THURSDAY 9TH APRIL 2020

FG Proposes to Slash 2020 Budget by N312.8bn Lawan calls for equity in distribution of stimulus Presidency dismisses claims of N2tn expenditure on NSIP Deji Elumoye, Omololu Ogunmade, Chuks Okocha and Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja The federal government is

proposing a 20 per cent cut in the capital expenditure across Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) in the 2020 budget to the tune of N312.820 billion.

The proposal, titled "2020 Capital Revised Adjustment," was one of the highlights of the presentation of the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs.

Zainab Ahmed, before the leadership of the National Assembly in Abuja yesterday.

The budget slash includes 32 expenditure items totalling N158.508 billion and another

N154.311 billion cut from specific lines that the minister did not, however, list.

The new allocation for the 2020 capital expenditure items includes N3.84 billion

for anniversary celebration; computer software acquisition N3.1 billion; construction and provision for office building Continued on page 9

Discos Plan Two-month Free Electricity for Nigerians... Page 11 Thursday 9 April, 2020 Vol 25. No 9131. Price: N250

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Positioning Nigeria as Reliable Supplier, Mele Kyari Sees Beyond Current Crisis Says pandemic forces demand down by 6.8m barrels Ejiofor Alike and Peter Uzoho Managing Director of Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mr. Mele

Kyari, yesterday said Nigeria would remain in production despite the prevailing belowthe-cost-of-production price of oil in order to strategically position itself as a reliable

global supplier of the product.

In fact, he said, it would even be more profitable to borrow to sustain the level of production, knowing fully well that the current situation of

negative impacts of COVID-19 and the price war between Saudi Arabia and Russia would blow away, after which the oil price would be on the upward swing again.

Kyari, while fielding questions on 'The Morning Show,' a breakfast programme on Arise Television, THISDAY Newspapers’ broadcast arm, also faulted projections by

some experts that crude oil, the mainstay of the country’s economy would no longer be relevant in the future as the Continued on page 10

COVID-19: NMA Adamant, Says Won’t Collaborate with Visiting Chinese Doctors 15-member medical team arrives Abuja from China Cases rise by 22 to 276, tested samples now 5,000 66-year-old Briton dies in Lagos US evacuates another 281 200 Nigerians request evacuation from US FG urges govs not to issue counter directives on pandemic Faults Wike, condemns arrest of Caverton Helicopters’ pilots Olawale Ajimotokan, Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja, Chinedu Eze and Martins Ifijeh in Lagos The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has vowed that its members would not interact or collaborate with the 15-member Chinese medical team that arrived Nigeria yesterday.

The team, whose members arrived at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, is in Nigeria to help the country combat COVID-19.

The confirmed cases rose

by 22 to 276 yesterday.

Five Nigerians have also tested positive for the pandemic in China while a 66-year-old Briton died of the virus in Lagos, bringing to seven the total number of deaths in Nigeria.

The United States also yesterday evacuated another batch of 281 Americans from Murtala Muhammad International Airport (MMIA), Lagos.

Meanwhile, following a rash of actions by several state Continued on page 9

No Official Records Lost to Treasury House Fire, Says FG... Page 8

TORCHED...

Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (OAGF) on fire in Abuja...yesterday

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

LCCI Projects Economy Will Lose N5tn to Lockdown MAN urges FG to rollback VAT rate

Dike Onwuamaeze Director-General of Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Dr. Muda Yusuf, has estimated that the 14-day lockdown of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Lagos and Ogun states ordered by President Muhammadu Buhari would cost the economy N5 trillion.

Besides, the presidential order, some governors, such as Chief Nyesom Wike of Rivers State also restricted movements in a bid to curtail the spread of COVID-19.

President of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Mr. Mansur Ahmed, also expressed concern over the survival of the manufacturing sector and asked the federal government to roll back the implementation of the new Value Added Tax (VAT), which took effect on February 1, in order to enable businesses, especially the manufacturing sector, to cope with the aftermath of the pandemic on the economy.

Yusuf, however, told THISDAY that no price was too much for the efforts to contain and ultimately overcome the pandemic because only the living could do business.

He said his estimate was based on Nigeria’s nominal Gross Domestic Product (GDP) value of N146 trillion as of December 2019 released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

He said: "From an economy-wide perspective, the contraction in the economy over the two-week lockdown, coupled with the various restrictions at the state level, is estimated to cost the economy a loss of N5 trillion over the period.

“The prognosis is that if the lockdown persists, the impact will be more pronounced and there would be heightened job losses.”

He attributed the loss to the

consequences of the tumbling aggregate demand, the dip in investment spending, the slump in export and the plunge in government spending.

“All these are the key drivers of output in an economy.

Activities in practically all sectors have been grounded – manufacturing, transportation, aviation, trading, entertainment, hospitality, financial services, real estate, printing, and publishing, etc.

"The prognosis is that if the lockdown persists, the impact will be more pronounced and there would be heightened job losses.

“The informal economy has been practically grounded.

This segment of the economy provides the source of livelihood for over 60 per cent of the economically active population.

This segment of the economy is the main pillar of the non-oil sector of the economy - the trading, road transportation, and agricultural sectors. Together they account for 40 per cent of the nation’s GDP. "The lockdown has compounded the problem of weak aggregate demand.

The travel restrictions and the closure of state borders have completely crippled domestic economic connectivity, which is at the heart of trade and commerce in the country,” he said.

He added that the macroeconomic fundamentals of the economy has continued to weaken as the country experience the double whammy of a tumbling oil price and disruption caused

by COVID-19.

Yusuf said: “For an economy that is greatly oil-dependent, the impact is best imagined.

The lockdown has practically crippled what is left of the economy.”

LCCI advocated the immediate implementation of import duties and tax waivers for medical equipment, pharmaceutical products, food

No Plan to Shift Examinations, Says NECO Laleye Dipo in Minna National Examinations Council (NECO) has ruled out a shift in the conduct of the Senior Secondary School Examination (SSCE) and the Basic Education Common Entrance Examination (BECE).

NECO Head of Information and Public Relations Division, Alhaji Azeez Sani, in a statement made available to journalists in Minna, Niger State, yesterday, said apart from the National Common Entrance Examination, which has been postponed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, all other examinations under the purview of the examination body would hold as planned.

"NECO wishes to state

categorically that apart from the 2020 National Common Entrance (NCEE) that was postponed indefinitely due to the outbreak of COVID-19, the council has not reviewed any of its remaining examination time tables (BECE) and (SSCE), neither is it contemplating such for now," it added.

Sani, however, said the examination body "is monitoring the prevailing situation in the country and will make official pronouncement on the examinations if the need arises."

He urged students that would sit for the examination to disregard any information that the two tests have been shifted.

processing, raw materials, and intermediate products and other essential items.

“All customs bottlenecks to these sectors should be removed without delay. The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN should prevail on the banks to give concessions on pending private sector credit liabilities with the deposit money banks over the period of this economic crisis.

The Nigerian Customs Service, the terminal operators and other agencies of government should extend similar concessions to port users at this time,” the chamber said.

MAN Urges FG to Rollback VAT Rate However, MAN president

has called on the federal government to also prevail on CBN to inject liquidity into the financial system, restructure facilities granted to the real sector and reduce interest rates on credits to enable the economy bounce back in the post-COVID-19 era.

“We are talking with the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment on how to ensure the operation of the critical manufacturing sector like food and pharmaceuticals in spite of the lockdown. We have also written to the federal government to roll back the implementation of the new VAT rates.

“Moreover, we have called on the government to use fiscal and monetary tools to keep the

economy running because the whole sectors of the economy will need a bailout after this COVID-19 era,” Ahmed said.

He added that MAN has been meeting with governments and other stakeholders to ensure the survival and sustenance of Nigerians by allowing the operation of the critical manufacturing sector in food and pharmaceuticals, which “has indeed yielded positive results.”

The President of the Nigeria Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), Mrs. Saratu Iya Aliyu, also described the COVID-19 era as a moment of immense psychological trauma and appealed to members of the

association to stay calm and be resolute in the fight to overcome the virus.

“We must continue this fight and win it, to rebuild our lives and subsequently our businesses,” she said.

The immediate past President of Awka Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, Mr. Felly Zontal Akosa, told THISDAY that most people are focusing more on how to survive the pandemic than doing business.

“We are not talking about business but survival now.

Some factories are shutting down production and the announcement about shutting down the Niger Bridge will amount to total economic lockdown,” he stated.

STILL ON BUDGET REVIEW...

Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, Prince Clem Agba; Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed; and an official of the ministry at a meeting with National Assembly leadership on proposals for a review of 2020 Budget in Abuja…yesterday

Okonjo-Iweala Proffers Ebola Lessons to Overcome COVID-19 Ndubuisi Francis in Abuja Former Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Dr. Ngozi OkonjoIweala, has recommended that countries should use the lessons learnt during the fight against Ebola to overcome the current COVID-19 pandemic.

She cautioned that the trajectory of COVID-19 might be less advanced in many of the world’s poorest countries.

"We must not fool ourselves that a warmer climate or a younger demographic profile will blunt its impact.

“The potential for death and disruption is even more pronounced than in the richer countries where the virus has hit hardest," Okonjo-Iweala, who is the Chair of GAVI, the Vaccine Alliance, warned in an article titled, "Why vaccines are the only real solution to pandemics."

According to her, it's important to use the lessons learnt fighting Ebola to overcome COVID-19, noting that social distancing would

slow the spread of COVID-19, but would not win the war.

"Our best hope lies in finding a vaccine. While there may be 41 candidates of varying promise in the pipeline, we must learn from past mistakes," she said.

She explained that the period must be used to bolster and prepare weaker health systems, while the development and global distribution of a vaccine should be the world's highest priority.

"The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) will soon pass a milestone marking its success in the fight against Ebola.

“As Africa braces for COVID-19, one lesson from the DRC is that the best hope for defeating the Coronavirus is not social distancing, but a vaccine that is distributed equitably," she added.

She noted that on April 12, the Democratic Republic of Congo would mark 42 days since the last person who tested positive for Ebola was discharged from the hospital.

“The date is a significant

milestone. It refers to twice the maximum incubation period – 21 days – of the virus, which is what the World Health Organisation stipulates when an outbreak is over. If all goes well, it will be a remarkable turnaround for the DRC and a testament to the bravery and dedication of health workers, some of whom lost their lives treating the sick.

"The DRC’s success in combating Ebola was overshadowed by the fact that during that fight, approximately twice as many people died from a preventable measles outbreak. One essential lesson for policymakers grappling with the greatest global health crisis in a century is that they must do everything in their power to prevent overstretched health systems from battling two epidemics simultaneously," she stated.

The former minister said bloodshed and fighting during a brutal civil war exacerbated the challenge facing the DRC as it fought the Ebola and measles

outbreaks, noting that the country experienced profound difficulties immunising its population against entirely preventable diseases.

She added that weathering two significant health threats simultaneously “has shown us how to prevent this nightmare scenario."

"Our first priority is to maintain existing immunisation programmes," adding that "for measles, polio, or any other disease for which a low-cost vaccine is routinely available, it is critical that herd immunity is maintained in order to prevent any unnecessary drain on scarce health-care resources."

She explained that the next step is to bolster preparedness, adding that "a number of organisations, including Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance (of which I am chair), have made funds available – $200-$300 million in Gavi’s case – to help the world’s poorest health systems step up surveillance activities, invest in testing, procure protective equipment, and train health workers."

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No Official Records Lost to Treasury House Fire, Says FG PDP demands investigation Chuks Okocha and James Emejo in Abuja The federal government yesterday allayed fears of destruction of official records by the fire that razed Treasury House, which houses the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation (OAGF).

Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, Prince Clem Agba, told reporters in Abuja after inspecting the scene of the incident that preliminary reports showed that all records were intact after the fire outbreak at a data centre in the OAGF. However, despite the minister's assurance, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has called for a fullscale investigation into the fire incident.

“We have not lost any record," he said, attributing the fire to a spark from one of the cooling units.

He, however, said notwithstanding the preliminary explanation for the incident, a full-scale investigation would be conducted by professionals to ascertain the actual cause of the fire.

The minister said an officer who reported for work had tried to switch on one of the air-conditioners, leading to an electrical spark about 10.00 a.m.

He said it took the intervention of 25 fire trucks from a combined team from the Federal Fire Service in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), including their counterparts from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Julius Berger Plc, and the military to put out the inferno within 35 minutes.

The minister explained that though a few documents were burnt, "all our financial transactions are intact."

He said: "We will be doing

a full-scale investigation using the right professionals just to determine exactly what happened because what I am telling you now are what I have been told.

"So, the professionals will be able to tell us whether it was from the air-conditioner or whether it was something that was induced and if we have had any material loss."

According to him, there's no cause to worry because a significant percentage of the treasury operations have gone digital provided a huge reprieve and helped minimise the damage.

Agba said: "Even if the data centre were to be affected, we have a backup centre that is outside of Abuja for recovery in the event that we lose the data centre.

"The only thing that has happened to the data centre is the exterior where we have the cooling units at the back because the data centre has to be cool. One of the immediate steps we have taken is just to shut down the data centre since the cooling system is not functioning optimally.

"We have directed that these cooling units affected should be immediately put in order so that we do not lose anything in that data centre. So, as a government, I just want to assure you that our records are intact," he added.

The Accountant General of the Federation (AGF), Mr. Ahmed Idris, however, said he did not rule out an act of sabotage, adding that the fire outbreak would nonetheless be scrutinised.

He said: "I will not draw any conclusion now, there is going to be an investigation to be instituted and we should allow the investigation to say it as it is. Myself I stand to be a suspect and so why should I say this or that?

War on Corruption Non-discriminatory, Says Malami Alex Enumah in Abuja The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami (SAN), has denied the allegation that the federal government's fight against corruption is partial and discriminatory.

Malami, while responding to allegations of bias by a US senator contained in a letter to him, described claims that the government was using the fight for political witch-hunt as unfounded, baseless and devoid of factual proof.

In a statement made available to journalists yesterday by his media aide, Dr. Umar Gwandu, the AGF said: "The evidence on the ground establishes that the federal government's operations

in the fight against corruption are carried out without fear or favour.

"Members of the ruling or opposition parties and otherwise are in no way spared in view of numerical data of recorded judicial convictions."

Malami noted that effort to have a corrupt-free Nigeria is devoid of any political inclinations as recent convictions recorded were against the members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

He said unblemished record of successful performance in the fight against corruption had shown that the allegation of political inclination was baseless and unfounded.

“For emphasis, our data centre is intact and not harmed in any way except for the cooling system which we are now working hard to put back to operation.

"We are again glad that there is no human casualty - our physical records can be easily replaced because we have them online real-time."

PDP Demands Investigation Reacting to the incident, PDP called for a full-scale

investigation into the circumstances surrounding what the main opposition party described as the mysterious fire outbreak.

The party, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan, said the investigation was imperative given apprehensions in the public space regarding the time and the offices involved in the fire outbreak.

"Our party expresses shock that the fire incident came on the heels of our heightened calls for a forensic audit into

the hazy oil subsidy regime of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration for which trillions of naira is being claimed to have been spent,” PDP said, adding: "This is in addition to recent demands for an investigation into allegations of fraud and diversion of COVID-19 intervention funds as well as social investments programme of the Buhari’s government since 2015."

The party explained that Nigerians were anxious to know those behind the arson because the fire outbreak

reportedly occurred on the part of the building which hosts critical offices, including the Treasury Single Account (TSA), Funds, Federation Account Allocation Committee and Revenue Department among others, relevant for the demanded financial inquests.

"Our party, therefore, calls for an immediate investigation to determine the actual cause of the fire, as well as ensure that critical documents and data on government revenue and expenditure are immediately retrieved," it added.

HERE TO FIGHT COVID-19...

The 15-member medical team from China on their arrival at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja...yesterday

Seven Killed,Two Missing in Attacks on Benue, Plateau Seriki Adinoyi in Jos and George Okoh in Makurdi Seven persons have been killed and two policemen declared missing in separate attacks on communities in Benue and Plateau states.

While three people were killed and two policemen were missing in the attack in Benue State, four were killed in Plateau State by gunmen.

The attack in Benue occurred in Jootar, a border settlement between the state and Taraba State and was said to have been carried out by people suspected to be Jukun militia.

According to a resident of the area, the militia stormed the border community about 4.00 a.m. yesterday through Wukari in Taraba State and started shooting sporadically.

The source added that the latest attack came without any provocation, confirming that at least three Tiv farmers lost their lives, while over 100 houses were also raised down.

He added that the militia operated unchallenged for about three hours despite the presence of the federal government’s Special Forces in Wukari, two kilometres away from the attacked community.

Reacting to the incident, Ukum Local Government

Caretaker Chairman, Hon. Tortyokaa Ibellogo, condemned the attack, describing it as most unfortunate.

He wondered why the militia would cross over to Benue where there was no crisis, adding that Tiv farmers in Benue were not at war with the Jukun people.

"To the best of my knowledge, this is supposed to be a crisis between the Tiv and the Jukun people in Taraba State and has nothing to do with Benue. In my state, Benue, we have Jukun in Abintse and Wurukum in Guma and Makurdi living peacefully with the Tiv people.

"I want to call on the Inspector General of Police (IG), Chief of Army Staff and President of Nigeria to as a matter of urgency intervene in this crisis. Already, we are trying to maintain a social distancing in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has affected Benue, Nigeria and the entire world," Ibellogo said.

Jootar was attacked in July last year by suspected Jukun militia who killed four persons.

Benue State Police Command confirmed the attack on Jootar.

According to the state police spokesman, ASP Sewuese Anene, three unidentified corpses have been recovered

while two officers on duty in the area are yet to be found.

“Investigation is still in progress,” she said.

In Plateau State, gunmen again struck on Tuesday night, killing at least four persons in Bassa Local Government Area of the state.

THISDAY gathered that no fewer than six others were left with various degrees of injuries and many houses were burnt.

In the last two weeks, gunmen have attacked the Irigwe chiefdom in the Bassa area, killing scores of people.

The most recent one occurred in Gbra-Zongo village which the gunmen invaded, killing four people while six others escaped with bullet wounds.

Chairman of Maingo Youth Development Association, Mr. Nuhu Nkali, said the mode of the attack was not different from the previous ones.

“In this attack, four persons were killed, including a clergyman, Pastor Mathew Tagwai and a 10-year-old boy.

The attack started at about 7:56 p.m, lasting till the early hours of yesterday.

"The gunmen had a field day because there were no security men on the ground to repel them. The soldiers in the community were withdrawn

about one month ago after two of their men were killed,” he said.

He listed the deceased as Tagwai, 34 years; Mr. Did Sunday, 21 years; Mr. Duh Abba, 38 years and Ishaku Abba, 10 years.

A resident of the village, Mr. Chayi Biri, who also confirmed the attack, said he narrowly escaped.

“The gunmen were in black attires. They came close to my room but God helped me to escape narrowly,” he added.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Gabriel Ubah Ogaba, who also confirmed the killings, however, said that the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Isaac Akinmoyede, had directed the Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations to address the security challenge in the affected community.

Ogaba said: “Four were killed at the village. The Commissioner of Police has directed the Assistant Commissioner in charge of Operations to deploy more men in Bassa in order to make the place calm and effect arrest.

“The command is investigating the case and we solicit for useful information from the community to make an arrest.”

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PAGE NINE COVID-19: NMA ADAMANT, SAYS WON’T COLLABORATE WITH VISITING CHINESE DOCTORS governors on the pandemic, the federal government has advised them and other political leaders to avoid statements that may mislead the people or jeopardise the current efforts to tackle the virus.

NMA President, Dr. Francis Faduyile, speaking exclusively to THISDAY yesterday, said for the physicians to practise in the country, they would have to go through the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN), write examinations, and if they are successful, they could practise in the country.

His statement was in spite of the assurance of the federal government that the Chinese medical team would not be practising medicine during their mission, but focusing on installing medical equipment and training Nigerians on their operations, among others.

He said: “There is nothing the Chinese doctors will do that can complement what we are doing. Nigerian doctors have been doing well so far.

We have made our position known that we do not need these Chinese here at this time.

“We heard the Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, said they were going to quarantine them for 14 days before being allowed to support the treatment of

persons with COVID-19.

“For them to practise in Nigeria, they should undergo our council examinations, and if they are eventually successful, then they can complement our work.

Otherwise, we will have no interaction with them.”

He explained that NMA's position is in tandem with the protocols Nigerian doctors go through before they are allowed to practise abroad.

He, however, expressed appreciation for the medical supplies brought into the country, saying the items were not easy to come by.

“We have no issues with their supplies. We will not reject their gifts because they are needed. But, Nigeria has the expertise to fight COVID-19,” he said.

NMA had last week rejected the plans by the federal government to bring in the Chinese medical team.

Faduyile had said: “The federal government did not take into consideration the extant laws regulating the practice of medicine in Nigeria as enshrined in the MDCN Act. MDCN was not consulted before granting the necessary approval for foreigners to interact with Nigerian patients.”

Also, NMA Chairman, Lagos State Branch, Dr. Saliyu Oseni, told THISDAY that the body was beginning

to suspect that the federal government had a hidden agenda for bringing the doctors into the country.

He added that the health sector had not used up to one per cent of its workforce not to mention being overwhelmed.

He said: “In Lagos, we have not lost any patient in our facilities due to COVID-19.

The deaths you are hearing are people who did not come out for treatment. In Lagos, we have 8,000 doctors and 27 general hospitals. We are not overwhelmed in any way, so we are surprised by the government’s insistence that they come here.

“We heard they are coming for one month, and by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) case definition protocol, anyone coming into the country from a high-risk country is meant to be quarantined for 14 days. So, how much longer are they then going to stay in the country?”

He stated that the federal government was also breaking the Nigerian law, noting that foreigners have no jurisdiction to touch any patient in Nigeria even if that patient is their national.

Chinese Medical Team Arrives in Abuja

The medical team arrived at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja yesterday in a chartered Air Peace aircraft.

The aircraft also delivered the second batch of medical supplies along with the medical personnel from China.

The flight was operated by the airline’s Boeing B777-200 ER (P4 5-NBVE) in a non-stop 14-hour service, which landed in Beijing, China at 14.18 p.m. local time on Tuesday and arrived in Abuja yesterday at 4.25 p.m. local time.

Ehanire and the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Zhou Pingjian, along with other top officials from both countries received the medical supplies.

The Chinese ambassador put the total value of the items at $1.5 million.

He explained that the medical supplies would be used to help contain the spread of the virus in Nigeria.

The consignment was immediately taken to a warehouse facility maintained by the Ministry of Health in Abuja.

The materials brought in include 16 tonnes of test kits, ventilators, disinfectant machines, disposable medical masks, medicines, rubber gloves, protective gowns, goggles, face shields, and infra-red thermometers.

The federal government had on April 5 delivered the first batch of medical supplies from Istanbul, Turkey, airlifted

by Air Peace.

Nigeria’s Cases Rise By 22 to 276 Nigeria’s confirmed cases yesterday rose by 22 to 276.

Lagos remains the epicentre of the pandemic with 145 cases; while the FCT has 54 with 20 in Osun; 12 in Edo; 11 in Oyo; eight in Bauchi; five each in Akwa Ibom and Kaduna; four in Ogun; two each in Enugu, Ekiti, Kwara and Rivers, and one each in Benue, Delta, Katsina, and Ondo. So far, 44 patients have been discharged, while seven died.

Five Nigerians test positive for COVID-19 in China However, five Nigerians have tested positive for COVID-19 in China, according to Dailymail.co.uk.

The Guangzhou Health Commission had confirmed that four of them had recently visited the same eatery, ‘Emma Food,’ multiple times.

The restaurant owner, alongside her daughter and another child, later tested positive for the contagion.

The Nigerians were detected between March 28 and March 30, after screening 3,779 travellers from high-risk countries living in the city.

The Emma Food restaurant has been closed for inspection.

Briton Dies of COVID-19 in Lagos A 66-year-old British citizen has died of COVID-19 in Lagos, bringing to seven the total number of deaths in Nigeria.

Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, said yesterday that the deceased came into Nigeria on March 17.

He said: “Lagos has recorded another COVID-19 related death in a 66-year-old Briton, who travelled from India via Dubai to Lagos on March 17, 2020.

“As of April 7, 2020, there are 10 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed. The total of COVID-19 cases in Lagos rose to 130.

“Another COVID-19 patient was discharged after full recovery. This brings the number of discharged patients to 32."

The Briton, THISDAY learnt, died at the Isolation Centre Continued on page 10

FG PROPOSES TO SLASH 2020 BUDGET BY N312.8BN N24.8 billion; construction of residential building - N479.6 million; monitoring and evaluation - N10.8 billion; purchase and acquisition of land - N1.4 billion; purchase of motorcycles - N176.5 million; purchase of buses - N485.7 million; purchase of computer printers - N151.4 million; purchase of computers- N1.9 billion; purchase of motor vehicles - N5.2 billion and purchase of office furniture and fitting - N3.9 billion.

Others include purchase of photocopy machines N131.4 million; purchase of power generating sets N555.9 million; purchase of residential buildings - N170 million; purchase of residential furniture - N50.3 million; purchase of scanners - N193.7 million; purchase of shredding machines - N1.8 million; purchase of trucks - N134.4 million; purchase of vans N216.2 million; rehabilitation/ repairs of office buildings N49.5 billion; rehabilitation/ repairs of residential buildings N1.079 billion; research and development - N45.5 billion; construction and provision of agricultural facilities N180 million; provision of infrastructure - N756 million; construction of roads - N1.9 billion; provision of water facilities - N650 million; provision of water ways - N650 million; purchase of sporting equipment N100 million; and rehabilitation of public schools - N330 million.

However, the official exchange rate for the budget is N360 to $1, against the old rate of N306.

Meanwhile, the National Assembly has tasked the executive arm of government on the need to ensure equity and fairness in the distribution of stimulus.

President of the Senate, Dr. Ahmad Lawan, at a meeting of the National Assembly leadership with some members of the Presidential Committee on COVID-19 in Abuja, said all

parts of the country should be considered in the intervention initiative.

"We must ensure that there is equity - that there is fairness in the interventions. Every part of this country should have something to ameliorate the situation whether it is Coronavirus infected or not.

"In fact, some of our states have been in a very difficult situation before the outbreak of Coronavirus and such interventions will definitely help," Lawan said.

He also tasked the agencies of government to ensure that they streamline their activities along the provisions in the 2020 budget and to avoid needless duplication of projects.

He advised that the stimulus package should align with what was already in the 2020 budget so that there would not be duplication.

The Senate President said: "In our last meeting, the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning indicated very clearly that the executive is proposing a N500 billion stimulus package.

While this is a very good proposal, how we wish you could even have more than N500 billion. But my concern is that we should not duplicate what is already in the 2020 budget.

"And of course, there is utmost need to streamline what the Federal Ministry of Finance is proposing and what the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is also proposing.

Some of the proposals may have a spillover effect on some projects.”

He said the federal government should ensure that the interventions had very clear and definite measurable targets. “We shouldn't just throw money and there and then we don't see anything.

The National Assembly will monitor every single kobo if and when the proposal is endorsed," Lawan said.

According to him, the meeting presented an

opportunity to have all the facts regarding the current situation on Nigeria's crude oil and the amendment being contemplated as regards the Medium Term and Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and 2020 budget.

In her submission, Ahmed said the meeting was designed to be a consultative forum to bring the National Assembly leadership up to date on what the executive has been doing but also to take the National Assembly’s feedback, guidance and advice as it moved forward towards adjusting MTEF, adjusting the budget as well as designing the N500 billion stimulus package.

Those who attended the meeting included Minister of State for Petroleum, Chief Timipre Sylva; and CBN Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele; Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila; Deputy Senate President, Senator Ovie OmoAgege; Deputy Speaker, Hon. Idris Wase; other principal officers and some members of Senate and House committees.

Presidency Dismisses Claims of N2trn Expenditure on NSIP Meanwhile, the presidency has dismissed claims by the leadership of the National Assembly that the National Social Investment Programmes (NSIPs) of the federal government has gulped N2 trillion so far.

The presidency also disagreed with the lawmakers, arguing that the programmes have not failed.

A statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Social Investments, Mrs. Maryam Uwais, titled: “Lawan, Gbajabiamila Got It Wrong,” rejected the claims of Lawan, and Gbajabiamila, saying they were deliberately conceived to undermine the effectiveness of the programme under the

supervision of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo in the past.

According to Uwais, a prompt reaction has become compelling because of "the gravity and implications of the narrative conveyed, as well as the caliber of persons involved.”

She dismissed claims that NSIPs had gulped N2 trillion since 2016, saying on the contrary, the total amount appropriated by the National Assembly for the programme since inception was N1.7 trillion, explaining that it was not only that the total appropriation was less than the figure claimed by the two leaders but also that the highest release so far was 57.8 per cent in one fiscal year.

Uwais said: “While the total appropriation by the National Assembly (NASS) from inception, for the four NSIPs, is N1.7 trillion, the actual funds released for the NSIPs between January 2016 and October 2019 (when the NSIPs were handed over to the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development), amounted to N619.1 billion, constituting 36.4 per cent of the total appropriation from the NASS. “Also, the monies released for NSIPs can be further broken down into 14.03 per cent (2016); 35 per cent in 2017; 43.5 per cent in 2018 and 57.8 per cent (as at September 2019) of the N500 billion in 2016 and N400 billion appropriated for the subsequent years. It should be noted that for 2017 to 2020, a sum of N100 billion was appropriated specifically for the National Housing Fund hosted by the Federal Ministry of Finance.

"These releases covered operational activities and payments to 13,363,680 beneficiaries across all the four NSIPs, all of whom can all be verified either through their BVN numbers or their unique numbers generated by

the National Social Register, those identities having been generated for the poorest of the poor who do not own bank accounts for sundry reasons.

“As at September 2019, the funds had expended as follows: On the: Job Creation programme (549,500 N-Power graduates and non-graduates and seven Technology Hubs); National Home Grown School Feeding Programme (in 33 states, 9,963,762 pupils to 107,862 cooks in 54,952 primary schools); the National Cash Transfer Programme (including the development of the National Social Register by the National Social Safety Net Coordination Office) 1,491,296 poor and vulnerable households comprising 6,056,872 individuals in 33 states and 620,947 cash transfer beneficiaries; and the Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme (managed by the Bank of Industry); a total of 2,279,380 TraderMoni, MarketMoni and FarmerMoni beneficiaries.

“In addition, it is false to claim that poor and vulnerable beneficiaries of NSIPs are made to apply online, through the internet and they require a BVN for payment.

"It is only in respect of the N-Power Job Creation programme that applications are made online after which successful volunteers are selected through a transparent process. Indeed, all the 774 local government areas nationwide currently have N-Power beneficiaries serving in different capacities.

"The utilisation of the BVN for N-Power beneficiary payment is also as a means of identity (since the NIN number can be generated from the BVN) and to facilitate the tracking of payments and further ensure accountability," she said.

The statement also explained the circumstances surrounding the disbursement of the national cash transfer programme, saying names of beneficiaries

were drawn from a national social register which she said emanated from the ministries of planning from every state of the federation.

On the selection of beneficiaries of the scheme, she said: “The process involves a poverty mapping of the local government areas in each state, community mobilisation, targeting, and identification supported by trained enumerators at state and local government levels, after which each of the households identified by the communities is visited and data collated.

"As of March 31st, 2020, the NSR comprised 11,045,537 individuals from 2,644,495 households, collated from 35 states, 453 local government areas, 47,698 communities.

The identity of beneficiaries can be verified as each has a generated unique number and can be tracked."

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10

THURSDAY, ΁˜ ͺ͸ͺ͸ ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS COVID-19: NMA ADAMANT, SAYS WON’T COLLABORATE WITH VISITING CHINESE DOCTORS in Yaba.

US Evacuates 281 More Citizens from Nigeria The United States yesterday continued the evacuation of its citizens in Nigeria as another batch of 281 were airlifted from Lagos because of the pandemic.

The Americans were evacuated by Ethiopian Airlines’ Boeing 777-300 aircraft with registration mark, ET-ASK to Washington DC. The flight, which departed at 4.00 p.m. local time, had both children and the elderly on board.

A total of 866 US nationals have so far been evacuated from Lagos airport.

The evacuation began on Monday with the first batch of 385 nationals and 200 were airlifted on Tuesday.

200 Nigerians Seek Evacuation from US No fewer than 200 Nigerians living in the US have signified interest in plans by the federal government to bring its nationals back home.

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Geoffrey Onyeama, said the Nigerians, who are legally residing in the United States had contacted the federal government to be evacuated back Nigeria.

The US presently has the

largest numbers of global virus cases and more than 10,000 mortalities.

Onyema, at a press briefing by the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 in Abuja, said the federal government was also working with the Nigerian Embassy in China on the logistics of returning Nigerians stranded in the country.

Onyema said the Nigerians complained that they were being harassed in the country and chased from their apartments on flimsy grounds of having the virus.

He added that the federal government has also initiated talks with the authorities in Togo and Benin Republic to allow the 67 Nigerians that were returning from Cote d’Ivoire to pass through their land borders.

He said they had engaged Togo at the diplomatic level to allow the Nigerians to observe the mandatory 14day isolation, while they had got approval of Benin Republic to enable them to transit through the country en route to Nigeria.

FG Urges Govs Not to Issue Counter Directives on Pandemic Minister of State for Health, Dr. Olorunnimbe Mamora, has urged governors and other political leaders to

avoid acts that may mislead the people or jeopardise the current efforts to tackle the pandemic.

Mamora, at the press briefing, pleaded with the governors not to issue directives or take decisions that might endanger public health and safety.

He also disagreed with those who had described the pandemic as a hoax, saying no one should mislead Nigerians or try to trivialise what is now regarded as a major global public health concern.

Speaking with reference to a statement credited to Oyo State Governor, Mr. Seyi Makinde, who had tested positive for COVID-19 that he recovered after using herbal medicine, the minister said care should be taken to avoid endangering public health.

"I am not aware of the treatment protocol His Excellency, the Governor of Oyo State had to test negative and I am not even aware of where he was treated, to be able to make a categorical statement,” he said.

Mamora said he had received telephone calls and text messages from people claiming to have developed herbal remedy against the virus but that his response had always been to refer them to the department of the ministry in charge of herbal medicine.

The minister said before

anyone could claim the efficacy of a drug in the treatment of diseases, such a drug must have been subjected to clinical tests and declared effective.

Making a presentation at the briefing, NCDC Director-General, Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu, said: "We should remember that 90 per cent of COVID-19 patients recover without taking any drug intervention and so any person that takes something and say that he has been cured because of that, it doesn't add up."

For instance, Ihekweazu said only 20 per cent of Lassa fever patients die, with 80 per cent others surviving without any particular drug treatment.

Ihekweazu added that the centre has trained 270 health workers in each state of the federation on Coronavirus response.

He also appealed to government officials not to disclose the health details of victims of COVID-19.

FG Condemns Arrest of Caverton Helicopters’ Pilots Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, who also spoke at the press conference, faulted the arrest of two pilots of Caverton Helicopters in Rivers State for allegedly flouting the lockdown of the state by the Governor, Mr. Nyesom Wike.

The minister said the

pilots had the approval of the federal authorities to fly.

According to him, civil aviation is on the exclusive list item and only the federal government has the authority to legislate upon it.

Sirika said the Air Force officer who placed a call to Wike to come into the property of the federal government and the police that accompanied the governor to make an arrest, exhibited dangerous ignorance and gross incompetence, from the perspective of civil aviation.

He explained the federal government’s position: “Whether we have approval for the flight, yes, we did and we did in the national interest.

All of these flights are for the purposes of improving the national revenue to which Rivers State is the greatest beneficiary. So, those flights

by Caverton, Aero Contractor, Arik, and Bristow were for national interest and improved national revenue.

"At a time when oil has gone below $30 per barrel and the cost of production is $30, President Muhammadu Buhari thought that this is allowed so that the nation will not be crippled and national revenue will not be lost.

“It was against the background that we have the authority and being exclusively on the exclusive list and we have the powers in civil aviation, guided by

the Civil Aviation Act 2016 approved such flights," he added.

Task Force Denies Receiving Daily Sitting Allowances The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr. Boss Mustapha, who doubles as the Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, denied the allegation that members were receiving sitting allowances of N500,000, while a sum of $150 million had been approved for its sitting.

According to him, sitting allowances are in the public service rules and regulations and would be applied when the need arises and when funds are available.

He said there was an extant guide on the payment of allowances for committees, commission and task force.

“As the chairman of this committee, since we started sitting, we have not received a dime either way of operational cost, talk less of sitting allowances.

Sitting allowances are there in the civil service rule and regulations,” Mustapha said, adding that they would be paid when the need arises and funds are available.

He said the members of the cabinet had already sacrificed half of their salaries as their own modest support towards the fight against COVID-19.

POSITIONING NIGERIA AS RELIABLE SUPPLIER, MELE KYARI SEES BEYOND CURRENT CRISIS world shifts to non-fossil fuels as its major source of energy.

He unfolded plans by NNPC and its first partner for the condensate refinery project to take the Final Investment Decision (FID) by June or July this year.

In addition, he said the demand for Nigeria’s crude oil had dropped by 6.8 million barrels at the international market, while the corporation was prescribing the adoption of the LNG business model and structure in the running of the nation's four refineries for efficient and effective performance and transparency.

Speaking on the concerns about the rock bottom price of oil, Kyari said Nigeria was not alone in the crisis, pointing out that even Saudi Arabia and Russia, as well as Canada were battling with the situation.

He said the Saudis have had to give a massive discount around $10.2 to sell off their cargoes.

In the case of Canada, he said, its oil had to be pushed out not just for free but with a tip for the buyers.

“But it is also an opportunity for us because if you are able to expand your capacity to produce more within this period, even if at lower prices, even if it is below cost, ultimately it places you in a position in the market, where tomorrow, people will rely on you as a reliable supplier of the petroleum that the whole world requires in time to come. Therefore, you are taking a position in the future by losing today,” he explained.

But he argued that by taking that option, Nigeria would not have lost completely.

According to him, “This is because there are many things you can do to make sure that the revenue stream support what you are doing, which is by cutting down your cost; slimming down your

projects so that the one you can push forward, you push forward. So, you reduce your cost and move your priority to the asset that produces at a lower cost.”

The national oil company boss argued that the ultimate that everybody would do in this kind of situation would be to borrow.

His argument: “Of course the ultimate that everybody does is to borrow. And you borrow so that you can fill this gap of today believing and consciously thinking that tomorrow would come; that tomorrow would bring higher oil prices that will cover for the price of the borrowing that you have done today and the cost of the losses of today.”

Nigeria’s Oil Not Threatened by Non-fossil Fuels Acknowledging the projection by the International Energy Agency (IEA) that crude oil would not be relevant as an energy source by 2040, he, however, added that other experts had projected that oil would still serve 70 per cent of global energy needs by 2050.

On the future of oil, Kyari said: "I don't want to dispute what IEA said but I know that there are other assessments by several other organisations and institutions, which, if you look at the average views of all of them, you'll see that by 2050, fossil fuel will continue to be the source of energy.

“In the energy mix, it will constitute about 70 per cent.

This means petroleum will be relevant in 2050."

He added that only companies or countries that would be able to deliver fuel in the best cost effective way would remain in business by then.

Kyari also stated that NNPC has five condensate refinery initiatives with estimated

combined production capacity of 200,000 barrels per day.

According to him, such kind of refinery could become operational within two years.

He explained that the condensate refineries would complement the upcoming Dangote Refinery as well as other refineries in the country under rehabilitation, with the hope of guaranteeing energy security for the country.

He said: "We are doing something about what we call a condensate refinery.

What that means is that the condensate resources that we have, which are very easy to convert to fuel, not like a typical refinery but it does work very quickly; and then we can also convert up to 90 per cent of the feedstock into, for instance, the light petroleum products.

"We have gotten commitments by one of our partners to take FID in June or July, so that we know that we are doing that because it is almost like the off-the-shelve kind of arrangement.

"But it is something that you can get into work in two years. So, we have four other initiatives of that nature with a combined capacity of probably getting 200,000 barrels condensate. The combination of that with the Dangote’s 650, 000 barrels per day and our refineries that we are fixing can guarantee energy security for us.

"So, once you have such opportunities, you will see Nigeria becoming a net exporter of gasoline (petrol) to the West African countries, the whole of Africa within our view and probably reverse the flow of products because it comes from Europe not because Europe is the source of petroleum but because the processing facilities are there.

"And once you see these market dynamics, the only thing that is going to reverse is freight. And you can see the

flow of petroleum products coming from Nigeria even into Europe, that is possible within the short term."

Kyari, who expressed displeasure over the low production of the refineries in the country, said the corporation has decided to take a different look at them.

He said for over two decades efforts had been made by successive administrations and corporation's management to rehabilitate the refineries without success.

He attributed such failures to the fundamental problem of not knowing what the problems were with the petroleum facilities.

According to him, NNPC has discovered what was wrong with Port Harcourt Refinery, which was never addressed, and has secured the finance to fix it.

He added that NNPC would shut down all its oil refineries as it works to secure funding and a model to upgrade them.

“Today, after proper scoping, which was not done in the past, we know exactly what to do to get them back on stream," he stated.

Kyari said the oil industry would look to cut costs and extend payments wherever possible to survive oil prices that hit 18-year lows late last month.

Kyari said NNPC was pursuing “a different model” for the refineries, including the type used by Nigeria LNG, which is run by international companies such as Shell, Total and Eni alongside NNPC. He explained that NNPC was prescribing the adoption of an LNG-business model and structure in the running of the nation's refineries, adding that with that, the private sector players would be the main decision-makers and not NNPC. He said: "And on the basis of that, we have also secured

finance for getting it done; and on top of that we are going to have an O & M (operation and maintenance) contract, NNPC won't run it. We are going to get somebody who will give us a guarantee that this will run for a period of time on the basis of a fee.

"Let's try a different model of getting these refineries to work. We are going to apply the same process to the other two refineries so that at the end of the day, and once we are done with the fixing on the basis of full scoping, we will get a private partnership to put their money into it, and ultimately, we will allow the shareholders to decide what they want to do with it.

"Our prescription will be to make it the LNG kind of structure where there is clear ownership of the private sector in these refineries; where decision making does not rest with NNPC and where any process that is world-class is allowed to come into play."

The NNPC boss, however, dispelled any notion that Nigeria's economy and revenue were tied to the outcome of today's OPEC+ meeting with Saudi Arabia and Russia as the main actors, saying: "We are re-balancing our expectations to the crude oil price as if we are going to have it even at $30 in the year."

He expressed optimism that Nigeria would survive the crisis of oil price fall through cutting of cost and changing of strategies about what it does with petroleum.

"So, I am not sure it is connected in any way to what could be the outcome of tomorrow's (today's) meeting.

It will be a good thing if the meeting comes up with some form of intervention and code that will enable the rebound of crude oil price to above the level of $57.

“Even if that doesn't happen, and we are not

expecting that there will be full recourse to that balancing by tomorrow's meeting, because the build-up to the stock took a time, and then the recovery of demand will also take time.

"So, it is not something that you will see the immediate effect today. Even that taken into consideration, we know that this country will survive this crisis through the cutting of costs and changing of strategies about what we do with petroleum."

Demand for Nigeria’s Oil Drops by 6.8m Barrels Kyari said the demand for Nigeria’s crude oil in March dropped by 6.8 million barrels due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Speaking yesterday when he appeared on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily programme, Kyari said the drop in the demand for oil was a global trend that was not peculiar to Nigeria.

Assessing the performance of Nigeria’s crude oil at the global market, Kyari said: “Well, it is doing badly but it is improving. Last week, it went down to close to $15 per barrel but as I speak this morning, we are at $32.79 to a barrel.

“So, we think with all the engagements going on, countries going back to work like in Europe, it means consumption will come back, demand will rise because we have lost about 6.8 million barrels of demand in March alone.

“And when things come back, the market will balance and make sure that the market recovers. I am sure you are aware of all the engagements that have gone on internationally with OPEC, producers and the partners to make sure that there is a balance.”

THURSDAY APRIL 9, 2020 ˾ T H I S D AY

11

NEWS

Discos Plan Two-month Free Electricity for Nigerians Ejiofor Alike The 11 electricity distribution companies (Discos) in the country have said they are working to provide free electricity to all

Nigerians for two months.

The Discos under the aegis of the Association of Nigerian Electricity Distributors (ANED), said in a statement yesterday that the gesture was to help reduce

Fake Charities Springing Up over COVID-19 Donations, Magu Alleges The acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Ibrahim Magu, has asked Nigerians to be cautious of making donations for the COVID-19 pandemic, alleging that fake charities are springing up because of the donations.

In a statement issued yesterday, by the acting spokesperson of the commission, Mr. Tony Oriade, Magu warned the public against fake charities springing up to offer guidelines on donations to the government and citizens.

Magu also asked the public to be wary of unsupported claims by people who advertise cures and treatments for COVID-19.

“The federal government has rolled out account details of accredited banks through which donations can be made. Please

note that any other guideline for donations is fraudulent and should be ignored,” Magu said.

“Besides, members of the public should be cautious of online investment involving various money-doubling schemes. We are tracking all those fraudulent operators and we wish to assure Nigerians that we will bring them and their sponsors to book.

“Don’t let anyone rush you into making a donation. If someone wants donations done in cash or by wiring money into other personal account, don’t do it.

“Don’t press any number required by any illegal Robo Call. The recording machine might require you to press a number for you to speak with an operator. This is fraudulent.

Don’t press such a number.”

the impacts of COVID-19 on Nigerians.

ANED’s Executive Director in charge of Research and Advocacy, Mr. Sunday Oduntan said in the statement that the details of the implementation would be provided soon.

“The Electricity Distribution Companies (Discos) recognise the challenging effects of the coronavirus (COVID-19) on the

economic and daily lives of our customers,” Oduntan said.

“In fulfillment of our commitments to the nation, we hereby align ourselves with the efforts of the National Assembly and the Federal Executive Council to mitigate the hardships that are currently being borne by our customers and other citizens all over the country.

“We commend the federal

legislators, the Executive arm and The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) for their initiative and we are committed to working with them to ensure more efficient power supply within this difficult period, as the nation battles with the ravages of COVID-19.

“We are also completely aligned with the plans to ensure palliative measures, including free electricity

supply to all Nigerians for two months, to make life easier, during the lockdown period. Details of implementation will come soon.

“Again, as a key utility player in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI), we hereby reiterate our commitment to improving service delivery to the nation during this pandemic period and thereafter.”

PROVIDING UPDATE ON PANDEMIC…

Deputy Governor of Oyo State, Mr. Rauf Olaniyan; Oyo State Governor, Mr. Seyi Makinde; and Secretary to the State Government, Mrs. Chad Can’t Take Glory for L-R: Olubamiwo Adeosun, during a press conference on COVID-19 held at Government House, Ibadan…yesterday Nigeria’s War Efforts, Says COVID-19: Obasanjo, Gordon Brown, Others Military

Takes Delivery of war equipment from China Chiemelie Ezeobi inLagosand Kingsley NwezehinAbuja Nigeria’s Military High Command yesterday declared that the Republic of Chad cannot take the glory for Nigeria’s war efforts in the 10-year-long insurgency war in the North-east and the Lake Chad Basin.

It said Nigerian military left a legacy of clinical finishing that restored democratic rule to the then war-torn Sierra Leone, and Liberia and would not allow its contributions in the North-east to be whittled down.

This is coming as the Nigerian Army (NA) has taken delivery of high-grade armoured tanks and artillery trucks purchased by the federal government to boost the war against insurgency.

The military argued that the position of Chad was an end game that usually characterises the end of such a long-running conflict.

Speaking yesterday at a press briefing in Abuja, Coordinator, Directorate of Defence Media Operations (DDMO), Major General John Enenche, said officially Nigeria had no issues with Chad with regard to the war against insurgency.

The military spoke against the backdrop of the claim by President Idris Derby that Nigeria was not forthcoming in prosecuting the war.

The Chadian leader was quoted as saying that his troops occupied some Nigerian territories, which should ordinarily be manned by Nigerian troops and concluded that Nigeria was slowing the war effort down.

He said “his men were stuck, still awaiting any sign of Nigerian forces who could come take over.

He does not want to be holding

Nigerian territory. He wants to be on the move,” the New York Times reported.

“We want the Nigerians to come and occupy, so we can advance,” Déby complained in an interview at his palace last week.

“We’re wasting time, for the benefit of Boko Haram. We can’t go any further in Nigeria. We’re not an army of occupation”, the president reportedly said.

But the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) said Chad cannot take glory for Nigeria’s gallantry and contributions in the ongoing war against insurgency.

“To say that we are slowing down the war is not true at all. By our mandate, you can go in pursuit of insurgents and criminals for 25 kilometers without consultation.

“For His Excellency (President Derby) to say that is not right. They are playing their part of the game.

It’s not true”, he said.

Enenche posited that Nigeria fought in Sierra Leone and other countries where it left a lagacy of restoration of democratic rule and “somebody wants to take glory with 30 men. When you are in a situation like this and it is coming to an end, some people will be trying to take the glory. It is a distraction for a military to say I am taking the glory. We have done so much there”.

He said Nigerian military made significant contributions to bring the war to where it is presently.

Enenche, in response to a question by THISDAY said that officially there was no dispute between the two armies.

“There is no problem in any way between the Nigeria and Chad in the fight against insurgency in the Lake Chad Basin.

Demand Action against Pandemic

About 165 global leaders, including a former UK Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, and former Nigerian president, Olusegun Obasanjo, have called for a concerted global response to the coronavirus pandemic led by the G-20 countries.

They made the call in a letter signed by 92 former presidents and prime ministers, along with current economic and health leaders.

They called for the creation of a G-20 executive task force and a global pledging conference which would approve and coordinate a multi-billion dollar anti-coronavirus fund.

The leaders seek a swift consensus on a proposal to mobilise $500-$600billion from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to support developing countries to fight the health and economic crises caused by the pandemic.

The leaders, according to Premium Times, called for a global action to raise $8billion emergency global health fund to prevent a second wave of coronavirus; coordinated fiscal stimuli, including a resolution by the multilateral finance organizations to waive the debt interest payments for the poorest countries, including $44billion due this year from Africa, to avoid a recession becoming a depression.

They said about $35 billion is needed for ventilators, test kits and protective equipment for health workers.

The leaders want about $150 billion to be provided for preventing a second wave of the disease in countries that are now struggling to come out of the first wave of the disease.

“All health systems – even the most sophisticated and best-funded are buckling under the pressures of the deadly virus,” they said.

“The economic emergency will not be resolved until the health emergency is addressed: the health emergency will not end simply by conquering the disease in one country alone but by ensuring recovery from COVID-19 in all countries,” the statement says.

“World leaders must immediately agree to commit $8 billion – as set out by the Global Preparedness Monitoring Board – to fill the most urgent gaps in the COVID-19 response.

This includes $1billion this year for WHO, $3 billion for vaccines and $2.25 billion for therapeutics.

“Instead of each country or state or province within it, competing for a share of the existing capacity, with the risk of rapidly-increasing prices, we should also be vastly increasing capacity by supporting the WHO in coordinating the global production and procurement

of medical supplies, such as testing kits, personal protection equipment, and ITU technology to meet fully the worldwide demand. We will also need to stockpile and distribute essential equipment. “$35 billion will be required, as highlighted by WHO, to support countries with weaker health systems and especially vulnerable populations, including the provision of vital medical supplies, surge support to the national health workforce (70% of whom in many countries are underpaid women) and strengthening national resilience and preparedness.

“According to WHO, almost 30 per cent of countries have no COVID-19 national preparedness response plans and only half have a national infection prevention and control programmes.

NCC Explains Laying of Fibre Optic Cables in Lagos, Others Emma Okonji The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), the telecoms industry regulator, has said the ongoing laying of fibre optic cables and the deployment of other telecoms equipment by mobile network operators (MNOs) across Lagos and other states in Nigeria is entirely to expand their networks infrastructure across the country in order to provide more efficient services to the consumers.

The Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, who made the clarification in a statement issued and signed by the Director, Public

Affairs at NCC, Dr. Henry Nkemadu, yesterday, said the clarification became necessary in response to insinuations by some individuals through viral video, audio and textual contents on social media that the ongoing excavation activities and laying of fibre optic cables by MNOs in Lagos and other states are connected to 5G network equipment deployments.

According to Danbatta, “As we speak, any information suggesting or claiming that the equipment being deployed by the network operators are 5G equipment is purely misinformation deliberately orchestrated by individuals

bent on creating ill-feelings in the industry.”

The vice-chairman, therefore, called on Nigerians to disregard such ‘unfounded and illmotivated; information in its entirety regardless of whoever, no matter how highly-placed or lowly-placed, is making the insinuation.

“As the telecoms regulator, we enjoin Nigerians to get accurate information from us rather than relying on information emanating on social media by some individuals out of ignorance to misinform our people,” Danbatta said.

He added that the ongoing digging and fibre optic cable laying by some operators were in accordance with the

agreements reached during meetings by the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Ali Pantami, and management of the NCC with the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) led

by Dr. Kayode Fayomi, the governor of Ekiti State, in January 2020, during which the Forum gave its commitment to allow the network operators expand their networks by granting right of way (RoW) approvals for telecommunications infrastructure expansion unhindered across their states.

According to him, “This will significantly reduce drop calls and improve networks performance of the operating companies.

12

THURSDAY APRIL 9, 2020 ˾ T H I S D AY

COVID -19 UPDATE...

COVID -19 UPDATE...

Nigeria Needs Substantial Funds to Tackle COVID-19, Says NSIA Boss Emma Okonji and Nosa Alekhuogie The Managing Director of Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA), Mr. Uche Orji, has said Nigeria needs substantial amount of funds to overcome the spread of COVID-19 across the country.

Orji who spoke yesterday as a guest on Arise Television, the sister broadcast arm of THISDAY Newspapers, said adequate financing was the first step necessary to curtail the spread of the virus that has infested over one million people and killed over 80,000 people globally, including Nigeria.

According to him: “The subsidies the Minister of Finance had earlier spoke about was the necessary first step that Nigeria needs to raise substantial amount of money for the financing of the entire portfolio that was put in place to stop the spread

of Coronavirus in the country.

“The first thing to do, be it at the country level or a corporate level, is to draw as much cash as possible and hold it especially when you can’t put a finger to the end of this problem. First of all, make sure you have the money. It could be raised from International Monetary Fund (IMF), World Bank, African Development Bank (AFDB), Sovereign Wealth Fund, or any means by which you can.”

He said another way to raise money as a country, was to look through the country’s budget to review it and cut down on some budgets that the country could do without.

“Obviously, what is happening with the oil market is something that should be. We have a demand and supply shock at the same time; let’s hope that the outcome of the OPEC meeting scheduled to hold today, will reach some kind of agreement so we can manage

Lagos Withdraws Charges against Naira Marley, Gbadamosi Asks musician to apologise to Buhari, Sanwo-Olu Sunday Ehigiator The Lagos State Government has withdrawn all charges against popular musician, Azeez Fashola, alias Naira Marley, and a politician, Mr. Babatunde Gbadamosi.

Naira Marley, Gbadamosi and his wife were charged before the Lagos State Magistrates’ Court in Ogba for attending a crowded birthday party in violation of the state government’s social distancing directive to check the spread of coronavirus.

They were scheduled for

arraignment yesterday, but the government, according to one of the defence counsel, Mr Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa (SAN), withdrew the four-count filed against the three defendants.

At the end of the proceedings, Adegboruwa briefed journalists on what transpired in the courtroom.

He said the state withdrew the charges on the condition that the defendants would tender an apology to the President, Muhammadu Buhari, and Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

Fulani Group Protests Nationwide Closure of Cattle Markets Seriki Adinoyi in Jos Gan Allah Fulani Development Association of Nigeria (GAFDAN) has vehemently protested the closure of cattle markets across the country in the wake the COVID-19 outbreak in Nigeria, calling on the federal government to immediately open all cattle markets.

The group also lamented that “hunger and diseases are already ravaging our members’ families and communities in almost all the states where cattle markets have been shut down, as our members are not benefiting from the federal government’s palliative measures through the Special Intervention Programmes (SIP) as they haven’t been captured in them.”

A statement issued after its National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting held in Jos yesterday and signed by its National chairman, Alhaji Sale Bayari, said the group could not afford to keep quiet any longer due to the pathetic economic situation of the herdsmen who

have no other means of livelihood than selling their animals.

Bayari said, “GAFDAN seriously wonders how government could allow the cattle markets to be closed while leaving other markets and shops that sell food items to open. The essence of leaving food shops and markets open is to allow Nigerians feed themselves during the lockdown.

How are they supposed to do that without cow meat?

“GAFDAN hereby calls for the immediate correction of this mistake by the federal and state governments, and urge them to order the opening of cattle markets to allow our members meet their basic life needs.”

The association however advised its members to continue to observe the full social distancing directive of government, even in the cattle markets, by handing over their cows to the dealers and staying away until the animals are sold, to avoid any form of congestion. It also urged members to provide sanitizers as directed by government.

the oil sector better and generate more money for the country to address our financial challenges, including the challenges of the Coronavirus.

“If you look at the UK or US, citizens are applying for mortgage and the government is giving support for small businesses.

These are the right things to do although we don’t have as much resources as they do but I think we would come out of this much better and much stronger and I think both the local and international markets would recover, and these things would come and go. Taking advantage

of the situation to have some necessary reforms and restructure of our finances is the right thing that the government is doing, and we need to commend government for that initiative,” Orji said.

According to him, “The raising of funds was designed to help the government pull through

the economic stress and the requirement of the NSIA law is that the Ministry of Finance can upon convincing demonstration to address an urgent need, withdraw from the fund. I don’t know of any country that has not withdrawn from its sovereign funds.

WIDENING SOCIAL DISTANCING…

Enugu State Governor, Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (left); and Enugu State Chairman of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Rev. Christian Obiefuna, when CAN’s leaders visited the governor at the Government House, Enugu… yesterday

Falana Urges CJN to Mandate Judges to Hear Urgent Cases Via Skpye, Zoom Davidson Iriekpen Senior lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), has asked the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Tanko Ibrahim Muhammad, to make arrangements for judges to hear urgent applications via Skype or Zoom during the lockdown.

Justice Muhammad had issued a directive suspending all court sittings indefinitely following the lockdown measures put in place by the federal government and some state governments to curb the spread of coronavirus.

In a letter addressed to the CJN, Falana said: “Since the federal government has relaxed the lockdown by allowing markets, shops and stalls selling food and groceries to open to customers between the hours of 10a.m. and 2 p.m. daily, the National Judicial Council (NJC) ought to review the suspension of court sittings to enable them to attend to urgent matters.”

The human rights lawyer said the review is necessary so as to ensure that thousands of people who are either awaiting

trial or under investigation are not subjected to unlawful detention.

“The review has become necessary in view of the fact that motions for the bail of many criminal suspects and applications to secure the enforcement of the fundamental right to personal liberty of other detainees are pending in several courts in all the states of the federation and in the federal capital territory,” he said.

“In addition, the return dates in respect of several ex parte orders made by magistrates

for the remand of a number of criminal suspects which have since expired are due to be quashed or renewed to extend time for further investigation- more so that the heads of the various courts are vested with the power to designate judges and magistrates to attend to urgent matters in accordance with the laws establishing such courts.

However, in order to observe the social distancing directive we suggest that arrangements be made for Judges to hear urgent applications via Skype or Zoom,” he said.

Crude Oil Price Rises on Hopes of Production Cuts OPEC, allies meet today Crude oil prices strengthened ahead of their settlement yesterday, buoyed by hopes that the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and its allies will strike a production cut agreement, shrugging off bearish signals from surging US crude inventories.

The global benchmark crude, Brent crude was up $1, or three per cent, at $32.87; while US West

Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude rose $1.55 cents to $25.18 a barrel.

Crude has collapsed in 2020 because of a slide in demand due to the coronavirus pandemic and excess supply. Brent dropped to $21.65, its lowest since 2002, on March 30.

Today’s video conference meeting between the OPEC and allies including Russia - a group known as OPEC+ - was expected

to be more successful than their gathering in March, which ended in a failure to extend supply cuts and a price war between Saudi Arabia and Russia.

While OPEC sources have said a deal to cut production is conditional on the participation of the United States, doubts remain as to whether Washington will contribute.

The US Department of Energy

said on Tuesday US output was already declining, without government action.

The benchmarks pared some of their gains, with Brent turning negative briefly, after US government data showed that crude inventories last week soared by a record 15.2 million barrels, even as production was cut by 600,000 barrels per day to 12.4 million bpd.

Osun Court Convicts 14 Persons for Flouting Restriction Orders Yinka Kolawole in Osogbo No fewer than 14 persons were yesterday sentenced to prison by an Osun State Magistrate Court for breaching coronavirus regulations in the state.

The convicts are Adeoye Johnson, Ibrahim Babatunde, Akinloye Lukman, Owolabi Afeez, Hammed Basharu, Akinwande Saheed, Seun Agboola, Aribidesi Muideen, Sulaimon Ismail, Olaleye

Moses, Alade Mayowa, Muniru Bashiru , Sulaiman Basaru and Omodele Titilayo The presiding Magistrate, Dr. OA Ayilara, convicted all the accused persons on selfadmittance.

Police Prosecutor in the matter, Inspector Adeoye Kayode, had told the court that the convicts committed the offence on April 8, 2020, at about 11:30 a.m. in Osogbo, the state capital.

Kayode further explained that the convicts disobeyed the state government lockdown and stay-at-home order.

The prosecutor added that the convicts did conduct themselves in a manner likely to cause breach of peace by deliberately failing to comply with the state government lockdown and stay-at-home order.

He said the offence was contrary to and punishable under Section 203 and 249(D)

of the Criminal Code Cap 34 Vol. Il Laws of Osun State of Nigeria 2002.

The accused persons pleaded guilty to a two-count charge of disobedience to the lockdown order and conduct likely to cause breach of peace slammed against them.

Handling down his ruling, Magistrate Ayilara sentenced them to two months imprisonment or to pay a sum of N5, 000 each.

THURSDAY APRIL 9, 2020 ˾ T H I S D AY

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24 HOURS...

24 HOURS...

Buhari, Other African Leaders Stand with WHO Chief after Trump’s Attack African leaders are coming out in defence of the World Health Organisation (WHO) and its Director-General, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus after US President Donald Trump attacked the organisation for being “Chinacentric” and “mishandling” the COVID-19 outbreak. Trump was quoted as saying: ‘We’re going to put a hold on money spent to the WHO.” But when the US leader was

asked if that was a good idea considering the world is in the midst of a pandemic, he said he was only considering a possible suspension.

The Premium Times reported that the Chairperson of the African Union (AU), Moussa Faki Mahamat tweeted that he is “surprised to learn of a campaign by the US govt against WHO ‘s global leadership.

“The @_AfricanUnion fully

supports @WHO and @DrTedros.

The focus should remain on collectively fighting #Covid19 as a united global community.

The time for accountability will come,” Mahamat wrote.

“Our global priority is to save lives,” Ethiopian President Sahle-Work Zewde replied on Twitter. “@WHO under @ DrTedros effective leadership, are delivering on their mandate at a time we need them most. Let’s

Ajimobi’s Wife: Why I Forgave My Husband When He Cheated Twice Mrs. Florence Ajimobi, the wife of former Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State has said she caught her husband having an affair on two occasions.

The Cable reported that Mrs. Ajimobi said this while speaking with her daughter, Bisola in a video which was posted on Instagram.

According to Florence, when most men cheat, it is just about sex and nothing more.

Mrs. Ajimobi said, “Even on one or two occasions that I caught him cheating, he will apologise and once he apologises and it ends, I never go back to them (the issues) again. I never, Bisola because what I’m saying is to err

is human, to forgive is divine.

“We are friends. Even as a wife, sometimes I fall below his expectations. Sometimes we do something worse than cheating.”

When asked what could be worse than having an affair, Mrs. Ajiombi responded, “There are some women that build houses without their husbands knowing.

It is as bad. Why would you do such a thing without telling him?

So, there are different things we do. It is not only cheating that is bad in a relationship.”

Florence, who is a grandmother, said as a wife, she also offends her husband and sometimes does not have the courage to see him in person.

The former Oyo first lady said if a husband is caught having an affair, the wife should forgive and not overreact.

She added, “Most men when they cheat they just have sex with the woman but when a man is having relations with a woman he loves, he is making love, it is not about sex. So, if you are cheap enough, give yourself to my husband, he is mine. He will never go away. He will come back.

You are eating left over because I have eaten the better part of him.”

Mrs. Ajimobi said it was not reasonable to divorce a man just for cheating, adding that violence should be the only reason for separation.

give them the space. @covid19 is killing many. We must support & protect the most vulnerable. Now is not the time for blame game.”

President of Namibia Hage G. Geingob responded to Mahamat’s tweet with this message: “I agree with you, my brother @WHO, under the stewardship of @ DrTedros, has shown itself to be a true flag-bearer of multilaterarism when global solidarity has become critical. Let’s hold hands in this

crucial moment and focus on what matters, saving lives.”

Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame also weighed in, retweeting Mahamat’s statement and adding: ” Totally Agree ,and asking this; Is it Dr.Tedros, WHO, China … under attack or all of them together? Let’s focus on the fight against this pandemic, whoever sh’d be held acc’ntable will come later and done properly.

Save us too much politics Africa

does not need it. Who does?”

President of South Africa Cyril Ramaphosa responded: “The most potent weapon against #COVID19 and its devastating health, social & economic impact is international cooperation & solidarity, which is why the exceptional leadership displayed daily by @WHO & @DrTedros during an unprecedented global public health crisis is incalculable.”

FG Tasked on Transparent Disbursement of Conditional Cash Transfer Funds The federal government has been asked to ensure transparency in the disbursement of the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) funds to selected needy homes across the country.

The Nigerian government last week announced fresh plans to distribute cash to the poorest households mapped out across the 36 states.

In a statement issued last Tuesday, Human, Environmental and Leadership Prevalent Centres (HELP Centres) tasked the federal government to ensure the cash distribution is guided by digital dashboard to avoid manipulations by vested interests.

The statement signed by the

group Chairman, Azeez Tajudeen, however, commended the federal government for the initiative.

He said the on ongoing disbursement of the CCT funds to the poorest of the poor households across the country would meet basic need of millions of vulnerable families in the country whose conditions have been compounded by the global lockdown.

The National Cash Transfer Office (NCTO) under the National Social Investment Programme (NSIP) through its twitter handle on April 4 said from last Monday, cash would be distributed to indigent families spread across 18 states.

The affected states are Niger, Osun, Plateau, Kwara, Kogi, Benue,

Gombe, Adamawa, Taraba, Kaduna, Cross River, Kano, River, Jigawa, Ekiti, Oyo, Imo and Bauchi.

Beneficiaries are expected to start collecting their CCT funds as the disbursement has kicked off in some states, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

HELP Centre said the ongoing CCT disbursement is not a new intervention programme specifically designed to relieve the effect of COVID-19 pandemic in the country, neither is it an international donors’ support, but one of the existing programmes carved out from the $322.5 million Sani Abacha loot proceeds as a poverty intervention programme.

14

T H I S D AY ˾ ˜ ͷ˜ 2020

COMMENT

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

SYMBOLISM AND THE VIRUS

Coronavirus has exposed the wasted years of Africa’s independence, writes Okello Oculi

F

ollowing the plague epidemic which ravaged Europe from 1347 to 1348, mobs killed Jews as the people responsible for the disease. During the 1938-45 War, Germany killed six million Jews; accusing rich Jewish companies of conspiring with British and American powers to loot and impoverish Germany through reparations which the country paid for damages she inflicted on other countries during the 1914-1918 War. President Donald Trump, has publicly referred to ‘’Coronavirus’’ as a ‘’Chinese disease’’/’’a disease from China’’. Following this blame, CNN on 3rd April, 2020 showed clips of persons of Oriental descent being physically bullied, attacked; with insults hurled at them in public places.

The symbol of power was seen to be accusing China of biological warfare against Americans.

The national symbol of the United States of America is the eagle: allseeing and all—powerful. Its self -perception is ‘’God’s Own Country’’, even if God did not approve of slavery against Africans by European immigrants. African leaders who fought anti-colonial liberation wars adopted the eagle and lion as national symbols; as well as aspirations for justice, equality, peace, freedom and territorial expansion towards a common unitary flag.

There have been major failures in achieving founding aspirations.

In the mid-1970s, a Swedish economist, Gunnar Myrdal, described the United States as ‘’ a country among the rich countries that has the worst slums, the highest rate of unemployed and unemployable, and the least developed health services...that leads the whole Western world in violence, crime and corruption in high places’’. The explosion of Coronavirus in 2020 has revealed little change. On 3rd April, 2020, CNN’s ‘’Amanpour’’ programme showed car park tarmac space marked out for poor Americans who lack shelter to achieve ‘’distancing’’ and isolation.

Africa also shares with the United States a history of confronting challenges. While the Americans succeeded in blocking efforts by France, Britain, Spain and Germany to conduct military coups and assassination against leaders of their independence as promoters of their aspirations, Africa suffered convulsions in the 1960s and 1970s which often produced leaders with false symbols of ‘’progress’’. Such leaders rode in huge Mercedes Benz cars, Rolls Royces, private aircraft; luxury yachts; bought villas and received medical repair in Europe and elsewhere. The national flag as a symbol of community welfare and capacity suffered increasing erosion.

Coronavirus has exposed the wasted years of Africa’s independence

THE LINES OF THE ‘WRETCHED OF THE EARTH’ FROM SLUMS OF JOHANNESBURG AND LAGOS WAITING TO EITHER COLLECT EMERGENCY FOOD PACKETS OR FOOD PACKS WERE EXPLOITED BY CNN AS SYMBOLS OF AFRICAN FAILURES

in the last six decades because Africa’s elites remain focused on consuming medical infrastructure manufactured outside. Cuba, India and Singapore – as similar ex-colonies – developed state-managed pharmaceutical research and manufacturing sectors. Africa, like Spain, has lost medical doctors and nurses to Euro-America; lacks gowns, lacks respiratory aids, and rural clinics.

Over eight decades of denial of financial support to peasant farmers targeting specific food crops notably: millet, sorghum, tubers, vegetables, mushrooms and wild fruits; fabricators of local equipment for processing of these produce, and access to urban wage earners, have resulted in crisis of chasing people from streets, offices, restaurants and factories into arms of starvation inside crowded slum shacks.

The lines of the ‘’wretched of the earth’’ from slums of Johannesburg and Lagos waiting to either collect emergency food packets or food packs were exploited by CNN as symbols of African failures. They, however, hide displays of obesity in their politicians and middle classes as symbols of power and social success; thereby yielding deepening challenges to the legitimacy of local, state and federal governance.

The popular loss of sense of security in leaders has increased turning to sports stars. World Cup football tournaments show the peculiarly African support all over the continent each time an African country’s football team is playing a match against a team from outside. Likewise, with African stars in European club tournaments. Satisfaction from these symbolic moments lessens pains from potholes on roads, lack of electricity, rural clinics, water, literate teachers, etc. Fortunately, Coronavirus fear increases demands for accountability; and protests.

Current political language is that of fighting a ‘’WAR’’ against an ‘’invisible enemy’’. A woman doctor in New Delhi described the virus as, a ‘’dangerous disease’’ while doctors are being attacked by family relatives ‘’each time a patient dies’’, and each time a community health worker declared that a person ‘’has tested positive’’ due to fear that the person will be taken away from family members.

Frightened citizens must arouse Africa to fight structures of debt and the flow of financial and raw material outside Africa’s potential for internal industrial growth. These resources would enable African governments to provide adequate devices for protecting doctors, nurses and other medical and health care workers.

Achieving a collective capacity in Africa for conducting research for cure and vaccination must be combined with investment employing people to build shelters, health clinics, schools and industries. Symbols must eat.

CORONAVIRUS AND THE PRISONS Olatunji Sunday argues the need to grant amnesty to some prisoners to stem the spread of the viral disease

C

oronavirus has been a hot subject in the country since February, if not earlier. It will continue to remain a subject of huge concern, for all of us, in the near future.

While the federal and state governments, certain individuals and institutions are making financial and material contributions, and efforts, to help contain the spread of the virus, we all believe that it is extremely far from being adequate.

A matter of interest for me is on our prisons or correctional centres as they are now called. We are aware that they are over-crowded and lack adequate medical facilities. It would be horrific if, for example, one inmate, just one, at any of our correctional centres was infected by the virus. It would spread so fast, and be so out of control, it is unimaginable.

There is no possibility to send the prisoners out without orders from the appropriate authorities, there is no possibility to quarantine large numbers of affected inmates and there is no possibility of social distancing. The warders themselves, and their contacts outside, are equally at risk though they have the option of being treated externally.

While visits to these centres have been temporarily stopped, the warders and other officials move in and out when they resume and end their daily shifts. Despite basic procedures being followed for the proper washing of hands, and the use of hand sanitizers, it is still so easy for the virus to be carried in, or out, and passed on. It is with this in mind that prisoners, almost all over the world, are being released at an unprecedented rate. It has not yet happened in Nigeria, but it seems that the government is seriously working on the same. However, time is of the essence as the biggest fear, of the pandemic, is the “community spread” of the virus.

It is true that the correctional centres are among the larger organized communities in the country. This fear was the underlying trigger for riots in prisons in several countries and including the recent one at the Kaduna prison. You will find, at the bottom of this message, a bunch of recent articles on such releases which have taken place, or soon to happen, in various countries.

The general criteria for the prisoner releases are: Firstly, the most vulnerable inmates who are: the older ones (60 years old and above); those that have pre-existing health issues such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and chronic respiratory disease – as recommended by the WHO. In the US, other eligible sicknesses have been added, to the WHO list, for their own use and as mentioned in the 5th link below. Secondly, those with short remaining sentences, for example due for release within the next six to nine months. Others, which could include: inmates who have been granted bail but unable to comply with the conditions stipulated therein; those who are awaiting their bail applications to be heard since more than ‘X” months; inmates who are awaiting trial/appeal since more than “Y” months; female inmates who are pregnant or are recent mothers; inmates whose sentences include an option of a fine should be considered for financial relief by the respective state governments or Federal Executive Council.

In all above cases, the qualifying prisoners should exclude violent offenders, such as murderers, rapists, armed robbers, kidnappers, arsonists, child molesters, etc.

The correctional services are surely well-placed to fine-tune all above to suit our peculiar situation.

The exercise for all above is to be repeated every one to three months as other inmates would have qualified in the meanwhile.

While we read, daily, about the number of identified coronavirus infected cases in the country, we know that this information is based on the very limited testing that is being done. The real situation is not known, and we should not become complacent based on the relatively small numbers being announced. The situation in our prisons is like a time bomb waiting to explode.

We are already late in our decision to release an adequate number of prisoners. Nevertheless, we should benefit from this delay by using the research done, and guidelines set, by the UN, International Organizations such as WHO, Human Rights Organizations and countries that have already implemented prisoner releases. That is how some

parts of this message were formulated – particularly the main criteria mentioned above.

It is now imperative that the Ministry of Interior, and the Ministry of Justice, immediately take the necessary steps. In parallel, the state governors, chief judges and attorney generals should visit the prisons, in their respective states, to immediately grant amnesty to deserving inmates and to pay the fines, wherever feasible, of those inmates who have that option in their sentences. Separately, the Federal Executive Council should similarly act in the case of inmates within their purview.

It is important to note that there is surely not a single judgement passed in the country which has sentenced anyone to death by an epidemic. If the prisoner release is not done rapidly, the correctional services would have effectively sentenced all inmates to death by Coronavirus. The urgency and magnitude of the subject of prisoner release, therefore, simply cannot be under-estimated.

Lastly, the prisoner releases could allow, as a trade off, the trials of those unreleased inmates to be accelerated and even be treated in priority to any ongoing cases of the released inmates.

I am confident that you can use the above, and possibly build on it, if need be, by using the info from the links below or from your other sources: One, UN urges prisoner releases to stem spread of coronavirus: France 24 Issued on 25/03/2020 https://www.france24.com/en/20200325-unurges-prisoner-releases-to-stem-spread-of-coronavirus Two, Iran has released 85,000 prisoners in an emergency bid to stop the spread of the coronavirus Business Insider: Adam Payne Mar 17, 2020, 12:45 PM https://www.businessinsider.com/coronaviruscovid-19-iran-releases-eighty-five-thousand-prisoners2020-3?r=US&IR=T Three, Coronavirus: Inmates could be freed to ease virus pressure on jails: BBC NEWS 25 March 2020 https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-52029581

Four, UN rights chief urges quick action by governments to prevent devastating impact of COVID-19 in places of detention.

UN News Human Rights 25 March 2020 https://news.un.org/en/story/2020/03/1060252 Five, COVID-19 and Detention: Respecting Human Rights HHR Health and Human Rights Journal, Joseph J. Amon March 23, 2020 Subject in Focus: Risk Communication guidance COVID-19, older adults and people with underlying medical conditions the virus that causes COVID-19 infects people of all ages. However, evidence to date suggests that two groups of people are at a higher risk of getting severe COVID-19 disease. These are older people (that is people over 60 years old); and those with underlying medical conditions (such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, chronic respiratory disease, and cancer) World Health Organization 11 March 2020 The US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) identifies additional categories at risk, including individuals with blood disorders, chronic kidney or liver disease, compromised immune system, endocrine disorders, including diabetes, metabolic disorders, heart and lung disease, neurological and neurologic and neurodevelopmental conditions, and current or recent pregnancies https://www.hhrjournal.org/2020/03/covid19-and-detention-respecting-human-rights/ Six, the Coronavirus Outbreak: ‘We’re Left for Dead’: Fears of Virus Catastrophe at Rikers Jail The New York Times: By Jan Ransom and Alan Feuer, March 30, 2020 https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/30/ nyregion/coronavirus-rikers-nyc-jail.html Seven, ‘Jails Are Petri Dishes’: Inmates Freed as the Virus Spreads Behind Bars The New York Times: By Timothy Williams, Benjamin Weiser and William K. Rashbaum: Published March 30, 2020 Updated March 31, 2020 https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/30/us/ coronavirus-prisons-jails.html

Dr. Sunday wrote from Egbeda, Lagos

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T H I S D AY ˾ THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 2020

EDITORIAL HAZARDS POSED BY DOMESTIC WORKERS Background checks are necessary before domestic workers are hired

F

rom a former Vice-Chancellor of Federal University of Technology, Akure to the Chairman of Credit Switch Technology to a Lebanese businessman to a naval officer and his girlfriend, the list of murder by domestic servants in Nigeria is long.

And with the upsurge in the cases of how cooks, maids, drivers, guards and other personal staff who work in the house, directly attack or collude with criminals to kidnap or kill their employers, there are general concerns about persons Nigerians bring home to work for them. Security experts have warned that in employing those to perform household chores, proper background checks should be conducted not only on them, but also on those who provide them with references.

In one particular case, three security guards who are still at large attacked their Indian boss before carting away most of his possessions. In another, an apprentice petroleum tanker driver killed his master and diverted a truck-load of aviation fuel destined for Port Harcourt to WHAT HAS COME OUT OF Taraba State. AcMOST INVESTIGATIONS cording to the Lagos IS THAT MANY PEOPLE Police Command EMPLOY MEN OR WOMEN Criminal InvestigaTHEY HARDLY KNOW. THIS tion Department, the murdered man had IS A DANGEROUS RISK hired the suspect to accompany him on the Port Harcourt trip. But when, three days after he left Lagos with over N5.5 million worth of aviation fuel, the cargo still hadn’t arrived Port Harcourt, a search party was put in motion.

It was the company’s tracking device that helped investigators realise that the truck was nowhere near Port Harcourt, but in Mutum Biyu, Taraba State. That was how the culprit was arrested and he confessed to killing his benefactor out of greed.

From Lagos to Benin, Enugu to Birnin-Kebbi, stories of domestic workers harming their employ-

ers or members of their household is becoming an everyday story. But in all the cases, there is an element of carelessness. It would seem that in hiring domestic workers, employers place little emphasis on running background checks on them. And in several instances, this has proven to be a serious mistake with dire consequences. Indeed, had those who have fallen prey to criminals disguised as domestic workers been more careful in recruiting them, they probably would have spared their families the agony of their untimely death.

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

hat has come out of most of the investigations is that many people employ men or women they hardly know. This is a dangerous risk to take. “There are many cases of people who employ home helps simply because someone referred the home helps to them. They do not carry out any background checks to know where the domestic worker hails from, their family, home address, temperament, etc. This is a huge mistake”, said a security expert, Mr Kunle Oladipupo. “You cannot just employ someone for a job in the corporate world without knowing them to some extent. However, the opposite is sometimes the case when some people are employing home helps.”

We hope people will listen to that admonition.

Conventional wisdom teaches that people should not just take in strangers into their homes. There are too many criminals on the prowl hence the need to take precautions. A retired Assistant InspectorGeneral of Police, Isaac Eke, once highlighted the danger inherent in employing as domestic servants people whose backgrounds cannot be easily verified. “I want to appeal to people to always carry out background checks before employing domestic workers,” he said at the time. It is an admonition that should be heeded by those who want to live in peace with their families. It is one that could also make a difference between life and death.

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LOCKDOWN IN A FEEDING BOTTLE ECONOMY t $POUJOVFE GSPN CBDL QBHF kay, maybe I am asking too many questions today out of idleness, so let’s leave those serious issues for another day. Let me own up here: There is a paralysis that comes with this unusual period that is difficult to fathom or explain. According to renowned author Chimamanda Adichie, who described coronavirus as a menace both in the air and in our heads, there are moments when our spirits will sag or we feel mental exhaustion from inactivity. “But how can we not? The world as it is today is foreign to us. It would be strange not to be shaken to our core,” she argued. The more worrisome aspect is that nobody knows for how long this crisis will last. While we should therefore hope for the best, we need to prepare for the worst. What we cannot afford is to allow the crisis to take us down. For that not to happen, we need to maintain a healthy distance from those who delight in spreading doom and gloom within our spaces.

Toxic people who spread panic, fear and sensationalism are the same people spreading the coronavirus stigma. Given the experience of Ebola in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone and the HIV/AIDS deaths on the continent in the nineties, we should be wary of them at a time like this. In his address at the United Nations General Assembly in September 1987, the late Jonathan Mann characterized the three major phases of any infectious disease. The most dangerous, he said, was stigma, which grinds down victims with shame and isolation before the spread of such diseases.

Despite the fact that coronavirus has affected prominent people in our country, there is stigmatization in both the reporting and manner

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in which infected people are being viewed by society. I am even seeing irresponsible adverts in newspapers congratulating politicians for testing negative to coronavirus. This is precisely the sort of recklessness that could prevent those who need to be tested and possibly isolated from coming forward. When people begin to hide what ails them, as we have seen in Ilorin, LUTH and Edo, they endanger care givers and put the entire system in jeopardy. It is going to get worse when the global spotlight shifts from the disease and we are left to our own devices.

As Nigerians try to find meaning into how a virus has thrown the entire universe into jeopardy and changed the way we now live, there is a powerful treatise that I found most appropriate for a time like this. Apparently written by an environmentalist, it is speaking to us in a powerful way as to why we should not waste this moment, as individuals and as a nation: We fell asleep in one world, and woke up in another. Suddenly Disney is out of magic, Paris is no longer romantic, New York doesn’t stand up anymore, the Chinese wall is no longer a fortress, and Mecca is empty. Hugs and kisses suddenly become weapons, and not visiting parents and friends becomes an act of love. Suddenly you realize that power, beauty and money are worthless, and can’t get you the oxygen you’re fighting for. The world continues its life and it is beautiful. It only puts humans in cages. I think it’s sending us a message: ‘You are not necessary. The air, earth, water and sky without you are fine. When you come back, remember that you are my guests. Not my masters.’

I wish all my readers a Happy Easter with prayers that the resurrection power of the Lord Jesus Christ will heal our world.

0MVTFHVO "EFOJZJ "CVKB

FULANI JIHAD AND MIDDLE BELT

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n the absence of an “Encyclopaedia Nigeriana” corpus of references, it is amazing how much we can learn about ourselves as Nigerians and our cities by consulting the Enclopaedia Britannica. One such knowledge excursion I had was searching for information on my locality of Niger State in order that I could build up the body of a thesis. One line of note that caught my attention was, “slave raiding by the Fulani armies of the Kontagora and Nupe emirates in the 19th century severely depopulated the region.” Whoa. The “region” being referred to here is the present Niger State in particular (incidentally, the Kontagora and Nupe emirates are still in Niger State in this 21st century) and the Middle Belt in general. Thus, now, what looks like dis-organised hit, run, hit, kidnap operations by foreign Fulani tribesmen is actually a well-orchestrated campaign to pick up and continue from the progression that was halted in the 19th century. Back then, contemporary commentators would have used the term “jihad” to describe the land-grabbing and proselytisation activities of the (regular) Fulani armies whilst today the most appropriate term to use for the activities of these (irregular) armies is “terrorism.”

Sunday Adole Jonah, Department of Physics, Federal University of Technology, Minna, Niger State

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THURSDAY APRIL 9, 2020 ˾ T H I S D AY

COVID -19 UPDATE...

COVID -19 UPDATE...

Airlines Operators Threaten to Boycott Rivers over Detention of Pilots

Court remands 10 Caverton Helicopters’passengers Rivers declares company persona non grata

Ernest Chinwo in Port Harcourt and Chinedu Eze in Lagos The Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) has urged the Rivers State Government to release two pilots of Caverton Helicopters that were arrested on Tuesday and taken into custody within 24 hours or face boycott of all schedule and unscheduled commercial and private flight operations, including oil and gas offshore flight services, into Port Harcourt for a period of three months.

A Port Harcourt Chief Magistrates’ Court presided over by Chief Magistrate DD Ihua-Maduenyi has also ordered the remand of 10 passengers who flew into the Air Force Base, Port Harcourt on board the Twin-Otter Caverton Helicopters Tuesday.

This is coming as the state government has declared the company persona non grata in the state for allegedly endangering the lives of the people by its

“suspicious operations”.

In a statement issued yesterday by its Chairman, Captain Nogie Meggison, AON condemned the move in the strongest term and considered unlawful in the face of the fact that the airline had secured all necessary approvals from the Ministry of Aviation and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) for the flight in line with the protocols for exemption of essential flights as issued by the NCAA. The AON also frowned at what it described as crude action because the pilots were only doing their lawful duties “which was also in line with President Muhammadu Buhari’s exemption order of the oil and gas sector during the shutdown exercise.”

“Aviation is under the exclusivity list of the federal government and the Port Harcourt NAF Base is a federal government entity outside the jurisdiction of the Rivers State Government.

“The Airline Operators of Nigeria hereby demands the immediate and unconditional release of the two pilots with all purported charges dropped so that they can go back to their families for the Easter holidays

and return to their jobs.

“However, should the Rivers State government fail to release the pilots within 24 hours, airlines in the country will be forced to boycott all schedule and unscheduled commercial and

private flight operations, including oil and gas offshore flight services, into Port Harcourt for a period of three months.

“We therefore hope our appeal for the immediate release of the pilots within 24

hours will be heeded by Rivers state government otherwise airlines in the country will have no other option than to completely boycott all operations into Port Harcourt,” said the statement.

Lagos Police Arrest 78, ASUU’S CONTRIBUTIONS… Impound 600Vehicles for Zonal Coordinator of the Academic Staff Union of University (ASUU), Benin Zone, Prof. Fred Esumeh (left); and Secretary to Edo State Government, Mr. Osarodion Ogie, during the handover of items donated by ASUU to the state government at the Government House, Violating Restriction Orders Benin City…yesterday The court, however, ordered that all RebeccaEjifoma the suspects be kept in government 67 Nigerian Returnees from Côte d’Ivoire The Lagos State Police Command has isolation centres for 14 days and arrested 78 violators who have been thereafter they will serve one month Handed over to Lagos Govt charged to court and sentenced to 30 community service. days community service in addition to 14 days of complusory isolation.

It has also impounded 600 vehicles since the lockdown enforcement began in the state nine days ago.

In a statement issued yesterday by the Lagos State Police PRO, DSP Bala Elkana, the command said it arrested 78 suspects were playing football on major streets and having group exercise in large number, thereby, neglecting the principles of social distancing.

According to Elkana, the suspects were arraigned in Chief Magistrate Court Yaba on-one count charge of violating the social distancing directives oftheLagosStateGovernmentcontrary to Regulation 8(1)( a) &(b) and 17(1) (i) of Lagos State Infectious Disease (Emergency prevention) Regulation 2020.

He added: “It is an offence punishable under Section 58 Public Health Law Cap P16 Laws of Lagos State, 2015.”

Meanwhile, 73 among the 78 suspects pleaded guilty to the charge while three pleaded not guilty.

According to the PPRO, the three suspects who pleaded not guilty will after observing the 14 days isolation, be brought to court for trial.

The 78 suspects were arrested along Bush street, Gbagada expressway; Ogudu; Iyana-Iba; Ojo Road; Ebute Metta; Asimowu Street; Itire and Ajegunle. They are: Meeks John, 29 years; Kingsley Jacob, (28); Anthony Fashanu,(28);ChukwumaOkwubaba, (28);LukeEboro,(43);KennethObasuyi, (64); Julius Joel, (41); Victor Tamund, (38); Egbo Nnamdi, (40).

Others are: Fortune Sunday, (26); Faith Omoefe, (24); Abdulsalam Ahmed, (27); Rabiu Aslam, (20); Phil Omoefe, (32);AdetutuAdurogbanpa, (30); Gbadamosi Oluwakemi, (30); Segun Joshua, (24); Amaka Chuks, (28); Edokpe Eric Emeka, (37); Ismaila Kareem, (24); Nduke Kingsley, (22); Barnabas James, (48);Adeleke Sunday, (37); Ibrahim Olaniron, (26); Daniel Oduma (31); Bashua Oluwaseyi, (45); Folajin Ebunoluwa (21); Folajin Feyi (59); JoshuaOyenusi(30);AdamAbdulrahman (25); Ayomide Adenuga (20).

FG to Accredit Private Hospitals for Treatment of COVID-19 Patients Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja The Minister of State for Health, Dr. Olorunnimbe Mamora yesterday stated that the federal government will accredit private hospitals in the country for the treatment of COVID-19 patients.

Speaking at the press briefing organised in Abuja by the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, the minister advised health facilities, both public and private not to reject patients without giving them advisory on what to do.

He urged the medical practitioners to follow NCDC

guidelines and refer suspect cases to COVID-19 test sites.

“We are not just relying on public health institutions. We have started the process of accreditation for private hospitals where we are able to establish that they have the facilities for prevention, control and necessary personnel.

He also said that the ministry had been discussing with the Association of Private Medical Practitioners of Nigeria and the Guild of Medical Directors to adequately engage their members accordingly.

The much-awaited 67 Nigerians resident in Ivory Coast yesterday arrived at Seme Border Post in a luxurious bus with registration number Osun XA 240 EJG and were handed over to the Lagos State Government.

The News Agency of Nigeria ( NAN) reported that most of the passengers in the bus were women, children and few men.

NAN reported that officials from Lagos State Ministry of

Health arrived Seme border post around 4:00 p.m in three Toyota Coaster buses and took the returnees to isolation centres in Badagry for tests and quarantine.

The Nigerians, who left Ivory Coast on Sunday, were delayed on their way because of the border closures in Ghana, Togo and Benin Republic due to the COVID-19 pandemic, NAN gathered.

The Comptroller General of the NIS, Muhammad Babandede, said in a statement yesterday that the agency received the 67 returnees and after thorough profiling, handed them over to the Lagos State Government.

In the statement, which was issued by the NIS Public Relations Officer, Mr. Sunday James, the comptroller general said 58 of the returnees were

from Osun State He said the NIS “handed them over to the Lagos State Government, represented by the Special Assistant Health to the Executive Governor of Lagos State, Dr Tunde Ajayi, after thorough profiling with the following details: Osun State, 58; Lagos State, four; Oyo State, two; Ondo State, one; Edo, one; Ogun-one, total 67 returnees.”

IPPIS: We’re Not Stooges for VCs, ASUU Insists The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) yesterday said that it was not a stooge for the vice chancellors of the universities in its opposition to the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS).

The union insisted that it was independent in its position regarding the implementation of the scheme in the universities.

It debunked the allegation by the federal government that it was fronting for the vice

chancellors.

The President of ASUU, Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi, said in a statement that the federal government’s allegation against the union was “a simplistic attempt to call ASUU’s dog a bad name to hang it.

“The accusation is laughable, fraudulent, provocative, irritating and illogical,” he added.

Ogunyemi was reacting to a report where the federal government accused the union of being instigated by the vice

chancellors to oppose the IPPIS. “It is just unimaginable that anyone in his or her right senses would accuse ASUU of being the stooge of some avaricious vice-chancellors!

“Surreptitious moves had previously been made by malignant government officials to smear the union with fetid cover-up allegations on account of alleged monumental corruption in the universities and teaching hospitals. “The latest move

appears the most audacious and baseless attempt by civil servants to present ASUU as a pawn in the corruption chessboard of vice-chancellors.

To say the least, however, nothing can be farther from the truth!,” it insisted in the statement.

ASUU argued that the philosophy underlying its “opposition to IPPIS is the overriding interest of the Nigerian University System and the Nigerian nation.

ATBU Fabricates Ventilator, Other Treatment Machines Segun Awofadeji in Bauchi A team of technologists, engineers and other professionals in Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU) Bauchi have fabricated a prototype of ventilator that is cost effective and efficient as part of their contribution to the fight against the spread of COVID-19 in the country.

The team also fabricated an Aerosol box that could be used to protect medical personnel who are treating COVID-19 positive patients from being infected.

They also fabricated an automatic spraying machine that could spray anyone going in and coming out of a room to avoid person to person spread of the virus.

The Vice Chancellor of ATBU, Professor Muhammad Ahmad Abdulazeez, explained that the fabrications were in line with the objectives of the university as a center of research and invention.

Abdulazeez explained that the university was motivated to go into the research and come out with the prototypes of the

machines due to the high cost of procuring ventilators and other equipments needed for the treatment of COVID-19, Lassa fever and other infectious diseases in the country.

He, however, added that paucity of funds a major impediment to the mass production of the fabricated machines and called on the government at all levels to contact the university’s Mechatronics Engineering Department for the mass production of the machines at a moderate cost because “we are

not in this to make profit but to contribute to the fight against infectious diseases particularly COVID-19 and Lassa fever.”

Abdulazeez commended the team that worked day and night to ensure the fabrication of the machines. He said; “Despite the ASUU strike and other issues, these people came out to ensure that we got to this point. They have demonstrated that they are patriotic citizens of Nigeria and have the people at heart.

We are indeed grateful to them.”

THURSDAY APRIL 9, 2020 • T H I S D AY

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POLITICS

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

‘People Expect You to Bow Before You Get What Ordinarily Belongs to Your State’ Though he has since recovered, Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State recently recounted his experience after testing positive to COVID-19 in radio broadcast

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any way diminish your commitment, determination and efforts at defeating and combating the pandemic in the state? That despite being positive, despite ceding that responsibility to Professor Alonge, that you are both in the fight?

Though I was head of the Covid-19 Task Force in the state, it’s really not like I was making unilateral decisions or I had been trying to project myself as the expert. It was a collective effort. I mean, you look at all the members of the Task Force, they were carefully selected due to the positions they are currently occupying or the expertise that they possess. We’ve also been bringing people in to still join it.

Yes, Professor Alonge is the head of the task force, he will give daily briefings while I recuperate. However, I will continue to work with the Covid-19 Task Force as head of the Oyo State Government. I have asked them to call a meeting. I’m still going to be a part of that meeting through videoconferencing, I will contribute and moderate, where possible. I still hold the vision of what we want to do in Oyo State.

an you confirm to us again what you posted on your Twitter account about your COVID-19 status?

Well, the result has since come out.

It is positive. So, I have the virus. I delayed the test because I promised that we have to get the Diagnostic Centre in Ibadan going and that once we got it going, I would be the first to get tested through that facility. So, the medical team came to my house, where I have been self-isolating, at about 9 p.m. on Saturday, March 28 and they took my samples. I waited for the result and during this time, of course, I was anxious, but I kept busy with some of the works at hand, especially on Covid-19. But we also have other issues that we have to deal with; security issues and other issues of state, palliatives, what do we do if things get more difficult and challenging and all that. So those were what I had been doing and when the result came out eventually, it was positive. So, it is what it is and we have to deal with it.

While chatting on a recent radio programme, you did say that the Nigerian Governors’ Forum asked all governors that attended the last NEC meeting to, as a precaution, self-isolate since one of the attendees tested positive. Is it fair to say that could be the likely source of your exposure to the virus?

Well, the truth is that yes, all governors who attended the National Economic Council meeting were advised to self-isolate once one of the attendees tested positive. So, based on that advice, I started self-isolating a week ago. In fact, I had to cancel the face-to-face State Executive Council meeting for Tuesday last week because of that.

What we are dealing with right now is that well, I have done the test, it is positive. I have the virus; so, it is something that we know is real and we have to deal with it.

Having tested positive, can you describe how you are feeling right now? Because reading on your Twitter handle, you said you are asymptomatic (In medicine, a disease is considered asymptomatic if a patient is a carrier for a disease or infection but experiences no symptoms) Well, I still don’t have any symptom. As I am talking to you, I can take my body temperature, I have a thermometre and it will read it out to you [thermometer reads temperature as 36.5 degrees Celsius].

But the fact that I have no symptoms is why I have been insisting that people should maintain social distancing, follow hygienic practices and stay at home, because we don’t know who you are interacting it. It may be someone with Covid-19 without even knowing it. So, even a gathering of 10, the maximum that we allow in Oyo State, may still expose you to Covid-19.

The last time I had Malaria was six years ago.

I am not someone who is comfortable sitting in one spot, so it is really a top war for me that I will have to be confined to my sitting room and bedroom at the moment. But I have always known that the work we are doing comes with a certain number of risks. Despite this, we have resolved to serve the people of Oyo State. I am a long distant runner; I run marathons, so to me, this is an additional battle that I hope to win by the grace of God. But the bottom line is; first, Coronavirus is real. Two, we have to halt the way we interact with ourselves, at least, until we have a handle on the disease itself.

What is your message to the residents of Oyo State, who still have doubts about the existence and reality of Covid-19?

We had a rally, I believe two weeks ago and then I have seen the video that has been circulating on social media, which is being misinterpreted to mean that I doubted, at any time, the existence of Covid-19. The reality is no, I actually never did.

Makinde I had used Covid-19 in the same metaphorical way that their leader in the All Progressives Congress (APC) did when they were fighting over the national chairmanship and he said, well, the virus has gotten into the APC. So, I made a joke out of it [his statement] and the video has been circulating that I said there is no Coronavirus, that it only exists in the APC. Well, it was a metaphor.

But to the good people of Oyo State, I want to say again: Covid-19 is real. So, they must follow all the measures government has put in place to prevent, contain and control this virus. When we say stay at home and maintain social distancing, wash your hands with soap and water or use hand sanitisers, regularly, those are things that we have to do to defeat this virus. And I know how resilient we are as a people; we will defeat it but I do not want any casualty. I don’t want anybody to lose his or her life while we are at this and I don’t also want people to doubt the sincerity of this government. They gave us the opportunity to serve them and that is exactly what we are going to do.

There is this impression that Covid-19 is a disease of rich people. So, one hopes that it is not just the privileged that are being tested and what is being done to ensure that

the testing centres quickly come up so that as many people as possible can be tested?

I have heard some of our people say the Coronavirus is for the rich. Let me say this, anyone can contract the virus. So, we all must exercise necessary precautions like the washing of hands regularly with soap and water or using alcoholbased hand sanitisers and keeping social distance.

On the testing centres, at the meeting of the Task Force, I asked the incident manager and Commissioner for Health that we should wrap up our capacity, so that within the shortest possible time, we will be able to test close to 10,000 of our people. Right now, the entire country has only tested not more than a thousand persons.

But in Oyo State, we have that capacity to test close to 10000 of our people within the shortest possible time and we are working on it. Professor Temitope Alonge has addressed the issue as well.

In theTwitter post in which you announced that you tested positive, you said former Chief Medical Director of the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, Professor Temitope Alonge, has taken over from you as head of Oyo Covid-19 Task Force as you concentrate on your recovery efforts and personal medication. Will you assure the people of Oyo State that this will not in

This is a long thing. The person who has not tested positive today should be cautious. We all have to help one another and help our society to chase this and defeat it.

That is what I am talking about here… But we must follow a pattern, it must be logical. The experts will weigh in on them and that is important, because that is the only way one can validate decisions that are being taken…

We don’t want middlemen to hijack the process so much so that it won’t get to those we are really targeting. Data is a major challenge we are battling with. On the part of the government workers, at least we have control over their own data but what about the rest including widows, traders and the unemployed ones who are vulnerable?

There has to be a link to reach them. We are looking at an efficient channel to reach them

So, you are still very much in charge, sir?

Pretty much. I am going to be recording some videos and also some audio materials, to keep the people of Oyo State abreast of what we are doing.

The prevention of the spread of Covid-19 in Oyo State is a joint effort by both the stakeholders and everyone in the state. So, you have my word and I am saying it clearly to the people of Oyo State, that we will continue to take all necessary actions to ensure that Coronavirus is contained in Oyo State.

And just like they know me as a long-distance runner, I hope the people are listening. If I can outrun and outlast the virus, which I am sure,

by God’s grace, I will do, so also will many of our people in Oyo State.

Lagos, Ogun, Osun, Ekiti are on total lockdown as we speak, with the calls for total lockdown of Oyo State appearing to be on the rise. Is the possibility of total lockdown of Oyo imminent?

We expected that Oyo State should also be a priority to the Federal Government. But what we found out is, at the federal level, people expect you to come and bow before you can get what ordinarily belongs to your state. However, we are engaging them.

But my own target for Oyo State is that we must be self-sufficient. The state is big enough to be a country on its own. In landmass, it is bigger than Rwanda, a country in Africa. In terms of resources, we have enough, though they were not developed because we believed so much on money from the federation account. So, a new Oyo State will be the one that anything coming from the federal level will be additional resources.

On the issue of Covid-19, we are engaging the Federal Government. This is an emergency and we believe that Oyo State deserves more than we are currently getting from the Federal Government in terms of support. We have to take our destiny in our hands as we move along.

Even, the money we are getting from the federal allocation right now is not up to what we need to pay salaries. We must run on our own speed and that is what we are working towards.

On the issue of whether lockdown is imminent or not, everything that could be done to prevent the spread of Covid-19 in Oyo State is on the table. We will continue to assess the situation and take additional measures where necessary.

Yes, Lagos can be on lockdown, Ogun can be on lockdown, Oyo State, yes, people have been saying have a total lockdown and then I have been asking them questions. ‘What will be the benefits here?’ Are there alternative courses of action for us to take? If you ask people not to come out, you lock down the market places, there are people who live on what they sell today - the profit from today’s activities is what they will eat tomorrow. There are a lot of people like that

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POLITICS

‘People Expect You to Bow Before You Get What Ordinarily Belongs to Your State’

Makinde within our environment. So, are there alternatives available to us? Can we do selective lockdown?

That’s why I imposed the curfew, to say look, if it is unnecessary for you to be out, stay at home.

Right now, I have given the order that there should be curfew from dusk to dawn. What that tells us is we should not engage in unnecessary movements. We have analysed the situation.

Experts too have weighed in on the matter and they said wherever we are having challenges is where we should shut down and sort out the challenges therein.

The last thing we will do is to enforce a total lockdown which, I think, must be based on fact.

So, right now, the fact, figure and advice from the experts is that we should be reviewing our situation and observing data that we are getting every now and then to take a logical decision. We won’t do anything in Oyo State because some people are doing it. I see that as eye-service. We will do something that will be effective and bring about a good result to the state.

Remember that my background is engineering and I keep saying to people that as an engineer, you take decisions that are based on logic and fact. This (COVID-19) is an uncharted territory.

We keep on interacting with the experts to find out emerging facts.

To directly answer your question on whether total lockdown is imminent, everything is on the table but it has to follow a logical pattern and it will need the input of experts. We are not just going to lockdown because everyone is locking down.

The most successful place right now in containing Covid-19 is the Czech Republic. And one of the things they brought out is that they made a law that if you must leave your house, you must wear a mask. It may be that route for us to go. I have asked them to start evaluating that. If we must make that law and say that everybody that must go out must wear a mask, then, how about those who cannot afford it? Can we make masks locally? Can we get our artisans and our tailors to commit to that with the government supporting? So, those are the types of solutions we are looking for.

One is aware that WHO came out with a directive that the use of face masks should be limited to those with Covid-19 and should not be a matter of every individual. That is also an issue. One is just trying to bring this up in relation to what you just said.

Well, we are all in an uncharted territory and that is why I pity those people who, rather than reflect deeply on where we are and what we are faced with, they are choosing to play politics with it. It’s people that are alive that will play politics in 2023. Somebody called me yesterday and said ‘oh, I heard that you tested positive to Covid-19.’

That he did the test and it was negative. So, I said to myself okay, you are negative now, but has Coronavirus been defeated yet? This is a long thing. The person who has not tested positive today should be cautious. We all have to help one another and help our society to chase this and defeat it. That is what I am talking about here.

And to buttress what you said, bring the ideas on and we will look at them. But we must follow a pattern, it must be logical. The experts will weigh in on them and that is important, because that is the only way one can validate decisions that are being taken.

One issue that has become a hot topic of discussion is the provision of palliatives to people when eventually the state is locked

down.You once said the state is working on it?

Talking about the palliative measures, we paid N11 billion on the 25th of March as salaries to workers in the ministries, agencies and parastatals as well as those in the local government service because we want the money to go into the economy of Oyo State so that the people can go to the market to stock up their houses. So, there will be palliatives and we have already started working on it. We don’t want middlemen to hijack the process so much so that it won’t get to those we are really targeting. Data is a major challenge we are battling with. On the part of the government workers, at least we have control over their own data but what about the rest including widows, traders and the unemployed ones who are vulnerable? There has to be a link to reach them. We are looking at an efficient channel to reach them. I have told the Commissioners for Women Affairs and Social Inclusion, Hajia Fausat Sani and the Commissioner for Special Duties, Barrister Bayo Lawal, that we are insisting on two elements; efficiency and accountability to get this done. They are working seriously on that. Once the two elements are present, the palliatives will go out.

I want to assure the people that we won’t spend the money which belongs to Oyo State recklessly. We will ensure that the resources of the state will be used to get the maximum value to the people.

Will you confirm whether contact tracing has commenced on individuals, aides, cabinet members and friends that may have been in contact with you since the NEC meeting took place and whether those individuals have also gone into self-isolation?

Yes, I can confirm to you that I took the test the same time as the Secretary to the State Government and when the result came out, they said one tested positive and the other, negative and it turned out to be that I came out positive and she came out negative.

So, everyone that has had contact with me, we are asking them to go into self-isolation and as soon as any of them shows any symptom, then they get tested.

Oyo State Government will continue working with data from the Emergency Operation Centre, and we will do everything in our power to prevent the spread of Covid-19 in the state.

The Diagnostic Centre, the Virology Laboratory of the College of Medicine, University of Ibadan is operational now. It has been accredited by the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).

So, we can now test a lot more people. Also, the Infectious Disease Centre at Olodo, with a capacity to take 100 cases is fully operational.

I want to again, urge everyone in Oyo State to continue to follow the directives of the Covid-19 Task Force and together, by the grace of God, we will defeat this virus and get our economy and our lives back on track. Coronavirus will pass and become a story but let us comply with the directives from the government. This is your government and we will always put you at the centre of all we are doing.

A new Oyo State will be the one that anything coming from the federal level will be additional resources. On the issue of Covid-19, we are engaging the Federal Government. This is an emergency and we believe that Oyo State deserves more than we are currently getting from the Federal Government in terms of support. We have to take our destiny in our hands as we move along. Even, the money we are getting from the federal allocation right now is not up to what we need to pay salaries. We must run on our own speed and that is what we are working towards

DISSENTING VOICE...IN HIS OWN WORDS

Thinking of the Regular Nigerian in Times of COVID-19 Iboro Otu expresses his concern for the plight of the average Nigerian in this season of the COVID-19 pandemic

Buhari

T

hese Western people sef, their addiction to data just amazes me.

How they try to simplify problems and solutions so everyone gets it - from the market woman to the professor - is simply wonderful. Seems they don’t need a Minister of Information, apparently. The data speaks for itself. I’ll share a rather simple example.

My birthday is on April 14th. Thank you.

The CDC estimates that 2,214 Americans are expected to die on the April 15th from Coronavirus infection. I mean, just imagine the audacity of their preparations and resultant figures? It’s simply miraculous!

They tell you to the last decimal; how much has been put in and what to expect from it. This, my friends, is called effectiveness.

I heard it through the grapevine that N100 billion has been shared amongst Nigeria’s most poor, bandied around online, supposedly, as what the Nigerian government distributed amongst 2.2 million households.

I don’t know how true this figure is so don’t quote me. I’ve tried to find sources online to validate this without much success. The information is inconsistent. Who got what, how they got it and where one can get more is left to the Lord. This, my friends, I’m sure you know what this is called.

The British Prime Minister is in a known public hospital on oxygen. The world is receiving by the minute updates on where he is located and the state of his condition, same as every other British citizen at the moment undergoing treatment for Coronavirus. I can only wish Boris speedy recovery and pray he gets well soon. In the meantime, we don’t know where sick Nigerian leaders are, if any. I’m forced to rely on Kemi Olunloyo for information - I didn’t mention any names so please don’t give yourself ideas. On the other hand, however, last I checked, Akwa Ibom State government was contesting results from the NCDC that had indicated there were five Coronavirus patients in the state, opposing the results almost at tribunal level.

Yes, it’s that bad.

When I watch soccer (especially World Cups), I don’t know about you, but the elimination pattern appears as if it’s determined by economic standing than anything else. The worse-off countries get kicked out first, leaving behind the ‘better prepared/ best equipped’ first world ones.

Now, where I’m I going with all this?

Pattern. Pattern will speak volumes about anything. On Nigerian streets, it is a common expression that someone behaving in a certain manner ‘dey form pattern’. In my native language of Ibibio, there is also a saying that goes that a big man’s house can be determined even by looking at the house keys.

Leadership and responsibility is a pattern

that reflects themselves in any part of any society. For example, you can tell everything about Nigeria by just studying our roads.

From how we get served in restaurants, to how we queue for buses and the kind of buses available. From the examination halls and how we prepare for exams, from how we are treated in our hospitals and the healthcare available. Just take a pick. You can tell almost everything about Nigeria by studying an average Nigerian. His economic position, how he conducts himself, when he turns up for anything; everything! An average Nigerian is Nigeria. Would any Nigerian want to be an average Nigerian? If someone said to you, ‘may your life be like the life of an average Nigerian’, would you take offense? Is being an average Nigerian a curse?

You see, somehow over the years we have found a wonderful formula for complicating very simple things and simplifying very complicated issues in this country. Somehow, by conscious effort or otherwise, we have found a way of making simple governance a thing about voodoo Mathematics while making brisk and simple preparations for complex extinction level events like Coronavirus. A further hurried example of this is building for politicians and others, gigantic outfitted public edifices while our schools, hospitals and research centers are left in ruins. Or our perusal of videos and images of governors stocking warehouses with noodles, garri, rice, and dolling out wads of cash to God-knows-who, as preparation for what is coming, if the Lord allows it. We play too much in this country!

Right now, I’m locked in, so my own na sidon look, I’m an average Nigerian, sorry. If I’m bothered about anything, it’s that our farmers have all left their farms at the mercy of thieves and herders. So, I’m wondering, who is securing their livelihood and farmland during this time of lockdown?

What will the price of commodities be once the lockdown is over? If you thought things were expensive before the lockdown, wait until the markets open and there is nearly not enough to go around.

My summation is this: for Nigeria to move in the positive direction, the life of an average Nigerian has to change in every aspect.

The standard of living of every Nigerian must be elevated; how he lives, what he eats, his education and the opportunities available to work and earn a living to support his family. If the government cannot do this, it is the responsibility of Nigerians to change that government. The government must account for the life of every Nigerian to the last digit. So that on my birthday, someday in the future, 2031 maybe, I may read about the exact number of Nigerians that voted in the presidential election, to the last accuracy.

20

THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 2020 ˾ T H I S D AY

MARKET NEWS

International Breweries Plc Records N133bn Revenue, N28bn Loss Goddy Egene

International Breweries Plc has recorded a loss of N27.791 billion for the year ended December 31, 2019, higher than the N3.933 billion recorded in 2018. As a result, the shareholders will not receive any dividend for the year. Details of the

results showed revenue increased by 9.7 per cent to N132.351 billion in 2019, compared with N120.611 billion.

Cost of sale rose by 27 per cent to N107.144 billion from N84.493 billion, while administrative expenses jumped by 64 per cent from N15.942 billion to N26.17 billion. Also, marketing and promotions

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

expenses rose by 63 per cent from N9.743 billion to N15.967 billion. The company incurred impairment charges on financial assets of N1.667 billion in 2019, up from N807 million in 2018.

Consequently, International Breweries Plc ended the year with a loss before tax of N36.166 billion, as against a loss of N8.116

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 07Apr-2020, unless otherwise stated.

billion in 2018. Tax credit of N8.376 billion reduced the loss to N27.791 billion in 2019, compared with N3.933 billion in 2018.

The Finance Director of International Breweries Plc, Mr. Bruno Zambrano last month assured shareholders of the company of better value going forward.

The director, who gave the assurance

during a visit by the company’s management to the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), said the N165 billion raised from rights issue recently, would have positive impact on its operations and financial performance.

According to him, the rights issue had helped to recapitalise the company, improve

its operational and financial flexibility, as well as significantly reduce its financing cost. He therefore assured shareholders of the company’s commitment to generate value for the long term, adding that the company will continue to explore every option to bring smiles to consumers and shareholders alike.

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 103.31 106.89 -29.40% Afrinvest Plutus Fund 100.00 100.00 6.47% Nigeria International Debt Fund 300.11 300.11 -3.98% 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 N/A N/A N/A ACAP Income Funds N/A N/A N/A 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 7.07% AIICO Balanced Fund 2.48 2.54 0.86% info@anchoriaam.com ANCHORIA ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED Web:www.anchoriaam.com, Tel: 08166830267; 08036814510; 08028419180 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Anchoria Money Market N/A N/A N/A Anchoria Equity Fund N/A N/A N/A Anchoria Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A ARM INVESTMENT MANAGERS LTD enquiries@arminvestmentcenter.com Web: www.arm.com.ng; Tel: 0700 CALLARM (0700 225 5276) Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn ARM Aggressive Growth Fund 12.36 12.73 -19.34% ARM Discovery Fund 304.03 313.19 -11.99% ARM Ethical Fund 25.03 25.78 -13.94% ARM Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 6.36% 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 84.48 85.07 -12.08% AXA Mansard Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 5.80% 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 N/A N/A N/A CHAPELHILL DENHAM MANAGEMENT LTD investmentmanagement@chapelhilldenham.com Web: www.chapelhilldenham.com, Tel: +234 461 0691 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Chapelhill Denham Money Market Fund 0.07 0.05 6.93% Paramount Equity Fund 9.52 9.90 -23.12% Women's Investment Fund 104.06 104.80 -5.83% CORDROS ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmgtteam@cordros.com Web: www.cordros.com, Tel: 019036947 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Cordros Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 6.45% Cordros Milestone Fund 2023 92.02 92.40 Cordros Milestone Fund 2028 99.14 99.61 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 4.64% Coronation Balanced Fund 0.82 0.83 -11.15% Coronation Fixed Income Fund 1.34 1.34 0.84% 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 N/A N/A N/A EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class B N/A N/A N/A EDC Nigeria Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A 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 1,314.11 1,315.75 1.78% FBN Balanced Fund 130.48 131.34 -11.13% FBN Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 6.23% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Institutional 111.12 111.84 -6.81% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Retail 111.68 112.41 -6.80% FBN Nigeria Smart Beta Equity Fund 102.15 103.34 -21.50% FCMB ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED fcmbamhelpdesk@fcmb.com Web: www.fcmbassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 1 462 2596 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Legacy Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 6.81% Legacy Debt Fund 3.73 3.73 1.97% Legacy Equity Fund 0.94 0.96 -16.83% Legacy USD Bond Fund 1.09 1.09 1.21% FSDH ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD coralfunds@fsdhgroup.com Web: www.fsdhaml.com; Tel: 01-270 4884-5; 01-280 9740-1 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Coral Growth Fund 2,792.32 2,818.66 -6.44% Coral Income Fund 3,144.30 3,144.30 14.70% FSDH Treasury Bills Fund 100.00 100.00 6.08% 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 4.86% Nigeria Entertainment Fund 115.88 116.22 7.07%

GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmanagement@gdl.com.ng Web: www.gdl.com.ng ; Tel: +234 9055691122 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn GDL Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A INVESTMENT ONE FUNDS MANAGEMENT LTD enquiries@investment-one.com Web: www.investment-one.com; Tel: +234 812 992 1045,+234 1 448 8888 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Abacus Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 4.83% Vantage Balanced Fund 2.04 2.07 -6.98% Vantage Guaranteed Income Fund 1.00 1.00 11.01% Kedari Investment Fund (KIF) 136.97 137.34 -4.55% 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 1.11 1.13 -4.82% Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund 1,132.36 1,132.36 3.06% 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 7.29 7.31 -25.87% Meristem Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 4.49% 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 1.25 1.27 2.91% PACAM Fixed Income Fund 11.33 11.36 0.93% PACAM Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 4.00% PACAM Equity Fund 0.89 0.90 PACAM EuroBond Fund 85.23 87.26 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 109.09 110.90 -9.16% 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 1.03 1.03 2.68% STANBIC IBTC ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD assetmanagement@stanbicibtc.com Web: www.stanbicibtcassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 1 280 1266; 0700 MUTUALFUNDS Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Stanbic IBTC Balanced Fund 2,521.35 2,532.80 -5.02% Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund 210.33 210.33 1.90% Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund 0.88 0.89 -15.17% Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund 273.87 273.95 2.12% Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund 154.92 156.64 -15.60% Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 5.68% Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund 7,674.15 7,756.30 -14.67% Stanbic IBTC Dollar Fund (USD) 1.16 1.16 1.54% Stanbic IBTC Shariah Fixed Income Fund 118.18 118.18 0.00% UNITED CAPITAL ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD Web: www.unitedcapitalplcgroup.com; Tel: +234 803 306 2887 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn United Capital Balanced Fund N/A N/A N/A United Capital Bond Fund N/A N/A N/A United Capital Equity Fund N/A N/A N/A United Capital Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A United Capital Eurobond Fund N/A N/A N/A United Capital Wealth for Women Fund N/A N/A N/A 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 8.98 9.09 -12.59% Zenith Ethical Fund 10.84 10.94 -6.73% Zenith Income Fund 23.29 23.29 4.76% Zenith Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 4.91%

REITS NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

3.15 120.83 52.49

-67.35% 1.45% 0.85%

Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

6.77 73.75 54.46

6.87 75.29 55.46

-22.15% -20.27% -26.14%

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

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

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

funds@vetiva.com Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

2.46 3.11 9.55 9.47 168.99

2.50 3.19 9.65 9.67 170.99

-30.44% -46.98% -20.75% -8.79% -9.64%

NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

108.69

17.60%

INFRASTRUCTURE FUND Fund Name Chapel Hill Denham Nigeria Infrastructure Debt Fund

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

21

T H I S D AY ˾ APRIL 9, 2020

BUSINESSWORLD R A T E S

A S

MONEY MARKET OBB OVERNIGHT

A T

REPO 2.20 % 2.60 %

CALL 1-MONTH

3% 3%

A P R I L S & P INDEX INDEX INDEX LEVEL 1-DAY

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

3 , 2 0 2 0 S&P 466.99 % 0.03 %

1/4 TO DATE YEAR TO DATE

EXCHANGE RATE 0.28 % -2.95 %

N361/1US DOLLAR* *AS AT LAST FRIDAY

Quick Takes WhatsApp Reduces Message Limit

STRENGTHENING RELATIONSHIP

L-R: Director and Head of Academics, Nigerian Law School, Bwari Abuja, Mr. Samuel Adeoyin Osamolu; Deputy Director, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Mr. Jerry Ugwu; Director General, Nigerian Law School, Bwari Abuja, Prof. Isa Hayatu Chiroma; Director, Legal and Regulatory Services, NCC, Mrs. Yetunde Akinloye and Director, Academics of the Law School, Mr. Chibueze Okorie, during a meeting between officials of the Law School and the NCC, held in Abuja...recently

Broadband Commission Pushes for Global Internet Access Stories by Emma Okonji An emergency virtual meeting of the Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development, which held recently in Geneva, the headquarters of International Telecoms Union (ITU), has adopted an agenda for action outlining immediate measures that governments and other organisations can take to shoreup digital networks.

The initiative is also expected to strengthen capacity at critical connectivity points like hospitals and transport hubs, and boost digital access and inclusivity, with the aim of strengthening collective response to the COVID-19 crisis now sweeping the world.

Built around three pillars

TELECOM of: Resilient Connectivity, Affordable Access, and Safe Use for Informed and Educated Societies, the agenda serves as a framework for the Commission and its organisations to share their own initiatives, make new commitments, and foster collaboration and partnership.

Penultimate week, ITU launched the Global Network Resiliency Platform to help policy makers, regulators and industry players ensure that networks are kept resilient and telecoms services are available to all – and in particular, those in the health and education sectors – to the maximum extent possible.

Over 100 representatives from around the world participated

in the virtual meeting, which brought together stakeholders from international organizations, the tech sector, civil society and academia, including global CEOs, heads of agency, and leaders of tech and health industry bodies.

A special guest was UN Under-Secretary-General and Special Advisor, Fabrizio Hochschild, who made an impassioned plea to Commissioners and their organisations to enhance digital cooperation in response to COVID-19, and to do all in their power to combat misinformation and rising inequality, maximise access to relevant data for public good, and protect the millions of additional children joining the online community for the

first time in order to connect to remote learning platforms.

Echoing these concerns, the Executive Director, United Nations International Children Education Fund (UNICEF), Henrietta Fore, said: “This pandemic is doing what any big shock will do, and increasing the distance between those who have and those who do not. In addition to the devastating immediate effects of COVID-19, the secondary impacts on education, jobs, and finances will continue to impact children, and the world’s most vulnerable, disproportionately in the years to come.”

In his opening remarks, ITU Secretary-General and Commission Co-Vice Chair, Houlin Zhao, Continued on page 22

NBC Warns Broadcast Stations against Programmes with Unverifiable Claims The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) said it has observed with dismay, the preponderance of programmes with unverifiable claims targeted at COVID 19 Pandemic, and has warned all broadcast station against airing such programmes.

While commending the efforts of the broadcast stations for the massive coverage and support to federal government towards informing, enlightening Nigerians on the pandemic, it, however, warned that it would not hesitate to impose severe sanctions on any station that allows unverifiable claims on its platform.

Consequently, the Commission drew attention to an NBC,

TELECOM in a statement signed by its Asst. Director, Public Affairs, Ekanem Antia, that had cited some sections of the sixth edition of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code, such as Section 3.4.1(a), which states that the broadcaster shall ensure that every programme is accurate and credible; Section 7.1.18, which states that descriptions, claims, testimonials or illustrations in an advertisement relating to verifiable facts shall be such that can easily be substantiated; and Section 7.4.10, which states that the broadcaster shall ensure that an advertisement is not broadcast if it contains any offer

to diagnose or treat conditions by myth, superstitious beliefs and practice.

According to the statement; “The coronavirus has been declared a global pandemic and no station shall allow its platform to be used to undermine the seriousness of the virus, and all broadcast stations are responsible for all contents that they transmit.”

Meanwhile, Antia said; “In compliance with the directives of the Commission for Pay TV to decrypt signals of local channels on their platforms for one month, in the first instance, to enable viewers get adequate information and directives through this period of the

COVID-19 Pandemic, FreeTV has announced unrestricted access for customers during the lockdown.”

Confirming it, a management staff of FreeTV, Olumade Adesemowo, said FreeTV would be providing unrestricted viewing access to all its customers from April 4th to May 30th, 2020, in line with the federal government’s directive on measures to curtail the spread of the COViD-19 pandemic.

Explaining how customers could benefit from the unrestricted access viewing, Adesemowo said; “If you

WhatsApp has announced that it will henceforth reduce the number of chatmessagesfromfivetoone,inordertocontrolmisinformationandto serveitscustomersbetterduringthisperiodoftheCOVID-19pandemic.

LastyearWhatsAppintroduceduserstotheconceptofmessagesthat havebeenforwardedmanytimes.Thesemessagesarelabeledwithdouble arrows to indicate they did not originate from a close contact. In effect, thesemessagesarelesspersonalcomparedtotypicalmessagessenton WhatsApp.Itsaiditwouldbeintroducingalimitsothatthesemessages canonlybeforwardedtoonechatatatime.

“Asaprivatemessagingservice,we’vetakenseveralstepsovertheyears tohelpkeepconversationsintimate.Forexample,wepreviouslysetlimits onforwardedmessagestoconstrainvirality.Atthetime,wesawa25per centdecreaseintotalmessageforwardsglobally.”

It,however,saidcallforwardingwasnotbad,butthatmanyusersforward helpful information, as well as funny videos, memes, and reflections or prayerstheyfindmeaningful.

“In recent weeks, people have also used WhatsApp to organise public moments of support for frontline health workers. “However, we’ve recently seen a significant increase in the amount of forwarding, which usershavetolduscanfeeloverwhelmingandcancontributetothespread ofmisinformation.

“We believe it’s important to slow the spread of these messages down to keep WhatsApp a place for personal conversation,” WhatsAapp said inastatement.

Thestatementadded:Inadditiontothischange,weareworkingdirectly withNGOsandgovernments,includingtheWorldHealthOrganisationand over20nationalhealthministries,tohelpconnectpeoplewithaccurate information.

“Together these trusted authorities have sent hundreds of millions of messagesdirectlytopeoplerequestinginformationandadvice.Youcan learnmoreabouttheseefforts,aswellashowtosubmitpotentialmyths, hoaxes and rumors to fact checking organizations, on our Coronavirus InformationHub.

Adegoke Leads NIMC’s Communication Unit

TheNationalIdentityManagementCommission(NIMC)hasnamedMr. KayodeAdegokeasHeadofitsCorporateCommunicationsUnit.According toastatementsignedbytheGeneralManager,OperationsatNIMC,Mr. AbdulHamid Umar, the appointment of Adegoke as approved by the Director-GeneralofNIMC,AliyuAziz,tookeffectonMarch27,2020.

Until his appointment, Adegoke was NIMC’s Regional Coordinator responsible for the coordination of all operational and other activities anddepartmentstomeettheCommission’stargetsintheLagosRegion, madeupofLagosEastandWest.

AdegokeholdsaHigherNationalDiplomainMassCommunicationanda MasterdegreeinMarketingCommunicationaswellasaMasterdegree inManagerialPsychology,amongotherqualifications.

Apublicrelationsandbrandscommunicationfocusedprofessional,Kayode isanAssociatememberoftheNigerianInstituteofPublicRelations(NIPR), amemberoftheAdvertisingPractitionersCouncilofNigeria(APCON)as wellasfellowofthechatteredInstituteofAdministration.

Lagos Govt Partners Jumia

TheLagosStateGovernmenthaslaunchedahandwashingchallengetitled “MyHandsAreSafe,”inpartnershipwithJumiaNigeria.Thechallengewhich commencedrecently,aimsatencouragingregularwashingofhands,which isaverypotenttoolinthefighttocontainthespreadofCOVID-19.

The Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on the Sustainable DevelopmentGoalsandInvestment,Mrs.SolapeHammond,whomade theannouncement,saidthehandwashingchallengewouldnotonlyteach NigeriansingeneralandLagosStateresidentsinparticulartherightway towashtheirhandsasadvisedbytheWorldHealthOrganisation(WHO) andencouragedbythestategovernmentandhealthauthorities,butwill alsoencouragethemtoimbibethehabitsoastostaysafeofCoronaVirus.

AccordingtoHammond:“Inthisinstance,preventionisnotonlybetterthan cure - it’s all we have at the moment”.The #MyHandsAreSafe challenge is a deliberate effort to use an online viral challenge towards minimising thespreadofthedisease,”shesaid.

The Chairwoman of Jumia Nigeria, Juliet Anammah, said: “Jumia is very happytoleverageouronlineecosystemtocollaboratewithLagosState in this challenge and we enjoin all Lagosians to participate.Washing our hands is at least one thing we can all do to support our Government and ourhealthcareworkerswhoareatthefrontline.”

“Telecommunications masts and towers in Nigeria are safe and their emissions are not harmful to human health. They are not only regulated in line with international regulatory agencies guidelines but also by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), the Industry regulator” Chairman, ASsociation of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria (ALTON),

Gbenga Adebayo Continued on page 22

T H I S D AY ˾ APRIL 9, 2020

22

BUSINESSWORLD BROADBAND COMMISSION PUSHES FOR GLOBAL INTERNET ACCESS emphasised the vital importance of accelerating global efforts to connect the remaining half of the population still totally without internet access.

“As the COVID-19 pandemic accelerates, making in-roads in the developing world and threatening all of humanity, we need to take immediate action to ensure no one is left behind.

This unprecedented crisis shows that nobody is safe until we are all safe. And it shows, with no ambiguity, that we will not unleash the full potential of broadband until we are all connected,” Zhao said.

The Commission Co-Chair, President Paul Kagame of Rwanda, who was represented by the Director-General, Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Authority, Patrick Nyirishema, said the Commission was rising to challenge and ‘walking the talk’ in its efforts to recommend rapid and tangible actions that governments, ICT regulators, private companies and the international community could take individually and collectively, to optimise the power of digital resources to combat the global health crisis. “This pandemic has underscored the vital importance of broadband infrastructure to governments and communities around the world,” he said.

NBC WARNS BROADCAST STATIONS AGAINST PROGRAMMES WITH UNVERIFIABLE CLAIMS are a new or existing FreeTV customer, you will get two extra months of access, but if your FreeTV has been inactive for any period of time, just switch on your box to get access for the next two months, at no cost.

“In addition to over 35 digital quality channels, we are also providing customers with regular. reliable and verified news updates on COVID-19 via our FreeTV information services feature from government bodies, which include Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC); Federal Ministry of Health; Federal Ministry of Information; and Nigerian Police Force. We are doing our part and hope you are doing yours. Stay home, stay safe, stay entertained and stay informed with FreeTV.”

NEWS

COVID-19: FG Assures MDAs of Business Continuity Stories by Emma Okonji The federal government has assured Nigerians of the continued support of Galaxy Backbone for private and public institutions, especially during this period of COVID-19 pandemic that is ravaging the world.

A statement issued by the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy, signed by the spokesperson to the minister, Mrs. Uwa Suleiman, noted that: “At this critical stage of efforts to limit the spread of the COVID -19 in the country, the federal government is applying measures to safeguard its personnel, by using telepresence facilities deployed by the Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy, through the Galaxy Backbone Limited, a parastatal under the ministry.”

The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Pantami, had earlier directed Galaxy Backbone to utilise its governmentwide telepresence and collaboration facilities, to ensure government functions continue while maintaining social distancing.

The statement said Galaxy Backbone had complied by positioning their telepresence

and collaboration facilities to ensure productivity, enhance security and reduce the cost of communication during this period.

It added that video conferencing terminals have been installed at over 120 federal government institutions, including the offices of the Vice President; 26 Honourable Ministers; 17 Ministers of State; Chief

of Staff to the President; Secretary to the Government of the Federation; Head of Civil Service of the Federation; 37 Federal Permanent Secretaries; Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC); and other key Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of the federal government.

According to Pantami, “Calls and conferences are

secured with end to end encryption within Galaxy Backbone operated government network. Galaxy Backbone also has the capacity to provide both public and private sector organisations, secure and reliable telepresence services from its state-of-the-art Unified Communication Services (UCS) platform.

“In this regard, Nigerians

are rest assured that the Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy will continue to use technology to ensure that there are no interruptions in crucial government meetings. Virtual meetings will go ahead with all relevant stakeholders in a secure and reliable manner as we collectively tackle this challenge to humanity.”

MOU SIGNING

Vice President, National Institute of Marketing of Nigeria, Dr. Umar Musa Mustapha (left) and Vice Chancellor, Nile University of Nigeria, Prof. Osman Aras, at the MoU signing ceremony between the institute and the university, in Abuja. recently

Report Reveals Low Traffic to Locations Data from Google’s newlyreleased COVID-19 Community Mobility Reports has shown that traffic to transit, retail and recreation locations in Nigeria has reduced in the wake of the pandemic that restricted movement.

According to the report released by Google, traffic to transit locations reduced by 34 per cent and to retail and recreation locations by 39 per cent, compared to baseline levels measured in January and February this year.

The report, which showed data from March 29, revealed how citizens were visiting transit stations, work places, retail and recreation centers,

parks, grocery stores and residentials in Nigeria.

Google’s first ever COVID-19 Community Mobility Reports provided national trends for 131 countries, and available to download in PDF format on the site.

Each country report charts the percentage increase or decrease of movement across different high-level categories of places - such as retail and recreation, groceries and pharmacies, parks, transit stations, workplaces, and residential.

Google has invested in this tool so that everyone can make use of it to quickly and easily understand relevant

information to the community response to social distancing; making any information shared tailored specifically to that specific purpose.

Google’s Senior VicePresident, Jen Fitzpatrick, said: “Just like how people can use Google Maps to identify when a local business tends to be the most crowded, we’re using the same aggregated, anonymised data to provide high-level insights into what has changed. We think these reports could support decisions about how to manage the COVID-19 pandemic while adhering to our stringent privacy protocols and policies.

“Ultimately, understanding

not only whether people are traveling, but also trends in destinations, can help officials design guidance to protect public health and essential needs of communities and we will continue to evaluate these reports as we get feedback from public health officials, civil society groups, local governments and the community at large during these unprecedented times.”

Google has been working on many ways to help respond to COVID-19, from providing authoritative info via search, to supporting production of ventilators and personal protective equipment such as face-masks.

With no vaccine or proven treatment, social distancing is the primary way to flatten the curve. Reports show that a third of the world’s population are under some kind of social distancing measures.

Through these reports, Google is now providing insights into whether the guidance on social distancing is working. In addition to the Community Mobility Reports, Google is collaborating with select epidemiologists working on COVID-19 with updates to an existing aggregate, anonymized dataset that can be used to better understand and forecast the pandemic, Fitzpatrick said.

‘With COVID-19, ICT Has Changed Cultural Experience’

Group Business Editor

Obinna Chima

Capital Market Editor

Goddy Egene

Comms/e-Business Editor

Emma Okonji

Senior Correspondent

Raheem Akingbolu (Advertising) Correspondents

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

Nume Ekeghe (Money Market) Nosa Alekhuogie (ICT)

As the world faces an unprecedented crisis in the form of COVID-19, information and communication technologies (ICT) is playing a critical role in bringing people together while social distancing is being practiced across the world, the Head of Information Technology (IT) at Ericsson Middle East, Roula Tayan has said.

According to him, more than ever, information, unified collaboration, and telecommunication including mobile networks form a critical backbone that enables families, health workers, public safety officials, education institutions and critical businesses to stay connected during this global crisis.

“ICT at this time is an open ecosystem that empowers and

accelerates the ambitions of all those who meaningfully engage with it. The potential for ICT in connecting people and sharing knowledge instantly during crisis is game-changing and universal. It is also transforming many social and economic aspects of our lives, such as education, healthcare, business and professional development.

“As educational institutions quickly pivot toward online learning, both students and teachers have found great value in the use of digital tools and connectivity.

“During this time, service providers are enabling customers to access learning environments over the cloud throughout the duration of the closed schooling period.

“The use of mobile tech-

nologies in distance e-learning enables students and faculty in dispersed locations to access video, audio and text-based course materials and actively engage in online discussion forums and real time virtual classrooms,” Tayan said in a statement.

Tayan added: “ICT is also profoundly changing our cultural experience during these challenging times, not only in terms of new technologybased access, production and dissemination, but also in terms of participation and creation, and learning and partaking in a knowledge society.

More than 2,000 world-class museums and galleries are now creatively offering virtual tours and online exhibitions in an attempt to keep their audience

connected from the comfort of their homes.

“Many business organisations have taken a precautionary approach to limit the spread of COVID 19 by advising their employees to work from home.

“Some Gulf states are unblocking previously blocked conferencing and collaboration tools to help companies and schools carry out remote meetings and virtual classes effectively.

“The unprecedented scale for concurrent remote access to IT platforms is putting a strain on the organisations’ IT infrastructure as well as fixed and mobile communication providers. IT departments are busy scaling their gateway networks and cloud computing

systems to make sure home workers can receive and send emails, access company data, participate in audio and video conferences, and collaborate effectively.”

Ericsson said it would remain committed to stay close to its customers during these challenging times and help them provide the best possible connectivity and network quality.

“Ericsson engineers and staff are working to keep the networks up and running.

Through our partnerships, we have demonstrated the powerful role ICT can play in transforming societies as well as humanitarian response by creating long-term solutions that support both efficiency and efficacy,” Tayan said.

T H I S D AY ˾ ͷ, 2020

23

BUSINESSWORLD

INTERVIEW

Teniola: 5G Technology Not Hazardous to Human Health President, Association of Telecom Companies in Nigeria, Mr. Olusola Teniola, was on Arise Television recently, where he spoke on 5G deployment and the COVID-19 pandemic, among other industry issues. Nosa Alekhuogie brings the excerpts:

C

an you help set the records straight because a tweet from Senator Dino Melaye has been trending and it talks about 5G being evil and possibly spreading the CCOVID-19 disease. Is this true?

5G is not evil, it is another generation of other generations of technology that is widely renowned and has been deployed globally where we have more than billions of devices that exceeds the population on this earth. We can have more than 6.8 billion devices that depend on this technology and 5G is just the next generation technology. What I can tell you is that 5G does a lot of good and also 4G. It is only in Nigeria where the trend has been quite tremendous in terms of spreading fear. We only have 37 per cent 4G deployment and we do not have 5G deployment yet, even though MTN had last year, did a demo launch for 5G trial launch in three cities in Nigeria-Abuja,Lagos and Calabar. The current national broadband plan that was launched by President Muhammadu Buhari in Abuja, stated that from 2020 to 2025, Nigeria would increase the deployment of 4G technology to every local government authority in Nigeria, which will represent 90 per cent coverage by the end of 2025 and therefore translate to broadband penetration, that is being projected to reach 70 per cent penetration by 2025. So until we get there, 5G is not an issue because it is not present in Nigeria as we speak.

According to the response of the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Pantami, no licence has been issued to any telecoms companies. Was his response satisfactory?

5G as a technology is being rolled out in 378 cities around the world. The first deployment I believe was in the second half of 2019 just before the outbreak of COVID-19. Before then, there has been various studies around 1G, 2G, 3G,4G and now, 5G and other complementary technologies like WI-Fi, Wi-Max, and these are technologies that demonstrate high speed on radio frequencies. The World Health Organisation (WHO) and other research bodies have not found any correlation between health issues in human beings and these technologies that have been deployed. So 5G itself is not a hazard to anyone’s health. The minister’s statement was correct and in his position as a representative of the government, he has to be cautious. As you said earlier in your previous question that there has been fear sold into citizens of Nigeria and rightly so because social media is very powerful. It is based on the internet, it based on access to technology that we take for granted which is the mobile phone and with the history of the mobile device, there has always been attempts by certain bodies in the world to try and link radiation with the evolving technology. There has not been any empirical evidence of proof to substantiate those claims. These are opportunistic people who are out there to spread fear. The minister’s statement is apt and correct at this point in time because clearly there isn’t any 5G commercially available in Nigeria. He further stated that there would be further studies as to the planned launch of 5G in Nigeria, which will come to Nigeria within the time frame that they deem fit for the citizens to adopt the technology.

This, the minister said, would come after careful studies with the industry, academics and other relevant stakeholders of the society.

So, all relevant industry stakeholders will have to make their inputs in this matter before the commercial launch of 5G in Nigeria.

Can you speak to how Right of Way charges in the country are affecting what telecommunications operators are trying to do with regards to spreading broadband and other services across the country?

We also have to realise that the minister is also trying to address the issue of critical national infrastructure so there are two real

recover or if they don’t. That information is then shared across networks in different cities to assist in combating not only the spread of the virus but lessons learnt how to contain it. In Nigeria we should use the current technologies at our disposal alongside the telecom operators to invent a Nigerian version of this across our 36 states to ensure that the pandemic doesn’t spread and that medical and support staff have all the relevant information quickly at their finger tips.

COVID-19 was first discovered in Wuhan, China in December 2019, but China launched its 5G network in June 2019. How come it is being speculated that COVID-19 was triggered by the switching on of 5G network in China?

A video circulated by conspirators suggested that a 5G mast had been pull down when in fact evidence states that the video was made in Hong Kong and was filmed during the rioting of Hong Kong students who tore down a surveillance camera mounted on a street lamp.

Basically fake news to tell the world that it happened in Wuhan and it was a 5G mast - this is fake news. All cases of COVID-19 in China are not linked to 5G networks. Cities where there is no 5G network rollout also reported COVID-19 cases and deaths at the same time as Wuhan in China.

Teniola

big elephants in our ability to roll out much infrastructure for the deployment of technology that is required to connect those that are in the rural areas of this country. Right of Way(RoW) is one form of obstacle of hurdle to achieving that. As you know, we have various thousands of kilometres of fibre optic cable across the country, we are yet to attain the goals that the NCC would like to achieve, which is 120,000km of fibre by the end of 2025 and in order to do that, we have to ensure that the cost of rolling out is normalised and what do I mean by that-essentially, that investments are made and taxes do not become impunities to those investments. The hike in RoW charges against much needed infrastructure like fibre optic laying, is an impediment to the penetration of broadband across the country.

We are trying to attain a 70 per cent broadband penetration by 2025, but currently it’s just under 38 per cent. So if we are not able to harmonise and normalise the fees paid, which if we go back to previous Ministers who have run the institution, then we would understand that since 2012, we have tried to attempt to address this issue of having a normal fee of a N145 per linear metre. This is what is deemed to be reasonable and if we are able to convince the state governments that this much needed infrastructure is important for the development of emerging technologies across the country, which is the future of our youth, then it would be N145 per linear metre and nothing more. What we need to do is to still have a continuous dialogue with the state governors and the minister has kick started that in the Nigerian broadband plan (2020-2025). We have identified that it is one of the priority initiatives that we have to undertake to ensure that the reality of achieving broadband deployment to the 774 local governments authorities is achieved by 2025.

With the COVID-19 lockdown, Nigerians are saying that telecoms operators should be able to reduce data cost for subscribers.

What is your take on that?

I think that telecoms operators are offering different palliatives to cushion the effect of the lockdown. I wouldn’t mention their names, but you can see it in the media that there hasbeen overtures of SMS, distribution to civic centres and the medical centres, especially Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC) in the fight against COVID-19. We are continuously looking to raise funds to assist them in this fight

against the pandemic. We also have to balance it against the infrastructure needs, because we are very convinced of the fact that congestions on our networks is a reality, so we have to balance the fact that if we drop prices or offer freebies on data then it might impact on the networks and we are very convinced of the fact that we need to increase capacity and our members are doing everything to ensure that our networks are operating at optimal level during this period of lockdown.

There is a widespread agitation against the plan by the federal government to bring a team of Chinese doctors and health workers to assist Nigerian doctors in controlling the spread of COVID-19 in Nigeria. What is your take on that?

With the current situation of the lockdown in the country coupled with the fear that COVID-19 started from China, it is not advisable for the federal government to bring a team of doctors and health workers from China. Government must first explore the use of available technologies to assist in controlling the spread.

Nigerian doctors and health workers have been doing well to control the COVID-19 in Nigeria.

Government should therefore support Nigerian doctors and health workers by equipping the disease control centres in Nigeria, including our hospitals, rather than spending money to import Chinese doctors and health workers.

Although government can use its authority to still import the medical team from China, but such medical personnel must first be licensed in Nigeria and subjected to the process of quarantine before they could be allowed to operate in Nigeria. Cuba has added a lot of value to the control of COVID-19 and the country has demonstrated low level of the spread of Coronavirus in their country and Italy is currently using a team of health workers from Cuba to assist them in controlling the virus in Italy, which I think is a better option for Nigeria than the plan to import Chinese health workers.

Against the allegation that 5G technology triggered the spread of COVID-19, how can technology help in stopping the spread of the virus?

Already data analytics, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and high speed mobile technology, coupled with cloud computing, have been used in China to quickly trace and track COVID-19 positive patients and then monitored to see if they

Aside China, which other country has launched 5G network?

Most countries in Europe including the UK and Germany, some countries in Africa, USA and South Korea, which is the first country to launch 5G in the world, have all launched their 5G networks.

As an advocacy group, what is ATCON doing to further sensitise Nigerians on the true position of radioactive emission from 5G network and from other cellular devices, in relation to health hazards?

Our members will engage government, our regulator, liaise with civic society and begin to sensitise Nigerians and the millions of subscribers about the benefits of each technology and work with government to educate the consumers on the use cases that will be introduced in the coming years. ATCON as the umbrella advocacy association in the industry will lead this through various programs and will engage the media to assist in disseminating the messages to reach every part of the country. We cannot do everything on our own and that is where true partnerships with all stakeholders come in. We will need to collaborate to take Nigeria into the digital economy.

What are the benefits of 5G to subscribers?

The technology will facilitate the beginning of new services that will truly allow remote medicine to be adopted in our society, Internet of Things (IoT) applications for improved farming and crop yields, improve logistics, create new areas of employment in building new infrastructure, creation of e-learning systems that opens up a knowledge society and finally improvements in various business models as smart cities are deployed.

What is your view about the clamour for the regulation of emerging technologies like 5G, IoT and AI? The ethics of AI and ML) is a subject of intense debate and the used cases that may spring about on the back of 5G and 6G is more the focus for how it will define the future of the workplace. Regulation to ensure the safety of the Nigerian citizen is sacrosanct and already a provision of the NCA 2003 ACT. However, the regulatory tools will need to keep pace of changing technologies in order to remain relevant. 5G regulations should specifically focus on power emissions, quality of service (QoS) and aspects that will ensure that the security and safety of each consumer is a priority.

24

T H I S D AY ˞ ͡, 2020

Allaying Fears of 5G Link with COVID-19 The position of telecoms industry regulator and technology experts in the unfounded allegation that 5G network has some correlation with COVID-19 outbreak, will go a long way in addressing the growing fears of Nigerians, write Emma Okonji and Nosa Alekhuogie

P

alpable fear gripped many Nigerians last week when unverified news on the purported 5G link with the COVID-19, was trending on social media. It was alleged that the virus that has infected over one million people and killed over 65,000 people globally, including Nigeria, was triggered by the switching on of 5G network in China.

The fear was further heightened among Nigerians, when the peddlers of the unverified information also alleged that the two weeks sit-at-home order given by the federal government to curtail the spread of the virus, was a deliberate attempt by government to enable telecoms operators in Nigeria to complete the installation of their 5G networks across the country.

It became very obvious that the information was not correct because China had long rolled out its 5G network before the discovery of COVID-19 in December 2019 in Wuhan, an industrial city in China, from where the virus spread to other countries through physical contact and by association.

In order to douse fears among Nigerians, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), the telecoms industry regulator, as well as experts in telecoms networks, including the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Pantami, came out with figures from various research carried out by globally authorised bodies, to prove to Nigerians that is no correlation between 5G and COVID-19. NCC therefore called on Nigerians to remain calm and discard all unverified information about the cause and spread of the Coronavirus pandemic.

About 5G 5G is a fifth generation of mobile technology, which is an improvement on today’s 4G technology with enhanced capabilities. 5G technology provides the platform for new and emerging technologies such as Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Big Data to improve the way people live and work. Currently there is no 5G network in Nigeria, but the NCC, last year, approved the trial launch of 5G network in Nigeria, and permitted MTN to do a demo on 5G trial launch in three cities, Lagos, Abuja and Calabar. The trial launch was to last for three months.

Although Nigeria has available spectrum for 5G rollout, such as the millimetre wave spectrum from 24GHz and above, but till date, NCC has not come up with the exact time frame for the actual launch of 5G network in Nigeria. It plans to auction it at the appropriate time.

In Nigeria, the National Frequency Management Council (NFMC), chaired by the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, has the responsibility for allocating bulk spectrum for various services.

Countries like South Korea, China, USA, Germany and others had since June 2019, launched 5G network in their various countries.

Giving the many benefits of 5G, NCC has said that Nigerians do not need to worry about the alleged linkage of 5G and COVID-19, insisting that safety and human health are top priority in the design and deployment of 5G networks globally.

Minister’s Explanation Pantami, has called on Nigerians to disregard any unverified information about 5G and COVID-19, and to remain calm in face of Coronavirus pandemic as government work hard to control its spread.

Pantami said government does not take decisions based on speculations, but only on facts and figures, which must be based on the input from experts within the field. “For this reason, when the issue of COVID-19 came up, the first thing government did was to discourage people from talking unnecessarily in order to allow experts in the area to speak so that from what they say,

Telecom-mast

the world would be able to know what to do. Nigeria had a demo trial of 5G on the 25th of November 2019, which was initially arranged to be conducted in September same year, but I directed NCC to put it on hold till November 25 to enable government accommodate all stakeholders and prepare them for the trial launch. “During the trial launch, we invited stakeholders, security institutions and many more. After the trial launch, we gave them a challenge to go and review the trial, come up with recommendations that will be a guide for government to take decisions to either deploy it or not. “If government is to deploy, then that recommendation will be accommodated in the regulatory instrument to be developed by NCC. The trial has been concluded since. NCC has been working on the report, collecting observations, recommendations, and many more from the stakeholders who witnessed it. “From that report, the government will take a decision and so far the report is yet to reach me. I will be the last person that the report will come to within the ICT sector.

So the report is still with NCC and they are still working on it. When the report comes to me, we will review it and make our position

The NCC will continue to maintain its policy of technology neutrality and will continue to encourage Service providers to deploy the best technology that will meet the needs of the society in a secured and friendly manner

very clear. “We have never deliberated the issue at the National Frequency Management Council to give spectrum to either the NCC or the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC). From my interactions with NCC, the Commission has never given any operator the license to operate 5G in Nigeria, and the decision to do so would be taken based on the research and the opinion of experts,� he added.

Pantami, therefore called on Nigerians not be worried because no licence for 5G has been issued, no spectrum for 5G deployment has been issued and no approval has been given to any telecoms operator to deploy 5G in Nigeria.

NCC Clears doubts In order to clear the air of all doubts and fears, the NCC’s Director, Public Affairs at NCC, Dr. Henry Nkemadu, said: “In view of the recent development in which misleading materials with no proven evidence being circulated to link COVID-19 with 5G technology, it has become imperative for the NCC to provide the following clarifications; Firstly, there is no correlation between 5G technology and COVID-19. 5G is an advancement on today’s 4G technology designed to transform the world positively. “Secondly, there is no deployment of 5G in Nigeria at the moment. The NCC back in November 2019, approved trial test for 5G for a period of three months and the trial has been concluded and installation decommissioned. “The trial among others was to study and observe any health or security challenges the 5G network might present. Relevant stakeholders including members of the security agencies were invited to participate during the trial.

The NCC will continue to maintain its policy of technology neutrality and will continue to encourage Service providers to deploy the best technology that will meet the needs of the society in a secured and friendly manner.�

The Director, Technical Standards and Network Integrity at NCC, Mr. Bako Wakil, told THISDAY that there were no scientific studies to show that electromagnetic emissions from telecoms facilities, including mobile phones, could cause health hazard to humans. He therefore called on Nigerians to discard the speculations linking 5G network to COVID-19.

Stakeholders’ Advise Collaborating with NCC, the Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria

(ALTON), also explained that there was no correlation between 5G and Coronavirus pandemic that is plaguing the world.

ALTON’s chairman, Mr. Gbenga Adebayo, explained: “ALTON’S attention has been drawn to the recent issue in the media space regarding the strange connection of 5G technology to the Coronavirus pandemic across the globe. We would ordinarily have dismissed this ‘controversy’ which is being vociferously pursued by some people as ignorant tirades occasioned by the morbid fear of the rampaging Coronavirus, but with the prevailing circumstances of fear and tension, we have decided to categorically make the following statements.

While aligning with the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, that 5G has not been licensed by the NCC in Nigeria, let us bear in mind that telecommunication standards are prescribed for use by the relevant international Regulatory Agencies after thorough and comprehensive tests have been carried out to ensure particularly that all approved standards are safe for the human environment and health. Note therefore that all spectrum and frequencies used today by the mobile and satellite industries, have been extensively researched and are covered by the international safety guidelines. “There is no iota of truth that 5G Technology is the cause of the Coronavirus pandemic. The virus is also spreading in places without 5G networks like Nigeria. There are many parts of the world that do not have 5G coverage yet, but are still affected by the virus.�

In the same vein, the Association of Telecoms Companies of Nigeria’s (ATCON) President, Mr. Olusola Teniola said: “ATCON wishes to inform telecom consumers, other stakeholders and the entire Nigerians, without any equivocation, that the purported claims that 5G is responsible for COVID-19, is baseless and it should be discountenanced by Nigerians as what it is false information. The claims have not been substantiated, by any conclusive empirical evidence, by either the World Health Organisation (WHO) or other health research institutions.�

Global view A study by WHO on Electromagnetic Fields (EMF) radiation from Base Transceiver Stations (BTS) and public health, had earlier stated that from the very low exposure levels and research results collected to date, there is no convincing scientific evidence that the weak radio frequency signals from base stations and wireless networks cause adverse health effects.

The International Commission on Non Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP), the Germany-based scientific body that assesses the health risks of radio broadcasts, called for new guidelines for millimetre-wave 5G, the most high-frequency version of the telecommunications standard.

The ICNIRP Chair, Dr. Eric van Rongen, in a recent interview, told The Guardian of London that: “We know parts of the community are concerned about the safety of 5G and we hope the updated guidelines will help put people at ease. The guidelines have been developed after a thorough review of all relevant scientific literature, scientific workshops and an extensive public consultation process. They provide protection against all scientifically substantiated adverse health effects due to electromagnetic field exposure in the 100 kHz to 300 GHz range.�

According to him, the radio frequencies 5G uses in the UK are similar to those that have been used for mobile telephones since 1998, when ICNIRP published its first set of guidelines for EMF exposure.

He said despite the overwhelming evidence that 5G, like earlier mobile standards, is safe for the public, a large community of sceptics fear it will cause – or already is causing – health problems, including, supposedly, Coronavirus.

There is no evidence to support a link between the two.

T H I S D AY ˞ ͡, 2020

25

Tokurah: Entrepreneurship Requires Self-motivation, Hardwork Majid Tokurah, who is the Co-Founder, WeMove Technologies, in this interview speaks on the role technology-driven logistics and transportation solutions contributes towards connecting products and services to consumers. Hamid Ayodeji presents the excerpts:

W

hat motivated you to become a logistics entrepreneur?

My journey to logistics entrepreneurship started five years ago, when I attended an agricultural conference in Abuja, I got a request to supply sorghum seeds in trucks for a research institute in Ibadan at the event. After making all necessary consultations and back and forth to truck engagements, I couldn’t really conclude in making the necessary arrangements due to price variations. This was my first time moving goods. The challenges with unstructured and unreliable supply chain players helped me to get familiar with the processes involved. This experience motivated me towards partnering with my friend, a software engineer full time.

Taking a look at the current economic climate in Nigeria compared to developed parts of the world regarding how they leveraged on technology in order to grow their economy, how will you advice stakeholders to infuse technology to develop the country’s economy at a faster pace?

Nigeria’s’ ICT sector has grown since 2001 from less than one percent in GDP to almost 10 percent today. Despite Nigeria’s’ infrastructural deficiencies private institutions have been able to attract technology investments with figures actually surpassing South Africa, raising a total of 94.9 million dollars. Even though the business climate in Nigeria is hampered by infrastructural deficiencies, government policies, regulatory issues among others; technology driven firms still deliver services for healthcare, agriculture, finance, education, e-commerce, retail related services, transportation and logistics. But other local businesses that cannot raise major international investments rely instead on family and professional networks.

The government, private sectors and other stakeholders must take deliberate strategic steps and decide to infuse and implement new technologies within organisations, stating the importance of digitisation within institutions in achieving business and economic growth across all sectors of the economy and this should be done through policy engagements with the private sector and

What initiative is WeMove implementing in order to expand the capacity of its operations so as to reach a larger target audience?

WeMove is expanding capacity for anyone interested through an opportunity designed to empower persons within African cities to set up and run their own transportation logistics business. Now you can become an independent distribution agent by contacting us through our platforms stating your interest to becoming a WeMove distribution agent in Nigeria. Currently, WeMove works with business organisations to interface with their transportation services providing access to vehicles including buses, trucks, sedan cars, bus vans to mention a few. We also work with FMCGs or retail outlets that need to move their products on a daily basis.

Tokurah

other stakeholders.

What sort of work philosophy is WeMove based on, and how were you able to discover and put together the right team so as to upscale the brand up until this point?

We are dedicated to the use of our platform to contribute to the culture, benefits and welfare of people throughout the world who need to access transportation and logistics services on a daily basis. Hence, our work philosophy and value revolves on leadership, reliability, trust, efficiency, attention to results, punctuality and timeliness, continuous improvement and innovation, as well as social responsibilities and ethics.

On building the right team, the success of a business depends on the team you create. At WeMove, trust is at the core foundation of our positive work culture.

Hence, we identify individuals who share the same vision and energy so as to get the job done.

Our future prosperity is also directly linked to the prosperity of our customers, partners, agents and shareholders indeed the entire WeMove family. So, we do all it takes to make them happy.

How receptive has the society been towards your ďŹ rm?

We appreciate the support we have gotten from our friends within the information and communications technology (ICT) industry; tourism industry and the agricultural industry, because without their support we would not have been in business.

We boast to have serviced some of the top names within each of these business segments and industry. However, we are looking to secure more businesses from other organisations.

Transportation, haulage and logistics are an essential part of human activities, and in many ways form the basis for all socio economic interactions. So far so good, it is a service everyone needs, especially as everyone needs to commute themselves and their goods daily from one place to another.

How has WeMove been able to give back to the society?

WeMove supports local transportation businesses by facilitating business trips transactions worth millions of naira through its platforms. Our transportation solution platform, WeMove Books provides weekly reports of how an organization’s transportation business has performed over the course of every week. Also, WeMove in other to promote tourism in Africa launched Rally WeMove, which features tourism destina-

tions for staff of business organisations and provides discounts for staff anytime they opt in to take trips to tourist destinations.

We are passionate about promoting tourism in Africa and encouraging organisations to get their staff incentive through beautiful tour trip destinations. WeMove in the past has given back by supporting some tourism events among other causes.

From your experience what makes up a successful and sustainable entrepreneur?

For most of the time I have learnt running a business is not for the faint hearted. There are too many variables to contend with, most of the time they are not envisaged by a business plan. Being an entrepreneur requires a lot of self-motivation, passion, hard work, optimism and decisiveness.

More so, sustainable entrepreneurship requires you to constantly look for innovative ways to improve your current societal condition by providing new products and services or methods that reduce detrimental activities while also generating profits for the entrepreneur. Sustainable entrepreneurship requires identifying how users currently engage with their industry and developing solutions to the challenges.

How were you able to overcome the challenge of capital which has continued to hinder a lot of start-ups in the continent?

Access to capital is critical to growth of our entrepreneurial economy. Nigeria has an estimated 37 million micro, small and medium size companies (MSMEs) contributing over 48 per cent to the GDP and employing over 60 million. Nigerian’s battles with high interest rates to loan capital from financial institutions and the mistrust from local investors has forced stiff control of local investments. Businesses prefer raising funds through personal savings, family and friends, grants. Etc. When we started the WeMove business, funds were mostly bootstrapped before we fortunately secure angel investment.

From experience of doing business in Nigeria I have discovered the best way to grow a business is through customer funds growing the revenue. When there is no paying customer eventually there will be no business.

OdoďŹ n: We Are Focused on Addressing Poverty The Project Director, Innovation Festival, a pan-African platform, Olumide Odofin, in this interview with Raheem Akingbolu, speaks on how the platform will address various challenges in as well as creating job opportunities by harnessing talents that will address societal problems.

W

hat is the idea behind the proposed Innovative Festival you are currently promoting with people of like minds?

Before we arrived at this stage, we have sat down in-house to review a lot of innovation festivals or innovation activities.

In this part of the world, once you talk about innovation, the first thing people think about is tech. They think it’s a tech event and that all we want to talk about is science and technology. But we sat down and came out with the conclusion that innovation is much more than tech. Tech is just like a driver or a tool to achieve your innovative ideas. So, what we have done is to create a space where we bring together a lot of people across various sectors. What we have done is to create a space where we bring together a lot of people across various sectors. We know that Africa is blessed with a lot of ideas and we are problem solvers. We are fast thinkers, and we have exceptional people amongst us. If you go to every corner of the world, you’ll probably see people of African descent doing exceptionally well. And we’ve sat down to review this. We thought that we needed a platform where this people can be celebrated and where we can get to reach out to more people. We’ve seen that Africa are talented and sat down to review this, we thought that we needed a platform where this people can be celebrated where we can get to reach out to more people doing very creative things and looking for ways to solve problems in Africa.

OdoďŹ n

Since this is the maiden edition, what direction will it take?

This year’s edition is like our opportunity to showcase ourselves and let people know that we have come to stay and that we mean business. If we say we want to address societal issues, we don’t just want to talk about it. We’re going to start by addressing the cause and the possible solution and execution. Then we are going to make sure that each of those challenges are being addressed to meet the continengt’s agricultural needs, health, entertainment, lifestyle, science and technology. All these are important to modern development.

SpeciďŹ cally, can you tell us the vacuum you have identiďŹ ed that this is capable of addressing?

If you look at the current rates of unemployment in this society, it’s pretty high. We have graduates who have been out of jobs for like many years, with little or nothing they can lay hands on. The so called minimum wage isn’t even something that is supportive enough for them. But beyond paid employment, there are hidden talents in these folks that can be tapped to grow the economy. They have ideas that can be transformed to wealth. So Ifest on its own is sort of a connecting key in this society, we are looking at bringing about 14 new ideas. Imagine how much 14 ideas will go in creating jobs for youths in the society and also solving societal problems.

Already, we’ve been able to identify the gap - unemployment, we also want to address the issue of poverty. So basically, we should be able to get at least up to 2000 people off the streets with our first edition. But 2000 is is like a startup, we know that we’re going to achieve a lot more in subsequent editions.

Can you spell out the method of participating in the festival?

We have our online portal and what we’ve been doing is to try to get people to go online and submit their ideas. We have seven sectors, where they can submit ideas to. One of the reasons why we didn’t include the banking/ financial sector, is that lots are going on in that area, so we don’t need to overkill it. Beside that,

interested applicants will find on our portal areas we feel are key in the development of our society. So they go online, pick their preferred sector, submit their ideas, and then we do selection with our judges, which will be revealed in due course.

After crossing the hurdle, what next?

This the climax if I may say. First, we have over $20,000 we are given out as grants. We are also looking at having about 20 venture capitalists available there.

We don’t just want to invite people to talk about their ideas or showcase their ideas to the whole world alone but we’ll empower them to ensure that idea is put into action. So we’re going to be pitching ideas to various capitalists who are already in attendance at the event. Then, we’ll follow through from the beginning to the registration stage and late map out insurance plans to make sure all the ideas are protected. From there, if the capitalists present see ideas that are executable, they will follow through from that through a business partnership.

What then do the organisers stand to gain?

It’s not about what we stand to gain because ifest is not a business. This is conceptualised to improve our society. So it’s not what we will stand to gain that matters but the problem we are able to identify and solve with it. So, our satisfaction is ensuring that we have created jobs, identify entrepreneurs, or innovators with venture capitalists and getting the ideas off the ground.

T H I S D AY ˾ , ARIL 9, 2020

26

HEALTH & LIFESTYLE

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

Protecting Health Workers against COVID-19 Pandemic In less than two months of tackling the COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria, healthcare workers, who are at the front line of the fight, are increasingly being exposed to the infection. Martins Ifijeh writes on the need for government to protect them at all cost, if it hopes to defeat the outbreak in the country

A

s at Tuesday morning, at least 3, 000 health workers, including doctors, nurses and laboratory scientists have been infected by the COVID-19 across the globe since the outbreak started in December 2019, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).

The Director General, WHO, Tedros Ghebreyesus had told the world that of the 3, 000 infected health workers, many have paid the supreme price all in a bid to provide care to COVID-19 patients, and that this in no way was slowing down the fight against the scourge.

Although WHO says 3,000 health workers have been infected worldwide, Italy’s Ministry of Health has announced that over 4,500 health workers have been infected in the country alone, with at least 400 of them already lost to the pandemic.

Already, Nigeria is beginning to experience its fair share of the crisis among health workers. As confirmed cases of the virus continues to rise, those at the front line are increasingly being exposed to the virus due to many factors, including government induced, patient’s decision to hide travel history, as well as the health worker’s negligence.

For instance, in the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH), not less than 28 health workers have been unduly exposed to the novel coronavirus having been in contact with a confirmed case, an accountant, Muideen Obanimomo, whom reports said a professor of medicine had hidden his status while asking health workers in the hospital to treat him.

The patient who came from the United Kingdom had gone to the hospital on the advice of his friend, the professor, where they told health workers he was sick of food poisoning even though he was already at the advance stage of COVID-19.

The patient eventually died on COVID-19, but at least 28 health workers, who should be attending to other patients by now are in selfisolation as both the professor and the diseased have put them in harm’s way.

The Chief Medical Director of the UITH, Prof.

Abdullahi Yussuf, who announced the measures taken on the 28 health workers, said: “Already, all the UITH workers with close contact with the deceased patient on the night of his admission, or his corpse have been ordered to proceed on self-isolation. Besides, the ‘A and E’ ward and the ambulance used to convey his corpse to Offa had been promptly fumigated.

“We have contacted the state Technical Committee on COVID-19 to look for those who performed all funeral rites on the corpse and those who had contact with the wife of the deceased including the mourners to keep them in isolation and give them necessary medical treatment.”

In the same vein, at least 12 healthcare workers at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) have been placed under compulsory isolation after they came in contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19. The patient had gone to LUTH to complain of health issues but hid his travel history whereas the coronavirus had started taking a toll of him. he eventually died of the illness, but not after 12 health workers had contact with him.

Although the Chairman, Medical Advisory Council (CMAC), LUTH, Prof. Wasiu Adeyemo had said of the 12 health workers, only three were being watched closely as they were the ones who really had very close contact with

Government must protect health workers against contracting COVID-19

the patient.

In Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital (ISTH), what health workers feared most happened to some of its members. Two medical doctors have tested positive for the virus after coming in contact with confirmed cases.

It was gathered that the two affected doctors, who worked at the facility’s Pathology and Obstetrics and Gynecology departments respectively have been placed under isolation in their different homes.

It is believed the doctors became infected after attending to two patients without protective gear and unknown to them that the patients were carriers of the virus. The doctors were only tested when they started exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19.

Meanwhile, in the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), at least 25 health workers have been placed under self-isolation after coming in contact with three confirmed cases of the disease.

It is believed not less than two health workers have been confirmed positive to the virus in the hospital. A public health expert, Dr. Onyeka ObiAtim told THISDAY that some of the challenges faced by healthcare workers in the frontline of combating the disease were lack of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and lack of truth from some patients. This is still one important work tool needed at this critical time if the country really wants to defeat the outbreak.

“Since we are having cases all over the country, government and other private health facilities should provide these supplies for their health workers. Whether these health workers are seeing COVID-19 patients or not, because you never can tell who is infected or not.

“And worse still, some of the patients who come into the hospital end up hiding their travel history.”

WHO DG said when health workers are exposed or become sick, they would have to

go home and stay there for at least two weeks, and that this not only depletes the health force, but puts the health workers in grave danger.

He said: “That’s why we must ensure that health workers have the medical masks and other personal protective equipment they need.”

As of April 8, there had been 1.5 million confirmed cases of coronavirus across the world, with over 80,000 deaths.

Ghebreyesus, while stressing on the need for countries to protect health workers at all cost, highlighted the vital role of nurses and midwives, in commemoration of the International Year of the Nurse and the Midwife.

He said, “It may not seem that there are many reasons for celebration. The world is in the grip of the most severe health crisis of our time. The COVID-19 pandemic is reminding us of the vital roles of nurses and midwives play.

“Every day, nurses are putting themselves at risk to alleviate suffering and save lives. They’re reorganising wards to open more beds for COVID-19 patients, while continuing to provide care for other patients with urgent health needs, including women in labour.

“They’re taking stock of equipment and lending it across units. They’re learning on the job with information that changes daily – even hourly.

Nurses are doing the unthinkable.

“Because critical COVID-19 patients are isolated, the last human touch they may feel is that of a nurse’s hand. The kindness of caring for strangers has never been more important.

“I hear stories about nurses video-calling family members late in the night, so they can say goodbye to a dying relative. Health workers are on the front lines of the fight against COVID-19, they’re also among the most at risk,” he added.

A medical doctor, known only as Dr. Olufunmilayo on Twitter said Nigerian doctors are only paid N5, 000 hazard allowance despite the risks associated with their practice.

The President of the Nigerian Medical Association, Dr Francis Faduyile, in a statement to commemorate the World Health Day, on Tuesday expressed concern about hazards faced by healthcare professionals, including nurses, treating COVID-19 patients.

He said: “Our health workers must be protected against contracting the disease. There should be PPE available to them as they are on the frontline of combating the disease in the country,” he said.

On the new pattern by some COVID-19 patients who lie about their travel histories, the Director General, Consumer Protection Council, Tunde Irukera said discussions have started on the earliest possible regulatory framework to penalize those who conceal vital information during hospital visits.

The Health Writers Association of Nigeria (HEWAN) has on its part, called on the federal and state governments to ensure those in the frontline are well compensated and are given adequate protective gears during treatment of patients.

The President of HEWAN, Mrs Chioma Obinna said: “Healthcare workers represent one of the most vulnerable populations in terms of contracting the highly virulent disease due to the nature of their jobs and therefore, must be adequately taken care of. We strongly advocate that the federal government institute attractive welfare package and health insurance cover for health workers combating COVID-19 in the country.

“The welfare package must be well defined and spelt out in line with global standards. To have a fighting chance against COVID-19 and in treating those requiring intensive care, government must invest adequately in the health sector to ensure that health workers are properly equipped with PPE such as gloves, masks, ventilator equipment, IV saline, and other medically critical supplies to ensure they can safely and appropriately care for patients with Covid-19,” she said.

T H I S D AY ˾ ˜ ͷ˜ ͰͮͰͮ

IMAGES

Commandeer, Rapid Response Squad, (RRS) Deputy Commissioner of Police, Mr. Olatunji Disu flanked by his men, led his team of RRS to Bishop Vining Memorial Church, Ikeja GRA, on patrol to enforce Lagos State Government directive against crowded gathering of more than 50 people including places of worship in Lagos…recently

27

Photo Editor ÌÓÙÎßØ ÔËÖË Email ËÌÓÙÎßØ˛ËÔËÖË̶ÞÒÓÝÎËãÖÓàÏ˛ÍÙ×

L-R: .Nigerian Navy Liaison Officer, Commander, Abdulsalami Sani ; Director Defence Media Operation, Brigadier-Genera Ben Onyeuko; Coordinator Defence Media Operation, Major-General John Enenche and Nigerian Air Force Liaison Officer, Squadron Leader, Alaere Obidake, during a press briefing by the military on their operations across the nation at the Defence Headquarters in Abuja...recently NOCK REUBEN

Cross section of stranded students of Tertiary Institutions in Ekiti State, awaiting vehicles to their destinations after the Federal/State Government closure of Schools, due to the Coronavirus Pandemic in Ado Ekiti...recently

L-R: Application Specialist, biomerieux, Mr. Lucky Izekor; Chief Science Technologist,Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR), Mrs. Toun Fesobi; Director, NIMR, Prof. Stella Smith; and Chief Science Technologist, NIMR, Mr. Moses Bamidele, at the hands- on training session on Microbial ID/AST organised by Molecular Biology and Biotechnology Department, NIMR in partnership with Biomerieux in Yaba, Lagos..recently ETOP UKUTT

L-R: Secretary to Delta state Government, Mr. Chiedu Ebie; Commissioner for Health, Dr. Mordi Ononye; andCommissioner for Information, Mr. Charles Aniagwu, during an inspection of the Isolation and Treatment Centre at the Asaba Specialist Hospital in preparation against the COVID-19 pandemic.recently

Acting Executive Director, Finance and Administration, Chief Ibanga Bassey; the Acting Executive Director, Projects, Dr. Cairo Ojougboh; and the Acting Managing Director, Prof. Kemebradikumo Pondei during the visit of NDDC management team to assess the progress of work at the 13th floor office complex headquaters of the Commission in Portharcourt...recently

L-R; Chairman, House Committee on the FCT, Hon. Abdullahi Garba, Chairmen, Senate Committee on the FCT, Senator Abubakar Kyari, Deputy Chairman, House Committee on the FCT, Hon. Blessing Onuh, FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello, Hon. Minister of State, Dr Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu and Permanent Secretary, FCTA Sir Chinyeaka Ohaa at the commendation meeting. by FCT National Assembly Committee and FCT Minister on COVID 19 in Abuja...recently

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T H I S D AY Ëž Ëœ ÍˇËœ 2020

BUSINESS/MONEYGUIDE

Expert Advises Firms on Cost-saving Measures Ugo Aliogo The Managing Partner at HR-EX Consulting, Enitan Oyenuga, has advised organisations and operators of businesses to adopt cost-saving measures in view of the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Oyenuga, who disclosed this in a statement, anticipated rise in the cost of operations of small businesses.

She maintained that working with a group of small business, it was discovered that there are actions small businesses are taking to minimise the impact of these changes and safeguard the future of their businesses, “I do hope these ideas will help you land on a solution that works for your own business.�

Oyenuga further explained that in the light of the national lockdown to combat the spread

of COVID-19, a number of companies had started cutting down wages of their workforce.

She noted that with large cuts at leadership levels and graduated percentage reduction below the management team; it has been observed that leadership, “in some of the worse hit sectors completely foregoing their salary, implementing up to 50 per cent pay cut for management level employees and 30-25 per cent for the rest of the organisation.�

She affirmed that in implementing a salary cut, organisations must ensure no one was paid below the minimum wage, communicate a timeframe for the pay reduction, exempt low-wage employees, get the employees’ consent prior to effecting the change and others.

According to her, “In addition, with replacement cost valued at about 33 per cent of annual salary

for the role, unpaid leave means a savings in recruitment and onboarding costs when business as usual resumes, allowing for employees to easily pick up from where they left off. “If you decide on mandatory unpaid leave, consider how to figure out your critical staffing for the period. You may want to consider the work that is required, work schedule or rosters, existing performance data performance and skills required during this period. “Engage them on the need to cover the reduced workload.

Engage and inform all employees on the change (the alternative being employee layoffs). Communicate a timeframe for the unpaid leave period. Get the employee’s consent prior to effecting the change. If the situation is likely to continue after the set period, inform well in advance.�

MARKET INDICATORS

Zenith Introduces Automated Voice Banking Service Zenith Bank Plc has introduced an automated voice banking service, an interactive voice response (IVR) solution which enables customers to perform basic banking transactions by dialing a dedicated phone line through their registered phone numbers and following the prompts.

According to a statement, by dialing +234 (1) 278 7000 from the phone number linked to their accounts and following the prompts, customers would be able to pay DSTV/GOTV bills, restrict their accounts or block their cards, request account statement via email, view the last five transactions, transfer funds, buy airtime, and do lots more.

Speaking on the launch of the product, the Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Ebenezer Onyeagwu, was

quoted in a statement to have said the, “Zenith automated voice banking service is designed to ensure a truly amazing experience that will offer convenience for our teeming customers.�

The GMD added that the self-service product offers quick response to customers in addition to security entrenched by the multilayer authentication mechanism. He urged the bank’s customers to take advantage of this unique service particularly at this critical time when the physical interface with the financial institution has been greatly impacted due to social distancing and the restriction of movement in some states of the federation due to the COVID-19 pandemic. “Zenith Bank has clearly distinguished itself in the Nigerian financial services industry

through superior service quality, unique customer experience and sound financial indices. “The bank remains a clear leader in the digital space with several firsts in the deployment of innovative products, solutions and alternative channels that ensure convenience, speed and safety of transactions. “The bank’s commitment to world-class service standards has led to several product innovations over the last couple of months including the “Zenith Timeless Account�, which allows Nigerians aged 55 years and above Bank for free, the “Zenith Save4me�, a high-interest target savings account and “Dubai Visa Service� on the Zenith Internet Banking Platform, which allows convenient application and payment for visas to Dubai,� the statement added.

NDIC Contributes N1bn to COVID-19 Relief Fund The Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) has disclosed that its board has approved the release of N1 billion to the COVID-19 Relief Fund being put together to fight against the spread of the pandemic in Nigeria.

The Bankers’ Committee led by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) had at its emergency tele- conference call meeting held recently, had announced that the committee and the private sector had set up an account at the

CBN under the auspices of the Private Sector Coalition Against COVID-19.

The Fund receives contributions from individuals as well as corporate organisations to complement the efforts of the federal government as it strives to contain the spread of the pandemic in Nigeria.

The Director, Communication and Public Affairs, NDIC, Sunday Oluyemi, in a statement, explained that in approving the corporation’s contribution to the

Fund, its board acknowledged that it was not only consistent with its policy on corporate social responsibility (CSR); but also that the proceeds would be utilised in the provision of equipment and the urgently needed medical facilities throughout the nation. “This will include the procurement of testing kits, isolation and treatment centers, as well as the provision of Intensive Care Units (ICUs), and molecular testing labs wherever required,� he added.

Polaris Bank Hails Health Workers Polaris Bank has paid tribute to health workers in Nigeria and across the world even as the world commemorates the 2020 World Health Day. This year’s event came on the heels of the breakout of the coronavirus pandemic that is currently ravaging the world with its attendant effect on the health and wellbeing of the citizens across the world.

The World Health Day which is celebrated on 7th of April every year has as its theme for 2020, ‘Galvanising Support for Nurses and Midwives,’ as well, as recognising the vital role these

health workers play in fostering global health and wellness.

World Health Day is set aside to honor the contribution of nurses and midwives, recognizing their vital role in keeping the world healthy. Health workers are at the frontlines of the COVID-19 response, putting their health at risk to protect the global community. “Since nurses and midwives comprise more than two-thirds of the health workforce according to the WHO, they are critical in responding to health needs for all settings and across the lifespan, and as such, the World Health Day presents

an opportunity to highlight the importance of nurses and midwives around the world,� a statement explained.

Speaking on the impact of the role of health workers to global health and wellness, the Managing Director/CEO of Polaris Bank, Mr. Tokunbo Abiru, noted that, “The efforts and contributions of nurses, midwives and other health workers who are out there working tirelessly to contain the spread of the coronavirus cannot be over-emphasised as they have significantly reduced mortality rate and saved many lives in the process.�

MONEY AND CREDIT STATISTICS

(MILLION NAIRA)

SEPTEMBER 2019 Money Supply (M3)

35,029,779.72

-- CBN Bills Held by Money Holding Sectors

7,374,356.91

Money Supply (M2)

27,655,422.82

-- Quasi Money

116,533,891.21

-- Narrow Money (M1)

11,121,531.60

---- Currency Outside Banks

1,625,047.69

---- Demand Deposits

9,496,483.91

Net Foreign Assets (NFA)

13,911,335.83

Net Domestic Assets(NDA)

21,118,443.89

-- Net Domestic Credit (NDC)

35,918,179.45

---- Credit to Government (Net)

10,452,199.38

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

11,007,422.79

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

25,465,980.07

---- Credit to Private Sector (CPS)

-14,799,735.56

--Other Assets Net

7,000,253.07

Reserve Money (Base Money

2,005,600.83

--Currency in Circulation

4,677,530.81

--Banks Reserves

317,121.43

Ëž Ă™Ă&#x;ĂœĂ?Ă? Ě‹

Money Market Indicators (in Percentage) Month

March 2018

Inter-Bank Call Rate

15.16

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

14.00

Treasury Bill Rate

11.84

Savings Deposit Rate

4.07

1 Month Deposit Rate

8.82

3 Months Deposit Rate

9.72

6 Months Deposit Rate

10.93

12 Months Deposit Rate

10.21

Prime Lending rate

17.35

Maximum Lending Rate

31.55

Ëž Ă™Ă˜Ă?ĂžĂ‹ĂœĂŁ ÙÖÓĂ?ĂŁ Ă‹ĂžĂ? Ě‹ ͯ͹Ϲ

OPEC DAILY BASKET PRICE Ëœ Íľ Í°ÍŽÍ°ÍŽ

The price of OPEC basket of thirteen crudes stood at $22.67 a barrel on Tuesday, compared with $23.48 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), ZaďŹ ro (Equatorial Guinea), Rabi Light (Gabon), Iran Heavy (Islamic Republic of Iran), Basra Light (Iraq), Kuwait Export (Kuwait), Es Sider (Libya), Bonny Light (Nigeria), Arab Light (Saudi Arabia), Murban (UAE) and Merey (Venezuela).

SOURCE: OPEC headquarters, Vienna

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T H I S D AY ˾ ˜ ͷ˜ 2020

MARKET NEWS

SEC Moves against Flow of Illicit Funds into Capital Market Goddy Egene As part of efforts to identify investors properly, guard against flow of illicit funds into the capital market and address challenges associated with identity management generally, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has developed a standardised Investor’s Data and Consent Form to be adopted by all capital market operators(CMOs).

Identity theft is the deliberate

use of someone else’s identity, usually as a method to gain financial advantage or obtain credit and other benefits in the other person’s name, and perhaps to the other person’s disadvantage or loss.

According to the Acting Director General of SEC, Ms. Mary Uduk, the form would assist CMOs in collecting and updating investors data as well as enable CMOs to obtain consent of investors for implementing capital market initiatives targeted

P R I C E S MAIN BOARD

F O R DEALS

at improving overall experience and participation in the capital market.

“We need to identify our investors, we need to know who is putting money in our market and who is not. That will also help us to take care of money laundering and other vices and people we don’t want in our market. That form is out there and we expect every stakeholder to look at it and make comments and other capital market operators so that we can use it

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

QUANTITY TRADED

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to get information from investors and that information would be stored in data base protected under the law and used to ensure that we have unique identifier investors,” she said.

Uduke noted that identity management has been a problem not just in the capital market but in many sectors of Nigeria’s economy, assured stakeholders that the commission is handling it in the capital market.

“We are handling it, and that is why we came up with

T R A D E D MAIN BOARD

A S

that form, that form has been exposed and we have asked the CMOs and other stakeholders to give us their comments on that form. We want to get as much information as we need from investors to be able to use it in the right way while also protecting that information,” she said.

Uduk, however, warned that the SEC would no longer tolerate investors buying stocks in fake names, terming it as illegal.

“For example, years ago,

O F

before the global financial crisis, there was lack of good identity management in the market and that made it easy for some people to buy stocks using multiple identities when companies were doing IPOs at that time. What has happened now is that we find it difficult to reconcile ownership of these stocks. That is why we have a window open right now for people who got stocks in multiple identities to regularise them.

0 8 / 0 4 / 2 0 2 0 DEALS

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THURSDAY APRIL 9, 2020 ˾ T H I S D AY

INTERNATIONAL

COVID-19 Cases Top 10, 000 in Africa, Says WHO The World Health Organisation (WHO) Regional Office for Africa in Congo, said there are

so far 10,000 confirmed cases of Coronavirus (COVID-19) reported in 52 Africa countries.

COVID-19: US Records 2,000 Deaths in Last 24 Hours Nearly 2,000 people infected with the new coronavirus have died in the United States in the last 24 hours, according to a tally

by Johns Hopkins University as of 8:30 pm Tuesday (0030 GMT Wednesday).

The record daily figure of 1,939 brings the total number of deaths in the US to 12,722, which is approaching tolls in the worst-hit countries so far — Italy with 17,127 dead and Spain with 13,798.

President Donald Trump has defended his response to the crisis, and on Tuesday he blamed the World Health Organization for reacting slowly.

He questioned why the WHO had given “such a faulty recommendation,” apparently referring to the UN body’s advice against curtailing international travel to stop the virus which first spread from China.

They called it wrong. They really missed the call. They could have called it months earlier,” he said.

Trump has been widely criticized for initially downplaying the virus, which he likened to an ordinary flu and said was under control in the United States, before later accepting that it was a national emergency.

The UN’s health agency gave the update on its official twitter account @WHOAFRO on Wednesday.

“There are over 10,000 COVID-19 cases reported across 52 countries in Africa; initially, mainly confined to capital cities, a significant number of countries in Africa are now reporting cases in multiple provinces,’’ it stated.

The breakdown in the WHO African Region COVID-19 dashboard showed that South Africa, Algeria and Cameroon had continued to top the list of countries with the highest reported cases.

South Africa has 1,749 cases and 13 deaths followed by Algeria 1,468 cases with 194 deaths and Cameroon, 650 confirmed cases with nine deaths.

It also showed that the country with the lowest confirmed case is South Sudan which has reported only one case.

The second lowest confirmed case of COVID-19 in Africa is Burundi, which has reported three confirmed cases.

Two countries, Gambia and Sao Tome have confirmed four cases each, making them 3rd in

the category of countries with lowest cases.

Meanwhile, Gambia has recorded its first death from COVID-19.

Also, the dashboard showed that COVID-19 cases had risen to 254 in the past 24 hours from 238 confirmed cases with six deaths in Nigeria.

However, Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa, raised concerns over the high cases of the virus reported on the continent.

Moeti in her twitter account @MoetiTshidi, said COVID-19

cases in Africa had risen to more than 10,000.

“Tackling this pandemic requires a decentralised response. Communities must be empowered and get the resources and expertise needed to tackle outbreaks locally.’’

She gave the breakdown of the figures to over 10, 000 cumulative confirmed cases reported, over 500 deaths and over 900 recoveries.

“South Africa is the most affected with over 1,600 cases reported,’’ Moeti said.

Egypt Extends Nationwide Curfew by 15 Days The Egyptian Prime Minister, Mostafa Madbouly, said on Wednesday that the nationwide curfew in Egypt to control the spread of novel coronavirus would be extended by 15 days.

Madbouly made this known in a televised speech in Cairo, saying that the night-time curfew would start from April 9 to April 23.

He said that the curfew would start one hour later at 8.00p.m local time (1800 GMT) to 6.00a.m local time (0400 GMT).

“Airports will remain closed,” Madbouly added.

Egypt reported a total of 1,450 cases and a death toll of 94 so far.

Egypt has implemented a series of anti-coronavirus measures, including shutting down of schools and suspending flights at airports nationwide.

Also, keeping the air space open for tourists leaving the country and to bring back Egyptians stranded abroad.

COVID-19: UK, Australian Scientists Raise Hopes for Vaccine UK scientists have described COVID-19 as a “hit and run” that is not well shielded from the immune system as some others – meaning it could be easier to develop a vaccine.

Also, scientists in Australia have claimed to have found an already existing drug that kills COVID-19 in the laboratory within 48 hours.

In the UK, the University of Southampton researchers who made the discovery called it “very encouraging”.

They created a model of the virus that causes the COVID-19 disease, which they say shows how it disguises itself to get into our cells undetected.

The model displays the coronavirus as having several spikes sticking out from its surface, which allow it to attach to and enter cells in the human body.

Professor Max Crispin, who is leading the research, said the spikes are coated in sugars called glycans, which hide their viral proteins so to evade our immune systems.

Meanwhile, Australian scientists have claimed to have found an already existing drug that kills COVID-19 in the laboratory within 48 hours.

The drug, Ivermectin, is used to treat head lice and is available all over the world.

Researchers at Monash University claimed that a single dose of Ivermectin stops the

SARS-CoV-2 virus growing in cell culture.

But the research is in its early stages and Ivermectin, an antiparasitic drug, has not yet been tested on persons infected with COVID-19.

According to British tabloid Daily Mail, the next step is for scientists to determine the correct human dosage, to make sure the level used in vitro is safe for humans.

The scientists warned that it could take at least a month before human trials start.

‘We found that even a single dose could essentially remove all viral RNA (effectively removed all genetic material of the virus) by 48 hours and that even at 24 hours there was a really significant reduction in it,’ Daily Mail quotes Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute’s Dr Kylie Wagstaff as saying last Friday.

He added: “In times when we’re having a global pandemic and there isn’t an approved treatment, if we had a compound that was already available around the world then that might help people sooner.

“Realistically it’s going to be a while before a vaccine is broadly available.’

The study is the work of Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute and the Peter Doherty Institute of Infection and Immunity.

Democratic presidential aspirant and Vermont Senator, Mr. Bernie Sanders

We’re Not China-centric, WHO Fires Back at Trump Calls for united to fight COVID-19 The World Health Organisation on Wednesday pushed back against comments by President Donald Trump that the group is “very China-centric,” and said that continuing work with China is vital for research to combat the virus around the world.

Trump on Tuesday criticised the organisation in a tweet and

said the organisation “really blew it,” adding that he will review the US’ funding for the United Nations-backed body.

Dr. Bruce Aylward, a senior advisor to the DirectorGeneral, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, told reporters in a virtual press conference Wednesday that it “was absolutely critical in the early

part of this outbreak to have full access to everything possible, to get on the ground and work with the Chinese to understand this.”

WHO urged the US and China to join forces to fight the coronavirus pandemic, saying there would be “many more body bags” without international unity.

“The United States and China should come together and fight this dangerous enemy,” WHO chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told a virtual briefing in Geneva, following criticism from US President Donald Trump that the UN health body “blew it” and was “very China centric”.

South Africa’s Minister Who Flouted Lockdown Rules Sent on Leave South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Wednesday placed on special leave a minister seen lunching at a friend’s house in violation of the coronavirus lockdown.

Ramaphosa has ordered a three-week national lockdown to try to break the virus, which has infected 1,749 people, killing 13 of them, according to an official tally.

But a picture posted on Instagram on Sunday showed Communications and Digital Technologies Minister Stella NdabeniAbrahams having lunch with five other people at the home of a former deputy minister earlier that day.

“President Ramaphosa has placed the Minister on special leave for two months,” the presidency said in a statement.

Ramaphosa has “accepted the minister ’s apology for the violation but was unmoved by mitigating factors she tendered,” it said.

“The nation-wide lockdown calls for absolute compliance on the part of all South Africans,” Ramaphosa was quoted as saying.

“None of us -– not least a member of the national executive -– should

undermine our national effort to save lives in this very serious situation,” said Ramaphosa. “No-one is above the law.”

Last month, just two days into the lockdown, Social Development Minister Lindiwe Zulu was forced to issue an apology after she posted a video on her Instagram account, joking about how she was struggling to stay home.

Bernie Sanders Ends His US Presidential Bid US Senator Bernie Sanders has suspended his presidential campaign, his team said Wednesday, clearing the way for rival Joe Biden to become the Democratic nominee to challenge Republican

incumbent Donald Trump in November.

Sanders, a 78-year-old leftist who challenged Hillary Clinton for the nomination in 2016, was holding a staff conference call on Wednesday when

he “announced that he is suspending his campaign for president,” his aides sa i d i n a st a t emen t .

Sanders, who mounted a formidable challenge t o B i d en i n t h e 2 0 2 0 ra c e, bec a me the

f ron t run n er ea rl y t h i s year only to be eclipsed by a surging former vice president, who holds a substantial lead in the a l l - i mport a n t ra c e f o r d el ega t es w h o c h oose t h e n omi n ee.

˜ ΁˜ ͺ͸ͺ͸ ˾ T H I S D AY

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THURSDAYSPORTS

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

Ndidi Listed as Leicester City’s Most Valuable Player Super Eagles midfield ‘enforcer’, Wilfred Ndidi, has been named as the Most Valuable Player for Leicester City this season, according to a special report by Sky Sports.

According to the report: “Leicester lead the way for counterattacks this season, a hallmark of their game in recent years.

“The bedrock of their midfield and the key man

Premier League Could Lose £1bn Because of COVID-19 The Premier League could lose £1 billion if the 2019-2020 season cannot finish - and English football faces “the danger of losing clubs and leagues” amid economic challenges “beyond the wildest imagination”.

The season has been halted indefinitely amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Premier League Chief Executive Richard Masters warned of “further losses” if the situation “deepens and extends” beyond this season.

Meanwhile, Football Association Chairman, Greg Clarke, said: “Many communities could lose the clubs at their heart with little chance of resurrection.”

Amid those projected losses, Masters also defended clubs considering the use of government furlough scheme.

However the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport committee responded to tell the Premier League to “stop defending the indefensible”.

Some clubs have placed non-playing staff on temporary leave, while talks continue over the salaries of players. On

Monday, Liverpool reversed a decisionto furlough staff and apologised after facing criticism.

The Premier League proposed a 30% pay cut for players, but the Professional Footballers’ Association says it would harm the NHS. Top-flight players are now negotiating on a club-by-club basis over proposed wage cuts after collective talks broke down without resolution over the weekend.

Masters’ warnings came in a letter to MP Julian Knight, the chair of the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport committee - who has accused top-flight football of being in a “moral vacuum”.

In the letter, Masters defended clubs’ rights to furlough staff, saying: “We do agree with you that restraint needs to be shown by all and we and our clubs are doing just that. Individual clubs will need to make these decisions based on their own forecasts as each club will have its own unique position.”

“The furlough scheme announced by Government is meant for the whole economy,

in launching so many fast breaks is Wilfred Ndidi.

“The Nigerian is a master of the art of the turnover, regularly winning possession and springing attacks. His 4.4 tackles per 90 minutes is the highest in the Premier League this season and significantly higher than the next-best central midfielder, Oriol Romeu on 3.2.

“Ndidi’s value was further demonstrated by his recent injury absence – a five-game run that saw the previously high-flying Foxes take only

two points from a possible 15.”

Most tackles per 90 mins in English Premier League this season (min 50% minutes played).

Despite all the accolades Ndidi has remained himself and striving to improve his game.

Fans are now comparing Ndidi to N’Golo Kante who left the Foxes for Chelsea.

“I’ve always seen myself as Ndidi, I want to be seen as Ndidi,” he said on Instagram recently.

“Kante is a great player,

if you see the way he plays, you’ll know he’s a machine.

“The advice I got right from time while I was playing that position is just be yourself.

“Every player has his own quality, it’s not everybody that can be like Ronaldo or Messi, everybody has his own way.

“I just want to be myself, play my game and fight for three points,” concludes Ndidi.

Earlier on Tuesday, another Super Eagles Player, Victor

Osimhen was rated as the best player at French Ligue 1 club Lille, according to influential French magazine, L’Equipe.

The 21-year-old Osimhen earned a rating of 5.92 after 26 matches in Ligue 1.

His speed and finishing prowess have been commended.

The 2015 Under-17 World Cup winner Osimhen has scored 18 goals in all competitions since his arrival at the beginning of the season from Belgian club Sporting Charleroi.

Wilfred Ndidi rated Leicester City’s MVP

Golf Suspended in Kenya Due to ‘Non-compliance’ with Social Distancing

Mane Credits Klopp for Keeping Liverpool’s Title Hope Alive

All handicap golf competitions have been suspended in Kenya for the next 30 days, the Kenya Golf Union directed yesterday - after a spate of “non-compliance” by golfers in the country who continued to play despite stringent lockdown measures to contain coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

“The Kenya Golf Union has taken the unprecedented action of suspending all handicaps in the country for a period of 30 days. All clubs are therefore not allowed to hold any competitions that require golf handicaps for this period,” a statement signed by Kenya Golf Union Chairman Antony Murage read.

“All club houses must be closed forthwith. Golfers must not be allowed to access the club house for any services whatsoever,” the statement added.

Murage explained that the Ministry’s directive was due to the “noncompliance of many golfers who continued to congregate within the club premises in direct contravention of the current directive given to help stop the spread of Covid-19.”

That directive had come from

Liverpool striker Sadio Mane has praised manager Juergen Klopp for his positivity as the club’s players sit idle with the Premier League on hold and the team facing the prospect of missing out on a first championship triumph in 30 years.

The COVID-19 pandemic has placed the future of the 2019/20 campaign in doubt, with Liverpool holding a remarkable 25-point lead at the top of the table, having won 27 of their 29 matches.

The Premier League confirmed last week that the season will only return when the health situation stabilises, leading to some suggestions the campaign could be called null and void.

“He (Klopp) is someone who’s really, really positive and right now he’s more positive than ever, which is his strength and which makes him so special,” Mane told Reuters.

“He’s always sending messages to the players to talk about things and he’s always positive, always positive, which is incredible for him.

“Hopefully this season will not be made void and Liverpool will become (champions). It has been an unbelievable season for me and my teammates and

Kenyan Minister of Health Mutahi Kagwe, who ordered the closure of all golf clubs in the country - a directive that many Kenyan golfers have been ignoring.

Despite suspending handicap competitions and closure of club houses, self-caddied players are allowed to continue playing alone, in twos or threes.

The clubs will be open to members only with no guests or reciprocation allowed, however clubs must ensure there won’t be congregation on the clubs premises.

“Golfers can play golf as long as they do not use the services of caddies and strictly maintaining social distancing.

The starting intervals must be at least ten minutes and golfers must not gather at the starters,” Murage said With golfers not allowed to use caddie services during this period, the KGU has further directed clubs to set up a caddie welfare fund to support the caddies.

Some of the golf clubs which had already put the government’s directive into action include Karen Country Club, Royal Nairobi Golf Club and Thika Golf Club.

we are 25 points (ahead in the league), which is incredible.”

Mane has welcomed Liverpool’s about-turn on Monday when the club reversed a decision to furlough some of their non-playing staff due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Yes,” the Senegal striker said when asked if he was pleased Liverpool had changed their mind and will continue to pay the staff in full rather than claiming back 80% of their pay up to 2 500 pounds ($3 087.25) per month under the government

scheme.

“It’s a really, really good club, like a family, the coaches, the staff, the players, everybody.

The fans as well, you can see how good they are and how passionate they are behind their team.”

Mane has been a benefactor in his home village Bambali in Senegal, recently building a hospital and donating 41 000 pounds towards the country’s fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

“It’s something I’ve thought

about since I was young. In my mind I wanted to do something for my village. I grew up there and we were not wealthy and it’s a really, really small village and I know the conditions of life are not optimum.

“It’s a really tough moment, not just for Senegal but for all the world, and I think what is really important is to stick together and try to do the best to fight against this sickness, which is really bad. And in Senegal the figure is also growing (on the rise).”

Liverpool were leading the Premier League by 25 points before the lockdown

Thursday, April 9, 2020

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Price: N250

MISSILE Atiku Abubakar to Muhammadu Buhari “We cannot be looking to borrow huge sums at the same time our officials are taking delivery of foreign-made luxury cars. We cannot be considered a serious country when we refuse to cut down on profligacy and instead seek outside help to fund our inefficiencies” – Former VP, calling on this administration to look beyond foreign loans and seek creative ways to rejuvenate the economy.

OLUSEGUNADENIYI Lockdown in a Feeding Bottle Economy THE VERDICT

olusegun.adeniyi@thisdaylive.com

A

s we practice social distancing, it is important to practice mental distancing as well. This means staying away from certain categories of people: Quack doctors who claim they have a cure for coronavirus; fake prophets who tell tales of how they saw this virus coming and can end it; conspiracy theorists who argue that this virus is a result of 5G technology and neurotic friends who spread fear by constantly updating you on the number of corona-related deaths but won’t say anything about the recoveries.

With billions of people across the world in some form of isolation, quarantine or lockdown, mobile networks are making a killing from the amount of data being expended as we all exchange messages from the privacy of our homes. It is within this context that we can situate the foregoing quote which I adapted (with slight editing) from a WhatsApp post. Before I go into how the admonition might serve us, I must also add that what keeps many of us sane at this most unusual moment is the amount of laughter we generate from a number of these posts.

As a matter of urgent national importance, a ‘patriotic’ Nigerian has asked members of the Health Committee of both the Senate and the House of Representatives to embark on their usual ‘fact finding’ tours, this time to Italy, Spain, UK and the United States.

In Ghana, Mr Agyemang Kwekwu Eric cannot understand the hoopla about using Africans as guinea pigs for the trial of coronavirus vaccine when there are 275 MPs, 123 ministers and about 50 deputy ministers in his country who could help.

“The MPs represent the people. They can agree to represent the population as a sample of the covid-19 vaccine trial. Afterwards, they will report to us the findings…This will serve as the perfect opportunity of restoring citizens’ lost faith and confidence in our leaders,” he wrote.

Staying at home has also led to all manner of discoveries. A man said he never imagined that a time would come when his hands would consume more alcohol than his mouth! We must have heard about politicians who have had to wait patiently for results they could not rig. Apparently based on ‘expert opinions’ shared on the pandemic, a young lady summed up in a Tweeter post: “My mum has acquired a PhD on coronavirus from WhatsApp University.” It is from this same ‘university’ that I learnt that residents of a city in the South-east stay in their homes in the morning hours to isolate. “In the evening, when the virus has slept, they troop out and gather in joints to drink bear and eat Nkwobi.”

However, if we are to survive this season, we must take heed of a few things.

One of the clerics who ‘saw’ COVID-19 coming is South African evangelist, Paseka Motsoeneng, popularly known as Pastor Mboro. I am not sure he has garnered the $100,000 “transport money” he requested to enable him to travel to hell (yes, that is the task he has set for himself) to confront coronavirus so as to relieve the world of this pandemic. “There is no need for worry,

Finance Minister, Mrs Zainab Ahmed the real problem is the demon causing this disease and I am ready to kill it once and for all,” said Pastor Mboro. But everything is conditioned on the small detail of the $100,000 ‘transport allowance’ to hell where he says coronavirus is currently domiciled.

In Iran, a five-year-old child lost his sight after his family gave him modified industrial alcohol to drink, based on the speculations that it cures the virus. A Muslim cleric who has another idea to tackle COVID-19 is now on the run. Morteza Kohansal was applying what he called the ‘Prophet’s perfume’ under the nose of COVID-19 patients in a Gilan province hospital until the authorities went after him, thus putting an end to what must have been a most lucrative enterprise.

Interestingly, in Nigeria where you expect demonstrations of such ‘faith healing’, many chose to trust the ‘prescription’ of Chloroquine by the one and only emeritus professor of coronavirus, Dr Donald Trump over the emphatic prophesy of Pastor T.B Joshua that the pandemic would end on March 27. As it would happen, some of those people died of chloroquine overdose before corona even visited them.

Despite the fact that we are on lockdown, there has been no dull moment in Nigeria. I even understand that the ‘COVID-19 ankara’ that we will all wear to celebrate the end of coronavirus next week is already out.

Indeed, celebration may have already begun for Ibrahim Oboshi, a councillor in Nasarawa State who is currently on a blissful matrimonial quarantine with the two wives he married on the same day last week. In Lagos and Abuja, isolation and social distancing now mean hundreds of men and women congregating on the Gbagada axis of the Third Mainland Bridge and Games Village expressway respectively for physical exercise. Meanwhile, the arraignment of Funke Akindele and her husband on Monday for hosting more than 20 people at their home was witnessed by more than a hundred people (comprising lawyers, social media busy bodies, the ubiquitous Lagos touts, etc.) in a small courtyard space. Well, such little details hardly matter in a nation where a governor

hosted a lavish enlightenment campaign on social distancing for senior officials of his state, after which he took a group photograph with dozens of participants who huddled together!

Last Sunday, Pastor Chris Oyakhilome lectured his church members on how the COVID-19 pandemic was created to popularize the 5G network as part of a grand plan for the coming of the anti-Christ who will impose a new world order. The moment your carpenter begins to imagine that he can also make your clothes, according to a man on twitter who waded in on this claim, you are already in trouble. Fortunately, Pastors Matthew Ashimolowo, Sam Adeyemi and Poju Oyemade have offered a more credible counter to this controversial thesis.

In the name of palliatives, some South-west governors have taken the idea that ‘half bread is better than none’ to a new level.

Loaves of bread, scoops of rice and beans, miserable sachets of Garri Ijebu, tins of palm oil etc. are now being offered families to lock themselves down for weeks. On a serious note here, while I fully endorse all measures that will help us in the fight against the spread of coronavirus, we should also be mindful of the social conditions in our society and the level of deprivation many have had to endure. Care should be taken to ensure that the economic pressures that necessitate the growing resistance to the lockdown do not graduate into anti-poverty uprisings which will be harder to suppress without unnecessary loss of innocent lives.

Meanwhile, the federal government on Tuesday released its plan to mitigate the effect of COVID-19 on the economy. But the roadmap announced by the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs Zainab Ahmed, shows that we remain a huge feeding bottle state. While other nations are looking at the businesses that have been affected and the jobs that are lost as a result of the lockdown, we remain trapped in the politics of sharing oil proceeds. With shortfalls arising from a downturn in prices, we are removing $150 million from the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) just to share at the next Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) meeting.

Since many of our people will move from lockdown to layoff in their offices as a consequence of the havocs the pandemic has wrought on the global economy, the proposed public works programme which has been used well in many places could be a game changer. That will happen only if we ensure the 1,000 jobs per local government result in the much-needed infrastructure for communities rather than become another avenue for political patronage. But since the challenge of the moment is health-related, there are several questions begging for answers in this package.

In a nation bristling with creativity and enterprise, why is there no plan for funding urgent medical research to find vaccines, therapy and homemade protective gear for our hospitals or how to give resources to local industry to fabricate some of these medical appliances? On the economic front, how many jobs are being lost? In what industries? Who most desperately needs

help and how many are they? If, as the Finance Minister indicated, this package is intended as a COVID-19 intervention, why is there a string of presidential approvals to incur expenditure even before National Assembly appropriation? And the committee or task force that is about to authorize these disbursements, what powers does it have when the Accountant General, Auditor General and the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) Director General are not even represented? What accountability mechanisms are in place at a time some ministers are personally sharing cash to undocumented people in a manner that lacks transparency?

To the extent that it is no longer fashionable to leave the economy to market forces, we cannot fault the idea of government intervention, especially in this season. On this score, the Financial Times of London editorial of last Friday on “the frailty of social contract” is quite revealing.

The editors advocated that “governments will have to accept a more active role in the economy” after conceding that the “lockdowns are imposing the greatest cost on those already worst off” with the overnight loss of millions of jobs across the world.

It is therefore laudable that the federal government has come up with a fiscal stimulus package. The main challenge is that the fall in crude prices following COVID-19 has once again exposed the kill-and-share vulnerable dimension of our oil dependence. That is where the ‘feeding bottle’ scenario comes in. Everyone knows that commodity prices are prone to boom and bust cycles but we hardly use the boom period to properly diversify our revenue base or save enough for the rainy day. Depending almost solely on a single revenue source in an economy that revolves around government is extremely dangerous, a lesson we have failed to learn over time.

On the whole, this moment presents another opportunity to do the hard things of further expanding the economy and cutting wastages. The response so far is commendable but needs to go deeper and be sustained. We must also find a way to deal with the glaring inequalities that have enabled some to donate hundreds of millions of Naira in a society where, according to the United Nations projection, majority of citizens earn incomes from “vulnerable employment.”

Continued on page 15

Sex for Grades

Since I continue to receive enquiries on when my book, ‘NAKED ABUSE: Sex for Grades in African Universities’ will be in the market, let me restate that once the current lockdown is over, the copies will be on sale.

An online store has already been built by MAX to enable anyone purchase the book and get it delivered to their door, in Lagos and Abuja. For other cities, we will also work out arrangement to make the book available once this crisis is over.

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