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CBN Resumes Forex Sales to BDCs on Monday Operators to sell at N386/$1 New guidelines for payment service banks peg capital requirement at N5bn Obinna Chima Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) yesterday announced that the gradual sale of foreign exchange (forex) to licensed

Bureau De Change (BDC) operators would resume from Monday.

CBN, in a circular dated August 27, and addressed to all authorised dealers, BDC

operators and members of the public, which was signed by its Director, Trade and Exchange Department, Dr. Ozoemena Nnaji, said the resumption of forex sales was part of efforts

to enhance accessibility of the greenback, particularly to travellers following the announcement of the limited resumption of international flights.

Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) yesterday said the resumption of international flights, earlier fixed for Saturday, had been shifted to September 5.

In another circular, obtained yesterday from its website, CBN reviewed its guidelines for the licensing and regulation Continued on page 10

FG Shifts Resumption of International Flights to September 5... Page 8 Friday 28 August, 2020 Vol 25. No 9272. Price: N250

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Buhari, Jonathan, Others Thrilled as Adesina Gets Second Term at AfDB US pledges support for continental bank Chuks Okocha, Omololu Ogunmade, Deji Elumoye, Udora Orizu in Abuja, Nume Ekeghe and Dike Onwuamaeze in Lagos President

Muhammadu

Buhari; his predecessor, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan; President of the Senate, Dr. Ahmad Lawan; Speaker of House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila; Minister of Finance, Budget

and National Planning, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed, and one of her predecessors, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, among others, were in a euphoric mood yesterday as Dr. Akinwumi Adesina won his bid for a

second term as the President of the African Development Bank (AfDB).

Adesina, a former Nigeria's minister of agriculture, was unanimously elected by both regional and non-regional

members of the continental bank.

In a statement issued yesterday to announce Adesina’s re-election, AfDB Acting Director, Communication and External

Relations Department, Mr. Nafissatou Diouf, said the “globally renowned development economist and a World Food Prize Laureate Continued on page 10

My Focus Now is Serving Nigeria, Not on 2023, Says Osinbajo VP: Ernst and Young to audit NDDC Implores church leaders aggrieved over CAMA to approach N’Assembly Obaigbena urges NBA to respect free speech Alex Enumah in Abuja Vice President Yemi Osinbajo yesterday played down any interest in the 2023 presidential race, saying his major concern now is serving Nigeria.

He has also asked church leaders who are aggrieved over the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) 2020 to approach the National Assembly for a review of the law.

In addition, he said the federal government has picked Ernst & Young Global Limited to audit the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), which is currently being investigated by the National Assembly for

widespread corruption.

Responding to a question if he would run in 2023, at the virtual Annual General Conference (AGC) of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Osinbajo said his attention was on teaming up with President Muhammadu Buhari to find solutions to pressing national issues.

Chairman/Editor-in-Chief of THISDAY Newspapers and ARISE NEWS, Prince Nduka Obaigbena, moderated the session where he urged NBA respect to free speech.

Osinbajo said: “I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to serve Nigeria Continued on page 12

Council of State Endorses Pardon for Ambrose Alli, 44 Others... Page 5

TOGETHER FOR NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT...

L-R: President Muhammadu Buhari and his predecessor, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, arriving for a virtual meeting of the Council of State at the Presidential Villa, Abuja...yesterday godwin omoigui

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

Council of State Endorses Pardon for Ambrose Alli, 44 Others

Omololu Ogunmade in Abuja

National Council of State yesterday ratified the pardon granted to a former governor of the defunct Bendel State, Professor Ambrose Alli, and three other citizens convicted for attempted coups.

The council also approved President Muhammadu Buhari's prerogative of mercy to pardon 39 prison inmates.

Ali, who governed the old Bendel State, now split into Edo and Delta states, from 1979-1983 in the Second Republic, was convicted during the military rule of Buhari in 1984 for alleged misapplication of over N983,000 in funds for a road project.

Although the late professor returned the money, the military tribunal, which tried him for the offence, nonetheless sentenced him to 100 years in prison. He later became blind before his eventual death.

Aside Alli, the council also approved presidential pardon for 44 others, including two military officers said to have been convicted for attempted coup during the military regime of former military President, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida (rtd.), and a civilian.

The three men are: Col. Moses Effiong, Major E.J Olarenwaju, and Ajayi Olusola Babalola.

Briefing reporters after the virtual meeting, presided over by the president, AttorneyGeneral of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), said the ratification of the presidential pardon followed the presentation of a memorandum from the Presidential Advisory Committee on Prerogative of Mercy to the council.

According to him, in accordance with the constitutional requirement, which empowers the president to exercise prerogative of mercy to pardon prisoners, the

council ratified presidential pardon for two inmates and clemency for 39 others, bringing the total beneficiaries of the president's prerogative of mercy to 45, including Alli and the three alleged coup plotters.

He said the prerogative of mercy granted inmates was part of the efforts to decongest correctional centres to contain the spread of COVID-19 pandemic.

He said: “The memo presented for consultation in line with one of the constitutional requirements and consideration of grant of pardon to 45 persons, two inmates for pardon, 39 inmates for clemency and four ex-convict for presidential pardon.

“To further clarify on the prerogative of mercy, Mr. President, with COVID-19 pandemic, has directed the decongestion of our correctional centres across the country. And by way of collaborative action, the governors, heads of courts across the nations, have worked assiduously in collaboration with the presidential committee on decongestion of our correctional centres and at the end of the day we have succeeded in taking out over 4,000 inmates out of our correctional centers across the country.

“What we have today is a consolidation of what has been done and the strategies put in place to see to the decongestion of our correctional centres.

“As you are aware, more than 70 per cent inmates in our correctional centres were awaiting trial across the country and a lot of considerations were put in place to ensure our correctional centres are decongested, the prerogative of mercy was one of such considerations by Mr. President.”

Malami added that the council approved the

appointments of two lawyers as members of the Federal Judicial Service Commission in line with the power conferred on the president to appoint members of the commission, subject to consultation with the Council of State.

"The exercise this morning relating to the presentation of the council memo was for the purpose of fulfilling the constitutional righteousness relating to the appointment of the two new legal practitioners, in essence it is to consult with the Council of State out of desire for compliance with constitutional requirements.

“The two members to represent Nigerian Bar Association on the Federal Judicial Service Commission

are: Namoso Ekanem (SAN), from Akwa Ibom State, representing the South-south geo-political zone; and Mammud Abubakar Mogaji (SAN) from Niger State to represent the North-central geo-political zone," he added.

In his own briefing, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr. Boss Mustapha, who also participated in the meeting, said apart from former President Olusegun Obasanjo, all former Nigerian leaders participated in the meeting.

Mustapha said the council commended the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 for its job in combating the pandemic and noted the impact of the pandemic on the economy and how it has

exposed the weaknesses of the health system.

He said the council appealed to Nigerians to continue to adhere to COVID-19 protocols until vaccines would be available to treat the disease.

According to him, the meeting also approved the nominations of members of the National Population Commission (NPC).

He listed members of the commission whose nominations were approved as Muhammed Chuso A. Dottijo (Sokoto); Alhaji Razaq Gidado (Kwara); Ibrahim Mohammed (Bauchi); Joseph Kwai Shazin (FCT); Mr. Bala Almu Banya (Katsina); and Mrs. Bimbola Salu-Hundeyin (Lagos).

On his part, the National

Security Adviser (NSA), Maj. Gen. Babagana Mungonu (rtd.), said he briefed the council on the security challenges facing the country, adding that the council approved the establishment of National Centre for Control of Small and Light Weapons to be domiciled in NSA's office.

However, while Obasanjo was absent from the meeting, only former President Goodluck Jonathan, among the former leaders, was physically present with the president in the State House.

Other former leaders who attended the meeting virtually were: General Yakubu Gowon (rtd); General Ibrahim Babangida (rtd); Chief Ernest Shonekan, General Abdulsalami Abubakar (rtd).

CELEBRATING DELTA @ 29…

L-R: Delta State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa; his wife, Edith; and the Deputy Governor, Mr. Kingsley Otuaro, during an interdenominational thanksgiving service to mark the 29th anniversary of the creation of Delta in Asaba...yesterday

COVID-19: Anap Foundation Seeks Full Reopening of Economy Dike Onwuamaeze Anap Foundation COVID-19 Think Tank (AFCTT) has called on the federal government to fully reopen the economy in order to save it from collapse.

It also urged the government to reopen all educational institutions and lift curfew and restrictions on movement and international travelling that were imposed to curb the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.

It noted that the dismal performance of the economy, which according to the report of the National Bureau of Statistics, declined by 6.1 per cent in the second quarter of 2020, has “conclusively exposed the fragility of our economy and its inability to cope with disruptive lockdowns and needless curfews.”

The foundation gave the suggestions in its Occasional Paper 02 titled: “As Nigeria

Enters a New (Second) and Defining Phase of its COVID-19 Response,” that was published on August 26, a copy of which THISDAY obtained yesterday.

AFCTT, which was established on March 22, 2020, to help Nigeria’s respond to COVID-19, said: “We must now reopen the economy fully as there is a reasonable basis for believing that sub-Saharan Africa will be spared from the worst possible COVID-19 outcomes. However, proactive strategies for identification, containment and management of outbreaks should be put in place. Our observation in sub-Saharan Africa is that most infected individuals will survive while the minority will have severe adverse consequences and require hospitalisation.”

It also recommended that the country “needs innovative behaviour change communication

(BCC) strategies to overcome widespread myths and misconceptions among the citizens."

"Local channels such as town criers and other platforms used by people in the communities will prove invaluable," it added.

The foundation canvassed the engagement of the civil society, religious and opinion leaders, youth organisations, influencers and volunteer networks in the “implementation of COVID-19 control measures to think through and proffer context-specific responses to the call for social distancing in overcrowded cities and informal settlements must be given priority at this time.”

This, according to AFCTT, was important because the “Presidential Task Force constituted by ministers and heads of government agencies are largely seen by the average Nigerian as an

elite club speaking to their peers to protect the health interests of the elites only.”

AFCTT suggested that government and citizens should target, in the short and medium terms, the achievement of the scenario where “the infection itself will burn out, based on its isolation from massive nonpharmacologic public health measures, provided individuals see the devastation that can accompany the infection (including the long-term sequelae (sic) reported to accompany mild infections) when people live carelessly.”

“All remaining curfews nationwide should be lifted immediately. The governments at all levels and the private proprietors must invest heavily in the planned reopening of schools across the country if we are to prevent an avoidable disaster. We accept that schools must now be reopened and so the debate must

shift to ensuring minimum accompanying measures and installations to help achieve a safe reopening,” it stated.

The foundation also called for the strengthening of the coordination of the national response units such as the port health services and immigration at international airports, the COVID-19 test centres, mobile teams and communication arms for better efficiency in order to build better trust among the citizens and secure their buy-in.

“The opinion of most Nigerians now is that the COVID-19 response is as chaotic and inefficient as many other aspects of our national life,” it said, adding that “building a pandemic resilient system will require mainstreaming and strengthening the huge informal community-based health care system of Nigeria to deliver the care and enforce community participation that

is needed during pandemics.”

It stated that the “burial protocols released by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) need to be enforced across the country as currently many states are ignoring these guidelines.”

The membership of Anap Foundation, which was founded and chaired by the former Chairman of the Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc, Mr. Atedo Peterside, include its Vice Chairman, Mr. Abubakar Siddique Mohammed; the Managing Partner at Olaniwun Ajayi LP, Mr. Konyin Ajayi (SAN); the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah; the Founder and Chairman of Zinox Group, Mr. Leo Stan Ekeh; and Professor of Public Health and Community Medicine, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, and Adviser on Epidemiology, Professor Kayode Ijadunola, among others.

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FG Shifts Resumption of International Flights to September 5 To reduce duration for COVID-19 diagnosis to one hour Launches two dashboards to enhance accountability Olawale Ajimotokan, Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja and Chinedu Eze in Lagos The federal government yesterday announced a shift in the resumption of international flights to September 5.

According to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), the federal government postponed the resumption date, earlier fixed for Saturday, because of its inability to put in place nonaviation logistics for flights resumption.

The government has also said it has deployed a Gene Expert machine at the National Hospital Abuja and University of Abuja Teaching Hospital Gwagwalada (UATH) to reduce the turnaround time for COVID-19 diagnosis to one hour.

It has also unveiled two transparency dashboards to enhance accountability in national COVID-19 response.

Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, had said international airports in the country would reopen effective August 29 to resume international flight operations.

But at a press briefing of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 yesterday in Abuja, NCAA Director General, Capt.

Musa Nuhu, said there were non-aeronautical logistics that needed to be put in place before the country’s airspace could be reopened to international flights.

He said: “Since the announcement by the honourable minister of aviation a few weeks ago that international flights will resume anytime from 29th of August, the aviation sector has worked assiduously to be ready for this date.

“The aviation sector, including the airports, is ready to resume on the 29th.

However, we have other non-aviation logistics we are still working on mostly to do with the COVID-19 protocols, tests and online platforms. We need to get this in place so that we will have a smooth and efficient resumption of international flights without difficulties for all the passengers.

“So, for this reason, unfortunately, I have to let you know that the resumption date has been shifted by one week to the 5th of September, which is now a sacrosanct date. "The initial announcement was anytime from August 29. Now we have fixed a date – 5th of September– ensure that resumption of international flights.

“In due course, once these logistics are done, we will be announcing the protocols for the resumption and also we will be giving further details on the principle of reciprocity we have mentioned. So, hopefully, early next week, we will release this.”

Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, also said the federal government

had deployed a Gene Expert machine in the National Hospital Abuja and University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, to shorten the turnaround time for COVID-19 diagnosis.

He said with the new development, cases of suspected COVID-19 emergencies could now be diagnosed on-site, thereby "reducing the turnaround and waiting time to one hour."

Ehanire added that a new state molecular laboratory is currently being optimised in Kebbi and Bayelsa states.

He said: "A Gene Expert machine has been set up at National Hospital Abuja and University of Abuja Teaching Hospital Gwagwalada, as was announced some weeks ago.

"This means that suspected COVID-19 emergencies can now be diagnosed on-site, which will drastically reduce turnaround and waiting time and allow better utilisation of observation rooms."

According to the minister, the deployment of the testing device is a major advancement in handling distress experienced by patients arriving as emergencies in these hospitals.

Before now, patients and those who submitted their blood samples for COVID-19 test have to wait for at least three days and in some cases up to a week in order to get their results.

Ehanire said UATH had also found access to supplementary medical oxygen supply, courtesy of the Nigeria Air Force, which has a plant in Yola.

Also yesterday, the federal government unveiled two transparency dashboards for the national COVID-19 response.

PTF Chairman, Mr. Boss Mustapha, identified the two dashboards as the Incidence and Response Tracker Dashboard developed by the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) and the COVID-19 Resource Tracking Dashboard developed by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

He said both dashboards corroborated government’s focus on a data-driven response, which it has consistently maintained from the onset of the pandemic. ''The dashboards are transparent living and very interactive portals for all our resource mobilisation activities, donations, needs and disbursements. We will continue to collaborate with the private sector in creating models that ensure all our activities are easily accessible by the public in line with the Freedom of Information Act,'' Mustapha said.

He commended the task force's funding partner, the Africa Initiative for Governance (AIG), for ensuring that the dashboards became a reality.

In his address at the press conference, the Chairman

of the NESG, Mr. Asue Ighodalo, said NESG and the private sector were making history with the launch of the COVID-19 Incidence and Response Tracker and Dashboard.

He said the creation of the dashboard and the joint collaboration by all enablers typified achievable successes

whenever the private and public sector actively collaborate.

Also, Mrs. Ofovwe Aig-Imoukhuede of Africa Initiative for Governance (AIG) expressed pleasure in the partnership with NESG and Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) towards the development

of the Nigeria COVID-19 Incidence and Response Tracker Dashboard.

She described the initiative as a demonstration of what the Nigerian public sector in partnership with the private sector could achieve.

She said beyond improving the transparency, accountability and governance

of resources sourced from public, private and development sectors, the Predictive Analytic Model embedded in the platform would allow PTF on COVID-19, and NCDC predict and project the rate of infections, deaths and the resources needed to tackle them.

SEEKING ROYAL ENDORSEMENT… L-R: Edo State Deputy Governor, Hon. Philip Shaibu; the Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, and Elawure of Usen, His Royal Highness, Oba Oluogbe II, during the governor’s visit to the traditional ruler in Usen, Ovia South-west Local Government Area, during campaign in the area...yesterday

FAAN Implements New Passenger Charge as Revenue Drops 95% Ndubuisi Francis in Abuja Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) is set to begin the implementation of the new Passenger Service Charge (PSC) for domestic and international flights, as part of overall measures to bolster revenue generation.

FAAN's finances are in dire straits as revenue has fallen by about 95 per cent due to the impact of COVID-19, and other cost-related inflation.

PSC increase, which would become effective on Tuesday, would culminate in a 100 per cent increase for domestic passengers, who would thereafter pay N2,000 instead of N1,000.

Flights within the West African sub region would attract $50 per passenger as against the current $20, while international flights would move from $50 to $100.

Though the new charge would be built into air fares, THISDAY gathered that it would not lead to a hike in the fares.

FAAN said its revenue dipped by as much as 95 per cent necessitating measures, including an increase in PSC to continue to render the desired standard quality service for flight operations.

FAAN Managing Director,

Capt. Rabiu Yadudu, told journalists in Abuja yesterday that airport management is capital-intensive, adding that the agency has not increased the PSC since 2011 despite all the huge capital investments at the airports.

Yadudu noted that the current N1,000 PSC is no longer sustainable as it does not correlate with realities of cost-related inflation, which the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) put at 12.82 per cent.

"FAAN, until late 2019, was collecting the naira equivalent of PSC at an official rate of N305.50-N344.38 to a dollar when airlines were collecting a subsisting market rate of N360 to a dollar," he added.

According to him, the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) recommendation in Doc. 9562 stipulates that revenue generated by airports be transparently re-invested wholly in operating and developing airport facilities.

Yadudu stated that the federal government was increasing its direct deduction from FAAN to 40 per cent from 2021 and with such a deduction, the agency would have a shortfall of more than N16 billion on overhead cost.

"The authority is, however, engaging the federal

government to exempt her from this deduction. It has therefore become imperative to review the Passenger Service Charge (PSC) from N1,000 to N2,000 per passenger.

"This review, which takes effect from 1st September, 2020, has already been communicated to the airlines. We therefore implore stakeholders, airport users and the general public to bear with us as FAAN is laden with so much overhead cost of operation," he said.

As preparations for the resumption of scheduled international flight operations into the country continue, he said it has become necessary to roll out new advisories for airlines and air travellers.

According to him, as soon as these are ready, FAAN would communicate same to the public.

On the number of international airlines embarking on flights into Nigeria from September, FAAN chief executive said the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs were working out the details that would be communicated to FAAN for its preparations.

Yadudu said the federal government's efforts to renew the nation's airport infrastructure and ensure safety

in the industry had come at a huge cost.

He recalled that some of the five new terminals at the international airports have been completed while others are at advanced stages of completion.

Also, apart from other efforts to reposition the sector, the government has been reconstructing some airport runways to ensure safety.

On the protocols introduced at the airports in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, Yadudu, who admitted that a few highly-placed Nigerians had violated the new order, however, expressed gratitude that the new protocols have been working almost seamlessly.

He explained that NCAA was handling the cases of the few violations and would come up with a position soon.

The cooperation of air travellers, he noted, has been particularly impressive, adding: "We shall continue to urge all airport users to comply with the new policies and help keep the travelling public, and our nation safe and healthy."

He assured travellers that FAAN would continue to review and update the COVID-19 protocols in line with the updates from the World Health Organisation (WHO).

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DHQ: 410 Suspected Terrorists Surrender to Troops in Nasarawa Nwezeh Kingsley in Abuja No fewer than 410 members of a new terror group unleashing mayhem on people in the North-central have surrendered to troops of Operation Whirl Stroke, the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) said yesterday.

According to DHQ, the suspected terrorists, including women and children, surrendered to the troops after the special anti-squad burst a terror cell operated by Darul Salam in Nasarawa State.

The military also uncovered a bomb-making factory and rocket launchers in their enclave in Uttu in Toto Local Government Area of the state.

This was coming as 17 Russians, Ukranians and Nigerians kidnapped by pirates in Lome Waters were rescued

by Nigerian Navy Ship, Soros.

Briefing the media in Abuja yesterday, the Coordinator of the Directorate of Defence Media Operations (DDMO), Major General John Enenche, said in continuation of aggressive clearance operations aimed at ridding the North-central zone of armed banditry and other criminals, troops uncovered the terror cell belonging to the Darul Salam terror group.

He said the troops of Operation Whirl Stroke, while on a "robust clearance patrol around Uttu, on 26 August

2020 stormed a Darul Salam terrorists bomb-making factory, following actionable technical and human intelligence on the activities of the terrorists in the general area.

"In the course of the operation, troops recovered several improvised explosive device-making materials at the location, including two scales, six rocket launcher bombs, one bag of fertiliser, half a bag of gun powder, 10 locally-made hand grenades, one rocket-propelled grenade bomb fuse, one locally made rocket launcher, two Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), 13 improvised rocket bombs, amongst others."

He said the camp was

subsequently destroyed while troops combed the surrounding forests for fleeing members of the group.

Enenche added that following aggressive intensive kinetic operations at identified bandits' enclaves, no fewer than 410 members of Darul Salam terrorist group, including women and children, surrendered to the troops.

On the rescue operation by the Navy, he said since the activation of Operation Silent Heat, arrests and deactivation of various militant camps had been effected.

"It was during the course of the operation that on 19 August, 2020, Nigerian Navy

Ship, SOROH, intercepted a speed boat with 13 foreigners made of seven Russians and six Ukrainians alleged to have been kidnapped by pirates in Lome waters.

"The 13 kidnapped foreigners as well as four Nigerians on the speed boat have been handed over to Defence Intelligence Agency on 24 August, 2020 for further necessary action," he said.

Reviewing military operations in the past one week, he said troops on Sunday conducted operations leading to the raid on an illegal mining site located along Gadan Zaima-Zuru Road in Bukuyyum Local Government Area of Zamfara

State which also serves as bandits’ hideout.

"During the operation, 150 suspects were arrested and arms and ammunition were recovered. Preliminary investigation reveals that aside from sabotaging the nation's economy, banditry is being financed through these illegal mining activities.

"Similarly, the gallant troops on fighting patrol encountered three bandits on motorcycles around Maigalma village in Anka Local Government Area of Zamfara State, while attempting to attack innocent residents.

During the encounter, one of the bandits was neutralised while others escaped," he stated.

rate on the date of the sale,” it stated.

In a major policy coup, CBN this week, had moved to arrest the age-long practice of over-invoicing, which unscrupulous businesses have used to cart away the nation’s forex, directing banks and other authorised dealers to desist from opening Forms ‘M’ whose payment are routed through a buying company, agent, or other third parties.

capital requirement for PSBs at N5 billion and they are expected to deposit a non-refundable application fee of N500,000.

In addition, the operators are expected to pay non-refundable licensing fee of N2 million as well as change of name fee of N1 million.

“The CBN may vary these requirements from time to time.

Promoters should note that in compliance with the BOFIA, the investment of the share capital deposit shall be subject to availability of investment instruments.

“Upon the grant of license or otherwise, the CBN shall refund the sum deposited to the applicant, together with the investment income, if any, after deducting administrative expenses and tax on the income,” it added.

PSBs are to be supervised by CBN. However, where a PSB is a subsidiary or associate of a legal entity, the entity shall be required to comply with all extant CBN guidelines and circulars as they relate to PSB’s operations, the statement said.

“PSBs shall render quarterly returns indicating the number of financially excluded customers on-boarded during the quarter to which the returns relate.

“PSBs shall render such other returns, in such format and frequency, as the CBN may prescribe from time to time.

All PSBs shall be required to interface with the Nigeria Inter-bank Settlement System (NIBSS) platform in order to promote interconnectivity and interoperability of operations within the Nigeria banking system.

for the poorest nations, AfDB would be looked upon as an essential sources of support.

“We appreciate the frank assessment management has provided of its progress towards meeting the reform commitments under the Seventh General Capital Increase. In particular, we commend management for attention to the steps needed to meet the end-of-year deadline for an updated financial sustainability model, so that AfDB maintains capital adequacy ratios above their thresholds for at least ten years.

“There remains, however, much more work to do. We urge a serious analytical effort this year to understand how the bank will be more selective and cost-effective in its operations.

“The bank must do more to manage its resources more wisely and ensure through the Total Compensation Review that it offers a competitive and costeffective value proposition to staff.

“The independent oversight functions of the AfDB - including integrity, evaluation, and audit - must be given the resources and necessary freedom to operate effectively. The AfDB’s ethics and governance framework must also be updated to bring it up to the standards of its peers.”

declared: 'He deserves it.'"

The president also thanked the African Union (AU) for its earlier endorsement of AfDB president and the shareholders of the bank, whom he said worked tirelessly to ensure the return of the visionary leader.

The statement added: "President Buhari believes Dr. Adesina’s versatility, experience at both national and international engagements, will be further deployed to energise the panAfrican financial institution, urging him to remain focused and steadfast in pursuing the noble goals of making life better for Africans through various development plans, already captured as High 5s.

"The president rejoices with family, friends and professional colleagues of Dr Adesina over the re-election while commending

CBN RESUMES FOREX SALES TO BDCS ON MONDAY of Payment Service Banks (PSBs).

In the circular signed by Director, Financial Policy and Regulation, Kevin Amugo, which was dated August 27, the apex bank pegged the minimum capital requirement for PSBs at N5 billion. They are also expected to deposit a non-refundable application fee of N500,000.

CBN, in the circular on forex sales to the BDCs, stated: “The Central Bank of Nigeria hereby wishes to inform the general public that gradual sales of foreign exchange to licensed BDC operators will commence with effect from August 31, 2020.

“Consequently, purchase of forex by BDCs shall be on Monday, and Wednesdays in the first instance.”

According to the apex bank, BDCs are expected to “ensure that their accounts with the banks are duly funded with the equivalent naira proceeds on Fridays and Tuesdays accordingly."

“Meanwhile, authorised dealers (deposit money banks) shall continue to sell foreign currencies for travel-related invisible transactions to customers and non-customers over the counter upon presentation of relevant travel documents (passport, air ticket and visa).

“All authorised dealers and BDC operators are hereby advised to ensure strict compliance with the provisions of the extant regulations on the disbursement of foreign exchange cash to travellers, as any case of infraction will be appropriately

sanctioned,” it stated.

In another circular titled: “Weekly Exchange Rate for Disbursement of Proceeds of International Money Transfer Service Operators (IMTSOs),” also signed by Nnaji, CBN specified the various rates.

The applicable exchange rates for the disbursement of IMTSOs’ proceeds would be from August 31 to September 4.

According to CBN, IMTSOs are expected to sell their dollar proceeds to banks at N382/1$; while the banks are to sell to CBN at N383/$1.

Also, the rate CBN would sell to BDCs was fixed at N384/$1 and BDCs are to sell to end-users at not more than N386/$1.

“Kindly note that the GBP (British Pound) rate should be derived from the US dollar cross

CBN Reviews Guidelines for Licensing Payment Service Banks CBN has reviewed its guidelines for the licensing and regulation of Payment Service Banks (PSBs).

It pegged the minimum

BUHARI, JONATHAN, OTHERS THRILLED AS ADESINA GETS SECOND TERM AT AFDB and Sunhak Peace Prize Laureate, Dr. Adesina, has distinguished himself in driving a bold agenda to reform the bank and accelerate Africa’s development. He was first elected as President of the bank on May 28, 2015.

“As newly re-elected president, Adesina, a former Nigerian Minister of Agriculture, will begin his new term on September 1, 2020.”

Adesina thanked the board of the bank in his reaction to his re-election for a second five- year term, which he described as yet another call for selfless service to Africa and AfDB and promised to dedicate himself to the task ahead.

He said: “Right now, the sound that is loudest in my ears is the announcement of my re-election as president of AfDB for a second term. We also made history by re-electing me by 100 per cent vote via e-vote and became the first president of the bank in its history to be re-elected by 100 per cent vote by the shareholders.

For this I am most grateful and very appreciative.

“I am deeply grateful for your collective thrust, confidence and support. I am greatly honoured and humbled. It is yet another call - a call for selfless service to Africa and AfDB. Today, a rainbow stretches from 81 member countries of AfDB across the deep blue skies of Africa with one message: The rain is gone. Gone are the dark clouds that held us down.

“I look forward to working closely with each and every one of you for the urgent and difficult task of supporting Africa to build back better, smarter and boldly from the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Adesina said his re-election demonstrated the transparency of AfDB as an institution and showed the weight of support behind his vision for the bank.

“It shows a very clear and strong mandate from all shareholders to go and implement the vison. It shows that all voices were heard. It

shows that we are true to the constitutive text of our bank,” he stated.

He promised to build on the strong foundations of success in the past five years, while strengthening the institution for greater effectiveness and impacts.

The election result, which gave him a 100 per cent of votes of all regional and non-regional members of the bank, was announced by the Chairperson of AfDB Board of Governors, Mrs. Niale Kaba, who doubles as Minister of National Planning of Côte d’Ivoire.

The election took place on the final day of the 2020 Annual Meetings of the AfDB, which was held virtually for the first time in the bank’s history.

Kaba said: "I am delighted that the Board of Governors have re-elected Dr. Adesina for a second term in office as president. As shareholders, we strongly support the bank and will give him all the necessary support to carry forward and implement his compelling vision for the bank over the next five years.”

Diouf said Adesina's first term was focused on the bold new agenda for the bank group based on five development priorities known as the High 5s: Light up and Power Africa, Feed Africa, Industrialise Africa, Integrate Africa and Improve the Quality of Life for the People of Africa.

He said the programmes achieved impactful results on the lives of 335 million Africans, including 18 million people with access to electricity; 141 million people benefiting from improved agricultural technologies for food security; 15 million people benefiting from access to finance from private investments; 101 million people provided with access to improved transport and 60 million people gaining access to water and sanitation.

He added that the bank maintained its AAA-ratings by all major global credit rating

agencies for five years in a row.

Adesina also guided the bank to successfully raise its capital by 125 per cent as directed by the board from $93 billion to $208 billion, the largest in the history of the bank.

Diouf stated that the bank was ranked the fourth most transparent institution globally by Publish What You Fund under Adesina’s leadership to bolster its strong governance credentials for transparency and accountability.

“Under Adesina’s leadership, the African Development Bank’s Board of Directors approved a $10 billion facility to support African countries to address the COVID-19 pandemic. The bank also launched a $3 billion COVID-19 social bond on the global capital markets, the highest US dollar denominated social bond ever in world history, which is listed on London Stock Exchange, Luxembourg Stock Exchange and NASDAQ,” Diouf added.

Adesina's victory yesterday was preceded by a crisis that could have knocked him out of the race.

He was recently cleared of allegations of wrongdoing by an independent probe panel, which found no evidence of wrongdoing by him.

The probe was initiated after some whistle-blowers had accused him of handing contracts to acquaintances and appointing relatives to strategic positions at the Abidjan-based bank.

The Independent Review Panel was set up July 2 by the Bureau of Governors of the bank, following a complaint by the United States, to review the process by which two organs of the bank – the Ethics Committee of the Board and the Bureau of the Board of Governors – had previously exonerated Adesina.

The United States Treasury Secretary, Mr. Steven Mnuchin, had rejected the institution’s ethics committee’s original report, leading to the setting up of the review panel.

However, before the election, Mnuchin had pledged that the US would continue to work in partnership with AfDB to support African countries in recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic as well as in advancing the developmental goals of the continent.

Mnuchin, who represents the US on AfDB Board, said in a statement yesterday on the 2020 Annual Meetings of the bank that “the United States will continue working together in partnership to deliver on the potential of the African Development Bank Group and to support African countries in recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic and advancing their development goals. We hope the day will come soon when we can return to conducting business normally."

According to him, the ongoing annual meetings are taking place at a time when the economic impact of the COVID-19 could force many African nations into recession for the first time in 25 years.

He estimated that expansionary policies designed to offset the economic consequences of lockdown measures, emergency public health expenditures and weaker tax revenues would drive fiscal deficits wider across Africa both this year and next.

He stated that while the international community had aggressively responded in providing debt payment suspension through the G20’s Debt Service Suspension Initiative and emergency financing, regional and global economic outlook remains uncertain.

He urged countries to see the pandemic as an opportunity to improve debt management and pursue structural reforms that lay the foundation for stronger medium-term growth and economic resilience.

Mnuchin said AfDB’s potential to drive meaningful improvement in the lives of Africans was more relevant than ever, noting that as the pandemic creates challenges

Adesina's Re-election Excites Buhari, Others The announcement of Adesina's re-election has generated reactions from the president and other top government officials.

Buhari, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, said he received the news of Adesina's victory while presiding over a virtual Council of State meeting in the State House, Abuja "with a round of applause."

The statement said: "As Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Boss Mustapha, announced the good news, President Buhari led a round of applause, and

Continued on page 12

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Finally, Buhari Drops Dokubo as Amnesty Programme Coordinator, Appoints Administrator Congratulates Nigerian appointed justice minister in Canada Omololu Ogunmade in Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday removed Prof.

Charles Quarker Dokubo as the coordinator of the Amnesty Programme Office and appointed Col. Milland Dixion Dikio (rtd) as the interim administrator of the programme.

The president also felicitated with the Nigerian-born Kaycee

(Kelechi) Madu, who emerged as the Minister of Justice and Solicitor-General for the Government of Albertain in Canada.

According to a statement

by Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, the appointment of Dikio took effect from August 21.

The statement said with

Dikio's appointment, Dokubo, was directed to hand over all official matters to the most senior officer of the programme.

It added that the president appreciated the services of Dokubo to the country and wished him the best in his future endeavours.

Buhari had in February approved the suspension of Dokubo and had ordered that

a caretaker committee be set up to review the programme and take over its running.

However, the president later recalled Dokubo.

Buhari also yesterday felicitated with Madu on his new job as Minister of Justice and Solicitor-General for the Government of Alberta in Canada.

The president's media adviser,

Mr. Femi Adesina, in a statement, said Madu made history as the first African-born provincial minister in Canadian history, who is also the Provincial Secretary and Keeper of the Great Seal of the Province of Alberta.

Adesina said Buhari described the honour as “landmark and historic,” noting that it once again showcased the people of

Nigerian descent as go-getters, who distinguish themselves in different walks of life.

The president added that Madu, as the first black justice minister and solicitor-general in Canada, had automatically entered his name in history books and urged Nigerians, both at home and abroad, to remain good ambassadors of their country.

South Africa’s Central Bank Expects Economy to Shrink 40.1% Minister projects Nigerian economy slipping into recession Q3 Nume Ekeghe with agency report South Africa’s economy probably contracted by an annualised 40.1 per cent in the second quarter, Bloomberg quoted the country’s central bank forecasts to have revealed.

This was just as the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed, yesterday said the West African country might fall into recession in the third quarter, citing the impact of low oil prices and the COVID-19 pandemic on Africa’s largest economy.

South Africa’s monetary policy committee (MPC) used that estimate for the quarterly drop in Gross Domestic Product at its July meeting, where it cut the benchmark interest rate by 25 basis points, the Pretoria-based Reserve Bank said in an emailed response to questions.

That compares with a forecast for a 32.6 per cent contraction shown in its June 29 annual report and would be the biggest decline since at least 1990.

The contraction in the second quarter was mainly due to strict lockdown measures to contain the COVID-19 pandemic that resulted

in plunging production and demand for goods and services, and a decrease in income and employment levels, the central bank said. Supply chains were disrupted as the nation’s trading partners were also impacted by the pandemic.

South Africa shut down industries from March 27 to limit the spread of the virus, with almost all activity except essential services halted for five weeks.

The restrictions were eased from May 1, allowing the phased reopening of some businesses and sectors. Still, many companies

have closed down permanently and some of those that resumed operations are still limited as to which services they may offer.

The Reserve Bank had said in July that the economy might contract 7.3 per cent this year.

The projections used at MPC meeting that month show GDP would expand on a quarterly basis in the three months through September, which means the technical recession would be over after four quarters.

Nigeria is, however, expecting its economy to slip into recession in the third quarter due to the double whammy effects of the

COVID-19 pandemic and the sharp drop in the price of crude oil on the international market.

Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed, who briefed the Council of State on the economy, told State House reporters in Abuja that she informed the council that the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth in the third quarter would be negative and might lead the country into recession, the second in four years.

Ahmed, represented by the Director General of the Budget Office, Ben Akabueze, said she updated the council on the

crisis confronting the economy following the fall in the prices of crude oil in the wake of an oil price war between Russia and Saudi Arabia at the start of the year, and the pandemic, which hurt demand for the commodity which provides 90 per cent of foreign exchange earnings.

Data from the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showed a negative growth after the economy contracted by 6.1 per cent in the second quarter of the year.

Nigeria’s economy was last in recession in 2016, its first in 25 years, since when growth has been sluggish.

in the circumstance.”

On the federal government’s reaction to the contraction of the economy as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and related issues, Osinbajo said the Buhari administration response was robust and focused on local production using home-grown resources.

Citing the example of specific efforts of wealth and job creation using local resources, the vice president said under the agriculture component of the National Economic Sustainability Plan (NESP-AGRO), five million farmers whose produce would be off-taken by government had been registered.

He added that progress is also been made under the housing component of the plan known as NESP-HOUSING with 11 state governments already given land and more states expected to join with the target of building about 100,000 housing units, including two-bedroom apartments at between N1.8 – N2 million cost, and in the process, engaging young architects, builders,

among others.

Commenting on the other aspects of the stimulus package, the vice president explained that the federal government has, as part of the NESP, a survival fund and payroll support for artisans, private school teachers and small businesses.

In his contribution, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, spoke about the collaboration between the executive and the legislature in addressing some of the critical issues facing the country.

He said the actions of the House would continue to be guided by the legislative agenda it adopted at its inauguration in 2019, which is in line with the vision of Buhari.

In his closing remarks, Obaigbena, speaking against the backdrop of the controversy generated by the nomination and subsequent dis-invitation of Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, as a speaker at the NBA AGC, urged the lawyers' association to respect free speech.

"You have proven yourself a true son of Africa, unapologetically and unrepentantly committed to the socio-economic emancipation of the continent and it is my hope that you will lead the bank to surpass the successes of your first tenure," he added.

He described Adesina’s reelection as “a landmark victory, not only for Nigeria, but also for Africa as a whole.”

Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, who doubles as the Chairman, Nigerian Governors' Forum (NGF), described Adesina's re-election as an attestation to his dynamic and pragmatic leadership which has helped to reposition the bank.

In a message by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Yinka Oyebode, the governor urged Adesina to sustain the tempo of his restructuring at the continental bank for it to live up to the expectation of bringing development to the black race.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) also congratulated

Adesina on his re-election, saying it was not only earned but well- deserved.

The party, in a statement yesterday by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, said Adesina's re-election was not surprising in view of the competence and commitment he displayed in uplifting and promoting the bank's operations since 2015.

According to the party, Adesina has attracted praises in bringing his deep knowledge in economic development to bear on the bank's primary functions of making loans and equity investments for the socio-economic advancement of Regional Member Countries (RMC).

PDP also commended Adesina for improving on the bank's key role of providing technical assistance for development projects and programmes as well as promoting investment of public and private capital for development.

MY FOCUS NOW IS SERVING NIGERIA, NOT ON 2023, SAYS OSINBAJO and right now I am focused on doing just that.

“There are issues to be tackled and that had been gaining my undivided attention.”

On the incessant killings in the southern part of Kaduna State, Osinbajo, in a statement by his media aide, Mr. Laolu Akande, said although the security challenge had continued, the government was making progress in tackling it.

On the way forward in the Southern Kaduna conflict and making reference to his personal experience, the vice president said: “I have been involved since 2001 through the work of the Macedonian initiative, an NGO that focused on providing relief materials to displaced persons in Southern Kaduna and several other places especially in Northcentral part of Nigeria. There have been judicial commissions and all sorts, but the problem remains. So, there is the need to address the underlying issues.

You can’t sweep under the carpet, justice and the cries of economic marginalisation.

“The fact is that we must prosecute persons responsible for these murders or otherwise impunity will worsen. And also support those who have lost their bread winners.

“The mindless callous killings in Southern Kaduna are heartbreaking. And again we must condole with those who have lost loved ones and those injured or who have suffered loss of property. These tragedies are unacceptable and they are avoidable.”

On steps being taken by the federal government in dealing with the killings in Southern Kaduna, Osinbajo said: “First is the improvement of security in Southern Kaduna. Now, we have a military base there, for the first time. We also have a lot of Air Force surveillance.

“We have about 500 conventional and mobile policemen in Zangon-Kataff and Kaura Local Government Areas and then the combined military team of the army and the navy who are also on ground 24 hours.

This is basically to just take care

of the volatile situation there.

“The president has also had several security council meetings and I have attended all of those, where the issues were discussed and the possibilities of engagement have also been discussed.

“I have also engaged with community leaders in Southern Kaduna and also I have engaged with the governor to look at what peacemaking efforts are possible.”

The vice president expressed optimism that the issues would be resolved, noting that “some of the peacemaking efforts have been fairly successful” as recent peace efforts between the Zangon-Kataff and the Fulani communities would yield positive results.

“But there is also a lot of work going on to ensure that some of these fundamental issues are being addressed and it’s an evolving situation; but it’s something we can’t afford to ignore and it’s gone on for far too long and it’s redressable and possible for us to resolve,” he

added.

Osinbajo also asked those aggrieved over CAMA to approach the National Assembly for a review of the law.

The vice president, who is a pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), said under democracy the church leaders were free to seek redress.

He said: “We have a process by which this (CAMA) can be redressed. Whatever the proposal for amendment may be, whatever the view of the leadership of the church may be, regarding the question of how the trustees, whether they are interim trustees or not, can be put into a proposal that will be brought to the National Assembly for consideration for amendment to the law, that is the process which is entirely opened and ought to be pursued.

“We are in a democracy and there is a process by which things can be done and that process is the one where you bring forward amendments to the National Assembly and they will do whatever is considered useful

BUHARI, JONATHAN, OTHERS THRILLED AS ADESINA GETS SECOND TERM AT AFDB members of staff and Board of Governors of AfDB for their consistent support for the former Nigerian Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development and his management team.

"While pledging full support of his government to ensure a successful tenure for the AfDB leadership, President Buhari prays that the Almighty God will continue to strengthen Dr. Adesina and his team for greater good to the continent."

In a goodwill message to Adesina, Jonathan said the AfDB boss recorded significant achievements in his first tenure and urged him to do more to ensure that the impact of the bank’s development initiatives is felt across the continent.

“I am proud of Dr. Adesina because he has remained consistent as a man of vision and considerable capacity; traits he generously put to use while serving as a key member of our administration’s economic team

and minister of agriculture.

“His first term as president of AfDB brought about exemplary leadership, significant achievements and broken records, especially with the bank’s recent unprecedented capital increase by 125 pert cent to $208 billion,” Jonathan stated.

On his part, Lawan hailed the re-election of Adesina, saying his victory affirmed the confidence and trust of the shareholders, management and staff of the bank in his leadership of the institution.

According to him, the renewal of Adesina's mandate is an attestation to his excellent performance as president, evident in the bank's numerous developmental initiatives on the African continent.

Lawan, in a statement, said: "I am elated to convey the joy and pride of the entire National Assembly over the electoral acclamation for integrity, grace, substance and hardwork.

"Your re-election should be an impetus for taking the continental financial institution to a greater height, realising that the reward for hardwork is more work."

In his congratulatory message, Gbajabiamila described Adesina's re-election as a triumph of integrity and dedication to duty.

Gbajabiamila, in a statement by his spokesperson, Mr. Lanre Lasisi, said the re-election had provided Adesina with another opportunity to consolidate and sustain AfDB as a global financial force while pushing for African development agenda.

"As I congratulate you on this historic milestone with the belief that the bank is in good hands, this is to remind you that your re-election is a call to rededicate yourself to duty towards positioning the bank as a global financial institution to reckon with,'' he stated.

The minister of finance also expressed delight at Adesina’s re-election.

In a Twitter post, Ahmed congratulated AfDB president, saying “the election was by a double majority from the regional and non-regional countries - 100 per cent of regional and 100 per cent of non-regional votes.”

Okonjo-Iweala also congratulated Adesina on his re-election and wished him a successful tenure.

Okonjo-Iweala, who is also seeking appointment as the Director General of the World Trade Organisation, congratulated Adesina via her verified Twitter handle: @NOIweala.

She tweeted: “Wonderful to get the news of the re-election of @akin_adesina as President of @AfDB_Group. Hearty congratulations to you, my brother, and to Grace! Wishing you five more fruitful years!!”

A former Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, described Adesina as an unapologetically African and his victory well deserved.

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

LEADING APC’S CAMPAIGN IN ONDO

Lagos State governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has earned the confidence of his party, writes Kemi Akinleye

L

agos has a way of preparing her leaders for greater exploits. About two years ago, the name Babajide Sanwo-Olu wouldn’t have rang a bell in Lagos. Well, in the Lagos State Civil Service, some staff would have known him then. But since he declared interest in becoming and eventually emerged as the 15th governor of Lagos State, Sanwo-Olu’s profile has been on the rise.

Recently, his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), appointed Sanwo-Olu as the chairman of the 104-member National Campaign Council for the Ondo Governorship Election.

The campaign council was inaugurated on Saturday, August 15, 2020 at the APC National Secretariat in Abuja. And Sanwo-Olu expressed confidence in delivering his mandate.

“They (PDP) really should not waste their time, but election is something that is not over until it is all over,” he said, directing his comment to the main opposition party, Peoples Democratic Party.

“So, we are not going to take anybody for granted. We are going for an election and it is going to be issues-based. We will ensure that we campaign for the people of Ondo State to see the need to continue with the progressive government that they have.

He (Rotimi Akeredolu) is doing very well, we have seen it, he still has the capacity, he has the energy to further advance what he is currently doing. So that is why we are with him and we know he will do that.”

Joining Sanwo-Olu as deputy chairman is governor of Plateau State, Simon Lalong and Comrade Mustapha Salihu as Secretary.

Others on the campaign train include Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege; Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila; APC governors and some members of the National Assembly.

I am not surprised Sanwo-Olu has gained attention from the party this early in his political journey. Upon assumption of office as governor in May 2019, Sanwo-Olu began to face the grind and rigour of governing Nigeria’s most bustling state. The challenges came in many forms - bad roads, high taxes, health, education, myriads of infrastructural demands and the usual distractions.

However, armed with his campaign tagged THEMES (Traffic Management and Transportation, Health and Environment, Education and Technology, Making Lagos a 21ST Economy, Entertainment and Tourism and Governance and Security), Sanwo-Olu focused on attacking Lagos’ challenges and delivering his promises.

VisionScape, the fragile waste company contracted to clean Lagos by the previous Akinwumi Ambode-led administration, was given the boots. The work to rid Lagos of the filth the state had been plunged into began. And gradually, the streets became cleaner. The rains which fell in the months after Sanwo-Olu became governor prevented massive road repairs but palliative measures were put in place on crucial roads. Abandoned projects were continued. And as more Nigerians thronged Lagos, all the other business of running the state continued. Then by March, Coronavirus came to town.

With the index case appearing in Lagos, the state was put in the spotlight. Now, the spotlight can do two things - it can present an opportunity to shine or it can expose inherent flaws.

For Sanwo-Olu, the Covid-19 spotlight became a stage he used to prove his mettle as a leader. When some other leaders around the world floundered and brought ridicule to their office, Sanwo-Olu

SANWO-OLU HAS PROVED HE IS CAPABLE OF LEADING LAGOS EFFECTIVELY. IT IS NO MEAN FEAT. HENCE, IT WAS NOT TOO SURPRISING THAT APC NOMINATED HIM FOR THE ONEROUS TASK OF LEADING THE ONDO GUBERNATORIAL CAMPAIGN

spoke and acted intelligently. His decisions were fact-based and geared towards pragmatism. The Lagos State government was the first state to be serious about building isolation centres. They provided beds and treatment for Covid-19 patients – free of charge. And while the patients were treated and the state was on lockdown, the government sought to ameliorate the conditions of others in the state.

During the Coronavirus-induced lockdown, Lagos and its leadership demonstrated a hands-on approach to finding solutions.

The state showed examples which even the federal government would follow.

Lagos came up with the idea of granting food sellers, medicine sellers and essential workers a grace to operate. It recognised that life was already hard for its residents and every move to ease things was needed. When some miscreants sabotaged its first intervention at giving food to indigent residents, the state government went back to its drawing board. This time around, while packaged foodstuffs were given to the elderly, the government, through all the local government councils, served 100, 000 youths a meal daily. The government’s actions must have been stirring.

And support in cash and kind from the corporate sector, social organisations, Non-Governmental Organisations as well as other individuals and groups came in for the state and her people.

During the lockdown period, Sanwo-Olu announced free treatment at all its primary and secondary health facilities. And

by April 14, it was reported that over 18,000 people benefitted from free medical services at all 67 Grade A primary and secondary healthcare centres and over 600 childbirths were recorded.

Also, the Lagos State government authorised unconditional cash transfer to 250,000 economically challenged persons registered with the Lagos State Residents Registration Agency (LASRRA).

Sanwo-Olu also announced that small businesses that took loans from the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF) will enjoy three months moratorium.

Aside from the success which Lagos continues to record in the fight against Covid-19, the state has not relented in ensuring other aspects of life are catered for. Recently, BRT buses were commissioned to run to and fro Abule Egba and Oshodi. The journey which could take two hours to complete during peak period will now be shortened to about 30 minutes. Commuters on this route would surely thank Sanwo-Olu. Also, the state started a pilot in 11 local government and local council development areas whereby indigent pregnant women would get weekly food rations to encourage prenatal visits to the government hospitals.

And his administration is set to build a massive seafood market in Epe, the largest of its kind in Nigeria. In other areas, the state has continued to progress.

Though he is just settling into his second year as governor, Sanwo-Olu has proved he is capable of leading Lagos effectively.

It is no mean feat. Hence, it was not too surprising that APC nominated him for the onerous task of leading the Ondo gubernatorial campaign. The Ondo State governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, who is the APC’s standard-bearer, is seeking re-election. He will be contesting against the Deputy Governor, Agboola Ajayi, who is running under the platform of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), Eyitayo Jegede of the PDP and other contenders in the October 10 election. Certainly, the stakes in Ondo are high. And the choice of a Sanwo-Olu to lead the campaign would have been properly thought-out by the APC.

A STRONG VOICE IN THE SENATE

Kareem Musa writes that Uba Sani, who represents Kaduna Central in the Senate, is doing remarkably well

I

t is not unusual but it is certainly not a regular occurrence during sittings of the Senate for the presiding officer to slam the gavel and then proceed to eulogize a fellow Senator for a job well done, especially following the passage of an important bill into law, at a record time.

This uncommon scenario played out on the floor of the upper chamber of the ninth National Assembly on Wednesday, July 15, when the Senate passed the bill seeking to establish the Federal College of Education, Giwa, Kaduna State, which was sponsored

by Senator Uba Sani, who represents Kaduna Central in the Senate. “Distinguished Senators, I want to specially thank Senator Uba Sani for the hard work he put in to achieve the passage of this bill into law. This is exactly how I want us to work in this Senate. Congratulations, Senator Sani,” Dr. Ahmed Lawan, the President of the Senate said and slammed his gavel. Prior to its passage into law, the bill had passed through first and second readings on the floor of the Senate and was properly scrutinized at a well-attended public hearing before it then passed the crucial third reading on the floor of the Senate, after earning the endorsements of overwhelming majority of senators and members of the public. The bill was eventually passed after consideration of the report of the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFUND. “My identification of education as a key priority was deliberate. Like I have said elsewhere, the immediate push and inspiration for me to take action in this crucial aspect of our being was Governor Nasir el-Rufai’s Education Revival Programme in Kaduna State.

His holistic approach to reviving education has been widely acclaimed. Kaduna State has become a model of educational reform. I will never waver in following in the footsteps of our dear Governor. I am committed to doing all that is needed to ensure a better future for

our children through education,” an elated Senator Uba Sani said when he received in his office in Abuja, key stakeholders from Giwa Local Government Area who visited him to show their appreciation for sponsoring and ensuring the speedy passage of the bill for an act to Establish a Federal College of Education in Giwa.

Led by the Chairman of Giwa Local Government Area, Hon. Abubakar Shehu, the delegation, also comprised such notable personalities as the member representing the Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Shehu Balarabe Bakauye (Birnin Gwari/Giwa Fed. Constituency), the Chairman, All Progressives Congress (APC), Giwa Local Government, Alh. Ibrahim Musa, Kaduna State House of Assembly members: Hon. Yusuf Ibrahim and Hon. Rilwanu Gadagau, traditional rulers, religious scholars, ward councilors and executive members of the APC in Giwa Local Government Area. Members of the delegation were effusive in their commendation of Senator Uba Sani “for putting Giwa Local Government Area on the national map of education and for making the revitalization of education a key priority.”

Back home in Kaduna State, especially in Giwa and neighbouring communities of Katangi, Kadaga, Kidandan, Yakawada, Shika, Pan Hauya, Galadimawa and Idasu, the people were jubilant when news filtered in that the largely agrarian local government area would now host a Federal College of Education. “We are very grateful to Senator Uba Sani. What he has done will impact on the well-being of this local government on so many fronts,” Mr. Idris Azeez, a secondary school teacher in Giwa enthused.

Barely a week after this landmark achievement, Senator Uba Sani was once again the cynosure of all eyes on the floor of the Senate as he scored another big one.

On Thursday, 23 July 2020, Senator Uba Sani

paved the way for the long over-due reinvention of the banking and financial services sector in Nigeria as his bill for an act to Repeal the Banks and Other Financial Institutions Act 2004 and to re-enact the Banks and Other Financial Institutions Act and Other Matters Connected Therewith 2020 was passed into law by the Senate.

The passage of this crucial bill which was cosponsored by Senator Betty Apiafi (Rivers State) was after it went through the mandatory first and second readings on the floor of the Senate.

The bill also was subjected to public scrutiny where all concerned persons, especially critical stakeholders in the nation’s financial sector made contributions at a well-attended public hearing. Thereafter, the task of convincing the very profound senators to have the bill read a third time and passed into law, once again, fell on the shoulders of one of the nation’s youngest senator, Uba Sani. And he rose to the challenge, after all, it was his bill and he has firm and deep understanding of the nation’s financial sector. After a robust submission to the Senate for the consideration of the report by the Senate Committee on Banking, Insurance and Other Financial Institutions which Uba Sani chairs, the senators were swayed. The report recalled that the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria at its sitting on Thursday, 27th February, 2020 read for the second time the Banks and Other Financial Institutions Act, Cap, B3, LFN, 2004 Repeal and Re-enactment Bill, 2020 and referred same to the Committee on Banking, Insurance and Other Financial Institutions for further legislative action.

The report detailed the objectives of the bill, the methodology adopted by the committee in carrying out its assignment, especially the highly successful public hearing which recorded impressive attendance by key stakeholders, and the updated recommendations of the committee. The committee, after a painstaking evaluation and analysis of submis-

sions, observations and the preponderance of views expressed in support of the proposed legislation recommended “That the Senate do approve the attached recommendations of the Senate Committee on Banking, Insurance and Other Financial Institutions on a Bill for an Act to Repeal the Banks and Other Financial Institutions Act, CAP, B3, LFN, 2004 and Reenact the Banks and Other Financial Institutions Act, 2020.”

In a nutshell, the bill seeks to update the laws governing banks, financial institutions and financial services; enhance efficiency in the process of obtaining and/or granting of banking licenses; impose stiffer penalties for regulatory breaches in the financial services industry and also regulate the activities of Financial Technology Companies (FINTECHs).

Impressed by the submission of Senator Uba Sani, the President of the Senate, Senator Ahmed Lawan proceeded to put it to vote and demanded if it was the wish of the Senate that the bill be read for the third time and passed into law. It was a unanimous “yes” from all the senators. The third reading was promptly taken and the President of the Senate sealed it with the slamming of his gavel. And in the fine tradition of the Senate, the President of the Senate proceeded to, on behalf of the Senate, approve that Senator Uba Sani’s prayers: “That the Senate do approve the attached recommendations of the Senate Committee on Banking, Insurance and Other Financial Institutions on a Bill for an Act to Repeal the Banks and Other Financial Institutions Act, CAP, B3, LFN, 2004 and Re-enact the Banks and Other Financial Institutions Act, 2020,” be granted. The bill was read a third time and passed into law. For the second time in two weeks, the President of the Senate commended the dexterity of Senator Uba Sani. r.VTB B TPDJPMPHJTU XSPUF GSPN (JXB -PDBM (PWFSONFOU "SFB PG ,BEVOB 4UBUF

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T H I S D AY Ëž Ëœ Í°ÍśËœ Í°ÍŽÍ°ÍŽ

EDITORIAL

THE CHALLENGE OF HUMANITARIAN MANAGEMENT The ministry needs help to get along. But issues of transparency should be addressed

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o mark this year’s World Humanitarian Day, the minister of humanitarian affairs, disaster management and social development, Hajiya Sadiya Umar-Farouq, hosted a virtual press conference during which she restated Nigeria’s commitment to ensuring a coordinated approach to humanitarian response. The minister used the event which coincided with the first anniversary of the creation of the ministry to crow about her successful interventions. She said the ministry is providing some safety nets for the poor and vulnerable of our society.

Not everybody agrees with that. Many Nigerians hold the view that the humanitarian resources provided the ministry are not being effectively deployed for their intended purposes. The leadership of the National Assembly had, for instance, during the total EVEN AS THE MINISTRY lockdown due to TRIES TO PROVIDE Covid-19 in April, LEADERSHIP AND expressed disDIRECTION ON satisfaction with the manner the HUMANITARIAN CRISIS, Social Investment FAROUQ AND HER TEAM Programme was COULD ONLY SCRATCH being run, arguTHE SURFACE OF THE ing that many of MOUNTAIN OF PROBLEMS the “poorest of the poor� were left out by the guidelines set by the ministry.

But this was even mild vis-a-vis accusations of its skirting the boundaries of transparency and accountability. Others were critical of the verification and the skewed distribution pattern of the palliatives meant to cushion the impact of the lockdown particularly on societal poor.

And like the leadership of the National Assembly, many responded with furrowed brows when the minister said that any Nigerian that recharges phone with more than N100 airtime “cannot be said to be poor�.

However, in spite of the daunting task and

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FANI-KAYODE’S ATTACK ON JOURNALIST

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former Minister of Aviation, Mr Femi Fani-Kayode, has appeared in a viral video where he insulted a journalist that he’s a Nigerian elite who cannot take a quarter of what they do to others. As a matter of that, that was the least I expected from a person like him.

On different occasions, he had criticized harshly the Buhari-led administration. Three months ago, he said Buhari had come to kill, steal and destroy.

This was a time the country was relentlessly fighting Boko Haram and other defiant sects that have been kneeling on Nigeria’s neck for some years now. However, despite how heavy his imputations were, the president didn’t insult or manhunt him.

The Daily Trust Reporter, Eyo Charles, had asked Mr Fani-Kayode a very simple and direct question at a press briefing in Cross River State.

Charles must’ve been expecting a succinct answer in return but instead, the former minister went the way of hubris. He hurled insults at him as if it was more than the question he asked: “Who is bankrolling your tour?�.

Fani-Kayode railed: “Do you know who you are talking to? What type of insulting question is that? Which bankroll, to do what? Who can give me money for anything? Who do you think you are talking to? Go and report yourself to your

the increasing hazardous environment, the ministry, in its little way, is providing leadership and direction to many of its agencies in services of the poor and needy. Through the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the N-Power, Home Grown School Feeding, and the Conditional Cash Transfer and others, the ministry is attending to the needs of the vulnerable groups within the resources available to it.

The N- Power, for instance, has impacted on the lives of hundreds of thousands of Nigerians by providing employment and creating wealth for a critical mass of young Nigerians. UmarFarouq said recently that some 500,000 graduates have benefitted from the programme since 2016, while about 100,000 beneficiaries have gone on to set up businesses in their communities. The Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme (GEEP) has continued to provide incremental loans to traders, artisans, agricultural workers and others under TraderMoni, MarketMoni and FarmerMoni. In the reckoning of the special assistant to the High Commissioner for the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI), Sadiq Abdullateef, the ministry had done well in meeting humanitarian needs.

Even as the ministry tries to provide leadership and direction on humanitarian crisis, Farouq and her team could only scratch the surface of the mountain of problems. But the question now is no longer about the relevance of the ministry, but how to strengthen it to cope with the ever-increasing responsibilities heaped on it. Only last week, the United Nations Mission in Nigeria warned that over 10.6 million people in the North-eastern states of Borno, Adamawa and Yobe are in dire need of humanitarian assistance as they risk hunger and destitution due to fallouts of the Covid-19 pandemic. That is another call to duty. For all that and more, the ministry needs all the help.

But the issues of transparency and accountability are of utmost importance. That is one area the minister must address quickly.

publisher. I could see from your face before you got here, how stupid you are? Don’t ever talk to me like that. Who do you think you’re talking to?

Bankroll who? You think I am one of those ones you‌ from who, when, how? You have a small mind, very small mind....�.

While Fani-Kayode was barking, Charles and other reporters on ground were begging him as if the question he asked was out of context. I guess that was what made him continue reeling out the unproductive history of when he started politics.

What’s bad in asking a politician who wasn’t in power, who is bankrolling his tours to the PDP states he visited for inspection? Absolutely nothing.

The pride in him couldn’t let him see beyond.

Had it been all the reporters walked out while he was assaulting Mr Eyo, next time, he would learn how to control his anger and deflate his hubris when similar thing happens in the future. But now, he will not know the worth of what he did. That brings me to the issue of brown envelope.

Undoubtedly, journalism is a beautiful profession with an unmatched ethics. If I’m correct, it abhors the collection of brown envelope from news sources.

Nigerian journalists should embrace this virtuous ethics as it will help shut Fani-Kayode’s ilk in the future. r"SFNV -VLNBO 6NPS -BHPT

THE BEST AND WORST

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n Australian mass murderer, whose name should never be mentioned again, has been sentenced to life without hope of parole in New Zealand. His guilt was never doubted as he had livestreamed his murder of 51 people and the attempted murder of another 40 people as he shot his way through two Mosques in the city of Christchurch.

From this great tragedy came stories of heroics, as often does in times of need, but no matter what level of courage a person shows, there is no hope against an AR15 Semi-automatic rifle at point blank range although this action allowed others to escape to safety. The murderer arrived with six high power guns and surely no one could argue that was needed to protect his family.

This time of sadness offered insights on the nature of humanity with the evil of one greatly overridden by the strength of faith of the families, many of whom showed not hatred but forgiveness.

Anger would be the expected response but so many were tempered by their better nature. What the murderer did not understand was that the differences between people is what makes the world a better place.

It is often said that tragedies bring people together but why is it at so great a cost? r%FOOJT 'JU[HFSBME .FMCPVSOF "VTUSBMJB

T H I S D AY ˾ FRIDAY AUGUST 28, 2020

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POLITICS

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

Ugwuanyi and the Enduring Peace in Enugu Twenty nine years after the creation of Enugu State, Louis Amoke, Chief Press Secretary to Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi emphasizes that safety of lives and property in the state is a top priority of the current administration

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uring the recent inauguration of a Bailey bridge across Nyama River, linking communities in Enugu South Local Government Area of Enugu State, by Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, the former Governor of old Anambra State and Senator who represented Enugu East Senatorial District, Sen. Jim Ifeanyichukwu Nwobodo, utilized the heart-warming occasion to bare his mind on the existing peace in the state.

Nwobodo, who said that Ugwuanyi has wiped away his tears by constructing the bridge for his community after decades of neglect, disclosed that one of the greatest achievements of the governor’s administration is the existing peace in the state, which he said has brought security and rapid development, especially in the rural areas.

The deeply touched elder statesman said, “Since 1999, I have never been to Enugu and stayed more than two weeks. But since this governor came, I have been in Enugu for the past six months because of the peace he (Ugwuanyi) has entrenched.

Thank you for this great honour you have done to me. I thank you for wiping away my tears.”

Nwobodo’s telling observation, genuine expression of gratitude and sincere assessment of the birthing of an enduring peace in Enugu State present a compelling opportunity to reflect on and appreciate the governor’s untiring efforts, resilience and sacrifice in ensuring sustainable peace and good governance in the state.

In Enugu State today, there is an existing cordial working relationship among the three arms of government. There is also a cordial government-labour relationship. This was responsible for the recent peaceful negotiation and payment of the new minimum wage without rancour or industrial action, for the first time in the history of the state - a rare experience which the state workers have continued to commend Gov. Ugwuanyi for.

Besides Sen. Nwobodo, other prominent personalities in the state, from all walks of life, have also favourably assessed the governor’s uncommon leadership qualities anchored on peace and good governance.

Former President of the Senate, Sen. Ken Nnamani, Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo, Sen. Dr. Chimaroke Nnamani, Sen. Ike Ekweremadu, Sen. Hyde Onuaguluchi, Archbishop Emmanuel Chukwuma, Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka, Ambassador (Mrs.) Justina Eze and a host of others, had eulogized Gov. Ugwuanyi for providing the platform for unity, peace and a harmonious existence.

For instance, during the grand finale of the governor’s door-to-door campaign, held at Udenu LGA, ahead of his reelection in 2019, some of these stakeholders commended him for entrenching peace, tranquility and good governance, in a manner that has never been experienced previously in the history of the state.

They described Ugwuanyi as a man of history, expressing delight that he has united everybody in the state, irrespective of political leaning. The leaders told him that the culture of peace and good governance he has entrenched in the state was unprecedented and will earn him a landslide victory at the polls.

While Ekweremadu disclosed that “there is no bickering or quarrels among the political leaders in the state”, Sen. Nwobodo, who described Gov. Ugwuanyi as a son, thanked him “for bringing everybody together”.

According to Onuaguluchi, “Gov. Ugwuanyi has brought uncommon peace to the state” and “all of us have come to learn from Gburugburu [the governor]”.

Amb. (Mrs.) Eze joined the chorus in

elucidating what the governor’s peace initiative means to the political stability and rapid development of the state.

At the state government’s reception for the Nigerian Ambassador to Republic of India with Concurrent Accreditation to

Bangladesh and Nepal, Major General Chris Sunday Eze (rtd) in respect of his appointment, the former President of the Senate and a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Sen. Ken Nnamani, also applauded Gov. Ugwuanyi for

An Iconic Grammarian Goes Home Folorunsho Folarin-Coker,DirectorGeneraloftheNigeriaTourism DevelopmentCorporationdevotesamemorialtohislatefather, Chief NathanielFolarinCoker,theBabaetoofLagos,whichfocuses onhisspeciallove forhisalmamater,CMSGrammarSchool,thefirstsecondaryschoolinNigeria

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onsidering that Elderman Folarin Coker graduated from the CMS Grammar School in 1941 several decades before I was born, I feel deeply humbled, honoured and highly privileged to have shared the Grammar School heritage with him and to write this tribute in his honour.

He was an illustrious, devoted, committed and prominent Old Grammarian and Senior Prefect 1941 set.

His contributions to the development of the Old Grammarians Society and CMS Grammar School are legendary and iconic.He lived up to the words and ideals of our great school song.

It will be difficult for us to consign to the dungheap of history, the worthy contributions of Elderman Coker to the life of the school and OGS. In 2010, he inspired, conceived and donated the Bishop Seth Irunsewe Kale Memorial Tower Clock, a Chiming Tower Clock one of the firsts in designed style in black Africa and similar to the historic Big Ben Tower Clock in Central London, UK customized to chime every one hour with the first stanza of the School Song as its signature tune, which exhorts everyone, particularlystudents of the school, to burn brightly.

When He turned 90 in 2013, as a veteran state swimmer, he initiated and bequeathed a Swimming Academy inclusive of state-of-the-art Olympic Size Swimming Pool, by that gesture CMS Grammar School became the first and only legacy school in Nigeria to

have a Swimming Academy. He gave and gave. He was a kind, mild and generous genius. Even in his nineties, he never missed any Founder’s Day thanksgiving. Such was his passion for his almamater.

For his sterling contributions to the school and OGS, he was honoured with the OGS Distinguished Lifetime Achievement Award in 2015. He was simply a sensation! Nevertheless, we know by His Grace, the beam in the legacy he left behind will continue to burn brightly ever in the spirit of the wordings of the CMS Grammar School song.

The late Coker who lived between July 23, 1923 and August 12, 2020 was an astute bureaucrat and served his home state, Lagos as a Permanent Secretary.

He was a recipient of the National Honour, Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON).

In a tribute, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu recalled that Coker, “served Lagos meritoriously as a public servant in various capacities.”

He served Lagos State as Permanent Secretary in various ministries such as Education; Youth, Sports and Social Development, Trade, Mines and Natural Resources as well as the Ministry of Information and Tourism.

The late Folarin Coker lived a good life and was a very lively personality, an attribute that commended him to many as a socialite and earned him the title, Babaeto of Lagos.

demonstrating political maturity by creating an ambience of peace and tranquility in the state where everybody is accorded his or her due respect.

On another occasion, the former Governor of old Enugu State, Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo, said that “Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi has done remarkably well in the area of keeping the peace in Enugu State”, adding that “this is the first time, since the current republic, a regime has provided peace within the ruling party and across party line”.

Presenting his verdict on Gov. Ugwuanyi, Sen. Dr. Chimaroke Nnamani, a former Governor of the state, opined that “his [Ugwuanyi’s] administration has prioritized justice and fairness to all, peace, security and prosperity to our people, economic empowerment and infrastructural renewal”.

Sen. Nnamani emphasized that the governor “scores impressively high on peace, security, rural development, urban renewal, political inclusiveness and forbearance, improvements in healthcare and basic education, industrial harmony as well as a workforce motivated by prompt payment of salaries and other incentives.”

On his part, the Archbishop of Enugu Ecclesiastical Province (Anglican Communion), Most Rev. Dr. Emmanuel Chukwuma, while baring his mind on Gov. Ugwuanyi’s penchant for peace, said: “In Enugu State, we have experienced peace and the era where people have political enmity and others, have all gone.

Everybody is happy, the traders are happy, there is sympathy, there is concern, and there is respect for everybody, irrespective of class, religious or political affiliation”.

During a special post-election Thanksgiving Mass at the Adoration Ministry Enugu Nigeria (AMEN), the Spiritual Director of the Ministry, Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka, described Gov. Ugwuanyi as a rare, God-fearing leader who has continued to lead the state on the path of peace and good governance with uncommon zeal, passion and humility, even after his re-election to office.

The cleric therefore commended the governor for continuing with his massive infrastructural development projects across the state as well as other remarkable achievements such as workers’ welfare.

He equally lauded Gov. Ugwuanyi for his humility, passion for the wellbeing of the people, especially the poor “and kind-heartedness for being a father to his people”.

Prior to that, Rev. Fr. Mbaka, had during Gov. Ugwuanyi’s Thanksgiving Mass for his victory at the Supreme Court, poured encomium on the governor, describing him as “an epitome of peace; an outstanding leader, a sanctuary of conflict resolution and model for rural and urban development”, stressing that this is the first time since he became a priest, that the state is experiencing peace.

As Enugu State clocks 29, soaring in peace and good governance, the message is clear: that Gov. Ugwuanyi’s uncommon leadership style has kept faith with the dreams and aspirations of the state‘s founding fathers.

This aligns with the stance of former Secretary-General and now PresidentGeneral of Enugu State Development Association (ESDA), Chief Enechi Onyia, who had identified the promotion of the principles of love, unity and peace among the political, religious and traditional institutions, as one of the cardinal dreams and aspirations of the founding fathers of Enugu State.

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

T H I S D AY ˾ FRIDAY AUGUST 28, 2020

17

PERSPECTIVE VIEW FROM

AMERICA

chido@usafricaonline.com @Chido247

Memorial To My Brother, Frank Okonta

On the first anniversary of the demise of Chief Frank Okonta, an arts and sports patron, his bosom friend, Moses Ekpo, Deputy Governor of Akwa Ibom State Chido Nwangwu, Founder of USAfricaomline.com writes a moving tribute expresses concerns that Nigeria is yet to publicise “Your glory, O Israel, lies slain upon your protocols ahead of resumption of international travels high places!

Pandemic, Protocols and People

“B

reaking: Regret to announce that the international flight resumption earlier scheduled to resume on 29th August has been shifted to 5th September 2020” That’s The latest decision by Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Aviation announced late yesterday Thursday August 27, 2020 via its Twitter handle.

Interestingly, only almost two weeks ago the Aviation Minister announced also on Twitter that Tomorrow Saturday, August 29, 2020, Nigeria had scheduled to re-open its two major airports, in Lagos and Abuja for international flights.

Nigerians are among the most traveled population across the world — in search of opportunities and prospects for business and professional development of human capacities.

First, in an understandable push for safety and life, the Nigerian government like most governments in the world, closed or suspended aspects of domestic economic activities and also closed international travels to and from the country.

It is important to note that the Nigerian government promised to release some protocols regarding the opening of the two airports. At the time of my writing, Thousands of international travelers into or from Nigeria had not seen any protocols released by the aviation ministry.

Such uncertainty and last minute approach have created concerns, legitimately, for those who intend to come to Nigeria.

Second, the combined implications and impact of those necessary actions left serious and unsettling drag on the entire economic direction of the country. The coronavirus has pushed many countries into recession. Therefore, the reality of the coronavirus and its long-term consequences have become known to many.

Especially, in the developed countries in the United States of America, Europe and some parts of Africa. The number of deaths recorded (and I put emphasis on the word recorded) remain astonishingly very high! Imagine the numbers in the United States from the Democratic Party vice presidential nominee Senator Kamala Harris. She said that one American dies every 80 seconds from the coronavirus!!

Third, is the fact that COVID-19 has become part of the ecology of life and living.

Therefore there is a high need to follow the guidelines from your country’s center for disease control and other responsible protocols for personal hygiene. The refusal of the President of the United States to wear masks regularly, as a responsible signal to the rest of the country and the World is, to say the very least, astonishing!

Lessons from Kenya President Uhuru Kenyatta does not want to take any chances regarding the spread of the coronavirus in the east African country. The chain-smoking son of the former leader of the country has extended the night curfew and ban of alcohol sales in restaurants as part of a bid to curb the spread of Covid-19.

In an address to the nation on Wednesday, he said “In the next 30 days, I’ve also directed that the Ministry of Health

in conjunction with all bar owners will develop self-regulating mechanisms as part of their civic responsibility to their clientele in order to allow their resumption.“ The total number of confirmed infections across the country to 33,016 and the total number of deaths are 564. 19,296 people recovered from the virus.

I believe that a number of countries will benefit from the method and focused approach of Kenyatta issued during the eleventh presidential address on Covid-19 pandemic, as highlighted by the Nation of Kenya.

One, the Cabinet Secretary for Interior and Coordination of National Government in conjunction with the chairperson of the Council of Governors, shall, in three weeks, convene an inclusive national consultative conference to review our national and county Covid response and together with all stakeholders, chart Kenya’s post-covid future.

Two, that the closure of bars and nightclubs is continued for a further 30 days. However, the prohibition against the sale of alcohol by licensed hotels with residence is vacated. In the next 30 days, bar owners, in consultation with the Ministry of Health will develop selfregulating mechanisms as part of their civic responsibility to their clientele, in order to allow their resumption.

Three, that the closing time for restaurants and eateries be and is hereby varied by one hour from 7pm to 8pm, effective August 27, 2020.

Four, in accordance with the recommendations of the Inter-Faith Council, the maximum number of persons permitted to attend funerals and weddings is reviewed upwards to 100, with all in attendance abiding with Ministry of Health Protocols.

Five, the ban on the sale of second-hand clothing, otherwise known as ‘mitumba’, is herewith lifted. Details of how this will operated and the protocols for the same will be announced by the government tomorrow (Thursday).

Six, that the Ministry of Sports, Culture and Heritage and the Ministry of Health will jointly issue guidelines on the gradual resumption of sporting events in Kenya.

Seven, that the nationwide curfew that is currently in force between the hours of 9pm and 4am daily, be and is hereby extended by a further 30 days.

Finally, I commend President Kenyatta for leading among the good examples of countries who took the challenge of the pandemic very seriously. Among those are the protective and preemptive actions of the countries of New Zealand and Australia. Unlike some leaders who recklessly prefer to bury their heads in the sand — just like the ostrich; forgetting that they their hairy behind is open for the whole world to see!

At the time of my writing, international travelers into or from Nigeria have not seen any protocols released by the Aviation Ministry. Such uncertainty and last minute approach have created concerns, legitimately, for those who intend to come to Nigeria. The combined implications and impact of those necessary actions left serious and unsettling drag on the entire economic direction of the country. The coronavirus has pushed many countries into recession

How the mighty has fallen!

Tell it not in Gath, proclaim it not in the streets of Ashkelon; …I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan; greatly beloved you were to me ….”

(A dirge of King David to Jonathan the beloved as contained in II Samuel, Chapter 1: 19-26)

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f the epics of bosom friendship in history, that between David and Jonathan in the Bible would qualify as the most poignant given the circumstance of hard choice involved in its enactment – filial-tie was pitted against soul-tie, and the latter managed to gain ascendency over the former.

At the risk of invidiousness towards some of our very wonderful parents, siblings and other family members, the view may be canvassed here that as we get down to brass tacks, David and Jonathan are a proof-conclusive that “water may in fact be thicker than blood”. The supporting logic is that blood-bond results from the accident of birth, whereas the bond of friendship is a matter of the heart – something consciously contracted, with all its implications carefully weighed out.

But between me and Chief Francis Chukwuma Okonta, or Franki, as I used to call him, who passed on exactly a year ago, matters were simply out of the box. For us, blood was thick; water was also thick – he being at once my brother and friend; and, in equal measure, our friendship and brotherhood mutually feeding each other. And my experience with Frank enables me now to empathise with David when, as part of the above dirge for Jonathan, he makes the following confession: “Your love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women …”

My peregrinations in the service of fatherland had landed me in 1982 in Lagos, at that time the seat of the Federal Government of Nigeria. The exact place was the Federal Ministry of Information where I had been deployed from my previous post in Cross River State. Discomfiture and the other nuances associated with relocation would have been my lot had I not met Frank who by the design of providence started work at the Information Department in Ikoyi, at the same time as my own deployment there.

We soon struck a relationship! And over the years, the encounter yielded a union of “alter egos” – for Frank and I had done too many positive things together, formally and informally. On the informal side, our relationship deepened beyond the cosmopolitan “Lagos friendship” down to our respective roots in Ibusa and Abak. And as it is said in pidgin English, “me and Frank, we sabi ourselves reach village”.

In those breezy days of relative youthfulness, the unique whirlpool of Lagos life added to the rough and tumble of the Information beat to give a certain dreary edge to our lives together. The salve, however, came from the many recreation spots and other joints Frank and I frequented. But we made sure that Frank’s young family was adequately settled before our daily recreational adventures, considering that his wife was away at the Unversity, and that we had to fill in for her in many areas at the home front, including baby-sitting.

My wife was at her job in Calabar with our family.

Formally, Frank and I worked together to, amongst other things, contribute to the prestige of the Information Department.

We were the first to report for duty in the department and the last to leave, a novelty at that time in our office. In one very memorable instance Frank, in addition to his other duty schedule, voluntarily joined me in

my crucial assignment as Director of War Against Indiscipline (WAI), a programme which was conceived to bring discipline to our national life. It was in Ibadan where President Muhammadu Buhari, then as Head of State, was to inaugurate the WAI Brigade to launch the National Monthly Sanitation Exercise as part of the WAI programme.

As usual, Frank brought his Midas touch to bear on that campaign to awaken national consciousness on hygiene in the country. I remember vividly how we both strategized far into the night of Monday, the 26th of August, 1985. We were dusting up the programme for the following day’s countrywide exercise to select the cleanest city in the country.

For the two of us, expectation was high; excitement was fever pitch, and we were soon to pull through a feat of national significance, perhaps in the process writing our names in gold. But as they say, there is many a slip ‘twixt the cup and the lip.

Suddenly, we felt our happy bubbles burst in our grasp – alas, the Babangida coup had struck in the early hours of the following day. Of course, the planned exercise was aborted, and with it, the entire WAI crusade!

But for the soulmates of Frank and Moses, the odyssey in friendship brooked no drawback, and the governing credo was “never say die!” A few years afterward, I was recalled home to Nigeria from the foreign information service to establish the Copyright Commission in Iganmu, Lagos; then to the former Cross River State as Commissioner of Information, Culture and Social Welfare; and subsequently that of Information in my newly created state of Akwa Ibom. Trust Frank, he was right on the spot at both locations with me to share in the euphoria and participate in the launch of the Akwa Ibom State-owned newspaper, The Pioneer, in the oil-rich city of Eket.

My sojourn in the Diplomatic service, National Population Commission, and even in my present job as Deputy Governor, all got spiced up by Frank who defied whatever distance it was that separated us in order to make himself personally available to be with me from time to time in London, Washington DC and other locations. In the text he sent to me upon my becoming Deputy Governor in 2015, he took ownership of that accomplishment in a way that only he could have done.

Thus, when I received the sad news of his passage last year, I knew for sure that the stellar heavens had just shed one of its brightest stars; and that I, as a person, had lost a loyal friend, a brother, a sincere companion and compatriot – someone who genuinely “rekindled the inner spirit” in me.

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

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FRIDAY AUGUST 28, 2020 •T H I S D AY

FRIDAY AUGUST 28, 2020 • T H I S D AY

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T H I S D AY ˾ AUGUST 28, 2020

BUSINESSWORLD R A T E S MONEY MARKET OBB OVERNIGHT

A S

A T

REPO 2% 2.63 %

CALL 1-MONTH 3-MONTH

1.75 % 2.50 % 3.50 %

A U G U S T S & P INDEX INDEX LEVEL 1-DAY MONTH-TO-DATE

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

2 1 , 2 0 2 0

588.62 % -0.61 % -4.16 %

S & P INDEX 1/4 TO DATE 4.58 % YEAR TO DATE 22.33 %

EXCHANGE RATE N381/1US DOLLAR* ̩

Quick Takes AIB Spends $1m on Training

SPECIAL RECOGNITION

L-R: National Treasurer, Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN),Mr. Dele Alabi; First Vice President/Chairman, Board of Fellows/Practice Licence, Dr. Ken Opara; Awardee/ Founder and Pioneer MD/CEO, GTBank Plc, Mr. Fola Adeola; President/ Chairman of Council, CIBN, Mr. Bayo Olugbemi; Second Vice President, Prof Deji Olanrewaju, and Registrar/CEO, Mr. Seye Awojobi, during the conferment of honorary fellowship on Adeola in Lagos...recently PHOTO: ETOP UKUTT

FAAN Losses N18.9bn in Six Months Chinedu Eze The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) said it lost N18.9 billion revenue in six months as a result of the Covid-19-induced lockdown.

This was disclosed by the Managing Director/Chief Executive of FAAN, Captain Rabiu Yadudu ,who regretted that pandemic has had the most devastating effect on the aviation industry globally. But he assured Nigerians that the agency has prepared the airports for domestic and international flight operations, abiding by the protocols and maintaining high safety and security status despite the loss of huge revenues during the period.

The FAAN boss stressed that the impact of the virus would be felt in the aviation industry till 2024, as had been projected

by Airport Council International

AVIATION (ACI).

Precisely, Yadudu said FAAN suffered a 90 per cent revenue loss in the last six months, predicting that he agency would suffer further reduction in revenue for the next few years.

“FAAN which depends greatly on the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) has suffered over 90 per cent revenue loss in the last six months and will suffer this reduction in revenue for the next few years up to when the global travel returns to the pre-COVID level.

“To make matters worse, the ACI has forecast that recovery to pre COVID-19 (2019 level) could take up to the end of 2023 or 2024,” he said.

Yadudu, explained that even during the lock down, FAAN

kept the airports open and was involved in evacuation flight arrangements across the airports, which made the Authority incur cost on maintenance and utilities despite the total decline in traffic as well as revenue.

“In spite of the drastic drop in revenue, as at date, FAAN has managed to ensure that all her local airports have commenced domestic operations having met the requirements by Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19, NCAA and other regulatory bodies and have been issued clearance to reopen,” he added.

The Director of Finance and Accounts (FDA), FAAN, Mrs. Nike Aboderin, explained that for the agency to survive the immediate future, it has to boost its revenue base, exploit both aeronautical and non-aeronautical sources, close loopholes by automating its system and increase some of

the charges for the service it renders to airlines, passengers and other airport users.

She disclosed that the agency lost N17.5 billion from aeronautic revenue alone in the past 23 weeks, due to the pandemic and explained that FAAN generates revenue from the existing airports, especially the federal government-owned aerodromes.

In all, FAAN lost 92 per cent of revenue from aeronautic and non-aeronautic sources from April 2020 till date.

Giving a breakdown, Aboderin further explained that only 8.8 per cent of its non-aeronautic revenue were recovered from April till date, when compared to the same period in 2019.

On the impending increase on the Passenger Service Charge (PSC) from $50 to $100 for Continued on page 20

Vehicle Importation: FG Urged to Review Customs’ Valuation Method Eromosele Abiodun Customs agents in the country have called on the federal government to urgently review the valuation method on imported vehicles in line with customs law and articles VII of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) General Agreement of Tariff and Trade (GATT) domesticated under Customs and Excise Management (Amendment) Act 20 of 2003.

The agents stated this in a petition to President Muhammadu Buhari, signed by the President, National Council of Managing Directors of Licensed Customs Agents (NCMDLCA), Lucky Amiwero.

They stressed that the present motor vehicle data base that is in use, has not been reviewed since its inception and not been subject to adjustment in line with legal and commercial

MARITIME realities of international pricing on motor vehicles.

The agents in the petition stated: “The present Motor vehicle Data base that is ExFactory price is a component of Brussels Definition of Value (BDV) , which is not in agreement with the provision of Customs and Excise Management (Amendment ) Act, that is based on purchase price (Negotiated price with a buyer and seller) of Motor Vehicles.

“The present ex-factory price has no negotiated component as purchase price, which is the transaction value by the Importer, it lacks the legal process in the criteria as contained in the treatment of motor vehicle of paragraph 1-6 of Customs and Excise

Management (Amendment) Act 20 of 2003 and cannot be used but reviewed to contain features of the element of Transaction / purchase pricing on Motor vehicles.”

In a separate petition to the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Col. Hameed Ali (rtd), the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) said freight forwarders are confused and constrained as to what laws are subsistence and most applicable to vehicle imports valuation determination and treatment within the Customs ports.

“It is noted that vehicle importation for specific administrative practices is not meted with same treatment to general goods as obtained under the Value of Imported Goods (CEMA CAP45, Section

45 2003 No.20 of First Schedule).

“The above reference section or schedule under Cap 45 is the domesticated version of the section 20 of the Agreed Customs Valuation (ACV - 20) which is enshrined in the WTO GATT 94. The ACV clearly states the applicable methods, procedures and parameters for considerations in determining value of imported goods (which is a general application),”they said.

They added that as professional freight forwarding associations, they have grouse about the local application of this section in relation to valuation principles and treatments.

“May we posit here sir, that unfolding events within the Customs ports, especially as it relates to challenges occasioned by high-handedness

The Accident Investigation Bureau, Nigeria (AIB-N) has disclosed that it expendedabout$1milliononthetrainingandretrainingofitsinvestigatorsin 2019.TheBureauhasalsotrained10investigatorsontheuseofUnmanned AerialVehicle(UAV),popularlyreferredtoasdrone,inabidtoensuredata accuracyandenhancementofaccidentinvestigationbytheagency.

Speaking recently at the closing ceremony of the Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) training for investigators, held at University of Lagos(UNILAG)Consult,Olaterusaidtheagencywouldnotrelentonits efforts to enhance capacity building, not just for the industry, but for the countryatlarge.

Olateru explained that in 2019 alone, the AIB trained its investigators in the United Kingdom, United States and several other countries around the world and vowed that the management would continue to invest in humancapacityinordertoincreasethesafetyoftheairspace.

Henotedthatsincethecurrentmanagementcameonboardafewyears ago,theyhaveraisedtheprofileofAIBfromasleepingagencytoamore vibrantone,notingthatmanagementhadalsoimprovedtheequipment, infrastructure,trainingandwelfareforstaff,whileithadanewCondition ofService(CoS)approvedforitsstaff.

OlateruhintedthatthetrainingwastheNigerianCivilAviationAuthority (NCAA)approvedRPAStrainingaccordingtotheadvisorycircularGADAC-002B,whichhasbeenformedinlinewiththeInternationalCivilAviation Organisation (ICAO) RPAS Operations Document 10019, Section 8.4.31 internationally and the NCAA General advisory GAD-AC-002 Section 4.7/AppendixE29locally.

HesaidthedocumentwascurrentlyunderextensivereviewbyNCAA. Olateruemphasisedthatdronetechnologyhasbecomecriticaltomodern aircraftaccidentinvestigation,listingitsbenefitstoincludefirstresponder capability, on-time post-crash site preservation capability, gathering, preservationandanalysisofcrashsiteevidence,3Dmodellingcapabilityand accurateandcompletewreckagediagramthroughsitemappingcapability.

IATA Insists on Facemask for Travellers

TheInternationalAirTransportAssociation(IATA)hasappealedtoalltravelers to wear facemasks while travelling for the safety of all passengers and crew.WearingfacecoveringsisakeyrecommendationoftheInternational Civil Aviation Organisation’s (ICAO) guidance for safe operations during the pandemic, as developed jointly with the World Health Organisation andgovernments.

IATA,therefore,emphasisedtheneedforpassengerstocomplywiththe recommendationfollowingrecentreportsoftravelersrefusingtowear afacecoveringduringaflight.

“Thisisacallforcommonsenseandtakingresponsibility.Thevastmajorityof travelersunderstandtheimportanceoffacecoveringbothforthemselves aswellasfortheirfellowpassengers,andairlinesappreciatethiscollective effort.Butasmallminoritycreatesproblems.

“Safetyisatthecoreofaviation,andcompliancewithcrewsafetyinstructions isthelaw.Failuretocomplycanjeopardiseaflight’ssafety,disruptthetravel experience of other passengers and impact the work environment for crew,”saidAlexandredeJuniac,IATA’sDirectorGeneralandCEO. Theworldbodysaidplaneticketisacontractunderwhichthepassenger agreestotheairline’stermsandConditionsofCarriage.Thoseconditions canincludetheairline’srighttorefusecarriagetoapersonwhosebehavior interfereswithaflight,violatesgovernmentregulationsorcausesother passengerstofeelunsafe. Airlinesalsohighlighttheneedtowearaface coveringduringthebookingprocess,atcheck-in,atthegateandinonboard announcements.

Virgin Offers COVID-19 Insurance Cover

Virgin Atlantic customers can book with confidence this year with the introduction of free COVID-19 insurance cover on all new and existing bookings.

The policy, which applies automatically to all flights booked with Virgin Atlantic,wasdesignedtocomplementexistingtravelinsuranceandprovide additionalpeaceofmindforupcomingtrips,whethercustomersarealready bookedorplottingagetaway.

In the event that they or anyone else on their booking becomes ill with COVID-19whiletravelling,VirginAtlanticCOVID-19Coverensuresrelated costsarecovered,nomatterhowlongthetripisorevenifthey’revisiting another destination on the same overseas trip. The insurance policy is fulfilledbyAllianzAssistanceandcoversemergencymedicalandassociated expenseswhileabroadtotalling£500,000percustomer–thehighestvalue ofpolicyofferedbyanyairlinetodate,withnoexcesspaymentrequired.

“It is so important that we need to resolve legal issues concerning airport concession, and it is never too late for good senses to prevail” former Director General, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA),

Dr Harold Demuren Continued on page 20

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BUSINESSWORLD FAAN LOSSES N18.9BN IN SIX MONTHS international passengers, $80 from the initial $50 for flights into West African States and N2, 000 per passenger from N1, 000 for domestic flights, Aboderin emphasised that FAAN had considered all International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) recommendations before announcing the increase in charges.

She also said that while airlines in over a decade had adjusted airfares for travellers, the current charges had remained unchanged in more than 10 years and appealed to all stakeholders to cooperate with its plans. “The process for the increase started in 2017 and stakeholders were engaged. The COVID-19 crisis has made it very urgent to implement the long needed increase to support operations in the challenging time. “ICAO’S recommendation in Document 9562 provides that revenue generated by airports should be transparently reinvested wholly in operating airport facilities. “Despite this recommendation, the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) is increasing its direct deduction from FAAN to 40 per cent from next year, 2021. “With 40 per cent deduction, FAAN will have a shortfall of over N16 billion on overhead cost. Furthermore, there will be no funds to carry our any capital expenditure,� she said.

VEHICLE IMPORTATION: FG URGED TO REVIEW CUSTOMS’ VALUATION METHOD and frivolousness associated with vehicles valuation and clearance have prompted us to seek your intervention by way of proffering an official clarification and applicable interplay of the extant Customs and Excise Notice No.30 of December 6, 1991, which on page 173 specifically provides guidelines on the importation of used vehicles (tokunbo). “The notice stipulates that the basic price for all vehicles shall be the ex-factory price of the vehicle, excluding freight costs, pre-shipment, insurance charge, local duties and taxes or fees paid in the country of origin, expenses incurred for the purpose of obtaining for the local duties and levies as well as costs of registration overseas, “the agents added.

Group Business Editor

Obinna Chima

Capital Market Editor

ÙÎÎã Ă‘Ă?Ă˜Ă?

Comms/e-Business Editor

Ă—Ă—Ă‹ Ă•Ă™Ă˜Ă”Ă“ Senior Correspondent

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

Ă’Ă“Ă˜Ă?ĂŽĂ&#x; äĂ? (Aviation) ĂœĂ™Ă—Ă™Ă?Ă?Ă–Ă? ĂŒĂ“Ă™ĂŽĂ&#x;Ă˜ (Maritime) Ă‹Ă—Ă?Ă? Ă—Ă?ÔÙ (Finance) ĂŒĂ?ĂœĂ? åÙÔÓ (Insurance) Ă’Ă“Ă˜Ă?Ă—Ă? Ă•Ă‹Ă?Ă™Ăœ (Energy) Reporters

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

NEWS

‘Inter-agency Collaboration Surest Route to Maritime Security’ Stories by Eromosele Abiodun The Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Bashir Jamoh, has stressed the need for interagency collaboration to ensure Nigeria’s maritime security.

Jamoh, stated this when he visited the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Muhammed Babandede, in Abuja, with a declaration that teamwork was the surest means to security.

The visit, he stated, was part of the quest for cooperation among relevant government agencies in a bid to secure Nigeria’s maritime domain, Jamoh said the immigration service was a critical stakeholder in the security apparatus of the country.

He said the service was also key in the implementation of the Cabotage law, which seeks to empower Nigerians in the maritime sector.

He stated: “We need to interface and synergise to achieve our common goal of national security. Immigration is key to the success of the country’s maritime imperatives in many ways. Many of the criminal activities that take place in our waters emanate from land, and NIS is a very important element in any effort to nip such crimes in the bud.�

Jamoh added: “Collaboration with the NIS is crucial in the achievement of the objectives of the Cabotage Act. Such partnership will go a long way in reducing inter-agency conflicts that often arise from the overlap of functions. “There are provisions in the immigration law, for instance, that empower the NIS to grant work permits to expatriates, and some of these expatriates

work as seafarers. But, then, according to one of the four legs of the Cabotage regime, expatriates are not meant to man our ships, except where their expertise is needed for such operation. “And their services can only be engaged after a waiver has been granted by the exclusive permission of the Minister of Transportation.

To avoid any conflicts that may arise from a situation,

where, for instance, a seafarer had obtained a work permit from the immigration but is not qualified to function as a seafarer within the Nigerian maritime domain, collaboration between NIMASA and NIS is necessary. This will help to harmonise the seemingly overlapping laws and forestall unnecessary rancour or squabbling among officers of the two agencies.�

Jamoh said NIMASA cur-

rently enjoys such synergy with sister organisations, like the Nigerian Navy, Nigeria Police, and Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA). “So far, we have recorded tremendous successes in our various mandates through such collaboration. One of the most notable is the recent arrest of suspected pirates, which was made possible by information and intelligence sharing, �he said.

PROGRESS REPORT

L-R: Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu; Consultant to Ondo State on Maritime Matters/Managing Director of Amiable Consultancy, Ms. Aina Egharevba, and Lead Consultant, Ondo Deep Seaport project, Ekong Etim, when Akeredolu received the Outline Business Case (OBC) of the deep seaport project in Akure‌ recently

NIWA Inaugurates 36-seater Ferryboat in Kebbi The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) has inaugurated a 36-seater ferry boat at Yelwa - Yauri, Kebbi State.

Speaking at the unveiling of the boat, the Managing Director of NIWA, Dr. George Moghalu, acknowledged the support given to NIWA by the Yauri Emirate council in fulfilling its official responsibilities.

He thanked the Senator

representing the district, Senator Bala Ibn Na`Allah for his commitment and desire to create the enabling environment for water transportation to grow. “The importance of water transportation cannot be over emphasised for both facilitating the transportation of cargos and personnel in strengthening our economy and at the same time

exploring tourism potentials of water transportation. I am also appealing to the government of Kebbi State to encourage NIWA by assisting it to ensure companies, organizations and the public that are using NIWA`s Right of Ways which is one hundred metres perpendicular from the point of River must made to pay their legitimate fees,� he said.

In his speech, Na`Allah promised to bring more developments to his people as the ferry being commissioned is just the beginning as two more ferries are on their way coming, one from Lagos and the other from China.

He also said, in addition to the Jetties he has built before in the Area, he was also planning in conjunction with NIWA to

build a ferry terminal.

Earlier, the Managing Director of NIWA paid a courtesy call to the Emir of Yauri, during the visit the Emir raised three critical issues in the areas of litigations, clearing of water hyacinth/ removal of wrecks and the development of the Inland Waterways for the optimum benefit of his people.

Savannah Energy Records $17.8m Revenue Savannah Energy Plc, the British independent energy company has announced its unaudited preliminary results for the 2019 financial year.

The company in a statement said the numbers included approximately six weeks of operations in Nigeria, following the successful acquisition of Nigerian assets in November 2019, together with a financial and operational update for the first half of 2020.

The company said it recorded full year 2019 maiden revenues

of $17.8 million comprising $16.9 million of gas sales and $0.9 million of liquids sales.

It added that production from its Nigerian Assets for 2019 rose 32 per cent to 17.2 Kboepd from 13.0 Kboepd in 2018.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Savannah Energy, Andrew Knott said: “2019 was a pivotal year for our company. We completed the Nigerian asset acquisition in November 2019, which transformed Savannah into a highly cash flow generative full cycle energy company.

“Since acquiring the Nigerian assets, we have made significant strides in terms of operational and financial progress, as seen with the strong production figures and robust cash collections in the first half of 2020, further strengthened our leadership team and stand poised to capitalise on the numerous opportunities that our asset portfolio in Nigeria and Niger presents us with. “In the first half of 2020, cash collections from the Nigerian assets stood at $82.1 million compared to $55.3 million within

the same period in 2019. Average gross daily production, of which 89 per cent was gas, increased 18 per cent during the first half of 2020 to 21.3 Kboepd compared to 18.1 Kboepd in 2018.�

Savannah Energy said its operations in Nigeria have seen it make significant contribution to power supply in the country.�

It added: “Accugas’ customers achieved an all-time record peak contribution of 11.5 per cent of Nigeria’s electricity generation or 486MW on 23 May 2020, with the contributed electricity being

exclusively generated from Accugas sales gas. As announced on 31 January 2020, Accugas entered into the first new gas sales agreement for the business in over five years with First Independent Power Limited (FIPL), an affiliate company of the Sahara Group, for the provision of gas to the FIPL Afam Power Plant (FIPL Afam). Accugas is in the process of working with FIPL to validate the third-party infrastructure required to enable the commencement of gas sales under this contract.�

Group Commends Synergy among Maritime Agencies The recent synergy among the heads of Nigerian maritime agencies in their effort to eliminate friction and ensure ease of transactions will bring about the much-needed transformation in the sector if sustained, the Shipping Correspondents Association of Nigeria (SCAN) has said.

Concerned that jurisdictional overlap had been hampering the smooth implementation

of government policies, the heads of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), and National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) recently began a periodic meeting to harmonise operations. “Already, major issues such as maritime security, multi-modal

transportation and ports/cargo clearance issues, among others are receiving policy attention, and if implemented with due commitment, the hopes of making the nation’s ports the sub-regional hub would be realised soon,� SCAN noted in a statement by its president, Yusuf Babalola.

It also commended their roles in ensuring smooth port operations amid the Covid-19

pandemic after the federal government designated the seaports as essential service providers, which ensured the delivery of essential cargoes to importers and kept the economy steady, and the country running.

SCAN added: “While the NIMASA Director-General, Dr. Bashir Jamoh, continued with efforts to at improving maritime security, the NSC Executive Secretary, Hassan Bello, tackled

the challenges from shipping agencies and importers on one side, and terminal operators and clearing agents over clearance of cargoes on the other. “Likewise, the NPA Managing Director, Hadiza Bala-Usman, was frequently at the ports to ensure compliance with arrangements by the terminal operators, just as the Customs remained exceptionally vigilant and active during the period.�

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Siemens Supports Sustainable Devt Initiatives in Nigeria Stories by Chinedu Eze Siemens Nigeria has restated its commitment to supporting sustainable development in Nigeria through its Business to Society, (B2S) initiative.

Siemens said its support for sustainable development in Nigeria was driven by its Business to Society initiative which is focused on achieving societal, economic and environmental advancements areas such as economic development, environmental sustainability, developing local jobs and skills, providing value-adding innovation, improving quality of life and positive societal transformation.

Speaking about the initiative, CEO, Siemens Nigeria, Onyeche Tifase said, “Our Business to Society initiative represents the multi-dimensional ways we approach creating real value in the lives of Nigerians and Nigerian communities. “At Siemens, we appreciate how critical it is for businesses to impact on their stakeholders and society in a positive and sustainable manner. We are proud

of our heritage and business in Nigeria, but beyond profits, we measure our success in the broader context of the significant value we have added over the last 50 years� she affirmed.

Since 1970, Siemens’ technology, products and services have contributed to driving the Nigerian economy.

According to the latest Business to society (B2S) report prepared by Pricewaterhouse Coopers (PwC), in 2019 alone, Siemens contributed a total of $562.5 million in Gross Value add (directly and indirectly) to Nigeria’s GDP through constructive engagement with industries especially in the Oil & Gas, Manufacturing and utilities sectors.

The B2S report also revealed that Siemens technology has contributed nine percent to Nigeria’s operational power generation installed capacity.

Furthermore, the widely acclaimed partnership agreement between Siemens and the Federal Government for the Presidential Power Initiative (PPI) is set to upgrade the electricity grid

network and increase operational capacity from 4,500 MW on an average currently, to 25,000 megawatts (MW).

According to Tifase “This is a demonstration of our commitment at Siemens to make significant investments in providing value-adding initiatives to address challenges in Nigeria’s power sector.�

Siemens Nigeria remains a strong partner to the Nigerian government in developing local jobs and skills. The company has positively impacted employment with an estimated number of 48,000 jobs linked to Siemens’ business operations in Nigeria.

Furthermore, as part of their commitment to shaping societal transformation, Siemens is taking a leading role in supporting the government’s commitment to fight corruption and improve transparency in the public and private sector.

The B2S report stated that Siemens Integrity Initiative (SII) has invested about $1.29mn in Nigeria to promote anticorruption practices through capacity building and training.

Dana Adds More Destinations, Increases Frequency Dana Air has announced that it has increased frequency to Abuja and also re-introduced flights from Owerri, Port Harcourt to Abuja, with effect from August 28 The airline in a statement signed by its spokesman, Kingsley Ezenwa said the move was in response to the demand of its customers.

Commenting on the airline’s increase in frequency, the Accountable Manager of Dana Air Obi Mbanuzuo said, “We

introduced these additional flights based on the feedback from our guests and popular demand for flights at specific times and we are also delighted that our guests have embraced the safety measures we have in place for them. “The additional Lagos to Abuja flight will depart at 8am, 11.50am, 3.40pm and 5.30pm, while the Abuja to Lagos flight will depart at 9.55am, 1.50pm, 5.30pm and 7.25pm.’’ “Lagos to Owerri will depart

at 7.10am, while Owerri to Lagos will depart at 8.45am. Lagos to Port Harcourt will now be at 10.30am while Port Harcourt to Lagos will depart at 3.35pm. Port Harcourt to Abuja daily flights will be at 12.05pm, and Abuja to Port Harcourt will depart at 1.45pm.’’ Dana Air said it is one of Nigeria’s leading airlines with 18 daily flights to major cities in Nigeria and a total of nine aircraft in its fleet with a mix of Boeing 737s.

Qatar Airways Refunds $1.2bn to Customers Qatar Airways said it has paid out over $1.2 billion in refunds to almost 600,000 passengers since March. This, it stated was in demonstration of its commitment to honouring its obligations to passengers who need to change their plans due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on global travel.

A statement from the airline explained: “In the context of unprecedented numbers of refund requests as airlines and passengers navigate entry restrictions imposed by countries around the world to limit the spread of COVID-19, Qatar Airways has worked hard to process almost all refunds requested since March 2020 (96%). “The airline is now processing all new refunds back to the original form of payment in less than 30 days. “Additionally, the airline introduced an unrivalled flexible booking policy that has proved extremely popular with passengers. Qatar Airways tickets are now valid for two years from the date of issuance. “Passengers can also choose

to change their travel date or destination free of charge as often as they need, change their origin to another city within the same country or any other destination on the airline’s network within a 5,000 mile radius of the original, exchange their ticket for a future travel voucher worth 110 per cent of the original ticket value, or swap their tickets for Qmiles.�

It further quoted Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, Mr. Akbar Al Baker, said: “With the impact of COVID-19 on global travel, passengers have had to change their plans at short notice and it has been difficult for them to plan ahead with any certainty. “What they want and deserve are flexibility and reliability, and in Qatar Airways we hope they find an airline they can trust. The amount we have paid out in refunds has undoubtedly had an impact on our bottom line, but it is our duty to do the right thing by our customers and trade partners and as an airline we are strong enough to mitigate

the impact of this.�

Qatar Airways said it took a number of measures to ensure that it could manage the unprecedented number of refund requests – over 10,000 per day at the height of the crisis – from passengers that needed to change their travel plans in light of COVID-19.

Firstly, it increased its automation capabilities, with customers being able to request their refund online, from which point it can largely be processed automatically.

In terms of manpower, the airline said it redeployed employees from other areas of the business – for example its Cabin Crew and Ground Services staff – to join the airline’s global network of customer contact centres to help manage the large volume of online requests and customer phone calls.

The airline has also worked hard to make the refund and rebooking process as easy as possible for its trade partners, continuing to use the industry standard global distribution system (GDS).

Providing Recipe for Airport Concession Chinedu Eze Last week industry think-tank group, Aviation Round Table (ART) held a conference on concession and the Chairman of Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited (BASL), the builder and operator of domestic terminal at the Lagos airport, MMA2, Dr. Wale Babalakin, reeled out his experience as concessionaire and made recommendations on how concession of airport facilities could work in Nigeria.

Babalakin, who may have gone through bitter-sweet experience in his bid to contribute to airport development, noted that government must be disposed to abide by its agreements for the private sector to confidently invest in infrastructure development of the country; not just in aviation but also in providing other social amenities for Nigerians.

The President Muhammadu Buhari administration from its inception in the first tenure made it clear that government may not have the resources to develop airport facilities; so it made the plan to concession the airports, specially the terminals.

But because of past experience of bungled concession experiments, many industry stakeholders and other Nigerians are circumspect about the planned concession and have emphasised on government ensuring that the deal is transparent and in keeping with the agreement reached.

Speaking at the web conference, Babalakin said, “When I hear about concession, all I say is that please follow the law only so that you are not exposed to phenomenal damages, especially if some of the bidders come from outside. “I doubt if anybody who is coming from a very structured company will bid for any of those facilities because they will always ask for reference and they will be told that MMA2, though successful has been completely undermined, hindered by refusal to honour agreements. I also hope that when this concessioning takes place, there will be an independent body that will act as the regulator. The regulator cannot be a participant in the management of airports, it cannot. It is conflict of interest. You cannot be a judge in your own court.�

He explained the reason why there should be independent regulator that should oversee the management of the concesioned airport facilities. “Recently, we were trying to increase our passenger tax; we have kept the same thing (charge) for about 10 years even with inflation and devaluation. Fortunately for

I also hope that when this concessioning takes place, there will be an independent body that will act as the regulator. The regulator cannot be a participant in the management of airports, it cannot. It is conict of interest. You cannot be a judge in your own court

Babalakin us, in our agreement with government we got approval from FAAN (Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria), from the Ministry on the bandwidth that we could charge. “We have not exceeded that bandwidth, we wrote to NCAA (the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority), informing NCAA that we will go ahead to do this; we already have authority for it. And NCAA wrote back to us that we should seek the consent of FAAN. “Why should we seek the consent of our competitor, on the same terrain who is not honouring his own side of the bargain?

Why should we? We are not troublesome but this is a matter that we could all go to court and resolve in a month. We are not troublesome, we just want to operate in our own sphere, give hope to Nigerians that it is possible to invest in infrastructure in Nigeria and have appropriate returns,�

Babalakin said.

He expressed happiness that the federal government decided that it wants proper concessioning process, noting that once the agreement is signed, it is more important that government sticks to the rules of the game. “We have spent 13 years trying to enforce an agreement and till date we only have about 30 per cent to 35 per cent of our right under the various agreements implemented. “As you mentioned that in recent times a new chief executive of FAAN has been engaging us in negotiations, this is a breath of fresh air. Because in the last 12 years what we have received is battery.

We finished the concession on schedule; only the private sector can finish a concession on schedule because its finances are tied to that project. “You can count the number of public works that are finished on schedule. We have 40 per cent of guarantee traffic, the agreement we signed assured us of all domestic traffic, but till date we don’t have it. “Rather, our regulator decided to be competing with us with government money next door. So we have to use private sector money, then next door there is somebody with government money. The General Aviation Terminal (GAT), which is now being concessioned, I hope ICRC (Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission) knows that the Supreme Court has ruled that, that terminal belongs to us and not to FAAN. “And if they proceed with it they will be violating the judgment of the Supreme Court, which has far enormous implications for the nation,� Babalakin said.

He emphasised that government must abide by the rules of its agreements, stressing, “Nobody will take things seriously when they know that you have no regard for resolution process.�

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Preparing for New Normal Chinedu Eze writes on efforts to ensure that air travellers abide by the coronavirus safety protocols

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lobally, airports are presumed to be the point of contact and spread of the coronavirus pandemic. This is because people who contracted the virus were those who largely travelled by air from one country to another; from one city to another and aircraft was initially seen as potential host of the virus, a presumption that has been dispelled by further studies and research.

The belief that airports and air travel in general are major culprits for the spread of the disease, prompted governments of various nations to introduce policies that drastically curbed air travel and rendered the airports literally empty of their hustle and bustle and the milling of thousands of passenger in world’s busiest airports.

According to BBC report, the collapse in air travel demand has been driven largely by public policy. As Covid-19 spreads, governments worldwide chose – in the interests of preserving public health – to ban entry to non-residents.

Some countries like India, Malaysia and South Africa stopped issuing visitor visas.

Others like the Australia, New Zealand and the United States suspended visa-free travel reciprocity. The move not only ended the plans of millions of travellers but also forced airlines to stop serving once-lucrative markets. Flying empty planes around makes little fiscal sense.

Consequently, getting planes back in the air will require an easing of government entry restrictions.

In addition to easing of government’s policy, air travellers have to be convinced that the airports are safe to travel through, hence the COVID-19 safety protocol at the airports. In Nigeria, despite the fact that evacuation flights were taking place, almost on daily basis at the Lagos and Abuja airports, for the airports to be certified safe by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) must have to introduce the COVID-19 safety protocols, which was the prescription of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), as domesticated by the regulatory authority, NCAA. Upgrading Airport Facilities The General Manager, Corporate Affairs, FAAN, Mrs. Henrietta Yakubu told THISDAY that the world was hit by Coronavirus pandemic suddenly and leaving policy makers and health professionals nonplussed. The world began to battle a virus that does not have a cure and its weird ways largely unknown, just as people are dying every day, their lives being snuffed by the virus. “When the novel coronavirus pandemic traced to Wuhan in China began ravaging nations around February this year, little did the world know that the virus would not only bring the global economy to a temporary halt, but would also herald a new order of socio-economic interactions. “Beside the direct effects of the virus on global health and safety which culminated in millions of people getting infected and some losing their lives in the ensuing battles, there has also been huge loss of revenue by individuals, organisations and nations due to the abrupt closure of businesses,� she said.

Yakubu noted that as organisations and nations continue to gradually reopen for socio-economic and other activities, “we can safely conclude that the Covid-19 pandemic has instituted a new order of doing business which has been globally acclaimed as the New Normal.� “For us in the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, Covid-19 has availed us the opportunity of critically re-evaluating our system with a view to repositioning for improved safety, security, competitiveness and profitability at our airports. “In planning for safe reopening of our airports, we made efforts to interact with and analyse what other airport groups were doing, copied the ones applicable and useful to us, and also adhered strictly to national and international protocols/guidelines on reopening so as to ensure that passengers and airport users are

to drive home the message on the need for passengers and airport users to embrace the New Normal in the interest of safety. “We have commenced a strategic media campaign to sensitize and educate the public on the need to always adhere to laid down protocols using both the traditional and new media,� Yakubu added.

FAAN has to carry out manpower training within the shortest possible time. This was one of the major requirements given to the agency by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, which directed that FAAN staff must be given focused trainings on management of pandemics like the Covid-19. “Some World Health Organization trainings were consequently recommended as mandatory. Our members of staff have gone through these trainings and have been certified fit and ready to operate in the New Normal. These are some of the measures we have put in place to ensure safety of passengers as we reopen our airports for operation,� the FAAN spokesman said.

FAAN sta at the airport

protected from being infected with the virus as we gradually recommence flight operations,� the FAAN spokesman said.

facilities have also been upgraded to comply with the Covid-19 operational guidelines,�

Yakubu said.

Preparing the Airports Airport World, the magazine of Airport Council International (ACI), has noted that the impact of COVID-19 on the aviation industry has been unprecedented, reporting that air travel is down by 95 per cent from a year ago as a result of the travel ban and lockdowns in many countries. The magazine also said experts have also estimated that passenger numbers for 2020 could drop by 40 per cent, representing a significant decline in revenue for airlines and airports across the world. So the question is, “What can airports and airlines do to rebuild confidence in air travel?�

In preparing the airports for reopening, FAAN said it categorised the airports into five cardinal areas, which include structural adjustment, procedural modification, internagency collaboration, awareness campaign/ sensitization and training of manpower.

On structural adjustment, FAAN said prior to the Covid-19 era, there were no restrictions to human interactions in public places, consequently facilities that would support such arrangements.

However, due to the need to arrest the spread of the Covid-19 virus, it became necessary that physical distancing be introduced in human interactions especially at public places. “Consequently, we needed to re-structure our facilities and infrastructure to support this new order of human interactions. If you go to any of our airports now, you will discover that we have introduced some barricades to guide the safe movement of passengers and airport users. “We have also fixed automated hand sanitising dispenser machines as well as hand washing facilities at strategic locations at our airports. The floors of our airports have also been marked to ensure compliance with physical distancing requirements. “Our toilets, co-bus and other operational

Procedural ModiďŹ cation The agency said one of the changes that the Covid-19 has brought with it is in the area of operational procedures was procedural modification. “We can no longer continue to do things the way we use to do them in the past. For example, because of the need to make better use of the limited resources available in the situation, we have informed airport users that aides and protocol officers of VIPs would no longer be allowed to follow their principals into the terminals. Only passengers would be allowed to access the terminals,â€? Yakubu said.

Also, commercial protocol activities have now been streamlined at the airports such that only the FAAN Executive Protocol Unit would now be allowed to carry out such services to ensure orderliness.

Passengers are also expected to always wear their facemasks at the airports, wash their hands intermittently and sanitise them, disinfect their bags before check-in, amongst other procedural modifications.

There is also inter-agency collaboration to make things work. So FAAN is collaborating with relevant agencies like the Federal Ministry of Health, the Port Health Service, National Center for Diseases Control, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, the Airline Operators of Nigeria, amongst several others to ensure that the health and safety protocols put in place are strictly adhered to by passengers and other airport users.

Awareness FAAN said the major part of its task was creating awareness and sensitising travellers and other airport users. “This is a very important part of our Post Covid-19 efforts as it bothers on behavioral change. We are using all medium possible

Satisfaction Airline operators and other travellers have expressed satisfaction with what FAAN did in order to protect passengers from Coronavirus infection at the airports. The former governor of Cross River state, Donald Duke expressed surprise when he landed at the Margret Ekpo International Airport after several months under lockdown. He said he was satisfied with the social distancing protocols, the markings and the way FAAN staff guided the passengers to ensure that the protocol was not compromised.

Before reopening the airports, the Managing Director of Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, Capt. Rabiu Yadudu gave details of the changes that would take place at the airports before passengers would be allowed to use the facilities.

He said that the agency would implement flight spacing at all its airports in order to ensure prevention of spread of Coronavirus pandemic when flight operations resume.

The Managing Director insisted that passengers’ safety was priority, adding that 90 per cent of the FAAN personnel were trained

by WHO. Spacing the Flights In order to ensure that crowd was avoided, FAAN scheduled flights to create spacing between flights. This was novel; may be the agency took a cue from other airports in the world. “We have already told NCAA that we are going to space the flights. No two airlines will depart at the same time from our airports.

The spacing is not to make things difficult for the operators, but to protect their staff and other users of our airports. It is not going to be unnecessary spacing. Like I told them, it is not a slot, but just spacing of flights,�

Yadudu had explained.

Airline operators have expressed satisfaction with what FAAN has done at the airports to keep passengers safe from the Coronavirus pandemic. Also before certifying the airports for flight resumption, NCAA had commended FAAN for abiding by the Covid-19 protocols and also ensuring that international safety and security standard were still maintained.

To ensure that things work according to plans, four airports were re-opened at the beginning and later other airports were re-opened after FAAN could confirm that the changes done were effective.

ICAO made recommendations on airport safety for passengers at the airports. “Guidance for the operation of terminal buildings needs to consider all aspects of operations, including who has access to the building, the upkeep of cleanliness and disinfection procedures in place within the terminal building, as well as health measures, provision for first-aid/medical attention guidance, and protocols for passengers and staff,�

ICAO stated.

FAAN has upgraded the airports to meet the given standard for Covid-19 protocols for the airports.

THIS WEEKEND WEEKLY MAGAZINE

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

Chika Okorafor Aneke: Impacting Mindful Learning

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Chika Okorafor Aneke: Impacting Mindful Learning Nigerian-British education expert, Chika Okafor Aneke is passionate about impacting lives with her unique ways of teaching, called, Mindful Learning”. As the Chief Executive Officer of Learnomic, an education consultancy company that helps train school personnel, and establishes sustainable systems that encourage better learning, she tells MARY NNAH how she has constantly recognised and creatively empowered and nurtured talents

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hat was your childhood like?

My childhood was happy and busy. I didn’t have a traditional upbringing. I come from a large mixed family. In total I have four sisters, three brothers, two step mums, and a lot of uncles, aunties and cousins from the UK and Nigeria. My father was also a traditional ruler so many a holidays was spent in Nigeria in the village. My parents were amazing mindful role models and I am blessed that get my creativity, work ethic and the important ability to work hard and play harder (work-life balance) from them.

How did your passion for teaching start?

Well my parents would tell you that as a little girl I always played, ‘schools.’ Family members were the students and I was the principal! I always tell parents to watch their children when they play, as often, it shows their life passion and God given talents. After university, I saw an advert for Science teachers of which there was a shortage in UK at that time, and I applied. We also got paid, as the training was a revolutionary method of teacher training, it was called school centred initial teachers training (SCITT).

It was like a teaching apprenticeship. We worked beside teachers, but as we know, teachers are over stretched so we often were given tasks and were expected to be accountable, just like any other teacher, not as a trainee.

It certainly was not for the faint hearted. I know myself and many of my graduating class have been extremely successful teachers and leaders thanks to this solid beginning.

Take us through your journey into education and work experience till date I started teacher training after university while working in London and seeing Princess Diana daily.

One day she told me I’d make a wonderful teacher and coincidentally, I had actually just seen an article for Science teachers. I saw it as fate and signed up. The rest is history. I worked in London for 10 years at an acclaimed award winning inner city school, Fulham Cross School.

A year after my father’s death I was asked to help set up a grassroots international standard boarding school in Nigeria, Brookstone School Secondary School. This project was an AMSCO initiative with the United Nations Development Project (UNDP), the IFC, World Bank, Stichling Foundation and African Development Bank were also involved. I had a diplomatic status and we won AMSCO project of 2006 It was then time for me to get married and have my children, so a career break was taken.

I then worked for Pinefield’s School and College, The learning Place, Ikoyi Nursery and consulted for popular International Schools.

In my many years of experience working as a teacher with children, families and adults; in addition to my leadership experience in the education sector, and my health experience with the National Health Service (NHS) in the UK, I have seen many common trends.

I discovered that mental health is no different from our physical health. Just like we strive to prevent the physical health from deteriorating, it is also helpful to prevent mental illness and injury. For example: Stress affects all, regardless of age or status human beings need strategies to cope. Being proactive with our mental health at a young age is a powerful life-long tool.

So with this realisation in mind, while in the UK, I desired to find ways to teach children how to take care of their mental health. I understood that in order to ensure children’s success in life,

Aneke

a mix of both academics in school, out of school learning (talents and passions), and mental health wellness training would ensure that we are raising intellectually sound, mentally balanced children. I also realised that the parents and families that these children grow up with also need their mental wellness, in order to have the capacity to bring up the kids in a mindful, well-rounded way.

I practice mindfulness and have been on a mindful journey for many years. As a result, I signed up for classes that trained me on how to teach mindful learning. The rest, as they say, is history. At Learnomic, my education consultancy platform, we are the only UK-trained providers of mindful learning in Nigeria. We work with children, families, schools, and organisations.

What exactly is Mindful Learning?

The idea of mindful learning is based on the premise that learning is not about memorising.

Learning is about mindfully and consciously understanding the “why” and having an unbiased awareness to take conscious actions based on that understanding. You see, human beings are often in autopilot mode. All our lives, we have been socialised to do things in certain ways simply because for generations, that’s how it’s been done. So we memorise systems of “being” without understanding why, and what those implications have for our individual lives.

There is no one-size-fits-all approach to doing things. This is why often times, people suffer depression, agitation, and poor self image which ultimately affects their capacity to learn – because we’re constantly forcing ourselves to see or do things from that universal standard when in reality, we are all unique individuals with unique circumstances, who need unique approaches to learning and doing things. Our human condition of needing to be liked, popular and perfect at all we do have hijacked our attention.

Mindful learning is a learning strategy that encourages paying attention in the present moment on purpose, and without judgement of the past or assumptions about the future.

When we mindfully pay attention to the situation at hand in the present, free of judgement, this is when true learning occurs. Benefits of mindful learning include: Improving cognitive ability, lowering anxiety and stress, improving attention and concentration, creating leadership skills and strengthening self-control &

improving self-esteem.

The idea of mindful learning isn’t common in Nigeria. Why do you think it is needed in this part of the world?

My mission is to exponentially raise awareness about mindful learning in Nigeria. Although at Learnomic, we are currently the only trained providers of mindful learning services in Nigeria, I am working hard to make sure this idea becomes widespread, which will inspire more people to adopt this practice.

Mindful learning is definitely needed in Nigeria, everywhere you look people are being controlled by their emotions and ‘amygdala’, especially during these uncertain times. We are all learning to adjust to the “new normal” due to the pandemic. The way the country operates will never be the same, even after the pandemic is over – whenever that will be.

We are in a phase of re-learning how to do things. The best way for us to cope with this transition, is through mindful learning: In our homes, schools, government, organisations, businesses, etc. Now is the time for sustainable, change to happen on a large scale.

What are some memorable moments in your life and career?

There have been so many memorable moments that have shaped my life and career. I will mention a few. There was a time in my career I was asked, ‘why do you have so many roles and why do you earn X amount?’ This was the moment I knew I was not valued in a current job and that it was time to move on after many years. You see, this question was asked because a certain person in authority at the establishment where I worked, had the opinion that I “earned too much money” at the time. This is a notion that was laughable, seeing as I had so many roles which I took on simultaneously, which justified how much I was paid.

I worked very hard for every penny I made.

Nothing was ever handed to me without effort.

I put my blood, sweat, and tears into my work.

I have always known my value and will never undersell myself.

Another memorable moment was about 13 years ago, during a trying period in my life after the death of my father. I went to Cuba for some ‘me’ time. I was headhunted to work with a couple that was setting up a school in

Port Harcourt. The project was part of United Nations (UNDP) and AMSCO initiative and I was selected to be a Diplomatic Technical Educational Expert at the school. Due to the innovative ideas and practices I helped institute during this period, it was said that my two years of service was like 20 years of school leadership experience and knowledge.

In fact, a country’s government is speculated to have used one of such experiences as a reference to help inform school education policy. This AMSCO project was recognised by the African Training and Management Services (ATMS) Project, a joint project of the United Nations Development Project ( UNDP), the International Finance Corporation (IFC), Stichting Foundation and African Development Bank (AfDB) as a project of the year 2006.

Attending my NPQH - Institute of Education London (IOE) post graduate graduation and giving birth to my daughter, in same year! This was also a very memorable time for me. I have a picture of me holding her at my graduation.

Priceless! Getting married and having my children is an unforgettable part of my life. At a point I thought this was not part of my destiny.

I do know that if you don’t make a change yourself, change will not happen. Learning to be okay with not having everything all at once and being happy and grateful with the NOW is so key in life. And I encourage every woman to embrace this.

What are some of the biggest challenges you’ve encountered and how have you overcome them?

Over the years, I have become highly intuitive and been able to key into my inner wisdom.

This is a skill we all have but often times; we don’t listen to our inner voice.

I have had many challenges, but I always see challenges as opportunities for growth.

God does not give you more than you can handle, and no snowflake ever falls in the wrong place. Rather than dwell on the challenges encountered, I would rather choose to share lessons learned from these challenges.

One important lesson I’ve learned is that how you react to challenges is in your hands. You and only you can learn and turns things around.

The state of suffering is a human condition we can’t avoid it. But it is impermanent and we must all learn to be kind and compassionate.

I like intentions or affirmations but with action being taken: My family and I regularly envision something we would like or area of personal growth to achieve. This ensures that we do not forget that if we can see it, feel it, believe it, we can hold it!

I also have the belief that goals should be unrealistic, as they are visions that challenge and should never be easy to attain. That way if we are 50 per cent tsuccessful we have probably completed 100 per cent and above a realistic goal. You mindset and attitude are everything.

What are some changes you would like to see in the education sector?

Education is big business when really it is a right of all. Schools that are run as businesses are very different from schools run for children’s education. Priorities are different. Children regardless of ‘wealth’ should be able to access an education at private school quality. Believe me everyone struggles with the fees here in Nigeria, physically or morally.

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

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POLSCOPE

NBA, El-Rufai, and the Lessons Thereof

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Canticles….

Please Tell Fani-Kayode to Lengthen His Fuse

Fani Kayode

El Rufai

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ast Wednesday, the much-talked about Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) conference kicked off. It ends tomorrow. It is the 60th gathering of the body of “learned men and women”. Perhaps, this edition became more popular on the account of the controversy generated by the disinvitation extended to the Kaduna State governor, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai.

Along with other speakers, the Kaduna State governor had been selected to speak at the virtual conference. But some radical lawyers suddenly threatened to boycott the conference if el-Rufai was not dropped as one of the speakers at the conference. They accused him, among other things, of not obeying court orders, as well as not doing enough to address the incessant crises and killings that have been taking place in Southern Kaduna. Many of those who protested el-Rufai’s invitation insinuated that he had deliberately looked away while the killings and destructions took place in Southern Kaduna.

They thus argue that such a leader who neither has regard for the rule of law nor an apostle of peace and justice does not deserve the NBA platform to address any national issue.

To be sure, the capacity of el-Rufai to deeply and decisively discuss the topic of discourse is/ was never in doubt. In fact, aside the fact that his state has become a major test case of the indigeneship/settler controversy, the Kaduna governor is credited with high-enough cerebral acumen to do justice to the topic.

But those who think the outgoing Paul Usoro-led NBA pandered too quickly to the NBA cabal, argue that el-Rufai was not given a fair hearing neither was he given a chance to state his own side of the story. In fact, they argue that disinviting the governor was tantamount to being judgemental in a case that has various historical prisms.

But the question remains: did the NBA consult anybody before extending the speaking invitation to Governor El-Rufai? If the answer is No, does it not also mean that the NBA reserves the right to reconsider or review any invitation to any of the speakers in its conference? Sure it does!

However, if the reason is strictly on the argument that because on one or two occasions El-Rufai had disobeyed court orders, and so should be disinvited, why is the same principle not applied to the invitation extended to former President Olusegun Obasanjo whose presidency was notorious for disregarding valid court orders?

Have we forgotten the ruling against the impeachment of former Oyo State governor, Rasheed Ladoja which the Obasanjo presidency ignored?

Or did we forget the court ruling ordering the federal government to release the seized Local Government allocation for Lagos State during Obasanjo’s presidency?

Under the Usoro-led NBA is it a case of selective amnesia or is it that what is good for the goose is not good for the gander? Indeed, why will Obasanjo be allowed to speak at the conference and El-Rufai will be disallowed?

That said, El-Rufai probably has a heavier case on his head than the single matter of court disobedience. The crises that have continued to trouble Southern Kaduna has, no doubt,

I

hear that Mr Short Fuse has swallowed his pride and apologized for his unwarranted vituperation and outpour of invectives on an innocent professional.

You have come again, who is Mr Short Fuse?

pitched the governor against those who think he is playing silly politics with the lives and properties of the people of the region.

Although El-Rufai has striven to copiously explain that the problem predates him, his communication on his effort to address the problem has been verily poor.

And this has fed the belief that he is either non-challant about it or that he is outrightly supportive of the carnage going on in that part of the state.

The governor, in recent weeks, has been appearing on National Television, struggling to explain what his government has been doing to address the perennial unrest in the region.

If all that he has said is anything to go by, then some good effort has been made. But it is an explanation coming pretty late in the day.

Gov El-Rufai, notoriously cocky, must begin to realize that it is not enough meaning well in public governance, he must be seen to be doing manifestly well.

Another lesson he must learn is that in public governance, perception is everything. He didn’t seem to care or be bothered if the entire Southern Kaduna was wiped away, so long as the people are not keeping to his model for peace. Rightly or wrongly, that is the perception that informed the protest from some of the NBA members.

Too often, the governor is self-conceited, believing only in his wisdom and emits the go-to-hell impression to those who do not agree with him. Incidentally, on this Southern Kaduna imbroglio, there are far more people who do not agree with him. Little wonder he is perceived not to be doing enough to contain the crises.

Perhaps one other worry is the uneven hand with which El-Rufai pursues peace in his state.

He is perceived as being soft to his fellow Fulanis but hard to the non-Fulanis.

In his first term, he had confessed, on December 3, 2016, to not only holding meetings with known killers (Fulani herdsmen within and outside Nigeria) , but also paying them money to make them stop the killings in Southern Kaduna.

On one hand, paying monetary compensation to identified killers to persuade them to stop further killings may appear like a determined effort to broker peace and sustain order, but on the other hand, it may inadvertently come through as not only aiding and abetting crime, it will indeed, open a window for blackmail. And that was what happened. The killers kept coming back soon as the last monies paid have finished.

It got to a point El-Rufai publicly denounced them and vowed not to pay any more money, and further threatened them with the law enforcement agencies. That literally worsened the spate of attacks. And that’s where we are today.

So, while El-Rufai was soft with his fellow Fulanis, he was seen as being hard and somewhat indifferent to the people of Southern Kaduna.

The people, be they Fulanis or Katafs or whatever, must be determined to eschew violence and live together in peace. They must open new chapter of peace and mutual co-exixtence. That is what will guaranty peace at the end of the day.

In all, I subscribe to the point el-Rufai made, to the effect that for a people to have perfect peace, the people themselves will deliberately resolve and make effort to have peace.

Don’t you know Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, the one they call FFK? A one time Minister of Aviation who literally poured verbal acid on a Daily Trust Reporter, for asking an innocuous question?

Oh, I read about the raw encounter and watched the video. I also read his statement, last Tuesday that said he stands by his views on the said reporter, wherein he described the reporter, Eyo Charles as being “stupid”, “very stupid” and having “small mind”.

Don’t mind him. He has recanted in a tweet last Wednesday. He has finally seen the stupidity in his needless outburst where he betrayed and declared that he has short fuse.

He said in his apology that he respects journalists and that he has been defending journalists for over 30 years, apart from having fought vigorously for Freedom of Information Law and also suffered prosecution for the advancement of democracy.

I do not know when he fought for and defended journalists. He is merely making an empty claim. The arrests he faced were for his own misdemeanor, not in the furtherance of democracy. He has a history of intolerance with journalists who do not do his bidding.

Not a few knew he would soon swallow his vomit, not only because he was clearly beside himself when he was vaunting about his political and professional pedigree, but also because he has a long history of verbal harlotry. He is a confirmed priest of double speak, and controversy personified. Do you realise he asked many times: “who do you think you are talking to?”, like somebody in search of identity, What was even the offensive question that caused the two wires in him to touch?

The poor correspondent asked him who was bankrolling his tour of PDP-controlled states.

Is that all? Couldn’t he have simply answered and said nobody is bankrolling him? That it is a self-funded tour? Wouldn’t that have solved all the stupid brouhaha that followed?

But talking seriously, who sent FFK message? What is he looking for going round the country visiting PDP-controlled states?

What is he up to? What plan is he hatching?

I don’t understand. On what basis or platform is he undertaking this tour? Is it a project? What is the essence? Indeed, who is behind this initiative?

Don’t ask more ‘stupid’ questions! Don’t you know the young chief has been in politics since 1990 even though he has never contested any known election? He has implied the initiative is his and it is self-funded because he said” I spend, I don’t take and I am not a poor man, I have never been and will never be.”

So, what does Femi Fani-Kayode really

do for a living and how does he earn money if not hanging around government and its operators? Have you seen him in court one day as a lawyer? What business does he do that gives him money apart from living off this late father’s estate? Is it not a legitimate question for a public servant or a former public servant?

I am sure you deserve double portion of the lambaste Eyo Charles got. Why are you shaking the table this violently?

A journalist has the right to ask any type of question in any circumstance. It could even be deliberately provocative to draw the interviewee out. And as it has shown in this case, it has shown that Fani-Kayode is a short-fused and pesky politician, not fit to be a leader., since he lacks tact and self control.

All he wanted to do was to intimidate the reporter and get him cowed. He succeeded as they kept telling him “sorry sir, sorry sir” most needlessly. What were they sorry for?

For asking a question? I expected the other reporters to boycott the press conference at the rain of tirade on one of their colleagues.

But they sat back drinking from the pernicious chalice of Fani-Kayode.

And what an irony that his so-called career in politics draws largely from being a political commentator wherein his stock in trade is to abuse and criticize those in power. And here he is: unable to brood the smallest form of probe, not even an abuse, as his forte is.

Are you implying that the former minister has a sinister motive on this tour of the country?

You said so. All I have said is that I don’t know the intent and the motivation.

He is a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He is well entitled to undertake the tour of the states controlled by his party. You never can tell what his findings will be at the end and how it can be used to assist the party in the 2023 elections.

This is not in doubt, but let him come clean in his mission. That’s all we ask.

But are you really sure Mr Eyo Charles was not actually sent by some political demagogues to embarrass the Ife Chief?

I am surprised at your question. Are you implying that the journalist was asking the questions of certain sponsors? Come on, give credit to journalists. Don’t look down on them.

Are you saying it is beyond a journalist to enquire into the funding of the opaque tour?

Do you know the financial implication of going round the country? Whether he apologises or not, to have declared that, “I could see from your face before you got here, how stupid you are. Don’t ever talk to me like that,”Mr Fani-Kayode betrayed how little he thinks of journalists.Yet it is that scant regard that is now giving him sleepless nights. He will surely have this incident stand as a sentinel at the door of his aspiration.

He has apologized. Let’s move on.

Move on we shall, but go tell him to lengthen his fuse henceforth or remain in his house.

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T H I S D AY ˾ ͰͶ˜ ͰͮͰͮ

TRIBUTE

Osibamowo: Devout Catholic, Exceptional Influencer Tunde Osibamowo

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n the 4th of August, 2020 a real-time ‘woman of substance’ passed on to the great beyond. She was not famous nor a possessor of great wealth; she simply was a woman “who lived to a grand old age of over 92 years, who in the course of her long life raised a large and very successful family, ‘mothered’ many younger women, was an ‘influencer’ even before we recognised the important place influencers can play in modern society and, more importantly she was a staunch and devoted Catholic”.

Mrs Theresa Osibamowo was born in Lagos on the 29th of February 1928 into the family Chief Ignatius Washington Osilaja. Theresa’s mother was Augusta Aderigbigbe Koya, a princess from Ile Ijosi, Ilesi, Ijebu-Ode. They had five children, all of blessed memory, with Theresa being the third. Chief Oshilaja, the Madasa of Ijebu Ode, a wealthy man in Lagos Island knighted in the Catholic Order of Saint Sylvester, was the first trained printer in West Africa with the Ife Olu Printing Press and; was an elder statesman and kingmaker instrumental in the building of the Holy Cross Cathedral, Lagos and St Sebastian’s Church, Ijebu Ode. The young Theresa started her education in Ibadan and secondary education at the Holy Rosary College, Enugu; one of the original set of students. This period of her life explains her lifelong warmth and closeness to people of Igbo descent.

Unknown to many, during the civil war when it was dangerous to be an Igbo in Lagos, she secretly housed many Igbo families and supported their flights back to the East.

Mama Theresa’s travelled to the UK to study at Pitmans College in the early 1940’s.

In 1956, she got married in England to Mr Julius Olatunji Osibamowo, a young civil engineer from Ikenne Remo in Ogun State.

They had 3 children Tunde, Efunbo and Yemi and returned to Lagos expecting their fourth child Ibilola, an ex-General Counsel of this Thisday Newspaper and currently a Ph.D candidate in Legal Technology, UK . Folasade and Olaleke were then added to the fold. Much emphasis was placed on academic par excellence achievements, hence she successfully nurtured with tender loving care two engineers, two medical doctors, one lawyer and one architect.

Fondly referred to as Mymama, she was

Osibamowo

blessed with many sons/daughters-in-law, grandchildren and great children. A wellread woman, an avid reader of Catholic publications in Latin and a regular reader of Thisday Newspaper; the Publisher who she fondly remembered from the 90’s.

Mama Theresa worked at the Lagos City Council with the Lagos Town Clerk, and became secretary of the O&G Department in LUTH enabling her to fulfil her heartfelt desire to make a real difference, utilising her organisational skills in the healthcare.

With her husband, they established one of the first indigenous engineering companies, Efbiko Engineering Ltd which rivalled notable international construction firms like Julius Berger etc. Efbiko grew rapidly with

construction projects all over Nigeria such as the development of the Festac Estate.

She was a successful entrepreneur, establishing a number of trading companies and, literally travelled all over the world, trading with various countries in Africa, USA, Europe and Asia.

In the mid 80’s, Mama Theresa decided to devote her life to serving the Lord in the Catholic church. She worked with a church team on the modernisation of St Agnes Church in Maryland, and was active in mobilising the church’s congregation to participate in serving God. She influenced many women to give their time, money, and love to doing God’s work and worked with the church to create the ‘Day with

Mary’ movement. Also, she supported the addition of 2 extra missions in Nigeria; the Franciscan Monastery in Shagamu and the Benediction Monastery at Sangotedo, Lekki.

As Alexander the Great stated ”it is a lovely thing to live with courage and die leaving an everlasting fame.. in the end when it’s all over, all that matters is what you’ve done”. Mama Theresa indeed has left an everlasting fame! As during her lifetime she engaged with and influenced numerous young catholic women, who became lifelong friends. She encouraged them to be loyal dutiful wives, organised and neat homemakers with a super dose of patience, endurance & long suffering with their spouses. She was a pragmatic advocate of the fact that it was crucial to invest financially, emotionally and spiritually in the lives of their children, applying the biblical injunction of “train your children, to have peace”.

In 1990’s, Theresa emigrated to U.K continuing her evangelisation mission of mobilising Catholic parishioners attending St Peter’s Church Woolwich, the Catholic Church at Camberwell and the Westminster Abbey. With powerful dogmatism, she again introduced the ‘Day with Mary’ prayer excursions to several cities all over England. As the Chairman of ‘Ajoda; an NGO in partnership with Greenwich Borough for Elderly people of African-Caribbean descent, she organised events such as soirees, barbecues and holiday break excursions in UK. Reiterating over thirty years, she passionately travelled to religious sites such as the Vatican City, Jerusalem and then strategically mapped out and commenced on a geographic expedition visiting ALL the sites of the Apparition’s of Mary in Poland, Portugal, France, Medjugorje and Lourdes etc, before finally relocating back in 2019.

This great lady was a lover of humanity, a motivator, a prayer warrior, a fashionista, a indefatigable business entrepreneur, a philanthropist, a faithful Catholic, a missionary, a pastoral guide to many peoples all over the world, a detribalised Nigerian, an older sister and best friend to many, and indeed a mother to a large extended family from Ikenne, Ijebu-Ode, Ghana, Anambra state, Benue state, Hong Kong and the Philippines. She is survived by her husband, children, in-laws, grandchildren and great grandchildren, together with her extended Oshilaja family and her beloved church family. R.I.P, Mymama! t0TJCBNPXP JT 44" UP UIF 1SFTJEFOU PO 4FSWJDF %FMJWFSZ

Omoru Marks Birthday with Orphans To mark his birthday, Christian Erhigbare Omoru recently spent the day with his friends at Vigilant Hearts Orphanage Home in Lagos.

As part of his annual commitment, this year, he visited the Vigilant Hearts Orphanage Home with his friends and colleagues to donate items to the children of the home.

Omoru, who is popularly called by his initials “CEO” declared that he is committed to impacting the lives of these children whose parents have left in the care of Vigilant Heart Orphanage Home.

Speaking with the children and staff of the home, CEO clearly stated that the visit was aimed at demonstrating kindness and replicating what his father, Evang. Amos A. Omoru impacted in him from childhood where he grew up with children that were not directly his biologically.

He added that he also come to specifically “commend the head of the home for carrying out this great responsibility of

Tessy Oshodi, Barr. Chris Omoru, Onome Olugbesan, Bukola Olayode, Igbunu Ogoro, and Proprietress of Vigilant Heart Orphanage

taking adequate care of these children that desire our attention”.

After spending time with the kids, the celebrant and friends donated some gift

items to the home that would help in its daily running.

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PERSPECTIVE

CBN’s Intervention Funds as Catalysts for Economic Recovery Ebuka Chukwuka

N

igeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for the second quarter of 2020 contracted by 6.1 per cent.

The GDP contraction was the first negative growth recorded by the country since the first quarter of 2017.

The development was as a result of the decline in crude oil price and the implementation of lockdown and movement restrictions due to COVID19, which resulted into massive decline in global output. In fact, Nigeria only joined the list of countries such as South Korea (-3.3%), Singapore (-41.2%), US (-9.5%), Germany (-10.1%), among others, that experienced GDP contraction in the second quarter of 2020.

While some have predicted that the country would slip into an economic recession in the third quarter of 2020, when the GDP figures are released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), it is believed that the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) aggressive development finance interventions into critical sectors of the economy would help moderate the recessionary pressure on the economy. It is also expected that the adoption of unconventional monetary policy tools by the central bank would contribute significantly to efforts by the fiscal authorities to jumpstart economic growth and limit the damage caused by the virus.

In fact, CBN Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, recently stressed that, “If we ease the lockdown as quickly as possible, get the businesses back as quickly as possible, those, who may have suffered total disruptions in their business, we would make funds available to them, in the health sector, the SMEs, in the manufacturing sector, if we are able to make funds available to them as quickly as possible and at concessionary rates and also give those who have existing loans in the banking sector an opportunity to restructure their loans, push forward their repayments, then it would be easy for us to get businesses back alive so as to increase production and save the country from recession.”

Precisely, immediately the virus broke out in the country, as part of efforts to cushion its impact on households and SMEs, the CBN had announced an extension of the moratorium on the apex bank’s interventions programmes, creation of a N50 billion targeted credit facility and credit support for the healthcare industry, among other policy measures.

So far, over N49 billion out of N50 billion Targeted Credit Facility meant to cushion the impact of the COVID-19 on the economy has been disbursed.

CBN’s Director, Corporate Communications, Mr. Isaac Okorafor, revealed recently that over 80,000 operators of micro, small and medium scale enterprises (MSMEs) and families benefitted from the intervention fund. The fund was expected to support the federal government’s measures to stimulate economic activities as well as to help the economy avert a looming economic recession.

“So far, out of the N50 billion targeted credit facility for households and small businesses, we have disbursed about N49 billion. We also have other intervention

Emefiele funds such as the N100 billion healthcare facility, whose disbursement is ongoing as well,” Okorafor added.

The apex bank had earlier released guidelines for the disbursement of the special intervention fund.

The NISRAL Microfinance Bank (NMFB) served as the disbursing financial institution and the fund is meant for SMEs, households and enterprises that have verifiable evidence of livelihood and evidence of business activities adversely impacted by the pandemic.

The guidelines for the fund had listed sectors eligible for the credit facility to include agric value chain, hospitality, health, airline service providers, manufacturing/ value addition, trading as well as any other income-generating activities as may be prescribed by the CBN. The scheme was financed out of the CBN’s N220 billion Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Fund (MSMEDF).

Out of the fund, the CBN had earmarked a maximum facility of up to N25 million for MSMEs while households can access up to N3 million based on the activity, cashflow and industry/segment size of a beneficiary.

“Working capital shall be a maximum of 25 per cent of the average of the previous three years’ annual turnover; where the enterprise is not up to three years

in operation, 25 per cent of the previous year ’s turnover will suffice.

Also, as part of its Covid-19 relief package, the central bank had also unveiled a N100 billion health sector credit facility for operators in the sector. The health sector facility is to provide loans to pharmaceutical companies intending to expand/open their drug manufacturing plants in the country and would also accommodate hospital and healthcare practitioners who intend to expand/build the health facilities to first-class centres.

Also, under its healthcare grant that was introduced when the Covid-19 entered the country, the CBN recently said it has so far received over 34 applications requesting for a total of N90 billion out of its healthcare research grant.

The Director, Development Finance, Mr. Yila Yusuf, said about 90 per cent of the applications were from Nigerian universities.

He said: “What is exciting is that 90 per cent of those applications were from our universities.

“So, we are looking at how we can quickly get those proposals to the body of experts, they look at that, and then we can disburse the funds.”

Yusuf added that a body of experts to review the applications and make recommendations to the CBN has been

inaugurated by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr. Boss Mustapha. The body of experts is led by the Director-General of National Agency for Food and Drug Administration (NAFDAC), Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, and consists of independent specialists and government research institutions. It also includes the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), the National Pharmaceutical Research Institute, the Centre for Medical Research, are also part of the body of experts.

According to him, “Also, we have two independent research experts who are quite versatile in administering these grants.

So they will administer the grants and anybody who is eligible can apply.

“The modalities are set out in the guidelines. They will look at the proposals, evaluate them and recommend to the CBN and then we would eventually disburse.”

The CBN director said the applications received were from both public and private universities, while some of the manufacturing companies in Nigeria also applied for the grant.

Also in line with desire to reflate the economy, the CBN, banks and other members of the Bankers’ Committee have unanimously agreed to also extend special facilities to Nigerian-registered airlines and the media industry to enable them adequately address the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Addressing bank chief executives at the bi-monthly virtual meeting of the Bankers’ Committee this week, Emefiele, urged the banks to support local airlines, noting that such support is critical to helping the industry recover from the economic crisis triggered by the pandemic.

Emefiele also advised the banks to support the media to cope with the lingering pandemic in order to avoid massive job losses in the industry.

The Chief Executive Officer, Cowry Assets Management Limited, Mr. Johnson Chukwu, who confirmed that a couple of his clients had accessed some of the intervention funds, described efforts so far by the monetary authorities as a, “a drop in the ocean.”

He, however, stressed the need for the fiscal authorities to also be aggressive in managing the economic effects of Covid-19, saying the CBN’s efforts should be complemented.

“What we have seen is that the intervention in managing the pandemic has largely come from the monetary authorities. We need to see a lot of activities from the fiscal side.

“There are a couple of things that the fiscal authorities can do to moderate the depth of the recession. If you look at the Economic Sustainability Plan, they have made provisions for what they called ‘survival fund.’

The ‘survival fund’ was supposed to support the SMEs to continue to pay salaries of their employees during this economic downturn,” Chukwu explained.

MSMEs employ over 80 per cent of the country’s workforce. Therefore, the expectation is that if they are supported, the contraction in the real sector of the economy would be moderated.

Therefore, there is need for the fiscal authorities to urgently roll out measures to support the development finance efforts of the central bank so as to stimulate economic activities.

Court Nullifies First Guarantee Pension’s EGM Court Nullifies First Guarantee Pension’s EGM A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has nullified the extra-ordinary general meeting of First Guarantee Pension Ltd purportedly held on July 8, 2019 and February 20, 2020.

Justice Taiwo O. Taiwo held that the meeting, having not been convened by the firm’s Board of Directors, of which the plaintiff, Dr Patrick Oziokoja Asadu, a member and Vice Chairman, was not duly convened, was therefore

null and void.

He nullified Asadu’s removal as Vice Chairman, holding that the meeting where this was purportedly done, was not duly held, and was therefore invalid.

Furthermore, the judge nullified the removal of Alhaji Kashim Ibrahim as the Board Chairman of the firm, because without serving a notice of meeting listing such business of removal as an agenda to be transacted at the said meeting, “the meeting was not duly

convened and held, and is therefore null and void.”

He also set aside the extraordinary general meetings “together with all decisions and or resolutions reached therein.”

The judge also made, “an order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendant... from acting on any decisions or resolutions reached at the extra-ordinary general meetings.”

Justice Taiwo, pursuant to Section 223 of the Com-

panies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA), 2004, directed the defendant “to convene an extra-ordinary general meeting or Annual General Meeting in line with its Articles of Association and the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 2004 within 35 days from the date of the judgment in this suit.”

The court made the order in a judgment on August 25, 2020 following an application

by Asadu challenging, among others, his removal without

being notified of the said meeting and without being given an opportunity to be heard.

Asadu had formulated several issues for determination and sought 11 reliefs in his originating motion of July 25, 2020.

Justice Taiwo upheld all the prayers and granted all the reliefs sought He held: “Having examined the processes before me, I am of the well-considered view that the issues be resolved

in favour of the plaintiff. I therefore resolved all the issues in favour of the plaintiff.

“I grant the declaratory prayers/ reliefs 1, 2, 3,4,5,6, and 7. I further make the orders sought by the plaintiff, which is orders 8, 9 and 10.

Order 11 is also granted, however, dividend shall be declared by the company at a general meeting to be convened as prayed for within 35days from the date of this judgment. This is the judgment of the court.”

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T H I S D AY Ëž Í°ÍśËœ Í°ÍŽÍ°ÍŽ

Profit Taking Halts Stock Market’s Eight-day Price Rally Goddy Egene The price rally at the stock market was halted yesterday after eight days following profit taking bellwether stocks. The market has had a positive performance for eight straight days. However, the bears took over yesterday as Dangote Cement Plc, Access Bank Plc and Zenith Bank Plc depreciated.

Consequently, the Nigerian

Stock Exchange (NSE) All-Share Index (ASI) fell 0.10 per cent to close at 25,304.25, while market capitalisation shed N13.5 billion to close at N13.2 trillion.

A total of 19 stocks depreciated compared with 11 stocks that appreciated. Although the index was depressed by the bellwethers, Consolidated Hallmark Insurance (CHI) Plc led the price losers with 8.1 per cent. The underwriting firm recently said its right issue

P R I C E S MAIN BOARD

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of N1.056 billion was 100 per cent subscribed despite the Covid-19 pandemic. According to the company, the successful outcome of this rights issue is a significant boost to its quest to meet the new capital regime announced by the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM). “It is great to see investors’ confidence and trust in our company being exhibited with the full subscription of the rights

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offer, with several shareholders taking up their rights fully and applying for additional units at a time when investors’ appetite is dampened due to the ravaging pandemic,� Group Managing Director/CEO of CHI Plc, Mr. Eddie Efekoha had said.

He explained that the rights issue is the first in the series of steps that will put the company on the track of achieving not just its recapitalization objectives,

T R A D E D MAIN BOARD

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but also the growth strategy as a group.

Fidson Healthcare Plc closed as the second highest price loser, depreciating by 7.2 per cent.

LASACO Assurance Plc shed 6.0 per cent, while Livestock Feeds Plc and Chams Plc went down by 4.7 per cent and 4.5 per cent respectively. Regency Insurance Plc and Royal Exchange Plc shed 4.2 per cent and 4.0 per cent in that order.

O F

On the positive side, May & Baker Nigeria Plc led the price gainers with 9.8 per cent, trailed

by University Press Plc with 9.4 per cent. AXA Mansard Insurance Plc chalked up 6.3 per cent.

Jaiz Bank Plc garnered 5.0 per cent, while Nigerian Breweries Plc went up 2.7 per cent. Champion Breweries Plc and NPF Microfinance Bank Plc appreciated by 2.2 per cent and 1.6 per cent respectively.

2 7 / 0 8 / 2 0 2 0 DEALS

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FRIDAY AUGUST 28, 2020 •T H I S D AY

FRIDAY AUGUST 28, 2020 • T H I S D AY

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FRIDAY, ÍşÎ€Ëœ ͺ͸ͺ͸ Ëž T H I S D AY

TRIBUTE

The Folarin Coker I Knew

Bola Tinubu

The news of the transition of Chief Nathaniel Folarin Coker filled me with utter sadness.

The Baba Eto of Lagos and Bobagunwa of Igede-Ekiti attained a grand old age of 97 and lived a fulfilled life of impact. His departure is painful because of the relationship I had with him as my uncle and mentor and memories of the time we shared together.

He contributed in no small measure in helping to shape my course in life as a young man, and career as a technocrat and public servant. I believe he made similar impact on many of my contemporaries, not just in Lagos but also across the length and breadth of Nigeria.

Papa (as he was fondly called) was the quintessential Lagosian, full of fervour, panache, intellect and industry. He was a renowned socialite and philanthropist. Baba Eto was a passionate volunteer and social worker using the Boys Scout and the Church as veritable platforms of service. Though an Anglican by denomination, his love for God and God's work extended beyond denominational boundaries.

He was a founding father of Lagos State and one of the legendary technocrats that bestrode its public service. He left indelible footprints in practically every aspect of our public service, from agriculture and natural resources, trade and commerce, to education, community and social development.

He contributed in laying the foundation for the state, which I had the rare privilege to strengthen and build upon decades later as Governor. A good friend of the late Oba of Lagos Adeyinka Oyekan II, Chief Coker

brought grace and candour to everything. It was not surprising that he became the Baba Eto of Lagos, an appellation that came to define him throughout his life.

He believed in the values of hard work, diligence, perseverance, integrity and service.

And he upheld those virtues with uncanny resolve everywhere he found himself. He also believed in and lived the good life without crossing the line.

To the glory of God, he was blessed with lovely children who are left behind to continue his good works. One of them is the debonnaire and hardworking Director-General of Nigerian Tourism Development Commission, Folorunsho Coker, who himself, has served Lagos State meritoriously in several capacities.

My condolences to Folorunsho FolarinCoker, a chip off the old block, and a loyal, dependable and competent ally who has continued in the tradition of public service that Chief Folarin Coker bequeathed. To the entire Coker family, be consoled that your patriarch and father lived a long and positively eventful life. I encourage you to continue to maintain and uphold his legacies.

My condolences to Governor Babajide Sanwo-olu and to the Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwanu Osuolale Akiolu.

Baba Eto will certainly be missed by all of us, not just by the family, the traditional institution, but also by the Palace, Lagos State, and the nation as a whole.

We wish our beloved Baba Eto eternal rest in the bosom of the Lord.

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Coker

A Pioneer’s Legacy: Nathaniel Folarin Coker Olasupo Shasore 4P HJWF UIFN B QBTTJOH UIPVHIU UIPTF NFO BOE XPNFO PG FBSMJFS EBZ UIF QFPQMF XIP QBWFE UIF USBDL XF USFBE 5IF QFPQMF XIP MBJE UIF XBZ The common sights, sounds and smells of Lagos Island’s neatly swept narrow streets, yes the town had street sweepers, public water pumps strategically located at corners and intersections, the streets were lit and you would typically see the fortunately placed office workers in white short sleeves, and the wealthier merchants arrive in traditional well embroidered attire; the traders returning from markets as they approached home frontages with intricate agboles where branches of families lived hidden behind; the waft of freshly baked bread greeting passers by.

Elective democracy had been introduced in Nigeria, a new constitution (known as the Clifford Constitution, after Governor Hugh Clifford) was promulgated. General elections were to be held in Nigeria for the first time in 1923.

This was the Colony province of Lagos in British Colonial Nigeria, the land of his birth and so it was, on a Sunday the 22nd of July 1923 when Alfred Babatunde Coker the eldest son of S. Alfred Coker a merchant of Balogun Square Ereko in the famed Olowogbowo area of Lagos who had married Eudora Remilekun Coker had: Nathaniel Folarin, one of their five children.

The five children Stella, Bode (Theophilus Olabode) and then the third Nathaniel Folarin.

After him was Emmanuel Jonathan Olusegun and the fifth child was a girl Oluwatoyin (later Mrs Toyin Animashaun).

Folarin was a ‘Lagos boy’, a product of his environment, as every child is. His was the beautiful Lagos, where everyone on the island new one another, streets had meanings and local home government, was the only thing you knew and feared. The Lagos that did not tolerate the not -acceptable, or nonsense; ‘eko o gba gbere’.

This Lagos, in 1923 was the place of his birth and Oke Popo was his ‘area’, in days when the term ‘area boys’ was merely a description of where you came from. Popo is fairly central on the map of Lagos Island and Joseph Street runs like an artery from the Marina, to Broad Street, Campbell, Igbosere, Bamgbose to Ricca streets - it was at number 28 Joseph Street on the 22nd of July 1923 that Nathaniel Folarin Coker was born.

Baptised at Christ Church Marina, he was

a regular Sunday school boy, served in the choir and enrolled in many church activities for the youth such as ‘The Kuramo Campers’ for young boys, where he was an award-winning swimmer. His strong church grooming saw him breakfasting with Bishop Leslie Gordon Vining and living at a time at Cathedral House with Bishop Howells.

Eleven years later he was enrolled at CMS Grammar School where he was described in his school leaving certificate on 30 May 1942 as follows: “Coker is a lively intelligent and thoughtful young man whose presence in the school has been a pleasure to pupils and staff alike. He has shown himself, trustworthy and loyal. I can commend him to any he meets or works with, with confidence.�

He then voyaged to Exeter in England, where he attended the university college now University of Exeter from 1948 -1950. There he obtained a Diploma in Public Administration. While he was in the UK, he consummated a friendship that had started from back home in his school days, a love that matured and travelled across the sea, which led to marriage in 1951 to Miss Larvinia Apinke (‘Auntie Pinkie’) Vaughan.

And then to the Inns of court, where he was called to the English Bar at Lincoln’s Inn on 12th July 1960.

His appetite for pioneering work was just beginning at the time when Nigeria was contemplating its future, Coker enrolled for and obtained a Higher Standard Certificate in Hausa, which he became a fluent speaker of, and joined the Public Service of Sokoto Province Northern Region as an Administrative Assistant in 1951. He moved to Kano province as an Assistant District Officer (Administrative class) in 1954. He struck many friendships as he rose through the ranks of northern public service and was fondly called ‘Bature Coker’ meaning ‘whiteman Coker’ by both friends and colleagues, like Alhaji Ibrahim Aminu (Uban Aiki) later Tafida of Sokoto and Muhammadu Maccido then Ciroman Sokoto and later Sultan of Sokoto.

Public service was his calling and once regionalisation took hold in Nigeria he moved to the Western Nigeria Public Service to be again - a pioneer - in that service. There he served as a senior Assistant in the Ministry of Justice, then led by the Attorney General & Minister of Justice Chief FRA Williams. Always a pioneer, he was in the Ministry of Home Affairs and Information when that ministry ushered into creation the Mid–Western region.

Ultimately becoming deputy permanent secretary in the Western Nigeria Ministry of Education

in April 1964. His last posting in the West was Deputy Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance till 1968 when he was called to the ultimate pioneering work - the creation of a new public service in Nigeria’s oldest former colony but newest state, Lagos State.

The Governor of Western Nigeria, Colonel Adeyinka Adebayo agreed with the new Military Governor of the new Lagos State, Major Mobolaji Johnson to despatch ‘three of the best’ Mr. S A Thomas who was assigned to Local Government and Chieftaincy affairs; Mr. A. B. A Johnston who took up Works & Planning and Mr. Folarin Coker who took up two ministries - Agriculture & Natural Resources as well as Trade & Industries! He struck a good working relationship with the Commissioner, Alhaji Ganiyu Dawodu and cut the path for national and international trade fairs. No surprise that he was sent on to create the new ministry of Information and Tourism. As fate would have it, his son, Folorunsho, would later be appointed Lagos State Commissioner for Tourism, the same ministry his father created. He is now Director General of Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation.

Folarin Coker was still to cut new pioneer paths yet again in the Ministries of Sports and Social Development under the first Naval Military Governors of Lagos State Navy Captains Shamsudeen Lawal and Ndubuisi Kanu.

He retired from civil, but not public service in 1989 at the statutory age of 55 full of vigour and miles of pioneering still in him; he went on to several national appointments. Becoming a fellow of the National Institute of International Affairs and conferred with the status of Officer of the Most Distinguished Order of the Niger (OON). In 1993 he was appointed Pro Chancellor and Chairman of Council of the University of Port Harcourt. In befitting honour the Lagos State Government named the Lagos State Clinic at the state secretariat Alausa after him.

His best known and most famous moniker is Baba Eto, the title became so coveted that it has been emulated by many in social circles; but in fact it was a formal and solemn title ‘The Baba Eto of Lagos’ as official spokesman and master curator of ceremonial occasions was conferred on him by Oba Adeyinka Oyekan II the revered Oba of Lagos; HRH Ooni Sijuwade Olubuse II later titled him Baba Eto of Yorubaland ensuring that only he held that moniker as of right.

He was socially conscious with a heart for community affairs – leading to his conferment with the title Bobagunwa of Ijede Ekiti; he was

a lovable sociable grandee, a self described ‘social heavyweight’ and therefore a leading member “Elderman� of Yoruba Tennis Club and Island Club. In later years he would be often immaculately turned out in white traditional attire with shoes that were the envy of any gathering.

He was a boardroom and corporate guru participating in many large invested private and quoted companies. In one dispute he battled, the now well known locus classicus court case GLOBE FISHING INDS. LTD. v.

COKER (1990) 7 NWLR (PT. 162) 265 – all the way to the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

Which I appeared in as counsel, albeit on the opposing side.

He was an avid writer, in one of his many books (‘Salute to Stewardship’) he quoted what must have been one of his favoured sayings: “Of mans legacy to eternity, the greatest is the written word� from Plato in Utopia.

I am particularly proud that I share more than one vocation with Chief Baba Eto; he was a senior lawyer, writer, biographer and therefore historian, his many books include ‘A Nigerian Hero: Sir Adetokunboh Ademola’; “ Iya Eko: Oyinkan Abayomi�; and ‘The life of Bishop Kale’.

By his own admission one of his favourite homilies in his own voice was: ‘Well well; I think I would say to you all – do thou always your best and leave to God the rest. For God is our paymaster’ The gift of longevity is, at the end, Gods gift but he left us with some other tips, he never used his installed air conditioning, never had a mobile phone and often ate amala and ewedu. Habits to be emulated perhaps?

He passed peacefully at 97 years, on Wednesday 12th of August 2020, with church hymns he requested for, playing softly to his ears. His memory will always be a blessing to his family and his nation.

He will be fondly remembered and sorely missed by ‘Mama Foli’, Alhaja Humuani Olayinka Agoro, and by Folorunsho and Aisha and his grandchildren Feyintola, Folayinka, Feyiseye Femi & Fife.

Chief Folarin Coker will be gratefully remembered by his beloved Lagos State and Nigeria-at-large for his pioneering work and by the Nigeria that he traversed without bias. He will be eternally remembered for his pioneering noble public service, which led to a long joyous ‘beautiful life’. r4IBTPSF B 4FOJPS "EWPDBUF PG /JHFSJB 4"/

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FRIDAY AUGUST 28, 2020 • T H I S D AY

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NEWS

Soyinka Cautions Buhari’s Administration against Water Resources Bill Ejiofor Alike Nobel laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, has condemned the re-introduction of the Bill on National Water Resources 2020 to the National Assembly.

In a statement issued yesterday, Soyinka warned that the bill, if passed into law, would hand the president “absolute control over the nation’s entire water resources, both over and underground.”

“A roundly condemned project, blasted out of sight by public outrage one or two years ago, is being exhumed and sneaked back into service by none other than a failed government, and with the consent of a body of people, supposedly elected to serve as custodians of

the rights, freedoms and existential exigencies of millions,” Soyinka said in the statement titled MLK’s Mighty Stream of Righteosuness,’ in reference to the late Martin Luther King’s ‘I have a dream’ speech.

The Premium Times reported that the bill, which failed to get a concurrent passage by both Houses in the Eighth Assembly, has passed second reading in the House of Representatives and has been referred to a House committee.

The leaders of the southern Nigeria had kicked against the bill, alleging that it is ploy by federal government to hand over the waters and river banks to the killer-herdsman and the earlier attempts to annex their ancestral lands through RUGA programme

failed.

Civil society groups had also argued that the bill would breach Nigerians the right to water.

The Nobel laureate said it is time to move beyond denunciations and embark on practical responses for the bill’s “formal deactivation and permanent internment.”

“Let all retain in their minds that, from the same source that preached the ‘streams of righteousness’ is

encountered the promise of ‘no more floods, the fire next time.’

“In any case, let the promulgators of this obscenity, high and low, understand that the placid waters they think to control unjustly and grotesquely, will turn to be Martin Luther King’s ‘mighty stream of righteousness’ that will overwhelm and sweep them off their complacent, and increasingly loathsome sectarian, conspiratorial

heights.

“One polluted stream of human existence compounds the next. A violation here joins forces with its tributary of resentment there yonder, all seemingly unconnected.

Martin Luther King’s streams of righteousness turn into a mighty torrent of repulse that overwhelms the perpetrators but, alas, takes down much else as collateral, irreparable damage.

“That is the only cause for regret and – restraint. Hence our duty to position that anguished question frontally, and call the world to witness our open propagation of that challenge: Do future lives matter?

“Let Buhari and his myrmidons ponder that question in the deepest recesses of their hearts and minds.

They should not bequeath to future generations the harvest of the grapes of wrath,” Soyinka added.

NERC Confirms September 1 Take-off Date for New Tariffs Discos get 10-day deadline for meter installation Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) yesterday confirmed a THISDAY exclusive report on the September 1 take-off date for the new electricity tariffs regime approved by President Muhammadu Buhari.

In a note titled: “Answers to Frequently Asked Questions,” the regulatory agency clearly stated that the Service-Based Tariff (SBT) regime will now commence from the beginning of next month, adding however that the “poor” would not be affected by the expected increase.

But the review however runs contrary to the National Assembly’s position that there should be no further action on the planned increase until the first quarter of next year.

The lawmakers had argued that the timing was wrong, given that Nigerians are already suffering under the yoke of the COVID-19 pandemic.

However, NERC insisted that

there will never be a good time for the review, stating that it will ensure that Discos improve on the quality of service as well as a 10-day deadline to install meters for power consumers who pay upfront.

“There will never be a good time to review the tariff. The interest here is to ensure that Nigerians are migrated to a threshold where there will be continuous improvement in the quality of service delivery.

“The proposed serviced-based tariff review which comes into effect by 1st September 2020 will only affect customers that live in areas where their Discos promise to provide them electricity for at least 12 hours.

“The SBT will operate a progressive regime-the customers that receive the highest quality of service (12-24 hours per day) will pay the highest tariff. Customers that receive under 12 hours of service per day will continue paying their current tariff, that is, no increase on September 1,” the regulator noted.

A NEW FEATHER TO HIS CAP...

Governorship candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu (left); and Oyakhire of Ora Land, Chief Imohimi Ugusten, during the decoration of the APC candidate with the honorary title of the ‘Oyakhire of Ora Clan,’ at the monarch’s palace in Owan West LGA of Edo State...yesterday

Again, ECOWAS Leaders Meet on Mali Today Military rulers release detained president Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja The Authority of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States will today (Friday) hold another Extraordinary Summit on the socio-political situation in Mali.

This is coming as the ousted President Ibrahim Keita, who has been detained by the military junta since August 18, has been released.

The 75-year-old former president was reportedly released yesterday morning.

The summit was convened based on the decision of the extraordinary summit of the ECOWAS Heads of State which held on August 20, following the military coup in the West African country.

According to a statement issued yesterday by the ECOWAS Commission, the parley will hold virtually through videoconference.

The statement titled, ‘ECOWAS leaders to meet again on the socio-political situation in Mali,’ stated, “ECOWAS has strongly condemned the undemocratic

change of government as is against the ECOWAS Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance and issued some sanctions in the Declaration of August 20, 2020, on the sociopolitical situation in Mali.”

The Authority of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government has been mediating in the crisis and had held several mediation and peace missions to Mali.

Former President Goodluck Jonathan had led other ECOWAS leaders in meeting with the coup leaders who were insisting on a

three-year transition programme.

Meanwhile, the military junta which calls itself the National Committee for the Salvation of the People, yesterday released Keita.

Keita’s release was a key demand of ECOWAS, the African Union, and the European Union and other international groups.

Keita was held outside Bamako, the country’s capital, alongside Boubou Cisse, his prime minister, and some other high-ranking government officials after a coup that led to his resignation.

Anambra State; Deacons Digital Solutions Ltd-96; Federal Poly, Oko 314,; and Mega Dataview, Onitsha-733.

Others are Bayelsa State: Linnet Paul Innovative Institute, Yenagoa- 3435; Niger Delta University-1200; Edo State: Diict, Benin-81; Gateway Edutech, Benin-10; Gifted Hands science and Technology, Benin-223; NABTEB ICT Training Centre, Benin-291; Samuel Adegboyega University, Ogwa-670 and Supreme ICT Foundation, Benin-22.

The list also includes Enugu State: Elco ICT, Nsukka-538; Peaceland and Stalwart Solutions, Enugu-554; Union ICT-773; Kaduna State: Time online ICT, Sabon Tasha, Kaduna-67: Lagos State: Duntro High School, Surulere-21; Elite BusinessConsult, Ikorodu 218 and Rivers State: Ave Maria international academy, Rumuodara, Port Harcourt-1731.

The Registrar of JAMB, Prof.

Ishaq Oloyede, who made this known during a virtual meeting held yesterday with

the representatives of the affected centres, said the centres charged the candidates more than the stipulated amount for effecting correction on the profile as well as bypassing One-Time Password (OTP) required of candidates to initiate such changes.

Oloyede said the affected CBT centre owners would be prosecuted, adding also that any centre that shared the same ownership with the affected ones will be suspended from all JAMB activities.

Nigeria’s COVID-19 Cases Rise By 296 to 53,317 Nine States Affected as JAMB Delists 22 Centres Capital Territory (FCT), 15; Kaduna, Martins Ifijeh Nigeria has recorded 296 new cases of COVID-19, bringing to 53,317 the number of confirmed cases in the country.

Announcing this yesterday, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) said Plateau recorded 85 new cases; Enugu, 46; Oyo, 31; Lagos, 21; Rivers, 20; Federal

13; Bauchi, 12; Delta and Ekiti, 11 each; Akwa Ibom, seven; Ebonyi, five; Kwara, five; Ogun and Osun, four each; Gombe, three; and Niger two cases.

“Nigeria has so far recorded 53,317 confirmed cases of COVID-19. 40,726 patients have been discharged, while 1,011 persons have died.”

Buhari Appoints Salim as New SON DG James Emejo in Abuja

President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the appointment of Mr. Farouk A. Salim as the new director-general of Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON).

The appointment which has four years duration will take effect from September 26, 2020.

The appointment of the new DG was conveyed by the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr. Niyi Adebayo, in a letter dated August 21.

Salim will replace the current DG of the standards regulatory

agency, Mr. Osita Aboloma, whose tenure expires next month.

Separately, Buhari also approved the appointment of Bashir Tijjani Babajo as the executive director of Operations, Nigerian Agricultural Insurance Corporation (NAIC) for a fouryear term in the first instance with effect from August 1, 2020, and further renewed the appointment of Philip Ashinze as the executive director, Finance and Administration for a second and final four-year term with effect from August 1.

Kuni Tyessi in Abuja

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has delisted over 22 Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres across nine states for allegedly defrauding 11,823 of its candidates to the tune of N59 million.

The affected CBT centres are: Bright Stars, Aba, Abia State, 68 candidates; Flourish Computer Centre, Akwa Ibom State-105; Ibom-E-Library, Akwa Ibom-12; Chukwuemeka Odumegwu University, Igbariam-661;

Blasphemy: Ganduje Backs Death Sentence on Kano Singer Ibrahim Shuaibu in Kano The Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has supported the death sentence judgement on a 22-year-old Aminu Yahaya Sharif over the act of blasphemy reportedly committed by him.

The judgment was passed by a Judge of Kano Upper Shari’ah Court, Aliyu Kani, on August 10, 2020, and the judgement was

based on Section 382 (b) of Kano Shari’ah Penal Code of 2000.

Speaking after a stakeholders’ meeting over the issue, Ganduje noted that the convict had given a thirty-day grace to appeal the judgement, adding that the state government had no right to execute any decision within the stated period.

“What happened is so important to the state and to the security of the state and the

country in general. What the court did is absolutely right. And we support it completely. Such an irresponsible act, if not because of the state power, nobody could know what would happen in the future.“The man who did that confessed to be a follower of a particular Islamic Sect. But the adherents of this sect rejected him right away. So, we need to understand the importance of this judgement. We are lucky

that scholars maintained that it wasn’t a case for a particular sect, but rather that of one who just decided to derail,” he stated.

The governor said the state government has accepted the death sentence verdict and the rule of law surrounding the case.

“I will not waste time in signing the warrant for the execution of the man who blasphemed our Holy Prophet of Islam,” he vowed.

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Edo APC, PDP Bicker over Alleged Kidnappings Adibe Emenyonu in Benin-city The All Progressives Congress (APC) has alleged plans by the Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to arrest its leaders over staged kidnappings in the state.

The Chairman of the APC Media Campaign Council, John Mayaki, had raised the alarm in a statement issued yesterday, alleging that the governor and the PDP are concluding plans

to fake the kidnap of some identified PDP members across the state and blame the APC for their disappearance.

But the PDP, through its state Publicity Secretary, Chris Nehikhare, denied the allegation, querying if the APC is in PDP to know what it is planning regarding the election.

According to the APC Media Campaign Council in a statement issued Mayaki yesterday in Benin-city, Obaseki is already intimidating the police

to join in the plot by arresting and remanding APC leaders over the staged kidnappings, to prevent them from continuing their grassroots mobilisation of voters.

The statement read: “We have been made aware of plans by Obaseki, and his party, the PDP, to stage kidnappings of some of their members across the state and blame the APC for their disappearance.

“We have confidentially obtained the list of some PDP

members penned for the fake kidnappings in Edo South senatorial district and the proposed cash allowance the governor is offering them in exchange for their cooperation in the reprehensible plot.”

“We are also aware that Obaseki is already mounting pressure on the police to play along in this shameful plot. He has requested that they commence arrest of our leaders across the state and keep them in detention over the fake

abduction just to keep them out of circulation and prevent them from continuing their grassroots mobilisation of voters.”

In his reaction, the state Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Nehikhare, denied the allegation, describing it as laughable.

He said: “APC is always coming up with what PDP is planning, are they in PDP to know what PDP is planning?

Are they part of the plan, how did they get this information that PDP wants to stage-

manage kidnaps? It is the cry of a drowning man; APC is drowning and it is coming up with all manner of narratives to fill up media spaces.

“Their campaign is a failure, their message is not being listened to by Edo people, so they think that by raising the alarm and trying to cause chaos in the state, the election can be postponed because that is what they desire to get. If they don’t have anything to say, I think the media should ignore them.”

Oba of Benin Plans Peace Meeting with Governorship Candidates As part of the efforts to curb violence ahead of the governorship election in Edo State, the Oba of Benin, Ewuare II, yesterday said he would invite all the candidates participating in the governorship election to his palace to sign a peace pact.

The monarch who said this while receiving, the Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof.

Mahmood Yakubu, and his entourage in palace, said the peace pact would enable them to talk to their followers to stay away from violence before, during and after the election.

The royal father said he was

not happy at what politicians had turned the state into because of their personal interests.

He noted that he was a father to all, adding that no father would be happy when his children were always engaging themselves in a fight at home.

Meanwhile, Yakubu and the Edo State Commissioner of Police, Johnson Kokumo, have assured that the September 19, Edo governorship election will be credible.

Both men spoke during a meeting of members of the Inter-agency Consultative Committee on Election Security in Benin on Thursday.

Ohanaeze Vows to Unravel Circumstances Surrounding Enugu Killings Ugwuanyi summons security meeting Christopher Isiguzo in Enugu The Ohanaeze Ndigbo has vowed to get to the root of last Sunday’s violent clash in Enugu State between members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and security operatives which led to the death of several persons on either side.

The organisation said it must unravel the circumstances leading to the tragic incident, even as it expressed grief at the situation.

This came as the state Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, announced yesterday that an emergency security council meeting to discuss the tragic incident would be held by on Tuesday next week.

The governor in a statement issued by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Prof Simon Ortuanya, said the meeting would take place at the Executive Council Chambers of the Government House in Enugu by 2p.m.

On its part, the Ohanaeze Ndigbo President-General, Chief Nnia Nwodo, in a statement issued by his Media Adviser, Chief Emeka Attamah, said the body is presently studying events surrounding the violent clash and would make its findings known as soon as possible.

According to him, “In the last two days, news has broken out about clashes between IPOB and security agencies in Emene, Enugu State.

The Chairman of the Nigeria National Polioplus Committee of Rotary International, Dr. Tunji Funsho, said the organisation has spent $2.2billion to eradicate wild poliovirus.

He said about $298million was committed to anti-polio campaign and vaccination in 15 years in Nigeria. He also said about $17billion was spent by nations and global community on polio eradication. He made the disclosures while speaking with reporters on WPV-free certification by the Africa Regional Certification Commission (ARCC) on Tuesday.

Nigeria has been certified polio-free by the World Health Organisation.

Funsho said more needed to be done on routine immunisation, as a handful of states had been under-performing in this respect.

He said: “I, the National Polioplus Committee, and all the Rotarians in Nigeria who have been working

in tandem feel a deep sense of accomplishment and relief.

“At the same time, we must remind ourselves that we have not reached the bus stop in our wild poliovirus eradication; it is just a comma. We are looking forward to a time when we can actually say that the job is done and no child is paralyzed by the wild poliovirus.

“When we’re talking about funding, we have surpassed our deadline of the year 2000; we have gone another 20 years and that has its attendant costs which has increased the cost of this effort to almost $19bn and still counting because we have not eradicated polio from the world.

“Rotary has spent at least $2.2bn out of the $17bn on polio eradication worldwide. In Nigeria alone, in the last 15 years, we have expended about $298 million on the programme and we expect that we will still need some funds.

TWENTY-NINE HEARTY CHEERS...

L-R- Speaker of Abia State House of Assembly, Hon. Chinedum Orji; Chairman of Abia State Advisory Council, Dr. Amahia Ezeikpe; wife of Deputy Governor, Mrs. Vivian Ude Oko Chukwu; Governor of the state, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu; his wife, Deaconess Nkechi Ikpeazu; and the Deputy Governor, Hon. Ude Oko Chukwu, during the cutting of cake for the 2020 Abia Day celebration in Umuahia... yesterday

Kaigama Kicks against CAMA Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja The Archbishop of Abuja Catholic Diocese, Ignatius Kaigama yesterday added his voice to that of prominent Christians who have condemned the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) 2020.

He said the federal government’s motive behind CAMA is bad, adding that it should be reviewed to avoid a

crisis in the country.

Kaigama spoke in Abuja during his Pallium investiture ceremony by the Antonio Filipazzi Apostolic Nuncio to Nigeria, Most Rev. Antonio Filipazzi.

On August 7, 2020, President Muhammadu Buhari assented to CAMA 2020, which repeals and replaces the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 1990.

The controversial Section 839

(1) and (2) provides that religious bodies and non-governmental organisations will be strictly regulated by the Registrar-General of Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) and a supervising minister.

The law also wields power to suspend the trustees of an association or a religious body and appoint an interim manager or managers to coordinate its affairs where it reasonably believes that

there had been any misconduct or mismanagement, or where the affairs of the association are being run fraudulently or where it is necessary or desirable for the purpose of public interest.

Kaigama said: “Our experts are dealing with the issue of CAMA. It is not something we can just talk about anyhow. This needs careful analysis and we are doing that.

Community Policing: Afenifere Backs Akeredolu, Makinde Deji Elumoye in Abuja The Pan Yoruba Socio-Cultural Group, the Afenifere, has backed the stand of the Governors of Ondo and Oyo States not to subsume AMOTEKUN, the regional security outfit of the six Southwest states under the control of the Inspector General of Police (IGP).

The Chairman of the South West Governors, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State, and his Oyo State counterpart, Mr. Seyi Makinde, had earlier this week rejected the federal government’s proposal that regional security outfits like AMOTEKUN would be under the supervision of the Inspector General of Police.

A statement issued yesterday

by the Spokesman of Afenifere, Mr. Yinka Odumakin, expressed gladness that the two Southwest governors “have both rejected the un-federal suggestion.”

He said: “We back them and insist on the rights of our homeland governments to control internal security. Enough of what has not worked.

“We advise the federal government to continue patching

its failed spots of the security architecture and allow regions free hands to run their initiatives.

“The story of the group born out of struggle for freedom against unitary command and control is well known.”

He further explained that “Amotekun exists today as a function of law validly made by Yoruba States and signed by their governors.

Buhari Tasks Senior Oil Workers on Manpower Devt Rotary Spends $2.2bn Onyebuchi Buhari made the charge in contributions to the development development of the country.

Ezigbo in Abuja a message at the 6th Triennial and sustainability of the oil and “It is the major contributor of on Polio Eradication foreign exchange earnings to the President Muhammadu Buhari PENGASSAN National Delegates’ gas industry in Nigeria.

According to him, Nigeria has Nigeria’s government accounting has urged the Petroleum Conference, which was flagged and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) to assist in the drive to provide the muchneeded highly skilled manpower that would meet the nation’s developmental challenge in the oil and gas industry.

off yesterday in Abuja.

Buhari, who was represented by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Mr. Temipre Sylva, noted that the PENGASSAN consists of professional men and women who continue to make significant

earned its place in the league of oil and gas producing nations, standing at 10th and 9th positions in global oil and gas reserves rating respectively.

He said: “Nigerian oil and gas industry remains the main driver for economic and infrastructural

for around 10 per cent for the nations GDP as well as providing employment to a significant number of skilled, semi-skilled, and unskilled labour. All these would not have been possible without the diligent contributions of PENGASSAN.”

NEPAD: AU Peer Review Ongoing Despite COVID-19 Challenges King AkaninAbuja The African Union Development Agency-New Partnership for Africa’s Development/African Peer Review Mechanism (AUDANEPAD/APRM) second peer review is ongoing despite the restrictions posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The National Co-ordinator/ CEO NEPAD Nigeria, Ms

Gloria Akobundu, disclosed this yesterday during a press briefing at the AUDA-NEPAD Nigeria Headquarters, Abuja.

Gloria stated that the exercise would be conducted successfully with faultless procedures, in line with the adopted road map and time frame as directed by President Muhammadu Buhari, despite the restrictions and challenges of COVID-19 nationally and globally.

This followed the broad sensitisation and training session on sharing experiences for the conduct of a second peer review, the virtual training, and the domestication of the APRM questionnaires for the country’s self-assessment exercise.

She urged the AUDA-NEPAD/ APRM partners and the media to help in the sensitisation of the exercise, which she said is ongoing in the country’s six geo-political

zones. Speaking at the press briefing, the Chairman of the National Governing Council of the APRM, Senator Abba Ali, stated that “this second peer review is necessary to identify deficiencies while reinforcing best practices, inform Nigerians on the state of the programme, strengthen partnerships for economic growth and to achieve a proper statistics of governance in Nigeria.”

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Splinter Group Emerges from NBA Peter Uzoho A splinter group with the name, New Nigerian Bar Association (NNBA), has emerged from the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA).

A statement made available to journalists, according to Irohinoodua, indicated that the new association will be inaugurated soon.

The statement was signed by two northern lawyers who are the Conveners, Nuhu Ibrahim and Abdulbasit Suleiman The new group said the formation of the new group was informed by the recent developments in the NBA, following the disagreement on the invitation of Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai as a guest at the NBA conference.

In its statement termed NBA “peddling of sectional interests,� the group noted that the recent rumblings from the NBA are leaving much to be desired within the ranks of concerned lawyers especially from Northern part of the country.

“What has been happening recently has exposed the inability of the NBA to manage and contain the heterogeneity of its members as well as their various interests. Its penal powers has been deployed discriminatively on the basis of ethnicity and regionalism.�

The convenvers said “As a body of lawyers who have undergone training towards ensuring the promotion and protection of human rights and liberties, the NBA is supposed to live above sentiments, regionalism and discrimination on any basis and of any kind.

Therefore, the NBA cannot afford to be seen not to be upholding the rights and freedom of its own members if at all, it should be seen to be practising what it preaches. As the Hausa saying goes: Idan Kura tana maganin zaho, ta yi ma kanta (If Hyena has cure for diarrhea, let her use it for herself).�

It noted that The New Nigerian Bar Association have been watching the activities of the NBA, an association.

“We all looked forward to joining with high hopes before being called to the Nigerian Bar, forcing idiosyncrasies of few on the majority of its members especially in recent times. “No wonder, NBA NEC,

which is the highest decisionmaking organ of the association failed to uphold the fundamental principles of fair hearing which in itself, is the fundamental aspect of rule of law, on the allegations against the Executive

Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai as were contained in a petition

by Chidi Odinkalu a long-time foe of His Excellency and a lawyer of eastern extraction, but the NBA failed to extend

the same treatment to southern invitees who were also petitioned and are also alleged to have committed similar or more human rights abuses than those alleged against Mallam el-Rufai.�

HEALTHCARE ON THEIR MINDS...

L-R: Principal Veterinary Officer, Lagos State Ministry of Agriculture, Dr. Gbolabo Kehinde; Nollywood Actress, Shola Shobowale; Managing Director, OOK Nigeria Limited, Mrs. Omolara Svensson; Nollywood Actress, Enado Odigie; representative of Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, Dr. Tolulope Akin Fawole; and Nollywood Actor, Alex Ekubo, at the health monitoring service Nigeria launch by OOK Group in SUNDAY ADIGUN Lagos‌recently

Task Force Arrests 11 Illegal FG Moves to Deploy N-Power Beneficiaries to MDAs Miners in Ogun No fewer than 11 persons, including a former councillor, were arrested by a special task force against illegal mining and excavating on a portion of land at Ijigun, Itele in the Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Council, in Ogun State.

The Task Force comprising the military, Nigerian Civil Defence Corps

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personnel and others from the Federal Ministry of Mines and Steel Development led by one Ayelabola Olubunmi, also confiscated 15 excavators, two pickups, one pale loader one Mitsubishi vehicles and the sum of N11,900 from one Ezekiel Ojebisi who claimed to be a ticketer to loading sand vehicles, when they busted the illegal mining land about one kilometer.

Describing the illegal mining on the land as economic sabotage, Olubunmi said the ministry is now braced up to stop any group or individuals, anywhere, who aimed at rendering the onerous job of the ministry to unlock the economic potential of the solid mineral sub-sector in Nigeria to a nullity.

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Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja

The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Hajiya Sadiya Umar Farouq, has revealed ongoing plan to ensure that exited and eligible N-Power beneficiaries are absorbed into government programmes.

Farouq has insisted that the ministry would withhold the March to June payment

of about 14,000 beneficiaries that were omitted by the Accountant General of the Federation’s Office by the Government Integrated Financial Management System (GIPMIS) payment platform arising from discrepancies identified in their accounts.

The minister noted that their payment will be withheld, adding that any beneficiary receiving payment from other government will be rejected

by the GIPMIS. She also announced approval of the payment of stipends to the exiting N-Power beneficiaries under one of its National Social Investment Programmes.

Farouq in a statement issued yesterday in Abuja by her Special Assistant on Media, Mrs Nneka Anibeze, said exited beneficiaries should exercise more patience and await the result of her efforts.

“We have directed Focal Persons of National Social Investment Programmes in the states to submit an updated list of the exited N-Power beneficiaries that are interested in participating in the transition plans of the ministry. “Meanwhile, approval has been given for the payment of the outstanding stipends for the exited N-Power Batches A and B beneficiaries.

PDP Condemns Arrest of Its Member By DSS in Kogi, Demands His Release Chuks Okocha in Abuja The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday demanded an immediate and unconditional release of one Mr. Aminu Ademu, who was arrested by the Department of State Services (DSS).

The party said it received information that certain operatives of the service, in a Gestapo style, yesterday

invaded the residence of a Kogi State-born political activist and member of the PDP, Mr. Austin Okai, in a bid to arrest him.

The PDP National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, in a statement said: “Our party was further informed that Ademu was picked by the DSS in place of his cousin, Okai, who they have been allegedly hounding for

unexplained reasons. “Our party vehemently condemns this resort to use of state apparatus of power to hound, harass, intimidate, illegally arrest and detain innocent citizens in direct violation of their constitutionally guaranteed rights to personal liberty and freedom of expression. “We hope that this clampdown is not a reaction

to Okai’s outspokenness and revelation on the alleged activities of the Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, on the awaited Supreme Court judgment on the state governorship election.�

The party noted that such action on innocent Nigerians is totally a direct assault on our democratic order, and hereby demanded the unconditional release of Ademu.

Ikpeazu Orders Downward Review of Appointees’ Emoluments Tobi Soniyi Abia State Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, has ordered a downward review of emoluments payable to all political appointees, in the face of difficulty posed by the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic.

Speaking yesterday at a gathering in Umuahia, the state capital, for the 2020 Abia Day celebrations to mark the 29th anniversary of the state creation, the governor said the state would continue to make steady progress even as he admitted that the state continues to face different challenges.

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He said the state must appreciate the reality of the new normal imposed by the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Abia is one of the states created on August 29, 1991, by the military administration of General Ibrahim Babangida (rtd).

He said: “Since mid-2015 when you elected me to serve as your governor, my administration has faced the hydra-headed challenges of governance head on. While

we continue to face challenges, we beat our chest in humility to say that we have made a lot of progress and recorded some solid achievements in several areas.�

Ikpeazu said the year started with high hopes, but noted that the outbreak of COVID-19 took the entire world by surprise, and shut down the global economy with severe economic consequences. “In Abia State, we were faced

with a dire situation. The reality is that we must live with the new normal. “One of the inescapable effects of the pandemic on the global economy is the need to make necessary adjustments to meet the new challenges. Budgetary estimates will change on account of decreasing revenues. Our people must prepare their minds for this inevitable adjustment,� he explained.

Sirika Relocates to Enugu Ahead of Airport Reopening Kasim Sumaina in Abuja Ahead of the planned reopening of the Akanu Ibiam International Airport Enugu on August 30, 2020, the Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, has immediately relocated to Enugu with his officials and aides.

The minister’s relocation to Enugu, accordingly, is to monitor the finishing touches being done by the contractors handling the runway reconstruction and installation of facilities at the airport.

In a statement made available

to journalists in Abuja yesterday by the Ministry’s Director of Press, James Odaudu, it was learnt that “the relocation is also to ensure that nothing stands in the way of the planned reopening.�

There have been apprehensions about the possibility of the resumption of flights at the airport as planned, as a result of the recent ‘unwarranted and ill-advised pulling down of about two kilometres stretch of the perimeter fence of the airport by an individual claiming ownership of the land on which the fence

was raised’. The minister has, however, given the assurance that everything possible was being done to ensure that the people of the South-east region, who are the major beneficiaries of the project, begin to enjoy flight operations at the airport from on Sunday.

Sirika also commended the governors of the South-east states, especially Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State, for joining efforts with the Ministry of Aviation to ensure a successful return of activities at the airport.

38

˜ ͺ΀˜ ͺ͸ͺ͸ ˾ T H I S D AY

FRIDAYSPORTS

Group Sports Editor Duro Ikhazuagbe Email duro.ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com 0811 181 3083 SMS ONLY

Rivers Govt Drags NFF to CAS over 2019/20 NPFL Table Femi Solaja Rivers United FC’s disagreement with the League Management

Company (LMC) on the placement of Enyimba over the Port Harcourt-based club has resulted in the Pride of Rivers

Drogba Rejected for Côte d’Ivoire FA Elections Didier Drogba has been told he is not eligible to stand in upcoming elections to be the next president of the Ivory Coast Football Federation (FIF).

Along with three others, Drogba submitted papers to stand in the polls earlier this month.

The FIF’s Electoral Commission ruled that the former Chelsea striker did not fulfil its long list of eligibility criteria. His bid was rejected as two of the names he had submitted as his sponsors were ruled not to have the necessary authority to do so.

Officials from the Ivorian club Africa Sport and a body representing referees, AMAF-CI, had also backed the federation’s current first vice-president Sory

Didier Drogba ...more hurdles on his way to the Ivorian FA job

Diabate.

Different officials from the same organisations had also signed Drogba’s papers, with the FIF’s commission ruling they were not authorised to do so. In the case of Africa Sports, a sporting club in Ivory Coast, the head of its football section had given his approval to Drogba while the chairman of the whole club had backed Diabate.

It meant that Drogba only had the backing of two topflight Ivorian clubs and not the three that FIF statutes demand.

The rejection will come as a bitter blow to football fans in Ivory Coast, thousands of whom had come out to support him earlier this month when he submitted his bid to stand.

Drogba played more than 100 times for the Elephants including at the 2006 and 2010 World Cups, and as well as Chelsea he played for French giants Marseille, Chinese club Shanghai Shenhua and Galatasaray in Turkey.

An application for Paul Koffi Kouadio was also rejected, leaving Diabate and Yacine Idriss Diallo, a former FIF third vice-president, as the remaining candidates.

Drogba and Kouadio both now have five days to appeal against the decision.

State heading to the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) in Switzerland to adjudicate on the matter.

This decision to take the matter to CAS was prompted

by Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Committee’s report that endorsed LMC’s position of placing Enyimba ahead of Rivers United in the final standing of the NPFL table.

Rivers State’s government queried the recent trip of NFF’s President Amaju Pinnick to Abia State last week Friday, only for the Football Committee to submit its position on Monday rubber stamping the decision to favour Enyimba as the second placed team of the NPFL. Rivers Commissioner for Sports, Boma Iyaye stated the position of the State government on the final standing yesterday while receiving the newly elected executive of Sports Writers

Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Rivers chapter on a courtesy visit at his office in Port Harcourt.

Iyaye listed eight grounds of objections to the report of the NFF’s Football Committee, pointing out that “in the circumstances, we are constrained to express our deep reservations about certain half-truths, deliberate distortion of facts and obvious misinformation,” he said.

On the Committee’s claim that the clubs were duly carried along and voted twice in the final decision to end the league and use the Point-Per-Game (PPG) system, he stated that “The truth is that Rivers United Football Club never objected to the PPG, and continues to support the PPG system as agreed by the majority of the Clubs.

“Our position has always been that, rather than use an inconclusive head-to-head to separate two teams tied on

points, the rules guiding the operations of the NPFL states that ‘goal difference’ shall be the first option to be used in separating teams that are tied on the same points, followed by ‘higher goals scored’ and lastly, head-to-head. We are only against the selective application of the Rules,” observed Iyaye.

The sports commissioner argued that Rivers United has a genuine case based on facts but were only being denied their rights owing to attempts by some people to deliberately shortchange the club.

“This is a clear case of injustice and undue victimization and in light of this development, the Rivers State Government; sponsors of Rivers United Football Club, is compelled to seek the proper interpretation of the applicable rules, and a pronouncement on the propriety or otherwise of the actions

and decisions of the LMC on the matter, from the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS).

“We are eager for justice and determined to protect Rivers people and its interest in line with the philosophy of our leader, Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike.”

He called on the Minister of Youth and Sports, Sunday Dare to wade into the matter and ensure that justice is dispensed in a free and fair manner.

“The President of NFF, Amaju Pinnick and Shehu Dikko (LMC chairman) are taking football in Nigeria 50 years behind. They should be called to order or Nigerian football will continue to dwindle,” he stressed.

The commissioner had earlier assured the newly elected SWAN executive led by Udede Jim-Opiki of support and cooperation in the discharge of their duties.

FA Community Shield Live on DStv, GOtv Pinnick Calls on Kwara State to Immortalise Rashidi Yekini Max and Jolli

Rivers United are heading to Court of Arbitration for Sports to claim their number two slot of the 2019/20 NPFL season and the ticket to play in the CAF Champions League

The 2020-21 Premier League season is just around the corner, with the battle set to begin in earnest on Saturday, 12 September for the Premier League and La Liga and on Saturday, 19 September for Serie A. Arsenal and Liverpool will be raising the curtain on the highly anticipated season, with African superstars, Mohamed Salah and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang going head to head when they meet in the FA Community Shield on Saturday, 29 August.

MultiChoice Nigeria said in a statement yesterday that DStv subscribers will have a front-row seat to the football action on SuperSport 3 and SuperSport 10 when the game broadcasts live and in HD at 4:30pm, whilst GOtv Max and Jolli customers will have access to the game on SuperSport Select 2 at no extra cost!

“In line with our mission to enrich the lives of our customers we felt it important to kick off this new football

season with a wider broadcast of the anticipated clash and make it an inclusive experience for all our valued customers”, said John Ugbe, Chief Executive Officer, MultiChoice Nigeria.

Arsenal will be looking to make a big statement in the clash, with their FA Cup triumph at the end of the last season, signaling their intent to return to glory in what will be manager Mikel Arteta’s first full campaign in charge.

They also defeated Liverpool 2-1 when the teams last met – in a Premier League clash at the Emirates Stadium in mid-July – thanks to goals from Alexandre Lacazete and Reiss Nelson, though it was a match in which the Gunners clung on for the three points.

Liverpool, meanwhile, are still basking in the glow of their first league title in 30 years, though manager Jurgen Klopp will want his side to quickly rediscover the hunger that drove them to glory through 2019-20.

Football House inaugurated in Ilorin

Hammed Shittu in Ilorin President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Mr. Amaju Pinnick, has called on the Kwara State government to immortalise former Super Eagles forward, Rashidi Yekini by naming the Ilorin Stadium after the late soccer icon.

Speaking during a courtesy call on Governor Alhaji AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq at the Government House in Ilorin, Pinnick said for the contributions of Yekini to the national team, he deserved to be rewarded by naming the Kwara State Stadium Complex after him.

The NFF Chief was in the Kwara capital to officially inauguration the Football House in Ilorin.

On the project that brought him to the state, Pinnick said that the current team at the NFF remained determined to develop football in Nigeria, particularly

at the grassroots level.

He said that the development would assist the NFF to tap young talented stars that can represent the nation in any sporting events .

Speaking on the Football House project, Pinnick stressed that, “When Barrister A.U Mustapha and I decided to go to Accra, Ghana, one of the requests we made was to have a football houses in all the 36 states of the federation.

“We started with six and today by the special grace of God we are commissioning the first one in Kwara State,” he said. “This is quite symbolic because we have the governor that cares. It is quite epochal because we have a governor that believes in the development of football.

“This is made possible because the governor understands that the football is part of the large ecosystem in which a player can make a career and channel

it into a productive youth not just for entertainment but also feeding their families,” the CAF executive committee member further noted.

Pinnick was accompanied by members of the NFF team and an Ilorin-born football administrator who is a member of NFF/CAF Committee, Mr. A.U Mustapha(SAN).

The NFF Boss presented the last batch of Nigeria’s celebrated 2018 World Cup jersey to the Governor ahead of the presentation of the new Nike jersey next week.

Earlier, Gov. AbdulRazaq revealed that non-contact sporting activities have resumed in the state as part of the gradual easing of the Covid-19 restrictions. He added that his administration remains committed to reviving sporting infrastructure to create a conducive environment for talents.

He said: “We have since

approved the reopening of noncontact sports as we gradually return to a new normal,” he said.

He hinted that in line with federal government’s lifting of the ban on athletics, table tennis, Badminton, Squash Racket, Golf, Cricket, Softball, and Baseball, among others, the state has complied.

The Governor commended Pinnick for his great works at the NFF and his long-standing contributions to the round leather game, adding: “We have seen transformation in football since you came in. We are glad that we are benefitting in Kwara and continue with the legacy being laid down especially with the football house.”

The football house, the first and only one in Nigeria, was constructed by the Kwara State Football Association with the financial support of the AbdulRazaq administration and Barrister A.U Mustapha SAN.

FRIDAY AUGUST 28, 2020 • T H I S D AY

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Friday August 28, 2020

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MISSILE

Kaigama to FG “Southern Kaduna represents many other areas in Nigeria... So the government must address fundamental, historical, and justice issues. They know what the problem is but, they lack the political will to deal with these unending killings and this is what is causing this violence. The government must do something” – The Archbishop of Abuja Catholic Diocese, Ignatius Kaigama, calling for a permanent solution to the killings in Southern Kaduna

AKINOSUNTOKUN DIALOGUE WITH NIGERIA

akin.osuntokun@thisdaylive.com

Restructuring and Yadudu’s Posturing

I

f morning shows the day, Professor Auwalu Yadudu, a former legal counsellor to the late military Head of State, General Sani Abacha, cannot be a credible character witness for constitutional rectitude in Nigeria. And he knows this, hence his recent sly selfdistancing from the Abacha heritage.

Before the cock crows, Jesus told Peter, you would deny me three times. So it became with Yadudu when he bare faced denied General Sani Abacha for whom he served as legal adviser. ‘I worked for Nigeria not for General Abacha’, he protested on ARISE NEWS Channel a while ago.

Really? This denial would make sense if it is conceivable that Al Mustapha, Patrick Aziza, Gwazo and other notorious Abacha henchmen are entitled to the protestation that they worked for Nigeria and not for Abacha. Would we have easily forgotten how Yadudu was brought in to supplant Attorney General Olu Onagoruwa who paid for his non-compliance with the death of his son? Would a legal adviser working for Nigeria be complicit in the kangaroo jurisprudence that condemned Ken Saro Wiwa to the gallows; framing opponents for treason and persecuting them unto death?

How can a legal adviser who worked so hard to make the Nigerian constitution amenable to the life president cravings of Abacha now claim he was working for Nigeria?

You see, anyone given to lying in small things would invariably lie about big things.

Responding to Chiefs Ayo Adebanjo and Inia Nwodo on their estimation of the 1999 Constitution as incurably defective,Yadudu deprecated “I think we can work within the existing legal order and you have no other basis for changing things except in accordance with an existing legal order.

I know that the answer to that is that it is difficult to achieve, but wherever the constitution has been changed, they made use of what they have and of course, you can change by revolution, if you can afford it. You can enthrone whatever beautiful ideas that you want to enthrone not necessarily by reference to constitutional provision”.

Let us unpack this loaded admonition, coming as it is from the ‘author’ of the debilitated constitution. First, being the author or chairman of the editorial board that finalised the constitution, Yadudu is, ab initio, a compromised assessor. Second, to the extent that President Muhammadu Buhari has adopted the late Sani Abacha as a role model inclusive of his wholesale adoption of the Abacha derived constitution, Yadudu has a vested interested in the preservation of the neo Abacha political order. It was in this role enactment that he presumed to talk down on Adebanjo and Nwodo, whom he mocked with the take it or leave it cynical reference to the option of so-called revolution (military coup).

He is, of course, correct in his view of ‘revolution’ as the only realistic avenue of securing constitutional change in Nigeria.

Behind this reference is the inference that change only comes at the behest and pace of whoever wields the upper hand

Yadudu

in the balance of terror matrix of Nigerian power politics since 1966. Who wields this advantage is discernible in the identity of the regional military cabal behind all successful coup detat in Nigeria. While it has proven impossible for any civilian rule dispensation to create one single state, all it took for their military counterparts to create additional thirty two states since 1966 was a mere national broadcast. In a paradoxical echo of the power politics vocabulary of chairman Mao, the reality of Nigeria is that the road to constitutional change goes through the barrel of the gun.

Where there is threat to the stability of the electoral advantage politics of the ‘North’, recourse is made to the superior advantage in the control of the powers of coercion.

This is the vicious cycle in which Nigeria is ensnared and it is the message embedded in the clarification made by Yadudu.

“My take on the 1999 Constitution,” argued Yadudu, “is that, it was adopted along 1979 Constitution. You may say 1979 Constitution is an imposition by the military, but I think that the basic structure of 1954, 1960 and 1963 constitutions has remained what it is”. How can anyone, let alone a law Professor, assert that “the basic structure of 1954, 1960 and 1963 has remained what it is? Let us begin with the most rudimentary. Prior to the creation of the Mid West region in 1963, the constitutional structure of Nigeria consisted of three regions namely the Western, Eastern and Northern regions.

How do you translate the fact of these three regions into the extant reality of thirty six states without a consequential change to the basis structure of the Nigerian constitution?

What became of regionalism? Does this ballooning to unviable and unsustainable federal structure (negatively reinforced by precipitate collective fall in the share of federal revenue, in sharp contrast to a surge in the share of the federal government) portend no implication for the basic structure of the constitution? How does the contemporary allocation formula of

52.68%, 26.72% and 20.60% to the Federal, State and Local Governments respectively, correspond to that of 1954, 1960 and 1963?

What has become of fiscal federalism in the variation from 50% (as percentage derivation to natural resource producing regions) to 13% and below? How does the two tier federal structure of 1954,1960 and 1963 square with the extant three tier federal structure inclusive of 774 local governments? Are the thirty six state governments constitutionally empowered to have state police, state constitution and autonomous quasi diplomatic representations abroad? Are the land use act, petroleum act and vesting exclusive mineral rights to the federal government, of no consequence to the basic constitutional structure?

Now, I do not need to belong to the structuralist school of thought to believe that Nigeria suffers from structural dysfunction by whatever name it is called-otherwise the poverty and degeneration of governance would not have dogged Nigeria since the extinction of federalism in 1966. But the admonition of Alexander Pope equally bears relevance, that if a government can deliver on the pact of its social contract (to meet the basic existential needs of the people) there would be little to gripe about in the political description of such a government.

Vladimir Putin and Chairman XI of Russia and China are not my cup of tea but we do not need to look far to find the basis of the overwhelming public approval they enjoy among their citizens.They pay for the bargain of public acquiescence to their autocracy with the provision of utilitarian governance in which the basic needs of the people are guaranteed and secured.

In the case of Nigeria, double jeopardy is indicated in public acquiescence to Buhari’s quasi apartheid dictatorship without an extenuating compensation of minimally effective governance delivery.

I do not believe that Nigerians are asking for too much in bending backwards to accommodate this intolerable situation as bargain for seeking compensation in the hope that the Buhari Presidency would be the last to hold them to the ransom of a bleak unrestructured Nigeria. As President Buhari has honestly confessed, he has given Nigerian governance his best shot but unfortunately his best has proven woefully inadequate-with a potential to even sink Nigeria further. He would have been spared the crushing responsibility of the unwieldy overcentralised administration of Nigeria if Nigeria has remained wedded to the antidote of the decentralisation and devolution of power. What should be clear by now is that by size and diversity, Nigeria is a inherently prescribed federal state and we have spent the better part of our elusive nationhood proving the prohibitive cost of any contrivance to the contrary.

I don’t disagree with the view that the problem of Nigeria is leadership, where I differ is on the adequate response to this challenge. I searched for a foolproof response and found one in the scientific recommendation of assuming the worst case scenario. I call it the logic of preventive

inoculation prescribed by the assumption that all Nigerian leaders will turn out bad.

So, God forbid, if this improbable state of permanent curse is indeed the portion of Nigeria, the most logical response is to apriori devise a structure that will constrain and mitigate the capacity of failed leadership to do irreparable damage. Such constraints can be institutional like separation of powers and checks and balances between the three organs of government. Other containment strategies include the structurally and situation specific ones like federalism.

Think of what would have become of America without the countervailing levels of powers to confront the excesses of Donald Trump. In Nigeria, the constraint of federalism would potentially mitigate the damage and division a dangerously nepotic and parochial President can unleash.

Given decentralisation and devolution of powers, the need would hardly arise for the destructive mad ambition to capture power in Abuja. Restructuring would free up space and power for comprising regions to pursue their legitimate priorities without let or hindrance from the federal government.

It would not be up to Buhari to pick and choose which regional security outfit to condone between hisbah and amotekun.

He would be denied the unaccountable powers and resources that enable him to contemplate building railways all the way to Maradi in Niger republic with resources realised from the Niger Delta. The genocidal victims of the unspeakable carnage in the middle belt would not be doomed to dependence on a non responsive (and possibly complicit) federal security forces.

I have decided to broach the advocacy of restructuring this time around on account of the apparent foreclosure of any meaningful constitutional review by the status quo powers and the increasing perception of such foreclosure as the abrogation of the middle ground. In consequence, hope and belief in restructuring is being gradually eroded and supplanted by recourse to the option of outright self determination. As a result and from anecdotal observation, it is more fashionable today to identify with Oduduwa republic than to preach restructuring.

Abdulsamad on CNN

My friend Abdulsamad Rabiu (selfmotivated global ambassador for the fight against the pandemic, COVID-19) is an exception to the rule of Nigerian billionaires. You cannot only identify his source of wealth but it is one that self-evidently adds critical value to the Nigerian economy- the vast BUA cement industry. He follows in the footsteps of the foremost African entrepreneur, Aliko Dangote. They are a pride to Nigeria and role models for Nigerians north of River Niger.

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