WEDNESDAY 6TH JANUARY 2021

Labour, OPS, Others Kick as FG Reviews Electricity Tariffs Tariff increases to continue till Discos cover costs, says NERC Ndubuisi Francis, Chuks Okocha, James Emejo, Onyebuchi Ezigbo, Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja and Dike Onwuamaze and Peter Uzoho in Lagos

Analysts, the Organised Private Sector (OPS), labour and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday decried a review, by the federal government, in electricity tariffs, especially amidst the

current economic challenges occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic.

They faulted the timing of the tariff adjustment, considering the economic hardship and recession which

have eroded the purchasing power of Nigerians.

The Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), the Lagos Chamber of

Commerce and Industry (LCCI), the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC), a former Director General, Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI), Dr. Chijioke

Ekechukwu; Managing Director/Chief Executive, Credent Investment Managers Limited, Mr. Ibrahim Shelleng and a former Commissioner Continued on page 9

OPEC Mandates Nigeria to Cut Production by 939,000bpd in Three Months... Page 8 Wednesday 6 January, 2021 Vol 26. No 9404. Price: N250

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WHO Endorses Pfizer Vaccine for COVID-19 Immunisation in Nigeria Nigeria opens talks with China on vaccine acquisition Onyebuchi Ezigbo and Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja As Nigeria prepares to take delivery of COVID-19 vaccines by the end of January, the

World Health Organization (WHO) announced yesterday that it has authorised the vaccine made by Pfizer for immunisation against the virus in the country.

The WHO Country Representative in Nigeria, Dr Walter Kaza Mulombo, said during the Presidential Task Force on COVID- 19 press briefing in Abuja that

FG to revoke visas of errant visitors

the Pfizer vaccine, which requires keeping in extremely cold temperature of minus 70 degrees celsius, which is colder than winter in Antarctica, is the first to be approved for

Nigeria by the world health body and will be available for emergency use.

The federal government has also opened talks with China to have access to COVID-19

vaccines for the country.

A report yesterday by Reuters also showed that Nigeria hopes to get 42 million Continued on page 9

Osoba: We Agreed during APC Merger Talks that South will Produce Next President

Accuses party chiefs of frustrating restructuring Urges unity in South-west to get party's ticket

Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja A former Governor of Ogun State and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Olusegun Osoba, yesterday joined the fray in the raging debate in the party over whether or not the presidency should return to the South after the two-term tenure of President Muhammadu Buhari in 2023.

Osoba, while fielding questions on The Morning Show, the flagship breakfast programme on ARISE NEWS CHANNEL, the broadcast arm of THISDAY Newspapers, said there was a gentleman's agreement during the 2013 merger talks that the presidency would rotate between the North and the South.

The Congress of Progressive Change (CPC), All Nigerian

Peoples Party (ANPP), Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and a faction of All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) came together to form APC. Ahead of the 2023 final tenure of Buhari, there is a swirling controversy in the ruling party over whether or not the APC should concede its presidential ticket to any of the three zones in South, South-west, South-south and South-east, or throw it open.

Some party chieftains, including Minister of Transportation, Mr. Chibuike Amaechi; his Works and Housing counterpart, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN); former Zamfara State Governor, Senator Sani Yerima and Senator Ibrahim Shekarau, representing Kano Central, have started taking a Continued on page 10

At Last, FG's 774,000 Job-for-youths Scheme Takes Off...Page 5

KEEPING THE PRESIDENT IN THE LOOP...

L-R: Vice President Yemi Osinbajo (SAN) and President Muhammadu Buhari at a briefing on the progress achieved thus far in the implementation of the Economic Sustainability Plan, in Abuja...yesterday

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NEWS At Last, FG’s 774,000 Job-for-youths Scheme Takes off Group News Editor Ejiofor Alike

Email Ejiofor.Alike@thisdaylive.com, 08066066268

Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja

After a series of hiccups, the federal government yesterday formally kickstarted the Special Public Works (SPW) programme, targeted at employing 774,000 youths.

Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Mr. Festus Keyamo (SAN), said at the launch of the programme in Abuja that it would provide economic empowerment to the beneficiaries.

The SPW, which is expected to last for three months, with a stipend of N20,000 each month for the participants, got embroiled in a controversy between the executive and the National Assembly leading to the sack

of the Director-General of the National Directorate of Employment (NDE), Dr. Nasiru Argungu.

Keyamo said the participants may deploy the skills acquired to become self-employed.

"In addition, government and the organised private sector may in due course create/provide exit options.

"It is also aimed at shielding the most vulnerable from the ravaging effects of COVID-19 pandemic, which include, but are not limited to, pervasive hunger, poverty, environmental degradation and joblessness.

"The need to quickly address the above mentioned informed the decision to implement the ESPW. Our target is to immediately

FCMB CEO Proceeds on Leave as Bank Intensifies Probe into Paternity Allegation Obinna Chima The Chief Executive Officer of First City Monument Bank Limited (FCMB), Mr. Adam Nuru, has voluntarily chosen to proceed on leave as the bank’s board investigate the allegation of paternity scandal against him.

The bank, in a public notice yesterday, said Nuru proceeding on leave would guarantee the sanctity of the investigation.

"We are aware of several stories circulating across several media platforms about our bank’s Managing Director Adam Nuru, a former employee, Mrs Moyo Thomas and her deceased husband, Mr. Tunde Thomas.

“While this is a personal matter, the tragedy of the death of Mr. Tunde Thomas and the allegations of unethical conduct require the bank's board to conduct a review of what transpired, any violations of our code of ethics and the adequacy of this code of ethics. This is already under way.

“During the period of

the review, the managing director has volunteered to proceed on leave. This will guarantee the sanctity of the review process. We enjoin all our stakeholders to bear with us as we conduct this review and to please respect the various families involved,” the statement said.

As at January 3, no fewer than 2,311 people had signed an online petition to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), calling for the sack of Nuru. The petitioners alleged that the bank chieftain was responsible for the demise of Thomas, whose wife he was allegedly in a relationship with. Nuru was also accused of being the father of the couple's two children.

They claimed that Thomas was down with a stroke, as a result of the relationship between his wife and Nuru, but later recovered and thereafter met another lady whom he planned to marry.

He was, however, said to have died two days before his introduction to his already pregnant girlfriend.

engage the 774,000 selected unemployed Nigerians for the programme to execute carefully selected

projects across the 774 local government areas in the country," he stated.

NDE Acting Director

General, Malam Abubakar Nuhu Fikpo, said the flag-off marked the actualisation of the single most far-

reaching grassroots-based employment creation initiative in the history of the country.

Buhari: No Sustainable Development without Adequate Infrastructure Iyobosa Uwugiaren in Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday restated his determination to bridge the infrastructural deficits in the country, saying sustainable development is not possible when a country is hobbled by severe infrastructural shortfalls.

The Special Adviser (Media and Publicity), Femi Adesina, quoted the president as stating this yesterday at State House, Abuja, while hosting the State Councillor and Foreign

Minister, People’s Republic of China, Mr. Wang Yi. “We thank China for its support to us in various ways; in building of rail, road, power, defence, and many others. You are helping us to reduce our severe infrastructural deficits and we are glad. There cannot be sustainable development without infrastructural development,” Buhari said.

He stated that Nigeria would continue to honour its obligations in the relationship with the People’s Republic of

China, “as you are making a big difference, which we appreciate very much.”

The Chinese minister applauded what he called the “mutual trust and sound personal friendship” between Buhari and President Xi Jinping of China, noting that it has guided the bilateral relationship between the two countries.

He added that China loves to begin the year’s diplomatic work from Africa and Nigeria was chosen as the first port of call in 2021, since the year marks the 50th

anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

He described Nigeria as a country with great regional and international influence, adding, “we trust, understand and support each other. We will continue to value each other.”

The minister said his country would encourage Chinese companies to increase their investments in Nigeria, while China would also share experience and techniques in areas like digital economy, defence and many others.

STRENGTHENING BILATERAL TIES...

L-R: Chinese Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Wang Yi; his Nigerian counterpart, Mr. Geoffrey Onyeama and Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Chief Niyi Adebayo, at a joint press briefing, in Abuja...yesterday

Nigeria Owes IMF, World Bank, Others $31.98bn Ndubuisi Francis in Abuja Nigeria's bilateral and multilateral debts stood at $31.98 billion as of September 2020, according to the latest figures released by the Debt Management Office (DMO).

The outstanding debts are not only owed to bilateral and multilateral institutions but also include commercial loans from Eurobonds and Diaspora Bond.

Bilateral debts are those arising from country-tocountry loans or loans secured

by Nigeria from financial institutions belonging to other countries while multilateral debts are from global or regional financial agencies.

Mutilateral institutions in the World Bank Group being owed by Nigeria are the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) and the International Development Association (IDA). Nigeria also owes the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the African Growing Together Fund and African Development Fund which are under the African Development Bank (AfDB).

Other multilateral institutions being owed include the European Development Fund, Arab Bank for Economic Development and Islamic Development Bank, among

others.

The bilateral debt stock are those owed to the Exim Bank of China, Agence Francaise Development of France and Japan International Cooperation Agency.

A breakdown of the DMO figures indicate that more than half of the $31.98 billion debt are owed multilateral institutions, including the IMF, World Bank and AfDB. Out of $31.98 billion outstanding debt, $10.74 billion belongs to the International Development Association (IDA) and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) which are affiliates of the World

Bank Group.

The debt stock also shows that Nigeria owes the IMF $3.45 billion.

The IMF had in May last year released $3.4 billion in emergency financial assistance under the Rapid Financing Instrument (RFI) to support the federal government’s' efforts in addressing the severe economic impact of the COVID-19 shocks and the sharp fall in oil prices Nigeria also owes $2.24 billion to Africa Growing Together Fund and African Development Fund; entities of the AfDB Group.

The country is also indebted to four

international lenders, including the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA); Islamic Development Bank (IDB); International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and European Development Fund (EDF) $298.12 million.

Nigeria also owes five countries (China, France, Japan, India and Germany) $4.07 million; accounting for 12.74 per cent of the nation’s external debt.

A total of $3.26 million is owed to the Export Import (Exim) Bank of China; Agence Francaise Development ($502.38 million); Japan International Cooperation

Agency ($78.20 million); Exim Bank of India ($37 million) and Kreditanstalt Fur Wiederaufbua ($193.26 million), even as Nigeria holds $10.86 billion in Eurobonds and $300 million in Diaspora bond.

Based on the figures released last Thursday by the DMO, Nigeria's total public debt stock, which comprises the debt stock of the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN), the 36 state governments and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) jumped from N31.009 trillion as of June 30, 2020 to N32.223 trillion ($84.574 billion) by September 30, 2020.

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OPEC Mandates Nigeria to Cut Production by 939,000bpd in Three Months Resolves to return additional 500,000bpd for February, March Gives defaulting countries January 15 compensation deadline Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja The Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) yesterday upheld its December 3, 2020 decision to increase crude oil production output by 500,000 barrels per day for February and March, 2021.

The plan will, however, see Nigeria cut production by an additional 939,000 barrels in adherence to the resolution, with reference production set for the country by OPEC put at 1.829 million barrels per day in January, February and March.

But the required production per month will be 1,516 million barrels per day, a reduction of 313,000 barrels per day for each of the months.

The document also showed that Russia and Saudi Arabia have a reference production of 11 million barrels per day respectively, but will only be allowed to pump 9.1 million bpd for the period under review.

OPEC directed its members and allies that have not fully complied with the output curbs agreed upon in April when the prices of some grades of oil in the international market became negative, to submit a compensation plan by January 15.

Yesterday's decisions came after an intense two-day meeting of the OPEC+ on whether or not to stick with the plan of returning another 500,000 barrels per day of production to the market in light of fresh lockdowns amid the coronavirus surge.

The cartel failed to arrive at a decision on Monday because while Russia and

the United Arab Emirates (UAE) insisted on the 500,000 bpd increase in production, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Algeria reportedly pushed to leave production unchanged.

However, a statement after the 13th OPEC and nonOPEC Ministerial Meeting (ONOMM) yesterday, indicated that after about 48 hours of bickering, the organisation resolved to further pump the agreed additional quantity into the market.

OPEC reaffirmed the continued commitment of the participating countries in the Declaration of Cooperation (DoC) to a stable market in the mutual interest of producing nations; the efficient, economic and secure supply to consumers and a fair return on invested capital.

In addition, the meeting recalled the decision taken by all DoC participating countries at the 10th (extraordinary) ONOMM on April 12, 2020 to adjust downwards overall crude oil production, the unanimous decisions taken at the 11th ONOMM on 6 June 2020 and the outcomes of the 12th ONOMM on 3 December 2020.

It highlighted the unprecedented events of 2020 and shocking impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the world economy and markets.

It commended the DoC participating countries for undertaking the largest and longest crude oil production adjustments in history in response to the exceptional challenges and market conditions caused by the pandemic.

It stated that rising infections, the return of

stricter lockdown measures and growing uncertainties have resulted in a more fragile economic recovery that is expected to continue in 2021.

The meeting recognised that market sentiment had been buoyed recently by vaccine programmes and improved asset markets, but underscored the need for caution due to prevailing weak demand and poor refining margins, the high stock overhang and other underlying uncertainties.

“The meeting acknowledged the need to

gradually return 2 mb/d to the market, with the pace being determined according to market conditions. It reconfirmed the decision made at the 12th ONOMM to increase production by 0.5 mb/d starting in January 2021, and adjusting production from 7.7 mb/d to 7.2 mb/d.

“The adjustments to the production level for February and March 2021 will be implemented as per the distribution detailed in the attached table.

Production adjustments for April and subsequent

months will be decided during the monthly ONOMM following the criteria agreed upon in the 12th said.

“The meeting reiterated the need to continue closely monitoring market fundamentals, including non-DoC supply and its impact on the global oil balance and overall market stability,” the organisation said.

It noted that high conformity levels has contributed to market rebalancing and stability, adding that between May

and November, participating OPEC and non-OPEC countries contributed to reducing the global supply by approximately 1.9 billion barrels, including voluntary adjustments.

The meeting drew attention to the exceptional year of 2020 as an outlier that distorted the latest five-year average of OECD commercial oil stock levels and recommended retaining the 2015-2019 average as a more representative metric, while keeping the latest five-year average for the time being.

MY CONDOLENCES...

L-R: Former Kano State Governor, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso and Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, when the governor paid a condolence visit to Kwankwaso over the death of his father, Alhaji Musa Kwankwaso, in Abuja…. on Sunday

Again, UI Clears Obaseki of Certificate Forgery Allegation Governor tenders original copy before court Alex Enumah in Abuja Authorities of the University of Ibadan (UI), for the second time since June 2020, have cleared Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, of allegation of forging his degree certificate.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) and one of its chieftains, Mr. Williams Edobor, had sued Obaseki for allegedly forging the university certificate he submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in aid of his qualification for the September 19 governorship election in Edo State.

The plaintiffs want the court to disqualify Obaseki, who won the election, in the event that he was found to have forged his degree certificate obtained from

UI in 1979.

Other defendants in the suit are the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and INEC. The plaintiffs, in proving their allegations, called six witnesses amongst whom are two Associate Professors who graduated from the University of Ibadan in 1978 and 1979 before closing their case on Monday.

Obaseki, in opening his defence yesterday, called in two witnesses among whom is the Deputy Registrar, Legal, University of Ibadan, Mr. Abayomi Ajayi, who told the court that the mere fact that some parts of the original of Obaseki's degree certificate from the UI were missing in the photocopy he attached to his form EC9 and 001 to INEC did not amount to forgery.

He told the court that the

university is not dealing with this allegation for the first time as the Minister of State for Education had once brought the issue before the institution.

The authorities of University of Ibadan before the Federal High Court, sitting in Benin in June last year, had cleared Obaseki of similar forgery allegations, saying that he graduated from the institution and was accordingly awarded the degree certificate of Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Classical Studies in 1979.

Ajayi, who was the second witness to be called by the first defendant, and was led in evidence yesterday

by Mr. Ken Mozia (SAN), Obaseki's lawyer, explained that Obaseki's photocopy was incomplete due to the process of photocopying.

The witness stated that from the records of the university, Obaseki was admitted in 1976 through direct entry and he graduated in 1979 during the tenure of Prof. Tekena Tamuno as vice chancellor and S.J Okufu as registrar.

“I will not regard the photocopy of the original certificate as forged but incomplete photocopy because the certificate of the University of Ibadan is larger than the paper upon which the photocopy was made,” Ajayi added.

He tendered photocopies of various sizes of papers and their outcome when the original was not reduced.

He, however, stated that he was not at the university when Obaseki was a student, adding that he relied on Obaseki's record at the university to give his

evidence.

Other documents he tendered to prove Obaseki was a product of UI included pages of the congregation for admission to degrees, award of diplomas and certificates and 31st Foundation Day Ceremony in September 1979 and Obaseki's application.

Earlier, the first defence witness, Mr. Charity Aguobawekhina, Chairman of the Edo State Law Reform Commission, tendered the original of Obaseki's certificates, including the disputed degree certificate.

The witness who claimed to be a close associate of Obaseki, told the court that he made the disputed photocopy Obaseki attached to his nomination form submitted to INEC. He added that a part of the photocopy attached

to form EC9 was cut off because of the largeness of the original certificate.

He tendered the primary school certificate obtained

by Obaseki, his School Certificate, Higher School Certificate, University of Ibadan degree obtained in 1979 and another Masters Degree from Pace University obtained by Obaseki as his educational qualification.

All the certificates, which are original copies, were admitted as exhibits by the trial judge.

Under cross-examination, the witness said the photocopy of the degree certificate, which has the signature of the university’s chief registrar, the date of issuance of the certificate and the name of the vice chancellor did not make the photocopy of the certificate a forged document.

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PAGE NINE LABOUR, OPS, OTHERS KICK AS FG REVIEWS ELECTRICITY TARIFFS for Finance, Prof. Uche Uwaleke, in separate interviews with THISDAY, expressed reservations about the new electricity pricing regime.

Earlier yesterday, the federal government, through the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), had, again, increased electricity tariff.

However, the government stated that prices paid by households and business premises with less than 12 hours of power supply remain frozen and will be subsidised.

The NERC, in an order copied all the Distribution Companies (Discos), said it hiked the tariffs considering the changes in inflation rate, foreign exchange, generation capacity, gas prices, among others, since the last review.

The latest increase comes about four months after the last one, which was unsuccessfully opposed by the organised labour, prompting a temporary suspension. But the then pricing regime finally took off after negotiations that did not yield much results.

In a revised Multi Year Tariff Order (MYTO) signed by the new Chairman of NERC, Mr. Sanusi Garba and Commissioner, Legal, Licensing and Compliance, Dafe Akpeneye, on December 31, 2020, the memo indicated that the new tariff increase took effect from January 1, 2021.

Although NERC has not made the orders public at the time of going to press, citing the need to first allow the receiving Discos acknowledge receipt of the official communication, the one sent to Ibadan Electric Distribution Company (IBEDC) showed that for band A (Non-Maximum Demand), tariff is rising from N59.15 in December 2020 to N62.33 in January through June 2021.

This will further increase to N69.18 between July and December this year, N73.11 by 2022 and N74.22 in 2023.

For MD1, still in band A, it increased from N58.25 from December last year to N61.33 from January to June and will be N68.13 from July to December this year.

As for MD2, the increase was from N56.78 to N59.70 in the first six months and N61.86 thereafter till year end.

Band A is expected to receive 20 hours of power supply or more per day.

Band B, (minimum of 16 hours per day), increased from

N55.46, N54.52 and N53.62 to N58.39, N57.33 and N56.33 respectively from now till June.

The three levels in band C also rose from N46.71, N45.99 and N44.91 to N48.71, N47.99 and N46.91 respectively between now and June this year. This band is not expected to get less than 12 hours per day.

However, in a statement clarifying the order marked NERC/225/2020, NERC explained that the commission had not approved a 50 per cent increase in electricity tariffs, but had only made an approval based on minor changes in the variables that go into the final charges paid by consumers.

“The commission states unequivocally that no approval has been granted for a 50 per cent tariff increase in the tariffs order for electricity distribution companies which took effect on January 1, 2021.

“On the contrary, the tariff for customers on service bands D & E (customers being served less than an average of 12 hours of supply per day over a period of one month) remains frozen and subsidised in line with the policy direction of the federal government.

“In compliance with the provisions of the Electric Power Sector Reform Act (EPRSA) on the nation’s tariff methodology for biannual minor review, the rates for service bands A, B, C, D and E have been adjusted

by NGN2.00 to NGN4.00 per kW/hr to reflect the partial impact of inflation and movement in foreign exchange rates,” it stated.

It noted that any customer that has been impacted by any rate increases beyond the above provision of the tariff order should report to the commission through its approved lines of communication with the public.

On the order, one of which was addressed to the Ibadan Disco, obtained by THISDAY, NERC stated that the factors taken into consideration were: “14.9 per cent inflation rate rise in November 2020, foreign exchange of N379.4/$1 as of December 29, 2020, available generation capacity, US inflation rate of 1.22 per cent and the Capital Expenditure (CAPEX) of the power firms.”

The order also covers rate of increases expected to be paid by Nigerians between now and 2024, with a unit costing as much as N74 by then.

In the latest order copied the IBEDC, NERC said: “This order supersedes order / NERC/202B/2020 and shall take effect from 1st January 2021 and shall cease to have effect on the issuance of a new MYTO or an extraordinary tariff review order by NERC.” The commission noted that the order, among other objectives, aims to transit to Cost Reflective Tariffs (CRT) and introduction of servicebased tariff regime with a view to improving customer service experience as well as ensuring financial sustainability of the electricity industry.

"Accordingly, this order is issued to reflect the impact of changes in the minor review variable as indicated in section 7 of this order and used relevant projections based on best available information in the determination of CRT and relevant tariff shortfalls for the year 2021,” it noted.

According to NERC, the revised tariff reflects the impact of changes in the projected minor review variables from January to December 2021.

It also explained that part of the objectives was to steer the market to gradual costreflective tariffs and activation of market contracts in line with the requirements of the transitional electricity market.

On how it arrived at the new rates, NERC stated: “The actual average monthly inflation rate of 13 per cent for the period January to November 2020 was used for review of the year 2020 tariffs, while the November 2020 inflation rate of 14.9per cent as obtained from the Nigeria Bureau of Statistics (NBS) was adopted to project Nigeria inflation rates for 2021.

"In line with the MYTO methodology, the CBN official exchange rate plus a premium of 1 per cent was used for the retroactive review of the year 2020. The benchmark gas price of $2.50/mmbtu, gas transportation cost of $0.80 mmbtu and gas prices outside the regulated rates for Generation Companies (Gencos) with effective gas sales agreement were maintained,” NERC added.

For instance, in the analysis, while lifeline remains frozen at N4 from now till 2024, Non-MD will pay N62.33 from January to June, N69.18 from July to December, N73.11 in 2022, N74.22 in 2023 and N74.12 in 2024.

Also, the commission stated that the Discos shall be liable for service improvements

in accordance with the commitments under the universal service obligations for providing electricity supply to customers.

Labour, OPS, PDP, Analysts Decry New Tariffs The new electricity pricing regime drew outrage and caution from the organised labour, PDP, the OPS and analysts.

NLC President, Dr. Ayuba Wabba, condemned the hike, describing it deceitful.

He described the federal government's action as improper since the joint technical committee set up to review the processes involved in tariff fixing is still at work.

He said while other countries are giving palliatives to cushion the effect of the economic hardship on citizens occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Nigerian government is inflicting more hardship on its citizens.

On its part, the Trade Union Congress ((TUC) described the hike as another betrayal of trust.

In a statement by it President, Quadiri Olaleye, the union said that it was disappointed by the hike in electricity tariff.

It added that the tariff increase will increase the hardship of Nigerians.

TUC said: "Sometimes we wonder why this government espouses unfriendly policies that are capable of crippling the economy. There are many companies that have either closed shops or relocated to neighbouring countries because they cannot afford to pay the last tariff hike yet this government has done another one. Does it mean there is no other way this government can creatively generate revenue? It has become obvious that the outrages from the organised labour and the masses and the series of negotiations we had with government were just cosmetic and hypocritical.

"There is so much deceit and laziness in the system.

There is hardly any promise made that they have followed through."

The TUC urged the federal government to revert to the old tariff or be prepared to face the consequences.

Also, a former Director General, Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI), Dr. Chijioke Ekechukwu, said the new

pricing regime would lead to more hardship, particularly for Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).

He said: "It is unfortunate that electricity tariff had to be increased at this critical and difficult time. In my opinion, this is a very wrong timing of implementation of such increase.

"The country is currently in recession and experiencing attendant hardship by the citizenry. Recession is not a period to increase taxes, levies, tariffs and bills. This is because the ultimate effect will adversely affect households and consumers.”

Managing Director/ Chief Executive, Credent Investment Managers Limited, Mr. Ibrahim Shelleng, told THISDAY that the hike would among other things, affect the general cost of goods and services and compound the pre-existing inflationary pressures.

"With COVID-19 and partial lockdown still in place, it will certainly be a tough business environment for SMEs," he stated.

On his part, a former Imo State Commissioner for Finance, Prof. Uche Uwaleke, described as ill-timed the latest increase in electricity tariff by NERC. Uwaleke explained that much as having in place a cost-reflective tariff is in the long-term interest of the power sector due to its potential to attract investors, implementing such a reform now will be counter-productive.

The Director General of the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), Ambassador Ayo Olukanni, also told THISDAY that in the current reality of COVID-19 whose telling impact on the Nigerian economy is currently manifesting as economic recession, “a continuous increase in the cost of production as a result of these periodical increases will impede the growth of the real sector.”

Olukanni said business concerns would attempt to pass on some of these costs to their consumers by increasing their prices, which would depress demand in an unending the vicious-cycle.

He said: “Our counsel to the government remains the implementation of policies (even if it is in the short term) that increase the productive capacity of the real sector, as

well as the disposable income of the general populace, as this is the time-tested approach to exit a recession.”

Also, the Director-General of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Dr. Muda Yusuf, called for a strategic approach to electricity pricing in order to avoid pushback from the consumers.

Yusuf stated that there was a review of the tariff just two months ago before the latest price adjustment this year.

He said: “The commercial arguments may be strong, but there is a social context to be reckoned with, especially given the kind of product in question.

“The economy is currently in a recession, purchasing power has been significantly eroded across all income classes, the poverty situation has been worsening and there is spiraling inflation. There are fresh concerns about a resurgence of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“These contexts should have a moderating effect on price movement at this time, especially for a product of high social significance. It is important to take these factors into account in order not to put the entire reform process at risk.”

In its reaction, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) described the hike in electricity tariff as insensitive and anti-people, adding that it will worsen the economic hardship being faced by Nigerians.

The party, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, said the reasons adduced by NERC is not enough to warrant such an increase in electricity tariff, especially at the time Nigerians are looking up to government for economic recovery programmes and packages.

The PDP urged the APC and its government to note that such electricity tariff hike, at this critical time, will bear more pressure on homes and businesses, impact negatively on the national productivity and make life more unbearable, particularly at this period of economic recession.

"What our nation needs at this point are positive policies that will encourage Nigerians in their productive endeavours and cushion the hardship they face on daily basis instead of wicked policies that will only worsen their situation," it added.

WHO ENDORSES PFIZER VACCINE FOR COVID-19 IMMUNISATION IN NIGERIA COVID-19 vaccines to cover one-fifth of its population through the global COVAX scheme.

The WHO announcement came against the backdrop of the federal government’s statement that the first batch of vaccines for immunising 20 per cent of the population against the virus will be delivered by the end of the month.

Mulombo told the gathering that the first batch of vaccines for Nigeria will arrive in a couple of weeks, a timeframe within the federal government’s projection.

He said: “On the question of WHO endorsing or authorising two vaccines, what I can say this evening is that WHO has endorsed for emergency use one vaccine, which is Pfizer vaccine, which is expected

first to arrive in Nigeria in a couple of weeks. There are other candidate vaccines that will come on the list and in a few days after the strategic inventory by the group of experts in WHO reviews all the evidence. So the process is for WHO to review rigorously all the evidence published and made available by the vaccine manufacturers. After reviewing that evidence, there is a set of criteria, then we can decide or not put it on the emergency list. But for now, it just one of them, but there are others that may come on the same list.”

On his part, the Chairman, Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, Mr. Boss Mustapha, stated that the federal government has begun seeing the effect of the activities carried out during the Christmas festivities with

the increase in the daily numbers in people contracting COVID-19 nationwide.

He added that Nigeria has joined South Africa in reporting the highest daily infection cases in Africa.

He reinforced this concern by noting that 1,204 infections were recorded on Monday, which represented the highest daily number ever recorded since the national response began.

He said: “From our analysis, we are beginning to see the effect of activities carried out during the Christmas festivities. We can only hope that numbers will not escalate beyond control. We, however, still appeal to all citizens to take full responsibility through compliance and vigilance.”

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC),

about two weeks ago, had warned that the country risked an escalation in the number of infected persons following an upswing in social activities during the Yuletide.

Mustapha, who is the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), said statistics for Nigeria indicated the country has recorded 91,351 total cases out of 958,911 persons tested for the virus.

The country has also recorded 1,318 deaths with 57 fatalities recorded in week 53, being the highest for any single week since the start of the national response.

According to him, 731 out of the 35,419 members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members in the Batch B tested positive for COVID-19, compared to 108 recorded during the Batch A.

He added that the private sector-driven CACOVID has commenced supporting the national response with 100 oxygen cylinders per day till the end of March 2021 for distribution to critical care centres in Abuja In addition, President Muhammadu Buhari has approved that at least one oxygen plant should be established in each state of the federation immediately.

Also, approval has been given to rehabilitate five oxygen plants across various tertiary health institutions in Abuja.

Mustapha added that the PTF has generated over 20,000 inbound passengers that have also defaulted. He vowed that Continued on page 10

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WEDNESDAY, ;˜ ͺ͸ͺ͹ ˾ T H I S D AY

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NEWS OSOBA: WE AGREED DURING APC MERGER TALKS THAT SOUTH WILL PRODUCE NEXT PRESIDENT position on the matter.

While Amaechi backed Fashola who had earlier said the party had a gentleman's agreement on zoning, and urged APC to respect the zoning agreement, Shekarau said rotational presidency is alien to the party as it is not in the APC constitution.

On his part, Yerima said the APC had no pre-merger agreement to rotate the presidency between the North and the South.

However, Osoba provided more insight into the premerger discussions on the issue yesterday, saying that as the chairman of the constitutional drafting committee during the merger, they were careful not to use the word "zoning" so as not to be in conflict with the constitution.

But he added that they agreed that the North should produce the president while the chairmanship position of the APC goes to the South.

Osoba said: "My honest opinion is this: I was the chairman of the constitutional drafting committee of the APC merger. We of ACN, we were the dominant group from the South, and the South-west is the home and the root of progressive politicking.

"Part of the understanding in the case of rotation is a conventional understanding that the presidency will move between the North and the South. That was the reason why we now allowed the chairman (of the party to come from the South). I don't want to use the word zoning because we definitely did not put zoning. We know it may go in conflict with the Nigerian

constitution, which says anyone who is a Nigerian, who has read up to school certificate, can contest and at the age of 35, I think can contest for the presidency of the country.

"But there was a clear gentlemanly understanding that the northern part of the country will produce the president when we did the merger in 2013 and the chairman of the party will then come from the South."

Osoba stated that the understanding informed why the chairmanship of APC has remained in the South; moving from Chief Bisi Akande in the South-west to John Oyegun from South-south and also Adams Oshiomhole from South-south.

"Of course, at the end of the tenure of President Muhammadu Buhari, the gentlemanly agreement is that the presidency will come to the South," he added.

According to him, going by the agreement, presidential candidate of the party in 2023 should come from any of the three zones in the South: the South-east, South-south and the South-west, adding that "that is the gentlemanly agreement that we reached when we are doing the merger."

On whether or not the South-west would be willing to concede the ticket to the South-east in view of the growing clamour for an Igbo presidency, Osoba said though there is so much noise from the South-east, nobody has contacted him or other chieftains of the party to show interest in running for president in 2023.

"As an elder in the party, nobody from the South-east has contacted or consulted me to lobby, to even say they are interested," he stated.

He also defended the right of APC National Leader, Senator Bola Tinubu, who is rumoured to be nursing an ambition to succeed Buhari, to contest for president in 2023.

He, however, urged the South-west to unite and put its home in order to achieve success in the next presidential election.

“Asiwaju Bola Tinubu as an individual has the right to put himself forward. We have not zeroed in on an individual.

Zeroing in on any individual will destroy our efforts now but Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has a right to pursue his own agenda,” he said.

On restructuring, he stated that it was part of the electoral promise made to Nigerians by the ruling party that the country would be restructured.

Osoba said: "I want to be very honest with you, I was one of those that was given the mandate by the ACN then; the ACN was a very crucial party and a crucial part of the merger because we were the strongest in the South. We had all the governors in the South-west; we produced the highest number of governors at the point of merger among all the parties that were involved in the merger- the CPC, the ACN were the major players.

"The APGA did not participate but Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo participated as an individual because the APGA as a party did not participate; but he was a governor under the umbrella

of APGA. He represented the East, so to say, and we of the ACN went to the merger because we had all the time when we were in Alliance for Democracy (AD) as governors we were fighting for the restructuring of Nigeria.

We were always in court with the then President Olusegun Obasanjo.

"On fiscal federalism, we went to court that all revenue should go to the Federation Account from where it will be distributed according to agreed formula stated in the constitution."

He stated that they went to court because Obasanjo breached the provision of that constitution.

Osoba said: "He was just spending money as he liked. He even went as far as tampering with the local government funds, using it to buy vehicles for the police and all kinds of things. And we warned and warned, when he didn't listen, we went to court.

"In actual fact, he brought a memo to the Council of State on local government reforms and we threw it out on the grounds that we were in court and the following week we won the case that the affairs of the local government should be within the precinct of the federating states."

Osoba said he cited the above examples to show the reforms that the then AD took and how they fought Obasanjo on many issues on federalism.

He stated: "So, we have been carrying all this philosophy and you will recall that at a point, he seized the funds of the local government authorities in Lagos State because Lagos

State created local government development authorities. I did the same thing, I created local government development system in Ogun State and took the struggle up to the National Assembly. All these we were doing to test and ensure that we have true federalism.

"And I'm sure it was because of all these actions that we didn't allow President Obasanjo to go haywire and turn the centre to a more powerful non-federal system that made him at that point to rig the election that those of us who are highly strong and vociferous at Council of State did not return as governors. I had no regret. I have my peace of mind; I offered to serve.

"These are the things we were fighting for as AD. It was this philosophy that we carried on into the merger; and we of the ACN, part of the agreement that we reached, I was a strong member of the merger group, as I said, I was the chairman of the constitution drafting committee, where we laid down a lot of provisions in our constitution that we have as checks and balances. We insisted on true federalism and a restructuring of the country and we insisted that it would be part of the promise that we made to Nigerians.

"Those of us in the Southwest are the leaders on the issue of restructuring and it was embedded in the APC manifesto. If you google the manifesto of APC today, you will see the promise that we made to Nigerians in that manifesto. The issue of true federalism and restructuring which was in our constitution."

According to him, after the party won the election, even though it took some time before the party addressed the issue of restructuring, the party set up a committee on true federalism and restructuring under the leadership of Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir el-Rufai.

He explained that the elRufai committee produced a report on restructuring, but expressed worry that some people sat on the report after it was agreed to by the party.

Osoba said: "The report went before our National Working Committee, where it was fully debated and attended to. It was brought to us at the National Caucus of the party with the president in attendance. We debated it, adjusted it and the following day, it was taken to the National Executive Committee (NEC), which was the final body and it was adopted."

He said the report was to be sent to the National Assembly where it would be debated and ensured that many of the recommendations are passed into law.

"To my shock, I believe some people sat on that report, after it had gone through all levels of the party and in attendance were all our governors and the president himself. I am surprised that some people can sit on a policy already agreed to by all organs of the party. That was the state in which we are.

"I have access and I don't want to talk too much on the efforts that those of us from the South-west have been making to ensure that we seriously address this issue," he added.

The WHO data show that the positive rate stood at 21.3 per cent as of January 3, a steep rise in the number of positive diagnoses.

When a country’s positivity rate for COVID-19 is high, experts believe this indicates how widespread the virus is in the community.

It could also mean that the number of total tests being carried out is too low.

According to Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, “a higher per cent positive suggests higher transmission and that there are likely more people with coronavirus in the community who haven’t been tested yet.

“A high per cent positive means that more testing should probably be done— and it suggests that it is not a good time to relax restrictions aimed at reducing coronavirus transmission … a high per cent positive can indicate it may be a good time to add restrictions to slow the spread of disease.”

Data from the NCDC show the country’s testing capacity still hovers between 35,000 and 45,000 weekly.

He stated that the donation of protective equipment helped the nation in the fight against COVID-19 during the first wave.

The minister said with countries discovering vaccines and China being one of them, Nigeria was engaging the country to access its the vaccine.

“We have received a lot of support from China in the area of personal protective equipment that they were very quick to provide us with.

“China is also one of those countries that have been able to discover vaccines for COVID-19, so we are also engaging with China to also help with regards to access to vaccines for our people,” he stated.

According to him, the relationship between both countries dated 50 years, adding that both countries have many areas of cooperation to celebrate.

“We also realised that in 2021, we would be celebrating 50 years of diplomatic relations between Nigeria and the Peoples Republic of China,” he said.

Giving insights into some of the deliberations during the closed-door meeting, Onyeama said that he and his counterpart looked at the trade relations between the two countries and areas that could be improved.

“In the area of fostering relations, both countries are now considering having a direct flight from Nigeria to China.

“We want to establish a direct air link with China.

We hope that very soon, a Nigerian carrier would be carrying out scheduled flights to China in the not too distant future,” Onyeama added.

WHO ENDORSES PFIZER VACCINE FOR COVID-19 IMMUNISATION IN NIGERIA the publication of the names of defaulters will continue weekly till it is exhausted.

FG to Revoke Visas of Errant Visitors In his contribution, the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Mohammed Babandede, explained that the federal government will revoke visas of foreign visitors who failed to present their COVID-19 test certificates on arrival in the country.

According to him, the Immigration Act empowers him to revoke visas and confiscate passports of offenders, adding that the next visa for global travel is the COVID-19 certificate.

He stated that based on the powers conferred on him and the additional conditions for entering the country, every visitor must have the COVID-19 test result.

He also ruled out the possibility of compromise by the officers of the service in the reissuance of passports to the 100 Nigerians who were banned for six months from travelling for flouting the mandatory seven-day postarrival COVID-19 polymerase chain reaction test.

Babandede said their passports had been blocked and they would not be allowed to depart the country or be reissued passports in any of the 89 passport offices in Nigerian and abroad.

“The public health is a big issue in the country and based on that directives, we have complied by blocking 100 passports from travelling, which means, even if they

go to the police and declare those passports missing, they cannot be reissued anywhere in the world and they cannot cross our national borders until the period of six months or communication received from the right authorities stating that they have complied.

“This will also include non-Nigerians; we have the powers to revoke visas, the comptroller-general has the power to revoke visas,” Babandede said.

The National Coordinator of PTF, Dr Sani Aliyu, also said if enforcement, which is the responsibility of the state governments and recourse to risk communication and community engagement fail in curbing the rising COVID-19 statistics, the federal government will not rule out all options, including another lockdown if the virus continues to spread.

Nigeria Targets 42m Vaccines through COVAX Scheme A report yesterday by Reuters said Nigeria is hoping to get 42 million COVID-19 vaccines to cover 20 per cent of its population through the global COVAX scheme.

The agency quoted the Executive Director/CEO of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, (NPHCDA), Dr. Faisal Shuaib, as saying yesterday that the batch of vaccines would come as part of Nigeria’s plan to inoculate 40 per cent of the population this year, with another 30 per cent in 2022.

By the end of January, 100,000 doses of the PfizerBioNTech vaccine are expected

to arrive, he said.

The COVAX scheme was set up to provide vaccines to poorer countries such as Nigeria, whose 200 million people and poor infrastructure pose a daunting challenge to medical officials rolling out the vaccinations as the West African country battles a second, larger spike in COVID-19 cases.

Nigeria will first inoculate frontline health workers, first responders, national leaders, people vulnerable to COVID-19 and the elderly, Shuaib said at the PTF press conference in Abuja.

He also underscored popular resistance to vaccines and said Nigeria must educate people on their importance.

FG to Pay Special Attention to South Africa, UK Arrivals Minister of State for Health, Senator Olorunnimbe Mamora, also said at the PTF briefing that the federal government will pay special attention to passengers arriving from the United Kingdom and South Africa in the enforcement of COVID-19 protocols.

According to him, the ministry is currently working with the Ministry of Aviation to ensure strict enforcement of COVID-19 protocols at the local and international wings of airports nationwide.

"We are also working with the Aviation Ministry to ensure strict enforcement of COVID-19 protocols at the local and international wings of airports across the country taking cognizance of the high transmissibility of the new strain of the virus already confirmed in many countries.

"Particular attention in this regard is therefore being

focused on passengers arriving from the UK and South Africa," he said.

On the response to the current upsurge in infection, Olurunnimbe said federal government has been making efforts to ensure availability of oxygen on a short-term basis through collaboration with CACOVID while still pursuing the process for immediate intervention for nationwide equitable and sustainable oxygen availability at the government hospitals nationwide.

On the issue of vaccines, Olorunnimbe said the lead agency, NPHCDA, "is working with other stakeholders and partners in assessing the infrastructural gaps in terms of logistics for cold chain maintenance, storage, supply and distribution to ensure vaccine viability and reach all."

20% of Tested Persons Turn Positive, Says Report One in five persons tested for COVID-19 in Nigeria is positive, according to official data.

Data from the World Health Organisation (WHO) compiled here, according to TheCable, show that the country’s positive rate jumped from 4.2 per cent to 21.3 per cent in the last month.

As of December 3, only 4.2 per cent of all COVID-19 tests — or roughly one in 25 samples — in Nigeria returned positive.

But as the second wave sweeps across the country, so is the number of positive cases rising.

FG in Talks with China, Says Minister The federal government has opened talks with China to have access to COVID-19 vaccines for Nigeria.

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Geoffrey Onyeama, told reporters yesterday in Abuja, shortly after a bilateral meeting with the Chinese Foreign Minister, Wang Yi, who was in Nigeria on a working visit, that China was of immense assistance to Nigeria at the onset of the pandemic.

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WEDNESDAY JANUARY 6, 2021 •T H I S D AY

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T H I S D AY ˾ ˜ ʹ˜ 2021

COMMENT

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

A US PRESIDENTIAL TRANSITION GAMECHANGER? Tiko Okoye writes that whatever happens in Congress today, Joe Biden will be sworn in as the 46th President

T

he US Congress reconvenes on 6 January 2021 to particularly count and ratify the votes already certified by the Electoral College. It is a quadrennial ritual – a joint session of the Senate and the House of Representatives – performed on the first Wednesday in January following a presidential election, with the sitting vice president as the officiating chief priest. In the not-too-distant past, whatever panache had accompanied the ritual bordered more on the ceremonious than on substance.

There’s nothing unusual about Congressmen choosing to challenge the counting of Electoral College votes being counted.

It has happened every now and then; but because they are perceived more as a perfunctory interlude, they have gained any traction. As a matter of fact, Joe Biden quelled many such motions of objection raised by Democratic Congressmen when he chaired a joint session in 2017 to count the Electoral College votes and ratify this same Donald Trump as President-elect. But unlike past objections, the difference in 2021 is that the losing presidential candidate is backing the dissenters big time.

Some diehard GOP supporters of Trump prepared illegal, parallel lists of “alternate” electors in the swing states that flipped from red in 2016 to blue in 2020, that they now want their Congressmen on Capitol Hill to swap with the official electors in the Electoral College, in order to throw the election to Trump.

To further compound matters, some other Republicans have sued Vice President Mike Pence, demanding that he be granted discretionary power to accept or reject votes when he presides over the joint session of Congress on January 6! Unfortunately, for Pence, his principal, Trump, has equally put him on the boil by tweeting that he (Pence) should play along, else he would be committing “the worst act of betrayal ever recorded in history.”

So, what can – and would – Pence do? I can hardly see the Pence that has been a zombie sidekick to Trump for nearly four years suddenly growing the liver to deny his principal what matters most to him. And although Pence’s legal team has filed a counter motion asking that the judge summarily dismiss the suit filed against him, it is premature to interpret this as a slap on the face of Trump as many have been saying. The primary ground for Pence’s prayer is that the plaintiff’s application would deprive him of his “right to object” to the vote count when he chairs the meeting.

Something fishy is definitely going on somewhere. The Constitution doesn’t grant the vice president the “right to object.”

His sole statutory duty is to “open and table” the certificates returned by the Electoral College. It is only in the case of a tie that he can cast a deciding vote. The clear and present danger lies in the probability that Pence could technically open the wrong set of certificates – those containing the rogue “alternate” electors and their non-binding votes – in a carefully stage-managed process!

The rapidly increasing number of influential GOP political office holders willing to be puppets in the hands of Trump are doing so primarily because they see him as holding the key to the future of the party and their political careers. These are no more than crass opportunists who look at the 74 million votes Trump obtained, and soliloquise: “OMG! Just imagine the height I could easily attain if I’ve such numbers backing my candidacy!”

But they would receive a rude awakening from their delusions of grandeur. Trump has proven time and again that he only owes unquestioned allegiance to three individuals, namely: Trump, Trump, and Trump!

Assuming Trump decides for whatever reasons not to run in 2024, nothing would please a man with his mindset better than

THE CONSTITUTION DOESN’T GRANT THE VICE PRESIDENT THE ‘RIGHT TO OBJECT.’ HIS SOLE STATUTORY DUTY IS TO ‘OPEN AND TABLE’ THE CERTIFICATES RETURNED

BY THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE

triumphantly sponsoring a candidate all the way from total obscurity to the White House. That would be the coup de grace he would love to deliver to the party establishment as proof that he unquestionably owns the Republican base lock, stock and barrel!

The ‘mutinous’ Congressmen are fully aware that they lack the numbers to successfully mount a challenge to counting the votes.

That being the case, their antics are all for show, to convince Trump and his cult following that they are knights in shining armour who dared to risk all by promoting the interests of ‘the Leader’ above those of the nation, in return for favours like not being primaried in forthcoming elections.

The tragedy of it all is that virtually of these Republican sycophants rushing to assume pole positions in the Trumpbacked plans to overturn the election would say the election wasn’t fraudulent behind closed doors, but turnaround to make a different noise in public! As one of the few high-ranking Republican critics who have courageously declared that they will take no part in Trump’s hare-brained schemes, Sen. Ben Sasse, pointed out, “The single-most telling fact is that there is a giant gulf between what President Trump and his allies say in public… and what (they) actually say in courts of law.”

Sasse went on to explain that the lawyers know that “while there’s no legal penalty for misleading the public, there’s one for deceiving judges, thus they have repeated almost none of the claims of grand voter fraud that the campaign spokespersons are screaming at their most zealous supporters.” And I should add that these ‘zealous supporters’ have become so brainwashed that they would readily swallow the hubris that Trump has lost more than 60 lawsuits – even at courts where his own appointed judges preside – because the courts are “not courageous enough” to examine the “hard” evidence collated!

“For the most part,” argued American educator and writer Bergen Evans, “our leaders are merely following out in front; (but what they really do is to) marshal us the way we are going.”

There’s a dearth of real leadership in the Republican Party right now. It is the principal reason why the base is beholden to an individual – Donald Trump – rather than the party establishment – a scenario that would be exacerbated by the dethronement of McConnell as Senate Majority Leader, whenever Trump – as the ringmaster – cracks the whip.

Rather than act in a fawning, obsequious manner towards Trump, the GOP establishment ought to have conscientiously explained to their angry supporters that an election where the GOP won more seats than Democrats cannot be willy-nilly dismissed as ‘fraudulent’ just because the presidential candidate lost. They would’ve then proceeded to appeal for unity to build on the party’s 2020 electoral gains towards getting a Republican into the White House in 2024, when all perceived electoral flaws would be squarely addressed once and for all. But the opportunity to quickly tap into Trump’s huge populist base as a fundraising strategy to oil future election campaigns is too good an opportunity to pass by for many of them.

Final words. First, January 6 would prove to be an anti-climax.

No matter the degree of apoplexy Trump might develop, and regardless of the number of GOP Congressmen who object to counting the votes and whatever delaying tactics they might adopt, the certified votes would ultimately be ratified, and Biden duly inaugurated as the 46th President of the United States come January 20. rOkoye is a Boston University Hubert H. Humphrey Fellow

TETFUND, RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT TETfund is bridging the gap between industry and the academia, writes Elemdi Akowe

“I

think the idea initiated by TETFUND is a welcome development and we should make sure that whatever research that is going on in our universities is research that is useful and can be practicalized in our industries. This will expand the scope of indigenous technology.” With this statement, Group Executive Director of Dangote Group, Mr. Mansur Ahmed endorsed the nation’s giant leap towards sustainable industrialization. He was speaking during a study tour by the Research and Development Steering Committee of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) to the Dangote Refinery, Petrochemicals and Fertilizer projects in Ibeju Lekki, Lagos led by the Executive Secretary of TETFUND, Prof. Suleiman Bogoro.

It is common knowledge, though regrettable, that Nigeria’s huge endowment of abundant raw materials and population of unemployed youth has not triggered the emergence of an industrialized economy more than six decades after independence.

Similarly, the establishment of numerous research institutes has become a monumental misapplication of resources and a strategic blunder because they are mere repositories of research findings and exhibitors of prototypes remotely relevant to the technological needs of the country. Considering the centrality of industrialization in the accelerated pace of progress and development of leading nations of the world, it is perplexing that Nigeria is yet to achieve the critical dovetailing of research and development into its strategy for economic development.

But, its better late than never! The comments of Dangote’s Mansur Ahmed signify concern about non-prioritization of research and pleasant relief and satisfaction with the unprecedented study tour by the Research and

Development Steering Committee of the TETFUND to such a major industrial complex, for obvious reasons. This represents yet another bold and purposeful initiative of Prof. Suleman Bogoro, TETFUND Executive Secretary to imprint his outstanding research stature as a turning point toward fulfillment of national aspirations for research-driven industrialization and overall development of the country.

The meeting of a research development team and a leading industrialist under the auspices of a highly resourceful government intervention agency headed by an accomplished research scientist and leader on the pioneer council of the think tank for translating research to innovations, strategies and evidence for policy and national development of the University of Ibadan Research Foundation, is a strong indication of synergy between the researchers in the universities and the industries. Mansur Ahmed assured that Dangote Group will continue to partner with research institutions for the advancement of indigenous technology and industrial development and to ensure that Nigerian graduates are equipped with the set skills to immediately fit into the industry upon employment instead of wasting more years in training them. Mansur Ahmed also pointed out that the industry and the academia need to work together to identify issues and problems so the researchers will come with their findings and proposed solutions and if the solution meets the expectations of the industry, the two will work together to find homegrown solutions.

An elated Bogoro explained that the study tour was vital in bridging the gap between industry and the academia. “This committee has 13-subcommittee and today four of them are here on this visit, we have the Engineering, Bio-resource and Environment, Energy as well as Petroleum, Mining and Extraction

sub-committees,” he said, adding that “through researches and collaboration with the industry, we will be able to apply science and technology to improve our country.”

The TETFUND ES has actually been a strong pillar for research development having recently secured N12 billion for 12 public universities to undertake research that would contribute to national growth. The universities which will share the money equally are University of Abuja, University of Benin, University of Ibadan, University of Maiduguri, Bayero University Kano, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, University of Uyo, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, University of Jos, University of Lagos, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University and Uthman Danfodio University, Sokoto, representing first, second, and third-generation universities, with two universities each per geo-political zone.

Prof. Bogoro disclosed the research areas for each university as centers of excellence, within a five-year period. The University of Abuja has public governance and leadership, the University of Jos and Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University will research in food security, the University of Maiduguri would focus on arid zone research and development, Usman Dan Fodio University, Sokoto will take on urology and nephrology and Bayero University Kano would focus on renewable energy.

Michael Okpara University has root crop research and development, Nnamdi Azikiwe University got agricultural and engineering translational studies, the University of Benin has aquaculture and food technology, University of Uyo’s is computational intelligence, University of Ibadan is multi-disciplinary studies while the University of Lagos got biodiversity conservation and ecosystem management.

According to Prof. Bogoro the centers

of excellence are to support strategic and applications-oriented research and expertise with potential industrial applications for national and globally competitive research and development in strategic and applied sciences, including medicine, with the aim of generating innovations. They will bring together the complementary resources needed for technical development and industrial application, including concentrating multidisciplinary, interdisciplinary, and translational research competence in order to further the development of products, processes, and services by focusing on problems that demand larger efforts than can be provided by smaller projects. These terms of reference will enhance utilization of scientific research by industry and make tertiary educational institutions more responsive to industry needs in addition to expertise development and training at doctorate level in areas of industry interest, and the development of knowledge management platforms and innovation hubs.

With a keen sense of patriotism and concern for national security, Prof. Bogoro also led the Fund’s Defense and Security Sub-Committee to the military high command where he harped on need for collaborative efforts with the academia to inject innovation perfected by research for defense and operations, noting that “warfare has gone digital”. In his remarks, the Coordinator, Defense and Military R&D sub-committee, AVM Onyemaechi Osahor also endorsed Bogoro’s advocacy, adding that academia should be encouraged to invest more in “problem-solving research” in defense and security. The Chief of Army Staff, Major General Tukur Buratai assured of the military’s willingness to support research activities to strengthen national defense. rAkowe wrote from Ilorin

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T H I S D AY ˾ ˜ ʹ˜ 2021

EDITORIAL

ADDRESSING ESCALATING PORT COSTS The authorities could do more to stem the prohibitive cost of business at the Lagos ports

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n June 2017, the federal government announced that the Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON), National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) were no longer allowed to have representatives in the ports or partake in the process of cargo clearance.

Also, the government announced that it had concluded arrangement to fix port access roads and provide scanners at the ports. These DUE TO THE MASSIVE were to enhance clearing process CONGESTION AT TIN CAN AND APAPA PORTS, MANY and reduce drastically SHIPPING LINES HAVE cargo dwell STARTED DIVERTING time. Almost three years NIGERIA-BOUND CARGOS after, all the TO NEIGHBORING PORTS agencies that IN COTONOU AND COTE were asked to D’IVOIRE leave have all returned to the ports, access roads have become death traps, residents and business in Apapa, once a thriving port city, have stories of death and hours of traffic gridlock to tell. Cost of doing business has risen so high manufacturers are abandoning their cargos at the ports.

As a result of extortion by security officials, haulage cost from Tin Can to any other part of Lagos has risen from about N100,000 a year ago to about N1.2 million.

Last week, truckers raised the cost of moving a container from the Tin Can Island Port to any other part of the city by 50 per cent, from N1.2 million to N1.8million.

And with blockage of the roads, millions of containers are trapped in the ports

Letters to the Editor

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n his new year address to Nigerians on January 1, 2021, President Muhammadu Buhari said his government had heard, listened and is committed to fulfilling the demands requested by Nigerian youths following the nationwide #EndSARS protests. Although, the government has fulfilled most of the initial demands of the protest, the most important demand is providing productive employment for youths and creating easy access for them to participate in governance, politics and decision-making.

Although, political-power is not given freely, one must work for it, but the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) said both formal and informal engagement of youth can be understood as political participation, and both are beneficial for a vivid and resilient democracy and should be supported.

President Buhari has acknowledged that young Nigerians are the most valuable natural resource the country

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and shipping companies have had to stay at several anchorages for between three to four months incurring all manner of surcharges. On average, 100,000 containers carrying various cargos are discharged in Lagos ports monthly, with shipping companies now charging $6000 to ship a container to Nigeria. In the first half of last year, it cost $1,000 to ship a 20-foot container to Nigeria from the Far East.

Due to the massive congestion at Tin Can and Apapa ports, many shipping lines have started diverting Nigeria-bound cargos to neighboring ports in Cotonou and Cote d’Ivoire. Today, importers pay N25, 000 as demurrage per container a day and another N15,000 as storage fees to terminal operators excluding 7.5 per cent value added tax (VAT). This amounts to N12.5 billion daily demurrage charges on 500,00 containers and N7.5 billion storage fees. The question is, does the federal government want to address the escalating port costs and its attendant economic loss to Nigeria?

The shipping companies, terminal operators, freight forwarders and the security operatives and the Ministry of Transportation are the ones benefiting from the status quo at the ports. The economic loss is not on the government and its agencies at the port or the port operators or even the manufacturers or traders doing the importation. The losses are all passed on to the end users - the Nigerian people.

Meanwhile, the ports used by the federal government and its partners in the oil industry to export crude oil and gas are not affected by any crisis of congestion and infrastructure deficiency. So what it will take to address the port issue, at a most preliminary level, is the resolve to do what is right.

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

BUHARI AND THE NIGERIAN YOUTHS has. He said: “Our young people are our most valuable natural resource, at home and abroad. Their ingenuity, creativity, innovation and entrepreneurial spirit is evident to all. Many of our young people are excelling in various spheres of life including sports, entertainment, information and communication technology, commerce and are globally recognized as achievers.” But, sadly, most young Nigerians feel under-represented in the Buhari government. What should President Buhari do?

In terms of political participation and engagement in governance, the president should appoint 12 young people aged from the late 40s downwards, two from each of the six geo-political zones, as Senior Special Assistant with full cabinet status. This will greatly impact on the youths’ perception of the government and give the government the ‘strength’ to boast that youth are adequately represented in the government. This will also create a strong link between

the government and the youths, who form more than half of Nigerian voters and represent a significant percentage of the Nigerian population.

Though, there are some youths currently occupying positions in the government, an addition of 12 more youths is an added 27% more representation of the youth in the cabinet. This would serve as an impetus for a good image and a sound political strategy for the All Progressives Congress (APC) towards the 2023 elections- the party would have something new to tell the Nigerian youths.

Concerning youth employment, the government already has some good programmes like N-Power, SurvivalFund, Presidential Youth Empowerment Scheme (P-YES), etc.

However, a veritable approach to tackle youth unemployment is agricultural entrepreneurship programme. It is good news that the federal government is already looking at that direction. The government needs to re-model some of its

agricultural programmes. The government can partner with the private sector to establish rice mills, poultry, fisheries, dairy, snailery and plantations, etc., in various locations in the country. The participating youths should receive hands-on training on how to manage the farms. After passing-out from the scheme, the farms should be transferred to them for management as entrepreneurs. The scheme should work in such a way that local councils and state governments provide land and other logistics, the private sector provides the fund while the federal government stands as the guarantor of the fund.

This will be done through the issuance of either callable, par value or coupon rate bonds.

The private investors or financial institutions who will participate in the scheme are not to give money directly to the governments in order to receive the bond-certificate, but it would be a kind of batter arrangement. The investors - either financial institutions

or private individuals would setup the farms, and put in place all structures required for the farms to function optimally.

After which a bond certificate equivalent to the pre-agreed cost, will be issued to them.

The youths, to whom the farms are to be transferred, should gradually refund the monies back to the government. This approach will make the scheme sustainable and self-sufficient.

Youths played critical roles in the emergence of the Buhari government in 2015 and 2019.

While the government has continued to incorporate young persons in the political system, there is still a long way to go.

The recent protests by ‘youths’ shows there are still major gaps between the government and its agenda for youths on the one hand, and young people on the other hand. The Buhari government should take advantage of this situation because its opponents and the oppositions are already doing so. r;BZZBE * .VIBNNBE +JNFUB "EBNBXB 4UBUF

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WEDNESDAY JANUARY 6, 2021 •T H I S D AY

WEDNESDAY JANUARY 6, 2021 • T H I S D AY

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T H I S D AY ˾ WEDNESDAY JANUARY 6, 2021

MIDWEEKPOLITICS

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

A Lesson for Asiwaju of Lagos Emmanuel Olorunda-Otaru strongly believes the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu should reconsider his rumoured bid for the presidency in 2023

Buhari

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his is my humble advice to the Asiwaju of Lagos, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who is rumoured to be nursing presidential ambition in 2023, barely three years away.

Rumour, because he has not voiced it openly that he will be contesting. But his body language is voicing it loud and clear. If it is true that he has the ambition, he needs to think twice before venturing into the ring.

Sure, Tinubu has the inalienable right as a Nigerian to aspire to the highest office in the land, he should weigh his chances, in the present Nigerian situation, where merit is sacrificed on the altar of ethnicity and tribalism, where a section of the country believes they hold both the yam and the knife in the political equation. Those who determine how and who occupy position of authority in the land.

In a sane society, where merit, justice, equity, intellectualism , experience and ability to deliver quality leadership count, Tinubu stands tall!. He has made his mark in the development of Lagos State cum the political space. No one can deny him this credit. I am not saying he has no short comings, but as humans, who can say he or she hasn’t any short coming?

Without the tacit support of the Asiwaju, with his political dexterity, leading to the formation of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC through the coalition, those occupying Aso Rock Villa today, would not have gotten the chance. He has worked very hard for enthronement of democracy in the country. He fought with members of NADECO then to oust the military for democracy.

Without a doubt, he deserves the right to aspire to the highest office in the land, but it is a pity that in today’s political reality in the country, the odds that would be against him are damning. One, the North is not ready to let go of the presidency at the end of President Muhammadu Buhari’s tenure in 2023 on a plata of gold, unless by consensus, with the whole Southern region comprising the South-west; South-south; and South-east coming together in a holy alliance, to negotiate and demand from a position of strength, not weakness to actualize the agitation for restructuring before the general elections.

A holy alliance that would not be infiltrated by the enemies of progress. To block the chances of divide and rule. And place a curse on the black sheep that would sell-out. The hawks at the Aso Rock are not relenting to let go of power, even though by the gentlemanly agreement, power is supposed to come back to the South after eight years in the North. President

Tinubu Muhammadu Buhari as a man of integrity may not be the problem. Giving fillip to the North’s reluctance to handover power to the South, are some governors from the region already positioning themselves to contest the presidential election come 2023. One of them has already come to the South to show his interest. Whether he merely came to fly a kite to test the mood of the Southerners, time will tell. There is also the breaking story, that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, a Northerner, who lost to the incumbent President Buhari in the last presidential election, is dusting his political machinery to also contest for the presidency against the run of play against the South. This is not considering the gentlemanly agreement of rotational presidency between the North and South geopolitical regions. Can this politics of alienation engender national unity and development? Or some selfish politicians may be saying that, rather than rotation, it should be by qualification and merit.

Does these qualities reside only in one region or ethnic group of the country?

To face the reality, it is even too early to start angling for 2023 election, which is a distraction to the incumbent administration that is finding it difficult to fulfill their campaign promises to Nigerians, almost midway into their second term in office. Rather, politicians should rally round President Buhari’s administration to find solutions to the myriads of problems bedeviling the country. They should also channel their energy in canvassing for the restructuring of the country.

Restructuring is not synonymous with

the break-up of the country, and so those who are afraid of it should not lose sleep, it will only spur competitive development of the country. There is no part of this country that God has not blessed with both human and natural resources for greatness, only laziness will make any of the federating unit to remain poor and undeveloped.

Second reason, even if Tinubu contests and wins, the National Assembly dominated by one section of the country may clip his wings, and may frustrate his government. Remember Jonathan and the nPDP. He lamented how his own party members from the North worked against him. What magic will Asiwaju perform under such circumstance? My suggestion here: Rather than Tinubu dissipating his energy to contest for the elusive presidency in 2023, he should channel his energy and humongous resources towards galvanizing the South-west and other regions for true federalism. He should not sacrifice the interest of the majority for his selfish ambition. He should make peace with the Yoruba leaders he may be aggrieved with, to forge a common front.

The Southern, Middle-Belt and Niger Delta Forum is a potent platform to demand first, the restructuring of the country before the 2023 general elections. I believe there are other sincere progressive minded Northerners who are equally supporting the strident call for restructuring, knowing full well that the country’s unity could be endangered if this call is not heeded soon. We are better together in a united country, but the centrifugal forces pulling

In a sane society, where merit, justice, equity, intellectualism , experience and ability to deliver quality leadership count, Tinubu stands tall!. He has made his mark in the development of Lagos State cum the political space. No one can deny him this credit. I am not saying he has no short comings, but as humans, who can say he or she hasn’t any short coming? Without the tacit support of the Asiwaju, with his political dexterity, leading to the formation of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC through the coalition, those occupying Aso Rock Villa today, would not have gotten the chance

the fault lines apart are frightening. The clock is ticking steadily. Where are the men of good conscience, from the North, South, East and West that would rise to the occasion to save this great country from the looming catastrophe?

It will be self-delusion, to think that the country’s unity is unbreakable. The bottled up anger in the land is palpable, no thanks to nepotism, injustice and bad governance. A little spark could do incalculable damage to the unity of the country. The recent EndSARS protest that ravaged the land and assumed global dimension is a case study. We have lessons to learn from countries like former USSR, Yugoslavia, Sudan to mention a few that broke apart. The onus to keep the country united for the good of all lies with the political leaders.

Back to the Asiwaju, a word is enough for the wise. You are a wise man, a master strategist. Know it that if this country remains as it is today, your chances to rule the country will be a mirage. You may even be allowed to contest, just to allow you waste your enormours resources. You may even win a free and fair election, but may not smell the Aso Rock, a pyrrhic victory. Your case could be another MKO Abiola, who won a free and fair presidential election which was annulled by the Military. The June 12, 1993 election has become a watershed in the history of this country today. Please, remember JUNE 12!. Abiola was told in time past that, ‘the Presidency was not for sale’. Remember the 12 2/3 mathematics against late Chief Obafemi Awolowo’s bid to rule the country! Remember former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan’s turbulent presidency, whose ascendancy was by providence. A Northern hegemon boasted that they would ‘make the country ungovernable for him’, the rest is history. Only former President Olusegun Obasanjo had the golden opportunity, first as a military Head of State and as a civilian president for eight good years to restructure the country for good but did not! Oh he did not!

The Jagaban, they could promise you power, but would only use you and dump you at the end. I believe you are already seeing the handwriting on the wall. Your case could be like the Biblical Moses, who disobeyed God’s instruction. And God told him that he would only see the promise land of Canaan, but would not step into it.

If this country is not restructured for true federalism, before the next general elections, please, do not join the race. You may be rubbished! A personal feeling and advice.

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T H I S D AY ˾ WEDNESDAY JANUARY 6, 2021

POLITICS

Ekiti’s Financial Challenge and Fayemi’s Unfazed Demeanour Resolute to reform Ekiti State’s economy and make it a model before bowing out in 2022, Governor Kayode Fayemi has set a 21-goal development focus for the 2021 fiscal year. Education, Security, Infrastructures and Digital Economy top the agenda.

Victor Ogunje analyses this development template, the politics behind it and its plausibility, in view of the lean resources of the state

Fayemi

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y October 16, 2022, the second term tenure of Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi will lapse. Going by constitutional provisions, he enjoys no opportunity to vie for the governorship again in his lifetime for the constitution stipulates four -year tenure, renewable once.

Taking cognisance of this, Fayemi is gradually being brought before history. Like a politician who values posterity and favourable judgement, the governor seems to be circumspect of what the history would record against him after bowing out, by deciding to rev the pedal of development through a well designed 21-point development focus for 2021.

It is no gainsaying the fact that Fayemi was reelected after four years he had been out of power owing to his superlative performances in his first term. He initiated a lot of novel programmes, which he banked on to launch aggressive campaign for his return and he achieved the target.

Dissecting the present mood of the nation, except the All Progressives Congress(APC) is deluding itself, the mindset of an average Nigerian voter seems unpredictable due to the general conception that the party has failed the people at the centre .

The fear and angst in town have been corroborated by the pulsating and frightening level of insecurity, economic depression and corruption in high places in spite of President Muhammadu Buhari’s virulent war against grafts.

Though, governor Fayemi has consistently paid the salary of workers to escape the boody trap of failing in his succession battle. As good and strategic this seems to be, the anger in town over parlous state of the economy and insecurity are still issues to grapple with.

Putting it succintly, the governor is now caught in the web of delivering good governance to the people in the faces of daunting challenges of Covid 19, 2022 gubernational election and feeble economic resources of Ekiti. It requires proper planning for him to be able to wriggle out of this conundrum and emerged unscathed to leave indelible marks on the sand of time.

However, the governor looks unfazed in spite of these uphill tasks.

Definitely, the foregoing must have spurred the governor to discern so earnestly and rolled out a new economic blueprint to put soothing balm on the people’s excruciating headache. This becomes imperative because politics determines governance and he can’t afford to fail to deliver the latter for APC to have firm control on Ekiti .

During a programme commemorating his second year in office, Fayemi himself predicted that the 2021 would be full of political activi-

ties. With the way he spoke, he was expecting a mixture of unflinching loyalty and backstabbing from some cabinet members and party stalwarts.

These are always expected in politics and when such surface, only good rating by ordinary voter can be a saving grace and the governor seemed to be aware of this.

The next year’s governorship election is going to be a battle royale for the governor in the sense that losing such a pivotal election will debase his rating and will be counter productive to his much touted presidential ambition.

Fayemi’s handlers must have considered two factors for him to rise to stardom in national politics. One, that he must perform very well in terms of delivery of democracy dividends to the people, for no governor can fail in his home state and still claim to be apt to be elected as a President of a big nation like Nigeria.

The other factor is the fact that any politician that would succeed at the national level must have full control of his homestate. Accomplishing the two arduous tasks is paramount to the governor and he perceived good governance as the best ingredient to be deployed to extricate himself out of the seeming logjam.

Knowing full well the strategic position of 2021 in relation to 2022 and 2023 political years , governor Fayemi has prepared to face the postCOVID-19 challenges and ensure fast economic recovery, by spelling out a 21- goal target for Ekiti in the five pillars of his developmental agenda to be achieved for the year 2021.

Determined to expand the scope of the economy and launch Ekiti to the high pedestal of digital economy, Fayemi is to complete the MTN Broadband Network looping in Ekiti State University, Afe Babalola University , Federal University Oye Ekiti, and the new Bamidele Olumilua University of Education, Ikere-Ekiti, in the first round. This will be later extended to Federal Polytechnic, Ado-Ekiti, and College of Agriculture and Technology, Isan-Ekiti, to tackle the challenges of unemployment and attendant crises.

Describing digital economy as a money spinning venture that can turn around the dwindling fortunes of the state, Fayemi added ; “in the year, we will commence the laying 600km of fibre optic infrastructure in the first quarter of 2021 by IHS. We are also going to complete the ongoing installation of 240km of fibre optic infrastructure in four Local Government Areas by MTN”.

Moreso, it has always been Fayemi’s ardent desire to make Ekiti an open defecation free and rid it of opportunistic diseases, by providing potable tap water to communities in 14 Local governments on Completion of Ero and Egbe Dams Rehabilitation. Under this, Fayemi said Ekiti has partnered the world bank, European Union and United Nations Children Fund and that efforts are on top gear to deliver on this project.

Without mincing words, infrastructure remains the fulcrum on which the economy and investment rotate. To attract investors and boost his rating among the voters, Fayemi set a target of completing the Phase 1 of 2-lane dual carriage New Ado-Iyin-Igede-Aramoko-Itawure road; Agbado-Ode-Isinbode-Omuo road , IlupejuIre-Igbemo—Ijan Road, Oye-Ikun Road Road; Aramoko-Erijiyan-Ikogosi Road and , AdoIlawe-Igbara-Odo-Ibuji Road . While also begin the construction of the 17km first phase of the Ado-Ekiti Ring Road project connecting the new airport to Igbemo, Iworoko, and the Ifaki axis.

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

GOVERNANCE IN PHOTOS

From left Medical Director, Surulere Maternal and Child Care Hospital, Dr. Aduke Odutayo, Speaker, House of Representatives Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila and Baby of the Year, Derrick’s mother, Immaculata Ozumba during Baby of the Year visit of the Speaker to the Surulere Maternal and Child Care Hospital

Chairman, Ogun State Chapter of the Nigerian Legion, Comrade Oloyede Taofeek (left) acknowledging case gift from Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun at the flag off of 2021 Armed Forces Remembrance Emblem at the Executive Chambers of the Governor’s office, Oke Mosan, Abeokuta

From left, Umo Robinson, Media Aide to Deputy Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Mr Moses Ekpo (4th from left and the Permanent Secretary, Mr Nkopuruk Ekaiko (6th from left) with members of Iman64 Global at a courtesy visit to Mr. Ekpo on his birthday

L-R: Head of Service, Mrs Peju Babafemi; Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi and Secretary to the State Government, Mr Biodun Oyebanji, when the Governor branched at the SSG’s office during his unscheduled visit to offices at the State Secretariat and Governor’s Office complex in Ado-Ekiti

T H I S D AY ˾ ʹ˜ 2021

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FEATURES

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

Mobilising CSOs, Media, Government on Accountability, Good Governance Ibrahim Shuaibu reports that the recent workshop by Kano State Led Accountability Mechanism, for CSOs, media and government officials in Kaduna State was on capacity building, accountability, budget advocacy and resource mobilisation

KanSLAM participants at the training

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t is part of good governance to formulate and implement budgets as a means of achieving developmental progress in a state. But such budgets have to be in accordance with the needs and aspirations of the people.

While some communities need healthcare delivery services, others need education, housing and road infrastructure. More so, the government might also be in need of implementing some agenda that will not only generate income for the state but also provide access to jobs for individuals.

Hence, areas like agriculture, mining and general industrial development would require part of the budget. Therefore, budgets are classified into recurrent and capital expenditure to allow for l greater implementation of these desires.

In line with this, the Kano State Led Accountability Mechanism (KanSLAM), recently organised a workshop for CSOs, media practitioners and government officials to take responsibility in sourcing for the yearnings and aspirations of the people to be placed in the budget but also following up and tracking the budget to see to its practical implementation.

KanSLAM in collaboration with the DFID, which organised the training in Kaduna, brought together experts, who spoke from various dimensions to expose the participants to the techniques of budget tracking as well as implementation of the needs of the people in the budget.

The capacity building workshop was on Political Economy, Analysis and Human Capital Development and is meant to see that participants at the end of the workshop will be able to extend the same knowledge to their colleagues and also implement it in their various fields of endeavour for the benefit

and progress of the society.

Experts like Dr Bala Magaji, a consultant to the Lafiya program of the DFID, while presenting his paper on how political institutions, political environment as well as the economic systems influence each other, said: “PEA focuses on the socio- political and economic environment, its challenges and issues which exists, in order to have an utmost understanding of the issues politicians, government and all parties face.

“PEA is asking the question Why? What is happening? Who is in charge? Who do I engage?

How do I engage? What is feasible? Who will be affected? Once these can be obtained, a better understanding of the dynamics between politics, economics, social factors and how they work, will be used to face reality”.

In her paper, Umma Rakana, the Accountability and Advocacy Coordinator for the

Lafiya project, shed light on how they have been engaging with the state on issues of information findings for research as a source of development.

“We have been engaging with the state because we believe that information and findings from research influences implementation of what we hope to achieve. We are looking at the key indices of under five mortalities, HCD in the context of adult mortality, Labour capital and many others.

“We have been able to gather enough findings to support the Kano State government to set up its HCD priority around Human Capital Development as we have done a lot of engagements with other partners. We have been working with the state Ministry of Budget and Planning, health and other ministries so as to come up with key priorities.”

She further stated that a memo had been sent to the office of the Kano Governor, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje with the hope that upon passage of the memo, a HCD champion will be identified.

KanSLAM which pursues a common goal at the state and federal levels serves as a strong voice to influence changes in their areas of work as well as serve as an accountability mechanism in sectors of their interests.

On his part, Dr Aminu Magashi Garba, a budget expert, highlighted the importance of identifying key challenges in budget tracking geared towards fine-tuning modalities of curtailing them to achieve the state's objectives.

The facilitator further enumerated techniques needed to be implored during advocacy geared towards succeeding in the action plan.

Finally, in her remark, the co-chair of KanSLAM, Maimuna Mohammad said members of the coalition are committed in ensuring that they achieve the set objectives.

She applauded the efforts of the DFID lafiya project for organising the capacity building training, saying the experiences gained will be stepped down to other members of KanSLAM. Earlier, the representative of Kano Emirate Council, the Dankade of Kano State, Dr Bashir Mohammad charged participants at the training to make judicious utilisation of the experience they acquired during the training.

Speaking, while welcoming the participants, the team leader of Lafiya Project Dr Dayyabu Mohammad, commenced their zeal and commitment and admonished them to be focused in the discharge of their responsibilities.

Also, strategies on how to achieve the objectives were mapped out through various groups that were constituted during the training.

Then, participants took turns to collaborate in achieving the desired end goal.

Firm Empowers Young Nigerians on Recycling Waste for Wealth Creation Rebecca Ejifoma With focus to beam light on the revenue generating potentials for all stakeholders in the neglected area, an oil and gas servicing company, Century Group, has trained 10 young Nigerians on recycling waste materials.

Consequently, this empowerment programme in partnership with the Lagos State Ministry of Environment, aims to saddle young people into making ends meet, and provide more job opportunities.

Century Group, in its 2020 Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) summit, emphasised the need for revenue generating potentials, and the need to harness the best value available.

The Managing Director and CEO, Century Group, Mr. Ken Etete noted that the empowerment would create job opportunities for many Nigerians as well as enhance sustainability for exiting businesses.

In addition, the firm says part of the quest of the programme is to raise selfless entrepreneurs; raise awareness to cause a shift in HSE culture and practices across industries in line with the United Nation’s goal on climate change; and halt single use of plastic and other forms of waste materials Etete further said: “This is beyond corporate social responsibility for us. It is time people began to understand that HSE is for their own interest.

“We are doing this so that they can view it as a way to earn a decent living and improve the environment for the good of everyone.”

The CEO bemoaned, however, how materials able to be transformed into wealth are littered on the streets.

“Rather these materials are there constituting nuisance to the environment and health challenge to the people,” he emphasised.

Notwithstanding, the CEO said despite

the COVID-19 pandemic, they achieved this.

While hoping to expand this gesture in 2021 for more people to benefit, Etete congratulated the beneficiaries for their commitment throughout the trainings.

He highlighted that the beneficiaries were trained on how to source and transform all forms of waste products to commercial materials.

One of the trainees, Victor Chiemeke, said that the exposure endowed him with a new orientation that he doesn't need to start combing the streets for a white collar job, but to tap into the various opportunities in the recycling business. Chiemeke, who is a fresh graduate, expressed optimism that he would soon begin to employ labour.

A member of Researchers Association of Nigeria (RAN) and one of the facilitators, Mr. Adewole Taiwo, revealed that out of the millions of plastic dumped in the trash, drainages, and river daily only 30 per cent were recovered

and used for recycling.

In her view, “We are now afraid that in the nearest future we might begin to bring out plastic from the river instead of fish. Most of the fish we eat now contain some amount of plastic.”

Speaking on what the training entailed, Taiwo said he equipped them on collection of waste products, which is one of the core area of recycling business.

She listed on: “I also trained them on feasibility study and what it requires to get a loan from the bank.”

According to the RAN member, some of the uses of plastics are for weave-on, shoes, t-shirt, carpet, rug and other products.

However, as more awareness is being created, Taiwo continued, people might soon be hanging around waiting for whoever is drinking a bottle water so that they can pick it when he throws it away.

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T H I S D AY ˾ ʹ˜ 2021

FEATURES

Unconscious Bias in the Workplace Adaku Ezeudo

either through self-reflection or through testing, we can take steps to tackle them one at a time. Knowing the biases and the situations in which those biases are likely to flare up can make us force ourselves to stop, consider and be more conscious of what we’re doing.

Leaders should champion these efforts among their teams without negativity.

Remember, we all have biases so it’s not anyone’s fault that their brain works this way.

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ossessing bias is part of the human behaviour. From an evolutionary standpoint, it makes more sense to trust those who are like us, because they seem to pose less of a threat. However, in our modern world, we now know that diversity brings with it a raft of benefits.

For example, Imran Rasul & Daniel Rogger’s (2015) study of diversity in the Nigerian Civil Service shows that project completion rates were significantly higher in more diverse sectors of the civil service.

Tapping into these benefits necessitates a move away from biases. However, in Nigeria, the most diverse country on the African continent, it is a big task. We cannot expect to wake up one day and no longer possess the biases that have accompanied us our whole lives, but we can become more aware of them, the impact they have, and choose to manage them in a progressive manner.

Conscious versus Unconscious Bias Our biases reveal themselves in both a conscious and unconscious way.

Conscious bias is at play when we know that we have a prejudice of some sort.

This can be overt as we may not choose to regulate our behaviour even though we are aware that we are biased against a particular group.

Unconscious bias can be more difficult to spot, because, by its nature, we are not aware of it. We can believe that we are acting in a fair and just manner, while still exhibiting bias in our behaviour. This type of bias is embedded in our cultural understanding of the world.

Both types of bias are destructive and can have serious implications for those affected by them and the organisations they work in. However, Eden King & Kristen Jones (2016) have shown that the more subtle acts of discrimination, caused by unconscious bias, can be more damaging in the long term, especially at work.

In a study of 90 samples of workplace discrimination and the outcomes related to them, they found that across the board, the outcomes of subtle discrimination were “at least as bad as if not worse than overt discrimination” because it can happen many times in a given day and the effects compound quickly.

How Unconscious Bias Manifests in Workplaces There are many types of unconscious bias and it can appear in many forms at work. Because unconscious bias permeates an organisation’s culture it spreads out across the organisation in myriad ways.

It affects formal and informal decisionmaking processes including recruitment, promotional and career development opportunities, as well as inclusion in events and on projects. It can also affect how management appraise and recognise the contributions of their team members.

Types of Bias Common in the Nigerian Workplace Ethnicity & Religion Nigeria is the most diverse country on the African continent and so, it is not surprising that we tend to have bias around ethnicity and religion. Ohunakhin et al.(2019) studied the effect of diversity in a country “with a high level of discrimination” but in a “corporation that preaches against discrimination” in Shell, Lagos. Most of the respondents were Igbo at 42.2%, followed by Yoruba, Hausa and then non-Nigerians. The two dominant religions were Christianity, representing 55.5% followed by Islam at 37.5%. This gives us a flavour of the type of demographic split that exists within a given multinational operating in Nigeria.

However not all large employers share the diversity values of Shell.

Richard Ilorah (2009) notes how those workers who “belong to the wrong ethnic group” feel alienated and display

Typical work place

a “lack of motivation” at work. On the other hand, their co-workers, who belong “to the ruling (right) ethnic group exude enormous arrogance and are over-protected by the system”. These are the ones who are likely to be promoted beyond their capabilities while others, who are suitably qualified languish at the bottom of the organisational tree.

Age Culturally, we tend to value the experience of the older generations who have been around for longer. While this is commendable, when it is taken to the extreme, it means that younger generations are discriminated against.

New ideas, innovations and fresh ways of doing things can be lost when we turn a blind eye to the suggestions of the young. In the American context, Samantha Power, former US ambassador to the United Nations described President-elect, Joe Biden as someone who champions dissenting voices. Although it may sound counterintuitive, having dissenting voices, who are not afraid to speak up when they believe something isn’t right is very important in any organisation. We need our young people to feel able to speak up, otherwise we lose the very thing that is most valuable in them, a different way of seeing the world.

Gender Gender bias is a widespread issue in Nigeria, where culturally we understand that a woman’s primary duty is in the home. Many people may therefore carry an unconscious bias that women are not as capable of performing a given job as men who do not have children to care for.

In a study carried out with 32 workers from high street banks in the city of Lagos, Adisa et al. (2019) provide insights into the working lives of women working at various levels of banking who have all been subjected to some degree of prejudice. Some participants stated directly that their performance is affected by this and that it has led them to do less, speak up less, and contribute fewer ideas.

The Impact of Bias on Workers Bias, conscious or unconscious have very real implications for the individuals who are prejudiced and the organisations that they work in. Sustained incidents of prejudice over the course of a work day or week can build up, damaging the workers self-esteem, their perceived impact at work and over time will impact their physical and mental health while also causing them to detach from their work as they become increasingly withdrawn as employees.

The decreased self-esteem that stems from bias in the workplace has a direct correlation on the quality of an employee’s work, which makes this an important concern for employers. This has been confirmed by a study conducted on 120 workers in various government parastatals across Lagos state. Fatunmbi Oladotun Muideen (2018) showed that the unconscious bias of leaders in the

Photo: Google

organisation has a negative impact on job satisfaction. The study shows that negative bias leads to poor supervision which in turn impacts the quality of work carried out under them along with the worker’s job satisfaction.

Other effects can include increased conflict as people grow increasingly frustrated with their situation and a plethora of negative effects for the business including higher employee turnover, decreased innovation, the risk of litigation and, potentially, a negative brand image – all of which harm the organisation and the bottom line.

Actions that Help Tackle Unconscious Bias in the Workplace 1. Provide Workplace Unconscious Bias Training The primary aim of unconscious bias training is to raise awareness of unconscious bias, an important first step.

Training can also raise awareness of the impact of unconscious bias on underrepresented groups and can help those that benefit from training to alter their behaviour.

A study carried out on behalf of the British Equality & Human Rights Commission examined the effectiveness of such training. Not all training is created equal, however, it showed that “more sophisticated” training could “reduce unconscious bias up to eight weeks post-intervention”.

The findings of the above-mentioned report highlight the need for unconscious bias training to be seen as part of a wider programme to ensure lasting change: “If the aim of the training is to have an impact on company practice and employee behaviour to foster inclusive cultures where everyone meets their potential regardless of their identities, unconscious bias training should be treated as just one part of a comprehensive strategy for achieving organization-wide change”.

2. Individuals can Take a Test Individuals who are interested in finding out more about their own biases can take the Implicit Association Test, IAT. The test is administered by researchers at Harvard and is available online (Project Implicit). It has been taken by millions of people around the globe and is a useful tool to help individuals become more aware of their own implicit biases.

The test measures the response time of the individual for words that accompany images. When the word is usually associated with the picture, the response time is shorter than when it is not. It’s worth mentioning here that unconscious bias can also be internalised, so that members of under-represented minority groups assume the bias against themselves too.

3. Champion Self-Awareness Unconscious bias occurs in split-second judgements as our brain tries to maximise efficiency. To overcome this, we can slow down the thought process to become more self-reflective and aware of our decision-making process.

When we are aware of our biases,

4. Encourage Micro-Affirmations Micro-affirmations are small supportive gestures which can help encourage others towards success. They are so small that they may often go unnoticed, however, over time they compound, much like small acts of aggression, but with a much more positive effect.

Micro-affirmations may be conscious or unconscious, but we can choose to implement them and encourage our teams to do so too. In time, micro-affirmations can rebalance the scales against unconscious bias.

5. Implement System Protocols As organisations are run by humans, it’s no surprise that organisational culture can be beset by unconscious bias. The accepted norms within an organisation often go unchallenged, because ‘that’s just how it’s done’.

Unearth these unconscious norms within your organisation by carrying out organisation-wide audits. Devising and implementing decision-making policies can interrupt unconscious bias in its tracks. These may include removing identifying information from job applications, for example, or structured interview questions which apply to all candidates.

In addition to slowing down the thought process, these system protocols can make it easier for peers to spot and address unconscious bias when it appears.

Taking Charge of the Problem Hoping to eradicate unconscious bias is an unrealistic expectation. It has been hard-wired into our brains through evolution. However, we can manage it effectively with a sustained effort and the desire to do so.

Bias can lead to negative impacts in the workplace and our society as a whole.

Micro aggressions which accumulate between religions, ethnicity and tribes at work naturally spill into our wider lives and create greater disharmony on our streets.

We must be aware that tackling unconscious bias won’t be easy. Changing subconscious behaviours are inherently more difficult than ones that we are consciously aware of. The first step, as Cynthia Lee of George Washington University Law School argues, is awareness of the prevalence of unconscious bias. However, awareness alone is not sufficient to disrupt its impact. Organisations and those within them need to be aware that tackling unconscious bias in the workplace is more about managing it effectively than stamping it out altogether.

We depend on our leaders to take up the challenge and show the way in this regard. Each business or organisational leader has the opportunity to take a stand, not just for their individual team or organisation, but for Nigeria as a whole. We all have biases and therefore, we must all work to overcome them and to hold ourselves and those we manager to account in overcoming theirs.

When we do so, our staff will enjoy a better working environment, they will be happier, more engaged, more efficient more productive and will generally improve business outcomes for us. When everyone has an equal opportunity to thrive at work, people are more willing to give their very best. ...Ezeudo contributed this piece from Dublin, Ireland where she is the CEO of PhoenixRize Consulting

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WEDNESDAY JANUARY 6, 2021 •T H I S D AY

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T H I S D AY ˾ ʹ˜ 2021

BUSINESSWORLD R A T E S MONEY MARKET OVERNIGHT OBB

A S

REPO 0.83 0.50

CALL 1-MONTH 3-MONTH

1 1 3

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

D E C E M B E R

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

667.91% -0.04% - 11.24%

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

3 1 , 6.58% 38.81%

2 0 2 0 EXCHANGE RATE N379/1US DOLLAR* *AS AT LAST FRIDAY

Quick Takes Bitcoin’s Rally Halts

COURTESY VISIT

L-R Chairman, House Committee on Capital Market, Babangida Ibrahim; Chairman, Dukia Gold, Chief Tunde Fagbemi; Director General, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Dr. Lamido Yuguda; Managing Director/ CEO, Lagos Commodities and Futures Exchange (LCFE ), Mr. Akinsola Akeredolu-Ale and Chairman, Chief Onyenwechukwu Ezeagu, during the visit by members of the House of Representatives and SEC officials to LCFE in Lagos...recently

Rewane Highlights Factors to Propel Nigeria’s Growth in 2021 Peter Uzoho As Nigeria beams searchlight on ways to recover from the current economic recession, the Chief Executive Officer of Financial Derivatives Company (FDC) Limited, Mr. Bismarck Rewane, has outlined a number of game-changing factors that will drive the country’s recovery process in 2021.

The factors, which he reeled out while presenting his firm’s economic outlook for 2021 during a recent televised programme, included the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement (AfCFTA) which had just begun.

AfCFTA is a-$3.4 trillion economic bloc created to unite the 1.3 billion people of Africa and boost trade within the continent.

Other such game-changing factors for the Nigeria economy

ECONOMY in 2021, according to Rewane, are the ECOWAS protocol, changing trading partners, import restrictions, forex rationing, domestic refining capacity, 2021 Budget – increased spending on infrastructure, political squabbling, removal of subsidies, and end of accommodative policy stance.

In addition, he said for Nigeria, 2021 would be the year for economic reforms, and that consumption subsidies would be reduced, while there would be improved revenue to be used for poverty alleviation.

Rewane, stated that the exchange rate flexibility was likely to be adopted, leading to a more predictable and stable naira exchange rate, predicting that there would be gradual recovery in the global, regional

and domestic economy.

He projected that global trade and investment flows would increase with time, while also anticipating that free trade and regional integration in Africa and other regions was likely to happen.

Asserting that barriers to investment flows would be dismantled, Rewane stressed that countries would have to focus on their sources of comparative advantage.

On his projection for the oil market, he said global oil prices would trade between $45 to $50 per barrel, and that vaccine rollout and recovery in oil demand would help to keep oil prices high.

“But inability to curtail second wave of Covid-19 infections and put the new Covid-19 variant under control will cap the oil price gains,” Rewane

said, adding that Nigeria’s oil production would increase as the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies (OPEC+) agrees to ease output cuts by 500,000 barrels per day from January 21.

On Nigeria’s external reserves, Rewane stated that its depletion would continue and that it would keep declining as the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) keeps the naira stable.

He, however, noted that new guidelines on Diaspora remittances, World Bank loan, and higher oil prices would slow the rate of external reserves’ depletion.

He predicted that Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for 2021 would be at 1.5 per cent; and that other economic indicators for the year would perform as follows: Continued on page 24

Amolegbe Seeks Increased Capital Market Investment Goddy Egene The President, Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers (CIS), Mr. Olatunde Amolegbe, has urged investors to partner with stockbrokers to minimise risk and maximise returns on their investments.

Amolegbe, who hailed the impressive performance of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) advised local investors to take advantage of superior return on investment (ROI) by increasing their investment in the capital market.

In his 2021 goodwill message to stockbrokers and investors, Amolegbe stated in a year that most economic indicators turned red for Nigeria, aptly summarised by the country’s

CAPITAL MAKET slump into another round of economic recession in just five years, the Nigerian stock market brought great joy, wealth and fulfillment to millions of investors local and international.

“By close of trading on 31st of December 2020, the NSE All Share Index had achieved an appreciation of 50.03 per cent, making Nigeria the best performing stock markets / investment destinations in the world (a fact duly acknowledged by internationally respected news agencies like Bloomberg and others).

“This is clearly the result of the massive work done by you, chartered stockbrokers, in

partnership with our regulators and various trading platforms in the country. We have every reason to be proud and thankful,” he said.

The CIS boss reassured investors that the Nigerian capital market, both equity and debt platforms, remain one of the best, transparent, and reliable outlets available to them for saving and income earning purposes.

“They should therefore return to the market with confidence, patronise stockbrokers for investment advice and eschew quacks.

“However, the index performance alone does not tell the full story of 2020. The corona virus pandemic, which lasted throughout the year, and the more recent social upheavals that

trailed the otherwise peaceful #EndSARs protests, combined to set the Nigerian economy back by several trillions of naira, worsening the already fragile and precarious states of unemployment, foreign exchange rate and inflation in the country. None of these prevented us, stockbrokers, from meeting the expectations of our numerous clients, domiciled in Nigeria, Europe, America, and other parts of the world,” he said.

According to Amolegbe, it is on record that the Nigerian stockbroking community was one of the first to embrace the new order forced on the society by the corona virus pandemic.

Continued on page 24

Bitcoin fizzled in Monday trading as the famously volatile cryptocurrency pulled back after a spectacular new-year rally.

Prices fell as much as 17 per cent in the biggest drop since March before recovering.The losses, according to Bloomberg, were small in the context of Bitcoin’s broader rally, with a 50 per cent jump in December alone. After a parabolic 2020, the digital currency had started the New Year with a bang, surging as high as $34,000 and hitting all-time highs on Sunday.

Bitcoin was down seven per cent to $31,227 in London on Monday.

“Today’sselloffisareminderthisisarelativelynewasset,highlyvolatile, and still yet to find its place in the market,” said Adrian Lowcock, head of personal investing at Willis Owen Limited.

“There are many (major) hurdles for it to overcome for it to be a useful mainstream asset.”

As ever in the world of crypto, it’s hard to pinpoint the proximate cause for the latest bout of volatility. Bitcoin is up more than 300 per cent over the past year, driven by a speculative fever from retail and institutional investors on the belief that cryptocurrencies are emerging as a mainstream asset class and can act as a store of value.

Believers in Bitcoin had pointed to the market’s supply constraints and supposedly rampant money printing by central banks as key drivers of bullish narrative. Others say that cryptocurrencies are a bubble in the making and another sign that crazy risk taking has taken over global markets.

“HotNasdaqstocks,Chineseinternetplaysandpromisingbiotechsall of a sudden seem dull compared to the action unfolding in the cryptocurrency space,” said Louis Gave, co-founder of Gavekal Research.

Google Workers Form Union

More than 200 workers at Google and other Alphabet Inc. units on MondayformedalaborunionforUnitedStatesandCanadianoffices, building on years of protests over working conditions and business practices but falling far short of the support needed to force the tech giant to the bargaining table.

Backers believe the “Alphabet Workers Union,” which evolved from an informal group of activist employees, will better shield members from firings or other forms of retaliation. It will also enable the group to collect dues to hire support staff and attack the company more aggressively than in the past, internal leaders and outside labor experts told Reuters.

TheunionwillbepartoftheCommunicationsWorkersofAmericalabor group,whichalsorepresentsemployeesfromVerizonCommunications Inc and AT&TInc Alphabet members will pay dues of 1% of their total compensation.

Kara Silverstein, director of people operations at Google, said in response on Monday that the company supports its employees’ “protected labor rights” and will “continue engaging directly with all our employees.”

Unlike traditional labor unions in the US, the Alphabet group is a socalled “minority union” that will not be able to force the company to collectively bargain over wages or other issues

Volkswagen Hires New Executive

VolkswagenhashiredElkeTemme,along-timeexecutiveatGermany’s top utility RWE, to head the carmaker’s newly created division for energy and electric vehicle charging, it said on Monday.

Temme’smovewasthelatestillustrationofthegrowingconvergence of the autos and energy sectors amid an expected boom in demand for electric vehicles.

Mostrecently,TemmewaschiefoperatingofficerofInnogyeMobility solutions. Innogy was carved out from RWE in 2016 and later broken up in an asset swap with E.ON, which acquired the firm’s emobility activities in the process.

Shewillbeinchargeofpoolingandmanagingexistinggroupactivities in the fields of energy, charging services, charging equipment and charginginfrastructureacrossallbrands,ReutersquotedVolkswagen to have said.

“WithElkeTemme,wehavewonaprovenexpertinthefieldsofenergy and charging for our company,” Volkswagen board memberThomas Schmall said in a statement.

“AfCFTAwill build Africans capacity to manufacture and change the narrative of African economy and give Africa a stronger voice and positioning in the global economy as we go on” President, MAN,

Mr. Mansur Ahmed

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BUSINESSWORLD REWANE HIGHLIGHTS FACTORS TO PROPEL NIGERIA’S GROWTH IN 2021 inflation - 12 per cent, exchange rate - N450/$, external reserves - $25 billion, stock market - N15 trillion, power output - 4,800MW, and unemployment - 40 per cent.

On sectors to watch, the FDC chief explained that growth in non-oil sectors would improve from first quarter (Q1) of 2021 and that uneven recovery should be expected across sectors.

According to him, construction, ICT and financial institutions would be growth drivers while there would be gradual recovery in the real estate sector.

However, Rewane warned of a “confluence of economic,” and “political risks” this year, listing some of them as, “insurgency in the north east, resistance to reforms, second and third wave of lockdown, a sharp fall/rise in global oil prices, EndSARS & other protests, vandalism in the Niger Delta, persistent unorthodox monetary policy.”

AMOLEGBE SEEKS INCREASED CAPITAL MARKET INVESTMENT

“The transition to full-blown technology-driven operations was immediate and seamless in the Nigerian capital market.

Dealers were trading remotely on a full time basis, new issues were done, and companies were paying dividends and bonuses to their clients as usual. The CIS was a pace setter in the process, as we held our annual conference, presidential investiture and dozens of training programmes virtually and excellently, to the admiration of the rest of the world,” he said.

The Nigerian Stock Exchange All-Share Index closed 2020 as the best performing, recording a growth of 50 per cent.

The return, which was the highest annual growth since 2013, was the most among 93 equity indexes tracked by Bloomberg.

The Nigerian equities market has been riding on low yields in the fixed income market and renewed interest by domestic investors to outperform other global markets.

NEWS

Union Diagnostics Moves to Approve Buy-out of Minority Investors Goddy Egene Shareholders of Union Diagnostics and Clinical Services Plc will on January 25, 2021, approve a bid by Cedar Advisory Partners Limited to buy the 39.62 per cent held by minority shareholders.

Cedar Advisory Partners had last March launched the N492.75 million buy-out bid expected to raise its stake to 59.66 per cent to make it the single largest shareholder of Union Diagnostics and Clinical Services Plc. The shareholders are expected to approve this bid at a court-ordered meeting (COM) scheduled to hold in Lagos. And given past experiences, the buyout of the minority shareholders would lead to eventual delisting of Union Diagnostics and Clinical Services Plc from the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) almost 14 years after it was listed in May 2007.

The COM would be preceded by annual general meeting (AGM) of the shareholders where they would review its full-year performance for the period ended December 31, 2019.

According to the notice of the COM, shareholders of Union Diagnostics are expected to approve the Scheme of Arrangement dated Monday, December 7, 2020, while authorising the directors, “to consent to any

modifications of the Scheme of Arrangement that the Federal High Court or any regulatory authority may deem fit to impose or approve.”

Directors of Union Diagnostic had in March last year, confirmed receipt of a binding offer from Cedar, seeking to acquire a total of 1.408 billion ordinary shares of 50 kobo each held by all minority shareholders at an offer price of 35 kobo, in addition to its current 711.92 million units.

Union Diagnostic is an indig-

enous and home-grown company in the medical diagnostics and healthcare sector owned by over 10,000 Nigerian shareholders and has been offering full and comprehensive services in diagnostic medicine since 1994.

Cedar currently holds 711,916,612 ordinary shares representing 20.04 per cent equity holding in the company. However, at the end of the transaction, Cedar will hold a combined 59.66 per cent.

Union Diagnostics was listed at N3.00 each in 2007 and had

plans to become the nation’s leading diagnostic firm across the West Africa sub-region, with a vision to become a global player.

However, the firm has not been unable to achieve its enviable plan to dominate the market, with at least one branch in each state of the country due to the influx of smaller competitors into the market.

Cedar Advisory is engaged in investment banking, CFO outsourcing services, insurance brokerage, legal compliance

services, business performance management, and due diligence service. It has as part of its completed transactions the acquisition of 75 per cent of Great Nigeria Insurance Plc by Insurance Resourcery Consulting Services Limited in 2013. Cedar raised $20 million to finance the management buyout. GNI eventually delisted voluntarily from the NSE in 2019, a move for which Cedar acted as an adviser, coordinating all relevant parties to the transaction.

AWARDS WELL DESERVED

L-R: Head, Marketing/ Corporate Communications, FBN Holdings Plc, Mr. Tunde Lawanson; Human Resources Officer, Ugochi Onuekwuisi; Chief Executive Officer, Emerging Africa Capital, Oluwatoyin Sanni; Head, HR, FBN Holdings, Oyinade Wuku, and Technical Assistant to the Group Managing Director, Douglas Blisha, at the 2020 Great Place to Work award ceremony where FBN Holdings won Best leadership practice and Best workplace for Women, held in Lagos... recently ETOP UKUTT

Notore Records N9.48 Billion Profit in 2020 Oluchi Chibuzor Notore Chemical Industries Plc recorded an operating profit of N9.48 billion as against the N3.418 billion made in the preceding year.

The company reported this in its audited financial statement for the year 2020, for the 12-month period ended September 30, 2020.

In a statement, the Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Notore Chemical Industries, Mr. Onajite Okoloko, said the increase in the company’s operating profit was due to surpluses from the professional revaluation of investment properties class of its asset.

According to him, “We recorded an operating profit of

N9.48 billion for the 12-month period ended 30th September 2020 (30 September 2019: N3.42 billion), an increase of 177 per cent. The increase was mainly attributable to surpluses from the professional revaluation of investment properties class of its asset.”

He added that the company was diversifying its revenue stream through the optimisation of its assets, noting, “By leveraging on its Oil and Gas Free Zone Developer Licensee status, the company took certain key steps during the year in furtherance of its plan to develop its 560 hectares industrial complex into a gas hub, as part of a gas monetisation programme and the promotion of an integrated logistics service

provider to companies operating in West Africa, along the entire oil and gas value chain leading to further diversification of the company’s revenue stream.”

While noting that the company was well positioned to lead the fertilizer market in Africa, he stressed that the domestic fertilizer market was yet to be fully maximized, even as the company fortifies its distribution system to dominate the African market.

He added: “Notore’s products are well positioned for effective shipment and distribution across the Atlantic coast, and Notore has positioned itself as the major distributor of fertilizer in Africa.

Notore fertilizer is made readily available to farmers through the company’s well-developed

distribution and supply network, thereby ensuring increased output leading to hunger reduction and guaranteeing food security on the continent.”

He explained that Notore achieved several important milestones to position the company for a great future, noting, “First, was the disbursement of the N13.32 billion Afreximbank facility on 31st December 2019, which set the stage for the commencement of the Turn Around Maintenance programme (TAM) for our plant.

“A significant part of all the equipment and spares ordered during the year for the TAM programme have been delivered, while most of the others are in transit. Although disruptions to global economies as a result of

the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in supply chain and logistics interruptions, particularly with respect to acquisition of parts and spares occasioned by the various restrictions and health advisories put in place by governments globally, the TAM is on course and expected to be completed at the end of January 2021, barring any further shutdowns or restrictions occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic.”

The Notore Chief Executive stated that once the TAM completed, the company expects significant improvement in the Plant’s reliability and production output to meet and sustain its 500,000MT per annum nameplate design capacity.

Arab Investment Bank Acquires Software to Drive Financial Inclusion Group Business Editor

Obinna Chima

Capital Market Editor

Goddy Egene

Comms/e-Business Editor

Emma Okonji

Senior Correspondent

ËÒÏÏ× ÕÓØÑÌÙÖß (Advertising) Correspondents

ÒÓØÏÎß äÏ (Aviation) ÜÙ×ÙÝÏÖÏ ÌÓÙÎßØ (Maritime) Ë×ÏÝ ×ÏÔÙ (Finance) Ebere Nwoji (Insurance) Chineme Okafor (Energy) Emmanuel Addeh (Energy) Reporters

ß×Ï ÕÏÑÒÏ (Money Market) ÙÝË ÖÏÕÒßÙÑÓÏ (ICT) Peter Uzoho (Energy)

Arab Investment Bank has announced its acquisition of Temenos Infinity to offer differentiated digital customer experience and grow its digital customer base.

The software will enable Arab Investment Bank to bring new products to market faster, accelerate digital customer onboarding and increase front office efficiency to achieve market-leading costincome ratio.

In addition, it will support the bank’s mission to boost economic development and financial inclusion for 44 million Egyptians.

Arab Investment Bank, which is among one of the fastest growing banks in Egypt, provides personal and business banking products as well as investment and Islamic banking services.

“With Temenos Infinity, the bank has embarked on a digital transformation journey to make banking and financial services easier, faster and more accessible for all Egyptians,” according to a statement.

Egypt has an adult population of over 67 million and while over 90 per cent have a mobile phone, only one in three has a bank account and less than six per cent made digital payments in the last year.

“Arab Investment Bank already uses Temenos Transact as its core banking technology.

Now, with Temenos Infinity, the bank benefits from the leading omnichannel digital banking product covering customer engagement from acquisition, to account servicing, through to long-term retention.

“Using both products, the bank is able to achieve an end-to-end digital banking transformation and market-leading cost-income ratio. The performance benefits will be seen in higher customer growth, lower cost of marketing, improved front office efficiency with increased STP rate and reduced asset write-offs with Explainable AI lending.

“Temenos Infinity accelerates time-to-market for new products and deliver a seamless, multiexperience digital journey for its customers. With Temenos Infinity, Arab Investment Bank will offer a seamless digital experience to its customers across digital touchpoints for all retail banking products, reducing client onboarding to just minutes.

“With its deep analytics,

Temenos Infinity the leader in driving customer acquisition and digital banking engagement and enables banks to increase digital revenues 5x and cut customer onboarding time by 75 per cent. Built on a microservices architecture, Temenos Infinity is the most open and agile SaaS product allowing banks to continuously extend and expand their solution for all or portions of the customer lifecycle,” the statement added.

It stated further that digital payments is also a strategic growth area for Arab Investment Bank, adding that with Temenos Payments, the bank benefits from a truly comprehensive, universal platform for efficient payment execution and distribution – removing the need for a different system for different

payment types.

Arab Investment Bank Board of Directors, stated: “Based on Arab Investment Bank strategy, we chose to partner with Temenos to lead our digital transformation, not only because it has the most advanced technology, but also for its strong presence in the region and its reputation for rapid implementation and time to value.

“With support from Temenos, Arab Investment Bank is on a path to becoming a world-class digital bank. Digital channels are vital to achieving our growth goals and Temenos’ advanced technology will enable us to design and execute a holistic model to support digital acquisition, onboarding, engagement and cross-selling.”

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T H I S D AY ˾ ʹ˜ ͰͮͰͯ

Envisioning another Positive Performance Having posted a record growth of 50.03 per cent in 2020, analysts are predicting that the Nigerian equities market would still end 2021 in the positive territory, writes Goddy Egene

NSE tradinh

S

takeholders in the Nigerian stock market will for a very long time remember 2020 as the year that they reaped bountiful harvest from their investments. That was the year the benchmark Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) All-Share Index (ASI) posted its highest gain of 50.03 per cent. The growth was better than the 47.19 per cent posted in 2013 and 42.3 per cent recorded in 2017.

Although the market was expected to close positive in 2020 after declining in 2018 and 2019, the high level of growth was never envisaged. Hence, it has been celebrations for many stakeholders as the market soared by 50.03 per cent in spite of the prevailing weak economic fundamentals that resulted from the impact of the coronavirus outbreak.

Having posted such a record growth last year, there are still high optimism that the bull run would be sustained in 2021 with intermittent profit taking. On the first trading session of the year last Monday, the bulls showed strength as 32 stocks appreciated, compared with only two that depreciated, thereby further pushing up the index by 2.2 per cent.

Market analysts said all the factors that led to the impressive performance in 2020 are still present and would continue to keep the market in the bulls’ territory going forward. In the opinion of analysts at Investdata Consulting Limited, the market would likely to maintain the positive trend until end of 2020 full year earnings reporting season.

They based their optimism on the fact that for now, there is no other investment windows that has returns and yields that can match the dividend yields of some listed companies still selling below their fair value.

The Chief Research Officer of Investdata Consulting Limited, Mr. Ambrose Omordion, said the market is set to breakout the 41,000 resistance level, owing to high cap stocks rallying on the strength of positive sentiment, which is of interest to many investors, considering the weak economic fundamentals.

According to him, the 2021 outlook is mixed in the sense that it looks positive but dicey, considering the second wave of Covid-19, despite the ongoing discovery of more vaccines and its distribution.

“Government should make policies to encourage more listing to deepen the market in order to play its role of driving the economic development by providing platform for long borrowing, regulators should protect investors and collaborate with research companies to provide proper investment and financial education to

attract more participant to the market,” he said.

He explained that if the market is to create jobs for Nigerian youths by engaging in share trading with their little funds with the aid of technology and remote trading, government should reduce cost of trading or transaction to encourage and attract more investors.

Analysts at Cordros Securities said the mix of elevated liquidity, low interest rates, attractive dividend yields, and earnings recovery argues in favour of an extension of the equity bull market into 2021.

According to them, the performance in the fixed income market will be a tale of two halves, saying they expect yields to remain in the low single-digit territory through first half (H1) of 2021 with a moderate uptrend to account for reduced market participation as investors seek yields in other asset classes.

“However, in the later part of the year, we believe that a combination of weak market participation, revision of monetary policy to a tightening cycle, widening fiscal deficit, and fragile macroeconomic environment will lead to an increase in yields over 2021.

“Similar to the fixed income market, we also expect it to be a tale of two halves for Nigerian equities in 2021, with the market delivering further upside in the first half of 2021 before retracing slightly in the second half on an expected reversal in fixed income yields.

The sources of risks remain plenty, the macro story remains uninspiring, and valuations are elevated,” they said.

Looking at some sectors of the market, the analysts said they are overweight on Nigerian banks as they expect a combination of strong dividend yield expectations, and resiliency of sector players into the full year 2021 financial period to support price performances.

According to them, in Nigeria’s cement sector, volume growth in 2021e will be modest due to the lingering impact of the pandemic on government finances and household income. “ Although the stiff competitive landscape coupled with soft industry conditions will deter industry players from raising prices substantially, we still see scope for marginal increases in prices,” they said.

Cordros Securities noted that for consumer staples, it’s a mixed bag, while agriculture stocks are likely to benefit from improved volumes from new maturities.

“However, the border reopening is a significant risk to pricing and by extension top-line growth.

Brewery stocks are expected to record better volume growth in 2021 full year, mostly due

to the low base from 2020 full year. However, the ability of brewers to increase prices above inflation remains constrained. Surging inflation and FX illiquidity will also put pressure on input costs and margins,” they said.

The analysts added that on telecoms, there is a potential negative impact on Q1-21 revenues and earnings if the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) does not extend the NIN registration deadline and lines are disconnected.

The President of the Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers (CIS), Mr. Olatunde Amolegbe, said he expected positive trend of 2020 to continue into the 2021, noting, however, investors should ensure that they speak to their certified stockbrokers before taking any decisions.

Omolegbe had said the most gratifying fact about last year’s performance was that it was actually backed by fundamental performances of our quoted companies.

“The performance also underpins the need for improvement in liquidity flow to the market through various sources that we at the CIS have been advocating in the last few years,” he said.

According to him, the reduction in interest rate and fixed income yield has been a net positive for quoted companies that are now able to borrow cheaper to finance their operations as well as for market operators that can see renewed interest in the financial markets.

“The NSE’s performance is also an affirmation of our market’s increasing correlation with other global market markets,” he said.

Looking at how the equities market would perform this year, a stockbroker and Chief Executive Officer of Sofunix Communications and Investment Limited, Mr. Sola Oni, said it would be positive.

According to him, demand for equities has strongly enhanced market upswing as yields on other asset classes, especially fixed income securities are low.

“The Central Bank of Nigeria’s policies that encourage credit to the real sector in an environment of low interest rate are expected to be sustained. We expect the federal government to utilize the market to finance N5 trillion budget deficit for 2021 through the market.

States governments can also take advantage of the capital market to mobilise funds for development projects. This will have multiplier effects on transaction on the exchange,” he said.

Oni noted that if the introduction of vaccine to combat COVID-19 is pursued vigorously, it will enhance operations of quoted companies,

boost return on investment (ROI) and attract more investors into the market.

“However, it is hoped that security issues would be addressed to reduce country risk while another wave of COVID-19 pandemic shall not scuttle all projections,” he said.

Prof. Uche Uwaleke of the Nasarawa State University Keffi, had said the outlook for the Nigerian capital market post-COVID-19 was positive.

“The market has performed well despite the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the second wave of COVID -19 in developed countries like the United Kingdom(UK) and United States (US) is likely to have an impact on capital importation especially foreign portfolio investments.

Furthermore, there is likely going to be a possible collapse in international crude oil price, depletion of external reserves and exchange rate pressure if the pandemic is not contained effectively.”

“We have had good news that there is a vaccine and so what the government needs to do is to pursue aggressive export base diversification to reduce vulnerabilities to external shocks and boost external reserves, tackle insecurity and continuously improve ease of doing business, address infrastructure gaps through PPP, issue more of infrastructure bonds such as Sukuk and Green bonds which are tied to self-liquidating projects and deploy policies favourable to stock market growth and which support economic recovery,” he said.

In her assessment, the Group Chief Executive Officer, Emerging Africa Capital, Oluwatoyin Sanni, said the outlook for capital markets globally is positive and will be driven by the gradual return to businesses.

According to her, we know that there is a second wave but we also know that there is a vaccine on its way to us and psychologically that will be an encouragement to investors.

“Furthermore, the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement (AfCFTA) across Africa will see opportunities for some of our larger companies to make a foray into the African markets.

“We know that there will still be renewed lockdowns in the UK and new strings are coming up but I think the worst is over and 2021 will not be anywhere near 2020. I say this because the economy has learnt how to deal with the virus and recognized that total shutdown of activities is not the best way to go, especially for developing economies like ours and so as long as the responses are pragmatic, the outlook for the capital market will more likely be favourable,” Sanni said.

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Quest for Insurance Sector Recapitalisation James Emejo writes that the recapitalisation of insurance sector will be in the overall interest of the economy The campaign to deepen penetration of insurance services in the country had been on for several years and only became intense with improve regulatory oversight of operators by the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM), the industry regulatory body.

Elsewhere in the world, insurance contributes significantly to GDP and is a major employment generator.

Perhaps one of the challenges of deepening insurance in the country is the eroding confidence in the sector - partly due to non-adherence to good corporate governance by players, their inability to honour contracts and pay adequate and regular claims by some of the operators.

Also, lack of adequate awareness and enlightenment among others posed serious limitations to insurance acceptability in the country. Also, the dearth of attractive and innovative insurance products had remained obstacles.

However, the contribution of the sector to economic growth - currently below one per cent - remains a source of concern to the regulatory body which hope to boost its contribution going forward.

According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), growth of the insurance sector contracted by –16.54 per cent year on year in nominal terms in the third quarter of 2020.

Insurance which is grouped alongside Finance accounted for only about 11.11 per cent of the sector compared to the latter’s 88.89 per cent in real terms in Q3.

According to the third quarter GDP estimates, in real terms however, insurance contracted by 18.67 per cent in Q3.

Finance and Insurance both contributed 2.46 per cent to overall nominal GDP in the quarter under review, lower than the contribution of 3.76 per cent recorded in the preceding quarter.

It has been established among other things that one of the hindrances to the optimal performance of insurance firms is their low capital base which had been eroded over the years considering negative developments in the macroeconomy, lax corporate governance, insider abuses among others - without efforts for additional capital injection.

This situation had resulted in the inability of insurance companies in the country to fund big ticket transactions - and often resulted into insurance refinancing.

It is no news that several big ticket transactions are handled by offshore companies which are better capitalised rather than those operating in the country.

Coupled with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic which had ravaged businesses and further eroded capital, it was only logical that insurers are encouraged to boost their capital base in their own interest as well as the economy.

The journey towards the recapitalisation of the industry began in January 2017, when NAICOM indicated it would verify the capital resources of all insurance companies operating in the country during the first quarter of the year.

It had explained that the probe became necessary in view of the fact that the business environment and risk profile of the companies had changed since 2007 when the last recapitalisation exercise was conducted.

The apex industry regulator had further explained that the move would further ensure protection of policyholders and beneficiaries of insurance contact against unexpected losses.

In January 2020, the Commissioner for Insurance/ Chief Executive, NAICOM, Mr. Sunday Thomas, while announcing the liquidation of two firms, had warned that operators faced stricter supervision in 2020.

He said the commission would enhance its supervisory roles through the strict implementation of rules, the introduction of new reforms and initiatives that are in line with international best practice.

He added that the recapitalisation programme introduced was to boost the development of the sector, stressing that it was “aimed at repositioning the sector for self-actualisation in terms of growth and development. I wouldn’t want to dwell much on this as the paper presenters will be giving us update on this initiative.

“But let me state in clear terms that the recapitalisation process is up and running in line with the roadmap and the commission will see to its logical conclusion.”

NAICOM had in a circular in May 2019, directed insurers to increase in the minimum

paid-up capital for insurance and reinsurance companies.

According to the circular, life insurance firms are required to meet a minimum paid-up capital of N8 billion, from the previous N2 billion, while general insurance companies are required to raise their minimum paid-up capital to N10 billion from N3 billion.

NAICOM also raised the regulatory capital for composite insurance from N5 billion to N18 billion, while it increased the minimum capital of reinsurance businesses from N10 billion to N20 billion.

The firms were however, directed to comply with the new directive not later than December 31, 2020 and September 30, 2021 respectively.

However, the commission had in June 2020, approved an extension on the deadline issued to insurance companies to raise their minimum paid-up capital to September 2021.

The recapitalisation deadline had earlier been fixed for December 31, 2020, which became not feasible following the economic disruptions caused by COVID-19.

Insurers were given up till September 30, 2021, to fully recapitalise in a two-phased plan.

NAICOM, had in a circular signed by the Director, Policy and Regulation, Mr. Pius Agboola, extended and segmented the recapitalisation

There are lots of initiatives that we are looking at that we believe can fast-track the process and deepen our market. Of course, it is clear to us today that the digital world will be the driver of business not just business in terms of operation but the digital world will drive insurance regulation and that’s why I started from the fact that our portal is ready

process into two phases.

With this, insurance companies were requested to meet 50 per cent of their minimum paid-up capital for insurance and fully comply with the remaining 50 per cent approved minimum paid-up capital not later than September 30, 2021.

The implication is that instead of insurance and reinsurance firms compulsorily meeting the new capital requirement by December 31, 2020, as stated earlier, the firms were required to provide 50 per cent of the required capital

by December 31, while balancing the remaining 50 per cent by September 30, 2021.

However, reinsurance firms were by the new requirement mandated to provide 60 per cent of the new capital by December 2020 and make up the remaining 40 per cent by September 30, 2021. The commission had also warned that operators that failed to satisfy the required recapitalisation thresholds by the December 31 deadline may be restricted on the scope of business to transact.

But, in a twist to the recapitalisation plan which was expected to revolutionise insurance and put the sector on increased growth pedestal, the Lagos Division of the Federal High Court, on December 21, 2020, restrained NAICOM from taking any further steps in implementing its deadline date for insurance and reinsurance companies to recapitalise.

Justice C. J. Aneke made the order while delivering ruling in an ex-parte application brought before the court by the Incorporated Trustees of the Pragmatic Shareholders’ Association of Nigeria.

The applicant prayed the court for an order of interim injunction restraining the defendant and its agents from taking further steps in the recapitalisation process in the insurance industry pending the hearing and determination of its motion on notice before the court.

The association had argued that in view of the global pandemic, the economic recession and the destruction of public and private property during the #EndSARS protests and the impact these factors had on the businesses of insurance companies, the refusal of NAICOM to rescind the recapitalisation deadlines was an abuse of power and an unreasonable exercise of regulatory powers pursuant to the Insurance Act and the NAICOM Act. Following the court order, NAICOM had last Friday resolved as a responsible institution, to comply with the court directive by suspending

the recapitalisation exercise pending the outcome of the legal proceedings.

The development came at a period when President Muhammadu Buhari had approved policies to modernise insurance practice in the country as well as sanitise the system to boost public confidence.

Thomas had predicted that with the presidential approval will usher in a new era of insurance adding that over time, the commission had been able to achieve some measure of stability and industrial harmony which had threatened its smooth operation prior to his assumption of office as chief executive of the commission.

According to the NAICOM boss: “Nigeria is not by accident the largest economy in Africa, it is not by accident that we have this population and I have been saying this that the population we have in Nigeria is not for nothing, we must take advantage of this population to the benefits of the insurance sector.

“There are lots of initiatives that we are looking at that we believe can fast-track the process and deepen our market. “Of course, it is clear to us today that the digital world will be the driver of business not just business in terms of operation but the digital world will drive insurance regulation and that’s why I started from the fact that our portal is ready.”

If anything, the proposed capital injection will also help insurance firms to deploy technological capabilities to further drive insurance penetration to the nooks and crannies of the society.

According to the commission, insurance penetration currently stood at less than 1 per cent, arguing that with the country’s high population of over 200 million and developing industrial and commercial sector, the potential for insurance business remained significantly high - thus the need for urgent reforms.

It added however, that, “The liquidity position of some of the underwriters is very bad. This is because, heavy investment are made on fixed assets like building, land etc which are impacting on their ability to meet current obligations as they fall due. The capital increase will thus make the company liquid to meet their obligations.”

NAICOM also believed that, “The capital base of an underwriter is of great important.

A large proportion of the local risks are presently ceded outside because of low retention capacity. Hence, the increase in capital base would definitely increase retention capacity of the underwriters.”

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Ugochukwu: Support for SMEs Will Catalyse Africa’s Economic Recovery The Chief Executive Officer of the Tony Elumelu Foundation, Ifeyinwa Ugochukwu, in this virtual interactive session with journalists spoke about the Foundation’s entrepreneurship programme, its contribution to Africa’s economic recovery that had been battered by the COVID-19. Obinna Chima brings the excerpts: Can you tell us more about the Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF) entrepreneurship programme and the decision to open the 2021 application on January 1?

As you all know, the TEF was founded in 2010 and in 2015, our founder, Mr. Tony Elumelu launched a $100 million commitment to identify, train, mentor and fund 10,000 African entrepreneurs across all 54 African countries over 10 years. So, 2021 marks the seventh edition of the TEF entrepreneurship programme. Till date, we have trained, mentored and funded just over 9,000 African entrepreneurs. We are also excited to say that PwC in conjunction with our Foundation has just completed an impact assessment report which would be released in the first quarter of 2021, to mark our 10-year anniversary. So, there is a lot happening in the Foundation.

Shortly after our 2020 application closed, the lockdown happened across Africa and indeed, the entire world due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We knew that we could not continue with the programme at that time because most people were under strict lockdown and there were no movements in their country.

Most of our entrepreneurs often times needed to go to schools, business centres or offices to have access to the internet to take the programme. So, we decided to postpone the programme to 2021. Now, we all know that Africa didn’t bear the brunt of the health impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. But for the economic impact, some people have said that Africa is the epicenter of the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the SMEs, which are the heartbeat and lifeblood of economies in Africa, is on the frontline.

Most SMEs do not have the shock absorber that the bigger organisations have. And that is why it has never been more urgent than now, to deepen and expand the work that the TEF does in empowering African entrepreneurs.

That is why for us, opening the application portal on January 1, 2021, marked a new beginning. It marked a renaissance and the beginning of recovery; and the beginning of Africa really taking its place in the global stage as a strong, thriving economy led by SMEs who are the largest generators of jobs in the continent. So, we are pleased to say that as we had announced last year, that those who applied in 2020, we would still be selecting 1,000 entrepreneurs who would be funded. Now, for the 2021 applicants, the world understands that Africa is critical to the world’s economic recovery from the pandemic. And that is why we have partnered with the European Union to fund and train an additional 2,400 women on the TEF entrepreneurship programme for 2021. This is in addition to many other partnerships that we have been running through the years with the likes of the United Nations Development Programme as well as the ICRC. For us, we have put up a call to action for all development organisations, for African government and foreign governments that, now is the time to scale and expand the work that we have been doing in empowering African entrepreneurs with capacity building and the much-needed seed capital funding. We do not want to lose the gains that we have made over the last 10 years whereby we have put entrepreneurship on the global agenda.

Most governments know that it the SMEs that would create the jobs needed to catalyse growth across the continent and now is the time to ensure that SMEs that have been hit-hard by the pandemic get the required support. Many sectors are barely able to keep their head above water – tourism, restaurants, and so many others. So, now is the time to teach our entrepreneurs the importance of resilience and the importance of ensuring that regardless of the challenges, you look

Ugochukwu within your communities, you look within your environment, identify the problems that need to be solved and create businesses to solve those problems. So, for the 2021 application, we are doing it a little different from what we did in the past. Previously,

We also know that it is important to continue to scale access to capital for all entrepreneurs, particularly for women entrepreneurs. Everyone know that if you empower a woman, you empower a nation.

Women have been particularly hard-hit with the pandemic and its economic impact

when you apply to the TEF, ones you apply you put in your business plan within the application and those selected would be trained and funded. But this year, just as we did last year, we want to train a lot more than we would fund. Primarily, that is because the feedback we have gotten from our entrepreneurs is that training has been critical to the success of their businesses.

And whilst we continue to build on our commitment to train 10,000 over 10 years, by partnering with global organisations to scale those numbers, we want to ensure that many more entrepreneurs are able to have the opportunity to get the training and capacity building that they need to prepare to be successful business owners and job creators. So, when you apply for the TEF entrepreneurship programme, you will be segmented into different training segments.

So, you either gets segmented into beginners, intermediate or advanced. Now, based on which segment you belong to, you will receive training with people at same stage of business as you. After the training and mentoring, you will then be expected to develop your business plan. Armed with this, we would select the top performers to go through a pitching competition that would be run Africa-wide. And it only after the pitching competition that we would then, with a panel of judges validated by our partners such as Deloitte, PwC, select those who would

be funded for the year 2020 and 2021. So, it is an exciting year because we would be training many more entrepreneurs than we usually do, which is critical at this time when entrepreneurs need every help they can get to ensure that they navigate the new normal and that they come out of this period stronger and better able to face the challenges and thrive in their various sectors. We also know that it is important to continue to scale access to capital for all entrepreneurs, particularly for women entrepreneurs. Everyone know that if you empower a woman, you empower a nation. Women have been particularly hard-hit with the pandemic and its economic impact.

That is why we have decided in conjunction with our partners, the European Union, to zero in on women and provide the muchneeded support and access to capital to help women-owned businesses across Africa to surmount the challenges currently being faced and to ensure that we have a stronger and better ecosystem that creates opportunities for growth for women-owned businesses.

When will the selection start and end?

So, with the new system that we run, the selection is automatic. So, we have an automated application system where the entrepreneur that logs on to tefconnect.com would take a series of questions and based on their answers, they CONTINUED ON PAGE 28

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UGOCHUKWU: SUPPORT FOR SMES WILL CATALYSE AFRICA’S ECONOMIC RECOVERY tell our partners that we need to trust the African entrepreneurs; we need to move away from entrepreneurship programmes and interventions that are so focused on training and capacity building and do not put capital on the hands of entrepreneurs.

They are the people to create jobs, they are the ones on the frontline, they are the ones catalysing economic activities and so now more than ever, we need to put money in their hands because that is what would stimulate economies in the continent and create the much needed growth so that Africa can climb out of the current recession given the impact of the virus.

are scored by the system and immediately segmented into either beginners, intermediate or advanced. And immediately they click on their questions and submit their answers, they would get an e-mail letting them know which segment they belong to. So, if you don’t get an e-mail telling you that you are a beginner, an intermediate or advanced, it means that you are not ready to take on the training with the TEF entrepreneurship programme. We would like to call this segment of people the preparatory stage. That means you need to go back and do some more work to prepare to be an entrepreneur.

This segment of people, we are not going to leave them empty handed because we have a 12-week online training toolkit, which is available free of charge on tefconnect and of course they are welcomed to apply again in the coming years. So selection for the training is automatic and you get your e-mail as soon as you finish applying. Now, once you get the e-mail, you start the training. When you are done with your training and mentoring, it is the top performing entrepreneurs who would then be selected to go through the pitching competition. The pitching competition is where the finalists and those who would receive the $5,000 seed capital funding would then be selected.

You talked about 1,000 entrepreneurs to be picked from the 2020 applications, so how many more are we looking at for 2021 and can the 2020 applicants reapply this year?

In answering your second question, I will say it is not to the advantage of the 2020 applicants to apply again because by the way our system is set up, it rejects duplicate.

So, if you apply in 2021 when you have already applied in 2020, it will simply be a duplicate and the system will throw out both applications because they are seen as duplicate. So, if you applied in 2020, the best thing is to leave it at that because we will be reviewing the 2020 applications. So, all 2020 applicants would have received e-mails letting them know the segment of training they belong to and they would soon be informed when that training would start. So, you have already been accepted for training and there is no need going to apply again.

However, if you didn’t get an email letting you know that you belong to a segment of training, which means you didn’t make it through, so you are free to apply again in 2021. For the first part of the question, yes, we would be selecting 1,000 entrepreneurs from the 2020 applications and for 2021, we would be selecting a minimum of 2,400 entrepreneurs. It would likely be more than that. So, in total for 2020 and 2021, we would be selecting and funding more than 3,000 entrepreneurs.

How many entries did you receive for 2020?

We received well over 230,000 applications for the 2020 TEF entrepreneurship programme.

Ugochukwu I would like to know if all the training categories would be given same platform to pitch their business ideas and what time of the year would the pitch likely take place. Secondly, considering the impact of the pandemic, what can all actors in Africa’s development space do differently to ensure positive impact on the road to recovery?

In terms of the training categories, the reason why we segmented the training is that we realised that a one-size-fits-all training is not the most efficient because people are at different stages of their business and have different business competence. So, we took that into consideration. That is to make sure that people at more advanced stage of their business are getting the information and training that they need to take their businesses to the next level, whilst for people who are beginners, they are being taught the fundamentals and what they need to grow their businesses. So, what we have now done is that the pitching competition is a level playing field in the sense that no matter whether you are just starting, you

are intermediary or advanced, a business is a business and a business opportunity is a business opportunity. So, for pitching competition, it is a level playing field across all 54 African countries and this will take place towards the end of the second quarter of this year, when the training, the mentoring and business plan have been completed. For the second part of the question, the economic impact of the COVID-19 is quite a lot on Africa because we are heavily dependent on our SMEs, they make up 80 to 90 per cent of entrepreneurs and businesses in Africa. What we are doing at the Foundation is that we are putting together the largest COVID-19 economic response plan because we know that the world needs SMEs right now and one area development organisations, stakeholders and government can really bridge that gap is in access to capital. That is what is needed now because the impact of the virus has really taken a toll on liquidity. So, we are calling on countries, development organisations, to really begin to put funding and capital in the hands of African entrepreneurs. When we are on the table discussing, we always

The TEF has made some progress in the inclusion of female entrepreneurs as shown by the increasing number of female participation since the launch of the programme, but what are the challenges in achieving a more gender equal representation?

When we first started the programme in 2015, we had just about 26 per cent female participation. For us, that was not acceptable especially when you note that the Foundation is made up of 80 to 90 per cent female and we must ensure that the female participation in the TEF entrepreneurship programme is very high. Our target is 50 per cent. I am happy to say that last year, we reached 41 per cent. So, 41 per cent of the applicants for 2020 were female, but we were targeting 50 per cent and more.

Definitely, our target is to catalyse growth of female-owned business and that is something that is very dear to our heart and I think that is demonstrated in our partnership with the European Union because women in Africa face challenges women in other parts of the world don’t face. In Africa we have customs and cultural traditions that bar women from owning property; that bar women from expressing themselves through entrepreneurship. But, on the other hand, we have statistics that show that women make up 90 per cent of the workforce, but they earn sometimes as little as 60 per cent of the income and own less than 10 per cent of the property.

So, we want to change this; we want to bridge the finance gap for women in Africa. Women in Africa have a 70 per cent less chance of accessing capital than their male counterparts and these are the challenges we are working to bridge in conjunction with our global partners and I think that we are well on our way to doing that.

Gold Deposits, Real Estate Investments Boost Zamfara IGR to N12bn Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja Zamfara State has revealed that its internally generated revenue was boosted to the tune of N12.035 billion by gold deposits and properties spread across the nation in the last one and half year.

The investment in properties was worth a little over N10 billion while gold deposits was valued at N2 billion.

The Special Adviser on

Investment and Public Private Partnership to Zamfara State Governor, Dr. Rabi Ibrahim, disclosed this in a chat with newsmen.

Ibrahim, who heads the state investment directorate, lauded Governor Bello Matawalle for his vision and ideas in investing the resources of the state in profitable real estate assets in Abuja and Kaduna.

She said the vision was a departure from the previous administrations, which instead

of investing the resources of the state, disposed of lots of its investment instruments in the custody of the State Investment and Property Development Company.

She said most of the properties purchased by the state have appreciated because they were done through negotiation and in most via Forced Sale Value (FSV).

The pensions consultant revealed that a block of six units of three bedroom flats which the state purchased at

Aviation District Abuja for N235 million is now valued at N350 million within a short period of time while the state Liaison Office in Maitama that had a total value of N400 million is upgraded and valued at N2.6 billion.

“The latest acquisition of Zamfara State in its real estate investment through the Investment and Public Private Partnership Directorate is a functional five-star hotel at Wuse 2, the posh area of the FCT.

“The hotel was offered for outright sale at N2.1 billion and it is built with modern day facilities and tasteful furnishings. However, after intensive negotiations and advice from the consortium of three valuation consultants engaged by the directorate, the price was slashed to N1.8 billion.

“We wrote His Excellency, the Governor for approval, which he did but requested we must ensure due process,” She said.

Ibrahim said barely few weeks after the hotel was purchased, it has appreciated in value by almost N1 billion, boasting that if the state decides to sell it immediately it will go for about N2.7 billion.

She described the purchase of the hotel as a good deal that will pay off the purchase price approximately in five years and generate more revenue for the state in subsequent years as well as create job opportunities for youths.

Kaduna Electric Pledges Improved Services, Commends Stakeholders The Chairman of Kaduna Electric’s Board of Directors, Yusuf Abubakar, has said the company is focused on improving service delivery to its customers in 2021.

He stated this in his New Year message to staff of the company and other stakeholders in the power sector.

In the message, the Chairman thanked staff for their sacrifice and resilience during the past year, saying year 2020 was indeed full of challenges not only for the company but for businesses and the global community.

According to him, the COVID-19 pandemic took a toll on

everyone, hence commended the staff of Kaduna Electric and other stakeholders in the power sector for ensuring that despite the adverse effects of the pandemic, the company still did its utmost to live up to the expectations of its customers.

He charged all staff of the

company to redouble their efforts in the new year by providing excellent services to customers more so with the responsibilities thrust on the Company’s shoulders by the Service Based Tariff which came into effect in November last year.

The Chairman said the

outgone year also brought to the fore the security challenges the company faces in some of its franchise states.

He said the spate of banditry and kidnappings in these states have severely hampered the company’s operations. He prayed that a lasting solution will be found to the security

challenges in the New Year.

He commended the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, the state governments in its franchise and the federal government for their worthy efforts in providing the needed support in ensuring the power sector remained viable.

WEDNESDAY JANUARY 6, 2021 • T H I S D AY

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T H I S D AY ˾ ʹ, 2021

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L-R: Patron, Timothy Band, Special Apostle Hon. Dr Dipo Okeyomi; Chairman,Cherubim and Seraphim Movement Church, Renewal district headquarter, Special Apostle Gabriel Agboola; General Leader/Patron, Lagos and Ogun States Youth Fellowship, Special Apostle Dr Babajide Daniel; Senior District Secretary, Special Apostle Abiodun Akerele and President, Lagos/Ogun State Youth Fellowship of Cherubim and Seraphim Movement Church, Pastor Yinka Johnson, during the First Sunday Service of the year and Covenant Anointing at Alagbado in Lagos...recently

L-R: Deputy Governor of Enugu state, Mrs Cecilia Ezeilo; Chaplain, Government House, Enugu, Rev. Fr. Chinedu Ozoude; Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State; Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of VitaGracia Investment Limited, Chief Dr. Nnamdi Ozonweke and his wife, Ozonweke; Chairman of Enugu State Council of Traditional Rulers, Igwe Lawrence Agubuzu; and Chairman of Ezeagu Local Government Area, Chukwudi Ani, during the inauguration of a road, constructed by Ozonweke at Umudim, Mgbagbu-Owa in Ezeagu Local Government Area of Enugu State...recently

L-R: Brand PR & Sponsorships Manager, Nigerian Breweries Plc, Sandra Amachree, and Executive Secretary Advertising Association of Nigeria (ADVAN), Ediri Ose-Ediale, during the presentation of the coveted ‘ADVAN Community Hero’ award to Nigerian Breweries for its COVID-19 relief efforts across the country...recently

Members of the Special Forces dubbed: operation ‘TAIMAKO YAZO’, demonstrating before the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar and other officers during the launch of a new operation by the Chief of the Air Staff, along the Kaduna- Abuja Highway ...recently

Governor of Borno State,. Babagana Zulum, laying the foundation stone for the construction of Al-Ansar University, the first privately owned University in Borno State..recently

Former Senate President, Senator. David Mark (right) and Governor. Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State, during the inauguration of the construction of Bogoro-Lusa-Mallar and Boi-Tapshin Roads in Bauchi State...recently

WEDNESDAY JANUARY 6, 2021 • T H I S D AY

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T H I S D AY ˾ ʹ, 2021

EDUCATION Technological Innovation, Varsity Creativity Top Stakeholders’ Expectations for 2021 With the dawn of a new year amidst the Coronavirus pandemic, experts believe that access and availability of internet services would enable students learn remotely so as to close the inequality gap; and that universities in the country must effectively utilise their knowledgebase for development. Funmi Ogundare reports

T

he year 2020 was a tough one no doubt. With just a week into the new year and 2020 gone with its numerous challenges such as the prolonged strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), which exercebated pre-existing educational disparities thereby reducing the opportunities for many youths, especially when 80 to 90 per cent of students in tertiary institutions are in the public institutions; the novel COVID-19 pandemic, which brought untold hardship on the economy and various sectors, including education, schools closure and lockdown which made more children to be out-of-school; and led to increased in crime rate, rape and other forms of unrest among youths, poor education budget for 2021, among others.

However, despite the fact that ASUU had called off its strike, the federal government through the National Universities Commission (NUC), had directed vice-chancellors to put on hold academic activities in universities, in compliance with COVID-19 protocol of prohibition of activities involving large gathering of people.

According to the directive contained in a circular signed by the commission’s Deputy Executive Secretary (administration), Chris Mayaki, classrooms, hostel accommodation, conferences and seminars should be suspended in line with COVID-19 protocols, adding that universities should remain closed pending further directives by the federal government on the reopening of schools.

According to him, “vice- chancellors are to please note that directive is part of the measures approved by Mr. President to mitigate the second wave of Coronavirus infections in the country. The affected officers are expected to perform their duties from home while those of Grade Level (GL) 13 and above should strictly adhere to the extant preventive measures, including maintenance of physical distancing, regular washing of hands, and/or sanitising of hands, wearing of facemasks and reducing the number of visitors to offices.”

Incidentally, the schools closure in the outgone year, brought about the new normal, which made schools and institutions across the country to employ the use of technology to keep students on top of their curriculum, especially private institutions at all levels.

Last Thursday, President Mohamadu Buhari signed the 2021 Appropriation Bill into law during a brief ceremony in his office at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. The National Assembly had already passed the appropriation bill, raising the total estimates from the proposed N13.08 trillion to N13.5 trilion, an increase of over N500 billion, presented to the joint sitting of the National Assembly by the president on October 8, 2020. Out of the total sum, Universal Basic Education Commision (UBEC) was allocated N70 billion.

According to Buhari, “the ministry of education’s capital allocation has been increased by 65 per cent to improve the education of our children. Funds have been provided for the provision of scholarship awards to Nigerian students at home and abroad.

“We have provided funds for the upgrade of security and other infrastructural facilities in our unity colleges nationwide. To improve access to education, we have made provision for the establishment of five new Federal Science and Technical Colleges. We have also provided for the payment of allowances to 5,000 teachers under the Federal Teachers’ Scheme (FTS).”

With the president’s signing of the appropriation bill into law, stakeholders are expecting a better bargain for the education sector in 2021, even as schools remain closed owing to the COVID-19 pandemic. They are of the view that there should be access and

Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu availability of internet services to students to enable them learn remotely. They said the absence of this and the lack of alternative options would lead to a further increase in educational inequalities; and that universities must effectively strengthen their knowledgebase for development.

The Director, Research and Innovation, University of Lagos, Professor Bola Oboh stressed the need for public institutions to consider the digital divide and ensure that importance is placed on offline learning features.

According to her, “learning in the 21st century absolutely requires the internet and technology; we cannot leave this to chance.

Children and young adults should have access to learn out of school.

“Are students and parents in our economy able to afford internet services to ensure continuity in addition to getting institutions ready?”

Oboh said institutions and governments must develop and adapt technology to assist in remote learning, adding that they must also seek for a middle ground as shutting schools completely is no longer an option.

The Chief Executive Officer, Lonadek Global Services, Dr. Ibilola Amao expressed concern about the lack of digitization of processes and procedures, saying that the huge gap needs to be addressed.

“With several Nigerians in diaspora being willing and able to add value to the improvement of education in Nigeria, and Nigeria spending trillions of naira in foreign exchange educating Nigerians abroad, there is a huge opportunity in digital transformation and closing these gaps,” she stressed.

She said her organisation has invested much in empowering over 100,000 STEM talent since 2006, and is currently working

with Lagos State Science Research and Innovation Council (LASRIC) to empower 60 teachers in improving STEM teaching in state secondary schools.

“This was done with a view to ensuring that education goes beyond the walls of the classroom and the borders of Nigeria through digital literacy and empowerment.

We are keen to connect the dots between digital literacy, jobs of the future, Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and state-of-the-art technologies.”

The chief executive officer called for the reduction of 23 educational parastatals under the ministry of education to no more than five platforms that address the current needs of Nigeria and to free up funds for improving the quality of lives of the teaching professionals, while bridging the gap between industry and academia.

A Professor of Agricultural Engineering and former Vice- Chancellor, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Michael Faborode, said universities in the country must be provided with resources and saddled with responsibilities to solve societal problems.

According to him, “look at our problems: poverty, lack of water, lack of power. Nothing stops the federal government from saying, ‘look, one, two, three universities, we give you between three and five years, you must find a solution’. There is this mystery about research. You can never predict what is going to come out of research. So, you don’t monetize research and say look, I am going to give you N100 for research, in 10 years’ time, you must bring back N1 million. It doesn’t work that way.

“Look at the transformation that has taken place because of the internet. How much money was invested in that research? But look at the effect, the way it has changed

Learning in the 21st century absolutely requires the internet and technology; we cannot leave this to chance. Children and young adults should have access to learn out of school

everything. We need to understand the function of the university and to believe that our universities can also be directed along that line. It takes all of us, not just those who are in the system alone, it takes everybody to realise that universities should not be located just because you want a university in a community. Universities are much more than just physical entities in a community.”

He said the NUC, under Professor Abubakar Rasheed, is adopting a revitalisation approach that will ensure that the Nigerian University System (NUS) makes efforts towards addressing the country’s subsisting developmental challenges.

Faborode, who is also the former Secretary General of the Committee of Vice-Chancellors Nigeria (CVC), said the university system is already being strengthened to be able to serve the society and the nation better through the composition of the Strategy Advisory Committee (STRADVCOM), chaired by Professor Peter Okebukola.

“The committee was inuagurated on January 22, 2018 to serve in advisory capacity to the executive secretary and NUC in leading the NUS to support the national development goal of attaining a productive, self- sustaining and competitive knowledge economy through charting Nigeria’s readiness for 2050 when our population would have risen to almost 400 million.”

According to him, some of the issues the committee considered included feeding the large population, providing good health, planing for an unforeseen pandemic, clothing, providing housing infrastructure for the teeming population, harnessing technologies and be part of technology emergence, innovation and ordered development and drive towards coping with climate change, all in sustainable ways.

“How do we ensure we have a happy people? Serious nations plan ahead for these things. You must anticipate and proactively apprehend the future, lest you are overwhelmed by calamities far worst than what we are experiencing now.”

The don said about five universities that have requisite expertise in each area, were assigned to think out of the box and make projections, adding that they decided to get the whole university system involed.

“The submissions from each group was synthesised and subjected to series of serious peer reviews. The response was very impressive and inspiring,” Faborode said, while expressing hope that by mid 2021, the output should have been finalised so that a university system-led 2050 plan or blueprint for Nigeria’s prosperity would have been available.

He expressed hope that the steps taken by the universities will be applauded and strengthened by government, saying, “it will interest you to know that the federal government through the Ministry of Finance and National Planning has now set up a commiittee to develop the next medium-term plan 2021-2030, as well as a 2050 plan for Nigeria.

“We have shared the NUS situation analysis with them and hope to synergize with them to produce the national plan. Of course you know that a plan is only good and effective to the extent of its pragmatic implementation.

We must therefore involve the university system in guiding the implementation process and have rigorous monitoring and evaluation framework in place to assure success.”

He stressed the need for nations to utilise their universities for their knowledge-based development, as the reverse is the case with Nigeria.

“The state governments are most guilty of only glorifying ownership of university.

This must change from now on.”

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T H I S D AY ˾ ʹ, 2021

EDUCATION

Lagos Schools to OAU, Ife Community Bicker over Alleged Resume January 18 Land Encroachment The Lagos State Government has directed that all public and private schools below tertiary level in the state should be reopened for the second term 2020/21 academic session from January 18, 2021.

The Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Folasade Adefisayo, who made known in a statement made available to THISDAY, said this is in line with the federal government’s directive, coupled with the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.

She appealed to all schools to make efforts to comply with all the outlined COVID-19 requirements for resumption of schools.

“Not just for the improvement of overall school operations,

but for the safe reopening of academic activities to support the Lagos State Government’s quest for a full return.”

The commissioner said schools should have flexible plans where students and teachers who feel sick can teach or learn from home via available online platforms, adding that they should also strive to avoid any COVID-19 infection among all students and staff.

She enjoined teachers, students and visitors to wear facemasks at all times, observe physical distancing, embrace regular hand washing with soap under running water and maintain a high standard of personal hygiene within the school premises.

Charkin Maritime Academy Gets NBTE’s Accreditation for ND Programmes Uchechukwu Nnaike A maritime education and training institution, Charkin Maritime Academy (CMA), situated in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, has made public its interim accreditation from the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE).

The accreditation from the NBTE is for CMA to run two critical National Diploma (ND) programmes, namely Nautical Science and Marine Engineering.

It is on record that CMA is one of the first private maritime academies in Nigeria to be given accreditation by the NBTE to run diploma programmes in the two courses.

Already, the school has commenced the process of admitting fresh students for the 2021/2022 academic session, just as it has fixed February 13, 2021 as the date for its entrance examination.

A statement signed by the acting Provost, Dr. Egben Okore, stated that with the NBTE accreditation, more Nigerians and foreigners intending to build a rewarding career at sea can now be trained in the noble profession of the Shipmaster and Marine Chief Engineer without leaving the shores of Nigeria to spend foreign currency for the same or even higher quality of training.

Apparently elated by the development, the founder of CMA, Dr. Charles Wami said: “Receiving accreditation from the NBTE to offer National Diploma in Nautical Science and Marine Engineering in the academy in 2020 has been one of my happiest moments in my four years as CMA founder “Our passion to build capacity for the Nigerian maritime industry and the need to fill the gap in unmet demands for the admission of young Nigerian school leavers into institutions of higher learning helped us in no small way.

I could not be happier for the academy, her governing council, the academic board and staff.”

Wami revealed that to achieve the feat, CMA gave it all it takes in terms of building training infrastructures such as modern classrooms,

200-capacity cadets’ hostel and dining saloon, modern library, Marine Engineering Laboratories and workshops, as well as multi-purpose hall.

Others were the recruitment of qualified and experienced staff (including Master Mariners, Marine Chief Engineers and Maritime Education and Training Experts); procurement of teaching aids, especially marine simulators, namely: Full Mission Bridge; Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS); Electronic Chart Display and Information System (ECDIS); Azimuth Stern Drive (ASD); and high voltage; basic and advance dynamic positioning simulators.

The founder added that within the same period, the management of the CMA also constructed additional two standard Survival Pools, lifeboats, life crafts and launching davits; as well as marine diesel engine models.

According to him, CMA also entered into a partnership with international shipping companies to provide sea time experience for the cadets.

He stated that all these were carried out in line with NBTE guidelines for the approval and accreditation of new programmes for the school.

CMA, owned by Charkin Maritime and Offshore Safety Centre (CMOSC) was founded

by Wami in 2016. The CMOSC is a training centre that has accreditation from the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Offshore Petroleum Industry Training Organisation (OPITO), Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR); the Nautical Institute (NI) of London, among others to train maritime and offshore industry practitioners.

As a training centre of excellence, the CMOSC is the two-time NIMASA award winner for the ‘Best Maritime Education and Training Institution of the Year’, among other awards from international oil companies (IOCs) and other maritime organisations.

The CMOSC has trained over 12,000 Nigerians and foreign nationals both in STCW maritime courses, as well as oil and gas offshore courses between 2015 and 2019.

Yinka Kolawole in Osogbo As crisis gripped Obafemi Awolowo University Ile-ife Community over alleged Illegal encroachment on OAU land by the Ife Community, the university management has accused Ife Community of erecting houses without due process.

The crisis has led to utterances that can cause mayhem in the acient Yoruba town.

Reacting to the ugly situation, the Vice-Chancellor of OAU, Professor Eyitope Ogunbodede said the federal government is fully prepared to secure the university’s land from the land grabbers.

Briefing journalists on the illegal encroachment on the university’s land, he said he has gotten marching order from the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu to secure the university land.

He said government is not only prepared, but ready to secure all illegal structures taken over by land speculators and grabbers.

According to him, all the land was donated to the university in 1961 when it was founded by the government of the then Western Region of Nigeria, by the then Ooni of Ife, Adesoji Aderemi, with the support of the community.

The vice-chancellor noted

that nobody has ever ventured or enchroached into university land until recently when some land grabbers audaciously insisted that “the land given to the university was too much.”

He said the current Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi had waded into the matter and promised to resolve the issue.

The vice-chancellor said it was clearly gazetted as university land on which the institution had exercised ownership for decades.

He therefore warned all the land grabbers to desisit from the act, saying that the university will start securing the land by fencing the entire area.

As OAU and Ife Community crisis rages on over disputed land, the Ife Development Board has challenged the university management to approach any court of competent jurisdiction if it is sure of its claim.

The board also called on the federal government and the ministry of education to set up high-powered investigative committee to look into the matter and bring out their documents and surveyor to acertain the fact of the disputed land Addressing journalists recently, the President of

the board, Jire Awowoyin, who spoke on the disputed portions of the land between the university and the Ife Community, contended that the land in question was outside the boundary of the university.

According to him, “OAU management is trespassing into our land and the contention there is that if someone is trespassing into your land you go to court, go and challenge it, it’s not a propaganda, it’s not an issue of blackmailing. bffbiWe are waiting for them to go to court and bring out their evidences.”

Awowoyin stressed that “the painful area of this issue is that most of the land they claimed has been sold, leased out by the management of the school, therefore Ife cannot keep silent and be looking like this.

“Ife is developing and the population is growing; we need more land, it’s not as if we have slept on our right, Ife is accommodating that is the issue and the action of Ife Communities on the problems being posted by Obafemi Awolowo University, how will you see somebody destroying property on your land and be looking.”

He added: “If they bring people to come and destroy

our property we will also send people to them to send them away, we are calling on law enforcement agencies to warn OAU not to trespass into our land, go to the OAU management and ask for the document backing the land they are claiming.

“We are begging the federal government and the ministry of education to set up a high power investigation committee at the federal level to investigate the issue.

“The issue is maybe OAU has embarked on blackmail, propaganda to tighten Ife Communities and spoiled the accommodating nature of the community, let the whole world warn OAU not to go and destroy our property.”

He stressed that available data from Surveyor General’s office indicated that the total land area given was 13,852 acres, adding that the land is bounded by River Opa and Amuta Stream to the south and east as clearly marked on the plan survey.

He added that the newly built PPP hostels, Moremi High School, university junior staff quarters, were built on community land owned by various families of which some of whom have been relocated to other areas in anticipation of the grant.

The GUNA Portrait 2020 Award for Exemplary Leadership presented to Professor’Lanre Fagbohun (left), by Prof. Peter Okebukola, during a special Lagos State University (LASU) Senate session held in honour of Fagbohun... recently

TESCOM Commences Online Teachers’ Pensioners Verification Exercise Funmi Ogundare The Lagos State Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM), has commenced the year 2020 online teachers’ pensioners verification exercise, aimed at giving those who were deleted from the payroll for nonappearance during the last verification exercise an opportunity to be reenlisted.

With the exercise, their

arrears would be paid and the names of pensioners who may have passed on during the course of the previous year deleted.

Speaking on the mode of verification, the Chairman, TESCOM, Mrs. Elizabeth Ariyo affirmed that the verification exercise is in line with the state’s pensions policy which provided for annual auditing of the pensioners’ list for the purpose of updating the

payroll in the old scheme.

She explained that the verification is being done virtually in line with the COVID-19 protocol of physical distancing to prevent the spread of the virus and through designated WhatsApp lines.

“I am very optimistic that the virtual verification will be more convenient for pensioners, both at home and in diaspora, as they will be verified in the

comfort of their homes.”

Ariyo added that the online verification serves as an avenue for the sick or bed ridden to participate in the exercise without stress of coming physically to the venue.

“The exersice is expected to close on February 26, 2021. Pensioners are to make video calls only for verification via the following lines: 08096742362 and 09136559047.”

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T H I S D AY ˾ JANUARY 6, 2021

EDUCATION

Bauchi to Devise New Strategy to Restore Lost Glory of Education Segun Awofadeji in Bauchi The Bauchi State Government has reaffirmed its commitment towards restoring the lost glory of education through sound approach of revitalising the sector.

Governor Bala Mohammed disclosed this at the 40th anniversary and annual general meeting of Government Secondary School, Duguri, organised

by Duguri Old Boys Association at the school premises.

Mohammed, who was represented by the Chief of Staff, Government House, Bauchi, Dr. Ladan Salihu, said his administration is ready to take all the necessary measures to ensure improvement in the sector.

He said the administration will continue to work with critical stakeholders to enhance the capacity of teachers to ensure the provision of quality education to students.

The governor said the state government has recorded remarkable achievements in the sector through upgrading, renovation and construction of schools across the state, adding, “I want to assure you that my administration is not only interested in education, but will work assiduously to ensure improvement in the sector by reducing the number of out of school children in the state.

“My administration is fulfilling its promises of restoring the lost glory of education. We have renovated a number of

schools and we will continue to do that.”

He therefore urged parents to support the education of their children to enable them become useful members of the society.

Also speaking, the state Commissioner for Education, Dr. Aliyu Tilde said his ministry is working hard to sanitise the system by ensuring that teachers are discharging their assigned responsibilities accordingly.

He said the current administration is committed to restoring the lost glory of public schools in the state, and appealed to the association to support government in repositioning education for effective service delivery.

In a remark, the first Principal of the School, Ibrahim Yakubu Hamza tasked members of

the association to contribute towards tackling the numerous challenges facing the school.

The acting Chairman of the ssociation, Dahiru Mohammed Jamda appealed to the state government to consider upgrading the status of the school for the educational development of the area.

During the programme, the association honoured the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Domestic, Adamu Bunun Duguri, Governor’s ADC, Sunusi Dan Kasuwa, member representing Duguri/Gwana in the State House of Assembly, Bala Mohammed Dan, among others with awards of excellence ?nsd1! in recognition of their contributions to the progress and development of the school.

Dignitaries at the 40th anniversary and annual general meeting of Government Secondary School, Duguri, Bauchi State, organised by Duguri Old Boys Association, at the school premises... recently

NBC Donates Block of Classrooms to LEA Primary School The Nigerian Bottling Company (NBC) Limited has donated a newly built block of classrooms to LEA Primary School in Karon Magiji, Abuja, as part of efforts to support its stakeholders and communities.

Speaking during the formal handover of the finished blocks, the District Head, Chief Yunusa Bako Abdullahi, lauded the organisation’s gesture in Nigeria, saying that the community would continue to cherish the support.

“What NBC has done for LEA Primary School is very commendable, particularly because building a decent learning environment for our pupils had been a major challenge for us. We consider this a major investment in the future

of our children, the leaders of tomorrow.”

The Headmistress of the school, Mrs. Abigael Eulus described the new classroom block as a major relief for the pupils who hitherto, had been learning in overcrowded classrooms.

“We are very happy with the new classrooms. The children are a lot happier, and understandably so. Before now, many of them had to share a desk or write on their laps.

This had made learning pretty difficult for them.

“So you can understand why we are so happy with this support from NBC. God will bless NBC for this,” she said.

The Public Affairs and Communications Director,

NBC, Mr. Ekuma Eze said over the years, the coke system in Nigeria, comprising NBC and the Coca-Cola Company has continued to lead the charge in private sector contributions towards education and human capital development in Nigeria, doing so through a wide range of interventions.

“According to the United Nations, “education enables upward socio-economic mobility and is a key to escaping poverty.”

As a good corporate citizen, he said the organisation also believed that a community’s level of development reflects the extent and quality of education of its people, adding that the gesture underscores its commitment to supporting

communities and people to build a sustainable, secure and rewarding future.

“With Nigeria accounting for nearly 20 per cent of the total out-of-school children in the world, critical interventions in education, particularly by the private sector would be important to secure the future of the country’s children. Over the years, we have taken the responsibility to support educational advancement and youth development in Nigeria, as seen from our various educational development programmes across the country, such as the Nigeria business league for youths which we are pioneer members of, and the youth empowered programme.”

Group Hails Akinwumi’s Appointment as VC of FUL Ibrahim Oyewale in Lokoja The umbrella body of the Yoruba people of Kogi State, Okun Development Association (ODA) has commended the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu for the appointment of Prof. Olayemi Akinwumi as the Vice-Chancellor of Federal University, Lokoja.

This was contained in a

letter dated December 9, 2020, addressed to the minister and signed by its National President, Femi Mokikan.

The association described the appointment as heartwarming and a step in the right direction, stressing that the joy that greeted the news was an indication that the appointment was long overdue.

The letter reads: “The Okun

Development Association which is the umbrella body of the Yoruba people of Kogi State home and abroad, wishes to acknowledge, appreciate and thank you for the appointment of our son Prof. Yemi Akinwumi as the Vice-Chancellor of Federal University of Lokoja.

“Going through all the processes of the selection by the university council, it

clearly shows that academic and scholarship was brought to bear on their decision.”

The ODA further stated that “everyone knows that education is the industry of Okun Nation as this is evident in our having over seven hundred professors and considering our population, it clearly shows that we are second to none amongst sub-ethnic nationalities in this country.”

KEHINDE OMORU www.kayomoru.com

‘...AND IT WILL SURPRISE YOU WHAT THE LORD HAS DONE’ “Count your blessings, name them one by one...” This was the song that flooded my very being on 30/12/2020 when I saw the video clip of the moments a magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck central Croatia and left it ‘unrecognisable’ in the words of their prime minister. The last time this terrain saw something like this was said to be in 1880.

The throes of croatia’s 30th December earthquake was felt in its capital city Zagreb, neighbouring Bosnia and Serbia, as well as far away Italy.

Croatia’s Zagreb and Patrinija were reported to have particularly experienced extensive damage.

Moments before seeing this news, I had read with happiness and a sense of some relevance that only comes from giving, a text message from my taxi man neighbour - Baba Kudi. According to the gifting order of Christmas, he and his family had been sent some rice, a couple of tinned tomatoes, a coffee and a packet of sugar.

Life itself is a huge contradiction that births contradictions. I haven’t yet come across any one who has permanent or limitless joys or sorrows.

Rather happenings (positive or negative) play out within the contexts of seasons, times, periods and moments.

Fascinating still has been my secret longing since June 2018 to visit Croatia. It began as a little conversation between me and a colleague.

It was of course the holiday season and I was askingTea what her plans were. Everyone knew Tea loved her Croatian homeland and cultural heritage.

Tea began cautiously first, then seeing that I was an engaging listener, gleefully built up the momentum to educate and offer me Croatia - the ‘land of a thousand islands’.Tea informed me of Croatia’s relaxed, fresh, natural and therapeutic effects. She transmitted feelings one can only experience in their wellbeing when they are living and working under the right circumstances in their homeland.

Tea proudly and excitedly punctuated every other statement with, “You must come to my ‘Coasty-Croatia’” as she always fondly calls her motherland.

Sadly, just picture this present devastating scene; Earthquake at the eve of a New Year celebration. If you were there, how would you tackle your roof and your walls caving into you without warning? Can you conceive the resultant chaos, blood, fractures, concussions, sirens screaming and confusion all around you?

If you and I fortunately didn’t experience the nature of losses and devastation Croatia did just about a week ago then let us critically appraise what we currently have to run with. COVID-19 handed out so much losses; it suffice to say ‘don’t take it to heart! Rather, let’s count our very different ‘blessings’ and name them one by one. Let us thank God all the same!

For the Croatians directly affected, this earthquake was a particularly bitter blow. They have been rebuilding their nation since their wars of independenceinjustthe1990s.Theyhavealsobeenfacedwithsignificant decline in recent years with the declines in their home industries. How very frustrating this misfortune must be for them.

Omoru is a freelance writer, education, health and social care advocate

British College Launched in Akure, Pioneers Online Secondary Education James Sowole in Akure A British International College (BTC) has been launched in Akure, Ondo State with full online secondary education facilities and personnel.

A Nigerian born British academic and school business professional, Dr. Joe Obe said in a statement that the college is a British-Style school aiming to rival Eton College, UK’s best known private school.

With take-off in January 2021, the college is focusing on IGCSE, A’ Levels and a nine-month International University Foundation Programmes, specifically for students who desire to study and live in the UK and abroad.

The statement added that aside the traditional classroom study mode, the college is also offering virtual classroom study mode, where students can study entirely for their GCSE and A’Levels, live-online at the comfort of their homes. This development will make the college the first in Nigeria to

offer online exclusive secondary education to students.

The statement read on parts: “The online education study option is necessitated by the ‘new normal’ created by COVID-19 and other associated challenges of 21st century.

“The new challenges have necessitated a new vision for digital education from 2021 and beyond. Live-online virtual lessons will be taught by world class and experienced teachers.

English Language for instance, will be taught by native English speakers, which will enable students to interact with their teachers and their mates like the traditional face to face classroom session.

“BTC virtual teachers use a combination of microphone, text chat, a whiteboard, presentation software, videos and weblinks to deliver their live-online and classroom lessons.

“This is a radical change to Nigeria education environment where online secondary education is not the norm.”

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T H I S D AY ˾ ʹ, 2021

Loyola Jesuit College Announces Winners of Essay Contest In the course of the lockdown arising from COVID-19 Pandemic in April 2020, the Parent Teacher Association (PTA) of the Loyola Jesuit College, Abuja instituted an essay competition aimed at further developing the critical thinking and writing skills of the students during the restriction. Below are the two winning entries, one for Senior Secondary School and the second for Junior Secondary School.

Living Through the Pandemic Chidubem Emelife (SS2 student)

My family and I were seated under the chilly night sky waiting for the clock to strike mid-

night. We counted down the ticking seconds till we arrived in a new year- 2020. We were all eager to see what the year had in store for us but little did we know.

COVID-19: Lessons, Challenges and Solutions Ganza Ndahayo (JS1 student)

On 31st December 2019, the first report of a new virus that causes a variety of diseases in humans and other animals was confirmed by the WHO (World Health Organization) in Wuhan, China.

The zoonotic SARS-CoV-2 (Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2) which is the virus that causes COVID-19 (Coronavirus disease 2019), is still actually being identified by scientists and the public health officials as to what the source could be. As it spreads through all four different parts of the world, it has changed forever our ways of communicating, socializing, and hygiene.

With uprising and chaotic numbers of confirmed cases and deaths, a lot of remodelling has been done. In my own experience, as a student, the alterations from school to home have been mind-blowing. A new method of learning has been established, not being able to go outside which has forced me to find new things to do off studying hours, new methods of communicating with the ones I’ve lost touch with, and most exhilarating of all, seeing my family and relatives daily which has resulted in more time of bonding, including new ways of exercising together. For the first time in a long time, I had to spend up to two months with my parents and siblings.

What I have learned is that to survive in this kind of period, we have to take care of ourselves. To do so, adapting skills are primordial. For example, I have always been used to playing outside with my siblings and our neighbours, but to prevent the spread of the virus, our outdoor activities have been modified to imitating YouTube fitness channels just to stay in shape. I have also acquired new knowledge in learning and communicating which has switched from direct

interacting to online. My parents who are very strict with education, have now transformed into invigilators.

Besides, this ambiguous period has brought a few challenges. Staying home has broken every ounce of privacy I once had. Not to mention the distancing in itself which has not helped my situation in any way, but has added several loads to my body - wearing masks, making sure to have a sanitizer - and my habits -washing hands with soap as often as possible-.

Furthermore, to survive I have to stay «healthy» for, in this stressful time, we are often tempted to go out of our ways and develop bad tendencies such as food disorder.

Not to mention, mental health can be jeopardized by confinement because of the restrains from going out and interacting with others and the outside world, therefore, reducing our thinking abilities.

To stay home and stay safe, we have to plan our daily activities. This is one of the solutions I have found effective. To this, you add finding ways to keep in touch with the ones you love through some apps or sites because this is the advantage of today’s world, and also add rigorous discipline in implementing hygienic measures, plus exercising (like I do with YouTube) and eating right, and you will find yourself not only surviving but thriving in productivity. Our parents have also come up with motivational presentations in which my siblings and I take part and have learned a lot. That’s our way of keeping our mental health in check.

In conclusion, although this still ongoing bittersweet situation may seem like a never-ending one, it has taught us to be ready for the unpredictable and to adapt ourselves to survive. Frankly, because of this period, I will never underestimate the power of human contact and everything that has to do with the outside world again.

The year is only in its second quarter but we have already experienced several famous deaths as well as a global nerve-wracking pandemic- COVID-19, the purveyor of some of those deaths.

The current pandemic plaguing our world is known as the Corona virus or COVID-19. The virus is infectious and can easily be spread and unfortunately, once acquired is very difficult to get rid of. The real victims of this virus are not only the actual infected victims but the workers who are risking their lives to try everything in their might to keep infected patients alive. I am not a doctor or nurse nor am I an adult trying to care for their children but rather I am a student that has been majorly affected by this pandemic.

I was still finishing up my final exams in school when I heard of the virus and how it was killing people at an alarming rate. I was slightly afraid but it did not bother me too much that was until all my plans for the Easter break went down the drain. I was unable to participate in my end of term program because we were made to evacuate the school two days after our exams ended. As if that was not enough, my plans of travelling to meet my family went down the drain as well because the borders were all closed and all flights cancelled. At first I was

disappointed because a deadly virus was taking away what would have been an amazing Easter break but then I decided to look on the bright side of things only and then I realized I would get a longer holiday if the virus did not blow over in time and gradually things started looking up. Or so I thought.

It was April the fifth when it happened; the experience that gave me a clear view of maturity and courage. My dad had decided that we were not getting a lot of exercise, so we went out on a run that evening.

At first my brother and I were very reluctant but my dad insisted that we tag along and get some fresh air and so we did. Being the teenage girl that I am, I decided to take my phone with me to listen to music while we ran.

We were doing pretty good and jogging at a steady pace right next to the curb to avoid traffic and moving vehicles when all of a sudden, it happened!

From behind me a small black car sped by, barely missing my brother and I by an inch and rammed into my dad at what seemed like a 100 miles/hour and sped off without a glance, leaving behind a bruised, bloody and unconscious man with two terrified children.

I was starting to panic and I did not know what to do.

Some pedestrians that witnessed the whole

accident came over to help. They began trying to flag down cars to help get my dad to the hospital but none would stop. At this point, my brother was in tears but I knew that I had to do something so I asked them to flag down motorbikes instead and because they were motorbikes and my dad was in a crucial condition, they took him to a small clinic to be temporarily treated.

I called up my mother after filling out some forms even though she was a long plane ride away from where we were. She immediately called up her sister in Abuja for help and the rest today remains a thanksgiving story and a ceremony yet to be celebrated.

What did I learn from this, we need each other in times of pandemic – no man is really an island. The lock-down, unavailability of people to help, fear of contracting the disease if you speak or touch someone, all made the world so distant, lonely and foreign. I learnt to be a leader and be in charge in a crisis, I quickly saw and understood the role of each human being created on earth by God – I appreciated the motorbike drivers who ordinarily I see as a nuisance. I learnt to be strong and fearless for my brother and dad but more so in the midst of strangers who were asking questions and seeking guidance on how to help.

I saw the challenges of our health care system in Nigeria.

For the first 24 hours, getting my dad conscious and stable was my primary focus. It made me aware that the health care system in Nigeria seemed abysmal and yet after the first 24 hours, we were able to move my dad to a much better hospital, where all manners of scans, x-rays, and tests were conducted, and thereafter treatment, including multiple bone surgeries and other forms of treatment.

I don’t have solutions for the COVID disease, but I can proffer solutions on humanity in times of difficulty, crisis and fear. Let us be kind to one another.

Getting through the Pandemic needs more than ventilators and medicine, it needs love and care. Family, strangers, nurses and doctors helped my Dad get through this accident at a time when no one could be with him, visitors were not allowed, and my mother was thousands of miles away due to the lock down. The health care professionals made life worth living for him.

I am only 15 but my Mum says I managed a situation even a 40-year-old wouldn’t have managed well.

My dad is going to be alright, I am now his nurse, wife, daughter and friend, and these are the solutions we all need during this COVID crisis.

A cross-section of EY staff at the presentation of food and other household materials to the founder of Hearts of Gold Children’s Hospice, Surulere, Lagos, during the ‘EY Charity Day’ event 2020 visit to the home as part of the firm’s annual corporate social responsibility initiatives in Lagos... recently

36

T H I S D AY ˾ ʹ˜ 2021

CITYSTRINGS

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A Season of Gifts The Christmas season is known for sharing, especially to the less privileged. In fulfillment of this, a US-based businessman, Chibueze Ezenagu last Christmas, reached out to women of Umuogbu Village in Awka, Anambra State. David-Chyddy Eleke reports

O

n the eve of Christmas, a large number of youth gathered at Umuogbu village square in Awka South Local Government Area. The gathering of over 500 women was not based on ethnicity, religion or denomination. It was a gathering of women who needed help, and the helper was a United State- based businessman, Chibueze Ezenagu who simply saw the need to share with the women the joy of Christmas.

Ezenagu who runs a building materials company in Boston, USA did not just assemble the women for the give-aways, he also used to the opportunity to educate them about the realities of COVID-19, where he urged all to adhere to the safety protocols prescribed to help beat the disease and also flatten the curve.

Speaking during an event he organised to distribute the food items to them, he said he was in Nigeria for the Yuletide but felt the need to distribute food items to women in Umuogbu village in Awka, Anambra State, to cushion the effect of the virus-induced hardship on the people.

"2020 was a very difficult year.

My business almost crashed because of the pandemic. We had to close shop and resort to online trading; receiving orders through our website and shipping goods to people. I was just telling myself that as tough as the year was for me in US, it may be tougher here in Nigeria, and that informed my reason to organise this event, to share food items to women to cushion the effect of the harsh economy.

"We are lucky that it coincided at Christmas, which is a time of

Mr Chibueze Ezenagu, founder of Chibueze Ezenagu Foundation interacting with women of Umuogbu village in Awka during the event

Ezenagu presenting a gift to a woman from Umuogbu Village

sharing gifts with loved ones. We are doing this to support our people and cushion the effect of the hardship

caused by the pandemic. We are sharing 700 bags of rice today for Umuogbu village women in Awka.

This is my own way of supporting them. What we are doing today is an annual ritual, just that this year's event fell at a time when a pandemic came upon us.”

For Ezenagu who runs a foundation in Nigeria; Chibueze Ezenagu Foundation (CEF), it would not be the first time he is distributing items to people. He said, “This is something we are used to doing. My father and mother do this, but today, they live with me in America, so I decided to take over from them, through Chibueze Ezenagu Foundation. In January too, we shall be sharing school bags to children who are returning to school. That is our own little support to education, among our people."

Advising the women on the realities of COVID-19, he said, “The disease is real, and I urge our people to take necessary precautions. I seem to be the only one who didn't catch the disease in my family. We live in the US. My parents caught the disease, my fiancee too. My father stayed for four days in the isolation centre to receive care, my mum stayed for 10 days. The disease is a reality and Nigerians must believe this.”

Mrs Ngozi Ozoemena, chairperson of Umuogbu Women’s Association who spoke to journalists on behalf of other women who received the donation said, “We are happy that we have a son who even though he lives in US still remember the plight of women at home and still supports them. The year 2020 was truly a trying one, and for some poor rural women, only gestures like those of Chibueze kept them alive to this day. We are happy that he remembered us, and we will continue to pray for him.”

American-based Nigerian Chef Displays Culinary Excellence with African Delicacies Ayodeji Ake

Renowned Nigerian-American culinary guru, Tunde Wey and American Sandwich Magazine came together in the most formidable alliance possible to create an unforgettable night of conversations.

With guests cut across different walks of life and hosted in traditionally African style amidst a gallery of traditionally designed walkways, local mats, kerosene lanterns and more, the night was perfect for breaking bread, sharing ideas and networking.

Chef Tunde Wey, who outdid himself with a curated menu specifically designed to titilate the tastebuds, served dishes including the local agege bread served with akara (beancake) and Sir Kensington's Ketchup brand.

With great food, comes great music and then great conversations. The night hosts, Tunde Wey and Ruth Gebreyesus, guest authors on the African Scramble edition of the Sandwich magazine which boasts of impressive contributions from African minds living in Africa on this project, highlighted the economic issues affecting Africa, Neocolonialism, Class disparities; all the while explaining the reason behind working only with Africans living in Africa for this special edition; the inflow of foreign

Tunde Wey and Ruth Gebreyesus

currency into the economy to show that there's more to Africa than corruption as perceived by the western world.

According to Wey, ''the African Scramble is basically a mix of Af-

rican delicacies and it is my hope that events like this will further help address the narrative of classism and eventually change the perception of Africans and Africa''.

Known often to be controversial,

as his political performance art with his food sets him apart, and not apologising for who he is, Tunde brings this insight back home to Nigeria where his love of country, family and cooking is sacrosanct.

37

T H I S D AY ˾ ʹ˜ 2021

CRIME&SECURITY

Expectations of Security in Nigeria in 2021 Dr. Ona Ekhomu

I

realistically expect the security situation in Nigeria to worsen in 2021. Given that the national and subnational governments have not taken the time to understand the threatscape and risk spectrum, there is no serious effort to resolve the security conundrum. The authorities have continued to rely on intuitive thinking in a situation that requires critical thinking and complex problem-structuring and problem-solving methodologies.

Therefore, the security situation will worsen because a wound that is not treated becomes an ulcer.

Evidence In research design, we say that past is prologue to the future. So what is the evidence of insecurity in Nigeria? Amnesty International recently published that in the first six months of 2020, over 1,126 persons were killed mostly in the rural areas where “the authorities have left communities at the mercy of rampaging gunmen”.

According to Dataphyte Nigeria, over 70,000 Nigerians have been killed in the last nine years in acts of criminal violence. The Boko Haram/ISWAP insurgency has killed over 37,500 persons, displaced 2.5million and created 244,000 refugees.

In the first quarter of 2019, Nigeria recorded over 685 kidnap for ransom cases. Clearly, this statistic will pale into insignificance when you consider the 4th quarter 2020 security breach where in one fell swoop over 500students were abducted in Kankara, Katsina State.

Fortunately all the students were released unharmed. In December 2020 about 26 travelers were seized by bandits along Benin-Auchi road and marched into the forest at Igieduma in Edo State.

The Sultan of Sokoto, HRH Alhaji Abubakar Saad at the Nigerian Inter-Religious Council meeting in Abuja in November 2020 warned that the security situation in northern Nigeria had gotten out of hand and bandits (terrorists) have overrun the region. He said that in some parts of the north, bandits walk around openly carrying AK-47 rifles without being challenged by security agents.

The Sultan revealed that 76 persons were killed in a Sokoto community, yet it went unreported. The frequency of kidnappings, killings, murders had become high that it was not news- worthy anymore.

The Global Terrorism Index (GTI) for 2020 rankedNigeria the third most terrorism impacted nation on earth. With this disgraceful ranking, Nigeria is rubbing shoulders with Afghanistan and Iraq.

The security scorecard for Nigeria in 2020 is very poor. The government performed below expectation in its most important duty of keeping citizens safe.

Kidnappers, bandits, killer herdsmen, cultists, ritual killers, political thugs all had a field day at the expense of citizens.

The Northwest terrorism (euphemistically referred to as banditry) intensified with several communities in Zamfara State, Katsina State, Niger State, Kaduna State and Sokoto State deserted due to incessant attacks

Dr. Ekhomu

and wanton killings and kidnappings by the aggressors. The so-called bandits have resorted to levying farmers millions of naira to harvest their crops. The situation in the northwest is likely to trigger a food crisis in Nigeria in 2021.

In the northeast region, the Boko Haram/ISWAPinsurgency continued to flourish. The terrorists attack targets at will and shed the blood of innocent citizens with impunity. In February 2020, about 30 persons were cremated in Auno, after they were unable to enter Maiduguri before the curfew enforced by the military at the city gates. In June 2020 the insurgents attacked Faduma Koloram in Borno State killing 69 and torching the village.

In Zabarmari, Borno State 67 rice farmers had their throats by the insurgents. The terrorists made three spirited but unsuccessful attempts on the life of the Governor of Borno State, Prof.

Babagana Zulum. In an attack in September 2020 seven police personnel and three soldiers were among 15 persons killed as Governor Zulum’s advance partywas ambushed by the terrorists.

During the year, the terrorists escalated the threat to civil aviation - shooting down a UN humanitarian flight in Damasak Borno State, killing two persons aboard. The helicoptermanaged to return to Maiduguri. The terrorists also attacked military convoys - killing the Commander of 25 Task Force Brigade, Col. Dahiru Bako on September 20th.

May his gentle soul rest in peace.

The Governor of Gombe State, Alhaji Inuwa Yahaya put it quite succinctly “Nigeria is facing the worst security challenge in its history”.

Drivers of Insecurity The chief driver of insecurity in Nigeria is the incapacity of security agencies to prevent attacks against soft targets. The philosophy of the security agencies is to take casualties and then counter-attack. The agencies are supposed to design an architecture that will prevent attacks in the first place. However, due to severe resource constraints and

leadership factors they adopt the counter-punch strategy. In other words, the authorities are adopting a law enforcement approach to a terrorist threat.

In dealing with terrorism, the best approach is prevention and disruption of plots. Any time a terrorist attack occurs, the effects are devastating. Every incident of terror (mass kidnap of travelers, mass abduction of school children, suicide bombing,roadside bombing, attack on traditional rulers on the highway, brutal rape of female travelers, killing of farmers in the bush, even cannibalism by killer herdsmen, etc.) is a statement of grave insecurity.

Many Nigerians avoid road travels because of fear of terrorist attacks along the Kaduna-Abuja Highway, the Lokoja-Okene highway or the Benin-Auchi highway.

These are killing fields where bandits emerge from the foliage and open fire on total strangersnot a targeted attack-to rob them and then kidnap the survivors of the initial attack for ransom.

Those unable to pay ransom are liable to be executed. In some instances, ransom is paid and the victim is killed.

Forecasts for 2021 Based upon an estimative analysis using structured analytical tools of intelligence analysis, it is evident that the current unfortunate trends in insecurity will continue and probably be exacerbated in 2021. What are the forecasts for 2021? r 5IFSF XJMM CF B JODSFBTF in highway kidnappings throughout the country this year. It is a low risk and high yield venture which the government does not seen willing to confront head on. r 5IFSF XJMM CF BO JOUFOTJGJDBtion of Northwest banditry as the vast landscape will continue to beungoverned. The recent masskidnap of about 500 students from the Government Science Secondary School Kankara was a trial run of such similar attacks against poorly defended schools in the region. Additionally, the appeasement of the bandits by the state governments has also emboldened them to engage in bold and dramatic terror exploits. r 5IF #PLP )BSBN JOTVSHFODZ

in the North-East is likely to cost at least 3000 more lives in 2021.

The Boko Haram is acquiring more capability (munitions of war, fighters, funding, training, leadership, etc.) The new leadership of ISWAP is quite blood-thirsty and will continue to tax communities and kill persons without fear of detection, apprehension or prosecution. The current policy of creating soft targets in the northeast by returning internally displaced persons (IDPs) to their homes without adequate provisions for security inadvertently increases the target pool for the terrorists. We ought to realize after 11 years of the Boko Haram insurgency that the most important psychological goal of the terrorist is to create shock and extreme fear among the citizenry. r "UUBDLT PO "SNZ 4VQFSDBNQT

by ISWAP will continue. Having succeeded in overrunning military bases and posts, the terrorists will take on the more hardened targets like Supercamps. r "OTBSV UFSSPSJTU BUUBDLT XJMM multiply and flourish in Kaduna and Kogi States. These terrorists are likely to infiltrate south into Edo and Delta States.Security planners in those South-South states are urged to be forwardthinking. r 5IF FQJEFNJD PG UFSSPSJTU violence will continue with piracy and illegal oil bunkering in the Niger Delta region. A formidable group like MEND or NDA is likely to emerge and commence attacks on oil assets. r 5IF *10# BHJUBUPST XJMM DPOtinue to attack police personnel and soft targets in the South-East. r $VMU WJPMFODF XJMM DPOUJOVF UP claim lives in Edo, Delta, Rivers and Cross River States. r 3JUVBM LJMMJOHT XJMM DPOUJOVF to flourish in the South Western States. r *OUFSOFDJOF CMPPE MFUUJOH XJMM intensify in Southern Kaduna and in Benue State between indigenes and the Fulanis. r 5IF CMPPE GFVE CFUXFFO neighbors in Plateau State will continue despite the efforts of Operation Safe Haven to broker peace. r &OE4"34 JT MJLFMZ UP erupt if aggressive punitive actions against the organizers of &OE4"34 JT TVTUBJOFE CZ UIF authorities.

Conclusion Based upon current risk assessments, it is clear that 2021 will be quite challenging from a security stand point. The extant security challenges must be competently addressed in order to reduce the frequency of occurrence and the concomitant losses. Suffice to say that the current levels of killings, casualties, displacements are too high to bear. The Federal and state Governments must look the goliath of insecurity in the eyes and find a solution to it.

The most important role of the modern democratic state is that the citizens will obey laws and the state will protect them from predators. The Nigerian Government must keep its end in this social contract. If not, Nigeria will continue the current inexorable and odious march to a failed state. God forbid it. ...Dr. Ekhomu, CFE, CPP, CSP, PCI, CPOI is the National President Association of Industrial Security and Safety Operators of Nigeria

38

T H I S D AY ˾ ʹ˜ 2021

BUSINESS/MONEYGUIDE

W’Bank: Vaccine Deployment, Investment Key to Global Economy’s Recovery Obinna Chima The World Bank has predicted that the global economy will expand by four per cent in 2021, assuming an initial COVID-19 vaccine rollout becomes widespread throughout the year.

It stated that top near-term policy priorities would be to control the spread of COVID-19 and ensuring rapid and widespread vaccine deployment.

The bank, in its January 2021, ‘Global Economic Prospects,’ noted that a recovery, however, would likely be subdued, unless policy makers move decisively to tame the

pandemic and implement investment-enhancing reforms.

It pointed out that although the global economy was growing again after a 4.3 per cent contraction in 2020, the pandemic has caused a heavy toll of deaths and illness, plunged millions into poverty, and may depress economic activity and incomes for a prolonged period.

“To support economic recovery, authorities also need to facilitate a re-investment cycle aimed at sustainable growth that is less dependent on government debt.

“While the global economy appears to have entered a subdued recovery, policymakers

face formidable challenges—in public health, debt management, budget policies, central banking and structural reforms—as they try to ensure that this still fragile global recovery gains traction and sets a foundation for robust growth,” said World Bank Group President David Malpass.

“To overcome the impacts of the pandemic and counter the investment headwind, there needs to be a major push to improve business environments, increase labor and product market flexibility, and strengthen transparency and governance.”

AFC Secures $250m Loan from United States’DFC The Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) yesterday announced that it has successfully secured a $250 million tier-2 capital loan from United States’ International Development Finance Corporation (DFC). Formed in December 2019, DFC is the United States government’s development bank established with a lending capacity of up to $60 billion to provide financing for solutions to some of the most critical challenges facing the developing world.

According to a statement, DFC expanded and modernised the tools of the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC).

The facility to AFC, which consisted of $250 million tier-2 capital loan, would strengthen AFC’s investment capacity by enabling it to provide competitive financing solutions for closing Africa’s infrastructure deficit, the statement explained.

It also further complements AFC’s strategy of diversifying its investor base, it added.

Commenting on the facility, President/CEO of AFC, Samaila Zubairu said: “Africa and the United States have enjoyed a longstanding partnership spanning several decades.

Indeed, AFC has partnered with the US on several infrastructure initiatives, including the Power Africa initiative, and regularly receives investments from USbased investors in its Eurobond issuances.

“This announcement therefore marks a natural evolution as the US Government seeks to play a greater role in Africa’s development by establishing a dedicated DFI. Crucially, this funding will also ensure the Corporation is able to continue fulfilling its objectives in the wake of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, which has placed a greater responsibility on development finance institutions in helping to drive a sustainable recovery across Africa.”

On his part, CEO of DFC,

Adam Boehler said: “DFC is proud to expand our relationship with a key infrastructure investor in Africa. This financing advances DFC’s strong commitment to Africa by supporting investment in the modern infrastructure that is essential to economic growth and expanded connectivity with the world. “AFC, an investment grade multilateral finance institution, was established in 2007 with an equity capital base of US$1.1 billion, to be the catalyst for private sector-led infrastructure investment across Africa. With a current balance sheet of approximately $6.1 billion, AFC is the second highest investment grade rated multilateral financial institution in Africa with an A3/ P2 (Stable outlook) rating from Moody’s Investors Service.

“AFC has co-invested in projects alongside Nordic companies, including most notably AP Moller Capital, and Aker Energy, and is a proud advocate of the NordicAfrican Business Association.

Peace Mass Transit Acquires 55.82% Shares of C&I Leasing Goddy Egene C&I Leasing Plc yesterday announced the purchase of 313,326,316 units of the Neoma Africa Fund L.L.C by Peace Mass Transit Limited. This was disclosed by the company in a statement signed by the Company Secretary, Mbanugo Udenze & Co, a copy of which was posted on the Nigerian Stock Exchange website. “C&I Leasing Plc notifies the Exchange and the investing public of the purchase of 313,326,316 units of the Neoma Africa Fund L.L.C. (formerly Aureos Africa Fund, L.L.C.) unsecured variable coupon redeemable convertible

loan stock in registered units of N4.75 each or its US$ equivalent in C&I Leasing Plc by Peace Mass Transit Limited,” it stated.

According to the company, all requisite documents in connection with the transaction have been executed by parties.

It added that the loan stock, when fully converted, would result in the issuance of 987,500,000 ordinary shares of the company, “which will represent 55.82 per cent of the issued shares of the company.”

“The transaction will strengthen the capital base of the company and improve clarity of the capital structure. This is highly beneficial

to the company as the need for a possible redemption of the notes, with the company’s cash resources, has been eliminated.

“It is against this background that the shareholders approved the Conversion of the Notes to ordinary shares at an Extraordinary General Meeting held on 3rd November 2020. The purchase and eventual conversion of the shares will strengthen The company’s credentials as a leading Nigerian-owned service provider with operations in Nigeria, Ghana, and the United Arab Emirates.

“The Directors believe that this is a very positive development for the company,” it added.

Access Bank’s ‘W’Initiative Supports More Women In commemoration of Breast Cancer Awareness Month last year, Access Bank’s ‘W’ Initiative, a flagship women empowerment program, organised a breast cancer awareness campaign for eight weeks.

The programme, according to a statement, ran from October to December, 2020.

The campaign spread awareness about the realities of breast cancer in Nigeria and also created opportunities for Nigerian women to get free screenings by trained medical experts.

The campaign which aimed at improving community awareness on health issues that affect women and their families, screened over 300 women in Lagos, Abuja and Port-Harcourt.

In addition to complementary cervical screening in Lagos, courtesy of partner hospitals, female staff of Access Bank also benefitted from the campaign, enjoying access to the breast cancer screenings.

Speaking on the impact of the campaign, Group Head – W Initiative, Access Bank Plc, Ayona Trimnell said: “We are

very delighted to see all the Nigerian women we were able to support with our breast cancer awareness campaign. Breast cancer is a major health issue affecting women in Nigeria, with little attention been placed on its impact.

“We encourage the women who participated from the free screenings and other women across Nigeria to continue to have regular check-ups from their gynaecologists and also enlighten other women on the importance of a regular breast screening.

MARKET INDICATORS MONEY AND CREDIT STATISTICS

(MILLION NAIRA)

JULY 2020 Money Supply (M3)

36,822,751.47

-- CBN Bills Held by Money Holding Sectors

3,476,121.25

Money Supply (M2)

33,346,630.22

-- Quasi Money

120,764,479.02

-- Narrow Money (M1)

12,582,151.19

---- Currency Outside Banks

2,002,026.89

---- Demand Deposits

10,580,124.31

Net Foreign Assets (NFA)

7,637,137.23

Net Domestic Assets(NDA)

29,185,614.24

-- Net Domestic Credit (NDC)

39,711,115.95

---- Credit to Government (Net)

19,521,851.08

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

0.00

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

0.00

---- Credit to Private Sector (CPS)

-130,189,264.87

--Other Assets Net

3,472,017.70

Reserve Money (Base Money

13,421,827.07

--Currency in Circulation

2,395,917.03

--Banks Reserves --Special Intervention Reserves

11,025,910.04 317,234.17

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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

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OPEC DAILY BASKET PRICE AS AT THURSDAY, 17 DECEMBER 2020

The price of OPEC basket of thirteen crudes stood at $50.78 a barrel on Thursday, compared with $50.12 the previous day, according to OPEC Secretariat calculations.

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

39

T H I S D AY ˾ ʹ˜ 2021

Vetiva Fund Managers Rebalances ETFs’ Suite Goddy Egene Vetiva Fund Managers Limited has rebalanced its Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) suite following the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE)’s review of market indices. The review saw a change in the NSE 30 Index where Transnational Corporation of Nigeria was added and Julius Berger Nigeria Plc was removed.

According to Vetiva, its equity ETF Suite is typically rebalanced

yearly in line with NSE Indices review as changes to components and weights of the underlying indices will typically require corresponding adjustments to the ETF portfolios, to ensure the objective of tracking the price and yield performance of the relevant indices.

ETFs are securities that replicate/track the performance of an underlying index, commodity or basket of assets. Vetiva’s ETF Suite comprises the Vetiva

P R I C E S MAIN BOARD

F O R DEALS

Griffin 30 ETF which tracks the performance of the NSE 30 Index, the VetivaBanking ETF which tracks the performance of the NSE Banking Index, the Vetiva Consumer Goods ETF which tracks the performance of the NSE Consumer Goods Index,the Vetiva Industrials ETF which tracks the performance of the NSE Industrials Indexand the Vetiva S&P Nigerian Sovereign Bond ETF which tracks the performance of the S&P/FMDQ

S E C U R I T I E S

MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N )

Nigeria Sovereign Bond Index.

The ETFs trade like any other listed stock on the NSE and units of the ETFs can be purchased on the floor of the exchange through any broker.

Speaking on the ETFs and the equities market, the Director, Asset Management at Vetiva, Mrs. Oyelade Eigbe, said: “ETF returns in 2020, largely mirrored the performance of the respective indices they track and the broad sentiments of the equities market

T R A D E D MAIN BOARD

A S

during the period.”

She noted that the equities market was bullish in 2020 gaining 50.03 per cent despite the pandemic, outperforming its peers and markets globally, with the index ranking as the best performer amongst all 93 indices tracked by Bloomberg.

“The positive performance was fueled by relatively attractive valuations, low yields in the fixed income space, as well as the dividend payout opportunities

O F

in the market,” she said.

Eigbe disclosed that the Vetiva Griffin 30 ETF returned 33.65 per cent, Vetiva Banking ETF (10.36 per cent); Vetiva Consumer Goods ETF ( -3.7 per cent) and the Vetiva Industrial Goods ( 95.61 per cent).

Meanwhile, trading at the stock market closed bearish yesterday on profit taking. The Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) All-Share Index declined 1.83 per cent to close at 40,396.14, while market capitalisation shed N392.8 billion.

0 5 / 0 1 / 2 0 2 1 DEALS

MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N)

40

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 6, 2021 ˾ T H I S D AY

MARKET NEWS

DBN Donates Relief Materials in Nasarawa, Adamawa, Cross-River Communities

The Development Bank of Nigeria Plc has donated relief materials to economically challenged individuals and widows in rural communities

of Keana - Nasarawa, Madagalli Adamawa, and Bakassi in Cross River State.

The initiative was intended to

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

alleviate the challenges being faced by the affected communities.

Speaking on the donation, DBN Managing Director, Tony

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 04Jan-2021, unless otherwise stated.

Okpanachi, was quoted in a statement to have said the posture of the bank which is anchored on giving back to the society in which

it operates, motivated it to present the donations as part of its corporate social responsibility.

He added that the gesture was

aimed at sustaining previous efforts by the bank to support the cause of the displaced persons, widows, and to rehabilitate victims of insurgency.

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 Afrinvest Dollar 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 N/A N/A N/A ACAP Income Funds N/A N/A N/A AIICO CAPITAL LTD ammf@aiicocapital.com Web: www.aiicocapital.com, Tel: +234-1-2792974 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AIICO Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A AIICO Balanced Fund N/A N/A N/A ANCHORIA ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED info@anchoriaam.com Web:www.anchoriaam.com, Tel: 08166830267; 08036814510; 08028419180 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Anchoria Money Market N/A N/A N/A Anchoria Equity Fund N/A N/A N/A Anchoria Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A ARM INVESTMENT MANAGERS LTD enquiries@arminvestmentcenter.com Web: www.arm.com.ng; Tel: 0700 CALLARM (0700 225 5276) Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn ARM Aggressive Growth Fund 18.58 19.14 21.32% ARM Discovery Balanced Fund 408.85 421.17 18.36% ARM Ethical Fund 34.13 35.16 17.36% ARM Eurobond Fund ($) 1.22 1.23 22.46% ARM Fixed Income Fund 1.11 1.12 11.35% ARM Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 0.79% AXA MANSARD INVESTMENTS LIMITED investmentcare@axamansard.com Web: www.axamansard.com; Tel: +2341-4488482 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AXA Mansard Equity Income Fund N/A N/A N/A AXA Mansard Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A CAPITAL EXPRESS ASSET AND TRUST LIMITED info@capitalexpressassetandtrust.com Web: www.capitalexpressassetandtrust.com ; Tel: +234 803 307 5048 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn CEAT Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A Capital Express Balanced Fund(Formerly: Union Trustees Mixed Fund) N/A N/A N/A CHAPELHILL DENHAM MANAGEMENT LTD investmentmanagement@chapelhilldenham.com Web: www.chapelhilldenham.com, Tel: +234 461 0691 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Chapelhill Denham Money Market Fund 0.03 0.01 2.52% Paramount Equity Fund 16.35 16.65 30.64% Women's Investment Fund 134.90 136.40 22.32% CORDROS ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmgtteam@cordros.com Web: www.cordros.com, Tel: 019036947 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Cordros Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 1.18% Cordros Milestone Fund 2023 131.58 132.40 Cordros Milestone Fund 2028 N/A N/A Cordros Dollar Fund ($) 109.03 109.03 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 0.89% Coronation Balanced Fund 1.18 1.19 2.46% Coronation Fixed Income Fund 1.59 1.59 0.28% 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 N/A N/A N/A EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class B N/A N/A N/A EDC Nigeria Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A 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 N/A N/A N/A FBN Halal Fund N/A N/A N/A FBN Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Institutional N/A N/A N/A FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Retail N/A N/A N/A FBN Smart Beta Equity Fund N/A N/A N/A FCMB ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED fcmbamhelpdesk@fcmb.com Web: www.fcmbassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 1 462 2596 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Legacy Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 1.54% Legacy Debt Fund 3.87 3.87 5.94% Legacy Equity Fund 1.54 1.57 36.18% Legacy USD Bond Fund 1.14 1.14 5.10% 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 3,827.47 3,872.09 25.63% Coral Income Fund 3,310.75 3,310.75 7.84% FSDH Treasury Bills Fund 100.00 100.00 1.81% 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 1.01% Nigeria Entertainment Fund 128.62 129.15 18.39%

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 1.08% Vantage Balanced Fund 2.90 2.96 32.49% Vantage Guaranteed Income Fund 1.00 1.00 7.50% Kedari Investment Fund (KIF) 157.02 157.98 9.61% 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 1.45 1.47 0.69% Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund 1,154.54 1,154.54 0.10% 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 1.66 1.69 34.00% PACAM Fixed Income Fund 12.19 12.31 8.26% PACAM Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 1.50% PACAM Equity Fund 1.58 1.60 PACAM EuroBond Fund 108.39 110.84 SCM CAPITAL LIMITED info@scmcapitalng.com Web: www.scmcapitalng.com; Tel: +234 1-280 2226,+234 1- 280 2227 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn SCM Capital Frontier Fund 131.18 133.55 8.39% SFS CAPITAL NIGERIA LTD investments@sfsnigeria.com Web: www.sfsnigeria.com, Tel: +234 (01) 2801400 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn SFS Fixed Income Fund 1.00 1.00 9.39% 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 0.68% Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund 210.33 210.33 0.02% Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund 0.88 0.89 0.42% Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund 273.87 273.95 0.05% Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund 154.92 156.64 0.12% Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 0.29% Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund 7,674.15 7,756.30 1.71% Stanbic IBTC Dollar Fund (USD) 1.23 1.23 0.07% Stanbic IBTC Shariah Fixed Income Fund 111.13 111.13 0.05% 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 1.39 1.41 1.60% United Capital Bond Fund 1.89 1.89 3.93% United Capital Equity Fund 0.89 0.91 2.29% United Capital Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 2.05% United Capital Eurobond Fund 117.16 117.16 6.43% United Capital Wealth for Women Fund 1.09 1.10 0.40% 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 11.92 12.05 0.55% Zenith Ethical Fund 12.27 13.39 4.55% Zenith Income Fund 25.02 25.02 0.80% Zenith Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 1.82%

REITS NAV Per Share

Fund Name SFS Skye Shelter Fund

Yield / T-Rtn

120.74

7.51%

52.40

0.67%

Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

13.48 124.63 100.90

13.58 124.63 102.79

1.97% 2.37% 1.54%

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

funds@vetiva.com Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

4.19

4.23

10.53%

Vetiva Consumer Goods Exchange Traded Fund

5.77

5.85

1.47%

Vetiva Griffin 30 Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva Money Market Fund Vetiva Industrial Goods Exchange Traded Fund

18.08 1.00 21.38

18.18 1.00 21.58

10.37% 1.02% 4.17%

203.81

205.81

-8.79%

NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

107.71

13.11%

Fund Name Vetiva Banking Exchange Traded Fund

Vetiva S&P Nigeria Sovereign Bond Exchange Traded Fund

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.

WEDNESDAY JANUARY 6, 2021 ˾ T H I S D AY

41

NEWS

Intels Refutes Claim that Buhari is Killing Its Businesses Eromosele Abiodun and Dike Onwuamaeze The management of the Intels Nigeria Limited (INL) has categorically refuted the story doing the rounds that its businesses in Nigeria are being deliberately hindered by the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.

The rebuttal was contained

in a press statement issued by Tommaso Ruffinoni on behalf of the INL and the Orlean Invest Holding (OIH), which is the parent company of INL. It reads: “The Intels Nigeria Limited and with it its parent company Orlean Invest Holding in relation to some statements that appeared in the press yesterday and today categorically denies that its business has at some time been

#EndSARS: Lagos Govt Pays For Forensic Examination of Lekki Toll Gate Davidson Iriekpen The Lagos State Government has paid a huge sum of money to forensic experts to unearth the truth of what happened at the Lekki toll gate on October 20, 2020.

This was disclosed by the Chairman of the Lagos State Judicial Panel on Restitution for victims police brutality, Justice Doris Okuwobi, yesterday while ruling on an application filed by the Lekki Concession Company (LCC).

The LCC is seeking permission to have access to the toll plaza for the purpose of evaluating the damage done at the toll gate in order to commence the necessary repairs.

Justice Okuwobi also disclosed that the forensic experts would have commenced its work

earlier but for the holidays which made it difficult for the experts to get access to relevant documents and exhibits which have previously been tendered before the panel.

The forensic examination is expected to be completed within the next 21 days.

“Forensic analysis will clear a lot of issues in the incident of October 20, 2020, and a huge sum has been paid by the Lagos State Government for it. The desire is that the panel will unearth the truth of what happened,” Justice Okuwobi said.

“The application by the LCC for permission to have access to the toll gate must, therefore, await the outcome of the forensic examination”.

The panel, thereafter, adjourned to January 29 for further consideration of the application.

FG Urges US to Expedite Delivery of 12 Super Tucano Fighter Jets Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja The Minister of Defence, Major General Bashir Magashi (rtd), yesterday asked the United States to expedite action on the delivery of 12 Super Tucano fighter jets ordered by Nigeria.

Magashi said this when he hosted a five-man US delegation led by the Secretary, US Air Force, Barbara Barrett, at the ministry’s headquarters in Abuja.

The minister appealed to the US Air Force Secretary to speed up the release of the Super Tucano Aircraft procured by the federal government which would “boost the campaigns by the Nigerian Air Force to demystify the criminal elements in their various hideouts in the forests”.

In a statement issued last night, he also said the Nigeria Defence Space Administration would be equipped technologically through partnership with the US Space Force to enhance its capabilities to fight insecurity in the country.

He added that the efficient and effective space management by the Defence Space Administration (DSA), was germane to the successful operations of the Nigerian Armed Forces and other security agencies in the effort to defeat insurgency, banditry and kidnapping.

The minister assured the

US delegation that the federal government under President Muhammadu Buhari, would continue to strengthen military cooperation with the US in the areas of shared interests such as training, exchange programmes and procurement of weapons in the nation’s bid to overcome her security challenges.

In her remarks, the Secretary, US Air Force, Barbara Barrett, who is the fourth woman and 25th to occupy the position as Air Force Secretary comprising Air Force and US Space Force Areas of Responsibility (AoR), described Nigeria as the destination of choice in Africa for partnership in harnessing space assets through the instrumentality of science and technology in national defence.

She assured the minister that the already established military cooperation between Nigeria and US would be taken to the next level to promote peace and tranquility in the country.

Other officials at the bi-lateral talks include the new Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Defence, Musa Istifanus, Chief of Defence Staff, General Gabriel Abayomi Olonisakin, the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Saddiq Baba Abubakar and the Defence Attache in Washington DC, Air Commodore J. Usman.

hindered by political influences from the current government.

Ruffinoni stated that the INL has always operated according to market logic in line with its history and commitment to the development of the Nigerian economy in the oil and gas logistics sector.

The press statement described the ongoing contradictions as part of a natural commercial divergence, which will hopefully “be resolved, as in the past, by a new approach, in the interest of all the parties, also according to the social role that the INTELS

play in the country.”

The statement viewed the recent divestment of the former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s interest from INL as purely an economic decision that was not in any way influenced by political pressure from the powers that be in the country as had been earlier insinuated by some persons.

It said: “The severance from the world of Atiku Abubakar was an economic decision, in the exclusive interest of the company, and to irreconcilable strategic differences with the

new governance structure of the INTELS – Orlean Invest Group.”

However, it should be recalled that Abubakar had, through his media aide, alleged that the “Co-founder of Integrated Logistics Services Nigeria Limited (INTELS), Atiku Abubakar, has been selling his shares in INTELS over the years. It assumed greater urgency in the last five years because this government has been preoccupied with destroying a legitimate business that was employing thousands of Nigerians because of politics. There should

be a marked difference between politics and business.”

It was also alleged that the agreement between the INTELS and the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) that gave the INTELS the right to collect revenue for the NPA and other port stakeholders was terminated by the federal government after the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami, claimed that the agreement was contrary to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

CEMENTING TIES...

L-R: Chief of Staff to the President, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari; State Councillor and Foreign Minister of the People’s Republic of China, Mr..

Wang Yi; Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Geoffery Onyeama; Minister of Transportation, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi; and Nigerian Ambassador to China, Alhaji Baba Ahmad Jidda, during an audience at the State House, Abuja...yesterday

Court Convicts Former Bank MD, Okey Nwosu, Three Others for N18bn Theft Davidson Iriekpen Justice Lateefat Okunnu of the Lagos High Court in Ikeja yesterday convicted and sentenced a former Managing Director of defunct Finbank Plc, Okey Nwosu to three years imprisonment Justice Okunnu handed down the sentence after she found the former bank boss and three other Directors of the bank guilty of stealing

over N18 billion from Finbank Plc, now First City Monument Bank (FCMB).

Convicted alongside Nwosu are three former directors of the defunct bank: Dayo Famoroti, Danjuma Ocholi and Agnes Ebubedike.

They were arraigned before the court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a 26-count charge of stealing and illegal conversion.

The convicts were first

arraigned in 2013 before Justice Okunnu, but the Court of Appeal had on November 21, 2013 quashed the charge brought against them by the EFCC and set them free.

The EFCC, however, appealed to the Supreme Court, which upturned the Appeal Court judgment and ordered Nwosu and others to return to the high court for their trial.

In her judgment delivered

yesterday, the judge sentenced two of the convicts, Okey Nwosu and Dayo Famoroti, to a three-yearjail term.

The court also ordered the dup to repay N18 billion they stole.

While the third defendant, Danjuma Ocholi, was sentenced to 12 months in jail and the fourth defendant, Agnes Ebubedike, was sentenced to six months community service.

Insurgency: Borno Elder Debunks Lies of Military, FG MichaelOlugbodeinAbuja The Dean, Borno Elders Forum, Prof. Khalifa Dikwa, said contrary to the narrative by the military and the federal government, no where is safe outside of Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.

He said so bad is the security situation that not even five kilometres outside of Maiduguri is safe.

“Even if they (Boko Haram) are not physicallythere,theyarepsychologically there, disturbing the people,” Dikwa spoke on live television programme, Newsnight.

“From time to time, they ride their motorcycles, come and harass them to pay levies and so on. Outside Maiduguri, not even five kilometres, nobody is safe. And they can strike at any time.”

Dikwa said the military did not heed the advice of the Private Military

Contractor (PMC), to man the country’s land borders after they had “decimated” Boko Haram in 2014.

He was referring to the South Africans who were hired by former President Goodluck Jonathan in 2014.

By early 2015, they had flushed Boko Haram out of Nigeria’s territory, allowing for the holding of the elections in all the local councils.

The military turned round to claim the credit. Few years after, one of the South Africans expressed anger that the military frittered away the gains they recorded between 2014 and 2015.

When President Buhari ascended the throne in May 2015, he dispensed with the services of the contractors, by putting all his trust in the army, believing that they would safeguard the territorial integrity of Nigeria.

Dikwa recalled: “At that time, they (PMC) said, ‘okay, we have done our bit, the rest, it has to be political. Have dialogue at a position of strength,” the university don, added.

“And that you should allow the other paramilitary, particularly the police, to take over the terrain that you have recaptured. You (military) move to the borders.”

“Unfortunately, the military has continued to usurp the role of the police which is not supposed to be so,” Dikwa said.

Prof. Dikwa who called for more collaboration among security agencies in the fight against insurgency, noted that the military alone cannot fight the terrorism in Borno State.

“If you put all the military inside Borno, it will contain it,” he said, claiming that “It looks like there is no synergy between the security

and defence agencies as if it is rivalry when they are actually working for this country and they signed to defend the people of this country and the territory.

“As a president, he should be able to stamp his feet to say ‘do the work, I am giving you one, two months maximum. If you don’t finish up this thing, submit your resignation letter.”

Dikwa also advised Buhari to decentralise the command structure in the army.

“If I were to have the ears of President Buhari and Commander-inChief, I will insist that the command system of the military be decentralised so that junior commanders could also give a command in case of threats” “Even the police have their own way of neutralising the enemy rather than waiting. As long as the command is from top-down, it will not work,” he said.

42

WEDNESDAY JANUARY 6, 2021 ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWSXTRA

FG to Revoke Visas of Foreigners Without COVID-19 Certificate Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja The Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Mr. Muhammed Babandede, has warned that foreign visitors who failed to present their COVID-19 test certificates on arrival in the country will have their visas revoked.

The immigration service boss said he has the powers as

enshrined in the Immigration Act to revoke visas and confiscate passports of offenders, stressing that the next visa for global travel is the COVID-19 certificate.

Speaking at the weekly briefing of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 in Abuja yesterday, Babandede assured that the 100 travellers under a travel ban for flouting the mandatory seven-day post-arrival COVID-19 polymerase

chain reaction test can not obtain fresh passports or compromise the NIS officers, adding that the system was automated and cannot be bypassed or manipulated.

Babandede stated, “The public health is a big issue in the country and based on that directives, we have complied by blocking 100 passports from travelling, which means, even if they go to the police and declare those passports missing, they cannot be reissued

anywhere in the world and they cannot cross our national borders until the period of six months or communication received from the right authorities stating that they have complied.

“This will also include nonNigerians; we have the powers to revoke visas, the comptrollergeneral has the power to revoke visas.”

The NIS boss said based on the powers he had and the

additional conditions for entering the country, every visitor must have the COVID-19 test result.

He vowed to make travellers comply, noting that the lack of compliance with COVID-19 regulations was a threat to public health.

Babandede said some of the individuals under the travel restrictions have been calling him to seek assistance, adding that he simply asked them to

comply with the regulations.

“Please comply, immigration has no business with anybody, we are implementing the directives handed down to us. You must have evidence of payment.

“If you do the test, it means you have complied, if you have not done the test, it means you have violated the condition of entering the country; your visa will be revoked,” he cautioned.

75% of Air Accidents Due to Human Factors, Says AIB The Accident Investigation Bureau, Nigeria (AIB-N) has said that no fewer than 75 per cent of air accidents in the Nigeria occur due to human factors.

The AIB-N Commissioner, Mr. Akin Olateru, in an interview with newsmen in Lagos ahead of the League of Airports and Aviation Correspondents (LAAC) one day conference in Lagos, said some of the human factors, included inadequate training for technical personnel, poor facilities, fatigue and poor communication between the cockpit and the control tower amongst others.

He explained that like the majority of accidents, these aviation disasters could have been prevented if the necessary precautionary measures were put in place or observed to stop their occurrences.

According to Olateru though, a few of the human errors in Nigeria in recent time did not necessarily lead to loss of human lives, he lamented that replacement of any damaged parts in aircraft due to human errors cost the operators millions of naira, which could have been channelled to other important aspects of their operations.

“After an analysis of the several accident reports we have released since 2017, it has become apparent that about 75 per cent of these accidents and incidents have resulted from human factors.

This conference is part of the fulfillment of AIB’s mandate of preventing accident occurrences and reoccurrence and public advocacy of accident situational management”.

He hoped that through the LAAC conference with the theme: ‘Preventing Human Factors In Accident Occurences’, the aviation industry in the globe especially in Nigeria would be safer, insisting that some of the serious incidents and accidents were avoidable.

The AIB-N boss said the bureau decided to partner LAAC because of its antecedents in organising successful conferences with useful communiqué, adding that as a league of journalists, the association had in several occasions, promoted air safety and robust journalism.

“LAAC is a dependable ally in this project, considering the various conferences that the association has held in recent years, which have impacted the industry positively.

The conference is expected to among other things, educate airline and airport operators, aviation agency personnel, aviation reporters, accident emergency responders and other stakeholders on measures that can help reduce human factors in air accident and incident occurrences, while equipping aviation reporters with more knowledge for accurate reportage of accident and incident occurrences.”

Adoke Contracts COVID-19, Asks Nigerians to Take Disease Seriously Former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Bello Adoke, has contracted COVID-19 but is asymptomatic.

In a phone chat with TheCable yesterday, Adoke said he had gone to Dubai, United Arab Emirates, for his medicals.

“Two days to my return trip to Nigeria, I went for the mandatory COVID-19 test. A day to the trip, I got the result. It was positive, even though I did not have any symptoms. Immediately, I embarked on self-isolation as required by the protocol,” he said.

“However, up till now, I am asymptomatic. I do not have a high temperature, I am not coughing, and my breathing is normal. I can taste and I can smell. Also, my oxygen level and blood pressure are normal. I am very grateful to God. “I am due another test soon to know if I am COVID-free now so that I can return to Nigeria.

I implore Nigerians to take this disease seriously. You cannot

be too careful. Let us follow the guidelines released by the government. May God protect us from this plague.”

According to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), the country has had a total number 91,351 positive tests since the outbreak of the pandemic — with 1,318 deaths and 75,699 recoveries as at Monday evening.

However, cases have been on the rise in the second wave, with 57 deaths recorded last week.

Adoke, who is currently being tried on allegations of money laundering by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) at a Federal High Court in Abuja, was last month granted permission to travel for his medicals.

Justice Inyang Ekwo ordered the release of his international passport so he could travel and return before the trial resumes on January 11.

“By the grace of God, I hope to be in court for the trial. I am doing fine.”

SEEKING COLLABORATION...

United States Secretary for Air Force, Ms. Barbara Barrett (left), and Minister of Defence, Major General Bashir Magashi (rtd), when Barrett led a five-man delegation to the Ministry of Defence Headquarters in Abuja…yesterday

Court Adjourns Ruling on Sowore, Others’ Bail Application SERAP files petitions against FG over activists’ arrest Alex Enumah in Abuja A Chief Magistrate Court in Abuja has fixed January 8, for ruling on the bail application filed on behalf of Omoyele Sowore and four others.

Chief Magistrate Mabel SegunBello fixed the date yesterday after listening to the application for bail moved by the lawyer to the defendants, Marshal Abubakar and the opposition by the prosecutor.

The court also ordered the defendants to be remanded at the Force CIID facility in Area 10, following complaints by Sowore that they were denied food and medical attention at the Kuje Correctional Centre.

Chief Magistrate Segun-Bello further ordered the police to provide the third defendant, Damilare Adenola, who is a law student of the University of Abuja, with internet facilities and writing

materials to enable him join his classmates who resumed online classes on January 5.

Sowore and the four others were arraigned on January 4, on three counts of criminal conspiracy, unlawful assembly, and inciting public disturbance but they all pleaded not guilty to the charges.

They were arrested by the police on New Year’s Eve during a candlelight procession organised

by Sowore against bad governance.

Meanwhile, a civil society organisation, Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), has asked the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention to prevail on the federal government to withdraw charges brought against a journalist, Omoyele Sowore and four other activists.

The group in a petition dated January 4, 2021, and signed by SERAP Deputy Director Kolawole

Oluwadare, the organisation said that Sowore and four other activists were arrested by the government for peacefully exercising their human rights.

The complaint was addressed to the Chairman/ Rapporteur of the Working Group, Mr. José Guevara Bermúdez.

SERAP said: “the detention of Omoyele Sowore and four other activists constitutes an arbitrary deprivation of their liberty because it does not have any legal justification. The detention also does not meet minimum international standards of due process.”

SERAP said: “The Working Group should request the Nigerian authorities to withdraw the bogus charges against Sowore and four other activists, and to immediately and unconditionally release them.”

According to SERAP: “The

arrest, continued detention and torture and ill-treatment of Mr Sowore and four other activists solely for peacefully exercising their human rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly is a flagrant violation of the Nigerian Constitution, 1999 (as amended) and international human rights law. They are now facing bogus charges simply for exercising their human rights.”

The organisation urged the Working Group to “initiate a procedure involving the investigation of the detention, torture and bogus charges against Sowore and four other activists, and “to urgently send an allegation letter to the Nigerian government inquiring about the case generally, and specifically about the legal basis for their arrest, detention, torture and other ill-treatment, each of which is in violation of international human rights law.”

APC: It’s Laughable to Say Nigerians Desire PDP’s Return to Power Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja The All Progressives Congress (APC) has said it is laughable to say that Nigerians desire the return of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to power after its 16 years misadventure.

The ruling party said it noted with concern the tales and ramblings issued by PDP, which to all discerning members of the public, is full of sounds and fury, signifying nothing.

The National Secretary of the Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee, Senator John AkpanUdoedehe, in a statement issued yesterday said

the party believed that Nigerians should be spared the trauma of a reminder of the disaster of PDP’s 16 years of misadventure in government.

He added that the PDP should allow Nigerians forgive it for the numerous transgressions and agony it had put Nigerians through many years of misrule which their National Chairman had rightly publicly apologised to Nigerians.

AkpanUdoedehe stated: “We would ordinarily have allowed PDP to wallow in its usual illusion - since its descent from power in 2015 - that Nigerians desire their return to power; how

laughable!

“We are constrained to set the records straight because it borders on the collective sensibilities of Nigerians who have consistently and resoundingly proven in two consecutive cycles of general elections as well as other offcycle elections, their outright rejection of the contraption called PDP and their (Nigerians) preference and endorsement of APC as the Party of choice for the majority of Nigerians.

“Moreso, if falsehood is allowed to fester, it may don the garb of truth. Where lies the moral authority of PDP to even contemplate comparing

themselves to APC after its wasteful years in governance; but alas! Instead of burying its heads in shame, and allow sleeping dogs lie, its rantings keep reminding us of the ignominious era where: crude oil was sold at an average of $100 per barrel for a consecutive period of 4 years, which gave an excess of at least $30 per barrel above the budget benchmark and MTEF, and raking in surplus revenues - windfall, if you like - for the country; yet what did Nigeria and Nigerians have to show for that period. Nothing at all!.”

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UNIBEN, Unilorin, BUK Announce Resumption Dates Funmi Ogundare The managements of three federal universities have announced the resumption dates for their institutions.

The universities are the

University of Benin, University of Ilorin and the Bayero University, Kano.

At the University of Ilorin, the Senate approved January 11 for the resumption of academic activities.

The varsity’s Director of

Kaduna Govt Gives Fresh Reasons for Demolishing Restaurant John Shiklam in Kaduna The Kaduna State Urban Development and Planning Authority (KASUPDA) has given fresh reasons for demolishing of a restaurant in the Sabon Tasha area of the metropolis on Christmas .

The building, earlier described by the agency as Asher Hotel, but which turned out to be a restaurant was demolished over allegations of a planned “sex party”, to be held in the building.

After the demolition, the agency had explained on its Twitter handle that the building was the proposed venue for so called “Kaduna Sex Party” and the hotel was caught contravening COVID-19 guidelines of the state.

“KASUPDA has demolished Asher Hotel in Barnawa Kaduna South. Asher Hotel was the proposed venue for the Kaduna Sex Party, the hotel was also caught contravening the Covid-19 guidelines of the state.

“KASUPDA will not hesitate to demolish properties used for such immoral act,” the agency had tweeted after the demolition.

However, in a statement yesterday in Kaduna, the DirectorGeneral of the agency, Mr. Ismail Umaru Dikko, said the building was pulled down to enforce the laws and regulations of the state.

He regretted that the earlier statement published on the agency’s Twitter account was inaccurate, blaming the handler of the Twitter account for the mistake.

Dikko said: “On Thursday, December 31, 2020, the Kaduna State Urban Development and Planning Authority (KASUPDA) took action to remove the building housing Asher Lounge.

“Since this enforcement action, much of the commentary on the matter has centred on the

inaccurate statement from KASUPDA’s Twitter account.

“While regretting the inaccuracy of the handler of our social media account, there is no reservation about the steps taken pursuant to enforce the laws and regulations of Kaduna State on a property that was in violation of its provisions”.

According to him, “since March 26, 2020, the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Partial Lockdown Order, 2020 have been in force in Kaduna State.

“Although some of the regulations were significantly relaxed in June 2020, they were tightened again in December 2020 in response to a second wave of Covid-19 infections”.

He said indications that an activity in violation of the COVID-19 regulations was planned to be held in Asher Lounge drew attention to the property and made it necessary for the agency to examine the status of the building.

Dikko said, “Checks of government records showed that the building housing Asher Lounge has neither a valid title nor development permit.

“Once due diligence revealed the illegal status of the building, there was need for enforcement action without the notification requirements that the law compels for holders of valid title and development permits.

“The illegal status of the building became a very separate matter from the trigger event: the third-party elements who had planned and advertised an unlawful gathering on those premises.

“Violation of a set of rules and regulations may lead to a focus on the status of compliance with other laws and regulations.

PDP Warns of Moves to Open Parallel Office in Osun Chuks Okocha in Abuja The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday warned against opening of any parallel office in Osun State by members of the party.

It also alerted the public of clandestine plots by certain individuals to set up ‘a strange office’ in Osogbo, the state capital, and claim that such is the Osun State secretariat of the PDP. According to a statement issued in Abuja yesterday by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, “For the avoidance of doubts, the PDP states in unequivocal terms that our legitimate secretariat in Osun State is located at Kilometre 3, Ikirun Road, besides Federal Road Safety Commission office in Biket Area, Osogbo.

“It is imperative to state that our great party does not operate or recognise any other secretariat in Osun State other than the on stated above.

“All party members, critical stakeholders and supporters, particularly in the state and country at large, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), all security agencies, the media and the public should take note and be guided by this accordingly.”

Ologbondiyan said the national leadership of the PDP charged all the party members in the state to continue to work together and “not be distracted by any such divisive plots, especially at this time that our party is working relentlessly to rescue our country from misrule.”

Corporate Affairs, Mr. Kunle Akogun, in a statement on Monday, said the decision was taken at the 285th emergency meeting of the senate held virtually via Zoom on Thursday.

“Following the suspension of the nine-month industrial action by the Academic Staff Union of Universities, the senate of the University of Ilorin has approved the resumption of academic activities for the Rain Semester from Monday, January 11, 2021.

“Lectures will, however, be through an online platform in line with the directive of the National Universities Commission. The Senate also approved the reappointment of

Prof. Sylvia Malomo as Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), and Prof. Mikhail Buhari as the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research, Technology and Innovation),” the statement partly read.

In a related development, the management of the University of Benin has announced that the institution would resume on January 30.

The institution’s Public Relations Officer, Benedicta Ehanire, said the decision was made at the end of the meeting of the university’s senate on Monday.

The statement read; “The semester is expected to run until April 1, 2021, while the second semester is billed to commence

on April 5, 2021.

“For the 2020/2021 amended calendar, new students are to undergo online clearance between April 5 and 30, 2021.

Their orientation will start on May 3, 2021.

“All returning students are required to fill an online questionnaire and submit the print-out to the Dean of Students’ Affairs before resumption and adhere strictly to the non-medical protocols of COVID-19.

“The students are also advised to have an android/smartphone or device as e-learning has become inevitable, while they are expected to comply with acceptable dress codes as determined by the

University in line with societal norms and values. Returning students with any ailment are to ensure that they are properly treated before resumption.”

Also, the Senate of Bayero University Kano, on Monday approved the cancellation of 20192020 sessions for all undergraduate and postgraduate programmes.

This was part of the decision adopted at the senate in a meeting presided by the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Sagir Abbas, on Monday.

The University Registrar, Fatima Mohammed, in a statement said the new academic session would now begin on January 18, 2021, while the second semester would commence on May 3, 2021.

FOR FALLEN HEROES

Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum (left), and the Chairman, Nigerian Legion in Borno State, Col. William Mamza (rtd), during the decoration of the governor with the 2021 Armed Forces Remembrance Day emblem in Maiduguri...Monday

Ohanaeze: I’ll Assemble Talents, Experts to Defend Igbo Destiny, Says Obiozor Amby Uneze in Owerri A frontline candidate for the position of the president general of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Prof. George Obiozor, has vowed to assemble Igbo talents and experts to cater and defend the destiny of Ndigbo, if he is elected into the position.

This is just as Obiozor said under his leadership, the Igbo would no longer be seen as crying babies because their problems are not insurmountable.

Addressing a press conference in Owerri the Imo State capital, Obiozor, a former Nigerian Ambassador to the United States of America, the State of Israel and Republic of Cyprus, said he would defend the destiny of Ndigbo with appreciable success and diplomatic dexterity, decency and decorum.

He said the office of the president general of Ohanaeze Ndigbo is not a career or a job or a position to fulfill personal ambition, but one that should at this moment be a position that comes through inspiration and experience.

According to him, under his leadership, “Ndigbo will never be victims again, of Nigerian tragic circumstances which they did not create nor can they control”.

He noted that Ndigbo had been associated with economic and business ingenuity, which had had a mixed bag mixed response of praise, jealousy and envy.

While adding that the economic success associated with Ndigbo had always been individual achievements and successes, Obiozor stated that under his leadership, a

new era of prosperity of Ndigbo as collective efforts would start with the laudable initiative of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, in terms of the Economic Stabilization Fund.

He insisted that in the current position Ndigbo had found themselves, “the team that represents matters for that will determine much of the destiny of Ndigbo in Nigeria or what follows. Our position should therefore begin with efforts to effectively reintegrate Ndigbo into Nigerian political process effectively, significantly and relevantly. This will require a serious diplomacy and not confrontations or conflicts.

Power elites reward their friends and frustrate or punish their enemies”.

He further stated, “For far too long, Ndigbo have been objects of stereotype and profiling which ended in being misunderstood

and misrepresented in national politics or business, academia or artisans. Negative profiling has been an Igbo cross to carry since Nnamdi Azikiwe’s emergence in Nigeria politics in the 1940s.

“Consequently, quite often Igbos were confronted with envy, anger, hostility and violence at any given crises in Nigeria and even outside Nigeria. But in the end, it is still better to envy Ndigbo than pity us.

“We’ve been known to be turning obstacles into prosperity.

What Igbo are suffering today are not new. But we surmounted them in the past. Igbo were not the first graduates in Nigeria but we led the country in almost every sector. I maintain that success is the greatest revenge against injustice.

We’ve done well.

Edo APC Chieftain’s Brother Shot by Gunmen Adibe Emenyonu in Benin-city Gunmen yesterday shot Mr. ThankGod Iduseri, the younger brother to a chieftain of the Edo State All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Gabriel Iduseri, in Benin-city.

ThankGod was said to have been shot in Benin-city, the state capital, in the early hours of yesterday while driving on Mission Road when his assailants shot him and made away with his car.

Although there may be no link or correlation between the incident

and the appearance of Gabriel Iduseri at the Federal High Court last Monday as witness, ‘but the APC is already thinking towards that direction’.

Confirming the incident on a phone call yesterday, Gabriel, an engineer by profession, and the APC South-south Zonal Youth leader, said: My brother, ThankGod was shot in the early hours of this (yesterday) morning between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m. on Mission Road.

“He left home for Globacom office in one of my vehicles, and that was when they just opened

the car door, shot at him and pushed him out of the car and went away with the vehicle. But we thank God he is responding to treatment, and the incident has been reported at the police station in the city.”

Also, in his reaction, the state Chairman of the caretaker committee of the APC, Col David Imuse (rtd), said: “Gabriel Iduseri, who is one of our witnesses, and had testified at the Federal High Court in Abuja yesterday (Monday) over a case of forgery and perjury preferred against the

state Governor, Godwin Obaseki, had his brother, Mr. ThankGod, shot this (yesterday) morning. This is quite unfortunate.

“I think there’s absolutely no place in the marketplace of ideas for threats of violence against any person, especially those with divergent political belief.”

Imuse added that: “Disagreement on political issues should not lead to acts of violence.

We call on Nigerians to roundly condemn this dastardly act, and urge the security agencies to bring the perpetrators to book.”

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Recover N15tn Stolen by APC Leaders, PDP Tasks Buhari Chuks Okocha in Abuja The war of words between the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) continued yesterday with the main opposition party accusing the Muhammadu Buhari presidency and the APC of resorting to diversionary attacks on the PDP. It added that producing ‘epistles of lies and false performance’ claims will not save them from accounting for their atrocities while in office.

The PDP stated that such antics would not save the APC and its indicted leaders from answering for atrocities committed which include the alleged stealing of over N15 trillion public funds; manipulating the Buhari administration, and importing terrorists and bandits for 2019 general election, who are now on rampage, killing innocent Nigerians, particularly in the northern parts of Nigeria.

In a statement issued by the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, the PDP said: “We know that APC’s attack is a desperate diversionary tactics, as more revelations continue to emerge on how its leaders and some presidency officials pillaged our national treasury and stole over N15 trillion naira, as well as how the APC has been patronising bandits with our national resources.

“This is especially given the decision by our party to expose such APC leaders in addition to the rising public demand on President Buhari to recover the money and prosecute the culprits.

“Our party also notes the plots by current APC leadership to blackmail and ridicule President Buhari by pushing out fake performance claims, like those contained in the statement issued by its illegal caretaker committee on January 5, 2021, which was designed to rubbish the president, highlight his failures and deflect attention from the atrocities of the APC.” According to the PDP statement, “Such fake narratives will not help the APC as our party has details of their nefarious leaders, including APC state governors, ministers, certain aides of the president, as well as APC fronts in agencies of the government, and would not hesitate to make such public at the fullness of time.

“The APC had become rattled because of pressure from the PDP and other well-meaning Nigerians asking President Buhari to go after APC leaders as well as the presidency officials involved in the reported stealing of N9.6 trillion ($25 billion) oil revenue as detailed in the leaked Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation

Southern, Middle Belt Leaders Appoint Nwodo as National Coordinator Udora Orizu in Abuja The Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum (SMBLF) has appointed the outgoing President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, John Nwodo as its National Coordinator, with effect from 10th January 2021.

Nwodo’s tenure as the President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, will end on January 10.

The forum in a statement issued by its leaders, Chief Edwin Clark (Chairman), Chief Ayo Adebanjo (Southwest), Dr Pogu Bitrus (Middle Belt) said they trust Nwodo’s sense of responsibility to handle the new task given his track record.

According to the statement, ‘’The entire SMBLF rejoices with Chief John Nia Nwodo as he successfully completes his service to Igbo nation as the President of

Ohanaeze Ndigbo on the 10th of January 2021. ‘’We are also glad to announce that given the values he carries our Oliver Twists want more of him and have decided to appoint him as the National Coordinator of Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum with effect from 10th January 2021. ‘’He shall in that capacity assist the National Chairman of the group officially and carries out leadership functions and duties that would be assigned to him for the progress of the group from time-to-time. ‘’We trust on his sense of responsibility to handle the new task given his track record. Our prayer for him is that God will continue to imbue him with the capacity to function beyond our human expectation of him.’’

Police Arrest, Parade 83 Suspects in Benue George Okoh in Makurdi The Benue State Police Command has arrested 83 suspected criminals Parading the suspects in Makurdi yesterday, the state Commissioner of Police, Mukaddas Garba, said they were caught with items such as locally made pistols, single barrel guns, military camouflage uniforms, bulletproof vests, aces boots, military berets, stolen laptops, 20 knives, five live ammunition and five cartridges.

Some of the suspects, he

noted, are cultist, armed robbers, illegal possessors of guns.

He said the suspects would soon be charged to court after the completion of investigations, advised parents to always monitor the activities of their children and ensure they avoid bad company.

He appreciated the people of the state for their conduct and cooperation with the police during the festive period, restated the commitment of the command to continue to fight crime.

(NNPC) memo.”

It added: “APC leaders are having sleepless nights because the dragnet would soon catch up with all those involved in the reported stealing of N1.1 trillion worth of crude oil using 18 unregistered vessels; the looting of over N2 trillion in hazy oil subsidy regime, including a criminal under-recovery for unnamed West African countries as well as illegal tax per litre of petrol running into trillions of naira.

“APC leaders are also jittery because they would soon explain how they siphoned N500billion Social Investment Programme and

the N16billion meant for Mosquito Net Project as exposed by First Lady Aisha Buhari in addition to the N90 billion stolen from the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) in a racket in which certain top APC leaders were alleged to have received N3 billion each.

“Top officials in the Buhari presidency have gone under over their alleged involvement in the looting of N33 billion NEMA fund as exposed in the findings by the House of Representatives, that the funds were never used for the provision of emergency food for victims of insurgency in the North-east region among

other items as claimed.”

The opposition party stated that: “Some known APC leaders are now running amok over their involvement in the siphoning of the N48 billion meant for the rebuilding of six North-east states ravaged by insurgency as well as the looting of N25 billion from the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) among others.

“By now, the APC ought to know that any other narratives cannot fly when Nigerians are already aware that its leaders stashed away over N15 trillion stolen from our national coffers.

“We, therefore, invite

the new mouthpiece of the thieving APC, Senator James Akpanudoedehe, to find something more meaningful to do with his time as Nigerians are no longer swayed by APC’s lies and propaganda.

“Under the PDP, people like Akpanudoedehe progressed in a robust economy and a secure country where the system worked.

“If Akpanudoedehe meant well for the country, he should be apologising for the failures of his party and the devastation it has brought upon our country.”

SEEKING LOCAL SUPPORT...

Director General of the Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, Dr. Bashir Jamoh (left), and the Akran of Badagry, His Royal Majesty, De-Wheno Aholu Menu Toyi 1, when the NIMASA DG paid a courtesy visit to the paramount ruler in Badagry...recently

#EndSARS: Edo Chief Demands N50bn Compensation for Five SlainYouths Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City The Clan Head of Imiakebu Community in Etsako East Local Government Area of Edo State, Chief Ugheiemhekhia Kareem Yahaya Azamanodu II of Imiakebu, has appeared with four others before the Edo State Judicial Panel of Inquiry for victims of SARS and related abuses to seek financial compensation to the tune of N50 billion.

The money is to compensate the five youths who were allegedly murdered by the Divisional Police Officer of the Aganebode, the headquarters of the local government, John E. Agaga in his community.

The incident, the Clan Head said, occurred on December 28, 2019.

He also asked for N50 million compensation each for five elders, including himself who were wrongfully detained at the Aganebode police station and state police command headquarters for five days.

The Azamanodu II of Imiakebu, further asked the panel to compel the police authorities to release the bodies of the slain youths to their families to enable them give them befitting burial rites, just as he called for the redeployment of the accused police officer, SP Agaga from Aganebode police station, saying that his presence in the police station is still a potential threat to members of his community.

He gave the names of the victims of the dastardly shooting as Sabo Abacha, Garuba Shaka,

Sunday Augustine, Isaac John and Sunday Junior.

Addressing newsmen shortly after appearing before the panel, counsel to the petitioners, Kami Asunogie, said it was a conflict between two communities, brother and sister, named Imiakebu and Isiuku in Etsako East Local Government Area of the state under the jurisdiction of the police station in Aganebode.

Asunogie alleged that the DPO, came into the community, killed five youths between 12:30 and 12:45, in the community on December 28, 2019.

He also alleged that the police abandoned their bodies having killed them and that it was the military that came to take the bodies to the mortuary with the assistance of the people of the

local community.

The counsel said up till today, every attempt to seek justice has been resisted by the DPO himself and bodies of the slain youths have been confiscated by the police.

“We have come to this panel to seek for justice. The bodies of our youths that were killed, have to be released to us for proper burial.

“They have been in the morgue since December 2019. It is the DPO that is keeping them.

“We want compensation for our community. Those persons have relations, and they must be compensated.

“Just for being present and waiting for an address for their village heads. They have no reason for killing them,” he said.

ASUU Awaits Release of N40bn Earned Allowances Onyebuichi Ezigbo in Abuja The leadership of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has said it is awaiting the release of the N40 billion earned allowance the federal government promised the union, 12 days after it called off the nine-month strike.

The government, it said, has also failed to continue payment of the withheld salaries of its members that are not enrolled on the controversial Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS) after paying two

months in December.

ASUU called of its strike on December 23, 2020, after a new deal with the government team, led by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, on December 22.

As a sign of good faith, the government paid two months of the six months withheld salaries of ASUU members, since March last year, leaving four months arrears.

According to the Memorandum of Action signed between the government and ASUU leadership at the meeting on December 22,

the federal government agreed to release N40 billion to ASUU as earned allowance on or before December 31, 2020.

The government, through the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation was also supposed to continue the payment of the withheld salaries of the union members after Ngige got a special waiver from President Muhammadu Buhari to that effect.

But an ASUU leader said yesterday in Abuja that the government had missed two timelines in the December 22,

2020 MoA with the failure to pay the N40 billion EAA and another tranche of the withheld four months salaries.

The ASUU chieftain said: “Some timelines have been missed already. EAA was supposed to be paid on or before December 31, 2020. It was not paid.

“Another two months (withheld salary) was supposed to be paid with the December salary. The December salary has been paid to others but academic workers who are not registered on IPPIS have not received anything.”

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Igbo Leaders Meet, Renew Call for Igbo Presidency by 2023 Chuks Okocha in Abuja The quest for a president of Igbo extraction in 2023 took centre stage when prominent politicians from the South-east met yesterday and resolved to unite across party lines to work for the emergence of Nigeria’s president of Igbo extraction in 2023.

The meeting took place under the auspices of South-east Political Leaders at Senator Orji Kalu’s Camp Neya country home in Igbere, Bende Local Government Area of Abia.

According to the communique of the meeting made available to THISDAY, they implored “all the political parties to cede their

presidential tickets in the 2023 general election to the South-east.”

The Igbo leaders agreed that a president of Igbo extraction would be “in the interest of justice, equity and national unity.”

The communique of the meeting further said: “With substantial presence in every part of the country”, would give bloc vote and full support to any of the two major political parties that nominated their presidential candidates from the zone.” The communique read by former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Pius Anyim, said that a president from the southeast “will work to unite and develop every part

of the country. “Such a president will be president of all Nigerians, irrespective of their political, ethnic and religious backgrounds.”

The communique stated that an southeast president would ensure “that all citizens and every part of the country is given a sense of belonging and treated with utmost sense of justice.

“Such was the dream of the founding fathers of this great nation, wherefore they declared that ‘though tribe and tongue may differ, in brotherhood we stand’.

“For the same reason, they also committed to building a just nation, where no man is oppressed so that Nigeria may be blessed with peace, plenty and prosperity,” the communique added.

The group implored Nigerians across political, ethnic, religious and geopolitical divides to support the zone’s aspiration in 2023 “as a mark of good faith and to promote justice and national harmony.”

It described such a support as vital “in giving every part of the country a sense of belonging and in promoting national unity and solidarity.

“It is the loudest reassurance of equality of all parts and that the country indeed belongs to all members of the Nigerian commonwealth.”

The political leaders restated their commitment to “the deepening of the nation’s democracy as the surest way to fast-track national development and building an

egalitarian society, where no man is oppressed for reasons of class, ethnic, religious or political affiliation.”

It was reported that aside from Kalu and Anyim, other eminent Igbo politicians at the meeting included former Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekwerenmadu, Hon. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, Hon Toby Okechukwu, Deputy Chief Whip and Deputy Minority Leader of the House of Representatives.

Others were Sen. Michael Nnachi from Ebonyi, one-time Minister of State for Environment, Housing and Urban Development, Mr. Chuka Odom, former Speakers of Abia House of Assembly, Chief Stanley Ohajuruka and Mr Chikwendu Kalu, and National Chairman of

the United Progressives Party, Chief Chekwas Okorie, amongst others.

In an opening remark, the convener of the meeting, Kalu, said the gathering was intended to unite all the prominent politicians from the zone and ensure the unity of purpose among them for the emergence of Nigeria’s next president from the zone.

Kalu said that the meeting would help to disprove critics, “who believe that we cannot meet to discuss issues affecting us, especially our aspiration to produce Nigeria’s president in 2023.”

Other Igbo leaders spoke in a similar vein, were Ekwerenmadu, Anyim, Onyejeocha, Okorie and Odom.

Insecurity: Fuel Scarcity Looms as IPMAN Shuts Down Petroleum Stations in Oyo Petroleum dealers, on the platform of Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, (IPMAN), Ibadan depot have threatened to shut down all petroleum stations in Oyo State.

IPMAN noted that the need to shut down all the petroleum stations was necessary due to the killing of innocent citizens in some parts of the state.

It said in the last one month, the state has witnessed the killing and kidnap of no fewer than seven people in some parts of the state.

No fewer than four people have been kidnapped in the state in the last three weeks.

Among the four people kidnapped in the last three weeks are a woman abducted at a Quarry site in Moniya, a farmer kidnapped along old Ibadan/Oyo road, Mrs. Jimoke Oludele-Babalola, an elder sister to Mr. Sunkanmi Babalola, member representing Egbeda State Constituency in the Oyo State House of Assembly and a medical doctor in Ibarapa North Local Government Area of the State.

It was gathered that out of the four people kidnapped in the last three weeks, only one of them, Mrs. Jimoke Oludele-Babalola has been released.

Among those who were killed at the weekend is a petroleum dealer, Mrs Sherifat Adisa, who owns Subawah petroleum.

IPMAN in its reaction has threatened to shutdown all filling stations in the State.

IPMAN Chairman, Ibadan Depot, Alhaji Bukola Mutiu, said all filling stations in Ibarapa zone of the State had been ordered to close down.

Mutiu, in a statement obtained by yerterday, said the closure of all filling stations in Ibarapa was a warning to the Oyo State government to urgently arrest the growing trend of killings and kidnap of petroleum dealers in the state.

While describing the killing of Mrs Adisa as one too many, he warned that except the trend is arrested, all filling stations in the State would be shut down.

Mutiu said, “This killing and kidnapping has become so rampant as series of cases have been coming up recently.

“On Saturday, one of us, Alhaja Sherifat Adisa, who was the owner of Subawah petroleum, was kidnapped at about 7:30 p.m. from her office and two people were also killed in her station.

Her corpse was found at about 11:00 p.m. close to her station.

“The IPMAN has decided to close down all petrol stations in Ibarapa till something is done by the government to protect them and if something is not done, the shutdown of all petrol stations will be extended to Oyo State as a whole.”

Gunmen Kill One, Kidnapped 20 Travellers in Nasarawa Gunmen have killed the former Education Secretary of Nasarawa Local Government Area of the state, Malami Salihu and kidnapped 20 people who were travelling to Toto Local Government Area of the state.

The incident took place yesterday afternoon along Mungi Sharp Corner, Buga Gwari, Gadabuke area of Toto LGA They 20 kidnapped victims were travelling in three vehicles and were intercepted by the gunmen who match them into the bush.

The late Salihu was among those kidnapped but his lifeless body was later found in the bush near the road.

The secretary of Gadabuke emirate council, Abdullahi Baba who confirmed the incident, said the gunmen in their numbers came out from bush and attacked the vehicles plying the road and match the passengers into the bush to an unknown destination.

“The former education secretary who was also travelling alongside his friend in a private vehicle were also taken away with others but his dead body was later found in a nearby bush,” he said.

He said the kidnappers have not made any contact to any of the relatives of the victims.

YOUTH EMPOWERMENT...

L-R: Delta State Coordinator, National Directorate of Employment, Mr. Anthony Olu; Representative of the state Governor and Commissioner for Information, Mr. Charles Aniagwu; and the Executive Director, Maritime Labour and Cabotage Services, Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, Hon. Victor Ochei, during the flag-off of the Extended Special Public Works Programme (774.000 Jobs) in Asaba...yesterday

FG, States, LGs’ Budgets Insufficient for People’s Needs, Says Akabueze James Emejo in Abuja The Director-General of the Budget Office, Mr. Ben Akabueze, has advised the government at the federal, state and local government levels to adequately address the needs of the people.

Akabueze, who featured as a guest on live television programme yesterday, decried that the budgets were insufficient to meet the expectation of Nigerians.

He also stressed the need for more revenue generation aimed at improving the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

“Our tax with GDP ratio is

about the lowest in the whole world, not even talking about Africa.

“So, our budgets, not just of the federal, but of the sub-national governments are way too small to be able to address our needs in the way that people expect,” the budget office chief said.

He added: “Unfortunately, in the last five years, we have found ourselves first in recession in 2016 and just as we were turning the curve, the COVID-19-induced recession and during a recession, it is difficult to grow revenues.”

According to Akabueze, the national budget does not equate to

the Federal Government’s budget as perceived by most people.

He stated that all the analysis was always focused on the federal government’s budget, but the reality was that an aggregate of the budgets of the federal, state, and local governments was way below the threshold where it should be.

The economist revealed that the aggregate public spending, as a percentage of Nigeria’s GDP, was about 50 per cent of the African average.

He explained that this was so because the nation’s public sector revenues were half of the African

average.

Akabueze stated, “When people are talking about how much we are spending on education, they are talking about how much the federal government is allocating, whereas education is a matter on the concurrent legislative list… people really don’t look in that direction and expect the federal government’s budget to solve every problem.

“So, every community in the country is looking to see some provision for it in the federal government’s budget and it really cannot be that way.”

DSS Probes Activities of Fake Job Syndicates Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja The Department of State Security (DSS) yesterday said it had launched an investigation into the activities of suspected fake job syndicates responsible for scamming job seekers.

It also denied false recruitment alerts circulating on social media that the agency was conducting a recruitment exercise.

A statement issued by the Spokesman of the DSS, Dr Peter Afunanya, said the agency was sustaining efforts on clamping down on the activities of fake job syndicates illegally using its name to deceive and scam

the public.

“Those engaged in misleading acts of raising false recruitment alerts or defrauding others are warned to desist from such or be ready to face the music.

“So far, the service is sustaining efforts on clamping down on the activities of fake job syndicates illegally using its name to deceive and scam the public”, it said.

The agency denied false recruitment alerts indicating that it had commenced the recruitment of fresh personnel.

“The Department of State Services (DSS) wishes to inform the public that it is not currently

carrying out any recruitment exercise. This clarification has become necessary in view of desperate efforts by fraudsters to scam unsuspecting job seekers or their sponsors.

The public should note that recruitment into the service is never done on monetary basis.

Instead, it is guided by merit and transparency. Beneficiaries undergo series of screening and vetting processes and procedures through which only the best, produced by these, is taken.

“In the context of this, members of the public should be mindful of attempts by fraudulent persons and groups

to fleece them of their hard earned money. They should rather report to the service any suspicion in this regard,” it said.

The agency warned those engaged in misleading acts of raising false recruitment alerts or defraud i n g others to desist from such or be ready to face the full wrath of t h e l a w. “ S o f a r, t h e s e r v i c e is sustaining efforts o n c l amping down on the activities of fake job syndicates illegally using its name to deceive and scam the public,” it said.

WEDNESDAY JANUARY 6, ͺ͸ͺ͹˾ T H I S D AY

46

WEDNESDAYSPORTS

Group Sports Editor ßÜÙ ÕÒËäßËÑÌÏ Email ÎßÜÙ˛ÓÕÒËäßËÑÌÏ̶ÞÒÓÝÎËãÖÓàÏ˛ÍÙ× ͸΀͹͹ ͹΀͹ ͻ͸΀ͻ

C A F C O N F E D E R AT I O N C U P

Rivers Utd’s Clash with Bloemfontein Celtic Runs into Troubled Waters

NCDC wants 14-day quarantine for the S’Africans * NFF writes CAF Enyimba in make or mar clash with Sudan’s Al Merriekh today in Aba

Duro Ikhazuagbe Rivers United’s dream of consolidating their CAF Confederation Cup campaign against Bloemfontein Celtic today after winning the first leg 2-0 in South Africa last December has run into troubled waters.

The reverse fixture scheduled to hold this afternoon at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium in Port Harcourt has been put on hold due to the refusal of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) to grant waiver to allow Celtic’s 70-man contingent to fly into the country.

Because of the new variant

of the Covid-19 prevalent in South Africa said to be easy to spread, the Nigerian health authorities insisted that the entire contingent needs 14 days quarantine in the country to ascertain their health status before being allowed to play Rivers United FC in the second leg of the qualification round for the group stage.

However, with this twist in the matter, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) had to write CAF on Monday, asking the continental football authorities to reschedule the match for another date in a neighboring country to Nigeria that will allow the South Africans fly into their territory to play the match.

NFF highlighted its constraints in the letter signed by its General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi. “We are asking for the postponement of the game and a possible rescheduling of both the date and venue of the match, with the possibility of staging the match in any Nigeria neigbouring countries with a little less stringent Covid-19 protocols.”

However, given the precedent set in similar situation during the outbreak of the Ebola pandemic, there are cause for concern amongst Rivers United fans that CAF may act contrary to the wishes of the Nigerian federation despite the first leg advantage.

A CAF Spokesman, Alexandre Siewe, confirmed that the match will not hold today as scheduled. He

insisted that “the case will be submitted to the competent body within CAF to decide on the appropriate course of action to follow.”

It is this “course of action to follow” that is creating anxiety in Rivers United Camp at the moment.

Nigeria’s other team in CAF’s Champions League, Enyimba will face Sudan’s Al Merriekh in Aba, hoping

to upturn the 3-0 deficit they suffered in Omdurman a fortnight ago.

If the Aba Elephant are able to cancel out the threegoal deficit, penalty shoot out would be resorted to determine which of the two teams will proceed to the lucrative Group Stage of the competition. Enyimba are twotime champions of Africa’s foremost club competition.

WA F U B U - 1 7 TO U R N A M E N T

Nigeria, Cote d’Ivoire in Fierce Battle for Three Points in Lome Five-time world champions, Nigeria and Cote d’Ivoire will file out for the first match of Group B of the West African Football Union (WAFU) B Tournament this evening with both teams looking to pick up the three points at stake in Lome’s Stade Municipal.

With the Group B having only three teams and each to play only two matches, it is a more difficult prospect and any team that loses its first game is on knife-edge and could be staring down the barrel of elimination from Match Day One. Nigeria’s Head Coach, Fatai Amoo, is confident his rookies can step up to the billing with bookmakers believing the five-time world champions are favourites to take the lead in a pool that has two-time world champions Ghana as the other contenders.

“We know what we are in for – it is not going to be a stroll. This is a fierce competition going by the calibre of opponents we have to battle right from the group stage. However,

if we must qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations, we have to conquer all on our way to get there.

“Our focus is to get a good result from the first game and then consolidating as the tournament progresses. We are here for business; we will not under-rate any team or think there is a team that is too tough to conquer. Our objective on Wednesday is the three points at stake and then we take things from there.”

Three points on Wednesday would set the Eaglets on a good bounce at the tournament that always serves as qualifying competition for this year’s CAF U17 Cup of Nations taking place in the north African kingdom of Morocco.

It will also serve as a morale-booster ahead of the potentially explosive clash with arch rivals Ghana at the same venue on Saturday.

Both countries have seven cadet world titles between them, and clashes between them at any level usually have an extra edge.

Rivers United players are now at the mercy of CAF to determine their fate in the Confederation Cup after the NCDC refused Bloemfontein Celtic contingent to fly into Lagos

Oshoala Leads Barca Femeni in Historic Trip to Camp Nou Femi Solaja Super Falcons Captain, Asisat Oshoala and her Femeni Barçelona teammates will have a date with history tonight when they play their first ever match at the famous Camp Nou stadium, the home ground of the men’s team.

After the mandatory winter break, Barca Femeni will play their first league match of 2020/2021 season against Espanyol Ladies tonight at the stadium to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the first match played by the ladies.

Before now, Barca Femeni play all their home matches at the Estadio Johan Cruyff but will make a temporary

relocation to the iconic Camp Nou to commemorate that first women’s Selecció Ciutat Barcelona -considered the ‘embryo’ of Barça’s women’s football setup- played there on December 25th, 1970.

According to information on Barcelona’s website, www. fcbarcelona, recalled how on Christmas day 1970, the Barça pioneers, under the name Selecció Ciutat Barcelona coached by legendary former goalkeeper, Antoni Ramallets, played a match against Unió Esportiva Centelles. That game was a prelude to the first team match against CSKA Sofía.

That match at the Camp Nou which ended in a goalless draw, took place in front of 60,000 fans. It became

part of Barça Women’s history -even though at that time they could not wear the club colours or use the club name, as they were not officially part of it.

With the match against Espanyol at the Camp Nou tonight, Barça Femeni will once again be protagonists in a historic milestone.

The players will do so as a professional team, the result of the club’s 2015 commitment to promoting women’s football.

So far in the ongoing season, Oshoala has continued to make headlines with Barca Femeni after winning all their 10 matches with 30 maximum points in the bag as they hope to retain the league title.

Oshoala who scored a goal and made two assists in the last match was the hero again as Barcelona Femeni walloped RC Deportivo 6-1.

The Nigeria star who started the last match against Sevilla from the bench won her place back in the starting line-up and made it count with two goals.

She netted her first goal in the 26th minute before completing her brace in the 49th minute of the encounter.

Oshoala has now scored five goals in Femeni’s last three matches.

The Barça ladies are expected to wear a patch on their shirts tonight to commemorate the milestone of 50 years ago.

NOC Mourns Late Eddie Aderinokun

Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets at training ahead of today’s clash with Cote d’Ivoire

The Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) President, Habu Gumel, has reacted to the news of the death of former President of the Nigeria Volleyball Federation, Eddie Aderinokun.

In a condolence message sent to the Aderinokun family yesterday, Gumel described the death of the former journalist as great loss to the sporting world.

“This is a great loss to the sporting family in Nigeria.

Otunba Aderinokun was an astute sports administrator and a journalist par excellence,” recalled Gumel in the condolence message.

“Otunba, a former President of the Nigeria Volleyball Federation did his best for the development of the game before I succeeded him. He proved his mettle in other

spheres of life and his legacies remains forever,” the NOC president further noted of the Aderinokun who changed the face of the sports through an aggressive marketing drive that made the sport to rival football during his tenure.

“On behalf of the Patrons, members of the Nigeria Olympic Committee, we commiserate with his immediate family and the

volleyball community on this sad and irreparable loss. May the Lord give the family the fortitude to bear the loss,” concludes Gumel.

According to a statement released by Chief Kayode Aderinokun, brother of the late sports administrator, Otunba Aderinokun he died on 3rd of January, 2021 following a brief illness aged 80 years.

47

WEDNESDAY JANUARY 6, ͺ͸ͺ͹˾ T H I S D AY

WEDNESDAYSPORTS

2020 TOP SPORTS AWARDS IN A DIFFICULTYEAR

A

t the end of each year everyone always expect to review how well sports people have performed during the year. This is often the tradition. Obviously this year has been different but still we have individuals and groups that have helped to influence invents through their sports one way or the other. As my last write up for the year, I want to present those that deserved various honours as the year rounds up based on my non-scientific public poll.

Corporate Sponsor of the Year The year has seen some companies step up to help sports in spite of all the problems. However in the midst of uncertainty, Aiteo has been faithful to Nigerian Football. Putting more money in the game and making sure the women are not left out. For this, they win this award clearly.

Administrator of the year In a year where it was almost impossible to do anything there were some administrators that stood up to be counted. Francis Orbih has been incredible in lifting Badminton in Nigeria and making them very competitive in Nigeria while keeping them engaged during the pandemic

with seminars and training.

However for stabilizing the issues off the field and bringing so much to the game in terms of success on the field and support of it despite the internal issues inherited, Musa Kida wins marginally as the administrator of the year.

Sports Innovation of the year In a year where everyone had to improvise to succeed, there had been a dearth of innovation especially in Nigerian Sports which had left athletes and events in limbo. However road running which seems to be growing in Nigeria still had events taking place even as the pandemic threatened all activities.

One of the reasons for this was the introduction of Virtual running where everyone could take part in a race and just be monitored by a simple app on their phones. This was introduced

by Bukola Olapade, the former Commissioner of Sports in Ogun State as a preparation for the Accessbank Lagos City marathon next year in case we are still in the midst of COVID -19, but was first implemented by Tayo Popoola in the Lagos Women Run this year. For this landmark break through, they share this award as 2020 sports innovators in Nigeria.

Sports Marketer of the Year

Here the winner was clear and unanimous in the poll conducted. In the best of times, getting sponsorship for popular sports like football and even the Olympics has been very difficult in Nigeria but here in the height of the pandemic, when companies are scaling down on budgets and some are just merely trying to survive, Nilayo Sports has continued to increase their sponsorship drives and support

Francis Orbih...giving badminton a new meaning in Nigeria

for a not too popular sports of road running by adding to their events. With the Accessbank Lagos City Marathon becoming Nigeria’s biggest sporting event annually with over a billion naira in sponsorship, it added more sponsorship to the event in Kenyan Airways. Some other events too were introduced with sponsorships running into hundreds of millions of Naira.

The Remo Marathon, Ijebu Ode and the Kaduna Half Marathon.

It seems Nilayo Sports led by its CEO, Bukola Olapade have the midas touch for marketing

as anything they touch brings forth naira. After sharing the innovation awards, Bukola Olapade and Nilayo win this by a mile.

Sportsperson of the year Some footballers got mention here because of the involvement in the game in Europe and their influence against social justice.

Asisat Oshoala has been in incredible form for Barcelona while Odion Ighalo resurrected his winding down career with a surprise move to Manchester United in England and became an instant success as a squad player.

However his voice against social justice at the sad day on October 20 when after his side’s Champions League match in Paris, he spoke against the violence meted on peaceful protesters in Lekki Nigeria put him on a platform transcending just sports. Using the occasion to bring the voice of the oppressed to the world attention. This was noble and courageous. However the Sports person of the year is one who has continued to excel in competitions and seems our loudest claim to a medal in Tokyo next year, Odunayo Adekuoroye.

The 27 year old wrestler won Gold in the African Wrestling Championship and sealed her qualification to the Olympics

with magnificent performances.

She is fast becoming the golden touch bearer of Nigerian Sports.

Hall of Fame Two great footballers were nominated here.

Daniel Amokachi for his appointment as a Presidential adviser and Joseph Yobo. However the award went to the Minister of Sports Sunday Dare and the Sports Industry Thematic Group of the Nigeria Economic Summit Group (NESG) for their breakthrough work in creating the Nigerian Sport Industry Policy. One that would completely revolutionize sports in Nigeria both in participation and revenue when fully in operation.

The impact would be felt way beyond just sports but hopefully in the national economy.

Hall of Shame This mention (we cannot call it an award) is to one who has embarrassed us and done badly or below expectation during the year. Some mention were to the Nigeria Football Federation especially for ‘rewarding’ the mediocrity of Gernot Rohr, the Super Eagle coach with a new contract which even includes a protection fee of 2 million dollars in newspaper reports are to be believed.

Also mentioned was The League Management Company (LMC) for being unable to organize a proper league and for seeming having bumps on the way to make our league more competitive and successful on the continent.

But the Hall of Shame goes to Alhaji Shehu Gusau and his rejected Athletics Federation of Nigeria board for putting selfinterest ahead of the interest of the sport. While he fights to keep his position in a board that obviously rejects him, his opposition to settlement, undemocratic decisions and his divisional stance have stunted the growth of athletics in the country. While athletes crave for support and competition, his attention has been in the national court suing to try and legitimatize his position. It has been counterproductive for athletes as a whole as there still remains uncertainty in the running of the Sport in Nigeria.

* Enefiok is an author, Speaker, administrator, Life coach, businessman and Nigeria’s ONLY Male two Time Olympic Medalist

CARABAO CUP

Solskjaer Vows to Banish S’final Defeats Against City Tonight Manchester United’s Manager, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, has said that there will be “no excuses” if his team lose their fourth semi-final in 12 months.

The Red Devils will play Manchester City at Old Trafford tonight in a rematch of last season’s Carabao Cup semi-final.

Pep Guardiola’s men triumphed on their way to winning the trophy for a third successive year.

Solskjaer’s side also lost in an FA Cup semi-final to Chelsea and to Sevilla in the Europa League last four.

“We have developed a lot in the last 12 months from last season’s EFL Cup semi-final,” stressed Solskjaer.

“It is not just a case of learning how to win them, it is earning the right to go all the way. But we are confident

and we are in good form.

There are no excuses.”

United have won eight out of their last 10 Premier League games, a run that, following Liverpool’s surprise defeat at Southampton, means they will go top of the table if they avoid defeat at Burnley on 12 January.

Within that unbeaten run, there was a drab, goalless draw with City at Old Trafford.

That game does form part of a decent record for Solskjaer in meetings with Guardiola.

In their six encounters, the Norwegian has come out on top on three occasions, opposed to two successes for the former Barcelona boss.

And, with suspended forward Edinson Cavani the only significant absentee, United are justified in fancying

their chances, even if City go into the game on the back of their best performance of the season at Chelsea.

“You never know what kind of system Pep’s going to come up with but you know you’ve got to defend really well against City,” Solskjaer said.

“It’s hard to keep the ball in their half because they find a way of overloading, so you’ve got to be brave and compact and trust your players.”

Solskjaer is aware of the extra scrutiny top-flight football is now under given the new lockdown measures that have been imposed on virtually all members of society.

He says clubs have to accept the privileged position they are in and ensure there is no reason for the government to

revisit it.

“It is a difficult situation for everyone,” he said. “It is hard.

“We are privileged to be

able to play and hopefully we can continue. It is a release to watch games but we have to work hard to

stay within the guidelines.

We are doing our best to keep the show on the road.”

The Manchester Derby to light up the semi final stage of the Carabao Cup tonight as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer (left) attempts to exorcise the ghost of defeat against Pep Guardiola ‘s men at same stage last season

Klopp Laments Penalty Chances after Shock Defeat at Southampton

Premier League Confirms 40 Covid-19 Cases in One Week

Liverpool’s Manager, Jurgen Klopp, has insisted that it was baffling that the Premier League champions were not awarded a penalty in Monday’s 1-0 loss at Southampton. He claimed other teams would not have been denied by the officials.

Liverpool fell behind to a second-minute lob by former striker Danny Ings and had a penalty claim dismissed when Georginio Wijnaldum’s shot from inside the box was blocked by the hand of Jack Stephens.

The league leaders were left frustrated again when

The Premier League has announced 40 players and club staff have tested positive for coronavirus over the past week - more than double the previous weekly high.

After previously testing once a week, the Premier League conducted 2,295 tests across two rounds over the past week.

Between 28 and 31 December, there were 28 new positive tests and 12 more found between 1 and 3 January.

The previous high was 18 positive results from 21 to 27 December.

“With low numbers of positive tests across the overwhelming majority of clubs, the league continues to

Kyle Walker-Peters went unpunished after bringing down Sadio Mane in the penalty area.

“The best situations we had were with Sadio having the ball at his feet,” Klopp told Sky Sports. “For anyone to say he’s a diver is the biggest joke...He had two situations where other teams would get a penalty.

“The handball, I don’t know who will explain that to me. In these situations, we were unfortunate...I hear Manchester United had more penalties in two years than I had in 5-1/2 years. I have no idea if

that’s my fault, or how that can happen.

“But it’s no excuse for the performance.

We cannot change it; we have to respect the decisions. We can change our performance. That’s our focus now.”

Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher said the club had forgotten how to play in the final minutes of games after going three league matches without a win.

“I didn’t see that coming, I expected a reaction on the back of two poor performances. We’ve just seen another one,” Carragher told Sky Sports.

have confidence in its Covid-19 protocols, fully backed by the government, to enable fixtures to be played as scheduled,” said the Premier League.

The latest results mark an increase in the rate of positive tests. In the latest round, 1.74% of those tested were found to be positive.

The 18 positive tests recorded between 21 and 27 December came from 1,479 tests, a rate of 1.22%.

Under Premier League regulations, players and club staff who test positive must self-isolate for 10 days.

Three matches in the English top flight were called off last week because of coronavirus outbreaks at individual clubs.

Manchester City’s trip to Everton on 28 December was called off after full-back Kyle Walker and striker Gabriel Jesus tested positive.

City’s match at Chelsea on Sunday went ahead despite four more members of Pep Guardiola’s squad - goalkeeper Ederson, defender Eric Garcia, forward Ferran Torres and midfielder Tommy Doyle returning positive results.

Two Fulham away matches were also postponed - at Tottenham on 30 December and Burnley on 3 January.

Fulham said the matches were cancelled after a “significant number” of positive cases at the club.

Wednesday January 6, 2021

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MISSILE

FG to ICC “It beggars belief to see that a nation that is fighting an existential war against bandits and terrorists is constantly being held down by an international body, which it willingly joined” – Minister of Information Lai Mohammed accusing the ICC and some human rights organisations of colluding against the government’s efforts to tackle insecurity.

KAYODEKOMOLAFE Attacking Wrong Targets T THE HORIZON

hhe Buhari administration told its critics two days ago that “enough is enough” on the observations that Nigeria might have become a “failed state.”

A trend is emerging in the rhetorical war waged against opponents and critics by the Buhari administration: the muscular offensive is targeted at the critical voices instead of smashing the problem.

The other day, the President himself descended on “irresponsible activists” in a speech he made at a ministerial retreat.

In a stout defence of the federal government this time round, Information Minister Lai Mohammed called out The Hague-based International Criminal Court (ICC), human rights bodies especially Amnesty International and “jaundiced analysts and their lapdogs,” accusing them of posing as a “fighting force” against Nigeria.

The minister put it like this: “Nigeria is fending off attacks on many fronts, not just from terrorists and bandits, but also from some human rights organisations and the International Criminal Court (ICC), which seem to have colluded to exacerbate the challenges facing the country in the area of security.”

In the books of the government of President Muhammadu Buhari, these external organisations are, in some respects, guilty of working against the interest of Nigeria as the nation confronts its multi-dimensional crisis.

The administration seems ready for a duel with its traducers.

That’s a pointer to interesting days ahead.

The minister also blames “a section of the local media” that has allegedly “been parroting these organisations without weighing the impact of their constant threats on the security of the nation.”

It is, however, clear from the tone and tenor of the minister’s statement that the administration is actually feeling some external pressures.

After all, Nigeria is not an island unto itself, as they say.

Certainly, these are not easy times to defend a government in Nigeria. The situation of the reputation managers of an administration that is decidedly dysfunctional deserves some sympathy.

Well, that is if you happen to be generous in passing a verdict on them. Unfortunately, many are understandably not charitable to them at all.

This reality could rankle those whose job it is to defend what is happening in Nigeria today.

The Buhari administration may, therefore, wish to learn some lessons from history as it responds to these pressures and, more crucially, confronts the worsening crisis.

By the way, these lessons are not of ancient history. They are lessons of fairly recent history.

About a quarter of a century ago, Nigeria was in a profound crisis under the military regime of the maximum ruler, General Sani Abacha. That regime faced enormous external pressures. Nigeria was a pariah in the international arena.

At this point, it is very important to make some prefatory clarifications. This is by no means an attempt to draw an inappropriate historical parallel between the dark days of Abacha and the present Nigerian condition. The contexts are vastly different from each other. The Nigeria of the Abacha years was not the same as today’s Nigeria despite all the problems. Abacha was a military dictator who incarcerated those who opposed him including the winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, Bashorun Moshood Abiola, while others were killed or forced into exile. Abacha staged a coup to become Head of State. In contradistinction, Buhari has been democratically elected as president twice since 2015. For all the present problems of Nigeria, the Buhari administration cannot be described as a

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Lai Mohammed military regime.

The memory of the Abacha days may not be as distant as it might seem to the younger generation of Nigerians for some intriguing reasons.

In the Buhari administration and the political party of the President, the All Progressives Congress (APC), you would, in fact, find some political figures who were part of the Abacha regime on the one hand and those implacably opposed to Abacha till the end on the other hand. It would be interesting to see how the inter-play of forces inherent in this veiled political admixture would play out in the nearest future. Meanwhile, it can be safely said that the Abacha story should still be fresh in the memory of some of those in power and some who are prominent in today’s politics.

One of the lessons of history to be learnt from the Abacha years is that a government should solve the problem rather than focus on attacking the critics.

For those who prefer to target the critics and opponents instead of the problems in launching their political offensives, a 1995 publication of the Kaduna State government is hereby recommended.

It is entitled Not in Our Character: Proceedings of the National Seminar on the Appraisal of the Social and Moral Image of the Nigerian Society. It was in response to those the Abacha administration would probably regard as a “fighting force” destroying the image of Nigeria at that critical time especially the Nigerian and foreign media.

Remarkably, Abacha himself wrote the forward

The ICC, human rights bodies including Amnesty International and the media are not the enemies of Nigeria.

The issues are worsening insecurity, mass poverty and inequality

0805 500 1974

to the book. The conference, in which the papers published in the book were presented, was organised jointly by the Kaduna State Government, the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) and the New Nigerian Newspapers Ltd. The venue was the State House, Kaduna. The military governor of Kaduna at that time, Col. Lawal Ja’afar Isa, was the chief host. He wrote the preface and, in fact, edited the 297-page publication. The minister of information at the time, Dr. Walter Ofonagoro, of course, gave the keynote address that is also embodied in the book.

Some of those who participated in the conference as paper presenters, discussants and sub-thematic committee members at the conference have played prominent roles in this civil dispensation since 1999. Participants were drawn from every part of the country. In fact, a number of them are still playing prominent roles in government (at various tiers) and in democratic institutions.

The preoccupation of the conferees was the image of Nigeria with the following sub-themes: “Nigeria’s image and Home and Abroad;” the Media and National Development;” Social and Moral Values;” and Media Imperialism, Nigeria and the International World.”

The conference took place three months after the arrest of a former Head of state at the time, General Olusegun Obasanjo, his deputy ,General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua, and a host of other officers on allegations of coup plotting.

Before then, the winner of the June 12 presidential election, Abiola, and a number of those fighting for the revalidation of the election had also been incarcerated.

There was clearly a political impasse in the country known to the whole world.

The conferees ignored the gravity of the crisis while lampooning Nigerian and foreign media for damaging the image of the country.

The communique did not address the political crisis that defined Nigeria at the time.

The conference only recommended that the Abacha regime should make “known its intention towards the nation to democratic governance early.”

No mention was made of the unjust detentions, killings and threats to the lives of critics. The communique did not call for the release of those incarcerated.

This was despite the fact that former agriculture minister, Mallam Adamu Ciroma, offered his own conflict resolution formular in his paper on “Western Media and the Nigerian Image.” He called on Abacha to release of Abiola. He also asked Abiola to renounce the June 12 mandate with the freedom to contest subsequent elections.

Reverend Father Hassan Mathew Kukah (as he then was) said : “The resolution of June 12 is not going happen when one side believes it has won the lingering impasse… We must find other ways of resolving the crisis of June 12.

Whatever victories we may win now may just be pyrrhic victories.” He called for the “courage to be sincere in our pursuit of righteousness and justice.”

Kukah did not mention Abiola in name in his paper entitled “Political Stability, the Leadership Question and the Inevitability of Instability.” He only made a veiled reference to Abacha and Abiola when he said : “In fact, President de Klerk did not have to go back to the courts to set Mr. Nelson Mandela free. He realised that his freedom and that of his nation was tied to the imprisonment of Mr. Mandela” On human rights, the conference concluded as follows : “There is the danger that the adoption of accusations of constant abuses of human rights in Nigeria amongst its anti-Nigerian war arsenal by hostile western interests will further complicate efforts to genuinely protect the concept and protection

of human rights.” The human rights climate in the country was whitewashed.

Other snippets in the book could also be instructive.

For instance former minister of communication, Dr. Ibrahim Tahir, spoke on the “Transformation of Nigerian Social and Moral Values.” Tahir was unsparing of the political class, business class, media elite and the intellectual elite. However, he was soft on the military in power at the time. Here is what he said of the military: “… Better educated about the state and better prepared professionally for its duties than almost any class, loosing cohesion due to stresses brought about by nascent and overt prytonianism, cliquism, cohortism… Benefitted from a return to esteem after Nov 17, 1993 (the date of the infamous Abacha coup) and the success at stabilising the country thereafter but risk being identified with the excessive hardship now plaguing ordinary people.” Tahir, a very brilliant sociologist, praised Abacha for stability while the country was at the risk of disintegration.

Instead of attacking the crisis facing the regime at the time, those who took up the task of the image-laundering were flaunting the achievements of the Abacha regime. They told the world that the criticisms against the regime were “not in our character” and that Nigeria was solving its problems in its own way.

Until Abacha died three years after the publication of Not in Our Character, Nigerians and the rest of the world saw that the socio-political and economic crisis defined the national character of Nigeria.

However, with the restoration of civil rule in 1999, the political crisis was resolved in a way.

Consequently, the administration of President Olusegun Obasanjo did not have to contend with any image problem or foreign bodies constituting a “a fighting force” against Nigeria.

The lesson of history here is obvious: managing the reputation of a country without solving the underlying problem causing the poor image is ultimately futile.

The ICC, human rights bodies including Amnesty International and the media are not the enemies of Nigeria. The issues are worsening insecurity, mass poverty and inequality.

Nigerians would, perhaps, not bother about what any foreign body or power says if the armed forces, police and other security agencies could keep their country secure. In fact, there would be no report for ICC to work upon or Amnesty International to spread if Buhari had fulfilled his electoral promise of securing the nation.

It’s insensitive to be telling a nation in which farmers are slaughtered on their farms and children abducted from schools that security is improving because bombs have not been exploded by mass murderers in recent times.

For instance, the image makers would find it difficult to convince the people of Zabarmari and Kankara that the security situation has improved in recent years. Dwelling on the relativity of disasters before the victims of insecurity does not show enough emotional intelligence.

The government should stop aiming at the wrong targets in launching its offensives. Instead the government should attack hunger, ignorance and disease. It should wage war against terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, armed robbery.

The crisis of Nigeria is primarily that of governance. This should be the right target of any offensive.

The offensive could be launched in the right direction by means of running a functional and cohesive administration and managing the economy in a more competent manner. The atmosphere for this would, of course, be created by tackling insecurity with greater accountability and honesty of purpose.

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