THURSDAY 6TH JANUARY 2022

2023: Identity of My Successor Remains a Secret, Says Buhari Says he will sign electoral bill, if N'Assembly includes consensus option, indirect primaries Declares state police not an option in tackling insecurity President’s aversion to state police means he’s comfortable with insecurity, posits Ayu Deji Elumoye, Emmanuel Addeh and Udora Orizu in Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari,

yesterday, revealed that he had his own agenda regarding the person that would succeed him, but he would be playing his cards close

to his chest until the 2023 general election because he did not want the fellow eliminated before his time.

Buhari spoke during an interview

on Channels Television.

He promised to assent to the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill only if the National Assembly

removed the clause mandating political parties to conduct their election primaries directly. He had declined assent to the bill last

month, saying it is undemocratic to constrain political parties to Continued on page 47

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Budget Highlights: FG Introduces 6% Tax on Digital Services, Non-resident Companies Sugar tax now on all non-alcoholic, carbonated beverages Plans fuel subsidy removal for second half of 2022 Restates readiness to conduct national census FIRS generated N6.4trn in 2021 Independent revenue collections surpassed N1trn last year Obinna Chima in Lagos; Ndubuisi Francis and James Emejo in Abuja The federal government yesterday disclosed that henceforth it would charge offshore companies

providing digital services to local customers in Nigeria a six per cent tax on turnover as provided in the 2021 Finance Act. The Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs. Zainab

Ahmed, disclosed this during the public presentation and breakdown of the 2022 budget held in Abuja.

Also, Ahmed disclosed that as of November 2021, the government had surpassed all collections for

its independent revenues from 2017 to date, which according to her reflected the performance of government’s revenue growth initiatives.

“We have now for the first

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time surpassed the 1 trillion mark collection for independent revenues (N1.104tn) collected as at November against a budget target of 973.41bn). Analysts have always considered our projections

unrealistic, but we have always insisted on the potentials that exist to grow FGN independent revenues,” she revealed.

Continued on page 5

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Source: Ministry of Finance, Budget & National Planning

Ibadan Kingmakers Endorse Balogun as New Olubadan, Say No Judgment will Stop Him... Page 45

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THURSDAY JANUARY 6, 2022 •T H I S D AY

THURSDAY JANUARY 6, 2022 • T H I S D AY

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THURSDAY JANUARY 6, 2022 •T H I S D AY

5

THURSDAY, ;˜ ͺ͸ͺͺ ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS BUDGET HIGHLIGHTS: FG INTRODUCES 6% TAX ON DIGITAL SERVICES, NON-RESIDENT COMPANIES Speaking further on the tax on digital services, she explained that it includes apps, high frequency trading, electronic data storage and online advertising, adding that, "this is introducing turnover tax on a fair and reasonable basis."

The new policy is contained in Section 30 of the Finance Act which amended the provisions of Section 10, 31 and 14 on VAT obligations for non-resident digital companies.

Ahmed said, “Section 30 of the Finance Act designed to amend section 10, 31 and 14 of VAT is in relations to VAT obligations for non-resident digital companies and the mechanism that will be used is to restrict VAT obligations mainly

to digital non-resident companies who supply individuals in Nigeria who can’t themselves self-account for VAT. “So if you visit Amazon, we are expecting Amazon to add VAT charge to whatever transaction you are paying for. I am using Amazon as an example. We are going to be working with Amazon to be registered as a tax agent for the FIRS. “So Amazon will now collect this payment and remit to FIRS and this is in line with global best practices, we have been missing out on this stream of revenue.

According to her, the new law applies to foreign companies that provide digital services such as

apps, high-frequency trading, electronic data storage, online and advertising, among others.

She noted that in line with Section 4 of the Finance Act, non-resident companies are now expected to pay tax at six per cent per cent on their turnover.

The minister who stated that the government was desirous of modernising taxes for its digital economy and to improve compliance, noted that digital non-resident companies do not need to be registered locally but would have an arrangement with the Federal Inland Revenue Services(FIRS) to collect and remit taxes in a bid to reduce the compliance burden.

She also disclosed that the

federal government has introduced an excise duty of N10 per litre on all non-alcoholic, carbonated and sweetened beverages in the country.

The minister stated that the charge on beverages was also a new policy introduced in the Finance Act which was signed into law by President Muhammadu Buhari on December 31, 2021, alongside the 2022 Appropriation Bill.

The minister pointed out that the new sugar tax was introduced to raise excise duties and revenues for health-related and other critical expenditures in line with the 2022 budget priorities.

The aimed according to her,

was to also discourage excessive consumption of sugar in beverages, which contributed to diabetes, obesity and other diseases adding that the Finance Act had also raised excise duties and revenues for the health sector.

She also said that a provision had been made under the Act to reinforce the FIRS mandate as the principal tax collection agency while collaborating with other law enforcement Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

Speaking further, Ahmed expressed the preparedness of the federal government to conduct the national population and housing census, which was last held in Nigeria over 15 years ago.

Ahmed had in November last year disclosed that the sum of N178.09 billion had been approved for the national population census in the 2022 budget.

The minister disclosed that necessary budgetary allocation had been made and every machinery put in motion to conduct the exercise, adding that it was left for the National Population Commission (NPC) to draw up a timetable.

Ahmed also revealed that Nigeria’s independent revenue surpassed the N1 trillion mark in 2021, due to the implementation of the 2020 Finance Act. Continued on page 6

ϮϬϮϮ h ' d͗ Z s Eh ʹ t, Z d, DKE z /^ KD/E' &ZKD͍ Ŷ KǀĞƌǀŝĞǁ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ZĞǀĞŶƵĞ &ƌĂŵĞǁŽƌŬ FISCAL ITEMS AMOUNT AVAILABLE FOR FGN BUDGET (excluding GOEs retained revenue) a Share of Oil Revenue b Dividend NLNG Bank of Industry c Share of Minerals & Mining d Share of Non-Oil Taxes Share of CIT Share of VAT Share of Customs Share of Federation Acct. Levies e Share of Electronic Money Transfer Levy (formerly called Stamp Duty) f Share of Oil Price Royalty g Revenue from GOEs h

GOEs Operating Surplus (80% of which is captured in Independent Revenue)

i Independent Revenue j Draw-down from Special Levies Accounts k Signature Bonus / Renewals / Early Renewals l Domestic Recoveries + Assets + Fines m Grants and Donor Funding n Education Tax (TETFUND) AMOUNT AVAILABLE FOR FGN BUDGET (including GOEs)

2021 Budget Passed

by NASS + 2022 Proj. Passed by Supplementary NASS Budget

VARIANCE

6,772,575,467,981

9,012,414,552,755

2,239,839,084,774

2,011,017,892,674 208,540,960,000 208,540,960,000

3,362,008,316,763 195,716,305,950 187,397,535,000 8,318,770,950 2,915,433,293 2,132,083,163,179 909,302,644,947 316,691,050,420 834,116,601,034 71,972,866,778 29,367,152,138 96,943,894,289 3,306,600,375,927 (1,578,211,097,139)

1,350,990,424,089 (12,824,654,050) (21,143,425,000) 8,318,770,950 265,039,390 643,158,791,148 227,584,352,617 78,264,822,864 325,847,004,197 11,462,611,469 (470,632,847,862) 96,943,894,289 1,132,740,242,829 (753,188,072,001)

2,216,217,091,075 300,000,000,000 280,855,138,079 26,933,139,822 63,376,918,168 305,998,000,000 10,740,803,831,543

1,154,318,500,136 (135,000,000,000) (396,160,373,399) (5,741,945,486) (291,475,743,482) 305,998,000,000 2,619,391,255,602

2,650,393,903 1,488,924,372,031 681,718,292,330 238,426,227,556 508,269,596,837 60,510,255,308 500,000,000,000 2,173,860,133,098 (825,023,025,138) 1,061,898,590,939 435,000,000,000 677,015,511,478 32,675,085,307 354,852,661,650 8,121,412,575,941

Source: Ministry of Finance, Budget & National Planning

ϮϬϮϮ h ' d Z s Eh WZKWK^ >^ ʹ t, Z d, DKE z /^ 'K/E'͍ Ŷ KǀĞƌǀŝĞǁ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ džƉĞŶĚŝƚƵƌĞ &ƌĂŵĞǁŽƌŬ FISCAL ITEMS STATUTORY TRANSFER DEBT SERVICE SINKING FUND RECURRENT (NON-DEBT) a Personnel Costs (MDAs) b Personnel Costs (GOEs) c Overheads (MDAs) d Overheads (GOEs) e Pensions, Gratuities & Retirees Benefits f Other Service Wide Votes (including GAVI/Immunization) g Presidential Amnesty Programme h TETFUND - Recurrent SPECIAL INTERVENTIONS (Recurrent) AGGREGATE CAPITAL EXPENDITURE a Capital Supplementation b Capital Expenditure in Statutory Transfers c Special Intervention Programme (Capital) d Amount Available for MDAs Capital Expenditure e GOEs Capital Expenditure f TETFUND Capital Expenditure g Grants and Donor Funded Projects h Multi-lateral / Bi-lateral Project-tied Loans i FGN Share of Oil Price Royalty Transferred to NSIA Capital Expenditure (Exclusive of Transfers) TOTAL FGN BUDGET (Excluding GOEs & Project-tied Loans) TOTAL FGN BUDGET (Including GOEs & Project-tied Loans)

2021 Budget Passed

by NASS + 2022 Proj. Passed by Supplementary NASS Budget 496,528,471,273 3,124,380,000,000 200,000,000,000 5,765,302,234,844 3,046,464,689,489 701,162,016,535 382,583,509,504 312,081,710,125 504,191,130,679 403,819,178,513 65,000,000,000 350,000,000,000 5,233,596,865,028 763,342,061,374 249,049,989,627 10,000,000,000

869,667,187,543 3,609,241,188,415 270,711,793,135 6,909,849,788,736 3,494,367,075,514 617,724,992,745 371,726,148,777 451,001,890,322 577,862,188,757 966,867,592,621 65,000,000,000 15,299,900,000 350,000,000,000 5,961,066,005,970 455,588,000,000 493,662,046,107 7,000,000,000

2,811,073,054,351 335,593,381,300 354,852,661,650 709,685,716,725 4,984,546,875,401 12,512,234,756,833 14,570,757,581,518

2,750,893,902,177 647,079,937,729 290,698,100,000 63,376,918,168 1,155,823,207,500 96,943,894,289 5,467,403,959,863 14,255,243,889,395 17,126,873,917,692

VARIANCE 373,138,716,270 484,861,188,415 70,711,793,135 1,144,547,553,892 447,902,386,025 (83,437,023,790) (10,857,360,727) 138,920,180,198 73,671,058,078 563,048,414,108 15,299,900,000 727,469,140,942 (307,754,061,374) 244,612,056,480 (3,000,000,000)

(60,179,152,174) 311,486,556,429 290,698,100,000 (291,475,743,482) 446,137,490,775 96,943,894,289 482,857,084,462 1,743,009,132,562 2,556,116,336,174 Source: Ministry of Finance, Budget & Nationalƒƒ Planning

6

THURSDAY, ;˜ ͺ͸ͺͺ ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS BUDGET HIGHLIGHTS: FG INTRODUCES 6% TAX ON DIGITAL SERVICES, NON-RESIDENT COMPANIES

ϮϬϮϮ h ' d Ͳ &/ /d͕ &/E E /E' Θ Z/d/ > Z d/K^ Ŷ KǀĞƌǀŝĞǁ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ĞĨŝĐŝƚ͕ &ŝŶĂŶĐŝŶŐ Θ ƌŝƚŝĐĂů ƌĂƚŝŽƐ 2021 Budget Passed

by NASS + 2022 Proj. Passed by Supplementary NASS Budget

FISCAL ITEMS Total Fiscal Deficit (including GOEs and Project-tied Loans) GDP DEFICIT/GDP (including GOEs and Project-tied Loans) Capital Expenditure as % of Non-Debt Expenditure Capital Expenditure as % of total FGN Expenditure Capital Expenditure (Inclusive of Transfers, but exclusive of GOEs Capital & Projecttied loans) as % of FGN Expenditure Recurrent Expenditure as % of total FGN Exp (incl. GOEs + Project-tied Loans) Debt Service to Revenue Ratio (incl. GOEs + Project-tied Loans) Deficit as % of FGN Revenue (incl. GOEs + Project-tied Loans) ADDITIONAL FINANCING a Sales of Government Property b Privatization Proceeds c Non-Oil Asset Sales d Multi-lateral / Bi-lateral Project-tied Loans e Restructured Loans f Foreign Aid / Grant (in Cash) g

New Borrowings Domestic Borrowing Foreign Borrowing

Sub-Total

VARIANCE

(6,449,345,005,577) 142,694,417,135,112 (4.52%) 47% 36%

(6,386,070,086,148) 184,381,975,950,038 (3.46%) 45% 35%

63,274,919,429 41,687,558,814,926 1.06% (2%) (1%)

33%

29%

(4%)

64% 38% 79%

65% 34% 59%

1% (5%) (20%)

205,153,707,813 709,685,716,725 39,627,660,000 6,000,000,000

90,731,800,000 1,155,823,207,500 -

(114,421,907,813) 446,137,490,775 (39,627,660,000) (6,000,000,000)

5,488,877,921,039 2,744,438,960,519

5,139,515,078,648 2,569,757,539,324

(349,362,842,390) (174,681,421,195)

2,744,438,960,519

2,569,757,539,324

(174,681,421,195)

6,449,345,005,577

6,386,070,086,148

(63,274,919,429)

Overall budget deficit is N6.39 tn for 2022. This represents 3.46% of GDP. Budget deficit is to be financed mainly by borrowings:

Domestic sources: N2.57 tn Foreign sources: N2.57 tn Multi-lateral /bi-lateral loan drawdowns: N1.16 tn And Privatisation Proceeds – N90.7 bn

Source: Ministry of Finance, Budget & National Planning

On fuel subsidy, the minister said as provided by the Petroleum Industry Act, all petroleum products must be deregulated.

Flowing from this, she said subsidy was provided for subsidy up to June after which full deregulation comes on stream.

The minister stated that subsidy was provided up to June to allow ongoing consultations with various stakeholders, including organised labour to be concluded On how to mitigate the impact of the subsidy removal, Zainab said a committee set up by government to work out measures that would cushion the effect on Nigerians, especially the vulnerable ones would make recommendations on the way out.

President Muhammadu Buhari had signed the 2022 Appropriation Bill of N17.13 trillion into law on December 31, 2021 having laid the proposal before the National Assembly on October 7, 2021.

The president had also signed the 2021 finance bill into law on same day.

The two chambers had increased the spending plan by N735.8 billion from the proposed N16.391tn to N17.126 trillion. They had also raised the oil benchmark from $57 per barrel proposed by the executive to $62.

The National Assembly had also fixed oil production at 1.88 million barrels per day, exchange rate at N410.15 to the dollar, GDP at 4.2 percent and inflation at 13 percent.

In his presentation, the Executive Chairman, Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Mr. Muhammad Nami, disclosed that about N6.4 trillion was collected by as taxes by the service last year.

Also, in his virtual presentation, the Group Managing Director Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mr. Mele Kyari, said the country now produces 1.74 million barrels of crude oil per day.

But he said the security situation in the country had cut the figures to 1.5 million barrels about three months ago before the latest improvement.

He said, "Three months ago we came down to 1.5 million barrels per day because of security issues and we are responding to it.

“As of today production has

CRITICAL SECTORAL ALLOCATIONS IN 2022 BUDGET Education Sector N1.234 trillion

N815.69bn Amount provisioned for Federal Ministry of Education and its agencies (Recurrent & Capital expenditure)

N112.29bn

N306.00bn

Amount provisioned for Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC)

Transfers to the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) for infrastructure projects in Tertiary institutions Source: Ministry of Finance, Budget & National Planning

increased to 1.74 million barrels per day and there are ongoing interventions to better the situation on security.

“The expectations are that within the month, we will get to 1.8 million barrels per day and exceed the limit within the year."

2021 BUDGET PERFORMANCE

In a presentation, the Minister disclosed that as at November 2021, federal government’s aggregate revenue was N5.51 trillion, which was 74 per cent of its target for the fiscal year.

The federal government’s share of oil revenues was N970.3 billion (representing 53% performance of the prorated sum in the 2021 budget), while federal government’s

share of non-oil tax revenues totalled N1.62 trillion (118.8% over and above the target).

Also, Companies Income Tax (CIT) and Value Added Tax (VAT) collections were N718.58 billion and N360.56 billion, representing 115 per cent and 165 per cent respectively of the prorata targets for the period. In 2021, Customs collections was N542.11 billion (104% of the target), while other revenues amounted to N2.8 trillion, of which the federal government’s independent revenues was N1.1 trillion while Government Owned Entities’ (GOEs’) retained revenues was N1.20 trillion On the expenditure side, she revealed that N12.56 trillion (or 94.1%) had been spent out of the N13.57 trillion prorata budget.

This performance was inclusive

of expenditure estimates of the GOEs but exclusive of Project-tied Loans.

Of the expenditure, N4.20 trillion was for debt service, and N3.02 trillion for personnel cost, including pensions.

As at November 2021, the federal government has expended N3.40 trillion for capital budget. Of this, N2.98 trillion represented 83 per cent of the provision for Ministries, Departments and Agencies’ (MDAs’) capital, N369.9 billion for multilateral/bilateral Project-tied loans, and N49.52 billion as GOEs capital expenditure

2022 BUDGET KEY ASSUMPTION, ESTIMATES

Zainab pointed out that the 2022 budget seeks to continue the

reflationary policies of the 2020 and 2021 budgets of the government, which according to her, helped put the economy back on the path of recovery and growth.

“The 2022 Budget was prepared taking into consideration the policies/strategies contained in the 2022–2024 Medium Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper (MTEF/FSP).

“The Budget was prepared using the Zero-Based Budgeting (ZBB) approach and in line with the government’s development priorities, as articulated in the National Development Plan (NDP) 2021-2025. Allocations to MDAs were guided by the core objectives of the NDP 2021 - 2025.

“The plan, with an investment size of N348.1 trillion, will be funded by the federal, state

governments and the private sector. The 2022 federal government budget is the first key public sector contribution to implementing the plan,” she explained.

In terms of its key assumptions in the area of crude oil production, Ahmed noted that although Nigeria’s total production capacity was 2.5 mbpd, current (year to date) crude production was about 1.4mbpd (slightly short of the OPEC+ production quota), and an additional 300,000bpd of condensates, totaling about 1.6mbpd.

The Energy Information Administration (EIA) expects that global oil production would increase to match rising levels of global oil consumption.

OPEC crude production was projected to average 28.34 million

7

THURSDAY, ;˜ ͺ͸ͺͺ ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS BUDGET HIGHLIGHTS: FG INTRODUCES 6% TAX ON DIGITAL SERVICES, NON-RESIDENT COMPANIES barrels per day in 2022 higher than 26.94 million barrels per day forecast for 2021.

“We projected our base oil price at $57/bbl in 2022 in consultation with NNPC and other stakeholders. This was premised on the averages of forecasts by leading institutions, factors driving market fundamentals, global economic recovery, plans by governments and market sentiments.

“However, the National Assembly increased the proposed 2022 oil price benchmark of $57pbl to $62pbl. World Bank forecasts that crude oil prices will average $74pb in 2022 as oil demand strengthens and reaches pre-pandemic levels.

The EIA expects Brent prices to average $70.05 per barrel in 2022,” she added.

The minister, while commenting on the critical sectoral allocations of the 2022 budget, said the education sector received N1.234 trillion with 815.69 billion allocated to the Ministry of Education and its agencies for recurrent and capital expenditure.

She also said N112.29 billion earmarked for the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), while N306 billion was allocated for Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) for infrastructure projects in tertiary institutions.

The health sector got N876.38 billion, representing 5.1 per cent of the total budget. The Ministry of Health and its agencies would received N770.87 billion for recurrent and capital expenditure including hazard allowance.

The defence and security sector gulped 13.4 per cent of the budget or N2.29 trillion while N1.42 trillion or 8.3 per cent of the budget was set aside for infrastructure development out of which N462 billion is mapped out for social development and poverty reduction programmes.

WHERE THE MONEY IS COMING FROM

Ahmed in her presentation, stated that the projected aggregate revenue available to fund the 2022 budget of N10.74 trillion (inclusive of GOEs) was 32 per cent higher than the 2021 projection of N8.12 trillion.

Without the GOEs retained revenue, the government’s revenue was projected at N9.01 trillion.

She disclosed that in order to promote fiscal transparency, accountability and comprehensiveness, allocations to TETFUND and the budgets of 63 GOEs were integrated in the federal government’s 2022 budget proposal.

In aggregate, 35 per cent of projected revenues is to come from oil-related sources while 65 per cent is to be earned from non-oil sources.

The 2022 aggregate federal government expenditure (inclusive of GOEs and project-tied Loans) was projected to be N17.13 trillion, which was 18 per cent higher than the 2021 Budget.

NIGERIA’S DEBT SUSTAINABILITY

Ahmed reiterated that the federal government’s debt level was still within sustainable limits.

According to her, borrowings were essentially for capital expenditure and Human Development, as specified in Section 41(1)a of the Fiscal Responsibility Act 2007.

“Having witnessed two economic recessions we have had to spend our way out of recession, which contributed significantly to the growth in the public debt. It is unlikely that our recovery from each of the two recessions would have been as fast without the sustained government expenditure funded partly by debt.

“To compound matters, the country has technically been at war, with the pervasive security challenges across the nation. This has necessitated massive expenditure on security equipment and operations, contributing to the fiscal deficit; Defence and Security sector accounts for 22 per cent of the

2021 budget.

“Nigeria’s Budget Deficit/GDP (-4.3%, as at November 2021) and Debt/GDP ratios (30% as at September 2021) are the lowest among Africa’s leading economies; “However, Nigeria’s Debt Service/Revenue ratio (76% as at November 2021) is the highest among same African top economies. This is proof that what we have is not a classic debt sustainability problem, but a revenue challenge.

“Tax rates and compliance ratios are significantly higher in these comparator countries; For instance, Nigeria’s VAT rate of 7.5 per cent is the lowest in Africa, and less than 50% of the average rate,” she added.

According to Ahmed, efforts are ongoing to fix the country’s revenue challenge, saying cutting expenditure would not be a viable option.

“We must however continue to rationalise our expenditures as we cannot afford waste. In reality, our largest expenditure items are currently personnel cost, debt service and capital expenditure, which between them account for 85 per cent of the 2022 budget.

“There is very little scope for cut in any of these over the medium term. The most viable solution to our fiscal challenge therefore remains to grow our revenues and plug all leakages.

“Our target over the medium term is to grow our Revenue-toGDP ratio from about 8 – 9 percent currently to 15 per cent by 2025. At that level of revenues, the Debt-to- Serviceto-Revenue ratio will cease to be a critical concern,” the minister added.

She listed some measures to increase revenue to include improving tax administration framework including tax filing and payment compliance improvements; evaluation of the process and policy effectiveness of fiscal Incentives, including: review of sectors eligible for Pioneer Tax Holiday Incentives under the Industrial Development Income Tax Relief Act (‘IDITRA’); dimensioning the cost of tax waivers/concessions, and evaluating their policy effectiveness; setting annual ceilings on tax expenditures to better manage their impact on already constrained government revenues and ensuring that MDAs appropriately account

for and remit their internally generated revenue, among others.

“Government will continue to create the enabling environment for private sector to increase their investment and contribute significantly to job creation, economic growth and lifting millions of our citizens out of poverty. Early passage of the 2022 Budget for implementation from January 1, will significantly contribute towards achieving government macro-fiscal and sectoral objectives.

“However, revenue currently remains our main fiscal challenge.

Government remains committed to the effective implementation of the Strategic Revenue Growth Initiatives to improve revenue collection, expenditure management and fiscal sustainability.

“We are optimistic about our ability to finance the budget considering the positive global oil market outlook and the continuing improvement in our non-oil revenues. We shall explore available opportunities for public-private partnerships, concessions as well as climate finance arrangements to fast-track the pace of our infrastructural development,” she added.

CRITICAL SECTORAL ALLOCATIONS IN 2022 BUDGET…/2 Health Sector N876.38 billion i.e 5.1% of FGN Budget

MACRO ECONOMIC PROJECTIONS

The federal government projected that in 2022, consumption would increase by about 9.36 per cent, from a revised N136.57 trillion in 2021 to N149.35 trillion in the present fiscal year. Nominal GDP was also projected to rise from N168.60 trillion in 2021 to N184.38 trillion in 2022 and then up to N221.78 trillion in 2024, while real GDP growth forecast was 4.2 per cent in 2022, 2.3 per cent for 2023 (election year impact) and 3.3 per cent in 2024.

In addition, inflation was projected to be double digit in the medium-term given structural issues impacting cost of doing business, including high food distribution cost.

“However, current steady decline is expected to be sustained, seeing inflation rate drop to 13 per cent in 2022 and 10 per cent by 2024,” the minister further projected.

/bi-lateral loan drawdowns - N1.16 trillion and privatisation proceeds – N90.7 billion,” she added.

On the other hand, recurrent (non-debt) spending, estimated to amount to N6.91 trillion, was 40 per cent of total expenditure, and 20 per cent higher than the 2021 budget.

She also disclosed that aggregate capital expenditure of N5.96 trillion was 35 per cent of total expenditure.

This provision was inclusive of capital component of statutory transfers, GOEs capital and project-tied loans expenditures.

At N3.61 trillion, debt service was 21 per cent of total expenditure and 34 per cent of total revenues.

Provision to retire maturing bonds to local contractors/suppliers of N270.71 billion was 1.6 per cent of total expenditure.

The minister said the provision was in line with the federal government’s commitment to off-set accumulated arrears of contractual obligations dating back over a decade.

“Overall budget deficit is N6.39 trillion for 2022. This represents 3.46 per cent of GDP. Budget deficit is to be financed mainly by borrowings: Domestic sources -N2.57 trillion; foreign sources - N2.57 trillion; multi-lateral

N56.14bn

N770.87bn

N49.37bn

Amount provisioned for Federal Ministry of Health and its agencies (Recurrent & Capital expenditure, including Hazard Allowance)

Gavi/ Immunization funds, including Counterpart Funding for Donor Supported Programmes, Including Global Fund

Transfer to Basic Healthcare Provision Fund (BHCPF) 1% of CRF

Source: Ministry of Finance, Budget & National Planning

/E/d/ d/s ^ dK /DWZKs &'E Z s Eh ^ ͙ͬϰ /ŶĚĞƉĞŶĚĞŶƚ ZĞǀĞŶƵĞƐ ZĞŵŝƚƚĂŶĐĞ ; ĐƚƵĂůͿ ϮϬϭϳ ʹ ϮϬϮϭ 1200

The trend in the graph shows a steady improvement of our independent revenues over the years.

1103.6*

As at November, 2021, we had surpassed all collections for FGN independent revenues from 2017 to date. This reflects performance of our revenue growth initiatives for this revenue stream.

1000

800

557.34

600

We have now for the first time surpassed the 1 trillion mark collection for independent revenues (N1.104tn collected as at November against a budget target of 973.41bn). Analysts have always considered our projections unrealistic, but we have always insisted on the potentials that exist to grow FGN independent revenues.

519.36

454.34 400

216.7 200

0 0

2017 1

*2021 As at November

2018 2

2019 3

2020 4

2021 5

6 Ɠƒ Planning Source: Ministry of Finance, Budget & National

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THURSDAY, ;˜ ͺ͸ͺͺ ˾ T H I S D AY

Group News Editor: Goddy Egene Email: Goddy.egene@thisdaylive.com, 0803 350 6821, 0809 7777 322, 0807 401 0580

NEWS

FCMB MANAGEMENT VISITS DAPO ABIODUN...

L-R: Group Chief Executive, First City Monument Bank, FCMB Plc, Ladi Balogun; Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun and Managing Director, FCMB, Yemisi Edun, during a courtesy visit on the governor by the bank's management in Abeokuta… yesterday

Ararume Loses Out as Buhari Appoints 9-member NNPC Board Senator Margret Okadigbo named chairman NUPRC gets four executive commissioners Deji Elumoye in Abuja About two months after President Muhammadu Buhari directed the suspension of the inauguration of a Board he had announced for the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC), the president yesterday approved the appointment of a nine-man board members for the NNPC in

accordance with the power vested in him under Section 59(2) of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021, with the exclusion of Senator Ifeanyi Ararume who he had then announced as Chairman.

The president also appointed four Executive Commissioners for the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC).

According to a statement

issued by the Media Adviser to the President, Femi Adesina, the new NNPC Limited Board Chairman is Senator Margret Chuba Okadigbo (South East); Mele Kolo Kyari was announced as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Umar I. Ajiya, Chief Financial Officer (CFO).

Other members of the Board are: Dr. Tajudeen Umar (North East),

CBN Deputy Governor, Ahmad Chairs NCX's Re-constituted Board Sere-Ejembi, Yusuf appointed directors

James Emejo in Abuja and Nume Ekeghe in Lagos Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Deputy Governor, Mrs. Aisha Ahmad has been appointed the chairman of the re-constituted Board of the Nigeria Commodity Exchange (NCX) Plc. In addition, three new directors were appointed for the exchange, out of which Ahmad was one of them.

Others included CBN Director, Development Finance Department, Mr. Yusuf Yila and Dr. Angela Sere-Ejembi.

A statement by the acting Head, Corporate Communications, NCX, Mr. Abiodun Sanusi, yesterday, said the reconstitution of the board and management was in line with the provisions of the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) 2020.

The statement said stakeholders had at the exchange's Extra-ordinary General Meeting held on January 4, 2022, unanimously approved the retirement of directors as well as appointment of the three new directors.

Ahmad, was subsequently appointed Chairman of the board at the inaugural board meeting which held same day.

Additionally, the board appointments would be made in due course, the statement added.

The newly reconstituted board, along with a Transaction Management Team headed by Mr. Elenwor Ihua, who is acting as Interim Coordinator, would temporarily oversee the operations of the exchange, it stated.

Ihua would supervise an independent and transparent process to appoint a new Executive Management Team.

The development marked a critical milestone in the journey to transform the NCX into a world-class commodity trading company within the African and global commodity markets.

The core shareholders thanked the outgoing board and executive management for their patriotic service to the company and wish them all the best in their future endeavours.

Essentially, the move to reposition and revitalise the NCX was made public in January 2021, when the CBN Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, disclosed that President Muhammadu Buhari had approved an investment of N50 billion in the exchange as part of efforts to reposition it.

Emefiele, who announced the investment decision at the inaugural meeting of the Steering Committee (SteerCo) for the repositioning of the NCX, had also stated that the federal government had also suspended,

with immediate effect, the current plan to privatise the exchange.

He added that the decision to suspend the privatisation followed what he described as the unfortunate arbitrage opportunities which the government had noticed in the private sector arrangement, which had become an obstacle in moderating food prices.

According to him, the president had also approved a proposal for the repositioning of the exchange in order to consolidate on the government’s efforts aimed at strengthening the agriculture value chain, part of which includes connecting farmers to markets beyond their immediate environments.

Emefiele, who chairs the SteerCo, said the federal government’s premier commodity exchange had not been able to catalyse agricultural production due to structural and idiosyncratic challenges.

He had identified the bottlenecks to include limited funding and investment, poor financial performance, deficiency in physical infrastructure (warehouses, laboratories, grading capability), inadequate warehouse receipts and logistics infrastructure.

Others included a lack of broad legal framework and standardssetting as well as lack of supervisory clarity and overlapping supervisory mandates, among others.

Mrs Lami O. Ahmed (North Central), Mallam Mohammed Lawal (North West), Engr. Henry Obih (South East), Barrister Constance Harry Marshal (South South), and Chief Pius Akinyelure(South West).

The appointments take effect from the date of the incorporation of the NNPC Limited.

Also appointed were Executive Commissioners for the NUPRC which included Dr. Nuhu Habib (Kano), Executive Commissioner, Development and Production; Dr. Kelechi Onyekachi Ofoegbu (Imo), Executive Commissioner, Economic Regulations and Strategic Planning; Capt. Tonlagha Roland John (Delta), Executive Commissioner, Health, Safety, Environment and Community, and Jide Adeola (Kogi), Executive Commissioner, Corporate Services and Administration.

Also, the new appointees at the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority were Francis Alabo Ogaree (Rivers), Executive Director, Hydrocarbon Processing; Mustapha Lamorde (Adamawa), Executive Director, Health, Safety, Environment and Community; Mansur Kuliya (Kano), Executive Director, Midstream and Downstream Gas Infrastructure Fund; Bashir Sadiq (Sokoto), Executive Director, Corporate Services and Administration, and Dr Zainab Gobir (Kwara), Executive Director, Economic Regulations and Strategic Planning.

They are to join the Board Chairman, Executive Director, Downstream Systems, Storage and Retailing Infrastructure, the CEO, and Executive Director, Finance and

Accounts, who had earlier been appointed by President Buhari.

Similarly, for the Midstream and Downstream Infrastructure Fund, its new Council Members announced by the president were: Mr. Effiong Abia (Akwa Ibom), Bobboi Ahmed (Adamawa), and Engr. Abdullahi Bukar (Katsina).

The President had in September,2021 informed the Senate on the administrative structure amendments to the Petroleum Industry Act, which included appointment of Non-Executive Board Members, removal of the Ministries of Petroleum and Finance from the Board of the two new institutions, and appointment of Executive Directors.

No reason was given for the removal of Ararume from the board.

Senate Probes BPE's Alleged Refusal to Remit $679.4m into Govt Coffers in 10 Years We are unaware of the fund, Says Bureau Deji Elumoye in Abuja The Senate has commenced investigation into the Bureau of Public Enterprise’s (BPE) alleged refusal to remit $679.4 million realised from the ports’ concession to 23 companies by the Nigerian Port Authority (NPA) in the last 10 years.

The Red Chamber's Public Accounts Committee chaired

by Senator Matthew Urhoghide hinged the probe on the 2017 Auditor General of the Federation's (AuGF) report which is before the Committee for consideration.

According to the query by the AuGF, 23 companies were granted concessional rent at various ports under NPA for 10 years and above with associated yearly rent of $679.4 million payable to NPA as at 31st December, 2016.

The AuGF added that there was no evidence to show that $679

million was collected as at when due and remitted to Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF).

The AuGF query read: "Twentythree companies were granted concessional rent of various Ports under NPA for 10 years and above with associated yearly rent of $679,403,172 payable to NPA as at 31st December, 2016.

"There is no evidence to show that the sum of $679,403,172.00 was collected as at when due and remitted to the CRF. This has been communicated to the Bureau vide letter with reference No. OAuGF/ RESAD/05/2016/07 dated 19th April, 2018.No response has been received from the Bureau.

"Unremitted funds may be misapplied by the bureau. Also, it may lead to diversion of funds to other uses. The Director-General is required to show evidence that the sum of $679,403,172.00 was collected and remitted to the appropriate authority."

In its response, the BPE explained that the concession transactions were done in 2005, adding that the concession agreement executed clearly showed that the Bureau was only a confirming party while the primary parties to the concessions were the NPA. The BPE explained that the responsibility for such collection was that of the NPA and not that of its agency.

According to the agency: "Having midwife the concession transactions, the BPE collected some of the remittance to the NPA. The NPA had since acknowledged the transfer made regarding the rentals received on its behalf by the Bureau.

"Revenue accruing on the Ports concession have, beyond 2008, been paid directly to ‘Landlord’, NPA and not the BPE as the OAuGF report appears to allege. We are therefore unaware of the $679.4 million."

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COMMENT

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

AFRICA CAPTURED BY GIRL-PRESIDENTS

Africa Vision initiative re-orientates students on educational and cultural activities, and to appreciate their immediate surroundings, writes Okello Oculi

A

frica Vision 525 Initiative learnt how to give public speeches on how to fight against corruption and how to improve our country’’. So wrote ‘President Muhammadu Buhari’ of Anglican Girls Grammar School (AGGS) in Abuja. On 19th November, 2021, her speech, during a simulation of an ASSEMBLY of the AFRICAN UNION, had received a rousing acclaim by an audience inside the Cathedral of the Anglican Communion at Life Camp. In attendance were also diplomats from Mali and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The event was a version of a Pan African annual ritual known as ‘’OAU MOCK SUMMIT’’ widely popular with the campus community at Ahmadu Bello University. NTA Kaduna telecast it. In 1988 it was on the NETWORK Service of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA).

It was disrupted under Babangida Administration’s strategy of eroding social groups that might criticise the policy of ‘’Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP), which Professor Adebayo Adedeji named as socio-economic and political warfare against African peoples.

The Nigerian Medical Association and the Nigerian Law Society were also victims.

Dr. Rilwanu Lukman and Major-General Ike Nwachukwu, as Ministers of Foreign Affairs, gave a one-time limited funds to the OAU MOCK SUMMIT, while their predecessor, Professor Ishaya Audu, had expressed interest in presenting it for Cabinet consideration as a project financed by Nigeria within the United Nations Economic, Scientific, and Cultural Commission (UNESCO). The military coup of 1983 ended this momentum.

Dr. Sam Oyovbaire had sold the project to Professor Ishaya Audu as an initiative to link educational imagination to the country’s dictum that ‘’Africa is the Centrepiece of Nigeria’s Foreign Policy. Prime Minister Abubakar Tafawa Balewa had said as much in his speech at the United Nations to mark Nigeria’s new membership of the world body. Chief Obafemi Awolowo’s party, the Action Group, had stated its opposition to ‘’apartheid’’ in South Africa.

In the academic realm, students at University College Ibadan had vigorously opposed Balewa’s military agreement with the British Government; and France’s genocidal plan to test atomic bombs in Africa’s Sahara Desert, Nigeria’s neighbourhood.

In 1975 Dr. Yusuf Bala Usman and Patrick Wilmot lobbied the Murtala Mohammed/ Obasanjo military government to support the socialist liberation movement in Angola despite opposition by the American government. What was lacking had been angrily expressed

by Dr. Diallo Telli, the first elected Secretary General of the Organisation

COLONIAL SCHOOLS TAUGHT PUPILS TO DRAW THE ’DOWNS’ ON WHICH LONDON CITY SITS; THE LOCATION OF LIVERPOOL AND GLASGOW ON THE CRAGGY MAP OF BRITAIN, BUT NOT HOW TO DRAW MAPS OF THEIR VILLAGE, COUNTRY OR AFRICA

of African Unity (OAU) in a speech he delivered in 1965 to students at MAKERERE University in Kampala, Uganda. Criticised for limiting his strenuous diplomatic efforts to appeals to Africa’s Heads of State and Foreign Ministers, Telli had hit back by asking what effort students themselves were making in the struggle for a United States of Africa.

Specifically, he hinted at lacking power to intervene into educational syllabuses and cultural activities and train orientation to, and creative measures for, building into Africa’s youth passions for building the unity of a post-colonial Africa. He was also combating very active agents of former colonial powers who preferred a balkanised Africa trapped behind high walls of isolation and powerless ‘’sovereign states’’.

He was also a lone ranger over a vast majority of small-scale farmers, livestock herders, fishermen denied the visibility of the drama of international activities including competition for vital minerals and agricultural resources.

British colonial governments had been careful not to repeat their error of allowing a rich capitalist class to emerge in North America’s colonies who rose up to fight for their political and economic freedom.

In East Africa Britain nurtured a commercial class imported from India, while in West Africa they were imported from Lebanon, Greece and India. The lack of Aliko Dangote’s ‘cement Pan-Africanism’ denied Diallo Telli strong capitalist allies to push politicians towards a united political, administrative and economic space. A business class with a vigorous demand for measures for using schools and colleges to train warriors for building Africa under a one government were not within reach of his elbows.

Colonial schools taught pupils to draw the ‘’Downs’’ on which London City sits; the location of Liverpool and Glasgow on the craggy map of Britain, but not how to draw maps of their village, country or Africa.

In a questionnaire filled by 2021 members of PAN-AFRICA Club at AGGS, delighted responses included: ‘I discovered some African countries’’; ‘’I can now become president of Botswana’’; ‘’I now know about Ethiopia and how to solve her problems’’, to ‘’With my fellow presidents we will rescue Africa’’.

In the simulation ASSEMBLY of the African Union (on 19th November, 2021), diplomats from D.R.Congo were delighted to hear the president of Cote D’Ivoire celebrate their country’s application to join the East African Community. Likewise, Mali’s diplomats were glad to hear their ‘President’ expose the tragic reality of sand dunes burying whole farmlands, water wells and communities around Timbuktu.

ADEBANJO, CLARK, AMECHI, YAKASAI: OLD BUT ACTIVE Eric Teniola commends the octogenarians for speaking out on issues of concern

T

he other day, Alhaji Salihu Abubakar Tanko-Yakasai (95) lamented that no nation spending 80 per cent of its revenue on governance would ever develop. He said “at the moment in Nigeria, 80 per cent of Nigeria’s revenue is expended on bureaucracy, spent on running the administration. The bottom line is you cannot develop with 20 per cent of the total revenue, where you commit 80 per cent for recurrent expenditure. This is what is happening at the federal and state levels. With this situation, no country can develop.” Imagine what we are spending on the National Assembly in the midst of poverty, imagine how much INEC will spend on elections this year and next year too. Imagine what the governors are taking home every month all in the name of security votes. In fact the issue now is beyond the percentage in the cost of governance as lamented by Alhaji Yakasai. It looks as if the soul of this country is on trial. We are at a crossroads, as a people. We have the problem on huge debt, insecurity, over spending especially on the National Assembly, unemployment, high rate of inflation, banditry, bad roads, ill-equipped hospitals and many other problems that we are now faced with. It is good that Alhaji Yakasai and his three other colleagues at the sunset of their lives are crying out now that things are not well with us as a country. We need to hear more from them. They represent perhaps, our last hope now.

Their silence will be worse. Honestly this is not the time to keep quite at all.

The big four I have in mind represent the four regions before 1967 era. They are Chief Ayo Adebanjo (93) from the old Western Region, Chief Mbazulike Amechi (91) from the old Eastern Region, Chief Edwin Kiagbodo Clark (94) from the old Mid-Western Region and Alhaji Tanko Yakasai from the old Northern Region. It is commendable that these octogenarians still speak out on issues concerning this country. I must commend them for voicing their opinions on issues. They should be appreciated for speaking out often, for hardly a week passes without any of them expressing their

opinions. One may disagree with their opinions but they should not be ignored. At the sundown of their lives they should be more encouraged to speak out. Let’s take a look at their profile.

In the last few weeks, I have come to know Chief Clark better through Ambassador Godknows Igali and Barrister Kayode Ajulo. On May 25, Chief Clark will be 95 years old. Chief Clark is the Ebi-Ebekekere, Owei of Western Ijaw in Delta State. He is the senior brother of Professor Johnson Pepper Clark (April 6, 1935- October 13, 2020) and Ambassador Akporode Blessing Clark (91), the former Nigeria Representative at the United Nation. He had his education at the African Church School, Effurun, 1939; Native Authority School, Okrika, 1940; Native Authority School, Akugbene, 1940-1945; Government Teacher Training College, Abraka, 1949-1953; Holborn College of Law, London, 1961-1964; headmaster, Local Authority, School, Ofoni, Western Ijaw; headmaster, Local Authority School, Bomadi, 1954; headmaster Secondary Modern School, Bomadi, 1955-1957 and assistant community development officer, 1957-1961. In 1966, the then military governor of Mid Western Region Colonel David Akpode Ejoor (1932-2019) appointed him special adviser.

Along with Chief Anthony Eromosele Enahoro (1923-2010), Chief J.I.G. Onyia and Dr. Mudiaga Odje (1923-2005), he represented Mid-Western Region in the adhoc committee set up by General Yakubu Gowon (87), GCFR that sat between September 12, 1966 and November 1, 1966.

The Midwest delegation was assisted by Chief T.E.A. Salubi, Dr. Christopher Okojie and Dr. D.P. Lawani.

The proposal for the Mid-Western Region at that time was a federation of the existing Regions, Lagos continuing as Federal Territory or becoming a Region. The Mid West memorandum considered a redrawing of the constituent units desirable and set out the following criteria: ethnic, linguistic and cultural affinity or homogeneity, historical association (e.g. Hausa/Fulani, Efik/Ibibio), viability of states both absolutely and relatively, geographical contiguity, comparability in size and reciprocal self

determination (i.e. not only should each minority group be given the opportunity to determine its future but also a majority group must be given the opportunity to determine whether it is willing to associate with a minority seeking such association).

On the basis of these criteria, 12 states might be created (four in the North, two in the West, four in the East, the Mid-West, and Lagos). Although, desirable, such a rearrangement was considered impracticable in the prevailing circumstances.

The Mid West further proposed a unicameral Parliament, directly elected for four or five years by universal adult suffrage, each Region having an equal number of seats. ‘The place of the opposition shall be entrenched in the Constitution’ (e.g. official salary for its leader; right to choose the business for discussion on certain). To sit for not less than three-quarters of the year. In a separate memorandum detailed proposal were made for ensuring free and fair elections.

Governor Samuel Osaigbovo Ogbemudia (17 September 1932 – 9 March 2017) of the old Bendel State appointed Chief Clark as the Commissioner for Education and later Commissioner for Finance and Establishment.

Chief Clark used his vantage position to open Ijaw waterlands; built new secondary schools and gave girls scholarships to attend secondary and tertiary institutions. Chief Clark helped in building the Midwest College of Technology that later metamorphosed into the University of Benin (after failure of several efforts to affiliate the fledgling school to the University of Ibadan and Ife). He was later appointed Pro-Chancellor, chairman, governing council of the university (1970-1975).

During his tenure as Pro- Chancellor, Chief Clark gave scholarships to students of what we now regard as Northwest and Southeast.

He was Minister for Information under General Yakubu Gowon till he was overthrown by General Murtala Ramat Muhammad (8 November 1938 – 13 February 1976), GCFR in 1975. Chief Clark was elected a Senator in Bendel Delta zone on August 20, 1983 along with 60 other NPN Senators. He was sworn-in on October 7, 1983 by the then

Senate President, Dr. Joseph Wayas. I covered the swearing in ceremony on that day. He served for three months before President Shehu Shagari was overthrown by Major General Muhammadu (79), GCFR. Chief Clark was very prominent during the tenure of President Goodluck Jonathan (64), GCFR,. Beginning in 1996, Chief Clark has been a leader of the Ijaw nation. He supported the Ijaw ethnic group in Delta State during an ethnic crisis in Warri and has led Ijaw leadership delegations to meet political leaders.

Chief Amechi is the Dara Akunwafor of Ukpor, Ichie( the headquarters of Nnewi South Local Government Area in Anambra State). He lost his wife, Priscilla Chinelo Okoye, whom he married in 1960, recently. Chief Amechi was educated at the Catholic School, Umunuko, Ukpor, 1937-1943; Etukokwu College, Onitsha, 1944-1948; Principal organizing Secretary, National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons(NCNC), 1955-1959; SecretaryGeneral , Zikist Movement, 1960-1963; National Publicity Secretary, NCNC, 1964-1966; Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Information, 1960-1962; Minister of State for Ports, 1964-1966; member, National Party of Nigeria (NPN), 1979-1983; executive member, Strategy Committee, NPN, 1979-1983; Director, Nigeria Railway Corporation.

Recently, Chief Amechi led the South East leaders to President Muhammadu Buhari, to plead for the release of Nnamdi Kanu.

In 1966, a similar plea was made for the release of Major Isaac Jasper Adaka-Boro (1938-1968). Also in 1995, another futile global plea was made for the release of Chief Kenure Beeson Saro-Wiwa (1941-1995).

Chief Adebanjo from Isanya-Ogbo near Ijebu Ode, is presently the leader of the Afenifere, socio-cultural organization for the Yoruba people of Nigeria. The Afenifere was formed in 1998 with Chief Abraham Adesanya as the leader and the late Chief Bola Ige as the deputy leader. Other founding members were Pa Onasanya, Chief Reuben Fasoranti, Wunmi Adegbonmire, Okunrounmu Femi, Ganiyu Dawodu, Olanihun Ajayi, Olu Falae, Adebayo Adefarati and Ayo Adebanjo.

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EDITORIAL THE ANTIDOTE TO MALNUTRITION Government must do more to address the issue of poverty

U

nless Nigeria leaders take immediate steps to address hunger and malnutrition, especially in children and pregnant women, the poor indices on maternal and child mortality in our country will only further worsen. That is the recent message from the Food and Agriculture Organisation, (FAO) Country Representative in Nigeria, Fred Kafeero, who urged the authorities to recognise that “over four million people go hungry and suffer from malnutrition in this country,” essentially “because of the challenges associated with conflict; pest and diseases, natural disasters, loss of biodiversity, habitat destruction; economic challenges (unemployment) and the devastating effects of COVID-19 still with us.”

Sadly, even though malnutrition is the underlying cause for a third of child mortality in the world, it is yet to receive any serious campaign and investment necessary to address it effectively in Nigeria. Meanwhile, stunted growth implies a marked increase in the NIGERIANS, AS A child’s susceptibility to MINIMUM, DESERVE A LIFE FREE FROM HUNGER, infections and contribIN A COUNTRY BLESSED utes to child mortality. pregnant WITH ARABLE LAND AND Invariably, women who are not NATURAL RESOURCES adequately nourished eventually give birth to babies with low weight thus putting their survival at risk. The costs of disregarding this issue in human and economic terms cannot be quantified.

According to experts, in low and middle-income countries like Nigeria, the age 3-24 months is a time when growth falters for too many children. An inadequate diet during this period increases the risk of stunting, micro-nutrient deficiencies, illnesses, and death. Some of the factors identified include poor infant feeding and attitude of mothers to exclusive breastfeeding. Political commitment at all levels is therefore necessary to ensure advocacy on the adverse implications of malnutrition and avoid its devastating consequences.

The FAO has called on the government to make

Letters to the Editor

targeted interventions on research in such a manner that will enhance technologically advanced farming. “In addition, our approach can only be effective if it is tooted in working together with governments, and key partners, as they forge their own national pathways towards transformation in line with their specific conditions and needs,” said Kafeero. “Functioning food systems will not only assure us of enough and quality food for each of us but also environmental sustainability, which is key for the development of the present and future generations.”

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

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

owever, tackling malnutrition is not what government can do alone, other critical stakeholders need to join the efforts. Partnership with civil society and academic institutions with focus on food and nutrition is also an imperative while there should be a commitment to establishing a road map and coordinated mechanisms for implementing activities for up-scaling nutrition in the public sphere. This road map should consist of clear roles and responsibilities for the various stakeholders, as well as implementable strategies, with milestones for mainstreaming nutrition into agriculture, fortifying basic foods with essential minerals or vitamins, mobilising communities for action on the growing more beneficial foods, and the perils of malnutrition.

For effective health and social protection, mothers must also be encouraged to adopt exclusive breastfeeding habits for their babies for the first six months. Thereafter, complementary feeding can be introduced for 24 months, then the consumption of various nutrients such as Vitamin A, iodized salt, and zinc, amongst others.

Nigerians, as a minimum, deserve a life free from hunger, in a country blessed with arable land and natural resources.

From all available reports, the antidote to malnutrition is for children to eat healthy, balanced diet that include plenty of fruit and vegetables and other nutrients. Under the prevailing circumstance, government, at practically all levels, must sit up to address the crushing indices and causes of malnutrition that have continued to deprive over half of our children (and mothers) of a healthy and productive life span.

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 BUDGET PALAVER Continued from backpage ith resource allocation made to resemble a distribution of spoils rather than a collective plan for an integrated whole, it is difficult to blame National Assembly members for the insertion of projects when they are merely aping what they know members of the executive did with the proposal submitted to them. But we cannot continue like this if we expect to develop like other nations.

Ordinarily, the national budget is the financial plan of a country whose major objective is to reduce inequalities by mobilising and allocating resources for investment in the public sector. The ultimate end in societies like ours should be to facilitate economic inclusion by lifting as many citizens as possible out of poverty through programmes and projects that are well planned, properly costed, and targeted. It is not wrong for lawmakers to make inputs into projects as principal stakeholders, but their intervention should come by way of negotiations with the executive during budget preparation. Not wait to insert their own projects during the appropriation process in a manner that renders the entire document meaningless. That is the problem we must deal with.

In my book, ‘Power, Politics and Death’, I highlighted what happened with the 2008 budget which the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua was reluctant to sign over what he considered extreme meddlesomeness of the lawmakers. The main contention at that time was that a review of the 2008 Appropriation Act as passed by the National Assembly revealed that legislators had virtually rewritten it by introducing clauses in contravention of the principle of separation of powers.

Several projects were included with costs arrived at by guess work. “In summary, the legislators unilaterally initiated projects for which they provided money without any input from the executive which ordinarily should design, cost, execute and supervise such projects” I wrote.

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Determined to deal with the problem, the late President Yar’Adua asked his Attorney General and Justice Minister to outline issues for which he would seek judicial interpretation at the Supreme Court. Although he eventually backed down from that option, remaining unresolved issues include whether in the exercise of its constitutional power to approve yearly budget estimates submitted to it by the executive, the National Assembly could unilaterally increase the revenue benchmark, insert projects not included by the executive and proceed to appropriate money beyond the estimates submitted by the president. That we are still talking about the same problem 14 years after reflects the lack of accountability that drives public finance in Nigeria.

The essence of legislative oversight is to detect and help eliminate areas of waste within public agencies, make government accountable to the people, evaluate the impact of policies and programmes on the society while ensuring that all these are in promotion of the public good. But the lawmakers have practically shunned that responsibility, although it is easy to blame them for inserting constituency projects when they are also aware that ministers, heads of parastatals and top bureaucrats (who did not go through the rigour of any election) also insert many projects for themselves as well as their principals. One only needs to check the number of federal government projects that have gone to Daura in the past six years! When a budget is reduced to sharing scarce resources between and among powerful interests as it has become in Nigeria, how can a society develop?

Since the president and the National Assembly have kissed and made up over the ‘un-implementable’ 2022 budget, there is nothing more anybody can do. Yet, until the budget becomes a serious planning instrument, national development will remain a mirage. In a very revealing Twitter post in 2019, Mr ‘Laolu Samuel-Biyi made a poignant point: “If you want to keep hope alive in Nigeria, don’t look at the budget”.

Olusegun Adeniyi, Abuja

THE TEARS OF A CLOWN’S SUPPORTERS

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orth Korea leader Kim Jong Un looks like a smiling clown but in reality only the clown part is true if he is going to test more missiles. He has fired what is believed to be a ballistic missile

into the ocean.

Given that many of his people are starving is this some weird fishing expedition or is it just the usual provocation of Japan and the rest of the world? Missiles cost millions and the money could be used to feed his people instead.

Why are so many despots concerned with spending big money on weapons that if used would lead to their country being flattened in a day by whoever they attack? They could spend money on their citizens so that those waving flags in support might be smiling because they have full bellies rather than a fear of being shot if they don’t smile enough.

This is one leader the world would be better without.

Dennis Fitzgerald, Melbourne, Australia

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T H I S D AY ˾ THURSDAY JANUARY 6, 2022

POLITICS

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

Ashiru: Why I Want to Run for Kaduna Guber Race Again Hon. Isa Ashiru was the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the 2019 governorship election in Kaduna state. In this interview with John Shiklam, he said he has not given up on his ambition to be governor, come 2023

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cillors will be sustained. We are reaching out to those that were not happy with the process.

Let us come together and get this state out of this mess we found ourselves. We cannot do it alone, that is why we are reaching out to them.

n 2015, you lost the governorship ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to Governor Nasir El-Rufai. In 2018, you decamped to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and was the party’s flag bearer in the 2019 governorship election which you lost to the APC. Can you share your experiences in the political terrain in Kaduna state?

It has been very interesting. In politics when you lose the first time, it is not a loss. This game is not about me but about my people.

I have a vision which I believe, if given the opportunity, I will transform the lives of the people for the better. I am not in politics to serve myself but to serve the people.

I feel I have something better to offer to improve the economic and social condition of our people.

In one of his television interviews, Governor Nasir El- Rufai, said his six years administration has done better than the 16 years of the PDP in the state. What is your reaction?

You are in a better position to answer that question. For me, if you are talking about development in Kaduna state, he has performed below average. That is to be fair to him because we are talking about Kaduna state with 23 LGAs, but infrastructure development is in four LGAs. Are you fair to the generality of the state?

And more so, he went and borrowed (money) to invest in a venture that is yielding nothing in terms of returns.

From the time he was sworn in to date, the state government collected more than N1 trillion statutory allocation.

It is like you are still nursing the ambition to contest the governorship again in 2023.

By the special grace of God, I will contest.

Do you think you would have done better than the APC administration in Kaduna state if you had won the 2019 election?

In Kaduna, politics is not practiced the way it should be. A government that is elected by the people is supposed to serve every citizen, not an individual or group.

With what I have seen, and I am sure as a resident of Kaduna, you will attest to the fact that the kind of development we are having is centred in four Local Government Areas out of the have 23 LGAs in the state.

Developmental programmes that are currently going on, are located in four LGAs - Zaria, Kaduna North, Kaduna South and Jama’a, as well as some parts of Igabi LGA. For me, this is not democracy. A leader should ensure fairness in the distribution of resources. Given the opportunity, I will do it differently.

If you become the governor of Kaduna state, how do you intend to address this problem of insecurity ravaging the state?

As you are aware, security is everybody’s business. It is not about the governor or the commissioner of security or police or the DSS. When you find yourself in this kind of quagmire, the government of the day should be the listening type by allowing people to contribute on ways and means of addressing this problem.

We had this kind of problem before, we know how we managed it. This should not be different.

We have modern communication gadgets, but has it change anything?

Kaduna is the melting point of the north, we have many people who are knowledgeable about security issues in the state.

We have former governors, be it military or civilian who were faced with this kind of problem. Organise security submit, invite them.

Kaduna is home of the military, there are retired Generals who are resident in Kaduna, you can still seek ideas from them by organising seminars. We have traditional rulers who have been keeping peace in their domain.

Bring them together, share ideas and come out with tangible report that will advise the leadership on the way forward.

I have written an open letter to the governor, published in the media, giving suggestions on the way forward.

Recently the government shutdown telecommunication networks as part of the strategies to fight banditry and kidnappings, but the problem is still persisting.

That should have come much earlier than the time they did.

Ashiru

It came at a very wrong time. These people (bandits ) are using satellite equipments to communicate.

If they want to get you, they don’t need communication, they have people that they pay heavily.

Unfortunately some of our people are hungry and live in abject poverty. You have people that were laid off, doing nothing, what do you want them to do?

Bandits have prevented them from going to the farm... So what do you expect?

All is not well in the PDP in Kaduna state considering the existence of three factions. What is the chance of the party winning the 2023 election?

You got it wrong, the truth of the matter is that in the early days of PDP (in Kaduna state), we had divisions and not factions. We had the Prof. Ango Abdullahi, Nuhu Babajo, Sarki Tafida and the Senator Ahmed Makarfi groups.

Do you call that faction?

At the end of the day, we came out as one and we moved on. That is why we were able to form government in 1999 , even beyond. There is no party in this country, including the ruling APC that does not have groups within. The APC is even worse, they have more than 93 groups.

Let me state categorically that the PDP National Chairman, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, recently in Makurdi, confirmed to the press, that in the handing over notes, there are nine states with these kind of groupings. Kaduna was not included, so I don’t know where you got your information.

For me Kaduna has followed due process for the conduct of its congresses and leaders emerged. For your information, during the last national convention, Kaduna was part of the 35 states plus FCT that the report of the congresses were adopted: We know we have small misgivings and misunderstandings in some LGAs. I have started reaching out to them and the party itself is making in-road in reaching out to those who are not really happy with the process.

The PDP won more councilorship seats during the Local Government Elections, how do you intend to mobilise the grassroots for the 2023 elections?

Yes, we did pretty well, we won 129 wards out of 255.

To be precise 130 councillor seats, we are still in court and we are hoping to get more.

The efforts we put in getting 130 coun-

Yes, we did pretty well, we won 129 wards out of 255. To be precise 130 councillor seats, we are still in court and we are hoping to get more.

The efforts we put in getting 130 councillors will be sustained. We are reaching out to those that were not happy with the process. Let us come together and get this state out of this mess we found ourselves. We cannot do it alone, that is why we are reaching out to them

What are your thoughts on rotational Presidency and agitations for powershift to the South-east?

As a democrat that is not democracy, but there is nothing wrong in accommodating your brothers. Democracy as you are aware, is a game of numbers, but if you have a country like Nigeria that has more 250 tribes, there is nothing wrong. But that cannot come by force.

It is negotiable, negotiate and do the needful, that is the beauty of democracy, but you can’t stop people from expressing their views. At the right time, those that matter will come to the roundtable to discuss the issues.

The federal government plans to remove subsidy on petrol and many Nigerians are apprehensive about this, what is your take?

Well, it is only an insensitive government that will venture into this kind of decision. It is ill-timed and a very wrong decision. They said they will remove it and give 40 million Nigerians N5,000, this is laughable!

That is to show you the kind of people we have at the helms of affairs. People are struggling to survive under difficult economic situation. This decision is wrong.

What is your expectations from new national leadership of the PDP. The National Chairman, (Dr. Iyorchia Ayu), is a highly respected politician, he is a man of his word. He is one of the founding fathers of the party. I am optimistic that with the crop of leadership that we have, PDP will bounce back. I am sure that they will not disappoint us.

Do you support direct primaries for the selection of party flag bearers?

I don’t have any problem with direct primaries because we had it before. I got nominated on the platform of the defunct Social Democratic Party(SDP) through direct primaries in 1992.

However, the motive behind the introduction of direct primaries in the Electoral Act is wrong.

Majority of members of the National Assembly decided to introduce it to settle scores with governors. That is not in the national interest. If that is the motive behind what they did, it is wrong.

There are speculations that some governors of the APC may decamped to the PDP. We are in discussion with some of them at the highest level, including some members of the National Assembly. With the umbrella, we will accommodate everybody.

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POLITICS

Mustapha: I’ll Lead APC to More Victories Saliu Mustapha is a politician and a member of the All Progressives Congress. He was the national deputy chairman of the Congress for Progressive Change, one of the defunct political parties that merged to form the APC. He is a successful businessman, an outstanding entrepreneur and a remarkable philanthropist. Chuks Okocha was part of a group of select journalists, who interrogated Mustapha on his planned reforms in the APC if elected as National Chairman

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that, we must first put our house in order.

any Nigerians outside the ruling APC and the political class are not privy to who you are. What are your antecedents?

My name is Saliu Mustapha, a development and commercial real estate consultant. A consumate progressive by choice and a passionate patriot by conviction. I’m running for the office of the National Chairman of our great party, the All Progressive Congress (APC). I have the privilege of being one of the senior figures in the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) which pulled through the merger with the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) to form the party that ended Peoples Democratic Party’s (APC) 16-year hold on power at the centre.

There are many unanswered questions on how the pre-2015 merger of major political parties was pulled off. Looking back, would you say the APC has delivered on its mantra of change?

How were we able to achieve this momentous feat? We focused on politics with a heart, with the people in mind, from the rural areas to the metropolis, from the grassroots to the urban centres. We embodied the hopes of a better country and better politics in 2015 with the change mandate, and not surprising, the people showed their trust and believe by electing us for a second term in office in 2019. We also brought

Mustapha

more states under the APC banner as our message of progressive change caught the imagination and hopes of the people.

I must commend the brilliant efforts of our party leadership and all previous executives for laying a proper foundation that could easily be built on. But even at

Currently, the ruling APC appears to have lost its direction. If elected, what should Nigerians expect?

I am aspiring for the position of APC National Chairman. The question some may ask is, why? The answer is not too far fetched because the time has come!

My objective is to lead the party to a new era of sustained victories, progressive policies, dignified politics and national development. No member of the ruling party can deny that we have had some challenging periods, one of which birthed the current Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) led

by Governor Mai Mala Buni. I recognise and sincerely appreciate the brilliant efforts of each member of that committee and promise to build on the gains achieved and mitigate the lows.

The core of my message today is that the time has come for our great party to embrace the future and optimise its mandate and potentials. We have succeeded in righting the course of the nation through the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari. But what happens at the end of the eight-year tenure of President Buhari? Where do we go from here especially as our great leader would

not be on the ballot in 2023? As the aspiring next National Chairman of the ruling party, I believe APC needs to consolidate its message and find the best way to build on the success stories of this administration, which I know are numerous inspite of the challenges. As one who has grown within the political system, a bridge between the past and the future, I have the distinct advantage of unbiased perspective.

I have seen the issues. I have identified the winning formula.

I will fortify our wins and reduce opportunities for corrosive developments. I will lead from the front by providing firm, inclusive, proactive, disciplined, fair and transparent leadership as APC chairman. The proposed party governance approach under my stewardship will ensure that members are recognised and acknowledged.

Programmes and plans of the party will be inclusive, strategically crafted, robustly debated and judiciously implemented. Even families have disagreements and there is bound to be frictions, but I will ensure that proper and transparent conflict resolution frameworks are in place. The younger generation of APC members as well as the older ones have nothing to fear as I am well placed as a bridge between the two. I am one of the older generations. I am one of the younger generations. I am a bridge for the future with the consciousness and values of the past. So, there is indeed no cause for any concern.

A Note on the Kwara Journey Rafiu Ajakaye counters the widely published opinion of former Senate President Bukola Saraki against the Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq administration in Kwara State

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n October 26, 2021, former Senate President Bukola Saraki was on a national television to attempt a rebrand of himself ahead of the 2023 election. In what many have called his signature conceit and the groupthink into which his beleaguered camp has sunk, the politician said the people of Kwara had misjudged his dynasty. He feels Kwara was better off in 2019 — the same truthiness his henchmen and social media kamikazes have latched onto.

American satirist Stephen Colbert defined truthiness as a situation whereby people make claims they desired to be true even when there is no evidence to support that. For the former Senator and his followers, what unseated the dynasty was propaganda. This claim, in itself, is an unforgivable crime against the people who lived the grim realities and indignities of his ironfisted rule. Nobody got anything in Kwara except through and from them. But there is a group feeling among the Sarakites — with perhaps a few exceptions — that they were never wrong and that they cannot be wrong. It is what pushes them to deny what everyone knew about the Kwara story.

2022 will see a ridiculous spike in how Sarakites ‘create their own realities’, apologies to Karl Rove. Before that happens, it is important to remind them, and anyone who may be listening to or echoing them, where Kwara was in 2019 and where it is now.

As Sarakites bade public office farewell in 2019, data from the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) DHIS2 platform showed that maternal mortality ratio in Kwara was 1,404.4 per 100,000 deaths. That was the second highest in Nigeria after the insurgence-wracked Borno State. Given the situation of Borno, it is only fair to say Kwara actually wore the ignoble crown. At the end of 2020, maternal mortality ratio for Kwara came down to 20.7 per 100,000 live births, the second lowest in the country after Ekiti.

The difference between pre-May 2019 and 2020 is leadership, its priorities, and understanding of what constitutes development.

For years, UNICEF and other development

Abdulrazaq

agencies left Kwara. Supplemental immunisation dropped drastically due to non-payment of counterpart funds by the state. Basic healthcare facilities collapsed statewide. As of 2019, the Kwara Primary Health Care Development Agency had just a nurse to itself.

You read that well. Consequently, attendance in public primary hospitals hit a record low of just 43,936.

Between 2019 and now, Kwara has attained the status of a ‘State with High Political Will and Commitment’ in public health sector spending for obvious reasons. At 81.3%, 83.4% and 75.3% respectively, the capital spendings in the health sector for 2019, 2020, and 2021 have obviously been staggering. The results are glaring in the quality and quantum of facilities.

From one nurse in 2019, the Primary Health Care Development Agency now has 44 nurses, a 4,300% raise.

Supplemental immunisation is back.

Rollback malaria programme is active.

At least 27 primary healthcare facilities have been fixed across the state. The results are rewarding. To date, attendance in primary healthcare has risen to 306,328, representing 597.2% increase in public confidence in the system. Infant mortality is down from 2.6 in 2019 to 0.4 per 1000 live births at the close of 2020, while under-five deaths slowed to 0.4, down from 4.8 per 1000 births in 2019. In 2019, Kwara came a woeful 36th -- second only to Oyo -- in the National Lot Quality Assurance Survey (LQAS), which determines the level of coverage for immunisation in each state. All of its 16 local government areas failed the survey. By 2020, however, Kwara had moved to 18th position in the survey authored by the NPHCDA. The health insurance scheme has taken off, with tens of thousands of indigent families onboarded for free care, while a few corporate bodies have signed off to it.

Kwara had not a single life-saving modern gadget like ventilator and defibrillators, among others, until ‘O’toge’ happened. Basic things were not available and that naturally drained the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital which is ordinarily a tertiary facility.

Things have changed. General Hospital Ilorin is ‘lit’ now: fixed with modern lifesaving medical gadgets and a detached intensive care unit that is the largest and best of its kind in the region.

On top of that are the new accreditations that are a first for the hospital.

From the abysmal 79,408 attendance in public secondary facilities in 2019, the state recorded 1,181,776, or 1,388.23% increase, attendance by the end of 2020.

To date, no fewer than 14 secondary facilities have been worked on across the state. More than four decades after, the Otoge administration is fixing the Oro General Hospital, easing the decades of suffering in that corridor. Lafiagi General Hospital is seeing a historic transformation. Number of doctors

rose 28.6% between 2019 and 2021, owing to new recruitments. Efforts have now been activated to stop the attrition in the sector with significant pay raise for doctors and other health workers, and a commitment to do a lot more.

In 2019, only 6,725 households were connected to public water sources in Kwara State. However, none of these households was getting water since the waterworks were either non-active, inoperative even as water corporation workers were on strike for lack of salary payment. Public water supply was not active in 2019, leaving the people at the mercy of politicians who moved round with water tankers in exchange for votes. This has changed. To date, the administration has increased the number of households connected to public water supply to 10,426, or 55%, with defined access to potable water.

Number of public water stand pipes has risen by 1,107 more, or 72.31%. Measured against the population of the state, the figure is low but it represents a significant turnaround in the system. The administration has not only revived many of the moribund waterworks, including the one in Oyun, it is also building two new ones in Jebba (Moro) and Dumagi (Edu).

A major legacy of the dynasty was the ghostly nature of the Kwara hinterlands.

That was a function of many things, atop of which is the lack of basic amenities like functional schools with teachers, healthcare facilities, drinkable water, and access roads.

Most schools in the Kwara hinterlands were without teachers, worsening the out-of-school children syndrome and drastically reducing the quality of education. In Isin and Oke Ero local governments, for instance, less than 50% of their senior secondary school teachers’ needs were met. Kaiama had just 68 teachers, falling below 45 percent of its needs, across its vast communities. Patigi had just 121, while Ekiti boasted just 135.

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

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FEATURES

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

Tackling Poverty in Kwara through Social Intervention Schemes For most nations, one of the obstacles to attaining the Sustainable Development Goals is poverty. For the State of Harmony called Kwara, its government has designed a social framework and intervention scheme that would go a long way to exit the state out of poverty, Hammed Shittu in Ilorin, reports

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overty has remained one of the major obstacles to the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in some African countries of the world including Nigeria. The ugly development has pushed many people into beggars which hitherto has affected the standards of living of the populace in the country.

Even before COVID-19, baseline projections suggested that six per cent of the global population would still be living in extreme poverty in 2030, missing the target of ending poverty unless pragamatic approach is not tailored to reduce the trend.

The fallout from the pandemic threatens to push over 70 million people into extreme poverty. One out of five children live in extreme poverty, and the negative effects of poverty and deprivation in the early years have ramifications that can last a lifetime.

In 2016, for instance, 55 per cent of the world’s population – about 4 billion people – did not benefit from any form of social protection and the commitment of the SDGs to end poverty in all its forms is the first of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

However, based on these facts, various states in Nigeria including the State of Harmony called Kwara has designed a social framework and interventions that would go a long way to exit the state out of poverty among the residents of the state.

Upon assumption of office on May 2019, the present government led by Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq set out series of poverty interventions that would change the lives of the people for better so as to meet the world target of SDGs at wiping out poverty among the residents of the state by 2030.

In doing this, the state government has embarked on series of empowerment aimed at curtailing the spread of poverty as a way of enhancing the socio well being of the rural populace.

These social interventions cut across the youths, women and less privileged people in the society so as to add value to the socio-economic development of the populace.

Recently, the state government took another giant stride at ensuring that poverty is curtailed in the State of Harmony by empowering market women in their various businesses so as to change their lives for better through the provision of non-interest loans to them as a way of assisting them to boost their businesses in the state.

In the event, over 90 per cent of rural market women benefited from this gesture across the state that saw over 30, 000 market women to have access to these non-interest loans.

The programme tagged "Owo Isowo Non- interest Loan" was meant to boost the economic activities of the rural women across the 16 local government councils areas of the state and to reduce poverty among the teeming rural residents of the state.

Speaking at the disbursement of the loans to the affected beneficiaries in Ilorin, the state Governor, Alhaji AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq said the flagged off the disbursement of non-interest loans to another round of 30,000 beneficiaries of the social investment programme — brought the tally to 60,000 since the scheme kicked off last year.

He said, "Between 2020 and now, we have disbursed soft loans to 30,000 beneficiaries.

Today’s event marks the commencement of a fresh disbursement of the loans to another set of 30,000 beneficiaries across Kwara State.

"This initiative attests to the administration’s policy of gender inclusion, women empowerment, and poverty alleviation. Beneficiaries of Owo Isowo and Owo Arugbo have been 90 per cent women.”

The governor explained that the scheme, which comes in four categories, is designed to fight extreme poverty and stimulate small businesses by providing beneficiaries with interest-free loans.

AbdulRazaq said the Owo Arugbo component — which has some 10,000 beneficiaries across the state —seeks to support the elderly and the weak in a way that neither threatens their lives nor degrades their human dignity as senior citizens.

"The (whole of the) programmes seek to lift people from extreme poverty. KWASSIP comes in four components, including Owo Isowo and Owo Arugbo.

"Owo Arugbo supports our vulnerable elders

The mammoth gathering of women from 16 LGAs of Kwara that attended the event in a dignified way. We have made sure that these elders do not have to lose their lives or human dignity before accessing this support from the government. That is one of those things that stand us apart from the dark era that Kwara has exited,.

"A signature programme of KWASSIP is the Trader Moni, popularly known as Owo Isowo.

It gives non-interest loans to beneficiaries to invest in petty business while also improving their capacity to create wealth for themselves.

We borrowed this fine initiative from Mr. President. This has helped poor families to put food on their table.”

AbdulRazaq implored the beneficiaries of Owo Isowo to make judicious use of the support and ensure they pay back the money with a view to providing incremental loans for those who pay back to the tune of N50,000.

He assured the people that the administration will continue to support the downtrodden, poor and vulnerable with opportunities, financial support and capacity building programmes.

Acting General Manager Kwara State Social Investment Programme Mohammed Brimah, for his part, said the Wednesday’s disbursements for 13,000 were the highest in a day since the programme started.

"We are here today to witness a historic event. I call it historic because firstly it has never happened in the history of Kwara State.

Since the inception of the Kwara State Social Investment Programmes, we have disbursed loans to a total of about 30,000 beneficiaries but the most numbers of beneficiaries we have done in a day is about a thousand beneficiaries.

"The closest to this type of activation anywhere else in Nigeria was the Federal Government’s TraderMoni Activation of about 5,000 petty traders in Kaduna. Therefore, this is also the first time this magnitude of activation will be attempted anywhere in Nigeria till date," Brimah added.

He added that the inclusion of BVN registration and validation for beneficiaries of Kwara State’s Owo Isowo programme were not in the initial national social investment programme design of tradermoni.

“This (invention by the Kwara State Government) is now being adopted by the Federal Government,” Brimah said.

Brimah explained that the disbursement under KWASSIP are for known beneficiaries captured and screened by the scheme unlike the controversial N2billion SME loan secured by the immediate past administration without any form of accountability or transparency.

Iyaloja-General of Kwara and BabalojaGeneral of Kwara State, Hajia Sidikat Akaje and Alhaji AbdulRahman Saad, respectively, commended AbdulRazaq for his various

interventions at making life meaningful to every segment of the society.

"We are very happy with changes that His Excellency has brought to the lives of marketers in Kwara State," Akaje added.

The activation programme was held at the Kwara State Stadium Complex in Ilorin.

Moreover, prior to this disbursement of non-interest loans to the rural women in the state, the state government has also empowered hundreds of young people in their various businesses of non-interest loans.

In the programme, the winners got between N250,000 and N3million to start or strengthen their businesses after some rigorous, private sector-led screening processes that began with at least 7,202 applicants.

Amounts awarded depended on the scale and viability of their business proposals. The programme was by the state Social Investment Programme office in conjunction with Fidelity Bank. Among the young entrepreneurs that benefited from the programme include Mr. Umar Faruk (Rice processing); Oluwatosin Adedoyin (Fish smoking); Courage Balogun (Waste evacuation); Jubril Bello (Plastic waste); and Mutolib ISSA (Locust beans) and presented the best five pitches which won N3million interest-free loan apiece.

Others whose business pitches came next were Femi Olanrewaju (N2.5m for his fish Pond); Alabi Michael (N1m, Cashew); Akpem Micheal (N1m, UBER); Nasir Ajala (N1m, Agro farm); and Yusuf Mohammed (N1m, Rice processing). The loans were awarded under Kwapreneurs, a state government’s entrepreneurial platform designed to support initiatives of people not more than 35 years of age with seed funds. The government however said that, the scheme was designed to serve the best of young people below 35 years.

The governor who spoke at the event of the presentation of the cheques to the beneficiaries at Ilorin sports stadium said that, “Kwapreneurs is a revolution and the essence is to ensure that public funds are allocated to serve the best interest of the people, especially the young people below 35 years who have been underserved for many years.

"This is in line with our commitment to promote innovation, industry and enterprise,” .

AbdulRazaq commended the youngsters for their brilliant ideas and their courage to have their pitches assessed by an independent panel of judges, assuring them of continuous government’s support and mentorship as their businesses grow.

"We made sure this was not business as usual. It was fair, open, thorough, and nonpartisan. A total of 170 businesses out of 7, 202 applicants have emerged from a rigorous screening process, which included online applications, verification of businesses/

ideas and physical interviews (pitching).

“It is an unprecedented experience to see our young people pitching for funds for businesses.

This was not the case before. But I am glad to note that our administration has succeeded in encouraging enterprise and dignity by introducing Kwaprenuers.

"This initiative aligns with the global demands for sustainable youths engagement and empowerment to widen the economic base of the state.

“I do not doubt that this crop of young people will succeed with the arrays of training they have undergone on business management, growth and development, strategies and sustainability among others and ultimately become employers of labour to drive improved revenue and economic development of the state.

"We appreciate Fidelity Bank and Wootlab Innovations for their support every step of the way. Our plan remains to build on the success of the first phase, thereby promoting commerce and trading, as part of our grand strategy on youths engagements and inclusive growth.

“However, its fundamentals are dictated by the global economic realities, revenue projections, and the sincerity of the beneficiaries to repay the non-interest loans as and when due.

"We urge our young people to use the funds judiciously and repay the loans for others to benefit from the scheme. “Our commitment to prudent management of public resources remains unshaken.

"We will at all time prioritise the welfare of the people who have entrusted us with their mandate, while every segment of our society is accorded their right and privileges. I congratulate all the successful businesses and wish them the best.”

Following this giant stride in the poverty alleviation of the people in the state, the state government has led other APC controlled ruling states in the country in the war against poverty and has earned the state a great honour in the quest to reduce poverty and ensured the state government meets the world SDGs goals in the country.

In a statement issued by the governor's Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Rafiu Ajakaye, he said the war against poverty has made the state to get the national applause as it again emerged the state with the highest number of points in the September edition of the _Progressive Strides_ , the monthly bulletin tracking the performance of the 21 APC States in the country.

He said that, "Kwara ticked 26 points to top the table, followed by Lagos (21) and Jigawa and Kebbi which had 16 strides apiece for the month under review. The entries for the edition witnessed more improvements as regards developmental strides collated from the (Progressive Governors’) Forum States in 2021".

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

T H I S D AY ˾ ˜ ʹ˜ ͰͮͰͰ

23

FEATURES

Hakeem Muri Okunola @ 50: Hearty Cheers to a New Leader

L-R: Folorunsho Coker -DG Nigeria Tourism Board; Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu- APC National leader; Hakeem Muri-Okunola - Head of Service Lagos State; and Saheed Ademola Elegushi - Oba of Elegushi Kingdom

Hakeem Muri-Okunola

Azuka Ogujiuba

C

haracter makes a man and this rings true of Hakeem Olayinka Muri-Okunola, the 21st Lagos State Head of Service fondly called by his social moniker, HMO. The gentleman so passionately dedicated to public service turns 50 tomorrow, January 7, 2022 and will be celebrated by persons and institutions his Midas touch had impacted in ways too numerous to mention.

The erudite, suave, temperate, meticulous and vastly skilled public administrator has built a staggering resume that prepares him for leadership of the Centre of Excellence soon.

HMO belongs to the pantheon of the true Omo Eko (Lagos aboriginals) devoid of the brashness of the street erroneously believed by many to be the incurable indiscretion of the Lagos boys.

I have known Muri- Okunola practically all my journey as a writer. His most endearing feature that resonates with me, just like many others wishing him well today, is his will to assist in any arduous situation presented to him.

He is a patient listener and readily ever happy to resolve any life puzzle and where he can’t, he makes sure he introduces you to the one who can and who will. He does it effortlessly and with this smile that says “everything will be fine as long as there is God.” Though a relatively young leader, HMO embodies the wisdom of a sage. He’s one of the few privileged young men I know who listens more than he talks. It is therefore flabbergasting to know he is just going to arrive the fifth floor and has refused to roll out the drums in the known fashion of Lagos pomp and pageantry.

Hakeem Muri-Okunola with the Governor of Lagos state Babajide Sanwo-Olu

In the Lagos political cum social scene, it’s been largely speculated that he’s throwing a party, one like a ‘destination bash’, but the privileged sources have debunked the tale making the rounds as utterly unfounded. Muri-Okunola is not throwing any shindig anywhere to celebrate his golden jubilee.

Even in high places, his kind nature and sacrifices made to assist people he’d never met and who may never be able to reciprocate, make many root for him for the leadership of the state when opportunity presents itself. As quiet and easy going as he is, his life story touches really deep.

This trained lawyer’s career trajectory proves he’s not an accidental civil servant merely favoured by providence. Reputed as the youngest to rise to the enviable status of Head of Service in Lagos State at age 47, three years after assuming office, not only has HMO impacted the civil service operations with lofty ideas, he’d also put paid to the cynicism of the naysayers who doubted his competence largely due to age and closeness to the Lagos ruling class.

The son of late Justice Muritala Okunola has relentlessly deployed his mastery of law (a product of which he is by birth and social orientation) to the common good of the public but introduced result-oriented digitisation into public service and administration across relevant agencies.

From a towering career in the private sector, HMO was invited by the then Lagos State Governor, Bola Tinubu, to serve as his Personal Assistant. He’d also previously served as Permanent Secretary, Youths and Sports Ministry. And prior to that, HMO was the Permanent Secretary for the Lands Bureau Ministry under former Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola.

Though abundantly blessed with all the appurtenances of power, fame and fortune, encounters with HMO by many suggest he’s stickler to excellence who will never celebrate mediocrity over the best performance in all areas under his jurisdiction.

As the lead Human Resource executive in the Lagos State Civil Service, HMO has led with uncommon forthrightness

The son of late Justice Muritala Okunola has relentlessly deployed his mastery of law (a product of which he is by birth and social orientation) to the common good of the public but introduced result-oriented digitisation into public service and administration across relevant agencies

and empathy. I recall reaching out to him when someone I know wrote and passed (excellently) both an entrance examination and panel interview for a cadre in the public service but was not shortlisted for the job because she had no godfather in the system.

He promised nothing other than looking into the case because the situation had dragged the lady to the lowest ebb of life. He requested the candidate’s details, investigated her performance (maybe queried the assessors) and consequently saw to the lady’s appointment based on merit. It was such a humbling moment for me and I sought to say ‘Thank You’ to him properly.

But he’d not want all of that.

Seldom do our paths cross with mortals who do good and refuse to be thanked.

That is HMO! Though a fervent Muslim, HMO would never give opportunity to anyone judging by what name he calls God. For him, appointments and promotions are earned by diligence, integrity and merit. Despite being friends with many Lagos big boys most of whom he grew up with, HMO never celebrates milestones with a lavish party like many of his social status. You see why there’s not much festivities to expect from him on account of turning 50? Yes, turning 50 gladdens, but maybe not enough to forget that there’s much left to be done and desire.

Highly detribalised administrator, HMO’s idol is Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the man who gave him the opportunity to take his first shot at public service and favours humanity above social colourations.

Hakeem Muri Okunola has a Bachelor’s Degree (LLB) in Law from the Lagos State University and complete the mandatory Nigerian Law School in 1995. He went further to obtain Master’s degree in International Business Law (LLM) from Westfield College, Queen Mary University of London, England between 1998 – 1999.

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THURSDAY JANUARY 6, 2022 •T H I S D AY

T H I S D AY ˾ THURSDAY, JANUARY 6, 2022

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BUSINESSWORLD R A T E S MONEY MARKET

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Group Business Editor Eromosele Abiodun Email oriarehu.eromosele@thisdaylive.com

08056356325

J A N U A R Y

S & P INDEX

5 , 2 0 2 2

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EXCHANGE RATE

OBB

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4%

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Stakeholders: 5G Network Rollout, Broadband Penetration, E-commerce Are Game Changers in 2022

Emma Okonji Having survived the difficult times in 2021, occasioned by the effect of COVID-19 and other variables, industry stakeholders in the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector are optimistic that the planned rollout of 5G network in 2022, coupled with the planned acquisition of MainOne by Equinix in 2022, among others, will boost Nigerian economy in 2022.

Chairman, Association of Licensed

Telecoms Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), Gbenga Adebayo, told THISDAY that the successful auction of two slots in the 3.5GHz spectrum band to MTN and Mafab Communications in December 2021 by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), would open the stage for a nationwide 5G technology rollout, after the spectrum winners must have paid for the licence fee in February 2022, as directed by the NCC. According to him, 5G would revolutionise the Nigerian economy,

deepen broadband penetration and enhance Nigeria’s digital transformation agenda, as 5G has the capacity for low latency, increase broadband speed and faster downloads, with seamless internet connectivity.

He also said the planned acquisition of MainOne in 2022 by Equinix, an American multinational data centre operator, would further boost broadband penetration, increase internet access and connectivity speed and reduce cost of internet.

“When we begin to experience all of these in 2022, it will impact on e-Commerce, e-Government, as well as the application of Internet of Things (IoTs), Machine to Machine Communications and Machine to Human Communications. The development that these technologies will bring, will in no small measure, help in repositioning Nigeria to achieve her smart city project and her digital transformation agenda that will further boost the Nigerian economy,” Adebayo said.

Giving details of the many benefits of a successful spectrum auction for 5G deployment, the Chief Executive Officer of Tetconsult UK and the immediate past Secretary General of the Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation (WTO), Shola Taylor, said the ultimate beneficiary of the successful launch of 3.5GHz spectrum, would be the Nigerian telecoms consumer, whom he said, would enjoy the enormous and real-time benefits of 5G technology, considering its high speed downloads,

high internet connectivity capacity, with very low latency that would drive a faster digital transformation across Nigeria.

CEO of MainOne, Ms. Funke Opeke, who expressed her joy over the planned acquisition of MainOne, said the deal would open digital opportunities for Nigeria since the presence of Equinix in Nigeria would help speed up Nigeria’s journey towards achieving her digital Continued on page 26

Cyber Security Expert Predicts Increase in Cyber Attacks in 2022 Emma Okonji The President, Cyber Security Experts Association of Nigeria (CSEAN), Mr. Remi Afon has predicted a sharp increase in cyber attacks in 2022 in Nigeria and the rest of the world.

He has therefore warned both the public and private sector organisations to guard against all forms of vulnerability in their systems and networks.

Afon, who based his predictions on the volume of cyber attacks

in 2021 in Nigeria, and the underreporting of such attacks by affected organisations, told THISDAY that the trend of attacks may likely double in 2022, unless organisations take proactive measures.

According to him, “2022 is expected to witness an escalation in cyber attacks and cybercrime from what we witnessed in 2021. This is based on cybersecurity trends in Nigeria and around the world, coupled with insights from leaders and global experts who assess the

evolving cyber environment and the security threats we currently face.

From Ransomware and Business Email Compromise (BEC) scams to deepfakes, these predictions are based on existing trends while incorporating the behaviour of cybercriminals and changing technological innovations.”

Citing the 2022 Nigeria Cybersecurity Threat Landscape report that was released by the Cyber Security Experts Association of Nigeria (CSEAN), Afon said: “The year 2021 witnessed unprecedented

Ransomware attacks with the rise of Ransomware-as-a-Service (RaaS) groups on the Darkweb. The average amount of reported Ransomware transactions per month in 2021 was $102.3 million, according to FinCEN Report. Approximately 37 per cent of global organizations said they were victims of some form of a Ransomware attack in 2021, according to IDC’s 2021 Ransomware Study.

In 2022, the Ransomware threat and level of severity of ransomware attacks will grow. With Ransomware

becoming the new digital pandemic.

“We expect to see the highest reported ransom paid by organisations in 2022 and disruption of service with maximum impact in terms of financial loss. The loss would not only be calculated based on ransom paid, but in terms of financial losses due to service unavailability, loss of market share, and a drop in stakeholder confidence, among other factors.”

He further explained that as the 2023 Nigeria general elections draw

nearer, the use of Deepfakes and fake news would rise in 2022.

He described Deepfakes are videos, images, or audio recordings that are manipulated by Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology.

“In a deepfake, an individual can be presented as saying or doing something that didn’t happen.

Deepfakes are typically used to slander targets, manipulate events, falsify statements, or evidence, and Continued on page 26

M AA RR KK EE TT DDATA ATA AA SS AT AT W W EE DD NN EE SS DDAY, AY, JAAUNG UUAS RT Y1 5 1, 2022 1 M ONNDDSS FFGGNN BBO DESCRIPTION 11.668 FGNSB 12.75 27-APR15-AUG-2021 2023 10.301 FGNSB 14.20 14-MAR16-AUG-2021 2024 11.150 FGNSB 13.53 23-MAR11-SEP-2021 2025 12.364 FGNSB 12.50 22-JAN12-SEP-2021 2026 12.175 FGNSB 16.2884 1710-OCT-2021 MAR-2027

BILLS

100.09 106.48

3.16 7.44

Change Change (%) (%) 0.00 -0.05

100.10 109.84

3.16 9.12

0.00 -0.03

100.67 107.93

3.13 -0.01 0.00 10.54

100.80 103.15

0.00 3.12 0.23 11.50

Price

101.47 115.05

Yield

3.08 -0.01 0.00 12.27

MATURITY NTB NTB 13-Jan26-Aug-21 2022 NTB 10-FebNTB 9-Sep-21 2022 NTB 10-Mar16-Sep-21 2022 NTB 28-Apr30-Sep-21 2022 NTB 12-May14-Oct-21 2022

OTC FX F U T U R E S

Change(%) (%) Discount Yield Change 3.00 3.69

3.00 0.00 0.00 3.69

3.10 4.00

3.11 0.00 0.00 4.02

3.15 2.98

CONTRACT TENOR (MONTH) 1

Contract

Current Rate ($/₦)

AUG26 252022 2021 421.18 420.93 NGUS JAN

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SEP 23 29 2022 2021 422.61 422.38 NGUS FEB

3.16 0.00 0.00 3.00

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OCT 27 423.83 NGUS MAR 302021 2022 424.04

3.25 4.50

3.26 0.00 0.00 4.56

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NOV27 242022 2021 425.46 425.28 NGUS APR

3.35 4.00

3.37 0.00 0.00 4.06

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DEC 29 426.73 NGUS MAY 25 2021 2022 426.89

CCPs Ps MATURITY

Discount Discount Yield Yield Change Change(%) (%)

XXXI MREP CP XXXVI 13-AUG-21 11-FEB-22 III 27UNCP CP VI AUG-21 2-MAY-22 VAAG CP I 2427NEVE AUG-21 MAY-22 TTNG CP II 2531DANC AUG-21 MAY-22 .SIBP CP I 2-SEP21

9.02 9.19

9.03 9.27

0.00 0.00

4.26 9.50

4.27 9.79

0.00 0.00

10.20 16.70

10.25 17.83 0.00 0.00

4.59 9.42

4.60 9.77

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4.13

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4.14

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 6, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

BUSINESSWORLD

NEWS

With N142.6bn Worth of Trade, CardinalStone Securities Emerges Second-best Broker in 2021 Kayode Tokede CardinalStone Securities Limited traded N147.6billion worth of transaction in the equities market of the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) to emerged second-best broker in 2021.

According to the broker performance report, released by the Exchange, the firm emerged as number one by trade volume, executing more than 15.23 billion units of shares in 2021.

A total of 10 stockbrokers on the NGX traded N1.01 trillion value and 76.3billion volume of transactions in 2021.

Cardinalstone Securities traded accounted for nine per cent of total trade volume and eight per cent of trade value in 2021, to position the firm as one of the top two stockbroking firms in Nigeria.

The company noted that the giant strides and growth achieved considering the firm finished in the

top five category just over a year ago.

The Managing Director of CardinalStone Securities Limited, Elile Olutimayin, in a statement alluded to the fact that the Firm has leveraged on the synergy and relationships garnered across all of

its business units and subsidiaries to drive transactions in Nigeria’s capital market, executing trade value above N140billion, this stands as its best-ever yearly performance on the NGX. She further described some major

steps taken to achieve this position “During the year, we improved the quality of service to our clients, deepened our product offerings, and made significant progress in onboarding Strategic investors, foreign fund managers, and local

asset managers.

She added, “What has placed us apart from others is the unique, insightful, and innovative trade ideas, robust investment research, and solutions we consistently churn out to clients, ensuring that our customers

ITU Forum Charts Course for Equitable, Inclusive Digital Future Emma Okonji with Agency Report Over 400 top representatives from the public and private sectors, who attended the 6th World Telecommunications/ICT Policy Forum in Geneva, Switzerland, organised by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), affirmed the need to align information and communication technologies (ICTs) and rapidly evolving new and emerging technologies, with global priorities

for sustainable development.

The participants adopted five key guidelines addressing opportunities, challenges and policies to foster tech for global sustainable development.

Delegates at the sixth World Telecommunications/ICT Policy Forum (WTPF-21) gave their seal of approval to a set of guidelines shaping future technology policy.

These covered areas from inclusive connectivity and digital skills to using new and emerging technologies and services for sustainable development,

fostering an effective enabling environment, and how tech can support effective COVID-19 response and recovery.

The guidelines, set out in nonbinding policy documents known as ‘Opinions’, were approved in the Chairman’s report at the close of the WTPF-21, which took place online in December 2021. The Opinions reflect common views among ITU’s membership of countries, companies, institutions, academia and civil society, as refined and set down

during a highly collaborative twoyear multistakeholder preparatory process.

ITU Secretary-General, Houlin Zhao, said: “The ITU family came together at WTPF-21 to discuss the new and emerging technologies that show so much promise for all humanity. The output of the forum sends a clear, strong and positive message to the world that these technologies and ICTs in general are essential to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals

NITDA Boss Harps on Digital Innovations, Creativity to Boost Education Emma Okonji The Director General, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi has stressed the need for innovations and creativity to change the nation’s education outlook for the better.

Abdullahi who spoke recently at the maiden National Conference on Functional Education at Bilyaminu Polytechnic, Hadejia, Jigawa State,

organised by the Center for Semi Arid Research and Development said, “it is important to seek to explore the benefits of innovations and creativity in order to bring about functional education system for the country.”

He mentioned that the lessons learnt during the COVID-19 lockdown should be taken to the next level to further the course of education by leveraging on the advancement in technology to address specific problems inhibiting the progress of the sector.

“Platforms like Edtech have become a global phenomenon that integrates strategies, instructional practices in education and digital tools to bring about the emerging trends that demonstrators in academia apply to build knowledge based society,” Abdullahi said.

He listed other platforms that could be handy to include; Artificial intelligence, Internet of things, 5G technology, Blockchain, Virtual and mix realities, among others.

Rolling out statistics, Abdullahi stated that Nigeria currently warehoused about 28 per cent of education technology companies on the African continent with technology startups generating about $3.46 million in 2020.

This, he added, signified that the country is not left behind in innovations and creativity in the education sector to support sustainable development in the country.

According to him, NITDA had already identified innovations

and creativity as critical tools for implementing the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy NDEPS, aimed at driving home the nation’s prosperity.

He said, one of such steps was the launch of National Adopted School for Smart Education initiative by NITDA, which seeks to inculcate the use of technology in teaching and learning to promote massive access to quality education especially at the grassroots.

Huawei Set for Continued Challenges in 2022 Emma Okonji The Rotating Chairman, Huawei Technologies, Guo Ping has highlighted the positives in an annual internal New Year’s message, noting its carrier business remained stable as the enterprise segment booked solid growth in 2021.

He however said the total revenue was expected to drop 28.9 per cent

year-on-year to $99.9 billion.

According t9 him turnover in the final quarter in 2021, continued to be hammered by US trade sanctions on its consumer business, with smartphone sales plummeting after the divestment of its sub-brand Honor.

Guo acknowledged 2022 will come with its fair share of challenges, while explaining that a changing

external environment won’t cause it to alter its ideals or aspirations.

“We will continue investing in the future and creating value for our customers and partners,” Guo said in his new year message.

He noted cost-cutting won’t pave the way to sustainable survival: “Only through strategic investment can we grow stronger and build a future for ourselves.”

He added Huawei device business expanded swiftly into new business domains in which its ability to secure chip supplies was not restricted.

With trade restrictions and equipment bans in many countries curbing its core telecom and handset businesses, the company has diversified into the automotive sector. Last week, it said the first electric car with its HarmonyOS

operating system would begin deliveries in February.

In a statement, Huawei’s chief representative to the EU Institutions, Tony Jin, noted the company ranked as the second highest private-sector investor in Research and Development (R&D) in the world, citing data from the European Commission Industrial R&D Investment Scoreboard 2021.

NetPlus, Zenith Bank to Grow SME Business with NetPOS Mini

Emma Okonji

NetPlusDotCom, a leading Fintech and Digital Payment company, has collaborated with Zenith Bank Plc. on the Zenith Bank ‘SME Grow My Business’ initiative through the integration of the NetPOS Mini, a 2-in-1 innovative POS solution offering payment and merchant

consistently meet their investment objectives despite the tough macro environment. Notably, we received the Businessday Banks and Other Financial Institutions Award for the category “Stockbroking Firm of the Year.”

applications.

The NetPOS Mini launched into the Nigerian market early last year, is a device that doubles as both a SmartPhone and a POS terminal, and offers multiple payment channels for merchants, including Cards, Account Transfers, QR codes and USSD payments.

Asides having Near Field Communication (NFC) built in, pre-installed business apps and a merchant dashboard, the device can also be used by the merchants to take

orders by call, text or iMessages. It comes pre-installed with STORM, the Super Merchant app, which provides inventory management, payment integration with social media, and sales tracker all in one.

Speaking on the new banking product, the Group Managing Director/Chief Executive of Zenith Bank Plc, Mr. Ebenezer Onyeagwu said: “SMEs remain the growth engine of any economy and Nigeria is no exception, with 96 per cent of local businesses

classified as SMEs according to the International Finance Corporation (IFC). This provides a huge space to deliver value and offer compelling propositions and engagement for business growth and contribute to national development”.

According to him, “the launch of the ‘SME Grow My Business’ product by the bank, therefore, stems from the desire to provide a unique platform for catering for the unique needs of SMEs who represent a major segment of the

Nigerian economy.”

Zenith Bank has continued to distinguish itself in the Nigerian financial services industry through superior service offerings, unique customer experience and sound financial indices. The Bank remains a clear leader in the digital space with several firsts in the deployment of innovative products, solutions and an assortment of alternative channels that ensure convenience, speed and safety of transactions.

and address some of the world’s most pressing opportunities and challenges, from COVID-19 to the digital divide.”

Minister of Communications and Digitalisation, Ghana and WTPF-21 Chair, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, said: “As ITU members, we owe it to ourselves to do our utmost to harness better the emerging technologies and ICTs to accelerate the achievement of the 2030 agenda for Sustainable Development. When poverty is on the rise, when our children’s education is on the line, when our planet is suffering and when our health is impaired with existing and new diseases, we believe that these technologies can and will make a big difference.”

She further said: “These ‘Opinions’ will now provide guidance and support to ITU Member States in formulating future policy, and the task ahead for ITU members as stakeholders is to work towards implementing them.”

The forum brought together representatives from all stakeholder groups belonging to 90 ITU Member States, Nigeria inclusive, 40 Sector Members and some 10 Observers and began with the presentation of the ITU Secretary-General’s report.

ITU Deputy Secretary-General, Malcolm Johnson, said: “The report by the Secretary-General is a balanced text recognising the complexities of the current digital ecosystem. The key public policy questions at its core provides a solid framework for discussion at WTPF-21, which will help build a digital future where no one is left behind and where opportunities have no boundaries.”

The report outlined the topics of the five ‘Opinions’ to include: Enabling environment for the development and deployment of new and emerging telecommunication/ ICT services and technologies to advance sustainable development; Affordable and secure connectivity in mobilising new and emerging telecommunications/ICTs for sustainable development; Digital literacy and skills for inclusive access; New and emerging technologies and services to facilitate the use of telecommunications/ICTs for sustainable development; and Use of telecommunications/ICTs in COVID-19 and future pandemic and epidemic preparedness and response.

STAKEHOLDERS: 5G NETWORK ROLLOUT, BROADBAND PENETRATION, E-COMMERCE ARE GAME CHANGERS IN 2022 Group Business Editor Eromosele Abiodun Comms/e-Business Editor Emma Okonji Aviation Editor Chinedu Eze Asst. Editor, Money Market Nume Ekeghe Senior Correspondent Raheem Akingbolu (Advertising) Correspondents James Emejo (Finance) Ebere Nwoji (Insurance) Chineme Okafo (Energy) Emmanuel Addeh (Energy) Reporters Nosa Alekhuogie (ICT) Peter Uzoho (Energy) Ugo Aliogo (Development)

economy goals.

According to her, “It has become imperative for Nigeria to be part of the global digital economy drive, and participate in the value chain, and I see Equinix bringing this opportunity into Nigeria, through the planned acquisition of MainOne in 2022.”

Opeke further explained that the presence of Equinix in Nigeria

would further deepen broadband infrastructure rollout and deliver more value chain in Nigeria and the rest of Africa.

Chairman, Zinox Technology Group, Leo Stan-Ekeh, told THISDAY that e-Commerce would change the narrative of the Nigerian economy in 2022, as online shopping would continue to gain traction in 2022. He

advised governments across Nigeria to be digitally compliant and ensure that all government transactions were done online in order to drive online traffic and make access to government activities a lot easier.

Managing Director, Africa Data Centres, Wole Abu, said the launch of 10 megawatt data centre facility in Nigeria by the

Africa Data Centres in Lagos last December, would drive positive competition and faster growth of the Nigerian economy in 2022.

Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, said: “The diversification of Nigeria’s economy is a key priority for

the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, and government therefore welcomes Africa Data Centre to Nigeria to further boost her diversification process. Growing the ICT sector is a priority for government and we welcome Africa Data Centre to join government in further growing the sector in 2022.”

CYBER SECURITY EXPERT PREDICTS INCREASE IN CYBER ATTACKS IN 2022 create scandals. They are made with artificial intelligence software that maps targeted people’s faces into scenes and onto other people’s bodies, or otherwise manipulate parts of videos. The Deepfakes threat has also been used to facilitate business email compromise (BEC) fraud, bypass Multi-Factor Authentication

(MFA) protocols, and Know Your Customer (KYC) ID verification, and will be increasingly used in 2022 and beyond, “Afon said.

He added that cloud security misconfiguration and supply chain attacks would rank among the top cyber threats in 2022.

“In 2022, we can expect that cybercrime gangs will continue

to seek ways to hijack the digital transformation of organisations to deploy malicious code, infiltrate networks, and gain persistence in systems all over the world,” Afon said.

He added that insider threats would continue to pose serious challenge for banks and other financial institutions in Nigeria.

“Collusion between trusted insiders and cybercriminals will continue to increase in 2022. The majority of frauds in the banking sector were perpetrated through insider information leaks. Fake alerts, sim swap scams, ATM card clones, use of ATM skimmers, and the likes, are highly successful when a bank insider is involved. An insider

threat is a malicious threat that comes from people within the organisation,” he said.

He therefore warned private organisations, including government agencies to fortify their networks against vulnerabilities and to ensure timely report of all cases of cyber attacks to the appropriate quarters.

T H I S D AY ˾ THURSDAY, JANUARY 6, 2022

27

BUSINESSWORLD

E-BUSINESS

Accelerating Nigeria’s Digital Economy in 2022 With the growing trends in emerging technologies, coupled with new developments in the Information and Communications Technology sector, industry stakeholders are full of hopes that the application of ICT in governance and in private businesses will further enhance Nigeria’s digital economy goals in 2022, writes Emma Okonji

G

lobal economies are leveraging on Information and Communications Technology (ICT) to advance economic development and Nigeria is not left out, as the federal government continues to develop ICT policies and also ensures implementation of such policies.

Aside ICT policy formulation and implementation, industry stakeholders are of the view that adoption and application of new technologies by the private and public sectors will act as catalyst in achieving Nigeria’s digital economy goals, among which is digital transformation and smart city initiative.

They are optimistic that increased investments in health, agriculture banking and other sectors of the Nigerian economy, will not only attract Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), but will also enhance Nigeria’s digital economy.

ICT IN HEATH, AGRICULTURE

President, Nigeria Computer Society (NCS), Prof. Adesina Sodiya, who spoke on the need for further investment in ICT to drive the health and agriculture sectors of the economy, including the banking and manufacturing sectors, said Nigeria would gain a lot with further investments in such key sectors of the Nigerian economy.

Although Sodiya said the federal government had started laying the right foundation through various ICT policy implementations, which are geared towards using ICT for national development, he however stressed need for Nigeria to develop technologies that can address local challenges and enhance socio-economic development.

Nigeria should grow to the level where it can use technology to attract foreign direct investments (FDI) into the country, he said, adding that e-Agriculture for instance, can attract a lot of revenue for Nigeria, if well implemented.

According to him, “NCS is already driving advocacy around school adoption and technology to drive agricultural production. Government must increase the use of technology to drive agriculture in schools and among farmers. Government should support modern and large scale agriculture and the states and federal government can device means to use ICT to drive agriculture at the state and federal government levels, because large scale agriculture involves huge capital for a start. We also need technology to improve processing of agricultural products. Nigeria cannot produce what can feed the nation and we cannot continue to rely on consumption of foreign products.”

Giving more details, he said: “The solution is to use technology to drive agriculture as an alternative source of income for Nigeria. If Nigeria begins to use technology application like Internet of Things (IoT) to drive precision agriculture, Nigeria will be able to produce enough farm produce that will feed the country and still have enough to market to foreign countries.”

VARIABLES THAT WILL SHAPE 2022

Looking at key variables in the ICT sector that will shape 2022, industry stakeholders are of the view that the planned 5G technology rollout in 2022, the planned acquisition of MainOne by Equinix in 2022 and the launch of Africa Data Centre, including the berthing of several subsea cables at the shores of Nigeria, and the operation of cloud computing services by data centre operators, will act as catalyst in driving Nigeria’s digital economy in 2022.

According to industry stakeholders, the recent emergence of MTN Nigeria and Mafab Communications Ltd, as winners of the keenly contested 3.5 GHz spectrum

auction for 5G deployment in the country, coupled with the $574.2 million that the federal government realised from the auction, Nigeria, no doubt, is set to achieve faster digital transformation in 2022.

The stakeholders were also of the view that the launch of a 10 megawatt data centre facility in Nigeria by the Africa Data Centres (ADC), which held in Lagos in December 2021, would further diversify Nigeria’s economy and enhance her digital transformation agenda in 2022.

Nigeria made history on December 13, 2021, when the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy, successful auctioned two lots in the 3.5GHz spectrum license to MTN Nigeria and Mafab Communications Ltd, to set the stage for 5G rollout in the country in 2022.

Although the main stage auction eventually ended at round eleven, with a winning bid price of $273.6 million for each operator, MTN however bided additional $15.9 million to get lot 1 of the spectrum, while Mafab bided additional $11.1 million to get lot 2 of the spectrum, bringing the total amount raised to $574.2 million.

Chief Executive Officer of Tetconsult UK and the immediate past Secretary General of the Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation (WTO), Shola Taylor, who commending NCC and the Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy for a successful spectrum auction, said: “The successful auction of the 3.5GHz spectrum is a great example of how nations determine the market price of highly demanded spectrum. The NCC must be congratulated for managing this process excellently, having demonstrated a shining example for the rest of Africa. Auctions remain the most transparent method of awarding such spectrum licences.”

Chairman, Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), Gbenga Adebayo, told THISDAY that the 3.5GHz spectrum auction would open vista of opportunities for 5G rollout and also enhance digital transformation across the country in several ways in 2022. According to him, “The 3.5GHz spectrum will pave way for speedy deployment of 5G network/in 2022, and once we have systems and applications running on the spectrum at high speed data, there will be faster integration of systems and there will be increased access with machine-to-machine connection that will also drive financial inclusion.

What we used to download in minutes before, will now be in milliseconds and there will be improved customer experience to speed, access and connectivity. It will enhance e-Commerce, e-Health, e-Government, among others, with great improvement on national security.”

Gbenga said those operators that would deploy 5G technology in 2022, would likely change the dynamics in the telecoms sector and the Nigerian economy at large, because they would be introducing new applications that would run faster on 5G network, and improve customer experience in 2022.

Giving credence to the efficacy of the launch of African Data Centres in Lagos in December last year, the federal government and the Lagos State government said the launch of the 10 megawatt data centre facility in Nigeria by the Africa Data Centres in 2021, would further diversify Nigeria’s economy and enhance her digital transformation

agenda in 2022.

The Executive Vice Chairman, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, said the launch would help to further diversify the Nigerian economy.

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, said with the launch of Africa Data Centres, called LOS1, the state government would look forward to seeing LOS2 and LOS3 shortly.

“We celebrate the official launch of Africa Data Centres LOS1 facility in Lagos and it is our strong belief that the facility located in Eko Atlantic, will revolutionise digital solutions in Nigeria and the rest of Africa. Government will provide the necessary support required to achieve the objectives of Africa Data Centres,” Sanwo-Olu said.

CEO of Africa Data Centres, Stephane Duproz, described Nigeria as one of the company’s key markets, as there is a rapidly-growing demand for data centres in the region.

The Director, Google West Africa, Juliet Ehimuan, said the continuous berthing of subsea cables at the shores of Nigeria would further diversify the Nigerian economy in 2022.

“Google is very excited about its investment in the Equiano subsea cable, whose initiative started a while ago. Currently work is in advance stage and we are expecting the cable to be live in the second quarter of next year. Hopefully, by 2022, the Equiano subsea cable will be live in Nigeria, providing increased internet speed and connectivity, thus creating additional jobs for Nigerians and for other neighbouring countries where the cable will pass through,” Ehimuan said.

HOW 5G WILL DEFINE 2022

NCC had commenced the process for the auction of the 5G spectrum in the last quarter of the 2021 and had, since then, carried out a number of activities ahead of the main auction.

On October 7, 2021, the commission had published the Draft Information Memorandum (IM) on the auction of the 5G spectrum on its website, and issued a public notice in major channels, including print, electronic, and new digital media.

Comments on the draft IM were received by the commission up until October 28, 2021.

On November 3, 2021, the commission held a stakeholders’ engagement forum in Lagos at which comments received from a broad segment of stakeholders, including the major operators, were exhaustively discussed and considered.

On November 10, 2021, the commission published the final IM, and stakeholders’ comments thereon on its website and the national dailies, and set the deadline for the submission of bids on Wednesday, November 24, 2021.

NCC extended the date for submission of the bidding applications from Wednesday, November 24, 2021 to Monday, November 29, 2021.

On December 1, 2021, the NCC announced the three companies – MTN Nigeria Limited, Mafab Communications Ltd, and Airtel Networks Ltd – as having successfully submitted their bids in line with the requirements of the IM. On December 10 and 13, NCC conducted mock and actual auction respectively and announced winners of the 5G licemce.

The 5G network rollout in 2022 is expected to revolutionise the Nigerian economy, deepen

broadband penetration and enhance Nigeria’s digital transformation agenda, as 5G has the capacity for low latency, increased broadband speed and faster downloads, with seamless internet connectivity.

PLANNED ENTRY OF EQUINIX

Several industry stakeholders have expressed their confidence that the planned acquisition of MainOne

by Equinix in 2022, will pave way for the entry of multi-national data centre operator into Nigeria and Africa to boost development on the continent.

Equinix had in December last year, announced its business romance with MainOne Broadband Company and its intension to conclude acquisition of MainOne for a whopping $320 million.

CEO of MainOne, a Nigeria-based broadband company, Ms. Funke Opeke, said the presence of Equinix would further deepen broadband infrastructure rollout that would deliver more of the value chain in Nigeria and the rest of Africa.

According to her, “Rather than just transmitting information, we are able to actually service the requirements out of here by Nigerians and still be a part of that global platform and Equinix brings investment, brings know how, relationships with all these global companies, as well as technology that becomes available not just to global companies coming in, but to local companies who want access to world-class technologies.”

She explained that the financial shareholders and current owners of MainOne have nurtured the business to a point where it is profitable, where they are able to take an exit and hand it over to a strategic player.

“The number one strategic players globally is able to take the company to the next level as part of this market. Obviously getting a strategic partner such as Equinix who is a direct investor in this business and is bringing not just money, but know-how and customers is a step up for MainOne,” Opeke said.

The Vice President, Growth and Emerging Markets at Equinix, Judith Gardiner, explained that the partnership would be valuable to their earnings per share as soon as the deal closes as there would not be diluting of the earnings or the combiner results with MainOne. Gardiner noted that aside from the $320 million they are bringing to the table, Equinix would be putting a lot of emphasis on expansion growth over the next twelve to eighteen months as there would be a lot of demand coming from customers internationally.

THE ADC LAUNCH

The launch of Africa Data Centres (ADC) in Lagos in December last year, is another variable that will shape the ICT sector in 2022.

Managing Director, Rack Centre, a foremost Tier III Data Centre Operator in Nigeria, Dr. Tunde Cocker, said the launch of ADC in Nigeria, which is a consortium of data centre operators, would complement the operation of other data centre operators like Rack Centre, to serve the Nigerian data market better in 2022.

CEO of Africa Data Centres, Stephane Duproz, described Nigeria as one of the company’s key markets as there is a rapidly-growing demand for data centres in the region, which is hungry for digitisation, as organisations of every type and size in Africa accelerate their digital transformation journeys.

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T H I S D AY ˾ THURSDAY, JANUARY 6, 2022

BUSINESSWORLD

OIL & GAS

Assessing NNPC’s Achievements in 2021 The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited has embarked on a journey to engender positive reforms and create optimum values in the nation’s oil and gas industry. Peter Uzoho examines the state oil company’s achievements in 2021, despite the slow recovery experienced across the global oil and gas industry.

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n its over 44 years of existence, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, now officially known as the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, has witnessed many changes and transformation through the decades.

From its take-off on April 1, 1977 as a merger of the Nigerian National Oil Corporation (NNOC) and the Federal Ministry of Petroleum and Energy Resources, the NNPC Limited has been on a train of transformation designed to reinvent the entity for greater efficiency and value creation.

However, its 2021 performance stand tall when placed side-by-side previous attempts to restructure the NNPC and improve its profitability.

The eventual passage and signing into law, of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) to become what is now known as the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021, is undoubtedly the most profound event in the Nigerian oil and gas history in the last 20 years.

As a national oil company, the NNPC was at the forefront and provided the stimulus for the executive and the legislature to successfully midwife the passage of the PIB into the PIA. The passage of this law is envisaged to foster investment in the industry. The PIA is a piece of legislation that guides the operations of the Nigerian oil and gas industry from governance and administration to operation to fiscals to host community development, among others.

The key objectives of the PIA 2021 are to establish a commercialised national oil company (NNPC Ltd.), to entrench accountability and good governance and to promote the exploration and exploitation of the petroleum resources in Nigeria for the benefit of all Nigerians, as well as to foster the sustainable development of the host communities.

Overall, the PIA serves to ensure efficient and effective technical and operational regulation of the upstream, midstream and downstream sectors of the oil and gas industry through the formation of the Nigerian Upstream Regulatory Commission (NURC) and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Regulatory Authority (NMDRA), among others.

INCORPORATION OF NNPC LIMITED

The tempo created with the passage and eventual presidential assent to the PIA was sustained with the quick activation of Part V of the new law, which requires the incorporation of a commercial and profit-focused national oil company within 6 months of the passage into law.

Thus, NNPC management on behalf of the federal government incorporated the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Limited under the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA).

Under the new arrangement, NNPC Limited will, on behalf of the federation, take over assets, interests and liabilities of the former defunct organisation and the certificate of incorporation was officially received by the president on October 8, 2021

$3.6BN METHANOL PLANT

In 2021, NNPC and its partners in the Brass Fertiliser and Petrochemical Company Limited (BFPCL) namely DSV Engineering Limited and Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) took the Final Investment Decision (FID) for the construction of first ever methanol plant in Nigeria at the cost of $3.6 billion.

The plant, an integrated methanol and gas project

in Odioma, Brass Island, Bayelsa State, which is scheduled to come into operation in 2024, is expected to produce 10,000 tons of methanol daily.

Nigeria currently imports all its methanol needs, despite the abundance of gas resources in the country. NNPC bought into a $670 million in Brass Methanol Plant stake in collaboration with the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB).

The facility, which would be the largest methanol plant in Africa and the first in Nigeria, is expected to create 35,000 direct and indirect jobs and additional 5,000 permanent jobs during the operations phase.

AGREEMENT FOR ANOH GAS

The year under focus, also, witnessed the execution of a $260 million funding agreement for the Assa North Ohaji (ANOH) Gas Processing Company Limited (AGPC) among the NNPC, Seplat and a consortium of seven banks.

It is envisaged that the gas project will significantly contribute to the realisation of the federal government’s initiatives towards increasing natural gas utilisation in the domestic market.

The project will deliver 300 million standard cubic feet of gas per day (scf/d) and 1,200 megawatts of electricity to the domestic market. It would also expand gas infrastructure in Nigeria, taking the federal government’s aspirations to make natural gas the future energy for Nigeria one step further.

OIL PRODUCTION COST CUT

To sustain the efforts being made towards reducing the high cost of oil production in the country, the NNPC also in 2021 launched the National Upstream Cost Optimisation Programme (NUCOP).

The primary goal of NUCOP is to drive down the cost of crude oil production in the country so as to remain competitive in the global market.

NUCOP is meant to optimise Nigeria’s upstream operation expenses through process enhancement and industry collaboration to mitigate current reality dictated by the global energy transition and demand erosion occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic, making cost optimization imperative

FIXING AILING REFINERIES

Also, in the year under review, the NNPC progressed with its determination to break the jink and fix the four national refineries with the award of $1.5 billion contract for the rehabilitation of the Port Harcourt Refinery.

The long quest for the rehabilitation of the nation’s refinery kicked off with the award of the Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) contract for the Port Harcourt Refinery, after a bidding process, to Tecnimont spA of Italy.

In executing this assignment, NNPC also carried out due diligence, which consists of a governance structure and tender process that included key independent external stakeholders.

Based on the foregoing, a credible lender, African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) was required to raise $1 billion towards the rehabilitation project while NNPC would adopt the Operate & Maintain (O&M) Model as a strategy in the execution of the rehabilitation project, which is also one of the key requirements by the lender.

The rehabilitation project which has since kicked -off, was largely commended by the

House of Representatives Committee on Petroleum Downstream, during their visit to the refinery.

GAS COMMERCIALISATION

Still in 2021, NNPC signed a gas development deal with Sterling Oil Exploration and Production Company (SEEPCO) to unlock 1.2 trillion cubic feet (TCF) of gas in September 2020.

The gas commercialisation strategy, which was for the Oil Mining Lease (OML) 143, is in line with the Federal Government’s National Gas Expansion Programme (NGEP).

Gas in the block is processed at the Ashtavinayak Hydrocarbon Limited (AHL) 125 million standard cubic feet (mmscf) gas processing facility, which is currently in operations and located in Kwale, Delta State.

The bouquet of agreements also included the first Gas Development Agreement (GDA) to be executed in Nigeria for development and commercialization of non-associated gas.

The gas supply from the project will raise Nigeria’s gas production profile and will provide dry gas available for a proposed 950 megawatts NNPC/SEEPCO Independent Power Plant. It was expected to boost the in-country supply of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) and general domestic gas utilisation, increase energy security, and create job opportunities for Nigerians.

OML 118 PSC AGREEMENT

Determined to increase the nation’s oil and gas production through resolution of disputes with its operating partners, NNPC last year, entered into a suite of agreements with Shell, Total, Exxon and Eni) on Oil Mining Lease (OML) 118- Bonga, to pave way for the renewal of the Production Sharing Contract (PSC) for an additional 20 years.

The deal marked an end to about 15 years of long-standing disputes over the interpretation of the fiscal terms of the production-sharing contract between NNPC and its partners.

This also presented a roadmap for other assets to resolve all ending disputes that have plagued the PSCs. The deal is to yield about $780 million in immediate revenue to government.

It is also projected that more than $10 billion of investment would be unlocked because of the agreements.

ENHANCING ENERGY SECURITY

Last year, also, the trio of NNPC, NCMDB and ZED Energy signed a shareholder agreement for the Brass Petroleum Product Terminal. When completed, the BPPT will help close infrastructure gap in the distribution of petroleum products which will consequently stabilize petroleum product price in the riverine communities of the Niger Delta.

The BPPT will also checkmate illegal refining and create over 10,000 jobs. The terminal will also serve as a strategic reserve for the country and is expected to provide a depot for a 50 million litre facility, two- way product jetty, automated storage and automated bay for diesel, petrol, kerosene and aviation fuel.

However, to guarantee energy security for Nigerians, NNPC leveraged on its existing Direct-Sales-Direct-Purchase (DSDP) product supply arrangement to stop the incessant disruptions of petroleum product supply affecting the country.

This has helped in no small measure in ending the scarcity of petroleum products, particularly petrol, during festive seasons like Christmas.

BOOSTING ELECTRICITY SUPPLY As part of its interventions in the power sector, last year, NNPC partnered China Machinery Engineering Company (CMEC) and General Electric (GE) to execute Engineering, Procurement Construction (EPC) contract for the procurement of equipment for a 50 MW Emergency Power Project in Maiduguri, Borno State.

The project is an integral part of NNPC’s efforts to deepen the Nigeria’s domestic gas utilization for the nation’s socio-economic growth. NNPC is also determined to boost in-country power generation and supply via increased investment in gas-fired combined cycle power plants to produce at least 5 Giga Watts additional power for the country.

HISTORIC N287BN NET PROFIT POSTING

On August 26, 2021, (10 days after the signing of the PIB into law), NNPC announced a N287 billon Profit, first time in the company’s over 44 years history and arguably, the biggest landmark achievement for the NNPC. The profit after tax of N287 billion was realisable due to the aggressive cost cutting measures adopted by the NNPC, cost savings through renegotiation of contracts by up to 30 per cent, improved efficiency through business automation, emphasis on commercially focused investment and non- interference of President Muhammadu Buhari in the management of the company’s affairs, among other factors .

Among the highlights of the 2020 AFS was the company’s group profit which rose from a loss position of N1.7 billion in 2019 to a profit of N287 billion in 2020, for the first time in 44 years.

Further highlights of the AFS revealed that while the national oil company’s group financial position increased in total current assets by 18.7 per cent compared to that of 2019, its total current liabilities increased by 11.4 per cent within the same period.

The group’s working capital remained below the line at N4.56 trillion in 2020 as against N4.44 trillion in 2019, the AFS had further revealed.

Similarly, NNPC’s group revenue for the 2020 financial year stood at N3.718 trillion as against N4.634 trillion in 2019, a decrease that could be attributed to the decline in the production and price of crude oil due to the global impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The year 2021 was the third consecutive year the NNPC would be publishing its AFS, having done so for 2018 and 2019.

ROAD INFRASTRUCTURE

Aside playing its normal critical role in the nation’s energy space, the NNPC in 2021, decided to intervene and help address the growing road infrastructure deficits and challenges in the country through the construction and rehabilitation of 21 roads under the federal government’s Road Infrastructure Development and Refurbishment Investment Tax Credit Scheme.

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) had approved N621.2 billion for NNPC to take over the reconstruction of 21 federal roads across the six geopolitical zones of the country.

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T H I S D AY ˾ THURSDAY, JANUARY 6, 2022

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BUSINESSWORLD

NEWS

Obaseki to Provide Optic Fibre Connectivity Across 18 LGAs The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has assured residents that his government will sustain ongoing reforms and programmes aimed at achieving digital economy in the state, promising to provide fibre optic connectivity to all Edo communities to enhance access to the internet and expand the state’s digital economy.

Obaseki, who spoke to journalists in Benin City, said his administration is committed to building physical and digital infrastructure, leveraging technology to drive sustainable growth and development in the state.

The governor noted that while the construction and rehabilitation of roads are currently ongoing across the 18 local government areas of

the state, the state government will sustain investment in other infrastructure, including electricity and fibre connections.

He stated, “Our operation Light Up Edo is in full gear with the street-lighting project being rolled out in Benin City, Ekpoma and Auchi.

“We are working with a private

provider to connect all our 18 local government areas with fibre optic connection to enhance access to the internet and expand the digital economy across the state.”

Obaseki reassured that his administration’s huge investment in physical and digital infrastructure will position Edo State as a major commercial hub in Nigeria and

West Africa.

Noting that the government was nurturing a new generation of Edo youths that will dominate and conquer the world, the governor said, “We are supporting our youths in entrepreneurship and innovation to seize the moment and build topof-the-range capacity to compete with their peers globally.

“As a government, we are recommitting ourselves to deepen growth across all sectors of the state and provide more opportunities for our people to realise their full potential. These we will do by leveraging the innate abilities of our people and providing them with the tools and enablement to dominate and conquer their world.”

Chi Charges Nigerians to Start 2022 the Right Way NCS Condemns Attack on Personnel in Sokoto Chi Nigeria Limited has urged Nigerians to take charge of their health by consuming the right amount of fruits and vegetables every day, maintain good hygiene and also take advantage of its refreshing and nourishing Chivita and Hollandia brands which have essential nutrients that help the body strengthen its immunity.

The company in a statement said, “With every end, comes a new beginning; and every new beginning deserves a great start. We look back at the past year with the warmest of memories, while looking ahead for even greater opportunities; and in this way, CHI Limited, Nigeria’s leading fruit juice, value added dairy and snacks manufacturer urges Nigerians to start 2022 the Right Way. “2021 was quite a spectacular

Investors Scramble for Space in Benin Industrial Park With the coming on stream of the 40MW Independent Power Plant (IPP) built by Ossiomo Power and dedicated to provide power to the Benin Industrial and Enterprise Park, investors are trooping in to harness the benefit of the 24-hour electricity and other benefits available at the mixed-purpose park.

Ossiomo Power had announced that its new 40MW plant became operational in December 29 and had already connected and powering Ologbo and Obayantor communities in Ikpoba Okha Local Government Area of the State. The new plant increases the generation capacity of Ossiomo Power to 95MW, as a 55MW plant had been operational since 2020. Managing Director, Edo State Investment Promotion Office (ESIPO), Kelvin Uwaibi, in a chat with journalists, said the state government has earmarked 100 hectares for the first phase of the mixed-purpose Benin Industrial and Enterprise Park, which measures about 997-hectares.

According to him, “We are being inundated by enquiries from investors and are ready for those who want to set up shop as quick as possible.

“We have a mix of investment incentives, even as we treat all enquiries on case-by-case basis. A lot of people have approached us to set up factories and processing plants at the park and have shown commitment to see the investment through. These serious investors are getting the needed attention.”

He noted, “We are very much open to investments in manufacturing as the Governor Godwin Obaseki-led administration has made it clear that the state is ripe to be a manufacturing hub.

So, we invite more persons to invest in Edo. “Already, enquiries we have received are for businesses interested in agro-processing, production of high-grade furniture, metal works and light manufacturing, among others. So, as a mix-purpose facility, we are open for business.”

A financial analyst and lecturer, Ikpomwonsa Nosakhare, said the new plant is sufficient incentive for investors to locate in the park, noting that power challenges constitute one of the major risks to investment in the country.

year, despite the uncertainties the COVID-19 pandemic brought; in the wake of the new year, consumers have been given a fresh opportunity to set the right foundation for the kind of year that they desire. Starting right involves goal setting and planning. Goals such as, taking the right amount of fruits and vegetables, staying fit and healthy with a workout routine, ensure spending is within budget, always have something for the rainy day, etc. The best time to begin with this is now.”

It added, “One key goal that needs to remain at the centre is a focus on our health and wellbeing.

CHI Limited therefore charges Nigerians to prioritise their health and wellness by taking more proactive steps in what they consume,

adding that individuals owe it to themselves to live a healthy lifestyle.

“As we look forward to a healthy and prosperous 2022, the company restates its commitment to being a part of the journey of success in the lives of consumers by enabling healthy living and happier lives for all Nigerians. It will continue to enlighten and promote everyday wellness through its range of healthy, nutritious and high-quality fruit juices and dairy products.”

CHI Limited’s Marketing Director, Toyin Nnodi stated that, going into 2022, Nigerians should take stock of the year that is outgone, “especially the challenges it presented and the lessons it offered, with a view to exploring the opportunities the New Year would bring in different areas of life.

Onuminya Innocent in Sokoto Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) Sokoto / Zamfara Area Command has condemned an attack on its Personnel by hoodlums in Asara Village , Illela local government of Sokoto state. In a statement issued by the command public relations officer Assistant superintendent of Customs(ASPC1) Tahir Balarabe Yusuf said the attack has no justification.

He added that on Sunday 2nd January, 2022 officers of the Nigeria Customs Service, Sokoto/Zamfara Command mobile Team based on credible intelligence that a vehicle is coming with some smuggled goods, mounted a stop and search operation at Asara village along Sokoto Illela Road. The statement further added

that about 0800hrs a vehicle Toyota Avensis with tinted glass believed to be conveying smuggled items was flagged down for search but the driver upon sighting officers tried to escape and in the process almost knock down one of the officer who quickly jumped out of his way, but unfortunately, the vehicle ran into an oncoming commercial vehicle which led to a head collision that resulted to the death of one passenger while others sustained injuries and were taken to the nearly Hospital for treatment.

He said as a result of the accident some unscrupulous elements who disguised as sympathizers mobbed our officers at the point and in the process set one Patrol vehicle and private vehicle belonging to one of the officers ablazed.

Balarabe stated that inorder to contain the situation from further escalation, the Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Abdulhameed Ma’aji sent a reinforcement team who succeeded in restoring law and order in the area.

He said the Area Controller while sympathizing with the victims of the accident, appealed to the General Public to always support Customs Service in its effort to block all uncustoms goods from coming into the country through our Borders.

He appealed to the general public to.support Nigerian Customs in it effort to get the country rid of contraband “As we all know, the Country is currently experiencing Security challenges, there is a need to support Customs to get rid of smugglers he stated.

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 6, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

BUSINESSWORLD

BRANDS

Appraising Marketing Communication Industry in 2021 Raheem Akingbolu reviews the activities in the nation’s Marketing Communication industry in 2021 and how agencies scrabbled for over N30 billion worth of businesses

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fter months of lull in business, occasioned by COVID-19 and lockdown that characterized the larger part of 2020, brand and agency owners entered 2021 with fear of the unknown. Though players in the marketing industry displayed enthusiasm to boost the morale of consumers and clients towards the end of 2020, they had little power to change the lingering global crisis. But by January 2021, savvy marketing practitioners had developed fresh skills that could make them impact brands with or without relaxation of the lockdown. Despite the odds, the year under review turned out to be a very tasking year with its pros and cons for both agencies and their clients. As expected, some practitioners gained while some lost a quantum part of their businesses.

Media buying/ Creative

Perhaps because of its strategic place in the marketing eco-system, activities among media buying agencies unsettled the marketing communications industry in 2021, especially as they concerned who got what in businesses.

For instance, after a four years contract on MTN, a review was called in 2021 and WPP retained the account on a 60/40 ratio. While PHD Media won the entire MTN media buying business, its creative was shared among three agencies –DBB, TBWA Concept and Yellow Brick. DDB got the largest chunk of 60 per cent while TBWA Concept and Yellow Brick got 20 per cent of the business each. Also in 2021, Guinness multi billion naira media buying account was reviewed and the business was moved from Media Fuse to Media reach in a keenly competitive media pitch. For Coca Cola brand and its agencies, 2021 was also an exciting one.

In 2019, the brand initiated a sensational review exercise that paraded top global agencies but Media Fuse Agency network clinched the account. Last year, what many thought would be a walkover for the incumbent agency turned out to be a tug of war. Again, Media Fuse lost it all to Algorithm Media across the Africa market. Algorithm Media actually sprang surprise in the year under review for attracting other big businesses. For instance, it won Nestle and Total Oil accounts from Media fuse Dentsu Aegies and won Google accounts from Media Reach. Another breakthrough the agency recorded in 2021 was the fact that it was hired by DHL, a logistic company that had remained without an agency for years.

Also in the telecom sector, 9mobile media accounts moved from All Season Zenith that had handled it for four years (2018 - 2021) to SBI Media.

The year under review was undoubtedly a good year for X3M Ideas. From winning new clients to getting on board fresh talents it ticked all the right boxes. The agency also consolidated its reputation as the emerging creative powerhouse on the African continent with the quality of pan-African campaigns it executed in partnership with DStv and the MultiChoice Africa Group, becoming

the first agency outside South Africa to pull off such a feat. Also in 2021, X3M Ideas became the agency that put Nigeria on the global map by winning several international awards notable among, which was the Gold it won at the Luum awards in Geneva Switzerland for work done for Mentally Aware Nigeria. Beyond its extension beyond Nigeria, X3M Ideas in 2021 won more accounts and consolidated its businesses in telco, financial and entertainment sectors.

PR Agencies

Unfortunately, many Public Relations agencies couldn’t survive from the challenges posed by the COVID-19 in 2020. However, 2021 was still a good year for some agencies. For instance, it was a great year for RED | For Africa, the parent company of Nigeria’s PR agency Red Media Africa.

In the year under review, the agency consolidated its leadership in the Nigerian communication landscape by expanding its business scope to feature more intrinsic storytelling consultancy functions and this helped the promoters close the year with recognition at the 2021 Lapriga awards as the Most Innovative Agency in Nigeria. Some of the brands serviced

by Red Media Africa in 2021 include Nigerian Breweries, Unilever Nigeria Plc, 54Gene, FrieslandCampina WAMCO and ViacomCBS Networks Africa.

After about two years of working behind the scenes, TPT international also came out of its shell in 2021 for further positioning of two of its clients. One, the agency helped Mouka foam to sustain leadership and brand equity in 2021. Perhaps TPT’s most exciting moment in the year was the work done on Bigi and Fearless drinks from the stable of Rite Foods Limited, when the company and Nigerian Bottling Company had a duel over a certain insignia on the Fearless and Predator Energy drinks. TPT didn’t only sustain the tempo; it warded off competition and projected the brands better. Another PR firm that gained gained clients’ traction and remained firm in spite of the odds in 2021 was Strategic Outcomes Limited.

The 17-year-old company consolidated its work on MultiChoice, Lagos Internal Revenue Service and FIRS in 2021.

In 2021, Integrated Indigo Limited won two major accounts; Mastercard Foundation and Lagos Free Zone. For the first time, the agency, which is a sister company to Noah’s Ark Advertising, topped the chart in the area of billing among the companies under the Noah’s Ark group.

Black House Media, the agency handling MTN, Nigerian Breweries and Multichoice also raised the bar in 2021 by opening a United Kingdom office, where it currently working for multinational companies.

CMC Connect also did great in 2021 by clinching three major accounts, which

include; FXTM, Copterjet and MOJEC. In similar way, Chain Reactions Nigeria did well in the industry in 2021 with political marketing and execution of corporate PR campaigns in various sectors.

The year 2021 was also eventful for Mediacraft Associates. The most significant is that the agency did not lose any client in the year under review.

Beyond business, Mediacraft Associates stepped up its CSR activities in 2021 by partnering with Stanbic IBTC Holdings to commemorate the World Cancer Day through an awareness campaign and free screening exercise for over 25 women.

Currently, its accounts include; Nigerian Breweries Media account, Guinness PR account and Friesland Foods WAMCO Nigeria Plc.

Global Wins and Losses...

Coca-Cola $4 billion global account— WPP: In November, following a lengthy review process that included IPG, Dentsu, WPP and Publicis Groupe, WPP was chosen as the global marketing partner for Coca-Cola. The holding company is now tasked with managing end-to-end creative, media, data and marketing technology, across Coca-Cola’s entire portfolio.

JPMorgan Chase $400 million Global Media— WPP and Dentsu

In January 2021, Creative powerhouses, WPP and Dentsu won the media businesses of American multinational investment banking conglomerate, JPMorgan Chase, in a highly competitive pitch. The pitch which kicked off in late September 2020, covered the monetary companies’ offline media shopping for enterprise within the US, Northern Europe and Asia, and was supported by MediaHyperlink.

Google Multibillion Dollar Global Media Account— GroupM

In November, Google consolidated its entire multi-billion global media account with GroupM’s Essence. Google has partnered with Essence for more than a decade on all digital and programmatic media buying, but the offline portion of the business has been managed by Omnicom Media Group (OMG). Essence already held 80% of the business globally, and the account was moved without a formal review in an effort by Google to simplify its agency relationships.

Facebook $750million global media account— Publicis

In November, following a seven month competitive pitch which involved some of the world’s biggest agencies including Group M, Dentsu and Havas Media, Facebook announced Publicis Groupe’s Spark Foundry as its global media buying

and planning agency. The $750 million global media account was put up for review in March. The pitch, which included media planning and buying across Facebook’s entire portfolio — Instagram, Facebook, WhatsApp and Messenger was managed by ID Comms.

Unilever $3.3 billion global media account— WPP, Omnicom, Havas

In September, Unilever announced its agencies of record worldwide after a US$3.3 billion global media pitch. WPP-owned Mindshare has retained several of the UK-based FMCG manufacturer’s markets, including the US, UK and Ireland, Netherlands and Belgium, the Nordics, Eastern Europe, South Asia, Southeast Asia and China. Omnicom-owned PHD, meanwhile, was handed Austria, Germany, Switzerland and Canada, as well as North Africa and the Middle East, and retained Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong and Taiwan. Havas took over former-WPP territories France and Spain and IPG-owned Initiative has retained Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and Greece.

Phillips $300m global media account— Omnicom

In May, Global health technology and beauty giant Philips awarded its creative, public relations and media accounts, worth $300m, to Omnicom following a review.

T-mobile $2.3 billion U.S media account— IPG

Global creative agencies, Publicis and WPP lost telco giant, T-mobile’s U.S media account to Interpublic Group subsidiary, Initiative. The two creative powerhouses and Horizon Media were incumbents on the lucrative account until a review in September, 2020. Interpublic Group subsidiary, Initiative, was awarded the media account following the completion of the pitch process. The review, which was managed by ID Comms, also included the new acquisition to T-mobile’s business, Sprint.

Walmart $600 million US media account— Publicis

In August, Media powerhouse, Publicis Groupe beat WPP, Omnicom and Dentsu in one of the biggest pitches of 2021 to win the $600m Walmart US media planning and buying account. The account came back to Publicis after moving over to WPP-backed Haworth in 2017.

Mercedes Global marketing account— Omnicom

Following a six-month pitch against Publicis Groupe, global marcomms leader, Omnicom Group bagged the global consolidated media, brand and performance marketing account for Mercedes-Benz. As part of the win, Omnicom acquired two German-based agencies, digital shop Antoni and PR firm OSK. The holding company will also develop creative hubs in the U.S., Europe and China to have account for the local needs of those markets.

T H I S D AY ˾ THURSDAY, JANUARY 6, 2022

31

BUSINESSWORLD

INTERVIEW

Yusuf: Govt Needs to Create Sustainable Business Environment

In this interview with Ugo Aliogo, the Managing Partner at Verraki, Niyi Yusuf speaks on what Nigeria must do to improve competitiveness and attract better investments, talents and resources. Excerpts. as I mentioned earlier.

There is no reason why we should not have universal health care using the NHIS model, which covers every citizen and resident of the country. Less than 10 percent of Nigeria’s population is covered in the health insurance scheme today and many people still spend so much out of pocket. Making universal health insurance available will help. Education is equally important, albeit meaningful education which is tied to the needs of the business community, to ensure we do not produce graduates or students that will not be useful in the marketplace. I will paraphrase Chief Obafemi Awolowo’s quote ‘Any people that are starved of education, especially the right type of education, will suffer intellectual malnutrition, stagnation, and atrophy’. Education must be tied to the needs of the industry and produce talent that have practical or relevant skills.

Thirdly, we must provide an environment that nurtures innovation and encourages entrepreneurs to start businesses, fail quickly, learn their lessons, and move on to the next idea. Today, our environment is harsh and does not encourage risk and experimentation.

Entrepreneurial environments require a high level of risk and experimentation, plus a high level of capital and investment in R&D for innovation to thrive. We need to have markets that are efficient and private sector-driven, where institutional voids are minimized, and rules are followed. And lastly, for macroeconomic stability, interest and inflation rates need to be lower. The FX exchange rate needs to be stable so that the investors bringing money in would know that after a while, they can take that money out and it would not have lost value.

Those are a few things that Nigeria can do to create sustainable growth.

What does competitiveness mean within in the Nigerian context and how can it be improved? rom a layman’s perspective, competitiveness means being as good, or even better, especially when there is more than one participant.

Competitiveness thus means, I have more strengths relative to my competitor, that is, for an individual perspective. From the perspective of a country, competitiveness is broader. Here, you look at how countries are positioned to compete amongst themselves in the global markets, to attract more of finite resources. The concept of globalization, global markets and competitiveness are intertwined as all countries are trying to position themselves to attract as much capital, talent, investments, and resources. Competitiveness from this perspective will examine how well-positioned your country is, to other countries within your geography, or within a market segment, among other metrics.

F

How is Nigeria rated, compared to other countries within the global markets as we seek to attract talent, capital investments, and industries into the country?

Ultimately, what attracts outsiders are the capabilities that you have, the type of enabling environment that you provide, that allows your enterprises and your companies to create value and allow your people to prosper. And if you use these lenses: how companies and enterprises create value and how people prosper, you will argue that Nigeria still has a lot to do to improve its competitiveness.

We don’t have a lot of Nigerian companies that are leaders in their markets globally or even on the continent. Also, poverty and illiteracy have increased in the country, and more so in the last decade.

If one uses those two lenses as the parameters for evaluating competitiveness of a country, that is, the prosperity of its citizens or residents, and the value creation of the companies in the countries, and then examine the Global Competitiveness Index of the World Economic Forum (WEF), one will get a better understanding of where Nigeria is relative to other nations. The WEF’s Global Competitiveness Index looks at about 12 pillars of productivity in four broad categories. The first category describes transforming enabling environments, which address the kind of institutions that you have, the infrastructure, technology adoption, stability of the macroeconomics (interest rates, inflation rate, exchange rate) and so on. The second pillar examines market efficiency and addresses the efficiency of your labor market, the financial systems, products markets and of course, market size. The third category is about human capital; education, skills, talent, health. And the fourth is about the innovation ecosystem, the innovation capabilities and entrepreneurial culture.

In its 2019 report, pre-COVID-19, the World Economic Forum ranked Nigeria 116 out of 141 countries, which means that we are not as competitive, especially when we look at the enabling environment, efficiency of markets, human capital issues and innovation ecosystem.

Now the other dimension of competitiveness, beyond value creation by companies, is about prosperity of the citizens or residents. A key metric to look at is the Human Development Index (HDI) of the UNDP that looks at health, education, food, water supply, etc. Nigeria is ranked 161 out of 189 countries in terms of the HDI. The leading country in Africa is Mauritius at 66. When you juxtapose the two accepted indices; the Global Competitiveness Index of the World Economic Forum and the Human Development Index of the UNDP, you see that Nigeria is ranked poorly. And that really, I think, is the way to see the competitiveness, or non-competitiveness of the country.

So, can this competitiveness be improved?

Of course, yes. The first place to start is to focus on education and health, then food and creating an enabling environment. When you have an educational system that develops human capacity with skills that are fit for purpose, and a healthcare system that provides quality health care that allow people to function optimally, stay healthy and enjoy good wellbeing and lifestyle; food especially consuming enough calorie per head, so they can have strength; and an enabling environment, with the right infrastructure, security and appropriate macroeconomics, you will tremendously improve your competitiveness.

How can technology help in building competitiveness for Nigerian companies?

Technology provides an opportunity for Nigerian companies to improve their competitiveness. When you reflect on how Africans and Nigerians have leapfrogged, in terms of moving from landlines to mobile phones, you will agree we have come a long way. Mobile phone penetration or tele-density in

Yusuf Nigeria is about 100 per cent, which means hundreds of us in any area at a given time will have a cell phone. We see the way mobile payments have caught on in Kenya with M-Pesa.

Technology has shown that it’s possible for us to start late and to still leapfrog and to move ahead and be doing wonderful things. Companies can leverage technology to improve competitiveness as we have seen with Safaricom and its M-Pesa in East Africa, which is using technology to drive micropayments and fintechs like Flutterwave in Nigeria that are using technology to drive innovation.

Technology can also be used to drive efficiency, reduce costs, and allow you to grow at scale, and effectively. If you have a technology platform, that platform can be accessed 24/7 from anywhere in the world.

Technology also allows you to be agile and to be resilient so that as a business, you can respond to market dynamics and bounce back from failures faster. So that a crisis in one location will not stop you from operations because the technology is in the cloud and can be accessible and operational from anywhere. For instance, during the COVID-19 lockdown, most staff were able to work remotely; companies were able to provide services virtually to clients, all because of technology.

The companies that were able to quickly adapt to the changing times using technology were those that not only survived the lockdown, but they also thrived. So, technology is a tool that companies can use to improve their competitiveness, but more importantly, to reignite growth and capture new markets and new customers, with new products and new technology-driven services.

How can Nigeria accelerate its path to reigniting sustainable growth, and what lessons can we learn from other markets?

I will quickly recap the lens I mentioned; the human development indicator which looks at the prosperity of people; and the Global Competitiveness Index, which looks at the value creation of companies and enterprises. There are a few areas to focus on, first is security, as without security, there cannot be peace, and without peace, individuals and companies would be able to function or operate optimally.

So, we need to provide security and create a secure environment that fosters enterprise and productivity. A major challenge in Nigeria is limited productivity. We are productive within 14-16 hours and the remaining eight hours of the day is in darkness or with restrictions. To be fully productive, we need to have a 24/7 economy and that requires the right infrastructure, security, electricity, energy, transportation, etc.

And then you need education and healthcare,

You mentioned a few things that we must improve: security, infrastructure, transportation, among others. What roles do government institutions play in improving competitiveness and how can they be better enablers of growth?

Government has a critical role to play in Nigeria, across Africa, and in most markets. The first task for governments is policy formulation, that is, developing the right policies that will help us create an environment that will attract the right solution and investments. Policy formulation to address market efficiency, funding R&D, and enabling growth, instead of just focusing on charging levies and fines. If we examine the Customs function across most climes, they play about three key roles; facilitate trade, secure borders, and generate revenue.

In Nigeria, it seems the Customs has focused more on revenue generation, but it would be great if it can focus on trade facilitation and border protection and security as well. Government agencies should not see private enterprises as opportunities for revenue generation, but as partners in development and seek ways to help them improve those enterprises. Government should focus on providing security and public infrastructure such as electricity, ports, road, warehouses, special economic zones etc. We have started well with the Niger Delta Second Bridge, and the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, with the rail line from Lagos-Ibadan and Abuja-Kaduna.

But we need to have standard gauge rail lines connecting all the state capitals, so goods can be transported across easily.

We need good roads, that are all-year-accessible, from the farms in the rural areas down to the ports or down to the cities. Governments can focus on improving security and public infrastructure. On the Ease of Doing Business index (now discontinued by the World Bank), Nigeria is 131 out of 190 countries. This means we still have a lot to do to make the environment easy for businesses to thrive. So, we must work on improving ease for businesses and run a more efficient and digitalized government using technology to avoid predominant manual processing or physical contacts which breads corruption and more importantly, to avoid digital divide between the private and the public sector. Government can also focus on creating a strong social safety net and unemployment benefits which are important for labour. These are the things that would allow entrepreneurs to take risks.

Lastly, governments can help by promoting areas where we seem to have some comparative advantage, such as fintech, fashion, music and film, and so on. Unfortunately, we cannot

have unlimited resources to spread across many areas, so the government needs to focus on areas where we seem to be doing well and support the operators there.

According to the World Economic Forum’s Global Competitiveness Index, Human Capital is a key priority for competitiveness. What steps can stakeholders across the public and private sectors take to improve Human Capital Development in Nigeria?

Human capital development is about the education and health systems. Spending on health systems to improve the quality of health care and life expectancy, whether in the public or private sector. Universal health coverage will help to reduce infant and maternal mortalities.

For education, today we have free education for the basic levels, from primary school to JSS 3, but we still have over 10 million children out of school. How do we increase enrolment in basic schools, so that fewer young Nigerians will be out of school? That is the question we need to focus on and ensure that our education is fit for purpose, includes technology and a curriculum that is relevant to the marketplace.

ICT adoption and digital skill-up remain germane conditions for competitiveness. Do you think Nigeria has what it takes to lead technology in Africa, especially as 5G beckons?

I believe that Nigeria has what it takes to lead technology in Africa, but it depends on the resources you are looking at. I believe that our best resources are our people, and less of crude oil or gas, or other natural resources. If we understand that our people are our best assets, then we must maximise the talents and resources that we have by putting them to good use, as there is nothing we can’t achieve with the right capabilities. Take a look at the leading countries of the world, for example, the United States, and you will see that they are a magnet for migration, for immigrants from different countries and continents. And because they can attract talents, the USA is a hotbed of innovation, creativity, and productivity. Given its 200million plus population, inherent diversity of over 232 tribes, a youthful, vibrant, and tech-savvy population and English as the official language (English is a dominant global language) and with the right environment to attract and retain talent in the country, Nigeria can become a hotbed for innovation, especially if majority of our 200m population can become very productive.

Look at what Nigerians have done in the entertainment space, where young musicians with very little or no government support have become global icons. Look at what Nigerians are now doing in the fintech space. Between January and November 2021, Nigeria has attracted about 1.4 billion dollars of investment in start-ups and has become a leading destination in Africa for investment in start-ups, coming ahead of South Africa, Egypt, and Kenya. At $1.4 billion, Nigeria’s FDI is roughly equal to the total investment into South Africa and Egypt combined.

If Nigeria has the required ingredients, can she lead technology in Africa?

It depends on many factors, such as our ability to optimise our talents and put them to productive use. And part of doing that is starting from our educational system and making sure our curriculum reflects the needs of the market and is dynamic and fit-for-purpose. Also, our teachers must have the skills and the knowledge that is relevant for today’s world. If our teachers don’t have the skills relevant for today’s world, they will be unable to teach our students and will perpetuate the same poor knowledge and culture. So, investment in Science,Technology, Engineering, Agriculture and Mathematics (STEAM) education, and investment in curriculum upgrades to reflect the needs of the market, re-skilling of our teachers, investment in Research and Development (R&D) and technology adoption in ICT, and building the right ecosystems are the things we should do.

If we do those things, then nothing can stop us from leading the continent in technology. Out of Africa’s seven unicorns that have attained billiondollar valuations, three are from Nigeria: Jumia, Flutterwave, Interswitch and we expect two more in the coming months. With minimal support and investment, we have attained so much; imagine what is possible when we invest intentionally and significantly. So, in summary, we have what it takes to lead Africa in 5G technology.

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

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THURSDAY JANUARY 6, 2022 •T H I S D AY

THURSDAY JANUARY 6, 2022 • T H I S D AY

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T H I S D AY ˾ , JANUARY 6, 2022

HEALTH & LIFESTYLE Securing Fundamental Rights through Birth Registration

ÜÙßÚ ÏËÞßÜÏÝ ÎÓÞÙÜ˝ Chiemelie Ezeobi ×ËÓÖ chiemelie.ezeobi@thisdaylive.com, Tel: 07010510430

In a 10-day exercise in five densely populated local government areas in Lagos State, Rebecca Ejifoma, who visited the LGAs, reports that over 600,000 children aged zero to 17, who were formally unregistered, were officially added to the state’s birth registration to boost their access to basic amenities and essential programmes like child protection, health care and education that help secure their most fundamental rights

Birth Registration

I

n spite of how remarkably advanced the world is, not many people in Lagos State appreciate the relieving significance of birth registration, which is the first legal proof of identity. For some it is inconsequential while a few others instinctively let it slide, thereby shutting out the children from countless national benefits.

According to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), birth registration is the process of recording a child’s birth. It is a permanent and official record of a child’s existence and provides legal recognition of that child’s identity. This takes place within the first 60 days of a child’s birth.

Of course, it is carried out by officials at the National Population Commission (NPC) in various local government areas like Amuwo-Odofin, Ifako-Ijaye, Ikorodu, Mushin, Alimosho, and Ojo among others in Lagos State and across the nation.

Now, while the fringe benefits of birth registration undeniably spans beyond gratuity and passport application, many Nigerians are yet to embrace it. Some have blamed several reasons including ignorance, acute economic meltdown resulting in demanding schedules for not registering their wards.

One of such women, who complained of toiling day and night, is Mrs. Yemisi Aiyenimoro. The 38 years old and mother of three children - aged 15, 13 and three months old - said time was a huge hurdle for her. Following the mop-up programme powered by UNICEF, she registered her last child.

She narrated: “I’m always busy. That is why I just registered my last baby through the Mop-up programme. I was supposed to register when I went for immunisation but unfortunately that day, they called me for my business.” And when she heard of the birth registration in her vicinity, she sprinted out with her kid. “I’ve registered my baby now,” she expressed.

Aiyenimoro didn’t reserve her excitement. She went as far as calling her friends to come take advantage of the door-to-door exercise. “I called them and told them that they should come, that they’re doing free birth registration and most of them did their children and that’s how they registered.”

Interestingly, but for the mop-up exercise, the mother of three admitted that her child wouldn’t have gotten a birth certificate. “Definitely”, she told THISDAY, “I won’t because most of the time I’m always in my shop from 6am to 7.30pm.

It’s even one of my girls that takes my baby to hospital for immunisation.”

Just like Aiyenimoro, several other women have their fingers in every pie daily, hence, have little or no time to spare. Mrs. Abosede Adetula is also another mother. She has three and resides in Ijaniki area of Lagos. The 30 years old business woman has three children - seven years old twins and a two-year-old.

She recalled how officials from the local government trickled into her street in Ojo. “It made things easy for me. I didn’t pay anything for my three kids. I went ahead to register my sister’s children on holidays with me,” she

Mrs. Yemisi Aiyenirowo

Adetula Abosede-Debu

acknowledged.

Truly, Adetula admitted she was oblivious about the subject, she said she joined the bandwagon when others bolted out with their kids. “I took the advantage when the opportunity presented itself. It was there I learnt the importance of BR. So I’m happy my children are duly recognised.”

Now while others neither registered their children nor had a hint on its value, Mrs. Olayemi Adedeji had earlier got a drift of it.

The 48 years old mother of four expressed: “I registered all my children when I had them. They are aged 18, 16, 14, and 13. But I found out my sister’s four children, who are with me this holiday season, were not registered.”

Without hesitation, Adedeji took the kids out. “My sister’s children came from Osun state. When I found out they had not been registered, I ensured I did the needful.”

Birth Registration Comptrollers In the words of the Comptroller/DCR of Ojo Local Government, National Population Commission (NPC), Olayele Ajifowowe, assembling people is a herculean task.

He noted that thanks to the mop-up, they accessed communities and set up different centres. Consequently, in Ojo alone, Ajifowowe and his team registered over 36,000 children in 10 days. This considerable increase, he conceded, was because it was for free and a doorstep approach. “Some of these people were so happy that even the government remembers them.”

While admitting also that parents, especially mothers, seldom turned up with their wards at the LGA on a regular day, he said they had never seen as many numbers as they got during the mop up exercise.

Advantages of Birth Registration With the mop-up exercise, UNICEF hopes to achieve universal birth registration and a legal identity for every child by 2030. Hence, it clarified that birth registration helps protect migrant and refugee children from family separation. Without it, these children face a greater risk of statelessness due to lack of legal proof of nationality or legal ties to any country.

Ajifowowe also pointed out that it could be used for insurance policy, Lagos state

registration residence permit, National Identity Number (NIN), Lagos State Residents Registration Agency (LASRRA), and passport and a handful of others. “Even when you want to process your gratuity upon retirement you will present your birth certificate.”

He, however, bemoaned the crippling gap in awareness. He solicited more jingles and seminars and “I implore the government and UNICEF if they can embark on training and retraining of the officers. Some of us have a large area to cover, like riverine communities we access on speed boats”.

In the words of the Ojo Comptroller, UNICEF is doing well. This, the Comptroller NPC of Mushin, Mr Okesanja Isiaka, chorused.

“UNICEF supplied the materials so we employed people outside to execute this.

We captured 58,916 children and issued up to 100 certificates daily. It’s been an excellent exercise.”

As a result of the 10 days exercise, the Comptroller outlined that Mushin recorded a significant increase across its centres - Ilupeju, Itire, Omo Dudu, and Amukoko.

Dangers of Non-registration Without a birth certificate, children are said to be invisible to their governments, says UNICEF. This means they may miss out on essential programmes like child protection, health care and education that help secure their most fundamental rights.

UNICEF further warned that because children without a birth certificate are unable to prove their age, they face battles like violence, abuse, and exploitation, risk being trafficked, recruited into armed forces, or forced into early marriage or child labour.

Hurdles in Birth Registration Mr Nwanukwu Ikechukwu, the Deputy Director of NPC and Head of Department of Vital Registration Lagos State, bemoaned that most parents don’t take birth registration seriously. “They believe until there’s a need for it, maybe to go to the embassy, get an international passport or enrol their children in school.

The deputy director also claimed that some registrars in their desperation to earn more cook names and issue ghost certificates. “So, if we pay N80 per registration and you have 1,000 registrations in 10 days that’s N80,000.

Without a birth certificate, children are said to be invisible to their governments, says UNICEF. This means they may miss out on essential programmes like child protection, health care and education that help secure their most fundamental rights

Adedeji Olayemi We caution them against this misconduct.”

He, however, compared the scenario in Nigeria to what is obtainable in other clans.

“Germany hasn’t done a census for over 10 years. They update the figures from birth registration because once you give birth in any hospital there and then you are registered and given birth certificate and the data is updated.

The same thing in the UK and other advanced countries,” he commended.

Five LGAs Record over 600,777 Children “In Ifako and Amuwo-Odofin, we registered 295,432 children and issued certificates. In Ikorodu 152,132 children were captured and certificates issued. We got about 123,513 registrations from Mushin and Ojo. But what I can’t say categorically is each,” he said.

For Ikechukwu, they encountered minor challenges from the adoc themselves and the community. “Birth certificates are free but at times we still hear that some charge money to issue certificates. I caution them.”

UNICEF Data UNICEF Representative and Child Protection Specialist, Mr. Dennis Onoise, affirmed their support for LGAs to ensure birth registration is carried out.

He emphasised: “Particularly when studies are carried out regarding birth registration in Nigeria, we realised that children are not registered when they are born. So often, we have people going for the declaration of age. That’s why it became necessary for us to support stakeholders and the government of the country to ensure it’s done.”

According to statistics by UNICEF, out of the 166 million children without a legal identity in the world, half live in just five countries including the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, India, Nigeria, and Pakistan.

Just like a few other comptrollers, Onoise noted that in Europe, Sweden, and Norway mothers go to sign birth or antenatal. Once she registers, that child is noted as a human being even before birth.

“From that moment the mother starts receiving some social welfare for the child,” he chipped in.

Meanwhile, Onoise cited that that Lagos is now number three for under five years on the chart. “Last year, it was number nine or 10. For under one year, they are reading number four.

We told ourselves there was a need to do proper awareness and campaign, so we involved the national population commission to help put things together and identify communities.”

Going Digital For UNICEF, it is time to tap into technology. “We are looking at a system, hoping to start next year, where we will train people to use text messages to register birth,” he told THISDAY. “So you don’t necessarily have to go to the LGA just from the comfort of your home.”

Indeed, while such upgrade requires a lot of investment, UNICEF is certain that more children are going to be registered in the state once this gets off the ground in 2022. This, he believes, will shell out more suitable life for the children.

T H I S D AY ˾ , JANUARY 6, 2022

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NEWS

FERTILITY

With Dr. Kemi AILOJE drkemi@lifelinkfertility.com www.lifelinkfertility.com +2348033083580

Meet Nigeria’s Henrietta Ukwu, the Chief Regulator for America’s Novavax Vaccine Company Resolution to Healthy Fertility (Part 1) Dr Henrietta Ukwu is the Nigerian Chief Regulatory and Quality Officer at the United States (US) vaccine company, Novavax whose COVID-19 vaccine has just received approval from the European Union for use.

The EU authorisation of the Novavax’ Nuvaxovid vaccine makes the Gaithersburg company’s two-dose vaccine the fifth to get approval for use in European countries.

Before this feat, Ukwu led global regulatory strategy and execution as well as quality assurance function for the company’s development-stage vaccine candidates, including its recombinant protein-based COVID-19 candidate vaccine, NVX-CoV2373.

“Dr Ukwu brings extensive regulatory affairs and quality expertise and leadership experience at precisely the right time for Novavax, as we advance toward data readouts and regulatory submissions in 2021,” Stanley Erck, President and Chief Executive Officer, Novavax had said during her appointment early this year.

Ukwu most recently served as Chief Regulatory Officer and Global Head of Quality and Regulatory at Otsuka Pharmaceuticals.

While there, she globalised and led the regulatory and quality organisations with a focus on compliance excellence, inspection readiness, engagement with health authorities and regulatory agencies and successful outcomes.

Before Otsuka, she held senior leadership roles at PPD as Senior Vice President and Head of Global Regulatory Affairs, where she had responsibilities for regulatory services across all PPD lines of business; Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Pfizer), where she was Vice President, Regulatory Affairs, with the responsibility that spanned vaccines, biologics and pharmaceuticals across all regions; and at Merck & Co., Inc., as Head of Vaccine Regulatory Development, Vice President of Global Regulatory Affairs and Global Regulatory Policy.

Dr. Ukwu The scientist has led the approval of many products, including Varivax®, a chickenpox varicella vaccine, and Crixivan®, (indinavir), an HIV protease inhibitor that significantly impacted the treatment paradigm of HIV/AIDS. Ukwu’s significant contributions to medicine, science and the pharmaceutical industry include developing and enriching the regulatory and quality profession, as well as serving as a mentor to others who have progressed into senior leadership positions. These contributions have been recognised with numerous prestigious awards.

Nuvaxovid is manufactured in partnership with the Serum Institute of India. Similarly, the World Health Organisation (WHO) last week issued an emergency-use listing to Nuvaxovid.

This authorisation encourages countries without sophisticated review systems to use the vaccine without local testing.

The WHO endorsement helps Novavax push the vaccine to countries without the local capacity to independently review vaccines. Ukwu said the vaccine has unique attributes that enhance its potency and acceptability.

\“One of these is that Nuvaxovid, which is 90 per cent effective, can be easily stored.

Only one other vaccine has this attribute. It can be preserved in refrigerator storage ” Ukwu explained in a learning platform.

“This makes it possible to get this vaccine to so many parts of the world challenged with cold chain storage.”

Ukwu also said that being a protein-based vaccine should endear it to “vaccine-hesitant.”

Over time, protein-based vaccines proved to be safer and with no or mild side effects. As Chief Regulatory Officer, I am especially proud of the entire Novavax Team for this exceptional contribution to humanity,” Ukwu said.

Apart from India where the vaccines are manufactured, Nuvaxovid has also passed regulatory tests in Indonesia and the Philippines. The company plans to roll out over two billion doses in the coming year. t%S 6LXV JT UIF BVUIPS PG (MPCBM 3FHVMBUPSZ 4ZTUFNT " 4USBUFHJD 1SJNFS GPS #JPQIBSNBDFVUJDBM 1SPEVDU %FWFMPQNFOU BOE 3FHJTUSBUJPOT

Lack of Toilet Threatens Human Health System, Contaminates Water Resources, Says Harpic Ayodeji Ake Nigeria’s leading toilet cleaning brand, Harpic, manufactured by Reckitt, has said lack of toilet in a home is a threat to human health system.

Speaking recently at the World Toilet Day event held recently in Lagos, in partnership with the Federal Ministries of Water Resources and Environment and the Lagos State Ministry of Environment, Marketing Director, Reckitt Sub Saharan Africa, Mr. Tanzim Rezwan, noted that poor sanitation contaminates drinking water resources, which may invite diseases.

He said: “When some people in a community do not have safe toilets, everyone’s health is threatened.

“Poor sanitation contaminates drinking-water sources, rivers, beaches, and food crops, spreading deadly diseases among the wider population.

“It has been said that eliminating open defecation can be done by changing social behaviour and

building basic and well-managed sanitation systems in poor communities.

“Over the years, Harpic has been a champion in providing access to hygienic sanitation solutions in Nigeria, and it is the reason our communication has been on education on the importance of toilet hygiene and sanitation to drive behavioural change. ‘ The annual event was commemorated with the refurbishment of five public toilets which were donated to different communities in Lagos State. Speaking at the 2021 World Toilet Day commemoration event in Abuja in collaboration with Reckitt and other key stakeholders, the Minister of State for Environment, Chief Sharon Ikeazor, represented by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Engr.

Hassan Musa commended the effort of the private sector in the provision of toilet facilities across the country.

He challenged them to do more in order to prevent diseases that

come with open defecation.

Also in his keynote address, the Minister of Water Resources, Engr. Sulaimon Hussein Adamu highlighted the progress recorded so far in the ‘Clean Nigeria: Use the Toilet Campaign’, appreciated development partners and asked them to continue to strengthen the collaboration with the government to ensure Nigeria is Open Defecation Free (ODF) by 2025 or before.

Also speaking in his address during the world toilet day and toilet commissioning event in Lagos, the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tunji Bello, represented by the Special Adviser, Drainage and Water Resources, Engr. Joe Igbokwe, applauded Reckitt for its continued collaboration with the state. government.

“As we commemorate this day, I want to thank our main sponsor, Reckitt for its continued collaboration with the state government on this annual event and also other partners for their support,” He said.

A

New Year’s resolution is a tradition in which a person resolves to change an undesired trait or behavior, to accomplish a personal goal or otherwise improve their life. Resolutions can be hard to maintain, especially if they require a major lifestyle shift or commitment. Making resolutions is vital as a study found that 46% of participants who made common New Year’s resolutions (e.g. weight loss, exercise programs, quitting smoking) were likely to succeed, over ten times as among those deciding to make life changes at other times of the year.

Here is wishing us a hearty welcome to 2022!

I know a lot of us have long list of resolutions already made.

The desire to have children is powerful and widespread, but for a sizeable minority it is not easily fulfilled. Challenges to fertility arise from genetic abnormalities, infectious or environmental agents, delayed childbearing, behavior, and certain diseases. Awareness of the potential risks may lead some people to adopting corrective behaviors and maintain fertility. Many people, however, find themselves coping with infertility.

The journey for those people who are infertile may begin with unrecognized health problems; continue with difficulties in obtaining services that often are not covered by health insurance; and even after success with physically demanding and expensive medical procedures, it may lead to unexpected adverse effects on their health and quality of life. Each step of this journey is characterized by interactions among the physical and social environment, the biological background and behavior of individuals, and the health care system available for them to access.

We often make resolutions over various areas of life but seldom make resolution towards our Fertility/Reproductive life. Most couple trying for conception may have said “this year is my year to achieve conception” and perhaps have prayed so hard towards it. Having an action plan towards fertility to back our faith and prayer is crucial to success. Most medical cause of infertility may need to be resolved to achieve our dream babies.

Younger people though not desirous of babies at the moment are encouraged to start planning towards healthy fertility as much as possible. We have always known that prevention is better than cure. Some causes of infertility may be irreversible but can be prevented.

It is our fundamental Reproductive Right to easily have children when we desire to, therefore prevention of future infertility is key. These fertility health resolutions are a great way to prepare your body for pregnancy and create the optimal environment for a full-term pregnancy to blossom.

Here are some resolutions towards healthy fertility;

Take charge of your reproductive health by educating yourself about your fertility: Male and Female fertility is the ability to conceive a biological child. You and your partner might question your fertility if you have been trying to get pregnant with frequent, unprotected sex for at least one year or at least six months if you’re older than 35 with no success. If you are hoping to get pregnant, you might wonder about your fertility and whether you can improve it. Some factors might be beyond your control, such as medical issues that affect the ability to conceive.

But your lifestyle choices can have an effect on your fertility, too. One needs to be equipped with all necessary information regarding their fertility health status as this will help to make the right decisions for the future. Fertilty tests for male and female can be accessed in good fertility clinics followed by consultation from a specialist.

Abstinence remains the best means of preventing unwanted pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections (STI’s): Unprotected sex sure predisposes to sexual transmitted diseases.

Infections such as chlamydia and gonorrhea are a leading cause of infertility for women. Avoid unprotected sex and all its attendant risk and stick to one sexual partner. The use of condom, fidelity or abstinence for unmarried individuals remains recommended best options to stay safe and healthy.

Ensure Post Abortion Care (PAC) and proper management of the complications of abortions, if you have recently had an abortion: Most people who have abortions will have a follow-up appointment in a few weeks. If there are no signs of complications, further medical care will not be necessary. People who experience any symptoms of complications should make an immediate appointment with a doctor. Although it is not common, some abortion complications may require a trip to the emergency room and may affect future.

Maintaining a healthy weight: Being overweight or significantly underweight can inhibit normal ovulation. This is because both extremes of conditions can have negative impact on hormone production.

Ensure healthy diet for fertility: Maintaining healthy diet is essential to maintaining one’s fertility. Adequate nutrition helps in promoting heathy weight and hormone balance e.g. clean water intake is recommended instead of sugary fizzy drinks TO BE CONTINUED

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Vitafoam Re-states Commitment to Healthy Living A quoted company and manufacturer of rigid foams and other household products, Vitafoam Nigeria PLC, has assured Nigerians of continued support for healthy growth of children as foundation for purposeful adulthood, even as it has just announced a N4.6 billion after tax profit in its audited accounts.

Speaking at the award ceremony for the first three babies of the year at Lagos Mainland Maternity Hospital on Saturday, January 1, 2002, the Company’s Executive Director, Corporate Services, Mr Sola Owoade explained that it had been the tradition of Vitafoam to support babies with some of

its premium products.

According to him, at the core of the Company’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), is the policy of giving back to the society at various levels.

Owoade said that the company’s existence was highly dependent on the society and it therefore has a responsibility to sustain its culture of quality products, including baby materials.

In line with Vitafoam’s annual tradition of putting smiles on the faces of parents of the first three babies, the company donated an array of products, including babycot, hospital mattresses, memory topper, complete duvet set, leisure mat, sofa

bed and memory and fibre pillows respectively. “ As a good corporate citizen, Vitafoam Nigeria PLC, instituted an annual award for the first three babies of the year at Lagos Island Maternity Hospital over many decades.

“This is consistent with our Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). Our company is truly Nigerian-owned and all the baby products given out today are made by Vitafoam. “ This also reflects our multiple products. We are not just about rigid foams only but other household materials, including furniture. “ Vitafoam’s goal is to continually put smiles on the faces

of every Nigerian. We always celebrate the first three babies of the year with our products.

We congratulate the parents of this year’s beneficiaries.

“We believe that good facilities are necessary in our hospitals for enhanced child delivery. We appreciate the government’s efforts in this regard but corporate organisations also have a responsibility to support the government,” said Owoade.

The first baby of the year was delivered at exactly 12.10 am, second, 12.50 am and the third, 1.30 am. The Hospital’s Chief Medical Director, Dr Omololu Olufemi commended Vitafoam’s continuous corporate

gesture.

Olufemi noted that the annual gifts are spread across the first babies of the year. We have always enjoyed the partnership with Vitafoam over the years.

Father of the first baby of the year, Mr Laiyenbi Qudus expressed gratitude to the Management of Vitafoam for the gift, describing it as a great beginning of the year for the new baby.

Meanwhile, Vitafoam at the weekend announced its full year performance, ended September 30, 2021 with strong earnings despite the inclement operating environment.

By the audited accounts, it posted a turnover of N32.007

billion in 2020, an increase of 49 per cent above N21. 820 billion in the corresponding period. Profit Before Income Tax stood at N6.779 billion as against N4. 963 billion , an increase of 37 percent, while the profit for the year amounted to N4. 384 billion compared to N3. 456 billion representing 27 per cent increase.

Already, the Company has proposed a dividend of N1.876 billion as against N87,590 million in 2020, an increase of 114 per cent. The shareholders are expected to approve the dividend at the Company’s Annual General Meeting ( AGM), on Thursday, March 3, 2022 in Lagos.

Pharmaceuticals Call on Soludo to Look into Drug Supply in Health Centres Rebecca Ejifoma Members of the St. Toby Pharmaceutical Ltd and the CCS Voluntary Support Group have congratulated Prof. Charles Soludo for emerging winner of the Anambra Gubernatorial elections, while calling on his attention on drug supply and distribution in health centres in the state. The groups noted this in a media statement issued recently by its representative, Pharm. Onyebuchi Tochukwu.

The statement read in part, “We deliberately waited for this time to be sure the rush is over to send this our heartfelt congratulations to you.”

The groups described the outcome of the elections as peaceful, free, fair, and credible.

“We rejoice with you because your well-deserved victory is the choice of Anambrarians who have now put a round peg in

a round hole in the governance of the state.”

As major stakeholders in the affairs of Igboland, the firms noted that they have high expectations from Soludo.

“We expect to see a quantum leap in the economic transformation of the state as a template for the Southeast.

“We expect to see the development of human capital especially in the productive sector of the economy.”

And as members of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), they also requested that he looked into the health sector in the state, especially the revolving drug supply and distribution to the primary healthcares of the State. St. Toby Pharmaceutical Ltd is an indigenous registered pharmaceutical company that imports, supplies, and distributes all kinds of drugs and medical consumables.

Vinci Hair Clinic Proffers Early Detection as Solution to Alopecia

Women living with alopecia Rebecca Ejifoma To mark the World Alopecia Awareness Month, a leading specialist hair restoration company, Vinci Hair Clinic, had months back, urged Nigerians living with Alopecia condition to consult specialists early enough to get treated.

This was according to the CEO and Senior Consultant for Vinci Hair Africa, Mr. Ayo Otubanjo, at the virtual global press conference to create awareness, and discuss prevalence of Alopecia in Nigeria and Africa. Alopecia, Otubanjo noted, is a generic condition of hair loss. “There are seven types of Alopecia and are caused by different factors. Totalis, areata, and universalis are some of the

types.”

Among the types of alopecia, he said Androgenic Alopecia is the most common form, which occurs in 50 to 55 per cent of men and probably about 40 per cent of women all through the age of menopause.

Some of the symptoms in men and women include thin hair in the front part causing baldness, softness of hair fibre, and thinness from its usual texture. He added that although alopecia could be very distressing, it doesn’t mean the end of the world. The hair loss consultant, however, warned against some salon practices promoting the condition. “Don’t allow any stylist at the salon to apply anything on your scalp without knowing the product.”

L-R : Apex Nurse, Lagos Island Maternity Hospital, Adebukola Cole; Executive Director, Corporate Services, Vitafoam Nigeria PLC, Sola Owoade; Chief Medical Director, Lagos Island Maternity Hospital, Dr Omololu Olufemi; Group Head, Administration, Vitafoam, Lekan Sanni , mother of 1st Baby of the Year, Mrs Simbiat Qudus; and her husband, Laiyenbi,during presentation of corporate gifts to 1st Baby of the Year by Vitafoam at weekend

Don Advocates Regular Assessment of Water to Save People from Diseases Emmanuel Ugwu-Nwogo ÓØ ×ßËÒÓË To protect people from water borne diseases and ensure quality health for the citizenry, a professor of microbiology(microbial biotechnology) has called on relevant authorities to maintain regular microbiogical assessment and physicochemical analysis of water meant for drinking and other domestic uses.

Microbiological assessment of water helps to detect the presence of microorganisms that cause diseases while physicochemical analysis aims to find out the presence of dangerous chemicals harmful to health.

Professor Uchechi Nnebuihe Ekwenye of Department of Microbiology, College of Natural Sciences, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike(MOUAU) made the call

for safe water while delivering the 51st inaugural lecture of the institution entitled, “Microbes: Friends and Foes”.

“The presence of pathogenic organisms and organisms indicating organic and faecal pollution(indicator organsms) may render water unfit for drinking, swimming and domestic purposes,” she said.

The micro organism expert explored the relationship between human beings and the living organisms that are invisible to the naked eyes, pointing out the harm they do to human health as well as the possible benefits derivable from microbes.

Citing the COVID-19 pandemic as a proof that “microorganisms are best known for their role as agents of diseases”, Prof Ekwenye, noted that “most microbial infections can be presented by maintaining healthy living habits,

safe practices and healthy immune system”.

She made some recommendations, which she believes would protect people from the harmful effects of disease-causing microbes that are present everywhere and readily contaminate the things that people consume.

“Maintenance of good water quality in the fish ponds should be encouraged for the production of larger and healthier fishes for human consumption,” she said, adding that effective management of wastewater discharged from industries are required in order to minimise the problem of water borne diseases.

Prof Ekwenye condemned open defecation, a practice which is wide spread in Nigeria, saying that it should be discouraged because of the health hazards associated with the unhygienic disposal of human wastes.

She also advised against the practice of releasing heavy metals into the environment, adding that industries should educate their workers on the negative impacts on plants, animals(fishes) and humans and take actions to stop polluting the environment.

On how microorganisms could be utilised to the advantage of humans, the microbial expert recommended that “mixed bacteria cultures should be used in bioremediation of crude oil contaminated sites for quicker and more efficient cleanup” She further stated that chicken feather wastes should be put into biotechnological uses like production of fertiliser and feather meals.

However, the MOUAU don underlined the need to establish an maintain functional microbial culture collections for providing correctly identified strains”.

Experts Seek Improvement of Learning Experience through Involvement of Psychologists Rebecca Ejifoma The founding president of the Association of Nigerian Educational Psychologists, Mrs. Eniola Olajobi, has stressed the importance of improving learning outcomes for 21st century learners.

At the unveiling of the association in Lagos State, Alajobi said it was necessary to involve education psychologists in school

systems.

She said: “Education psychologists help to understand how children learn, what motivates them to learn, and why they behave the way they do.

“Building the capacity of educational psychologists which is the main aim of the association is central to the entrenchment of functional education in Nigeria.”

The founding secretary, Mrs

Nkem Adeniran-Adedokun, said the event signified a progressive step towards improving educational outcomes in Nigeria.

The Special Education Director at the Lagos State Ministry of Education, Mr. Adeyemi Adebayo, noted that the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to the shutting down of schools without viable alternatives for learning, exposed Nigeria’s failure to invest

in education. He, however, bemoaned that the pandemic had shown Nigeria’s failure to invest in education. “Although our children used online classes, the question is — did we prepare our teachers for that? Are our children aware that such will happen? Did we notice that our teachers were grappling such that they couldn’t even figure out how to help the children?”

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NEWS

Promoting Peace to Avert Causes of Disabilities Emmanuel Ugwu-Nwogo reports that the thrust of the recently held second Disability and Rehabilitation Conference at Hopeville Rehabilitation Centre Uturu, Abia State, was the need for Nigeria to manage the current flashlights of conflicts in a manner that would not explode to full blown civil war. This is because wars, undoubtedly engender physical disabilities when people lose limbs or other body parts

Inmates of Hopeville with some participants at the conference

T

he disabled victims of the Nigeria civil war who were rehabilitated at the Hopeville Rehabilitation Centre Uturu, Abia State are no longer there. They had completed their rehabilitation a long time ago and left the centre specifically established for their care immediately after the war.

Their places have presently been taken by persons with other forms or disabilities, including mental disability. But there is palpable fear that the heightening insecurity and general tension across the country could again generate postwar persons with disabilities.

Wars, undoubtedly engender physical disabilities when people lose limbs or other body parts that could hamper their physical activities.

That was why participants at the 2nd Disability and Rehabilitation Conference held recently at Hopeville emphasised the need for Nigeria to manage the current flashlights of conflicts in a manner that would not explode to full blown civil war.

The organisers of the conference, the Charity Okonkwo Development Centre(CODC), chose to use the conference for promotion of peace and unity in Nigeria. According to the Executive Director, Mr. Uche Okonkwo, the CODC, which is a non-governmental organisation was desirous of promoting social engagements that could strengthen the fabric that binds the nation together.

He noted that the current separatist agitations and the general tension in the land have continued to put people on edge as things could boil over any day. “With the way things are going in Nigeria, we need to work hard to ensure that peace reigns,” he said, adding that in conflict situation so much would be lost, including the much cherished personal liberty.

Okonkwo pointed out that it was due to the general insecurity in the country that the conference “lost its national colouration” . Many participants expected from different parts of the country failed to turn up. He said that it was obvious that the expected participants from far places were afraid to travel outside their various areas due to the prevailing insecurity across the nation.

The CODC ED said people should learn from the inconveniences being caused by the simmering crises and guage how the situation would be should the country find itself embroiled in another civil war. “We will suffer more if we are not at peace with one another,” he warned. All the speakers at the event agreed.

Consequently, they all added their strident voices in calling for peace to reign across the nation. They also expressed apprehension on the prospect of Nigeria slipping into another civil war.

The Director, Hopeville Rehabilitation Centre, Rev. Brother Gabriel Igbonachom emphatically stated that the smokes emanating from the crisis areas in the country should not be allowed to develop into conflagration that could consume the entire country.

He said crisis that could escalate to civil war should be avoided because of the dire consequences, adding that war has the tendency of increasing the population of disabled persons in the society among the survivors.

The Bishop, Diocese of Uturu, Methodist Church Nigeria, Rt Rev. Best Okike, who was the keynote speaker, underlined the need for a collective desire and unity of purpose in the pursuit of peace and harmony in the country.

He sent out a clarion call to “all and sundry to keep promoting ideas, programmes, activities

Some inmates of Hopeville displaying their singing abilities

While the full extent of disabilities in Nigeria has not been determined, as at 2020 it was estimated that over 27 million Nigerians live with some form of disability. Many of them face a number of human rights abuses including stigmatisation, discrimination, violence, and lack of access to healthcare, housing and education and policies that trigger, encourage, support, uphold national unity and integration”. “This is imperative,” he said, “because it is our individual and collective responsibility to promote national peace and unity”.

He said that youths should be discouraged from engaging in a activities that could spark civil conflict, noting that those clamouring for war belong largely to the generation born after the civil war and so didn’t experience the horrendous aspects of war.

The representative of retirees living with disability, Godwin Ananaba advised those promoting violence to retrace their steps.

He noted that most of the crises rocking the nation were products of bad leadership and governance. “Nigeria is good; the only thing bad is that we have bad leaders,” he asserted.

Head, Women and Gender Unit, National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPD), Mrs. Nike Akinbola, who represented the Executive Secretary, Mr. James Lalu, blamed the society for the violent reactions among the country’s youth population.

According to her, the violence among youths “is a reaction to the society that throws stones at us”, adding that the provocative stones being hauled at youths come in various forms, including unemployment and general hardships.

However, Akinbola, who is living with disability causes by polio, pointed out the impropriety of negative reaction to the failings of society since a positive attitude could change the situation for good thereby averting conflicts. She, therefore, counseled that “we should use the stones thrown at us to build stepping stones to greatness”.

It was not all about building buffers against conflicts. The conference also spared a thought for the plight of PWDs and how their welfare could be improved to give them sense of belonging, enhanced self esteem and the will power to aim high and attain their inherent potentials.

Bishop Okike in the keynote address regretted that “most times” the society overlooks PWDs. But he noted that the second edition of the Disability and Rehabilitation Conference “has awakened us to the need to be close to persons with disabilities”.

Delving into all the dimensions and ramifications of disabilities, the cleric stressed the urgent need to tackle the factors that cause disabilities. He stated that the 2006 census figure that put the population of PWDs at

3.253,169 or 2.32 percent of the 140,421,790 population figure was faulted by the Centre for Citizens with Disabilities hence the need for accurate data on disability.

Nonetheless, he noted that while the full extent of disabilities in Nigeria has not been determined, as at 2020 it was estimated that over 27 million Nigerians live with some form of disability. “Many of them face a number of human rights abuses including stigmatisation, discrimination, violence, and lack of access to healthcare, housing and education,” Bishop Okike stated.

The Methodist Bishop warned that any plan for economic and social development that negates the inclusion of PWDs was bound to fail. According to him, the ambitious plan of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration to lift 100 million Nigerians out of poverty by 2029, in addition to achieving inclusive economic growth “will be challenging without the inclusion of of persons with disabilities”.

He commended the federal government for the establishment of the NCPD as a parastatal under the the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development. “(It) is a welcome development and highly commendable as there is urgent need to prioritise the welfare of persons with disabilities,” he said. While lamenting the non-implementation of the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities(Prohibition) Act 2018, he noted that the government has recorded some progress in other areas.

He cited the 2018 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey which included a disability module based on the Washington Group on Disability Statistics Short Set of Disability Questions. The cleric added that the module was also in line with the World Bank’s Commitments on Disability Inclusion, with commitment focusing on data collection related to disability.

The inmates of Hopeville got full dose of inspiring words and encouragement to aim for the sky and not recede into the cocoon of self pity and resignation to fate. “We are the best. We are the original version of God,” Mrs. Akinbola told the inmates, adding, “If the society wants to look down on us, tell them we can do what every other person can do”.

She told her personal story of how she refused to allow her disability to limit her aspirations as she carried her education pursuit to the university level. Akinbola went on to

win state and national awards during her National Youth Service Corps(NYSC) in Abia State.

Because of her performance, she got automatic employment from Abia State government and was working at the state’s liaison office in Lagos before the national award and the accompanying federal job later came her way.

The award winning disabled lady harped on the need for persons with disabilities to be serious with their education, which according to her “is the weapon you have” in the struggle for survival.

For this, she counseled the Hopeville inmates to “take advantage of all the education opportunities that come your way”.

The Deputy Chairman, Isuikwuato Local Government, Hon Rosemary Odoeme, who represented her boss, Hon Chima Agbaeze, added her voice to fire up the Hopeville inmates to always aim high. She reminded them that disability, which could come in any form, was never the making of the victims as nobody sets out to invite disability on oneself.

But the deputy chairman said that disability should be seen as a challenge when it happens.

According to her, since disabilities are in most cases irreversible those living with them should accept it as a fact of life and then confront and conquer it and prove, like Mrs. Akinbola and others, that there’s ability in disability.

Testimonies from other PWDs who told their own stories and experiences further reinforced the role of education in transforming the lives of persons with disabilities.

Godwin Ananaba, who is visually impaired said that he was not born blind but after he developed “a stupid eye problem” a quack doctor destroyed his eyes after six operations.

Notwithstanding his condition, Ananaba said he did not succumb to his disability as he went on to become “the first blind man in West Africa to graduate in urban design”.

He urged the inmates of Hopeville to learn from his own experience. “If you are sitting in this hall and you are disabled, if somebody tells you ‘you can’t do it’, tell them you can,” he said, adding, “It must start from your head”.

The Director, Handicapped Services Division, Abia State Library Board, Mr. Friday Onugha tasked nongovernmental organisations to partner government to reach out to PWDs in the rural areas. He said that with adequate funding NGOs could attend to the needs of PWDs in the rural communities, organise trainings and conferences to expose them to new innovations and technologies that could add value to their lives.

There was a general consensus that education was imperative for PWDs to break out of their world of inferiority complex to attain their full potentials. But no one disputed the fact that education opportunities are not readily available for the PWDs. Despite the limited opportunities in the larger society, Hopeville offers much hope for the PWDs admitted to the Centre. Rev Br. Igbonachom said that the inmates of Hopeville Rehabilitation Centre are trained from primary to tertiary level of education with little or no external assistance.

According to him, the Centre which was set up immediately after the civil war has trained over 50,000 PWDs, adding that inmates are trained to be self reliant. The Hopeville Director said that “readiness to study” is requisite qualification for admission of inmates who must also be in the age bracket of eight to 15 years. For the PWDs, hope really springs from Hopeville.

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T H I S D AY ˾ ˜ JANUARY 6, 2022

BUSINESS/MONEYGUIDE

Maianguwa: Decentralisation of VAT Will Breed Imposition of Taxes on Consumers Igbawase Ukumba ÓØ ËʨË The Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on Abuja Liaison Office to Governor Abdullahhi Sule of Nasarawa State, Yusuf Jibrin Maianguwa, has cautioned against decentralisation of the Value Added Tax (VAT) administration system in the country warning that doing so will breed imposition of taxes on consumers.

Maianguwa who stated this during an interview with THISDAY, cautioned agitators for the VAT decentralisation to weigh the consequences of their agitation on the final consummers of goods and services in the country.

The Nasarawa governor’s aide, however, attributed the recent

clamour for the collection of VAT by some state governments to the enabling environment created by the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration which has flourished business activities in the country in the past six years.

He added that current business activities in the country are good under the watch of President Buhari where people are paying much VAT hence some states became interested in its collection.

He said: “It means President Buhari has performed perfectly well that businesses are flourishing in the country. There is an improved collection of VAT and that is why some people had the guts to go to court because they are collecting the highest amount of VAT.

“Why is it that during the administration of Presidents Umaru Yar’adua and Goodluck Johnathan that no governor threatened litigation over VAT collection? It was because business activities in the country were paralysed.”

He, maintained that the reason for the current jostling for the collection of VAT by some states of the federation was based on the flourishing economy of the country as enabled by President Buhari’s administration.

“Beside that, leakages linked to VAT collection were identified by the present administration and consequently blocked hitherto paving the way for improved volumes of the VAT collections in the country,” Maianguwa concluded.

FG to Launch Project Skill up for Internally Displaced Persons Olawale Ajimotokan ÓØ ÌßÔË The federal government has revealed plans to launch Project Skill Up for the internally displaced persons across resettlement camps in the country.

The Honourable Federal Commissioner, National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and IDPs, Mrs Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim dropped this hint at the Kuchin Goro IDP camp in Abuja at the party to celebrate the New Year’s Day with the IDP children.

She said the project, which will be launched in the next few weeks, will up the skills of the internally displaced persons to ensure they can also key into

nation building.

Sulaiman-Ibrahim stated the commission will continue to prioritise the well-being of the persons of concern and work closely together in addressing critical issues.

She also averred that the commission is planning to strengthen the educational instrument in the existing IDP camps by launching project library to enhance the learning faculty of the children of the displaced citizens. “The children are our leaders and we are coming from every angle.

We are working with a whole of society and have willing partners and people that are collaborating with us to ensure we are going to do more for resettlement citizens,” she said.

The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Hajiya Sadiya Umar Farouq was represented at the occasion by the Director Humanitarian Affairs Alhaji Ali Grema.

Grema, who spoke with reporters, expressed concern that many of the children in the IDP camps were not in schools. He stated the minister has already initiated the alternative school programme, which encompasses all children of Nigeria.

He said the IDPs were captured in the 2022 budget with plans for the children to be in school while the vast majority of the displaced persons will return to their ancestral communities, especially in Bornu State.

Again, NiMet Alerts on Poor Visibility in Northern Nigeria Kasim Sumaina ÓØ ÌßÔË The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), weekend released an alert to the public on the possibility of poor visibility occuring in the extreme north.

According to a release from the Agency’s Central Forecast Office, “Dust was raised over Faya Largeau, a dust source region in Chad Republic, during the morning hours of 1st January, 2022.

The plume of dust is expected to disperse towards Nigeria, to reduce visibility ranges in the

Northern parts of the country during the morning hours of 2nd January, 2022.”

The statement also revealed that the raised dust should be transported into the country as from 0500LT of 2ndJanuary.

“Cases of thick to moderate dust haze is expected over the extreme North. Areas to be mostly affected include Yobe, Kano, Jigawa, Katsina, Kaduna, Bauchi, Gombe and Borno where horizontal visibilities should be around 1000m and below, “the statement read.

NiMet further cautioned

that flight operations may be disrupted, therefore airline operators are required to pick up their flight folders and adhere to regulations, especially at aerodromes in the Northern parts of the country.

Road users are also advised to drive slowly and carefully due to poor visibility during this period especially this festive period. People with respiratory problems should also take caution.

The agency hinted that while wishes all Nigerians a prosperous new year, it commits to monitoring the trend for any changes.

Sovereign Trust Insurance Staff Wins Corporate Communications Man of The Year Award The National Association of Insurance and Pensions Correspondents, NAIPCO, has named Segun Bankole, Head of Sales and Corporate Communications for Sovereign Trust Insurance Plc, as the Corporate Communications Man of the Year 2021.

The annual award, which is in its second edition is given to the best Public Relations practitioners in the insurance and pension sectors, with focus on impacts, cooperation, supports and strong relationship with journalists covering both sectors of the economy as well as the affairs of the National Association of Insurance and Pension Correspondents, (NAIPCO).

According to the statement issued by the association, ”This year’s recipient has demonstrated

relentless support to the journalism profession, pumping out news materials that made our work easier and seamless as well as the support of Sovereign Trust Insurance Plc towards deepening insurance penetration and impacting the society through Corporate Social Responsibility, (CSR) amongst others of which the recipient took active participation.

The award ceremony took place at the Corporate Head Office of NEM Insurance recently.

The recipient, Segun Bankole, graduated from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, (OAU) with a Second-Class Upper Division in the Department of Dramatic Arts majoring in Radio, Television and Film

Production in 1995. Banky, as he is fondly called by friends and colleagues, holds a master’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Calabar. He has over 25 years of work experience in the Nigerian Private and public Sectors with a keen interest in Media, Public Relations, Marketing Communications, Human Relations, business development and Insurance.

He is an Alumnus of the Lagos Business School having completed the Advanced Management Programme of the Institution. (AMP 21, Class of 2009). He is a member of the Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM) and an Associate Member of the Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON).

Maianguwa

MARKET INDICATORS MONEY AND CREDIT STATISTICS

(MILLION NAIRA)

JANUARY 2021 Money Supply (M3)

38,779,455.43

-- CBN Bills Held by Money Holding Sectors

1,039,129.55

Money Supply (M2)

37,740,325.88

-- Quasi Money

21,779,302.69

-- Narrow Money (M1)

15,961,023.19

---- Currency Outside Banks

2,364,871.13

---- Demand Deposits

13,596,152.06

Net Foreign Assets (NFA)

7,414,275.50

Net Domestic Assets(NDA)

31,365,179.93

-- Net Domestic Credit (NDC)

42,916,586.63

---- Credit to Government (Net)

12,304,773.44

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

0.00

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

0.00

---- Credit to Private Sector (CPS)

30,611,813.19

--Other Assets Net

3,892,112.74

Reserve Money (Base Money

13,264,585.14

--Currency in Circulation

2,831,167.19

--Banks Reserves --Special Intervention Reserves

10,433,417.96 317,234.17

˾ ÙßÜÍÏ ̋

Money Market Indicators (in Percentage) Month

March 2018

Inter-Bank Call Rate

15.16

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

14.00

Treasury Bill Rate

11.84

Savings Deposit Rate

4.07

1 Month Deposit Rate

8.82

3 Months Deposit Rate

9.72

6 Months Deposit Rate

10.93

12 Months Deposit Rate

10.21

Prime Lending rate

17.35

Maximum Lending Rate

31.55

˾ ÙØÏÞËÜã ÙÖÓÍã ËÞÏ ̋ ͯͱϱ

OPEC DAILY BASKET PRICE ˜ ͵

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).

39

T H I S D AY ˾ ˜ ʹ˜ ͰͮͰͰ

BUA Foods Adds N720bn Market Capitalisation to NGX Main Board Kayode Tokede BUA Foods yesterday added N720billion market capitalization to the Main board of the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) after meeting capital market regulating bodies listing requirements.

A total of 18 billion ordinary shares of BUA Foods were listed at N40.00 per share under the Consumer Goods sector of NGX, with the trading symbol,

BUAFOODS. The listing by introduction means that the shares of existing BUA Foods’ shareholders has been listed without an additional public sale of shares. Henceforth, all BUA Foods shareholders will be free to trade their shares on the Exchange.

Commenting on the listing, Chairman of BUA Group, Abdul Samad Rabiu in a statement said: “I am delighted that yet another member of BUA Group has been

P R I C E S MAIN BOARD

F O R

DEALS

listed on the NGX. “This shows our commitment to national economic growth and support for the food security drive of the nation in alignment with global sustainability goals.

“We appreciate the continued support of our stakeholders – financial advisers, stock brokers, suppliers, customers, consumers and members of staff. In particular, we cherish our host communities with whom we continue to entrench very

S E C U R I T I E S

MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N )

strong and mutually beneficial relationships.”

Also, the Acting Managing Director, BUA Foods, Ayodele Abioye, also stated, “the listing today marks a new beginning for a Company playing a critical role in the FMCG industry, one that’s highly committed to nourishing lives with all our product offerings.

“The listing resonates with our commitment to sustainable growth as we nourish and en-

T R A D E D MAIN BOARD

A S

rich the lives of consumers by delivering high quality products at competitive prices.

“This listing creates an avenue for everyone to be a part of the success story of BUA Foods and benefit from the growth opportunities ahead.”

The Exchange in a statement said the listing of BUA Foods’ shares has added N720billion to the market capitalisation of NGX, further boosting liquidity in the Nigerian capital market

O F

and providing opportunities for wealth creation.

According to the bourse: “It is expected that this listing will also increase the visibility of the food manufacturing, processing, and distribution company, BUA Foods, to investors on the African continent and across the globe.

“NGX facilitated over N7 trillion worth of capital raises across several asset classes for both public and private corporations in 2021.”

0 4 / 1 / 2 0 2 2 DEALS

MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N)

40

THURSDAY, ;˜ ͺ͸ͺͺ ˾ T H I S D AY

Thursday, January 6, 2022

dŚŝƐĚĂLJ ĨƌŝŶǀĞƐƚ ϰϬ /ŶĚĞdž ĨĞůů ďLJ ϭϰďƉƐ dŚŝƐĚĂLJ ĨƌŝŶǀĞƐƚ ϰϬ /ŶĚĞdž ƐŚĞĚ ϭϱďƉƐ dŚĞ dŚŝƐĚĂLJ ĨƌŝŶǀĞƐƚ ϰϬ /ŶĚĞdž ĚĞĐůŝŶĞĚ ďLJ ϭϰďƉƐ ƚŽ ƐĞƩůĞ dŚĞ dŚŝƐĚĂLJ ĨƌŝŶǀĞƐƚ ϰϬ /ŶĚĞdž ĨĞůů ďLJ ϭϱďƉƐ ƚŽ ĐůŽƐĞ Ăƚ

THISDAY AFRINVEST 40 INDEX

Ăƚ ϭ͕ϲϳϰ͘ϴϵ ƉŽŝŶƚƐ ĚƵĞ ƚŽ ƐĞůůͲƉƌĞƐƐƵƌĞ ŽŶ E/d, ;ͲϬ͘ϲйͿ͕ ϲϰϱ͘ϴϭ ƉŽŝŶƚƐ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ďĂĐŬ ŽĨ ĚĞĐůŝŶĞ ŝŶ E' D ;ͲϮ͘ϳйͿ͕ t W K 'd K ;ͲϬ͘ϰйͿ͕ ĂŶĚ ^d E / ;ͲϮ͘ϲйͿ͘ dŚĞƐĞ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ĐƵŵƵůĂͲ ;Ͳϭ͘ϯйͿ͕ ĂŶĚ h ;ͲϬ͘ϳйͿ͘ dŚĞƐĞ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ĐƵŵƵůĂͲ

Fundamental Performance Metrics for THISDAY AFRINVEST 40 Index

ƟǀĞůLJ ĂĐĐŽƵŶƚ ĨŽƌ ϵ͘ϰй ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ŝŶĚĞdž͘ ƟǀĞůLJ ĂĐĐŽƵŶƚ ĨŽƌ ϭϯ͘Ϯй͘ Current Price

Ticker

dŚĞ ƵůůƐ džƚĞŶĚ ŽŵŝŶĂŶĐĞ͘​͘​͘ ^/ ƵƉ ϭ͘Ϭй ^/ ƵƉ ϭϭďƉƐ ĂƐ E' D 'ĂŝŶƐ ϯ͘ϯй

zĞƐƚĞƌĚĂLJ͕ /Zd > & ŝŶ ;нϭϬ͘ϬйͿ͕ ^ W> d WƌĞǀŝŽƵƐ ďƵLJŝŶŐ ĚĂLJ͕ ŝŶƚĞƌĞƐƚ ƉƌŝĐĞ ŝŶ ƵƉƟĐŬ ,KEz&>KhZ ;нϮ͘ϯйͿ͕ ;нϵ͘ϳйͿ͕ ĂŶĚ ĂŶĚ ŶĞǁůLJ ůŝƐƚĞĚ ;нϬ͘ϳйͿ h &KK ^ ;нϵ͘ϴйͿ͕ K E K E' D ;нϯ͘ϯйͿ͕ & E, ďŽůͲ ;нϭϬ͘ϬйͿ ďƵŽLJĞĚ ŐĂŝŶƐ ĂƐ ƚŚĞ ďĞŶĐŚŵĂƌŬ ŝŶĚĞdž ƌŽƐĞ ϭ͘Ϭй ƐƚĞƌĞĚ ƉŽƐŝƟǀĞ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ůŽĐĂů ďŽƵƌƐĞ ĂƐ ƚŚĞ ůůͲ ƚŽ ϰϯ͕ϰϳϲ͘ϳϱ ƉŽŝŶƚƐ͘ ĐĐŽƌĚŝŶŐůLJ͕ zd ƌĞƚƵƌŶ ƐƚƌĞŶŐƚŚĞŶĞĚ ^ŚĂƌĞ ŝŶĚĞdž ƌŽƐĞ ďLJ ƚŽ ϭ͘ϴй ǁŚŝůĞ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ĐĂƉŝƚĂůŝƐĂƟŽŶ ĂĚǀĂŶĐĞĚ േϮϰϮ͘ϴďŶ ƚŽ ϭϭďƉƐ ƚŽ ϯϵ͕ϱϱϬ͘ϯϲ ƉŽŝŶƚƐ͘ ŽŶƐĞƋƵĞŶƚůLJ͕ zd ůŽƐƐ ŝŵͲ േϮϯ͘ϰƚŶ͘ dƌĂĚŝŶŐ ĂƐ ǀŽůƵŵĞ ĂŶĚ ǀĂůƵĞ ƉƌŽǀĞĚ ƚŽ Ͳϭ͘ϴй ĂĐƟǀŝƚLJ ǁŚŝůĞ ďŽůƐƚĞƌĞĚ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ĐĂƉŝƚĂůŝƐĂƟŽŶ ƌŽƐĞ ďLJ ƚƌĂĚĞĚ ƐƵƌŐĞĚ ϰϳϮ͘ϴй ĂŶĚ Ϯ͕ϳϯϰ͘ϴй ƚŽ ϭ͘ϮďŶ ƵŶŝƚƐ ĂŶĚ േϮϯ͘ϰďŶ ƚŽ േϮϬ͘ϲƚŶ͘ dƌĂĚŝŶŐ ĂĐƟǀŝƚLJ ǁĂƐ ŵŝdžĞĚ ĂƐ ǀŽůƵŵĞ േϰϯ͘ϬďŶ ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ͘ h &KK ^ ;ϭ͘ϬďŶ ƵŶŝƚƐͿ͕ t D Ͳ ƚƌĂĚĞĚ ĚĞĐůŝŶĞĚ ďLJ Ϯϭ͘ϲй ƚŽ ϭϭϬ͘ϴŵ ƵŶŝƚƐ ǁŚŝůĞ ǀĂůƵĞ E< ;Ϯϱ͘Ϭŵ ƵŶŝƚƐͿ͕ ĂŶĚ dZ E^ KZW ;Ϯϱ͘Ϭŵ ƵŶŝƚƐͿ ůĞĚ ďLJ ƚƌĂĚĞĚ ƌŽƐĞ ďLJ ϴϴ͘ϱй ƚŽ േϯ͘ϭďŶ͘ dŚĞ ŵŽƐƚ ƚƌĂĚĞĚ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ǀŽůƵŵĞ ǁŚŝůĞ h &KK ^ ;േϰϬ͘ϱďŶͿ͕ E'y'ZKhW ďLJ ǀŽůƵŵĞ ǁĞƌĞ dZ E^ KZW ;ϭϭ͘ϵŵ ƵŶŝƚƐͿ͕ & E, ;ϭϭ͘ϭŵ ;േϮϴϱ͘ϳŵͿ͕ ĂŶĚ E/d, ;േϮϳϱ͘ϮŵͿ ůĞĚ ďLJ ǀĂůƵĞ͘ ƵŶŝƚƐͿ͕ ĂŶĚ K E K ;ϳ͘ϯŵ ƵŶŝƚƐͿ ǁŚŝůĞ E ^d> ;േϮ͘ϮďŶͿ͕

E' D ;േϭϰϱ͘ϬŵͿ͕ ĂŶĚ 'd K ;േϭϯϰ͘ϴŵͿ ůĞĚ ďLJ ǀĂůƵĞ͘ DŝdžĞĚ ^ĞĐƚŽƌ WĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ĐƌŽƐƐ ŽƵƌ ƐĞĐƚŽƌ ĐŽǀĞƌĂŐĞ͕ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ǁĂƐ ŵŝdžĞĚ ĂƐ ϯ ĞĂƌŝƐŚ ^ĞĐƚŽƌ WĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ ůŽƐƚ ǁŚŝůĞ ϯ ŐĂŝŶĞĚ͘ dŚĞ /ŶĚƵƐƚƌŝĂů 'ŽŽĚƐ ŝŶĚĞdž ůĞĚ ĐƌŽƐƐ ƐĞĐƚŽƌƐ ƵŶĚĞƌ ŽƵƌ ĐŽǀĞƌĂŐĞ͕ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ǁĂƐ ůŽƐĞƌƐ͕ ĚŽǁŶ Ϯ͘ϰй ŽŶ ĂĐĐŽƵŶƚ ŽĨ ƐĞůůͲŽīƐ ŝŶ h D Ed ;Ͳ ďĞĂƌŝƐŚ ĂƐ ϰ ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ ůŽƐƚ͕ ϭ ŝŶĚĞdž ŐĂŝŶĞĚ ǁŚŝůĞ ƚŚĞ &ZͲ/ d Ϯ͘ϳйͿ ĂŶĚ E' D ;ͲϮ͘ϳйͿ͘ ^ŝŵŝůĂƌůLJ͕ ƚŚĞ ĂŶŬŝŶŐ ĂŶĚ ŝŶĚĞdž ƌĞŵĂŝŶĞĚ ŇĂƚ͘ dŽƉƉŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ůĂŐŐĂƌĚƐ ĂƌĞ ƚŚĞ ŽŶƐƵŵͲ ŽŶƐƵŵĞƌ 'ŽŽĚƐ ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ ĚŝƉƉĞĚ ϱϬďƉƐ ĂŶĚ ϮďƉƐ ƌĞƐƉĞĐͲ Ğƌ 'ŽŽĚƐ ĂŶĚ /ŶƐƵƌĂŶĐĞ ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ͕ ĚŽǁŶ ϰ͘ϲй ĂŶĚ ƟǀĞůLJ ĚƵĞ ƚŽ ůŽƐƐĞƐ ŝŶ h E ;Ͳϲ͘ϵйͿ ĂŶĚ /Ed Z t ;Ͳϭ͘ϬйͿ͘ ϭ͘Ϯй ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ďĂĐŬ ŽĨ ƉƌŽĮƚͲƚĂŬŝŶŐ ŝŶ E ^d> ;Ͳ KŶ ƚŚĞ ŇŝƉ ƐŝĚĞ͕ ƉƌŝĐĞ ƵƉƟĐŬ ŝŶ /Zd > & ;нϭϬ͘ϬйͿ ĚƌŽǀĞ ϵ͘ϭйͿ͕ hE/> s Z ;Ͳϯ͘ϱйͿ͕ >/E< ^^hZ ;Ͳϲ͘ϰйͿ͕ ƚŚĞ &ZͲ/ d ŝŶĚĞdž ŚŝŐŚĞƌ ďLJ ϰ͘ϳй ƚŽ ůĞĂĚ ŐĂŝŶĞƌƐ͘ dƌĂŝůŝŶŐ͕ ĂŶĚ D E^ Z ;ͲϮ͘ϮйͿ͘ ^ŝŵŝůĂƌůLJ͕ ƚŚĞ Kŝů Θ 'ĂƐ ĂŶĚ ĂŶŬͲ ƚŚĞ Kŝů Θ 'ĂƐ ĂŶĚ /ŶƐƵƌĂŶĐĞ ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ ĂĚǀĂŶĐĞĚ ϯ͘ϭй ĂŶĚ ŝŶŐ ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ ĨĞůů ďLJ Ϭ͘Ϯй ĂŶĚ ϮďƉƐ ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ ĚƵĞ ƚŽ ƐĞůůͲ ϭ͘Ϭй ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ ĂƐ ŝŶǀĞƐƚŽƌƐ ƚŽŽŬ ƉŽƐŝƟŽŶ ŝŶ ^ W> d ŽīƐ ŝŶ K E K ;ͲϬ͘ϴйͿ͕ E/d, ;ͲϬ͘ϮйͿ͕ ĂŶĚ 'd K ;ͲϬ͘ϮйͿ͘ ;нϮ͘ϯйͿ͕ K E K ;нϵ͘ϳйͿ͕ ĂŶĚ // K ;нϴ͘ϯйͿ͘ ŽŶǀĞƌƐĞůLJ͕ ƚŚĞ /ŶĚƵƐƚƌŝĂů 'ŽŽĚƐ ŝŶĚĞdž ǁĂƐ ƚŚĞ ůŽŶĞ ŐĂŝŶͲ

Ğƌ͕ ƵƉ ϭ͘ϴй ĚƌŝǀĞŶ ďLJ ƉƌŝĐĞ ĂƉƉƌĞĐŝĂͲ

/ŶǀĞƐƚŽƌ ^ĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ tĞĂŬĞŶƐ ƟŽŶ ŝŶ E' D ;нϯ͘ϯйͿ͘ /ŶǀĞƐƚŽƌ ƐĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ͕ ĂƐ ŵĞĂƐƵƌĞĚ ďLJ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ďƌĞĂĚƚŚ

;ĂĚǀĂŶĐĞͬĚĞĐůŝŶĞ ƌĂƟŽͿ͕ ĮƌŵĞĚ ƵƉ ƚŽ ϭ͘Ϯdž ĨƌŽŵ Ϭ͘ϳdž ĂƐ ϮϮ /ŶǀĞƐƚŽƌ ^ĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ ^ƚƌĞŶŐƚŚĞŶƐ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ŐĂŝŶĞĚ ǁŚŝůĞ ϭϳ ĂƐ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ůŽƐƚ͘ h &KK ^ /ŶǀĞƐƚŽƌƐ ƐĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ͕ ŵĞĂƐƵƌĞĚ ďLJ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ;нϭϬ͘ϬйͿ͕ ďƌĞĂĚƚŚ /Zd > & ;нϭϬ͘ϬйͿ͕ ĂŶĚ K E K ;нϵ͘ϳйͿ ůĞĚ ŐĂŝŶĞƌƐ ǁŚŝůĞ ;ĂĚǀĂŶĐĞͬĚĞĐůŝŶĞ ƌĂƟŽͿ͕ ƐƚƌĞŶŐƚŚĞŶĞĚ͕ ƐĞƩůŝŶŐ Ăƚ ϭ͘ϲdž hE/dz E< ;Ͳϵ͘ϲйͿ͕ ZKz > y ;Ͳϵ͘ϰйͿ͕ ĂŶĚ Z ' >/E^ ;Ͳ ĨƌŽŵ ϭ͘ϯdž ƌĞĐŽƌĚĞĚ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ůĂƐƚ ƚƌĂĚŝŶŐ ƐĞƐƐŝŽŶ ĂƐ Ϯϰ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ϴ͘ϮйͿ ůĞĚ ĚĞĐůŝŶĞƌƐ͘ /Ŷ ƚŽĚĂLJ͛Ɛ ƚƌĂĚŝŶŐ ƐĞƐƐŝŽŶ͕ ǁĞ ĞdžƉĞĐƚ ĂĚǀĂŶĐĞĚ ǁŚŝůĞ ϭϱ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ĚĞĐůŝŶĞĚ͘ DZ^ ;нϵ͘ϵйͿ͕ D zͲ

THISDAY AFRINVEST 40 1 Airtel Africa PLC 2 MTN Nigeria Communications PLC 3 Guaranty Trust Holding Co PLC 4 Guaranty Trust Holding Co PLC 5 Zenith Bank PLC 6 Dangote Cement PLC 7 Nestle Nigeria PLC 8 FBN Holdings Plc

ŐƌĂĚƵĂůůLJ ǁŝŶĚƐ ƵƉ͘

Price Change Index to Date

ROE

ROA

-65.2%

-35.4%

15.0%

3.5%

10.0%

10.0%

14.7%

5.2%

36.8%

P/E

P/BV

5.0x

Divindend Earnings Yield Yield

0.7x

5.7%

ot Applicable

1.8%

17.4%

197.00

0.0%

8.9%

0.0%

0.0%

179.2%

14.1%

14.2x

21.6x

5.5%

7.0%

25.90

-0.4%

2.9%

-0.4%

-0.4%

24.8%

3.9%

3.9x

1.0x

11.6%

25.5%

25.90

-0.4%

7.1%

-0.4%

-0.4%

24.8%

3.9%

3.9x

1.0x

11.6%

25.5%

25.30

0.0%

6.5%

0.6%

0.6%

20.9%

2.8%

3.4x

0.7x

11.9%

29.2%

250.00

-2.7%

4.7%

-2.7%

-2.7%

40.4%

16.7%

12.4x

4.8x

6.4%

8.0%

1,556.50

0.0%

3.9%

0.0%

0.0%

106.8%

15.6%

30.2x

35.5x

4.2%

3.3%

11.30

0.0%

3.7%

-0.9%

-0.9%

8.4%

0.8%

6.7x

0.5x

4.0%

15.0%

24.15

0.6%

3.6%

0.8%

0.8%

11.6%

8.4%

9.0x

1.0x

4.1%

11.1%

9.35

1.1%

3.0%

0.5%

0.5%

17.0%

1.4%

2.6x

0.4x

9.1%

38.1%

8.05

0.0%

2.4%

0.0%

0.0%

19.5%

1.8%

2.0x

0.4x

6.8%

49.4%

37.00

-2.6%

1.8%

2.8%

2.8%

15.4%

2.0%

8.5x

1.4x

11.0%

11.8% 2.3%

48.00

0.0%

1.7%

-4.0%

-4.0%

5.3%

1.9%

44.2x

2.3x

2.3%

665.00

2.3%

1.8%

2.3%

2.3%

3.4%

1.9%

15.2x

0.5x

6.2%

8.90

0.0%

1.5%

2.3%

2.3%

14.8%

0.9%

2.4x

0.3x

6.6% 41.1%

4.90

-1.0%

1.2%

-1.0%

-1.0%

-10.3%

-3.9%

142.00

0.0%

1.2%

0.0%

0.0%

38.8%

25.2%

9.7x

3.4x

5.3%

10.3%

29.00

0.0%

1.1%

2.3%

2.3%

16.4%

5.1%

4.5x

0.7x

5.7%

22.4%

19 Fidelity Bank PLC 20 AXA Mansard Insurance PLC

2.55

0.0%

0.7%

0.0%

0.0%

12.0%

1.1%

2.3x

0.3x

8.6%

44.4%

2.32

0.0%

0.6%

0.0%

0.0%

9.7%

3.0%

6.2x

0.7x

9.5%

16.1%

21 Dangote Sugar Refinery PLC 22 FCMB Group Plc

17.00

0.3%

0.5%

-2.3%

-2.3%

15.3%

6.3%

11.1x

1.7x

8.8%

9.0%

2.94

3.2%

0.5%

-1.7%

-1.7%

10.0%

1.0%

0.2x

5.1%

17 Okomu Oil Palm PLC 18 Flour Mills of Nigeria PLC

23 United Capital PLC 24 Guinness Nigeria PLC 25 Transnational Corp of Nigeria 26 NEM Insurance PLC 27 Presco PLC

0.9x

-11.6%

9.95

0.0%

0.4%

0.5%

0.5%

#VALUE!

#VALUE!

2.2x

7.0%

39.00

0.0%

0.4%

0.0%

0.0%

8.1%

3.8%

13.9x

1.1x

1.2%

7.2%

0.98

0.0%

0.4%

2.1%

2.1%

11.1%

2.3%

5.2x

0.5x

1.0%

19.2%

4.50

0.0%

0.3%

0.0%

0.0%

35.6%

18.5%

4.5x

1.2x

4.2%

22.3%

87.80

0.0%

0.3%

0.0%

0.0%

#VALUE!

#VALUE!

2.1x

1.2% 3.0%

28 NASCON Allied Industries PLC 29 AIICO Insurance PLC

13.20

0.0%

0.3%

0.0%

0.0%

21.3%

6.9%

12.4x

2.5x

0.78

8.3%

0.3%

11.4%

11.4%

7.2%

1.1%

433.3x

0.8x

30 TotalEnergies Marketing Nigeri 31 Custodian and Allied Insurance

221.90

0.0%

0.3%

0.0%

0.0%

46.2%

9.3%

5.0x

2.0x

1.8%

19.8%

7.90

0.0%

0.2%

0.0%

0.0%

24.7%

7.5%

3.9x

0.9x

7.4%

25.7%

32 Vitafoam Nigeria PLC 33 Unilever Nigeria PLC

20.25

0.0%

0.2%

-10.0%

-10.0%

36.8%

14.7%

5.9x

2.0x

7.5%

17.1%

14.50

0.0%

0.2%

0.0%

0.0%

-1.3%

-0.8%

34 Julius Berger Nigeria PLC 35 Union Bank of Nigeria PLC

22.35

0.0%

0.2%

0.0%

0.0%

20.7%

2.5%

3.9x

0.7x

1.8%

25.7%

5.40

-6.9%

0.1%

-8.5%

-8.5%

7.1%

0.8%

6.1x

0.6x

4.6%

16.4%

4.85

9.7%

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9.7%

9.7%

14.5%

2.6%

2.1x

0.3x

0.79

0.0%

0.1%

9.7%

9.7%

13.7%

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0.5x

5.3%

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-2.0%

0.1%

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10.1%

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3.3x

0.3x

3.3%

62.50

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0.1%

0.0%

0.0%

-41.3%

-9.2%

2.3x

5.38

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

#VALUE!

#VALUE!

0.9x

36 Oando PLC 37 Wema Bank PLC 38 Sterling Bank PLC 39 Notore Chemical Industries Ltd 40 Transcorp Hotels Plc

T ic k er

1.3x

-1.0%

47.9% 26.8% 30.7% -20.3%

T ic k er

Vo lum e

P ric e C hg %

1007.0

10.0%

P ric e

P ric e C hg %

A IR T ELA F R I

1050.50

10.0%

B UA F OOD S

B UA F OOD S

44.00

10.0%

WEM A B A N K

25.0

0.0%

4.85

9.7%

T R A N SC OR P

25.0

0.0%

OA N D O

8.1% 0.2%

T o p 10 T r a d e s b y V o l u m e

T o p 10 G a i n e r s

A IIC O

0.78

8.3%

N GXGR OUP

14.5

2.6%

A R D OVA

12.60

7.7%

UB A

13.9

0.0%

C A VER T ON

1.70

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SOVR EN IN S

11.1

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F ID SON

6.60

6.1%

Z EN IT H B A N K

10.9

0.0%

UP D C

1.22

6.1%

FB NH

10.4

0.0%

LA SA C O

1.10

5.8%

GT C O

9.3

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CHA M S

0.21

5.0%

UN IT YB N K

7.9

-9.6%

T o p 10 T r a d e s b y V a l u e

T o p 10 L o s e r s P ric e

P ric e C hg %

Value

P ric e C hg %

UN IT YB N K

0.47

-9.6%

B UA F OOD S

40533.9

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R OYA LEX

0.77

-9.4%

N GXGR OUP

285.7

2.6%

R EGA LIN S

0.45

-8.2%

Z EN IT H B A N K

275.2

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5.40

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A IR T ELA F R I

264.5

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GT C O

241.1

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NB

194.5

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151.5

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M B EN EF IT

0.30

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1.93

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1.80

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0.51

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145.8

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122.0

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117.8

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Afrinvest West Africa Limited

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15 Ecobank Transnational Inc 16 International Brew eries PLC

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9 Lafarge Africa PLC 10 Access Bank PLC

13 Nigerian Brew eries PLC 14 SEPLAT Energy PLC

Previous Price Current Price Change Weighting Change YTD

4.30 250.00

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T H I S D AY ˾ THURSDAY JANUARY 6, 2022

IMAGES

41

Photo Editor Abiodun Ajala Email abiodun.ajala@thisdaylive.com

L-R: Secretary, Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Lagos Council, Mr. Tunde Olalere; Vice Chairman, NUJ Lagos Council, Mrs. Abiola Beckley; Founder, Love of Christ Generation Church, Rev. Mother Esther Ajayi; Chairman, Lagos NUJ, Mr. Adeleye Ajayi; SWAN Chairman, Mr. Debo Oshundun; and Treasurer, Mrs. Iyabo Ogunjuyigbe, during a ‘Thank You Visit’ to the cleric by NUJ Lagos Council in Lagos…recently

L-R: Project Sponsor, Chief Ike Chioke; Auxiliary Catholic Bishop of Enugu, Rev. Anezichukwu Obodo; wife of Edo State Governor, Mrs. Betsy Obaseki; wife of the Project Sponsor, Mrs. Eva Chioke; and Principal, Central Primary School, Obioma, Mrs. Obiageli Aneke, during the unveiling of rebuilt classroom blocks at the Central Primary School, Obioma, by Chief Ike Chioke in Obioma community, Udi Local Government Area of Enugu State...recently

National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu (left), and former Governor of Ogun State, Chief Olusegun Osoba (right), during Tinubu’s visit to Osoba in Ikoyi, Lagos...recently

Minister of Defence, Maj-Gen Bashir Magashi (rtd) (L), assisted by Mrs. Martina Ibrahim (right) to decorate the Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Maj-Gen Shuaibu Ibrahim (middle), with the new rank of Major General in Abuja...recently

L-R: Assistant Brand Manager, La Casera, Bukola Disu; winner of the La Casera N250,000 raffle draw, and member of Motormechs and Technician Association of Nigeria (MOMTAN), Tope Lawal; and Senior Brand Manager, La Casera, Chike Nwokoye, at the Nigerian Artisans and Technician Conference (NATCO) in Lagos… recently

L-R: Anglican Bishop of Awgu/Aninri Diocese of Enugu State, Bishop Benson Chukwunweke; wife of Enugu State Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Ogechi Ibe; her husband, Mr. Ugonna Ibe; Managing Director, Lavender Spa Limited (LSL), Mrs. Pat Baywood-Ibe; wife of the Bishop, Mrs. Ifeoma Chukwunweke; and former Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Enugu State, Dr. Ben Nwoye, during the inauguration of LSL in Enugu State…recently

L-R: Secretary, Association of Law Administrators Nigeria (ALAN), Nnenmna Agu; Assistant Treasurer ALAN, Obashola Haruna; Chairperson Marketing and Fundraising ALAN, Ebele Iyayi; Chairman NBA-SBL, Ayuli Jemide; Vice President and Chairperson Publicity, ALAN, Odunola Onadipe; ALAN Trustee, Femi Banwo; Treasurer and Vice Chairperson Membership, ALAN, Yetunde Quadri; and President of ALAN, Joy Harrison-Abiola, during the end of the year get-together/fund raising cocktail party of the association held in Ikoyi, Lagos...recently PHOTO: KOLAWOLE ALLI

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THURSDAY JANUARY 6, 2022 •T H I S D AY

THURSDAY JANUARY 6, 2022 • T H I S D AY

43

44

THURSDAY, JANUARY 6, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

FOREIGN DESK

COMPILED BY BAYO AKINLOYE

Rio de Janeiro Cancels Street Carnival Parade again Amid Omicron Outbreak

Exactly two years after the World Health Organization issued an alert about “a cluster of cases of pneumonia of unknown cause” in the central Chinese city of Wuhan that evolved into the global COVID-19 pandemic, the world is now struggling under the weight of the fast-moving omicron variant of the coronavirus that sparked the disease.

In Brazil, a surge of new COVID-19 cases driven by the omicron variant has prompted authorities in Rio de Janeiro to cancel its iconic Carnival street festival for the second consecutive year.

Rio Mayor Eduardo Paes announced the cancellation Tuesday during a speech carried live online. Paes said the “nature” and “democratic aspect” of Carnival makes it impossible to control the potential spread of the virus.

But Mayor Paes said the traditional procession of Rio’s samba schools into the city’s Sambadrome stadium will take place next month, as authorities are able to impose mitigation efforts on the spectators.

Hong Kong Bans Flights, Imposes Other COVID-19 Restrictions Hong Kong authorities announced a twoweek ban on flights from the United States and seven other countries and held 2,500 passengers on a cruise ship for coronavirus testing Wednesday as the city attempted to stem an emerging omicron outbreak.

The two-week ban on passenger flights from Australia, Canada, France, India, Pakistan, the Philippines, Britain and the United States will take effect Sunday and continue until January 21.

Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam also announced that restaurant dining would be forbidden after 6 p.m. for two weeks starting Friday. Game arcades, bars and beauty salons must also close during that period.

The measures came as new omicron clusters have emerged over the past week, many linked to several Cathay Pacific crew members who broke isolation rules and dined at restaurants and bars in the city before testing positive.

DR Congo Army Says 18 Militiamen Killed DR Congo’s armed forces said Wednesday they had killed 18 militiamen and lost two soldiers in an ambush in a troubled region in the country’s eastern highlands.

Major Dieudonne Kasereka, the army’s spokesman in South Kivu province, said a unit of reinforcements came under attack while travelling though the village of Kagogo in Uvira district on Tuesday morning.

The assailants were “militiamen of the Makanika-Twigwaneho coalition,” he said referring to an armed group claiming to represent the Banyamulenge -- Congolese Tutsis of Rwandan heritage.

“In the exchange of fire, the army killed 18 militiamen,” while two soldiers died and five were seriously wounded, he said.

More than 120 armed groups are active in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, according to monitors, many of them a legacy of regional wars that raged in the 1990s.

The Makanika-Twigwaneho are led by an army colonel, Michel Rukundo Makanika, who deserted in early 2020 and set up a force in the Fizi highlands of South Kivu.

The area is the site of long-running feuds over land and resources between the Banyamulenge on one side and the Bembe, Fuliro and Nyindu groups on the other.

Clashes between Banyamulenge combatants and the Congolese army have increased in recent months.

On December 28, a colonel and three soldiers, as well as 12 militiamen, were killed.

India Expands COVID-19 Vaccinations to 15-Year-Olds As a third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic looms in India, driven by the omicron variant of coronavirus, authorities have begun giving shots to 15 to 18-year-olds.

There was enthusiasm and relief among teenagers as they lined up outside medical centres and in schools where vaccines are being given – about 10 million got a shot since the start of the week.

“I feel more confident that I can now go out. I used to feel so scared when I went to school that I may get COVID and carry the infection to my parents and neighbourhood,” said Ajay Verma, a high school student.

The inoculation drive for youngsters got underway amid an exponential jump in COVID-19 cases in megacities like Delhi and Mumbai. After seeing a dramatic decline for months, India reported 58,000 cases Wednesday -- a sevenfold jump in just a week.

That has prompted authorities to impose fresh restrictions – New Delhi officials have announced a weekend curfew and closed gyms and movie theatres. In Mumbai, authorities said they would consider imposing a lockdown if daily cases cross the 20,000 mark. The city recorded more than 10,000 cases Tuesday.

Kazakh Protesters Burn Buildings; Emergency Declared, Cabinet Resigns Kazakhstan declared emergencies in the capital, main city and provinces on Wednesday after demonstrators stormed and torched public buildings, the worst unrest for more than a decade in a tightly controlled country that promotes an image of stability.

The cabinet resigned, but that failed to quell the demonstrators’ anger, who have taken to the streets in response to a fuel price increase.

An Instagram live stream by a Kazakh blogger showed a fire blazing in the office of the Almaty mayor, with apparent gunshots audible nearby.

Videos posted online also showed the nearby prosecutor’s office burning.

Earlier on Wednesday, Reuters journalists saw thousands of protesters pressing towards Almaty city centre, some on a large truck. Security forces, ranked in helmets and riot shields, fired tear gas and flash-bang grenades.

The city’s police chief said Almaty was under attack by “extremists and radicals,” who had beaten up 500 civilians and ransacked hundreds of businesses.

A presidential decree announced a two-week state of emergency and a nighttime curfew in the capital Nur-Sultan, citing “a serious and direct security threat to citizens.” States of emergency were also declared in Almaty and in western Mangistau province, where the protests first emerged in recent days.

President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said he had taken over as head of the country’s Security Council and promised to act with “maximum toughness.”

Tokayev said in a televised address to the nation there had been casualties among security forces and that he would not leave the country.

Authorities appeared to have shut the country off the internet as the unrest spread.

Netblocks, a site that monitors global internet connectivity, said the country was “in the midst of a nation-scale internet blackout.”

Poland’s President Tests Positive for COVID-19 Polish President Andrzej Duda has tested positive for coronavirus, a top aide tweeted on Wednesday, after several people around him were infected.

“The president feels good, is not seriously ill and is under constant medical supervision,” top aide Pawel Szrot said in a tweet. He said the president was in isolation.

Duda also caught coronavirus in October 2020.

Poland has reported fewer new COVID-19 infections in recent days, but reporting is likely to have been influenced by a reduction in testing over the holidays.

The Omicron variant has yet to gain a foothold in Poland. On Tuesday, the Ministry of Health said it was responsible for around 2.5 per cent of infections, but it was expected to become dominant by the end of the month.

UK Vows Crackdown on Threats against Women Britain’s justice secretary said Wednesday he wanted to put the “fear of God” into those who threaten women and that restoring women’s faith in the legal system was his “top priority” following a string of high-profile murders in London.

Dominic Raab said he was “shocked and horrified” by the recent killings of several women, including one who was murdered by a serving police officer, calling

the scale of violence “sickening”.

“For many, the fear of being out alone after dark, or that they may be beaten in their own home, is a grim everyday reality,” he wrote in the Daily Telegraph.

“We must turn that situation around.

I want us to give those women back the confidence to live life without having to look anxiously over their shoulder and instil the fear of God into the minds of anyone who would contemplate threatening a woman or girl.”

According to official figures in England and Wales, in the year to March 2020, around 1.6 million women experienced domestic abuse, more than 600,000 were sexually assaulted, and almost 900,000 were stalked.

The government is scrapping the automatic halfway release for serious sexual offences and introducing closer monitoring of how well the police and prosecutors are tackling rape and sexual violence.

Victims of common assault involving domestic abuse will get two years to report the crime -- up from a current six-month time limit.

Raab, who is also Britain’s deputy prime minister, warned there was “no single silver bullet” to solve the problem, and it needed to be tackled “at every level” of society.

Record COVID-19 Cases Reported in Australia Australia recorded a new daily record of more than 50,000 COVID-19 cases on Wednesday. Hospital admissions continue to rise.

This is the first time daily COVID-19 case numbers have exceeded 50,000 in Australia.

The most populous state, New South Wales, recorded 35,000 new infections on Wednesday. Neighboring Victoria reported 17,636 new cases. Most are caused by the omicron variant.

Health authorities believe that case numbers will continue to increase in the coming weeks and will plateau in February.

In Queensland, health officials warned that infections would surge “certainly into the hundreds of thousands.” Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said symptoms were mild in most cases, and people were recovering “very, very quickly.”

Testing clinics have been unable to cope with the huge demand for screening, and rapid antigen tests are in short supply.

45

THURSDAY, ;˜ ͺ͸ͺͺ ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

A LAND GIFT FOR PROPOSED ANGLICAN UNIVERSITY...

Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri (L) and Primate of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Most Rev. Henry Ndukuba, during the latter's courtesy visit to Government House,Yenagoa, ... recently

Ibadan Kingmakers Endorse Balogun as New Olubadan, Say No Judgment will Stop Him Disregard rumour, declare king-in-waiting Ex-AG maintains stance, warns Makinde not to be misled

Kemi Olaitan in Ibadan

Members of the Olubadan-inCouncil, yesterday, announced their endorsement of the nomination of High Chief Mashood Lekan Balogun as the 42nd Olubadan of Ibadanlandand, declaring that no court judgement would stop him from being crowned.

The decision came barely four days after the demise of the 41st Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Adetunji, who joined his ancestors on Sunday at the age of 93 years.

But a former Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in Oyo State, Mr. Michael Lana, in a reply to a letter by solicitors to the members of the Olubadan-inCouncil, called on Governor Seyi Makinde not to allow strangers to mislead him in the choice of the new Olubadan. Lana stated this against the background of what he termed prevailing legal complications.

In his letter dated January 5, to counter the one by K. K. Eleja, SAN; Professor Wahab Egbewole, SAN; and Adekunle Sobaloju Esq, Lana said it behoved Makinde, as an Ibadan man, to get the tradition of Ibadan back.

However, Balogun said yesterday that the Olubadan-in-Council was already working with the state government to sustain the current peace in the city and the monarchy. He urged the people to disregard any rumour seeking to undermine tradition.

At a press conference held at the ancient Mapo Hall, yesterday, the Osi Balogun of Ibadanland, High Chief Tajudeen Ajibola, denied insinuations of legal tussle on the succession to the Olubadan throne. Ajibola urged the people to desist from carrying rumour that could truncate peaceful coexistence in Ibadanland.

Curiously, the Osi Olubadan of Ibadanland and former governor of the state, High Chief Rasheed Ladoja, was absent at the press conference.

Ajibola also cautioned those politicising the crowning of High Chief Balogun as the next Olubadan to desist from

the act, warning that such antics would not take them anywhere. He declared that members of the Council, who were the kingmakers, had met and resolved that Balogun was next in line and would, according to tradition, ascend the throne of Olubadan. He also debunked suggestions relating to the health of the Olubadan-elect, stating that the negative media reports are nothing to worry about.

Ajibola stated, "Either we have been crowned before or not, that is irrelevant, they should not bring politics into the tradition of Ibadan. Twelve Chiefs constitute the Olubadan-in-Council, including the Iyalode of Ibadanland, 10 of us have endorsed Lekan Balogun, there is no judgement stopping him from becoming the next Olubadan of Ibadanland.”

High Chiefs present at the press conference includeed Balogun of Ibadanland, High Chief Owolabi Olakulehin; Ashipa Olubadan, High Chief Eddy Oyewole; Osi Balogun, High Chief Tajudeen Ajibola; Ekaarun Olubadan, High Chief Amidu Ajibade; Ashipa Balogun, High Chief Lateef Gbadamosi; Ekaarun Balogun, High Chief Kola Adegbola; and Ekerin Olubadan, High Chief Abiodun Kola-Daisi.

The Olubadan-elect, in a speech, said in line with the traditional practices of Ibadanland, the Olubadan-in-Council had been awake to its responsibilities, and had liaised with the Oyo State government to ensure that every necessary step to sustain the peace of the city was strictly followed.

He urged the people to discard any rumours and insinuations capable of disturbing the peace of Ibadanland, irrespective of the quarter from where such stories emanated.

While commiserating with the governor, residents and indigenes of the city on the departure of Oba Adetunji, Balogun said the briefing was imperative in view of the need to update the people on latest developments in the palace.

He said at the media briefing, "It is with gratitude to the

Almighty God that I welcome you all here today in order to apprise ourselves with the latest development in the city of Ibadan.

"One, as a bona fide indigene of Ibadanland, there is a natural need for me to join you in commiserating with the family of the late Oba on the sudden home call of our Kabiyesi, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Saliu Akanmu Adetunji, Aje Ogunguniso II, the late Olubadan of Ibadanland.

"Two, by way of duty, as the Prime Minster of the Olubadanin-Council, we owe the people of Ibadanland and Oyo State, in general, the obligations to inform and update you all on the latest developments at our palace.

"It is no longer news that our much reverred Kabiyesi, Oba Saliu Akanmu Adetunji, Aje Ogunguniso II the Olubadan of Ibadanland, has joined his ancestors. It is my prayer that the Almighty God, to whom all mortals shall return, will accept his home call, forgive his sins, and grant him Al-jannah Firdaous.

May his gentle soul continue to rest in perfect peace.

"The good deeds he had done in respect of his dedication and commitment to the promotion and sustenance of peace and development of Ibadanland and Oyo State, in general, shall remain indelible in the hearts of our people.

"He was a peace-loving and an outstanding custodian of culture and tradition, who held on strictly to the principles of excellent leadership. He would forever be remembered for his consistency and tenacity of purpose in whatever he believed would advance the course of Ibadanland.

"He has come, served and had gone like everyone before him.

And so will everyone at his own time. I pray the Almighty Allah to continue to protect the family he left behind.

"I also wish to commiserate with the Chief Mourner, the Execute Governor of Oyo State, His Excellency, Engineer Oluwaseyi Abiodun Makinde, and members of his cabinet, who

had been privileged to interact and intimately relate with the late Kabiyesi to sustain the peace and development of Oyo State.

"There is no doubting the fact that Your Excellency would sorely miss the late Oba if only for his fatherly counsels on matters of administrative importance to the state "My heartfelt condolence message also extends to the entire Royal Dignitaries of the Olubadan-in-Council as well as the members of the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII) on the sudden demise of the late Kabiyesi and I pray that the Almighty Allah grants you all the fortitude to bear the loss.

"Finally, I wish to commiserate with the peace-loving people of Ibadanland on the sudden transition to eternity of the late great monarch and I enjoin you all to remain peaceful in all your conducts in order to sustain our unequalled historical peaceful coexistence for which Ibadanland is globally known.”

Balogun, on behalf of the Ali Iwo family and members of the Olubadan-in-Council, prayed for the peaceful repose of the soul of the late monarch.

Nonetheless, Lana, in his letter, said as an Ibadan indigene, he had a stake in Ibadanland, unlike the solicitors, who were strangers. He disclosed that they were not solicitors to the Olubadan-in-Council.

Lana added that as nonindigenes of Ibadanland, the solicitors might not know that each of the Ibadan Chieftaincies, from Ekefa Olubadan and Ekefa Balogun, up to the Olubadan, had a distinct Chieftaincy Declaration made in 1957, which had not been amended. He stated that in none of the Chieftaincy Declarations, except the Olubadan, was the word “Oba” mentioned, neither was dual title of Oba/High Chief known under those Declarations or to the custom of Ibadanland.

The letter to the governor read, “My attention has been drawn to the letter dated January 4, 2022, by some learned solicitors, who claimed to be solicitors to

the Olubadan-in-Council, in response to my earlier letter to your Excellency dated January 3, 2022.

“First, I know as a fact that they are not solicitors to the Olubadan-in-Council, rather they are solicitors to the High Chiefs, who were made Obas by your predecessor and it was in that capacity that they instituted Suit No.1/22/2020. I know as a fact, that High Chief (Senator) Rashidi Ladoja is a bona fide member of the Olubadan-in-Council and at no time did that council meet to appoint the said solicitors, its counsel, to institute an action against High Chief (Senator) Ladoja or respond to my letter.

"Secondly, I note that they stated in their letter that my letter was ‘self-serving’. They seem to have forgotten that I am, unlike them, an indigene of Ibadan, who has a say in the affairs of Ibadanland. I am not like them, who are not from Oyo State, not to talk of being from Ibadan. Thus, it is of no moment to them, if they mis-advised their clients to dig deeper into the grave of illegality. They, therefore, have no qualms if Ibadan burns.

"They argued that the right to the ascension to the stool of Olubadan cannot be eroded by the conferment of the right to wear beaded crowns, because at no time was any of them installed the Olubadan. I have never seen any argument that is so fallacious. The question they failed to answer, is whether an Oba can again be elevated to an Oba or whether in their own various towns, being Yoruba, their chiefs have dual title of Oba and Chief at the same time.

“However, Your Excellency will note, that, in order to cover-up the illegality, they conveniently did not mention that these High Chiefs have been elevated to Obas and that this elevation is the crux of Suit No.1/22/2020, which they instituted; they only refer to the right to wear beaded crown.

“Their argument, that some of these High Chiefs have been elevated at various times by the deceased Olubadan and approved

by your Excellency, is a blatant lie.

Your Excellency never signed any approval for HRM Dr Kolawole Adegbola to be elevated from Ekarun Balogun to Ashipa. The records are clear on this. The said Chief presented himself as Chief Kolawole Adegbola and not as His Royal Highness, Oba Kolawole Adegbola.

“His letter of elevation will readily buttress this and I challenge them to publish any letter of elevation signed by you and the Olubadan, in which Chief Adegbola was referred to as an Oba. If he had applied as an Oba, the Olubadan would not have approved his elevation nor would your Excellency have endorsed it. And if he continues to parade himself as Oba, his said elevation could be challenged in court as being illegal and fraudulent.

“Because these solicitors are not indigenes of Ibadan, they may not know that each of the Ibadan Chieftaincies from Ekefa Olubadan and Ekefa Balogun up to the Olubadan has a distinct Chieftaincy Declaration made in 1957, which has till date not been amended in accordance with the Chiefs Law and in none of the Chieftaincy Declarations except the Olubadan is the word ‘Oba’ mentioned nor is dual title of Oba/High Chief known under those Declarations or to the custom of Ibadanland.

“In Ibadan and in all Yorubaland, there is no custom or tradition that makes a person to be an Oba and at the same time, a Chief. The position of Oba is final and does not require further elevation, except as regard his class of Oba i.e from second class Oba to first class Oba. It is an aberration of our tradition to hold the title of Oba and Chief and seek promotion.

“No Oba under Soun of Ogbomoso has ever sought promotion to become the Soun; no Oba under Deji of Akure has ever sought promotion to become Deji of Akure; No Oba under the Alake of Egbaland has ever sought promotion to become the Continued on page 46

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NEWS

WHY GERRARD ROAD PROPERTY COLLAPSED...

L-R: Chairman, Panel of Inquiry into the Collapsed Gerrard Road building, Mr. Toyin Ayinde; Lagos Deputy Governor, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat; Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Moyosore Onigbanjo, during the presentation of the report by the Panel of Inquiry at Lagos House, Ikeja... yesterday

Ikoyi Collapsed Building: Sanwo-Olu Sets Up Committee to Implement Panel’s Report Segun James Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu yesterday set up a four-man committee led by the Commissioner for Special Duties, Mr. Tayo Bamgbose-Martins, an engineer, as a first step to the implementation of the report submitted by the Panel, which investigated the collapse of a 21-storey structure on Gerrard Road in Ikoyi.

Other members of the committee are: Head of Service, Mr. Hakeem Muri-Okunola; Commissioner for Justice and Attorney-General, Mr.

Moyosore Onigbanjo and his Agriculture counterpart, Ms. Abisola Olusanya, who is an architect.

The governor constituted the committee after receiving the report of the panel at Lagos House, Ikeja.

It was submitted by the chairman of the panel, Mr. Toyin Ayinde, a town planner. The building collapsed on November 1, 2021.

The governor said the committee would bring forward a report to be considered by the Lagos State Executive Council.

He commended members of the Toyin Ayinde-led panel for their

IBADAN KINGMAKERS ENDORSE BALOGUN AS NEW OLUBADAN, SAY NO JUDGEMENT WILL STOP HIM Alake nor has any of the Obas under the Prescribed Authority of the Alaafin ever aspired to become the Alaafin. Therein lies the fallacy in the arguments of the learned counsel.

"The question that needs to be answered by the said lawyers, is whether there is anything in the Declaration of each of the Chiefs, or under any law giving anyone the right to elevate an Oba. To my knowledge, the Chiefs Law has not been amended by the Oyo State House of Assembly and that law only makes the Olubadan the Prescribed Authority over high chiefs and not over any Oba. “Therefore, by law, these Obas have no right to be part of Olubadan-in-Council as that body consists of High Chiefs simply and not Oba/High Chief.

They, therefore, have no right to recommend any person to your Excellency to be installed as the Olubadan. Such letter to you is void and can be challenged in court.

“Your Excellency needs to know that these same lawyers instituted Suit not on behalf of Chiefs but on behalf of Obas and the first Claimant is HIS OBA SENATOR LEKAN BALOGUN so if they want to revert back to the customary law of Ibadan, where only High Chiefs can become the Olubadan, why did they not sue simply in their capacity of High Chief?

“Your Exellency, their said letter deliberately omitted to state the intendment of the Obas in instituting Suit No.1/22/2020, which was to set aside the Terms of Settlement, which nullified their instalment as Obas. In other words, they want to remain Obas.

That being the case, where is

it in the Olubadan Chieftaincy Declaration that an Oba/High Chief can be elevated to the position of Olubadan or any position under Olubadan?

“Lastly, the solicitors tried to make a distinction between two nomenclatures that have no bearing on the title of Obas illegally bestowed on their clients Le His Royal Majesty and Imperial Majesty. I challenge them to show to your Excellency, which law bestowed these nomenclatures on any Oba. A king is a king: what was created by law are their chieftaincies. Nowhere in any law is any Oba given the additional nomenclature.

“Now, Your Excellency, it is in the public domain that because of the illegal conferment of Obaship on these chiefs, they started disregarding the authority of the Olubadan and they copiously disobeyed him, even in death, these Chiefs refused to pay condolence visit to his palace nor were they present at his burial contrary to the custom of Ibadanland.

“Your Excellency will note that under the Olubadan Chieftaincy Declaration of 1957, this is enough to disqualify them from ascending the throne of Olubadan. That Declaration states inter alia thus: ‘Any chief from any of those embraced in proviso (a) above found guilty ……of disregard of or disrespect to the position or authority of the Olubadan… may not be eligible for nomination.’ ”I, therefore, urge your Excellency not to allow strangers to mislead you in further desecrating our tradition and custom. Your Excellency, as an Ibadan man, it behoves you to get our tradition back.”

commitment and quick response to the assignment given to them by the State Government.

Ayinde is the President of the National Institute of Town Planners. Other members of the panel were a structural engineer, Dr. Akintilo Idris; an architect, Yinka Ogundairo; a builder, Mr. Godfrey Godfrey; a real estate lawyer, Mrs. Bunmi Ibrahim and a lawyer, Ekundayo Onajobi, the secretary of the panel.

“Let me on behalf of the people and the government of Lagos State first acknowledge the very difficult task that has been passed on to you and the commitments and the quick response that each and every one of you gave to the assignment.

“We know that you all have been chosen from different professional backgrounds but you were indeed ready to serve the people for this very important assignment.

“Let me therefore commend and thank you for that exercise.

I will be constituting a four-man

committee almost immediately that will read through the report and I am giving them the end of next week to get back to the State Executive Council," Sanwo-Olu said.

Speaking earlier, Ayinde expressed hope that the findings and recommendations of the panel’s report would be implemented by the government to bring lasting solution to incidents of building collapse not only in Lagos State but nationally.

Ayinde on behalf of the panel members appreciated the governor for giving them the opportunity to serve the government and the people of the state, noting that the panel spent approximately six weeks on the assignment and submitted the report as well as electronic recordings of all the sections and videos of proceedings in a hard drive to the Lagos State Attorney-General.

The chairman said the panel visited the project site for a general assessment, coordinated the

activities of the consultants who conducted tests on the site, received and reviewed documents from relevant MDAs and conducted 35 interviews.

It interrogated 91 persons, requested and received 21 memoranda and accessed the home of the late CEO of Fourscore Heights Limited, Mr. Olufemi Osibono, with a view to gathering useful documents.

He said: “The tribunal had the opportunity to access the home of the late CEO of Fourscore Heights Limited in the presence of members of his family, where some documents that were scanned helped in gaining further insights into the case, particularly the processes that led to the construction and eventual collapse.

“The tribunal also hosted the representation of the developer’s company, comprising two legal firms. It is on record that in their first and second appearances, the lawyers expressed the fact that they were external lawyers to the

company and had little knowledge about the case in hand.

“Having spent approximately six weeks on this assignment, we now wish to make our submission to the Governor of Lagos State who constituted the tribunal.

We need to note however that building collapses is rooted in the collapse of values, morals and ethics, which we need to work on as a nation. We cannot sow the wind and not expect to reap the whirlwind. Therefore, ethics and due diligence need to be restored.”

Sanwo-Olu had on November 4, 2021, inaugurated the six-member panel of inquiry to investigate the cause of the collapse of the building.

The panel was inaugurated at the headquarters of the Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA) at Falomo, where members of the panel had their sittings. Governor Sanwo-Olu also signed an executive bill to give legal backing to the panel during its inauguration.

You Have Powers to Issue Guidelines on e-Voting, Party Primaries, Agbakoba Tells INEC Davidson Iriekpen Former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mr. Olisa Agbakoba (SAN), has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to assert its powers to regulate electoral processes in the country.

The National Assembly had transmitted the electoral amendment bill to President Muhammadu Buhari on November 19, with recommendations on the electronic transmission of results and direct primaries for political parties.

But in a letter addressed to the upper and lower legislative chambers, Buhari kicked against the recommendation of direct primaries for political parties on the grounds that it “violates the spirit of democracy”.

The decision of the president generated mixed reactions from Nigerians, while some civil society organisations (CSOs) asked the National Assembly to review the legislation or override the president.

But in a letter addressed to INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, Agbakoba informed the

commission that the assumption of the National Assembly that it had overriding authority with powers to regulate all aspects of elections in Nigeria was wrong, adding that this is not the position of the law.

In the letter obtained by THISDAY yesterday, the senior lawyer argued that the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill, 2021, particularly as it relates to the electronic transmission of election results and the matter of direct primaries, fall within the constitutional mandate of INEC. He cited a plethora of cases such as PDP V. Sylva (2012) 13 NWLR (PT 1316) 85, NDP V INEC (2013) 20 WRN 1 AT 45, and Peoples Democratic Party V Timipre Sylva & ORS (2012) 13 NWLR (PT 1316) 85 AT 122 where the courts have long established that the National Assembly through the Electoral Act cannot usurp or fetter the constitutional powers of INEC. The letter read: “The assumption of the National Assembly that it has overriding authority with powers to regulate all aspects of elections in Nigeria is wrong. That is not the position of our law.

“The interesting but complex public conversation around the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill, 2021, particularly as it relates to the electronic transmission of election results and the matter of direct primaries, fall in my respectful view, within the constitutional mandate of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

“The National Assembly only provides a general framework for elections through the electoral act, but details such as the date and order of elections, the voting procedure including the transmission of election results, and regulation of party primaries are within the constitutional powers of INEC. Please refer to paragraph 15 of Part 1 of the Third Schedule made under section 153 (1) of the 1999 Constitution.

“The courts have long established in a plethora of cases such as PDP V. Sylva (2012) 13 NWLR (PT 1316) 85, NDP V INEC (2013) 20 WRN 1 AT 45, and Peoples Democratic Party V Timipre Sylva & ORS (2012) 13 NWLR (PT 1316) 85 AT 122 that the National Assembly through

the Electoral Act cannot usurp or fetter the constitutional powers of INEC.” The senior advocate asked the electoral commission to use its constitutional power to issue guidelines on electronic voting and mode of party primaries.

“In light of the president’s decision to withhold assent to the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill; and the uncertainty about the legal framework for the 2023 election, this is perhaps the best opportunity for INEC to stamp its authority as the constitutionally endowed regulator of the electoral process in Nigeria. This is supported by section 158 (1) and 160 (1) of the 1999 Constitution,” Agbakoba said.

“I suggest that INEC should issue guidelines on electronic voting and party primaries. Section 87 of the Electoral Act on party primaries usurps the constitutional power of INEC. “I would also respectfully suggest the urgent need to approach the court with a view to a declaration of the role of INEC as the supreme constitutional regulator of the electoral process in Nigeria.”

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FORTY-SEVEN

Oromoni's Death: Lagos Govt Accepts DPP’s Advice, Clears Five Dowen Students, Staff Falana declares decision hasty, escapist

Chiemelie Ezeobi

Following advice by the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), the Lagos State government,yesterday, cleared all five students and five employees of Dowen College, who were accused of complicity in the death of a 12-year-old Sylvester Oromoni, a student of the college.

The accused students, 16-yearold Favour Benjamin, 15-year-old Micheal Kashamu, 16-year-old Edward Begue, 14-year-old Ansel Temile and 15-year-old Kenneth Inyang, have since been granted N1million bail by the courts.

Also, the members of staff of the college, Celina Uduak, Valentine Igboekweze, Hammed Ayomo Bariyu, Adesanya Olusesan Oluse-

gun and one Adeyemi, were last week released after the expiration of the court order issued for their remand.

The legal advice by DPP's Ms. Adetutu Oshinusi, was addressed to the Deputy Commissioner of Police, State Criminal Investigation Department, SCID and Magistrate Olatunbosun Adeola, the trial magistrate.

Explaining that the interim and final autopsy reports issued by the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital and toxicology report of post mortem samples and that of the Central Hospital, Warri, were in agreement with the cause of death, they cited the causes as Septicaemia, Lobar Pneumonia with Acute Pyelonephritis, Pyomyositis of the right ankle and Acute Bacteria

Pneumonia due to severe Sepsis.

The result of the toxicology also stated that it was not indicative of any toxic or poisonous substance in the body of the deceased.

It was based on these results that the DPP advised that there was no prima facie case of murder, involuntary manslaughter and or malicious administering of poison with intent to harm against the five students.

The DPP further cleared all five students of belonging to unlawful society due to insufficient facts to establish the offence, especially, as police investigation did not reveal such.

The report stated that from available facts in the duplicate case file, "The investigation carried out by the police did not reveal that

any secret society name, tattoo or insignia of any unlawful society was found in the possession of any of the suspects during the investigation carried out by the police.

“To hold otherwise would amount to sniffing for an offence and a speculative act which is not permitted in law. It is trite in law that suspicion, no matter how grave, cannot be a ground for conviction.”

The state, therefore, cleared the school and five employees of the offence of Negligent Act Causing Harm contrary to section 252 of the Criminal Law Ch. C17, Vol.3, Laws of Lagos State 2015, and directed that all the suspects should be released if they were still in custody.

But reacting, Human Rights lawyer, Femi Falana, speaking

MultiChoice Reintroduces Step Up Offer for DStv, GOtv Customers MultiChoice Nigeria has announced the return of its popular ‘Step Up’ offer for its DStv and GOtv customers.

According to a statement from the pay TV company, the offer gives customers opportunity to pay less for more world-class entertainment content starting from yesterday, for a limited period.

It explained that with the ‘Step Up’ offer, DStv and GOtv customers who upgrade or reconnect on the next higher package, would get a

further boost to an even higher package within 48 hours at no additional cost.

This means a step up to more great entertainment, it stated.

“It’s our mission to give the best entertainment to our customers at all times. We see this offer as an opportunity to get our customers to enjoy the great content that is currently available on higher packages for less, thereby giving them something to get excited about this January,” the CEO, MultiChoice

Nigeria, John Ugbe said.

According to the statement, new, active or disconnected DStv customers on the Yanga package who upgrade to Confam package, would get boosted to enjoy programming on Compact package.

Similarly, those on Compact package who renew on Compact Plus will get boosted to experience DStv Premium.

“The next few months has something for everyone on DStv & GOtv. Upgraded customers will

be able to enjoy world-class sporting action together with original local content, international movies, series, telenovelas, music shows, news and kids’ entertainment on the Step Up offer.

“Meanwhile, GOtv customers currently on the Jinja package who renew on Jolli package will get boosted to Max package. While GOtv Jolli customers who upgrade to Max will enjoy the brand new GOtv Supa package at no additional cost.

for the family, declared the legal advice on the unlawful killing of Sylvester as hasty and escapist, given that the coroner's inquest instituted by the Chief Coroner of Lagos State was adjourned to January 15, 2022.

Falana, in a statement, said, "Our attention has been drawn to the report issued by the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions of Lagos State, dated January 4, 2022, which has purportedly cleared five students and five employees of Dowen College of any complicity in the death of the 12-year old

Sylvester Oromini Jr. "However, the report has not laid the allegations surrounding the gruesome murder of Sylvester Oromoni to rest. The report is escapist and hasty as the authorities are aware of the fact that the Chief Coroner of Lagos State, has ordered that an inquest be conducted into the circumstances surrounding the unnatural death of Sylvester Oromoni.

"The inquest, which commenced before the Coroner on December 16, 2021, has been adjourned to January 15, 2022 for further hearing."

Jonathan Commiserates with Tofa’s Family Former President Goodluck Jonathan, has commiserated with the family of the late Kano politician and businessman, Alhaji Bashir Tofa, who died last Monday at the age of 74.

In a condolence message, Dr. Jonathan wrote: “I condole with the Tofa family and the Government and People of Kano State over the demise of Alhaji Bashir Tofa.”

The former President described Tofa as a modest politician, who contributed his quota to the development of Nigeria’s democracy, adding that he ran a

good campaign as the presidential candidate of the defunct National Republican Convention (NRC) in the 1993 elections.

He also described him as a successful businessman and philanthropist, who gave so much in service to the country and humanity.

"Alhaji Tofa will be greatly missed by many across the country for his contributions to national development. May God console his family and close associates and give them the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss,” he said.

acknowledged the possibility of a political resolution.

Buhari said, “Nigerians know that I don’t interfere with the judiciary. Let him be listened to.

For those, who are saying that we should release him, no, we cannot release him. There is a possibility of political solution.

“If people behave themselves, all well and good, but you can’t go to a foreign country and keep on sending incorrect economic and security problem against your country and think that you will never have to account for what you have been doing. Let him account for what he has been doing."

Asked what comes to mind whenever he heard the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Buhari responded, "failure".

Meanwhile, Ayu accused Buhari of being comfortable with the insecurity in the country.

Ayu also criticised the president for pushing the blame for the incessant killing of farmers by terrorists to locals along grazing routes.

The PDP national chairman was responding to some of the issues raised in Buhari's interview on Channels Television.

Ayu's Media Office quoted the PDP national chairman as saying, "It appears the continued killings in some localities of Nigeria, particularly, in the North, and more specifically in President Buhari's home state of Katsina, may not matter to him with his statement that state police is not an option.

"Watching President Muhammadu Buhari this evening on Channels TV during an interview session was a gratuitous waste of time, because there was nothing new coming from the president.

As said by many before now, to expect anything new from our president would be a misplaced and unfortunate expectation.

"From the economy, to insecurity, killing of innocent farmers by terrorists (which some erroneously term farmer/herder clashes) and other sundry issues, President Buhari honoured his calling as a president, who has nothing new to offer.

"He again repeated the impotent argument regarding killing of farmers by terrorists, reminding Nigerians of grazing routes. Well, what the president failed to reference is that the herders plying the grazing routes before, neither carried AK47s, nor did they engage in raping of women and despoliation of the assets of

those along the routes.

"Mr. President's position of saying the locals should be asked what went wrong, flies in the face of reason and contemporary realities.

Tied to that, but not limited in scope, is the issue of insecurity and a reorganisation of the Nigeria Police to accommodate present, peculiar, environmental and social challenges.

"In President Buhari's view, state police is not an option. Yet, it appears the continued killings in some localities of Nigeria, particularly, in the North, and more specifically, in his home state of Katsina, may not matter, hence, the need to have a security system that feeds on local intelligence and nuances, which the federal police cannot adequately provide, is not an option to our president.

"To him, it appears that continuing the same process while expecting a different output and outcome is the best way to go. We ask, is he comfortable with the killings in the land while the status quo persists?

“Nigerians should remind President Buhari that people evolve and societies evolve. Therefore, being trapped in a time capsule of the past about state police is not an option Nigerians are willing to accept from him.

"On the economic front, nations of the world who enjoy the benefit of direct foreign investments (DFI) ensure that their countries are safe for investors to pour in their resources. No amount of propaganda will obviate the realities on ground and which embassies and foreign missions observe.

"Therefore, to ensure that investor confidence is restored, a safe environment must, of necessity, be created.

Our government is trapped in the mentality of believing its own lies that Nigeria is better today than it was under PDP. To those who share this fallacy, we ask: Would they wish for their lives to be like Nigeria under this present regime?

The lives of Nigerians today tell the true story.

"The more Buhari promises to lift Nigerians out of poverty, the poorer Nigerians become. To further dwell on the entire interview would be to waste valuable time. But we implore Nigerians not to relent, because hope is on the way and, like one writer said, hope is better served as breakfast and not dinner, as the APC regime of President Buhari is doing, promising El Dorado in the dying days of its tenure."

2023: IDENTITY OF MY SUCCESSOR REMAINS A SECRET, SAYS BUHARI a mode of primary election, as provided in the bill. But, despite widespread clamour, he ruled out establishment of state police as solution to rising insecurity in the country, saying, “State police is not an option."

Reacting to the president’s indisposition to the popular agitation for state police, National Chairman of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, accused Buhari of being comfortable with the state of insecurity in the country. Ayu said this could be gleaned from the president’s declaration that "state police is not an option".

Answering a question on his likely successor, Buhari said, “No, I will not tell you, because he may be eliminated if I mention his name."

But he added that it did not really matter who succeeded him, saying whoever wins the election will succeed him.

On the electoral bill, Buhari maintained that primaries must not be direct, but rather, people should be given options to make their choice.

He stated, "Personally, I don’t support direct primaries, because I want people to be given a choice.

You can’t give them one option and think you are being democratic. Let them be given the three options, which are direct, indirect and consensus. If you could recall, ACN, APGA, ANPP, CPC and another party, we came together.

“PDP was over confident and thought they will rule Nigeria to the end of time. But the opposition, we came together and overthrew them.

We didn’t overthrow PDP because of direct primaries but because of the opposition coming together and fighting the PDP. “We must not insist that it has to be direct primary, it should be consensus and indirect. Once that’s done, I will sign the electoral bill.

There should be options, you can’t dictate to people and you say you’re doing democracy. Allow them to have options to make a choice."

The president assured that bandits, particularly in the North-west, explaining that progress is being made in the fight against insecurity.

He advocated more dialogue in solving the farmer-herder clashes across the country. According to him, "For Nigerians to be fair to this administration, is to try and find out from the time we won

the election in 2015 till now in the three promises we made, which are improving security, economy and fighting corruption.

“In the North-west, it’s same people killing each other, burning villages. I think the only language they understand we discussed it with the law enforcement agencies, the service chiefs, IGP is to go after the terrorists. We named them terrorists and we are going to deal with them as such.

“If you go to those constituencies over the last four weeks, there’s improvement in the security. On farmer/headers’ crisis, we cannot do much about the weather but about the security, we’ve taken steps and we are seeing the results.

For the weather, the ministers of agriculture from Audu Ogbeh to Mahmoud now, one of the issues I discussed with them is to go and get the gazettes on cattle routes and grazing grounds and the cattle rearers are confined to those areas.

“Those that go outside that one are arrested and farmers are encouraged to come and lay their claims. We have to go back to that system again to try and make sure we prepare grazing areas, so that headers don’t stray into peoples farms and into the towns and so on. We are working on that.

However, Buhari failed to either endorse or reject the suggestion by the Governor of Kaduna state, Mr Nasir el-Rufai for the carpet-bombing of the terrorists irrespective of the magnitude of collateral damage and casualties.

He stated that he campaigned on three fundamental issues, namely security, corruption and the economy, stressing that on the three promises, security in the north east, which he said was very bad when he took over, has now improved.

But he noted that while the renewed attack on the gunmen must be sustained, it was important to provide protection for communities and their leaders who were helping in providing intelligence to the security agencies.

“I think the only language they understand, we have discussed it thoroughly with the service chiefs and the Inspector General of Police (IG), and it is to go after the terrorists. We have labelled them terrorists and we are going to deal with them as such.

“I told you what we have done.

We met at least four times with the service chiefs and law enforcement

agencies, each meeting taking at least four hours. We have discussed thoroughly what to do with the situation.

"We met at least four times with the service chiefs and other law enforcement agencies, each meeting taking at least four hours. We have discussed thoroughly what to do with the situation. Luckily, I have a military background from civil war till now, so, we discussed and we tried to secure and make it safe for the leadership at community level.

“Because it's very important, the best intelligence you get is from the local leadership. They know who’s who in their areas of responsibilities. You have to talk to them but you must make sure they are safe, because the bandits can be a source of insecurity to them or their families and we are very conscious of that."

On state police as a solution to insecurity, Buhari opined that state police was not an option, alluding to the propensity for governors to abuse the security institution.

He said, "Well, the role of traditional rulers must not be undermined, because in their areas they know who’s who. So, we have to revert to that system for us to have effective security in the localities. For example, there were two governors that came to see me about the problem and I said as far as I know, the farmers and the herders have been coexisting in Nigeria.

“Let them go and ask the local leadership what went wrong, why the break in communication between the local leadership and the herders, why are they now extending to people’s farms.

“State police is not an option.

Find out now the relationship between the local government and their governors. Are they getting what they are supposed to get constitutionally? Are they getting it? Try and see those people from local government let them tell you the truth about the fight between local government and governors."

On the economy, the president revealed that the crude oil production quota from 1999 to 2014 was 2.1 million barrels per day. He said at a point, the production quota was reduced by half.

According to him, "When we came in, somehow the militants were unleashed in the South-south, and production went down to half a million barrels per day. But look at

what we did within the time frame with the resources available to us?"

Buhari expressed displeasure at the state of electricity in Nigeria.

When asked if he was happy with the country's electricity production capacity, the president replied, "I am not because I identify that no country can develop without infrastructure and infrastructure means road, rail and power. This government is working very hard on the road. Try to imagine what was happening between Lagos to Ibadan six months ago and what it is now. We are doing from Lagos to Kano the rail, road from here to Kaduna to Kano. So we have to get the infrastructure right and then Nigerians will mind their own business. But when the infrastructure is not there, the roads are not there, the rail is virtually killed, no power, what do we expect people to do?”

The president noted that the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) was 100 per cent governmentowned, saying his government inherited the Distribution Companies (Discos).

He alleged that the owners of Discos bought them based on geo-political zones rather than merit.

Buhari said, “The people that own them, who are they? They are not electrical engineers, they don’t have money, it is just a political favour. To remove a system and reintroduce one is no joke. Luckily we have the TCN and that is the transmission.

If we can get our technology right, we will cut the cost on transmission and the likelihood of sabotaging the lines and so on.”

The president advised Nigerian youths to use their education and exposure to improve themselves and not depend on government.

He said, “I wish when they go to school; when they work hard; when they earn their degree, they don’t do it thinking that government must give them jobs You get educated because an educated person is certainly better than an uneducated person even in identifying personal problems. So, education is not just meant to hang on to the government to give you jobs and then what the colonialists indoctrinated in us to believe – have a car, have a house; start work by 8am and close by 2pm."

Speaking on the possibility of releasing the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, Buhari ruled out the option of pardon. But he

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MEDIATING THE MAGODO LAND TUSSLE...

L-R: Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Dr. Idris Salako; his counterpart for the Environment & Water Resources, Mr. Tunji Bello; Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide SanwoOlu; Attorney General & Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Moyosore Onigbanjo (SAN) and Assistant Inspector General of Police, Mr. Hakeem Odumosu, during a meeting between the Lagos State government and stakeholders of the Magodo Phase II land tussle, at the Lagos House, Alausa, Ikeja,... yesterday

Magodo Crisis: Lagos State Govt Meets Stakeholders, Arrives at Six Resolutions Calls for restraint on part of the police Malami, S’West governors fight over police's disrespect to Sanwo-Olu Afenifere flays situation, calls for state police

Chiemelie Ezeobi, Alex Enumah in Abuja and Kemi Olaitan in Ibadan Yesterday’s intervention by the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-olu, in the face-off between the Magodo/Shangisha landlords and land owners, has yielded results as the meeting called at the instance of the governor birthed six resolutions a compensation with lands elsewhere.

The state had met with the warring parties yesterday to deliberate on the Supreme Court judgement with a view to finding lasting solutions.

Meanwhile, the Attorney Generation of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, and the South-west governors have traded tackles over the minister’s alleged role in the matter, with the former warning politicians to desist from dragging his name in the mud.

However, at the meeting chaired by Sanwo-Olu at the State House, Alausa, were the Judgment Creditors (Shangisha

Landlords’ Association), their lawyers, Commissioner of Police Lagos State Command, Policemen from the F.C.T Command and Police Headquarters.

Also present were the Executive and Trustees of the Magodo Residents’ Association and senior government officials.

According to the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, the thrust of the meeting was the enforcement of Judgment of the Supreme Court delivered on the 10th of February 2012 in suit no. SC/112/2002.

At the end of the meeting, he said the following resolutions were arrived at: "That the Committee set up by the State Government to resolve the Magodo dispute, chaired by the Hon. Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, is to meet with the Judgment Creditors (Shangisha Landlords’ Association) on Friday 7th of January 2022; "The Surveyor-General of Lagos State, Permanent Secretary Lands Bureau and Hon. Commissioner

for Physical Planning and Urban Development, are to immediately identify available plots of land within the Shangisha village scheme.

"The Committee is also to identify how the available plots of land are to be accessed and whether any infrastructural development is necessary to access the land. Upon identification of available and accessible land, the State Government is to immediately allocate the land to the 549 Judgment Creditors.

"In the event that there is no available and accessible land within the Shangisha village scheme to allocate to all the 549 Judgment Creditors, the State Government, in agreement with the Judgment Creditors, will provide alternative plots of land.

"Whilst this exercise is ongoing, the Nigeria Police are to restrain themselves from any conduct or action that may instigate violence or breakdown of law and order in Magodo. They should be keepers of peace and act within the confines of the law – always.

All the parties have agreed to an amicable resolution of the matter.

"The meeting ended with Mr. Governor thanking all for attending and restating his resolve to ensure that peace returns to Magodo and that there is justice for all," he added.

At the end, Omotoso said the attendees praised the governor for showing “good leadership”, which they said prevented violence in the estates, adding that they expressed confidence in the governor’s ability and sincerity to resolve the matter.

Malami, while reacting to a statement by Southwest governors accusing him of complicity in the Magodo crisis, said in a statement by his media aide, Dr Umar Gwandu, that the issue at hand had nothing to do with the Executive arm of government, where he belongs but, rather obedience to the rule of law, which the governors have a duty to defend.

"The Office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice takes exception to the Southwest Governors unjustifiable

Obaseki to Provide Optic Fibre Connectivity across 18 LGAs to Boost Digital Economy Congratulates Salami on appointment as Chief Economic Adviser The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has assured residents that his government would sustain ongoing reforms and programmes aimed at achieving digital economy in the state, promising to provide fibre optic connectivity to all Edo communities to enhance access to the internet and expand the state’s digital economy.

Obaseki, who spoke to journalists in Benin City, said his administration was committed to building physical and digital infrastructure, leveraging technology to drive sustainable growth and development in the state.

The governor noted that while the construction and rehabilitation of roads were currently ongoing across the 18 local government areas of the state, the state government would sustain investment in other infrastructure, including electricity

and fibre connections.

He stated, “Our operation Light Up Edo is in full gear with the street-lighting project being rolled out in Benin City, Ekpoma and Auchi.

“We are working with a private provider to connect all our 18 local government areas with fibre optic connection to enhance access to the internet and expand the digital economy across the state.”

Obaseki reassured that his administration’s huge investment in physical and digital infrastructure would position Edo State as a major commercial hub in Nigeria and West Africa.

Noting that the government was nurturing a new generation of Edo youths that would dominate and conquer the world, the governor said, “We are supporting our youths in entrepreneurship and innovation to seize the moment

and build top-of-the-range capacity to compete with their peers globally.

“As a government, we are recommitting ourselves to deepen growth across all sectors of the state and provide more opportunities for our people to realise their full potential.

These we will do by leveraging the innate abilities of our people and providing them with the tools and enablement to dominate and conquer their world.”

Meanwhile, Obaseki has congratulated Prof. Doyin Salami on his appointment as the Chief Economic Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari.

The governor, in a statement yesterday, said: “I hope that Prof.

Salami will justify the trust and confidence of Mr. President and help to align the nation’s monetary and fiscal policies to enable inclusive growth in these very challenging

economic times.”

He added: “With this new role, I urge Prof. Salami to provide direction in influencing the fundamentals of the Nigerian economy, which will help to steer the economy back on track.

“Prof. Salami’s credentials will boost investor confidence for many who have sought a more coordinated and predictable economic environment that can spur Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and portfolio investment into the economy.

“As the current chairman of the Presidential Economic Advisory Council (PEAC) and member of the Monetary Policy Committee of the Central Bank of Nigeria, I expect Prof. Salami to bring his experience to bear in the new assignment and place Nigeria on the path of economic prosperity.”

insinuation of impunity against the office of the Attorney General over execution of a judgment of the Supreme Court.

"The role of the executive is, in this respect, simply to aide the maintenance of law and order in due compliance with rule of law arising from giving effect to the judgment of the apex court of the land.

"Let it be known that the issue is regarding a Supreme Court Judgement that was delivered in 2012 long before the coming of President Muhammadu Buhari's administration in office at a time, when Malami was not a Minister.

"The judgment was a reaffirmation of the judgments of Court of Appeal and High Court delivered on 31st December, 1993", the statement read in part.

In expressing surprise over the position of the governors, Malami described it as a vituperation of ulterior motives of some political class, who derived pleasure in dragging the name of Malami in the mud to achieve some sinister objectives.

"It is widely reported in the papers that the Lagos State Governor was quoted to have said I've spoken extensively with the Inspector-General of Police and the Honourable Attorney-General, and we've resolved all the issues.

"The Office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, would appreciate if the coalition of the governors will help to unravel the circumstances preventing the Lagos State Government from enforcing the court order despite several attempts from 2012- 2015 and so-called settlement initiative started in 2016.

"Some of the cardinal pillars of democratic government are the doctrine of separation of powers and obedience to the rule of law inclusive of court orders.

"It is a common knowledge that execution of the judgment and orders of courts of competent jurisdiction, and the court of last resort in the circumstances remains a cardinal component of the rule of law and the office of the Attorney General wonders how maintenance of the law and orders in the course of execution of the judgment of

the supreme can be adjudged by imagination of the governors to be unruly.

"We want to restate that sanctity of the rule of law is not a matter of choice," the statement added.

Earlier, the South-west governors, in a statement by its chairman and Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, had said, “We are in possession of a video, which has gone viral on the social media concerning the disgraceful exchange between a police officer, a CSP, and the Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the supposed Chief Security Officer of the State, at the Magodo Residential Estate.

“The content of the video is very disconcerting, and this is being charitable. The utter disrespect, which underlines the response of the officer to the governor establishes, beyond doubt, the impracticability of the current system, dubiously christened ‘Federalism’. An arrangement, which compels the governor of a State to seek clarifications on security issues in his jurisdiction from totally extraneous bodies or persons, is a sure recipe for anarchy.

“We condemn, very strongly, this brazen assault on decency.

We call on the IG to explain the justification for this intrusion. This is not acceptable. Any expectations of rapprochement between so-called federating units and federal security agencies are becoming forlorn, progressively, due to deliberate acts, which mock our very avowal to ethics and professionalism.

“We condemn, in very clear terms, the role of the Attorney General of the Federation, Mr Abubakar Malami SAN in this act of gross moral turpitude.

We, on our part, will continue to interrogate the current system, which treats elected representatives of the people as mere prefects, while appointed office holders ride roughshod over them as Lords of the Manor.

“If the purported Chief Security Officers of the States of the Federation require clearance from the office of the IG on matters within their areas of jurisdictions, only hypocrites will wonder why the current security crisis deepens and there appears to be no solution in the foreseeable future.

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30TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION OF OGONI DAY...

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike (right), conversing with the former President of the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP), Ledum Mitee, at the 30th anniversary celebration of Ogoni Day in Bori, Rivers State... recently

Okorocha: Uzodinma Killed Gulak, Traditional Rulers, Others

Appeals to IG to unravel truth in Imo Hints at intention to contest for president in 2023

Amby Uneze in Owerri The controversy surrounding the causes of insecurity and killings in Imo State, has taken a new twist as a former governor of the state, Rochas Okorocha, has openly accused incumbent governor, Hope Uzodimma, of instigating the killings of a former presidential adviser, Ahmed Gulak, some traditional rulers and over 140 innocent people during the unknown gunmen reign.

Dismissing Uzodinma’s recent stakeholders’ meeting as an exercise in futility, Okorocha wondered why his legacies, which impacted positively on the lives of the people were being attributed to the Uzodinma administration, which he said was also making every effort to drag his hard earned reputation in the mud through baseless and groundless allegations.

Okorocha, who appealed to the Inspector-General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba to investigate his claims, also challenged the governor to explain to the world, why he failed to mention names of sponsors of banditry, kidnapping, killings and other forms of criminality in the state at the stakeholders meeting in Owerri on Tuesday.

Okorocha decried the growing insecurity bedeviling the state and challenged the governor to tell Imo people the truth about his secret security outfit code-named, "Hopism Security Forces (HSF)"

and Ebubeagu, an organ he alleged master-minded several killings in the state.

According to him, “Mr. Governor should tell the world, who killed Gulak? Who killed the traditional rulers? Who killed the 140 people?

Who beheaded those beheaded and displayed their heads as if they had won trophy?”

Okorocha, who also challenged the governor to unmask his killer

squad (HSF), which comprised of security agents and were unknown to the Inspector General of Police and the Chief of Army Staff, with him as the Commander, his chief security officer as coordinator and his special adviser on special duties as chief organizer.

"He hired some criminals to implicate Uche Nwosu, my sonin-law. I have taken it as matter of honour to let the world know

what is happening in the state.

The governor goes to Abuja to tell Mr. President lies. I know Mr. President as one whose integrity is not questionable and he would not listen to those lies perpetrated

by Uzodimma.

"The governor goes with killer squad anywhere he goes. He was made the chairman of APC governorship campaign committee in Anambra state and there were

A publication gazetting the activities of bandits, kidnappers, cattle rustlers and others as terrorists, was yesterday released to the general public by the federal government.

The official Gazette came barely 24 hours after the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Mr Abubakar Malami, hinted of its release.

Malami, during a television interview on Tuesday morning, had stated that the federal government was waiting for the conclusion of the gazette before

expose the evil. He can no longer hide," he stated.

He also stated that as a founding member of the APC, he could not leave the party for newcomers, adding that he was done with any other elections except the presidency, which he was presently pursing.

He, however, described Uzodinma as a paid agent commissioned to frustrate his presidential ambition next year.

2023: Jonathan’s Rumoured Comeback Bid Causes Stir in APC It means we’ve failed, says former adviser to Buhari

Ibrahim Shuaibu in Kano and Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja

Speculations that former President Goodluck Jonathan was being considered as one of the options to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari by some elements in the All Progressives Congress (APC), have begun to cause a stir in the ruling party and unease amongst its members.

To that extent, some members of the APC have started to speak to the heart of the matter, which they did not only condemn, but reckoned held serious implications for the party.

One of such persons was Suleiman Abdulrahman Kawu Sumaila from Kano State, who contended that those rooting for Jonathan as

president in 2023 were doing a great disservice to the party.

Kawu, a former three-term member of the House of Representatives, said in a statement yesterday, said Jonathan had played his role and should be left alone, noting that APC has candidates with better credentials from the southern part of the country.

The former lawmaker, who also served as the Senior Special Assistant to the President on House of Representatives’ Matters, said pushing for Jonathan to become APC's candidate would automatically mean the party has failed.

Describing Jonathan’s backers as "enemies within”, Kawu said APC has qualified and credible candidates from the southern part of the country, who can eminently

contest the APC presidential ticket in 2023.

"I don't think those pushing for Jonathan to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari under our great party wish the APC well. Yes, Jonathan is a reformed democrat,

deploying the newly Tucano Jet to tackle activities of bandits and kidnappers ravaging parts of the North West and North Central geopolitical zones of the country.

The Gazette printed and published by the Federal Government Printer, Lagos, Nigeria FGP 213/122021/650, is titled: Terrorism (Prevention) Proscription Order Notice, 2021 and became effective from November 25, 2021.

According to the document, "the activities of Yan Bindiga Group, Yan Ta'adda Group and other similar group in Nigeria are declared to be terrorism and

illegal in any part of Nigeria, especially, in the North- west and North-central Regions of Nigeria and are proscribed, pursuant to sections 1 and 2 of the Terrorism (Prevention) Act, 2011.

"Consequently, the general public is hereby warned that any person or group of persons participating in any manner whatsoever in any form or activities involving or concerning the prosecution of the collective intentions or otherwise of the groups referred to in paragraph 1 of this Notice will be violating the provisions of the Terrorism (Prevention) Act, 2011 and liable

who deserves our commendation.

"But he had played his own role under the PDP. Nobody will take away the credit of conceding defeat as a sitting president and handing over power to the opposition peacefully from Jonathan. As a matter

of fact, he is better than some of the people in our party.

"However, we cannot as a party say Jonathan should come and pick our presidential ticket when we have better candidates in our midst. That will mean we have failed," he said.

Report: Cooking Gas Prices Rose 128% in 2021 Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja A new report by the Financial Derivatives Company (FDC) Limited has revealed that prices of cooking gas rose by 127.8 per cent in 2021.

The Lagos-based research and consultancy firm also estimated in the report obtained yesterday, that the country's income per capita

Finally, FG Releases Gazette Proscribing Bandits, Kidnappers, Other Terrorists Alex Enumah in Abuja

killings there. Since the Anambra election was concluded, there has not been any killing there. And in Imo State, since those he sent to abduct Uche Nwosu in the Church had been unmasked, no killing has been recorded in Imo. "Let the governor accept responsibility of what is happening in the state. This time, I want to come out to let the world know the truth. This time, I am out to

to prosecution.

"This Notice shall be cited as the Terrorism (Prevention) Proscription Order Notice, 2021.

The federal government had approached a Federal High Court in Abuja for an order declaring the activities of some groups as amounting to terrorism.

Delivering ruling in the exparte application filed by the federal government, Justice Taiwo Taiwo, agreed with the position of the government that the action of the groups were adversely affecting the economy and lives of people in the North West and North Central geopolitical zones of the country.

shrank by three per cent to $2,100 last year, with Nigeria hit by two recessions in two years.

With life expectancy at 55.75 years, the fourth lowest in the world, and unemployment rate at 33.3 per cent, still the 4th highest in Africa, the report stated that Nigeria's misery index hit 48.7 per cent last year.

Added to that, the FDC document indicated that 93.3 million Nigerians are currently neck-deep in poverty, even as diaspora remittance dropped by 26.09 per cent to $17 billion.

In addition, it disclosed that house rent rose by 50 per cent, particularly on Lagos mainland, while diesel prices increased 79.5 per cent.

Furthermore, the research firm noted that flour prices recorded a 52.3 per cent increase, beans increased by 166 per cent while the price of table water generally surged by 100 per cent.

With a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of $432.9 billion, according to the Bismarck Rewane-led FDC, oil production in the country slumped by 12.88 per cent when compared with 2020.

Still on the oil market, the company predicted a bullish scenario analysis of $120 per barrel in 2022, which it said could increase the country’s foreign exchange earnings,

with an optimistic 1.9 million barrels daily oil production.

It also made a forecast that petrol subsidy removal in the first quarter of 2022 and the Dangote refinery launch in the fourth quarter would increase government revenues, leading to a fiscal surplus with exchange rate estimated to appreciate to N520 to a dollar on the parallel market and inflation at 13 per cent.

According to the firm, this will lead to increased infrastructure spending to stimulate growth.

In a base case scenario, FDC predicted oil price at $80 per barrel, leading to sustained fiscal pressures.

According to the report, in 2021, the promise was for hope where many were elated at the expectations of a better year with less travel restrictions, reduced Covid-19 cases, a more proactive and accountable government and better living standards.

“Although this was not the case 100 per cent with the ups, downs and bumps along the road, we admit that the roller-coaster ride of 2021 was better that the merry-go-round of 2020.

“While some are grateful with their arms wide open and hearts expectant for a better 2022, others are keeping their fingers crossed considering the bittersweet experiences 2021 had to offer,” it stated.

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Gunmen Kidnap Two Chinese Nationals, Kill Three Nigerians in Niger Laleye Dipo in Minna Two Chinese Nationals working on the Zungeru Hydro Electric dam project in the Rafi Local Government Area of Niger State were on Tuesday kidnapped by unknown gunmen.

During the raid by the gunmen three Nigerians were reported to have been shot dead while one Chinese was reportedly injured.

It was learnt that the incident, which occurred at about 6pm on the fateful Tuesday, was when the foreigners and their Nigerian counterparts were engaged in the laying of electric cable to neighboring Gusase community.

THISDAY was told that not less than 20 of the armed gunmen riding on motorcycles stormed the site where the foreign and Nigerian nationals were working and started shooting indiscriminately.

In the confusion that ensued the three Nigerians and one Chinese were hit by bullets while the two other Chinese were forced on two motorcycles and taken into the bush.

The Niger State Police Command has confirmed the incident in a statement by the Public Relations Officer DSP Wasiu Abiodun, which was

made available to THISDAY. In the statement Abiodun said: “On 04/1/2022 at about 1630hrs, suspected armed bandits attacked workers of

Sino-Hydro Power Dam. The workers comprised of some Chinese expatriates and local staffs who were attacked while working on transmission line

tower along Gussase village”.

He continued that: “However, Police tactical team attached to the facility engaged the hoodlums in a gun duel while

four of the expatriates were rescued with one of them and a local staff sustaining bullet injury and taken to hospital for medical treatment”.

EMPOWERING THE YOUTHS…

L-R: Convener and General Superintendent, Deeper Christian Life Ministry, Pastor Williams F. Kumuyi, his wife, Mrs. Esther Kumuyi; Council Chairman, Chrisland University, Professor Ayodeji Olukoju, and National Coordinator, Deeper Christian Life Ministry Fellowship, Professor Olukayode Sunday, during the flag -off of a five -day Global Youth Programme organised by the church at Deeper Life Bible Church International Conference Centre, Kilometre 42, Lagos - Ibadan Expressway in Ogun State... yesterday ABAYOMI AKINYELE

Alleged Looting: PDP Dares NiMet Raises the Alarm on Possible Akeredolu to Unveil Eight Temperature Rise in 25 States Ooutlook,” NiMet revealed Nasarawa and Benue in the parts of Sokoto, Zamfara, Kebbi, Companies Owned by Proxy Kasim SumainainAbuja that some parts of Niger and north-central are also expected to Jigawa, Bauchi, Gombe, Yobe, Fidelis David in Akure

The opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in Ondo has unveiled eight companies allegedly owned

by Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu’s family to siphon the state’s treasury.

The state government, had on Monday, challenged the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state to substantiate all the allegations against the state governor, Mr Rotimi Akeredolu, and his immediate family after the PDP alleged that it has discovered 13 companies registered by the immediate family of the state governor, Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN) to embezzle taxpayers funds in the state.

Responding to the government’s bold step, the

PDP through its Publicity Secretary in the state, Kennedy Ikantu Peretei, said it decided to releases the names of the companies so that the doubting Thomases can come to terms with the fact that, indeed, Ondo state is under siege with Akeredolu and his family, reveling that action is already being taken on the petition to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

“When l released the series 10 of “Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu’s Misrule”, it was greeted with disbelief.

Some said it was a fairy tale.

Others said Ondo State was too enlightened for such mindless looting. Even the clueless government information machinery dismissed me as idle, challenging me to provide the facts.

The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) yesterday in Abuja warned of a possible rise in temperature across 25 States of the country in the next couple of days despite the harmattan being witnessed in Nigeria.

In a weather advisory released by the Central Forecast Office, titled, “High-Temperature

Kwara are expected to experience temperature greater than 40°C. It disclosed that parts of Kebbi, Borno, Gombe, Taraba and Adamawa in the north are expected to experience temperatures greater than 35°C and less than 40°C. The alert also said that parts of Niger, Kwara, Kogi, FCT,

experience temperatures greater than 35°C and less than 40°C. Similarly, the entire south (except Lagos) is expected to be in the same temperature range.

The advisory disclosed that on the 7th of January, 2022 parts of Niger and Kwara are expected to experience temperature greater than 40°C,

Borno, Adamawa and Taraba are expected to record temperature between 35°C and 40°C. The same is expected over parts of Niger, Kwara, Kogi, FCT, Nasarawa, Benue and Kogi in the north-central. The south (except Lagos, Ekiti and Ondo) is expected to be in similar temperature range.

Ekiti 2022: Vote for Competent Person, Not Opportunist, Bishop Tells Electorate Victor Ogunje in Ado Ekiti The Catholic Bishop of Ekiti Diocese, Most Rev Felix Ajakaye, has advised the electorate to resist attempt by those he described as “political opportunists” to forcefully take over Ekiti governance in the June 18 governorship poll.

The bishop also appealed to political parties angling to participate in the June 18 poll,

to conduct credible primaries to avert violence and bloodshed that could heat up the polity and truncate the electorate process.

Essentially, Bishop Ajakaye, said the success of the forthcoming election would depend largely on how major political parties, especially the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC)

organise their primaries.

The admonition was contained in his new year message and made available to newsmen yesterday in Ado Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital .

The new year message titled, ‘2022, Year of Optimism’, and released by the Cleric, said : “In Ekiti State ,Land of Honour and Integrity, by God’s grace, on Saturday, June 18, 2022, there will be election to elect

a new governor. I urge the political parties to organise their primaries in ways that the best will emerge as candidates from their numerous aspirants.

“Thus, there must not be room for political opportunists and one-off politicians to take over our dear state. We need God fearing , positive -oriented and competent person as the governor of our dear state, that is, a pure Omoluabi”.

Workers of the Ondo Stateowned Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo, yesterday commenced an indefinite strike over alleged unpaid salary arrears for 13 months.

This is coming after the management of the school last Monday suspended the activities

and the Non Academic Staff Union (NASU) in the institution.

The institution had few years ago suspended the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) for demanding improved staff welfare.

The workers, who protested at the gate of the institution,

13-month salary’; ‘Akeredolu, come to our aide’; ‘Ogundahunsi must go’; Our members are suffering and dying’, among others, chanting solidarity songs to drive home their demand.

They vowed that they will not resume for work until their demands are met by the

Staff Association of Nigeria Polytechnics of the institution, Mr. Chris Olowolade, said the workers had no other alternative but to protest and embark on the strike following the insensitivity of the management of the institution and the state government to their plight.

Police Arrest Vigilance Ondo Poly Workers Protest Unpaid 13 Months Member for Killing Salaries, Suspension of Union’s Activities Nigerian Air Force Personnel Fidelis David in Akure of the Senior Staff Association of carried placards with various government.

Nigeria Polytechnics (SSANIP) inscriptions such as: ‘Pay our The Chairman of the Senior Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt

The Rivers State Police Command said it has arrested one Progress Amecheta, a member of Onelga Security Peace and Advisory Committee (OSPAC), for the alleged killing of Nigeria Airforce Personnel in Ikwerre Local Government Area of the State.

THISDAY gathered that the Air force personnel was shut dead Tuesday night by the vigilance group member at Omuanwa community in the LGA. The situation, it was learned resulted to tension in the community as the youths took over the office of the OSPAC in the area chanting war songs.

A source who pleaded

anonymity from the community, disclosed that problem intensified when the Airforce personal heard that his brother was apprehended, beaten and kept in OSPAC cell which led the personal to approach the vigilance to inquire from them the reason for manhandling his brother but was shot and taken to hospital by the same OSPAC where he was later confirmed dead.

Also speaking on the incident, Chairman of Community Development Committee (CDC) in Omuanwa community, Mr. Ugo Chinna, revealed that an OSPAC personnel was allegedly responsible for the killing of the Airforce personnel in his community.

Fire Guts Sawmill, Razes 450 Shanties, 40 Machines in Lagos ChiemelieEzeobi

About 450 shanties and makeshift houses as well as 40 sawmilling machines, were razed yesterday when fire gutted the Oko Baba Sawmill in Ebute Metta, Lagos.

Confirming the incident, the South-west Zonal Coordinator, Ibrahim Farinloye, said the fire was eventually put out by combined forces of the Federal and State Fire

Services, as well as the LASEMA Response Unit (LRU).

He said: “The Oko Baba fire incident started at about 1140 hours this morning and the Federal and State Fire Service responded with the LRU.” As at press time, he said the fire has been put out and dampening of the scene ongoing by emergency responders.

Giving an on-the-spot assessment

of the damage at the Oko- Baba Sawmill, he said 40 sawmilling machines, 250 shanties, 200 makeshift houses were destroyed in the fire.

The fire, which caused devastation on Coasts and Kanu Streets, started from the room of a resident who was cooking.

Initial attempts by residents to put out the fire proved abortive until emergency services arrived the scene.

According to Director, Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Mrs. Adeseye Margaret, said no life was lost in the incident.

She said: “The fire was doused through the deployment of water and fire-fighting chemicals. In order to curtail the fire from spreading to adjoining streets, fire-responders cordoned off the area, just as they called for backup from other emergency responders.

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Buhari, APC Using Salami as Scapegoat for Failure, Says PDP Chuks Okocha in Abuja The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has described the appointment of Dr. Doyin Salami

by President Muhammadu Buhari as Chief Economic Adviser barely a year to end of his administration as a design to make the economist a scapegoat for the abysmal failures of the All Progressives Congress (APC) government.

The party in a statement by National Publicity Secretary, Hon. Debo Ologunagba, said that it is evident that Dr. Salami might end up being rubbished and diminished as a titular adviser given that the Buhari Presidency and the APC, in their ignorance, arrogance and incompetence, are never known to have any respect or regard for professional advice on governance and policy.

The PDP said:”As long as the APC, with its insensitivity to the plight of Nigerians is in government, involved professionals like Dr. Salami can never make a headway but risk being smeared with failure.

“If the APC government did not listen to Dr. Salami as the Head of the hurriedly established Presidential Economic Advisory Council (PEAC), it will not now take his advice in his

new capacity because the APC government lacks the listening ears, competence, capacity, integrity and political will and desire for good governance,” the PDP said.

The spokesperson of the

main opposition party said that President Buhari and the APC have never prioritised the economy, explaining that “the result is a near collapsed economy with two recessions within six years; a 71 percent poverty rate,

33.1 percent unemployment rate, over $38 billion external debt and an unenviable national status as the poverty capital of the world.

For this, they desperately seek to use renowned professionals like Dr. Salami as fall guys especially

as we approach the 2023 general elections.

“If President Buhari and the APC had listened to wellthought-out advice by patriotic Nigerians as well as the PDP on how to stabilize and grow

the economy, our nation would not be in the current economic quagmire where over 80 million Nigerians can no longer afford their daily meals and other basic necessities of life.”, the PDP stressed.

CELEBRATING 10 YEARS OF SERVICE…

L-R: Executive Director, Business Development (North), Jaiz Bank Plc, Dr. Sirajo Salisu; Chairman, Alhaji Umaru Abdul Mutallab; Managing Director/CEO, Mr. Hassan Usman, and Executive Director, Services/Chief Financial Officer , Mr. Ahmed Hassan, unveiling the 10th Year Anniversary Logo of the bank in Abuja…recently

Kumuyi: We Must Find Again, Kwara Assembly Suspends Lone PDP Lawmaker Way to Create Good Prospect for Our Youths Hammed Shittu in Ilorin

Oluchi Chibuzor The General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Christian Ministry, Pastor William F Kumuyi has said the country must find a way to create a good prospect for the teaming youth population.

According to him, youths must be adequately equipped to meet their creative capacity considering their percentage in any nation’s demography. He stated this at the official opening of the church’s global youth convocation 2022, with the theme, “IMPACT”, as the church is now focused on youth as against the usual strategic leadership programme at the beginning of each year.

Declaring the programme open yesterday, Kumuyi said the youth population of any nation is pivotal to the development of every nation for them to achieve

God given potential.

According to him, the extent of development is inevitably dependent on how involved the youths are in the process.

He noted that if the youth segment of the population is to play a role thrust on them

by God as a veritable future of nation, they must be adequately equipped which “begins but not limited to education in formal settings.

“Equipping the youths means targeting the creative potential, their enthusiastic energy, their capacity to attend or to adopt new ways of thinking.

“Actually everything that happens to you in life, happens by the way you think, if you think positive you are going to have a positive life, if you think creative you are going to have a creative life.”

A member representing Ilorin South Constituency in the Kwara State House of Assembly, Hon Jimoh Raheem Agboola has been ‘reprimanded’ by the State House of Assembly.

Agboola is the only opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lawmaker in the 24-member legislature.

The fresh decision of the

other 23 members of the House, according to THISDAY checks might not be unconnected with the recent altercations between the PDP leader in the state and former Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki and the state governor, Alhaji AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq over the governance of the state.

However, Hon. Agboola ‘reprimand’ for 14 legislative days by the lawmakers is coming on

the heel an earlier suspension before he was recently ‘pardoned’ and placed under ‘investigation’ This followed the adoption of the report of House Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petition titled “Contempt and Breach of Privilege by Raheem Agboola” which was presented by the Chairman, Hon Abdulganiyu Folabi Salau representing Omupo Constituency.

Hon Salau said the ‘reprimand’

of Agboola was recommended for featuring on a radio programme where he was allegedly instigating the public against state government and the assembly.

Hon. Folabi Salau explained that Agboola is being reprimanded for forcefully attending the plenary last week Wednesday and now, a development he said is against the House rules.

Akeredolu Condemns Withdrawal of Soldiers from Correctional Centres Fidelis David in Akure

Ondo State Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN) yesterday condemned the withdrawal of men of the Nigerian Army from the Correctional Centers across the state, accusing the Army of inducing steps toward jail breaks.

In a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Richard Olatunde, the governor, wondered why soldiers will

be withdrawn from correctional centers which belong to the federal government.

The statement reads: “Last night, Governor Akeredolu received reports from the Commissioner of Police in the state that soldiers attached to the correctional centers in the state have all been withdrawn.

“This development came as a surprise, considering the fact that both the Nigerian Army

and the Nigerian Correctional Centres belong to the federal government.

“The governor was more bothered about the overflow effect of the soldiers withdrawal on the security situation in the state. More so that such action could easily encourage jail breaks across the state.

“It is, however, pertinent to alert members of the public and the federal government of this

unwholesome situation. Findings into the remote cause of this action have only revealed that it was an order from above without corresponding details.

“The situation notwithstanding, proactive efforts have been made to secure these centers so as not to allow premeditated jail breaks as whoever gave order to withdraw those soldiers was in the process of encouraging such.” the statement added.

Fire Kills 24 People, Destroys N600m Property in Katsina Suspected Cultists Kill Francis however noted that the recorded 568 fire incidents a lot in addressing the disaster.

Sardauna in Katsina department saved the lives of with 24 deaths, while over According to him, “We The Katsina State Fire Service 45 persons during the period N600 million properties were embarked on enlightenment One in Awka lost but we were able to save through radio and television has revealed that 24 people lost under review.

David-Chyddy Eleke in Awka

Suspected cultists have killed one person at Aroma Junction in Awka, Anambra State. Eyewitnesses said the cultists numbering five and aged between 23 and 28 years old accosted the victim who was identified as Agozie and shot him dead at the busy Aroma Junction.

An eyewitness said: “The boys came by foot, they met him at Aroma, and one of them shot at him and he fell.

“Immediately he fell, all the five boys started shooting at him simultaneously, riddling his body with bullets, before they walked away.”

Another source, a food vendor at the junction said the victim, Agozie, who he

described as a very crazy youth in the area was in his shop about an hour ago, where he ate food before leaving, and was felled less than an hour after.

The killing of the youth had caused a stir at the junction as traders, motorists scampered in all directions, while the assailants, five in number tucked their pistol into their pockets and walked away without any mobility, and with their faces not hooded.

As at the time of filling this report, the corpse was still lying at the junction.

Attempt to get reaction over the identity of the killers from the Anambra State Police Command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Toochukwu Ikenga proved abortive.

their lives and property worth N600 million were destroyed as a result of various fire disasters across the state in 2021.

The state Chief Fire Officer, Lawal Haruna Saulawa, who disclosed this to journalists,

He explained that the state recorded 568 fire incidents across the 34 local governments but the department was able to save N2 billion properties in the report cases.

He said: “In 2021, we

properties worth over N2 billion and 45 lives.”

He, however, said the department has taken revolving measures to tackle the prevailing cases of fire disaster, adding that the state government has done

to educate people on how to avert fire disasters especially during harmattan season.”

Meanwhile, a mysterious fire again, gutted some offices in the State House of Assembly complex Sunday night.

Emir of Bauchi Charges CAN to Mediate in Tafawa Balewa, Bogoro Crisis Segun Awofadeji in Bauchi

Bauchi State chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has been called upon to play the role of a mediator between the feuding parties in Tafawa Balewa and Bogoro Local Government Areas in the state which led to the recent crisis in the area.

The 21st memorial anniversary, book launch

and the institution of a foundation of the late leader and crusader of the Sayawa nation, Baba Peter Gonto, witnessed violence which claimed many lives just as property were also destroyed by hoodlums believed to have been sponsored by yet-to-be identified politicians.

The call was made yesterday by the Emir of Bauchi, Dr. Rilwanu Suleiman Adamu, when CAN leadership paid

him a sympathy visit over the attack on him when he was going to Bogoro to honour the invitation.

The emir stressed that when brothers take up arms against each other for a minor issue, the outcome is always devastating, calling on CAN to immediately intervene before the situation gets out of hands.

The monarch added that no meaningful development can be made in a chaotic

environment, stressing the importance of peace and peaceful co-existence which he said would translate to development and progress of the community.

Adamu then thanked CAN for sympathising with him and the emirate, declaring that “as father of all irrespective of ethno-religious differences, I have forgiven all those who participated in the attack on me.”

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Security Task Force Moves against Bandits in Seven States Kingsley Nwezeh inAbuja A joint security task force comprising all the security agencies yesterday swooped on a mining site in Nasarawa State and arrested three Chinese nationals and 18 other suspects said to be collaborating with armed bandits.

This comes as the InspectorGeneral of Police, Mr. Usman Baba, warned administrative staff of police colleges against extortion of the 10,000 police recruits billed to commence training on January 10 for the 2020/2021 training exercise.

The operation, codenamed G-7, is aimed at tackling the menace of kidnapping, banditry and other criminal activities in seven states, notably, Kogi, Niger, Kaduna, Nasarawa, Bexnue, Plateau and the Federal Capital Territory.

A statement issued by the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command said the operation sought to promote confidence building in order to take the fight to the miscreants in their hideouts at the various boundaries between the FCT and the contiguous states so as to enhance safety and security within and around the states.

“The continuation of yesterday’s operation in Matte, Kwali Area Council, to reclaim the village

which was recently invaded by suspected bandits, was successfully and immediately followed up with deployments to provide the needed security going forward.

“Following the above, the JTF on Tuesday January 4, 2022, in compliance with the G-7 mandates on day two of their operation, continued the patrol of villages

sharing boundaries with Nassarawa state. The team upon the receipt of actionable intelligence stormed a camp at Azam village where an illegal mining site of about 40

minutes walking distance from the said village was discovered”, it said.

“The miners, who were said to have established a symbiotic relationship with bandits/

kidnappers engaged the team in a gun duel and were forced to retreat, subsequently over powered by the superior fire power of the JTF and arrested.”

ROTARY INTERNATIONAL SEMINAR…

L-R: Rotary Assistant Governor, Adaure Odu; past Assistant Governor, Nosa Edo-Osagie, and past Assistant Governor, Nneka Ewelu/ District Governor Installation Chairperson during the public image and membership development seminars of Rotary International District 9141 in Warri, Delta State… recently

Akinyemi Recounts Gunmen Attack Rivers Police Division Cells, Free Inmates Stewardship as Minister Blessing Ibunge in PortHarcourt

EmmaOkonjiandNosaAlekhuogie Former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi, yesterday, said he had always enjoyed being an intellectual trouble maker, when he was less than 80 years, saying that he would continue to trigger such scenarios, now that he is an octogenarian.

Akinyemi said this while giving an account of his stewardship as minister for two years before his tenure was cut short in 1987, by the former Head of State, Ibrahim Babangida.

Akinyemi who turned 80 on Tuesday, spoke as a guest on ‘The Morning Show’ on Arise News

Channels, the broadcast arm of THISDAY Newspapers.

He said his removal from office as minister was sudden and premature, even though it came with a six-month notice.

He also explained that such premature removal was his saddest momentwhileinpublicoffice,because he had more to offer Nigerians at the time he was removed from office.

“I wish I had stayed longer as the Minister of ForeignAffairs during my tenure, because I believe there was so much I could have achieved if I had stayed longer, but I understood perfectly why I needed to be removed at that time.

Again, Bauchi Gov Warns against Indiscriminate Land Allocation Segun Awofadeji in Bauchi

Bauchi State Governor, Senator Bala Mohammed, has warned traditional rulers and community leaders in the state against indiscriminate land allocation, ‘which had in the past caused herders/farmers clashes, leading to loss of lives and valuable property’.

The governor gave the warning while granting audience to ward heads, community and religious leaders from Alkaleri Local Government Area of the state during a two-day community engagement in his hometown.

While stating that the

traditional, religious and community leaders have been contributing to sustaining the peace in the state, the governor said they should not destroy their own efforts by using their positions to cause farmers/ herders conflict through the sale or illegal allocation of land in their respective areas.

He further advised them not to engage in any act capable of disrupting the peace in the area, especially on the issues of land allocation.

In another development, the governor donated 10 operational motorcycles to volunteer security operatives in Duguri district of Alkaleri LGA.

Inmates detained at the Okrika Police Division, in Okrika Local Government Area of Rivers State, early hours of Tuesday regained their freedom following an attack on the station by gunmen.

A police source from the area disclosed that the incident

occurred at about 2am on the said day.

“The hoodlums broke the padlock of the cell and also opened the backdoor of the cell where the inmates escaped from around 2am on Tuesday. We have reported the incident to the police force headquarters, Abuja, Zonal and State commands.

“The officers on duty at the

time the cell break occurred will account for it”, the source added.

However, the state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Grace Iringi-Koko, who confirmed the incident, disclosed that the state Commissioner of Police (CP) Friday Eboka, has ordered an immediate investigation into the matter.

Koko told THISDAY that the officers on duty at the division are detained in the State Criminal and Investigation Department(SCID).

She said: “The Command has been briefed on the incident that occurred at the Okirika Division. In furtherance to this, CP Eboka Friday has ordered the DC SCID

OPEC Added 90,000bpd of Projected 400,000bpd to Nigeria in December Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

The Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) made only part of its planned production increase last month, with supplies hampered by disruptions in two of the group’s African members.

Specifically, OPEC added just 90,000 barrels a day in December, as a boost by Saudi Arabia was offset by losses in Libya and Nigeria, according to a Bloomberg

survey, quoting secondary sources.

THISDAY had reported that Nigeria’s aspiration to raise crude oil production had been hobbled by ageing upstream infrastructure, its inability to restart assets shut down last year in the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic, vandalism and outright sabotage.

The OPEC+ coalition led

by Saudi Arabia and Russia has been restoring production halted during the pandemic,

and on Tuesday agreed to press on with further increases at a rate of 400,000 barrels a day.

But the process has been hindered as some members struggle with investment constraints and internal instability.

The coalition’s travails are helping to support oil prices even as global markets tip back oversupply, with Brent crude futures trading over $81 a barrel yesterday.

Libya’s production is in turmoil again after the country enjoyed a year of recovery and stabilisation. Output began to falter after militias shut the country’s biggest oil field, Sharara, ending the month down by 70,000 barrels a day at 1.06 million.

With the outage dragging on and compounded by damage to a pipeline connecting the largest export terminal — production is sinking to just 700,000 daily barrels.

Fayemi Urges Ekiti Workers to Embrace Technology Victor Ogunje in Ado Ekiti Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi has said more workers in the state employment would start working virtually as part of safety measures being put in place to guard against the spread of the new covid-19 variant, Omicron.

Fayemi disclosed this yesterday, when he paid an unscheduled visit to workers at the State Secretariat Complex in Ado Ekiti.

He said one of the

opportunities created by the pandemic was that more workers in the state would learn to work smarter with the aid of modern technology.

The visit, which also witnessed the distribution of new office furniture to state officials, according to the Governor, was meant to felicitate with workers in the New Year and to pay attention to issues that can serve as challenges to their performances in 2022.

Fayemi maintained that a lot of development had taken place in the secretariat with landscaping and completion of more buildings to create more space for office accommodation.

He added that adequate preparation had been made in all the offices to ensure compliance with covid-19 safety protocols.

“We ensured that adequate provision were made for the covid-19 protocols in the various offices, but what is important

now is they are back and in coming back we still owe a duty of protection to them in their various offices that’s partly why I have to go round to see what is going on for myself.

“It is a new year, it is a new dawn and it is a year of fulfilment as we have described it and we pray that our workers would be imbued with the enthusiasm and the commitment to work smarter and work harder.

Veteran Nollywood Actress, Saraki Tasks Kwara Gov on Governance Iyabo Oko, Dies at 61 is occupying 18 years ago in State over a decade ago”. now reputed for failure to deliver Hammed Shittu in Ilorin Veteran actress, Sidikat Odukanwi, popularly known as Iyabo Oko is dead. She was said to have died yesterday evening. Actress Foluke Daramola-Salako confirmed her death when she wrote on her Instagram page: “And finally we lost her..RIP Iyabo Oko, we did our best but God knows best.”

Also Sidikat’s daughter Bisi Aisha, a female soldier, confirmed her mother’s death.

She said: “May your soul Rest In Peace mummy,” Before her demise, the 61-yearold actress battled with ill-health which caused her to take a long break from the movie scene.

Odukanwi was born on the 15th of November 1960 in Iwo Local Government Area of Osun State. She had stage names such as “Iyabo Oko” “Apoti Aje” Sisi Mama.”

Former Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki has advised the Governor of Kwara State, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq to focus how to provide efficient governance to the people of the state He also called on the governor to cure himself of the fixation on his name, saying his has o occupied the post the governor

the state.

In a statement issued by Saraki’s Media Office made available to journalists in Ilorin yesterday, Saraki noted that “Governor Abdulrazaq has continued to display the attitude of a man suffering from inferiority complex and that is why he would always talk about Saraki who left the office of Governor of Kwara

“The Media Office of Abubakar Bukola Saraki noted the ‘long essay’ written by Rafiu Ajakaye, the Press Secretary to Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq which was drifting with the name of Saraki from the headline to the last sentence.

Ordinarily, one would ignore the piece as another diversionary gimmick being employed by a Governor and a government

on the numerous promises made to the people during elections.

“However, we consider it important to let the governor and his spin doctors know that the people have seen through their deception and thus, they should now direct their efforts towards delivering good governance to the good people of Kwara State,” the statement said.

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THURSDAYSPORTS

Group Sports Editor: Duro Ikhazuagbe Email: duro.ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com

0811 181 3083 SMS ONLY

Eagles to Play Cameroon Champions Cotonsport in Warm-up Friday Duro Ikhazuagbe

Super Eagles who departed Abuja by chartered flight last night for Garoua, will play 15time Cameroonian champions, Cotonsport, on Friday, in the only warm-up lined up for the team before filling out against Pharaohs of Egypt in an AFCON 2021 Group D blockbuster showdown on Tuesday.

Although details of the match scheduled for 4pm remained sketchy, dependable sources at the Sunday Dankaro House in Abuja told THISDAY that the test game will be played behind closed doors at the practice pitch of Stade de Roumde in Garoua.

“As you are aware, most of the top friendlies are being cancelled due to the growing concern over Omicron variant of the Covid pandemic. We just need a quality opponent to help our boys check their readiness to play Egypt next Tuesday,” revealed the top football chief.

Meanwhile, Belgian club Genk striker on loan at Dutch giants, Feyenoord, Cyriel Dessers, has been contacted by the Super Eagles as possible last-minute replacement for Odion Ighalo.

Ighalo’s Saudi club, Al Shabab, have insisted the striker will be breaching his contract should he feature at the AFCON. The former Watford and Manchester United striker is believed to have included in his contract that he has retired from international duty with Nigerian.

A top football source hinted last night that there was nothing the NFF could do to force Al Shabab to release their prized

Super Eagles players being led by Assistant Coach Joseph Yobo (left) at training before departing Abuja for Garoua, Cameroon... yesterday goal king who is leading the campaign for the club to win the Saudi topflight league for the first time.

Dessers who was initially ignored in Eagles final 28-man list has taken the Dutch football by storm this season.

He was joint top scorer in the Dutch league two seasons ago with Heracles.

Dessers made his Eagles debut in October 2020 against Tunisia in a friendly played in Austria, but was overlooked by Eagles’ former German gaffer, Gernot Rohr.

Eagles Squad Numbers Unveiled With the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations opening games scheduled for this Sunday, the shirt numbers of Nigeria’s Super Eagles were revealed yesterday with the usual suspects retaining their familiar numbers.

In the goalkeeping area, Maduka Okoye was handed the number one jersey, while Francis Uzoho who was the preferred first choice under former gaffer, Gernot Rohr, is to wear number 23. Daniel Akpeyi was allocated the number

16 jersey. The only player from the domestic league, Enyimba’s John Noble has the number 27 as the fourth goalkeeper in Coach Augustine Eguavoen’s 28-man squad for the AFCON. Glasgow Rangers’ man in the middle, Joe Aribo retained his number 10 with the number 9 shirt reserved for Odion Ighalo who is very likely to miss the African football showpiece. If Cyriel Dessers replaces Ighalo, the on loan player at Feyenoord is likely to inherit

Ighalo’s number 9. Chidera Ejuke will wear number 13.

In the absence of injured duo; Leon Balogun and Oghenekaro Etebo, Semi Ajayi and Frank Onyeka have been tipped to wear number 6 and 8 jerseys respectively.

In the Forward line; Taiwo

Awoniyi and Umar Sadiq will put on numbers 19 and 24 respectively.

Talented midfielder Kelechi Nwakali will wear number 25.

The Super Eagles will start their campaign at the 2021 AFCON finals against seven-time champions Egypt on January 11.

Underrate Super Eagles at Your Peril, Okocha Warns Group D Teams Femi Solaja Former Super Eagles Captain, Austin Jay Jay Okocha, has thrown his weight behind Austin Eguavoen’s squad, stressing that the team have all it takes to silence Egypt and her dreaded Mohamed Salah.

Eagles will open their AFCON 2021 Group D campaign against Egypt on January 11 in Garoua.

Since both countries were paired in the group, football circles have been a washed with discussions on how the Liverpool talisman was going to make life miserable for Nigerian defenders. Salah’s current devastating form has compounded problems further.

But Speaking on the sideline of a football programme in Lagos yesterday, Okocha insisted that despite the absence of Victor Osimhen, Odion Ighalo and Leon Balogun, Eagles can still prove deadly even against a Salah inspired Egypt.

“Our chance to stay a-float is very bright even as some of Nigeria’s good players won’t be available to play at the tournament. I laugh when many pundits keep doubting the ability of Super Eagles turning the table against all oppositions at the tournament.

“Salah is a good player no doubt, but we are to play against Egypt national team and not Salah or Liverpool whom we watch every week on television as he does magic with The Reds.”

He insisted further that performance for club is different from playing for ones country.

“Club performance is quite different from when you come down to Africa to play. A lot of factors come into play because our continental football relies more on the strength of play and going to play in the opening match against Nigeria will put more pressure on him to replicate what he does with Liverpool at AFCON. “The Nigerian coach (Eguavoen) has to be focussed on match plan and not looking out for a player in Mo Salah but if we still have a team and cover all the holes, Salah can be anonymous all through 90 minutes,” Okocha said with confidence.

The former mercurial playmaker however noted that a player in the mould of Salah has the ability to take half a chance and convert it into a goal which could be enough to decide the encounter.

“Our players must stay focus all through the match and knowing fully well that the opening match is always full of tension.

We must stay focussed and cut him off the crucial passes that could make him a match winner,” he explained.

On the non-availability of Victor Osimhen, Emmanuel Dennis and possibly Odion Ighalo, Okocha said the absence of these players should not determine the chances of Nigeria winning the cup.

“We have quality players in the pool. The coach is capable and this explains why he invited many players to give room for plan A, B even C and this explains why it did not take much time before

the likes of Henry Onyekuru gets the nod to come into the camp.

“The team, to me, still has the depth to win matches and go all the way to the last match. For those who are in camp now, it is a big opportunity for them to stamp their authority for a permanent shirt.

“I remember in my playing days; I came into the team as a substitute and made use of the opportunity to stamp my authority and the rest is history today.”

Okocha however frowned at how some European clubs were frustrating African countries from representing their countries.

“However, it is most unfortunate

that African players are been frustrated from playing for their respective nations. In my own opinion, it is sign of disrespect to the continent and criminal for anyone to be asking if you will like to defend the honour of your country while over there it’s a great accomplishment for anyone to wear the colour of their nations.

“The AFCON calendar has been there for a long time and these clubs are aware of the timing but they will always turn blind eye as if the continent is still a jungle. How come they are holding them back when many of them went on break apart from the English Premier League,” queried Okocha.

The shirt numbers of the Super Eagles as unveiled yesterday

Flutterwave Sponsors AFCON 2021 Broadcast on AfroSport TV Sport fans across Nigeria and the whole of Africa are in for a great time as Africa’s first continental Free-To-Air (FTA) sports channel, Afrosport TV, commences operations on Free Digital Terrestrial Television Network.

Afrosport TV will be a 24-hour free continent-wide sports channel in Nigeria, delivering topnotch content in sports that are hitherto found only on Pay TV channels.

To support and ensure unrestricted access to great sports content, Flutterwave, the Fintech Unicorn of Africa has pledged its support for Afrosport TV by taking up the sponsorship of the AFCON 2021 broadcast.

The sponsorship would facilitate

the world-class delivery of the AFCON 2021 on free-to-air TVs in Nigeria as well as on the African Union of Broadcasters’ (AUB) network across the continent.

The AFCON 2021, which kicks off on 9 January 2022, is the biggest continental football extravaganza that will be broadcast to the widest possible audience across, Nigeria and Africa.

All of the 52 matches will be transmitted on a tripod of Free-to-air TV networks like the NTA Network Service; selected Broadcasting Organization of Nigeria’s (BON) TV Stations and Afrosport TV Channel 730 on National Broadcasting Commission’s (NBC) digital platform – Free TV. Explaining the rationale

behind the sponsorship deal, Managing Director Flutterwave, Mr. Olugbenga Agboola said, “The idea of making quality sports content available and accessible to every Nigerian and the rest of the continent for free resonates with the ideal of making life easy, which is the one thing Flutterwave was established for.

“What we are all about at Flutterwave is making life easy and that is why we have provided the easiest and most reliable payments solutions for businesses anywhere in the world. If getting free access to sports, which represents our passion as Africans and fosters our unity is what makes life easy, we will surely be standing tall”, Agboola concluded.

He also assured football stakeholders that Flutterwave will always seek to connect to Africans on platforms that matter most.

Lauding the sponsorship deal, the Co-Founder of Afrosport TV, Mr. Andy Howes said “Flutterwave is seeking to be an enabler at the heart of African commerce and community life, and their support as a Broadcast Sponsor is further evidence of the genuineness of their commitment.

“Sponsorship is the life-blood of FTA TV, and it is only by the support of companies such as Flutterwave that millions of fans are able to participate in the enjoyment of an event like the African Nations Cup through their TV sets”.

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THURSDAY, ;˜ ͺ͸ͺͺ ˾ T H I S D AY

SPORTS

Zambia on Standby to Replace Zimbabwe at AFCON 2021 Zambia announced yesterday that they are on standby to play at the Africa Cup of Nations should Zimbabwe be banned by football’s world governing body ahead of Sunday’s start of the competition.

Last month, FIFA said a ban “may have to be imposed on” Zimbabwe unless the elected FA regained control of the sport from a government-appointed organisation

by January 3, 2022.

This has not happened, meaning Zambia are theoretically in line to contest the finals since they finished behind Zimbabwe in their Nations Cup qualifying group.

“We have followed keenly the development in Zimbabwe and have always remained open to being part of the Nations Cup if Zimbabwe is banned,” Sidney Mungala, the Zambian FA’s media officer, told BBC Sport Africa.

“Given the length of the time before the tournament kicks off, we would have hoped that this matter would have been resolved by now.”

Zambia missed out on reaching the Nations Cup by a single point, when finishing third behind secondplaced Zimbabwe in a qualifying group topped by defending

champions Algeria.

Nations Cup regulations state that any team that withdraws “after its qualification in the final tournament, but before its actual start, shall be replaced by the team classified next in the group” (Article 86).

The alternative, which could be pertinent given the late nature of any potential ban, is that “in default, the group to which belongs the forfeiting team shall be composed of three teams” ( as last happened n Angola 2010).

The FIFA deadline of 3 January for the Sports and Recreation Commission (SRC), the body mandated to develop Zimbabwean sport by the government, to hand back control to ZIFA has passed without such an event occurring.

FIFA disapproves of governmental interference in the running of member associations and has banned countries from all forms of football as a result in the past.

The next step is for football’s governing body to refer the SRC’s refusal to hand back control to the “Bureau of FIFA Council for consideration and decision” although it is unclear when the council will next meet.

Zambia are on standby to play at AFCON in Cameroon should FIFA axe come down hard on Zimbabwe

Four BetKing Customers to Watch AFCON 2021 Live in Cameroon With the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2021 a few days away, BetKing has announced that it is giving four people the chance to watch the tournament in Cameroon live.

The sports and digital entertainment company disclosed this to journalists in Lagos during the unveiling of its ‘AFKON Promotion’ scheduled to run from 9 January to 6 February 2022.

BetKing online and offline customers also stand a chance to win 43-inch Hisense Smart TV sets, several PlayStation 5, free betting credit, smartphones, and the grand prize of a JAC S2 SUV for three lucky customers.

The ‘AFKON Promotion’ is open to new and existing BetKing customers and is only available on Sportsbook. Virtual games and simulated reality are not included.

According to the statement issued yesterday, to participate in the ‘BetKing AFKON Promotion,’ BetKing customers are required to place a bet of a minimum of N500 on an accumulator with at least 5 selections, at 1.20 odds per selection.

“The bet must include one Africa Cup of Nations 2021 event among other terms and conditions which are listed on the BetKing website.

The Managing Director, KingMakers, Gossy Ukanwoke, explained that “when you place a bet with little and get more,

that’s the AFKON feeling, and that’s BetKing.”

He also noted that the campaign incorporates the BetKing brand while paying homage to the football tournament, African football stars, and BetKing customers.

“We have replaced the ‘C’ in AFCON with a ‘K’ in our campaign. This is a deliberate move to celebrate the tournament which is undoubtedly the ‘King of all tournaments in African football’ that showcases the biggest stars from around the continent who are the ‘Kings of African football,’ and we are rewarding the biggest supporters of the sport, our customers, who are ‘Kings,’” he added.

While showing the grand prize to journalists at Elizade Auto Land, the official retailer and distributor of JAC Motors in Nigeria, former Super Eagles Captain and BetKing brand ambassador, Austin ‘JayJay’ Okocha, stated that as a football junkie and with the mouth-watering prizes, there was no better time to be a punter.

Okocha added that BetKing has made it easier for new and existing customers by creating two special shows in partnership with Pulse Sports by engaging professionals and tipsters that will guide players with facts and how to place their bets. BetKing customers can learn more about these shows on the brand’s social media pages.

Attendances Capped for AFCON Matches in Cameroon Attendances at the Africa Cup of Nations starting on Sunday in Cameroon will be capped at 80 per cent of capacity for games involving hosts Cameroon, and 60 per cent for all other matches at the tournament.

The move by organisers Confederation of African Football (CAF) comes following consultation with the Cameroon government regarding the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

Spectators must be fully vaccinated and present a negative test result in order to attend games.

Just 2 per cent of people in Cameroon have had both vaccination jabs, according to figures from Our World in Data but reports indicate there has been an increase in the number of people in the country trying to get vaccinated so they can buy tickets for the competition.

"CAF will continue to monitor the situation and the evolution of the health conditions and adapt measures if needs be," said a statement from African football’s governing body.

Cameroon will open the tournament against Burkina Faso at the Olembe Stadium in Yaounde, which has a capacity of 60,000, on

Sunday (16:00 GMT).

Cameroon's Group A opponents Cape Verde have reported several cases at their pre-tournament training camp, with coach Bubista revealed to be among their latest positive tests.

The Blue Sharks have six players - including two goalkeepers

- isolating ahead of their match against Ethiopia on Sunday.

Senegal, runners-up in 2019, delayed their departure for the tournament after Saliou Ciss, Mamadou Loum and Habib Diallo tested positive, with other cases suspected.

Tunisia forward Seifeddine Jaziri

and winger Youssef Msakni have also tested positive this week.

Jaziri was top scorer at the FIFA Arab Cup in Qatar in last month, with four goals as Tunisia reached the final where they lost 2-0 to Algeria. Msakni is going to appear at his seventh successive Nations Cup in Cameroon.

Sanwo-Olu to Grace Season I of Professional NMA Fights on Friday Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu is expected to grace the Season 1 of the professional Mixed Martial Arts, NMA, slated for Friday night at the Grand African Ballroom of the Lagos Intercontinental Hotel, Victoria Island.

Speaking at a press conference at the Lagos Intercontinental Hotel yesterday, the Chairman Lagos State Sports Commission, Sola Aiyepeku said Sanwo-Olu is a sport loving governor and has expressed his desire to witness the fights live.

"The governor understands the power of sports, so when UFC welterweight world champion, Kamaru Usman shared his vision

concerning NMA with him, he keyed into it," Aiyepeku said.

The Lagos State Sports Commission Chairman said a NMA Federation would be established in Nigeria, starting in Lagos and it would be the first of its kind in the country.

An African-oriented Nigeria Mixed Martial Arts-5Five 4Four Limited, will on Friday, be organizing five professional NMA fights featuring international fighters across Africa at the Lagos Intercontinental Hotel.

The Face-off fight which is powered by "the Nigeria Nightmare", Usman would witness five fights which include Damilare

Abdulrahim vs Ugochukwu Melvin, Jude Ezugwu vs Chidi Nwankwo, Cornel Thomson vs Richard Onem, Emmanuel Onoja vs Richard Muzaan and Daniel Emeka vs Ayivor Mawuko.

According to the organizers 5Five 4Four, NMA is the fastest growing sports and it's acceptable in Nigeria.

"We want to take it to the universities, and we're looking at the NUGA Games which the University of Lagos would be hosting. We are also targeting the grassroots too," the organizers said.

On his part, Usman said the whole idea is to give opportunities to Nigerian youths.

LMC Expels Dakkada’s Etefia from NPFL for Assault on Referee Fines the club N3.5m Banished to Benin City until offender is prosecuted

L-R: Product and Customer Insight Manager, KingMakers, Aderemi Tijani; BetKing Brand Ambassador, Austin Jay Jay Okocha; Head of BTL Marketing, KingMakers, Oludare Kafar and, Head of Legal, KingMakers, Bade Ayoade during the press conference to announce the BetKing ‘AFKON Promo’ held at PHOTO: ABIODUN AJALA Elizade Auto Land, Maryland Lagos...yesterday

The League Management Company (LMC) yesterday expelled Dakkada FC Assistant Coach, Sunday Etefia, from the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) as well as fine the Uyo-based club a total of N3.5million after the conclusion of preliminary investigation on the assault on an Assistant Referee, Sani Baba.

As part of the punishment, Dakkada have also been ordered to play their next three home matches at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City for breach of Rules B13.52 and C9 following the incidents of the MatchDay 4 fixture in Uyo. The LMC also recommended a review of the performance of the match Officials including the

Match Commissioner, Dr. Mrs. N Anyanwu for her failure to duly report the incident of assault on the Assistant Referee 11.

It noted that " curiously, the Match Commissioner identified the perpetrator as a fan whereas he was a club official.”

Also recommended for a performance review is the Match Referee, Mathew Tanimu from Plateau State for his match Management and failure to timely submit the match report given the serious incident.

Etefia was indicted for assaulting Assistant Referee 11, Sani Baba, at the end of the Matchday 4 fixture against Remo Stars in Uyo. The LMC has therefore recommended to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to review the

coaching licence of Etefia "as you have failed the threshold to be a coach under the NFF Licence" In the Summary Jurisdiction notice, the LMC noted that Dakkada FC was charged for "breach of Rule B13.52 in that on Sunday, the 2nd of January 2022, you did not fulfill your responsibility, as the designated home team, to ensure adequate and effective security for persons involved in the match, wherein a match official (AR 2 – Sani Baba) was assaulted and battered by one of your officials (Sunday Etefia) as the match officials proceeded to leave the pitch at full time; and the General Manager of the visiting team was also harassed and assaulted in the tunnel at

half time".

In the second charge, Dakkada FC was found in breach of Rule C9 for failing to control their officials and ensure their proper conduct at all times. The battering of Assistant Referee, Baba by Etefia and harassment of Remo Stars General Manager were cited as such improper conduct.

Consequently, the LMC fined the Club N3m for failure to provide adequate security in the course of the match.

Dakkada were ordered to pay the sum of N250,000 each to the Assistant Referee and General Manager of Remo Stars for medical expenses and may include any additional verifiable and authenticated medical costs.

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THURSDAY, ;˜ ͺ͸ͺͺ ˾ T H I S D AY

SPORTS

Dominant Chelsea with One Leg in Carabao Cup Final Chelsea deservedly beat Tottenham 2-0 in the first leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final, but had so many chances they should have already sealed their place at Wembley.

Kai Havertz gave Chelsea an early lead when he ran onto Marcos Alonso's through ball and fired home with Davinson Sanchez unable to keep the shot out on the line.

The Blues' second was a comedy own goal as Japhet Tanganga headed the ball into team-mate Ben Davies' shoulder and it flew into the net.

Romelu Lukaku, back in the teamafter a one-game exile for comments he made in an interview, had several chances and headed wide from close range.

Spurs, who changed to a back four after a torrid first half, had to wait until the 50th minute for a shot, with

Harry Kane's free-kick saved

by Kepa.

But the chances continued to come for Chelsea with Hugo Lloris denying Lukaku, Hakim Ziyech and the returning Timo Werner.

Spurs will need to be much better in a week's time in the second leg to have any chance of reaching Wembley.

Liverpool and Arsenal play in the other semi-final with their games on 13 and 20 January after the first leg rearrangedbecause of Covid cases in the Liverpool camp.

Tottenham have looked much improved since former Chelsea boss Antonio Conte replaced Nuno Espirito Santo, only losing once in 11 games before this.

But the wait for a first trophy since the 2008 League Cup will surely go on - with many problems of their own making at Stamford Bridge.

COVID-19: Djokovic Denied Entry into Australia, Visa Cancelled Chelsea players celebrating their 2-0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur in the first leg of the Semi final of the Carabao Cup...last night.

PHOTO Chelsea FC via Getty Images

Osimhen, Onuachu, Ndidi Get Multiple Nominations in Pitch Award

Osimhen Super Eagles trio of Victor Osimhen, Paul Onuachu and Wilfred Ndidi were few of the players with more than a single nomination as organisers announced in Lagos yesterday the top three candidates for the forthcoming 8th edition of the annual Nigeria Pitch Award to be held in March.

Osimhen was listed in three categories including Striker of the Year where he will battle with Super Eagles teammates duo of Kelechi Iheanacho and Paul Onuachu. He is also a contender for the Sam Okwaraji Award usually reserved to a person who

Onuachu has given so much in furtherance development of the game as he faces stiff challenge from Nigeria Football Federation(NFF) First Vice President, Barrister Seyi Akinwunmi and Super Falcons Captain and Barcelona Femini forward, Asisat Oshoala, who is also shortlisted for the Queen of the Pitch Award The 22-year-old Napoli striker is equally in the running for award’s blue ribbon the King of the Pitch where he would fight it out yet again with both Ndidi and Onuachu.

Ndidi is also listed for the Midfielder of the Year as he faces off

Ndidi against his national teammates duo of Joe Aribo and Frank Onyeka.

Meanwhile, telecommunications giants, MTN Nigeria (MTN) who in September signed a three-year, renewable contract as the exclusive “Official Communications Partner” of the NFF, are notable nominee for the Corporate Sponsor of Football Award.

Altogether, there are three candidates on the shortlist in 17 award categories but the winners will be known later in March on the margins of the Super Eagles’ Qatar 2022 play-off match.

NFF Director of Communications Ademola Olajire said the

federation endorsed the Nigeria Pitch Award because it is credible , adding the organisers in conjunction with the foremost auditing firm, SIAO Partners have brought into play transparency and integrity hence the award is devoid of any controversy since its inception.

Other awardees for the 8th edition of the Nigeria Pitch Awards include Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, his Delta State counterpart, Ifeanyi Okowa and Gov. Nyesom Wike of Rivers completing the list of Best Football Supporting Governor of the year.

World number one tennis player Novak Djokovic has been denied entry to Australia over an issue with his visa.

The player arrived in Melbourne on Wednesday where authorities noticed a mistake with his application.

Djokovic was due to play in the Australian Open, after being exempted from vaccination rules.

He has been told he will be deported but his lawyers have said they will challenge the decision, Australian media report.

The tennis star had been quizzed in a room at Melbourne airport for hours while his visa and exemption status was being investigated.

His team had not requested a visa that permits medical exemptions for being unvaccinated. It is not clear whether he will remain in Australia while his lawyers attempt to overturn the decision.

Djokovic has not spoken about his vaccination status, but last year he said he was "opposed to vaccination".

In a statement, the Australian

Border Force said Djokovic "failed to provide appropriate evidence to meet the entry requirements to Australia, and his visa has been subsequently cancelled.

"Non-citizens who do not hold a valid visa on entry or who have had their visa cancelled will be detained and removed from Australia," it added.

His treatment has provoked outrage in his native Serbia.

Djokovic's father, Srdjan Djokovic said his son had been in a room guarded by police.

"This is not just a fight for Novak, but a fight for the whole world,” he said in a statement released to the media.

President Aleksander Vucic said the star was a victim of "harassment", and that "the whole of Serbia", supported him.

Earlier, Australia's Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Djokovic would be refused entry to the country unless he provided evidence that he could not be vaccinated for medical reasons.

Nigerian Pro Golfer Jacobson is Dead Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja Grief has struck the Nigerian professional golf rank following the death of Festus Kolawole Jacobson.

The Nigeria Professional Golfers Association (PGAN) in a statement confirmed Jacobson's call to glory on Tuesday, January 4, 2022.

Until his death, Jacobson was attached to Ikoyi Club 1938, Golf

Section as a Resident PGA Pro and was also a member of the technical team of the Lagos State Golf Association.

Jacobson, who turned professional in the early 2000s, at the beginning of his career, served as a resident professional at the Abeokuta Golf Club.

The PGAN prayed to God to uphold the family and friends the deceased left behind and grant him eternal rest.

Thursday, January 6, 2022

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Price: N250

MISSILE

Olu Falae to Bisi Akande “I have decided not to say a word about the nonsense which Akande wrote. But I just know Akande is a very reckless person. He’ll just say anything without thinking about the consequences. He will just say it like an irresponsible person. That is how he speaks”—Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, responding to what the former APC National Chairman, Chief Bisi Akande wrote about him (Falae) in his recent memoir.

OLUSEGUNADENIYI THE VERDICT

olusegun.adeniyi@thisdaylive.com

The Mago-Mago in Magodo!

I

n the fiasco arising from the attempt to execute a 2012 supreme court judgement in Magodo, Lagos, some of the issues that have been thrown up include the legacy of impunity by the military, sanctity or otherwise of rule of law in Nigeria, the ease with which the police could be deployed to serve private interest, the awkward nature of our federal structure and abuse of office at the highest level of government. What is particularly unfortunate is that we have a police force that readily offers itself to be used by power mongers. Less than two weeks after their men invaded a church in Imo State like bandits to abduct a man who could easily have been invited were charges legally preferred against him, we now have a situation in which those who are paid to enforce the law are unwittingly becoming instrument for instigating violence in Lagos.

The man who needs to be careful in all these is the Attorney General of the Federation and Justice Minister, Abubakar Malami, SAN. He, most people believe, is behind the mago-mago (Hausa word with common usage in Yoruba, popularised by former electoral umpire, Prof Humphrey Nwosu, which depicts an unwholesome situation) currently playing out in Magodo. In their petition to the Lagos State House of Assembly, the embattled Magodo GRA Phase II residents stated: “The Attorney General of the Federation is destabilising Lagos State by using his office to back this illegality as a meddlesome interloper and the instrumentality of state – the Nigerian Police Force and their illegal Court Bailiffs, to scuttle ongoing settlement between the Lagos State Government, Magodo GRA 2 Residents and the Judgement Creditors.”

Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, SAN, yesterday went a step further to query our federal structure, on behalf of his Southwest colleagues.

“An arrangement, which compels the governor of a state to seek clarifications on security issues in his jurisdiction from totally extraneous bodies or persons is a sure recipe for anarchy,” Akeredolu reasoned. “We, on our part, will continue to interrogate the current system, which treats elected

representatives of the people as mere prefects, while appointed office-holders ride rough shod over them as Lords of the Manor.”

I am for the rule of law and cannot lend support to any government that trampled on the rights of ordinary citizens as Lagos State did under the military in the eighties. But what the Supreme Court judgement seeks to enforce is justice for the Shangisha landlords by way of reparation for their illegally acquired land. That cannot be a license for anybody to take over or demolish houses legally built by people who bought land from government. Two wrongs do not approximate to a right. If Supreme Court gives a judgment and the state disobeys, the next action is to file contempt proceedings, not resort

to self-help by importing policemen from Abuja to Lagos to chase people out of their houses.

That is a recipe for anarchy and Malami and fellow travelers ought to know that if indeed their interest in this matter is about public good.

I understand the technical point that since Lagos is a party in the dispute, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu should not have been at Magodo to make the order he did to the errant police officer.

But we should also not forget that Sanwo-Olu has a responsibility not only for law and order in Lagos but also for public peace. Since the only way this matter can be successfully resolved is through mediation, the governor should be at the centre of such efforts. Whatever may therefore be their motivation, it is dangerous for anybody to sit in Abuja and be encouraging

The Essential Bashir Tofa

Sanwo-Olu

Exactly a month ago, I found on WhatsApp a photograph of the now-deceased Alhaji Bashir Othman Tofa (ABOT) taken abroad in the seventies along with other equally young people. I forwarded it to him, and he sent a crisp reply. “That day, I forgot at home my pipe and neck gold chain with a miniature elephant horn,” he wrote, adding a laughter emoji. “By the grace of God, we will meet and have that lunch, whenever I am in Abuja. I hardly visit, except for important meetings with friends I trust.”

Sadly, we will never have THAT lunch!

Following his death on Monday, I have had to reflect on my relationship with Tofa and the power of social media. Having covered the transition to civil rule programme of General Ibrahim Babangida, the name Tofa was not strange to me, but I never encountered him in person. And then about ten years ago, I found myself on an Internet chat group to which Tofa also belonged. He reached out to me, and we became ‘friends’ such that if he had a press statement he wanted to release or a speech he

Buhari and the Budget Palaver P

resident Muhammadu Buhari last week signed into law the 2022 Appropriation Bill by reading from the book of Lamentations.

As in previous years, the president expressed concern over alterations made to the budget by the National Assembly. These changes, according to him, “are in the form of new insertions, outright removals, reductions and/or increases in the amounts allocated to projects,” while ‘‘provisions made for as many as 10,733 projects were reduced while 6,576 new projects were introduced into the budget by the National Assembly.”

Distortions by the National Assembly on allocations for critical projects, the president further warned, “may render the projects unimplementable or set back their completion.”

He added that most of these projects “relate to matters that are basically the responsibilities of states and local governments, and do not appear to have been properly conceptualised, designed and costed. And many more projects have been added to the budgets of some MDAs with no consideration for the institutional capacity to

anarchy in Lagos!

All factors considered; Sanwo-Olu’s quick intervention has restored a process of amicable resolution that will ensure due compensation for the Shangisha landowners. Chances were that the presence of the Abuja police team and its hired thug bailiffs could have led to a bloody breakdown of law and order in Magodo, since no rational landlord would watch their legitimately acquired house being demolished without fighting back.

Therefore, it ought to concern the rest of Nigerians that a police force faced with widespread insecurity across the nation can draft a huge contingent to Lagos for over two weeks to enforce a doubtful mandate. Clearly, the Magodo matter has once again exposed the hollow reign of narrow interest in today’s Nigeria.

execute the additional projects and/or for the incremental recurrent expenditure that may be required.’’

When in 2018, Buhari accused the National Assembly of inserting projects “to the budgets of most MDAs with no consideration for institutional capacity to execute them or the incremental recurrent expenditure that may be required,” (I hope readers can see the similarity in that statement and the current one), he was challenged by a member of the senate committee on appropriations, Rafiu Ibrahim. Senator Ibrahim had wondered why the president failed to confront the National Assembly leadership during budget sessions with them. “Why did he sign? He shouldn’t have signed. So, let him bring those insertions out. He just likes to make drama. He should have confronted us with those (insertions), call the leadership of the National Assembly and confront them,” said Ibrahim. “He likes to play to the gallery. He should have withheld his assent.”

The president did not call the bluff of the National Assembly then and it is interesting that after more lamentations as to how lawmakers have

rendered the 2022 budget difficult to implement, his aides are blaming imaginary “people who are trying to create a fiasco between the two arms of government on account of the budget.” Yet, as I have consistently argued in recent years, the dire economic situation has pushed the nation in the direction of an aggressive tax drive, with the possibility of removing fuel subsidy this year.Authorities should also be aware that such funds cannot continue to pay for ill-defined ‘constituency projects’. We must come to terms with the reality that the fundamentals of our economy remain suspect and fixing things ought to start with the national budget, especially when we are essentially running the country with borrowed money.

I have said it before, and I am happy that many are coming to terms with the reality of the current regime of “envelope system”.

Simply determining spending categories, i.e.

Presidency, Education, Agriculture etc., rather than spending priorities, cannot serve our nation.

NOTE: Piece concluded on page 15

needed to deliver, he would first share with me for my opinion. And he would ask me to help circulate afterwards. This became a routine until June 2018 when President Muhammadu Buhari decided to honour the late M.K.O. Abiola and designate June 12 as Democracy Day. Tofa was a principal actor in that drama, being the National Republican Convention (NRC) presidential candidate defeated by Abiola before the result was annulled. He felt slighted

by Buhari’s decision and the draft statement he sent for my review did not sit well with me. As a former Concord staff (owned by the late Abiola) who holds a strong position on the June 12 crisis, I felt scandalized by Tofa’s stance.

Understandably, the tone of my reply to him was quite harsh.

About two hours later, Tofa sent me this mail: “I attach herewith my revised press statement for action as discussed in my earlier email. The photograph to be used is also attached herewith again. Thank you very much for your cooperation on this matter.” I found it gracious of him to amend his statement in order to accommodate some of my views. And he did not appear offended by my brash response. From that day, my respect for the late Tofa went a nudge higher. Even though we never met in person, we chatted animatedly on WhatsApp, and I found his sense of humour quite exhilarating. On the chat group where we first met, Tofa became known as a peacemaker and earned the sobriquet, Elder ABOT. Meanwhile, in the past few years, the late Tofa continued promising that whenever he was in Abuja, he would arrange for the two of us to finally get together for lunch. Somehow, it never worked out because on occasions when he was around, I was out of town. And then on 17th November last year (just about seven weeks ago), I was in Kano for the burial of Alhaji Sani Dangote. While people milled around at the Sarari Graveyard, I saw Tofa standing a few metres away, for the first time in person. But because I was seated at the back of the coaster bus, I couldn’t come down to greet him. That unfortunately was the first and last I saw Tofa in person.

However, Tofa and I may not have had the much-promised lunch where we could have engaged more personally, but in the virtual interactions we have had over the years, I feel I met the essential Tofa, a genuine Nigerian patriot. May God grant him eternal rest and comfort the family he left behind.

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