MONDAY 3RD MAY 2021

Rising Oil Price Puts More Pressure on NNPC’s Finances Labour canvasses alternative petrol pricing method Seeks three-year gas price moratorium Onyebuchi Ezigbo and Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja Crude oil extended its gains at the weekend after closing at a six-week high with signs of

strengthening demand in key markets, thereby piling more pressure on the ability of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to contribute to the Federation

Account.

However, the organised labour has suggested the adoption of production cost pricing method where the price of petrol will be based

on the cost of domestic crude oil production and refining in the domestic market, as a way of reducing the burden of the price disparity between the market and pump prices

of petrol on the federation.

NNPC has been shouldering the subsidy on the pump price of petrol which has on some occasions gulped as much as N120 billion monthly.

Last week, the corporation, in correspondence to the Accountant General of the Federation (AGF), Mr. Ahmed Continued on page 12

NERC Approves Five-year Performance Improvement Plan for Discos... Page 10 Monday 3 May, 2021 Vol 26. No 9520. Price: N250

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With Dwindling Allocations, States Eye IGR Drive, Initiate Cost-cutting Measures Despite fiscal crisis, Ekiti, Sokoto, Bauchi, Anambra, others rule out retrenchment Akwa Ibom, Gombe begin biometric capturing to reduce wage bills Kaduna may revert to payment of N18,000, Nasarawa introduces TSA Our Reporters With the dwindling allocations from the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC), state governments nationwide have planned a raft of measures to earn more revenues and enthrone frugality in public spending, THISDAY has learnt.

Investigations showed that many of the states are in dire financial straits and could hardly pay salaries as and when due as well as meet other contractual obligations in the wake of the double whammy of the COVID-19 pandemic, which disrupted socio-economic activities, and Continued on page 12

We Are Better Together, Tinubu Tells Secessionist Agitators DSS warns ‘misguided elements’ Segun James in Lagos and Kingsley Nweze in Abuja National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Bola Tinubu, has called on those clamouring for secession to jettison the idea as the country is better together than being separated.

Tinubu, in a goodwill message to a Ramadan prayer tafsir lecture yesterday in Lagos, warned that the agitations could lead to the disintegration of Nigeria.

He said: "For clamouring for war, God will not allow Continued on page 40

COUNTING THE YEARS’ GAINS...

L-R: Group Managing Director/CEO, Access Bank Plc, Mr. Herbert Wigwe; Chairman, Mrs. Ajoritsedere Awosika; and Company Secretary, Mr. Sunday Ekwochi, during the bank’s 32nd annual general meeting in Lagos…weekend sunday adigun

Security Forces Uncover Insurgents’ Plot to Infiltrate Abuja ...Page 5

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

Security Forces Uncover Insurgents’ Plot to Infiltrate Abuja Joint security task force intensifies patrols FCT not under attack, say police

Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja Security forces have uncovered a plot by insurgents to infiltrate the nation's capital, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), using tinted vehicles and covered plate numbers, THISDAY has learnt.

It was gathered that the joint security task force, comprising the military, police, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and intelligence agencies, however, has intensified patrols and surveillance in and around Abuja.

Investigation also revealed that the meetings of the joint security task force under the office of the Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor, continued at the weekend.

However, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has debunked reports that the nation's capital was under terror attack.

A statement by the command said while security forces sustained pre-emptive measures against any eventuality, the reported attack on FCT was a clash of cultists in Mpape, an outskirt of Abuja and not an attack by terrorists.

THISDAY, however, gathered that security agents uncovered an unusual number of unauthorised tinted vehicles with covered plate numbers within the city centre.

There are certain categories of political officeholders and security chiefs allowed to use tinted vehicles and covered plate numbers.

Permits are also granted to some citizens after an application is granted.

A security source told THISDAY that "such applications are no longer granted in view of the security situation."

With the rising number of vehicles with tinted glasses, concerns were raised that the insurgents were conducting a test run preparatory to an attack.

A security source told THISDAY that the strategy was a familiar one applied during the bombing of the United Nations office and the Force Headquarters in Abuja by Boko Haram some years ago.

"It is a familiar pattern. We are working on it", he said.

The FCT Police Command had last week launched an operation against the use of unauthorised covered number plates and tinted vehicles.

It said the operation had become "extremely necessary due to the recent security threat analysis conducted by the joint (security) team reveals that criminal syndicates now execute their nefarious activities using tinted vehicles with covered number plates."

The command warned those using unauthorised covered number plates and tinted vehicles within the FCT to desist as violators would be arrested and prosecuted.

Meanwhile, the Federal Capital Territory Police Command at the weekend debunked reports that the seat of power was under attack.

It said a cult clash in Mpape, an outskirt of Abuja, was misconstrued as an attack by terrorists.

It said in the statement by its spokesperson, Mariam Yusuf, an Assistant Superintendent of Police, that there was no such attack on FCT. It said heads of security agencies had reassured residents of their safety.

"The attention of the FCT

Joint Security Team has been drawn to a viral publication in social media purporting that the ‘Federal Capital Territory is under attack by Boko Haram Terrorists.

"The Joint Security Team of the FCT wishes to refute the mischievous publication targeted at creating palpable tension amongst the wellspirited residents of the FCT," it added.

The command said "contrary to the speculation, the Heads of Security Agencies (HOSA) in the Federal Capital Territory in the bid to address security concerns within the FCT, held a strategic meeting on Thursday, April 29, 2021, where the team resolved to deploy alternative proactive crimefighting measures within the FCT particularly in areas with challenging terrain, including

aggressive motorised/foot patrols.

"However, the patrols will be conducted in line with the peculiarities of every terrain within the territory. In other words, the team has adopted the use of motorcycles, horses and other technical means of gathering intelligence to checkmate criminality within the Federal Capital Territory," it stated.

NIGERIA’S UNITY ON THEIR MINDS...

L-R: Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu; National Leader, All Progressives Congress, Senator Bola Tinubu; and President, Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, during a special Ramadan prayer, Tafsir Lecture, in Lagos...yesterday

Buhari, Lawan Call for Responsible Press Freedom Deji Elumoye in Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari and the President of the Senate, Dr. Ahmad Lawan, have urged the media to express its freedom with responsibility.

While Buhari called for responsible press freedom among media professionals in the country, Lawan urged the media to purge itself of bad eggs, promising that the National Assembly won’t pass anti-press legislations.

Buhari, in a statement yesterday by his media adviser, Mr. Femi Adesina, to mark World Press Freedom Day today, stressed the commitment of his administration to the freedom

of the press.

He, however, urged journalists to wield their freedom responsibly and without licentiousness.

According to him, freedom of the press is an irreducible minimum feature of a democracy that would flourish, adding that freedom must, however, be used responsibly.

He said: “That everything is permitted does not mean that there are no rules of correctness, particularly in a polity seriously challenged as ours now.

"The media must be sensitive to what we are going through as a country, and anything that would exacerbate the situation, and further inflame passions and

emotions should be avoided.

The media needs to ensure that while informing, educating, entertaining, and setting agenda for public discourse, it does not encourage incendiary words and actions that could further hurt our unity in diversity.”

Buhari stated that the licentious freedom is different from freedom with responsibility and charged the media to embrace the latter, rather than the former.

The president also pledged greater cooperation with the media to discharge its duties, in line with the theme of this year’s World Press Freedom Day, ‘Information as a Public Good.’

He charged those who manage government information to do

everything in public interest, while also encouraging the media to use the Freedom of Information Act to make its jobs easier.

According to him, it is vital to have access to reliable information in an era of misinformation, disinformation, and hate speech, all to cause discord in society.

On his part, Lawan called on journalists to purge themselves of bad eggs giving the profession a bad image.

He assured them that the National Assembly would not pass any anti-press freedom bill.

In a message, yesterday to felicitate with the media on the occasion of the World Press Freedom Day, Lawan, stated that

May 3 is set aside every year to remind governments around the world of their obligations to facilitate and respect press freedom, and also to remind journalists of the need to respect the ethics of their profession.

He called on journalists to purge the profession of the bad eggs whose nefarious activities are denting the credibility and reputation of their colleagues.

He added: "The leadership organs of the profession also need to adopt practical measures to check the activities of the purveyors of fake news. My belief is that the menace of fake news is capable of eroding the integrity and credibility of the media in general, and this should

not be allowed to happen".

Lawan expressed happiness that Nigeria has a vibrant media that has always resolutely defended freedom of speech.

He stated that freedom of the press enables journalists to discharge their roles as the watchdog of the society and as the fourth estate of the realm.

He said: "I also celebrate the Nigerian journalists for the invaluable contributions and sacrifices that they have made throughout our national history to nation-building and entrenchment of democracy.

"I pay tribute to the patriots who have lost their lives in the line of duty and pray that their death will not be in vain."

Wema Bank Celebrates 75th Anniversary Segun James Wema Bank Plc yesterday marked its 75th anniversary.

Alongside the bank's anniversary, ALAT, the bank's digital banking platform also celebrated its third anniversary since its launch in 2017.

A statement by the bank explained that the bank will be celebrating with a series of marketing efforts throughout the year as it looks to introduce fresh

banking services and reward customers for their loyalty over the years.

Established in 1945 by the Agbonmagbe Bank to serve the old Western Region, Wema Bank has grown to become Nigeria's most innovative bank, gaining national status with over 150 branches nationwide.

"Our mission has not changed from that of our founders in 1945," MD/CEO Ademola Adebise said in a statement.

He added: "We are still passionate about supporting the personal and business needs of our customers both in rural communities and in the big cities. In some communities, we are proud to say we are the only bank in town."

"We have also been strategic in our drive to provide refreshing banking services by leveraging technology to meet the needs of tomorrow's businesses today.

We have personalised banking

with ALAT and today, we take pride in the fact that we are building a bank for the future."

As part of the activities to mark its 75th anniversary, Wema Bank has launched a new website to support the financial needs of customers in a time when the COVID-19 pandemic has led many into banking from home.

The new website offers easy navigation and better functionality for the

bank's customers, and also demonstrates the personalised experience that customers will enjoy throughout their journey with the bank.

Also, the bank is rewarding loyal customers with an opportunity to earn from home as a means to reduce the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic.

This was in furtherance of the bank’s long history of socially responsible projects and is both timely and sensitive as

it creates an alternative stream of income for its customers at a time when income channels are drying up.

According to the Head, Retail Banking, Wema Bank, Mr. Dotun Ifebogun, “At 75, Wema Bank sees no limit to the magic she can create, no walls to the relationships she can forge, no barriers to the excellence of service, and no impossibilities in building the bank of the future.”

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NERC Approves Five-year Performance Improvement Plan for Discos Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has approved a five-year Performance Improvement Plan (PIP) and Capital Expenditure (Capex) benchmark for Distribution Companies (Discos), expected to run from July 1, 2021, to June 30, 2026.

The commission, in an order copied the 11 Discos, stated that the review of the capital expenditure allowances were to align with PIPs of the Discos and form the basis to prioritise the implementation of the proposed initiatives.

According to NERC, the Discos are expected to commit to the growth parameters, which include the reduction of Aggregate Technical, Commercial and Collection (ATC&C) losses, reliability, and availability of services, billing, and payment processes as well as metering.

The order signed by NERC Chairman, Mr. Sanusi Garba, and Commissioner, Legal, Licensing and Compliance, Mr. Dafe Akpeneye, stated that given capacity growth, the Discos will require investments in the network to adequately plan for the increased demand over the next five years.

NERC added that before arriving at the figures, there had been engagements, which were necessary to instill accountability between the Discos and their customers on their services and justification for associated costs and resulting tariffs.

It added that the meetings

were meant to minimise disputes by engendering understanding and trust between the power distributors and their customers and provide an opportunity to engage with customers on the service improvement investment programme.

For instance, NERC directed the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) to reduce ATC&C losses from the current level of 45 per cent to 19 per cent over the next five years, achieve 100 per cent metering of customers by installing 698,606 meters over the next three years as well as improve customer safety and reduce inadvertent accidents.

It also approved the AEDC’s request to increase the number of new customers from the current level of 1.214 million to 3.450 million over the five-year period, plus the go-ahead to embark on network expansion, rehabilitation, and network upgrade projects.

In line with the business rules of the commission, NERC said the proposal by the Discos were reviewed using the principles of completeness and consistency of the description of each component of the PIP and compliance of each component with the guidelines for preparation of PIPs. “The commission, having considered AEDC’s PIP and extraordinary tariff review application in line with the provision of EPSRA and relevant regulations, approved the PIP and CAPEX programme over five years as provided,” the NERC stated.

For the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC), NERC approved a growth projection of its customer base from 1.1 million to 1.8 million in the next five years, reduction of ATC&C losses from the current 51 per cent to 29 per cent and grow energy delivered from 2,269GWh to 5,725 GWh. NERC also gave the go-ahead for the EEDC to spend an annual approved Capex of N13.4 billion, while that of

Kano electricity was put at N12.6 billion per annum.

For Yola electricity, NERC approved N5.45 billion annual capital expenditure and instructed the company to reduce ATC&C losses from 66 per cent to 37 per cent in the next five years.

Similarly, for Jos Disco, the regulatory commission approved N7.8 billion yearly Capex and urged the company to curb ATC &C losses from

61 per cent to 23 during the period.

NERC said the Discos were at liberty to frontload their Capex programmes to attain accelerated service improvements, adding that frontloading of Capex programme in any year shall not exceed annual Capex for the following year in line with the framework for continuous update of the PIPs. It stated that annual Capex

provisions that are unutilised or imprudently expended shall be clawed back during minor reviews of tariffs in line with the requirements of Section 7 of the regulations on the procedure for electricity tariff reviews in the industry.

“The approved PIP and Capex programme shall take effect on the 1st day of July 2021 and shall remain effective until the 30th day of June 2026,” NERC said.

WORTHY HONOUR...

L-R: Past President, Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, Senator Kola Bajomo; the President, Mrs. Onome Adewuyi; Managing Director, Presco Plc, Mr. Felix Nwabuko; and his wife, Fidelia, during the presentation of the 2021 ICAN Merit Award to Presco Plc in Lagos…yesterday sunday adigun

Ensure Nigerians’ Protection, JNI Tells FG John Shiklam in Kaduna The Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI), the umbrella Muslim body headed by the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, has called on the federal government to be more alive to its primary responsibility of protecting lives and property.

JNI, in a statement yesterday in Kaduna, also urged Muslims to pray and

be more dedicated to the worship amidst the daunting challenges and many uncertainties bedevilling Nigeria.

The statement signed by JNI Secretary-General, Dr. Khalid Abubakar, appealed to wealthy Muslims to assist the needy who were affected by the present economic hardship in the country.

The statement was titled, “The last ten days

of Ramadan-1442AH and the need for sober reflection in Nigeria.”

The JNI urged Muslims to intensify their generosities in giving alms to the poor, the needy and the orphans in the society, especially now that many families are finding it very unbearable, as a result of biting economic challenges bedevilling the country.

“We must nonetheless pray also for the economic

overturn and restoration of security, in Nigeria.

“Government should, however, be more alive to the primary responsibility of its existence – i.e. safeguarding lives and property,” JNI said.

It reminded Muslims of the Zakat ul Fitr (Ordained alms giving at the end of Ramadan fast), which is supposed to be given out to the needy in the last three days of Ramadan or

in the early hours of the first day of Shawwal i.e the ‘Eid-el-Fitr day, before the commencement of the ‘Eid prayer.

The statement called on Muslims to intensify “prayers for the Ummah against all manners of misfortunes, relief and succour for the myriads of economic and security challenges hampering the nation.

“Whilst wishing all Muslim faithful Allah’s pardon in these sacred days and beyond, we pray fervently for His benevolent acceptance of our Ramadan fast, even as we urge all Muslims never to return to abominable acts after Ramadan, as the Lord of Ramadan remains the Lord of the Worlds and He takes account of all our actions,” the statement added.

Afenifere: We’re Now Justified for Opposing Buhari’s Presidential Bids Accuses president of encouraging graft, nepotism James Sowole in Akure The pan-Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, yesterday described the recent crisis of confidence among ethnic groups in the country as justifying its opposition to the election of President Muhammadu Buhari in his first and second terms.

The Leader of the group, Chief Reuben Fasoranti, said insecurity, corruption, and nepotism ravaging the Buhari administration validated its reservations about his suitability for the presidency in both the 2015 and 2019 elections.

Fasoranti spoke after the 70th-anniversary thanksgiving service of the Ondo State chapter of Afenifere at Saint David's Cathedral, Akure.

According to him, corruption and nepotism are the hallmarks of the Buhari administration since he assumed office six years ago.

Afenifere was formed 70 years ago by Chief Obafemi Awolowo in the house of the first civilian Governor of the old Ondo State, the late Chief Michael Adekunle Ajasin.

Fasoranti said: "We were justified in not supporting President Muhammadu Buhari.

He has not been doing well;

that is why we did not support him. There is insecurity in the land. There is corruption everywhere.

"All those who committed one crime or the other, he left them in office to continue their nefarious activities. Those who he is supposed to sack, he left them in office. Thank God, we did not support him in his elections.

"My daughter was killed in Ore on her way to Lagos for no reason; up till now, they have not concluded the trial.

I know justice will be done."

Speaking on the 70th anniversary of the group, Fasoranti said it had not

been easy for the group, especially during the military regime when members were sent to prison or in exile for championing democracy.

He said the struggle for democracy during the NADECO days tested the faith of members, who either renounced their membership or fled into exile.

The Bishop of Akure Diocese, Anglican Communion, Simeon Borokini, in his sermon, said 70 was significant in the life of an individual or an organization.

He said for Afenifere to have survived 70 years despite several challenges, showed God's hand in the affairs

of the mainstream Yoruba organisation.

He, however, lauded the activities of Ondo State Governor, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu, in setting up the Amotekun security outfit that has been doing a good job in securing the state from Fulani herders and bandits.

Borokini said the Yoruba should be united to support Akeredolu and his Amotekun project in order to prevent attack by suspected killer herdsmen and bandits.

"Famine is imminent; a situation where you took loan to set up a farm and cows come to destroy it, this would

lead to famine in the country.

"The sins of Sodom and Gomorrah are not as high as what is obtainable in Nigeria. If God does not destroy Nigeria, he should apologise to the Sodom and Gomorrah," he added.

However, he said with all the challenges confronting the country, Afenifere should be commended for coming to glorify God on its 70th anniversary.

At the service were Akeredolu, his deputy, Lucky Ayedatiwa, Chief Seinde Arogbofa, Chiefs Sola Ebiseni, Kole Omololu, Femi Aluko and Olu Falae.

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PAGE TWELVE WITH DWINDLING ALLOCATIONS, STATES EYE IGR DRIVE, INITIATE COST-CUTTING MEASURES the low price of crude oil, the major source of foreign exchange for the federation, in the global market.

The worrisome financial state of the federation was accentuated last week via a letter by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to the Accountant-General of the Federation warning that it would be unable to make any remittance to the Federation Account in April for distribution to the federal, state and local governments in May because it needed to defray around N112 billion cost of February’s subsidy on petrol.

However, it was gathered that to stave off the financial crisis the NNPC’s letter portends, despite their reservations about the corporation’s claim, the states, while responding to THISDAY inquiry, listed some of the measures being taken to cope with the tough times ahead.

Some states like Taraba and Plateau pledged to continue to implement measures already initiated, such as sustaining 50 per cent cuts in the salaries of political office holders, and emplacing other cost-saving measures.

Nasarawa said it planned to create a Single Treasury Account (TSA) and introduce property tax, while Plateau has hired tax consultants.

To reduce the state’s wage bill, Kano State has reverted to the old N18,000 minimum wage, while Kaduna State is also considering the old wage after retrenching about 7,000 workers.

The Ekiti State government said it had set up a committee to advise it on measures to adopt to survive the dwindling FACC allocations.

Akwa Ibom and Gombe States are looking at measures to reduce wage bills by using biometrics to eliminate ghost workers.

Also, the Anambra State government said it was fighting the revenue “thieves” as part of the efforts to block leakages and shore up internal revenue.

The Plateau State Commissioner for Information, Mr. Dan Manjang, told THISDAY that the state government was not contemplating sacking any worker but would focus on growing its IGR to bridge the gap arising from the dwindling FAAC allocations.

He said: “Mechanisms have been put in place, including hiring a consultant that is helping the state to raise its IGR to about N3 billion monthly. We have also put laws in place to ensure that organisations and individuals pay their taxes; we are appealing to the consciences of people to pay their taxes.

“Cost of governance has been cut by 40 per cent, while all political office holders have had their remuneration cut by 50 per cent. We are also looking outwards; by paying our counterpart funding to enable us to run some of our programmes.

We pay counterpart funding for SUBEB, CSDA, PLASMEDA, and so many other social intervention programmes.

“We are re-scoping our projects; for instance, the Lalong legacy projects that were N59 billion have been re-scoped to N29 billion, to a level that we would be able to pay and do them. Some projects that were earlier envisaged that have not started have been put on hold.”

The Ekiti State government has constituted a committee to examine the implications of the dwindling FAAC allocations and advise the state government appropriately.

The Commissioner for Information, Hon. Akin Omole, told THISDAY that all the states of the federation would be affected by the inability of the NNPC to remit revenues to the FAAC. Omole, however, ruled out pruning the civil service workforce as part of the costsaving measures.

He said: "The government has constituted a committee.

The committee is at work and we will come up with our

position soon. But let me say this, Governor Kayode Fayemi is running a workers-friendly government and we won't sack any worker under any guise.

Our position will soon be made public and I know it will be in the interest of the workers and the state in general."

When asked whether the government might return to the old N18,000 minimum wage instead of the N30,000 that had been operational in the state, Omole said that would be for the committee to decide.

In Kano, the state government had since reverted to the old minimum wage of N18,000.

It has also resorted to arbitrary deductions from workers’ salaries, which it blamed on the sudden drop in FAAC allocations to the state and a drastic reduction in IGR. The dwindling revenue, it added, has made it difficult for the state to pay its over N1.5 billion monthly wage bill.

Chairman of NLC in Kano, Mr. Kabiru Mingibir, told THISDAY that labour unions frowned upon the government’s unilateral decision to return workers’ salaries to the old minimum wage without due consultations.

Executive Chairman, Kwara State Internal Revenue Service (KWIRS), Mrs. Shade Omoniyi, said various revenue generation and cost-cutting initiatives were being implemented to shore up the internal revenue generation and address the effects of the dwindling FAAC allocations to the state.

She said the agency had worked to automate its revenue through online and tax administration processes unlike in the past when manual process was adopted in the collection of revenue from all taxable payers.

According to her, the agency has set a strategic plan to recruit workers from all the local offices of the agency in the 16 local government council areas of the state and embark on harmonised bill system to assist the revenue agency to have close contact with

the taxpayers.

The Ondo State government said it would continue to cut cost in view of the dwindling FAAC allocations by blocking leakages and discouraging frivolous expenditures.

The state Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr. Donald Ojogoh, said the issue of revenue generation had become a complex one for every state, especially during these perilous economic times.

He said: "For one, every government, whether national or subnational, requires a stable environment in terms of security to earn the confidence of the government to buy into tax compliance.

"How do you expect people daily battered and threatened by insecurity to continue to pay tax? Honestly, it has affected tax operations to the extent that there is a culture of complacency on the part of the people.

"For us in Ondo State, we have devised ingenious means of curbing or stemming to an extent, the spate of insecurity through the instrumentality of Amotekun.

"Right now, we are striving to ensure that we do not fall below the N2 billion average per month.”

The Bauchi State government said it had put in place measures to ensure stabilisation of salaries and pensions payment, to block leakages, improve cash flow management and cut spending in government.

Special Adviser on Media and Communication, to the governor, Mr. Mukhtar Gidado, said the state government was not planning any reduction in civil service workforce at the moment, adding that there is also no plan for any salary cut either for political appointees or public servants.

The Delta State government said it was intensifying efforts at expanding its tax net to capture taxable individuals, groups and organisations, especially those that had hidden their books from

scrutiny by tax officials from the state internal revenue agency.

The Delta State Internal Revenue Service (DIRS) said it was targeting at least N10 billion from the whistle-blowing mechanism it adopted in its tax drive in 2020.

The Chairman of the Board of the State Revenue Service, Mr. Monday Onyeme, said the state IGR in 2015 was about N40 billion, but the DIRS moved it up to N44 billion in 2016.

"In 2017, the IGR moved up to N51 billion, it moved to N58 billion in 2018 and N64 billion in 2019.

"However, due to the pandemic in 2020, the IGR dropped to N59 billion after a steady rise from 2015 to 2019.

We are, however, very optimistic that at the end of this year, the state IGR will hit N70 billion and above," he said.

In Ogun State, the state government got an approval of the state's House of Assembly, late last year, to float N250 billion bond, to bridge the gap in revenue shortfalls.

THISDAY learnt that there have been deductions in the salaries of civil servants, as a consequence of the strains on the state's finances.

It was also gathered that the state government had increased company taxes, as a way of shoring up its dwindling revenue base.

The Gombe State government said yesterday it was able to save over N37 million after running its biometric capture of all civil servants in April.

The biometric capture will be a continuous exercise, the Commissioner of Finance, Alhaji Gambo Magaji, said during a press briefing organised yesterday in conjunction with the office of the Head of Civil Service, Alhaji Bappayo Yahaya, who is also the chairman of the committee.

Magaji stated that no fewer than 668 workers described as ghost workers were uncovered.

Magaji also told THISDAY

that the state executive council only recently approved a new biometric data that would ensure workers' details were captured for improved productivity.

However, the Abia State government said it was still reviewing the present financial situation with a view to adopting appropriate measures to cope with the fiscal crisis.

Commissioner for Information, Mr. John Kalu, told THISDAY that the state government had been feeling the pains of dwindling resources, adding that cost-saving measures would only be announced after the ongoing review.

However, Okiyi stated that the initial cost-saving measures announced by Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, such as 50 per cent cut in the salaries and allowances of the governor and his cabinet members were still in place.

The Taraba State government has set up a committee to work out modalities to boost its IGR and block loopholes in government expenditure.

The state government had earlier reduced the salaries of political appointees by almost 50 per cent while embargo has been placed on fresh recruitment into the civil service.

Part of the mandate of the committee, headed by the state Commissioner for Budget and Planning, Mr. Solomon Elisha, is to reactivate all tax laws in the state including a Geographic Information System (GIS) through which the state intends to have a data of houses in the state to enable it to introduce property tax as well as commence utilisation of redundant markets across the state.

The Senior Special Assistant on Media to the Governor, Mr. Darius Ishaku, Mr. Bala Dan Abu, however, told THISDAY that the governor had no plan to reduce the state workforce.

The Sokoto State Government said it had taken steps to improve internally generated revenue and

The production-cost-pricing method is used in the USA, Russia and Saudi Arabia, and others to determine petrol prices.

"While the structures of petrol prices may be different, the major determinant of petrol prices ranges from taxes in Russia, which made up 62.9 per cent of the petrol price; the cost of crude oil production in the USA is the major determinant, making up 59.4 per cent of the total petrol price. And in Saudi Arabia, expensive refining cost accounts for 43 per cent of the petrol price,” it stated.

NLC and TUC, which have been in negotiations with the federal government over fuel price and electricity tariff, said that each country chose the model that matched with its developmental level, unique resources, development strategies and nature of domestic energy markets.

The two labour centres urged Nigeria to moderate the production-cost-pricing model to fit into its developmental and market agglomeration goals.

According to them, Nigeria has a captive market for refined petroleum products, which serious refiner has no reason to worry about the market for the realisation of the products.

"What is more, the supply chain could be extended to neighbouring countries, which currently serve as the illicit destination of smugglers of even the imported products," they added.

Labour also opposed the multi-year tariff order (MYTO) used for fixing electricity tariff, which is based on some strange assumptions.

It said the MYTO was based

on the Nigerian inflation rate, the exchange rate of the naira to the UD dollar, the inflation rate in the United States, price of gas for generation at $2.50/ MMBtu. "Other items in the MYTO include generation cost of N4.646 per megawatt, average generation price between hydro and thermal stations put at N25.6, payment to Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) and sundry administrative charges of N7.80 per kilowatt. Then, there are the costs associated with the megawatt of electricity delivered to Discos and the aggregate Technical Commercial and Collection (ATC&C) Losses.

The organised labour cannot accept these strange and fluid criteria in the electricity tariff regime," it said.

The organised labour urged the government to make adjustments to the gas price for the power sector.

It suggested that gas price increases should be suspended for the next three years to support electricity tariff stability.

Labour said since gas supply for electricity generation accounted for 70 per cent of local gas consumption, there should be the security of supply.

"We support improved payment discipline – ensuring that gas supply companies are paid on a first-line charge from the revenue accruing to the electricity sector and in a timely manner. With the savings made, the cost of the electricity tariff could be reduced by N10.50 across the high price bands.

"Nigerian workers call on the government, in line with the agreement reached with labour on September 28, 2020, to take

very reasonable measures to ensure that all the four public refineries are rehabilitated and brought back fully onstream in good time. We demand that such efforts should be on the basis of value for money.

"Nigeria has already lost huge sums of money to phoney contractors and their collaborators in government who had a huge meal importing refined products into Nigeria, feasting on the so-called subsidy and defaulted on their commitments for effective turn around maintenance of our refineries," labour added.

Continued on page 40

RISING OIL PRICE PUTS MORE PRESSURE ON NNPC’S FINANCES Idris, served a notice that it would be unable to contribute to the Federation Account in May after deducting about N112 billion subsidy funds from its April revenues.

In the official communication, the NNPC said the shortfall was due to the rising average landing cost of fuel, which jumped to N184 per litre in March as opposed to the existing N128 ex-coastal price.

However, after weeks of bearish run, crude prices have again started to pick up, portending a higher landing cost and by extension further rise in petrol subsidy payments by the NNPC. Brent for June settlement gained 0.6 per cent to close at $66.7 after rising 1.3 per cent, while West Texas Intermediate (WTO) for June delivery also rose to $63.58 a barrel after climbing 1.5 per cent at the weekend.

Demand for the US petroleum products increased to the highest in more than two months, while distillate inventories, a category that includes diesel, dropped the most since early March.

There was a chorus of bullish voices on the outlook for crude during the week, including a prediction from Goldman Sachs Group Inc. that oil demand will post a record jump over the next six months as vaccination rates accelerate.

Added to that, the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) also raised its estimates for growth this year, although the alliance warned that a worsening virus situation in India, Japan and Brazil could derail the recovery.

India, one of Nigeria’s crude

oil buyers, has recently been hit hard by a second wave that has pummelled fuel consumption and stretched the health-care system beyond its limits.

In March last year, when the international crude oil price was at its lowest, the federal government announced that it had deregulated the downstream sector, noting that it would thenceforth be subjected to market forces.

But that policy collapsed a few months later when prices started to pick up, as the pump price rose from a low of N121 to N162 within months, resulting in public outrage and threats by the organised labour to embark on a strike.

Labour Canvasses Alternative Petrol Price Mechanism The organised labour has suggested the adoption of a production cost pricing method where the price of petrol will be based on the cost of domestic crude oil production and refining in the domestic market.

It said it was opposed to the existing import-parity model, which it claimed has bled Nigeria of humungous forex and is a major singular source of Nigeria’s economic haemorrhage and instability.

"The production cost pricing model allows the government to manage the national petrol market in the interest of sustainable economic development. What is more, it would encourage the industrialisation of our country and would break Nigeria from its colonial past as a mere

source of raw materials and a net importer of manufactured goods," it said.

The Labour movement's position was contained in a joint message by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) to mark this year's May Day celebration.

The organised labour described the import-parity pricing model as a ploy to service the neo-liberal and neo-colonial wishes of those who want to keep Nigeria economically subservient.

It said: "It is truly funny that we are even having the conversation of importing refined petroleum products simply because we cannot manage our national refineries.

It does not just make sense that we are the only OPEC country that cannot refine her crude oil."

Labour dismissed the fears of subsidy burden in the production-cost-pricing model, adding that even with functional refineries, many countries still subsidise energy for security reasons.

"It is crucial to point out that 159 nations are subsiding energy because of the security implications. In absolute terms, the top three subsidisers of petroleum prices across the world are the United States, spending about $502 billion; China spends $279 billion and Russia with $116 billion.

"The production cost-pricing method assumes that the petrol prices are based on the cost of domestic crude oil production and refining in the domestic market. This method implies that crude oil is produced and refined in the country.

TOP GAINERS NGN NGN % CHIPLC 0.03 0.34 9.6 JAPAULGOLD 0.05 0.58 9.4 OANDO 0.16 3.26 5.1 AIICO 0.06 1.26 5.0 ZENITHBANK 0.80 21.80 3.8 TOP LOSERS NGN % ROYALEXCH 0.03 0.36 7.6 JAIZBANK 0.04 0.62 6.6 HONEYWELL 0.06 1.13 5.0 DAARCOMMS 0.01 0.20 4.7 LINKASSURE 0.04 0.80 4.7 HPE Nestle Nig Plc ₦1,420.00 Volume: 2328.385 million shares Value: N3.1085 billion Deals: 4,388 As at Friday 30/4/2021 See details on Page 37

MONDAY MAY 3, 2021 • T H I S D AY

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T H I S D AY • MONDAY, MAY 3, 2021

COMMENT

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

SAVINGS, INVESTMENTS AMIDST INFLATIONARY PRESSURES Timi Olubiyi urges investments as way of stemming excessive impact of inflation on the economy

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he coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic so far has negatively affected the global economy and more severely developing nations of Africa, particularly Nigeria. The COVID-19 has been devastating in terms of the impact on Nigeria’s economy, businesses, and households and still not looking abated. We have seen a troubling trend in the country in recent times, with, businesses and activities today facing increasing levels of competitive pressure and difficulties, coupled with persistent insecurity, and inflationary pressure where high price increases have continued in transportation, food cost, household needs, raw materials, pharmaceutical products, motor cars, vehicle spare parts, equipment, and in prices of services amongst others. The cost and price of virtually everything is much higher today, and it is because of inflation.

Inflation is not only a serious problem but also it has a disturbing effect on the economic life, political system, and society as a whole; it has a corrosive impact on all savings and investments. Significantly every price rise is affecting the cost of living and many citizens are likely to be further pushed below the poverty line due to this price increase.

So far in the year 2021 in Nigeria, we have seen a situation where the value of money continues to depreciate in terms of value, and the general price level of goods and services continues to spike. The uncertainty in the country is rather high and this has continued to discourage investments and impede projections and business plans because with persistent inflation, businesses and households perform poorly, and expectedly more money is paid for the same goods and services thereby eroding a large chunk of disposable income of the populace. In fact one of the obvious issues facing the Nigerian economy today is inflation which is persistently a complex issue that government needs to tackle headlong.

It is important to note that one million naira today will not acquire the same value of investment, goods, and services in 10 years mainly due to this price increase. The fact is that it is bad for people to hold huge cash - or keep funds in current or savings accounts, which usually do not offer much of a return at this time. Without a doubt, a continuous increase in the rate of inflation erodes the value of money, slows down financial market development, infrastructure development, and economic development in any clime. It also increases poverty, lowers purchasing power, increases unemployment surge, weakens currency, increases business risk and these are somewhat evident in the country already. It is well documented in the literature and practice that inflation if left unchecked or unattended can even lead to more inflation- hyperinflation.

However, investment is one of the important channels to curb the excessive impact of inflation in any economy. Therefore, regardless of current realities, investment is key to hedge against the sharp inflation impact we are currently experiencing. For individuals, investing for inflation means choosing assets that keep pace with rising prices.

Therefore, it is imperative to consider investment at this time, it is more profitable to invest in other currencies, diversify investment portfolio

A CONTINUOUS INCREASE IN THE RATE OF INFLATION ERODES THE VALUE OF MONEY, SLOWS DOWN FINANCIAL MARKET DEVELOPMENT, INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT, AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN ANY CLIME

internationally to include shares of big tech and companies with high dividend payments. More importantly, inflation-protected investments such as real estate (property and land) with potential for higher growth can be considered. This is not the time for substantial investments in domestic equities and/or money market instruments unless the anticipated return is higher than the inflation rate which is hovering around 18.17% as at March 2021 relying on data from National Bureau of Statistics (NBC).

In addition, Gold investing or Gold Shares Exchange Traded Fund (ETF), or professionally managed mutual funds with returns above the prevailing inflation rate can also be considered, all to mitigate the impact of inflation at this time.

The government on the other hand needs to provide a low inflationary environment, this can be achieved by improving on the ease of doing business and handling of the perennial challenges from incessant insecurity, inadequate infrastructure, the severe and irregular regulatory requirements, to a high sense of entitlement, high cost of running business, corruption and the current macroeconomic uncertainty among others in the country. Currently, as a nation, Nigeria is losing its natural advantages to neighbouring countries because of these challenges and this development is disturbing. Sending very little hope of economic development and growth of foreign private investment which is made up of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and Foreign Portfolio Investment (FPI). Foreign Direct Investment is often preferred as a means of boosting the economy and that it plays a positive role in the improvement of economic activities. There is an obvious linkage between FDI and economic growth. Consequently the government of the day should make conscious efforts to provide a more enabling business environment and also issue incentives and policies to attract foreign private investment. There are benefits foreign private investment can offer Nigeria which include the transfer of innovative technology, higher productivity, capital injection, more revenue for government through taxes, enhancement of balance of payments ability, employment generation, diversification of the industrial base and expansion, and even the modernization of some existing infrastructure.

There is also a compelling need to support, and further consider the Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) to improve manufacturing, production, and services to exportable level in the country. By so doing, it will reduce the pressure on import-dependency and improve the country’s business climate and also play a significant role in export growth in the country. Consequently, steps to attract more investments are key at this time and the Nigerian government can use this as one of the ways of boosting the economy and stem inflation. It is recommended that overreliance on imports should be reduced over the long term through aggressive export promotion and key SME development drives which when considered will improve the competitiveness of domestically produced goods.

Dr. Olubiyi is an Entrepreneurship and Business Management expert

THE NEW HELMSMAN AT FAAN Rabiu Yadudu is proving that he is a reformer, writes Dan Aibangbe

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n my long experience as a public policy watcher and commentator, one of the major Achilles heels of public administration has been the tendency to put the proverbial square pegs in round holes, mostly for wrong reasons of political expediency and parochial interests. This phenomenon, hitherto, had pervaded the Nigerian polity, not sparing even the somewhat elitist aviation industry, especially the regulatory ‘Triumvirate’ of Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).

But when in May, 2019, a new helmsman emerged to steer the affairs of FAAN, the average Nigerian was oblivious of the event and the possible beneficial changes that would follow. The new incumbent, no doubt, was eminently qualified with veritable track record. He came with something a bit unusual in the ordinary Nigerian Civil Service – he was prepared for leadership and change management. He had a clear vision and mission to accomplish. He was both a professional and a technocrat. His name is Captain Rabiu Hamisu Yadudu.

The new helmsman settled down to task in the shortest time possible, having the backing of a familiar management team used to his high-paced style. The team began to check off an impressive set of milestones in alignment with the peculiar requisites of the unusual period of COVID-19. And I began to take particular interest in journalizing the changes and developments.

The arrowheads of strategic direction in the aviation industry worldwide are safety, security and then comfort/ambience, in that order of importance.

But to the general public, the order of preference is reversed, hence the need to manage the delivery.

Over the last two years, most of the activities, objectives and developments within the purview of

FAAN have been carried out with a central theme of customer-centrism. For those who may be unaware of this business philosophy, it simply entails doing things with the customer’s best interest in mind or ensuring the customers’ experience is optimized. It also ensures that the internal customers’ productivity is optimized.

This strategic approach has been inculcated in designs, processes, protocols and orientation of staff as a total package from the last 20 months in FAAN. The new orientation formed the central theme at staff engagements during the unprecedented nationwide tour of duty carried out in the last two months of Y2020 by the management team led by Captain Yadudu. The blitzkrieg covered a whopping 21 airports within a few weeks. It was an exhaustive and all-inclusive tour of duty.

The team traversed the length and breadth of FAAN locations, facilities, installations and developments, taking stock, motivating staff and stakeholders with the central theme of charting a new direction of customer-centrism. The focus was on improving staff efficiency through better competencies, motivation and redirection towards the customer journey through the entire FAAN services bouquets. The addition of Passenger Luggage Scanners came quietly over a year ago, but this noiseless piece of equipment has reduced boarding time and stress for passengers, as well as increased the capacity for crime detection. Coupled with adequate training and motivation of the FAAN security personnel, crime prevention and detection has become seamless.

Recently, routine scanning uncovered suspects ranging from illegal arms to financial crimes such as ATM Cards Trafficking. Apart from the fact that these stricter protocols are yielding results, it shows that there may not really be a need for the physical presence of multiple security agencies in their full complement of personnel, rather a single team of

specialists will suffice.

The new focus can now shift to developing such compact efficient teams and harmonized processing systems (similar to the Single Window ASSYCUDA).

All that is required is high integrity based on quality training and adequate motivation in addition to a harmonized protocol that takes care of interests of all the agencies. The ultimate system would be less personal, less obstructive and more result oriented.

The natural result of better crime detection is to deter criminals. Those who insist on crimes would be detected at the departure end and the crimes are now domesticated rather than internationalized. This helps to better manage the national image, identity and ultimately preserve the integrity of the Nigerian Citizen.

In the last two years, there have been unprecedented upgrades to the nation’s aviation infrastructure, ranging from runways to terminals as well as technical equipment. Some of these are even brand-new developments, such as the Akanu Ibiam International Airport. We also have that of Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, completed, operational and awaiting commissioning. The new second terminal at MMIA Lagos is also at advanced stage and would have been completed, but for COVID-19 disruptions.

The Enugu Airport case was a different ball game. The airport became a theatre of projects and received a near complete facelift, upgrade and remodeling. The runway was completely resurfaced; the biggest administrative building in Nigeria’s airports was built from scratch; the water supply system was upgraded to resolve the perennial challenge of water shortage; a perimeter fence complete with access road and a toll gate was built; a brandnew airport hospital was built; the conveniences at the terminal building were overhauled and CAT2 Airfield Lighting System installed. That was a whole lot to accomplish in such a short span of time.

Apart from upgrades, a number of take-overs (acquisitions) are either on-going or concluded. The general idea is to enlarge the airspace for prospective economic boom envisaged in the new normal after COVID. The plethora of improvements to facilities have not gone unnoticed. In fact, they have yielded immediate dividends, such as certifications, accreditations and recognitions. For instance, the FAAN MD, Captain Yadudu has been appointed member, World Governing Council of the Airports Council International, ACI. At the same time, the MMIA has received its certificate of accreditation from the same body, the ACI. In line with its Airports Health Accreditation Programme, the Airports Council International has accredited two of Nigeria’s International Airports - the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja and the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa. This, no doubt, is a quantum leap!

To further affirm the status of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja as a world class facility, the airport has been handed the Airport Service Quality Award 2020. The airport has now commenced retraining of Marshalers ahead of NCAA’s Audit for recertification.

Besides, much as the pandemic came unannounced, the nation recorded commendable performance, especially when viewed against the backdrop of what transpired in the global community. In fact, the rapid adaptation of recommended protocols would have yielded better results, but for the innate propensity to cheat, demonstrated by some unpatriotic travellers, who refused to abide by the civilities entrenched in self-isolation and contacttracing documentation prescribed. Nevertheless, that was not enough to deny FAAN due accreditation for the four international airports for emergency evacuation during the COVID-19

Aibangbe wrote from Lagos

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EDITORIAL AGAIN, THE SUBSIDY PALAVER Petroleum subsidy is harmful to the economy

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uel subsidy, an issue which has been dominating national debate for decades, came under focus last week following a claim by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) that its projected monthly remittance to the federal accounts allocation committee (FAAC) for May will be zero. In a letter to the accountantgeneral of the federation, the NNPC says it can no longer bear the burden of underpriced sales of premium motor spirit (PMS), better known as petrol, to consumers in the country. According to NNPC, the PMS cost for the month of March 2021 was N184 per litre against the subsisting ex-coastal price of N128 per litre, “which has remained constant notwithstanding the changes in the macroeconomic variables affecting petroleum products pricing”.

With the jump in the price of crude resulting in higher prices for refined products, we saw this situation coming. Since the government did not make provisions for subsidy in its latest budget, the logical thing to do would have been to find an economic solution which full deregulation offers. That was not done, leading to pertinent questions: Why are PETROLEUM SUBSIDY IS there no clear efforts OILING CORRUPTION, AND in this direction?

IT IS ROBBING SOCIETY OF Why is the so-called VITAL RESOURCES THAT deregulation tempered by price fixing which COULD BE INVESTED IN is antithetical to what HOSPITALS, SCHOOLS, ROADS AND OTHER CRITICAL the NNPC has been preaching?

AREAS As we have argued several times on this page, fuel subsidy is detrimental to national economy.

The negative implications include diversion of investment from other potentially more needful government departments, reduction of fuel consumption efficiency by industry and domestic consumers, encouraging rent-seeking by limiting the capital flow available to new energy infrastructure projects, and the fact that subsidies are difficult to target accurately.

Letters to the Editor

Using Nigeria as a case study, the Global Energy Architecture Performance Index (EAPI) Report once noted that with expenses on subsidy put at about 30 per cent of total federal government expenditure and four per cent of national income, it is economically inefficient. The irony of this situation, as the report clearly observed, is that Nigeria, currently an oil exporter, reimports refined crude products, and by implication creating value and employment externally, while shouldering the burden of the cost of its fuel subsidy. It also observed that as a prerequisite for all sectors of an economy, energy cost is critical because price volatility and supply interruptions could destabilise economies, while reliable energy, on the other hand, promotes economic and social development.

U T H I S DAY EDITOR BOLAJI ADEBIYI DEPUTY EDITOR YEMI AJAYI, DAVIDSON IRIEKPEN, MANAGING DIRECTOR ENIOLA BELLO DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR KAYODE KOMOLAFE CHAIRMAN EDITORIAL BOARD OLUSEGUN ADENIYI EDITOR NATION’S CAPITAL IYOBOSA UWUGIAREN MANAGING EDITOR JOSEPH USHIGIALE

T H I S DAY N E W S PA P E R S L I M I T E D EDITOR-IN-CHIEF/CHAIRMAN NDUKA OBAIGBENA GROUP EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS ENIOLA BELLO, KAYODE KOMOLAFE, ISRAEL IWEGBU, IJEOMA NWOGWUGWU, EMMANUEL EFENI DIVISIONAL DIRECTORS BOLAJI ADEBIYI, PETER IWEGBU, ANTHONY OGEDENGBE DEPUTY DIVISIONAL DIRECTOR OJOGUN VICTOR DANBOYI SNR. ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR ERIC OJEH ASSOCIATE DIRECTORS PATRICK EIMIUHI, SAHEED ADEYEMO CONTROLLERS ABIMBOLA TAIWO, UCHENNA DIBIAGWU, NDUKA MOSERI DIRECTOR, PRINTING PRODUCTION CHUKS ONWUDINJO HEAD, COMPUTER DEPARTMENT PATRICIA UBAKA-ADEKOYA TO SEND EMAIL: first name.surname@thisdaylive.com

nlike before when subsidy expenditures were budgeted and approved by the National Assembly, NNPC has come up with a nebulous ‘cost under recovery’ to spend unbudgeted funds to subsidise fuel imports, raising serious questions about transparency and accountability in the process. In response to this huge amount of money being deducted by the NNPC as a first-line charge from the federation account, the National Economic Council (NEC), comprising the 36 state governors, two years ago proposed taking over the responsibility for subsidising petroleum products in their states. Following several aborted FAAC meetings, the governors had held a meeting with NNPC over what they described as a consistent short-change of what should accrue to them from the federation account.

That lingering issue is yet to be resolved.

Given that most of the states are so broke that they cannot even pay the salaries of workers, their focus had in recent times shifted to the subsidy regime. But as we have also argued several times, it will be unhelpful to bundle the removal of petroleum subsidy with the payment of salaries to workers. Petroleum subsidy, we believe, should be removed because it is inefficient, it is oiling corruption, and it is robbing society of vital resources that could be invested in hospitals, schools, roads and other critical areas that directly stimulate economic activities.

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

SUPPORTING JOURNALISM FOR PUBLIC GOOD

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n the word of Joseph E. Stiglitz, “Information is a public good, and as a public good, it needs public support.” The very least Nigerian media deserve is the support from all stakeholders to enable it to continue playing its role of “Fourth Estate of the Realm” and of course the fourth arm of government that consistently checkmate other arms of government.

However, the recent sanctions of some media houses in Nigeria for providing information that serves the public good is not a good sign. Recently, the Publisher of Daily Nigerian newspaper, Jaafar Jaafar had to run into hiding after he received threats to his life. This may not be unconnected to the video he released in 2018 showing a governor allegedly receiving kickbacks in foreign currency. Similarly, the Editor of The Weekly Source newspaper, Jones Abiri who was arrested and detained on terrorism allegations just for exposing the rot in the system through journalism. He was held in secret for more than two years without access to his family or a lawyer. Despite the dismissal of the charges against him by the court, he was rearrested again, detained for some months before his release on bail.

The #ENDSARS protest against police brutality is still fresh in the minds of Nigerians as it came with not just suppression of citizens’ voices but also clampdown on media houses for reporting first-hand information on the brutality of security personnel against citizens. According to Committee to Project

Journalists (CPJ), over 1400 journalists have been killed in the last three decades with about 274 journalists imprisoned in just 2020. So far in 2021, 66 journalists have been declared missing all over the world. Journalists in Nigeria have had a fair share of these figures with issues bothering on covering dangerous assignments, authority clampdown, and attacks by security agents, amongst others.

Despite all these enormous challenges, the Nigerian media have been very instrumental in effecting positive change as they continue to provide information that serves the public good. The trend of investigative reporting has played crucial roles in exposing corruption and brought issues around accountability and transparency to the fore of national discourse. These investigative reports have in some cases triggered actions and investigations.

While more action is expected to be taken to ensure investigative reports make more necessary impact, journalists need all necessary support to continue to unearth the ills of society.

In recent years, journalists have dared the odds, took huge risk to expose rots in the system. A typical example is the case of Fisayo Soyombo who spent days in police custody and Nigerian prison to expose corruption, maltreatment, and social injustice in the Nigerian criminal justice system. This menace is rife right from the police stations, the criminal justice lawyers, and judges to the prison system. While bearing the risk and threats to life that came with this, the journalist shared information that serves the public good.

Similar investigative reports have exposed issues around illegal and dangerous mining in Nigerian communities, the corruption and rot in Nigeria’s health system, civil service education system amongst other critical issues. The trend of fact-checking has also ensured that information further serves the public good as Nigerian media continue to evolve amidst all odds.

Successful examples abound on how media have been able to amplify information for the public good. The historic age reduction bill is driven by Civil Society Organisations like Yiaga Africa through the support of the media. This came via consistent publicity via electronic, print, online, and social media to drive home the importance of political inclusion in Nigeria.

The ongoing campaign to fix Nigeria’s election through citizensdriven electoral reform has also remained on the front burner of national discourse.

Thus it is pertinent especially for authorities to recognise and promote the idea of information as a public good; as something that helps to advance collective aspirations and which forms the key building block for knowledge. This is basically what the media is geared to achieve in Nigeria and across the world. As we mark World Press Freedom Day 2021, we celebrate Journalists who provide information that serves the public good. The entire nation must continue to strive to promote press freedom for the good of society.

Moshood Isah, Media Officer, Yiaga Africa

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T H I S D AY ˾ MONDAY MAY 3, 2021

Group Politics Editor NSEOBONG OKON-EKONG

POLITICS

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

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

When Proposed Database for Livestock Stirred Heated Debate in Senate

Members of the Senate were divided during debate on a Bill seeking to create database for cows and other livestock, Udora Orizu reports

Enagi

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he Senate at the plenary on April 20th were divided during the consideration of a Bill for an Act to provide for the National Livestock Bureau to ensure protection, control and management of livestock, traceability registration and cattle rustling in the country.

The proposed legislation which scaled through second reading is sponsored by Senator Bima Enagi (APC, Niger South).

Benefits of the Bill According to the Bill’s draft, when passed into law, it will address the following objectives, ‘’Creation of a National Livestock Identification Data base; Ensure management, traceability, and control of movement of livestock; Ensure livestock health and disease management through disease surveillance, prevention and quick response to disease outbreaks; Food safety through the traceability of animal products; Enhance transparency and information in the food chain; Deter animal theft, especially as it affects the incessant cattle rustling crisis; Aid intelligence gathering by security agencies towards mitigating the incessant conflicts between herders and farmers.

The Bill will further aid, ‘’International market access and trade, thereby diversifying the economy; The Bureau when created will facilitate and ensure the operationalization of a national system of livestock identification, registration and traceability through developing strategies, mechanisms and scheme for the implementation of the system and in particular, evolve a standard national uniform procedure.

The National Data base would serve as a guide for policy formulation by Government. It would also ensure the regulation of participants in the livestock business.’’

Overview of the Clauses of the Bill The Bill contains Twenty-Eight (28) clauses with a schedule. Clauses 1-6 deals with the establishment, objectives and functions of the Bureau. Clauses 7-8 provides for appointment of staff and pension matters while clauses 9 -12 contains provisions for funds of the Bureau, annual estimates and report. Clauses 13-17 deals with the establishment and functions of Zonal offices.

The Debate Leading the debate on its general principles, the Bill’s sponsor, Enagi said the Bill’s objective is to safeguard the national livestock and sanitize the livestock industry.

He said the legislation is aimed at solving the challenge of animal identification, management and aid intelligence gathering by security agencies towards mitigating the incessant conflicts

Bashiru

between herders and farmers.

He also said it will help in checking cattle rustling, address the diseases and other threats to human lives caused by the movement of livestock.

He said, ‘’It should be noted that, despite Nigeria having about 40 percent of the entire cattle population of West Africa, the country cannot participate in the export of meat and other dairy products, due to the absence of a functional Animal Identification and Management System in Nigeria. Furthermore, the movement of livestock and their products has increased the spread of diseases, increased the threat to human health and reduced consumer confidence in animal products.

“The Bureau when created will facilitate and ensure the operationalization of a national system of livestock identification, registration and traceability through developing strategies, mechanisms and scheme for the implementation of the system and in particular, evolve a standard national uniform procedure. The National Data base would serve as a guide for policy formulation by Government. It would also ensure the regulation of participants in the livestock business.’’

The Senate Spokesman, Senator Ajibola Bashiru, opposing the Bill, while relying on the provisions of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, Senator Bashiru, said no aspect of the Exclusive and Concurrent components of the Constitution gives the National Assembly the powers to legislate on Livestock.

He said such matters, according to the Constitution, should be handled by State Houses of Assembly.

Lawan

According to him, proceeding with the consideration and passage of the Bill will be unconstitutional.

His position was opposed by a Senator from Kebbi State, Bala Ibn N’Allah, who contended that the National Assembly could legislate on the matter.

He insisted that it was the duty of the Federal Government to ensure food security in the country.

Na’Allah said: “I read in person the debate on the issue as to whether the senate has legal capacity to legislate on issue of agriculture last week. It is by providence that today the same issue is being raised, based on my limited understanding of the constitution, the sectorialzation of powers of National Assembly under what is called exclusive, the concurrent list, one if it was under a system of confederate nature , then you can religiously say that we don’t have the power, but because the system is federal in nature the constitution anticipates a situation might arise where the overriding National interest will be tabled for consideration and that’s why the constitution says if an issue is presented in the concurrent list, both the National and state assemblies have powers to make laws. And that where the laws made by the states becomes inconsistent with the one made by the federal then ours shall prevail so that the provision.

“With due respect to position held by Senator Bashiru , the senate has legislative competence to legislate on issue of agriculture. This is one of the best legislation to be presented for the intervention of the senate. In view of the current crisis we are having, regarding cattle rustling extra ordinary situation requires extraordinary actions

I believe that we will be doing this country good, we will be doing justice and a great deal of service to our people that we legislate on this. The identification is just one side of it, but the protection and management of this sector of our economy that is so huge and massive is critical to our economy. It is not something that we will leave to the states to do whatever they want to do. Let the states also try to legislate to compliment whatever the National Assembly will do. So, based on Standing Order 25(h) which gives me the authority to interprete both our standing orders – the rules and constitutional point of orders – I rule that this Senate and, indeed, the National Assembly has the legislative competence to legislate on this matter

and this is the reason why we find justification by the senate to legislate on issue of agriculture. If the contents of this Bill is implemented movement of cattle will be strictly monitored, it means it will make it almost impossible to have access to illegal livestock and sell them elsewhere. It’s better for us to err on the side of action that will bring peace to the country than for us to err on what we can conveniently refer to as legislative convenience”.

Contributing, Senate Deputy Whip, Senator Sabi Abdullahi recalled that the Bill was brought before the Eighth Senate but “unfortunately it never went through.

“This Bill is timely and should be supported.

We are talking about diversifying the economy, the livestock sector is key to this effort.”

Corroborating Na’Allah’s position, the Senate President said it was within his powers to interpret the Constitution and the Senate rules.

He recalled that in February, 2010, the National Assembly, without recourse to the 1999 Constitution, as amended, passed the Doctrine of Necessity motion which ushered in Goodluck Jonathan as acting President, adding that national interest was more important.

His words: “I believe that in this Senate, we even had a resolution or intervention that was based on the Doctrine of necessity, because there was need for the National Assembly to intervene even when it was clear that there was no provision for such a situation.

“Sitting here, I believe that we will be doing this country good, we will be doing justice and a great deal of service to our people that we legislate on this. The identification is just one side of it, but the protection and management of this sector of our economy that is so huge and massive is critical to our economy.

“It is not something that we will leave to the states to do whatever they want to do. Let the states also try to legislate to compliment whatever the National Assembly will do.

“So, based on Standing Order 25(h) which gives me the authority to interprete both our standing orders – the rules and constitutional point of orders – I rule that this Senate and, indeed, the National Assembly has the legislative competence to legislate on this matter”.

Lawan said the livestock sector generated between N5 to N10 trillion annually for the country.

“Any government or any parliament will try to do anything possible to ensure that such an industry is protected, promoted to ensure that people earn their livelihood and people have food reserve in the country.”

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

T H I S D AY ˾ MONDAY MAY 3, 2021

18

MONDAY DISCOURSE

Understanding Oby Ezekwesili’s Drive for Fruitful Democracy

Ozioma Ubabukoh writes that former presidential candidate, Dr. Obiageli Ezekwesili has brought an entire new body of knowledge and tactics to change the narratives in Nigeria politics

Ubabukoh

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t a time many Nigerians are expressing frustrations over the lethargy of elected representatives and decay in the country’s polity, accentuated by transactional electoral process, Dr. Obiageli (Oby) Ezekwesili decided to abandon the lamentation hall.

With #FixPolitics, the former Presidential candidate seems to have identified the root cause of the problems and is mobilising to take remedial steps by grooming citizens with the right knowledge tools to take charge and right the wrongs in the nation’s polity.

When Nigerians named her ‘Madam Due Process’, it was their own way of acknowledging Ezekwesili’s eyes for details and dexterity with facts.

Ezekwesili’s work during her stint at the Budget Monitoring and Price Intelligent Unit (Due Process Unit) did much to show, not only her diligence and patriotism, but also her belief that Nigeria can do things right.

Perhaps, having worked with Professor Jeffrey Sachs at the Centre for International Development at Harvard, she was well exposed to the nitty-gritties of international best practices and global distaste for corruption. The brilliance and patriotic tenacity she displayed convinced both the lowly and the high and mighty that such qualities were what Nigeria needs to work and catch up with the rest of the developed world.

And, as if highlighting the truism in the saying that the reward for good work is more work, it was not surprising when Madam Oby was appointed as a Minister of the Federal Republic, overseeing the Ministry of Solid Mineral (Mines and Steel).

It was at the Ministry of Mines and Steel that the former World Bank Vice President showed that her reform-minded activism was neither make-believe nor a flash in the pan.

Interestingly, her reforms brought our country international acclaim, thereby catapulting Nigeria

Ezekwesili

as a credible mining investment hub.

Many people still remember how Ezekwesili, as head of the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, brought about the national implementation of the international standards and transparency model in Nigeria’s mining, oil and gas sector.

After her stint in government, the former minister went on to become vice president at World Bank for the Africa Region and Senior Economic Advisor for George Soos’ Open Society, where she offered tips to reform-focused African leaders, such as Rwanda’s Paul Kagame and Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf of Liberia.

The post-way stabilisation and socio-economic progress recorded by those two countries could be traced to Ezekwesili’s tenacity and insistence on transparency and due process as basis for good governance.

It goes without saying that the world has taken notice of the former WB vice president, not only as a global citizen, but also as one of the champions of transparency and

accountability.

That could explain her recent appointment into the Board of Trustees of International Bureau of Fiscal Documentation and selection as one of the British Broadcasting Corporation’s 100 Women in 2013/14.

This piece is not intended to sing Madam Ezekwesili’s praise. But, without doubt, this Nigerian woman of substance has become synonymous with transparency and good governance. Those are some of the cardinal features she wants to imbue Nigeria politics with.

With #FixPolitics, which trailed her fellowship at Robert Bosch Academy, Ezekwesili is bringing the passion of Mahatma Ghandi, the vision of Martin Luther King Jnr and the charity of Mother Theresa into Nigeria politics. Having battled sharks and crocodile in the murky waters of the country’s partisan politics, Madam Due Process must have come to the realisation that reforms are a must for Nigeria’s politics, nay democracy, if it must to bear good fruits.

Ezekwesili believes Nigeria’s politics will never remain the same again. Alongside some like minds, she is deploying deep-thinking, knowing that galvanising a generation of empowered and enlightened citizenry, nurtured on the essential features of clean politics, is the surest path to overthrowing the bad guys feeding fat and holding Nigeria down. The former Presidential candidate has turned the entire Nigeria into a huge classroom through the School of Politics, Policy and Governance (popularly known as SPPG) under her #FixPolitics initiative. As the general outline runs

Her reform minded activism in the nation’s polity is not a product of brainwave or a self-serving craving to earn plaudits or score political mileage for electoral laurels. It did not start today.

From Red Card Movement, when she advocated a stop to recycling of selfish leaders; to equipping citizens to perform the Office of the Citizen; to efforts at midwifing consensus for paradigm shift in leadership selection and credible political competition, the former minister has spared neither cost nor energy to see to the evolution of a mutually beneficial democratic experience for citizens and leaders.

Madam Oby has tried various strategies to wake Nigerians from their carefree approach to leadership section during elections. Her voice has been heard on many occasions trying to wake countrymen from slumber and addiction to mammon of Naira worship during elections.

Now, with #Fix Politics, the woman of substance has brought an entire new body of knowledge and tactics to change the narratives in Nigeria politics. After raising an army of wellinformed nationals, able to discern the footprints of false leaders and be able to hold them to account, Ezekwesili believes Nigeria’s politics will never remain the same again.

Alongside some like minds, she is deploying deep-thinking, knowing that galvanising a generation of empowered and enlightened citizenry, nurtured on the essential features of clean politics, is the surest path to overthrowing the bad guys feeding fat and holding Nigeria down.

The former Presidential candidate has turned the entire Nigeria into a huge classroom through the School of Politics, Policy and Governance (popularly known as SPPG) under her #FixPolitics initiative. As the general outline runs through a gamut of educative issues ranging from communication, campaign messaging and fund tracking as well as nuggets on budget monitoring, there is no doubt that Nigeria’s democracy is in for good transition.

19

T H I S D AY ˾ MONDAY MAY 3, 2021

POLITICS

Reprieve Again as 91st PDP NEC Pass Confidence Vote on Secondus, NWC

Chuks Okocha reports that for the second time in less than two months, two important organs of the PDP have passed a vote of confidence on the national chairman, Prince Uche Secondus and members of his NWC.

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or the second time in two m o n t h s , t h e v a r i o u s o rgans of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have passed a vote of confidence on the national leadership of the p a r t y.

T h e v o t e o f c o n f i d e n c e i s f ro m no other body than the National Executive Committee (NEC) of t h e p a r t y. T h e N E C i s t h e h i g h e s t decision making body of the PDP. It is only inferior to the national convention. National convention don’t hold always, but the NEC holds quarterly or members can be summoned on issues of importance to the party administration.

Earlier in the second week of M a rc h t h i s y e a r, t h e B o a rd o f Trustees (BoT) of the party passed a vote of confidence on the National Wo r k i n g C o m m i t t e e ( N W C ) .

The feeling or general implication for this is an indirect way of saying shut up to all voices of distraction in the party. The NEC clearly made it loud to all listening ears that it will not accept a distraction at all as its effort is concentrated on the 2023 general elections.

At the meeting, all members that spoke canvassed the need for unity.

Also, the Thursday’s vote of confidence is coming at a time the party is ruffled by the allegations of misappropriation of N10 billion b e i n g p ro c e e d s f ro m t h e s a l e s o f nomination forms. Though, the N a t i o n a l Wo r k i n g C o m m i t t e e ( N W C ) h a s c o m e o u t s t ro n g l y t o re f u t e t h e a l l e g a t i o n .

The petitioner Prince Kassim Afegbua alleged that the leadership has mismanaged close to N10bn w h i c h a c c ru e d f ro m t h e s a l e o f n o m i n a t i o n f o r m s f o r t h e p re s i dential, gubernatorial, house of assembly and senatorial elections f ro m 2 0 1 7 t o d a t e .

R e s p o n d i n g t o t h e p e t i t i o n e r, t h e N a t i o n a l P u b l i c i t y S e c re t a r y o f t h e P D P, K o l a O l o g b o n d i y a n described the claim as “spurious ” a n d “ i r re s p o n s i b l e ” .

The National Publicity Secretary said that the PDP did not raise Afegbua’s fictitious sum of N10 billion as alleged by him, explaining t h a t o n l y N 4 . 5 b i l l i o n a i re , “ F o r the avoidance of doubt, the PDP generated the sum of N4.6 billion raised a budget for its expenditure, in line with all known financial re g u l a t i o n s o f o u r p a r t y.

According to him. “This budget p a s s e d t h ro u g h t h e o rg a n s o f o u r p a r t y a n d re c e i v e d t h e a p p ro v a l s f ro m t h e N W C , t h e G o v e r n o r s ’ F o ru m , t h e B o a rd o f Tru s t e e s a s w e l l a s o t h e r o rg a n s o f t h e p a r t y.

“As a law-abiding political party t h a t re s p e c t s t h e d o c t r i n e o f ru l e of law and transparency, the budget was presented to the National Executive Committee (NEC) where i t a l s o re c e i v e d a f i n a l a p p ro v a l , the party stated.”

The 91st NEC meeting of the PDP w a s a n e m e rg e n c y m e e t i n g s u m moned to look after the allegations w i t h i n t h e p a r t y. A t t h e m e e t i n g , the national chairman. Secondus gave a vivid account of the sales of nomination forms for the 2019 election and at the end of the day, Secondus was given ovation on how the NWC managed all issues re l a t i n g t o t h e f u n d s o f t h e p a r t y.

According to the National Publicity secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan w h o re a d t h e c o m m u n i q u e s a i d that NEC unanimously passed a

Secondus

vote of confidence on the National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus as well as the member of the National Wo r k i n g C o m m i t t e e ( N W C ) .

According to Ologbondiyan, NEC further cautioned party members at all levels to be weary of agents of distractions and division while praising the effort of the NWC for being focused and purpose driven in piloting the affairs of the party.

T h e p a r t y ’ s N E C e x p re s s e d s a t i s f a c t i o n b e c a u s e a p p ro v a l w a s s o u g h t a n d o b t a i n e d f ro m a l l t h e standing organs or the party before disbursement.

C o m m e n t s f ro m f o r m e r s e n a t e p re s i d e n t , S e n a t o r A n y i m P i u s Amyim, to the Senate Minority L e a d e r, E n y i n n a y a A n a r i b e , t o the House minority leader, Ndudi Elumelu and the governor of Bauchi state, Bala Mohammed, has one thing in common. They all hammered on the need for unity in the p a r t y, u n i t y i s t h e o n l y k e y t o the PDP victory in the 2023. They v a r i o u s l y a rg u e d t h a t t h e p a r t y would not tolerate any form of d i s t r a c t i o n f ro m a n y q u a r t e r. I t w a s o n t h e s t re n g t h o f t h i s , t h a t a vote of confidence was passed on the Uche Secondus led NWC o f t h e P D P.

This was the same way, the Board o f Tru s t e e s ( B o T ) o f t h e P e o p l e s Democratic Party (PDP) said that i t w o u l d e n s u re t h a t t h e N a t i o n a l Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, and members of the National Working Committee (NWC) serve o u t t h e i r t e n u re w h i c h e x p i re s i n D e c e m b e r.

It also said that the party would do everything necessary to take over p o w e r f ro m t h e A l l P ro g re s s i v e s Congress (APC) in 2023, explaining that it is taking steps to resolve all disputes within the ranks of the PDP and unite it for the attainment of its objective.

There have been reported moves by some PDP governors to remove the national chairman as part of the permutations for the bid for power in 2023.

But the BoT said as the conscience of the party that it would ensure this does not happen.

“The Board of Trustees will ensure t h a t a f l u e n t a n d u n i n t e r ru p t e d o p e r a t i o n o f a l l t h e o rg a n s o f t h e p a r t y, p a r t i c u l a r l y t h e N a t i o n a l Working Committee (NWC), remains in place leading up to a successful convention in December 2021,” it said in a communiqué signed by i t s S e c re t a r y, S e n a t o r A d o l p h u s

Thursday’s vote of confidence is coming at a time the party is ruffled by the allegations of misappropriation of N10 billion being proceeds from the sales of nomination forms. Though, the National Working Committee (NWC) has come out strongly to refute the allegation. The petitioner Prince Kassim Afegbua alleged that the leadership has mismanaged close to N10bn which accrued from the sale of nomination forms for the presidential, gubernatorial, house of assembly and senatorial elections from 2017 to date

Wa b a r a .

It said it would ensure that harm o n i o u s re l a t i o n s e x i s t b e t w e e n t h e o rg a n s o f t h e p a r t y, a d d i n g that a detailed meeting between the BoT and the NWC is planned to be held soon.

It said it is working with other s t a k e h o l d e r s t o re s o l v e d i s a g re e ments among party members as a way of ensuring peace and stability i n t h e m a i n o p p o s i t i o n p a r t y.

According to the communiqué that Wabara read to reporters, the BoT reviewed and discussed the situation of the party nationwide, stating that this was necessary due to the heightened political and economic t e n s i o n s i n t h e c o u n t r y.

The purpose of the meeting, Wa b a r a s a i d , w a s t o e n s u re t h e s t a b i l i t y o f a l l t h e o rg a n s o f t h e party and to place them on the alert as the party prepares to take over power once again.

The communiqué said the BoT re c o g n i s e d t h e o n g o i n g w o r k o f the Reconciliation and Strategy Committee, led by a former Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki.

“The meeting was briefed on the outcome of zonal congresses held o v e r l a s t w e e k e n d . T h re e o u t o f t h e s i x c o n g re s s e s h a v e b e e n s u c cessfully concluded.

“The Board of Trustees in playing its statutory role as the conscience of the party will work earnestly towards ensuring that the highest level of morality exists in all its activities and that all the members of our party live up to expectation,” it said.

The communiqué added that the board is committed to not allowing any strained relationship between all members, particularly at the top management level of the party. “ Wi t h a d e t e r m i n a t i o n t o d o a l l t h a t i s n e c e s s a r y t o e n s u re t h a t we fulfill the overwhelming des i re o f t h e v a s t m a j o r i t y o f t h e people of Nigeria that the PDP re g a i n s n a t i o n a l p o w e r i n 2 0 2 3 , t h e b o a rd i s u n e q u i v o c a l l y c o m mitted to ensuring that normalcy a n d p e a c e p re v a i l t h ro u g h a l l t h e o rg a n s o f t h e p a r t y t o p e r m i t t h e development and implementation of well-structured plans,” it said.

I t a d d e d : “ F i n a l l y, t h e b o a rd i s v e r y a p p re c i a t i v e o f t h e c o m m i t ment of our governors to the party and the exemplary roles they have all been playing to keep the party at the optimum operational level.

“The board will consult with the g o v e r n o r s ’ f o ru m o n n e c e s s a r y measures towards solidifying the p a r t y. ” Commenting on the zoning of the presidency, a BoT member and f o r m e r D e p u t y S e n a t e P re s i d e n t , Senator Ibrahim Mantu, said: “Zoning is in the PDP Constitution, it i s a p a r t y m a t t e r. ” Another member and a former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Chief Tom Ikimi, however, said it was too e a r l y t o d i s c u s s t h e m a t t e r.

“It is still too early for the PDP a t t h i s p o i n t i n t i m e t o d e c l a re i t s position on zoning. “ Yo u k n o w v e r y w e l l t h a t A P C has done five years now; politics as far as Nigeria is concerned is b e t w e e n A P C a n d P D P. P D P h a s t o b e v e r y c a re f u l i n d e a l i n g w i t h this issue; we will take it step by step. I believe that your concerns will be taken into consideration when the decision will be made,” he said.

T H I S D AY ˾ ͱ, 2021

20

FEATURES

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

As Insecurity Rages across Nigeria Chiemelie Ezeobi and Kingsley Nwezeh, who chronicled the recent spate of insecurity across the nation, write that it has reached a worrisome crescendo especially after witnessing one of the most violent weeks in the nation's recent history, as was further collaborated by the SBM Intelligence index report that 590 people were killed in April alone

I

some days before the military recovered the community.

n the past one week of the just ended month of April, the violence convulsing the land peaked, puting Nigerians on edge, spreading fears of a looming war or a war that has reached an advanced stage, depending on your perspective.

The newspapers became nearly unreadable because 60 per cent of the news content daily dwelt on violence that gripped the land. The electronic media and online publications also chronicled daily the orgy of violence devastating the country and a leadership that is running in circles, issuing endless assurances that even the perpetrators of violence take advantage of to increase the tempo of violence.

Some of the newspaper headlines read: "Two Police Officers, Four Others Killed in Akwa Ibom, Benue, Enugu", "Slain Student of Greenfield University Laid to Rest", "Nation in Turmoil, Bandits Kill Two More Kaduna Students, "Bandits Invade Zaria, Abduct Housewives, Children", among many other heart-wrending headlines and it continues unabated.

Some have raised the posers: Is there a purge going on? Is this about 2023? Is this about conquest?

Is it al-Qeida, ISIS and Boko Haram on a jihadist mission, Is it the product of deliberate ploy to engender a breakup of the country, create regional armed groups in order to achieve a hidden agenda?

Whatever it is, the blood of the innocent appears to be the currency and they are crying out.

Geidam's Vulnerability One of the states recently at the mercy of terrorists and bandits Geidam, in Yobe State, is the home town of the acting Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba. Boko Haram terrorists seized Geidam and displaced many residents.

The Nigerian soldiers battled the terrorists for days to regain control of the town.

Chilling Week of Violence Within one week, it was reported that bandits killed a Divisional Police Officer (DPO), eight policemen and two vigilantes in Kebbi State; 19 people were killed in Igbariam, Anambra State; abductors kill five students of Greenfield University, Kaduna; gunmen attacked soldiers in Amasiri; gunmen kidnapped several students of the University of Agriculture.

590 Citizens Killed in April A report prepared by SBM Intelligence, a geo-political research intelligence group, said 590 people were killed across the country in violent attacks in the month of April alone.

The SBM report said killings took place in 31 States and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and recorded 160 instances of violent attacks from April 1 to 27.

The report said Benue State recorded the highest number of deaths with 127 people killed in 11 attacks. This was followed by Zamfara with 86 deaths in six attacks while 85 deaths occured in Borno in nine incidents.

It listed other states to include Kaduna, 32; Katsina, 31; Anambra, 29; Imo, 25; Rivers, 24 and Yobe,21. Others are Gombe, 18; Niger, 12; Kebbi, 11; Akwa Ibom, 10; Taraba, 10; Lagos, nine; Adamawa, six; Delta, six; Ebonyi, six and Plateau, six.

Two states, Bayelsa and Ekiti recorded five deaths even as three people were killed in Cross River, Edo, and Osun States. Three deaths, the report said, occured in Ondo, two in Abuja, Abia, Enugu, Nasarawa, and Ogun while Oyo and Sokoto recorded one death each.

At the geo-political level, the SBM report said 161 people were killed in the North-west while 149 people died in the North-central even as 140 people lost their lives in the North-east. A look at the South-east showed that 64 people were killed while South-south recorded 53 deaths and South-west bringing the rear with 33 fatalities.

SBM Intelligence said the northern part of the country recorded 76 percent of fatalities within the period under review.

Terrorism While the nation battled with other forces of insecurity, the Jihadist terrorist organisation, Boko Haram, did not let up. With the aim of expanding its base beyond North-east Nigeria, they have consistently formed alliances with other Islamist groups, thus further intensifying regional security concerns. After the group pledged allegiance to the Islamic State in March 2015.

Known for its brutality, the insurgents have killed tens of thousands of people, displaced

SBM Intelligence Index millions from their homes and is one of the world's deadliest terror group according to the Global Terrorism Index.

Unrepentant Bandits In 2011, Nigeria experienced a surge in bandit attacks as it spread from the North to the South.

Over the past decade, banditry evolved from a communal rivalry into lethal militia groups and has become an appealing method of generating income through ransom demands.

Lately, the spate of banditry has severely disrupted means of livelihood. According to reports, since 2011, "nearly 200,000 people have fled bandit violence and remain internally displaced within the northwest region. Approximately 77,000 Nigerians have fled to neighboring countries".

Kidnapping Before, the victims were the rich or well connected. Now, the spread has touched virtually all strata and class. From the rich to the poor, the aged to youth and children. Again, no strata is left out as doctors, pastors, teachers, farmers, military, judges and even traders, among others, have become victims of this well-oiled thriving syndicate.

Random search on the internet popped up several kidnap cases. From Kaduna to Zamfara, Lagos to Enugu, these kidnappers have gone riot across all geo-political zones of the nation.

Ransom as Cash Cow It is pertinent to note that these kidnappers do not just strike for the fun of it. No. They have embraced the business because it has become a juicy cash cow that keeps yielding fruit. This according to experts should be blamed on the desperation of families to secure the release of their loved ones, which has emboldened the kidnappers who know they can always coerce the cooperation of victims' families to keep the

security agents off their trail.

At the moment, kidnapping for ransom has become an industry running into billions of naira. In most cases, these kidnappers demand ransom running into millions of naira, a sum which doesn't even guarantee the safety of the kidnapped.

In most cases, parents and families of abducted victims are often left to raise the funds. For those that can't afford the funds, they often run to the social media to appeal for the required ransom.

To ameliorate the increasing spate of kidnapping in Nigeria, security experts have advocated for the Personal Locator Beacons (PLB). The way it works, one has to trigger it when they are kidnapped so their location will show.

The beacon is usually registered in the name of the owner and when triggered, their data comes to the system, and the rescue team are alerted.

The PLB can also be built into wrist watches as a disguise. The snag however is the cost. As useful as the PLB is, one could cost between 300 to 700 dollars. At the moment, few hundreds of PLBs are in circulation in Nigeria and that is too small a number compared to what is applicable worldwide.

Ambush at Mainok Also, at Mainok, 30 soldiers were killed by the terrorists when they laid ambush against the Nigerian soldiers who were escorting some arms to Maiduguri. They reportedly overwhelmed the soldiers during a prolonged shoot out and eventually seized some of the weapons.

Damask's Fall Recently, Damasak, in Borno State had also fallen to the terrorists after the community was razed. In the attack, about eight persons were reportedly killed and a dozen others injured. In the ensuing melee, the residents fled the town and the Boko Haram flag was hoisted there for

Attacks on Policemen, Police Station One of the most bizarre illegality going on now is the attack on policemen and police stations.

Coming at the heels of the attack against police formations during last year's #EndSARS, the recent resurgence of such attacks have become alarming.

On January 8, three policemen were attacked at Onueke Police Station in Ezza South Local Government Area (LGA) in Ebonyi State and on January 23, two policemen were killed after gunmen invaded a police station in Aba, Abia State.

On February 1, hoodlums razed the divisional police station at Omoba, headquarters of Isiala Ngwa South in Abia, killing a policeman and looting the armoury, while on February 4, another police station was burnt at Isu, Onicha LGA in Ebonyi. The next day, two policemen were killed at the Umulowo police division in Obowo LGA in Imo State.

On February 23, unknown gunmen stormed Abayi Police Station in Osisioma Ngwa LGA in Abia and killed a policeman before they looted arms and set the station ablaze. The next day, hoodlums killed a police officer and razed a patrol vehicle in Ekwulobia, Anambra State.

Again on February 25, a policewoman was shot after hoodlums attacked a police station in Aboh Mbaise LGA in Imo. On March 1, another police station was attacked at Iboko divisional police station in Izzi, Ebonyi while on March 9, another one was burnt at Ihitte-Uboma LGA in Abia. On March 18, some policemen were killed in Ekwulobia in Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State, when gunmen attacked various locations. Also in Ekwulobia, two staff members of the Nigeria Correctional Service (NCS), Awka, who were escorting inmates to court in Ekwulobia, were gunned down.

On March 20, hoodlums attacked the divisional police headquarters at Isiala Mbano in Imo on March 20 while on March 22, three police officers attached to the Abiriba police division were killed in Ohafia LGA in Abia on March 22. Their rifles were taken away.

On March 31, three policemen attached to the former Central Bank of Nigeria governor, Prof Charles Soludo, were killed in Isuofia, Aguata LGA, Anambra.

On April 5, gunmen attacked the Imo State Police Command headquarters and the Correctional Centre in Owerri. They looted the armoury, burnt vehicles and freed no fewer than 600 detainees and 1,844 inmates. On April 6, gunmen razed the Divisional Police Headquarters in Ehime Mbano LGA in Imo. Also on the same day, another attack was launched at the Ugbodo Police Station in Ebonyi LGA but the police repelled the attack and killed one.

On April 8, gunmen attacked the Mbieri Divisional Police Headquarters in Mbaitoli LGA in Imo, freeing suspects. On April 14, three policemen attached to the Safer Highway Patrol team in Ebonyi were killed in an attack at Ogoja/ Abakaliki Express road by Nwaezenyi junction.

On April 19, gunmen killed two policemen during an attack on the Zone 13 Police Headquarters in Ukpo, Dunukfia LGA in Anambra. Also on the same day, gunmen burnt a police station in Uzoakoli, Bende LGA in a 3 am attack.

Also in Abia, an attack was launched on a police patrol team before Abiriba junction in Ohafia local government area, which three officers dead and their van set on fire.

Death of IPOB Commander Meanwhile, the incessant attacks on its person-

21

T H I S D AY ˾ ͱ, 2021

FEATURES adjoining Shiroro and Rafi Local Government Areas respectively and to redesign the modus operandi of the military operations within the affected areas so as to curtail the escalating insecurity.

Additionally, they tasked the president to order for massive recruitment of police officers and other security personnel.

nel and stations set the police on its warpath.

Recently, they took the war to the enclave of IPOB in Imo State. In a joint operation with the Nigerian Army and DSS, they stormed IPOB operational headquarters in Awomama Village, Oru East LGA of Imo State and neutralised the commander Ikonso and six others.

After the gun duel, THISDAY gathered that the security forces recovered the remains of Ikonso Commander and six of his fighters. Also, several sophisticated weapons including six AK47 rifles, hundreds of ammunition of different caliber and lots of charms including bullet proof charms Meanwhile, three policemen and one army officer died after sustaining serious bullet injuries during the exchange of gunfire.

Attack on Imo Governor In a reprisal by IPOB, the country home of the Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodimma was attacked and two cars including a Rolls Royce was burnt. According to the news report, the attackers threw petrol bombs into the compound sparking a fire incident which led to the razing of vehicles within the premises.

The attack also claimed lives of security personnel including an officer of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).

Jailbreaks Recently, jail breaks have assumed a terrible dimension. On April 5, 2021, heavily armed unknown gunmen attacked Owerri Prison in Imo State. They came into the prison heavily armed with machine guns, rocket-propelled grenades and improvised explosive devices, which they used to gain access to the administrative block and released 1,844 inmates.

Alarming Statistics in Kaduna According to the statistics released week by the Kaduna State Ministry of Internal Affairs, a total of 323 people were killed and 949 others kidnapped within three months from various attacks ranging from banditry, reprisal attacks, kidnapping, and cattle-rustling. Of the total number of deaths recorded from the various aforementioned attacks, 20 were women and 11 were minors.

Meanwhile, the Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan said in the security report for the first quarter of 2021, that troops killed 64 gunmen and arrested several gunrunners during the period under review.

Niger Governor's Alarm as Boko Haram Hoists Flag Last week, Governor of Niger State, Mr. Abubakar Sani Bello raised the alarm that fighters of terror group, Boko Haram, had sacked 50 villages and hoisted its flag in the state.

There were also unconfirmed reports that the terror group had signed a N20 million pact with some villages, some of whom have gone ahead to procure motorcycles for them as a way of preventing the insurgents from unleashing violence on the besieged villages.

Governor Bello had warned that Abuja, the nation's seat of power was only a two-hour drive from Niger State, advising the government at the center to take the matter more seriously.

Worry over Infiltration of Insurgents in Nasarawa Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, had also said recently that insurgents were infiltrating the state, stating that it was imperative for something urgent to be done about it. He said at a meeting with security chiefs in March that the terrorists were regrouping in some local government councils in the state.

He had listed the places to include Nasarawa, Wamba, Awe, Doma, and Karu respectively.

Governor Sule stated that apart from the regrouping of Boko Haram members and bandits in the state, he was also worried about the influx of herdsmen in the state who were coming in from Ondo, Oyo, and other south-western states of the country, following clashes over insecurity.

Security Cordon around Abuja Following Governor Bello's security alert, security forces had thrown a massive security cordon around the nation's seat of power following threats of attacks by insurgents and the increasing wave of armed banditry in the contiguous states of Kaduna, Kogi, Nasarawa, and Niger States.

The Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) had also reassured the nation that there was no threat to the nation's airports even as security was beefed up at the airports.

There was also increased deployment of troops, police, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps

President Buhari

General Lucky Irabor, CDS

(NSCDC), and intelligence operatives to the three strategic entrance to the city notably, Keffi, Zuba and Gwagwalada while more checkpoints were also mounted around Gwagwalada and Keffi.

There was also increased security checks at the entrance to the National Assembly, making it difficult for people to gain entrance into the federal legislature.

The Federal Capital Territory Police Command had also ordered the deployment of personnel to the borders with other states even as it pushed back against messages circulating on social media of an alleged attack on the University of Abuja by armed bandits.

The Spokesperson of the Command, ASP Yusuf Mariam, said the seat of power was safe. She said the command had deployed personnel to FCT borders with other states.

Speaking on the topic: "X-raying the Current Insecurity in the Southeast: the Role of the Stakeholders", a Principal Officer of the International Society for Civil Liberties and the Rule of Law (Intersociety), Mr. Emeka Umeagbalasi, who is also a legal practitioner, blamed the federal government and its security forces particularly the Nigerian Army for the rising insecurity in the region and accused them of promoting and sustaining policy of structural, physical and cultural violence against the region and its population.

He said the insecurity in the South-east was the product of years of yet to be addressed "state actor injustices including the massacre of hundreds of defenseless citizens, indiscriminate clampdowns on self determination activists and uninvolved others, ethnic profiling or hatred and crackdowns on the basis of ethnicity and religion and state’s unwillingness to fish out and punish the perpetrators in addition to the activities of jihadist herdsmen among others and the totality of which could lead to 'citizens’ reprisal radicalism’ and widespread defensive self-help".

The paper also highlighted and lamented that out of 15 key army and police formations in the South-east, 12 are headed by Muslims including 10 Fulani-Hausa Muslims and two South-west Muslims.

He said out of the 15, only one is of Igbo extraction and two others Hausa Christians (CP, Anambra) and South-south Christian (CP, Abia).

In the South-east gateway Sstates of Benue, Edo, Delta, Rivers, Cross River, Akwa Ibom and Bayelsa, out of their 15 key army and police formations, 13 are headed by Muslims including 10 Fulani-Hausa Muslims and two Southwest Muslims and only two are Christians including Rivers State Commissioner of Police who is from Delta State.

"The flooding of the region and its outposts with Fulani-Hausa Muslim military and police commanders must be reversed and all the top officers named above and similar others removed or transferred out of the region and its outposts. " The percentage of Muslim senior military and police officers to be posted to the region and its named outposts must be drastically reduced to 30 per cent so as to allow the Christian indigenous officers to fill 70 per cent of the total slots or positions and give the indigenous citizens of the region a true sense of security and safety".

It is hoped that with more dialogue moving to other geo-political zones, the peace that has eluded the nation may be restored.

Buhari's Appeal to US Govt for Assistance Last week, President Muhammadu Buhari called for the assistance of the United States in containing the violence ravaging the nation.

The president had come under pressure in recent times to seek external help which the government had been reluctant to do.

At a virtual meeting with the United States Secretary of State, Mr. Anthony Bliken, Buhari also called for the relocation of the United States African Command (AFRICOM) from Stutggart in Germany to Africa.

US government had in 2020 and recently issued a security alert that Al-Qaeda and ISIS were making inroads into West Africa, Sahel and Lake Chad, moving Southwards in Nigeria, exploiting local differences.

Buhari had told the US Envoy that the security challenges in Nigeria remained of great concern to Nigeria and impacted more negatively by existing complex negative pressures in the Sahel, Central and West Africa, as well as the Lake Chad Region.

"Compounded as the situation remains, Nigeria and her security forces remain resolutely committed to containing them and addressing their root causes".

He noted that "the support of important and strategic partners like United States cannot be overstated as the consequences of insecurity will affect all nations hence the imperative for concerted cooperation and collaboration of all nations to overcome these challenges.

"In this connection, and considering the growing security challenges in West and Central Africa, Gulf of Guinea, Lake Chad region and the Sahel, weighing heavily on Africa, it underscores the need for the United States to consider re-locating AFRICOM headquarters from Stuttgart, Germany, to Africa and near the Theatre of Operation.”

Chief of Staff's Trouble Shooting in South-east In the midst of all the trouble, it is gratifying to note that a foundation linked to the Chief of Staff to the President, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, organised a peace meeting in Owerri, the Imo State capital, aimed at eliciting views of some stakeholders in the South-east on how to restore peace in the zone.

The event was organised by Neighbourhood Environment Watch Foundation, founded by Okezie Kelechi, an environmentalist and human rights and social justice activist and funded by Savannah Center for Diplomacy, Democracy and Development (SCDDD), a centre founded by the Chief of Staff to the President, Prof Ibrahim Gambari.

The program was themed: "Imperative of National Dialogue for Unity, Security and Development-South-east Zonal Stakeholders Dialogue".

IG Overhauls Security Architecture in South-east On its part, the Inspector General of Police, acting IG Usman Alkali Baba, overhauled the security architecture in the South-east by ordering the posting of CP Christopher A. Owolabi as the new Commissioner of Police (CP) in charge of Anambra State Police Command.

According to the Force Public Relations Officer, CP Frank Mba, the deployment of the new CP was part of the ongoing efforts at re-ordering, overhauling and strengthening the security and policing architecture in Anambra State and other states of the South-east and South-south geo-political zones of the country.

Stance of National Assembly The insecurity that has continuously plagued the nation was the discourse during one of the recent sittings of the law-making body. They further resolved to call on the army chief and the Inspector General of Police to immediately deploy troops to defend the unarmed populace and bring back security to the affected communities.

They lawmakers also called for a permanent military and police command base in the area

Governor's Take In February this year, the Nigeria Governors Forum (MGF) in reaction to rising insecurity in parts of the country after an emergency meeting, agreed to adopt a number of measures to address the nation’s security challenges.

Speaking on behalf of the governors, the NGF Chairman and Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi said the NGF, undertook a comprehensive review of security challenges across the country, identified the various elements of insecurity in the nation and agreed to adopt broad measures to ensure the protection of lives and property.

Some of the measures include increased funding for security agencies, strengthening the National Livestock Transformation Plan by adopting modern grazing and livestock management approaches and reviewing the nation’s forestry management and environmental laws to ensure effective management of the nation’s forest resource. But months after the meeting, insecurity seemed to have tripled and become worse.

UNHCR and its Growing Concerns about IDPs As expected, with the growing attacks and subsequent displacement of communities, many lost their homes and joined the growing figure of the internally displaced.

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, in their statement expressed their concern after 65,000 Nigerians moved following a series of attacks by armed groups on Damasak town, Borno State.

Initial reports indicate that eight people were killed and a dozen injured.

According to the agency, "following the latest attack on Wednesday April 14, the third in seven days, up to 80 per cent of the town’s population – which includes the local community and internally displaced people – were forced to flee. Assailants looted and burned down private homes, warehouses of humanitarian agencies, a police station, a clinic and a UNHCR Protection Desk. Those fleeing include Nigerians and Niger nationals living in the area."

They noted that humanitarian access is increasingly challenging in many parts of Nigeria’s Borno State, including for UNHCR staff, who were forced to temporarily relocate out of Damasak that week.

But despite the challenges, they noted that they are ready to assist those newly displaced people we can reach.

Way Forward Given the alarming tilt of insecurity and its attendant consequences, many stakeholders have continuously posited the way forward to mitigate this anomaly. One of such effective mechanisms should be a peace building process that includes dialogue between security agencies and communities. This, according to stakeholders, is crucial to effective policing and intelligence gathering.

Also, they charged the federal government to increase funding for police and security forces, just as the government should address social problems that drive people to illegality.

According to Nextier SPD, "the Nigerian government must stay ahead of these security issues.

Nigerian security agencies are overwhelmed by the assortment of the security crisis. Moreover, they have become vulnerable to insecurity, with the targeted attacks on police outfits in the southeast and South-south zones.

"New security commitments are needed to end imminent widespread chaos in the country.

Crisis hotspots are increasing in number, same as civilian responses to manage them. Therefore, the security architecture must be reviewed in light of emerging security concerns.

"Additionally, the government must focus on early warning signs to mitigate emerging violent threats before they escalate to full-blown conflicts. For instance, ongoing pro-secessionist movements in the South-east zone have resulted in violent clashes between security agents and the agitators.

"Government must begin to look beyond repression in managing the crisis to reduce the need for combative commitments in the crisis hotspots and redeploy them to other theatres of violence. In essence, early warning signs, peace building initiatives will help to reduce the increasing violence and need for kinetic actions while also preventing human and material losses."

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MONDAY MAY 3, 2021 • T H I S D AY

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T H I S D AY ˾ ͱ˜ 2021

BUSINESSWORLD R A T E S MONEY MARKET OVERNIGHT OBB

A S

REPO 27.75 27.50

CALL 1-MONTH 3-MONTH

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Group Business Editor Obinna Chima

Email obinna.chima@thisdaylive.com 08152447875

A P R I L

S & P INDEX INDEX LEVEL 1-DAY MONTH-TO-DATE

512.20% -0.15% -8.33%

3 0 ,

S & P INDEX 1/4 TO DATE YEAR TO DATE

2 0 2 1

-8.33% -23.58%

EXCHANGE RATE N379/1US DOLLAR* ̩

Quick Takes Firm Introduces ‘Get-Reports’

PROMOTING MICROFINANCE BANKING

L-R: MD/CEO Accion MFB, Taiwo Joda; Chief Consultant, BAA Consult, Biodun Adedipe; MD/CEO Hasal MFB, Nwanna Joel-Ezeugo; MD/CEO Advans Lafayette MFB, Gaetan Debuchy; President, National Association of Microfinance Banks, Yusuf Gyallesu; Executive Director, Corporate Services, LAPO MFB, Gloria Bako Bassey; MD/CEO NPF MFB, Lawal Akinwumi,andCoordinator,MLDC,AdetunjiAfolabi,atthe6thannualsymposiumoftheNigerianMicrofinancePlatform(NMP)organisedbytheMicrofinanceLearningandDevelopmentCenter(MLDC)inLagos…recently

CBN Ramps up Metering Intervention to Discos Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja The intervention by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in the metering challenges in the power sector, has started to yield the needed results, it was learnt yesterday.

Last week, the Special Adviser to the President on Infrastructure, Mr. Ahmad Zakari, confirmed that the federal government was revving up its disbursement of a N120 billion capital expenditure (CAPEX) to improve infrastructure, especially to support the metering programme by the Distribution Companies (Discos).

It was gathered that a number of approvals had been made by the apex bank beginning from

ECONOMY the last quarter of last year, with disbursements standing at N14.35 billion as at December 24, meant for the procurement of an additional 263,000 metering devices.

Despite all efforts by the government, the metering gap has been expanding, but the CBN has continued to close the deficit through the National Mass Metering Programme (NMMP), which involves release of funds to the Discos.

In its Order No. NERC/246/2021, of March 4, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory

Commission (NERC) stated that up to seven million customers in the electricity market remain unmetered, which is about 55.5 per cent of customers, with an estimated three million installed meters already faulty and needing replacement.

A source in one of the Discos, who declined to be named, confirmed receipt of the disbursements, stressing that it has started to ease the financial difficulties which the power distributors have had to confront for years without much results and has boosted revenue in terms of collections.

President, Nigeria Consumer Protection Network, Mr Kunle Olubiyo, recently told journalists

that the metering intervention was a step in the right direction, noting that the Discos would be helpless without it.

He explained that since the power distributors have no investment to procure and install meters, it will do the industry a lot of good, even as NERC has built the money into the Multi-year Tariff Order (MYTO) that was approved early this year.

“Each of the Discos is expected, if they are given the money, they may divert them into frivolous things. The Central Bank of Nigeria now escrowing Continued on page 24

NEPZA Mulls Export Accelerator Programme for SMEs James Emejo and Folalumi Alaran in Abuja The Managing Director/ Chief Executive, Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA), Prof.

Adesoji Adesugba, has said he is prepared to canvass for the adoption of export business accelerator programme to speedily integrate the country’s small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs) into the Special Economic Zones (SEZ) scheme for the benefit of the country.

Speaking while delivering a keynote address during the 2021 World Intellectual Property Day Symposium held virtually, Adesugba, also said a new SEZ model could be developed to allow the SMEs undertake ancillary activities within the established zones.

He said: “With more than 60 million Nigerians engaged in SMEs, the federal government

MARITIME will do good to consider the adoption of programs similar to Kenya’s to boost growth for these smaller companies.

“The management of NEPZA is willing to canvass the support and approval of Mr. President for definite and sustainable initiatives that can help in the growth and development of national economy through the robust participation of the SMEs. “In line with our plans to develop sectorial SEZs for different industries such as Medical SEZ, Agro-allied, Textile, etc. We may seek a strategic alliance with SMEDAN and the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) to develop a joint SEZ program for SMEs.” He said Nigeria could draw a good example from Kenya where SMEs have been deliberately integrated

into the SEZ scheme through the export business accelerator programme where SMEs are allowed to take up smaller spaces in incubator buildings located within SEZs. The NEPZA MD pointed out that with the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic and its grave economic consequences on countries and individuals, there was no better time to seek for emergence of geniuses and ideas that can help transform common loss to sustainable gains in all field of human endeavours especially in the health and economic sectors among others.

He said one of the strategies and measures to be adopted for export and industrial decentralisation was increasing exports of manufactured goods through the promotion of economic zones with fiscal and financial incentives to industrial production.

Adesugba, reiterated that

the federal government’s commitment to ensuring the sustenance of the zones scheme, adding that President Muhammadu Buhari’s special attention to the scheme rose from his conviction that the scheme had capacity to speed up the country’s industrialisation process.

He said: “The national objectives for the adoption of the export processing zones scheme include promotion of job and wealth creation; foreign direct investment; technology transfer; foreign exchange earnings; backward integration/ linkages, and the government and NEPZA are fully committed to achieving this onerous mission.

“Since inception many other zones have been established.

As of December 2020, a total number of 43 zones has been established and now at differ-

Anindependentpublicrelations(PR)measurementandevaluationagency, P+ Measurement Services, has introduced ‘Get-Reports,’a product that allows the purchase of PR performance audit reports. The product spans acrossareaswhichincludes22CommercialNigerianBanksPRPerformance Audit Report;Top Nigerian Insurance PR Performance Audit Report;Top Nigerian Digital Banks PR Performance Audit Report and the 22 commercial Nigerian Bank CEOs PR Performance Audit Report. Others are theTop Nigerian Insurance CEOs PR Performance Audit Report andTop Nigerian Digital Bank CEOs PR Performance Audit Report.

In the area of the Nigerian Digital Bank CEOs’ media Performance Audit Report,atotaloffourDigitalBankCEOsinthecountryweresampled,while the number of samples will be populated as the demand increases. On it, the PR Performance Audit Report will deliver deep insights of CEOs for four Digital Banks in Nigeria, using the P+ Measurement Media Content Analysis(P+MCA)methodologyinaccordancewiththeBarcelonaPrinciples 3.0; highlights Nigerian Digital Bank CEOs with the most favourable and unfavourable media reputation; and analyse the overall competitive share exposure of the four Digital Bank CEOs sampled.

It also explores top four CEOs in the Nigerian Digital Banking industry with most interviews, as well as partnership/sponsorship, CSR/CSI, product launch, promotion and fintech media activities.

CDC Group Supports Uhuru Growth Fund

The Uhuru Investment Partners (Uhuru), a middle-market private equity firm based out of Lagos and Abidjan, has announced the first close of Uhuru Growth Fund I (UGF) at $113 million, with capital support from the CDC Group, the UK’s development finance institution (DFI), along with other DFI partners, commercial and Impact Investors.

Accordingtoastatement,UGF’scapitalwillsupportenterprisesthatboost job creation, increase access to goods and services in consumer staples, and enhance access to healthcare and fintech sectors.

With a target final close of $200 million, the first-generation fund will invest across the West African region including Nigeria, Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire and other Francophone markets.

In addition to CDC, UGF is backed by commercial investors AfricaGrow and Kuramo Capital, in addition to DFIs including European Investment Bank, DEG, SIFEM and Finnfund. Commitment from Uhuru’s partners will providethevitalcapitaltosupportlocalbusinesses’economicrevivalfrom the COVID-19 pandemic and boost trade across the continent.

“Having forged a partnership over the years, CDC has supported Uhuru in mobilising DFI and commercial capital and has worked with the GP to improvegovernanceandimplementBusinessIntegrityandEnvironmental and Social (E&S) best practice.

“Given Uhuru’s unique position in the market and competitive grasp of the fastest-growing economies across the ECOWAS region, the firm expects to unlock further capital for deployment as it evolves as an institution.

“UGFwillleveragetheexpertiseofUhuruInvestmentPartners’indigenousAfrican team, track record of investments in the region, their robust local networksandextensiveknowledgeofWestAfrica’smarkets,”astatement explained.

AfDB to End Child Stunting

The Board of Directors of the African Development Fund (AfDB) said it has approved a grant of $31.2 million to the Government of Ethiopia to increaseaccesstomulti-sectoralnutritionalservicesforchildrenunder-five years, by boosting access to services for improved health, a more diverse and nutritious food, and improving knowledge, attitude and practices on feeding, care and hygiene.

The Multi-sectoral Approach for Stunting Reduction Project (MASReP) will target forty districts or woredas in the country’s Amhara and Tigray regions.Theproject,withatotalcostof$48million,hasthreeprogrammatic components: climate-proofed infrastructure development for effective servicedelivery;livelihoodsupport,productionandpromotionofnutritious foods; and strengthening institutional systems and capacity building.

“With its strong emphasis on using a comprehensive package of systemic and mutually reinforcing multi-sectoral interventions to simultaneously addressthemultidimensionalcausesofstunting,theprojectwillsignificantly contribute to building the grey matter infrastructure of the children in the

“2020 was arguably the most challenging year that the world has faced in decades owing to the negative impact of COVID-19 on businesses and the economy”

MD/CEO, Polaris Bank Continued on page 24

Mr. Innocent Ike

T H I S D AY ˾ ͱ˜ 2021

24

BUSINESSWORLD CBN RAMPS UP METERING INTERVENTION TO DISCOS the account. What it means is that all the money now comes first come to the account.

“The CBN will now remove the one that is going for the meter. They will remove the meter component. It is loan they have given them to procure meter. The tariff they approved this year has taken care of meters. They have built meter purchase into it,” he stated.

It was further learnt that the Discos can now replace some of their obsolete distribution infrastructure such as transformers, poles and conductors with the CBN’s intervention.

Also speaking, a prominent energy expert, Mr. Michael Faniran, told journalists that the intervention would enable the sector to generate enough revenue to address the liquidity gap in the sector.

The CBN had said that some of the objectives of the fund would be to fast-track the development of electric power projects, especially in the identified industrial clusters in the country.

It further stated that it would improve power supply, generate employment and enhance the living standard of the citizens through consistent power supply as well as provide leverage for additional private sector investments in the power sector.

NEPZA MULLS EXPORT ACCELERATOR PROGRAMME FOR SMES

ent stages of development and operation.”

In a statement by Head, Corporate Communications, NEPZA, Mr. Martins Odeh, Adesugba, said, “It is now possible to have an SEZ where all kinds of economic activities can take place including but not limited to manufacturing, processing, trading, services, educational, health and other kind of ancillary business activities.

“The choice of the theme for this year, IP and SMEs: Taking Your Ideas to Market, is not only timely, but also reflective of the global aspirations for every available solution to the various challenges facing the global communities.”

Group Business Editor

Obinna Chima

Capital Market Editor

Goddy Egene

Comms/e-Business Editor

NEWS

Zenith Bank Posts N61bn Profit Before Tax in Q1 Goddy Egene Zenith Bank Plc has announced its unaudited results for the first quarter (Q1) ended 31st March 2021, showing a profit before tax (PBT) of N61 billion, which was four per cent higher than the N58.8 billion posted in the corresponding period of 2020. The bank’s Profit After Tax (PAT) also grew by five per cent to N53.1 per cent from N50.5 billion in Q1 2020.

According to the bank, the profitability was driven by the optimisation of the cost of funds and improvement in non-interest income as its cost of funds reduced significantly from 2.6 per cent in March 2020 to 1.1 per cent in March 2021.

Non-interest income increased by 10 per cent from N46.6 billion to N51.2 billion, driven by growth in credit-related fees and fees on electronic products.

Similarly, non-interest income was boosted by the increase in fees and commission income, which resulted from the increased volume of transactions across all the bank’s channels.

Cost of risk dropped from 0.6 per cent in March 2020 to 0.5 per cent in March 2021, which affirmed the bank’s prudent risk management, while gross loans increased by two per cent from N2.92 trillion to N2.98 trillion in Q1 2021.

Zenith Bank said its robust

Raheem Akingbolu (Advertising) Correspondents

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

Nosa Alekhuogie (ICT) Peter Uzoho (Energy)

trillion in March 2021. Transactions on electronic channels also grew astoundingly as new customers continue to be attracted to the Bank’s various user-friendly digital platforms.

According to the bank, going forward in 2021, it expects the ongoing economic recovery

and improvements in the yield environment would translate into improved numbers.

“This is expected to be supported by local and international COVID-19 vaccination campaigns, rising commodity prices, and global economic growth of up to six per cent, as estimated by

the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

“The Group will continue to position itself to take advantage of positive developments in the domestic and global economy to deliver improved financial performance and returns to all its stakeholders,” Zenith Bank noted.

ICTFORUM

L-R:DirectorGeneral,NationalInformationTechnologyDevelopmentAgency(NITDA),Mr.InuwaAbdullahi; MinisterofCommunicationsandDigitalEconomy, Dr.IsaPantami; PermanentSecretary,MinistryofCommunicationsandDigitalEconomy,Engr.FestusDaudu; andExecutiveViceChairman/CEO,Nigerian CommunicationsCommission,ProfUmarDanbatta duringthe9thVirtualCommissioningofDigitalEconomyProjectsinAbuja...recently

Nigeria Loses $1bn Annually to Aflatoxin, Stakeholders Seek Awareness James Emejo in Abuja Stakeholders have called on the government to boost awareness on the dangers associated with the consumption of aflatoxin contaminated food which cost the country about $1 billion annually.

Rising from a one-day workshop on ‘Scaling Aflatoxin Solution in Nigeria’s Crop Value Chain,’ in Abuja, which was organised by Harvestfield Industries Limited and the International Institute

for Tropical Agriculture (IITA), participants urged the federal government to establish legislations that would ensure that farmers use Aflasafe agro chemicals that would prevent Nigerians from consuming aflatoxin contaminated foods which usually resulted in diseases such as liver cancer, stunted growth among other diseases.

Speaking at the occasion, Managing Director, Harvestfield, Mr. Martins Awosanya, said the government needed to create

enabling environment to ensure farmers don’t plant maize, groundnut without the aflasafe agro chemical to neutralise the harmful effects of aflatoxins.

Giving instance of the aflatoxin control in Rwanda, he said the government imposed a law that made it a criminal offence to plant maize without aflasafe, arguing that the Nigerian government could borrow a leaf and follow suit in ensuring that Nigerian farmers consume wholesome food.

Awosanya said the country must not allow other African countries to overtake it in terms of exportation of Nigerian crops due to aflatoxin contamination.

According to him, Ghana is putting in place formidable policies to ensure that crops are not rejected at the international market.

Nigerian exports, particularly cowpea, had faced rejections in the European markets in recent times because of alleged harmful chemical contents inherent in the

products.

However, Awosanya said: “We have spent $5 million to build the largest agrochemical company but there is no enabling environment to let this thing thrive, and that is what we are asking for - economically we are ready but the regulations are not being enforced.

“In Ghana you cannot deliver maize to Nestle food without testing it. In Nigeria most maize delivered to food processors are not tested.”

NCRIB Boss Highlights Benefits of Insurance Sector Ebere Nwoji High mortality rate among micro, small and medium scale enterprises (MSMEs) and the poor state of Nigeria’s economy has been blamed on lack of a viral insurance sector.

The President, Nigeria council of Registered Insurance Brokers (NCRIB), Mrs Bola Onigbogi, who stated this during her maiden press briefing in Lagos, recently, also expressed concern over the increasing spate of killings and kidnappings in the country, saying if urgent steps were not taken to

Emma Okonji Asst. Editor, Money Market Nume Ekeghe Senior Correspondent

customer acquisition strategy and the effectiveness of its electronic platforms and digital channels enabled it to deliver a N54 billion increment in the savings account balance, which is solely retail.

Specifically, customer deposits grew by six per cent from N5.34 trillion in December 2020 to N5.68

stop it, it could deter investors.

Onigbogi, urged the federal government to declare a state of emergency on kidnappings and killings in Nigeria.

“It should be noted that a nation’s economy cannot develop beyond its insurance sector. In other words, the poor state of our nation’s economy today cannot be divorced from the poor state of insurance industry.

“For example, most companies that ought to have contributed immensely to the development of the nation are no more in existence, because they could

not get succor when the chips were down.

“Many small business owners could not grow beyond a year because they did not factor in insurance from onset. Insurance is key to the development of any nation. It is on that note that I like to appeal to the government to help the industry by taking more strategic position in enforcement of compulsory insurance policies.”

She added: “There must be conscious efforts to continually sensitise members of the public on the importance of insurance.

This must start from the top.”

Commenting further on the incessant killings and kidnappings in the country, Onigbogi said: “To say that the rate of killings and kidnapping in Nigeria is endemic is to state the obvious.

“The recent rate of attacks on people in most parts of the nation is so disheartening. It is worrisome seeing how Nigerians are being massacred in their own fatherland unabated.

“We appeal to Mr. President to instruct all the service chiefs to take responsibilities for the

killings and kidnappings that has continued to tarnish the image of the country.”

Onigbogi, who also spoke on building collapses in the country, called on the government to take decisive measures to address the issue.

“It is essential for government to facilitate meetings of all stakeholders in order to reach a compromise on methods to adopt in stemming the tide. Kindly permit me to state at this juncture that the enforcement of Section 64 and Section 65 of Insurance Act 2003 should be prioritised”, she expressed.

African Countries to Raise Agric Productivity A coalition of multilateral development banks and development partners has pledged over $17 billion in financing during a highlevel forum held at the weekend.

The move is to address rising hunger on the African continent and to improve food security.

These funds were pledged on the final day of a two-day highlevel dialogue - Feeding Africa:

leadership to scale up successful innovations. The event was hosted by the Africa Development Bank and the UN International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), in partnership with the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA) and the CGIAR System Organisation. In addition, 17 African heads of state signed on to the commitment to boost agricultural

production by doubling current productivity levels through the scaling up of agro-technologies, investing in access to markets, and promoting agricultural research and development. The various parties adopted a communiqué outlining these commitments at the end of the event. Of the overall amount pledged, more than $10 billion came from the

African Development Bank, which said it would invest $1.57 billion on scaling up 10 selected priority commodities over the next five years.

This would help countries achieve self-sufficiency. Another $8.83 billion would go towards building strong value chains for these commodities over the next five years.

This will include programmes to create opportunities for young people – particularly women.

African Development Bank President Dr. Akinwumi Adesina said: “Let us now create today, a stronger partnership: a partnership for greater scale; a partnership to take technologies and innovations to hundreds of millions of farmers.”

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Google to Boost Startup Ecosystem in Nigeria, Others Emma Okonji Google has restated its commitment to the startup ecosystem in Africa, announcing the opening of applications for the sixth Class of the Google for Startups Accelerator programme, and the launch of new developer scholarships in partnership with Pluralsight and Andela.

The online programme, which includes three intensive virtual training bootcamps, mentorship and Google product support, is open to applications from 17 countries across Africa, including Nigeria, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, Tunisia, Uganda and Zimbabwe.

The aim is to support the growth of the startups through their crucial growth phases.

The announcements were made during a recent virtual event, where Google hosted key industry players, policy leads, startup executives and investors driving the growth of Africa’s tech ecosystem.

They reviewed opportunities unfolding throughout the internet economy, paying special attention to the support of developers and startups in the region.

Applications for the programme, a three-month initiative that is slated to start on June 21, 2021, will be open until May 14.

For Google’s new developer scholarships, Android, Web and

Google Cloud scholarships are being offered to beginner and intermediate developers resident in Africa.

A total of 40,000 scholarships will be offered to developers, spread across Mobile and Cloud development tracks. The top 1,000 students at the end of the training will earn a full scholarship to certify on Android or Cloud development.

According to the Head of Google for Startups Accelerator Africa, Onajite Emerhor, “Last year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the first virtual class of Google for Startups Accelerator Africa was launched.

“It was the first all-online iteration of Google’s accelerator program for Africa, and saw 20 startups from seven countries undergo a 12-week virtual journey to redefine their offering, while receiving mentoring and attending workshops.

“This year, with the sixth cohort, we want to continue to play our part by supporting developers and startups within the Africa tech ecosystem, ensuring they get all the access and support necessary to see them continue to grow.”

The African startup ecosystem is a key driver of economic growth on the continent, with Africa’s tech space experiencing a significant upswing in startup success stories.

AfCFTA: FG Hails NEXIM’s Intra-African Trade Initiatives The federal government has commended the Nigerian Export-Import (NEXIM) Bank’s enhancement of its Intra-African Trade Initiatives in readiness for commencement of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA).

The commendation was given at the recent formal inauguration of the newly appointed nonexecutive directors of the bank, Mallam Kabiru Hassan, and Mr. Ede Dafinone, in Abuja, by the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed.

She made the commendation in view of the report of the bank’s current strategic framework for expansion of non-oil sector and diversification of the economy, and its achievements in operational performance heralding a return to profitability and reduction in non-performing loans.

Ahmed explained in a statement that the bank was established by Act No 38 of 1991 as an export credit agency with share capital held equally by the Federal Ministry of Finance Incorporated and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

Among several functions, the bank is responsible for the provision of export credit guarantee and export credit insurance facilities to its clients as well as the provision of credit in local currency to its clients in support of export.

“Therefore, the overriding objective of the government in setting up NEXIM Bank is the desire to make the bank a significant player in the Nigerian non-oil export sector and other economic revitalisation programmes such

as the Economic Recovery and Growth Programme (ERGP),” she added.

She also noted that the achievements by the bank would not have been possible but for a crop of dedicated and focused management staff led by the Managing Director (MD) of the bank, Mr. Abba Bello.

Commending President Muhammadu Buhari for finding the appointees worthy to serve on the board of NEXIM, she said in her address that the two appointees will be joining the board with diverse private sector backgrounds.

According to her, Hassan has been in the business of commodity sourcing, trading and distribution since 2012, after a short stint with Union Bank of Nigeria Plc, while Dafinone is also highly experienced on issues relating to export and import.

“He is the current Chairman of Manufacturers Association of Nigeria Export Promotion Group as well as member, National Council of Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, to mention but a few of the Associations he belongs,” she said.

Charging the two, she stated: “I have no doubt that your selection and subsequent appointments were based on your track record of achievements. I dare say, NEXIM Bank has been given more impetus to succeed in achieving its mandates.

“As you are being inaugurated today, I charge you to bring your vast wealth of experience garnered in the private sector to bear in the operations of NEXIM, while pledging the Ministry’s continued support to NEXIM in the discharge of its mandates.”

FG Excited by Export Potential of Indigenous Food Company James Emejo in Abuja The chief executives of export promotion and regulatory agencies have expressed excitement and support for one of the country’s rising indigenous food manufacturing companies, which is export- oriented.

Halibiz Industries Limited, founded by its President, Alhaji Adamu Aliyu, has a primary aspiration of providing healthier, quality and affordable products to Nigeria, Africa and the world at large.

Giving their individual and collective impressions after a facility tour of the company, lo-

cated at the Idu Industrial Centre, Abuja, the Executive Secretary, Nigeria Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC), Ms Yewande Sadiku, and Executive Director/ Chief Executive, Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), Mr. Olusegun Awolowo, as well as the Managing Director/Chief Executive, Nigerian Export-Import Bank (NEXIM), Mr. Abba Bello, all said they were impressed by the level of accomplishments by the company and pledged to assist the company in meeting its aspirations.

They unanimously agreed that Halibiz operations met all the objectives of what the federal

government’s policy initiatives on export sought to achieve.

The chief executives were particularly taken aback by the standards of the company and its vision for the country as well as its readiness to access regional and global markets, with implications for the Nigerian economy in terms of foreign exchange earnings and job creation.

Sadiku, said part of the objectives of government policy was for, “Nigerians to create jobs for Nigerians” adding that, “every Nigerian who does something of value should aspire to venture out”.

She said the factory was

particularly heartwarming given that it was built by Nigerians.

The NIPC boss, while counseling staff to adhere to best quality standards as the company prepared for exports, said, “Every government policy objective is represented in what you guys are doing here today”.

In the same vein, a visibly excited Awolowo, said: “It’s a day of joy to visit your factory to see what you are doing”.

He said amidst various difficulties, the government will always strive to support the likes of Halibiz by creating enabling environment to help the private sector excel.

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FCTA Disburses N4.1bn to Six Area Councils, Stakeholders in March Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja The Federal Capital Territory Administration has shared a total sum of N4.182 billion to the six area councils in the FCT and other stakeholders as share of statutory allocation for the month of March 2021. The allocation, according to the FCT Minister of State, Dr. Ramatu Aliyu, was an increase of over N444 million when compared to February 2021 allocation.

Aliyu, who presided over the 152nd Joint Area Councils Allocation Committee (JAAC), said in February, the total sum

of N3.736 billion was disbursed to the six area councils and other stakeholders, while the sum of N4.182 billion was allocated for the month of March, 2021.

She attributed the increase in the allocation to the increase in statutory revenue allocation from the federation account.

The figures released indicated that the sum of N2.495 billion was made available for distribution to the six area councils, while the sum of N1.686 billion was made available to other stakeholders, bringing the total sum to N4.182 billion.

However, distribution to

area councils shows that the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), received N462.998 million, while Gwagwalada got N440.752 million and Kuje received N395.561 million.

Similarly, Bwari Area Council received N395.076 million, Abaji got N400.772 million and Kwali received N399. 525 million.

Furthermore, distribution to other stakeholders included: primary school teachers which were allocated N1.310 billion, 15 per cent pension funds took N226.479 million, one per cent training fund gulped N41.808 million, while 10 per cent

employer pension contribution took N107.849 million.

Aliyu, who appealed to members of local government employees to shelve their proposed industrial action, assured the leadership of the union that all the six area council chairmen were committed to the implementation of the new minimum wage to workers.

She, however, advocated for training of area council staff with a view to harmonising the salary structures of staff, stressing that the disparity identified during the verification exercise should be harmonised.

CAP to Secure Alternative Raw Material Sources Goddy Egene Chemical and Allied Products (CAP)Plc, one of Nigeria’s leading paints and coatings companies, has taken steps to secure alternative raw material sources to mitigate against further disruption in raw materials supply.

The Managing Director of CAP Mr. David Wright, stated this while commenting on the company’s unaudited results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2020.

CAP posted a decline of 9.5 per cent in revenue to N2.093 billion, from N2.313 billion. Although the company strived to reduce operating expenses by 22.4 per cent from N597 million to N488 million, it ended the quarter with a lower profit after tax of N203

million, compared with N457 million in 2020.

Speaking, Wright attributed the decline majorly to global disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Hence, the decision to secure alternative supply sources.

Wright said: “In the first quarter of 2021, we saw the biggest impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business.

Increased global demand for chemicals driven by the economic rebound in Asia and feedstock challenges, with several suppliers declaring Force Majeure, resulted in a global shortage of raw materials. This significantly impacted product availability in the first quarter of the year.

“In addition, there was a

scarcity premium placed on all available raw materials which eroded gross margin across various product lines.”

According to him, “we have taken steps to secure alternative raw material sources and are increasing inventory levels to mitigate against further disruptions. As such, we expect a strong recovery in the remaining quarters of the year.”

The MD said the company’s focus remains on creating shareholder value while they would continue to pursue attractive growth opportunities to achieve this.

Already CAP is merging with Portland Paints and Products Nigeria Plc and Wright expressed optimism that the merger would present a unique opportunity that

would benefit all stakeholders, from shareholders to customers as well as the broader economy.

“I am excited by the prospect of an enlarged company with a broader decorative paint portfolio covering the premium, midmarket and affordable segments and the inclusion of marine and protective coatings, all of which will benefit our customers and shareholders,” he said.

According to him, CAP would become the largest player in the Nigerian paints market by market share which is estimated at 14.9 per cent and this is due to the fact that the Portland Paints’ Sandtex brand provides access to the large, untapped, high volume “mid-market and value for money” segment of the decorative paint market.

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Aligbe: Aviation Industry Needs Government’s Intervention Aviation industry stakeholder and Chief Executive Officer of Belujane Konsult, Chris Aligbe, in this interview speaks on the challenges in the aviation industry, even as he appeals to the federal government to support the parastatals to survive the economic challenges occasioned by the coronavirus. He also calls on the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria to invite the founders of Aero Contractors and Arik Air and hold talks with them on the future of the airlines. Chinedu Eze brings the excerpts:

F

or some time now there has been an exchange of words between the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) and the former management of Arik Air. While AMCON has said it met a hopeless situation when they took over Arik in February 2017; the airline’s former management insists otherwise. So, what do you think?

To tell you the truth, I have never believed in the AMCON take over. I have always said this right from day one; that they are undertakers and that they do not have the competence to run any airline. They should have known that taking over Arik and Aero Contractors would not have helped the situation. At that time they quarreled with us, but today I am sure they have realised their mistake. How can you say you take up an airline with about 13 to 15 operational aircraft, and how many do you have today? Where are some of the aircraft? One or two of them I understand is detained/impounded in Europe by creditors who insist AMCON acted unilaterally outside the laws of receivership; they are leasing equipment from Mongolia. I flew them once and I saw white cabin crew. I wanted to know if it was Arik Air that I was travelling with. They are saying they have floated another airline, which is NG Eagle and that Arik Air is no longer operational; that they are paying Arik debts. That is nonsensical; they will never get it right, even with a new airline.

If you are using equipment from one airline to start another airline and expect to pay the debts of the former airline because you cannot use the former airline to pay the so called debts, you are dreaming. You see what I mean when I say it is nonsensical!

I repeat. The way they are going, as at now, one will begin to question their motives. The motives are no longer clear, it is not pointing in any direction.

It is now arousing a lot of questions. Who are they giving account of their stewardship? They are not giving anybody account of their stewardship.

You took the airline over on behalf of whom?

There was a time after the takeover people were saying Arik is now a national airline. Nigeria cannot own two airlines and be floating another. But I told them it is not a national airline, it belongs to private individuals, but look at the sorry state of both airlines, Aero and Arik today. There were attempts made to convince the government that they should use it to float national carrier; that they were now ready for profitability. Well, did they tell the truth? Those are absolute lies. And people were pandering to it, that Arik and Aero should be merged, it is not possible. So, for me, it is sad, whatever challenges Arik had by the time AMCON took it over, I think the assets of Arik then was higher in terms of value. They were by far more than what they owed. Whatever they owed. I am not saying they do not owe. I cannot put my finger exactly on the quantum (amount owed) but Arik had so many assets by far more than what they owed. It just required a different management approach to be able to meet their obligations. And I think their obligations were not beyond what airlines have as obligations. AMCON rushed into it for one reason or the other but ever since they rushed into it, what have they recovered?

What debts have they paid? They took over the debts at the parastatals, but they have not done anything, they have not achieved anything. If they were a private organisation, parastatals will be running after them, to pay up their money. Since you took over assets you should also take over liabilities. Which liability have they been able to deal with? Rather, they have incurred more debts.

They said they invested over N300 billion, what is the evidence? Invested it where? where is the evidence? Have they paid the debts? Have they brought the airline to its normal operation? It is sad that we are losing Arik and I do not know why the ownership will not go to court on whatever it is. AMCON has lost; they have lost it.

But what is your review of AMCON’s intervention in the aviation industry?

When people have the penchant to go into areas they do not know, anything but efficiency

the agreement now because the agreement passed through all normal processes. People were involved, multi ethnic state and so many groups that the governor set up, he made sure every group was represented. Isoko, Ijaw, Uhrobo, they were all there in that group. And he went to the State Assembly, which endorsed it. So there is nothing you can fault in terms of transparency in that situation. The only they can disrupt the concession is if there is non-performance. But if the concessionaire begins to make his investment and begin to show that he is committed to the project, people won’t just go to cancel it. All that they can do is to try to harass concessionaire to get some chips out of the concessionaire but they will not cancel it. It is only if the concessionaire doesn’t start work in time that they will have an excuse. So my advice is that the concessionaire should start working. My advice is that the state government must establish a strong oversight agency that will monitor and follow up throughout the period of the concession to make sure that every detail of the concession agreement is implemented. They must make sure that the objective of the concession is realised. The body will monitor it, and guide the concession for the benefit of the entire state. But if that happens it will survive. It is when it doesn’t happen, particularly performance that is when it will not survive. It will face a lot of problems.

Aligbe will be the result. AMCON intervention is one of the critical issues we will be talking about in the industry. We should ask questions, why is this and what is this? Call for accountability and let’s see how accountable you are in managing the airline, but they have not done that. So, as far as I am concerned, the new operation they want to do, I do not know if it will ever be successful, but even if it operates, it can only be limited to domestic operations. Immediately they make mistake to go international, the trouble they will get, they might not be able to handle it. In fact, AMCON should apologise to the aviation industry and the owners of these airlines, and call them back and say sit down, how do we move ahead. That is the truth. AMCON cannot keep beating its chest; it is unnecessary and unhelpful, arrogant, and hollow.

If you want to be arrogant you will have to justify it by your achievements. But when you are hollow, you have nothing and you are arrogant. There is no justification for your arrogance.

Anambra state is about to open its new airport. People are talking about the proliferation

But the challenge they have will still remain Asaba airport. What may give the Anambra airport advantage is if there is continuous traffic gridlock on the Niger Bridge. But that will depend on if the government completes the second Niger Bridge, that advantage will be over because you can move faster from Nnewi, from Ontisha into Asaba

of airports and some other people are saying that the more airports we have the better. What do you think about the management of these airports? How can they become profitable?

Within that zone where the airport is located you have concentration of air travel passengers. But the challenge they have will still remain Asaba airport.

What may give the Anambra airport advantage is if there is continuous traffic gridlock on the Niger Bridge. But that will depend on if the government completes the second Niger Bridge that advantage will be over because you can move faster from Nnewi, from Ontisha into Asaba and then you take off from there than from going to Awka. And you can move faster from Udi or Ugah to Enugu than to Awka. This means the new airport will enjoy temporary benefits. So he must quickly think of what to do to make that airport attractive If they concentrate on cargo and if they can bring them in directly it will enhance the chances of profitability for the airport?

They should seek an approval for international cargo operation. They should not bother about passengers. Passengers can go to Enugu for major international flights, but they should look at cargo and seek approval for international cargo operation.

If they should do that and begin to build on it, the airport will become attractive. For cargo, the airport will be the only in that region, except when Enugu comes up. But if it does well as a cargo airport, it can go a long way.

After concession agreement signed by the Delta State government and a consortium that will manage the airport, there were a lot of criticisms. What do you make of those attacks in terms of the future of the concession?

The Asaba airport concession went through the normal process. You can see the processes step by step up to the State Assembly. The agreement went through that phase. If you cancel the concession what will you do? You want to run it yourself? It will go down. And again the concessionaire must start working very fast; they don’t have to be laid back. If they get laid back people will come and say two years you have been here you didn’t do anything. And then it becomes an issue of nonperformance. So they will be looking for what they will hold on to. You cannot use anything in

It has become every obvious that Nigeria needs a major maintenance facility. Some people have said they are going to build one, like Akwa Ibom and the United Nigeria Airline, the federal government said it will build one, then Air Peace. What impact do you see operating airlines without major maintenance?

It is a major problem because without that you cannot operate effectively. You have to maintain your aircraft and without a standard globally acceptable maintenance organisation here you will still need to take aircraft out. The cost is huge; it is humongous. So it will be best if we have one.

But let me tell you what is happening now, there are so many individuals who want to set up an MRO. I heard that of Akwa Ibom, they have gotten equipment and they are working on it. They are trying to bring the maintenance to fruition. But you ask yourself, what will they be maintaining?

All these people setting up, they are airlines; they are setting up to maintain their own aircraft. A maintenance organisation survives on third party maintenance. And you can see that all airlines are virtually beginning to buy the same equipment in Nigeria. Boeing aircraft brand is even leaving Nigeria’s airspace; only a few people now operate Boeing, maybe Air Peace and some others. They are going for Bombardier CRJ 900 and Embraer.

That is what is going on in the industry now. So how can a major MRO survive in our country?

Will it depend on the market across the West Africa sub region or where are the people going to bring aircraft from for maintenance?

What do you think about the one the federal government is planning to establish?

It depends on what they are looking at. Is it purely engine maintenance? What aircraft type are they looking at? Who will be their initial customers?

How many of such aircraft type exist in West Africa sub region? In North Africa and East Africa, you can’t get anything. Ethiopian Airlines, Egypt Air and Royal Air Maroc are there. I am sure South Africa is still maintaining. I am sure Kenya is doing some maintenance for their own equipment. So who are you looking at to come and patronise you?

The largest MRO in the continent is in South Africa. Ethiopia has a big MRO, South Africa built its own during the Apartheid because they could not go to anywhere; in fact, at a point it was the largest maintenance out fit in Southern hemisphere. It was very large because they used it for the maintenance of all their Boeing 747 and because they were not going out to other maintenance facilities abroad because of Apartheid.

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ALIGBE: AVIATION INDUSTRY NEEDS GOVERNMENT’S INTERVENTION So they built large maintenance factory to handle all their equipment. But I don’t know what it has become now, but even up to the time South African Airway started having problem, they were still maintaining their equipment. That is the situation.

So how are you going to attract market when you have a proliferation of these maintenance facilities? There are many airlines building their own MRO and you can’t stop them. I am sure that even investors will look at that because they do their market projections. What can we have there to make sure that we not only breakeven, there should be a return on investment. And if they don’t see that return on investment they will not come. The proliferation of maintenance organisations is focused on managing equipment.

It is not focuses on their party. Usually you could see a few airlines doing third party maintenance but that is not the focus. And when every airline starts maintaining its own aircraft, what then will go to the one being built? It will be very hard and that is the fact of the matter.

The airfares have so risen that you cannot even compare it with anything in the past to the extent that about two Sundays ago somebody bought a ticket for N120, 000 one-way flight. What do you think will be the consequence of that?

That is the truth. We have had that experience too.

We can’t cope with this, the airlines are suffering very deeply and the way they want to react to it is to recover from their suffering. They hike up fares to reduce the number of travellers. People will put their heads on the road, I am going to my village, I am not flying. I made two attempts to fly; I was so terribly disappointed. The morning we were going to take our flight from Asaba, the airline at night before the flight around 8: 00 pm, they sent us a message that the flight has been rescheduled to take off from Owerri. You know why they did that? They didn’t want to cancel the flight. So if you ask for refund, they will tell you that they had to deduct charges because they didn’t cancel the flight. You expect me to go from Asaba to Owerri to take my flight and you say you

Even the handling companies are finding it difficult to buy new equipment?

Yes, they can’t because the dollars is not there.

The government does not consider aviation industry as a major economic driver, which is sad. Which is missing the point because CBN or the Ministry of Finance cannot say this is the quantum of contribution of this sector to the nations’ economy.

Aligbe didn’t cancel the flight. All that I am trying to say is that we have a major challenge, the industry has gone down and the government is not helping the matter. The CBN and the Minister of Finance did not help the aviation sector. Whatever palliative they got, they just wasted it. They have left the industry to sink. Whether they are waiting for one accident to happen before ever they get jolted to the game I do not know. They have allowed it to sink.

Do you think that government should give airline or the aviation industry a special forex window?

I don’t know. They ought to do that. The foreign airlines are flying here making money and they don’t allow them take out their money generated from the sale of tickets, the foreign airlines will

react. And if foreign airlines react, they would begin to do all that things they normally won’t do. Government should give domestic airlines forex window through which they can easily access dollars so that they can buy spares and effectively maintain their equipment. But what they are doing to our domestic airlines is painful.

And not only the domestic airlines, they are even doing it to parastatals. In fact the way FAAN is managing to sustain the airports is quite surprising to me. FAAN is working largely with its internally generated revenue; yet it still remits 25 per cent of its revenue to the federal government coffers. Federal government should encourage the parastatals to survive the economic challenges occasioned by the Coronavirus pandemic and should suspend the deductions for now.

Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) have been criticised for not effectively representing the airlines and when necessary negotiate effectively with government on behalf of the operators. What do you think should be done to strengthen the association?

As far as I am concerned AON is no more effective.

It is not the AON we used to know before, it is no longer a voice. AON has lost steam many years ago; they lost steam immediately they allowed the Minister to tear them into two. A former Minister tore them into and they brought in new AON where Capt. Nogie Meggison became the chairman.

AON was a very serious organisation, an advocacy group and a defender of the industry.

So AON lost its steam immediately they allowed a politician to go into them and separate them. Immediately they separated them, the target then was to ensure that they remove Capt. Mohammed Joji, because he was not going to toe their part or be controlled.

That is how that organisation lost steam.

And what is happening today is not helpful.

How many airlines are operating? Even this palliative that was given, the other airlines were angry about the way the thing was handled. So they have lost, they cannot pull them together.

My advice to them is that they should go and join NACCIMA so that NACCIMA can create a voice for them. All other sectors are part and parcel of NACCIMA. And NACCIMA has the image and reputation. They represent the country outside, so they should come under the umbrella of NACCIMA. Let NACCIMA have the aviation sector as part and parcel of it and they can develop a voice from there.

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ABC Health, ECA Partner on Improved Healthcare in Africa Obinna Chima The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) and the African Business Coalition for Health (ABC Health) have signed a partnership to develop two key initiatives.

According to a statement at the weekend, the initiatives are: the Healthcare and Economic Growth in Africa (HEGA 2) report; and the West Africa African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA)anchored Pharma Initiative.

The stated that both initiatives would be jointly executed.

The partnership between the two organisations was premised

on the belief that every African has an undeniable right to quality, accessible and affordable healthcare.

They noted that the relationship between health and economic growth has been effectively demonstrated by the negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, saying it is now clear that more private sector involvement was required to support governments’ efforts on health.

The Healthcare and Economic Growth in Africa (HEGA 2) is a follow up to the HEGA 1 report which analysed a strategic direction for African countries to better engage with the private health sector to accelerate improvements

in health.

It examined Africa’s healthcare challenges and highlighted opportunities for the private sector.

The report was launched in February 2019 on the margins of the the 32nd African Union (AU) Heads of State and Government Summit in Addis Ababa. HEGA 2 aims to leverage innovation and extend the focus on building resilient national health systems in a post-COVID-19 era.

“The publication will offer robust evidence-based policy solutions to strengthen and build resilient healthcare and health infrastructure on the continent.

“The West Africa AfCFTA-

anchored Pharma Initiative is the blueprint for the local production of drugs and medical equipment across West Africa. The initiative focuses on strengthening the supply side of West Africa’s health sector by mobilizing investment and capital to develop domestic production of internationally accepted standards and quality.

“This initiative is an extension of the work that ECA conducted in collaboration with the Intergovernmental Authority for Development (IGAD) and selected countries, which involved advocacy for local production of maternal and child care medicines; pooled procurement of same; and ensuring

regulatory harmonisation and quality standards of medicines and products,” a statement explained.

Commenting on the partnership, the Co-Founder of ABCHealth, Aliko Dangote, noted that, “With the coalition that ABCHealth is building across the continent, responsible business leaders and philanthropists will have a platform that enables them make sustainable, large scale investments in health that transform African economies and people.”

ABCHealth Chairman, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, said, “We are confident of the impact this partnership will bring to bear on the continent. It is our firm

belief that with the public and private sectors working together, combining political will with business knowledge, Africa’s health sector can be built to the point where it will deliver affordable health to Africans in an equitable manner.”

ECA Executive Secretary, Vera Songwe stated: “Investing in health is not just a social good, it also makes a good business case. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, business opportunities in the health-care and wellness sector in Africa were estimated to be $259 billion by the year 2030, with the potential to create 16 million jobs

Polaris Bank Rewards Customers with N26m in Promo Six customers emerged millionaires in the Polaris Bank ‘Save and Win’ grand finale promo draws.

They include: Williams Atinuke, a customer at Ikorodu Local Govt branch; Bello Amthe, a customer of Maiduguri branch and Sani Mohammed, a customer of Kura branch, Kano.

Others were Okoro Arua, a customer of Aba Factory Road branch, Abia State; Ndidi Ebagua, a customer of Benin Main branch, Edo State and Ogunbowale Isola, a customer of Sokenu Road branch, Abeokuta, Ogun State.

Two winners: Lucky Okunzuwa, a customer with the bank’s Akpakpava branch in Benin City also in Edo state and Ikechukwu Bartholomew Obiefuna, a customer with the bank’s Okeke street branch, Awka in Anambra state, had earlier emerged in the first and second draws of the promo which took place in February and March 2021 respectively.

The bank in a statement said 60 other lucky winners also emerged from across the six geo-political zones, winning N100,000 each during the draw.

The draw which held at its headquarters, in Lagos, was streamed across various media channels attracting a large online audience.

The audience profile was made up of customers from within and outside Nigeria and members of the public who witnessed the emergence of the six millionaires and other consolation prize winners through an open and transparent electronic ballot.

Speaking at the unveiling of the winners, Polaris Bank’s Managing Director/CEO, Mr. Innocent Ike, while offering his congratulations, said he was excited at the outcome of the draws and particularly for the customers.

He added: “This will create the desired change in the savings culture of Nigerians as well as transform the investment climate for the economy.”

The trio of Susie Onwuka; Gloria Ireka and Owen Dadzie representing the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC); National Lottery Regulatory Commission (NLRC) and the Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON) respectively, adjudged the draw process as transparent and credible and commended Polaris Bank for taking its time to do things properly.

The ‘Save & Win’ promo was launched in November 2020 with three draws slated to select winners in February, March, and April respectively.

IBEDC Sensitises Oyo Residents on Safety Measures Kemi Olaitan in Ibadan The Chief Operating Officer (COO), Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC), Mr. John Ayodele, has charged people in the franchise area of the company to be safety conscious and steer clear of high tension wires.

He gave the charge in Ibadan, Oyo State, while sensitising residents of the state on safety precautions as part of activities to mark this year’s World Day for Safety and Health at Work.

Ayodele who was represented by the Head, Operational Compliance, Mr. Victor Ojelabi, at the event held at the Abuja Unit of Egbeda Interstate branch, where top management team of IBEDC and members of Oyo State Park Management System (PMS) were present, said the sensitisation exercise was to partner with the drivers, park managers and other residents of the state, not to park their vehicles indiscriminately.

He said the distribution com-

pany has taken it upon itself to preach on safety measures, stating that one of the safety measures is for members of the public not to build houses, shops, religious centres, signpost or erect canopies under power lines.

According to him, “We are partnering with the park managers to pass the message of safety.

We are doing this so that the drivers do not park under high tension wire. “They have been doing a good job most especially the Chairman as they have been very helpful and cooperating and that is why we are bringing the sensitisation to this place.

“Indeed we need to acknowledge him for his cooperation and partnership and to also implore him to do more not only in Ibadan but other parts of Oyo State. We want all the people in our franchise area to embrace the message of safety, to know that safety is very important in what they are doing.”

COURTESYVISIT

L-R:Manager,JohnventsConsulting,CarolineOmotosho;ManagingDirector/CEO,KeystoneBank,OlaniranOlayinka;GroupManagingDirector,CapitalSage Holdings,JohnAlamu,andBusinessTeamLead,WestDivision,KeystoneBank,KolawoleOyegoke,duringacourtesyvisittoCapitalSageHeadOfficeby KeystoneBank’smanagementinIbadan...recently

CapitalSage Targets Business Expansion Ugo Aliogo CapitalSage Limited has reiterated its commitment to expanding its operations and strengthening its position in the financial technology sector.

The Group Managing Director of CapitalSage, John Alamu, disclosed this recently in Ibadan, Oyo State, during a visit by the Managing Director of Keystone Bank, Olaniran Olayinka, alongside members of the corporate banking directorate.

Alamu explained that CapitalSage was unwavering in its drive to continually forge strategic alliances that would benefit its stakeholders.

According to him, “We have been deliberate about the kind

of partnership we forge and the acquisition we make because of the unique position we occupy in the fintech space.

“Late last year, we formally acquired CinTrust Microfinance Bank from Odua Cooperative Conglomerate, the biggest and most influential cooperative society in the south-west. As of now, the final documentation with the Central Bank of Nigeria is ongoing.

“This acquisition coupled with a knitted relationship with financial partners like Keystone Bank is very strategic for us as we move to strengthen our value proposition.”

The Manager, Financial Inclusion, Kolomoni, Macdonald Okoh, who expressed delight about

the future of the company and strategic moves by the leadership, commended the timeliness of the acquisition to CinTrust Microfinance Bank.

“We are currently in 24 states, leading with our Kolomoni agent banking network, but we have not even scratched the surface of our agenda for the sector.

“We are improving our service and operations to reach the most remote and excluded Nigerians with the basic financial service they deserve. The company’s acquisition of CinTrust Microfinance Bank has facilitated our membership with the Share Agent Network Expansion (SANEF), this gives us stronger leverage toward achieving a financially inclusive society,” Okoh said.

Commenting on the brand’s long-term goal, Alamu, stated that CapitalSage seeks to be the leading partner of financial technology in Africa.

In his words, “In the last 14 months, our operations have been focused on reaching millions of Nigerians including the unbanked and underserved through our vast business areas.

“We have continuously optimised our business focus to meet the deep financial concerns of the African market.

In September 2020, we officially relaunched from CreditAssist Investment Limited based on this new direction. We are fully committed to driving financial inclusion and prosperity, not just in Nigeria but in Africa.”

Group Faults Buhari’s Action on Four OMLs A Civil Society Organisation, Good Governance Advocates, said it is “saddened that President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) to restore the four oil mining licences revoked from Addax Petroleum while directing the DPR to retract the letter of revocation of the leases.”

It, however, commended the DPR for taking concrete steps to boost the revenue accruing to the government in the assets.

In a statement signed by its National President, Kema Maxwell, Good Governance Advocates acknowledged that

Nigeria and China continue to enjoy cordial economic, political and social ties, and support the mutual development of both countries.

Tracing the genesis of the current impasse, Good Governance Advocates recalled that in 1998, NNPC entered into a 20-year PSC (Production Sharing Contract) in respect of certain oil mining leases (OMLs) with Addax Petroleum, a company listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX).

“The PSC was subsequently extended for a further four years, until 2022. The assets were OMLs 123, 124, 126 and 137. Under the

PSC, Addax fully funded and operated the development of the OMLs, with profit shared between Addax and NNPC. “From 1998 until 2009, Addax increased production in these OMLs to about 130,000 bpd.

In 2009, Sinopec (a Chinese state-owned company) purchased Addax Petroleum. As a result, Sinopec obtained the rights to these assets,” the group added.

They alleged that no payments were made to the federal government during the purchase by either party. “However, in recent years, there have been no new investments in the assets, and by 2021, production had

declined to 25,000 bpd leading to significant reduction of revenue accruing to government.

“In addition, large gas resources in the assets have remained undeveloped, and excess gas has been continuously flared to the atmosphere, contrary to the policy of the federal government and best-practice international environmental practice,” it further alleged.

Maxwell further stated that since 2017, Sinopec has attempted, by a private sales process, to divest its rights in the PSCs (which are due to expire in July 2022) to a third party of Sinopec’s choice.

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Enforcing Compulsory Building Insurance Ebere Nwoji writesonrecenteffortsbytheNationalInsuranceCommissiontoenforcecompulsorybuildinginsurance

T

he National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) and the Federal Fire Service recently held a joint meeting targeted at enforcing compulsory public building liability insurance.

The resolution has been described by insurance industry stakeholders as a welcome development and a step in the right direction.

But to the insurance industry observers, there is the question on the actual modalities and the force the commission and the Federal Fire Service would use to ensure that the enforcement this time works out.

This question came to the fore because this is not the first time the Commission is making this type of move concerning this policy.

In October 2010, the Commission, under the leadership of Mr. Fola Daniel, as the commissioner for insurance, had staged a major launch of this same policy in Abuja.

The manner the Commission staged the launch, reeling out strategies it will use to ensure that the implementation and the enforcement was made effective raised great hope in the minds of insurers to the extent that the insurers, projected then that the policy was capable of yielding minimum of N10 billion every year to their accounts.

After the launch, nothing was heard again about the enforcement of the policy while most buildings in the country still existed without insurance cover.

Again in October 2017, NAICOM, inaugurated a technical committee that would drive the enforcement of public building insurance in Nigeria.

The committee was made up of representatives of NAICOM, the Federal Fire Service representatives of states fire service from the six geo-political zones and the Nigeria Insurers Association (NIA).

Since then nothing has been heard about the work or achievement of the committee When THISDAY enquired on why the compulsory building insurance along with other five compulsory insurances have not been enforced using security agencies, the response was that inadequate and ineffective framework for the insurance industry have remained major challenge militating against such enforcement and must be tackled for the industry to make headway in critical issues like enforcement of the compulsory insurances.

The 2003 insurance Act, defines a public building as one to which members of the public have access to for educational, recreational, medical and commercial purposes. The penalty for noncompliance is a maximum fine of N100, 000 or one-year imprisonment or both according to insurance Act 2003.

Section 65, sub-section 3 of the Insurance Act 2003, requires the owner or occupier of every public building to be insured against liability for loss or damage to property or death or bodily injury caused by collapse, fire, earthquake, storm or flood.

The public building liability insurance, is one of the five compulsory insurances stipulated by the insurance Act 2003 but which has been dormant without implementation. Yet, cases of collapse buildings and destruction of lives and properties for which it is meant to protect occur every day.

This, according to the industry stakeholders indeed, made the latest decision by both NAICOM and the Federal Fire Service to move towards enforcement of the building insurance a good development and a course that must be pursued with vigor.

This is because in recent years, there has not been a rainy season that passed without record of cases of building collapses in one part of the country or the other.

Against this backdrop, as this year’s rainy season is fast approaching, the Commission’s latest effort concerning the implementation and enforcement of the compulsory building insurance has become necessary to cushion against effects of impending losses from building collapses.

But the Commission has got an onerous task of ensuring that its current zeal in the policy enforcement this time, does not go the way of the previous moves.

A flash back at cases of building collapses in different parts of the country with the attendant destruction of lives and properties brings to

the fore, the relevance of enforcement of this particular policy.

For instance, in March 2019, a three-story building housing a primary school with pupils and other occupants in the Ita-Faji area of Lagos Island Local Government, collapsed, killing many people including the proprietress of the school and school children.

When THISDAY visited the collapsed building site, it was discovered that the building had no insurance cover and none of the dead or injured victims had any form of insurance.

Indeed, one of the land owners in the area told THISDAY that houses in the area had no insurance and that most landlords in the area have no knowledge of insurance.

Shortly after that, in Apo Mechanic village Abuja, a story building collapsed, trapping six people. Also, after that, there was report of another similar case in Ibadan.

Similar to this in recent times, fire outbreaks in markets which also constitutes public building have become more frequent.

The latest was the recent fire outbreak in Katsina State main market in which properties worth millions of naira were destroyed.

Unfortunately, when these happened, with the exception of the Ita -Faji case where the Lagos State government took care of the hospital bills of the victims, especially the school children, both the dead and surviving victims were often left to their fate.

For the dead victims, their dependents are often left without any form of compensation mainly because in most cases, owners of the building ran away for fear of facing the wrath of the law.

In Nigeria, it is fast becoming the custom to expect government to take responsibility of certain things common knowledge should teach people to do to stay safe especially insurance cover.

Insurers themselves often lament that instead of encouraging people to take insurance cover, government in few cases resort to giving out paltry gifts to the victims.

The former president, Nigeria Council of Registered Insurance Brokers and Managing Director Scib insurance Brokers, Mr. Shola Tinubu, said this is not the right solution to ameliorate problems faced by people when the unforeseen happens.

According to him, Nigerians ought to embrace insurance so that anytime the unforeseen happens, they will be entitled to more valuable compensation that will restore them to the position they were before the unfortunate event happened.

Government, after the 2012 flood that rendered many people homeless, had mandated that people who built their houses near canals and other flood passages should remove such houses and look for safer places, but till date, people are still living in such areas and have not cared or planned for the unexpected.

Presently, people are still occupying houses with shaky foundations while developers still use fragile materials and substandard ones to erect new buildings despite cases of collapse of new buildings with faulty foundations around the country.

Section 64 of insurance Act 2003, stipulates that for insurance of buildings under construction, every owner or contractor of any building under construction with more than two floors must

take an insurance policy to cover liability against construction risks caused by his negligence or that of his servants, agents or consultants which may result in death, bodily injury or property damage to workers on site or members of the public.

This insurance policy also covers liability for collapse of buildings under construction. Failure to comply with this provision is an offence punishable with a fine of N250,000 or three years imprisonment or both.

Despite these laws, house owners and owners of building under construction care less about insuring their houses.

But insurers have stressed that this is not supposed to be as insurance firms are set up for the purpose of mitigating risks.

According to them, if Nigerians can take insurance covers especially the compulsory building insurance when there is collapse of this nature, insurance companies would be there to compensate them.

To the Managing Director, Consolidated Hallmark Insurance Plc, Eddie Efekoha, if there is time Nigerians should embrace of this nature, it is now that insurers are focusing on retail insurance that covers individual policies like building, life, and motor insurances as the corporate insurance has been saturated and over marketed.

While encouraging Nigerians to protect their personal belongings through insurance cover, he urged insurers to look critically into retail insurance areas that take care of such policies.

The Lagos State Government in pushing its compulsory building insurance law, said it would synergise with a consortium of insurance companies and NAICOM to achieve this.

It was of the view that if residents in Lagos embraced building insurance policy, it would save them from untold hardship, losses and the hopelessness associated with emergency situations.

It also stressed that insurance companies have the financial capabilities to compensate and pay claims to victims of disasters than government.

This decision by the state government then, was in line with long standing crusade by both the insurance industry regulator, NAICOM, the umbrella body of insurance underwriters, the Nigeria Insurers Association (NIA) and other stakeholders in the industry on enforcement of compulsory insurance nationwide.

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T H I S D AY ˾ ͱ˜ 2021

Greenage Launches Student Housing Programme Greenage Development Managers, a private equitydriven fund and provider of on-campus student and faculty housing projects, has announced a long-term commitment to the International Finance Corporation’s (IFC) EDGE (Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies), an international green building certification system.

The aim of the initiative is to transform the student housing sector by delivering purpose-built, resource-efficient student housing in higher institutions across Nigeria.

According to a statement, the Greenage student housing programme is a private sectorled initiative that consists of a 10-year plan to provide modern, secure, affordable and green accommodations to complement the campus architecture across Nigeria.

It explained that by partnering multilateral agencies as well as private equity partners, Greenage could provide long-term, environmentally-friendly solution, “as an answer to the severely deteriorated state of student housing infrastructure in Nigeria.”

In support of the Greenage initiative, IFC’s Green Building Lead for Nigeria, Mr. Dennis Quansah, said, “By introducing green building certification with EDGE, Greenage is committed to contributing positively to the local economy and the students they serve, while controlling the use of natural resources.

“Greenage will work with local vendors, suppliers, consultants and subcontractors to procure local materials and equipment

to produce high quality, durable and resource-efficient buildings.

“By working collaboratively with institutions to carefully design and build new, on-campus housing, Greenage can fully meet the demands, needs and preferences of university communities in Nigeria, while limiting impacts on the environment.”

Furthermore, the statement revealed that Greenage has expertise in structuring partnerships with universities that ensures it provides practical, innovative and efficient financing solutions for its student housing projects.

Through its relationships with innovative and private equity funding sources, the company has rolled out a blended mix of secured debt and equity financing to deliver $150 million size student housing fund that will develop between 50,000- 100,000 bed spaces across Nigeria over 10 years with an initial ticket size of $50 million for its first phase of delivery.

Greenage will be commencing its Series 1 equity raise to kickstart the progromme in partnership with Greenwich Merchant Bank and Infrastructure Bank.

According to the company’s director, Mr. Marcellinus Nnaedozie, the Greenage approach to student housing offers the most affordable, sustainable and desirable strategy to meet the housing objectives of higher institutions in Nigeria.

“Supported by High Networth and Institutional Investors partners and alongside multilateral institutions, Greenage is highly confident in its ability to deliver its proposed 10-year programme

Okoya Emerges N-BA’s First Nigerian Female President Sunday Ehigiator The immediate past Secretary of the Nigeria-Britain Association (N-BA), Abimbola Okoya has emerged as the first Nigerian female President of the Nigeria-Britain Association (N-BA).

This followed an election conducted during the 52nd Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the association, held over the weekend in Lagos.

Okoya who was unopposed at the elections would be taking over from the immediate past President of the association, Shola Tinubu, after successfully completing his tenure.

In his outgoing speech, Tinubu expressed pleasure in seeing a steady progress within the association and other fronts.

“Foremost has been the increased active participation of supporters and partners in the promotion of our mandate, sincere appreciation to the outgoing council members for facilitating the activities that led to this outcome.

“During the period, we have been primarily focused on delivering our objective to develop relationships between individuals and organisations in Nigeria, Britain and the Commonwealth resident in Nigeria through the exchange of culture and encouragement of sponsorship for public good,” he said.

Speaking about his successor, Tinubu described her as a, “tested

and trusted” person, who has shown her capabilities in several roles within the association, where she had served.

“I look forward to supporting the recently appointed President, Abimbola Okoya, as she makes N-BA history as the youngest and first female Nigerian President of the Association since its inception over 50 years ago.

“This remarkable act is a testament to our progressive outlook and promotion of diversity, in all its forms, as we endorse the next generation of leaders,” he said.

In her acceptance speech, Okoya described her emergence as an act that will open doors for the next generation of inclusive leadership.

“Leaders who would no longer be seen as vulnerable but as inspirational as they would be women, youth, persons living with a disability, amongst others.

“This one desirable act would be remembered in N-BA’s history as the day when the youngest and first Nigerian female was elected as President of the Nigeria-Britain Association. “ She further noted that the association, “still has a long way to go and challenges to overcome as we must grow our membership and value proposition to existing members.

“We also must find revenue beyond dues and subscriptions to enhance our programs, member activities and most importantly sponsorship for the public good,” she said.

CBN, Experts Harp on Collaboration among MFBs on Micro-insurance Oluchi Chibuzor The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and financial sector experts have called for collaborative efforts among microfinance banks (MFBs) in order to promote micro-insurance as a tool for deepening financial inclusion.

Making this call in Lagos, at the 6th annual symposium of the Nigerian Microfinance Platform (NMP) organised by the Microfinance Learning and Development Center (MLDC), with the theme, ‘Expanding The Frontiers of Financial Inclusion: The Microinsurance Option,’ the experts averred that microfinance banks are instrumental to the expansion of microinsurance services among the populace.

Addressing participants at the

symposium, Deputy Governor, Financial Sector Surveillance, CBN, Mrs. Aisha Ahmad, said there was need for a collective strategy to re-emphasise the importance of micro-insurance as a financial service and re-align it as a vital tool in attaining a higher level of financial inclusion within the Nigerian Microfinance Sub-sector through the security of micro- businesses.

Represented by Mrs. Idowu Akinlade, Deputy Director, Other Financial Institution Department (OFISD), CBN, Ahmad, was quoted in a statement to have said: “Financial inclusion, which entails affordable and available access to financial services by every adult in any given country or area,also includes insurance; however, this aspect of financial servicing has

been under-emphasised for too long.

“I consider it vital for us, through collaborative efforts, to look deeper into this shadowed aspect of financial inclusion, exchange ideas with our counterparts from other countries, build regulator/operator capacity and tackle issues within the sector to enhance the provision and availability of affordable financial services in Nigeria.”

Also making a case for collaboration among MFBs on micro-insurance, the Group Chief Executive Officer, Letshego Holdings, the parent company of Letshego MFB, Andrew Fening Okai, said: “Microfinance participants should commit to collaborate on building microinsurance as product of necessity

and do it with confidence - adopt and develop clear value propositions while paying attention to simple but efficient distribution channels supported by easy claims resolutions.”

On his part, Managing Director/Chief Executive, Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC), Hassan Bello advised the participants on factors MFBs need to consider in the provision of micro-insurance services.

Represented by Joshua Etopidiok, Director, Special Insured Department SIID, NDIC, Hassan said the factors included: Trust quotient of the insurance industry; Ease of purchase of micro-insurance services; customer service through digitisation; and advocacy for micro-insurance.

GLADTOMEETYOU

ChiefoftheNavalStaff,ViceAdmiralAwwalGambo(left),presentingasouvenirtotheGroupManagingDirector,NigerianNationalPetroleumCorporation (NNPC),Mr.MeleKyari,during theGMD’svisittoNavalHeadquartersinAbuja...recentl

DPR Restates Commitment to Capacity Devt in Oil Industry The Director of the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), Mr. Sarki Auwalu, has assured indigenous oil and gas trainers of more collaboration in their quest for sustainable human capacity development in the sector for the benefit of all stakeholders.

Auwalu spoke recently in Lagos, while receiving the ‘Oil and Gas Innovative Award of the Year’, presented to him by the Oil and Gas Trainers Association of Nigeria (OGTAN) during the organisation’s 2021

annual conference.

“Let me reassure all our partners of DPR’s commitment and collaboration towards sustainable human capacity development for the benefit of all stakeholders in the Nigerian oil and gas value-chain.

“In this, we look forward to enhanced collaboration with Indigenous training organisations. For us at the DPR, our role as business enablers and opportunity providers, positions us strategically as a driving

force in the use of technology and application of technical know-how, thereby entrenching sustainable partnerships to grow our indigenous capacity,” Auwalu said.

He stated that the department would continue to play the leading role and provide needed direction for the benefit of the industry, noting that the recent inauguration of the National Oil and Gas Excellence Centre (NOGEC) by President Muhammadu Buhari, was aimed at reducing

cost, enhancing safety and value addition to the industry.

He harped on the need for the industry stakeholders to continue to collaborate and leverage their individual strengths for mutually beneficial outcome, pointing out that that was the pivotal role the department will continue to play as the industry leader.

He said the award was dedicated to the management and staff of the DPR, who had painstakingly exhibited innovation and creativity to add

Paradigm Initiative Launches Digital Rights Platform Emma Okonji A digital rights platform called Ripoti, that was designed for the protection of the rights of all African citizens, has been launched by Paradigm Initiative.

The platform aims to fight the worrying trend of increasing digital rights violations across Africa. It was Launches during the closing session of the Digital Rights and Inclusion Forum 2021, held recently.

Ripoti allows citizens across Africa to report violations of their digital rights, then connects them with experts who can help them seek justice.

Explaining the benefits of the platform, the Director of Paradigm Initiative, Mr. Gbenga

Sesan, said: “Digital rights are just as fundamental as all other human rights. We have seen a worrying increase in digital rights violations across Africa. Until now, citizens have had no easy way to protect their rights by tracking and reporting these violations.

Ripoti empowers them to do that.”

“The digital world has become a critical space for economic activity, access to emergency services, and the exercise of freedom of speech and freedom of the press.

“But there are growing instances of cyber bullying, online gender violence, internet censorship, or the illegal use or accessing of an internet user’s information, a trend emboldened by health surveillance during the pandemic,” Sesan said.

According to him, “With the Covid-19 pandemic pushing many more people online, many of the vices and violations that used to exist only offline have now started to crop up in the digital space, including violence against women, the illegal use of user information, the violation of e consumer rights, and more.”

Senior Program Manager at Paradigm Initiative, Boye Adegoke, said: “For many years, Paradigm Initiative has actively documented cases of digital rights violations and offered litigation support to victims. “Eventually, we started to get overwhelmed by the number of violations we had to monitor.

It became clear that we needed to create a communal, strategic,

and systemic response to these many incidents of digital rights violations. Ripoti is the answer, and we’re excited to share it with people across Africa,” he added.

A growing number of Africans are using Information and Communications Technology (ICT) on a regular basis, which has made digital technologies critical to the enjoyment of their rights and improvement of their livelihoods.

However, many governments have taken steps to undermine internet access and even encroach on civic participation and the right to freedom of expression online. Some countries have also cracked down on human rights defenders or journalists who challenge the state authorities.

MONDAY MAY 3, 2021 • T H I S D AY

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IMAGES

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Nigeria immigration Service, Lagos Command, Comptroller Bauchi Ahmed Aliyu (right) and Consul General, Italian Consulate, Dr Maurizio Busanelli during a visit to the consulate in Lagos...recently

L-R: Managing Director, Global Synco Enterprises, Prince Sunny Nwodo , National Volume Winner receiving the key to a Toyota Landcruiser Prado from the Head of Sales East, Lafarge Africa Plc, Mr. Anthonio Louis Okojie during the Lafarge Africa 2021 Customer Awards jn Lagos...recently

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L-R: The Coordinator, Special Projects Unit, Ministry of Health and the Mental Health Desk Officer for Lagos State Government, Dr. Tolu Ajomale; the Commissioner for Health, Lagos State, Prof. Akin Abayomi and the Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Pharm. Mrs. Uzamat Akinbile-Yussuf at the press conference to announce this year’s Eko Wellness Fair in Lagos...recently

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L-R: Manager, Johnvents Consulting, Caroline Omotosho; Managing Director/CEO, Keystone Bank, Olaniran Olayinka; Group Managing Director, CapitalSage Holdings, John Alamu;and Business Team Lead, West Division, Keystone Bank, Kolawole Oyegoke, during a courtesy visit to CapitalSage Head Office by Keystone Bank management on expanding financial inclusion in Africa,held in Oyo State, Ibadan...recently

L-R: Chair, National Universities Commission (NUC) accreditation team for accounting, Prof Ishola Rufus Akintoye; 300 Level Accounting student of Federal University, Otuoke (FUO), Miss Preye Ombu; members NUC accreditation team, Prof Abdullahi Audu and Prof Patrick Amaechi Egbunike, during the presentation of cash and books as gift to Ombu who got qualified as a chartered accountant at the end of her 200 level, by the visiting NUC accreditation team to her in Otuoke, Bayelsa State...recently

L-R: Member representing Ifako Ijaiye Federal Constituency, Hon James Owolabi; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Gabriel Aduda and former Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, during a retreat on review of Nigeria’s Foreign Policy organised by the House Committee on Foreign Affairs at National Intelligence Agency in Abuja...recently

L-R: Executive Secretary, Universal Basic Education, Hamid Boboye; Executive Secretary, Nigeria Education Research and Development Council, Prof. Israel Junaidu; Representative of the Minister of Education, Mr Sonny Echono and Director of Educational Planning, Research and Development, Dr Ogochuku Ufoegbune during the visit of Prof. Junaidu to the ministry of Education in Abuja...recently

L-R: Chief Imam of the Nigeria Police, Oyo State Command, Mallam Imam Sanusi; Oyo State Commandant of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Iskilu Akinsaya; and Guest Lecturer, Zaynul-Abeeden Abduganiy, during a Ramadan lecture organised by Muslim Community of NSCDC, Oyo State, in Ibadan... recently

L-R: Registrar, Babcock University (BU), Prof Jonathan Nwosu; Provost, College of Postgraduate Studies, BU, Prof Ayandiji Aina; Deputy Vice Chancellor, Management Services, Prof Yacob Haliso; President/ Vice Chancellor, BU, Prof Ademola Tayo and Deputy Vice Chancellor, Academics, Prof Philemon Amanze, during the 11th postgraduate matriculation ceremony held at the University’s Amphitheater, in Ogun State...recently

L-R; Chairman, Amuwo-Odofin Local Government, Engr Valentine Buraimoh; Director, Accreditation, Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria (MLSCN), Dr. Tosan Erhabor; and Director General/Chief Executive Officer,Nigeria National Accreditation Systems (NINAS), Pharmacist, Celestine Okanya at the presentation of ISO15189:2012 certificate to EL-Lab by NINAS and MLSCN in Lagos...recently PHOTO: ABAYOMI AKINYELE

L-R: Representative of Lagos State Head of Service, Dr Olugbenga Aina; Chief Executive Officer, Lagos State Safety Commission, Mr Lanre Mojola; Representative of the Governor, Mr Tayo Bamgbose; and former Attorney-General of the state, Mr Olasupo Sasore, during the Occupational Safety and Health Conference in Lagos...recently

34

T H I S D AY ˾ ͱ, 2021

CITYSTRINGS

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

Bridging the Housing Deficit Given his passion to bridge the housing deficit, as well as his contributions to the real estate sector, the General Managing Director of LAC Construction and Property Development Company Ltd, Dr. Chikelo Ejikeme, was recently honoured with a Doctorate Degree by the European-American University in Commonwealth of Dominica/Republic of Panama, Chiamaka Ozulumba reports

S

helter is one of man's most basic needs and as Maslow puts it, it represents the human's physiological needs as the base of a triangle to show that meeting these needs are the most important in our lives.

Corroborating this in a research paper, Professor Akpan Ekpo noted that "provision of adequate and quality housing units is one of the roles of any government since housing is one of the human fundamental needs.

This indicator signifies, among other factors, the standard of living of a country’s populace. It can also be used to measure the economic viability of a nation.

"Housing deficit, when left unabated, could lead to increase in crime, outbreak of diseases, unaffordable house prices, poor standards of living as well as high mortgage payments. Due to this, the United Nations (UN) advocated for the adoption of Goal 11 globally.

Goal 11 was targeted to capture a holistic perspective of the housing sector, with a view to achieving quality and affordable housing units for all by 2030."

Undoubtedly, the housing deficit in Nigeria has been a recurring conversation in the past couple of years. Over the years, individuals and corporate organisations have ventured into real estate to bridge that gap. Give or take, real estate in Nigeria is serious business and lately, the industry has become a gold mine. Little wonder many have tapped into it and are making profit, as well as bridging the huge housing deficit.

This is because Nigerians are always in need of either residential buildings, office spaces, as well as complex for commercial purposes. This perhaps explains why the real estate industry has been ranked as the fifth largest contributor to the GDP. Passion for Real Estate In a bid to contribute his quota in ameliorating the situation, Dr. Chikelo Ejikeme ventured into real estate. For the General Managing Director of LAC Construction and Property Development Company Ltd, his passion for real estate is borne out of a need to reduce the alarming housing deficit facing the nation.

Through his real estate company, he has been bridging the gap between the homeless citizens with minimal income/capital base and their rich and comfortable counterpart having a luxury lifestyle in a well-gated estate. Over the years, aside bridging the housing gap between the rich and poor, his goal has been to create calculative opportunities for individual and corporate bodies to own properties in a choice location in Nigeria’s real estate sector.

Essentially, LAC Construction came into existence in 2006 with the major aim of providing affordable homes for people in the society. Its major focus, according to the company's GMD, is to harmonise, network, and partner various industries and individuals to achieve its development focus.

Operations According to him, their operations cut across the commercial, e-retail and residential property spectrum, as well as rendering real estate consultancy/ advisory services, adding that the soft

Dr. Ejikeme

mortgage schemes on their (houses and lands) range between three to 18 months duration to afford every investor the opportunity to own properties of their own.

Their key derivatives is to develop affordable houses that fit in with ones budget in any location of choice in Nigeria. Essentially, they also develop luxury real estate tailored to meet the needs of the prospective client. Aside incursion into real estate, Ejikeme is a licensed importer of building materials from any part of the world. He also sells, services and provides fire service equipment with quality being their watchword.

But in real estate, the company undertakes the buying, selling, renting or leasing of land or buildings (housing).

Currently, they have various estates at various stages of development in the Ibeju-Lekki axis of Lagos. In essence, their portfolio boasts of real estate development, real estate consultancy and advisory, facility management, building constructions/civil engineering, importation, and fire services.

Also property-wise, their role is spelt out. When one needs to purchase an investment property, Highbridge Homes Real Estate and Property Management team will analyse the property and create a plan projecting long term appreciation and a positive cash flow. Whenever it's time to make a sale, the team of consultants at LAC Construction and Development Limited will then find that qualified investor or buyer.

Garlands Recently, it was in recognition of his contributions to the real estate sector that the GMD was honoured with a Doctorate Degree by the European American University (EAU) in Commonwealth of Dominica/Republic of Panama. The award posited that it was in view of his outstanding achievements and contributions to the real estate and property development in Nigeria, that he was honored with a Doctor of Science in Estate Management and Property Development on April 25, 2021.

Ejikeme was conferred alongside Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello; Chief Executive Officer of CDV Properties, Development Limited, Chief Charles Mba; and the Founder & Group Managing Director Ziloc Construction Ltd & Zelo Homes Ltd, Mr. Ugochukwu Harvey Igboanugo.

According to the dossier "Mr. Chikelo Ejikeme took the real estate industry by storm over a decade ago, and through his dedication, tenacity, sagacity and commitment, had the opportunity of working with builders, investors, and multinational companies on various projects, such as the construction of roads, high rise buildings, and estates in the rural and urban areas of Nigeria.

"The real estate industry in Nigeria has been challenged by numerous external factors and policies, however, LAC Construction and Property Development Ltd prides itself in the quality of services offered, consistency

of services provided, and most importantly, customer satisfaction."

After he was honoured with the award of Doctor of science (D.Sc. Hons) in Property Management and Estate Development he said: "It is a pleasure to be among those conferred with a Honorary Doctorate Degree by the European American University, Commonwealth of Dominican Republic.

"On behalf of my company, LAC Construction and Property Development Company Ltd, I would like to express my great appreciation to The European American University for this honorary doctorate degree. We are leaving no stone unturned because this requires more work. I am ecstatically honoured”.

Also in his acceptance speech, he reiterated that this award was a testimony of his vision of breaking down barriers and pushing the limit through obstacles in the industry.

“Many thanks to the LAC Construction team for giving me the chance to live my passion. We are indeed “The Yardstick of Excellence”, as this has been evident through a plethora of acknowledgments and awards over the years.

"Thanks to the Real Estate Industry of Nigeria. My profound thanks to the European-American University (EAU) for this prestigious recognition, as this significantly occupies a very deep and revered place in my heart. Special thanks to my wonderful family for their love, support, and the motivation to push harder everyday."

35

T H I S D AY ˾ ͱ, 2021

CRIME&SECURITY

How to Make Nigeria Safe Again Ehi Braimah

R

ecently, Abubakar Sani Bello, the governor of Niger State, lamented openly that no place was safe anymore – not even Abuja. As you watch the video clip where the governor spoke to reporters with so much uneasiness, you immediately sense a feeling of frustration and hopelessness. Sani Bello is disturbed because Boko Haram, the terrorist group, has claimed Kaure as territory in Niger State and hoisted their flag.

The matter that is dominating discussions everywhere – both at home and abroad -- is the scary security situation in the country. There is no place that is free from acts of vandalism, mayhem, gun violence, kidnapping, insurgency and banditry. We are in a state of war and our land has been turned into a killing field. Nigerians are worried. Do I sound like an alarmist? I don’t think so.

The fearful part is that we are confronted daily with an escalation of widespread criminality across the country which includes non-state actors who are taking the laws into their hands.

Within one week, it was reported that bandits killed a Divisional Police Officer (DPO), eight policemen and two vigilantes in Kebbi State; 19 people were killed in Igbariam, Anambra State; abductors kill two students of Greenfield University, Kaduna; gunmen attack soldiers in Amasiri; gunmen kidnap several students of the University of Agriculture (by the last media account, they have been released) and so on.

Life has no meaning anymore. When we sleep, we are forced to leave one of our eyes wide opened so that we can at least be alert to any imminent danger.

Unfortunately, we do not bear arms such as AK47 to repel any attack. Harmless and hapless Nigerians who now live in fear are being slaughtered daily like chickens through wanton and reckless attacks.

Safety tips are constantly shared, especially by WhatsApp, for road users. I received one not too long ago on inter-state travel with the following guidance: schedule your trip between 9.00 am and 4.00 pm. It means you should not travel too early and do not travel when it is dark; remove titles from your phone contacts; while driving, focus on the road and ensure every five minutes, there’s a traffic on the returning lane; don’t use tinted sheets on your car; even if you’re not the one driving, put your phone away and keep your eyes on the road; always have a spare tyre, plug and fuel pump in your car; moving in a convoy is not the answer; do not stop to buy food or ease yourself on the road and so on.

Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State responded to threats of possible security breaches by declaring a curfew from 8.00 pm to 6.00 am effective from Wednesday April 28 until further notice.

He also shut land borders with the neighbouring states: Abia, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa and Imo. Wike recalled that on April 24, personnel of Nigeria Customs, Police and Civil Defence on duty along Port Harcourt-Owerri expressway, were ambushed and gruesomely murdered in cold blood. According to the governor, nobody knows where and when the next attack will take place.

In Benue State, Governor Samuel Ortom said the federal government ought to be more pro-active in tackling insurgency in the country, adding that President Muhammadu Buhari must “arise” to the nation’s security challenges. In the video that also went viral on social media networking sites, a defiant Ortom appeared helpless like his Niger State counterpart. It is a good thing that we are committed to receiving help from other countries such as the United States in the battle against insurgency and terrorism.

The war on Boko Haram has been long and unceasing but instead of their

Braimah fire power reducing, we are seeing a terrorist organisation that has become even more emboldened as they expand their territories from the North Eastern part of the country down to Niger State. From the look of things, Boko Haram clearly has a mission to spread their deadly tentacles to all parts of the country.

What has enabled this desperation is a lack of co-ordinated attack on Boko Haram even before the Buhari administration. Instead, it was alleged that a thriving war economy with different franchises was created. For example, kidnapping is a major enterprise and it has also developed different variants like school abductions.

The US Consulate also raised alarm on increasing traffic robbery in Lagos, especially in Ikoyi and Victoria Island, in smash-and-grab operations by armed men. On the Falomo flyover in Ikoyi last Monday, motorists were robbed in broad daylight. The security situation is frightening but we have to search for solutions because we cannot go on like this. The situation is degenerating into a complete breakdown of law and order where mobs and “unknown gunmen” will take over.

Some analysts believe strongly that when there is no equity and justice, it creates social tension. Society becomes the ultimate loser. Can we truly frame the security crisis and communal conflicts as a social problem driven by extreme poverty, injustice and corrupt/ selfish political elite? Agitations by nonstate actors for self-rule, re-structuring, devolution of power, referendum, territorial control and economic empowerment occur when there are perceived injustices based on religion, region and tribe. Let us agree this is part of the problem that we need to fix.

When you read stories that Nigerians – including governors, presidency staff and lawmakers – own over 800 properties in Dubai worth $400 million, it can cause depression, stroke, thrombosis and heart attack. It shows that a few people are living off the sweat of others who cannot get jobs or feed their families. It is evident government is losing money running into billions of naira due to lack of transparency, money laundering and illicit financial outflows.

This matter has been a major headache for every administration and it continues to defy possible solutions. High unemployment rates, galloping inflation and massive corruption are ingredients for social tension that result in a state of anomie: self-help, mob action, crime and conflict. Images of #EndSARS protests

last October and the root causes readily come to mind.

At a virtual Peace Summit which held on February 23 to mark the founding of Rotary International 116 years ago, the Rotary Club of Lagos in District 9110 – by the way, that’s my Rotary club -- invited His Royal Majesty, Air Vice Marshall Lucky Ochuko Ararile (rtd), as guest speaker. He said Nigeria is facing many challenges which include social, political, economic, environmental, etc, but the existential challenge is insecurity that has manifested itself in different forms. “Nigeria has had to cope with militancy in the Niger Delta, Boko Haram terrorists in the North East, Fulani herdsmen menace nationwide and banditry in the Northwest,” said the retired AVM. He stated that herdsmen and famers conflict has been with us for ages. “I could remember while growing up, that the arrival of the cattle egrets at the start of the dry season heralded the arrival of the herdsmen. In earlier times, the Fulani herdsmen were very peaceful and rarely took their cattle to rummage in people’s farms.

“Although conflicts arose occasionally, these were locally resolved. So what has changed, you may ask. What has changed is the arrival of foreign Fulanis who are unreligious and prone to violence; they have no value whatsoever for human lives,” the guest speaker explained.

Although he said the influx of the foreign Fulanis could be traced to the period immediately after the return to civilian rule in 1999, AVM Ararile made the point that the invasion was not confined to Nigeria alone – the Fulanis also invaded Ghana and some other West African countries, wreaking untold havoc and inflicting maximum pain and miseries on their victims.

With the security crisis escalating, the searchlight naturally beamed on the performance of the armed forces. Instead of a coordinated response, the armed forces are operating independently and the retired AVM believes this approach is at variance with our “historical experience and doctrine.” In other words, the concept of “jointness” which was used during the Nigerian civil war, Operation Seadog, ECOMOG operations and the Chadian and Cameroonian engagements is missing.

He also stated there was no distinction between purely military and police operations and wondered why we now have the Immigration, Road Safety Corps, National Civil Defence Corps

attending security council meetings.

These are issues to look at as we search for solutions to the current security challenges.

AVM Ararile is concerned that the National Security Adviser (NSA) has over the years usurped the duties of the Chief of Defence Staff. “For us to succeed in the onerous job of securing the nation, we must return to our orthodox doctrine; the military should be relieved of police duties. The police must return to its main function of maintaining internal security,” counseled Ararile. “Right now, everybody is doing everybody else’s job.

More importantly, the CDS, and not the Service Chiefs, must be operationally responsible to the Commander-in-Chief.”

What is often cited as reason for the poor performance of our military is insufficient funding. To a large extent, this is true but there have also been allegations of mismanagement or diversion of funds and low morale of the rank and file arising from poor welfare packages.

“With all recruits into the Nigerian Armed Forces through the Nigerian Defence Academy being graduates, what is the Nigerian Air Force doing with two degree awarding institutions?” asked Ararile. “Why is the Nigerian Army building a new University? The Navy has the Admiralty University. Who are those to attend? Soldiers fighting Boko Haram? Yet the same military cannot meet the basic needs of our men in battle. The misuse of scarce resources is a failure of oversight by the Presidency, the Ministry of Defence and the National Assembly.”

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo said the security problems have dislocated our lives but they are surmountable. AVM Ararile agrees with Obasanjo and he believes that with “honesty of purpose and shared values,” we can solve our problems that appear to be “intractable and unsolvable”.

He recommends the rejuvenation of the grund norm: the constitution.

The current constitution is built on the falsehood of “we the people”. This issue has caused loud calls for re-structuring, and at the 2014 National Conference convened by the Goodluck Jonathan administration, devolution of power was proposed but nothing has happened since then.

“The constitution was made for the interest of a group to the exclusion of the generality of the people,” continued AVM Ararile. “A new constitution that meets with the aspirations of the people should be developed. Specifically, the new constitution must address the issues of the type of government, devolution of power, review of the land use act, state and community police, resource control, settlers and indigenes issues and the devolution of the judiciary along the lines canvassed by Festus Keyamo SAN. “Our experience with the Buhari presidency, like the Trump administration in the US, has brought in broad relief, the inadequacy of the Presidential system, particularly the possibility of a rogue presidency. In its place, I would recommend the adoption of the parliamentary system for Nigeria where a rogue presidency can be terminated by the expediency of a vote of no confidence.”

At a public lecture last year, Enoch Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), also proposed what he called the “United States of Nigeria.” In the proposal, Pastor Adeboye recommended that we should create a system of government that is uniquely ours; a system that works for us even if it means marrying the parliamentary and presidential systems of government.

Since we do not have any other country to call our own, this conversation must continue. God bless Nigeria. ...Braimah is the Publisher/Editor-inChief of Naija Times (https://naijatimes. ng)

36

T H I S D AY ˾ ͱ˜ 2021

BUSINESS/MONEYGUIDE

BUA, Lummus Technology Sign Contract on Refinery Project Hamid Ayodeji BUA, one of Africa’s largest conglomerates, has signed a contract to build a 285,000 tonnes per annum polypropylene plant as part of its proposed BUA Refinery.

The deal was signed with Lummus Technology – a world leader in the construction of polypropylene projects, using their Novolen technology.

According to both parties, the scope includes the technology license for a 285,000tonnes per annum polypropylene unit as well as basic design engineering, training and services, and catalyst supply. Speaking on the signing, a statement at the weekend quoted the Founder/Executive Chairman of BUA, Abdul Samad Rabiu,

to have said: “We are pleased to sign this Polypropylene contract for our BUA Refinery and Petrochemicals Project with Lummus Technology, a world leader in delivering polypropylene solutions, which will solve the increasing demand for highperformance grade Polypropylene in Nigeria, the Gulf of Guinea as well as the Sub-Saharan Africa Region.

“We are confident in the capacity and technical expertise of Lummus Technology to deliver a best-in-class, 285KTA polypropylene unit for our refinery project scheduled to come on stream in 2024.”

In his comments, Lummus Technology’s President and Chief Executive Officer, Leon de Bruyn said, “We look forward to

working with BUA Refinery on this critical project and supporting the first Novolen polypropylene unit in Nigeria.

“Our world-class Novolen technology is well suited to meet Nigeria’s increasing demand for the growing petrochemical products market. It offers a flexible range of industry-leading products for all PP applications, and the industry’s lowest overall capital and operational costs, while providing customers with high process reliability and flexibility in responding to market needs.”

Recently, BUA announced a proposed 200,000barrels per day refinery and petrochemicals plant which would include a polypropylene unit to be built in Akwa Ibom state, Nigeria.

Notore Targets 500,000 Metric Tonnes Output after TAM Notore Chemical Industries Plc said it has set a target to produce 500,000 tonnes of fertilizer output after the company completed its Turn Around Maintenance (TAM) programme.

In its unaudited second quarter report ended March 31, 2021, that was signed by the Group Managing Director of Notore Chemical Industries Plc, Ohis Ohiwerei, the company said despite suffering several setbacks occasioned by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, it remained resilient to deliver on its programme.

According to him, “We are pleased to announce the successful completion of the TAM programme. This was a mas-

sive undertaking that involved vendors, parts suppliers, VSMs, OEMs from across the globe, and best-in-class engineering companies. Despite experiencing further interruptions to our supply chain and logistics occasioned by the global COVID-19 pandemic emergency, which directly impacted the original anticipated completion date for the TAM, the company remained resilient and overcame the challenges to deliver a successful TAM. This signifies a key milestone to repositioning the Company and turning around its fortunes.”

He added: “The completion of the TAM ushers in a new phase in the Company’s growth with a

focus on optimisation and profitability. Notore is committed to continuous improvement. We expect a major upturn in the plant’s reliability and production output to meet and sustain its 500,000MT per annum nameplate design capacity.

“Achieving this level of production output will not only lead to significant increases in the Company’s cash flows from operations, but also substantial increases in revenues annually.

It is worth noting that a sizeable portion of the additional postTAM revenue will contribute straight to the Company’s bottom line, a major key to returning the Company to profitability.”

Fidelity Bank Shareholders Approve Dividend Payout Goddy Egene Shareholders of Fidelity Bank Plc last Friday approved the payment of a cash dividend of 22 kobo per share recommended for the 2020 financial year.

The dividend payout which translates to a yield of 9.2 per cent, was approved at the 33rd annual general meeting (AGM) in Lagos.

Chairman of the Board of Directors of Fidelity Bank, Mustapha Chike-Obi, reassured shareholders that the board and management would maintain the high corporate governance standard synonymous with Fidelity Bank and also ensure the bank continued in its growth trajectory in the years ahead.

“We will continue to strengthen our enterprise risk management capabilities to ensure the sustainability of our business, while modeling our governance practices to align with international best practice”, Chike-Obi said.

Also speaking, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Fidelity Bank Plc, Mrs. Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe, said the bank’s financial performance for the period reflected the resilience of its business model in a challenging operating environment.

According to her, the bank’s retail banking push continued to deliver impressive results as total savings deposits increased by 54.2 per cent to N424.4 billion, making it the eighth consecutive year of recording double-digit growth in savings deposits.

Speaking on the strategy

for the current financial year, Onyeali-Ikpe, said: “We will continue to focus on redesigning our systems and processes to enhance service delivery, deepen our cost optimisation initiatives to reduce operating expenses, and enhance our overall risk monitoring capabilities to ensure both internal and external risks are identified and mitigated.

“Our growth aspirations will be sustained while we continue to identify new opportunities in the new normal.

“On the back of the evolving dynamics in the economy, we will continue to increase the adoption and migration of customers to our digital platforms and increase our retail banking market share through innovative products and services”, she said.

Unity Bank Sustains Momentum, Q1 Profit Rises by 43% Unity Bank Plc has sustained the growth momentum demonstrated in its 2020 full year earnings as it recorded an impressive performance of 43 per cent in both profit before and after tax in Q1 2021.

In the bank’s unaudited Q1 2021 results submitted to the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) on Friday, the retail lender’s profit before tax grew by 43 per cent to N784.3 million, from N550.1 million recorded in the corresponding period of 2020.

Profit after tax for the period which also grew by 43 per cent

stood at N721.5 million compared to the N506.1million recorded in Q1-2020.

As an outcome of increased focus on supporting local enterprises and industry, the asset portfolio also showed a significant growth in loan book of 76 per cent as net loans and advances to customers increased to N223.2 billion, up from N126.6 billion recorded in the corresponding period.

The total assets of the bank for the period showed an appreciable growth of 42 per cent to close at N521.5 billion, from N366.8

billion in the corresponding period of 2020.

The balance sheet of the bank had been considerably de-risked with an NPL ratio of near zero per cent which it had consistently maintained over time, thus making it to rank as one of the best in risk management and credit creation culture.

Also, the bank recorded gross earnings of N11.5 billion, representing marginal decline of three per cent, when compared to N11.9 billion posted in the corresponding period of 2020.

Rabiu

MARKET INDICATORS MONEY AND CREDIT STATISTICS

(MILLION NAIRA)

JANUARY 2021 Money Supply (M3)

38,779,455.43

-- CBN Bills Held by Money Holding Sectors

1,039,129.55

Money Supply (M2)

37,740,325.88

-- Quasi Money

21,779,302.69

-- Narrow Money (M1)

15,961,023.19

---- Currency Outside Banks

2,364,871.13

---- Demand Deposits

13,596,152.06

Net Foreign Assets (NFA)

7,414,275.50

Net Domestic Assets(NDA)

31,365,179.93

-- Net Domestic Credit (NDC)

42,916,586.63

---- Credit to Government (Net)

12,304,773.44

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

0.00

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

0.00

---- Credit to Private Sector (CPS)

30,611,813.19

--Other Assets Net

3,892,112.74

Reserve Money (Base Money

13,264,585.14

--Currency in Circulation

2,831,167.19

--Banks Reserves --Special Intervention Reserves

10,433,417.96 317,234.17

˾ ÙßÜÍÏ ̋

Money Market Indicators (in Percentage) Month

March 2018

Inter-Bank Call Rate

15.16

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

14.00

Treasury Bill Rate

11.84

Savings Deposit Rate

4.07

1 Month Deposit Rate

8.82

3 Months Deposit Rate

9.72

6 Months Deposit Rate

10.93

12 Months Deposit Rate

10.21

Prime Lending rate

17.35

Maximum Lending Rate

31.55

˾ ÙØÏÞËÜã ÙÖÓÍã ËÞÏ ̋ ͯͱϱ

OPEC DAILY BASKET PRICE AS AT THURSDAY, 29 APRIL 2021

The price of OPEC basket of thirteen crudes stood at $65.71 a barrel on Thursday, compared with $64.53 the previous day, according to OPEC Secretariat calculations.

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

SOURCE: OPEC headquarters, Vienna

37

T H I S D AY ˾ ͱ˜ 2021

Access Bank Promises Improved Performance, Higher Dividend Payment Goddy Egene Better days are ahead for shareholders of Access Bank Plc as the Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Herbert Wigwe, has assured them of sustained healthy dividend payout.

Speaking at the annual general meeting (AGM) in Lagos last Friday, Wigwe said Access Bank has healthy capital adequacy ratio, a robust balance sheet and strong brand that would lead

to a better performance and the delivery of higher dividend.

Access Bank recorded a profit after tax of N106 billion in 2020, up by 13 per cent from N94 billion in 2019 and recommended a final dividend of 55 kobo per share for the year ended December 31, 2020 to bring the total dividend to 80 kobo having paid an interim dividend of 25 kobo earlier.

Wigwe said Access Bank is best positioned to maximize the identified opportunities in

P R I C E S MAIN BOARD

F O R DEALS

Africa on the back of a growing customer base and the move to a cashless economy.

“We have identified Africa to be a vast pool of opportunities with over 370 million unbanked adults, US$9.2 billion in remittances and cross border payments, 89 cities of over 1.3 billion inhabitants by 2025 and the overall African financial ecosystem. We also see opportunities coming from the new African Continental Free

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

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Trade Area (AfCFTA), as it is expected to expand intra-Africa trade to 53 per cent by 2022, eliminate tariff on qualifying trade and increase financial flows,” he said.

He noted that the series of mergers and acquisition they had undertaken since 2005 have all been value accretive, adding they had commenced green field operations in Mozambique and completed the acquisition of Transnational Bank and Cav-

T R A D E D MAIN BOARD

A S

mont Bank in Kenya and Zambia respectively to strengthen and increase their market presence.

“In early 2021, we received regulatory approval for our proposed acquisition of Grobank in South Africa to give us an inroad into the largest eco-nomic block in Africa and one of Africa’s biggest markets. Our acquisition of Grobank will help strengthen our foothold in the Southern African market- Africa’s largest

O F

economic hub and place us in a strong position to take advantage of Africa,” he said.

Some of the shareholders at the AGM commended the board and management for the efficient for their efficient running of the bank. The Chairman, Ibadan Zone Shareholders Association, Mr. Eric Akinduro, hailed the bank for sailing through the Covid-19 pandemic and delivered improved results that led to the declaration of 80 kobo dividend.

3 0 / 0 5 / 2 0 2 1 DEALS

MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N)

38

MONDAY, MAY 3, 2021 ˾ T H I S D AY

MARKET NEWS A Mutual fund (Unit Trust) is an investment vehicle managed by a SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) registered Fund Manager.

Investors with similar objectives buy units of the Fund so that the Fund Manager can buy securities that willl generate their desired return.

An ETF (Exchange Traded Fund) is a type of fund which owns the assets (shares of stock, bonds, oil futures, gold bars, foreign currency, etc.) and divides ownership of those assets into shares. Investors can buy these ‘shares’ on the

floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

A REIT (Real Estate Investment Trust) is an investment vehicle that allows both small and large investors to part-own real estate ventures (eg.

Offices, Houses, Hospitals) in proportion to their investments. The assets are divided into shares that are traded on the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

GUIDE TO DATA: Date: All fund prices are quoted in Naira as at 29Apr-2021, unless otherwise stated.

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

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

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

DAILY PRICE LIST FOR MUTUAL FUNDS, REITS and ETFS MUTUAL FUNDS / UNIT TRUSTS AFRINVEST ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD aaml@afrinvest.com Web: www.afrinvest.com; Tel: +234 818 885 6757 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Afrinvest Equity Fund 154.84 156.37 -4.29% Afrinvest Plutus Fund 100.00 100.00 3.39% Nigeria International Debt Fund 304.34 304.34 -16.62% Afrinvest Dollar Fund 110.27 110.27 -1.61% ALTERNATIVE CAPITAL PARTNERS LTD info@acapng.com Web: www.acapng.com, Tel: +234 1 291 2406, +234 1 291 2868 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn ACAP Canary Growth Fund N/A N/A N/A ACAP Income Funds N/A N/A N/A AIICO CAPITAL LTD ammf@aiicocapital.com Web: www.aiicocapital.com, Tel: +234-1-2792974 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AIICO Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 4.27% AIICO Balanced Fund 3.36 3.52 -5.30% ANCHORIA ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED info@anchoriaam.com Web:www.anchoriaam.com, Tel: 08166830267; 08036814510; 08028419180 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Anchoria Money Market 100.00 100.00 1.43% Anchoria Equity Fund 129.03 130.53 -2.99% Anchoria Fixed Income Fund 1.06 1.06 -19.99% ARM INVESTMENT MANAGERS LTD enquiries@arminvestmentcenter.com Web: www.arm.com.ng; Tel: 0700 CALLARM (0700 225 5276) Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn ARM Aggressive Growth Fund 18.93 19.50 4.39% ARM Discovery Balanced Fund 412.93 425.38 3.14% ARM Ethical Fund 36.86 37.97 9.33% ARM Eurobond Fund ($) N/A N/A N/A ARM Fixed Income Fund 1.02 1.03 -8.73% ARM Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 2.57% AVA GLOBAL ASSET MANAGERS LIMITED info@avacapitalgroup.com Web: www.avacapitalgroup.com Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AVA GAM Fixed Income Dollar Fund 103.83 103.83 2.08% AXA MANSARD INVESTMENTS LIMITED investmentcare@axamansard.com Web: www.axamansard.com; Tel: +2341-4488482 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AXA Mansard Equity Income Fund N/A N/A N/A AXA Mansard Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A CAPITAL EXPRESS ASSET AND TRUST LIMITED info@capitalexpressassetandtrust.com Web: www.capitalexpressassetandtrust.com ; Tel: +234 803 307 5048 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn CEAT Fixed Income Fund 1.96 1.96 -27.94% Capital Express Balanced Fund(Formerly: Union Trustees Mixed Fund) 2.18 2.22 -7.33% mutualfunds@cardinalstone.com CARDINALSTONE ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED Web: www.cardinalstoneassetmanagement.com ; Tel: +234 (1) 710 0433 4 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn CardinalStone Fixed Income Alpha Fund N/A N/A N/A CHAPELHILL DENHAM MANAGEMENT LTD investmentmanagement@chapelhilldenham.com Web: www.chapelhilldenham.com, Tel: +234 461 0691 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Chapelhill Denham Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 3.34% Paramount Equity Fund 15.26 15.55 -4.55% Women's Investment Fund 131.07 132.45 -1.56% CORDROS ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmgtteam@cordros.com Web: www.cordros.com, Tel: 019036947 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Cordros Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 3.35% Cordros Milestone Fund 2023 129.49 130.35 Cordros Milestone Fund 2028 N/A N/A Cordros Dollar Fund ($) 110.87 110.87 CORONATION ASSEST MANAGEMENT investment@coronationam.com Web:www.coronationam.com , Tel: 012366215 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Coronation Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 1.34% Coronation Balanced Fund 1.16 1.17 -3.45% Coronation Fixed Income Fund 1.32 1.32 -16.36% EDC FUNDS MANAGEMENT LIMITED mutualfundng@ecobank.com Web: www.ecobank.com Tel: 012265281 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class A 100.00 100.00 2.93% EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class B 1,000,000.00 1,000,000.00 2.70% EDC Nigeria Fixed Income Fund 1,160.85 1,166.78 -3.14% FBNQUEST ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD invest@fbnquest.com Web: www.fbnquest.com/asset-management; Tel: +234-81 0082 0082 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn FBN Fixed Income Fund 1,360.76 1,360.76 7.21% FBN Balanced Fund 185.71 186.98 -1.05% FBN Halal Fund 108.84 108.84 4.42% FBN Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 4.31% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Retail N/A N/A N/A FBN Smart Beta Equity Fund 149.34 151.41 -1.22% FCMB ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED fcmbamhelpdesk@fcmb.com Web: www.fcmbassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 1 462 2596 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Legacy Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 2.20% Legacy Debt Fund 3.93 3.93 1.45% Legacy Equity Fund 1.55 1.58 1.99% Legacy USD Bond Fund 1.15 1.15 1.61% FSDH ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD coralfunds@fsdhgroup.com Web: www.fsdhaml.com; Tel: 01-270 4884-5; 01-280 9740-1 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Coral Growth Fund 3,824.52 3,876.95 2.04% Coral Income Fund 3,357.23 3,357.23 2.47% FSDH Treasury Bills Fund 100.00 100.00 1.94%

GREENWICH ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmanagement@gtlgroup.com Web: www.gtlgroup.com ; Tel: +234 1 4619261-2 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Greenwich Plus Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A Nigeria Entertainment Fund N/A N/A N/A GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmanagement@gdl.com.ng Web: www.gdl.com.ng ; Tel: +234 9055691122 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn GDL Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A INVESTMENT ONE FUNDS MANAGEMENT LTD enquiries@investment-one.com Web: www.investment-one.com; Tel: +234 812 992 1045,+234 1 448 8888 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Abacus Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 3.54% Vantage Balanced Fund 2.75 2.81 19.98% Vantage Guaranteed Income Fund 1.00 1.00 4.50% Kedari Investment Fund (KIF) 148.04 148.48 -4.74% Vantage Dollar Fund (VDF) - June Year End 1.08 1.08 5.82% LOTUS CAPITAL LTD fincon@lotuscapitallimited.com Web: www.lotuscapitallimited.com; Tel: +234 1-291 4626 / +234 1-291 4624 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Lotus Halal Investment Fund 1.38 1.40 1.39% Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund 1,130.39 1,130.39 2.39% MERISTEM WEALTH MANAGEMENT LTD info@meristemwealth.com Web: http://www.meristemwealth.com/funds/ ; Tel: +234 1-4488260 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Meristem Equity Market Fund 10.42 10.4901 Meristem Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 3.84% PAC ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD info@pacassetmanagement.com Web: www.pacassetmanagement.com/mutualfunds; Tel: +234 1 271 8632 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn PACAM Balanced Fund N/A N/A N/A PACAM Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A PACAM Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A PACAM Equity Fund N/A N/A N/A PACAM EuroBond Fund N/A N/A N/A SCM CAPITAL LIMITED info@scmcapitalng.com Web: www.scmcapitalng.com; Tel: +234 1-280 2226,+234 1- 280 2227 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn SCM Capital Frontier Fund 130.70 132.87 6.01% SFS CAPITAL NIGERIA LTD investments@sfsnigeria.com Web: www.sfsnigeria.com, Tel: +234 (01) 2801400 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn SFS Fixed Income Fund 1.00 1.00 2.35% STANBIC IBTC ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD assetmanagement@stanbicibtc.com Web: www.stanbicibtcassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 1 280 1266; 0700 MUTUALFUNDS Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Stanbic IBTC Balanced Fund 3,109.33 3,133.84 -3.32% Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund 228.63 228.63 1.68% Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund 1.16 1.18 -0.85% Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund 299.62 299.62 1.68% Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund 215.00 217.62 -1.62% Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 4.07% Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund 10,053.61 10,179.81 -4.28% Stanbic IBTC Dollar Fund (USD) 1.25 1.25 1.82% Stanbic IBTC Shariah Fixed Income Fund 113.30 113.30 2.00% Stanbic IBTC Enhanced Short-Term Fixed Income Fund 100.68 100.68 UNITED CAPITAL ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD Web: www.unitedcapitalplcgroup.com; Tel: +234 803 306 2887 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn United Capital Balanced Fund 1.34 1.36 -2.13% United Capital Bond Fund 1.93 1.93 2.04% United Capital Equity Fund 0.89 0.92 3.34% United Capital Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 5.74% United Capital Eurobond Fund 119.72 119.72 2.25% United Capital Wealth for Women Fund 1.07 1.09 -1.33% United capital Sukuk Fund 1.04 1.04 3.68% QUANTUM ZENITH ASSET MANAGEMENT & INVESTMENTS LTD service@quantumzenithasset.com.ng Web: www.quantumzenith.com.ng; Tel: +234 1-2784219 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Zenith Equity Fund 12.10 12.21 1.96% Zenith Ethical Fund 13.18 13.30 7.93% Zenith Income Fund 24.31 24.31 1.37% Zenith Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 3.12%

REITS NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

122.68 53.06

1.61% 1.26%

Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

12.63 122.03 96.67

12.73 122.03 98.44

-4.42% 0.24% -2.74%

Fund Name SFS REIT Union Homes REIT

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

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

funds@vetiva.com Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

3.64 5.53 16.98 1.00 18.93 161.67

3.68 5.61 17.08 1.00 19.13 163.67

-3.64% -2.84% 3.86% 2.66% -7.73% -26.16%

NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

107.52

13.11%

INFRASTRUCTURE FUND Fund Name Chapel Hill Denham Nigeria Infrastructure Debt Fund

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

MONDAY MAY 3, 2021 • T H I S D AY

39

WHY THE AUTHENTIC LIST OF PDP WARD AND CHAPTER EXCOS IN CRS IS SACROSANCT I have watched patiently from the sidelines as our party is being dragged and muddled in the mud by persons whose sole intentions are to cause commotion within the party and destroy it perpetually before eventually moving to another party they’d been hobnobbing with in the last few years.

To prevent our party from imploding, I have therefore, decided to speak out to project my voice of reason on why we must embrace the rule of law, equity and justice to resolve the lingering issues rather than continuing on the current arbitrariness and authoritarianism which we have all seen to be counter productive.

It is my well considered opinion that, the subsisting result of the the PDP Ward and Chapter Congresses in CRS is Sacrosanct and must not be tempered with under any guise or pretensions.

The reason for towing this line of action fastidiously is that the congresses followed due processes and were conducted in line with the guidelines of the PDP and monitored by INEC as required by law.

The Authentic list was ratified by the NWC of the Party and Certified by INEC. Today, as I write, both INEC and the Party have the Authentic list.

I went to Court, when I discovered that the governor’s group was trying to substitute the list with a concocted list put together by the Governor himself, his younger brother, Frank and some of their cronies.

My decision to approach the court was to give legal backing to the Authentic list and to pre-empt and stop the Party from yielding to pressure from the governor to manipulate and alter the list in his group’s favour.

At the trial, the Authentic list was affirmed by the Trial Court and the governor’s group lost out. The Judgment was appealed against me by the governor’s group. Again, the judgment was upheld by both the Appeal and the Supreme Courts. The Judgment of the Apex Court, finally resolved the matter and put the controversy to rest. The Judgment was given on January 6, 2021.

I would like to know what would have happened if I had lost at both the appellate and supreme Courts, would they have accepted the victory or not? Surely, they would have insisted that the ruling remains sacrosanct and that’s what I am also insisting to be done here.

To underscore the authenticity of the Authentic list, it was used thereafter in the conduct of the Primary for the Senate By-election and also used for the zonal congress which held in Port Harcourt recently.

It is my humble view that the Reconciliation Committee effort forced on the party by a self centred group that must win at all times is an after thought and cannot achieve anything. If it is with regards to the Ward and Chapter Excos, it is far too late in the day to contemplate such a mission because any alteration to the authentic list is contemptuous to the apex court’s ruling.

I believe strongly and rightly so too that the NWC knows that the Authentic list is sacrosanct. The Party Leadership would not want to be charged for Contempt.

I need to stridently sound this note of warning because of the grievous implications of tampering or causing an alteration to Authentic list. For one, the implication of altering that list is that the PDP in Cross River State will not be able to field Candidates that are validly nominated in 2023. The main Opposition Party in the State will take every available position. The reason why we would have such an outcome is that an illegal Exco cannot vote to nominate a candidate meaning that you cannot put something on nothing.

Furthermore, I consider it grossly inappropriate for the NWC to be an accused and a judge, it certainly cannot Approbate and Reprobate. The Committee which had earlier ratified the list cannot in all intent and purpose make a volte face turnaround to alter it in just one fell swoop even after using the list in obedience to subsisting Court Judgment.

I am worried about the fate of our party because of the vultures hovering overheard. We see ominous signs in the horizon orchestrated by Agents who have been sent to destroy our Party. They are the ones hired to play the hatchet role of destroying causing acrimony with intent to destroy the party before moving to another party.

Not too long ago, we were witnesses to an open romance between our leader and the ruling party. This is not the first time. Can we please ask Governor Ben Ayade, the outcome of his meeting with the Caretaker Committee Chairman of the APC? Can we also ask him the outcome of the meeting he had with some APC bigwigs in the Villa?

I recognise that some of our leaders have inordinate ambitions and are blinded to the realities. I wish them luck. For me, I strongly advise against and will not subscribe to political rascality and disobedience to Judgments of Courts.

I would also want to put on notice that I will not hesitate to facilitate an action against anyone who decides to be contemptuous.

The National Organising Secretary is the Custodian of the Authentic list and I do not see him compromising his integrity.

Going forward, can I also suggest that we probe to find out all those who contributed funds to the APC in 2019? If we do, are we sure we will not find contributions from some PDP governors including our own?

I am not a purveyor of bad news but cannot be fooled either. This Party belongs to all of us. I am a major stakeholders. If that list is altered anywhere, the Party dies in Cross River State.

Let the Committee move on and try to harmonize the various interests, moving forward as we gravitate towards the State Congress and National Convention. We must preserve the supremacy and not kill the Party, in trying to make one person happy in Cross River State. Whatever we do differently to that list now, is an illegality that cannot be swept under carpet.

We have Party members whose tenures are already running as ward and Chapter Exco members. Any attempt at dropping them, will definitely be resisted. The Courts are there.

Those who want to leave the Party, should be honorable enough to leave, without destroying our Party. The Party made them and the least they can do, is to leave it the way they met it. They should not accept the role of being the hatchet men.

My advice to the reconciliation committee is to do a dispassionate report, taking into consideration the legality or otherwise of altering the Authentic list, being men of proven integrity, with track records of service delivery. Those attributes are not about to be eroded, due to extraneous influences and manipulations.

Remember that, for some of us who have been fought by the Party, to please the Governor, we are already down and therefore, fear no fall.

We have been widely and openly discriminated against, not minding our consistent loyalty to the party. Yet, we are assets to the Party in our various Constituencies. To be accorded our dues, we must not have the treasury of the State in our hands. As grassroots politicians, we don’t need the State’s treasury to win our elections. Did Hon Alex Egbona have access to the Treasury of the State when he went to the House of Representatives in 2015?

I know the governors that contribute to the existence and sustenance of PDP in this Country, while some sit on the fence, flirt around and play games with all the other Parties, for their personal benefits. This is not the time to play the ostrich. The Party has to move on.

Sign: RT. HON., JARIGBE AGOM JARIGBE (Senator Elect)

40

MONDAY, ͻ˜ ͺ͸ͺ͹ ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

Honeywell: Our First Bank Loans Performing Says facilities adequately secured with Bank's exposure reduced by 30% Lien placed on Otudeko’s shares Obinna Chima The Honeywell Group has explained that all the credit facilities it obtained from First Bank Nigeria Limited have been performing since they were obtained.

The company also stated that its relationship with First Bank has always been professional, at arm’s length and in accordance with all regulatory and industry practices and norms.

The Honeywell Group, in a statement yesterday, was reacting to last week’s letter from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to the former Chairman of First Bank, Mrs.

Ibukun Awosika, wherein the banking sector regulator had expressed concern that the “bank has not complied with regulatory directives to divest its interest in Honeywell Flour Mills despite several reminders,” as well as to restructure its credit facility to the company.

The Chairman of the Honeywell Group is Mr. Oba Otudeko, who was last week removed as the Chairman of FBN Holdings Plc, the parent company of First Bank Nigeria Limited.

But Honeywell, in the statement, said: “Like most companies, Honeywell Group utilises its own equity and

borrows from banks and other financial institutions to carry out its operations.

“Partnering with local and international financiers, we have a strong track record of mutually beneficial successes with our partners, based on honouring obligations and delivering returns to all stakeholders,” the company said.

It added that since 1972, the Honeywell Group and First Bank of Nigeria have had a professional business relationship which preceded the group’s investment in First Bank over a decade later.

“Honeywell Group’s relationship with First Bank

has always been professional, at arm’s length and in accordance with all regulatory and industry practices and norms.

“The credit facilities which we have accessed from First Bank and indeed other banks were granted after due negotiations, with the necessary documentation and in line with regulatory policies and industry standards.

“We have serviced all our credit facilities in line with the terms agreed with First Bank and at no point have any of these facilities been non-performing,” it said.

It stated that in 2015, First Bank, under the directive of the

CBN, drew its attention to a 2004 circular (BSD/9/2004) which requires that insider-related facilities must not exceed 10 per cent of paid-up share capital.

Based on this directive, it stated that it subsequently entered negotiations with the bank to agree on an appropriate repayment structure and the final negotiated position was duly approved by the CBN. “In accordance with agreed terms, our facilities are adequately secured with First Bank, with collaterals in place at over 170 per cent of forced sales value and 230 per cent at open market value.

“In addition to the above, First

Bank, on the directive of CBN, requested additional security in the form of FBN Holdings Plc shares held by the Chairman of Honeywell Group, Dr. Oba Otudeko, citing 2001 circular.

This was duly provided through an authorisation to place a lien on the shares,” it added.

According to the company, the Honeywell Group has continued to meet all its obligations on its facilities with the bank according to agreed terms and has reduced its exposure by nearly 30% in two-and-a-half years.

"The facilities were charged at market rates and the bank continues to earn significant interest therefrom," it said.

Ondo Repatriates 42 Suspected Invaders to Kano, Jigawa James Sowole in Akure The Ondo State government yesterday evacuated 42 suspected invaders, who were arrested on Thursday by men of the Ondo State Security Network, Amotekun, at Okitipupa, the headquarters of Okitipupa Local Government Area.

The suspects, who were mainly from Jigawa and Kano States, said they were brought to Ondo State for training as security guards.

The suspects, who assembled in front of the Army Barracks, Okitipupa before men of Amotekun, were alerted, caused panic among the residents, who thought they came to attack the town.

Addressing journalists before the people were moved out of the state in buses, the state Commander of Amotekun, Chief

Adetunji Adeleye, accompanied by the Commissioner for Information, Mr. Donald Ojogoh, said the state government, after profiling the suspects, was not satisfied with their mission to the state.

He said the state considered their presence in the state as a security risk, adding that the state government could not take chances.

Adeleye said: "In the last three days, there have been issues relating to the invasion of the state by alleged Fulani men in Okitipupa.

"We monitored and we found out that they converged on the front of the army barracks. They were there for a couple of hours and at that point, we tried to find out what their mission is, but because they couldn't give satisfactory explanations we moved them to our local

office first in Okitipupa to try to debrief them and from the debriefing at Okitipupa, we had to move them to the state headquarters for proper debriefing.

"We found out that they are primarily from two major states, that is Kano and Jigawa states.

The mission that they claimed they came for we found out that is not too clear and upon profiling, we found out that the majority of them don't even know how they got here.

“All they were told was that they were going for training.

Training for who, by who, or whatsoever, they do not know.

"But from the detailed investigation, we were able to narrow it down to their sponsors.

The sponsors happened to also claim that they belong to an NGO, that they contracted out the training to a consultant who

was supposed to train their men.

They said they were going to train them as security guards.

"Right now we look at them as a security risk to the state, and at this point, we invited the sponsors, the head of the NGO, and the chairman of the board. They've also offered an explanation. But we feel that we should let the people of Ondo State know that there is no crisis in Okitipupa Local Government Area.

"The way it was portrayed was as if some hoodlums or militants had taken over.

"We want to reassure the good people of Ondo State that we are firmly on the ground in conjunction with other security agencies that there is no problem.

"Having debriefed them, we intended to provide escort to lead them out of Ondo State back to wherever they came

from.

"As part of our discreet investigation, we found out that the so-called consultant had been arrested in Delta State and I confirmed from the Delta State Police Command as of today that he's still in their custody.

"So, why we intend to release them on bail, we will release all these ones and ensure that they are taken back to their states."

Speaking on the matter, the state Governor, Mr. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, warned the people of the state against taking laws into their hands on any issues.

Akeredolu, represented

by Ojogo, said the invaders would have been lynched, if not because it was professionally handled by the state, particularly.

"Ondo State led by Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu is not one that intends to take law into its own hands. The security

situation we found ourselves in the last three days was a very precarious one.

"If not that it was discreetly and professionally handled and well managed by officials of government, particularly Amotekun Commander and SSA on Security, the situation may have degenerated.

"As you also witnessed none of them was molested.

The situation would have degenerated to the extent of lynching and jungle justice.

It was almost getting to that point when they were seen in a suspicious manner in Okitipupa but the governor had to rise up to the occasion to ensure that they were given adequate protection so that jungle justice had to be avoided. That was one of the key points that was achieved in the last 72 hours. It was a very frightening situation.

WITH DWINDLING ALLOCATIONS, STATES EYE IGR DRIVE, INITIATE COST-CUTTING MEASURES curb waste.

The Special Adviser to Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal on Media and Publicity, Mr. Muhammad Bello, told THISDAY that the state government had no plan to downsize the workforce or reduce workers’ salaries.

The Director of Media in Zamfara State Government House, Mr. Yusuf Gusau, also told THISDAY that the state Governor, Mr. Bello Matawalle, had given marching orders to revenue agencies to increase the IGR. Also, the Anambra State Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Mr. C.Don Adinuba, told THISDAY that the state government would focus on fighting the revenue “thieves” to boost the state’s IGR.

He admitted that the cash crunch had prevented the state from meeting its deadline on the construction of roads.

He, however, promised that Governor Willie Obiano would not sack workers.

"What His Excellency is doing is to recover a lot of other revenue windows by fighting revenue thieves. You know we have illegal revenue collectors, but the governor has declared war against them, and the more illegal revenue windows that he blocks, the more money that is coming into government coffers.

"There is no plan to lay off workers or reduce their salaries, rather, the governor is concentrating on blocking the collection of illegal revenue, which will now create more for

our government,” he stated.

To eliminate ‘ghost’ workers and reduce the state’s wage bill, the Adamawa State Government has embarked on staff screening in a bid to reduce the workforce by eliminating suspected ghost workers and those above retirement age from the civil service.

The state government has also screened out those employed towards the end of the tenure of the previous administration in the state.

According to the DirectorGeneral on Media and Communications to the governor, Mr. Solomon Kumangar, the state government has no plan to sack workers but has planned to increase its IGR to augment whatever comes from FAAC. He said the state government

might increase the tax paid by civil servants, private individuals and businesses as well as cut down some allowances and running cost.

In Nasarawa State, the state government said it had streamlined all IGR into Treasury Single Account (TSA) to cope with the dwindling allocations.

The state Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Mr. Dogo Shama, told THISDAY in Lafia that the state was not planning a reduction in its workforce.

In Kaduna, the state government has adopted measures to address its dwindling finances and high wage bill.

The state government recently sacked workers.

Explaining the state’s

precarious financial situation, the spokesman of Governor Nasir el-Rufai, Mr. Muyiwa Adekeye, said increased wages and pensions had drained the funds of many local government areas.

He said the government therefore had no choice but to shed some weight and reduce the size of the public service.

Chairman of the Kaduna State chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Mr. Ayuba Suleiman, alleged that about 4,000 local government workers and about 3,000 state workers had been disengaged.

It was also feared that the state government may revert to the N18,000 minimum wage.

In Osun State, Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mrs. Funke Egbemode, told

THISDAY that the state government would not sack workers but had initiated some cost-cutting measures to ensure blockage of all loopholes in the service.

Also, Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Ini Ememobong, told THISDAY that Governor Udom Emmanuel was still studying the development and would not rush into making any decisions.

He said the issue of reducing the workforce in the state civil service, salary cut for both political appointees and public servants had not come up to the table for consideration.

He added that the biometric capturing just concluded by the state government had reduced the wage bill of the state.

country into anarchy so as to serve the interests of their sponsors.

“Consequently, the service is assiduously working with other security and law enforcement agencies to ensure the maintenance of peace and internal security of the country.”

Afunanya said among those threatening the federal government and Nigeria’s unity are “some religious and past political leaders who have either called for a forceful change of government or mass action against it.”

“It has been established that the main objective for these is to cause a disintegration of the country,” he added.

“It is unfortunate that those in the forefront of this are respectable individuals who should be patriotic and not

allow their personal ambitions to ruin the nation. The service has also noted their desperation and penchant to collaborate with external forces and influences against Nigeria.

“They are reminded that even though democracy offers free speech, it does not give room to reckless pronouncements capable of undermining security.

It is instructive to note that the ballot box remains the vehicle of change in a democracy.

“In this regard, self-centred individuals and groups are warned to stop engaging in acts inimical to the peace and the sovereignty of this nation.

In the same manner, influential personalities should be sensitive to emerging situations and guard against divisive and inciting utterances that may cause a breakdown of law and order.”

WE ARE BETTER TOGETHER, TINUBU TELLS SECESSIONIST AGITATORS Nigeria to experience war. If we say Nigeria should separate, people should remember what war caused in Sudan and Iraq.

Such war does not end on time.

We are yet to recover from the civil war.

"We are better together. I have nowhere I am going. Whoever has experienced war in the past will not pray for such. Nigeria will not separate; it's not acceptable to us. Our prayer is for prosperity and more wealth for the country."

Tinubu also praised the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and the Deputy Governor, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, for their achievements.

He said the state had witnessed massive development since the administration of Sanwo-Olu came on board and expressed satisfaction with their

performances.

Sanwo-Olu, in his message, promised to fulfill his campaign promises and deliver dividends of democracy.

He said the state government was about installing 2,000 cameras across the state for security surveillance.

Sanwo-Olu assured the gathering that the proposed buses for public transportation, which his administration will unveil this month, will eradicate the menace of commercial motorcycle riders.

On security, Sanwo-Olu said more funds would be deployed in the Security Trust Fund to empower police and other security operatives, while technology would be deployed in Lagos.

The National Missioner, Ansaru-deen Society of Nigeria, Sheikh Ahmad Raman, also

called on those clamouring for the country to divide to have a rethink.

He admitted that though insecurity is on the increase, but with constant prayers, change of thoughts and characters by Nigerians, the country would come out of it.

"Today are hard times; these are uncertain times. This is the time men are supposed to be separated from boys. This is the time that regions need to think out of the box.

“We are insecure; we are unsure, there is hunger, there is anger and confusion in the land. This is the time we need divine intervention. If we gather and pray till 2023, Allah will not listen to us till we do some things," he said.

DSS Warns

‘Misguided Elements’ Meanwhile, the Department of State Services (DSS) has warned those it described as “misguided elements” who are threatening Nigeria’s unity and peaceful co-existence to desist from doing so.

DSS spokesman, Dr. Peter Afunanya, said in a statement yesterday that the agency would no longer tolerate those whose aim is to “throw the country into anarchy.”

In the statement, Afunanya said: “While the service reaffirms its unambiguous support to an indivisible, indissoluble and united Nigerian State in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution, it will no longer tolerate deliberate machinations by subversive and hostile groups whose agenda is to throw the

MONDAY MAY 3, 2021 ˾ T H I S D AY

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NEWSXTRA

Gunmen Kill Kogi Commissioner, Ebonyi Policeman, Abduct LG Chairman Local security operatives kill two kidnappers

Benjamin Nworie in Abakaliki The Kogi State Police Command has confirmed the killing of the state Commissioner for Pension Board, Hon. Adebayo Solomon and the abduction of the Chairman of Yagba East Local Government, Mr. Pius Kolawole and some others by gunmen.

Unknown gunmen also on Saturday night attacked the Abaomege Police Station in Onicha Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, killing of one Police officer on duty while another received a gunshot injury.

The injured policeman was receiving treatment at the Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital Abakaliki.

However, the attack on the police station was not totally successful as the gunmen failed to gain full access into the station.

The State Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO DSP Loveth Odah could not be reached as at the time of filling in this report.

The slain Kogi State commissioner was said to be travelling from Ilorin to Kabba when his vehicle was said to have been shot at Eruku village a few kilometres to Egbe the border town between Kwara and Kogi state by some gunmen.

His remains had been deposited at ECWA Hospital, Egbe, while the whereabouts of Kolawole remained unknown.

Reacting to the incident, the Commissioner of Police in the state, Ayuba Ede, said an intensive investigation was in progress to unravel the perpetrators of the heinous act.

The abducted council chairman was said to have intensified efforts to rid his local government area

of hoodlums suspected to be herdsmen terrorising the council.

Kogi State has been experiencing cases of kidnapping and robberies, with many blaming the criminal activities on the deplorable section of the roads.

Meanwhile, a Joint Taskforce of Neighborhood watch, vigilantes, hunters and other security agents yesterday repelled the notorious kidnappers operating in Dekina

Local Government Area of Kogi State yesterday.

The local security outfit also killed two gang members and freed three captives.

Two kidnappers: Monday Mimiko alias Aneni the law and Abu Billi alias Don German, died during the crossfire with the security personnel while two others escaped with gunshot wounds.

The security team also freed three persons kidnapped by the gang during operation around Egume.

The criminal gang had been terrorising the Okura axis of Dekina LGA for years engaging in kidnapping and armed robbery.

Confirming the incident, Dekina LGA chairman, Hon Ishaq Okolo said the security operatives were acting on the

directive of the governor of Kogi State, Mr. Yahaya Bello to fish out criminal elements wherever they were in the society.

Okolo urged members of the public to give useful information about criminals to the security agencies, noting that all hands must be on deck to ensure a c r i m e - f re e s o c i e t y.

INEC Kicks as Gunmen Set Ablaze Akwa Ibom Office Chuks Okocha in Abuja and Okon Bassey in Uyo The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has raised the alarm that the constant setting ablaze of its facilities in some states has the capacity of affecting the commission’s preparation for the 2023 general election.

This is coming as the Resident Electoral Commissioner for Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Mike Igini, has reported that INEC office in Essien Udim Local Government Area has been set ablaze.

Gunmen yesterday set ablaze the office of the INEC in Essien Udim LGA headquarters, Afaha Ikot Ebak, of Akwa Ibom state.

Essien Udim is the local government area of the Minister of the Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio.

Armed bandits in their numbers riding on motorcycles were said to have launched the mayhem at about 3:00am yesterday despite the ban by the state government on riding of motorcycles at night.

After setting the INEC office on fire, the hoodlums, equally attacked herdsmen and killed about 12 cattle killed while the herdsmen fled for their lives.

The herdsmen that escaped reportedly alerted security operatives to come for their rescue.

The Director, Public Affairs at Akwa Ibom State headquarters of INEC, Mr. Don Etukudoh, said he was yet to establish the motive of the arsonists who attacked their office in Essien Udim.

“Yes, I can confirm it to you that our office at Essien Udim has been burnt down; we are yet to get details,” he said.

Also speaking, the Chairman of Essien Udim Local Government, Mr. Anthony Luke, described the incident as unfortunate, as the local government has in the recent times become an epicenter of cults war with security agencies, including the Police, Customs and Army as well as government institutions

as the targets of hoodlums.

A military operation against the hoodlums, including land and aerial bombardments were launched last month in their base in Ikot Akpan in Essien Udim local council.

“Yes, it is true that the INEC office in my Local Government has been razed down by hoodlums. I don’t know who they are, what they want and the motive behind this violence.

“It is only the security agencies who have been on top of the situation that will be able to unravel the reasons behind these series of attacks,” he said Meanwhile, in a statement issued yesterday by The National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee of INEC, Mr. Festus Okoye, said that the incident occurred in the early hours of yesterday, May 2, 2021.

“If unchecked, these attacks may constitute a setback on the Commission’s preparations, including the ongoing conversion of Voting Points to Polling Units, the forthcoming Continuous Registration of Voters (CVR) exercise and the conduct of polls.”

According to Okoye, “our security guard on duty escaped unhurt but the destruction to the building and properties therein was extensive. Items destroyed include 345 ballot boxes, 135 voting cubicles, megaphones, water tanks and office furniture.

“The police, which have also been battling with attacks on their facilities and personnel in the area, were aware of the incident and have commenced investigation,”Okoye said.

Okoye recalled that on the eve of the 2019 general election, INEC’s newly constructed prototype LGA office in Ibesikpo Asutan was burnt down while two more offices in Mkpat Enin and Eastern Obolo LGAs were bombed.

RELIGIOUS OBLIGATIONS...

L-R: Chief Imam of Remo, Sheik Junaid Quadri; his Egba counterpart, Sheik Saadullah Bamgbola; Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun; Wakeelul – Muslimeen of Yorubaland, Edo and Delta, Sheik Iskeel Lawal Sugar; Chief Imam of Yewa, Sehik Sikirulahi Salaudeen; and representative of the Chief Imam of Ijebu, Sheik Mohammed Ejalonibu, after the observation of iftar (fast breaking) at the governor’s residence, Abeokuta... weekend

20-year-old Man Arrested for Alleged Rape, Murder of Job Seeker in A’Ibom Okon Bassey in Uyo The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has arrested a 20-year-old man, Uduak Frank Akpan, for alleged kidnapping, raping and murdering of one Miss Iniobong Umoren in Uruan Local Government Areas of the state.

The police in a statement issued yesterday and signed

by Command’s Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Odiko MacDon, said on

April 30, 2021, the Command received a report on the disappearance of the victim.

He said based on the report, men of the Anti-Kidnapping Squad of the Command, led

by CSP Inengiye Igosi, arrested the perpetrator, who confessed to have lured his victim to his house in the guise of giving her a job, but ended up sexually and physically assaulting her which led to her death.

The police said, to cover his

track, he dragged and buried his victim in a shallow grave in his father’s compound.

The PPRO, who signed the statement for the state Commissioner of Police, Amienghene Andrew, said the deceased has been exhumed and deposited at the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital (UUTH) for autopsy.

According to him, “The suspect confessed to have told his local government area chairman of

his atrocity before escaping to Calabar, and was never at any time handed over to the police by anyone.

“Suspect is a confessed serial rapist, who has owned up to the raping of other victims. He will be charged to court at the conclusion of investigation.”

The state police boss, in the statement, called on youths and job seekers to be wary of the activities of criminals.

Serial Killer of Policemen Arrested in Delta Sylvester Idowu in Warri A 30-years-old Akpos James, whose gang allegedly specialised in attacking security agents, has been arrested by operatives of the Delta State Police Command.

The suspect, James alias ‘General’, an indigene of Ekeremor Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, was the leader of the criminal gang that allegedly killed some policemen in Ughelli in February.

His gang, THISDAY gathered, had stormed an eatery in Ughelli, shot dead some policemen and

made away with their rifles.

The Delta State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Edafe Bright, confirmed the arrest.

He said the suspect was arrested in Abraka on April 24, 2021, during an operation carried out by the Special AntiKidnapping and Cyber Crime Squad (SAKCCS) operatives, acting on available intelligence.

The police spokesman said the suspect has been fingered in the killing of the policemen in Ughelli on January 10, 2021, adding that he was also a member of the gang that carried

out several kidnap and armed robbery operations in Abraka, Warri, Ughelli and Sapele environs in Delta State.

“Upon interrogation, the suspect, who gave useful information in connection to the crimes, led SAKCCS operatives to the gang’s hideout at Bomadi waterside last weekend,” Bright said.

According to him, other members of his gang were engaged in a gun battle with the police which other escaped into the river with various degrees of gunshot injuries.

Bright disclosed that two AK-47 rifles, 114 rounds of 7.62 ammunition with six magazines were recovered during the raid, noting that a manhunt has been lunched for the fleeing members of the gang.

Meanwhile, the police have urged members of the public to give any useful information that will lead to the arrest of the other fleeing members of the gang to the police, while assuring informants that their identity will be treated with high level of confidentiality.

Gunmen Abduct Businesswoman, Guest in Ogun Unknown gunmen have abducted a businesswoman, Mrs. Roselyn Edusi, and her male guest on Saturday, on a farm near Ofada, Ogun State.

Edusi, who is the proprietress of a restaurant at Omu, in the Obafemi-Owode Local Government Area of the state,

was accompanied by her male guest to a farm in the area when they were kidnapped.

Since the abduction of the duo on Saturday afternoon, their whereabouts have not been known.

The Police Public Relations

Officer in the state, DSP Abimbola Oyeyemi, confirmed that the kidnappers abducted the woman and her guest who visited her from Lagos State.

He added that the command had launched a manhunt to track the perpetrators and rescue the victims from their abductors

unhurt.

“We have begun searching for them since yesterday. Our men have been on it since yesterday.

We are going to get them. We are trailing them.”

He however said no ransom had so far been demanded by the abductors.

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MONDAY MAY 3, 2021˾ T H I S D AY

NEWSXTRA

Police Kill Three Robbery Suspects, Intercept 753 Ammunition in Ebonyi Arrest six robbery suspects in FCT Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja Operatives of the Nigeria Police attached to the Ebonyi State Police Command weekend killed three armed robbery suspects and intercepted 753 live ammunition of General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG) concealed in a bag being transported in a commercial vehicle from Abakaliki, Ebonyi

State to Umuahia in Abia State.

A statement by the Force Public Relations Officer, Frank Mba, a Commissioner of Police, said the intelligence-driven covert operation, which led to the interception and recovery of the deadly ammunition, was part of the efforts by the force to identify and crack down on criminal networks and supply chains

for weapons and ammunition in and around the country.

It said a comprehensive investigation aimed at bringing to book all persons linked to the crime was ongoing.

Similarly, following investigations into the foiled bank robbery on the Onueke branch of a commercial bank in Ebonyi State, which occurred in January, 2021, Police operatives led by the Commissioner of Police,

Ebonyi State Command, on April 29, 2021, stormed the criminal hideout of suspects indicted in the investigations located at Oriuzo village in Ezza North Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.

The statement said the suspects on sighting the Police squad, opened fire on them.

“The police team engaged them gallantly and professionally. At the end, three members of the gang including two male and

one female met their waterloo following bullet injuries sustained during the exchange of gunfire.

Other suspects fled in different directions,” it said.

It said two AK-47 riffles, five pump action guns, six pistols, 50 AK-47 ammunition, 126 cartridges, Jack knives, cutlasses, and a 40-page notebook containing inventories of ammunition purchased by the gang were recovered.

The statement said a Honda Pilot Jeep with Reg. No. ABJ 163 NV used for the foiled bank robbery was also recovered by the police team.

Unrelenting in their quest to apprehend the remaining suspects, the statement said, the police team traced the suspects to a shrine where the robbers usually go for mystical powers before embarking on their robbery operations.

Ganduje Extends Retirement Age for Teachers, Lecturers to 65 Ibrahim Shuaibu in Kano Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State has said henceforth, teachers and lecturers working with the state- owned institutions of learning would be retiring on attaining 65 years of age.

The governor announced this at the award night held on Saturday in Kano to mark the 2021 May Day organised by the Kano State Chapter of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC).

“The federal government has since approved this for teachers and lecturers working in its institutions, hence, teachers in Kano State are also not left behind.

“Therefore, our teachers and lecturers as from now on will start to enjoy such retirement age from 60-65, and years of service from 35-40 as the federal workers are enjoying,” the governor said.

According to Ganduje, the state government has introduced so many policies aimed at improving the welfare of its workers.

He added: “We have introduced a contributory health scheme for workers in the state and their families to have the cheapest health services.

“I am happy that with your co-operation, today we have the best contributory health scheme in Nigeria.

“We are also collaborating with the private organisations in the state to see how they can benefit from such schemes aimed at strengthening the policy.’’

The governor also said that the state government had introduced a health trust fund where five per cent of the state’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) and one per cent from the earnings of local governments would be contributed.

“And that will provide health services to our workers and the people of Kano State.’’

Ganduje added that the state government would serve as a guarantor for civil servants working in the state who would be willing to access loan facilities from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

He also said that his administration had introduced free and compulsory primary to secondary schools education.

“Through that, our workers will not have to pinch from their salaries to pay school fees for their children.” he said.

Ganduje said that one important thing done in the state was ensuring peace and stability, security for workers, the citizens and everybody.

He said with that in place, the state would continue to be a place where everybody could flourish in harmony.

The governor also presented a letter of permanent and pensionable appointment to Khadijah Umar.

Umar who had been working as a temporary staff member for the past 15 years at Hotoro Health Care Clinic lost her legs in the course of duty.

NLC Charges Kano Govt to Recall 26 Sacked Workers Ibrahim Shuaibu in Kano The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has called on the Kano State Government to immediately reverse the sacking of 26 workers in the state, describing it as an “arbitrary and cruel” decision.

Recall that in 2017, the state government sacked 26 workers with the hospital management board, who were alleged to have collected either double or overpayment of salaries.

Addressing executive members from other allied workers union in Kano at the weekend in commemoration of May Day (also known as Workers’ Day), Chairman of NLC in Kano State, Kabiru Ado Minjibir, said the action of the state government

violated the fundamental human and trade union rights of the workers, as they were not given a fair hearing.

Minjibir also said across the world, the Labour is commemorating Workers Day, but in Kano and some parts of the country, there appears to be nothing to celebrate apart from being alive.

Also, the labour leader demanded the payment of outstanding pensions, gratuities and death benefits to retirees in the state, which accumulated to over N26billion.

He called for the implementation of re-deployment of 1,017 staff from Head of Civil Service to Hospital Management Board as approved by the governor.

FIGHTING THE PANDEMIC…

L-R: Director, Food Registration and Regulation, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Dr. Monica Eimunjeze; Director General, NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye; and Deputy Director/Special Assistant to Director General, Dr. Abimbola Adegboye, at the media briefing to announce NAFDAC’s approval for Pfizer-Biotech COVID-19 vaccine for emergency use authorisation, in Lagos…weekend

Akintoye: Nobody Can stop Agitation for Yoruba Nation The leader of the Ilana Omo Odua, emeritus Prof. Banji Akintoye, has said that nobody can stop the agitation for Yoruba self-determination.

He made this known yesterday in a statement issue by the group’s Secretary for Media and Communications, Mr. Maxwell Adeleye.

He hailed the Yoruba Nimi

Omo Kootu-Ojire and its founder, Titilayo Ojeleye, for the success of the rally held in Abeokuta on Saturday to drum-up support for the actualisation of the Yoruba nation.

“I want to advise the Nigerian State that the Yoruba self-determination struggle under my leadership shall

continue to be peaceful and orderly.

“Therefore, threatening us, or attempting to subjugate our rights to self-determination and peaceful assembly are cowardly.

“We are marching on, and like valiant soldiers without a dint of fear. I make bold to put it to the Nigerian state that no one can stop an idea

whose time has come.”

Akintoye called on all Yoruba self-determination groups to begin to hold rallies in their localities every weekend.

“However, let me warn that all our people should note that each rally must be conscientiously peaceful, lawful and orderly,” he added.

UTME 2021: JAMB Denies Targeting Baptist Girls Academy Kuni Tyessi in Abuja The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has denied any plan to clamp down on Baptist Girls Academy, Lagos, in its preparation for the conduct of the 2021 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), contrary to reports making the round.

The board stated that the incident that happened during an inspection of the registration exercise of the 2021 UTME in the Southwest was to clarify from

students on the issue of mismatch of candidates’ data.

The JAMB spokesperson, Dr. Fabian Benjamin, in a statement quoted the JAMB registrar as explaining that the issue of mismatched data occurred as a result of group registration by the authorities of some elite schools who collect huge amount of money from parents in the name of helping them to facilitate their wards’ registration.

He stated that the Board was against such practice as its examination is not a group-based

exercise like WAEC or NECO. As such, he said candidates are expected to register individually.

According to the statement, on the collection of higher fees above the prescribed fee, the registrar said he was not aware of any largescale extortion going on anywhere other than the exception of some elite secondary schools, “who are in the habit of illegitimately collecting money in the name of the Board.

“During an interview with journalists, a group of students was spotted, which drew the

attention of the registrar to them insinuating that they could be among those involved in group registration.

“Consequently, the registrar invited them. He asked them how much they had paid for the UTME registration and the name of their school.

“The students replied that they were from Baptist Girls Academy and that they had paid N8, 000 to their school for the 2021 UTME registration,” the statement read in part.

Aviation Union Faults Minister over Failure to Fulfill Promises Chinedu Eze The National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) has blamed the Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika for the failure of the federal government to fulfill its promises made to improve the sector since in 2016.

The union in a statement issued in Lagos at the weekend to mark 2021 Workers’ Day said the government has failed to accomplish

what it described as aviation road map set out in the first tenure of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration.

Some of these set goals are the establishment of the Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility in Abuja; the establishment of a leasing company, and the establishment of a national carrier.

National President of the union, Ben Nnabue, also used his May Day address to express

the union’s frustration over the unjust treatment meted out to workers of aviation agencies by the Salaries and Wages Commission, and the Head of Service.

Nnabue said: “We have persistently pointed out the folly of one-man-show in governance of the sector. As we all know, having no governing boards for all the agencies in aviation, and the CEOs being direct employees of the Minister of Aviation, and

the minister being the chairman of all the so-called interim boards, the affairs of the aviation industry has been contrived to be totally in the hands of one man.

“This is extremely dangerous, preposterous and truly objectionable.

All our protests on the subject over the past years have fallen on deaf ears. That stakeholders in the industry have tolerated this circumstance for six years is quite honestly incomprehensible.”

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NEWSXTRA

Ohanaeze Urges IPOB, MASSOB, Others to Join Peace Mission Ejiofor Alike The apex Igbo sociopolitical organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide under the leadership of Prof. George Obiozor has appealed to the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and the Movement for the Actualisation of Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) to join its peace process mission.

Other pro -Biafra groups, according to the apex Igbo sociocultural organisation, are Eastern Security Network (ESN), Biafra National Guard (BNG) and the Biafran Zionist Movement (BZM)

among others In a statement yesterday by the National Publicity Secretary of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Hon. Chiedozie Alex Ogbonnia, the pan-Igbo sociopolitical group said the essence was for safety of Ndigbo wherever they were It said: “Ohanaeze calls on all organisations and associations operating in the South East of Nigeria and Igboland in general, including Eastern Security Network (ESN),MASSOB, Biafra National Guard, Biafran Zionists Movement, etc to join the peace process under the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Peace and Reconciliation

Committee.

“The President General and Chairman of the committee, Ambassador Prof. George A. Obiozor, said this was part of the resolutions of the reconciliation committee during its inaugural meeting at the Ohanaeze

headquarters in Enugu on Tuesday, April 27, 2021.

“The committee which has started consultations with stakeholders and leaders across the region , the country and the Diaspora stated categorically that there is no substitute for peace.

“The ultimate objective of Ohanaeze Ndigbo and indeed every Igbo is to ensure peace, development, security and safety of Ndigbo wherever they are particularly in their homeland.

“Igbo everywhere should make every effort and contributions

necessary to guarantee peace and security in Igboland.

“Any information , suggestions, petitions ,and documents that would facilitate the work of the committee should be channeled through the Secretary of the committee , Mr. Peter Aneke.”

Fadeyi Foundation Appoints Programme Manager,Vice President Akin Fadeyi Foundation (AFF), Convener of the Corruption Not in My Country Project and the FlagIt Report Corruption App, has announced the appointments of Oluwatomi Okeowo and Sinmi Akinsanmi as Programme Manager, and Vice President, Strategy and Growth, respectively.

A statement issued yesterday by a member of the Board of Trustees (BoT), Professor Sola Akinrinade, on behalf of the foundation, said Okeowo would bring a combined track record of experience in the development sector, including the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality, Centre for Human Rights, Pretoria, South Africa; and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women).

The statement added that Okeowo also worked with the Pan-African Centre for the Study and Support of Family.

“We are excited to have Okeowo in our team, as she possesses a depth of experience, core competence and the mental energy that will complement AFF’s team of seasoned professionals to consolidate on its gained traction in the fight against corruption and the strengthening of institutional capacities,” Akinrinade explained.

Okeowo holds a B.Sc. in International Relations from Covenant University, Nigeria; an M.A in International Development, Development Management from the University of Manchester, United Kingdom and an M.Phil. in Sexual and Reproductive Rights in Africa from the University of Pretoria, South Africa.

Before joining the Akin Fadeyi Foundation, Okeowo pushed for the ratification and implementation of the Maputo Protocol (African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa) across the continent and successfully advocated for

Mauritius to ratify the Maputo Protocol.

Her appointment, which takes effect from May 1, 2021, will be part of the imperative impetus for the galvanising of our organisation’s vision to deepen its work in the anticorruption space.

Okeowo will be tasked with coordinating and managing the foundation’s strategic initiatives and goals, including cementing our relationship with strategic partners and managingAFF’s various project cycles.

The statement described Sinmi Akinsanmi as a highly accomplished strategic thinker with sterling accomplishments.

According to the statement, Akinsanmi’s experience spans over a decade, where he has built expertise around project management, product management, operations management, strategy, and business development.

“He is passionate about impact and nation building; which he regularly exhibits as an entrepreneur and mentor to young professionals. Akinsanmi straightens mentees’ capacity across professional endeavors like Marketing, Growth, Innovation Productivity and Leadership,” the statement added.

“Sinmi will bring his innovative expertise to bear in our organization’s scale-up strategy for sustainable growth plans. He will be saddled with the task of unlocking our organisation’s potentials to transform opportunities into actionable projects and incubated ideas into filling social enterprise gaps. We are particularly excited to have Akinsanmi in the team as he has committed to offering his services in social responsibility capacity. This is most commendable as the development sector grapples with the post Covid-19 era and requiring all hands-on deck to heal and reposition the world,” the statement concluded.

GIVING BACK TO HOST COMMUNITY…

L-R: Consultant Nasjam Rehabilitation Clinic, Dr. Jamiu Olanrewaju; Head External Relations, Dangote Cement, Ibese Plant, Mr. Joseph Alabi; a beneficiary, Mr. Isau Muyldeen; and Head of Human Resources and Administration, Dangote Agrosack Ibese, Mr. Abubakar Abdukareem, at the closing ceremony of 2020/ 2021 Acutherapy training organised by the Dangote Cement Plc, Ibese in Ibese Plant, Ogun State… weekend

Niger NUT Declares Indefinite Strike Laleye Dipo in Minna The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Niger State branch has declared an indefinite strike from May 4, 2021.

The union in a statement made available to journalists in Minna yesterday stated that the declaration of the strike followed the resolution by the state Working Executive Committee of the NUT held on April 30,

2021, during which the inability of the state government to meet the demands of the organisation after it suspended a previous strike that took place last February was considered.

The statement was jointly signed by the state Chairman of the union, Ibrahim Umar; the NUT Principal Assistant Secretary-General, Labaran Garba; ANCOPS state President, Ahmed Jafaar, and OPSHON Chairperson,

Fatima Abdullahi Kutigi.

Among the demands of the union are: the immediate implementation of N30,000 minimum wage for primary school teachers on grade level 7 and above; payment of October 2020 salaries to primary school teachers and refund of salary cut for April 2021 to all teachers.

According to the statement, the union also demanded the immediate refund of five months end-well scheme, outstanding

members’ deductions and union dues/check off dues as well as the provision of security guards to all schools in the state.

“The attention of the union has also been drawn to the fact that 70 percent will be paid to primary school teachers as salaries for the month of April. This development is hereby rejected by the union, as it will only accept 100 percent salary payment,” the statement added.

Ikpeazu Links Attacks on Security Facilities to Imbalance in Federal Structures Iyobosa Uwugiaren in Abuja Abia State Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, has linked the recent attacks on security facilities and agents in the South-east region to those who reasoned that the current federal government structures, especially the security architectures, are not capable of protecting them.

While vehemently condemning the attacks, he challenged President

Muhammadu Buhari-led federal government to summon the courage to address the issues of injustice, marginalisation and imbalance perceived in the federal government structures.

Addressing some journalists at the weekend in Aba, the commercial hub of the state, the governor warned that the country can’t continue to sweep “smoldering fire under the carpet,” warning that the fire will continue

to smolder until it explodes.

The entire South-east zone has in the past weeks experienced an upsurge in attacks aimed at security forces in violence that officials blamed on the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), a separatist group seeking the independence for the indigenous Igbo people.

Responding to the several attacks on security facilities and agents, the armed forces said recently that a joint operation

was under way in the volatile region to flush out the criminals.

However, Ikpeazu stated that addressing perceived injustice and imbalance in the federal structures would go a long in dousing the security tension in the zone.

According to him, “I think the time has come for us in this country to dredge up sufficient courage to address the issues of injustice and imbalance perceived in our federal structures.

Buhari Supports Open Grazing,TivYouth Organisation Alleges George Okoh inMakurdi The leader of the youth wing of the Tiv socio-cultural group, Tiv Youth Organisation (TYO), has accused President Muhammadu Buhari tacit support for open grazing by herdsmen as against the calls by

Nigerians for ranching of herds.

In a statement signed by the President-General of TYO worldwide, Mr. Timothy Hembaor, the group urged Buhari to come clean on his position over the farmers/ herders crisis.

The presidency had advised the

state governor to “cooperate” with the federal government in tackling what he described as fundamental issues responsible for the killings in the state.

“The president aide, Garba Shehu, had said: ‘Benue State under Governor Samuel Ortom’s administration

ought to cooperate with the federal government in the implementation of a number of strategic programmes in addressing underlying issues militating against peace, progress and development’,” a statement which Hembaor said ought to be clarified by the presidency.

Abducted Mission School Student Regains Freedom in Plateau The abducted student of Kings School, otherwise known as Capro Secondary Mission School located at Gana Ropp in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State has regained freedom, the military authorities have confirmed.

Gunmen had in the early hours of April 29 kidnapped the students

in Capro, which is few kilometres away from the Yakubu Gowon airport and about 60 kilometres from Jos, the state capital.

However, three of the students escaped while one remained in captivity.

But in a statement issued yesterday, the spokesman of

Operation Safe Haven, Major Ibrahim Shittu, said troops rescued the remaining student in captivity on Saturday.

He said the rescue operation was achieved through the sustained search and rescue efforts of the troops, adding that no ransom was paid to secure the student’s release.

According to the military spokesman, the rescued student was in good health condition and had since been reunited with other students in the college.

Several students of Greenfield University in Kaduna were still in captivity after they were abducted on April 20.

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MONDAY MAY 3, 2021 ˾ T H I S D AY

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Jarigbe Insists on Authentic List of Cross River PDP Ward, State Congresses Senator-elect for Cross River North senatorial zone, Hon. Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe has warned against the alleged moves by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to alter the subsisting result of the state congresses, insisting that the result backed by the Supreme Court ruling remained sacrosanct.

The outcome of the congress divided the PDP in the state into two, with the state governor, Prof.

Ben Ayade, leading one faction, while the Abuja group comprising members of the National Assembly from the state constituted the second faction.

In an advertorial published today, Jarigbe warned that he had “watched patiently from the sidelines as our party is being dragged and muddled in the mud by persons whose sole intentions are to cause commotion within the party and destroy it perpetually before eventually moving to another party they had been hobnobbing with in the last few years.”

To prevent the party from

imploding, he said he decided to speak out to project his voice of reason on why “we must embrace the rule of law, equity and justice to resolve the lingering issues rather than continuing on the current arbitrariness and authoritarianism which we have all seen to be counter-productive.”

Giving reasons for his stand, the lawmaker posited that “the subsisting result of the PDP Ward and Chapter Congresses in Cross River is sacrosanct and must not be tempered with under any guise or pretensions.”

According to him, “the reason for towing this line of action fastidiously is that the congresses followed due processes and were conducted in line with the guidelines of the PDP and monitored by INEC as required by law.”

He explained that: “The Authentic list was ratified by the NWC of the party and Certified by INEC. Today, as I write, both INEC and the party have the authentic list.

“I went to court, when I discovered that the governor’s

group was trying to substitute the list with a concocted list put together by the governor himself, his younger brother, Frank and some of their cronies.

“My decision to approach the court was to give legal backing to the authentic list and to pre-empt and stop the party from yielding

to pressure from the governor to manipulate and alter the list in his group’s favour,” he explained.

He narrated that: “At the trial, the authentic list was affirmed by the trial court and the governor’s group lost out. The judgment was appealed against me by the governor’s group.

“Again, the judgment was upheld by both the Appeal Court and the Supreme Court. The judgment of the apex court, finally resolved the matter and put the controversy to rest. The judgment was given on January 6, 2021,” Jarigbe pointed out The lawmaker said “I would

like to know what would have happened if I had lost at both the appellate and supreme Courts; would they have accepted the victory or not? Surely, they would have insisted that the ruling remains sacrosanct and that’s what I am also insisting to be done here.”

Babalola: I have Trained over 1,000 Lawyers, Produced 23 SANs Victor Ogunje inAdoEkiti A legal icon, Chief Afe Babalola (SAN), has disclosed that he has trained over 1,000 lawyers out of which 23 have become Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SANs) to strengthen the legal profession in the country.

Babalola added that in his almost six decades of legal practice, he had trained lawyers who have become Federal Attorneys-General, High Court Judges and Justices of the Appellate Courts.

He stated this in Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State, yesterday in a statement made available to journalists by the Director, Corporate Affairs of the Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti, Mr. Tunde Olofintila, where he announced the date for the Annual Aware Are Babalola public lecture organised by the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA),

Ado Ekiti branch, to honour the legal luminary.

The statement noted that the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, will on May 4, 2021, chair the10thannualpubliclecturetogarland Babalola for his contributions to the legal profession.

Speaking on the impending lecture, the founder of ABUAD said his love for legal profession had also spurred him to publish six major law books which he said have enriched law practice in the country.

The books, according to Babalola, are: ‘Injunctions and Enforcement of Orders (the only authoritative book on theimportantsubject)’;‘LawandPractice ofEvidenceinNigeria’;Enforcement of Judgment, Election Law and Practice in Nigeria, the leading authority on the subject in the country widely used

by Judges, lawyers and politicians throughout the country.

Cleric Tasks Christians on Prayers of Intercession Segun AwofadejiinGombe The spiritual leader of Cherubim and Seraphim Movement Worldwide, Prophet Samuel Adefila Abidoye, has urged Christians to pray until something positive happens in the chequered history of the corporate existence of Nigeria.

In his message during the 2021 Mount Horeb Ascension programme made available to journalists, the Baba Aladura said: “It is a period when we need to commit all our leaders in this country to the hands of the Lord for God’s wisdom and auction to function according to His will for our dear country”.

The spiritual leader of Cherubim and Seraphim Movement Worldwide also declared that: “It is a period when we need to re-direct the affairs of our nation prayerfully and just like the 2021 General Theme of our Church: ‘Absolute Liberation,’ it is a period when we need to ask God to take absolute Control of Nigeria and the world at large” .

He further urged all wellmeaning members of Cherubim and Seraphim Movement Church Worldwide and all Nigerians to join the movement both physically, spiritually and virtually in seeking the face of the Lord during the Mountt Horeb Ascension Programme this year between May 2 and 9, 2021 at Galilee (Church International Headquarters, Galilee, Oyo State).

According to him, the book of 2 Chronicles 7:14 says: “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land’.

“Let us go back to the Lord for blessing, protection and for peace in Nigeria and for He will deliver us from our numerous problems of insurgence, kidnapping, banditry, political instability, bad governance etc. I assure that God will fight for us and He will give us victory”, he assured.

COMMENDATION SERVICE…

L-R: Mrs. Atinuke Adelegan; former Governor of Ondo State, Mr. Olusegun Mimiko; Prince Dapo Adelegan and Abimbola Adelegan at the commendation service for the late Mrs Victoria Iyadunni Adelegan at Anglican Church of Annunciation, Akure, Ondo State...recently

FCTA: Unauthorised Cutting of Trees in FCT to Attract N100, 000 Fine Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has warned the it is now an offence for residents to arbitrarily fell down trees planted in private compounds without authorisation, and that such act will attract a fine of N100,000.

The Director, Department of Parks and Recreation of the FCT, Riskatu Abdulazeez, issued the warning over the weekend.

She said anyone caught cutting down grown-up trees both in

private compound and in public places would be subjected to a fine of N100,000 per tree, depending on the age and girth of the tree.

Abdulazeez said the decision was to mitigate the effects of climate change on the city and prevent reckless actions that can further endanger lives.

“Cutting down of trees is now prohibited in the city; we have a penalty for such action.

The policy stipulates that if you plant a tree in your compound, once it is grown, it is no more your tree, it has become a public

property. We don’t plant trees for environmental protection alone, but for beautification and aesthetics appeal,” Abdulazeez said.

She also declared that even after any tree is cut down with the permission of the department, it is also mandatory that two trees are planted as replacement for each tree removed.

According to the director, estate developers who remove trees to pave ways for their projects are also compelled by laws to pay and replant the trees.

She noted that trees in general

have enormous benefits and importance for humans, as the oxygen is from trees, while in return, trees use the carbon dioxide emitted by human beings to survive.

“Apart from the life the trees give us, it also douses noise, reduces glare and mitigates the effects of climate change.

We are all feeling the effects of climate change, which is attributed to the rate at which we cut down trees, leading to deforestation,” she said.

Bauchi Inaugurates Advisory Committee for Implementation of VAPP Law SegunAwofadejiinBauchi The Bauchi State Government has launched the ‘Costed Model Action Plan (CMAP)’ as well as the inauguration of theAdvisory and Technical Committee of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act in the state.

This is as the state government also earmarked about N3.7 billion for the implementation of CMAP for full implementation of VAPP

law in the state.

THISDAY learnt that the VAPP law was developed by United Nations Women with support from the government of the United Kingdom, which was passed into law by the Bauchi State House of Assembly and assented to by the state Governor, Bala Mohammed.

Inaugurating members of the committees at the Government House in Bauchi at the weekend, Mohammed said Bauchi is the first

state to domesticate the VAPP Act in the North-east part of the country, pointing out that the implementation of the VAPP law can only be made possible when political will is supported bytargetedfundingandotherresources.

He said the Costed Model Action Plan (CMAP) is a significant achievement, which underlines the commitment of the state government to implement the 2020 VAPP law and eliminate violence against persons in the society.

“Through CMAP and the implementation of VAPP law in the state, the government has identified intervention strategies that would have a direct impact on the lives and welfare of the most vulnerable persons in Bauchi State. CMAP is a tool that will help produce results through clearly defined activities and targets by careful costing and identification of the actors responsible for the successful implementation of the programme,” he said.

Gombe Gov Tasks Workers on Commitment, Dedication to Duty Segun AwofadejiinGombe Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, has charged workers in the state to exhibit commitment and dedication to duty, even as he assured them that his administration would continue working hard towards repositioning civil service for efficient and improved service delivery.

Yahaya gave the charge while addressing workers in the state

to mark this year’s International Workers’ Day at the Pantami Township Stadium at the weekend.

The governor described the theme for this year’s Workers Day celebration: ‘COVID-19 Pandemic, Social and Economic Crisis: Challenges for Jobs, Social Protection and Peoples Welfare’, as apt and timely because of the significant labour, economic and social disruptions caused by the pandemic.

He noted that the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and associated measures, such as lockdown, have led to loss of jobs, transition to remote work and productivity losses, saying governments all over the world are experiencing economic downturn, and are struggling to pay salaries and meet the welfare needs of their workers.

According to him, “In Gombe State, we have been able to

continue the payment of workers’ salaries and monthly pension to retirees as at when due. Moreover, we are also able to pay billions of naira to settle outstanding pensions and gratuities inherited from previous administration, our intention is to clear all outstanding pensions and gratuities because we believe that our civil servants deserve to live in comfort and dignity after retirement.”

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MONDAY MAY 3, 2021 ˾ T H I S D AY

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COVID-19: Nigeria Vaccinates 1,222,109 Persons Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja A total of 1,222,109 eligible Nigerians have so far received the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

According to the statistics released yesterday by National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA), only 60.07 per cent of the targeted population in

Niger DebunksVideo of Alleged Forceful Conversion to Islam The Niger State Government has dissociated the state from a video circulating on social media alleging that Boko Haram were forcefully converting people to Islam in the state.

The video was shared by many on Twitter including a former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, who said it happened in territories captured

by Boko Haram in Niger State.

“Boko Haram and ISWA forcefully converting people to Islam in the parts of Niger state that they have captured, conquered, occupied and flown their flag. This is happening just two hours from Abuja! I warned you!” FaniKayode tweeted.

But in a swift response,

Governor Abubakar Sani Bello said it was an old video that did not originate from Nigeria, or Niger State.

“This widely shared video on social media is totally misleading and the work of those who wish to see the country up in flames.

This video is an old video that does NOT even originate from Nigeria, talk more of Niger State.

“As citizens, we should rather use our vantage position to complement the peace efforts of the government than spread fake news, cause disunity, raise unnecessary alarm capable of causing disaffection among the peace-loving people of Niger State and Nigeria at large,” he tweeted.

SGF Felicitates with Nigerian Media on Press Fredom Day Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) and Chairman of the Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19, Boss Mustapha, has joined others to celebrate the Nigerian media on the occasion of the World’s Press Freedom Day. In a statement signed yesterday on his behalf by the Director, Information, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Willie Bassey, the SGF acknowledged the contributions of the Nigerian media in the fight against COVID-19 pandemic.

He stated that journalists made sacrifices in filing reports day and night,

particularly, at the outset of the pandemic in which press briefings were held by the then Presidential Task Force on daily basis.

He noted that their contributions led to the dissemination of accurate information to the citizenry through jingles, advertorials and various educational programmes on their platforms.

He assured media practitioners of the continued support of the Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19 while urging practitioners to use their role as purveyors of news to build a strong and united country by adhering to the ethics of the profession through truthful and accurate reports.

Onuesoke Berates Shehu over Attack on Mbaka Sylvester Idowu in Warri Former Delta State governorship aspirant, Chief Sunny Onuesoke has faulted the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu’s attack on the Spiritual Director of the Adoration Ministry (AMEN), Rev. Father Ejike Mbaka, saying it was not a crime for the Priest to demand for contract or help from President Muhammadu Buhari.

Shehu had in a reaction to the religious leader’s call for President Buhari’s resignation over worsening security situation in Nigeria, alleged that Mbaka was attacking the President because the Presidency turned down his request for the award of contract.

Responding to questions from journalists on the issue weekend, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain argued that it was not a crime for Mbaka to demand for contract from

President Buhari if he did.

“What the hell is wrong in asking for contract or compensation from President Buhari if he did? Was Garba Shehu himself not compensated with the position of a spokesman for the President as a payback for his garrulous disposition during the campaign?

“It is not a crime to ask the president of your country for contracts. Other Buhari supporters were given gifts, appointments, contracts and even oil block. So, why was that of Mbaka different after defending Buhari before and after the elections?” he queried.

Onuesoke, who argued that this obvious blackmail

by Shehu would not change the fact that Nigeria was rudderless, recalled that majority of Nigerians who supported Buhari during 2015 election, like Mbaka, have been living in regrets because they discovered that the Presidency had derailed.

the first phase had been vaccinated.

The report showed that Lagos State, FCT and Kaduna State were leading in the number of persons vaccinated with 234,166; 70, 422 and 63,669, respectively.

The vaccination statistics showed that Abia has 38,950; Adamawa, 21,016; Akwa Ibom, 13,387; Anambra, 13,180; Bauchi, 37,291; Bayelsa, 10,990; Benue, 24,015; Borno, 24,924 ; Cross River, 17,499; Delta, 22,537; Ebonyi,

10,756; Edo, 30,066; Ekiti, 24,280; Enugu, 15,051; FCT, 70, 422; Gombe, 27,539; Imo, 20,411; Jigawa, 30,177; Kaduna, 63,669; Kano, 62,148; Katsina, 40,550; Kebbi, 16,449 and Kogi, 12,757 Others are: Kwara,

31,387; Lagos, 234,166; Nasarawa, 21,439 ; Niger, 28,165; Ogun, 54,454; Ondo, 31,931; Osun, 23,632; Oyo, 46,043; Plateau, 29,583; Rivers, 34,786; Sokoto, 12,598 Taraba, 11,040; Yobe, 21,590 and Zamfara, 17,194..

SAFETY ON THEIR MINDS…

L-R: Officer I, Health, Safety, Environment (HSE) Unit, Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund, Apapa Branch, Mr. Julius Esek; Principal Manager, Enforcement, Mrs. Anthonia Eyoro; Assistant General Manager/Branch Manager, Apapa, Mr. Daniel Omotayo; Senior Manager, Claim Unit, Mrs. Ijeoma Akiri; and Deputy Manager, HSE, Mr. Chulks Obosi, during a walk by the Apapa branch of NSITF in commemoration of the World Safety and Health at Work Day 2021 in Lagos...recently.

We’ve Identified Those Behind Imo Mayhem, Says Uzodimma Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma has disclosed that security agencies had identified those behind the recent disturbances in the state.

Uzodimma said in few days their names would be unveiled with what they did so that they could face justice.

Addressing the congregation at the end of the Church Service at Government House Chapel, Owerri, the state capital, yesterday, the governor assured that his administration would use all within its powers to identify and flush out criminals in the state.

Uzodimma vowed: “I will never and not going to

negotiate with criminals,” warning anyone involved in any form of criminality aimed at bringing down Imo State by any means to have a rethink or such persons will have themselves to blame.

“Those out to bring the state down must be prepared to be brought down as well,” he said.

The governor thanked the residents of the state for their understanding and resilience throughout the period of security breaches and skirmishes.

He reiterated: “The mayhem in Imo State was carried out by hoodlums, bandits and a small percentage of IPOB members and aggrieved

politicians who decided to sponsor violence to derail the government of the day.”

He promised the government would always use her powers in line with the oath it swore to protect the people and their property, emphasising that no individual, group or criminals will be stronger than government.

Uzodimma enjoined Imo residents to be calm “because God is with us and that is why the criminals and bandits failed in their nefarious activities.”

The governor also warned political appointees to be careful with what they say

or post on the social media, insisting one may be interacting with criminals and bandits “knowingly or unknow i n g l y ” .

He e n j o i ned the people of the state to repent and avoid being entangled with criminals as such involvement will be dangerous.

In his homily, the Chaplain Government House Chapel, Rev. Fr. Gilbert Alaribe, enjoined Christians to be bold in their dealings just like Paul and Barnabas in the scriptures.

He emphasised the society needed people of boldness like Barnabas who stood firm at all times in trying moments.

Abducted AAU Professor Regains Freedom The abducted Professor of Engineering and former Head of the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Ambrose Alli

University (AAU), Ekpoma, Edo State, Prof. Osadolor Odia, has regained freedom.

Odia was abducted by gunmen last Thur s d a y,

and was released by the kidnappers on Saturday A source at the Edo State Police Command also confirmed the professor ’s release.

O dia was said to be on his way to his farm at Egoro, Ekpoma, when he was abdu c t e d a n d whisked away by the gunmen.

Security Operatives Foil Bandits’ Attack in Zamfara, Recover 300 Cows Security operatives have foiled an attack by bandits by killing an unspecified number of them and recovering 300 cattle in Zamfara State.

Zamfara State Governor, Mr. Bello Matawalle disclosed this yesterday via Twitter, adding that the operation was led by the state Commissioner for Security

and Internal Affairs.

Matawalle also shared photos showing the cattle recovered, which were rustled by the bandits at Kuraje near Rijiyar Tsakar Dawa in Guasau Local Government Area of Zamfara State.

“A moment ago, I was informed about an operational

success recorded by the Hon. Commissioner for Security and Internal affairs. He led a team of security forces on a joint patrol and neutralised a gang of bandits who rustled a herd of over 300 cattle at Kuraje near Rijiyar Tsakar Dawa in Gusau LG,” his tweet read.

“After accomplishing the

mission, the rustled cattle have been recovered for an immediate return to their rightful owners.

“We are pleased with the commitment of our appointees and equally grateful for the dedication and gallantry of our Security Forces towards restoring peace in Zamfara State and Nigeria at large.”

F ˜ ͻ˜ ͺ͸ͺ͹ ˾ T H I S D AY

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MONDAYSPORTS

Group Sports Editor Duro Ikhazuagbe Email duro.ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com 0811 181 3083 SMS ONLY

Sports Ministry Exempts AFN Board from Caretaker Committee Femi Solaja The Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development (FMY&SD) has exempted the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) from the list of federations to have caretaker committees to run their affairs following the dissolution of national federation

boards last Friday.

Acting Director of FEAD of FMY&SD, Dr Simon Ebhojiaye, confirmed the exemption of the AFN board from federations whose caretaker committees are to be inaugurated this week.

“In consonance with the resolution reached by the

Ekong Excited to Play in Premier League Nigerian international central defender, William TroostEkong has said he is excited he will finally play in the Premier League next season, while he is also thrilled with the superb form of Super Eagles strikers across Europe.

The Eagles stand-in captain will play in the English top flight come next season after he helped Watford win promotion.

“It was a long way coming.

Eight years ago, I came close to doing that with Spurs, but the dream is now a reality,” Ekong told NaijaMade on SuperSport.

“The Premier League is the best league in the world.

There is a lot of prestige as everyone follows the league and you test yourself against some of the best players in the world.”

the road map adopted at the intervention meeting in Abuja last month upon its adoption by World Athletics,” the sports ministry director announced in yesterday evening.

Following the dissolution of boards of National Sports Federations by the FMY&SD last Friday and the setting up

of caretaker committees were put in place to oversee the affairs of the federations, prior to the election of new boards.

Similarly, the Sports Ministry also clarified that Engr. Habu Gumel and Mr. Banji Oladapo were inadvertently appointed to serve in the Volleyball and Table Tennis Federations respectively.

“Therefore, the general public is hereby notified that Engr. Habu Gumel has been substituted with Prof. E.O. Morakinyo in the Volleyball Federation Caretaker Committee, while Mr. Banji Oladapo has been substituted with Barr. Oshodi Enitan in the Table Tennis Federation.,” concludes the statement from the ministry.

The central defender had to give up top-flight football in Italy to play in the English second-tier Championship to get to the Premier League.

“I thought about that (decision) for a long time and discussed with the family,” he revealed.

“I was ready to put in the work and take on the challenge.

“I took a step back to make progress.”

The former Udinese defender also said he is excited Nigeria strikers are banging the goals across Europe as this can only be great for the Super Eagles.

“I am excited because this means a bright future for the country as these strikers have their best years ahead of them,” he said.

Oshoala Sails into UEFA Champions League Final with Barca Femeni Asisat Oshoala and her Barcelona Ladies team will battle Chelsea in the UEFA Champions League Final after they stopped PSG 3-2 on aggregate yesterday.

They were beaten in last year’s final by the all-conquering Lyon of France Oshoala, who made a quick recovery from a foot surgery to be part of the semifinals, scored Barcelona’s goal in a 4-1 thrashing by Lyon in that Final.

She was a late sub for Barcelona yesterday.

Home team Barcelona won the semifinal return leg 2-1 after they drew 1-1 with their French rivals a week ago.

Elsewhere, late goals by Pernille Harder and Fran Kirby took Chelsea through to their first Women’s Champions League final at the expense of Bayern Munich in a captivating game.

Confederation of African Athletics/World Athletics on the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), the the Caretaker Committee announced for the Athletics Federation of Nigerian is rested and will not be inaugurated.

“Elections into the boards of the federation will follow

The Blues trailed 2-1 after the away leg but Kirby’s breakaway strike put them in control on away goals.

Sarah Zadrazil’s stunning shot made it 1-1 but Ji So-yun restored the lead.

With extra time looming Harder headed in and, as Bayern pressed, Kirby scored into an empty net to seal victory.

Kirby ran half the length of the pitch to ensure Chelsea’s progress in a dramatic finish to an astonishing game at Kingsmeadow.

The goal sparked wild scenes of celebration among players and staff, with a tearful manager Emma Hayes overwhelmed by leading Chelsea through to the final against Barcelonain Gothenburg on Sunday, 16 May.

Asisat Oshoala was part of the Barcelona Femeni that qualifies for the final of the Champions League

Aribo Shines as Rangers Secure Victory over Rivals Celtic Super Eagles midfielder, Joe Aribo, featured prominently as Rangers secured a 4-1 victory over Celtic in yesterday’s Scottish Championship group game.

The 24-year-old has been delivering consistent performances for the Gers this season and at Ibrox Stadium, he was handed a chance to continue the fine showings.

The Nigeria international was afforded a starting role forming a three-man midfield along with Steven Davis and Glen Kamara.

The reigning Scottish League champions started the game impressively, making several moves

to try and get an early goal in the encounter.

Their efforts paid off when Kemar Roofe hit the back of the net in the 26th minute after receiving a fine assist from Ryan Kent.

Shortly after the opener, Celtic suffered a big blow when they were reduced to 10 men after Callum McGregor received his second yellow card and was subsequently sent off.

John Kennedy’s men made attempts to try and come back into the game, notwithstanding they were one-man short and leveled matters in the 30th minute through Odsonne Edouard after he was set up by Kristoffer

Vassbakk Ajer.

Three minutes later, Alfredo Morelos handed Steven Gerrard’s men the lead from an assist from Glen Kamara.

Roofe then completed his brace in the 57th minute following a timely assist from Borna Barisic before substitute Jermain Defoe sealed the victory moments before the end of the game.

Aribo featured for the duration of the game, struck three shots, made one key pass, completed three dribbles and had 66 touches on the ball as part of his contribution in the encounter.

His compatriot and

teammate Leon Balogun was not listed for the encounter, along with South Africa international Bongani Zungu.

Aribo has now made 42 appearances across all competitions, scoring eight goals and providing seven assists, amid other dazzling displays.

The midfielder will hope to continue his fine performances when Rangers take on Livingston in their next league game on May 12.

Aribo has been with the Gers since the summer of 2019 when he teamed up with the club after leaving Charlton Athletic.

NTTF National Championships to Kick off May 18 The atmosphere synonymous with the Nigeria Open will be reenacted from May 18when the 2021 Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF) National Championships kick off at the Molade Okoya-Thomas Hall of Teslim Balogun Stadium.

The tournament which would serve as another test for the home-based players will be contested by states and clubs across the country from May 18to 22 in 12 events including veterans above 50 years.

According to the

prospectus, players are expected to compete for the top prize in team (men and women), singles (men and women), doubles (men and women), doubles, U-21 (men and women), cadet (boys and girls) and veterans singles above 50.

NTTF Technical Director who is also the Tournament Director, Adesoji Tayo said the competition would help to unearth new talents following the exploits of some junior players at the 20th National Sports Festival tagged Edo 2020.

“We are excited that

new players are coming on board particularly with what happened in Edo where Amadi Omeh who beyond all expectations emerged as the new national sports festival champion and who could have imagined that such a player who recently graduated from junior to senior will defeat some of the established players to win the tournament.

“This has again shown us that with more competitions like this, we can more several players coming through to upstage the

established ones.

“We also want to use the tournament to re-enact the atmosphere synonymous with the Nigeria Open which was cancelled in 2020 due to COVID-19 pandemic and we hope to bring back the atmosphere with this tournament as players across the countries are expected to be part of the five-day event with mouth-watering prize money,” Tayo said.

He however, said that the U-21 and cadet events have been included in the national championships to

give room for upcoming players to showcase their talents against their counterparts while technical officials would be on ground to identify talents that will form the bulk of the national junior team.

Also, world number one U-11 cadet player Musa Mustapha and his brother Mustapha Mustapha will be in Lagos for the tournament.

He added that the idea of the veterans was to encourage social clubs across the country to be

part of the table tennis fiesta.

Already, the Lagos State Sports Commission (LSSC) has expressed their readiness to host the tournament as table tennis is one of their marque sports which has made the state Africa’s table tennis hub.

One of Africa’s longest serving referees, John Peters has also been named as the tournament referee while ITTF-certified Competition Manager, Segun Peters will handle the draw proceedings at the championships.

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˜ ͻ˜ ͺ͸ͺ͹ ˾ T H I S D AY

MONDAYSPORTS

Inter Milan Win First Italian Serie ATitle in 11 Years Inter Milan have won their first Serie A title in 11 years after second-placed Atalanta drew with Sassuolo.

The Milan giants are 13 points clear after Saturday’s win at Crotonewith four games to go.

Inter finished second to Juventus by a point last season, but Antonio Conte has ended Juve’s run of nine straight titles in his second season in charge.

It is Inter’s first Scudetto since Jose Mourinho won both Serie A and the Champions League in 2010.

The title is Conte’s fourth Serie A title, after winning the league in three consecutive seasons during his spell as manager of Juventus between 2011 and 2014.

He also won the Premier League in his first season at Chelsea in 2017.

When Inter drew 0-0 at

Ajax Clinch Dutch Title with Three Games to Spare Ajax Amsterdam clinched their 35th Dutch league title on Sunday with a 4-0 victory over Emmen.

Jurrien Timber, Sebastien Haller, Davy Klaassen and Devyne Rensch scored for Ajax in a game played in front of empty stands due to anti-Covid measures.

Despite calls from the authorities to avoid gatherings, thousands of fans gathered around the stadium, according to Dutch news agency ANP. Erik Ten Hag’s side hold a 15-point advantage over second-place PSV Eindhoven, who have four matches to play including their game later on Sunday against Heerenveen.

Ajax completed the Dutch double two weeks after beating

Inter’s success has been built on a solid defence with Conte’s favoured 3-5-2 formation leading to just 29 goals conceded in 34 games.

At the top of the pitch, Romelu Lukaku has continued his electric form from last season and his formidable partnership with Lautaro Martinez has delivered 36 league goals so far.

Last summer, Conte splashed £36m on the lightning-quick Achraf Hakimi from Real Madrid and he has chipped in with seven goals

and seven assists from right wing-back.

Conte also raided the Premier League for faded superstars Alexis Sanchez and Christian Eriksen, the latter making his mark recently with crucial goals against Napoliand Crotone.

Even forgotten ex-Man Utd full-back Matteo Darmian has played a key part, cropping up to score winners in tight recent games against Cagliariand Hellas Verona.

Famously relentless, Conte has got the small details right

this season and capitalised on a Juventus team in transition and flaky form from Napoli, AC Milan and Roma.

Indeed, when the former Juventus captain and manager returns to Turin for the penultimate game of the season, it will be as a title winner who has brought glory back to the San Siro - and denied Juve that record 10th successive title.

It is now up to the Old Lady and the rest of Serie A to work out how to stop Conte establishing a new dynasty in this half of Milan.

Vitesse Arnhem 2-1 in the cup final.

No champion was crowned last season, which was halted in early March by the Covid-19 pandemic, with Ajax leading the table.

Ajax announced on Friday they had extended the contract of coach Erik Ten Hag until 2023, ending rumours he was headed to Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga or Tottenham in the Premier League.

“I am happy in Amsterdam and the management have assured me that the current squad will be retained and even strengthened in certain positions,” said the coach who has been at the Johan Cruyjff Arena since 2017.

Ancelotti Laments Everton’s Missed Chance for Europe Challenge Everton manager Carlo Ancelotti said Saturday’s 2-1 Premier League loss to Aston Villa had dented their chances of European football next season and hoped their poor home form would not prove too costly at the end of the season.

Villa’s Anwar El Ghazi fired in a late goal to secure three points after Everton’s Dominic Calvert-Lewin had cancelled out the visiting side’s opener through Ollie Watkins.

The result left Everton, who have won only one of their last 10 league games at home, eighth on 52 points. They trail fourth-placed Chelsea by nine points with five games remaining.

“We lost a big opportunity to stay in the fight,” Italian Ancelotti told the BBC. “We’re still in the fight but with less possibility and more difficulties.

Udinese in January, they were two points behind city rivals AC Milan at the halfway point of the season.

Following that result, they won 11 straight games and cemented their position at the top, comfortably clear of a clutch of other clubs including Conte’s old side Juventus, who were looking for their 10th consecutive title.

With four games to go, they have already matched the number of points (82) that Mourinho needed to win the title in 2010.

“We didn’t start the game as well as this kind of game demands. It was an important game and would have been an important result.”

Everton’s poor home record is a contrast to their away form, with the Merseyside club winning 10 of their 16 matches on the road and losing only three, leaving Ancelotti at a loss to explain the team’s inconsistency.

“It’s unbelievable. It’s difficult to explain why, but it’s true,” Ancelotti added. “... The home run has affected us in the table. I hope it doesn’t affect us in the end.

“The season isn’t finished yet. There are five games and we have to keep fighting. We have important games still - to fight to reach our target.”

Everton visit fifth-placed West Ham United next Sunday.

Inter Milan players celebrating their first Italian topflight league title in 11 years

Arsenal Prepare for Europa Showdown with Win at Newcastle

Arsenal have started their preparation for their Europa League showdown against Villarreal with a confidenceboosting win away to Newcastle at St James’ Park.

Mohamed Elneny scored his first Premier League goal for the Gunners, before Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang - on his first start since 3 April having recovered from malaria - secured the points in the second half.

Arsenal trail 2-1 after the away leg of their semi-final tie with Villarreal and victory in the north east of England was their first in four games.

The Magpies had an excellent April to distance themselves from the bottom three but they struggled to impose themselves on Sunday.

Steve Bruce’s side, who lost

Fabian Schar to a straight red card after a late challenge on Gabriel Martinelli, remain nine points above the relegation zone with four games remaining.

Arsenal, who host Villarreal on Thursday, move back above Aston Villa into ninth place in the table.

Arsenal travelled to Newcastle in need of victory after what manager Mikel Arteta described as a bad week of results before kick-off.

A disappointing draw against relegation-threatened Fulham was followed by defeats at Everton and Villarreal.

But with morale low, the trip to St James’ Park came at the perfect moment.

The Gunners had won their previous six games against the Magpies, keeping five clean sheets

in the process, and they got off to an impressive start.

Elneny was the beneficiary when Aubameyang mistimed his shot, to open his league account on his 66th appearance.

Granit Xhaka also forced Martin Dubravka into an smart save in the first half,

before Aubameyang marked his return to the side with an acrobatic finish after Martinelli’s pin-point cross.

The Gunners’ season now rests on whether they can overturn the deficit against Villarreal to reach a second European final in three years.

Arsenal defeated Newcastle 2-0 yesterday to boost the Gunners showdown with Villarreal in the Europa League this week

Lagos State Boxing Association Holds Reception for its Victorious Edo 2020 Boxers The Lagos State Boxing Association has held a welcome reception for its boxers who were victorious at the recently concluded 20th edition of the National Sports Festival, tagged Edo 2020.

The reception for the team held at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos, on Saturday.

The Lagos State contingent dominated the boxing event of the sports festival, winning five gold, two silver and one bronze medals in Benin City, the Edo State capital.

The victorious boxers are Osoba Abdul-Afeez (team captain), Shittu Afolabi, Dolapo Omole, Olamide Mustapha, Adesodun Michael. Others

include; Blessing Oraekwe, Fatima Aronkomola and Gabriel Francis.

Speaking at the reception, Chairman of LSBA, Jenkins Alumona, congratulated the boxers for putting up a spectacular show and towering above their counterparts from other states by the amount of medals won.

He also commended the boxers for being professional, and representing the state in shining colours throughout the festival. He also lauded the team’s Head Coach, Waidi Sobaloju, and the other coaches for preparing the boxers to success despite being faced with numerous challenges.

Alumona disclosed that in collaboration with the Lagos State Sports Commission, the LSBA has drawn up a plan to keep the state boxers engaged every month rather than waiting for competitions to prepare them.

He said: “What you boxers have done is to set the ball rolling. Working with the Sports Commission, our plan is to change the face of boxing in the state. We are blessed to have a very strong board, people who have shown that they are a team of action, alongside the Sports Commission.

“Moving forward, one thing I can promise you is that we are not going to be waiting for sports festival before we

take action. The technical and planning committee of your board has sent a proposal to the Sports Commission and once it is approved, there is no month you won’t be doing something. Our boxers, we are working very hard for you because you have shown us that with support, you can do very well.”

Alumona, however, tasked the boxers to match the action of the administrators by remaining professional and be of good conduct at all times.

He also disclosed that the package the association has for the boxers will only be revealed after Babajide SanwoOlu, Governor of Lagos State,

hosts the entire Lagos State contingent to the festival.

Also speaking, Chairman of the Lagos State Sports Commission, Sola Aiyepeku, lauded the boxers for their performance at the festival. He also congratulated the coaches and the LSBA for ensuring they prepared the boxing team adequately for the event.

Aiyepeku also disclosed that the commission is already planning for the next sports festival, scheduled to hold next year in Delta State.

“Edo wasn’t easy, we know the circumstances that led to your departure and we all know what happened, but you all did well. With what the

chairman has told me, when we go with our full house next year, we will double the minimum number of the winners here.

So, we are planning for next year already.

“After you have done well for the state, you are still going to do well for the country and, by God’s grace, those of you who want to go forward with a professional career in boxing,” he said.

Aiyepeku also reaffirmed Alumona’s statement that the LSBA has submitted its plans to the commission and lauded the board for being visionary, describing it as a “fantastic”.

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OKEYIKECHUKWU

EDIFYING ELUCIDATIONS

okey.ikechukwu@thisdaylive.com

Thoughts on Obiano’s Airport I

t was an absolute surprise, especially coming immediately after a social media report that it had all been cancelled as a non-viable venture. The timeframe between commencement and completion of the airport project made it to even sound and look like fiction. Yet it was no fiction.

If the very exacting aviation sector was not involved, many would have easily concluded that some “mago-mago” was involved. Like the oil sector, especially off-shore services, the aviation sector has no room for tomfoolery. The risks attendant on any minor error are legion; and sometimes unimaginably disastrous. With that, it is safe to conclude that the Anambra State Government met all the conditions, which are always strictly guided by international best practices, for it to be allowed to land even a house fly on the new five kilometre plus tarmac. As reported, three planes landed on the scheduled day, without any issues.

Two of the planes were heavy duty carriers.

The third aircraft was a private jet. So, let us admit that the governor and the state government must be commended for this remarkable achievement. It is now time for the real work, behind the scenes, that will make the difference in how this airport is seen and rated in the near and distant future.

As an aside, let us note that the idea of an airport in Anambra is not new. It was one of Andy Ubah’s much-vaunted aspirational projects as governor. But it was still-born under his “tenure” as governor, which did not last more than thirty minutes. Years before his misadventure in Awka, he brought a case against the then Governor Peter Obi to the Abuja-based Anambra State Public Officers (and Elders) Forum (ASPOF), of which I was then Secretary General. The venue, or court, where the matter(s) was (were) tabled for adjudication was the residence of ASPOF Chairman, Chief S. N. Okeke; who was also then the Chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSN). Andy, who came along with his brother, Senator Ugochukwu, made an elaborate case about his repeated failed attempts to work with Governor Obi in order to contribute his quota to the development of Anambra State. One of his submissions on that day was about how much effort he had put into the idea of an airport in the state. Ubah spoke as probably no one had ever seen him speak before. In fact, until that day, I did not know he could actually speak non-stop for more than one minute.

The passion and pain in his voice were there for all to see. But then, Obi also had his side of the story. Stalemate! It was an ill-fated reconciliation meeting. The problem was not just the two parties concerned, but the fact that the Ubahs already had the problem of trust in Anambra State and even among those who were desirous of ensuring peace and cessation of hostilities. But back to Anambra Airport.

The major news item for me in Obiano’s remarkable feat here is not just that we are talking about a cargo and passenger airport.

It is also not the fact that the enterprising South-east traders and business community, as well as their partners from within and outside the country, will now be saved the trouble of convoluted journeys and processes

Obiano in the course of doing their businesses. Yes, goods will arrive faster. Yes, the goods will also be in much better condition than one would find them after the repeated handling in Lagos, Cotonou and other points of entry; before they are further worsted by days or weeks of arduous road journey. There is also the fat that the loss of income to businessmen and women due to the merciless extortion on all Nigerian roads by sundry government agencies, as the goods are being conveyed to the South-east from all over the country, will be minimised. The real news is that the airport portends an expansion of the limited economic liberation of sorts for the Eastern Flank of the nation’s commercial divide.

It is also a major step towards prolonging the life of the Lagos-Benin Expressway, in particular. That stretch of road has been the unfortunate victim of axle load abuse. It is simply overwhelmed by traffic, suffocated by an insufferable number of checkpoints and hamstrung by the bloody-mindedness of everything and everyone on the route – all the way from Lagos to the bridgehead at Asaba, Delta State.

As for those who have argued that such an airport is not necessary, given the proximity of the Asaba, Enugu and Owerri Airports,

one only needs to point out the following: (1) The Asaba, Airport is not known to be a cargo airport, and its space configuration says so; (2) The volume of business available in the South-east can sustain even an additional cargo and passenger airport; as the region has the capacity to gobble up everything the airports can throw at it; and much more; (3) The Anambra Airport is within two to three hours of most major markets and state capitals in the Eastern States and the South South; (4) Anyone who takes inventory of the final destination of most goods and passengers travelling into and out of the country will be shocked at the indicators; (5) You may fly from Abuja to Asaba in less than forty minutes and then spend between four and seven hours to cover the short distance from the airport to Awka, if the Onitsha traffic catches up with you; and, finally, (6) The positive multiplier effects, in terms of development of the Anambra hinterland, the hospitality and tourism industries, job creation and much more are also issues to consider. The only note of warning here is for the state government to pay particular attention to security and the logistics of passenger and goods management. These must be gotten right from the start, if things are not to go burst. The other thing to consider is that this airport may make up for the misfortune called the Onitsha River Port.

Recall that, sometime around the middle of March 2017, the World Bank signed an agreement with Sokoto State government, to rebuild an old dam across the Niger. At about the same time, major stakeholders and the South-east business community were also calling for quick government action to make the Onitsha River Port operational. These stakeholders forgot to have a discussion about the most important ingredient for a river port, namely, water. Yes, water! Those who are looking forward to a vibrant port in Onitsha should therefore think of a “water plan”. The dams built across the rivers Niger and Benue, and their tributaries, over the years have reduced the overall water volume of the lower Niger by over 58 per cent. The federal government planned to build another 40 in 2017 alone, to boost dry season farming.

The tiny islands, and unprecedented siltation,

As for those who have argued that such an airport is not necessary, given the proximity of the Asaba, Enugu and Owerri Airports, one only needs to point out the following: (1) The Asaba, Airport is not known to be a cargo airport, and its space configuration says so; (2) The volume of business available in the Southeast can sustain even an additional cargo and passenger airport; as the region has the capacity to gobble up everything the airports can throw at it; and much more

at the Onitsha end of the river were not there before. As for dredging, it will give you a bigger ditch and not necessarily more water. Besides, a bigger ditch will wipe out the means of livelihood of water dependent local economies. The confirmed practice in Norway, of “gating” and later discharging the water to secure enough depth is a good idea but to fill up the place and get enough draught for ship…? Barges, too, will have their own problems on that route.

All things considered, some of the ignored challenges facing the proposed Onitsha River Port, and which brighten the suspected prospects of the Anambra Airport, are: (1) The height and headroom of the new bridge being built across the Niger; (2) River dams along the Niger, Benue and their many tributaries; (3) Unrealistic projections about the prospects of the project; (4) The integrity of some of the existing Environmental Impact Assessment (AIE) reports; (5) politicisation of the economic value of a river port in Onitsha, as against Port Harcourt and Calabar; (6) the game plans of individuals who wish to upgrade their relevance by fighting to secure a vital “federal government project for Ndigbo”, knowing that it will either not work at all or that it will not bring the alleged benefits, and, finally; (7) insecurity along the inland waterways, because Niger Delta militants will confront water vessels making their way through the creeks. We all know that dams, from the experiences of the people of Zamfara and many other communities where dams have been built, that every dam inevitably alters the contiguous ecosystems, ruins food chains and sometimes obliterates local economies. Some Nigerian rivers are now fragments of their former selves. Others have dried up completely, as can be seen when you drive from Enugu, through Anyigba, to Abuja. Does anyone still take a ride on sections of the River Benue that were once used for water transportation? Who drank up the water and created empty water channels and dry rivers with massive bridges between Lokoja and Anyigba, and all over Nigeria?

I am certainly not the one!

To return to the matter at hand, the challenges faced by the Onitsha River which seem to support the optimisms surrounding the Anambra Airport, all of which can be discussed on the platform of plain and verifiable science, stand out in bold relief. The potential gains of a well-managed Anambra Airport in the short, medium and long terms stand it in good stead for commendation at this time.

It is now a finished project and a functioning asset. Thus, arguments about its desirability, its feasibility and its advisability have long lost the chance of getting a hearing. What is on the table at the moment, which should be the issue of genuine concern and efforts, is how to fortify, refine and sustain this bold step. The gain is not in the opening of the airport, but in the collateral gains that will invariably justify the resolve that saw the project through. Now is the state government to bridge all political divides and ensure that for Anambra people are brought together for a common goal. Let “Nke a bu nke anyi” resound in the state, without any political undertones.

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