MONDAY 12TH JULY 2021

APC Senators Move to Delegitimise Future Elections, Democracy Mobilise against e-transmission of results Lawmakers divided over plenary voting method Chuks Okocha in Abuja As the Senate Committee on Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) tables its report on the 2010 Electoral

Act Amendment Bill 2021 tomorrow, All Progressives Congress (APC) senators are set to delegitimise future elections and undermine the nation’s democracy with their

insistence on prohibiting electronic transmission of results, THISDAY has learnt.

THISDAY had reported mounting concerns over what social critics called attempts

by federal legislators to rig the 2023 general election ahead of time through the manipulation of the amendment bill 2021.

This was based on a claim that a clause prohibiting

electronic transmission of results had been surreptitiously inserted into the draft bill, drawing widespread rejection of the alleged clause by stakeholders, including 22

civil society organisations.

However, following the public outcry, members of the committee had met and Continuedon page 12

Bandits Abduct Emir, 10 Family Members in Kaduna... Page 5 Monday 12 July, 2021 Vol 26. No 9590. Price: N250

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

Bandits Abduct Emir, 10 Family Members in Kaduna Middle Belt Forum calls for state of emergency

Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja and John Shiklam in Kaduna The Kaduna State Police Command has confirmed the abduction of the Emir of Kajuru, the headquarters of Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State, Alhaji Alhassan Adamu, and 10 members of his family by bandits.

However, an eyewitness said the bandits also abducted four other persons from the area.

Adamu, an octogenarian, is a second-class emir in the Kajuru Emirate, created about two years ago by the state Governor, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai.

Also abducted were his daughter and grandchildren.

A former councillor who spoke off the record said the bandits came about 12:30 am yesterday and broke the gate to the palace.

The source, in a telephone interview with THISDAY said: “The bandits came around 12:30 am and broke the gate to the palace. After breaking the gate to the palace, they went and broke the door to the emir’s room.

“Soldiers came at about 3:30 am after the bandits had fled with their victims.”

Kajuru is about 40 minutes drive from the Kaduna metropolis.

Confirming the incident, the police, in a statement yesterday by the spokesman of the command, Mr. Mohammad Jalige, said the emir was abducted alongside 10 members of his family.

The statement said: “The Kaduna Police Command through the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) Kajuru, Kaduna is in receipt of an unfortunate report on the kidnap of the Chief of Kajuru, His Royal

Highness, Alhaji Alhassan Adamu, in the early hours of today 11th July 2021.

“The incident occurred about 0234hrs when armedwielding bandits in large numbers invaded Kajuru town shot sporadically and gained access into the chief's residence where they abducted him and 10 members of his immediate family to an unknown destination.”

Jalige said a joint patrol of the Police Mobile Force (PMF), conventional police and the Nigerian Army attached to Kajuru LGA were searching the forest for a possible rescue of the victims.

He added that the InspectorGeneral of Police’s (IG’s) tactical units have been contacted for technical support.

Jalige said: “The command is saddened with this incident and it is not relenting in ensuring a lasting solution to the current upsurge of criminality in the state.

“Members of the public are urged to remain calm and should always support the police and other security agencies with credible information that will enable them to curtail any possible attack on innocent citizens before it happened.”

Before yesterday’s abduction of the emir, 121 pupils of the Bethel Baptist High School, Kaduna were some of the latest victims of kidnapping in the state.

The victims, mostly in Senior Secondary Schools 2 and 3, were kidnapped after bandits, disguising as military personnel invaded the school about 1 am on July 5.

A day after the kidnapping, the bandits reportedly reached out to the school management, demanding foodstuffs, including 30 bags of rice, 20

bags of beans, and 10 kegs of palm oil, to feed their captives.

The pupils’ parents and school management were said to have raised money to buy the foodstuffs following the bandits’ threats to starve the students if the foodstuffs were not supplied.

Middle Belt Forum Calls for State of Emergency Meanwhile, following the spate of killings, and kidnap for ransom by rampaging armed bandits in the country especially Kaduna State, the Middle Belt Forum weekend called on President Muhammadu Buhari to declare a state of emergency in the state.

The forum said 224 people were kidnapped in Kaduna since April even as 10 others were killed.

A statement signed by the National President of the Forum, Dr. Bitrus Pogu, said el-Rufai, had failed to negotiate with the bandits, and has resorted to making provocative statements that enraged the bandits.

The forum said the Kaduna governor had failed to take steps to protect vulnerable communities.

The group said the most worrisome is the attitude of El-Rufai towards tackling the security challenges confronting the state.

The Middle Belt Forum noted that while he has refused to negotiate with

kidnappers, he has also not done anything to secure these weak communities against further attacks on vulnerable communities.

"More than anytime, Governor el-Rufai has continued to provoke bandits through unguarded utterances that have further enraged them to unleash more terror attacks on various communities", said.

The Middle Belt Forum stated that "arising from the glaring failures by Governor el-Rufai to protect lives and property, the MBF is calling on President Muhammadu Buhari to declare a state of emergency on Kaduna State as the governor has shown gross incapacity to maintain peace.

"We call on security forces to create necessary synergies

with attacked communities through the establishment of local vigilante groups to track down these criminals that have declared war on our people".

The MBF affirmed that 224 people including students, infants, and the elderly were kidnappers within the period under review while 10 people were killed.

It said the sum of N350 million ransom demand was made by the bandits for the release of 77 members of Libere community.

"The Middle Belt Forum (MBF) is deeply worried by the ugly security situation in the country, especially Kaduna State where the rising spate of insecurity has continued to degenerate on a daily basis.

WITNESSES TO CONSECRATION...

L-R: Delta State Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa; his wife, Edith; Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Patrick Ukah; and Chief Lawrence Osiegbu, during the church service for the consecration of two Bishops-elect and presentation of Archbishop by the Primate of Church of Nigeria Anglican Communion in Asaba...yesterday

Onochie, Adam’s Fate Uncertain as Senate Receives Buhari, ACF Mourn Former Kaduna Deputy Gov INEC Committee’s Report Govt declares today work-free Deji Elumoye in Abuja The fate of two out of the six nominees for the position of national commissioner of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) whose names were forwarded to the Senate for confirmation by President Muhammadu Buhari last year hangs in the balance as the upper chamber receives the report of its committee on INEC on Wednesday.

The two nominees are a presidential aide, Ms. Lauretta Onochie, and Professor Sani Adam.

THISDAY gathered that the Senate committee will make the final decision on the two nominees latest by Tuesday before forwarding its recommendations to the upper chamber the following day.

The Senate will on Wednesday make a final decision on whether or not Onochie and Adam should be confirmed along with four others as INEC commissioners in view of the petitions written against their nominations.

Buhari had on October 12, 2020, nominated Onochie and others as INEC national commissioners and their names forwarded to the Senate for confirmation.

The list of the nominees was forwarded last month by the President of the Senate, Dr. Ahmad Lawan, to the Senate Committee on INEC for screening.

But the nomination of Onochie elicited reactions from stakeholders who accused her of being a card-carrying member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

The committee last Thursday screened the six nominees during which Onochie claimed she stopped being a member of the APC shortly after the re-election of Buhari in 2019.

Her denial was despite swearing to an affidavit at an Abuja High court in June 2021 affirming her membership of the ruling party.

Continued on page 12

Deji Elumoye in Abuja and John Shiklam in Kaduna President Muhammadu Buhari and the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) have mourned the immediate former Deputy Governor of Kaduna State, Mr. Barnabas Bala (Bantex), who died yesterday in an Abuja hospital, following a protracted illness.

Buhari described Bala as a true gentleman, forthright politician, and a thorough professional.

The Kaduna State Government has declared today work-free in honour of the former deputy governor.

Buhari, in a statement by his spokesman, Mallam Garba Shehu, joined the government and people of Kaduna State to mourn the passing of Bala.

Buhari described Bantex as a gentleman and consummate professional who would be remembered for his many years of distinguished service to his home state, his patriotism to the nation as well as forthrightness in politics.

The president said the former deputy governor was a potent voice on peace, stability, and progress at the state and national levels.

Bala was deputy to Governor Nasir el-Rufai between 2015 and 2019 after, which he resigned to contest for Kaduna South Senate seat in 2019 on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) but lost to Senator Danjuma La’ah of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

He was a one-time Chairman of Kaura Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

He represented the Kaura federal constituency in the House of Representatives between 2007 and 2011 on the platform of the PDP. el-Rufai has expressed shock over his death, describing him as a consistent, dependable, and brilliant man.

In a statement, el-Rufai said: “From our days as undergraduates in the 1970s to our practice as professional colleagues in the construction industry and eventually

partners in a governance project, Bantex was consistently a dependable man of brilliance and imagination.

“He believed in the potential of our state and in the capacity of our people to work together for progressive attainments.

“Together, we took on the task of providing new leadership for Kaduna State in 2015.

“He brought to his duties as deputy governor during our first term his unique insights as a politician with experience in navigating the diversity of our state.”

The governor added: “Bantex radiated hope and optimism in the future of our state, even when the circumstances were dreary.

“Bantex had served the people of Kaduna State in several capacities prior to becoming deputy governor."

The ACF commiserated with el-Rufai over the death of Bala.

In a statement yesterday in Kaduna, the spokesman of the forum, Mr. Emmanuel Yawe, said the ACF was sad over

the demise of Bala.

The ACF described him as an unusual gentleman who contributed in stabilising the first tenure of el-Rufai’s government.

It said: “At the ACF, Bantex was considered an unusual gentleman who contributed in no modest way in stabilising the first tenure of el-Rufai's government.

“The ACF condoles with Governor El-Rufai and the immediate family and the whole of Kaduna State on the loss of the great human asset known as Architect Barnabas Bala Bantex.”

Meanwhile, the Kaduna State Government has declared today as work free in honour of the late deputy governor.

The government, in a statement yesterday by the spokesman of the governor, Mr. Muyiwa Adekeye, said: “The Kaduna State Government has formally announced the death of former Deputy Governor, His Excellency, Barnabas Yusuf Bala (Bantex).

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NNPC Records $1.2bn Shortfall in Priority Projects Funding PIB: Senate restricts petroleum products importation to refinery owners Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja and Peter Uzoho in Lagos The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) recorded a total shortfall of $1.2 billion in the financing of its priority projects between January and May 2021, latest data from the national oil company has shown.

This is coming as the Senate’s decision to award three per cent to oil-bearing communities may not be the only controversial clause in the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB).

The Senate in the recently passed PIB, has also restricted the importation of all petroleum products into the country to only players that have local refining capacity.

The NNPC document showed that the entire appropriation for ‘calendarised’ cost recovery and funding for priority projects was $6.43 billion, which was further segmented into $536 million monthly.

According to the corporation, of the $2.680 billion that was supposed to be released for the projects as of May this year, only $1.468 billion financing had been made available, leaving a deficit of $1.211 billion.

In terms of actual functional dollar funding level, a breakdown of the releases showed that in January, $276.4 million was spent on cost recovery and ongoing projects, in February it was $252.9 million, while it was

$307.65 million in March.

In the same vein, for April, out of the monthly appropriation of $536 million, $239.2 million was spent, while in May, it increased to $392 million, the highest in the period under consideration.

The corporation listed the federally funded upstream projects as gas infrastructure development, Brass LNG, crude oil pre-export inspection agency expenses, frontier exploration services as well as the Excravos Gas-to-Liquid (EGTL) operating expenses.

However, it noted that the funding excluded pipelines security and maintenance, which gulped N2.263 billion in May alone.

THISDAY had earlier exclusively reported that the corporation had resumed the monthly funding for its frontier exploration services which did not receive any budget in April, but gulped N3.216 billion in May, having received N1.964 billion in January, N1.920 billion in February, and N2.255 billion in March.

Added to that, in May, the gas infrastructure development was funded to the tune of N3.919 billion and the crude oil pre-export inspection agency expenses was N659 million.

In the month under review, funding for renewables was N196 million, while the Nigeria-Morocco pipeline which was not funded in April, received attention to the tune of N8.33 million in May. Meanwhile, the Senate in the

PIB has restricted petroleum products importation to only operators who own and run local refineries.

The joint PIB harmonisation committee of the National Assembly is expected to meet from today to address some of the controversies generated by the bill, chief among them are the three per cent of the operating expenditure of oil companies that should go to the host communities and the 30 per cent NNPC’s profit designated for exploration in frontier basins.

THISDAY gathered that while the PIB expectedly removed price controls on petroleum products in section 205, the Senate version of the bill has a clause that constrains market competition by restricting the importation of products to only players with local refining capacity.

The controversial provision

in the Senate’s version contained in Section 317(8) of the PIB, clearly counters the provision of 205(1) of the bill, which states thus: “Subject to the provisions of this section, from the effective date, wholesale and retail prices of petroleum products shall be based on an unrestricted free market pricing conditions.”

The inserted section 317(8) in the Senate bill stated that the authority, that is, the new agency to oversee the activities of downstream and midstream sectors of the oil and gas industry shall apply the Backward Integration Policy in the downstream petroleum sector to encourage investment in local refining.

The Senate’s version also stated that, to support the provision above, licence to import any product shortfalls shall be assigned only to companies with active local

refining licences.

The upper legislative chamber also stated that import volume to be allocated between participants based on their respective production in the preceding quarter, and that such import to be done under the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited Direct Sale/Direct Purchase (DSDP) scheme.

The Senate further in its own version of the PIB, equally stipulated that, to safeguard the health of Nigerians, imported petroleum products shall conform to the Afri-5 specification (50ppm sulphur) as per the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) declaration of February 2020 on the adoption of the Afri-Fuels Roadmap.

Reacting to the controversial provision, an industry source, who pleaded anonymity,

said such a provision in the Senate’s version of the PIB, which restricted the importation of refined products to only players with local refining capacity would create a monopoly in a price deregulated environment and destroy the Nigerian downstream petroleum industry.

“The provisions above will create a monopoly in a deregulated price environment thereby destroying the Nigerian downstream industry as we know it today. It restricts the importation of all petroleum products, including petrol, diesel, aviation fuel, lubricants, base oil – products that are already deregulated, to only players with local refining capacity,” the source said.

He added that only the NNPC currently has domestic refining capacity for petrol and will be the only importer.

Boat Mishap Claims 350 Lives Nationwide in One Year Laleye Dipo in Minna No fewer than 350 people have died in different boat accidents nationwide in the last one year, the Hydro Power Producing Areas Development Commission (HYPPADEC) has said.

Of the figure, not fewer than 50 lives were lost in Niger State alone during the period.

The Chairman of the Governing Board of HYPPADEC, Mr. Joseph Ityav, gave the figure in Malele town in the Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State at the launch of cutting of tree logs and removal of the huge debris from the Shiroro and Kainji lakes.

The project is being executed by both the National Inland Water Ways Corporation of Nigeria and HYPPADEC for an undisclosed amount.

Ityav blamed the causes of river accidents in the country on the poor condition of boats, overloading of the boats, lack of life jackets and tree logs.

He said the two organisations decided to embark on the cutting of logs and removal of water snacks to contain the menace

and alleviate the hardship the people face while traveling across rivers in the riverine communities of the state.

He added that HYPPADEC will within the limits of its resources address the various problems facing people living in the riverine communities of its catchment areas.

He, however, advised them to avoid construction and living on the banks of the rivers because of flood.

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr. Boss Mustapha, who was represented by Alhaji Umar Musa Gulani, in an address called for adequate follow-up as well as monitoring and evaluation by reporting cases of accidents to the government while also asking the organisations to discharge oversight functions adequately.

Mustapha stated that the federal government was concerned about the annual loss of lives and property in the riverine communities as a result of flood, which necessitated the establishment of HYPPADEC by President Muhammadu Buhari.

He, therefore challenged the body to discharge its duties diligently.

CHECKING THE PLAZA...

L-R: Ogun State Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Dapo Okubadejo; Governor Dapo Abiodun; and Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Mr. Ade Akinsanya, during an inspection tour of the 14-km Ijebu-Ode-Epe Expressway toll plaza…yesterday

Ohanaeze Constitutes Legal Team to Monitor Kanu’s Trial

Christopher Isiguzo and Gideon Arinze in Enugu

The apex Igbo socio-political organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has constituted a legal team that will ensure a fair trial for leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mr. Nnamdi Kanu.

Ohanaeze, which is speaking for the first time since the arrest of Kanu, said it is not averse to Kanu’s trial.

South-east leaders, comprising the governors, political, religious and traditional rulers, had in a meeting in Enugu last month, disowned IPOB and all pro-

Biafra agitators, saying: “They do not speak for South-east.”

The legal team will be led by the National Legal Adviser of Ohanaeze, Chief Chuka Muomoh.

Kanu, who disappeared while on bail in 2015, was re-arrested on June 27 and brought back to Nigeria in order to continue facing trial on an 11-count charge against him, bordering on terrorism, treasonable felony, among others.

In a communiqué issued at the end of the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting on Saturday, National Publicity Secretary, Mr.

Chiedozie Ogbonnia, said Ohanaeze had observed with keen interest the recent re-arraignment and consequent trial of the IPOB leader.

He added that although Ohanaeze is not averse to the trial of Kanu, efforts should be made to ensure that he is tried within the ambit of the law and in line with global best practices.

Ogbonnia also expressed support for the stand taken by the Southern Governors' Forum on anti-open grazing, restructuring, rotation of presidency to the South in 2023 and the proposed five per cent share of the Petroleum

Industries Bill (PIB) for host communities.

“We also identify with the Igbo youths in their grievances with respect to Igbo marginalisation, the menace of Fulani herdsmen. However, we do not support the use of any form of violence to redress the relative deprivation and prevailing inequality and injustice across the country,” it said.

The organisation urged the youths to be law-abiding and sheathe their sword as the South-east leaders and stakeholders address collective grievances through meaningful dialogue and negotiations.

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CBN Advocates Private Sector Funding to Tackle 22m Housing Deficit Obinna Chima The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has stressed the need for the mobilisation of private sector funding to redress the country’s 22 million housing gap.

The Deputy Governor (Economic Policy) of the CBN, Dr. Kingsley Obiora, gave the advice in his personal statement at the last Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting, a copy of which was posted on the regulator’s website at the weekend.

According to Obiora, the CBN has collaborated with the federal government and the private sector to stimulate the economy and prevent economic scarring, through various interventions targeted at households, SMEs, health, agricultural and manufacturing sectors.

He stated that whilst the impact of the policies on the economy was undeniable, but given the fragile recovery and coupled with long-standing infrastructural challenges, more action would be required to return the economy to full recovery.

He said: “For example, I believe this is the right time we start addressing the housing deficit by making a big push in mortgage financing to reduce the 22 million housing deficits in Nigeria. We also need to put in place a trade policy that will encourage SMEs, and boost non-oil exports, as well as invest more in infrastructure and the digital economy.

“This offers opportunities for investments and job creation that will boost economic growth in the near term.

However, it will require

mobilising private sector funds, especially in the light of Nigeria’s huge investment requirements and limited fiscal space.”

In his contribution, a member of the MPC, Mr. Robert Asogwa, stated that accelerating the distribution of bank liquidity to firms and households in a targeted manner would ensure an early return to pre-pandemic output levels.

“There is a strong belief that the cost of withdrawing the CBN monetary stimulus too soon will exceed that of withdrawing it too late and it is thus important for the central bank to continue monitoring the domestic and global macroeconomic developments.

“Once there are clear signs that economic conditions are normalising, the bank

should stand ready to take appropriate actions to address any upward pressure on inflation over the medium term,” he said.

In his contribution, the Deputy Governor, Operations Directorate, Mr. Adebisi Shonubi, said the country was facing the increasing need to refocus the economy and look beyond oil as many jurisdictions scaled down further investments involving the use of fossil fuel.

He said: “Interestingly, the speed and source of our recovery underscored the fact that recent economic downturn was strictly on account of external shock and not due to a weakness in domestic macroeconomic fundamentals.

“We must therefore take more steps to enhance domestic investment and productivity, as well as

reinforce the internal stabilisers of the economy. Considering the observed gradual but steady positive outcomes of the current policy mix, I am convinced that as we strengthen implementation of the intervention programmes, we should maintain the status quo, and allow more time for the manifesting gains to fully mature.”

On his part, the CBN Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, noted that shortterm outlook of the economy continues to improve, congruent with strengthening global prospects.

He reaffirmed that the CBN will maintain its collaboration with fiscal authorities to proactively target and stimulate high impact productive sectors of the economy.

Emefiele said long-standing

structural imbalances and deep-seated supply-side constraints had propped inflation rates above the tolerance band of between six and nine per cent.

According to him, the pervasive security strains, infrastructural debility, energy price shocks, exchange rate pressure, and COVID-19induced vulnerabilities are the major cost-push drivers of inflation.

“The bank will continue to engage and partner with fiscal authorities on measures to dismantle the encumbering structural bottlenecks and correct inflationary trends.

Financial market conditions during the review period were subpar, with a bearish stock market, tepid liquidity in the money market, and lingering exchange market pressure,” he said.

PDP Cautions Police against Undermining Powers of Zamfara Deputy Gov Warns banks, others over dealings with Matawalle Chuks Okocha in Abuja The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday condemned alleged attempt by the police to undermine the statutory powers of the Deputy Governor of Zamfara State, Mr. Mahdi Gusau, given what the main opposition party described as the decision of Governor Bello Matawalle to vacate his office by decamping to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The main opposition party said its position was predicated on the alleged harassment of the deputy governor by the police, including an unlawful and vexatious obstruction of a planned rally by the deputy governor, despite the statutory powers vested in a situation where the governor has vacated his office, in line with the extant ruling of the Supreme Court.

The PDP in a statement by

the National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan said that instead of harassing Gusau, the police, as agents of the law, should be providing him all the protection and privileges, particularly as the formal process for his official declaration given the vacation of office by Matawalle has already commenced at the Federal High Court.

"The Police should know that by virtue of Section 221 of the 1999 Constitution

(as amended) as well as the judgment of the Supreme Court in Faleke v. INEC (2016), that the Zamfara State governorship mandate belongs to the PDP and that Gusau, not Matawalle, is now the holder of that mandate, given Matawalle’s wilful defection to the APC. "The PDP’s mandate is in no way transferable to the APC and the police and all security agencies should be guided by this," the party said.

The PDP also cautioned banks and other financial institutions to be wary of unapproved financial transactions with cronies of Matawalle, particularly, given the alleged moves to sweep the coffers of the state ahead of Matawalle’s inevitable eviction by the court.

According to the PDP, "Such institutions should be very circumspect in their dealings with impostors who have since ceased to represent the

state, immediately Matawalle defected to the APC." The PDP called on Gusau, to remain resolute and not be deterred in any way as the people of Zamfara State are solidly behind him in resisting impostors and deserters at this trying time.

The party also urged the people of Zamfara State to remain united as the mandate, which they willingly gave to the PDP, will never be allowed to be stolen.

The Federal High Court in a considered judgment on 6th June 2008 gave him judgment and availed him his prayers.

But the university appealed the judgment on 14th October 2011.

Justice Raphael Agbo in the lead judgment upheld the appeal by the university and quashed the decision of the lower court.

The other four INEC National Commissionernominees, who don't

have any petition against their candidature are Prof. Muhammad Kallah (Katsina); Prof. Kunle Ajayi (Ekiti); Mr. Saidu Ahmad (Jigawa); and Dr. Baba Bila (North East).

The committee, sources said, would meet again latest

by Tuesday (tomorrow) to look into the petitions and recommend accordingly in its report before presenting it to the Senate at the plenary Wednesday.

amendment bill.

In a statement by the spokesman of the National Consultative Forum, Dr. Tanko Yunusa, the group said the plot against the electoral reforms draft was by a few politicians in power, who wanted to circumvent and supplant the popular will and yearnings of Nigerians for an improved electoral system.

He stated that the group has commenced a nationwide mobilisation of concerned leaders and stakeholders, including former and intending presidential candidates, party and political leaders, labour and civil society activists, among others, to meet and demand acceptable amendments to the Electoral Act, with the aim of improving Nigeria's democracy.

NCfront said it was reaching out and rallying stakeholders, eminent Nigerians, including religious leaders, leaders of youths, women and vulnerable persons' groups behind stopping the national emergency threatening the future of Nigeria's democracy.

The group urged all concerned Nigerians and

political stakeholders, irrespective of divide and affinity, to come together to demand a formidable, inclusive, improved and sustainable electoral law that can build the trust and confidence of Nigerians in the electoral system on future elections, starting from the 2023 election cycle.

ONOCHIE, ADAM’S FATE UNCERTAIN AS SENATE RECEIVES INEC COMMITTEE’S REPORT THISDAY findings at the weekend revealed that the committee met again last Friday to look at the resumé of all the six nominees with a view to writing its report being presented at Senate plenary on Wednesday.

It was discovered that apart from Onochie whose nomination was petitioned against by some stakeholders, including the national leadership of the main opposition party, the Peoples

Democratic Party (PDP), there was another petition against another nominee, Prof. Sani Adam.

In the petition against Onochie, the petitioner quoted Section 156(1)(a) and the provisions of the Third Schedule, Part 1, item F, paragraph14(1) of 1999 Constitution as altered, which requires that a national commissioner shall be nonpartisan and a person of unquestionable integrity.

While the petition against the nomination of Onochie was over her alleged membership of the APC, the one against Adam was over his reported dismissal as a lecturer in the University of Jos in 2007.

The petitioners were said to have alleged that Adam was dismissed over improper behaviour.

But the Appeal Court judgment in his case with the University of Jos sighted by

THISDAY showed that the university dismissed him in pursuance of the policy of the federal government reform in ministries, parastatals, and agencies through a letter dated 21st May, 2007 but served on the respondent on 13th June, 2007.

Adam challenged the dismissal at the Federal High Court, Jos Judicial Division seeking to void the termination and payment of all due salaries and allowances.

APC SENATORS MOVE TO DELEGITIMISE FUTURE ELECTIONS, DEMOCRACY denied the existence of the prohibition clause.

THISDAY had, however, reported that the Senate committee had bowed to public pressure and had decided to insert a clause authorizing INEC to use electronic transmission of results whenever and wherever practicable.

The attempt to tamper with the draft electoral law had also attracted the attention of the diplomatic community, which met last week with the leadership of the National Assembly and followed up with a private letter appealing to the lawmakers to do all within their powers to deepen democracy through the current effort at amending the Electoral Act. This development followed an uproar generated by reports that there was an attempt by a section of the National Assembly leadership to smuggle certain clauses into the draft electoral law banning the electronic transfer of election results, even though the same section agreed to an electronic voting system.

THISDAY, however, gathered at the weekend that the

lawmakers who are opposed to the electronic transmission of results have not given up and are mobilising to shoot down the clause at plenary.

It was also gathered that the lawmakers, who are largely from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) are mobilising to ensure that voice vote would be used to pass certain clauses in the bill to ensure manipulation of lawmakers’ decision.

But those in favour of electronic transmission of elections, who are largely from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), are also said to be mobilising to ensure the retention of the clause by resisting the use of voice vote.

The opposition lawmakers are said to be strategising to ensure that the lawmakers adopt the division method of voting, which is difficult to manipulate.

THISDAY gathered that the APC has mobilised its members to ensure the defeat of the controversial clauses during the passage of the draft electoral law.

It was learnt that a former North-east governor, who is now a senator, is in charge of mobilisation of other senators for the ruling party.

The APC, it was gathered, believes that the insertion of the electronic transmission of results would mean a victory for the opposition, hence the mobilisation to ensure its defeat during the consideration of the draft law by both the Senate and House of Representatives.

Investigations revealed that the senator met other APC senators and House of Representatives members at the weekend to convey the position of their party to them.

The meeting, it was learnt, took place in a hotel in Abuja.

A source privy to the meeting told THISDAY at the weekend that: "We see this as a challenge and must be resisted. If we allow the opposition to have their way, it means that before the election in 2023, we have conceded defeat.

"For party interest, we are mobilised to ensure that the clauses of electronic voting and transmission of results are defeated - at least, for now.

"The draft bill will be tabled on Tuesday and the debate clause-by-clause will commence on Wednesday up to Thursday; thereafter, we proceed on Sallah break."

But those opposed to the removal of the clauses are also preparing a counter move.

A source from the opposition political parties told THISDAY that there would be no voice votes when a serious decision on the clauses is to be taken.

"We have provisions in the Senate rules for voice votes as well as dividing the Senate for the purpose of taking crucial debates.

"Under the circumstances, we shall call for division because it is in our rules, or we take electronic voting; they are all in our rules. But the voice votes may not be allowed to prevail in issues like this," the senator said.

Meanwhile, the National Consultative Front (NcFront) has called on stakeholders across party lines, civil society groups, labour unions, youths and women groups to unite against the thickening plot and conspiracy against the

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MONDAY JULY 12, 2021 • T H I S D AY

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COMMENT

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

NDPHC AND CURRENT POWER DISPENSATION Ayobami Adekunle writes that the NDPHC has outlived its usefulness

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he federal government incorporated the Niger Delta Power Holding Company Limited (NDPHC) as a limited liability company owned by the three tiers of government -FGN, states, and local government areas to serve as the legal vehicle to intervene in the power sector through direct provision of infrastructural facilities to bring immediate remedy to the power supply gap in the country. This included the establishment of generation facilities in order to reduce the power deficit as well as the provision of evacuation and distribution facilities to aid the process of stabilising the power supply value chain.

This provision was arrived at by the government on the basis that there was a huge power sector investment gap over the years and since government had decided to reform the sector by allowing the private sector to bring in its resources as well as technology and managerial expertise, an intervention vehicle that could quickly solve the problem was conceptualised and incorporated.

Thus, NDPHC was supposed to provide the facilities, bring value for the facilities and re-invest into the power system: a purely projects identification, design, execution and deployment mechanism that was not expected to run the facilities. It was envisaged that the company would subsequently ensure the even development of all regions of the nation through these focused and purpose-driven interventions.

In that regard, the National Integrated Power Project (NIPP) was conceived as a fast-track government funded interventionist mechanism or initiative to ginger new form of growth as well as stabilize Nigeria’s electricity supply system on an ad-hoc basis with a sunset period in view.

In carrying out its mandate, the NDPHC has invested in generation, transmission, distribution and gas assets as follows: Generation Plants: NDPHC had invested about USD 4.5 billion in the construction of 10 gas-fired power plants which are sited close to the fuel sources in the Niger Delta region and are of varying capacities. These plants are at various levels of completion since inception (about 16 years ago).

The mandate of the NDPHC is largely about improving power access and quality delivery to customers and the ability to actually bring about these solutions depends on NDPHC’s ability to have more resources on a continuous basis, through recovery (by divestiture) of their investments and re-invest. NDPHC’s response is supposed to be based on Load Forecast (prediction of electric power needed to balance demand in the short, medium and long terms) by the system operator.

However, it is pertinent to note that since the federal government decided to sink over US$12billion at the commencement of the programme as well as other subsequent injections by the government, there have been issues arising from the way and manner the monies were invested or accounted for. For instance, the seventh and eighth National Assembly had constituted panels to investigate the use of these resources without much to show for it.

In addition to these investments, the National Bulk Power purchaser (NBET) has been paying NDPHC for power generated from the poorly

IN LIGHT OF CURRENT DEVELOPMENTS IN THE POWER SECTOR AND THE HUGE INTERVENTIONS THROUGH BILATERAL AND MULTILATERAL INSTITUTIONS, IS NDPHC STILL RELEVANT?

maintained generation facilities without any form of accountability for the money so realised.

It is pertinent to note that the various interventions by NDPHC have not been transparent even as they are not yielding the desired results largely because the company has forgotten to focus on its core mandate but was busy deploying its energy and resources to replace the defunct Power Holding Company by becoming an integrated power company involved in power generation, transmission and distribution.

But the problems in the power sector have persisted, compelling the government to look at a more enduring solution to the problems.

This informed the need for various interventions by the government in order to address these challenges. And they are being addressed comprehensively by the federal government through various programmes like the comprehensive Presidential Power Initiative (PPI) meant to address all the bottlenecks in the power sector, the World Bank Distribution Intervention Programme (DISREP), the Ministry of Finance and Central Bank’s interventions, all aimed at addressing the sector’s investment deficits, payments management as well as the bottlenecks between the distribution companies (DISCOs) and the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN).

It is part of this effort that the federal government through the National Council on Privatisation (NCP) had directed its secretariatthe Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) to get to work and privatise; especially the generation assets. The Bureau should therefore be supported to execute this mandate and not the unnecessary draw back from members of the public and other agencies of government.

It is disheartening to note that since its inception, the NDPHC (despite the huge resources pumped into it by the federal government), its finances have not been audited to ascertain how the resources have been deployed or to provide clear information on what has happened to the funds 16 years down the line. Given also that the issue of failed contracts and poorly executed works abound all over the place, shouldn’t the government beam its search light on the resources’ guzzling institution that could easily mar the reputation of the government when the facts are eventually revealed? Indeed it is trite to ask that in the light of current developments in the power sector and the huge interventions through bilateral and multilateral institutions, is NDPHC still relevant or put differently, has it not outlived its welcome?

Since the vision has been lost and Nigeria cannot overcome the perennial problem of power shortage with more interventions in the value chain by the NDPHC; and considering the funding constraints of the three tiers of government now and that the results of the huge investment are abysmal, shouldn’t the shareholders resort to the best course of action; which would be for the tiers of government to divest their interest in the NIPPs and utilize the proceeds to fund other developmental projects?

Adekunle wrote from Abeokuta, Ogun State

WHEN SOVEREIGNTY STRIKES BACK

Partisan differences in a democracy should be moderated by a common commitment to promote unity and development, writes Japhet Maduka

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he past week will remain a reassuring reference point in the annals of Nigerian security operations that first surprised the world by sensationally bring back Nnamdi Kanu, a fugitive offender from foreign hideouts before forcing the other tribal separatist provocateur, Sunday Igboho, to flee from a lightening raid on his home, abandoning his cohorts and a cache of ammunition\ and fetish objects. These operations are a pointer to the gravity of wilful threats to the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Nigeria and the absolute necessity to nip them in the bud.

It is most instructive that this spectacular performance of the intelligence community occurred when the propaganda of national pessimism had become an epidemic, riding on the remorseless fixation with doomsday depictions by partisan opposition, ethnic champions and their media megaphones. Pulling off such a breathtaking international intelligence operation and smoking out an “invincible” local war monger in a couple of days was a dazzling display of sophisticated operational strategy that must have aptly sent the appropriate signals in the language of the outlaws.

Apart from the obvious lesson that rebellion and terrorism do not pay, there are many other telling inferences from the shocking and awesome recapture of Nnamdi Kanu and rattling of Sunday Igboho by Nigeria’s security and intelligence services, dramatically demonstrating the dexterity of the proverbially long arm of the law which sooner than later, catches up with those who would rather circumvent constitutional procedure in pursuit of aspirations and even unleash violence in the process. Such uncivilized conduct invariably becomes the nemesis of the “independent” republics should they ever realize their self-serving schemes.

The ultimate import of these operations is

the vindication of the critical institutions of state which have remained resilient and resolute in their sworn allegiance to uphold and defend the Nigerian state against all existential threats. The “collaborative efforts” of the nation’s security and intelligence agencies which achieved the feats was a fortuitous reminder to the loud minority of self-imposed politically-ambitious urban “stakeholders” who are quick to write us off as a “failed nation” from which they will “break away” whenever they are outside the corridors of power, that indeed Nigeria is greater than their myopic misgivings.

More crucially, there are Nigerians whose “ambition” is patriotic eternal vigilance and commitment to protect and uphold the sovereignty, law and order for continued peaceful co-existence of the silent but loyal majority of citizens. Citizenship is unconditionally anchored on not having any other country to call your own – or to escape to for refuge after making Nigeria “ungovernable”.

But for the unwavering focus of the rank and file of our security, intelligence and defence institutions on the larger picture of territorial integrity, indivisibility and sovereignty of our dear country, the forsaken fate whimsically wished upon it by those political predators interested only in reaping without sowing, would have been a tragic history long ago!

We must see the ethnic geo-political and their motley cliques of “non-state actors” hiding their ulterior mercenary missions with the civil society mask in their true colours as mere rabble-rousing fronts for failed politicians who use them to convert election defeat into a “mandate” to grapple for getting recycled back into power. They obstinately oppose smooth development in the name of political opposition to any government, by constantly contriving caustic criticism and deploying destabilizing disinformation loaded with fake news, hate speech and incitement on

private and social media. In their desperation, Nigeria becomes dispensable!

How have ACF, NEF, Afenifere, Ohaneze Ndigbo, Middle Belt or Niger Delta pressure groups contributed to stem the tide of insecurity in the areas they claim to be representing? All they do is fanning embers of disunity, intolerance and separation. It is a mark of their duplicity and diminishing relevance that characters like Nnamdi Kanu, Sunday Igboho and bandit groups have practically pushed them aside and turned them into clueless spectators. It is an ominous pointer to what will become of their “republics” if (God forbid!) their separatist –secessionist blind ambitions are realized.

It is high time our over-crowded constituency of ambitious politicians come to terms with the reality of the futility of their anarchic do-or-die approach to being in government, especially at national level. There is no denying that their relentless desperation to occupy political office at all costs is the most despicable catalyst of geo-political acrimony, insecurity and instability in the country.

It is also responsible for the predatory practice of opposition politics motivated by uncompromising rivalry and tendency to undermine the elected government which further heats the polity and impedes democracy and development.

Unfortunately, all the desperation and acrimony are seen to be the result of inordinate ambition to access the spoils of elective office through corrupt practices at the expense of good governance and delivery of dividends of democracy. The elevation of self-interest and other clannish objectives over and above national interest and public good amounts to a great disservice and negation of leadership attributes. Partisan differences in a democracy should be moderated by a common commitment to promote unity, peace, development and progress of the people. Electioneering should not entrench bitter rivalry or be extended beyond

campaign season so that positive partnership can be engendered to ensure success of the popularly elected government. Abandoning national interest and public good is as bad as waging war against the country.

It is therefore timely as a re-affirmation of the dependability and indispensability of our indefatigable and patriotic security and intelligence national assets that Nigeria recorded such an internationally-acclaimed feat in capturing a major fugitive enemy in a robust riposte to the unfounded mischievous rating as a failed state.

The patriotism and zealous devotion to preservation of the territorial integrity and maintenance of law and order of the security agencies is borne out of keen appreciation of the inalienable right of the majority common people of Nigeria to peaceful coexistence, law and order to make a living and raise families.

From all indications, this is just the first salvo in a forthcoming decimation of insurgents and terrorists as the Commander-in-Chief, President Muhammadu Buhari decisively declared: “whoever wants the destruction of the system will soon have the shock of their lives. We’ve given them enough time... we will treat them in the language they understand.” The cool and comfortable appearance of Nnamdi Kanu in a trendy designer suit speaks volumes of the “soft touch” applied in capturing and bringing him back to court by the security agencies, thus providing further evidence of the genuineness of President Buhari’s acclaimed transformation to a democrat, especially when compared to the “cargo treatment” deployed in the failed capture of late Umaru Dikko by the then military government! Due commendation must go to the security agencies for these astonishing accomplishments that remind us of their being there for Nigeria --even when we think they are not.

Maduka wrote from Awka

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EDITORIAL COVID-19 AND THE DELTA STRAIN Nigerians should adhere to non-pharmaceutical measures to save lives

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few weeks after the warning against travelling to or returning from countries currently experiencing the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) last week confirmed a case with the highly transmissible COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) Delta variant. Said to have been detected in an in-bound traveller following the usual routine check, the Indian strain has been linked to a surge in cases in countries where it is the dominant strain with ongoing studies to understand its impact on existing vaccines and therapeutics.

This is another wake-up call for the country as we urge the authorities to do everything that will avert a Covid-19 disaster in Nigeria.

The Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19, last month placed travel ban on dozens of travellers who failed to observe the mandatory protocols put in place against the spread of the virus. But available reports indicate that there are no enforcement mechanisms for these rules and where they exist, they are not effective. Apart from PROVEN PUBLIC HEALTH travellers who routinely AND SOCIAL MEASURES flout these protocols, SUCH AS PHYSICAL majority of Nigerians DISTANCING, FREQUENT no longer obey the HANDWASHING, AND non-pharmaceutical PROPER USE OF FACE measures like the use of MASKS, PREVENT face masks, maintaining INFECTIONS AND SAVE social distance, among LIVES others.

In a very revealing update yesterday, Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, highlighted the challenge of monitoring passengers who enter the country. While admonishing non-accredited Covid-19 treatment centres to refer suspected cases to the appropriate medical centres, the governor also appealed to religious leaders to minimise their gatherings and observe laid down protocols to avoid any catastrophe.

We agree with the governor that Covid-19 infection is still very much around and could snowball to what has been

Letters to the Editor

experienced in countries like the United States, Turkey, Brazil, as well as India, if the citizens continue to flout existing preventive protocols. This warning is particularly important, especially now that some countries have started experiencing a third wave of the pandemic occasioned by a more fast-growing new strain which has posed to be deadlier than the previous strains that had wrought global disruptions for more than a year.

N 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 OGED ENGBE DEPUTY DIVISIONAL DIRECTOR OJOGUN VICTOR DANBOYI SNR. ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR ERIC OJEH ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR PATRICK EIMIUHI CONTROLLERS ABIMBOLA TAIWO, UCHENNA DIBIAGWU, NDUKA MOSERI DIRECTOR, PRINTING PRODUCTION CHUKS ONWUDINJO HEAD, COMPUTER DEPARTMENT PATRICIA UBAKA-ADEKOYA TO SEND EMAIL: first name.surname@thisdaylive.com

igeria cannot handle the experience of India where the surge once overwhelmed hospitals, morgues and crematoriums and left several families scrambling for scarce medicines and oxygen.

Health experts in the country believed mass religious gatherings and political rallies were the major factors responsible for the problem that led to the death of thousands. Should the same surge occur in Nigeria due to the carelessness of many of our citizens, the country does not have the healthcare and structural capacity needed to manage cases.

We call on every Nigerian to sustain the precautions that have ensured the number of infections did not outgrow the health system. Religious clerics, traditional rulers and other stakeholders must lead the efforts for the continued adherence to laid down infectious disease protocols put in place by the Nigerian government. “Proven public health and social measures such as physical distancing, frequent handwashing, and proper use of face masks, prevent infections and save lives”, according to a statement by the NCDC which urged states “to ensure sample collection and testing for COVID-19 is accessible to the public.”

No time is more apt for the collective effort against COVID-19 than now, especially since the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), NCDC and the Federal Ministry of Health have not done much to vaccinate the public. In a country where less than one per cent of the population has been fully vaccinated, we cannot afford to be careless. In the absence of an effective COVID-19 vaccine distribution across board, all the country has for now are the infectious disease protocols which must be adhered to pending when every Nigerian receives the jab.

Under the prevailing circumstance in Nigeria, prevention remains the most plausible cure.

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

DANKAKA AND LEADERSHIP AT THE FCC

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hen the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria confirmed Dr. Muheeba Dankaka as the chairman of the Federal Character Commission (FCC) it ushered in a new era at the commission. Having been part of a 38-man list submitted by President Muhammadu Buhari for appointment into the commission, Dankaka, a native of Offa, Kwara State, was confirmed on merit.

However, the circumstances surrounding the appointment of the second principal officer of the commission raised some eyebrows as Mohammed Tukur Bello is from Taraba State, also in the north. This was perceived by many cynics to be a non-application of the principles of federal character.

But only six months into her appointment as the chairperson of the commission, Dankaka proved the cynics wrong notably through the centralisation of the administrative structures of the monitoring and enforcement department.

Second, the achievements so far recorded by the chairman appeared to be unsettling some who are not happy with her strides, as some commissioners within the commission petitioned the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC), this time, accusing her offences relating to the abuse of office. It should be noted that prior to her appointment as head of FCC, Dankaka was the immediate past president of the Kaduna Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, an endeavour she undertook meritoriously. She was far from controversy when she was the head of affairs at KADCCIMA. This got many wondering and talking as what could have happened to a trusted entrepreneur who got a national award for her contributions to the National economy while outside the government employment. She was conferred with the of Order of the Niger (OON) by President Buhari for

her contributions to the Nigerian economy, as an entrepreneur per excellence. A response by the FCC boss at that time which was later proved right suggests there was personal motives and interest clash between her and the petitioners who were out just to tarnish her image and the credibility. The petitioners who as earlier stated are commissioners in the commission had accused the chairman of infractions such as granting of waivers to advertise to MDAs and shunning the principles of federal character in job allocations. She was also accused of acting alone without recourse to fellow commissioners. After investigations by relevant agencies, the petitions had no substance and thrown out.

Today, the same masters of calumny are at it again. They are unrelenting even when they know their antics would take them nowhere. Today the trending issue is the usage of the mass media to disseminate falsehood by alleging that the FCC chairman was involved in a certificate forgery.

It would have been better to ignore the petitioners, but to set the record straight. Dankaka is a graduate of the Kaduna Polytechnic and the Ahmadu Bello university, Zaria, Kaduna State. She is a Kaduna-based successful business woman who, before her appointment as the FCC boss, was into construction and consumer product developments.

Her past leadership role includes her headship of the Farida Ventures limited where she served as CEO. She was the immediate past president of KADCIMA. She was a member of the Governor Abdul-Razak APC transition committee in 2019. She had many awards and honours and these include the conferment on her the prestigious National Productivity Merit Award and OON by President Buhari for her contributions to the Nigerian economy as an entrepreneur per excellence. Her people conferred on her the title of the ERELU of Offa, Kwara State.

Musa Wada, Abuja

LAGOS ABOUT TO BE OVERRUN BY BEGGARS

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hilst the Lagos Assembly is upbeat in passing a legislation outlawing parading of suspects in whatever guise, it leaves much to be desired why such bill has become a legislative priority in an assembly inundated with cosmopolitan exigencies begging for attention. How has parading a suspect or it’s flip side helped the Lagos economy or its social life? It comes across as one of the inanities of the Lagos Assembly leaving exigent state matters to suffer while focusing on immaterial denouements.

Lagos has become a basket of attraction for mendicants who are ejected from other less endowed states who have adopted proactive state legislation. Beggars including other social miscreants have made Lagos one of the most unlivable spaces on earth yet Lagos assembly finds no merit in taking urgent legislative steps to arrest it.

Highway robbers can hardly be distinguished from highway beggars in Lagos, all combined to make commuting a hell for law abiding citizens. In the midst of these confusion, Lagos assembly is only concerned with a mundane issue of parading or not parading suspects, what an outlandish dereliction of duty?

Lagos can provide crowdfunding platforms where citizens can make contribution to housing and feeding the homeless among these beggars but to simply allow beggars to lay siege on a state capital accentuates a depiction of an Hobbesian state of nature.

If Lagos State is not embarrassed by this malady then nothing else could rouse its sense of tectonic urgency.

Bukola Ajisola, bukymany@yahoo.com

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T H I S D AY ˾ MONDAY JULY 12, 2021

Group Politics Editor NSEOBONG OKON-EKONG

POLITICS

Email: nseobong.okonekong@thisdaylive.com 08114495324 SMS ONLY

M O N D AY D I S C O U R S E

How Much Influence Can the North Exert on Choice of a Southern President?

Nseobong Okon-Ekong writes that as agitation for a president of Southern Nigeria extraction gains traction, the critical decisions may be influenced by Northern Nigeria

Buhari

Osinbajo

Tinubu

Ganduje

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ising from their recent meeting in Lagos, governors of the 17 states in Southern Nigeria under the aegis of the Southern Nigeria Governors Forum left no one in doubt concerning their preference for who succeeds President Muhammadu Buhari in 2023. Without prejudice to political party affiliation and ethnic group, these states chief executives defended the widely accepted arrangement that the presidency of Nigeria should rotate between North and South of Nigeria. This political expediency is what Governor Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna State describes as “a political design that must be respected,” although as he said, “ the power shift arrangement among the various regions is unconstitutional.”

While this thought espoused by Southern Nigeria Governors Forum is not novel, coming at a time when the debate for which section of the country the next president should come from has become vociferous, throwing their weight behind calls for a president of Southern Nigeria extraction has major implications for the polity ahead of the next national elections in 2023.

Three political parties-the All Progressives Congress (APC), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) have a control of the various 17 Southern states. The APC and the PDP have equal control of eight states each, while the APGA controls Anambra State only. In the South-east; APC has Ebonyi and Imo.

The party also has its flag flying proudly in Ogun, Lagos, Osun, Ondo and Ekiti in the South-west, while it controls the lone state of Cross River in the South-south; making eight states. The PDP similarly is entrenched in the South-south states of Akwa Ibom, Edo, Bayelsa, Delta and Rivers. It retains two South-states; Abia and Enugu, while holding on to Oyo State in the South-west.

Apparently, the Governors of Southern Nigerian states are echoing the overriding sentiments of their people and that is why

there seems to be unison in their position that is completely blind to ethnic and political differences. It is increasingly becoming clear that any Southerner who holds a different view will be walking on a lonely road. Although, agitation for which section of the South; west, east or south should have it, will later dominate the discourse; for now it may just be good enough to bring home the trophy before discussing where to keep it.

There are six geopolitical zones in the country. Although the South-east, made up largely

Figures obtained from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) shows clearly that 77 percent of voters in the 2019 National elections were from Nothern Nigeria. The North is largely considered to be more politically exposed than the South. Even as religion and ethnicity remain domineering influences in Nigerian politics, the homogeneity of the North, in terms of the Hausa language and Islamic religion becomes an effectivet ool in delivering block votes to their preferred presidential candidate

of the Igbos-the third major ethnic group in the country, following the Hausa/Fulani and the Yorubas, has been consistent and more vociferous in demanding that they be allowed an unfettered shot at the presidency in 2023, this quest is blighted by another compelling quest mounted by a section of Igbos fighting for a separate country, called Biafra. This struggle for an Igbo country that is independent of Nigeria was what led to the Nigerian Civil War between 1967 and 1970 during which over 1 million lives were lost.

The agitation has been revived and gained more steam in recent times under the leadership of the proscribed Independent Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), whose leader Mr. Nnamdi Kanu was recently intercepted in Kenya and brought back to Nigeria to continue with his trial for treasonable felony, from which he absconded in 2017. The Igbo quest for presidency in Nigeria may be marred by trust issues and divided interest.

In the South-east, the two leading political parties are equally matched in their contention for the presidency. Both the APC and PDP have control of two states each. APGA which has control of the fifth state may have positioned itself as the beautiful bride to wooed by both the APC and the PDP. Many political pundits have contended that the presidency should be conceded to the Igbos to give them a sense of belonging, full integration and a closure of the Nigerian Civil War. There are groups and individuals in the South-south who are making a case for presi-

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MONDAY DISCOURSE

Masari

Badaru

Fayemi

Amaechi

dency to go back to the region based on the understanding that Jonathan only served one term. They argue that he previously completed the two years left in Yar’Adua’s first tenure truncated by his death. A Southsouth presidential hopeful may spring from the PDP, the main opposition party that has managed to retain its appeal in the Niger Delta region. Since it is not a regional but a national contest, can a presidential candidate from that region be successfully sold to other regions of the country so soon after Jonathan? The APC would not dare choose its presidential flagbearer from the South-south because it is yet to gain the kind of popularity that can keep it afloat in the region. But there is a school of thought that is willing to swear by the name of the Minister of Transportation, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, insisting that he wants to run for the presidency of Nigeria.

The demand of the Yorubas in the Southwest for the presidency is stronger in the APC, the ruling party at the centre, which undoubtedly has deep roots in the region with many of its leading lights being instrumental to the formation of the APC. The serving Vice President Professor Yemi Osinbajo is from this region. Many are willing to hazard a guess that Buhari and influential Nothern politicians across board may be comfortable with an Osinbajo presidency. The Chairman of Nigerian Governors Forum, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, governor of Ekiti State is from this region and is widely believed to harbour presidential aspiration. But the man whose quest to participate in the 2023 presidential contest is louder than everybody else is the National Leader of the APC, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu. As it currently stands in the region, the PDP may not venture out with a presidential candidate from the South-west.

Part of the Southern Nigeria Governors Forum communique stated its “commitment to the politics of equity, fairness and unanimously and agrees that the presidency of Nigeria be rotated between Southern and Northern Nigeria and resolved that the next President of Nigeria should emerge from the Southern Region.” This resolution was communicated on their behalf by the Chairman of the forum and Governor of Ondo State, Mr. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN).

The incumbent, President Muhammadu Buhari is from the North-west state of Katsina.

His maximum tenure of eight years comes to an end in 2023. He took the reins of government from former President Goodluck Jonathan who hails from the South-south state of Bayelsa.

Jonathan had served out the remaining two years of a four-year term of his predecessor, Alhaji Musa Yar’Adua, a Northerner from the same Katsina State as Buhari who took ill and died in office in 2009. On his own steam, Jonathan was elected for another four-year term which he completed in 2015. His attempt to seek another four-year term was unsuccessful. He was defeated by Buhari.

Among the 19 states, the APC has five states in the North-west in its fist. They are Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Zamfara and Jigawa states, except the Sokoto which is ruled by the PDP. The party rules in fives states in the North-central. These are Kogi, Kwara, Plateau, Nasarawa and Niger. Benue State is controlled by the PDP. The tally of states under the PDP in the North-east are three; Adamawa, Taraba and Bauchi states, while the APC rules Borno, Gombe and Yobe states.

One piece of good news for the Southern governors is that an increasing number of Nothern governors are also drumming up support for them. Some of the Northern governors who have publicly shown preference

for a Southern president in 2023 include Governors Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna, Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano, Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa, Aminu Masari of Katsina, Samuel Ortom of Benue and Babagana Zulum of Borno. A spokesperson for Ortom stated the governor’s position. “Give all citizens a sense of belonging and reduce tensions across the country. “ Borno State Governor said his was a principled stand. “I am in the APC. Six or seven years ago, APC had zoned the presidency to northern Nigeria based on the agreement that, in 2023, the presidency should go to the South.”

El-Rufai had long taken a stand, “The southern part of the country is supposed to produce the President come 2023; I don’t support a northerner to vie for the seat after President Muhammadu Buhari based on Nigeria’s political arrangement.”

The Kaduna is an influential voice in the APC. He headed the APC’s Restructuring Committee. He told a national newspaper.

“In the APC, we deliberately omitted rotational Presidency in our constitution and the emergence of a presidential candidate does not take into account zoning and that was why in 2015, Rochas Okorocha from the East contested, Sam Nda-Isaiah contested,

The incumbent, President Muhammadu Buhari is from the North-west state of Katsina. His maximum tenure of eight years comes to an end in 2023.

He took the reins of government from former President Goodluck Jonathan who hails from the South-south state of Bayelsa. Jonathan had served out the remaining two years of a four-year term of his predecessor, Alhaji Musa Yar’Adua, a Northerner from the same Katsina State as Buhari who took ill and died in office in 2009. On his own steam, Jonathan was elected for another four-year term which he completed in 2015

Buhari, Kwankwaso and others contested.

II can say that as distinct from the PDP, APC has no rotational Presidency but candidates are selected strictly on the basis of political merit and the general acceptability of the candidate. Those of us from Northern Nigeria honour agreements. We do not violate unwritten political agreements and I will be the last person to lead in violating that agreement. I may have a personal view but that should be the basis. I don’t care where you come from but I look for merit. As a group, the Northern APC will have to sit down and endorse someone, most likely someone from the South, because after eight years of Buhari, I don’t think the Presidency should remain in the north unless there is some extenuating circumstances. All things being equal, we will honour our agreement and we keep our words.’’

Ganduje, an ally of Tinubu said he was supporting zoning of the presidency in 2023 to the South because it was strategic in winning elections.

Governor Sule of Nasarawa State said rotational presidency was one of designs that can guarantee peace in Nigeria. Katsina State governor, Masari also spoke in the same vein, saying a Southern president will ensure equity, fairness and justice.

However, there are still many hurdles to cross for the Southern governors to get the unalloyed support of their colleagues and other powerful interest groups in the North. For instance the Jigawa State Governor Mohammed Abubakar Badaru who is the Chairman of the Progressives Governors Forum, that is governors elected on the platform of the APC, believes the race for the presidency should be an open contest to all comers from all regions of the country.

His Bauchi State counterpart, Bala Mohammed, Chairman of acommittee that reviewed PDP’s loss in the 2019 presidential election returned a report that opens the contest for the party’s presidential ticket in 2023 to any interested member of the party. The PDP has since downplayed this position, while emphasising that it has not taken a position on the matter yet.

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

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POLITICS

Anamcadabra: Magic of the Anambra PDP Governorship Primary Tony Amadi explains what happened during the Peoples Democratic Party Anambra State governorship selection process at the Dora Akinyili Women Development Centre, Awka

Ozigbo

Okonkwo

Ekwunife

Maduka

I

former Central Senator Victor Umeh and once chairman of All Progressive Grand Alliance, the governing party in Anambra state.

As the primaries drew nearer, most analysts agreed that a political rooky and a United States’ based pain doctor, Dr. Godwin Maduka was far ahead in polls among grass roots primary voters, a situation that worried the party grandees who usually decided who should occupy Agu Awka, the local White House. The billionaire medical doctor was seen as the spoiler who was making the King Makers lose control of their pecks and use the people’s money to work for them and not the political elite.

Dr. Maduka is also a top philanthropist who had done a lot for his Umuchukwu people and promised the extension of his development of his town to the rest of Anambra if elected governor. Despite his extension of largesse to the political leadership of the PDP in the state and at the national level, he was seen by them as the man that will bring their political career to an end should they endorse his project. So a cabal had to be set up to ensure that his quest for the governorship of Anambra was scuttled before damage was done to their own political wellbeing.

And so the 2021 primaries were the best opportunity to hit back at the triple professor of Medicine, Surgery and Pharmacy. By the close of the pimaries in the wee hours of the 26th June, the results showed that Maduka had only five votes against the winning Valentine Ozigbo, the former Managing Director of Hilton Hotel, Abuja scoring a whopping 62 votes, followed closely by Dr. Obiora Okonkwo with 58, and Senator Uche Ekwunife with 44 votes.

So what happened at the Dora Akinyili Women Development centre, Awka, the venue of the PDP 2021 Anambra State primaries?

One of the several voters disenfranchised at the primaries told me after the results were announced that “this, kain primary

na propa abracadabra”. He said that when the National Working Committee decided to announce the total figure of 197 delegate voters as the final number that should vote at the primaries when it was found that some people had doctored the local government list that should have had close to 2000 delegates on the final list to vote.

Security presence at the venue was visibly tight when I arrived the venue very early, with police in their various departments with Mobile Policemen dominating. One officer told me that his unit was dispatched from Port Harcourt but headed by a Deputy Inspector General based in the state. But as time went by, the main entrance was becoming chaotic as unauthorized men began to cluster around before the Chairman of the primaries, the Edo State Deputy Governor Philip Shuaibu came to take control of the entrance to the venue. Mr Shuaibu was clothed in an Oshomhole-fatigue type of khaki shirt and shorts with barely six months’ membership of the PDP, having joined with Governor Godwin Obaseki from the APC at the height of the last Edo governorship race which checkmated the ruling party’s dominance of the state.

When I asked the deputy governor what he thought of the proceedings so far, he put up a brave face and concluded that the primaries would go well and that the result would reflect on the high level of integrity that his team would impose on the event.

However, the deputy governor’s hopes were going to be dashed ruthlessly by the determination of the state leadership to select rather than elect the winner. It had always been brandished by the PDP at all levels to win the Anambra governorship after languishing in obscurity for 16 years, largely winning all the state assembly seats but losing the priced governorship.

The South-east of Nigeria always had the PDP in total control and with 2023 national

elections two years away, the party had lost two states of Ebonyi and Imo to the ruling APC with rumours of Enugu and Abia governors following suit, no sane party man would concede another inch of South-east territory to the APC. The bungled Anambra primary was certain to become the party’s watershed as 2023 elections loomed large in the horizon. As political analysts pondered what was going on at the primaries, the delegate list continued to change, starting with the disenfranchising of voters with disability who had turned up in their numbers but were told to go home.

Meanwhile one Nnewi based former Chairman of the party in the state told me there was expectedly more changes to the list to come from Abuja where the party leaders were holed in at Wadata House, applying their carrot and stick formulae to ensure their predetermined winner emerges at the end at the Dora Akunyili Women center in Awka. Only God Almighty knew when the voting would start as the advanced rigging methodology had to be perfected.

So it emerged that another bout of shooting itself on the foot became the obvious result of the primaries with the PDP left with nothing else than to begin a major fence mending activity to paper through the deep cracks it has forced on itself. Peter Obi, the party leader in the state and the presumed winner of the primaries Valentine Ozigbo began their tour to assuage the losing candidates, particularly Dr. Godwin Maduka who was bruised and battered by the butchery at Awka.

The Okwute man came as early as 10am to Maduka’s home just as he returned from Church, a stone throw to his home in the state capital where he spent over an hour to calm his nerves, followed immediately at midday by the winner of the primary, Val Ozigbo.

The PDP may well have felt the problem it has inflicted on itself with the bungled primaries as rumour mills have gone into overdrive that Maduka and Obiora may well switch parties to contest the main elections, counting that their wide popularity can still take them to Agu Awka on November 6 when the election proper would take place.

Obiora gave an exhaustive interview with AIT where he kept his next move under wraps, while Maduka addressed thousands of his supporters in front of his foundation office on the highbrow business district on Onitsha/Enugu road.

With Maduka’s war chest still left with very huge balances and Obiora also said to be heavily loaded, the PDP chances in clinching the central South-east state now face serious difficulties ahead of a national election in 2023 where its own governors in safe states are moving towards the failed national government of APC. Not to mention APGA candidate Soludo, the former CBN Governor solidly set and a force to be reckoned with. What a tragic outcome for the leading opposition party in Anambra!

n the course of my years of reporting the politics of Nigeria and writing the epic The Making of the PDP’ book in 2000, I have observed many party primaries, the most important being the 1999 presidential primaries in Jos. I am afraid that none of those primaries would out-match the recently concluded ‘Anamcadabra’ in the Anambra State capital, Awka on June 26, 2021.

Awka was boiling as the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) held its primaries for the next governor of the state for the November 6 gubernatorial elections. The city was locked down in a fierce political battle as the 16 aspirants, the highest in the state’s electoral history sought to win the prized gubernatorial primary. Multiple political Intrigues reigned supreme as aspirants tried to outfox each other as the leading aspirants Dr. Godwin Maduka, Chris Azubogu, Valentine Ozigbo, Senator Uche Ekwunife and Dr Obiora Okonkwo dug in for a fight to finish.

Unfortunately, Ekwunife and Okonkwo who are from the Central Senatorial district were boxed into a zoning controversy as the generality of Anambra people wanted the southern senatorial district to be favoured in the zoning which has gone round since the advent of the 1999 return to democracy and after 15 years of military interregnum.

A gun shot had rang out at 9.09am at the Dora AkunyIli Women Development Center Awka, venue of the primaries, signaling signs of an impending shootout that hopefully would not materialize at the end of the day. But nothing of the sort had happened, instead what was going on was a series of changes to the goal post as the rules were changed several times for understandably no reason.

Anambra state like most states in Nigeria is usually politically charged during elections but the southern senatorial zone in their attempt to show a united front to orchestrate their zoning demand, had all their aspirants actively meeting in solidarity to their course. I must have counted more than 10 meetings in Abuja or Awka where they often met in a hotel room in the Area 11 part of the Federal Capital City. Dr. Obiora Okonkwo, The Dikeora didn’t give a damn about the zoning to the south because as the story goes, the Central zone where he comes from has the biggest slice of the voters, followed by the North where the current Governor Obiano hails from.

However, Senator Uche Ekwunife, the abrasive and tough talking ‘Iron Lady’ member of the Upper Chamber reminded all that apart from being married to the Central Zone which she represents in the Senate, she is a southerner by birth; a question of having it both ways. The Senator was reported to have dared the 13 male aspirants not to forget her capacity to crush the men that come across her political path in apparently reminding everyone how she trounced the

So it emerged that another bout of shooting itself on the foot became the obvious result of the primaries with the PDP left with nothing else than to begin a major fence mending activity to paper through the deep cracks it has forced on itself. Peter Obi, the party leader in the state and the presumed winner of the primaries Valentine Ozigbo began their tour to assuage the losing candidates, particularly Dr. Godwin Maduka who was bruised and battered by the butchery at Awka

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FEATURES

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

As Lagos Moves to Stop Parade of Suspects By the time Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu signs into law a bill just passed by the Lagos State House of Assembly seeking to stop the police and other law enforcement agencies from parading suspects before the media, one question begging for answer would be if these agencies known for breaking the law would obey it, Davidson Iriekpen writes

Arrested Suspects

A

ny moment from now, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State will sign into law a bill that will make it an offence for the police and law enforcement agencies to parade suspects in the state.

The bill, which was passed last Monday by the state House of Assembly, is seeking to put a stop to suspects from being paraded before the media.

The bill, which is an amendment of the state Criminal Justice Law, according to section 9(a), states that “as from the commencement of this law, the police shall refrain from parading any suspect before the media".

In addition to stopping the parade of suspects before the media, the bill also prohibits arrests in lieu in criminal matters. It states that suspects should be accorded humane treatment, with the right to dignity of person and not be subjected to any form of torture, cruel, inhumane or degrading treatment.

It also stipulates that the only condition where the police can arrest without warrant is if a person is “reasonably suspected to unlawfully be in possession of firearms or other such dangerous instruments".

The bill adds that arrested persons “shall be given reasonable facilities for obtaining legal advice, bail or making arrangements for defence or release".

Parading of suspects before the media is not new in Nigeria. The legality or otherwise of the issue has always been a point of debate.

Public parade of suspects is basically a practice among law enforcement agencies where persons suspected of committing criminal offences are put forward before pressmen or the members of the public pending their arraignment in court. In most cases, after such public parade, some of the suspects are eventually released from custody for lack of sufficient evidence to link them with the alleged offence.

It is also not unusual for the paraded suspect to be discharged and acquitted by the court, after which he or she is left with the public impression of being a criminal as the pressmen before whom the he or she was paraded are not invited and the allegations retracted before them.

With the trending rate of public parade of suspects by law enforcement agents both on electronic and print media and also the

Some arrested suspects

display of suspects before crowd of people, one may be in doubt as to the legality of this action considering the fact that those parading the suspects are the ones saddled with the responsibility of enforcing laws and should therefore know the law.

Several arguments have been put forward as to the merits of public parade of suspects.

The arguments in favour of public parade of criminal suspects majorly come from law enforcement agents, particularly the police.

It has been reasoned that public parade of suspects by the police is to boost public morale of the policemen on patrol as well as to promote the efficiency and the capacity of the police to detect crime in the society. It is also seen as deterrence to other members of the public watching or reading about the paraded suspects to desist from crime.

Arguments in favour of public parade of suspects have been pushed further that the suspects are paraded as suspects not as convicts and as such they are not being prejudged by the police. In essence, from the perspective of some individuals like the law enforcement agents, public parade of criminal suspects is seen as a welcome development which would boost public confidence in the law enforcement agents and make the public

IG Baba

consider them as being proactive.

However, several lawyers, human right activists and civil society organisations have called for its end, saying it does not protect the human rights of suspects. They hinged their arguments on Section 36 subsections 5 of the 1999 constitution of Nigeria (as amended) which presumes every person who is charged with criminal offence as innocent until such person is convicted by a court of competent jurisdiction.

The provision also falls in consonance with African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, which is also known as the Banjul Charter, an international human rights instrument that is intended to promote and protect human rights and basic freedoms in the African continent.

Nigeria was part of the 54 African Union (AU) member states that ratified the treaty in 1983. By the virtue of this provision, the liberty and privacy of criminal suspects under the law of the land are protected beyond any orchestrated intent of the law enforcement agency.

Notwithstanding the clear position of the law and the plethora of court judgments against the pre-trial parade of crime suspects, successive police authorities have openly sanctioned the action.

A Police Public Relations Officer once revealed that there was no law prohibiting the parade of suspects before the media in Nigeria. Even though is no specific law barring the Force carrying out such action, what perhaps the PPRO was not aware of are a plethora of judgments frowning at the action.

For instance, in Ndukwem Chiziri Nice v. AG, Federation & Anor. (2007) CHR 218 at 232, Justice Adebukola Banjoko of the High Court of Federal Capital Territory held that “The act of parading him (the suspect) before the press as evidenced by the exhibits annexed to the affidavit was uncalled for and a callous disregard for his person. He was shown to the public the next day of his arrest even without any investigation conducted in the matter.

“He was already prejudged by the police who are incompetent, so to have such function, it is the duty of the court to pass a verdict of guilt and this constitutes a clear breach of Section 36(4) and (5) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 on the doctrine of fair hearing.”

Similarly, in Dyot Bayi & 14 Ors. V. Federal Republic of Nigeria (2004-2009) CCJLER 245 at 265, the Community Court of Justice,

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Policemen

ECOWAS Court condemned the media trial of the applicants when it held that: “The court is of the opinion that for the fact that the defendants presented the applicants before the press when no judge or court has found them guilty, certainly constitute a violation of the principle of presumption of innocence such as provided in Article 7(b) of the same African Charter and not a violation in the sense of Article 5 of the said Charter.

The court proceeded to award damages of $42,750 to each of the 10 applicants and $10,000 as costs payable by the federal government for the illegal actions of the naval personnel who carried out the illegal parade of the applicants.

In 2011, a Federal High Court awarded the sum of N20 million against the Lagos State Commissioner of Police for parading one Ottoh Obono before the media as an armed robber, even before his arraignment in court. Upon the issuance of the advice of the Director of Public Prosecution, Obono was later found to be innocent of the crime.

Despite the fact that these judgments seriously frowned at public parade of suspects, the police have not relented in still carrying out the action. Before his retirement recently, an Inspector General of Police (IG) openly gave the practice a stamp of approval. In his response to a question asked during the #AskThePolice session on Twitter, he said the parade of suspects “is simply the Force letting the public know the efforts and achievements of the police in curbing and reducing crime to the barest minimum.”

Observers have often argued that a majority of crime suspects paraded by the police are often persons of low means. While it is not unusual to parade poor criminal suspects who are accused of stealing as low or small as mobile phones, it is rare for the police and other security agencies to parade rich and powerful criminal suspects who loot the treasury to the tune of several billions of Naira. They stated that many notable politicians and businessmen who today have been pronounced guilty of corruption by the courts and sentenced to jail, were never paraded before their trial.

Recently, a human rights activist, Femi Falana (SAN), sued the police, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Attorney-General of Federation over media parade of suspects. Falana, who approached a Federal High Court in Abuja in suit FHC/ABJ/CS/519/19 said pre-trial media parade of criminal suspects by security and anti-corruption agencies is illegal and unconstitutional.

The lawyer said the act is a violation of Section 36(5) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as Amended, Article 7 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act, (Cap A9) Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

This is why upon hearing about the pas-

sage of the bill by the Lagos State House of Assembly, he urged Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu not to delay in assenting to it.

In a statement titled: “Kudos to Lagos State House of Assembly for outlawing parade of criminal suspects”, the human rights lawyer said it has become expedient for the governor to assent to the bill in view of the provisions of the constitution and African Charter.

He argued that the practice of parading suspects is illegal as it constitutes a gross violation of the fundamental right of criminal suspects to presumption of innocence.

“It is equally discriminatory as only lowly placed criminal suspects are exposed to media parade by the police and other law enforcement agencies. While poor suspects are paraded for allegedly stealing tubers of yam or telephone handsets valued at N10,000 or less, politically-exposed persons accused of looting the public treasury to the tune of N10 billion or more are never paraded before the media,” the rights lawyer said.

The senior lawyer noted that even though the incriminating statements procured from criminal suspects during media parade are not admissible during trial in criminal courts, they are used by law enforcement agencies to compel members of the public to participate in mob justice,” he said.

He argued that they are also used to blackmail judges to convict criminal suspects, with or without evidence adduced by the prosecution.

Also, a Professor of law at the Bayero University, Kano, Mamman Lawan Yusufari (SAN), believes such tendencies portray suspects as guilty in the eye of the society, thereby constituting defamation to the reputation of their characters.

“A suspect is protected by the constitution because the law says if a person is suspected to have committed an offence, he/she is a suspect. When you charge the person to court, the name changes to accused person or a defendant. When trial starts, he may plead guilty or not guilty after the charges are read to the fellow. If he pleads guilty, the court may convict him, depending on the nature of the offence. That is called summary trial.

“After conviction, following summary or normal trial where witnesses and other evidence are taken, the court will deliver judgment by either convict the fellow or discharge and acquaint the accused. If the accused person is convicted, the name changes from accused to convict. At this stage, the media can pronounce to the whole world that the person is a criminal. Before you get to this stage, the constitution under section 36 (5), says the person charged with a criminal offence shall be presumed to be innocent until he is proved guilty,” Mamman said.

According to him, that is a fundamental right under Section 4 of the constitution. If the media report a suspect of crime by a means of showing the face or mentioning

his name on the newspaper, he argued that it is as good as convicting the suspect in the eye of the public. Mamman said such is fundamentally wrong because it is only a court that can pronounce suspect guilty and convict an accused person.

Afegbai Imoodu believes that the parade of suspects by the police is a reflection of a lack of professionalism. Pointing out that often time, cases are bungled by the police during the parade.

He said: “With due respect to the Nigerian Police, I think parading suspects before or after the investigation is concluded but before arraignment shows lack professionalism. The act simply amounts to advertisements by the police. They just want to tell the whole world that they are working whereas in most cases, the parade is one of the reasons cases fail in court.

“It also distorts investigation as some of the suspects who may be at large will run away from the country. Police should stop getting cheap popularity. The innocence of a suspect is presumed under the law. The media trial has no recognition in law. Police should stop using their advertised inconclusive investigation to get undeserved applause from the populace.

"Can you imagine a police team sending pictures online of how they arrested suspects thereby giving themselves away? Were the suspect’s fools waiting to be arrested? I think there is a need to educate the police on this aspect of the law. I don’t think that the police is aware that 85 per cent of the cases they investigated are being thrown out of court due to poor and inexperienced investigation tactics.”

However, a criminologist, Dr. MaiKano Madaki, feels otherwise.

He stated that the police could enforce a parade on suspects during investigation, since the fundamental rights of suspects are relinquished when police investigation begins.

But Madaki stressed that the law did not allow police to pre-empt whether suspects are guilty or not before the media and public.

“When someone is suspected to have committed a crime, the person’s fundamental human rights are suspended because being a suspect; you are technically relinquishing those rights. That’s why during investigation, the suspect’s house may be invaded, property impounded, some certain document seized.

You may no longer have freedom to your privacy, movement restricted, your speeches restrained and you are detained even while you are charged to court and standing trial.

“The law enforcement agencies must have linked all sufficient evidence to the suspect because what is critical in any criminal investigation and prosecution is linking the crime to the suspects. However, the suspect will remain innocent until proven guilty by a competent court of law. Perhaps, this is one of the fundamentals that police mostly rely

on before parading their suspects. Police is not empowered by constitution to declare or pre-empt suspects, only the courts reserve that right,” he argued.

Madaki further stated that parading suspects before the media has no value to the investigation. Police, he reiterated are entrusted to investigate, arrest, and submit a report of its investigation and file charges before a competent court of jurisdiction for legal prosecution.

“For me, there is nothing like parading suspects before the media. What the police are doing is an informal system of social degradation ceremony where suspects are taken to the marketplace to stigmatise and disgrace them in social prosecution. Even before police can declare suspects wanted, display his picture, name and identity to public, they must approach the court for ruling,” he insisted.

In a response to a national daily recently, the immediate past National Assistant Publicity Secretary of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Akorede Lawal, noted that despite the popularity of media parades, courts give no consequence to confessions made by suspects in such parades. He pointed out that it was high time police moved away from such practice and conduct serious investigations that would lead to conviction in court.

According to him, one ill of the media parade and the confession is that it is often elicited from the suspect and places undue pressure on the prosecution and affects the independence of decision of the court and the reasons for its judgment.

He said: “By the provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (as well as the extant criminal procedure laws of various states, including the Administration of Criminal Justice Law of Lagos State, 2011) and the Evidence Act, the ‘media confession’ – the type elicited from Chidinma Ojukwu– is hardly admissible in law due to the torture, threat, inducement and promise by the police, that often precedes such media session.

“Also, the law demands that a confession should be in writing and should be made in the presence of the suspect’s counsel, an officer of the Legal Aid Council of Nigeria or an official of a civil society organisation or a justice of the peace or any other person of the suspect’s choice – a condition that is hardly fulfilled during the media parade.

However, where such confession is admitted because of its relevance, it would arguably be of lightweight in the absence of other proven evidence of her guilt.”

The questions begging for answers now are: Will the police and other law enforcement agencies which are fond of breaking the laws of the land obey the new law when it eventually comes into effect? Won’t the law also generate another debate on whether the federal police can obey a state law? Nigerians are watching.

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MONDAY JULY 12, 2021 • T H I S D AY

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T H I S D AY ˾ ͯͰ˜ 2021

BUSINESSWORLD R A T E S MONEY MARKET OVERNIGHT OBB

REPO 20.50 19.75

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INDEX LEVEL 1-DAY MONTH-TO-DATE

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Quick Takes Advertising Practitioners Hold 48th AGM

COURTESYVISIT

L-R:OyoStateHeadofService,Mrs.AmidatOloladeAgboola; SecretarytoStateGovernment(SSG),Mrs.OlubamiwoAdeosun and President/ChairmanofCouncil,CharteredInstitute ofPersonnelManagement(CIPM)andGroupHeadofPractice,BezaleelConsultingGroup, Mr.OlusegunMojeedwhenhe visitedtheSSGinIbadan…recently

Stock Market Reverses Gains as Investors Book Profits Goddy Egene The stock market closed last week on negative note as the positive sentiments of the previous week could not be sustained.

The pullback followed profittaking in blue-chip stocks, especially in banking and consumer goods sectors by some investors.

As a result, the Nigerian Exchange(NGX) Limited All-Share Index (ASI), which appreciated by 1.47 per cent two weeks ago, fell 0.57 per cent to close at 37,994.19, while market capitalisation shed N123.7 billion to be at N19.796

STOCK MARKET trillion last week.

However, the slowdown in momentum or correction, according to the analysts at InvestData Consulting, has created opportunities, for discerning investors to reposition in interim dividend paying stocks.

The analysts said there was no need to panic at this point because profit-taking is an integral part of stock market dynamics anytime, to drive oscillation that creates room for entry and exit.

“So investors and traders should

not be carried away with any rally or rebound, but be guided by their investment objectives, while taking profit immediately reasonable profit targets are met (say 15-20 per cent) while keeping an eye on the preset stop-loss,” they said.

The analysts added that they expect a mixed trend, on profit-taking and repositioning for half-year earnings reporting season kicking off any time soon after forming a wave that supports an uptrend as bargain hunters take advantage of pullbacks to reposition ahead of second quarter (Q2) numbers.

Looking ahead, InvestData said: “Again, the way to go is target dividend-paying stocks and fundamentally sound companies with growth prospects in 2021, looking the way of mispriced equities ahead of interim dividend announcement.

“This is especially given that despite the seeming improvements, fixed income yield continues to offer a negative real rate of return due to the galloping inflation.

“However, the strong and faster recovery may continue, depending on market forces, going forward, as propelled by expected Q2 earnings Continued on page 26

Africa’s Single Currency Realisable, Says AfCFTA Scribe Dike Onwuamaeze The Secretary General of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat, Mr. Wamkele Mene, has predicted that Africa would one day have a common currency that would ease constraints of settling intra-African trade in foreign denominated currency.

Mene likened the possibility of having a common currency to realisation of AfCFTA even though people never thought that there would ever be a free trade area in Africa.

He said: “But we now have it.

And so I am confident that one day the African continent will have a single currency.

“Though there are a range of issues to be considered regarding macro-economic convergence.

Thankfully, there are departments

ECONOMY in the African Union (AU) to deal with the complexities about how we get to a single currency for the African continent. But certainly it is a positive step that will facilitate intra-African trade.”

He made this statement at the weekend during a virtual, “Quarterly Press Briefing on AfCFTA Achievements, Status of Implementation, and the Next Steps Confirmation,” where he disclosed that negotiations on the Phase Two of AfCFTA on trade competition policy, intellectual property right, investment protection and promotion as well as digital trade, women and young people would soon commence and would be completed in the shortest possible time.

Mene said successful negotiation

of the intellectual property rights would facilitate the establishment of vaccines producing factories in Africa, which is currently subject to negotiation at the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

He said: “It will take time to negotiate legal binding agreement for the manufacturing of vaccines in Africa. It is subject to negotiation at the WTO. We are hoping for positive outcome.

“We need to have a legal framework in Africa that is why the AfCFTA’s protocol on intellectual property right is so important. Because embedded in that protocol will be a provision that will enable countries to produce and manufacture vaccines not only for COVID-19 but all other pandemics to enable us address Africa’s public health imperatives.”

The secretary general also

disclosed that negotiations on 86 per cent of tariff lines have been concluded under the Rule of Origin (RoO) but clarified that the 86 per cent is on the coverage of products and not the degree of value addition required.

“It is the number of traff lines.

So, out of 100 per cent tariff lines, we have been able to agree on the RoO for 86 per cent tariff lines for the AfCFTA,” he said, adding that “we want to use the RoO to make sure that Africa industrialises. That is why we will be very deliberate, careful and thorough about these RoO because they are at the heart of Africa’s industrialisation.”

He also stated that the pilot stage of the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) that would enable trading within Continued on page 26

The Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria has concluded plan to holdits48thAnnualGeneralMeeting(AGM)/Congress.TheAGM/Congress will hold in Ibadan, Oyo State between Friday 23rd and Saturday 24th July, 2021.The theme for this year’s AGM/Congress is “Boom, Gloom and Doom! Where do we sit?”

The Governor of Oyo State, Mr. Seyi Makinde will be among dignitaries at the meeting. The governor is expected to declare open the AGM. The Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed will also be in attendance as the Special Guest of Honour.

The President of the association, Mr. Steve Babaeko stated that the association’s AGM is a platform to actively engage in intellectual and critical discourse on the challenges facing the business and practice of advertising in Nigeria and advocate unconventional solutions in rebuilding and rebranding the industry.

The Chairman of the Events Planning Committee, Mr. Doyin Adewumi statedthattheassociationhascometoadecisiontoinviteleadingexperts in their fields to lead the discourse on the theme.

To emphasise the importance of the AGM, the association has invited Mr. Abubakar Suleiman, MD, Sterling Bank Plc); Mitchell Elegbe, MD/CEO, Interswitch;andMr.IyinoluwaAboyeji,Founder,FutureAfrica,asspeakers.

The panelists include, Mrs. Cherry Eromosele, Group Chief Marketing & Corporate Communications Officer, Interswitch; Mrs. Bukola Akingbade, CEO,ImageandTime;Mr.LanreAdisa,CEO,Noah’sArk;Mr.TundeDosekun, Managing Director, DDB Lagos; Miss Nnenna Onyewuchi, Co-Founder/ Director of Strategy, Yellow Brick Road; and Mr. Dipo Adesida, Chief Operating Officer of Verdant Zeal Group.

Headdedthatinrecognitionofmeritoriousservice,someseniormembers will be honoured and given special recognition awards.

Ecobank Appoints Directors

The Board of Ecobank Nigeria has announced the appointment of three independentnon-executivedirectors.Theexperiencedprofessionalswho have distinguished themselves in their various careers, include Mrs.Taba Peterside, Mr. Yusuf Suleiman and Alhaji Abu Idris.

Peterside has over 33 years’ experience in the Nigerian and international banking, financial services and the capital markets. She started her career at the Nigerian-American Merchant Bank before holding several senior management positions at Investment Banking &Trust Company Limited (nowStanbicIBTC),CanadaDepositInsuranceCorporationandInternational Finance Corporation, Ghana. She was a General Manager at the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE); Founder and CEO ofWaveline Growth Partners, a micro credit company in Nigeria; among others. Suleiman is a banking and finance professional with over 26 years’ experience mainly in treasury, financial control, credit, and risk management. Yusuf started his career as a Financial Analyst at the former International Merchant Bank. He served as Head of Financial Controls and Operations at Nigerian-American Bank Limited,GroupHeadFinancialServicesatKakawaDiscountHouseLimited and Group Head Treasury, Risk Management and Financial Control at Societe Bancaire Limited.

Similarly, Idris brings to the Board over 33 years of Central Banking experience, 23 of which were spent in the regulation and supervision of Banks & Other Financial Institutions under the purview of the Central Bank of Nigeria. Idris, joined the services of the Central Bank of Nigeria as a Senior Supervisor in December 1984, upon the completion of the mandatory one year NYSC programme in August, 1984.

Halogen Retains Global Rating

The Halogen Group, one of the Nigeria’s leading security risk management organisations has again been voted as Nigeria’s most valued contract security company at the 2021 Outstanding Security Performance Awards (OSPAs). This makes it the fourth consecutive year that Halogen would win the award. OSPAs is the independent award scheme that rewards outstandingperformanceinthesecuritysectorintheUK,theUnitedStates of America, Africa, Europe, and other parts of the world.

The award recognises and rewards companies, people, products, and services that have made a significant contribution to the Nigerian security sectorandhavedemonstratedexceptionalindustry,talent,andinnovation in different categories.

“By next year, we hope to receive all the 13 airplanes we already made firm orders for and by the end of 2023, we intend to activate payment for another 10 of the aircraft brand which will bring it to 23.And we have new routes that we want to deploy the aircraft to”

Air Peace’s Founder,

Allen Onyema

T H I S D AY ˾ ͯͰ˜ ͰͮͰͯ

26

BUSINESSWORLD STOCK MARKET REVERSES GAINS AS INVESTORS BOOK PROFITS reports, until the next Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting in the coming weeks.”

Also commenting on the outlook for the market this week, analysts at Cordros Securities said with the moderation in the prices of bellwether stocks last week, they expected savvy investors to take advantage of this and make re-entry ahead of their H1-21 earnings announcement.

“However, we do not rule out the possibility of continued profit-taking activities. As a result, we think the local bourse will likely exhibit a zig-zag pattern.

Therefore, we advise investors to take positions in only fundamentally justified stocks,” they said.

Meanwhile, investors traded 1.348 billion shares worth N12.140 billion in 21,581 deals were traded as against 1.021 billion shares valued at N14.145 billion that exchanged hands last week in 17,565 deals the previous week.

AFRICA’S SINGLE CURRENCY REALISABLE, SAYS AFCFTA SCRIBE

the free trade area to be done in the local currencies of each member state started last month in six countries and would run for another two months.

Mene said: “We have 42 currencies in Africa. The cost of converting currencies amounts to $5 billion a year. This is very big amount of money that can be seen as revenue forgone. So we want to reduce and eliminate this cost to converting currencies in Africa for the purpose of trading.

“The PAPSS is a very important pillar for the implementation of the AfCFTA. We are grateful to Afreximbank for making liquidity available to operationalise the PAPSS. “The pilot countries for PAPSS are Ghana, Nigeria Liberia and S/Leone. Local banks will be able to switch on to the platform once the platform is up and running throughout the continent. I hope the platform will be available for all African countries that want to switch on to it by the end of this year.

“This is one of the strongest signals so far that the AfCFTA can work, will work and will be effective.

NEWS

11% Pension Penetration Worries Operators Ebere Nwoji

certainly come a long way from when the Pension Reform Act was initially passed in 2004.

According to him, the industry has moved from a largely unfunded pension system to one that is fully funded, professionally managed by mainly private sector, adding that the CPS practiced in

Obinna Chima

Capital Market Editor

Goddy Egene

Comms/e-Business Editor

Emma Okonji Asst. Editor, Money Market Nume Ekeghe

Customs Impounds Four Containers of Wood worth N373.5m Eromosele Abiodun The Controller General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Strike Force, Team A, has announced that it intercepted four container loads of unprocessed woods valued at N373.5 million.

The Coordinator, CGC Strike Force Team A, Deputy Comptroller of Customs, Ahmadu Shuaibu, while showcasing the items at Ikorodu, said the team in a renewed vigour seized four containers loaded with

The Kano State Government, Gas Aggregation Company of Nigeria and the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the Ajaokuta-Kaduna Kano Gas Pipeline project. Speaking after the signing of the MoU at the Kano Government House, Governor Abdullahi Ganduje described the occasion as a major

The African Refiners and Distributors Association (ARDA) has said it will cost the continent about $7.5 billion to exit the use of outdated fuel sources like firewood and charcoal and embrace modern, cleaner energy.

ARDA which made the disclosure at a recent virtual sustainable

Nosa Alekhuogie (ICT) Peter Uzoho (Energy)

He said smugglers of the woods defied extant export prohibition list. According to him, criminally minded businessmen are riding on the determination of government to improve on the nation’s export trade, to indulge in the illegal shipment of woods to Asia.

He said the strike force team A would go after those behind the illegal exports and that the team would also cripple the finances of the sponsors.

According to him, “Among other seized items are 550 cartons

of foot wears, 343 rolls of synthetic grass cover and 1,709 bags of 50kg of foreign parboiled rice with a cumulative Duty Paid Value of N664.6 million.

“Within the period January and June 2021, a total of 86 seizures were made and they were found to have contravene different sections of the Customs and exercise laws.

The goods are worth the N1.65 billion in Duty Paid Value (DPV).”

Shuaibu added that, “Sequel to meticulous documentary checks, the ICT components of the team

recovered the sum of N1.9 billion from Demand Notices (DN) raised within the period under review (January and June 2021).”

“Considering the socio economic, security and health effects on the national Economy, importers and exporters and traders are advised to be committed to the well-being of the nation’s economy by complying with the Federal government extant laws and policies aimed at reviving the moribund industries and to sustain the existing ones” he explained.

step forward towards revitalisation of the economy, particularly for the industries, with Kano being the commercial nerve centre of the northern part of the country.

Ganduje, who was represented by his Deputy, Dr. Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna, urged investors to utilise the opportunity offered by the NNPC-AKK Gas Pipeline project when completed for their businesses. He pointed out that as part of the commitment of his administration, approval had

been given by the State Executive Council to the NNPC-AKK Pipeline project delivery and Gas Industrialisation Committee to set up its planning location at Tamburawa in Dawakin Kudu adjacent to Challawa Water Works.

“This project is very important to us, in fact we have started seeing positive results through the commitment of the committee. I am calling on them to however sensitise other stakeholders about the impact of the project because

Kano is a large market,” he added.

He also assured of continued support and cooperation to the NNPC towards the realisation of the project. Also, the Group Managing Director of NNPC, Mele Kyari, who was represented by the Chief Operating Officer Gas and Power, Yusuf Usman, explained that with President Muhammad Buhari passion towards uplifting the living condition of the masses, the AKK-Gas pipeline infrastructure would enhance

the economic development of the country. “Knowing what gas pipeline did towards reviving the industries in Lagos and how today it is used to provide energy for gas based industries to produce fertiliser and lots more, we realised Kano being endowed with lots of potentials will be a major business partner having already taken a step through creation of industrial park which would boost and sustain development for the economy,” he added.

Access to Modern Fuel to Cost Africa $7.5bn, Say Refiners

Correspondents

Reporters

unprocessed woods.

The unprocessed woods, he revealed, were about being shipped out of the country to Asia when the men of the strike force intercepted it.

The federal government had in 2019 outlawed the export of unprocessed woods and allied products to protect the nation’s forest.

Shuaibu said the team has shifted its attention to identifying dangerous cargos right inside the Seaports before they are cleared.

NNPC, Kano State Others Seal Deal on AKK Gas Pipeline

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

Chinedu Eze (Aviation) Eromosele Abiodun (Maritime) James Emejo (Finance) Ebere Nwoji (Insurance) Chineme Okafor (Energy) Emmanuel Addeh (Energy)

he observed. He, however, said despite these, there are many areas where the sector fall behind its counterparts in other countries.

“One area is the level of pension penetration. Nigeria currently has a pension penetration rate of approximately 11 per cent of its labour force.

AWARDWELLDESERVED

Senior Correspondent

Raheem Akingbolu (Advertising)

raised the bar for professionals locally. The investment, risk and compliance professionals within the industry can favourably compare to their counterparts anywhere in the world.

“Indeed, the industry has bred a new class of pension professionals across board over the years,”

Stakeholders in the pension sector at the weekend reviewed the performance of the sector 17 years after its reform as well as since the introduction of the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS).

The operators noted that though there have been remarkable growth and achievements in the industry, Nigeria still lags behind many other countries in pension penetration with the current penetration rate of 11 per cent.

The stakeholders spoke at the third annual PenOp-National Assembly retreat organised by the Pension Operators Association of Nigeria (PenOp) in Lagos.

The stake holders also highlighted issues that should be addressed to keep the sector continually on growth track and ensure deeper penetration of Pension scheme among Nigerians According to them, there is need for strong political will, especially among state governments, determination for self-regulation among the sector operators, capacity building, technological advancement and assurance of better future to Nigerian workers who contribute to the pension fund as well as predictable policies on the side of government in place of policy somersault.

PenOp President, Mr Wale Odutola who is also the Managing Director ARM Pension Managers, Founder/ExecutiveChairman,OrientalEnergyResourcesLimited,Dr.MuhammaduIndimi(left),andChancellor,UniversityofLagos,AlhajiAbubakarUmar noted that in the past 17 years, GarbaiEl-Kanemi,duringtheinstitution’s51stconvocationceremonywhereIndimiwasconferredwithhonorarydoctoratedegreeataceremonyheldin Nigeria’s pension industry has Lagos...recently

Ibrahim Shuaibu in Kano

Group Business Editor

Nigeria, has adopted international best practices, is technologically driven and has grown steadily over the period.

“There is also a marked progress with respect to the level of professionalism within the industry.

“The pension industry has

financing workshop, noted that there was need to harmonise fuel specifications as well as Environment, Social, Governance (ESG) considerations to reduce the looming public health and environmental impacts on Africa’s citizens.

Between now and 2030, the group noted that the $7.5 billion investment, inclusive of debt, equity and grants, would be required

to build clean cooking stoves and downstream infrastructure that would support the attainment of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Executive Secretary of ARDA, Anibor Kragha, who spoke during the event, noted that with the growing pressure against fossil fuels, African countries must deploy measures to secure the needed financing to develop and add value to its

hydrocarbon resources.

The International Energy Agency (IEA) had in a report insisted that achieving net- zero emissions by 2050 would require complete transformation of the global energy system and called for a total halt of investments for upstream oil development.

As a first step, Kragha said ARDA and Aldersmead, an EUbased corporate finance advisory

firm, have presented a jointlyprepared resource mobilisation plan to support implementation of the Africa clean fuels roadmap.

The plan also contains near-term framework arrangements with traditional and alternative funding counterparties and a longer-term ARDA Credit/Investment Fund whereby ARDA members can benefit from credit advanced from the fund.

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Kyari: NNPC Can Recoup Investment in Dangote Refinery in Five Years The Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Mallam Mele Kyari, in this interview on Arise News Channel, THISDAY’s broadcast arm, spoke about on topical issues, including why the national oil company is taking a 20 per cent stake in Dangote refinery. Emmanuel Addeh presents the excerpts.

T

ell us why the NNPC is acquiring 20 per cent in Dangote refinery The question is: Why would we even build a refinery in the first place? First of all, there are a number of realities like transportation, power and other things that petroleum adds to nations and populations. These are real and you can’t avoid it and of course for a resource-dependent country, we are very blessed with over 37 billion barrels reserves of crude oil and over 203TCF of gas.

One key issue about oil is that it must be close to source of supply in terms of security and every resource-dependent country makes sure they add value to what they produce. That means capturing all the value upfront and getting energy security in-country. Today, we import 100 per cent of what we use for the very reason that we were unable to maintain our refineries over the years. We don’t want to lament, but of course, we haven’t done well in the last 20 to 25 years. But the fact remains that we are a net importer of petrol and that throws in enormous energy supply security issues for the country, so three years ago we decided to expand our portfolio. It’s not today. We didn’t start thinking about Dangote refinery yesterday. We decided that we cannot depend on the refineries that’s owned solely by us. We needed to spread the ownership of the refineries in such a way that at any point in time , we will guarantee supply of for our country and have multiple sources of supply.

We decided that we were going to take equity in other assets. Today, NNPC has equity in ammonia plants, methanol plants, fertiliser plants so that we can spread our risks and portfolio. We believe that taking equity in any refinery that is producing more than 50,000 barrels is the right thing to do. The reason is that you do not allow entities of this nature in a country like ours that relies on revenues and resources from petroleum for its wellbeing to allow the private sector only to have that control. No country does that. So, we have decided that we will invest anywhere, including that one owned by Mr. Aliko Dangote’s.

He didn’t ask for it. It’s our decision to take equity.

We made this decision three years ago much earlier.

It’s not what he wants, but they are also aware that they operate in a resource-dependent country. We made a request and it’s the policy of government that we take interest in this refinery. So, overall, what will happen is that the NNPC will have a seat on the board of this refinery with 20 per cent equity. It’s not a closed deal but we are very hopeful that this will happen. There are some things that are lingering, including getting the consent of the federal executive council for the very obvious reason that we are buying these shares on behalf of the federation.

Are they (Dangote) in agreement with you on the 20 per cent?

What they want is for us to take less, but because we are very experienced in the NNPC about what refineries do and what returns come from refinery operations, we have seen that these refineries, whenever we invest in, we are very sure we can cash out on our investments in five years, maximum. So, it’s a very valuable investment that we have seen. In terms of scale, we have a huge refinery that can produce up to 50 million litres of petroleum alone. That means that if you don’t have a say and don’t have an instrument that will guarantee some level of supply that will come out from the refinery, you could run into trouble.

Therefore, we insisted that it has to be 20 per cent of the equity. Obviously, that’s not what they want.

Negotiations are on and in any case, you can’t force yourself into a private business, but they asked for something less. We didn’t start negotiations today.

We started more around December last year. It’s an elaborate process we are going through.

If you have got all the experience, why are you not running your own refineries effectively?

That is what I said. I admitted that we haven’t managed our refineries well, but now we have a different perspective. As you rightly pointed out, we have issued the EPC contract for Port Harcourt refinery. We have changed the entire model. The best practice is to get and O&M contractor. Obviously, we will use some of our staff to run it. Having

Kyari that kind of structure will work and that’s why we have seen the structure in many refineries.

It’s best practice.

Where are you going to get the money from?

We are borrowing $1 billion from a syndicate being coordinated by Afreximbank and no one will give you $1 billion if they don’t see a pathway to recovery. What we are going to do is to pay back from the cash flows from these refineries. It means that the banks will see that these refineries will make money. It will also pay dividends. We don’t see any trouble. Mind you that it’s a very special refinery in the sense that you will see massive volume all the way to the West Africa countries, even to Europe. Today, most of the products are from Europe and the Middle East. So, we can reverse that. Once we get this done, there are a number of other initiatives that we are doing, like the condensate refineries. We are following up the process to pull back the Warri refinery. The combination of all these is that you are going to be a net exporter of petroleum product in a very short time , probably in less than three years. If that happens, then we have to start looking for a market. Looking for a market means seeing the flow of product in Africa. In South Africa, for instance, they cannot meet their local requirements, so they import from Europe and East Africa. As soon as you have it available in Nigeria, distance is shorter and you will see Nigeria dominate the entire market, particularly the south coast and this is something we should have done 20 years ago.

What’s the update on the government-owned refineries?

We have made a very deliberate decision that what we are dealing with is not turnaround maintenance and there’s a difference. In your car,

Today, we import 100 per cent of what we use for the very reason that we were unable to maintain our refineries over the years. We don’t want to lament, but of course, we haven’t done well in the last 20 to 25 years

you change your engine oil and a few other things and that’s what turnaround means in the sense of a refinery. You do some basic things. But when it is a refinery that has undergone clear absence of doing the right thing for a long period of time, over 20 years, it simply means you have to overhaul or rehabilitate. The plants have serious issues. We have taken an assessment of what they look like and definitely we are going to have a refinery that will come back, not necessarily to its original form, but obviously will work more than 90 per cent of installed capacity. What we did was to follow the process to award the EPC and on the back of that, we are pulling through the process of awarding the contract for both the Kaduna and Warri to reputable international companies. In the past, we weren’t this efficient and transparent. Obviously, we are going to have the best of class of contractors to do this. Overall, the Warri and Kaduna (refineries) will catch up with the Port Harcourt process because we have learnt from the Port Harcourt mistakes we made. So that we are hastening the process so that they can run concurrently. In the end, we will deliver all of them about the same time. We also have a different strategy. We don’t have to wait for everything to be completed before we start refining. Very soon, we will do the same for Warri. Completion may be 40 months away, but production will start much earlier than that.

When can Nigerians expect to see production begin?

This is on multiple platforms. The Dangote refinery from all intents, because we are potential shareholders, by 2022 will come on stream. Secondly, the plan is to have full rehabilitation of our own refineries, which means, both the plants and facilities around it, though for 40 months, production can start in 18 months from the day the contractors mobilise to site.

So, it will happen in the life of this administration?

It’s not a political date, it’s a technical date. This can be done. It will make much political sense to deliver it in the life of this administration and there has never been this level of commitment from previous administrations. I have worked for this company for 30 years and we have seen how things were done in the past. We have a number of other initiatives like the condensate refineries initiative. They are much smaller, quicker, cheaper plants and overall, we are looking at about 200,000 barrels per day for all the condensate refineries. We will take the FID. There are a number of modular refineries private initiatives. Two, three of them

are already running. A number of them have been issued licence. There are over 18-20 refineries lying although licences have been issued, yet only a few are running. The reason is simple. We need to connect it to the fiscal environment we face. Refineries owners should know how much they will sell their petrol.

If there’s a reason to sell below market price, you must tell them who’s going to pay the difference.

This has kept people from coming in because banks will not lend you money if you can’t tell them how you can recoup your cost. But I am aware that the petroleum industry bill will ensure that there will be a framework that will enable refinery owners recover their monies and costs. We are running out of time because the whole world is transiting.

So, we must make these decisions now, monetise the resources because if we don’t, we will get into huge trouble.

What is the update on the alleged zero remittance to FAAC for June?

There’s a lot of miscommunications around this.

What we communicated to the accountant general was a simple process issue. We have an obligation to give a forecast of what the revenue flow will look like in the next three months. So, when you look at costs and revenues, you can easily say whether you will meet up. But getting money to the FAAC is far more complex than what you see NNPC return every month. So, overall, we account for over 80 per cent of oil produced in this country. Our first job is to make sure production activities take place in the country. Once you do this, our partners are able to pay taxes and we are able to recover our taxes and royalties from government production.

Our remittance comes from our own operations, not what our partners do. The meaning of this is that we are paying for cost of production which is taken from our gross revenue. The big elephant in the room is that today we are selling petrol at N162 per litre and the market price is N256.

So, if we decide to sell at market price, it will be N256. We understand the issues why we can’t do the N256. Today, there are engagements that are going on between organised labour, civil society, the governors’ forum and several other organisations to make sure we have a fully deregulated market.

We understand the realities and we can see that it is the personal conviction of the president that we should not put pain on the ordinary people if we can avoid it. We have to have the best framework and when that happens, you will see some of the revenue. For instance, we are supposed to deliver N120 billion into the federation account. We have not been able to do this in the last four months because the net cash flow is impacted by the very reality of the subsidy regime we are operating on behalf of all of us. Until you take that out, you’re not going to see the full revenue stream but we will make sure that we continue to produce which will give us the continuous petroleum tax and all the royalties. Every other thing is secondary. We also need to ensure delivery of gas to gas-based industries. All of them is to ensure that value comes to the federation. People won’t see this, but what is obvious is the remittance to FAAC. Zero allocation doesn’t mean zero. It wasn’t zero in June and won’t be zero in July. It was about N38 billion in June.

Doesn’t it look like the NNPC is overwhelmed?

I am not sure that is correct because when you say overwhelmed, it means we cannot get things done the way they should be done. I don’t think that’s the picture today. Today, this company is much more open and transparent with shareholders than it ever was. We have published our audited financial statements for 2018 and 2019 and we will do the one for 2020. Our shareholders will know what we are doing. We are delivering on everything that we should do, including delivery of gas projects into the domestic market on schedule and on cost. We are making sure that our refineries are rehabilitated and it is on cost and on schedule.

We are not on negative revenue status, meaning that this year I’m very confident that other things being equal, our accounts will show that for the first time in our history, this company will deliver dividends to its shareholders. This is not a picture of a company that is overwhelmed but the one that is transiting, making progress on behalf of CONTINUED ON PAGE 28

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KYARI: NNPC CAN RECOUP INVESTMENT IN DANGOTE REFINERY IN FIVE YEARS so that value will come , in the international space, price is optimised by this arrangement, but we want to have price range of between $50 to $60, which we are very comfortable with.

its shareholders and I think we will say, with all humility, that this company is doing great today.

There are challenges but we are surmounting them and those challenges are very obvious in the energy industry. We are learning and we are making all the changes and today, nearly 70 per cent to 80 per cent of all our processes are automated. I do not have to deal with any hard copy documents and this is history and is very abnormal. So, it’s not a picture of a company that is overwhelmed.

Today, when you go to our website, for every transaction that we we do on behalf of this country, it is completely published on our website, including our working documents.

Given the OPEC cut, is there any hope that Nigeria may be able to ramp up production very soon?

During the Covid-19 pandemic, it was a very conscious and considered decision for the oil producing community to come together to cut production. This may never come back because people’s choices have changed and a number of things have happened. The net effect is that you lose transportation for taking out some volume out of the market. Getting back to the pre-Covid levels is still far away, and that will be by at least 2022. There are engagements that are going on at the OPEC level because even producing countries don’t like prices that are too high. When you cross $80 to the barrel, it constrains your consumers who will make choices because they don’t want to go out of the budget. Producers are aware that when prices are too high, they will lose their customers and for you to do that, you have to bring it to a level that your customers can afford. To curtail this, we need to increase production or increase supply and that’s what will happen. Even right now, we are unable to produce maximally for several reasons which are also technical because when you shut down an oil well, it doesn’t mean that it is going to come back. That is the reality of this business and even where you have a reason to come back to this well, it will cost you more money. There are many cost implications to that, but obviously

We are seeing that the numbers are changing and obviously we are proud that this is working.

Let’s talk about gas?

In the past, oil companies were looking for oil.

So, gas was not the focus. And even the legislations that were on ground were actually focused on oil development and almost oblivious of the reality that we are a gas country. For instance, the inland basin act which guides the operations in the deep-water and the production sharing contract are simply an arrangement based on crude oil and very silent on what we do with the gas. We have declared 2020 as the year of gas and then the decade of gas, meaning that we are shifting attention from oil to gas as a transition fuel and as the vehicle that can deliver prosperity to our country. We are short of power in this country. Enormous work is going on, but there’s a space to be filled.

Kyari as the production environment is changed by the OPEC arrangement, we will benefit from it.

The other issue is the cost of producing a barrel of oil in this country relative to other places like Saudi Arabia?

We realised during the heat of covid-19 that we couldn’t continue to produce at that cost and still be effective or profitable, so we told our contractors that it will no longer work, so that we needed to

renegotiate. We were able to get up to 30 per cent terms from our contractors. It is possible to optimise.

We have set a target for this and we are sure that it is possible to bring it to about $10 per barrel. The end result is that we have substantially brought down cost and though I can’t put a number to it, but I’m sure that we have been able to bring down our operating revenue by at least 30 per cent of what it used to be one year ago. We are working on three legs to make sure production is optimised

What is the latest data on vandalism and what is the NNPC doing, working in concert with the security agencies to put a lid on this?

There are still a number of infractions on our facilities in very many locations. But it is different now because today the level of vandalism that we see is far less than five years ago. So, there’s massive improvement because of two things. One, because of the engagements that are now different and there are a number of clean and clear engagements to ensure a more clement environment and then the activities of the government security apparatus. The numbers are going down. Things have changed and obviously there are still challenges and part of the changes is the petroleum industry bill which has provision for the local communities. There is also the more technical issue which is sometimes mistaken for vandalism. Many of the pipelines were laid 30 years to 40 years ago and they have deteriorated and have undergone rust . But it is cheap excuses to say they are vandal actions.

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Stakeholders Seek State of Emergency on Export Sub-sector Ndubuisi Francis in Abuja The President, Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI), Dr. Al-Mujtaba Abubakar and other stakeholders in the export business have called for the declaration of a state of emergency sub-sector to remove bottlenecks in the processing of non-oil exports in Nigeria.

They raised the alarm over serious constraints in the export business, describing the situation threating government’s efforts to increase non-oil revenue earnings.

Speaking separately at the unveiling of a study report on the operation of dry ports in Nigeria organised by the ACCI, the stakeholders cited multi-billion naira loss being experienced by exporters due to delay at the ports, multiplicity of agencies, poor infrastructure and bureaucratic challenges in the processing of approvals for export.

The study had listed several challenges militating against deployment of dry ports in the logistic chain, calling for urgent intervention to address critical weaknesses in the export chain business within the context of the African continental free trade zone (AfCFTA).

Opening the public private dialogue attended by agencies of the Ministry of Transportation, commodity associations, exporters and other stakeholders, the ACCI President said all hands must be on the deck to ease the burden of

export if Nigeria was to expand her revenue earnings and meet the demands of new continental free trade regime.

Abubakar linked the achievement of huge export trade volume to strong hitherland logistics like ports and rail, adding that the dry ports report provides opportunities for all stakeholders to declare emergency in the export sub-sector because of the complicated nature of problems confronting exporters in Nigeria.

Economic development, he stressed, would be best escalated when multi-modal transportation model is the backbone of the economy, noting that this is true of developed economies and even truer of developing climes as Nigeria.

He noted: “This reality underpins the interest of the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry to partner development organisations for the study and deployment of best practices and policies in various sectors of the Nigerian economy.

“As part of the ongoing processes, the Public Private Dialogue is a step further to intimate the relevant agencies of government and actors in the port space of the outcome of the assessment.

“Our goal is to sensitise the authorities to the critical importance of dry port as an expander and booster of hinterland economy.

The gathering of several parties creates opportunities for considerations of best practices

as Nigeria build up her networks of dry ports.”

The ACCI commended its partners, the German Development Agency (GIZ), the European Union and others for the facilitation of the assessment study, noting that the partners’ support in the transport and other sectors has tremendously assisted Nigeria to institute best practices in various sectors of her economy.

“We hope to proceed to partner further for the development of a National Policy on Day Port in Nigeria. This assessment report is an invaluable resource material for all stakeholders in the dry port sub-sector,” he added.

In her opening remarks, the Director General, ACCI Victoria Akai, said the Nigerian logistic sector is undergoing extensive expansion across transport, and logistic modes, observing that as Nigeria is expanding her railway ports, roads, airports and other infrastructure, dry port has emerged as a major focus along the logistic change.

She pointed out that creating the necessary policy framework is therefore a necessity, assuring that the ACCI with her partners is spearheading this move.

The Executive Secretary, Nigeria Shippers Council Hon. Emmanuel Jime, at the event said they are not unaware of the operational challenges of the Kaduna Inland Dry Port, which could be attested to through the various initiatives aimed at solving these problems.

UNILAG Honours Oriental Energy Chairman The University of Lagos (UNILAG) has conferred an Honorary Doctorate Degree on the Founder and Executive Chairman of Oriental Energy Resources Limited, Alhaji Muhammadu Indimi, for his contribution to society and national development.

The Doctor of Science, Honoris Causa, was presented by the Chancellor of the University, Alhaji Abubakar Umar Garbai El-Kanemi, during the institution’s 51st convocation ceremony held recently. According to a statement, the conferment was in recognition of Indimi’s commitment to the development of education, advancement of knowledge and humanity in Nigeria.

It added that the institution was aware of the many lives he has impacted positively through philanthropic gestures and various interventions to support education in Nigeria. In his acceptance, Indimi expressed his gratitude for the award, saying, “I am truly honored and humbled by this award and recognition for my modest contribution to the development of education, society and our nation.

“It is indeed a pleasure to receive this Honorary Doctorate degree from such a great institution.’’ An astute businessman and great philanthropist, Indimi’s humanitarian gestures cut across education, health,

housing and social welfare. Over 1,000 students in universities across Nigeria have benefitted from his scholarship scheme. Last year, Oriental Energy Resources Limited built a multi-million Naira Empowerment Centre in Mbo Local Government in Akwa Ibom State as a sustainable enterprise and viable income generator for the youths. Recently, the company also donated a state-of-the-art Science Laboratory Complex to Community Grammar School, Ebughu in Mbo Local Government Area.

Through the Muhammadu Indimi Foundation, 100 houses were built to accommodate 600 internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Bama, Borno state.

FG Unveils Plans for Nigeria Energy Summit 2022 Peter Uzoho The Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources has unveiled plans for the fifth edition of the Nigeria International Energy Summit (NIES) 2022.

Formerly known as the Nigerian International Petroleum Summit (NIPS), NIES is scheduled to take place in Abuja, from February 27 to March 3, 2022.

The summit, with the theme: “Revitalising the Industry: Future Fuels and Energy Transition”, aims at driving a new narrative around energy transition.

“Energy transition is real.

That is the direction the industry is moving globally and Nigeria cannot afford to be left behind,” Minister of State for Petroleum Resources,

Chief Timipre Sylva, said. In line with the new focus, the scope of NIES 2022 has been expanded to incorporate the latest industry trends and topical issues that are driving the global energy transition agenda.

“Never in history has an energy transition been attempted so quickly. It is a journey to transform the global energy sector from fossil fuels to zero-carbon supported by societal push towards a sustainable future.

“The energy transition also aims to reduce energy-related greenhouse gas emissions through various forms of de-carbonisation and Nigeria cannot afford to be left behind in these conversations,” Managing Director, Brevity Anderson, producers of NIES,

Mr. James Shindi, said.

To ensure that the NIES 2022 maintains its position as Africa’s largest and most important industry platform, providing linkage to the world for engineering and technological breakthroughs, the Ministry of Petroleum Resources has concluded plans to inaugurate a Technical Committee made up of high-ranking executives from both public and private sector to work along its consultants, Brevity Anderson and the Ministry’s LOC. With the full backing of the federal government, NIES has over the years witnessed the highest level of attendance by top decision makers, industry leaders and all stakeholders from both the public and private sectors.

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NEPZA, Katsina Free Zone Project Target 70,000 Jobs James Emejo and Folalumi Alaran in Abuja The Managing Director/Chief Executive, Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA), Prof. Adesoji Adesugba, said he has received the Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) for the proposed Textiles and Garment Park in Funtua, Katsina State.

He said the project will create

about 70,000 direct and indirect jobs for Nigerians.

He further assured that the special zone which is expected to be ready for investors’ participation by the end of 2022 will create about 10,000 direct employment including 60,000 indirect jobs in the state.

Speaking at the ceremony, Adesugba said: “We believe that within the next 18 months, we will be ready for investors to

start chosing the zone.”

He pointed out that the government had already expended N500 million in the particular zone adding that there are plans to construct some of the infrastructure including internal roads, drainage system, water works, administrative building among others.

The NEPZA MD said the authority will partner the state government to promote invest-

ments in the zone.

He said the employment opportunities will have great multiplier effects especially as it related to textile He explained: “We believe that this is the right place to site it.

We expect traction because the people that are going to drive the implementation and the federal government is also supporting us and so we see no reason why we should not deliver on time.”

He identified Special economic zones as critical for industrialisation and economic development, stressing that arrangements had also been concluded to establish the zones in about 10 other states of the federation.

He added that the Federal Executive Council (FEC) had already approved N2 billion for the project, and urged other state governments to key into the project to enhance national

economic development.

Earlier, the Director General, Katsina State Investment Promotion Agency (KIPA), Alhaji Ibrahim Tukur Jikamshi, commended the authority for the establishment of the textiles and garment park in the state.

He added that the state was anxious to have the site located on its territory because of its desire to actualise its quest for industrialisation.

FG Unveils Initiative to Boost Foreign Capital Flow James Emejo and Folalumi Alaran in Abuja The Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Mrs. Mariam Katagum, has said the federal government is committed to improving the inflow of foreign capital into the country.

She pointed out that capital inflows dipped by 60 per cent in 2020 from $24 billion in 2019 to $9.7 billion.

The minister said the government remained determined towards addressing the enormous challenges faced by stakeholders in the agric-commodity value chain in particular.

She said this was why the government launched Nigeria Agri-business and Agro -Industry Development Initiative (NAADI) to among other things rein in the high cost of production, low quality of products and issues around capacity utilisation in the sub- sector.

Katagum, in her remarks during the official flag-off and inauguration of the Bauchi State Office for the implementation NAADI in the state recently, pointed out that the overall objective of the initiative was to develop an industrialised and commercialised agricultural sector, comprised of highly productive and profitable commodity value chains.

This, she said would help to accelerate the growth and diversification of the economy into differentiated high-value

products.

The minister said the government was particularly interested in the programme because of the accruable benefits including the capacity to stimulate the flow of equity investment to meet sectoral equity investments gap in sectors critical to driving the country’s trade and export competitiveness.

She said NAADI has the potential with to improve the flow of foreign capital which had dropped by 60 per cent in 2020 from $24bn in 2019 to $9.7 billion.

She added that the initiative will also enhance the country’s agribusiness performance; reduce its dependence on imports of agro-industry products as well as support human capacity development of MSMEs, particularly youth and women operating in the export supply chains and increase of value added goods and services.

She commended the Governor of Bauchi, Senator Bala Mohammad, for accepting to key into the initiative as well as the arrangements made for the establishment of the NAADI office in the state.

The minister said: “This initiative is very strategic, towards implementing the economic diversification agenda of this present administration, an effort anchored on the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) and by extension the Economic Sustainability Plan (ESP).

Wakanow Appoints Macaulay CCO Nume Ekeghe Wakanow.com Limited (Wakanow) has announced the appointment of Mrs. Adenike Macaulay as the company’s Chief Commercial Officer, effective July 5, 2021.

Macaulay was the first female and first Nigerian to be appointed as General Manager for Lufthansa Group in Nigeria & Equatorial Guinea. Her career at Lufthansa spanned a period of 12 years where she held various positions across Sub-Sahara Africa overseeing diverse teams as Regional marketing manager, Senior Manager Customer Products & Marketing, Head of Sales products & programs and rose through the ranks to become the General Manager of Lufthansa Group.

As the General Manager, she led the sales, marketing, servicing and commercial activities for Lufthansa in Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea.

She holds an MBA from the University of Warwick in the UK, BSc in Systems engineering from the University of Lagos, professional diploma from the Digital Marketing Institute, Ireland

amongst other qualifications.

Over the last two years, Wakanow has been able to grow its customer base and market share despite the advent of the Covid-19 Pandemic which had an adverse effect on the travel industry. The Company continues to service its customers and maintain its best value proposition with improved product offering & world class customer service.

Macaulay in a statement added: “ I’m excited to bring my expertise home to build an indigenous brand I have watched grow, disrupt and lead the evolution in the travel industry in Africa. I look forward to contributing to the growth of Wakanow and exploring the opportunities ahead.”

The statement further stated that the Board and Chief Executive Officer Wakanow, Mr. Bayo Adedeji are optimistic that Macaulay will bring on an invaluable and dynamic contribution to the company by expanding the already thriving commercial opportunities in the business, thereby enhancing the objectives and continuous growth of the company.

2021 STRATEGIC DISCOURSE SESSION

L-R: Director, Legal and Corporate Affairs, International Breweries Plc, (IBPLC), Temitope Oguntokun; Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso; Lead, Corporate Communications/Public Affairs, Nestle Nigeria Plc, Victoria Uwadoka, and Immediate Past Chairman, Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) Lagos State Chapter, Segun McMedal, at the Strategic Discourse Session of the 2021 Annual Lagos Public Relations Week organised by NIPR Lagos State Chapter...recently ETOP UKUTT

Startups Pitch for Investments, Partnerships at ARM’s Initiative Startups at this year’s Lab by Asset & Resource Management Holding Company Limited (ARM) have pitched to secure investment and partnerships.

Labs by ARM is a 12-week Accelerator programme by ARM in partnership with Ventures Platform designed to fund and support compelling fintech startups solving critical problems in the financial services industry.

The program aims to find and support startups unlocking industry verticals and new markets, thereby changing how users access and consume financial services.

The Demo Day event for this third edition held recently with investors, corporates, tech leaders, and senior executives of the ARM Group in attendance, and had commenced in March 2021, with the objective of helping 5 early and growth-stage startups commercialise and distribute their

innovations.

The teams participated in deepdive sessions and were supported to create unique strategies for solving peculiar challenges. In addition, programme mentors and advisors, who are thought leaders in their various fields, provided support in business growth, product-market fit, distribution and software engineering.

These sessions helped the startups navigate specific challenges and, more importantly, become better positioned for growth.

Within the four months, the startups recorded impressive growth.

For instance, a startup providing affordable home financing options for Africans doubled its users and raised over $300k in funding; one of the startups solving for more convenient cross-border payments has processed $20,000 in transactions within a month

of operation.

Also, another startup whose solution is making it easier for online shoppers to log in and checkout on digital platforms, recorded 600 merchants and 1200 customers since its launch in the program.

According to a statement, the five startups that pitched at the Demo Day event were Bongalow, Founded by Kelechi Nwokocha, Abdulrahman Atta and Samuel Haruna, Bongalow; Breeze, a payment system that was founded by Chimenem Nnwoka; HouseAfrica, founded by Ndifreke Ikokpu and Nnamdi Uba; Pass which was founded by Eze Samuel, and Plumter that provides instant, multi-currency accounts for easy local and diaspora banking.

Speaking on the program, Director of Programs at Ventures Platform Foundation, Mohamed Felata, said: “The Labs by ARM programme is the leading fintech

accelerator in Nigeria. It works because of the special collaboration between ARM and ARM Ventures Platform.

“ARM not just funds the programme but gives the startups access to the market. In this cohort, we have seen startups introduce and develop leading solutions that range from cross-border payments to mortgage financing.”

Also, Jumoke Ogundare CEO, ARM, congratulated all participants for their advancement in the programme, and wished them the best of luck. She specially thanked Ventures Platform for a successful partnership, and Mr. Tomi Davies of Techno Vision for his continued mentorship of the fintech companies even after the investment stage. The CEO also expressed her gratitude to the Advisory Board of ARM Digital Financial Services for charting the right path for ARM’s digital growth.

US Consulate Announces Application for Women Entrepreneurs The US Consulate General in Lagos and Ascend Studios Foundation have partnered to implement the 2021 Academy for Women Entrepreneurs (AWE), a US Government initiative that supports women entrepreneurs around the world, now in its third year.

According to a statement, 200 participants will be selected from the 17 states of southern Nigeria for the 2021 cohort.

Female entrepreneurs interested in participating in the program can apply at no cost by filling

out the application form. The application portal is currently open and closes on July 15, 2021.

To support the comprehensive rehabilitation and reintegration of returned migrants, 50 female returnees will also take part in the program, it added.

“As part of this highly competitive entrepreneurship program, participants who graduate from the AWE gain automatic membership to the US government exchange alumni community, providing access to a vast network of like-minded

and highly regarded professionals across the country.

“Women’s meaningful economic participation is integral to achieving greater security and stability around the world,” it added.

It pointed out that the AWE initiative is a great opportunity for Nigerian women entrepreneurs to gain university-level business and management training, strengthen their networks, and grow sustainable businesses.

“Women have a key role to play in Nigeria’s future prosperity,” it quoted US Consulate Public

Affairs Officer Stephen Ibelli, to have said.

“As we have seen time and time again, when women do better, countries do better, communities do better, and families do better.”

Leading local business leaders will help facilitate the intensive program scheduled to run from July to September 2021.

“In addition, participants will receive access to DreamBuilder, a blended business training course developed through a partnership between Arizona

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NACCIMA: AfCFTA Provides Opportunity for Nigeria to Dominate Africa Dike Onwuamaeze The leadership of the Nigerian Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) has challenged Nigerian businesses to shed the toga of fear of Nigerian becoming a dumping ground and step out boldly to compete and dominate African economy with the opportunities offered by the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agree-

ment.

This challenge was given recently, during the inaugural press conference of the new President of the NACCIMA, Mr. John C, Udeagbala, who stated that competition under the AfCFTA would strengthen Nigerian businesses rather than and drowning them.

Udeagbala said: “I want to be very honest with you as I will be speaking as an industrialist.

Initially, I entertained fears as a manufacturer about Nigeria becoming a dumping market knowing the state of our infrastructure, especially power.

“That was my personal fear.

But if we do not join the train at the station it is going to leave us behind. African trade has been going on before now and if you go to Ghana and other countries you will see a lot of trucks moving in from Nigeria with goods.

“For instance, shoes and leather products that are made in Aba go as far as Guinea, Gambia, and Cameroon. So, I believe that it is better that we go into the competition. It will strengthen us.”

Udeagbala also said NACCIMA under his leadership would focus on strengthening the collaboration between the private sector and the National Assembly, federal and state

governments and pursue the effective implementation of the AfCFTA agreement.

Other areas of focus, according to him, would be the creative sector, harnessing technology and digital ecosystem, enhancing gender and youth empowerment as well as strengthening the collaboration between the private sector, diplomatic missions and development agencies. He also pledged to champion the creation

of “enabling environment for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises with a focus on business and capacity developments in the areas of agriculture, industry and services.” Speaking in the same vein, the First Deputy President of NACCIMA, Mr. Dele K. Oye, said that Nigeria has nothing to lose as the country’s manufactured goods have been competing fairly in the African market even before the commencement of AfCFTA.

Development Bank to Train 1,000 MSMEs The Development Bank of Nigeria (DBN) Plc has concluded plans for the 2021 Entrepreneurship Training Programme in line with its mandate. The exercise is expected to commence from August 16 to October 14, 2021.

The programme which will be implemented in phases over three months will develop the

capacity of 1,000 MSMEs drawn from across the country with the requisite business knowledge and skills to upscale their businesses amidst the challenges of the new normal posed by the COVID 19 Pandemic.

The MD/CEO of the Bank, Tony Okpanachi, said the training programme was being

organised in collaboration with Google Nigeria, Enterprise Development Centre (EDC) off the Lagos Business School and Wider Perspective Limited (WPL).

This, he said is in line with the bank’s mandate of enhancing the capacity of MSMEs’ to improve their chances of having access to finance.

He elaborated that: “As a Development Financial Institution established to bridge the financial gap through our Participating Financial Institutions, our strategic focus is providing liquidity, credit guarantee, and capacity building for MSMEs to be more productive. The Capacity Building initiative is an integral

part of the bank’s mandate to drive economic growth by empowering MSMEs with the skills required to improve their capacity and productivity. So, our objective, in a nutshell, is to equip entrepreneurs across sectors of the Nigerian economy with the requisite management skills to develop viable business plans,

access funds, and effectively manage their business growth. Through this training, we will enhance their entrepreneurial and managerial competencies,” he added.

Okpanachi called on eligible MSMEs across the country to avail themselves of the opportunity that the training programme provides.

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IMAGES

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Geoffrey Onyeama, (middle) flanked by the High Commissioner-Designate of Nigeria to Ghana, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas rtd, (right) and Ambassador-Designate of Nigeria to Chad, Air Marshall Sadique Abubakar (rtd during the presentation of Letters of Credence to the Ambassadors in Abuja…recently

T H I S D AY ˾ ͯͰ˜ ͰͮͰͯ

Photo Editor ÌÓÙÎßØ ÔËÖË Email ËÌÓÙÎßØ˛ËÔËÖË̶ÞÒÓÝÎËãÖÓàÏ˛ÍÙ×

L-R: Senior Special Assistant to the President on Strategic Communications, Oge Funlola Modie; Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adeshina and Minister of Aviation, Alhaji Hadi Sirika during the weekly briefing organised by the Presidential Communication Team at the Presidential Villa, Abuja..recently PHOTO: GODWIN OMOIGUI

L-R: Vice Chairman Senate Committee on Upstream Petroleum, Senator Gershom Bassey; Former Governor of Abia State Senator Orji Uzor Kalu; Minister of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs, Senator George Akume; Representative of Anambra Central in the Senate, Senator Annie Okonkwo; Chief Executive Officer of Bussdor Group of Companies, Chief Oscar Igbokwe and Chairman, House Committee on Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA) Hon Olufemi bamishile during a meeting at Villa, Abuja…recently

L-R: Chief of Staff to Ogun State Governor, Shuaib Salisu; Deputy Governor, Noimot Salako-Oyedele; Governor Dapo Abiodun; and Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Ade Akinsanya, during an inspection tour of Oba Erinwole Road, Sagamu…recently

L-R: Senior Special Assistant on Development Partnership & Economic Planning, Ayisat Agbaje; Special Adviser to the Governor on Religious Affairs (Christian), Very Rev. Bukola Adeleke; Chief Executive Officer, Lagos State AIDS Control Agency (LSACA), Dr. Monsurat Adeleke and General Secretary, National Youth Network on HIV/AIDS (NYNETHA) Lagos Chapter, Mr. Isaac Moses during the Capacity Building Workshop for the Line Ministries and LSACA Workgroups on HIV Prevention Organized by LSACA in Lagos..recently

L-R: Secretary of the PDP South West Reconciliation Committee, Monsuru Kukoyi; Governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde; Chairman of the Committee, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola; another member of the Committee, Dr Saka Balogun; and fomer Deputy Governor of Ondo State, Omolade Oluwateru, during the presentation of the Committee’s report to governor in Ibadan...recently

L-R: Member, House of Representatives Committee on Industry, Ganiyu Johnson; Director, Laboratory Services, SON, Barth Ugwu; Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Industry, Enitan Dolapo-Badru; and Director General, Standard Organization of Nigeria (SON), Farouk Salim, during the committee’s visit to SON Laboratory in Ogba, Lagos…recently

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T H I S D AY ˾ ͯͰ˜ 2021

BUSINESS/MONEYGUIDE

BUA Cement Shareholders Approve N70bn Dividend Goddy Egene Shareholders of BUA Cement Plc, one of Africa’s largest cement companies, last week approved the N70 billion dividend recommended by the board of directors for the year ended December 31, 2020.

The dividend payout which translated to N2.067 per share was endorsed at the company’s annual general meeting (AGM) held in Abuja.

The company had ended the year with a turnover of N204 billion and profit after tax of N72.3 billion.

Speaking at the AGM, Chairman of BUA Cement, Abdul Samad Rabiu, hailed efforts of the management, staff, and customers of the company for ensuring that BUA Cement remained the cement of choice for quality in Nigeria.

In his comments on the increased demand for cement

which had led to higher retail prices despite significantly lower ex-factory prices, Rabiu canvassed more investments in the cement industry, saying that current national production levels across were not enough to meet the ever-increasing national demand for cement which was increasing at a rate over three million metric tonnes per annum.

He therefore, canvassed new investments in the cement sector and encouraged other investors to develop new cement plants.

According to him, BUA Cement is constructing a 3.0 million metric tonnes factory in Sokoto, which is expected to come on stream in by the end of 2021 with new plants already in the works.

In his comments, Managing Director of BUA Cement Plc, Yusuf Binji, said the company was committed to remaining a value–driven, oriented company that prioritizes excellence and

product quality. He also added that the company was well-poised to sustain current profitability despite the very competitive landscape.

“Our value proposition in terms of product and service support offerings has positioned BUA Cement as a market leader.

In addition, we continue to prioritize innovation and continuous improvement, thereby ensuring the continued “fit” of our products to ever-changing customer demands and needs.

We are also investing in the latest plant designs which not only drive efficiency but translate into value addition to our customer through the cost savings derived,” he said.

BUA Cement Plc is Nigeria’s second largest cement company and the largest producer in its North-West, South-South, and South-East regions; BUA Cement operates strategically from Okpella, Edo State and Kalambaina, Sokoto State.

Rabiu

MARKET INDICATORS

Ecobank Targets 40m Women Businesses with New Product Dike Onwuamaeze Ecobank Nigeria Plc has launched its ‘Ellevate’ proposition.

The product was designed to provide access to finance, market and training to over 40 million female-owned and managed businesses as well as those that produce goods and services to women in its bid to stand out as the most female-friendly bank in the country.

The Managing Director of the Ecobank Nigeria, Mr. Patrick Akinwuntan, said during the launch of product that ‘Ellevate’ is the bank’s best gender-based proposition designed to empower women-owned and managed businesses in Nigeria and indeed across 33 African countries and beyond where Ecobank has its footprints.

Akinwuntan stated that Ellevate would also benefit businesses that have high proportionate female board membership as well as those that are manufacturing goods and providing services for women. He said its objectives is to narrow the gender inequalities in entrepreneurship and unequal representation of women in the Nigerian formal

business sector, adding that Ecobank earmarked N100 million to support the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).

He said: “For us, Ellevate seeks to bring financial support to over 20 million female-owned, managed MSMEs in Nigeria.

Add to it businesses that serve women and we will be looking at an ecosystem that is close to 40 million as our target market.

We want to be the most femalefriendly bank in Nigeria “This proposition is a total package that will address the broad needs of women-owned businesses in Nigeria, including businesses that produce and provide services for women.

“Our objective at Ecobank is to be the leading pan-African financial institution driving the empowerment of our women, creating wealth, integrating our people financially and contributing to the economic development of the continent.

“Today, we are launching Ellevate to deepen our commitment to women-owned businesses.

“Ecobank’s elevate promises the women an end-to-end partnership in which they can gain access not only to financial services, loans at a discounted rate and fixed

deposit investments at special premium rates, but also enjoy zero accounts maintenance fee, continuous financial education and capacity building, networking, access to markets on our online platform that will leverage on our digital payments.”

The Ecobank Group Executive for Commercial Banking, Ms. Josephine Ankomah, said at least 10 per cent of the bank’s commercial loans would be dedicated to businesses that are owned by women because “Africa needs empowered women to lead the change we want.”

The Executive Director of Commercial Banking, Ecobank Nigeria, Ms. Carol Oyedeji, said Ellevate would be used to educate women on several opportunities and platforms they could use to support their business.

She said: “The Ellevate proposition we are launching today has several levers. One is finance, where we offer significant discounts on lending rates to women because we realised that they put in a lot into their businesses and we should help them to grow.

We do this in collaboration with several intervention schemes from the regulators within healthcare, creative industry, agriculture.

IPMAN Factional President Alleges IG Collaboration in His Removal Peter Uzoho The factional National President of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Mr. Sanusi Abdu Fari, has decried his alleged ejection from office by a member of the association and his faction, Mr. Chinedu Okoronkwo.

He alleged that the act was carried out with strong connivance of the Inspector General of Police (IG), Mr. Usman Alkali Baba.

Fari, in a petition to the IG, lamented the illegal occupation of the IPMAN National Secretariat located in Asokoro, Abuja by a factional president who dislodged him from the office.

He maintained that the emergence of Okoronkwo was a

clear violation of the association’s Constitution, which he said, prescribes rotation of presidency between the North and South.

He argued in the petition that by virtue of Article IV of the Revised Constitution of IPMAN, approved by the National Executive Committee and adopted at the Annual General Meeting of the Association held on June 14,1997 at Sheraton Hotel, Abuja, he automatically becomes the National Chairman after the three year tenure of Obasi Lawson. The petition dated July 9, 2021, was titled: “Miscarriage of Justice by the Inspector General of Police against the Leadership of Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria.”

He said the action was against

a further pronouncement of the Federal High Court sitting in Calabar in the suit decided by Honourable Justice Amobeda on February 21, 2019, which he said, interpreted the Supreme Court judgment in his favour in accordance with IPMAN’s 1997 constitution and settled the leadership crisis in his favour.

The IPMAN president further recalled that after the ruling of the nation apex court, all government agencies, private sector and security agencies were notified and had since accorded him recognition.

He further noted in the petition that the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abuabakar Malami, had congratulated him as the President.

MONEY AND CREDIT STATISTICS

(MILLION NAIRA)

JANUARY 2021 Money Supply (M3)

38,779,455.43

-- CBN Bills Held by Money Holding Sectors

1,039,129.55

Money Supply (M2)

37,740,325.88

-- Quasi Money

21,779,302.69

-- Narrow Money (M1)

15,961,023.19

---- Currency Outside Banks

2,364,871.13

---- Demand Deposits

13,596,152.06

Net Foreign Assets (NFA)

7,414,275.50

Net Domestic Assets(NDA)

31,365,179.93

-- Net Domestic Credit (NDC)

42,916,586.63

---- Credit to Government (Net)

12,304,773.44

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

0.00

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

0.00

---- Credit to Private Sector (CPS)

30,611,813.19

--Other Assets Net

3,892,112.74

Reserve Money (Base Money

13,264,585.14

--Currency in Circulation

2,831,167.19

--Banks Reserves --Special Intervention Reserves

10,433,417.96 317,234.17

˾ ÙßÜÍÏ ̋

Money Market Indicators (in Percentage) Month

March 2018

Inter-Bank Call Rate

15.16

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

14.00

Treasury Bill Rate

11.84

Savings Deposit Rate

4.07

1 Month Deposit Rate

8.82

3 Months Deposit Rate

9.72

6 Months Deposit Rate

10.93

12 Months Deposit Rate

10.21

Prime Lending rate

17.35

Maximum Lending Rate

31.55

˾ ÙØÏÞËÜã ÙÖÓÍã ËÞÏ ̋ ͯͱϱ

OPEC DAILY BASKET PRICE ˜ Ͷ ͰͮͰͯ

The price of OPEC basket of thirteen crudes stood at $71.97 a barrel on Thursday, compared with $73.58 the previous day, according to OPEC Secretariat calculations.

The OPEC Reference Basket of Crudes (ORB) is made up of the following: Saharan Blend (Algeria), Girassol (Angola), Djeno (Congo), Zafiro (Equatorial Guinea), Rabi Light (Gabon), Iran Heavy (Islamic Republic of Iran), Basra Light (Iraq), Kuwait Export (Kuwait), Es Sider (Libya), Bonny Light (Nigeria), Arab Light (Saudi Arabia), Murban (UAE) and Merey (Venezuela).

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T H I S D AY ˾ ͯͰ˜ ͰͮͰͯ

Vetiva Bullish on Fast Moving Consumer Goods Companies Goddy Egene Vetiva Research has released its second half (H2) 2021 outlook report on the fast moving consumer goods (FCMG) space, predicting a rebound for the sector.

In the report, Vetiva stated its expectation of improved performances across board amid the constraints to consumer purchasing power.

Noting the rebound in the

consumer goods sector from the depressed levels in the previous year, the Consumer Goods Analyst at Vetiva, Chinma Ukadike, also focused on the expectations for three sub-sectors in the FMCG space.

According to her, the food segment the resilience displayed by the subsector in the past year, would persist in the coming half year, due to the defensive nature of the segment and despite inflationary pressures.

P R I C E S MAIN BOARD

F O R

DEALS

Whilst noting the rate of vaccinations achieved and what the new strains may mean in achieving herd immunity, Ukadike’s outlook for the brewery sector especially inQ2’21 is very optimistic and is based on two drivers.

First is the low base effect from the Q2’20 period and the rebound in economic activities in this quarter will further support growth in this segment. She also expects a similar sentiment in

S E C U R I T I E S

MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N )

the Home and Personal Care segment of the market, once again driven by the beauty segment in response to increased physical social interactions.

Although the analyst expects costs rising in the period, amid inflationary pressures, she sees little frame for price increases.

On Q2 performances, she remains optimistic as she expects the low base from the severe depression in the lockdown period to support growth in

T R A D E D MAIN BOARD

AS

this year.

Vetiva Research had recently said the Nigerian economy could grow by 3.1 per cent in 2021. A panoramic view of the Nigerian economy was carried out with Vetiva beginning with the appraisal of the real economy with the assessment of Nigeria’s growth trajectory, falling living standard levels, a recent policy framework to address poverty, and the outlook for the real economy. After articulating the

O F

drivers of growth in major sectors of the economy, Vetiva estimated that the Nigerian economy could grow by 3.1 per cent at the end of the year.

On inflation, Vetiva envisaged a tussle between FX pressures and high base effects in the second half of the year. While base effects are expected to influence a moderation in inflation, the economist noted an average inflation expectation of 17.34 per cent for 2021.

9 / 0 7 / 2 0 2 1 DEALS

MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N)

MONDAY JULY 12, 2021 • T H I S DAY

40

MARKET NEWS 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

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 08Jul-2021, unless otherwise stated.

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 156.46 158.02 -3.28% Afrinvest Plutus Fund 100.00 100.00 4.76% Nigeria International Debt Fund 320.39 320.39 -20.59% Afrinvest Dollar Fund 111.22 111.22 -0.78% 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 7.02% AIICO Balanced Fund 3.26 3.43 -3.95% info@anchoriaam.com ANCHORIA ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED info@anchoriaam.com Web:www.anchoriaam.com, Tel: 08166830267; 08036814510; 08028419180 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Anchoria Money Market N/A N/A N/A Anchoria Equity Fund N/A N/A N/A Anchoria Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A ARM INVESTMENT MANAGERS LTD enquiries@arminvestmentcenter.com Web: www.arm.com.ng; Tel: 0700 CALLARM (0700 225 5276) Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn ARM Aggressive Growth Fund 19.64 20.23 8.28% ARM Discovery Balanced Fund 425.78 438.62 6.35% ARM Ethical Fund 38.19 39.34 13.29% ARM Eurobond Fund ($) N/A N/A N/A ARM Fixed Income Fund 0.96 0.97 -8.11% ARM Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 6.09% AVA GLOBAL ASSET MANAGERS LIMITED info@avacapitalgroup.com Web: www.avacapitalgroup.com Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AVA GAM Fixed Income Dollar Fund N/A N/A N/A AXA MANSARD INVESTMENTS LIMITED investmentcare@axamansard.com Web: www.axamansard.com; Tel: +2341-4488482 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AXA Mansard Equity Income Fund N/A N/A N/A AXA Mansard Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A CAPITAL EXPRESS ASSET AND TRUST LIMITED info@capitalexpressassetandtrust.com Web: www.capitalexpressassetandtrust.com ; Tel: +234 803 307 5048 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn CEAT Fixed Income Fund 1.97 1.97 -16.16% Capital Express Balanced Fund(Formerly: Union Trustees Mixed Fund) 2.07 2.11 -14.49% mutualfunds@cardinalstone.com CARDINALSTONE ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED Web: www.cardinalstoneassetmanagement.com ; Tel: +234 (1) 710 0433 4 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn CardinalStone Fixed Income Alpha Fund N/A N/A N/A CHAPELHILL DENHAM MANAGEMENT LTD investmentmanagement@chapelhilldenham.com Web: www.chapelhilldenham.com, Tel: +234 461 0691 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Chapelhill Denham Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 6.85% Paramount Equity Fund 16.62 16.94 3.97% Women's Investment Fund 136.77 138.36 2.78% CORDROS ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmgtteam@cordros.com Web: www.cordros.com, Tel: 019036947 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Cordros Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 5.89% Cordros Milestone Fund 2023 117.23 118.00 Cordros Milestone Fund 2028 N/A N/A Cordros Dollar Fund ($) 107.12 107.12 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 4.87% Coronation Balanced Fund 1.18 1.20 -1.48% Coronation Fixed Income Fund 1.36 1.36 -14.44% EDC FUNDS MANAGEMENT LIMITED mutualfundng@ecobank.com Web: www.ecobank.com Tel: 012265281 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class A 100.00 100.00 3.11% EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class B 1,000,000.00 1,000,000.00 3.21% EDC Nigeria Fixed Income Fund 1,146.68 1,159.58 -0.57% 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 1,385.31 1,385.31 11.10% FBN Balanced Fund 190.42 191.74 1.46% FBN Halal Fund 111.01 111.01 8.17% FBN Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 9.20% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Retail FBN Smart Beta Equity Fund FCMB ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED Web: www.fcmbassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 1 462 2596 Fund Name Legacy Money Market Fund Legacy Debt Fund Legacy Equity Fund Legacy USD Bond Fund FSDH ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD Web: www.fsdhaml.com; Tel: 01-270 4884-5; 01-280 9740-1 Fund Name Coral Balanced Fund Coral Income Fund Coral Money Market Fund

125.97 157.50

125.97 3.52% 159.66 4.18% fcmbamhelpdesk@fcmb.com

Bid Price 1.00 3.95 1.59 1.18

Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn 1.00 4.30% 3.95 2.11% 1.62 4.06% 1.18 3.69% coralfunds@fsdhgroup.com

Bid Price N/A N/A N/A

Offer Price N/A N/A N/A

Yield / T-Rtn N/A N/A N/A

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 N/A N/A N/A Nigeria Entertainment Fund N/A N/A N/A GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmanagement@gdl.com.ng Web: www.gdl.com.ng ; Tel: +234 9055691122 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn GDL Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A INVESTMENT ONE FUNDS MANAGEMENT LTD enquiries@investment-one.com Web: www.investment-one.com; Tel: +234 812 992 1045,+234 1 448 8888 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Abacus Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 7.14% Vantage Balanced Fund 2.88 2.95 1.01% Vantage Guaranteed Income Fund 1.00 1.00 4.50% Kedari Investment Fund (KIF) 151.17 151.45 -2.78% Vantage Equity Income Fund (VEIF) - June Year End 1.27 1.32 1.21% Vantage Dollar Fund (VDF) - June Year End 1.09 1.09 0.06% 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 1.41 1.43 3.47% Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund 1,152.70 1,152.70 4.32% 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 11.45 11.4992 9.34% Meristem Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 7.89% 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 1.67 1.70 7.12% PACAM Fixed Income Fund 11.51 11.56 -5.16% PACAM Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 3.80% PACAM Equity Fund 1.65 1.66 4.30% PACAM EuroBond Fund 111.41 113.07 1.34% 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 131.37 133.68 4.23% SFS CAPITAL NIGERIA LTD investments@sfsnigeria.com Web: www.sfsnigeria.com, Tel: +234 (01) 2801400 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn SFS Fixed Income Fund 1.01 1.01 3.41% STANBIC IBTC ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD assetmanagement@stanbicibtc.com Web: www.stanbicibtcassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 1 280 1266; 0700 MUTUALFUNDS Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Stanbic IBTC Balanced Fund 3,262.16 3,294.15 1.53% Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund 231.11 231.11 2.78% Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund 1.21 1.23 3.39% Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund 303.80 303.80 3.10% Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund 220.55 223.82 1.05% Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 7.49% Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund 10,300.27 10,446.22 -1.85% Stanbic IBTC Dollar Fund (USD) 1.26 1.26 2.85% Stanbic IBTC Shariah Fixed Income Fund 114.69 114.69 3.25% Stanbic IBTC Enhanced Short-Term Fixed Income Fund 102.10 102.10 UNITED CAPITAL ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD Web: www.unitedcapitalplcgroup.com; Tel: +234 01-6317876 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn United Capital Balanced Fund N/A N/A N/A United Capital Bond Fund N/A N/A N/A United Capital Equity Fund N/A N/A N/A United Capital Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A United Capital Eurobond Fund N/A N/A N/A United Capital Wealth for Women Fund N/A N/A N/A United capital Sukuk Fund N/A N/A N/A QUANTUM ZENITH ASSET MANAGEMENT & INVESTMENTS LTD service@quantumzenithasset.com.ng Web: www.quantumzenith.com.ng; Tel: +234 1-2784219 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Zenith Equity Fund 12.89 13.00 8.63% Zenith Ethical Fund 14.18 14.31 16.07% Zenith Income Fund 24.16 24.16 0.76% Zenith Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 5.44%

REITS NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

124.09 51.54

2.77% -1.64%

Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

13.21 126.19 99.41 17.97 18.42

13.31 129.22 101.52 18.07 18.52

-0.05% 4.90% 0.16%

Fund Name SFS REIT Union Homes REIT

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

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

funds@vetiva.com Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

3.96 5.95 17.41 1.00 19.19 151.57

4.00 6.03 17.51 1.00 19.39 153.57

4.73% 4.55% 7.29% 4.79% -6.44% -30.82%

NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

107.52

13.11%

INFRASTRUCTURE FUND Fund Name Chapel Hill Denham Nigeria Infrastructure Debt Fund

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

MONDAY JULY 12, 2021 • T H I S D AY

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T H I S D AY • MONDAY, JULY 12, 2021

NEWSXTRA

Makinde, Mofe-Damijo, Music Community, Others Mourn Sound Sultan Yinka Olatunbosun and Rebecca Ejifoma Oyo State Governor, Mr. Seyi Makinde; Nollywood veteran actor, Mr. Richard Mofe-Damijo (RMD); actress Kate Henshaw, Ruggedman, as well as the music community have mourned the death of Olanrewaju Fasasi, popularly known as Sound Sultan.

The late musician was said to have given up after a long battle with Angioimmonoblastic T-cell lymphoma, which is cancer of the throat.

This was disclosed in a statement signed by his brother, Dr. Kayode

Fasasi, on behalf of the Fasasi family.

Sound Sultan is survived by his wife, three children and his siblings.

In his condolence message, the Oyo State governor described his death as a huge loss to the state and the entertainment world.

The Oyo State governor, while reacting to the death of the talented singer in a statement by his Special Assistant (Print Media), Mr. Moses Alao, said the news of the demise of the Iseyin-born artiste greatly unsettled him.

He described him as a great but humble entertainer who rose to stardom through hard work and great

determination, saying the state, his family and the industry would sorely miss him.

“The news of the death of popular singer and producer, Lanre Fasasi, popularly known as Sound Sultan, unsettled me greatly “In him, Oyo State lost a truly great but humble artiste and ambassador.

We lost an individual who tried his best to positively impact his society through entertainment”.

Mofe-Damijo, Henshaw, and Ruggedman among others have also taken to Instagram to mourn the death of their friend and colleague, who passed on yesterday at 44.

On his IG page @mofedamijo, RMD wrote: “Did you know when you wished me happy birthday three days earlier than usual that you won’t have the strength to do it a day later?

“Words would never be enough my brother. Love you men!

For Henshaw, she recalled via her Instagram page, @k8henshaw, that she and the late artiste joked about how he never aged.

She expressed:“I have never called on you that you have said no to my request and vice versa”.

Ruggedman on his Instagram page, @ruggedbaba, lamented:“Words escape me….Ha! This hurts badly.”

Omawumi followed suit via her Instagram account @Omawonder: “Ahhh Uncle Sound! God comfort your family… Sun re o.”

His other colleagues in the entertainment industry have also expressed their grief at the news of his death.

Afrobeat musician, Femi Kuti who dropped a comment on the last post shared on Instagram by the deceased said, “I am shocked and very said reading this news of the passing of Sound Sultan. I pray our Creator to give his family strength at this time.”

The CEO, Virtual Media Network and former OAP, Femi Aderibigbe popularly known as Kwame posted:

“To say this one weak me, is an understatement! You lived an exceptional and exemplary life bro, it’s crazy to be writing this about you right now.”

Another collaborator, the CEO, Black House Media, Adekunle Ayeni also mourned the loss of one of Nigeria’s most cerebral music artists.

“We’re sending prayers and condolences to the family of Sound Sultan, a long-time BHM friend and collaborator who has sadly shockingly passed on. Sound Sultan’s contributions to the development of music, film and sports in Nigeria will forever be remembered and celebrated.”

NDLEA Intercepts N6.5bn Heroin at Lagos Airport Michael Olugbode in Abuja Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intercepted a consignment of 26.150kilogrammes of heroin with a street value of over N6.5billion at the SAHCO shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos.

The illicit drug had arrived Lagos in 25 parcels from South Africa through an Air Peace Airline flight on June 30, 2021 and was detained for screening following reasonable suspicion of the content of the consignment.

A follow-up operation was subsequently carried out the following day, July 1, when narcotic officers of the MMIA command trailed the driver and a clearing agent that were assigned to deliver the consignment to the house of a baron, Tony Chidi Onwurolu at No. 132 Lateef Adegboyega Street, off Ago palace way by Grandmate bus stop Okota, Lagos.

During the follow-up operation, Onwurolu who obviously mounted a counter-surveillance around his

neighbourhood fled his home before the arrival of the team of operatives, who stormed his residence.

They were, however, able to search his home and recover a number of documents to establish his true identity.

NDLEA spokesperson, Mr. Femi Babafemi, said following the development, the chairman/ chief executive of NDLEA, Brig.

Gen. Mohammed Buba Marwa (rtd) has directed that the fleeing drug baron, Onwurolu, be declared wanted immediately and his details submitted to INTERPOL for tracking across the world.

Marwa also directed the agency’s directorate of assets and financial investigations as well as the directorate of intelligence to deploy their networks to fast-track the arrest of Onwurolu.

Marwa said in view of the volume of heroin brought into country by the fleeing baron, the agency would deploy all available mechanisms, locally and internationally, to track him and bring him to face charges in the law court.

2021 Eid-el-Kabir to Be Observed July 20, Says Sultan The Sultan of Sokoto and PresidentGeneral, Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, has declared yesterday July 11, as the first day of Dhul-Hijja 1442AH. This was contained in a statement

by Prof. Sambo Junaidu, Chairman, Advisory Committee on Religious Affairs, Sultanate Council, Sokoto yesterday.

“The Sultanate Council Advisory Committee on Religious Affairs in conjunction with the National Moon Sighting Committee on Saturday received reports on the sighting of the crescent of Dhul-Hijja 1442AH. “The Sultan accepted the report and accordingly declared Sunday, July 11, as the first day of Dhul-Hijja 1442AH.

“He felicitates with the Nigerian Muslim Ummah and wishes them Allah’s guidance and blessings,” he said. The Sultan urged the Muslim Ummah to continue to pray for peace, progress and development of the country while wishing them happy Eid-el-Kabir in advance.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that Dhul-Hijja is the 12th month of the Islamic calendar.

It is a sacred month in Islam, one in which Muslims perform the Hajj (Holy Pilgrimage) as well as observe the Festival of Sacrifice.

With the declaration by the Sultan, Nigerian Muslims will observe the 2021 Eid-el-Kabir on Tuesday, July 20, which is equivalent to the 10th of Dhul-Hijja 1442AH.

Omo-Agege: Nigeria Needs Prayers to Overcome Current Challenges Deji Elumoye in Abuja The Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege has called for fervent prayers for Nigeria to overcome her current challenges.

Omo-Agege who made the call yesterday at the First Session of the Fifth Synod of the Diocese of Sapele (Anglican Communion), Okpe Archdeaconry, asked Nigerians not to despair over the challenges confronting the nation.

Speaking on the theme, “The Lord is my Strength and Stronghold”, the Deputy Senate President urged the church to continue to pray for the country.

“We need the intervention of the church; we need prayers for this country. We are nothing without God. No matter what we do, if we don’t have the blessings and anointing of God, it is to no avail.

“I want to urge the church to continue to pray for Nigeria. There is a lot more that we need to do to protect our citizens”.

In his homily, the Anglican Bishop, Diocese of Lagos, Rev. Humphrey Olumakaiye, enjoined Nigerians not to lose hope but to have faith in God for solutions to their problems.

Quoting from the Holy Books of Psalm 46:1-7; 27:1; 21:6; 16:11; Isaiah 26:3 and John 16:33, the guest preacher assured that Jesus Christ has not changed from caring and loving his followers.

According to him, the Church has become the last hope of the hopeless. He enjoined the church to preach hope to their followers to bring them back to the society.

God’s presence, according to the cleric, brings joy, spiritual growth, healing, divine protection and it helps to fulfill our destiny.

FACILITY TOUR… L-R: Chairman, Oriental Energy Resources; Alhaji Mohammed Indimi; President /Chief Executive Officer, Dangote Industries Limited, Alhaji Aliko Dangote; and Group Executive Director, Strategy, Capital Projects and Portfolio Development, Dangote Industries Limited, Mr. Devakumar Edwin, during the facility tour of Dangote Petroleum and Petrochemical Projects, Lekki, Lagos…weekend

Police Confirm Abduction of College Provost, Teacher in Zamfara The Zamfara State Police Command has confirmed the abduction of Provost, College of Agriculture and Animal Science, Bakura.

It also confirmed the abduction of another school teacher of Government Science Secondary School Bakura in the early hours of yesterday.

The Police Public Relation Officer, Mohammed Shehu, made

the confirmation in an interview with journalists in Gusau.

He said that the command was aware of the incident and personnel were already deployed for necessary investigations on the matter.

Shehu said police and other security operatives in the state had commenced intelligence operation to ensure the safe release of the

victims.

“The entire area has been combed by security personnel and very soon, the victims will be rescued and the perpetrators will be arrested and brought to book,” he assured.

The Deputy Register, College of Agriculture and Animal Science Bakura, Malam Atiku Aliyu, said the college provost and one other

school teacher were kidnapped at their residents at government secondary school Bakura.

Aliyu said the kidnappers had to break the window of the provost’s house to gain entry, adding that the school teacher abducted was his neighbour.

“Right now, that I am speaking, we don’t know anything about their whereabouts.”

NAFDAC Cautions Nigerians against Use of Sanitizers with Methanol The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has again cautioned Nigerians against the use of hand sanitizers especially Nutricional S, de R, L De C.V containing methanol.

The warning is contained in a public alert with No: 20/2021 tagged “Recall of Hand Sanitizers by DiBAR Nutricional due to the presence of Methanol(Wood alcohol).

The alert was signed by the Director-General of the agency, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja yesterday.

She said that the agency had received information from US Food and Drug Agency (FDA) about the presence of methanol

in hand sanitizers.

She added that information from FDA noted that Nutricional S,de R,L De C.V (Dibar) is recalling all Dibar Labs hand sanitizers, ProtectoRX hand sanitizers and Advance hand sanitizers due to the presence of methanol.

According to her, methanol, or wood alcohol, is a substance that can be toxic when absorbed through the skin or ingested and can be life-threatening when ingested.

“Substantial methanol exposure can result in nausea, vomiting, headache, blurred vision, permanent blindness, seizures, coma, permanent damage to the nervous system or death.

“All persons using these products

on their hands are at risk for methanol poisoning, young children who accidentally ingest these products and adolescents and adults who drink these products as alcohol (ethanol) substitute, are most at risk.

“Methanol is not an acceptable ingredient for hand sanitizers and must not be used due to its toxicity,” she stressed.

Adeyeye, therefore, called on consumers, who have been exposed to hand sanitizer containing methanol and are experiencing symptoms, to seek immediate treatment for a potential reversal of toxic effects of methanol poisoning.

According to her, the call is necessary at this time after the FDA analysis has found the product to

contain methanol in lab testing.

Adeyeye stated that NAFDAC implores importers, distributors, retailers and consumers to exercise caution and vigilance to avoid the distribution, sale and use of methanol alcohol-based hand sanitizers.

She also called on healthcare providers and members of the public in possession of methanol alcohol-based hand sanitizers to discontinue sale and use or submit stock to the nearest NAFDAC office.

She said that healthcare professionals are encouraged to report any problem related to the use of any hand sanitizers to the nearest NAFDAC office, NAFDAC PRASCOR (20543 TOLL FREE from all networks).

Kingdom Wins Nigerian Idol Season 6, Clinches N50m Worth Of Gifts Sunday Ehigiator Kingdom Kroseide has emerged winner of the Nigerian Idol season six competition, thereby winning the grand prize of N30 million in cash and N20 million worth of other gifts.

Kingdom was announced the

winner after defeating Francis Atela at the grande finale aired live on the evening of yesterday, July 11.

Highlights of the night include performances by the judges and a beautiful rendition of One Hit by one of the guest judges on the show, Cohbams alongside Kingdom.

Francis thrilled the audience with the performance of Roju alongside

popular singer, songwriter Chike.

Ayra Star and Patoranking also performed their hit tracks. Patoranking sang Celebrate Me and used it to pay tribute to Sound Sultan whose news of passing sent shivers down the spine of many today.

The grand prize for the competition includes a cash prize of N30 million, a brand new SUV, six track

EP recording deal, three music videos included, an all-expense-paid trip to Seychelles, and a weekend getaway to Dubai for two weeks.

Other gifts for the winner include a wide range of Tecno products, Bigi branded refrigerator plus one year of Bigi drinks, and a DSTV Explora fully installed with a premium subscription for 12 months.

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Third Wave of COVID-19 Imminent, Sanwo-Olu Warns Says only 1% of Lagos residents received second dose of vaccine The Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu yesterday warned that the third wave of COVID-19 was imminent in the state, revealing that the state has started experiencing a

potential third wave of the pandemic with dire consequences.

He said the state government would do everything possible to prevent a massive outbreak, threatening

Police Arraign Banker over Fraudulent Withdrawal of N46.4 m from Customer’s Account Sylvester Idowu in Warri A 39-year-old banker with one of the new generation banks in Effurun, Delta State, Osazuwa Obarisiagbon, has been arraigned before a Chief Magistrate Court over alleged fraudulent withdrawal of N46.4 million from a customer’s account.

Osazuwa, a Relationship Manager with Sterling Bank, Effurun branch, was arraigned last Friday on sixcount charge bordering on alleged stealing, defrauding, forgery and impersonation.

Some of the charges in charge number: ME/77C/ 2021 read thus: “That you Osazuwa Obarisiagbon between December 31, 2015 and November 30, 2016, at Effurun within this magisterial district, did commit felony to wit: stealing.

You hereby committed an offence punishable under Section 516 of the criminal code, Cap C. 21, Vol. 1, Laws of Delta State of Nigeria, 2006.

“That you Osazuwa Obarisiagbon between December 31, 2015, and November 30, 2016, at Effurun, within this magisterial district, did

It was a bizarre sight to behold for the residents of Okhoro area of Benincity, Edo State, as the decomposing body of a septuagenarian was discovered in an apartment nine days after her death.

The most disturbing aspect is the fact that two children of the deceased, Mrs. Agbenese Oshoma, 78, were in the know of their mother’s death, but kept it to themselves for nine days, until the offensive odour from their apartment forced neighbours to broke into the house to behold the bloated body of the elderly woman.

Strangely, the two children of the deceased, Grace Osagede, 60, and her younger sister, Theresa Suberu, 58, told the prying neighbours that they were instructed by God not to disclose the death of their mother to anyone.

The two women, it was gathered, went about their normal daily chores inside the house while their mother’s corpse laid, rotting away as they made no attempt to embalm the

body since they were “instructed

by God” not to tell anyone.

It was further gathered that neighbours, who initially perceived the stench from the building, inquired from the two sisters what the matter was, but the deceased children dismissed such enquiries as nothing.

When the offensive odour became unbearable, the neighbours were said to have mobilised and barged into the building only to discover the decomposing body of the woman, who everyone in the neighbourhood called ‘Iye’ (an old woman).

When confronted, the older woman, Grace, told the people that she had instruction from God not to disclose the death of their mother to anybody, a position that was corroborated by her younger sister, Theresa, who said her elder sister asked her not to tell anyone as “instructed by the Lord.”

The neighbours and the landlord of the building were said to have arranged to have the corpse moved to a morgue while the police were called in.

Why We Unveiled New Kwara APC Secretariat, by Legacy Group Hammed Shittu in Ilorin Some loyalists of the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, under the aegis of Kwara Legacy Group at the weekend in Ilorin, Kwara State, exonerated the minister from the circumstances that led to the recent unveiling of a new state secretariat of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The group, however, said the reasons behind the creation of new party secretariat of the party were due to the expiration of agreement with the landlord of the building that had served as the party secretariat.

The minister was reportedly invited before the national leadership of the party for allegedly opening another party secretariat in Ilorin, the state capital, last Saturday.

Speaking with journalists in Ilorin,

lives and the pursuit of livelihoods, after what has been a very difficult year. Regrettably, in spite of the hard work and dedicated efforts towards sustaining the return to normalcy, over the last three months, we are now finding ourselves at what appears to be the start of a potential 3rd wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, in Lagos State.”

“Also, within the last two weeks, the occupancy rate at our isolation

centres increased from an average of 1 per cent to 6 per cent. This is the new and disturbing reality that now confronts us.

“But we must not be demoralised by this. We must instead resolve that we will not leave any stone unturned in our bid to effectively mitigate the third wave of this pandemic in Lagos.

As you all know, Lagos has been the epicentre of the pandemic since the start, and the way we manage

it here has a significant impact and reverberating effect on the national outlook and outcomes.

“We will continue to test aggressively. We will also focus on sequencing the samples we are collecting to ensure we are detecting and keeping track of the different variants in circulation.

It is only by testing and sequencing comprehensively that we can collect the data required for informed decision-making.”

fraudulently convert to your own use or the use of other persons, the sum of N46, 422, 432.64, property of Wellington Hotel Limited. You thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 390 (8) (b) & (9) of the Criminal Code, Cap C.21, Vol. 1, Laws of Delta State of Nigeria, 2006.

“That you Osazuwa Obarisiagbon between the 31st day of December 31, 2015, and November 30, 2016, at Effurun, within this magisterial district, did conspire to commit felony to wit: forgery.

You thereby committed an offence punishable under section 516 of the Criminal Code, Cap C 21. Vol. 1, Laws of Delta State of Nigeria, 2004.

“That you Osazuwa Obarisiagbon, between December 31, 2015, and November 30, 2016, at Effurun, within this magisterial district, did conspire to commit felony to wit: personation. You thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 516 of the Criminal Code, Cap C. 21, Vol. 1, Laws of Delta State of Nigeria, 2006.

Two Sisters Keep Mother’s Decomposing Corpse for Nine Days in Edo Adibe Emenyonu in Benin-city

imprisonment of travellers who fail to release number through which they can be contacted.

“Starting around the end of March 2021, the second wave of the COVID19 pandemic in Lagos State began to wind down, and we began to enjoy some reprieve from the worst effects of the virus.

“This allowed us to further open-up the economy to allow the start of the journey towards full normalcy in our

the spokesperson of the group, Hon. Kayode Ogunlowo, said: “Following the expiration of the tenancy agreement of the former party state secretariat, there is need to acquire new one to allow the party function in the state.

“We can recall that before the emergence of Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq as a candidate of our party in 2018, we had a party secretariat that was fully functional, but immediately Abdulrazaq became the governor, he rented a three-bedroom apartment at Tanke Iledu and tagged it the state secretariat of the party.

What a leader?

“After the expiration of our agreement with our landlord, the party structure was left without a party secretariat which informed the party executive led by Bashir Omolaja Bolarinwa to acquire a befitting party secretariat that was unveiled by the minister last week.”

HONOURING THE DEPARTED… L-R: Chairman of Platform Petroleum Limited, Chief Dumo Lulu-Briggs; Group Managing Director of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mallam Mele Kyari; and Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva, at the Church Service for the late Mrs. Helen Robert Membra, in Okpoama Kingdom, Bayelsa State…weekend

Afenifere: Only Restructuring Can Save Nigeria from Catastrophe The executive council of the pan Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, has warned of looming disaster if Nigeria does not return to “true federalism”.

The National Publicity Secretary of the body, Jare Ajayi, released a statement to this effect yesterday.

He said the position was part of the council’s resolution after its meeting at the Lagos home of Ayo Adebanjo, leader of Afenifere.

Ajayi said the organisation resolved that the country must be restructured and full implementation

must be executed before the end of the first half of 2022.

“The Nigerian nation is at the brink of an avoidable catastrophe that requires urgent actions. And the most potent recipe to prevent the catastrophe is restructuring that would return the country to true federalism,” the statement reads.

“After reviewing recent developments in the country, Afenifere executive council said that the signs are ominous, requiring steps to prevent the country from apocalypse.

“The executive council meeting called on President Muhammadu Buhari, the national and state assemblies and all other concerned authorities to ensure that restructuring takes place within remaining part of this year. Its implementation in terms of true federalism in finance, security, social welfare must begin before the middle of next year.” Afenifere expressed its support for the southern governors’ decision to ban open grazing. The organisation frowned at the criticism of the decision by some northern

leaders, wondering what the nation has gained from open grazing.

“Afenifere is in full support of the governors to have laws banning open grazing latest by September 1, this year. We notice that some states already have this law enacted,” the group said.

“We urge the remaining states to enact the law expeditiously.

Beyond the enactment however, we call for immediate enforcement of the law so as to put an end to various vices that the act of open grazing is engendering.”

S’West Govs Propose six Regions, Seek Resource Control Segun James As part of the review of the 1999 Constitution, the South-west governors have proposed conversion of the present six geopolitical zones into federating units.

In a document presented last week to the members of the National Assembly from the geopolitical zone, the governors also made other proposals to weaken central government, while allocating more powers to

the federating units and states.

In the document titled, ‘Proposals for the Review of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (As Amended): Presentation by South-West Governors’ Forum’ and dated July 5, 2021, the governors sought amendment to Section 3(1) and (3) of the constitution.

The present Section 3(1) reads, “There shall be 36 states in Nigeria, that is to say, Abia, Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Ekiti, Enugu,

Gombe, Imo, Jigawa, Kaduna,Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Nasarawa, Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Plateau, Rivers, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe and Zamfara.”

The governors added, “We propose that Section 3(1) be amended as a federation consisting of six geopolitical zones constituted from the states. The federating units or regions are divided into the following geopolitical zones: North-West Zone, North-Eastern Zone, Middle – Belt Zone, SouthEast Zone, South-South Zone,

South-West Zone and the Federal Capital Territory.

The forum added that “the geopolitical zones have been recognised and accepted by Nigeria’s political class.”

It also said, “Section 3(6) be amended to provide for a number of local governments or such autonomous administrative units to be created by the respective federating units or states, the criteria of which shall include population, taxable capacity, ethno-religious or other cultural and social affinities.”

APC Urges Members to Participate in INEC Continuous Voter Registration Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja The All Progressives Congress (APC) has called on its supporters and members at home and in the Diaspora to take advantage of the ongoing Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) online Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise to register and complete the process at designated centres from where they can obtain their Permanent Voter’s Card (PVC).

The National Secretary of the

Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee, Senator John Akpanudoedehe, in a statement issued yesterday said APC members across the country should equip themselves with the voters’ cards to enable them vote in the several forthcoming by-elections and other staggered elections culminating in the 2023 general election.

According to him, “We want to remind our members that the PVC is the only legal instrument voters need to elect leaders who can sustain

the national ongoing efforts of the APC governments at the federal, state and local government areas to sustain its successes in renewing national infrastructure, transforming agriculture and diversifying the economy.

“New voters can pre-register on the INEC portal, while those who have registered in the past can access the platform to review their voter registration status.”

Akpanudoedehe said some of the features on the portal allow

registered voters to update their personal information or transfer their voter registration to another polling unit.

The secretary stressed that new voters are only required to fill and upload their forms on the portal after entering their biodata and required documents, after which they are expected to visit an INEC state or local government office to provide their fingerprints before July 19 to complete the registration and obtain their voter’s cards.

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12m People Displaced in North-east, Says UN Michael Olugbode in Abuja The United Nations migration agency, International Organisation for Migration, (IOM) has put the total number of displaced persons in North-east at about 12 million even as it said 4.4 million people are at the risk of food insecurity due to protracted and increasing insecurity

in the troubled region.

Parts of the North-east have for over 11 years continued to be attacked by non-state actors, Boko Haram/ISWAP, which have made millions to flee their homes and without a chance to engage in economic activities, mainly farming and fishing.

Many of those dispersed are living in internally displaced persons camps

Yerima Declares Support for Electronic Transmission of Results Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja Former Governor of Zamfara State, Senator Sani Yerima, has stated that there was a need for the country to use technology as much as possible to sanitise its electoral process.

Yerima’s intervention came following recent media reports suggesting that electronic transmission of results by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has been expunged from Electoral Act Amendment Bill 2021 due for passage before the National Assembly.

Section 50 (2) of the Electoral Act Bill, which is presently before the National Assembly, makes no provision for INEC to transmit results of any election electronically.

The Section states: “Voting at an election under this bill shall be in accordance with the procedure determined by the commission, which may include electronic voting, provided that the commission shall not transmit results of elections by electronic means.”

Plants 250,000 trees to curb desertification In preparedness to surmount the challenges of flooding, which have caused the destruction of lives and property, the Ekiti State Government has embarked on the construction of bridges and dredging of waterways to avert such occurrences.

The state government has also taken actions to rejuvenate the depleted nine forest reserves in the state and also acquired new lands for the plantation of indigenous trees to check desert encroachment in the state.

The state Project Coordinator of a World Bank initiative, Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP), Dr. AKinyemi Akinyugha, stated these in Ado Ekiti yesterday during a chat with journalists.

Akunyugha, who is also the Senior Special Assistant on Environment to the state Governor, Kayode Fayemi, said the government, through NEWMAP, would soon complete

the construction of Arinkin and Ajolagun bridges in Ikere and Oke Ako Ekiti respectively.

The NEWMAP coordinator described the two sites as heavily prone to flooding that has caused threats to lives and property.

He said: “The government of Governor Fayemi is using the NEWMAP to change the landscape of the state. We are embarking on construction of drainages and culverts at Arinkin in Oke Ako and Ajolagun in Ikere Ekiti in the first phase of the project after which we will proceed to Ogbomu bridge located between Irele and Ponyan in Kogi State.

Ajolagun bridge is to be delivered

by August, 2021.

“We are also going to undertake erosion works at Bisi Aloba avenue, and Temidire Road in Ikere Ekiti. In Ado Ekiti, we are focusing attention on Tinuola, Eminrin, Afao Road, Ajilosun, and Odo Ado, while attention will also be at Owode and Otete in Efon Alaaye, all these are subject to World Bank approval.”

Dangote Cement Acquires 2,000 Trucks for Distribution of Products To address challenges related to the ease of distribution and availability of cement across the country, especially among its value-chain service providers, Dangote Cement Plc has rolled out over 2,000 trucks for distribution services.

With an investment of $150 million, the company took delivery of trucks, trailers, bulk tankers, tippers, cargo trucks and bulk cement tankers. These assets would meet the expected increase in demand for transportation of cement to every part of the country and create employment of over 4,000 people in Nigeria.

Besides, Dangote Fertiliser, which recently made a grand entry into the market, has already taken delivery of 500 trucks from Dangote Sinotruk West Africa Limited (joint venture between Dangote Industries

grim leading to the large number of displaced persons.

He said:“We carry out stability index to see if those displaced can be able to return to their communities of origin while we provide them with some basic amenities like water, health care, schools and water; this is in line with our work of preparedness, response, transition and recovery.

“Our records have shown that 7, 053 babies have been born in 18 of these IDP shelters in Borno State alone and this is unfortunate

as many of them are born with no health facility.”

He traced internal migration to hardship, conflicts, and natural disasters, while revealing that 4.4 million people are at risk of hunger in the troubled North East region, which could lead to increase number of migration if left unchecked.

Celestin, while explaining the need for people to migrate externally in a proper way, said if irregularly done, migration can lead to a lot of hardship, detention, exposure to

abuse and violation of basic human rights and in extreme cases, death.

The agency said it has been generating data on migration to help state and non-state actors, target intervention in the area of food and medical provisions to those displaced.

IOM also said it has the widest footprint in the North East with presence in many Local Government Areas (LGAs) and has been able to work in Bama, Monguno and Gwoza among others, to restore those displaced back to their homelands.

But while fielding questions from journalists at the weekend in Abuja, Yerima said he was in full support of electronic voting, adding that the world is changing and Nigeria has to follow it.

According to him, “I support electronic voting. I think that when we were queuing to register without the card reader what was happening? People will just sit down and write names and say we have such number of people.

“By the mere introduction of the card reader, the whole thing has changed. You can see that you have your fingerprint, and look at what is happening now-registration of voters online. The world is changing; Nigeria has to follow the change. We need to use technology as much as possible. As far as I am concerned, one day, we are going to go for electronic voting.”

The former Zamfara State governor noted that he would contest the 2023 presidential election, saying both the country’s constitution and that of the All Progressives Congress (APC) do not forbid him from contesting.

Ekiti Dredges Blocked Waterways, Builds Bridges to Check Flooding Victor Ogunje in Ado Ekiti

within the region with equally large numbers fleeing into neigbouring countries of Chad, Niger and Cameroon as refugees.

Speaking at the weekend in Abuja to journalists on issues surrounding migration, security and their impact on human lives, the IOM Chief of Mission in Nigeria, Mr. Frantz Celestin, noted that increased number of people are migrating due to insecurity and the impact of COVID-19, climate change and natural disasters, adding that the security situation in North-east, is

Limited and Sinotruk China) for the distribution of Urea to different States in Nigeria.

The newly acquired trucks are expected to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of Dangote Cement Logistics network of distribution nationwide, as the company plans to commission its new cement plant in Okpella Edo state in a few weeks.

“We have acquired the new trucks in line with our new expansion capacity in Obajana, Ibese, Gboko and the new cement plant at Okpella.

The acquisition is due to the growing needs of the business, especially as regards the increased trucking demands encountered lately, due to the surge in the demand for cement,” according to the Group Executive Director - Logistics and Distribution, Dangote Industries Limited, Alhaji Abdu Dantata.

SIXTY HEARTY CHEERS...

L-R: Senior lawyers, MR. Kunle Ogunba (SAN); Mr. Kayode Enitan (SAN); Chief Lateef Fagbemi (SAN); President of Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mr. Olumide Akpata; Mr. Seni Adio (SAN); and Mr. JK Gadzama (SAN), at the 60th birthday anniversary of Chief Emeka Ngige (SAN) in Lagos…yesterday

APC Constitutes Three-member Caretaker Committee for Zamfara Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja The Caretaker/Extraordinary and Convention Planning Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has constituted a three-member Caretaker committee to pilot the affairs of the party in the state following the recent Defection of the state governor, Mr. Bello Matawalle.

The party in a statement issued yesterday by its National Secretary, Senator John Akpanudoedehe, said the Committee has Senator Hassan Mohammed Gusau as Chairman, while Mr. Muntari Anka is the Deputy Chairman and Prof. Abdullahi

Shinkafi is the Secretary.

The ruling part said the step followed the recent positive development in the Zamfara State chapter of the party and the approval by the caretaker committee to dissolve the leadership structure of the party organs in the state.

The caretaker committee hereby strongly appealed to those directly affected by this action to show understanding and consider this a sacrifice made for the growth of the party.

The party assured all concerned that it shall ensure that inclusiveness, fairness and transparency are

maintained by the new leadership on all fronts.

Meanwhile, following the recently-concluded APC primaries to elect the party’s flagbearer for the November 6 Anambra State Governorship Elections, the Governor Mai Mala Buni-led committee has appointed the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu and the Governor of Kwara State, Abdulrasaq Abdulrahman to unify and strengthen the party in the state ahead of the elections.

Akpanudoedehe in a statement yesterday said the two party leaders were charged with the responsibility

of bringing together all the erstwhile aspirants and their supporters to join the campaign organisation of the party and achieve victory for the APC in the state.

The committee mandated the two governors to do everything reasonable and necessary to ensure that all feuding parties, erstwhile aspirants and their supporters close ranks and work for the APC to defeat the contestants fielded by other political parties.

“We look forward to a unified front and a shared commitment to support the party before, during and after the election,” the party said

Uwaifo and I were Street Hawkers in Benin, Igbinedion Reveals Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City The Esama of Benin, Chief Gabriel Igbinedion, has admonished Nigerians to imbibe the habit of building people rather that destroying them.

He gave the advice at a dinner party he hosted in Benin-city at the weekend to honour Nigerian music icon, Prof. Victor Uwaifo, a lecturer at the University of Benin, who marked his 80th birthday in March this year.

Igbinedion, who disclosed that he was out of the country when Uwaifo celebrated his birthday, described him

(Uwaifo) as ‘great man’.

According to the Benin high chief, “you are a great man; one of the greatest human beings in life. To clock 80 years, you must have a good mind.”

Igbinedion recalled their childhood days in the city, saying: “I was selling Kerosene while Uwaifo was selling Kola-nuts.”

Igbinedion disclosed he sold kerosene while the legendary highlife musician sold kolanuts in their childhood days on the streets of Benin.

He said: “To clock 80, you must

have a good mind. You are a great man and one of the greatest human beings on earth.”

The iconic musician, who was accompanied by his wife, noted that Igbinedion, who rose from grass to grace and conquered poverty, greatly surprised him.

He said: “I have never smoked in my life. I do not take drugs. I do not drink alcohol. It is now that I started taking wine. Music makes me high.

“If you are smoking, doing drugs or taking alcohol, it is not too late to stop. Parents must warn their

children against taking drugs and not to wrongly imitate people.”

Uwaifo, the Joromi maestroturned academic, who lectured in the University of Benin, expressed surprise at the honour given to him

by Igbinedion, saying: “Tonight, Chief Igbinedion has surprised me. This is the man who rose from grass to grace, and who conquered poverty.

“Any person, who wants to know, must be given the opportunity to know and keep knowing. “If you go through the crucible of life, then you will know the value of life, and you must add principles.”

Cholera Death Toll in Plateau Hits 17 as Cases Rise to 1,004 Seriki Adinoyi in Jos Plateau State Government has disclosed that a total of 17 persons have died from Cholera outbreak in the state.

The state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Nimkong Lar, who gave the update in Jos, the state capital, yesterday, added that so far, 1,004 suspected cases have been recorded.

According to Lar, out of the 1,004 suspected cases recorded in the state, 980 persons have been discharged, while seven others were still receiving treatment in various hospitals.

The commissioner said: “So far, we have recorded 1,004 cases but 980 of them have been treated and discharged, leaving only seven active cases. Unfortunately, 17 persons have died as a result of the complications

arising from cholera, which has affected 13 local government areas of the state.”

He stated that the affected local government areas are Jos North, Jos South, Riyom, Kanam, Bokkos, Wase, Mangu, Bassa, Jos East, Barkin Ladi, Qua’anpan, Langtang North, and Shendam.

Reassuring the people of the state government commitment to curtailing

the disease from spreading further, Lar also advised the people to imbibe the act of hand washing and sanitising their hands to avoid the spread of the highly contagious disease.

He said: “As a government, we are not relenting in our efforts to address the problem, but we also want to appeal to the public to always maintain good sanitation and shun indiscriminate dumping of waste.”

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2023: Delta North Traditional Rulers Urge Politicians Not to Distract Okowa Sunday Okobi Traditional rulers in Delta North senatorial district of Delta State have appealed to politicians across the state to rally round the state governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, in the remaining two

years of his administration to enable him finish successfully in his drive for productivity and economic growth in the state.

The appeal was made at the weekend when political leaders of Ijaw extraction in the state paid a consultation visit to the members

Group Condemns DSS Violent Attack on Igboho, Others Sunday Ehigiator The Socialist Congress of Nigeria (SCON) has condemned the recent attack by men of the Department of State Security (DSS) on the private residence of a Yoruba activist, Chief Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, in Ibadan, Oyo State on July 1, 2021.

In a statement signed by the group, which was made available to THISDAY at the weekend, the SCON decried the growing frequency and the intensity of the deployment of heavily armed forces, which it said are causing civil disturbances.

It equally condemned what it described as a“heavy military barrage against El-Zakzaky a few years ago

NYSC Certificate: Hold Adeosun’s Accusers to Account, Afenifere Urges Buhari The United States of America and Europe Chapters of the pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to bring to book the accusers of a former Minister for Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, who was accused of certificate forgery.

A Federal High Court in Abuja, last week, ruled in the former minister’s favour, saying NYSC certificate was not mandatory for appointment into political office in the country.

In a statement jointly issued by Mr. Babatunde Shinaba and Dr. Durojaiye Akindurire, the chairman of Europe and USA chapters, respectively, the group said there was a need for the Presidency to question those who accused the former minister of forgery.

In the statement, the group commended the judiciary for the court ruling, which vindicated the former minister, insisting that Adeosun should be celebrated rather than persecuted

Tension Rocks Dunamis Church as #IStandwithBuhari Group Confronts Sowore Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja There was palpable tension yesterday at the Dunamis International Gospel Centre in Abuja when a pro-Buhari group under the auspices of Abuja Grassroots Project (AGP) prevented the planned picketing of the church

by Omoyele Sowore #RevolutionNow. The members of the group clad in t-shirts and face caps with the inscription, #IStandwithBuhari, laid siege to the entrance of the church to prevent the Sowore group from carrying out their protest over last week arrest of 10 Buhari-Must-Go activists at the church.

The group Coordinator, Yunusa Yusuf, said they got reliable information that Sowore would lead his followers to stage a protest at the church.

The atmosphere around the church located on the Abuja International Airport Road was tensed with heavy presence of security operatives from all the forces to nip any breakdown of law and order in the bud.

Yusuf insisted that the church of God must prevail against every evil plan, no matter how highly placed the person is.

in Zaria, Kaduna State, the massive and unprovoked military attacks and killing of unarmed peaceful protesters at the Lekki Toll Gate in Lagos on October 20, 2020, and the current entrenchment of routine attacks on peaceful protests, including the recent murder of a student who was protesting against increment of school fees in Kaduna State.”

According to the group, the sustained state terror across Nigeria has its antecedents in the brutal economic and social policies imposed with impunity since the late 1970s.

of the Delta North Traditional Rulers Council at Owa Royal Palace, Owa -Oyibu in Ika North East Local Government Area of the state.

Former Police Affairs Minister, Chief Alaowei Broderick Bozimo, led the delegation, which included former Delta State University Vice Chancellor, Prof.

Victor Peretomode; former Commissioner for Local Government Affairs, Neworld Safugha; former President of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), Hon Prince Chris Ekiyor, among others, to

consult with the monarchs on their ambition to take a shot at the state governorship race in 2023.

The Obi of Owa, His Royal Majesty, Dr. Emmanuel Efeizomor II, who spoke on behalf of the kings, told the delegation that there was the need for political gladiators from the three senatorial districts in the state to join hands with the governor to finish strongly on his SMART and stronger Delta Agenda.

While receiving the delegation

which comprised politicians from Patani, Burutu, Bomadi , Warri SouthWest, Warri North and Isoko Local Government Areas of Delta South, the Owa traditional ruler applauded the visitors, saying their desire was genuine.

The royal fathers, however, urged them to commit their ambition to God. Efeizomor added that their doors were open to others who may wish to consult the monarchs, adding that such consultation visits would help

to strengthen the bond of friendship across the divide.

The monarch assured them that they would consult with their subjects on what is best for them in the 2023 polls.

Earlier, the leaders of the delegation and a frontline Ijaw leader, Bozimo, told the kings that they were in the palace to seek permission to enter their domain and talk to the people on their ambition to vie for the governorship position in the state in the 2023 election.

Journalist Petitions Rights Commission over Death of 14-year-old Girl Udora Orizu in Abuja A journalist and leader of the coalition of Gender-based Violence Responders, Lemmy Ughegbe, has filed a formal complaint against the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Mr. Fom Pam Joseph, over alleged threat to his life and those of members of his family, at the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC).

He said the coalition has been

critical of DCP Joseph’s role in investigating the death of Keren-Happuch Aondodoo Akpagher, a 14-year-old boarding house student of Premier Academy, Lugbe, Abuja, who was raped, while a condom was left inside her uterus, which caused sepsis and led to her death on June 22, 2021.

According to him, the DCP has refused to release the medical report of her death to the police-appointed pathologist at the Maitama General Hospital, Abuja, Dr. Desmond Ike Okonkwo, which he requested as a

pre-condition to conduct the autopsy in line with the global best practice.

This, the activist said, led to the stalling of the autopsy, which was scheduled for July 3, and consequently, the coalition has issued a statement alleging that the DCP’s refusal was reprehensible as well as raises suspicion as to his motive.

According to Ughegbe, “Why will he want to sit on the medical report and not release it to the policeappointed pathologist? Why is Fom Pam Joseph holding tenaciously to

the medical report as though it’s a personal laurel to the detriment of further medical investigation? ‘’In what appears like a fightback, barely 24 hours to a planned rally by our coalition in Abuja to seek justice for Keren-Happuch last Friday, the DCP sent policemen to my wife’s nursery and primary school, which has no link whatsoever with the coalition, to intimidate and threaten her and the staff at the school as well as sending policemen to survey where they live.

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T H I S D AY • MONDAY, JULY 12, 2021

NEWSXTRA

House Reverses Award of Dawes Oilfield to Petralon, Others Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja The House of Representatives’ Committee on Public Petitions has reversed the Department of Petroleum

Resources (DPR)’s award of Dawes Island marginal field to Petralon 54 Limited and its partners.

Although the DPR was said to have taken the decision on the directive of the Minister of State for Petroleum

Court Rejects Yar’Adua’s Daughter’s Request for Order against FCT Minister, Others Alex Enumah A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Maitama, Abuja has rejected a request by the daughter of ex-President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua (now late), Zainab for a restraining order against the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and three others.

Zainab’s lawyer, Sebastine Hon (SAN), had filed an application for an injunctive order to stop the FCT Minister and other defendants, in a pending suit, from taking any further actions on the land being disputed by her and two of the defendants.

Acting through a firm, Marumza Estate Development Company Limited, Zainab, who was once the wife to former Kebbi State Governor, Saidu Dakingari, is claiming ownership of Plot 506, Cadastral Zone B09, Kado District, Abuja.

The substantive suit, marked: CV/1270/2021 is challenging an earlier revocation of the allocation of the land by the Federal Capital

Taraba Seeks FG’s Support to Resettle Flood Victims Wole Ayodele in Jalingo Taraba State Government has expressed its readiness to relocate and resettle victims of last Saturday’s flood that wreaked havoc in some parts of the state. The state Governor, Darius Ishaku, told journalists after an onthe-spot assessment of the affected areas in Jalingo, that it has become imperative to relocate all the people living along the river banks in the state considering the perennial flooding in the areas.

He, however, appealed to the federal government to come the aid of the state in solving the problem, saying the problem is so huge and tasking, and may be beyond the capacity of the state government alone.

The flood destroyed no fewer than 200 houses in Jalingo, Lau, Karim Lamido and Ibi Local Government Areas of the state, rendering thousands of people homeless.

Fielding questions from journalists yesterday night after the assessment tour, Ishaku said: “It has become expedient to resettle all the people living along the river banks because the issue of flooding has become perennial.

Igbo Group Cautions FG against Use of Force on Agitators for Self-determination Calls for Kanu, other political prisoners’ unconditional release

Fred Ojeh The Igbo World Assembly (IWA), the umbrella body of Ndi Igbo in Diaspora, has cautioned the Federal Government of Nigeria against the use of force to stop ethnic groups from agitating for self-determination.

The group, during an emergency meeting by its country leaders yesterday, having reviewed the abduction of the Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, in a foreign land and his detention in Nigeria, called for his release and that of other political prisoners in the country unconditionally.

It advised the government to allow Nigerians to decide their fate while it focuses on addressing massive insecurity, unemployment, hunger, poverty and other challenges.

Development Authority (FCDA), which claimed to have found, among others, that the Irrevocable Power of Attorney used to procure the land through alleged donation was purportedly forged.

At the last mention of the case, plaintiff’s lawyer attempted to move the application for injunctive orders by Justice Olukayode Adeniyi expressed his unwillingness to hear it, saying he would rather proceed to hear the substantive case rather than waste time dealing with interlocutory applications.

Justice Adeniyi proceeded to order parties to maintain status quo pending the determination of the substantive suit.

Resources, the lawmakers stated that the revocation of the licence and re-award to Petralon, was not done in the interest of equity and fair play.

The lawmakers wondered why the DPR punished two members of the JV - Eurafric and Tako and yet rewarded one member (Petralon) for the purported joint failure of the venture after it was cancelled in April 2020 for alleged non-performance.

According to the committee, the

three companies should benefit from any re-award of the asset, which it said should be restored to pre-revocation status in the interest of equity and national interest.

It alleged that there was an ulterior motive in re-awarding the licence to Patralon alone, when abinitio, Eurafric and Tako, Petralon were supposed to be punished for the same offence.

DPR reportedly justified the revocation of the field licence on the ground that nothing was done

on the field from award of the licence till its revocation, adding that no field development plan was submitted for Dawes Island.

According to the DPR, the decision was in the best interest of the nation, although it failed to explain how the JV members would recover their reported investments of over $50 million on the field prior to the licence revocation.

The regulatory agency argued that the expenses were borne on

sole-risk basis and thus a loss to the companies, arguing that the revocation and re-award was done in the nation’s interest and claiming that the decision to award the licence to Petralon alone was based on a 2018 petition from Petralon against Eurafric.

However, the lawmakers stated that none of the parties notified Eurafric of the said petition or requested a defence from the company before acting on it.

SERAP Asks Court to Slash Buhari, Govs, N’Assembly Members’ Allowances The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), has asked a Federal High Court in Abuja to order the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) and the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC) to review downward the remuneration and allowances of President Muhammadu Buhari, Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, 36 governors and members of the National Assembly.

The group said this should be

done by the duo by performing their statutory functions.

SERAP in a suit number FHC/ ABJ/CS/658/2021 filed last Friday, SERAP seek“an order of mandamus to direct and compel the RMAFC to send its downward review of the remuneration and allowances of these high-ranking public office holders and recommendations to the National Assembly for appropriate remedial and legislative action, as provided for by the Nigerian Constitution 1999 (as amended).

SERAP said slashing jumbo pay for these high-ranking political officeholders would reduce the unfair pay disparity between political officer holders and judicial officers.

The rights organisations said addressing the persistent poor treatment of judges, would improve access of victims of corruption to justice and effective remedies.

SERAP is also seeking “an order of mandamus to direct and compel the RMAFC to perform its mandatory constitutional duty to urgently

review upward the remuneration, salaries and allowances, as well as the conditions of service for Nigerian judges.”

Joined in the suit filed on behalf of SERAP by its lawyers, Kolawole Oluwadare and Ms Adelanke Aremo, are Senate President, Dr. Ahmad Lawan; Speaker of House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, for themselves, and on behalf of all members of the Senate and House of Representative; and the National Judicial Council.

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T H I S D AY ˾ ˜ ͹ͺ˜ ͺ͸ͺ͹

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

Agony for Lions as Italy Beat England in Shootout to Lift Euro 2020 n land's id to end their śś¢ear wait for a ma or troph¢ ended in the familiar a on¢ of defeat in a penalt¢ shooto t as tal¢ claimed the ro ŘŖŘŖ crown at em le¢ǯ n a ni ht of anticipation, tension and ltimate heart rea in a feverish atmosphere, n land loo ed on co rse for their most o¢o s da¢ since řŖ

l¢ ŗşŜŜ when e Shaw ave them the perfect start after two min tesǯ tal¢, n eaten in řř matches efore this ęnal, slowl¢ ed ed their wa¢ ac into the ame

and were level in the Ŝŝth min te when eonardo on cci po nced after n land oal eeper ordan ic ford t rned arco erraĴi's header on to a postǯ And after a tense period of e¡tra time failed to ęnd a winner, it was on to penalties and iĴer disappointment for n land mana er areth So th ate and his pla¢ers, who had one into this ęnal on a wave of e¡pectation and hi h emotionǯ n land missed three of their ęve penalties, arc s

ashford hiĴin a post and ianl i i onnar mma den¢in adon Sancho efore - so cr ell¢ for s ch a ęne ¢o n pla¢er - Arsenal teena er a¢o Sa a also saw the iant tal¢ oal eeper save his spot- ic ǯ

arr¢ Kane and arr¢ a ire were on tar et for n land while ic ford ept hopes alive with saves from Andrea eloĴi and

or inho while omenico erardi, on cci and ederico ernardeschi scored for tal¢ǯ he tearf l ŗş-¢ear-old Sa a,

who showed s ch co ra e to step forward, was consoled ¢ n land team-mates and mana er So th ate t there was no real consolation for them or the e¡pectant fans pac ed into em le¢ǯ n land's ¢ears of h rt o on t it loo ed for the ęrst řŖ min tes of this ęnal that the moment the co ntr¢ has waited more than ŘŖ,ŖŖŖ da¢s for had ęnall¢ arrivedǯ So th ate's side came ęrin o t of the loc s and the mana er's one chan e of replacin Sa a with Kieran rippier

Italy defeated England in penalty shootout to win Euro 2020..last night

Dare Hails DȇTigersǰ Conędent of Team Nigeria’s Podium Finish Youth and Sports Development Minister, Chief Sunday Dare, has hailed Nigeria’s Senior men's basketball team, D'Tigers for pulling off one of the biggest upsets in the history of the sport when they defeated three-time reigning Olympic champion and the number one-ranked team in the world, Team USA in a pre-Tokyo Olympics opener.

“Every single player showed up for the game and collectively the team put up a ruthless execution of basketball skills. The team matched the highly rated American team skill for skill, shot for shot and in every department the Nigerian team was on top of its game. Thank you, D Tigers for again announcing Nigeria's arrival on the basketball world with a bang”.

“Nigeria and Nigerians are proud of you. As the Olympics games proper beckons in a few days we are confident in your skills and certain that you are up to the task. Just as we are sure of the female team D' Tigress”.

“Having this morale boosting performance on the eve of the delayed Tokyo 2020 Olympics is a positive signal that Team Nigeria will achieve podium finishes at the Games,' said the Minister who is confident Nigeria will surpass the feat achieved in 1996 at the XXVI edition of the Games in Atlanta. ''I am delighted with the progress our athletes are making in their respective sports and I strongly believe we will have

many of our athletes in strong medal positions at this Olympics and future international global events,' the Minister further said and praised the Nigeria Basketball Federation for the progress both the D'Tigers and D'Tigress have made. ''I said it about a week ago that basketball has been on the ascendancy in Nigeria in terms of the performance of the athletes and the organisational ability of the NBBF. Now we are seeing a confirmation of what I said.

The Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development will continue to provide the enabling environment for sports to grow in Nigeria.'

The Sports Minister believes sports will grow in geometrical propositions by the time the

Sports Industry Policy becomes operational and a number of key critical stakeholders key into it.

“Last week I was in Bayelsa to watch our Olympic-bound wrestlers in their preparations for the games. I was delighted not only with the commitment of the wrestlers but also that of the government of Bayelsa state who is turning the state into the wrestling capital of Nigeria. ''I saw the wrestling gym under construction and this falls in line with one of the critical components of the Sports Industry Policy which is the provision and development of infrastructures for sports,” said Dare.

The number one sports man in Nigeria is also happy with the progress athletes in track

and field are making. ''Our adopt an athlete initiative has greatly helped in bridging the funding gap for the athletes and their preparations and the results we are seeing are testimonies of that. ''For the first time two home based track and field athletes on our adoption list achieved feats not witnessed on Nigerian soil in over two decades. ''Enoch Adegoke ran 10.00 seconds to win the 100m title at the Olympic trials in Lagos.

That is the fastest time ever achieved by a home based athlete on Nigerian soil. ''Grace Nwokocha also ran 11.09 seconds in the women's 100m. It is also the fastest time ran by a home based athlete here in Nigeria in over 20 years.'

paid an instant dividend as he ran on to Kane's perfect pass to ęnd the onr shin Shaw at the far post and he s a ed an e phatic ęnish past onnar aǯ n and were p and r nnin and r ed on ¢ a vastǰ fren£ied crowd the¢ had this talented, streetwise talian side on the ac foot ntil the¢ s ddenl¢ ained a

foothold in the closin phase of the ęrst halfǯ tal¢ dominated possession, n land lost impet s and it was no s rprise when the¢ restored parit¢, then loo in the more li el¢ winners as So th ate's side, so f ll of r nnin earl¢ on, started to la o r, partic larl¢ after losin the o tstandin eclan ice to a noc ǯ

Messi Admits His Emotional Happiness after Copa Win Lionel Messi spoke of his relief after finally ending his trophy drought with Argentina by winning the Copa America 1-0 against Brazil in Rio de Janeiro early hours of Sunday.

Messi, 34, had previously tasted defeat in three Copa finals and one World Cup final with Argentina, with his critics, at home and abroad, often questioning his ability to lead his country to silverware.

However, at the fifth time of asking, Messi finally won a major final with Argentina as Angel Di Maria's 22nd-minute goal at the Maracana ended the Albiceleste's 28-year wait for a trophy.

"I was close many times," a visibly emotional Messi told reporters after the match. "I knew it would happen eventually. I am grateful to God for giving me this moment, in Brazil against Brazil. I think He was saving this moment for me.

"I still don't think we are aware of what we have done, beyond becoming champions.

Now we're really happy, celebrating, but this is a game for the history books, beating Brazil in a final in Brazil.

"It's crazy. I can't explain how happy I feel. I've been sad many times [with Argentina after tournaments] but I knew it would happen and there's no better moment. This team deserved it."

Messi was named the Player of the Tournament at the Copa America and shared the competition's Golden Boot with Colombia's Luis Diaz. Both players scored four goals. Messi also laid on five assists.

At full-time, the Argentina players raced toward Messi and threw him in the air in recognition of his role in their run to the final.

Messi, who is a free agent after his Barcelona contract expired on June 30, also shared an intimate moment at full-time with Brazil's Neymar and Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni, who he later paid tribute to.

"It's to the merit of [Scaloni] because of everything he's done and what he's built," the forward said. "The process with him started three years ago and it's been constant growth. He knew how to build a spectacular group, a winning group. He deserves the recognition. It's been a long time since Argentina were champions of South America, and we've won it again under him."

Messi has won everything in the club game with Barcelona and has been named the best player in the world on six occasions.

Success with Argentina, though, had always eluded him.

He won the Under-20 World Cup and an Olympic gold medal with the U23s but tasted defeat in the 2007, 2015 and 2016 Copa America finals and was on the losing side against Germany in the 2014 World Cup final in Brazil.

Messi, who broke Javier Mascherano's appearance record for Argentina during the tournament, with 151 caps, now wants Argentina to take their form into next year's World Cup in Qatar, when he will be 35.

"When you win, you have to take advantage of that momentum," he said. "It's easier when results accompany you. We must take advantage of this [win] and this selection of players.

"I told them they're the national team of the future, and I was not wrong. They proved it by winning this Copa. We've been working together for a while now.

It's a great group of guys. I am happy to be part of this group."

Djokovic Equals 20th Men’s Grand Slam Title with Wimbledon Win

ova o ovic, řŚ, clai ed a recordȬe allin ŘŖth en's title ¢ eatin tal¢'s aĴeo erreĴiniin S nda¢'s i ledon ęnal, atchin the record held ¢ o er ederer and afael adalǯ nl¢ ar aret o rt, Serena illia s and SteĜ raf have ore, t c nroe e¡pects o ovic to s rpass the tooǯ Ȉ o ovic is pla¢in eĴer than he has ever pla¢ed,Ȉ he told Sportǯ Ȉ thin he will pro a l¢

win at least fo r or ęve ore, o vio sl¢ dependin on sta¢in health¢ǯȈ fter tri phin in the stralian penand rench pentoo, Ser ia's o ovic has now won all three rand Sla titles this ¢earǯ ith the l¢ pics and S pen co in p, he co ld e late raf's ŗşŞŞ ' olden Sla ', tho h sa¢s he is ȈśŖȦśŖȈ a o t pla¢in in o ¢oǯ Ȉ o ovic has p t hi self so far o t in front of ever¢one in

ter s of his a ilit¢ to e race what he is doin - in ter s of creatin histor¢ - and ein a le to e¡ec te nder a lot of stress,Ȉ said c nroe, who won seven rand Sla sin les titlesǯ Ȉ o 're tr¢in to rea the all-time records - there is a lot of press reǯ e's a le to pla¢ his est tennis at this pointǯ Ȉ o e¡pect that to o on for another co ple of ¢ears, nless someone steps p and realises how reat the¢ areǯȈ

Lionel Messi ended his trophy draught as Argentina beat Brazil to lift 2021 Copa America early hours of Sunday

MONDAY JULY 12, 2021 • T H I S D AY

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Monday July 12, 2021

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MISSILE Afenifere to FG “After reviewing recent developments in the country, Afenifere executive council said that the signs are ominous, requiring steps to prevent the country from apocalypse” – Pan Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, warning against looming disaster if Nigeria is not returned to true federalism.

SHAKAMOMODU THIS REPUBLIC

shaka.momodu@thisdaylive.com

0811 266 1654

Basket of Deplorables T

he political stakes as the 2023 general election draws near are almost unimaginable - all the more so because of the overlapping and complementary vulnerabilities of the two leading political parties - accentuated by the public perception of them as essentially Siamese twins. But one is gaining ground, the other is losing.

The umbrella of Prince Uche Secondus, chairman of the main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is leaking and badly. Buffeted mercilessly on all sides by disloyal and defecting members whose politics lack principle, endurance, moral direction, and sacrifice, the holes in the umbrella are getting bigger and bigger. The beneficiary of PDP’s many troubles is the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), which ordinarily should be in its death throes by now on account of its unimaginable mismanagement of our diversity, colossal failure of governance, unprecedented insecurity across the country, corruption on a scale never before seen in our lifetime. A party with an imprudent disdain for criticism, whose governance model is based on incompetence, economic mismanagement and nepotism, the elevation of one religion/ethnicity over others, clannishness and crony capitalism, as well as lies and propaganda. It is unfortunate that such a party is being made to feel that failure is a virtue to be emulated and rewarded.

Many well-meaning Nigerians would naturally be pleased to see the back of the APC for its many sins against the Nigerian people but is now being given some oxygen to live a day longer than necessary and pummel us further. It even boasts about its exploits with haunting arrogance. I have asked the question repeatedly, what’s the reason for the sudden desire to defect to such a party? I can’t find any rational explanation for the mad rush other than to conclude that it is pure bread-and-butter politics that is at play - aided by the APC itself whose take-no-prisoners approach to ‘winning’ any seat is legendary. And I dare say that, that is what is pulling in the crowds.

It is sad that state governors, senators, members of the House of Representatives, party chieftains are jumping ship and ditching the umbrella because they know that our votes don’t count. Nigeria is on the ropes because a motley assortment of shady characters has taken up leadership positions at all levels and is now a moral hazard to the health of the body politic. Nigerian politics is heavily driven by what is in it for one, not what is in it for the country.

Reasons for the mass defections are as hazy and confounding as they come. Their explanations make no sense. They ranged from the palpably selfish, disguised as altruistic, to the pitifully ridiculous. Interestingly, none of the governors or lawmakers that defected pointed to any crisis in the PDP as a reason for jumping ship.

Now, let’s interrogate their reasons for leaving the PDP: On November 17, 2020, Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State dumped the PDP for the APC. According to him, he moved to the APC because of “injustice” meted out to the southeast by the party. This was how he put it: “It is absurd that since 1999, going to 2023, the southeast will never be considered to run for the presidency under the PDP. And this is my position and will continue to be my position,” If Umahi left the PDP in protest against the “injustice” done to his people, the question to ask him is, was the southeast being treated justly under the APC-led federal government before he crossed over to the party? Has the

Secondus situation improved since President Muhammadu Buhari shook his hand in the Presidential Villa to welcome him to their fold? Immediately he came to power, Buhari made it clear that he would govern on the basis of 97 percent and 5 percent and proceeded to implement every policy decision and all appointments on that basis. The southeast has got 5 percent or less of all federal appointments and projects location.

Just recently, to underscore his contempt for the southeast, he described the region as dot in a circle. Yet, Umahi left the party that he had been a member for 25 years just to associate with Buhari who clearly is not enomoured of him or his ethnicity. At every opportunity, he praises Buhari to the skies and even calls him his friend and father. But a man he calls father doesn’t see him as a son but just a dot in a circle! What further evidence does anyone want to get the message?

Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River State, another deplorable, had this to say: “Having seen and known President Buhari and his commitment to this country, his nationalistic disposition and all the efforts he has made to bring Nigeria to where we are today, it is obvious that, at this point, we need to join hands with him to build a Nigeria that we can be proud of.”

Cananything be more ridiculous and insensitive to our feelings? Why would Ayade rub salt into the wound? Why did he decide to traumatise us with claims he himself knows are false? Watching him make that statement was gut wrenching and pathetic. To think he is a professor, who once taught in a university, was even more disturbing. What commitment to Nigeria was he really talking about? To bring Nigeria to where we are today? Nigerians should ask this verbose professor whether where Buhari has brought this country to is enviable. With the level of mismanagement of our diversity and the national economy, the insecurity pervading the entire length and breadth of the country, the governor was trying to teach us a lesson in revisionism. The world can see how well Buhari is building our national economy. In the 2020 budget implementation released by the finance ministry and BudgIT, debt servicing alone gulped 97% (N3.34 trillion) of government’s total revenue (N3.42 trillion). Total expenditure stood at N10.01 trillion. Which means nearly all federal government’s salaries, overhead and CAPEX were financed with loans and Central

Bank’s support. What does this say about the government?

If Ayade was emboldened by his success in teaching his students such nonsense in the university, then he should have realised by now that he is dealing with a more informed and resilient public who will not clap for him while spewing out nonsense grammar to cover his emptiness. Is it any wonder students are turning out the way they are these days? With dishonest claims from men like Ayade, we can only pray that our nightmare ends in a miracle.

I often ask myself what cause do I believe in strongly enough that I am willing to lose for it.

And I believe some Nigerians have laid down a marker as boundaries they will not cross no matter what. A man should be able to stand for something in life.

Now let’s look at the case of the Zamfara State Governor, Bello Matawalle, the latest on the list of the deplorables. He had this to say: “I decided to change (political party) so that I can bring peace to my state. Now that we all belong to the ruling party, I now have the full backing of the federal government to fight insecurity.” Is this man really serious at all? Is there anything more absurd than this claim?

Reading that statement, two things immediately jumped out at me. Either the federal government is not taking the insecurity in Zamfafa State, nay, the entire country seriously, or it is using it as a tool of coercion of opposition-controlled states and their lawmakers to jump ship and join its fold. Whichever it is, it does not tell well of both Matawalle and the APC-controlled federal government which up till now has not rebuffed the impression created by Matawalle. Nevertheless, it is important we interrogate the claim and see whether Matawalle’s reason holds water.

Among the nine states worst hit by insecurity in the country, namely, Kaduna, Katsina, Zamfara, Borno, Adamawa Yobe, Benue, Niger and Plateau States, only Zamfara, Adamawa and Benue were opposition-controlled states. Kaduna State, which is fast becoming the capital of kidnappings, is under the control of the APC. What has the federal government done to stop terrorists from invading schools, hospitals and private residences to kidnap scores of students, patients in hospitals, including babies as young as four months’ old, and individuals? Several schools have been closed down indefinitely because of the insecurity in the state.

Banditry, kidnapping of schoolchildren and killings are rife in Buhari’s home state of Katsina.

So desperate is the situation that the state chapter of the PDP had to resort to stone-age tactics of buying catapults for members to fight the bandits. The situation in the APC-controlled Niger State is just as bad. The state governor, Abubakar Bello in April cried out that the state was not getting federal help to curtail the terrorists who are targeting schools for kidnappings. Just a few weeks ago, he again raised the alarm that Boko Haram terrorists had infiltrated the state and had not only hoisted their flags in captured villages, including Kaure village in the Shiroro Local Government of the state, they had also forcefully allocated displaced women to themselves as wives.

The governor contended that the Sambisa Forest is several kilometres from Abuja, but Kaure is just two kilometres from the Federal Capital Territary, FCT, insisting that nobody is safe anymore, not even residents of Abuja.

So what was Matawalle talking about that joining the APC would bring more federal muscle to fight insecurity in his troubled Zamfara State? Let’s not even talk of Borno State, the epicentre of terrorist

groups. Clearly, the governor’s defection was not about getting more federal help to bring the security situation under control as he claimed. The fact is that he has always wanted to join Buhari’s APC since the Supreme Court disqualified all the APC candidates who had won the election and handed PDP candidates victory in the state.

From the outset, his admiration for the president was clear for the discerning. He largely shares Buhari’s ethno/religious views and has defended him on several occasions, even more than the APC governors before finally showing his true colours.

This same governor, instead of dealing with bandits frontally and decisively has been appeasing them and paying them not to kidnap. Matawalle gives out Toyota Hilux vehicles, motorcycles, money, etc, to bandits as incentives to stop their nefarious and heinous criminal activities.

What has been the result? A spectacular, criminal enterprise has been berthed in his state through his incompetence and collusion. His appeasement has only served to embolden the terrorists to continue to ply their trade of killing, maiming and kidnapping people. Some of the Hilux vehicles and motorcycles he gave the bandits are actually used to ferry more kidnapped victims into the forest until ransom is paid. His poor leadership style and policy of appeasement are fuelling the security challenges facing the state.

While Matawalle has been soft on those committing mass murder and kidnappings in his state, he is ready to go to war with southerners over killings in Sasha in Ibadan and Imo. He boasts of the destructive capacity of the north to unleash violence on southerners and their businesses in the north. For those who might have missed it, here are excerpts from what Matawalle said in April: “Despite what northerners are experiencing today in many parts of the southwest and southeast in particular, all we hear is the conspiracy of silence from northern leaders and elites who are supposed to stand firm, in the manner in which other leaders of the south are doing even when they know that their people are at fault.

This must not continue.

“As northern leaders, our dignified silence in the face of constant provocation and assault, because of our desire for peace, must not be taken as a sign of weakness. Indeed no community or region has the monopoly of violence. If northerners and their means of livelihood will not be protected, accommodated and be dignified anywhere they choose to stay in any part of the south, southerners should not expect protection from the north as the north has more than what it takes to respond to any kind of aggression and hatred.

“We have seen the destruction, the killings and the devastation recently at Sasha market against northerners and their economic interests.

Properties worth billions of Naira were lost in addition to human lives, yet some leaders in the southwest are downplaying the atrocities committed or, worse still, justifying it. Some of them have shamefully gone to the extent of apportioning blame on the victims and casualties of their aggression. We will not take that any longer, as no human life is worthier than another.

No business interest is better than another. In fact, in a crisis situation, the south has more to lose in terms of its business interests in the north and the strategic nature they established themselves in the north than northerners living in the south.

NOTE: This piece is concluded in the online edition on www.thisdaylive.com

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