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APM Terminals Apapa Inaugurates More Cranes, Begins $80m Upgrade Eromosele Abiodun The Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Ms. Hadiza Bala Usman, yesterday inaugurated two new multimillion dollars modern Mobile Harbor Cranes (MHCs) acquired by leading

global terminal operator, APM Terminals, to boost service delivery at the Apapa Port, Lagos.

The new cranes were acquired as part of APM Terminals’ additional investment of $80 million (N33.6billion) for the year

2020-2021, bringing the total investment by the company in Apapa since 2006 to $438million (about N184billion), which is the highest by any private terminal operator in Nigeria.

APM Terminals, which is located in the nation’s nation's

premier seaport in Lagos, is the biggest container terminal in West Africa and the bestequipped port terminal in Nigeria.

While commending the management of APM Terminals for acquiring the new cranes, Bala-Usman said

the ports were concessioned by the federal government to improve port efficiency and free government resources for other developmental needs.

She said cargo volumes at the port had risen steadily due to favourable government policies.

She explained that NPA has continued to engage with private terminal operators at the port to rise up to the challenge of the increased cargo traffic.

The engagement with the Continued on page 10

Nigeria, Others Turn to SWF Savings to Mitigate Oil Price Slump... Page 5 Friday 24 April, 2020 Vol 25. No 9146. Price: N250

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ECOWAS Appoints Buhari to Lead COVID-19 Debt-forgiveness Campaign 108 more COVID-19 cases push tally to 981 FG accuses China of racism Studying govs’ call for lockdown on interstate movements Says 40 health workers infected with virus NCDC, WHO redeploy 17 officials to Kano ANAP seeks lockdown review to save economy Omololu Ogunmade, Olawale Ajimotokan, Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja, Peter Uzoho and Martin Ifijeh in Lagos West African leaders under the aegis of ECOWAS Authority of Heads of

States and Governments, yesterday appointed President Muhammadu Buhari as Champion of the COVID-19 Response to, among others, lead the region's campaign for debt forgiveness.

Continued on page 10

Fayemi Canvasses Decentralisation of Pandemic Battle

Warns virus could infect 20m Nigerians Says interstate movement lockdown necessary to curb community spread Eromosele Abiodun, Nume Ekeghe in Lagos and Udora Orizu in Abuja Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, yesterday called for the decentralisation

of the battle against COVID-19 as a step towards curbing the spread of the virus and beating the pandemic.

Fayemi, who chairs the Continued on page 12

EASING PORTS' OPERATIONS...

L-R: Head of Terminals, Africa and Middle East region of APM Terminals, Mr. David Skov; Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Ms. Hadiza Bala-Usman; Executive Director, Marine and Operations, NPA, Mr. Onari Brown and the Managing Director, APM Terminals Apapa, Mr. Martin Jacob, at the commissioning of two Mobile Harbour Cranes acquired

by APM Terminals Apapa in Lagos...yesterday.

Buhari, Lawan, Sultan Caution Muslims against Mass Gatherings as Ramadan Begins... Page 8

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

Nigeria, Others Turn to SWF Savings to Mitigate Oil Price Slump Oil price rises to $21 on Gulf tensions, output cuts Ndubuisi Francis, Chineme Okafor in Abuja and Ejiofor Alike in Lagos with agency reports Nigeria, Norway, Iran and other oil-producing countries have resorted to drawing down on savings in their sovereign wealth funds (SWFs) to help mitigate the impact of the global slump in crude prices largely induced by the COVID-19 pandemic, according to findings by THISDAY. Oil price volatility has been worsened in the last few months owing to a supply glut due to low demand occasioned by the pandemic and price war among some top producers.

Crude oil price, which stood at $20 a barrel on Wednesday, rose marginally yesterday to $21.97, spurred by rising tensions in the Middle East, output cuts by producing nations to tackle oversupply and the promise of more government stimulus to ease the economic pain of COVID-19 pandemic.

A sovereign wealth fund is a state-owned investment fund or entity that is commonly established from balance of payments surpluses, official foreign currency operations, proceeds of privatisation, governmental transfer payments, fiscal surpluses and/or receipts resulting from resource exports.

Most oil-based funds like the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA), operators of the nation's SWF, are required to keep substantial cash-buffers in place in the event of a collapse in oil prices triggers a request from the government for funding.

As oil prices continue on a precipitous slide in recent weeks following the SaudiRussia price war and largely the global economic meltdown precipitated by the COVID-19 pandemic, Nigeria and many countries with oil-based sovereign wealth funds have resorted to seeking succour from such funds.

The Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed, last week announced President Muhamadu Buhari's approval for the withdrawal of $150 million from the stabilisation component of the NSIA to augument the June distribution of the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC) to the three tiers of government.

The NSIA has three-ringed components, including the Future Generations Fund, Infrastructure Fund and Stabilisation Fund.

Rationalising the planned withdrawal of $150 million, the minister said it was meant to cushion the negative impact of the drop in revenue on the Federation Account.

Ahmed explained that since January, revenue inflow into the account had been declining, a situation that had affected the amount distributed among the three tiers of government.

Based on the fiscal assumptions underpinning the 2020 Appropriation Act, she said monthly FAAC disbursements to the federal

and state governments were projected at N888.5 billion, adding that due to the significant drop in international oil prices, FAAC monthly disbursements declined to N716.3 billion in January and N647.4 billion in February 2020.

“Our experience shows that monthly average FAAC receipts must average at least N650 billion for the federal and state governments to meet their current obligations.

“Unfortunately, we project that monthly receipts may decline to below N400 billion over the next three to six months," she stated.

While Nigeria faces serious revenue squeeze occasioned by the tumbling oil prices precipitated by very low demand, other oil-producers are not left out.

The Norwegian fund, reputed to be the world's biggest sovereign wealth fund, is on the verge of a forced asset sale.

Reports show that Norway faces its worst economic shock in half a century.

With petroleum revenue sharply down, the government has much less income to use on crisis measures.

That means it will need to withdraw historic sums from its wealth fund to make ends meet.

While past withdrawals were easily covered by the fund's cash flow, that is no longer the case.

Companies it invests in are now suspending dividends en masse, in response to the crisis.

Its outgoing Chief Executive Officer, Yngve Slyngstad, said cash flow this year would be "significantly lower" than previously expected.

In 2019, the fund got 243 billion kroner ($30.9 billion).

The Norwegian government will need to pull at least 266 billion kroner from the fund this year, if oil prices stay at current levels through 2020.

According to Bloomberg News, the situation is quickly deteriorating, and the numbers remain subject to change.

It is projected that the Norwegian government's withdrawals from the sovereign wealth fund would reach 150 billion kroner (about $13 billion).

Iran, another oil-producing country with a robust sovereign wealth fund, is also resorting to mitigating its revenue challenges through the fund.

Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, has approved the withdrawal of $1 billion from the National Development Fund of Iran—the country’s sovereign wealth fund—to help fight Coronavirus.

President Hassan Rouhani said recently that the government was seeking approval for the withdrawal of the money from the SWF. The money, he said, would be used for the needs of the health ministry and the unemployment insurance fund.

A recent report by Bloomberg indicated that sovereign wealth funds from oil-producing countries, mainly in the Middle East and Africa, are on course to dump up to $225 billion,

JOINING THE ANTI-COVID-19 BATTLE...

President Muhammadu Buhari participating in the virtual Extraordinary ECOWAS Summit on the impact of COVID-19 in the region, in Abuja....yesterday as plummeting oil prices and the pandemic hit countries' finances.

The rapid spread of the virus has ravaged the global economy, sending markets into a tailspin and costing both oil and non-oil based sovereign wealth funds around $1 trillion in equity losses, according to JPMorgan strategist Nikolaos Panigirtzoglou.

His estimates are based on data from sovereign wealth funds and figures from the Sovereign Wealth Fund Institute, a research group.

Around $100-$150 billion in stocks have likely been offloaded by oil-producer sovereign wealth funds, excluding Norway's fund, in recent weeks, Panigirtzoglou said.

The Norwegian sovereign wealth fund said it had lost $124 billion so far this year as equity markets sunk.

Oil Price Rises to $21 on Gulf Tensions, Output Cuts Crude oil price rose marginally yesterday to $21 a barrel, spurred by rising tensions in the Middle East, output cuts by producing nations to tackle oversupply and the promise of more government stimulus to ease the economic pain of COVID-19 pandemic.

Global benchmark, Brent crude, was up by $1.60, or 7.8 per cent, at $21.97 per barrel while United States’ West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude rose $1.74, or 12.6 per cent, at $15.52 per barrel.

Oil prices have suffered one of their most tumultuous weeks due to low demand that has created a supply glut.

The expiring WTI frontmonth contract on Monday fell into negative territory for the first time as traders paid buyers to take crude off their hands given a lack of storage space due to the current supply glut.

Brent has lost roughly twothirds of its value this year.

Concerns about the collapse in demand because of travel restrictions to contain the virus and a shortage of space to store oil still dominate, but analysts said they did not expect a repeat of Monday’s price shock.

The price rally yesterday followed an announcement from the United States President Donald Trump that he had instructed the US Navy to fire on any Iranian ships that harass it in the Gulf, although he added later he was not changing the military’s rules of engagement.

The head of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said Tehran would destroy US warships if its security was threatened in the Gulf.

Output cuts by producers also supported prices.

Kuwait said it had begun reducing oil supply to the international market without waiting for the deal agreed by major oil exporting countries to take effect on May 1.

The Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and other oil producing nations, a grouping known as OPEC+, agreed this month to cut output by about 10 per cent of global supply, to push up oil prices.

In addition to the OPEC+ deal, other producers are also pledging reductions.

Oklahoma’s energy regulator said companies could shut wells without losing their leases. The state is the fourth-largest oil producer in the United States.

United States crude inventories rose by 15 million barrels to 518.6 million barrels the week to April 17, close to the record of 535 million barrels set in 2017, data showed on Wednesday.

The stocks build was less than the market had expected, analysts said, providing some support for prices, while the promise of more government

stimulus improved market sentiment across global markets.

The US House of Representatives was expected to pass a nearly $500 billion Coronavirus relief bill yesterday to provide funds to small businesses and hospitals.

OPEC Cuts Unlikely to Save Nigeria from Recession, Says NNRC The Nigeria Natural Resource Charter (NNRC) yesterday said it would be difficult for Nigeria to rely on agreed oil production cuts made by member countries of the OPEC and its allies stop a looming economic recession occasioned by the pandemic.

NNRC, a not-for-profit policy institute committed to supporting Nigeria’s effective management of its natural resources for public good, explained that it would be wise for the country to extensively reform its oil industry.

It noted that the reforms would include privatisation of the country’s refineries, which are currently broken-down, sale of unviable oil assets, liberalisation of downstream sector and prioritisation of gas for industrialisation of the country.

In a statement by its Programme Coordinator, Ms. Tengi George-Ikoli, NNRC noted that despite Nigeria’s cutting down of its 2020 budget estimates and embracing OPEC’s measures to shore up oil prices, the “production cuts may be too little too late and so Nigeria must look internally for solutions and adopt interventions that take a longer-term view.”

The NNRC added that the effects of the pandemic on the oil sector has provided Nigeria another opportunity to “revisit the much-advertised policy of economic diversification,” while future strategies adopted by the country must be sustainable.

For the country to stabilise the oil sector, maintain revenue flows from it, attract investment and drive growth, the NNRC said it must strive to maintain peace and stability in the Niger Delta to sustain oil production.

“Sustaining beneficiation schemes by NDDC, MNDA and other interventions will support the governments’ stabilisation efforts,” it stated.

The group also called for improvement in coordination between the federal government and Niger Delta state governments on the response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including the design and implementation of stimulus plans as well as liberalise the downstream sector to allow market forces determine pump prices for petroleum and other products.

The NNRC said: “This will ensure the availability of revenues necessary for more critical areas of the economy.”

It called for the formalisation of an oil revenue savings mechanism with clear and transparent operational rules.

“This could be by retaining the more effective Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF) in the NSIA and transferring funds from the Excess Crude Account, the stabilisation fund and other similar funds to the SWF. “This will help fortify the Nigerian economy from oil price volatilities and other economic shocks,” it explained.

It also urged the federal government to support a major and urgent shift to gas in terms of investment focus with gas supply to domestic market for power, industrial and manufacturing feedstock as enabler to economic development.

The NNRC asked the government to “fast-track the passage of the petroleum industry bill to bring about the fiscal, governance and regulatory clarity required to monetise Nigeria’s 200+ tcf of gas reserves."

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Buhari, Lawan, Sultan Caution Muslims against Mass Gatherings as Ramadan Begins Omololu Ogunmade, Chuks Okocha, Deji Elumoye in Abuja and Onuminya Innocent in Sokoto As Muslims all over the world begin Ramadan today, President Muhammadu Buhari; the President of the Senate, Dr. Ahmad Lawan and the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Abubakar Sa'ad III, have urged Muslims to keep observing social distancing in order not to aid the spread of COVID-19.

Buhari, who noted that the disease had spread to more than 200 nations, said in a message yesterday that virtually all countries were advising their citizens to avoid large gatherings and have their prayers and meals (suhoor and iftar) individually or with family at home.

The president sent his best wishes to Muslims both in the country and all over the world as they begin the 30-day fast, following the sighting of the moon.

“I congratulate all Muslims as they commence this year’s Ramadan fast, which is depicted by self-denial, universal brotherhood, austerity and helping relatives and needy people,” he said.

Presidential spokesman, Malam Garba Shehu, in a statement, said Buhari described this year's Ramadan as a challenge, coming up during the global COVID-19 pandemic.

He cautioned against mass gatherings during the Ramadan, saying doing so would further contribute to the spread of COVID-19.

“In this Ramadan period, the kind of socialising you are used to now risks spreading the Coronavirus,” the president said.

Lawan has also appealed to Muslims and Nigerians to comply with the COVID-19 protocols of social distancing.

In a statement he signed, the Senate president said Nigerians and the global community were living in an unusual times because of the effects of the pandemic.

He told Muslims that the observance of Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam and it is a special period for seeking the face of Allah through fasting and prayers.

"As we enter the holy month, I urge the Muslim community and Nigerians in general to maintain full compliance with the directives given us by the relevant government and religious authorities in the efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19,” he stated.

On his part, the Sultan of Sokoto, who declared today as the First Ramadan 4041AH signifying the commencement of the annual fast, also urged Muslims to abide by measures put in place by medical experts to avoid the spread of the virus.

Abubakar, in a broadcast yesterday in Sokoto, said the

moon had been sighted in some parts of the country.

He added that the reports of sighting of the new moon were received from Muslim leaders and organisations across the nation.

He called on the Muslim Ummah to commence fasting accordingly.

He urged all Muslims to intensify prayers against

the COVID-19 for Allah's intervention, stressing that they should live in peace with one another, irrespective of religious or ethnic backgrounds.

Saudi Arabia, home to Islam’s holiest mosques, has also announced that the holy fasting month of Ramadan will start today, as Muslims worldwide face unprecedented restrictions to

counter coronavirus.

“Based on the sighting of the new month’s moon … it has been decided that Friday is the start of the month of Ramadan,” the royal court said yesterday in a statement cited by the SPA news agency.

King Salman expressed sadness that Muslims cannot pray at mosques because of coronavirus restrictions.

“I am pained that the holy month arrives amid circumstances that make us unable to perform group prayers and Taraweeh — special Ramadan night prayers — at mosques due to precautionary measures to protect the peoples’ lives and health in combating the coronavirus pandemic,” the king said.

CURBING THE SPREAD OF COVID-19...

L-R: Minister of State for Health, Dr. Olorunimbe Mamora; Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Chairman, Independent Petroleum Producer Group (IPPG), Mr. Demola Adeyemi-Bero and Group Managing Director/CEO, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mr. Mele Kyari, during the donation of six ambulances, sanitisers and other items by NNPC/IPPG to the Lagos State Government to stop the spread of COVID-19, in Lagos..yesterday

WHO Projects 769,000 Nigerian, Benin Navies Rescue Portuguese Vessel's 11-member Crew Deaths from Malaria in Africa this Year Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja

Warns against allowing COVID-19 battle to disrupt anti-malarial campaigns Ejiofor Alike with agency reports The number of deaths caused by malaria in Sub-Saharan Africa could double to 769,000 this year, as efforts to curb the disease are disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, the World Health Organisation (WHO) warned yesterday The region has more than 25,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19, with more than 1,200 deaths and governments, working with partners such as WHO, are focusing on tackling the pandemic.

WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, called on all countries to ensure that essential malaria prevention work continues.

Moeti, at a briefing yesterday, said: “A recent analysis has found that if insecticide-treated bed net distribution stops, and case management reduces, malaria deaths in sub-Saharan Africa could double in comparison to 2018.

“This would be the highest number of deaths seen in the region since the year 2000.”

She cited statistics from Africa’s ebola outbreak showing that more people died of other diseases, including

malaria, than from ebola, due to lack of access to treatment.

“Let us not repeat that again with COVID-19,” she added.

In 2018, there were 213 million malaria cases and 360,000 related deaths in the African region, accounting for over 90 per cent of global cases.

The WHO said if the focus on slowing the spread of the new virus leads to a reduction by three quarters of access to anti-malaria medicines, deaths could double to 769,000.

“Countries across the region have a critical window of opportunity to minimise disruptions in malaria prevention and treatment and save lives at this stage of the COVID-19 outbreak,” the WHO said in a statement.

The doubling of the number of deaths represents the worst case scenario, which also assumes the suspension of all distribution of treated mosquito nets due to the pandemic, the WHO said.

Benin, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sierra Leone and Chad have all initiated anti-malaria programmes during the pandemic, the WHO said, adding that should serve as a model for other nations on the continent.

A combined naval operation under the auspices of ECOWAS Maritime Zone E, involving Nigerian and Benin Republic Navies, stormed a vessel attacked by unknown gunmen in Cotonou waters and rescued 11 crew members on board a Portuguese-flagged container.

The vessel, MV Tommi Ritscher, which was anchored in Benin territorial waters, was attacked by some gunmen at Zone 3 Anchorage in Cotonou waters on April 18.

A statement signed by the Coordinator of the Directorate of the Defence Media Operations, Major General John Enenche, said at the time of the attack, there were 19-crew members, comprising Ukrainian, Bulgarian and Filipinos.

Following the pirate attack, the Nigerian Navy received a request for assistance

from the Benin Navy under the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) of ECOWAS Zone E. "Consequently, Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) OSE embarked 10 NN SBS operatives and proceeded to the objective area. NNS OSE and the SBS boarding team arrived the objective area on 19 April 20 to join two other vessels (P110 QUEME and ZOU) from the Benin Navy already in the area.

"The NNS OSE and the other two Benin Navy patrol boats adopted a patrol plan around the MV Tommi Ritscher throughout the night of 19 April 20 to ensure that the pirates, if still onboard would not have any room to escape", it said.

The statement said the boarding operations commenced at about 1730 hours on April 20 with the NN SBS elements in the lead.

"After the successful boarding of the ship,

which eventually was to be unopposed, eleven crew members were rescued from different parts of the ship.

"However, eight crew members of the ship and the pirates could not be located onboard the ship. The SBS remained onboard to ensure security of the vessel and the crew.

The vessel later sailed to Cotonou Port for a more comprehensive search of the ship on Tuesday.

"The rescue team was received by the Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), Captain Albert Ezin Badou, of the Benin Navy as well as the Defence Attache and Deputy Defence Attache of the Nigerian Embassy in Cotonou.

"The CNS of Benin addressed the ship’s company of NNS OSE and the NN SBS team and gave them a letter of commendation for a job well done," it added.

In 2013, Gulf of

Guinea heads of state and government had met in Yaounde, Cameroon, to adopt the Yaoundé Declaration on the Gulf of Guinea Security.

Two key resolutions contained in the declaration are on the creation of an inter-regional Coordination Centre on Maritime Safety and Security for Central and West Africa, to be headquartered in Yaoundé, and the implementation of a new code of conduct concerning the Prevention and Repression of Piracy, Armed Robbery Against Ships and Illegal Maritime Activities in West and Central Africa.

The declaration also paved the way for the creation and organisation of Gulf of Guinea Navies into maritime zones.

Nigeria, Republic of Benin, Togo and Gendarmerie of the Republic of Niger formed the ECOWAS Maritime Zone E under the Yaoundé Declaration.

Subscribers Sustain Strong Appetite at April FGN Bond Auction Ndubuisi Francis in Abuja Investors again demonstrated a strong appetite for the FGN bond at the April auction, which was conducted on Wednesday, despite the deleterious impacts of COVID-19 on socio-economic activities.

Since January, the FGN bond auction had consistently been oversubscribed by investors.

The Debt Management

Office (DMO) offered N60 billion bonds across three tenors to investors at the April auction, including N20 billion each for the five-year, 15-year and 30-year tenors.

The total subscriptions received through competitive bids for the three instruments were N275.67 billion, indicating an overall subscription level of 459 per cent.

The DMO reported that demand was very strong

for all the instruments offered at the auction, adding that a breakdown of the subscriptions shows that N49.70 billion or 248.50 per cent per cent was received for the five-year bond; N107.47 billion or 537.35 per cent for the 15-year bond and N118.50 billion or 592.25 per cent for the 30-year bond.

Successful bids were allotted at the rate of 9 per cent for the five-year, 12 per cent for the 15-year and 12.50 per cent

for the 30-year bond, all of which are lower than the rates at the March 2020 FGN bond auction.

The total amount allotted for competitive bids was N156.06 billion across the three tenors, while N20 billion was allotted through non-competitive bids for the five-year and 15-year tenors, which brought the total amount allotted from competitive and noncompetitive bids to N176.06 billion.

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PAGE TEN ECOWAS APPOINTS BUHARI TO LEAD COVID-19 DEBT-FORGIVENESS CAMPAIGN Buhari’s appointment, according to Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, took place at the Extraordinary ECOWAS Summit on COVID-19 held through teleconferencing and chaired by the President of the Republic of Niger, Mahamadou Issoufou.

African leaders have been forceful in their demand for a debt relief in view of the economic disruptions triggered by the pandemic, which have undermined the income streams of many countries.

However, with the uncertainty surrounding how soon the virus would be defeated, many blocs within the continent have stepped up their preparations to rally support for the clarion campaign for a debt relief.

In Nigeria, the pandemic has maintained its upward rise with 108 COVID-19 cases confirmed yesterday to bring the total to 981.

The federal government has also accused China of racism and discriminatory practices against Nigerians and black people in the country following the outbreak of COVID- 19 in some parts of China.

The government, however, said it was yet to take a position on the proposal by the 36 state governors for an interstate lockdown to stop the spread of the virus.

It also said no fewer than 40 health workers had tested positive for the virus.

Analysing the import of Buhari's appointment as Champion of the COVID-19 Response for THISDAY yesterday, a top federal government official said the appointment was similar to the earlier one conferred on the president by African leaders as Africa's Anti-corruption Champion, which portrayed him as a moral authority to lead the way against corruption.

He explained that yesterday's appointment of the president was the fallout of a discussion in the meeting on how the West African sub-region should respond to COVID-19 as well as how it should prepare for post-COVID-19.

According to him, as it is common knowledge that the region is asking for debt forgiveness from both China and G-20, the appointment implies that the president, whom he said secured the backing of all leaders present at the meeting for the appointment, will articulate how the campaign for debt relief will be pursued as well as the level of preparation for post-COVID-19 West Africa.

Earlier, Adesina, in the statement, had said during the meeting, Buhari admonished fellow ECOWAS leaders to

look beyond the threat posed

by COVID-19 pandemic and explore other opportunities presented by the outbreak to ameliorate the living standard of people in member states.

“In every challenging situation such as the current one, there are also opportunities. Our region must therefore seek to find those opportunities provided by this gloomy global outlook for its benefit by embarking on the implementation of such critical policies, which before now, will be difficult to accept,” he said.

Buhari appealed to his colleagues to intensify collaboration with one another with a view to saving the region from “this deadly pandemic through sharing our experiences and best practices."

The president outlined some measures taken by his government so far in fighting the pandemic to include: "The reduction of interest rates on all applicable Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) interventions from 9 to 5 per cent and introduction of a one-year moratorium on CBN intervention facilities; "The inauguration of presidential task force to coordinate national efforts to combat the spread of the virus and ensure efficiency and effectiveness in line with the Nigerian Action Plan on Health Security; "The provision of relief materials, including medical and food supplies, as well as conditional cash transfers of N20, 000 each for poor and vulnerable households and the establishment of more isolation centres and testing facilities to contain the spread of the virus."

Buhari added that unprecedented economic uncertainties, such as severe fiscal and foreign exchange constraints, amid a slow global economic growth currently confronting several nations had made it imperative for “our sub-region to refocus on accelerating the implementation of our popular vision of ‘ECOWAS of the people’ by adopting dynamic regional policies aimed at providing relief to our citizens.”

“Despite declining revenues, government continues to spend massively on the containment of the virus, medical care for those infected and minimising impact of the crisis on the poor and vulnerable.

"This situation puts severe pressure on our finances by increasing our expenditures amid dwindling revenues.

This invariably has led to a restructuring and reduction of our budget," he stated.

Buhari used the opportunity of the forum to rally other leaders to embrace agriculture, technology, innovation and also to create jobs and reduce

poverty to enable West African economies emerge stronger.

“It is imperative that while addressing short term challenges, we should also explore opportunities to promote strong and dynamic agricultural policies that will guarantee food security for our people, creating jobs and reducing poverty in the region. We must innovate and use technology to boost the digital economy and do things differently, but better,” he said.

Buhari affirmed Nigeria’s solidarity with other member states as they battle COVID-19, saying he is saddened by the loss of lives to the pandemic.

“At a time of global uncertainty such as this, caused by the devastating impact of the COVID-19, let me convey Nigeria's solidarity with all the member states as we collectively battle to defeat the pandemic. I am greatly saddened by loss of numerous lives and extend my heartfelt condolences to families of those who have lost loved ones throughout the region. I also wish infected victims speedy and full recovery," he said.

He reiterated Nigeria’s commitment to the well-being and safety of the people of the sub-region and also restated his support for any initiative from the summit aimed at containing the spread of the disease.

108 More COVID-19 Cases Push Tally to 981 Also yesterday, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) confirmed 108 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the total number of the incidence since the index case occurred in Lagos on February 27 to 981; with 197 patients discharged and 31 deaths.

The NCDC, in a tweet, gave the breakdown of the 108 reported cases as 78 in Lagos; 14 in FCT; five in Ogun; four in Gombe; three Borno; two in Akwa Ibom as well as one each in Kwara and Plateau.

With the latest tally, Lagos State remains the epicentre of the pandemic with a total of 582 cases followed by the FCT with 133.

Other are: Kano-73; Ogun-29; Katsina-21; Osun-20; Oyo-17; Edo-17; Borno-12; Kwara-11; Akwa Ibom-11; Kaduna-9; Gombe-9; Bauchi-8;Delta-6; Ekiti-4; Ondo-3; Rivers-3; Jigawa-2; Enugu-2; Niger-2; Abia-2; Benue-1; Anambra-1; Sokoto-1; Adamawa-1 and Plateau-1.

FG Accuses China of Racism The federal government has accused China of racism and discriminatory practices against

Nigerians and black people in the country following the outbreak of COVID- 19 in some parts of the country.

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Geoffrey Onyeama, at the media briefing of Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 yesterday in Abuja, likened the recent treatment meted out to Nigerians in Guangzhou as crossing the red line.

“We have been engaging with China at various levels; at the level of our consulate in Guangzhou where the cases of racism and discrimination have been ongoing and also at the federal level in Beijing, through our embassy. We have made it clear to the Chinese government in no uncertain terms that under no circumstance will we accept racial discrimination against Nigerians or Africans or Blacks in China. That is a red line for us,” Onyeama stated.

He said although the Chinese had denied the allegation, complaint by maltreated Nigerians and video proofs supported the claims of discrimination and racism.

He said the federal government had directed the Nigerian consulate in Guangzhou to detail all instances of discrimination, losses and damages suffered by any Nigerian.

He added that such violations will be pursued with the Chinese government if it requires compensation or damages.

He said: “We are extremely disappointed because we have excellent relations with the government and people of China that such a thing can happen at this stage. And you know when there were calls for travels to be banned to China, when they had the outbreak in Wuhan and so forth, we went along with the World Health Organisation (WHO) advice not to place a travel ban on China and showed rare solidarity because we also had our own experience of epidemic with Ebola etc, but really we are deeply, deeply wounded by what has happened to Nigerians and other Africans in China.

“Of course their government has given us explanations and so forth, but really it is something we never accepted and we will pursue to its final conclusion and we will not make any compromises in doing so.

“There have been some comments in public domain, as if our policy, that we are somehow held hostage by the fact that we have receive a lot of economic cooperation from China in the past. But I can assure you where this is concerned, we are going to pursue to the very end irrespective of whatever economic cooperation that we have with China because in the world of today, we absolutely

can’t tolerate and accept any form of racism or discrimination against black Africans and as the largest Black country in the world, it behoves on us to be in the front line in defending the dignity of blacks and Africans everywhere in the world.”

FG Studying Govs’ Call for Lockdown on Interstate Movement Also speaking at the event, the Chairman of PTF on COVID-19, Mr. Boss Mustapha, said the federal government was yet to take a position on the decision by all the 36 state governors for an interstate lockdown.

He said the PTF would meet and take a holistic look at all proposals before making its recommendation to President Muhammadu Buhari.

“This will not be taken in isolation. I am assuring you we are working in synergy with the state governors and some national entities. By the time we are through with this phase, going into the third phase, it will be a more collaborative effort and that will have taken into consideration the inputs and interests of many segments of our society,” Mustapha said.

Mustapha also spoke on the warning by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) that a further extension of the lockdown imposed on the FCT as well as Lagos and Ogun States could lead to a breakdown of law and order.

He said although he received a letter from NLC President, Ayuba Wabba, the labour leader as a representative of the working class should be aware that lockdown is a global issue.

The SGF also said Nigeria had received from the ChinaNigeria Chamber of Commerce a cheque of N48,120,000 for the COVID-19 Support Fund.

He said the money, which was presented yesterday by the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Zhou Pingjian, was a gesture that underscored the deep relationship between Nigeria and China.

He also said China had also informed the PTF that the third phase of the medical supplies from the government of China was ready for airlift.

He expressed concern about the pandemic in Kano State, saying the PTF had instructed the NCDC to proceed to Kano and, in conjunction with the state government, mobilise for immediate contacts tracing to contain the spread of the disease.

Mustapha said: “The situation in Kano is still being assessed and monitored closely. Based on preliminary findings, the PTF has directed the NCDC to send an enhanced support team, mobilise resources for

APM TERMINALS APAPA INAUGURATES MORE CRANES, BEGINS $80M UPGRADE operators, according to her, is yielding results as evidenced by the inauguration of the two Mobile Harbor Cranes, among others.

According to her, as the ports become more efficient, efforts must be made to enhance cargo delivery processes and free the ports of longstanding cargo.

“We are engaging with the Nigeria Customs Service to remove overtime containers from the port to free vital space for incoming cargo.

“We are also working with terminal operators to increase the barging of containers to take pressure off the roads.

We have noted a significant growth in barging capacity and operations with more containers moved daily by barges from

the port,” she said.

Earlier, the Head of Terminals, Africa and Middle East region of APM Terminals, Mr. David Skov, had said the company had invested $358million (N150.36billion) in port infrastructure development, information technology upgrades and modern cargo handling equipment to improve both quayside and landside operations.

He said: “The additional investment we are making is to handle the increased trade volumes into Nigeria.

Trade in Nigeria is growing due to the many favourable efforts and policies of the federal government of Nigeria, including but not limited to the policy on ease of doing

business; stabilisation of foreign exchange; closure of the land borders which has increased the use of our sea ports and diversification of the economy.

“The additional investments will create capacity to handle the growth in the economy to support the federal government’s efforts on trade growth and improve service delivery across the logistic chain in Nigeria.”

He added that with the acquisition of the new cranes, the terminal now operates with a total of 10 Mobile Harbour Cranes; 23 Rubber-Tyred Gantry Cranes; six Empty Handlers; 48 specialised Truck Terminals, six Reach Stackers and 11 Forklifts.

President-General, Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria

(MWUN), Mr. Adewale Adeyanju, represented by the union’s Deputy PresidentGeneral, Mr. Tonye Harry, commended APM Terminals for the investment and for improving port services in Nigeria.

Other dignitaries at the ceremony included the Managing Director, APM Terminals Apapa, Mr. Martin Jacob; Executive Director, Marine and Operations of NPA, Mr. Onari Brown; the General Manager Marine and Operations, Captain Jerome Anyugwe; the General Manager Monitoring and Regultory Service, Mrs. Ugo Madubuike and NPA General Manager, Security, Surveyor Omotesho.

Others were the Port Manager, Lagos Port Complex

Apapa, Mrs. Olufunmilayo Olotu and the Port Manager, Tin Can Island Port, Mr. Garba Umar.

APM Terminals Apapa took over operation of the Apapa container terminal in 2006 under the federal government’s port reform programme.

Before now, the company had invested heavily in infrastructure, container handling equipment, yard expansion, modernisation of the terminals’ IT hardware and software systems and development of additional capacity.

The huge investment has resulted in significant improvements in productivity, reduction in vessel waiting time and a doubling of container volumes at the port.

contact tracing and immediately ensure that necessary steps are taken in conjunction with the state government to contain the spread of the pandemic in Kano and stop the city from becoming the next epicentre.”

He also expressed concerns about the refusal of private healthcare facilities to comply with the directive for accreditation by the Federal Ministry of Health before commencing treatment of cases related to COVID-19, noting that this posed serious danger, not just to the health and life of the personnel working in such facilities, but to those of their loved ones as well as the general public.

40 Health Workers Tested Positive for Virus, Says FG On his part, the Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, said 40 health workers had tested Giving updates during the presidential task force on COVID-19 briefing, the minister urged frontline workers to always protect themselves when treating patients.

“I urge you all to take the necessary precautions. Please do not try to treat patients without adequate PPE. “This advice is necessary due to the number of health workers who have tested positive; they are over 40 now and some others have had to be quarantined in the last two weeks due to exposure and are therefore not able to contribute to the health sector efforts.

“I urge you all to remain vigilant in the line of duty,” he added.

Speaking on the country’s testing capacity, the minister said the high number of new cases could be attributed to improved testing.

“The high number of new cases is a manifestation of improved testing but also of ongoing community transmission.

“The NCDC laboratories have the capacity to test 1,500 samples per day in 13 laboratories per day.

“We are testing an average of 600 samples per day because that is all the samples collected and sent for testing,” he said.

According to him, the under-utilisation of the testing laboratories can be due to surveillance, sample collection Continued on page 12

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Report: 703,506 Poor Nigerians Receive N23.7bn from Abacha Loot

Kasim Sumaina in Abuja

A report by a coalition of civil society groups, led by the Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ), has revealed that 703,506 poor and vulnerable Nigerians, out of an enrolled figure of 834,948 targeted in the Nigerian social register, has so far received a total of N23.742 billion from the recovered $322.5 million Abacha loot returned from Switzerland as at December 31, 2019 under the Conditional Cash Transfer of the Social Investment Programme (SIP).

The figure, it noted, excludes amount being distributed to poor Nigerians as part of the federal government’s response to COVID-19 pandemic, from January to April.

ANEEJ Executive Director, Rev. David Ugolor, leading CSOs monitoring the disbursement nationwide, gave the figures yesterday at a virtual meeting in

Benin City, Edo State, to formally present MANTRA one-year field monitoring report covering October 2018 to December 2019 to stakeholders and the public.

Ugolor, who is the Head of Monitoring Transparency and Accountability in the Management of Returned Assets, (MANTRA) project, a sub-sect of Anti-Corruption in Nigeria (ACORN) programme of DFID/ UK Aid, in a statement given to journalists in Abuja, said the MANTRA monitors were able to reach 73,998 beneficiaries, located in 4,540 communities, traced to 97 LGAs and in 20 states of the federation, who were captured in the data base developed by the National Social Safety-Net Coordination Office (NASSCO) as "verified by our monitors, which is an improvement from the total beneficiaries of 30, 846 in the first monitoring report wherein MANTRA covered 11 states."

“Our mission is to ensure transparent and judicious use

of the recovered Abacha funds in line with its stated purpose to ensure that recovered money is not re-looted,” he stated.

He recalled that the Federal Ministry of Justice (FMOJ) signed an MoU with ANEEJ in January 2018 to monitor the utilisation of the $322.5 million recovered Abacha loot, which Switzerland returned to Nigeria in 2017.

The money is being disbursed by the National Cash Transfer Office, now located in the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development through payment operators to the beneficiaries in line with a MoU between Nigeria, Switzerland and the World Bank as witnessed by the Nigerian civil society at the inaugural GFAR meeting in Washington DC in 2017.

The use of the returned loot for the cash transfer programme, according to Ugolor, is in keeping with the Sustainable Development Goal 16.4, Global

beneficiaries identified their community leaders as the source of their enrollment into the social register.

“Our objective 2 has to do with beneficiaries' grievances and how they are addressed.

At the end of the first year, we observed that less than half of the total complainants (43 per cent) had registered their complaints. The complaints received include: request for increase in base stipend, third party deductions, ID card related challenges, delayed payments, irregular or late payments, tedious payment processes and distance to payment points. We discovered, however, that only 22 per cent of such complaints were resolved and this remains some of the challenges facing the scheme which needs improvement.

“Our third objective is the total amount of the recovered $322.5 million disbursed.

N24,658,072,000 was disbursed by

the NCTO to the Private Service Operators as at 31 December 2019 of which N23,742,580,000 go to the beneficiaries. We also found that only 72.5 per cent of the agreed 80 per cent was part of the Abacha loot in the funds disbursed to the beneficiaries during the period under review.”

According to Ugolor, the current nationwide disbursements of the recovered Abacha loot from January to April is part of the federal government's response to COVID-19 and is being monitored by ANEEJ trained monitors nationwide.

The ANEEJ ED stressed the need for stakeholders’ collaboration in the fight against corruption and thanked the federal government, the UK, Switzerland and the US governments as well as the World Bank for their collaboration, which has seen to the success of the MANTRA model in achieving the level of success thus far.

to call on the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, the Nigeria Governors’ Forum and other stakeholders to also evaluate the effectiveness of the lockdown in a bid to manage the pandemic as well as the unintended consequences, which they continue to generate.

According to the foundation, since the commencement of the lockdown in Lagos and Ogun States as well as FCT, the number of people being infected has climbed steadily and the spread to various parts of the country has continued apace.

The foundation added that 28 persons have been confirmed as having died on account of COVID-19 whereas 25 Nigerians appeared to have been killed by security agents in their bid to enforce lockdown measures.

The foundation said: "A situation where Nigerians are being killed daily by law

enforcement agencies at almost the same pace as the Coronavirus kills them is totally unacceptable.

"It is time to review the strategy, as it is clear that compulsory lockdowns (as implemented by our own security agencies) are not working. Food has become a lot more expensive in various urban centres, as transportation costs have soared due to rising security obstacles, arbitrary closure of inter-state borders and other supply chain disruptions.

"Restricted market days and curfews often result in needless overcrowding thereby negating adherence to social distancing.

There has also been a rise in protests and mob action. The longer the compulsory lockdowns continue, the higher the risk of a breakdown of law and order despite the best efforts of government and other wellmeaning Nigerians in distributing

food and money to those in need.

"We believe there is a need to change direction from a compulsory lockdown to an intelligent lockdown (as practiced by a few countries), which largely thrives on voluntary actions by an informed populace."

It explained that the expected benefit of the lockdown wad to buy some time so that public enlightenment and awareness campaigns could educate the populace whilst also helping to popularise self-quarantine.

However, it explained that for an intelligent lockdown to be effectively implemented, most economic activities should be allowed to resume cautiously.

The foundation called for and end to the lockdown while public enlightenment and awareness of the importance of behavioural changes like social distancing, quarantine and other safety habits be intensified.

we have a state approach to it and what we need is a national approach to it and national approach would also require levels. The government cannot manage this crisis centrally from Abuja it will not work.

“Secondly, we also need to put pressure on ourselves and those who are within contiguous area will best do it. So, states that are contiguous and share boundaries and have ethic and cultural affinities, they are likely to address this issue a lot more closely and a lot more directly than NCDC. “NCDC is clearly doing a lot of good work and many of us admire Dr. Ihekweazu and his team but it is also clear to us that NCDC is overwhelmed and NCDC is biting more than it can chew.

So, we are actually helping NCDC and the presidential task force by suggesting that we want our own teams like the commissioners for health and epidemiologists in the zones to do this.

“Apart from myself and the vice chairman, the chairmen of all the zonal governor’s forum such as the South-east, Northeast, North-central, South-west where all at the meeting that we had with the vice president and the chairman of the presidential task force. So basically, we are all in this together and we must

all fix it together.”

The governor also stated that COVID-19 is an opportunity for Nigeria to press the reset button in terms of diversifying the economy and ending the reliance on crude oil.

“The economic impact of COVID-19 and the way forward, is the permanent highlight of the agenda in our meetings.

We are always discussing ways to survive. Don't forget, we are members of the National Economic Council, which the vice president chairs, and there is a committee of the National Economic Council that has been saddled with the responsibility of looking at different scenarios of reorganising our economy.

“As part of that, states are also in the process of reviewing their own budget for 2020, to take into account new realities that we are dealing with. This was the budget that was predicated on an oil price benchmark of almost $60, and of course, you know what has happened and we need to be looking at what that means for the state, and how that would impact on our local economy.

“States do not regard what comes from Abuja as a handout, because it's not. We have federating units in Nigeria. What goes into the Federation Account belongs to the federal, and the state and in the context of the

state, to the local authorities superintended by the state so, we don't consider it as a favour done to us.

“However, the challenge that we all must pay serious attention to is how to roll that Federation Account, particularly, the non-oil aspect of it. And that relates to the point I made earlier about agriculture. People would always eat. We have seen that people may choose either by force or freewill, not to use oil and part of what is happening to oil prices around the world, is that, aviation is out, nobody is flying anywhere, so there is no need for jet fuel.

“Even those of us who are at home, we are locked down in our various homes in all the countries of the world. And the factory of the world, China, is not producing at full speed. Oil is just on the high sea, begging for people to buy, and no one is looking in that direction.

“Automatically, it's a demand and supply mechanism at war.

The important point is that, states would have to readjust, and part of that readjustment is being very honest with our population and letting them know that it is now business unusual. Our youths would need to drive into more creative, and self-generating initiatives, rather than waiting for jobs,” he explained.

Forum on Assets Recovery principles and the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) provisions on asset recovery for which Nigeria is a signatory to all these instruments.

On the findings of the field monitoring, he said: “We had four objectives in our monitoring plan and we deployed a total of 1456 monitors across the country in the exercise using a 21 per cent sample size.

"We also hired an audit firm for the upstream (Central Bank and National Cash Transfer Office), and Midstream (payment operators) monitoring. While our field monitors were deployed mainly for the downstream monitoring, covering the State Cash Transfer Offices (SCTO) and local government areas), making it an end-to-end monitoring.

“Our first objective was to ascertain targeting of payments to specified beneficiaries. By the end of the first year of our monitoring, majority of

ECOWAS APPOINTS BUHARI TO LEAD COVID-19 DEBT-FORGIVENESS CAMPAIGN and mode of transportation, which could be improved through investments in logistics.

NCDC, WHO Redeploys 17 Personnel to Kano The NCDC and the World Health Organisation (WHO) have redeployed 17 persons to Kano State to support the fight against virus in the state.

The National Coordinator, PTF, Dr. Sani Aliyu, said during the briefing in Abuja that additional lab equipment were sent to Kano yesterday for the fumigation and disinfection of the Kano molecular laboratory, which will continue “for the next few days.”

Aliyu said: “The PTF has directed and, in line with the directive, the NCDC has already redeployed at least 17 persons,

including seven from the WHO, to Kano to deal with the current issues that have arisen.

“In addition, the DirectorGeneral, NCDC, has worked with the state emergency operating centre to reorganise the way it functions and a joint team, together with that from the state government, is currently investigating the concerns with regard to this.”

The Director General of NCDC, Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu, noted that Kano State at the moment has an excellent treatment centres with over 300-bed capacity.

He said he was confident that Kano would emerge from the crisis of the strange deaths, improving from the initial hiccups like Lagos to witness a much smoother response.

Review Lockdown to Save Economy, ANAP

Urges FG A think tank under the aegis of ANAP Foundation has called for a review of the lockdown imposed of the FCT, Lagos and Ogun States and the reopening of business activities in the country.

The foundation in a statement jointly signed by its Chairman and Nigerian entrepreneur, Mr. Atedo Peterside and the Vice Chairman, Mr. Abubukar Mohammed, entitled: "COVID-19: Time to Change Strategy towards Intelligent Lockdown and Voluntary Compliance," said the current lockdown and forcible compliance was not yielding the needed result.

It said having reviewed the nationwide situation report with regard to the ongoing lockdowns and social distancing initiatives being implemented all over the country, it resolved

FAYEMI CANVASSES DECENTRALISATION OF PANDEMIC BATTLE Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF), said yesterday when he appeared on The Morning Show, a breakfast programme on Arise News Channel, a sister broadcast arm of THISDAY Newspapers, that for example, decentralising testing for the virus would make it possible for the federal government to enhance the testing capacity in states and quicken the determination of the status of those tested.

He warned that without overhauling the system, Nigeria could be at the risk of some 20 million Nigerians contracting the virus.

The governor also shed light on Wednesday's push by his colleagues for an interstate movement lockdown to tame the virus.

According to him, such restrictions are necessary to curb community spreading of the virus, which has begun to emerge.

Fayemi said the governors had submitted a proposal to the federal government on the need to set up regional committees on COVID-19 to daily liaise with state commissioners of health and epidemiologists.

Fayemi who decried the lack of testing capacity in many states, said: “This is not only limited to Ekiti State; we have been discussing with the federal

authorities and it is clear that testing is the key to reducing the spread. This is because it is only when you test that you know who to isolate, who to let go and how to protect and address those who are positive.

“And clearly, when you look at the numbers, less than 9,000 tests and more than 700 positive, I wouldn’t want to jump into any conclusion because I’m not a doctor or epidemiologist but purely dealing with numbers tells that if you extrapolate from that to our 200 million population, it points clearly to the fact that we end up with 20 million and I don’t want to scare anyone but that is close to 10 per cent of our population.

“Right now what happens is that NCDC tells those who have either been abroad or been in contact with those who have been abroad and I am now aware of voluntary testing in Lagos and Abuja.

"Our position is that if you have challenges of testing, for example Akwa Ibom, which has their samples sent to Irua in Edo State and for you to drive to Akwa Ibom from Irua takes 16 hours and when you get there, it takes another two to three days for you to get the results of the test. Even Ogun that is very close to Lagos, the governor has consistently complained that it takes almost a week to get

results of their samples from Lagos. Which is why Ogun State has now procured a molecular laboratory in order to conduct their own tests.“ The governors, he stated, were proposing to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and the federal government that “we are determined at state levels to ensure we all have testing capability. That way, we can also test at random and not just for people who have travelled or people who have had contact with people who have travelled.

And that is what has informed our partnership with the private sector to put a GeneX machine here converted to a COVID-19 testing machine.”

Harping more on the need to decentralise the battle against the virus, he said: “The truth of the matter is that we can always improve on synergy and coordination and I hinted earlier that for us at the governors forum, we are interested in cooperative federalism than competitive federalism.

“We are not competing with the federal government and this is something that is an existential threat of Nigeria.

To resolve it what Nigerians are interested in is resolving it and not who resolves it.

“The federal government has a federal approach to it and

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

NAMI AND THE NATION’S TAXING DUTIES The nation’s chief tax collector, Muhammad Nami, has started remarkably well, writes Louis Achi

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ccording to Plato, that plucky Athenian philosopher who flowered during the Classical period in Ancient Greece, “When there is an income tax, the just man will pay more and the unjust less on the same amount of income.” If Plato’s wise advisory targeted Muhammad Nami, the executive chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), the nation’s newest chief tax collector would certainly have gracefully thanked the sage - not really because he needs such well-meaning counsel.

Nami is a certified tax, accounting and management professional with privileged credentials. He navigates with top-tier professional practicing licenses and about 30 years of practical working experience in auditing, management and tax advisory and management services to clients in the banking, manufacturing, services and public sector as well as non-profit organizations.

Clearly, this background has prepared him for the often thankless and bruising job of a chief tax collector, incidentally the foundational base from which a government can actualize its social contract with her citizens. Following the expiration of Babatunde Fowler’s tenure as FIRS boss, President Muhammadu Buhari had announced the appointment of Nami as the executive chairman of FIRS on December 9, 2019, with his assumption of office on December 19, following senate confirmation.

Going forward, several significant governance moves by Nami, since assumption of office, provide an insight into his thinking and offer critical metrics for analyzing his vision, demonstrable capacity and gravitas.

From immediate assessment of the human and material resources at FIRS’ disposal, he implemented a comprehensive staff reshuffling exercise and ordered the processing and issuance of several thousands of Tax Clearance Certificates (TCCs) to all eligible taxpayers in just one month, a statutory obligation hitherto encumbered by unseemly bureaucratic logjam.

At the time of this publication, an unprecedented number of TCCs have been processed and delivered to taxpayers nationwide, a process that had hitherto often required quirky visitations to prayer houses by desperate taxpayers! The TCC essentially brings official clarity to an entity’s tax status and is especially important to MSME entrepreneurs or small business operators whose businesses rest on government procurement and supplies. Being bereft of TCC suggests the business operator is a dodgy fellow unworthy of government patronage - by failing to diligently file his tax returns.

More, from all indications, the unassuming Nami is modernizing the Nigerian tax system to neutralize often contrived hurdles and align it line with global best practices as envisaged by the 2019 Finance Law. The new FIRS boss has blocked much of the leakages in the system and embarked on other wide-ranging reforms aimed at repositioning the agency for efficient service delivery.

Not surprisingly, the latest report from FIRS shows that its collection for the first quarter of 2020 is an improvement on what it harvested in

the same period last year. It has collected more than N1.2trillion against more than N1trillion during the corresponding period of 2019.

The unprecedented Q-1 2020 revenue is all the more remarkable as the period coincided with two adverse global developments on individuals, businesses and nations - a global fall in the price of crude oil price, which is Nigeria’s foremost cash cow and a shutdown of the global economic system by the COVID-19 pandemic.

In the final computation of the Q1, 2020 results, a comparative analysis of the two periods shows that the Q1, 2020 collection of N1,203,310,372,900.34 is over N156 billion higher than its corresponding Q1, 2019 collection of N1,046,889,787,060.27. Hence the 15% increase over the previous years’ first quarter collection.

AN UNPRECEDENTED NUMBER OF TCCS HAVE BEEN PROCESSED AND DELIVERED TO TAXPAYERS NATIONWIDE, A PROCESS THAT HAD HITHERTO OFTEN REQUIRED QUIRKY VISITATIONS TO PRAYER HOUSES BY DESPERATE TAXPAYERS!

More specifically, increases in collections from capital gains tax (568% increase), gas income tax rose (420%), petroleum profits tax (9%). Companies’ income tax (152%), NITDEF (522%), stamp duty (40%), and value added tax (27% at the customs level and 13% at the non-import level) illuminate the sterling revenue harvest.

According to the FIRS’ director, communications and liaison department, Abdullahi Ismaila Ahmad, in a recent press statement, it’s a “new record in revenue collection.”

As often said, the reward for hard work is more work, the federal government handed down an N8.5trillion target tax revenue collection for 2020, to the workaholic chief tax collector. Of course, given the imperative of frontally confronting development challenges in a third world country, it would be unfair to accuse the federal government of trying to kill a willing horse.

Although viewed differently by different analysts, the newly enacted 2019 Finance Law is seen both as fillip and hurdle to Nami’s trajectory. It gives a range of generous, historic tax exemptions, reliefs and holidays to millions of working Nigerians, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) - which provide a rather complex, tricky navigational field.

A flip perspective is that the Finance Act 2019, is an instrument for strengthening the taxation system that came into effect on February 1, 2020. The act increased VAT from 5% to 7.5% but activated a reduction in withholding tax rate from 5% to 2.5% in certain sectors, decline in levy paid by taxpayers to obtain TCC, and the full takeover of PAYE (pay as you earn) and PIT (personal income tax) in the FCT by the FCT-IRS. But Nami the pragmatic, diligent strategist can hardly be bothered but has rather deployed an unswerving focus to achieve his set targets.

He doesn’t let himself be distracted by the activities of detractors that wage war on social media. He knows some people, especially those dislodged by his reforms, will always throw stones as he strides forward to change the nation’s tax story.

Achi, journalist, wrote from Abuja

MORE PRISONERS SHOULD BE RELEASED Ayodele Okunfolami argues the need to set free more inmates awaiting trials

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n addition to the state pardon granted five late nationalists some 2,600 inmates were released from Nigerian prisons on the day preceding Good Friday. Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, who made this announcement at a press conference in Abuja, explained that this was the first phase of release of inmates and that the committee on Presidential amnesty will continue to meet regularly to consider those who deserve the benefit.

At that same press conference was Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, who said the release of these jailbirds was in response to a call by the United Nations on member nations to reduce the number of inmates in custodial concentrations in view of the social distancing of these times. As a matter of fact, there is an ongoing pressure from inside and outside prison walls around the world for mass release of inmates because of coronavirus especially that of political prisoners.

This move by the federal government is unsurprising as there had been motions at both national and subnational levels to depopulate clusters in order to control and contain the coronavirus. Schools, markets, offices and worship centres had all been closed or regulated to discourage large congregations of people so prisons and internally displaced persons’ camps too should be decongested if the fight against the pandemic is to be whole.

It is as if COVID-19 keeps exposing the frailties of every segment of the Nigerian society and the need to change or at least fix its failing operating system. It has uncovered our sick healthcare system, unmasked the crude social intervention programme and our lack of safety nets. Likewise, it has unearthed the long need for prison reforms in Nigeria.

I was excited when President Buhari signed into law the Correctional Service Act 2019, which repealed the Prisons Act 2018 and changed the

Nigerian Prison Service to Nigerian Correctional Service because although it may just be a seeming trivial nomenclatural alteration, it sends a more positive signal. Laws should be more remedial than punitive. Nigeria’s deplorable prisons overtime has been more defamatory than reformatory. The account is that Nigerian jails transforms petty criminals at entry to hardened criminals at discharge.

Many things are responsible for this. A critical one is that our penitentiaries are overcrowded and the solution is not building more prisons but establishing more courts for speedy trials of cases.

The Minister of Justice also stated in that press conference that over 70% of people in Nigerian correctional facilities are awaiting trials. This is where the work should begin and I had expected a large-scale release especially of those in this category which is contained in the letter of President Buhari to the Chief Justice of Nigeria to consider the release of the 52,226 inmates awaiting trials. This action would shave off tens of thousands of the 74,127 prisoners instead of the drop-in-the-ocean 2,600. This way, the government would have achieved both social distancing and prison reforms.

While clarifying the federal government’s actions, Aregbesola stated majority of the released had violations that required fines in the range of N50,000 or thereabout. What that suggests is that it was their inability to pay the said fines for their offences that kept them behind bars. Aside from our culture of throwing money at every problem, most monetary punishments don’t fit the crime. Generally, the penalties for traffic transgressions or environmental violations are arbitrarily high financial fees that are beyond the measure of the offence. So in lieu of the offender’s inability to pay the crime in cash, the mobile court sends him to an already crammed jail.

This is what makes law enforcers wear the garb of revenue generators. This is what encourages the

defaulter, that can afford the fine, bribe his way through which could end up a cheaper option than losing manhours going to the bureaucratic agency office to collect the bill then go to the bank to pay into a dubious account. So, looking more critically, those that end up behind the bars for offences as vague as loitering are just unfortunate.

I will like to suggest that law enforcement agencies at all tiers of the government be taken away from the executive but be placed under the judiciary.

Aside freeing them from the reckless abuse of the executive, it eases them from pursuing revenue targets to concentrate on maintaining law and order.

Another way to work around this is to devise innovative punishments instead of detaining manpower in unproductivity in a cell. Instead of sending them to jail, the defaulter’s operating license can be seized for a while, he may be made to do community service or denied some rights. And if the offence must cost him money, then it should be deducted straight from his bank account. But for this to happen, the citizen must first be recognized as the greatest resource of the nation and so detaining him is equivalent to underutilization of that resource. It also means having a rich database where all biometric and enrollment registers are made compulsory and linked together. This way, law enforcement will not be living life backwards crudely pursing and placing spiked iron before errant vehicles, carrying ladder from house to house to cut electricity supply of debtors and other archaic practices.

Back to our overcrowded prisons. A lot of inmates are on death roll and are apprehensively awaiting their day on the gallows or an amnesty by the authorities. Now, democracy as practiced in Nigeria is one that sees separation of powers. So, when Acts of Parliament are passed by legislators, it has to be signed by the executive for it to be law. It is in the same vein that convicts on death roll won’t be

executed until the governor signs his death warrant.

Ironically, governors that are characteristically quick to assent their signatures to death penalty bills on kidnapping, rape or the like from their respective state legislatures either pussyfoot or pontificate in signing the execution of the sentenced convicts. If the death penalty is to remain in our constitution, then it must be implemented. So, in decongesting our prisons, let the full wrath of the law be brought to bear or pardon extended to them.

When our jails are decongested, the cost per head of clothing, feeding, skilling, deradicalization, resocialization and overall maintenance of an inmate would improve and its correctional theme would be more attainable.

I don’t know how feasible privatization of our prisons would fly but in the long run what we should strive at is preventing people from getting into the prisons in the first place. If our leaders don’t want prisons or prisoners to be taking a chunk of the budget and time, then they should do more to make the lives of the citizenry better. Yes, the authorities are working hard to make the society better, but the injustice of bringing down “illegal” structures that served as livelihoods for families, banning of okada, deprivation of opportunities because of ones origin, the political elite breaking these same laws and getting away with it, the tragedies and trial they go through or just inability to obey laws because they were poorly crafted or the social infrastructure to do so is absent will widen the prison doors.

Today’s recidivists, who are mainly young adults, do not commit the crime only because of hunger, they are committing the crime as a way of getting back at a society that has scarred them mentally, socially and economically. It is when these wounds are prevented and scars healed, that Nigeria can join nations with empty prisons.

Okunfolami wrote from Festac, Lagos

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T H I S D AY ˾ FRI DAY, APRIL 24, 2020

EDITORIAL CURBING CHILD MARRIAGE IN NIGERIA The cost of marrying off young girls is high on the nation

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he prevalence of maternal mortality and morbidity, child mortality and malnutrition, all of which have grave impacts on our human capital development, also have a strong interconnection with the incidence of child marriage. That explains why the recent disclosure by the United Nations Women Africa that Nigeria has the highest child brides in the world with 23 million girls married off in childhood, is disturbing. Critical stakeholders must come together in a bid to addressing some of the practices that inhibit the progress of our girls and women, including child marriage.

According to available reports, some 45 per cent of Nigerian girls are married—usually against their will— from age 13 to 18 in some parts of the country. Not only are they denied of their childhoods, the society is also robbed of the harmony expected in homes with matured partners. Wasila Tasi’u, 14, who in 2015 rebelled against the practice of forced marriage in Kano State confessed to poisoning her 35-year-old husband and three others.

NOT ONLY ARE THEY While that is not a DENIED OF THEIR common occurrence, CHILDHOODS, THE it nonetheless underSOCIETY IS ALSO ROBBED scores the gravity of the situation.

OF THE HARMONY EXPECTED IN HOMES WITH There are also health implications MATURED PARTNER to the issue of early marriage for girls. Nigeria is reputed to have the highest incidence of Vesico Vaginal Fistula (VVF) in the world, with an estimated 20,000 new cases reported every year. VVF, an abnormal fistulous tract extending that allows the continuous involuntary discharge of urine, is often caused by childbirth and most of its victims in Nigeria are predominantly victims of child marriage.

Some of the enablers of child marriage in Nigeria include illiteracy as well as religious and cultural practices. All these factors came into play in 2013 when

the Senate resolved to retain Section 29 (4) (b) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) despite the fact that its review committee had, in its draft amendment bill recommended the deletion of Section 29 (4) (b) which stipulates that “any woman who is married shall be deemed to be of full age.” Though this section deals with the qualifying age for renunciation of citizenship, its connection with child marriage arose from the preceding Section 29 (4) (a) which provides that “full age means the age of eighteen years and above”.

I 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

nterestingly, the recommendation had been overwhelmingly passed by the Senate until religion was introduced into the issue on grounds of Item 61, Part 1 of the Second Schedule of the constitution which empowers the National Assembly to consider “the formation, annulment and dissolution of marriages other than marriages under Islamic law and Customary law including matrimonial causes relating thereto.”

While there is no generally acceptable marriage age among the states, Section 23 of the Child Rights Act makes it a criminal offence to marry a girl under 18 years and prescribes a penalty of five years’ imprisonment. Unfortunately, many of the states in the north have yet to adopt the act despite the benefits and protections it confers on every child. We call on these states to do so forthwith, and for those who have enacted it into law to also commence implementation. But beyond that, there is an urgent need for the federal government and civil society to embark on an awareness campaign, particularly in areas where child bride is in vogue, with a view to highlighting the health, educational, economic, social and psychological implications of this practice.

All factors considered, marrying a girl off early is not in her interest. However, to get rid of the menace, policies that reward parents who encourage their daughters to go to school should be put in place, while financial penalties should be imposed for those adults who withdraw their daughters and their wards before completion of secondary school.

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A LETTER TO SOUTH EAST GOVERNORS

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our Excellencies, following the global outbreak of the novel Corona Virus (Covid-19) Nigeria’s leadership responded swiftly announcing drastic measures including territorial lockdowns to curtail and combat the spread of the pandemic.

State governments (including South East States) across the country responded with equal statewide measures aimed at combating community spread of the pandemic in their respective states.

Part of the measures by states and the federal government is the restrictions on people’s movement. These restrictions became necessary since it is believed that the virus is spread through droplets from infected persons which when it comes in contact with a person, such person becomes infected.

Your Excellencies, it is on record that at this time, security agents have killed more people in South Eastern Nigeria than in any other region of the country with the pretentious excuse of enforcing the lockdown against the spread of the COVID-19.

To Your Excellencies, it is now obvious that overzealous security agents consistently brutalize and kill young Ndi Igbo at the flimsiest of excuses under the watch of Igbo leaders. For a long time Ndi Igbo have concentrated their animosity against external elements while ignoring leadership in Igbo land.

We believe that it is misplaced aggression for Ndi Igbo

to continue to fight external forces while our political and traditional leaders constitute a more dangerous danger to Ndi Igbo.

As Governors of South Eastern states, the security and welfare of Ndi Igbo ought to and should be the topmost priority to Your Excellencies.

In strong terms we decry Your Excellencies silence in the face of constant and consistent brutalization and killing of your people. Governors from other federating units of Nigeria will never condone this kind of regular killings of their citizens, and we ask, “why do Your Excellencies accept and condone this bloodletting in our homeland?”

We view this as a failure of leadership in the South East and must be addressed immediately.

The new thinking is Igbocentric leadership. We can no longer stand aside and watch while leadership in Igbo land fails Ndi Igbo.

By this open letter we strongly urge Your Excellencies: To take proactive steps to arrest the decline in the security and safety of Ndi Igbo across South East States; to take proactive steps to ward off the excessive use of maximum force and indiscriminate arrest of Igbo youths in our Homeland, take immediate steps in mobilizing South East resources to address infrastructural deficiencies across Igboland; to begin immediate mobilization of Ndi Igbo towards the actualization of the Igbo Homeland Project.

Amb. Obuesi Phillips, Global Leader, People Of South East Region (POSER)

SCRAP ’19/’20 ACADEMIC SESSION

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hese are times like no other in recent memory and in “modern” times by Nigerian reckoning. Surely, the COVID-19 pandemic is so much unlike the swine flu of 2009; the preventive measures of “social distancing,” “quarantine,” “lockdown,” “testing,” etc., are new to us.

Most regrettably is the fact that the federal government has abandoned the local university system for too long now and this neglect has exposed the fraud of a loud-mouthed and insincere government for what it is: garrulousness (Gar-ish, if you know what I mean. Shh!). With no indigenous inputs available to set-up models of local-appropriate responses to preventing the spread of the causative agent of the COVID-19 pandemic other than simply copying what developed countries do (lockdown, social distancing, etc.), it is not in the best interest of the general public if the federal government rushes students back to school here in Nigeria as the infection curve flattens in temperate countries during the onset of summer.

So far, it has been a period of the dry season for Nigeria (high humidity, heavy

sunshine, dusty air to maybe provide micronuclei for the corona virus to coalesce on, etc.) but Nigeria will soon get wet at the onset of the rainy season with attendant lowering of humidity. Our infection curve may yet steep upwards. You see why the federal government should have involved Nigeria’s academics all this while in the battle to provide appropriate info and statistics on the COVID-19 pandemic?

Thus, the best course of action to take now is to scrap the 2019/2020 academic session and hope for a favourable resumption date of January 2021 at which time widespread, reliable vaccination may have been completed for the population. In the meantime, the opportunity is best for the federal government to hearken to ASUU, fund all tiers of education, challenge Nigeria’ academics, and look inwards.

Nigeria cannot afford the risk of localised outbreaks of COVID-19 when schools are packed after an “all-clear” has been declared by simply copying the models of America and elsewhere. Better to just lose an academic session.

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

T H I S D AY ˾ FRIDAY APRIL 24, 2020

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POLITICS

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

The Illegal IMC of NDDC and Its Dubious Forensic Audit Comrade Ofonime Akpanikon, National Coordinator of Niger Delta Frontline Coalition argues that the Interim Management Committee put in place at the Niger Delta Development Commission is designed to cover the fraudulent tracks of those who presided over the award and payment of several billions of Naira in fraudulent contracts

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ur attention has been drawn to reports in some Nigerian newspapers of Thursday, April 23rd 2020 where the illegal Interim Management Committee of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) put up a show on Wednesday to give the impression that a forensic audit was being kickstarted a full six months after the IMC was illegally appointed.

In statements credited to Professor DK Pondei, the IMC sought to hide its putrid face and that of the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Chief Godswill Akpabio behind a finger with statements to disparage the fact of its illegality and extensive whistleblower reports of corruption leveled against it by several groups in the Niger Delta. While Pondei said they were the handiwork of those who oppose the Minister and the illegal IMC for what he shamelessly called their commitment to the forensic audit, we want to put it on record that critics of the IMC and Akpabio have never been opposed to the forensic audit but to the illegal imposition of the IMC, their fraudulent operations in the Commission and the distortion of the audit to hide the nefarious activities and plans of the Minister.

Since Akpabio started his shenanigans in the NDDC by installing an illegal IMC he and the committee have continued with the false narrative that those who expose their fraudulent deals are opposed to the audit. The Minister and his illegal IMC have orchestrated propaganda of lies, half-truths, conjectures and manipulations in their drive to seize and appropriate the collective commonwealth of the Niger Delta people for themselves. For the avoidance of doubt, we have always asked for a forensic audit and several groups in the region, cutting across diverse ethnic and civil society organisations, have done so for many years. However, what Akpabio has put in place is an exercise designed to cover up his fraudulent tracks and those of his cronies who have presided over the award and payment of several billions of naira in fraudulent contracts. Many of these have been revealed in recent weeks by whistleblowers in the region and many more will be revealed in the coming weeks.

The Akpabio IMC is illegal and has no place in the NDDC Act, which only provides for a Governing Board nominated by the President in line with set conditions and approved by the National Assembly. These have grave implications for the NDDC as an institution because a situation where a government or appointee can at their whim decide to set aside the law setting up agencies is not only a fundamental corruptive breach of due process but one that opens up the channels of manipulation and corruption. This is what Akpabio has put in place in the NDDC and why the actions of the IMC are suspect. He has caused to be appointed a committee he alone nominated and not beholding to any institution but him, a danger we raised in October 2019 when the appointments were made. By his selfish actions, he has risked the reputation of the NDDC further and jeopardized even the audit as contemplated because at least four legal actions have been instituted in federal courts by indigenes and activist groups in the Niger Delta to declare the constitution of IMC illegal and all its activities since it was constituted. Not only that, other actions are pending in court challenging the

inchoate manner in which the institutions provided for in the NDDC Act of 2000 (as amended) have been set up under the minister. Among these are the NDDC Monitoring Committee to which

he installed himself as Chairman and the NDDC Advisory Committee where he again installed himself as a member.

Both committees are clearly provided for in the law to work with the Govern-

Appointment of Chief of Staff: The Daura Option Jonah Okah, legal practitioner and public affairs analyst suggests that President Buhari should do the needful by appointing Mr. Lawal Daura as his Chief of Staff

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he sad and untimely demise of Mr. Abba Kyari, former Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari in the wake of the dreaded Coronavirus attack, has not only thrown the nation into mourning but has also thrown up raging controversy on whose leg can fill the big shoes of the late Chief of Staff.

Only few days after Kyari’s death, politicians who are known for their power thirsty nature rather than seeking genuine intention to serve the nation, have rolled out their lobby machinery to take over the exalted office of Chief of Staff to the President.

Already, many names are making the rounds, while Nigerians are watching with keen interest over the presidential decision of choice. No doubt the office of Chief of Staff to the President of any country is a no mean position in the political calculus over the success of the President.

The appointment to that office is the number one personal staff of the President. Therefore, the choice and appointment is a matter of the right and privilege of the President. The office is not only a gate keeper but also represents the true meaning of feedback mechanism for Mr. President.

The person so chosen to serve in that capacity must as a matter of fact be loyal, honest and confidant of the President, because it is the seat of power and authority and the occupier must be seen to be acting in the overall interest of the country. The Chief of Staff to the President should be ready at all times to receive bullets on behalf of Mr President.

Though, late Mr Abba Kyari displayed

all the carriage required but was grossly misconstrued across the country, but the aftermath of his death later showed evidently that he never betrayed the confidence lavishly reposed in him by his boss, President Muhammadu Buhari. Some even called him surrogate president in the course of defending and protecting the President with all sense of responsibility and altruistic purposes. According to one of his friends of 43 years and the current Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Geoffrey Onyeama, “Abba was a man of unimpeachable integrity absolutely incorruptible… Abba was loyal to a fault. He decided he was going to protect his boss, President Muhammadu Buhari, at all cost and will take any number of bullets for him and he did… He was very intelligent, well-read and varied professional experience. He held strong opinions and did not yield to positions easily, but once he believed in someone or a cause, he will fight with everything he had. Abba believed completely in the Nigerian project…

Nigerians will look back in years to come and see that he was truly the best man.”

The person to replace Abba Kyari must have the above characters, strong constitution and mien for national interest.

One is constrained to weave this piece for several reasons: One, God will not forgive me if I refuse to suggest a name to Mr president in his overall interest to succeed in his second tenure and in the interest of Nigeria in general.

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

ing Board, which inauguration has been delayed for some strange reason.

Rather, the minister has promoted the appointment of an IMC in contravention of the NDDC Act. Our group, and indeed others have made the point that the Minister ’s desire to promote the IMC is to have in place a management that will do his bidding and facilitate the cover up of his corruption footprints in the NDDC first as Governor of Akwa Ibom state for eight years and then as Minister since 2019. At the pains of sounding repetitive we recall that as a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governor of Akwa Ibom State between 2007 and 2015 Akpabio nominated a Chairman, Managing Director and State representative for the NDDC. The unscrupulous actions of those managements should be up for question but we make bold to say that the Minister is shielding his godsons who may be indicted were a proper audit to be done. We believe that a proper transparent audit does not have to be micro-managed as the Minister and his illegal IMC have been trying to do in the last seven months.

This is why we have always insisted on a reputable international firm of auditors carrying out the audit under a duly constituted Governing Board.

Clearly what is happening now is that the IMC is restless on account of recent revelations of their malfeasance with their hands in the cookie jar. We are aware that since Niger Delta groups and citizens began to raise questions on his motives, Akpabio has tuned up his propaganda machine to give the impression that he is going ahead with the audit as ordered by President Buhari, which he had conveniently ignored, while chasing contract payment in the agency for his cronies. Yet this is a step too little too late and designed to mask his real intentions.

Nigerians will recall that the Minister had stated when the illegal IMC was appointed that the audit will last six months beginning from their appointment in October 2019. It is already seven months since the IMC was appointed and the audit we are being told will now begin and last an additional nine months. We consider this an insult to the intelligence of the people of the Niger Delta region and total disdain for the law and due process. What this means, if this illegality is allowed to continue, is that Akpabio would have singlehandedly run the NDDC like his personal estate, a sole proprietorship, along with superintending over its annual budget of over N300 billion. In effect, several billions of naira has been put in the hands of that illegal committee to spend under the supervision of Akpabio.

The Niger Delta will not stomach the gross illegality that Akpabio has foisted on the NDDC and we will continue to expose him for his lies and manipulations. However, we cringe to believe that the Buhari administration and its famed anti-corruption toga will fall to the manipulation of the Minister into allowing that illegality to become the new normal in the agency in utter disregard for the NDDC Act, where he is directing the payment of billions of naira for fake, unverified and unapproved contracts.

We call on President Buhari to disband Akpabio’s illegal IMC, inaugurate a Board for the NDDC and appoint an unbiased international firm of auditors to independently audit the books of the NDDC.

FRIDAY APRIL 24, 2020 • T H I S D AY

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FRIDAY APRIL 24, 2020 •T H I S D AY

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T H I S D AY ˾ APRIL 24, 2020

BUSINESSWORLD R A T E S MONEY MARKET OBB OVERNIGHT

A S

A T

REPO 2% 2.25 %

CALL 1-MONTH 3-MONTH

1.75 % 5.50 % 5.63 %

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

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

1 7 , 2 0 2 0 487.69 % 0.26 % 4.73 %

S & P INDEX 1/4 TO DATE 4.73 % YEAR TO DATE 1.36 %

EXCHANGE RATE N361/1US DOLLAR* ̩

Quick Takes Chinese Airlines Lure Travelers

Fromofferingticketsatthecostofavegetabletomulti-seatdiscounts, Chineseairlinesarerollingoutaseriesofdealstoattracttravelersinthe run-up to Labor Day on May 1 -- the first major holiday since the nation cametoastandstillduetoCovid-19,CNNhasreported.Recordingaloss ofRMB39.8billion($5.6billion)inthefirstquarterof2020,accordingto theCivilAviationAdministrationofChina,thecountry’saviationindustry istakingitsfirststepstowardrecoveryaslockdownmeasuresease.

“Withthegovernment’spolicytorestartworkandfactories,domestic flightsareslowlyresumingandChina’scivilaviationmarketisbeginning towarmupagain,”ananalystatVariFlight,aChina-basedaviationdata servicecompany,toldCNNTravel.

“Ontheotherhand,duetothelarge-scalespreadofthevirusoverseas aswellasinternationalflightrestrictions,internationalroutesstillshow a downward trend. The recovery of international routes may require moretime.”

According to VariFlight’s data, airline operations in Mainland China plummetedover80percentbetweentheendofJanuaryandFebruary.

Domesticflightsbegantoreboundinmid-Februaryandasofthisweek haverisentoalmosthalfofpre-Covid19levels.

Coming as a further sign of the market’s recovery, regional carriers including Guizhou Airlines, Air Guilin and Hainan Airlines are all adding new domestic routes for the summer and fall seasons in anticipation ofpassengerdemand.

EU Plans to Restore Air Travel

BREAKFAST MEETING

L-R: Partner/Head, Tax Regulatory and People Service, KPMG, Mr. Wole Obayomi; Director-General, Budget Office of the Federation, Ben Akabueze; Executive Chairman, Federal Inland Revenue Services (FIRS) Muhammad Nami; and Chief Executive Office, Afya Care Nigeria Limited, Mr Tosin Runsewe, during KPMG Tax Breakfast Seminar held in Lagos… recently PHOTO: ETOP UKUTT

Customs Agents Decry Violation of FG’s Order on Demurrage Waiver Eromosele Abiodun Customs agents in the country have cried out over the flagrant disobedience of the directive by the federal government that terminal operators and shipping companies suspend the collection of demurrage and rents as a result of the COVID- 19 lockdown.

This is coming more than 29 days after the federal government’s directive to waive demurrage and rents on imported cargoes.

The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), had directed that all terminal operators should suspend all applicable terminal storage fees (demurrage) on consignments for an initial period of 21

MARITIME days effective March 23. It also extended the demurrage-free period by another 14 days from April 13.

In another memo issued on April 8, NPA had said it would, “grant credit notes commensurate to the rental reliefs granted by the terminal operators to importers within the 21-day free storage period.”

Also, the Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC) had directed all shipping companies to suspend demurrage charges on cargoes during the period of the COVID-19 lockdown effective March 30th.

However, in a petition to the

federal government through the NPA, the agents claimed that the shipping companies and terminal operators have continued to collect the fees.

National President of the National Council of Managing Directors of Licensed Customs Agents (NCMDLCA), the umbrella body of customs agents in Nigeria, Lucky Amiwero, lamented that: “As at Monday 20th April 2020, the terminal and shipping company collect all rents and demurrage from licensed Customs agents(LCA) and refuse to grant the waiver even when NPA has issued the second letter dated 8th April 2020, which makes it exactly 27 days now from 23rd March 2020.”

But the agents said as directed by the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID 19, NPA as the agency directed to bring about seamless coordination, should compel the shipping companies and the terminals to comply with the directive due to frustration of Port activities up till date.

The agents in the letter addressed to the Managing Director of the NPA, Hadiza Bala-Usman, added: “We commend the NPA for pushing for the waiver of 21 days and the extension to accommodate the period of the Lockdown, this will bring about stability in the operation of the Port, which is skeletally Continued on page 20

Aero May Expand Aircraft Maintenance to Uyo Facility Chinedu Eze To sustain its aircraft maintenance capacity, Aero Contractors may utilise the Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility at the Uyo airport, built

by Akwa Ibom state government.

The Chief Executive Officer of Aero Contractors, Captain Ado Sanusi said airlines in Nigeria and in the West and Central Africa have been bringing their planes to the airline’s facility in Lagos, but due to the high demand for maintenance, the company would wish to partner with Akwa Ibom government to utilise the Uyo facility.

With the adverse effect of COVID-19 pandemic and the attendant economic depression,

AVIATION it would be difficult and costly for airlines in Nigeria and in the sub-region to ferry their aircraft overseas. Therefore, it is expected that major maintenance would be conducted by Aero locally, hence the need for more capacity, which could be provided by the MRO facility in Uyo. “We in Aero are willing to partner with the Akwa Ibom government to utilise that facility. If they are willing, we can work together because we need more space. Some airlines are already talking to us. We are the ones that will conduct maintenance on many of the aircraft operating in Nigeria because with the economic

crunch occasioned by COVID-19, it would be too expensive for airlines to ferry their aircraft overseas for maintenance. Once we take over the place we can change it,” Sanusi said.

The Chief Operating Officer of Dana Air, Obi Mbanuzuo said Nigerian carriers would face huge challenge in the maintenance of their aircraft overseas because of the diminished economy and remarked that it was high time Nigeria started having those maintenance facilities and know-how locally.

He commended Aero’s maintenance capabilities, noting that the company ought to expand its facilities to be able to take up the challenge of maintaining more aircraft.

Mbanuzuo, also said it would be a good idea if Aero and Akwa Ibom would collaborate so that Aero MRO could utilise the hangar but noted that he would always prefer private sector driven enterprise.

“Yes, the Aero hangar is small for doing the maintenance work it is doing. They have the capabilities in terms of the engineers, trained engineers and things like that. When you talk about Akwa Ibom, I have personally been to Uyo hangar, I have seen what they have done and a lot of documentation on what they have done. It is actually a huge hangar, very sophisticated, but Continued on page 20

TheEuropeantransportcommissioner,AdinaValeanhassignaledthat guidelineswouldbesetoutbymid-Mayregardingastrategytorestart cross-borderoperationsincludingairtravel,butstressedthatthetiming willdependonthehealthsituation.Flightglobalreportedrecentlythat, theCommissionerwasreluctanttopre-emptthefinalisationofspecific measuresallowingflightstoresume,butindicatedthattherewouldbe guidelinesonrestoringtravelandtourismthisseason.

“Probablybymid-Maywecanputforwardthestrategywe’reworking on,”shesaid,addingthatitwouldfeature“horizontalprinciples”ofrules toberespectedwhilere-openingtravelconnections.

Valeanstatedthatshecouldnotsaywhenserviceswouldberestored, becausethehealthsituationneededtobeprioritised,butsheemphasised thataco-ordinationbetweenmemberstatesisessential.

“It’sbettertohaveaharmonisedapproachthanseeeachonetakingits ownmeasures,”sheadded.

Health specialists would establish the criteria that European Union member states would need to accept in order to ensure a common approachtocross-bordertravel.

“We have to make sure health criteria are well-respected and in place beforeanyrelaxationintravelwillhappen,”Valeansaid.

Shesuggestedthatsocial-distancingmeasureswouldneedtocontinue inrelationtoairtravel,thetransportmodeshesayshasbeen“hardesthit”.

Qatar Airlifts One Million Passengers

Qatar Airways has carried over one million people and transported over70,000tonnesofmedicalequipmentandaidrelief,theairlinehas announced,addingthatitisensuringitisareliablepartnerforpassengers, governments,traveltradeandfreightcompaniesinextremelychallenging circumstances.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has created an unprecedented challenge forQatarAirwaysandtheaviationindustryasawhole.Whiletheairline continuestomaintainoperationswherepossibletotakepeoplehome andtotransportessentialsupplies,overalldemandforairtransporthas declinedsignificantly,”QatarAirwaysmanagementsaid.

It stated that since mid-February, Qatar Airways has helped reunite over one million passengers with their loved ones, operating a mix of scheduled and charter services plus extra sectors. In the past several weeks,theairlinehashelpedrepatriateover45,000passengersback hometoFrance,70,000hometoGermanyandover100,000customers backtotheUnitedKingdom.Workingwithgovernmentsandgrouptravel companiesaroundtheworld,theairlineoperatedover90chartersand extrasectorflightstakinghomeover26,000strandedtravelers.

ThedemandtohelpgetstrandedtravellershomehasalsoseenQatar AirwaysoperateflightstonewdestinationssuchasBrisbane,Christchurch andToronto.ThenationalcarrieroftheStateofQatarcontinuestooperate approximately60scheduledflightsadaytoaround40destinationsand isworkingcloselywithembassiesacrosstheglobetoarrangecharters torepatriatestrandedcitizens.

“Every single flight that you would see, that received approval would be an essential flight and 98 per cent of them would be connected to COVID-19” Minister of Aviation,

Senator Hadi Sirika

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BUSINESSWORLD CUSTOMS AGENTS DECRY VIOLATION OF FG’S ORDER ON DEMURRAGE WAIVER operated up till date “Furthermore, majority of LCAs are still at home due to inability to access the port from their various home, as a result of non-availability of public transportation and most especially, area concerning port operation is not in full operation at the ports, which is still run skeletal till date.

On the health of licensed customs agents, they said: “The LCAs are clearly at risk with the daily exposure in the continuation of the clearance of goods from the port at this time of lockdown, without proper protection wares and care from various government agencies, who are to assist in the provision of protective wares, shuttle buses within the port environments and provide relief to take care of the hazard the LCAs go through daily. “There is the need for coordinating activities for proper direction of social distance by all Port workers and the provision of water and sanitizer to save guide the life of the LCAs and other port users.�

While calling on the federal government to urgently address the matter due to its effect on port operation, they stated, “As you are aware, as at April 20, 2020, the issue highlighted are yet to be addressed, which is of great concern to the life, health and economy of the LCAs who are at risk.�

AERO MAY EXPAND AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE TO UYO FACILITY it still needs a lot of financial input to complete the job. “I am not in support of government in business. The Minster called us a year and half or two years ago to discuss about national carrier, MRO, leasing company and I said the idea is okay. I support all that, if it is a matter of putting the right things in place for somebody or some consortium to do that job not for the government to be involved. I will never be in support of the government to run an MRO. “You and I know that if it is run by government it is going to fail. It will fail. Rather, if for example Aero or Arik or whoever shows interest, they give the companies the proper support, and not just mouth support,� he said.

NEWS

NAVY, NIMASA to Improve Information Sharing to Enhance Maritime Security Stories by Eromosele Abiodun The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and the Nigeria Navy have announced plan to improve information sharing to enhance Nigeria’s maritime security.

They also announced that arrangements to integrate the Command, Control, Computer Communication and Information Centre, otherwise known as the C4i Centre of the Deep Blue Project along with the Falcon Eye of the Nigerian Navy are ongoing.

The Flag Officer Commanding (FOC) Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Oladele Bamidele Daji, made this known when he led a team of senior officers from the command on a working visit to NIMASA. Daji, applauded the already existing relationship between the agency and the Nigerian Navy and stated the need for continuous information sharing between the Navy and NIMASA in order to aid daily operations towards ensuring a safer and secured maritime sector.

He said there was zero tolerance for piracy on the nation’s waterways, stating that the Navy is prepared to tackle the issues head-on, for the overall good of the maritime sector.

Daji, appealed for cooperation with the NIMASA hydrography unit, especially with regards to standard charting of the Nigerian waters as well as mapping out the wrecks. He said this would go a long way in ensuring unhindered navigation.

The Director General of NIMASA Dr. Bashir Jamoh, while stating the importance of cooperation between the Navy and NIMASA, said that both agencies have mandates that are interwoven, adding that since NIMASA is not an arm bearing organization, it was important for it to support the Navy with necessary platforms for it to be able to optimally safeguard Nigerian Waters. “Just like we did by ensuring that our Special Mission Vessels are manned by men of the Nigerian Navy, we are

also looking at the possibility of effectively linking the C4i center at kikiriki with the Falcon Eye of the Nigerian Navy. This is to ensure safety of lives and property for safer shipping in the Nigerian maritime domain so that the maritime industry remains virile for economic prosperity,� he said.

Jamoh, also disclosed that the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) facility at Takwa Bay, will become functional very soon and the facility will also enhance intelligence gathering and

information sharing with the Nigerian Navy, which has also approved the establishment of a Naval formation at Takwa Bay. Speaking on other challenges in the maritime corridor from Navy town to the Harbor in Apapa Lagos, the NIMASA DG noted that activities of unapproved ship scrapping yards are a source of concern and all identified wrecks will be removed working with the hydrography department of the Nigerian Navy.

The NIMASA boss also warned that those involved

in these nefarious acts would be made to face the full wrath of the law if they fail to desist from indiscriminate scrapping of vessels and other illegal activities. “We are aware of the challenges wrecks, derelicts and activities of illegal scrap yards pose to our waterways. We will share information with the hydrography department of the Nigerian Navy, so appropriate steps, which will be in the best interest of the country will be implemented,� he said.

EMPOWERMENT SCHEME

L-R: Marketing Communications Manager, Rosabon Financial Services, Stephen Shofu; CEO, Classy Glam Make-up, Chidinma Ezeani; CEO, Naomi Apparels Fashion, Taiwo Temitope; CEO, Josypat Aairs, Nkechi Njoku; and Lead, Financial Product Development, Rosabon Financial Services, Vivian Chiokwa, during the presentation of the Rosabon’s One Million Naira Grant Cheque to MamaMoni Empowerment Foundation in Lagos‌recently PHOTO: ETOP UKUTT

NSC Directs Haulage Operators to Reduce Freight Rates at Ports The Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC) has directed haulage operators to reduce freight rates to decongest the nation’s seaports amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Speaking in a meeting with truck owners under the aegis of Council of Maritime Truck Union and Association (COMTUA), the Executive Secretary of the NSC, Mr. Hassan Bello, said the truck owners must sacrifice and contribute to the sustainability of the nation’s economy during the crisis.

Nigeria, he stated, doesn’t need astronomical or unrealistic freight rate as the ports need to be decongested to forestall congestion of the

seaports. “We are here to discuss about the issue of cost, NSC has tried to bring out indicative freight rate for guidance though we are not directing you to obey that but what we are doing is what is obtainable anywhere in the world. We can’t continue to have price differentials at whims and caprice of the owners there must be some guidelines on freight rate just like we are doing with shipping companies, terminal operators and consolidators. “Everyone must have a price regime and we are not fixing the price, we are leaving that to demand and supply but

we said there must be some limit because Shippers abroad everyday make enquiries but we are at lost because no standard indicative rate. We want you to help us to have a standard rate so that there will be competition,� he said.

He said the reason for the reduction in the cost was a form of sacrifice from the truck owners, noting the agency will further engage the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) on reduction of their charges.

Bello said: “We want you to look at the cost because everyone is making a sacrifice, the

terminal operators, shipping companies have made sacrifice and we are looking at NPA and NIMASA so that they will reduce their cost during this time as their contributions to the Nigerian economy. Please don’t allow Nigeria economy to be at stand still and after the Covid-19 we dont want it to be written that it is owners of trucks that let the nation down.�

He added: “We are stakeholders’ sensitive, we appeal to your patriotic sentiment to keep people in employment, operate to the port and let’s clear the cargoes. Right now there are vessels lining up to come into the port to discharge

but there is no space so, I know the usual strategy is taking empties and bring laden but we need to look at the need of the country and we need to make sacrifice, so I appeal to you to look at the cost because we don’t need astronomical or unrealistic cost and these trucks must have easier access to come in and out in a very organised manner and give them access to take already available cargoes.�

He stated that since the council and NPA have both secured storage and rent free period for importers, the haulage operators should also ensure movement of the cargoes out of the port.

Seafarers Get Certificate Validity Extension Group Business Editor

Obinna Chima

Capital Market Editor

Goddy Ogene

Comms/e-Business Editor

Emma Okonji

Senior Correspondent

Ă‹Ă’Ă?Ă?Ă— Ă•Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ĂŒĂ™Ă–Ă&#x; (Advertising) Correspondents

Ă’Ă“Ă˜Ă?ĂŽĂ&#x; äĂ? (Aviation) ĂœĂ™Ă—Ă™Ă?Ă?Ă–Ă? ĂŒĂ“Ă™ĂŽĂ&#x;Ă˜ (Maritime) James Emejo (Finance) Ebere Nwoji (Insurance) Chineme Okafor (Energy) Reporters

Ă&#x;Ă—Ă? Ă•Ă?Ă‘Ă’Ă? (Money Market) Ă™Ă?Ă‹ Ă–Ă?Ă•Ă’Ă&#x;ÙÑÓĂ? (ICT)

The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA)has extended the validity of Statutory and Trading certificates for all Nigerian registered vessels.

This includes Standards of Training, Certification and Watch Keeping (STCW) certificates for seafarers issued by the agency.

The Director-General of NIMASA, Dr. Bashir Jamoh, who made this known in Lagos, said NIMASA remained committed to implementing its mandates during the COVID-19 crisis.

Jamoh said it was necessary to ensure uninterrupted ship-

ping, despite the pandemic, stressing that shipping is one of the major ways of moving medical aid across the globe. “Our determination to ensure that shipping continues during this trying time remains unwavering and this is why we have continued to come up with measures to keep the global shipping chain moving in line with the recommendations of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO),�

Jamoh stated.

He said the agency was aware of the difficulties seafarers would be facing and the need to keep them in job

even beyond the pandemic, saying this has necessitated the agency’s publication of a notice to extend their certificates and other statutory certificates that would ensure uninterrupted shipping.

According to Jamoh, “One of our major priorities is to keep our seafarers in job while not jeopardising their safety in terms of contracting the deadly virus. We have, therefore, come up with a notice that would extend the validity of their certificates, for those of them that might be expiring soon. We have also issued guidelines that would

regulate crew change during this pandemic.�

Expatiating on the notice issued by the agency, Jamoh disclosed that following IMO’s recent guidelines on the certification of seafarers and fishing vessel personnel, the agency had extended the validity of relevant certificates, including STCW; Mandatory and Safety certificates; and Certificates of medical fitness.

Others are the Statutory and Trading Certificates related to SOLAS ’74 as amended, MARPOL 73/78 as amended, Certificates of Ship Registry, National requirements for

Power Driven Small Crafts (PDSC), and MLC, 2006, as amended.

He said the extension would apply to all Nigerian flagged vessels and seafarers sailing on-board Nigerian flagged vessels, as well as seafarers with Nigerian Certificate of Competency who are sailing on foreign flagships.

Jamoh said the extensions would enable Owners and Masters of Ships to permit personnel to continue performing duties in the view of the COVID-I9 pandemic and the nation-wide lockdown in Nigeria.

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NEWS

International Carriers Sack Workers Chinedu Eze with agency report International airlines have started reacting to the negative economic impact of the lockdown occasioned by the dreaded coronavirus pandemic.

Reports indicate that Virgin Atlantic has fired more than 3,000 personnel, including 600 pilots; Finnair returned 12 planes and laid off 2,400 people, while You grounded 22 planes and fired 4,100 people Ryanair also grounded 113 planes and got rid of 9,00 pilots for the moment and indications showed 450 would be sacked in the coming months, while Norwegian completely stopped its long-haul operations and the Boeing 787s it earlier leased have been returned to the lessors In the same vein, SAS returned 14 planes and fired 520 pilots, but the Scandinavian states are studying a plan to liqui-

date Norwegian and SAS to rebuild a new company from their ashes Also Ethiad has cancelled18 orders for A350, grounded 10 A380 and 10 Boeing 787 and laid off 720 staff Emirates has grounded 38 A380s and cancelled all orders for the Boeing 777x (150 aircraft, the largest order for this type) and 56 members of the workforce may retire.

Also Wizzair returned 32 Airbus A320s and laid off 1,200 people, including 200 pilots, another wave of 430 layoffs planned in the coming months and remaining employees would see their wages reduced by 30 per cent.

IAG (British Airways’ parent company) has abandoned the takeover of Air Europa (and would pay €40 million compensation for that); IAG (Iberia) grounded 56 planes; IAG (British Airways) grounded 34 planes and anyone over 58 years were directed to retire.

Also Luxair reduced its fleet by 50 per cent (and associated redundancies), CSA abolished its longhaul sector and keeps only five medium-haul aircraft, Eurowings has gone into bankruptcy and Brussels Airline has reduced its fleet by 50 per cebt (and associated redundancies).

German mega carrier, Lufthansa said it planned to ground 72 aircraft (in two installments), while Hop is studying the possibility of reducing fleet and staff by 50 per cent.

Reports also indicated that currently there are 60 new aircraft stored at Airbus with no buyers in sight (order cancellations) including 18 A350s Industry insiders project that there would be a minimum of 8,000 grounded planes by September. With an average of 5.8 crews per plane (medium and long haul combined), that would make more than 90,000 unemployed pilots worldwide.

Ethiopian Finalises Distribution of Jack Ma’s Additional Medical Supplies Ethiopian Airlines has announced that it has completed the flight and delivery of the second round shipments of life saving medical supplies to fight COVID-19 donated

by Jack Ma to all African countries.

Ethiopian Airlines expressed gratitude and the appreciation to the Jack Ma Foundation, saying: “our Prime Minister H.E. Dr. Abiy Ahmed, WFP and the African CDC for giving us the opportunity to serve Africa, our beloved continent and our African brothers and sisters during this unprecedented global health and economic crisis.”

The airline noted that as an indigenous Pan-African airline which has been serving Africa by Africans, there was nothing more pleas-

ing for the 17,000 strong work force at Ethiopian Airlines, “than coming to the rescue of our African people specially in delivering lifesaving COVID-19 medical supplies.”

The Group CEO of Ethiopian Airlines Group, Mr. Tewolde GebreMariam, said, “It is a special honour for the entire Ethiopian Airlines family to be selected as logistics partner and distribution hub for Africa by the Jack Ma foundation, our Prime Minster, WFP and the African CDC. “This project which is running its second round of shipment delivery showed the true African integration in line with the AU Vision 2063. It is a role model for what Africa can achieve in its quest for continental integration. We are also

happy to see the fruits of our multi hundred million dollars investment in cargo infrastructure now coming to save Africa from the COVID-19.”

It is to be recalled that Ethiopian successfully delivered the first round of donation of Jack Ma and Alibaba Foundation to African countries, which was initiated by Ethiopian Prime Minister, Dr Abiy Ahmed.

“Thanks to the established capacity of Ethiopian Cargo & Logistics Services in terms of dedicated staff, state-of-the art facilities and young fleet, Addis Ababa has recently been designated as Humanitarian Air Hub by WFP and WHO to dispatch critical supplies across Africa,” the airline said.

Delta Launches Cargo-only Flights to Atlanta Delta Air Lines said it is launching cargo-only flights to Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport to help move medical supplies and other goods amid the coronavirus pandemic. Atlanta-based Delta said it would be starting the Atlanta-Seoul cargo service that would operate four times a week on Boeing 777-200ER jets as of Monday.

The Boeing 777-200ER can carry 42 tons of cargo in the cargo hold.

The goods would be transferred in Atlanta to the cargo holds of domestic passenger flights.

“As part of the opera-

tion to move goods from Asia, Delta also is now operating cargo flights between Shanghai and Seoul’s Incheon Airport twice daily.

Delta suspended passenger flights to Seoul in March, and US airlines have also suspended most of their passenger flights to Asia because of COVID-19.”

As a result, Chinese suppliers of medical protective equipment were looking for more ways to get their goods to the United States, and operating cargo-only flights helps to keep supplies moving, according to Delta.

“With medical equipment in such high demand, we

are doing all we can to help the supply chain and get surgical masks, gloves, gowns and other protective equipment to medical professionals across the country as quickly as we can,” Delta Cargo vice president Shawn Cole said in a written statement.

The Atlanta route is the latest all-cargo service Delta has added, after launching Detroit-Inchon-Shanghai flights and Los AngelesIncheon-Shanghai flights.

The coronavirus-period cargo-only flights are Delta’s first since its merger partner Northwest’s freighter flights last operated in 2009.

COVID-19: Air Cargo to the Rescue

Cargo airplane

Chinedu Eze Medical supplies, medical personnel, medical kits and food are critical needs at this time of the COVID-19 lockdown and air movement is the quickest way to deliver them to people struggling to survive.

This was what has fueled the huge market for air cargo, which has made airlines transform the passenger cabin of their aircraft to freighters.

It is also a way of earning revenues for airlines after they have shut down scheduled passenger service and being threatened by liquidation.

So under this period of the coronavirus lockdown there have been lots of cargo flights. This has led industry observers to recommend that cargo flight operations are the sure way to survival and quick recovery for Nigerian airlines.

But THISDAY investigation revealed that movement of cargo by air locally is not yet very popular and that there are a lot of red tapes that hinder export process, where overzealous government officials that oversea the process constitute a disincentive to successful operation of cargo.

Industry consultant, Amos Akpan, noted that a domestic scheduled cargo flight operation for Nigerian airlines is an uphill task to develop as a product. He said an airline just needs to continue to grow hold capacity to accommodate cargo in its daily scheduled flight, remarking that the small and medium capacity provider of freighter should keep his machines in service for domestic and regional charters.

But on the contrary, international cargo flight operations used to be a huge success for Nigerian airlines.

“In Nigeria, the private airlines started their businesses with cargo aircraft. This means they earned their revenues in foreign currencies which enabled them pay for the components of their bills that required forex.

“Access to foreign currency is very critical to the success of a company when the huge portion of the inputs to its cost of operations is in foreign currency. Operating worldwide cargo flights means payment of bills in foreign currencies to the service providers of various materials.

“There is also the navigational fee, handling fees, landing and parking fees, fuel, and accommodation. This also means you receive revenue for your flights in foreign currency.

“Freighters used by Nigerian Private Airlines in the 80s and 90s included; B707-f; DC8-f; B727-f; DC10-f. Some of the private airlines that operated worldwide cargo flights were: DAS (Uganda/Nigeria), Okada, Kabo, EAS, ADC, GAS, Flash.

“It would be safe to deduce that these airlines were financially stable as long as their cargo flight operations stayed. Their cargo operations gave them the back up to acquire BAC I-II to commence domestic commercial operations in Nigeria. Their financial status was not the same when they abandoned their cargo flight operations as a business portfolio,” he said.

Akpan who has managed airlines in Nigeria said the daily cash from sales on passenger operations was a lure in terms of volume of cash to both the management of these airlines and the emerging managers of the new banks; “so they neglected their cargo aircraft; they couldn’t upgrade their freighters to align with the requirements of modern civil aviation.

“The noise policy, the engine upgrades, and the dynamics of operational efficiency are some of the issues they neglected to address.”

He said the local airlines simply abandoned this portfolio, which is the cargo aircraft.

“Greater demands from the complex nature of scheduled passenger flight operations arose to confront us the managers of the new surge-scheduled passenger operations, but our environment could not rise to match the new demands in training of manpower, maintenance, ICT applications, safety oversight capacity, air navigation facilities,” Akpan added.

The demand for cargo movement under the COVID-19 lockdown and threat showed that many airlines prioritise passenger flights and operate cargo service as an adjunct. With the high demand of cargo movement many of them became ingenious and concerted their cargo planes. Although cargo operation is still profitable but not the in the same capacity as passenger flights but now that the opportunity has arisen, many airlines wanted to take advantage of it.

Akpan, said air freighting still has a huge market but freighters are now concentrated in the logistics chain businesses and the niche charter business. Logistics companies like DHL, FEDEX, IMNL, etc. depend on freighters because of special deliveries like outsized cargo and time definite deliveries to terrains with limited access.

“Niche cargo charters are mostly contract cargo flights on special services. Examples are delivery of medicals and food by United Nations agencies, bullion or security instrument flights that carry money or gold or security materials.

“Cargo flight operations with the use of freighters have been and always will continue to be very profitable business unit in airlines line of products/services. The investors need to properly situate it amongst the investment portfolios to choose from,” he said.

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Mbanuzuo: Airlines’ Employees Will Bear Pain of COVID-19 Disruptions

The Chief Operating Officer of Dana Air, Obi Mbanuzuo, in this interview says while globally airlines need government support, in Nigeria, the need will be more acute; otherwise thousands of workers in the sector may lose their jobs. Chinedu Eze brings the excerpts:

I

t is getting to four weeks since you stopped working and so are other airlines, what do you think will happen?

Like you said it is almost four weeks that Dana stopped flying and most airlines stopped about the same time. It has actually been tough because we know normally January comes up with the peak of December, but January was looking okay and in February we had the issue with ILS (Instrument Landing System) situation in Lagos, so apart from that incident, things were looking okay. This coronavirus situation forced the federal government to first shut all the airports apart from Lagos and Abuja for international flight operations. So when that initially happened, it reduced the traffic a bit, we all know a lot of traffic in Nigeria is based on international travel, even domestically. Number one factor that drives traffic is business. Very few people travel in Nigeria for leisure. So the fact is that two long haul international airports were closed initially and then Lagos and Abuja were fully closed and then it really affected traffic. Because a lot of the domestic travel is business travel, people go for seminars, conferences or government assignments so that affected us. So we shutdown initially because the traffic was so reduced that we were carrying 20 per cent load factor which didn’t make sense. So in essence, the month of March and a bit of February were loss making already even before the shutdown.

I don’t think any of the domestic airlines will want to operate because we may go bankrupt and I hope people are taking the strategies we put in place in Dana Airways.

Suppliers have been very accommodating because this is a worldwide event. So, there are certain cost that we are currently not bearing which if were in a normal situation we would be bearing. So people have their aircraft on lease, luckily we are negotiating with some of our lessors, and even with system suppliers for the computing systems that we use. So I think the main pain is actually going to be borne by the employees themselves because very few airlines can afford to pay any salaries during this period.

So the airlines themselves will require some government help whenever the economy restarts. The airlines will need some cash flow even if it is just to put fuel in the airplanes from day one. Because whatever fund we had, we all kind of paid March salaries but right now it all about the CBN factor, the employees themselves. The good thing in the domestic market is that the airlines are not talking about downsizing.

I haven’t heard of any airline; nobody has let go of staff yet.

When you consider the Minister of Aviation’s comments on local airlines, do you think government can really see a need to support existing airlines to stand on their own when all these things end?

One of the things we have always heard from the Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika is that he is one of us and he is a pilot. So the airlines are actually sticking to that. We do need the assistance of the Minister and the Ministry of Aviation, so the airlines are sticking more to the Central Bank of Nigeria, which, which will have a lot to do in terms of foreign exchange rate, foreign exchange availability, almost everything the airlines use is sourced from abroad, unfortunately.

So, the CBN will have a lot to do in terms of making available either through the bank of industry or wherever, making available funds to restart the business at

Mbanuzuo low single digit loans or grants. So the minister of aviation is one of us, he will always do what is best for the industry. I think we are facing more of the financial side of it, which is the central bank and things like that.

If the situation continues till the end of April, what do you think will happen with the local airlines’ workforce?

Just like I said, unfortunately if the economy shuts down there is no alternative for the aviation workforce. Really, what we are looking at just like every other Nigerian is for government to provide palliatives for the entire population of the country because what affects the country affects us.

Everybody is sitting at home hungry now; you don’t know who works for airlines or for ports. Everybody is hungry.

As it is right now the airline cannot afford to pay anything apart from what they have paid already. We paid March salaries and that was what we could do. Unless the government makes something available now, we all see what is happening presently in the US, UK, where they are trying to give support to airlines and other businesses.

Nigeria might not have that financial clout right now but it is possible that there might be some indigenous ways that we can try and help the public at large.

Of course, when the public is helped our own workforce is also helped. They are one and the same; there is no difference, you cannot separate them. But it will be a difficult thing for everybody. I am talking to you right now and I am the COO of an airline and it is difficult for me actually, I am sitting at home thinking of how things are going to be. I have my fingers crossed and I am hoping that the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and the people who are looking at this situation from the health perspective are doing things right, and we still encourage everybody to just follow the directive so that this doesn’t extend too much past this month of April.

There is a general believe in the industry now that by the time the COVID

lockdown ends, some Nigerian airlines would go bankrupt?

My question is, what is this assumption based on? Because I am only seeing this from personal experience; in Dana Air we have reduced our cost to the barest minimum.

What is going to drive me bankrupt now that I am not flying? We are hardly paying out anything in terms of cost of operation.

Yes, some airlines might find it difficult, even before the shutdown, which is why I said we would need some kind of assistance to restart. When we restart, those that are shaky and cannot find their feet might then finally go bankrupt at that point like you said. But right now, at Dana Airways, we have six aircraft parked; even though they are parked, our engineers are still working on them. Some of the aircraft are preserved so once in a while they come in to start the engines, look at the systems, rotate the tyres and wheels and all that. But apart from the minimum cost that we are paying out, the other cost to the agency for now are not ongoing. They are not demanding right now they are all kind of shutdown.

Of course the quicker this process, the COVID shutdown, the sooner it opens up the better for everybody. Because the society right now is tense, even though we paid March salary like I said, we won’t be able to pay in April. I think when airlines resume operation after the lockdown; there will still be some tentative issues. Passengers will not come back straight away. You will have some people who will be scared of travelling, every country will not open up at the same time and a lot of our traffic comes from abroad. If, for example, Nigeria domestically opens up, you come back to the situation around the end of March when we Dana Air shutdown, we were still flying, there was still Nigerian traffic but nobody was travelling, there was no much business going on. So if Nigeria opens up domestically, the domestic airlines will still not see much rebound in traffic for a while. I am not looking to see anything near what we have before till around maybe October or November. Even if the country opens up for May.

Let’s look at it globally, what do you think will happen to the aviation industry?

Aviation globally is going to change definitely. Airlines are going to cut down their operations. It will be like 9/11 situation, but this is even worse than that. I remember in 9/11 people that used to fly first class changed to business class, people in business class changed to economy. Remember most airlines don’t have first class on board now.

Only very few have first class; it is all called business class. What we are going to have now is that there will be greater use of the Internet in business. Under this lockdown I am doing a lot of my meeting through online conferences, so after the COVID-19 ends, why should I go back to a plane to fly somewhere for a conference when I can do it with four or five people in different locations in the world? Recently I had a conference meeting. I was in Lagos, three people were in the US, two in Italy and we were all talking as if we are sitting next to each other. So people have to realise that there will be reduction in the way we travel.

You remember that there was already some noise from people that were against emissions, carbon dioxide, and now you add this issue to that with the fact that people have now found alternative ways of doing business without actually getting on a plane. So it will also have an effect on the market. The second effect you will find is that ticket prices will go up even domestically in Nigeria, I suspect that ticket prices will have to go up. This is because that is something that we will see. After 9/11, airlines actually cut fares to try and bring people back but that was a specific travel, the north Atlantic travel between Europe and the US, Asia was not really affected by 9/11. But this is now a worldwide issue, and like I said, traffic will come down, so why then are you going to discount to get people on flight when the traffic has come down? I suspect the fare will go up a bit; few people flying can at least pay for the cost of the flight that we have before maybe traffic start coming back.

But I don’t expect traffic to come back even in the international routes. It may not come back until towards the end of the year. I personally have booked travel with my family, we have already bought our tickets on a foreign airline, we are not going to use that ticket again next year. We are not going to travel again.

Do you think leasing will remain the same where lessors will be unwilling to lease to Nigerian airlines?

They won’t be forced to lease this time because they will have the airplanes but nobody will be interested in leasing. Think of it, airlines now are parking aircraft, so those parked aircraft will never be resuscitated. I will give you an example; British Airways just parked six A380s. As you know the A380s is on its way out. I don’t even think BA will bring the A380s back into service.

So, there will be a lot of aircraft in the market, some leasing rates will have to come down, when the leasing rates come down and you still can find anybody to lease the aircraft, you give to those who didn’t want to lease before. I give you an example, the leasing companies will go and lease an aircraft to United in US for say $70,000 a month, when they bring that same aircraft to Nigeria, it is a $150,000 a month. Why because they just felt you have no option. I am not in the leasing side but I hope that it will affect the market in terms of the rates coming down.

FRIDAY APRIL 24, 2020 • T H I S D AY

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THIS WEEKEND WEEKLY MAGAZINE

NEWS METRO THISLIFE ART WEEKEND ENTERTAINMENT Group Features Editor: Chiemelie Ezeobi chiemelie.ezeobi@thisdaylive.com 07010510430

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie: The Author and Feminism Advocate

25

T H I S D AY ˾

Ͱͱ˜ ͰͮͰͮ

COVER

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie: The Author and Feminism Advocate Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie came into her own in 2003 when she wrote the widely-successful Purple Hibiscus. The MacArthur FoundationFellowship recipienthassincegoneontowriteHalfofaYellowSun(thathassincebeenadoptedintoamovie),Americanah, Dear Ijeawele or A Feminist Manifesto In Fifteen Manifesto, andTheThing AroundYour Neck.The highly-acclaimed Nigerian author has many other achievements including her TED Talks on The Danger of A Single Story and We Should All Be Feminists. Described inTheTimes Literary Supplement as the most prominent of a procession of critically acclaimed young anglophone authors (who) is succeeding in attracting a new generation of readers to African literature, her works range from novels to short stories to nonfiction.

CHIEMELIE EZEOBI, who recently sat down with the THISDAY Newspapers Woman of the Decade writes that issues surrounding feminism, sexism, training the male child, and the pressure in writing were laid bare on the table

D

Does your success in any way put pressure on you?

Not really, I have a lot of pressure but it is on myself, I have always been like that. In primary school if I got 97 per cent, I was upset because I wanted to get a 100. As a writer, I do a lot of editing.

My editing for Half of a Yellow Sun in particular, I wasn’t ready to let go, I wanted it to be perfect. I kept editing and at some point, my editor said to me Chimamanda this is it, you’re done. You have been done with this book for six months, you’re done.

I think it is because there is a part of me that knows that there is no such thing as perfection, but I am still always looking for it.

Americanah’s adaptation into a television program is already in the works, what contribution did you make in them?

No, very much because the way it works is that you don’t really have much of a say.

What I did was that I had a choice in who I sell rights to, and who I gave the rights to.

So much attention is focused on the girl-child and nothing is done about the male child. Are you in any way going to do that?

I really want to talk to boys more, I really do, because I think it can not just be girls we have to talk about boys too. Because it’s the same boys that will grow and meet up the girls. And also gender benefits boys and men yes, because the expectations for boys and men are also difficult.

From the time they are two years old, they are told you can not cry, you have to be strong, you have to provide. It is not easy so I think it is important for us to change that, to start to tell people who are raising boys, apart from mothers; let them cry, they don’t always have to provide, if he doesn’t want to do a manly thing leave him alone.

Because it is what you teach the child that the child grows up with, and I really think that many boys were not taught, they don’t know how to communicate, nobody told them how to, so they get married and the women are like he doesn’t tell me he loves me. The man is like but erhm, I bought rice, the woman is like it is not rice I want. Nobody told him from the time he was five years old , he doesn’t know how to do it. So I’m interested really in talking to boys more and more, because I’m used to talking to girls.

On social media, anytime the issue of feminism comes up, you always trend, whether you are involved or not. Can you break down for people that don’t understand, what does feminism actually mean, because there is a twisted knowledge of what feminism actually means Feminism in a very simple definition is the belief that women and men should have equal opportunity in every sphere of life. But really, the reason that it is misunderstood is that it always depends on the context. I think there are some people who

Chimamanda clutching her Woman of the Decade Award by THISDAY Newspapers

don’t want women to be equal, that’s for sure. There are people who do, but don’t understand feminism.

But does that bother you?

Yeah, it bothers me because I want to change their mind and I want to go and convince them. Which is why I’m always open to having a conversation. I like to have a good argument as long as the argument is in good faith and respectful.

Because I think sometimes people don’t know somethings. What I say to people is to think about it in terms of justice. We are black people, we know that, maybe not in Nigeria, but in other countries, black people experience racism.

When a black man says I experienced racism, I know he doesn’t want somebody to tell him, go and sit down you don’t know what you’re talking about, there is no racism. So I think, when women still experience sexism we should also listen to them, I think women are often not listened to. Nobody wants to Lord it over anybody, I don’t believe, for example that women are somewhat angels, they are not. Women are just normal, women can do good and do bad, men can do good and do bad.

My point is, we should not say, because you’re a woman you cannot be governor, because you are a woman you cannot continue working if you marry, because

you’re a woman you must know how to cook. I say this all the time, the knowledge of cooking doesn’t come from the vagina, everybody learns it and anybody can learn it. There are some women who got married, very intelligent, very industrious, but their husbands says you cannot work.

They stay at home, they are unhappy, frustrated, they could have brought in earnings but they are not bringing in.

What are we losing as a society and as a country when we hold these women back, the women who might have run for political office. How do we know that Nigeria would not be better if they had run? So for me, it’s a question of giving everybody equal opportunity, don’t hold people back based on the gender that they are. That’s what it is for me.

In your quest to educate boys, do you think motherhood in this modern time would be very challenging for the mothers because they are the ones who will raise the boys and if they don’t have such knowledge like you have shared with us, do you think it’s going to be a big challenge for them?

I know women learn very quickly, I believe that raising a child takes both the man and the woman. Part of the problem we have with boys, is that the fathers were not present, fathers need to be present. I went with my brother to take his daughter to see the doctor, he was the only man there, all the other children were brought by their mothers. The doctor came out and said look at this man, you people should tell your husbands to do what he is doing.

Fathers have to be present honestly, which is why I say to women when you’re going to get married, check well, make sure he is the kind of person who will be present. He should know where his children’s clothes are, he should know what they like to eat, because I think that when a son in particular has a good father present he makes a difference, a good father of course(laughs).

man who lives his life the way he wants to live his life.

I look up to him, I actually look up to him, because I think in many ways Chinua Achebe is the writer who gave me permission to write, Wole Soyinka is the writer, I think who I’m more like. He is a man who speaks his mind and says what he wants and that’s the way I am. I will not tell you what you want to hear so you will like me.

No, I wouldn’t do that, I will tell you what I think, if you like me, I am happy and if you don’t, it is okay by me.

I couldn’t help but notice in your list of personalities that have helped pushed Africa out there, you only mentioned two significant men, Mandela and Thomas Sankara, I was wondering what happened to the modern men we have today, are they not meeting up to standard?

My father is a good man, he is a decent, simple man who raised his children right.

My father never did that nonsense of ‘you are a girl’, all his children got equal opportunity and that’s why, because I have such a good relationship with my father and my brothers, I’m comfortable with men. My feminism is not a feminism that says ‘I hate men’. I don’t hate men, I have examples of good men, so I know it is possible. So, if you had to ask me I would say my father.

I admire Barack Obama, because he represents a good example of what a good father and husband should be. But honestly if you ask me in Nigeria, I don’t know, I have to look very hard. I can tell you the men but they are all literary men like JP Clark. I adore Prof. Soyinka, he is also an example of a

When did you know you wanted to write?

I have always known I wanted to write, when I was four years old I knew. Some people are born and they know, some people they have to find it, I was just lucky I knew.

You know you’ve always criticised political leaders. Can you speak on the import of religion in politics?

I think it’s important that religion should speak the truth to power, we cannot align ourselves with power when power is oppressing people, it’s just not right.

And for me I always keep saying to people if you’re calling yourself a Christian, look at that man Jesus, what Jesus stood for. This is a person who would go to the temple and drive people out, this is somebody who society told ‘ you cannot be talking to tax collectors’, he goes and talks to them, ‘you can not give women this kind of honour,’ he goes and gives women the honour’. I don’t want to go into that because it annoys me, because it’s not right.

Your TED Talks, ‘We Should All Be Feminists’, what did you have in mind when you were compiling it?

I had the audience, I gave that talk to an audience that is focused on Africa, so it’s a TED Talks based on Africa. So I really had an African audience in mind, which is why I wanted to make it very personal and very relatable. And I was thinking about those Africans who would be sitting and be like, ‘ hmmmm, feminism! which one is she saying’. So I was taking to people who I felt would not ‘want to hear it’.

So do you experience moments of self-doubt?

Yes, I wish I didn’t.

So how did you get out of it?

No, I do. when I teach writing, I say to young people that it doesn’t matter how successful you become, there are moments when you are sitting down in front of your computer and you think that what you have written is rubbish. You wonder whether you can do it and I think it’s always hard to deal with but I think it’s part of the process. If you don’t doubt yourself, then you must be very stupid. So yes, I get bouts of self doubts all the time. I was looking at Half of a Yellow Sun the other day and I thought, I wrote this book. I was like, really!!!

26

T H I S D AY Ëž Ëœ Í°Í˛Ëœ 2020

BUSINESS/MONEYGUIDE

Q1: UBA Starts Strong with N147bn Earnings, N33bn Profit Goddy Egene The United Bank for Africa Group (UBA) Plc yesterday announced gross earnings of N147.2 billion for the first quarter(Q1) ended March 31, 2020, up from the N131.7 billion posted in the corresponding period of 2019.

Net interest income rose to N65.417 billion, compared with N58.075 billion in 2019.

The bank leveraged on modest growth in both interest and non-interest income as well as increased efficiency to deliver an 8.5 per cent growth in profit before tax (PBT) to N32.7 billion, compared with the N30.2 billion recorded in 2019. Its profit after tax (PAT) also grew from N28.665 billion to N30.101 billion in 2020.

Again, UBA sustained its strong profitability recording an annualised 20 per cent Return on Average Equity (RoAE). Its loans and advances to customers rose from N2.061 trillion to N2.256 trillion in the period under

review, while customers’ deposits improved from N3.832 trillion to N4.272 trillion, showing the confidence reposed in the brand.

The bank’s total assets also rose by 13.4 per cent to N6.4 trillion in the period under review, compared to the N5.6 trillion recorded at the end of its 2019 financial year, while shareholders’ funds grew to N612.6 billion from N597.9 billion in the same period.

Commenting on the performance, the Group Managing Director/CEO, UBA Plc, Mr. Kennedy Uzoka, expressed satisfaction, saying it was encouraging despite the challenging business environment.

He added: “We are pleased with our top and bottom lines in the first quarter of 2020, delivering N147.2billion in gross earnings and PBT of N32.7billion. The double-digit growth in the topline testifies to the resilience of our business model as a group, even as the 17 per cent growth in our fees and commission income underscores

our diversified business model, enabling us to deliver best value to our stakeholders, even in tough macroeconomic scenarios.�

According to him, he was very excited about recent successes recorded in all business segments, especially the retail and electronic banking platform, within the period, with retail deposits accounting for 72 per cent of customer deposits even as cost-of-funds moderated to 3.3 per cent. “We will continue to grow market share in all our markets, whilst maintaining cost discipline across our businesses, driving efficiency in our processes using best-rated technology,� he said.

Speaking on customers’ growing concerns on banking services during the lockdown due to the coronavirus pandemic, Uzoka explained that the bank has put in place various strategic channels to ensure that customers transactions are effectively carried out with ease.

COVID-19: Firms Urged to Protect Employees’Interest Peter Uzoho Organisations have been advised to strike a delicate balance by ensuring long term interests of employees, alongside other stakeholder groups are taken into consideration, despite the economic damage caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to a report, this is the time for firms to demonstrate that they care about the welfare of staff.

It pointed out that in the midst of the uncertainty created by the pandemic, some firms have taken the bold decision to publicly declare that no member of staff would be negatively impacted by the prevailing pandemic.

It disclosed that one such firm was Philip Morris International that had promised employment security, financial stability and special recognition to its staff.

The firm argued that support to staff was an integral part of its efforts to address impact of

the pandemic on communities.

In an announcement, the firm indicated that there would be no termination of employment during the crisis and all planned restructuring has been put on hold. Staff were also assured of compensation during this period, irrespective of their ability to deliver on their duties.

In a recent interview the Human Resources Director, Sub Saharan African Region, Philip Morris International, Khady M.N.Sarr, was quoted to have said: “It is precisely in such difficult and unprecedented circumstances that as an employer we need to stick together with our employees. Whatever the impact the COVID 19 crisis will have on our business, we commit not to terminate any employment and to continue paying salaries whether or not our colleagues can fulfill their professional obligations. “People are our greatest assets and here we are putting our money where our mouth is.�

On its part, Unilever has committed to protect its workforce from, “sudden drops in pay, as a result of market disruption or being unable to perform their role, for up to three months.�

The firm has undertaken to cover, “employees, contractors and others who we manage or who work on our sites, on a full or part-time basis.�

This, it stated was in addition to supplying all staff with a weekly supply of “safety hamper,� that includes hand sanitizer, hand wash, disinfectant and bleach. This is to help staff keep the virus at bay.

Similarly, the report disclosed that the MTN Group had opted to raise a KSh225 million (R40 million) Global Staff Emergency Fund from directors, management and staff to support those amongst them worst affected by the pandemic.

This is in addition to MTN Nigeria as disclosed in a notification by the company secretary, Uto Ukpanah.

CRC Credit Bureau Offers Automated Lending Service CRC Credit Bureau has said it is making lending easier for financial institutions who have automated their lending applications via an Application Program Interface (API).

According to the credit bureau, with CRC’s API, lenders and other credit granters would continue to grant loans and postpaid services via an automated process by accessing its robust database of over 33 million credit profiles.

A statement from the company explained that the solution enables swift informed lending decisions by obtaining quick access to prospective and repeat borrowers credit information in seconds.

It noted that with the current restriction of movement, prospective borrowers are no longer able to physically visit their banks or other lending institutions to

apply for loans to take care of their personal needs or finance their businesses. “This has made the online mediums or electronic channels the most favouable method of initiating credit requests and other banking transactions, e.g. mobile apps, internet banking, USSD codes etc. “With CRC Credit Bureau’s API Solutions, lenders can still carry out their credit transactions efficiently and effectively during and post Covid-19,� the statement added.According to the Managing Director/CEO of CRC Credit Bureau Limited, Mr. ‘Tunde Popoola, during such crisis and economic upheaval, what usually happens is that Lenders become more risk averse. “But with the CRC API Solution, lenders can continue to grant loans to prospective

borrowers without lending in the dark. Borrowers can have continued access to finance for various purposes, and still enjoy a good standard of living,� he explained.

He said lenders could have access to the company’s API solution in easy steps. These it listed to include request for the API Integration kit, test and go live. “CRC Credit Bureau provides a nationwide repository on credit profiles of corporate entities as well as consumers, thus improving the ability of credit providers and borrowers to make informed lending and borrowing decisions. “The bureau’s database covers the credit industry which includes commercial banks, non-bank institutions, retailers, utility service providers and fintech,� he added.

MARKET INDICATORS MONEY AND CREDIT STATISTICS

(MILLION NAIRA)

SEPTEMBER 2019 Money Supply (M3)

35,029,779.72

-- CBN Bills Held by Money Holding Sectors

7,374,356.91

Money Supply (M2)

27,655,422.82

-- Quasi Money

116,533,891.21

-- Narrow Money (M1)

11,121,531.60

---- Currency Outside Banks

1,625,047.69

---- Demand Deposits

9,496,483.91

Net Foreign Assets (NFA)

13,911,335.83

Net Domestic Assets(NDA)

21,118,443.89

-- Net Domestic Credit (NDC)

35,918,179.45

---- Credit to Government (Net)

10,452,199.38

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

11,007,422.79

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

25,465,980.07

---- Credit to Private Sector (CPS)

-14,799,735.56

--Other Assets Net

7,000,253.07

Reserve Money (Base Money

2,005,600.83

--Currency in Circulation

4,677,530.81

--Banks Reserves

317,121.43

Ëž Ă™Ă&#x;ĂœĂ?Ă? Ě‹

Money Market Indicators (in Percentage) Month

March 2018

Inter-Bank Call Rate

15.16

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

14.00

Treasury Bill Rate

11.84

Savings Deposit Rate

4.07

1 Month Deposit Rate

8.82

3 Months Deposit Rate

9.72

6 Months Deposit Rate

10.93

12 Months Deposit Rate

10.21

Prime Lending rate

17.35

Maximum Lending Rate

31.55

Ëž Ă™Ă˜Ă?ĂžĂ‹ĂœĂŁ ÙÖÓĂ?ĂŁ Ă‹ĂžĂ? Ě‹ ͯ͹Ϲ

OPEC DAILY BASKET PRICE ˜ ͰͰ Ͱ͎Ͱ͎

The price of OPEC basket of thirteen crudes stood at $12.22 a barrel on Wednesday, compared with $14.63 the previous day, according to OPEC Secretariat calculations.

The OPEC Reference Basket of Crudes (ORB) is made up of the following: Saharan Blend (Algeria), Girassol (Angola), Djeno (Congo), 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

27

T H I S D AY ˾ ˜ ͰͲ˜ ͰͮͰͮ

MARKET NEWS

Dangote Cement Raises N150bn as Bond Offer Records Oversubscription Goddy Egene Dangote Cement Plc has raised a total N150 billion in its debut bond issuance in the nation’s capital market.

The company had accessed the market with N100 billion Series 1 Fixed Rate Senior Unsecured Bonds due April 2025 under its N300 billion Bond Programme. However, the offer was oversubscribed

by N50 billion. The bond has a coupon rate of 12.50 percent.

Book building with respect to the debt instrument commenced on April 3 and closed on April 15, 2020. Despite current market headwinds due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the transaction was well received.

It attracted investors such as domestic pension funds, asset managers, insurance companies, banks and international fund managers.

Dangote Cement explained that the debt would enabled it to lower its average cost of

P R I C E S MAIN BOARD

F O R DEALS

debt and extend the average maturity of its debt, noting that it intends to use the net proceeds of the offering to refinance existing short-term debt previously applied towards cement expansion projects, working capital and general corporate purposes.

Commenting on the bond issuance, Chief Executive Officer of Dangote Cement, Michel Puchercos, said: “This landmark transaction is the largest ever bond issuance by

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

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N )

a corporate issuer in Nigeria.

It allows us to further broaden our sources of funding by accessing long-term debt at competitive costs from the capital market and builds further on the success of our domestic commercial paper programme.

The success of this transaction, in the current challenging environment ,illustrates investors’ continuous confidence in Dangote Cement’s strategy, strong cash generation and

T R A D E D MAIN BOARD

A S

solid credit profile.”

The bonds would be listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) and the FMDQ Securities Exchange Limited, and for the first time in the history of the Nigerian debt capital markets, investors will have the option of lodging securities with either the Central Securities Clearing System or the FMDQ Depository.

Dangote Cement Plc last month announced a dividend of N16 per share for the year

O F

ended December 31, 2019 following the release of its audited results for the year.

The leading cement firm recorded a revenue of N891.671 billion in 2019, compared with 901.213 billion in 2018. Financing cost rose from N49.778 billion to N57.673 billion, while profit before tax fell from N300.8 billion to N250.47 billion. Profit after tax stood at N200.5 billion, done from N390 billion in 2018.

2 2 / 0 4 / 2 0 2 0 DEALS

MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N)

˾ FRIDAY, APRIL 24, 2020

28

Friday, April 24, 2020

THISDAY AFRINVEST 40 INDEX

Thisday Afrinvest 40 Index Down 0.1% Yesterday, the Thisday Afrinvest 40 Index fell 7bps to close at 960.45 points following price decliners in NESTLE (-6.7%),

Fundamental Performance Metrics for THISDAY AFRINVEST 40 Index

DANGCEM (-3.3%), and ETI (-10.0%). These stocks cumula-

Current Price

Ticker

ƟǀĞůLJ ĂĐĐŽƵŶƚ ĨŽƌ ϵ͘ϳй ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ŝŶĚĞdž͘ THISDAY AFRINVEST 40

Sell-ŽīƐ ŝŶ ĞůůǁĞƚŚĞƌƐ ƌĂŐ ƋƵŝƟĞƐ WĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ͘​͘​͘ ^/ down 1.4% At the close of trade today, sell pressures in DANGCEM (3.3%), h D Ed (-5.3%) and NESTLE (-6.7%) weighed on the All-^ŚĂƌĞ /ŶĚĞdž͕ ĚĞƉƌĞĐŝĂƟŶŐ 136bps to close at 22,470.79

ƉŽŝŶƚƐ͘ ŽŶƐĞƋƵĞŶƚůLJ͕ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ĐĂƉŝƚĂůŝƐĂƟŽŶ

shed േϭϲϭ͘ϯďŶ ƚŽ ƐĞƩůĞ Ăƚ േϭϭ͘ϳƚŶ while YTD loss worsened to -ϭϲ͘ϯй͘ ĐƟǀŝƚLJ ůĞǀĞů ƌŽƐĞ as volume and value traded advanced ϴ͘Ϯй ĂŶĚ ϴϭ͘ϯй ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ ƚŽ ϮϬϭ͘ϱŵ ƵŶŝƚƐ ĂŶĚ േϯ͘ϰďŶ͘

dŚĞ

ƚŽƉ

ƚƌĂĚĞĚ

ƐƚŽĐŬƐ

ďLJ

ǀŽůƵŵĞ

were ACCESS (46.8m units), & E, (32.6m units) and E/d, (19.4m units) while NESTLE (േ1.6bn), DANGCEM (േ297.4m) and ACCESS (േ297.3m) led by value.

tĞĂŬ ^ĞĐƚŽƌ WĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ Sector performance was bearish as 4 of 6 indices under our coverage declined save the Banking index which emerged as the lone gainer and the AFR-/ d ŝŶĚĞdž ǁŚŝĐŚ ĐůŽƐĞĚ ŇĂƚ͘ dŚĞ Industrial (-3.8%) and Consumer Goods (-3.3%) indices lost the

most,

owing

to

sell-ŽīƐ ŝŶ

h D Ed

(-

5.3%), DANGCEM (-3.3%) and NESTLE (-ϲ͘ϳйͿ ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ͘ The Oil & Gas (-0.2%) and Insurance (-0.1%) indices trailed, due to price declines in ARDOVA (-4.5%) and >/E< ^^hZ (ϴ͘ϴйͿ

ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ͘

KŶ

ƚŚĞ

ŇŝƉ

ƐŝĚĞ͕

ŐĂŝŶƐ

in 'h Z Edz (+1.6%), E/d, (+1.1%) and ACCESS (+1.6%)

ĚĞĐůŝŶĞ ƌĂƟŽͿ ǁĞĂŬĞŶĞĚ to 1.2x from the 6.3x recorded in the previous session as 17 stocks advanced against 14 decliners.

The best performing stocks were : / E< (+10.0%), CAD hZz (+9.5%) and WEMA (+9.1%) while ETI (-10.0%), h E (10.0%) and >/E< ^^hZ (-8.6%) lost the most. In line with

ŝŶŇƵĞŶĐĞ ŝŶǀĞƐƚŽƌ ƐĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ŶĞĂƌ ƚĞƌŵ͘

P/E

-0.07%

-34.6%

-4.0%

100.00

0.0%

31.6%

-4.8%

-8.3%

4.4%

2

Airtel Africa PLC

298.90

0.0%

17.5%

0.0%

0.0%

3

Guaranty Trust Bank PLC

18.90

1.6%

8.6%

-36.4%

-35.3%

31.1%

5.2%

4

Zenith Bank PLC

13.90

1.1%

6.0%

-25.3%

-25.7%

23.8%

3.4%

5

Nestle Nigeria PLC

910.00

-6.7%

3.8%

-38.1%

-38.1%

95.4%

6

Dangote Cement PLC

131.50

-3.3%

5.1%

-7.4%

-7.4%

7

Access Bank PLC

6.35

1.6%

3.4%

-36.5%

8

United Bank for Africa PLC

5.95

1.7%

2.9%

9

FBN Holdings Plc

4.45

4.7%

2.4%

10

Nigerian Brew eries PLC

34.50

0.0%

11

Lafarge Africa PLC

11.70

12

SEPLAT Petroleum Development C

13 14 15

Divindend Earnings Yield Yield

P/BV

3.8x

0.5x

7.8%

21.4%

10.1x

14.1x

4.8%

9.9%

na

3.6%

2.7x

0.9x

14.8%

37.0%

2.1x

0.5x

20.4%

47.9%

25.7%

15.8x

15.8x

7.7%

6.3%

21.6%

11.7%

11.2x

2.5x

12.3%

9.0%

-37.1%

17.8%

1.6%

2.1x

0.4x

10.3%

47.9%

-16.8%

-17.4%

16.2%

1.6%

2.4x

0.4x

16.8%

42.4%

-27.6%

-31.5%

13.3%

1.3%

2.3x

0.2x

8.8%

43.4%

2.0%

-41.5%

-41.5%

7.8%

3.3%

20.3x

1.6x

6.5%

4.9%

3.1%

2.6%

-23.5%

-15.2%

48.0%

22.2%

21.8x

0.5x

494.40

0.0%

2.3%

-24.8%

-16.5%

16.2%

9.6%

2.7x

0.4x

8.4%

36.5%

Stanbic IBTC Holdings PLC

28.50

3.6%

1.8%

-30.5%

-28.8%

27.3%

4.1%

4.1x

1.0x

10.5%

24.5%

Flour Mills of Nigeria PLC

21.00

0.0%

1.3%

6.6%

6.6%

3.6%

1.3%

16.3x

0.6x

5.7%

International Brew eries PLC

5.00

0.0%

0.7%

-47.4%

-47.4%

-130.5%

-8.2%

16

Ecobank Transnational Inc

4.50

-10.0%

0.8%

-30.8%

-31.3%

13.2%

0.8%

1.5x

0.2x

17

Fidelity Bank PLC

1.80

-1.1%

0.8%

-12.2%

-10.9%

13.4%

1.5%

1.8x

0.2x

11.1%

55.1%

18

11 PLC

160.90

0.0%

0.9%

8.8%

8.8%

24.1%

10.9%

6.5x

1.5x

4.9%

15.3%

19

Okomu Oil Palm PLC

55.05

0.0%

0.8%

-1.0%

-1.0%

19.1%

13.5%

9.5x

1.8x

5.4%

10.5%

20

Dangote Sugar Refinery PLC

12.00

-2.8%

0.6%

-11.8%

-14.3%

19.6%

11.6%

7.1x

1.4x

9.2%

14.0%

21

Transnational Corp of Nigeria

0.72

-1.4%

0.4%

-27.3%

-32.7%

na

1.4%

22

Unilever Nigeria PLC

11.00

0.0%

0.3%

-50.0%

-46.9%

-6.1%

-3.8%

23

Guinness Nigeria PLC

18.90

-0.5%

0.3%

-37.1%

-37.1%

4.9%

2.6%

9.8x

0.5x

8.0%

10.2%

24

FCMB Group Plc

1.53

-4.4%

0.4%

-17.3%

-15.9%

9.2%

1.1%

1.7x

0.1x

9.0%

58.2%

25

Sterling Bank PLC

1.26

-3.8%

0.3%

-36.7%

-33.7%

9.8%

0.9%

3.4x

0.3x

2.4%

29.5%

26

UAC of Nigeria PLC

6.75

-10.0%

0.3%

-21.5%

-24.2%

-9.8%

-4.4%

2.1x

0.4x

1.5%

47.8%

27

Custodian and Allied Insurance

5.75

0.0%

0.3%

-4.2%

-4.2%

13.6%

5.3%

5.9x

0.8x

7.8%

17.0%

28

Presco PLC

36.45

0.0%

0.2%

-23.3%

-23.3%

15.9%

6.4%

9.2x

1.4x

5.5%

10.9%

29

Union Bank of Nigeria PLC

6.50

0.0%

0.3%

8.3%

7.4%

8.4%

1.2%

7.9x

0.8x

3.8%

12.7%

96.30

0.0%

0.2%

-13.2%

-13.2%

8.8%

2.0%

12.5x

1.1x

14.5%

2.30

0.0%

0.1%

-42.4%

-42.4%

14.5%

2.6%

1.0x

0.1x

4.6%

5.8x

66.4%

0.9x

-7.4%

30

Total Nigeria PLC Oando PLC

32

NASCON Allied Industries PLC

10.05

0.0%

0.2%

-22.4%

-22.4%

16.5%

5.8%

14.0x

2.4x

4.0%

7.1%

33

Julius Berger Nigeria PLC

25.80

0.0%

0.2%

29.6%

29.6%

23.2%

2.9%

3.9x

0.8x

10.7%

25.7%

34

Wema Bank PLC

0.60

9.1%

0.1%

-18.9%

-11.8%

9.8%

0.9%

4.5x

0.4x

6.7%

35

Ardova PLC

9.55

-4.5%

0.1%

-47.2%

-46.9%

5.1%

1.4%

36

Continental Reinsurance PLC

37

Beta Glass PLC

70.00

na 0.0%

0.1%

30.1%

30.1%

17.4%

11.4%

38

Notore Chemical Industries Ltd

62.50

0.0%

0.1%

0.0%

0.0%

-12.1%

-3.8%

39

AXA Mansard Insurance PLC

1.58

0.0%

0.1%

-20.2%

-20.2%

10.3%

2.8%

40

Transcorp Hotels Plc

4.00

0.0%

0.0%

-18.4%

-18.4%

1.1%

0.5%

P ric e

na 6.3x

1.0x

2.7%

-7.0%

6.9x

0.7x

14.6%

49.4x

0.5x

1.8%

T o p 10 T r a d e s b y V o l u m e

P ric e C hg %

T ic k er

Vo lum e

P ric e C hg %

46.8

1.6% 4.7%

0.55

10.0%

C A D B UR Y

6.90

9.5%

FB NH

32.6

WEM A B A N K

0.60

9.1%

Z EN IT H B A N K

19.4

1.1%

UC A P

2.40

9.1%

UC A P

13.9

9.1%

VIT A F OA M

4.51

6.1%

GUA R A N T Y

13.6

1.6%

5.0%

WEM A B A N K

9.2

9.1%

4.7%

WA P C O

9.1

3.1%

0.28

3.7%

UB A

8.9

1.7%

28.50

3.6%

ET I

7.5

-10.0%

3.1%

WA P IC

4.4

3.7%

FB NH

4.45

WA P IC ST A N B IC WA P C O

11.70

T o p 10 T r a d e s b y V a l u e

T o p 10 L o s e r s T ic k er

P ric e

ET I

4.50

UA C N

6.75 0.53

N EST LE

T ic k er

Value

P ric e C hg %

-10.0%

N EST LE

1638.0

-6.7%

-10.0%

D A N GC EM

297.4

-3.3%

-8.6%

A C C ESS

297.3

1.6%

P ric e C hg %

0.65

-7.1%

Z EN IT H B A N K

268.4

1.1%

910.00

-6.7%

GUA R A N T Y

256.7

1.6% 4.7%

33.00

-5.3%

FB NH

141.0

tĞŵĂ ĂŶŬ WůĐ (Audited FY:2019 Result): Gross Earnings

A R D OVA

9.55

-4.5%

WA P C O

106.4

3.1%

grew impressively by 32.7% Y-o-Y to േϵϰ͘ϵďŶ ĨƌŽŵ േϳϭ͘ϱďŶ

FCM B

1.53

-4.4%

UB A

53.4

1.7%

ST ER LN B A N K

1.26

-3.8%

GUIN N ESS

38.8

-0.5%

-3.3%

ET I

34.1

-10.0%

B UA C EM EN T

േϯ͘ϯďŶ ŝŶ &z͗ϮϬϭϴ͘

Afrinvest West Africa Limited

D A N GC EM

131.50

15.9%

1.5x

J A IZ B A N K

0.21

22.5% -15.9%

A C C ESS

R OYA LEX

8.0% 101.0%

0.8x

0.0%

T o p 10 G a i n e r s

LIVEST OC K

in FY:2018 while PAT spiked 56.3% Y-o-z ƚŽ േϱ͘ϮďŶ ĨƌŽŵ

6.1% -61.6%

31

LIN KA SSUR E

ŽƌƉŽƌĂƚĞ ĐƟŽŶ

11.7%

ROA

960.45

current events shaping ĞĐŽŶŽŵŝĐ ĂŶĚ ďƵƐŝŶĞƐƐ ĂĐƟǀŝƟĞƐ͕ we also foresee the Q1:2020 corporate earnings release to partly

ROE

MTN Nigeria Communications PLC

T ic k er

/ŶǀĞƐƚŽƌ ƐĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ ĂƐ ŵĞĂƐƵƌĞĚ ďLJ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ďƌĞĂĚƚŚ ;ĂĚǀĂŶĐĞͬ

Price Price Current Change Change Weightin YTD Index to g Date

1

buoyed a slight increase in the Banking index (0.7%).

/ŶǀĞƐƚŽƌ ^ĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ tĞĂŬĞŶƐ

Previous Price Change

Brokerage

Asset Management

Investment Research

Ayodeji Ebo | aebo@afrinvest.com

Ola Belgore | obelgore@afrinvest.com

Abiodun Keripe | AKeripe@afrinvest.com

Adedoyin Allen | aallen@afrinvest.com Oluwarotimi Ashimi | oashimi@afrinvest.com

Adedayo Bakare | abakare@afrinvest.com

na

FRIDAY, APRIL 24, 2020 ˾ T H I S D AY

29

MARKET NEWS

Nigerian Breweries Posts N83bn Revenue, N5.5bn Profit in Three Months Goddy Egene Nigerian Breweries Plc has announced a revenue of N83.2 billion for the first quarter (Q1) ended March 31, 2020, compared with N83.27 billion in the corresponding period of 2019.

Cost of sales stood at N48.335

billion, up from N48.223 billion in 2019. Marketing and distributing expenses increased from N16.555 billion to N18.796 billion, while administrative expenses increased from N4.599 billion to N5.339 billion.

Net financing cost also witnessed a marginal rise from N2.599 billion to

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

N2.639 billion. Consequently, profit before tax printed at N8.276 billion, down from N11.457 billion recorded in 2019. Similarly, profit after tax fell to N5.505 billion, from N8.026 billion in 2019.

The company said in statement that COVID-19 crisis continued to

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 22Apr-2020, unless otherwise stated.

impact businesses, with the effect expected to be more pronounced in future. The statement added that while it is not possible to determine the financial impact of the COVID-19 crisis because of lack of visibility on its end date, the company has a strong balance sheet and its board

and management remain focused on mitigating the impact of the pandemic on its operations.

Nigerian Breweries Plc had recorded a profit after tax of N19.401 billion for the full year ended December 31, 2019 and recommended all as dividend for shareholders.

According to the results, NB Plc’s PAT fell by 41.2 per cent from N33 billion in 2017 to N19.4 billion in 2018. However, in its characteristics of paying all earnings as dividend, the board has recommended that a total dividend of N2.43 per share for the year be paid.

Offer price: The price at which units of a trust or ETF are bought by investors.

Bid Price: The price at which Investors redeem (sell) units of a trust or ETF. Yield/Total Return: Denotes the total return an investor would have earned on his investment. Money Market Funds report Yield while others report Year- to-date Total Return.

NAV: Is value per share of the real estate assets held by a REIT on a specific date.

DAILY PRICE LIST FOR MUTUAL FUNDS, REITS and ETFS MUTUAL FUNDS / UNIT TRUSTS AFRINVEST ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD aaml@afrinvest.com Web: www.afrinvest.com; Tel: +234 818 885 6757 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Afrinvest Equity Fund N/A N/A N/A Afrinvest Plutus Fund N/A N/A N/A Nigeria International Debt Fund N/A N/A N/A 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 2.53 2.59 2.77% 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 100.00 100.00 6.64% Anchoria Equity Fund 89.49 89.78 -13.90% Anchoria Fixed Income Fund 1.18 1.18 3.39% 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 13.27 13.67 -13.40% ARM Discovery Fund 317.80 327.38 -8.00% ARM Ethical Fund 27.30 28.12 -6.13% ARM Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 5.90% 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 88.64 89.26 -7.75% AXA Mansard Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 5.94% 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 6.81% Paramount Equity Fund 10.20 10.39 -18.49% Women's Investment Fund 104.70 105.40 -5.28% CORDROS ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmgtteam@cordros.com Web: www.cordros.com, Tel: 019036947 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Cordros Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A Cordros Milestone Fund 2023 N/A N/A N/A Cordros Milestone Fund 2028 N/A N/A N/A CORONATION ASSEST MANAGEMENT investment@coronationam.com Web:www.coronationam.com , Tel: 012366215 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Coronation Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 4.55% Coronation Balanced Fund 0.85 0.86 -8.19% Coronation Fixed Income Fund 1.37 1.37 3.05% EDC FUNDS MANAGEMENT LIMITED mutualfundng@ecobank.com Web: www.ecobank.com Tel: 012265281 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class A 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 1,332.65 1,335.67 3.22% FBN Balanced Fund 134.77 135.72 -8.21% FBN Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 5.56% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Institutional 107.46 108.47 -9.88% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Retail 108.02 109.01 -9.86% FBN Nigeria Smart Beta Equity Fund 108.27 109.54 -16.80% FCMB ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED fcmbamhelpdesk@fcmb.com Web: www.fcmbassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 1 462 2596 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Legacy Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 6.54% Legacy Debt Fund 3.74 3.74 2.22% Legacy Equity Fund 0.98 1.00 -13.24% Legacy USD Bond Fund 1.10 1.10 1.43% 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 2,788.13 2,814.22 -6.58% Coral Income Fund 3,150.60 3,150.60 14.93% FSDH Treasury Bills Fund 100.00 100.00 6.19% 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 4.97% Nigeria Entertainment Fund 116.37 116.79 7.92%

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 N/A N/A N/A Vantage Balanced Fund N/A N/A N/A Vantage Guaranteed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A Kedari Investment Fund (KIF) N/A N/A N/A 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 1.16 1.18 -0.57% Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund 1,116.05 1,116.05 3.56% 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 7.42 7.44 -24.57% Meristem Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 4.50% 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 1.30 1.32 7.15% PACAM Fixed Income Fund 11.49 11.53 2.27% PACAM Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 4.09% PACAM Equity Fund 0.95 0.96 PACAM EuroBond Fund 85.96 88.04 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 111.54 113.35 -8.12% 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 1.00 1.00 3.11% STANBIC IBTC ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD assetmanagement@stanbicibtc.com Web: www.stanbicibtcassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 1 280 1266; 0700 MUTUALFUNDS Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Stanbic IBTC Balanced Fund 2,521.35 2,532.80 -2.78% Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund 210.33 210.33 2.28% Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund 0.88 0.89 -10.67% Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund 273.87 273.95 2.49% Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund 154.92 156.64 -7.26% Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 5.61% Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund 7,674.15 7,756.30 -10.34% Stanbic IBTC Dollar Fund (USD) 1.16 1.16 1.78% Stanbic IBTC Shariah Fixed Income Fund 118.18 118.18 0.00% UNITED CAPITAL ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD Web: www.unitedcapitalplcgroup.com; Tel: +234 803 306 2887 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn United Capital Balanced Fund 1.08 1.10 -10.17% United Capital Bond Fund 1.79 1.79 3.13% United Capital Equity Fund 0.59 0.61 -16.25% United Capital Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 7.45% United Capital Eurobond Fund 114.17 114.17 2.08% United Capital Wealth for Women Fund 1.04 1.04 -4.53% QUANTUM ZENITH ASSET MANAGEMENT & INVESTMENTS LTD service@quantumzenithasset.com.ng Web: www.quantumzenith.com.ng; Tel: +234 1-2784219 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Zenith Equity Fund 9.60 9.71 -6.61% Zenith Ethical Fund 11.36 11.47 -2.25% Zenith Income Fund 23.35 23.35 5.00% Zenith Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 4.87%

REITS NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

3.10 113.96 52.75

-67.85% 1.81% 1.34%

Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

7.75 79.45 60.47

7.85 81.11 61.58

-10.91% -14.10% -17.99%

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

2.55 3.86 10.46 10.54 172.28

2.59 3.94 10.56 10.74 174.28

-28.13% -34.38% -13.38% 1.41% -8.01%

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.

30

FRIDAY APRIL 24, 2020 â&#x20AC;¢T H I S D AY

FRIDAY APRIL 24, 2020 â&#x20AC;¢ T H I S D AY

31

32

FRIDAY APRIL 24, 2020 ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

Arik Suspends 90% of Workforce, Implements 80% Pay Cut Chinedu Eze Nigeria’s major carrier, Arik Air has ordered 90 per cent of its staff to proceed on leave without pay

till further notice.

It has also implemented 80 per cent salary cut for its personnel for the month of April.

This was contained in the mail

Lebanese Who Advertised Nigerian Woman for Sale Arrested Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja The Lebanese who advertised a Nigerian woman for sale on Facebook, Mr. Wael Jerro, has been arrested.

The Chairman, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Mrs. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, stated this on her Twitter handle yesterday.

She noted that the suspect, who was arrested by the Lebanese government, would be prosecuted.

“The Lebanese Government just announced the arrest of Mr.

Wael Jerro for onward prosecution against criminal sales of a human, a young Nigerian girl,” she wrote.

Jerro had advertised the victim, Busari Peace, with her Nigerian passport on a Facebook page, ‘Buy and Sell in Lebanon.’ He put a price tag of $1,000 on the 30-year-old Ibadan, Oyo State, indigene.

The incident generated outrage on social media, as many Nigerians called for the arrest of the suspect and rescue of Busari.

the Chief Executive Officer of the airline, Captain Roy Ilegbolu sent to the staff, where he promised that the suspension would be subject to monthly review.

Ilegbolu noted the global economic crisis triggered by COVID-19 pandemic and how it has affected the world, creating uncertainty.

“After careful deliberation and analyses, management has decided to implement an 80 per cent pay cut for all members of staff across the entire organisation for the month of April 2020.

Furthermore, commencing from May 1st 2020, no less than 90 per cent of our staff will proceed on leave without pay until further notice. This position will be reviewed on a monthly basis and communications on further developments will be shared by our HR department as the situation evolves”.

“With the current observed trend of events, it is prudent to lean on the assumption that the situation is likely to persist for a while longer.”

“Of huge significance to

us is that we have suffered a sharp decline of over 98 per cent in our revenue streams since the suspension of our scheduled flights almost four weeks ago. Added to this is the rapid decline in the value of the naira by over 35 per cent against the benchmark and with oil prices now falling well below $15 per barrel, it is evident that we must, without further delay, take decisive action to preserve our organisation.

“Our focus as management has always been hinged on the

well-being and safety of our staff, managing our liquidity as an organisation and creating the opportunity to ride out of inclement circumstances such as the one we are faced with today.

Pursuant to this, recently, we reached out to our suppliers, specifically negotiating reduced rates on all our contracted services and mitigating operational expenses due to changes in demand. We also implemented contingency plans for staff and introduced operational support flexibility,” he said.

Supreme Court Plans Virtual Proceedings Alex Enumah in Abuja

As the country continues to face the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Supreme Court yesterday hinted of plans to deploy technology in the handling of the huge backlog of appeals before it.

Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad had exactly one month ago ordered temporary suspension of court proceedings across the country as part of measures to curtail the spread of the pandemic.

The suspension was later made indefinite two weeks later following the lockdown of Abuja, Lagos and Ogun states by the federal government.

While denying a media report about the alleged non-functioning of its e-mail address, the Supreme Court said plans are ongoing to upgrade its information technology facilities to the extent of holding virtual proceedings.

The Director of Press and Information at the Supreme Court, Dr. Festus Akande, who made the disclosure in a statement made available to judicial reporters, said that the move is aimed at leveraging on the emerging options at the court’s disposal to deliver on its mandate so that the Justice sector does not suffer any major setback before resumption of normal court sittings.

“There is need to reiterate our initial position that in view of the current lockdown of most states of the federation and the FCT, as a result of the ravaging global coronavirus pandemic, the Supreme Court has started upgrading its Information Technology facilities with a view to holding virtual proceedings within the shortest possible time. Even with the lockdown, the Court has be e n sitting and giving judgments, particularly for cases that are time-b o u n d .

ECONOMY ON THE AGENDA...

L-R: Minister of Works and Housing , Mr. Babatunde Fashola ; Minister of State for Petroleum , Chief Timipre Silva; Minister of Labour and Employement, Dr. Chris Ngige, during Economic Sustainability Committee meeting at the Presidential Villa in Abuja... yesterday

Kogi West: Dino Melaye, PDP Close Case at Election Tribunal Petitioners in the dispute over the last election held in Kogi West Senatorial District of Kogi State, Senator Dino Melaye and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) closed their case yesterday.

Melaye, the candidate of the PDP, is together with the party, challenging the outcome of the election held on November 16,

2019 and won by Senator Smart Adeyemi of the All Progressives Party (APC).

The petitioners announced the closure of their case at the conclusion of the testimony of one of their witnesses, Pastor Femi Obalemo.

Obalemo, who claimed to be an accountant, told the election tribunal, which is

sitting in Abuja, that he visited 50 polling units during the election.

The witness was however silent when reminded that the Electoral Laws do not permit candidates and their agents to move around from one polling unit to the other during an election.

At the conclusion of

Obalemo’s testimony, the petitioners announced that they were closing their case.

Tribunal’s Chairman, Justice Isa Sambo then adjourned till April 28 for continuation of hearing.

INEC, listed as the first respondent, is expected to open its case on the next adjourned date.

Peter Uzoho

yesterday.

According to the statement signed by the General Manager of LASEPA, Dr. Dolapo Fasawe, studies conducted around the world have demonstrated that there has been improved air quality in various cities since the order on restriction in vehicular movement and industrial activities was implemented.

Fasawe noted further that cities with poorer air quality were reported to be experiencinghigherCOVID-19mortality rates, saying this is not surprising as higher incidences of respiratory diseases, oneofthekeycorollaries of COVID-19 infection, have long been associated

with areas with high air pollution.

The LASEPA boss stated that in Nigeria, the most vulnerable group to air pollution-linked respiratory diseases is the womenfolk, who cook with firewood and are exposed to road side vehicular movement.

Fasawe said: “Here in Lagos, LASEPA is currently carrying out investigations on air quality during this period to better understand the impact of our industrial and economic activities on the air we breathe.

“We are also partnering multilateral organisations to lay the foundation for a robust air quality

management system in Lagos State, which would provide real-time air quality data for Lagosians. The outcome of these activities will further strengthen policies toward climate action as directed by the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources.

“On the bright side, COVID-19 pandemic has shown what a unified community can achieve, as corporate organisations and private individuals have dug deep and donated resources to assist the government in managing and conquering the pandemic.”

NBA Condemns Umahi’s Life World Earth Day: LASEPA Calls for Protection of Environment Ban on Journalists Alex Enumah in Abuja The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has condemned the action of the Ebonyi State Governor, Chief Dave Umahi, banning of two reporters with Daily Sun and Vanguard newspapers from covering the activities of the Ebonyi State Government, describing it as anti-people and an attempt to gag the press.

In a statement issued yesterday by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr Kunle Edun, the NBA expressed sadness over the governor’s action.

It argued that the rights to freedom of expression, to impart and disseminate information were constitutionally guaranteed rights which could not be taken by an executive fiat.

Edun noted that there were other statutory remedies, such as the law of libel, for anyone who was dissatisfied with false publications, to explore.

“The Nigerian Bar Association views the reported threat ascribed

to the Governor of Ebonyi State allegedly banning two journalists for life as unfortunate and a sad reminder of the rule by force under the military regime.

“The Nigerian press constitutes the fourth realm in the democracy estate and plays a very important function in ensuring the growth of our democracy.

“The right to freedom of expression and the right to impart and disseminate information are constitutionally guaranteed rights under the Nigerian 1999 Constitution and same cannot be taken away by executive fiat.

“The law against libel is available for anyone seeking remedies against false publications.

“Our democracy requires an unfettered and courageous press to grow.

“It is anti-people to gag the press. Government is expected to partner the media, civil society organisations and professional organisations like the NBA to help in the delivery of the dividends of democracy.”

Joining the global community to commemorate the 2020 and 50th edition of the World Earth Day with the theme: ‘Climate Action’, the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) has called for more awareness on the need to protect the environment.

“There is no better time to be reminded of the importance of a cleaner environment other than this period when a global lockdown is in force occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic,”LASEPAsaidinastatement

Ortom Calls for 30 Days Fasting against Herdsmen Attack on Benue Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State, has called for 30 days of fasting and intense prayers by the people of the state to seek God’s favour in combating the renewed herdsmen attack in some parts of the state.

Ortom made this call yesterday in Makurdi, the state capital, while interacting with journalists on the

occasion of his 59th birthday.

The governor, who regretted the renewed onslaught on his people by the herdsmen, said he had resorted to prayers for divine intervention.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that Ortom also appreciated God for granting him 59 years of age and described the journey so far as “tough”.

He said some of his school mates were not as lucky and assured that he would continue to work hard to deliver good governance to the people for their acts of uncommon love to him.

“Youvotedformein2015andagain you returned me in 2019. I owe you a great deal, I will continue to work hard to provide good governance”.

He called for patience during

the COVID-19 lockdown, saying, the stay-at-home order was for the overall good of the people.

Ortom said Benue was signatory to the 14 days proposed lockdown of the economy and described it as the right thing to do in order to contain the spread of the pandemic.

FRIDAY APRIL 24, 2020 ˾ T H I S D AY

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NEWS

Buhari Receives More Condolence Messages over Kyari More condolence messages were sent to President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday on the demise of his former Chief of Staff, Mallam Abba Kyari, who died last week.

According to a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, among those who sent the latest messages was the Cameroonian President, Paul Biya.

In a message, Biya, who also commiserated with the Kyari family, told the President: “I can feel your pains, following the death of your close collaborator.”

Similarly, the former National Chairman of the All Progressives

Congress (APC), Chief John Oyegun prayed God Almighty to fill the void the absence of the deceased has created.

Commiserating with the Kyari family and the people of Borno, Oyegun noted that the death of the Chief of Staff came as a shock to him because he was receiving the best medical care available. ”However as a people of faith, we cannot question the will of God,’’ he said in a letter of condolence to the President.

Recounting fond memories with the late Kyari, Oyegun said: ”when I had the privilege of being National Chairman of APC, my interactions with him were

always pleasant and productive experiences.”

The President also received condolence messages from the Dean of the Diplomatic Corps in the country through the High Commissioner of Cameroon to Nigeria; Nigeria’s High Commissioner to the UK, Justice George Oguntade (rtd).

Others were the United Arab Emirates Ambassador to Nigeria, Dr. Fahad Altaffaq; the Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria; the Association of Motor Dealers in Nigeria; Tiv paramount ruler, Tor Tiv, His Royal Majesty, Orchivirigh Prof. James Ortese Ayatse; Alh

Mustapha Ado Ammasco, the CEO of Ammasco International Limited; former Senate leader, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba; Urohobo Progressive Union and former Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Prof. Oladapo Afolabi.

Cameroon’s High Commissioner to Nigeria, Salaheddine Abbas Ibrahima, in the letter of condolence on behalf of the Diplomatic Corps, described Kyari as a patriotic Nigerian who dedicated himself to the implementation of the objectives of this administration with a total sense of loyalty.

‘Far beyond the official and formal relations with the Diplomatic Corps, he also entertained very cordial and personal relations with us, which made it very useful for the fruitful relations between Nigeria and our respective countries, ’’ High Commissioner Ibrahima wrote.

The National Secretary, St Paul’s (Zaria) Old Boys Association (SPOBA), Idris Mohammed Faruk Jnr, eulogised their late old boy as a perspicacious technocrat.” ”Kyari was consistently close to his classmates even on their social media platform days before his major health challenge, and belonged to the St Paul’s Old Boys

Association (SPOBA). ”As Alumni of Kyari’s former college we are proud that he represented us well at every opportunity he had, showing the values of a true Pauline – generous, loyal, friendly, intellectually driven, dedicated to service and committed to the vision of developing Nigeria into a great country,” SPOBA secretariat wrote in a condolence message to the President.

Also, Pastor Ituah Ighodalo, Senior Pastor, Trinity House, described the demise of Kyari as saddening, noting how strategic he was to this administration.

Four Killed, One Kidnapped in Anambra Communal Clash David-Chyddy Eleke in Awka Four persons have been allegedly killed and one other kidnapped in a communal clash that erupted between Odekpe town and Alla community both in Anambra West Local Government Area of Anambra State.

THISDAY gathered that the clash took place last Monday, when youths of both communities mobilised against each other over lingering boundary dispute between them.

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) spokesperson in Anambra State, Edwin Okadigbo, who confirmed the death of four indigenes of the area, said the escalation of hostilities was averted by

Anambra West Divisional Office of the Corps.

Okadigbo, while confirming the deaths, said: “Preliminary investigation revealed that the two communities clashed with each other and in the process four persons allegedly lost their lives. One other was kidnapped while most houses were burnt and properties destroyed.

“The state Command of the Corps has dispatched Operatives of Peace and Conflicts unit, Intelligence unit and other tactical squads of the Command to the area to avert further clashes, and in the process, maintain law and order.

“Commandant David Bille has ordered for a discreet investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident too.”

SET FOR BUDGET IMPLEMENTATION…

L-R: Bayelsa State Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo; Governor Douye Diri; and Speaker of the House of Assembly, Hon. Abraham Ingobere, after the governor signed the state’s 2020 Appropriation Bill into law at Government House, Yenagoa... yesterday

Tinubu Hails Emir of Again, Suspected Herdsmen Kill Two Persons in Delta Community Ilorin at 80 Omon-Julius Onabu in Asaba

The National Leader of All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Bola Tinubu, has congratulated the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, on his 80th birthday, commending him for his role in engendering peace, stability and development in Ilorin Emirate since his ascension to the throne in 1995.

In a special congratulatory message to commemorate the Emir’s birthday released by his Media Office yesterday and signed by Mr. Tunde Rahman, the former Lagos State governor described Sulu-Gambari as a foremost traditional ruler who had made a good name for himself as an outstanding legal luminary and a fearless and courageous judicial officer before ascending the throne as the 11th Emir of Ilorin.

Tinubu said: “I congratulate the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, as he turns 80. A foremost traditional ruler and one of the special class of three monarchs holding the title of Shehu in Northern Nigeria, he had made a good name for himself before ascending the throne in 1995 as the 11th Emir of Ilorin Emirate.

“Sulu-Gambari is that outstanding legal luminary and fearless and courageous judicial officer who once held sway as the Presiding Justice of the Court of Appeal, Ibadan Division and later Lagos Division.

“It is on record that he was

first turbaned as the Ciroman Ilorin by his late father and 9th Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Zulkarnaini Muhammadu Gambari, in 1984, while in active service as the Presiding Justice of the Court of Appeal, Ibadan Division.

Indeed, he had to relinquish his position as the Presiding Justice of the Court of Appeal, Lagos Division when he was crowned Emir in 1995.

“Since his emergence, he has provided that unique leadership and direction for the Ilorin Emirate, which has helped in engendering peace, stability and development. This achievement has not come as a surprise to many who have keenly followed his career trajectory.

“His record speaks volume of his impeccable character, diligence and commitment to not only the cause of justice and rule of law but also to the growth and development of the country. Of particular note is the important role he played in the constitutional development of the country.

Alhaji Sulu-Gambari was a delegate to the most recent constitutional conference where he contributed considerably to the national discourse.

“He has also done remarkably well for Islam. He initiated the renovation of Ilorin Central Mosque (constructed by his late father in 1979) to become a world class edifice.

Gunmen on Wednesday shattered the peace of Issele-Azagba in Aniocha North Local Government Area of Delta State, following the reported killing of two poultry farm workers.

The poultry manager and a security guard were brutally murdered by the suspected armed Fulani herdsmen who invaded the poultry farm at about 10p.m. on Wednesday, shooting indiscriminately.

The incident is coming after barely a month and two weeks of a seeming halt series on attacks by herdsmen on the once peaceful community.

The herdsmen have allegedly occupied a portion of the Issele-Azagba community land

with hundreds of their cattle unchallenged.

A third worker in the poultry farm said to be on duty with the deceased at the time of the incident, however, escaped death by the whiskers as he allegedly quickly climbed into the ceiling on sighting the armed attackers, a source confided in THISDAY. The lucky man eventually alerted residents of the neighborhood on what transpired in the poultry farm located behind Issele-Azagba Mixed Secondary School.

Two persons, including a teacher and a youth volunteer who joined the rescue team, lost their lives when suspected herdsmen invaded the school in October 2019 and kidnapped the school principal along with some

teachers and students.

According to the source, the attackers had scaled the farm fence to gain entry into the compound before they, then knocked at the elderly security man’s door.

On recognising what he believed to be the voice of a certain Fulani herdsman who normally visited to ask for water, he reportedly asked why the herder was coming at such an odd hour.

“Their argument eventually woke the poultry manager, who had slept over at the farm. He was shot through the window of his room while the security guard was also shot at a closed range. While the drama lasted, the third person had successfully climbed into the ceiling where he took refuge,” the source said.

The Delta State Police Command spokeswoman, Onome Onovwakpoyeya, a DSP, while confirming the incident yesterday, said, “The command is aware of it; for now, the situation is calm as our men are working on clues and as soon as there is any further development, I assure you, we will make it public”.

At least eight persons have been killed since October last year following series of attacks, including four this year, by suspected herdsmen.

However, there were several weeks of ceasefire, following security beef-up by the police and military operatives that have been patrolling the Issele-Azagba community and environs after the March 5, 2020 attack.

REA Powers Four COVID-19 Health Facilities Peter Uzoho The Rural Electrification Agency (REA) has handed over four completed solar hybrid mini-grid plants to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Lagos and Ogun States as part of its support to the fight against the spread of COVID-19 pandemic in the country.

The projects, which were handed over to the beneficiaries on April 15 and 16, 2020, according to the agency, included a

53.1KWp solar hybrid mini grid installed at the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital’s COVID-19 Isolation Center and the 25KWp solar hybrid mini grid at Nigeria Center for Disease Control’s (NCDC) Public Health Laboratory in Lagos.

Others were a 20KWp solar hybrid mini-grid at the 128 Bed Ikenne Isolation Center as well as 10KWp solar Mini hybrid mini grid at the 100 Bed Iberekodo Isolation Center in Ogun state.

While handing over the completed projects to the

beneficiaries, the Managing Director of REA, Mr. Ahmad Salihijo Ahmad, explained that the initiative was being implemented to complement the efforts of the federal and state governments as well as the private sector in containing the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic in the country.

Ahmad said the REA was following the outline of the intervention and palliative measures announced by President Muhammadu Buhari during his national broadcast on March 29, 2020, and the Minister

of Power’s directives on the role of the REA in complementing the federal government’s efforts on COVID-19.

He said the measures taken by the agency to contain the spread of COVID-19 in the country included the emergency electrification of COVID-19 health centers across the country and the engagement of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), through the Federal Ministry of Power, to include energy companies under the COVID-19 intervention programme of the bank.

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FRIDAY APRIL 24, 2020 ˾ T H I S D AY

COVID -19 UPDATE...

COVID -19 UPDATE...

Osinbajo’s Committee Receives Three Reports on Economy Vice president holds virtual conference with eight govs The Economic Sustainability Committee (ESC) headed by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has said that its three sub-committees have submitted their reports for review.

The Minister of State, Budget and National Planning, Mr.

Clem Agba, briefed State House correspondents after the ESC’s fourth meeting yesterday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

This is coming as Osinbajo has also held a virtual conference with eight governors from the

IATA: Relief for African Airlines Critical

geopolitical zones on how to harmonise federal and state governments’ response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The ESC was constituted by President Muhammadu Buhari on March 30 to develop a clear economic sustainability plan until 2023.

The committee was tasked with identifying fiscal and monetary measures to enhance oil and nonoil revenues in order to fund the

plan; develop a stimulus package and come up with measures to create more jobs while keeping existing ones.

“ESC had its fourth meeting today with the vice president and at the meeting; three subcommittees submitted reports for review.

“These sub-committees are the Costing committee on the Forthcoming Sustainability Plan because we want to put numbers

to the various programmes that we are doing.

“There is a Job Creation Committee; they also made a report and then the third committee has to with how to gradually reopen the economy.

“These three committees are still doing further work based on the meeting we had today.

“By the time they finalise, we will be making the presentations and getting approvals,’’ he said.

Agba said that the meeting would continue within the week and the coming weeks and expressed optimism that the committee would complete its assignment soon.

Meanwhile, Osinbajo has held a virtual conference with eight governors from the geopolitical zones on how to harmonise federal and state governments’ response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Insists airlines in region may lose $6bn ChineduEze The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has renewed its call for government relief measures as the impacts of the COVID-19 crisis in Africa deepen.

IATAalso said the African region’s airlines could lose $6 billion of passenger revenue compared to 2019. That is $2billion more than what was expected at the beginning of the month.

It said job losses in aviation and related industries could grow to 3.1 million. That is half of the region’s 6.2 million aviation-related employment; previous estimate was 2 million.

IATA added that full-year 2020 traffic is expected to plummet by 51 per cent compared to 2019; previous

estimate was a fall of 32 per cent.

The global body also noted that GDP supported by aviation in the region could fall by $28 billion from $56 billion, as previous estimate was $17.8 billion.

“These estimates are based on a scenario of severe travel restrictions lasting for three months, with a gradual lifting of restrictions in domestic markets followed by regional and intercontinental,” IATA said.

It further revealed that the countries hardest hit in the continent include South Africa, which has lost 14.5 million fewer passengers resulting in a $3.02 billion revenue loss; risking 252,100 jobs and $5.1 billion in contribution to the South Africa’s economy

Enugu Intercepts Interstate Travellers In strict adherence to the directive on the closure of borders by the Enugu State Government to contain the spread of COVID-19 in the state, the Nigeria Army, at its checkpoint in Nsukka, has intercepted over 30 vehicles loaded with passengers who were passing through the state.

The intercepted passengers were consequently escorted out of the state by the military with the assistance of the police.

This is coming as Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi has visited Enugu-Benue and Enugu-Kogi land boundaries to monitor compliance, charging the security agencies on duty to enforce total restrictions except those on essential duties.

Some of the intercepted passengers who were mostly from Northern parts of the country, according to the security officials on duty at the military checkpoint, disguised and covered themselves with bags of food items, which are allowed into the state as essential commodities.

One of the intercepted passengers, Peter who was coming into the state from Benue State revealed to journalists that they trekked from the state land boundary from Inyi, Igbo-Eze North Local Government Area of Enugu State to Obollo Afor in Udenu LGA of the state, where they boarded bus to their destinations.

EMPOWERING TRANSPORTERS...

L-R: Anchor, Kwara State Social Investment Programme, Mr. Mohammed Braimoh; Kwara State Governor, Alhaji AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq; and state Commissioner for Works and Transport, Mr. Rotimi Suleiman; during the flag-off of biometric registration of transporters ahead of disbursement of COVID-19 soft loan in Ilorin...yesterday

Osun Allays Fears over New Ivory Coast Returnees Peter Uzoho Osun State Government has allayed the panic generated by the yesterday’s return of 49 of its citizens amongst the people of the state who reportedly claimed the new returnees were COVID-19 negative and posed serious health risk to them.

The Commissioner for Information and Civic Orientation, Osun State, Mrs. Funke Egbemode, in a statement

yesterday, said the returnees were duly certified and cleared of COVID-19 before their entry into the state, saying, they posed no health risk to Osun people.

Egbemode said: “This is to officially allay the fears and panic in the public informed by insinuations that the State Government of Osun allowed a new batch of Ivory Coast returnees into the state, after the first experience which led to a surge of confirmed cases

of the COVID-19 disease in the state.

“The State Government wishes to set the record straight, thus: 49 indigenes of Osun yesterday returned to the state.

41 are from Ejigbo and 8 from Iwo. We have an official report showing they all have tested negative for COVID-19.

“These 49 indigenes of Osun, on arrival from Ivory Coast, were graciously received by the Lagos State

Government at the NigeriaBenin border, were quarantined for 14-days in Lagos State’s facility in Badagry where they were tested for COVID-19 infection during the period.

“Those who tested positive to the disease were moved into Isolation Wards in Lagos, while those who tested negative to the infection were cleared and those from Osun were allowed to return to State of Osun, their destination”.

NNPC, Others Donate Ambulances, Other Medical BON Raises the Alarm over Fate of Broadcasting Industry Equipment to South-west States The Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria (BON), Zone C, has called on governors of the Southwest states, The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) members of the Presidential Taskforce Force on COVID 19 and the Central Bank Nigeria (CBN) to put issues of how to sustain the broadcast industry in the front burner and factor the broadcast industry into the stimulus packages being contemplated.

BON said in a statement yesterday that the broadcast media in the South-west as a creative industry contributes substantially to the nations GDP, adding that the sector is a huge employer of labour, especially youths.

It noted that at this auspicious period when the nation is battling the COVID 19 pandemic, the strategic importance of the

broadcast industry cannot be over-emphasised as the potent agent of advocacy across the nooks and crannies of the nation.

BON raised the alarm that the shutdown of broadcast media in the region will spell doom to the advocacy efforts of government and unleash a large number of youths on the unemployment market.

According to it, the consequences of such a shutdown of radio and television houses are better imagined than experienced.

“The economic downturn and low revenue generation occasioned by the total lockdown as a result of COVID 19 pandemic ravaging the world has created a financial culde-sac for broadcast stations in the southwest which may necessitate a shutdown of operations if urgent actions are not taken.

Peter Uzoho The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and its indigenous oil producing partners under the aegis of Independent Petroleum Producers Group (IPPG) yesterday presented six Toyota ambulances and other medical equipment and consumables to the six states of the South-west geopolitical zones.

The donation is part of the IPPG ‘s contribution in support of the ongoing Oil and Gas Industry Intervention Initiative on the COVID-19 Pandemic.

The items included six Toyota ambulances, 2,500 respiratory face masks, 5,000 pieces of safety googles, 5,000 pieces of protective body suits, and 10, 000 respiratory masks.

Present at the presentation

of the items in Lagos were the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva; Minister of State for Health, Dr. Olorunnimbe Mamora; Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Mallam Mele Kyari; Group General Manager, Nation Petroleum Investment Management Services, Mr. Bala Wunti; and the Chairman

of IPPG, Mr. Adeyemi Bero, amongst others.

Speaking at the occasion, Sylva said the gesture was a continuation of the industry’s intervention to combat the COVID-19 pandemic across the country, stating that the items were being distributed to more states that were being affected by the pandemic.

IPC, ACSPN Hold Webinar on Combating COVID-19 Infodemic The International Press Centre (IPC), Lagos, in partnership with the Association of Communication Scholars and Professionals of Nigeria (ACSPN) has announced a Webinar on “Combating COVID-19 Infodemic” for journalists.

The Executive Director, Mr. Lanre Arogundade in a statement noted the webinar aims to mitigate the parallel challenge of disinformation and misinformation as an emerging infodemic around the COVID-19 pandemic.

The webinar is a partnership initiative under ACSPN’s Online Empowerment series and IPC’s capacity building programme for journalists, pursuant to the objectives of Component 4b - Support to Media of the European Union Support to

Democratic Governance in Nigeria - EU-SDGN. The training which is scheduled to hold on Friday, April 24, 2020 from 12noon is sequel to the publication of a COVID-19 Reporting Advisory by IPC.

FRIDAY APRIL 24, 2020 ˾ T H I S D AY

24 HOURS...

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24 HOURS...

NABTEB Postpones May, June 2020 Certificate Examinations Adibe Emenyonu in Benin-city The National Business and Technical Examination Board (NABTEB) has announced the postponement of its 2020 May/ June Ordinary Level Certificate Examinations due to the ravaging coronavirus pandemic.

The Registrar/Chief Executive Officer of NABTEB, Prof. Ifeoma Isiugo-Abanihe, made the announcement yesterday in a statement which was made available to THISDAY yesterday in Benin-city, Edo State capital.

According to the statement signed by the Board registrar, “The management of the National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB) regret to announce the indefinite postponement of the Board 2020 May/June Ordinary Level Certificate Examinations.

“The 2020 May/June series of the NABTEB certificate examinations, which are for in-school candidates, originally scheduled to begin May 4, 2020, have now been postponed on account of the COVID-19

pandemic ravaging the world.

A new date will be announced in due course.”

Professor Abanihe, however, noted that registration for the examinations continues even with the announced postponement.

The registrar enjoined candidates for the examination to continue to positively and productively engage in their studies through e-learning resources made available through radio and television and other safe means while they await further information from the board.

Gombe Imposes Curfew, to Return Almajiris to States of Origin Segun Awofadeji in Bauchi Gombe State Governor, Alhaji Inuwa Yahaya declared a dusk to dawn curfew following the five confirmed cases of coronavirus in the state.

Yahaya stated this in a statewide broadcast where he appealed for adequate cooperation with the state surveillance team to stop the spread of the virus.

He noted that necessary steps would be taken to ensure the safe return of all Almajiris from other states back to their respective states of origin.

He said, “There shall be dusk to dawn curfew across the entire State from 6p.m to 7am with effect from Thursday, April 23,

2020.

“All markets and business activities involving the interaction of more than two persons are hereby suspended. Essential food and medical supplies are, however, exempted from this order.

“All congregational activities for social, cultural, and religious purposes regardless of the number of persons participating in such events are equally suspended.

“All Intra-state transportation from one LGA to another is suspended. Consequently, all motor parks across the State are closed.”

The governor, while acknowledging the impact of the curfew on the economy, said measures were being put in place to cushion the effects.

Yahaya said, “We shall set up a Palliative Committee under the chairmanship of His Royal Highness, the Emir of Gombe, in order to oversee the organisation and distribution of relief materials to the people during this period.”

He said the state will continuously review the situation as it unfolded so as to take the necessary steps at the right time, adding that, “It is our hope that we don’t get to the stage where we have to impose a total lockdown of the entire State”.

“However, we shall not hesitate to do so if it becomes necessary.

Steps will be taken to ensure the safe return of all Almajiris from other states back to their respective states of origin,” he stressed.

Kaduna Tests 115 Suspected Cases, Traces 174 Contacts John Shiklam in Kaduna Kaduna State Government has carried out 115 COVID-19 tests out of which nine returned positive.

The state has also carried out 174 contacts tracing.

Addressing the journalists yesterday, the state Commissioner of Health, Dr. Amina MohammedBaloni said that the state has activated one testing laboratory at a private facility, with two others at Yusuf Dantsoho Hospital and Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria almost ready for testing activities.

Amina confirmed that the state has treated and discharged six patients, including the index case, Governor Nasir el-Rufai, who was discharged on Wednesday, with three active cases left, adding that the state has capacity to make

100 tests everyday once the testing kits and reagents are available, with the result coming out within four to six hours.

She said since the first case was reported on March 27, state government has engaged relevant stakeholders, activated an Emergency Operations Committee on COVID-19, which she chaired, responsible for coordinating the state’s preparedness and response for COVID-19, and developed an incident action plan.

“The Infectious Disease Control Centre (IDCC), was upgraded in terms of infrastructure, specialized equipment and personnel to make it capable of managing Covid-19 patients that may need critical care. State investment and corporate social responsibility of organizations have made it possible to have an additional facility equipped and ready to

admit additional 150 patients if necessary.

“Very soon, the treatment centre would have its side laboratory to support the management of patients in its care. The Kaduna State Emergency Operations Committee meets daily, seven days a week, to review progress of the plan and other emerging issues. So far, over 22,000 people trained on various components of Covid-19 prevention protocol or its management.

“The training involved health workers, community leaders, FBOs, CBO, WDCs, religious and traditional leaders as well as security personnel. Several levels of these trainings are still being cascaded in health institutions and the community. The training for ambulance drivers and morticians is scheduled to start today.

Bauchi Govt FumigatesYankari Games Reserve Segun Awofadeji in Bauchi Bauchi State Government has carried out fumigation of Yankari Games Reserve to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

The acting General Manager, who supervised the fumigation exercise, Mr. Mohammed Ladan, yesterday, thanked the state Governor, Bala Mohammed, for his proactive step towards curtailing the spread of COVID-19 in the state.

Ladan said the fumigation, which was carried out by the state Environment Protection Agency (BASEPA), started from the main

gate at Mainamajji to the second gate and right inside the Wikki base camp.

“The exercise is to disinfect the environment (one square kilometre) because we all know the havoc that COVID-19 is wrecking across the world,” he said.

Ladan said places fumigated in the Reserve included the administration block, the central mosque, chapel, amenity centre, corporate villa A and B, guest house, government lodge, Bamako Activity Centre restaurant, museum, Wikki Warm Spring, conference hall, Rangers Quarters, outdoor and

indoor sports facilities among others.

The acting GM, on behalf of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the management of Yankari Game Reserve, thanked the state governor for the proactive step taken to disinfect the Reserve from COVID-19.

“Our sincere appreciation goes to him for sending a rapid response team from BASEPA to ensure that one of the tourism potential in the state is fumigated, because it is paramount to ensure the safety and security of both national and international tourists,” he said.

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FRIDAY APRIL 24, 2020 ˾ T H I S D AY

24 HOURS...

24 HOURS...

US Assistance to Fight Pandemic in Nigeria Hits $21.4m Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja The United States Government has disclosed that the new funding for Nigeria to prevent and mitigate the COVID-19 pandemic has reached the sum of $21.4 million.

The US Government in a statement issued yesterday by its Mission in Abuja said the funding would support critical activities to control the spread of the disease, such as rapid public-health information campaigns, water and sanitation, and preventing and controlling infections in health-care facilities.

It added that as part of this comprehensive response from the American people, the US Department of State and United States Agency for International Development (USAID) have committed nearly $508 million in emergency health, humanitarian and economic assistance, aside the funding it already provided to multilateral and nongovernmental organisations (NGOs) helping communities around the world to deal with the pandemic.

US Ambassador, Mary Beth Leonard, said: “The United States Government, through the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and Department of State announced on April 17 that new funding for Nigeria to prevent and mitigate the novel coronavirus has reached $21.4 million.

“Approximately four fifths of the assistancenearly $18 million-will go towards humanitarian assistance, including risk communication, water and sanitation activities, infection prevention, and coordination and humanitarian assistance for refugees, internally displaced persons (IDPs) and their host communities.

“The US Government is leading the world’s humanitarian and health response to the COVID-19 pandemic even while we battle the virus at home.

“Our assistance is rolling out gradually as we reconfigure priorities in response to the evolving situation.”

The US government noted that two examples of USAID assistance included support for Nigeria Centre for Disease

Nigeria Has Only 450 Ventilators, Says Aliyu Martins Ifijeh The National Coordinator, Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, Dr. Sani Aliyu said contrary to reports that the Kano COVID-19 testing laboratory was closed due to the lack of reagents, the facility was closed because some of its staff tested positive for COVID-19.

He also mentioned that prior to the outbreak of the disease in Nigeria, the country had only 350 ventilators, and that about 100 have been added as the country prepares for a possible surge of the virus.

Aliyu who spoke during a virtual press briefing by the World Economic Forum/ World Health Organisation, and monitored by THISDAY , said the laboratory was closed to allow for decontamination as they were unsure if the staff contracted it during analysis of samples or from outside the facility.

He said: “The Kano testing laboratory was closed down because one or two persons in the lab acquired COVID-19. It wasn’t very clear whether they acquired it in the facility or it was brought it. This has raised

concerns, so we have taken measures to disinfect the place.

“However, samples can still be collected as we have put measures in place to ensure samples are taking. That Kano laboratory serves Katsina and Kaduna; so, three states are actually affected by this.”

He added that the laboratory will not be closed for too long as they intend to decontaminate the facility for three or four days.

He also said the PTF on COVID-19 was monitoring the Kano’s situation closely, adding that the federal government presently does not know the true number of deaths from Kano until investigations was concluded.

He said: “There are several scenarios that could be happening; one is that there could be increase in numbers of death due to COVID-19, the other possibility is that it may not be COVID. You are aware a lot of hospitals in Kano have closed so people with medical concerns are having difficulty accessing care, so the deaths may not be related to the virus. We are waiting the investigation from the team to ascertain the true picture

Tragedy as Cop Kills Policewoman in Rivers There was pandemonium around 4p.m yesterday at Eneka in Obio/ Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State as a policeman working with the state’s task force shot and killed a policewoman.

The policewoman was on a different assignment and was said to have approached the task force to stop them from harassing some traders along the road when she met her waterloo.

It was however gathered that

the killing of the woman was an accident as the policeman was targeting another person before the bullet went off and hit the policewoman.

The State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Joseph Mukan, could not be reached as at press time but a senior police officer at the state Police Command, confirmed the incident, saying the errant policeman had been arrested and undergoing orderly room trial.

Control (NCDC) in sending a million SMS message a day to Nigerians and going door-to-door in the Northeast

to prevent outbreaks in the country’s most vulnerable areas along with a host of other activities.

This assistance, it said, was in addition to more than $8.1 billion in total assistance for Nigeria

over the past 20 years, including more than $5.2 billion in US health assistance alone.

PRESENTATION OF PALLIATIVES..

-L-R: Executive Secretary, Nigeria Business Collation Against Aids (NiBUCA), Mr. Gbenga Alabi; Supervisor ,Community Relations, Nigerian Petroleum Investment and Management Services(NAPIMS), Mrs, Bolanle Lawson; General Manager, Total Upstream Nigeria Limited, Mr. Wokoma Ajukura; Chief Executive Officer, Lagos State Aids Control Agency, Dr. Monsurat Adeleke; and Coordinator, Lagos State Network of People Living with HIV in Nigeria, Mr. Patrick Akpan, at the joint presentation of food items to the People Living with HIV by Total, NAPIMS and partners to cushion the effects of pandemic in Lagos...yesterday AKINYELE ABAYOMI

Rivers Arrests 22 Traders forViolating Ban on Interstate Movement Ernest Chinwo in Port Harcourt Barely 24 hours after governors in the country agreed to a ban on interstate movements, Rivers State Government has arrested 22 traders entering the state from neighbouring Abia State.

The state said the arrest was to ensure the protection of Rivers State’s residents from the ravaging coronavirus pandemic.

The traders, who were arrested in three different sets, said they live in Anambra and Abia states, but usually do business in

Rivers State.

They claimed that they were not aware that the lockdown was very serious in Rivers State, because in their respective states, traders are allowed to move around.

One of the traders, Mrs Uju Nnamdi, said she was coming to the state to sell her wares, adding that even though she is aware of the lockdown of the state, she was not aware that her trading would endanger the state.

The driver of the truck, Mr Chijioke John, said he was travelling to Onne in Rivers State from Onitsha,

but picked the women at Ihiala in Anambra State.

He said the women pleaded with him to help them and he took pity on them, since they were standing on the road.

The female traders were conveyed in a container to conceal their movement into the state. The driver said he opened one of the container doors for the traders to get ventilation Rivers State Health Commissioner, Professor Princewill Chike, said the 22 traders would be screened to ascertain their coronavirus status.

He said the screening

is vital to ensure that they do not infect the state, adding that his ministry has stationed medical personnel to carry out this responsibility.

He said after the screening, the traders would be tried in line with the extant laws in place to protect the people of the state.

He said it is embarrassing that a transporter would convey human beings in a container just to beat the law.

The accused persons were later tried in a magistrate court assigned for that purpose by the Chief Judge of Rivers State.

Police Arrest Three Suspected Kidnappers in Kogi Ibrahim Oyewale in Lokoja Kogi State Police Command has arrested a gang of three kidnappers who have been terrorising Okene and its environs.

This was contained in a statement signed by the state Police Public Relation Officer, DSP William Aya, a copy of which was made available to journalists in Lokoja yesterday.

Aya explained that three members of the gang have been arrested by the operatives of the police command.

He said following the distress call received by the police operatives attached to Special Ant-Robbery Squad (SARS), that a gang of armed robbers/kidnappers in a Nissan Altima car with registration number CL 591KTU, has kidnapped

a lady, Hadiza Seidu, at a Total filling station in Okene and were driving towards Obangede area in Okehi council area, the operatives promptly swung into action, intercepted and arrested one Alabi Joseph Adeleke and rescued the victim, Seidu.

“Further investigation led to the arrest of the duo of Abdulwaheed Solomon and Bishop Eneji Cecil, from

Adavi LGA and Okehi LGA respectively,” he said.

The Police Public Relation Officer pointed out all the suspects confessed to the crime, stressing that investigation is now ongoing.

He added that all the suspects would be arraigned on completion of the investigation.

Items recovered from them included, one GSM handset and Nissan Altima car.

Wearing of Masks in Public Places Now Compulsory in Niger Laleye Dipo in Minna The Niger State Government yesterday declared that wearing of masks in public places in the state had become compulsory so as to curb the spread of coronavirus.

Governor Abubakar Bello, who made the declaration in Minna, said the enforcement was to further enhance other preventive measures put in place against the spread of COVID19 pandemic.

Bello directed all local government Chairmen in the state to ensure strict compliance with the guidelines.

“By this declaration today, public wearing of face masks and observation of social distancing are mandatory acts for all residents.

“These are aimed at controlling the spread of the virus and other related diseases in the state,” he said.

The governor disclosed that in bid to tackle the scourge, government had signed two orders – the Niger State Covid-19 Prevention Containment and the Emergency Order to Curtail Movement of People.

He said that the Mobile Courts earlier set up in the state had

convicted 50 persons for violating the stay-at-home order, adding that government had also turned back some travellers from other states.

Bello noted that lockdown was still on course in the state, and appeal to traditional and religious leaders as well as other stakeholders to sensitise their followers on the dangers of coronavirus pandemic.

The governor urged them to also ensure that the people strictly adhered to all the preventive measures.

He said those on essential

services, food and water vendors, as well as shop, supermarket, pharmaceutical store operators and farmers, would be allowed to operate under strict adherence to physical distancing.

“Government will continue to study the situation with a view to putting in place practicable guidelines to review the 24hour lockdown.

“This is to ensure that critical economic activities pick up to reduce the difficulties being faced by residents as a result of the lockdown,” he said.

37

˾ FRIDAY, APRIL 24, 2020

WORLD OF ISLAM

Edited by: MJO Mustapha Email deji.mustapha@thisdaylive.com

The Essence of Ramadan Habib Siddiqui/IslamiCity

Muslims throughout the world are now observing Ramadan, the Muslim month of fasting in accordance with the dictates of the Qur’an - the Muslim Holy Scripture, in which they are commanded by Allah: O ye who believe! Fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you, that ye may (learn) self-restraint (Taqwa). (Quran 2:183) The word “Ramadan” comes from the Arabic root word for “parched thirst” and “sun-baked ground.” Through fasting, a Muslim experiences hunger and thirst, and sympathizes with those in the world who have little to eat and drink every day. It teaches him/her to be charitable.

Through increased charity, Muslims develop feelings of generosity and good-will toward others.

As is clear from the above Qur’anic verse, the essence of fasting is learning Taqwa, which is more than self-restraint (translated above). It is God-consciousness which endows the person (the Muttaqi) to be aware of the presence of Allah in every moment of his/her life.

As to the characteristics of a Muttaqi, the Qur’an says: “It is not righteousness that ye turn your faces towards east or west; but it is righteousness - to believe in God and the Last Day, and the Angels, and the Book, and the Messengers; to spend of your substance, out of love for Him, for your kin, for orphans, for the needy, for the wayfarer, for those who ask, and for the ransom of slaves; to be steadfast in prayer, and practice regular charity; to fulfill the contracts which ye have made; and to be firm and patient, in pain (or suffering) and adversity, and throughout all periods of panic. Such are the people of truth, the muttaqoon.” (Quran 2:177) In his famous book Kimiya-e Sa’dat, Imam al-Ghazzali (r) tells the story of a certain Shaykh [Junayd al-Baghdadi (r)] who favored one of his disciples over others because of the latter’s God-consciousness. Other disciples obviously were jealous about the Shaykh’s favoritism. One day to prove the point, the Shaykh gave each disciple a fowl to kill it in a place where no one could see him. All the disciples returned after killing their fowls, except the favored disciple.

The Shaykh inquired why he had returned with the live fowl. The disciple replied, “I could not find a place where Allah would not see me.” His God-consciousness (Taqwa) did not allow him to be heedless of Allah’s presence. The Shaykh then told his other disciples: “Now you know this youth’s real rank; he has attained to the constant remembrance of Allah.”

Fasting increases devotion, and brings a Muslim closer to the Creator. It creates the recognition that everything we have in this life is a blessing from Him. It teaches self-control or -restraint, and thereby, good manners, good speech, and good habits.

Fasting during Ramadan is one of the major pillars of Islam, and this is also noted in the sayings of the Prophet Muhammad (S) [blessings of Allah and peace be upon him] who said: “Islam is based on (the following) five (principles): 1. To testify that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah and Muhammad is Allah’s Apostle; 2. to establish the prayers; 3. to pay Zakat (i.e. obligatory charity); 4. to perform Hajj (i.e. Pilgrimage to Makkah); 5. to observe fast during the month of Ramadan.” [Bukhari: (narrated by) Abdullah Ibn ‘Umar] While fasting is an obligation for all able-bodied persons who are not traveling or sick, it is also clear from some other verses of the Qur’an and numerous sayings of the Prophet Muhammad (S) that fasting is not restricted to the month of Ramadan, and can be observed voluntarily at other times. The Prophet (S) used to fast on Mondays and Thursdays almost on a regular basis. Fasting a certain number of days (or offering charity or sacrifice) can be an expiation for missing out (or unintentionally breaking) some religious obligations of either Hajj or ‘Umra (Qur’an 2:196, 5:96), and for forgetting or breaking one’s oaths or promises (Qur’an 5:89).

Great merits and rewards - both physical and spiritual - can be drawn from fasting. As noted

by Dr. Shahid Athar, M.D., “The physiological effect of fasting includes lowering of blood sugar, lowering of cholesterol and lowering of the systolic blood pressure. In fact, Ramadan fasting would be an ideal recommendation for the treatment of mild to moderate, stable, non-insulin diabetes, obesity, and essential hypertension.”

As stated in the Qur’an, Allah promises forgiveness and vast reward for a fasting person: “Lo! Muslim men and women (who submit to Allah), and men who believe and women who believe, and men who obey and women who obey, and men who speak the truth and women

who speak the truth, and men who persevere (in righteousness) and women who persevere, and men who are humble and women who are humble, and men who give alms and women who give alms, and men who fast and women who fast, and men who guard their modesty and women who guard (their modesty), and men who remember Allah much and women who remember - Allah hath prepared for them forgiveness and a vast reward.” (Qur’an 33:35) In a well-known hadith, Muhammad (S) said, “Allah, the Almighty and Master of Honor, says: ‘All actions of a person are for himself, except the case of his fasting which is exclusively for Me and I shall pay (recompense) for him for the same.’ The fast is a shield (against vice and the fire of Hell). Therefore when anyone of you is fasting he should abstain from loose talk and avoid verbosity and noisy exchange of words.”

[Bukhari and Muslim: Abu Hurayrah] And when one combines such meritorious deeds like prayer, fasting and charity (three of the five pillars of Islam) during the month of Ramadan, which is described as a month of blessing when the Qur’an was revealed, Allah promises immense rewards. Muhammad (S), Allah’s Apostle said: “Whoever establishes prayers during the nights of Ramadan faithfully out of sincere faith and hoping to attain Allah’s rewards (not for showing off), all his past sins will be forgiven.” [Bukhari: Abu Hurayrah] To a Muslim, it is this state of God-consciousness, attainable through fasting -- for surely, the evils of the nafs (ego, evil-self, etc.) cannot be tamed without this, which is learned in the blessed month of Ramadan. It is at this stage that a person truly becomes Allah’s servant (‘abd) for whom He says in the Qur’an: “When My servants ask thee (Muhammad) concerning Me, I am indeed close (to them): I listen to the prayer of every suppliant when he calleth on Me: Let them also, with a will, Listen to My call, and believe in Me: That they may walk in the right way.” (2: 186) Alas, today’s Muslims are a far cry from those who follow the dictates of the Qur’an. They may like to listen to the advice of Ibrahim ibn Adham (r), a great saint of Islam, when he was asked, “Allahu ta’ala declares: ‘O My human creatures! Ask Me! I will accept, I will give!’

Nonetheless, we ask but He does not give?”

Ibrahim (r) said: “You entreat Allahu ta’ala, but you do not obey Him. You know His Prophet (S), but you do not follow him. You read the Qur’an al-Karim, but you do not follow the way it prescribes. You utilize Allah ta’ala’s blessings, but you do not thank Him. You know that Paradise is for those who worship, but you do not make preparations for it. You know that He has created Hell for the disobedient, but you do not fear it. You see what happened to your fathers and grandfathers, but you do not take a warning. You do not see your own defects, and you search for defects in others.

Such people must be thankful, since it does not rain stones on them, since they do not sink into the earth, and since it does not rain fire from the sky! What else could they want? Would not this suffice as a recompense for their prayers?”

[Ithbat an-Nubuwwat] On another occasion, somebody asked the Ibrahim ibn Adham (r) for advice. He said: “If you accept six things, nothing you do will harm you. These six things are: 1. When you intend to commit a sin, do not eat the food He gives. Does it befit you to eat His food and to disobey Him? 2. When you want to rebel against Him, go out of His Domain. Does it befit you to be in His Domain and to be in rebellion against Him? 3. When you want to disobey Him, do not sin where He sees you. Sin where He does not see you! It is simply unbecoming to be in His Domain, to eat His food and then to sin where He sees you!

4. When the Angel of Death comes to take away your soul, ask him to wait till you repent.

You cannot turn that angel back! Repent before he comes, while you have the chance at this very hour, for the Angel of Death comes unexpectedly!

5. When the two angels Munkar and Nakir come to question you in the grave, turn them back. Do not let them test you!”

“It is impossible,” said the person who asked for his advice.

Ibrahim (r) said, “Then prepare your answers now!”

6. On the Day of Resurrection, when Allah ta’ala declares: “Sinners, go to Hell!” say that you will not!

The person said, “Nobody will listen to me,” and then repented; he did not disavow his sense of penitence up until death. There is a Divine effect in the words of a saint. [Islamic Wisdom] May this Ramadan lay the foundation stone to the path of Taqwa!

38

˜ ͺͼ˜ ͺ͸ͺ͸ ˾ T H I S D AY

FRIDAYSPORTS

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

C O V I D - 1 9 PA N D E M I C

Bleak Future for Some National Teams as NFF Board Meets Today Duro Ikhazuagbe Some national football teams may be the first Nigerian sports to suffer the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic as they are likely to be dropped from international events in the coming year.

The Covid-19 pandemic has disrupted economic activities globally, leading to a frightening slump in the price of oil, the mainstay of the Nigerian economy.

THISDAY checks at the Sunday Dankaro House secretariat of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has revealed that paucity of funds may lead the federation into taking such a difficult decision of suspending these teams from international duties.

“As I speak with you now, we don’t know what is going to happen given the slump in oil price globally. Don’t forget our major sponsor is AITEO whose major product is oil and gas,” revealed the official who would not want to be quoted.

AITEO has a N2.5billion fiveyear ultimate partnership contract with NFF reached in April 2017.

The value is N500million a year.

But fears in the secretariat now is that the slump in oil price (now about $12 from the $30 per barrel projection in the 2020 budget) could lead to a review of that deal.

For years, the embarrassment of owing national team coaches wages have hung like a millstone around the neck of the NFF chiefs.

Backing up all the way from Manfred Hoener, Clemens Westerhof in the late 1980s and 1990s, through Shaibu Amodu, Christian Chukwu, Austin Eguavoen, Samson Siasia, Stephen Keshi, Sunday Oliseh to Gernot Rohr, the story has remained the same until AITEO stepped in.

Even default in payment of players allowances and match bonuses were major headaches.

It was the reason Nigeria was in the news for the wrong reasons at the World Cup in Brazil in 2014 when Super Eagles boycotted training session ahead of a crucial second round clash with France.

“We know Nigerians are very passionate about their national teams and nobody would want any of the teams prevented from participation in a competition they have qualified for. But the reality of the moment means we have

to sow our dress to the size of the clothe available not to our size,” the official further stressed.

Presently, Nigeria has 11 national

directive on persons who returned to the country from abroad.

“It has come to my notice that certain individuals have decided to post false news about me testing positive to Covid-19,” he wrote on Instagram.

“This is a pandemic taking people’s lives in thousands so it is sad that some people want to use this to gain followers or views on their pages by spreading falsehood.

“My family and I came in from Saudi Arabia and decided to follow the government’s rule of self isolation for 14 days not because any of us have the virus.

“We are perfectly okay and have not tested positive to the virus. Please don’t fall for the malicious messages circulating about me or my family. Stay safe,

maintain social distancing. “ After struggling to make an impact in the English Premier League, Musa who is Nigeria’s highest goal scorer at the World Cup with four goals at the 2014 edition in Brazil and another brace against Iceland at the last edition in Russia moved to the less glamorous Saudi Professional League.

In the ongoing season, the 27-year-old forward has yet to score any goal before the season was suspended.

Musa was a member of the Nigerian team that won the Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa in 2013 and he captained the team for greater part of the last edition in Egypt because substantive captain John Obi Mikel was injured for most of the campaign last summer.

Kenya Facing Ban from 2022 World Cup in Qatar Kenya looks likely to be expelled from the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers before a game is played, having told the BBC they do not have the funds to meet a payment deadline - the result of which will be their immediate exclusion from the competition.

Kenya’s football federation (FKF)have said they are unable to pay former coach Adel Amrouche a million dollars by today (Friday 24 April) as they were ordered to by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) last October.

They have been told by FIFA,

world football’s governing body, that if they do not make this payment, the result will be exclusion from the World Cup qualifying campaign unless Amrouche agrees to an extension of the deadline.

But Amrouche has already told the BBC that he will not agree to any extension.

“It is not the end of the world to be out of the 2022 World Cup qualifiers,” FKF President Nick Mwendwa said.

“We don’t have money and with the Covid-19 situation we have players who are stuck right now who haven’t been paid

teams are regular features in global football competitions.

Only the Sand Eagles were placed on suspension from

the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup following their dismal display at the last edition in Paraguay.

Super Eagles Captain, Ahmed Musa who returned to the country from his base in Saudi Arabia following the suspension of football activities has debunked reports that he tested positive to COVID-19

Super Eagles Captain, Ahmed Musa, Debunks COVID-19 Speculations Super Eagles Captain, Ahmed Musa, yesterday debunked the news making the round that he has tested positive for Covid-19.

The Al-Nassr forward is presently in the country following the suspension of Saudi Arabia’s Professional league and had travelled back to the country aboard a chartered flight with his family – which he confirmed via social media.

Unfortunately, for the bronze winner with Nigeria at the last AFCON in Egypt, his message was misconstrued with a section of the public claiming the ex-Leicester City star was a victim of the deadly virus.

But Musa delivered a message to fans on Twitter and Instagram yesterday providing an update on his health and confirming he only went into self isolation to follow the government’s

football teams for both the male and female teams. From the Under-15 and Under-17 to the senior Super Eagles and Super Falcons, Nigerian

salaries.

“It’s been deaf ears from government - which is understandable because there is a crisis.”

The issue stems from the ruling by the CAS that Amrouche was wrongfully dismissed back in 2014 when he was sacked 18 months into a five-year tenure, following a 1-0 aggregate loss to Lesotho in a 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.

Amrouche initiated legal action that culminated in the million dollar award last October, to be paid by Friday 24 April 2020.

FRIDAY APRIL 24, 2020 â&#x20AC;¢ T H I S D AY

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Friday April 24, 2020

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UT H

& RE A SO

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Price: N250

MISSILE NLC to FG

“As much as it is important to keep many Nigerians from dying in the hands of coronavirus, loss of income and the accompanying destitution can also be a pathfinder for numerous other sicknesses and deaths. This is the time to play the balancing game” – Nigeria Labour Congress warning that extending the lockdown order on COVID-19 might cause social unrest in the affected states and the Federal Capital Territory.

MAMMANDAURA GUEST COLUMNIST

Malam Abba Kyari: A Great Public Servant

C

orona virus is a law, yet lawless unto itself. As of yesterday it has claimed 183,424 lives worldwide and 28 Nigerians.

One of those lives lost was Malam Abba Kyari’s, Chief of Staff to the President. Malam Abba succumbed to complications after contracting and recovering from Corona Virus a week today.

Malam Abba Kyari was a man blessed with mountainous gifts and uncommon attributes of intelligence, diligence, hard work, loyalty to friends and worthy causes.

One could exhaust superlatives to do him full justice.

I first set eyes on Malam Abba about 47 years ago. I was at my desk at the New Nigerian newspapers office scribbling something or other when the gate messenger brought a chit of paper with a name “Abba Kyari Chima” wanting to see the Editor.

When he came in he looked winsome and slightly diffident. After pleasantries I wanted to know his reason for coming to New Nigerian. He said he read and liked an Editorial in the paper a few days earlier headed: “Solution looking for a Problem” and he resolved to work with us. After swift enquiry, I was told there were no vacancies in the Newsroom nor in Sub-Editing. But a lowly position existed as proof reader as someone had just left. I was about to apologise to him that what was available was beneath his station. Malam Abba quickly said: “I will take it.” After formalities he was enrolled as a staff of New Nigerian.

By “taking it” he was taking a sizeable cut from his previous teaching job’s pay as the salary scales in the New Nigerian where Malam Abba and I worked were historic in their frugality. You couldn’t get fat on the wages of the New Nigerian in the mid -70s.

Anyway within weeks Malam Abba had moved to the Newsroom and was an articulate member at the daily editorial conferences. Moreover he and I became firm friends ever since. If I recall correctly we both left the services of New Nigerian within a short time of each other.

After New Nigerian, Malam Abba worked at NNDC (New Nigeria Development

Late Kyari Company) and Zamfara Textiles – a state-sponsored investment company and a private manufacturing outfit – valuable experience in later life – and soon grew out of those jobs.

Constantly striving to improve himself he went to Warwick University in England -where General Gowon also attended after leaving Nigeria as Head of State – and acquired an Honours Degree in Sociology and thence to the world-famous Cambridge University where he graduated in Law before returning to Nigeria.

When a group of sponsors including Malam Ahmed Joda, Mr. Philip Asiodu and Malam Isma’ila Isa Funtua floated a new newspaper, The Democrat, Malam Abba was nominated and unanimously accepted as its Editor. His previous experience in the New Nigerian and his quality education enabled him to run the newspaper with aplomb.

Malam Abba served as Company Secretary with the burgeoning African International Bank. But as I said Malam Abba grew out of every job he held hitherto.

And when Mr. Hakeem Bello-Osagie assembled a team of investors and managers to help revive the collapsing UBA, Malam Abba was persuaded to join the group and after weeks of diligence the group acquired UBA and Malam Abba joined the Bank as a Senior Executive. Needless to relate, he eventually became the Bank’s Chief Executive and on retirement was persuaded to remain as non-executive Vice-Chairman.

These times coincided with the country’s return to democracy and Malam Abba was among those enthusiastically espousing the cause of General Obasanjo. On his selection as PDP candidate, a group of women and youths in the PDP lobbied Obasanjo to pick Malam Abba as his Vice Presidential running mate. After heated debates, Obasanjo eventually picked Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.

In the 2003 elections, Malam Abba was in opposite camps with President Obasanjo.

General Muhammadu Buhari had declared his intention the previous year to contest the presidency and Malam Abba joined his team and worked wholeheartedly in all the campaigns through the drudgery and injustices of the 2003, 2007 and 2011 elections without losing hope or sight of the ultimate goal.

Perseverance paid off and in 2015 General Buhari under the banner of APC (an amalgam of CPC, ACN, ANPP and break away factions of the PDP and many other smaller parties) won the Presidential elections. To his great surprise, the President appointed Malam Abba as the Chief of Staff.

Fortified by the rigours of a Cambridge education and varied experience in banking, industry, investment and journalism, Malam Abba set himself the task of defining the role, functions and status of the Chief of Staff. He started by consulting previous incumbents of the position he could reach as a way of educating himself of the challenges ahead of him.

All future Chiefs of Staff will henceforth be judged by the benchmark of Malam Abba Kyari. Next, he assembled a team of very competent staff who worked incredibly long hours, seven days a week to analyse, itemise, disaggregate knotty problems and advise the President. Malam Abba was an exacting

taskmaster and his staff were relieved if he travelled outside the country. But to a man they valued, respected some even liked him.

Malam Abba was at odds with many senior members of the government on economic policies. Many Nigerian elites tend to lean towards the Bretton Woods one-size-fits-all solutions long discredited and demonstrably failed in so many so-called Third World countries. Malam Abba tended to look inward for solutions and was not an ideologue. He was heavily influenced by two Nobel Laureates, the great West Indian Economist, Professor Arthur Lewis and the eminent Indian Professor Amartya Sen, the latter Malam Abba frequently called to exchange views.

Despite holding firm views, his advice to the President was dispassionate, even-handed and did not hide unpleasant facts, in the best traditions of public service. In point of intellect, he stood above all Ministers and Special Advisers in this government. But personally he was modest, ever willing to learn, ever willing to help others.

Malam Abba leaves a widow, the estimable Hajiya Hauwa and four children, Aisha (Amma), Nuruddeen, Ibrahim and Zainab.

The children have all been well educated and are able to pursue their own careers.

Few people knew that over 10 years ago, he turned his house in Maiduguri (since he no longer resided there) into accommodation for IDPs. At some stage there were 75 people whom Malam Abba was feeding, clothing and looking after; in addition to their children’s education.

Later, the numbers got larger. Malam Abba never said a word to anybody about this.

Amma and her siblings are not the only orphans Malam Abba left!

He lived a fairly simple life and habitually wore a red cap, white clothing and black shoes. He had to be forced by his friends to change the cap and he wore the shoes to the ground before buying a new pair!

According to hospital reports, his body fought hard in face of deteriorating complications, but his time had come. We remember him with sadness in our hearts and tears in our eyes…..

IBRAHIM BADAMASIBABANGIDA GUEST COLUMNIST

Abba Kyari: Never Knew it Would Come to this Tragic End

I

woke up last Friday to receive the sad news that Mallam Abba Kyari, the Chief of Staff to President Muhammad Buhari, is dead due to COVID-19 complications.

I knew that from the last statement he made and released to the media that he was attacked by Coronavirus and is advised to seek appropriate medical attention. I never imagined or thought it would come to this tragic end. I just kept praying and hoping

that he would get well very soon.

I have known Abba Kyari as a stable and reliable man for many years. He was an exemplary student at Warwick and Cambridge Universities in the United Kingdom and the Law School in Lagos. Abba Kyari was a highly intelligent, focused and honest student who studied Law and Sociology. I have also followed his impressive working career in law, media and the banking sectors.

From the time of his appointment as Chief of Staff to President Buhari in 2015, I have watched him and I can say that his loyalty to his principal and the government was unflinching and commendable without doubt.

I pray that God rewards his efforts and the sacrifices he made while serving the President, the government and our country.

I pray that God gives the President the fortitude to bear the loss of a friend, a

comrade and a loyal public servant who was very dedicated to him and his government.

I also pray that God will shower His Mercies on Abba and forgive him. May the Almighty Allah give his family the fortitude to bear this great loss. Amin. t(FOFSBM #BCBOHJEB B GPSNFS NJMJUBSZ QSFTJEFOU XSJUFT GSPN .JOOB /JHFS 4UBUF

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