THURSDAY 7TH JANUARY 2021

Demutualisation: NSE Names CEOs for Emerging Entities Oscar Onyema emerges NGXG Group CEO Goddy Egene As the capital market community awaits the completion of the demutualisation of the

Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), the National Council of the exchange yesterday named the chief executive officers (CEOs) for the operating and non-operating

companies that will emerge from the demutualisation.

Under the demutualisation plan, a new non-operating holding company, the Nigerian Exchange Group Plc (NGXG),

has been created.

It will have three operating subsidiaries – Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX), which will be the operating exchange; NGX Regulation

Limited (NGX REGCO), the independent regulatory arm; and NGX Real Estate Limited (NGX RELCO), the real estate company.

Preparatory to the

completion of the exercise, the council has announced the current CEO of the NSE, Mr. Oscar Onyema as the Group Continued on page 8

FG to Borrow Unclaimed Dividends, Dormant Accounts' Balances... Page 6 Thursday 7 January, 2021 Vol 25. No 9405. Price: N250

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Sultan-led JNI Chastises Kukah over Alleged Attack on Islam Nigeria needs urgent salvation, says Catholic bishop Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja and John Shiklam in Kaduna The controversy over the Christmas homily by the

Bishop of Sokoto Catholic Diocese, Bishop Matthew Kukah, deepened yesterday as the umbrella body for Muslims, the Jama’atu

Nasril Islam (JNI), headed by the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, attacked him for allegedly denigrating Islam

and Muslims.

JNI, in a statement in Kaduna by its SecretaryGeneral, Dr. Khalid Abubakar Aliyu, said the bishop “should

not take Muslims kindness for timidity or foolishness.”

Kukah, in his Christmas message on December 25, 2020, had accused

President Muhammadu Buhari of nepotism and institutionalising northern Continued on page 8

Trump Supporters Assault US Congress, Breach Democracy Certification of Biden's win resumes after disruption Pence to mob: you didn't win Adewale Akinwale in Abuja with agency report Vice President Mike Pence returned to the United States Congress earlier today to resume the process of certifying President-elect Joe Biden's victory in last November presidential election, hours after a mob, incited by President Donald Trump, sacked the US Capitol.

The process was interrupted as hundreds of Trump supporters invaded the U.S. Capitol as part of efforts to overturn his election defeat.

Pence, in his opening remarks, condemned the invasion, telling the mob that they didn't win as violence never wins.

Senate Majority Leader, Senator Mitch McConnell, also said they would not be deterred by the insurrection

in discharging their duties.

A report by Reuters said the US police evacuated lawmakers and sought to clear the Capitol Building of the Trump supporters, who surged through the halls of Congress in shocking scenes broadcast across the globe.

One protester occupied the Senate dais and yelled: "Trump won that election."

Protesters overturned barricades and clashed with police as thousands descended on the Capitol grounds.

However, the police declared the Capitol building secure shortly after 2230 GMT, more than three hours after it was breached.

Earlier, the protesters had raised a large wooden cross on the premises, and one person carried a Confederate battle Continued on page 8

To Pacify Labour, FG Summons Meeting Over Electricity Tariff Hike... Page 5

GETTING THE YOUTH TO WORK...

L-R: Acting Secretary, Social Development Secretariat, Federal CapitalTerritory, Dr. Kelvin Ike; Acting Director General, National Directorate of Employment,(NDE), Malam Abubakar Nuhu and Minister of State, for Labour and Employment, Mr. Festus Keyamo (SAN), during the launch of the 774,000 job scheme, in Abuja... yesterday enock reuben

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NEWS

FG to Borrow Unclaimed Dividends, Dormant Accounts’ Balances

Goddy Egene

Despite opposition from stakeholders, the federal government has perfected ways to borrow funds from unclaimed dividends and dormant bank account balances unattended to for at least six years, thanks to the 2020 Finance Act. With the coming into force of the law, which empowers the federal government to borrow from the two sources, proceeds from the two sources will stand as special credit to the federal government through the Unclaimed Funds Trust Fund contained in the Finance Act 2020, recently signed into law by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Part of the law provides that, “Any unclaimed dividend of a public limited liability company quoted on the Nigerian Stock Exchange and any unutilised amounts in a dormant bank account maintained in or by a deposit money bank, which has remained unclaimed or unutilised for a period of not less than six years from the date of declaring the dividend or domiciling the funds in a bank account, shall be transferred immediately to the trust fund.”

According to the law, the monies transferred to the trust fund will be a “special debt owed by the federal government to shareholders and dormant bank account holders.”

The law, however, exempts official bank accounts owned by the federal government, state governments or local governments or any of their ministries, departments or agencies.

The operation of the trust fund

will be supervised by the Debt Management Office (DMO) and governed by a governing council chaired by the finance minister and a co-chairperson from the private sector appointed by the president.

Other members of the governing council shall include the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), director-general of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), managing director of the National Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC), a representative of the registrars of companies, two representatives of the shareholders’ association, a representative of the Bankers’ Committee with the directorgeneral of the Debt Management Office functioning as the secretary of the trust fund.

The law provides that the original owners of the money can claim it at any time.

But many shareholders and other members of the capital market community had opposed the provisions of the law, saying the government lacks powers to manage funds belonging to private sector investors.

"Dividends are private wealth of investors, either individuals or corporate entities. The idea of converting such private wealth to federal wealth negates the relevant provisions of the rights to own property as guaranteed by the 1999 Constitution. Our opinion is that S39 to the extent of its inconsistency with S44 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) is null and void. The law expressly states that there shall be no forceful takeover of any private movable property of any Nigerian without due and

Military: 220 Bandits Killed, 642 Kidnapped Victims Rescued in North-west Francis Sardauna in Katsina The Nigerian Army has said that troops of Operation Sahel Sanity have killed 220 bandits and rescued 642 kidnapped victims as part of efforts to restore peace and normalcy in communities hitherto captured by the hoodlums in the Northwest.

The troops also destroyed 197 bandits enclaves, including the notorious Katsina Dangote triangle and nabbed 335 suspected bandits, 326 illegal miners in Kebbi, Kaduna, Niger, Zamfara and Katsina States.

The acting Director, Defence Media Operations, Brig-General Benard Onyeuko, said yesterday at a press conference on the activities of the troops between July 1 and December 31, 2020 in Faskari, Katsina State, that 73 AK-47 rifles, one GPMG and 194 Dane guns were also captured from the bandits.

Operation Sahel Sanity was launched by the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Tukur Buratai on July 6, 2020 to reinforce Operation Hadarin Daji in tackling banditry and other nefarious activities in the North-west.

Onyeuko, represented by the Nigerian Army Operations Media Coordinator, Colonel Aminu Iliyasu, added that 5,032 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, 568 rounds of 7.62mm NATO ammunition and 156 live cartridges were also recovered during gunfight with mercenaries in the zone.

He stated that soldiers also foiled 165 bandits’ attacks and 81 kidnap attempts in communities across the zone in the period under review.

He, however, said two officers and four soldiers were killed in the line of duty.

Onyeuko said: "In all the operations conducted from July 1 to 31 December 2020, a total of 220 armed bandits were neutralised during combat with the gallant troops of Operation Sahel Sanity.

"Additionally, 73 AK 47 rifles, one GPMG and 194 dane guns were captured from the criminals. Equally, 5,032 rounds of 7.62mm Special ammunition, 568 rounds of 7.62 mm NATO ammunition and 156 live cartridges were also captured by the troops.

"Furthermore, 197 bandit’s camps and hideouts, including the notorious Dangote Triangle and several bandits’ logistics bases were destroyed by troops of Operation Sahel Sanity.

Also, 335 suspected bandits, 326 illegal miners, 147 bandits informants and collaborators, 14 bandits arms suppliers, 24 rustled cattle marketers and 46 bandits logistics suppliers were arrested."

According to him, the troops also recovered a total of 7,761 cows, 1,867 sheep, rams and four camels, which have been returned to the owners.

He said of the 642 kidnapped victims rescued, 344 were pupils of Government Science Secondary School Kankara.

appropriate compensation and or valid court order," shareholders under the aegis of Independent Shareholders Association of Nigeria (ISAN) had said.

According to them, dividends are only available to investors after "the company has paid a host of taxies, including companies income Tax Act (CITA), Educational Trust Fund(ETF) and other taxes are paid to the federal government, including 10 per cent withholding tax on the shareholders for every dividend

declared.”

"The statute of limitation provides for expiration of debts after six years. CAMA 2020 by S432 increased the limitation to 12 years. Is government by any chance taking the position that the statute of limitation is unconstitutional?

"Government lacks the capacity to manage the funds and has demonstrated a lack of capacity to administer funds.

Imagine a shareholder with an unclaimed dividend of about N1,000 to write /go to Abuja

just to make a claim of the unpaid dividend. The stress and bureaucratic bottleneck is too cumbersome and will not solve the unclaimed dividend problem," the shareholders said.

Chairman, Association of Securities Dealing Houses of Nigeria (ASHON), Chief Onyenwechukwu Ezeagu, also said the federal government taking over the management of unclaimed dividends was unnecessary because capital market regulators and operators had leveraged technology to put

in place initiatives that are already addressing the issue.

“Generally, the incentives for savers and capital providers in the capital market is the expectation of dividends and capital appreciation. It is therefore our considered view that the proposed legislation, if passed, will be a great disincentive to savings, long-term capital mobilisation and serious disruption of the Nigerian economy since it will take away the only expectation of investors in the market,” Ezeagu said.

STRENGTHENING RELATIONSHIP...

L-R: Executive Director (Marketing), Neimeth International Pharmaceuticals Plc, Roseline Oputa; Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma and the company's Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Matthew Azoji, during a courtesy call on the governor, in Owerri.. on Tuesday

Virologist Urges FG to Ascertain Nigerians’ Natural Immunity Before Vaccination Calls for adequate storage facilities for expected vaccines Emma Okonji and Nosa Alekhuogie An expert in Virology and Director, Centre of Human and Zoonotic Virology, Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Professor Sunday Omilabu, has warned that the federal government must conduct a clinical test to ascertain the level of the natural immunity of Nigerians before administering vaccine against any form of virus.

He, therefore, recommended that anti-body testifying be done for everybody before any vaccine is given to Nigerians in order to know their level of natural immunity.

Omilabu said on The Morning Show of ARISE NEWS Channel, the broadcast arm of THISDAY Newspapers, that the immunity test is necessary as Nigeria isn't privy to the composition of the vaccines.

“Since we are not privy to what is in the vaccine that is planned for distribution to Nigeria and other African countries, we have to be very cautious because we have an innate immunity that is trying to play down on the virus’ violence.

We are not experiencing the same violence that people are getting abroad. So if a vaccine is introduced to an individual in Nigeria that has an innate immunity, that vaccine might

jeopardise the immunity the Nigerian is experiencing.

“So for whoever needs to take the vaccine, government needs to be sure that those taking the vaccine really needed it. Those whose immunity is zero needs to be primed so that they will have immunity to lay on to fight the virus. The idea of vaccines is very good, but we as a nation should also make an effort to produce our own,” he stated.

Explaining how natural immunity is developed, Omilabu said: “Our natural immunity is as a result of our exposure to related coronaviruses that have been in circulation for years in the environment. Innate immunity has a role to protect the body from being infected by another related virus and that’s the principle of vaccination, to enable vaccines to develop some level of immunity in an individual, before being exposed to a wide virus stream.”

He said there was need for constant monitoring of new variant because all Ribonucleic Acid (RNA) virus normally mutates and that variances will bound following replicating cycles.

"As we have the virus going through various hosts, the virus will change some of its proteins and this will result into the socalled variance and maybe some other phenomenal features that affect the virus characteristics.

“We need to monitor the RNA virus, we need to carry out the sequencing from time to time.

When drugs are introduced, the virus must change because it will like to adapt safely in an environment. It doesn’t want to go into extinction and that informs the reason why they mutate, which brings about the variance. We have several variances in circulation. We are trying to sequence a number of isolates in Lagos State and we are at an advanced stage.

Once we have the results, we will share it with the scientific wards and the public at large,” he added.

According to him, the surge in the infection rate pointed clinically to a possible variant because in the past two months, the country has been noticing that in the rising cases.

“Presently, we are at the midway and as of today, we are sending out our list of viral CDNA out for sequencing and hopefully in some weeks, there will be information on the sequence circulating. Once we have our sequence information and we are satisfied with it, we will definitely share it with the public and the World Health Organisation (WHO)," Omilabu added.

Giving details about what Nigerian scientists are doing to produce COVID-19 vaccine, Omilabu said: “Nigeria has

produced vaccines in the past as far as the early 50s, we produced yellow fever vaccines in Yaba, Lagos. The lab is still there locked up . So it’s do-able. We have already cultivated the virus, so we can go the simplest way by growing the virus in tissue culture, then we in-activate, the same system, which the Chinese used in the year 2020 to curb the spread of the virus.”

He however said Nigerian government must provide the required storage facilities to keep the planned distribution of vaccines to Nigeria, safe after arrival. “ Giving more details about variant strains and surveillance, Omilabu said: “We need to have an active surveillance to be monitoring the virus isolate. As they mutate, we will pick them, we will order some assistance in terms of how to cope with the new strain. The most important thing is for people to do away with contracting the virus. That’s the cheapest and most effective way of not contracting the virus.

People should run away from the virus. In Africa, we know we are enjoying a sort of innate immunity, the whole world knows that, they have done some studies that actually shows that we have had a number of related coronaviruses that we usually ascribe to the common cold.

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NEWS To Pacify Labour, FG Summons Meeting Over Electricity Tariff Hike

Group News Editor Ejiofor Alike

Email Ejiofor.Alike@thisdaylive.com, 08066066268

Gencos seek scrapping of NERC Onyebuchi Ezigbo and Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja The federal government has summoned a meeting of the Committee on Review of Tariffs and Charges in the Electricity Sector to consider the new pricing of electricity by the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), rejected by the organised labour.

Already, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) have asked the federal government to reverse the tariff increase or face the consequences.

However, to stave off another industrial crisis, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, told THISDAY yesterday that a meeting of the committee has been scheduled to address the concerns.

He spoke just as power generation companies (Gencos) called for the scrapping of NERC, describing the industry’s regulator as weak and unable to perform its duty.

Ngige said a meeting of the committee involving representatives of labour, NERC, presidency and ministry officials will take place latest this weekend where the issues raised by labour will be addressed.

"I think the committee on review of tariff in electricity sector will be meeting this week to consider the matter," he stated.

He, however, added that the processes leading to the approval of the latest increase in electricity tariff is outside the mandate given to the committee, led by the Minister of State, Mr. Festus Keyamo.

While confirming the moves to summon the meeting of the committee in a telephone interview, Keyamo said the meeting would be convened latest Sunday.

"We want to quickly meet and take a decision on the issue this weekend," he said.

The organised labour had condemned what they described as another killer electricity tariff amidst the soaring inflation and poverty rates in the country.

In a statement by the NLC President, Dr. Ayuba Wabba, the labour movement urged the federal government to reverse the increase or face industrial crisis.

"In light of the heightened burden that this hike in electricity tariff imposes on Nigerian workers and people, we urge the federal government to quickly withdraw this uncanny New Year gift or face an unprecedented industrial resistance by Nigerian workers. Nigerians have bled enough already. We will bleed no more!," NLC said.

NLC regretted that the tariff increase was announced without recourse to the negotiation process that the government and the organised labour signed up to about three months ago.

Wabba said the hike came in the face of the renewed onslaught of COVID-19 where workers and citizens expend their meagre resources on healthcare both for preventive and therapeutic response to the pandemic.

"Overall, this increase in electricity tariff apart from negating the agreement we reached with government in September 2020, will further imperil our local economy, lead

to the loss of millions of jobs by Nigerian workers and trigger wider social discomfitures," he said.

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

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

It said the tariff increase will bring untold hardship on Nigerians.

Olaleye urged the federal government to revert to the

old tariff or be prepared to face the consequences.

"We call on the government to be responsible for once.

Nigerians will like to know what we gained from border closures. Insecurity did not stop, neither did it stop the smuggling of rice and others. You don't just churn out policies without weighing the pros and cons.

How many people can afford to pay the last bill, talk less of this recent one? The organised labour should not be pushed to the wall because it will actually do all no good. "Government

must revert to the old price or be willing to accept the outcome of this decision. This is a betrayal of trust and it is unfortunate," he said

Gencos Seek Scrapping of NERC Power generation companies (Gencos) yesterday called for the scrapping of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), describing the industry’s regulator as weak and unable to perform its duty.

They said despite the powers bestowed upon the commission, indiscipline and contract breaches were still pervading the electricity supply space with the regulator refusing to act at all or taking decisions late.

In the latest biannual bulletin, published by the Gencos, the Executive Director of the Association of Power Generation Companies of Nigeria (APGC), umbrella body of the over 20 generators in the country, Dr. Joy Ogaji, advocated an “independent and transparent regulator.”

APC AFFAIRS....

President Muhammadu Buhari (left) and All Progressives Congress (APC) Caretaker and Extra-Ordinary Convention Planning Committee Chairman, Alhaji Mai Bala Buni, at a meeting at the State House, Abuja...yesterday

Court Nullifies Candidacy of Ize-Iyamu, Running Mate in Edo Gov Election Candidate heads for Court of Appeal APC, Obaseki for final legal showdown today Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City and Alex Enumah in Abuja The Edo State High Court, sitting in Benin-City, yesterday nullified the candidacies of the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Osagie Ize-Iyamu and his running mate, Audu Ganiyu Abudu, in the September 19, 2020 election.

Abudu was accused of presenting false information to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in his Form EC9 to enable him to contest the governorship election.

The case was brought against Abudu by the plaintiff, Hon. Sunday Kadiri from Ogbona ward, in Etsako West Local Government Area of the state.

The plaintiff had asked the court to disqualify Abudu from participating in the election on account of having allegedly given false information to the electoral commission to aid his qualification.

He prayed the court to annul the candidacy of Ize-Iyamu as the APC candidate because he was paired with an unqualified candidate as a running mate.

In his judgment, Justice Courage Ogbebor nullified the candidacy of Ize-Iyamu and Abudu.

Reacting to the judgment, Ize-

Iyamu described the judgment as unfortunate and utterly wrong and urged his supporters to remain calm and law abiding.

He said he has instructed his lawyer to appeal the judgment because he is convinced that the Court of Appeal will reverse it.

"I have received the news of the judgment delivered today, 6th day of January 2021, by the Edo State High Court, sitting in Benin City, disqualifying me and my running mate, Hon. Gani Audu Abudu, from contesting the gubernatorial election held in Edo State on 19th September 2020.

"This judgment, to say the least, is unfortunate and utterly wrong.

"I have already instructed my counsel to appeal against the judgment as I am convinced that the Court of Appeal will dispassionately consider the facts presented before the court and arrive at a just decision in accordance with the law.

"I urge all my teeming supporters to remain calm and law abiding. Justice will surely prevail in this matter," Ize-Iyamu stated Yesterday's judgment came three weeks after the Federal High Court, sitting in Abuja, had dismissed a similar suit seeking to disqualify Ize-Iyamu's running mate from the election.

The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/

CS/758/2020, was filed by the Action Democratic Party (ADP) which alleged that Audu presented forged documents to INEC. The plaintiff also alleged that the documents contain misleading discrepancies, especially in name arrangement.

Ruling on the matter, however, the court dismissed the suit with cost to the plaintiff.

Meanwhile, while the judgment was ongoing in Benin-City, Justice Ahmed Mohammed of the Federal High Court, sitting in Abuja, adjourned till today, hearing in the alleged certificate forgery suit against the state Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki.

The adjournment was for parties to adopt their final written addresses as their briefs of argument in the suit, which expires on Saturday.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) and one of its chieftains, Mr. Williams Edobor, had gone to court accusing Obaseki of allegedly forging his University of Ibadan (UI) certificate he submitted to INEC in aid of his qualification for the governorship election in the state.

The plaintiffs in the suit filed on July 14, 2019, want the court to disqualify Obaseki and his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), from the poll if the governor was found to have

forged his university certificate obtained from UI in 1979.

Obaseki had won the election on the platform of the PDP while the APC with its governorship candidate, Mr. Osagie Ize-Iyamu, came second.

Sued alongside Obaseki and the PDP is the electoral umpire, INEC. In proving their allegations, the plaintiffs called in a total of six witnesses, including two associate professors, who tendered their individual certificates obtained from the University of Ibadan in 1978 and 1979 respectively.

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

His first witness, one Charity Aguobawekhina, who claimed to have made the photocopy for Obaseki, also explained that the absence of the name of the registrar and date of issue in the photocopy was as a result of improper photocopying process.

At Wednesday's proceedings, the first defendant also called

another witness from UI, Prof.

Eghosa Osaghae, a Professor of Comparative Politics.

The professor who was appearing in the matter as a subpoenaed witness, tendered a Certified True Copy (CTC) of a Bachelor of Science degree certificate in Political Science that was awarded to him by the University of Ibadan on July 6, 1979.

The certificate was admitted in evidence and marked as Exhibit D18.

Under cross-examination, the witness told the court that he is aware that the original size of certificate of University of Ibadan is bigger than an A4 paper size.

"I know for a fact that when A4 paper is used to photocopy a certificate, all the information on the certificate will not be captured.

"I know this because I had a personal experience trying to photocopy an original certificate with an A4 paper", he said.

He told the court that the copy of his own certificate that was tendered in evidence was photocopied with a paper that was bigger than A4 paper, adding that it was the reason why all the information was captured.

However, after the witness was discharged from the witness box, lead counsel to Obaseki, Mr. Ken Mozia (SAN), who had

on Tuesday told the court that he had five witnesses lined up to defend his client, announced that he would not be calling other witnesses who though were around the court premises because of want of time for the determination of the case.

Raising similar concern for want of time, counsel to the PDP, Mr. Rasaq Isenalumhe, informed the court that he would also not be calling any of the witnesses scheduled for the case "in the interest of justice".

According to the judge, going by the law, the 180 days for the hearing and determination of the suit end on Saturday.

Following the non-objection by the plaintiffs, Justice Mohammed stood down the case for a few minutes to enable counsel agree on how best to go in the case.

When the matter resumed some minutes later, plaintiffs' counsel, Chief Akin Olujimi, (SAN), who spoke on behalf of other lawyers, informed the court that they have "agreed to prepare, exchange and file written addresses which they will adopt on Thursday afternoon."

His position was confirmed by other lawyers in the suit and Justice Mohammed subsequently adjourned till today for parties to adopt their final written addresses.

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PAGE EIGHT DEMUTUALISATION: NSE NAMES CEOS FOR EMERGING ENTITIES CEO of the NGXG; Mr. Temi Popoola, who is currently the Managing Director of Renaissance Capital, as the CEO of NGX, while Ms Tinu Awe, who is currently the Executive Director, Regulation of NSE, will become the CEO of NGXREGCO. Members of the NSE had last March unanimously approved its demutualisation at a courtordered meeting subject to the approval of the Securities and Exchange (SEC) of Nigeria. Also, the members at the 59th annual general meeting (AGM) held last November, had approved that

the shares of NGXG be listed once the demutualisation process is completed.

Under the resolution passed by the members subject to the receipt of requisite approvals of regulatory authorities, following the conversion and re-registration of NGXG, the group is authorised to undertake a listing by introducing its shares on the stock exchange.

The council said the approval by members had cleared the way for the listing of NGXG and for a new structure to enable the exchange to realise its vision

of becoming Africa’s leading exchange hub.

The President of the National Council of the NSE, Mr. Abimbola Ogunbanjo, had said: “The National Council welcomes the strong endorsement by the members of the exchange for our listing plans. On behalf of the Council, we wish to thank the exchange’s management for their outstanding work in the previous year, when they have faced unprecedented challenges such as the Coronavirus pandemic. It is a tribute to their efforts that the exchange has continued

to work effectively and at the same time has made significant progress in pursuing its strategic development through listing and other steps.”

On his part, Onyema, said: “We would like to thank the membership of the exchange for their overwhelming support of the listing plans. This marks the beginning of the exchange’s transformation into a listed company with flexibility to raise additional equity and/ or debt capital. It is our aim that under this new structure, the Nigerian capital markets will be able to

play a role that is commensurate with Nigeria’s status as Africa’s biggest economy. We believe we can become a financial hub for Africa and with the backing of our stakeholders and their continued use of our services this objective can become a reality.”

According to him, the demutualisation of the NSE will bring the Nigerian capital market at par with other international jurisdictions, resulting in enhanced governance, transparency and visibility whilst attracting strategic partners, investors and good quality issuers.

“The demutualisation will lead to an agile exchange thereby consolidating its innovativeness and strengthening its leadership both at local and international levels whilst also adding value to its stakeholders. As a demutualised entity that is profit-seeking, the NSE will be in a better stead to capitalise on new income opportunities, free from any limitations arising from conflicting member interests and existing laws and more importantly be able to better support the economic growth of Nigeria,” Onyema said.

the late Governor Yakowa of Kaduna State (in 2012) is still fresh in our memories,” it added.

JNI warned Kukah not take Muslims' kindness for granted.

“In being accommodative and kind, the Muslims are adhering to the teaching of the glorious Quran that even in times of war, the Muslims should offer assistance to those who seek their protection. Quran chapter 9 verse 6 is categorical on this...

“Kukah and his likes who enjoys the pleasure of denigrating Islam and Muslims at any slightest opportunity should have lowered their guard, so as to have some peace of mind because the spark which Islam kindles can never be extinguished,” it stated.

The JNI, however, urged Muslims to remain calm and to uphold the teachings of Islam, especially on being accommodating.

"Let’s continue to relate well with our peace-loving Christian neighbours and colleagues regardless of the vituperations of some misguided elements among them,” it said.

Nigeria Needs Urgent Salvation, Says Kukah

overwhelmed Capitol police.

The violence unfolded on the same day that Trump's Republicans lost their majority in the Senate as they lost two runoff elections in Georgia.

"We will never give up," Trump earlier told thousands of cheering supporters on a grassy expanse near the White House called the Ellipse. "We will never concede.

It doesn't happen."

Trump called on Pence to overturn the election results as he presided over the debate in Congress. "If you're not, I'm going to be very disappointed in you," Trump said.

The U.S. Constitution does not give Pence the power to unilaterally overturn the results of the election, and the vice president said in a statement he could not accept or reject electoral votes unilaterally.

The violence stunned world leaders. "Trump and his supporters must accept the decision of American voters at last and stop trampling on democracy," German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said.

Business groups, normally staunch allies of Republicans in Washington, also reacted strongly. The National Association of Manufacturers said Pence should consider invoking a clause in the constitution that allows a president to be removed from office when he is unable to do his job.

"This is sedition and should be treated as such," said the group's president, Jay Timmons.

Grisham’s resignation is effective immediately. The official said Grisham’s decision was motivated by yesterday's violent protests carried out by supporters of Trump.

Grisham was one of the longest-serving Trump administration officials, having begun her tenure working for then-candidate Donald Trump in 2015 as a press wrangler on the campaign trail.

SULTAN-LED JNI CHASTISES KUKAH OVER ALLEGED ATTACK ON ISLAM hegemony by “reducing others in public life to second-class status.”

“Every honest Nigerian knows that there is no way any nonNorthern Muslim president could have done a fraction of what President Buhari has done by his nepotism and gotten away with it”, Kukah was quoted to have said.

A portion of his homily drew flaks from many Muslims and Islamic groups, who viewed it as an attack on Islam.

But the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) rose in defence of Kukah, accusing his critics of twisting his homily.

However, the JNI described the message as a calculated attempt to insult Islam.

It noted that the insinuations

by Kukah that “Muslims have a pool of violence to draw from, is disgusting, disheartening, as well as condemnable.”

The JNI said Kukah’s message deviated from well-established norm across the globe.

It said despite the status of Sokoto to Muslims and Islamic history, Kukah was warmly welcomed, accepted, accommodated and accorded respect deserving of his position

as a religious leader.

It also described Kukah’s message as “irresponsible and seditious."

“Though the message is disguised as a political hogwash to deceive the innocent, there is no doubt that it was a poisoned arrow fired at the heart of Islam and Muslims in Nigeria, hence the need for this intervention.

“The bishop’s statement was a prepared address considering the occasion and the audience, one cannot but agree that it was a calculated attempt to insult Islam, which is typical of him.

“His veiled insinuation that Muslims have a pool of violence to draw from, is disgusting, disheartening, as well as condemnable.

"Responsibly, Christmas homilies should come with messages of hope, unity, mercy, forgiveness of the Supreme Being and resilience through prayers, especially in this trying time.

“The bishop’s message was however a clear deviation from well-established norm across the globe.

“Kukah is the bishop of the Sokoto Diocese located at the seat of the Caliphate and the heart of Islam and Islamic

scholarship, culture and practices in sub-Saharan Africa.

“Despite the status of Sokoto to the Muslims and Islamic history, Bishop Kukah was warmly welcomed, accepted, accommodated and accorded respect deserving of his position as a religious leader.

“Across the length and breadth of the Northern Nigeria, Kukah has friends and associates among the Muslim society. Without fear of any contradiction, he is most accepted and accommodated Christian clergy to the leaders of the Muslims in the North.

“They accorded him all the support he needed, despite some reservations from some quarters about his tendencies to bite the fingers that feed him.

“In spite of the liberality, congeniality and the camaraderie extended to Bishop Kukah in Sokoto and all over the Muslim North, he throws all sense of decorum and common sense to the wind and fired invective salvos on the Muslims and Islam without any justification.

“By this and his several similar inane attacks against Islam and the Muslims, the bishop has lost the friendship and the hospitality of the entire Muslim populace,”

it said.

The statement wondered how Muslims can ever trust a man who smiles at their faces in the day and hold dagger against them in the night.

“How can the Muslims continue to be hospitable to the one who proves to be ingrate many times over?

“How can the Muslims be comfortable in associating with a bitterly vindictive person disguised in the garb of religious clergy?

“Muslims in Nigeria cannot be charged and be held responsible or accountable for the actions or inactions of government just because it is headed by a Muslim,” JNI added.

According to the group, Kukah cannot pretend to be attacking President Buhari and while making Islam and the Muslims his targets.

"We will never accept to be used as punching bag of the vindictive bishop.

“It is mind boggling to imagine why Bishop Kukah is always keen in pushing at the national fault lines; religion, tribe and north-south divide.

“His fiery and equally violence inciting speech at the burial of

Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah, has called for a sense of urgency in trying to salvage the country.

He said the frustration in the country is rising by the day, adding that this could be seen in the rise in domestic violence and inter-communal conflicts.

In his sermon at the wake mass for Archbishop Peter Yariyock Jatau at St. Joseph’s Catholic Cathedral, Kaduna on Tuesday, Kukah rebuked corrupt politicians, accusing them of adopting contractocracy as a governance mechanism.

He said: "Today, our dear nation is like the proverbial farmer searching for his black goat. He has to do it with a sense of urgency because darkness is setting in as the sun quickly recedes.

"Our nation has become one huge waste land, huge debris of the deceit, lies, treachery, double dealing and duplicity.

Nigerian politicians have turned our politics into a huge trojan horse, a hoax, a hall of guile and dissimulation.

TRUMP SUPPORTERS ASSAULT US CONGRESS, BREACH DEMOCRACY flag into the Capitol.

One group of protesters apparently reached the offices of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, which had been evacuated so rapidly that emails warning of the violence were still visible on office computers.

Pence called on the rioters to leave the Capitol immediately, saying the violence and destruction "must stop now".

The president-elect has condemned the invasion, calling on Trump to call his supporters to order immediately.

But Trump's spokeswoman, Kayleigh McEnany, tweeted that the National Guard was being deployed.

Police ordered the evacuation of several office buildings.

Capitol Police sent orders for Congressional staff to leave the Cannon building and other large offices.

“Just evacuated my office in Cannon due to a nearby threat.

Now we’re seeing protesters assaulting Capitol Police,” said Representative Nancy Mace in a tweet.

“This is wrong. This is not who we are. I’m heartbroken for our nation today,” she wrote.

Consequently, the Senate and the House quickly recessed.

However, as the tension rose over the invasion, Trump, in a recorded speech, called on his supporters to go home while repeating his disputed claim that his victory in the last year's presidential election was stolen.

Earlier yesterday, Trump had told a rally of his supporters outside the White House that he would never concede that he lost the election, as Congress readied to certify Biden’s victory.

“I will never give up. We will never concede,” Trump told the cheering crowd. “We will stop the steal.”

As part of efforts to combat the insurrection, Washington, D.C.,

Mayor Muriel Bowser, ordered a citywide curfew that will begin at 6 p.m. on Wednesday and remains in effect until 6 a.m.

Thursday.

"During the hours of the curfew, no person, other than persons designated by the mayor, shall walk, bike, run, loiter, stand or motor by car or other mode of transport upon any street, alley, park or other public place within the District," Bowser said in her order.

Video showed the Trump supporters breaking windows and police deploying tear gas inside the building. Washington Metropolitan Police Chief Robert Contee said members of the crowd used chemical irritants to attack police and several had been injured. One civilian died after being shot during the mayhem, local media said. The FBI said it had disarmed two suspected explosive devices.

It was the most damaging attack on the iconic building since the British army burned it in 1814, according to the U.S. Capitol Historical Society.

The chaotic scenes unfolded after Trump, who before the election refused to commit to a peaceful transfer of power if he lost, addressed thousands of protesters, repeating unfounded claims that the election was stolen from him due to widespread fraud and irregularities.

Biden, a Democrat, who defeated the Republican president in the November 3 election and is due to take office on January 20, said the activity of the protesters "borders on sedition."

The former vice president said that for demonstrators to storm the Capitol, smash windows, occupy offices, invade Congress and threaten the safety of duly elected officials: "It's not a protest, it's insurrection."

He urged Trump to demand "an end to this siege" on national

television.

In a video posted to Twitter, Trump repeated his false claims about election fraud but urged the protesters to leave.

"You have to go home now, we have to have peace," he said, adding: "We love you. You're very special."

Twitter Inc later restricted users from retweeting Trump's video, and Facebook Inc took it down entirely, citing the risk of violence.

Twitter said future violations of its rules will lead to permanent suspension of Trump's account.

Pence, who had presided over the joint session of Congress, had already been escorted from the Senate.

Lawmakers had been debating a last-ditch effort by pro-Trump lawmakers to challenge the results, which was unlikely to succeed.

Critics had called the effort by the Republican lawmakers an attack on American democracy and the rule of law and an attempted legislative coup.

The top two Democrats in Congress, House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senator Chuck Schumer, called on Trump to demand that all the protesters leave the Capitol and its grounds immediately.

Capitol Police told lawmakers in the House chamber to take gas masks from beneath their seats and ordered them to drop to the floor for their safety. Officers drew their guns as someone tried to enter the House chamber.

Police piled furniture against the doors of the House chamber as protesters tried to break them down, Democratic Representative Jason Crow said on MSNBC. Several hundred House members, staff and press were later evacuated to an undisclosed location.

Election officials of both parties

and independent observers have said there was no significant fraud in the November 3 contest, which Biden won by more than seven million votes in the national popular vote.

Weeks have passed since the states completed certifying that Biden won the election by 306 Electoral College votes to Trump's 232. Trump's extraordinary challenges to Biden's victory have been rejected by courts across the country.

Trump had pressed Pence to throw out election results in states the president narrowly lost, although Pence has no authority to do so.

"Our country has had enough and we will not take it any more," Trump said at the rally.

The certification in Congress, normally a formality, had been expected to stretch for several hours as some Republican lawmakers mounted an effort to reject some state tallies, starting with Arizona.

Republicans and Democrats, who had been bitterly divided over that effort, both called on the Trump supporters to stand down.

"This is un-American and this has to stop," said House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy, a Trump ally who supported the Republican effort to challenge the results.

That attempt was unlikely to succeed, as even many Republicans opposed it.

"If this election were overturned by mere allegations from the losing side, our democracy would enter a death spiral," said Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, who helped give Trump some of his biggest accomplishments.

Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser ordered a citywide curfew starting at 2300 GMT. National Guard troops, FBI agents and U.S. Secret Service were deployed to help

First Lady’s Chief of Staff Quits Stephanie Grisham, the former White House communications director and press secretary and current chief of staff for First Lady, Melania Trump, submitted her resignation yesterday, a White House official told CNN.

Congress Resumes Certification Process Congress Speaker Nancy Pelosi, in a statement yesterday, said the attempted takeover of the Capitol would not “deter us from our responsibility to validate the election of Joe Biden” "We always knew this responsibility would take us into the night. We also knew that we would be a part of history in a positive way today, despite ill-founded objections to the Electoral College vote.

TOP GAINERS NEM BOCGASES JAPAULGOLD LINKAGEASSURE REGENCY TOP LOSERS SOVERIEGNTRUST ETERNA DEAPCAPITAL

NGN NGN 0.19 2.15 1.00 11.50 0.07 0.81 0.05 0.59 0.02 0.24 NGN 0.02 0.22 0.47 5.28 0.02 0.23 ROYALEXCHANGE 0.02 0.24 ABCTRANS 0.05 0.60 HPE Nestle Nig Plc ₦1,505.00 Volume: 249.545 million shares Value: N2.184 billion Deals: 6,090 As at yesterday 6/1/2021 See details on Page 37

% 9.6 9.5 9.4 9.2 9.0 % 8.3 8.1 8.0 7.6 7.6

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T H I S D AY ˾ ˜ ͵˜ 2021

COMMENT

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

MORE THAN JUST WORDS

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, is making a difference, writes Abigail Akamku

T

he morning shows the day as the child shows the man, goes the popular saying. The year 2021 is for recovery and hastening of arrested plans and goals caused by the deadly global pandemic that defined 2020.

This is not the best of times to yield to the cravings of leisure, vacation and holidays. It is time for hard work.

That is the approach of serious-minded leaders in responding to the daunting challenges of new normal.

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila set forth at the dawn of the year. He was everywhere in his constituency inspecting the projects he had facilitated to his domain and see for himself the level of work.

It was a period for assessment of social contract between the elected representative and the elector. The speaker laid everything bare before his people. All interests were served in siting of projects across the constituency. From Ojuelegba enroute Yaba and the core of Surulere, Babs Animashaun roads, it was a sweet story all the way. A bridge and standard seven roads are undergoing rehabilitation across Surulere.

Others were the site of the upgrading and expansion work of the existing Femi Gbajabiamila Clinic to a General Hospital at Iyun Road, renovation of all school buildings at Stadium High School, modern ICT centre at Ajigbeda Senior Girls’ High School, Rehabilitation of Dosumu and Adedoyin roads along Obele – Itire – Lawanson axis as well as construction work on a mini-stadium at Obele Oniwala, Surulere.

Gbajabiamila, a shrewd manager of scarce resources, applied and deployed interventions in areas that will greatly impact human capital of the constituents. The rehabilitated roads are of great economic importance in the axis. The bubbling commercial nerve centre of Yaba is a case in point. The roads will aid trade and facilitate commerce. Those in the informal sector and artisans in Surulere constituency can also testify to support for their trade from Gbajabiamila.

The speaker also took more than passing interest in education, a major plank used in assessment of human capital development index. In Surulere and its environs, Gbajabiamila is known for intervening in the area of education before he became speaker. Thousands of youths in Surulere had benefited from free GCE and JAMB forms over years.

University of Lagos, the flagship federal tertiary institution, his alma mata also benefited a project. Vice-Chancellor, Prof.

Oluwatoyin Ogundipe and top management of the university were on hand to receive a worthy alumna during the visit.

Gbajabiamila studied law at the prestigious university.

The upgrading of a clinic to a full-fledged hospital also speaks volumes of the speaker’s passion for the sector. At the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic last year, Gbajabiamila canvassed for overhauling the nation’s health infrastructure and improvement of welfare of health workers for maximum delivery.

Matching his words with action, Gbajabiamila visited health

THE SPEAKER DOES NOT LIMIT HIMSELF TO THE GREEN CHAMBER AND PONTIFICATE ON CHALLENGES FACING THE NATION BUT HE STEPS OUT OF HIS PRIMARY FUNCTIONS OF LAW MAKING AND OVERSIGHT IN TIMES OF NATIONAL EMERGENCIES

facilities in Surulere and encouraged health workers who were frontline soldiers in the battle against COVID-19. He rewarded them in cash and kind. That was vintage Gbaja!

Surulere is reputed as the home of sports. The area hosts the nation’s biggest National Stadium and Teslim Balogun Stadium. Sports have become a veritable tool of harnessing the potential of youths. This ostensibly was the rationale behind the mini stadium facilitated by the speaker.

The Speaker’s itinerary also includes a visit to Gbaja Maternal and Child Care Center of Randle Hospital to where he welcomed babies born on New Year day and their mothers.

One of the babies, Derrick who was the first baby of the year at the hospital, was born at 12.42. am on Friday, weighing 3.6 kg at birth. Congratulating Derrick’s mother, Mrs Immaculata Ozumba on the safe delivery, the speaker donated some cash, bags of rice, cartons of noodles and diapers to the baby and his family.

The speaker also settled the bills of all the babies born in the facility on Friday as well as other patients who could not immediately pay their bills at both Gbaja Maternal and Child Care and Randle General Hospital, Surulere.

The speaker, who was received by the Medical Director of the hospital, Dr Aduke Odutayo, commended the management for improving healthcare delivery in the area and promised to always support the hospital for better services.

The Gbajabiamila style has endeared many to him. He has become a beacon of hope for many who have lost faith in qualitative representation and good governance.

The speaker’s activities since the proclamation of the ninth Assembly clearly indicate that he is a man on a mission to write his name in gold.

Gbajabiamila is always out looking after the interests of the vulnerable and those at the base of the society’s pyramid. The oppressed got his ears.

As a 21st century leader, the Speaker does not limit himself to the green chamber and pontificate on challenges facing the nation but he steps out of his primary functions of law making and oversight in times of national emergencies.

Down to earth, Gbajabiamila more than once has spoken loudly against policies and moves that he believed will screw up the vulnerable. He raised the bar of legislative duty in democratic settings.

In his new year message, Gbajabiamila lifted the souls of Nigerians by charging them not to dwell on losses of 2020 but to look forward to bounty harvests. His words, “It is my hope and prayer that the year 2021 will be better than all the preceding years of our nation’s history.

“In this New Year, let’s remain resolute and determined in our nationhood. Yes, we may be going through challenges as a nation, but with our collective determination, we shall overcome”. r"LBNLV XSPUF GSPN -BHPT

MALAMI AT THE TOP

The attorney-general of the federation has made remarkable progress in his line of duty, writes Umar Jibrilu Gwandu

D

espite the 2020 COVID-19 lockdown, the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, remained actively engaged to deliver on its public-oriented national mandate. Far from any ranking, preference or chronological chronicling of events, below are some of what might be considered as major achievements recorded by the AGF’s Office in the year 2020 despite the lockdown.

The Office of the AGF assiduously worked and ensured the repatriation of $312m of the Abacha loot from the United States and the Bailiwick of Jersey.

Already, the government of Nigeria has committed that the assets will support and assist in expediting the construction of three major infrastructure projects across Nigeria, namely: The Lagos – Ibadan Expressway, Abuja – Kano Road, and the Second Niger Bridge.

The federal government has already approved the engagement of civil society organisation to monitor the implementation of the application of the recovered assets. This is in line with the Open Government Partnership, UNCAC and 2020 Trilateral Agreement with Nigeria, United States of America and Bailiwick of Jersey.

Malami’s Office saw to the signing of Presidential Executive Orders aimed at complementing the existing legislations and ensure inter-agency coordination in the process of implementation.

Signed into law in 2020 was Executive order No.10 for the implementation of Financial Autonomy of State Legislature and State Judiciary Order, 2020.

Also signed into law by the President was the Executive Order number 8 of 2018, amendment 2019 on the Voluntary Offshore Assets Regularization Scheme (VOARS).

Speaking on Executive Order 10 on the Autonomy of State Legislature and Judiciary,

Malami pointed out that Executive Orders were for ensuring constitutional compliance, complementing existing legislations, ensuring and enhancing operation, enforcement and application of the provisions as well as providing necessary supervision required for the enforcement.

The Office recorded multiple successes, relating to lingering imbroglio between the federal government and Process and Industrial Development Limited. Nigeria was successful as the court award payment of legal cost of €1.5m in favour of the country against P&ID. The court also awarded payment of €70,000 to Nigeria as further legal cost relating to the issue.

Through the dogged determination of Nigerian legal team lead by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Nigeria got relieved of $1.5b liability and gains $660,000 arbitration cost in the dispute with Interocean Oil Company.

The US-Based International Centre for Settlement of Investment Dispute headed by Professor William Park ordered Interocean to pay the federal government of Nigeria USD660,129.87 as reimbursement of its share of the arbitration costs incurred in the proceedings.

Acting in compliance with the extant laws including the provisions Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Establishment Act 2004, Malami set up and inaugurated Inter-Ministerial Asset Disposal Committee. The committee was given six months to discharge its mandates.

In compliance with Section 3 of the Assets Tracing, Recovery and Management Regulations (2019), the Minister launched the Central Database on Recovered Assets. Also introduced was the Central Criminal Justice Information System under Pillar 1 of the provisions of the National Anti-Corruption Strategy (2017-2021).

The Office of the AGF also established an electronic National Depository of Treaties that will serve as the depository of all treaties entered into between the government of the

Federation and any other country of any ministry, agency or department. This is in line with Section 4 of the Treaties (Making Procedure, Etc.) Act Cap. T20 Laws of the Federation (LFN) 2004, which domiciled the National Depository of Treaties in the Federal Ministry of Justice.

The office saw to the inauguration of an Inter-Ministerial Gender Based Violence Management Committee. The office is supervising the review of all the existing laws, providing a comprehensive and appropriate support services to ensure that victims and survivors of sexual offences are not subjected to further stigmatization and trauma, among others.

No fewer than 25 civil society organizations have expressed appreciation over the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami’s efforts that culminated in the successes recorded in the anti-corruption crusade of the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.

Malami said the federal government was working round the clock to ensure that Nigerian legal system reflects nation’s existence in view of dynamism and contemporary realities.

It may be recalled on September 10th, 2020 the Minister inaugurated members of the ninth Commission of the Nigerian Law Reform urging them to be guided by the rules and regulations as provided by the Section 2 & 8 (1) of the Act. The minister asked them to ensure that all the rules and regulations relating to management of the human, material and financial resources of the commission are adhered to in accordance to the objectives of the federal government, as contained in Section 8(1) (c) of the Act. As part of measures to decongest the custodial centres nationwide in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and the dangers posed to the centres, the committee in collaboration with the Presidential Advisory Committee on Prerogative of Mercy, Federal Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Interior, State Executives

and other relevant stakeholders, have been able to release over 7000 inmates.

It is however, noteworthy that the releases were carried out in line with specific guidelines approved by Mr. President in view of national security and public interest.

Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN said the Consolidated Federal Capital Territory Courts Sentencing Guidelines and Practice which was signed by the Chief Judge of the FCT, as a product of collaboration efforts in Correctional Centres reform programs, will accelerate decongestion of Correctional Centres nationwide.

Malami actively participated in the Digital Eco-System Steering Committee to bring about a new Data Management Act for Nigeria. The draft bill is at advanced stages of finalization.

Proposed Laws under this category included the Electronic Evidence Act, Digital Data Management Act, Electronic Banking Act, among others.

Efforts have reached advanced stage for Electronic Transactions Act which is the resuscitation of the Electronic Transactions Bill currently in the National Assembly. With the increasing need to ensure prompt and effective management of legislative agenda of government, the Attorney-General of the Federation worked with the leadership of the National Assembly to set up a joint coordinating committee for review of bills. The committee aimed to proactively avoid delay in responses to bills and to ensure prompt assent to bills that improve the economy and address security and infrastructure challenges in the country.

From the foregoing, it is evident that the Office of the AGF recorded tremendous successes and indelible imprint in the development of the country which many individuals, organizations and institutions appreciated. r%S (XBOEV JT UIF 4QFDJBM "TTJTUBOU PO .FEJB BOE 1VCMJD 3FMBUJPOT 0GàDF PG UIF "UUPSOFZ (FOFSBM PG UIF 'FEFSBUJPO BOE .JOJTUFS PG +VTUJDF

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T H I S D AY ˾ ˜ ͵˜ 2021

EDITORIAL

REDUCING COST OF GOVERNANCE The high cost of governance is crippling the economy

N

o matter the spin from government officials, emerging facts suggest that the nation’s finances and the economy are in dire straits. While there is nothing wrong for a country to face temporary economic setback so long as the managers are capable and indeed able to fix it, what is tragic is that we continue to live in denial with public officials, at practically all levels, still wallowing in profligacy. As things stand, there is no rational justification for deploying about 80 per cent of our annual national budget on recurrent expenditure, and about 60 per cent revenue on debt service. In many of the states, the ratio is far worse.

More A NATION THAT SPENDS disturbing is MORE THAN IT GENERATES that rather than TO SUSTAIN CIVIL seek a solution, SERVANTS AND PUBLIC public officials are passing the OFFICIALS IS ON A buck on the issue.

JOURNEY TO PERDITION In June last year, Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo admitted that the nation runs a large and expensive government. But he merely pointed fingers. “There is no question that we are dealing with large and expensive government, but as you know, given the current constitutional structure, those who would have to vote to reduce (the size of) government, especially to become part-time legislators, are the very legislators themselves,” said Osinbajo.

There was a tacit pushback last week from the Governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal who argued that while reducing the cost of governance has become imperative, it must be done methodically and strategically. A former speaker of the House of Representatives, Tambuwal said such fiscal responsibility should go beyond the three arms of government to critical federal institutions like the Central Bank of Nigeria, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation and

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the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS).

We agree with both Osinbajo and Tambuwal.

But they must move beyond rhetoric. We are worried that while government revenue continues to dwindle, there is no conscious effort to cut down expenditure on the recurrent side either by the federal government or the 36 states. Nothing speaks to this rather disturbing scenario than the increase in the number of ministers from 37 in the first term of the Buhari administration to the current 43. In the states, governors are still appointing hundreds of special assistants with no specific job functions. To compound the challenge, transparency and accountability in ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) are at the nadir as official corruption is still high.

The audit report for 2016 recently released by the Office of the Auditor General for the Federation is very instructive. The number of government agencies that failed to subject themselves to audit scrutiny under the present administration has doubled.

It is unacceptable that amid a debilitating revenue squeeze, public officials have continued to revel in criminal profligacy. What, for instance, would justify the N5.5 billion expended last year by the National Assembly to purchase exotic cars for its members? Why should the Federal Executive Council (FEC) continue to preside over the award of contracts when the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) Board should have been constituted to play its statutory role?

The federal government had in 2016 announced with fanfare the creation of an Efficiency Unit (EU) in the Ministry of Finance to eliminate waste and corruption in procurement processes. That unit appears to have become irrelevant since its pioneer head, Ms. Patience Oniha moved to a higher calling as the DirectorGeneral of the Debt Management Office (DMO).

Yet a nation that spends more than it generates to sustain civil servants and public officials is surely on a journey to perdition.

We hope the authorities at al levels will move quickly to steer the ship of state out of this rather dangerous trajectory.

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.

2021: A BETTER YEAR?

he year 2020 has come and gone, leaving sour taste in the mouth of Nigerians. For many Nigerians, 2020 was a pandemic year. It was a Covid-19 year which wreaked health, social and economic havoc. The disease claimed the lives of many prominent Nigerians. While the corona virus raged with attendant consequences, there came a violent #endSARS protest that rocked the country. The protest which spread like bush fire across the country was as a result of police brutality and the need to reform or scrap the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS). EndSARS protest, like any other protest, was hijacked by thugs who unleashed violence and destroyed property worth billions of naira. Year 2020 had not resolved the industrial dispute between the government and the leadership of ASUU. The nine months strike over inclusion of lecturers in the IPPIS platform kept our students at home.

The year 2020 will not pass without assessing how our security sector fared.

In fact, Nigerians experienced surge in insecurity. The Zabarmani killings by Boko Haram in Borno State and abduction of Kankara students in a Chibok style will

not be forgotten in hurry. There were also cases of banditry in some communities in Katsina, Zamfara, Kaduna and Niger States. In those states, many villages have been sacked by these blood thirsty bandits. While the country grappled with economic challenges, there came the bad news of economic recession. I think 2020 was one of the most challenging years in the history of the country.

Behold the new year! How will this year differ from the preceding one?

Nobody knows. For now, it is too early to predict how the 2021 will be. Though the new year will carry baggage of unpleasant events from the 2020 such as activities of kidnappers, bandits and Boko Haram.

With the second wave of Covid-19, it shows the pandemic is not yet over and Nigerians should be ready to live with it in the new year. The ASUU lingering dispute and economic recession have also found their way to the 2021.

However, I am optimistic that year 2021 will be a better year than 2020.

Even Mr president during his new year message has expressed optimism that despite the numerous challenges the country encountered in 2020, the new year will be better. This is a cheering

news. Many Nigerians hope the government will quickly put ASUU strike behind it. Let our striking lecturers and students go back to classes. There is also the need for government to come up with far-reaching policies to stimulate the economy and keep the emerging recession at bay. The trending news that the country will receive 100,000 Covid-19 vaccines from Republic of China has come at a right time and rekindled the hopes of Nigerians. The pandemic will soon be over. The war against Boko Haram insurgency, kidnappers and organised bandits should be pursued to logical conclusion. There is no gainsaying the fact, conventional warfare has failed to yield the possible result hence the need for paradigm shift. The government should embrace technology-based solution to war against terrorism in the country. Drones and other technology devices have globally proven effective.

Let Nigeria adopt it. The government should also address the rising poverty and unemployment in the country.

Happy new year! r*CSBIJN .VTUBQIB 1BNCFHVB ,BEVOB 4UBUF

THE FUTURE LOOKS BRIGHT

I

n the recently published conversation about ‘finding’ votes in Georgia, President Trump forgot to mention looking under the cushions on the couch. Besides a small number of coins, I am sure he will find those votes that he thinks have been misplaced.

You cannot demand 11780 votes be found just because you want them. That’s not how democracy works in any free country.

This nightmare only has a fortnight to go although it will be an eventful fortnight full of claims, confusion and chaos but the future looks brighter. r%FOOJT 'JU[HFSBME .FMCPVSOF "VTUSBMJB

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POLITICS

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

‘It is Time to Have a Nigerian President from Kogi State’ Ibrahim Oyewale interrogates the Speaker of the Kogi State House ofAssembly, Rt. Hon. Mathew Kolawole on the controversial decision of the state legislators to persuade Governor Yahaya Bello to contest for President in 2023

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ometimes ago, members of Kogi House of Assembly endorsed Governor Yahaya Bello to contest for President in 2023. What efforts are you putting in place to support the governor to come out for presidential election and have you received any response so far ?

Governor Yahaya Bello did not want to contest for president, we, the 25 members of Kogi State House of Assembly looked into history. If there is no history, there is no future We looked at history Nigeria and we started looking at the North Central and know very well that the North Central has not produced president and has not produced Vice President , we felt that there is no cause for anybody to have ambition or aspiration to became any thing in life , what we are doing here is that we are only urging Governor Yahaya Bello which I believe in 2023 he will rule this country.The issue is that if you look at the antecedents of the governor of the state , our governor has what we call the lion heart , you are all journalists you know what he passed through to bring the state to stability in area of security or talking about women empowerement , education , agriculture .What we are saying here is that we in the Assembly look at him as our own, even in the Assembly we called him 26 members of Kogi State House of Assembly he is our own.He is our political leader , everybody wants his leader to go higher , nobody will want his leader to sit down because many followers will suffer. That is why we are calling him to move forward so what we too can benefit from the national.cake in the nearest future . We have been calling him to contest , yet he has not spoken out whether he will or he will not , but we know he must surely consult necessary quarters because this is not Kogi State election .We are talking about Nigeria election and as governor he knows what it takes to become a governor .We are not talking about Kogi State , we are talking about the Nigeria where you are going to rule over 200 million people . A lot of consultations must go on. We are not the only one calling him to contest others are calling him too, a lot of youth organisations , women organisations , so many associtaions are calling him to.contest. The truth is that we are still urging him and even till today I still put it in prayer in the church to let my governor agree to contest . Let me tell you if Governor Yahaya Bello contests the presidential election , he will win. Look at Ajaokuta Steel Company which has been there over the years since 1981 .If you go to Ajaokuta Steel Company you will weep for Nigeria. If you go to Itakpe you will weep for Nigeria and equally weep for Kogi State . When President Jonathan was there , they started the dredging of our waterways , but because of the one in Bayelsa , Rivers they stopped and said it must continue from from his area because he was the President then .If we have the Nigerian President from Kogi State, are you saying that the person will not revive Ajaokuta Steel Company? Having spent billions of Naira there , millions of dollars have gone into that place . Kogi State is supposed to be economic hub of Africa . Look at Obajana and see what Dangote is getting there today. To have a president from Kogi State, I am sure Kogi will be in the limelight. Kogi was the capital of Nigeria . You people should join us in our prayers to have president . The Government of Nigeria was formed here in 1901.Why not let us join hands to pray that power must come back to us? Is there anything showing this is where Nigeria started from? There is nothing , expect the Lugard House here. Our persistent call on Governor Yahaya Bello to contest is for the betterment of all of us in Kogi State and betterment of everbody in Nigeria .If Governor Bello wins, you have won, I have won and Kogi has won.

We urge the Governor to contest. We are going to mobilize. We are going to move round to our colleagues in legislative houses across Nigeria .When we are talking about automatic delegates, definitely if you put us together we are over 2000 . I can use my position as a Speaker to lobby our colleagues from other states and also talk to our All Progressive Congress members and before

doing exactly what we are doing.

Some of the House of Assembly members have a mindset .What is your relationship with them? Is it a servant leader or boss?

I can never be bossy to anybody. The truth of the matter is that we have a 25-member House of Assembly from different backgrund and mind set of everybody while coming to the house differ some with aim that I want to be this or that , some are in the house to become honourable , some are in the house to use the pedestal to move to another level. I have never seen myself being bossy .we are one among equal I can never be bossy You know my people could have removed me long time ago.if the house or a member said they want this or that and you say no no, you can not even be bossy to your colleagues because we are bird of the same feathers .I just have the opportunity to lead them , if you tell them you know more than them you are runing yourself into trouble .If somebody tells you I am bossy you should be able to say no.

Kolawole

you know it , it might be like a child play to become.reality . We are not just telling him go and contest we will move round to talk to delegates that will vote in 2022 and by the grace of God I assure you that Governor Yahaya Bello will win .

How would you react to the insinuations that Kogi State House Assembly is a rubber stamp that everything that comes to the House from the executive scales through and how do you rate the Assembly in which you are the speaker, would you say the house has the bite?

The thinking of a man is not the thinking of God and sincerely speaking Kogi State House of Assembly is not a toothless bull dog or we are not rubber stamp as people may speculate .What we try to do in the House of Assembly is that basically we have good relatonship with the executive , there is nothing you gain in having an impasse. There is nothing you gain in bringing crisis to the house. I can tell you that if there is a crisis in the House of Assembly or crisis against the executive the State can not move forward , we will remain where we are.You said that requests that comes to the table of House of Assembly always scale through . For example if the State needs a loan and approaches the House of Assembly we have no reason not to approve it and basically we look at how it will affect the citizenry of the state in terms of development.

Government will always send a letter of request to the House of Assembly for counterpart funding for example SUBEB we have no reason not to approve. Because it is counterpart funding when this money comes it is used for repairs of schools and provides fund for some secondary schools

that are owned by the state government .If we deny them the opportunity of accessing the loan , the money is counterpart funding is you bring 50 percent and Federal Government pays 50 percent, the state government will not be able to access the money there and the money will just be there and Federal Government does not care whether you access your money or not .So we in the House of Assembly can not hold the state back .All we need to do is to encourage the state government to do things meaningfully.

By and large I think the relationship which I call legislative/executive relation is really helping this state to move forward to where we are .If you look at National Assembly at times there is this kind relationship. For example in the 8th Assembly when there was crisis between the Senate led by Senator Bukola Saraki and Presidency , we knew what happened. Nigeria did not move forward the way we wanted to move. Any state that decides that the legislature should make trouble with the executive, both arms of government would lose and there is nothing to gain and that is why are doing our thing peacefully . I do not care about what people say wheher we rubber stamp or not , what is important is that what we doing is justified by what i have done .For example the executive sent us bills which we call executive bill , we have to pass . We have to do our own job by first reading, second reading , public hearing before we approve .Will you call that a rubber stamp?

We are doing our job .It is just people outside that are looking for trouble , I don’t want a situation where people will say that the Kolawole-led House of Assembly is against Governor Yahaya Bello led government.This not good , it would not give us anything .That is the more reason why we are

The presidency has granted us finacial autonomy. The implementation committee has been set up. In Kogi State, the executive arm of government is operating what we call finacial autonomy because the allocation they give us at end of the month is coming , but it is not like it is a total autonomy that you will say this is what we have in the account for projects and you look at the money on pro rata basis .The truth of the matter is that it is a collective issue in the nation. The President has approved by signing it into law , the finacial autonomy came and went ahead to issue executive order , but the executive order iasued by the President did not go down well with governors and governors went to court to challenge aubsection of the executive order that directed them to do certain things

What is your reaction to the financial autonomy granted to state Houses of Assembly ?

The presidency has granted us finacial autonomy.

The implementation committee has been set up.

In Kogi State, the executive arm of government is operating what we call finacial autonomy because the allocation they give us at end of the month is coming , but it is not like it is a total autonomy that you will say this is what we have in the account for projects and you look at the money on pro rata basis .The truth of the matter is that it is a collective issue in the nation. The President has approved by signing it into law , the finacial autonomy came and went ahead to issue executive order , but the executive order iasued by the President did not go down well with governors and governors went to court to challenge aubsection of the executive order that directed them to do certain things for the judiciary .The finacial autonomy is for both legislature and Judiciary .So indirectly what is affecting Judiciary is inadvertently affecting the legislature. But however the basic requirent in the bill is to kick start financial autonomy has been met by the state governments . The State government has signed into law the Kogi State House of Assembly Service Commission this is one of the requirement. To be finacially autonomous you must have a your State Assembly Commission . The members of this commission have been working in the last one year .Another thing is that of management bill which the second leg the governor has equally signed into law. Any moment from now we pray that the court issues would soon be adjudicated upon and we will know exactly where we are going. That is position of finacial autonomy for now The road leading to Kogi State House of Assembly is in bad shape .What is the Assembly doing to ensure this road is fixed appropriately?

On the issue of road , the appropriation of fund is done by the House of Assembly while fund appropriated is left in the hands of the executive arm of government. The House of Assembly members do not have the power to go and help executive to approptiate fund for projects It is not only me or other members that pass through the road , I believe that the priority of the state government now is to start rehabilitation Lokoja township roads . What we can do is to ensure that the road is in the budget , but if you say since five years ago, I was not in office then, that means my predeccessor could not do exactly what I can not do .No legisture will tell the executive that this is what you must do , we can only lobby them to do it , but you know that after approving, the budget is passed into law to execute the budget it is purely in the hands of the executive .On the issue of mobility , in the last one year we have been facing a lot of troubles particularly in the area of COVID-19 pandemic which really bastadized the Nigerian economy . That must have affected us .But I want to assure you that we are going to have our cars this year by God’s grace.

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T H I S D AY ˾ THURSDAY, JANUARY 7 , 2021

POLITICS

‘Nothing Good Can Come Out of Buhari’s Appearance at the National Assembly ‘ Sylvester Idowu interacts with Chief Sunny Onuesoke, a Public Affairs Analyst and a former governorship aspirant on the platform of Peoples Democratic Party in Delta State on recent developments in the country

H

ow will you react to a recent statement credited to the leader of the Northern Elders Forum (NEF), Professor Ango Abdullahi that the North is ready for

restructuring?

The statement by Prof. Ango Abdullahi is a brave and a welcome development. Every right thinking Nigerian would agree to the simple fact that the current political, social and economic structure has failed us and can no longer sustain our current political cleavages, hence his coming out to say the north is ready for restructuring is such a brave statement and welcome development, especially given his position as the leader of the Northern Elders Forum.

The debate about restructuring is a stark reality staring us in the face and trying to shift discussion from it is like postponing the evil day judging from the current social-economic uncertainty which has befallen our nation today.

The reality on ground today should be a serious cause for concern to every patriotic Nigerian, hence the continuous clamour for restructuring from every corner of the country. This has gone beyond just one tribe or region. It has become a national agitation because a restructured Nigeria would mean a paradigm shift where every state, zone or region would be able to look inward and explore its competitive advantage with a view to developing a virile, stable and self-sustaining social economic framework for the betterment of their people.

The burning issue on the lips of Nigerians bothers on insecurity across the country and President Muhammadu Buhari failed to use the platform of NASS invitation to address the nation on efforts he is making to tackle the challenge. Your reaction to this, please?

If indeed the National Assembly lacks the constitutional power to summon the president as interpreted by Justice Minister Malami, that means Nigeria is not practicing a democratic system of government which brought both the President and other elected office holders to office.

The defence of Malami has no basis because the legislators represent the people and the president is answerable to the people. A country cannot be practicing democracy and her president is not answerable to the elected representative of the people.

I strongly believe that by his statement, Malami is telling Nigerians that the government they learnt in secondary school about checks and balances in a democratic state like Nigeria is fake and scam.

Malami should tell Nigerians what provision or section of the Constitution bars the National Assembly from inviting a president, or direct us to a ruling of the Supreme Court preventing a president from honouring the invitation of the legislative arm of government.

Anyway, Buhari initially accepted the invitation while the Speaker of the House of Representatives and other Aso Rock aides confirmed his appearance. Can we say the President is ignorant while Gbajabiamila is a liar? Are both political leaders not versed in the workings of a democracy?

Malami is surely taking Nigerians for fools.

It is not that anything good can come out from the appearance of Buhari at the National Assembly. However, not honouring the call of the legislators, especially after giving an undertaking to the Speaker, should be a good ground to commence impeachment proceedings against the president for disobedience, disrespectful and dishonourable conduct unbecoming of the President.

How will you react to the controversial payment of N5billion by CBN to Zamfara for gold mined in the state?

The payment of N5billion by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to Zamfara State Government for gold mined in the state is a slap on the people of Nigeria and particularly the Niger Deltans. I am asking the Central Bank of Nigeria to extend the same gesture to Niger Delta region by equally allowing the people to sell their own oil. I am making the appeal because of the recent sale

Onuesoke

of bars made from gold mined in Zamfara to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), for N5billion by the Zamfara State Government which is a flagrant violation of Sections One and Two of the Nigerian Mineral and Mining Act 2007, which vests the Federal Government with ownership of all the mineral resources in Nigeria.

Let me say emphatically that the transaction between CBN and Zamfara State Government suggests that the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act 2007, which was passed into law on March 16, 2007, to repeal the Minerals and Mining Act, no 34 of 1999, applies only to the Niger Delta.

I am saying this because Zamfara gold was mined by illegal miners, whose trade has now been legitimized, while illegal refiners in the Niger Delta are hunted.

It is a cheating that while the Niger Delta has continued to shoulder the huge burden of the Nigerian state by sharing the wealth of the region with every part of the country, the North has continued to enjoy its huge solid mineral deposits alone. Honestly, I am at a loss as to why the Niger Delta oil should be for all Nigerians, while Zamfara gold is for Zamfara State alone. Gold, diamond and other precious stones found in large quantities in the north are owned, enjoyed and utilized by northerners. Oil and Gas fields ancestral to Niger Deltans are shared by all Nigerians. How long are we going to sustain this corrupt and unjust system?

How do you want this controversial issue addressed?

To resolve the issue, the Federal Government should allow those in the Niger Delta Region and other parts of the country to mine and sell their natural resources themselves as Zamfara state government did with CBN and this can only be achieved by restructuring the country into six geopolitical structures with autonomous powers to manage their lives, affairs, resources, security and governance.

I am saying this because Zamfara gold was mined by illegal miners, whose trade has now been legitimized, while illegal refiners in the Niger Delta are hunted, arrested, prosecuted with their property destroyed. Meanwhile, the Federal Government is yet to fulfill its promise to re-organise and legitimise the activities of illegal refineries in the Niger Delta.

My thought is that If the oil in Edo, Delta, Rivers and the rest were originally found in Zamfara, Kano, Gombe and the rest of northern states, I am afraid by this time there won’t be anything like Nigeria.

It is a cheating that while the Niger Delta has continued to shoulder the huge burden of the Nigerian State by sharing the wealth of the region with every part of the country, the North has continued to enjoy its huge solid mineral deposits alone.

***DISSIDENT VOICE***

Reward and Punishment as Indispensable Tool for Nation Building

A

buja-based lawyer and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress tasks President Muhammadu Buhari on the need to celebrate deserving Nigerians- soldiers, public servants and everyday citizens- who have aligned themselves to the mission to clean Nigeria’s Augean stables As Nigerians and the rest of the world, cross the threshold of the past year into another new year- a year brimming with promises even as it is adorned with its own peculiar challenges, I am confident than ever that Providence has already blessed and equipped us with the wherewithal to determine our manifest destiny as the Giant of Africa and even more confident that through your leadership, the country is taking concrete steps through the darkness to the dawn that draws ever nearer daily.

It was with rapt attention that I watched you deliver the Presidential New Year speech in order to catch a glimpse of President Muhammadu Buhari’s vision for our dear country and I congratulate him on the prescient delivery of yet another message of hope to millions of Nigerians at home and in the Diaspora. As diverse challenges ripple and thunder across the world in the form of malevolent viruses, economic storms and growing insecurity that has spared no country, these are the times that call for leaders with the capacity to midwife a renewal of hope in the hearts of the citizens; the speech was therefore timely and well delivered.

The contents of the speech spoke to the consistency for which you are renowned, espousing unflinching commitment to your party and administration’s three-pronged mantra: Security, Economy and Anti-Corruption. If the policies are faithfully implemented, nothing will be able to hinder the breaking of Nigeria’s dawn for these three chosen pillars are present as missiles that, if accurately aimed at the heart of the Leviathan that has long bedeviled this country, will bring an end to this present darkness and usher Nigeria and Nigerians into the long awaited era of justice, peace and prosperity. Again, I pray that the Almighty will be your Strength as you work to deliver on the promise you made to Nigerians on that historic day when you were sworn into office in 2015.

Nevertheless, you will agree with me that the compass is a captain’s best friend and most prized asset as he navigates the tumultuous seas where storms often arise, sometimes without any warning.

The compass’ uncanny ability to determine true North underlies the crew’s dependence on this humble yet very noble instrument that detects the slightest deviation from the charted path. Permit me, Mr. President, to use this analogy to point your attention to some detail which appears to have inadvertently escaped your attention even as your commitment to the peace and prosperity of the country you have been elected to lead remains undoubted.

It is a given that the doctrine of reward and punishment is an indispensable tool for social engineering and nation building. The Nigerian odyssey since 2015 is one that has been pockmarked by fierce battles in various fields of endeavor including security, economy and industry.

We all remember how it was that before you emerged as President, devilish insurgents straddled the North-east region, reigning imperiously as they perpetrated heinous acts of cruelty on hapless citizens and even expanding the reach of their devilish actions to the nation’s capital in Abuja.

Not even the Police Headquarters or the Abuja office of the United Nations was considered unassailable by these fiends.

We cannot forget how the capital city was enshrouded in dark clouds of anxiety and tension as no one knew when or where the merchants of terror would strike. Security checkpoints and armored patrols dotted the streets, blighting the scenic beauty and peace for which Abuja had hitherto been known.

On the economic front, an epidemic of avaricepowered looting had ravaged the country’s vaults.

The perpetrators were bold in their banditry, aided by powerful people in government. The national psyche had taken a rough tumble and morale was at an all-time low when you took over the reins of leadership. For the seeing eye and the discerning mind, it was no enviable task that you were saddled with as Nigeria, our Nigeria, was in dire straits, crying for reform.

It would take the emergence of a new administration and the efforts of valiant troops some of which have paid the ultimate price by laying

Buhari

down their lives to beat back the dark clouds, rout the denizens of terror back and halt their onslaught on the country. It would take the efforts of bold heroes in law enforcement to track, trace and repatriate significant chunks of these stolen funds back to the country’s coffers.

It is undaunted that it is taking the steely determination of men and women in public service to reform the Nigerian public service sector and to commit to ridding the civil service of rot.

Suffice to say, Mr. President, that the reform effort under your administration has been largely directed by your unflinching Spartan leadership and powered by the courage of a few good men. My question at this juncture is: whither the recognition and reward that is due this gallant ones- soldiers, public servants and everyday citizens- that have aligned themselves to your vision and the mission to clean the Augean stables that Nigeria is?

Mr. President, with utmost respect for your person and your office, I make bold to say it would be a grievous error to neglect the place of recognition and reward in the writing of the National story in the annals of history. The prevalence of negativity in the Nigerian airwaves and the tendency of some in the media space to celebrate carnage and corruption makes it even more necessary to tell the story of the courage in the face of battle on the part of these heroes who are the silver linings in the dark clouds of the Nation’s landscape.

Take for instance, the widely publicized case of the P & ID case in which courageous and patriotic public servants including the Attorney General of the Federation Abubakar Malami, SAN, the Solicitor General of the Federation Dayo Apata, SAN, the Minister of Finance, Dr. Zainab Ahmed, the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, Inspector General of Police, Muhammed Adamu and noble officers in thier respective legal departments rolled their sleeves and went to battle on behalf of a nation that, for all intents and purposes had been betrayed by her own for filthy lucre, much like Judas betrayed his Master for 30 filthy pieces of silver.

But for this valiant and indubitable men, Nigeria had already been set up to lose $10billion (N45trillion) to an unscrupulous company aided by treacherous elements in the country. Note also, Sir, that since the sum in question was even larger than the current national debt (N32trillion, according to the Debt Management Office), such an eventuality would have precipitated an economic catastrophe for our dear country. Granted that the alleged culprits might have their day in court and that the principle of justice forbids punishment without a fair trial, I will like to draw attention to the fact that there is no clause in our Constitution forbidding the recognition, celebration and reward of the courageous ones who rose to challenge the fraudulent plot to rob our country via a trumped-up law suit.

Indeed, those who stood in the gap for Nigeria and beat back the ravagers deserve the honour and recognition that Nigeria can give them.

Another equally, if not much more, important instance is the unsung valour of our troops in the North-east. While some foreign media has been guilty of giving credence to the dastardly deeds of criminal groups including the Boko Haram insurgents in the North-east, the roving gangs of bandits and kidnappers in the Northwest and other regions in the country, little has been said of the bravery et gallantry of the men and women who constantly lay their lives on the line to repel and disperse the darkness that these criminals represent.

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

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T H I S D AY ˾ ˜ ͵˜ ͰͮͰͯ

FEATURES

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

Consolidating on Delivering Dividends of Democracy The 2021 Budget of Continued Consolidation as recently presented by Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, will aid the development of the pace setter state and make the people feel democracy dividends, writes Kemi Olaitan

Governor Makinde presenting the budget last year

W

hile over the years, government at all levels in the country especially state and federal have continued to present budget estimates of incoming year to the various lawmaking houses for deliberation and approval, the outgone 2020 was not an exception.

For the Oyo State governor, Mr. Seyi Makinde, he recently presented the 2021 appropriation bill of N266,644,273,305.04, representing a 53.16 per cent increase over the 2020 revised budget, to members of the state House of Assembly, with an optimism that the administration in the state under his leadership will remain bullish in its determination to develop the state.

The budget which was christened "Budget of Continued Consolidation”, has recurrent expenditure of N136,262,990,009.41, while the capital expenditure is N130,381,283,295.63.The major focus of the budget as presented by the governor was increment in allocation to sectors such as education, health and agriculture, in order for the stateto achieve the much expected development and to compete favourably among other states in the country.

Governor Makinde, who stated that though the government was able to grow the state's Internally-Generated Revenue (IGR) geometrically in the last one year, recording a 26.4 per cent year-on-year increase in IGR, it will not rest on its oars in its drive to take the state off its total dependence on federal allocation. He added that his administration plans to increase the state's IGR to N102,824,207,213.46 in the year 2021 up from the current N25.6 billion by widening the tax net, bringing more tax payers into the system without necessarily increasing taxes on the people.

The governor appreciated members of the House of Assembly for their cooperation over the past months, stating that the successes recorded so far were due to their continuous support of the government's fiscal policies, which have led to an impactful implementation of the Roadmap for Accelerated Development of Oyo State 2019-2023.

He disclosed added that his administration was able to make significant progress in the actualisation of its plans for the state in the last one year.

According to him, "We have been able to lower our infrastructural deficit, make improvements in healthcare delivery, improve the quality of education and achieve milestones in our security systems. We remained bullish in our approach

to developing Oyo State. Let me share one of our biggest wins in the last year. You will recall that in my 2020 budget presentation, I had stated that from January 2020, we will be recording a monthly Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of three billion Naira.

“I am happy to report to you that despite the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the economy, we were just less than two hundred million Naira shy of our target monthly. As at September 2020, we had recorded an IGR of 25.6billion Naira.

And using the half-year figures, that represented a 26.4 per cent increase in IGR year on year.

“Permit me to share some of our other wins from the 2020 fiscal year. You may recall, Mr. Speaker Sir, that one of the issues I highlighted that has been facing our state’s budget is underperformance. By the end of quarter one, (Q1), 2019 budget performance was 38 percent. We were determined to increase this and had set a mark of 70 per cent performance. Honourable Members of the House, although we have not yet met up with our target, our budget performance as at now is above average at 50.32 percent. We accomplished this despite the economic shock induced by the pandemic.

“Let me quickly state that our use of the Alternative Project Funding Approach (APFA), the Contractor's Project Financing Scheme, as well as targeted loans, have gone a long way to helping us to improve our budget performance.

“This year, we are again pegging our budget performance goal at 70 per cent. Since we have been able to increase by 12 per cent points in performance over 2019 thus far, despite the economic challenges we faced, an additional 20 percent points increase should be attainable."

Governor Makinde explained that the larger share of N56.3 billion or 21 per cent has been earmarked to the education sector, because his administration considers education as the only way out of poverty. He added that the agriculture sector will receive an allocation of N9.5 billion, which is about 3.6 per cent of the budget proposal, stating that his administration's plan to grow the state's economy through agribusiness remains well on course.

In addition, the governor highlighted how the administration, in the last one year, began a massive turnaround of the agriculture sector, with partnership agreement with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) on the Start Them Early Programme in agribusiness and

the ongoing upgrade of the former OYSADEP Headquarters, Saki, now rechristened the Oyo State Agribusiness Development Agency (OYSADA), among others, to drive the focus on agriculture.

He also said the sum of N13.2 billion was earmarked to the health sector, adding that the administration recorded tremendous achievements in the sector by turning the COVID-19 pandemic to an opportunity for aggressive turnaround of health facilities. He maintained that the government would go ahead with the revolution in the health sector with its plan to upgrade one Primary Health Care Centre across the 351 electoral wards of the state, among other key efforts that will ensure the consummation of the works already started in reforming the health sector.

He said, “Mr. Speaker Sir, Distinguished Members of the Oyo State House of Assembly, please permit me, at this point, to present to you the Oyo State 2021 Budget Proposal. The total budgeted sum is Two Hundred and Sixty-Six Billion, Six Hundred and Forty-Four Million, Two Hundred and Seventy-Three Thousand, Three Hundred and Five Naira, Four kobo (N266,644,273,305.04).

This sum represents a 53.16 percent increase over the 2020 revised budget. Let me emphasise that the tenets of the Federation's Fiscal Sustainability Plan (FSP) and other development aspirations were used as a guide in the preparation of the 2021 Budget.

“Mr. Speaker Sir, I must also mention that we have been able to resolve some of the issues around moribund industries in Oyo State. As you are aware, these have been a source of worry to members of this assembly and indeed the entire people of Oyo State. We have been able to put back in business state enterprises that have been laying waste for decades. Among these moribund industries are the Pacesetter Quarry and Asphalt Plant, Ijaiye; the Pacesetter Fruit Processing Plant in Oko; and the Agbowo Shopping Complex in Ibadan.

“It will also please you to know that we have commenced the preparation of the Twenty-Year Oyo State Development Plan (2021-2040). Oyo State has never had such an overarching blueprint.

The plan, when completed, will facilitate a speedy socio-economic development with the Medium-Term Sector Strategy and Medium-Term Expenditure Framework.

“It has, once again, been my honour to present this budget proposal to you, Mr. Speaker Sir and Distinguished Honourable Members of the House.

It is my prayer that you give our proposal the usual consideration in a timely manner so that implementation may commence; and Oyo State will continue on the path to accelerated development.”

In his speech, the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin, described the 2021 budget as pragmatic and realistic, lauding the governor for ensuring the timely presentation of Appropriation and Finance Bills to the House. He equally lauded the governor for the steps being taken to rebuild the state and place it on the pedestal of socio-economic growth and development.

According to him, “It is commendable that in the recent history of governance in Oyo State, the present administration, ably led by our diligent and highly energetic Governor, Engr Seyi Makinde has ensured that Appropriation and Finance Bills are timely presented before the House. This is particularly praiseworthy as it enhances the proper and meticulous monitoring and evaluation of Budget performance and prevents wasteful spending and improper execution of Government programs and projects.

“Let me assure that, as a House, we are always ready to perform our constitutional duty of lawmaking in particular and to also ensure that the Executive arm of Government encounters no legal impediment in the performance of its functions for the overall welfare and wellbeing of the State and its residents.”

Hon. Ogundoyin further promised that the lawmakers would thoroughly scrutinise the bill and give it accelerated passage while assuring the people of the state that the ninth Oyo State House of Assembly would work with the executive and other stakeholders to ensure at least 70 per cent performance for 2021 budget.

He said, “This is also the focus of the governor as against 50.03 per cent performance of the outgoing fiscal year. We both hope and pray that this budget, in its execution, shall enhance and improve the quality of lives of the people of Oyo State, heralding peace and prosperity in the next fiscal year.”

In her own remarks, the only female member of the House, Hon. Wumi Oladeji, representing Ogbomoso South State Constituency, lauded the governor for always championing the course of women most especially approving six-month maternity leave for nursing mothers, stating that with the budget focusing on areas like education, health and agriculture, women in the state would continue to appreciate Governor Makinde.

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Eyes Wide Open: How Leaders Can Embrace Uncertainty through Strategic Foresight Kenny Folarin

T

he world is changing at a much faster pace than before.

Whereas before, one could be content with finding a winning formula and stretching it out for decades while making a nice profit, in today’s world, many tried and tested formulae are swiftly becoming outdated.

As the world evolves, trends will change, people will adopt new ideologies, demands will change, and society will continue to adapt to a changing world.

Today’s transformational leaders must continually plan for the future as best as they can, needs to be aware of the challenges their organization and workforce will face now, as well as the challenges they will be facing a year or five down the road. Technology has become the great equalizer and as such, the great disruptor.

I am sure we all know many examples of companies failing to evolve at the same pace that the world set for them. Some of these companies even find themselves to be outdated before ever properly hitting the market. Our world is rapidly changing to the point where traditional planning based on budgets and program review is no longer sufficient in itself to propel your organization into the future.

We don’t need a crystal ball to see into the future. The trends and signposts are all around us. The challenge is in knowing how to synthesize the data so that we can prepare for changing opportunities. With uncertainty and volatility affecting every aspect of our lives and organizations, it’s clear that we must address these aspects of the 21st Century. The most important leadership skill is therefore the ability to effectively manage, harness and leverage the constant change around us — and this can be done through foresight. Success in today’s business environment and society means being continually adaptive and transformative. Foresight helps us transition from a position of reactive disruption to proactive transformation. It shows us where our organization is headed, and how we can successfully arrive.

Every organizational, transformational leaders and decision makers, need to embrace strategic foresight now as a critical business element because it allows the business to steer into the future knowing what awaits them. Such a prediction enables your organization to visualize the complete picture and the potential consequences of its actions and inactions. It is based on the principle of planning "from the future back to the present." It is about being at a position, say five to twenty years in the future, and understanding how and where the organization may look in that particular future, then developing strategies to meet future scenarios. It is similar to traffic signals. Before an accident occurs, nobody realizes their importance, but their significance becomes vivid once a misfortune ensues. For example, market foresight is a crucial element for many manufacturing firms. Bulk production, without predicting the future market behavior, might set back your company's revenues.

Looking forward opens the aperture to the reality that change happens with or without our permission. We have to be future smart by thinking about what may happen in the future, and thinking about the future requires paying attention to emergent signals, consumer behaviors, warning signs and consistent changes and issues that are causing current trends. Standing in the future will help your organization create a view that is unrestricted by the present. Creating this view will help your employees align to become strategic thinkers, planners, and influencers in understanding the possibilities and anticipation in dealing with the future.

The average employees, however, cannot

Folarin

fathom what the future holds unless they learn how to think. Leaders should build a culture of thinking strategically and being open to different perspectives. Leaders have to encourage employees to think about the

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future and move beyond the comfortable routine daily status quo, which is central to being future smart and engaging in strategic foresight. Organizational leaders need to incorporate a strategic foresight framework into their organization’s culture, this will help the organization move forward with clarity, confidence, and creativity. It also helpyour employees develop a predictive awareness of future possibilities that will lead to better managing of trends for a sustainable future.

I believe that this practice opens up new insights about future possibilities, which help you to make better, and more informed decisions, develop worthwhile and achievable long term goals, together with reasonable strategies for attaining them.

A very sensible approach to incorporating these foresight methodologies into your organization’s strategy formation process are:

you’re already seeking out news and information that might affect your work and your industry, but that’s not enough. You need to look outside of your industry to discover the ideas and innovations that might disrupt your organization — or provide a great opportunity. Pick up a magazine from an unrelated industry. Follow someone on Twitter etc,who focuses on topics you’re normally not interested in.

r #F QSPWPDBUJWF UIF OBUVSBM OFYU TUFQ PG scanning is to use your imagination. Challenge yourself to think of provocative implications of ideas, innovations and events. Connect the dots between seemingly disparate pieces of information. Think provocatively — as said by legendary futurist Jim Dator, “any useful idea about the future should appear to be ridiculous.” In 20, 30, 50 years, what might happen because of a trend we see today? If you are afraid to let your mind r 4IPX TUBGG BOE FNQMPZFFT IPX UP wander, you’ll never find yourself at the leverage their past experiences to inform leading edge.

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THURSDAY JANUARY 7, 2021 •T H I S D AY

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BUSINESSWORLD

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

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EXCHANGE RATE 6.58 % ͱͶ˛Ͷͯ ϱ

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Quick Takes Bidders Emerge in S’Africa Spectrum Sale

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Ericsson Takes Huawei’s Fight to Sweden

REWARDING CUSTOMER LOYALTY

L-R: Marketing Director, West Africa and Francophone Sub-Sahara Africa, Mastercard, Yosola Atere; overall winner at the Mastercard Restaurant Week Campaign/General Manager, Talindo Steak House, Mark Schuster, and Founder/CEO, Lost in Lagos, Tannaz Bahnam, at the announcement of the winners of the Mastercard Restaurant Week Treasure Hunt Contest held in Lagos…recently PHOTO: ETOP UKUTT

Group Canvasses Policy Roadmap for Social Media Management Stories by Emma Okonji An Advisory Workgroup made up of representatives of the communication team of the presidency, the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), the Institute of Software Practitioners of Nigeria (ISPON), among other technology experts, has come up with a report, canvassing for policy roadmap for effective social media management in Nigeria.

The Advisory Workgroup, chaired by the President of ISPON, Mr. Chinenye MbaUzoukwu, was created to consider and recommend an approach to explore how to harness the benefits of social media in Nigeria while mitigating its potential misuse.

The federal government had suggested the regulation of

TELECOM social media activities in the country, but Nigerians had kicked against it, insisting it will stifle technology growth and put Nigeria in a disadvantage position, at at a time when the globe is pushing for digital transformation.

The group had a two-day forum where it discussed a clear understanding of the issues of social media usage as well as how to articulate a possible high-level roadmap for policy development.

The report of the forum, which was released recently, would serve as documentation of progress made to date in phase one of the planned multi-stage programme.

Giving insight into the report, Mba-Uzoukwu said

“the emergence of social media platforms dates back to 15 years ago, yet the phenomenon has exploded in a constantly expanding universe of content and platforms that has completely changed the media landscape in terms of ecosystem roles, players, and relationships.”

The group, in its report, noted that there was a need to better understand the disposition of Nigeria’s youth as a special demographic with respect to the social media space which forms the context for much of their economic and social existence.

The Workgroup observed that youth want an openness and access to engagement with the world and global platforms.

According to the report, “Social Media presents this opportunity and opens the vista for them to engage. When

opportunities are restricted or perceived to be restricted, there is usually a push back from the youth as observed regarding the various engagements of social media related bills that have been put forward on the floor of National Assembly.

“The government is seen as unnecessarily controlling and out of sync with the youth population of Nigeria.

The youth perceive that the government sees social media as a threat to the government/ system.

“The young people recognise the fragility of the Nigerian state but ascribe it to the mindset and actions of older generations. The evidence of a recent Twitter poll indicates that they generally support a policy that would distill social Continued on page 24

Report Predicts Use of Intelligent Connected Machines by 2030 The tenth edition of the Ericsson ConsumerLab 10 Hot Consumer Trends report has highlighted consumer predictions about the various roles that connected intelligent machines could take on going forward.

According to the report, “At Ericsson Research, our vision is that advances in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and cellular communications technology will enable connected intelligent machines to securely communicate across the networks of tomorrow. In the process, they could make the world more responsive to consumer needs than ever before, given that consumers predict intelligent

TELECOM connectivity to enable services that go way beyond the mobile broadband experiences of today.

“Based on long-standing global trend research, the ConsumerLab 10 Hot Consumer Trends 2030 report represents the expectations and predictions of 50 million early technology adopters across 15 major cities.”

The report showed that respondents rated 112 connected intelligent machine concepts, ranging from a human-centered to a more rational perspective.

The result is an overview of the 10 roles consumers expect connected intelligent machines

to take in everyday life by 2030. Each trend in the report depicts a specific role that such machines could take.

Analysing the report, Head of Research Agenda, Ericsson Consumer and IndustryLab, and author of the report, Dr. Michael Björn, said: “I was surprised to see that consumer expectations on smarter connectivity are higher than for any other connected intelligent machine type. The Connectivity Gofers trend includes predictions that devices will intelligently adapt to any signal, with use of cellular, Wi-Fi and fixed connectivity being seamless, as well as smart signal loca-

tors that guide users to spots with optimal coverage even in crowded areas.”

According to Björn, “This points to opportunities for 5G service providers to gradually extend intelligent networks to cover a whole range of new services for their customers, and each of the machine roles we present in this report could be seen as a whole new service area.”

The Community Bots trend, for example, highlights the role machine intelligence could take in providing much needed community services.

Continued on page 24

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Ø ÞÒÏ ×ÏÝÝËÑÏݘ ÕÒÙÖ× ÜÏÚÙÜÞÏÎÖã ×ËÎÏ àÏÓÖÏÎ ÞÒÜÏËÞÝ ËÌÙßÞ ÒÓÝ ÍÙ×ÚËØã˪Ý ÐßÞßÜÏ ÚÜÏÝÏØÍÏ ÓØ ÓÞÝ ÒÙ×Ï ×ËÜÕÏÞ ÓÐ ÞÒÏ ÌËØ áÏØÞ ËÒÏËβ ÒÏ ÏâÏÍßÞÓàÏ˪Ý àÓÏá ÙØ ÞÒÏ ÜÏÝÞÜÓÍÞÓÙØÝ Ó×ÚÙÝÏÎ Ìã ÞÒÏ áÏÎÓÝÒ ÙÝÞ ËØÎ ÏÖÏÍÙ× ßÞÒÙÜÓÞã ̙ ̚ ÓØ ÍÞÙÌÏÜ ͰͮͰͮ ÒËÝ ÌÏÏØ ØÙ ÝÏÍÜÏÞ˜ áÓÞÒ ÝÏàÏÜËÖ ÚßÌÖÓÍ ÝÞËÞÏ×ÏØÞÝ ÝßÚÚÙÜÞÓØÑ ÞÒÏ ÓÎÏËÖÝ ÙÐ ÐÜÏÏ ÍÙ×ÚÏÞÓÞÓÙØ ËØÎ ÞÜËÎÏ ËÍÜÙÝÝ ÑÖÙÌËÖ ×ËÜÕÏÞݲ

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TechEconomy.ng Editor Joins AFictF

ÏÞÏÜ ÖßÕ˘ Ë ×ÏÎÓË ÚÜËÍÞÓÞÓÙØÏÜ áÓÞÒ ÌÓËÝ ÐÙÜ ËØÎ ÞÏÖÏÍÙ×Ý ÜÏÚÙÜÞÓØј ÒËÝ ÌÏÏØ ËÚÚÙÓØÞÏÎ ËÝ ÞÒÏ âÏÍßÞÓàÏ ÓÜÏÍÞÙܘ ÍÓÏØÍϘ ÏÍÒØÙÖÙÑ㘠ØÑÓØÏÏÜÓØÑ ËØÎ ËÞÒÏ×ËÞÓÍÝ ̙ ̚ Ìã ÞÒÏ ÐÜÓÍËØ ÙßØÎËÞÓÙØ ̙ ÐÓÍÞ ̚ ÓØ ÓÑÏÜÓ˲ ÖßÕË ÓÝ Ë ÞÏÍÒØÙÚÜÏØÏßܘ ÚßÌÖÓÍ ÝÚÏËÕÏܘ ÝÚÏÏÍÒ áÜÓÞÏܘ Ë×ÙØÑÝÞ ÙÞÒÏÜ ÚßÌÖÓÍ ÜÏÖËÞÓÙØÝ ÓØÞÏÜÏÝÞݲ Ï ÓÝ ÞÒÏ ÎÓÞÙܘ ÏÍÒ ÍÙØÙ×ã˛ØÑ˞ Ù̋ÐÙßØÎÏÜ ÙÐ ÔËÖÙ˛ØÑ ËØÎ ÜËÝÝ ÙÙÞݲ Øј ÙØÖÓØÏ ×ËÜÕÏÞÚÖËÍÏ ËØÎ ØÏáÝ ÚÖËÞÐÙÜט ÜÏÝÚÏÍÞÓàÏÖã˛ Ï ÒÙÖÎÝ ̙ ËÝÝ Ù××ßØÓÍËÞÓÙØÝ̚ ÐÜÙ× ÞÒÏ ËÞÓÙØËÖ ÚÏØ ØÓàÏÜÝÓÞã ÙÐ ÓÑÏÜÓË ̙ ̚˞ ̙ ËÝÝ Ù××ßØÓÍËÞÓÙØ̚ ÐÜÙ× ÞÒÏ ØÝÞÓÞßÞÏ ÙÐ ËØËÑÏ×ÏØÞ ËØÎ ÏÍÒØÙÖÙÑ㘠˜ ØßÑß ËØÎ ÍßÜÜÏØÞÖã Ë ËÝÞÏÜ˪Ý ÏÑÜÏÏ ̙ ÙßÜØËÖÓÝ×̚ ÍËØÎÓÎËÞÏ ËÞ ÞÒÏ ËÞÓÙØËÖ ÚÏØ ØÓàÏÜÝÓÞã ÙÐ ÓÑÏÜÓË ̙ ̚˛ ÚÏËÕÓØÑ ÙØ ÖßÕË˪Ý ËÚÚÙÓØÞ×ÏØÞ˜ ÞÒÏ âÏÍßÞÓàÏ ÏÍÜÏÞËÜ㘠ÓÍÞ ˜ ܲ ××ËØßÏÖ ËÝÝÏã ÝËÓÎ ÞÒÏ ÍÙØÞÓØÏØÞ ÒËÝ ÞÒÏ ÚÙÞÏØÞÓËÖ ÞÙ ÌÏØÏÐÓÞ ÐÜÙ× ÎÓÑÓÞËÖÓÝËÞÓÙØ ÓØ àËÜÓÙßÝ ÎÏàÏÖÙÚ×ÏØÞ ÎÙ×ËÓØݲ ÙÜ ÝßÍÒ ÎÏàÏÖÙÚ×ÏØÞ˜ ÒÏ ÝËÓΘ ˫ÓÞ ÓÝ ÜÏÛßÓÜÏÎ ÐÙÜ ÞÒÏ ÐÜÓÍËØ ÝÞËÞÏÝ ËØÎ ËÍÞÙÜÝ ÞÙ ÞËÕÏ ×ÏËÝßÜÏÝ ÐÙÜ Ë ÎÓÑÓÞËÖ ÐßÞßÜϘ ÞÙ ÐËÍÓÖÓÞËÞÏ Ë ÎÓÑÓÞËÖ ÏØËÌÖÓØÑ ÏØàÓÜÙØ×ÏØÞ˜ ËØÎ ÞÙ ÏØÒËØÍÏ ÖÏËÜØÓØј ÎÓÝÍßÝÝÓÙؘ ËØÎ ÏâÍÒËØÑÏ ÚÖËÞÐÙÜ×Ý ËÌÙßÞ ÞÒÏ ÙÚÚÙÜÞßØÓÞÓÏݘ ÏØÑËÑÏ×ÏØÞ˜ ËØÎ ÍÒËÖÖÏØÑÏÝ ÙÐ ÎÓÑÓÞËÖÓäËÞÓÙØ ÓØ ÐÜÓÍË ËØÎ ÞÒÏ ÐÜÓÍËØ ÙßØÎËÞÓÙØ ÚÖËãÓØÑ ÞÒÏ ÖÏËÎÓØÑ ÜÙÖÏ ÓØ ÐÜÓÍË ØÏÏÎÏÎ Ë ãÙßØј ÚËÝÝÓÙØËÞÏ ËØÎ ÓØÞÏÖÖÓÑÏØÞ ÚÜÙÐÏÝÝÓÙØËÖ áÒÓÍÒ áËÝ ÐÙßØÎ ÓØ ÏÞÏÜ ÖßÕ˲

“ITU standards incorporate the latest advances in technology whilst taking account of the associated implications for business dynamics to allow industry players to advance together.

Therefore, innovation towards autonomous networks calls for an evolution that is viable” ITU Secretary-General,

Mr. Houlin Zhao

T H I S D AY ˾ ͵˜ 2021

24

BUSINESSWORLD GROUP CANVASSES POLICY ROADMAP FOR SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGEMENT media platforms for the use of everyone and for the sake of national interest and unity.”

The Workgroup was of the view that there was an immediate opportunity for a refresh in the present strategy of government for engaging the Nigeria social media community in the shared work of nation-building. It noted that Nigeria’s youth are already demonstrating to the world their capacity to leverage internet and social media technologies and platforms for jobs, wealth creation and social good under the Digital Economy agenda that government is actively driving.

The group identified the need to curb fake news as an urgent and critical responsibility of government and the citizenry.

The group therefore proposed a poll on social media engagement with government, to be handled by the Advocacy Workgroups. It also proposed a workshop on fact-checking to support the dissemination of authentic and verified news on social media platforms and reduce fake news to a bare minimum, as well as an approach to enlightenment for citizens on consequences of cybercrime and publishing of fake news.

REPORT PREDICTS USE OF INTELLIGENT CONNECTED MACHINES BY 2030 “The explainers puts forward the idea that all connected devices need to be able to explain themselves to users, and Sustainability bots focuses on the increased need for localized intelligent climate advice going forward.

“What all of these potential services have in common is that they rely on intelligently communicating across devices and thus puts the networking aspect even more in the front seat than today,” Björn further said.

Consumers expect connected technology to become more flexible and interactive going forward and see devices enabling more pro-active, and even creative choices in a wide range of everyday life situations by 2030.

Group Business Editor

Obinna Chima

Capital Market Editor

Goddy Egene

Comms/e-Business Editor

Emma Okonji

Senior Correspondent

ËÒÏÏ× ÕÓØÑÌÙÖß (Advertising) Correspondents

ÒÓØÏÎß äÏ (Aviation) ÜÙ×ÙÝÏÖÏ ÌÓÙÎßØ (Maritime) James Emejo (Finance) Ebere Nwoji (Insurance) Chineme Okafo (Energy) ××ËØßÏÖ ÎÎÏÒ (Energy) Reporters

ß×Ï ÕÏÑÒÏ (Money Market) ÙÝË ÖÏÕÒßÙÑÓÏ (ICT) ÏÞÏÜ äÙÒÙ (Energy)

NEWS

Lekki Residents Move against Insecurity, Donates Security Van Stories by Emma Okonji Lekki Estates Residents and Stakeholders Association (LERSA) has made moves to curb insecurity in their community through the donation of a Toyota Hilux security van to Lekki Area J Police Command, to assist the police to discharge its constitutional duty of providing security to residents of the area.

The security van was presented to the Lekki Area J Police Command recently.

President of LERSA, Olorogun James Emadoye, while presenting the vehicle to Area Commander, ACP Gbolahan Olugbemi at Ajiwe Police Station in Lekki, Lagos, described the donation as the association’s way of supporting the command after the destructions they suffered during the #EndSARS protest last year, where several Police Stations and patrol vans were vandalized and burnt.

According to Emadoye, “When LERSA noticed that the Ajiwe and other police stations around Lekki corridor were highly affected by hoodlums who went berserk after the tollgate shooting, we immediately put some donations together to provide immediate assistance to the police. We promised at that time that we shall do more because the Nigerian Police are the immediate agency saddled

with the responsibilities of providing security and protection of lives and property for Nigerian citizens, in the constitution.”

He further said: “Today, we have commenced the process of redeeming that promise we made about two months ago, by the presentation of this Toyota Hilux to the police. It is our hope that the vehicle will help the men of the Area J Command in discharging their official duties and keeping more

Nigerians safe. I know that we can do more and by the grace of God, we will do more. I want to enjoin members of LERSA and all Lekki residents and stakeholders that we can do more.”

He encouraged members of the community to always donate and give generously to those in need, even to those in government circles like the police who need the support of the public to serve them better.

He equally urged those who have used the name of LERSA to raise money, to ensure that monies collected are accounted for.

Emadoye also used the occasion to acknowledge the support of rhe Chairman of Eti-Osa LGA, Alhaji Saheed Bankole; the Honourable member representing the area at the House of Assembly, Hon. Noheem Adams, and the member representing the

local government area at the Federal House of Representative, Honourable Babajide Obanikoro.

Receiving the vehicle, ACP Olugbemi who represented the Commissioner of Police Lagos State Command, expressed appreciation to LERSA for the donation of the Hilux van and the donation of canopies and chairs made previously to the command, immediately after the #EndSARS protest.

HONOUR WELL DESERVED

L – R: Chairman, Lagos State Chapter of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Mr. Segun Mcmedal; Member, NIPR, Ms. Yeye Agnes Shobajo, presenting the Best Regulatory Information Management Award to the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) represented by Head, Corporate Communications, Mr. Olumide Orojimi, during the Lagos public relations industry gala and awards held in Lagos… recently

Pantami Suspends NIMC Staff over Extortion at Enrolment Centres The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Ibrahim Pantami has directed the immediate suspension of staff members involved in extortion of applicants at the Bauchi and Kaduna state offices of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC).

The directive came on the heels of public outcry that some

personnel of NIMC, particularly at some enrolment centers in Bauchi and Kaduna states were capitalising on the rush for the enrolment of the National Identity Number (NIN) by the public to perpetuate fraudulent activities inimical to policy directive of the Federal Government, which requires mobile network subscribers to update their SIM registration

with a valid NIN. A statement issued by NIMC and signed by its Head of Corporate Communications, Mr. Kayode Adegoke, explained that the minister restated his zero tolerance stance on extortion, bribery and corruption and further noted that such unethical practices if allowed to fester and not nip in the bud by taking stiffer actions against

the culprits, has the potency of derailing the SIM-NIN integration project.

“Enrolment for the National Identification Number (NIN) is free of charge, and on no occasion should anyone pay to obtain an enrolment form or to have their biometrics captured.

All personnel involved in the enrolment and NIN issuance exercise must carry out their

respective duties professionally, fairly and with integrity. In light of the above, we wish to call on the general public to assist us in putting our commitments into action by sending proof of any nefarious activity within and around our enrolment centres either by snapshot, footage, or audio recordings to designated numbers,” the statement further said.

Goldman Sees Surprise Saudi Cut as Signal Oil Demand to Weaken Saudi Arabia’s decision to cut oil production probably reflects expectations for demand to weaken further as coronavirus lockdowns return around the world, according to Goldman Sachs Group Inc. The kingdom’s pledge to lower output by one million barrels a day in February and March was surprising for several reasons, Bloomberg

quoted Goldman’s analysts including Damien Courvalin and Jeff Currie, to have stated in a note.

These include global demand beating expectations in December, the risk of encouraging the return of more U.S. shale production and Saudi Arabia undermining its own efforts to have every OPEC+ member implement similar cuts, they

said.

The most likely reason is the kingdom expects a big slowdown in global energy consumption including in Asia where infections are rising quickly, the analysts said.

The transition to a probably less friendly US administration may also have led the Saudis to adopt a more supportive stance toward other Middle East

producers, they said. Goldman revised its demand forecasts for January and February to 92.5 million barrels a day from 93.5 million in December.

The Saudi output cuts would, however, support prices in the coming weeks, the bank said, as it maintained its year-end Brent forecast of $65 a barrel.

The global crude benchmark traded near $54 a barrel in Asia

on Wednesday after jumping almost five per cent in the previous session.

Goldman said its supplydemand balance for the first quarter is weaker than previously thought and it now sees a 250,000 barrel per day surplus. There are prospects for a tighter market from April to July, however, when it forecasts a 1.3 million barrel deficit.

Group Seeks Amendment to Electoral Act #FixPolitics, a citizens-led research-based initiative, has called on the National Assembly to carefully consider a bill before it, seeking to repeal the Electoral Act 2010. #FixPolitics made the call in a document addressed to the joint Senate and House of Representatives committee on Independent National Electoral Commission and Electoral Matters.

The joint committee had called for a public hearing on

‘A Bill for an Act to Repeal the Electoral Act No. 6, 2010 (as amended) and enact the Independent National Electoral Commission Act 2020, to regulate the conduct of Federal, State and Area Council elections for Related Matters’.

In the document, #FixPolitics pointed out that some sections of the Act were weak, problematic and filled with irregularities, hence its position and recommendations.

In a statement issued by the

group’s Publicist and Spokesperson, Mr. Ozioma Ubabukoh, #FixPolitics said, “Our position and recommendations is to engage the existing political order to produce sustained change that guarantees democratic progress and wellbeing of the people.”

The group noted that some of the grey areas identified in the Act on which it made its position and recommendations included Section 2 – Functions of the Commission; Section 6 – Establishment of Offices in

Each State and FCT; Section 9 – Continuous Registration and Section 12 – Qualification for Registration.

Others were Section 44 – Format of Ballot Papers; Section 52 – Conduct of Poll

by Open Secret Ballot; Section 87 – Nomination of Candidates

by Party; Section 119-157 – Electoral Conduct and Section 127 – Voting by Unregistered Persons.

Concerning ‘Section 2 – Functions of the Commission’,

#FixPolitics said, “We propose that the National Assembly should take on the role and responsibility of calling for a referendum on a new constitution. The National Assembly should facilitate the process through which the Nigerian people can exercise their constitutional sovereignty to give themselves a constitution.

This role is not only consistent with principles of constitutional democracy, it is also a validation of the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution.”

T H I S D AY ˾ JANUARY 7, 2021

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BUSINESSWORLD

ANALYSIS

Capacity Building Tops Agenda for Telecoms in 2021 Emma Okonji writes that capacity building in the telecoms sector, which is expected to empower startups to develop specific solutions for identified challenges, tops agenda setting in 2021

I

n spite of the achievements of the Nigerian telecoms sector in 2020 and its uncommon resilience in sustaining Nigerian economy, industry stakeholders have come up with fresh agenda setting that will not only shape the sector in 2021, but will further strengthen the economy.

Top among the agenda setting is the need to beef up capacity building that will empower technology startups and also help Nigerians adapt better to the new normal occasioned by the effect of COVID-19, where attention has now been shifted online, compelling many Nigerians to work from home.

Capacity building The Chairman, Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), Mr. Gbenga Adebayo, is of the view that capacity building will be paramount for 2021, given the second wave of COVID-19, where many Nigerians have resorted to online transactions for all domestic, official and religious activities.

“We will build on our achievement in 2020 and a lot of lessons needed to be learnt from what happened in 2020, where working from home became the order of the day. So we will focus more on capacity building in 2021, to support more people who will be working from home. Online education and online meeting has become the order of the day, just as commerce has become more dependent on telecoms. For example, there will be increase in online shopping and all of these will scale up in 2021 in order to meet with the expected demand.

“In 2021, e-Commerce, e-Leaning will be driven by telecoms and lot of government services will be dependent on telecoms.

So we need to address the challenges that will come from capacity building, network reliability, regulation as we introduce new technology,” he said.

Adebayo therefore, called on Nigerians to protect all telecoms facilities in their neighbourhood and at the same time, see telecoms infrastructure as critical national infrastructure that they must protect always for efficient performance.

NIN-SIM integration Giving insight on how best government could address the NIN-SIM integration plan without putting undue pressure on telecoms subscribers in 2021, Adebayo said: “Although 2020 ended with a bit of uncertainty, anxiety, and pressure on telecoms subscribers, as a result of the mandate from the federal government to disconnect telecoms subscribers that do not have their National Identification Number (NIN), linked with their Subscriber Identification Module (SIM) cards, we are however working closely with government, including the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy, the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), to ensure that we achieve the new deadline of January 19, 2021 for those that have registered and have valid NIN, and February 19, 2021 for those that have not registered and have not obtained their valid NIN. So the idea to disconnect almost 161 million SIM cards, cutting across 4G, 3G, and 2G subscribers, Machine-to-Machine subscribers, could destroy the entire telecoms industry, if not properly handled.”

Currently, all Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) have been licensed to carryout enrolment for NIN, in addition to other agents licensed to enrol Nigerians for NIN. We are supporting government to achieve this and we believe it could be achieved in order to have a credible national identity database, which the government has been struggling to achieve for several years now, Adebayo said.

Chairman of Mobile Software Solutions and former President of the Institute of Software Practitioners of Nigeria (ISPON), Mr. Chris Uwaje, who blamed the federal government for the unprecedented crowd that besieged the offices of NIMC and other registration centres across the country on a daily basis just to enrol for their NIN, said

Danbatta

Adebayo

Nnamani

Nigeria needed a standard Internet Protocol (IP) address system that will help decongest crowd at all centres during NIN enrolment.

“Nigeria needs to develop an indigenous biometric IP, and use it to generate temporary registration, where people’s information could be used for registration and within few minutes, the registration is done without the issuance of NIN on the spot, but the NIN could be issued after some weeks when the registration is completed online.

“People can send their basic information to NIMC or any licensed agents, using their smartphones, without physically being present at enrolment centres. If this arrangement is put in place in 2021, people will not wait in any enrolment centre and there will be no stamped,” he said.

over $70 billion, in order to be able to attract more investments required to implement the Nigeria National Broadband Plan 2020-2025.

Teniola said government must immediately prioritise the introduction of Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) as core subjects in our educational curricula for all children under 15 years old, going forward in 2021.

He also talked about the need for the introduction and implementation of well thought out government policies that makes Nigeria a net beneficiary of the AFCFTA agreement by digitalising all government processes and engagement with Nigerian citizens, while raising the bar on cybersecurity awareness among all Nigerians in order to be able to feel safe using online services and the internet meaningfully.

Ogunbanjo suggested that all licensed Infrastructure Companies (InfraCos) should be given bailout by government in 2021, to enable them roll out infrastructure across the country.

In the area of rural telephony, Ogunbanjo said more attention should be paid to rural telephony services in 2021 in order to enhance telecoms services in unserved and underserved communities in rural parts of the country. He said the Universal Service Provision Funds (USPF) that is mandated to finance rural telephony in the country, should release enough funds to telecoms operators in 2021, to further drive rural telephony.

“Development of rural telephony services will create jobs for rural dwellers and boost agriculture. Rural dwellers will be able to communicate with local and global markets on the availability of their farm produce, while having better access to market,” Ogunbanjo said.

He raised the alarm that banks have taken over the jobs of telecoms airtime vendors, by selling airtime directly to customers from their bank accounts. According to him Airtime vending should be done by registered airtime vendors alone and banks should face their core financial service offerings in 2021 in order to boost economic emancipation of Nigerians.

Telecoms financing President of the Association of Telecoms Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), Mr. Ikechukwu Nnamani, stressed the need telecoms financing in 2021 in order to support broadband infrastructure penetration across the country.

He also spoke on the need for improved service quality and deeper broadband penetration.

In the area of improved service quality, Nnamani said: “The outbreak of COVID-19 affected quality of service in 2020, because there was so much pressure on telecoms infrastructure, where all virtual meetings and communications, depended on telecoms network and facilities. There is urgent need to improve on the quality of service in 2021, in order to curtail the second wave of COVID-19.”

“We had a target of 30 per cent broadband penetration by December 2018, and we were able to reach and surpass it by December 2018. Since then, broadband penetration has increased the more and we reached 45.46 per cent penetration by October 2020, with another projection of 70 per cent broadband penetration by 2025, which I think we will meet and surpassed, going by the infrastructure on ground,” Nnamani said.

He, however, explained that every projection for 2021 would depend on the outcome of the first quarter of the year in 2021. “If in the first quarter we are able to control the pandemic, then we should expect rapid growth and development in th telecoms sector,” Nnamani said.

Digital transformation Addressing Nigeria’s digital transformation vision for 2021, the immediate past President of ATCON, Mr. Olusola Teniola, said the top focus areas for Nigeria’ ICT to achieve digital transformation and financial inclusion in 2021, should be about ensuring the growth of the telecoms sector through the adoption of appropriate infrastructure funding models that take cognizance of the Forex challenges faced by a sector that is 100 per cent import dependent.

He also mentioned the introduction of regulatory measures that protects investments made to date in the telecoms sector, which is

NCC’s vision The Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, who gave insight about the vision of the commission in 2021, said NCC would come up with the second Strategic Business Plan (SBP) for the telecoms sector in 2021. According to him, “Already we have a draft Strategic Business Plan that has been worked upon by a committee set up by the NCC. The second Strategic Business Plan will consolidate on those areas that were not accomplished in the first Strategic Business Plan for last year. It will look at broadband penetration among others. The Second Strategic Business plan 2021-2025, will leverage on the National Broadband Plan; National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NADEPS); Strategic Management Plan (SMP) of the NCC. It is the responsibility of NCC to come out with implementable strategies. We are looking at deploying additional fibre in the next three years in order to achieve our digital transformation economy vision. The NCC in 2021, will pursue the digital transformation economy vision of the country, and ensure the vision is achieved.”

Service quality/infrastructure The National Chairman, National Association of Telecoms Subscribers of Nigerian (NATCOMS), Chief Deolu Ogunbanjo, is of the view that Nigerian telecoms subscribers did not get the best of service quality in 2020, which he blamed on poor telecoms infrastructure in some parts of the country.

Ogunbanjo therefore called for improved telecoms service in 2021, through improved telecoms infrastructure in the areas of increased telecoms masts, increased broadband penetration and increased rural telephony services.

Ogunbanjo cited a recent report, which puts British telecoms masts at over 70,000 while Nigeria which has more population than Britain, has less than 30, 000 masts. He said government must encourage telecoms operators in 2021 by removing certain tasks and levies that will enable telecoms operators to roll out more telecoms masts across the country.

In the area of infrastructure rollout,

Collaboration President of Nigeria Computer Society (NCS), Prof. Adesina Sodiya, stressed the need for collaboration between the telecoms industry and the academia in 2021. According to him, such collaboration would further deepen telecoms development in the country.

Giving insight as to how technology could be used to stop the spread of COVID-19, in 2021, Uwaje said government must explore the triangle connection between government, academia and the technology industry, which he said, would help bring government out of its current shell, where it is operating in silos to drive technology research that will proffer solution to COVId-19 pandemic.

“If Nigeria wants to get it right, just like other countries are doing, government needs to engage technocrats and invest in research that will bring solution to the pandemic.

Government should begin to fund various researches for COVID-19 cure as well as fund communication and digital awareness to make Nigerians more conscious about the deadly COVID-19 pandemic.

“Government should also collaborate with the media to shape the attitudinal behaviour of Nigerians, who still do not believe that the virus is still living with us. The media is a good channel to broadcast information on the health risks surrounding COVID-19 and the media should have access to infected persons and be allowed to broadcast images of affected persons in order to instill fear and discipline in Nigerians who do not still believe in the virus,” Uwaje said.

Industry experts called for government support and collaboration in 2021 in order to build on the achievements of the telecoms industry.

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T H I S D AY ˾ ͵˜ 2021

54gene Raises Alarm Institute Wins Awards, Maintains over Infringement of its ECOWAS Best Tech Varsity Intellectual Property Stories by Emma Okonji

54gene has raised the alarm over the unauthorised use and infringement of its Intellectual Property (IP) rights.

According to the company, throughout the COVID-19 period, most of the results of private testing laboratories across Nigeria were subject to counterfeiting and forgery by a handful of dishonest individuals to provide fake results to persons who have not been tested.

It described counterfeiting and forgery as a criminal offence, which involves the illegal and unauthorised use of company’s trade name, trademarks and brand image, adding that such act amounts to Intellectual Property (IP) infringement.

Compliance and Data Protection Officer at 54gene, Alma Karibo, said: “54gene takes such acts of IP infringement involving the counterfeiting and forgery of our results and any other illegal conduct extremely seriously.

Such acts, while being wholly unfair and illegal, threaten the integrity process of the entire diagnostics sector - and certainly in this current climate, it is also unsafe, as we are working hard to reduce the spread of COVID-19,” According to Karibo, “In the same vein, we take seriously publications/communications that abuse our IP rights or defames our brand name.

While we recognize the need for journalists to communicate

valid, verifiable and up to date information, note that our brand name and IP rights are very important to us.

“Publications on the issues surrounding fake results must not carry the 54gene name in its heading or in its body in any way that may be misinterpreted or found to be misleading or defamatory in any form; and any reference to 54gene must be in line with current position and as advised by our communications team. Note that violation of our policy on publications will incur legal action including recovery for damages.”

It added: “As an immediate step in this fight against counterfeit test results, we have built a validation portal to counter the circulation of fake test results, and to safeguard the public, who ultimately lose out in this situation.

“Going forward, we will be taking legal action against any individuals or businesses who we find to be infringing on 54gene’s intellectual property in any format, or indeed using our name for any commercial gain.

“It is important for us to take a stand against Intellectual Property infringement, as we work hard with our peers to ensure globally recognised rigour when it comes to maintaining international compliance standards and protecting Intellectual Property Rights,” Karibo further said.

ITU Launches Research Group on Autonomous Networks The International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the United Nations specialized agency for information and communication technologies (ICTs), has launched a new Focus Group to support the emergence of ICT networks able to control their behaviour autonomously in the interests of efficiency. Participation is open to all interested parties.

The ITU Focus Group on ‘autonomous networks’ will lead an exploratory ‘pre-standardization’ study to determine how ITU standards will support the realization of autonomous networks and their evolution in years to come.

Announcing the initiative, ITU Secretary-General, Mr. Houlin Zhao, said: “ITU standards incorporate the latest advances in technology whilst taking account of the associated implications for business dynamics to allow industry players to advance together. Innovation towards autonomous networks calls for an evolution that is viable both technically and economically and ITU standards have a long history of enabling such an evolution.”

Networks are growing in sophistication to enable highly interactive new communication experiences and innovations in fields such as digital health and intelligent transport systems.

IMT-2020/5G and future networks will be versatile allround players able to meet the requirements of a very diverse

set of ICT applications.

This versatility is made possible by major advances in cloud computing and network virtualization – the software revolution reshaping the networking business – but this versatility also introduces significant network complexity.

Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning are expected to play a key part in managing this complexity, especially in meeting new demands on network management and control as these demands exceed the capabilities of humans as well as pre-defined automated processes.

Chair of the Focus Group, Leon Wong, said: “As the demands on communication networks have grown through increased user subscription and new service expectations across industry sectors, network operators must find new ways to address these pressures while at the same time controlling operational cost.”

The complexity of the latest network architectures has created the motivations for autonomous networks, but these architectures also create the conditions necessary to integrate ‘creative intelligence’ techniques into 5G and future networks.

“Creative intelligence techniques can provide a new layer of abstraction, introducing an evolution mechanism as a catalyst for autonomy,” Wong said.

The Accra Institute of Technology (AIT), which has been consistently ranked the top private University in Ghana and one of leading educational institutions in West Africa, has been announced the winner of the three most prestigious awards at the just-ended 2020 UMB Ghana Tertiary Awards in Accra.

The triple awards were: The Most Outstanding Institution in COVID-19 Times Award; The Best Technology University Award and The Best Educator of The Year Award to the President of AIT. As one of the ECOWAS sub-region’s top education

centres, AIT is home to thousands of Nigerians and other West African students.

Accra Institute of Technology has won the Best Technology University for the fourth year running.

The position was put to test when COVID-19 set in with the university coming out with excellence in demonstrating how to deploy technologies and systems to ensure uninterrupted academic activity in an educational institution even in the face of a global pandemic.

AIT since its inception in 2009 has extensively been deploying cuttingedge educational delivery technologies and systems to support teaching and learn-

ing in all its undergraduate and postgraduate programs.

The Registrar and Chief of Administration of AIT, Mr. Dominic Osei-Boakye, while receiving the awards, on behalf of the university, said: “As the only university in Ghana operating both campus-based and open university systems, AIT is one of the few universities in the sub-region to easily and seamlessly roll-over all its academic program delivery and operations online during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Therefore, campus-based face-to-face teaching and learning had zero impact on the operations of the university. This success among many others is what accounted for the award

for the Most Outstanding Institution in Covid-19 times.”

He added: “The AIT success story cannot be told without mentioning the creativity, strong leadership, and direction from its President, Prof. Clement Dzidonu. The awardwinning Professor has, through AIT transformed educational delivery in the country using Technology.

Boakye expressed appreciation to the organisers for recognising AIT’s achievements as a leading technology university providing quality tertiary education in Ghana.

The Award is instituted and awarded by the Ghana Tertiary Awards.

AWARD OF EXCELLENCE

President, Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NiRA), Mr. Muhammed Rudman (left), presenting the ‘Best 4G LTE Internet Service Provider of the Year’ award to the Marketing Manager, Spectranet 4G LTE, Mr. Samson Akejelu, at the Beacon of ICT (BoICT) 2020 award event, held in Lagos...recently

India to Issue 4G Spectrum Auction Invitation India’s Department of Telecom (DoT) has been tipped to distribute auction applications to potential bidders this week for the country’s next 4G spectrum sale in March, The Economic Times (ET) reported.

Industry sources told ET the auction would be held 45 to 60 days after DoT issued the documents to

Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea.

In mid-December the government approved guidelines for the sale of spectrum across seven bands.

A total of about 2,250MHz of airwaves will be on the block, with spectrum licences valid for 20 years. Analysts forecast the auction to generate up to $53.3 billion.

DoT also plans to convene a meeting with local operators, equipment vendors and international tech companies, including Google, Facebook and Apple, to start work on a long-term spectrum roadmap and identify potential 5G bands, the newspaper wrote.

In October, the country’s government established a

panel comprising the heads of its telecoms and defence ministries, among others, to streamline spectrum allocation and deliver a long-term roadmap designed to offer operators clarity on the specific bands to be made available.

The 4G auction planned in 2020 was pushed to early 2021.

Alibaba Plans $5bn Bond This Month China’s Alibaba Group Holding Limited plans to raise at least $5 billion through the sale of a United States dollardenominated bond this month, four people with knowledge of the matter told Reuters, amid regulatory scrutiny of co-founder Jack Ma’s empire.

Depending on investor response, proceeds could reach $8 billion which the e-commerce leader is likely to use for general corporate expenditure, one of the people said.

The fundraising will be a test of investor sentiment towards Alibaba, coming

months after an October speech from billionaire Ma about regulation stifling innovation that led to the halting of affiliate Ant Group’s $37 billion stock market listing.

Ma’s absence from public view in the intervening time has fuelled social media speculation over his whereabouts.

The bond sale plan, including timeline, is not finalised and is subject to change, the people said, all of whom declined to be identified as they were not authorised to speak to the media.

Alibaba declined to comment.

Since Ma’s speech, Chinese regulators have begun an antitrust probe into Alibaba and ordered fintech Ant to change its lending and other consumer finance businesses, including the creation of a holding company to meet capital requirements.

Regulators are also reviewing Ant’s equity investments in dozens of companies and considering whether to instruct the firm to divest of some, Reuters reported last month.

Alibaba’s international bond offering, if finalised, would be the group’s third, Refinitiv

data showed. It sold an $8 billion U.S. dollar bond in 2014, and a $7 billion tranche in 2017, the data showed.

With its latest float, Alibaba will join a slew of Asian companies that in recent months have taken advantage of cheaper borrowing costs and abundant liquidity in global markets.

The terms of the offering were not immediately known. Two of the people said marketing documents were likely to be available as soon as next week, and that the tenure of the bond is likely to be 10 years.

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Marginal Fields: DPR Forges Ahead Despite Challenges Emmanuel Addeh appraises the journey so far in the award of marginal fields announced by the federal government, through the Department of Petroleum Resources, last year

I

n June last year, the federal government commenced the process of awarding marginal oilfields to qualified bidders, especially indigenous oil and gas companies that had shown capacity and resilience over the years.

Coming at a time that the country’s revenue had gone south due to headwinds occasioned by the vicissitudes of the international oil market, resulting in falling prices and deteriorating foreign exchange earnings, the development was not only auspicious, but made a lot of economic sense.

The most basic definition of a marginal field in the country is any field that has been discovered and has been left unattended for a period of at least 10 years, from the date of first discovery or anyone so-called by the president of Nigeria.

In essence, they are non-producing or unappraised fields within the oil and gas acreage already covered by a petroleum licence, which the licence holders have considered as not being profitable for development.

The bid was also a sort of victory for stakeholders who had continually pressured the federal government to conduct an oil round for the purpose of raising revenue to fund some of its critical projects.

Innovating processes and procedures In announcing the start of the process, the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) the implementing agency for the bid round, introduced quite a number of changes, including the disclosure that the bid was open to indigenous companies and investors interested in participating in exploration and production business in Nigeria.

The DPR said that a total of 57 fields located on land, swamp and shallow offshore terrains were on offer, adding that for the first time, the exercise which will be conducted electronically.

The process, the regulator said, will be straightforward, starting with the expression of interest/registration, pre-qualification, technical and commercial bid submission and bid evaluation.

Preliminary gains Nigeria was expected to rake in at least N2.3 billion on non-refundable application fees for the ongoing marginal oilfields bid rounds, with the agency’s Director and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Mr. Sarki Auwalu, promising Nigerians of an open and transparent process.

The agency’s guidelines on the 2020 oil bid round exercise indicated that payment by interested bidders shall attract non-refundable chargeable fees on application for N2 million per field.

It added that the bid processing fee of N3 million per field, data prying fee of $15,000 per field, data leasing fee of $25,000 per field, competent persons report of $50,000 and $25,000 for fields specific report will also apply.

With the above, interested bidders were expected to pay a total of $115,000 in statutory fees and another N5 million in local currency, the agency noted.

At the official exchange rate of $360/$1 at the time, the 57 oil fields on offer would have yielded N2,364,800,000, including the N5 million payment.

The agency had added that all application fees and processing fees were expected to be paid into the Treasury Single Account (TSA) while signature bonuses were expected to be paid into the federation account.

“Also, fees for data leasing, data prying, Competent Persons Report (CPR) and Field Specific Report should be paid into the National Data Repository (NDR) account for repayment.

“According to the approved guidelines, applicants must show evidence of technical and managerial capability and must also demonstrate the ability to fully meet the objective of undertaking expeditious and efficient development of a marginal field,” it had stated.

Transparency as guiding principle To ensure a break from the past, whereby oilfields were awarded based on factors other than merit, capacity and competence, the organisation assured Nigerians and the international business community that the federal government’s bids for the country’s marginal fields would be open and transparent.

Auwalu said while it was understandable that Nigerians seemed to be impatient about the award of the oilfields, the organisation was poised to conduct one of the most open processes in the

country.

The result of the process, which is expected to add significant volume to the national crude oil production when the cut imposed by the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) is lifted, he said will be above board in terms of transparency.

As expected some fraudulent Nigerians attempted to taint the process, using forged documents, but the DPR quickly raised the alarm asking stakeholders to ignore any announcement that is not directly from the DPR as some fraudsters were already circulating fake documents on social media.

The DPR explained that the agency will hold conferences before the announcement of the award of the marginal fields, just like it did before the implementation of the Minimum Industry Safety Training for Downstream Operations (MISTDO) recently.

“There’s the issue of marginal fields that is currently ongoing. There are a lot of fake documents in circulation. I am the director, CEO of DPR. We are yet to issue any guidelines. Anything in circulation right now is absolutely fake.

“Let me take advantage of this forum to let people know that DPR will never do such a thing for something that will bring opportunities to Nigeria in secrecy. It is only on social media and you can see how our documents are.

“DPR has a unique way of presenting any guidelines and it will be done that same way MISTDO was announced. We will have conferences.

We know people are hungry to invest during this exercise and we are ready and we will do it,” the DPR boss said in one of the occasions.

He added: “There are lots of questions on marginal fields , but people need to know that this is an opportunity for Nigerians. Marginal field is not something we can shroud in secrecy. Nigerians deserve to know because this has been 17 years that it was last done. So people are hungry. They will be given the opportunity to prepare and participate.”

Learning from past mistakes To avoid the mistakes that bedeviled the only such exercise which was conducted about 17 years ago under the Olusegun Obasanjo administration, stakeholders insisted that if Nigeria must get global respect, it must earn it through such activities as the bid rounds, which ordinarily will draw the attention of the international business community.

Before the current second marginal fields bid round, after the award of 24 fields to 31 indigenous in 2002/2003, it was learnt that only nine are operational

The sector is also responsible for about 80 per cent of government revenues as it is also the principal source of foreign exchange earnings and Foreign Direct Investments

due to the alleged choice of unqualified persons and companies to run them, with about 15 now fully abandoned.

In 2013, the federal government also failed to successfully see through a planned bid round, despite having released the guidelines to oversee the process at the time.

Experts argue that the federal government could rake in about $5.7billion if the process starts and ends as planned, but feared that what is currently happening in the power sector which seems not to have made any substantial progress since its privatisation years ago, may be replicated in the latest bid rounds, if the process is not well handled or if political interference is allowed to come to play.

There were also worries about whether the process would be independently handled by the DPR devoid of any political manipulations and political cronyism which plagued the previous award system.

But with the outcome of the process so far and without many protestations, the DPR may have proven critics wrong, who maintained that the federal government will flung the process because of quick cash.

To them, Auwalu responds: “If we want to raise funds, we could have asked the NNPC to divest from some assets to raise money. We need serious investors and that is why we are not imposing high costs on the forms; it has taken 17 years to get to this point.”

To avert situations where investors are edged out of deals after securing the oilfields, the DPR said it had activated sustainability plans for the marginal field programme.

Auwalu posited that the conditions put in place will protect the interest of all investors, stressing that any disagreement arising among awardees and their partners post-award would first be referred to the Nigerian Oil and Gas Alternative Dispute Resolution Centre in DPR. He acknowledged that the success of the bid round conducted in 2002/ 2003 was endangered with litigations and other challenges, which hampered the development of some of the awarded 24 marginal oilfields to the detriment of the nation.

“We have learnt from the mistakes made in the past, and have come up with workable solutions to ensure that the objective of the development of our marginal fields is achieved.

“This time around, our awardees will be credible investors with technical and financial capability.

“There are also the post-general award conditions.

This deals with transfer of interest post-award. It means awardees cannot transfer more than 49 per cent interest to another party post-award.

“The conditions also include termination of rights of interest holders, which gives the minister the power to withdraw the interest of a party who fails to meet its obligations in terms of joint awardees” he noted during a webinar.

Getting to the finals Last week, federal government through the DPR announced that 161 successful companies had been shortlisted to advance to the next and final stage

of the bid round process for 57 marginal oilfields in the country.

Earlier, the regulatory agency had said that over 600 companies applied to be pre-qualified for the bid rounds for the marginal oilfields, with an almost 30 per cent increase in participation during a shift in date.

Head, Public Affairs of the DPR, Mr Paul Osu, said, “The 2020 marginal oilfield bid round process is still ongoing in line with our published timelines on DPR website and bid portal.

“The current status is that 161 successful companies have been shortlisted to advance to the next and final stage of the process.”

He stated that the bid rounds began on June 1, 2020, adding that the DPR had put measures in place to ensure that the awardees would be credible investors with technical and financial capability.

According to him, the objective of the 2020 marginal field bid round is to deepen the participation of indigenous companies in the upstream segment of the industry and provide opportunities for technical and financial partnerships for investors.

Forging ahead despite Covid-19 Despite the ups and downs of 2020, oil sector regulator, the oil sector released what it described as the strategic plan and policy for the survival and success of the industry post covid-19.

Auwalu noted that for surviving and thriving beyond covid-19, the DPR embarked on marginal field bid round, policy and regulations, business environment and investment drive as well as making 2020 ‘the year of gas’.

COVID -19, according to the DPR boss, caused a shutdown of markets globally with impact on all key sectors of global economy, including global tourism, travels, hospitality, energy sector and transportation.

“The sector is also responsible for about 80 per cent of government revenues as it is also the principal source of foreign exchange earnings and Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs).

“There are, expectedly, direct impacts of falling oil prices on the country, which include; change in budget benchmark as well as the revised 2020 budget.

“These have brought about a new normal also known as a new reality which is that Covid-19 may be with us for some time. The world would have to learn to work and live around it,” he said.

According to him, :“the global economies gradual easing of lockdown; slow, sustained growth in the economy and changing work environment and work processes are signs that the world will need to work and live around it”.

Auwalu urged businesses in the sector to deploy online resources, work tools and electronic media resources, noting that businesses must swim to remain afloat or simply drown without innovating.

In spite of the challenges , DPR has determinedly forged ahead with the process culminating in the final selection and leading to the award which is expected to enhance the development of Nigerian content, capacity building, technology transfer and reserves accretion as well as income generation to expand government’s revenue drive.

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IMAGES

T H I S D AY ˾ ˜ ͵˜ ͰͮͰͯ

Photo Editor ÌÓÙÎßØ ÔËÖË Email ËÌÓÙÎßØ˛ËÔËÖË̶ÞÒÓÝÎËãÖÓàÏ˛ÍÙ×

L-R: Mr. Hakeem Odumosu; Commissioner of Police, Lagos Command; Brigadier General Etsu Ndagi, Commander, 9 brigade, Ikeja Army Cantonment; Commodore Ibrahim Aliyu Shettima, Commander, Nigeria Navy Ship (NNS) Beecroft, Apapa; Mr. Tayo Ayinde, representative of Lagos State Governor and the Chief of Staff to the Governor; Assistant Inspector General (AIG) Olasupo Ajani, representative of the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and Air Commodore Rasaq Olanrewaju, Commander, 651 Base Services Group, Nigerian Air Force Base, Ikeja, during the passing out parade of 1,250 Community Policing Special Constabulary Officers at the Police College, Ikeja, Lagos...recently

R-L; Professor Of Law Igbinedion University Okada, Professor O.G Izevbuwa and Nosa Edo-Osagie, Esq during the presentation of Nigeria Bar Association, Benin Branch Life Time Achievers *Award to Osagie at the end of year Annual Bar Dinner ceremonyin Benin....recently

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

L-R; ICAN President, Dame Onome Adewuyi FCA presenting the reviewed accounting curriculum of Nigerian Polytechnics to the Ag. Executive Secretary of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) Tpl. Ekpeyong Ekpeyong in Kaduna....recently

.L-R: Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs ,Disaster management and Social Development, Bashir Nuhu; Deputy Governor of Kano State, Yusuf Gawuna and beneficiary of the Grant, Nafisa dauda, during the flag off of Federal Government Cash Grant to Rural Women in Kano State...recently

L-R; Honourable Federal Commissioner, National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI), Senator Basheer Garba Mohammed (Lado), Ambassador of the State of Qatar, AbdulAziz Mubarak AlMuhannadi, and the deputy director, IDPs of the Commission, Hajiya Fatima Mamman Daura during the donation of the sum of $50, 000 for the construction of an education learning Centre at Wassa IDPs Camp in Abujaat by the State of Qatar at the Embassy in Abuja...recently

L-R: Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, being decorated with the Armed Forces Remembrance Day Emblem by the Chairman, Nigerian Legion, Lagos State Chapter, Col. Samuel Akande (Rtd) during the launch of the Y2021 Armed Forces Remembrance Day Emblem at the Lagos House, Marina...recently

THURSDAY JANUARY 7, 2021 • T H I S D AY

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THURSDAY JANUARY 7, 2021 •T H I S D AY

THURSDAY JANUARY 7, 2021 • T H I S D AY

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T H I S D AY ˾ , JANUARY 7, 2021

HEALTH & LIFESTYLE

ÜÙßÚ ÏËÞßÜÏÝ ÎÓÞÙÜ˝ ÒÓÏ×ÏÖÓÏ äÏÙÌÓ ×ËÓÖ chiemelie.ezeobi@thisdaylive.com, Tel: 07010510430

Tackling Over Population, Unplanned Pregnancies in a Pandemic Era Rebecca Ejifoma reports how six nursing mothers inAlimosho area of Lagos State adopted various methods of post pregnancy family planning to avoid unplanned, and unwanted pregnancies, especially in this COVID-19 pandemic era

P

ost pregnancy family planning is a one-way ticket to preventing unplanned pregnancies, and population explosion. Experts have argued that with this, women will have ample time to regain lost strength and blood, and the population will

be contained.

Before the global pandemic struck, and brought with it months of lockdown accompanied by many choking rules, the use of modern contraceptives was a challenge for some women in Lagos after pregnancy. This was heightened by the lockdown, which came so suddenly, leaving no time for adequate planning, but improvisations.

Despite the suddenness of the lockdown, many new mothers refused to throw caution to the wind- whether the method of contraceptive suited their body or not was no longer an issue, so long it stopped pregnancy, they embraced it.

For these women, part of their fears were: their husbands would be home 24 hours of seven days like never before; everything was bound to happen including exclusive bonding, and unwanted pregnancies.

Mrs. Rachael Sunday One of such women is 30 years old Mrs. Rachael Sunday. Since she had her first baby about 11 months ago, she has never used any method of family planning even though she desires to.

According to 2018 findings by the Nigeria Demographic Health Survey (NDHS), it shows unmet need for family planning increased by three per cent for married women nationally since 2013. With this increase in demand for family planning, Rachael isn’t part of the figures because her husband and her mother forbade her from joining the list of Nigerian married women using one form of modern contraceptives.

She narrated her experience. “My husband and my mother kicked against it strongly. That is why I can’t do it.”

According to this mother of one, her mother’s opinion has more weight in her nuclear home; she would only allow Rachael take up family planning when she is done with childbirth.

“I was given a year plus for maternal leave. I tried to convince her that I want to avoid another pregnancy when my baby is still months old, still she refused,” Rachael expressed.

But for her husband and her mother, Rachael wishes to take up a family planning method to take her mind off unplanned pregnancy while still breastfeeding.

On how she prevents pregnancies, Rachael reveals, “My husband and I try to control ourselves. Not that we are not doing”, she chuckles , “We just try to control ourselves so that I don’t get pregnant”.

Although her husband and her mother have firmly cautioned her against the idea, Rachael has made up her mind to take up a method this year. “That should be this year by the grace of God,” she said clearly, “I will do family planning without my husband’s approval. I want to space my second pregnancy with three years gap. My husband and I want to have three babies only”.

Mrs. Excellent Aliu While Rachael could afford to dot her i’s and cross her t’s during sexual intercourse with her husband, 30 years old Mrs. Excellent Aliu traded hers for relief.

As a new mum, Excellent’s baby is about three months old, but she has taken up a method already. This was because after childbirth in September, this first time mum could not go near her husband because they were both scared of unplanned pregnancy.

“After the first month of childbirth, I remembered the first time we wanted to have sex, we were so cautious and scared. My menses had returned; anything was bound to happen. After spending the time together, it was as if we didn’t do anything. Since we were not too sure and

Mrs. Excellent Aliu and baby

he doesn’t like using condom, I popped up the idea of family planning. He quickly gave the go ahead,” says Excellent.

As a career woman at 32, Excellent wants a space of two years for her babies to enable her be more productive, and healthy.

“By next year, I want to try and fix something for myself. I don’t want a situation before next year I’ll be pregnant again and before you know it, time is running out.”

Excellent has chosen implant to help her achieve her plans in life. “I have done implant. I can remove it after two years.”

The good news for her is that getting implant is not pricey compared to you not doing it at all and getting pregnant.

“The little one you are carrying is still wearing diaper and yet you have started nursing another one again. Why not do the N3,000 implant?” she poses a question.

Although this excited mum admitted that she bled for some days after she took up the implant, “I told a friend and she said it’s just for some time; it’s the body system trying to adjust but it has stopped.”

Mrs. Goodness Now, while Rachael is still indecisive, and Excellent confident in her decision, another 30-year-old mother, who chose to be simply identified as Goodness A., had made up her mind right from the word go.

Today, Goodness is nursing her six weeks old baby girl, and she has taken up a family planning method already.

“I took family planning method on December 1. It is good for child spacing; it helps the mother take care of the ones she already has before giving birth to another,” she expressed with her tender baby girl clinging in front of her.

Luckily for her, her husband holds no grudges against family planning. “My husband I are okay with two years spacing. And we have decided to have three children. I am taking Jadelle.”

Mrs. Damilola and baby

Mrs. Blessing Erukubami Another married woman benefiting from modern contraceptives despite already having three children aged nine, seven, and four is Mrs. Blessing Erukubami, who said: “I have been on implant since 2014 after I had my second child. I removed it after three years and did another one”.

During the COVID-19 lockdown, she rushed to get another implant when she realised the one she had expired already. “I was never scared of getting pregnant. I’ve been on implant although it’s during the COVID-19 lockdown I did this one.”

Although 30 years old Blessing is constantly on implant, she added, “After this, I would like to have two girls. My three children are all boys”.

On the myths and misconceptions clouding the minds of many couples in Lagos, Blessing attested that, “no I’m not getting fat. I used to hear awful things before I did mine, but none of those things are true. The matron who did mine counselled me very well. I’m enjoying it”.

Mrs. Damilola Adebayo 23 years old Damilola Adebayo is a young mum of one actively using Jadelle family planning method.

She recalls, “I used to attend antenatal at Emmanelle Hospital in Idimu when I was pregnant. My matron used to say ‘As soon as you deliver, you can get pregnant’. She told us about family planning so whenever I come for antenatal, I do tell her that if I give birth I would do family planning.”

Damilola’s reason for taking up a method is because she still has many things to do with her youthful life.

“I don’t want to give birth to another child for now. I did jadelle, and it will last for five years. Even my husband accepted it. I don’t have any complaints about it; it’s okay,” says the young mum.

Mrs. Ejiro Peter The case of 34 years old Mrs. Ejiro Peter, with a six-month old baby boy, shows reactions of some husbands to any method of modern contraceptives.

Although she is yet to take up a family planning method, she has made up her mind to go for it now she is done with exclusive breastfeeding.

“I knew about family planning after my marriage three years ago. And I used to watch it on TV even before I got pregnant. I just finished exclusive breastfeeding, so I will take up implant next week during immunisation. It will be for two years since I want two years spacing between my children. I will go to the private facility next week where I had my baby.”

Ejiro has no plans of informing her husband.

“Whether he accepts it or not, I will do it. I deliberately refused to tell him because he will discourage me with ancient myths of how his friend’s wife or neighbour used it and it was not good. I know him.”

Role of Family Planning Providers In a visit to Santa Maria Hospital in Egan area of Lagos, the family planning providers enlightened the nursing mothers during immunisation on how to use the female condom.

Not clear to a few of the women, they feared that the condom may fall into their bodies, and cause harm. The female providers, however, took time to clear their anxiety.

Before this general talk, there was the lockdown, which deprived them of such benefits. Many things happened in many homes including unplanned and unwanted pregnancies; thus, some women sought for abortion.

According to 2012 studies by the NDHS, one of the factors contributing to Nigeria’s maternal mortality rate (MMR) is unsafe abortion. It accounts for 20 to 40 per cent maternal deaths

CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE

T H I S D AY ˾ , JANUARY 7, 2021

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NEWS

FERTILITY

TACKLING OVER POPULATION, UNPLANNED PREGNANCIES IN A PANDEMIC ERA in the country.

In 2012 alone, same study shows that 1.25m induced abortions were recorded in Nigeria.

That is 33 abortions of every 1,000 pregnant women aged 15 to 49.

Sadly, NDHS findings also show that of every 100,000 pregnant women, 512 die during pregnancy or child delivery in the country.

At Santa Maria, the matron, Deborah Dominic and family provider at the clinic detailed her experience. “During the lockdown it was a bit difficult because everyone was afraid to come out and also come to the hospital for fear of contacting the COVID-19.

“Thank God we had this technology where by we were able to make calls on phone and get in touch with most of our clients on phone and during the lockdown.”

At her facility, the matron and her team created a WhatsApp group and added all the nursing mothers, pregnant women, and others who had no interest in conceiving anymore.

“I saw two cases that came back with pregnancies during the lockdown and I told them that we’ve been telling you people at the ANC clinic about family planning but there’s nothing we can do but just to have the baby.

“One of them has a six months old baby, and she is already pregnant. She comes for antenatal, and they are monitoring the other baby. The other one did not return because she wanted a DNC which we don’t do in this hospital, not for millions.”

Another statistics by the NDHS of 2012, reveals that more than 60 per cent of women with unplanned pregnancies did not use contraception, just like the two women at Santa Maria Hospital.

Mrs. Joseph Luisa is the matron and family planning provider of Emmanuelle Hospital, Idimu. Dressed in her lemon green uniform that morning, she shared her in-depth knowledge of the subject.

“During the lockdown, so many things changed, especially the attendance of the antenatal. Most of them were not coming and we were all worried about the fact that they were locked inside with their husbands.

“So many unwanted pregnancies would have come. So, we reached out to our patients by calling and telling them to follow their cycle and the way they can prevent it,” she highlighted.

But one strategy the facility put in place immediately after the lockdown was announced a week ahead, “We shared condoms to our patients so that they will have something to rely on”.

Sadly, one patient, who had stopped childbirth became pregnant during the lockdown.

“We have this patient that was very disappointed because she was to come for her injection during the lockdown, but never showed up, because she travelled. By the time she came back, she was already pregnant. This is someone that doesn’t want to have any child again. She had no choice, but to keep it. She was around for antenatal.”

At Emmanuelle, the matron says there is an increase now in the uptake. “It is now we see an increase. So, we take time to enlighten them on the various methods.”

Partnership with PPFP Meanwhile, some of the knowledge the providers pass on to the women today, they received from the Lagos State Post Pregnancy Family Planning (PPFP).

“PPFP has been wonderful, and very good friendly staff. We enjoyed most of their seminars frequently. When we get back to our facility we train other people. They visited the hospital and did a makeup room, which is very fantastic,” the matron disclosed.

Like Santa Maria, Emmanuelle Hospital boasts of the intensified training PPFP equipped them with.

“We knew about family planning not that we are not doing it, but the way they made us understand it now is in-depth. During COVID-19 period, they assisted us with some of the preventive equipment and they are always there whenever we are in need.

I’m happy about the partnership,” Luisa said. &GGPSUT CZ -BHPT 4UBUF (PWFSONFOU From the narration of the providers, it shows that Lagos State is indeed making progress following its approval of N92m budget allocation for family planning in June to train health workers, establish youth-friendly centres, and procurement of family planning consumables and supplies.

Rachael Sunday and baby

According to the Reproductive Health Coordinator, Lagos State Ministry of Health, Dr. Victoria Omoera, it has been a wonderful year with COVID-19.

For a lot of client wanting to access not just family planning services, but services across board, there has been this fear to come to the health facility “That exposure to COVID-19 increases”.

Omoera did not only assure nursing mothers that at the family planning clinic, they are ready to receive them, she also noted that they have stagnated appointment to ensure that they maintain some social and physical distancing for the safety of all.

“More importantly, our health care workers, family planning providers have PPE. We guarantee we can maintain infection prevention, and ready to work.

“We are open for service because the clinics didn’t shut. We are doing stagnated appointment; we render services. We don’t do sitting down together to have general talks to them – as you come in, we see you, and you go.”

For the Lagos State government, its partnership with private health facilities on post pregnancy family planning is part of its efforts to purge the state of unplanned pregnancies, abortion, and increase in maternal mortality in the state.

With its efforts, nursing mothers are gradually exuding confidence, adopting post pregnancy family as the soothing panacea to unplanned pregnancies.

Findings The National Population Commission and the Federal Ministry of Health May 2019 findings released their 2018 Demographic Health Survey findings which showed that contraceptive prevalence rate (CPR) for married women aged 15 and 49 using both traditional and modern methods slightly rose from 48.3 to 49.4 between 2013 and 2018.

Other states with increase in CPR are: Adamawa State recorded the highest increase at 470; Gombe followed with an impressive 325 per cent increase (from 4 to 17). While Kebbi State had 169 increase, Benue got 63 per cent, Plateau had 49 per cent rise; Ogun got 24 per cent rise; Niger had 15 per cent increase; and Lagos had two per cent.

Whereas states like Kwara decreased by 44 per cent; Oyo decreased by 40 per cent; Kaduna slashed by 26 per cent; Nasarawa slashed by 18 per cent; and Cross River went down by 17 per cent.

Although Nigeria set a goal to increase the modern CPR to 27 per cent of all women, it is still at 15 per cent. This shows that Excellent and Goodness are among the total number of married women using modern contraceptives in Lagos State, which contributed to the two per cent increase.

with DR. KEMI AILOJE Info@lifelinkfertility.com; Website: lifelinkfertility.com 08033083580

STRESS AND INFERTILITY (Part 1)

I

n today’s modern, fast paced society it is easy for people to become overburdened with the pressure of work, bills, targets and deadlines cumulatively resulting in stressful conditions. We experience stress in varying forms and degree every day.

In fact, one would almost think that being stressed is the norm, and if you are not, it must mean there is something wrong with you, or you are laid back.

Realistically in small doses stress can actually be beneficial to us. However, when stress becomes excessive, it begins to impact negatively on our physical/ mental health and has also been found to affect reproductive functions.

What is Stress?

Stress is the body’s way of responding to any kind of demand or threat, when it senses danger whether it is real or imagined. The body’s defenses are kicked to high gear in a rapid, automatic process known as a fight or flight reaction or the stress response. The stress respond is the body’s way of protecting you.

What is Infertility?

Just to remind us again infertility is the inability of a couple to become pregnant regardless of cause after one year of regular, unprotected sexual intercourse.

How Then Can Stress Have an Effect onInfertility?

Believe it or not, our bodies are equipped to prevent conception from occurring during times of extreme stress. The presence of adrenaline, the hormone that is released by our bodies during stressful times, signals to our body that the condition is not ideal for conception. Adrenaline inhibits us from utilizing the hormone progesterone which is essential for fertility. It also causes the pituitary gland to release higher levels of Prolactin, which also causes infertility to occur.

Stress also interferes with conception by affecting the function of the hypothalamus, the gland in the brain that regulates your appetite and emotions as well as the hormone that signals the ovaries to release eggs. If you are stressed out you may ovulate later in your cycle or not even ovulate at all.

Stress boosts levels of stress hormones, such as Adrenaline, Catecholamine and Cortisol, which can inhibit the release of the body’s main reproductive hormones the GnRH (Gonadotropin Releasing Hormone) which is responsible for the release of sex hormones. Subsequently this may suppress ovulation in women, reduce sperm count in men and lower libido in both women and men. The GnRH manufactured by

the Hypothalamus is very important for reproduction as it is responsible for signaling the release of Luteinizing hormone (LH) and Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) from the pituitary gland.

These hormones stimulates the organs of reproduction (ovaries in women and testis in men) to release sex hormones.

The FSH and LH then rises, stimulates the ovaries in females to produce progesterone and estrogen which plays vital role in development of ovulation and implantation.

High level of this hormone also sends a message to the hypothalamus in the brain to stop producing and this is referred to as negative feedback mechanism (negative feedback inhibition). Any disruption to GnRH may cause insufficient release of hormones from the pituitary gland which can cause their target organs to no longer work as they should and in extreme cases atrophy (shrink) over time and no longer function.

Chronic stress may cause lack of libido as well as a decrease in fertility. This has become such a common issue known medically as Stress Induced Reproductive Dysfunction.

These are very important facts to consider if you have been trying to conceive with no results. Stress relief should be part of every couple’s plan even if they are going through assisted conception such as IVF or even natural conception.

Trying to carry pregnancy to term during stressful time places the baby at risk. The body knows this and that is why it creates an environment that is basically hostile to conception. Generally, a stressed person is an unhealthy person. People living with high stress levels are typically overly tired and filled with nervous tension, which may cause them to choose poor dietary habits and lifestyle.

Reducing Stress to Enhance Fertility If you are having difficulty conceiving, stress may also be a factor to consider. If you have had fertility test performed and have found that there is no explainable medical reason for your fertility, it is time to evaluate your lifestyle and determine how stressed you have been, in which case it is time to start defeating that stress to boost your fertility. If your job is really stressful, you may begin to look for a different job or you need to reorganize your work plan.

Though reducing stress in life is of course obviously easier said than done, conscious effort must be made to achieve this. This will not only help fertility but also your overall wellbeing/health and quality of life……….. t5P CF DPOUJOVFE OFYU XFFL

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T H I S D AY ˾ , JANUARY 7, 2021

HEALTH

New CBN Reform on Remittance: Opportunities for Health Financing in Nigeria Dr. Olumide Okunola The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on November 30, 2020 released a circular aimed at liberalising and simplifying the administration of remittances by the diaspora into Nigeria. In brief the circular allowed for beneficiaries to receive remittances into their ordinary domiciliary accounts in USD or receive the USD in cash ultimately allowing beneficiaries to receive “market reflective” exchange rates for their inflows. The Governor of the CBN emphasized the need for the policy reform as one of the ways to boost remittance inflows and foster an environment that would facilitate a faster and more convenient flow of remittances to Nigeria. The policy is an acknowledgement of the importance of remittances on the Nigerian economy. The reforms by the CBN addresses access issues for remittances but this article proposes the enhancement of the use of remittances for accelerated human capital development. It specifically outlines opportunities to reduce the high out of pocket expenditures by Nigerians when they require healthcare services by leveraging on this innovative reform by the CBN. In the last decade remittances to Nigeria have gradually grown larger than both Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and Official Development Assistance (ODA) to Nigeria. For a better appreciation of how large remittances have grown in Nigeria a comparison to oil revenues is important. In 2018 the oil sector accounted for about 8.7 percent of our GDP and contributed about 50 per cent of government revenues and 80 per cent of exports. In the same period remittance inflows was equivalent to 6 percent of our GDP and 40% of our exports.

The Nigeria diaspora population is significant with an estimated 15-17 million Nigerans dispersed across the globe; It is also not obvious to many that there is an equally large population of Nigerian diasporans on the continent itself. A survey in 2006 identified Nigeria as the biggest identified country recipient of respondent remittances (17%) from the UK; the survey further noted that Nigerians remit relatively higher levels of remittance (£1,022) higher than the Africa average remittance value (£875). Overall, Nigerians in diaspora remitted a whopping 24 Billion USD back to Nigeria in 2018.

It is widely acknowledged that remittances are the most tangible and least controversial link between migration and development. Unlike oil prices that are volatile in an economic downturn remittances’ are relatively stable and are countercyclical. On the last point during a recession people tend to send more money to relatives and beneficiaries back home. A rational response by governments in a recession is a pro cyclical approach where cuts are implemented in reaction to an economic downturn. The remittances are associated with poverty reduction, helping households at home diversify their sources of income and more significantly increases household’s investment in their human capital accumulation efforts including education and health. Though remittances to Nigeria are expected to plunge by over 25 percent in 2020, because of the protracted interruption of economic activity in the main destinations of Nigerian emigrants, the US and UK. In a post COVID era migrants will continue to send money home for healthcare services.

One out of two Nigerians live in a household that receive remittances. It is shown that households invest remittances productively in physical and human capital with an average of 12 per cent utilized for healthcare. There is a linkage between remittances and increase in access and utilization of healthcare services but also that an increase in remittances will also lead to an

Dr. Okunola

increase in healthcare utilization. The remittances for healthcare are mainly used by the poor, low income wage earners, those living in rural areas, it helps in increasing information about better healthcare practices and for accessing much needed primary healthcare services. Households headed by women spend more on healthcare than those headed by men. Furthermore, in an environment where people seek care from informal providers the use of remittances for healthcare is associated with modern and better-quality healthcare.

Undoubtedly the huge inflows of remittances can complement Nigeria’s universal health coverage (UHC) aspirations considering that it will facilitate the inclusion of the very people currently not enjoying any service or at best limited service.

So how can remittances help this situation and more importantly how can the reforms by the CBN support such efforts? This article identifies two areas for action on the use of remittances for healthcare.

Firstly – Defiscalization of migrant savings linked to payments for healthcare in source country. We have a lot to learn from the example of the French government who introduced individualization and “bancarization” codevelopment aid. In this regard French Banks offered individual migrants tax breaks through a special “codevelopment savings account” or “bank passbook” who invests his or her savings profitably in his or her source country. This example can be adopted to serve

the health sector in Nigeria. Doing so will entail a partnership between Nigeria and one of the destination countries as a proof of concept. The pact between the French and Senegal governments is a case in point. Design features will include ensuring that the beneficiary opens a health wallet wherein the payments are tagged to healthcare. The wallet will be equivalent to the payment of a subscription to a risk pool.

We might argue about the voluntary arrangement inherent in this kind of initiative, but it explicitly complements the mandatory health insurance arrangements back at home in Nigeria.

To enhance the redistributive capacity of such contributions the payments are linked to existing compulsory prepaid pools thus increasing the diversity of the health risks covered in these pools and reducing fragmentation in the overall structure of pooling.

Secondly – the costs of transfer of remittances can be waived or significantly reduced if it is specifically tagged for healthcare. The holy grail of remittances is how to lower the transfer costs of remittances. The SDGs target a reduction in the cost of transfer from an average of 7% to less than 3% by 2030. Countries in Sub Saharan Africa like Nigeria continued to have the highest average cost, at 9.3 percent far above the global average. These mark up costs (premiums) can be translated into demand side subsidies by the host nation of the person sending the remittance

if the purpose is tagged for healthcare. The same arrangements described above under defiscalization will hold.

Overall, remittances can be a more sustainable way of development assistance for health and can be another way of diversifying revenues for Social health insurance schemes at home. At 10 per cent of current level of remittance spent on health care this translates to 2.4B USD or just about a Trillion Naira per annum! Whilst not replacing public financing it will be a much-needed complement.

The reform by the CBN is a first step in the right direction and will be a critical enabler for the use of remittances for healthcare as highlighted in this article. Policy implications are that opportunities exist to incentivize migrants to remit specifically for healthcare in Nigeria as it encourages the pooling of the current fragmented remittances for much larger impact; deepens a fragile health market and ultimately boost our human capital development efforts. The injection of such funding to the health sector will go a long way in contributing to stemming the billions of Naira lost to medical tourism and save hard earned foreign exchange.

Lastly, it will also support efforts to keep our rather limited number of human resources for health back at home. t0LVOPMB B 4FOJPS )FBMUI 4QFDJBMJTU XJUI 8PSME #BOL /JHFSJB XSPUF JO WJB PPLVOPMB! JGD PSH

Colgate Launches Thematic Campaign to Drive Cavity Awareness Rebecca Ejifoma Colgate, one of the leading toothpaste brands in the country, has launched a new thematic campaign to drive awareness around cavities and oral care in the Nigeria market.

Tagged “Calcium in, Cavities out” according to the CEO Colgate Tolaram LFTZ Enterprise, Mr. Girish Sharma, the thematic campaign aims to sensitise the consumers on ways to prevent, fight cavity, and promote

dental hygiene and wellness by strengthening teeth and freshening breath.

While hinting that the campaign highlights the significance of calcium to dental health, Sharma said it is currently running Pan-Nigeria on television, radio, digital and OOH platforms.

“It has become more imperative that Nigerians take their dental health more seriously by keeping up with a comprehensive oral hygiene

routine,” he said.

According to the CEO, more than half of the Nigerian population is confronted with problems associated with toothache or tooth hole most of which are due to cavities. “Cavity is majorly caused by the changing food habits of consumers. The present situation of dental care in Nigeria requests serious attention.

“The population of dentist to patient ratio in Nigeria is very low compared to the WHO standard recommendation,”

he bemoaned. He further highlighted the importance of oral care to human overall health and wellness, and preventing cavity is one of the cardinal part of enjoying a good oral health.

“It is, therefore, imperative to create awareness around oral care, and as such preventive oral care must take the forefront,” Sharma said.

In his remarks, the Brand Manager, Colgate, Mr. Vibhanshu Malpani explained that cavities could be prevented by using

the Colgate maximum cavity protection toothpaste brand.

He said it is clinically proven to prevent cavities through Its expert fluoride formula that ensures natural calcium deposition on the outer layer of tooth which is called enamel.

Malpani, however, noted that Colgate Maximum Cavity Protection Toothpaste is made from carefully selected active ingredients to protect the teeth from cavity while ensuring general oral health.

He added that the brand contains natural mint, which gives users fresh breath.

He further affirmed that Colgate Maximum Cavity Protection toothpaste is a family toothpaste brand that helps users to fight sugar acids in plaque, which is the number one cause of cavities.

He disclosed that Colgate Maximum Cavity Protection Toothpaste is also recommended by the Nigerian Dental Association.

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T H I S D AY ˾ , JANUARY 7, 2021

HEALTH

To Trust or Not to Trust: Vaccine Hesitancy and the Need for Different Strategy Adaeze Oreh

C

urrently, there is a wide gap between science and the public who are required to translate these newly developed vaccines into sufficient global protection from COVID-19. Until that gap is closed with a robust public communications strategy, safe and effective though the vaccine may be, it will remain unacceptable to a significant proportion of the world’s population.

Introduction Bill Gates believes that 2021 will be better than 2020 for two major reasons. The first reason why he is so hopeful is that many of the preventive measures against COVID-19 – such as the wearing of masks, regular handwashing, and social distancing – will curb the rampant spread of the virus, while vaccines against the pandemic are being manufactured and distributed globally. His second reason is that towards the end of the first quarter of 2021, the release of recently approved vaccines and other treatments for the Sars-Cov-2 virus infection would have been distributed in sufficient numbers enough to create a ‘global impact’.To Tru With over 80 million confirmed cases across the world and over 1.7 million deaths, it is little wonder that the news of approved vaccines from several pharmaceutical companies have generated significant interest and not a little controversy.

Progress Barely two weeks ago, a U.K. grandmotherbecame the first person in the world to receive the vaccine, which was the first of nearly one million doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine to become available worldwide. The 91-year-old Margaret Keenan even termed the vaccine “the best early birthday present”.

Nigeria’s Health minister recently revealed the government’s plans to vaccinate up to 20 million Nigerians. Unfortunately, this excitement is not universal, and the world over, there is public hesitancy and mistrust surrounding the COVID-19 vaccines, especially amongst Black, Asian and other minority ethnicities. Ironically, it is these same groups that have been hit the hardest by the pandemic, with higher case ratios and numbers of people dead from infection with the virus.

In fact, the sheer speed with which the vaccines have been rolled out, while deemed one of the most significant scientific feats of the year, has been the cause of concern for some. In less than a year, vaccines to a relatively new viral organism have been created, when typically the process could take well over a decade. Effective vaccines against HIV and malaria are yet to be produced, even after these diseases have been on the rampage for decades, and decimated millions globally – especially in sub-Saharan Africa. In addition, reports of severe allergic reactions in a handful of recipients have fed into the narrative of those who fear the vaccine and these sentiments have therefore raised concerns more over the safety of the COVID-19 vaccine than its efficacy.

To better understand some of the hesitancy and lack of trust surrounding the vaccines against COVID-19, one must return to distant and notso-distant history.

Is vaccination the way out?

The safety and efficacy of the vaccines followed rigorous protocols involving tens of thousands of informed participants, data verification by external committees of scientists, followed by independent recommendations that the vaccines be authorised for public use. In a nutshell, there was zero political interference…

Clinical Trials In the Tuskegee clinical trials that began in 1932, 600 black men were supposedly being treated by researchers for syphilis. However, they were given insufficient information about the study, and received inadequate treatment, even when penicillin became known as an effective treatment for syphilis. In exchange for participating in the study, these men received inducements such as free meals, and burial insurance. This went on for 40 years, despite being projected to last no more than six months; and many of the study participants were simply observed for the effects of the disease on their bodies until they eventually died. The public outrage following this led to stringent recommendations regarding future ethical conduct pertaining to clinical trials.

In Northern Nigeria, cerebrospinal meningitis outbreaks are a common occurrence, and in 1996 an outbreak occurred in Kano State, affecting mainly children. Pharmaceutical company, Pfizer, began a trial of its drug, Trovan, on about 200 children without securing the required authorisation, and was accused by a government-constituted investigative panel to have led “…an illegal trial of an unregistered drug” by exploiting the poor, uneducated and desperate. The company later paid out about $175,000 in an out-of-court settlement to each of the four families whose children died from the experimental drug. The total settlement paid

by Pfizer then would have been the equivalent of approximately N315 million today.

Misinformation around infectious disease outbreaks is not new, as was seen during the Ebola incidence and now during COVID-19. Therefore,

providing verifiable information about the pandemic and the COVID-19 vaccine is therefore vital, and needs a carefully considered and multi-sectoral approach.

Given a history of several clinical trials that have been unethical and resulted in severe harm to vulnerable members of society – children from poor, uneducated families in Kano, and African American men in Tuskegee as few examples, it is not implausible that a significant number of members of the public are wary of receiving the COVID-19 vaccines that have been developed following a programme termed ‘Operation Warp Speed’, not to mention those who are avidly against vaccines in general.

The safety and efficacy of the vaccines followed rigorous protocols involving tens of thousands of informed participants, data verification by external committees of scientists, followed by independent recommendations that the vaccines be authorised for public use. In a nutshell, there was zero political interference, and no shortcuts were taken during the vaccine development process.

Vaccine communication cannot rest within the domain of the health sector alone. Other sectors must be involved – information, communications, labour, women, and youth, to mention some critical stakeholders for an effective communication strategy.

Unfortunately, there is no way for the public to know this if a deliberate strategy is not implemented to communicate such details. The remarkable progress achieved with the roll-out of the COVID-19 vaccine globally will however need to overcome the enormous challenge of public mistrust to secure people’s commitment to receiving it.

Generally, vaccinations have endured a tenuous relationship with the public, and unless there is widespread belief in the safety and effectiveness of the vaccine, this scientific feat of a landmark vaccine developed in record time to quash an

incessantly ravaging pandemic will fail to confer the anticipated herd immunity. The reason being that its protection of populations relies on a significant number of people to be vaccinated.

Communication Vaccine communication cannot rest within the domain of the health sector alone. Other sectors must be involved – information, communications, labour, women, and youth, to mention some critical stakeholders for an effective communication strategy. While health ministries and agencies can develop the core messages, they need to work with non-health actors, communications specialists, and community structures to prune and disseminate these messages to the public in ways that are scientifically sound and yet culturally and societally acceptable. This would ensure clarity, understanding, and reach, therefore avoiding widespread misinformation and panic.

This strategy proved eminently useful during the polio eradication campaigns that successfully led to Nigeria being declared free of the wild polio virus several months ago, despite accounting for over half of polio cases worldwide as at 2012.

Currently, there is a wide gap between science and the public who are required to translate these newly developed vaccines into sufficient global protection from COVID-19. Until that gap is closed with a robust public communications strategy, safe and effective though the vaccine may be, it will remain unacceptable to a significant proportion of the world’s population. Only when the vaccine is accepted and received will it be able to confer any protection whatsoever and halt the steady stream of deaths from COVID-19 across the world. t0SFI JT B $POTVMUBOU 'BNJMZ 1IZTJDJBO JO "CVKB BOE )FBE PG 1MBOOJOH 3FTFBSDI BOE 4UBUJTUJDT GPS /JHFSJB T /BUJPOBM #MPPE 5SBOTGVTJPO 4FSWJDF 4IF JT BMTP B 4FOJPS 'FMMPX GPS (MPCBM )FBMUI XJUI UIF "TQFO *OTUJUVUF JO 8BTIJOHUPO % $

Communities to Benefit from N12.2M Medical Cabins as Obadina Becomes RC Maryland’s President Sunday Ehigiator Living up to one of the key focus of rotary, which is ‘providing affordable and accessible health care to the public’, the Rotary Club (RC) of Maryland has revealed that members of rural communities in Ogun State, are to benefit from two mobile medical cabins, worth N12.2 million, which will be donated to the communities very soon.

This is coming even as Obafemi Obadina, was sworn in as the 19th President of the Rotary Club of Maryland, in Ikeja area of Lagos state, last

Rebecca Ejifoma

Saturday.

Speaking to THISDAY on few of the projects the club intends to carryout within the next one year he will serve as president, Obadina said, “We have a lot of plans and activity to serve humanity.

“The star project for this year is the donation of fully equipped Mobile Medical Cabin to rural communities in Ogun State, we will be doing two units of that.

We also want to provide clean water and sanitation to rural communities.

“Also, we have supported our adopted schools in the area of basic education and literacy by

renovating their water and toilet facility and making donations of PPE’s to their students within the current pandemic period.

“We have also rehabilitated the water and toilet facility at the Onigbongbon market in the rotary year, and we also plan to donate an e-library to Wasinmi Community Senior high school under our basic education and literacy project.”

Obadina added that rotary is “guided by seven areas of focus, hence any project that we are building has to be within environment, basic education and literacy, water sanitation and hygiene, peace and conflict

resolution, maternal and child health, and lastly, disease prevention and treatment.

“Under the environment we have planted trees, and right now we are constructing an incinerator at a market in Mende. In rotary we are here to serve humanity. We are going to build a monument at the Maryland roundabout, showing traffic signs and rules, to support the environment,” he said.

Speaking to his keynote address on the theme, ‘Nigeria in Economic Despair at 60’, Prof of Economic, Pan-Atlantic University, Prof. Perekunah

Eregha noted that, Nigeria as at today has about 98 million people in poverty. “And we have an inflation that is about 13.7 per cent, and it has been said that in every minute, six Nigerians fall into poverty, and in every five out of dropout children in the world, there is a Nigerian.”

He however recommended that, as a country we need to sit down and see whether the political system we are currently running is working for us.

“We must sit-down to look at our institutions, vis-a-vis the rule of law, transparency and accountability, regulatory quality, it’s effectiveness, and

political structures that will move us forward. That is very important,” he said Speaking to THISDAY on his expectations from his successor, the immediate past President of the club, RTN. Adewale Sanni, said he expects more synergy from between the board members and the executives, so the club can continue from where it stopped.

Shedding more insights to the plan of the club for the year, the District Governor for District 9110 Nigeria, Bola Oyebade, also a member of the club noted that “the mobile medical cabin would cost not less than N12.5 million.

36

T H I S D AY ˾ ˜ JANUARY 7, 2021

BUSINESS/MONEYGUIDE

Stanbic IBTC Sets Up Vocational Centre for Young Inmates Oluchi Chibuzor Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc has donated a vocational centre to one of its host communities.

According to a statement, the Finance Department of the organisation recently built a fully equipped vocational centre at the Borstal Training Institute (BTI), Abeokuta, Ogun State, as part of its Corporate Social Investment (CSI) initiative. The BTI is the Nigerian Correctional Service’s juvenile arm, set up to correct, train, reform, rehabilitate, and reintegrate young offenders.

The vocational centre built and donated by the Finance Department of Stanbic IBTC at BTI in Abeokuta, is a facility where young male inmates are exposed to various skills acquisition trainings like carpentry, tailoring and ICT. The BTI facility at Abeokuta is one of the three borstals in

Nigeria, and it serves the entire Southern part of the country. The other two are located in Kaduna and Kwara States.

Speaking on the rationale behind the donation, Head, Sustainability, Stanbic IBTC Holdings, Omolola Fashesin, said: “At Stanbic IBTC, we pay strong attention to empowerment, being one of the pillars around which our CSI initiative revolves. We delight in seeing people succeed and advance financially, and we empower them to be able to make and act on economic decisions.”

She added: “To achieve societal and economic empowerment, young people need the skills and resources to compete in markets, as well as fair and equal access to economic institutions. This is what we provide at Stanbic IBTC. It is the beginning of a cumulative process that will allow these young men to develop the knowledge, skills and confidence

they need to succeed.”

Appreciating the staff of Stanbic IBTC’s Finance Department for the positive contributions to the lives of the inmates, Comptroller of Corrections, Ogun State Command, Mojeed Adeniran, noted that the donation would help the skill development of the trainees, as correctional centres serve to correct and build the capacities of the inmates.

Also, Executive Director, Prisoners’ Rights Advocacy Initiative, Ahmed Adetola Kazeem was quoted in the statement to have urged other corporate organisations to match the commitment to social and economic growth, as displayed by Stanbic IBTC Holdings. He noted that the donation would help transform the lives of young inmates at the facility, empowering them to be better citizens of the country while contributing their quota to the nation’s development.

MARKET INDICATORS

Remittances: Customers Commend Polaris Bank on Dollars Payout Polaris Bank said it has continued to receive plaudits from its customers since it commenced payment of US dollars to beneficiaries of money transfer in line with Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) recent payout policy directive.

The bank noted, shortly after it sent out notices to customers that beneficiaries of money transfer who received their remittance in US dollars in cash or directly into domiciliary account have been very impressed with the Bank’s seamless service.

A statement explained that Mrs. Osaretin Efosa, a beneficiary who walked into Forestry branch of the Bank in Benin, Edo State during the festive season said she received money remitted to her for the very first time ever from her son who only recently traveled to the United States of America.

Efosa who was accompanied to the branch by her daughter was nonetheless nervous being her first time. “The money transfer attendant I met in the branch received and attended to me well and in less than 5

minutes I was counting dollars with my own hands,” she said.

Also, it quoted Mr. Segun Adetiloye from Ikotun branch to have said he did not believe that the bank was serious about paying customers in dollars when he received the notice, until he actually went to the branch to pick up his remittances and saw that he was handed crisp dollar notes.

“Polaris Bank made my Christmas and new year celebrations memorable,” was the excited remark from another customer, Okechukwu Nnamdi of Alekuwodo branch in Osogbo, Osun State branch of the Bank who could not hold back her joy.

“I did not know this notice can be true. I thought on getting to the branch, we will hear another story, but I received dollars sent to me by my younger brother in America live and direct from my branch in Alekuwodo. Thank you Polaris Bank.”

Polaris Bank’s Group Head, Product and Market Development, Mrs. Adebimpe Ihekuna

had disclosed at the launch of USD payout that all beneficiaries are able to receive their funds conveniently in dollars within minutes with a valid identification, including BVN, urging Nigerians in the Diaspora and their beneficiaries to take advantage of the seamless remittance dollar cash payout option service in the Bank to receive their transfers this festive season.

Polaris Bank has existing relationship with all leading and licensed global money transfer operators, which makes it easy for Nigerians to receive money through the Bank’s large network of over 300 branches and dedicated money transfer locations across major cities.

With over 15 million Nigerians’ in the Diaspora and an estimated $25 billion in annual remittances, Nigeria is the 5th largest receiver of diaspora remittances in the World. Polaris Bank is a future-determining bank committed to the delivering industry-defining products for individuals and businesses.

MONEY AND CREDIT STATISTICS Money Supply (M3)

36,822,751.47

-- CBN Bills Held by Money Holding Sectors

3,476,121.25

Money Supply (M2)

33,346,630.22

-- Quasi Money

120,764,479.02

-- Narrow Money (M1)

12,582,151.19

---- Currency Outside Banks

2,002,026.89

---- Demand Deposits

10,580,124.31

Net Foreign Assets (NFA)

7,637,137.23

Net Domestic Assets(NDA)

29,185,614.24

-- Net Domestic Credit (NDC)

39,711,115.95

---- Credit to Government (Net)

Sunday Okobi Hope seems to be on the horizon for some parts of Nigeria presently experiencing lack of quality drinkable water, as a new technology has been developed

by Watergen Technology to provide potable water for the populace experiencing drinkable water scarcity.

The developer of this new technology has called on the Nigerian government, public and private organisations for partnership in order to solve the problem of potable water in Nigerian through this technology.

At a press briefing to usher in the project in Nigeria, which was held in Lagos yesterday, the Technology Consultant of Watergen, Mr. Ibelema Obomanu, revealed that, “Watergen is a unique technology to solve water challenges. It is a machine that collects humid air from the atmosphere, cleanses the air, condenses it into water, adds essential minerals to the water,

19,521,851.08

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

0.00

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

0.00

---- Credit to Private Sector (CPS)

-130,189,264.87

--Other Assets Net

3,472,017.70

Reserve Money (Base Money

13,421,827.07

--Currency in Circulation

2,395,917.03

--Banks Reserves --Special Intervention Reserves

11,025,910.04 317,234.17

˾ ÙßÜÍÏ ̋

Money Market Indicators (in Percentage) Month

Firm Unveils Project to Solve Water Scarcity in Nigeria

(MILLION NAIRA)

JULY 2020

Inter-Bank Call Rate

March 2018 15.16

Minimum Rediscount Rate (MRR)

chills the water and releases it for consumption.”

He added that its source was from the abundant water molecules floating in the air rather than from the rivers, streams, ground or subterranean sources which may have been polluted by arsenic and nitrates.

Obomanu noted that, “Watergen requires no piping, because it is a stand-alone water generating source, which also discourages the use of plastic bottles. It is an energy efficient machine that utilises any available power source like solar energy and electric generators.

“This technology solves the drinking water problem for remote and city dwellers where there is no available clean drinking water.

“Smaller units can be installed in homes and for office use while larger units can be installed in communities, use in Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps,

remote military bases, military vehicles, ships, marine vessels, ambulances, buses and utility vehicles to solve the drinking water problems. It can also be installed in hospitals, city centres, other facilities, campuses among others. Currently, it is affordable for exclusive individuals, institutions and companies.”

He added: “Local government councils, NGOs and governmental agencies can acquire and install it as one of their various people oriented projects.

Federal and state legislators can also deploy them as part of their constituency projects.

“We need to bring its awareness, benefits and uses to the public in Nigeria because of the impact it can create to solving water challenges. We also need to have targeted promos to niche markets and buyers. We welcome investors, government appointed and elected officials and charity organisations to make this venture a beneficial project for their people.”

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 ˜ ͯ͵ ͰͮͰͮ

The price of OPEC basket of thirteen crudes stood at $50.78 a barrel on Thursday, compared with $50.12 the previous day, according to OPEC Secretariat calculations.

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

37

T H I S D AY ˾ ˜ ͵˜ ͰͮͰͯ

Actis’Exit: C & I Leasing Shareholders Assured of Improved Returns Goddy Egene The Chairman and Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Peace Mass Transit Limited, Dr. Sam Maduka Onyishi, has assured shareholders and other stakeholders of C & I Leasing Plc that the buying into the company

by Peace Mass Transit would lead to better return on investments.

Actis LLP (Actis), a private equity investment firm, which invested in C & I Leasing Plc in

2010, has successfully exited its stake in through a trade sale of its loan stock with all the rights to Peace Mass Transit. Upon conversion of the loan stock into equity, Peace Mass Transit would become the single largest shareholder in C & I Leasing Plc. Speaking on the development, Onyishi said the decision to invest in C&I Leasing “is a no-brainer,” judging from the company’s remarkable growth trajectory in marine logistics and its other

P R I C E S MAIN BOARD

F O R DEALS

business lines.

“We have seen the value in C&I Leasing as a strong brand, hence it is a no brainer that we opted to buy out the loan stock from Actis, in a deal which we are confident will yield the expected return on investment,” he said.

Also commenting on the transaction, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of C&I Leasing, Andrew Otike-Odibi, said: “As a viable business with a solid investment proposition and

S E C U R I T I E S

MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N )

consistent growth in the last 30 years, we strive to increase our momentum to ensure positive return on investment to investors both in the short and long run.

According to him, this strategic deal is evidence of a well matured investment portfolio and in line with stakeholder expectations.

“With Peace Mass Transit in the picture, I am very confident about the path of an enhanced equity base. The loan stock conversion will create opportunities to

T R A D E D MAIN BOARD

A S

raise equity as new shareholders will have a level playing field to invest in a business with a proven track record of success.

This will further impact positively on shareholders’ value,” OtikeOdibi added.

Market analysts said the deal as a win-win for all parties, noting that while Actis has cashed out on its investment, Peace Mass Transit’s increased investment in C&I Leasing is a glowing testimony to the fact that the

O F

company is in good standing, attractive, competitive, holding good prospects and primed to harness future opportunities in its core areas of operations while stabilising its capital structure.

Meanwhile, the stock market closed on a positive note as the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) All-Share Index (ASI) rose 0.17 per cent to be at 40,465.15.

Similarly, the market caitalisation added N36.1 billion to close at N21.2 trillion.

0 6 / 0 1 / 2 0 2 1 DEALS

MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N)

THURSDAY, JANUARY 7, 2021 ˾ T H I S D AY

38

MARKET NEWS

Access Bank Completes Acquisition of Cavmont Bank in Zambia Goddy Egene

yesterday said its Zambian acquisition of Cavmont Bank regulatory approvals. before the end of January and Access subsidiary, Access Bank (Zambia) Limited, following fulfilment of the The merger of Cavmont into Bank Zambia will emerge as stronger, The Board of Access Bank Plc Limited has completed the key conditions precedent including Access Bank Zambia will take place well-capitalised banking franchise A Mutual fund (Unit Trust) is an investment floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

Offer price: The price at which units of a trust or vehicle managed by a SEC (Securities and A REIT (Real Estate Investment Trust) is an ETF are bought by investors.

Exchange Commission) registered Fund Manager. investment vehicle that allows both small and Bid Price: The price at which Investors Investors with similar objectives buy units of the large investors to part-own real estate ventures (eg. redeem (sell) units of a trust or ETF. Fund so that the Fund Manager can buy securities Offices, Houses, Hospitals) in proportion to their Yield/Total Return: Denotes the total that willl generate their desired return. investments. The assets are divided into shares that return an investor would have earned on An ETF (Exchange Traded Fund) is a type are traded on the Nigerian Stock Exchange. his investment. Money Market Funds report of fund which owns the assets (shares of stock, Yield while others report Year- to-date Total bonds, oil futures, gold bars, foreign currency, GUIDE TO DATA: Return. etc.) and divides ownership of those assets into Date: All fund prices are quoted in Naira as at 05- NAV: Is value per share of the real estate shares. Investors can buy these ‘shares’ on the Jan-2021, unless otherwise stated. assets held by a REIT on a specific date.

with improved scale and capacity to deliver best-in-class financial services in the Zambian market.

DAILY PRICE LIST FOR MUTUAL FUNDS, REITS and ETFS MUTUAL FUNDS / UNIT TRUSTS AFRINVEST ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD aaml@afrinvest.com Web: www.afrinvest.com; Tel: +234 818 885 6757 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Afrinvest Equity Fund N/A N/A N/A Afrinvest Plutus Fund N/A N/A N/A Nigeria International Debt Fund N/A N/A N/A Afrinvest Dollar Fund N/A N/A N/A ALTERNATIVE CAPITAL PARTNERS LTD info@acapng.com Web: www.acapng.com, Tel: +234 1 291 2406, +234 1 291 2868 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn ACAP Canary Growth Fund N/A N/A N/A ACAP Income Funds N/A N/A N/A AIICO CAPITAL LTD ammf@aiicocapital.com Web: www.aiicocapital.com, Tel: +234-1-2792974 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AIICO Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 1.52% AIICO Balanced Fund 3.55 3.70 -0.22% ANCHORIA ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED info@anchoriaam.com Web:www.anchoriaam.com, Tel: 08166830267; 08036814510; 08028419180 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Anchoria Money Market 100.00 100.00 0.73% Anchoria Equity Fund 134.15 134.64 24.19% Anchoria Fixed Income Fund 1.34 1.34 15.16% ARM INVESTMENT MANAGERS LTD enquiries@arminvestmentcenter.com Web: www.arm.com.ng; Tel: 0700 CALLARM (0700 225 5276) Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn ARM Aggressive Growth Fund 18.26 18.81 19.23% ARM Discovery Balanced Fund 403.95 416.13 16.94% ARM Ethical Fund 34.04 35.07 17.06% ARM Eurobond Fund ($) 1.22 1.23 22.43% ARM Fixed Income Fund 1.11 1.12 11.36% ARM Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 0.71% AXA MANSARD INVESTMENTS LIMITED investmentcare@axamansard.com Web: www.axamansard.com; Tel: +2341-4488482 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AXA Mansard Equity Income Fund N/A N/A N/A AXA Mansard Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A CAPITAL EXPRESS ASSET AND TRUST LIMITED info@capitalexpressassetandtrust.com Web: www.capitalexpressassetandtrust.com ; Tel: +234 803 307 5048 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn CEAT Fixed Income Fund 2.16 2.16 1.02% Capital Express Balanced Fund(Formerly: Union Trustees Mixed Fund) 2.25 2.30 -52.95% CHAPELHILL DENHAM MANAGEMENT LTD investmentmanagement@chapelhilldenham.com Web: www.chapelhilldenham.com, Tel: +234 461 0691 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Chapelhill Denham Money Market Fund 0.03 0.01 2.52% Paramount Equity Fund 16.08 16.37 0.53% Women's Investment Fund 133.38 134.85 0.20% CORDROS ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmgtteam@cordros.com Web: www.cordros.com, Tel: 019036947 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Cordros Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 0.91% Cordros Milestone Fund 2023 130.67 131.48 Cordros Milestone Fund 2028 N/A N/A Cordros Dollar Fund ($) 109.05 109.05 CORONATION ASSEST MANAGEMENT investment@coronationam.com Web:www.coronationam.com , Tel: 012366215 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Coronation Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 0.90% Coronation Balanced Fund 1.18 1.19 2.22% Coronation Fixed Income Fund 1.59 1.59 0.27% EDC FUNDS MANAGEMENT LIMITED mutualfundng@ecobank.com Web: www.ecobank.com Tel: 012265281 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class A 100.00 100.00 0.95% EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class B 1,000,000.00 1,000,000.00 0.87% EDC Nigeria Fixed Income Fund 1,205.40 1,205.67 0.31% FBNQUEST ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD invest@fbnquest.com Web: www.fbnquest.com/asset-management; Tel: +234-81 0082 0082 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn FBN Fixed Income Fund 1,399.62 1,401.35 0.02% FBN Balanced Fund 187.95 189.39 0.14% FBN Halal Fund 111.54 111.58 0.01% FBN Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 1.06% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Institutional 121.89 122.26 0.25% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Retail 122.04 122.41 0.25% FBN Smart Beta Equity Fund 150.41 152.68 -0.51% FCMB ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED fcmbamhelpdesk@fcmb.com Web: www.fcmbassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 1 462 2596 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Legacy Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 1.53% Legacy Debt Fund 3.87 3.87 5.95% Legacy Equity Fund 1.51 1.54 33.62% Legacy USD Bond Fund 1.14 1.14 5.11% FSDH ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD coralfunds@fsdhgroup.com Web: www.fsdhaml.com; Tel: 01-270 4884-5; 01-280 9740-1 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Coral Growth Fund N/A N/A N/A Coral Income Fund N/A N/A N/A FSDH Treasury Bills Fund N/A N/A N/A GREENWICH ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmanagement@gtlgroup.com Web: www.gtlgroup.com ; Tel: +234 1 4619261-2 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Greenwich Plus Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 1.02% Nigeria Entertainment Fund 127.33 127.86 19.53%

GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmanagement@gdl.com.ng Web: www.gdl.com.ng ; Tel: +234 9055691122 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn GDL Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A INVESTMENT ONE FUNDS MANAGEMENT LTD enquiries@investment-one.com Web: www.investment-one.com; Tel: +234 812 992 1045,+234 1 448 8888 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Abacus Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 1.08% Vantage Balanced Fund 2.90 2.96 32.49% Vantage Guaranteed Income Fund 1.00 1.00 7.50% Kedari Investment Fund (KIF) 157.02 157.98 9.61% LOTUS CAPITAL LTD fincon@lotuscapitallimited.com Web: www.lotuscapitallimited.com; Tel: +234 1-291 4626 / +234 1-291 4624 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Lotus Halal Investment Fund 1.44 1.46 0.00% Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund 1,154.75 1,154.75 0.12% MERISTEM WEALTH MANAGEMENT LTD info@meristemwealth.com Web: http://www.meristemwealth.com/funds/ ; Tel: +234 1-4488260 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Meristem Equity Market Fund N/A N/A N/A Meristem Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A PAC ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD info@pacassetmanagement.com Web: www.pacassetmanagement.com/mutualfunds; Tel: +234 1 271 8632 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn PACAM Balanced Fund 1.66 1.69 7.61% PACAM Fixed Income Fund 12.19 12.31 8.66% PACAM Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 1.50% PACAM Equity Fund 1.58 1.60 PACAM EuroBond Fund 108.39 110.84 SCM CAPITAL LIMITED info@scmcapitalng.com Web: www.scmcapitalng.com; Tel: +234 1-280 2226,+234 1- 280 2227 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn SCM Capital Frontier Fund 131.18 133.55 8.39% SFS CAPITAL NIGERIA LTD investments@sfsnigeria.com Web: www.sfsnigeria.com, Tel: +234 (01) 2801400 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn SFS Fixed Income Fund 1.00 1.00 9.41% STANBIC IBTC ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD assetmanagement@stanbicibtc.com Web: www.stanbicibtcassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 1 280 1266; 0700 MUTUALFUNDS Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Stanbic IBTC Balanced Fund 2,521.35 2,532.80 -0.10% Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund 210.33 210.33 0.03% Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund 0.88 0.89 -0.85% Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund 273.87 273.95 0.06% Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund 154.92 156.64 -0.75% Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 0.28% Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund 7,674.15 7,756.30 -0.91% Stanbic IBTC Dollar Fund (USD) 1.23 1.23 0.07% Stanbic IBTC Shariah Fixed Income Fund 111.15 111.15 0.06% UNITED CAPITAL ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD Web: www.unitedcapitalplcgroup.com; Tel: +234 803 306 2887 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn United Capital Balanced Fund 1.37 1.39 0.34% United Capital Bond Fund 1.89 1.89 3.93% United Capital Equity Fund 0.87 0.90 0.75% United Capital Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 2.02% United Capital Eurobond Fund 117.16 117.16 6.00% United Capital Wealth for Women Fund 1.08 1.09 0.06% QUANTUM ZENITH ASSET MANAGEMENT & INVESTMENTS LTD service@quantumzenithasset.com.ng Web: www.quantumzenith.com.ng; Tel: +234 1-2784219 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Zenith Equity Fund 12.31 12.44 3.85% Zenith Ethical Fund 13.57 13.67 11.00% Zenith Income Fund 25.02 25.02 0.80% Zenith Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 1.82%

REITS NAV Per Share

Fund Name SFS Skye Shelter Fund

Yield / T-Rtn

120.74

6.05%

52.40

0.00%

Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

13.23 121.54 98.73

13.33 121.54 100.58

0.10% -0.16% -0.64%

Union Homes REIT

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

VETIVA FUND MANAGERS LTD Web: www.vetiva.com; Tel: +234 1 453 0697

funds@vetiva.com Bid Price

Offer Price

4.07

4.11

7.44%

Vetiva Consumer Goods Exchange Traded Fund

5.76

5.84

1.15%

Vetiva Griffin 30 Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva Money Market Fund Vetiva Industrial Goods Exchange Traded Fund

17.68 1.00 20.79

17.78 1.00 20.99

7.99% 1.02% 1.32%

203.84

205.84

-8.78%

NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

107.71

13.11%

Fund Name Vetiva Banking Exchange Traded Fund

Vetiva S&P Nigeria Sovereign Bond Exchange Traded Fund

Yield / T-Rtn

INFRASTRUCTURE FUND Fund Name Chapel Hill Denham Nigeria Infrastructure Debt Fund

The value of investments and the income from them may fall as well as rise. Past performance is a guide and not an indication of future returns. Fund prices published in this edition are also available on each fund manager’s website and FMAN’s website at www.fman.com.ng. Fund prices are supplied by the operator of the relevant fund and are published for information purposes only.

THURSDAY JANUARY 7, 2021 • T H I S D AY

39

40

THURSDAY JANUARY 7, 2021 ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

COVID-19 Second Wave: Lagos Reiterates Needs for Caution, Compliance to Safety Protocols Deputy gov loses brother to disease

Segun James Following rising cases of COVID-19 and nonadherence to safety protocols by residents, Lagos State Governor, Babajide SanwoOlu, yesterday stressed the need for the citizenry to be more cautious and comply with all safety protocols.

Sanwo-Olu, in the early hours gave the advice via his verified Twitter handle @jidesanwoolu amid spike in cases of virus as the state recorded an all time highest cases on Tuesday According to him, “There is an urgent need for us to be more circumspect in the way we live, interact and socialise with our friends and family.

Many people are ignoring #COVID19 warnings and guidelines, thereby exposing themselves and others to the virus.

“We are well into the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Yesterday, (Tuesday) Lagos scarily recorded its highest number of infection in one day 712.

“We have already recorded a frightening spike in infection cases. This spike brings positive cases to a total of 32,720 in Lagos alone.

“This second wave comes with severe symptoms, and the higher number of positive

cases we detect, the higher number of casualties we’re bound to record. We do not want this, but for this to be avoided, we must be intentional and cautious.

“We also do not want to go into another lockdown. It is important that you wear your masks, avoid crowded areas, wash or sanitize your hands regularly, and practice social distancing.

“2021 will only work for us if we take #COVID19 seriously and follow the guidelines laid down by Lagos State Ministry of Health and Presidential Task Force, PTF, on COVID-19.

“We simply cannot afford to be complacent at this time.”

On the likelihood of second lockdown in Lagos, an epicentre of COVID-19 cases in Nigeria, against the federal government ruling out lockdown, it was gathered that Sanwo-Olu, the Incident Commander, on Tuesday, summoned all relevant authorities, particularly health experts to a crucial meeting at Lagos House Marina, where they deliberated on the alarming rate of COVID-19 and the need to stop it at all costs before getting out of hands.

According to a government source, said, “As we speak (on Tuesday noon), the governor is meeting with

health authorities and relevant members of the State Executive Council over the unabated rising cases of COVID-19 in the state.

“Therefore, as one of pragmatic measures to drastically curb the wave the state government may likely impose second lockdown soon, mildly though if present situation persists. That’s all I can say about it for now.”

Meanwhile, it was gathered that Dr Haroun Hamzat, half brother to the Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, is dead.

His death was announced on Tuesday, January 5, 2021 by the Lagos State chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association

(NMA).

According to the statement, the young medical doctor who worked in one of the public health centres in Orile Agege Local Council Development Area, was aged 37.

Further investigation by this medium from Orile Agege LCDA revealed that the young doctor may have died from complications arising from COVID-19 infection.

“He was sick and later tested positive for Covid-19 and was rushed to the Infectious Disease Hospital in Yaba where he later died,” one of the health workers in a PHC in Orile Agege LCDA confirmed in confidence.

Another said: “he was such

a promising young man, very jovial and generous. We will miss him”.

However, at press time, the report could not be confirmed from the deputy governor.

An aide of the deputy governor when contacted and speaking under anonymity, said, “Family yet to speak, but i am yet to confirm the report.”

Below is the press statement from the Lagos State chapter of the NMA: “It’s a dark moment in the Nigerian Medical Association, Lagos State, as we announce with deep regret the death of our very young colleague, Dr Haroun Hamzat. Its “sunset at dawn” as he was just 37 years old.

“He worked as a medical officer at one of the PHCs under Orile Agege LCDA until his demise.

“We commiserate with his immediate family, friends, associates, colleagues and staff of Lagos State PHC Board and indeed the medical fraternity of Lagos State. We pray against such premature deaths in our fold.

“May the Almighty God grant his family and all of us, the fortitude to bear this irreplaceable loss, Amen “Adieu our Hippocratic Brother, Dr Haroun Hamzat may your gentle soul rest in perfect peace. “Signed: Nigerian Medical Association, Lagos State.”

COVID-19: FG to Impose Travel Ban on Defaulting VIPs, Govt Officials Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja The federal government has vowed to clamp down on Very Important Personalities (VIPs) and government officials who fail to obey travel protocols including undergoing compulsory COVID-19 tests after returning into the country.

The National Coordinator of the Presidential Task Force on Covid-19, Dr Sani Aliyu, stated this yesterday in a video posted by the Ministry of Information and Culture on Twitter.

The government had last week released the passport numbers of 100 travellers who failed to undergo COVID-19 tests after returning into the country.

It placed a travel restriction on the passport holders for six months from January 1, 2021, to June 30, 2021.

According to Aliyu, more defaulting passport numbers

would be released by the government weekly.

He said, “We want to change people’s behaviour. We’ve shown that we are going to do it. We have done it and we will continue to do it every week until things change. It is not like we want to punish people but if you continue to put our country at risk, we will take action.

“Next week, we will publish another 100, subsequent weeks, we will continue to publish until we see an improvement in terms of the compliance. So, whether you are a VIP, whether you are a government official, whether you are in a leadership position, if you do not follow the travel protocols, there will be repercussions.

“We do not publish names because the essence of doing the entire exercise is to force people to comply with our protocols.”

Atiku Takes Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccine Chuks Okocha in Abuja Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, has become one of the first Nigerians to take the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine.

Atiku took the vaccine in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

In a tweet by a member of the Atiku Abubakar Presidential

Media Team, Abdulrasheed Uba, said the former vice president had become one of the first Nigerian leaders to take the COVID-19 jab.

The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had in December 2020 tweeted about the vaccine being expected in Nigeria.

COVID-19 RESISTANT…

Former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, being administered with the Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccine in the United Arab Emirates…yesterday

Kano Govt Stops N30,000 Minimum Wage, Reverts to N18,000 Ibrahim Shuaibu in Kano Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State has reverted to the former minimum wage of N18,000 for its workers.

In an interview yesterday, spokesperson to the governor, Salihu Tanko-Yakasai, said the state government has also stopped the payment of N30,000 minimum wage to its workers.

Tanko-Yakasai said the reason for the action is due to the recession caused by the

COVID-19 pandemic.

He added that the state is unable to continue paying N30,000 because what the state is getting now as a government has reduced.

“The state government has reverted to the initial minimum pay due to the recession. What we are getting now as a government has reduced, and we can’t afford to pay the N30,000 minimum wage,” he told reporters.

According to sources in the state Civil Service who

spoke to the news platform, the government did not inform the workers of the latest development.

“We saw the deduction in our November and then December pay, and nobody told us anything,” a source said, adding: “The pensioners also had deduction in their pay and no reason has been given for this.”

President Muhammadu Buhari in April 2019 signed the new minimum wage act into law, which stipulates

N30,000 as the minimum wage.

In December 2019, the Kano State Government agreed with its workers to commence the payment of the new minimum wage, while arrears of April-November, 2019, were to be settled in installments.

As of the time of filing this report, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) have yet to react to the development.

NIMC Announces Charges for Card Renewal, Others Emma Okonji National Identification Number (NIN) holders are now required to pay N15,000 to correct their dates of birth on the database of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC).

This was announced by NIMC Regional Coordinator, Mrs Funmi Opesanwo, yesterday at the commission’s office in the Alausa area of

Lagos State.

Opesanwo noted that NIN holders are also required to pay a processing fee of N5,000 for card renewal or card replacement as well as an address modification fee of N500.

The regional coordinator noted that NIN enrolment is free but there are fees attached to card renewal, correction of date of birth, change of address and should not be

interpreted as payment for NIN registration.

“For the date of birth correction, there is a processing fee of N15,000. For card renewal or card replacement, there is a processing fee of N5,000. For the modification of address or name, it is N500. So, people misconstrue this to mean that in NIMC they are asking them to pay money. No, those are for services”, Opesanwo stated.

The NIMC official noted

that the fees are payable to the Treasury Single Account of the federal government.

“For correction of date of birth, it is N15,000 and it is payable to the TSA”, she added.

The federal government had said telcos subscribers with NIN have January 19 as a deadline to link their NIN with their SIM cards while subscribers without NIN have until February 9 to do so.

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NEWS XTRA

Second Wave of COVID-19 Claiming Many Lives, Says LUTH CMD Ugo Aliogo The Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Prof.

Chris Bode, yesterday said the second wave of COVID-19 was ravaging our land and claiming many lives.

Bode, who made the assertion at a news conference in Lagos, said: “The resurgence of COVID-19, through the newly mutated form, is ravaging our land, claiming many lives.

“Unlike what we witnessed in the first wave, this one is even

more easily transmitted and deadlier too.

“It is, therefore, imperative for everyone, first and foremost, accept that COVID-19 pandemic is not over, and we must prepare to confront it all over again.

“What we see on the streets, worship centres and social interactions, parties and daily activities call for concern.

“In a period when the ‘enemy’ has doubled back and is attacking us ferociously, we seem to be celebrating a false victory and denying the danger is still around us.

Oil Prices Hit 11-month High on Saudi Oil Cut Peter Uzoho Oil prices yesterday touched its highest level since February on the back of Saudi Arabia’s production cut and United States (US) crude inventory decline.

Brent crude, the international benchmark, surged 88 cents, at 1.7 per cent, to $54.48 a barrel as at afternoon.

Earlier in the session, it hit a high of $54.63 a barrel, a level not seen since February 26, 2020.

US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) futures spiked 75 cents, at 1.5 per cent, to $50.68 a barrel.

The contract touched $50.71 a barrel, its highest since Feb. 25, 2020.

Saudi Arabia, the world’s biggest oil exporter, said on Tuesday that it would reduce crude oil production, for the upcoming months of February and March by an extra voluntary amount of one million barrels per day.

This means that the kingdom’s production for the two months after both

its targeted and voluntary production cuts will be 8.119 million per day.

With coronavirus infections spreading rapidly, producers are wary of a further hit to demand.

OPEC+ agreed most producers would hold output steady in February and March while allowing Russia and Kazakhstan to raise output by a modest 75,000 bpd in February and a further 75,000 bpd in March.

Oil prices have been on a tear in recent weeks following the roll out of COVID-19 vaccine raising hope of a quick recovery.

This is good news for Nigeria as crude oil accounts for half of the government’s income and about 90 percent of Nigeria’s foreign exchange earnings.

The nation’s economy has continued to battle foreign exchange scarcity following plummeting crude oil prices in the international market caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Again, Petroleum Ministry Denies Complicity in Fraudulent Purchase of Pens Emmanuel Addeh inAbuja The Ministry of Petroleum Resources has again denied complicity in the alleged fraudulent purchase of pens worth N116 million by some unnamed officials of the ministry, insisting that the incident predated the current leadership at the ministry.

In a statement yesterday signed by the Special Adviser to the Minister of State, Petroleum, Mr. Garba Deen, on behalf of his principal, Chief Timipre Sylva, the ministry noted that the alleged culprits are currently being investigated by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

While reacting to online discussions on the matter and reports in some traditional media concerns, the ministry stated that some of the affected civil servants had either retired or redeployed to other ministries in line with routine civil service rules.

It stated: “The attention of the ministry of petroleum resources has been drawn to numerous publications on the above subject which have appeared in several newspapers since Friday, December, 11, 2020 and have also been trending on the social media.

“Since these publications relate

to issues that predated the present leadership of the ministry of petroleum, we initially did not react. But it has become obvious that some people are determined to misinform the public on this matter, despite the clarification made by the ministry.

“The general public should note that while it is true that the Auditor General raised audit observations on infractions committed by the ministry of petrole um resources, these infractions related to the 2015 accounts of the ministry of petroleum resources.

“It should be further be noted that these infractions appeared in the 2015 report of the Audit General for the Federation which is presently under consideration by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the senate.

“The public should further note that the officers the report of the Auditor General for the Federation indicted have since been retired or redeployed out of the ministry petroleum resources in line with the practice in the civil service.”

In the release titled: “Re: Buhari’s oil ministry reels under corruption allegation”, the ministry insisted that neither the current administration nor the present leadership of the ministry were in charge when the alleged breaches happened.

“We need to observe all the basic rules we have been following all along and wake up to the present reality.’’

The chief medical director, however, advised the public to shelve all forms of social engagement for now, no parties, churches, mosques, meetings. Tell yourself it was better to stay alive.

“Wash your hands frequently and before you touch the face, eyes and mouth.

“Wear face mask obligatory (most important), maintain a social distance of at least six feet away from others where you must be with anyone.

“Do not hold face-to-face meetings with others, go virtual for now; if you love your aged

relations, insist on these tenets for now. Do not go visiting them until the pandemic goes away.

“We have seen an upsurge in the number of people who keep treating ‘malaria’ instead of going for the COVID test.

“Many such then start using all sorts of steam inhalation and home remedies for their cough and chest congestion.

“It is not helpful to do this, especially if you are also diabetic, hypertensive or with a number of other health baggages or above the age of 60,” Bode advised.

Commenting, the Chairman, Medical Advisory Committee (CMAC), Prof. Wasiu Adeyemo, said everyone taught that the pandemic was over.

Adeyemo said that there were periods in November that the hospital had zero admittance in its wards.

“We planned to move to a smaller place, which we actually did, but had to come back to our 120 beds facilities; we never shut down the centre.

“We did not only witnessed increased numbers, but the severity also increased.

“Before now, we are not talking about vaccine, but about myths that COVID-19 was not real,” he said.

Adeyemo appealed to the media to enlighten the public, in terms of conspiracy theory noting that it was important we all keep to the rules and help

each other.

Also, Dr Iorhen Akase, Head, Infectious Disease Unit, said that the hospital observed increased mild cases in the first wave, pointing out that the second wave was severe.

Akase said most of the cases in the first wave occurred in elderly and morbidity, but the second wave had cases among 20 years old patients.

He said that as long as the new infections kept coming, a time would reach when hospitals could no longer admit any patient.

In her remarks, Mrs Esther Imafidon, Head, Nursing Theatre Services, reiterated that the media should enlighten the public about the second wave of COVID-19.

PRESIDENTIAL ATTENTION...

President Muhammadu Buhari (left), receiving Niger State Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello, at the Presidential Villa , Abuja ...yesterday

Offa Robbery: SARS Tortured Us to Implicate Saraki, Petitioners Tell Panel Hammid Shittu in Ilorin Two petitioners at the Judicial Panel of Enquiry on #EndSARS sitting in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital yesterday narrated how officers and men of the disbanded Special Anti-robbery Squad (SARS) tortured them to implicate former Senate President, Bukola Saraki in the April 5, 2018 Offa robbery incident.

The petitioners alleged that the dreaded SARS personnel also forced them to lie against Saraki by saying he bought guns for them.

The petitioners, Alhaji Kehinde Gobir and Alhaji Shuaib Jawando dubbed their petition as ‘the SARS officers of alleged high depth of impunity and human rights abuses.’

The people, who said they spent over 73 days in police detention in both Ilorin and Abuja, added that the police accused them of collecting guns from the former Senate President, Bukola Saraki, to allegedly participate in the robbery operation.

In their separate testimonies, the duo said that SARS granted them ‘administrative bail’ with a stern warning to desist from associating with Saraki.

The petitioners denied being used by Saraki for criminal activities, adding that they were tortured and subjected to inhuman conditions in both Ilorin and Abuja police detentions.

They confessed to be only political supporters of Senator Saraki, adding that the police

threatened them to implicate Saraki during their alleged ordeal in detention.

The petitioners also accused the disbanded SARS officers of confiscating their property, which include two Toyota Corolla, handsets and N250, 000 collected before they were granted bail.

They also urged the panel to help them redeem their battered image in the eyes of the public as they had been suggested to unwarranted stigmatization and disgrace which they said had affected their livelihood and economic fortune.

They said: “In view of the foregoing and in the interest of justice, we urge your esteemed office to intervene swiftly to this situation by returning

our property as this action is tantamount to infringement on the fundamental human rights to be enjoyed under the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended.

“We did not participate in any crime nor involve in any Offa robbery killing or having any criminal records whatsoever as being wrongfully alleged by the SARS officers.

We urge the panel to do the needful by facilitating the quick recovery of our property.”

In his response, the police counsel, Adekunle Iwalaye, urged the panel to dismiss the petitions in their entirety.

The chairman of the panel, Justice Tunde Garba (rtd), later adjourned the matter to January 13, 2021.

No Breach of Agreement Timeline with ASUU, Says FG Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja The federal government yesterday said it had kept faith with all the terms of agreement entered into with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) on December 22, 2020.

The government debunked the claim by a member of ASUU that it has failed to keep to the terms of the last agreement it reached with union to end their nine-month-old strike.

ASUU sources had alleged

that the union is still awaiting the release of the N40 billion earned allowance the federal government promised, 12 days after it called off the nine-month strike.

It said government has also failed to keep faith with the payment of the withheld salaries of its members that are not enrolled on the controversial Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS) after paying two months in December.

However, the Minister of

Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, responded yesterday, saying that federal government has so far kept its own side of the bargain.

Ngige, who spoke on telephone with THISDAY, said: There is no breach of the agreement. The federal government has paid N40 billion Earned Allowances to the National Universities Commission (NUC) as agreed”.

Ngige who led the federal government team that negotiated an end to the

nine-month-old strike by the university lecturers, also said that the next stage of the implementation of the agreement will be the release of N30 billion revitalisation fund by the end of January.

The leadership of ASUU had agreed to suspend its strike on December 23, 2020, after a new deal with the government team, led by Ngige on December 22 which among other concessions accepted to offset arrears of salaries accumulated during the lecturers’ strike.

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THURSDAY JANUARY 7, 2021 ˾ T H I S D AY

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Be Ready to Hand over Power to PDP in 2023, Wike Tells APC Davidson Iriekpen Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, yesterday again told the All Progressives Congress (APC) to be ready to handover to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2023.

Wike urged the ruling party to prepare its handover notes at the federal level for the PDP. The governor boasted that Nigerians were earnestly waiting for the PDP to take over power in order to ensure good governance in the country.

Wike spoke yesterday at the inauguration of the 11.53-kilometre AgbonchaiAfam road, connecting Eleme and Oyigbo Local Government Areas and performed by the former Senate Majority Leader, Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume.

The governor in a statement signed by his Special Assistant, Media, Kelvin Ebiri, said PDP had continued to satisfy the increased yearnings of Nigerians for good governance, improved economy and developmental projects in its various states.

He said: “Eleme people, I want to sincerely thank you for the

support that you’ve given to me and the PDP. Do not relent.

Continue because the hope of this country depends on PDP.” He said the PDP was working in Rivers and its various controlled states, insisting that the party would kick out the APC at the centre.

He urged Senator Ndume and the APC to respect the wishes of Nigerians, who were determined to return the PDP to power in 2023.

He said: “To our special Guest of Honour (Ndume), he should not be angry because we are taking over from them. When they came, we didn’t fight, they took over. Now, that Nigerians have decided to change them, let them also hand over to us as quickly as possible without any fight.”

The governor expressed happiness for fulfilling the promise of reconstructing the Eleme-Afam road when he campaigned in the area saying the completed road would serve as an alternative route to neighbouring states.

Wike also said his administration completely rebuilt

the Government Secondary School in Onne Town with the one in Eteo reaching finishing level.

He said: “Today, we are in Eleme commissioning Agbonchia (in Eleme)-Afam in Oyigbo Local Government Road. This road traverses two Local Government Areas. Nobody will say that we have not come to Rivers East Senatorial District to do anything.

“As I speak to you now, by the end of this month, we are coming back to Alesa Secondary School and Ascension High School. Those schools will be rebuilt completely.

“And because you gave me a good, reliable and trusted person who is my Commissioner of Finance, there is this other road here that needs attention, I will reconstruct it.”

In his remarks, Ndume, who inaugurated the 11.53km road, said he felt truly humbled to perform the task and be part of Wike’s achievements.

Ndume described governor Wike as a true nationalist and an important voice in national affairs across parties adding that the governor was famous for speaking truth to power.

He said: “Governor Wike is my very good friend, a trusted leader, a very honest person.

One thing we have in common is that, as a leader, you must stand out and speak the truth even if you’re alone and Wike is known for that.

“There is new hope for the state and he is Wike. Now, Rivers is not only becoming a Garden City again but it is becoming a Golden City. May God continue

to give you (Wike) the strength.

“And from today, know that you’re a leader in this country.

If you’re not a friend and a nationalist, I will not be here, Fayemi will not be here and many other APC Governors.

“You’re one of the true Nigerians that I ever know. And if we have people like you that speak the truth to power, Nigeria would have been better off for all of us.”

Ndume commended Wike for his feat in the fight against insecurity in Rivers, which he said gave the people the liberty to come out to participate in the inauguration without fear.

He said: “You don’t know what you have until you lose it.

What you’re doing here, we will never try it in Borno State. You can’t invite people like this and

everybody, comfortably, listening to somebody speaking without looking around. So, we have to thank God. “Honestly, let me say here that Nigeria is lucky to have not only Rivers State but Rivers people.

South-South, particularly the Rivers people are the great people of Nigeria. What you’re giving to this country; if Rivers is not there, Nigeria will not be there.”

Rivers State Commissioner for Works, Elloka Tasie-Amadi, said hitherto, the road was a nightmare.

“But, today it is something that brings joy and with it, the obvious tangible and psychological benefits that come with any good transportation access to any location or locality.

JAMB Opens Portal for Admissions The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has opened its portal for institutions to upload names of shortlisted applicants for the 2020/2021 admission.

The board said all admission processes must go through the Central Admission Processing System (CAPS) for approval.

It noted that only qualified candidates as recommended by their institutions for admission will be approved by the board.

Registrar of JAMB, Prof Is-haq Oloyede, disclpsed this in Abuja.

Asked if the CAPS has been opened for the conduct of this year’s admission, the registrar said: “Of course, long ago. Any institution, not just public that wants to is already uploading.”

He also said most institution,

particularly private had commenced admission.

The registrar, however, added that public universities were yet to fully kick-start the process partly because they are yet to conclude admissions for last year.

Prof Oloyede said: “Take note also that admission is not just for universities. There are polytechnics and colleges of education and except for the closure because of COVID-19, they are not affected by the strike.

“There are different stages of the session and therefore, it is not one size fits all.”

The registrar also said a date has not been fixed for the sale of this year’s Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) forms.

Appeal Court Reserves Judgment in Suit Seeking Dickson’s Disqualification The Court of Appeal in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, has reserved its judgment in the appeal filed against the ruling of Justice Jane Inyang of the Federal High Court sitting in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.

Justice Inyang had November 11, 2020 struck out the originating summons brought by Mr Owoupele Eneoriekumoh, a kinsman of the former governor of Bayelsa State, Mr Seriake Dickson, against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Dickson as first, second and third respondents in a pre-election matter for want of jurisdiction.

Owoupele had prayed the trial court to disqualify Dickson, who is now the senator representing Bayelsa West in the National

Assembly, on the basis that he had submitted false and forged information contained in his INEC form EC9.

At the hearing of the appeal on January 5, 2021, counsel for the appellant, Ebikebuna Aluzu, urged the court to allow the appeal by reversing the ruling of the trial court and further discountenance with the second and third respondents’ briefs of arguments having been filed out of time.

Counsel for the second respondent, Nicholas Obhise, and also holding the brief of F. N. Nwosu, counsel for the third respondent (Dickson) urged the appellate court to uphold the decision of the trial court and dismiss the appeal.

But the court reserved its judgment for a later date to be communicated to the parties.

THANKSGIVING CRUSADE...

L-R: Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri; his Chief of Staff, Chief Benson Agadaga; former Imo State Governor, Senator Rochas Okorocha; and General Overseer of The Lord’s Chosen Charismatic Revival Movement, Pastor Lazarus Muoka, at the church’s 2021 International Crusade in Mgbidi, Imo State...yesterday

Community Cries out as Dangote Firm Demolishes 200 Houses in Nasarawa They’ve been compensated, says LGA chairman Igbawase Ukumba in Lafia The people of Kukurubi community of Awe Local Government Area of Nasarawa State have lamented the alleged demolition of their 200 houses

by Dangote Sugar Refinery in Tunga last Monday.

Dangote Sugar Refinery in Tunga had last Monday reportedly invaded the Kukurubi village (Akoh settlement) with

heavy equipment, destroying every object found within the area.

But the Chairman of Awe LGA, Umar Abubakar DanAlkano, has confirmed that the community has been adequately compensated with N15 million, which he said he personally signed the cheque to that effect.

Narrating the ordeal of Kukurubi community in the hands of the Dangote team

during the invasion, a member of the community, Francis Yua, told journalists within the debris of the demolition in the community that the management of Dangote Sugar Refinery invaded their settlement with heavy equipment, and destroyed every object around.

He said: “When we asked them why our community was invaded, they told us that a notice to that effect had been

given to us, but based on our understanding, no single notice was given to us.

“The matter was in court, and the state Governor, Abdullahi Sule, in his magnanimity, intervened saying we should settle the matter out of court, and we agreed that by the time we finished harvesting our crops and other valuable items, we will be relocated to a new settlement.”

Customs Surpasses Revenue Target, Nets N1.56tn in 2020 CBN’s border intervention boosts daily collection to N9bn James Emejo in Abuja The Comptroller-General of Customs, Col, Hameed Ibrahim Ali (rtd), yesterday disclosed that it generated about N1.56 trillion in 2020, representing a surplus of N181.35 billion compared to the N1.38 trillion target for the year.

The positive performance which came despite the adverse impact of the COVID-19 pandemic further surpassed the N1.34 trillion recorded in 2019.

Ali, however, described the feat as product of “resolute pursuit of what is right and willingness to adapt to changes brought about by global health challenges occasioned by covid-19”.

According to a statement by

Customs Public Relations Officer, Mr. Joseph Attah, which was made available to THISDAY, the service revenue generation profile which had been on continued rise annually is a direct fallout from ongoing reforms.

This is as the service further testified that the recent border closure and security drills at the borders helped to boost daily collections from N5 billion to currently N9 billion.

“Before the commencement of the border drill on August 20, 2019, revenue generation was between N4 billion to N5 billion but now NCS generate between N5 billion to N9 billion daily, the statement added.

The NCS however, commended the leadership of the

Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for the strategic intervention in the interest of the country.

The statement added that within the next six months, NCS would have about seven functional scanners to be mounted at strategic entry points even before the full deployment of e-Customs components which will see to the deployment of 135 modern scanners.

“Already Ministry of Finance has purchased three new Scanners. Interestingly, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has also expressed commitment to purchasing four scanners and establish the control center for monitoring all scanning sites in their bid to boost national

economy, especially agricultural sector,” it stated.

The service also called on Nigerians, especially the business community to support the customs as the country’s borders are reopened to African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) which took off on January 1 2024 - in order to benefit from the trade agreement and other cross border activities.

Attah, however, pointed out that the service efforts to prevent the entry of items that could compromise the security and well-being of Nigerians and economy had resulted in the seizures of 4,304 assorted items with a duty paid value of N28.28 billion.

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NEWS XTRA

We’ll Be Ruthless with Bandits, Says Niger Governor Vows not to negotiate with them To go after village heads habouring them Deji Elumoye in Abuja Governor Abubakar Bello of Niger State yesterday drew the attention of the federal government to the rising wave of criminal activities of bandits with a pledge that the state government would ruthlessly deal with them.

He has also vowed not to negotiate with the bandits, adding that necessary punishments would be meted to village heads found to be harbouring the bandits in the state.

Bello, who spoke with reporters after meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari to seek urgent federal government intervention to security and infrastructural challenges in the state, noted that banditry has taken a dangerous dimension with the recent influx of bandits from neighbouring states and Benin Republic.

The governor stressed that the state government will be ruthless in dealing with the bandits “as we will now take the battle to their hideouts”.

He also accused locals including village heads of aiding and abetting the bandits in recent times.

His words: “The bandits are being invited by some locals.

In fact, we have arrested some village heads. Now if a whole village head invites bandits or habours bandits, then where are we headed to? The village head is supposed to secure the village. So, we are going to be ruthless with any village head found wanting in this regard, because there is no way we can make progress if the traditional institution at the lowest level becomes part of it and I’m in discussions with the Emirs, first class Emirs to dethrone or stripe any village head of his appointment once

being caught.

“So, going forward with the efforts of the Nigerian police, with the community policing, with the local vigilantes if you have them across the entire state, even though they are not properly armed but we’ve lost quite a few vigilantes. You cannot compare somebody with Dane gun and somebody carrying AK47 and AK49. But they are determined to protect their families and their farmlands. So, we’ve seen some results, some success when it comes to local vigilantes and I think we should give them some more support so that they will do more because the traditional, military and police we have their numbers are limited. They cannot cover the entire state. So, they need the support of the vigilantes to augment their efforts. And in some cases the vigilantes and the hunters act as guide to our forces because they understand the forests”.

Bello stated that he got firm assurances from the president that the issues he raised with him will be given urgent attention.

Said he: “I want to use this opportunity to discuss matters surrounding security situation in Niger State. Recently, we have been experiencing influx of bandits from neighbouring states and even though our security agencies are doing their best, I found it necessarily to update Mr. President on the situation. So we had a very fruitful discussion and the president has also pledged more support to the state on security matters so that within the shortest possible time we will address the security situation.

“We also discussed the issue of infrastructure in Niger State.

At the moment, 80 per cent or more of traffic from the South passes through Niger State especially through Minna, the

Thompson Mobolaji Kalejaye Dies An entrepreneur and international businessman, Dr Olabode Thompson Mobolaji Kalejaye, has has died.

Born to the family of the late Pa Emeda and Mama Biliya Aduke Kalejaiye on January 20, 1956, he died on December 31, 2020 at the age of 64.

After his HSC at Baptist Academy, he had a brief stint with journalism, working with both Punch Newspapers and Concord Press. At the same time he pursued his professional studies in accountancy before travelling to England in 1981 for further studies. It was during this time that he met his wife, and was married in 1985.

On his return to Nigeria in 1987, he set up his own consultancy business, presently under the umbrella of Harvest Investments Company Ltd. He was a Member of the Board of Directors of the (nowdefunct) NAL Merchant Bank, and a Member of Economic and Security Advisory Team for the Federal Government of Nigeria.

He acted continuously in various advisory roles not only at the federal level but also with

state capital. Over time we have witnessed some of our culverts, bridges and roads have been seriously destroyed because of the weight of trucks. So we try to get encourage truckers to carry a maximum of 30 tonnes or 32 tonnes that should be able to keep our roads functioning for sometime. However, the state of all the roads in Niger State is in a deplorable condition, so there is need for federal intervention. Most of the roads are federal roads but because the federal roads are bad, trailers have resorted to using state roads. So most of the federal and state roads at the moment have become very bad.

“So we discussed that as well and we hope before the raining season, something will be done about it.”

On how bad the security situation is in the state, Bello quipped: “The situation is very bad. Niger is 73,000 square kilometers, it’s the size of the entire South-south or South-east.

So, first of all we have limited number of security personnel and I think we have to start thinking of increasing the numbers so that we are able to cover most of the local government within the state.

Some of our local governments are up to 6,000 to 7,000 square kilometres; one local government.

For example the Bobi grazing reserve which is a programme between state government, CBN and the federal government, where we encourage herders to move their cattle so as to stop the movement of cattle from one area to the other so as to avoid herders, farmers conflict has become a target. Because that is the only location where you can find in one constituency 5,000 to 6,000 herds of cows. So most of the bandits have started focusing their attention on the Bobi grazing reserve which I have also discussed with Mr. President. Because we have investors that have started

investing in terms of money, equipment, processing facilities.

We do not want to discourage them so we applied most of our resources and efforts towards protecting the grazing reserve.

“But we are having influx of bandits from neigbouring states especially Zamfara and Kaduna states. It is difficult to patrol those areas because vehicles do not go there and there are deep in the forest. Which means we will need the federal might especially the Air Force. By the way, the Air Force has been doing extremely well in recent times to support our ground operations.

TOUCHING LIVES...

A widow, Mrs. Josephine Ebiama (middle), surrounded by members of the Glovis Entrepreneurial and Leadership Development Foundation (GELD) during the donation of food items to 50 widows by GELD, in Kaduna.....yesterday

Deeper Life School Saga: Chief Magistrate’s Absence Stalls Suspects’ Arraignment Okon Bassey in Uyo Absence of the Chief Magistrate in court has stalled the arraignment of suspects in the alleged torture and sexual molestation of an 11-year-old pupil, Don-Davies Archibong of Deeper Life High School, Uyo Akwa Ibom State.

The police had yesterday taken the suspects, five staff and two students of the DLHS to the Magistrate Court along Ikot Ekpene road for prosecution.

Also dragged to the court was

a 74-year-old retired medical doctor, Effiong Udimidue, who is said to be a member of the Deeper Life High School Management Committee, Uyo. The ‘abused’ boy’s mother, Mrs. Deborah Archibong had accused Dr. Udimidue of sneaking into the medical facility where her son was to take his blood samples without official authorisation.

The 74-year-old medical doctor was subsequently arrested and detained by the police but released yesterday morning.

Speaking with the counsel to the defendant (Deeper Life High School), Fidelis Igwe said: “The police brought about seven persons here. Five of them are staff and two are students and they are both minors.

“They (suspects) were not arraigned because we were informed that the Chief magistrate was not around and she will be around tomorrow (Thursday) being the only one that could handle the matter.

“Igwe, who is with the LFG Attorney Chambers, accused the

police of keeping his clients in the dark as to the result of their investigation only for them to be taken to court for arraignment.

“The police have not told us what these people were to be charged for. We asked them to tell us the result of their investigation into the matter but they have not told us anything.

But they just called them out and asked them (suspects) to join them to court. They have neither briefed us the lawyers that handle the case nor the management.”

COVID-19: Fintiri Bans Social Gatherings in Adamawa Thompson Mobolaji Kalejaye many state governments.

Above all, he was a devout Christian and was the Senior Pastor of ShepherdHouse Church, which he founded alongside his wife in 2008.

He was a great and influentialmentor: dedicated, loving, gracious and selflessly generous.

He is survived by his wife of 35 years, Olabisi; three children, Tinuola, Oluwatomi and Olabode jr; grandchildren, siblings, cousins nephews and nieces.

The Adamawa State Governor, Umaru Fintiri, has banned all social gatherings in the state until further notice, following the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The governor gave the directive in a statement issued yesterday by his Press Secretary, Mr Humwashi Wonosikou in Yola, the state capital.

He noted that COVID-19 is real and is a global health crisis but expressed his disappointment over what he described as the lack of strict adherence to the protocols and measures to reduce transmission of the virus.

The measures include advocacy of behaviours like wearing of face masks, social

distancing, washing of hands, and restrictions on public gatherings.

Governor Fintiri used the opportunity to remind residents of the state that the guidelines on the restriction of movement issued in March 2020, are still in force. The governor lamented that mandated measures to reduce transmissions such as advocacy of behaviours like wearing of face masks, social distancing, washing of hands, and restrictions on public gatherings have not been adhered to by the people.

He also notes that the guidelines on Restriction of Movement and Matters Incidental Thereto also issued last year is still in force and

advised the public to adhere to the provisions.

According to the press statement, social gatherings of not more than 50 people at a time is also still in force.

The statement said: “The general public is hereby called upon to adhere strictly to the provisions of the guidelines which include; Compulsory use of face masks in any public gathering or public transport; Social distancing in any gathering; Ensure the washing of hands and the use of sanitisers; Hospitality businesses such as clubs, cinema halls, event centres, conferences and congresses and other similar gatherings with a population beyond 100 remain banned; Movement between 10

pm and 5 am is also not allowed; Leaders at worship centres are therein advised to ensure the use of face mask by all while ensuring social distancing.”

Fintiri, however, pointed out that it has become necessary following the identification of a new variant of the COVID-19 virus and directives in line with safety measures by the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19.

The governor, therefore, warned that “any club, event centre or business premises found contravening this rule will be closed down while security agencies have been directed to ensure strict adherence to these protocols and any other imposed by the federal government.

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Boko Haram: We Received More Support from West than Middle East, Says Zulum Michael Olugbode Borno State Governor, Prof.

Babagana Zulum, has said bigger support to combat the over-a-decade Boko Haram crisis has come to his state from the West than the East, largely made up of Arab nations.

The governor lamented that in the midst of challenges with the Boko Haram insurgency, countries from the West, mainly Christian countries,

have shown more concern for the plight of Borno people than rich Arab nations, whose people share similarity of religion and culture with the majority of the people of the state.

It is beleived that least 46,000 people have been killed and two million displaced since Boko Haram launched its jihadi insurgency in North-east Nigeria in 2009.

In 2016, the group split into two groups — the main faction

Niger Delta Govs Charged to Checkmate Insecurity, Oil Spill, Others Chuks Okocha in Abuja Niger Delta states governors have been charged to establish a forum to checkmate insecurity and other vices in the region.

The pioneer Director-General of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), Osaro Onaiwu, who gave the advice yesterday, told the nine governors in the region to establish what should be called ‘Niger Delta Governors’ Forum’ to check oil spill in the region.

Onaiwu, who had earlier condemned the appointment of a sole administrator for Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), said the establishment of the Forum would aid the infrastructural development of the region.

Aside infrastructure, insecurity and oil spill, the former DG of NGF said with the establishment, the issue of militancy in the region would also be addressed.

He stated that the establishment would also help to build synergy among the governors, adding that cooperation among them would propel the region to a greater level.

Onaiwu was of the opinion that insecurity, oil spill and other noticeable infrastructural deficit in the region could be attributed to lack of cooperation among the governors, adding that with the establishment of the Forum, all the deficits in the region will be addressed.

The pioneer NGF D-G noted that vices like kidnapping, banditry and killings ravaging the country, including the Niger Delta region, is surmountable if there was cooperation among the governors, adding that the call for the establishment of the Forum is appropriate.

He stated that if the Forum had been in place, the appointment of a sole administrator for NDDC wouldn’t have been possible, as the issue would have been addressed by the governors before any decision would’ve been taken.

Onaiwu had condemned the appointment of a sole administrator for the NDDC, and had described the development as an aberration, adding that such development will give room for few persons to manipulate the commission.

UNILAG Loses Another Professor Funmi Ogundare A former Dean of Faculty of Education at the University of Lagos, Professor Duro Ajeyalemi, died at 70 yesterday.

He reportedly died of coronavirus-related complications at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Idi-Araba, in Lagos.

It was gathered that Ajeyalemi, who retired from the university in November 2020, was also the pioneer Registrar of the Joint Universities Preliminary Examination Board.

UNILAG’s Deputy Vicechancellor in charge of development services, Folasade Ogunsola, confirmed Ajeyalemi’s death.

Ajeyalemi died barely three days after a former VC of the university, Prof. Oyewusi Ibidapo-Obe, died.

Born November 7, 1950, Ajeyalemi had his primary education at the St Peter’s School, Ibokun (1956-61); secondary at LA Secondary Modern School, Ibokun (1962) and Kiriji Memorial College, Igbajo (1963-67) before proceeding for his tertiary education at the Adeyemi College of Education,

Ondo (1970-72) and UNILAG (1973-76).

He had his postgraduate education at the University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK (1978-81).

Ajeyalemi began his career at the Nigerian Ports Authority in 1968 and was there till 1970. He moved on to Lever Brothers as a Management Trainee in 1977 before joining UNILAG as a Graduate Assistant in 1977-81.

He rose through the ranks becoming Lecturer II, Department of Curriculum Studies (1981-83); Lecturer I (1983-84); Senior Lecturer (1984); AG Head, Department of Curriculum Studies (1992-94); and became Sub-Dean, Faculty of Education (1991-92).

In 1989, he became an Associate Professor until 1992 when he was appointed Professor of Curriculum Studies.

He served as Dean of Students Affairs in 1995; and Dean, Faculty of Education in 2006.

Ajayelemi was a member, Royal Society of Chemistry (1984); and member, National Association for Research in Science Teaching, USA (1990).

led by Abubakar Shekau and the IS-affiliated Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP).

Both groups have been blamed for increasing attacks on civilians they accuse of spying for the army and pro-government militia.

In Borno State alone, over 1,000 churches have been burnt down by the insurgent groups.

Zulum gave the assessment late Tuesday in Maiduguri when he received the Palestinian Ambassador to Nigeria, Saleh Fheied Saleh.

Zulum, who however praised Palestine for being one of the few exceptions, within the Arab community,

said: “I am a practical person.

I work with the realities I see on ground. In the face of our challenges over the years, we have received humanitarian support from the UK and other parts of Europe, the United States, Canada, from Japan and a host of others who have demonstrated concern and have made efforts to support our traumatised citizens in many ways especially on food, medicals and livelihoods.

“However, that level of concern never came from Arab countries with whom millions of Borno people share similarity in religion and culture. We even have

indigenous Shuwa Arabs in Borno and this shows how our histories are tied.

“We have made several efforts, written and visited embassies of Arab countries, especially those that are rich and not dealing with crises, but obviously the majority of the Arabs do not care about our situation, nor do they support us. The Arabs have not shown concern to us. Your visit however, has renewed our hope especially and we are very grateful for your visit.”

The Palestinian ambassador had informed Zulum that his country plans to support the government of Borno State in

some areas of need.

He said: “There are a lot of Palestinian companies in Nigeria, they are willing to work with the Borno State Government, we are ready to cooperate with you, we are ready to help in anything you want us to do that we can do,” The Ambassador also said many Nigerians are currently residing in Palestine, particularly Borno indigenes, some of whom have diligently served the government and people of Palestine.

He said that among Borno people in Palestine, a lady called Fatima Barnawi was once a minister and a police chief.

DISCUSSING LG ADMINISTRATION...

L-R: Representative of the Minister of Labour and Employment, Mr. Nnamdi Enuah; representative of the Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babatunde Williams; National President of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees, Mr. Ahmed Labbo; and President, Nigeria Labour Congress, Mr. Ayuba Wabba, during the seventh National Quadrennial Delegates Conference of NULGE, in Lagos...yesterday

Gunmen Kidnap Couple, One Other in Ondo James Sowole in Akure Suspected kidnappers late last Tuesday abducted a couple and one other person in two separate incidents in Uso community in Owo Local Government Area of Ondo State.

A source disclosed that the couple, who were travelling on Owo-Akure highway with their three children, were abducted by gunmen, who left the children by the roadside with their parent’s car.

The source added that after the couple had been led into the bush, the children who were left stranded beside their parent’s locked car, went to the police station in the town and reported the matter.

In the second incident, a resident of Uso community, Olatunbosun Johnson, was kidnapped in a farm within the community.

It was gathered that Johnson had gone out along with four other persons in search of sand to

fill the foundation of a building when the gunmen struck.

A family source said while three of the men who went to the farm escaped, Johnson and one of the labourers were unlucky, as the gunmen held them hostage. The source added that the abductors later released the labourer, who happened to be a Hausa man.

He disclosed that the incident was reported to the police, as a team of Amotekun Corps, police and the military combed the forest in search of the victims.

The source disclosed that one Muhammed Aliu was arrested in the bush and handed over to the police, who have been investigating the suspect.

According to him, “The Hausa man was released; while the kidnappers demanded N5millon as ransom from the family, however, the kidnappers change their minds late on Tuesday evening after the family told them that the N5million was ready, and increased the ransom to N10millon.

Foundation Launches Trust Fund against Gender-based Violence Sunday Okobi A multi-million naira trust fund to fight against Genderbased Violence (GBV) has been launched by Nigerian international non-governmental organisation, Jose Foundation.

In a statement yesterday by its President, Dr. Martins Abhulimhen, disclosed that the trust fund became necessary to address the rising cases of gender-based violence across the country in a war against GBV. In the statement, Abhulimhen said the trust fund would create a ‘Centre of Expertise’ that would bring together cyber sleuths, detectives and academics to tackle the scourge of sexual abuse in Nigeria.

According to him, “Jose Foundation is determined to bring child abusers to justice

through the instrumentality of the justice system supported by the trust fund.”

He noted that under the trust fund, teachers, social workers and the police(security agency) would be retrained on how to identify victims of child sexual exploitation.

Abhulimhen said children and the vulnerable should be able to grow up “free from the horrors of sexual abuse, exploitation and trafficking,” even as he described the current situation in Nigeria as appalling and heart-breaking.

He stressed that the measures being put in place by Jose Foundation would further improve its ability to protect children and the vulnerable, as the organisation was determined to bring those that would try to steal their childhood to justice no matter

how long it takes.

The trust fund, Abhulimhen noted, would afford children and women, who have been victims of sexual abuse or exploitation, for the first time in Nigeria, the access a complete range of support services from dedicated experts under one roof, in a pioneering project in the country.

“The fund will also offer medical, investigative and emotional support in one place, removing the need for young victims in Nigeria to go through the trauma of repeating their statements several times to different agencies while seeking justice,” Abhulimhen said.

This multi-agency approach, according to Jose Foundation, will help gather better evidence and increase the speed of its delivery to court, as well as offer longer term support to

victims of child sexual abuse in the criminal justice system of Nigeria.

Worried by the conspiracy of secrecy in the country-as some victims of sexual violence are shielded from the media with only a few cases ever reported to the authorities-the rights group lamented that some family members are not helping the course of justice in Nigeria.

He lamented that “in Nigeria, there is a grand conspiracy to silence victims of gender-based violence by the offenders and family members in the name of protecting family’s name and avoiding discrimination.

“Those who report abuse face multiple interviews with social workers, the police and medical professionals in different settings, and a long wait to go to trial.

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Furore over Tenure Extension Plot for Paramilitary Chiefs Petition calls for probe of NDLEA Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja There is disquiet in the Ministry of Interior over alleged plans to grant a third tenure extension for heads of paramilitary agencies.

The agencies include the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), the Nigerian Correctional Service (CoS) and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).

The tenures of the trio of Mohammed Babandede (NIS), Abdullahi Muhammadu Gana (NSCDC) and Jafaru Ahmed (NCoS) expired between 2019 and 2020.

This is coming as stakeholders including retired and serving officers warned that incessant tenure extension of paramilitary service chiefs was counterproductive and hinders career progression.

The warning also comes as Concerned Officers of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) called on President Muhammadu Buhari to investigate and prosecute the Chairman of NDLEA, Col Muhammad Abdallah (rtd), for the alleged diversion of N2.8 billion commanders’ monthly allowances and the revocation of the sale of the Chairman’s official quarters in Ikoyi that he

allegedly sold.

In a petition obtained by THISDAY, the officers also called on the president to appoint a competent chairman that would redirect the agency on the path of greatness and address the lingering problem of increasing drug abuse, poor staff welfare and delayed promotion in the agency as Col. Abdallah’s tenure expires this week.

The heads of the paramilitary organisations had exceeded the mandatory age limit and number of years of service and had their tenures extended last year by the Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, who is also Chairman of the Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire and Immigration Services Board (CDCFIB).

The minister had endorsed the extension of tenures of the Controller-General of Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS), Jaafaru Ahmed; the CommandantGeneral, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Abdullahi Muhammadu Gana and the Comptroller-General of Immigration, Muhammad Babandede.

Ahmed, Gana and Babandede had their already elapsed tenures extended for six months, last year.

The tenure of the NCoS boss, Jafaru Ahmed, was initially

extended by President Buhari for one year from July 21, 2019 to July 21, 2020 due to his track record of pioneering innovative reforms in the prison service.

Ahmed, who clocked 60 years of age in 2019 and mandatory 35 years in service in 2020, later had his tenure extended a second time by Aregbesola for an additional six months to consolidate and implement some key programmes and policies, especially on human rights compliance, infrastructural development and welfare of staff and inmates.

Ahmed was appointed Comptroller-General, on May 17, 2016. The NSCDC boss, Muhammadu Gana, was appointed as the second substantive Commandant– General of NSCDC in July 2015,

by President Buhari.

His tenure expired in July 2020, and was granted a six-month extension, which will end this January 2021.

On his part, Babandede, the Comptroller-General of NIS, is currently the longest-serving top officer of the agency, after joining the service in June 1985, and has spent 35 years in service. He hails from Jigawa State.

PRNigeria gathered that Aregbesola, who has the final

say on the expired but extended tenures of the NIS, NCoS and NSCDC bosses, being the Chairman of CDCFIB is believed to be planning to recommend a further extension of the tenures of the officers.

Meanwhile, some concerned retired and serving officers, as well as stakeholders in the sector, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, expressed concerns over what they described as “detrimental policy of tenure elongation” for heads of paramilitary agencies.

Some of them expressed the fear that the practice of extending the tenure of any public officer was counterproductive, demoralising and detrimental to the career progression of officers in public service and could set bad precedents with dangerous consequences.

A retired immigration officer and human rights lawyer, Daniel Makolo, last year in a petition pointed out that the Minister of Interior lacked the power to extend the tenure of Babandede, Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS).

In a letter addressed to the minister, who was former Governor of Osun State, Makolo said the CDFIPB chaired by

Aregbesola had no legal power “to recommend or extend the statutory tenure of any public servant in the same capacity, no matter and however industrious such officer may be.”

He said the public service is statutorily designed with specific provisions for entry and exit lawfully and that once a tenure comes to an end, a further stay in the office is arbitrary, immoral, wrongful and unlawful.

“The practice of arbitrary, illegal elongation of the statutory tenure of public office occupants sets a dangerous precedent for bureaucracy and national security.”

Meanwhile, some concerned officers at the NDLEA have called on President Buhari to investigate and prosecute of Chairman of NDLEA, Col Mohammed Abdallah (rtd) over the alleged diversion of N2.8 billion commanders’ monthly allowances and the revocation of the sale of the Chairman’s official quarters in Ikoyi that he allegedly sold.

They also called on the president to appoint a competent chairman that would redirect the agency on the path to greatness and address the lingering problem of increasing drug abuse, poor staff welfare

and delayed promotion in the agency as Abdallah’s tenure expires this week.

In a letter to the president by the concerned officers, of the agency signed by one Musa Ahmed Yusuf, the officers accused the outgoing NDLEA boss of diverting N2.8 billion monthly operational allowances for commanders.

“Since 2016 that Abdallah took over, he stopped the payment of monthly running cost to commanders. This has continued all through his tenure.

“The monthly allocation of the agency of about N48 million is used to service Abdallah’s personal interest. This has amounted to the sum of N2.8 billion in the past five years”, the petition alleged.

“How are the commands meeting their needs and how do you define corruption?

Abdallah also sold the official quarters for the chairman of the agency located at George Street Ikoyi, Lagos.

“He also allowed a telecommunication service provider to install a telecom station at the once vibrant Ikoyi office that is now a shadow of itself. The impunity of Abdallah must not go unpunished”, it further alleged.

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THURSDAYSPORTS

Group Sports Editor Duro Ikhazuagbe Email duro.ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com 0811 181 3083 SMS ONLY

Buhari Celebrates Ex-Eagles Captain, Chukwu, At 70 Deji Elumoye in Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari has felicitated with former Captain of the 1980 Africa Cup of Nations winning team, the Green Eagles, Christian Chukwu, as he clocked 70 years yesterday.

Buhari, in a statement issued on Wednesday by his Media Adviser, Femi Adesina, joined sport lovers, family and friends to celebrate the

former coach of the Super Eagles and rejoiced with the multi-talented and disciplined player on the auspicious period of turning a septuagenarian.

He stressed that Chukwu’s contributions to development of sports in Nigeria will always attract attention, particularly making the country proud by providing technical leadership for other national teams like those of

Enyimba Crash out of CAF Champions League, Join Rivers Utd in Confed Cup Duro Ikhazuagbe

For the third year running, no Nigerian club side will be featuring in the group stage of the CAF Champions League following the elimination of Enyimba FC at home in Aba yesterday by Sudanese club, Al Merriekh.

Enyimba’s 2-1 defeat of the visitors from Sudan was meaningless as Al Merriekh had the job done a fortnight ago when they hammered the People’s Elephant 3-0 in Omdurman. Al Merriekh cruised to the next Round on 4-2 aggregate.

Last season both Lobi Stars and Plateau United similarly crashed out at this early stage of the competition without reaching the group stage where they were guaranteed a mouthwatering $550,000 (about N253 million).

Saif Terry, who fired a hat-trick in the first leg in Omdurman, again opened scoring in Aba after just seven minutes when he punished Enyimba for poor defending.

Victor Mbaoma however drew the hosts level on 14 minutes, when he slotted home.

The striker, who missed the first leg in Sudan due to injury, then put Enyimba in front in the 51st minute from the penalty spot after Samad Kadiri was upended inside the box.

Enyimba chased the game for more goals but they were not clinical in front of goal.

Now, the two-time African champions are to drop into the playoff round of the second-tier CAF Confederation Cup where Nigeria’s other representatives, Rivers United are waiting for a new date to play the second leg of the first round against Bloemfontein Celtic.

After gaining two goals advantage away last week, the South African delegation was refused Covid-19 quarantine waivers to fly into Port Harcourt for the reverse fixture by the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).

A new date is expected to be announced by CAF before weekend. Draw for the next round is expected to hold Friday.

senior national team to create the fastest developing period for football in the country’s history.

He led from the front, always by example and the never-say-die-attitude of a soldier.

He was declared the best player of the 1980 Africa Cup of Nations, and was a terror to every country on the continent with his style of play and leadership on the field throughout the decade 1970 to 1980.

He became a coach and was part of every major achievement for another decade - 1985 Under-16 World Cup, Tunisia ‘94, USA World Cup ‘94’, Atlanta 96 and many more.

Christian Chukwu....gets presidential felicitations as he marks his 70th birthday

CAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE (1st round 2nd leg) *Enyimba 2-1 Al Merrikh (Al Merrikh 4-2 agg) *AS Vita 4-1 Y’Buffaloes (AS Vita Club 6-3 agg) *Gor Mahia 1-2 Belouizdad (Belouizdad 7-2 agg) *TP Mazembe 2-1 Bouenguidi (TP Mazembe 4-2 agg) *Espérance 3-2 Al Ahly(Libya) (Esperance 3-2 agg) *CS Sfaxien 1-0 MC Alger (MC Alger 2-1 agg) *Simba 4-0 FC Platinum (Simba 4-1 agg)

Golden Eaglets Fall in First Hurdle against Côte d’Ivoire Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets started their campaign at the WAFU B tournament on a losing note last night going down 1-0 against Cote d’l voire at the Stade Municipal in Lome.

The Ivorians scored the winning goal 14 minutes from time.

Lebanon and Kenya.

Buhari also noted with commendation, the efforts of the former Captain of Rangers International of Enugu, in strengthening the local league, which has over the years been the major feeder of the national team, and produced players that have featured in some of the best teams and championships in the world.

He, therefore, prayed for improved health, strength and longer life for ‘Chairman Chukwu’, as he is fondly known and called since his active football playing days in the 1970s through 1980s.

For 10 years, Chukwu led Rangers and the Nigerian

Fatai Amoo’s charges fought hard to find the equalising goal but were unable to break their opponents defence.

Eaglets need a win in their final Group B crunchy clash with Black Starlets of Ghana on Saturday to stand any chance of progressing to the semi final.

John Stone (right) scored the opening goal as City defeated United 2-0 to reach the Carabao Cup final last night at Old Trafford

It’s Manchester City, Tottenham Carabao Cup Final Manchester City deservedly beat Manchester United 2-0 to reach the Carabao Cup final and will now face Tottenham at Wembley as they look to win the competition for a fourth straight year.

Second-half goals from John Stones and Fernandinho secured their progress as City cut loose after a first period in which both sides had chances

and goals disallowed.

Stones exposed poor United set-piece defending when he nudged home Phil Foden’s free-kick from close range five minutes after the restart.

Pep Guardiola’s side looked the more likely scorers afterwards, despite United’s increasing desperation, and when Anthony Martial and Aaron Wan-Bissaka could only combine to clear a

corner to the edge of their own box, Fernandinho drilled a first-time volley into the bottom corner from 20 yards.

City will equal Liverpool’s record of winning the League Cup four times in a row if they beat Jose Mourinho’s Spurs on Sunday, 25 April.

It will be a first final meeting between Guardiola and Mourinho since 2011, when the current Spurs boss’

Real Madrid side denied Barcelona the treble by winning the Copa del Rey. It was a disappointing night for United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, whose side have now lost at the semi-final stage of their past four cup competitions and failed to heed their manager’s call to win some silverware as tangible proof of their recent improvement

Lalong Identifies Polo as Tool for Tourism, Economic Growth Seriki Adinoyi in Jos Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau State has identified polo game as veritable tool to promote tourism, economic prosperity and to showcase the state to the world. He added that the state’s government was determined to consolidate on the positive development of polo tournament by supporting sporting events in the state.

The Governor stated this at

the closing ceremony of the 2020 NASCO Annual Polo tournament held at the Hassan Katsina Polo field in Jos. He said that polo game, which has a long and rich tradition in the state, will particularly receive government’s attention in this regards.

Lalong, while commending participants at the tournament said, “I have been informed that the week-long event

enjoyed the participation of polo teams and enthusiasts from across the country. This development delights me as it again shows the growth of the game and its resilience particularly during this era of COVID-19.

“Let me therefore specially thank the Nigerian Polo Federation and the leadership of the Jos Polo Club for consistently hosting this tournament.

The sponsorship by NASCO Group of Companies and other corporate bodies has steadily enhanced the quality of the annual tournament and also created more awareness on the game of polo in Nigeria and Plateau State.

The Malcomines of Jos emerged winners of the Governor’s Cup at the tournament, defeating Keffi Ponys and Abuja Lintex, amongst others.

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MISSILE Governor Zulum to Arab Leaders

In the face of our challenges over the years, we have received humanitarian support from the UK and other parts of Europe, the United States, Canada, Japan and a host of others who have demonstrated concern and made efforts to support our traumatized citizens, especially on food, medicals and livelihoods. However, that level of concern never came from Arab countries with whom millions of Borno people share a similarity in religion and culture. Obviously, the majority of the Arabs do not care about our situation, neither do they support us.

OLUSEGUNADENIYI THE VERDICT

olusegun.adeniyi@thisdaylive.com

Emigrate, But Don’t Burn Your Nigerian Bridge

O

nce again, Nigerian professionals between the ages of 25 and 40 are emigrating abroad.

Those who are married go with their families. Economic upheaval at home and an almost out of hand national security challenge explain why these young citizens choose to vote with their passports. But this is also a global phenomenon. Whether in Africa, Asia or the Americas, we are dealing with what Patrick Gilligan has described as the ‘No Nation’ Generation whose members “are breaking ties with their birth countries and seeking a more affordable and better standard of living overseas.”

The leading countries in which most of these professionals seek to reside, going by the latest MoveHub global survey, are the United Kingdom, Australia, US, Spain, Canada, France, New Zealand, Germany, Ireland and Portugal. At number 16, the only African country on the list is South Africa. According to the survey, “the majority chose better job prospects as the main reason to move country” which then reveals that “young people are moving abroad for profound reasons, to advance themselves and their career in a hospitable environment, rather than for the change of weather.”

In the case of Nigeria, dwindling opportunities resulting from mismanagement of our affairs amid a population growth that far exceeds our resources has compelled many of our young citizens to look abroad.

As I said in my 1st October 2016 Platform Nigeria presentation, confronted with a dilemma of having roamed the streets for several years after graduation without job prospects, many have re-examined their options. Even those supposedly meaningfully engaged suffer all manner of indignities from places of work where they are paid miserable wages. With these challenges, as I reasoned in that intervention, our young professionals now pose the same question popularized by the four Biblical lepers in 2 Kings, chapter 7, verses 3 and 4: “Why are we sitting here until we die?”

For these compatriots, the most preferred destination is Canada, essentially due to its easy path to citizenship. Canada, by the way, supported—both in cash and kind—the efforts of civil society groups like the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) to confront the tyranny of the late General Sani Abacha in the nineties. So, the country has always been friendly towards Nigeria. The main attraction of course is that obtaining Canadian citizenship provides access to job opportunities. More crucially, their law allows for multiple citizenship so you are not required to renounce your Nigerian root in the process. Besides, a Canadian Passport also enables citizens to travel to many countries without having to obtain a visa.

With an estimated population of 37,742,154 people and a density of four persons per square kilometre (given its 9,093,507 square kilometre land size), Canada is always going to need more people. To underscore that need, the United States has a population density of 36 persons per square kilometre, which means a Canadian has nine times

Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau the size of land available to an American!

But Canada has approached immigration in a strategic manner by attracting the best around the world, regardless of colour or creed.

Meanwhile, it is a legitimate aspiration for our young citizens to seek better prospects abroad. But I am concerned about a growing trend on social media.

The moment someone secures their papers to emigrate, they will denigrate, abuse and curse Nigeria before they depart or after they get to their ‘promised land’. It is not a wise thing to do. I made this point in my September 2017 lecture at BAZE University, Abuja on ‘Leadership and Responsibility in the Age of Social Media’, where I warned the audience to be well aware that the things they document in a moment of exuberance or anger could come back to haunt them. And I cited two examples from my experience as presidential spokesman to make the point. So, to our young citizens, please explore possibilities to seek greener pastures abroad. But don’t throw darts at the country of your birth on your way out.

‘Nigeria is a useless country’ is a standard refrain. Some of our young citizens who emigrate have perfected the art of detaching themselves from the nation as a shared patrimony. Yet regardless of whatever may be their frustrations with Nigeria, critical stakeholders should take responsibility for lost opportunities and the challenge of national retrieval. That of course requires leadership and political will. Unfortunately, this tragic gap has bedeviled our nation repeatedly for more than six decades. Even at that, we can look at the emigration drove in different ways.

Nigeria has one of the most educated and enterprising Diaspora populations across the world. At home, we have a population of young people. Not only are many countries in Asia and Europe ageing, some are also now declining in numbers. In the year just ended, for instance, South Korea recorded more deaths than births for the first time in their history. In 2020, only 275,800 babies were born while

307,764 persons died. At some point, these countries would have labour shortages and might seek migrants. Only the prepared in terms of quality education will be able to take advantage of such opportunities when they eventually come. The real problem is that we are breeding liabilities, not assets, since the majority of our young population are lacking in education or basic skills.

It is worse in the northern parts of the country where bandits, Boko Haram and other criminal networks have combined to make schools unsafe for children, thus effectively mortgaging their future.

At all levels, and in practically all sectors, we are running a system that is rigged against our young people. Some universities are yet to complete the 2018/2019 academic session! On Monday, Bayero University, Kano (BUK) officially announced the cancellation of the 2019/2020 academic session. Others may not want to admit it but there is hardly any federal university in Nigeria today that has not lost at least an academic calendar to recent ASUU strikes. But no matter the frustration with the system, resentment against the government should never translate into hate for one’s country. Our young people must begin to differentiate between Nigeria and the government in power, even though I also understand the trigger. At every epoch, public officials and their supporters have behaved as though they have a monopoly on patriotism. They will defend Nigeria—which they equate to the government they serve or support—until the baton changes hands and then they also begin to disparage the same country they once opportunistically defended. In essence, Nigeria has always been the scapegoat for the failings of its leaders.

While I am not advocating that we blind ourselves to our problems, it is important to recognise that Nigeria is more than the physical space. Besides, the country many of our young citizens are emigrating to were built by people. To that extent, the pent-up anger and negative energy being unleashed against the same Nigeria that must have provided them (or their parents) some ladder in terms of the opportunity to properly emigrate is not right. And nobody should write off Nigeria. We may be down today; we are certainly not out.

Our incredible array of talent in different fields still abounds. Despite our challenges, many will still choose to stay.

I have a story with which I constantly ‘harass’ my wife. In 1995, while we were still courting and I was an assistant editor at the Sunday Concord, she brought me an American Diversity Lottery form for us to fill as a way we might migrate to the United States if successful. More out of pride than any serious conviction, I told her to forget me in such an arrangement.

To counter her disappointment, I said: “A time will come when you will not have to go to their embassy before you secure the Visa to any country of your choice.” She replied: “Enu e ti po ju (you fanatise a lot),” and we laughed over it. As it turned out, for her first trip to the United States in 2003 (at a period I was editor of Sunday THISDAY), the only thing that took her to the American embassy was her finger print.

The then Public Affairs Officer (PAO) at what was called United States Information Service (USIS) at the time—now Public Affairs Section of US Consulate General—in Lagos, Dr Atim Enaida George (currently a postdoctoral fellow at the Center for Black Studies Research, University of California at Santa Barbara) gave my wife a ‘Referral Letter’. For all her other trips since then, she has outsourced the responsibility of obtaining her visa to me. And with that, I have also had to keep reminding her of my 1995 ‘prophetic declaration’!

But I could take that calculated gamble 26 years ago because the fundamentals of our country were still strong. Our estimated population was 107 million, the national security situation was relatively okay (without insurgents, bandits and kidnappers terrorising our lives) and graduates were still getting jobs. Although we also had economic challenges at the time, most were attributed to military rule with the expectation that once we ushered in the democracy we were fighting for, our fortunes would change. Sadly, things have not turned out that way. Now, were the offer of the American Diversity Lottery form made today and I was a struggling journalist at age 29, not only would I jump at it, I would probably be exploring opportunities to emigrate to other countries as well. This is the point we should never miss in this conversation.

Globalization has created a generation of virtual citizens. Attachment to nation space and cultural roots now counts for less than material fulfillment. Young Nigerians who emigrate to more prosperous countries where they are guaranteed basic livelihoods do not necessarily love Nigeria any less. But they are full of anger and disappointment with successive governments that continue to betray the hopes of our people. It is hard to wean back the loyalty and patriotism of youth who leave injured by the betrayal of a nation they call theirs but which fails to provide them a fighting chance to prove themselves or justify their skills and training.

All factors considered, the task of repossessing the souls of our new Diaspora citizens is still one of responsible and accountable governance. It is therefore in the enlightened self-interest of critical stakeholders in both the private and public sectors to begin to change the current narrative by making the country work for all Nigerians rather than just a privileged few. To our young citizens who seek greener pastures abroad, my admonition remains the same: Emigrate if you must. But never give up on Nigeria.

Coronawahala!

At a period the second wave of a dangerous pandemic is ravaging our country, what concerns most Nigerians is not their Covid-19 status but rather the DNA results of other people’s children. I understand that laboratories that test for DNA now have more customers than those that test for Covid-19. I have a simple prayer those who still doubt the pandemic: May experience not be their best teacher!

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