaware that Anambra governorship election would be a test to his capacity to deliver the South-east to the PDP

20

T H I S D AY ˾ ͱͮ, ͰͮͰͯ

FEATURES

Group Features Editor: Chiemelie Ezeobi Email chiemelie.ezeobi@thisdaylive.com, 07010510430

Rhodes-Vivour’s Recipe for Effective Justice Delivery The valedictory court session held in honour of Justice Olabode Rhodes-Vivour last week Monday was not all about encomiums and merriment, but an opportunity for him to provide tips that will enhance not only Nigeria’s jurisprudence, but help in justice delivery. Davidson Iriekpen writes

A

fter serving a total of 27 years as a judge of the three levels of court, 11 of which was at the Supreme Court, Justice Olabode Rhodes-Vivour last week Monday, bowed out after a colourful valedictory court session held in his honour at the apex court.

The ceremony, which had all the justices of the Supreme Court in attendance, including the Chief Justice of the Nigeria (CJN), Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad, also had judges of other courts, senior and junior lawyers and some public officials uch as the Governor of Osun State, Adegboyega Oyetola and his Edo State counterpart, Godwin Obaseki.

Virtually everybody who spoke at the event had one good thing to say about Justice Rhodes-Vivour who ended his 45 years of legal career, 27 years of which he spent as a judge, either in the course of his journey or conduct on the bench or for the sound judgments he delivered from the High Court to the Supreme Court.

The CJN, Justice Muhammad, led the praises, particularly extolled Justice Rhodes-Vivour’s virtue, describing him as an “affable brother Justice,” who diligently and meticulously offered unquantifiable services to Nigeria and humanity.

He added: “We are all here today to felicitate with an accomplished jurisprudential iconoclast that has offered the best of his intellect to the advancement of the legal profession through his several years of inimitable adjudications. His Lordship is a rare gem and unblemished symbol of humility and piety. His proficiency in the dispensation of justice, which is anchored on his mastery of the law, presents him as a man of honour and scholarship.

“His judgments are not only incisive but also analytical and opulent by all standards. His robust contributions to the development of our jurisprudence are inviolable and fascinating. His impeccable attention to details in every matter before him is alluring and salutary as well,” Justice Muhammad said.

Justice Muhammad added that Justice Rhodes-Vivour “has diligently and meticulously offered unquantifiable services to his fatherland and the generality of humanity in different capacities for several decades. He is physically energetic and never gets frightened by any form of challenges that may confront him. His amiable disposition and reticent outlook have literally made him a gentile tiger in the temple of justice.”

The Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Justice, Dayo Apata, said the retired jurist “demonstrated the virtues of focus, patience and hard-work in handling al the undertakings in which he found himself a participant.”

He added that as result of this, the retired judge was “conferred with the prestigious National Merit Award of the Commander of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as a mark of his renowned fame and excellence.”

On his part, a representative of the Body of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Adegboyega Awomolo, said Justice Rhodes-Vivour “worked patiently with humility, climbed the ladders of ranks in the Ministry of Justice in Lagos State” till he reached “the zenith of judicial career as a Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.”

But the ceremony was not all about encomiums and merriment, as it provided the eminent retired jurist the

Rhodes-Vivour

opportunity to provide some tips that if implemented would not only enhance Nigeria’s jurisprudence, but enrich justice delivery for litigants.

First, he blew the lead in the agitation for the Supreme Court to jettison its doctrine of precedent or stare decisis.

This is a situation where the court tenaciously and jealously guide and guard its previous decisions no matter the amount of fresh evidence, saying it cannot reserve itself. He advised that this doctrine should be done away with as it denies litigants justice.

Justice Rhodes-Vivour stated that there are some precedents that are clearly out of date, and should no longer be followed.

He contended that the precedents no longer make sense anymore and are out dated should be laid to rest.

“The Supreme Court has held on several occasions that it is absolutely bound by the doctrine of precedent or stare decisis. That in effect means: ‘Stand by your decisions and the decisions of your predecessors, however wrong they are and whatever injustice they inflict.’

“There are some precedents that are clearly out of date, and should no longer be followed. I am of the view that precedents that no longer make sense anymore or are out dated should be laid to rest and never followed.”

Second, the retired judge amended his previous pronouncement that human rights can be suspended whenever national security is threatened. He delivered the lead judgment as a judge of the Court of Appeal in the case involving former leader of Niger Delta militant groups, Asari Dokubo, in 2006. In the lead judgment, he denied bail to Dokubo on the grounds that he constituted a threat to national security. The Supreme Court, in a decision delivered on June 6, 2007, upheld the judgment by also denying Dokubo, bail.

Incidentally, the judge who delivered the lead judgment of the apex court over 12 years ago is now the current CJN, Justice Tanko Muhammad, seated at his left hand side. The Muhammadu Buhari administration has adopted the judgment as justification for the continued detention of even persons that have been granted bail by courts.

While reviewing his opinion about the

judgment at the occasion last Monday, the retired judge said no one’s right should be denied unless national security “is visibly threatened,” a departure from his previously held view that such rights can be threatened even with “real likelihood” of a threat to national security.

He argued that no one should be deprived of his rights on the whims and fancy of anyone on authority.

He said: “In Dokubo-Asari v FRN (2006) 11NWLR (Pt. 991) p324, as a judgment of the Court of Appeal, I said that: ‘When national security is threatened or there is real likelihood of it being threatened, human rights or the individual rights must be subjected or well taken care of. National security must be visibly threatened before anyone can be denied his rights. No one should be denied his rights on the whims and fancy of anyone in authority.”

Justice Rhodes-Vivour also addressed other issues of national importance, include elections, corruption, criminal convicts, governor violating laws on tenure of elected local government tenures, among others.

On how to improve on election petitions and justice for litigants in the country, he suggested that due to the difficulty petitioners encounter in proving electoral fraud, the Electoral Act should be amended to put the burden of proving the legitimacy of an election on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and urged the National Assembly to amend the electoral laws to shift the burden of proving the credibility of any disputed elections to INEC rather than the petitioner.

He expressed displeasure at the increasing reliance on the courts to resolve election disputes, noting that electoral disputes were protracted because some politicians are never satisfied with the result announced by the electoral umpire.

He said, “Elections in Nigeria are protracted. The stakes are too high.

Consequently most elections are usually resolved by courts, simply because most politiians are never satisfied with the results announced by the regulatory body charged with the conduct of elections (INEC).”

He recalled his previous opinion in Udom v Umana 2016 case where he

stated that the petitioner “is always saddled with “difficult requirements and procedures.”

He said there was the need to reduce the menace of corruption to the barest minimum to make life more meaningful for the citizenry. He cited Genesis 6:12 of the Bible to back his argument that “corruption exists in all the countries of the earth”, including Nigeria, but added that what should be done quickly “is to reduce it drastically” through the building of “credible and transparent systems.”

The jurist equally called for some sentences to be suspended until Supreme Court judgment. He argued that some convicts’ sentence should be suspended until they exhaust their right of appeal.

He, however, did not explain how to determine in which case the convict’s sentence is to be suspended.

“I am of the view that certain convicts should be allowed to serve their prison terms only after their appeals are exhausted,” he said, adding that the reason “being that some convicts serve several years in prison before their appeals are heard and decided.”

“Their appeal may be found to be meritorious. They are then released. No companies paid for the time spend in prison,” he said.

He equally lamented governors’ continued breach of elected local government tenures despite repeated judgments by the apex court.

“In Eze & 147 ors v Gov Abia State & 2 ors (2014) 5-7SC (Pt.1) p.171. On Section 7(1) of the Constitution I said that: “On a careful reading of the above it becomes clear that it is the duty of the Governors to ensure that the system of Local Government continues unhindered.

Dissolving Local Government Councils and replacing them with caretaker committees amounts to the Governor acting on his whims and fancies unknown to our laws, clearly illegal. It is the duty of the governor to ensure their existence rather than being responsible for destroying them. It amounts to executive recklessness for the governor to remove from office democratically elected chairmen and councillors under whatever guise.

It is illegal and wrong.”

He further called for urgent reforms of Nigeria’s Limitation Laws as has been done in the United Kingdom, saying it requires an urgency that makes delay an accessory. He dvocated that judges should be conferred with discretion to extend limitation periods when it is just and equitable to do so.

This was the basis of his judgment in JES Investment Ltd v Brawal Lere Ltd & ors (2010) 18 NWLR (Pt.1225) p.495 where he said: “There has been no reform of Limitation Laws in Nigeria. The general Limitation periods for some actions are too short. Judges should be conferred with discretion to extend Limitation periods when it is just and equitable to do so. Actions that readily come to mind are sexual abuse cases. The victims are usually too traumatised, under intolerable pressure, grief stricken and depressed for long periods. Consequently, when they eventually regain their composure, it is too late to file action in court, because of the short limitation periods provided by the law. This also applies to personal injury cases. Injuries that occur in a factory. The victim is usually a poor factory worker drawn into endless negotiation by a boss much aware of the Limitation period. Time to file action runs out, when the poor factory worker realises he has been taken for a ride.

He has a cause of action but sadly one that cannot be enforced.”

21

T H I S D AY ˾ ͱͮ, ͰͮͰͯ

FEATURES

OSSAP-SDGs Breathes New Life to Specialist Hospitals in Kano,Yola Iyobosa Uwugiaren writes on how the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals, has brought new life to Murtala Mohammed Specialist Hospital, Kano and Yola Specialist Hospital

Front view of the main block of Murtala Mohammed Hospital after renovation by OSSAPSDGs

Ward 4, Female Surgical Ward, one of the dilapidated blocks at the Yola Specialist Hospital, Yola before renovation by OSSAP-SDGs

E

stablished 95 years ago - in 1926, Murtala Mohammed Specialist Hospital has over the years developed to assume the status of a leading healthcare facility in Kano State. With its status as a specialist and referral centre, people come from other neighbouring states and nearby countries to take advantage of its services.

However, as a result of old age and lack of maintenance, the hospital had until recently lost its status of the premier attached to its name. Though the healthcare workers were still rendering their services to their patients, most of the facilities had broken down and some working fitfully.

Patients were threatened with spiteful sights of broken-down facilities - ward and consulting rooms with worn out paints and toilets that had become inoperative over time. Indeed, an insider said the situation became so bad that some patients lamented openly and in a newspaper article that they had to seek for facilities outside the hospital to take their bath and other bodily function needs.

The situation was not different at the Yola Specialist Hospital, another major healthcare facility in the capital of Adamawa State.

In spite of its centrality to healthcare in the Northeast, the over 90-year old hospital had over the years became run down with most of the equipment either non-functional or obsolete while the buildings were dilapidated. Patients and visitors are met with unwieldly sights at the theatre rooms, laboratories and the wards; even as the healthcare workers tried to do their best for them in the uncomfortable situation.

But, of recent, patients, visitors and healthcare workers at the two hospitals have been singing a new song over the change in the outlook of the hospital following the intervention of President Muhammadu Buhari through the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals (OSSAP-SDGs).

Change of Story at Murtala Mohammed Hospital For the 826-bed Murtala Mohammed hospital, the journey for change of fortune began in 2019 with a visit by a team from OSSAP-SDGs to assess the extent of dilapidation in company of management staff of the hospital. A comprehensive ‘renewal’ contract for the facility was subsequently awarded same year. The scope covered rehabilitation of the building, the different wards, theatres, dinning/kitchen areas, the conveniences, boreholes, store, the staff quarters, among others.

Though there are very few aspects of the contracts yet to be completed, not many people familiar with the former state of the hospital can deny that the hospital has witnessed a complete transformation. The infrastructural renewal has the main building and other sections of the hospital, including the administrative block, medical wards, theatre, and conveniences wearing new looks. ‘’Even more exciting was the restoration of regular water supply to hospital with most patients now able to uses the conveniences conveniently’’, one of the staff members stated.

Dr. Hussain Mohammad, the Chief Medical Director of Murtalta Mohammed Specialist

Ward 4, Female Surgical Ward, Yola Specialist Hospital after renovation Hospital confirmed that many parts of the healthcare facility were old, dilapidated while many of the equipment had become obsolete before the intervention of OSSAP-SDGs. He said that the renovation by the SDGs office has uplifted the status of the hospital to the level that it can now be compared to a tertiary health centre, adding that the renovation covered all the structures in the hospital, including the one kilometre road.

“OSSAP-SDGs has renovated and changed the outlook of the hospital. If look at the hospital from the outside, you will see a great improvement.

There are now solar lights installed everywhere, the hospital looks very beautiful at night when you are passing, and we are very happy with that. ‘’The patients inside the wards are also happy with the current state of the hospital - the windows, beddings have been changed to the modern ones, the windows now have nets,” Dr Mohammad said.

The CMD explained that the rehabilitation and renovation include addition of new amenities to the hospital, including a restaurant, which he noted has helped to improve the quality of patient care as doctors on call can now eat inside the hospital instead of going outside to pacify their hunger while abandoning the patients.

“The innovation by OSSAP-SDGs has uplifted the hospital seriously. I want to thank them for the wonderful job done and for having our patients at heart on behalf of the Hospital Management Committee, the Board and the State Ministry of Health,” he said.

Collaborating this, Ali Inuwa Kwalu, a Clinic Researcher said the renovation done by OSSAPSDGs from the periphery to the core areas of the hospital was the most comprehensive that has been carried out in area of facility in the past 20 years.

“Staff of this hospital, medical personnel and even patients has been expressing their appreciation over the renovation. What further impressed me was that the renovation was done along with supply of up-to-date equipment. We are extremely grateful to the SDGs office for initiating the renovation’’, he stated.

Habiu Saliu and Hajia Akinni who were relatives

of patients of the hospital also agree that there has been a great change in terms of outlook and facilities at the hospital even as they expressed their gratitude to the SDGs office.

“The renovation is giving me joy. I brought my sister here and she is on admission at the Emergency Ward. But when I came here, I discovered the changes. Most of the things that were not here before have been brought in. For example, you now have a bed with a locker where you can put your belongings,” Hajia Khadijah Abdullahi said.

Renewal at The Specialist Hospital, Yola Just like in Kano, OSSAP-SDGs had also awarded contracts for comprehensive rehabilitation of the Yola Specialist Hospital. The contract rehabilitation of the wards, surgical rooms, the paediatric surgical, Orthopaedic wards, the eye clinic, and accident/emergency/Compound Office, access road, laboratory admin, the Intensive Care Unit, Theatres, and the Mortuary.

The result is that the specialist hospital established in 1938 is now experiencing a turnaround, though the rehabilitation work is yet to be completed. The upgrade in the hospital through the intervention of OSSAP-SDGs is visible to patients and visitors to the facility right from the entrance with the newly rebuilt access road and walkway.

Inside the hospital, patients are also delightedly confronted with brand new facilities as the healthcare facility can now boast of the new beddings, laboratories, Theatre Units, Pharmacist department and Morgue.

On a recent visit, the Head of Maintenance of the Specialist Hospital, Mr Ahaz Yakubu, told journalists that the rehabilitation, which began in 2019 has resulted in the ‘’complete transformation and remodelling’’ of the administrative block and the access roads now overlaid with asphalt.

Yakubu also noted that the Accident and Emergency Department have been completed and patients were also taking advantage of the new facilities. While the male surgical ward has been completed and being put into use. He also noted that trollies can be taken through the walkways now because of the rehabilitation.

A patient at the Orthopedic Unit of the hospital, Mohammed Adama, commended the cleanliness of the hospital. “The environment is so hygienic.

I am so much happy about the environment.

Look at the fans, they are working. I appreciate the efforts and the works done by the SDGs office in this hospital and I pray that we will have such changes in other areas of our national life. We appreciate the developments here and we appreciate efforts of office of the SDGs,” Adama said.

A visitor who came to see one of her relatives on admission at hospital, Janet Nyen - from Borno State confirmed that there has been a great change in the hospital from what it looked like two years ago.

“We appreciate the changes; the whole place is now looking nice, very beautiful. You can see the landscaping, flowers, the roof, they have already changed it. The environment is very nice and neat compared to how it was three years ago,” she said.

Another patient, Ali Umar, who spoke in Hausa expressed his appreciation to President Buhari and OSSAP-SDGs for making the hospital conducive for patients through the rehabilitation and provision of new facilities.

Hannah Dan Azumi, a relation of another patient at the hospital said she is happy with the changes at the hospital from the landscaping, the renovation work at the wards and the change of beddings. Yet, the relative of another patient at the ICU expressed appreciation over the provision of ventilators, the new beddings and rehabilitation of the hospital.

“When I entered Yola Specialists Hospital last week, I was astounded by the changes that has taken place in the legendary health institution. I saw the new beautiful outlook of the Hospital. ‘’In fact, the hospital now can compete with any standard health facility in the country,” Dr Amos Haruna, a private health practitioner in Yola said.

He noted that the intervention by OSSAP-SDGs is the most comprehensive of such interventions for any healthcare facility in the state, saying that with the intervention of OSSAP-SDGs, it is now cheaper for residents of Yola and environs to access quality healthcare without going outside the state.

The Murtala Mohammed Specialist Hospital in Kano and the Specialist Hospital in Yola are not the only hospitals that have received such attention from the federal government through the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on SDGs in the last few years.

Abdullahi Wase Hospital, Infectious Diseases Hospital, a specialised service hospital, Abubakar Imam Urology Centre in Kano have also received a comprehensive rehabilitation touch from the OSSAP-SDGs in the last two years.

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on SDGs, Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire - under whose supervision the comprehensive rehabilitation has been carried out, attributed the laudable efforts to the visionary leadership of Buhari. She thanked the President for his commitment to alleviating the plight of the common man and making life more meaningful for Nigerians.

22

TUESDAY MARCH 30, 2021 • T H I S D AY

LAWYER

A

WEEKLY PULLOUT

30.03.2021

BENUE STATE GOVERNOR, SAMUEL ORTOM AND PRESIDENT MUHAMMADU BUHARI

ORTOM’S ATTACK: STRETCHING NIGERIA’S INSECURITY TO THE LIMIT?

2/DASHBOARD

30.03.2021

LAWYER

A

WEEKLY PULLOUT

30.03.2021

BENUE STATE GOVERNOR, SAMUEL ORTOM AND PRESIDENT MUHAMMADU BUHARI

Whether Personal Service of an Originating Process Can be Dispensed With PAGE 4

ORTOM’S ATTACK: STRETCHING NIGERIA’S INSECURITY TO THE LIMIT?

QUOTABLES 'Implementation remains the Achilles heel of our planning efforts. Sometimes, the implementation failures are due to resource and capacity constraints. But, we must also ponder on the possibility that our plans may be, in some cases, unrealistic, or not grounded in objective reality....’ - Professor Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, Professor of Law, Vice President, Federal Republic of Nigeria ‘Here, our people are asked to tighten their belts all the time, whether there is recession or not. For the people, they are permanently in recession in our country, because of the gross mismanagement of our economy.’ Femi Falana, SAN, Human Rights Lawyer and Activist

NBA Women’s Forum Celebrates International Women’s Day in Grand Style PAGE 5

Myanmar: IBA Calls for Release of Detained Lawyers PAGE 5

Professor Jelili Omotola, SAN: Tribute to a Legacy of Service PAGE 11

/3

30.03.2021

When Government Is a Punishing Rod Last week, a friend of mine, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, asked me what I thought was the reason why Nigerians run for elective office/struggle to be part of Government? My response was that, most of them do so because of the nomenclature and perquisites that go with the various offices - so that they can be called 'Distinguished' (Distinguished Senator), or Honourable, or His or Her Excellency, Governor this and that, Honourable Minister (though this is an appointment not an elective position, these days, partly reserved for party members who were unable to win their elections) and so on. It is simply a means to achieve their personal ends - ‘shi ke nan’! Many of these elected officials have absolutely no aims and objectives, and certainly, no plans to play their roles properly, or to better the lot of Nigerians or Nigeria. The fact that so many of them are facing corruption and money laundering charges, is an attestation to the fact that majority of them do not care or mean well for us and our dear country, Nigeria.

They only mean well for their pockets and/or their personal ambitions, while they mete out harsh punishments on the people! Due to space constraints, I have only used three illustrations today, which include the Federal Government, Kogi, Kaduna and Lagos States (though many other States are in the same boat as Kaduna or even worse, with regard to insecurity).

What is Government?

According to the Cambridge Dictionary, Government is "the group of people who officially control a country". Sections 4, 5, and 6 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended in 2018)(the Constitution) provide for three equal arms of Government, that is, the three groups of people who control Nigeria - the Legislature, the Executive and the Judiciary. These three arms of Government, are further replicated in the State setting. I have always maintained that though the three arms of Government are co-equal, sadly, over the years, the Executive has done all it can to relegate the Judiciary to a distant third position.

However, while it is a given that the different arms of Government have failed Nigerians, many of the State Governments who have failed their people abysmally seem to have escaped being blamed for their dereliction of duty, as we often fail to beam the searchlight on them, concentrating mainly on the Federal Government, the Judiciary and the Legislature.

Constitutional Provisions Relevant to this Discourse Every person in Nigeria is bound by the provisions of the Constitution (Section 1(1)), while every arm of Government, whether Federal or State, Legislative or Judiciary, is bound by the provisions of Chapter II of the Constitution - the Fundamental Objectives and Directive Principles of State Policy, and Section 13 therein, mandates them to conform, observe and apply the provisions of Chapter II. Specifically, Section 14(2)(b) & (c) of the Constitution provides that the security and welfare of the people is the primary purpose of Government, and ensures the people’s participation in our Government in accordance with the Constitution, while Section 17(3)(c) & (d) mandates Government not to abuse the health of the people, and to provide adequate medical and health facilities for us.

Again, I reiterate the fact that the Federal Government allocates a security vote to all the States which the State Governors singlehandedly control, and are meant to spend on securing their States.

Health So, when you have a Governor like Yahaya Bello, who is constantly showcasing himself exercising in his gym on social media, but doesn’t care whether his people die from Covid-19 because of his baseless and brainless belief that the virus is ‘no big deal’, or his State is Covid-19-free, one cannot help but wonder how a person who does not comprehend the essence of governance, got into such a high office in the first place. Governance is not about wearing the latest designer sunglasses, or showing Nigerians that you are physically fit, nor is it about wasting scarce State funds (if that is what was expended) on useless television adverts, in a bid to make yourself more visible to Nigerians and promote your personal ambitions. This is why Section 6(6)(c) should be one of the first

provisions, that is deleted from the Constitution.

There must be accountability.

The whole of Nigeria was very much aware of the period when the first batch of the Astra Zeneca vaccine would be arriving in the country, yet, Kogi State is the only State that is yet to take delivery of its own ration, because their cold storage is not ready. As at today, most States except Kogi, have almost completed the administration of the first batch of vaccines. If there was accountability, any resident of Kogi State would have taken Governor Bello to court, either for not providing adequate Testing Facilities and Isolation Centres within the State (if they are inadequate), and certainly, for not putting the State’s cold storage in order, in anticipation of the arrival of the vaccines timeously.

Similarly, if anyone died because of the Governor’s foolhardiness, at least the State Government should be held responsible in damages, even if he cannot be sued personally because of the immunity to suit and legal process which he enjoys by virtue of Section 308(1)(a) of the Constitution. He deserves to be held personally responsible (see Sections 17(2)(b), (c) & 33(1) of the Constitution).

Kidnapping: Kaduna State Et al Last Friday morning, as I was watching the early morning 5a.m. News showing a clip of the Parents of the students abducted from the Federal College of Forestry Mechanisation, Kaduna State (the Kaduna Parents), I burst into tears and started sobbing. As a Parent myself, I pray never to experience what they, or the Chibok Parents, or Leah Sharibu’s' Parents are going through, let alone the fear that the terrified children in captivity are feeling. Leah's situation is even more frightening, as she is younger than the Kaduna students, and is all alone (I burst into tears again).

I was therefore, more than taken aback with the comments of Mr Sunny Moniedafe last Thursday on Channel TV’s Sunrise Daily, when he said something to the effect that it was not necessary for the Kaduna Parents to be kept abreast, since the Government was handling the kidnap situation.

On that programme, Mr Moniedafe was described as an APC Stakeholder, but more importantly, an aspirant for the position of APC Chairman come June, 2021 when the Party’s Convention is scheduled to hold.

It was heart wrenching to hear a Kaduna Parent, Sani Friday, also a staff of the Forestry College, pleading with Good Samaritans for assistance, in the event that the Kidnappers make direct contact with the Parents for a ransom payment, stating that they had heard nothing from Government as at the time he gave the interview (I believe that with the subsequent outcry and peaceful protest by the Kaduna Parents, Government has finally granted them audience). While we do not expect the Government to share the nitty gritty and strategy of their rescue plans freely so that their arrangements are not compromised, the Parents have a right to hear from Government, be comforted by them, even participate to whatever extent is permissible, in assisting in the rescue of their children.

President Muhammadu Buhari

As for the Parents 'calming down' as Mr Moniedafe advised, because the Government is ‘handling it’, I wonder whether he would feel the same way if it was his children in the hands of killers and rapists, and whether he would not be running from pillar to post to secure their speedy release. I wonder what would make the Kaduna Parents feel confident, encouraged and calm that their precious children will be rescued?

That Government will handle their own issue the same way they have handled that of the Chibok Girls, in which almost seven years later (six years since this administration came into office), 112 out of the 276 girls who were abducted by Boko Haram are still unaccounted for, or the same way as that of Leah Sharibu who was the only Dapchi abductee that was not released, and is now being rumoured to have borne two children for a Boko Haram Commander while in captivity? Is that what any of us Parents has planned for our daughters? Teenage pregnancy caused by rape, fathered by a cold-blooded killer? Absolutely not.

As a Parent, it could be that I’m being emotional, but, my view on the kidnappings of the children is that, if the Federal and State Governments encourage Parents to send their children to their schools, it is their responsibility to keep them safe while they are there. As long as the children remain in the schools, the Government is their custodian, and is therefore, responsible for rescuing them, whether by paying ransom or any other means. Both the Federal and Kaduna State Governments, are culpable for their negligence. Nigerians, particularly Government, already have the foreknowledge that schools with boarding facilities, especially those located in the North are a prime target, yet nothing tangible has been done to secure them.

If the consequence of negligence on the part of the Federal and/or State Government is to pay a ransom to rescue the children, so be it; because aside from these evil criminals, the next set of people to blame is Government, both Federal, State, and the law enforcement agencies.

Lagos: The Plight of Wale and his Fellow Residents Again, last week, a friend of mine, Wale, who resides in a two bedroomed flat in Mushin, came crying to me that a flyover which would go over the railway tracks in that axis, was to be constructed.

Naturally, the provision of infrastructure is good news, except when the interest of the people is not taken care of.

To the best of my knowledge, Nigeria is still proudly maintaining her position as the new poverty capital of the world. Majority of our people, are going through unprecedented lack and hardship. So, when Wale informed me that the Lagos State Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) in cahoots with some of the APC Chieftains in the area, had more or less compelled residents to accept N50,000 as compensation and relocation expenses since some properties are to be demolished to make way for the flyover, I told him that I did not believe him - the Lagos State Government could not do something that is clearly so heartless, callous, unfair and inhumane to its people, particularly as Section 17(2)(c) of the Constitution provides that 'governmental actions shall be humane'. Wale added that, the acceptance of the N50,000 from LAMATA (or whichever agency is responsible for paying off the residents) was accompanied with a proviso that they would have to vacate their residences within seven days upon receipt of payment!

Wale explained to me that as an old tenant, he pays an annual rent of N300,000 for the two bedroom flat that he and his family occupy, but that today, everywhere he had gone to try to secure an alternative accommodation, rents seem to have doubled to N600,000 (plus N230,000 agreement fee and commission). So, like Wale, many of the people in that axis are in a quandary, as they are being effectively rendered homeless by LAMATA, an agency of Lagos State Government.

Is Government really serious about reducing the crime rate? With these types of moves, my answer would have to be no.

Even though I have had the benefit of perusing some of the documents in respect of this matter, as Wale made them available to me in a bid to substantiate his claims when I insisted that his allegations sounded unbelievable and outlandish, I will still give Alausa the benefit of the doubt,

“.......OR THAT OF LEAH SHARIBU WHO WAS THE ONLY DAPCHI ABDUCTEE THAT WAS NOT RELEASED, AND IS NOW BEING RUMOURED TO HAVE BORNE TWO CHILDREN FOR A BOKO HARAM COMMANDER WHILE IN CAPTIVITY? IS THAT WHAT ANY OF US PARENTS PLANNED FOR OUR DAUGHTERS? TEENAGE PREGNANCY CAUSED BY RAPE, FATHERED BY A COLD-BLOODED KILLER? ABSOLUTELY NOT”

that either they cannot be aware of these acts of injustice that are being meted out on the people of Mushin by their conscienceless staff, or on the other hand, if Alausa is aware, it must as a matter of urgency retrace its unjustifiable and inequitable steps, and pay these residents compensation that is commensurate, that is, enough money for them to secure similar accommodations to what they are currently occupying. In fact, that kind of sudden relocation, should additionally be rewarded with a premium for inconvenience.

Conclusion It seems that not only are elected and appointed officials not particularly interested in playing their roles properly, Government always seems to take actions which are inimical to the interest of the masses. The purpose of Government, is inter alia, to secure the happiness of every citizen on the basis of social justice (Section 16(1)(b) of the Constitution), not to inflict unending suffering on the people. In every part of the country, the man on the street is in pain and suffering. Government must strive to do better, starting from today. It is also rather unfortunate that, voting out elected officials (which is the punishment for non-performers) remains nothing but a theory in Nigeria, as vote buying and election rigging hinders the ability of Nigerians to vote out erring politicians, even if they wish to.

4/LAW REPORT

Whether Personal Service of an Originating Process Can be Dispensed With Facts The Appellant and the Second Respondent/Applicant contested the primary election of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), along with other candidates. Being aggrieved by the outcome of the primary election, they approached the Federal High Court for a determination of who the party’s nominated candidate for the Cross River State North District Senatorial by-election was. The court found for the Appellant, and pronounced him as the PDP’s flag-bearer for the Senatorial election. By this decision, the Appellant contested in the bye-election and won.

He was declared the winner, as and sworn in as the Senator representing the Cross River State North Senatorial District.

Meanwhile, the First Respondent had filed a suit against the Second and Third Respondents at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja in Suit No. CV/77/2020, challenging the nomination of the Second Respondent as PDP’s candidate for the by-election. In that suit (leading to the present appeal), the Appellant and the PDP were not joined as parties. The First Respondent had prayed the court for a determination of some questions relating to the information supplied by the Second Respondent to INEC, alleging that the said information about the educational qualification of the Second Respondent was false, and that the primary election of the PDP was conducted without valid delegate list of the party. The trial court dismissed the suit, for failure of the 1st Respondent to prove the assertions in the Originating Summons; however, the court made some positive orders in favour of the Second Respondent, by directing the Third Respondent (INEC) to publish the name of the Second Respondent as the candidate of PDP in the Senatorial by-election. This order was made, despite the subsisting order of a court of co-ordinate jurisdiction in favour of the Appellant. The First Respondent’s appeal against the decision of the trial court was also dismissed, but the appellate court preserved the order of the trial court made in favour of the Second Respondent.

Upon becoming aware of the decision of the trial court delivered on 17th December, 2020 (which decision affected his interest), the Appellant filed an application dated 23rd December, 2020 before the Court of Appeal, seeking leave to appeal against the decision of the Court of Appeal, as an interested party. The application was addressed and served on the Respondents, through their counsel on record. The court granted the application on 29th December, 2020 and the Appellant filed his Notice of Appeal to the Supreme Court on that same day, and purportedly served same on the Respondents.

At the Supreme Court, the First and Second Respondents raised a Preliminary Objection to the jurisdiction of the court, on the ground that the Notice of Appeal was not served on the First and Second Respondents.

Issue for Determination The issue considered by the court in its determination of the Preliminary Objection was Whether from the facts and circumstances of this application and considering the applicable precedents of the Honourable Court on the subject of service and notice, the application ought to be granted?

Arguments Arguing the Preliminary Objection, Counsel for the First Respondent submitted that a Notice of Appeal is an originating process by which an appeal is commenced in an appellate court, just as a Writ of Summons or any other mode of commencement of an action, at a High Court. He submitted that an originating process is a fundamental process which, if found to be defective, must be struck out by the court.

Counsel argued that Order 2 Rules 3 and 4 of the Supreme Court Rules, mandates service of the Notice of Appeal on all the Respondents. Thus, failure of the Appellant to serve the Notice of Appeal on the First Respondent personally, is fatal to the jurisdiction of the court to hear the determine the appeal, having not been initiated by due process of law. Counsel relied on ROSSEK v ACB LTD (1993) 8 NWLR (Pt. 312) 382 at 437, in support of his position. Counsel contended further that whatever the Appellant purportedly served does not count, as the address endorsed on the process was a wrong address in view of the combined effect of Order 2 Rules 3 and 4 and Order 6 Rule 2(1) of the Supreme Court Rules. In support of this position, counsel for the Second Respondent submitted that the Notice of Appeal does not contain the address of the 2nd Respondent for service, and that same was not served on him. He opined that this omission was incurable and rendered the appeal incompetent, in line with Order 2 Rule 3(1)(b) of the Supreme Court Rules.

Responding to the submissions above, Counsel for the Appellant argued that with the endorsement of an address for service on the First Respondent, the Notice of Appeal, on its face, is competent and cannot be set aside. Counsel posited that what can be set aside is only the service of the Notice of Appeal on the address endorsed thereon, and given the fact that the law allows substituted service with or without a failed attempt at personal service, the issue of the address for service becomes insignificant. He argued that the First Respondent cannot insist on personal service on him, when the court had earlier made an order of substituted service.

He reasoned that the essence of service is to give notice to a party in litigation of the pendency of court proceedings, so that the party can take steps to have his interests represented in court and take advantage of the constitutional provisions of fair hearing – SALEH v ABAH (2017) 12 NWLR (Pt. 1578) 100 at 126. Thus, Counsel for the Second Respondent,

having filed his Respondent’s Brief of Argument without raising the issue of service therein, cannot belatedly raise the issue of service as an afterthought. Counsel argued on behalf of the Appellant, that the First and Second Respondent had waived any perceived or imaginary irregularity in service – EDIRU v FRSC (2016) 4 NWLR (Pt. 1502) 209.

In his reply to the submission about the order of substituted service, counsel for the First Respondent argued that the order was obtained through misrepresentation of facts. He argued that the Appellant intentionally endorsed a wrong address for service, and served the process on a stranger.

Honourable Chima Centus Nweze, JSC

In the Supreme Court of Nigeria Holden at Abuja On Friday, the 25th day of February, 2021 Before Their Lordships

Musa Dattijo Muhammad Chima Centus Nweze Helen Moronkeji Ogunwumiju Abdu Aboki Samuel Chukwudumebi Oseji Tijanni Abubakar Emmanuel Akomaye Agim Justices, Supreme Court SC/CV/09/2021 Between DR. STEPHEN ADI ODEY

APPELLANT/RESPONDENT

And 1. CHIEF JOHN ALAGA RESPONDENT/APPLICANT 2. JARIGBE AGOM JARIGBE RESPONDENT/APPLICANT 3. INDEPENDENT NATIONAL ELECTORAL COMMISSION (INEC) RESPONDENT

(Lead Judgement delivered by Honourable Chima Centus Nweze, JSC)

“......PERSONAL SERVICE OF AN ORIGINATING PROCESS, LIKE A NOTICE OF APPEAL, IS A FUNDAMENTAL REQUIREMENT OF THE LAW .....ORDER 2 RULE 3 AND 4 OF THE SUPREME COURT RULES MAKES IT MANDATORY FOR THE NOTICE OF APPEAL TO BE SERVED ON ALL THE RESPONDENTS, AND BREACH OF THE RULES IS NOT A MERE IRREGULARITY, BUT A FUNDAMENTAL BREACH WHICH GOES TO THE FOUNDATION OF THE APPEAL”

Court’s Judgement and Rationale The Supreme Court noted that the First Respondent was not served personally with the Notice of Appeal, and the Appellant attempted to remedy this defect by his application for an order of substituted service. This order was granted at a time when the Second Respondent had filed his Brief of Argument, and the Appellant had filed a Reply Brief. At the time, the application of counsel for the Second Respondent seeking to strike out the appeal, was pending in court. Counsel for the Appellant did not dispute these facts, but argued that failure to effect personal service of a Notice of Appeal is a mere irregularity, which does not fundamentally taint the procedure as to render it invalid or a nullity.

Deciding the issue of law, the court held that personal service of an originating process, like a Notice of Appeal, is a fundamental requirement of the law – AKINLOYE v ADELAKUN (2000) 5 NWLR (Pt. 657) 530. Order 2 Rule 3 and 4 of the Supreme Court Rules makes it mandatory for the Notice of Appeal to be served on all the Respondents, and breach of the Rules is not a mere irregularity but a fundamental breach which goes to the foundation of the appeal – POPOOLA v BABATUNDE (2012) 7 NWLR (Pt. 1299) 302 at 331.

Their Lordships held that the service of Notice of Appeal (and other originating processes) is intimately tied to the jurisdiction of court, and constitutes the condition precedent which clothes the court with competence. It must be served personally on the Respondent unless directed or ordered by the court, or expressly exempted by the provisions of the law.

It is not an irregularity that can be waived or cured - SKEN CONSULT (NIG.) LTD v UKEY (1981) 1 SC 4. Service of an originating process, like the Notice of Appeal, has a linkage with the impregnable right to fair hearing enshrined in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria – IHEDIOHA & ORS. v OKOROCHA & ANOR. (2016) 1 NWLR (Pt. 1492) 147 at 199. Where service is not effected as required by law, the person who was improperly served, is entitled, ex debito justitiae, to have the so-called service set aside as a nullity – MARK & ANOR. v EKE (2004) 5 NWLR (Pt. 865) 54.

The belated attempt at remedying the situation, could not stand. The order of substituted service, was obtained after the Second Respondent had filed his Brief of Argument and application to strike out the appeal. The Supreme Court, which made the said ex-parte order, retains the inherent powers, in deserving circumstances (as in this case), to discharge the order – BOABAN v DIRHRE (2005) 16 NWLR (Pt. 951) 297.

The court thereby, entered an order setting aside the ex-parte order of substituted service.

The Preliminary Objection Succeeds.

Dissenting Opinion Three Justices of the Supreme Court gave a dissenting opinion, in this appeal. They reasoned that filing of a Notice of Appeal and its competence, is quite different from the competence of the service of the Notice of Appeal. They opined that Notice of Appeal in question, is not fraught with any inherent incompetence. It cannot be the law that a Notice of Appeal is incompetent, if the personal address of the Respondent is not indicated therein. What the provisions of Order 2 Rule 3 and 4 and Order 6 Rule 2(1) of the Supreme Court Rules, 2011 require, is an endorsement of the Respondent’s address on the Notice of Appeal and not necessarily the personal address of the Respondent, so long as the Respondent is personally served. Service of court process is a procedural issue which can be regularised; hence, the order of substituted service can be granted to cure the defect in the service, complained of by the Respondents – MOBIL v LASEPA (2002) 18 NWLR (Pt. 786) 1 at 32. The court must maintain its jurisprudence of substantial justice, rather than technical justice; thus, upon filing the motion for substituted service, it took precedence over the Notice of Preliminary Objection, and should have been heard first. The order for substituted service is a valid order of court which is binding, as there was no application to set it aside.

Appeal Struck Out by a Majority Decision of 4:3.

Representation Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN with Ahmed Raji, SAN; Mohammed Ndarani Mohammed, SAN and others for the Appellant.

S.I. Ologunorisa, SAN and others for the 1st Respondent.

Chief I.A. Adedipe, SAN and others for the 2nd Respondent.

Agada Elachi and others for the 3rd Respondent.

Reported by Optimum Publishers Limited, Publishers of the Nigerian Monthly Law Report (NMLR)(An Affiliate of Babalakin & Co.)

30.03.2021

NEWS/5

NBA Women’s Forum Celebrates International Women’s Day in Grand Style The Nigerian Bar Association’s Women’s Forum last Wednesday, at a well attended virtual conference, celebrated the 2021 International Women’s Day around the theme ‘Pathways to Diversity Challenging Blindspot and Powering Up for Inclusion’.

The conference which was declared open by the former Minister of Solid Minerals, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili, also had in attendance the First Ladies of Taraba and Imo States.

In her opening address, Ezekwesili brought to the fore the plight of women nationwide, and the untenable reasons why the gender inequality gap keeps widening. With less than 30% of women in government and the legislature, Ezekwesili believes the narration has to

to the fact that statics show that in the past decade, the ratio of female Lawyers called to the Nigerian Bar, is almost at par with that of men. She however, wonders how the gap widens progressively when both go into practice.

The Chairperson of the Conference Planning Committee, Mrs. Chinyere Okorocha, told the august JDWKHULQJ WKDW WKH VLJQLÀcance of the International Women’s Day wasn’t lost on Nigerian female Lawyers being part the global move L-R: Chinenye Uwanaka, Chair, Fundraising Subcommittee, Chinyere Okorocha, Chair, Conference to strategically shore up Planning Committee (CPC), Theodora Kio-Lawson, Programme & Content Subcommittee and Adefowoke the female gender in the Ayo-Pinkett, Chair, Logistics Subcommitee for the Nigerian Bar Association Women Forum (NBAWF) profession.

International Women’s Day (IWD) Virtual Conference at the conference controlled venue in Lagos She said: ‘We are here today to celebrate the change. That old nuances GRPLQDWHG ODZ ÀUPV KRZ no longer be comfortable labours of our heroes about women being home- many female partners they SOD\LQJ WKH VHFRQG ÀGGOH past. Our very arrival on makers with the attendant KDYH LQ WKHLU ÀUPV ZLWK to men, in the profession. the scene is predicated on challenges, have to change. equal positions. She said :LWK YHULÀDEOH VWDWLVWLFV WKH ÀJKW IRXJKW E\ YHU\ Dr. Ezekwesili asked male female Lawyers should Ezekwesili drew attention brave women, against a system that prejudiced them simply on the basis of their gender. Now, as a new era emerges, and with some of these issues to promote reform of the behind us, we have new rules regulating the legal challenging blindspots to profession in Myanmar, and to strengthen the capacity of address, and the need for the Bar to function indepen- female Lawyers to power dently and democratically, as up and press for female a representative professional inclusion at all levels, is body mandated to promote and protect the rule of law now more critical than ever in Myanmar. before. Today, in line with Dr Ellis added: ‘Our the International Women’s support for our colleagues LQ 0\DQPDU LV XQÁLQFKLQJ Day theme, we choose to and we remind the junta challenge the narrative that of Principle 16 of the UN Female Lawyers are “gentleBasic Principles on the Role of Lawyers, which states men in skirts”.... We refuse that environments must be to be stereotyped based on conducive to Lawyers being our gender, and we aspire able to perform all of their Protesters in Myanmar professional functions without for equality at all levels of hindrance, the Bench and at the Bar. took (in relation to Lawyers). regime knows it is without le- intimidation, The IBA admires them, and gitimate standing. Today, with harassment or improper There continue to be issues calls on Lawyers everywhere the military junta in Myanmar, interference, and shall not of leadership inclusion for to show support for peers in we have such a situation. To VXͿHU RU EH WKUHDWHQHG ZLWK prosecution or administrative, female Lawyers, whether Myanmar’. provide itself and its actions The de facto leader of with a veneer of legitimacy, economic or other sanctions in private or public capaciMyanmar’s National League it is now tampering with the for any action taken in acties, sexual harassment is a for Democracy Party (NLD), country’s laws; ironically, an cordance with recognised State Counsellor Aung San act which itself is illegal, as professional duties, standards continuing concern, career Suu Kyi, along with the the coup is illegitimate. The and ethics’. growth and achieving Mr. Moyo concluded: NLD’s President Win Myint, amending of Myanmar’s a work life balance that have been detained by the Penal Code to make criminals ‘Nothing can excuse the military junta since the begin- out of protestors who are blatant murder of a nations’ enables us thrive and not ning of the coup when its demonstrating against the civilian population, by its own just survive, are all issues leader, General Min Aung military takeover, deserves all security forces. The head of the that must be addressed to Hlaing declared, without the international derision that military, gave election fraud as evidence, that the result of it is attracting. The repressive the reason for the takeover in ensure that the narrative the 2020 elections, won by OHJLVODWLRQ LV DQ DͿURQW WR WKH Myanmar. Perversely, the bru- changes’. the NLD, to be fraudulent. rule of law, and designed to tality of the troops under his In his goodwill message, Criminal proceedings brought destroy Myanmar’s nascent command who have rounded the NBA President, Mr. up peaceful protestors with against Ms Suu Kyi include democracy’. live ammunition, killing or the alleged illegal possession Together with the IBA’s Olumide Akpata said: ‘For of imported walkie-talkies. Human Rights Institute - arbitrarily detaining them me, the most interesting IBA Executive Director which had an international and the Lawyers who bravely Mark Ellis commented: ‘The legal specialist in Yangon for VHHN WR GHIHQG WKH FRQÀQHG event to look forward to reports of some Lawyers, three years (2014–2016) to ZRXOG DSSHDU MXVWLÀDEOH LQ KLV is the training scheduled for law students and journalists facilitate the development of a world view. The IBA applauds day two for young female being arrested or forced into representative Bar Association the European Union and hiding because they have - Myanmar’s legal profession United States levying sanctions Lawyers, on the women become targets of the junta established an independent against the individuals and empowerment principles in Myanmar, speaks plainly National Bar Association with groups linked to the coup, and gender gap analysis tool. to a regime without merit. local consensus, to promote the statement of the Special When the most basic rights and protect the interests of the Rapporteur on the Situation of I have always said that of citizens are curtailed, that legal profession in Myanmar, Human Rights in Myanmar’. we have not scratched the

Myanmar: IBA Calls for Release of Detained Lawyers The International Bar Association has strongly condemned the systematic destruction by the junta in Myanmar of people’s legal protections, including the right to life, freedom of expression, assembly, association, privacy, legal representation of one’s choice and a fair trial. The IBA called for the restoration of citizens’ rights, and for the release of detained protestors and defence Lawyers.

In a statement the global body of Lawyers said: ‘The arrests of legal professionals attempting to represent arbitrarily detained protestors, who were peacefully demonstrating against the 1 February, 2021 military coup d’état, contravenes international law and norms, including the United Nations Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers. The actions are of deep concern to the IBA, as is the appropriating of law to ÀW WKH MXQWD·V DJHQGD· IBA President Sternford Moyo commented: 'The IBA supports and applauds the Lawyers in Myanmar trying to uphold the rule of law, while it is disregarded by the junta at every turn. On the streets, citizens are being murdered by security forces with impunity.

Mobile phone footage shows ÀUVW UHVSRQGHUV WDNHQ IURP ambulances and beaten with the butts of guns, by men wearing uniforms that should represent protection for citizens. Civil liberties are being cast aside with irreverence and brutality is meted out with alarming consistency. Yet, armed only with professionalism and moral courage, Lawyers are turning up at Police stations to defend the detained. Despite sometimes jeopardising their own liberty and safety, Lawyers are holding to the professional oaths they

surface in terms of the role that the legal profession in Nigerian can play in, and for the Nigerian economy.

This is why I continue to espouse the view that, relative to our population, we do not have too many Lawyers in Nigeria.

We just have too many of our Lawyers concentrated in the same geographical area, and crowded in the same practice area. I have therefore, made it a cardinal policy of my administration to emphasise on the opening up of new frontiers of practice for our Lawyers.

To achieve this, we must GHYRWH VLJQLÀFDQW WLPH DQG resources to the training and retraining of our Lawyers, especially the female Lawyers.

‘There is a well-known African Proverb that says, “If you educate a man, you educate an individual. But, if you educate a woman, you educate a nation.”

Permit me to add to that by saying that the enlightenment of our female Lawyers, especially the young ones l, is the key to the instatement of the modern legal profession that we all dream all.

‘As I said during the campaign period, my administration will work tirelessly to achieve inclusiveness within the Bar. It is not a one-day journey, but one which requires hard work and dedication; one which must be achieved.

I also promised to support the NBA-WF, in the quest to establish a sexual harassment policy for the legal profession in Nigeria.

I wish to use this occasion, to restate that promise’.

To the excitement of all attendees, Akpata promised to disburse within the next IHZ ZHHNV WKH WDNHRͿ grants earmarked for the NBA Women’s Forum when it was created slightly over a year ago.

The Chair of the Forum Professor Oluyemisi Bamgbose, SAN showed apparent elation at the RXWÁRZ RI HQWKXVLDVP exhibited by Lawyers since the inception of the forum, and promised to ensure the forum meticulously carries RXW LWV PDQGDWH DQG IXOÀOV the purpose for which it was created.

O 6/IMAGES

n Monday, March 22, 2021, Honourable Olabode Rhodes-Vivour CFR, Justice of the Supreme Court, attained the mandatory retirement age of 70, and stepped down from the Bench after serving 27 years thereon, starting from his appointment as a Judge of the High Court of Lagos State on February 18,1994 to his elevation to the Supreme Court on September 16, 2010. A Valedictory Session was held in his honour at the Supreme Court, Abuja, FCT. Here are some of the personalities, who were present at the event.....

PHOTOS: GODWIN OMOGUI

30.03.2021

Hon. Justice Olabode Rhodes-Vivour CFR. and his wife Adedoyin Rhodes-Vivour, SAN

L–R: Hon. Justice Bode Rhodes–Vivour; Chief Justice of the Federation, Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad, Hon. Justice Mary Peter-Odili and Hon. Justice Olatokunbo Kekere-Ekun

L-R: Adedoyin Rhodes-Vivour, SAN, Hon. Justice Olabode Rhodes-Vivour, Hon. Olatokunbo Kekere-Ekun, JSC and Onikepo Braithwaite, Editor, This Day Lawyer

L–R: Y.C Maikyau, SAN, Moyo Onigbanjo, SAN, Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN and Steve Adehi, SAN

Hon. Justice Mary Peter-Odil

L-R: CJN, Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad, Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN, Chief Chris Former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Justice S.M.A Belgore GCON Uche, SAN and Hon. Justice Ijeoma Agugua

Former Chief Justices of Nigeria, Mahmud Mohammed GCON and Aloma Muhktar GCON

Steve Oronsaye

Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State and President, NBA Olumide Akpata

30.03.2021

IMAGES/7

L-R: Hon. Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, Hon. Justice Olabode Rhodes-Vivour and CJN, Hon. Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad

L-R: Babatunde Ogala, SAN, Olusegun Fabunmi, SAN, Mrs Adejoke Layi-Babatunde and Y.C. Maikyau, SAN

Solicitor-General of the Federation, Dayo Apata, SAN Chief Adesoji Ajayi-Bembe and Chief Taliat Yusuf

L-R: Adedoyin Rhodes-Vivour, SAN, Hon.Justice Olabode Rhodes-Vivour and Hon. Justice Maha Hon. Justice Amina Augie (left) and Hon. Justice Moronkeji Ogunwumiju

L–R: Justice Victoria T. Nwoye; Justice Vivian Ekezue; Justice Banjelio and Justice Olasunbo Goodluck

Cross-section of Lawyers at the Valedictory Session

Dr Ogbai Omo-Eboh, SAN

Governor Gboyega Oyetola of Osun State and Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State

Asiwaju Adegboyega

8/COVER

30.03.2021

Ortom's Attack: Stretching The nation’s insecurity challenges took a turn for the worse recently, when the Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom was attacked in broad daylight by armed bandits on the way from his farm. The Governor of Borno State, Professor Babagana Zulum, also suffered the same fate last year. If these criminals had succeeded in their dastardly attempt to eliminate a sitting Governor, the consequences of their actions would most likely have worsened the already tense situation in the country. The questions on the lips of many are, how safe are the other State Governors whose States have been under attack from insurgents? How long will the authorities allow the marauders to reign free with their evil acts? What methods, including legislation, can Government adopt to help ease the insecurity that Nigeria is currently experiencing? Chief Sebastine Hon, SAN does an in-depth analysis of the worrisome issues in these frightening developments, drawing attention to strategies which have been implemented, and laws that have been enacted in other countries, like USA, the Philippines and UK Legal Memorandum for Combatting Terrorism in Nigeria Preface Nigeria is presently engulfed in severe security challenges, due to the longstanding terrorism war waged by the Boko Haram, the ISWAP, the ISIS and lately, armed herders and bandits.

In the midst of all these, the central government’s will and capacity to arrest the situation and assert itself have been suspect. Government has, for instance, openly demurred and dithered, to the consternation of many, in dealing with foreign elements freely entering into Nigeria, killing, maiming, raping, pillaging and taking over lands from natives.

The height of this, is the recent attempted assassination of outspoken Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, by a group called the Fulani Nationality Movement. The real danger is not just that attempt; but the fact of this group threatening the murder of any other Governor or Nigerian citizen, who opposes or is seen to be opposing the RUGA policy of rehabilitating and resettling the herders. Till the time of writing this article, no department of the Federal Government has either condemned this or made any arrests!

Faced with government’s seeming inaction, the natives of Nigeria have either taken up arms to defend themselves and their compatriots, or are threatening to secede from the country. Indeed, apart from the Nigerian civil war of 1967-1970, the corporate existence of Nigeria has never before been threatened than this.

Worthy of mention is the fact that the so called North-West alliance that produced President Muhammadu Buhari, is shaken to its foundation – with many elected public officers from the South-West openly condemning the demurrer of the Federal Government on this vexed issue of insecurity. Even Mr. President’s traditional support base, the Northwest, also hard hit by kidnapping, banditry and a rising insurrection, has risen up, so to say, against the Presidency.

This piece, although reluctantly written – in view of the central Government’s seeming and longstanding apathy at taking decisive steps to stem the spiralling insecurity in the country – seeks to counsel the central Government on the Legislative, Executive and Judicial steps to be taken, to arrest the situation. I shall do so by examining our extant laws on the subject, critically comparing them with similar or other laws elsewhere, and then making suggestions on the way forward.

Legislature and Executive’s Duty to Strengthen Counter-Terrorism Laws The National Assembly first enacted the Terrorism (Prevention) Act of 2011; but quickly, in 2013, amended it, by enacting the Terrorism (Prevention) (Amendment) Act No. 25 of 2013. So far, this is the central legislation in Nigeria on terrorism; but we shall now examine its provisions vis-à-vis similar legislation abroad, to test its efficacy, especially on major areas that are very important in the fight against this scourge. We shall also, in this piece, critically examine the role of the Federal Government in preventing and tackling or combating terrorism and organised banditry in Nigeria.

Need for Comprehensive Legislation on Intelligence Gathering The Nigerian Terrorism (Prevention)(Amendment Act) 2013, has, in Section 1A, simply made the office of the National Security Adviser, ONSA, “the coordinating body for all security and enforcement agencies under this Act.” USA Compare this with the provisions of the US Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004, which have, quite commendably, not only established the office of the Director of National Intelligence (DNI) under

Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom national security.”

Section 102(a) of the Act, but have also established the following collaborative offices or departments: (a) the National Counterterrorism Centre – established

by Section 1021 of the Act; (b) the National Counter Proliferation Centre – established by Section 1022 of the Act; National Intelligence Centres – established by Section 119B of the Act; and (d) the Joint Intelligence Community Council – established by Section 101A of that Act. This Council is made up of the DNI, who chairs it, the Secretary of State, the Secretary of Treasury, the Secretary of Defence, the Attorney General, the Secretary of Energy, the Secretary of Homeland Security and “such other officers of the United States Government as the President may designate from time to time.” The chief function of this Council, is to “assist the Director of National Intelligence in developing and implementing a joint, unified national intelligence effort to protect

“.......THERE SHOULD BE ESTABLISHED SOME NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE CENTRES IN AT LEAST THE SIX GEOPOLITICAL ZONES OF NIGERIA, IF NOT IN ALL THE STATES OF THE FEDERATION. THIS WILL GREATLY ENHANCE INTELLIGENCE GATHERING AND SHARING, TWIN TOOLS FOR THE FIGHT AGAINST ORGANISED CRIME”

Philippines Similarly, Section 53 of the Philippine Human Security Act 2007, has created the Anti-Terrorism Council, made up of an Executive Secretary as Chairman, the Secretary of Justice, the Secretary of Foreign Affairs, the Secretary of National Defence, the Secretary of Interior and Local Government; the Secretary of Finance and the National Security Advisor. This Council is charged with the responsibility of undertaking “the proper and effective implementation of the anti-terrorism policy of the country;” and its secretariat is to be known as the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency.

Finally, by the provisions of the said Section 53 of this Act, the National Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Immigration, Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Anti-Money Laundering Council, the Philippine Centre on Transnational Crime and the Philippine National Police Intelligence and Investigative Elements “shall serve as support agencies for the Council.”

I am of the view, therefore, that the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) is too limited both in resources and other parameters, to singularly coordinate all that has to do with anti-terrorism in Nigeria. The US model whereby all of the Secretary of State, the Secretary of Treasury, the Secretary of Defence, the Attorney-General, the Secretary of Energy, the Secretary of Homeland Security, together with the Director of National Intelligence, come together under one umbrella body known as the Joint Intelligence Community Council, should be adopted in Nigeria.

As shown above, the Philippines also has a similar arrangement.

Secondly, even if neither of the National Counterterrorism Centre nor the National Counter-Proliferation Centre is to be established in Nigeria, there should be established some National Intelligence Centres in at least the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria, if not in all the States of the Federation. This will greatly enhance intelligence gathering and sharing, twin tools for the fight against organised crime.

Section 7 of the Philippine Human Security Act of 2007 allows wiretapping, interception and or surveillance of terrorist communications by a police officer or law enforcement official and members of his team, upon “a written order of the Court of Appeals”. There is, however, a proviso, which prohibits surveillance, interception or recording of communications between Lawyers and Clients, Doctors and Patients, Journalists and their sources, and confidential business correspondence.

Comparatively, Section 29(1) of the Terrorism (Prevention)(Amendment) Act of 2013 provides

as follows: 29.–(1) Without prejudice to any other law, the relevant law enforcement agency with the approval of the Attorney-General of the Federation may, with the approval of the Coordinator on National Security for the purpose of prevention of terrorist acts or to enhance the detection of offences related to the preparation of a terrorist act or the prosecution of offenders under this Act, apply ex-parte to a Judge for an interception of communication order.

Section 29(2) has authorised the Judge before whom such ex parte application is made to: (a) require a communication service provider to intercept and retain a specified communication or communications of a specified description received or transmitted or about to be received or transmitted by that communications service provider; (b) authorise the relevant law enforcement agency to enter any premises and to install in such premises any device for the interception and retention of a communication or communications of specified description and to remove and retain such a device for the purpose of intelligence gathering; and (c) authorise the relevant law enforcement agency to execute covert operations in relation to an identified or suspected terrorist group or persons for the purpose of gathering intelligence.

Also, while Section 29(3) of the Nigerian Act requires such ex parte order to “specify the maximum period for which a communications service provider may be required to retain communications data,” subsection (4) of the section allows admissibility of such intercepted evidence, if generated from a foreign country.

Bureaucratic red tape and ego or personality issues between the Attorney General of the Federation and the National Security Adviser may hamper the quick realisation of the objects of Section 29 of the Terrorism (Prevention) (Amendment) Act, 2013. The National Government of Niger signed a similar law in June, 2020; but its major difference is that, under its Article 2, any of the following high officials of that Government – President, the Prime Minister, the Minister of Defence, the Minister of Interior, the Minister of Justice or the Minister of Customs and Trade – have authority to order interception of communication. Thus, instead of permitting only the Attorney-General of the Federation, subject to the final authorisation of the NSA, to order interception, Article 2 of the Nigerien law should be adopted – since terrorism in and against Nigeria has almost blown out of control.

It must be noted, too, that bulk interception of electronic signals in Sweden for foreign surveillance purposes, as a counter-terrorism measure, was upheld as being valid under the European Convention on Human Rights, by the European Court of Human Rights. See Centrum for Rattvisa v Sweden, Application No. 35252, decided on 19th June, 2018.

Immigration and Organised Crime in Nigeria In a recent publication by the UN Security Council Counter-Terrorism Committee, it was stated, inter alia, that “Effective border security is key to the effective implementation of counter-terrorism measures pursuant to Security Council Resolution 1373 (2001).

It is the first line of defence against movement of terrorists across borders, and the illegal cross-border movement of goods”. We will view this statement, against current realities in Nigeria.

Entry into Nigeria by foreign terrorists, especially armed Fulani herdsmen, has constituted one the greatest security challenges dogging our nationhood and corporate existence. At a time, high officials of the Muhammadu Buhari-led Government scornfully told Nigerians that foreign herders will not be stopped from entering into Nigeria, notwithstanding the grave dangers posed by this migration. Such officials situated their warped opinions, in the ECOWAS Protocols on Free Movement within the Region and Transhumance. Even recently, the Governor Bauchi State, Bala Mohammed, openly and shamelessly boasted that the Fulani have no respect for national borders and that they can freely,

COVER/9

30.03.2021

Nigeria's Insecurity to the Limit? bearing AK47 assault rifles, traverse any country of their choice and ‘defend’ themselves with those lethal weapons!

Such barefaced lies, aimed at encouraging rather than discouraging cross-border criminalities, are not even concordant with the provisions of Decision A/ DEC.5/10/98, reached in Abuja by the ECOWAS Heads of State, which culminated in the Transhumance Protocol. For, the Protocol itself has made provisions regulating movement of cows across the sub-Region, some of which include the following: r "MM USBOTIVNBODF MJWFTUPDL TIBMM CF BMMPXFE TVDI GSFF NPWFNFOU POMZ JG iUIFZ IBWF UIF &$08"4 *OUFSOBUJPOBM 5SBOTIVNBODF $FSUJGJDBUF u 5IF BJNT PG TVDI $FSUJGJDBUF JODMVEF iUP QSPUFDU UIF IFBMUI PG MPDBM IFSETu BOE iUP NBLF JU QPTTJCMF UP JOGPSN UIF IPTU DPNNVOJUJFT PG UIF BSSJWBM PG USBOTIVNBODF BOJNBMTu m BT QFS "SUJDMF PG UIF 1SPUPDPM r 5IF 5SBOTIVNBODF $FSUJGJDBUF iTIBMM CF WFSJGJFE BOE DPVOUFS TJHOFE CZ UIF DPNQFUFOU BVUIPSJUJFT BU UIF FOUSZ BOE FYJU QPJOUT JO UIF IPTU DPVOUSZu m WJEF "SUJDMF PG UIF 1SPUPDPM r )FSET OPU DPWFSFE CZ UIJT $FSUJGJDBUF iTIBMM CF QMBDFE VOEFS RVBSBOUJOF BOE UIF DPTUT CPSOF CZ UIF PXOFSTu m WJEF "SUJDMF PG UIF 1SPUPDPM r )FSETNFO iNVTU CF JO QPTTFTTJPO PG JEFOUJUZ QBQFST EVMZ JTTVFE CZ UIF DPNQFUFOU BVUIPSJUJFT JO UIFJS DPVOUSJFT PG PSJHJO u BOE iNVTU CF BCMF VQPO EFNBOE UP TIPX QSPPG PG UIF JEFOUJUZu m WJEF "SUJDMF PG UIF 1SPUPDPM r i4USBZ BOJNBMT XJMM CF BQQSFIFOEFE CZ UIF SFMFWBOU BVUIPSJUJFT BOE JNQPVOEFE XJUIPVU QSFKVEJDF UP UIF BQQMJDBUJPO PG TBODUJPOT BHBJOTU UIFJS PXOFS PS IFSETNFO BT QSPWJEFE GPS CZ MBXT BQQMJDBCMF JO DBTFT PG TUSBZ BOJNBMT JO UIF .FNCFS 4UBUF DPODFSOFEu WJEF "SUJDMF PG UIF 1SPUPDPM Articles 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 and 19 have regulated the movement of the cattle, protection of the rights of the herdsmen and their corresponding duty to “observe all laws and regulations of the host country”, and settlement of disputes. None of these provisions has authorised or permitted the herdsmen to carry riffles or to embark on any of the criminal activities associated with what they are doing in Nigeria currently!

Besides, there is no provision, patent or latent, in the Protocol, which permits permanent residency for the foreign herdsmen; rather, Article 2 thereof defines “transhumance between States” as “the seasonal movement between Member States of herds leaving their usual grazing areas in search of water and pasture.” This, if honestly applied, will accord with Chapter 2 of the 1999 Constitution as amended, dealing with Nigerian citizenship. There is nothing, under our Constitution, as ‘citizenship by free movement.’

Indeed, when the ECOWAS Heads of State realised, post-1998 (the year the Transhumance Protocol was passed), that terrorism was fast growing in the West African sub-Region, they met on 28 February, 2013, in Yamoussoukro, Cote d’Ivoire, and adopted the “ECOWAS Political Declaration and Common Position against Terrorism”. After, amongst other things, iCFBSJOH JO NJOE UIF MJOLBHFT CFUXFFO UFSSPSJTN BOE PUIFS GPSNT PG DSJNJOBMJUZ including transnational organised crimes TVDI BT USBGGJDLJOH JO ESVHT BOE IVNBO CFJOHT, arms smuggling and illicit proliferation of small arms and light weapons…,” they made powerful declarations and resolutions therein, including the following: i 6OFRVJWPDBMMZ DPOEFNOT UFSSPSJTN JO BMM JUT GPSNT BOE NBOJGFTUBUJPOT JODMVEJOH BDUT PG LJEOBQ QJOH IJKBDLJOH IPTUBHF UBLJOH BOE UIF EFNBOE BOE QBZNFOU PG SBOTPNw u &RVBMMZ DPOEFNOT BOZ NPWFNFOU HSPVQ PS JOEJWJEVBMT VTJOH SFMJHJPVT FUIOJD PS PUIFS TPDJBM PS DVMUVSBM EJGGFSFODFT UP JODJUF PS JOEVMHF JO WJPMFODF BOE PUIFS IPTUJMF BDUJWJUJFT SFTVMUJOH JO EFBUI JOKVSJFT PS EBNBHF UP QSPQFSUZ UIF JOUFOUJPO PG XIJDI JT UP JOUJNJEBUF PS DPFSDF B HPWFSONFOU QSJWBUF CVTJOFTT PS TFHNFOU PG UIF QPQVMBUJPO UIFSFPG GPS UIF QVSQPTF PG BDIJFWJOH QPMJUJDBM PS TPDJBM PCKFDUJWFTu International Travel I will hereby examine other foreign legislation. The UK Counter-Terrorism and Security Act, 2015, has made provisions authorising deportation of foreign terrorists from the UK. It has also made provisions for the temporary exclusion from the UK of terrorism suspects, known and defined under Chapter 2 thereof as ‘temporary exclusion orders,’ which are issued by the Secretary of State. Relevant offences are defined in the Act, with attendant punishments.

Also, the US Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 has made far-reaching amendments to existing legislation on immigration matters.

Thus, Section 5401 of the Act has amended Section 274(a) of the US Immigration and Nationality Act, by adding a provision to the effect that any person who has brought aliens to the US in violation of the provisions of the Immigration and Nationality Act, shall face a jail term of up to 10 years.

One important aspect of the provisions of Section 5401 of the Act is the requirement that there be an outreach programme developed and implemented by the Homeland Security Secretary in consultation with the Attorney-General and the Secretary of State,

“ENTRY INTO NIGERIA BY FOREIGN TERRORISTS, ESPECIALLY ARMED FULANI HERDSMEN, HAS CONSTITUTED ONE THE GREATEST SECURITY CHALLENGES DOGGING OUR NATIONHOOD AND CORPORATE EXISTENCE”

Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom on his farm as appropriate, “to educate the public in the United States and abroad about the penalties for bringing in and harbouring aliens in violation of this section”.

Another important provision is that of Section 5402, which has again amended Section 237(a)(4) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, by mandating deportation of aliens who have received military-type training from terrorist organisations.

There are no such elaborate provisions under Nigerian law. Rather, Section 37 of the Terrorism (Prevention) Act of 2011, as amended by Section 18 of the Terrorism (Prevention)(Amendment) Act of 2013, has merely made provisions mandating the Nigerian Immigration Service to prevent from entering into Nigeria persons reasonably suspected to be terrorists. Also, Section 38 of the same Act, as amended by Section 18 of the 2013 Act, has mandated the Nigerian Immigration Service to refuse an application for refugee status, if the applicant is a terrorist.

I further observe with pain, that Nigeria has not complied with the “ECOWAS Political Declaration and Common Position against Terrorism”, adopted by all the Heads of States of the sub-Region, including that of Nigeria, in 2013 in Cote d’Ivoire.

It must be further observed that the US Congress, in Section 7201(a) of the US Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004, made several findings, based on the 9/11 Commission recommendations, but the three most important findings are hereby reproduced as follows:

5SBWFM EPDVNFOUT BSF BT JNQPSUBOU UP UFSSPSJTUT BT XFBQPOT TJODF UFSSPSJTUT NVTU USBWFM DMBOEFTUJOFMZ UP NFFU USBJO QMBO DBTF UBSHFUT BOE HBJO BDDFTT UP BUUBDL TJUFT

*OUFSOBUJPOBM USBWFM JT EBOHFSPVT GPS UFSSPSJTUT CFDBVTF UIFZ NVTU TVSGBDF UP QBTT UISPVHI SFHVMBUFE DIBOOFMT QSFTFOU UIFNTFMWFT UP CPSEFS TFDVSJUZ PGGJDJBMT PS BUUFNQU UP DJSDVNWFOU JOTQFDUJPO QPJOUT

5FSSPSJTUT VTF FWBTJWF CVU EFUFDUBCMF NFUIPET UP USBWFM TVDI BT BMUFSFE BOE DPVOUFSGFJU QBTTQPSUT BOE WJTBT TQFDJGJD USBWFM NFUIPET BOE SPVUFT MJBJTPOT XJUI DPSSVQU HPWFSONFOU PGGJDJBMT IVNBO TNVHHMJOH OFUXPSLT TVQQPSUJWF USBWFM BHFODJFT BOE JNNJHSBUJPO BOE JEFOUJUZ GSBVE The US Congress then in section 7201(b) of the Act made comprehensive provisions on detailed strategies to be adopted in dealing with this problem, and possibly eliminating it; while it also, in Section 7201(c), legislated on the requisite technological way of achieving these goals.

In Section 7204(a), the Congress made comprehensive findings, detailing the international or trans-national travels of the terrorists that carried out the 9/11 attacks. Indeed, finding (1) under the section goes thus:

*OUFSOBUJPOBM UFSSPSJTUT USBWFM BDSPTT JOUFS OBUJPOBM CPSEFST UP SBJTF GVOET SFDSVJU NFNCFST USBJO GPS PQFSBUJPOT FTDBQF DBQUVSF DPNNVOJDBUF BOE QMBO UP DBSSZ PVU BUUBDLT Section 7204(b)(1) then imposes executive duty on the President of the US in the following words: (1) The President should lead efforts tP USBDL BOE DVSUBJM UIF USBWFM PG UFSSPSJTUT CZ TVQQPSUJOH UIF ESBGUJOH BEPQUJPO BOE JNQMFNFOUBUJPO PG JOUFSOBUJPOBM BHSFFNFOUT BOE SFMFWBOU 6OJUFE /BUJPOT 4FDVSJUZ $PVODJM SFTPMVUJPOT UP USBDL BOE TUPQ JOUFSOBUJPOBM USBWFM CZ UFSSPSJTUT BOE PUIFS DSJNJOBMT UISPVHI UIF VTF PG MPTU TUPMFO PS GBMTJGJFE EPDVNFOUT UP BVHNFOU 6OJUFE /BUJPOT BOE PUIFS JOUFSOBUJPOBM BOUJ UFSSPSJTN FGGPSUT

Closely related to immigration issues, is the issue of border security against organised crime.

It is indeed, interesting to note that the northern border of the USA which poses a serious security challenge to that country (just like Nigeria), did not escape the prying eye of the US Congress, which in Title V Subtitle A of the US Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004, paid special legislative attention to that border through dynamic legislative action. Section 5101 of the Act has mandated the Secretary of Homeland Security to “carry out a pilot program to test various advanced technologies that will improve border security between ports of entry along the northern border of the United States”, while Section 1502 requires the Homeland Security Secretary to design the pilot programme with the following features: r 6TF PG BEWBODFE UFDIOPMPHJDBM TZTUFNT JODMVEJOH sensors, video and unmanned aerial vehicles, for border surveillance. r 6TF PG BEWBODFE DPNQVUJOH BOE EFDJTJPO JOUFHSBtion software for: (a) evaluation of data, including border incursions; (b) assessment of threat potential; and (c) rapid real-time communication, monitoring, intelligence gathering, deployment and response. r 5FTUJOH PG BEWBODFE UFDIOPMPHZ TZTUFNT BOE software to determine best and most cost-effective uses of advanced technology to improve border security. r 0QFSBUJPO PG UIF QSPHSBNNF JO SFNPUF TUSFUDIFT of border lands with long distances between 24-hour ports of entry with a relatively small presence of US border patrol officers. r $BQBCJMJUZ UP FYQBOE UIF QSPHSBNNF VQPO a determination by the Homeland Secretary that expansion would be an appropriate and cost-effective means of improving border security.

Even though the northern border of Nigeria, particularly the northwestern and northeastern borders, are the hub of terrorist infiltration, there are no such provisions under Nigerian law. We should as a matter of urgency, enact similar provisions in our body of laws. Nigeria has enough money to import necessary technology, that would complement the efforts of the military in its fight against organised crime.

Need for Comprehensive Legislation Authorising Trainings Against Terrorism There is no single doubt that the US Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 is one of the most comprehensive enactments the world over, on security of the lives and property of any given nation. Thus, comprehensive provisions are also made to cover the following areas: r &TUBCMJTINFOU CZ UIF %JSFDUPS PG /BUJPOBM Intelligence of a cross-disciplinary education and joint training, “in order to promote a more effective and productive intelligence community”, vide Section 1002 of the Act. r &TUBCMJTINFOU CZ UIF TBNF %JSFDUPS PG BO intelligence community scholarship program, “to award scholarships to individuals… designed to recruit and prepare students for civilian careers in the intelligence community to meet the critical needs of the intelligence community agencies,” vide section 1002 of the Act, etc.

Speaking in comparative terms, and sadly too, Section 2(6) of the Nigerian Terrorism (Prevention) (Amendment) Act, 2013, quite leisurely, with respect, provides thus:

5IF MBX FOGPSDFNFOU BHFODJFT NBZ JOJUJBUF EFWFMPQ PS JNQSPWF PO TQFDJGJD USBJOJOH QSPHSBNNFT GPS JUT PGGJDFST DIBSHFE XJUI UIF SFTQPOTJCJMJUZ GPS UIF QSFWFOUJPO EFUFDUJPO JOWFTUJHBUJPO FMJNJOBUJPO BOE QSPTFDVUJPO PG UFSSPSJTN BDUJWJUJFT JO /JHFSJB As can be seen above, the Nigerian legislation on this very important aspect of counterterrorism is grossly lacking in content and focus. For instance, the word “may” in the provision connotes a mere directory, as opposed to a peremptory or mandatory duty.

Secondly, unlike the US model, the office coordinating intelligence on counterterrorism in Nigeria is excluded from this training exercise; rather, the exercise is left in the hands of prolix security agencies. This is not proper, and will least yield results. Once again, the US model is hereby suggested.

Need for Comprehensive Legislation on Private Security and Public-Private Partnership Against Organised Terrorism Section 6402(a) of the US Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 has created an Act within the same Act, by providing thus: B 4)035 5*5-& 5IJT TFDUJPO NBZ CF DJUFE BT UIF i1SJWBUF 4FDVSJUZ 0GGJDFS &NQMPZNFOU "VUIPSJTBUJPO "DU PG u After this short title, Section 6402(b) then goes on to tabulate the findings of the US Congress on the subject matter, as follows: C '*/%*/(4 m $POHSFTT GJOET UIBUm

FNQMPZNFOU PG QSJWBUF TFDVSJUZ PGGJDFST JO UIF 6OJUFE 4UBUFT JT HSPXJOH SBQJEMZ

QSJWBUF TFDVSJUZ PGGJDFST GVODUJPO BT BEKVODU UP CVU OPU B SFQMBDFNFOU GPS QVCMJD MBX FOGPSDFNFOU CZ IFMQJOH UP SFEVDF BOE QSFWFOU DSJNF

TVDI QSJWBUF TFDVSJUZ PGGJDFST QSPUFDU JOEJWJEVBMT QSPQFSUZ BOE QSPQSJFUBSZ JOGPSNBUJPO BOE QSPWJEF QSPUFDUJPO UP EFWFMPQNFOU DFOUSFT NBOVGBDUVSJOH GBDJMJUJFT EFGFODF BOE BFSPTQBDF DPOUSBDUPST IJHI UFDIOPMPHZ CVTJOFTTFT OVDMFBS QPXFS QMBOUT DIFNJDBM DPNQBOJFT PJM BOE HBT SFGJOFSJFT BJSQPSUT DPN NVOJDBUJPO GBDJMJUJFT BOE PQFSBUJPOT PGGJDF DPNQMFYFT HBUFE DPNNVOJUJFT BOE PUIFST

TXPSO MBX FOGPSDFNFOU PGGJDFST QSPWJEF TJHOJGJDBOU TFSWJDFT UP UIF DJUJ[FOT PG UIF 64 JO JUT QVCMJD BSFBT BOE BSF TVQQMFNFOUFE CZ QSJWBUF TFDVSJUZ PGGJDFST

UIF UISFBU PG BEEJUJPOBM UFSSPSJTU BUUBDLT SFRVJSFT DPPQFSBUJPO CFUXFFO QVCMJD BOE QSJWBUF TFDUPST BOE EFNBOET QSPGFTTJPOBM SFMJBCMF BOE SFTQPOTJCMF TFDVSJUZ PGGJDFST GPS UIF QSPUFDUJPO PG QFPQMF GBDJMJUJFT BOE JOTUJUVUJPOT

UIF USFOE JO UIF OBUJPO UPXBSE HSPXUI JO TVDI TFDVSJUZ TFSWJDFT IBT BDDFMFSBUFE SBQJEMZ

TVDI HSPXUI NBLFT BWBJMBCMF NPSF QVCMJD TFDUPS MBX FOGPSDFNFOU PGGJDFST UP DPNCBU TFSJPVT BOE WJPMFOU DSJNFT JODMVEJOH UFSSPSJTN

UIF "NFSJDBO QVCMJD EFTFSWFT UIF FNQMPZNFOU PG RVBMJGJFE XFMM USBJOFE QSJWBUF TFDVSJUZ QFSTPOOFM BT BO BEKVODU UP TXPSO MBX FOGPSDFNFOU PGGJDFST BOE

QSJWBUF TFDVSJUZ PGGJDFST BOE BQQMJDBOUT GPS QSJWBUF TFDVSJUZ PGGJDFS QPTJUJPOT TIPVME CF UIPSPVHIMZ TDSFFOFE BOE USBJOFE The rest of Section 6402 has defined major terms used in the provision and has gone ahead to make other comprehensive provisions, like (a) criminal history information search; (b) providing information to the State Identification Bureau; etc, while section 6403 deals comprehensively with criminal history background checks.

Also, Section 7305 of the Act provides an insight cont'd on page 10

10/COVER

30.03.2021

Ortom's Attack: Stretching Nigeria's Insecurity to the Limit? cont'd from page 9

by the US Congress of private sector preparedness for instantaneous security challenges thus: SEC. 7305. PRIVATE SECTOR PREPAREDNESS (a) FINDINGS.- Consistent with the report of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States, Congress makes the following findings: (1) Private sector organisations own 85 percent of the Nation’s critical infrastructure and employ the vast majority of the Nation’s workers.

(2) Preparedness in the private sector and public sector for rescue, restart and recovery of operations should include, as appropriate– (A) a plan for evacuation; (B) adequate communications capabilities; and (C) a plan for continuity of operations.

(3)…………………………………………………… ……………………………………………………….

(4) The mandate of the Department of Homeland Security extends to working with the private sector, as well as government entities.

Moreover, the imperative of public/private partnership (PPP) in the fight against terrorism has gained acceptability globally, since terrorists mingle more with members of the public than with security agencies; and since private security outfits, organised and non-organised, also play important roles in providing security for life and property. Thus, the international community has, since 2006, turned its attention to making the PPPs work, because of President Buhari and Governor Ortom their strategic importance in the global fight against terrorism. We shall discuss some of these meetings Corps (Amendment) Act, 2007 provides as follows: (1) The Corps shall– and their resolutions. (b) recommend to the Minister the registration of The Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Political Public-private Partner- private guard companies; (c) from time to time, inspect the premises of private ship Conference entitled “Partnership of State Authorities, Civil Society and the Business guard companies, their training facilities and approve Community in Combating Terrorism,” was held same if it is (sic) up to standard; (d) supervise and monitor the activities of all in Vienna, Austria, between 31 May and 1 June, 2007.

This meeting emphasised the importance of the PPPs private guard companies and keep a register for that purpose– in the following paraphrased words: (i) …………………………………………… r 1BSUJDJQBOUT UIPVHI BDLOPXMFEHFE UIF JNQPStance of the role of States to combat terrorism, yet ………………………………………………. (ii) seal up any private guard company which acknowledged that given the nature and scale of today’s constantly evolving terrorist threat, States alone cannot operates without valid licence. successfully counter terrorism in all relevant areas 5IFSF JT OP HBJOTBZJOH UIBU /JHFSJB OFFET UP FOBDU without the deployment of all elements of national power together with the business community and legislation and fine-tune existing ones, and also to civil society as a whole. “Such voluntary cooperation, reshape its public policy, in order to key into some based upon the principles of partnership and mutual PG UIF 04$& SFDPNNFOEBUJPOT BCPWF VTFGVM BT UIFZ trust, can be enhanced by taking due account of the are to our collective resolve against terrorism and relevant functions, tasks, and specific expertise of all organised crime.

Need for Improved Legislation on Consequences partners involved.” r &OIBODFE QVCMJD QSJWBUF DP PQFSBUJPO EFNBOET of Providing Material Support to Terrorists better information sharing mechanism and the active 4FDUJPO PG UIF 64 *OUFMMJHFODF 3FGPSN BOE 5FSSPSJTN 1SFWFOUJPO "DU PG IBT BNFOEFE 4FDUJPO dissemination of best practices in this respect. r "MM TFDUPST PG TPDJFUZ DBO CFOFGJU GSPN XPSLJOH 2339C of the United States Code, by inserting a new together to counter violent extremism and terrorism paragraph D(a), which has criminalised the offence of knowingly receiving military-type training from or and their ideological justification. r 5IF QSJWBUF TFDUPS JT B DMFBS UBSHFU GPS UFSSPSJTUT on behalf of any organisation designated at the time and its active involvement in support of counterter- of the training by the Secretary of State, as a foreign rorism can complement political, law enforcement, terrorist organisation. Additionally, paragraph D(b) of developmental, and other governmental activities the provision imbues US courts with extra-territorial jurisdiction over some persons named in the provision. already underway.

The US Congress also took a proactive legislaOne key recommendation, therefore, was that there was need for “joint antiterrorist efforts by government tive action, by enacting into law its findings on the bodies, civil society and business”. They also “welcomed recommendations of the 9/11 Commission, in Section the discussion regarding models of continuous and PG UIF "DU BT GPMMPXT SEC. 7101. FINDINGS active exchanges of information by them on issues Consistent with the report of the National Comregarding prevention, suppression and mitigation mission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States, of terrorism”.

Follow-up conferences/meetings were organised Congress makes the following findings: (1) Long-term success in the war against terrorism CZ UIF 04$& JO .BESJE PO UI /PWFNCFS Helsinki on 5th December, 2008 and in Sarajevo, demands the use of all elements of national power, between the 8th and the 10th of December, 2010. including diplomacy, military action, intelligence, Amongst the relevant resolutions of the 2010 meeting covert action, law enforcement, economic policy, foreign aid, public diplomacy, and homeland defence. were the following: (2) To win the war on terrorism, the United States r "OUJ NPOFZ MBVOEFSJOH BOE DPNCBUJOH UFSSPSJTU financing (AML/CFT) legislation should be drafted in must assign to economic and diplomatic capabilities, consultation with all relevant stakeholders, including the same strategic priority that is assigned to military capabilities. financial institutions.

(3) The legislative and executive branches of the r 4UBUF BVUIPSJUJFT TIPVME FOTVSF BEFRVBUF confidentiality and protection of obligated entities Government of the United States must commit to robust, from liability vis-à-vis third parties in the context of long-term investments in all the tools necessary for the foreign policy of the United States to successfully reporting on suspicious transactions. r 0O %FTJHOBUFE /PO 'JOBODJBM #VTJOFTTFT BOE accomplish the goals of the United States.

(4) The investments referred to in paragraph (3) 1SPGFTTJPOT %/'#1T 4UBUF BVUIPSJUJFT TIPVME KPJO GPSDFT XJUI UIF %/'#1T UP BDIJFWF NBJOUBJO BOE will require increased funding to United States foreign disseminate a clear understanding of the Money affairs programs in general and to priority areas as Laundering and Terrorism Financing (ML/TF) risk described in this title in particular.

4FDUJPOT BOE C PG UIF /JHFSJBO 5FSSPSJTN facing each designated non-financial business or QSPGFTTJPO JO FBDI DPVOUSZ "MTP %/'#1T TIPVME CF 1SFWFOUJPO "NFOENFOU "DU PG IBWF RVJUF consulted in the process of defining and if necessary, commendably made provisions relating to providing re-adjusting their respective AML/CFT regimes, regular material support to terrorists. Also, Section 32 of the interaction and a constructive spirit of co-operation "DU IBT RVJUF DPNNFOEBCMZ JNCVFE UIF 'FEFSBM )JHI Court with extra-territorial jurisdiction over terrorist CFUXFFO FRVBM QBSUOFST r $JWJM TPDJFUZ TIPVME CF HBMWBOJTFE BOE FNQPXFSFE BDUJWJUJFT BGGFDUJOH /JHFSJB )PXFWFS MFHJTMBUJWF FGGPSUT to challenge violent extremist narratives, and to engage MJLF UIPTF JO 4FDUJPO PG UIF 64" "DU CF BMTP DPOTJEFSFE CZ UIF /JHFSJBO /BUJPOBM "TTFNCMZ GPS with vulnerable groups/individuals. r *O QBSUOFSJOH XJUI UIF DJWJM TPDJFUZ 4UBUF BVUIPSJUJFT legislative action, because they emphasise diplomatic should respect the independence and preserve the efforts towards the fight against terrorism.

Need for Legislation Authorising Reward for credibility of those private partners. r 3FMJHJPVT JOTUJUVUJPOT BOE MFBEFST IBWF UIF NPSBM and Protection of Private Sources of Information authority and duty to promote dialogue, mutual respect Section 501 of the US Patriot Act, 2001, whose full title and tolerance, and to publicly denounce terrorism is “Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing and violent extremism.

"QQSPQSJBUF 5PPMT GPS *OUFSDFQUJOH BOE 0CTUSVDUJOH r "DUT PG WJPMFOU FYUSFNJTN BOE UFSSPSJTN FTQFDJBMMZ Terrorism Act, 2001,” as amended in March, 2006, against religious sites or figures, should be promptly, has authorised the US Attorney-General to make publicly and jointly denounced by religious leaders of all financial rewards to US citizens for assistance to the faiths, (local) authorities and other relevant institutions, Justice Department in the fight against terrorism. The to demonstrate cohesion and determination in the section further provides that neither failure to make face of terrorism. such financial reward nor the amount of such reward, Sadly, once again, Section 3(1)(b) (c) and (d) of shall be subject of judicial review.

UIF /JHFSJB 4FDVSJUZ BOE %FGFODF $PSQT "DU "MTP 4FDUJPO PG UIF 1IJMJQQJOF )VNBO 4FDVSJUZ BT BNFOEFE CZ UIF /JHFSJB 4FDVSJUZ BOE %FGFODF Act of 2007 has mandated the Anti-Terrorism Council

“RELEVANT LAWS IN NIGERIA SHOULD BE ENACTED OR EXISTING ONES AMENDED, TO ACCOMMODATE REWARD FOR PERSONS ACTING AS INFORMANTS ON SERIOUS SECURITY THREATS, ESPECIALLY TERRORISM”

to grant monetary rewards and other incentives to informants who give vital information leading to the apprehension, arrest, detention, prosecution and conviction of person or persons who are liable for the crime of terrorism or conspiracy to commit terrorism. /P MFHJTMBUJPO JO /JHFSJB UP UIF CFTU PG NZ LOPXMedge, has made provisions rewarding informants of terrorist activities. However, provisions are made for protection of such persons and witnesses who UFTUJGZ JO UFSSPSJTN USJBMT VOEFS 4FDUJPO BOE of the Terrorism (Prevention) (Amendment) Act of 3FMFWBOU MBXT JO /JHFSJB TIPVME CF FOBDUFE or existing ones amended, to accommodate reward for persons acting as informants on serious security threats, especially terrorism.

Need for Intelligence Financing to be Activated in Nigeria 5IF /JHFSJBO 'JOBODJBM *OUFMMJHFODF 6OJU "DU FWFO though contains very robust provisions on tracing, tracking and monitoring of funds, with the aim of combating terrorist and other financial crimes, this Unit, with due respect, seems to be moribund, at least on the issue of terrorist financing. *O UIF 64 4FDUJPO PG UIF 'JOBODJBM "OUJ 5FSSPSJTN "DU PG XIJDI BNFOEFE 4FDUJPO PG UIF Annunzio-Wylie Anti-Money Laundering Act, has granted similar powers granted to the Director of the /JHFSJBO 6OJU UP UIF 4FDSFUBSZ PG 5SFBTVSZ "MTP UIF 'JOBODJBM $SJNFT &OGPSDFNFOU /FUXPSL 'JO$&/ XBT established by order of the Secretary of the Treasury through the Treasury Order 105-08 on 25th April, 6QPO UIF QBTTBHF PG 5JUMF *** PG UIF 1BUSJPU "DU PO 4FQUFNCFS UIF 'JO$&/ XBT NBEF BO official bureau in the US Department of Treasury. *O $BOBEB UIF 'JOBODJBM 5SBOTBDUJPOT BOE 3FQPSUT "OBMZTJT $FOUSF PG $BOBEB '*/53"$

was established in 2000 by the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) Act, 2000; but was amended in 2001 to become the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act, 2001. This Centre which is under the Canadian Minister of Finance, gathers, analyses, assesses and discloses GJOBODJBM JOUFMMJHFODF *U DVSSFOUMZ BMTP QSPWJEFT UIF $BOBEJBO 4FDVSJUZ *OUFMMJHFODF 4FSWJDF $4*4 XJUI information on terrorist financing.

4JNJMBSMZ UIF "VTUSBMJBO 5SBOTBDUJPO 3FQPSUT BOE "OBMZTJT $FOUSF "6453"$ XBT FTUBCMJTIFE JO pursuant to the provisions of the Financial Transaction 3FQPSUT "DU PG 5IF "VTUSBMJBO "OUJ .POFZ Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Act PG BHBJO SF FTUBCMJTIFE UIF "6453"$ XIJDI is Australia’s anti-money laundering and counterterrorism financing regulator and a specialist financial JOUFMMJHFODF VOJU 6OMJLF UIF $BOBEJBO '*/53"$ IPXFWFS UIF "VTUSBMJBO "6453"$ JT VOEFS UIF office of the Attorney-General for Australia.

We have mentioned few of such bodies as the /JHFSJBO 'JOBODJBM *OUFMMJHFODF 6OJU JO DPVOUSJFT where incidences of terrorism are very low – just to TUSPOHMZ TVHHFTU UIBU UIF /JHFSJBO 6OJU TIPVME XPSL KVTU BT IBSE "GUFS BMM 4FDUJPO PG UIF /JHFSJBO Act provides that “The Unit is independent and operationally autonomous in the discharge of its duties and performance of its functions under this Act.” /FFE UP "NFOE UIF $POTUJUVUJPO BOE PUIFS -BXT to pave way for State Police We cannot continue to live in self denial on the .045 63(&/5 /&&% UP FTUBCMJTI PS QFSNJU UIF establishment by the various State Governments, PG UIFJS SFTQFDUJWF 1PMJDF EFQBSUNFOUT * OPUF XJUI admiration that, barring public image stunts, this call has received the positive nod of persons who hitherto, had conservative reservations against this JEFB *G BEIFSFE UP DPNNVOJUZ QPMJDJOH XJMM OBUVSBMMZ spring up; thereby closing the operational space of terrorists.

Conclusion: Rights of Citizens The primary duty of any government is to protect its DJUJ[FOT /JHFSJB OPU CFJOH BO FYDFQUJPO 5IVT 4FDUJPO

BOE PG UIF $POTUJUVUJPO BT BNFOEFE has provided in emphatic terms thus:

5IF 'FEFSBM 3FQVCMJD PG /JHFSJB TIBMM CF a State based on the principles of democracy and social justice.

*U JT IFSFCZ BDDPSEJOHMZ EFDMBSFE UIBU (a)…………………………………………………… ……………………………………………… (b) the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government.

Also, Section 33(1) has guaranteed to “every person” the right to life and has provided situations under which he/she could be deprived of that right, which situations do not include termination of such life through UFSSPSJTU BUUBDLT DPOEPOFE CZ UIF (PWFSONFOU *OEFFE Section 33(2)(a) of the same Constitution imbues every /JHFSJBO XJUI UIF SJHIU UP EFGFOE IJNTFMG BOE IJT property against external aggression; and by judicial decisions, with the use of “proportionate force.” Thus, if the aggressor is armed with a knife, machete or a gun, the defender is constitutionally entitled to arm himself with a weapon proportionate to that of the aggressor. See firmly on this: Edoko v State (2015) All FWLR (Pt. 772) 1728, (2015) 9 NWLR (Pt. 1465) 454 S.C. and Sule v State (2009) All FWLR (Pt. 481) 809 at 836 S.C. The Supreme Court was very emphatic in its stand on this defence, in the case of Uwaekweghunya v State (2005) All FWLR (Pt. 259) 1911 at 1931, per Belgore, JSC (as he then was), thus: “The attack on the Appellant, was completely unprovoked. He was faced with no option but to defend himself, which he did. If he did not defend himself, there certainly was the apprehension the deceased would kill him or inflict grievous harm on him. The victim of an unprovoked and unlawful attack is entitled to defend himself, and in doing so, to use such force as is reasonably necessary to ward off the attack. If the unprovoked attack is likely to cause him grievous harm or even death, or he is reasonably in apprehension of the same, he is entitled to use such force available to him to preserve himself from such grievous harm or death”.

4FDUJPO PG UIF TBNF $POTUJUVUJPO QSPWJEFT UIBU OP /JHFSJBO TIBMM CZ UIF BQQMJDBUJPO PG BOZ law or by “any executive or administrative action of the government,” be discriminated against on account of his place of origin, sex, religious or political opinions. Also, in their “Strategic approach” as a XBZ PG QSFWFOUJOH UFSSPSJTN UIF &$08"4 )FBET PG 4UBUFT JO UIF $PUF E *WPJSF SFTPMVUJPOT identified “economic and political marginalisation of some groups” and “human rights abuses” as governmental policies that should be eliminated.

5IF /JHFSJBO HPWFSONFOU VOEFOJBCMZ IBT CSFBDIFE all of these, in their open tolerance of the criminal actions of herders. *OOPDFOU WJDUJNT PG UIFTF IJHIMZ PSHBOJTFE DSJNFT BHBJOTU /JHFSJBO DJUJ[FOT DBO JOEFFE TVF UIF 'FEFSBM Government and obtain from the courts, relevant remedies. Thus, while construing a similar provision JO "SUJDMF PG UIF &VSPQFBO $POWFOUJPO PO )VNBO 3JHIUT UIF &VSPQFBO )VNBO 3JHIUT $PVSU IBT always held that the State is not only duty-bound to ensure that human life is not intentionally taken, it is also under duty to do all it should, to protect same from being unlawfully taken – failing which damages and other remedies will avail relations of the victims. See firmly on this: Kilic v Turkey (2000) ECHR 22492/93, para. 62 and Osman v UK (1998) 29 EHRR 245, para. 115. * IFSFCZ DPODMVEF CZ CPMEMZ TBZJOH UIBU /JHFSJBO legislation and governmental action on or against PSHBOJTFE DSJNF JT HSPTTMZ JOBEFRVBUF BOE MBDLT the necessary bite to stem the tide of these rapidly ravaging scourges. The acknowledged circulation of light military arsenal in the West African sub-region, owing to the Arab Spring and the ferocious attacks PSDIFTUSBUFE CZ UIF #PLP )BSBN JOTVSHFOUT BOE Fulani herdsmen on locals, is a testimony that the time to act is now! &YFDVUJWF BDUJPO NVTU CF DPNQMFNFOUFE PS CBDLFE by proactive legislative action, to achieve desired results. Again, the time to act is now!

Chief Sebastine T. Hon, SAN, FCIArb., Constitutional Lawyer and Author

30.03.2021

/11

Professor Jelili Omotola, SAN: Tribute to a Legacy of Service This well-deserved Tribute by Alade Rotimi-John to late Professor Jelili Adebisi Omotola, SAN, Vice Chancellor, University of Lagos (1995-2000) to mark the 15th anniversary of his death which occurred on March 29, 2006, articulates Prof’s vision for University of Lagos while he was at its helm of affairs, ranging from his promotion of academic excellence to his financial prudence, while also ensuring good staff and student welfare, amongst his many other achievements Introduction One of the many tragedies of our system in Nigeria, is the popular justification of mediocre performance as the standard for doing things. A certain pettiness of soul has filled the entire space with disgust, and has curiously infected even those who cared at the beginning save the sycophants and time servers. This situation is responsible for the seeming difficulty to sift the wheat from the chaff. There ought to be, for instance, a reasoned approach to things rather than a haphazard or flippant treatment of matters of strategic importance. Nigeria is blessed with a near-limitless array of persons who ought to be strategically placed to reverse her misfortune in many areas of her socio-economic, political and scholarly endeavours. One notable graceful incursion into the Nigerian public space is Professor Jelili Adebisi Omotola, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, and the 7th Vice Chancellor of the University of Lagos, who has joined the saints triumphant and now may be looking from his height at our foibles. It may not be an exaggeration to say that the Late Professor Omotola is, to this date, the most successful Vice Chancellor of the University of Lagos.

Professor Omotola’s Agenda as Vice Chancellor As Vice Chancellor of a recurrently-troubled University of Lagos, Professor Omotola set out to provide a canon of correct performance in the public arena, as he jettisoned the businessas-usual approach to the management of one of Africa’s most prestigious institutions of learning. Omotola articulated his vision for a better University of Lagos in what has come to be known as the Omotola Agenda, which contained a dynamic plan of action.

The thrust of the agenda, was to give the University a world class status. Omotola refused to be bitten by the bug which leaves potential public office holders unprepared for their office, and slows down their activity as they assume office. He had a vision of action outlined in six heads of action plan, namely: (1) Creating and Sustaining Academic Excellence; (2) Improving the Welfare of Staff and Students; (3) Broadening the Financial Base of the Institution; (4) Improving the Infrastructural Facilities in the ivory tower; (5) Administering Justice promptly and honestly; and (6) Fostering Strong External Relations for the University.

In all of these, Omotola pursued a cardinal policy of harnessing all available resources human and material - to create an enabling environment for sustainable peace, progress and security in an atmosphere of mutual respect. Students, as the largest and easily irritable rights group within the University community, required to be attended to with tact and a sense of fellow-feeling. Omotola looked into their problems and provided insightful solutions to them, as a matter of priority.

rigours of academic life with the casual grace, the rancorous humour and the invadingly friendly overtures of social life were essentially Omotolaesque. Under Omotola, town and gown were locked in a mutual embrace of commonality of interests. Omotola won the people’s esteem and affection, with his speeches and rare approach to issues. His speeches rarely moved on the same tenor throughout. They may not be as finished, for instance, as Awolowo’s cadences, but there were in them passages of great eloquence.

He maintained his sense of proportion. The gracious social life around him, did not suffice to relieve him of his frustration over the growing tension within him for transforming a beleaguered institution.

Late Professor Jelili Adebisi Omotola, SAN, Vice Chancellor, University of Lagos (1995-2000)

as many members of staff as possible, became home owners in their own right.

Reasonable grants were offered allotees of land at Pasade and Oke-osa, to facilitate the commencement of a radical home-ownership scheme. Those in university-rented houses, were encouraged to relocate to their personal homes. By so doing, Omotola was able to relieve the University of the burden of a N10 million annual cost of housing some 162 staff occupying rented accommodation.

N10 million of those days, can today be conservatively expressed to be in the region of hundreds of millions of Naira . It was a whopping sum, even in those days.

Internally Generated Revenue Easily the most successful of the Omotola prodigious programmes at the University of Lagos, was the then novel Internally Generated

“OMOTOLA ARTICULATED HIS VISION FOR A BETTER UNIVERSITY OF LAGOS IN WHAT HAS COME TO BE KNOWN AS THE

Academic Excellence Academic excellence, is created or fostered by a sustained fair and progressive decisionmaking and programme-implementation policy. Through a competitive selection process for admission of students and of the appointment or employment of staff, a university community is on the road to optimally performing its strategic role. To the eternal credit of his period in office as Vice Chancellor, normal academic programmes of the University of Lagos were not disturbed or disrupted for a single day.

OMOTOLA AGENDA,

Staff Welfare Omotola made great efforts to ensure that

CLASS STATUS”

WHICH CONTAINED A DYNAMIC PLAN OF ACTION. THE THRUST OF THE AGENDA, WAS TO GIVE THE UNIVERSITY A WORLD

Revenue genre. Omotola blazed the trail in effective and efficient revenue generation, in university administration. By this creativity the heavy dependence or reliance on subvention from Government and donor agencies. was reduced drastically. Unprecedented before his time, Omotola ingeniously devised ways and means for income-earning activities.

Every unit of the university. was positioned as a cash centre. For instance, the use of university property attracted the payment by the hirer of some economic rent. The parking lot became commercial, even as the University of Lagos Consult became a profit centre. There was a general overhaul, of the university’s income-generating units.

Appropriate or cost-reflective bills, were charged for electricity consumed on campus.

Omotola was irked by the unsightly physical and emotional outlook of the university environment. Within three years of his administration, the university witnessed a complete turn-around respecting its fading image. Some of the landmark achievements under him include: - The renovation of the university’s sprawling staff quarters.

- The full automation of the university library - The construction of a number of faculty buildings e.g., Pharmacy, Science, etc.

- A face-lift manifesting in a new lease of life for many faculties for the first time in their many decades of existence.

- The construction of the magnificent 5,000-seater Multipurpose Hall (appreciatively named after him) which has improved the Unilag skyline, and has since been a convergence point for fostering town and gown relations even as it buoys the revenue base of the institution through it regular hire or patronage.

Through a programme of constant dialogue and of regular consultative meetings, the Omotola administration was able to ensure justice, harmony and cohesion among the rank and file of the university staff. The polarisation that hitherto existed among staff vanished for the first time in the history of the university. The three unions, (ASUU, SSANU and NASU) for example, jointly presented a position paper to the Governing Council during the negotiation for improved conditions of service of the university staff in 1996 – a great feat considering their mutually – combative or antagonistic stance on any matter.

The deft combination of the inherent

Cases Omotola’s professional trajectory became honed, as he came to be extensively quoted in cases at the apex levels of our court system.

At the Supreme Court (Savannah Bank v Ajilo), and in particular, the judgement of Karibi-Whyte, JSC; (Chief Nwokocha v Governor of Anambra State; Abioye v Yakubu 1981 and at the Court of Appeal in LSDPC & Ors v Foreign Finance Corp & Ors 1987), Obikoya & Sons Ltd v Governor of Lagos State 1987. Omotola was a regular Amicus Curiae at both the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal, offering insightful direction to convoluted matters. The thorny issue of land ownership in Abuja once required the learned presence of Omotola at the Court of Appeal and at the Apex Court on the 16th of January, 1995 in the celebrated case of Awojugbagbe Light Industries v NIDB & Chinukwe (1995).

Omotola addressed the court on the conflicting decisions of the court in Solanke v Abed and Savannah Bank v Ajilo relating to the effect of non-compliance with statutory provisions requiring consent for interest in land. This unarguably is the first time in the history of the court, that a university law teacher would be invited to address it.

Recognition Omotola was conferred with the highest or most prestigious professional practice honour of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) in 1999, as recognition of his primus position in the pantheon of intense law practitioners. Professor Omotola received numerous academic recognition. Between 1987-1990, he served on the Governing Council of the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies; Member, Governing Council, Nigeria Law School, 19871991; Chairman, Nigerian Bar Association Committee on the Review of Nigerian Land Use Act, 1988; Member, Joint Committee of the Body of Benchers and Council of Legal Education on admission requirements for LL.B; Life Bencher, 1988 – being honour bestowed on him by the Nigerian Body of Benchers for his meritorious service to the legal profession.

With 50 published articles to his credit in various law journals including his magnum opus, Primogeniture in Customary Law: Survival of Culture in the University of Indiana Law Review Vol.15 (2004), Omotola has etched for himself a place of distinction in published works, court references, editorials and professional academic critique.

With characteristic fair-mindedness, he privately or self-effacingly considered the awards to him of many benefices as undeserved tribute.

Alade Rotimi-John, Lawyer, Essayist, and Public Affairs Commentator

12/

30.03.2021

Is EFCC Legally Empowered to Assess Persons’ Declaration of Assets? (Part 1) Introduction The question has gained currency as to whether or not the EFCC possesses the mandate to investigate assets of Nigerians; including Bankers. A mandate, is the authority to do something. It is also the authorisation to direct or require someone, to act in a certain manner. The mandate of statutory bodies can be deciphered, by examining the Acts or Laws establishing them. Sometimes, case law provides the scope of the powers of these statutory bodies Most times, the mandates of statutory bodies are couched as “functions” or “special powers”. For example, under Section 5(c) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission Act, 2004, “the EFCC “(Act)”, the Commission (“EFCC”, “Commission”) has several functions, ranging from adopting of measures to eradicate the commission of economic and financial crimes, to the coordination and enforcement of all economic and financial crime laws, and enforcement functions conferred on any other person or authority.

By virtue of Section 6 of the Act, the Commission has powers to: a) cause investigations to be conducted as to whether any person, corporate body or organisation has committed any offence under this Act or other law relating to economic and financial crimes; b) cause investigations to be conducted into the properties of any person, if it appears to the Commission that the person’s lifestyle and extent of the properties are not justified by his source of income; In addition to the above stated powers conferred on the Commission, the Commission is the coordinating agency for the enforcement of the provisions ofa) the Money Laundering Act of 2004; 2003 No. 7; 1995 No. 13; b) the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 1995; c) the Failed Banks (Recovery of Debt and Financial Mal-practices in Banks) Act, as amended; d) the Banks and Other Financial Institutions Act, 1991, as amended; e) the Miscellaneous Offences Act; and f) Any other law or regulation relating to economic and financial crimes.

On a cursory examination of the powers conferred on the Commission pursuant to Sections 5 and 6 of the EFCC Act, it can be inferred that the Commission has many mandates. Notwithstanding the fact that the EFCC Act did not mention bank employees, etc, (Declaration of Assets in the Act expressly), the Commission has the power under Section 5(c) of the Act to co-ordinate and enforce the functions conferred on any other person or authority saddled with the responsibility of enforcing the Bank Employees Act. A careful examination of this mandate shall be the focus of this write-up.

Specific Powers of the Commission to Order Assets Declaration Under Section 27 of the EFCC Act, the anti-graft Commission has the mandate to direct certain individuals to make full disclosure of their assets and properties, by completing the Declaration of Assets Form as specified in Form A of the Schedule to the Act. Section 27 of the Act provides that: 27 (1)"Where a person is arrested for committing an offence under this Act, it shall be obligatory for such person to make a full disclosure of all his assets and properties by completing the Declaration of Assets Form as specified in Form A of the Schedule to this Act. (2) The Declaration of Assets Form shall be forwarded to the Commission for full investigation by the General and Assets Investigation Unit of the Commission..."

In the case of MUSTAPHA v FRN (2017) LPELR43131(CA), the Court of Appeal had cause to interpret Section 27 of the EFCC ACT. In this case, MOHAMMED LAWAL GARBA, JCA, stated at pages 76 – 80, that: "… Section 27 (1) of the EFCC Act, which is the subject of the complaint by the Appellant under the

EFCC Chairmanm, AbdulRasheed Bawa

issue, provides that:- "Where a person is arrested for committing an offence under this Act, such person shall make a full disclosure of all his assets and properties by completing the Declaration of Assets Form as specified in Form A of the Schedule to this Act." These provisions are in simple, plain and clear words and language such that they require no glosses in the ascertainment of what they make provisions for. Simply and plainly, they require a person arrested for the commission of an offence under the EFCC Act, to make a full disclose of all his assets by completing the asset declaration from; the pro-forma of which is in the schedule to the Act. Undoubtedly, these provisions have nothing to do with compulsion on such a person to make a statement upon arrest for an offence under the Act, in respect of the offence he was arrested for. The section merely orders, commands and requires that a person arrested for an offence under the Act, declare his assets by completing the designated assets declaration form, whether or not he makes a statement in respect of the offence he

“......ASSET DECLARATION IS PART OF THE MANDATE OF THE COMMISSION. THIS MANDATE IS HOWEVER, CIRCUMSCRIBED TO CIRCUMSTANCES WHERE A PERSON IS ARRESTED FOR COMMITTING ANY OFFENCE UNDER THE EFCC ACT”

was alleged to have committed under the Act. The moment a person is arrested for the commission of an offence under the Act, the provisions of the Section 27(1), as a matter of law and fact, become applicable to him, independent of his making a statement in respect of the offence(s) for which he was arrested and distinct from his right to remain silent and not to incriminate himself of such offence(s) since by the provisions of the Section, the declaration of the assets is to be made upon, where or when a person is arrested for the offence(s) under the Act, the duty or obligation to declare assets arises when the arresting authority presents the asset declaration form to the person arrested and requires him to complete it in compliance with the provisions of the section. The requirement by the section for the completion of the asset declaration by a person arrested for offence(s) under the Act, is not one which requires or says that the person must make a statement in respect of the offence(s) he was arrested for and so it cannot seriously be said to be inconsistent with the right of the person to remain silent and avoid answering any question until after consultation with a legal practitioner or other person of his choice, provided for in Section 35(2) of the Constitution. The requirement to declare asset does not involve asking the person arrested to speak or answer any questions in respect of the offence he was arrested for and in no reasonable way, connected with the right to remain silent and avoid answering any question on the said offence(s). As to what stage upon or after the arrest of a person the provisions require him to declare the assets, would depend on the peculiar facts and circumstances of each case which would determine when the arresting authority would present the assets declaration form and require him to complete it. Once a Person is arrested for an offence or offences under the Act, the obligation to declare assets is placed on him by the provisions of the section, at anytime the declaration of assets form was presented to him for completion by the arresting authority. The provision of Section 27(1) do not provide for the stage or time after or where a person is arrested for an offence or offences under the Act, should be required by the arresting authority to declare his assets or that it must be done before the person was charged to Court for the offence(s) he was arrested. It must be noted that, declaration of assets provided for in Section 27(1) is for the purpose of investigations of the offences a person is arrested for, which may continue even after he is charged to Court for trial, depending on the circumstances of a case.

Investigation by the prosecution is different in law, from the trial for the offence(s), a person is charged with. The fact that a person is charged to Court for an offence or offences, is no bar to continuing or further investigations of the said offences by the prosecution in order to unearth more facts and evidence to be presented to the Court during the trial in proof of the offence(s), the person is charged for. After all, it is the prosecution that bears the legal and evidential burden of proving the offences beyond reasonable doubt before the trial Court. The question of the principle of lis pen dens argued in the Appellant's brief under the issue, is misconceived, since further investigations by the prosecution of offence(s) charged to Court does not interfere with a trial of the offences charged".

There is nothing more to add to this incisive pronouncement.

In the light of the Section 27 of the EFCC Act cited above, we can say with certainty that asset declaration is part of the mandate of the Commission. This mandate is however, circumscribed to circumstances where a person is arrested for committing any offence under the EFCC Act. (To be continued next week.)

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK “It is a governing principle of nature, that the agency which can produce most good, when perverted from its proper aim, is most productive of evil.” (James Fenimore Cooper)

30.3.2021

/13

14

T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY MARCH 30, 2021

PROPERTY & ENVIRONMENT FG Begins Procurement for Private Management of 12 Highways Bennett Oghifo

T

he federal government has officially started the procurement process to enable individuals and private companies bid for the management of 12 Federal roads in all six geopolitical zones of the country.

The Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, who, recently, presented the official ministerial notice of the commencement of the Highway Development Management Initiative (HDMI), at a hybrid onsite and virtual conference attended by top government officials and private sector stakeholders, recently, said potential investors could bid in the two categories of HDMI, namely the Value-added Concessions (VAC) and the Unbundled Assets Approvals (UAA).

The UAA provides opportunity for small businesses to take advantage of the commercial opportunities that are available along the right of way (ROW), while under the VAC the road pavement and entire right of

way is concessioned for development and management by the concessionaire.

The VAC, he said would be rolled out in phases, and that the first ohase involved 12 roads namely: Benin –Asaba (125KM); Abuja – Lokoja (193KM); Kano – Katsina (150KM); Onitsha – Owerri – Aba (161KM); Shagamu – Benin (258KM); Abuja– Keffi–Akwanga (122KM); Kano– Maiduguri (lot 1 Kano-Shuari 100KM; lot 2 Potiskum-Damaturu 96.24KM); Lokoja– Benin (270KM); Enugu–Port Harcourt (200KM); Ilorin-Jebba (129KM); Lagos– Ota–Abeokuta (80KM); and Lagos –Badagry (79KM).

Fashola said these 12 roads were carefully chosen to ensure that each of the six geo political zones is covered.

“They aggregate in total to 1963.24 km which is 5.6% of the 35,000 km Federal road network.

The minister advised “those who have been writing letters of inquiry, making offers of interest on the HDMI, offering to provide services like tolling, weigh bridge, rest houses and

so on; we are sorry we cannot respond to those letters in order to maintain the integrity of this process and to keep the playing field level.

“To all of you and to those who have not written or called, the day is now upon us, the venue is fixed and I have the pleasure to announce that the HDMI portal https://hdmi. worksandhousing.gov.ng/) will open on Monday the 29th March, 2021.

“The portal will be open for all HDMI related functions as earlier stated and most importantly the RFQ application for the VAC which will be officially advertised on the same day.”

“The initial capital investment that we foresee is something in the order of NGN 1,134,690,048,000.76 and the employment potentials are an estimated 50,000+ direct jobs and 200,000+ indirect jobs.”

The process, he said started on the 17th June 2020 “with legislative consultation to get parliamentary support and endorsement which I believe was successful and we are assured that if there is need for legislative

support, the response will be reasonably swift.

“It was followed by a Stakeholder consultation (webinar) which held on the 25th June, 2020 with Over 1,173 participants including critical stakeholders such as legislative

representatives, representatives from the executive, prospective concessionaires, road users, media and industry experts; a market sounding session was also held on the 31st August, 2020 with 162 participants.”

He said in the course of the

journey, government struck strategic partnerships with some high-profile brands who have offered their services in various aspects of the project development such as KPMG, UK NIAF, Lagos Business School, among others.

L-R: Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Drainage and Water Resources, Dr. Joe Igbokwe; Permanent Secretary, Office of the Environment, Mrs. Belinda Odeleye; Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tunji Bello; General Manager, Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) Dr. Dolapo Fasawe and the Permanent Secretary, Office of the Drainage Service, Mr. Olalekan Sodeinde, during the commissioning of four LASEPA projects, Mini Effluent Treatment Plant, E-Library and Quality Monitoring Station, at LASEPA office, Alausa Ikeja Lagos… recently

Landwey Begins ISIMI, First-ever Wellness City in Lagos Fadekemi Ajakaiye Landwey, a real estate development group has announced the commencement of ISIMI, Nigeria’s first-ever wellness and polo city.

The commencement of this project was announced recently at the Landwey Worklab, LekkiEpe, Lagos.

ISIMI, a Yoruba word which translates to peace of mind is a nature-inspired model which lays the foundation for economic development of the

Lagos Metropolis.

ISIMI Lagos is situated on 124 hectares of Land on the North side of the Lekki Lagoon, which is a significant confluence between technology, architecture, and nature.

The CEO Landwey, Mr. Olawale Ayilara stated that ISIMI would be a living experience like none other. “As soon as you walk in, you’ll just be able to feel your stress melt away,” he said.

ISIMI also signals a motion towards turning Nigeria into a new international destination on

the continent’s tourist map, he said.

He stated that in a city that thrives majorly on a teeming population and vibrant demography, ISIMI Lagos presents a timely invention and escape from the hustle and bustle of Lagos living.

“The establishment offers both work and living spaces emboldened with high-speed internet and uninterrupted power to boost the efficiency of the residents, and an ecofriendly transportation system

- with hybrid electric vehicles and bicycles, great for an active lifestyle,” he said.

He stated that the Avant Garde edifice will include highly activated properties with renewable energy, plus an animal conservation park, Golf Course, recreational center, tech valley, helipad, forestry, farm shop, spa, hiking paths, gym facilities and more.

“ISIMI Lagos will dramatically alter what we currently consider the norm in Lagos,” Ayilara said.

“Apart from the endless opportunities ISIMI Lagos

provides, the city also comprises a standard polo turf with a stable that houses some of the world’s best horses, providing a state-of-the-art riding experience,” he said.

ISIMI is a utopia for sports lovers. The city provides a standard polo turf with a stable that houses some of the world’s best horses and being surrounded by kilometers of riding trails provides a state-of-the-art riding experience.

The golf course is designed to thrill both the pros and the beginners and would make residents fall in love with the game.

“ISIMI Lagos is characterized by a theme of wellness and picturesque scenery of the city. It is family-friendly with an all-natural lake which can be used for family-oriented activities such as kayaking, picnics and outdoor play dates,” he said.

Ayilara stated that ISIMI comes with sophisticated meeting rooms and workspaces located within the tech valley and equipped with high-speed internet and uninterrupted power boosting efficiency as well as a suitable place which is effective for intellectual activities.

ARCON Calls for Improved Support 4point Puts Rose Garden Phase 2 in for Architecture Property Market Ahmed, vice president; Arc. naira towards the construction Bennett Oghifo President, Architects Registration Council of Nigeria (ARCON), Arc. (Sir) Dipo Ajayi, has called for improved support for the profession of architecture in Nigeria.

Ajayi made the call in Lagos, saying there was need to review ARCON’s activities, challenges and successes since he took over the reign of the office.

According to Ajayi, who became the president of the architects’ regulatory body in June 12, 2018, this would further guide the council to deliver more on their mandate towards the overall enhancement of architects and architecture in Nigeria.

Although he acknowledged that the journey has been herculean, the president, however said, the support of his council members has aided his administration to weather the storms and recorded some successes.

Serving with Ajayi’s executive are, Arc. Shamsuna

Umar Murnai, registrar; and, Arc. Celestine Eze, the treasurer, respectively.

Also, the council has representative from each states of the federation, a representative of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), four members appointed by the Minister of Works and Housing, four members from the Nigeria Institute of Architects (NIA) and four members presenting the accredited Universities involved in the training of architecture.

The president, who said his council has continued to wax stronger, has been able to settle all issues relating to ARCON landed properties both in Abuja and Lagos.

“Thankfully, we have gotten the documents recertifying Abuja ARCON Office land located at Jahi with plot no.

1201/1203.

We are now renovating Lagos office, which was awarded by the Ministry of Works and Housing and the contractor will soon deliver the project.

“The present council has also contributed over sixty million

of a befitting edifice to be called the ARCON headquarters to be situated in the already recertified ARCON land Abuja.

“We have expanded the scope of architecture by recognizing landscape architecture, interior design architecture, among others.”

Ajayi added that, the new ARCON offices would be fully automated such that, it will be able to respond to emerging challenges.

On Architects Projects Registration Number (APRN), the president said, apart from Federal Capital Territory, Lagos state has also accepted the initiative and implementation will commence soon.

Other achievements, according to Ajayi, include accreditation of foreign universities, sustenance of the induction of fully registered architects, architectural firms, architectural technologist/ technicians and sustenance of accreditation exercises of all Nigerian universities teaching architecture to mention a few.

Fadekemi Ajakaiye

A Lagos-based development company, 4Point Property has announced another complete sale of its Rose Gardens Phase 2 Land Project at Orimerunmu community in Asese, Ogun State.

This is coming only months after the company announced the sale of its premiere housing project, Rose Gardens Bungalows situated within the same Asese town. Here, the company has over 18 units of bungalows/terraces currently under construction with the internal road network of the estate near completion..

In a press statement recently, the company announced it has fully sold out and closed sales for Rose Gardens Phase 2, Aseese, and will be allocating/physical handover of all sold plots to subscribers and continue the construction of the infrastructure within the estate to allow residents commence construction on their allotted

land.

In a conversation with the Head of Business, Charles Esomojumi stated that “4point Property will continue to adopt best practices in delivering on her promises to subscribers. We discovered that most development companies go back on their promises to their clients, focusing on making sales than delivering results and we set a goal to be different by building and earning our clients trust through prioritizing result delivery over sales, and naturally more clients are drawn to us because of our sincerity and integrity.

“We do not overprice our properties. Till date our property sells at roughly 20% below the average market value. We do not compromise on quality and that’s why we produce our own blocks to satisfy quality. Greed is what causes development companies to sell at higher prices and build with inferior materials,” he said.

Charles further stated that all properties sold by 4point property undergo extensive and critical pre-purchase assessment both with the State’s Lands registry, Surveyor General’s office and all family stakeholders to ensure there are no encumbrances on the property and the title documents are appropriately signed for proper documentation, so there is a near zero chance of clients experiencing issues on any property purchase from the company.

The Chief Executive Officer, Wale Olayanju in his address explained that with the latest milestone reached, the company’s mission of providing affordable housing opportunities to families and giving back to the communities they serve is slowly gaining momentum towards the much bigger vision of playing a significant part of solving the country’s housing deficit while positioning itself as the most trusted property development company in Nigeria.

15

T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY MARCH 30, 2021

PROPERTY & ENVIRONMENT

NCF Premieres Documentary on Illegal Trafficking of Nigeria’s Vultures Bennett Oghifo

T

he Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF) has scaled up its advocacy for vultures with the production of a documentary titled “Our Plights to Survive: Nigeria’s Vulture and Wildlife Trade Crisis”.

The documentary, which was premiered recently at Lekki Conservation Centre, Lagos, is aimed at intensifying NCF’s

campaign on vulture conservation in Nigeria and the intricate link between vultures killing and illegal wildlife trade. The production is supported by United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and Egyptian Vulture New LIFE project.

The documentary reveals how vultures are heavily traded as commodities in the wildlife market in the South-Western and Northern parts of Nigeria.

It also shows threats to vultures emanating from poachers,

wildlife traffickers, traditional medicine practitioners as well as many people who perceive the bird as ominous.

Welcoming participants, the Director-General of NCF, Dr. Muhtari Aminu-Kano, expressed gratitude to NCF members, partners and ‘Save Vultures Campaign Ambassadors’ for their continued support for NCF and conservation efforts in Nigeria.

He said a campaign for the survival of vultures translates

to the survival of the ecosystem and other species. He urged the general public to team up with NCF in the war against vultures’ extinction, as NCF and a few other organisations cannot handle the issues alone.

Dr. Joseph Onoja, Director of Technical Programme, NCF, who spoke on ‘the journey so far’ said that the foundation began its campaign for the protection of vultures in 2016.

He listed the seven species of vultures facing threat

to outbreak of diseases.

Dr. Onoja added that NCF would sustain collaboration with market women, traditional medicine practitioners and law enforcement agencies in the campaign to save vultures from extinction.

‘Save Vultures Campaign Ambassadors’, Frank Donga, a comedian/actor; Mariam Longe, co-host of YourView on TVC and Tito da fire, a musician, were present at the premiere.

of extinction in Nigeria as follows: Egyptian vulture, Rüppell’s griffon vulture, Hooded vulture, Lappet-faced vulture, White-backed vulture, White-headed vulture and Palm-nut vulture.

Belief-based use was identified as the leading human endaevour driving vultures into extinction. He cautioned that if we obliterate vultures and prevent them from carrying out their nature-imposed sanitary role, we will open ourselves

Merit Abode Launches 200 Housing Units at Mowe Ofada Fadekemi Ajakaiye In a bid to meet the housing needs of Nigerians, Meritabode Group, an established property development company in Lagos, has announced the launch of its 200 units of housing in Mowe Ofada.

The Head of Operations Mrs. Anyanso Duruaku Roseline made this known at a press conference on Friday 19th March 2021.

In a statement by the Sales Manager, Mr. Victor Igbenoba, the newly launched Sapphire Court, which is the first of its kind by MeritAbode is designed to cater to human housing needs as well as provide an opportunity for investors to secure multiple

properties for sale.

He stated that “The product, which was birthed to respond to the increasing rental and housing demand of Nigerians, is set to deliver a top-tier experience to clients. While affordable housing has become the cover-up to providing sham houses, Sapphire Court offers a breath of fresh air in housing solutions. With private security, 24hours Solar power supply, parking space, fitness center, and medical facility to provide immediate care to residents, the Sapphire Court is designed to solve the major challenges of housing in Nigeria.”

In a statement, Managing Director of MeritAbode Group, Ofure Oseni stated that the drive behind Sapphire Court

is to make quality and affordable shelter available with the recruitment of screened contractors. The initiative also offers realtors an avenue to make money from sales.

Aside from buying homes, Oseni said there is also an investment opportunity for the first fifty investors who purchase a Sapphire Court property outrightly. This investment comes in form of a plot of land at any of Meritabode Group’s choicest locations.

With the affordability and structured payment plan of the Sapphire Court, she said “Investors get to drink from the well of comfort and smart investments.”

She concluded by saying that

MeritAbode stays committed to bringing the dream of readily available and affordable

housing to fruition. With other housing projects in the works to be announced later, it is

only a matter of time before the housing deficit in Nigeria is a thing of the past.

Merit Abode’s team

USTDA Supports Clean Energy Access, Women’s Entrepreneurship in Nigeria Michael Olugbode in Abuja The United States Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) has announced a grant to Nigeria’s Sosai Renewable Energies Company for a feasibility study to connect more than 200,000 women, farmers, and rural citizens to new solar-powered minigrids in Kaduna, Kogi and Plateau states.

In a statement by the U.S. Embassy in Nigeria, USTDA’s Acting Director, Enoh Ebong

was quoted to have said: “USTDA is committed to promoting inclusive economic development, and bringing clean energy solutions to rural communities is an important component of our approach.”

She added that: “Women entrepreneurs like (Sosai CEO) Habiba Ali are setting a vision for Nigeria’s energy future that USTDA enthusiastically supports.”

According to the statement, the USTDA-funded feasibility study will include site surveys,

preliminary engineering, economic and financial analyses and an assessment of the project’s likely developmental impacts on rural women.

USTDA’s study also will create business opportunities for U.S. equipment and services suppliers in Nigeria’s minigrid sector, while supporting up to 20 megawatts of new solar power in rural communities.

U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria, Mary Beth Leonard said: “This announcement is emblematic of the U.S.-Nigeria relationship

ATCO Presents Opportunities in Affordable Homes, Investments Fadekemi Ajakaiye ATCO Homes, a fast-growing real estate firm, has reiterated its commitment to making affordable housing and scalable real estate investment opportunities available to Nigerian low-end income earners and the elites..

The company announced during a media parley in Ikeja, recently that Nigerians can become landowners in the top Lagos city of IbejuLekki for as low as N800, 000, starting with an initial deposit of N25, 000.

While speaking to journalists at the media parley, Mr. Triumph-Abatan Oluwayomi, the Managing Director of ATCO Homes, said, “At ATCO Homes, we are driven by a passion to empower Nigerians to live a fuller and wealthier life.

This is why we are making opportunities available to all Nigerians to own properties

in Ibeju-Lekki, a choice area of Lagos”.

“To drive mass land-ownership and home-ownership, we have in place a payment plan of two years with zero per cent interest on the land cost. In another case, we put in place a gift of Toyota corolla for purchasing from three and above plots from one of our estates, Nation’s View Estate, Shapati, Lekki”, he added.

Mr. Triumph-Abatan Oluwayomi further explained that the real estate firm which is driven by a passion to serve Nigerians is exploring all avenues to enrich the lives of the growing national population through outright home-ownership or investment in lands that have higher return percentage on both a short and long term bases.

Presently, ATCO Homes’ portfolio comprises 12 residential estates and lands.

The real estate portfolios include The Nations View Estate, Cloud View Estate in Ode-Omi, Bliss Vale Estate in Lamijo; The Blue Ocean Estate, The Dove Estate, Brampton Lake, Milton Estate, Oakville Garden, Angle Blue Estate, all located in Ibeju-Lekki, in Lagos.

Nigeria’s housing deficit is put at an estimated 17 million according to a statistic report. The report emphasised that 700,000 new houses are needed yearly to tackle the worsening housing deficit. This is why ATCO Homes has stepped forward with a bold new home and land ownership plans that are structured around an installment and zero-interest regime to support the various federal and state government housing schemes which seek to make lands and homes more affordable and accessible to Nigerian citizens.

as the USTDA grant supports the development of energy for productive use and promotes inclusion for women and rural dwellers. Working together, we can solve today’s greatest challenges through projects like this.”

Sosai CEO Habiba Ali said: “This USTDA grant will support a huge step forward for Nigeria in meeting its rural electrification goals as well as kick-start life changing projects for communities, women, economic development

and the agricultural sector.

For Sosai, the benefit of the USTDA grant to our company is immense, positioning us for greater growth and greater possibilities in the future.”

This project supports the U.S. government’s Power Africa and Prosper Africa Initiatives, President Biden’s Executive Order on Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad and the global “2x Challenge” – an initiative by development finance institutions to invest in and

create inclusive opportunities for women.

In Nigeria, USTDA has supported the successful roll-out of minigrids and microgrids in rural and peri-urban communities using U.S. technology. The Agency has an active portfolio of three other ongoing solar minigrid activities in Nigeria.

Collectively, it is expected that these projects will support energy access for over 66,000 households in Nigeria and help Nigeria meet its goal of universal electrification.

CSE Report Reveals How Harvesting Raindrop is Transforming Lives Bennett Oghifo Water-stressed communities in rural and urban Nigeria will benefit from a new report on the benefits of harvesting raindrop for use in daily living, published on World Water Day, recently.

The Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), a public interest research and advocacy organisation based in New Delhi India, and a fortnightly magazine, Down To Earth, have published a special ground-report on villages using employment under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) not for drought relief, but for relief against drought.

“By putting water conservation at its core, the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) has the power to transform India’s rural landscape and chang-

ing the lives of the country’s poor –our new nation-wide survey has found. What better way to mark the World Water Day than by celebrating this unheralded success story of rural India’s water warriors, our JalYodhas?” said Sunita Narain, director general, Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) and editor of the fortnightly, Down To Earth, recently inaugurated a webinar which featured the highlights of the report on villages that have made the transformation from drought to prosperity. The webinar brought together the JalYodhas – the representatives of the villages who have made this possible.

Down To Earth and CSE had organised the webinar to release their findings of a country-wide survey of the impacts of MGNREGA after 15 years of its implementation.

“Fourteen reporters of Down To Earth have travelled across

the length and breadth of the country at a time when a pandemic was raging. They have covered 16 villages in 15 districts of as many states, and brought back incredible stories from the ground,” says Down To Earth managing editor Richard Mahapatra.

He adds that finding the villages which had successfully executed MGNREGA was difficult as no recordsare kept of the sustainability of the works that have been undertaken under this programme. “The government only keeps a record of the ‘number’ of works done, and of whether they have been completed. But what is not known is if the structure built under MGNREGA has improved the water security of the village, or has contributed, as it should, to livelihood improvements. This is what our Down To Earth reporters wanted to find out,” says Mahapatra.

16

TUESDAY, MARCH 30, 2021 ˾ T H I S D AY

MARKET NEWS

NSE Lists Two Federal Government of Nigeria Savings Bonds Goddy Egene

the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) Savings Bonds have been listed

The March 2021 issue of A Mutual fund (Unit Trust) is an investment vehicle managed by a SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) registered Fund Manager.

Investors with similar objectives buy units of the Fund so that the Fund Manager can buy securities that willl generate their desired return.

An ETF (Exchange Traded Fund) is a type of fund which owns the assets (shares of stock, bonds, oil futures, gold bars, foreign currency, etc.) and divides ownership of those assets into shares. Investors can buy these ‘shares’ on the

on the on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE).

The bonds were issued

floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

A REIT (Real Estate Investment Trust) is an investment vehicle that allows both small and large investors to part-own real estate ventures (eg.

Offices, Houses, Hospitals) in proportion to their investments. The assets are divided into shares that are traded on the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

GUIDE TO DATA: Date: All fund prices are quoted in Naira as at 26Mar-2021, unless otherwise stated.

on March 10, 2020. The N357.429 million Savings Bond with a coupon of

5.181 per cent will mature on March 10, 2023, while the the N504.244 million

Bond has a coupon of 6.181 per cent and will mature on March 10, 2024.

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.

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 N/A N/A N/A Afrinvest Plutus Fund N/A N/A N/A Nigeria International Debt Fund N/A N/A N/A Afrinvest Dollar Fund N/A N/A N/A 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 1.04 1.06 15.54% ACAP Income Funds 0.65 0.65 -11.01% 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 2.67% AIICO Balanced Fund 3.42 3.58 -3.66% ANCHORIA ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED info@anchoriaam.com Web:www.anchoriaam.com, Tel: 08166830267; 08036814510; 08028419180 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Anchoria Money Market 100.00 100.00 -0.01% Anchoria Equity Fund 127.11 128.58 -4.39% Anchoria Fixed Income Fund 1.13 1.13 -15.04% 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 18.28 18.83 0.78% ARM Discovery Balanced Fund 403.86 416.03 0.87% ARM Ethical Fund 35.51 36.58 5.33% ARM Eurobond Fund ($) 1.19 1.20 -2.45% ARM Fixed Income Fund 1.04 1.05 -6.88% ARM Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 2.09% AVA GLOBAL ASSET MANAGERS LIMITED info@avacapitalgroup.com Web: www.avacapitalgroup.com Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AVA GAM Fixed Income Dollar Fund 103.26 103.26 1.52% AXA MANSARD INVESTMENTS LIMITED investmentcare@axamansard.com Web: www.axamansard.com; Tel: +2341-4488482 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AXA Mansard Equity Income Fund 123.67 124.54 -1.98% AXA Mansard Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 2.57% CAPITAL EXPRESS ASSET AND TRUST LIMITED info@capitalexpressassetandtrust.com Web: www.capitalexpressassetandtrust.com ; Tel: +234 803 307 5048 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn CEAT Fixed Income Fund 2.04 2.04 -23.33% Capital Express Balanced Fund(Formerly: Union Trustees Mixed Fund) 2.16 2.20 -11.29% CHAPELHILL DENHAM MANAGEMENT LTD investmentmanagement@chapelhilldenham.com Web: www.chapelhilldenham.com, Tel: +234 461 0691 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Chapelhill Denham Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 3.10% Paramount Equity Fund 15.53 15.82 -2.88% Women's Investment Fund 131.12 132.56 -1.50% CORDROS ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmgtteam@cordros.com Web: www.cordros.com, Tel: 019036947 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Cordros Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A Cordros Milestone Fund 2023 N/A N/A Cordros Milestone Fund 2028 N/A N/A Cordros Dollar Fund ($) N/A N/A 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 0.80% Coronation Balanced Fund 1.14 1.16 -4.68% Coronation Fixed Income Fund 1.45 1.45 -8.35% 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 2.20% EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class B 1,000,000.00 1,000,000.00 2.14% EDC Nigeria Fixed Income Fund 1,158.21 1,162.34 -3.43% 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 1,351.82 1,351.82 5.67% FBN Balanced Fund 183.94 185.23 -1.99% FBN Halal Fund 110.45 110.45 4.57% FBN Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 2.74% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Institutional N/A N/A N/A FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Retail 123.93 123.93 2.67% FBN Smart Beta Equity Fund 147.93 149.80 -2.15% 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 N/A N/A N/A Legacy Debt Fund N/A N/A N/A Legacy Equity Fund N/A N/A N/A Legacy USD Bond Fund N/A N/A N/A 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 3,772.28 3,822.23 0.65% Coral Income Fund 3,348.36 3,348.36 2.20% FSDH Treasury Bills Fund 100.00 100.00 1.27%

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 0.84% Nigeria Entertainment Fund 126.63 127.16 17.70% 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 2.33% Vantage Balanced Fund 2.68 2.74 17.00% Vantage Guaranteed Income Fund 1.00 1.00 4.50% Kedari Investment Fund (KIF) 145.77 146.15 -6.22% Vantage Dollar Fund (VDF) - June Year End 1.08 1.08 5.11% 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 1.36 1.38 -0.69% Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund 1,144.27 1,144.27 1.85% 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 N/A N/A N/A Meristem Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A 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 1.59 1.62 7.47% PACAM Fixed Income Fund 12.36 12.49 1.05% PACAM Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 1.74% PACAM Equity Fund 1.55 1.57 -1.59% PACAM EuroBond Fund 109.83 112.60 0.42% 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 128.67 130.93 3.84% 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 1.01 1.01 3.31% 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 3,100.00 3,123.92 -3.62% Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund 227.59 227.59 1.22% Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund 1.13 1.15 -3.39% Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund 298.09 298.09 1.16% Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund 207.56 210.20 -5.00% Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 1.83% Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund 9,698.97 9,823.02 -7.64% Stanbic IBTC Dollar Fund (USD) 1.24 1.24 1.38% Stanbic IBTC Shariah Fixed Income Fund 112.87 112.87 1.61% 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 1.31 1.33 -4.07% United Capital Bond Fund 1.92 1.92 1.42% United Capital Equity Fund 0.88 0.91 2.16% United Capital Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 4.06% United Capital Eurobond Fund 118.77 118.77 1.44% United Capital Wealth for Women Fund 1.06 1.08 -2.23% United capital Sukuk Fund 1.03 1.03 2.54% 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 11.98 12.09 0.98% Zenith Ethical Fund 13.23 13.34 8.28% Zenith Income Fund 24.23 24.23 1.04% Zenith Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 2.40%

REITS NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

121.90 52.85

0.96% 0.86%

Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

12.36 118.21 93.45

12.46 118.21 95.21

-6.49% -2.90% -5.95%

Fund Name 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 Money Market 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

3.74 5.35 16.81 1.00 19.18 173.85

3.78 5.43 16.91 1.00 19.38 175.85

-1.04% -5.86% 2.82% 2.07% -6.49% -21.14%

NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

107.40

13.11%

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.

23

T H I S D AY ˾ ͱͮ˜ 2021

BUSINESSWORLD R A T E S MONEY MARKET OVERNIGHT OBB

A S

REPO 10.75 10.75

CALL 1-MONTH 3-MONTH

11.50 12 12.50

A T

Group Business Editor Obinna Chima

Email obinna.chima@thisdaylive.com 08152447875

M A R C H

S & P INDEX INDEX LEVEL 1-DAY MONTH-TO-DATE

564.06% 0.01% 0.27%

2 6 ,

S & P INDEX 1/4 TO DATE YEAR TO DATE

2 0 2 1

-15.85% -15.85 %

EXCHANGE RATE ͱ͵ͷ˹ͯ ̩ ̩

Quick Takes Ikeja Electric Bags ISO Certifications

ENUGU TRADE FAIR

L-R: Second President, Enugu Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, Odeiga Jideonwo; Director, Consumer Affairs Bureau, NCC, Mr. Efosa Idehen; First Deputy President, Enugu Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, Jasper Nduagwuike; Director, Public Affairs, NCC, Dr. Ikechukwu Adinde; Enugu Zonal Controller, NCC, Mr. Ogbonnaya Ugama; and Vice President, Publication and Publicity, Enugu Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, Emma Nwankpa, during the NCC day at the Trade Fair in Enugu… recently

NEITI: Secret Ownership of Corporate Entities Dangerous Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja The Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) Dr. Ogbonnaya Orji, has described as dangerous, the non-disclosure of actual ownership of some companies in the country.

A statement by the Head of Communications and Advocacy at the organisation, Obiageli Onuorah, stated that Orji spoke while addressing a forum of government agencies, companies, civil society and the media on beneficial ownership implementation in the extractive industry in Nigeria.

He noted that Nigeria has two commitments to beneficial ownership reporting, the first being compliance to the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), while the second was in response to the commitment

ENERGY made by Nigeria to the Open Government Partnership (OGP).

According to him, beneficial ownership disclosure has become very important in view of the serious dangers that secret ownership of companies pose to individual countries and the global community.

“Crimes like tax evasion, illicit financial flows and terrorism financing which are associated with or facilitated by secret ownership frustrates national development, increases poverty in developing countries and threaten the national security of even powerful nations,” Orji stated.

He explained that NEITI was encouraged by the volume of work so far done by relevant government agencies and civil society on beneficial ownership reporting.

“NEITI will work out a joint coordination initiative with Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) , Mining Cadastre Office (MCO), NFIU, EFCC, civil society, media and other anti-corruption agencies to help track beneficial owners of extractive assets in Nigeria”, he added.

Orji revealed that a coordinating committee on beneficial ownership implementation in Nigeria is to be set up by the NEITI very soon.

He made reference to the report by an international antipoverty organisation indicating that developing countries lose up to $1trillion a year from such activities, noting that the figure is seven times more than the total aid and foreign debt that flow into these poor countries.

He said: “The Thabo Mbeki report on illicit financial flows

estimates that Africa loses up to $50 billion a year from some of these activities. Nigeria accounts for the lion share of these losses, with the extractive industry accounting for 93 per cent of total illicit financial flows from Nigeria.”

In his keynote address, the Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), Abubakar Garba, disclosed that the commission had commenced the collection and disclosure of beneficial ownership information from the January 3, 2021 following the passage of the Company and Allied Matters Act in November 2020.

“Every information on persons with significant control of companies is now available online on the commission website to members of the public free of Continued on page 24

FGApprovesNewPolicyFrameworkforMSMEs James Emejo and Folalumi Alaran in Abuja The Minister of State, Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mrs. Maryam Yalwaji Katagum, has said the Federal Executive Council (FEC) has finally approved the revised National Policy on Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMES) which provides the framework to resolve the challenges faced by the sub-sector.

The minister said the revised policy which accommodates key changes that have occurred in the national and international socioeconomic scene, was a product of deep and wide consultations with critical stakeholders across the country such as MSMEs operators, policy makers,

ENERGY academics/researches and development partners, both local and international.

Speaking at signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Nigeria Entrepreneurs Forum (NEF) and the Organisation of Women in International Trade (OWIT), in Abuja, she expressed optimism that the implementation of the policy would set the MSMEs on the path of sustainable growth and development.

The minister further emphasised the critical role which MSMEs, especially womenowned businesses play in the development of the national and global economy in terms of employment generation and

contribution to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) as this cannot be overemphasised.

She pointed out that it was in recognition of the important role of small businesses that the federal government of accorded special attention to the growth and development of the sector, with special emphasis on womenowned enterprises.

She said it was further to this regard that the implementation of the Survival Fund scheme which has received commendation by stakeholders across the country, further provisioned for 45 per cent female-owned businesses.

Katagum, however, disclosed that the ministry had commenced the stakeholders’ engagement on drafting of national policy on startups so as to keep pace with innovation and new wave

of digital revolution of start-up ecosystem in the country.

She said the move was aimed at repositioning the Nigerian start-ups to be major contributors to GDP. The minister also expressed the federal government’s commitment to positioning the MSMEs for global competitiveness through effective implementation of policies and programmes.

She also affirmed the ministry’s readiness to collaborate with the private sector in achieving its mandate.

She said: “More so, I believe that the implementation of this MoU that would be signed today, will provide another platform to impact women-owned enterprises in the country.”

Continued on page 24

Ikeja Electric Plc (IE) has been awarded with three latest International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) certifications.

They are ISO 9001:2015, ISO 14001:2015 and ISO 45001:2018.

The feat was in recognition of the Disco’s implementation of occupational safety & health, environment management and quality management processes.

The company said by bagging the triple awards, it has scored another first in the electricity sector in Nigeria.

IE further disclosed that it also emerged as one of the runners-up for the ‘Most Responsive organisation to COVID-19 Crisis at the Nigeria Risk Awards 2020, and also bagged the AfriSAFE Merit Award 2020.

The ISO certifications were presented to IE at its headquarters in Lagos.

Speaking on the achievements, the Chief Executive Officer of Ikeja Electric, Folake Soetan, said the company had again reaffirmed its commitment to high standards, in line with global best practices.

Soetan in a statement by the company’s Head of Corporate Communication, Mr. Felix Ofulue, stated that those prestigious awards demonstrated that IE’s management processes and operations were effectively conducted by quality policies and forward-thinking leadership.

She said: “We are indeed honoured by these certifications. I am dedicating these achievements to the entire management and staff who continuously give their best through strategic initiatives and innovation that deliver growth, improved service delivery and customer satisfaction for the brand.

“The fact that we have gained these recognition does not mean we have attained the desired peak or that we would become complacent, but rather we will continue to work hard towards operational excellence and improvement of service in line with our manta – ‘Customer first; technology Now.”

Dano Milk Hosts Easter Carnival

Dano Milk in partnership with Nollywood actress, Rachael Okonkwo is set to host a three-day Easter Carnival from April 2nd to 4th this year in Enugu state.

As a Dano Milk Ambassador, Okonkwo, who is also known as ‘Nkoli Nwa Nsukka’ disclosed plan to reach out to the less advantaged persons and widows in the society.

Speaking during a media briefing, she said: “We get caught up in the need to fend for ourselves so much that sometimes we forget to remember those around us – the less privileged.

“The three days Easter carnival with Nkoli Nwa Nsukka is totally a non-profit event that is inspired by my love for education and the desire to put a smile on people’s faces.”

According to the philanthropist, she is not only giving back to the society, but is also making the kids understand the importance of education and most importantly, empower the widows.

Supported by the state government, the event will have some celebrities such as Patience Ozokwor, Eucharia Anonubi, Ngozi Ezeonu, Chiege Alisigwe, Nkiru Silvanus, Ebele Okaro, Kcee, Ken Erics, Fedrick Leonard, and Zubby Michael among others.

Some items to be doled out are Dano milk, educational materials, lunch boxes, school bags, and some leisure items like toys and bicycle for kids.

Over 800 pairs of solid shoes for hawkers, conductors and other needy. Bags of rice, Tomatoes, salt, seasoning, wrapper and semovita for the widows.

Union Calls for Four-day Strike

The trade union Verdi has called for workers at six Amazon sites in Germany to go on strike from Sunday evening for four days in the latest attempt to try to force the US e-commerce group to recognise collective bargaining agreements.

According to Reuters, Verdi said the strikes at Amazon’s sites in Rheinberg, Werne, Koblenz, Leipzig and at two locations in Bad Hersfeld signalled an “unofficial start” to wage talks for the retail

“For women to attain financial fitness, they have to build passive income and focus on multiple investment streams to realise the future of their dreams” Executive Secretary, NIPC Yewande Sadiku,

24

T H I S D AY ˾ ͱͮ˜ ͰͮͰͯ

BUSINESSWORLD

NEWS

Buhari Directs MDAs to Reduce Operational Costs

NEITI: SECRET OWNERSHIP OF CORPORATE ENTITIES DANGEROUS charge and in line with Nigeria’s commitment to the global EITI and OGP. This is the least we can do to support transparency and fight against corruption”, he stated.

He explained that the commission was working to integrate beneficial ownership information into the national identity data base to ensure valid and correct information, adding that when information is publicly accessible, the public will be able to find out if there are errors.

Executive Director, Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), Auwal Rafsanjani, noted that the enactment of CAMA 2020 has provided legal backing for the beneficial ownership transparency, but warned that the register is not an end in itself. Also addressing the forum from Oslo, Norway, the EITI Policy Director, Ines Marques informed the audience that about 20 EITI implementing countries have undertaken legal reforms to facilitate ownership transparency, while 30 others have publicly disclosed some beneficial ownership information through EITI reporting.

FG APPROVES NEW POLICY FRAMEWORK FOR MSMES Separately, Katagum, at a meeting with a delegation of Women Food Sellers Association of Nigeria (WFSAN) led by its National Coordinator, Mrs. Funke Tetteh, said Nigerian women are playing major role towards achieving food security in the country particularly in their responsibilities in agricultural food value chain.

She pointed out that Nigerian women have contributed positively to the reduction of hunger in the country through their value addition to agricultural produce in areas of food processing, preservation among others.

In a statement issued by Assistant Director, Information, Mrs. Oluwakemi Ogunmakinwa, she said: “We are helping in the agricultural value chain.

You cook it, you preserve it, which is another area you are contributing. In doing so, you are contributing to the reduction of hunger or poverty in the country. You are playing a very important role”.

Group Business Editor

ÌÓØØË ÒÓ×Ë Capital Market Editor

Goddy Egene

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari has directed ministries, departments and agencies to work with the Bureau of Public Service Reforms (BPSR) to cut down on their cost of operations.

Speaking when he visited the Managing Director, Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA), Mr. Nuruddeen Rafindadi, in Abuja, the Director General of the BPSR, Mr. Dasuki Arabi, noted that the move was to cut wastes and enhance efficiency.

Arabi said the visit to FERMA was at the instance of President Buhari who had instructed them to collaborate with all the relevant MDAs for effective, and efficient operations.

A statement by the Director and Head, Communications and Public Relations, Mrs. Maryam Sanusi, quoted Arabi as also lauding the operations of FERMA and the entire team as being capable of taking the agency to an enviable height.

According to the DG, the BPSR was established in 2004 as a lead agency and engine room for integrated reform initiative, implementation, coordination and harmonisation of government activities at the federal level.

In addition, the director general said the bureau was borne out of the need to have the required capability and resources to leverage on local and international knowledge networks and communities of public administration.

He argued that best practices would help to support policy, institutional as well as governance reform processes

with the required expertise on a continuous basis.

Explaining the reason for the visit, Arabi stated that it was the statutory responsibility of BPSR is to initiate action on reforms at the public service level, coordinate, monitor and evaluate the implementation of reforms in MDAs as well as disseminate information on all aspects of public services.

In his comments, the Managing Director of FERMA, Rafindadi, said he was delighted to receive the BPSR team for visiting to educate FERMA on the activities of the bureau and to also encourage and commend the agency on the need to be efficient in its activities.

Rafindadi said the visit was important because it will afford the agency the opportunity to

learn from the success of BPSR, particularly on succession planning in the civil service procurement processes.

The MD added that FERMA’s collaboration with BPSR was a welcome development, assuring the team that the partnership would further enhance the way the organisation carries out its statutory duties.

PROMOTINGAFCFTA

L-R: Lead Program Coordination, Monitoring and Evaluation, National Action Committee on African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement (AfCFTA), Babafemi Lawal; Senior Special Assistant to the President and Secretary, National Action Committee on AfCFTA, Francis Anatogu, and Group Managing Director, Re-Ingnite Public Affairs Limited, Member CMC Connect Group, Yomi Badejo-Okusanya, during a media parley on the AfCFTA held in Lagos... recently AbiodunAjala

Okoronkwo: Finance, Risk Mgt, Key Focus for Oil Industry Operators Peter Uzoho The Group Managing Director of Aiteo Eastern Exploration and Production, Mr. Victor Okoronkwo, has stated that finance and risk management would remain the key areas of focus for upstream oil and gas companies.

Okoronkwo said this in an address he presented at the recently held Society of Petroleum Engineers Oloibiri Lectore Series and Energy Forum (SPEOLEF).

The lecture had as its theme: “Operational Excellence and Portfolio Optimisation - Way

Forward for The Oil and Gas Industry Post COVID-19”.

The Aiteo boss observed that the oil and gas industry was still grappling with the aftermath of the crash in global oil price and collapse in demand, triggered by the COVID 19 pandemic.

Okoronkwo stated: “This phenomenon has accelerated new paradigms in portfolio optimisation and supply chain balance in the industry.

“With the price volatility, geopolitical tussle between Russia and Saudi Arabia experienced during the first wave of global COVID-19 lock down, financial

leadership and liquidity risk management will remain major areas of focus for upstream oil and gas companies.

“Digitalisation and Big Data have also become key tools for success in the industry and will gain even more prominence in a post COVID era.”

According to him, the industry was not yet out of the woods, despite promising trends in price as influenced by the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC+) production cuts.

He said with the unprecedented discovery, approvals and now application of the COVID 19

vaccines, the pandemic would hopefully be contained and economies would start opening again.

Okoronkwo opined that the lockdown has demonstrated that, with increasing speed and capacity in connectivity, like 5G, digital tools were no longer just enabling communication.

“They are providing and indeed accelerating opportunities for value creation and value capture through enterprise integration, communication across multiple social media, remote monitoring, and task automation, all to enhance

operational efficiency, integrity, and process safety.

“So today, digitalisation is no longer an option but a fundamental requirement for companies to go leaner and to remain competitive particularly in this era of energy transition,” he said.

Okoronkwo explained that, “It will also require reforming existing enterprise data architecture, adoption of cloud computing, internet of things, artificial intelligence, drone technology, social media and whole lot of other emerging mobile computing and communication platforms.”

How Total Intervened in COVID-19, Emergency in Nigeria Peter Uzoho Total Exploration and Production Nigeria Limited has highlighted interventions it made in complementing the efforts of government at both the national and state levels to contain the COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria It explained at a recent parley with journalists that it made those interventions because it sees Nigeria as home and likes to identify with communities

where it operates.

The company pointed out that it was part of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC)-led oil industry endeavour that donated N21 billion to the federal government’s COVID-19 effort with N1.2 billion as its individual contribution.

From the N1.2 billion contribution, Total said it is building two Emergency and Infectious Diseases (EID) Hospitals, one each in Maiduguri and Katsina,

in addition to two Diagnostics Centres, one each in Minna and Damaturu.

The upstream giant also indicated the above gesture was followed by similar contributions to states, citing Lagos State which got 20 hospital beds; two surgical ventilators; two Primaflex Dialysis machines; 50,000 litres of fuel/diesel, and 2,000 face masks at a time the pandemic made such items difficult to procure.

Speaking at the session, the

Executive Director, Corporate Affairs and Services, Total, Mr. Abiodun Afolabi, said Total was keen on the sustainability of projects and its interventions and that that was why the company prefers to complete programmes and projects before talking about them.

“For us, it is not a short-term aim; what we are doing is for the long term. We want to see that what we are doing is sustainable. Our own is not just to deliver and walk away, we

donate and follow up to see that what we have given has brought value or the envisaged impact,” Afolabi said.

He stated that by so doing, lessons were learnt for the sustainability of the next project.

The company also explained that in the first phase of that effort, the donation covered three thematic areas, namely, provision of medical consumables; deployment of logistics and inpatient support services as well as medical infrastructure.

Comms/e-Business Editor

××Ë ÕÙØÔÓ Asst. Editor, Money Market ß×Ï ÕÏÑÒÏ Senior Correspondent

ËÒÏÏ× ÕÓØÑÌÙÖß (Advertising)

Surveyor General to Strengthen FG’s IGR Drive Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

Correspondents

ÒÓØÏÎß äÏ (Aviation) ÜÙ×ÙÝÏÖÏ ÌÓÙÎßØ (Maritime) Ë×ÏÝ ×ÏÔÙ (Finance) ÌÏÜÏ áÙÔÓ (Insurance) ÒÓØÏ×Ï ÕËÐÙÜ (Energy) Emmanuel Addeh (Energy) Reporters

ÙÝË ÖÏÕÒßÙÑÓÏ (ICT) Peter Uzoho (Energy)

The Office of the Surveyor General of the Federation (OSGoF) is being repositioned towards increasing and strengthening Nigeria’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), the Head of the office, Mr. Samuel Adeniran, has posited.

The surveyor general further stated that he was providing the needed survey inputs as part of the support system to relevant authorities in order to resolve other social and environmental challenges.

Adeniran spoke in Abuja, during an interview sequel to a documentary being packaged

by the federal ministry of works and housing for further public awareness creation, Head of Press and Public Relations in the office, Michael Abu, stated.

He disclosed that office was already in partnership arrangements that would enable credible private companies provide a good number

of Continuously Operating Reference Station (CORS) that would be installed across the country.

He explained that CORS is a satellite that allows streaming of geospatial data and other useful signals.

Nigeria, according to him, requires over 200 of the CORS,

pointing out that the office decided on the partnership with competent companies to help provide the required number to lessen the huge financial burden on the federal government’s coffers.

“At present, there are only 24 of the CORS in the country,” he noted.

25

T H I S D AY ˾ ͱͮ˜ ͰͮͰͯ

AfCFTA: FG to Establish Agency to Facilitate Continental Agreement Omolabake Fasogbon The federal government has said efforts were being intensified to establish a trade remedy authority that will be responsible for the enforcement of rules of origin and tightening of borders against fraudulent invoicing.

It stated that this was part of government’s efforts to ensure a successful implementation of the African Continental Free Trade (AfCFTA) Agreement.

The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr. Adeniyi Adebayo, disclosed this during a call on Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, at Lagos State Government House recently.

Adebayo further expressed government’s readiness to establish a designated and competent authority in the country, that will see to the administration of the AfCFTA rules of origin as well as automation of process for managing exporter and product registration.

He stated that the visit to Lagos was part of nationwide sensitisation exercise by the National Action Committee on the AfCFTA. He said the National Action Committee on the AfCFTA which he chairs, was forging an alliance with the National Trade Facilitation Committee domiciled in the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment to facilitate the execution of the regional trade facilitation roadmap.

He said, “The AfCFTA implementation plans included domestication of the AfCFTA Agreement, border enforcement and Rules of origin enforcement, trade facilitation and ease of doing business, production and service capacity growth, power and trade logistics infrastructure, market access, skills and human capacity development as well as quality infrastructure.”

Responding, Sanwo-Olu, expressed the state readiness to domesticate AFCFTA poli-

cies so as to accelerate the actualisation of the recently launched Lagos 30- year Development Plan.

“We will explore all the opportunities inherent in the AfCFTA Agreement to grow our revenue and GDP base and create employment for youth,” he said.

Also speaking, Secretary of the National Action Committee, Francis Anatogu, clarified the objective of the committee as it has to do with ACFTA. He said, “Our strategy is

to work with the states based on their areas of comparative advantages and Lagos State has been identified to have trade strength in ICT, telecommunication, transportation and financial service.

“The AfCFTA is expected to deliver an integrated continental market of 1.27 billion consumers with an aggregate GDP of $3.4 trillion. Nigeria constitutes a significant portion of these figures largely spread across our states.”

Neimeth Shareholders Task Board to Sustain Growth Goddy Egene Shareholders of Neimeth International Pharmaceuticals Plc have commended the board and management of the company over the performance and called for sustenance of the growth trajectory.

The shareholders, who spoke at the 62nd annual general meeting (AGM) in Lagos, made the call after hearing the expansion plans of the company as disclosed by its chairman, Ambrosie B.C Orjiako.

Nemeith recorded a profit after tax of N212 million for the year ended September 30, 2020 and recommended a dividend of N114 million for the shareholders.

Orjiako said the company had put together a two pronged expansion plan to boost its performance and increase value for investors.

Speaking, the National Coordinator, Independent Shareholders Association of Nigeria (ISAN), Anthony Omojola, enjoined the board and management of Neimeth to keep up the growth trajectory. According to him, the expansion programme should be done in phases to give room for flexibility and reviews.

Also speaking, another shareholder, Mr. Nornah Awoh, said the expansion would come with many opportunities and urged the company to shore

up the top line even if it means to source for more soft loans.

Another shareholder, Chief Robert Igwe , congratulated the board and management for the expansion plans and assured the company of investors’ willing to invest in the projects.

Orjiako had explained that the expansion plans involved an upgrade of current plant at Oregun, Lagos to take up new products while increasing manufacturing capacity for existing products. Second part of the plan is the construction of a new multi-product facility that would be tailored to comply with the World Health Organisation (WHO) current standards of Good Manufacturing Practice (WHO cGMP) at Amawbia in Anambra State.

“Our plan is to significantly upgrade the Oregun factory and enhance its output and ensure continued compliance with current standards of Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP)” he said. According to him, this plant upgrade will be funded with a loan from the Bank of Industry, while the new facility in Anambra State, would be funded with loan from the Central Bank of Nigeria and proceeds of a planned N5 billion recapitalization that was approved by the shareholders at the AGM.

Company to Launch Liquidity Management Platform Emma Okonji The microfinance industry in Nigeria is set to experience a major breakthrough in its operations, as the Microfinance Development Company Ltd (MDCL), plans to launch its Inter-member Liquidity Placement Platform (ILPP), that will further escalate the use of technology to drive financial inclusion.

The platform, which will be launched at a business forum for key stakeholders in the microfinance industry on March 31, 2021 in Lagos, is being organised

by MDCL. It will play host to managing directors of microfinance banks and key decision makers in the banking, technology, SME and financial services industries.

Themed, “The 21st Century MFB: Leveraging Technology to

Drive Financial Inclusion in the MFB Industry”, the event will focus on liquidity management, risk asset creation and other macroeconomic challenges faced by the microfinance industry, with a view to proffering viable solutions to them.

The keynote speaker at the event is Lawrence Amadi, a Technology Advisory Partner at KPMG. He will be joined by other seasoned captains of industry and thought leaders drawn from different business verticals.

Speaking about the upcoming event, the Chairman of MDCL and Founder of Hasal Microfinance Bank, Rogers Nwoke, said: “The MFBs are critical to Nigeria’s financial inclusion goals, particularly because of their role in providing financial services to the underserved segments of the Nigerian economy.

TCNEnergizes 40MVA,330kV ReactorinKebbi,Jos Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has installed and energised a 40MVA, 132/33kV power transformer and a new R2 75MVAR 330kV reactor at the Yauri, Kebbi state and Jos transmission substations respectively.

The company noted that the newly commissioned power transformer brings the Yauri substation capacity to 80MVA, saying that with the new transformer, the substation now has six outgoing 33kV feeders.

A statement by the General Manager, Public Affairs, Ndidi Mbah, stated that four of the

feeders, including the Yauri, Koko, Zuru and Ingaski feeders are now in service, while two others are for future demand by Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company (KEDC).

She disclosed that the Yauri 2x40MVA 132/33kV substation project was awarded in 2007, saying however, that the inability of the contractor to complete the project, caused TCN to take over the project.

TCN engineers eventually installed the first 40MVA transformer, which was successfully commissioned in 2019 and to further boost bulk power in the area, equally installed and commissioned the second

40MVA power transformer which was recently energized, she added.

According to the company, the new installed transformer has upgraded the substation capacity by 32MW and consequently improved bulk power supply to the southern part of Kebbi State, through KEDC. In the same vein, TCN said the reactor was installed at the Jos 330/132/33kV transmission substation and was also commissioned on the 18th of March, 2021 and will complement the existing R1 75MVAR 330kV in the substation.

“With two standard reactors in place at the substation, TCN now transmits stable and quality voltage to Plateau, Bauchi, Gombe and parts of Benue, Taraba, Yobe and Kaduna States.

“The Yauri and Jos substations projects are part of projects articulated in TCN’s Nigerian Electricity Grid Maintenance, Expansion and Rehabilitation Programme (NEGMERP), and TCN intends to continue to ensure the diligent implementation of the projects which is geared towards putting in place a robust and very efficient grid,” Mbah said.

FHA Begins Payment of Contractors Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja The Federal Housing Authority (FHA) has disclosed that it had begun the payment of contractors who have completed their jobs after verification, especially contractors handling the Zuba and Guzape sites in Abuja, Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

A statement from the Public Affairs Department of the organisation recently, which was signed by Mr. Kenneth Chigelu, noted that the development was in keeping with a resolution reached at the meeting held between the management and the representatives of the contractors on Tuesday, 16th March, 2021.

“It is important to note that the

authority under the leadership of the Managing Director/Chief Executive, Senator Gbenga Ashafa remains committed to the dictates of public accountability which require the verification of work done, before projects are paid for,” the statement added.

The FHA management assured stakeholders and partners that the authority would continue to hold in high regard the existing strategic partnerships in order to deliver on its mandates to the Nigerian people.

Earlier, the Ashafa-led FHA had explained that payments were delayed because of the organisation’s regard for due process in the auditing of the contractors.

“Since assumption of office, the new management, under the leadership of Senator Gbenga Ashafa, has made it a priority to adhere strictly to the ethics of public accountability in the payment of every contractor that has delivered on the agreed milestones, as it relates to the housing projects currently under construction.

“The delay in payments that resulted in the recent demonstration by contractors working on some of the authority’s projects was largely due to the extent of painstaking verification.

“This had to be carried out via rigorous auditing, on-site verification and physical inspection, quality control and compliance with

global standards - all in a bid to ensure that the Nigerian people and prospective home owners get value for their money,” the FHA stated.

Why assuring every contractor, many of whom the FHA said it had enjoyed a long and healthy relationship with, the authority restated its commitment to pay off every outstanding debt owed to those who have completed their projects and have met with all agreed Key Performance Indices (KPIs).

The contractors had said they had not been paid for the Abuja Mass Housing Project in Zuba totalling N1.5 billion as well as the Apo housing project awarded in 2011 and completed since February 2020.

26

T H I S D AY ˾ ͱͮ˜ ͰͮͰͯ

Report Warns Nigeria, 20 Others against Impeding Acute Hunger Oluchi Chibuzor A report released by UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and World Food Programme (WFP) has warned that acute hunger was set to soar in Nigeria and 20 other countries in the coming months.

This, according to the report requires urgent action to avert the hunger and risk of famine, saying people in South Sudan, Yemen and northern Nigeria remained most at risk of rising and dangerously high acute food insecurity.

Speaking about the humanitarian situation, in a joint statement released by both UN’s organisation, the FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu, said, “The magnitude of suffering is alarming. It is incumbent upon all of us to act now and to act fast to save lives, safeguard livelihoods and prevent the worst situation.”

He noted that in many regions, the planting season has just started or was about to start, urging, “We must run against the clock and not let this opportunity to protect, stabilise and even possibly increase local food production slip away.”

Yemen, South Sudan and northern Nigeria top the list and face catastrophic levels of acute hunger, with families in pockets of South Sudan and Yemen already in the grip of or at risk of starvation and death, according to the hunger hotspots report.

It stated that although majority of affected countries are in Africa, acute hunger was due to rise steeply in most world regions from Afghanistan in Asia, Syria and Lebanon in the Middle East,

to Haiti in Latin America and the Caribbean.

On his part, WFP Executive Director David Beasley, said, “We are seeing a catastrophe unfold before our very eyes.

Famine - driven by conflict, and fuelled by climate shocks and the COVID-19 hunger pandemic - is knocking on the door for millions of families.”

“We urgently need three things to stop millions from dying of starvation: the fighting has to stop, we must be allowed access to vulnerable communities to provide life-saving help, and above all we need donors to step up with the US$ 5.5 billion we are asking for this year,” he added.

The report noted that, “In conflict-hit northern Nigeria, projections for the June-August lean season show that the number of people in emergency level of acute food insecurity is likely to almost double - to over 1.2 million - since the same period last year.

“In the next six months, food and nutrition insecurity is set to rise considerably in northern Nigeria with some 13 million people affected unless food and livelihood assistance is scaled up.”

The report recommended critical short-term actions in each hunger hotspot to address existing and future needs.

“These range from scaling up food and nutrition assistance, distributing drought-tolerant seeds, treating and vaccinating livestock to rolling out cash-forwork schemes, rehabilitating water-harvesting structures and increasing income opportunities for vulnerable communities,” it added.

Green Energy Urges Court to Dismiss Suit filed by Aggrieved Directors Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja A Federal High Court in Abuja has been urged to dismiss a suit by two aggrieved directors of an oil firm, Green Energy International Ltd, seeking to cancel a $300 million loan financing package being processed to fund the expansion of the company.

The two directors, Ayodele Olojede and Dr Bunu Alibe, who are minority shareholders in the company, in their suit are claiming that they were not properly briefed on the agreements leading to the loan, asking the that the projects, should be truncated.

However, following the absence of the Judge, Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu in court, the motions in the suit by both the petitioners and the respondents will now be heard on May 4 2021.

In the company’s motion on notice filed on 19 March, 2021, by their counsel, Yusuf Ali, (SAN) P.I.N Ikwueto (SAN) and Ben Anachebe (SAN), the applicants, are praying the court to dismiss the suit for incompetence and want of jurisdiction.

It stated that this was on the grounds that the complaints of the former directors in their petition are predicated on matters of internal management of the company and code of corporate governance being inapplicable to the oil firm as a private company.

The company stated that the acts and transactions complained of by the petitioners mainly primarily loan financing transactions are matters for which the board of directors have power to transact in the interest of all shareholders.

According to the firm,

the loan was meant for the expansion of the company’s core business and the minority shareholders have no legal right to interfere with company’s management thus rendering their suit incompetent.

The company stated that the loan financing arrangement being midwifed by international consortium of financiers, which the petitioner complained about has been earlier approved by the management and board at meetings where the petitioners were present, participated and approved, saying their petition lacked merit and should be thrown out.

Green Energy contended that it was fully empowered to raise loan, borrow money in such manner as the company shall think fit, hence all actions taken by the company’s board of directors were within their

powers.

It stated that the appointment of chairman and managing director of the company being complained about are matters which the Articles of Association of the company have made provision for, adding that the position being occupied by one person, was not prohibited by the rules.

The court had earlier on March 2, 2021 dismissed the motion of the directors seeking to discharge the exparte order of the court asking all parties to attend a meeting held on November 12, 2020.

In its ruling on the application for order discharging the exparte order, the court had said the application by the defendant had become academic and spent, having expired and the order having been implemented by the plaintiff.

255 Youths Graduate from NCDMB/ITF Vocational Training Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) in collaboration with the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) has completed the training of 255 Nigerian youths in nine vocational programmes.

They were trained in hospitality and tourism, mobile phone repairs and troubleshooting, information and communication technology and electrical/ electronic technology.

Other focus areas of training included industrial automation and mechatronics, instrumentation and process control, mechanical services and maintenance, residential air-conditioning as well as refrigeration maintenance and building technology.

Executive Secretary of the NCDMB, Mr. Simbi Wabote who spoke at the graduation ceremony in Abuja, explained that the trainings were carried out as part of the board’s 10-year strategic roadmap, which targets among other things to create 300,000 direct and indirect employment for Nigerians.

Represented by the Director, Planning, Research and Statistics, NCDMB, Mr. Patrick Obah, the executive secretary stated that the board had trained over

10,000 youths and committed over nine million man-hours in the trainings.

He stated that this was with the understanding that exposing youths to skill acquisition programmes will provide them with the necessary skills required to support activities in the Nigerian oil and gas sector and the wider economy.

Wabote stressed that the training programme confirmed the commitment of the federal government to improving the country’s economy by equipping youths with the requisite skills for entrepreneurship, especially now that the world is facing a global pandemic.

“The training programme was designed to address gaps in vocational and entrepreneurship skills among Nigerian youths, drive self-employment and value creation in the oil and gas industry and linkage sectors, address youths redundancy and loss of the economic value of human capital needed to drive economic growth and diversification.

“It will stimulate and strengthen the linkage between the oil and gas industry and other sectors of the Nigerian economy, complement and intensify the federal government`s commitments and efforts towards job creation and diversification of the Nigerian economy,” he stated

NALDA to Establish Farm Estate in Imo James Emejo and Folalumi Alaran in Abuja The National Agricultural Land Development Authority (NALDA) said it has concluded plans set up an integrated farm estate in Imo State to serve as a one-stop- agriculture hub for traders across the state.

The farm estate, which would be established on a 400 hectare land in Umuneke and Umukabia communities of Ngor Okpalla Local Government Area of the state, is in line with the federal government’s efforts towards attaining food security, youth empowerment and poverty eradication.

The Executive Secretary/ and Chief Executive of NALDA, Mr. Paul Ikonne, assured that the government would ensure that all the infrastructures needed to make the farm an agricultural hub to reckon with will be put in place.

In an engagement with the indigenes of the host communities, he added that the proposed estate with comprise of different

agricultural activities including fish farm, poultry, rabbit farm, maize farm, commodity market, residential areas and schools.

He also said boreholes had already been drilled to address the water needs of the farm as well as construction of access road and land clearing which is already ongoing.

Ikonne, who further disclosed that farm estate will be officially commissioned by August 2021, however, urged the indigenes to protect and guard the equipment from activities of vandals.

While also assuaging the concerns of the indigenes over the issue of open grazing by herders, the NALDA ES said:“We are going to work with Miyetti ‘Allah, they are doing their business but we would find a way to make sure that as they do their business, their business would not stop others from doing theirs, that won’t be an issue and I assure Ngor Okpalla people”.

He explained that the authority was in the state to receive the land donated by the

communities and to ensure that it is being put to use for their benefits.

He said: “We are officially here to receive the 400 hectares of land donated by Ngor Okpalla people, also to assure them that the federal government is here to empower the youth as directed by Mr. President through farming and the entire agriculture value chain, I am so happy to see that the two traditional rulers are working together in harmony with the entire community to see that this development takes place.

“This place is going to be the location for Imo Integrated Farm Estate, which would have poultry, fishery, goat pens, crop section and a housing unit and Ngor Okpalla is blessed to have this on their soil: we are happy to see their support for Mr. President and to see that their youths are empowered through this place.”

The Chairman of Ngor Okpalla traditional institution and

community policing, His Royal Highness, Fred Nwachukwu, described the project as a privilege for his people to benefit from the agricultural revolution going on the country.

He said: “We are very happy with the federal government because we have been a peasant farming community but with NALDA with are being upgraded to agribusiness, that is what we are looking forward to, so that the migration from the local communities to towns will stop and looking for white collar job by our youth would also stop.”

He said with the arrival of NALDA, Ngor Okpalla would now be a producing community, noting that they are ready to cooperate with NALDA to make the project work.

Also, the traditional ruler of Umukabia community, His Royal Highness Eze Emmanuel Eke, said he wished that the project is sustained and hoped it grows into agro industries and many other things for the benefit the communities.

27

T H I S D AY ˾ ͱͮ˜ ͰͮͰͯ

Reconciling PH Refinery Restoration, Atedo Peterside’s ‘Disbelief’ Olu Tayo Atedo Peterside is an alumnus of the City University, London and the prestigious London School of Economics and Political Science, where he majored in Economics, in his first degree and later obtained his Master’s degree in 1977, also in Economics. He is certainly no rookie.

A savvy entrepreneur, investment banker, economist and founder of Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc, Anap Business Jets Limited and the Atedo N. A. Peterside Foundation, he regularly recalls some of the values he got from his stern, Ophthalmologist father, Chief Michael Clement Atowari Peterside: “My father trained me to disbelieve first and question the message anyone was giving me and only proceed if the proposal makes sense to me.”

Ophthalmology is the branch of medicine concerned with the study and treatment of disorders and diseases of the eye.

In effect, the core of this peculiar paternal philosophy is - first disbelieve any message!

This perhaps immediately locates the spring from which Atedo Peterside’s mistrust, disbelief and rejection of the recent Federal Executive Council -approved $1.5 billion rehabilitation project of the Port Harcourt Refining Company Ltd. (PHRC) flows.

“FG should halt $1.5 billion approval for repair of Port Harcourt refinery and subject this brazen & expensive adventure to an informed national debate. Many experts prefer that this refinery is sold “as is” by BPE to core-investors with proven capacity to repair it with their own funds,” Peterside posted on his twitter handle on March 21.

Forty-eight hours ago, he also posted another query on his twitter handle: “In 2019, PH Refinery contributed zero revenue, but incurred costs of N47bn; almost N4bn a month! Instead of ending this nightmare through a #BPE core investor sale, #NNPC wants to enmesh Nigeria into a deeper financial mess by throwing $1.5bn (incl. debt) at a problem it created?”

It could be recalled that at a Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting on Wednesday, March 17, 2021, chaired by President Muhammadu Buhari, $1.5 billion was approved for the full rehabilitation of the Port Harcourt Refining Company Ltd. (PHRC). The refinery has a combined, installed crude processing capacity of 210,000 bpsd.

As it were, the approval triggered a wave of criticisms and opposition from several analysts and important stakeholders - including Peterside who incidentally, was on the National Council on Privatisation (NCP) between 2010 and 2015. This was not unexpected. More so against the backdrop of the fact that the country has in the past spent billions of dollars on refinery maintenance without commensurate industry benefits - persuading many to call for their privatisation.

The projected $1.5 billion rehabilitation cost has even been wrongly compared with the cost of Shell’s recent sale of its Californian refinery in the US by some trenchant critics. Nigeria currently has five refineries in the country. Four are owned by the federal government through the NNPC, while the fifth is owned and operated by Niger Delta Petroleum Resources (NDPR).

The four government-owned refineries have a combined capacity of 445,000 barrels per day:

one in Kaduna and three in the Niger Delta region - at Warri and Port Harcourt. The Port Harcourt refinery which is the bone of contention has the capacity to refine an estimated 210,000 barrels per day.

Beyond scepticism and quirky sentiments, the economics of funding the repair of a strategic national asset like a refinery for $1.5 billion is clearly grounded in reality. Unassailable logic supports the footing that a nation with such oil-producing capacity should at least possess one functional refinery that can work to optimal capacity.

This is especially so, against the unflattering backdrop that over the years, the country has been exposed to saboteurs who brazenly imported dirty petrol from Europe. Having a functional refinery would indisputably be in the best interest of the country.

Good a thing, Mallam Mele Melo Kyari, the Group Managing Director (GMD) of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), entered the fray to rein in disbelief, provide context, clarity and associated metrics for the decision to fully rehabilitate and re-operationalise the PHRC. The Mele Kyari-led NNPC maintains that building a new refinery with the name-plate capacity of the Port Harcourt refinery will cost the federal government between $7 billion and $12 billion and take a period of four years, during which Nigeria must continue to import products.

Describing the actual cost of the revamp project as about $1.34 billion, noting that additional expenses include taxes and other duties that could come up, the NNPC boss argued that there was no basis for comparison between the Port Harcourt refinery and the one sold by Shell in America for $1.2 billion in terms of capacity.

Hear him: “The real cost is $1.34 billion. Even then you could argue and say why you wouldn’t build a new refinery. We have also seen some curious comparisons that shell sold one of its refineries for $1.2 billion and that it’s even better than our own.

“This is mundane. Even a Google search will reveal that it was built in 1915 and it’s a 107,000 barrels per day refinery. It has been on shut down by the regulators since early last year. Not only that, when you buy a refinery you buy its assets and the liabilities.”

He maintained that many people do not know the financial transactions that go into some negotiations, saying that it is needless to compare a combined refinery of 210, 000 barrels to a much smaller and much older refinery which has many issues with regulators. The GMD further revealed that the current huge cost of rehabilitation was because the last turn-around-maintenance was badly carried out.

The NNPC boss also drew attention to the fact that those pitching for building outright new refinery did not do their due diligence. “They have asked why we don’t just build a new one.

What does it take to build a refinery of this status today? It’s anywhere between $7 billion to $12 billion to construct a refinery of this nature. This is what we call battery limit construction. That’s the estimate you see in the public space,” he clarified.

Many industry analysts locate the rump of critical opposition to revamping the refinery to a trust deficit in the government. This distrust also understandably feeds Petersides disbelief – a trait which his dad embedded in him as a lad.

Yes, the common question resonating is - will the princely approved sum of $1.5billion be applied appropriately for the purpose it was meant. But this line of reasoning and Peterside’s combative position fail to factor in the crucial fact the NNPC has a new leadership that has demonstrated enormous commitment in terms of transparency, accountability and very low tolerance for corruption. It is no longer business as usual.

Beyond the issue of trust deficit and Peterside’s disbelief is also a strong sense that very powerful, shadowy vested interests want the refinery sold

and have already positioned fronts or themselves directly, to buy up the national assets.

On the other hand, many point out that even if the nation’s refineries are to be disposed of as Peterside is pitching, it makes sense to revamp them before selling. They point at the stuttering electricity sector as an example of the downside of selling off national assets that are not put in order.

Organised labour under the auspices of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and the Trade Union Congress, TUC, as well as many other critical stakeholders are supportive of the federal government’s move.

According to the Trade Union Congress (TUC) Secretary-General, Musa Lawan, “All the government companies that have been privatised, what did we get from them? What did we get from NEPA? So we want the government to own certain properties.

“Our position is very clear, the federal government should repair it and make it workable so that if you want to privatise other things tomorrow, we’ll at least be privatising based on what we have and not privatising based on what we are importing as the fuel.”

Being a banker of repute who should know better than most, Peterside ought to appreciate the fact that African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) being the leading financier of the refinery rehabilitation project, providing US$1 billion (67%) signals practicality. This speaks to the project’s viability and bankability.

Besides, in consonance with key lender requirements, the refinery after rehabilitation will be run on O&M Model by an experienced and credible operator. NNPC will retain 100% of refinery ownership. On the project governance structure front, external stakeholders such as the Ministry of Finance, ICRC, NEITI and labour unions (PENGASSAN & NUPENG) will be emplaced.

A progressive public policy is a principle of action chosen by a government for the achievement of specific goals that should ideally favour as much of the society as possible. Beyond the challenges of the period and Peterside’s disbelief, the emerging consensus is that the PHRC rehabilitation project keys into the big-picture policy imperatives of changing the nation’s oil sector story.

It is also worth noting that the NNPC, Algeria’s Sonatrach, Angola’s Sonangol and other notable NOCs in Africa stand on the brink of significant disruption - and of substantial opportunity - as a new era of structurally lower oil prices challenges business models that have long relied largely on exploration and production of crude petroleum.

To manage these challenges clearly require new thinking and boldness. This has been demonstrated by the new leadership of NNPC - especially with is emphasis on transparency, zero tolerance for corruption and innovative governance.

Clearly, sentiments not backed by impartial facts can blind even a genius to what is otherwise obvious to an ordinary man. At the NNPC, a new dispensation is on and whatever operational quirks obtained previously are being expeditiously addressed. Therefore, this is not time for disbelief or gaffes. Rehabilitation of the Port Harcourt refinery makes sense. There is no optical illusion here.

Tayo writes from Abuja

Abe: Buhari Determined to Revive Kaztec Oil Facility Peter Uzoho The Chairman of the Presidential Inter-Ministerial Committee on Assistance to Kaztec Engineering, Senator Magnus Abe, has said President Muhammadu Buhari has indicated his determination to revive the moribund Kaztec Engineering Fabrication Yard in Snake Island, Lagos State.

Abe stated this at the weekend when he led members of the committee to visit the facility on an inspection tour.

The chairman, who fielded questions from journalists said the president had indicated his awareness of the ugly state of the oil facility and responded by directing the setting up of the committee in order to find ways to assist the company to bring the facility back to life.

The project called Antan project, which is being built by Kaztec Engineering, started in 2012 and was planned for

the drilling of over 19 million barrels of Nigerian crude.

The project which has already gulped over $600 million, was also expected to be a one-stop-shop for fabrication of offshore platforms, large offshore modules, FPSO refurbishment and new build jackets.

It was also to provide facilities like pipe mill, pipe coating, dry and floating dock, logistics, supply base and skills development and satisfaction of all the project delivery needs of oil and gas companies doing business in Nigeria and provide jobs for Nigerians.

However, for six years, activities at the project site had been ceased owing to a force majeure declared on it, arising from taxes and audit issues between the federal government and Addax Petroleum, the project’s technical partner.

According to Abe, the facility was projected to generate over $33 billion

values in both revenues and foreign exchange savings to the federal government over a 10-year period.

He added that when it was functioning, the facility provided over 3,000 direct jobs and over 10,000 indirect jobs to Nigerians but that all those jobs have been lost due to the inactivity of the facility. This, he explained, prompted the president to direct the setting up of the committee under the supervision of the ministry of petroleum to look out for areas of possible assistance to Kaztec Engineering for the revival of the facility. He said members of the committee were drawn from the ministries of justice, finance; industry, trade and investment; the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), and the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), amongst others.

“This is the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Assistance to Kaztec Engineering,

set up by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to look at ways and means by which the federal government can legally assist this company to come back to life”, he said.

The chairman of the inter-ministerial committee said what has happened to the Kaztec fabrication yard was a national tragedy in so many ways.

He noted that “not only is the economy negatively impacted, but at a time when we are trying to save foreign exchange from every means possible, it is quite disheartening to see that there are a lot of things here that could help this company save millions of dollars in foreign exchange that is actually lying waste.”

Abe thanked President Buhari for setting up the committee, pointing out that such action “actually shows that he is in touch with the realities of what is happening in the economy, in this

country, and that he is doing everything possible to see that the Nigerian economy is not negatively impacted unduly by the current happening”.

He stated that Nigerians should indeed be grateful to the president for the initiative.

He said the facility had been in such bad state for over six years and nothing was done about it until the intervention by the presidential committee.

Abe said the committee was also made up of technocrats and people with expertise from their ministries, whose inputs would be material to the recommendations of the committee’s report. He assured Nigerians, particularly, the 3,000 direct workers of the company in the facility, the 10,000 ancillary dependents as well as the banking partners, which the president was on top of the situation.

T H I S D AY ˾ ͱͮ˜ 2021

28

BUSINESS/MONEYGUIDE

DPR Lists Levers for Robust Gas Devt in Nigeria Emmanuel Addeh ÓØ ÌßÔË The Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) has outlined five critical levers for gas development as Nigeria moves to leverage its abundant gas resources for national growth, diversification of the economy and to use gas as the fuel for economic transformation.

Director, DPR, Mr Sarki Auwalu, made this known while speaking at the Pre- Summit Conference of the Nigerian International Petroleum Summit (NIPS) on the principal theme: ‘The Decade of Gas - Towards a Gas-Powered Economy’ on Monday in Abuja. A statement by the Head, Public Affairs of the organisation, Mr. Paul Osu, stated that Auwalu who listed the levers as availability, accessibility, affordability, and acceptability as well

as deliverability, noted that these were critical to utilising Nigeria’s proven gas reserves of 203 TCF for national development.

He said: “Whereas references have been made to the other elements in this discussion, right pricing of gas is requiring particular attention to ensure security of gas supply and security of credible gas demand.

“This is because upstream gas producers must be assured that they will receive fair and equitable returns for their investments whereas, the price must be such that the end-users are able to pay for gas off-take in a reliable and consistent manner.

“Accordingly, the most robust and sustainable pricing mechanism is that which ‘let the market speak’ in a way that all costs are reflective of prevailing market conditions and for which

the economic dynamics of demand and supply are allowed to interplay in an open, transparent, and free market environment.

“Thus, our drive as a nation should be early attainment to the Willing Buyer; Willing Seller market status. Any transitional pricing arrangements, today, must be structured to quickly give way for market-led pricing regime and conditions” The DPR boss commended President Muhammadu Buhari and the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva, for their leadership in deepening gas utilisation in Nigeria. He said the efforts had culminated in the establishment of the National Gas Expansion Programme, National Gas Transportation Network Code and the National Gas Flare Commercialisation Programme.

Auwalu

Suez Canal: Container Ship Free After Six Days Emmanuel Addeh áÓÞÒ ËÑÏØÍã ÜÏÚÙÜÞ Workers have successfully set free a colossal container ship which for nearly a week was stuck sideways across the Suez Canal, after a flotilla of tugboats managed to wrench the bow of the skyscraper-sized Ever Given from the sandy back of the crucial waterway, where it had been firmly lodged since last Tuesday.

Tugboats were pulling the vessel towards the Great Bitter Lake, in the middle of the waterway, where it will undergo inspections as of yesterday afternoon and traffic in the waterway would resume, the canal authority said in a statement.

Egypt’s President, Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, earlier declared an end to the crisis of the giant container ship blocking the Suez Canal after its owners revealed it had been freed from the bank.

“I thank every loyal Egyptian

who contributed technically and physically to ending this crisis.

Today, the Egyptians have proven that they are always responsible.

“By restoring matters to their normal course, with Egyptian hands, the whole world can be assured of the path of its goods and needs that are carried through this navigational artery,” al-Sisi added. Earlier, the owners of the Eiffel Tower-sized Ever Given said it had been freed from the bank but was still not floating.

Footage posted on social media appeared to show the 400 metre-long megaship facing the right direction in the water as tugboats battled to straighten it after the vessel smashed into the bank last week.

The stern of the Ever Given started to move away from the canal’s western bank, according to maritime traffic tracking sites Vesselfinder and myshiptracking.

However later in the day, a Reuters witness and a canal source reported that the ship had

swung back across the channel amid high winds ahead of the next attempt to fully dislodge it.

The source said the ship’s bow was afloat in the water despite its change of position, and that the vessel had not become regrounded.

The partial freeing of the vessel came after intensive efforts to push and pull the ship with 10 tugboats as the full moon brought spring tide, Leth Agencies said, raising the canal’s water level and hopes for a breakthrough.

Two heavier tugboats joined the mission on Sunday in a fresh bid to move the stricken Ever Given. The Panama-flagged, Japanese-owned ship that carries cargo between Asia and Europe, got stuck in a single-lane stretch of the canal on Tuesday.

Despite a massive operation, authorities were unable to remove the vessel and traffic through the canal, valued at more than nine billion US dollars (£6.5 billion) a day, has been halted.

Stanbic IBTC Launches Funds Transfer, Bill Payment Solution Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc has launched what it termed a 3S (SMS/Self Service) banking solution with funds transfer and bill payment capabilities. According to a statement, the solution has unique features with a bundle of functionalities.

“This service will enable customers initiate transactional and non-transactional banking activities by sending a short message from their registered phone number to a custom

number – 30909.

“Customers with feature phones and those with limited access to the internet can seamlessly initiate secure transaction requests or other general service requests to the bank,” it explained.

According to the Chief Executive, Stanbic IBTC Bank, Wole Adeniyi, the banking solution is one of the organisation’s offerings aimed at infusing digital banking to deliver solutions to customers’ banking needs. He said: “Stanbic

IBTC leverages on communication protocols and services available on a mobile device such as SMS to bring more convenience to its customers. “The 3S Banking Solution possess funds transfer and bill payment capabilities. It is simple to use and can be adopted by all our customers.”

“Stanbic IBTC remains committed to the delivery of innovative solutions to enhance customer experience and increase financial inclusion in the country.”

SeerBit Partners Wix to Boost e-Commerce Ugo Aliogo SeerBit, a product of Centric Gateway has disclosed plan to partner with Wix, a global SaaS platform to create, manage and grow an online presence.

The partnership is expected to empower and scale e-Commerce businesses in Africa. A statement

by Seerbit said the collaboration makes SeerBit a payment gateway for Wix on the African continent, processing payments in local currencies, and giving unfettered access to African businesses to build their unique online presence.

It also noted that the integration would further empower the continent, saying Africa

was on track to become one of the fastest-growing payment markets in the world. It further explained that online payment in East and West Africa has an average annual increase of 17 per cent, with a population of 919 million, adding that with the integration to the Wix platform, Centric Gateway aims to capture 60 per cent of the online market in both regions. Speaking on the collaboration with Wix, the Chief Executive Officer, Centric Gateway, Omoniyi Kolade, said: “In alignment with our vision of providing innovative technology solutions tailored to bridging payment gaps, this cooperation will boost the payment services

industry and increase customer satisfaction in Africa.

“This collaboration also allows SeerBit to be a frontline player in driving the growth of the eCommerce and online space in Africa. We are happy to do this in collaboration with Wix.” Omoniyi explained how both brands were united to make history in Africa, noting that their commitment to cater to its valued merchants and to reinforce the brand’s mantra of, “payments simplified.”

He recommended new merchants to join the Wix platform in order to grow their businesses online in light of the fast digitalisation the world was experiencing.

MARKET INDICATORS MONEY AND CREDIT STATISTICS

(MILLION NAIRA)

JANUARY 2021 Money Supply (M3)

38,779,455.43

-- CBN Bills Held by Money Holding Sectors

1,039,129.55

Money Supply (M2)

37,740,325.88

-- Quasi Money

21,779,302.69

-- Narrow Money (M1)

15,961,023.19

---- Currency Outside Banks

2,364,871.13

---- Demand Deposits

13,596,152.06

Net Foreign Assets (NFA)

7,414,275.50

Net Domestic Assets(NDA)

31,365,179.93

-- Net Domestic Credit (NDC)

42,916,586.63

---- Credit to Government (Net)

12,304,773.44

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

0.00

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

0.00

---- Credit to Private Sector (CPS)

30,611,813.19

--Other Assets Net

3,892,112.74

Reserve Money (Base Money

13,264,585.14

--Currency in Circulation

2,831,167.19

--Banks Reserves --Special Intervention Reserves

10,433,417.96 317,234.17

˾ ÙßÜÍÏ ̋

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

˾ ÙØÏÞËÜã ÙÖÓÍã ËÞÏ ̋ ͯͱϱ

OPEC DAILY BASKET PRICE ˜ Ͱʹ ͰͮͰͯ

The price of OPEC basket of thirteen crudes stood at $62.56 a barrel on Friday, compared with $61.63 the previous day, 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), Zafiro (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

29

T H I S D AY ˾ ͱͮ˜ ͰͮͰͯ

Shareholders to Receive N2.9bn Dividend as FCMB Records N20bn Profit Goddy Egene Shareholders of FCMB Group Plc are to share N2.97 billion as dividend for the year ended December 31, 2020, translating into 15 kobo per share.

The dividend, which is higher than 14 kobo paid the previous year, was contained in the audited results released to the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) by financial institution.

FCMB Group recorded gross earnings of N199.023 billion in 2020, up by 9.8 per cent from N181.249 billion in 2019. Interest income stood at N151.023 billion, as against N137.447 billion in 2019, while interest expenses reduced to N60.265 billion from N61.471 billion in 2019. Impairment charges rose from N13.747 billion to N22.307 billion.

Consequently, profit before tax (PBT) printed at N21.912 billion,

P R I C E S MAIN BOARD

F O R DEALS

showing an increase of 8.8 per cent from N20.130 billion, while profit after tax (PAT) grew faster by 13.1 per cent to N19.61 billion, compared to N17.337 billion in 2019. A further breakdown of the performance showed that FCMB Group’s total assets jumped 23.3 per cent to N2.058 trillion, up from N1.669 trillion in 2019. Loans and advances increased from N715.881 billion, just as deposits from customers rose 33.3 per cent to N1.257 trillion from

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

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N )

N943 billion. Commenting on the results, analysts at FBNQuest said on a full-year basis, the bank’s PAT, pre other comprehensive income was up 13 per cent.

“The PAT implies an return on average equity (ROAE) of 13.7 per cent, better than the 10 per cent ROAE that it delivered in 2019. The bank’s management has proposed a dividend of N0.15 (N0.14 2019) per share, or 15 per cent higher than our N0.13 DPS

T R A D E D MAIN BOARD

A S

forecast. The proposed divided implies a yield of 5.0 per cent.

“We expect a subdued reaction from the market following the lack of positive surprises in the results and the modest yield implied by the proposed dividend,” FBNQuest said. Meanwhile, the equities market opened the week positive as the NSE All-Share Index rose 0.71 per cent to 39,493.37 points due to buying interest in MTN Nigeria Plc, Guaranty Trust Bank

O F

Plc and Lafarge Africa Plc. Market capitalisation gained N145 billion to close at N20.7 trillion.

Trading activity advanced as volume and value surged 108.1 per cent and 281.8 per cent respectively to 522.2 million shares and N10.7 billion. The most traded stocks by volume were GTBank (230.4 million shares), Union Bank of Nigeria Plc (79.2 million share), and Wema Bank Plc (51.9 million shares).

2 9 / 0 3 / 2 0 2 1 DEALS

MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N)

TUESDAY MARCH 30, 2021 ˾ T H I S D AY

30

NEWSXTRA

Gbajabiamila: Many Owe Their Successes to God Through Tinubu UdoraOrizuinAbuja The Speaker of the House of Representatives,Hon.FemiGbajabiamila, yesterday declared that many people in Nigeria owe their successes to the magnanimity and accommodating

nature of the All Progressives Congress (APC)nationalleader,AsiwajuBolaTinubu.

Speakingvirtualyatthe12thColloquium to mark the 69th birthday of the former Governor of Lagos State, the House Speaker said God used Tinubu to change the lives of so

many people.

Gbajabiamila claimed that Tinubu is the only living politician who attends to Nigerians from all walks of life yearly.

According to the Speaker, “Asiwaju is known for his uncanny and unparalleled ability to identify talents.

He’s done that with me; he’s done that with so many others, and that is a mark of leadership. There are so many superlative words that have been used to describe Asiwaju today, so I am not going to bore you with repetition.

“But I must say something: I

do not know of a man or woman, dead or alive, in Nigeria that eats, drinks, walks, sleeps politics 24/7 yearly. To me, there is only one word to describe somebody with such capacity. It’s called a gift, and it’s a gift from God-that is what God has given him.

I don’t know of anyone who can go through all that for 365 days a year attending to people from 11 a.m. to 4 a.m. and still standing firmly. Thank God for people like him; it is divine, and I wish him good luck.”

Edo Election Tribunal Dismisses Petitions Challenging Obaseki’s Victory Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City The Edo Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Benin City yesterday dismissed the petition of the Action Democratic Party (ADP) and two others against Governor Godwin Obaseki, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The ADP and its governorship candidate, Mr. Iboi Emmanuel had filed a petition before the tribunal challenging the election victory of Obaseki.

Other petition dismissed by the tribunal included the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) against INEC, PDP, Obaseki and his deputy, Philip Shaibu.

Chairman of the Tribunal, Justice Yunusa Musa said the

petition was lacking in merit.

Also, the tribunal dismissed ADP’s petition against INEC, PDP, Obaseki, the All Progressives Congress (APC), and Osagie IzeIyamu holding that the petitioners, 4th and 5th respondents have not proved that at the time of contesting the election, Obaseki was not qualified to participate in the election The tribunal held that Obaseki was qualified to contest the September 19 governorship election in the state.

Delivering judgement on the petition of the Action Democratic Party and Iboi, the tribunal held that the third respondent, Obaseki did not submit a forged certificate or false information to INEC for the purpose of qualifying for the election.

FG Launches N50 Export Expansion Facility Programme, First Online Grant Mgt Portal The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Otunba Niyi Adebayo, yesterday officially flagged off the federal government N50billion Export Expansion Facility Programme (EEFP) and launched the first on-line Grant Management Portal for non-oil exports at the Export House in Abuja.

He was joined by the Governor of Jigawa State and Chairman, National Executive Council (NEC) of the National Committee for Export Promotion, Alhaji Mohammed Badaru Abubakar; Minister of State for Trade, Mrs. Mariam Yalwaji Katagum; Chairmen of Senate

Committee on Commerce and House Committee on Commerce; Chairman, Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) Governing Board, Senator Ibrahim Musa; Vice Chairman, Steering Committee of the Export Expansion Facility Programme, Mr. Nnamdi Okonkwo, and their host, the Executive Director and CEO of NEPC, Mr. Olusegun Awolowo.

Members of the Export Expansion Facility Steering Committee and members of the Export Development Fund Board of Trustees (BoT) were also in attendance.

ENCOURAGING LOCAL TALENT…

L-R: Chief Executive Officer, Midas Communications, Mr. Kehinde Olaosebikan; Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Mr. Sunday Dare; and the Founder of Robotics and Artificial Intelligence Nigeria, Dr. Olusola Ayoola, during the presentation of sets of computers to Ayoola by the minister in Abuja…recently

One Feared Dead as Police Disperse Protesting Shi’ites in Abuja One person identified as Muhsin Abdallah was feared killed yesterday when the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command dispersed protesting members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria at Maitama, Abuja.

FCT police command was however silent over the incident even as the sect alleged that the deceased was killed by stray bullets fired by the police

by the former Special Adviser, Communication and Strategy to the late governor, Mr. Bolaji Tunji, who was reacting to a statement credited to the Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to Governor Seyi Makinde.

Tunji argued that the Makinde’s administration should rather focus on clearing the mess it had created with the World Bank on alleged

The fight against insecurity will soon get a boost, as the first indigenous robot company in Nigeria, Robotic and Intelligence Nigeria (RAIN), is set to launch dedicated

inescapable trackers for kidnappers and bandits anywhere in Nigeria.

The founder of the company, Dr. Olusola Ayoola, who made the disclosure in Ibadan, Oyo State, yesterday, said the trackers, which were at

dispersing a violent protest by some members of the proscribed Islamic Movement of Nigeria”.

Yusuf in a statement noted that “Unfortunately, the members of the disbanded sect went on a rampage destroying public property and attacking innocent citizens including police officers with stones and other dangerous objects

Marwa, top officials undergo drug integrity test Michael Olugbode in Abuja Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intercepted illicit drugs worth over N2 billion at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport Lagos.

The agency also arrested three suspected drug traffickers.

This is coming as the Chairman

inflation of contract over which the Nigeria Society of Engineers (NSE) had allegedly petitioned the Bretton Woods Institution.

He stated that Makinde’s administration had alleged that the Ajimobi’s administration frittered away millions of taxpayers’ money in the award of the Akobo bridge contract.

Indigenous Firm Develops Robotic Trackers to Fight Kidnappers, Bandits Kemi Olaitan in Ibadan

of others”.

However, FCT Police Command said its men dispersed the IMN procession after the protesters went on a rampage destroying public property and attacking police officers, including citizens.

The command spokesperson, Mariam Yusuf, said the operatives “successfully restored calm at Maitama after professionally

NDLEA Intercepts over N2bn Illicit Drugs at Lagos Airport

Stop Selective Amnesia on Ajimobi’s Projects, Aide Warns Oyo Govt The Oyo State Government has been warned to desist from its continued selective amnesia and falsehood on the giant strides of the immediate past administration of the late Senator Abiola Ajimobi, the only two-term governor in Oyo State in areas of infrastructural development.

This warning was given

operatives while many others sustained injuries.

The protesters were demanding the release of their detained leader, Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, and his wife when they clashed with policemen from the FCT. The IMN spokesman, Mr. Ibrahim Musa, alleged that “the police fired on the Shi’ites procession killing Muhsin Abdallah and injuring scores

advanced stage of completion, would further facilitate the work of the Nigerian Armed Forces and other security agencies in their concerted efforts to end kidnapping and banditry in the country.

and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (rtd), along with directors, men and officers at the national headquarters of the agency in Abuja were yesterday subjected to a surprise drug integrity test.

According to a statement issued by the Director, Media and Advocacy of NDLEA, Femi Babafemi, one of the suspects,

Aniede Bright, was arrested on March 28, 2021, during the outward clearance of passengers on Air Maroc with 7.1 kg of methamphetamine carefully concealed in food spices and packed in a Swiss polo suit case.

He said the illicit substance with street value of over N2 billion was bound for Spain.

The Commander of Airport

Command of the NDLEA, Ahmadu Garba, said: “Unarguably, the closure of borders occasioned

by COVID-19 pandemic is responsible for the surge in the price of these drugs. For instance, the price of meth in Australia had increased from 200 dollars to 600 dollars per gram due to supply cut, hence the desperation by the traffickers and barons alike.”

31

˜ ͻ͸˜ ͺ͸ͺ͹ ˾ T H I S D AY

TUESDAYSPORTS

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

AFCON 2021 QUALIFIER

Enyimba Goalkeeper, John Noble, Seeks First Cap as Eagles Round up with Lesotho Femi Solaja Enyimba FC goalkeeper, John Noble, has said that his call up to the senior national team

by Super Eagles Head Coach, Gernot Rohr, is the best moment of his short career as a shot

stopper.

Noble is one of the three home-based players invited by the Franco-German tactician for the last two AFCON 2021 qualifying matches against Benin Republic and Lesotho to be rounded up tonight with the fixture against the Crocodiles

Eagles Partners Offer ‘Man of The Match’ Award Nigeria Breweries PLC, partners of the Nigeria Football Federation, is laying on line the sum of NI million for the Man-of-the-Matchin this evening’s 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match between the Super Eagles and the Crocodiles of Lesotho.

The offer is being made through the 33 Exportbrand of the company and will see the best player of the day smile to the bank as a millionaire.

Another of the NFF’s partners, GAC Motors will also come to the stadium with a cheque of N1 million for the Most Valuable Playerof the day.

The naira rain guarantees that despite having qualified for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations to be staged by Cameroon early next year, the Eagles will give their all in the encounter against the southern Africans at the renewed and upgraded Teslim Balogun Stadium.

On arrival back to the

country on Sunday morning, the team was received by top echelon from corporate world and high profile celebrities in the entertainment industry, a platform provided by “33” Export lager at Heineken Beach House, Ilashe, up-scale in Lagos.

Even with the AFCON ticket already in the kitty, passionate football fans and consumers of “33” Export Lager are keen to see the Super Eagles go full throttle against the already eliminated southern African opponents.

“33” Export Lager’s football campaign slogan “Let’s Go Naija” captures the brand’s full support for the Super Eagles and a reminder to the millions of football fans to come out and cheer Super Eagles to victory.

In what will be the Super Eagles’ first competitive game in Lagos in 20 years, “33” Export will be giving the “Man of the Match” award during the last qualifying match on Tuesday.

at the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos.

Ahead of the match , the lanky goalkeeper is in contention for the goal saving job alongside Russia 2018 World cup keeper, Francis Uzoho of APOEL Nicosia, Cyprus and Maduka Okoye of Sparta Rotterdam in The Netherlands.

However, Noble is also wishing his first cap for the national team comes through today.

With the AFCON ticket already in the kitty, coach

Rohr may just decide to field a largely bunch of ‘fringe’ players and this could be an opportunity for the rising star who sees former Nigerian stopper and captain, Vincent Enyeama, as his role model while coming up.

“It’s a dream come through to be in the national team. I want to compete among others in the same role and I’m delighted that we are one big happy family here.

“All of them here (in camp) are really encouraging us to

develop and this alone is a take home for me and a message to other players in the domestic league that we can reach the top of our career,” he pointed out.

The keeper also eulogised Enyeama, whom he sees as a role model, although he has never met him one-on-one till date.

“As a young lad in the street, while many adored the likes of Austin Jay Jay Okocha, Nwankwo Kanu and many other star players of their

respective generations, my own idol is Enyeama.

“I admired his calmness in goal and ability in organising his defence line and interestingly I have his clips with me as well, he was an Enyimba FC goalie too.

“When I signed for Enyimba, the Chairman of the club told me that it was from this club that Enyeama moved to the national team. I wanted the same path of glory too and God has done it for me,” he concluded.

Hero of the Benin v Nigeria clash in Port Novo last Saturday, Paul Onuachu (left) is set to repeat the magic against Lesotho in Lagos this evening

NBA Africa Commends OBN Academy for Promoting Basketball in Nigeria Super Eagles goalkeepers, John Noble (right) and Maduka Okoye at training. Noble may be handed his first cap for Nigeria this evening

Ubosi Elected Trustee of Ikeja Golf Club Mr Chudi Ubosi was at the last Annual General Meeting of the Ikeja Golf Club elected into the board of Trustees of the club.

Ubosi joins Dr Awa Ibraheem, Dr. Gbenga Olowo, Moses Ajaja and Dr. Kehinde Philips on the Board of the elite club.

Before now, Ubosi had served in several committees which culminated in his election as Vice Captain in 2006 before he was elected unopposed as Captain in 2007/2008.

Speaking after the AGM, Ubosi promised to continue to contribute to the success and growth of the club and do all he can towards the development of the golf club.

While thanking the membership of the club for the privilege and honour,

Ubosi said he remains vey committed to the clubs progress.

“I want to say a very big thank you to every member of this club for finding me worthy to be a Trustee,” concludes Ubosi.

Chudi Ubosi..now BoT member of Ikeja Golf Club

The National Basketball Association (NBA), Africa, has commended the Organised Basketball Network (OBN) Academy for promoting the development of sports at the grassroots in Nigeria.

The Chief Executive Officer, Victor Williams, made the commendation in an interview with NAN in Lagos.

OBN Academy is a privatelyowned institution based in Lagos with the scope of discovering and training young adults in

basketball, alongside education.

Williams said that the facility would open doors of opportunities for aspiring young talents. ”We are proud of this initiative and facilities, which will no doubt open up opportunities for many young ones to discover their talents.

“We will like to work with this type of initiative which is to give our young ones the avenue to thrive. ”The OBN Academy is

impressive, especially these great facilities and coaches, to mould the young ones to becoming professionals. ”I also want to commend the initiative of having education alongside the professional pursuit of the basketball player,” he said.

Also, Frank Traore, the Basketball Operations Lead, NBA, Africa, said the academy would help in grooming young basketball players to become professionals.

“I am sure that academy

like this is what we need to expose our young ones to the real opportunities they seek for.

“It is a place for grassroots development of basketball and opportunities for the young ones to tap in,” Traore said.

OBN Chief Executive Officer, Obinna Ekezie, said vision of the school is to establish grassroots basketball infrastructure and developmental programmes in the country and Africa at large.

Top Motorsports Racers Sign up for Ondo Auto Rally 2021 The 2021 Ondo Auto Rally billed for Ilara Mokin racing course on April 3, 2021, has drawn the interest of top racers from across the country.

President of the Motorsports group putting the event together, Work and Play, Adeoye Ojuoko said that the event though reduced to one-day would not be lacking in top action.

“We have our 2018 and 2020 winner Antonio Sandouk on hand from Lagos. Femi Dada, Jay Bash, Argo Raak, Muyiwa Akintola, and Femi Fatimehin among others coming in for the on-road and off-road races

“All these speak to the credibility of the event and the interest it has stirred in the Motorsports industry. We have worked at making this very edition the best. We have over the past five years fine-tuned our processes and we believe an incredible racing atmosphere would be created that is unmatched so far.” He added.

The Work and Play Motorsports group had built an exclusive offroad track that will host the event in Ilara Imokin near Akure in Ondo State.

The track was first put to test in November 2019, before Covid-19 shut down

activities lined up by the group in 2020.

Ojuoko said that, though they had pockets of events last year, and also partnered other racing clubs across the country when the lockdown was temporally lifted in late 2020, there was nothing that beats putting the Work and Play racing tracks to a test.

“Our event is unique because of several things and our tracks inclusive.

This our purpose build offroad track is what the top racers have been planning to come and conquer.”

Serbian Argo Raak won the first-ever off-road

event on the track and this weekend, he would be challenged by two-time Work and Play winner, Antonio (Stingray), Femi (Tiger), and new and promising racer, Jay Bash among others.

Work and Play was also recently awarded the Best Tourism Promotion Initiative at the 2020 Nigeria Tourism Award this year.

This year’s version of the event will also see a whistle-stop by some of the touring racers at Idanre Hill and the Smokin Hills Golf Course which hosts the Work and Play racing tracks

Tuesday March 30, 2021

TR

UT H

& RE A S O

N

Price: N250

MISSILE Ortom to MACBAN

“Some people who think that they own this country should be apprehended and prosecuted. Otherwise, they will begin to think that they are sacred cows.”

– Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom expressing angst against the excesses of some Fulani herdsmen.

TUESDAY WITH REUBENABATI abati1990@gmail.com

Bala-Usman: Fixing the Apapa Gridlock with ‘Eto’

T

he roads leading to the two Nigerian ports in Lagos have been for many years an abiding source of heartache and nightmare. Businesses have had to relocate from that part of the city for that very reason. Residents tell horrible stories of traffic gridlock, mental health stress and the destruction of a neighbourhood that used to be a highly regarded commercial hub, while also serving as home or investment space for some notable and principal members of the Lagos elite: the Awolowos, the Fanikayodes, the Fagbayis, the Odutolas, the Clarks, the Ibrus, the Abraham Adesanyas, the Folawiyos, the Adedoyins…

In the 1950-80s, Apapa was a highbrow estate in Lagos. It would later become more popular for the ports of Lagos: the Tin Can and the Apapa Port, in addition to shipping and construction companies and other businesses. There also used to be a functional rail line linking Apapa to the rest of the city. But Apapa which is a local government area unto itself, soon collapsed in literal terms.

Its story is the story of Nigeria - a country where every good thing eventually goes to waste. How did Apapa become a problem to all and sundry?

The roads leading to the area collapsed. Potholes everywhere. Many houses could not be accessed or if at all with so much distress. For years, it was impossible to get to the ports through the Mile 2 end: a whole stretch of the in-bound lane was unmotorable. Access to the ports through the Carter Bridge or Western Avenue was also frustrating.

Apart from the bad state of the roads, the main problem was the long queue of trailers and trucks going to the ports to pick up containers or those trucks returning with heavy containers, clogging the roads, making life difficult for everyone. The traffic congestion caused by these trucks conveyed an image, in every elemental detail, of the failure of governance in Nigeria.

However, since the return to civilian rule in 1999, one administration after another has made efforts to solve the problem. There has been so much talk about ports reform to ensure efficiency and better performance, and to save Nigeria’s face and revenue. Like this: ports in Cotonou, Togo and Tema, Ghana have been far more efficient. Goods meant for the Lagos ports are routinely diverted to better maintained ports in the sub-region. The Jonathan administration even set up a Task Force to streamline the multiplicity of agencies at the ports, stream line bureaucracy, and ensure a 24-hour turn-around time. Trailer parks were created to get the trucks off the roads. There were talks about fixing the roads, and getting the rail line to Apapa working again. One Governor of Lagos after the other talked about the same ports. The Buhari administration has sustained the efforts to find a solution. Vice President Osinbajo must have visited Apapa more than once to demonstrate the present Government’s determination. At some point, the Buhari administration shut down the ports with Nigeria’s neighbours. Inefficiency at the ports affects the country’s revenue very badly.

Whereas the roads can be fixed: the main challenge has been, as we see it, what to do with the many trucks to-ing and fro-ing the ports, blocking the roads permanently. On a daily basis, hundreds of trucks go in and out of Apapa in a disorderly manner. Whereas there are alternative ports in the country: Warri, Onne, Calabar, and Port Harcourt, importers and exporters rely heavily on the Lagos ports. The roads to and from the Lagos ports are also congested because there are no functional, alternative, multi-modal means of transportation.

The most strategic intervention so far would seem to be the decision by the Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA) now under the leadership of Ms Hadiza Bala-Usman to modernize the call-up system for the trucks going to the ports. In an interview with her on Arise News, The Morning Show, about a month ago, she was emphatic about what she

Bala-Usman called an electronic call up system called “Eto”.

That is a Yoruba word. It means “to örganise something in an orderly fashion in order to get results.” The late Chief MKO Abiola, in one of his famous witty repartees made that word even more popular when he was reported to have said on one occasion, that if you see any photographer who is very agile and diligent, taking pictures from every angle and not missing a shot at a public event, it is all about “eto”. The sharpness of the wit and the infectious humour is lost in translation.

“Eto ni gbogbo e”. I don’t know whether this is the inspiration for the NPA’s “eto” but the whole idea is to get people to do their work efficiently and deliver good results for the benefit of all parties concerned. What the NPA has done is to introduce an electronic app, and create a portal.

Instead of queuing up on the roads leading to the ports, importers and exporters are supposed to log in online to indicate the movement of their trucks towards the ports. The Ports Authority would then give the necessary approval to ensure that the inflow and outflow of trucks is orderly.

Under that framework, the Nigeria Ports Authority has provided 17 designated and approved truck parks where trucks are required to wait before they are given what is called truck pass. It is a pre-gate system. You are called up. You wait at the provided pre-gate location. When it is your turn you approach the ports, or exit. Cargo owners are also required to stop returning empty containers to the ports.

This sounds very simple. Ordinarily it should address the crisis of having trucks parking on the main roads leading to the ports for weeks, even when the containers that they are assigned to collect are still on the high seas. For years, truck drivers and their trucks have thus constituted complete nuisance around Apapa. The studio of Arise News TV used to be in the ThisDay Headquarters on Creek Road in Apapa. I didn’t find it funny going to that part of the city. The Chairman of Arise News on many occasions encouraged the use of his boat from Victoria Island to Apapa and back.

Until one day, there was a small incident close to the anchor point and we needed to rely on the waves to take us ashore. Ask Professor Bola Akinterinwa. I saw a new side of him that day.

I don’t want to embarrass the senior citizen by reproducing the torrents of stream-of-consciousness elegy that came out of his mouth, as our fate depended on the sea. It was the last time he and I took the boat to the studio. We had to endure the nightmare of the roads. I consider Hadiza Bala-Usman’s Eto initiative commendable. It would be of great benefit to the Ports, and the ordinary citizen going about his or her normal businesses around Apapa. It would further reduce the menace of those trucks ferrying unlatched containers which tend to fall off now and then, causing avoidable loss of lives and property. Hadiza Bala-Usman’s initiative is about the ease of movement and the ease of doing business.

But what have we seen? Since the introduction of the e-call up system, those who have always benefitted from the old regime have been reportedly doing whatever they can to circumvent it. Many Nigerians hate innovation. People guard what they are used to because they think change will disrupt their lives. In the case of the attempt to de-congest the road to the ports, it is disturbing to see that even traffic congestion is an organised source of livelihood for some Nigerians, in fact an organised crime! This includes the middle men who claim to be assisting the truck owners and their drivers; the security agents who collect bribe from motorists looking for free passage, the area boys who collect ground rent from everyone, and the owners of the trucks, very powerful forces, who imagine themselves to be above the law.

About a week ago, the Managing Director of the NPA, had to suspend the outflow of all export cargoes. Despite the e-call up system, the Ports Authorities were having to deal with a backlog of 600 export cargo trucks, all approaching the ports. The trucks could not be granted a pass or called into the pre -gate because many of them had no proper export documentation, or as is the case with many, the necessary certificates were incomplete! To worsen matters, despite the “Eto” system, cargo evacuation is difficult because the Nigeria Customs Service in 2021 has no scanners, and so in the absence of scanners, customs officials at the ports are still busy doing manual inspection, opening one container after another physically in search of spare parts and stock-fish!

In an interview with the Daily Champion, Monday, March 29, 2021, at page 24, the NPA MD says owners of cargo exports have been given two weeks within which they should align with

the new framework, and she is optimistic that within 3 months all stakeholders will be able to understand how the “Eto” platform works. I like her optimism about how whatever challenges she may be facing are surmountable. But she needs to give herself more than 3 months to sort things out. It is not that straightforward. The big problem are the rent-seekers she says are pushing back.

Those rent-seekers don’t give up easily. They won’t. There must be sanctions. If any truck is sent to the ports without proper documentation, such trucks should be seized. Penalties should be imposed. Transporters and owners of cargo who defy simple processes and frustrate others must be told that they cannot place themselves above the law. What is clear is this: for Eto as it is called to work at the ports, the NPA will need the co-operation of other government agencies: the Customs Service that needs to stop behaving like a 19th Century unit of government, the security agencies that must wield the big stick against rent-seekers and the Export Promotion Council that needs to act right. In other parts of the world, heavy cargo is transported through the rails. The ugly sight of trucks on Nigerian roads bearing unlatched containers is a sign of underdevelopment, if not madness in the age of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. More importantly, other ports around the country in Onne, Calabar, and Warri should be made more active to further reduce the pressure on Lagos. Hadiza Bala-Usman clearly needs all the support she can get. But a lot will also depend on the courage she brings to the table. Rent-seekers, area boys, cargo owners, thieving customs officials will test her resolve. She must be firm and resolute, and it is only by doing so, that she can help end the failure of Apapa.

Ishola, Adesina and Djebah: Their Excellencies, Ambassadors of Nigeria

T

he other Friday, some of us met at a restaurant in Lagos, at the instance of Mr. Lanre Idowu, a veteran journalist, a very dear Egbon of the boys, mentor to a younger generation of journalists, and the spirit behind the annual Diamond Awards for Media Excellence. His co-conspirator was Azubuike Ishiekwene, ace prose stylist, newspaper columnist, author, mediapreneur, editor of editors.

What could a group of notorious, middle-aged journalists be possibly up to wining and dining in an upscale restaurant?

We were not planning any form of secession or an assault on the Buhari administration with our pens – two things I hear give them insomnia and acute indigestion in Aso Rock these days.

We were there to celebrate two of our own, drink to their success and share in the glow of their achievement: Debo Adesina, former editor of the African Guardian, former Editor of the Saturday Guardian, former Editor of the Guardian, former Editor-in-Chief of The Guardian who is now Nigeria’s Ambassador to Togo. And Oma Djebah, ex-Guardian, former Political Editor of ThisDay, former Commissioner of Information, Delta State, former Special Adviser on International Affairs to Delta State, publisher, entrepreneur, writer and artist, who is now Nigeria’s Ambassador to Thailand and Myanmar.

Nigerian journalists do not often celebrate their own colleagues. They prefer to promote others and pull down their own. But I am glad to see a changing trend. You needed to have been in the room. We were all so happy that President Muhammadu Buhari has chosen to include two journalists in the recent list of non-career ambassadors. For us, this is an achievement for

the media industry. The Nigerian media, one of the oldest institutions in the making and the unmaking of Nigeria, has over the years occupied the frontlines. The industry has produced leaders and icons. It is good to see that the tradition is alive and well, and that again and again, the quality represented by the profession is acknowledged.

Debo Adesina, a man we usually call The Prince found it a bit difficult being addressed as Your Excellency, Ambassador Adesina. Oma Djebah didn’t even know whether to sit or stand up, at a reception in his honour by some of the persons who used to be his Editors. We told both of them they will soon get used to it, and that they can rely on the support of the Nigerian Media Mafia and Cabal as they go forth to represent Nigeria!

We had a good time. As I left the event, I also remembered my dear brother, Alhaji Sarafa Tunji Ishola who has been appointed Nigeria’s High Commissioner to the Court of St. James, that is the United Kingdom. President Buhari could not have made a better choice in that regard. Sarafa Ishola is a natural diplomat, a very loyal, disciplined and honest man. He has been Chairman of Abeokuta North Local Government, Special Assistant to a Minister, Secretary to the Ogun State Government, Minister of Steel and Mines Development. He is also a community leader, an astute campaign manager and a very responsible man in his immediate community.

He is fair-minded and completely without malice- qualities that will stand him in good stead. He is the right kind of person who will help deepen Nigeria-UK relations. I can vouch for him, and for Debo Adesina and for Oma Djebah. Thank you, Mr. President.

Printed and Published in Lagos by THISDAY Newspapers Limited. Lagos: 35 Creek Road, Apapa, Lagos. Abuja: Plot 1, Sector Centre B, Jabi Business District, Solomon Lar Way, Jabi North East, Abuja .

All Correspondence to POBox 54749, Ikoyi, Lagos. EMAIL: editor@thisdaylive.com, info@thisdaylive.com. TELEPHONE Lagos: 0802 2924721-2, 08022924485. Abuja: Tel: 08155555292, 08155555929 24/7 ADVERTISING HOT LINES: 0811 181 3085, 0811 181 3086, 0811 181 3087, 0811 181 3088, 0811 181 3089, 0811 181 3090. ENQUIRIES & BOOKING: adsbooking@thisdaylive.com