MONDAY 22ND JUNE 2020

FG Responds as Ghana Demolishes Nigeria’s Diplomatic Building Attack breaches Vienna Convention Ghana vows to punish perpetrators Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja The federal government has demanded an urgent action from Ghana over the attack on the Nigerian High Commission in Accra, the Ghanaian capital.

Armed men had invaded the commission in Accra to supervise the demolition of a building under construction by the high commission.

The attack violates the Vienna Convention on

Diplomatic Relations whose Article 22 regards the premises of a diplomatic mission, such as an embassy, as inviolable and that must not be entered by the host country except by permission of the head of

the mission.

But in a tweet yesterday, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Geoffrey Onyeama, said those responsible for the attack must be brought to book immediately.

Accra, #Ghana, on a residential building in our diplomatic premises by unknown persons in which a bulldozer was used to demolish the building.

According to him, the Nigerian government is currently engaging with the Ghanaian authorities over the incident. “We strongly condemn two outrageous criminal attacks in

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With 436 New Infections, Nigeria's COVID-19 Cases Cross 20,000 Mark... Page 5 Monday 22 June, 2020 Vol 25. No 9205. Price: N250

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PDP Aspirants Resist Pressure to Step down for Edo Governor Wike, Tambuwal, Okowa, Obaseki meet Giadom didn't resign for Rivers election, says NWC member Rivers APC suspends national chairmanship claimant IG deploys riot police personnel in Edo as APC holds primary today Chuks Okocha, Deji Elumoye and Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja, Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City and Ernest Chinwo in Port Harcourt The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is having a tough time in trying to get Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, to emerge unopposed during its primary slated for tomorrow.

THISDAY gathered yesterday that despite sustained pressure on other contenders for the party's governorship ticket for the September election, they had refused to budge.

The three governorship aspirants, Gideon Ikhine, Ogbeide-Ihama and Mr Kenneth Imasuagbon, have Continued on page 9

Lawan Calls for Timeline for Service Chiefs over Insecurity Says president, others will address APC crisis soon

Omololu Ogunmade in Abuja

Senate President Ahmad Lawan yesterday expressed grave concern over the deteriorating security situation in the country, challenging the service chiefs to be alive to

their responsibilities with a timeline given to them to end insecurity.

Lawan's charge to the service chiefs came barely three days after President

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IS LUCKY IGBINEDION THE NEW GODFATHER...?

L-R: Former Governor of Edo State, Mr Lucky Igbinedion; Edo State Deputy Governor, Mr. Philip Shuaibu; Delta State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, and his Edo State counterpart, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, during a meeting of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stakeholders in Benin City... yesterday

Ondo Deputy Gov Quits APC, Joins PDP... Page 5

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NEWS Ondo Deputy Gov Quits APC, Joins PDP Group News Editor Ejiofor Alike

Email Ejiofor.Alike@thisdaylive.com, 08066066268

Drama as police stop Ajayi from leaving Government House Police can't stop imminent mass defection from ruling party, says opposition Chuks Okocha in Abuja and James Sowole in Akure Ondo State Deputy Governor, Mr. Agboola Ajayi, yesterday resigned his membership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and then defected to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

However, a drama preceded his defection as he was barred from leaving his official quarters with some vehicles on Saturday night by a team of policemen, led by the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Bolaji Salami, allegedly at the behest of the Governor, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu.

But the governor yesterday disclaimed the incident, saying he did not instruct Salami to carry out such an assignment.

Tendering his resignation letter at the APC secretariat in Apoi Ward 2, Ese Odo LGA, Ajayi said everybody knew why he left the APC. He later went to the secretariat of the PDP in the ward where he announced his defection to the party and obtained his party membership card.

Earlier, the altercation between the deputy governor and the police had brought to the fore the frosty relationship between him and Akeredolu.

Reacting to the confrontation, the PDP yesterday told the APC and the police to stop fighting a lost battle, as nothing can stop the defection.

The action of the security men against the deputy governor at the entrance of the Government House reached a climax with the arrival of Salami, which led to the exchange of words between them.

THISDAY gathered that Salami was invited when Ajayi rejected explanation by the Chief Security Officer (CSO)

that he could not go out of the Government House with some vehicles reportedly belonging to the government.

The CSO was said to have told the deputy governor to come back yesterday to move his property because it was late as government property has to be separated from those owned by him, including vehicles.

However, Ajayi who was flanked by two members of the state House of Assembly, Mr. Festus Akingbaso and Rasheed Elegbeleye, insisted that he would not leave the gate and go back to his official quarters unless they allow him to leave with his official and personal vehicles.

Ajayi said he wanted to remove his official vehicles out of the Government House because he was no longer secure on the premises.

According to him, suspected political thugs have been detailed to attack him and vandalised his property once he declared for PDP. Ajayi, however, got angry when Salami said the deputy governor could go but not with official vehicles.

He said: “We are not saying you should not go out. Since you are defecting, even your letter was brought to me in my office this evening that you are doing it (defecting) on Monday.

What government is saying is that you cannot go out with official vehicles.�

But the deputy governor said: "Are you not a police officer, a senior security officer? If I am leaving a political party, what is your concern about that? Are you an APC chairman? Are you the PDP chairman? Do you know how many hours I have spent here?

"I don't understand that I cannot move with vehicles officially attached to me. I

With 436 New Infections, Nigeria’s COVID-19 Cases Cross 20,000 Mark 6,879 persons discharged, 518 dead Lagos discharges 45 more patients Martins IďŹ jeh Nigeria has recorded 436 new cases of COVID-19, bringing to 20,244 the number of confirmed infections in the country.

A breakdown yesterday by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) showed that Lagos recorded 169 new cases; Oyo, 52; Plateau, 32; Imo, 29; Kaduna, 28; Ogun, 23; Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and Enugu 18 each; Bauchi, 17; Bayelsa, 14; Rivers, eight; Osun and Kano, six each; Edo and Benue, five each; Adamawa, three; Borno, two; as well as Abia and Ekiti, one each.

It said: "Nigeria had recorded 20,244 confirmed cases of the virus. 6,879 persons have been discharged, while 518 have unfortunately died."

Meanwhile, the Lagos State

Government has discharged 45 additional COVID-19 patients from its isolation centres, bringing to 1,328 the number of successfully treated persons in the state.

Announcing this yesterday, the Incident Commander on COVID-19 and Lagos State, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, said the discharged patients comprised 18 females and 27 males.

He said: "20 were discharged from Gbagada, 12 from the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), nine from Onikan, two from Mainland Infectious Disease Hospital, Yaba and one each from Lekki and Agidingbi isolation centres.

"This brings to 1,328, the number of COVID-19 confirmed cases that have been successfully managed and discharged in Lagos."

personally paid for this vehicle (referring to one of the vehicles) not even government; may be, you don't know.

"That is the reason why you should not have put yourself in this mess; it is totally messy now. Why will the police be used for God’s sake? My brother, let me tell you, you people cannot repeat what happened in 1983 in Ondo State again. And it is unfortunate that they want to use the police to cause this. Ondo State people will resist you with everything with your emperor."

However, reacting to the allegation that the governor was behind the incident, Akeredolu's Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Segun Ajiboye, said the position of the government on the matter was clear.

Ajibiye told THISDAY that nobody said the deputy governor could not go out.

"What the governor said was that he cannot go out of the Government House at

that hour. It was around 12 midnight.

"What the government said was that inventory of everything in the Government House must be taken to separate personal property from government-owned.

"The man was told that he should come back the following day (Sunday) to move his belongings.

Government property has a manager, who will account for everything," he said.

On his part, Salami said the police would not allow the ego and sentiment of any individual to dictate its policing style.

Salami, in a statement by Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Tee -Leo Ikoro, while reacting to a video on the social media on his confrontation with Ajayi, said the command would never allow lawlessness in the state against laid-down policing rules.

The commissioner described the video as an attempt to

foment trouble in the state.

He explained that he only came to the scene when his officers and men could not broker peace between the aides of the governor and that of the deputy governor over the number of cars the deputy governor would drive out at the time.

According to the CP, it is only necessary that his presence at the scene could calm frayed nerves.

He said: "Having listened to the reason for the misunderstanding, I advised both sides to come to terms, a condition they both agreed.

"Though I vowed to police Ondo State and its people with humility, I will not allow the ego and sentiment of any individual dictate what form of policing style I should use."

Police Can't Stop Imminent Mass Defection from APC, Says PDP The PDP has told the APC

and the police that nothing they can do to stop what it described as "the imminent mass defection from the fizzling APC to the PDP." The PDP, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan, said Saturday’s face-off between Ajayi and Salami, allegedly at the behest of APC, had exposed the ruling party as a desperate one.

The PDP said: "The APC is unnerved because Nigerians are no longer ready to stomach the deception and lies of 2015 as well as the impunity, political brigandage and the electoral fraud of 2019."

It said it was therefore a natural national course for democrats in the APC, having realised that the party is in trouble, to leave the APC with their supporters.

The PDP cautioned the police and other security agencies not allow the APC to use them as pawns to fight Nigerians.

SEEKING WAYS FORWARD...

L-R: President of the Senate, Dr. Ahmed Lawan, and President Muhammadu Buhari at a meeting at the State House, Abuja... yesterday

With Buhari’s Directive, Northern Elders Optimistic about Improved Security John Shiklam in Kaduna The Northern Elders Forum (NEF) has expressed optimism about improved security in the country following a recent directive by President Muhammadu Buhari to security chiefs to do more to tackle insecurity.

NEF, in a statement last Sunday, had accused Buhari of failing to tackle insecurity, especially in the North where bandits, Boko Haram and herders have killed hundreds of people and destroyed property worth millions of naira.

But the presidency countered NEF's accusations and described the Convener of the group, Prof. Ango Abdullahi, as a “General without troops.�

However, addressing the security chiefs at a security meeting on Thursday, Buhari told them that their best efforts at tackling the

security challenges were not good enough and that they should up their game.

Reacting to the development, Abdullahi told THISDAY at the weekend that with the recent directive to security chiefs by Buhari, Nigerians would expect an improvement in the security situation in the country.

Abdullahi said Buhari’s directives showed that he appreciated the challenges in the security sector. “This is what we have been complaining about; so, he is reacting positively as far as I am concerned,� he said.

He added that the president’s reaction to the security challenges “is a positive reaction and we look forward to seeing improvement in the nearest future. “We raised the issue of insecurity in the country and he seems to agree that his security chiefs have not done

enough; we are happy that he is asking them to do more and I think that is what the country needs.�

Spokesman of Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), Mr. Emmanuel Yahwe, also told THISDAY that “the ACF is working on an official statement to be issued.�

A coalition of Northern youth groups under the umbrella of Coalition Against Killings In Northern Nigeria (CAKIN) and the Northern Groups Coalition (NGC), last Monday, had asked the federal government to stop the massive killings and raiding of communities in the North by bandits and Boko Haram insurgents.

In separate statements issued in Kaduna, they had also decried the deplorable security situation in the North and demanded the immediate removal of the service chiefs.

The group had called on

Buhari to tackle the situation to stop further killings and destruction of property.

CAKIN, in its statement, had given a 14-day ultimatum to the federal government to stop the killings in the North, warning that it would be left with no option than to mobilise citizens to protest the insecurity.

The group noted that five years into Buhari’s administration, the security situation has continued to escalate, leading to massive killings and destruction.

However, the government responded by arresting and detaining the Chairman of Board of Trustees of the Coalition of Northern Groups, Nastura Ashir Shariff.

He was detained at the Nigeria Police Force Headquarters in Abuja, but was released after two days in detention, following NEF’s intervention.

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NEWS

Analysts Want Banks to Modify Business Model to Beat Headwinds

Obinna Chima

Some financial analysts have stressed the need for banks to alter their revenue models and embrace digital transformation in order to create an entirely new banking experience that meets the demands and expectations of today’s millennial.

This, they said, would enable the financial institutions to remain competitive and maintain their market share.

In addition, they advised investors to avoid promises of fast and high profits from investments offerings that are not regulated, saying fraudsters are preying on investors’ desperation for high rates of returns.

The analysts gave the advice during a virtual investment conference organised by Zedcrest Capital Limited at the weekend.

At the event, the Group

Executive, Treasury and Financial Institutions, First Bank, Mr. Ini Ebong, explained that banks are presently facing challenging times.

He, however, noted that the banks need to alter their business models and adopt measures that would enhance revenue. “So, that model where banks rely traditionally on net-interest income has to change. And we are beginning to see that, even though we are not yet at that point. So, what do we do? As banks, we have try to engender credit growth in the economy. So, we have to keep on providing service offerings and the whole push on digital is critical,�

Ebong said.

The Group Managing Director, Zedcrest Group, Mr. Saheed Amzat, warned against fraudulent investment schemes, which has been on the increase in the economy.

According to him, a decade ago, a large population of Nigerians did not know about treasury bills and all of a sudden it became the only asset class in Nigeria.

"Asset managers became irrelevant as everyone could immediately invest directly in treasury bills just as the government latched on to that and came up with savings programmes. “Today, there are lots of stories around what happened in the 90s in Nigeria, where we had an explosion of alternative asset providers and so-called finance houses coming up with beautiful products and in less than six months to one year, all of that money got lost. People died and some lost their pension and we are beginning to see all that again. “So, the caution is that we should see this year as a bad

year and not a bad life, as long as capital is protected. Now, we are seeing an explosion of investment platforms, we don’t even know the guys behind those platforms. These people are taking advantage of the desperation of investors.

People that were used to treasury bills of 22 per cent yield, now same treasury bills is around one per cent. “So, it is understandable that they are under stress, which is why we the advisers, regulators and industry have to come together to continue to sound caution to everyone because not all that glitters is gold. There is no investment that can guarantee 50 per cent returns in a market where GDP is not growth and risk-free rate is two per cent and negative productivity,� he added.

Partner and Head, Private Wealth,

PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), Esiri Agbeyi, also advised asset managers to come up with investment opportunities given the appetite for businesses to lean towards private equity.

According to her, PwC has projected that by 2020, the country would have $1 trillion assets under management, up from about $293 billion in 2008. That would present an annual growth rate of 9.6 per cent, she said. “Now, with COVID-19, those projections are likely to drop in the interim. But I think they would still pick.

So, there are still opportunities in the market, there are investors who are still looking to invest in this market and there are private equity funds and banks as well that can take advantage of these opportunities, depending on the products that they issue

out and how to issue them,� she added.

Wealth expert and former CEO, RMB Securities, Abiola Adekoya, noted that one of the key things the pandemic has shown is that investors need to be more diversified.

She said: “I did a survey recently and about 50 per cent of the people in that survey had never invested in the Nigerian stock market.

The demography for this was between the mid-20s and mid-30s. Now, the reality is that we are focusing a lot of our attention on the 40s and above, and leaving out the millennials. “These same investors are doing FX trading, they are doing agric business and they are investing in global markets. So, it is the lack of products in the market that is discouraging them from the market,� she stated.

World Bank: Poorest Countries Could Save $12bn Via Debt Relief

Ndubuisi Francis in Abuja

The world’s poorest countries could save over $12 billion owed to sovereign and other creditors this year through their participation in a debtrelief programme, according to estimates published in a new database from the World Bank.

The savings under the COVID-19-linked Debt Service Suspension Initiative (DSSI) is a short-term initiative as it only provides for the suspension of debt payments through the end of the year until a later date but does not cancel them outright.

The World Bank’s Development Committee and the G20 Finance Ministers had in April endorsed the DSSI in response to a call by the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to grant debt-service suspension to the poorest countries to help them manage the severe impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The IMF also in April provided $500 million in grantbased debt service relief to 25 countries, excluding Nigeria, which is not covered under the joint Bank-Fund Debt Sustainability Framework for Low-Income Countries.

However, the Executive Board of the IMF approved Nigeria’s request for emergency financial assistance of $3.4 billion under the Rapid Financing Instrument (RFI) to meet the urgent balance of payment needs stemming from the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The main goal of the DSSI is to allow poor countries to concentrate their resources on fighting the pandemic and safeguarding the lives and livelihoods of the most vulnerable people.

The IMF and the World Bank are supporting the implementation of the DSSI by monitoring spending, enhancing public debt transparency, and ensuring prudent borrowing.

A key objective of the DSSI is to enable an effective crisis response. Borrowers therefore commit to use

freed-up resources to increase social, health, or economic spending in response to the crisis. Beneficiaries also commit to disclose all public sector financial commitments (involving debt and debt-like instruments). Countries granted immediate debt service relief over an initial six-month period on their IMF obligations can now channel more financial resources towards vital COVID-19 emergency medical and other relief efforts.

According to the new World Bank data, under the DSSI, Angola alone could save some $3.4 billion of the estimated $12 billion, with Pakistan, the second-largest saver among eligible DSSI countries saving $2.4 billion, followed by Kenya with $802 million.

Besides each country’s estimated savings, the database includes details on debt owed to multilaterals like IMF as well as on official and non-official bilateral debt disbursed and debt service due per year.

IMF and World Bank officials have warned that the COVID-19 pandemic will hit developing and emerging markets particularly hard given high levels of debt, sharp drops in oil and other commodity prices and insufficient healthcare systems.

The DSSI is backed by the G-20, the World Bank, the IMF and the Paris Club of sovereign lenders.

The database provides a new level of transparency about debts and creditors, including China, which has become one of the largest creditors in Africa and elsewhere over the past two decades.

The Jubilee Debt campaign has estimated the cancellation of poor countries’ debt payments, including to private creditors, would free over $25 billion for the countries this year, or $50 billion if extended through 2021.

The United Nations, many African countries and civil society groups had called for the debt relief to be extended for two years to allow countries to recover more fully from the economic shock of the pandemic.

HOMAGE TO THE KING...

L-R: Chief of Sta to Lagos State Governor, Mr Tayo Ayinde; the queen of Oniru of Iruland, Mrs. Mariyam Lawal; the monarch, Oba Abdulwasiu Omogbolahan Lawal, and Osun State Governor, Mr Gboyega Oyetola, during the visit of the governor to the Oniru palace, in Lagos... yesterday

Nigeria's Polio-free Status Excites Buhari Dedicates new position to Nigerians, partners Omololu Ogunmade in Abuja and Martins IďŹ jeh in Lagos President Muhammadu Buhari at the weekend congratulated Nigerians and thanked all local and international partners on the historic declaration of Nigeria as free of wild polio virus.

Buhari who said their relentless efforts earned Nigeria that feat, described the achievement as the output of the resilient spirit of Nigerians.

The WHO had last Thursday accepted Nigeria's documentation of wild polio virus-free status, which implies the country is no longer among countries with the virus.

According to a statement by presidential spokesman, Malam Garba Shehu, the president hinged the development on the capacity of hardworking men and women in the

health industry whom he said mobilised resources and support from multiple sectors to crush the virus. “This achievement is not only one of the great successes of this generation of Nigerians but also one of the obvious dividends of this administration, which is consistent with our progressive investment in the health of our people since 2015. “This landmark achievement is also a promise kept to all Nigerians. As you will recall that in August 2015, barely three months after we assumed office, I promised Nigerians that: ‘My government shall provide the necessary resources and commitment required to strengthen the health system, routine immunisation and ensure the country is certified polio free.’’ He recalled that in 2016,

the country suffered a major setback in the polio eradication efforts with the outbreak of the wild polio virus in Borno State, after about two years without any case.

He said he had directed the immediate release of N9.8 billion to the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) to contain the outbreak. “Subsequently, we have been meeting all our financial obligations to bilateral and multilateral agreements, and also provided the moral support and leadership required at all levels to motivate the men and women in the frontline of polio eradication. In addition, we sincerely appreciate our donors and development partners who stood by the country during those trying times. “This achievement of polio-

free status is a hard-won battle spanning over three decades of hard work and dedication by the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), the federal, states and local governments, polio eradication team at all levels, our donors and development partners, both local and international. “As we recall, the polio eradication structures were used when Nigeria successfully eradicated Ebola virus disease within the shortest possible time in 2014. I am glad that these same human, material and technological resources have been deployed to steadily increase routine immunisation coverage and are being organised to implement the fight against community transmission of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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PAGE NINE FG DEMANDS ACTION AS GHANAIANS DEMOLISH NIGERIA'S BUILDING “We are engaging the Ghanaian Government and demand urgent action to find the perpetrators and provide adequate protection for Nigerians and their property in Ghana,� the minister tweeted.

The incident came five months after the Ministry of Foreign Affairs denied reports that the Nigerian Commission in Ghana had been evicted in Accra.

In a statement, spokesperson of the ministry, Mr. Ferdinand Nwonye, had said there was no “diplomatic row between Nigeria and the Republic of Ghana.�

Nwonye had said though the lease of the property on No.10 Barnes Road, Accra, had expired, the high commission was exploring the possibility of renewing the agreement with the host authorities.

However, the Ghanaian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration has

condemned the demolition and vowed to bring the perpetrators to book.

In a statement, the ministry promised to bring the perpetrators to book because the demolition breached the Vienna Convention of Diplomatic Relations.

The statement read in part, “It has come to the attention of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration that unidentified individuals had allegedly breached the premises of the Nigerian High Commission in Accra and demolished its property under construction around 10.30a.m., on Friday, June 19, 2020. “ A c c o r d i n g l y, investigations are ongoing to unravel the facts of the matter and bring the perpetrators to book.

Meanwhile, the government of Ghana has beefed up security at the said facility and the situation is under control.�

The Ghanaian government,

while expressing regrets over the incident, assured

the diplomatic community in Ghana and the Nigerian

High Commission that Ghana remains a law-abiding

country that upholds the principle of the rule of law.

BREACHING DIPLOMATIC TERRITORY...

The rubble of the Nigeria High Commission building demolished in Accra, Ghana... at the weekend

LAWAN CALLS FOR TIMELINE FOR SERVICE CHIEFS OVER INSECURITY Muhammadu Buhari had warned the security chiefs that he would no longer condone the worsening security situation in the country.

Answering questions from journalists after a meeting with the president at the State House, Abuja, Lawan said the security situation might have worsened because security agencies did not have enough funds to procure equipment to confront criminals.

According to him, after funds have been released to the security agencies without improvement, they must then be sacked if they fail to resign.

He identified insecurity as the most urgent matter for the federal government to address, adding that the lives of Nigerians are precious and must not be treated with sentiments.

He said: "I think we must tell ourselves the truth, that the security situation in the country, especially in the Northern part of the country, requires that we give much more resources to the security agencies. And those who are heading these agencies, especially the service chiefs, must sit up. In fact, we must have milestones and timelines on how we are going to deal with this. We can’t just go on without any time frame for dealing with these issues.

"If after we provide some support and someone is found short of expectations, he should be shown the way out if he refuses to go because the lives of Nigerians are so precious and therefore must be more important than any other considerations or sentiments. I believe that

today, the most essential thing in government is to address the security challenges."

Lawan explained that he had come to remind the president about what he last discussed with him that whatever it would require must be done to improve security in the country, saying the National Assembly is favourably disposed to approve budget to fight insecurity.

According to him, constitutional provisions are clear that the primary purpose of the government is the security and welfare of the people, adding that the only option the government has is to address security challenges.

"Section 14 sub-section 2b of the Constitution of the Federal Republic

Nigeria is very categorical and crystal clear, that the purpose of government shall be to provide for security and welfare of the people.

Therefore, we have no luxury of any option other than to address the security challenges more than any other thing," he added.

Lawan also said he discussed the festering crisis rocking the All Progressives Congress (APC) with the president, saying he impressed it on him that the crisis must not be allowed to further degenerate.

He said he had a fruitful discussion with him on the crisis, adding that based on the trend of the discussion, certain steps would be taken to address the crisis in the next few days.

"So, I had the opportunity

to discuss that with the president who is the leader of the party in Nigeria and by the grace of God in the next few days, we will see certain actions will be taken and we are praying that all our leaders in the party across the country will make every possible effort to get the party reconciled," he said.

The Senate president stated that the party's constitution must be consulted with a view to addressing the crisis, adding that if the party which controls the government is not stable, the country will not be stable.

"The situation should not, must not be allowed to degenerate further than it has.

And I believe that we must go into the constitution of our party and see how we are to address this but we must not

allow this to continue as it is today because the stability of APC is the stability of Nigeria.

"This is the party that is running the affairs of this country. So, I believe that we have to sort this out and that will make our work even better and easier when we have a stable party because the party is supposed to be part of the apparatus of running government.

"We are supposed to run or operate or implement or execute the manifesto of the party. And therefore, the party is so key, so central, so essential to ensuring that government, whether on the executive or legislative side, continues to face those issues in the manifesto and of course the manifesto will be to make Nigeria better," he added.

insisting that before their sons who are aspirants should step down, they should extract a concrete agreement on this.

Orbih is seen as a political leader in the zone in the capacity of a former Chairman, PDP Board of Trustees, the late Chief Tony Anenih.

Spokesman for the Ikhine Campaign Organisation, Edo Restoration 2020, Tony Okonigene, said in a statement that they had urged their principal to ensure that Obaseki was elected governor on September 19.

Okonigene in a statement, said: “We have advised our principal, Gideon Ikhine, accordingly and he will be making his position known to the public in a press briefing on Monday, June 22, by 12 noon in his campaign headquarters, Benin. “In reaching his decision, Ikhine will take into consideration the overall interest of the party and the future wellbeing of Edo State above his personal ambition.�

Meanwhile, no fewer than 10,000 members of the APC in Igueben Local Government Area of Edo State, on Saturday defected to the PDP to join Obaseki and Shuaibu in the party.

The defectors who are from the 10 wards in Igueben LGA, were received by leaders of the PDP in the LGA. It was gathered that the PDP LGA Chairman, Mr. Liberty Ugboh, while

presenting party membership cards to the defectors, thanked them for their foresight in joining the PDP, and assured them of equal treatment like any bonafide member of the party.

Those who defected from APC to PDP include the Edo State Commissioner for Infrastructure, Mr John Osagie Inegbedion; Executive Chairman Igueben Local Govt, Dr. Josie Ogedegbe ll; member representing Igueben constituency in the Edo State House of Assembly, Hon Ephraim Aluebhosele; Edo State Deputy Chief of Staff, Kingsley Ehijamusor; Eson of Igueben Kingdom, Queen Sarah Eluojierior (SA gender).

PDP ASPIRANTS RESIST PRESSURE TO STEP DOWN FOR EDO GOVERNOR so far rebuffed pressures from leaders of the party for them to step down for Obaseki who formally defected to the party last Friday along with his deputy, Hon. Philip Shuaibu.

Before Obaseki's defection, the PDP had screened and cleared the trio for the primary which was supposed to have been concluded by the weekend.

However, Obaseki's defection, after a series of negotiations with the party leadership, w turned out to be a game changer, which prompted the party to delay the primary by three days.

Ahead of the Tuesday's primary, Obaseki yesterday met with Delta State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa; Chairman of the PDP Governors Forum, Hon. Aminu Tambawul and the Rivers State Governor, Mr. Nyesom Wike, in Port Harcourt to strategise on how to get him the ticket.

It was gathered that a meeting held Saturday night between key leaders of the PDP and the three governorship aspirants ended in a deadlock.

THISDAY gathered that this followed the refusal of Imasuagbon and OgbeideIhama to yield to the pressure being mounted by party leaders and other groups for them to step down for Obaseki.

In furtherance of the bid to persuade the trio to step them for Obaseki, some

governors of PDP-controlled states, led by Okowa, and the party's National Assembly lawmakers arrived in Benin City yesterday, to join forces with the state chapter of the party to persuade the three governorship aspirants, including Ikhine, to step down in the overall interest of the party.

Imasuagbon, in a telephone interview with THISDAY yesterday, vowed not to step down for Obaseki or anybody, stressing that doing so will jeopardise his 16 years’ dream and financial commitment to the governorship project.

Imasuagbon said he expected Obaseki to step down for him considering his years of aspiration, funds and psychological implications such exercise would have caused him. “I cannot step down for Obaseki; he should be the one to step down for me. I am not going to step down for anybody. We have concluded ward and local government congress before Obaseki came.

"Action by those calling for a stepdown must be condemned by all; it is wicked and undemocratic. The military can’t do this; we don’t have democracy in Nigeria, what we have is autocracy.

There is no morality in all this. He (Obaseki) can’t push my dream of 16 years away.

Thank God for the position of Benin monarch, Oba Ewuare 11 who said he needs peace to

prevail and that there should be no godfatherism," he added.

On whether there is pressure coming from eminent personalities, key leaders and elders of the PDP, Imasuagbon said: “Yes, there is pressure from them. But it is not about pressure, but about doing the right thing in line with the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, due process and the Electoral Act. “It is disappointing and a big shame in Edo State and the entire nation and it portends danger for the country and the party. Nigerians should rise up against what is happening.

We are not in the jungle; it is not a do-or-die affair, but about the process. It is totally unacceptable.�

However, when contacted, Ogbeide-Ihama said he was in a meeting and not disposed to making any comment.

On his part, Ikhine said he had resolved to make his position known today.

However, Obaseki yesterday met with Okowa, Tambawul and Wike in Port Harcourt to strategise on the party’s primary.

THISDAY gathered that the main purpose of the meeting was for Wike to prevail on the immediate past Chairman of the PDP in Edo State, Chief Dan Orbih, to prevail on his associates in the governorship race to step down for Obaseki.

Wike and Orbih have very close ties.

A source privy to the

meeting told THISDAY that both Ogbeide-Ihama from Edo South senatorial district and Imasuagbon from Edo Central are Orbih's political associates.

According to the source, it is believed that any pressure from Orbih would help soften the grounds for Obaseki to emerge as the consensus gubernatorial candidate of the PDP in Edo State.

In previous meetings between Obaseki and the aspirants, it was gathered that attempts to make them drop their governorship ambitions fell through.

THISDAY gathered that Imasuagbon and Ikhine demanded a concrete agreement that the governorship slot in 2024 should be a non-negotiable deal and that the PDP Edo Central senatorial district should produce the governorship candidate Edo South has produced Lucky Igbinedion who governed Edo State for two terms of eight years while Edo North produced Obaseki's predecessor, Adams Oshiomhole, who was governor for eight years.

The only time, Edo Central produced the governor of the state was through Prof. Oserheimen Osunbor, whose election was eventually invalidated by the election tribunal that installed Oshiomhole.

This time, the zone is

PDP Raises Committee for Edo Primary The National Working Committee (NWC) of the party has approved the nomination of Bauchi State Governor, Senator Bala Mohammed, as the chairman of the primary committee.

Other members of the committee are the Governor of Oyo State, Mr. Seyi Makinde; the Zamfara State Governor, Mr. Bello Mattawale and Senator Uche Ekwunife.

According to a statement by the National Organising Secretary, Col. Austin Akubundu, Hon. Solomon Bulus Maren is expected to Continued on page 11

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Airlines Oppose Bid to Use Bailout to Establish National Carrier Insist they are ready to resume flights Chinedu Eze Nigeria’s airline operators have kicked against the alleged plan to use part of the money projected for the bailout of the aviation industry to establish a national carrier.

They also restated their readiness for flight resumption, saying that delay in reopening of airports could make the airlines bankrupt and create a vacuum for the justification of the establishment of a national carrier.

These developments were part of the issues raised during a private webinar meeting held by the airline owners at the weekend.

A source privy to the meeting told THISDAY that the airlines explained that they were working with the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) for flight resumption and they have so far met over 75 per cent of requirements to restart operations.

The operators said the

objective of providing palliatives to airlines and aviation agencies would not be actualised if the federal government uses the bailout to pursue the national carrier programme.

The report of the Nigeria’s Economic Stability Plan Committee, headed by the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, had recommended that N27 billion be set aside to support airlines and aviation agencies, which have lost huge revenue since the closure of the nation’s airspace as part of efforts to combat the spread of COVID-19.

The committee noted that the sector has lost 90 per cent of its activities and about N21 billion monthly.

According to the report, the sector therefore needed to be provided with financial support where necessary “to ensure that the sector not just survives, but also sustains air connectivity to keep passenger traffic as well as supply lines for essential and cargo flights open.�

The report also said that

“it is also proposed to fasttrack the establishment of a private sector-driven national carrier to generate revenues and contribute to the GDP, while creating activity in the wider economy for suppliers, importers, exporters and manufacturers.�

But the airline operators listed what the industry needs to include improved airport facilities, aircraft maintenance facility, a leasing company that can make aircraft available for the operators and availability of aviation fuel at relatively lower cost.

Speaking on the issue, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Aero Contractors, Captain Ado Sanusi, told THISDAY at the weekend that what should be critical now is how to ensure the survival of aviation agencies, which have not earned any revenue since the airlines have not been flying.

Sanusi added that the government should also be concerned on how to sustain

the operations of the airlines so that they would not lay off workers and not to start a national carrier.

He, however, noted that he supports a national carrier but the project would need time to actualise. “There is no sincerity of purpose in all these. You gave airlines guidelines for resumption of flights, but you continue to adjust your timeline. The Ministry and PTF (Presidential Task Force) for COVID-19 decided on June 21. No airline gave any date, but if you really want airlines to resume operations, it is expected that you lift inter-state restriction because airlines cannot operate without lifting the restriction,� Sanusi said.

He noted that the national carrier will face the same problem the existing airlines are facing if it is going to operate in the same environment, which he said is characterised by dilapidated airport infrastructure, high

cost of aviation fuel, absence of local maintenance facilities and other challenges. “If the national carrier will operate in the same environment, it will face the same challenge. I don’t see the national carrier doing better.

It may have more money and support from government, but those advantages will just enable it to last a little longer before it goes under," he stated.

The CEO of Top Brass Aviation Limited, Captain Roland Iyayi, told THISDAY that he did not support the national carrier because it would not support the immediate challenges facing the aviation sector.

He said the national carrier was not key to success as many of such airlines were not doing well globally.

On bailout, Iyayi said instead of giving cash to the airlines, the federal government should make aviation fuel available at cheaper cost, give airlines 24

months tax waiver, including landing and parking charges, and use the bailout to support aviation agencies, which have not been earning revenues since airlines stopped flying. “It will also be good if government can give airlines the money as grants with longterm, single-digit interest rate.

But some airlines just wanted cash, which I disagree with. I have also disagreed with the Minister of Aviation over the plan to set up a national carrier because I know it will not solve the immediate problem of air transport in the country. The minister wants to bring in 10 aircraft from Qatar Airways; but it will still face the problem other airlines in the country are facing; unless there is no level playing field. Government needs to dismantle the fuel marketers’ cartel, which sells aviation fuel at fixed prices not determined by market forces.

In that way cost of aviation fuel will become cheaper for airlines,� Iyayi said.

the party shall commence at 8 am on Monday, June 2020, at the various wards in all the local government with strict compliance with Edo State's extant law prohibiting gathering of more than twenty persons. “Not more than 18 persons, including presiding officers and Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) observers shall be at ward voting centre at any point in time “There shall be simultaneous accreditation and voting in batches as aforesaid until all eligible members have cast their vote without violation of the state's Covid-19 regulations.

"Not more than 18 persons shall be in attendance for the announcement of results at all ward centres and collation of results at all levels, including the state collation."

who refused to disclose the number of policemen, said the deployment was to ensure a peaceful primary.

Similarly, the Head, Public Relations, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Edo State Command, Mr. Efosa Ogbebor, said the command would deploy armed and unarmed personnel for the primary without stating the number being deployed.

PDP ASPIRANTS RESIST PRESSURE TO STEP DOWN FOR EDO GOVERNOR serve as the secretary of the committee The statement said that they would serve on the gubernatorial electoral committee.

The committee is to conduct the primary that will elect the party's candidate for the upcoming 2020 governorship election in Edo State.

Giadom Didn't Resign for Rivers Election, Says NWC Member The North-east National Vice Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Salihu Mustapha, has faulted claims by the National Vice Chairman (South-south) of the party, Mr. Hilliard Etta, that the Deputy National Secretary, Chief Victor Giadom, resigned to vie to be the running mate in the 2019 governorship election in Rivers State.

Mustapha told journalists yesterday that on September 14, 2018, Giadom was granted a waiver by the NWC in a letter signed by the APC National Chairman, Mr. Adams Oshiomhole.

A copy of the letter made available to journalists read: "I am pleased to convey the decision of the NWC to unanimously approve your application for waiver under Article 31 of the constitutionof our party.

"By the decision of the NWC to grant your application for waiver, you can continue to discharge your official duties as the Deputy National Secretary while pursuing your political campaign activities. On behalf of NWC please accept our best wishes."

According to Mustapha, "the deputy national secretary did not resign his position but was

given a waiver to contest the deputy governorship election in Rivers State."

He wondered why Giadom would have been allowed to carry out party functions and had been paid all the while if he had actually resigned.

Mustapha said Giadom was not the first national party official to be granted waiver to contest an election, adding that a former National Auditor, Chief George Moghalu, and a former National Secretary, Mai Mala Buni, were all granted waivers to contest governorship elections in their states.

Mustapha added: "Just like Giadom, Chief Moghalu came back as National Auditor when he lost the primary election of the party in Anambra State."

On the replacement of Giadom with Mr. Worgu Boms, Mustapha said it had no place in law and vowed to resist it same way he resisted attempts to oust the national publicity secretary and the national organising secretary.

"I know some of my colleagues will not be happy with this submission, but this is how I am built. I will not be a party to any injustice irrespective of who it's meted out to. The same way I didn't support the ousting of the national organising secretary and the publicity secretary.

I will not accept that of Mr. Victor. We are all colleagues we should be more focused on reconciliation and not baseless witchhunt," he stated.

Mustapha said the party, through a letter written to Giadom by the Director of Administration, Abdullahi Yusuf Gashu'a, on May 24, 2019, accepted his resumption of office after the election.

The resumption letter signed by the former Director

of Administration read: "Resumption of office as Acting National Secretary: "I write to convey the resolution by the National Working Committee reached at its 37 regular meeting of 24 May, 2019 accepting your request to resume office following the conclusion of the 2019 general elections, which you were granted waiver to contest as governorship running mate for Rivers State.

"The NWC has also approved your resumption as the National Secretary in acting capacity in line with Article 14.4 of the Constitution of our great party pending the election of a substantive National Secretary.

"Please accept the assurances of the members of the National Working Committee."

However, Etta said notwithstanding Mustapha's position, the ruling party's guidelines stipulated that anyone going to contest an election must resign.

He said: "I'm saying that if it was done, it was done in errors. It is a human organisation, it is susceptible to error. If as acting national chairman I have discovered that errors were made, I have to correct them.

"If Chief Victor Giadom feels very bad or very strongly about the resolution of the NWC, of course, like he is always doing, like his likes are always doing, he can proceed to court, but that is the resolution of the NWC."

Rivers APC Suspends Giadom The APC in Rivers State has suspended Giadom for alleged anti-party activities.

A statement by Livingstone Wechie, Media Adviser to the

Rivers State Acting Chairman of APC, Hon. Igo Aguma, said a fact-finding committee of the party recommended Gaidom's suspension from the party.

The statement said the committee recommended "that Hon. Victor Giadom be immediately suspended from the party and every party activities for his numerous infractions of the party constitution and conduct, which have brought the party irredeemable disrepute."

"The committee report which was presented to our state Executive Committee meeting was accepted and adopted as the position of the APC in Rivers State.

"That Hon. Victor Giadom should immediately write a letter of apology to the party and same should be published in three national newspapers," he added.

Edo Accuses APC of Violating COVID-19 Regulations

The Edo State Governorship Primary Election Committee of APC, headed by Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State, has released procedures for today's primary to make it comply with the state government’s COVID-19 regulations.

The committee, in a statement by its Secretary, Dr. Ajibola Basiru, said voting would commence simultaneously by 8am at the 192 wards in the state, and not more than 18 persons would be allowed to gather at the same time from the commencement of voting till the end of the exercise when results would be announced.

He said: “The process of election of the candidate of

To ensure a hitch-free conduct of the governorship primary of the APC in Edo State today, the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Adamu, has deployed riot policemen from Delta and Bayelsa States in Edo State.

The deployment was on the request of the state Commissioner of Police, Johnson Kokumo, according to the Edo State Police Command Public Relations Officer, Chidi Nwabuzor, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP).

According to Nwabuzor, the state has received two detachments of policemen from Delta and Bayelsa States, noting that some were already in Benin City while others are being expected today.

The Edo Police PPRO

However, the Edo State Government has reiterated its resolve to enforce the laws and regulations emplaced to prevent the spread of COVID-19, charging political parties to restrict the conduct of their primary within the protocols and provisions of the state's COVID-19 Quarantine Regulations and Gazette on political gatherings.

The Secretary to the State Government, Osarodion Ogie, in a statement, noted that the state would spare no expense in upholding the law and protecting the lives of the people.

He noted that the APC was acting in defiance of the law.

"However, we note with concern that all the political parties conducting primary elections in Edo State have notified the government of their readiness to comply with the extant laws and COVID-19 regulations, except the APC. "The APC appears resolved to carry on with the conduct of their primary in violation of the Edo State COVID-19 Quarantine Regulations and the state government's gazette on political gatherings in a pandemic," he said.

acknowledged the contributions of traditional and religious leaders who mobilised communities to accept immunisation and other government programmes. “The final theatre of the polio

eradication fight was particularly championed by the Northern Traditional Leaders Committee on Polio Eradication and Primary Health Care (NTLC) under the guidance of His Highness, Sultan of Sokoto,

Muhammad Saad Abubakar, and strategic leadership of the late Shehu of Bama, Alhaji Kyari Ibn Umar El-Kanemi. “We thank you all for the leadership and partnership over the years,� the president said.

Edo APC Governorship Primary C'ttee Releases Guidelines

IG Deploys Riot Policemen from Delta, Bayelsa

NIGERIA'S POLIO-FREE STATUS EXCITES BUHARI “This big battle would not have been won without the support of our donors and development partners, including Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Aliko Dangote Foundation, Rotary

International, United States Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, USAID, Sir Emeka Offor Foundation, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), European Union, Global Health Canada, German

Development Bank (KfW), WHO, UNICEF, Nigeria Governor’s Forum, Polio Survivors Group, the media, faith-based and other nongovernmental organisations.’’ The president also

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NEWS

One Kidnapper Shot Dead as Gunmen Kill 14 in FCT, Zamafara Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has shot dead a kidnapper as abductors killed their three victims, while armed robbers killed one person in Abuja at the weekend.

Also gunmen have also killed at least 10 people when they attacked Ruwan-Tofa community in Dansadau district of Maru Local Government Area of Zamfara State.

The FCT police command said it has launched a manhunt for the fleeing killers of the four residents of the FCT. Three of the victims were kidnapped by unknown gunmen from Yambabu community in Kwali Area Council on June 20, 2020 at about 2130hrs while a robbery gang shot one Sunday Ike on the head and robbed him of his light blue Toyota Camry car with registration number BS 286 KWL in the Gwarinpa District of Abuja.

Giving an update on the killings, the FCT Police spokesman, DSP Anjuguri Manzah, said the victims

abducted in Kwali Area Council were later killed by the kidnappers while one of the abductors was shot dead during a fierce exchange of fire.

“It is unfortunate that the three victims were killed by their abductors. However, one of the abductors was killed during an exchange of gun fire. The command is still on the trail of the assailants”, he said.

The FCT Police Command has also launched a massive manhunt to arrest the unidentified gunmen who shot one Sunday Ike on the head and robbed him of his light blue Toyota Camry car with registration number BS 286 KWL in Gwarinpa.

The incident occurred on June 19, 2020 at about 2300hrs at the victim’s shop located at 3rd avenue in Gwarinpa.

Police operatives who responded to a distress call on the incident rushed the victim to the Federal Medical Centre, Jabi, where he was later certified dead by medical doctors.

While commiserating with the family and friends of the

FG Gives Oil Workers Thursday Deadline to Register on IPPIS PENGASSAN, NUPENG kick SSANU, NASU issue 14-day strike notice Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja In a renewed effort aimed at getting all workers in its employment to enroll on the Integrated Personnel and Payroll System (IPPIS), the federal government has issued a fresh directive to all staff of ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) to enroll on the scheme on or before Thursday, June 18, 2020.

The latest directive by the federal government was extended to agencies not formerly captured by the salary platform, including departments and agencies in the oil and gas sector.

The two unions in the oil and gas sector, Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) and the National Union of Petroleum and Gas Workers (NUPENG), confirmed the deadline in their protest letter to the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Mr. Timipre Sylva at the weekend.

The unions said that their members would not register on IPPIS until the issues relating to peculiarities in the oil and gas sector are sorted out.

“We are in receipt of a copy of a directive from the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation directing federal ministries, departments and agencies to enroll on IPPIS on or before Thursday, June 18, 2020, threatening to stop further release of personnel cost if the directive is ignored. “ Please be informed that the association/union’s apprehension about IPPIS stems from the fact that it discountenances the peculiarities of the oil and gas industry, with regard to the collective bargaining agreement and approved pay structure between the unions and federal government through the Income, Salaries and Wages Commission.

The unions kicked against the directive by the Accountant General, insisting that its members would not comply with directive on the enrollment into IPPIS. In a protest letter written to the Minister of State for Petroleum

by PENGASSAN and NUPENG, the unions said that they were surprised that the Accountant General is ignoring the existing payment platform, Government Integrated Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS).

“We reiterate that industrial peace in the sector cannot be guaranteed if the salaries of our members are stopped or if the implementation is carried out unilaterally without our input,” it said.

The two unions said they are expecting the minister to use his good offices to prevail on the Accountant General not to implement the directive on the enrollment into IPPIS until the issued around it are amicably resolved PENGASSAN’s General Secretary, Comrade Lumumba Okugbawa and NUPENG’s General Secretary, Comrade Okaleye Afolabi jointly signed the protest letter.

In a related development, the members of the Senior Staff Association of Universities (SSANU) and Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities and Associated Institutions (NASU) have threatened to go on strike if after 24 days the federal government is unable to correct the anomalies created by IPPIS. The Joint Action Committee (JAC) comprising of SSANU and the Non-NASU, has said that the government does not need to call for a meeting before it pays members their full salaries and release their payment slips.

deceased, the Commissioner of Police FCT, Bala Ciroma, assured FCT residents that the perpetrators of the heinous act will be arrested and brought to justice.

He also encouraged members of the public to support the police with useful information that could lead to the arrest of the assailants, who are presently on the run.

While restating its commitment to the protection of lives and property in the FCT, “the Command wants to state that its goal in the ongoing operation is to rescue the victims

and arrest the persons behind the criminal act.

“Those with useful information about the assailants can contact any of the following FCT Police Command Control Room numbers: 08032003913, 08061581938, 07057337653, or 08028940883” In another development, gunmen have also killed at least 10 people when they attacked Ruwan-Tofa community in Dansadau district of Maru LGA of Zamfara State.

The police spokesperson in the state, Mohammed Shehu, said 10

people were killed in the attack.

He also said security agencies are working with the state government to maintain peace in the state.

The attackers numbering about 200 stormed the community on over 100 motorcycles shooting sporadically and killing people at will.

They also stole hundreds of livestock, the residents said asking not to be named for security reasons.

The attack at the weekend occurred around 6p.m.

Shehu in a statement after the

attack, said in an effort to stem the tide of criminal activities especially unrepentant bandits who refused to embrace the culture of peace in the state, the state government in concert with state police command led by Usman Nagogo and the Commanding Officer of 1 Brigade, Nigerian Army, Gusau, Brigadier General O M Bello have constituted and deployed a joint operational squad compromising the police, Army and civil defence to Bindin district of Maru LGA.

COMMEMORATING WORLD REFUGEE DAY...

Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum (left), and Federal Commissioner, National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI), Senator Basheer Garba Mohammed, when the governor paid a visit to the commission’s office in Abuja...recently

Resident Doctors Suspend Strike after Eight Days The National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has suspended its nationwide strike.

President of NARD, Dr. Aliyu Sokomba, said in a statement issued yesterday that the suspension of strike would take effect from today (Monday).

The statement is coming after the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) said the doctors have had agreed to suspend their strike.

Sokomba said the National Executive Council (NEC) of the association decided to suspend the strike to give the federal and

state governments an opportunity to meet their demands.

“The NEC acknowledges the provision of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to some hospitals. However these PPE are consumables and non-reusable, therefore the need for sustained

supply,” Sokomba said.

“The medical residency training funding has been included in the revised 2020 budget through the intervention of the Hon. Speaker, House of Representative and will be implemented as soon as the budget is assented to by the president.”

Nigerians Willing to Pay for Electricity, Says Osinbajo Vice President Yemi Osinbajo yesterday said Nigerians are willing to pay for electricity only if the services they receive from the distribution companies are constant and better.

Speaking during a webinar on “Economic Sustainability Beyond COVID-19,” organised

by Emmanuel Chapel, the vice president said it is not true that Nigerians do not want to pay more for power but that they have been unhappy with the poor service over the years.

Reacting to a question posed by the former Emir of Kano, His Royal Highness, Muhammad Sanusi II, the vice president said,

“Just to comment on the point you made and I have alluded to it that income elasticity is more important for persons living in the rural area and for the poor who need to have electricity for whatever means of livelihood they have.

“What we have discovered especially as we have worked with private sector to deploy solar power in different parts of the country is exactly the point you have made.

“For example, in Wuna, a village which is just outside Abuja, they never had light until a private company provided solar power there; what they pay on average for their power is well in excess

of the N37 per unit that we pay for power of the grid.

“There is no question at all and Turankawa in Sokoto pay almost N100; so, from many of the areas where we have been it is evident that this business of people not willing to pay for power is not true at all; as a matter of fact the reason why there is such great resistance is really the service level.

“Most people are used to poor service; so, they just see every tariff increase as injustice because they are getting poor service but are asked to pay more but where service is guaranteed people have been prepared to pay.

“This we have seen in Sabon

Gari market in Kano; we have seen this in Ariaria market (in Aba) and in Sura market (in Lagos) and in so many different parts of the country. So, I do think the question really is one of service; there must be a way of guaranteeing service in exchange for tariff increase, which is really the point we have made with the Discos and in truth the Discos are negotiating already with several of their clusters; the easiest of course are with industries but there isn’t much negotiations anyway because they are already some sort of cost effective tariff for the preferential treatment that they get.”

Two Dead in Tanker Explosion on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway Peter Uzoho No fewer than two persons were killed and several others injured yesterday in an explosion involving four vehicles at the Kara Bridge along the LagosIbadan Expressway.

The accident involved two petrol tankers, a gas truck, and a cement transport truck Lagos State Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Mr. Olusegun Ogungbemide, said rescue

operations had so far found two dead bodies.

“The inferno as a result of the explosion is almost getting to an end. The fire services are still here from Lagos and Ogun states.

“So far, we have been able to move two casualties to the General Hospital Gbagada. One was burnt beyond recognition.

“The accident involved three tankers and one truck. Two of the tankers carrying petrol, another carrying gas, and an articulated truck,” he said.

Ogungbemide said: “It was a loss of control. One of the tankers that rammed into other vehicles either had brake failure or got distracted. The investigation is still on, we can’t just be accurate now,” he said.

The Director-General of the Lagos State Emergency Agency, Dr. Olufemi OkeOsanyintolu, said the fire has been put out.

“However, the valve on the truck is still leaky with gas.

The inferno from other trucks

has also been curtailed. The inferno was completely put out at 10:03 am by the combined effort of Tiger team, LRU Fire, LASG Fire Service, Federal Fire Service, and Ogun State Fire service.

He said: “Recovery of the burnt trucks ongoing with use of the agency’s heavy-duty equipment,” Meanwhile, FRSC has said the fresh fire delayed the reopening of the out-bound Lagos lane for motorists

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

DECLARING AFRICA POLIO-FREE

It is a just reward for the efforts of health officials, writes Ademola Oshodi

T

he welcome news of the World Health Organization’s declaration of Nigeria as polio-free is a fitting and deserved gift not only to Nigeria but the African continent as a whole. It is a just reward for the tireless efforts of our public health officials and our global partners. It marks a great achievement in the public health history of our nation.

No longer will our youth suffer and be stricken with this crippling scourge amid the concern over Covid-19, this is evidence that we can overcome further health challenge as long as we remain committed and resolute.

In 1988, the World Health Assembly adopted a resolution for the worldwide eradication of polio. The World Health Assembly was a gathering spearheaded by national governments, the World Health Organization (WHO), Rotary International, the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), UNICEF, and later joined by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance.

It was at this 1988 gathering that the Global Polio Eradication Initiative was launched, an aggressive, and concerted global fight against polio.

Since the passage of this resolution, wild poliovirus cases have decreased by over 99%. In 1988, an estimated 350 000 cases were recorded in more than 125 countries. More than 50% of the cases were in Africa. By 2019, only 175 cases were reported. In 2019, the WHO declared polio was no longer endemic in Nigeria, meaning we had not recorded any case since August 2016, the mandatory three years period.

It is gratifying that the certification of Nigeria as polio-free has come at a time the world is battling the Coronavirus pandemic. This milestone is symbolic of the responsible spirit of the Nigerian and is crowning evidence

THE COMBINED EFFORTS OF OUR HEALTH PROFESSIONALS COMPLEMENTED BY ROTARY INTERNATIONAL AND THE BILL AND MELINDA GATES FOUNDATION AS WELL AS OTHER LOCAL AND INTERNATIONAL PARTNERS MUST BE COMMENDED

of the federal government’s dedication and commitment to the eradication of polio. The stage is now set for Africa to be certified totally polio-free. With this year’s commemoration of World Polio Day scheduled for October 24, it is important to highlight the successes Nigerian has recorded in fighting poliomyelitis. This is poignant more so because Nigeria, after South Sudan, was the penultimate country in Africa where polio cases were last reported in 2016.

The combined efforts of our health professionals complemented by Rotary International and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation as well as other local and international partners must be commended. Their support ensured that Nigeria did not record any cases for three consecutive years. Their advocacy for and prudent vaccination of children especially in the north of Nigeria has brought Africa to the threshold of being polio-free.

This will make Africa the fifth region out six to reach this desirable objective.

All efforts must be made to assist the two remaining countries where breakout persists, Afghanistan and Pakistan. These countries are experiencing civil strife in remote regions which complicates attempts at eradication.

Nigeria should use its experience to advise and help guide these nations towards eradication.

Despite the Nigerian milestone, we must not drop our guard. We must ensure that the country continues to protect every young child by providing vaccination against the poliovirus in order to prevent any future resurgence of polio. Heartfelt congratulations are due to everyone that has made this feat possible. We may now mark this day as a special day in Nigerian history, the day we rid ourselves of polio!

Oshodi is Special Assistant to Asiwaju Tinubu

LEADING NNPC AMID A PANDEMIC NaďŹ sat Bolade argues that the leadership has been remarkable

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f there is a sector in storming waters, it is the oil and gas where the pandemic is wreaking shocking havoc. Top officials throughout month of April and May must have lost the number of times they checked their blood pressure. With storage tanks filled up worldwide and thousands of stranded ships on seas, leading an oil giant, the heartbeat of Nigeria, the Nigerian National Petroluem Corporation( NNPC), in COVID-19 era, tasks the ingenuity of oil chiefs. If there is an opportunity for performance review, no time is apt than when disruption struck without magic spells for escape.

While joining the oil sector to mourn the exit of Maikanti Baru, the generalismo who today’ oil sector leaders called their mentor and boss, it won’t be out of place to take liberty in assessing Nigeria’s response to the pandemic. First note that this is an extraordinary assault that hit the oil industry so deeply that oil majors which made $2.47trillion in 2019 faces a 40 percent decline from a pre-pandemic projection of $2.35 trillion to $1.47 trillion for 2020, according to a Bloomberg report. All over the world, the industry was brought to its knees.

Royal Dutch Shell Plc Chief Executive Officer Ben van Beurden said, “There will be changes, and therefore we have to be ready for that. That means that we probably have to re-establish what is going to be our strategy.� Darrenn woods of Exon Mobil put it this way: “This is an unprecedented environment�. Mele Kyari, (some called him Comrade) in his response repeated the line of unprecedentedness of the crisis. The NNPC Group Managing Director and the Petroleum Minister, Timpreye Silva reaped from the duo’s early bonding which served the sector well during the height of the oil meltdown.

How appropriate is the pandemic era policy choices of the NNPC leadership?

Beyond all those expert jargons from the sector, for the citizenry and the general stakeholders, can we honestly grant Comrade Kyari a pass mark? Let me list the basis

of my opinion which I will give shortly. As a young lady, the past of the sector matters but her present and future are more critical to me and my generation. Beyond the rot of the past, I want to see corrective policy measures instituted to create a transparently managed and responsibly run oil sector. A friend who read this piece asked where I place the issue of trust in our leaders. My response is I judge them by what they do.

So let me judge the NNPC chiefs, from the head to the subsidiaries, by what they are doing. In time of crisis, panic mood may ignite wrong decisions. Let me put it on record that Kyari and his team made a strategically correct decision not to stop oil production at the peak of the crisis. At a time Nigerian oil tankers were stranded on international waters without buyers, the GMD said the cost of stopping and restarting production will be too much, hence the need to continue production. That was a first plus as the judgement is validated by gradual easing within a month at the international market.

The second side of the response was the most citizen centred. The NNPC is at this point responding to long held demands of Nigerians with respect to the oil sector. The pandemic presents a golden opportunity to introduce fundamental reforms which were unthinkable pre-pandemic. In recent weeks, policy pronouncements from the sector left many wondering what has changed.

Is this the same NNPC we know? I am not referring to the donation of N11 billion to the anti-coronavirus campaign by the NNPC and oil firms across the sector. Even here, support was in kind such as provision of medical consumables; deployment of logistics/in-patient support system and delivery of medical infrastructure, covering testing kits, medical protective suits and ambulances to the highly impacted areas. No cash to steal.

We all know the controversial fuel subsidy.

It is now history. I agree it is long overdue but now ,we have it. According to the GMD, Nigeria would no longer be paying for under-recovery or subsidy on petrol,

especially due to the current development in the global oil sector. Market forces will now be the driving force, freeing much needed resources for infrastructure, education, health, among others. Now the corporation should engage marketers on the new direction.

Relatedly, the high cost of oil production has taken the center stage. From the top of the corporation was an unambiguous admission that Nigeria has the highest production cost in the world. This must come down drastically. But how? Powerful interests are opposed to such reforms. And because of our anger with past mismanagement, we are failing to provide the necessary support for Kyari and his team to push this reform through. This is a challenge to the civil society organisations. Let support the drive to bring down the cost. Powerful forces are bent on fleecing the country through unsustainable production cost. So beyond fuel subsidy well known to the public as corruption conduit-pipe, there is now the production cost. Mallam Kyari pointedly explained this challenge in several interviews.

What other responses addressed the yearnings of the citizenry? Let me list those I noticed too. The focus on gas development is receiving accelerated attention which is tied to the resolution of power supply crisis in the country. So new gas pipelines are underway like crossing the River Niger and eventually producing enough gas for the power plants while extending gas supply for domestic use. By the way, domestic gas availability is considered the best solution to kerosene shortage crisis in the country.

Equally noticeable is the new plan on the refineries. I am not referring to the Dangote mega-refinery. In the past, refinery maintenance contract is widely condemned by rights organisations as the nation has so far failed to revive the refineries and satisfy local PMS needs. A new model is now in place. Kyari has introduced an operate and maintain contract with private firms once ongoing rehabilitation are completed. This is a new approach. Will it work? I guess we

should try something new since past model had failed us.

Then there is the vexed question of pipeline vandalism and oil theft. This is still an intractable problem relating to law and order. Successes recorded are dwarfed by the increasing sophistication of the perpetrators.

Some however think Kyari should be as hard on that theft cabal as he is on the oil production caucus. Others also think he should lean more on technology for pipeline monitoring. Those inside said a lot is being done in those areas. But we are Nigerians.

And as our people say, seeing is believing.

The last area is oil exploration in the North. Honestly, I dont believe the exercise is a waste. Some discoveries have been made and I even condemned the failure of Nigeria to push the exploration long before now.

The exercise should continue unabated. That will increase Nigerian oil reserve, reset how southerners see northerners and in the long run increase national wealth. Remember oil will be with us for long despite our urge for climate control and mitigation.

So much for NNPC during pandemic. Let me drop some personal views. If so much is being commendably done on structural issues within the sector, the leadership should pay close attention to inclusiveness no matter how touchy the matter may be.

Secondly, the management needs to handle the several cases of disputed marginal fields diplomatically. These two areas are imperative to match what my friend, Maxwell called “establishment revolution� under Kyari and Silva.

Somebody is still waiting for my judgement of the leadership response. Well, I am elated by happenings in that sector.

The policy outings are encouraging. But let Comrade Kyari push harder. The trust deficit is still deep and let the citizenry support the battle ongoing from within to make the NNPC a truly accountable and transparently run company.

Bolade, a staff of Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry, wrote from Abuja

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T H I S D AY ˾ MONDAY, JUNE 22, 2020

EDITORIAL FINALLY, NIGERIA KICKS OUT POLIO...

It is an important milestone

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n one of those rare moments of good news about our country, the World Health Organisation (WHO) at the weekend declared that Nigeria has completed documentation for Wild Polio virus free status, adding, “It is a historic day for Nigeria, Africa and the Global Polio Programme.’’

This is worth celebrating because stopping polio will save hundreds of thousands of children in the country from lifelong paralysis or death. It is also gratifying that Africa is now certified free of the crippling disease. But we hasten to add that Nigeria got this far a few years ago before two cases were detected in Borno State, thereby reversing the gain already made. But this is an important milestone.

Polio is an infectious disease caused by a virus which invades the nervous system and often causes irreversible paralysis. It can strike at any age but mainly affects children under five. In 2008 there were 803 confirmed polio cases which represented a whopping 85 per cent in Africa. By the following year the number came down to 388. As of March 2010, the country reported only one. While there is no known cure for polio, it can THE HEROES OF THIS be prevented through ACHIEVEMENT ARE THE vaccination. Yet as ‘ARMIES’ OF VACCINATORS, long as a single child COMMUNITY MOBILISERS, remains infected with polio, children all TRADITIONAL AND over the world are at RELIGIOUS LEADERS, risk.

PARENTS AND Specifically, the CAREGIVERS achievements can be linked with a number of strategic approaches in healthcare delivery as well as strong investment by the federal government and other stakeholders.

Other approaches include establishment of health camps in high risk and under-served areas to help build trust and deliver other health services alongside polio vaccination; engagement of female voluntary community mobilisers (VCMs), who are delivering the polio vaccine and other critical health interventions to mothers and children in some of the hardest-to-reach

areas of the country. Health workers, traditional healers, teachers and other community members have also been trained to identify potential cases of the virus and make sure any suspected polio cases are reported. There are also officers who conduct regular surveillance of sewage and other samples to test for the presence of the virus in the environment.

T 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

he current efforts date back to 1996, following reports that polio virus had paralysed more than 75,000 children across the African continent.

That year, the late South African President, Nelson Mandela, launched a campaign, ‘Kick Polio Out of Africa’, marking the beginning of a unique, crosssectoral and cross-continental movement to protect all children from paralysis.

While we must commend President Muhammadu Buhari for building on the efforts of previous governments, there is a need to do more. All officials must roll up their sleeves to ensure we do not see polio again in our country. State governors across the country, especially in the high-risk states should take the lead with their local government officials in every community, particularly in Borno and adjourning states in northern Nigeria. Since a threat of polio in any state is a threat to all Nigerian children, routine immunisation must be intensified. There is also need for sustained accountability at the national, state and local government levels to ensure the Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV) reaches every eligible child in the country.

The heroes of this achievement are the ‘armies’ of vaccinators, community mobilisers, traditional and religious leaders, parents and caregivers who have supported polio and other immunisation efforts for more than a decade, despite the challenges in implementation. We salute the efforts of the Dangote Foundation, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Rotary International and private citizens like Sir Emeka Offor who provided resources to fight polio.

Now that our country has been certified as having kicked out polio, we hope that future generations of Nigerians are free from this debilitating disease.

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The Meaning Of Buhari’s Agricultural Drive

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ne aspect of our national life in which all hues of Nigerians cannot deny or ignore the success of the Muhammadu Buhari-led federal government is the huge, critical and vital field of agriculture.

As a leader who knows the country sufficiently enough to give it appropriate focus, and being aware of where the shoes pinch many citizens, President Buhari promised to steer Nigeria toward a sustainable self-reliance in food supply for the nearly 200 million Nigerians that no leader can afford to see go hungry.

This is particularly apt in a country with sufficient arable land, abundant water resources and a resilient population that always amazes the world by its ingenuity in all areas of legitimate endeavors.

His administration’s desire to ensure that the country grows what it eats, and eats what it grows, contributed in making agriculture one of the three pillars through which the economy can be diversified and expanded. Doing so will improve the well-being of millions of Nigerians.

The first recognised success of the administration is the country’s near-absolute self-sufficiency in rice, which the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development put at 98 percent. Rice importation is no longer taking about six million United States Dollars out of the country daily. That is a whopping US$2.196 billion every 366 days.

As Chairman of the National Council on Food Security, President Buhari appreciated the self-sufficiency recorded in rice production and wants to consolidate Nigeria’s position as the largest or second largest producer of some commodities. Many of these commodities are staples, in which Nigeria is self-sufficient: cassava, sorghum, millet, soya beans,

cow pea, groundnut, maize, cocoyam, yam, sesame, bambara nuts, an assortment of vegetables and fruits. They are produced in the varied agricultural ecological zones of the country.

A key step in that drive is bringing more of the arable land left fallow in the country under cultivation. To achieve that goal, which is tied to clearing land for an initial 1000 young farmers in each of the local government areas in the country, President Buhari directed the resuscitation of the Nigerian Agricultural Land Development Authority (NALDA). Thus, by taking this singular decision, a minimum of 774,000 new farmers would emerge in the country’s sector that employs the most number of workers. With improved security against banditry and insurgency, each of the young farmers is expected to employ at least five others on the farm.

Starting new farms by the new generation of farmers does not mean that existing smallholders and large -scale farmers will be excluded from the Buhari Green Revolution. At least 2,000,000 of them nationwide will be given improved seeds for sowing and other planting materials, including Cassava stems, free of charge. The distribution has commenced.

In addition to that, 75,000 new agricultural extension officers, who specialised in various crops and soil types in the country will be recruited and deployed to all corners of the country to assist, guide and support farmers. This is aimed at boosting the productivity of Nigerian farmers to enhance our food sufficiency and increase the income of farming households.

The mechanisation of the agricultural sector in the country is essential for bolstering the production of cash and food crops. The Buhari-led administration is doing that by working to procure 5,000 tractors and

related implements from Brazil.

This was reiterated after the Federal Executive Council meeting on May 3, 2020, when an elated Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mohammed Sabo Nanono, informed State House correspondents that, “we presented a joint memo with the Federal Ministry of Finance in which we sought the approval for a loan facility of about 950 million Euros translated probably to 1.2 billion dollars.”

“This loan is for the purpose of agricultural mechanisation in this country –that will cover about 632 local governments plus 140 processing plants. This is going to be a major revolution in the agriculture sector,’’ he said. The revolution in agriculture, which is hinged on the patriotic desire to cater for the well-being of Nigerians, includes the production of more Cocoa and other industrial commodities such as Oil Palm, Rubber, Wheat and Cotton. In the case of cotton, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has just activated an Anchor Borrowers’ Scheme involving 1,600,000 farmers nationwide, 256,000 of them cotton farmers for the 2020 wet season.

The establishment, for the first time in the history of agricultural development in Nigeria, of a specialised storage facility for yam at Zaki Biam, Benue State, for a minimum of 200,000 tubers, is both appropriate and capable of reducing post-harvest loses by yam farmers due to poor storage system. Often, the loss is caused by rotting, drying or boring by insects. It can equally stabilize off-season price of this tuber which is one of our national stables.

The meaning and purpose of Buhari’s agricultural drive is to give Nigerians healthier, fresher and cheaper food; deepen our national food security; create more agro-related jobs and enhance our national pride.

Salisu Na’inna Dambatta, Kano

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MONDAY JUNE 22, 2020 •T H I S D AY

MONDAY JUNE 22, 2020 • T H I S D AY

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T H I S D AY ˾ MONDAY JUNE 22, 2020

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

APC on the Verge of Repeating Zamfara, Rivers in Edo Alex Enumah writes that the numerous litigations over the leadership of the All Progressives Congress, puts the party at risk of a repeat of self-inflicted loss in the impending Edo State governorship election

Buhari

Tinubu

Oshiomhole

Obaseki

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ing the same fate that cost it the governorship and other elective offices in Zamfara and Rivers states in the last general election.

It would be recalled that the party lost out completely in the two states in the 2019 general election.

In Zamfara despite winning the governorship and other national and state legislative positions, the party got a rude shock when the Supreme Court in a judgment disqualified all its candidates in the 2019 general election in Zamfara state on the grounds of failure to conduct a valid primary election to select flag bearers of the party in the 2019 general election.

The Supreme Court citing the same reason denied the APC an opportunity to field candidates for the same election in Rivers State.

However, barely one year after the APC suffered that huge but self inflicted loss in the two states, the party seems bent on another loss owing to the numerous court cases threatening the chances of the party in the forthcoming governorship election in Edo State.

As at today, former governor of Oyo State and Deputy National Chairman (South) Senator Abiola Ajimobi who is on his sick bed, Deputy National Secretary of the APC, Honourable Victor Giadom, Deputy National Chairman (South South) Honourable Hilliard

Eta and a contender to the office of Deputy National Chairman (South), Mr. Akinleye Micheal are all laying claiming to the acting chairmanship of the party following the suspension of Oshiomhole.

Oshiomhole was first suspended on November 2, 2019 by officials of his ward, Etsako West Ward 10 over his continued disagreement with the governor of Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki.

The suspension was ratified by the Etsako West Local Government Executive Committee and was subsequently upheld by the State Executive Committee of the party.

He, however, failed to challenge his suspension forcing some members of the party to approach the court early in the year to enforce the suspension.

The plaintiffs in the application filed on January 16, 2020 and argued by their lawyer, Mr. Oluwole Afolabi, urged the court to declare Oshiomhole’s continued stay in office illegal having allegedly been suspended from the APC. The other plaintiffs are; Honourable Anselm Ojezua, Alhaji Sani Gomna, Mr Oshawo Steven, Mr Fani Wabulari and Evangelist Princewill Ejogharado.

While other respondents alongside Oshiomhole include; the APC, Inspector General of Police (IGP) and State Security

Service (SSS).

Arguing the motion with number: M/4292/2020, Afolabi told the court that Oshiomhole has up till now failed to challenge his suspension from the party.

He argued further that Oshiomhole’s rights as a member of the party abated and he could not continue to act as chairman of the party, adding that Oshiomhole could not continue to enjoy benefits from the APC, despite his suspension as a member of the party.

The plaintiffs accordingly prayed the court for an interlocutory order restraining Oshiomhole from parading himself or performing any function as National Chairman of the APC. They also prayed the court for another interlocutory order restraining the APC from recognizing or continue to recognize Oshiomhole as National Chairman of the APC including giving effect to any of his decisions.

In addition they prayed for another interlocutory order directing the Police and the SSS to deploy their staff to prevent Oshiomhole from continuing to occupy the office of the National Chairman of the APC and from having access to the office.

Delivering ruling in the interlocutory application on March 4, 2020, trial judge, Justice Danlami Senchi, held that the plaintiffs proved that Comrade Oshiomhole was suspended by his ward, Etsako West Ward 10 in Edo. Justice Senchi added that political parties must be bound by their constitution and having been suspended by his ward, Comrade Oshiomhole should be restrained from functioning as the National Chairman of the party pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.

The court also ordered that Mr Oshiomhole should stop parading himself as the Chairman of the party.

The judge also urged the APC to desist from acknowledging him as the chairman of the party.

The court further directed the APC not to grant Oshiomole access to the party Secretariat.

Oshiomhole appealed the ruling of Justice Senchi and was lucky through an interlocutory injunction. On March 16, he got an order of the Court of Appeal halting his suspension. Unfortunately the same appeal court on June 16, three months after affirmed his suspension by the lower court.

his may not be the best of times for the All Progressives Congress (APC), Nigeria’s ruling party at the centre.

With the string of court cases hanging on its corporate existence as a united entity, there are fears that the party may soon implode owing to the number of legal actions by forces contending for its soul across the country. These cases have been instituted by different interests within the party.

In Edo, there is the issue of authentic chairman of the party following the suspension of Mr Anselm Ojezua by the faction loyal to suspended National Chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole. Recently, a court in Port Harcourt ruled that the Rivers State APC faction led by Igo Aguma, an ally of Senator Magnus Abe, who has been engaged long-drawn battle for supremacy with Transportation Minister, Rotimi Amaechi is recognised.

Ojezua was accused of relocating activities of the party to the government house and one Colonel David Imuse (Rtd) was said to have been elected to pilot the affairs of the party in the state in the interim. But the Ojezua factor may have resolved itself as Governor Godwin Obaseki whose fight Ojezua championed has switched political party loyalty to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Outside the leadership tussle, there is ongoing litigation over the mode of primary election for the selection of the party’s Edo governorship candidate in the September governorship election.

Also it is expected that some disqualified aspirants may proceed to court to challenge their disqualification from participating in the party’s primary slated for June 22.

At the national level there is a current leadership crisis capable of tearing the APC into shreds.

The crisis, assumed a consuming dimension on June 16, following a judgment of the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, affirming the suspension order on the party’s National Chairman, Oshiomhole.

The order which has turned the office of National Chairman to an all comers’ affair with four officials of the APC laying claim to the seat has made the chances of the party winning the September governorship election in Edo very slim.

As it stands, except the party retraces its steps and urgently too, it may end up suffer-

Same day the Port Harcourt High Court restrained Giadom from acting as National Chairman, another member of the APC, Mr. Charles Ude, asked a Federal High Court in Abuja, to bar the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)_from recognising both Ajimobi and Eta as Acting National Chairman of the party. In the suit marked FHC/ABJ/ CS/640/2020, the plaintiff contended that Senator Ajimobi lacked the locus standi to pilot the affairs of the party, insisting that he was not validly appointed by the suspended National Chairman of the party, Adams Oshiomhole

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T H I S D AY ˾ MONDAY JUNE 22, 2020

MONDAY DISCOURSE

Muhammad

Ojezua

Giadom

Ajimobi

The panel led by Justice Eunice Onyemenam in an unanimous judgment held that the trial court was right in asking Oshiomhole to step aside pending the hearing and determination of the suit challenging his continued chairmanship of the APC and dismissed Oshiomhole’s appeal for lacking in merit.

In the lead judgment delivered by Justice Mohammed Lamido, the three-man panel resolved all four issues raised by Oshiomhole in favour of the respondents.

The court accordingly upheld the decision of the FCT High Court which had in March this year ordered Oshiomhole’s suspension and restrained him from parading himself as the National Chairman of the party.

In less than 24 hours of Oshiomhole’s suspension a leadership crisis that is capable of costing the party another loss in the Edo State governorship poll is already brewing.

This decision of the appellate court has, however, opened another floodgate of litigations in courts across the country over the rightful person to act in Oshiomhole’s stead pending the hearing and determination of the suit challenging his chairmanship of the party.

While acting National Secretary of the party, Mr Victor Giadom supported by the APC National Organising Secretary, Mr Muhammed Ibrahim, is claiming to have the legal backing of the court to act in the absence of Oshiomhole, his claim is being challenged by other members of the party executives.

APC National Publicity Secretary, Mr Lanre Isa-Onilu, had announced Senator Abiola Ajimobi as the Acting National Chairman, being the Deputy National Chairman (South).

According to the party, there is no basis for Giadom to assume acting chairmanship position of the party since there is a National Deputy Chairman in the person of Senator Ajimobi.

But Eta on his part swiftly capitalized on the ailment of Ajimobi to assume acting National Chairmanship position. The Deputy National Chairman from the South-south who had the support of 15 of the 21 National Working Committee (NWC) though admitted Ajimobi ought to occupy the office in the absence of Oshiomhole, however, insisted that following the unavailability of Ajimobi he was the one to occupy the office in the interim.

On his party, Akinleye Micheal argued that the order of the Federal High Court, Ado Ekiti division on February 12, 2020 which ordered parties to maintain status subsist and warned that the party would be in breach to appoint Ajimobi as acting National Chairman.

Michael in the main suit before the court is claiming that he and not Ajimobi should fill the vacant position of Deputy National Chairman (South) having come from Ekiti State, the same state with the former Deputy National Chairman, South.

In his bid to make his acting chairmanship legal, Giadom had on June 18, approached the court to renew its order permitting him to act for two weeks pending the hearing and determination of his main suit.

Recall that Justice Samira Bature of an Abuja High Court had on March 16 while ruling on an exparte application brought by National Vice Chairman North East, Comrade Mustapha Salihu permitted Giadom to act as the National Chairman of the All Progressives

Congress (APC) for two weeks.

The order was however inactive as the Court of Appeal Abuja Division had few hours later set aside the order suspending Comrade Adams Oshiomhole as the National Chairman of the APC. But following the June 17 judgment of the Court of Appeal which upheld Oshiomhole’s suspension, he then approached the court for permission to allow him pilot the affairs of the party in the interim.

In the ex parte application dated June 18 and argued by his lawyer, Mr Wole Afolabi, the plaintiff prayed the court to extend its order of March 16 which had granted Giadom permission to act as Acting National Chairman of the APC for a period of two weeks.

Mr. Afolabi had argued that Giadom is the authentic acting National Chairman of the APC, following a ruling of the Federal Capital Teritory High Court in March.

Giadom who is the party’s Deputy National Secretary said he was the highest ranking official from the South-south following the ruling of the Court of Appeal on Tuesday, which upheld Oshiomhole’s suspension and declared all his actions since his suspension, null and void.

After listening to the submissions of Mr Afolabi, Justice Bature granted the application as prayed.

The judge also empowered Comrade Mustapha Salihu, the APC National Vice Chairman (North East) to act as the National Secretary.

Giadom maintained that asking Ajumobi to act as the National Chairman of APC following the suspension from office of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole by the Court of Appeal, was in disobedience to court order.

“We wish to state that the statement must have been issued in complete ignorance of the order of the FCT High Court issued on March 16, 2020, by Honourable Justice Bature in Suit No. FCT/HC/M/6447/2020 to the effect that Chief Victor Giadom is to act as the National Chairman of the party due to the suspension of Adams Oshiomhole as the National Chairman.

“The order was given the same day that the Court of Appeal earlier gave Oshiomhole a

temporary respite by staying the execution of the said order suspending Oshiomhole.

Now that the Court of Appeal has affirmed the order of suspension, it is only proper that the Order recognizing Chief Victor Giadom is implemented.

“Consequently, we have written to all law-enforcement agencies to implement the said order and any one who attempts to parade himself/herself other than Chief Victor Giadom as the Acting Chairman of the APC would be facing contempt of court proceedings.

“The said order has now been extended by the court for two weeks”, his lawyer had said.

But the hope of Giadom was however dashed on June 19 by a ruling of a Port Harcourt High Court which restrained him from parading himself as acting National Chairman.

The order made by Justice Florence Fibiresima was in respect of a motion brought by two chieftains of the APC in Rivers State, Mr. Dele Moses and Mr. Azunda Awori.

Part of the reliefs being sought by the plaintiffs include, “A declaration that sequel to the resignation of the 3rd defendant (Hon Victor Giadom) as Deputy National Secretary of the 1st Defendant (APC) in 2018, for the purposes of contesting in the 2019 general election as Deputy Governor of Rivers State, the 3rd defendant is no longer the Deputy National Secretary of the 1st Defendant and is not a member of the National Working Committee ( NWC) of the 1st Defendant having resigned his membership of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the 1st Defendant for purposes of contesting in the 2019 general election as the Deputy Governor of Rivers State.

Same day the Port Harcourt High Court restrained Giadom from acting as National Chairman, another member of the APC, Mr. Charles Ude, asked a Federal High Court in Abuja, to bar the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)_from recognising both Ajimobi and Eta as Acting National Chairman of the party.

In the suit marked FHC/ABJ/ CS/640/2020, the plaintiff contended that Senator Ajimobi lacked the locus standi

to pilot the affairs of the party, insisting that he was not validly appointed by the suspended National Chairman of the party, Adams Oshiomhole.

According to the plaintiff, Oshiomhole had appointed Ajimobi into office at a time his ward in Edo state had suspended his membership of the party.

He therefore wants the court to declare that in view of the suspension of Oshiomhole on November 2, 2019 and as affirmed by the Court of Appeal in Appeal No: CA/A/188/2020 on June 16, 2020, all the decisions taken by Oshiomhole as the National Chairman of the APC (during the subsistence of his suspension) is invalid, null and void and liable to be set aside.

If this request is granted, with the restraining order on Giadom it simply means that the APC will be without a leader recognised by law when it conducts its primary on June 22 to select its candidate for the Edo governorship election.

If that be this case, the party may have just denied itself again the opportunity to field a candidate in another governorship election.

To be sure the APC is not lacking in efforts to resolve warring parties through existing party structures, but the refusal of aggrieved persons to be persuaded remains a big cog in the wheel of peaceful resolution. In the recent selection process of its governorship candidate in Edo State, one of the candidates, Mathew Iduoriuekemwen was disqualified for instituting legal proceedings against the party At different times, there have been intervention from President Muhammadu Buhari and the National Leader of the APC, Senator Bola Tinubu.

One of such efforts was the establishment of a conflict resolution committee with party’s first national chairman, Chief Bisi Akande, as the head. Akande had frowned at the increasing number of court cases being filed by party members that has to do with disputes regarding the leadership of APC. According to him, “I am a bit taken aback by the Swift resort to the courts by some members, who seek external decisions on what are intrinsically internal matters best determined by deliberative process that is part and parcel of democratically-oriented party politics.”

Akande did not stop there. He said: “I do not know the the motivations behind this litigation conduct. It is not in my nature to ascribe negative or harmful motives to any. Those seeking access to the courts to decide what are basically politic questions, perhaps, think they are doing the right thing.

If this is the case, I must state that they are innocently in error. Their actions are harmful to the party in compound ways. First, the subject they bring to court is not amenable to judicial pronouncement. The matter by which court decisions are rendered - one side wins, the other loses - is not the best way to resolve political disputes.”

Following the contention by anti-Oshiomhole forces last March, pressing for a National Executive Committee meeting, Tinubu had labelled the agitators as selfseeking persons who were trying to ruin the government of Buhari. He also chided them for not exhausting all intra party conflict resolution opportunities before seeking redress in court.

The order which has turned the office of National Chairman to an all comers’ affair with four officials of the APC laying claim to the seat has made the chances of the party winning the September governorship election in Edo very slim. As it stands, except the party retraces its steps and urgently too, it may end up suffering the same fate that cost it the governorship and other elective offices in Zamfara and Rivers states in the last general election. It would be recalled that the party lost out completely in the two states in the 2019 general election

20

MONDAY, JUNE 22, 2020 ˾ T H I S D AY

MARKET NEWS

Banks, Others Back Aig-Imoukhuede’s Healthcare Initiative Goddy Egene Access Bank Plc, Stanbic IBTC Bank Limited, Zenith Bank Plc, Dangote Group, MTN Nigerian Communications Plc are backing an initiative

by Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede in collaboration with the Private Sector Health Alliance of Nigeria (PSHAN) geared towards significantly improving Nigeria’s healthcare system at the grassroots level.

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

Other notable developmentfocused organisations that will actively participate in the project are: Global Citizen, ABCHealth, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, United Nations Economic

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 18Jun-2020, unless otherwise stated.

Commission for Africa, World Bank, International Finance Corporation, PwC, Cisco, Ford Foundation, Nigerian Stock Exchange, and Flying Doctors Nigeria.

The innovative strategy, in

furtherance of a vision from an earlier stakeholders’ roundtable, entails delivering one Primary Healthcare Centre (PHC) in each of Nigeria’s 774 Local Government Areas (LGAs) at global standards.

Under this private sector driven initiative, universal health access will be provided for low-income citizens residing in rural and urban areas through the Adopt-a-Health Facility Programme (ADHFP).

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

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

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

DAILY PRICE LIST FOR MUTUAL FUNDS, REITS and ETFS MUTUAL FUNDS / UNIT TRUSTS AFRINVEST ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD aaml@afrinvest.com Web: www.afrinvest.com; Tel: +234 818 885 6757 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Afrinvest Equity Fund N/A N/A N/A Afrinvest Plutus Fund N/A N/A N/A Nigeria International Debt Fund N/A N/A N/A ALTERNATIVE CAPITAL PARTNERS LTD info@acapng.com Web: www.acapng.com, Tel: +234 1 291 2406, +234 1 291 2868 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn ACAP Canary Growth Fund 0.94 0.94 3.68% ACAP Income Funds 0.78 0.78 10.25% 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 6.50% AIICO Balanced Fund 2.69 2.75 9.44% info@anchoriaam.com ANCHORIA ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED Web:www.anchoriaam.com, Tel: 08166830267; 08036814510; 08028419180 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Anchoria Money Market 100.00 100.00 5.80% Anchoria Equity Fund 97.85 98.17 -4.16% Anchoria Fixed Income Fund 1.22 1.22 6.56% 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 14.47 14.91 -5.54% ARM Discovery Fund 338.55 348.76 -1.99% ARM Ethical Fund 30.41 31.33 4.57% ARM Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 5.49% 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 93.87 94.53 -2.30% AXA Mansard Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 5.08% CAPITAL EXPRESS ASSET AND TRUST LIMITED info@capitalexpressassetandtrust.com Web: www.capitalexpressassetandtrust.com ; Tel: +234 803 307 5048 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn CEAT Fixed Income Fund 2.04 2.04 15.78% CHAPELHILL DENHAM MANAGEMENT LTD investmentmanagement@chapelhilldenham.com Web: www.chapelhilldenham.com, Tel: +234 461 0691 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Chapelhill Denham Money Market Fund 0.07 0.05 6.71% Paramount Equity Fund 11.09 11.30 -11.36% Women's Investment Fund 108.19 108.99 -2.08% CORDROS ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmgtteam@cordros.com Web: www.cordros.com, Tel: 019036947 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Cordros Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 5.23% Cordros Milestone Fund 2023 98.03 98.25 Cordros Milestone Fund 2028 103.22 104.29 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 3.95% Coronation Balanced Fund 0.91 0.92 -1.53% Coronation Fixed Income Fund 1.46 1.46 10.18% 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 4.08% EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class B 1,000,000.00 1,000,000.00 4.35% EDC Nigeria Fixed Income Fund 1,222.82 1,233.11 5.58% 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 N/A N/A N/A FBN Balanced Fund 147.67 148.74 0.58% FBN Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 5.11% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Institutional 116.11 116.81 0.58% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Retail 116.45 117.15 0.37% FBN Nigeria Smart Beta Equity Fund 117.18 118.64 -9.95% 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 N/A N/A N/A Legacy Debt Fund N/A N/A N/A Legacy Equity Fund N/A N/A N/A Legacy USD Bond Fund N/A N/A N/A 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 3,040.72 3,074.16 1.93% Coral Income Fund 3,175.21 3,175.21 15.82% FSDH Treasury Bills Fund 100.00 100.00 5.34% GREENWICH ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmanagement@gtlgroup.com Web: www.gtlgroup.com ; Tel: +234 1 4619261-2 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Greenwich Plus Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 4.95% Nigeria Entertainment Fund 119.76 120.47 11.32%

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 4.38% Vantage Balanced Fund 2.25 2.29 2.90% Vantage Guaranteed Income Fund 1.00 1.00 10.07% Kedari Investment Fund (KIF) 143.83 144.39 0.29% 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 1.22 1.24 4.53% Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund 1,131.85 1,131.85 4.96% 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 N/A N/A N/A Meristem Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A PAC ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD info@pacassetmanagement.com Web: www.pacassetmanagement.com/mutualfunds; Tel: +234 1 271 8632 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn PACAM Balanced Fund 1.39 1.41 13.74% PACAM Fixed Income Fund 11.91 11.98 5.77% PACAM Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 4.18% PACAM Equity Fund 1.05 1.06 PACAM EuroBond Fund 106.55 108.83 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 116.50 119.43 -3.45% 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 1.02 1.02 4.69% STANBIC IBTC ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD assetmanagement@stanbicibtc.com Web: www.stanbicibtcassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 1 280 1266; 0700 MUTUALFUNDS Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Stanbic IBTC Balanced Fund 2,521.35 2,532.80 0.14% Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund 210.33 210.33 0.16% Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund 0.88 0.89 -0.57% Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund 273.87 273.95 0.17% Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund 154.92 156.64 1.19% Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 4.52% Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund 7,674.15 7,756.30 0.06% Stanbic IBTC Dollar Fund (USD) 1.16 1.16 0.11% Stanbic IBTC Shariah Fixed Income Fund 118.18 118.18 0.00% UNITED CAPITAL ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD Web: www.unitedcapitalplcgroup.com; Tel: +234 803 306 2887 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn United Capital Balanced Fund 1.14 1.17 -4.93% United Capital Bond Fund 1.81 1.81 4.62% United Capital Equity Fund 0.65 0.67 -8.07% United Capital Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 5.70% United Capital Eurobond Fund 115.41 115.41 3.19% United Capital Wealth for Women Fund 1.07 1.07 -2.08% 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 10.36 10.49 0.82% Zenith Ethical Fund 12.06 12.19 3.84% Zenith Income Fund 23.47 23.47 5.53% Zenith Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 3.55%

REITS NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

3.50 115.50 52.96

-63.85% 3.11% 1.75%

Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

9.03 89.54 68.85

9.13 91.37 70.06

3.75% -0.99% -0.27%

Fund Name FSDH UPDC Real Estate Investment Fund SFS Skye Shelter Fund Union Homes REIT

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

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

funds@vetiva.com Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

2.89 4.30 11.53 11.78 185.62

2.93 4.38 11.63 11.98 187.62

-18.36% -27.10% -4.83% 13.25% -1.43%

NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

108.29

16.90%

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.

21

T H I S D AY ˞ ͰͰ˜ 2020

BUSINESSWORLD

Group Business Editor Obinna Chima

Email obinna.chima@thisdaylive.com 08152447875

ÍŻ ͡ Ëœ Í° ÍŽ Í° ÍŽ MONEY MARKET OVERNIGHT OBB

REPO 16.67 15.17

CALL 1-MONTH 3-MONTH

14.50 12.50 13.75

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

536.08% 2.31% 3.50%

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

15.12% 11.41%

EXCHANGE RATE N361/1US DOLLAR* *AS AT LAST FRIDAY

Quick Takes Ecobank Graduates Trainees

STOCK-TAKING

L-R: Group Managing Director/CEO, NEM Insurance Plc, Mr.Tope Smart; Board Chairman, Dr. Fidelis Ayebae, and a Director, Chief Ede Dafinone, during the 50thAnnualGeneralMeetingofthecompanyheldinLagos...recently

DelinquentDebtors:StakeholdersCall forInternationalDataSharingAgreement Nume Ekeghe Some stakeholders have stressed the need for the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to enter into an international data sharing agreement with other regulators across the globe to expose bank customers who take loans and relocate to other countries without any repayment plan.

This is as findings by THISDAY revealed that some persons who had deliberately collected loans from commercial banks relocate to Europe, North America and some other continents without any repayment plan. A large number of those who perpetrate such act are bank staff who have easier to access such loans.

The development, according to industry analysts, could contribute to the rise in the industry non-performing loans

ECONOMY (NPLs). Therefore, they stressed the need for the CBN to push for a cross-border data sharing arrangement.

Speaking on the development, a senior banking officer who pleaded to remain anonymous, said: “We have seen the trend for about two years whereby a large pool of customers and staff who want to leave the country, knowing that when they leave the country, the banks would not have any way of reporting them to bureaus internationally. “For the bank I work in, it is in an excess of over N500 million.

In my last check, over 50 staff had taken loans and have left the bank knowing they were going to leave the bank and this figure continues to grow.�

She added: “This behavior cuts across the industry and when you talk to colleagues in other banks, they would tell you they are seeing same thing. “It would be helpful if there is an international credit bureau database where we can report, in such a way that if the person goes to Canada or Australia and wants to take a loan, and they know you have a delinquent loan in your country it would also limit their ability to access loans.�

From a risk management perspective, a risk manager of a bank suggested that new mechanisms be put in place to avert risks that could emanate from such loan default and also called for data sharing arrangement.

He said: “Banks and lending institutions can put in a clause on the forms to inquire if the customer has plan to relocate and some

might be truthful because now, no one is asking that question if a customer is likely to relocate.�

Furthermore, he advocated for intelligence sharing, saying, “In Nigeria, we have credit bureaus and I believe the credit bureaus need to step up to a step higher by linking their database internationally so that if you go abroad, your bad credit reporting would still follow you especially because most of them leaving are going there to get mortgages. “Also, within Nigeria, finance institutions also need to start sharing a lot of information. As it is now, it is not all institutions that are on the credit bureaus and you find that people take loans from various banks in small pieces and then they can join them together before they run away.

Forthesecondtimeintwomonths,EcobankNigeriahashostedanother set of its trainees from its academy to a virtual graduation ceremony, who havesincebeenabsolvedintothebank.TheEcobankNigeriaManagement Trainees Batch 2 (EMDP 2) comprises 53 graduates who were trained at the Ecobank Nigeria Academy for 21 months. Ecobank Nigeria had in May this year organised a virtual graduation ceremony for 57 graduate trainees, the ďŹ rst of its kind by any bank in the country.

Managing Director, Ecobank Nigeria, Patrick Akinwuntan, reiterated that the bank’s deliberate policy to train and equip its workforce was in line with its transformation drive to make the ďŹ nancial institution the most preferred in the country. He added that it was also targeted to better serve its customers in a convenient and accessible manner particularly as the nation rebounds from the Covid-19 lockdown.

Accordingtohim,Ecobankhasalsoinvestedinarobusttechnology-based model which positions the bank to cope with current and future challenges includingtheprovisionofconvenientdigitalbankingservicestocustomers in a seamless manner across 33 countries on the African continent. “Our Mobile Banking app is unique as it’s a single App for the entire continent and our USSD *326# is very convenient. We have Ecobank Online for individuals; Ecobank Omniplus and EcobankOmnilite for corporate and SME clients respectively. Our Agency banking Ecobank Xpresspoints brings banking to every neighbourhood. You can open an account in minutes on our Mobile platform while our POSs and ATMs are everywhere in the country�.

Speaking further, the Managing Director encouraged the graduands to remain ethical and diligent in the delivery of the vision of the bank to become the most preferred ďŹ nancial services payments brand in Nigeria to support the economic development of households and growth of trade, manufacturing and commerce in Nigeria and Africa.

Sigma Pensions Organises Webinar

Sigma Pensions Limited will thisThursday hold a webinar to look at the challenges in the pensions industry and ways to boosts sta productivity.

The webinar is poised to encourage sta on best practices in adapting to the new working environment, how to oer better services to clients and educate on the general impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. According to a statement, it would also focus on how the pandemic has aected workplace relationship between employer and employees and in a similar vein, highlight how it has impacted returns on pension contributions.

With human resource personnel and pension desk oďŹƒcers expected to attend,thewebinarwouldbeheldintwosessionsdiscussing,‘theImpactof Covid-19 on Employer and Employee Relationships’ as well as ‘The Impact of the Covid–19 pandemic on pensions returns.’ Speakers expected at the webinar include Employee Industrial Relations Manager, Shell Petroleum Development Company, Dr. Steve Ojeh; Head,Investment,SigmaPensions,Mr.PabinaYinkereandHead,Business Development Division West, Sigma Pensions, Mrs. Mabel George who would moderate both sessions.

Aside the webinar, Sigma Pensions during the nationwide lockdown disclosed in a statement that it has educated youths on the importance of having pension plan.

Custodian Pledges Customer Satisfaction

The Managing Director and Chief Executive OďŹƒcer, Custodian & Allied Insurance Plc, (CAIL), Mr. Toye Odunsi, has said the company is currently focused in developing and delivering innovative insurance products that best satisfy customer needs. Odunsi, in a statement made available to journalists stated that the company has also been operating a proďŹ table, eďŹƒcient and ethical organisation that will survive well into the future and Continued on page 22 be a valuable asset to its shareholders.

According to him, the company, has been able to achieve an eďŹƒcient service delivery to the insured because of its strong board made up of individualswhohaveproventrackrecordsintheirvariousďŹ eldsofendeavor, thereby bringing several years of experience to bear upon the board. “Our vision is to be Africa’s insurer of choice. We also aim to develop, and deliver innovative insurance products that best satisfy customer needs, whilst operating a highly proďŹ table, eďŹƒcient, resourceful and ethical organisation. sophisticated equipment that would be a game changer in the fight against piracy and other maritime crimes on the Nigerian waters, as criminals could be easily reached and stopped.

He said there would be rigorous training for NIMASA staff, who would man the platform, before going into full operation Meanwhile, sources at the agency told THISDAY that the floating dockyard is lying idle at the Naval dockyard in Lagos pending when the agency

NIMASA to Generate N12bn Annually from Floating Dock Yard Eromosele Abiodun The Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Bashir Jamoh has stated that the N50 billion floating dock acquired by NIMASA is expected to generate N1 billion monthly or N12 billion annually when work on it is concluded.

The multi-billion naira floating dock was acquired by the agency in 2018 as part of efforts to reposition the nation’s maritime industry to international standard and boost revenue.

Speaking with maritime

MARITIME journalists in Lagos, at the weekend, as part of stakeholders’ engagement to mark his 100 days in office, Jamoh said the high profile equipment would generate N1 billion monthly by the time it starts operation.

The NIMASA boss said he was impressed by the projects the agency had facilitated in recent times, adding that the Floating Dock acquired by NIMASA remained a viable project that would generate lots of jobs and revenue for the country.

NIMASA, Jamoh revealed, was partnering with the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) to get a permanent place for the platform adding that when it is fully operational it would amount to a very huge revenue earner for Nigeria, “because a lot of vessels would be able to dry-dock in the country.�

That aside, he said NIMASA working with the Navy and Police, the Army, DSS other relevant agencies to stem the cycle of criminalities in the nation’s maritime domain.

NIMASA, Jamoh said, has acquired some vessels and other

“We are on a precipice and if revenue figures do not rise quickly, Nigeria risks a situation where revenue cannot even sustain its debt servicing obligations�

Former Vice President

Continued on page 22

Atiku Abubakar

T H I S D AY ˞ ͰͰ˜ Ͱ͎Ͱ͎

22

BUSINESSWORLD DELINQUENT DEBTORS: STAKEHOLDERS CALL FOR INTERNATIONAL DATA SHARING AGREEMENT “Another suggestion is that they need to go back to the correct fundamentals of lending in the sense that they should not overlook things like guarantors when granting loans,� he added.

On her part, financial institutions analyst at Agusto & Co, Mrs. Ada Ufomadu, believes that the NPL from customer might not be high enough to damage banks’ books.

She explained: “Even if a bank experiences it and they have non-performing loans, the volume would not be large and it is not something that would drive the banks NPL from three per cent to 10 per cent. “I know the NPL ratio of most retail loans are quite high, but it is in small bits and you might not see a big impact on the NPLs unlike the big corporates. The volumes are too small to worry about.�

NIMASA TO GENERATE N12BN ANNUALLY FROM FLOATING DOCK YARD

would get a permanent location through the NPA to operate it.

According to the source, “Initially when the floating dock was acquired, the design was for it to berth in Delta State. However, at that time, there were reports advising to the contrary. There were lots of surveys advising to the contrary, these reports are still there till date. When the agency got there, it was forced to review all the reports submitted to it and take a decision that would serve all interest in the shipping community. “The floating dock was not conceptualised by the last administration. The truth is that the floating dock was supposed to go to Okerenkoko in Delta State, but the conditions that exist then and now, for the dock to get to Okerenkoko is almost impossible, a dock is supposed to serve the shipping community as a commercial facility, but which company or vessel would be bold enough to travel to Delta State because of the insecurity.

Group Business Editor

Obinna Chima

Capital Market Editor

Goddy Egene

Comms/e-Business Editor

Emma Okonji

Senior Correspondent

Raheem Akingbolu (Advertising) Correspondents

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

Nume Ekeghe (Money Market) Nosa Alekhuogie (ICT)

NEWS

Survey: Obtaining Finance, Infrastructure Deficit Top Challenges for MSMEs Peter Uzoho

Services, PwC Nigeria, Esiri Agbeyi, noted that obtaining finance (22%), finding customers (16%) and infrastructure deficits (15%), were identified by respondents as their most pressing problems.

When asked what the biggest cost to their business operation was, 21% identified electricity as being responsible for the highest cost to their daily operations. This was followed by rent (17%) and cost of capital and employee cost at 15% and 14% respectively.

Agbeyi explained: “Access to finance, in particular credit, is a

critical enabler for the growth and development of small and medium enterprises. The SME credit market, however, is notoriously characterised by market failures and imperfections. We estimate the financing gap for Nigerian MSMEs to be about N617.3 billion annually (pre-COVID-19 pandemic). More so, based on our analysis of data from the CBN annual statistical bulletin, small businesses accounted for less than 1% of total commercial banking credit in 2018. “We also see that electricity

accounts for the biggest costs to daily operations of MSMEs. Nigeria’s power sector is overwhelmed by a myriad of challenges that have culminated in inadequate electricity supply.

This has an adverse impact on the business environment in Nigeria; consequently, contributing to significant economic costs to SME and economic growth. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) states that lack of access to reliable electricity costs the Nigerian economy an estimated USD29 billion a year.�

The survey also found that the foremost economic issue affecting small businesses was the pressure to reduce prices (22%). This was followed by rising inflation (19%) and low demand for products/ services. (16%).

The economic recovery in Nigeria has been tepid. Despite positive economic growth in the last three years, Nigeria’s GDP trajectory still falls short of the projections set in the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) of 4.5 per cent and seven per cent for 2019 and 2020 respectively.

Small Businesses in Nigeria have listed the most pressing problems impacting their operations to include obtaining finance, finding customers and infrastructure deficits.

These were some of the findings from a survey of micro, small and medium scale enterprises (MSMEs) in Nigeria conducted

by PwC Nigeria.

The survey findings were revealed during a recent webinar hosted by the firm for MSMEs, with the theme: “Managing the Impact of COVID-19 and Repositioning Your Business for Growth.�

The report titled ‘PwC’s MSME Survey 2020- Building to last,’ provides insights into a range of issues concerning MSMEs in Nigeria, and the challenges impacting business growth, particularly financing, taxation issues; and other factors - through the eyes of their CEOs. The survey which was conducted prior to the Covid-19 pandemic (between August and December 2019) sought the opinion of 1629 key decision makers in the MSME sector surveyed with annual sales turnover ranging from N5 million and above.

The businesses surveyed had a geographical spread covering 29 states and across the 6 geopolitical zones in the country.

Presenting results of the findings, L-R:Head,CorporateCommunications,NigerianMaritimeandSafetyAgency(NIMASA),Mr.PhilipKyanet;DirectorGeneral,Dr.BashirJamoh,andManaging Partner and Lead, Private Wealth Director,IndependentNewspapersLimited, Mr.SteveOmanufeme,duringaninteractivesessionwithjournalistsinLagos‌recently

MEDIAPARLEY

Lagos State Restates Commitment to Technology Development Emma Okonji Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu has reiterated the commitment of Lagos State in driving critical sector development with technology.

According to the Governor, “The role of technology in addressing the socio-economic challenges of the modern world is not only important, but also incontrovertible. This consciousness is the reason why technology is a critical component of the THEMES Agenda of our government. “We are determined to leverage technology and its associated innovations to make governance easier and transform our state.

However, like the experience in other megacities in the world, COVID-19 outbreak has shown the fragility of our societies and the need to seek innovative ways for addressing some of our im-

mediate challenges has become more important.�

The governor said this in Lagos recently, during the launch of ‘HelpNow’, a new initiative to support Lagos residents in need due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, via a platform set up to pair donors with beneficiaries who require support.

Softcom, a company dedicated to connecting people and business through meaningful innovation, partnered Deloitte, MTN, Ernst & Young, and other corporate organisations, including Lagos State government, to launch the new initiative.

HelpNow, an initiative of Softcom, is a private sector led collaboration in response to the debilitating effects the COVID-19 pandemic has had on the income and livelihood of millions of Nigerians. The objective is to provide support to at least two million vulnerable people in

Lagos through a crowdfunding model that rallies the support of well-meaning individuals and corporates.

Speaking at the launch, SanwoOlu noted that “With the launch of ‘HelpNow’ we now have a platform that aggregates support for government’s efforts at alleviating the sufferings of the poor and vulnerable in our society. Government alone cannot address the socio-economic problems of any society. It needs the support of well-meaning individuals and corporate organizations to cater for the needy among us.� “Before now, there was no platform such as HelpNow that allows effortless intervention in the lives of millions from anywhere and anonymously. For creating a platform that encourages collaboration and speedily mobilises succour for the needy and vulnerable, I commend Softcom Limited and

its partners. The people of Lagos State appreciate your ingenuity and thoughtfulness,� the Governor said.

In his response, the Chief Executive Officer of Softcom Limited and convener, HelpNow initiative, Yomi Adedeji, said: “We believe that while the pandemic affects everyone, the impact is not the same across the board.

With limitations to economic activities, a good number of Lagosians are vulnerable and have a tough time taking care of themselves and their families.

They need our help now to get back on their feet.�

According to Adedeji, “Softcom is working with the Bank of Industry, Telecoms Operators and Lagos State Government to organise the records of vulnerable Nigerians covering people with disabilities, the poorest households and the aged, for this purpose.

These records reduce guesses or duplication of efforts. It ensures

that more people are reached, and no individual or family benefits more than once.�

To ensure the credibility and transparency of the initiative, Deloitte and Ernst & Young will provide audit, governance and operational risk support, ensuring every naira donated gets to a beneficiary as promised.

Adedeji urged corporates and individuals in Nigeria and outside the country to support the initiative by visiting the Helpnow.ng website to donate, saying no amount is too small to help those in need. He said donors will be able to view the impact of their giving on the website coupled with testimonials of the beneficiaries.

He noted that HelpNow partners were committed to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Agenda 2030 on ending poverty, ensuring zero hunger, and ultimately improving the quality of life and wellbeing of all.

Aig-Imoukhuede Harps on Economic Diversification The Covid-19 has created opportunity for Nigeria to spend wisely, and diversify its economy, the Founder and Chairman of Africa Initiative for Governance (AIG), Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede has said.

Speaking in a recent webinar organised by the AIG, a not-for-profit organisation founded to inspire the transformation of Africa’s public sector, he said while governments have so far committed $15.6 trillion in response to Covid-19, an average of $2,042.00 per person, Nigeria’s $6.5 billion in commit-

ments amount to a paltry $32.50 per person. Aig-Imoukhuede recommended that the private sector should collaborate more with the government.

The webinar was held in collaborated with the Blavatnik School of Government, University of Oxford to host a virtual discussion on “COVID-19 and the Oil Price Crash: Nigeria’s Tough Choices�.

Other stakeholders called for Nigeria to use opportunity presented by the Covid-19 to diversify the economy.

Prominent Nigerians who

participated in the webinar included, Former President of Nigeria – Olusegun Obasanjo; Former Emir of Kano State, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi; Speaker, House of Representatives – Femi Gbajabiamila; and Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Folasade Yemi-Esan, among others.

The webinar also featured Ceyla Pazarbasiogu, Vice President for Equitable Growth, Finance and Institutions (EFI) at the World Bank, Prof. Sir Paul Collier, Professor of Economics and Public Policy at the Blavatnik School of Govern-

ment, University of Oxford and Prof. Ngaire Woods, Dean of the Blavatnik School. Sanusi urged Nigerians to take a hard look at the structure of the country to understand that decisions made decades ago have implications for our core governance framework.

According to him, “Covid-19 has brought an opportunity for Nigeria to rethink and reinvent the way we lead our people so that we can spend smartly, generate more revenue and also get them to act in a manner that will deal with this pandemic and other

health issues�. Collier stated that the impact on Nigeria would be an economic one, with a fall in government revenues and people’s capacity to spend. He opined that the government should focus on encouraging growth in the informal sector to boost the economy.

On his part, Gbajabiamila, while noting that this was indeed a tough time for the country, challenged the notion of Nigeria as a developing country, noting “If we harness our resources well, Nigeria should be a developed country, not a developing country.�

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BUSINESSWORLD

MONDAY INTERVIEW

Ogunbanjo: Despite Covid-19, NSE Demutualisation Process on Course The President of the Council of the Nigerian Stock Exchange, Mr.Abimbola Ogunbanjo, in this interview says the process of demutualising the Exchange is moving ahead in line with the expected sequence of events despite the disruptions created by the coronavirus. He also speaks about measures introduced by the stock market to ensure seamless trading of shares since the outbreak of the virus in the country. Obinna Chima provides the excerpts: Considering the devastating impact of the coronavirus on the global market, what is your outlook for the Nigerian stock market?

The outbreak of coronavirus has had a negative impact on the global financial market, with a substantial change in asset prices and a sharp increase in volatility. The Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) has demonstrated remarkable resilience amidst the COVID-19 pandemic by pursuing innovative solutions to meet the ever-evolving needs of our stakeholders. Since the activation of our Business Continuity Plan on 23 March, which saw us transition to remote trading and working, we have challenged ourselves to find new ways to seamlessly conduct our businesses. I am proud of the actions we have taken thus far in dealing with this crisis as we have successfully transitioned to a business as usual mode.

In terms of market activities, listed companies continue to opt for rights issues and private placements as the preferred means to raise equity capital and we expect this to continue in the short to medium term. Government will sustain its debt capital raising in a bid to finance fiscal and infrastructure deficits.

As an exchange, we will continue to seek avenues to partner with index providers and domestic and foreign ETP issuers to offer further diversification to investors through this fast developing asset class. Looking ahead, we recognise that there are new opportunities on the horizon and we are building on our investments in business innovation to leverage these opportunities to the advantage of the Nigerian capital market.

When you think about the effects of the virus on the economy generally, how do you think that relates to the stock market?

The capital market remains a major barometer of the economy as such as, any macro-economic shock will be felt in the market. The NSE opened strong in 2020, becoming the best performing equities in the world by mid-January with gains of 10.4 per cent year-to-date (YTD) and recording one of its best January returns at 7.5 per cent. However, the momentum slowed as the Covid-19 pandemic spread across the world between February and March, leading to unprecedented panic in global financial markets due to economic uncertainty. Following higher levels of volatility and losses on returns retreating up to -20.6 per cent in March, investors started to take advantage of heavily discounted prices and slowly return to the market. As at today, the NSE All Share Index is outperforming comparable African Exchanges and stands at -6.8 per cent YTD. Just few months ago we celebrated a major leap in the NSE demutualisation process, do you think the impact of the covid-19 will affect the process?

The NSE demutualisation process is moving ahead in line with the expected sequence of events, following the conclusion of its Extraordinary General Meeting and Court Ordered Meeting (COM) in March 2020.

Understandably, in current circumstances, some of the legal and regulatory steps required have taken a little longer than originally expected, but we have received court sanction for the results of the EGM, in particular the Scheme of Arrangement and we are looking to secure the re-registration of the Exchange as well as the approval of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) within the coming months.

So, when exactly do we expect the process to be concluded?

While we are looking forward to the successful reregistration of The Exchange and its shares, as well as final approval from the SEC, we are mindful of the current uncertainties across the nation. We can, however, assure our stakeholders that we are proactively following due process and we will share updates as

For investors who are worried about their portfolios due to the uncertainties created by this virus, what message do you have for them?

Well they should appreciate that capital markets are cyclical by nature. This suggests that there will be times of buoyant positive returns and there will be seasons of reversals.

What is most important is that investors take a portfolio diversification approach to investing that allows them to minimise risk and maximise returns at all times. The Exchange on its part has created a multi-asset platform that allows investors to choose from a variety of asset classes beyond equities. Looking at the performance of some of these investment instruments, we see that the market capitalisation in the fixed income space has risen by 8.91 per cent to N14.02 trillion ($36.32 billion) from N12.92 trillion ($35.44 billion) as at the end of 2019 as a result of increased listing activity from the federal government and Nigerian corporates.

While the ETF market has seen mixed sentiments from investors owing to activities in the equities market. Of the ten listed ETFs, the Exchange reports significant returns in the New Gold ETF with a 48.94 per cent return YTD and the Vetiva S&P Nigeria Sovereign Bond ETF with 16.28 per cent return YTD.

Ogunbanjo they unfold.

Are there measures the NSE has put in place to cushion the impact of the pandemic on traders as well as incentivise investors?

The Exchange has upheld its commitment to maintain seamless operations during normal trading days and hours since the activation of its Business Continuity Plan in March. We have provided full remote trading functionality to all our Dealing Member Firms (DMF) through the FIX Protocol, XNET and Virtual Private Networks (VPN). The Exchange has also engaged with other critical stakeholders such as the Federal Ministry of Finance, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), etc., to fashion out various initiatives to ensure that quoted companies are able to continue their business. Some of these engagements resulted in: the recognition of capital markets as essential services; issuance of guidance on virtual Annual General Meetings (AGMs); and electronic signing of companies’ financials, to name a few. The Exchange also quickly moved to sustain market events leveraging digital platforms and so far has conducted digital closing gong ceremonies, virtual training of Authorised Dealing Clerks, stakeholder engagement sessions, capacity building sessions, etc.

In catering to our investors, we are actively pursuing avenues to deepen the capital market, engage stakeholders and widen the pool of investment instruments for investors with new listings and capacity building exercises. These

While we are looking forward to the successful reregistration of The Exchange and its shares, as well as ďŹ nal approval from the SEC, we are mindful of the current uncertainties across the nation

efforts have culminated in some impressive innovations that have been integrated as business as usual at the Exchange. For instance, the NSE has listed fresh capital raised by quoted companies and the federal government to the tune of N202.989 billion in the first five months of the year, 2020.

Don’t you think the pandemic offers an opportunity to encourage more participation of domestic investors?

In recent times, we have seen market transactions driven by domestic investors who now account for as high as 59 per cent of the equity value traded. This represents a significant shift from the previous 4-year average of 51 per cent from 2016 to 2018.

Whereas foreign investor participation has dropped to 41 per cent from an average of 49 per cent of transactions. Interestingly, we also note an increase in participation of retail investors in domestic transactions in Q1:2020 with as high as N60.23 billion out of the N123.69 billion recorded in March 2020. As we seek to continue to attract global flows, growth of the domestic investor base is a key priority for the NSE. We are committed to increasing our impact and ability to create durable wealth for the Nigerian populace, and firmly believe that a vibrant retail investor base is key to the resilience of our market. We are engaging with domestic institutional buy-side, regulators and other stakeholders to ensure regulations around investment of pension funds, insurance and even the development of fund management industry help drive local participation. To stimulate the local investment base, we have grown our product offering over the years – expanded our ETF market, launched the retail bond programme, rolled out a mutual funds trading platform, amongst others – and broadened the scope of our investor outreach activities. We are also leveraging on the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) and the era of digitization to enhance the operation of the market. We are taking the right steps to boost investors’ confidence, promote financial literacy, and provide the necessary information and market data required to increase participation. For instance, we have continued to build capacity through virtual seminars on various investment asset classes.

Are you satisďŹ ed with measures adopted by the federal government so far towards halting the spread of the virus?

One thing we can all agree on is that every form of economic activity has been affected by the virus and we are living in unprecedented times. As such, there is no playbook to reference on how to survive COVID-19. That said, I believe the Government has been very proactive in its reaction to this pandemic which has led to the levels of containment and the low level of fatality that we have seen. These results can also be attributed to the support of the private sector in providing funding, infrastructure and awareness to the fight against the virus. While community spread is now on the rise, especially in Lagos State, the federal government recently made the announcement to further ease the lockdown and reopen more economic activities, albeit under strict guidelines. We understand the difficulty in making a decision like this, but are also mindful of the socioeconomic effect of a prolonged lockdown on Nigerians. The Exchange, therefore, supports the government and we remain committed to continue to stimulate growth in the economy.

A recent advertorial by the NSE we obtained showed that the NSE Council has started the recruitment process for the role of its Chief Executive OfďŹ cer currently held by Mr. Oscar Onyema. Executive Search and Consulting Firm, Stanton Chase was engaged by the Governing Council which you head to carry out that task. Can you shed more light about what the process entails and when it is expected to be ďŹ nalised?

As we pursue the demutualisation of The Exchange, it is important to note that there will also be a restructuring that will see us transition into a Non-Operating Holding Company, the Nigerian Exchange Group. Under this Group, there will be several subsidiaries, one of which will be an operating Exchange.

At the Extra-ordinary General Meeting and Court Ordered Meeting that held on March 3, members of The Exchange took a vote on the Directors of the Nigerian Exchange Group, and designated Mr. Oscar Onyema, the Group Chief Executive Officer. We are, however, operating under the highest levels of transparency and have made the move to recruit a qualified CEO that will be in charge of the operating Exchange, just as the other subsidiaries of the Group will have their own designated leaders. All stakeholders will be kept abreast of developments as they unfold.

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MONDAY MARCH 22, 2020 •T H I S D AY

MONDAY JUNE 22, 2020 • T H I S D AY

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Investors Stake N10.1bn on Stocks as All-Share Sheds 1.4% Goddy Egene Investors staked N10.125 billion on 1.050 billion shares in 19,576 deals last week, compared with N9.876 billion invested in 16, 616 deals the previous week. However, the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) All-Share Index (ASI) depreciated by 1.4 per cent to close at 24,826.75, while market capitalisation shed N185.7 billion to be at N12.95 trillion.

The depreciation was as a result of profit taking by investors. All other indices finished lower with the exception of NSE-Main Board, NSE Consumer Goods, NSE Lotus II and NSE Industrial Goods Indices which appreciated by 1.0 per cent.

Reacting to the performance of the market, analysts at Cordros Securities, stated that risks remain on the horizon due to a combination of the increasing number of COVID-19 cases in Nigeria and weak economic conditions. “Thus, we continue to advise investors to trade cautiously and seek trading opportunities in only fundamentally justified stocks,� they stated.

Apart from the Nigerian market, most other countries in Africa closed bearish. Mauritius’ SEMDEX and Kenya’s NSE 20 indices recorded the highest selloffs, down 2.8 per cent and 2.1 per cent respectively. In the same vein, Ghana’s GSE Composite indices trended south, shedding 0.5 per cent. On the positive side, Morocco’s Casablanca MASI gained 4.3 per cent, trailed by Egypt’s EGX 30 with 0.2 per cent appreciation.

Performance across the BRICS markets showed that mirrored that Brazil’s Ibovespa index led the gainers, up 4.7 per cent following the a 0.75 per cent rate cut to an all-time low of 2.25 per cent during the week. South Africa’s FTSE/JSE All-Share and India’s BSE Sens indices advanced 1.1 per cent and 2.8 per cent respectively. Russia’s RTS index also expanded by 0.9 per cent. On the other hand, China’s Shanghai Composite index surged 1.6 per cent on the back of anticipated market friendly reforms.

It was a bullish performance in Asian and Middle East markets four and five indices closed the week higher. Thailand’s SET index emerged the lone loser, down 0.8 per cent. On the positive side, Turkey’s BIST 100 and UAE’s ADX General Indices led gainers, up 3.4 per cent and 1.2 per cent in that order.

Qatar’s DSM 20 and Saudi Arabia’s Tadawul ASI indices trailed, advancing 0.9 per cent and 0.6 per cent respectively.

Performance in the developed markets was impressive, In the United States, the NASDAQ rose 4.1 per cent, trailed by S&P 500 index that garnered 2.9 per cent. France’s CAC 40 and Germany’s XETRA DAX indices advanced climbed 3.2 per cent and 2.9 per cent in that order. Similarly, United Kingdom’s FTSE All Share gained 3.2 per cent. In Asia, Japan’s Nikkei 225 and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng indices closed the week 1.4 per cent and 0.8 per cent higher in that order.

Market turnover An analysis of the turnover showed that Financial Services industry remained the most traded with 736.274 million shares valued at N5.472 billion traded in 9,776 deals. It thus contributed 70.13 per cent and 54.04 per cent to the total equity turnover volume and value respectively.

The Conglomerates industry followed with 69.496 million shares worth N334.478 million in 471 deals. The third place was the Consumer Goods industry, with a turnover of 66.380 million shares worth N1.351 billion in 3,130 deals.

Trading in the top three equities namely Guaranty Trust Bank Plc, FBN Holdings Plc and FCMB Group Plc accounted for 316.321 million shares worth N3.350 billion in 2,983 deals, contributing 30.13 per cent and 33.1 per cent to the total equity turnover volume and value respectively.

Top price gainers and losers Meanwhile, only 14 equities appreciated in price during the week, lower than 34 equities in the previous week, while 47 equities depreciated in price, higher than 31 equities in the previous week.

Honeywell Flour Mills Plc led the price gainers with 17.3 per cent, trailed by Nestle Nigeria Plc and Cutix Plc with 10 per cent apiece. Redstar Express Plc chalked up 9.1 per cent just as Cornerstone Insurance Plc appreciated by 7.8 per cent.

Skyway Aviation Handling Company Plc chalked up 7.3 per cent, while Cadbury Nigeria

Plc garnered 6.6 per cent. BUA Cement Plc appreciated 6.0 per cent as investors continued to react to the company’s improved results for the first quarter ended March, 2020. BUA Cement Plc posted a 25.1 per cent increase in revenue of for the Q1 of 2020 to N54 billion, from N43.1 billion. Profit before tax (PBT) grew by 15.7 per cent from N17.4 billion to N20.1 billion while profit after tax (PAT) rose by 26.2 per cent from N15.7 billion to N19.8 billion.

Commenting on the results, , the Managing Director/CEO of BUA Cement Plc, Yusuf Binji said the excellent performance in the Q1 financial results amid the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic is yet another landmark of the company since its listing on the Nigeria Stock Exchange.

He said that the company’s performance was buoyed by an increase in production capacity from five million metric tonnes at the end of Q1’2019 to eight million metric tonnes currently.

He added that the company’s strong product differentiation strategy which translates to an increasing appreciation of BUA Cement product offering and a growing distribution network across existing and new markets also boosted the performance. “In response to the global pandemic, we implemented our “COVID business continuity programme built into our corporate governance framework. This minimises disruptions along the value chain, prioritises the safety of workers and customers; and assesses probable scenarios a prolonged lockdown would have on the business.

Clearly, our strong-showing epitomises the effect of further growth in output but most importantly, a growing appreciation of the value and service offering we continue to afford customers in the market place: with sales revenue increasing by 25.1 per cent to N54 billion. We continue to anticipate changes to customer and market behaviour, aimed at further strengthening our value model, even as we continue our push into ‘new markets,� he said.

Meanwhile, Neimeth International Pharmaceuticals Plc led the price losers with 40 per cent as investors offloaded to stock after rising by over almost 100 per cent in weeks. NPF Microfinance Bank Plc with 25,1 per cent. Prestige Assurance Plc shed 18.5 per cent.

AIICO Insurance Plc went down by 15.2 per cent, while UACN Property Development Company Plc lost 12.5 per cent. Sterling Bank Plc and Caverton Offshore Support Group Plc shed 11.1 per cent each. Nigerian Aviation Handling Company Plc closed 10.3 per cent lower, while University Press Plc and Seplat Petroleum Development Company Plc shed 10 per cent and 9.9 per cent respectively.

Borrowing to Death?

Emma Nwosu Nobody knows the intention of the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led federal government for the borrowing spree and the stupendous budget deficit.

It seems not to care about what becomes of Nigeria after its term. Combined public debt was N12.12 Trillion by June 30, 2015, about the time the APC took over federal government from the Peoples’ Democratic Party. By December, 2019, this debt stock had jumped (by more than N15 trillion) to N27.40 trillion without any multiplier effect (economic dividends) to show for it.

Instead, employment, naira exchange rate, power supply, security and other social and economic indicators have worsened. With the $22.80 billion additional loans recently approved by the legislature, public debts is now expected to rise to almost N36 trillion - three times the N12.12 trillion inherited!

The EXIM Bank of China contributed $17.06 billion or more than 75 per cent of the $22.80 billion new loans. Added to its pre-existing exposure of $3.10 billion, Nigeria would now owe China $20.16 billion or 40 per cent of all foreign currency loans which would then exceed $50 billion.

Note that the $22.80 billion loans had been turned down by the eight Senate, led by Dr Bukola Saraki, for doubtful debt service capacity and lopsided distribution. It should not have been lightly approved. More on Chinese loans shortly.

By maintainable revenues, Nigeria is overborrowed and has crossed the threshold of the debt trap, as would be demonstrated. The economic outlook is very bad. Crude oil and Gross Domestic Product (GDP) are in decline. There is the threat of full-blown recession, accelerated

by Covid-19 lockdown.

Tax coverage and other sources of revenue remain limited. The ethical track record of the government is also bad.

Additional loans could only be taken for projects with direct multiplier effects and repayment cashflow. This condition precedent is critical as general expansion of the economy, through diffused GDP growth, can no longer be counted upon to suck in loans. There is no evidence that previous projects are self-liquidating of the loans or that the new ones would. For example, the South-east states which, perhaps, move more men, goods and services than the rest of the country combined and are used to commercial tariffs, are, so far, excluded from the railway projects. It implies that most of the projects were allocated by patronage rather than financial sagacity. How, then, would they self-liquidate the loans?

The scenario is worsened by the 2020 national budget. The Legislature raised what was presented by the Executive from N10.59 trillion to N10.81 trillion. Although the Executive reviewed revenue projections by 39 per cent, from N8.41 trillion to N5.08 Trillion (in the aftermath of Covid-19) it lacked the will to curb the bloated N4.49 trillion recurrent expenditure (reversed only N25 Billion) thereby allowing deficit to balloon from N2.20 trillion to N5.20 trillion, to be financed by further borrowing of N4.43 trillion!

The N2.5 trillion provision for Debt Service (what is due and must be paid to creditors) amounts to 50 per cent of the revised revenue estimate of N5.08 trillion which exceeds both the 25 per cent limit set by the Fiscal Responsibility Act and the 22.5 per cent recommended by the World Bank for Debt Service to Revenue Ratio.

(Actual debt service amounted to 99 percent of revenues for the Second Quarter of 2020, going by reports) Nigeria is now like a family that has to borrow even to eat, not to talk of basic schooling or housing, because all earnings have gone to creditors sitting on her neck!

In simple terms, debt trap begins where you cannot meet debt service and other critical recurrent expenditures without borrowing. We have crossed the threshold into that quagmire now.

Hyper-inflation, devaluation and other upheavals could only be averted by a miraculous rebound in crude oil revenues!

The Minister of Finance begs the question by rationalising the borrowing spree with her purported 21 per cent Debt to GDP Ratio, relative to the universally acceptable 50 - 55 per cent.

She ought to know that GDP-based ratios could only be presumed for dynamic economies, with efficient allocation and domestic capacity to respond promptly to government spending and other measures to drive the economy to a new equilibrium.

It is the debt to revenue ratio that applies to inelastic, mono-product and import-dependent

Oniha economies like ours. Transition is not imminent either. Our rulers are primarily interested in measures for clinging to power. The ones for economic transformation are secondary and half-hearted.

Even more worrisome is the slide into the Chinese peculiar debt trap. Having developed technological cum economic and financial muscle, China is frantically positioning to compete with the United States as the super power. Currently, her major challenges are: territory, for redistribution of its large population and for military bases; and natural resources, for its industries. Africa has both in abundance.

To capture Africa, China is doling out infrastructure development loans which it knows full well that most of the countries cannot repay. It does not care much about financial viability or prudence, which is what most African leaders like. But each project must be executed by the Chinese (without much technology transfer) and China, the lender, must repossess the underlying infrastructure upon loan default! Some countries have already fallen into the trap. In the case of Nigeria, China’s EXIM Bank was quick to dole out N17.06 Billion where both the African Development Bank and the World Bank were hesitant!

With the perennial slide in crude oil and the impending recession, how would these countries repay the bloated loans? Africa is unable to withstand the more benevolent Western creditors.

How would it deal with deadly China (that does not spare its own citizens) in a default? China is about to enslave Africa! The West would be helpless. It is Africa that has to wean itself of laxity and gullibility. Foreign aid and loans are not designed to accomplish much without the sagacity of the beneficiary!

Nigeria, in particular, is not supposed to be a desperate borrower. It could be prosperous by just producing enough food and processing crude oil into petrochemicals and fuels. Adding functional education and health systems then makes it Eldorado. This can be facilitated by restructuring such that federating units compellingly leverage on repossessed natural resources and comparative advantages to compete and diversify production, to raise the GDP and reposition the economy. But our rulers are not interested.

The government is not even seen to be serious in curbing cost and maximizing revenues from the limited sources, not to talk of diversification. For instance, the country’s share from joint venture oil revenues could be doubled by clearing the racket in production cost, which must be the highest in the world. It has all been mere talk but no action. It has allowed the genocide of militant herdsmen and bandits against farmers, throughout the country, to fester. Famine looms to complicate the cashflow situation. The opaque ‘security’ votes and predatory severance packages of governors and other political office holders, the uncountable personal and special assistants and the obscene remuneration of legislators are still there, just as jamboree travels and conferences, e. t. c. Those in government live in a world of their own, with the larger part of the national budget spent frivolously on recurrent expenditure! In the 2020 Budget, for example, N9.00 Billion would be spent to renovate the National Assembly, for over-remunerated legislators to enjoy cozy office suites, when there are no drugs and equipment in teaching hospitals!

Let the APC-led government consult Dr John Magufuli (President of Tanzania) and Mr. Peter Obi (former governor of Anambra State) on how to tame recurrent expenditure and grow and conserve revenues. It does not require jamboree conferences. Let it halt the borrowing spree which will rupture Nigeria!

MONDAY JUNE 22, 2020 • T H I S D AY

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IMAGES

T H I S D AY ˞ ͰͰ˜ Ͱ͎Ͱ͎

Photo Editor ĂŒĂ“Ă™ĂŽĂ&#x;Ă˜ ÔËÖË Email Ă‹ĂŒĂ“Ă™ĂŽĂ&#x;Ă˜Ë›Ă‹Ă”Ă‹Ă–Ă‹ĚśĂžĂ’Ă“Ă?ĂŽĂ‹ĂŁĂ–Ă“Ă Ă?Ë›Ă?Ù×

R-L: Commissioner for Finance, Plataeu State, Dr. (Mrs) Regina Soemlat; Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Victor Lapang; and Commissioner for Lands, Survey and Town Planning, Yakubu Dati, during inspection of some school projects at the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), in Jos...recently

President Muhammadu Buhari (right) and New President of Burundi, Major-General Evariste Ndayishimiye during a visit to Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja...recently PHOTO: STATE HOUSE

L-R: Dr. A.B.C. Orjiakor; Minister. of State for Petroleum.Chief Timipre Sylva; Deputy Governor of Imo State,Prof. Placid Njoku; and Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, at the foundation laying ceremony of an Infectious Disease Hospital at IMSUTH, Orlu, Imo State...recently

R-L: Representative of the Chief of the Air Sta and Chief of Administration, AVM Muhammad Idris presents an award to an outstanding trainee during a combined graduation of 86 personnel on sundry courses at the Military Training Centre (MTC), in Kaduna...recently

L-R; Chairman, House of Representatives, Committee on Diaspora, Hon. Tolupe Sadipe; Assistant Comptroller General, border management, Nigerian Immigration Service, Mrs. Josephine Kwazo and Comptroller, Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Nigerian Immigration Service, Mrs. Sa’adat Hassan during the oversight visit to Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport on the issue of Human TraďŹƒcking in Abuja...recently

L-R: Tosin Adefeko, Founder, Managing Partner – AT3 Resources presenting Most Admired Media Brand Nigeria Award to DStv, received by Martin Mabutho, Chief Customer OďŹƒcer, MultiChoice Nigeria with Feyi Olubodun, Founder and Managing Partner: Open Squares, during the ranking of Nigeria’s Best Brands hosted by Open Squares and MultiChoice Nigeria in Lagos...recently

L-R: Prof Temitope Alonge; Oyo State Governor, Mr. Seyi Makinde; Secretary to the State Government, Mrs Olubamiwo Adeosun; and Head of Service, Mrs Ololade Agboola, during the governor inspection of General Hospital, Saki, Oyo State....recently

Human Rights Commission Lagos State OďŹƒce, stage a roadwalk rally against rape and sexual/gender based violence, in Lagos...recently

29

T H I S D AY Ëž JUNE 22, 2020

CITYSTRINGS

Group Features Editor: Chiemelie Ezeobi Email chiemelie.ezeobi@thisdaylive.com, 08038901925

Building Partnerships Towards World Ocean Sustenance Chiemelie Ezeobi writes that the 2020 World Hydrography Day was targeted at building veritable partnerships towards the sustenance of the world oceans through technology

I

t’s known fact that over 90 per cent of the world’s trade is conducted by the sea, and this is, by far, the most cost-effective way to move large quantity of goods and raw materials around the world.

Thus, it would be safe to say that world economies have been hugely dependent on various maritime activities. Daily, about 180,000 vessels take to sea, 30 million tons of goods are ferried across the world; ports are built, coastal infrastructure are developed, coasts are defended, marine environmental plans are implemented. Also, cables carrying data run the length and breadth of the earth, enabling more than 3.7 billion humans use the internet daily.

One of the unseen forces that makes these possible is a hydrographer. Without the services of hydrographers, who provide charts and other nautical publications, voyages through the sea would have become a nightmare to captains of ships, who need to move goods and services from one part of the world to the order in a safe and economical way.

Thus, it’s only pertinent that a day is dedicated in a year to celebrate these crop of people. Known as the World Hydrography Day (WHD), it’s marked every June 21 and was adopted by the International Hydrographic Organisation as an annual celebration to publicise the work of hydrographers and the importance of hydrography.

In essence, the WHD presents an opportunity to increase public awareness on the vital role that hydrography plays in the socio-economic development of littoral nations.

Usually, the day is marked with lectures and seminars but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this year, the day was marked online with a release by the Hydrographer of the Nigerian Navy, Rear Admiral Emeka Okafor.

Hydrography as Force Multiplier This year’s WHD was themed “Hydrography - enabling autonomous technologies" and for Rear Admiral Okafor, who also doubles as the President, Nigerian Hydrographic Society (NHS), hydrography is a force multiplier to human survival and sustainability.

Speaking on �Hydrography and TechnologyA Veritable Partnership Towards the Sustenance of the World Oceans�, he said as the world grapples with COVID-19 pandemic, and tries to curb its spread through physical distancing, the need for use of newer technology in the field of hydrography arises now more than ever, in order to achieve maximum results, while at the same time reducing the risk of transmission between persons.

He said this is why the theme for this year's WHD celebration could not have been more apt, adding that “from the era of depth acquisition using lead and lines, to more recent technology of multibeam echosounders, the evolution and advancement in the science of hydrography have been rapid and decisive. “In today’s hydrographic practice, attention is increasingly shifting to the use of autonomous technologies such as Autonomous Surface Vehicles (ASV), Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUV) and flying drones to acquire high accuracy, high-resolution marine geospatial information to meet evolving hydrographic applications. “From the use of hydrography, primarily as a tool to ensure safety of navigation for marine transport; the increasing need for sustainable use of the ocean for economic growth has further expanded hydrographic applications to offshore wind farming, coastal zone management, as well as, offshore exploration and exploitation of mineral resources�.

Accordingly, he said most developed Hydrographic Offices are developing autonomous hydrographic capabilities for national and global Blue Economy programmes, with the United States’ National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Office of Coast Survey (OCS), the United Kingdom Hydrographic Office (UKHO) and French Hydrographic Office (SHOM), leading the charge.

In the light of the current pandemic, he noted

L-R: President Nigerian Hydrographic Society and Hydrographer of the Navy, Rear Admiral Emeka Okafor; Chief of Naval Sta, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas and MD Nigerian Ports Authority, Hadiza Bala Usman during the commissioning of the ďŹ rst indigenous maritime chart last year that NOAA’s OCS is deploying unmanned survey launches and survey vessels to work in the most treacherous weather and ocean conditions, with their survey crew members operating remotely.

Vital Role of the Navy Over the years, the Nigerian Navy, in line with her constitutional roles, has been building both human and material capacities to enable her provide hydrographic services that meets international standard. These efforts have paid off.

In recent times, he said the Nigerian Navy Hydrographic Office (NNHO) has ramped up its hydrographic capabilities with several first-of-its-kind products to support Nigeria’s Blue Economy project. This was seen during the last WHD when the NNHO published the first indigenous navigational chart ever produced by Nigeria; NG 2501 (Lagos Harbour Chart) with much fanfare. “This feat completed Nigeria’s hydrographic capacity development as required by the IHO. As at today, the office has published the second edition of the chart, incorporating recent navigational significant changes that have taken place within the channel. The office has also published the second indigenous navigational chart, NG 4401 (Ogunkobo to Tin Can Island) at a time when it was most needed, primarily because the water within the area had hitherto never been charted and had recently witnessed several marine accidents. “Early this month, the NNHO and indeed Nigeria, recorded another mile stone in hydrographic capabilities, with the acceptance and publication of Nigeria’s first Electronic Navigational Chart (ENC), NG525010, by the International Center for ENC (IC-ENC).

The electronic version of Nigeria’s Second indigenous navigational chart; NG 4401 is set to be released soon. “As the Nigeria Navy is ready to induct a state-of-the art offshore survey vessel, with autonomous capabilities in the next few months, the NNHO is fully poised to provide up-to-date marine geo-spatial information of Nigerian waters to diverse maritime operators, for enhanced economic growth of our dear nation. “To this end, the NNHO has increased collaborations with developed Hydrographic Offices like NOAA, UKHO and SHOM, in order to tap from their experiences toward churning out new nautical products and solutions in the most internationally acceptable format. “Accordingly, the NNHO will soon release to the public, a suite of new generation navigational services such as High Density (HD) charts and high-resolution bathymetry

products among others. “As the national charting authority in Nigeria, theNNHO is also collaborating with the hydrographic industry’s best under the umbrella of the Nigerian Hydrographic Society (NHS). This is for the purpose of improving the standard of hydrographic practice, methods and technologies among private hydrographic practitioners so that Nigeria can draw maximum benefits from the Crowd Sourced Bathymetric initiative of the IHO. “This would go a long way to facilitate quicker survey and chart coverage of Nigerian waters, and ultimately place Nigeria on the right stead towards actualising the Nippon Foundation/GEBCO seabed 2030 project.“ Autonomous Technologies On the need for autonomous technology in hydrographic applications, he said to achieve and ensure these processes are being brought to the forefront, we as a nation, and indeed all hydrographic community must come onboard to ensure the sustenance, protection and preservation of our oceans ecosystems and the blue economy as a whole.

Also, since hydrography plays a pivotal role in autonomous technologies, autonomous platforms such as autonomous surface vehicles (ASV), autonomous underwater vehicles (AUV) and Lidar-equipped unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), such as drones can be used to conduct hydrographic surveys.

In doing so, hydrography provides a testing ground for these technologies, while at the same time increasing the coverage of adequately surveyed areas. As a knock-on effect, these initiatives will pave the way for the development of safe, secure and environmentally sound Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships (MASS) operations under the auspices.

These new technologies are drivers for the roll-out of new generation navigational services such as High Density (HD) charts and high-resolution bathymetry and the NNHO is keen to partner HOs such as National ocean administration OAA and United Kingdom Hydrographic Office who already have rolled out these services.

This informed the decision of the Naval high command to equip the newly acquired 60 OCEA Hydrographic Survey Vessel with a hybrid manned and autonomous survey equipment. Some of these include AUVs and ROVs, which would ensure complete survey coverage of most of the hard-to-reach areas of Nigeria's maritime environment.

These acquisitions are to build on the recent achievement of the Nigerian Navy in the area of hydrographic survey and navigational

chart production.

About Hydrography Hydrography is the branch of applied sciences which deals with the measurement and description of the physical features of oceans, seas, coastal areas, lakes and rivers, as well as with the prediction of their change over time.

Hydrographers conduct hydrographic surveys to measure the depth and bottom configuration of water bodies. They also measure and search for rocks and wrecks that could be hazardous to navigation as well as collect information on water levels, tides, currents, temperature and salinity.

Accurate and reliable hydrographic data/ information has application in various sectors of the development of a maritime nation.

These include maritime transport, defence, boundaries delimitation, coastal tourism, recreational sailing, offshore industries, fisheries, marine parks, marine environmental protection and real estate. Others are inland water transport, oceanography, continental shelf claims under article 76 of the UNCLOS, ports and harbours and coastal industrial projects The work of hydrographers is regulated worldwide by the International Hydrographic Office(IHO). The principal aim of this organisation is to ensure that the world's seas, oceans and navigable waters are adequately surveyed and charted. Through its rules and recommendations, the IHO contributes towards achieving standardisation in the field of hydrography.

It connects national hydrographic offices and coordinates their activities to promote safe navigation all over the world's seas. Also, they strive to achieve uniformity in documents and procedures used by Hydrographic Offices and in the development of sciences in the field of hydrography.

It enjoys observer status at the United Nations, where it is the recognised competent authority on hydrographic surveying and nautical charting and has expanded from an initial 19 Member States in 1921 to currently 90 States. As a coastal state with a vast maritime area, Nigeria became a proud member on May 31, 1976 and had since been a significant actor within the IHO. Nigeria is currently the chairman of the East Atlantic Hydrographic Commission (EAtHC), one of the 15 Regional Hydrographic Commissions created by the IHO to promote hydrographic cooperation at the regional level. The NN through the Nigerian Navy Hydrographic Office (NNHO) represents Nigeria at the IHO.

30

T H I S D AY ˞ ͰͰ˜ 2020

BUSINESS/MONEYGUIDE

SON Approves 168 New Standards Chris Uba The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) governing council has approved 168 new standards for publication and dissemination to various sectors of the economy.

The move is in furtherance of the federal government’s economic diversification policy.

Rising from a virtual meeting chaired by the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment (FMITI), Nasir Sani-Gwarzo, the Council also put its seal on the first ever Nigerian National Standardisation Strategy (NNSS) 2020 – 2022, developed by SON to identify priority areas to focus on, based on national needs assessment.

According to Sani-Gwarzo, the document is accompanied by a National Implementation Plan that gives orientation for national standardisation work within the three years duration.

The NNSS, according to him, has identified a total of 658 standardisation projects in key priority areas classified by economic sectors as highlighted in federal government’s Economic

Recovery Growth Plan (ERGP), the Nigerian Industrial Revolution Plan (NIRP) and other related national strategic plans.

The SON Council Chairman described the establishment of the NNSS as an outstanding and epoch- making achievement of the Director General and his Management, for which the Council gave a unanimous commendation.

He also commended the SON management for resolving all promotion arrears, conducting staff promotion exercises as at when due and the resolve to go ahead with the 2020 promotion exercise in spite of the challenges of the coronavirus pandemic.

Sani-Gwarzo conveyed the Council’s approval of the request for the conduct of the 2020 promotion exercise with innovative latitude to ensure compliance with the infection prevention and control measures put in place by the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) not later than August 2020.

Welcoming the Council members’ earlier, the Director General, SON, Osita Aboloma enumerated the organisation’s

role and support for the federal government’s response to the pandemic as including leveraging on its international collaboration to make necessary and relevant international standards available to local manufacturers at no cost.

The organisation has also waived charges relating to importation of essential materials while also fast tracking the process, he said.

Aboloma stated that SON has also been providing necessary technical quality assurance support to local manufacturers involved in the manufacture of Personal Protective Equipment required for the prevention and control of COVID-19 Nationwide, through its State offices.

Commenting on the approved 168 Nigerian Industrial Standards by the Council after the meeting, the SON Chief Executive enumerated them as 64 for Electrical/Electronic products; 53 for Chemical Technology; 47 for Food and Agricultural products; 3 for Civil/Building Technology products as well as the reviewed standard for Hotel and Serviced Accommodation Management System and Rating – Requirements and Guidance for Use.

‘How Jumia Impacted SMEs During Lockdown’ Emma Okonji The Chief Executive Officer of Jumia Nigeria, Mr. Massimiliano Spalazzi has said the e-commerce company, made a sustainable impact on Nigeria’s economy during COVID-19 lockdown, which helped to sustain SMEs and consumers in Nigeria to save money and time.

Spalazzi, who gave the information during the eighth anniversary press conference of Jumia Nigeria online marketplace operations, which held online recently, with the theme ‘Stronger Together’, said the company contributed immensely to the growth and capacity building of SMEs in Nigeria since inception, especially during the recent lockdown imposed by the government in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. “During the recent lockdown period, more brands came online to partner with Jumia by putting their products and services on the Jumia platform to take advantage of the advertising offers on Jumia

Advertising. “Within the period, we focused our attention on safety as much as possible to ensure safe delivery of products from our platform. “We implemented contactless delivery, and helped by JumiaPay, which allows customers to pay for the product before it is delivered or pay at the doorstep through a contactless approach,� Spalazzi further said.

According to him, “In the last few months, we’ve seen that e-commerce is crucial to the Nigerian economy. We have seen more people shifting their activities online at a faster pace, working and shopping are coming online faster than we thought and never like before. “We saw new and returning customers coming on our platform to shop from the safety of their home.�

The Chief Commercial Officer at Jumia Nigeria, Omolola Oladunjoye, also informed the audience that Jumia has put together various promotional offers to entice and reward its

new and existing customers. She listed Samsung, Dettol, Nexus, Intel, HP and Unilever as some of the brand partners for the anniversary campaign. “These two-week promotional offers, which will commence on 22 June, will see many new and existing customers win various freebies, buy items at highly discounted prizes of up to 99 percent, as well as enjoy free delivery on most of the items,� she said.

On the promotional offers, Spalazzi explained that the anniversary would be a celebration of solidarity targeted at benefiting customers, partners and sellers on the platform. “The core of Jumia anniversary will focus on customers and partners. We want to empower existing sellers and businesses to benefit on the Jumia anniversary.

This is one of the times we generate more traffic and we want vendors to benefit from more sales, and we will onboard new businesses throughout this period,� Spalazzi said.

GNIPartnersOgunSecurityTrustFund Ebere Nwoji Underwriting firm, Great Nigeria Insurance Plc, said it is partnering with the Ogun State Security Trust Fund to ensure effective discharge of its duty of securing lives and properties in the state.

The company, said it is doing this through donations as part of its strategic corporate social eesponsibility (CSR) initiatives.

The Managing Director/CEO of the company, Mrs. Cecilia Osipitan, said as a socially responsible corporate entity, the company’s donation was in fulfillment of its resolve to support causes that will help create a safer and better society.

She stated that the partnership with the government was focused on ensuring that the desired secu-

rity stance is maintained within the state and its environs. She also said that the donation was informed by the need to boost the Security Fund’s operation, saying security was essential to economic development.

She reaffirmed continuous support to the Ogun State Security Trust Fund (OSTF) in actualising its main objective which is to maintain the security and welfare of citizens in building a safe community.

Osipitan, commended Ogun State government under Governor, Dapo Abiodun for encouraging an enabling environment for businesses in the State, particularly pointing out the remarkable improvement in security across the state.

According to her, the Ogun State Security Trust Fund has

witnessed great re-engineering

by Governor Abiodun which will greatly impact on the operations of the security initiative. She therefore encouraged other private sector stakeholders to increase their contribution in funding the state’s security initiative.

While acknowledging the improved security situation in Ogun State, Osipitan, lauded the leadership style of Governor Abiodun, likening the state to a business enterprise being efficiently managed by its Chief Executive Officer. Speaking, the Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun said the Security Trust Fund was established in 2011 as a public-private partnership for the improvement of security in the state.

Aboloma

MARKET INDICATORS MONEY AND CREDIT STATISTICS

(MILLION NAIRA)

SEPTEMBER 2019 Money Supply (M3)

35,029,779.72

-- CBN Bills Held by Money Holding Sectors

7,374,356.91

Money Supply (M2)

27,655,422.82

-- Quasi Money

116,533,891.21

-- Narrow Money (M1)

11,121,531.60

---- Currency Outside Banks

1,625,047.69

---- Demand Deposits

9,496,483.91

Net Foreign Assets (NFA)

13,911,335.83

Net Domestic Assets(NDA)

21,118,443.89

-- Net Domestic Credit (NDC)

35,918,179.45

---- Credit to Government (Net)

10,452,199.38

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

11,007,422.79

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

25,465,980.07

---- Credit to Private Sector (CPS)

-14,799,735.56

--Other Assets Net

7,000,253.07

Reserve Money (Base Money

2,005,600.83

--Currency in Circulation

4,677,530.81

--Banks Reserves

317,121.43

Ëž Ă™Ă&#x;ĂœĂ?Ă? Ě‹

Money Market Indicators (in Percentage) Month Inter-Bank Call Rate

March 2018 15.16

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

14.00

Treasury Bill Rate

11.84

Savings Deposit Rate

4.07

1 Month Deposit Rate

8.82

3 Months Deposit Rate

9.72

6 Months Deposit Rate

10.93

12 Months Deposit Rate

10.21

Prime Lending rate

17.35

Maximum Lending Rate

31.55

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

OPEC DAILY BASKET PRICE Ëœ ÍŻÍś Í°ÍŽÍ°ÍŽ

The price of OPEC basket of thirteen crudes stood at $37.70 a barrel on Thursday, compared with $37.59 the previous day, according to OPEC Secretariat calculations.

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

SOURCE: OPEC headquarters, Vienna

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T H I S D AY ˞ ͰͰ˜ Ͱ͎Ͱ͎

MARKET NEWS

Fidson Healthcare Shareholders to Receive 15kobo Dividend Goddy Egene The board of directors of Fidson Healthcare Plc has recommended a dividend of 15 kobo per 50 kobo share for the year ended December 31, 2019.

The healthcare firm recovered from a loss in 2018 to a profit after tax (PAT) of N312 million for the year ended December 31, 2019. The company posted a revenue of N14.062 billion in 2019, compared with N16.229

billion in 2018.

Cost of sale was reduced from N9.910 billion to N8.195 billion, while administrative expenses fell from N2.614 billion to N2.580 billion. Similarly, selling and distribution expenses were reduced from N1.905 billion to N1.446 billion, making the company to end with an operating profit of N2.118 billion, up from N2.048 billion.

A 10 per cent decline in cost of finance from N1.925 billion

P R I C E S MAIN BOARD

F O R DEALS

to N1.716 billion, enhanced its bottom-line as the company recorded PAT of N312 million in 2019, compared with a loss of N97.44 million in 2018.

According to analysts, the company’s performance reflected the impact of the equity injection the company witnessed towards the end of last year that helped to reduce the financing cost.

Fidson Healthcare Plc last year successfully raised N2.345 billion equity capital

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

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N )

from existing shareholders to boost its operations.

The Chairman of the company, Mr. Segun Adebanji told shareholders that the capital raise was towards refinancing expensive debt and working capital funding in a bid to improve its margins.

According to him, cost optimisation alongside market penetration strategy were a few of many initiatives to sustain growth and return

T R A D E D MAIN BOARD

A S

value to shareholders that the company is currently pursuing.

Adebanji noted that Fidson continued to strengthen its operating facilities with expansion and retooling. ‘’Old machines and equipment have been disused and replaced with modern ones.

We are currently expanding our capacity utilization through increased production and contract manufacturing for other notable companies in

O F

the industry,’’ he said.

He also said the company was poised to reposition the business through business realignment and useful industry collaboration in order to take advantage of the growth opportunities in the market, stressing that “We are currently expanding our capacity utilization through increased production and contract manufacturing for other notable companies in the industry.�

1 6 / 0 6 / 2 0 2 0 DEALS

MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N)

32

T H I S D AY ˞ ͰͰ˜ Ͱ͎Ͱ͎

FEATURES

Group Features Editor: Chiemelie Ezeobi Email chiemelie.ezeobi@thisdaylive.com, 08038901925

Cushioning COVID-19 Burden among Nigerians Since the start of COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria, Emmanuel Chapel has continued to exercise its art of giving, with its most recent gesture being the donation of medical and other supplies to the Armed Forces and some states of the federation. Davidson Iriekpen writes

A representative of the Armed Forces, Col. Anyogo (left), receiving 105 PPE from Rev. Ajayi PHOTOS: ETOP UKUTT

Ilu (left), who represented Kano Against COVID-19, receiving 1,000 packs of food items for Kano State

A representative of Edo State government, Shegum Alabi (left), receiving 1,000 packs of food items from the church

OďŹƒcials of Ogun State government, Ogundairo and Adewumi, receiving 1,000 packs of food items

A

s COVID-19 pandemic continues to take its toll on Nigeria with its debilitating effects seen in all facets of life, a lot of corporate, non-governmental organisations, individuals and churches have been stepping forward to see how that could help the federal government and its agencies, as well as the state governments to stem the tide of the scourge.

One of such organisations providing support is Emmanuel Chapel in Banana Island, Lagos. The church, since the beginning of the pandemic has not relented helping alleviate the sufferings of the masses, as well as help the governments to contain the spread of the deadly virus Last week in Lagos, the church took its art of reaching out to a different level when it donated 105 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to the Armed Force. The items, which included face-hood, surgical masks, pairs of gloves, pairs of head covers, two pairs of shoe covers, among others, were meant to augment the collective efforts in the country against the pandemic Handing the supplies to the Commander, Central Medical Stores, Nigerian Army, Col. Sylvester Anyogo, the Chaplain of the church, Prof. Konyin Ajayi, said the church chose the Armed Forces because they are important in the affairs of the country from the creation, and served the citizens in very many ways. He added that the military consists of people who have sacrificed all they have to keep Nigerians safe, secure and to ensure that the economy remains prosperous.

Ajayi, who is also a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), noted that not only have men of the Armed Forces helped in no small measure to ensure that the country is united, they have also contributed immensely in tackling the unseen war caused by the COVID-19 pandemic by rising to do what they do best because they are ones that fight all the wars. He further expressed gratitude to them for all they have done for the country.

He said: “We believe that the Armed Forces

are very important in the affairs of our nation from the creation of the nation, and they have served us in very many ways. “These are people that have sacrificed all they have to keep us safe, secure and to ensure that our economy remains prosperous. They ensure that our nation is united but more importantly, with this unseen war that we face in the nation. They have risen to do what they do best because they are the ones that fight all our wars. “We know that they have contributed medical facilities for our use. Their research corps has invented a respirator and they have a taskforce that is also committed to fighting COVID-19, headed by Major General Irabor. So I will be presenting to the Chief of Defence Staff through Col. Anyaogu who is the Acting Commander, Central Medical Stores,105 units of this, for use by the military corps. “We are grateful for the opportunity to contribute to your sacrifice to the nation. We believe that we must continue to serve this country because this is what we are there to do. And to do this irrespective of race or creed or religion or state or tribe, we are one people, we are one nation, and nobody represents that better than the Armed Forces,� he said.

This was not all. At the presentation, packs of food items that can feed over 6,000 homes were donated to Kano, Edo, Ekiti, Ogun, and Lagos states for distribution to ease their suffering.

While each of the states got 1,000 packs, Lagos got 2,000 packs. Each pack of food can feed a family of six for five to seven days.

Also, Emmanuel Chapel used the connectional system of the Methodist Church to reach poor people in the densely populated areas of Lagos.

Through the diocese of Methodist Church in Agege, Mushin, Badagry and others, thousands of distributions were made to homes to cushion the effect of the restriction of movements during the pandemic.

At the event, Prof. Ajayi revealed that this was not the first time Emmanuel Chapel would embark on its goodwill donations. He noted that the beginning of the pandemic over 13 weeks ago when Lagos had only three respirators,

it gave the state six respirators. Other items which were received by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu himself included four beds, gloves and masks.

The neighbouring Ogun State was not left out as many hospital equipment and PPEs were donated for their use to tackle the pandemic.

Representatives of the states who received their items on behalf of their governments thanked Emmanuel Chapel for the gesture.

For instance, receiving the items on behalf of the Kano against COVID-19, the Chief Executive of Ultimate Gas, Auwalu Ilu, said he was particularly happy that the donations came from a church to the people of Kano. He added that the gesture would further demonstrate the level of the church’s religious tolerance. “We are really delighted and happy that Emmanuel Chapel under the leadership of Prof.

Ajayi, deemed it fit to give this contribution to Kano. And I am particularly happy being a donation that is coming from church to the people of Kano. This will further demonstrate the level of our religious tolerance and the fact that we are our brothers’ keeper. I'm so happy that the church in Lagos is giving this donation to the people of Kano for the purpose of alleviating the suffering of the people dealing with COVID-19,� he said.

Asked what was the spirit behind the donation, Prof. Ajayi said his church was basically doing what the Christian faith was all about, which is ensuring that people love their neighbours as themselves.

He said: “The spirit behind what Emmanuel Chapel is doing is what the Christian faith is all about which is about ensuring that you love your neighbour as yourself. Nigerians are suffering from the effects of COVID-19. There are millions of people that are hungry. There are millions of people that are in poverty. We cannot therefore as a church stand by and see our fellow human beings suffer irrespective of states where they come, the tribe to which they belong, the religion to which they subscribe. “For us, they are human beings and the grace of God, as far as we know, is for all men. And therefore we have done this to

demonstrate our love to our fellow men, to Nigerians like us that are suffering. Christ in His time did the same, and what God tells us all time is that we must care for the hungry, for the sick, for the widows, for the orphans, and this is exactly what intend to do with food for 6,000 homes.�

Ajayi prayed for the pandemic to end quickly, while also advising Nigerians to always ensure that they stay safe. He also asked the governments to come up with urgent plans that alleviate poverty. “What we pray for is that this pandemic will end quickly, and that our government should come up with plans that will ensure that people do not suffer. People are dying, and some are suffering. And so it is important that we must use those things God has given us. He has given us wisdom and spirit of discernment. “So our message to fellow Nigerians is that they should not assume the grace of God, they should take their destiny in their own hands. They should therefore be safe, they should observe all the public health rules that we are told about. So they should wear their masks, observe social distance and observe good hygiene conditions because it appears that we are beginning to rest on our oars as if there was nothing wrong,� he added.

An observer, Mr. Kennedy Osifo, said the donations by Emmanuel Chapel, particularly to Kano State, was highly commendable. He urged other churches to emulate the chapel for reaching out to the people in over 700 kilometres from Lagos. “Kano State is over 700 kilometres from Lagos.

How a church in Lagos would remember that the people in faraway Kano need food baffles me especially at a time when churches are still looking for a way to task their members during this pandemic. In fact, this gesture is exemplary. “This is what churches should be doing. This is what Jesus Christ said we should all do. Not take, and take from people. I really commend Emmanuel Chapel. I am so delighted for this.

God bless Emmanuel Chapel,� Osifo said.

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T H I S D AY ˞ ͰͰ˜ Ͱ͎Ͱ͎

FEATURES

At IďŹ ang Ayong, Ayade Restores Dignity of Bakassi People Chidi Onyemaizu

S

tanding at the bank of the river, the Republic of Cameroon coldly stares at Ifiang Ayong, a sleepy riverine community in Bakassi Local Government Area of Cross River State.

In fact, Ifiang Ayong is cut off from the rest of Nigeria in terms of telecommunication network connections. It is not connected to any of the telecom networks operating in Nigeria. Rather, what appears on your mobile phone is MTN Orangeoperating from Cameroon.

So, on this misty Friday, May 29, 2020, Ifiang Ayong, came alive as dignitaries from all walks of life massed there to witness an epochal and life- changing event.

On the left, adjacent the bank of the river separating Cross River from Cameroon is an ultra-modern Estate comprising 52 units of 2-bedroom bungalows built by Governor Ben Ayade.

He did not build it for commercial purposes; the sprawling Estate, fully furnished and complete with essential amenities is the new home to the displaced Bakassi people who lost their ancestral land, homes and livelihoods to the Republic of Cameroon in 2002 following the ceding of the Peninsula to Central Africa country.

The long suffering displaced people who have lived in squalid conditions in a primary School in Akpabuyo for many years, are to own the houses in perpetuity thus bringing their misery to end.

And so, as the displaced Bakassi indigenes arrived Ifiang Ayong to begin a new life, many of them, pointing towards the direction of the river could be heard, marooned in nostalgic murmurings, intermittently reeling out names of what was once their towns and villages, just across the river in Cameroon were tombs and bones of their ancestors still lay.

As they called out the names of the settlements they had abandoned and fled into safety in Nigeria, droplets of tears could be seen cascading down cheeks of many of them.

Ecstasy was palpable as they made their way into the Estate. Their emotions were a cyclone of twisting agony borne over the years as vividly exhibited by an octogenarian IDP who could not hide both her joy and agony.

Dressed in a faded white top over a partly torn wrapper, the old woman mutters few words in Efik and then directs a gaze skyward with hands stretched towards a 2-bedroom bungalow opposite.

Suddenly, she breaks into a slow-motion dance, her frail body grudgingly acceding.

Minutes later, she brings the dance to an abrupt stop as her mouth twists in a smile.

Just at that moment, a middle-aged woman whispers something to her and both women dissolve into tears.

Some metres away, men, women and children looking gaunt with sunken eyes, clad in faded clothes and armed some decrepit household items swarm round another bungalow.

Voices confessing admiration could be heard but they were not loud enough to drown the compere's own voice wafting from the public address system announcing the arrival of dignitaries.

It was a day that restored the dignity of a people who had been shabbily treated over the years.

Senator Florence Ita- Giwa, a prominent Bakassi indigene, who has been stridently championing the cause of the displaced people wept as Governor Ayade, assisted by the Obong of Calabar, His Eminence Edidem Ekpo Okon Abasi Otu V, handed over the keys to the buildings to the ecstatic beneficiaries.

Some of the beneficiaries, mostly looking frail, also shed tears of joy as keys to their houses were handed them.

There were more emotional scenes when a key to one of the houses was given to

Some excited beneďŹ ciaries of the housing estate for Bakassi people

L-R: Giwa, Ayade and one of the beneďŹ ciaries during the inauguration of housing estate for Bakassi people...recently one of the oldest IDP who is also a widow.

She could not contain her joy as Ayade shared a meal with her in her new house in addition to donating N500,000 to her.

Speaking at the event, Ayade expressed delight at the completion of the housing scheme and subsequent delivery to the displaced persons, adding that their suffering has always tugged at his heart.

"My first tears for the people of Bakassi was when I was a senator on the floor of the Nigerian Senate which prompted me to push for a bill for the establishment of social housing and the making of housing for all a right,� said Ayade.

Expressing delight at the realisation of the housing project, the governor said he feels “a sense of fulfillment to see my sons, my aunties, my mothers and fathers who lived in clustered accommodation in a primary school with mosquitoes feasting on them now moving into their new homes. “Today, by the grace of God, by the instrumentality of the holy ghost, we are here gathered to celebrate the plethora of opportunities where people will be living in a world-class estate."

The governor bemoaned the loss of the Peninsula, saying the ceding did not follow internationally prescribed process.

His words: "Today is not just about

the joy to the people of Bakassi, it is the supremacy of the governance of a sensitive people over the failure of the federal government to be responsible for the pain of the people of Bakassi.

"The ceding of Bakassi did not follow any legal authority. It is inconsistent with the provisions of our constitution because the Constitution is very clear that for you to cede any territory of Nigeria you must have a proper plebiscite, you must have the domestication of such ceding and ratified by the National Assembly. Until you do so whatever you have done is null and void."

Ayade stated that by resettling the returnees in decent houses, their misery has come to an end.

He announced the donation of N50 million and other economic incentives to them to enable them to earn a living. “This is the first social housing scheme in Nigeria in absolute terms where the ownership is in perpetuity, where the property is yours to keep forever. We will continue to expand it. This is not a shelter, this is housing. It has amenities, it has power, it has water, it has all the utilities you will need. It has solar lighting, it has the generator and the 3rd grid which is the national grid. But today I am going to assure you that we have acquired boats

which are by the waterside to enable you to do fishing for those who can fish.

"We have also made provisions for a take-off grant of N50 million to support all of you who live here who want to start small businesses. And the good news here is that I have no elections to run so you can see clearly this is not politics, it is from my heart. But I call on the people of Bakassi to be strong because your kids will grow to become leaders someday and when they grow they will do much more than I have done here today."

Ayade appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to fulfill his campaign promises to the Bakassi people whom he said have suffered untold neglects in the last 18 years.

Earlier, Senator Giwa who is the Chairman of the Resettlement Allocation Committee said her committee went through a rigorous process to ensure equitable allocation of the houses to the Internally Displaced Persons.

Describing the expansive estate as a "new city in a remote place," Senator Giwa thanked the governor for fulfilling his promise to Bakassi people.

-Onyemaizu is Senior Special Assistant on Print Media to Governor Ayade.

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NEWS XTRA

FG Not in a Hurry to Resume Train Operations, Says Amaechi The federal government has said there is no plan to commence immediate train services until the battle against the disease is won.

The Minister of Transportation, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi stated this yesterday on his verified Twitter handle, @ChibuikeAmaechi.

According to Amaechi, resumption of train services would comply with safety protocols, adding that until all passengers

must comply with such measures as wearing of nose masks, sanitize their hands and observe social distancing, train services would not take of.

“We are not in a hurry to start train operations because of the danger of COVID-19 spread.

When we start, all health and safety protocols must apply. You will not enter a train if you don’t adhere to our rules. The train will

not move if passengers do not comply,” he wrote.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has

announced the arrival of the last batch of railway coaches in the country.

According to the corporation,

the 40 coaches would be deployed to convey passengers along the Abuja-Kaduna, Lagos-Ibadan and Itakpe-Warri routes.

Work, according to the NRC has also resumed on the 27km Lagos Blue line which runs from Marina to Okokomaiko.

2,178 LAWMA Workers Resign, Demand Two Months Unpaid Salaries Rebecca Ejifoma No fewer than 2,178 workers of the Lagos State Management Waste Authority (LAWMA) from 66 routes of operations at the weekend protested and quit their jobs in demonstration against their two months unpaid salaries.

The peaceful protest led by the LAWMA contractor, Mrs. Ola Williams, popularly known as Iron Lady, held at the State House, Marina, Lagos, called on the new LAWMA Managing Director, Ibrahim Odumboni, to pay them their pending salaries of May and June as well as for April for some workers.

According to Williams, despite giving in their best in discharging their duties as sweepers of the state, even during the lockdown, those manning the 66 routes under her care from the 673 routes in Lagos are being maltreated.

“We are not treated well. Why would the 66 routes under my care be neglected? They are widows, single mothers and the aged, and left without money to care for themselves.

“We will go nowhere. We must get our salaries. I am ready to die for my people,” she protested.

Unanimously, she and all her workers, who sat on the ground outside the State House, chanted: “We quit. We are no longer interested in working.

Pay us our salaries.”

While the officials, mostly aged women, decried being

neglected and left to starve, they called on the First Lady of the state, Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, to come to their aid as a fellow woman.

“Our First Lady, Mrs. Ibijoke, as a fellow woman, please come to our aid. We need your intervention,” Willians lamented before the officials and armed security men manning the State House.

While speaking to the female government official, who addressed the leader of the protesters, she said: “All we want to know is when he is paying us.

We have heard this before. We are no longer working. We resign, and we want to know when he paying us.”

One of the women, Sherifat Yusuf, 60, decried profusely: “I beg you in the name of God, Mr. Governor, please pay us our salary. I have a sick husband to care for. He has stroke. Please pay us our money.”

While expressing her grievance, another woman, Mrs. Selimot Yusuf, 77, called on the state governor to have mercy on them, adding: “Have mercy on us, and pay us our money.

We are hungry. Please have mercy on us.”

And in their final submission, the entire workers unanimously dumped their uniform at the State House to further express their grievances.

Speaking to journalists, one of the protesters, Mrs. Olayemi Dada, said: “This act of dumping our uniforms symbolises that we are fed up. We quit. Give us our three months salaries.

NCC Set to Unveil Strategic Management Plan for 2020-2024 Emma Okonji In line with the objective of creating a seamless strategy to augment its effective management and regulation of the telecommunications sector, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), will on June 23, 2020, unveil a five-year (2020-2024) Strategic Management Plan(SMP).

The SMP is expected to leverage on the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS) as well as the new National Broadband Plan (NBP) 2020-2025 Roadmaps.

It will cover the guiding principles and act as the operations manual for the commission towards actualising the digital economy agenda of the federal government in the next five years.

The Director of Public Affairs at NCC, Dr. Henry Nkemadu, in a statement issued yesterday, said the SMP, which was developed

in-house with the stamp of the management and board, would be a vision document of the commission for planning, monitoring, analyzing and assessment of its goals and objectives in the next five years.

It will be resident in the Corporate Planning, Strategy and Risk Management Department, which will ensure that the contents of the document become the guiding principles for the commission in the next five years.

According to Nkemadu, the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Ibrahim Pantami, would unveil and launch the NCC Strategic Management Plan (SMP) 2020-2024 supported by the Chairman of the Board of Commissioners of the NCC, Professor Adeolu Akande, and the Executive Vice Chairman/ Chief Executive, Professor Umar Garba Danbatta. All members of the Board of Commissioners of NCC will be in attendance.

CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY...

L-R: Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi; Manager, Public Affairs, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Alhaji Aliyu Ja’afaru; and Managing Director, Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company, Mr. Bayo Ojulari, handing over COVID-19 medical equipment and consumables to the Lagos State Government at the Infectious Disease Hospital, Yaba...weekend

FG Pays N4.6bn Hazard Allowance to 55,031 Health Workers Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja The federal government has said that a total of 55,031 health workers in 35 hospitals and medical centres designated for COVID-19 have been paid special hazard allowances totalling N4,642,485,146.00 .

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, disclosed this at a press conference he addressed in Abuja yesterday shortly before the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD)

suspended its strike, which he described as inexplicable.

Mohammed was joined at the press conference by the Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire; and the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige.

He said the government had also paid N9 billion as premium for Group Life Insurance to all health workers.

He said the payment of COVID-19 special hazard inducement allowances was based on four templates: 50 per cent of Consolidated Basic Salary to all

workers in COVID-19 designated hospitals and centres; 40 per cent of Consolidated Basic Salary to health workers in nonCOVID-19 designated centres and hospitals; 10 per cent of Consolidated Basic Salary to non-health professionals engaged in those centres; and 20 per cent of Consolidated Basic Salary special allowance to all health workers directly managing COVID-19 patients in Treatment and Isolation Centres.

He explained that other matters relating to non-payment

of arrears dating as far back as 2014 or salaries owed by state governments were either in court or beyond the power of the Federal Ministry of Health to resolve.

He said, “despite the payment of the hazard allowance and the group life insurance, the provision of PPE as well as addressing other issues raised by the resident doctors, they still opted to proceed on strike.

“This is happening at a time the nation is battling a pandemic of immense proportions.

SERAP Sues Health Ministry, NCDC over COVID-19 Funds Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project has filed a lawsuit against Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, and Director General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu, over “their failure to account for public funds and other resources so far spent and used to combat the spread of COVID-19 in Nigeria.”

In a statement issued yesterday, SERAP said the suit was necessary after its Freedom of Information (FoI) requests dated March 27, 2020

to the Minister of Health and the NCDC were not responded to.

In the suit number FHC/ABJ/ CS/616/2020 filed last week at the Federal High Court, Abuja, SERAP sought “an order for leave to apply for judicial review and an order of mandamus to direct and compel the Minister of Health and the NCDC to publish details of the funds and resources from federal and state governments, and the private sector, as well as details of how the funds and resources have so far been spent

and used to combat COVID-19.”

The group urged the court to mandate the respondents to “disclose the details of exact funds and other resources allocated by the Nigerian authorities and private sector donations to the respondents to improve Nigeria’s health facilities to combat the spread of COVID-19 in Nigeria; details of spending and planned spending of any such funds, other resources and donations to combat the spread of COVID-19 in Nigeria.”

It noted that transparency in the use of COVID-19 money would help to reduce the risk of corruption or opportunism, build trust and engage Nigerians in the fight against coronavirus as well as safe lives.

“Nigerians have the right to know the details of spending of COVID-19 money, as this is essential to the fight against corruption, and will foster the development of democratic institutions and the rule of law in Nigeria,” the statement added.

Gbajabiamila Commends Resident Doctors for Calling off Strike Udora Orizu in Abuja The Speaker of the House of Representatives Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, has commended members of the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) for calling off their nationwide strike, saying the House leadership and members appreciate them for that.

The Speaker in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Lanre Lasisi, said by their action, the doctors have once again proven that they truly have Nigerians

at heart.

Gbajabiamila had met with the resident doctors on June 9, after which the House approved the sum of N4 billion as part of their hazard allowance and ensured it was included in the revised 2020 budget.

The resident doctors embarked on strike thereafter, but following further appeals and interventions by the Speaker and other wellmeaning Nigerians, the doctors called it off.

At their virtual extraordinary National Executive Council (NEC) meeting last Saturday, the NARD

leaders resolved to suspend the ongoing indefinite strike with effect from June 22, 2020 at 8 a.m.

The President of the Association, Aliyu Sokomba, in a statement issued yesterday, said the meeting was attended by over 300 members to consider the federal and state governments’ responses to the minimum demands over the strike that commenced on June 15, 2020.

They appreciated Gbajabiamila for his interventions that commenced with a meeting with stakeholders and culminated in the inclusion of N4billion as

hazard allowance in the revised 2020 national budget.

The statement read: ‘’We equally recognise the efforts of the Chairman, House Committee on Healthcare Services, Hon. Tanko Sununu, and members of the committee for their efforts at the resolution of the crisis.

The medical residency training funding has been included in the revised 2020 budget through the intervention of the Speaker, and will be implemented as soon as the budget is assented to by the president.

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Wike Kicks against Police Harassment of Ondo Dep Governor Davidson Iriekpen Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State last night berated the police for allegedly harassing the Ondo State Deputy Governor, Mr. Agboola Ajayi.

Wike in a statement signed by his Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mr. Paulinus Nsirim, said it was wrong for the Commissioner of Police, Ondo State, Mr. Salami Bolaji, to dabble into politics by denying Ajayi access to his residence because of his defection to another political party.

He described the act as unfortunate and condemnable in a democratically-elected government.

He said: “The Nigeria Governors’ Forum should rise to the occasion and demand that those behind actions that border on the infringement of constitutional rights be brought to book.

“I will continue to say the truth; it does not matter which

political party is erring. Look at the police reducing themselves to a level where politicians will now send them to infringe on the right of a deputy governor without regards to the fact that he has immunity.

“They removed a Commissioner of Police in Rivers State because of the Caverton Helicopters saga which had to do with persons whose COVID-19 status was not known during the lockdown in the state. So, what should happen to commissioner of police who stopped a democratically-elected deputy governor from entering his house simply because of the rumour that he wanted to defect to another political party.

“If that Commissioner of Police was in Rivers State, he would have been removed. This is part of the reasons people say I criticise the governors forum. It is not created for any political party; it should speak against constitutional infractions.

“A deputy governor linked to the purported rumour of defection has the right of freedom of association. What is the business of a commissioner of police?

“Nobody knows where we are headed in this country. It is unfortunate that we have different laws and rules for different people,” he said.

The governor wondered why Mr. Femi Falana was not quick to condemn the role played by the police in breaching the provisions of the Nigerian constitution in Ondo State, the same way he condemned actions taken by the Rivers State Government to save the lives of Rivers people from COVID-19 pandemic.

He said: “Human rights activists and people like Femi Falana are silent.

“Today, I call on Femi Falana to speak out about the violation of the fundamental human rights of the deputy governor of Ondo State.

Ndume Condemns Bogus Salaries Earned By N’Assembly Members Deji Elumoye in Abuja Former Senate Leader, Ali Ndume, has flayed the present presidential system of government being practiced in Nigeria ‘in which a few privileged public officials, including federal legislators, earn bogus salaries’.

He is also canvassing for the conduct of a referendum for Nigeria to switch from presidential to parliamentary system of government, as a means of cutting down the high cost of governance in the country.

Ndume, who stated this yesterday, wondered why a few selected public officials, including federal legislators, will be paid fantastic salaries as against the pittance being paid an average public worker.

He said: “In the current system, workers are not being paid living wages, whereas a privileged few are earning luxury wages. The National Assembly members, including me for instance, are paid luxury wages.

“How can we live comfortably when only a few of us are living a life of luxury when the majority is living in abject poverty? The

N30, 000 minimum wage is too small; it can make workers engage in corruption in order to survive.

“We have a budget of over N10 trillion and only 30 per cent is going to the majority whereas 70 per cent would be spent on a few minority. The system we presently practice is not fair in terms of moral, religious or socially.

The ranking Borno South senator said the change from presidential democracy to parliamentary system might be difficult for the current National Assembly to undertake because the present system is also in favour of the federal parliamentarians, saying it will be difficult for the system to be changed now because the National Assembly is solely responsible for lawmaking in the country and the amendments to the constitution.

According to Ndume, “The National Assembly may not provide the necessary support needed to amend the constitution to accommodate the proposal that the cost of governance should be critically examined.

“The excess power bestowed on an individual in the presidential

system of government can be abused and had even been abused by many occupants of the office. Therefore, it is high time for Nigeria to look at the original system of government that we inherited.”

On how to effect a change in the current system of government, the chairman of the Senate Committee on Army opined that legal luminaries should come together and fashion out an acceptable arrangement that can lead to a constitution amendment through referendum.

He said: “Legal luminaries should look at the way the parliamentary system could be implemented, like coming up with a national debate which should compel the National Assembly to either make it as part of the constitution amendment or a resolution that emanated from the debate.

“After the debate, there should be a referendum to look at the system of government we are practising now and the alternative we are proposing because we cannot, as a nation, sustain the current arrangement.

CNPP Threatens to Lock down N’Assembly over Detention of CUPP Spokesperson Udora Orizu in Abuja The Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) yesterday warned that the National Assembly would be lock down over the detention of the spokesperson of the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP), Mr. Ikenga Ugochinyere, by the police.

Recently, the House of Representatives at the plenary resolved to take legal actions against Ugochinyere for alleging that the lawmakers collected $10 million bribe from American billionaire, Bill Gates, to pass the Control of Infectious Disease Bill into law.

Addressing journalists in Abuja, the CNPP Secretary-General, Chief Willy Ezugwu, said Ugochinyere was arrested by policemen last

Thursday in Abuja, allegedly on the orders of the leadership of the House, despite an existing Order of Court which had been served on the police.

He said Ugochinyere’s life is currently in danger, as he is kept in a crowded cell of about 40 people, and that the police authorities would be held responsible if he tests positive for COVID-19 after 14 days of his release.

Ezugwu called on President Muhammadu Buhari to order all security agencies to henceforth obey all court orders in the country.

According to Ezugwu, ‘’The House cannot be a judge in its case, and it cannot make laws, interpret and enforce the laws when there is separation of

power in the country. Our major fears at the moment are that Ugochiyere may not come out of police detention alive. Our findings show that not only that he is kept in a crowded cell of about 40 people, those who were arrested for contravening the COVID-19 protocols and curfew have continued to be added to the cell. ‘’It is surprising that at a time the police authorities are expected to decongest detention facilities nationwide as a result of the COVlD-19 pandemic, the contrary is the case. We will not hesitate to mobilise all pro-democracy forces and civil society groups for a lockdown of the National Assembly if the CUPP spokesman is not released immediately.”

MONDAY JUNE 22, 2020 ˾ T H I S D AY

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Anambra Man Goes Berserk, Kills Son, Daughter, Injures Father David-Chyddy Eleke in Awka A 34-year-old man, Ifeanyi Apusiobi, in Ogbunike, Oyi Local Government Area of Anambra State yesterday reportedly killed his daughter and son, injuring his 72-year-old father.

A resident of the area said the man suddenly went berserk at 1a.m. yesterday and attacked and killed his children in their sleep.

“I can’t just say what happened to him. Maybe he took something

that made him run amok. I can’t just say. It’s painful,” an eyewitness said.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Haruna Mohammed, who confirmed the incident, said the man killed the children, Chinecherem and Obinna, with a wooden pestle in their sleep, while injuring his aged father on the head.

Mohammed said: “At about 1a.m. on Sunday, police operatives attached to Ogbunike police station

arrested one Ifeanyi Apusiobi, 34, of Azu Ogbunike in Oyi Local Government Area of Anambra State.

“The suspect allegedly ran amok in circumstances yet to be ascertained and attacked two of his

biological children, Chinecherem (daughter), 7, and Obinna (son), 5, with a wooden pestle on their heads while they were sleeping.

“The suspect equally used same object and injured his father, Mr. Dominic Apusiobi, 72, on the head.

“Police detectives visited the scene and rushed the victims to the hospital for medical attention where the children were certified dead by a medical doctor, while the aged father is responding to treatment.

“Their corpses were deposited at Isienyi hospital morgue for autopsy. Exhibit recovered from him and the case have been transferred to State Criminal Investigation Department in Awka for discreet investigation.”

NIMASA: Court to Set Trial Date for 10 Sea Pirates Today Dike Onwuamaeze The Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Bashir Yusuf Jamoh, has disclosed that the trial date of the 10 sea pirates arrested in the Nigeria’s waterways would be decided today, June 22 by the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos State.

Jamoh, who disclosed this during the weekend when he briefed journalists in Lagos, said that the pirates, who were arrested by the operatives of the Nigeria Navy in May this year, were charged to court on Friday, June 19.

He also revealed that the arrest of the sea pirates, which was

the first in Nigeria waterways in almost five years and other structures that were put in place to fight insecurity in the country’s water ways, earned Nigeria international goodwill and also dissuaded the United Nations from asking the warships of the United States of America to take over the control of Nigeria’s territorial waters beginning from this month.

He attributed their arrest and subsequent arraignment to the renewed synergy between NIMASA and the Nigeria Navy, Nigeria Police, the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and other stakeholders in the fight against insecurity in Nigeria’s waterways.

Discos Blame FG for Low Metering Penetration Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja The electricity distribution companies (Discos) in the country’s power supply chain yesterday blamed the federal government high import duty on meters for the difficulty in providing the equipment for their customers.

The power distributors maintained that among other hurdles that are slowing the firms’ 2021 metering target of the Meter Asset Providers (MAP) regulation, the inability to clear the goods from the ports remains a major setback for the industry.

Many of the Discos, including the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC), have recently

put the federal government charges at 35 per cent, which has made it almost impossible to get meters into the country.

Coming under their umbrella of the Association of Nigerian Electricity Distributors (ANED), the Discos called on the federal government to intervene in finding a means to cut the duty on imported meters in order to enable faster metering for their customers towards ending the estimated billing regime.

The statement issued by the Executive Director, Research and Advocacy of ANED, Mr. Sunday Oduntan, said some of the MAP companies have the capacity to install about 3,000 meters per day for the Discos if the meters are available.

COLLABORATING FOR MARITIME SAFETY...

L-R: Head, Corporate Communications, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Mr. Philip Kyanet; Director General, NIMASA, Dr. Bashir Jamoh; and Managing Director, Independent Newspapers Limited, Mr. Steve Omanufeme, at a media parley in Lagos...weekend

Immigration Intercepts Two Indian Illegal Immigrants Chinedu Eze The authorities of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, have intercepted two Indian nationals for illegally entering Nigeria without proper documentation.

The Indian suspects, who entered the country through land border, would be prosecuted by Immigration Service.

Lagos Airport Comptroller of the NIS, Abdullahi Usman, made

this known at the weekend in his briefing, stating that the two Indians, both male, were intercepted during the screening of Indian nationals that were being evacuated from Nigeria through the Murtala Mohammed International Airport Lagos.

Usman also disclosed that while profiling the men, it was discovered that they entered Nigeria through the land border and had visa on arrival application approval, which they failed to present to Immigration at the border.

He further disclosed that the

men had been in Cotonou, Benin Republic, for a month as they had the stamp of that country dated February 9, 2020, when they left and entered Nigeria illegally as they did not present themselves for immigration checks at the border.

The Command said the two Indians, 32 and 29 respectively, would be prosecuted according to the Nigeria Immigration laws as deterrence to others Meanwhile, 446 Indian nationals were evacuated from Nigeria last Saturday as part of the ongoing

evacuation of foreign nationals as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Spokesman of NIS, Sunday James, said the Comptroller-General of NIS, Muhammad Babandede, has warned migrants to desist from breaking the Immigration laws of countries of transit or destination to avoid sanctions that may result in stopping them from coming to Nigeria or payment of fees chargeable, depending on the gravity of the offence committed and what the law stipulates for any of such offence.

Delta SSG, Information Commissioner Test Positive for COVID-19 Omon-Julius Onabu in Asaba

As the number of the COVID-19 cases across Nigeria continues to increase, at the weekend, two cabinet members of the Delta State Government have tested positive for the coronavirus.

The Chief Press Secretary to the state governor, Mr Olisa Ifeajika, who disclosed this in a statement in Asaba yesterday, said the Secretary to the State

Government (SSG), Mr. Chiedu Ebie, and the state Commissioner for Information, Mr. Charles Aniagwu, had been confirmed to have been infected with the disease.

The two top functionaries have be on the frontline of the state government efforts to contain the COVID-19 since the index case on February 7, 2020, not only at the planning and strategy levels but also in intensified enlightenment campaign and state-wide monitoring of

citizens’ compliance levels with medical protocols.

Only last week, the information commissioner disclosed that he had taken the test for the disease, while appealing to the people of the state to take the precautionary regulations more seriously and to volunteer themselves for testing if they suspected certain symptoms similar to those associated with the COVID-19.

Nonetheless, Ifeajika said the two

government officials had been taken to an isolation centre after showing “mild symptoms of the virus and consequently subjected themselves to the test.”

Ebie and Aniagwu were “stable and responding well to treatment,” the statement noted, reiterating the need for citizens and residents of the state “to adhere strictly to the COVID-19 protocols, as anyone, irrespective of status, could contract the virus.”

state’s website and pasting them in palaces.

This was revealed on Friday by the First Lady of Ekiti State, Mrs. Bisi Fayemi, when she made a presentation on the floor of the Ekiti State House of Assembly (ESHA) during her advocacy visit to expand the frontiers of Gender Based Violence (GBV) prevention in the state.

She stated that the referral centre, which is located within the premises

of the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado Ekiti, would provide well guided and discreet medical supports for survivors.

“The SARC will be operational soon. It will attend to GVB survivors in a prompt, discreet and professional manner. Discussions have been held with council chairmen to replicate the SARC in all their local governments,” she said.

Mrs. Fayemi applauded the

assembly for the passage of the Gender Based Violence Bill, 2019 and the Sexually Assaulted Minors Bill, 2020, which would fast- track actions against GBV. “We are ready to strengthen this aspect of naming and shaming of perpetrators of rape on social media and in our palaces because it was embedded in our cultural practices not to cover up perpetrators of evil,” the First Lady added.

Osun Commissioner Harps on Assessment of Citizens’ Needs Ekiti Establishes Sexual Assault Referral Centre for RapeVictims Osun State Commissioner for Information and Civic Orientation, Mrs. Funke Egbemode, has prescribed citizens’ needs assessments at different levels for effective governance in the country.

Speaking during an interview with City People Magazine via an Instagram Live Chat, Egbemode urged governments at all levels in the country to predicate their agenda on the needs and aspirations of the people, for it to be effective and fruitful.

“Running Nigeria or dealing with governance in Nigeria is quite complicated because Nigerians are politically savvy. So, I would say that don’t decide for Nigerians, rather ask them what their needs are,” she said.

Egbemode said this prescription is applicable to governance at every level, positing that it is counterproductive to prescribe whimsical solutions without

proper acknowledgement of the people’s needs.

“Governance becomes a lot easier when the leader knows what the people’s needs are before drafting an agenda. Whatever the agenda you use during campaign period, tailor it to the people’s needs when you come into office so that you are on the same page with the people you are governing,” she added.

While still highlighting the imperative was of citizens’ needs assessments, Egbemode commented on the issue of resource mobilisation, affirming that wastages could be addressed when the actual needs of citizens are focused on.

“Governance becomes easier when you take into consideration what your people need and you stay focused on it. It would prevent you from drawing up a 14-point agenda for a situation where a four-point agenda will suffice,” she said.

Victor OgunjeinAdoEkiti The Ekiti State Government has established a Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) where victims of rape and other molestations would receive medical and psychological attentions, rather than being abandoned to suffer.

The state government also assured that it would name and shame perpetrators of rape by publishing their photographs on

APCYoung Stakeholders Call for Emergency NEC Meeting Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja

The Young Stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC), have called on the party leadership to urgently convene an emergency National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting to discuss all pending issues and resolve the crises rocking the party.

The stakeholders lamented that the party’s name and reputation that was heralded with so much hope and enthusiasm just a few years ago is being ridiculed in the news media with all sorts of negative headlines.

The Young Stakeholders’ Spokesperson, Mr. Ife Adebayo, said that they were forced to

lend their voices to the ongoing crisis rocking the party because those who ought to have nipped this in the bud have, shockingly, either refused to or seem unable, for reasons that they could not simply be understood.

The young stakeholders resolved to meet with other

stakeholders and leaders of the party in order to facilitate reconciliation.

It said: “The party must as a matter of urgency call for an emergency NEC meetingobserving all the NCDC protocols as necessary to table and discuss all pending issues in the party.

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Kwara APC Leadership Accuses AbdulRazaq of Fueling Crisis Hammed Shittu in Ilorin The simmering crisis rocking the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kwara State at the weekend got messier as the party leadership in the state accused the state Governor, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, of allegedly fueling the crisis in the party in the state.

The party had been enmeshed

in crisis since the inauguration of the new administration on May 29, 2019.

The crisis, it was gathered, had caused disaffection between the governor and the leadership of the party led by Hon. Bashir Bolarinwa. The party leadership has not been involved in the day-to-day governance of the state since the inauguration of

the new administration.

The development, however, led some members of the party led by the state Deputy Chairman, Alhaji Abdullahi Samari, last week Thursday to hold a parley at the office of the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), where they

exonerated the governor from the crisis rocking the party.

However, a statement issued in Ilorin yesterday, which was signed by the Financial Secretary and Treasurer of the party on behalf of the APC in the state, Alhaji Mohammed Tajudeen and

Alhaji Dantala Yaro respectively, and made available to journalists, said: “Some members of the party who recently attended a parley with the state government on behalf of the leadership of the party did not have the consent of the party to do so.”

The statement said: “Our attention has been drawn to a parley held among the state governor, represented by the SSG, members of the state house of assembly and a group of people purported to be the leadership of the APC in state.

FG Receives $22m Medical Supplies from EU, UN Kuni Tyessi in Abuja The federal government has received vital medical supplies that are worth $22 million from the European Union (EU) and the United Nations (UN) to boost its fight against the spread of COVID-19 pandemic disease in the country.

A statement issued yesterday from the Department of Communication, Advocacy and Partnerships, United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and signed by Oluwatosin Akingbulu, said the shipment included 545 oxygen concentrators, more than 100,000 test kits, infrared digital no-touch thermometers, numerous personal protective equipment (PPEs), laboratory supplies and emergency health

kits, etc., that would boost the Nigerian government’s efforts to care for those affected by the disease.

“The essential medical supplies will enhance efforts of the frontline responders providing care and treatment to people affected by the virus, increase testing capacity and early detection of those affected by the virus and support the hospitalisation and management of COVID-19 cases. The supply were handed over to the federal government through the National Center for Disease Control (NCDC) and the NPHCDA and was officially presented to the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 at an event attended by high-level delegates from the EU, Ministry of Health and the UN.

Group Decries Lopsided Appointments in Ondo Sunday Okobi A socio-political group, Movement for Greater Ondo State (MFOS), has faulted the state Governor, Mr. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu over the lopsided appointments in the state.

A statement signed by the Chairman and Secretary of the group, Chief Olu Akinmoyeje and Mrs. Adenike Momoh, yesterday, alleged that Akeredolu has not demonstrated inclusiveness in appointments since he came to power almost four years ago.

The group in the statement, said: “The action of the Governor Akeredolu-led government in the state with regards to appointments into strategic positions is not fair.

“The shocking lopsided appointments are an affront on the

people in other communities and towns in state, who are eminently qualified for the positions.”

The statement added that “Akeredolu, who hails from Owo, headquarters of Owo Local Government Area of the state, on many occasions had been accused of dishing out juicy appointments without due consideration to inclusiveness and diversity of the state.

They also averred that top positions in the state have been given to a particular section of the state at the detriment of other sections.

“Within the cabinet of the governor, those that are not from a particular section had been sidelined and are not valued,” the statement alleged.

Bauchi Gov Directs all Political Appointees to Embrace Farming Segun Awofadeji in Bauchi The Bauchi State Governor, Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed, has ordered all political appointees in the state to go back to the farm and make agriculture the driver of the state’s economic diversification.

The order was given as the state government approved N653 million revolving fund for the Bauchi Agricultural Supply Company (BASAC) as part of its efforts to ensure the continuous supply of genuine and certified fertilizers to farmers in the state at a subsidised rate.

Mohammed gave the order during weekend while flagging off the sales of fertilizer for the 2020 farming season and CPC Africa COVID-19 Palliative Support Project to Bauchi farmers at the premises of BASAC. He emphasised that all political

appointees must cultivate a farm land in line with his administration’s revolution in the agricultural sector.

He said: “In order to deepen farming culture among our elites population, I have directed the Ministry of Agriculture to ensure that all members of the state executive council, commissioners and advisers cultivate a land.

“And for the purposes of emphasis, all political appointees must all cultivate a farm land without exception. I am going to carry my hoe and go to farm because I stay in Bauchi and I don’t have to go to Abuja. I have nothing to take in Abuja.

“My eyes is on the ball and I am staying here and you can testify that I have been in Bauchi for the last three months without going anywhere outside the state.”

TACKLING INFECTIOUS DISEASES...

L-R: Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Mr. Timipre Sylva; Deputy Governor of Imo State, Prof. Placid Njoku; Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma; and Group Managing Director of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Mallam Mele Kyari, laying the foundation for an Infectious Disease Hospital at Imo State University Teaching Hospital (IMSUTH), Orlu...weekend

FCTA Warns Nightclubs, Others against Opening for Business The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has warned operators of nightclubs, bars and gardens across Abuja not to operate until the restriction order is lifted.

The Chairman of the FCT Ministerial Task Team on COVID-19 restriction in the FCT, Mr. Ikharo Attah gave the warning at the weekend when the team went round Kubwa Gwarimpa and Wuse to monitor compliance by the operators.

Speaking to journalists after the

monitoring, Attah noted that: “the ban on nightclubs, parks and bars is yet to be lifted hence the need for us to sustain routine inspection and ensure compliance. We believe that if we relax too much with the number of positive covid-19 cases on the rise it would not be good for the city”.

Attah who expressed satisfaction with the high level of compliance by the nightclub operators was not happy with the high number of suspected commercial

sex workers around buildings housing the nightclubs at Kubwa.

He pointed out that: “the presence of the ladies of the night is a violation of the curfew because they are not on the exemption list of essential workers. Their presence made us to carry out full checks on some nightclubs which are truly closed.

At moments like this we expect them to stop the unholy trade for their own interest because the men who may patronise them may be COVID-19 positive.”

Speaking on the shutting down of a bar at Wuse 2, the chairman said: “we got several calls that Reset nightclub and bar located at Lobito crescent in Wuse 2 was fully operational. But when we got there we discovered that it wasn’t true. A bar operating in a plaza located opposite the nightclub, as we all found out this night, was the one operating and playing very loud music which necessitated the calls and complaints we got from residents of the area.”

Korea Donates Palliatives to 300Vulnerable FCT Households Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja The Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), has donated food items to 300 vulnerable households in the Federal Capital Territory to alleviate the effect of COVID-19 in Piwoyi community.

The Korean Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Lee- In -Tae, noted that the assistance to the Nigerian families was in-line with the efforts

of the federal government to provide palliatives to families worst hit by the economic impact of COVID-19.

Lee noted that Piwoyi was selected because it is the host community of the Nigeria Korea Model School (NKMS), an educational centre constructed through the joint initiative of governments of Korea and Nigeria.

He also acknowledged the effort of the federal government

towards the alleviation of the suffering of the people of Nigeria and called for greater solidarity to defeat the pandemic.

He assured that Korea will continue to work with Nigeria to further improve collaborations that would deliver more benefits to the people of both nations.

He also shared the experience of Korea, which was one of the first countries affected by the COVID-19, in dealing with pandemic in the

face of adversity. ‘’The Korean people made a bold decision. We prioritised our collective freedom over personal gain. We placed safety and kindness towards our neighbour over stigmatisation and isolation. We actively took responsibility to wear the face mask and adhere to social distancing. Our health professionals tenaciously offered services while citizens showed kindness in acts of sharing,’’ Lee said.

Economists Seek Budget Implementation with Non-oil Revenues Dike Onwuamaeze Some economists in Nigerian universities have called on the federal government to commence the planning of national budgets that would be implemented from non-oil revenues without taking crude oil into serious account.

This, according to the university dons, would lessen the impact of the volatility in the international oil

market on the Nigeria economy as well as the country borrowing each time there is an oil slump.

They expressed these view during a conference titled: ‘A Webinar on Implications of the 2020 Federal Budget Review’, hosted by the Centre for Economic Policy Analysis and Research (CEPAR) of the University of Lagos.

The Professor of Economics,

University of Uyo and former Director-General of the West African Institute for Financial and Economic Management, Akpan Ekpo, described oil as exogenous revenue, which Nigeria had no control over the price and the quantity it will sell.

Ekpo said: “In my view, we will begin to consider what some people have argued years back that Nigeria needs a non-oil budget that sees oil

revenue as windfall, and begin to base its budget on revenues that can be raised domestically to run our system.”

On his own, the Executive Chairman of African Centre for Shared Development Capacity Building, Ibadan, Professor Olu Ajakaiye, warned that excessive reliance on borrowing would make the budget difficult to implement and unrealistic.

Lagos Earmarks N5bn Palliatives for MSMEs Dike Onwuamaeze The Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has assured the leaders of the organised private sector (OPS) that the state government would support the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in the state with N5 billion palliative to cope with the impact of COVID-19 pandemic disease

on their businesses.

The palliative, according to Sanw-Olu, would ensure their sustainability, reduce job losses and stimulate economic growth.

He gave the assurance recently during a webinar-enabled interactive session with the OPS, which was organised by the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI).

Sanwo-Olu also disclosed that

the state government would engage 10,000 persons in an internship programme that would enable them to retain their jobs by acquiring additional skills.

He said: “These persons would be paid over the duration of training expected to be between three to six months.

“We need to engage people, make them employable by your industries and put monies in their

hands so that they can buy the products you manufacture.”

The governor also disclosed that plan to suspend all interest on loans granted by the state government’s trust fund is underway.

In her remarks, the President of LCCI, Mrs. Toki Mabogunje commended the Lagos State Government’s response strategies to the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Ondo 2020: APC Unity Forum Donates N22.5m for Oke’s Nomination Forms James Sowole in Akure The campaign by Chief Olusola Oke for the ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for October 10, 2020, governorship election of Ondo State at the weekend received a boost as some members of the party’s Unity Forum and other interest groups presented a cheque of N22.5 million to the aspirant to

purchase his nomination form.

The cheque was presented to Oke by the Chairman of the Unity Forum and former Deputy Governor of the state, Alhaji Ali Olanusi, at the aspirant’s campaign office in Akure.

Olanusi, who was represented by a former member of House of Representatives, Afe Olowokere, said the donation was made to re-enact the traditional method

of supporting its flag-bearer by making financial contributions to the electioneering expenses of candidate.

Describing the practice as a deliberate attempt to engender a sense of belonging by all party members, Olanusi said the step would also remove

the inimical yoga of “winner takes all” from the governor when elected.

Oke was reportedly adopted by the seven-man screening committee as the aspirant to represent the Unity Forum at the July 20 primary of the APC to stop the incumbent Governor,

Oluwatotimi Akeredolu, from securing ticket to run for second term.

However, the choice of Oke generated controversies among some aspirants who are members of Unity Forum.

Speaking on the choice of Oke, an aspirant under the umbrella of

Unity Forum, Alhaji Olanrewaju Kazeem, said members of the screening committee decided to express their preferences for the aspirants one after the other when they could not agree among themselves on who should represent the forum at the primary.

Edo Group Withdraws Support for Obaseki, Apologises to ADC The Edo Youths and Women United, an action group created to ensure good governance and the wellbeing of the people of Edo State, has apologised to Edo people and the African Democratic Congress (ADC) for what the group described as the error of judgment in picking the ADC gubernatorial form for Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State.

The group accused the governor of betraying the trust of members, saying it had withdrawn its support for him, and apologised to ADC members and the people of Edo State.

The group said in a statement issued yesterday, “Recall that we had picked the ADC nomination forms for the Governor on Wednesday, June 17 2020.

Unfortunately, he has betrayed the trust of the Edo people and we are withdrawing our support with sincere apologies to ADC members and the good people of Edo state.

“It was to stop the corruption, impudence and cruel godfatherism that have persisted in Edo politics that we the Edo youths and women United took the decision to procure the African Democratic Congress governorship form for Governor Obaseki.

“We decided on ADC after due diligence and consultation with over one million of our members, eminent persons and patriotic elders of our state.”

The statement was signed

by Smith Osazele, Miss Ewah Okoegwale and Comrade Albert Evbuomwuang.

70,000 Applicants Register in Borno’s Job Portal Michael Olugbode inMaiduguri

Borno State Government has disclosed that its job portal established for sourcing employment opportunities for indigenes of the state has received 70,000 applications so far.

The state Commissioner for Science, Technology and Innovation, Babagana Mustapha, made the disclosure yesterday in Maiduguri at a press briefing.

He said of the 70,000 applicants, more than 300 have been recommended for different job opportunities.

Mustapha said the job portal created early this year would register on continuous basis unemployed youths in the state.

He noted that the repository

would enable planning and propel the training/orientation in order to improve the skills of the people and set career trajectory for Borno State young talents.

The commissioner said: “Evidence-based information derivable in the skill acquisition process and comprehensive process goals include skills needed, and whether the skills would be incorporated into the skillsets of the current employees, or what skills are needed the most as well as merging the skill with the skills needed.

“The platform will be readily available at any time for our clients to access. We can as well provide information for our stakeholderspotential employers and other data users.”

Refugee Commission, Borno Collaborate to Bring Back Indigenes from Neighboring Countries The National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI) has commenced talks with the Borno State Government to bring back indigenes of the state from the neighboring countries.

The Federal Commissioner of NCFRMI, Senator Basheer Garba Mohammed stated this in an interview with select journalists shortly after a meeting with a delegation of Borno State Government led by the state governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum at the commission’s office in Abuja.

According to him, the

commission in collaboration with its development partners like United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNCHR) is geared towards creating a lasting solution to the returning refugees of Borno State and any other state in the federation.

“The commission will do everything possible to bring back the indigenes of Borno State from our neighboring countries in accordance with International Humanitarian Law as we seek to put everything in place for an easy reintegration and rehabilitation back to safer communities for them”, Senator Mohammed added.

FIGHTING GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE...

L-R: Chairman, Ikere Local Government Council in Ekiti State, Hon. Ayodele Oluwafemi; Chairperson, Ado Local Government Council, Mrs. Motunde Fajuyi; Ekiti State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Hon. Wale Fapohunda; Ekiti State First Lady and Chair, Ekiti Gender Based Violence (GBV) Management Committee, Erelu Bisi Fayemi; and Chairman, Ido Osi Local Government Council, Hon. Ayodimeji Lawrence; during the committee’s advocacy meeting with the 16 council chairmen on how to fight rising sexual violent crimes at the Adunni Olayinka Women Centre, Ado-Ekiti... recently

Falana Seeks Revitalisation of Students’ Unionism Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mr. Femi Falana, has stressed the need for the revitalisation of students’ unionism in Nigeria.

To this end, the senior lawyer has called on students to adopt various methods of revitalising the students’ union movement.

Falana argued that the youths have a role to play in moulding the future.

Falana stated these in his capacity as the chairman of the

20th Anti-Corruption Situation Room (ACSR) with the theme: “Harnessing the potentials of student’ Unionism and activists towards the promotion of good governance, transparency and accountability in Nigeria.”

“The National Assembly is perennially engaged in violence and of course student leaders today are either agents of their vice chancellors, the government of the day or other negative forces while student unions are

banned or proscribed whenever students ask any question that are critical, therefore, this meeting is of fundamental importance,” Falana explained.

In his speech, the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing/ Director of Ford Foundation, Mr. Innocent Chukwuma, who was a panelist at the teleconference, said during his time as a student, unionism was an ideological struggle.

“The east and the west, you

either align with the east or the west. if you align with the east you will be grounded in socialism and communist ideologies, and we had literature all over campuses that enabled us to get up to speed with the happenings, soon, the movement began to be divided and the triumph of capitalism over socialism, though temporary at that time, eroded the ideological base of the struggle and what came in its place is what we might call identity politics,” he recalled.

NNPC, Seplat to Build 200-bed Infectious Diseases Centre in Imo Amby Uneze in Owerri The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and Seplat Petroleum Development Company Plc (SPDC) joint venture partnership have selected Imo State as the choice site to build the COVID-19 Infectious Diseases Medical Centre for the South-east zone.

The Minister of State for

Petroleum, Mr. Timipre Sylva, disclosed this during the weekend while performing the ground breaking ceremony for a permanent construction of 200-bed Emergency and Infectious Disease Hospital for Eastern Region in Imo State University Teaching Hospital, Orlu, (IMSUTH).

Sylva said that the project is one of the three categories of the NNPC and SPDC intervention

initiatives aimed at assisting states in the six geo-political zones to curb the spread of COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria.

He explained that the other key thematic areas of the partnership include the provision of medical consumables and the development of logistics and in-patient support system.

Sylva that other participants in this initiative include international

oil companies and indigenous producers, major oil marketers, crude oil and products traders, depot owners and petroleum products marketers.

Speaking at the ground-breaking ceremony, the Governor of Imo State, Mr. Hope Uzodimma, expressed gladness over the project whose cmpletion would save lives and make Imo people and environs much healthier.

UN Recommends Zoom Meetings on Public Service Day Kayode Fasua in Abeokuta To mark this year’s Public Service Day, which would hold on June 23, the United Nations has advised public service workers worldwide to commemorate the day only through zoom meetings to avoid contracting the COVID-19 disease.

This was disclosed to THISDAY in Abeokuta yesterday by the National Coordinator of Public

Office Holders Association of Nigeria (POHAN), Deola Eseyin, who said public office holders in Nigeria would be guided by the guidelines set by the world body.

He said the POHAN had since last year slated a public parley for tomorrow’s event titled: ‘Action Today, Impact Tomorrow’, but that the session had since been cancelled owing to the spread of coronavirus.

“In its place, we have come up with a zoom meeting tagged: #NigeriaDependsOnMe, which will draw together global leaders who will be speaking at the event,” Eseyin said.

He added that those expected to address Nigeria’s public office holders through the zoom meeting include Dr. Clyde Rivers, Dr. Leong Ying, Dr. Victoria Michaels, all from the United

States of America; the Chief Executive Officer of Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, Mr. Babatunde Irukera, and the Executive Vice Chairman of Verdant Zeal Nigeria, Dr. Chris Imumolen.

Others are: Dr. Tunji Ologbodi, Dr. Sunday Onalo, Mr. Robert Schmidt, Mr. Suleman Momoh and Ms Suzan Ade-Coker.

Spike in COVID-19 Cases Raises Concern in Bayelsa Onungwe Obe in Yenagoa The Bayelsa State Government has expressed worry over the spike in the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the state.

In a statement issued in Yenagoa yesterday, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information and

Culture, Mr. Freston Akpor, said the situation calls for the people to take personal responsibility for their health and strictly abide by the prescribed protocols for the prevention of infection by the virus.

He said: “Despite proactive and preventive measures taken by the

government to avert the spread of COVID-19, Bayelsa State has witnessed a spike in the number of samples returning positive for the disease.

“Seventeen new cases were recorded on June 19, 2020, while 25 cases were confirmed on June 17, 2020, bringing the

total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the state to 128.

“One patient was discharged from the treatment centre at Niger Delta University Teaching Hospital, Okolobiri, in line with Nigerian Centre for Disease (NCDC) protocol.

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BACK PAGE CONTINUATION INSECURITY AND BUHARI’S MEA CULPA situation has deepened and widened and worsened under uhari in the last ęve years. Indeed, it wouldn’t be uncharitable to conclude that on the strength of his performance, or lack of it, that Buhari, with his leadership style, his policies, his uĴerances, his actions, no inaction, has enabled non-state actors of violence.

For clarity, let us examine these one after the other.

The president’s leadership style for one! Bruna Martinuzzi, an author, columnist and presentation skills trainer in an article, “The 7 Most Common Leadership Styles (and How to Find Your Own)� itemises some primary leadership types as: the autocratic leader who believes he is the smartest and makes decisions without input from his team; the authoritative leader who is visionary and shows the way for others; the paceseĴing leader who sets the bar high and ruthlessly pushes his team; the democratic leader who shares information with, and seeks opinion from, team members before making a decision; the coach leader who seeks to develop the talent and unlock the potentials of his team; the aĜliative leader who gets up close and personal and supports the emotional needs of his team; and, the

laissez-faire leader who lets his people swim with the current, and exercises the least amount of oversight.

Either by nature or nurture, Buhari’s leadership style can be classiÄ™ed as laissez-faire, the principle of which the president himself described as belonging to everyone and no one. In other words, Buhari only knows Buhari. Is it any wonder that the president, in the last Ä™ve years, could hardly be bothered with any maÄ´er that doesn’t aÄ›ect his election and personal enjoyment of presidential oÄœce? Writes Martinuzzi, “On the surface, a laissez-faire leader may appear to trust people to know what to do, but taken to the extreme, an uninvolved leader may end up appearing aloof. While it’s beneÄ™cial to give people opportunities to spread their wings, with a total lack of direction, people may unwiÄ´ingly drift in the wrong direction‌â€?

Indeed, no Nigerian leader has been as distant, and aloof, to the goings on in his government the way Buhari has been. There are too many competing and conÄšicting power centres. Aides create their own mini-empires and work at cross-purposes.

The president is there like he’s not there; there’s no cohesion, no oversight, no

clearinghouse, no fear of sanction for bad behaviour.

The result is self-evident. At the Presidential Villa, First Lady Aisha Buhari has been on incessant public spat with her husband’s family members for control. The leadership of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is in disarray. Buhari has failed to concretely deliver on the tripod of his campaign promises – tackling insecurity, ęghting corruption, and reviving the economy - on the strength of which he was elected in 2015.

Buhari’s laissez-faire leadership style has been unhelpful in the baĴle against Boko Haram insurgency in the northeast and banditry in the northwest. There’s no cohesion, no co-ordination among the armed services; the army deploys troops to insurgents’ enclaves without air support, air force jets bombard Boko Haram camps without the ground troops to mop up operations. The NSA and service chiefs play cat and mouse games, avoid holding strategic meetings. Serial claims of killing scores of bandits, or hundreds of insurgents, or technically degrading Boko Haram become hollow with every such claim countered by indiscriminate violent aĴacks on innocent civilians,

or bloody ambushes of soldiers in the theatre of war. Security chiefs do not seem to feel the pressure of presidential oversight perhaps because Buhari’s peculiar non-challance.

The administration’s policy of rehabilitating repentant Boko Haram members smells. A group of anarchists, in the name of Islam, take up arms against the state.

They bomb and kill and rape and maim and burn down communities. Rather than bring those captured in war to justice by prosecuting them, the government rehabilitates them, some allege, even recruit them into the military, while the baÄ´le is still on as their erstwhile comrade-in-arms are killing our soldiers and burning down civilian communities.

It is diÄœcult to comprehend the woolly thinking behind this policy. It creates the impression that criminality is rewarded, and may not be unconnected, willy-nilly, with the mutation of other criminal gangs in the north west and north central.

The uÄ´erances of the president and his aides also appear to enable the agents of violence. A few examples will suÄœce.

Sometime in 2016, when the Benue State government was making eěorts, through legislation and robust policy implementation, to

nip in the bud the herders’ bloody aĴack on farming communities and destruction of farmlands, Buhari had urged mourning victims of a massacre to accommodate their countrymen. The administration’s then Defence Minister Mansur Dan Alli had also justięed herders’ violent aĴacks by blaming their victims for farming on caĴle routes.

And presidential spokesman Femi Adesina, at the height of the controversy surrounding the opposition to the establishment of caĴle colonies in every state of the federation, had appeared to explain away, if not justify, herders’ violent aĴacks on farming communities while answering a question on the ancestral aĴachment to land in some parts of the country. “Ancestral aĴachment?�, he had asked scornfully before adding, “You can only have ancestral aĴachment when you are alive. If you are talking about ancestral aĴachment, if you are dead, how does the aĴachment maĴer?� The president’s communication strategy has indeed been galling.

Where he should talk to the people, he talks at them, that is, when he talks at all. The presidency mistakes abuse for engagement, contempt for empathy, campaign for governance, and

peÄ´iness for statesmanship.

There is an arrogance in communication that would have been laughable were Buhari’s leadership not so terribly poor.

A good leader understands the need to combine two or three leadership styles, particularly when administering a country in a state of war. With his laissez-faire approach, Buhari has not served the nation well as he has failed to uphold the security (and welfare) of the people, which Section 14 (2b) of the 1999 Constitution says shall be “the primary purpose of government�.

The president, with his style and policies and uĴerances, is perhaps the single biggest cause of the deteriorating insecurity situation in the country. With a critical selfexamination and a change in strategy, he could also be the solution. Having acknowledged the failure of the security chiefs, perhaps Nigerians would begin to take Buhari seriously when he appoints new service chiefs and doesn’t shy away, as he is wont, from holding them responsible whenever they fail to rein in the terrorists in diěerent guises or disguises. After all, liĴle Chad Republic did show us recently how to deal with Boko Haram, comprehensively.

D’BANJ, APOLOGISTS AND WHY WOMEN AREN’T REPORTING RAPE up just a few days ago had, by her own will, denied all that had been previously stated and decided to promote the music of her alleged rapist. This was also conęrmed by her lawyer, Olamide Omileye, who in an interview with a news agency stated: “They forced her to make those tweets when she was in custody.

They forced her to delete all her tweets and intimidated the hell out of her life.� And we are still asking why women do not report?

Speaking up remains highly theoretical and there are several dynamics to Nigeria’s rape culture that we need to deconstruct for women to be safe. Firstly, both men and women have to start holding people accountable for rape and sexual violence, there are far too many rape apologists in our society today. The constant watering-down of the conversation, excuses made for people’s actions and denial needs to stop.

Anyone can be a rapist. Is it not ironic, how every woman knows a woman who has been raped or sexually abused, yet somehow no man seems to know a rapist? These are critical questions.

On a radio programme I hosted two years ago, we were speaking about the prevalence of rape and sexual violence on air one day when a caller dialled in, throwing me oě balance: “I’ve been listening to what you have been saying on this topic of rape for the past few minutes and I had to call in to tell you what I’m thinking�, he said. I paused for a moment and before I could ask him to go ahead, he continued, “when you

D’Banj

see all these small small girls in small small skirts, why won’t they be raped?�

- So, if a woman’s dressing has anything to do with someone raping her, how does one explain the case of a three-month-old baby raped in Nasarawa State this week? Unfortunately, far too many people in society today are oriented to think this way and there is much to unlearn. Therefore without a drastic overhaul of sex education, we cannot expect much change. We

must normalise the concept of sex and ensure it is identięed as a consentdriven and respected part of human life. This is key for human behavioural change and eradicating concepts like victim shaming that continue to drive the culture.

We also need to critically amend our laws. For example, under section 357 of the Criminal Code Act, men and boys are not protected from rape and this is one of several reasons why it fails to serve as an

inclusive and protective act against violence. Senator Oluremi Tinubu addressed this in 2019 with a bill to amend sections of the act, including its current deęnition of rape. The bill passed its second reading and we were told that it was referred to the Senate CommiĴee on udiciary for more legislative work, but since then, we have heard no more. I also recall former Governor Akinwunmi Ambode pushing for the amendment of the Protection

Against Domestic Violence Law (2007), recommending a stiěer twenty-ęve year jail term for perpetrators of rape and sexual violence in Lagos State. We heard no more of this too. Even the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act (2015), which is possibly the most robust piece of legislation that we have in the country today protecting all citizens from violence, has only been adopted by 14 states over the past ęve years. It is important to hold your

governors accountable as they have recently declared a state of emergency on rape and sexual violence, and if they are true about this, we must see protective legislation signed in to law. Lawmakers too have been speaking on enacting stiěer punishments in our laws for rapists, but with a constant and general lack of enforcement, it is hardly convincing that things will change any time soon.

To allege or report that you were abused, only for you to be detained by the police, is rape culture. In order for this to change, we need to stand ęrm and we need to stand for justice.

Like several other people out there, I strongly believe that Seyitan was coerced into retracting her initial allegation and I am outraged that agencies that should protect and investigate allegations, are criminalising us for speaking up. What message are we sending to society? How many women are going to feel safe enough to come forward to report abuse following this incident? Although the Inspector General of Police has ordered a probe into the allegations against D’banj, the system remains corrupt and trampled on by powerful people and until this ends, Nigeria remains unsafe for women.

And in response to rape apologists, yes, we “agendaistsâ€? will do everything that we can to ensure that power and money are not used as tools, once again, to shove serious allegations under the bus. ČŠ Â˜Â‘Â—ÂœÂ˜Â—ČŹ Š•Š–’ȹ Â’ÂœČą Š—ȹ Â—ÂŒÂ‘Â˜Â›Čą Â˜Â—Čą Čą Čą ‘Š——Ž•ǰȹ ‘Žȹ ˜›—’—Â?Čą ‘˜Â

46

Ëœ ÍşÍşËœ ͺ͸ͺ͸ Ëž T H I S D AY

MONDAYSPORTS Illegal Occupants of National Stadium in Lagos, Abuja Get Quit Order

Group Sports Editor Duro Ikhazuagbe Email duro.ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com 0811 181 3083 SMS ONLY

Ministerial Task Force to begin work today in Sports-city Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja After several years of Illegal occupants and structures within the National Stadium in Lagos, the Ministerial Task Force set up

by Youth and Sports Development Minister, Mr. Sunday Dare, will begin work today to identify those to flush out of the facility.

Similarly, all illegal occupants at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja have been given a 25-day ultimatum to quit the place to enable rehabilitation work commence.

The National Stadium in Lagos became haven to illegal squatters and miscreants over the years as a result of lack of attention from previous administrations.

But Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare, who is determined to leave a lasting legacy in Nigerian sports set up a ministerial task force recently to source for how to renovate and put sports facilities in the country back to maximum use.

According to the Special Adviser on Media to the Minister, John Joshua Akanji, the task force will begin work today with the verification of occupants and identification of illegal structures at the complex.

The committee headed by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mr. Gabriel Aduda, is mandated to restore sanity to the complex ahead of the planned concession.

Already, the Lagos State Commissioner for Physical Planning, Dr. Jide Salako, has been co-opted into the committee as a member.

While inaugurating the committee, Mr. Dare charged the committee to bring back the lost glory of the edifice. “The National Stadium, Lagos holds alot of fond memories for our sportsmen and other Nigerians.

We shall no longer allow our infrastructures to lie waste. “All our national stadiums shall be put to best use. Abuja and Kaduna are at advanced stages of regaining

COVID-19: Lagos Govt, O’jeez Distribute Palliatives to Lagos SWAN The Lagos State government, through its Sports Commission and O’Jez Entertainment at the weekend distributed palliatives to members of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (Lagos SWAN) to cushion effect of COVID-19 pandemic on sports journalists in the state.

Each of the over 250 Lagos SWAN members received bags of 5kg rice, 5kg beans, 5kg semolina/noodles, 2 litres of groundnut oil, condiments and 200ml hand sanitisers.

Speaking at the presentation ceremony at Molade OkoyaThomas Multi-purpose Hall of Teslim Balogun Stadium, LSSC Director General, Oluwatoyin Gafaar, said the essence of the palliative was to cushion the effect of the pandemic on the sports journalists.

His words: “This is in line with what Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu has been doing to relief the citizens during this difficult period and SWAN Lagos being our immediate constituency.

“We have no option than to extend the gesture and support to the association. We have a lot of plans for Lagos SWAN members and as we move forward together, we will seek ways to support them,� observed the DG of the sports Commission.

While receiving the items, Lagos SWAN Chairman, Debo Oshundun, thanked Gov. Sanwo-Olu, through Lagos State Sports Commission Chairman, Shola Aiyepeku, and his Director General, Oluwatoyin Gafaar, for the laudable gesture. “You know in any given situation, journalists are always at the receiving end because people believe that journalism is a thankless job. Even during the lockdown that people were at home, we were still working,� observed the Lagos SWAN boss.

He thanked the Chairman of O’Jez Entertainment, Chief Joseph Odobeatu for also supporting the association.

17 Club Chairmen Vote to End 2019/20 NPFL Season Seventeen chairmen of Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL) clubs have voted that the 2019/20 season should come to an end with the top three clubs representing Nigeria at the CAF interclubs competition in the next season A statement issued at the end of the voting session by the Executive Secretary of the Club Owners Association, Alloy Chukwuma, showed that only Rangers International of Enugu voted for the Super 6 option for the winners to emerge as well as the three clubs to represent the country in next season’s continental campaign. Akwa United of Uyo and Lobi Stars of Makurdi abstained from voting.

The 17 clubs also voted for

neither promotion from the lower cadre nor relegation of any of the NPFL clubs.

The votes by the clubs chieftains was one of the four options tables by the League Management Company (LMC) on how to end the season disrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic.

The seventeen that voted for the season to end are: Kwara United, Kano Pillars, Katsina United, Jigawa Golden Stars and Adamawa United.

The others include Wikki Tourists, MFM, Sunshine Stars Enyimba, Warri Wolves and Abia Warriors. Others area Nasarawa United, FC IfenayiUbah, Dakkada, Heartland, Rivers United and Plateau United.

their prestige. “Lagos has approval from the Federal Government for concession. Before the process

is complete, we need to restore sanity to the place. So the work of the task force is cut out. In the past, we had interlopers. Not

anymore more. The stadium is now going to be fixed to serve our teeming youth. The task force will carry out its

assignment according to the law of the land,� the minister had laid out as part of the brief of the task force.

Alex Iwobi (right) was on the ďŹ eld for 88 minutes in the English Premier League Merseyside derby between Everton and Liverpool at the Goodison Park. The game ended goalless

La Liga: Etebo Relishes First Goal for Getafe Femi Solaja with agency report Super Eagles and Getafe midfielder, Oghenekaro Etebo, is presently in Cloud Nine after scoring maiden goal for his club in the restart of the Laliga.

That lone goal earned Getafe a point from the 1-1 draw with Eibar at the Coliseum on Saturday.

Etebo who is on loan from English Championship side, Stoke City, has been impressive in his outings with the Getafe but yet to register any goal until Saturday.

The Delta-born player took to Instagram yesterday to celebrate the goal. “Happy to get my first Getafe goal. Heads up lads,� Etebo posted on social media.

The feat, made him the

21st Nigerian to score in the Spanish top-flight, joining an illustrious list that includes the likes of Ikechukwu Uche, Finidi George, Emmanuel Amuneke, Mutiu Adepoju, Odion Ighalo, Obafemi Martins and Rashidi Yekini.

The 24-year-old, who was part of the Nigeria’s bronze winning football team to the last Olympics in Brazil, according to reports, was on the field for 69 minutes, produced 41 touches on the ball, and 16 accurate passes (64%) with one shot on and off-target.

Etebo gave his side the lead after driving in the ball home from Angel Rodriguez’s assist in the 30th minute.

Unfortunately, the lead was short lived as Charles Dias equalised just before the halftime whistle with a header after Sergi Enrich knocked the ball

into his path.

The encounter was Etebo’s ninth league appearance for Getafe since his arrival in January.

He has played in every game bar against Athletic Bilbao and Valencia, during which he was nursing injury and was unfit to make the match day squad.

Of the nine outings, he got starting shirt in six of them.

Before last Saturday’s first ever goal for his club in Spain, he had previously played for Las Palmas on loan from Portuguese side Feirense. He was also a January loan signing and made a total of 14 appearances.

Oghenekaro Etebo...happy scoring ďŹ rst goal for Getafe

FCT FA Chairman Counts Feats in First Anniversary Federal Capital Territory Football Association( FCTFA) Chairman, Adam Mohammed Mouktar insisted at the weekend that he was committed to making football in Abuja and its environs a model to follow in the country as he celebrates his first year in office.

Elected 20th June 2019, Mouktar has brought his managerial talents to bear with some far reaching programmes and projects including partnership

with German Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich and introduction of Teqball new sports amongst other landmarks. “My experience has been remarkable in the true sense because we had a plan; we executed it and it has transformed the football landscape filled with hope that the future can and will be very bright,� explained Mouktar. “I have seen how very passionate people are about the

game they love.�

In the period under review, the Mouktar-led board rebranded and improved the FCT League with cash prizes for winners along with renovation of the Area 3 and Area 10 pitches; human capacity building with all expenses paid courses for 21 male and female coaches drawn from all the six area councils of the FCT as well as technical partnership with the

Embassy of Hungary on sports cooperation and exchange. “I have nothing to say than a big appreciation for the support from the government; FCT Director of Sports; my Board Members and my team; my constituents in the six Area Councils; all the fans and the ordinary good will from the public have been tremendous,� Mouktar further said.

Rio Mayor Suspends Resumption of Football Matches The resumption of Brazilian football was dealt a setback on Saturday when the city’s mayor suspended matches involving Botafogo and Fluminense in order to give the clubs more time to prepare for action.

The Rio de Janeiro state championship became the first of Brazil’s soccer tournaments to restart after a three-month

hiatus on Thursday when reigning champions Flamengo beat Bangu 3-0.

However, Fluminense and Botafogo threatened not to play games scheduled for June 22, with Fluminense players saying they needed more time to train, and Botafogo declaring they would only be ready to play in July.

With courts refusing their appeal to postpone the games and the two clubs worried they would lose points by a WO, Mayor Marcelo Crivella took action.

His initial decree suspended all games in the Rio state championship until June 25 but he reversed that position hours

later to halt only Botafogo’s match against Cabofriense and Fluminense’s encounter with Volta Redonda.

Brazil’s other state championships, the regional tournaments that take place before the national league gets under way in the second half of the year, have not set dates for a restart.

47

Ëœ ÍşÍşËœ ͺ͸ͺ͸ Ëž T H I S D AY

MONDAYSPORTS PREMIER LEAGUE

Everton Hold Liverpool in Merseyside Derby, Reds 23 Points Clear Chelsea ďŹ ght back to beat Aston Villa Liverpool edged a step closer towards the Premier League title last night after a goalless draw with Everton in the Merseyside derby at Goodison Park.

In a low-tempo encounter, Everton went closest when Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s flick was kept out by Alisson, and Tom Davies’ follow-up shot hit

the post.

Liverpool dominated possession but had few chances, with Joel Matip heading wide from a free-kick.

The point means the Reds are 23 points clear at the top of the table.

If Manchester City win against Burnley tonight, crowning of

Arsenal Loss at Brighton Unacceptable, Says Arteta Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has warned Gunners the way his side lost 1-2 their Premier League game at Brighton at the weekend is “unacceptable�.

The Gunners were the better side for much of the game but threw away a one-goal lead, given to them Nicolas Pepe with just over 20 minutes remaining.

Poor defending allowed Lewis Dunk to equalise before Neal Maupay scored the winner for Brighton in the fifth minute of added time. “I know we have a young squad but we threw the game away,� said Arteta. “I am very frustrated. It is unacceptable the way we lost the game. We had to put it to bed earlier.�

The Gunners have now lost back-to-back games, with the defeat in Sussex coming after last Wednesday’s shambolic 3-0 defeat at Manchester City.

A calamitous display from defender David Luiz was at the heart of the loss at the Etihad and while Saturday’s performance was less disastrous, it still contained

costly errors - most significantly the hesitant defending that allowed Dunk to equalise.

Arteta’s side had gone into the Premier League’s suspension, brought about by coronavirus pandemic, unbeaten in 2020 and with hopes of making a late charge for a Champions League spot, but this now looks unlikely, with eight points separating them and the top four. “There’s a lot of things they have gone really well but we don’t compete,� continued Arteta. “At this level you cannot give those sort of goals away. “This is the challenge we all have at the football club, to rebuild to something that is worth the club we are representing. “I just worry about tomorrow and lifting the players and winning the next football game.�

In another blow to the Gunners, they also lost goalkeeper Bernd Leno to injury after he landed awkwardly following an aerial dual with Maupay.

Ndidi’s Teammate, Maddison, Laments Watford’s Late Equaliser against Leicester Although Leicester are still in line to play in UEFA Champions League next season with their current third spot in the English Premiership log, James Maddison has expressed mixed feelings after the Foxes conceded a stoppage-time leveller during their 1-1 draw away to relegation-threatened Watford.

The champion of the EPL three season ago are eager to return to top European night football next season but their position is currently under threat by Chelsea and Manchester United but the away win would have assured them a further push in the final stretch with eight matches to go.

But last Saturday, both teams showed signs of rustiness at Vicarage Road as they played for the first time after the long sporting lockdown caused by the coronavirus pandemic, and manufactured crowd noise and empty stands created an eerie atmosphere.

Ben Chilwell eventually opened the scoring on 90 minutes, firing an unstoppable shot into the top corner with Watford goalkeeper Ben Foster rooted to the spot.

The Hornets grabbed a valuable point three minutes

later Craig Dawson scored an overhead kick from close range, moving them further away from the drop zone.

The Foxes missed the opportunity to move within four points of second-place Manchester City, but Maddison was able to look on the bright side after producing a strong display in his first appearance since the season was suspended in March. “I’m so happy, playing with a smile on my face, back doing what we love,’ he told lcfc.com. “Obviously, I’m so excited and happy to be back but then straight away, I’m so disappointed that we missed out on two points because that’s the game. “We’re so hungry to do well and secure that Champions League space. So, (it is) kind of two points dropped, I feel, but I felt good and I felt strong even towards the end. I could have had a goal or an assist on another day. “Obviously, the first one back is always going to be strange, a bit ropey, a bit cagey in the first 10 minutes. “But I think over the 90 minutes, we were definitely the fitter, more dominant team and created the better chances.�

Liverpool will be delayed by another week or two.

Chelsea on the other hand returned to Premier League action by coming from behind to beat relegation-threatened Aston Villa and strengthen their bid for a top-four finish.

The Blues dominated the first half but fell behind when Kepa failed to hold Anwar El Ghazi’s shot and Kortney Hause was on hand to bundle in.

Chelsea fought back after the break and turned the game on its head with two goals in as many minutes.

First, substitute Christian Pulisic smashed Cesar Azpilicueta’s cross into the roof of the net at the far post before Olivier Giroud drove in from 15 yards with the help

of a slight deflection.

The win means fourth-placed Chelsea restored their five-point advantage over Manchester United and Wolves, who are fifth and sixth respectively.

Aston Villa, meanwhile, remain in the relegation zone, one point from safety after taking one point from their first two games back following the resumption of the Premier League.

The suspension of the season had perhaps come at a frustrating time for Chelsea. They had just beaten Liverpool 2-0 in the FA Cup fifth round and then thrashed Everton 4-0 in the league.

But, 105 days on from that win against the Toffees, Chelsea looked fresh and motivated from the outset against a Villa side

fighting for survival.

The only concern, however, was their inability to turn chances into goals - particularly in the first half.

Mason Mount saw a powerful strike kept out by Villa keeper Orjan Nyland before Ruben Loftus-Cheek, making a welcome return to the side after a year out with injury, just failed to turn home a teasing ball across the face of goal.

It could have proved costly, particularly when Villa scored from only their second shot on target to take the lead.

In the end Chelsea got the job done but, with 19 attempts on goal, they should perhaps have won by a more comfortable margin.

The signing of Timo Werner for next season will hopefully address Chelsea’s struggles to make the most of their opportunities but for now, Frank Lampard will hope his current forwardswillusethestriker’s impending arrival as motivation to be more clinical in the end-ofseason run-in.

Earlier, Steve Bruce remains unconvinced that his Newcastle side have secured their Premier League status despite an emphatic 3-0 victory over Sheffield United which moved them 11 points clear of the relegation zone.

The Magpies have 38 points with eight games remaining, and a win over struggling Aston Villa on Wednesday would all but secure safety.

Liverpool’s Sadio Mane (right), trying to outwit Everton defender...yesterday

La Liga: Real Betis Sack Coach Rubi Spanish top-flight side Real Betis have sacked coach Joan Francesc “Rubi�

Ferrer just three matches into the resumption of La

Liga.

Saturday’s 1-0 defeat at Athletic Bilbao left the club 14th in the table, eight points clear of the

relegation places with eight matches to play.

Sports director Alexis Trujillo, who played more than 220 games for Betis,

will take over until the end of the season, with Betis next in action against bottom club Espanyol on Thursday.

Real Madrid Return to Top of La Liga with Win over Sociedad Real Madrid hit the summit of LaLiga again after late Sunday night away win at Real Sociedad.

Both Madrid and Barcelona are tied on 65 points from 30 matches respectively but Zinedine Zidane men have the edge on head-to- head record over the Catalan club.

The former champions won 2-1 and thanks to goals from Sergio Ramos and Karim Benzema at the La Reale Arena.

Real Madrid had cruise control of the clash against Real Sociedad following a goalless first half.

Vinicius Junior was one of the brightest players in Real Madrid’s attack, the Brazilian star was pulled down in the penalty area after a solo run from the half of the pitch and was awarded a penalty which Sergio Ramos converted for the away team.

Ramos was substituted

after he collided with Real Sociedad attacker Isak and the Real captain was replaced by manager Zinedine Zidane with Eder Militao.

Real Madrid got the second

goal after Karim Benzema controlled a high ball to make it 2-0.

Merino scored for the home team in the 83rd minute after Real Madrid defence was

caught open.

Real Madrid held on and Zidane’s men were able to go to the top of the La Liga table with three wins in three games.

Olivier Giroud scored the winner for Chelsea against Aston Villa on Sunday evening

Monday June 22, 2020

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& RE A SO

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Price: N250

MISSILE

Abdullahi to Buhari “Buhari’s government did not worth re-electing. But Nigerians reelected it and, as such, I don’t see why they should be complaining now.

So I don’t know what the problem is. They (the government) have to find scapegoats. They have to find people to blame for failing to do their work” – Chairman of the Northern Elders’ Forum, Prof. Ango Abdullahi, lamenting the worsening state of insecurity in the North.

ENIOLABELLO ENI-B

eniola.bello@thisdaylive.com

0805 500 1956

Insecurity and Buhari’s Mea Culpa

P

erhaps for the first time in the life of the Buhari administration, all the security chiefs jointly addressed the media Thursday last week.

At the press conference, National Security Adviser Mohammed Babagana Monguno led Defence Minister Bashir Salihi Magashi; service chiefs, Gen. Abayomi Olonisakin (Chief of Defence Staě), Lt. Gen. Yusuf Tukur Buratai (Army Chief), Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas (Naval Chief) and Air Marshal Sadique Saliu Abubakar (Air Force Chief); Inspector General of Police Mohammed Adamu; and intelligence chiefs Yusuf Magaji Bichi (Department of State Services), Ahmed Rufai Abubakar (National Intelligence Agency) and Mohammed Sani Usman (Defence Intelligence Agency) to express the president’s disappointment with their failure in arresting the worsening insecurity in the country. Buhari, through Monguno, for the ęrst time publicly chided the security chiefs in what could be described as his mea culpa, his acknowledgement of his error, while vowing not to accept any more excuses for the heightened insecurity in the country.

Standing out like a sore thumb at that press conference, in a country whose peoples are overly sensitive to their ethnic, cultural

Buhari

and religious diversities, is the lop-sidedness in the composition of the top security chiefs, zonally. Only two – Olonisakin from Ekiti State in the southwest and Ibas from Cross River State in the south south – out of nine security chiefs are from the south. Monguno and Buratai come from Borno State, and Abubakar from Bauchi State in the northeast; Magashi, Bichi and

Usman come from Kano State, and Rufai from Katsina State in the northwest; and Adamu is from Nasarawa State in the north central. Yet, insecurity, particularly in the north, has been on the upswing in the last ęve years of this administration.

Boko Haram insurgents, an extremist Islamic group that Buhari had promised to decimate within three months when he ęrst took the presidential oath in May 2015, have made scorched earth policy an article of faith in some parts of northeast, particularly Borno, kidnapping and killing and maiming and raping, and in the process turning hundreds of school girls into sex slaves. In the northwest states of Katsina and Kaduna and Sokoto and Zamfara, bandits and rustlers strike at will, leaving in their wake death, blood and tears. And in the north central states of Nasarawa and Niger and Kogi, bandits, armed robbers and kidnappers have long had a ęeld day sowing death and destruction. The common denominator among these non-state agents of violence is that they ęght for no higher purpose; they simply kill the people and burn down communities for the fun of it.

Raiding from the north down south are gun-toĴing herders and kidnappers on the loose, aĴacking farmers, destroying farmlands, raping women and killing for

sport. Before now, state governors, political, religious and community leaders, and sociocultural organisations across the southern zones had called on the security agencies to stop the killings, even cried out to the president, and long demanded the removal of the service chiefs, and their reconstitution to reĚect the country’s diversity, but all to no avail. But for the recent spate of protests in Katsina, organised by the Coalition of Northern Groups; the Northern Elders’ Forum’s trenchant condemnation of the administration’s inability to handle the reign of armed gangs; Sultan Muhammed Sa’ad Abubakar III desperately crying out from the Sokoto Sahel; and more importantly, the US denunciation of the “senseless and brazen killings of civilians”, Buhari may not have had the sense of duty to call out his security chiefs. Even then, the president’s yellow card to the security chiefs not a few Nigerians have said didn’t go far enough; many individuals and groups have in the last two years, and rightly so, called for their removal.

Although the problem of Boko Haram insurgency, violent communal clashes, kidnappings, and insensate criminality predated this administration, the insecurity Continued on page 45

LAILAJOHNSON-SALAMI GUEST COLUMNIST

D’banj, Apologists and Why Women Aren’t Reporting Rape

W

hen the Nigeria Police Force recently published numbers for citizens to call to report cases of rape and sexual violence, many women responded asking what the mobilisation fee will be for reports to be taken seriously. Nigeria’s rape culture has existed for decades, with no end in sight to the deep rooted oppression women face systemically and culturally. It is not a new culture, but one that continues to terrorise the lives of far too many and much of the conversation is performative, with liĴle justice for rape and sexual violence.

From Uwa, who was gang raped in the Redeemed Christian Church of God, to

ennifer, who was gang raped by ęve men in Kaduna State, to Farishina, who at the age of twelve was gang raped by eleven men - reports over the past few weeks have been horrifying. While more cases are certainly being reported across the country, far from enough women are speaking up, because it is not safe to do so. #WhyIDidntReport trended on social media recently, with several women commenting on their fears of coming

forward. Certainly, this was educational for a larger demographic, but it came with a very practical and unseĴling example of why most women choose to remain silent.

In a series of tweets, a young woman named Seyitan Babatayo, accused celebrity D’banj of raping her in December 2018.

She demanded a public apology from the artist, who stayed silent on the accusations for a few days while he celebrated his fortieth birthday, but he was certainly also cooking up a plan to her detriment. On Tuesday, the artist took to his Instagram page to post a leĴer dated une 15th, sent by his legal representatives (Mike Ozekhome Chambers) to Ms Babatayo, asking her to pay a sum of one hundred million naira within forty-eight hours as compensation for falsely accusing him, or risk legal action. Staggering. Although Ms Babatayo is likely to have expected this legal response, I am sure she was caught oě guard by what transpired next, as were many of us.

As soon as the leĴer was published, several rape apologists trivialised her allegations. Journalist Joey Akan, who recently interviewed the artist, stated:

“All of you agendaists gingering that poor girl on the timeline and trying to harass me for interviewing D’banj. I hope you’ll contribute money for her legal fees, and also show up in court to go clear her name of slandering him.” - Now there are several problems here. Firstly, Mr Akan decided to assume that a leĴer from D’banj’s legal representatives to Ms Babatayo denying the allegations, provides proof of slander, which is false. Secondly, Mr Akan decided to get defensive over a rape allegation, which tends to happen when people are uncomfortable with the subject for one reason or another. Globally, ninety-eight percent of rape allegations are proven true, but the false accusation card will always be the default mode of a rape apologist.

Shortly after the leĴer went public, it was reported that Ms Babatayo had been picked up by the police and detained in Sodipo, Ikeja. This was later conęrmed by journalist and activist Kiki Mordi, who had been in contact with Ms Babatayo’s lawyers. She stated that around midday on Tuesday, Ms Babatayo was detained and denied access to her lawyers and family.

Imagine! So your alleged perpetrator,

through money power or inĚuence, can have you detained for alleging he abused you while he the accused, walks scot-free?

What happened to a court of law? This is one clear reason why there have only been 65 recorded convictions of rape in the country over the past 47 years.

Although sources close to Ms Babatayo have conęrmed that she is out of police custody, I cannot remember the last time I have seen such a blatant and horrifying display of the abuse of power. While in custody, all prior statements were deleted from her TwiĴer account and new tweets were published denying that she had been arrested, with a retraction of her original allegations. A tweet promoting the artists new music was also published on her page, while Ms Babatayo was then reportedly being kept at D’banj’s manager’s house.

If this is true, for the police force to not only have detained her, but given her alleged perpetrator or those around him access to her, is numbing. Of course, it was hardly convincing that a young woman who had mustered the courage to speak Continued on page 45

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