MONDAY 23TH AUGUST 2021

UN Report Exposes Secret Programme for Repentant Terrorists Intelligence agencies probe authenticity of recent surrender of 1, 200 insurgents How they’re given houses, paid monthly stipends Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja with agency reports A United Nations (UN) publication

has detailed a secret government programme tagged, Suhlu, designed to pull commanders of terrorists groups, including Boko

Haram and the Islamic State for West African Province (ISWAP) out of the forests, rehabilitate them and provide them a means of

livelihood.

The development is coming as intelligence agencies have begun investigation into the

recent surrender of over 1,200 terrorists and their families in the last three weeks.

The investigation, THISDAY

learnt, seeks to ascertain whether the surrender was genuine or a ploy to activate and coordinate Continued on page 56

Court Judgement: FIRS Insists on Collecting VAT, Warns Taxpayers against Default...Page 10 Monday 23 August, 2021 Vol 26. No 9632. Price: N250

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AMCON Gives Court Undertaking on NICON –Record of Court proceedings

What appears to this Court very disturbing is the contention that while the suits depicted in exhibits A, B, B1, D and D1 (i.e. suits in different Courts of record including the Federal High Court), the Defendants can still go ahead to disregard those Court processes and proceed to take actions that would have the effect of destroying the outcome of the various suits pending... –Court

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Group News Editor: Goddy Egene Email: Goddy.egene@thisdaylive.com, 0803 350 6821, 0809 7777 322

NEWS

Sukuk: FG Borrowed N350bn in Three Years for Road Projects, Says Jaiz Bank Backs CBN’s move against BDCs James Emejo in Abuja The Managing Director/Chief Executive, Jaiz Bank Plc, Mr. Hassan Usman, has disclosed

that the federal government utilised Islamic financing instruments, particularly the Sukuk, to raise over N350 billion within the past three years to execute

road projects across the country.

Speaking on Arise News Channel, a sister broadcast arm of THISDAY over the weekend, Usman also said that the bank

has been able to expand credit to the real sector of the economy, financing Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) as well as working with women, vulnerable

OBASANJO PAYS HOMAGE TO OLU OF WARRI… Former President Olusegun Obasanjo (left) paying homage to newly-installed Olu of Warri, Utienyinoritsetsola Emiko, Ogiame Atuwatse lll, at Ode Itsekiri, the ancestral home of Iwere people in Warri, Delta State... yesterday

groups and those at the bottom of the pyramid to deepen financial inclusion.

Also, commenting on the recent decision by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to work with commercial banks rather than Bureau De Change operators in administering foreign exchange to customers, the Jaiz Bank boss said the banks have the traditional mandate to engage in forex transaction.

He pointed out however, that the apex bank in a bid to bring forex services closer to customers decided to use the BDCs, a privilege which he said, had been abused by the latter.

On the growing appeal for ethical financing option, he said, "This mode of financing for public expenditure means you cannot divert the resources, you cannot use the monies raised except for that which you have intended. So it gives credence to the utilisation and also ensure that this resources are earmarked for specific developmental projects."

He said, "Now if you look the other side where you are looking at the SMEs, Islamic finance tends to be more risk bearing and sharing with the SMEs and so encouraging this type of financing or banking means that the SMEs sector can grow with the support of this type of financing which shares risks and reward of whatever business is done."

Usman, while backing the CBN's decision to engage the deposit money banks to undertake foreign exchange transactions going forward, said, "As you know, traditionally, it's the banks' job to provide all of these anyway but in other to bring this very close to the customer that's why the central bank was using the Bureau De change.

"But as you know, this process had been abused and it's becoming a very huge hole for leakages in the system. I think that the banks, if you watched over the last couple of years have been trying to be very responsible and very conscious of the need of the nation and banks have come to participate in every issue and every situation that requires our help under the leadership of the

Obasanjo, Okowa, Ibori, Others Attend Olu of Warri’s Coronation Thanksgiving Former president: I’ve seen the installation of three Itsekiri monarchs, I don’t pray to see a fourth one Sylvester Idowu in Warri Former President Olusegun Obasanjo and Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State yesterday led the pack of dignitaries that attended the coronation thanksgiving of His Royal Majesty, Ogiame Atuwatse III. Other top dignitaries at the church thanksgiving held at the Olu of Warri Palace were former Delta State governors, Chief James Ibori and Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan; former President, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor; Deputy Governor of Delta State Kingsley Otuaro; and Speaker, Delta State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori.

Ogiame Atuwatse III was

crowned as the 21st Olu of Warri on Saturday at Ode-Itsekiri, the ancestral home of the Itsekiri, in Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State.

Speaking at the church event, Obasanjo charged the Itsekiri monarch to work for the unity of his kingdom and Nigeria as a whole.

The former president said he was highly favoured to see the crowning of three Olus, stating, however, that he never wishes or prays to see the installation of another Olu of Warri.

He prayed for the new monarch, saying his reign would be long and peaceful, as well as bring unity and prosperity to Itsekiriland.

Obasanjo stated, “I am one of

the happiest on your installation because God has specially favoured me to see three Olus and I don’t pray to see a fourth one.

“I want to emphasise that the position you occupy today is given to you by God, but with your own people surrounding you, and you must always remember that.

“If God has given you a role to perform you will be offending God if you fail to perform that task.”

The former president said the title of Majesty carried a lot of responsibilities, stressing that the monarch has started well and would lead the Itsekiri people to a new dawn.

“Be very close to God in

whatever situation you may find yourself and God will surely make a way for you,” Obasanjo stated.

Okowa, in his remarks, congratulated the new Olu on his successful coronation, describing him as a man of peace. The governor urged the monarch to work for the unity of the Iwere nation.

Okowa said, “I congratulate you because I know that you are a man of peace and I know that the Lord God has chosen you to ascend the throne at this time. It is a time for healing and a time for your Majesty to ensure that the kingdom comes together.

“I know that some people can be very stubborn, but I urge you to extend the olive branch to them

and I know that it will be well with the Itsekiri people.

“You have a lot of work to do, not just in Itsekiri nation, but also in the entire nation.

“On behalf of the government and people of Delta, we congratulate you and the Itsekiri people on your successful coronation.

“We know that your reign will truly bring peace and development and I believe the Lord God has prepared you for a time like this and may the presence of God be with you on this throne.”

Guest Speaker, Apostle Tomi Arayomi, said God ordained the king to rule at this time, and God was willing to partner with people who were willing to partner with the spirit of God.

governor of the central bank and the bankers' committee."

He said further, "They tried to do almost everything that is possible to support the community and the government to deliver whether it is social services or some national issues to intervene where necessary.

"And this is also a case where the bankers' committee has taken this assignment very seriously not only to ensure that foreign exchange is available to customers but also to strengthen the system so that those who are gaming this system would be checked out and be dealt with.

"And so that the nation will be better for it because few people should not be gaming our system and making policy strategies of the fiscal and monetary authorities impossible."

He stressed that Islamic financing tends to be more involving and therefore ensures extra disciple in the utilisation of resources to guarantee delivery.

He said the financing instrument also further creates the right environment for Public-Private Partnerships where the private sector using Islamic banking products could work with the government to develop long term infrastructure as the profit sharing arrangement allows that to happen.

He added that since 2012 when the bank started operations, it has been able to grow its activities around financing the real sector of the economy as well as financing and nurturing new companies and industries amidst the challenging business environment.

He said, "Rather than a loan, we give them equity and share in their profits and the downside, if it happens, we also are ready to do that by controlling the risk environment and ensuring that people do not take advantage of that product with the type of discipline through the group arrangement."

The Jaiz Bank MD attributed the company's recent positive financial performances to its commitment to customer base to create value and, "share that value between us with very high level of equity around it and that makes them to patronise the organisation the more."

He said, "We've also tried to consolidate and expand to cover many areas of the commercial centers in Nigeria in addition to the fact that with the introduction of the Sukuk, our treasury function has improved because if you know that for more than six years of our life as a bank, we didn't have instruments to invest our surplus liquidity into until the Sukuk came in 2017."

He said through a number of initiatives, the bank had been able to grow profits at over 50 per cent annually as well as the size of the organisation which had grown at over 30 per cent within the last three to four years.

The Managing Director further stated that the bank grew its balance sheet by about 40 per cent in 2020 while its risk assets/ financing also increased by 54 per cent while customer deposits also grew by about 40 per cent.

He added that despite the adverse impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the bank experienced a relatively successful year adding that this positive trend had persisted.

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WE FEEL YOUR PAIN...

L-R: Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu; his Ogun State counterpart, Prince Dapo Abiodun and Chairman, Nigerian Governors' Forum/Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, during a condolence visit to the Abioduns on the demise of their patriarch, Dr. Emmanuel Abiodun, at their family house in Iperu, Ogun State... yesterday

PIA: It’s No Use Crying Over Spilled Milk, Ndoma-Egba Tells South-south Leaders Bassey Inyang in Calabar Former Leader of the Senate, Victor Ndoma-Egba, has told political leaders, stakeholders, and communities in the South-south that there is no point bemoaning the recently enacted Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021.

The new petroleum law, which allocated a paltry three per cent of petroleum proceeds to oil bearing communities in the South-south, has been rejected by the people.

But Ndoma-Egba said it was the failure of stakeholders in the region to present a common political front and goals that robbed them the opportunity to get a better bargain.

Speaking in an interview aired by a local radio station in Calabar, Cross River State, 92.3 Sparkling FM, at the weekend, Ndoma-Egba said it was wrong to single out

the National Assembly members for blame. He said it was the stakeholders and political class of the region that failed the people.

Ndoma-Egba, who was Leader of the Seventh Senate and onetime Chairman of the Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), said the signing of the Petroleum Industry Bill into law by President Muhammadu Buhari could be viewed as a major step towards attaining fiscal federalism in the country.

The former senate leader stated, "For me, the issue is what should be our final destination in our federalism and that is fiscal federalism in which every state should be in position to control her resources. That should be our ultimate decision.

"But, before we get there, we are looking at incremental improvement in our situation.

I have heard the arguments,

COVID-19: Obaseki Flags off Second Phase Vaccination Today The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, will today, Monday, August 23, 2021, flag off the second phase coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination exercise to inoculate more Edo citizens against the deadly virus.

The flag-off for the rollout of the vaccines follows the successful delivery of 76,712 doses of COVID-19 vaccines at the weekend. They include 65,016 doses of Moderna and 11,696 doses of AstraZeneca vaccines.

Speaking to journalists, Health Educator, Edo State Primary Healthcare Development Agency (ESPHDA), Mrs. Irene Uabor, charged residents to complement government’s effort at containing the pandemic by coming out and getting vaccinated against the virus.

According to her, “Governor Godwin Obaseki will tomorrow (today), Monday, August 23, 2021, flag-off the second phase vaccination exercise to enable

more residents take the vaccines to protect them from COVID-19.

“All is set for the rollout of the vaccines to all communities across the 18 local government areas in the state, as the government is committed to ensuring the health and safety of residents.

"We charge all those, who took the first dose of the vaccine to make themselves available for the booster dose, meant to provide full protection against the virus.

“We are also calling on everyone, who is yet to be vaccinated to come out and get the vaccines as they are safe, free and effective.

“Vaccination is very important in the war against this common enemy of mankind. We charge you to visit the nearest vaccination points in event centers, churches, mosques, banks, markets, private hospitals, parks, schools, primary healthcare centres, government hospitals, among others, to take your shots,” she charged.

some say it should have been three, five or 10 per cent maybe.

I am saying that if the host communities actually wanted a figure higher than three per cent, there should have been some stakeholders’ engagement prior to the passage of the bill between stakeholders of the region and their legislators in the National Assembly.

“If the stakeholders are dissatisfied with the three per cent that has been provided

for in the bill, then it is a clear evidence of the failure of politics in the region because for a sensitive issue like that there usually ought to have been a high level stakeholders’ engagement with the governors, National Assembly members, traditional rulers, major players in the region, and experts from that region on how to proceed.

“I saw no evidence of that kind of engagement, so it is just the question of the failure

of politics. The people of the region are crying over spilled milk. Steps ought to have been taken long before now to engage one another to ensure that their interest were protected but I did not see such engagement."

Ndoma-Egba also said, "You cannot just make scapegoat of the National Assembly, every leader of the region should share in the blame.

“In an example during my stay in the senate, when the NDDC

bill was passed, then President Olusegun Obasanjo withheld his assent to the bill, but the National Assembly overrode the president and passed it into law.

“But, that could happen because the lawmakers engaged stakeholders from every part of the country and that is how politics is played. The governors then were involved but I did not see that kind of serious engagement by stakeholders of the region this time around."

NNPC Ventures, Shipping, Refineries, Lead in Corporation's N56.1bn Loss in April Oil records longest deficit run since 2019 Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja Seven subsidiaries and business units of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) contributed a cumulative N56.177 billion to the national oil company's total losses in April this year, latest financial and operations data from the corporation have indicated.

A THISDAY review of the information released by the NNPC showed that the seven subsidiaries and units that posted losses included the NNPC Ventures, the Integrated Data Services Limited (IDSL), the Corporate Headquarters (CHQ), and the NNPC Shipping.

As expected, the Kaduna Refinery and Petrochemical Company (KRPC), the Port Harcourt Refining Company (PHRC) as well as Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company (WRPC) also recorded various losses during the month under consideration.

A breakdown of the losses for the month indicated that the headquarters had the largest share of N30.448 billion with expenses gulping N30.473 billion, while it generated a paltry sum of N25 million.

Whereas the three refineries, namely KPRC, PHRC and WRPC, which have not been operational for years, recorded expenses of N6.569 billion, N6.369 billion and N4.829

respectively, just as the shipping arm of the NNPC business recorded a deficit of N1.123 billion during the month.

In the same vein, NNPC ventures posted a loss of N4.684 billion while IDSL recorded N2.120 billion losses in the month under review.

NNPC Ventures is responsible for consolidating existing and new businesses across diverse industries for the NNPC with a mandate to incubate new investments as well as nurture the subsidiaries into viable long-term businesses that provide "best-in-class" services.

The IDSL is a subsidiary of the NNPC established in 1988 that provides hydrocarbon exploration services in the local and international oil and gas industry, including the provision of geophysical, geological, reservoir engineering and data storage and management services.

Similarly, NNPC Shipping participates in the marine transportation of crude oil and petroleum products along the deep sea, coastal and inland waterways; including ship management and marine supplies.

However, the NNPC report showed that the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC), National Engineering and Technical Company Limited (NETCO), Nigerian Gas Company (NGC) as well as its retail unit and Duke Oil

posted gains for the month under review.

Although the deficit recorded by the NNPC corporate headquarters remained unexplained, it was an increase on the loss by the cost centre, which was N21.822 in the previous month of March.

As the main operational centre for the country’s oil operations, NNPC headquarters generated no real revenue. It was also not clear if the corporation’s staff costs, administrative expenses, or support function it renders to its subsidiaries are incorporated into the headquarters' overheads, as it usually does not give such breakdowns in its reports.

But the report noted that NNPC G as and Power Investment Company (GPIC) set up in 2016 to promote gas utilisation, as a cleaner fuel is currently “consolidated and reported,” under the corporate headquarters operations.

The Group Managing Director of the corporation, Mallam Mele Kyari, had repeatedly assured that it would declare dividends to its shareholders, namely the federal, state and local governments by the year-end.

Meanwhile, crude oil closed last week with the longest losing streak since 2019, with West Texas Intermediate (WTI) futures ending the weekend’s session 2.2 per cent

lower, tumbling for a seventh day and extending the week’s decline to 8.9 per cent.

The losses recorded during the week were on the back of the COVID-19 pandemic which remains a threat to energy demand, especially across Asia, with key importer China restricting mobility to combat a recent outbreak.

The falling price of the commodity may also force the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and its allies to consider halting their next planned production increase during its coming September 1 meeting.

The pandemic continues to disrupt plans to restart economic activities, impeding mobility and demand for fuels from Australia, which has extended Sydney’s twomonth long lockdown to the United States, where more companies have announced plans to keep workers at home as the virus spreads.

Nigeria’s oil benchmark, Brent crude has also continued its downslide as it fell below $65 a barrel for the first time since May. WTI for September delivery fell $1.37 on the last day of trading, to settle at US$62.32 a barrel as Brent for October settlement declined US$1.27 to end the session at $65.18 a barrel, down for a seventh day, its longest run of losses since February 2018.

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YUSUF, WIFE ZAHRA HOST DIGNITARIES TO LUNCH...

L-R: Chief of Staff to the President, Professor. Ibrahim Gambari; Senate President; Dr. Ahmed Lawan, Emir of Bichi, Nasiru Ado Bayero; newly married couple, Mr.& Mrs Yusuf and Zahra Buhari; President Muhammadu Buhari; Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo SAN; Mallam Mamman Daura; and Secretary to Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, at a Luncheon hosted by the couple to PHOTO: STATE HOUSE conclude their wedding ceremony in Abuja...yesterday.

FIRS Insists on Collecting VAT, Warns Taxpayers against Default Ndubuisi Francis in Abuja The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has directed taxpayers in the country to continue to pay their Value Added Tax (VAT) to it or risk penalties for failing to do so.

The FIRS said it decided to issue the directive following numerous enquiries in view of a recent court ruling obtained by Rivers State at a Federal High Court, Port Harcourt, that states, and not the federal government, are constitutionally empowered to collect VAT. The FIRS, in a statement titled, “Rivers Judgment: FIRS Urges Taxpayers to Continue to Pay VAT,” argued that since it had already appealed the Rivers judgment seeking a stay of execution order, the status quo ante subsists on the VAT collection authority, hence taxpayers should continue to pay their VAT to it.

The statement issued by

the Director, Communications and Liaison Department, FIRS, Abdullahi Ismaila Ahmad said the attention of the Service had been drawn to the trending report that on August 19, 2021, the Rivers State government took steps to enact a VAT Law for the state following the Judgment of the

Federal High Court Port Harcourt Division on August 9, 2021 in Suit No: CS/149/2020.

It added: "The suit was about who has the constitutional duty for the collection of VAT and Personal income tax in Rivers State.

“We wish to inform the

general public that, before the above-mentioned steps taken by the Government of Rivers State, the FIRS had lodged an appeal against the above judgment and had also filed an application for stay of execution on the judgment as well asking the Court for an injunction pending determination

of the appeal.

“All parties to the suit are aware that both applications were heard on the 19th and 20th August 2021, and are awaiting the decision of the Court.

“Given that the Court of Appeal is yet to rule on the Appeal from the judgement of Federal High

Court and that the Federal High Court is yet to deliver a ruling on FIRS’s applications for stay of execution and injunction, members of the public are advised to continue to comply with their Value Added Tax obligations until the matter is resolved by the appellate courts," the FIRS said.

Buhari's Son, Yusuf, Wife, Host Dignitaries to Post-wedding Luncheon Deji Elumoye in Abuja Yusuf Buhari and his wife, Zahra, yesterday hosted dignitaries that included President Muhammadu Buhari; his wife, Aisha Buhari, and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, to a post-wedding luncheon in Abuja.

The colourful event, held at the Old Banquet Hall of the State House, was the concluding part of the marriage ceremony between the son of the president

and his wife which commenced on Friday.

Yusuf had taken Zahra, daughter of the Emir of Bichi, Nasiru Ado Bayero, as wife at an elaborate ceremony in Bichi, Kano State, Friday, playing host to a huge crowd of dignitaries, including President Buhari, the Vice President, governors, other politicians and business moguls from within and outside the country.

On Sunday, the couple held a

luncheon for yet another crowd of dignitaries, including some of those who attended the initial wedding ceremony in Bichi.

Although there was no official statement as at the time of filing this report, pictures from the State House Media Department revealed that the grand occasion had many dignitaries, including wives of foreign heads of state in attendance.

The guests at the luncheon included wife of the Vice

President, Dolapo Osinbajo; Senate President, Senator Ahmad Lawan; Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr. Boss Mustapha; Chief of Staff to the President, Professor Ibrahim Gambari; and father of the bride, Emir of Bichi, Nasiru Ado Bayero.

Governors in attendance included those of Imo, Hope Uzodinma; Kebbi, Atiku Bagudu; Kogi, Yahaya Bello; Plateau, Simon Lalong; and Ebonyi,

Dave Umahi.

The Group Managing-Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mele Kyari, was also not left out Other invitees included former First Ladies: Dame Patience Jonathan; Hajiya Turai Yar'Adua; Hajiya Maryam Abacha; First Lady of Niger Republic, Hadiza Ben Mabrouk; First Lady of Guinea Bissau, Dinisia Reis Embalo; wives of state governors, among other VIPs.

Lagos Insists on Reviewed Fees Fayemi, Sanwo-Olu, Mua'zu for Boarding Model Colleges Eulogise Abiodun's Late Father Lagos State Ministry of Education has appealed to some parents of Model College students to accept the upward review of the boarding fees, because it was in the overall interest of the students.

Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Folasade Adefisayo made the plea while addressing the concern of some parents on the review of the fees for boarding students in the 32 Model Colleges across the State from the 25,000 charged per term at N79.30k per meal for a student in the past 18years. Many parents have shown understanding in the matter.

The Ministry had meetings and engagements with the parents’ fora of the model colleges and upgraded schools, where reasons for the review were “clearly and unambiguously” stated.

It was agreed that the review of the fees became necessary due to economic realities viz-a-viz the current cost of food stuff, provision of energy, medical care and general school maintenance.

The commissioner hinted that as at June 2021, the market cost of commodities and school

maintenance services analysis showed that N125, 000 would be required to keep a student in a Model College with 80% of the cost to be expended on meals.

The resolve to peg the boarding fees at N50,000 per term was premised on the understanding that the state government would bear N75,000 subsidy per child; while the School would receive subventions per term to cater for the expected gaps.

According to the commissioner, feeding a child at N73.30k per meal was not healthy for growth hence the government could not be running a boarding system with same amount that has been in place for over 18 years.

It is worthy of mention that the government runs a free education policy, pays all public school students’ external examinations fees, provides and maintains infrastructure while parents of Model College students are only levied for the students’ feeding and maintenance.

Adefisayo, however, said the government would continue to subsidise the boarding fees to improve the quality of

education and the purpose of the establishment of Model Colleges and Upgraded Schools.

She spoke extensively on the major interventions and infrastructure upgrade in public schools by the government, noting that, not less than 1,097 projects have been executed in 970 schools; 87,000 units of dual composite furniture for 775 primary and secondary schools and other facilities have been provided.

There were also rehabilitation and new classrooms and hostels, security infrastructure, investment in technology for students, institutionalisation of a maintenance plan for schools and increase in school running cost, among others.

The commissioner, therefore, pleaded for understanding from parents, stressing that government’s decision was to give the students a better life while in school.

Her words: “We did not come up with this cost randomly, but it took a lot of thinking, brainstorming and economic analyses, with the aim of giving the children comfort.”

The Chairman, Nigeria Governors' Forum and Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, his Lagos State counterpart, Babajide Sanwo-Olu and former governor of Bauchi State, Adamu Mua'zu, have described the late father of the Ogun State governor, Dapo Abiodun, as a man who lived an excellent and a sacrificial life.

They also submitted that Pa Emmanuel Abiodun used the teaching profession to produce champions for the country.

The trio gave this tributes in their separate remarks, when they paid condolence visits to Abiodun on the demise of his father at the Iperu-Remo Family House of the governor, on Sunday.

Fayemi noted that Pa Emmanuel Abiodun played important part in the education development in the Western Region and Ekiti State in particular, as a teacher at the Christ School, Ado-Ekiti, describing the deceased as a thorough bred teaching professional, who tutored people to become champions in their chosen fields of endeavours.

"When we look back to what Baba achieved in his life time, we cannot be sad, no reason to be sad. We are thankful to God that he lived well, served well and

fought good fights, won many battles and he did his own on mother earth before transiting to God's bossom, and for that, we have every reason to celebrate him.

"He taught many people, who have become champions in their chosen fields. We thank God for the life of excellence, service and sacrifice," Fayemi stated.

He said though nobody, no matter how old, would cherish the departure of a loved one, the fact that Pa Abiodun left a legacy called for celebration.

He, therefore, urged the people to reflect on their lives on what would be said of them after their departure. Sanwo-Olu too noted that Pa Abiodun was a role model, a disciplinarian, who used his teaching profession to impact positively on the lives of so many people.

He said that though he was no more, it was imperative for those he left behind to appreciate God for what He used the deceased to achieve, declaring: "Pa Abiodun lived a good life and his memories will linger for a long time".

On his part, Mua'zu, described the deceased as a man, who did his best for the people, his environment and beyond, adding

that he was a father of all and a good teacher to those who had the privilege of being his students.

"I am not here to share the sadness or mourn about the death of Baba. I am here to celebrate his death because his life is worthy of emulation. He lived his life to the fullest and part of what he had done is to raise this young and dynamic man God has chosen to be the governor despite all the obstacles," Mua'zu said.

While urging the governor and his family to be happy because his father lived an impactful life, Muazu charged Abiodun to work harder as he was chosen by God to work for the people.

Abiodun, who responded on behalf of the family, said his father was a great teacher, who used the teaching profession to reshape the society by producing eminent personalities, who have been making positive impact in the country.

He expressed his gratitude to God for granting him the grace to survive his father, whom he noted was a humble and dedicated family man that contributed his modest quota to the development of not only his immediate family, but his community.

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Bandits Release 15 Kaduna Baptist Students, 63 Others Still in Captivity Gunmen Kill another 9 in Ma-Dooh community

John Shiklam in Kaduna

Bandits, yesterday, released 15 students of the Bethel Baptist High School, Damishi, Kaduna, while still keeping with them, 63 other victims.

President of the Nigerian Baptist Convention, Rev. Israel Akanji, however, confirmed the development yesterday in an interview with journalists in Kaduna, shortly after reuniting the 15 students with their parents at a brief event, which held at the Secretariat of the Kaduna Baptist Conference.

Unfortunately, this happened about the same time nine people were killed in an attack on Ma-Dooh community, Atyap Chiefdom in Zangon Kataf Local Government Area of Kaduna State by gunmen suspected to be Fulani herdsmen.

On July 5, 2021, bandits invaded the school and abducted 121 of the students and on the 25of the same month, they released 28 of the students after the parents allegedly paid a ransom of N100m

to release all of them.

However, a total of 15 of the students escaped from captivity in various batches at different times.

The bandits were said to have collected the money but reneged on their promise to release all the students, instead, promised to release them in batches.

The bandits were said to have demanded for a fresh ransom of N80 million for the release of the remaining students.

Sources claimed that N50 million was paid after series of negotiations, but again, the bandits reneged on their promised again, releasing only 15 students after collecting the money.

The children were looking frail, weak and malnourished as they were reunited with their parents amid tears.

The parents were prevented from speaking with journalists by officials of the Baptist church.

Akanji said he had expected freedom for all the students but the bandits released only 15 of them.

14.3 Million Nigerians Engage in Drug Abuse, Says FG Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja Minister of State for Health, Dr. Olorunnimbe Mamora, says the menace of drug abuse has reached an alarming proportion in the country and there is need for concerted effort by all Nigerians to tackle the problem.

Quoting the 2018 National Survey on Drug Use and Health estimates, Momora said the prevalence of drug usage in Nigeria stood at 14.4 per cent, which was estimated at 14.3 million people between the ages of 15 and 64 years.

The minister gave the health statistics at the weekend in Abuja during a media briefing on the dangers of non-medical use of Opioid pharmaceuticals and other substances of abuse. He said the figure was about three times more than the 2017 global prevalence of 5.6 per cent among the adult population.

According to the 2015 World Health Organisation (WHO) estimate, psychoactive drug use was responsible for more than 450,000 deaths yearly. WHO also stated that the drug-attributable disease burden accounted for about 1.5 per cent of the global burden of disease.

It noted that injection drug use (IDU) accounted for an estimated 30 per cent of new HIV infections outside subSaharan Africa and contributed significantly to the epidemics of hepatitis B and C in all regions of the world.

While lamenting the situation in the country, Mamora said drug trafficking and illicit drug use were not only a threat to security and governance, as well as the health of citizens.

The minister said, "The menace of drug abuse has reached an epidemic proportion and, thus, requires concerted efforts by all.

Drug trafficking and use are not only a threat to security, governance and development of a nation but also to the health of its citizenry.

"Nigeria is not immune to the menace of drug trafficking and abuse. The 2018 National Survey on Drug Use and Health estimates the prevalence of drug use in Nigeria at 14.4 per cent, corresponding to 14.3 million

people between the ages of 15 and 64.

“This is about three times more than the 2017 global prevalence of 5.6 per cent among the adult population."

Mamora said though law enforcement and sanctions played a key role in reducing availability and accessibility of illicit drugs and their use, such measures should be balanced with adequate drug demand reduction strategies.

He suggested the adoption of a holistic and integrated approach, with equal attention being paid to drug supply and demand reduction, as the way forward.

Mamora said the measure was in line with the spirit of the three International Conventions on drug control, adding that the conventions were established to protect human health by preventing drug abuse and dependence and ensuring access to controlled medicines for medical and scientific purposes only.

He expressed gratitude to God for the release of the children, adding that he was hopeful that God would bring out the remaining 63 students.

“We have just gathered today to give thanks to the Almighty God for the release of these 15 children. Although the number was smaller than what we were expecting, because we had 78 children out there. They had earlier given us 15, that means 63 to come.

“But in everything God said we should give thanks and we are giving thanks for what he has done. We are trusting that the same God, who has brought this 15 out, is going to help us to receive the other 63. We have great hope in God; we will keep praying and asking God for help,” Akanji said.

But in a separate interview with news men, President of the Kaduna Baptist Conference and proprietor of the school, Rev. Ishaya Jangado, clarified the mixed up in the number of students being held by the bandits.

Jangado said, “In-between the time, 28 of the students were released on July 25 to now, some

of them escaped. That is why the figures did not tally with what we earlier told you earlier.”

He declined to comment on how much ransom was paid, saying the bandits asked for something.

“I don't know anything about that (ransom), but what I know is that the bandits are asking us to give them something. We want to thank God, well wishers, relatives and the church of God, who actually have been supporting to ensure that our children are released,” Jangado said.

Asked whether the Kaduna State government has been assisting in ensuring the release of the children, Jangado said, “We want to thank God for what God is using our government to do.

We want to pray that God will give them the grace to work very hard to see how we can be able to recover all children”.

Hopes were initially high that the students might be rescued following the ongoing security operations against bandits and kidnappers terrorising the state.

But, it was learnt that the bandits might have been using the students as shield to protect

themselves against onslaught from the security operatives.

Meanwhile, on the fresh attack on. Ma-Dooh, the Kaduna State Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday, where he claimed nine people were killed.

But sources in the community said 15 people were killed while 10 others were injured with several houses burnt by the invaders.

A resident of the community said the gunmen stormed the village at about 11pm on Saturday night and unleashed mayhem on residents.

“Most of us had to run to the bushes for our dear lives and we slept there till the next day,” he said.

Aruwan, however, said nine corpses were recovered in the community following the attack.

The commissioner said troops of “Operation Safe Haven” also rescued 12 persons, who were fleeing from the attack.

“This was reported to the Kaduna State Government by troops of Operation Safe Haven, who responded to distress calls and mobilised to the area.

“The assailants fled on sighting the troops. Nine corpses have been recovered so far following a search of the village,” he said.

The commissioner listed those killed as Moses Dangana, Mary Dangana, Jummai Dangana, Jerry James, Happy James, Endurance Stephen, Comfort Emmanuel, Jummai Tanko and Mary Clement.

He added that one Magdalene Dangoma, sustained gunshot injuries and was receiving treatment in the hospital, including two houses burnt in the attack.

The statement said, the “Acting Governor Dr. Hadiza Balarabe received the reports with sadness, and condemned the recent spate of devastating attacks in the area.

“She prayed for the repose of the souls of the deceased, and sent condolences to their families.

The Acting Governor wished the injured resident a quick recovery, and urged security agencies to sustain diligent investigations into the attack.”

The commissioner said troops were still carrying out search and rescue operations and would make public the exact number of casualties.

ALEGE PRESENTS LETTER OF CREDENCE TO UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT… President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Nigeria's Ambassador to Ukraine, Amb. Shina Alege, during his presentation of PHOTO: Nigerian Embassy in Ukraine Letter of Credence to the President of. Ukraine… on Thursday.

Villagers Flee as Bandits Kill 18, Burnt Houses in Katsina Call for my resignation is absurd, says Masari Francis Sardauna in Katsina Gunmen suspected to be bandits and rode on motorcycles launched a fresh onslaught on Duba village in Batsari Local Government Area of Katsina State, killing no fewer than 18 persons, including children and women.

THISDAY reliably gathered that many other residents sustained gunshot wounds in the incident that lasted from 9pm to 10:45pm on Saturday, while many survivors have fled the village.

This, however, came at the time Governor Aminu Bello Masari of the state, has described those calling for his resignation over his recent call on residents of the state to acquire armsand defend themselves as absurd.

But on the new attacks, investigations have further revealed that the bandits numbering over 300, and armed with sophisticated weapons including anti-aircraft launchers and GMP machine guns, set many houses, shops

and foodstuffs ablaze during the invasion.

A vigilante member, who craved anonymity, told THISDAY in a telephone interview on Sunday that the hoodlums killed 18 people on the spot and injured scores in the village.

He said: "Yesterday (Saturday) over 300 bandits armed with sophisticated weapons including anti-aircraft launchers and GMP machine guns attacked our village (Duba) and killed 18 persons.

“They (bandits) injured more than 10 people, including children and women, who were sleeping when the bandits arrived the village. Those killed were burried on Sunday according to Islamic rites".

The source noted that hundreds of residents, mostly women and children, who survived the deadly invasion, had fled the village to Batsari, the headquarters of Batsari Local Government Area for fear of a reoccurrence.

The Katsina State Police Public

Relations Officer, Gambo Isah, however, told journalists that the bandits killed only 12 people and injured six others in the community.

He explained that the joint team of the police and the military went to the village but the bandits retreated to the forest by the time the security personnel arrived the scene.

Isah, a Superintendent of Police said, "The bandits, numbering over three hundred and armed with sophisticated weapons including GMP machine guns and antiaircraft launchers stormed the village (Duba) at 20.45 p.m on Saturday.

"They (bandits) ransacked houses and looted shops. They also killed 12 people and injured six others.

Our officers are still combing the forest with a view to finding the hoodlums."

But, Masari, in a statement by his Director-General on Media, Abdu Labaran Malumfashi, said security was on the exclusive list of the Nigerian Constitution, which

means it wasexclusively a federal government affair.

The governor was reacting to resignation calls by the Katsina State chapter of the Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state.

The statement read: "In matters of security, a governor is the Chief Security Officer of his state only in name, because the various security chiefs working in the state take orders not from him, but from their superiors in Abuja.

"The only things they take from governors are the financial and material assistance (both solicited and unsolicited), which they extend to the security institutions in the states.

"The massive increase in the number of security formations in Katsina State, and the North West in general, was due to the dogged commitment and determination of Governor Masari to see to the successful prosecution of the war against banditry.

"As constitutionally elected office holders, Governors do not succumb to the intimidation of some self-serving disgruntled elements, masquerading as human rights campaigners by resigning.

"If they are found wanting in the discharge of their responsibilities, the Nigerian Constitution has provided the protocols for easing them out of office, and no house of assembly is in the dark about that.

"Masari is not the first Governor to make the suggestion. In states where the citizens do not politicise security issues, they rally round their leaders who had similarly admonished their people.

"Therefore, to suggest that Governor Masari should resign for his patriotic candor and courage in admonishing his people to wake up and resist the bandits by acquiring arms for self defence, betrays a sheer lack of the understanding of the letter and spirit as well as the workings of the Nigerian Constitution, or a motive which is anything but altruistic."

MONDAY AUGUST 23, 2021 • T H I S D AY

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T H I S D AY • MONDAY, AUGUST 23, 2021

COMMENT

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

ZAMBIA’S HISTORIC YOUTH-DRIVEN VOTE The Zambia election holds lessons for Nigeria, writes Matthew Ayibakuro

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ast week, Zambians elected a new President in a historic vote. Opposition leader Hakainde Hichilema won by a landslide against the incumbent, Edgar Lungu, who was seeking a second term. The margin was a massive 2.8 million to 1.8 million votes. Voter turnout at the polls was also at a historic high level at 70 percent; the highest since the country held its first multiparty elections in 1991.

Arguably the most important headline from the elections, however, was the participation of young people.

This was an election where, as the BBC put it, “young voters held the cards”. With over half of the country’s seven million registered voters being under the age of 35, there are no extra points for guessing the significance of the role of young people in the outcome of the election.

I was, however, interested in understanding what informed the central role of the youth vote in Zambia, and what lessons could be drawn for Nigeria? It is, of course, not possible to attribute the outcome of an election to just one particular factor, but as I spoke with Chisala, my friend from Zambia, there were clear indications and parallels for Nigeria.

Firstly, the data showed that this election was held against the backdrop of enormous economic challenges. Zambia plunged into recession last year from the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Unemployment had risen to 12.17 percent in 2020, meaning that one in five youth in the country were without jobs. There is high inflation with a resultant rapid increase in the cost of living. The country’s rising debt burden – mainly used to finance infrastructure projects – also meant that it became the first African country to default on a loan during the pandemic.

Despite Zambia being a relatively small country in terms of population compared to Nigeria, one could easily substitute the name Zambia for Nigeria and change the figures for most of those indicators without noticing a difference in the economic trends highlighted above. In some cases, they are actually worse for Nigeria.

So young people came out en masse and voted for a President with a sound economic background who provided them the best chance of addressing the massive economic challenges that the country faces. It was, however, not just the problems, but rather the determination to take action to bring about a democratic solution to these problems that led to the historic youth-led vote in Zambia.

ZAMBIA PROVIDES A TIMELY AND MUCHNEEDED INSPIRATION TO GO ONE STEP FURTHER AND ENGENDERS THE CHANGE THAT YOUNG PEOPLE IN NIGERIA NEED AND DESERVE

Some of these actions include the high number of young people that registered to vote at the polls, the massive turnout at the polls as highlighted above, the use of social media to mobilise, despite attempts by the government to restrict same, especially on election day and a simple determination to engender change that would have practical impact on their lives.

As youth across Nigeria struggle to keep alive the spirit and generational drive for change that underpinned the EndSARS movement of 2020, the question of the impact that youth action and participation would have on the 2023 general elections remain up in the air.

One thing is clear though – every well-meaning and conscious Nigerian youth must be jealous of the feat of our Zambian counterparts. The question is if we are ready to go beyond the distant admiration and sense of hope we feel reading the news from Zambia and decide to take action.

What constitutes action in this context is obvious – (a) Participate in INEC’s ongoing Continuous Voter Registration exercise by registering to vote; (b) Register as members of political parties and/or create/join movements that would mobilise around issues of interest to young people and campaign in the build up to the elections; (c) Avoid being caught up in the regional and ethnic divides and debates that have inhibited young people across the country from collectively mobilising for change – focus on issues; (d) Support and mobllise for a candidate that can address Nigeria’s socio-economic challenges; and finally, (e) Come out on the day of elections and vote.

Some persons believe that the EndSARS movement came along too soon and would have been more impactful if it took place closer to the 2023 polls. Others would point to myriad issues that would prevent young people in Nigeria from mobilising collectively across the country to bring about democratic change.

These are all good points, but the EndSARS movement also demonstrated the ability of young people to mobilise above and beyond all these issues. And whilst it may seem like much of the movement has fizzled out, our counterparts in Zambia provide a timely and much-needed inspiration to go one step further and engender the change that young people in Nigeria need and deserve.

So, over to you.

Dr Ayibakuro, a Governance Expert, is a lecturer, Niger Delta University

ON KWARA BOND AND OTHER ISSUES Rafiu Ajakaye writes that Kwara’s N35bn private bond is legal, and one of the lowest

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y growing up as a teenager was filled with privileged exposures to interesting scholars like Sheikh Muyideen Ajani Bello, a witty and fiery Muslim preacher then based in Kano. Quoting another scholar, I heard him categorise humans into four groups: those who know and know that they know; those who know but often forget that they know; those who do not know and they readily admit that they do not know; and those who do not know and do not admit that they do not know. He called the fourth category a bunch of perpetual fools who should be cautioned or lectured. Everyday interaction has revealed this to be true.

A certain Mr. Kayode Thomas, a rabid antagonist of the administration, has recently published an article in which he claimed that the ‘N35bn bond’ taken by the administration is an exercise in executive lawlessness. What I see in Thomas’s article are a combination of mischief, ignorance, and what I call the divine rights of the king syndrome. The latter in this context means that he sees himself as a kingmaker whose words are laws and who possesses all the knowledge to fix Kwara from its rock bottom position in basic ratings of human capital development in 2019 to the Disney Land in just two years. It is not our attitude to respond to every opinion, grandstanding, or postulations as that may mean any of three things on our part: lack of focus, joblessness, or a tendency to want to read just sweet things about us. None of these defines the Governor or his administration. We are not jobless. We remain focused as ever! And we are not ashamed to admit our imperfections nor are we deaf to Kwarans, our employers, pointing out to us what we should do better next time. For this reason, I will restrict myself to responding only to a few of his claims that needed clarifications.

He gratuitously claimed that the ‘norm is for bonds to be issued by Security and Exchange Commission (SEC) and Nigeria Stock Exchange but neither was part of this arrangement’. Ignorance.

Bond issuance may take two broad forms. Apart from the one issued by SEC and NSE, there is

also the private bond. No fewer than 10 states — governed by either PDP or APC — have accessed private bonds over the past three years. Kwara’s N35bn private bond is one of the lowest. Private bond issuance is ethical, legal, and faster as it bypasses certain bureaucratic niceties. The Kwara bond followed every legal step there is, such as cabinet and legislative approvals. For emphasis, ‘public hearing’ is not a legal requirement in bond issuance. The Debt Management Office (DMO) has not only certified the state as financially healthy to take N35bn or more, it has also green-lighted the procedures so far taken by the government. The man again displayed ignorance when he said that some of the projects listed in the budget are also to be funded with the bond. I failed to see any contradiction in it, particularly when he admitted that provisions made for the said projects in the budget are way below the cost of the projects. For instance, only N100m was earmarked for the innovation hub in the budget, whereas the total project cost is N1.1bn. What is the fuss if the bond will complete the huge facility with a balance of N1bn as would be accommodated in the supplementary budget?

Indeed, Kwara got parliamentary approval to raise N35bn. However, it has only raised N27bn at the extant 15% market rate.

A few concerns have been raised on the bond.

That included the viability to pay back. Kwara is solvent and can easily pay back. That is the expert conclusion of the DMO, the national statutory body that regulates lending by the national and subnational governments in Nigeria. The administration has cut waste and cannot in good conscience be accused of profligacy. It has earned itself various cognomen for ending the corrupt, unproductive patronage system of the past. Bond redemption will take seven long years, charged to the state’s monthly allocation from the federal government. Bolstered by internal revenue, the plan is such that no basic commitment of the government will be affected.

Some persons have also said the N35bn is a tad much. Measured against infrastructural deficits in Kwara, it is not. As of 2016, the deficits were valued at N256bn. This valuation, ironically, was

done by the government peopled by members of the current opposition who now write petitions to block the bond. Thomas is a friend of that lacklustre administration. Everyone complains that Kwara remains hugely dependent on handouts from the centre. But are there alternatives to changing that status except enough resources go into infrastructural development and creating economic centres? No. We must spend our way to unlocking the Kwara potential as the southernmost northern state. This is exactly what the administration seeks to do with the bond. The bond will fund some ongoing projects to completion, and do many more. These projects include the abandoned Kwara State University Campuses at Osi (Kwara South) and Ilesha Baruba (Kwara North); the Ilesha Gwanara Road; and a few others. These are projects inherited from the past administration. Had the administration chosen the self-serving post-2003 path of governance in the state, it will simply abandon those projects and conceive its own for politics. But it is not doing that because the funds already sunk into them came from the public purse. This administration has a reputation of attending to abandoned projects in the interest of the people who brought it to power. If that does not fit into the Otoge revolution, then nothing else should.

Kwara is essentially an agrarian state. Atop the blessing of rich arable lands is its rich tourism potentials. Kwara is home to the Owu Fall, the highest waterfall in West Africa. But it is inaccessible to date.

Count the economic loss. The bond will part-fund the road leading to this treasure. Job-creating projects like garment factory, innovation hub, visual arts centre, film factory, and agroprocessing firms, spread across the state, will also be funded. The government will also construct a flyover to decongest the intractable traffic along the densely populated Tanke axis in Ilorin, along with other roads that would boost economic activities. The Gbugbu international market in Kwara North will receive a fair chunk of the bond to attain its potentials as a melting pot for continental trade.

Delving into other issues he raised, Mr. Thomas is out of touch with his own native Offa town.

How do you argue with such a person? He said the

administration has not done anything at the iconic Offa Grammar School, over a year after it reportedly concluded contractual agreements. Had he upheld the basic tenet of journalism of ‘clarify when in doubt’, he would have known that the people of Offa requested the government to rehabilitate other schools in the town because the OGS is a beneficiary of some communal and CBN interventions that are underway. They understandably did not want a duplication of efforts. Government yielded to that request and has instead invested the resources meant for comprehensive renovation of OGS in eight schools in the community. These are Iyeru Grammar School; Community Secondary School; Government Day Secondary School; Government Secondary School; Nawairudeen Grammar School; Anglican College of Commerce; Moremi High School; and Okin High School.

By every fair standard, the Otoge administration has changed the story of Kwara for good. “Too much had gone wrong with Britain (read Kwara) for it all to be put right in a matter of few years,” a former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher once remarked. With various rehabilitation and remodelling works ongoing across 600 schools, 4,701 competent teachers recruited in the most transparent and apolitical process, first-of-its-kind innovation hub and visual arts centre under construction, and high-end facilities installed and historic accreditation secured for the state’s premier general hospital, Kwara is ticking the right boxes in basic education, healthcare, agric, fair, equitable and apolitical access to public-funded programmes, gender inclusion and youths empowerment, and improved access to agrarian communities. The administration has recorded great feats never seen in Kwara since its creation, a couple of which had been documented in previous communications on the achievements of the government. There is no local government without a clear presence of the new administration. In a matter of months, the new Ilorin master plan will be ready — the second since 1970s. A 10-year development blueprint will be launched soon.

Ajakaye is the CPS to the Governor of Kwara State

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T H I S D AY • MONDAY, AUGUST 23, 2021

EDITORIAL

THE N4.973 TRILLION AUDIT QUERY Will this query make any difference?

T

he latest financial report of the federal government by the Office of the AuditorGeneral of the Federation has further reinforced the perception that many of our critical agencies and institutions are so well-heeled in unwholesome practices that they no longer abide by any fiscal rules. From the audit carried out on the 2019 federal government consolidated financial statement, unsubstantiated balances amounting to N4.973 trillion were observed. That sum, according to the report submitted to the Senate on Thursday by the Auditor-General of the Federation, Adolphus Aghughu, far exceeded the ‘materiality level’ of N89.34 billion set for the audit.

No matter the gloss the federal government may want to put on it, this is a serious indictment on the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari that came to power with a pledge to instil accountability and transparency in the public arena. More disturbing is that this has become a familiar story in the past few years. In August 2019, for instance, the same office stated that the ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) ONCE RULES ARE without audited reports IGNORED, ALL OTHER had increased from 148 in 2014 to 323 in 2018.

TEMPLATES FOR That report listed the TRANSPARENCY AND Economic and Financial ACCOUNTABILITY LOSE Crimes Commission THEIR VALIDITY (EFCC) established to fight graft as one of the agencies with “doubtful cash balance.”

Unfortunately, such allegations of financial infractions in our public sector have become so rife that Nigerians hardly care anymore. Many of the MDAs are riddled with financial wrongdoings as they breach accounting procedures with impunity. Every year, the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation cites widespread sharp practices ranging from irregular expenditures to failure to surrender surplus revenues to the treasury, all running into billions of naira.

Other infractions include details of unauthorised deductions

Letters to the Editor

from money due to the federation account by revenue collecting agencies, irregularities in payment and expenditure, irregularities in contract award and execution.

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T H I S DAY EDITOR SHAKA MOMODU DEPUTY EDITOR WALE OLALEYE, OBINNA CHIMA MANAGING DIRECTOR ENIOLA BELLO DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR ISRAEL IWEGBU CHAIRMAN EDITORIAL BOARD OLUSEGUN ADENIYI EDITOR NATION’S CAPITAL IYOBOSA UWUGIAREN MANAGING EDITOR BOLAJI ADEBIYI THE OMBUDSMAN KAYODE KOMOLAFE

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WIKE, VAT AND TRUE FEDERALISM “Boldness is not second to everyone, it is intentionality.”

— Janna Cachola

H

istory is being made in Rivers State. There is a bold move by the state government at challenging the retrogressive status quo of the federation.

Nigeria’s political structure is not only lopsidedly skewed against the states but has become a clog on the nation’s wheel of progress. Like local government areas, the states are mere appendages of the behemoth centre—yet we call this country “Federal Republic of Nigeria”.

The rattling question is: what is federal about a country structured along unitary system by respective military dictatorships?

In the last few years, there had been agitations for a restructured Nigeria where states will have the needed autonomy to determine and unleash their socio-political cum economic potential.

Failure to make any meaningful progress in the direction of restructuring, in the last few years, has birthed agitations for self-determination, especially in southern Nigeria. Restructuring advocates are opposed to separatist campaigners calling for balkanization of the country. While true federalists believe that Nigeria can still be salvaged via restructuring, self-determination proponents have been pummeling them for not walking their talk.

Rivers State government has changed the game. Age-longed problems cannot be solved by persistently talking about them without action. There comes a time in history when courageous and well-calculated actions are left to do the talking because all talk and no action makes someone a rabble-rouser. Rivers State decided to confront the hydra-headed monster of unitary structure that made states subservient to the center.

t should worry President Buhari that there are mounting instances of tardiness on issues of transparency and accountability in public office and institutions of government under his watch. Perhaps more frustrating is that previously identified lapses have not been adequately addressed leading to a situation of repeated violations. So, we ask: will the present query make any difference? Will it curb the recklessness on constant display in every arm of government?

As we previously pointed out, all the raging issues of deficits of enlightened governance and lack of fidelity to rudimentary public morality run counter to the avowed commitment of the Buhari administration to right the wrongs of our past. The administration’s record on corruption in the last six years cannot, by any stretch of imagination, be said to be better than that of its predecessors. Some will in fact wager that it is far worse. Having failed to grasp the meaning of corruption, fighting it has become a hollow ritual to our collective shame as a nation.

While audit queries do not necessarily impute that money has been stolen, the essence of audit is to determine whether financial reports are fairly stated, or breach accepted standards. The goal is to make those accountable to accept responsibility. Sadly, a combination of weak and compromised institutions has allowed the culture of impunity to thrive. Besides, that accountability does not score high in the Nigerian public sector is underscored by Aghughu’s lamentation that his office has practically been crippled hence cannot effectively perform its statutory oversight function of detecting mismanagement of public funds by the MDAs. With the damning audit reports, the link between abuse of, or general disregard for, extant rules and corruption cannot be made clearer. Once rules are ignored, as it is evident in the annual reports by the auditor general, all other templates for transparency and accountability lose their validity.

The bone of the contention is Value Added Tax (VAT).

Recently, Rivers State government went to court to challenge federal government’s collection of VAT via Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS). It argued that FIRS did not have the constitutional right to collect VAT and Personal Income Tax (PIT) on behalf of local governments, states and federal government. It advocated that states should be allowed to collect VAT—and not federal government. On August 9, Justice Stephen Pam of Federal High Court, Rivers State, ordered the tax agency of the FG, the FIRS and the Attorney General of the Federation, from collecting VAT and Personal Income Tax (PIT) from residents of Rivers State. Federal Government via FIRS fumed and vowed to appeal the judgement.

Rivers State government did not stop there, it ensured that the State Assembly legislated on it through a bill, which was swiftly signed into law on August 19, 2021, as Value Added Tax Law No. 4 of 2024 by the man behind the wheels—Governor Nyesom Wike. I doff my cap for this courageous move of Rivers State government.

There are insinuations in the media that FIRS is lobbying National Assembly to put VAT in the exclusive list, in order to legitimate its illegality—to continue the exploitation, and but this move is dead on arrival. Rivers State government and others will not allow this to happen.

Governor Wike has demystified the bogus term called restructuring cum true federalism. It is not rocket science. ingehas proved that easiest way to handle mountainous challenge is by compartmentalising it. My own definition of restructuring of which Governor Wike has accentuated, is using legitimate avenues to get back your resources and power that were illegally taken away by military regimes.

Chidiebere Nwobodo, Abuja

PRESIDENT BUHARI AND GRAZING ROUTES

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eventeen governors of states in the southernmost half of Nigeria joined up to express disdain for roving and deadly free-ranging by jihadi Fulani cattlemen and these governors expressed their desire to encourage modern animal husbandry methods in order to protect their vulnerable farming communities located in the midst of the bush from terror

attacks.

Note the term “southernmost,” carefully chosen herein to bring attention to the geographical fact that “South Nigeria” is the contiguous lower-half landmass of present-day Nigerian if a line of latitude is drawn to bisect it at its central median locator, thereby positioning most of Niger State, the southern halves of Kaduna and Bauchi States, all of Plateau, Benue, Taraba, Nasarawa, the FCT, Kogi, and a good chunk of Adamawa State in this “South Nigeria.”

The governors of these 17 states are representatives of a huge chunk of the human-mass that constitute the Nigerian nation, thus they must be hearken to; after all, on local security issues, they are the designated “Chief Security Officers.” Now, it becomes real troubling that President Muhammadu Buhari would simply dismiss the informed-decision concerns of these governors with respect to rampaging foreign killer Fulani hordes and just go ahead to sign papers that signals the expropriation of great swaths of landholdings in some 25 constituent states of Nigeria and designate these real-estates as “grazing reserves” that have been “encroached” upon by agrarian natives who must quit to let the foreign Fulani marauders settle in. Isn’t this true-life situation stranger than fiction? This is the true state of Nigeria in the month of August of the year 2021.

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

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POLITICS

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

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

2023: How Will PIA Shape Elections in Niger Delta?

Will voters in the Niger Delta sanction the All Progressives Congress and its candidates in the 2023 national elections, given their take on many sensitive issues affecting the region? Nseobong Okon-Ekong asks

Lawan

Buhari

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ore circumstantial evidence are emerging that the outcome of the 2023 national elections in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria may be influenced by perception arising from the Petroleum Industry Act recently signed by President Muhammadu Buhari.

The Petroleum Industry Act provides legal, governance, regulatory and fiscal framework for the Nigerian petroleum industry, the development of host communities, and related matters.

The Senate had passed the PIB on July 15, 2021, while the House of Representatives did same on July 16, thus ending a long wait since early 2000s, and notching another high for the Buhari administration.

However, overwhelming opinion by stakeholders and influential individuals from the oil-rich states have largely criticised the President for enacting the law while divergent views were being canvassed on some of the details of the law, particularly the vexatious issue of three percent for host communities. The Niger Delta region is loosely composed of nine states; Abia, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo, Imo, Ondo and Rivers. In this regard, it cuts across two of the six geopolitical zones; namely, the South-east and the South-south. But in

the strict sense, there are five Niger Delta states, which includes Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta and Rivers.

Until Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River State switched political party loyalty from the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling party at the centre, the All Progressives Congress (APC), the APC was not in control of any state in the Niger-Delta/Southsouth. Last year, Edo, where the APC had a foothold was lost to the PDP when Governor Godwin Obaseki defected to the PDP. As things stand currently, President Buhari’s APC has only Cross River

State in its kitty; in the South-south region.

Cross River and Ijaw Youths Disappointed One of the supposed inducements that attracted Ayade to the APC was the promise of a more rewarding relationship with the government at the centre. Citizens of Cross River are beginning to ask what use their governor’s friendship with the Federal Government is, if any.

Ayade himself has not hidden his anger at how things have turned out. He asserted that the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) recently signed into law by President Muhammadu

The 2023 national elections may be decided on four important issues which also defined the 2019 Election. They are insecurity, the economy, corruption and the quest for a peoples constitution, which will define the relationship between the central government and the subnational governments; that is, the states

Gbajabiamila

Sylva

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MONDAY DISCOURSE

Okowa

Buhari seeks to perpetuate injustices that the state has suffered over the years.

Ayade said the law failed to address the concerns of the state in spite of the presentation he made to the relevant Senate committee.

What has become clear is that the political identity of being an APC State, which Ayade, in his naivety believed could influence the behaviour of the President has turned out to be an illusion. Trying to fix the mistakes of the past by becoming a political ally of the President has not yielded the expected results for Ayade in this instance.

The PIA has definitely impacted negatively on APC’s flagging reputation in the Niger Delta/South-south. Combined with other enduring burning issues like open grazing and killing of innocent citizens by suspected Fulani herdsmen, the APC central government led by Buhari is held in the highest contempt by indigenes of the South-south/Niger Delta.

The Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) has declared the Minister of State for Petroleum, Chief Timipre Sylva and President Buhari, persona non grata, saying their safety may not be guaranteed in the Niger Delta. Sylva, a former governor of Bayelsa also chairs the FG’s PIA implementation committee. The composition of the committee is another sore point, as there are many non-indegenes of the region in the body.

IYC National Spokesman Ebilade Ekerefe in a statement issued in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State, saying, “With the amount of speed the president used in signing the PIB without recourse to the stand taken by stakeholders from the region, the President has further demonstrated that the opinions of the Niger delta people don’t matter in his government as we have witnessed in other areas that require urgent attention of his government.

“In the light of the foregoing, there’s no better time for the people of the Niger Delta region to intensify the struggle for resource control and self-determination.

We believe strongly that will be the only sure path upon which our God-given natural resources can be managed by us and not this impunity we have witnessed from a repressive federal government under President Muhammadu Buhari,” he said.

Significant Issues in the Election The 2023 national elections may be decided on four important issues which also defined the 2019 Election. They are insecurity, the economy, corruption and the quest for a peoples constitution, which will define the relationship between the central government and the sub-national governments; that is, the states.

No where in the country is safe from killer herdsmen, kidnappers, unknown gunmen, armed robbers, ethnic militias, bandits and ritualits. A report by SBM

Emmanuel

Intelligence, a Nigerian research group, claims that 2,732 people were killed in 33 states and the federal capital Abuja between April and June 2021.

These include attacks by the Boko Haram terrorist group and other militias, kidnappings, communal fights, and clashes between farmers and herders. The victims included 215 security personnel – 173 soldiers, 39 police officers, and three civil defense officers – and six vigilantes.

In a bid to get a grip on the collapsed economy, the Nigerian government has gone on a borrowing frenzy. As at March 31, Nigeria owed China $3.402 billion, according to the Debt Management Office. The amount covers 11 loan facilities from the China Exim Bank since 2010.

Prices of basic commodities have skyrocketed, thereby putting a lot of pressure on families, even as employers are forced to cut losses by laying off staff. This has contributed to an all time high in unemployment rate.

Though the Buhari-led government was given a benefit of the doubt based on his personal reputation as an anti-corruption crusader, a recent statement by a former military President, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, saying that from what they know of cases of corruption in this administration, his government which was also labelled corrupt was a saint.

While no wrong doing has been directly linked to the President, key personnel in his cabinet and many of his political associates are being investigated by anti-graft agencies.

Perhaps, his refusal to act decisively by apportioning blame or punitive action renders him an accomplice.

The growing call for a redefinition of the relationship between federation units of Nigeria has never been so loud. From ethnic self-determination groups, some of which have become extremists and violent to sub-national governments and influential individuals, there is a concern for a restructuring of the federation.

All these issues are very much

Diri

topical in the Niger Delta as they are elsewhere.There is abundant evidence that the effect of all these national malaise appear strongest in the Niger Delta states, where Buhari and the APC lost in 2019 to the PDP. The PDP has maintained its winning ways in that part of the country, since the turn of this era of democracy in 1999; never dropping the ball in states like Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Delta and Rivers, with an unbroken record of victories.

of these personalities may be imminent.

Another cogent justification for the negative perception of APC and Buhari in the Niger Delta is the thinking that there is threat to Christianity should the APC be allowed a major in road to the Niger Delta. While this point is not entirely provable with empirical evidence supporting the idea that there is Northern agenda to stretch the rule of Islam from the desert to the Atlantic, the concern is palpable and on the lips of many in the Niger Delta.

Observations and Partiality Voters in the Niger Delta region generally think of the APC as a Hausa/Fulani-controlled party.

This line of thought has been fuelled by apparent lopsidedness in appointment into sensitive national offices which tend to favour a particular ethnic group since Buhari became president. Mr. President has also been consistent in not openly condemning misdemeanours by his kinsmen. Therefore, voters in the Niger Delta may sanction the APC and its candidate for their odd approach on many sensitive issues affecting the region.

Though many eminent personalities from the Niger Delta are in the top echelon of both the APC and the Buhari administration, they are widely viewed as traitors and apologists of the Hausa/Fulani who have contributed to the suffering of their people. In particular cases; names like Senator Godswill Akpabio, Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, Minister of Transportation, Chief Festus Keyamo, Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Senator Ovie OmoAgege, Deputy Senate President and Chief Timipre Sylva are fingerred as persons who triggered the subjugation of the Niger Delta by the Buhari administration. Therefore, personalities like Governor Nyesom Wike have seized the moment to frequently play to the gallery; riding on the wave of prevalent emotion in the Niger Delta. Apart from loss of political capital in their home states, a severe threat to the personal safety

From the Presidency Presidential Spokeman Femi Adesina expectedly thinks President Muhammadu Buhari deserves accolades not knocks, for the PIA. According to him, Buhari, “has done what Napoleon couldn’t do.

Again and again. The Bill had defied Olusegun Obasanjo who introduced it, got the better of Umaru Musa Yar’Adua (God rest his soul), worsted Goodluck Jonathan, but has finally been subdued

by Buhari. The man has proven to be adept at concluding things that had long trounced and vanquished many leaders before him. The PIB overwhelmed the first to eighth National Assembly, which couldn’t pass it into law. But through synergy and cooperation between the Executive and the Ninth Assembly, Nigeria now has a law for her cash cow, the oil and gas industry, more than 50 years after the last legislation, which had become obsolete.

“Step forward President Buhari, and be garlanded for being the Master Finisher.

Practical examples abound in different spheres of National life, of projects, policies, proposed laws that had been in the works for more than two decades, but which have been seen to fruition by the tough but easy going man from Daura.”

At the Federal Executive Council (FEC), meeting last Wednesday, Buhari said that the passage of the PIB into law was the “end of decades of uncertainty and under-investment in the petroleum industry.

“To consolidate the commitment of this administration to delivering the value proposition of this law, I have approved an implementation framework commencing immediately to ensure the industry envisaged in the new law begins to take shape.

“The implementation process to be headed by the Hon Minister of State, Petroleum Resources is hereby tasked with the completion of the implementation of this act within 12 months. I am therefore directing all relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies of government to fully cooperate in ensuring the successful and timely implementation of this law.

“Let me now commend the leadership of the 9th Assembly for their continued pursuit of our national aspiration and demonstration of mutual harmony with the Executive in the pursuit of a patriotic outcome in the passage of the PIB.”

Voters in the Niger Delta region generally think of the APC as a Hausa/Fulani-controlled party.

This line of thought has been filled by apparent lopsidedness appointment into sensitive national offices which tend to favour a particular ethnic group since Buhari became president. Mr. President has also been consistent in not openly condemning misdemeanours by his kinsmen

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POLITICS

Gbajabiamila: A Round Peg in a Round Hole Udora Orizu x-rays some of the laudable legislative interventions, as well as, criticism faced by Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, Speaker of the ninth House of Representatives

Gbajabiamila

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he Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila was elected to the House in 2003, representing Surulere I Constituency of Lagos State. Gbajabiamila has spent over one decade as a principal officer in the parliament. From being a member, he rose in the legislative ranks to become the Minority Whip, Minority Leader, Majority Leader of the House, before eventually clinching the Speaker seat in 2019, after defeating his opponent Mohammed Umar Bago. The Speaker who’s a member of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) is very diplomatic and one of the few active legislators currently in the ninth House. Overtime, he has been able to apply his leadership skills to deliver on the main functions expected of any legislator.

Legislative Interventions In the area of constituency representation, Gbajabiamila is known to have attracted several Federal projects to Lagos state, particularly his constituency Surulere. This has attracted praises to him from his state governor and traditional rulers. It might also be the reason why he has consistently won his re-election campaign since 2003.

At the House inauguration in June 2019, he rolled out a ‘joint task’ agenda which he said would be the framework to guide operations in the next four years. Two years on, the ninth House under his leadership has achieved some of their priorities on the agenda. These include return to the January-December budget cycle, passage of the Petroleum Industry Act, Finance Act, the Police Reform Act, the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA), amongst others.

In March last year, Gbajabiamila was able to get all the 360 lawmakers in the House to donate their two months salary to the fight against the Coronavirus pandemic. He has intervened and sometimes been able to resolve several disputes by bodies such as the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) and legislative aides. He also helped resolve the trade dispute between Nigeria and Ghana, this got him commendation from Nigerians based in Ghana.

The Speaker also ensured that the House took a definite stand when Nigerians suffered xenophobic attacks in South Africa. He equally held a meeting with the Minister of Power over better electricity supply for Nigerians during the lockdown in response to a Nollywood actor’s complaint, while also leading the charge for a two-month free electricity supply to Nigerians

during lockdown although the two months free electricity for Nigerians was never achieved.

Also last year, the maltreatment of some Nigerians living in China drew the attention of Gbajabiamila, who expressed deep concern over the issue. The Speaker, in reaction to the viral videos from Beijing, which showed Nigerians being forced out of their houses and hotels, rounded up and their passports seized by the Chinese police, said the inhuman treatment of Nigerians must be addressed forthwith.

Meeting with the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Zhou Pingjian, Gbajabiamila confronted him with the video of the incident, where a Nigerian was challenging Chinese officials over his maltreatment.

Gbajabiamila said there should be an official explanation for treating Nigerians in such a manner.

He said, “If the diplomatic relationships between our two countries are for the mutual benefits of our citizens, then, there must be respect for our citizens, and we should not compromise it. As a government, we will not allow Chinese or other nationals to be maltreated just as we will not allow Nigerians to be maltreated in other countries. The way you treat your citizens, we expect that’s how you’ll treat others. We will not tolerate our citizens breaking your laws, but the crime of one citizen cannot be used to stigmatize the whole country. It appears that’s what happened in this case. You can’t use one brush to smear the whole wall. Whatever the reason, it cannot be used and taken out on the entire community in China.”

Also in 2020, at a meeting with the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Sadiya Farouq, Gbajabiamila and his Senate counterpart faulted the way the Social Intervention Programme of the Federal

Government was being implemented and called for an enabling legislation in line with global best practices.

Farouq’s ministry was, therefore, directed to overhaul the scheme. The ministry was also told to discard the register and all indices used to generate those that are poor and vulnerable across the 360 federal constituencies in the country.

At another forum, the Speaker slammed the Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire, over hazard allowance to health workers. At the meeting with members of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, Gbajabiamila asked the minister if the medical personnel handling Coronavirus cases were paid any hazard allowance, to which he responded: “I am not aware of it.”

He faulted the Minister for saying he didn’t know if health workers treating COVID-19 patients were being paid hazard allowance. The Speaker told the Minister it was not enough to say he was not aware, adding that by saying that, he just dropped the ball.

Security, which is one of the major priorities listed in the legislative agenda of the ninth House, has been tasking to the leadership of Gbajabiamila. At different sittings, he sought for ways to help the executive arm of government bring an end to insecurity currently bedeviling the country. Aside from passing several security related bills and motions, the House held a Special Summit on National Security in Abuja on May 25, where major stakeholders examined the security challenges of the country and came up with recommendations. Gbajabiamila, later led other principal officers to the State House in Abuja to present the document to President Muhammadu Buhari.

While the seasoned legislator has achieved some commendable feat over the years, as a public servant, he’s not immune to scrutiny or criticisms. Under his leadership and that of his counterpart in the Senate, it appears that the principle of checks and balances may have disappeared

The Speaker is currently one of the top Bills and Motions sponsors. He sponsored critical Bills such as the Physically-challenged (Empowerment) Bill 2019; Criminalization of Estimated Billing System Bill 2019; Students Loan (Access to Higher Education Bill), 2019, amongst others. One of his notable Bills which was recently passed, is the Bill which seeks to amend the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to provide for inclusion of young persons and persons with disabilities (PWDs) in political appointments.

Criticisms While the seasoned legislator has achieved some commendable feat over the years, as a public servant, he’s not immune to scrutiny or criticisms.

Under his leadership and that of his counterpart in the Senate, it appears that the principle of checks and balances may have disappeared.

For instance, despite the country’s rising debt profile, since the duo assumed office, almost every loan request sought by President Muhammadu Buhari has been given express approval.

This has been frowned upon by many Nigerians who believe that some of the requests shouldn’t have been approved by the parliament.

Under his leadership, the House was also criticized for keeping mum after the President refused to honour their invitation to brief lawmakers on what his government was doing to end insecurity in the country. Because the parliament has the constitutional backing to invite the President when need be, critics believe that the way Mr. President treated the legislators was a misdemeanor which the parliament shouldn’t have taken lightly.

Gbajabiamila also faced criticism when he introduced the Control of Infectious Diseases Bill.

The Bill generated so many controversies and was condemned by Nigerians, who described its provisions as infringing on fundamental human rights.

The most recent criticism came on the heels of the passage of the long awaited Petroleum Industry Act and Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill. While the passage of the two landmark legislations can be seen as a great achievement for the ninth National Assembly, however, many Nigerians were against some provisions in the two bills which were adopted by the lawmakers despite opposition. They include the three percent adopted in the PIA as the equity share to the oil producing communities and the rejection of electronic voting and transmission of election results in the electoral act.

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

Captors Not Husbands: The Sad Reality of Girls Abducted by Terrorists Vanessa Obioha writes that the re-emergence of two of the abducted Chibok girls and their captors, whom they had children for, has drawn mixed emotions for many Nigerians. Given that these victims of war now have ties with these insurgents, albeit involuntarily, this has led to renewed criticisms of the federal government's Operation Safe Corridor initiative for "ex-Boko Haram members"

Governor Zulum with Hassana Adamu and the children she had for her captor

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he opening scene of the trailer of 'Daughters of Chibok' captured the anguish of Yana Galang, one of the mothers of the kidnapped Chibok girls. Galang, like other mothers, still anticipates the return of her daughter Rifkatu, who was abducted by insurgents in 2014 at Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok in Borno State. At the time, the government had only rescued about 80 girls out of the 276 abducted, while some escaped.

Galang was often filled with hope each time she was told about the return of a missing child. As the woman leader of the Bring Back Our Girls (BBOG) campaign in Chibok, the news reached her first before she relayed it to other parents. Her hope of seeing her daughter often turned to unbearable pain after scanning the faces of the returned girls, some of them a shadow of themselves.

Yet, her optimism remains unwavering.

In the Virtual Reality (VR), Galang is seen folding her daughter's clothes as if expecting her to walk through the door.

The 2019 virtual reality documentary

by Joel Benson attempted to capture the harrowing experience of the waiting mothers who despite their agony, live in poverty. Some of them like Galang subsist on their farm produce. About 33 parents according to the documentary died waiting for their children to return.

It is therefore unimaginable the feeling of these mothers seeing their innocent daughters whose bright futures were dimmed by the menacing hands of Boko

Haram on that fateful April night, a Boko Haram fighter to whom she returning home as mothers. was married and had two children while in captivity.

Recent Reappearance The recent reappearance of two of Her parents were reached to the missing Chibok girls sparked an confirm her identity. outcry across the nation. Not necesA week later, the Nigerian army sarily because of their motherly status handed over Hassana Adamu, along but the identity of the men who with her two children to the governor.

“The schoolgirl, Hassana Adamu, accompanied them home. According to reports, Ruth Pogu and Hassana alongside her two children, was Adamu returned home after seven handed over to Governor Zulum by the Commander, 26 Task Force years in captivity with children.

Pogu was the first to be received by Brigade, Brigadier General DR the state governor, Babagana Zulum. Dantani,” Gusau said.

The young women are to undergo Zulum's spokesman, Isa Gusau revealed that the young woman a rehabilitation and reintegration was received at the Government programme that will focus on health, House where she reunited with psychosocial wellbeing, and future her parents. Pogu was said to have ambitions. surrendered to Nigerian troops in Reflections on Ordeal of AbBama, Borno, on July 28 alongside

It is therefore triggering to see reports where their captors are referred to as husbands. Their captors are terrorists. Their captors are criminals.

Their captors are slave drivers. Their captors are members of a deadly terror group that has engaged the Armed Forces of Nigeria in war for over 12 years. Their captors are NOT husbands

ducted Girls In 2017, the BBC reported the ordeal of the Chibok girls in the hands of their abductors as captured by some of the kidnapped schoolgirls. Naomi Adamu who was the oldest among the girls is the protagonist in a new book by journalists Joe Parkinson and Drew Hinshaw. In her narration, she said the girls suffered many hardships and were moved frequently to avoid being caught. They were mostly in the Sambisa forest where they didn't have access to water or food.

“We even had to use soil to clean ourselves up when we were on our periods,” she told the BBC. Adamu said the high-ranking officers in the terrorist group tried marrying her off to one of the fighters but she resisted.

Each refusal fetched her a beating. Other girls who refused were given equal if not worse treatment. The weaker girls who gave in to their demands did not suffer less. They were also deprived of food and Naomi and her band of brave girlfriends smuggled food to them.

She was later released in May 2017 alongside other diarists, and by September of that same year, the government sent them to study at the American University of Nigeria in the north-eastern town of Yola.

Captors Not Husband With such scenarios still fresh in the minds of many Nigerians, while rejoicing Continued on page 22

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Borno Governor, Zulum; Ruth Pogu and son with Mrs. Pogu

over Pogu and Adamu's return, they were however irked by the term 'husband' used to describe Pogu's captor. Recently, a Christian group, Christian Solidarity Worldwide Nigeria (CSWN) condemned the acceptance, urging the Nigerian government to prosecute insurgents who violate the fundamental rights of the girls.

“The Nigerian government may continue with its re-radicalisation programme that birthed the worrying terminology of ‘repentant terrorists, but we in CSWN, in view of the fact that Nigeria is governed by laws, call for the full application of all relevant laws on those who violated the girls. This would show the supremacy of law over lawlessness and impunity, and a consolation to the victims of insurgency trying to rebuild their lives or still wallowing in IDP camps,” said the group.

This stance was reiterated by Edith Yassin, a broadcast journalist based in Abuja, in a piece published in THISDAY

by Enough is Enough Nigeria. According to her, it is triggering to see reports where their captors are referred to as husbands, stressing that "their captors are terrorists. Their captors are criminals. Their captors are slave drivers. Their captors are members of a deadly terror group that has engaged the Armed Forces of Nigeria in war for over 12 years. Their captors are NOT husbands.

"These terrorists have a war economy that thrives on gun running, illegal taxation, drug trafficking, human trafficking and sex slavery. These sons of Nigeria abducted the daughters, nieces, and cousins of other sons of Nigeria. It is cruel. It is evil. It is wicked.

"Several fathers have died from heartbreak. Many have developed life threatening ailments. It is therefore brutal to refer to any of these abductors as husbands. A husband is a legitimate partner, a celebrated spouse, and a bringer of joy and support.

"There is no religion, tribe or creed that will confer the title of husband on this violent abuse of Nigeria's daughters. Media reportage should be more circumspect and words must be chosen carefully.

Careless and insensitive use of words can confer nuances that benefit perpetrators of sexual violence to the detriment of victims and survivors. The female victim suffers a hundredfold when her captor and abuser is referred to as husband."

Spike in School Abductions Since the insurgents carried out the Chibok abduction on April 14, 2014,

Nigeria has witnessed a spike in mass school abductions. In 2018, terrorists stormed the Government Girls' Science and Technical College, Dapchi, Yobe state, kidnapping more than 100 female students. Of the kidnapped students, a young student, Leah Sharibu who reportedly resisted the kidnappers and refused to renounce her faith is yet to regain freedom. Last December, a group of boys were kidnapped in Katsina state but were swiftly rescued by the government a week later.

This year, there have been student abductions in Kaduna State including Greenfield University and Federal College of Forestry Mechanisation, Afaka.

The mass abduction of students is rampant in the northern region, particularly Zamfara, Niger and Kaduna.

The infamy of Boko Haram propelled the rise of banditry and herdsmen carrying out similar crimes.

Following the death of Abubakar Shekau, the leader of Boko Haram in May, after a battle with rival Islamist group Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), the latter seeks to absorb Shekau's fighters and unify the groups which during Shekau's tenure fought one another for control of territory in North-east Nigeria and around Lake Chad.

Operation Safe Corridor Recently, the Nigerian Army claimed that more than 1,000 Boko Haram members and their families had recently surrendered due to the intense pressure from troops' sustained offensive actions.

Through the Operation Safe Corridor initiative established by the army in 2016, terrorists who surrendered are given a new lease

on life. The programme is based on the De-radicalisation, Rehabilitation and Reintegration (DRR) of former members of the terrorist group.

In July last year, the federal government said it reintegrated 601 ex-Boko Haram terrorists and in February this year, the army announced that the second batch of 603 ‘repentant’ Boko Haram insurgents had completed their de-radicalisation programme.

Resistance Notwithstanding, many Nigerians vehemently kicked against the programme. To them, it was like choosing to let an evil spirit back into your home instead of exorcising it. So when the army announced that it was reintegrating the 1,000 surrendered terrorists, criticisms flew in from different angles.

Chairman of the Senate Committee on Army, Ali Ndume released a stream of vitriols. “The war is not over and some criminals that have been killing people you say that you are doing Operation Safe Corridor for them. I am completely against that idea. They know my position on that. You are just telling people to go and join Boko Haram and then repent…that’s a totally unacceptable way of solving the problem.”

Another voice of reasoning came from the Former Agriculture Minister and current chairman of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), Audu Ogbeh.

“We are currently witnessing large scale surrender of large numbers of Boko Haram insurgents, among whom are bomb makers, commanders, arsonists, rapists, and child snatchers. Do we have good reason to cheer and hope for an end to this decade-old insanity? Is ‘I am sorry’

The war is not over and some criminals that have been killing people you say that you are doing Operation Safe Corridor for them. I am completely against that idea. They know my position on that. You are just telling people to go and join Boko Haram and then repent…that’s a totally unacceptable way of solving the problem

enough to bring relief to Nigerians and the thousands of dead and maimed?

“What of all the men and women in uniform murdered by them? Who can count the thousands of widows and orphans they have created? And what is the difference between them and the (Sunday) Ighohos or ESN of Nigeria?

None.

“So, what do we do with them? Should we just embrace them and trust them wholesale? Are their moves informed by altruistic repentance? We seriously doubt.”

The Shehu of Borno, Abubakar ElKanemi didn't find the idea to cohabit with insurgents welcoming at all. “Many people were killed along with their property for 12 years. And you people and the media expect us to forget and forgive the repentant terrorists?”

The anger was equally expressed by Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the North-east. They queried the sincerity of the repentant terrorists.

Interestingly, Zulum had last March raised concerns that the rehabilitated terrorists act as spies. He had spoken at the North-East Governors’ Forum meeting in Bauchi that the initiative needs to be reviewed because some of the ex-Boko Haram members only come to spy on communities and then return to join the group.

Recently, he said that the surrender by Boko Haram fighters has left his state with two extremely difficult situations.

“We are in a very difficult situation over the ongoing surrender by insurgents.

We have to critically look between two extreme conditions and decide our future.

We have to choose between an endless war or to cautiously accept the surrendered terrorists, which is really painful and difficult for anyone that has lost loved ones; difficult for all of us and even for the military, whose colleagues have died and for volunteers.”

Albeit, the federal government needs to ramp up their efforts in rescuing the remaining girls. It is not enough that after seven years, the girls are still held in captivity under unthinkable conditions.

For many Nigerians, the trauma of having a captor as your husband is better left unimagined but these are what some of the girls are living through. But when choices are scarce and resolve broken, survival is the only hope.

The parents may not have a choice but to accept their forced and unwanted in-laws, but they have a reason to rejoice and for people like Galang, the hope to one day see their child still glows.

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Addressing Nigeria's Humanitarian Challenge Chiemelie Ezeobi writes that the recently commemorated World Humanitarian Day provided an opportunity to reinforce the need for Nigeria and her development partners to holistically address the nation's humanitarian crisis by stopping the triggers, as well as effectively resettling the displaced population

Aid workers attending to internally displaced persons

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igeria contributes 4.3 per cent of the global figures of 79.5 million in terms of humanitarian crises, making her one of the top 10 countries with the highest risks of a humanitarian disaster. That was in 2019. Now? Nothing much has changed, rather, the situation has worsened.

For stakeholders and those in the know, the 2021 World Humanitarian Day (WHD) was an opportunity to tackle the challenge and posit ways to address the triggers of displacement given that new displacements in Nigeria will worsen the humanitarian crisis, thereby exposing the displaced population to vulnerabilities that may lead them to crime.

In a newsletter made available to THISDAY, Nextier Security, Peace and Development (SPD), an international development consulting firm based in Nigeria which utilises evidence-based research and policy in developing knowledge and skills for governing the society, harped that as the world marks the WHD, new conversations, especially for Nigeria and her development partners, should be managing the humanitarian crisis, stopping the triggers, and resettling the displaced population.

World Humanitarian Day According to the United Nations, in 2021, 235 million people will need humanitarian assistance and protection, noting that the number has risen to one in 33 people worldwide - a significant increase from one in 45 at the launch of the Global Humanitarian Overview 2020, which was already the highest figure in decades.

With the alarming figures, the UN and partner organisations aim to assist 160 million people most in need across 56 countries and will require a total of $35 billion to do so.

Therefore, the WHD, held every August 19, seeks to "educate the public on issues of concern, to mobilise political will and resources to address global problems, and to celebrate and reinforce achievements of humanity".

Statistics According to Nextier SPD, in 2021, millions of Nigerians suffer from mounting humanitarian crises resulting from conflict and natural disasters.

In the North-east, 11 years of the Boko Haram conflict has displaced about 1.8 million people in Nigeria.

They further revealed that combining displacements in the broader Lake Chad Basin (LCB) puts the displaced population at 2.6 million. Ruthless banditry in the North-west has displaced about 160,000 people in Sokoto, Kaduna, Kebbi, Niger, Zamfara and Katsina States.

"Also, about 41,000 people have fled the zone to the Niger Republic. Down South, years of

Photo: Google Cameroon’s Anglophone crisis has pushed more than 60,000 people across the Bakassi peninsula into Nigeria, according to Assessment Capacities Project (ACAPS), an independent Humanitarian information source. Years of violence between farmers and herders have displaced about 300,000 people across the country," they also posited.

Displacement Margins Stressing that Nigeria’s displaced population are trapped in margins of vulnerabilities, the group noted that the humanitarian crisis being experienced by the displaced population range from seeking refuge in overburdened and often unsafe camps, limited access to food, healthcare and education, adding that "millions of people in the humanitarian crisis face malnutrition, inadequate social protection, sexual violence, and uncertain timelines for a return to normalcy.

"Continued displacement resulting from the conflict and natural causes may increase the humanitarian indices, especially in displacement camps where they seek refuge and succour. According to the United Nations Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, the Humanitarian Needs Overview 2021 for Nigeria shows that about 8.7 million people require urgent humanitarian assistance. The displaced population dwell in overburdened camps for internally displaced persons with mounting welfare needs and where essential structures are luxuries".

New Conversations For NextierSPD, as the world marks WHD, new conversations, especially for Nigeria and her development partners, are managing the humanitarian crisis, stopping the triggers, and resettling the displaced population.

The newsletter stated that "for instance, with about 8.7 million people needing urgent humanitarian assistance in North-east Nigeria, only 6.4 million people are targeted. About

$1.01 billion is needed for the intervention.

According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, Nigeria’s Humanitarian Response Plan 2021 indicates that with incoming funds of about $37 million, only 3.7 per cent of the requirement will be covered."

Gaps The group further posited that despite the enormous gaps between available funds and targeted populations in humanitarian crises, other challenges exist. "First, the management of internally displaced persons’ camps has been linked to corruption scandals. A 2016 report by the International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR) holds that “corruption is killing children in internally displaced person camps”.

"The report highlights accusations of relief materials diversion and reduction of IDPs’ rations by camp officials. Second, inadequate regulations within the camps make it difficult for relief services to reach the target population. An unannounced visit by the Governor of Borno state on March 7, 2021, led to the discovery of about 650 fake IDP households who pose as displaced persons to receive relief materials meant for IDPs." Efforts by Government To effectively tackle such humanitarian challenges, President Muhammadu Buhari, on August 21, 2019, established the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development and appointed Hajiya Sadiya Umar Farouq as the substantive minister.

The ministry was charged on developing humanitarian policies and provide effective coordination of national and international humanitarian interventions, ensure strategic disaster mitigation, preparedness and response and manage the formulation and implementation of fair focused social inclusion

Like the rest of the world, Nigeria must attend first attend to its displacement population. Second, it must also address the triggers of displacement. The achievement of returning and resettling internally displaced persons will be more meaningful if the causes of displacement have been relatively addressed

and protection programmes in Nigeria with a vision to also create sustainable and inclusive social systems that promote human dignity in the country.

Way Forward Suggesting solutions, the newsletter stated that "since internally displaced persons suffer from inadequate supplies, the government must ensure that the target population can access available relief materials. Corruption and poor camp management services further reduce the availability to solve humanitarian challenges.

"The government needs to set up a task force that will focus on monitoring activities in camps and ensure that designated materials get to the right people. Additionally, the government must seek accounting experts’ services to set up a digital framework for distributing relief materials to IDPs. The framework will form the basis for a routine audit of relief materials distribution in the camps.

"There is also a need to address the triggers of displacement. New displacements in Nigeria will worsen the humanitarian crisis, expose the displaced population to vulnerabilities that may lead them to crime. Nigeria contributes 4.3 per cent of the global figures (79.5 million), making her one of the top 10 countries with the highest risks of a humanitarian disaster in 2019.

"As the Boko Haram insurgency continues, unmanaged Cameroon’s Anglophone crisis, ongoing farmer-herder crisis, banditry and other conflict vistas and natural disasters, more people will be trapped in the humanitarian crises waiting to be returned and resettled by the Nigerian government.

"Like the rest of the world, Nigeria must attend first attend to its displacement population. Second, it must also address the triggers of displacement. The achievement of returning and resettling internally displaced persons will be more meaningful if the causes of displacement have been relatively addressed.

"Government must also ensure that the returning population are resettled in a secure environment where they can restart their lives.

This will ensure that they are not displaced again due to insecurity or internal crisis between them.

Therefore, security efforts must be increased to manage the escalating crisis that forms triggers of displacement.

"Early warning mechanisms must also be tailored to specific disasters of natural causes, especially in locations prone to it. Nigeria’s population in humanitarian crisis are exposed to conflict and natural disasters that lumped them into humanitarian needs and endless cycles of exposure to disease outbreaks and reduced availability of essential survival tools."

24

MONDAY AUGUST 23, 2021 •T H I S D AY

25

T H I S D AY ˾ MONDAY AUGUST 23, 2021

BUSINESSWORLD R A T E S MONEY MARKET

A S

A T

REPO

OBB OVERNIGHT

16.75% 17.25 %

Group Business Editor Eromosele Abiodun

Email oriarehu.eromosele@thisdaylive.com

08056356325

A U G U S T

S & P INDEX

2 0 , 2 0 2 1

S & P INDEX

CALL 1-MONTH

4% 6%

INDEX LEVEL 1-DAY

547.96% 0.51%

3-MONTH

10%

MONTH-TO-DATE

2.00%

EXCHANGE RATE

1/4 TO DATE YEAR TO DATE

2.8% -18.25%

N410.80/ 1 US DOLLAR* *AS AT LAST FRIDAY

Abdullahi: National Digital Economy Policy Will Boost Media, Entertainment Industries’Value to $30bn by 2030

Eromosele Abiodun and Raheem Akingbolu With proper implementation of National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS), other government interventions and investment in infrastructure, the value of Nigeria’s media and entertainment industry will

reach $30 billion by year 2030, surpassing PwC’s projection of $10 billion by 2023, the Director General, National Information Technology Development Agency, (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, has stated.

Abdullahi who stated this in an exclusive interview THISDAY pointed out that a lot is being

done through the startups in the ICT sector to boost the entertainment industry.

The federal government, he stated, is doing everything humanly possible to encourage investment in that direction to be able to achieve its 2030 agenda.

He said his agency and other relevant agencies under

the ministry of communication and digital economy are also working round the clock to position the SMEs as the bedrock of the Nigerian economy.

According to him, “Globally, SMEs provide more jobs than any other industry. In Nigeria, more than 98 per cent of jobs are from SMEs. It is contributing

almost more than 50 per cent of Nigeria’s gross domestic products (GDP). These startups are part of the SMEs. But what we want to achieve with this is how we can use innovation and IT to enable all SMEs.” He said emerging technologies and Nigeria IT ecosystem are accelerating growth in digital

economy “There are two promising emerging technologies that are going to change a lot of things in the world: Blockchain and Artificial Intelligence. Based on two reports by PWC, they projected that by year 2030, Continued on page 27

Zenith Bank, GTCO Lead Five Others in N801.3bn Dividend Payowut to Investors in Three Darasimi Adebisi Despite the harsh operating environment in the country, seven listed financial institutions on the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX), paid investors a total sum of N801.3 billion as dividend between 2018 and 2020, data obtained by THISDAY at the NGX has revealed.

Analysis of the NGX data revealed that the seven banks in 2020 paid N278.84 billion as dividend, while N271.81billion and N250.64billion was paid as dividend between 2019 and 2018, respectively.

Despite domestic and foreign macroeconomic challenges, these financial giants over the years have sustained dividend payout to shareholders coupled with growth in profit.

The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) had disclosed that financial Institutions under Financial and Insurance sector grew by 13.34per cent in full year 2020 from 2.4per cent in 2019 and 1.41per cent in 2018.

Out of the N801.3billion dividend declared by these seven financial institutions, Zenith Bank contributed 32.7 per cent, while GTCO

contributed 30.4 per cent.

Others financial institutions under consideration are Access Bank Plc, United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, FBN Holdings, Fidelity Bank Plc and Stanbic IBTC Holdings.

Further analysis revealed that five out of the seven financial institutions have maintained a policy of paying interim and final dividend, a key factor that has sustained investors’ confidence in the domestic capital market.

Specifically, Zenith Bank and GTCO declared N262.16billion and N243.57billion as dividend respectively in the last three

years.

Zenith Bank between 2019 and 2020 financial year paid investors N87.91billion and N86.34billion in 2018 as dividend respectively.

On its part, GTCO last year paid N83.1billion as total dividend while in the previous year, N81.01billion was paid as total and interim dividend.

Closing following them is Stanbic IBTC Holdings, which declared N101.3billion in the period under review while United Bank for Africa declared N81.05billion as dividend between 2018 and 2020.

During the period, Access

Bank declared N58.6billion as dividend while FBN Holdings dividend amounted to N39.13billion.

In addition, Fidelity Bank declared N15.35billion as dividend between 2020 and 2018.

A review of the data showed that Zenith Bank leads in the banking sector as the management maintained robust payout in the three years under review.

Guaranty Trust Holdco came second in terms of dividend to investors amid growing profit and other fundamentals.

Commenting, analysts told

THISDAY that the dividend payout by these banks is on the heels of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) policies to strengthen the financial sector, stressing that the sector role is the nation’s economy is remarkable.

Analyst at PAC Holdings, Mr. Wole Adeyeye said the financial sector has benefited heavily from the nation’s economy, stressing that technology oriented services have impacted on profit that translates into profit and dividend to investors.

Continued on page 27

M A R K E T D ATA A S AT F R I D AY, A U G U S T 2 0 , 2 0 2 1 FGN BONDS DESCRIPTION 11.150 FGNSB 11-SEP-2021 12.364 FGNSB 12-SEP-2021 12.175 FGNSB 10-OCT-2021 11.244 FGNSB 16-OCT-2021 10.296 FGNSB 13-NOV-2021

Price

Yield

BILLS Change (%)

MATURITY

OTC FX F U T U R E S

Discount Yield Change (%)

100.49

2.86

-0.02

NTB 9-Sep-21

2.80

2.80 0.00

100.59

2.89

-0.02

NTB 16-Sep-21

2.96

2.96 0.00

101.18

3.55

0.06

NTB 30-Sep-21

3.27

3.28 0.00

101.16

3.69

0.08

NTB 14-Oct-21

3.59

101.36

4.33

0.17

NTB 28-Oct-21

3.90

CONTRACT TENOR (MONTH) 1

Contract

Current Rate ($/₦)

NGUS AUG 25 2021 420.93

2

NGUS SEP 29 2021 422.38

3

NGUS OCT 27 2021 423.83

3.61 0.00

4

NGUS NOV 24 2021 425.28

3.93 0.00

5

NGUS DEC 29 2021 426.73

C Ps MATURITY

Discount Yield

Change (%)

UNCP CP III 27AUG-21 VAAG CP I 27AUG-21 TTNG CP II 31AUG-21 SIBP CP I 2-SEP21 NBRP CP XIII 2-SEP-21

3.65

3.65

-0.07

9.62

9.63

-0.07

4.08

4.09

-0.06

3.65

3.65

-0.05

4.33

4.33

-0.05

26

MONDAY AUGUST 23, 2021 ˾ T H I S D AY

BUSINESSWORLD

STATUS REPORT

Total Migrates from Half-year Loss to Profit

Darasimi Adebisi

T

otal Nigeria Plc migrated from half year 2020 loss to a profit for the half year ended June 30, 2021 following its improved revenue and cut in finance cost.

Effective management of finance cost and Impairment loss on trade receivables was Total Nigeria’s profit defensive strategy to compensate for last year weak revenue.

The petroleum marketing company report for half year (H1) ended June 30, 2021 shows that the first quarter (Q1) revenue growth and finance cost reduction reflected on H1 2021 performance, forcing the management to declare interim dividend.

With positive performance in profit, the company declared interim dividend of N4.00 per ordinary 50 kobo per share.

The interim dividend translates into N1.36billion payout to shareholders of the company.

From the profit & loss figures, revenue showed increasing performance as the company leveraged on hike in price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS).

Total Nigeria’s revenue returned to its pre-pandemic level as it grew by 41.8 per cent to N151.33billion in H1 2021 from N106.7billion in H1 2020.

Revenue from Total Nigeria’s petroleum products grew by 36.2 per cent to N114.04billion in H1 2021 from N83.74billion in H1 2020, while revenue from lubricants and others rose significantly by 62.3 per cent from N22.96billion in H1 2020 to N37.3billion in H1 2021.

Total Nigeria’s revenue reported revenue showed that it remained a top pick in the oil and gas downstream sphere, given its robust distribution network (over 560 outlets major marketers’ outlets).

As evidenced so far in H1 2021, Total Nigeria has leveraged its scale in making up for the pandemic-induced slump in earnings in 2020 financial year.

The growth was driven by a solid performance across the business’ three segments – Network (+43.1per cent; 71 per cent of revenue), General Trade (+305 per cent; 24 per cent of revenue) and Aviation (+893.2 per cent; five per cent of revenue).

INCREASE IN DEMAND The increase across the business lines can be attributable to increase in demand given that the economy has effectively reopened, higher PMS prices (Average price: N167.18/litre in H12021 vs N137.60/ litre in H1 2020) relative to Q2-20 and

H1 2020, and the company’s ability to substantially push out volumes given its vast storage and distribution channels. Also, cost of sales rose by 33.43 per cent to N125.83 billion in H1 2021 from N94.3 billion in H1 2020.

Consequently, the proportion of cost of sales/Revenue dropped to 83.15per cent in H1 2021 from 88.2 per cent in H1 2020.

With increase in revenue, the company’s Gross profit grew significantly by 105.67 per cent to N25.5billion in H1 2021 from N12.4billion in H1 2020.

Other income also grew by 217.4 per cent to N2.47billion in H1 2021 from N779.4million reported in H1 2020, attributable to N1.26billion network income in H1 2021 from N763.4million in H1 2020.

About 191.54 per cent increase in Gain on disposal of property, plant and equipment to N46.8million in H1 2021 from N16.05million in H1 2020 also contributed to growth in other income of Total Nigeria.

In the period, the company also reported N184million and N986.43million Gain on disposal of raw material and Net foreign exchange gain respectively, other two factors that contributed to other income.

The company in prior half year reported N241.7 million Net foreign exchange loss amid the instability foreign exchange due to dwindling global oil prices and the loss was not reported in the current half year.

Selling & distribution costs rose Selling & distribution costs rose by nearly four per cent to N1.61billion in H1 2021 from N1.67billion reported in H1 2020, while administrative expenses rose by 16.3 per cent to 13.78billion in H1 2021 from N11.85billion in H1 2020.

Impairment loss on trade

receivables dropped by 49.6 per cent to N67.6million in H1 2021 from N134.14million in H1 2020 to position operating profit to N12.53billion in H1 2021 from a loss of N716.8million in H1 2020.

On finance, the company reported finance income of N94.6million in H1 2021 from N2.15billion in H1 2020 as the company was not paid Petroleum Subsidy Fund (PSF) in the period under review compared to N2.04billion paid in H1 2020.

Interest on unclaimed dividend also dropped to N13.5million in H1 2021 from N32.45million in H1 2020, while interest on loans and receivables closed H1 2021 at N63.78million in H1 2021 from N62.67million in H1 2020.

Finance cost, however, dropped by 57 per cent to N842million in H1 2021 from N1.95billion in H1 2020.

Majorly, 41 per cent drop in Total Nigeria’s decline in finance Interest on bank overdrafts and loans to N635.3million in H1 2021 from N1.08billion in H1 2020 was responsible for drop in finance cost in the period.

With effective management of finance, Profit before income taxation closed for the period at N11.78billion as against loss of N796.9million reported in prior half year result and accounts.

Profit for the period closed at N8.07billion in H1 2021 from loss of N537.2million in H1 2020.

The company’s Earnings per share closed H1 2021 at N28.76 per share from a loss of N1.58 reported in H1 2020.

TRADE & RECEIVABLES The petroleum marketing company grew its total assets in the period under review following growth recorded in its Current trade & other receivables and loans & borrowing.

The company total assets hits

“As the economy has effectively reopened, we believe demand for petroleum products in the year will return to pre-pandemic levels. As such, we forecast 33.6per cent revenue growth in 2021FY. Over the medium term (2022–2025FY), we model average annual revenue growth of 10.5% per cent, given our expectation that Total Nigeria will sustain its volume expansion drive.”

N186.9billion as at June 30, 2021 from N143.6billion reported in full year ended December 31, 2020.

The 30 per cent increase in total assets was driven by 34.4 per cent increase in trade & other receivables to N55.57billion as at June 30, 2021 from N41.34billion reported in ful year ended December 31, 2020.

Customers account contributed to current trade & other receivables in the period, accounting for N20.8 billion as at June 30, 2021 from N17.4billion reported in full year ended December 31, 2020.

Advanced supply of products nearly doubled at about 97 per cent growth to N17.8billion in H1 2021 from N9.06 billion reported in full year ended 31, 2020.

Total equity closed the period at N32.82billion as at June 30, 2021, about 17 per cent increase from N28.15billion reported in full year ended December 31, 2021.

Retained earnings played a significant role in total equity increase in the period, gaining 16.7 per cent to N32.65billion as at June 30, 2021 from N27.98billion reported in full year ended December 31, 2020.

ANALYSTS REVIEW Commenting, analysts at Cordros securities said they remain optimistic for second half year performance of Total Nigeria.

They said, “As the economy has effectively reopened, we believe demand for petroleum products in the year will return to prepandemic levels. As such, we forecast 33.6per cent revenue growth in 2021FY. Over the medium term (2022–2025FY), we model average annual revenue growth of 10.5% per cent, given our expectation that Total Nigeria will sustain its volume expansion drive.

“We estimate gross margin will decline by 200bps to 13 per cent in 2021E, given (1) the pass-through impact of the rise in crude oil prices on costs of production and (2) inflationary pressures due to structural inefficiencies and currency weakness.

However, we expect the topline growth to support EBITDA and EBITDA margin and cushion the pressure from higher operating expenses.

“Thus, we project 2021E EBITDA and accompanying margin will increase by 64.3 per cent and 113bps, respectively. We forecast EPS of N18.56 in 2021E, implying growth of 205.4 per cent y/y compared to the decline in 2020FY (-9.5 per cent y/y).

Further out, we forecast an EPS CAGR of 10.6% in 2021-2025FY. Our EPS forecast aligns with Bloomberg consensus estimate of N18.00 in 2021FY.”

27

T H I S D AY ˾ MONDAY AUGUST 23, 2021

BUSINESSWORLD

NEWS

ZENITH BANK, GTCO LEAD FIVE OTHERS IN N801.3BN DIVIDEND PAYOUT TO INVESTORS IN THREE YEARS He said: “The financial sector has benefited from non-interest income and interest income revenue. Financial institutions fees and commission has also increased following different online paying channels. COVID-19 lockdown impacted on robust dividend last year as a lot of banking activities was online. These banks that pay dividend have actually grown over the years. The economy growth has actually favoured the banking sector in terms of technology advancement.

“Meanwhile, investors now have confidence investing in the banking sector because they believed interim and final dividend will be paid.

The likes of GTCO and Zenith Bank yield on dividend payout last year was 10 per cent. The

sector is growing tremendously and investors are always expecting returns.”

According to the MD/CEO Enterprise Stockbrokers Plc, Mr. Rotimi Fakayejo, Zenith Bank, GTCO, among others are into financial service delivery that cut-across sectors.

He said the sustained dividend payout by these financial institutions highlight effective policies implementation by their board of management and how the nation’s economy has grown over the years.

“These banks have sustained themselves amid the economy situation in Nigeria. Zenith Bank, among others that pay dividend on NGX are service-oriented companies and they don’t depend on raw materials

to manufactured any products. All other sectors depend on the banks to operate and it is responsible to their growth and dividend payout every year, ”he said.

On his part, Arise TV Analyst, Mr. Chika Mbonu; said the dividend payout by these financial institutions is helping the liquidity of their stocks and creating room for high demand on the NGX. According him: “When investors know these banks are to pay dividend by half year and full year, it attract them to buy their shares. It is expected to boost their liquidity and drive economy formation in a long term.”

Speaking from shareholder ’s perspective, the National Coordinator Emeritus, Independent

Shareholders Association of Nigeria (ISAN), Sunny Nwosu said the dividend payout by Zenith Bank, others give investors confidence to retain their stocks and invest more on NGX. He said: “If the dividend is attractive, it encourages investors to buy more -we call that capitalism! If these banks have not sustained dividend payment in the last three, it means the sector has no hope. Investors are meant to enjoy capital appreciation and dividend payout. It is always delight these companies are paying dividend to shareholders. t is a huge advantage when investors invest in companies that pay dividend.”

Reacting also, the Chairman,

Progressive Shareholders Association of Nigeria, Boniface Okezie commended these financial institutors on dividend payment to investors, stressing that the likes of Zenith Bank, GTCO, among others have put mechanism in place to sustain dividend payout.

According to him: “These banks through the CBN policies have put down a solid foundation and it is expected to make them maintain dividend payout to investors. Even Access Bank and Fidelity Bank are not left out as they continue to grow in key fundamentals. As long as the business continued to boom despite the economy challenges, we shareholders expected them to continue to pay interim and final dividend every year.”

ABDULLAHI: NATIONAL DIGITAL ECONOMY POLICY WILL BOOST MEDIA, ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRIES’ VALUE TO $30BN BY 2030 Blockchain technology will add up to $1.76 trillion to global GDP. The report added that developing countries can add 4 per cent of the GDP if they use that technology.

“For example, Nigeria’s GDP today is more than $400 million.

The 4 per cent of $400 million is more than $10 billion. That is the minimum GDP Blockchain technology can generate. They also projected that Artificial Intelligence can add more than $10 trillion to the global GDP by 2030.

They said developing countries like Nigeria can add up to 5.6

per cent to the GDP. If Nigeria targets only $10 billion, which is far less than 5.6 per cent of our GDP today, we can have $20 billion comfortably, ”he said.

Speaking on how is NITDA supporting Tech Startups in Nigeria, he said, “Based on Startups Genome report of 2020, Lagos startups ecosystem is valued at more than $2 billion and also recently, two of our startups have reached unicorn level that means evaluation of more than $1billion each. They are Flutterwave and Interswitch. So, now we have $4 billion. Lagos ecosystem has $2

billion, Flutterwave $1 billion, Interswitch $1 billion, and then Jumia is already valued at $1.9 billion. Roughly you have $6 billion in Lagos alone talk less of the other parts of the country.”

He added, “If you look at the media and entertainment industry, it is powered by digital technology, mostly startups.

Based on PWC report, the Nigeria media entertainment sector will be valued at $10 billion by 2023. So, you can see that we are almost at that targeted $30 billion. So, we hope we will exceed that target and

we are on track based on our initiatives, based on government policies like the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS), and other government interventions in form of policies and infrastructural interventions. All these can help us to reach that target of $30 billion by 2030.”

Abdullahi said digital skills and literacy is a pillar in the Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan under the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy adding, “The government is serious about it because it is

believed that one must first understand technology before embracing it for use.”

“To this end, we are working on two folds; firstly, we are committed to getting all Nigerians to understand how to use digital devices. Because you need to understand how to use the devices before you can be part of the digital economy.

So, we embarked on so many initiatives, on training people with special needs, people living with disabilities, children, women, and artisans on how to use digital technology,” he stated.

Speaking on the relevant training initiatives being put in place to strengthen this drive, he disclosed that the agency recently launched its digital state initiative which majorly targeted three areas; Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint.

Other focused areas according to him are; digital content creation and digital marketing.

Also, he explained while NITDA appears to be focusing more on digital platforms, pointing out that the decision was strategic to deepening digital revolution.

28

MONDAY AUGUST 23, 2021 ˾ T H I S D AY

BUSINESSWORLD

INTERVIEW

Sharubutu: Dearth of Skilled Manpower, Bureaucracy Bane of Agriculture Despite its vast arable land, Nigeria is nowhere near food sufficiency or security, a situation attributed to various reasons. To Prof. Garba Sharubutu, Executive Secretary/Chief Executive, Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN), the dearth of skills is a major drawback. In this exclusive chat with James Emejo, he shares his aspirations to overturn the existing template for funding agricultural research, strengthen communication between farmers and research institutes as well as publicise the contributions of research to national development, among other objectives Could you give a brief introduction of the ARCN and its primary mandate? hank you. The Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN) is a parastatal under the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, established as far back as 2007 by an Act of the National Assembly.

It was actually established to coordinate and supervise agricultural extension training and research. Before now, the Agricultural Research Institute, about 15 of them, were operating in isolation and because their operations were in isolation, they suffered two to three disadvantages.

One, they were subjected to the bureaucracy of the civil service and as a research institute, if you subject them to such bureaucracy, certain things get delayed. The second issue that it was meant to address was the issue of publication of research activities. Each research institute needed to be given a specific mandate that would cover a specific crop and in order to do that, it needed a body that would coordinate its activities. Thirdly, the funding or budgetary allocation for the various research institutes were done in a civil service manner: that is it followed the ministerial order. And for research institutes that are supposed to be ongoing and rolling for over 10 years, if you subject them to the type of funding that is given at the various ministerial levels, it is going to be a problem and it would affect them.

So these were the three reasons the government felt that there was a need for a coordinating body for all the agricultural research institutes and this is essentially what the ARCN was meant to achieve.

But in establishing the body, government also in its own wisdom decided to give about nine mandates and they include principally the fact that the council will advise government on policy issues that have to do with agricultural research, extension and training to cover the universities and our research institutes, polytechnics and generally anything that has to do with research.

The second thing is that having understood the policy direction of government, the council will be responsible for monitoring and supervision and coordination of the agricultural research training and extension.

Thirdly, the council will be responsible for the design of researches and the designs are not because the various research institutes do not know how to design but the responsibility of the council is to design it in line with the policy direction of the government.

The fourth one has to do with the issue if establishing linkages with organisations that are outside the government or outside the country. There’s nowhere in this world that research will be conducted without adequate knowledge of the government - and so nobody just gets into the country and begin to operate and conduct research, bringing in materials from other places, testing and carting away our various potentials.

So the council will be responsible for linking our various research institutes to international donor agencies so we will be an arbiter in case there’s need for intervention.

The fifth one there is that we should be responsible for sourcing out funding forthe various research institutes because as a council, right now the world is going towards a one- council operation where all countries key into the CGRA, which is the grand council internationally for regulation of research activities.

As part of that council, we will be able to

T

Sharubutu be negotiating funding for the purpose and the need to do that is because in isolated fashion, government may not be aware of those who are actually assisting in developing our potentials.

So when the council gets the funding, they will inform government during budgetary hearing, they will inform the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and the ministry will in turn inform the Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning.

The sixth mandate has to do with documentation. Our research findings must be documented in such a way that it’s easily accessible to people. There’s no need for a situation whereby people want to know what’s happening in this country and then they will not know. If we allow the various research institutes to operate independently, you will find out that there will be no coordinated information. And so we have to document the research works. These are some of our mandates, among others.

It is believed that research institutions exist to find solutions to societal problems, but it would appear

that such institutions particularly the agricultural research entities have been failing in this regard. How do you react to this perception?

Well, I have a double approach to this question. The perception may be correct but I am of the view that it is not correct from my own point of view.

Now, why do I say that the perception is correct? You know until now that we are bringing out some of our findings, until now that the situation has forced people to now go into farming, people virtually neglected agriculture to the background.

And so whatever is happening in terms of agriculture people do not know.

If you listen to all the FM radio stations, we popularise music more than we popularise agriculture, we popularise ceremonies more than we popularise agriculture. You will find out that if a ceremony is about to take place, whether it is wedding or political activity or cultural dance, the publicity given to them by the media or sponsors of these occasions far outweigh what we do in agriculture.

You would find out that even in the print media, a small column is always given to the issues of agriculture. So people

would not know what is there.

And on out own part, we have an introvert type of activity because we felt we are allin-all and that people would always come to us for them to get information. So one, we are bedeviled by the fact that people do not even see us as nation builders and so people do not seek information from us to actually know what we’re doing.

However, events of nowadays have come to prove that these research institutes have been doing quite a lot. If you go out there on the field, the typical village farmer knows the existence of various varieties of rice, they know the existence of varieties of cassava, and they know the ‘mini-sett’ technique for yam farming. They know a lot about the horticultural products that are there, which variety of okro is doing well.

Now, let me narrow down to the few achievements that we have recorded recently.

Look at what the National Veterinary Research Institute had done in Vom, in terms of keying into the issues of diagnosis of COVID-19.

Right now, it is a center for diagnosis of this disease within the North-Central zone. Before now, in 2004 or thereabout, we had been a regional centre for fighting animal diseases for West and Central Africa. This is our research institute but because this does not come into the focus of the general population, they don’t see anything. The typical herdsman, the pastoralist knows of the existence of the National Veterinary Research Institute because we provide the vaccines even though not adequate, for fighting animal diseases.

When Rinderpest came out in 1992 or thereabout, it was our research system in this country that brought about the end of Rinderpest to the extent that we have eradicated Rinderpest in this country, and it is the efforts of our research institutes.

When the Avian Influenza was reported in this country, the research system coupled with the universities, the research institute in Vom and of course, government policy were responsible for the control of the Avian influenza far before countries. That is for veterinary research.

Now, if you go to Shika, where you have a new breed of chickens that we have come up with - that is Shika Brown - if you go to the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, they have developed a new variety of chicken that can grown very fast. Now, if you go to the National Root Crop Research Institute, Umudike, they have succeeded in developing a variety of cassava that has incorporated vitamin A in order to solve the problem of eyesight. The National Institute of Horticultural Research conducted a research during the dreaded tomato blight.

We were the ones that developed the control of that tomato blight in this country and of course, the tomato farmers know that very well because it was devastating. If you go to ABU Zaria, just recently because of the problem of cowpea - beans- everybody knows about the problem of low productivity of cow pea. The insect pests that are destroying the beans right from the field to the extent that it made it very difficult for us to export our beans.

Right now, with the collaboration of the African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF), we have come up with a variety of SAMPEA 20-T; we developed this in this country and this is to fight against that pest.

So, with these chains of activities you see it’s something big. If you go to the South Western part of this country you will find out that the various state governments know the

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T H I S D AY ˾ MONDAY AUGUST 23, 2021

BUSINESSWORLD

INTERVIEW You are a major stakeholder in the agricultural sector. What do regard as key challenges to maximising the potentials of the sector?

You see, skills acquisition by our various farmers is crucial. And I have said these things times without number - agriculture is a science, farming is a profession and you must put these two together. If you ask who is a farmer, can you define a farmer? You can’t define a farmer and because you cannot define who a farmer is, everybody at his leisure becomes a farmer.

President Muhammadu Buhari, from my own experience, has released more money than any government in this country in terms of trying to help people to farm. Through the Anchor Borrowers Scheme, and the Agric Small and Medium Enterprise Scheme (AGSMEIS), the central bank has made a lot of resources available and I am not arguing whether it reaches the people or not but I can tell you and I have discussed with my state governor - Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau State, and they have all attested to the fact that look, some of these resources had been distributed.

contribution of the Institute of Agricultural Research and Training in Ibadan. The Ahmadu Bello University Institute of Agricultural Research has the responsibility of bringing various varieties of millet, okro, sorghum and maize. These are all available.

What we need to do is to move from out cocoon, burst the cocoon and come out and tell people that this is it. I told you initially that the perception that the research institutes may be right - it’s because for each research institute we have created sub- stations but these sub-stations, because of the funding situations, have remained dormant. They are non functional so to say. We have personnel and infrastructure there but the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Alhaji Sabo Nanono, in his own wisdom has decided to direct that these sub-stations must start functioning and he has directed that every Institute’s budget must reflect what activity they are going to do at each of the substations and he meant it very seriously because he didn’t just communicate verbally, he communicated in writing and in public activities.

Apart from that, he said our extension activities in order to augment what the state governments are doing, our extension activities must kickoff. So he wants the establishment of outreach centers not located in the cities this time around but in areas of concentration of the farmers and that involves not only out research institutes but also involved our federal colleges of agriculture.

In recent times, there has been mixed feelings among farmers and Nigerians to a large extent over the safety of genetically enhanced crops, animals and birds. These concerns have come amidst isolated cases of food poisoning, among others. As an authority in the food research space, are there really side effects to these genetic alterations in agriculture?

Thank you very much. Productivity is driven by policy. Policy is the handwork of a government. Without singing praises, the current government decided that there would be no policy somersault but rather they will prefer to build on what had existed before.

The President MuhammaduBuhari regime has created and strengthened existing bodies that have regulatory functions on some of those things, and it is based on this that I am telling people that if products get into anywhere and they are adjudged as poisonous then you know that it is not the regulatory mechanism that has failed, but may be there’s a criminal involvement.

So, what are those things that have been put in place? One, the Soil Science Council has been put in place to regulate what goes on with the soil. The Plant Protection Bill has just been passed and signed into law

by President MuhammaduBuhari. The seed council has been strengthened and given better capacity and funding to exist. The National Agricultural Quarantine Services has been strengthened, the bill has been signed into law and very strong executive powers have been given to the council to ensure prosecution. The National Variety Release Committee has also been strengthened.

What we have done to assure people is that there is now a synergy in the strengthened organisations and the new ones that are created by President Buhari. How is that being done? We developed at our research institutions new crop varieties and we are not allowed to develop and propagate. These are subjected to environmental and human safety procedures. These are now sent to the national seed council which deliberates on it, sends them to the National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA) again for human and environmental safety.

From there, there is a meeting of variety release committee and before an item is released by that committee. It is a very tedious process; you have to defend and convincingly tell people that this thing is safe. Now, it is only when it is approved by the variety release committee that these things are being sent to the public.

Now, the direct sending to the public is not also done; we get offtakers, those that are interested. Reputable seed companies have to key in, take off these products; develop them and they also in their own laboratories subject the seeds to quality assurance before being released to the public.

“You see, skills acquisition by our various farmers is crucial. And I have said these things times without number - agriculture is a science, farming is a profession and you must put these two together.”

So these are some if the things that this government has done. Before then, yes, some of these organisations existed but in order to strengthen and ensure safety, more have been created and of course to ensure synergy for us to do that. And you know that these are not organisations that are under one ministry.

The Ministry Of Science is there, Ministry Of Environment is there and the Ministry Of Agriculture is there.

What are the challenges confronting agricultural research in the country, and how are the various institutions being strengthened to be more effective in their roles?

There is one major problem affecting agricultural research and for our council specifically: it is the issue of the template for budgeting. And I want people to get that very clear. We are not talking about funding because for now honestly funding is on the increase. But the template for the release of funds is our major problem.

If you subject the research institutes to the funding templates of the budget, it is going to be a problem because for research there is always a methodology until the end result.

So, once you have a stop at a certain phase, it would affect the next phase you will enter because researches are expected to be time-bound. So at a certain point in time when the money budgeted for that purpose is not released, then there’s a problem.

Elsewhere, from my experience of the World Bank sponsoring our research, they budget the money and that money does not lapse. So you have that money not under your custody but with the sponsoring body - may be at the level of the accountant general or central bank. Once you say okay this research will take N10 million but we phase the costing of this research - may be there are five phases of N2 million each, immediately you are about to

finish the first phase, funding should be released on proper accountability for the second phase to take-off.

But a situation where you use the budget template in the country and you release money in April and then the next batch of money is coming in September; now you finish one phase and you have to wait until funding is available before you move to the second phase. This is a major challenge and a very serious challenge.

Now, one other thing which remains a challenge is honestly the issue of capacity.

The capacity is a problem because we always give priority to one sector over the other. So if you go to a research institute for example now, you will find out that we tend to align our training methodology toward a particular side.

Today we say maize is very important and so everybody wants to go into maize, thereby neglecting other areas.

We need a lot of breeders that are trained to international standards and what we are talking about is a training that would ensure this. The council is now trying to organise what we call twining of laboratories to try and see how we can partner with other laboratories. Even within the country, once you are better in terms of biochemistry for example, we make sure that this laboratory links up with you; we may be better in one part and you are better in other part and so we link up. We want to ensure regular interaction between our various staff and researchers so that we will be able to build this capacity.

And of course one final challenge which I hope the Plant Protection Bill will be able to address is our capacity for conservation. Most of the crops you see in this country now we rely on what is coming from the outside. But with the Plant Protection Bill, with our insistence on trying to see that we establish our gene bank, the issue of conservation will become a thing of the past within a very short time.

People have confessed that they have seen these resources but you know farming is not about getting the money. One, who is the farmer that had received the money?

What is the interest of that farmer that has received the money and where is the farm he is cultivating?

Before we talk about other factors of production, we must recognize that the skills are not there. It is the skill that makes you a farmer. In the comfort of this office, I can be an absentee farmer; I don’t know when to plant, I don’t know when to grow, I don’t know when to weed, I don’t know when to do anything and government comes to say take N10 million and go and invest. It’s going down the drain. So this is a major challenge.

Acquisition of skill is not just meant for the student of agriculture but it’s meant for the farmer because it is only when the farmer has the skills that he will know all these stages of farming and he will know all he needs to do in order to protect his investment.

If you move from Abuja to Keffi, there are many farms established by the roadside, they’ve all come up and collapsed. This is due to lack of skills not because they don’t have money. By merely seeing the infrastructure they have put there you know they’ve spent money but because the skill is not there those farms are subjected to pilfering and maladministration and poor techniques of doing things, and these also affects out farmer in the village.

Let us subject our agricultural students to internship. Can we train them for a period of three months just like the medical students after graduation are subjected to internship for one year, the student of veterinary medicine to internship...there they’ll develop the skills and love.

So, the syndrome of paper qualification will be removed through that internship. Now, those who have successfully passed through the internship can then be the beneficiaries of our anchor borrower scheme and interventions.

By do doing; we will not be losing a good number of them to recharge card selling and to fraud or crime, among others.

At the end of your tenure at the ARCN, what legacies would you like to leave behind?

What I need to achieve now is a focused budget on research. We want to redesign the template for funding research. That’s one.

Two, we want to have a better synergy among all the agencies of government that has to do with agricultural research. Three, I want an effective communication system for the farmers; to take research findings from the research institutes to the farmer and these will involve an efficient agricultural radio on 24- hour service and an efficient television on 24-hour service. For now, our studio is ready, our mast has been erected, we have paid for registration and we are now trying to come out by the end of this year.

Lastly, I want the presence of all our research institutes in every nook and cranny of this country through the establishment of numerous outreach centers so that our farmers will not find it difficult to access information.

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MONDAY AUGUST 23, 2021 ˾ T H I S D AY

BUSINESSWORLD

PERSPECTIVE

When Not To Be Finance Minister Bisi Daniels

I

f as it has been suggested, facial expressions and body movements account for between 60 to 65 per cent of all communication, the plain public face of Mrs Zainab Ahmed offers nothing in body language about her current position as Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning.

As prestigious as the portfolio is, it comes with delicate responsibilities and high public expectations.

The occupant of that office is the immediate recipient of blame for an economy gone wrong; and with the current economic challenges, the seat must be hot enough to leave traces on her.

Yet, at best, people gifted with the power of description can only describe Ahmed’s public face as plain, tending towards seriousness and devoid of emotions.

A lady called her “Obirin Metta” in the Yoruba language, meaning a powerful woman with a three-in-one portfolio, but even that leaves no shade of pride or fatigue on her.

“If she wears pride because of her important ministry,” one observer said, “you would have heard lawmakers, she often meets with, accuse her of arrogance or even threaten her with arrest.

Another test of her humility came when Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, accused the government of “economic rascality” for allegedly printing money for the Federation Account Allocation Committee to share among the tiers of government.

Her response was measured. She said, “The issue that was raised by the Edo State Governor for me is very, very sad because it is not a fact. “What we distribute at FAAC is revenue that is generated and, in fact, distribution of the revenue is public information. We publish revenue generated

by FIRS, the Customs and the NNPC, and we distribute at FAAC. It is not true to say we printed money to distribute at FAAC; it is not true.”

The weight of her portfolio, including the unceasing flow of high-level meetings she attends frequently are expected to leave stress marks of her face, but none is visible. Not even the burden of the national economy has been able to leave marks, any more than her trademark glasses has.

Confident on of her job, she looked like one who has no worries for a long time until she confessed she has them, including one that causes her sleepless nights.

Asked by Poju Oyemade, senior pastor of Covenant Christian Centre, during “The Platform,” (an annual conference organised to mark Nigeria’s Independence anniversary), to list three things that keep her awake at night, the minister replied: “Number one is revenue, number two is revenue and three – I would say, is revenue.”

Ahmed’s availability for the event also attests to the modesty and accessibility of a minister who has also granted lengthy interviews to many mainstream newspapers.

Knowledge of the complexities of her portfolio should also equip her with the understanding that Nigeria’s lean revenue base, which has been further eroded by the socio-economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, offers scary scenarios to anybody who understands basic economics.

However, even as one rejoices with the minister over recent increases in oil prices, the joy is quickly discounted by the burden of fuel subsidy the Federal Government has tied around its neck.

One observer was recently rejoicing for her over the affinity of oil prices with the roof at over $70 per barrel until the Group General Manager of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Mele Kyari deflated him with the explanation that higher oil price was ironically bad news for the economy.

He described the rising price of crude oil as a “chicken and egg” situation, expressing concern that the prices had started exiting the comfort zone set by the NNPC to becoming a burden.

Kyari put the comfort zone globally at $58-$60, saying that for the NNPC, anything

Ahmed above $70 per barrel will create major distortions in the corporation’s projections and add more problems to it.

Clearly an embarrassing irony, but as a top member of a government that chooses socio-political stability at a high economic opportunity cost, a finance minister can only add the search for a balance to her job.

Also, although she has persistently argued that the country’s increasing debt burden is manageable, Ahmed does not fail to recognize the poor revenue match.

According to her, “The Nigerian debt is still within sustainable limit. What we need to do as I have said several times is to improve our revenue to enhance our capacity to service, not only our debt, but to service the needs of running government on day to day basis. So our debt currently at about 23% to GDP is at a very sustainable level if you look at all the reports that you see from multilateral institutions.”

Similarly, the Debt Management Office (DMO) recently reacted swiftly to recent reports that the World Bank had classified Nigeria among high–risk debtor countries.

Denying that Nigeria is a high-risk country, the DMO said that Nigeria’s IDA’s debt stock as at June 30, 2021 was $11.7 billion, explaining that IDA loans represent one of the most favourable borrowing options for countries like Nigeria and is also consistent with the Medium Term Debt Management Strategy of the Federal Government. However, the current burden of debt-serving could be intimidating.

While it may be comforting that chucks of the borrowed funds go into infrastructure financing, it can only be hoped that the next government will not be profligate

or be afflicted with a poor maintenance habit. The debt will still be there.

The Director-General of the Budget Office of the Federation, Ben Akabueze, recently provided another dimension of the revenue question when he admitted that Nigeria’s federal budget, at 4.6 per cent of the gross domestic product (GDP), is “too low in terms of number and the socio-economic challenges.

According to him, the country’s revenue to GDP is currently about eight per cent, just a percentage ahead of Sudan, which sits on the bottom of the regional ranking. South Africa’s 29 per cent, and Algeria’s 33 per cent compared to a 22 per cent regional average.

Also, with an inflation rate of 17.38 percent, down for three consecutive months; 82.9 million Nigerians adjudged to be living in poverty, Gross Domestic Product of 152,32 trillion Naira in 2020, and an annual growth rate of 0.51 per cent as at March, 2021, the macroeconomic indicators look promising but could be better for a country in need of fast development.

The problem boils down to the low revenue base of the country with a widening expenditure profile.

An observer said recently that anytime she hears of fresh payment approvals by the Federal Government, especially for unions that should know the state of the economy, she pities the Finance Minister, wondering if “Nigeria’s cloth is being cut according to size or the material.”

Concerned about the trickling revenue stream, Ahmed said: “We have been trying to block and also enhance the cohesion of our people, especially within the revenue ecosystem. We have invested in IT system and trying to collaborate and bring things together,” Ahmed said.

“We have a process whereby monthly,

“Despite her achievements, challenges persist, some of them as big as the urgency to increase revenue streams and growing the economy fast enough to effectively address poverty, as well as ensuring an all-inclusive economy.”

we sit down and reconcile our revenues and tally up the numbers. We are working on interfacing all the IT systems to see companies’ revenue on a real-time or near real-time basis.

“I am prioritising revenue generation as the biggest challenge,” she said. “As a result, I am steering my team to implement some revenue growth strategies aimed at boosting revenue performance, by deploying new initiatives.”

The minister also constituted Tax Appeal Tribunals across the country to accelerate the resolution of over 209 pending cases relating to tax revenues of about $18.804 billion, N205.654 billion and €0.821 million.

To improve accountability and ultimately improve the performance of Governmentowned Enterprises (GOEs), the expenditure plans of the revenue generating entities were reviewed for the introduction of more proactive revenue tracking and monitoring mechanism.

Also, through improved planning and a harmonious relationship with the legislature, the country has restored its more businessfriendly January-December budget year.

The 2020 winner of the Finance Minister Prize of the African Banker Awards has been commended for “pushing through a set of difficult reforms as well as successfully engaging international partners to help the country navigate an extremely challenging economic environment.”

She admitted last week that, “The year 2020 was like no other year, particularly due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, Our three-year consecutive growth in the GDP was stalled at the second quarter of 2020 by the harsh economic impact of the global pandemic.

The Ministry helped to take the economy through the frightening months of COVID-19, and also helped to set it on a path to steady growth.

Under her charge, the Finance Act 2019 was passed at a record time before the 2020 budget. Counting the benefits, she said, “Through the Finance Act, we have achieved the following: Value added tax (VAT) rate increase from 5 percent to 7.5 percent, which was implemented in February 2020; introduction of a N25 million threshold for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) for eligibility for VAT collection; reduction of tax rates for SMEs (0 percent and 20 percent respectively); administering of the Finance Act 2019; automation of import duty exemption certificate (IDEC) and vehicle registration (V-REG); and automation of the collection of stamp duty.”

Other achievements include defraying inherited debts and liabilities since 2015, such as the refund of the $5.4 billion Paris Club debt over deductions; payment of the $6.8 billion Joint Venture (JV) Cash Call arrears and N1.9 trillion contractor/Export Expansion Grant as well as N488 billion refund to states for roads.

Despite her achievements, challenges persist, some of them as big as the urgency to increase revenue streams and growing the economy fast enough to effectively address poverty, as well as ensuring an all-inclusive economy.

The challenges are some of the reasons it may not be the right time for one to enjoy the leadership of the A-class ministry.

But Ahmed is showing that when not to be a finance minister, is when one is, indeed, needed.

Critics who have said she is not a core economist, like some other countries have, are faulted by her obvious economic literacy and the fact that in the face of the daunting economic challenges, she has shown calmness and courage, doing her job effectively without drama and clatter. Her experience as Minister of State for Budget and National Planning before her promotion has also served her well.

With hardwork and belief in the economic prosperity of the country, even during scary times like the recent recession, Ahmed continues to inspire hope. t #JTJ JT BO BVUIPS BOE KPVSOBMJTU CBTFE JO -BHPT

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T H I S D AY ˾ MONDAY AUGUST 23, 2021

BUSINESSWORLD

NEWS

AGSMEIS: Loan Application Cumbersome, EDIs Frustrating Scheme Says APSAN Gilbert Ekugbe The Agricultural Produce Sellers Association of Nigeria (APSAN) has bemoaned the cumbersome process of applying for the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Agribusiness Small and Medium Enterprises Scheme (AGSMEIS), noting that Entrepreneurial Development Institutions (EDIs) are taking advantage of the situation to extort money from applicant.

In a chat with THISDAY, the National president of APSAN, Aloy Akortsaha commended the scheme, but said the purpose for which the programme was introduced is being defeated no thanks to EDIs. Meanwhile, the Nigeria Incentive-Based Risk Sharing system for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL) Microfinance Bank had issued a statement to deny this claim and promised to grant approvals for loan requests.

Akortsaha said: “The AGSMEIS purposely introduced by the federal government to give long term loans of 8 years, but NIRSAL has succeeded in empowering or creating an avenue for EDIs, because before accessing these fund, you must go through the EDIs who would train and prepare a business plan for you for about N25, 000, but after paying this fee, applicants still cannot access the loans just a fragment of successful applicants have so far accessed this loan since the inception.”

He added: “NIRSAL is a very wonderful policy by the

federal government through the CBN so that farmers can access loans, but some of these policies are not being implemented effectively. Some people have applied since February 2020 only to see their application declined after spending money on the training and business plan. This has created an avenue for EDIs to exploit people. This is not good. We have over 100 EDIs that are exploiting people.”

According to him, many of its members have fallen victims, calling on the CBN to scrap EDIs. “Our members have fallen victims of this and they keep bringing complaints to my table. The policy is good, but the process is not encouraging and we want the CBN to stop the EDI from exploiting us.

The process is wrong that is why the EDIs are capitalising on it to make money. They charge N5, 000 for business plan, N10,000 for consultation and N10,000 for training which makes it N25,000 altogether.

The process is very cumbersome that an individual cannot apply on his own from the beginning to the end, so you must pass through these EDIs and they will exploit you and it is very unfortunate,” he stressed.

He however stated that there are commendable policies being formulated by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development aimed at helping farmers in the country, but stated that the implementers of these laudable policies are

MTN Reassures Nigerians on Long Term Business Relationship Emma Okonji MTN Nigeria, yesterday, restarted its commitment to promote long term business that will enhance economic growth of Nigeria.

CEO of MTN Nigeria, Mr. Karl Toriola restated the ommitment during the 20th anniversary celebration of MTN operations in Nigeria, which held in Lagos.

According to Toriola, “MTN Nigeria is a Nigerian entity and will continue to do things that will promote the growth of the Nigerian economy, though partnerships and long term value business. As part of the celebration, MTN had initially announced it would give out 20 brand new Honda cars to 20 customers.”

The customers who received the keys to the new cars yesterday, were selected from among MTN customers across the country who bought MTN SIM cards from inception in 2001 and are still with the MTN brand.

Chairman of MTN Board, Dr. Ernest Ndukwe narrated the journey of MTN Nigeria since the rollout of its telecoms services in Nigeria in August 2001, and thanked loyal customers who remained with the brand since inception.

Chief Customer Officer at MTN Nigeria, Ugonwa Nwoye, who featured at a panel session along side the Executive Secretary of MTN Foundation, Odunoya Sanya and the Chief Sales Officer of MTN Nigeria, said MTN decided to honour its customers because they played

key roles in the 20 years journey of MTN Nigeria.

“The customer is key to us and we do not take them for granted. As our customer base increases, we also invest in our network to accommodate more customers. We support our customers to ensure that they receive quality service that will keep them active on the network during communication,” Nwoye said “ MTN has established partnerships with Nigerians from all walks of life and we have sustained our customers and partners since 2001.In the area of job creation, MTN has empowered millions people directly and indirectly, which cut across MTN staff, site engineers, airtime vendors, service providers among others,” the Chief Sales Officer said According to Sanya,” MTN sets aside one per cent of its profit to fund the MTN Foundation, which has touched many lives and saved several sick people. MTN has equally supported students through its scholarship programne designed for Nigerian students across tertiary institutions of learning.”

The Chief Technical Officer (CTO) at MTN Nigeria, Mr. Mohammed Yusuf, while fielding questions from journalists, said MTN would continue to work with state governments and state government agencies to address the issue of Right of Way (RoW) charges, to enable MTN rollout more of its services, including broadband and 5G services.

frustrating the government’s plan to diversify the economy through agriculture Reacting to the spate of insecurity hindering farming activities, he said the nation’s agriculture contributes sig-

nificantly to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), noting that concrete efforts must be carried out to ensure that the safety of farmers is guaranteed.

“The herder-farmer conflict is affecting the economy and this

is why we are seeing the rise in food prices. We are calling on the federal government to be very serious about transforming the agricultural sector because it is one of the surest ways to diversify the nation’s economy

from hydrocarbon resources.

Even at a time when inflation reduced, the prices of commodity were still high because these farmers could not go to the farm or take their produce to the markets,” he added.

BOOSTING PORT OPERATIONS…

L-R: Planning Manager, APM Terminals Apapa, Riyaz Melekolangath; Captain of CMA CGM LAPIS, Capt Aly Ghari; Commercial Manager of APM Terminals Apapa, Temilade Ogunniyi and Deputy Operations Manager, APM Terminals Apapa, Ogechi Obinna Uzoma, onboard the CMA CGM LAPIS at the launch of APM Terminals Apapa’s Berthing Window service in Lagos… recently

‘Logiscool Will Transform Nigerian Children, Small Businesses’ School Manager of Logiscool, Jasmina Marcikic, launch of its first Computer Coding School for kids and teens, Logiscool, will transform Nigeria’s digital literacy.

Logiscool, is an international programming school that organizes regular computer coding after- school classes and summer camps for kids, teens which was first started in Budaörs, Hungary in January 2014.

In a statement, Marcikic said the school’s main aim is to create a platform that would ehnace the development of digital literacy amognst young Nigerians.

“We want to create digitally literate young people with the knowledge they gain here, not just in programing skills, but through the problem-solving

fun-based activities, they would become much more prepared to fit into the highly demanding tech market space; because I know they do not get this type of training in the regular schools and universities, from my experience it is not just Nigeria, this age group is usually not targeted,” she said.

Marcikic also stated the launching of the school in Nigeria provides investment opportunities for small businesses, which also offers chances of making high returns.

“There is a master franchise and there is also an opportunity for us, as you can see, the school here to sell the franchise to other single units. So we are also searching for our partners because this one is for smallsized businesses. After all, we

do not have too many staff, it is not a big investment, so it also an investment opportunity for small businesses, the returns of the investment is very fast and then we give them know-how from the marketing training.

They get the proper training in our franchise, ”Marcikic added.

The school manager pointed out that not all Nigerians can afford the training for their kids, hence the reason for their plans to partner with NGOs to help the less privileged Nigerian children be a part of the training process.

She said, “Not everybody can afford this type of education and come directly to our schools, but through NGOs, we think that the kids and underprivileged kids can learn digital literacy.

Nigeria is starting to be very

popular, there are no country boundaries. We have some of these kids that can not go to proper schools but if we can in the future maybe find proper partners we are willing to give this kind of education to many broader students.”

In a world driven by technology, Marcikic added that the school uses a carefully designed curriculum to teach children how to become active creators of technology, not just passive users.

“Children do not just use their phones to play gams, here they actually learn to create something and be creatos. We are not just creating programmers, we are creating digital literates kids and through unique kind of learning methodology.”

APM Terminals Apapa Boosts Service Delivery with Berthing Window APM Terminals Apapa has launched a Berthing Window service to reduce the waiting time of ships and help consignees take prompt delivery of their consignments at the port.

The first Berthing Window for the WAF/MWX service (operated

by Hapag Lloyd, CMA-CGM & Arkas) was launched recently with the arrival of the 4,360 TEU CMA CGM LAPIS at APM Terminals Apapa, which is located within the Lagos Port Complex, Apapa.

The Chief Commercial Officer of APM Terminals Apapa, Richard Smith, who was represented at the launch of the maiden edition of the Berthing

Window by the Commercial Manager, Temilade Ogunniyi, said the service will enable the allocation of a fixed time period for vessels to berth, discharge, load and sail.

He said the new Berthing Window is another major milestone achievement at APM Terminals Apapa to enhance service delivery and improve customer experience.

“The berthing window is a major step towards bringing structure to the berth schedule, cutting waiting time to zero, assisting shipping lines to maintain a regular fixed arrival time, and allowing us to deliver better services to Nigerian importers

and exporters,” Smith said.

The Port Manager of Lagos Port Complex Apapa, Olufunmilayo Olotu, who also witnessed the launch of the Berthing Window, commended APM Terminals Apapa for the new initiative, which she said would boost service delivery and eliminate ship waiting time at the port.

“This development means the schedules are sent ahead and there will be no more waiting time. We are placing premium on professionalism and professionalism means aligning with international best practices, one of which we are witnessing today.

“It has been said that ship-

ping is all about time and time is money. We want to reduce the number of ships that are kept waiting at anchorage. So for every minute that a vessel is kept waiting, we are talking of global economic implications.

Therefore, our duty is to ensure that we reduce the waiting time to the barest minimum, and we are collaborating with APM Terminals to ensure that customers are satisfied,” Olotu said.

Also speaking at the event, Senior Manager, Operation at Hapag-Lloyd, Abimbola Kolade, commended APM Terminals for launching the Berthing Window.

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Automotive Industry Critical to Economic Development, Says NADDC Boss James Emejo in Abuja The Director General, National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), Mr. Jelani Aliyu, has said that the automotive industry remained central to the country’s economic prosperity.

Also, he said that the role of youths in the development of the nation’s automotive industry could not be underestimated.

Aliyu spoke in Abuja during the opening of the Midas NFX software capacity building programme, organised by the NADDC in collaboration with Midas IT company of South Korea.

Represented at the occasion

by NADDC Director, Research, Design and Development, Mr. Fidelis Achiv, he said emphasised his desire to ensuring that Nigerian youths assed value the national economy by gaining relevant entrepreneurial skills in the automotive industry.

He said the training was for 20 participants in the North East a well as three from the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) with engineering backgrounds after similar exercises in the Northwest, and Southeast.

The NADDC boss said the capacity building programme was initiated to ensure that the Nigerian youths are empowered

to contribute not just to the automotive industry in Nigeria but also the development of the global automotive industry.

He said the initiative will also help to make them self sustaining and employers of labour.

He said the software capacity building programme was aimed towards training talented Nigerian youths in the use of software to design automotive and other allied components.

Aliyi said earlier beneficiaries of the software training have been able to open shops and are already employers of labour.

He said, “They are designing components for the automotive industry and the global automotive industry and have also solved the problem of youth unemployment. They have employed themselves and employed other people.

“It is our hope that you

also take this programme very seriously and at the end of the programme, you need to also establish your own venture where you can design.”

He said, “So much money has gone into making this programme... and equip you and give you all the necessary gadgets to be able to design these components.

“The software will teach you how to design, how to simulate and how to test all

your products including final element analysis.”

Also, member of the council’s board of directors, Dr. Nankin Bagodu, said the country needed more engineers to offer proper solution to the challenges in the sector.

He pointed out that NADDC was moving forward with the global dynamism and stressed the need for youths to seize the opportunity to leapfrog the country into prosperity.

Ezekwesili Lauds Torrens’ Varsity Partnership with Ehizua Hub Emma Okonji Former Minister of Education, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili, has commended the recent partnership between Torrens University Australia, and Ehizua Hub of Nigeria, designed to provide African students with greater access to online study options.

The new partnership will also see the introduction of new scholarships for African students, available across a range of Torrens University courses.

According to her, the partnership would further strengthen online courses and provide opportunity for African students to connect to the world, while carrying out academic research.

Ezekwesili who is the advisory board chair of Ehizua Hub, described the scholarship initiative as a direct commitment of Torrens University Australia and Ehizua Hub, in creating access to quality education for women and youth in Africa.

Ehizua Hub is a social enterprise that provides equal access to education, as well as fostering innovation and entrepreneurship by bridging financial and digital divides.

Senior Vice President, International at Torrens University, Mark Falvo said: “Our commitment with Ehizua Hub to facilitate admission and

scholarship for African students to Torrens University Australia is driven by our pledge to fundamentally ‘Be Good’.

This simple but powerful ethos affirms our commitment to champion the power of education to connect Africa for good. It is embedded in support for our students.”

Education Partnership Director of Ehizua Hub, Martha Hendra, who is currently in Nigeria supporting the activities of Ehizua Hub, said: “This partnership provides the opportunity for students to access local tailored internship opportunities, teamwork, and online learning.”

Students and graduates of Torrens University in Nigeria can access Ehizua Hub for computer labs with reliable internet and relevant software.

Ehizua Hub provides a platform for students to learn more about studying in Australia, and to connect, network, and workshop with peers.

CEO of Ehizua Hub, Matthias Ehizua, said: “Access to affordable quality education and fostering innovation and entrepreneurship are the best ways to achieve inclusive and equal education with enhanced graduate outcomes in Africa and beyond. These beliefs drive the founding values of Ehizua Hub.”

AMMBAN Confab to Explore Framework for Financial Inclusion Gains Emma Okonji

The 5th conference of the Association of Mobile Money and Bank Agents in Nigeria (AMMBAN), which holds in November in Abuja, with the theme “Sustaining the Gain of Financial Inclusion: Exploring suitable framework for last mile Drivers,” seeks to explore suitable framework to sustain gains achieved in the financial inclusion initiative of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

National President of AMMBAN, Mr. Victor Olojo, who made the disclosure recently, said the conference would be looking into the best ways for last mile drivers to sustain the gains of financial inclusion.

According to Olojo, “Looking back over the past five years that AMMBAN started, we are happy to say that we have witnessed meaningful gain in the industry.

For instance, the Shared Agent Network Expansion Facilities (SANEF) has recorded 700,000 mobile money and banking agents spread across the country.

This is a good sign that we have made progress and the federal government financial inclusion target has been met and exceeded.

“We believe that we need to ensure that we work and build on these gains by creating a sustainable framework that will make us to achieve the results we desire, beyond getting the numbers, other things need to be put in place such as regulations, proper framework, agents welfare and security of agents, issues around broadening the scope and ensuring that we are able to do other services beyond cashin cash-out such as insurance, micro-pension, micro –investment for us to be able to capture the informal market.”

L-R: Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo and the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), Mr Musa Idris, during thecourtesy visit of NOSDRA’s CEO to the Naval Headquarters, Abuja... recently

FG, Friesland Sign MOU to Strengthen Dairy Value Chain Oluchi Chibuzor The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD) and FrieslandCampina WAMCO have signed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), aimed at strengthening the nation’s dairy value chain.

The MoU is focused on developing Nigeria’s dairy smallholder farmers across the country towards improving the quality of locally produced milk, boost production and increase the network of milk suppliers in the country.

Disclosing this through a statement signed by Information Officer 11, Mohammed Abdullahi Gana, for the Director of Information, FMARD, Nanono said that the significance of the Dairy Value Chain MoU was to

strengthen the smallholder dairy farming business.

Nanono noted that it would help transform the largely nomadic cattle herders to sedentary dairy farmers and also provide the required infrastructure and training in the Dairy Value Chain.

He pointed out that as part of the agreement, ‘’the Ministry will set up crossbreeding centers to produce quality heifers and strengthen the capacity of pastoralists and smallholder dairy farmers to produce and supply raw milk to increase the market share of locally produced milk as well as create employable labour and expansion of investment opportunities for farmers’ prosperity.”

According to him, previous collaboration with the firm on key programmes such

as the Center for Nigerian Dutch Dairy Development (CNDDD) and the Value for Dairy Consortium has been pulling together value chain actors with the right support from expert partners.

He lauded the FrieslandCampina WAMCO for its commitment towards carrying out programs and projects aimed at accelerating the pace of development in the Dairy Value Chain in Nigeria.

In his remarks, the Managing Director, FrieslandCampina WAMCO, Mr. Ben Langat, stated that, “the initial MoU established a structure and model for dairy development in Nigeria. It brought to focus the urgent need to put in place the right infrastructure and expertise that will support local milk

sourcing in Nigeria’.

“Building on the progress made, the renewal of the MoU will enable both parties to replicate the successes achieved in the past 10 years in Oyo, Ogun, Niger, Osun and Kwara states, in other parts of Nigeria whilst supporting various dairy co-operatives in the country.

“Under the MoU, both parties will provide a networking environment for 30,000 cattle herders and transform dairy farming practices by introducing improved techniques and also providing farmers with extension services to enhance raw milk quality and farm productivity. We will introduce commercial credit to farmers and build confidence between benefiting farmers and financial institutions for viable agri-business.”

Private Security Professionals Seek Synergy, Policy Advocacy Nume Ekeghe Professional security practitioners under the auspices of ASIS International has advocated for convergence of interventions and vital policy advocacy as keys to revolutionising security practice and improving the standards within the industry in Nigeria.

Speaking recently at the Lagos ASIS Chapter 206 retreat and leadership conference at Epe, Lagos State, the Chapter Chairman, Mr. Peter Okoloh affirmed the need for industrywide collaboration that will

result in coherent articulation of a security blueprint that can be presented to the government for improved security in the country.

“Driving quality and excellence within the security industry requires knowledge and leadership. That is why it is very important at this point for us to strategically situate cyber and physical security convergence in moving forward as an industry. Secondly, we should also look at the possibility of developing a private security industry profile that will help

us to lobby at the National Assembly for standardization, ”he said.

According to the Group Managing Director of Halogen Group, Mr. Wale Olaoye, there is no better time for the private security industry in Nigeria to seek standardization of their practice than now.

He noted that collaboration and knowledge sharing are key to achieving the much-desired excellence in the industry.

“Collaborative engagement should be looked into by private security service providers to

enable the industry to achieve practice standardization. Also, competencies, new capabilities and proper regulations in Nigeria are strategic to accelerating the private security practice to global standards”, Olaoye said.

In her contribution, Founder, Bulwark Intelligence, Mrs Tanwa Ashiru, described the retreat as a very productive knowledge-sharing platform capable of catapulting the industry to its desired height.

She also opined that technology has become an indispensable tool for solving security issues.

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Yuguda: Capital Market Must Strengthened to Drive Production, Create Employment Darasimi Adebisi The Director-General of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Mr. Lamido Yuguda has expressed the need for the capital market to be strengthened to accelerate domestic production and employment given the direct correlation between increase in production and job creation.

To achieve this, he said there is the need to leverage the capital market for intermediation by facilitating access to capital.

This, he said, can be done by making it easy for corporates to access long-term finance in an efficient manner, the capital market enhances the production levels of companies, thereby improving the capacity of such companies to expand their operations and employ additional labour.

Lamido spoke at the Annual workshop of the Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers with the theme, “Leveraging the Financial markets to achieve double digit economic growth for Nigeria,” held in Abuja.

The SEC boss posited that it should truly not be difficult to achieve double digit growth in Nigeria given that most key factors of production like a large vibrant youthful population,

arable land, abundant rainfall, good drainage, and a large and growing pool of savings are available.

He said, “Infrastructure is the area where we have a major problem, and here I mean roads and rail transportation, power generation and distribution, health infrastructure, and the like. I believe the capital can play a vital role in the financing of infrastructure and forums such as this one would do well to dwell on this important subject.

“Recall that at independence in 1960 the domestic savings pool was rather limited, yet the new nation was able to mobilise adequate funds from both domestic and foreign sources to fund the construction of highways, railways and large power projects. These same projects are in a dismal state today when the population has grown more than threefold.

The Commission is increasingly focusing its attention on this subject because of its impact on economic development and the quality of life of our citizens.”

According to Yuguda the theme of the workshop, “Leveraging the Financial Markets to Achieve Double Digit Economic Growth for Nigeria,” is very relevant,

CAC to Unveil New Business Registrations James Emejo and Folalumi Alaran in Abuja The Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), Garba Abubakar, has disclosed that two new forms of business registrations which were provided for by the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) 2020 will be available to Nigerians by the end of August.

He said the Limited Partnership (LP) and Limited Liability Partnership (LLP) were becoming increasingly desirable across various jurisdictions around the world.

Abu Bakar, at a stakeholders’ forum in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, also said that the commission was making arrangements to deploy a Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software next year.

He said the solution was designed to interact with customers and resolve their challenges within 24 hours.

The CAC boss also doused customers’ concerns over the commission’s denial of certain names for registration, adding

that such rejected names had security implications while others were deceptive or abstract.

He therefore advised customers to always approach the commission with fully qualified names that equally agree with objects of the association or organisation applying for registration.

The registrar general who also used the forum to highlight the commission’s ongoing reforms stated that filing of statement of affairs and biannual statements were now conducted seamlessly on the companies registration portal.

He added that all but two forms of post incorporation filings were now available online 24 hours a day on the company registration portal.

Abubakar stressed that the CAC no longer entertain filing of share transfer as it was alien to the law, pointing out that information on Person with Significant Control (PSC) was available free of charge on the CAC website inline with global anti-money laundering requirement.

particularly for a developing economy like Nigeria. With a GDP growth rate of -1.92per cent in 2020 and an IMF growth forecast of only 2.5per cent for 2021, Nigeria requires higher and preferably double-digit growth rate to be able to reduce poverty and provide for the welfare of its citizens.

In addition, he said there is a need to urgently address the country’s high unemployment rate, which currently stands at

The Institute of Leadership for Policy Implementation (ILPI) has petitioned the 7-Up Bottling Company (SBC) over an alleged unwarranted risking of the public health space and violation of consumer rights and psyches with qualitycompromised products.

The petition dated May 29, 2020 was signed by its legal counsel, Mr. Waziri Dada Ahmed and chairman of institute’s standardisation and industrial ethics monitoring committee, Dr. Tope Alabi, and addressed to the production manager of the beverage company.

The institute stated that an aggrieved consumer of the company’s product, Mr. Anthony Adejoh, had lodged a complaint with it, alleging to have bought a 35-CL volume glass bottle of 7-UP, a popular brand of the SBC from a shop in shop at the Gwagwalada axis of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The consumer allegedly upon close examination, discovered that the said soft drink was badly polluted and corrupted by a sputum-like suspension floating therein even with the bottle still uncorked.

“The complainer understandably strongly feels that the intolerably shocking experience

as the apex body responsible for regulating and developing the Nigerian capital market undertakes specific activities to ensure investor protection, preserve the integrity of the market and improve its overall efficiency through registration, surveillance and enforcement activities.

In his remarks, President/ Chairman of Council of CIS, Mr. Olatunde Amolegbe said Nigeria is blessed with immense

human and natural resources, but expressed dismay that the country is listed among the poorest countries in the world in term of per capita income.

According to him: “Just recently, in 2020, the country fell into its second economic recession in 5 years, although largely attributed to the covid-19 pandemic which affected all countries in the world. We exited the recession in the fourth quarter of the same year 2020.

NEW ERA…

L-R; General Manager, Human Resources, Total Nigeria Plc, Mrs Adesua Adewole; Company Secretary, Mrs Olubunmi Popoola; Managing Director, Imrane Barry; General Manager, Commercial, Weruche Nwagbara and Executive Director, Lexley Baxter during the launching of new name/logo, Total Energies Marketing Nigeria Plc for the company in Lagos PHOTO: ABIODUN AJALA on Friday

Stakeholders Call for Effective Implementation of Nigeria’s Local Content Policy Emma Okonji Stakeholders in telecommunications who gathered at the maiden edition of the Policy Implementation Assisted Forum (PIAFo), which focused on National Policy for Promotion of Indigenous Content in the Nigerian Telecommunications Sector, have stressed the need for effective implementation of the policy.

The virtual forum, organised recently by Business Metrics Nigeria, with the theme: Facilitating Policy Implementation to Deliver Value in the Nigerian Telecoms Sector, was designed to ensure proper implementation of the indigenous content policy in the telecoms sector beyond verbal commitment.

In his keynote address, the

Group Petitions 7-Up over Alleged Quality Compromise James Emejo in Abuja

over 30per cent.

The SEC boss said by serving these functions, the financial sector often facilitates domestic production and employment, especially when capital flows efficiently into the production process, leading to employment generation, increase in household disposable income, improved purchasing power and ultimately resulting in higher economic growth.

Yuguda disclosed that the SEC,

must be squarely addressed, if only to alert the unsuspecting teeming consumers and safeguard the public health space of the nation in the critical and all-encompassing area of beverage consumption,” the petition read in part.

The institute had on behalf of the complainer, sought for legitimate redress from the company, urging the latter to unequivocally accept responsibility for the production and infiltration of the tainted soft drink into the Nigerian public health space with its potency of jeopardising not only the consumer’s health but also the generality of the consuming public.

Executive Vice Chairman, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof.

Umar Garba Danbatta, who was represented by a deputy director at NCC and Team Lead, Nigeria Office for Developing Indigenous Telecoms Sector (NODITS), Babagana Digima, said NCC would continue to promote local investment in digital infrastructure and competition in the provision of accessible high speed broadband infrastructure.

According to Danbatta, “President Muhammadu Buhari, recently presented the National Policy for the Promotion of Indigenous Content in the Nigerian Telecom Sector.

The policy seeks to accelerate the pace of indigenous digital capacity development

and thereby enhance national competitiveness and prosperity for indigenous/local players in Nigeria.”

Danbatta who highlighted NCC’s roadmap for implementation of the policy, said the commission established the Nigeria Office for Developing the Indigenous Telecoms Sector (NODITS), in order to address the timely implementation of local content policy.

“The office is saddled with the responsibility of implementation of the local content policy as well as the Executive Orders 003 and 005. Relevant portions of the Nigerian National Broadband Plan (NNBP) 2020-2025 as well as the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS) are also under the purview of

this new office called NODITS,” Danbatta said.

With the constitution of the NODITS, the industry should expect new guidelines and regulations bothering on indigenous content, local manufacturing of telecom equipment, outsourcing of services, construction and lease of telecoms ducts, succession planning in the telecoms sector, corporate governance, and corporate social responsibility, as the need arises, Danbatta further said.

The Executive Director, Broadbased Communications Limited, Mr. Chidi Ibisi, spoke on the need for the support of local industry players through interventionist funding windows of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), to further drive policy on local content.

FG Launches Digital Hub for Agribusiness Folalumi Alaran in Abuja The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr. Niyi Adebayo, has launched a digital agribusiness hub, known as IProduce, to link young farmers with international investors and markets.

The digital hub was created by Inara Foundation and funded by the Islamic Development Bank.

The minister at the launch in Abuja recently said the federal government fully understood the importance of digital platforms like I-Produce adding that this was why it established the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME) Innovation Portal to ensure that

MSMEs have access to a wider market and can be matched with customers and clients.

He said, “Navigating international trade can be a daunting experience for small businesses and I am pleased that the IProduce platform will provide opportunities for businesses to learn more about capitalizing on opportunities under AfCFTA and understanding cross-border trading “ The minister said that his ministry remained committed to ensuring that the country thrived in the international business arena.

He said, “We expect to conclude the development of a world-class investment policy that reflects Sustainable Development Goals

(SGDS), climate concerns, the advent of AfCFTA and position Nigeria as Africa’s premier investment destination.” The founder and Chief Executive Officer of Inara Foundation, Mrs. Aisha Wazir Umar, said iProduce is a virtual agribusiness ecosystem for entrepreneurs, investors, input suppliers, logistics companies, and financial service providers.

Umar, who is a lawyer and humanitarian worker in the North East of Nigeria, said the hub would guide young Nigerians on how to create home grown internationally oriented companies through training, links to deals, standardisation, and access to international markets.

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T H I S D AY ˾ MONDAY AUGUST 23, 2021

HOMES&DESIGN FOURSCORE HOMES’ 360 DEGREES TOWERS 7 STAR LIVING IN IKOYI

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HOMES&DESIGN

HOW TO NAVIGATE REAL ESTATE RISKS AND BREAK EVEN

Olufemi Adegoke Osibona, the initiator of 360 Degrees Towers, has the Olympian spirit of Citius, Altius, Fortius. A well-drilled property developer, illustrious and daring, Osibona has turned not a few deadpan properties into flourishing ventures. His three high-rise real estate pieces built on Gerrard Road, Ikoyi, Lagos, demonstrate the real estate mogul’s height and depth. He shares some commercial nuggets with Bennett Oghifo. Here’s his glorious journey to building skyscrapers in Nigeria Nigeria, and guess what? When I came back from Nigeria, my lawyer said she did not sell it. Why, she said, because the guy was not ready to pay £1500. I said, ‘I didn’t tell you £1500. I said £500.’

Amid that seeming confusion, Osibona realised that he could make more money developing the property. After consulting an architect, he decided to have two flats on the land. He got approval from the town planner for the construction. “That was how my property business started in 1997,” stated Osibona. “I was earning money from the rent I was being paid and also my shoes. The building was sold in 1998.”

On February 1, 1999, he bought 8D Beatty Road.

Not a few thought it was a bad call. “We got approval. It was a big house. We applied for conversion. Therefore, we applied for a two-storey building at the back, but guess what, the council wanted to write two-storey. But they wrote threestorey,” he recalled. That singular mistake fetched him “a lot of money.” Well, not without a threat of demolition.

F

ourscore Homes Chairman Femi Osibona possesses exquisite vision. His fusion of belief and dreams is remarkable. His perspicacity belies a never-say-never spirit. His God-factor hunch provides a thrilling twist to his already extraordinary life’s adventure as a businessman. In human values and temerity, Osibona stands taller than the skyscrapers he loves building. His latest venture, the three towers that make up the 360 Degrees edifice on Gerrard Road, Ikoyi, is breathtaking.

The facility is conceived, designed, and rendered as “Luxury in the Sky.” 360 Degrees offers luxury high-rise four-bedroom maisonettes, flats, duplex, and penthouses on Gerrard Road Ikoyi, Lagos.

The towers are designed as serviced flats for a stress-free lifestyle characterised by a hotel flair with open outdoor recreation with outdoor television, a gym, and a swimming pool.

The facility is 80 per cent completed. It will be fully ready for habitation in 2022. However, 65 per cent of the real estate masterpiece have been sold. Price starts from $1.2 million, and the penthouse is $5 million. The swimming pool and other facilities are in the recreation area.

“Everything you want in a seven-star hotel is there,” stated Osibona. The property has a setback of 200 metres with provision for water fountains on both walls.

MEET THE HIGH-RISE HONCHO Osibona has been a consultant to firms and individuals in Nigeria’s real estate sector as a property developer. He had not always been a property merchant. “I started right from when I was in secondary school at Mayflower School, Ikenne, Ogun,” he narrated. His trade went as far as London. “I would go and buy biscuits in Ijebu-Ode and bring to sell in school and make money. I also bought shoes from Ijebu Ode and sold them in London.”

DEVELOPMENT IN LONDON In London, he started the Avion Drive project.

That was in January 2003, and “we finished in 2005.” Towards the end of 2005, he thought of relocating to Ghana. “I went to see Dele Mormodi; I was thinking of relocating to Ghana.

I went there. But after looking at it again, I changed my mind and went back to London,” said the high-rise honcho. He pitched his tent at Manchester. “If anybody knows Manchester... I will tell you this: Manchester year 2004 an area called Moston, Openshaw, and Clayship,” he recollected. “I started buying properties there in September 2004, and most of those properties doubled within six months. They were rundown properties. People were not ready to live there. I was not even renovating. I only got information that the European Union was spending money in the area.” He was buying property for £20,000.

In about six months, the value of the properties doubled in 2004, reaching £40,000.

“Guess what,” said the nostalgic 360 Degrees boss. “By the time the prices started going up, my bank favoured me again and started giving me 75 per cent on all the properties I had.

Imagine it had already doubled, and the bank was giving me 75 per cent on them again.”

Around that time, he began to renovate the properties. “I thought to myself, ‘oh my God, I have arrived.” Osibona had completed the Avion Drive project, trading monthly in Manchester, and had thought, “Oh, I can’t live in London.”

He decided to move to Africa “so that I can enjoy my money there.” He was a graduate of Coredin College, now East London University.

His backstory dated back to 1991 selling shoes.

BREAKING POINT TO BREAKTHROUGHS “I started selling shoes in 1991. I went to America for the first time to buy jeans. On coming back to London, I’d sell two pairs of jeans that I bought for $10, for £20. The ones that I bought for $60, I’ll sell for £120. In that same 1991, I met Wasiu Ayinde, a singer,” Osibona disclosed. “Then they used to sing based on the yuppie. When he was singing young yuppie, I was selling shoes to him. That is why he loves me to date. There was a day he saw me at the club, and he told his band, ‘This is the guy I was talking about!’ That he

knew me right from 1991 that I was going to be rich.”

His shoe business also took him to another entertainment superstar. “Through my service, I met Ebenezer Obey. That’s why Baba Obey can never forget me.

Somebody introduced me to Ebenezer Obey. The person told me that Ebenezer Obey’s foot was size 15. I went to meet him in Dockland. Because they told me his size was 15, I was joking about his feet.

But he was also looking at me like, ‘Why is this guy laughing at my feet?’ The guy who introduced me got off the phone, and he said, ‘Oh, this is Mr Femi, the guy who sells shoes.’ Obey then said, ‘Oh, now I have peace of mind.’ He bought a lot of shoes from me.”

Continuing, the 360 Degrees chairman stated, “By the time I started doing development, about a year after, 1997. He went with me to my project because he was very happy. He said, ‘I knew you were going to go places.’ By the time he came to London, I have the pictures. He went with me to see my project at 8D Beatty Road Stoke Newington. He said, ‘I knew you are going somewhere.’

More businesses soon opened up for Osibona. “After my services, there were people that wanted to invest. They wanted to bring Wasiu to Europe, and I was going to be one of the investors. All I told them was, ‘I’m ready to invest. But I will be in charge of changing money.” They did not know what he meant by “changing money.”

At the time in London, people could not bring in £1. “The lowest denomination in paper currency was £5. The lowest denomination in America’s paper currency was $1,” he narrated. “Guess what, I was the

one changing money, and I was changing money for people from 1£ to 1$. and people did not know I was making money every night. I was making about $2000 to $3000 every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.”

“I have, at this point, to say, I thank Wasiu,” Osibona noted. “He was so kind to me. All the money they paid him, he would give to me to change. No doubt Osibona has always been a businessman.

From selling shoes, he ventured into selling suits. “I started going to 8B to buy suits and shoes. I’d buy shoes in London,” he stated. Well, though making a killing, Osibona admitted: “I was tired of selling shoes.” He wanted something different.

THE GOD-FACTOR BUSINESSMAN Today, Osibona did not ignore the God-factor in his life. In material successes, he has risen to the sky. Underscoring this admission, he related: “By the special grace of God, I bought 4 New Crossroads.” It was at half its price.

He added, “I want you to understand that everything I’m telling you, without God behind me, it wouldn’t have been possible.”

He recalled that the owner of the property was desperate to sell. “Whatever I gave him, he took it. After buying this property, it had a land behind it. The land was called 5A and B, Baildon Street. I bought that property 5A and B, Baildon Street. I converted it,” said Osibona. “That’s how I started my property business. As I bought it, I never thought about developing it. I did not know you could develop.” That was not the end of the bargain.

“Let me tell you my story: I was ready to sell this land for £15,000. I told my lawyer: ‘They will be giving you a £500 deposit, take it, and they will pay the balance.’ I went to

MADE RICHER BY MISTAKE? “Due to their mistake, I made a lot of money.

It was very interesting. They first threatened me that they were going to demolish it. We went for a committee meeting. I won. I took advantage of their mistake,” Osibona admitted. “So 8 Beatty Road is standing to date. To God be the glory. I bought that one in 1999. I finished it in 2000. In 2000, I bought numbers 41 and 42, Barforch Road.”

The Barforch Road property had two lands owned by two different people. The land then was worth about £160,000 to £180,000. He bought it for £100,000. Separately, the owners sold each of the lands to him at £35,000 and £45,000. “I prayed to God, and he answered me. The Bible says, ‘All things are possible to him that believeth.’”

By the time Osibona bought the Beatty property, the price had started to go up. Then, he bought Beckham, a part that “nobody wants to live” because it was “a rough area.”

“When I bought the property, the price started going up. I was shocked. Therefore, the first one I sold was for £185,000. The other one, I sold for £250,000. That is 41 and 42 Barforch Road. It was finished in 2002. When I bought Barforch Road, I already moved to Nigeria,” the 360 Degrees owner. “I was living in Nigeria but developing abroad.”

He added, “Then, after Barforch, there was a mansion. It’s still there in London today at 113 Albion Drive, London field. I bought Barforch Road, September 11, 2001, and my daughter was born that same day. It was double blessings.” Osibona was hesitant about developing the property. He felt it was a risky venture planning to have a five-story building on the property. “But I bought it, so I was looking for a partner. I realised that he was trying to use my property to raise money. I told him to add his money to aid the development.

This guy was going to make more than £500,000,” said Osibona. I was worried about how to go about it. I was scared. I never knew of anyone who was doing development. I must have been the pioneer. I wanted to develop the property. I didn’t know what to do.”

THE BUSINESS SIDE OF THE BIBLE Bereft of ideas, Osibona revealed he found a way around the dilemma after considering Isaiah 48:17. “When I read that verse, it was as though light came down from heaven. Grace came, I became bold and courageous. I told myself, I’m going to do it. I was bold enough to tell the man, ‘If you’re not ready to put money down, then I’m not ready to go ahead.’ When I told him that, he agreed. He had already started demolition, and he charged me for it.”

Osibona chose to face the odds, determined he would beat them. But, first, he had to equip himself. “I went for a seminar on building houses.

I took classes on building houses. I learnt a lot of things from that seminar,” he acknowledged.

In due time, he had a seven-storey building in Albion. “It is standing to date,” said the 360 Degrees boss.

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

37

MONDAY AUGUST 23, 2021 ˾ T H I S D AY

BUSINESSSPECIAL AS ACCESS BANK INTENSIFIES FIGHT AGAINST FINANCIAL SYSTEM FRAUD Oluchi Chibuzor writes on efforts by Access Bank Plc to protect customers from the activities of fraudsters

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n recent times, the activities of fraudsters have increased and the banking sector is grappling with efforts to tackle this menace headlong.

The trend showed that globally, banks have been under increasing sophisticated fraud attacks, such that the long-running menace continues to siphon off billions of dollars from lenders every year.

For instance, the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE) revealed that organisations in developed economies were losing about five per cent of their annual revenues to fraudulent activity. Given that banking-industry revenues amount to trillions when combined, the sheer extent of funds being seized by criminal activity cannot be underestimated.

Also, a recent report by KPMG Global’s Global Banking Fraud Survey which surveyed 43 retail banks, of which 13 are in the Asia-Pacific region, five in the Americas, and 25 are in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, revealed that fraud costs are increasing at a faster rate than fraud risk management spend.

A radical rethink is urgently required, the International Banker, quoted KPMG’s global forensic leader, David Hicks to have said.

“Over half of the survey respondents globally experienced rising external fraud in terms of both total value and volume, with the most pronounced increases in fraud typologies globally from 2015 to 2018 coming from identity theft and account takeover, cyber-attacks, card-not-present fraud and authorised push-payments scams.

“What’s more, more than half of respondents recovered less than 25 percent of fraud losses, further underlining the importance of early fraud detection and prevention.

“One might have assumed that advancements in technology and digital banking would help in the fight against fraud. But what’s even more evident is just how useful such technology is proving to be to criminals in their searches to commit ever more sophisticated types of fraud.

“The sheer volume of digital-banking transactions today means cybercriminals can use a variety of advanced techniques to scam banking customers and ultimately acquire their assets.

“And to compound matters even further, the digital landscape that is now home to millions of daily transactions is also well suited for such criminals to hide their fraudulent activities,” the report added.

That is why in Nigeria, a lot of financial institutions have intensified efforts in the fight against fraudsters across all the banking platforms.

Once of such institutions is Access Bank Plc. Access Bank is a full service commercial bank operating through a network of 348 branches and service outlets located in major centres across Nigeria, Sub Saharan Africa and the UK. The bank serves over six customers in Nigeria and has enjoyed what is arguably Africa’s most successful banking growth trajectory in one decade, ranking among Africa’s top 15 banks by total assets and capital.

The bank established an anti-fraud unit in 2013, to deal with cases of fraud resulting from an increase in the use of electronic channels.

Specifically, the initiative, implemented to protect customers on its channels for transactions, also provides a veritable outlet for proactive information dissemination of anti-fraud programmes, policies and guidelines to the bank’s varied stakeholder groups. This effort has heightened staff consciousness and boosted customers’ awareness as well as frustrated several fraudulent schemes.

The bank was recently admitted into the prestigious Fraud Advisory Panel. This membership gives us the opportunity to share valuable knowledge in fraud-related information with member institutions globally.

Group Managing Director/CEO, Access Bank Plc, Herbert Wigwe, had said in Nigeria, customers are culturally not attuned to security issues around digital transactions, pointing out that even well-educated people run the risk of falling victim to social engineering and identity theft traps.

“We must go beyond educating customers on the protection of crucial information to actual data protection and integrity amongst operators and stakeholders,” Wigwe had said.

“I am a great believer in collaboration to solve problems. Our collaborative efforts in

Wigwe data protection and customer education are required in countering security threats in Digital payments,” he added.

In line with this, the CBN and the Bankers’ Committee had launched a cyber-security and fraud awareness campaign, called ‘Moni Sense,’ to educate members of the public on the benefits of protecting their bank and other related transaction details.

ACCESS BANK’S EFFORT

The bank over the years has remained committed to educating its customers, informing and protecting them from fraudsters. Access Bank has been proactive in ensuring that its customers are safe from fraudulent activities as it asked customers to be on the lookout for fraudsters who are using new scam methods to rip people off by preying on the distress that comes with the nation-wide lockdown.

The bank has also created dedicated pages on its official website that constantly educate customers on the schemes and tricks employed by fraudsters.

The bank said fraudsters contact their potential victim either via mail, phone call or text to request for sensitive banking details with the promise of crediting their account, after which they proceed to withdraw the money in the victim’s bank account.

In addition, they also come under the guise of government officials, social advocates and false NGOs allocated to share the relief fund that was promised by the government.

This, unfortunately, is a fraudulent scheme and given the current state of affairs, an easy

scam to fall for.

“Informed and alert consumers assist in the frontline of defense against payment fraud.

Access Bank and her partner card schemes (Interswitch, Visa, Valucard) will never send you an e-mail asking for confidential information such as account numbers, passwords, PIN numbers, credit card numbers or social security numbers.

“Protect yourself from fraudulent e-mails (phishing) claiming to be from a credit card company, bank’s website or any other website for that matter. Delete unsolicited e-mail or SMS that asks for this type of personal information.

“If you suspect you’ve provided confidential information to a fraudulent site or individual, contact the customer service number on the back of your card or from your account statement.

“You can report e-mail fraud claiming to be from any of our partner card schemes by forwarding the suspicious message to: contactcenter@accessbankplc.com,” it advised its customers.

Furthermore, it advised customers not to ever write down their Personal Identification Number (PIN), but to always memorise it!

“Never disclose PIN numbers to anyone.

When selecting a PIN, do not choose numbers and letters that can be easily identified. Avoid using initials, phone numbers or birth dates.

Make sure you sign your card on the signature panel as soon as you receive it.

“Make a record of card account numbers and telephone numbers for reporting lost or stolen cards. Keep this list in a safe place.

Make sure your card is returned after every purchase. Never give card numbers over the phone, unless you have initiated the call. Always verify the transaction amount before signing the sales receipt.

“Always check sales vouchers to verify that the amount on the customer copy of the receipt matches the amount recorded on the merchant copy. Know who has access to your cards. Do not leave cards in the glove compartment of your car. Report lost or stolen cards to your issuing bank immediately and report suspicious activities to your issuing bank.

“Do not use your card to make purchases online on websites you are not sure of its security. Some of those websites do not require your PIN for payments to be made from your account.

“Where it is a fraudulent website, your card details can be used to make purchases online.

Enrol for VbyV so as to minimise the risks of being defrauded. Your card is as important as your PIN,” the bank stated.

According to an Executive Director of Access Bank, Victor Etuokwu, “Access Bank is imploring its customers to be wary of any message, demanding their personal or bank details.

“Customers must remember that the bank will never ask for their BVN, full card PAN, PIN, mobile app activation code, OTP or password as most of this information is readily available to the Bank via its database. Any call, email and text message, claiming to be from Access Bank and demanding for any of these details is certainly a scam.

“Also, customers are advised to refrain from sharing user-generated codes when migrating from the old mobile applications to the Access More app. With knowledge of this pin, these fraudsters can gain entry to your bank app, and from there have access to the money in your account,” he added.

Etuokwu expressed concern about the growing number of fraud cases being reported. He implored customers to take more responsibility in safeguarding their funds and offered reassurance of the bank’s commitment to providing information relevant to identifying and fending off fraudsters.

“Over the last few months, the number of reported fraud cases has spiked considerably.

This is not unexpected as the current economic hardships experienced due to COVID-19 have caused many to be vulnerable.

“However, this trend has become very disturbing, while we urge customers to become more aware of the tactics employed by fraudsters. Access Bank will continue to educate customers on how to avoid falling victims as well as deploy resources to ensure the security of customers’ funds.” Etuokwu said “The bank has identified smishing, phishing, social engineering, and identity theft as the most common methods used by fraudsters.

To aid the fight against this common enemy, we have put more power in the hands of our customers, through the *901*911# USSD code.

“We have provided a platform through which customers can immediately deactivate their USSD profile by dialling *901*911# from any phone in the event their mobile devices get lost or stolen,” he added.

Etuokwu added that, “Customers should be on alert as the bank will never ask for personal information such PIN, BVN, 16-digit card number, CVV, Password, OTP or Authentication Code for the mobile banking app. We urge our customers to ignore such calls, text messages or emails.”

Access Bank also advised that customers should not enter their card details in an unsecured Website, never reply an email or text requesting for their card details, protect their PIN, check their bank statements often, amongst others.

Financial analysts and security experts believe that banks and security agencies such as the anti-fraud department of the Nigerian Police, the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) work together to tame fraud monsters.

Therefore, all hands must be on the deck in order to combat fraud and fraudulent activities in banks as financial institutions alone cannot win the battle.

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MONDAY AUGUST 23, 2021 ˾ T H I S D AY

INTERVIEW

ADESINA:

SECTORAL ALIGNMENT, PROPER TARIFF NEEDED TO DRIVE POWER SECTOR Mr. Kola Adesina is an Executive Director at Sahara Group, a leading international energy and infrastructure conglomerate with operations in over 42 countries across Africa, Middle East, Europe and Asia. Sahara is a dynamic leader in various energy sub-sectors via its Power (Generation and Distribution assets), downstream, midstream and upstream businesses.

Adesina is an entrepreneur with experience that cuts across various sectors. He is leading the vision of the Group aimed at bringing energy to life by deploying diversified power sources to light up lives, businesses and sustainable interventions in Nigeria and across Africa. Adesina is passionate about empowering young people and takes great pride in mentoring youths to seek creative ways of galvanising their energies for sustained excellence and productivity. In this interview, he says the Petroleum Industry Act has established a progressive fiscal framework to encourage investors to invest their money for the purpose of optimising revenue flow accruing to government. He discloses that the Sahara Group is already moving to take advantage of the emerging opportunities in the sector in line with its commitment of bringing energy to life in Nigeria and beyond. Obinna Chima and Peter Uzoho provide the excerpts: Last week the President signed the Petroleum Industry Bill into law after several years. As an investor in the Nigerian energy sector, what is your take on this historic development? irst and foremost, we are glad that after many years of working on and discussing the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), the document has now become a law we expect to be transformational. So, we are glad that the sector is set to move into a new gear of efficiency, transparency, fresh investment, better community engagement and sustainability.

The objective of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), amongst many other things, is to ensure that the system becomes more commercially oriented, and profit driven. That is really what is driving the agenda of government and governance today as well as business. The aspiration of the PIA is equally to deregulate and liberalise the downstream sector, create efficient and effective regulatory agencies, and promote transparency and openness in the industry so that those of us that have huge aspirations could, indeed have clarity in terms of what we need to do, how we are going to invest our money, what kind of revenue we are looking at, what kind of tax policies will guide our investments, how is the industry is to function, what kind of environment are we going to be operating in, among others.

So, ultimately, this is just meant for the purpose of enhancing the exploration and exploitation of the petroleum resources for the benefit of all Nigerians.

The PIA establishes a progressive fiscal framework which is going to encourage investors to invest their money for the purpose of optimising the

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revenue flow accruing to government. So, these essentially, are the pillars. So, we are hopeful, we are ready, Sahara is already moving to take advantage of the emerging opportunities in the sector in line with our commitment of bringing energy to life in Nigeria and beyond.

As far as we are concerned, everything the government is doing in the sector is ultimately, for the benefit of the Nigerian people and we commend the government for taking this very strategic step towards deepening and further expanding the energy sector. Whatever will work for Nigeria will work for us at Sahara. So, we are glad that the PIA has come to stay, and we are ready to create more value across the energy sector value chain through our various operations in the upstream, midstream, downstream, and power sectors to make Nigeria become economically viable and strong.

No, do you think the unbundling of the power sector seven years ago was the right decision taken by government, considering the development in the sector afterwards?

I will tell you unequivocally that it was a fantastic decision. Everything we are doing as individuals and as a nation is reflective of our visions, objectives and decisions we are taking. We need to highlight the state of the sector at the time the decision was taken to be able to appreciate the importance of the decision to unbundle and implement privatization in the power sector. We were

doing approximately about 2500MW in this country and the epileptic nature of power was horrible; there was no clarity. There was no commercial orientation, there was zero profitability, there was no incentive whatsoever for fresh investments. Of course, we came in and thankfully, I can say the difference is clear.

For instance, Egbin Power Plant, one of the assets we acquired was doing about 400MW. Today, Egbin is doing almost 1,000MW, with capacity to even generate at our installed capacity of 1,320MW if not for gas constraints and ongoing repairs and overhauls. That’s the benefit of privatisation. Some of the advantages we have brought to the table are because of the privatisation. With regards to Ikeja Electric, the quantum of energy we used to receive, and supply has increased geometrically. We are presently doing between 600 and 750MW of power and we are ready to push more to our customers.

Our plan is to go as high as 1500MW, and even more. Now, we didn’t have any cluster that would tell you that they were getting almost 24/7 electricity before we came on board. Today, we have Magodo and Ikeja GRA. Today, when you look at the range of supply and the quality of power they are receiving, the number of hours they are receiving the energy, that’s an apparent and remarkable endorsement for privatisation of electricity in Nigeria. In terms of customer experience in terms of the speed to remedy faults, we have improved this significantly. The number of substations, feeders, transformers, and meters

have gone up geometrically. So, essentially, it was a good decision. Now, where the problem is, is the fact that there was misalignment in the value chain. Over time, there was this mindset that privatisation was a silver bullet that would cure all the challenges in the power sector. But that is not the case.

There are quite several conditionalities that were meant to be fulfilled by government that were not fulfilled. This affected the pace of development we would have seen in the power sector. When we bought the power plant, our desire was to double the capacity as quickly as we took over.

But, again, the reality on ground, in terms of the revenue profile, the tariff that we are receiving, the regularity of payments we are receiving, all these became an albatross that affected the expansion we desired to do. But be that as it may, when you go to Egbin Power Plant today, you will most certainly see the impact of the huge investment we have made both in terms people, infrastructure, environment and machinery. In terms of people, we now have a collection of some of the most uniquely talented, knowledgeable, and dedicated power sector professionals in Africa, running the largest thermal plant in sub-Saharan Africa excellently well.

Our investment in training, learning and development is huge, while we are equally leading the way in terms of promoting environmental sustainability – deploying electric buggies and scooters, planting trees, decarbonizing the environment and managing our operations in line with global standards. We continue to empower lives and businesses in our host communities through

39

T H I S D AY ˾ MONDAY AUGUST 23, 2021

INTERVIEW

FOR INSTANCE, EGBIN POWER PLANT, ONE OF THE ASSETS WE ACQUIRED WAS DOING ABOUT 400MW. TODAY, EGBIN IS DOING ALMOST 1,000MW, WITH CAPACITY TO EVEN GENERATE AT OUR INSTALLED CAPACITY OF 1,320MW So, payment structure has gotten better, but we still have some disruptions. As I speak to you know there is a letter that is going to the president from generation companies seeking for payments.

Because the plants we are running and managing today need consistent maintenance and overhauls for them to work optimally. Most of the things we use by way of generation are all import-oriented, they are dollar-denominated. It’s not something we can source locally. So, the less the time we give to maintaining them, the more likely the machine will break down. It’s important that due attention is paid with regards to payment of power generators’ bills.

Our invoices are outstanding, and they are huge, and that’s not just for us as Egbin. If you put a cumulative figure together, we would be talking of about a lot of money. But the Office of the Vice President, Governor of CBN, the Minister of Finance Mare doing incredibly well in resolving the payment issues Our regulator, Ministry of Power, NERC and BPE are agencies driving the changes we are seeing as they are actively and positively providing options and solutions to remedy the challenges the sector is having. Kudos to them for the things they are doing so far, but we need more. Until our customers can boost of enjoying 24/7 electricity as it exists in developed countries, we will keep pushing aggressively. Our customer comes first

sustainable interventions in health, education, and capacity building. In terms of the power plant itself, like I said, the generation level was 400MW before we took over. Today, we are doing 1400MW when you add our generation from First Independent Power Limited which we equally co-own with the Rivers State Government. In fact, so much investment has gone into the power sector from the private sector in terms of what we are doing and investment by other operators. And by the way, remember, when the privatisation took place, how much did government receive from those of us that bought the assets? $3.4 billion. If $3.4 billion was received by a system like ours, I can assure you anywhere in the world, that’s a very huge figure. And customer experience, which is number one to us, more than any other thing, has increased geometrically. So, we are now more directly connected with our customers than was the case before we took over the assets.

You said there are many conditions government is yet to meet. What are these conditions and are there efforts by the government to meet any of them?

Well, one of them and the most important one is cost-reflective tariff. We have always said that the right price represents the incentive for investment anywhere in the world. We cannot make an investment based on a price that is not right. The price must be able to meet up with the cost of production. So, if the cost of ensuring stable electricity is higher than the price electricity is sold, of course, we all know the consequence and the implication of that kind of scenario.

The right price is not there. But of course, as Sahara, as Ikeja Electric, as Egbin Power, as FIPL, we are change agents. We are not going to just wait to get to El-Dorado before we invest. We are increasingly creating clusters of excellence to demonstrate possibilities that can be brought to life in the power sector. We continue to take on what most people term impossible, because for us in Sahara, there is nothing called impossible.

It simply doesn’t exist. We are going to continue to push the frontiers of knowledge, technology, and service excellence to the highest possible limit.

That’s exactly what we did by serving Magodo. In Magodo, we were able to put together a framework that guarantees stable, regular supply of power for up to 23 hours every day, except there is a system collapse.

There was a need for us address the challenge of tariff. What did we do? We are charging approximately the right tariff in those locations and based on this, we are able to put the right infrastructure and investment together to be able to ensure that power is readily available in those locations. Thankfully, the government saw the idea and bought into it. That is why you now have what we call the service-based tariff. Now, what the service-based tariff is doing is primarily for the purpose of charging based on affordability.

Now, that’s okay. Stability of supply, accessibility of supply is now predicated on those who can afford to pay the right price. So, having the right tariff in place is a challenge we’ve had to contend with, and it is ongoing. In terms of tariffing, the government needs to take a decision as to what it really intends to do. If we want to industrialise as a nation, government needs to look at how much industrial consumers and commercial consumers can pay as against the aspiration of ensuring that there is stable supply of power.

This will enhance the drive towards industrialisation to address systemic inefficiencies and expand infrastructure development to drive the growth that government desires to see, either in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) or associated areas are made possible. But the point remains that the tariff must be right. The tariff is not right yet but the government is working with us, and quite closely I must say, to deliver a robust power sector.

The interaction today is stronger and better. We now have a clear understanding of the challenges, and we equally now seem to have unanimity of opinion and voice around what needs to be done.

So, what needs to be done now is for us to find a way of addressing the tariff issue in a manner that is strategic.

And part of what government has done, which I believe is quite commendable, is the reduction in gas price. It’s equally a factor government took into consideration for the purpose of tariff of electricity, seeing that between 45 and 60 per cent of cost of generation for thermal power plant is gas. So, if that cost has gone down, of course, it goes straight back to the consumer. So, ultimately, over time, the tariff will ultimately be friendly enough for the consumer with the added advantage of economies of scale. This will make power more affordable and with affordability, the system continues to improve and then, there is accessibility, which is one of the critical components of the vision of the government for the power sector.

Adesina What is the latest on the ongoing negotiation between the government, labour unions and power firms on the tariff issue?

It’s an ongoing conversation. But that conversation must be predicated on the objective that government wants to achieve.

Now, I, as an individual, my own view will be: you want to industrialise, you want to expand your manufacturing sector, you want people to buy your commodity, you want to become export-oriented, you want your commodities to be bought by consumers across Africa and beyond Africa, invariably, pricing of your feedstock/commodity is important, and the critical component of that price is the cost of electricity.

So, if government has taken a position that truly, we want to industrialise, we want to do all these big things that are required to address systemic inefficiencies, unemployment, eradicate poverty, make resources readily more available, motivate and incentivise the citizens to do more, then, it means government needs to address the question of pricing.

You either let law of demand and supply govern the pricing of electricity or you intervene.

Like I said earlier, your objective must drive your decision. The responsibility in the triangle and architecture of payment of electricity is, either it’s the customer, the government, or the service provider. Of course, it shouldn’t be the burden of the power companies who are in business not only to add value but to equally make profit, so that we can improve and expand capacity.

All we clamour for as investors are, law and order, enabling environment, positive and clear regulations, policy alignment that promotes investments and pricing regime that captures costs with reasonable profits.

We want to actively support manufacturers and commerce in a way that will create and promote employment, expand infrastructure and customer experience. At Sahara we are poised to work with all our customer categories to ensure they achieve their goals and improve their quality of lives and livelihoods. That’s our priority.

Personally, I would desire to see the industrialisation of my country Nigeria. I desire to see that education is top priority and for this to happen, electricity must be number one. For power to be steadily available, I see only collaborative efforts amongst the key stakeholders driving the positive change we seek to see. The Government and the stakeholders are having this all-important conversation and we believe that ultimately the right decision will be taken in the best interest of Nigeria.

How are the generation companies participating in the federal government’s power deal with Siemens?

The Siemens arrangement is more protransmission and distribution. But lately, they have come to realise that there is a need for coherence in the value chain for them to be able to get to the level they desire to achieve.

If there is a projection to ramp up generation to about 10,000, 15,000, 25000MW in so short a time, there must be harmony and handshake across the value chain in the sector so that all stakeholders can speak with one voice and act in harmony.

But from the generation perspective, for us as Sahara, we are in conversation with Siemens with regards to how they can come in to enhance our assets and in some of the other areas we are looking at from expansion perspective. We have had conversations with them and the conversation is still ongoing, but the key thing is this, fundamental issues of tariff, sectoral alignment, alongside, regulatory/ policy clarity. Then, with proper tariff, with the right environment, with the right incentive, I believe that we should be on course.

In July, you told some lawmakers that visited your facility that NBET was owing your company about N388 billion. Do you have any assurance that this money will be paid?

Yes, most definitely, 100 per cent. They would pay. One of the things the government has done is taking the position that will ensure the issues in the sector are addressed robustly.

Gas constraint has been a major problem in the power sector. How has it impacted on your operations and what is the way out of this challenge?

For us, yes, gas is number one because without gas, the entire value chain will collapse because part of what most people don’t know is that, when you look at the load factor for the hydros, it’s just approximately between 20 and 30 per cent at best, which invariably means that 30 per cent of the time is only when they operate. Seventy per cent of the time, they don’t operate optimally. So, largely, Nigeria is still depending on thermal power plants to be able to get electricity available and the thermal plants are relying heavily on gas for them to work optimally. If gas and the essential infrastructure are made readily actively available, that is the only time we can have stable electricity.

Without that, we will continue with this epileptic arrangement that we are currently running. I would say, at Egbin, we have a fantastic relationship with Chevron and NPDC, they have been doing very well. Egbin’s improvement in supply is largely because we are getting more gas than we used to.

So, it has affected our generation portfolio positively.

But when you go to FIPL, our generation asset in Rivers State, we are still struggling to get gas, most especially from one of our power plants where Agip gives us gas. So, we are still constrained by quite a number of things. But we are trying our best to see if they would be resolved. So, gas is still a challenge. My take again is, government needs to come in, bring all the gas suppliers and all the generation companies together and sit down with them to find a way to resolve the gas challenge. We need to fix gas infrastructure issues and make gas available to thermal plants for power to be generated.

We observed that Egbin and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) have been meeting and engaging of recent. Where are those engagements leading to?

Ultimately the plan is to achieve the perfect customer experience across all our operations. So, we continue to engage several stakeholders who are able to influence or enhance what we need to give our customers that one-of-a-kind experience.

We need to ensure we have everything our assets need to produce uninterrupted electricity. Gas is a critical requirement for success in Egbin, so it means we must purse all available channels of collaboration to ensure gas is readily available to power our ambitious plans in Egbin. The essence of the meeting with NNPC is to ensure that we forge a new partnership and collaboration arrangement to guarantee stable supply of gas to our power plants today and create a platform for expansion of generation to power our economy.

Big power, big economy There is this belief that the Discos have not made enough investment in the sector.

What is your take on that as an investor in Ikeja Disco? Also, how far has IE gone in metering its customers?

Whenever I get to hear this kind of question, I only use facts to answer them. The very first fact which we need to mention is the fact that there is a huge difference between Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company in 2013 and the brand it has become now as Ikeja Electric. We had to transform the business units and undertakings.

We had to infuse a new spirit of service excellence

40

MONDAY AUGUST 23, 2021 ˾ T H I S D AY

INTERVIEW

OUR DESIRE IS TO CONTINUE TO ADD VALUE ON A SUSTAINABLE BASIS through investment, learning and development.

We had to replace and overhaul critical infrastructure on our network to pave the way for reliability and expansion. We have changed the perception of the company by repositioning Ikeja Electric as a technology driven, nimble and smart power distribution company. We deployed a robust culture and change management strategy to drive reorientation and empower our people to imbibe the culture of excellence against all odds.

Our investment in the asset since we took over in 2013 has been immense. The aspiration for us in IE is to give 24/7 electricity.

It’s a mandate that is self-imposed and a mandate that must be delivered. You made mention of the metering infrastructure in the system. If you go and check in the system, part of what you will probably be told is the fact that Ikeja Electric was the first distribution company that invested in advanced metering infrastructure, which is what you call Smart meters.

With smart meters, we felt introducing technology will discover energy theft, confirm consumption, and decrease human interaction with the attendant room for corruption and host of untoward behaviour. We were the first to embark on customer enumeration, asset mapping and technical audit, all in a bid to ensure that we get our facts right and take strategic decisions which has positioned to provide excellent customer experience. Ikeja Electric has deployed multiple physical and online channels to enhance seamless customer experience and prompt technical interventions.

We have obtained quite several international certifications that reinforce our commitment to quality assurance, safety and sustainability. We’ve done network optimisation projects that have facilitated the implementation of improved power supply, almost 24 hours in some of the areas under our network. We’ve equally done customer metering which you mentioned earlier. Our metering project has seen us metering about 49 per cent of customer metering and we are improving by the day. When the Federal Government in conjunction with CBN came up with the National Mass Metering Project, one million meters were to be deployed in the system, we were the first to meet and surpass the target the Presidency/CBN/Ministry of Finance gave us.

Now, we have made good progress in terms

a unique and novel metering programme we will soon launch. This involves features that will make it impossible for any consumer to bypass our meters and capture the energy being used in a manner that is verifiable, valid, dependable, and reflective of the reality of consumption. So, we are using investment in technology to do that and also a lot more work across the network to drive Ikeja Electric’s brand promise of bringing energy to life. Ikeja Electric was the first to introduce e-billing in Nigeria.

We now do billing by text messages, providing regular updates via text messages and the social media, optimising our contact centre for the ultimate customer experience.

Our aspiration of lighting up opportunities is not just in Nigeria. Our aspiration is to make a difference and add value in Africa and beyond. For us, the best part of the investment has been on our people. Ikeja Electric leads the sector in all parameters when it comes to human capital profile. The quality of our people stands out in the sector. We are concluding plans to again re-energize and incentivise our human capital so that they can be motivated to continue to make us a brand of repute, globally.

Adesina of metering and leading the sector in this regard. So, we are aggressively metering.

Most people assume that the distribution companies are clamouring for estimated billing because that’s where they make more money. Unfortunately, that’s not the case. It’s only a lazy distribution company that would want to continue with estimated billing. As a company that has high integrity quotient, we are keen on robust metering to promote transparency and match energy received, energy dispensed and revenue received. But again, we must consider the fact that metering involves huge investments which takes us back to the issue of ensuring right pricing of electricity as the backbone of driving investments that will guarantee uninterrupted power supply.

This conversation of right pricing will always be critical to achieving Nigeria’s quest for a robust power sector. At Ikeja Electric, we have

Under the current investors in the power sector, the Gencos and the Discos, is constant, 24/7 power supply realisable in Nigeria?

As Sahara, as Ikeja Electric, as Egbin, as FIPL, we are committed to working towards achieving 24/7electricity. We are not just being optimistic; it’s something we are already doing.

Like I have mentioned earlier, we have clusters and locations that currently enjoying almost 24/7 electricity supply except for system failure.

Sahara has a robust approach which we call the Connected Strategy which involves developing a relationship between us and our customers so that they don’t have episodic interactions with us. We want them to continuously have a relationship that is positive and beneficial to both parties.

We want to make sure that we meet the hierarchy of needs of our customers, which is residential, commercial, and industrial

customers. We want to make power available for those who want electricity for the purpose of lighting up their homes, improving their quality of life, manufacturing, and sundry socio-economic pursuits. For those who will desire and aspire that every time, anytime, for whether industrial, commercial, or whatever use, electricity is readily and steadily available, we are going to continue to work towards helping them achieve their aspirations.

After all, we are in the sector to bring energy to life. That is the only way we can survive.

Innovation is important to us as an organisation.

We have created our own new business model which is centred around our customers. And that’s why we are going to see the deployment of a hybridized model that includes grid, off-grid and renewable solutions. We are going to personalize and decentralise electricity to our customers, because as far as we are concerned, that 24/7 aspiration cannot just rely on the grid alone today.

Invariably, we need to have alternative means which we can now bring together to ensure that our customers’ satisfaction is guaranteed through our service.

And we can only do so if we have that 24/7 aspiration. Anything less than 24/7, count us out. For us at Sahara, we will not be part of anything less than brilliant, anything less than the best. We are good, we are going to get better, and we will ensure that we continue to better our best. Nigeria gave birth to Sahara. Therefore, by the law of procreation, Sahara Group will create and nurture visions, initiatives and ideas that will energise our nation, continent, and youths to achieve their aspirations to become home-grown African brands and models of excellence in infrastructure, technology, and sustainable energy.

We are committed to harnessing our natural resources and converting them to tangible global products. Sahara Group will continue to nurture innovation, creativity and entrepreneurship.

Barriers can’t and won’t stop us from making Africa the hub of investment in people, technology and promoting sustainable agenda through promotion of clean energy and environmental sustainability. We have been doing this innovatively for the past 25 years and we are excited about what the future holds for Sahara Group in Africa and across the globe.

WHEN BEING MAD IS DESIRABLE, INSPIRING Asha Rami

I

t’s interesting how words that were hitherto considered as having negative connotations now engender widespread admiration. So, you’re clad in an outstanding outfit and you get compliments like, “dirty”, “wicked” and “insane”. It gets more interesting. When you work in an organisation that’s everyone’s dream, you’re on the “mad” team. Madness as a compliment? Well, why not, if being MAD means you’re “making a difference?

Twenty five years ago today, a mad phenomenon kicked off in Lagos, Nigeria, propelled by a one-of-a-kind company. The company’s ethos was MAD and the people who embodied the phenomenon were MADDER. Their attention to detail was MAD as was their stakeholder management expertise. They would go the extra mile to create and extract value from seemingly impossible situations.

In spite of being fledgling businessmen who were completely green in the sector, their vision was MAD. They sought the tall order of “bringing energy to life” and “to be the provider of choice wherever energy is consumed.” Many scoffed at their MADNESS, declaring them upstarts who’d soon fizzle out. They never imagined the word disruption had any place in their close-knit sector.

But a few would be inspired, birthing a handful of other MAD companies, enhancing the emergence of “indigenous players” in the once exclusive oil and gas sector.

Many more MAD people would join the company as it traded its way into prominence through sheer grit and brilliance. They quickly became a company that was looked upon with respect; making believers of those who thought they’d run out of gas. How wrong they had been. It was not about the allure of oil money for this MAD Company. They had their sights on

“It gets even better. The MAD Company is bullishly lending its weight to conversations on energy transition in Africa, leveraging its businesses to promote more responsible mining of hydrocarbons and massive optimisation of gas to boost access to cleaner fuels and power.” becoming a business that would go beyond Africa. - bringing energy to life responsibly.

It was no surprise when just after two years of operating in oil and gas trading in Nigeria, the MAD Company moved its trading hub to Geneva, Switzerland in 1998 - unleashing its global credentials.

Similar expansion would be the trend as the company extended its footprint across Africa, Asia, Europe and the Middle East, ultimately ramping up employee numbers to almost 5,000, comprising exceptional professionals from over 50 nationalities.

It would become an energy conglomerate with operations in the Upstream, midstream, downstream, power and infrastructure sectors.

How this MADNESS made the fledgling company emerge as the largest private power business in sub-Saharan Africa is a phenomenon that’s the subject-matter of many case studies.

It’s interesting to note that the achievements above are dwarfed by the company’s commitment to bringing benevolence to

life. Its Foundation has achieved the feat of empowering more than 2,000,000 beneficiaries through sustainable development projects across Africa. In 2020, the company set up an Impact Fund with access to over $100,000 in grants and funding for entrepreneurs and social innovators in Africa. The involvement of the company’s employees as volunteers in the Foundation’s quest of giving wings to aspirations is remarkable. They do this with so much commitment and gusto.

When Covid-19 disrupted the world, the MAD Company responded with its “Saving a million lives” campaign. It spearheaded and supported major Covid-19 interventions in Africa including delivery of the 300-bed Thisday Dome Isolation and Treatment Centre alongside other stakeholders, donation of medical equipment as well as the provision of food and relief materials to tens of thousands of beneficiaries, sanitizers, oxygen to support ICU operations, personal protective equipment and translation of Covid-19 awareness literature to local African languages.

The company would earn the privilege of becoming an important partner in the pursuit of the sustainable development goals, working closely with the United Nations as well as other regional and global partners.

It would also join the league of businesses championing the cause of integrity in business under the aegis of the World Economic Forum’s Partnering Against Corruption Initiative (PACI). Promoting good corporate governance and citizenship, reinforcing the role of business as a force of doing good – responsibly, transparently and sustainably.

It gets even better. The MAD Company is bullishly lending its weight to conversations on energy transition in Africa, leveraging its businesses to promote more responsible

mining of hydrocarbons and massive optimisation of gas to boost access to cleaner fuels and power.

You would most certainly take an emission-free ride on the company’s electric buggies and scooters when you visit Egbin Power - its sprawling power generation asset that is the largest privately-run thermal plant in sub-Saharan Africa. Talk about promoting decarbonisation, healthy living and environmental sustainability.

The company couldn’t be prouder of its African heritage and how its successes are shaping the narrative of enhanced capacity and tailored global energy solutions from Africa to the world.

But do you know the MADDEST aspect of the company? Its uniquely diverse employees who flourish in a workplace culture that encourages being MAD. You don’t get a job at Sahara Group, you are immersed into a family where agile, nimble and adaptive learning makes you better.

At Sahara, your job is not done until the job is done. The business encourages you to excel within and outside the workplace. This is driven by the work hard-play harder culture that finds expression in Saharians as exceptional poets, singers, writers, fashion designers, footballers, chess grandmasters, sports enthusiasts, chefs, social media influencers, thought leaders and much more. Ambidexterity at its best!

Being MAD is desirable and inspiring when you work in Sahara Group. Since 1996, Sahara Group has continued to redefine excellence in the energy sector in a transformative way. These past 25 years have been phenomenal. The next 25 years and beyond would certainly be...yes, MAD...you guessed right.

You’re thinking of joining the MAD team right? Your journey to being MAD starts at Sahara Group. t "TIB 3BNJ JT PG UIF $PSQPSBUF $PNNVOJDBUJPOT EFQBSUNFOU PG 4BIBSB Group

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MONDAY AUGUST 23, 2021 ˾ T H I S D AY

FACT FILE TR

UTH

& R E ASO

With Lanre Alfred | 08076885752

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TRUTH T BEHIND THE H HEA HEADLINES, CONSPIRACIES, COVER-UPS, TRIALS AND TRIUMPHS

Grief Behind the Glitter:

How Anita Okoye Went from Chairwoman to Charwoman

A

ll over Nigeria and beyond, music fans and followers are still ruing the avoidable, acrimonious separation of now-defunct Psquare founders Peter and Paul Okoye.

While both are still very active in the music industry indusstr and doing relatively okay, the contention remains rema ain that they were better off together while theirr separation s was an injustice to fans.

Yes, Yees, they were musical sweethearts of many and poster postter boys of the Nigerian hip-hop music industry. p Youthful You uth and good-looking with finely chiselled bodies, bod die energetic on and off stage, they gifted Nigerians Nig ger g a string of commercially successful albums that thaat earned e them a place among the pantheon of contemporary con nte music stars in a short while. They could cou ul croak into the microphone with production wizardry wiiza and almost effortlessly sell millions of copies, cop pie nick multi-million naira endorsement deals p and performance p engagements. This is even though their music m thrived on sloganeering and ephemeral lyrics. lyrics. y However, Howeeve in the last couple of days, the blogosphere has been beeen abuzz with reports that the end might have come for f Paul’s marriage. Now, their heterogeneous fans are a about to have their hearts broken again as Paul Paau Okoye’s marriage to Anita Okoye has run its full fu ul course. While tragedy booms at deafening decibels, deccib cluttering the reticent dreadlocks-wearing Paul Pau ul Okoye’s household with snivelling and sobs, joy y blares a steady tune, drowning out the melody of o pain.

Last Friday, Anita Okoye’s divorce from music star s Paul Okoye hit the blogosphere. Anita,

who tied the knot with Paul in 2014, asked an Abuja high court to dissolve their seven-year-old marriage.

According to documents, there are so many reasons Anita wants her calamitous marriage to the dark-hued dude dissolved. According to Anita in the petition, Paul denied her any form of companionship and love, which are the integral components of all successful marriages. Like storms in a China shop, bitterness and distrust wracked her marriage, leaving her empty and disillusioned.

Contrary to her dreams of matrimony, the sweet, passionate love that endeared her and her estranged husband to each other suddenly turned sour. While she struggled to save it, it evaporated into thin air. In the highest boughs of her marriage, love rustled like branches of a dying oak with roots falling off, and like several other couples whose passion and affection extinguished in the raging inferno of mid-life crises and love gone sour, the marriage died amid trials.

That was too much for Anita. So disenchanted was she with the marriage that she flinched whenever it was mentioned to her; anger curdled with regret and leapt out of her distressed soul, like knives from the sleeves of a medieval Samurai. She accused the music star of shirking his responsibility as a husband by refusing to support her and the family. They no longer communicate as a couple.

Finally, we only hope Anita is enjoying a reprieve from the grating agony of her failed marriage to Paul as she has demanded he pays $15,000 (N7.8 million) monthly as spousal support. Anita made the demand in the petitions she put before the court. She demanded Paul be responsible for their three kids’ general welfare in the United States of America.

FROM BOARDROOM TO GUARDROOM: BANKING CZARS WHO FELL FROM GRACE TO GRASS

The only thing that endures is character.

Status and wealth—all these are illusions.

And fame, to be precise, is nothing more than the quintessence of all the conceits collecting around a trumped-up name. Those that strive to touch the stars stumble at a straw.

It’s a classic bonfire of the vanities - and it burns. Scalded by the flames of their greed, some former managing directors of Nigerian banks rue their descent from grace to grass even as you read.

In their prime as bank chiefs, they carried on like egotistic tyrants. The world was theirs to dominate as they assumed the deportment of pirates and feudal lords, plundering bank coffers to fulfil their inordinate hankering for wealth.

Their relationship with their banks was akin to a game in which a sharper plays with a dupe, entitled ‘Heads I win, tails you lose.’ There is no gainsaying these bank chiefs operated like crooks; many of them flaunted the deportment of ethical

saints but beneath their skin and righteous mien festered unrepentant crookedness.

Despite their seeming invincibility, many were caught with hands in the till leading to their sack and prosecution. For instance, at the backdrop of recent revelations of scandalous exploits of local bank MDs, often in connivance with criminal masterminds among top-ranking officers of the immediatepast administration, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) launched an investigation into local banks’ operations and activities of presiding bank chiefs. To the consternation of the apex bank, the investigation revealed shameful truths about the nation’s bank chiefs.

At the end of the exercise, many bank directors were found culpable of major financial woes. Besides masterminding several fraudulent internal and external transactions, many bank MDs are owing their banks outrageous loans which have turned into bad debts. These loans are not serviced by the bank directors nor do they have any intention of refunding the scandalous sums they borrowed from their banks. Further investigations revealed that the loans owed to some banks by individual

MDs amount to hundreds of billions of naira. This constitutes great strains on the banks’ capital and other resources, thus plunging the banks into abysmal financial woes.

Major culprits are repeat offenders who are currently embroiled in scandals tantamount to advance fee fraud, money laundering, and outright embezzlement of public funds in conspiracy with corrupt public officers. Many of them have been quietly sneaking to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission offices to refund money misappropriated by them in collaboration with former public officers currently cooling their heels in EFCC custody.

Having lost their jobs, the affected MDs are currently running helter-skelter to bribe regulatory and judicial officers in charge of their investigation to save them from imminent jail terms. Some were prosecuted and served varied sentences across the country’s correctional centres. Their sojourn in prison rid them of their hitherto enviable repute and social capital. No longer are they the darlings of high society as their oft-publicised trials and convictions cost them the loyalty and fawning admiration

of their peers.

For instance, it took ex-Bank PHB boss Francis Atuche a trip to the prison to understand that his intimidating wealth and affluence are transient. Led by his lust for riches and the spotlight, he danced too close to the bonfire of material lust until he got burned, leaving the vivid air soured with his charred aspects.

On June 17, the former managing director of the defunct Bank PHB was convicted of fraud by a high court in Ikeja, Lagos, and subsequently sentenced to six years in prison. The ruling came after a lengthy legal battle that lasted about a decade. Cecilia Ibru: On October 8, 2010, the former chief executive officer of the defunct Oceanic Bank was convicted and sentenced to six months’ imprisonment after a plea bargain that saw her pleading to fraud charges.

She was ordered to pay back more than €1 billion, following 25 counts of fraud. Ibru, at the bank in the early 90s as a general manager, rose to become the managing director seven years after. During her time, Oceanic Bank evolved from being a familyowned financial institution to become one of Nigeria’s biggest publicly-listed companies.

Atuche

Ibru

Nwosu

Akingbola

42

T H I S D AY ˾ MONDAY AUGUST 23, 2021

FACT FILE

Hard Times for ‘Baba Ijebu’ Kesington Adebutu as CBN Freezes Company’s Account

T

hese are indeed not jubilation times for Premier Lotto owner Kesington Adebutu aka Baba Ijebu. Like the fabled merchant of the backwoods, whose dogged exploits are dogged by doom, the odds strike his enterprise and rip his fortune.

Adebutu seems to have encountered that proverbial moment in the life of a magnate, that fate accords him the rare chance to feel and see what it’s like coming down. To freeze the account of Adebutu’s firm, the Central Bank of Nigeria has directed banks to place a post-no-debit on Premier Lotto’s bank accounts.

A post-no-debit means that all debit transactions, including ATMs and cheques, have been blocked but can receive inflows.

On Thursday, a circular signed by Haruna B. Mustapha, director of banking supervision, also instructed banks to send details of the accounts. “You are hereby directed to place all accounts of the under-listed customers on post-no-debit (PND) restriction,” the circular stated.

Aside from Adebutu’s company, other affected companies include Namuduka Ventures Limited, Crosslinks Capital and Investment Limited, Bakori Mega Services, Ashambrakh General Enterprise, IGP Global Synergy Limited, Urban Laundry, and Davedan Mille Investment Limited. Others are Advanced Multi-Links Services Limited, Spray Resources, Al-Ishaq Global

She was accused of granting credit facilities of N16 billion to a company that “had no collateral.” Although she denied any wrongdoing, over 100 properties in different parts of the world, from Nigeria to Dubai and the United States, were confiscated.

So also were her shares in 77 companies.

However, under her stewardship, the bank reportedly experienced tremendous growth. Okey Nwosu: The CEO of the defunct FinBank (now part of First City Monument Bank Plc) was among the five bank managing directors that were fired by the Central Bank of Nigeria on August 13, 2009, on allegations of fraud, money laundering, etc.

He was accused alongside three directors of the bank: Dayo Famoroti, Agnes Ebubedike, and Danjuma Ocholi, in a 26-count charge, centring on conversion and theft of N10.935 billion. They denied any wrongdoing. In January 2021, Justice Lateefa Okunnu of the high court sitting in Ikeja Lagos found all the accused guilty and sentenced Messrs Nwosu and Famoroti to three years in jail.

Meanwhile, there are other top bankers also facing trial for alleged fraud. They are still on trial, and it is unclear how their cases will end. Erastus Akingbola: In August 2010, the former managing director of the defunct Intercontinental Bank, Erastus Akingbola, was arraigned for fraud in a 22-count charge by the EFCC. He pleaded not guilty to all counts.

Akingbola was accused of N47.1 billion fraud in what the commission described as “fictitious transactions.” It was alleged he manipulated Intercontinental Bank’s share price and extended loans without board members’ approval. Charles Ojo: In October 2009, the erstwhile managing director of the extinct Spring Bank (now part of Heritage Bank) was originally arraigned alongside Atuche at the Lagos Division of the Federal High Court in a N125 billion fraud case.

UNREMITTED NPA FUND: HEADACHE FOR HERITAGE BANK MD IFIE SEKIBO AS EFCC SWOOPS ON STAFF

Heritage Bank may crash and burn if mischief-makers could attach the lasso of truth to the rumours about it. The centre refuses to hold for the bank as a widening gyre of bankruptcy. Mayhem and distrust envelop the bank, pitting shareholders against bank management, depositors against staff, and a frenetic battle of wits and will.

trad des, Charblecom Resources Limited, Himark Intertrades, bal Resources. Also Concept Limited, Wudatage Global es, Fyrstrym Global included are Treynor Soft Ventures, bal Nigeria Limited, Concepts Limited, Samarize Global and Zahraddeen Haruna Shahru. son n for the directive, While the CBN did not state a reason nk’s action might findings revealed that the apex ban bank’s mp pdown on illegal be connected to the ongoing clampdown e ba an on forex sales foreign exchange trading since the ban er Lotto in the list to BDCs. The inclusion of Premier butu’s fortune and imposes grievous strains on Adebutu’s ut of o this as he had repute. Can he wriggle his way out done in the past? Given his renown as a businessman uld he be with friends in high places, would upport able to rally the much-needed su support oun nd, to and interventions, this time around, he brink steer his Premier Lotto from the of bankruptcy? ew years There is no gainsaying the last few y fo or the have been punctuated by severity for e lotto Ijebu billionaire. But sources close to the saiid boss, also fondly called Odole Oodua, said he is rock solid in finance and social capital. Yet, it must be asserted that it’s always a different story when the government picks a fight with you. Often, the cookies come crumbling down.

Yahaya, among 39 suspects paraded Y h d d ffor various crimes at the defunct headquarters of the outlawed Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), Abuja, explained that the bank accounts of many Nigerians receiving alerts are easy to access by using their account and phone numbers. The suspects were arrested across the country by the Force Investigation Bureau of Intelligence Response Team (IRT) led by Tunji Disu, who took over recently from the suspended Abba Kyari.

“My name is Zakarriyah Yahaya. I was born and brought up in Jos. I was arrested last month in Mabushi here in Abuja. I used to reset any SIM card that received a bank alert. I would reset it and steal all the money inside the bank account,” he told journalists.

“I do reset it with victim’s bank account number through the bank code from the first to the last number. Any bank that we get, we first use it to buy recharge cards. From Sekibo there, they will send us the alert. From the alert, we will now get the account number.”

Stuck in the eye of the storm, the Managing His gang focused on First Bank customers Director (MD) of the bank, Ifie Sekibo, has because their online transaction details are his hands full as he grapples with the odds easy to reset. He disclosed that he began the hurling his administration towards the crime two years ago, and no fewer than 11 tipping point. people worked for him, operating in Kano, On Sekibo’s watch, the proverbial good Plateau, and Abuja. ending seems elusive to Heritage Bank, like Police spokesman Frank Mba said Yahaya the fabled golden fleece coveted by all yet and cohorts usually acquired SIM packs in attainable by only a paltry few. And the large numbers and re-activated old phone reason is not far-fetched. At the heel of a numbers people didn’t use again to access clampdown on the bank by the Economic several customers’ bank details.

CRIME KINGPIN REVEALS and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), “They have two main modus operandi: The HOW GANG EMPTIES over alleged shady dealings by Mike Danneil, first is to go and purchase or acquire MTN the principal officer of the bank’s FINCON NIGERIANS’ ACCOUNTS IN lines, the new starter kits in large numbers. arm, MD Sekibo is forced to operate in an BANKS When they get these, they tried to hack BVN. atmosphere of panic, taking frantic decisions If banking is the art of passing currency Experience has shown them that at this stage, to steer the bank clear of trouble. from hand to hand until it finally disappears, some of our service providers are recycling Rumour has it that EFCC swooped on then Zakarriyah Yahaya, aka His Excellency, old numbers,” said Mba. “Persons who had the bank after it discovered that the so- may have just perfected the art of making used phones and probably for some reasons called Mike had failed to remit monies depositors’ funds from banks’ accounts, have travelled out of the country, or for any belonging to the Nigerian Ports Authority vamoose. other reason chose not to use the number (NPA) into the federation account. This has Yahaya, the police have claimed, is a again, and those numbers are dormant and reportedly led to a bad debt situation and perfect symbol of the proverbial thief who currently being recycled and being re-issued has driven the bank towards bankruptcy, assumes comradeship with darkness to to persons as new numbers.” given its persistent failure to meet the perfect his scores on innocent victims. Yet, Mba revealed that the culprits also attacked financial obligation. This is not the first given enough rope, he eventually wound their victims physically to dispossess them time Heritage Bank would be caught in it around his neck in a suicidal swirl that of their phones and acquire their SIM cards. the heat of a financial storm and ethical left his feet dangling as recent revelations “Once they get your SIM card, they tried impropriety. Recently, Sekibo completely showed. Nobody trusts a bank that would to play around with it and see if they could lost his cool and threw caution to the winds expose its customers to great risk. Thus find anything that can link them or take as he grappled with retrieving a bad debt the recent arrest of Yahaya has been hailed them straight into victims’ accounts, and from one of the bank’s biggest customers. as a worthy achievement by the Nigerian they had done this successfully,” the police Anger became an effective negotiating tool police. The 46-year-old suspect, according spokesman further stated. “With that, if to the bank’s MD and the last resort to save to the police, sang like a canary, revealing they get access to your bank details, they his job as he instructed his underlings to how he and his gang emptied the bank go straight to steal your money. The lesson go for broke against the Anambra political accounts of several Nigerians using lost for all of us here is that we must guide godfather and contender for the state’s or stolen SIM cards our phones jealously.” forthcoming gubernatorial Sekibo h b l polls. ll S kb was forced to take such drastic action after enduring in silence for years. The eminent politician refused to refund a big loan taken from the bank until it became non-performing and bad debt.

On Monday, June 21, and under Sekibo’s watch, a motley crew of protesters from Heritage Bank stormed the politician’s residence in Abuja in a supposedly peaceful protest. According to the protesters, the intent was to peacefully urge the debtor to settle his debt with the bank. They argued that his failure to do that would result in job losses for the bank employees keeping vigil in front of his house.

Predictably, the move incited criticism within and outside the banking and political sectors as several stakeholders and leaders of thought condemned the measure as unruly and very unprofessional conduct.

Now that Heritage Bank is in the eye of the storm again, Sekibo is wary of blowback from vested interests within the bank, who are becoming increasingly uncomfortable with what has been perceived as his feeble struggles to stabilise the bank.

Although the bank’s staff on the EFCC’s radar had reportedly been granted bail in the wake of intervention by vested interests within its management, the storm isn’t over for Heritage Bank and its beleaguered MD.

43

MONDAY AUGUST 23, 2021 ˾ T H I S D AY

FACT FILE MERRIMENT, CLASS AS YUSUF BUHARI WEDS ZAHRA BAYERO

Yusuf Buhari has found his Eden. He has felt the cuddly curl of the heart and the passion’s soothing caress. Yusuf discovered in uncommon hours, where love’s lights and shadows lace as the wind lifts the clover. Immediately, the young Buhari saw the luminous face of Zahra Nasiru Bayero, he discovered the sublime blindness of courtship and the acceptable follies of affection.

He knew right there and then that cupid’s aeonian arrow had struck him.

And the rest is history. One thing led to another, and the lovebirds consolidated their affection in an enviable union on Friday. The ancient city of Kano would not forget in a hurry, the day Yusuf and Zahra got married.

Yusuf, Talban Daura, married Zahra, daughter of the 2nd Emir of Bichi, in a well-attended wedding (Nikkah) in the Bichi Emirate Council of Kano. The wedding ceremony was officiated by the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Ali Pantami, after the groom’s representative, Malam Mamman Daura, paid N500,000 to the representative of the bride Malam Aminu Dantata, as dowry.

The wedding ceremony, which took place at the Emir’s Palace in Bichi, attracted the creme of Nigeria and Africa’s high society, including governors, ministers, traditional rulers, captains of industries, politicians, and members of the global diplomatic community. Former Nigerien President Mouhamadu Yesuofu, former President Goodluck Jonathan, and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar were present.

Other dignitaries in attendance included the host Gov. Umar Ganduje, IGP Usman Baba-Alkali, Governor of Borno Prof. Babagana Zulum, former Chief of Army Staff Tukur Buratai, former IGP Mohammed Adamu, Governor of Enugu, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, Governors of Niger, Nasarawa, Kogi, Gombe, Jigawa, Katsina, Sokoto, Bauchi, Zamfara, Cross River, among others.

The nuptials of the affluent are infinitely high-class and gorgeous. They are never for the fainthearted; glamour and lyre, pageantry, and cut stones are simply flashes of the cache unapologetically displayed; there is always more treasure to be showcased, more pleasure to be had. At the countdown to the wedding, high society waited with bated breath; not a few people were eager to be part of the celebration as the son of Nigeria’s number

powerful and influential families engaged in a frantic tussle to secure an invitation to what turned out to be the most exclusive party in 2021 so far.

Kano won’t forget, in a hurry, the day Yusuf and Zahra Nasiru Bayero got married. On that day, the emirate convulsed to the true power of wealth and celebrity. The emirate city submitted to the grace of Nigeria’s most powerful figures, like a vessel tilting to the splendorous splatter of the Atlantic. The city paid homage to high society figures as they united to celebrate the union of Yusuf and Zahra.

… AND THEY FLOUTED COVID-19 PROTOCOLS

Zahra and Yusuf Buhari one citizen exchanged vows with the princess of Bichi.

There is no gainsaying the duo have entwined their hearts where fortune melds with acclaim.

Add power to the mix, and you have a perfect picture of a union forged on earth, approved by mortals and sanctified by the blessed breath of heaven. Besides the fact that the marriage is between Nigeria’s most powerful families, it is also an open secret that life would never

be the same for the couple and both families after the ceremony. The Bichi family, among other things, would attain the leverage and pride of place frantically sought by many an affluent family.

Predictably, both families treated their friends and other loved ones to first-class seats to their theatre of wealth, high-octane soirees, and status-play. As the wedding drew nearer, Kano was agog as the most

Contracting the coronavirus is like living between the fire and the plague.

Through the horror of affliction, many have found no word for their pain. Many more waste quietly into a clinically mute universe.

Ultimately, they learn to live at peace with the odds and war with their innards.

If epidemics are truly more influential than statesmen and soldiers in shaping the course of social history, then the coronavirus may, for a very long while, tarnish the moods of civilizations. The vicious circle of fear, prejudice, and ignorance has increased the spread of the virus to an alarming level. Due to fear and prejudice, many still do not want to listen. Yet, coronavirus is a killer.

However, according to 1st News, at the wedding of Yusuf Buhari, son of President Muhammadu Buhari, many high-profile guests witnessed the flouting of basic COVID-19 protocols. Yusuf, the groom, and former Vice President, Atiku, were pictured at the event without face masks, specifically during what appeared to be a moment of consultation over the payment of the bride price.

No doubt, the principle of social distancing was blatantly flouted at the well-attended wedding. Considering the huge number of dignitaries, VIPs, and other attendees who honoured the occasion, it would have taken a miracle to observe any form of social distancing. Consequently, caution was thrown to the winds as attendees all pressed into each other’s personal spaces throughout the event.

The development runs contrary to laid-down non-pharmaceutical preventive protocols against the COVID-19 pandemic; while also representing a worrisome development in the light of current realities.

BIG BROTHER OF FILTH:

Tempers Flare as DSTV Persists in Amoral Programming

M

orals and meanings stumble in the Big Brother Naija TV show against the lure of filth and soulless debauchery. Participants tango in sin, tapping nimble partners for sexual pleasure on the house’s patio, its makeshift ballroom, in its unisex bath, toilet, and bedroom.

Could there be filth deeper than what the BBN show currently represents? Over time, the so-called reality show has become a cesspit of debauchery and humanity’s worst characterisation of reality. But rather than move to check the excesses of the show, the housemates and its producers, the Nigerian government, and broadcast regulatory authorities have continually turned a blind eye like the proverbial mother duck who looks the other way while its ducklings are snatched away by a predatory eagle.

Big Brother Naija broadcasts negative mental messages to the youths via uncensored broadcasting. This involves publicising nude activities capable of triggering and promoting rape actions in viewers, particularly the young ones, argued a concerned citizen who recently wrote a petition to the National Assembly to ban the programme. There is no gainsaying Nigeria deserves more didactic broadcast programming and enforcement of compliance by the regulatory authorities to promote progressive cultural values.

Recently, the General Overseer of the Shekinah Arena International Gospel Ministries, Gospel Agochukwu, urged Nigerians to stop watching the Big Brother

Naija season six ‘Shine Ya Eye’ reality show. He asserted that the programme was transmitting immorality into the lives of its viewers or audience.

In a Facebook post, the pastor said, “I blocked the Big Brother channel from my decoder. I am not against the entertainment industry making money, but I am against what Big Brother Naija is promoting in our society. Big brother Naija is promoting immorality in our society, so anybody watching Big Brother Naija is doing more harm to his or her spiritual life.”

Agochukwu said part of the danger of watching BBN was that its viewers now see sinful lifestyles as normal, insisting “there’s nothing Big Brother Naija is teaching us.”

He added, “The other day, I was scrolling down my phone, and I saw one young lady in the Big Brother house masturbating. Our Children are getting more corrupted day after that by the programme showing on sex. Sorry to say this, every year Big Brother Naija is getting worst.”

He advised Nigerians to avoid watching the programme, adding that the moral fabric of the society and the upcoming generation were at stake.

“If you’re watching Big Brother Naija, Get ready for the spirit of lust, the spirit of lies, the spirit of masturbation, sexual sin. You don’t need to enter any porn site again. Big Brother house is now a porn programme. Watching Big Brother Naija will corrupt your soul; abstain from it,” he warned.

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T H I S D AY ˾ Ͱͱ˜ ͰͮͰͯ

CITYSTRINGS

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

Need to Reconsider Soldiers Retired without Justification With the Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor and the Chief of Army Staff, LtGeneral Faruk Yahaya, last week calling on retired soldiers to offer their expertise in the fight against insurgency, observers are also asking them to reinstate some of the 38 senior military officers who were compulsorily retired without justification not only because the courts have ordered their reabsorption but because they are young and still have a lot to offer the nation. Chiemelie Ezeobi writes

T

he Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Lucky Irabor and Chief of Army Staff, Lt-General Faruk Yahaya, last week called on retired soldiers to offer their expertise in the fight against insurgency.

While speaking at the opening of the 2021 second quarter of the veterans’ affairs seminar/workshop in Plateau State, General Yahaya, who was represented by the Director of Army’s Personnel Services, Major General Boniface Sinjen, said the retired soldiers have major roles to play toward tackling current security challenges.

He said the workshop, with the theme: ‘The Role of Nigerian Army Veterans in Nigeria’s National Security Architecture’, will afford the army the opportunity to tap from the experience of retired personnel.

“The importance of this seminar/workshop cannot be overemphasised, bearing in mind the special roles our retired/discharged colleagues play in the society, especially at a time like this when our nation is faced with diverse but surmountable security challenges,” he said.

“These challenges include activities of the Boko Haram/Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP), farmers/herdsmen clashes, banditry and kidnapping. I am particularly impressed with the selection of the theme for this workshop, which will provide a forum for us to tap into the wealth of experience of our veterans in tackling the issue of insecurity in Nigeria.

“This workshop is also aimed at broadening the knowledge of our veterans on their important roles in Nigerian national security.

This is in line with my desire to uplift the standard of both serving and retired/discharged personnel, while diligently performing our constitutional role of securing the nation.

“This combined effort of all persons, especially those of us in uniform, both serving and retired, in securing our nation is further encapsulated in my vision for the Nigerian Army, which is to have a ‘professional Nigerian Army ready to accomplish assigned missions within a joint environment in the defence of Nigeria’.

“So, I enjoin you all to use this unique opportunity provided by this seminar to dig into your kitbags, bring out those special expertise and experience acquired over the years, have engaging interactions with your colleagues and let us see how we can jointly defend Nigeria, our beloved country.”

A day after Yahaya spoke, the CDS, General Irabor while speaking Makurdi, the Benue State capital, during a meeting with retired senior military officers from the North-central zone, said Nigeria “needs to fall back on retired military officers” in the fight against insecurity.

The CDS added that retirees could use their experience of living with civilians to provide security intelligence that can help in efforts to secure the country.

He urged the ex-servicemen not to consider themselves as retired personnel, but combatants in active service.

“To make a significant impact in ensuring that peace takes pre-eminence in the country, we need to fall back on the retired military officers. This is because they also live among the people, thereby having a lot to offer regarding security issues.

“Once a military officer, you remain a military officer for life, whether serving or retired. The motto of the country, which is ‘Unity, Peace and Faith’, is what we swore to defend, and we are committed to it,” Irabor said.

On his part, Chief of Defence Civil Military Corporation (CDCIMIC), Rear Admiral Frederick Ugo, added that the country’s current security situation requires that “all hands must be on deck”.

Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor

Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Faruk Yahaya

“We have to tap from their (retired senior personnel) adequate training, experience and years of service. They have the capacity to think logically in identifying the security challenges and proffer solutions,” he said.

Since the above mentioned officers made the comments, many stakeholders have been wondering why the army authorities have been ignoring calls from different quarters for the reinstatement and reabsorption some of the 38 senior officers compulsorily retired under the former Chief of Army Staff, Lt-General Tukur Buratai without justification.

They feel that some of the officers who were prematurely retired from service, still have a lot to offer the country than those who are completely spent since they are still in their 40s.

Recall that at the time the officers were sent packing, they were informed by the then Army spokesman, Brig. Gen S.K. Usman, that they were compulsorily retired on “disciplinary grounds, serious offences”.

Even the then Minister of Defence, Brig.

Gen Mansur Dan-Alli (rtd) and Buratai himself, corroborated Usman’s statement, alleging further that due process and fair hearing were granted to all the 38 officers, implying that they were found guilty by a competent legal procedure.

Specifically, Buratai the then COAS said: “It took us painstaking procedure to ensure we did not pick innocent ones. We started with one inquiry from One Division GOC to the other. After that, we subjected it to legal review. After the legal review, we forwarded our recommendations

to higher authorities for consideration.

So, it took us time; we have our own process also; our administrative process dovetailing into legal review and so on.”

However, it did not take long for Nigerians to know that none of the 38 officers was found guilty of any offence, and were never charged, tried or found guilty, let alone even appeared before any court martial.

Several of the officers who felt the Army breached its extant rules and regulations in carrying out the retirements took their grievances to courts to clear their names.

This was after they had appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari for his intervention and reinstatement, but no response from the presidency or the army.

Seven of the officers have since won their cases in courts which ordered their reinstatements into the Force. The officers who got judgments against the Army are: Maj Gen Ijioma, Cols Hassan and Suleiman as well as Lt Cols Arigbe, Dazang Mohammed and A.S. Mohammed. In the first half of the Year 2020 alone, the army lost four of these cases. Added to these seven, are another two officers who obtained National Assembly resolutions ordering their reinstatements representing some 20 per cent of the 38 officers.

Some of the officers, who are still in their 40s, are hoping that the Army authorities would carefully examine their case in the interest of justice because they still have a lot to offer the country in military service.

Curiously, Buratai refused to comply with both the court judgments and the resolutions. This has led to serious

The Armed Forces as a body, is supposed to be exemplary, in discipline, the world over. To violate the law and retire a member of that body in consequence is not an exhibition of discipline or exemplary conduct. To refuse to act in accordance with Section 178 of the Armed Forces Act 2004, and to continue to keep the appellant in suspense, is an abuse of office, calculated at denying the appellant the right to seek redress in a court of law

questions about the Army’s desire to adhere to the rule of law and provide justice for these officers.

For instance, in delivering his judgment on February 5, 2020 in Col M. A. Sulaiman v Nigerian Army and others, Justice Sanusi Kado corroborated the officers’ arguments by stating that: “The compulsory retirement of the claimant (Col MA Sulaiman), is hereby declared null and void and of no effect whatsoever, as it was not done in line with the extant rules and regulations.” This has been the pattern in the cases that have been concluded.

In fact, in a society where the rule of law is supreme and strictly adhered to, the plethora of losses the Nigerian Army has suffered would have caused a judicial review of the retirements. But this has not been the case as sources close to Army authorities revealed that the former COAS and the others may have bluntly sworn “with their last blood” never to revisit the retirements while they remained at the helm of affairs of the Army as that would be an admission that they lied against the 38 officers.

Many observers have since questioned Buratai for his action. Firstly, what manner of due process was followed by the supposedly highly professional Nigerian Army that made the 38 senior officers to be retired without being found guilty of an offence? When and where were all the officers charged, tried, and found guilty? Is there any evidence of the dates and times the Court Martials sat?

Were the officers granted fair hearing? What were the status of the appeals of the officers to Mr. President? When will the Nigerian Army comply with the rule of law and obey the court orders and judgments?

In Wing Commander Mshelia v. NAF & ANOR (2014) the Court of Appeal held: “The Armed Forces as a body, is supposed to be exemplary, in discipline, the world over. To violate the law and retire a member of that body in consequence is not an exhibition of discipline or exemplary conduct. To refuse to act in accordance with Section 178 of the Armed Forces Act 2004, and to continue to keep the appellant in suspense, is an abuse of office, calculated at denying the appellant the right to seek redress in a court of law, and that is why the Public Officers Protection was invoked.

"The law does not give reprieve in such a situation. No one will be allowed on the one hand, to act in breach of the law in a high-handed manner, and on the other hand, seek the protection of the law. The courts will not open their doors to such unlawful acts and dereliction of duty, a duty imposed by law…

"As earlier opined, the Public Officers Protection Act is meant to shield public officers and bodies, lawfully and conscientiously carrying out their duties, within the scope of their authority, from attack. It is not meant to be used as a sword by public officers acting without good faith and in flagrant disobedience of the law, to attack and maim others, more so when those others, are members of the same family, engaged in the service and defence of our country.”

Despite this "locus classicus" judgment of the Court of Appeal, and the series of legal losses sustained by the army, the illegal and unjust retirements of the 38 senior military officers was not reviewed under the Buratai-led army.

This is why the stakeholders are urging both the CDS, General Irabor and the COAS, General Yahaya to ensure that justice is served on the retired officers. They appealed to them not emulate the former service chiefs, in order for them to make a difference in their time and comply with the court judgments in the interest of fairness, justice and equity.

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T H I S D AY ˾ Ͱͱ˜ ͰͮͰͯ

CRIME&SECURITY

NNS Beecroft Arrests Four Europebound Stowaways, Hands over to NIS

CRIME SITUATION REPORTS

SECURITY: WHY YOU MUST EXERCISE CAUTION WHILE EMPLOYING DOMESTIC STAFF (2) Gbolahan Samuel Moronfolu

The stowaways Chiemelie Ezeobi

P

ersonnel of the Nigerian /BWZ 4IJQ //4 #&&$ROFT, recently arrested four Europe-bound stowBXBZT POCPBSE .5 3*7&3 4)*/&3 WFTTFM BU -BHPT BODIPSBHF The arrest was done by NNS #&&$30'5 QBUSPM UFBN EVSJOH UIF SPVUJOF )BSCPVS QBUSPM XIFO UIFZ observed suspicious movements of a wooden boat around the stern part of the vessel and decided to conduct a search.

5IF GPVS TUPXBXBZT )BQQZ "[VLB ZFBST 'FMJY #SJHIU ZFBST

Osas Kennedy (22 years); and Onyibe -VDLZ ZFBST XFSF GPVOE JOTJEF the propeller housing.

5IF $PNNBOEFS //4 #&&$30'5 $PNNPEPSF #BTIJS .PIBNNFE in a signed statement, stated that findings during the interrogation revealed that the stowaways had come from different parts of the country to Lagos state in search for jobs.

The suspects claimed that they lived with a friend at Sagbo Koji community, an island settlement along Sea school channel- Apapa channel on arrival to Lagos.

Additionally, they confessed that it

was at Sagbo Koji community they heard about stowaway missions and decided to travel to Europe.

The suspects have been handed over to the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) for further investigation and prosecution. $PNNPEPSF .PIBNNFE XIJMTU DPNNFOEJOH //4 #&&$30'5 QBUSPM team their vigilance, advised Nigerians to always follow due process of migration to avoid being sanctioned. )F GVSUIFS SFJUFSBUFE UIF $IJFG PG /BWBM 4UBGG T DPNNJUNFOU UPXBSET supporting the NIS and other maritime stakeholders in curbing crimes within the maritime domain.

The Inaccurate Comparison of Taliban with Boko Haram Dr Bashir Mijinyawa

F

ollowing the take over of control and authority by the Taliban from ousted government of President Asraf Ghana,several Nigerian had compared the Taliban with UIF #PLP )BSBN 5FSSPSJTUT UIBU have been waging an insurgency against the Nigerian state for NPSF UIBO ZFBST It is very inaccurate in my WJFX UP FRVBUF UIF 5BMJCBO XJUI UIF #PLP )BSBN GPS TFWFSBM reasons.

Taliban was the government with power and authority in "GHIBOJTUBO QSJPS UP XIFO B $PBMJUJPO MFE CZ "NFSJDB GPSDFT invaded the country and remove them from power for one major SFBTPO SFBTPO BDDPSEJOH UP UIF 64 President ; *harbouring terrorists such as Osama bin Laden who plans and execute attacks against UIF 64 BOE JU JOUFSFTUT 5IJT JT UIF NBJO SFBTPO UIF 64 JOWBEFE Afghanistan and removed Taliban GSPN QPXFS ZFBST BHP BDDPSEing to the recent address by the 64 1SFTJEFOU +PF #JEFO Again and very important is that the Taliban enjoy popular support among the people of Afghanistan even during the ZFBST PG 64 JOWBTJPO 5IJT NBEF UIF 64 UP DPNF UP UIF realisation that their continued stay in Afghanistan to defend the government they support is unsustainable and could not defeat the unwavering resistance

and determination of Taliban to take over power in their country again.

We also need to remember that Afghanistan has a predominant Muslim population like Indonesia, Malaysia,Pakistan, Iran, Saudi "SBCJB 6"& FUD 5IFTF QSFEPNJnant Muslim countries are either proclaimed as Islamic Republic (like in the case of Iran and Pakistan) or implement Sharia MBX XIJDI UIF 64 BOE XFTUFSO world do not have major issues with in as much as it will not allow the support and propagation of extremist ideologies that HPFT BHBJOTU UIF JOUFSFTU PG UIF 64 and Western world.

5IF 64 WJFXT UIF JNQMFNFOUBtion of Islamic Laws as an issue that largely constitute the internal affairs of the Muslim Majority countries. The NBKPS DPODFSO PG UIF 64 BOE western Nations therefore is that countries should not support individuals or organisations with extremist ideologies that is inimical to their interest. It is very QPTTJCMF UIBU 64 IBE BTTVSBODFT from Taliban that I will not do so moving forward.

5IF #PLP )BSBN JO UIF other hand are extremists who launched an insurgency that do not have the support of majority of the people in the area where they operate as opposed to the case of Taliban in Afghanistan.

They were never in significant control of government and authority at any level like the

Taliban and unlike Afghanistan, Nigeria could not be described as a predominant Muslim country and it is unlikely for any insurgency to turn Nigeria into an Islamic country.

5IF 64 BOE JU BMMJFT IBWF realised that it is not cost effective to keep spending trillions of %PMMBST PG UIFJS UBY QBZFST NPOFZ to continue to defend a largely unpopular government.That it is not cost effective and unsustainable and decided to pull out and allow the Taliban that is "popular" with the Afghans to take over and chart a new course for their country.

5IF 6, 1BSMJBNFOU BMTP held an emergency session to deliberate on the unfolding FWFOUT JO "GHIBOJTUBO 5IF 6, 1SJNF .JOJTUFS #PSJT +PIOTPO VOFRVJWPDBMMZ TUBUFT UIBU LFFQJOH foreign troops in Afghanistan to continue to defend the overthrown government of Ashraf Ghani is unrealistic and unsustainable.

The world has therefore come to the realisation that it is more rational and cost effective to allow the Taliban to take over power and form a broad based and all inclusive government that respect UIF SJHIUT PG BMM DJUJ[FOT JODMVEJOH women and minority groups.

-Mijinyawa is a Physician and Public Affairs commentator. He writes from Abuja Nigeria and can be reached through bashirmijinyawa34@gmail.com

INSTANCES OF ABUSE AGAINST DOMESTIC WORKER EXAMPLE: Twice I lost consciousness as a result of the beatings. The first time it was raining and there was a leak in the house and I forgot to put a bowl out [to catch the water]. She hit me with a mop. The second time, when I washed the clothes, the color changed and the employer hit me.

I said I was sorry and that I would return the cost by deducting it from my salary, but she still hit me. She never sent me to see a doctor or to the hospital. Once I was a hit by a wooden stick and she hit me until the stick broke. When I woke up late, after 5 a.m., the employer would pour hot water on me, like if I woke up at 6 a.m.

Women and girls employed as domestic workers around the world face an appalling array of abuses.

The most serious criminal offenses perpetrated against domestic workers include physical, psychological and sexual abuse; food deprivation; forced confinement; and trafficking into forced labor.

Employers who abuse their domestic workers often enjoy impunity.

Many factors militate against domestic workers reporting abuse, including restrictions on their movements and lack of awareness about their rights.

Yet governments have by and large failed to take steps to address these barriers, for example by launching campaigns to raise awareness and instituting accessible reporting mechanisms, and actively prosecuting abusive employers. When domestic workers do report criminal abuse, police often dismiss their claims due to difficulty of gathering evidence of abuses committed in private households poses challenges to effective prosecution.

TYPES OF ABUSE ON DOMESTIC WORKERS r $POUSPM r 1IZTJDBM "CVTF r 4FYVBM "CVTF r &NPUJPOBM "CVTF *OUJNJEBUJPO r *TPMBUJPO r 7FSCBM "CVTF $PFSDJPO 5ISFBUT #MBNF r 6TJOH .BMF 1SJWJMFHF r &DPOPNJD "CVTF 3*4, "440$*"5&% 8*5) &.1-0:*/( %0.&45*$ 803,&34 r 5IFGU PG WBMVBCMFT r .BMUSFBUNFOU PG DIJMESFO VOEFS their care r &YQPTVSF PG IPNFT UP DSJNJOBMT PS giving vital information to criminals r 1PJTPOJOH GPPE ESJOLT PG FNployers and family members r *OJUJBUJOH FNQMPZFS T GBNJMZ members into witch craft or secret spiritual cult or other domineering spirits. r "CBOEPONFOU PG EVUZ XJUIPVU notification r "CTDPOEJOH GSPN IPNF XJUIPVU recourse to the terms of employment with employers. r 1JMGFSJOH 5IFGU PG WBMVBCMFT GSPN UIF FNQMPZFF T IPNF Instances include a situation where a domestic servant informed her employer took permission to see her parent at home, the employer suspected sudden decision of the domestic staff to travel. They suspected something was amiss and had to send for a security expert to join them in conducting search on her, at the end of the search it was shocking to the employer that the sum of fifty thousand naira stolen from their wardrobe by the domestic

staff was recovered from her pant.

Secondly was a case where the domestic staff that the employer had already fixed in a place where she was learning the skill of fashion designer in addition to her domestic job. She suddenly disappeared from IFS FNQMPZFS T IPVTF UP BO VOLOPXO EFTUJOBUJPO $POTFRVFOUMZ UIF QBSent of the domestic staff alleged that the employer that the employer had used her daughter for money rituals.

The case was reported in one of the TUBUF QPMJDF $*% UIF 1PMJDF XFOU JOUP investigation only to discover later that the domestic staff has ran to her former boss house. The parent of the maid who accused the employer was now the one begging the employer to forgive them for their wrongful allegations etc.

SOLUTIONS r *NQSPWF UIFJS TUBOEBSE PG MJWJOH such as an increase in the minimum wage r -JTUFOJOH UP UIFJS QSPCMFNT BOE attend to them r 5IFZ NVTU IBWF B HPPE SFMBtionship between households and domestic workers r "MMPX UIFN UP GBDF UIFJS XPSL BOE reduce hours of time spend r $SFBUJOH UJNF PS PGG EVUZ r "WPJE TFYVBM IBSBTTNFOU GSPN anyone r )FMQ UP JNQSPWF JO FEVDBUJPOBM status r (PPE NFEJDBM BUUFOUJPOT FUDww r $POEVDU TFSJPVT QIZTJDBM background checks before granting employment not such archaic background check given to consultants as it is common this days r 5IFSF NVTU CF DPODJTF UFSNT PG agreement between the employer and the domestic servants and their referrals r *OTUBMMJOH B MPDBM $$57 DBNFSB in the house to monitor the activities of domestic servants r -JNJUJOH UIF BDDFTT PG WJTJUPST to the house and discouraging domestic servant from working in the FNQMPZFS T SPPN XJUIPVU BEFRVBUF monitoring r &NQMPZFST BSF OPU UP MJWF DBSFlessly no matter their task schedule of duty of business &NQMPZFS T BSF UP FOTVSF BEFRVBUF verification exercise is conducted on the domestic servant before the employment 'JOBMMZ RVPUF i)BQQJOFTT IBT NBOZ roots, but none more Important than TFDVSJUZu 4JODF FNQMPZFST SFRVFTUFE the services of the domestic servants to guarantee comfort, easy life and happiness for themselves and their family members, there is need for them to understand that their security to a large extent rest in the hands of their domestic workers and should do all that is possible to maintain good working relationship with them so as to guarantee security of lives of their family members. )PXFWFS UIFSF JT B TBZJOH UIBU OP matter how you clean a pig, the pig must definitely go to the mud, the employer should ensure they work in consonance with the referrals and the terms of agreement of the job description and ensure they are guided with the report from the background check conducted on the domestic servant.

-Moronfolu is a seasoned security consultant with many years of security and policing experience. FELLOW, Fourth Estate Professional Society (FFPS), he has also partaken in peace keeping operations within and outside the country and has flair for general security education.

46

MONDAY AUGUST 23, 2021 •T H I S D AY

MONDAY AUGUST 23, 2021 • T H I S D AY

47

48

T H I S D AY MONDAY, AUGUST 23, 2021

BUSINESS/MONEYGUIDE

Nigeria to Attract $150bn Investment from $4trn Halal Trade Gilbert Ekugbe Organisers of the International Halal Expo, Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) have stated that Nigeria is expected to attract over $150 billion investment from the Halal trade exhibition.

The organisers stated this at a virtual press conference to herald the expo scheduled to hold on the 14th to 16th of September 2021 at the Abuja Trade and Convention Centre, Abuja.

The president, ACCI, Dr. Al-Mujtaba Abubakar, said investment would target Nigeria’s cosmetic, pharmaceutical and tourism sectors, adding that the expo would also serve as a launch pad to attract new businesses for Nigeria and Africa at large.

He said globally, the Halal business is worth over $4 trillion, saying that Nigeria is currently doing about $50 billion worth of trade in the Halal industry.

He added: “We have been working on the expo for the past four months as plans are ongoing as we are giving it all it takes for the expo to succeed.”

According to him, the Halal business also covers all assets of commerce, banking, production

where Nigerian companies can take advantage of to forge new businesses.

The event, which is jointly organised by the Abuja Trade Centre (ATC) has so far attracted interest from different countries in Africa and the middle East.

“We are already in touch with so many organisations in Taiwan, Malaysia, Jordan Morrocco and Algeria. Going forward, we are going to be having this expo on a yearly basis and would be championed as part of our activities,”he said.

Also speaking, the Executive Director, Abuja Trade Centre (ATC), Jude Chime, said the $50 billion trade by Nigerian companies is majorly in the beverage and food industry, calling on Nigerian businesses to leverage on the opportunities the platform provides.

“We will be signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to expand the frontiers of trade in the Halal industry.

We are targeting the tourism, pharmaceutical and cosmetics industry. Nigeria is going to benefit a lot from this expo investment wise,” he said.

He pointed out that a whole lot of foreign companies in the

Middle East are seeking ways to enter the Nigerian market not just to bring in their products, but also expanding their manufacturing activities in the country.

He said the expo would also give Nigerian exporters the opportunity to break even into the Middle East markets through the Halal certification Reacting to the rejection of Nigerian goods at the international market, he said the MoU would go a long way in increasing the level of acceptability of Nigerian products, “Most importantly, the products must have the Halal certification.

It is a very wonderful platform to help promote export especially for our exporters and manufacturers,” he said The first Deputy president, Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), Dele Oye, said the Halal expo is about promoting trade and investments taking cognisance of religion to reach a wider market.

He urged members of the business community to take advantage of the opportunity while also restating NACCIMA’s commitment to supporting the expo.

Adebayo Wants Financial System Broadened to Aid Sustainable Growth James Emejo ËØd Folalumi Alaran ÓØ ÌßÔË The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr. Adeniyi Adebayo has said that the financial system should be broadened and deepened to sustain the growth of the economy.

The minister at the 2021 national workshop of the Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers (CIS) in Abuja, stressed that the financial sector was central to an economic growth.

He also said that the implementation of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area Agreement (AfCFTA) will enhance the continent’s capacity to unlock growth and create jobs by building the nation’s industrial capacity, enlarging its productivity as well as becoming competitive globally.

Adebayo said with the largest economy and population in Africa- $500 billion in GDP and a population of 200 million respectively, the country could benefit immensely from the trade

agreement.

He said,”As the economy grows, the financial services sector needs to keep pace with changing industry demands, especially in terms of assessing the prospects for risk and return.

“Sustainable growth of the economy needs to be underpinned by a broadening and deepening of the financial system, capable of serving the needs of all parts of the economy.”

He said economies which had sustained long-term growth have experienced enormous structural change by shifting from being predominantly rural and agricultural to a more urban, manufacturing and service-based structure.

He said,”This was certainly the history of many industrialised countries as the countries’ economies diversified, their financial systems grew in depth and breadth.”

The minister added that now that the country is presently experiencing economic growth, there was the need for

the development of a healthy financial sector.

He noted that the focus is currently on reforms that strengthen the rights of borrowers and lenders, strengthen the credit rating system, lower the costs of obtaining credit as well as streamline dispute resolution.

Commenting further on the AfCFTA, he said,”This market size allows manufacturers to increase capacity and expand into other African countries. “This will enable investors to benefit not only from the Nigerian market but from other countries on the continent as well.

“To put this in context, Nigeria contributes an estimated 76 pet cent of total trading volume in the ECOWAS region. This is made possible because of the ECOWAS treaty which provides for the free movement of people and goods throughout 15 West African countries.”

According to him, AfCFTA grants access to 54 countries with a population of around 1.3 billion and a market value of about $3.4 trillion.

Datapro Assigns “A” Rating to DLM Capital Group Darasimi Adebisi DataPro Limited, a leading national Credit Rating Agency (CRA) recognised and approved by the Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC), has in its latest report assigned “A” rating to DLM Capital Group Limited with a stable outlook for the year 2020/2021.

The Managing Director/CEO, DataPro Limited Abimbola Adeseyoju in a signed statement said the “A” Rating indicates Low Risk.

According to him, “It shows

very good financial strength, operating performance and business profile when compared to the standard established by DataPro. This Company, in our opinion, has the ability to meet its ongoing obligations.

“The DataPro Rating Committee approved the Rating after assessment of the Company’s financial Performance, Parent Company, Subsidiaries, Corporate Governance& Risk Management, Risk Factors, Regulatory Environment, Future Outlook of its current healthy profile in the medium to long-term period.

“The Rating of DLM Capital

Group Limited is supported by its Good Revenue Profile, Good Asset Quality and Experienced Management.DLM Capital Group Limited subsequently got a short-term rating of“A1”. This indicates Good Credit Quality and satisfactory capacity for timely payment of financial commitments.”

DataPro notes that the rating carries a maximum shelf life of 12 calendar months, in line with international best practice. The rating is therefore not an offer to trade in securities nor a substitute for the user’s judgement. It is meant for reference purposes.

MARKET INDICATORS MONEY AND CREDIT STATISTICS

(MILLION NAIRA)

JANUARY 2021 Money Supply (M3)

38,779,455.43

-- CBN Bills Held by Money Holding Sectors

1,039,129.55

Money Supply (M2)

37,740,325.88

-- Quasi Money

21,779,302.69

-- Narrow Money (M1)

15,961,023.19

---- Currency Outside Banks

2,364,871.13

---- Demand Deposits

13,596,152.06

Net Foreign Assets (NFA)

7,414,275.50

Net Domestic Assets(NDA)

31,365,179.93

-- Net Domestic Credit (NDC)

42,916,586.63

---- Credit to Government (Net)

12,304,773.44

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

0.00

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

0.00

---- Credit to Private Sector (CPS)

30,611,813.19

--Other Assets Net

3,892,112.74

Reserve Money (Base Money

13,264,585.14

--Currency in Circulation

2,831,167.19

--Banks Reserves --Special Intervention Reserves

10,433,417.96 317,234.17

˾ ÙßÜÍÏ ̋

Money Market Indicators (in Percentage) Month

March 2018

Inter-Bank Call Rate

15.16

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

14.00

Treasury Bill Rate

11.84

Savings Deposit Rate

4.07

1 Month Deposit Rate

8.82

3 Months Deposit Rate

9.72

6 Months Deposit Rate

10.93

12 Months Deposit Rate

10.21

Prime Lending rate

17.35

Maximum Lending Rate

31.55

˾ ÙØÏÞËÜã ÙÖÓÍã ËÞÏ ̋ ͯͱϱ

OPEC DAILY BASKET PRICE AS AT THURSDAY, 15 JULY 2021

The price of OPEC basket of thirteen crudes stood at $73.15 a barrel on Thursday, compared with $75.29 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).

49

T H I S D AY MONDAY, AUGUST 23, 2021

MARKET NEWS

Shareholders Disagree With SEC over N170bn Unclaimed Dividend Darasimi Adebisi Shareholders of quoted companies in the country have disagreed with Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on the use of the reported N170billion unclaimed dividend in the Nigerian capital market.

They expressed shock on N170billion reported by the Commission, stating that registrars on their part have worked with shareholders to

further create awareness and reduce unclaimed dividend in the capital market.

THISDAY reliable gathered that unclaimed dividend in the banking sector in 2020 increased as banks recorded growth in dividend paid to shareholders.

Specifically, Zenith Bank Plc in 2020 financial year reported N28.04billion unclaimed dividend from N25.6billion while Access Bank unclaimed dividend dropped to N15.73billion in

P R I C E S MAIN BOARD

F O R DEALS

2020 from N15.88billion reported in 2019.

FBN Holdings reported N9.62billion unclaimed dividend in 2020 from N8.09billion in 2019.

Further findings revealed that Dangote cement unclaimed dividend closed 2020 at N4billion from N3.5billion.

The Commission recently attributed growth in unclaimed dividend to identity management and multiple subscriptions of investors.

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

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N )

The DG of SEC, Lamido Yuguda, said the figure had increased from N158 billion as of December 2019.

Unclaimed dividend in the capital market has increased from over N2 billion in 1999 to N120 billion recorded in 2018.

But in a telephone chat with THISDAY, at the weekend, Chairman, Progressive Shareholders Association of Nigeria, Boniface Okezie said the N170 billion unclaimed dividend

T R A D E D MAIN BOARD

A S

declaration by SEC is “just speculation”.

According to him: “I don’t think the figure disclosed

by SEC’s DG on unclaimed dividend is true. Has SEC find out from registrars how much is unclaimed dividend in the capital market and how the Commission confirmed that we have N170bilion unclaimed dividend?

“Since SEC announced that the fund has been taken over by

O F

government, a lot of shareholders have come forward to claim their money from registrars. The N170billion quoted by SEC’s DG is unrealistic and ambiguous.

They will need to sit down and do their homework. SEC needs to reach out to registrars and ask for how much paid out and how much is left.”

He added, “Commission is looking for avenue to corner unclaimed dividend in the NCM and it can’t work.”

2 0 / 0 8 / 2 0 2 1 DEALS

MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N)

50

MONDAY, ͺͻ˜ ͺ͸ͺ͹ ˾ T H I S D AY

51

MONDAY AUGUST 23, 2021 • T H I S DAY

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 19Aug-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 156.46 157.82 -3.35% Afrinvest Plutus Fund 100.00 100.00 4.87% Nigeria International Debt Fund 319.90 319.90 -17.60% Afrinvest Dollar Fund 109.07 109.07 -2.66% 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 7.51% AIICO Balanced Fund 3.30 3.46 -2.88% 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 100.00 100.00 7.76% Anchoria Equity Fund 140.93 142.57 5.95% Anchoria Fixed Income Fund 1.13 1.13 -14.99% 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 19.66 20.25 8.39% ARM Discovery Balanced Fund 432.31 445.35 7.98% ARM Ethical Fund 38.17 39.32 13.24% ARM Eurobond Fund ($) 1.09 1.09 -1.21% ARM Fixed Income Fund 0.97 0.97 -7.49% ARM Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 8.21% AVA GLOBAL ASSET MANAGERS LIMITED info@avacapitalgroup.com Web: www.avacapitalgroup.com Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AVA GAM Fixed Income Dollar Fund 105.77 105.77 3.99% AVA GAM Fixed Income Naira Fund 1,018.81 1,018.81 1.88% AXA MANSARD INVESTMENTS LIMITED investmentcare@axamansard.com Web: www.axamansard.com; Tel: +2341-4488482 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AXA Mansard Equity Income Fund 134.38 135.32 6.50% AXA Mansard Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 9.62% CAPITAL EXPRESS ASSET AND TRUST LIMITED info@capitalexpressassetandtrust.com Web: www.capitalexpressassetandtrust.com ; Tel: +234 803 307 5048 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn CEAT Fixed Income Fund 2.02 2.02 -9.62% Capital Express Balanced Fund(Formerly: Union Trustees Mixed Fund) 2.13 2.17 -7.22% CARDINALSTONE ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED mutualfunds@cardinalstone.com Web: www.cardinalstoneassetmanagement.com ; Tel: +234 (1) 710 0433 4 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn CardinalStone Fixed Income Alpha Fund 1.01 1.01 2.46% CHAPELHILL DENHAM MANAGEMENT LTD investmentmanagement@chapelhilldenham.com Web: www.chapelhilldenham.com, Tel: +234 461 0691 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Chapelhill Denham Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 8.02% Paramount Equity Fund 16.64 16.95 4.06% Women's Investment Fund 137.13 138.73 3.05% CORDROS ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmgtteam@cordros.com Web: www.cordros.com, Tel: 019036947 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Cordros Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 7.56% Cordros Milestone Fund 2023 119.50 120.27 Cordros Milestone Fund 2028 N/A N/A Cordros Dollar Fund ($) 107.97 107.97 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 7.72% Coronation Balanced Fund 1.21 1.22 0.57% Coronation Fixed Income Fund 1.39 1.39 -12.20% 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 8.31% EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class B 1,000,000.00 1,000,000.00 7.68% EDC Nigeria Fixed Income Fund 1,145.83 1,161.73 -0.52% 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 1,404.32 1,404.32 11.08% FBN Balanced Fund 190.87 192.21 1.70% FBN Halal Fund 111.92 111.92 8.35% FBN Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 9.31% 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

126.75 156.48

126.75 3.79% 159.79 3.51% fcmbamhelpdesk@fcmb.com

Bid Price 1.00 3.96 1.60 1.18

Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn 1.00 5.67% 3.96 2.39% 1.63 4.97% 1.18 4.24% coralfunds@fsdhgroup.com

Bid Price 3,712.92 3,358.16 100.00

Offer Price 3,776.68 3,358.16 100.00

Yield / T-Rtn -0.72% 2.50% 3.53%

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 7.86% Vantage Balanced Fund 2.68 2.75 -6.00% Vantage Guaranteed Income Fund 1.00 1.00 4.50% Kedari Investment Fund (KIF) 152.39 152.66 -2.00% Vantage Equity Income Fund (VEIF) - June Year End 1.27 1.32 1.10% Vantage Dollar Fund (VDF) - June Year End 1.09 1.09 0.41% 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 1.43 1.45 4.86% Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund 1,145.16 1,145.16 5.47% 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 11.46 11.49 9.32% Meristem Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 7.65% 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 1.66 1.69 7.16% PACAM Fixed Income Fund 11.52 11.51 -5.27% PACAM Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 5.44% PACAM Equity Fund 1.66 1.67 4.84% PACAM EuroBond Fund 112.81 114.65 2.69% 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 131.76 134.35 8.60% 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 1.05 1.05 10.10% 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 3,290.52 3,325.52 2.45% Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund 232.39 232.39 3.35% Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund 1.22 1.24 4.24% Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund 306.05 306.05 3.87% Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund 224.93 228.28 3.06% Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 8.16% Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund 10,399.36 10,550.37 -0.89% Stanbic IBTC Dollar Fund (USD) 1.27 1.27 3.46% Stanbic IBTC Shariah Fixed Income Fund 115.32 115.32 3.82% Stanbic IBTC Enhanced Short-Term Fixed Income Fund 103.10 103.10 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 1.30 1.32 1.97% United Capital Bond Fund 1.91 1.91 4.21% United Capital Equity Fund 0.87 0.89 9.90% United Capital Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 9.23% United Capital Eurobond Fund 119.83 119.83 4.21% United Capital Wealth for Women Fund 1.06 1.08 3.98% United capital Sukuk Fund 1.06 1.06 5.98% 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 12.90 13.01 8.67% Zenith Ethical Fund 14.24 14.37 16.58% Zenith Income Fund 24.29 24.29 1.28% Zenith Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 6.21%

REITS NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

125.34 51.90

10.92% 2.86%

Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

13.38

13.48

1.19%

122.04 97.59 17.46 18.25

125.09 99.73 17.56 18.35

1.50% -1.64%

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

3.91 5.56 17.63 1.00 19.72 155.36

3.95 5.64 17.73 1.00 19.92 157.36

3.44% -2.20% 8.60% 6.31% -3.88% -29.25%

NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

107.40

13.11%

INFRASTRUCTURE FUND Fund Name Chapel Hill Denham Nigeria Infrastructure Debt Fund

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

52

MONDAY, ͺͻ˜ ͺ͸ͺ͹ ˾ T H I S D AY 1

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AMCON Gives Court Undertaking on NICON –Record of Court proceedings

53

53

MONDAY, ͺͻ˜ ͺ͸ͺ͹ ˾ T H I S D AY

ADVERTISEMENT

AMCON Gives Court Undertaking on NICON –Record of Court proceedings

2

54

MONDAY, ͺͻ˜ ͺ͸ͺ͹ ˾ T H I S D AY

TRIBUTE FA RE WELL TO A HM ED JODA, MY WARTIME BOSS Lindsay Barrett

I

f I must tell the truth, when I first met Ahmed Joda in early 1967, I was probably naïve and ignorant about Nigerian issues. He might well have considered me a novice who was engaging in something I was not ready for. He was the permanent secretary of the Federal Ministry of Information, and I had lived in Nigeria for less than a year.

However, I had made friends with some extraordinarily well-informed and professionally competent members of the ministry’s staff, prominent among whom were Messrs Scott-Emuakpor and Sam Epelle. Both of these gentlemen were articulate and highly professional media practitioners, and I sought their assistance in obtaining background information as I embarked upon my early efforts at reporting Nigerian affairs for West Africa magazine.

My meeting with the permanent secretary actually came about as I was trying to understand and interpret the threat of the Civil War, which had become the major element in the global evaluation of Nigerian political affairs at the time. The general attitude of the Western press then suggested that the nation was about to descend into an orgy of ethnic violence and religious conflict.

As a young and somewhat idealistic advocate of Pan-African values, I was profoundly opposed to the destruction of Nigerian unity because I believed in Nigeria’s role as the giant of black nationalist aspirations. When I was asked to contribute to the anti-secessionist advocacy of the federal government, I accepted enthusiastically. When I was posted to head the Enugu office of the Information Ministry as the civil war commenced, I saw no reason to reject the appointment.

With encouragement from Prof. Essien Essien-Udom and my close and dear friend Ukpabi Asika from the University of Ibadan, I went to meet Alhaji Joda through the intervention of Alhaji M.D. Yusuf, the then head of the E Department, the intelligence arm of the Nigerian Police Force. Unknown to me at that time, Alhaji Yusuf and some of the officials of the Nigerian civil service had read some commentaries that I had written in Paris in the years before I came to Africa and were impressed by my commitment to African unity and progress. However, Alhaji Joda’s first question was whether I felt that I would be able to be objective and neutral in reporting from Enugu.

This surprised me because I had not expected the nation’s chief information officer to expect me to be objective in reporting a conflict that I felt was initiated by the federalists. He then elaborated on the issue by telling me that as far as he was concerned, the message we had to promote was one of a return to harmony among all the peoples of Nigeria rather than to place blame for the conflict on anyone.

He felt that the task would be an

“Alhaji Ahmed Joda’s commitment to harmony in diversity was deep-rooted, and he expressed it in consistent terms throughout the wartime period when I collaborated with the ministry.” enormous one for even the most experienced Nigerian, so I should not assume that my task would be easy. Then in his usually humorous manner, he told me to make the best of what he was sure would be an uncomfortable ride. He then suggested that I meet and speak with some military officers to comprehend the reality of Nigerian nationalism at that period. That was how I eventually met Col. Martin Adamu, who explained

to me that civil war was inevitable although not desirable.

Over the next two and a half years, as I worked under the guidance of the East Central State Government and the Federal Authorities, I had several opportunities to observe and interact with Alhaji Joda and to seek his advice.

I was especially moved when after I had spent just about three months in Enugu, he told me that the ministry highly appreciated my efforts, and

he was sending an officer from the headquarters to assist me.

By then, I had published a few reports abroad and established a newsletter called The Enlightener for distribution in the war zone. What I remember most effectively from that period are the annual information conferences that were held in different parts of the country to formulate and consolidate the national policy on communication and propaganda.

Alhaji Ahmed Joda’s commitment to harmony in diversity was deep-rooted, and he expressed it in consistent terms throughout the wartime period when I collaborated with the ministry. He was a very modest individual even though he was often described as one of the so-called “Super PermSec’s” Gowon administration. He never let power or position go to his head, and he remained committed to inter-ethnic cooperation to the end of his days.

55

MONDAY, ͺͻ˜ ͺ͸ͺ͹ ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS ANALYSIS

Olusola Akanmode: Salute To a Rare Bureaucrat and Community-Minded Patriot at 71

By Tunde Olusunle

I

f you didn't know him in his days as a high flying bureaucrat in the Old Kwara State, either by way of a physical encounter, or perhaps you gleaned his face in the media, you probably encountered him in high end social circles in Ilorin, capital of the state. He was at various times a Permanent Secretary or Director-General, depending on the nomenclatural preference of the federal bureaucracy which set the pace for the states, under military rulership.

He served nearly half a dozen military governors at the time and also established *The Niche Club* a classy hangout for select middle class patrons in Ilorin, capital of the state. *The Niche* was located in the serene Adewole Housing Estate, away from the stomp and shove of the city centre, an idyllic hub for winding down after work hours or networking.

To be sure, between January 1984 and August 1991, he served in the administrations of Salaudeen Latinwo, Mohammed Ndatsu Umaru (both airforce group captains) and Ahmed Abdullahi; Ibrahim Alkali and Alwali Jauji Kazir, respectively, (all army colonels), who were all military governors between the regimes of Muhammadu Buhari and Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, as the nation's military helmsmen. He functioned at various times in different ministries, departments and agencies, (MDAs), notably Finance, Health, Governor's Office and Office of the Head of Service. He equally served in Education, Government House as well as Commerce and Industry.

His work ethic circumscribed by unwavering commitment, focus, hard work, diligence and versatility, earned him something of a magical ascendancy in the public service. He became a Permanent Secretary, within 13 breathtaking years, at the age of 37. Reaching the peak of the civil service at that level, is statutorily attained either before 35 years in service, or ahead of the 60th birthday of a civil servant. He was also one of pioneering public servants in the newborn Kogi State, created by Babangida August 27,1991, following the excision of parts of the erstwhile Benue and Kwara states, to constitute the present day Confluence State.

In the new creation, he served as premier Permanent Secretary in an omnibus Ministry of Works, Water Resources, Lands and Housing, under the four-month foundation-laying regime of Danladi Mohammed Zakari, also an army colonel, in the state. He worked with Zakari to articulate a framework for the takeoff of the new state, which was to be driven by the brimming quality and abundance of manpower in the state. It was expected that the state will take full advantage of its geophysical location at the intersection of Nigeria's two largest rivers, the Niger and Benue in Lokoja, capital of the new state; its touristic endowments as a Lord Lugard era capital of Nigeria; its multiplicity of solid minerals which had already bred the Ajaokuta Steel Complex; its abutment with nine states and the federal capital territory and its immense agricultural potentials.

Olusola Akanmode, better known in the national space, since the outset of democratic governance in 1999, when he served as Chief of Staff, COS, to Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, had a longserving, fulfilled and inspiring career in the public service.

He had been properly groomed for challenges and tasks which he encountered in his latter years in the service to the nation. Back in 1993, shortly after the ouster of the regime of Ernest Shonekan, Head of the Interim National Government (ING), put in place by Babangida, Akanmode was recalled from retirement to serve as Secretary to the State Government, SSG, in Kogi State.

The dodgy, hurriedly cobbled together ING contraption, was Babangida's way of availing himself a soft landing in the boiling political conundrum of the nation at the time. This followed strident agitations by Nigerians and the international community, after Babangida annulled the "June 12, 1993" election, won by the business mogul, Moshood Kasimawo Olawale Abiola, hailed as *MKO* for short, in the national political arena.

The clamour centred around the imperative of the restoration Abiola's mandate.

Sani Abacha, himself an army general and Babangida's confidant, kicked out Ernest Shonekan and the democratically elected governors and parliaments in November 1993, and appointed military administrators in place of the civilian governors. Paul Uzoanya Ndimele Omeruo, then an army colonel from the artillery corps of the Nigerian Army, was appointed chief executive of Kogi State. Akanmode thus became the de facto Number Two man in the administration, in the absence of a deputy governor, military or civilian.

One of the highlights of his stint in office under Omeruo, was the launch of a Kogi State Industrial Trust Fund, to create awareness about, and raise resources for the industrial takeoff of the state, a desire which could not be totally borne

Akanmode

TRIBUTE by the state government, in the days of trickling monthly allocations to state governments, from the federal purse, with the states contending with debt overhangs and workers' emoluments. The programme, coordinated by his office as SSG, recorded some level of success. But as with many brilliant initiatives powered by government, the idea petered out, soon after the exit of the Omeruo administration.

Under the military, the functions of the COS in the office of the Number Two man in a federal setup, the Chief of General Staff, CGS, were overseen by a high ranking military officer, not below the rank of Brigadier General, (or its equivalent in the other arms of the military). He was referred to as Principal Staff Officer, (PSO). It was therefore the responsibility of Akanmode and his colleagues in the office of the President, Olusegun Obasanjo, to demilitarise and domesticate the office to conform with the needs of a democratic dispensation.

Much as he served predominantly under military leaders, Akanmode had substantial experience in grassroots politics and popular mobilisation.

Following his exit from the Omeruo administration in the first half of 1995, he spent quality time in his community and homeland in the Okun country, availing himself of better understanding and appreciation of his people. He was one of the initiators of the "Okun New Initiative," (ONI), an apolitical sociocultural assemblage of select Okun leaders, including Jide Omokore, Funso Owoyemi, Olu Owa and so on, to chart a new political direction for Okunland, serially victimised in the political scheme, under various political arrangements.

A protege of the revered Okun bureaucrat and leader, Sunday Bolorunduro Awoniyi, Akanmode was involved in the Abacha era politicking which produced five political parties. This included: Convention for National Consensus (CNC); United Nigeria Peoples' Convention, UNCP; National Centre Party of Nigeria (NCPN); Democratic Party of Nigeria (DPN) and Grassroots Democratic Movement (GDM) registered by the National Electoral Commission, (NECON) in September 1996.

The UNCP was the dominant party in that milieu and Akanmode, alongside Awoniyi, David Medaiyese Jemibewon, Jonathan Tunde Ogbeha, Ado Shuaibu, Stephen Olorunfemi and others, rallied the electorate in the senatorial zone, behind the UNCP. The UNCP dissolved into the Peoples' Democratic Party, PDP, following the emergence of Abdulsalam Abubakar as military Head of State in June 1998, after the demise of Sani Abacha.

The PDP was one of the three political parties registered by the successor electoral umpire to NECON, the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC). The other two parties were the All Nigeria Peoples' Party (ANPP) and the Alliance for Democracy (AD).

Akanmode's polyvalent experiences over time, came very handy in the organisation and

operationalisation of the Vice President's office. There was very regular interface between the Vice President, and his principal officers, to keep them up to speed with government's intentions, initiatives, policies and plans. Akanmode deftly navigated the intricate relationship between the two top shots, especially against the backdrop of the peculiarity of his designation as Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, in the Office of the Vice President. This curious complexion of his job, implied that he was first and foremost an appointee of the President, before his deployment to the Office of the Vice President. This was definitely a different scenario from what obtained elsewhere, especially in the United States of America (USA), whose presidential democracy Nigeria copied, and had to be carefully managed.

Quietly and unobtrusively, Akanmode worked behind the scenes to help mitigate the emasculation of Kogi West Senatorial Zone in the national scheme, those early years of popular rule. With the governor of Kogi State coming from Kogi East and his Deputy from Kogi Central, between 1999 and 2012, the highest ranking political office holder from Kogi West during the Obasanjo years, therefore, was the Speaker of the House of Assembly.

Expectedly, he wielded minimal influence in the political scheme of the state. Elected and appointed public officers in the Obasanjo government from Kogi State, met regularly and synergised to ensure that the state was not undermined with regards to the appropriation of dividends of democracy by way of appointments and infrastructural projects.

Differences between Obasanjo and Atiku in the aftermath of the 2003 presidential election, culminated in the wholesale decimation of the office of the Number Two citizen, whose staff were wilfully sacked by Obasanjo. Akanmode resigned his appointment in December 2006, in solidarity with his Principal. So bitter was the acrimony between both leaders, that Akanmode was denied the national honour automatically due to him by virtue of his appointment and contributions to the Obasanjo regime, a development which he reflects on, from time to time.

Akanmode returned to his birthplace, AiyetoroGbedde in Ijumu local government area after his disengagement from the Obasanjo government, to pursue his passion in agriculture and the development of cottage industries. As at 2018, his farm spanned 350 hectares of high yield cassava, while a small plant which he operated, produced *garri* in cellophane packages. The heightened activities of rampaging herdsmen, however, have ensured that he has suspended his farming activities for a while. The losses he suffered following the discontinuation of his pet project remains a profound source of unhappiness for him.

A prince from the Akanmode royal family in Aiyetoro-Gbedde, Olusola Akanmode was born August 18, 1950. He attended what was then known as the Provincial Secondary School, Okene, beginning from 1963. He proceeded to lead his class in the University of Cambridge-moderated Higher School Certificate Examination, HSC and was admitted to study French at the nation's premier university, the University of Ibadan, between 1970 and 1974. After the mandatory one-year National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) he joined the civil service of the Old Kwara State, in 1975. He opted for the civil service, even when he had an opportunity to pursue a career in the academia, following the advice of his childhood friend, Samuel Adedoyin and he has not looked back ever since. He obtained a masters degree in public administration, on the job, to consummate his lifelong career in the public space.

In 2011, he staked a claim to the leadership of Kogi State, participating in the primaries the the PDP. That was a golden opportunity for Kogi West to clinch the ticket of the party for the election.

Unfortunately, the zone literally went to battle with too many commanders. With over half a dozen aspirants from Kogi West, the plausibility of block delegate votes for one candidate, was frittered. Much as he didn't make it on that occasion, Akanmode as a loyal party man, supported the candidature of Idris Ichalla Wada, who emerged PDP flagbearer, after a repeat primary, later that year. He was on the Professor Francis Idachabaled committee which articulated a blueprint for

the development of the state, under Wada and continued to support the administration in several ways. Akanmode had also been a resource advisor to the administration of Olusegun Mimiko, when the latter was governor of Ondo State.

Akanmode has been serially misunderstood as arrogant and standoffish in some circles, ascriptions which cannot be empirically substantiated, given the mass respect and acceptance he enjoys in the political firmament in Kogi. Back home, his political alias is "The Bridge," a corroboration of his exertions and investment in rallying people across the state together. Truth, though, is that he has minimum tolerance for people of contestable intellectual constitution, fringe characters and freestyle laggards, who cannot add value in any way. He chooses his friends and associates, from a broad spectrum of his immediate constituency and beyond, and they are usually people he holds in high esteem.

He is extremely witty, by the way, but he is careful to choose his audience at every turn, so he is not misconstrued. In the course of a meeting of leaders from Kogi West chaired by Jemibewon for instance, the mobile phone of the General rang, even when he thought it was on the silent mode.

The ring tone was a popular disco tune, even as the octogenarian tried to regulate the phone.

Akanmode didn't spare the opportunity to take a jibe at the senior citizen. "General," he said, "This ring tone is too funky for an old man," which drew laughter from the audience.

Back home in Okunland especially during festivities, Akanmode is your quintessential host.

He throws his bar and kitchen wide open for his guests, usually visiting Okun kinsmen from various parts of the country and home folks, in archetypal Okun fellowship and camaraderie. This is usually characterised by handshakes, laughter, backslaps, hugs, general bonhomie and teasing jokes, in variants of our mother tongue, as people catch up with issues and happenings, enjoying the rejuvenating breeze of the countryside.

The commemoration of his 70th birthday last year, attracted dignitaries like Jemibewon and his wife, Dupe; former Kogi State governor Wada; former Senator representing Kogi West, Dino Melaye; National Publicity Secretary of the PDP Kola Ologbondiyan; former General Manager Corporate Communications of the Federal Housing Authority (FHA) Tunde Ipinmisho, Richard Olonisua of the Assets Management Corporation of Nigeria, (AMCON), among others.

At the event, Akanmode the celebrant didn't miss the opportunity to send his guests into laughter, when Dino Melaye opened a bottle of champagne and served him, before the toast was proposed in his honour. "I hope everyone is watching," Akanmode said. "This celebrant is being served by a Senator, a whole Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

It's not easy to get here, you know," which drew guffaws from guests at the event. Akanmode indeed told a reporter who interviewed him on the occasion, that he "didn't feel like 70."

President Muhammadu Buhari congratulated Akanmode on that landmark, saluting him for being "a distinguished public servant who served on many committees and special task forces, at state and federal levels," as part of his contributions to aggregate national development. Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar equally celebrated Akanmode as "a brilliant individual with exceptional skills at achieving success in his endeavours, an asset to Nigeria and a leader who has paid his dues towards the growth of our fatherland." The Ooni of Ife, Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi and Akanmode's former boss in Kwara State, General Alwali Kazir equally felicitated with him on the milestone.

Akanmode was a delegate representing Kogi State at the 2014 National Conference initiated by the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan, to dilate issues of national concern, build a consensus and chart a new sociopolitical trajectory for the nation. The conference was applauded as being a success, as it was very representative of our multilevel diversities and tendencies, as a people and a nation. Unfortunately, despite unanimous consent about the prospects of the report of the conference in addressing the national question, the Buhari milieu has left the document to accumulate dust and cobwebs in bookshelves of the establishment.

And don't be surprised if you find Prince Akanmode caressing the most up-to-date electronic appliances. He is an irrepressible "gadgets freak," for your information. If you haven't seen the most recent version of an I-Phone, a *Bose or Bang and Olusfen* compact music player or similar device, you are most likely to find them with him. He remains very up to date with trends and events, despite being a septuagenarian now. I once joked with him that he needs to resuscitate the age old concept of *The Niche* here in Abuja, assuring him that we his younger ones will graciously concede the deejay's position to him! He loves good music and playing with his grandchildren. *Tunde Olusunle, PhD, is a Member of the Association of Communication Scholars and Practitioners of Nigeria, ACSPN.

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MONDAY, ͺͻ˜ ͺ͸ͺ͹ ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

Anambra: Ubah Chides Soludo over WAEC Comment, Challenges Him to Debate Deji Elumoye and Udora Orizu in Abuja Governorship candidate of the Young Progressive Party (YPP) in the forthcoming gubernatorial election in Anambra State, Senator Ifeanyi Ubah, has challenged his counterpart in the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), Professor Charles Soludo to within 48 hours provide his manifesto for the November 6 governorship election.

He also expressed his willingness to face him in a public debate within the next seven days.

Ubah's challenge came on the heels of the recent comments of Soludo that WAEC School certificate holders could not be allowed to govern Anambra State.

The Senator, in a release on Sunday while describing Soludo's comment as mudslinging and needlessly disruptive, said the statement was a game of misdirection, which sought to distract them from focusing on robust policy arguments and constructive debates that wouldresolve the palpable crises

of governance in Anambra State.

Making reference to Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg and so on who all rose to the apex of success without degrees, Ubah said Soludo should know that those money bags he wasallegedly anticipating to bankroll his campaign in Anambra were also not degree holders.

He also noted that those who gave him employment both in the past and present were not degree holders.

The only YPP Senator in the National Assembly, however, opined that anybody, who wantedto govern Anambra has the right to contest and should not be tongue-lashed because of a basic requirement by INEC. "I sincerely retain the belief that the era of textbook grammatical grandstanding and theoretical politics is over in Anambra. Our people now want a leader with practicable ideas and dynamism to move the state forward.

“Ideas that will proffer sustainable solutions to the socioeconomic problems beclouding the state due to bad governance

brought to the fore by the present government.

“In this regard, I am challenging Prof. Soludo to an open public manifesto debate with me. Let us put our manifestos out before the court of public opinion and adjudication so as to let the people

decide their preferred candidate, whose agenda resonates with the layman and electorate.

"My manifesto which is tagged ‘Arise, a New Anambra is Possible’ is a comprehensive road-map for the actualisation of a New and Better Anambra that will open

access to equal opportunities to all Anambrarians, guarantee quality infrastructural development, qualitative education, improved security and rapid industrialisation in Anambra State.

“Furthermore, I will also unveil my Policy Document

tagged; The Anambra Sustainable Socio Economic Transformation (A.S.S.E.T), which is an economic blueprint that incisively articulates and provides detailed SocioEconomic context/perspective on my Policy Thrust and Economic Roadmap for Anambra State."

Nigerians in Italy Fault Edo Ex-Commissioner's Claims against Government Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City Nigerians in Italy have refuted a recent claim by a former Commissioner for Arts, Culture, Tourism and Diaspora Affairs in Edo State, Mr. Osaze Osemwengie-Ero, that over 300 Nigerians residing in Italy were being maltreated by their host government and unlawfully detained in the country.

Osemwengie-Ero, who returned from Italy to Nigeria in June, this year, after he was released from detention by the Italian authorities, raised the alarm that over 300 Nigerians were presently languishing in Italian prisons, claiming that he too was wrongly detained by that government.

He added that he was "a victim of racial discrimination and manipulation of a very corrupt prosecutor of the Italian Justice system," and that many Nigerians over there were also languishing in Italy.

However, reacting in a statement, Oputteh Ifeoluwa Michael, Welfare Officer, National Union of Nigerian Associations in Italy (NUNAI), described Ero's claim as false, stressing that Italian authorities have never targeted Nigerians for any harassment or racial discrimination.

He added that if the Italian government and judiciary were corrupt and discriminated againstrace as claimed by

Osemwenvie-Ero, they (the Italian judiciary) wouldn't have freed him from detention for lack of evidence on the allegations leveled against him.

While noting that no fewer than 100,000 Nigerians live in Italy and that the two countries have also inter-married, Oputteh argued that if Nigerians were target of racial discrimination as insinuated, there wouldn't have been such large number of Nigerians living there.

"Italian authorities have never targeted Nigerians for any harassment neither are they engaged in racial discrimination. Precisely, we have more than 100,000 Nigerians living legally in Italy. These people are engaged in lawful businesses

and some have even integrated into the Italian society and married Italians, while Italians also married Nigerians.

"Some have also acquired their citizenship. Definitely, if Nigerians are targeted by the Italian authorities, how come the same Italy gave Nigerians good abode in Italy. Why are these over 100,000 thousand Nigerians not arrested and put in prisons?

"It is also surprising that Mr. Ero is accusing the Italian Judiciary of corruption and manipulation.

The same corrupt judiciary tried him and set him free for lack of enough evidence. It means the judiciary is very fair and transparent," he said.

Cameroon, Chad, and Niger – the rear bases of the insurgency – he pumps them for news and gossip.

Then, when he judges the time is right, he badgers them to quit.

"It’s not an easy conversation.

Uppermost in any potential defector’s mind is the fear of being sent to Giwa Barracks, a notorious detention facility on the edge of a quiet Maiduguri suburb.

“Everyone is afraid of that place, and the people in the lake [Chad] don’t trust the government [won’t send them there],” said Aliyu. “If it wasn’t for Giwa, more would come – [the abuse that happens there] is the biggest mistake the military has made.”

The conversations aren’t one-way, either. Aliyu’s former comrades bait him, reminding him of the life he led in the Dawla – the territory ISWAP administers under shariah law and regards as independent from Nigeria.

In this zone, in the far north of Borno and Yobe States, beyond the reach of the military and aid agencies, rijal have almost total power over at least one million villagers they refer to as awam – or “commoners”.

“They say when you were in the lake [a region controlled

by ISWAP], you were somebody important, now you have nothing,” Aliyu explained, and you can feel the loss of prestige irks him.

The logo on his otherwise clean t-shirt is loose, and the seam in the crutch of his faded black trousers is coming apart. But there is still an air of entitlement about him.

He was mock scandalised by the price of a bottle of water in the quiet restaurant, where The New Humanitarian first interviewed him, and he feigned outrage that motorbike taxis were not allowed into the middle-class district.

“I will always fight injustice wherever I see it,” Aliyu said grandly, seemingly the qaid – in his own mind at least – he once was.

the more predatory Boko Haram under Shekau, it has tended to think more about civilian hearts and minds.

Aliyu denied he was at fault.

Instead, he described a falling out with ISWAP’s then-commander of the army, Mustapha Kirimima, whose aggressive hardline stance persuaded others to also leave.

Kirimima is reportedly in detention after a leadership shuffle earlier this year that made Abu Musab al-Barnawi – the eldest surviving son of the founder of Boko Haram – the interim leader.

Aliyu is trying to rebuild his life. He’s in school, learning to read and write English, and keen on it. He attends a regular mosque – nothing radical – and is close to his new wife.

“One day, they [the community] will find out we are Boko Haram, but if we are together, we can bear [the stigma],” he said.

“If all mothers could welcome their sons, those in the forests, tell them no harm will come to them, they will come home", he said.

Meanwhile, intelligence agencies have begun investigation of the surrender of over 1,200 terrorists and their families.

The investigation, THISDAY learnt, seeks to ascertain whether the surrender was genuine or a ploy to activate and coordinate terror sleeper cells across the country.

North-east communities and traditional institutions have protested the potential reintegration of the insurgents into their communities.

Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State and Shehu of Borno, HRH Abubakar El-Kanemi, had raised concerns that the communities where thousands of people were killed by the terrorists and houses destroyed might not be in the right frame of mind to accept the insurgents, who recently sought the forgiveness of Nigerians.

A source told THISDAY that there were concerns and the need to be certain that the repentant insurgents had good intentions.

"There is the need to be sure of what we have on our hands. Do we have people, who are eager to give up or is it a strategy to spread across the country and continue the spread of terror", a source said.

Attempts to access the reaction of the military high command was unsuccessful.

UN REPORT EXPOSES SECRET PROGRAMME FOR REPENTANT TERRORISTS terror sleeper cells across the country.

North-east communities and traditional institutions have protested the potential reintegration of the insurgents into their communities.

Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State and Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Abubakar Umar Garbai El-Kanem, had also raised concerns that the communities where thousands of people were killed by the terrorists and houses destroyed might not be in the right frame of mind to accept the surrendered insurgents, who recently sought the forgiveness of Nigerians.

However, the report by a United Nations' publication, The New Humanitarian, said a clandestine Nigerian government programme was reaching out to senior jihadist fighters in the bush to encourage them to abandon their goal of building a caliphate by force of arms, and to defect.

It said the report was based on six months of reporting and research.

Government officials, former jihadists, analysts, journalists, displaced people, and civil society workers were interviewed, but nearly all asked to have their names withheld or altered due to security concerns.

Some have almost certainly committed atrocities but are unlikely to be prosecuted.

The Bama massacre in 2014 killed hundreds of civilians, but one of the commanders involved is now living free on the government’s payroll.

Security officials believe sulhu could open the door to a peace deal, ending a stalemated conflict that is now in its twelfth year. But critics argue such a deal would reward mass killers.

One of the former commanders and beneficiary of the programme, Aliyu, has a new life now. The old was the decade he spent fighting with Boko Haram and then with the breakaway Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) in the scrubland of the North-east.

"It’s the two wives and four children he left behind when he defected, and the power he once wielded as a jihadist rijal-literally a 'man' – in zones under the insurgents’ control.

"In his early thirties, with a wispy goatee, Aliyu has remarried to a forthright woman from the northeastern city of Maiduguri.

She is also former Boko Haram, and they have been set up with the rent-free house in Kaduna, a business license, and a small monthly stipend provided by Nigeria’s domestic spy service, better known as DSS".

The price of this largesse: to work for DSS to turn other jihadists under a clandestine project known as sulhu – Arabic for peacemaking. It’s so controversial that no government representative would go on record to discuss it, and given Abuja’s increasing hostility to independent reporting on security matters, few Nigeriabased civil society figures wanted to be named either.

Sulhu is applauded by its supporters as smart warfare – a means to remove senior jihadists from the battlefield more effectively than the stuttering orthodox military campaign.

“We have a proof of concept; it’s working,” said an Abuja-based analyst, who wouldn't agree to be identified beyond that description. “It’s depleting the enemy’s fighting force.”

But the men on the Sulhu programme are almost certain to have been involved in atrocities.

They have not been granted a formal amnesty, but neither have they been held to account for any crimes committed in a brutal conflict that is now in its twelfth year.

It’s a war that has killed 35,000 people – 350,000 if you include the victims of the accelerating humanitarian crisis – and upended the lives of millions more, according to the UN. “These are mass killers, yet on a programme sponsored by Nigerian taxpayers,” explained a former government-Boko Haram intermediary.

He has been in touch with the movement almost from the start, when it was still a local religious sect led by a young cleric, Mohammed Yusuf, before it declared war on the Nigerian state in 2009.

Sulhu grew out of the behindthe-scenes attempts to free the more than 270 Chibok schoolgirls seized by Boko Haram in 2014.

After years of painstaking contact-making through a network of mediators, it dawned on the negotiators that not only did they have an opening to secure the release of some of the schoolgirls, but there were also Mujahideen signalling they might be open

to dialogue – a potential breakthrough in a deadlocked conflict.

A total of 150 Mujahideen have surrendered their weapons and crossed over since 2019, according to people familiar In the last few weeks, there has been a separate surge, related to internal feuding within the jihadist movement following the death this May of Abubakar Shekau, who had led Boko Haram since 2009.

Some of those Mujahideen, like Aliyu, were commanders, known as qaid – in charge of several districts. Such was the importance attached to the initial group that they were invited to Abuja, where they met representatives of President Muhammadu Buhari.

Under Sulhu, defectors are enrolled in a six-month “deradicalisation” course in the military’s demobilisation and reintegration centre in Mallam Sidi, in northeastern Gombe State.

After promising to renounce violence and be good citizens, they are issued with a graduation certificate, signed by a high court judge – and some have then gone on to set up businesses, from cap-making to chicken-rearing.

Sulhu is run by DSS and the military, but is separate from the army’s much larger disarmament, demobilisation, and reintegration initiative, known as Operation Safe Corridor (OSC) and also based in Mallam Sidi.

OSC is aimed at low-risk former combatants, although as many as 75 per cent of those on the programme may never have held a weapon – just villagers snagged in the military’s catch-all dragnets, with years spent in detention without trial.

Those on the Sulhu initiative are the turbaned rijal seen in the low-res YouTube videos, exultant in victory, killing without remorse.

Before joining ISWAP, prior to the 2016 split from Boko Haram, these men had been obedient to a maximalist “takfir” creed, promoted by then-leader Shekau, who declared that anybody living outside their zone of control was an infidel, punishable by death or enslavement.

More than 1,000 Boko Haram fighters have surrendered to the army in the last few weeks - handing over the weapons they carried.

ISWAP is militarily on the front foot, but there can be exhaustion with the years of conflict for any

number of reasons, explained a Nigeria-based researcher, who asked not to be named so they could speak freely.

“Some [defectors] have lost faith in their leaders, accusing them of corruption; some have even forgotten why they were fighting; others just want their children to go to school.”

But allowing jihadists to return to civilian life is clearly problematic. The military’s far more limited OSC initiative, resettling low-risk Boko Haram, has run into a wall of criticism – including from some senior politicians, who misrepresent Mallam Sidi as a holiday resort, where “killers” are pampered.

And there’s no appetite from the government to even begin to publicly discuss Sulhu.

“There’s a lack of buy-in and a lot of pushback from sections of the military and political office holders, who don’t see the need for this process,” said an Abujabased lawyer.

Yet almost 60 per cent of people surveyed across the northeast in 2018 said they could agree to reconciliation with repentant jihadists if that was a path to peace: though acceptance was far lower in areas hardest hit by the conflict, and among women – the victims of so much sexual violence.

Aliyu feels relatively comfortable in big cities like Kaduna and Maiduguri. But there are places where he knows he would receive a far rougher reception. “People suffered,” he acknowledged. “They lost a lot [because of us].”

For DSS, Sulhu makes strategic sense. Aliyu, for example, is a so-called “pioneer”, an early member of Boko Haram as well as a qaid – this means he has a deep and intimate knowledge of the movement and the men he fought with.

The Humanitarian said, "Since he crossed over two years ago, his job has been to find other rijal wavering in their commitment to the jihadist cause. He says he has personally persuaded more than 20 of them to slip into frontline northern towns like Geidam, make pre-arranged contact with the military, and then start their journey into the Sulhu programme.

"All he needs is a cell phone and recharge card. When his connections pop up, sometimes in

Mothers and Sons

The publication noted that it's unclear why Aliyu chose to run.

There was a suggestion by some close to jihadist networks that he and some of his men had rustled cattle in the Lake Chad region and he was about to be punished.

ISWAP considers stealing from Muslims a crime. Unlike

MONDAY AUGUST 23, 2021 • T H I S D AY

57

NEWS

MTN Plans N600bn Investment in Network Infrastructure across Nigeria Goddy Egene and Emma Okonji

The Chairman of MTN Nigeria Communications plc, Dr Ernest Ndukwe, yesterday said the company will invest over N600 billion in network infrastructure in the next three years to improve telecommunications

services and promote long term business that will enhance economic growth of Nigeria.

Ndukwe, who disclosed this during the company’s 20th anniversary celebration, said the firm was committed to specifically expanding its rural connectivity to reach areas

that were underserved across the country.

He said: “We plan to connect approximately 1000 rural communities to our network this year with an additional 2000 communities in 2022. We are optimistic about what the future holds for Nigeria’s

digital economy and we look forward to building it together with all stakeholders.”

Also speaking, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the company, Mr. Karl Toriola said MTN Nigeria is a Nigerian entity and would continue to

do things that would promote the growth of the Nigerian economy, through partnerships and long-term value business.

According to him, as part of the celebration, MTN had initially announced it would give out 20 brand new Honda

cars to 20 customers.

The customers, who received the keys to the new cars yesterday, were selected from among MTN customers across the country, who bought MTN SIM cards from inception in 2001 and are still with the MTN brand.

Don’t Criminalise Agitation for Self Determination, Catholic Bishops Tell FG Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja The Catholic Bishops in Nigeria, operating under the auspices of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), has urged the federal government to avoid the temptation of trying to demonise or criminalise opposition elements or those calling for independence of their region.

The bishops restated their opposition to any form of electoral system that would made it possible for the votes of Nigerians not to be respected.

The clerics also lamented that the level of insecurity in every part of the country is of great concern to them.

These views were contained in the address by the President of the CBCN, Archbishop Augustine Akubeze, at the second plenary held in Enugu on Sunday.

Speaking on the calls for independence being demanded by some parts of the country, the bishops advised everyone to be calm and to exhaust extensive consultation.

Akabueze said: “The federal government as well as those leading the call for independence of some regions should be listened to. Everyone must avoid the temptation to demonise those who disagree with them.

“The first step that should be taken is an open and unconditional dialogue with every group. Dialogue is always better than the taking up of arms. No one should call for the killing of military personnel, and no military personnel should intimidate any Nigeria because of their views. Freedom of speech and respect for diversities of opinions must be respected.”

Plateau Crisis: Kogi Evacuates Stranded Students in Jos Ibrahim Oyewale in Lokoja Following the recent violent crises in Plateau State, particularly in Jos North Local Government Area of the state, and the subsequent closing down of the University of Jos by the school management, the Kogi State Government has evacuated all students of the state for safety reasons.

This was contained in a statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Muhammed Onogwu, which was made available to journalists in Lokoja yesterday.

It stated that the action was to avert the looming danger on the students after the closure of their various institutions in Plateau State as result of the ongoing crisis.

“Kogi State students studying in the University of Jos and other higher institutions in Plateau State have been successfully evacuated by the Kogi State Government. “The students returned in buses with heavy security escorts provided by the state government.

“This was as a result of the directive of the state Governor, Yahaya Bello, mandating that everything necessary must be done to return the students back home safely,” statement noted.

While describing the event in Plateau State as unfortunate, the governor assured the students of their quick return to school, noting that the authority in Plateau State was on top of the situation to restore law and order in the state.

Ooni Caucus Advises against Feud between Ife, Modakeke The Ooni Caucus, a think tank formed by the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, has urged the people of Ife and Modakeke not to take actions that will lead to any crisis and break down of law and order.

A statement by the Coordinator of the Caucus, Mr. Akin Osuntokun noted that its attention had been drawn to a recent incident that resulted in the tragic death of seven individuals from Modakeke in Toro, a Modakeke village in Osun State.

“We commiserate with the families and community of the deceased and pray against any such recurrence.

Most worrisome regarding this untoward development is the attempt to make it serve the purpose of rekindling a feud between Ife and Modakeke. Those orchestrating the development should immediately cease and desist such mischief for the sake of our common humanity and peace, unity and stability of Yorubaland and indeed Nigeria,” he said.

STAKEHOLDERS’ MEETING…

L-R: Lawmaker representing Lagos Mainland II at the Lagos State House Assembly, Hon. Oshun Olanrewaju; The Onigbobi Sabe of Igbobi-Sabe, Oba Owolabi Adeniyi, and a former federal lawmaker, Hon. Oshun Olawale, at the 7th annual constituency stakeholders’ meeting held in Yaba, Lagos…recently

Police Arrest Suspected Cocaine, Indian Hemp Dealer in Ekiti Victor Ogunje in Ado Ekiti The Ekiti State Police Command has arrested a suspected drug dealer, Ojo-Femi Fadeyi, for allegedly being in possession of 83 wraps of substances suspected to be illicit drugs.

Fadeyi, according to the police, was a major drug barons and peddlers, who

deals in cocaine and Indian hemp in the state.

The state police spokesman, ASP Sunday Abutu, made the allegation in a statement made available to newsmen yesterday.

Abutu said on August 20, 2021, at about 11.30 p.m., operatives of the Rapid Response Squad(RRS) received

a credible tip-off that a group of hoodlums suspected to be armed robbers were in Atikankan area of Ado-Ekiti.

According to him, “The RRS operatives, upon the receipt of the information, swung into action and mobilised to the scene which is one of the known blackspots in Ado-Ekiti.

“On sighting the operatives,

the hoodlums took to their heels, but one of them identified as Ojo Fadeyi Femi was arrested.

“The scene was searched and items such as 43 wraps of weed suspected to be Indian hemp, 40 wraps of white powder suspected to be cocaine, two sharp cutlasses and N52, 750 were recovered.”

Daily Trust Invites Nominations for African of the Year 2021 Award A leading independent newspaper in Nigeria, DAILY TRUST, has called for nominations of exemplary personalities for the coveted African of the Year 2021 award. Nominations are open from August 22, 2021 to midnight of October 22, 2021.

In a statement issued at the weekend, Ag. CEO of Media Trust Limited, publishers of DAILY TRUST, Mr. Nura Daura, said ideal nominees should be

ordinary Africans who have made extra-ordinary contributions to humanity in any field from any part of the continent.

Daura disclosed that the award consisted of three components, namely, a permanent plaque, a certificate of merit and a cash reward in aid of the awardees or their chosen charity project.

Valid entries for the 2021 award would be for works, events or activities undertaken by the

nominee between October 1, 2020 and September 30, 2021, and nominations are to be made online at award.dailytrust.com.

The eventual winner would be selected by a six-member prize committee chaired by His Excellency, Mr. Festus Mogae, former President of Botswana.

Other members of the Committee who represent Africa’s regional blocs are: Ambassador Mona Omar (North Africa), Mr.

Amadou Mahtar Ba (West Africa), Ms. Gwen Lister (Southern Africa), and Pastor Rigobert Minani Bihuzo (Central Africa).

The Chairman of the Board of Media Trust Limited, Mr. Kabiru Yusuf represents the award promoters.The DAILY TRUST Ag. CEO, emphasised that a winner would emerge, strictly based on the selection criteria and not the number of entries submitted on his/her behalf.

Security Chiefs Move to Tackle Proliferation of Arms Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo; Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), BrigadierGeneral Buba Marwa (rtd), and other heads of security agencies at weekend expressed determination to tackle arms proliferation in the country, even as it rallied support for

the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW).

The security chiefs made the pledge when the National Coordinator of NCCSALW, Maj. Gen. Abba Dikko (rtd), paid separate courtesy visits to the agencies.

Speaking while receiving the weapons centre boss in his office, the naval chief commended the

timely inauguration of the NCCSALW to lead the drive to eradicate illicit arms in the country.

Gambo said government’s efforts to decongest the seaports were occasioned by the illegal flow of arms into the country as a result of sharp practices in that area.

He disclosed that efforts were ongoing to fully resume the role of the Nigerian Navy

in the sea ports and creeks.

“The navy has intensified its anti-piracy operations, and it is beginning to yield good results,” the CNS said.

The naval chief further implored the centre to as a matter of priority, devise means of checking illegal arms craft even as he reiterated that all stakeholders had the responsibility to render support to the centre.

Elites Responsible for Lawlessness in Nigeria, Says Former Lawmaker James Sowole in Akure A former member of the House of Representatives, Hon Joseph Akinlaja, has blamed the current insecurity and lawlessness in the nation on the elite’s flare for breaking the law of the land.

Akinlaja noted that the

masses were encouraged by the elite to also break the law as they take cue from them. The renowned activist and former Deputy Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), stated this at a public lecture and media nite organised by the Correspondents’ Chapel of the

Nigeria Union of Journalists, Ondo State Council, in Akure at the weekend.Delivering the public lecture entitled: “Insecurity: Roles of The Society And The Media”, Akinlaja stated that there are enough laws in the country guiding against all forms of crimes, but some people, particularly the

elite, broke the laws at will.He said: “Take for instance, the BRT Lane is meant for BRT buses, but some elites would decide to drive through the lane and Danfo drivers would follow.

“When the elite escape from the punitive measures, then the laws would become ineffective.”

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Wanted Drug Dealer Arrested in Lagos Church Michael Olugbode in Abuja A major drug dealer wanted for attempting to export 69.65 kilogrammes of cocaine, heroin and cannabis to the United Kingdom has been arrested at a Pentecostal Church in Lagos.

Afam Ikeanyionwu, has been on the wanted list of the National Drug Law

Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for trying to traffic large quantity of drugs through the NAHCO export wing of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA, Lagos, to the United Kingdom.

A statement by the spokesman of the NDLEA, Femi Babafemi, yesterday explained that Ikeanyionwu was tracked on Sunday 15th

August, 2021, to a popular Pentecostal church at Mike Ajari Street, Ojodu Berger, where the operatives of the agency arrested him soon

after he stepped out of the church service.

Babafemi revealed that his arrest followed the interception of a consignment

of illicit drugs weighing 69.65 kilogrammes going to the UK through the Lagos airport on Thursday, 12th August, 2021.

He said the illegal baggage

had been sent to the airport for export through a freight forwarding company, which in turn gave a driver to deliver it at the NAHCO export shed.

Bayelsa SSG’s Mother Regains Freedom after 32 Days in Captivity Olusegun Samuel inYenagoa Operatives of the special security outfit, Operation Puff Adder, have secured the release of Madam Benital Benson, mother of the Secretary to the Bayelsa State Government (SSG), Mr. Kombowei Benson, from the kidnappers’ den after 32 days in captivity.

The 90-year-old woman wwas in a jubilant mood when she was handed over to his son at about 5.30pm in presence of relatives and security operatives.

Our correspondent gathered that her release was security after pressure from the operatives of Operation Puff Adder of the State Command of the Nigerian Police

led by Christian Nwaogbo. Three suspects have been arrested in connection with the abduction.

It was also gathered that a sum of N4 million was paid to the kidnappers and two android phones. A payment described by the Bayelsa SSG, Kombowei Benson, as a token gift to the kidnappers and not ransom payment.

Madam Bental Benson, while laying hands and praying for the Commander of the Operation Puff Adder, expressed her gratitude to God and the men of the police force for securing her release from the kidnappers. She said though her abductors treated her well, she was happy to be back home safely.

Pervasive Injustice Threatening Nigeria’s Unity, Says Okonkwo Emameh Gabriel in Abuja Chairman, United Nigeria Airlines and a leading candidate for the November 6 Anambra State governorship election on the platform of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), Dr Obiora Okonkwo, has said pervasive injustice is responsible for the persistent instability, disunity and security challenges currently rocking Nigeria.

Okonkwo made the assertion at the weekend when he received the leadership of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), which paid him a courtesy visit in Abuja as a prelude to the annual Dr Sam Epelle Memorial Gold Paper lecture of the Institute.

The politician, who has been penciled down as one of the key speakers, said it was an honour to have been chosen to deliver the key lecture at the occasion, noting that he believes that the fate placed in him to do justice to the topic would be justified.

According to him, “Nigeria’s development trajectory is nothing to write home about; leaving much of the citizens with nothing but nostalgia and hopelessness.”

He added that even within the family unit, when injustice is perceived, revolt is bound to be the natural outcome, just as he pointed out that short sightedness and individual personal greed have escalated the situation and brought the country to the edge.

CATHOLIC BISHOPS’ CONFAB…

Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State (sixth right); Francis Cardinal Arinze (seventh left); Papal Nuncio to Nigeria, Most Rev. Anthonio Guido Filipazzi (sixth left); President, Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), Most Rev. Augustine Obiora Akubeze (seventh right), former Governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi (third right ), and other bishops during the Opening Mass of CBCN second plenary meeting, at Holy Ghost Catheral, Ogui, Enugu, Enugu State… yesterday

Falana Asks FG to Release N6bn to States for Ranching Wale Igbintade Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to approve the allocation of N6 billion to all states government in the country for ranching development purposes, just as he did for his home state of Katsina.

Falana, who is also the interim chair, Alliance on Surviving

COVID-19 and Beyond (ASCAB), stated this in a statement issued yesterday, stressing that ‘what is good for the goose is good for the gander’.

He said his demand is in consonance with Section 17 (1) of the constitution, which stipulates that the people of Nigeria shall have equality of rights, obligations and opportunities before the law.

Falana also drew attention

of the federal government to the position of the law that while the land in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT)is vested in the president, the land in the each state of the federation is exclusively vested in the governor pursuant to the provisions of the Land Use Act, Cap. L5, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

He maintained that the federal government has no business

reviving ‘grazing reserves’ on its own as it doesn’t control land use.

The Lagos-based laywer advised that instead of chasing the shadows of grazing reserves, the federal government should support the state governments to develop ranches on its own as it has done in Katsina State as a solution to the problems arising from the obsolete agricultural practice of open grazing.

SERAP Sues Buhari, Others over Missing N106bn in 149 MDAs Udora Orizu inAbuja Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has filed a lawsuit against President Muhammadu Buhari over his failure to probe allegations that N106 billion of public funds is missing from 149 ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs), and to ensure the prosecution of those suspected to be responsible, as well as the recovery of any missing public funds.

The suit followed the allegations by

the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation (AuGF) in its 2018 annual audited report that N105,662,350,077.46 of public funds is missing, misappropriated or unaccounted for across 149 MDAs. Those joined in the suit as respondents are Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN), and Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed.

In the suit number FHC/ABJ/ CS/903/2021 filed last week at the Federal High Court in Abuja, SERAP is

seeking an order of mandamus to direct and compel President Buhari to promptly investigate the alleged missing public funds, ensure prosecution of anyone suspected to be responsible, and the full recovery of the money.

The suit filed on behalf of SERAP by its lawyers, Kolawole Oluwadare and Joke Fekumo, read in part: “The failure to investigate the allegations of grand corruption in the 2018 annual audited report constitutes a grave violation of the duty placed on the Nigerian Government to take appropriate

measures to promote transparency and accountability in the management of public finances.

“President Buhari’s constitutional responsibility to ensure the investigation and prosecution of allegations of corruption, as well as recovery of any missing public funds is contained in Section 15(5) of the Nigerian Constitution, which provides that ‘the state shall abolish all corrupt practices and abuse of power’, and in the Oath of Office in the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution’.

Nigeria’s Land Tenure System Impeding COVID-19: Ekiti Seals Progress, Says Surveyor-General Bank, Eateries for delivering a paper titled: enacted by Lord Lugard in title to land through the high Miracle Chukwu in Abuja ‘Surveying Practice in Federal 1900 disregarded the principle commissioner.

While also criticising the Land Surveyor-General of the Capital Territory: The Burden of native law and customs, and Violating Protocols Federation, Mr. Taiwo Adeniran, of Land Tenure System and provided that title to land can and Native Rights Act of 1916,

Victor Ogunje in Ado Ekiti

For allegedly violating the COVID-19 protocols, norms and description orders, the Ekiti State COVID-19 Task Force Monitoring and Enforcement Team has sealed two popular eateries and a new generation bank in AdoEkiti, the state capital city.

The eateries and the financial house located at Ajilosun and Irona roads were found allegedly violating the rules of the pandemic as stipulated by the state government during the visit of the team to the areas.

The operation, which was

led by the Chairman of the COVID-19 Task Force, Dr. Jimlas Ogunsakin, at the weekend, also visited mosques, churches, market places as well business organisations within the state to sensitise them on the need to keep strictly to the pandemic protocols.

Addressing journalists during the operation, Ogunsakin, who is also the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Public Health, said the exercise was a routine one by the taskforce team to engage the communities on the need to prevent residents of the state against the third wave of the pandemic.

has stated that the current land tenure system practiced in the country is incapable of unleashing private sector-led entrepreneurship and critical development needed in Nigeria.

Adeniran stated this while

Lack of Adaptability to Change’, at a seminar organised by the Association of Private Practicing Surveyors of Nigeria (APPSN).

The surveyor-general complained that the Land Proclamation Ordinance

only be acquired through the high commissioner.

He posited that the ordinance was enacted to kill the institution of family and communal land ownership by facilitating the acquisition of

Adeniran said the present land ownership system in Nigeria as enshrined in the Land Use Act of 1978 had its origin in the 1916 document enacted in the North by the colonial masters.

School Fees Hike: Niger, SUG, PDP Disagree Laleye Dipo in Minna The recently reduced tuition fees announced by the Niger State Government for new and returning students as well as indigenes and non-indigene students have been rejected by the Student Union Government (SUG) of the Ibrahim Badamasi

Babangida University in Lapai, and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state.

The management of the government-owned IBBUL had two weeks ago announced a more than 100 percent review of fees for all categories of students which takes effect from the new academic year beginning today.

The state government after the outcry from major stakeholders advised the Governing Council of the institution to review the fees downwards by about 10 percent.

A statement from the office of the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) advised the University Governing Council to reduce the fees as follows: returning

students (indigene) from N67,925 to N50,000; new students (indigene) from N129,675 to N95,000; nonindigene students (returning) from N117,325 to N100,000; new students (non-indigene) from N201,210 to N170,000; new foreign students from N329,625 to N250,000, while returning foreign students would pay N200,000 instead of N266,760.

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Ortom Urges Security Agents to Nab Killers of Two Pastors in Benue George Okoh In Makurdi Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom has tasked security operatives to arrest those responsible for the killing of two Pastors, Moses Ijoko and Emmanuel Aleje, in Ochoro community in Konshisha Local Government Area of the state.

The governor gave the task

yesterday while condemning the murder of the pastors, and described the incident as unacceptable. He urged the chairman of Konshisha Local Government Area and other stakeholders in the area to ensure that the killers and their sponsors are apprehended to face justice.

The governor warned those jeopardising the state

government’s efforts to end the crisis between Konshisha and Oju that they won’t escape justice, no matter who they are.

He reaffirms the resolve

of his administration not to surrender the state to criminals, and appealed to Benue people to support security agencies with timely and useful information

to enable them succeed in their operation.

Ortom called on the people of the area to remain calm, and gives assurance that the boundary

between Bonta and Ukpute would soon be demarcated, as the committee set up to facilitate the demarcation has concluded arrangements for the process.

Jos DISCO Calls for Creation of Special Tribunal for Electricity Vandals George Okoh in Makurdi

The Managing Director of Jos Electricity Distribution Company (JEDC) Plc, Hashim Ibrahim Bakori, has called for the establishment of a special tribunal dedicated to try and convict electricity thieves and vandals of electricity infrastructure in the country.

The call was contained in a statement signed and issued by the Head f Corporate Communications of JEDC, Dr. Friday Adakole Elijah, yesterday.

The Chief Executive Officer of the electricity company also called for the invocation of the Miscellaneous Offences Act (2004 CAP M17) under which electricity criminals could be tried with stiff penalties via the instrumentality of Sections 3, 9 and 10 of the Act.

For proper comprehension of the statute, Section 3 of the act states that: “Any person who unlawfully or with intent to destroy or damage any public property, removes, defaces or damages any public property shall be guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 21 years without the option of a fine.”

Also, Section 9 of the Act states that: “Any person who unlawfully disconnects, removes, damages, tampers, meddles with or in any way whatsoever interferes with any plant, works, cables, wire or assembly of wires designed or used for transforming or converting electricity shall be guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to be sentenced to imprisonment for life.”

African Women Honour Dangote, Rabiu, Others in Dubai Kuni Tyessi in Abuja Business man, Aliko Dangote, and the Chairman of BUA Group, Abdulsamad Rabiu, were among the distinguished Africans who were honoured at the African Women Summit 2021, organised by the Coalition of Women in Africa for Peace and Development (COWAP).

At the event, which was held at Dubai’s Hilton Alhabtoor Hotel in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Dangote was named Man of the Year for women empowerment in recognition of his Foundation’s micro grant programme which empowered 391,000 women with N3.1 billion.

Chairman of BUA Group, Rabiu, was honoured as the

African Entrepreneur of the Year for his donation of N1 billion to the Nigerian Government as COVID-19 response grant.

Liberian Vice President, Jewel Taylor, who was also among the awardees, was decorated as the Trail Blazer of the Decade for female political participation.

In his address, the founder of COWAP, Belema Meshack-Hart, noted that the need to celebrate people and organisations across Africa that empower the woman and girl-child is a focal point of the group.

“Women at all levels are critical to national development and bear the brunt of hardship, thus anyone empowering them is a hero to us,” Belema, who is a ‘He for She’ global ambassador, stated.

Kwara PDP Counsels AbdulRazaq over Move to Issue N35bn Bond Hammed Shittu in Ilorin The Kwara State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)) at the weekend advised the State Governor, Alhaji AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq to rescind the move to obtain a N35 billion bond in order not to plunge the state into uncontrollable debts.

Already, a group in the state, Kwara Consultative forum have dragged the governor to court over the move.

But the party in a statement issued in Ilorin, signed by its State Publicity Secretary, Mr. Tunde Ashaolu and made available to journalists stated

that, the public outcry that has greeted government’s planned borrowing have shown that majority of Kwarans were not in support of the government’s plan.

The party also said the alleged mass rejection of the move was a reflection that the proposed credit facility was not in the interest of the state.

Ashaolu stressed that, “though, we are not against borrowing to fund infrastructure, the state government has however not demonstrated any sincerity, transparency and accountability on the issue as the whole process has been shrouded in secrecy.

TOWARDS ECONOMIC GROWTH…

L-R: First Vice President, Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers (CIS), Mr. Oluwole Adeosun; Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed; President and Chairman of Council, CIS, Mr. Olatunde Amolegbe; Minister of Industry, Trade and Investments, Mr. Adeniyi Adebayo; Second Vice President, Mr. Oluropo Dada; and Ag. Registrar and Chief Executive, Mr. Josiah Akerewusi, at CIS’ national workshop on “Leveraging the financial markets to achieve double digit economic growth for Nigeria” in Abuja…recently

Killings: ASUU Tasks FG on Security of UNIJOS Seriki Adinoyi in Jos The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has tasked the federal government to secure the University of Jos against attacks and killing of its staff and students, warning that the school should not be reopened until adequate security measures had been put in place.

In a statement signed by ASUU Chairman, University of Jos Chapter, Dr. Lazarus Maigoro, the

union lamented the attacks and killing of some students during recent mayhem in Jos. He said: “The university administration has over the years made overtures to neighboring communities in terms of undergraduate admissions and staff employment, yet our staff and students are killed at the slightest provocation.

“The recent is the crisis that occurred on Saturday, August 15, 2021, which eventually

spread to other parts of Jos. The university is a citadel of learning where every category of individual works regardless of ethnic and religious affiliations and as a result, whenever, there is any security breach in town, this citadel of learning should not be affected.

“But sadly, as soon as crisis situation erupts in any part of the town, the university students and staff suddenly become targets for assassination and butchery

by residents of the immediate environment.

“It is rather unfortunate to note that some of these attacks on the university are carried out by residents that have encroached into the university lands, operators of tricycle (Keke) and others who besiege the university arena to sell their goods and patronized by the same staff and students, but turn back and kill them at the slightest opportunity.

Osinbajo, Ugwuanyi, Anglican Primate Felicitate with Catholic Bishops The Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Professor Yemi Osinbajo (SAN) and Governor OF Enugu State, Mr. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, were among the dignitaries who graced the opening mass of the Second Plenary Meeting of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), held at Holy Ghost Cathedral, Ogui, Enugu,

yesterday.

Osinbajo, who was ably represented at the event by Ugwuanyi, extended his warm felicitations to the catholic bishops.

Ugwuanyi, who also extended the reverential greetings of the government and good people of Enugu State to the Papal Nuncio, Antonio Guido

Filipazzi, all the Cardinals, Archbishops and Bishops, said: “Our Vice President, an esteemed and urbane statesman, is widely acknowledged for his manifest practice of the Christian faith and has requested that I convey his best wishes for a very memorable second plenary meeting of the CBCN.” The governor called for a

minute silence in honour of the wife of late Dr. Michael I. Okpara, the former Premier of Eastern Region, Mrs. Adamma Okpara, who died in the early hours of yesterday and pointed out that his administration, at inception, committed Enugu State to the hands of God, adding that “we have continued to seek His hands in all we do”.

EY Unveils New Global Strategy Consultancy in Nigeria EY has launched its new global business strategy offering called ‘EY-Parthenon’, in a move that brings its specialist strategy consulting arm and connected corporate and transactions strategy offering to not only in Nigeria and West Africa, but across the Africa continent for the first time.

According to the company, the launch of the new entity came against the backdrop that businesses across sectors and industries are in a period of ongoing disruption and change. With so much COVID-19 pandemic-driven uncertainty in the world over the past 18 months, nearly every business concern is

now facing huge strategic challenges. The pandemic has prompted what may be described as ‘new world’ unfolding at break-neck speed, with business leaders having to grapple with the changes to doing business, such as a more distributed workforces, the rapid shift to digitisation, sustainability and challenges

to supply chains.

Speaking on the EY Parthenon, EY Africa Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Ajen Sita, said business chief executives are no longer just running companies but are also managing complex ecosystems as the pandemic has brought home to so many businesses.

Kyari: PSC Awaits IG’s Report Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja The Police Service Commission (PSC) is awaiting the report of the DIG Joseph Egbunike panel set up to look into the allegations of fraud against suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Mr. Abba Kyari.

The commission is said to be working towards ensuring that as soon as the IG’s report reaches it, there would be no reason to delay any action it may deem necessary against

Kyari.

“The PSC does not want a situation where when the IG’s report comes, we will begin the process of minuting to deferent departments for their input before we get to plenary, which will take time.

“I learnt the commission is working to ensure that when the IG’s report finally gets to it, the committee (PSC) report would have taken the necessary steps to ensure that actions to be taken will align with public

service rules as then concern the affected officer,” a source close to the investigation said.

There were reports that the DIG Joseph Egbunike-led panel, which was set up by the police high command to probe allegations of involvement in fraud leveled against Kyari by the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), has submitted the report which was rejected by the IG on the ground that it was too lenient on Kyari, which allegedly

prompted the setting up of the PSC committee.

But the police swiftly debunked the reports and clarified that the committee has not submitted its report.

A statement issued by the Force Headquarters said: “The Nigeria Police Force wishes to inform the general public that the probe into the alleged indictment of DCP Abba Kyari by the FBI, being conducted by the NPF Special Investigation Panel (SIP), is still ongoing.

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Group Sports Editor: Duro Ikhazuagbe Email: duro.ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com

0811 181 3083 SMS ONLY

Rohr to Release 30-man Super Eagles’ List Today NFF awaits CAF regulation on crowd capacity to be allowed in home matches

Femi Solaja Ahead of the Match-day 1 round of matches of the 2022 World Cup qualifiers, the 30-man list of invited players submitted by Head Coach of the Super Eagles, Gernot Rohr to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), is expected to be released today.

Super Eagles are to take on the Lone Star of Liberia 3 September, 2021 at the Teslim Balogun Stadium and four days later play away to Cape Verde’s Blue Sharks in Group C to mark the first two days of the series.

THISDAY checks revealed at the weekend that the list of players pencilled down by the coach is 30. Apart from the 23-man lists, there is an addition of seven alternate players just in case any of the invited players gets injured and is unavailable.

“The lists should be out Monday. We are also trying to make sure all the rough edges are sorted out to avoid hitches.

“There would be a 30-man list out of which alternate players will emerge in case of injury by any of the invited players,” a top level management staff confirmed to THISDAY last night.

Although the official confirmed some players from the domestic league are in the list, he declined to name them until all clear signal from the Sunday Dankaro secretariat of the NFF. However, as has become the norm, more than 90 per cent of the team’s composition is expected to be made up of foreign-based players.

With several new Nigerian players in excellent forms in the

QATAR 2022 QUALIFIERS new season in Europe, there it is likely that a few changes may happen in the team.

Another source however hinted that just few players from AFCON 2019 where Nigeria won the bronze may make the new look squad to prosecute the Qatar 2022 qualifiers.

Few changes were made to the AFCON 2019 squad that picked maximum points against

Aisha Buhari Cup: Okon Insists No Underdogs Among the Invited Teams Former Nigerian manager and Head Coach of NWFL Premiership side, Rivers Angels, Edwin Okon has voiced his conviction that there are no more pushovers in modern day football, saying the same obtains for the upcoming Aisha Buhari Invitational Women’s Football Tournament.

Describing the Aisha Buhari Cup as a most laudable project in the land in recent times, Okon opined that team selection in favour of the domestic players will give the tournament its biggest catch.

“Every team prepares well for this kind of tournament. It will be wrong for us to consider Mali to be a pushover, I do not think so, and nobody should go to sleep because Mali is on the table. Morocco is a country we do not know much about and for a team you do not know it becomes risky to sleep in one’s preparation; we must give adequate and due respect to all our opponents.

“For us, we need players

who will be ready to die on the field of play defending the honour and name of the country and the reason I will canvass for increased presence of the NWFL products in our team selection.

“Aisha Buhari Cup is a very good development; the biggest thing that’s happening to women football in Nigeria and Africa. I wholeheartedly support its developmental messages and commend the initiators.

“I had one or two conversations with the Ghanaian coach at the recent CAF Women Champions League qualifiers in Abidjan and they are coming in a big way for the tournament.

“He said they are going to beef up the squad with quality players and that the country’s Vice President is interested in the team. I can tell you for free that the Ghanaian side that will be coming will be a very good one and possibly a hard nut to crack at the tournament,” said Okon.

Benin Republic and Lesotho to qualify Nigeria for the African tournament next January in Cameroon.

Meanwhile, the NFF is yet to ascertain from the Confederation of African Football (CAF) the numbers of fans to be allowed into Eagles home matches at the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos.

The last round of AFCON

2021 matches last March was the mop up period for the Covid-19.

With the third wave spreading fast with the Delta Variant considered more deadly, the NFF is expected to enforce strict protocol compliance.

“We don’t know yet the percentage of crowd to be allowed in attendance but we are looking at about 30% approval across board to all federations,” the Top NFF official responded.

Gernot Rohr...to list Eagles 30-man list today

L-R: Poland’s Kornelia Lesiewicz, Imaobong Nse Uko and Sylvia Chelangat of Kenya celebrating coming up tops in the women’s 400m event. Uko won the individual gold in the 400m and was part of the inaugural 4x400m mixed relay as well as the women’s 4x400m squad that won the two gold medals in the events at Nairobi, Kenya

DareSalutesNigeria’sU20Athletes on Record Performance in Kenya Minister of Sports, Sunday Dare, has hailed Nigerian athletes to the just-ended World Athletics U20 Championships in Nairobi, Kenya for their record-breaking performance.

Nigeria won an unprecedented four gold and three bronze medals to finish third on the final medals table.

Speaking on the feat yesterday, Dare said the athletes have returned Nigeria to global reckoning in track and field.

“I want to specially congratulate the athletes and their coaches for achieving our best-ever performance in the history of the Championships,” began the sports minister. ''These young athletes deserve our respect for representing Nigeria so very well.

Congratulations to our young

athletes on their record-breaking performance at the World U20 Athletics Championships in Nairobi, Kenya. “Through their excellent performances Nigeria earned a third place on the medals table out of 114 countries that participated. This third position places Nigeria on the world map of the world athletics and signposts a new trajectory for athletics in Nigeria,” added Dare who promised the team will be kept together so that they can end up as Olympic medallists like their predecessors who also cut their teeth through this championships. ''We will keep this team, and train them. We will design a programme for them and have them prepared for more victories. We have started building a new and younger

generation of Nigerian athletes.

There is much hope. We thank President Muhammadu Buhari for his continuous support for sports developments in Nigeria.''

Dare further describes the feat in Kenya as a new beginning for sports. ''This is truly a new beginning for sports in Nigeria. We started by rewriting our bad record at the Olympics since 2008 by not only winning two medals but also getting as many as five athletes in the finals of their events.

“It was a clear departure from what we had at the 2012 (London) and 2016 (Rio de Janeiro) Olympics where we won just a bronze medal and produced just two individual medallists in two Olympics,” the Sports Minister further remarked.

“At the World Athletics U20 level, the last time Nigeria won a gold medal was in 2008. For 13 long years we have struggled to win another gold. Now we have won not one but four, the most in one edition and have an unprecedented seven medals to make the Nairobi 2021 Championships truly our best ever performance.

The duo of Imaobong Nse Uko (400m) and Udodi Onwuzurike (200m) won individual gold medals while the 4x400m mixed and the women's 1600 relay teams also won our first ever relay gold medals at the Championships".

Dare also revealed that Nigeria, for the first time in the history of the Championships was represented in all the relay events.

62

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SPORTS

A TWEET IN TIME! A

s social media buzz continues to consume the populace, sports has been one industry where the platforms have been very active. It is not uncommon to see leaders of nations use these platforms to get their messages across to their people. Immediate past US President, Donald Trump, was very active on twitter while the same social media platform ran into troubled waters for trying to censor the Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari. However some leaders have used the platform for more innovative ways to help their country in these trying times.

In their opening 2021/22 Premier League match, Arsenal FC lost to newly promoted Brentford and the criticisms were numerous. One however stood out. Rwandan President and Arsenal fan, Paul Kagame, vented his frustration at the club's shock defeat by a newly promoted club on the opening day of the English Premier League season.

“We just must NOT excuse or Accept mediocrity. A team has to be built with purpose to win win win. So that when we lose....it was not to be expected! I am sure we all know on whose shoulders the heaviest burden rests. I hope they know too or even accept it!!!

End.” He tweeted. In two further rapid-fire tweets, he demanded "a plan that really works" and lamented that "fans don't deserve to kind of get used to this".

While a lot of people criticized him for making such a statement as a public figure and leader of a country, over his perceived pastime and affection for love

Arsenal have succumbed to second defeat in the first two matches of the new season of a ‘foreign’ soccer team, it goes beyond that. The president is not just a fan, but a major stake holder. Since 2018, the Rwandan government has had a controversial sponsorship deal worth more than £30m, which involves a "Visit Rwanda" logo displayed on Arsenal shirt sleeves.

For a country that depends a huge deal on tourism for its foreign reserve, the results of Arsenal FC economically affects the country.

For a country recovering from years of war, it would seem at first glance like a subsidy to a rich British club, but the Rwandan Government would tell you it’s an investment in tourism. And quite rightly so. The three-year

partnership, known to be one of the biggest sleeve sponsorship deals in Premier League history, divided opinions when it was announced. Many questioned the intentions of Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame, a committed Arsenal fan, in spending such money when his country is one of the poorest countries in the world.

However, early results of the sponsorship showed that the Rwandan Government had made a return on Investment of 36 million pounds in its first year alone. The Rwanda Development Board (RDB) had reported that the country had already recouped the £30 million

investment, based on analytics provided by sports research and consulting firm Nielsen, social media and sponsorship measurement provider Blinkfire Analytics and research agency Hall and Partners.

Belise Kariza, the RDB chief tourism officer, said that the agreement factored into the 1.7 million people tourists that visited Rwanda in 2018 thanks to the brand exposure Arsenal gave to Visit Rwanda. There were also reported assorted returns are in the form of quantum jump in visitations to Rwanda from United Kingdom (UK), and other destinations.

To put things into proper

commercial context at the global levels, Rwanda had built, from scratch, over a 10-year stretch, a niche tourism product that needed visibility befitting its invested dollars on the ground.

A conservative estimate of the entire value chain that Rwanda was marketing under “the visit Rwanda” deal comes to more than US$1 billion in form of both hard and soft infrastructure.

This includes a relatively good number of high-end hotels and lodges, the air transit system comprising the national carrier RwandAir and its associated services such as Kanombe International Airport, tours and travel services as well as a diversified menu known as MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions).

Rwanda’s football sponsorship deals are therefore instrumental from a strict commercial perspective in a number of ways.

First, Rwanda, tiny as it is perceived, is the first African economy to link the region’s tourism destination with the lucrative source markets of Europe using football as a commercial medium. Second is the unique business model at play.

Rwanda is paying top dollar just like any other advertiser would be asked to pay. It is entitled to get high marketing returns. In the world of corporate sponsorship, leading companies of the world

pay through their noses to get similar slots that was offered to Rwanda by Arsenal FC. Thirdly, football is very big business in Europe. Most leading European teams are owned and run by highly successful business leaders.

Reports say Google search for “Rwanda” for first two weeks of the deal yielded a 1,000% increment while the official Visit Rwanda social media channels saw a huge growth with instagram registering over 577% jump, Twitter by over 77% growth and Facebook registering over 44% growth.

The results of the sponsorship was encouraging, the results of Arsenal on the pitch was not.

Rwanda’s president had seen visibility lost in Arsenal’s failure to qualify for European football and especially the Champions League, he was going to wait to see the team battle relegation.

He complained openly. Arsenal responded quickly by spending 65 million pounds completing two transfers, and again Rwanda acknowledged by signing a new 3-year contract worth about 10 million pounds a year.

If these investments bring benefits on and off the pitch for Arsenal and Rwanda respectively, only time will tell but from the actions swiftly taken soon after the match that was lost, Paul Kigame can be proud that his was a tweet in time.

Lukaku Back with a Bang as Chelsea Defeat Arsenal Romelu Lukaku scored his first ever Chelsea goal - almost a decade after his debut - as Thomas Tuchel's team deservedly beat Arsenal.

Lukaku, who was at Chelsea as a teenager, started at the Emirates after his £97.5m signing from Inter Milan and looks to have given the Blues an ominous new dimension.

His hold-up and link-up play caused Arsenal problems all day - and the Belgian duly gave them the lead.

Lukaku was involved in the build-up and then finished the move from close range into an empty net from Reece

PREMIER LEAGUE James' pass.

James got the second himself as he slammed the ball into the roof of the net from Mason Mount's pass to make it two wins from two in the league.

Lukaku almost made it 3-0 but his header was tipped onto the bar by Bernd Leno.

Arsenal, missing centre-back Ben White through Covid, have now lost more London derbies in the Premier League this season than last - after just two games. It is only the third time Arsenal have lost

their opening two Premier League matches in a season.

Elsewhere, Manchester United failed to build on their opening day demolition of Leeds United as Southampton earned a fully-deserved 1-1 draw at St Mary's.

Also, Dele Alli scored his first league goal in 17 months and Harry Kane made his long-awaited return from his extended summer break as Tottenham maintained their 100% start to the season with 1-0 win at Wolves.

Alli's ninth-minute penalty proved enough to separate the sides in a breathless encounter at Molineux.

Osimhen Sees Red as Italian Serie A Begins Aribo scores Rangers triumph in Scotland

Romelu Lukaku...scored his first goal for Chelsea against Arsenal...yesterday

Super Eagles forward, Victor Osimhen, started the Italian Serie A new season on a wrong footing last night. He was sent off in the 23rd minutes of Napoli’s 2-0 home win against Venezia.

The former Lille forward in the French Ligue1, had a promising start to the game as he twice harassed the Venezia goalkeeper and defence into early errors with his pressing.

But the referee refused to give him a second chance for his aggressive shoving of Venezia defender, Daan Heymans, as they tussled on a corner ball.

Venezia with two Nigerian players in their fold, only featured Tyronne Ebuehi who joined them on loan going off in the 51st minute.

Another Nigerian

international, David Okereke was not included in Venezia’s matchday squad as he is yet to be cleared after his transfer.

Napoli thought they had found the breakthrough on 57 minutes when Mattia Caldara clumsily used his arm to block a Mario Rui cross in the box.

Lorenzo Insigne stepped up, but tried to lob his penalty into the far top corner, missing the target entirely.

However, Napoli opened scoring on 62 minutes from the penalty spot after Pietro Ceccaroni used his arm to charge down Giovanni Di Lorenzo cross in the area and this time Insigne kept it simple, sending Maenpaa the wrong way.

And in the 73rd minute Napoli doubled their lead with a well-worked move between

Hirving Lozano and Insigne, but Ceccaroni’s interception only went as far as Eljif Elmas, who slotted home.

Elsewhere in Europe, another Nigerian midfielder, Joe Aribo, scored his first goal of the season as Glasgow Rangers recorded a 4-2 away win against Ross County at the Victoria Park Aribo put the Gers ahead on 15 minutes after he was teed up by Alfredo Morelos.

Connor Goldson doubled Rangers lead four minutes later.

However, Harry Clarke reduced the deficit for the home team five minutes before the half-time break.

Aribo was replaced by Kemar Roofe in the 83rd minute, while his international teammate Leon Balogun was on for 90 minutes.

63

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Nigeria’s U-20 Athletes Flourish in Kenya to Signal Prosperous Future MONDAY Report By DURO IKHAZUAGBE Good times are here again for Nigeria’s track & field. After Team Nigeria returned from the last three Olympic Games with just one silver and two bronze medals to show in the last 13 years, there is now light at the end of the tunnel, giving signs of a turnaround very soon. That silver medal didn’t come from the track & field that used to be our saving grace at multi-sports global outings. Rather, it was won from the wrestling mat by a female wrestler. That itself, is a story for another day.

Back to track & field, Nigerian youngsters have brought back joy to athletics aficionados in the country and beyond. Their performances at the World Athletics Under-20 Championships which ended yesterday in Nairobi, Kenya, has rekindled hopes that Nigeria is on the route to reclaiming her place of pride in the continent and beyond.

Udodi Chudi Onwuzurike, Imaobong Nse Uko, Favour Ofili, Chinecherem Nnamdi, Godson Oghenebrume, Favour Ashe, Opeyemi Oke, Praise Ofoku, Tima Godless and a host of other young lads have proved that Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) youth development programme was on course. They have done the country well, wiping away the tears over the dismal outings at the last editions of the Under-20 where we went just to complete the numbers of participants. Onwuzurike and Uko in particular stood out from the lot. While Onwuzurike won the men’s 200m, Uko emulated the likes of past Nigerian junior quarter-milers Bisi Afolabi, Fatimah Yusuf, Falilat Ogunkoya and Sade Abugan in winning the women’s 400m gold. It was a refreshing departure from poor recent outings with little or nothing to show. Oghenebrume although finished outside the podium in the 100m event despite being ranked fastest junior going to the Championships in Nairobi, he remains one of the country’s brightest sprinters expected to step into the shoes of Deji Aliu,

Davidson Ezinwa, Olopade Adeniken, Seun Ogunkoya and Francis Obikwelu. Obikwelu last won the World Under-20 title for Nigeria in 1996 in Sydney, Australia before switching allegiance to Portugal as a senior athlete.

Golden boy Onwuzurike who is American Collegiate fastest runner in the longer sprint, outpaced Letsile Tebogo of Botswana who came second in a time of 20.38, while South Africa's Sinesipho Dambile won bronze in a time of 20.48.

The event (200m) in both the men and women categories were clean sweep for Africans at this edition in Nairobi with Nigeria, Namibia, Botswana and South Africa taking all six medals at stake to bring an exciting end to a historic night at the Kasarani Stadium in the heart of Nairobi.

Prior to the World U20 Championships in the East African country, not much was known about Onwuzurike, but the 18-year-old was in a class of his own at the championships where he represented Nigeria for the first time.

He had the fastest time of all the heats (20.47) and stormed to a fast 20.13 in the semifinals which would have been a championship record but for the wind (2.4m/s).

In the final, he was quick out of the blocks and came off the bend before everyone else, coasting home to gold with a national U20 record of 20.21, making him Nigeria’s first 200m gold medalist at the World U20 since 1996 when Obikwelu won the sprint double.

Onwuzurike, whose father was at the stadium to cheer him on, gushed after picking the precious metal: “It feels amazing.

I had a very rough year and had injuries numerous times.

I feel like my numbers weren’t really good and showing what I’m capable of, so coming out to show on the global stage that I’m the best is amazing.”

Uko also had that beautiful Saturday, cruising to the women’s 400m gold medal in 51.55secs. The Akwa Ibom-born 17-year old quarter miler came

L-R: Nigeria’s U-20 4x400m mixed relay quartet of Imaobong Nse Uko, Bamidele Ajayi, Opeyemi Oke and Johnson Nnamani celebrating their victory at the U-20 World Athletics Championships in Nairobi, Keny PHOTO: Dan Vernon

FINAL MEDALS TABLE 1.

2.

3.

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8.

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Kenya Finland Nigeria Ethiopia Jamaica South Africa Botswana Sweden France Neutral Athletes Czech Rep Namibia Belarus Mexico Turkey Cuba Israel Lithuania Serbia Poland

Udodi Onwuzurike... won an individual gold medal in the 200m event from behind to beat Poland's Kornelia Lesiewicz to second position in a time of 51.97 while homegirl Sylvia Chelangat of Kenya finished 3rd in a time of 52.23.

Uko's time is her personal

best so far in her career.

Speaking shortly after winning her second gold in a time of 51.55, the youngster said " It was very tough because of the weather.This is just the beginning of great things in my

Sports Ministry Clarifies Cash Rewards for Medalists The Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development (FMY&SD) has given further clarifications to the announcement of cash rewards to medal winning Team Nigeria athletes at the World Athletics U20 Championships in Nairobi, Kenya.

FMY&SD said the clarification became necessary following enquiries about the NCAA status of some of the country’s

beneficiaries who are still in colleges in America.

According to the Ministry, "We know about the NCAA regulations and we won't want any of these young and promising talents, who are our hopes for the future, to breach the rules as it affects the rewards we announced,” stressed the statement.

As such, “the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports

Development would hold the cash rewards in trust for those affected by the NCAA regulations while the others not affected by it would be handed their rewards,” the statement concluded.

Nigeria's U-20 track and field athletes rewrote the history of country’s participation at the biennial World Athletics U20 championships, finishing third on the final medals table with

an unprecendented haul of four gold and three bronze medals in Nairobi, Kenya.

It is the highest feat Nigeria has ever recorded on the medals table. Prior to the just ended event in Kenya, Nigeria achieved her seventh place finish at the third edition of the championships in 1990 in Plovdiv, Bulgaria where they won two gold, two silver and two bronze medals.

Gold Silver Bronze 8 1 7 4 1 0 4 0 3 3 7 2 3 6 2 3 2 4 3 1 0 3 0 0 2 4 2 2 1 0 2 0 1 1 3 0 1 1 3 1 1 0 1 1 0 1 0 2 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 2 3

career. My coach and I really worked hard on this, I'm so excited, it would only get better.

Coming here to make so much impact makes me feel so happy..

It means more hardwork, but the future is so bright."

In the women's 200m event, Favour Ofili finished third with a time of 22.23 to secure bronze on an impressive day for Team Nigeria. The event was won

by Namibia's Christine Mboma in a time of 21.84, while silver went to Beatrice Masilingi of Namibia.

Chinecherem’s javelin bronze is the first to be picked at the Wold Under-20 by any Nigerian athlete.

In the relays, these Nigerian kids got it right on the opening day of the World U-20 in Kenya, running a national record in the 4x400m mixed relay. The quartet of Johnson Nnamani, Uko, Oke and Bamidele Ajayi made history as the first winners of the inaugural event at the World Under-20 in 3:19:70,

leaving Poland (3: 19: 80) and India (3: 20: 60) to settle for the silver and bronze medals.

That same feat was repeated on the final day of competitions yesterday as Nigeria’s 4x400m women’s relay quartet of Opeyemi Oke, Iniobong Uko, Ella Onojuvwevwo and Favour Ofili stormed to the gold in 3:31.46 leaving Jamaica and Italy to pick the silver and bronze respectively.

Few minutes earlier before the last event of Nairobi 2021, Nigeria’s 4x100m women’s relay quartet of Praise Ofoku, Favour Ofili, Anita Taviore and Tima Godbless ran a season best time of 43.90 seconds to win the bronze behind Jamaica and Namibia.

As it has become the norm even in the senior category, Nigeria’s youth development programme so far has produced better result with the female athletes. Nairobi 2021 typifies how the women’s folks have been dominating track & field since the last decade and half.

Except for the period Olusoji Fasuba reigned as Africa’s record holder in the 100m, the male folks in the sprint and quarter mile have all taken back seats, watching the ladies grow from strength to strength. AFN cannot lay claim to the gold won by Onwuzurike as the lad is just competing for Nigeria for the first time. He is a product of a better clime before the American Collegiate is doing the final honing of his talent.

The usual problem of poor baton exchange that has been with us for ages, caused Oghenebrume and colleagues in the men’s 4x100m relay to finish outside the podium in the event they were primed for the gold or silver.

In all, the outing in Nairobi was soul lifting for track & field followers and a pointer to good things to expect from these kids if properly managed. These kids are the future of athletics in Nigeria.

Monday August 23, 2021

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& RE A SO

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Price: N250

MISSILE

PDP to APC

“The All Progressives Congress (APC) knows that it has been rejected by Nigerians, having failed woefully and that there is no way it can win elections under any condition.”

–– The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) accusing the APC of allegedly using the state apparatus of power to decimate and muzzle opposition and dissenting voices and foist an anti-democratic situation on Nigerians.

KAYODEFAYEMI GUEST COLUMNIST

Ahmed Joda: A Courageous and Fearless Administrator O ne of the most serious consequences of our history of military intervention in governance is the widespread scepticism about public sector leadership and the politicization of the civil service that has been seeded into the national psyche.

It is the popular belief that the civil service has long lost its lustre and all its practitioners have become carrots of patronage. And yet even if many civil servants on our shores have earned well-deserved reputations for dishonour, painting the entire civil service with such sordid colours, is an unfair generalization.

There are men and women of principle and competence who served in the civil service without blemish - one of such exemplars being the quintessential administrator, Ahmed Joda who passed away on August 13, 2021.

Joda was one of the best and brightest civil servants with compelling character in the post-civil war era. He belonged to the early generation of public servants who placed greater emphasis on competence over charisma, substance over style, and results over rhetoric. It was the era of absolute concentration of energy and grit on nation building which led to evident productivity and steady progress for our country. They bequeathed to succeeding generations, the tradition they equally inherited from their forebears and exemplified values such as accountability, brilliance, courage, decency, empathy, and frugality which became the building blocks for our nation.

I was privileged to know him and closely observe him demonstrate raw patriotism and courage of conviction when I served under him in 2015 as the Director, Policy Research and Strategy of the 19-member Transition Committee tasked with liaising with counterparts from the Jonathan administration to ensure a smooth transition to the current administration. It was during this assignment that I encountered and forged a much treasured friendship with late Ahmed Joda. I found him to be a personable, deeply religious, humble, and thoughtful individual, who was fiercely committed to a progressive and egalitarian nation. As Chairman of the committee, he tackled his assignment with immense cerebral acuity, diplomacy, and moral authority, and was a good listener who respected the opinions of others, regardless of differing ethnic and religious backgrounds.

Born in Yola, Adamawa State, on February 13, 1930, Joda attended Yola Elementary School and Yola Middle School before proceeding to Barewa College, Zaria from 1945 to 1948. He had a brief stint working with Moor Plantation in Ibadan before venturing into journalism at Gaskiya Corporation, Zaria. He departed to Pitmans College, London to further his education in journalism from 1954 to 1956.

Upon completion of his study, he returned to work with the Nigerian Broadcasting Service

Joda

as a correspondent from 1956 to 1960. He rose to the position of Chief Information Officer with the Northern regional government, and later as Permanent Secretary from 1962 to 1967.

Sequel to the outbreak of the Nigerian Civil War in 1967, Joda was seconded to the Federal Civil Service as a Permanent Secretary serving in the federal ministries of Information, Education, and Industries.

Historians place the contributions of the civil service from 1966 to 1975 when the nation fought a civil war and steered itself towards recovery and reconstruction as remarkable.

It was during this time that Joda alongside other bureaucrats such as Simeon Adebo, Philip Asiodu, Liman Ciroma, and Alison Ayida earned the sobriquet “Super Permanent Secretaries” by which they became famously known during the administration of General Yakubu Gowon. This was regarding their prowess, successes, and strategic role in driving the public service as the engine of governance and the fulcrum of policy implementation during the darkest period of our nation’s history.

In the absence of civil authorities and with the military leaders as opposing protagonists, it fell on the leaders of the federal civil service to articulate and defend the ideal of ‘One Nigeria’. Though Joda’s visible activism and advocacy in favour of the federal union gave him a higher profile in the national consciousness than he had ever enjoyed, he

remained an impartial patriot seeking to serve to the best of his abilities and contribute to preserving a social order threatened by centrifugal tensions. Yet beneath the gentle exterior of his petite frame lay the man Joda himself: a fiercely courageous, truthful, intrepid, and industrious administrator. He won the respect and admiration of both his colleagues and superiors for his reputation and moral stature to act as an arbiter during a time of national distress and uncertainty.

He retired in 1978 and ventured into private business where he served as chairman and board member of various companies in Nigeria. As an institutional builder, he was instrumental to the growth of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Pastoral Resolve (PARE), SCOA Nigeria PLC, Chagoury Group, Flour Mills of Nigeria PLC, and the Nigerian LNG Limited (NLNG). Joda was never cynical in his pursuit of change and transformation.

He demonstrated throughout his career a broad outline for extricating ourselves from the present transactional politics to a future of transformational ethos.

He showed in his exemplary way that it is possible to develop the delivery capacity within public and private sectors to take a proposal and translate from a bright idea into a truly tangibly transformative policy with material consequences. Even in his latter years, he was very agile as he traversed the

length and breadth of the country to speak on the need for a conciliatory spirit sharpened by empathy and lasting peace through fair accounting, justice, and healing. He never hesitated to put his professional competencies and counsel at the disposal of those who, in his keen consideration, held a promise of delivering on the mandate of the people.

About three years after our memorable engagement, I had a public disagreement with the House of Representatives over the plans to concession Ajaokuta Steel Complex when I was serving as Minister of Mines and Steel Development. The National Assembly at that time had publicly criticised our concession plans and vowed to resist the process. I found their position surprising because all we had done was to commence the process of implementing the concession that they approved. Joda called me up after my rather tough statement that I was ready to give Ajaokuta Steel Complex to any serious investor who could come up with a workable plan to turn the white elephant into an industrial behemoth. He advised that we make the bidding process open and transparent, and encouraged me to pursue my conviction without minding the criticisms. If we had succeeded in doing that, perhaps the Ajaokuta challenge would have been resolved by now.

From the trajectory of the life of men like Ahmed Joda, it is apparent that Nigeria worked when the civil service worked. The country’s unfortunate reputation as a place where institutions don’t function optimally corresponds with the era of the civil service’s decline. We must therefore rediscover the role of the civil service as the creative hub of policy-making and implementation - the brains thrust of government and the custodian of institutional memory. We must restore a missionary sense of purpose to the public service - to get civil servants to see their work once again as serving at the altar of a transcendent purpose.

The greatest tribute we can pay the departed patriot is to ensure that the stock of human resource of the civil service is replenished with administrators of his stature – those single-mindedly dedicated to achieving policy objectives and delivering good governance.

For Ahmed Joda, only a public service led and populated by our best and brightest can justly and efficiently provide the public goods such as education, healthcare and housing that will achieve the developmental aspirations of our people. His passage marks the departure of one of the great voices of reason, frugality, and sobriety in our society, arguably at a time when the polity needs these traits the most. We can only hope that inspired by his example, our generation and the ones behind us will rise in his stead.

May his soul rest in perfect peace. r%S ,BZPEF 'BZFNJ $0/ (PWFSOPS &LJUJ 4UBUF /JHFSJB $IBJSNBO /JHFSJB (PWFSOPST 'PSVN

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