FRIDAY 22TH JANUARY 2021

Buhari Demands Stricter Measures to Tackle Tax Evasion Says no more exemptions Adesina calls for aggressive reforms

Deji Elumoye, Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja and Dike Onwuamaeze in Lagos President Muhammadu Buhari has raised concerns over the nation's huge revenue losses

due to leakages arising from activities of revenue-generating agencies and has mandated the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and other revenue-generating agencies to forthwith block such leakages.

He has also directed strict compliance with regulations on tax payment by both local and foreign companies, stressing that no firm should be exempted from tax payment.

Besides, the president also

pledged to continue the federal government’s diversification of the economy through the efficient use of revenues from oil and gas resources.

Buhari, in a speech yesterday at the First National Tax

Dialogue in Abuja, directed the FIRS and related government agencies to plug all revenue leakages by ensuring strict compliance with tax payments by foreign companies operating in Nigeria and the deployment

of more digital platforms and seamless connections.

Buhari, in a statement by his media adviser, Mr. Femi Adesina, ordered all Continued on page 9

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Buhari Mourns Former IG, Gambo Jimeta... Page 11

Nurses Raise the Alarm over Inadequate Medical Personnel for COVID-19 Vaccination Govs set up committee on procurement, administration of vaccines Expect first shipment end of February Disown Yahaya Bello’s claim on pandemic Chuks Okocha and Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja Nurses yesterday warned that inadequate medical personnel could jeopardise the efforts of the federal and state governments to administer COVID-19 vaccines on Nigerians.

They spoke just as the Nigerian Governors' Forum

(NGF) announced the composition of a committee to oversee the procurement and administration of the vaccines, whose first shipment is expected to arrive in the country by February ending.

National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwife (NANNM) President, Mr. Continued on page 9

Restructuring Alone Can’t Solve Nigeria’s Problems, Says Jonathan Adebanjo, Nwodo insist on structural reform before elections Iyobosa Uwugiaren and Chuks Okocha in Abuja Former President Goodluck Jonathan, yesterday weighed in on the raging agitation for the restructuring of Nigeria, warning that restructuring alone cannot solve the problem of the country.

He called for the restructuring of Nigerians' mindset first before that of the country.

Jonathan, who spoke at a summit in Abuja along with a chieftain of the pan Yoruba socio-political organisation, Continued on page 10

TAX MATTERS...

Group Managing Director, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Mr. Mele Kyari; Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu; and Chairman, Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Mr. Muhammad Nami, during the 1st Annual Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) National Tax Dialogue in Abuja…yesterday

Buhari Orders Ministers, Security Chiefs to Meet over Banditry in Zamfara...Page 5

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NEWS Buhari Orders Ministers, Security Chiefs to Meet over Banditry in Zamfara Group News Editor Ejiofor Alike

Email Ejiofor.Alike@thisdaylive.com, 08066066268

Deji Elumoye, Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja and Peter Uzoho in Lagos President Muhammadu Buhari has directed the National Security Adviser (NSA), Maj.Gen. Babagana Monguno (rtd), to meet urgently with some ministers and other security chiefs to deliberate on security and illegal mining, which is

fueling crisis in Zamfara State.

Apart from the NSA who will be the convener of the meeting, the Minister of Defence, Maj.Gen. Bashir Magashi (rtd); Minister of Interior, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola; and Minister of Mines and Steel, Mr. Olamilekan Adegbite, are to be in attendance.

The president, in a

statement by his media adviser, Mr. Femi Adesina, named others to attend the meeting to include the directors-general of the Department of State Services (DSS) and the National Intelligence Agency (NIA).

He described the proposed meeting as the president's immediate response to rising cases of banditry in Zamfara State.

The president ordered that there must be a clear pathway to ending the resurgent banditry that has continued to cost lives and the displacement of thousands of families from their towns and villages.

Beyond the problems of bandits and cattle rustlers, the scale of lawlessness has been aggravated by illegal miners who are harvesting

resources they have no legal rights to exploit.

Official statistics suggest that there are more than 20,000 such miners undermining this important part of the economy, operating in a manner that is extraordinarily harmful and destructive. The result is chaos.

The meeting, according to the president, is expected to

address these and associated issues of corruption, government oversight and lawlessness.

Recently, Speaker of the Zamfara State House of Assembly, Hon. Nasir Magarya, wrote a letter to Buhari in which he appealed to the president to intervene and stop the incessant killings by bandits in the state.

Malami: Buhari’s Administration Not Averse to Constructive Criticism Alex Enumah in Abuja

The Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, has said that President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration is open to criticisms, particularly those targeted at providing solutions to existing societal challenges.

He has also charged journalists in the country to shun "fake news, axegrinding, and sensationalism" in their reportage of issues and events in the country.

Malami while noting that journalists play a vital role in the development of a country, expressed the readiness of the Buhari-led administration to work with journalists towards sustaining the peace, progress and prosperity of Nigeria, adding that as a government they are open to constructive criticism aimed at fostering the development of the country.

He was speaking at the 2021 annual conference of the National Association of Judiciary Correspondents (NAJUC), Abuja chapter.

Malami said: “I must say clearly that this government is not against criticism from the citizenry and stakeholders.

“The government is indeed open to constructive and objective criticisms where appropriate solutions are proffered. This, we consider as an integral part of good governance.”

The minister, who was represented by his media aid, Dr. Umar Gwandu, remarked that achieving good democratic governance is not the sole responsibility

of the judiciary but, that of the entire critical stakeholders including the media as the watchdog of the Nigerian public and fourth estate of the realm.

According to him, while the judiciary is expected to look into all issues that may be brought before it for proper adjudication by the aggrieved litigants, the press, on the other hand, is expected to give balanced, unbiased, and untainted reports of activities unfolding in the society.

"I, therefore, wish to urge the media practitioners to refrain from fake news, axe-grinding, and sensationalism as your invaluable contribution to the rule of law and democratic governance for the betterment of the Nigerian public", he said.

Malami however commended journalists especially those on the judiciary beat for their good reportage noting that "cases of deliberate misrepresentation of information, distortion of facts, outright falsehood and undue sensationalism have been reduced to the lowest minimum.

He said contrary to the belief of some the current administration is not against criticism from the citizenry and stakeholders but "is, indeed, open to constructive and objective criticisms where appropriate solutions are proffered", adding that the government consider such as an integral part of good governance.

"The government of President Muhammadu Buhari has done everything within the Constitutional

provisions to ensure the right to access to information, freedom of expression, and especially freedom of press.

"This can be seen from the disappearance of the incessant harassment, intimidation, molestation, arrests, and prosecution of media practitioners as used to be the practice in the past regime. This fact is attested to by the 2020 report of the Committee to Protect Journalists that Nigeria is

no longer on the list of countries with impunity for crimes against journalists.

The report maintained that Nigeria is the only country in the globe that get off the index from 2019", he said.

He, therefore, charged media practitioners to be above board by avoiding partisan politics in their reportage and avoid deliberate falsehood, blackmail, name-calling against the government,

its officers and institutions.

In a welcome earlier, Chairman of the Abuja chapter of NAJUC, Mr. Kayode Lawal, decried the continued reduction in the budgetary allocation to the Judiciary.

While stating that the Judiciary as an arm of government is more burdened than the remaining two, Lawal observed that the workload of Judges is so much that they now work

both day and night in order to cope with challenges of adjudicating on political issues, especially time-bound political cases.

He, therefore, called for proper funding of the Judiciary to enable it to cope with the enormous challenges, adding that the AGF should use his office in ensuring that adequate attention is given to the budgetary needs of the Judiciary.

THE NEW NORMAL...

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo (SAN) during the virtually National Economic Council meeting in Abuja…yesterday

Atiku Seeks Biden’s Help in Terror War, Reversal of Travel Ban Ejiofor Alike Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar yesterday urged the United States President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris to remove the travel restrictions placed on some Nigerians by the country.

In his goodwill message to the duo who were inaugurated on Wednesday, Atiku called upon them to help Nigeria in the insurgency war.

Biden, after his swearing-in on Wednesday, had signed

some executive orders, reversing some former President Donald Trump’s policies, including ending the entry ban on citizens from over a dozen countries, including Eritrea, Yemen, Nigeria, and Sudan.

The US had announced that it had placed a travel ban on some unnamed Nigerian leaders involved in rigging elections.

Atiku said: “As President Joe Biden begins his tenure as the 46th President of the United States of America, I am confident that this new

era will mark America’s regeneration and her reaffirmation as the beacon of democracy to the world.

“As I congratulate President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, I urge them and their administration to strengthen US-Nigeria ties and help our beloved nation’s war on terror by providing every type of support required to win our war against the insurgency we face and that threatens the peace of our sub-region.

“I also look forward to the removal of every travel

restriction on Nigerian citizens, in keeping with the good relations that has existed between our two nations, beginning with the July 27, 1961 state visit of our first Prime Minister, Alhaji Tafawa Balewa, to President John F Kennedy, and continuing over the decades since then.

“As the playwright, George Bernard Shaw once said, America and Nigeria are two nations divided by a common language. And millions of Nigerians and I wish to see that relationship sustained to the mutual benefit of both

our democratic nations.”

Biden had in the executive orders he signed lifted the immigrant visa ban placed on Nigerians by Trump.

According to a report

by Bloomberg, Biden also reversed the systemic ban placed on citizens from Muslim dominated countries like Yemen.

Trump had last February placed an immigrant visa ban on Nigeria, citing Nigeria’s lack of a robust database.

The US had insisted that Nigeria must improve on its data intelligence to ease the

investigation of its citizens wishing to migrate to the US, if it wanted the ban lifted.

Following this development, the federal government had set up a committee on Citizen Data Management and Harmonisation to address the US complaints.

The work of the committee had resulted in the recent push for all Nigerians to register with the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) and obtain a National Identity Number (NIN).

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NEWS

NCC: 3G, 4G Telecom Towers Deployment Hits 53,460 Emma Okonji Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has disclosed that the third generation (3G) and fourth generation (4G) Base Transceiver Stations (BTS) deployment in Nigeria has reached 53,460, up from its initial 30,000 in 2020, while fibre optic transmission cables expanded from 47,000 kilometres to 54,725km in the last five years.

The Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, who disclosed this in Abuja yesterday, while receiving the new Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy, Mr. Festus Daudu, said the increase resulted in improved broadband/telecoms service delivery across networks.

Danbatta spoke on NCC’s enabling laws, mandates of NCC, its structure, implementation approach of its mandates and methodology, key focus and targets, scorecards, the new soon-to-be-unveiled Strategic Management Vision (SVP), NCC’s contributions to the economy, various regulatory frameworks aimed at improving service delivery, challenges confronting the sector and proposed solutions, among others.

According to Danbatta, the effective regulatory regime emplaced by the leadership of the commission has resulted in increased deployment of infrastructure by telecoms operators, which in turn, helped to improve broadband penetration and other related service delivery in the telecoms industry.

“The BTS, fibre optic cables and other related infrastructure

are central to the provision of improved service experience for Nigerians by their respective telecoms service providers,” he said, adding that the licensed Infrastructure Companies (InfraCos) are also expected to add 38,296km to optic fibre cables when they commence full operations.

According to the EVC, as at November 2020, active telephony subscribers stood at 208 million with teledensity standing at 108.92 per cent while active Internet subscriptions were 154.9 million and broadband penetration of 45.07 per cent, among others.

He also spoke on various initiatives undertaken by the Commission to ensure consumer protection and empowerment.

These, according to him, include the Declaration of 2017 as Year of the Telecom Consumer, introduction of the 622 Toll-Free Line for lodging and resolving consumer complaints and the provision of the 112 Emergency number and activation of 19 Emergency Communications Centre (ECCs).

Other such consumercentric regulatory measures intervention, according to the EVC, include, issuance of various directions to mobile network operators (MNOs) to protect the consumers from being short-changed, ensuring the smooth transition of Etisalat to 9Mobile consumer outreach programmes, introduction and enforcement of mobile

number portability (MNP) as well as the introduction of the Do-Not-Disturb (DND) 2442 to check cases of unsolicited text messages.

The EVC disclosed that the number of subscriptions to DND service has hit over 30 million as the service empowers Nigerians to be able to protect themselves from the menace of unsolicited text messages.

In recognition of the tremendous economic growth opportunities afforded by the deployment of broadband and its associated technologies, Danbatta said the Commission has positioned itself in government’s drive for a digital Nigeria, as contained in the Nigerian National Broadband Plan (2020 – 2025), the National

Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (2020 – 2030) and the Strategic Management Plan (2020 – 2024) of the Commission.

“The Commission will continue to put in its best in the discharge of its mandates, especially in facilitating the deployment of broadband, which is central to diversifying the Nigerian economy and national development.

Also, it is our belief that the communications industry, under the leadership of the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy, will experience more quantum leaps and retain its current leadership role in the telecommunications space,” he said.

In his reaction, the Permanent Secretary

commended the leadership of the Commission, acknowledging the upward growth attributed to the effective regulatory regime, the central role NCC is playing in the digital transformation of the Nigerian economy as well as the impressive contribution of the sector to the country’s Gross Domestic (GDP).

“I want to thank NCC for its contribution to the Nigerian economy so far. I am not exaggerating about the achievements of NCC, in terms of contribution to GDP and how NCC’s effective regulatory role has been helping the economy in so many ways,” he said, adding that NCC leadership also contributed to his success as the Chairman of the World Radio Conference in 2015.

DISCUSSING NIGERIA’S FUTURE...

L-R: Former Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Attahiru Jega; former President Goodluck Jonathan; former President-General Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief John Nwodo; and Chairman, Daily Trust Limited, Mallam Kabiru Yusuf, during the 18th Daily Trust Dialogue in Abuja...yesterday kingsley adeboye

Court Sets Aside Death Sentence on Kano Singer, Orders Retrial Ibrahim Shuaibu in Kano The Appeal Division of the Kano State High Court has set aside the death sentence slammed on a

Kano singer, Aminu Sharif, for blasphemy.

The court ordered a retrial of the case against Sharif, who had filed an appeal to challenge the sentence.

In the judgment delivered yesterday by the state Chief Judge, Justice Nuraddeen Sagir, the court held that the lower court’s proceedings were characterised by

irregularities.

Sagir also ordered that Sharif should be granted full legal representation and that the case should be tried before different judge.

Sharif was sentenced to death by hanging by an Upper Sharia Court on August 10, 2020.

His lawyers filed an appeal at the state Appeal

Court on October 15, 2020, challenging the death penalty.

In the appeal filed by Mr. Abdul Faruk, he had argued that Sharif is a minor.

Stakeholders Hail Reappointment of Bala-Usman as NPA MD Deji Elumoye in Abuja and Abiodun Eromosele in Lagos Stakeholders in the maritime industry have hailed the reappointment of Ms. Hadiza Bala-Usman as Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) by President Muhammadu Buhari for a second and final five-year tenure.

A statement yesterday

by Buhari's media aide, Mr. Femi Adesina, said the president also approved the reconstitution of the non-executive board of the NPA, with Mr. Emmanuel Adesoye (from South-west) as chairman.

Other members of the board are Prince Ekenyem

Nwafor-Orizu (South-east), Mr. Akinwunmi Ricketts (South-south), Mr. Ghazali Mijinyawa (North-east), Mr. Mustapha Dutse (North-west) and Mr. Abdulwahab Adesina (North-central).

Buhari also approved board members for the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), who will oversee the selection of a new managing director for the organisation.

They are Mr. Muhammad Ahmad (chairman), Chief Henry Okolo, Mr. Imamudden Talba, Ambassador Usman Sarki, Mr. Ali Haruna, Mr. Simeone Atakulu, Mr. Zubaida Rasheed, Dr. Mustapha Akinkunmi, Mr. Oladele Amoda, and Dr. Nkiru

Balonwu.

Meanwhile, stakeholders, yesterday welcomed the renewal of Bala-Usman's appointment and urged her to continue her reforms.

While commending Buhari for her reappointment, they called on her to build port infrastructure and make the ports more responsive and competitive.

In an interview with THISDAY, the President of Shipowners' Forum, Mrs. Margaret Orakwusi, called on the NPA boss to consolidate on her good work and also empower women and groom people to sustain her legacy.

“She has set a huge standard in the industry and one other thing is that she is ready to learn as well

as share her time. "What is important is to groom and mentor the younger one and people that will take over from her when she lives.

“Also, she should ensure in this new term, she opened the eastern portal end congestion in the seaport as well as the traffic gridlock, which has been another challenge in the last few years.

"She should ensure she achieves the call-up system because that is long overdue.

The jetties and quay apron needed to be rehabilitated because they are collapsing.

"She also needs to ensure that infrastructure that will attract investment to the sector are rehabilitated and constructed,” she said.

On his part, President,

National Council of Managing Directors of Licensed Customs Agents (NCMDLCA), the umbrella body of customs agents in Nigeria, Mr. Lucky Amiwero, applauded the reappointment and called on the NPA boss to focus on her reforms to make the ports better.

He urged her to ensure that NPA as a service provider focuses on the technical aspect of port operations.

“She has done well and deserves commendation but we have a lot of problems that are militating against the port industry, the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA); the AfCFTA has commenced; how are our ports going to fare? We want her to do more

to make the port active and responsive because what we have now is too expensive.

“For now, the NPA does not have a defined role because when you look at the three components of the port, regulations, port operations, and landlord, they are supposed to be technical operators.

"They should focus on building the port in her new tenure. We are losing our cargo; the port access roads are not in good shape.

"She must focus on trying to build a new port system and focus on the technical aspect like dredging. They are providers of services so they should focus on providing the services to make the port better,” he said.

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PAGE NINE NURSES RAISE THE ALARM OVER INADEQUATE MEDICAL PERSONNEL FOR COVID-19 VACCINATION Abdul Adeniji, told THISDAY that the country does not have adequately trained manpower to administer the vaccines on a large scale.

He said: "In the first instance, the federal government said that when planning a health programme of this nature professional associations ought to be involved at the beginning.

It is not at the implementation stage that you try to bring us in.

You plan for us. You plan with us but this is missing. That is challenge number one.

"The second challenge is how adequate is the planning for the introduction of the COVID-19 vaccines in the country? It is not just a vaccine for polio or tuberculosis; it is a special one.

“Do we even have adequate hands? I say no. We don't also have adequate equipment to carry out the vaccination programme."

Adeniji also identified the possibility of resistance to the vaccines by the people as another major threat to the vaccination programme.

According to him, the acceptability of vaccines, manpower, and assurance of availability of enough doses of the vaccines are critical to a successful vaccination campaign.

"The introduction of vaccines is usually a collaborative engagement between the national, state, and local government areas but as regards this issue of COVID-19 vaccines, the challenge is about its acceptability by the people.

"The acceptability of that therapy is very important. The ethical constitution is that the vaccines have to first be accepted by the people in the area before the health workers step in to administer it," he said.

Adeniji added that there

are still doubts among many Nigerians over the existence of COVID-19, warning that this will create apathy amongst the citizens when the vaccination begins.

However, reacting to the concerns raised by NANNM, the Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr. Faisal Shuaib, told THISDAY that the federal government acknowledged that lack of personnel may hinder the successful implementation of the vaccination programme and is planning to recruit more health workers to fill the gap.

Shuaib said: "We do not have adequate health workers in most PHCs across the country. So, the rollout of the COVID-19 vaccines would be an added burden.

“This is why part of the Presidential Taskforce on Control of COVID-19 (PTF) and the Federal Ministry of Health's plan for the deployment of vaccines is to not only provide the vaccines but to recruit additional health workers to ensure that the vaccines are delivered successfully to eligible Nigerians."

On the position expressed

by NANNM that its members are not involved in the vaccine rollout plan, Shuaib identified Mr. Emmanuel Udontre of the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria as the one representing the nursing and midwifery team in the COVID-19 Technical Working Group at NPHCDA.

Govs Set up Committee on Procurement, Administration of Vaccines Meanwhile, governors have

set up a committee on the procurement and administration of the vaccines.

In a communiqué issued yesterday after a meeting that ended on Wednesday night, the 36 state governors also dissociated themselves from the comments of their Kogi State counterpart, Mr. Yahaya Bello, that the vaccines are meant to kill.

The NGF communiqué signed by the Chairman of the forum and Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, said following the presentations, the forum set up a team of experts led by Professor Oyewale Tomori to advise state governors on the procurement and administration of coronavirus vaccines in the country.

Fayemi also briefed the governors on a meeting with the Chair of the Board of Gavi, the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, on the rollout of the COVAX facility, which is a global risk-sharing mechanism co-led by Gavi, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) and the World Health Organisation (WHO) to facilitate pooled procurement and the equitable distribution of the vaccines to developing countries.

"Nigeria is among 12 countries in Africa that have indicated the readiness of the 92 qualified countries for the facility and will by end of February 2021 receive its first shipment of vaccines," the communiqué stated.

It said the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) indicated that vaccines will be administered in four phases, based on vaccine type and availability, initially for frontline health workers, then the aged (55 years and above), persons with underlying medical conditions and other target

groups.

The communiqué said the governors "received briefings from three medical experts, including a leading virologist and former Vice-Chancellor of Redeemer's University, Prof.

Oyewale Tomori; Executive Director of the NPHCDA, Dr. Faisal Shuaib; Founder/ Managing Director Synlab Nigeria (formerly PathCare), and President Healthcare Federation of Nigeria, Dr. Pamela Ajayi; and Founding Partner of the Anadach Group, Dr. Egbe Dawodu, on the country’s preparedness for the procurement and administration of vaccines and the level of collaboration required from all stakeholders, including the federal, state governments and the private sector.”

Reacting to Bello's comments on the vaccine, the communiqué said: "On the ill-fated pronouncement made by a member of the forum regarding the COVID-19 vaccine in a national daily, the forum totally and categorically dissociated itself from the statement, emphasising that the forum will continue to be informed and guided by science and will ensure that every decision it takes retains public and professional trust and is not compromised by conflicts of interest."

Governor of Delta State, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, who is the chairman of the NGF Sub-Committee interfacing with the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19, also reported with concern the rising positivity rate amongst those tested for the virus.

Okowa called on governors to do more to reactivate their health systems, open up treatment centres and increase partnerships with stakeholders in order to improve risk communication

and the public’s adherence to guidelines.

The communiqué added that the governors received a presentation from the Minister of Water Resources, Mr. Suleiman Adamu, and the World Bank Country Director for Nigeria, Shubham Chaudhuri, on the Sustainable Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (SUWASH) results-based financing programme for the states.

The programme becomes necessary given the state of the sector, which has contributed to 73 per cent of Nigeria’s total burden of enteric infections and over 255,000 preventable deaths in the country each year.

"State governors consequently committed to increasing budgetary allocation to the sector with the collaboration of the Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning and the World Bank through the $640 million investment finance and $60 million technical assistance component which together will support and incentivise infrastructure investments and strengthen government policies and institutions in the WASH sector," the communiqué added.

He said youth should be incentivised to grow businesses with appropriate tax regimes, adding that Africa loses about $60 billion annually from taxes.

Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed, gave an assurance that the government will improve its template for tax collection, especially in the face of dwindling revenues due to the COVID-19 pandemic, describing 2021 as a year of recovery for the economy.

She noted that emphasis on tax collection will be shifted from income to spending and all multinational corporations in the country will be required to fully comply with new directives.

and Surveillance (SeRAS), Command and Control Centre and the National improved Oil Recovery Centre (NIORC).

It also comprises the Oil and Gas Dispute Resolution Centre (DRC), Oil and Gas Competence Development Centre (CDC) and the Integrated Data Mining and Analytics Centre (IDMAC).

He said the administration’s renewed drive for economic diversification using the oil and gas industry as a pivot remains on track as it has expanded government revenues and deployed it to grow the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), generate employment and contribute to eliminating poverty in Nigeria. ''This National Oil and Gas Excellence Centre will serve as an integrated resource complex to drive safety, value and cost efficiency in the industry. It is, therefore, another milestone in the development of the oil and gas sector and the realisation of greater value for the country,” he said.

The president explained that the integrated centre will enhance the contribution of the oil and gas sector to the nation’s GDP as well as strengthen Nigeria’s position as the regional leader in the industry.

He noted that the centre has opened new opportunities for the Nigerian petroleum industry in terms of investments, cost reduction, safety in operations and capacity development.

The president also urged all industry practitioners and stakeholders to support the task of nation building to realise the abundant opportunities in the country.

While commending the role played by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva, and the Director of DPR, Mr. Sarki Auwalu, and the entire staff of the DPR on the actualisation of the project,

It also reported a presentation made by the Special Adviser to the President on Finance and Economy, Dr. Sarah Alade, on the development of the Nigeria Agenda 2050 and the MediumTerm National Development Plan (MTNDP), which will succeed Vision 20:2020 and the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) 2017 – 2020.

The governors said they were committed to supporting the development of the national plan by providing technical inputs to ensure that the plan is inclusive,

comprehensive, and reflective of the component development plans of each state.

According to the communiqué, state submissions will be made

by February 10, 2021, and will underpin the use of credible data, social development and economic diversification.

The governors also received a presentation from Dimensions Information Technology LLC on a proposed harmonised traffic management system for states to boost their internal revenue generation.

The plan, the communiqué said, was assigned to a committee, peopled by the governors of Lagos, Niger, Jigawa, and Edo States for review and to advise the forum.

The communiqué said the Governor of Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, updated the governors on the eligibility criteria for the 2020 States Fiscal Transparency, Accountability and Sustainability (SFTAS) Annual Performance Assessment (APA), which requires in part that all state governments prepare their FY2021 budgets in line with the National Chart of Accounts (minimum of administrative, economic and function classifications) and that the budgets are approved by their state Houses of Assembly, assented by governors, and published online by 31st January 2021.

"The governor stated that all states have already met the second part of the eligibility criteria by publishing an IPSAScompliant 2019 audited financial statement online by August last year. He encouraged states to take advantage of the technical assistance being provided by the NGF secretariat on the domestication of the national chart of accounts," it said.

BUHARI DEMANDS STRICTER MEASURES TO TACKLE TAX EVASION government

agencies to automate their operations and ensure more synergy in advancing the interest of the nation in revenue generation.

He said: “It is not enough that our citizens and local businesses pay their fair share of taxes.

Equally, foreign businesses must also not be allowed to continue to exploit our markets and economy without paying appropriate taxes.

“Accordingly, the FIRS has my mandate to speedily put all measures in place to fully implement programmes to stamp out base erosion and profit shifting in all their ramifications and generally, automate its tax processes.

“In line with this, I have directed all government agencies and business enterprises to grant FIRS access to their systems for a seamless connection. FIRS must ensure that its deployment of technology for automation is done in line with international best practices. In particular, FIRS can borrow a leaf from other countries which have successfully automated their tax processes.’’

He said Nigeria will continue to work with the inclusive framework to develop internationally acceptable rules for taxation of the digital economy, while hoping that “the inclusive framework would have evolved into an acceptable multilateral solution that will comprehensively address the tax challenges of the digitalised economy by the middle of 2021.’’

The president assured citizens that the federal government will continue to pursue its mandate of improving lives through investments in infrastructural projects like railways, roads, electricity, healthcare and education, in spite of dwindling revenues and the challenge of coronavirus.

“Our government has continued to pursue all those

projects despite the massive decline in government revenues occasioned by a combination of factors among which is the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The devastating effect of COVID-19 on the health and economy of the world is evident across every stratum of our society. It is obvious to every citizen of this country that our economy is not immune to the global economic downturn. As such, we have had to confront the conflicting situations of reflating the economy and at the same time raising revenue to meet our budgetary needs.

It is within this context that the government undertook an expansive budgetary projection of over N13 trillion for 2021,’’ Buhari said.

He stated that the government has “inevitably resorted to deficit budgeting as a result of declining revenues for some years,’’ resulting in an increase in Nigeria’s debt profile.

“As we might expect, this has led to an increase in Nigeria’s debt profile which stood at about N32 trillion in September 2020. This funding gap created by the dwindling government revenue, therefore, underscores the importance of the national tax dialogue we are holding today.”

Buhari added that no nation has ever made progress without having to pay for it or make the necessary sacrifice and called on all Nigerians to be alive to their tax obligations.

He mandated the FIRS to do all that is required in order to efficiently collect tax revenue due from transactions carried out using local and foreign online platforms, adding that the government has made relevant statutory amendments to tax laws in the Finance Act 2020.

He also urged all citizens to play more active roles in nation-building by paying their taxes, adding that “the

administration is, however, not seeking to increase the tax burden upon the citizens but to plug the existing tax loopholes or leakages and to ensure even and equitable application of the tax laws.’’

According to him, this is clearly demonstrated by the provisions in the Finance Act 2019 whereby the government exempted small companies from tax and reduced the income tax rate for the medium companies from 30 per cent to 20 per cent.

Buhari noted that in the Finance Act 2020 which he signed into law at the tail end of 2020, his administration had cushioned the burden of tax on the low-wage workers by exempting minimum wage from personal income tax.

He said amendments had been made to the FIRS Establishment Act in the Finance Act 2020 to provide the legislative framework for the adoption of technology in tax administration.

“Every Nigerian must see tax payment in its proper context, which is, as a solemn and patriotic obligation that is necessary for building a better society,’’ he said.

In his keynote address, President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina, called for urgent tax reforms and projected a rebound of the Nigerian economy from recession, with a 1.5 per cent growth in 2021 and two per cent growth in 2022.

Adesina said taxes should be employed as instruments for promoting development by encouraging private sector companies to take up responsibilities in infrastructure and attracting foreign direct investments.

He also warned against prolonged tax holidays, which he said could be counterproductive.

Buhari Pledges Diversification through Efficient Use of Oil, Gas Revenues Meanwhile, President Buhari at another occasion yesterday, pledged to continue the federal government’s diversification drive through the efficient use of revenues from oil and gas resources.

He stated that Nigeria will continue to strengthen its position as a regional leader in the oil and gas industry, just as his administration will spare no effort in ensuring maximum benefit from the nation’s huge natural deposits.

Buhari, during the inauguration of the National Oil and Gas Excellence Centre (NOGEC) at the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) headquarters, Lagos, which was partly virtual and partly physical, said through the deployment of revenues from oil and gas, he would reduce poverty and grow the economy.

The project is expected to house the various flagship centres to comprehensively cover key areas of the industry, including the Search, Rescue

Buhari said Nigeria will emerge more resilient this year despite the challenges besetting it.

Earlier, Sylva had explained that the integrated centre encompasses five units, designed to cover key areas of the industry while enhancing safety, value and cost-efficiency.

He listed the units as Search, Rescue and Surveillance, Command and Control Centre (SERAS); National Improved Oil Recovery Centre; Oil and Gas Alternative Dispute Resolution Centre; Oil and Gas Competence Development Centre and Integrated Data Mining and Analytics Centre.

The minister described SeRAS as a flagship programme of the centre designed to enhance safety management, emergency preparedness and response and routine transportation for bedspace management.

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NEWS

COVID-19: FG Approves N6.45bn for 38 New Oxygen Plants Nationwide Says excess crude account balance now $72.411m Deji Elumoye in Abuja The federal government has approved N6.45 billion for the establishment of gas plants in 38 locations nationwide in a bid to enhance the treatment of COVID-19 patients who need oxygen.

This is just as the nation’s excess crude account balance now stands at $72,411,197.80 This was made known yesterday by the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed at the first National Economic Council (NEC) meeting in 2021 presided over by Vice

President Yemi Osinbajo with state governors, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor and other top government officials in attendance.

The Media Assistant to the Vice President, Mr. Laolu Akande in a statement issued last night, said the finance minister while briefing the NEC on the release of the funds, stated that President Muhammadu Buhari approved the release of the funds for the production of oxygen, necessitated by the increased number of patients who need

oxygen due to the surge in COVID-19 infections in the country.

Also at the meeting, the Health Minister, Dr. Osagie Ehanire informed the council that sequel to President Buhari’s decision to activate the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund based on the National Health Act, N55.1billion was approved in 2018 and that 50 per cent of the sum has since been released to the States and the FCT. Besides, the federal government has also allocated N35billion for 2021 for the Fund.

It would be recalled that the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) was established under Section 11 of the National Health Act (NHA Act), as the principal funding vehicle for the Basic Minimum Package of Health Services (BMPHS). The Fund serves to increase the fiscal space and overall financing to the health sector to assist Nigeria achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC).

Funding of the BHCPF would be derived from contributions including — an annual grant from the Federal Government of Nigeria of not less than

one per cent (one per cent) of its Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF) — grants by international donor partners; and funds from any other source.

Other updates at the NEC meeting include account balances as at January 20, 2020 given by the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, as follows: Excess Crude Account (ECA), balance as at 20th January, 2021, $72,411,197.80; Stabilisation Account, balance as at 19th January, 2021, N28, 800, 711,295.37; Natural Resources Development

Fund Account, balance as at 19th January 2021, N95, 830,729,470.82.

The Council also received an update from the Vice President who is the Chairman of Council’s Ad-Hoc Committee on Public Engagements regarding the fallouts of the EndSars protests of last year.

In the update, the NEC engagements will focus mainly on wealth creation, social safety nets and employment; education, digital economy and sports development; creative industry and hospitality; security, and governance.

Progressive Govs Forum DG Calls for Caution over Akeredolu’s Ultimatum to Herdsmen Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja The Director General of Progressive Governors Forum (PGF), Dr. Salihu Lukman, has called for caution over the ultimatum given by Ondo State Governor, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu, to herdsmen to vacate the forest reserves in the state He stated that no Nigerian, or indeed any rational person, irrespective of nationality, would oppose the objective of Akeredolu for issuing the ultimatum.

Lukman in a statement issued yesterday and, titled, ‘Caution on Divisive Campaigns and National Security Challenges’, insisted that the objective of the Ondo State government was well

articulated, which is to ensure that the forest reserves in the state are disallowed from being used as hideouts for kidnappers, bandits and other criminals.

He alleged that the statement issued by the Presidential spokesman, Malam Garba Shehu on the issue had since activated divisive politics in Nigeria.

He stated: “No Nigerian, or indeed any rational person, irrespective of nationality, can oppose this laudable objective of the Ondo State government. Mallam Garba Shehu wouldn’t have disagreed with the objectives as expressed in the statement of Governor Akeredolu. But somehow, from all the media debate going on, this is hardly

the case,” he explained.

He said Shehu’s response was generating all manner of debate, which is completely at variance with the intended objective of Akeredolu.

Lukman added: “Since the release of the statement aby Mallam Garba Shehu, the usual divisive politics has been activated. Afenifere, Arewa, Christian groups and many Nigerians are engaging the issues, sadly in ways that may only compromise or distract our leaders from being able to summon the courage to ‘reform, modernise and move our nation forward.”

He stressed that ensuring that forest reserves, and indeed all forests in the country are prevented from

being used by kidnappers, bandits and all criminals, which should be given every urgency given the ‘nightmarish challenges’ it poses.

Lukman said it was also very clear to any rational observer that any proposal for reform may be interpreted along divisive lines and many public commentators, might prioritise debating matters of interpretation rather than the substantive proposal for reform.

This, he stressed, necessitates that leaders should be able to demonstrate higher decree of caution in making public statements about policy proposals, especially those that could potentially activate national

divisive fault lines.

Lukman said without attempting to pass any judgment on the leaders, one would have wished that Akeredolu, rather than issuing a public statement on the matter, invite the leadership of Miyetti Allah and all other groups and directly engage them on strategies of enforcement of initiatives to secure all Ondo State forests, including the ban on night grazing.

On the other hand, he noted, that if Ondo State government was unable to engage groups and its decision to initiate reform as announced by Akeredolu portend the possibility of violating provisions of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution

as amended.

The director general said as things are, every Nigerian should recognise that the country is in in an emergency situation, adding that the false divisive notion of any group initiative independent of others resolving the country’s security challenges can only worsen the situation.

“The issue is about responding to a national challenge. It is about Nigeria, which is why our leaders must exercise restraint when making public statements.

If a statement is made, which potentially breach provisions of our constitution, any statement capable of activating our fault lines must be avoided,” Lukman added.

the constitutional history of Nigeria shows that the only constitutions of the Federal Republic of Nigeria made by all the ethnic groups in Nigeria were the 1960 and 1963 Constitutions.

“The 1999 Constitution overthrew the sovereignty of the regions over their national resources and domestic security unleashing in the process an unprecedented fall of education standards, domestic security, and economic wellbeing.

“To restructure Nigeria, we need a constitutional conference of all the ethnic groups in Nigeria.

“To use the current National Assembly as the forum for constitutional amendments grants a tacit recognition of the overthrow of our democratic norms by the enthronement of a military constitution by which they are composed.”

He said the outcome of the constitutional conference must be subjected to a plebiscite in which all adult Nigerians should have the right to vote.

But Ogbeh said it was unlikely for the country to return to the regional system of government where each region had control of resources at its domain.

Ogbeh stated that the shape by which restructuring would take was still unclear even if it was a necessary thing to be done.

“In dealing with the

problems confronting us, restructuring is absolutely necessary. In what shape is the question to ask. Will states surrender their autonomy like Prof, Jega asked? Very unlikely.

Are we returning to the regions of 1960? Very unlikely. That is where the problem lies,” Ogbeh said.

Ogbeh, who had earlier protested the exclusion of the ACF among other speakers at the programme, also lamented the extinction of standard factories nationwide, saying only Kano lost 126 factories in a few years.

According to him, “The economy of this country is dying so fast and that is where the tragedy is coming from.

And that is why our children and grandchildren, the young ones coming behind, should realise they have no future.

“What we say influences the opinions of those who have no opinions of their own. We are too hot and too angry. The big issue is the economy of this country. How many of us can count the numbers of factories that have died in this country? From the South-west to the North and to the East.

“Kano alone, 126 factories have gone down. We are talking about creating jobs.

You cannot take a loan from the bank that is a five per cent interest rate. Even if you are trading in cocaine, you can’t make it."

RESTRUCTURING ALONE CAN’T SOLVE NIGERIA’S PROBLEMS, SAYS JONATHAN Afenifere, Chief Ayo Adebanjo; a former President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief John Nwodo, and Chairman of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), Chief Audu Ogbeh, said Nigeria must also tackle nepotism, ethnicity and religious bias before restructuring.

Jonathan, Adebanjo, Nwodo and Ogbeh spoke at the 18th Daily Trust Dialogue with the theme: “Restructuring: Why? How?” However, Adebanjo and Nwodo demanded the restructuring of Nigeria before the next general election.

Ogbeh expressed doubt that the country could return to the regional system of government where each region had control of resources at its domain.

Jonathan, who chaired the event, said the country must come up with specific solutions to its problems.

“Discussion on restructuring will not help except we restructure our mindset,” he said, explaining: “Some of the challenges faced at the national level are still there at the state and local government levels and sometimes even in our communities.”

He frowned upon the manner states conduct local government elections.

According to him, Nigerians have mutual suspicions towards one another and this

must be addressed to have a better nation.

He said: “We cannot restructure without solving issues that polarise us; nepotism, ethnic and religious differences and lack of patriotism.”

Jonathan said the regional government in operation before the civil war was restructured to 12 states by Gen. Yakubu Gowon (rtd) to save the country from disintegration after coming out of the civil war.

He added that the country must design a solution in line with its peculiar issues, while making reference to Ghana and Tanzania’s situations.

He said Tanzania, at a time, had to turn to a one-party system to build unity and put the country back on the path of development.

Jonathan, however, clarified that he was not advocating a unitary system of government in Nigeria, adding that federalism is still the best for the country.

He urged Nigerian leaders to encourage conversations that will encourage nationalism.

He said: “Let’s do our little best in our little corner to make the country great. The leaders and citizens should not lose hope in the nation as the future is bright.

“All nations have their unique history, the amalgamation is not our

problem but the divisive politics politicians play has greatly affected our nation’s unity and that was the reason my administration conducted the 2014 national conference for the specific purpose of addressing the people that have been agitating the minds of our people. As a country, we have our peculiar challenges and we should devise means of solving them.

"My conviction is that discussion on restructuring will not help except we restructure our minds because some of the challenging issues at the national level still exist at the state and local levels.

“How do we restructure to make sure that those things don’t happen again? This shows restructuring alone may not solve all the anomalies in our system. I believe that restructuring for a better nation is good but there are other fundamental issues we should also address.

“We cannot restructure in isolation without tackling the challenges that polarise our nation. These include nepotism, ethnic and religious differences as well as lack of patriotism. The issues of tribe and religion have continued to limit our unity and progress as a nation.”

Also contributing virtually, Adebanjo stressed the need to convoke a constitutional conference, adding that the

1999 Constitution is illegal.

He also called for a conference to iron out the problems affecting the country.

He disagreed with a former Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, that some states will not agree to lose their sovereignty.

The Afenifere leader added that it is better to restructure before the 2023 elections.

He said the 2014 National Conference report and the various constitutions in the country should serve as a template for the constitutional review and restructuring.

Jega asked a fundamental question of whether states would be willing to drop their sovereignty during restructuring, and called for power devolution in the areas of education and power, among others.

Nwodo said the North will benefit more in food production if there is restructuring.

He also called for devolution of power from the centre to the states.

He said even though he was a member of the Federal Executive Council, no member of the council saw a copy of the 1999 Constitution before former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s government was inaugurated.

On why Nigeria need restructuring, he said: “We should restructure because

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FRIDAY JANUARY 22, 2021 ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

Southern, Middle Belt Leaders Back Akeredolu on Quit Order Farmers, forest guards, drivers stage solidarity protest Deji Elumoye in Abuja and James Sowole in Akure The Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum (SMBLF) has backed the one-week ultimatum given by the Ondo State Governor, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu, to herdsmen to vacate the forests in the state.

This is coming as farmers, forest guards and the members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in the state have staged a protest in support of the governor’s decision to eject herdsmen from all the forest reserves in the state.

In a statement issued yesterday entitled: ‘SMBLF warns FG on Herdsmen’, the Forum frowned at the ‘dangerous game’ the federal government is playing over its overt support for Miyetti Allah to violate the lawful order of Ondo State Government banning grazing in its forest reserves.

The leaders of the forum in the statement jointly signed by Mr. Yinka Odumakin (Southwest); Chief Guy Ikokwu (South-east); Senator Bassey Henshaw (South-south), and Dr. Isuwa Dogo (Middle Belt) declared that under the federal system of government, which Nigeria practices, forest reserves are residual matters over which the federal government has no power over.

“We are supposed to be a Federal Republic, and forest reserves in states are fully residual matter to which the federal government has no

business with.

According to the SMBLF, “The federal government statement by Garba Shehu that the governor of Ondo State lacks the full powers to decide on its reserves in spite of the Land Use Act that vests lands in states in the governors was a complete overreach and clear abuse of the constitution in a bid to elevate Fulani herders above the law.”

The statement noted that “it was a continuation of the obsessive attachment to Miyetti Allah that made the president to instruct Governor Ortom of Benue State to go and live peacefully with killers after Miyetti Allah killed 78 citizens of the state in January 2019, and to prevent Ondo State from holding its rights on its reserves in the face of persistent killings of its people by herders occupying the reserves illegally.”

The release stated further: “No decent or responsible governor would allow what the federal government wants for Fulani herdsmen. SMBLF, therefore, asks the federal government to withdraw the unjust diktat and allow Ondo State to enforce the law.

“We equally call on all state governors in all non-Fulani communities, who are being forced to live under Fulani terror, to take proactive measures to secure their people lawfully.

“Should there be any breakdown of law and order in any part of the country over this encouragement of Miyetti Allah

Court Jails Cleric for Lying on Oath, False Allegation James Sowole in Akure For telling lies and publishing false allegation against a church founder, the Ondo State High Court in Akure, the state capital, has sentenced a cleric, Mr. John Abiodun, to two years imprisonment.

Abiodun was arrested in 2019 for lying against the founder of a church, the Promiseland Prophetic Ministry, Akure, Pastor Gbenga Akinbiyi.

The cleric, who was a former member of the church, had alleged that seven placentas were planted on the altar of the church located at Shasha area of Akure.

The convict was also said to have sworn an affidavit before the Commissioner for Oaths, on the matter.

Abiodun, along with a lecturer of the Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko, Prof Lanre Olu-Adeyemi, was later arraigned on an eight-count charge bordering on conspiracy, publications of false information, perjury, impersonation, threatening violence among others.

The second defendant (Prof.

Olu-Adeyemi) was the admin of the WhatsApp group through which the false publication and accusation was passed.

During the series of court proceedings on the matter, various witnesses were called by the court on the sides of both prosecutors and defendants.

Delivering the judgment,

the trial Judge, Justice Bode Adegbehingbe, found the first defendant (Abiodun) guilty of count five of the charge for contradicting himself while giving evidence in the allegation against him, which included using different church WhatsApp platforms and other social media platforms to malign, carry out false publication and wrongly accused the founder of the church.

The court said Abiodun was found guilty of committing perjury, which is punishable under Section 118 of Criminal code, Laws of Ondo State.

The judge also held that in law, anybody found guilty of perjury was liable to life or 14 years imprisonment, but due to the plea by the defence counsel, Olanrewaju Adesanmi, who pleaded for leniency, he (the judge) reduced the jail term to two years.

“The first defendant is hereby sentenced to two years imprisonment,” the judge ruled.

The second defendant was discharged and acquitted as the court said the investigation conducted by the police on his involvement in the matter was shoddy.

The prosecuting counsel, Kayode Dare, expressed satisfaction on the judgment, saying the court had vindicated Pastor Akinbiyi and other members of his church, as it concerned alleged burying placentas on the altar of the church.

against law and order, President Muhammadu Buhari will be held squarely responsible.”

Meanwhile, farmers, forest guards and the members of the NURTW in Ondo State have staged a protest in support of Akeredolu’s decision to eject herdsmen from all the forest

reserves in the state.

The protest was also against the incessant abduction of their members allegedly by some gunmen suspected to be herdsmen.

The protesters, who stormed the streets of Akure in protest yesterday, carried placards with

various inscriptions.

They insisted that if the current state of insecurity was not quickly checked, it might lead to chaos and famine in the state The farmers said the vacation order to criminal herdsmen has given them hope of

good harvest in the coming years.

Spokesman for the farmers, Mr. Gbenga Obaweya, called for relevant legislation to back up the order, saying the social and economic impact of activities of herdsmen could lead to severe famine if not checked.

PROMOTING NON-OIL EXPORTS…

L-R: Governor of Kwara State, Mr. AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq; Chief Executive Officer, Nigeria Export Promotion Council (NEPC), Mr. Segun Awolowo; and Niger State Governor, Mr. Abubakar Sani Bello, during their visits to Awolowo at the Export House in Abuja...yesterday

Again, Gunmen Kill Four in Kaduna Communities John ShiklaminKaduna

Four people have been killed by gunmen in separate attacks on three communities in Kaduna Kaduna State.

The commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Mr. Samuel Aruwan, disclosed this in a statement issued yesterday in Kaduna.

He said the killings took place in communities in Giwa, Chikun,

Igabi Local Government Areas of the state.

He said “security agencies reported the killing of four citizens in isolated locations of Giwa, Chikun and Igabi local government areas.”

The commissioner said, “At Baranje village near Buruku in Chikun Local Government Area, two persons were killed, listed as: Dogara Yahaya, the Ward Head of Baranje village and Reuben

Adamu”.

The statement added that at Ungwan Sada in Giwa Local Government Area, the bandits killed one Ibrahim Salisu after an attempt to kidnap him.

“Similarly, Abdullahi Saleh, a herder, was killed by bandits along the Kangimi axis, on the Kaduna-Jos Road in Igabi Local Government Area”, the statement added.

Aruwan said “governor Nasir

El-Rufai noted these reports with sadness and sent condolences to the families of the slain citizens, while praying for the repose of their souls.

“He also tasked security agencies to ensure diligent investigations into the incidents”.

He said, “Intensified ground and air patrols are set to be sustained in Birnin Gwari, Giwa, Igabi and Chikun local government areas, linking up to Niger State.

Policeman, Soldier Nabbed for Alleged Robbery in Ondo James Sowole in Akure A newly recruited police constable, David Friday, and a serving Nigerian soldier, Innocent Victor, were yesterday paraded by the Ondo State Police Command for alleged armed robbery.

While David was attached to Olofin Police Station in Idanre Local Government Area of the state, Victor was said to be serving with the 32 Artillery Brigade, Nigeria Army, Owena Cantonment.

The duo were reportedly armed with a Jack knife and other dangerous weapons at Ojadale junction where they attacked and robbed some persons Items they reportedly stole were N6,000, one Itel mobile phone valued at N8,500; 30 litres of petrol and N125, 000.

The state Police Commissioner, Bolaji Salami, who paraded the suspects, alleged that David earlier stole an (exhibit) motorcycle at his duty post.

According to Salami, “He was

being tried for that motorcycle theft when he was caught conspiring with a soldier to rob some people with a dagger.

“We paraded them, and the victims identified them, even as other victims came and identified them. When we are done with our investigation, we will charge them to court.”

The two suspects denied committing the said offence.

The soldier said he was held for being on illegal duty just as David denied robbing anyone.

Other suspects paraded were one Wasiu Lateef, who was alleged to have defiled a teenager at an uncompleted building in Lapanu village, and a suspected teenage kidnapper, Bello Ali, who could not explain what he was doing in a forest between Uso and Ogbese.

The police commissioner, who also paraded a fake soldier, Desmond Ikechukwu, said the suspect impersonated the army to intimidate members of the public.

Military Shuts 13 Illegal Refining Sites in N’ Delta Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja Military authorities said yesterday that troops of Operation Delta Safe dismantled 13 Illegal refining sites set up by oil bunkerers in the Niger Delta region.

The military also recovered 9,856.1 barrels of stolen crude, 1,339,000 litres of illegally refined diesel or Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) and 500,000 litres of kerosene or DPK while 24 suspected oil thieves were nabbed.

Speaking at a media briefing in Abuja, Coordinator, Directorate of Defence Media Operations (DDMO), Major General John Enenche, said troops of Operation

Delta Safe sustained the aggressive fight against economic sabotage in the South-South zone.

Enenche, who spoke during the weekly briefing on military operations at the Defence Headquarters (DHQ), said the operation which was conducted between 14 to 20 January 2021, also covered illegal maritime activities.

“In the course of their operational activities, six illegal refining sites, 11 wooden boats, 52 Gee Pee tanks, 102 metal tanks, 17 dugout pits and 45 ovens were immobilised.

“Also, 24 suspects arrested while 14 pumping machines, two speed boats and 13 outboard

engines were recovered.

Additionally, he said, “a total of 9,856.1 barrels of stolen crude oil and 1,339,000 litres of illegally refined AGO as well as 500,000 litres of DPK were recovered”.

Enenche said Nigerian Navy Ship Delta anti-crude oil team in conjunction with Forward Operating Base Escravos conducted anti-illegal bunkering operations.

During the operations, he said, the team de-activated illegally refining site at Egwa Creek, Warri South West Local Government Area.

“The illegally refining site had seven refining units (ovens), 16 metal storage tanks, 84,000 litres

and 105,000 litres of products suspected to be illegally refined AGO and stolen crude oil respectively”, he said.

Meanwhile, in the North-west, Enenche, disclosed that “troops of Operation Hadarin Daji and other subsidiary operations have sustained their operations in the North-west zone of the country progressively.

“Notably, on 17 January 2021 following credible intelligence on movement of armed bandits with rustled animals at Bungudu LGA of Zamfara State, troops of Forward Operating Base Kekuwuje, responded immediately and made contact with bandits.

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FRIDAY JANUARY 22, 2021 ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

Buhari Mourns Former IG, Gambo Jimeta Deji Elumoye, Kingsley Nweze in Abuja and Daji Sani in Yola President Muhammadu Buhari

has mourned the former Inspector General of Police, Muhammadu Gambo Jimeta.

In a statement issued last night by his Media Assistant,

Nigeria’s Out-of-school Children Drops to 6.9m, Says FG Kuni Tyessi inAbuja The federal government yesterday stated that Nigeria’s out- of-schoolchildren (OSC) has dropped to 6.946 million from 10.1 million.

The government claimed that 3.247,590 million children, who were not in school, were enrolled within the space of a year and seven months, due to several activities undertaken by the Federal Ministry of Education.

Speaking with journalists yesterday during the Ministerial Press Briefing to showcase the achievement of the ministry of education in 2020, the Minister of Education, MalamAdamuAdamu, stated that the government has secured a credit facility of $611 million from the World Bank to support Universal Basic Education (UBE), in seventeen states.

He added that the money will be used to implement the Better Education Service Delivery For All (BESDA) in the entire 13states of the North West and North East

as well as Niger, Oyo, Ebony and Rivers states.

The minister said: “On the 21st of May 2019 in what I termed my valedictory press briefing, I told you that my greatest regret then, was our inability to bring down the number of out-of-school-children to a manageable/barest minimum.

“Under the initiative of the Better Education Service Delivery for All (BESDA), the Federal Government secured a World Bank credit facility in the sun of $611,000,000 to support 17 states of the federation in strengthening Universal Basic Education as well as the first pillar of the Ministerial Strategic Plan (MSP) on Out-ofschool-children.

“As at today, we have recorded impressive school enrollment figures in 17 states of the Federation where BESDA is being implemented. I can however tell you that through the BESDA initiative, we have reduced the figure of out-of-school-children by 3.247,590 as at 31st December 2020.

Malam Garba Shehu, Buhari expressed sadness over the death of Jimeta, whose transition was announced yesterday evening.

Conveying the condolences of his family and that of the government and people of Nigeria, the President described the late crack police detective as “a man of great courage, intellect and a true Nigerian Statesman”.

He added that “Today, Nigeria lost a great son who lived for the nation and served with all his strength. May Allah bless his soul and give fortitude to the bereaved family, the government and people of Adamawa State to bear this

irreparable loss,” Buhari prayed.

Gambo Jimeta was said to have died in an undisclosed hospital yesterday in Abuja.

His son, Mubarak Gambo, confirmed his passing to THISDAY. He died at the age of 84, having celebrated his 83rd birthday in April 2020.

Gambo would be remembered as the chief law enforcement officer, who finally nabbed an elusive and notorious armed robbery gang led by Mr. Lawrence Anini.

Anini had terrorised the Edo/Delta axis for three years creating the impression then that the former military president, General Ibrahim

Babangida-led government was not in charge of the former mid-west states.

Infuriated by the activities of the Anini/Monday Osunbor gang, Babangida had queried the then Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Etim Inyang, over the whereabouts of Anini after a Supreme Military Council meeting.

“My friend, where is Anini?,” a furious Babangida asked.

“Sir, we are still searching for him,” Inyang replied.

Inyang was removed as IG and Gambo was appointed.

In no time, Anini, and his gang members - Monday Osunbor, Friday Ofege, Kingsley Eweka, Henry

Ekponwan, Phillip Iwelube, and their police accomplice, George Iyamu were nabbed.

Meanwhile, the cause of death of the former National Security Adviser (NSA) could not be ascertained last night.

Gambo Jimeta was born in Jimeta, Yola, Adamawa State on April 15, 1937.

He was appointed by former President Ibrahim Babangida in 1986 as the Inspector General of the Nigeria Police Force to succeed Etim Inyang.

He was later appointed the National Security Adviser by Babangida, while the late Head of State, Gen. Sani Abacha appointed him as Minister of Agriculture.

El-Zakzaky’s Wife Contracts COVID-19 in Detention Zeena Ibraheem, the wife of the leader of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria, Sheikh Ibrahim ElZakzaky, has contracted COVID-19 in prison at a correctional centre in Kaduna State In a message titled, ‘COVID-19 Hits Kaduna Prison, As My Mother Tested Positive’, ElZakzaky’s son, Mohammed, said his mother had also lost the ability to smell.

According to the message, “Six days ago after a routine visit to the Kaduna State prison by my parent’s doctors, my mother complained of fatigue, fever and a complete loss of the ability to smell. The doctors decided to carry out a number of standard tests in order to understand what the

problem was.

“Among the tests that were carried out was a test for the novel corona virus also known as COVID-19. This was a routine procedure and it is important to understand that she has been denied treatment for acute medical conditions including severe arthritis of the knee for years now.

“The COVID-19 test came back positive… Once I heard of the result my first act was to ensure that it was tried, tested and confirmed. I expected that following our risky entrance into the predictable petri dish of Kaduna State prison for what it is; the person in charge of Kaduna State prison will officially do his job.

WORK-IN-POGRESS…

L-R: Oyo State Governor, Mr. Seyi Makinde; Manager, Mortayus Construction Nigeria Limited, Mr. Taiwo Yusuf; Iyaloja of Oyo, Alhaja Peju Bakare; Secretary to the State Government, Mrs. Olubamiwo Adeosun; and Senator representing Oyo Central senatorial district, Mrs. Monsurat Sunmonu, during the governor’s inspection of phase one of Akesan Market Project, Oyo…yesterday

COVID-19: Kano will Not Impose Lockdown Again, Says Ganduje Ibrahim Shuaibu in Kano The Kano State Governor, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has clarified that his administration had no intention to impose another lockdown in the wake of the resurgence of the COVID-19 pandemic disease.

Ganduje stated that the second wave of the pandemic would

not warrant another lockdown and called on the people to brace up to the challenge of observing and adhering to the COVID-19 protocols for their own safety.

He made the clarification yesterday while addressing a congregation of markets’ leaders that cut across different strata during a special meeting that was held at Africa House, Kano

Government House.

The governor warned that no one would be safe if the COVID-19 protocols were grossly violated and affirmed that it is the responsibility of the markets’ leaders to enlighten and encourage traders to observe the protocols as a way of stemming the spread of the deadly pandemic.

Ganduje, who was represented by the Deputy Governor of Kano State, Dr. Nasir Yusuf Gawuna, however stated that the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has inflicted severe damage on businesses across the state and badly affected the lives of those who do not have the means to earn a living.

Amaechi Inaugurates N900m Kidnappers Free Former Bauchi Legislator last Wednesday evening home around 11p.m. last he is traumatised by to the e-Ticketing Platform for NRC Segun Awofadeji in Bauchi released after spending six days capacity. Wednesday. experience,” the family source Kasim Sumaina in Abuja The Minister for Transportation, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, has launched the e-ticketing platform of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), with assurances that government is determined to ensure Nigerians get the best travel experience on all its train service network.

Amaechi said the e-ticketing platform procured at about N900 million, is another milestone for the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), the Federal Ministry of Transportation and the government.

He said: “This project which is a Public-Private Partnership is a product of over three years of rigorous procurement process and due diligence involving the NRC, NITDA and finally obtaining approval from the Federal Executive Council.

“Today marks the beginning of the automation of ticket sales

in all our major stations on the Abuja Kaduna train service.

This is a total package that also includes access control which will be deployed subsequently.

“It is my believe that deploying the secured ticketing solution is in line with world best practice, and will enhance efficiency, save time and promote accountability while also reducing leakages and promoting economic growth.

It is most suitable especially at this period of COVID-19 as it reduces physical interactions at the stations as passengers can buy their tickets at the comfort of their homes and offices through their phones.”

He thanked the concessionaire, SecuredID Limited, for believing in the project adding that the various initiatives which would be introduced by the concessionaire is aimed at making the entire rail network more passengers friendly.

A former member of the Bauchi State House of Assembly, Hon Abdulmumuni Hassan Ningi, who was kidnapped last Thursday in Bauchi metropolis by some suspected gunmen, has regained his freedom.

THISDAY checks revealed the former state lawmaker was

As of the time of filing in this report, the state police command is yet to make any official comment on the release of the former lawmaker.

However, his release was revealed to journalists in Bauchi by a member of his family, who disclosed that Ningi returned

Though the source did not say if any ransom was paid for the release of the former lawmaker, he, however, confirmed that the family negotiated with the kidnappers.

“We are only grateful to Allah that our brother is back home hale and hearty, though

told journalists in a telephone conversation.

According to him, “Ningi needs urgent medical attention, considering the experience he passed through,” adding that the family would equally ensure that he is given adequate psychological evaluation.

Adamawa Police Nab Three Members of Notorious Shilla Boys The police in Yola, Adamawa State capital, have confirmed the arrest of three members of a gang notoriously known as Shilla Boys.

Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Sulaiman Nguroje, who is the Police Spokesman in the state, confirmed the arrest in a statement.

Nguroje said that the suspects were between the ages of 18 and 35 and had been terrorising people with dangerous weapons in some areas of the Yola North Local Government Area.

The police image maker was also quoted by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) as saying that the criminal gang usually disguised as commercial tricycles operators to rob innocent passengers. He said on January 20, the police received information about the suspicious movement of members of the gang at a hideout in Ngurore town.

“The Police Command immediately deployed its operatives and successfully arrested three members of the Shilla boys,’’ he said.

Nguroje listed items recovered from the suspects to include one tricycle, knives, and cutlasses.

He said the suspects were being investigated for criminal conspiracy and armed robbery and would be charged to court as soon as an investigation is concluded.

He commended the citizens for their cooperation and support and called for more partnership and collaboration with the police, particularly in the area of providing credible and actionable information.

Nguroje listed items recovered from the suspects to include one tricycle, knives, and cutlasses.

He said the suspects were being investigated for criminal conspiracy and armed robbery and would be charged to court as soon as an investigation is concluded.

He commended the citizens for their cooperation and support and called for more partnership and collaboration with the police, particularly in the area of providing credible and actionable information.

FRIDAY JANUARY 22, 2021 • T H I S D AY

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COMMENT

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

THE EXIT OF DONALD TRUMP Toyin Falola writes that Trump did not deserve to be President

Proverbs 16:18 (NIVUK)

L

ike myself, many concluded four years ago that this man, Donald Trump, whose name is now approaching that of Judas Iscariot in infamy, would be kicked out of the White House after just a term. Even before the end of his first year, there were whispers that some worried members of his cabinet were meeting secretly to plot his removal by invoking their constitutional rights. Like that man you know, but whose name you must not mention, his behavior is like that of a madman. A fool remains a fool, at all times, every day. Never fight with a fool as you may become a fool like him. If you fight with a pig, you pull yourself into the mud. This man dragged millions of others into becoming fools. Donald turned many wise men into fools as they tried to manage him.

He did not even move into the palace with any dignity to start with. His hat was yellow, his shirt was red, his tie was hunter, his jacket was Monaco, his pant was a parakeet, his wristwatch was mermaid, his pair of stockings was slate, and his shoes came as dandelion. His dress exposed his face, harbor in color. When he spoke, you see the mauve tongue, and as the mouth reveals itself, you see magenta teeth, and an iris foliage of “mother-in-law tongue.”

Four years, a series of amazing records broken and new ones set within just two weeks to exit in the United States’ 250 years of existence. Impeached twice, setting a new record. There have only been two existing before 2019, Trump’s two means he has equaled the total number of impeachments for POTUS, achieved within a single term. Evicted from Twitter; that does not even happen to a yahoo-yahoo boy! He invaded Capitol Hill to upset democracy; what Robin Hood would not even have tried. He lost a re-election bid and went on a tirade, like Yahya Jammeh, the maniac who once governed the unfortunate people of The Gambia. He set the stage for violence, chaos, and anarchy, like the evil men who created apartheid in South Africa. And in the words of one of his four-year presidency’s collaborators, the Senate President, he “provoked the mob” to overthrow the Congress proceedings. Just for his own sake, he did not even care if they murdered his loyal Vice, Mr. Pence, with his family.

The simpleton became the President of the United States (POTUS) with the highest number of pro-impeachment votes from within his party, with many Republicans equally having had enough of the ninny. Indeed, it was the first time in US history that all members of the majority caucus unanimously voted impeachment for any president.

Accolades! Suffice to say, the biblical Samson must have served as his preface, saving more in death than when alive.

Oh, Trump is not dead, but his presidency went into a decrepit abyss. Trump’s presidency, already characterized so, will be remembered as one that badly divided Americans along strict party and racial lines; perhaps, worse than any other in history.

However, the last one week has seen a gradual change in the narrative. People put aside party rivalries to conclude that he was not just a wrong choice, but bad enough to prevent anyone like him ever coming close to the public office again.

Let me sermonize, like the fundamentalists who believe in him. For many, perhaps, we have to analyze this as beyond just the physical. Trump’s fall from the highest pinnacle of power in the whole world is nothing but a spiritual event—a profoundly spiritual event that should cause all persons to pause and reconsider their ways. Look at Trump. There is no human being that could have orchestrated the perfect combination of factors that brought him down, leading to his disgrace and shameful exit from the White House as the only US President to be impeached twice.

For the last four years, he was advised; he was warned; he was appealed to; he was cajoled. He was humored, defied, and was given every benefit of reasonableness to change course and

PEOPLE PUT ASIDE PARTY RIVALRIES TO CONCLUDE THAT HE WAS NOT JUST A WRONG CHOICE, BUT BAD ENOUGH TO PREVENT ANYONE LIKE HIM EVER COMING CLOSE TO THE PUBLIC OFFICE AGAIN

become a true leader. But as one intoxicated, he was blinded by praise, drunk on hubris, deafened by applause, deadened by momentary success, and ultimately, he was brought down by these same things. This is the predictable part—the part that the Bible verse above refers to.

Pride will lead to a big, public fall. Mr. Success in Nigeria, Mrs. Success in Jamaica, go ahead and abuse everyone you meet on the way. Bravo! Cleverman, assure yourself that you can solve all problems. Congratulations! The rich, maltreat the poor. Success! Professor, you are the best. Oh my God! Egotism has an end, always ending in tears. A homily ends in a warning, the unpredictable part. The ones that must cause every thinking being to pause and reflect and seek spiritual meaning, are the events of the last one year, all of which, like domino pieces, one after the other, led to a cascading collapse of the Trump House of Horrors.

Foremost was the pandemic, so unforeseen, and yet the perfect scythe to cut down Trump’s biggest boast—the economy and jobs. Once the economy nosedived, nothing was left for Trump to boast about. Oh, and that was not all. Believed to be the most secured country in the world by many, Trump could not stop boasting of the US’ military might, resulting in threats, some executed, on nations around the globe. Indeed, while he always seemed to be prepared militarily, he was far from prepared with his common sense. Even when it became inevitable that the US had just been hit with the worst pandemic, his reactions, unintellectual charades, blames, and name-calling ensured he didn’t do what was required to protect the citizens of the US, recording the highest death toll from the pandemic. A clown and a murderer, this is the summary of Trump within the last one year.

Besides the invading force of COVID-19, Trump’s self-caused casus belli for his inevitable fall, his tomfoolery racism. He was sitting atop the apogee of power in a country that has thrived as the most sought-after destination of people from different parts of the world, Africans inclusive. Consequentially, who could have known that the popular event in recent American history—the police killing of an unarmed black man, this time, George Floyd—would successfully galvanize Americans to mobilize intensely, and turn out at the polls like never seen, in unprecedented numbers, to reject a transparently racist president and his equally immoral party. Perhaps arguably, were it not for George Floyd, nominating the first black woman as VP during this election cycle might have remained impossible. Worthy of note is that Harris was not the only nominated black woman, with Stacey Abrams also appointed by Biden himself. The statistical odds have always been against this. And, perhaps, Kamala Harris’ emergence had to do more with her being multiracial in origin—being African-American and Asian-American—thereby appealing to several US citizens.

Unable to cope with defeat, Trump was not ready to leave the White House without his legacy imprinted on American politics. And what could the madman think of? Inciting a racist mob to overrun the US Capitol Hill, maybe to perhaps prevent the Senate ratification of the Biden-Harris fair electoral win. Ever a more stupid clown? And there, Trump left a legacy which without mincing words, was a brazen attack on the US democracy—the pinnacle of democracy around the world. A dirty, oily stain on the White House. Making a comeback is allowed, but Trump sealed his fate with the Republican Party in the mud after his selfish and stupid display of uncouthness and sheer arrogance. Oh! Establishing and registering a new party for 2024 might be a thing. The foolish man is on to a new silly game.

Reflecting upon this chain of events, and it seems only karma, fate, providence, destiny, preordination, and divine intervention of some sort could have planned the last year for Trump.

Falola is Professor of History, The University of Texas at Austin

THE BATTLE FOR ANAMBRA STATE

Val Ozigbo has the capacity and vision to improve on the fortunes of the state, writes

O

nce again Anambra State, the “Light of the Nation” is at the verge of another round of elections to choose the leader who will steer their ship for another four years. It is gratifying that with each cycle of election, the state throws up more and better prepared aspirants for the topmost job. As it stands today, the political firmament is being bestrode by personages who perhaps want to replicate the vision of past Igbo and Nigerian leaders such as Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Dr. Alex Ekwueme, Dr. M.I. Okpara, Dim Emeka Ojukwu and a host of others who through dint of hard work, knowledge, and altruism crystallized the people’s aspirations in infrastructural development, educational excellence, and business enterprise.

A cursory look at the aspirants and their vision for the state will instantly throw up Mr. Valentine Ozigbo who by stroke of fate hails from Anambra South Senatorial zone where the pendulum will swing in the choice of the next governor.

Born in 1970 to a father who was a headmaster and a petty trading mother, Valentine Ozigbo started early to gain attention as a brilliant student since he usually excelled among his peers throughout his academic pursuits. This laudable feat continued even to his university days at the prestigious

University of Nigeria Nsukka and beyond the shores of Nigeria.

Perhaps, what is of utmost importance in the quest for the governor of a prime state like Anambra is to identify and escalate the vision of those aspiring to lead and Mr Ozigbo’s vision resonates as one that can truly elevate and set the state apart in all sectors of human capital and infrastructural development.

This vision is encapsulated in his advocacy for peace and cohesion amongst the people of the state. This advocacy is apt in the sense that it is at the core of all other factors necessary to spur and motivate the full participation of all citizens of the state, mostly those with investment prowess to explore the available opportunities in the state and commit their resources for the common good.

His advocacy for unity among the people will act as a boost for investors both from within and outside the state to consider Anambra State favorably in their investment decisions. What I find most laudable in Ozigbo’s vision and plans for the state is the will to create synergy between Anambra State and its neighboring states like Delta, Imo, and Enugu whereby joint development agencies will be set up for their mutual benefits. This is not only laudable and long-overdue but it speaks to the innovative acumen of man who sees beyond his immediate environment.

Again with his private sector background

and as the immediate past President and Group Chief Executive of Transcorp Plc, a multinational conglomerate with interests in power, energy, oil and gas, and hospitality, he will bring his years of experience and exposure to bear in galvanizing both local and indigenous business men and women to invest in Anambra State.

Leadership in this era must be based on the ability of the leader to know his way and lead others to the right destination and this is what Valentune Ozigbo represents in his aspiration to be the next governor of Anambra State.

He has through his accomplishments and pedigree in the private sector demonstrated that he has the capacity, willingness, and able to lead Anambra state to the Promised Land after Governor Willie Obiano.

In the face of many daunting challenges Anambra needs a leader that will motivate the citizens to repose faith in their government and institutions, and not people who seek power for personal aggrandizement and ego.

Therefore, the 2021 governorship election will afford the people of the state an opportunity to raise the bar by choosing from among them a youthful, vibrant and visionary leader who can transform the state and bring prosperity to the remotest parts.

As endowed as Anambra State is in terms of human capital it is astonishing that many years after its creation by the General Ibrahim

Babangida regime, there is no befitting state capital and other key infrastructural development that will place it as a state of reckoning in Africa. Now that Ozigbo has got the wisdom to throw his hat in the ring in the interest of his people, there will be new ways of doing things and the quality of life of the citizens is bound to change for the better.

Though this may appear impossible to negative thinkers but I know for sure that with the right leadership the state can actually be the “envy of other states” as Val Ozigbo has envisioned. It only requires the determination, political will, and requisite knowledge which he possesses in abundance to bring this about.

Time has come for us to leave our comfort zones and work for the greater good of the people of Anambra State and this will require that the people see beyond the ephemeral postures of opportunists who may use guile to find their way to the topmost position. If this is allowed to happen we shall all be losers for our indiscretion. We cannot continue to play to the gallery in terms of choosing the right leaders and hope that manna will fall from heaven.

These expectations can only materialize and come into fruition when the people choose a good leader and refuse to accede to the ambition of politicians who want to use the office to massage their bruised egos or siphon the public treasury.

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EDITORIAL

LAND DISPUTES AND COMMUNAL CLASHES The authorities must do more to contain the growing problem

T

he recent imposition of curfew on Aguleri, Umueri and Umuoba Anam towns in Anambra State by Governor Willie Obiano is an unfortunate development that speaks to a growing challenge in our country. The decision came barely 24 hours after these communities, all in Anambra East local government area, erupted in yet another orgy of violence in what has become a recurring tragedy.

For more than two decades, efforts to reconcile these warring ASIDE THE THOUSANDS OF communities that fight over a PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN KILLED AND THE PROPERTY disputed piece of land have failed.

RAZED, SEVERAL FAMILIES In the process, ARE TODAY DISLOCATED several lives have WITH COUNTLESS PEOPLE been lost with PHYSICALLY MAIMED FOR property running into hundreds LIFE of millions destroyed. But the madness is not restricted to Anambra State.

Such violent clashes have become frequent in several theatres across the country with destabilising impact on governance, the economy and the society at large.

A few months ago, a dispute over farm land between Wanikade and Wanihem communities in Yala local government of Cross River State led to the killing of scores of people, mostly women and children as well as the destruction of dozens of houses. At about the same period, two neighbouring communities of Ilofa and OdoOwa in Oke-Ero local government of Kwara State which had coexisted peacefully for decades also resorted to arms to settle their grievances over superiority rites during a new yam festival.

Buildings were razed, cars were burnt and farming communities laid waste. From the East to the West and the North, communal clashes have become a common feature of living even by communities whose peoples speak the same

Letters to the Editor

I

n 1988 Donald Trump made speculations that he will be throwing his hat in the ring in the US presidential race. Nobody gave the ‘Real Estate’ mogul a chance as the then VicePresident George Bush Sr was the front liner by the opinion polls to succeed the legendary Ronald Reagan.

Trump known for his publicity stunts carefully weighed public opinion and decided not to press his ambition further.

Not tired, he tried the same stunt in 1992 shortly after his famous bankruptcy filing and decided not to go ahead as there was no way he could have gotten the Republican party ticket as Bush had a very high approval rating no thanks to the Gulf War. When he announced in 2016 that he will be running for the highest political office in Uncle Sam under the Republican Party, few gave him half of a chance.

Historians saw it as one more stunt as the blonde clearly loved being in front of the camera. Political pundits laughed at him to scorn as well as his fellow contenders in the Grand Old Party (GOP). He did the unthinkable by clinching the ticket and the then US President Barack Obama warned the nation that he was unfit to govern the country.

No sooner had he won the primaries

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language and practice same religion.

The authorities should be particularly concerned that bloody battles for supremacy over land are spreading across the country. Aside the thousands of people that have been killed and property razed, several families are today dislocated with countless people physically and psychologically maimed for life. The future ambitions of many Nigerians, particularly children, have also been cut short or disrupted. This is not to talk of foreign investors who are scared by the many violent conflicts in the polity. More worrying is that many of these communal conflicts also highlight the prevalence of weapons in the hands of non-state actors in the country.

This then explains why Nigeria is awash with illegal small arms and light weapons (SAWLs).

The ease of access to these weapons has made individuals and communities less amenable to entreaties for peaceful co-existence.

This ugly development does not bode well especially at this critical time when the nation is experiencing serious security challenges. It was such easy access to SALWs by some unscrupulous elements that resulted in total breakdown of law and order in some of the failed states in Africa of which Somalia is a prime example.

Such proliferation equally led to difficulties in conflict resolution as was the case in Liberia and Sierra Leone in the recent past. This is why we enjoin all the relevant authorities to recognise the danger posed by the influx of small arms into our country and act quickly to tackle the menace before it is too late.

There is also the urgent need to develop a framework that will enable early and effective response to any crisis and safeguard lives and property while ensuring stability and growth in the economy. The inability of the authorities to maintain law and order in many localities is too obvious. Even more fundamental, there is need for a holistic approach that not only addresses the immediate challenge but one that also deals with some of the root causes of violence in our country. The most obvious is that of growing poverty.

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.

OUT TRUMP, IN BIDEN

than he began to show his true colours of a racist and vile populist. He whipped up anti immigrant sentiments by opining that the immigrants were stealing jobs forgetting that America’s beauty is that it is a land built on the labour of immigrants and he himself is the grandson of a German immigrant. He promised to build a wall reminiscent of the Iron Curtain in the days of the Cold War to permanently keep the Mexicans out of American soil. Like the Scion of the infamous Ku Klux Klan, he appealed to the Caucasians especially those whose economic fortune had nosedived, the Christian Evangelicals who were aghast at the progress being made by the Far Left especially with the legalization of same sex marriage under the Obama Presidency and the massive funding for abortion and its exportation overseas, his fellow racists who couldn’t live with the fact that a first generation immigrant of a Kenyan who went back to his country after his studies at Harvard now sat in the White House as real proof of the American dream. In the end he defeated Hillary Clinton by 304 to 227 even though the former First Lady surpassed him by nearly 2.9 million popular votes.

The Bull in the China Shop in fairness to him has to his credit massive job creation

for Americans owing to his controversial success as a businessman. For the first time since Franklin Delano Roosevelt who launched the New Deal in 1933 which saw the American economy recover exponentially from the Great Depression, the economy in the early years of Trump roared like a Lion and it was inclusive of the blacks and other ethnic minorities.

His asinine racist tendencies greatly eroded the gains he made. He placed a ban on some Muslim nationals coming into the country dismissing them as terrorists. He abolished Obamacare that brought relief to millions of poor Americans who were hitherto denied affordable healthcare as it is the most expensive in the world.

Trump didn’t mind leaving the vulnerable including the homeless at the mercy of the ruthless sharks called the Pharmaceutical companies who operate like the modern day reincarnation of the Shakespearean Shylock. His immigration policies separated children from their immigrant parents especially from Mexico and illegal immigrants lived in the perpetual fear of a heartless deportation even in some cases when they were children of illegal immigrants.

His ‘America First’ saw the shrinking of Uncle Sam in global politics as he pulled

her out of the Paris Climate Agreement and the Iran Nuclear Deal. He snubbed Africa as his relationship with the continent was paternalistic and patronizing and he couldn’t be bothered to visit any country there.

Some officials from the World Health Organization warned him as far back as January 2020 of the corona virus but he dismissed it with the wave of the hand. His lackadaisical attitude towards providing effective leadership cost his countrymen over 400,000 lives and made mincemeat of his economic progress as over one million of his countrymen filed for unemployment benefits.

When he was up for re-election against Joe Biden late last year, he called the latter all sorts of derogatory names most notably ‘Sleepy Joe.’ Biden went on to defeat with a landslide of 306 to 232 Electoral College votes and by securing 81 million popular votes – the highest ever in the annals of American electoral history.

Joe Biden has the onerous task of uniting the bitterly divided country which has been badly polarized by his predecessor’s childish and rancorous antics.

We wish him the best of luck!

Tony Ademiluyi, Lagos

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FRIDAY JANUARY 22, 2021 •T H I S D AY

FRIDAY JANUARY 22, 2021 • T H I S D AY

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POLITICS

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

Getting Our Camel Through the Eye of a 21st Century Needle Iboro Otu expresses hope in the possibility of drumming a loud wake up call to millions of idle voters that can lead to a major shift in the polity

H

ow do you get yourself to think differently from how you used to? When do you even realize it’s time to or you’ve had enough of doing things the old way and need a new direction? What provides that nudge? Is it a situation, an event, a hunch, an experience or advise? Motivators inspire us often by telling us what to do to get out of debilitating situations, but often times the problem isn’t the ‘what’ - most of us know what needs to be done - it is the ’how’ and the guts to follow through.

This is primarily why motivation is seldom enough to pull anyone through anything, for its fire alone cannot last long without commitment.

It’s 2021, we are three weeks in and the miracle hasn’t happened yet after all the nice words have been said.

Perhaps what is now needed is action to follow through and this is where we always have found ourselves wanting as a people. The distance between our rhetoric fulcrum and kinetics needs a long enough lever of commitment to enable us lift ourselves and our national living standards. What needs to be done in the form of a blueprint presents itself every year in a budget, but as the global capital of poverty, who needs further continuous deceit if the fundamentals aren’t sound or the commitment isn’t there?

Deceit is often not the best way to start off although it is a thin line between over-ambition and self deception.

Bogged down by terrorism, kidnapping and banditry, massive unemployment, steroidal poverty, economic impact of COVID-19 and leadership yet to get direction out of the woods, we would expect a forthcoming and transparent government willing to earn public trust and thrust in 2021. Quick economic recovery should be an imperative which must include trimming down the cost of governance at all levels as this alone would drastically reduce recurrent expenditure. Trimming down on our borrowing proclivity, prioritizing socio-economically sound, Naija-centric, capital projects is another and there are several text-book cases on how to achieve this, including immediate benefits.

However, when I glanced at the 2021 proposed national budget, five assumptions stood out; (1) that oil will sell at an average of $40 per barrel; possible, but not within our control. (2) that Nigeria will have an average daily production of 1.86 million barrels per day; not possible (3) that the exchange rate will remain at an average of N379 to the dollar; impossi-cant. (4) that our GDP will grow at 3.0% in 2021; not possible (5) that inflation will be an average of 11.95%; not possible. 1 over 5 is a ‘very poor ’ mark usually followed with a red inked ‘see me in my office’ remark.

Minus the impact of COVID-19 on global oil demand, which has brought about OPEC rationing, oil output isn’t in our hands plus we realistically don’t expect the Niger-Delta to churn out that much oil when NDDC is in an operational mess with the restive region again roaring its head against how badly this establishment has been run by proxy in the past few years. This restiveness always carries with it sabotage in oil production which directly reflects on output, foreign exchange and ultimately on the value of the Naira. Our oil production best result in the past four years has been 2.07 millions barrels in Q4 of 2019, so 1.86 million average for 2021 is us pushing it.

Also, a ‘V’ type recovery from our recession as projected by the govern-

the impact of banditry and Boko Haram on business especially in the agriculture sector, including forex availability and the black market value of the dollar alongside our excessive borrowing proclivity both in local and international markets which starves funds from our local businesses in our capital market, all means we should expect a much higher inflation level for 2021. Meanwhile, Fitch Ratings, in its report on ‘Depreciatory Pressures on Key SubSaharan African Currencies to Lesson’ anticipates the CBN would allow the Naira to depreciate much further this year, I believe Fitch. Why? Because as we speak the Nigerian government is looking to borrow $1.5 billion from the World Bank and one of the caveats is that we move towards a more ‘unified and flexible’ exchange rate regime.

Unified ko, Flexible ni, we all know what this means. When faced with such reality, it then demands citizen response and collective action to avert a repetition of 2020.

ment could happen if the health of our economy such as employment rate, industrial production indexes, business investment spending, consumer

spending, etc were strong. However, the reality even before the recession, is very far from strong. As such,11.95% inflation (which in itself is very high) considering

Biden Takes Over a Divided America, Rancorous World Habib Aruna draws attention to the huge task of uniting America which lies before President Joe Biden

S

enator Joe Biden Jr, the Vice President to one of the most famous figures on earth, Barack Obama, has assumed office as the 46th President of the United States on Wednesday to lead a divided country and a world that has never been so embedded in crisis since the end Second World War. Biden will not only be taking over a country whose people are largely divided and partisan based on their ideological differences, but a country where more than one third of its population have moved to the far right due to the incendiary rhetoric of outgoing President, Donald Trump.

In truth, Trump did not hide where he was heading when he took over four years ago. He, indeed, told the world when he was sworn in, that he was less interested in a global space where the United States is called upon to solve every problem, which he described as unfavorable to the interests of his country.

In his inaugural address, he never minced words by proclaiming his ‘America First’ doctrine. A doctrine which presupposes that America will play lesser role in world affairs, and more in promoting his hegemonic interests, which is more in sync with the interest of his Republican Party.

This America first policy saw America increasingly isolated from its traditional role of promoting world peace and security; even tradition western allies were given less recognition when crucial decisions were made in Washington; NATO members were told point blank to start contributing more to the organization or risk being sidetracked; some Muslim countries were summarily banned from coming to the United States and the worst part was when Trump led his country to leave the Paris Agreement on Climate Change.

Nowhere was Trump’s unconventional attempt to circumvent the norms

and values of the country felt than in the political sphere.

This writer had argued with some friends in New York in the summer of 2015 what a Trump presidency portends to the future of the world most iconic democracy. Based on his antecedents and dubious nature, I was more than convinced that the emergence of the New York businessman into the mainstream of American politics would cause a stain and a major damage to the American democratic brand.

My concern as a close watcher and a more than casual observer of American politics, was indeed predicated on his attitude on the campaign trail, chiefly among them was when he was talking down on people of colour and disabilities, boasting that he can shoot ‘somebody and nothing will happen’, where he was fueling right wing conspiracy instead of uniting the country; his consistent refusal to show his tax returns and his well reported campaign to delegitimize the election of Barack Obama, that he was born in Kenya, when in actual fact, the 44th president was born in Hawaii.

It was therefore not so much a surprise to me when he started his shenanigans.

With less than six months, it was crystal clear that most of his actions were geared towards solidifying the hold of the far right groups within his party and not in uniting the country. He was less prepared to abide by democratic norms and values. Values that are based on a constitution that has become enviable for centuries and which made the United States the envy of the world and by extension, as the saying goes: “the shining city on the hill”. Trump was indeed ready to brush aside all these noble traditions and cut corners to have his way.

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Taking Advantage of Timing I am one of those people who seriously think the way we have been going about governance in this country need serious adjustments and the time to do so is perfectly right at the moment. I believe there are several small steps our governments could take at all levels, few areas that should be prioritized to get us out of the tight situation we are presently in. The good thing is we don’t have to invent any wheel, we only need to look at where the world is going and start building foundations. The world is seriously moving from fossil to alternative energy for example, why are we not prioritizing this ecosystem, knowing that when we do so, trillions of funds will come our way in foreign direct investment? Solar and wind power are what is moving globally, we can move with them beyond providing subsidies for solar home power provision like we are presently doing, window-dressing as usual. This is an early event, we can seriously compete by assembling and manufacturing these technologies.

Rechargeable battery manufacturing would grow to a 800 billion plus dollar market in 2040 and it is presently at its infancy, all its components can be mined in Africa, we can get in, it only needs investment and commitment from a serious government. There’s no point flogging the dead horse of yearly turnaround refinery maintenance, it won’t lead anyone anywhere, it’s dead technology, this is an example of the forms of leakages that Sanusi was talking about.

How about tech and ICT? We could hedge. In this era of crypto currency, North Korea survives primarily from mining these, why aren’t we this nimble? The government is looking to fix power, fix agriculture, fix infrastructure, fix this and fix that, borrowing trillions in the process and often spending it frivolously when we can spend far less doing great things in sectors that earn a lot of foreign exchange immediately.

What Isreal is doing, utilizing technology to earn billions of dollars yearly from agricultural export, isn’t through prayer and fasting, the technologies not there in the open market. Can the government be serious enough to set up thousands of hectares of high-tech enterprise farms like ‘kibbutz’ around the geo-political zones, to inspire the agric sector through exposure and training?

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T H I S D AY ˾ FRIDAY JANUARY 22, 2021

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PERSPECTIVE

Why Buhari Should Respect the High Court Ruling on IMC

Biden, a Good Man Beckons to History Chido Nwangwu celebrates the eventual swearing-in of Joe Biden as the 46th President of the United States of America, while expressing confidence in his ability to overcome the various challenges facing the country

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t was the late, great civil rights icon, Martin Luther King Jr., who noted in the 1960s that “History will have to record that the greatest tragedy of this period of social transition was not the strident clamor of the bad people, but the appalling silence of the good people.”

I believe that Joseph Robinette Biden Jr., sworn in as the 46th President of the United States on Wednesday, January 20, 2021, is a good man. He’s a decent human being. who does not keep silent in the face of “the strident clamor of the bad people.”

Born November 20, 1942, elected and served in the U.S Senate 1973 to 2009.

Also, he has endured very traumatic events in his life. They neither broke nor embittered Joe! He sought the presidency for almost 30 years — until he mathematically and factually defeated Donald Trump, in the November 2020 presidential election.

Remarkably and a vital turn for this man of history is the fact that he served as Vice President to the first African-American elected President, Barack Obama and he (Biden) picked a Black woman to be the first woman Vice President.

A few minutes before his oath, former Sen. Kamala Harris was sworn in as Vice President, making her the highestranking woman in the history of the United States, the first Black American and first person of South Asian descent to be elected to the position.

As far back as 1976, Biden refused to be separated from his Congressional Black Caucus colleagues when they traveled to Johannesburg, during apartheid South Africa. He confronted President Ronald Reagan’s Secretary of State, George Shultz, during a Senate hearing where he co-championed the fight against the racist, apartheid regime.

Also, he was particularly incensed by the continued imprisonment of the freedom fighter Nelson Mandela.

Biden spoke out strongly against the “bad people” oppressing Blacks and the “Colored peoples” of South Africa.

I explore further the issues of Mandela, freedom for Blacks both in the African continent and the U.S in my February 2021 book, MLK, Mandela, Achebe and Obama: Power, Leadership & Identity.

Back to last Wednesday at his inauguration, Biden took to the practical lessons of history; the country’s vital interests to keeping and growing the blessings of American democracy. Especially, after his predecessor, Trump, a chaotic, divisive, petty, needful and giddy enabler of White

supremacists instigated a mob of his own assembly to go “show strength” at the Congress.

The mob did; left a trail of destruction, desecration and death at the world’s most influential parliament/congress.

Biden was right when he told Americans, a few hours ago: “my fellow Americans, this is America’s day. This is democracy’s day, a day of history and hope, of renewal and resolve. Through a crucible for the ages, America has been tested anew. And America has risen to the challenge. Today we celebrate the triumph, not of a candidate, but of a cause, the cause of democracy. The people, the will of the people, has been heard, and the will of the people has been heeded.

We’ve learned again that democracy is precious. Democracy is fragile. And at this hour, my friends, democracy has prevailed.

So now, on this hallowed ground, where just a few days ago violence sought to shake the Capitol’s very foundation, we come together as one nation under God, indivisible, to carry out the peaceful transfer of power as we have for more than two centuries….

We’ll press forward with speed and urgency, for we have much to do in this winter of peril and significant possibilities. Much to repair, much to restore, much to heal, much to build, and much to gain. Few people in our nation’s history have been more challenged or found a time more challenging or difficult than the time we’re in now.”

He dug deeper into the wells of history to remind a traumatized country suffering 4000 (Four Thousand) daily deaths from COVID-19 to underscore the point that “I’ve just taken the sacred oath each of those patriots have taken. The oath first sworn by George Washington. But the American story depends not on any one of us, not on some of us, but on all of us, on we the people, who seek a more perfect union. This is a great nation. We are good people. And over the centuries, through storm and strife, in peace and in war, we’ve come so far, but we still have far to go.

Once in a century virus that silently stalks the country. It’s taken as many lives in one year as America lost in all of World War II. Millions of jobs have been lost, hundreds of thousands of businesses closed, a cry for racial justice some 400 years in the making moves us. The dream of justice for all will be deferred no longer.”

When a leader who has a good grasp of history and believes in the worthiness of his or her compatriots to invent or navigate a purposeful, new day, the burden of the challenges become lighter and easier to overcome.

Despite all his best wishes and invocation of history, the tasks ahead of Biden are heavy, complicated and dangerous.

Hence, I agree with him that: ”To overcome these challenges, to restore the soul and secure the future of America, requires so much more than words. It requires the most elusive of all things in a democracy, unity. Unity…. Together we will write an American story of hope, not fear. Of unity not division, of light not darkness.” I believe a new day is opening for America; again.

Damian Nwikinaka, National Chairman of Niger Delta Renaissance Coalition, warns that the refusal of President Muhammadu Buhari to inaugurate the Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission gives a wider latitude for corruption in the agency

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t is shameful that the lies and plots undertaken by the Niger Delta Minister Chief Godswill Akpabio in hijacking the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) have come to a shameful denouement in two illegal heads laying claim to the headship of the agency.

It underscores the tardiness of the Buhari administration in its disregard for the law.

The latest embarrassment is from the ruling of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja which said in plain terms that the Federal Government lied in stating that it (the court) gave a restraining order against the Interim Management Committee (IMC) imposed on the NDDC, on which basis Chief Akpabio caused one of his former aides, Mr. Effiong Okon Akwa, to take over as Sole Administrator.

In appointing Akwa as the Sole Administrator of the NDDC, the Minister claimed that the Court gave a specific restraining order against the IMC. At the time he made that imposition of Mr Effiong Akwa in December 2020, we had pointed out the absurdity in replacing an illegal appointment with an equally illegal appointment.

Both the IMC and the Sole Administrator are illegal appointments as they are unknown to the NDDC Act of 2000 as amended, which prescribes that the NDDC shall be managed by a Governing Board with membership from the nine constituent states.

The notice announcing Mr Effiong Okon Akwa as Sole Administrator, which was made by the Special Adviser to President Buhari on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, claimed that: “The development became necessary as a result of a plethora of litigation and a restraining order issued recently against the Interim Management Committee of the NDDC by a Federal High Court in Abuja.”

However, the court in a declaration made on Wednesday, January 20, said “that there was no order for interim injunction (against the IMC) granted by this court”. In effect, the Federal Government acted on a nonexistent order. The objective clearly was to get a basis to further Akpabio’s fraudulent agenda with the appointment of his crony, Effiong Okon Akwa, as Sole Administrator instead of putting a Board in place in line with the NDDC Act. In the ensuing judgement by Justice A.R. Mohammed, the court struck out the lawsuit against the Interim Management Committee by the Incorporated Trustees of Forum for Accountability and Good Governance on January 20, 2021. The court said there was no time it ever sacked the Pondei-led IMC. The court also ordered in suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/617/2020 that two journalists undo the misleading news story, and tell the world the truth of its ruling.

The court was clear that the leave sought by the plaintiffs did not amount to an injunction but a permission to sue which was allowed but now stands struck out by subsequent findings of the court in January, 2021.

It will be recalled that the court granted the applicant, Incorporated Trustees of Forum for Accountability and Good Governance, to apply for judicial review for an order of mandamus in terms of reliefs set out in the statement which supported the application compelling the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission to investigate Pondei over a N40 billion, while five members of his Interim Committee were accused of over N3 billion contract fraud. The case was adjourned to December 8, 2020.

On the adjourned date, the court learned that there was a publication both in print

and electronic media to the effect that the court had granted interim jurisdiction restraining/suspending the interim management of the NDDC. The plaintiff denied applying for an interim order of injunction on the motion exparte dated June 15, 2020.

On December 4, 2020, the plaintiff’s counsel served a Notice of Withdrawal and Discontinuance of the case to the defendants without serving the court its copy. The plaintiff failed to appear in court on January 13, 2021. The counsel for the defendants conceded no objection to the withdrawal of the matter.

Justice A. R. Mohammed, in his judgement, highlighted that the provision of Order 50 rule 2 of the Federal High Court Rules, 2019, holds that the plaintiff is entitled to withdraw his action without even the leave of court so long as he can do that not later than 14 days after service of defence on him.

It should be clear to all now that the Niger Delta Minister Chief Godswill Akpabio in the pursuit of his selfish agenda has bastardised the management and stability of the NDDC. We wish to further remind the President of the massive looting that has been exposed under the imposed interim managements in the past 15-months under the supervision of Senator Godswill Akpabio.

The reports of the Senate’s recent probe and the petitions from whistleblowers indicate that over N158 billion has been frittered away on non-existent contracts, fraudulent payments, financial recklessness and mismanagement in the last 15 months by the IMC under the guidance and supervision of Akpabio. And there is more money for Akpabio to share to his fraudulent backers in Abuja with the recent passage of the delayed NDDC 2020 budget by the Senate and House of Representatives. Given how the budget for 2019 was shared out by the IMC, it is anyone’s guess how the N453.2 billion approved by the Senate and House of Representatives for the remaining period of the NDDC 2020 Budget year, which ends on March 31, 2021, will be spent.

It was clear to us and perceptive Niger Deltans that the appointment of Mr Effiong Okon Akwa was part of the fraudulent manipulations of Akpabio in his drive to personally control and appropriate the resources of the NDDC through his cronies.

President Buhari should put a stop to this charade by inaugurating the Governing Board of the Commission as provided for in the NDDC Act. The unfortunate and unwholesome development where both an illegal IMC and an illegal Sole Administrator will now be laying claim to the headship of the NDDC is sickening and must not be permitted any further.

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20

FRIDAY JANUARY 22, 2021 •T H I S D AY

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

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Quick Takes

Travel Agencies Reposition for 2021

COURTESY VISIT

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

Nigeria Customs Wants Role in AfCFTA Implementation Explained Eromosele Abiodun Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has called for a proper explanation of its clear-cut roles in the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA).

The NCS said as the policy implementers, clear and nonconflicting roles and responsibilities of all parties involved in the programme should be spelt out for seamless implementation of AfCTA. The AfCTA is a free trade area founded in 2018, and commenced on January 1, 2021. It was created by the African Continental Free Trade Agreement among 54 of the 55 African Union nations.

The free-trade area is the

MARITIME largest in the world in terms of the number of participating countries since the formation of the World Trade Organisation. Accra, Ghana serves as the Secretariat of AfCFTA and was commissioned and handed over to the AU by the President of Ghana Nana Akufo-Addo on August 17, 2020 in Accra.

The agreement was brokered by the African Union (AU) and was signed on by 44 of its 55 member states in Kigali, Rwanda on March 21, 2018. The agreement initially requires members to remove tariffs from 90 per cent of goods, allowing free access to commodities, goods, and services across the continent.

The United Nations Economic

Commission for Africa estimates that the agreement will boost intra-African trade by 52 per cent by 2022.

The proposal was set to come into force 30 days after ratification by 22 of the signatory states.

On April 2, 2019, The Gambia became the 22nd state to ratify the agreement, and on April 29 the Saharawi Republic made the 22nd deposit of instruments of ratification; the agreement went into force on May 30 and entered its operational phase following a summit on July 7, 2019.

Meanwhile, the NCS said it is important to spell out the roles and responsibilities of all parties in the agreement and the conditions attendant to its implementation in order to avoid a chaos.

“Also, it is pertinent to inform the public about steps which must be taken to enable its smooth and full implementation,” the Public Relations Officer, Mr. Joseph Attah said in a statement issued on behalf of the Comptroller-General of the NCS, Col Hameed Ali (Rtd.) He said: “Our functions are highly automated and primarily systems-driven, hence the need to methodically harvest and integrate all data associated with AfCFTA into our system for easy deployment, access and use by the trading public.

“We therefore await the National Action Committee (NAC) on the list of duties and charges waived for liberalised Continued on page 22

Concerns over Sale of Contaminated Fuel to Airlines Chinedu Eze There are concerns that some fuel marketing companies might be selling contaminated fuel to airlines due to poor regulation.

The industry was alerted to this when two airlines discovered that their aircraft contained over 100 litres of water after they bought fuel from the same source last year and had to abort their flights, an incident that would have caused tragic accidents if the flights had taken off.

THISDAY investigation revealed that the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), which closed the fuel depot after the incident and since then has intensified the monitoring of fuel marketers.

Before the incident however, NCAA had left the audit of fuel marketers to the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), which has the expertise to check

AVIATION the quality of products sold to airlines.

Spokesman of NCAA, Sam Adurogboye, told THISDAY that while DPR still audits the fuel marketers, the regulatory agency has also intensified the mentoring of the activities of fuel marketers after that incident and ensures that marketers do not come to the airport with contaminated fuel, adding that the regulatory authority has confidence in DPR because this is where they have expertise.

An industry official explained to THISDAY that NCAA regulates airlines and in the process regulates their fueling, but since it lacks the experience and resources to audit fuelers, it partners with DPR, noting that each fueler has the resources for continuous testing of its fuel to meet the given standards.

But aviation security expert and General Secretary of Aviation Round Table (ART), Group Captain John Ojikutu (retd) said bridging of fuel supplies to the airport was dangerous, disclosing that he had attempted to notify the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) about this but was met with stiff resistance.

Ojikutu said the NCAA has the responsibility of having oversight on the quality of fuel sold to airlines, noting that fuel marketers ought to dedicate the tankers they use for aviation fuel to the product, explaining that the product becomes contaminated when they use the same vehicle to lift other petroleum products.

However, THISDAY spoke to the CEO of CleanServe Integrated Energy Solutions Limited, Chris Ndulue, who said before now, the NCAA was not strongly involved in

regulating the quality of fuel products sold to airlines. But he noted that the authority has intensified efforts recently.

“The regulation by NCAA is better now but in the past it was left for DPR because it has more competence to deal with it, but the most important thing is that there are many marketers that are coming up.

“This is because the entry barrier is low and DPR’s way of regulation is to visit the depot and issue it license; so what DPR does is depot licensing,” he added.

Ndulue said those marketers that do not have depot are not regulated and they could source that products from anywhere and bring it and sell to the airlines.

“If you don’t have depot, they won’t regulate you; so you may choose not to have depot and

The Group Managing Director, Finchglow Group, Mr. Bankole Bernard has identified ways travel agencies can reposition for better business in 2021.

Bernard who made this known during the annual trade partners’ forum in Lagos, with the theme: ‘Beyond the Pause – Travel Post Covid-19, said that travel agencies must be ingenious and creative to survive after the COVID-19 devastation in 2020.

“2020 was indeed a turbulent year for most of us in the travel industry duetotheoutbreakofthecoronaviruspandemic.Onewayoranotherour businesses have felt the impact of the pandemic but we must not lose hope, rather, we must keep hope alive and open up to the opportunities around us,” Bernard noted.

While encouraging the trade partners, Bernard stressed the need to focus on ancillary services. He noted that travel agencies need to step up their game both in the use of technology, in creating new experiences and ideas.

“Weneedtobegintolookinwardbyfocusingonancillaryservicesduring and post Covid-19. We need to begin to sell beyond tickets, the Covid test is something we should sell and encourage travellers to take because it is now a mandatory travel requirement for most countries.

“Morethaneverbefore,thisisthetimeweneedtoencouragetravellers to buy travel insurance,” he added.

Bernardalsoencouragedthetradepartnerstobeontopoftheirgames by developing capacities, embracing the new distribution capability, which has been activated by Finchglow Travels in Nigeria.

The Group Chief Operating Officer (GCOO), Mr. Ezekiel Ikotun added that travel during and beyond the COVID-19 would focus more on the process, people and technology.

Emirates Partners IATA

EmirateshaspartneredwiththeInternationalAirTransportAssociation (IATA)tobecomeoneofthefirstairlinesintheworldtotrytheIATATravel Pass – a mobile app to help passengers easily and securely manage their travel in line with any government requirements for COVID-19 testing or vaccine information.

The IATATravel Pass enables Emirates’ passengers to create a ‘digital passport’ to verify their pre travel test or vaccination meets the requirements of the destination.

They will also be able to share the test and vaccination certificates with authorities and airlines to facilitate travel.

Thenewappwillalsoenabletravellersmanagealltraveldocumentation digitally and seamlessly throughout the travel experience.

Prior to a full roll out, Emirates will implement phase 1 in Dubai for the validation of COVID-19 PCR tests before departure.

In this initial phase, expected to begin in April, Emirates customers travelling from Dubai will be able to share their COVID-19 test status directly with the airline even before reaching the airport through the app, which will then auto-populate the details on the check-in system.

Emirates’ChiefOperatingOfficer,AdelAlRedhasaid:“Whileinternational travel remains as safe as ever, there are new protocols and travel requirements with the current global pandemic.

“We have worked with IATA on this innovative solution to simplify and digitally transmit the information that is required by countries and governments into our airline systems, in a secure and efficient manner.

“We are proud to be one of the first airlines in the world to pilot this initiative, which will provide an enhanced customer experience and conveniently facilitate our customers’ travel needs.”

Delta Announces Financial Results

Delta Airlines has released its financial results for the quarter that ended in December and for full year 2020.

The airline provided its outlook for the quarter ending in 2021.

Speakingontheresults,EdBastian,Delta’schiefexecutiveofficer,said: “Our December quarter results capped the toughest year in Delta’s history. “While our challenges continue in 2021, I am optimistic this will be a year of recovery and a turning point that results in an even stronger Delta returning to revenue growth, profitability and free cash generation.”

Theresultsshowedadjustedpre-taxlossof$2.1billion,excludingnearly $1 billion of items directly related to the impact of, and the airline’s response to COVID-19, including charges associated with employee payandbenefitchanges,whichwereoffsetbythebenefitoftheCARES Act payroll support program (PSP) grant recognized in the quarter.

“Communication between pilot and controller has been poor and we have been calling on airspace management agency and government to work more to President, National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA),

Abayomi Agoro Continued on page 22

22

T H I S D AY ˾ ͰͰ˜ ͰͮͰͯ

BUSINESSWORLD NIGERIA CUSTOMS WANTS ROLE IN AFCFTA IMPLEMENTATION EXPLAINED goods under AfCFTA. The list of the 90 per cent liberalised national trade offers (NTOs); list of the 70 per cent nonliberalised exclusive goods at the regional level; and list of the 3 per cent non-liberalised sensitive goods.

“The appointment of a competent authority responsible for issuing and authenticating certificates of origin and registering enterprises and products within the region.”

The NCS in the statement said it acknowledges the transformational impact this agreement portends for businesses within the continent in general and Nigeria in particular, and is fully committed to its success.

To that end, it recommended that each member-country should have a representative in the continental chamber of commerce to ensure transparency within the body and generate confidence in the system.

CONCERNS OVER SALE OF CONTAMINATED FUEL TO AIRLINES some airlines may not inspect the product before buying; however, DPR has started stepping up its regulation but still on those that have depot.

They should subject everyone to their regulatory oversight.

NCAA is also stepping up its regulatory responsibility, which was not strong before,” Ndulue said.

He stressed that for the regulation to be effective, the NCAA and DPR must have to carry the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) along because it is the agency that enforces the regulation and gives approval to the marketer that could have access to the ramp to fuel the aircraft.

“FAAN allows you to get into the ramp; it can stop you from getting into the ramp if you don’t have the right documentations. So FAAN is very important in the regulatory framework. Without FAAN’s involvement there will be a loophole in the process,” Ndulue said.

THISDAY also spoke to the airlines: Aero, Arik Air and Air Peace and they said they have multilayered checks on the quality of fuel they buy from marketers, especially since that incident of contaminated fuel happened.

Group Business Editor

Obinna Chima

NEWS

Customs Agents Decry Collection of Samples

by NAFDAC, SON Officials Eromosele Abiodun The compliance team of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) has said it will beam it’s searchlight on illegal collection of sample materials by officials of Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) and National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) in 2021.

The team Coordinator, Ibrahim Tanko, who stated this in a chat with newsmen in Lagos, said the development called for attention because of the quantity of sample materials collected by the officials without returning them to the owners.

In the same vein, he reeled out some of the activities that the team would embark this year.

Tanko said the operational activities of the agencies required attention to salvage importers from being ripped off.

According to him, the large samples collected by the officials of the agencies, especially, when it pertains to consignments under their purview was taking negative tolls on the nation’s economy.

He added that about N6 million is lost to the illegal

samples collection across the ports in the country on daily basis.

Tanko, who frowned on the illegalities of the officials of the two agencies, noted that the samples collection flouts principles of trade facilitation in the port.

He, however, threatened that

the compliance team would resist and interrogate their operations from next February in a bid to promote trade facilitation and boost government revenue drive.

He reiterated that 100 per cent Compliance Team will ensure that samples that are subjected to laboratory test by the agencies must be returned to the shippers,

accusing personnel of SON and NAFDAC for illicit practices.

On customs operations, he affirmed that issues of multiple alerts and Customs Intelligence Units interception of consignments at the seaports in Lagos will be tackled, noting that letters have been written to the Area Controllers of Apapa and Tin

Can Island Port respectively.

Tanko, who doubles as the Deputy National President of NAGAFF, stressed that freight forwarding sub sector will experience a huge turnaround of vessels this year but urged the agencies of government to collaborate with the practitioners.

AWARD WELL DESERVED

L-R: Group Public Relations and Event Manager, Dufil Prima Foods Plc, Mr. Temitope Ashiwaju; Executive Secretary, Advertising Association of Nigeria (ADVAN), Mrs. Ediri Ose-Ediale; and Treasurer, ADVAN, Mr. Obumneke Okoli, during the ADVAN Community Hero award presentation to the Tolaram Group in Lagos...recently PHOTO: ETOP UKUTT

Agency to Enhance Rural Economic Growth with New Markets Emmanuel Ugwu-Nwogo in Umuahia

In a bid to boost economic activities in rural areas, the Abia State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (ASOPADEC) has commenced the reconstruction of rural markets in several communities.

The market expansion programme has led to the rejuvenation of dilapidated markets in several communities across the state with newly built open shops springing up and existing ones renovated to provide conducive environment for rural commerce to thrive.

Rural markets constitute

the major centre of economic activities in rural areas and commercial activities are in some cases conducted in open spaces due to absence of shops or dilapidation of existing ones.

Chairman of ASOPADEC, Chief Samuel Nwogu, while inaugurating the newly constructed open shops at Aho Akawa market in Umunneochi local government, said it was in fulfilment of the agency’s mandate drive development in rural communities.

He said the new market henceforth, belongs to the community, which would have the full responsibility of its maintenance, adding that

ASOPADEC would not interfere in the operations of the market.

Nwogu, who was accompanied the board members of ASOPADEC, said the agency was directed by Governor Ikpeazu to execute the developmental projects to improve the living standards of the rural areas, including non-oil producing communities.

President of Ubahu Development Union, Chief Don Ihionu, said the new market would not only improve commercial activities in the area but also enhance the physical outlook of the community.

He noted that ASOPADEC has consistently assisted in the

development of the community by grading its roads annually to ease movement of vehicles in evacuation of agricultural produce.

At Amiyiobilohia in Isuikwuto local government, the Eke rural market was reconstructed and handed over to the community with the ASOPADEC boss urging the inhabitants to put the market to effective use.

Chairman of Isuikwuato local government, Chima Agbaeze, said the reconstructed market shops would now boost the morale of women, adding, “they can now trade even under the rain,” since the new

shops provide adequate shelter for them.

A member of ASOPADEC board and former state legislator, Dr. Kate Maduako, who is from the area, recalled that she had always, “felt bad when I see our women sweating under the sun while trading” in the dilapidated market.

“I feel elated that the problem has now been solved,’ she enthused.

Speaking on behalf of women Mrs. Fidelia Mkpu expressed gratitude to ASOPADEC and to the state governor for rebuilding the Eke market where they make their livelihood in addition to farming.

Departing FCC Chair Warns of Threats to Telecoms from China Outgoing United States Federal Communications Commission (FCC) chairman Ajit Pai, has said potential Chinese espionage and threats to US telecommunications networks and internet freedom are the biggest national security issue that regulators will face in the next four years.

Pai told Reuters in an interview that, there is a, “wide array” of activity from China that was of concern, including of surveillance, economic espio-

nage and potential, “injection of malware into networks here in the United States or around the world. There are a number of bad things that can happen when insecure equipment is used to handle sensitive information.”

Pai was named chairman in January 2017, by former President Donald Trump and stepped down on Wednesday.

During his tenure, the FCC cracked down on Chinese

network manufacturers like Huawei and ZTE. Last month, the FCC began the process of revoking China Telecom’s authorisation to operate in the United States. China Telecom is the largest Chinese telecommunications company.

“The Chinese Communist Party has a very determined world view. They want to dominate this space and exert their will -- even beyond their own borders,” Pai said.

“That is a serious threat not just to internet freedom but to national security for us and for many of our allies.”

The Chinese foreign ministry said in December that US claims about risks to national security were false.

The FCC first warned in April might terminate US operations of three state-controlled Chinese telecommunications companies including China Telecom.

In 2019, the FCC voted to

deny state-owned China Mobile the right to provide US telecommunications services, citing risks the Chinese government could use the approval to conduct espionage.

Under Pai, the FCC formally designated China’s Huawei and ZTE Corp as national security threats, barring US firms from tapping an $8.3 billion government fund to purchase equipment from the companies.

Amazon said the EU should absorb the Italian case for the sake of consistency and efficiency.

“When the European Commission decides to investigate a matter, European law says that national competition authorities cannot investigate the same topic. This did not occur in this instance, as the Commission’s opening

decision attempts to exclude Italy,” Amazon said in a statement.

The Commission said it would defend its case in court.

Last November it charged Amazon with damaging retail competition by using its size, power and data to gain an unfair advantage over smaller merchants that sell on its online platform.

Capital Market Editor

Goddy Ogene

Comms/e-Business Editor

Emma Okonji

Senior Correspondent

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Amazon Sues EU Antitrust Regulators Amazon is suing EU antitrust regulators for allowing the Italian competition watchdog to pursue its own case against the US online retail giant over the way it selects sellers, arguing that this should be wrapped into an EU investigation.

Amazon took its case to the Luxembourg-based General Court, Europe’s second-

highest recently, asking it to annul the EU’s decision to exclude Italy from the wider investigation, a court filing shows, according to Reuters.

The move came two months after the European Commission opened an investigation into the criteria the company uses to select winners of its “buy box”, which allows customers to add items from

a specific retailer directly into their shopping carts.

The probe will also examine whether the company gives preferential treatment to its own retail offers and marketplace sellers that use its logistics and delivery services.

The Italian case was launched in 2019 over the same issue but focuses on the Italian logistics markets.

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Air Peace Resumes Dubai Flight Service Feb 5 Stories by Chinedu Eze Air Peace has announced the resumption of flights into Dubai via Sharjah from February 5, 2021. This is as the airline has also increased its flight frequency to and out of Enugu.

Spokesperson of the airline, Stanley Olisa, disclosed this in a media statement, stating that the Dubai via Sharjah service would be operated once a week.

“We are delighted to announce that we shall be resuming flights to Dubai

via Sharjah on February 5 and passengers can start booking on the website or the mobile app.

Lagos-Dubai will operate on Fridays while Dubai-Lagos will be on Saturdays”, Olisa said.

He added that the flight frequency would be increased subsequently depending on observed passenger traffic.

“We urge our esteemed passengers to comply with all established COVID-19 protocols guiding international air travel”, the spokesperson said.

Meanwhile, Air Peace has

also disclosed that it now operates additional flights into Enugu, hinting that these new flights are in response to popular demand and a reflection of the airline’s resolve to reduce the air transportation burden of Nigerians.

The airline had launched its second international route-South Africa- in December 2020, and has other international destinations in the offing, such as Mumbai-India, Guangzhou-China, Houston-US and London.

As NG Eagle Berths

Ground Handlers Urge Govt to Waive Concession Fee The Association of Ground Handlers of Nigeria (AGHAN) has appealed to the federal government to adjust and waive the annual five per cent concession fee for ground handling companies in the Nigerian aviation industry.

The association also agitated for custom duty waivers for importation of its equipment, just as it commended the government for the recent palliative granted its members.

AGHAN also challenged the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to regulate ground handling charges, warning that safety may be compromised if the right policy by the regulatory agency was not put in place.

The Chairman, AGHAN, Mr. Adigun Olaniyi Adigun, in an interview with newsmen in Lagos, said the removal of the five per cent concession fee, especially for the 2020 financial year was necessary for its members to remain in business and also urged government to modify the mode of collection of the annual concession fee.

According to him, the concession fee is calculated based on turnaround, rather than on profit, explaining that the ground handling companies remit to the coffers of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) five per cent concession fee annually.

Adigun said for the handlers to survive they require the support of every operator,

including the airlines and government agencies.

“There is this five per cent concession fee, which we usually pay to FAAN; this is based on our turnaround.

Though, there have been some issues on this because FAAN is asking for turnover, which includes money collected and the ones still unremitted. So, we are saying that five per cent should be based on profit, not on turnover.

“Our prayer is that this five per cent concession fee should be waived for the 2020 financial year. 2020 was tough and there was no work available and the little we had last year was to sustain our staff.

“Though, the palliative is good, but how far can that go in the life of the Skyway Aviation Handling Company (SAHCO) Plc or the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO) Plc for instance?

Whatever we got individually, is not even enough as a monthly wage for the two companies. So, we are asking for the waiver for that 2020,” he pleaded.

Besides, Adigun decried the handling charges by ground handlers and called for an upward review of the charges, describing it as “a peanut.”

According to him, on the domestic scene, the handlers charge only a N30, 000 turnaround fee, while on the international scene, its charges vary from $200 to $1000, depending on the

aircraft brand and capacity.

He challenged the NCAA to intervene in the situation by implementing the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) regulation on handling charges, warning that safety may be at stake if the charges were not reviewed.

He described the present charges as capital flight against the country and appealed to the government to intervene in the interest of the nation.

“On the international and regional, what we are saying is that there should be a fair play in the system. Some of our airlines are operating regional and international operations. How much are they paying on those routes?

“But, because of the unhealthy competition then, the airlines seized the advantage.

Unfortunately, the major ground handling companies came out from airlines. For instance, SAHCO was an offshoot of the defunct national carrier, Nigeria Airways and NAHCO too was from British Airways, Lufthansa and others.

“What we are saying is that for international, there is a federal government approved rate as was done in the 1980s, which varies from $2,000 and N3, 000, depending on the aircraft brand. What we want is the implementation of this rate, but the government is saying it has to be determined by the law of demand and supply,” he added.

Emirates Makes COVID-19 Vaccine Accessible to Employees, Others Emirates Airline, along with dnata, are among the first transport and air services organisations in the world to offer employees the option to get vaccinated against the COVID-19.

The airline said it rolled out the COVID-19 vaccination programme for its substantial UAE-based workforce in coordination with the Dubai Health Authority and the Ministry of Health and Prevention.

It added that the inoculation drive began on Monday January 18th, with priority being placed on its frontline aviation workforce, including Cabin Crew, Flight Deck and other

operationally focused roles.

The Emirates Group said it is making both the PfizerBioNTech and Sinopharm vaccines, which have been approved by the UAE health authorities, conveniently accessible to its employees at various company locations across the UAE. Inoculation appointments run 12 hours a day, 7 days a week to ensure as many essential aviation workers as possible can get the vaccine.

Emirates Group employees in the UAE can also opt to get vaccinated at government designated medical centres and clinics, as the UAE’s leadership

and health authorities have spared no effort to make vaccines free and accessible to the population.

According to the data compiled by Our World In Data, a research website based at Oxford University, the UAE is ranked second highest in the world for vaccination rates, with over 19.04 doses administrated for every 100 people, and close to 1.9 million vaccinations have been given to citizens and residents since their rollout in December 2020.

The UAE is also on track to inoculate over 50 per cent of its population by the end of March.

NG Eagle Chinedu Eze One of the new entrants to the domestic air travel market this year is the NG Eagle being floated by the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON). The corporation has confirmed plans are on top gear to ensure that the airline comes on stream as soon as it obtains its Air Operator Certificate (AOC).

Since the report of the planned airline was made public, industry stakeholders and analysts have expressed their opinion about the new domestic carrier.

The new airline, which Captain Ado Sanusi is primed to be its managing director, may be an answer to AMCON’s dilemma about what to do with its assets in the aviation industry, including aircraft and operational facilities.

The airline, which has completed the process to begin demonstration flights, would soon deploy three aircraft for the audit and sources said it plans to take some of Arik Air’s Boeing B737-NG aircraft and would concentrate on domestic service for some time when it becomes operational.

But many industry observers are asking questions, which include, will the new airline take over Arik Air and Aero Contractors?

Is AMCON discussing with Sir Joseph Arumemi-Ikhide the founder of Arik Air? The source alleged that when AMCON took over the management of Arik Air in February, 2017, it did not continue with the plan of the previous management to rehabilitate the aircraft in the fleet, as some of them were due for tyre and landing gear change in addition to other maintenance work.

However, THISDAY learnt that while Aero’s maintenance facility is tempting, the new airline does not intend to take over the facility or the airline. Besides, the Ibrus were said to have acquired 40 per cent stake in Aero Contractors under AMCON and therefore are privy to the changes being made in the airline.

THISDAY also gathered that the reason why AMCON decided to establish a new airline was to have a platform that could be partnered with, sold or become a precursor to the establishment of a national carriers

The new airline, which Captain Ado Sanusi is primed to be its managing director, may be an answer to AMCON’s dilemma about what to do with its assets in the aviation industry

Managing Director, AMCON, Ahmed Kuru because Arik Air as it is cannot serve such purpose because of its huge debt profile and is highly vulnerable to litigation.

So with a new airline, AMCON may have a virgin ground to recover its debts, then sell the airline or use it to woo the Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika who has already mapped out plans to establish a national carrier.

AMCON Head of Corporate Communications, Jude Nwauzor had expressed optimism over the suitability of Arik and Aero, saying that if AMCON intended to wind down Aero, it would not have appointed Captain Abdullaji Zubair Mahmood as replacement for Sanusi, stressing that rather, the cor¬poration intended to expand its investment in the nation’s aviation industry.

Nwauzor who had already confirmed the establishment of the new airline, did not make it clear what AMCON intends to do with the airline, as the government agency had said at different fora that it did not have the experience or technical know-how to run an airline.

Industry observers have posited that the hope the new airline has to survive is because Sanusi who already has a good record from the way he turned Aero around, would manage it.

Nwauzor also told THISDAY that AMCON has lofty plan for the new airline and would not likely rely on the fleet from Arik Air, as there are indications that the new AMCON act gave it immunity against litigation.

But industry analyst and the publicity secretary of Aviation Round Table (ART), Olu Ohunayo told THISDAY that AMCON might have taken a good decision to establish a new airline, but noted that for the corporation to succeed, it would have to carry the founder of the airlines along.

“I support AMCON’s plan to establish new carrier instead of these airlines (Aero and Arik) to continue to be run the way they are currently being run. They are not making revenue or recovering from their debts. It is better to do the needful and bite the bullet. It is better to move on. The owners of the airlines should be briefed properly and carried along in order to avoid unnecessary litigation.

“In moving on, they have come up with a new strategy in pulling out a new airline from the existing ones, which is beautiful.

I just hope this will end the agitation of the Ministry to start its own national carrier because that will be a disaster. What I have seen now is that new airlines are coming up but the existing ones have refused to merge; so it is either they survive or die, as new ones come in. Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) have accepted that policy, NCAA, which has refused to use consolidation process, has also accepted that policy.

Those that will live will live and I think I support the position of AMCON and I wish them well,” he said.

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BUSINESSWORLD

ANALYSIS

Sustaining Air Safety in Nigeria Chinedu Eze writes about ways to sustain and improve on safety record attained in the industry

A

ir crashes are tragic. Every country prays it does not happen in its airspace. It is not only that lives are consumed, which is the saddest part, but also it diminishes the goodwill of the country, the airline and the aviation industry.

It also leads to increase in aircraft insurance premium and ups the country’s risk status. So there are always concerted efforts by the civil aviation authority, airlines, airspace managers and others to ensure that a country retains good safety record.

In Nigeria the last accident involving fixed wing airliner took place in October 2013, and since then besides accidents involving helicopters, Nigeria has not recorded any tragic air crash and the last one that happened on August 28, 2020 involving a chopper, recorded fatalities, as three persons died in the accident.

So on January 15, 2021, industry stakeholders met in Lagos, to deliberate on ways to sustain and improve on the good safety record in air transport in Nigeria.

The conference was organised by the Accident Investigation Bureau Nigeria (AIB-N) in partnership with League of Airport and Aviation Correspondents (LAAC) where aviation experts and top agency officials pointed out ways the industry could improve its safety status.

Sustaining Safety Record In his keynote address, the Director-General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Capt. Musa Nuhu urged aviation stakeholders to make concerted efforts to keep Nigeria’s airspace safe to ensure that the country sustains its good record and growing reputation as one of the nations in Africa that has maintained high standard of safety in air transport.

He noted that the industry had only recorded one serious incident with fatalities in the last five years with the Quorum Helicopter crash of 2020, which killed three crewmembers on board.

According to him, maintaining that high safety standard was made possible by the synergy of all stakeholders, the commitment of airlines to operate airworthy equipment and the efficient regulatory environment by NCAA, which ensures that operators maintained high safety standard as stipulated by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), which has given the country good safety rating in addition to the country being certified with Category 1 safety status by the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

Presenting his paper at the conference, which was on prevention of human factors in air accident occurrences, the Director General said industry stakeholders must not relax in doing the right thing in order to prevent accidents and save lives.

“We do not want to get it wrong and we do not want to have blood on our hands. The primary responsibility of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority is public safety and this is what we must assure through our safety oversight and shared responsibilities with the certified entities and licensed personnel.

“We must jettison the tag of being a reactive people to that of being proactive and predictive, where we must not allow existing latent conditions including those associated with human errors to precipitate into incidents and accidents.”

Nuhu, reiterated that while it is common knowledge, widely propagated within the industry that at least 70 per cent of aviation accidents are due to human factors, a review of the Commercial Aviation Safety Team (CAST)/ ICAO Common Taxonomy Team (CICTT) taxonomy for occurrence categories shows that there is no category of these occurrences ascribed to “Human Factors”.

“Meanwhile, an in-depth review of the established different CICTT categories will show that humans are somehow practically involved in or interface with all the occurrence categories. This is the reason why the Safety Management Systems (SMS) classifies the above statement as a misconception as humans (especially frontline personnel) interface in almost, if not all probable causes of aviation accidents at the different stages of either design, production/manufacture,

From left, Managing Director, ANAPJET, Capt. Akin George, Director of Operations, Accident Investigation Bureau, AIB; Capt. Dayyabu Danraka, D/G, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, Capt. Musa Nuhu, Chairman, League of Airport and Aviation Correspondents, LAAC, Mr. Segun Koiki and Director, Aviation Security, Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, Group Capt. Usman Sadiq (rtd) at the Conference on Prevention of Human Factors in Air Accident Occurrences held at Sheraton Hotel Ikeja Lagos organisational, operational and maintenance processes and procedures.

“Human Factors can fundamentally and best be described as “Matching the Man (Person) to the Job and Matching the Job to the Man under the prescribed conditions”.

This implies compatibility of the person to the job i.e. preparing, adapting, enabling, equipping and conforming the person to perform the assigned task to achieve the design and expected objectives. Any mismatch will contribute to human error and is a precursor to an accident,” Nuhu said.

Human Error Factor In a speech, the Commissioner of AIB, Akin Olateru, stressed that aviation remains the safest means of transportation and urged that safety rating must be improved upon despite the fact that the rate of accidents is represented at one per million takeoffs.

According to him, it is of paramount importance to do everything that would contribute to substantial reduction of the human factor failure in air transportation, stating that human factor knowledge could be used to reduce the likelihood of errors and build more error tolerant and more resilient systems.

These, he noted, are important for safe and efficient aviation industry.

“Causes affecting the accident rate in air transportation can be classified from various factors and points of view. The most general and probably the most transparent way of classification is dependence on human action or failure, technical and meteorological factors.

“As far as the organisational or legislative shortcomings are concerned, they could also be instrumental in supporting the factors mentioned, mostly as a result of poor adherence to legislative procedures or mismanagement of resources associated with air operation.

There is a range of causes to air accidents.

In view of the fast development taking place in almost all the aviation fields, the occurrence of air accidents caused by technological advancement is reducing. This development, however, is adding to the complexity of systems and raising the level of seriousness, all that to be managed by the humans,” Olateru said.

He stated that for a substantial progress in air transportation safety to be achieved, it

is necessary to focus on the most frequently occurring air accidents, such as the CFIT (Controlled Flight Inter Terrain) and runway incursions and overruns and loss of control of the aircraft.

The AIB Commissioner also noted, “It is also important to focus on the phases of flight especially at its beginning (takeoff) and end (landing). When assessing the development in accidents, it follows that despite the enormous progress made in the field of air transportation, its safety fail to develop to satisfaction, with causes identified as incomprehensive approaches to learning and appreciating the human factor.”

Multimodal Investigative Bureau Chairman of LAAC, Mr. Olusegun Koiki stressed the need for continued focus on human factors in air accident investigation since it plays a crucial role in safety in the global aviation sector, as it would reduce the rate of accidents.

“One small error caused by poor procedures or miscommunication can result in catastrophic events including loss of life,” he said.

“Let me use this opportunity to reiterate that if indeed the federal government desires safer transportation for the country, it is pertinent to amend the existing Act setting up AIB to include the investigation into other modes of transport – Intermodal investigation is the way to go.

“AIB as an organisation has performed creditably well in ensuring safer skies for air transport in Nigeria. AIB’s statutory duty should be extended to other modes of transport like road, rail and marine. A situation where the inspector also acts as an investigator/ regulator will rub off on the credibility of an investigation report.

“The current Nigeria Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) Bill before the National Assembly should be passed. The approval of this bill will reinforce safety in all modes of transportation in Nigeria through distinctive, efficient and effective investigations of accidents and serious incidents involving any of the modes of transportation within Nigeria or anywhere else Nigeria’s interests lie,” he added.

Causes of Air Accidents Some industry stakeholders identified poor

We do not want to get it wrong and we do not want to have blood on our hands. The primary responsibility of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority is public safety and this is what we must assure through our safety oversight

communication between cockpit and the control tower, loss of situational awareness, lack of training, poor facilities, fatigue, flight crew judgment and poor maintenance of personnel as some of the key factors that could lead to accidents.

They noted that some of the human factor instigated errors need to be addressed to improve on the accident and incident rate in air travel.

President of National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA), Abayomi Agoro, decried that poor communication and training and advised that new facilities are needed to improve the situation in the airspace.

He explained that airlines are not compliant with some of the new technologies introduced and even their personnel have not gone through the necessary training that would familiarize them with the new developments.

“The issue of communication has been something we have been calling on government and NAMA as service provider to do more on. The poor communication is not only from the ground equipment at times also it is from the air stations; but most of the time these are some things that can degenerate to incidents or accidents.

“Even now that we have data exchange which has to do with the CPDLC (Controller, Pilot Data Link Communication) not all the airlines are compliant with that and not all the controllers have gone through the training, so definitely, it’s one of the areas we have to look into critically in order to prevent human factor induced accidents,” Agoro said.

Affirming Agoro’s observation, the representative of the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), Captain Akin George said communication system in Nigeria could best be described as weak.

“The communication system in Nigeria is quite weak; this has been a recurring problem for the last 10-15 years. Solutions have been put in, we take one step forward and within a month or two we are back to the norm. We have been talking on human factors today and we know one of the critical elements is communication, if you cannot communicate with your controller; then who is controlling who? As of today the communication between aircraft and the services coming out of Kano to Lagos is extremely weak. If you happen to be operating from the eastern side of the country, coming out of Calabar or Uyo, Port Harcourt and you are heading towards Kano, it is extremely weak, in most cases you have to get another aircraft to rely on for information.

“Now whilst all this is going on, the aircraft does not stay in one place and so you have a dynamic situation, which for me, remains high risk and that is one of the areas we need to tackle as soon as possible in order to reduce the risk,” George said.

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BUSINESSWORLD

INTERVIEW

Adelodun: Why Government Must Enhance Capacity of Farmers Heart & Capital Nigeria Limited is a food and agribusiness company. In this interview, its Chief Executive Officer, Umar Adelodun, speaks about the need for government and young graduates to explore the potential in the agri-business sub-sector. Raheem Akingbolu brings the excerpts:

T

here have been clamour from many quarters for diversification of the economy with special focus on the agriculture sector; do you see that as a measure that could revamp the economy?

Before the discovery of crude oil, agriculture was the sector fueling the nation’s economy.

The economy is said to have a potential of growing into a trillion dollar economy. Some of the bitter take home of the pandemic is the fact that the social, health and economic paradigm around the world would not remain the same. International trades are in serious peril. Job losses on the rise, investors have no confidence again. Agriculture remains the only sector to turn to for sustainable solutions. To make the diversification a reality, the agricultural practices have to be driven by the availability of fertile land, innovative technological practices, adequate funding, and human capital development. With these in place, I am confident that we would be able to attain and surpass the height of agricultural excellence around the time of independence (1960) when the sector accounted for about 68 per cent of the nation’s GDP and also employed 70 per cent of the labor force especially in the rural areas. As at that time, it provided not only food but also generated employment and added 38 per cent of the non-oil foreign exchange income What is your take about the approach of the current administration towards boosting agriculture? Are there areas you think the government should improve upon?

A pertinent factor to achieving sustainability in the agric sector is finance, and decent work has been done by the current administration in providing credit facilities to agribusiness owners. However, there are other factors such as technology deficiency and inadequate human capital to further look into. There is a need for the government to orientate farmers in taking agriculture as a proper business with good management skills, using improved seedlings and technology, factoring in irrigation systems and climate change.

The Establishment of Heart & Capital Nigeria Limited as a food and agribusiness company was to use it to grow and ease agribusiness in Africa through, what informed the decision and how far has the company gone in actualising the dream?

It all started with a dream of ensuring agribusiness owners do not go through some of the challenges we went through while starting up because frankly, we cannot afford that as

invested in its human resources. We have a team of certified agronomists, certified irrigation engineers, animal husbandry specialists, finance experts, etc. who have a combined experience of over 20 years from working with different multinationals such as Dangote, IITA, etc. that guide the decision making process on every project we work on. Furthermore, we have also invested in modern technology such as unmanned aerial vehicles and state-of-the-art tractors and machineries that enhance the efficiency of our operations. The company is also invested in a cassava value chain line with a 10 tonnes per day garri processing facility in Kwara state where we also have our fish farms, cashew farms, cassava farms spanning thousands of hectares.

Adelodun

a country. So we launched the firm to help grow and ease agribusiness in Africa through agribusiness consultancy, professional farm management and agribusiness training services we proffer. As for how far we have come in actualizing the dream, we have consulted for numerous farms across the country; we have fish farms, poultry farms and over 10,000 hectares of farmland under our management. We have also trained and mentored over 8,000 farmers and youths on agribusiness across the country.

What is the place of technology in the H&C operations?

We firmly believe that as a nation, we cannot feed our population with hoes and cutlasses hence, our technology inclusion cuts across all operations on and off the field; from soil analysis to mechanizing our land preparation operations, planting and harvesting operations.

Our team of experts also comprise of certified agronomists, architects and irrigation engineers that determine what improved farm inputs to use, where to erect farm structures and the kind of irrigation system that would be best suitable for the different farms we manage.

Furthermore, because of how important updates are to our clients, we make use of our website portal to keep them abreast of the progress we’re making.

Can you please give the overview of the company’s investment and operations?

As a solution provider, the company is heavily

Stanbic IBTC Asset Management Assigned ‘AA(IM)’ Rating Stanbic IBTC Asset Management has been assigned an AA(IM) investment manager rating with a Stable Outlook

by Agusto & Co. Agusto and Co, a Pan-African rating agency, stated that the rating was a reflection of the financial institution’s pedigree and provision of exceptional services to its customers.

The criteria for awarding the financial institution the AA(IM) rating with a stable Outlook was stated thus: “Having taken into consideration its board composition which has the potential to elevate investment and business risks, the new AA(IM) rating is a reflection of Stanbic IBTC Asset Management’s sound operational track record in the asset management industry, well-composed and experienced decision-making committees, good operational risk management and membership of the Stanbic IBTC Group.”

Speaking on this achievement, Chief Executive, Stanbic IBTC Asset Management Limited, Oladele Sotubo, was quoted in a statement to have said the organisation remains focused and well positioned to provide fund management solutions that cut across different markets, asset classes and in line with international standards.

Reiterating the organisation’s commitment to doing more in the asset management subsector, Sotubo appreciated all stakeholders for their continued support over the years.

Incorporated in 1992, Stanbic IBTC Asset Management provides portfolio management and investment advisory services to corporate and individual investors globally.

In a similar vein, another subsidiary of Stanbic IBTC Holdings PLC, Stanbic IBTC Stockbrokers Limited has emerged top on the list of

stockbroking firms with the most traded stocks in 2020.

This was made known in the recently released Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) report titled “2020 Broker Performance Report”.

According to the report, from the total traded stocks valued at N1.17trillion, Stanbic IBTC Stockbrokers emerged top on the list of 10 leading stockbrokers with traded securities worth N218.14 billion.

This represented 10.04 per cent of traded stocks’ total value in the NSE between January to December 2020. Stanbic IBTC Stockbrokers also traded an estimated 8.15 billion units of shares within the same period, representing over 4.2 per cent of the total traded stocks.

Chief Executive, Stanbic IBTC Stockbrokers Limited, Titi Ogungbesan, expressed delight at the performance of the stockbroking subsidiary of Stanbic IBTC Holdings.

In the last few years, you have partnered some other firms, what are those things you look out for in choosing partners?

We are very particular about our core values; integrity, innovation, teamwork, professionalism and accountability and we always make sure our existing and prospective partners possess them. When you take a look at these qualities, they are not farfetched in any organization that wants to succeed.

What are the challenges you face as you contribute your quota into the opening up of agric business terrain?

Just like many other startups, institutional voids such as poor infrastructures, inadequate information as regards the market as a whole, which significantly affects the transaction

between buyers and the sellers, etc. remain a significant challenge. However, the recent rise in the number of “agri-tech platforms” that have been promising unrealistic returns and failing is alarming and this is quickly becoming a problem as it is reducing the interests of investors in the sector.

Coming down personally Mr. Oba, what is your attraction to this business and what prepared you for the role you are currently playing?

H&C is my baby and I really care about it!

Watching it grow has been just like watching a plant grow. Our failures of yesterday planted the seeds of success everyone now sees. When you are working on something you care about, you don’t need any external push or attraction, the vision pulls you. As for what prepared me for this role, I would say everything. From everyone one I have met, to every transaction and to every book I read. And I can’t also over emphasize the team; they allow me to lead them while learning to lead, which was a very important factor.

What advice can you offer today’s youths, especially young graduates in respect of the Agriculture sector?

The advice is that they should stop seeing agriculture in its peasant form but rather as a business by identifying what particular problem/ opportunity they want to tap into. The sector needs their creative and innovative thinking to push agriculture forward from where it is now to where it could be

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MARITIME

Nigeria’s Inoperable Waterways EromoseleAbiodun writes that the failed concession, inept leadership at Nigerian Inland Waterways Authority means that improving the utilisation of the inland waterways for transportation will continue to be a mirage

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t is an established fact that inland waterways facilitates commerce, promotes wealth creation, poverty alleviation, and creates job opportunities for youths within such regions.

The ancillary sector of boat building industry also generates employment through active engagement of the youths in welding and fabrication process.

Inland waterways consist of navigable rivers, lakes, coastal creeks, lagoons and canals. The movement of goods and services along inland waterways is one of the oldest means of transporting goods and services from point to point.

This is largely due to the fact that inland water transport offers the most economical, energy efficient and environmental friendly means of transporting all types of cargo from place to place. It also offers safer and cheaper rates in areas where water exist naturally.

However, despite the immense benefits to the economy, inland water transport in Nigeria has had a long history of neglect by both government and the private sector.

Little efforts were made to develop inland water transport facilities prior to the 1980s. This stemmed largely from policy inconsistency, limited private sector involvement, and conflicts between and among agencies involved in the management of inland water transport in Nigeria.

Since the 1990s, however, the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) has taken a number of initiatives, including capital and infrastructure improvement, channels dredging and maintenance and installation of safety facilities to turn the sector around.

Industry watchers and analysts have argued that with efficient control systems, the Nigerian Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) could function appropriately to make economic fortunes.

Their arguments, no doubt, result from the efficient operations of the Inland Waterways Transportation of the U.S. with about 25,000 nautical miles, out of which 12,000 miles have been commercialised and maintained by the government.

The American inland, intra-coastal and coastal waterways and channels, available statistics reveal, accommodates about 3,008 businesses and 24,908 employees as well as makes a whopping $8 billion dollars annually.

More than 60 per cent of America’s grain exports, about 22 per cent of domestic petroleum products and 20 per cent of the coal used in electricity generation is ferried via America’s water transportation system.

Nigerian situation Sadly, the reverse is the case in Nigeria.

For years, numerous obstacles have impeded the growth of water transportation and other ancillary businesses, chiefly the battle for control.

Virtually all the state governments with this geographical advantage are engaged in subtle regulatory or supremacy battle with the federal government. The situation thereby flouts the dictates of the law, court rulings and as such cause distraction to major stakeholders in the industry useless.

Nigeria has 36 states plus the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) owing a land area of 924000sqkm with an estimated population of about 200 million. The country is blessed with a coastline of about 870km and about 3000kilometer of inland waterways. Nigeria currently has six major ports (Tincan Island, Apapa, Warri, Port Harcourt, Onne and Calabar) and 10 crude oil terminals (Escarvos, Bonny, Sapele, Forcados, Tuma, Okrika, FOT, etc).

Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA) annual account showed that traffic into the major ports excluding tankers was estimated at appropriately 35, 000 vessels per annum and overall cargo throughout (excluding crude) was 222.23 million tons. The total

He said the tour would expose the operations at various points in order to take the necessary action.

At the Onitsha River Port, he said he was impressed with the state of the cargo handling equipment and other facilities.

He therefore, promised to accelerate the process of completion of the concession of the port.

However, he frowned on the slow pace of work at the Oguta River Port site and promised to get the National Assembly and Imo State government to support the process of completing the port.

Mustapha, was also delighted with the asset of NIWA at Warri Dockyard, which he said was enough to sustain the authority financially if properly managed.

He noted that the issue of inadequate manpower and obsolete equipment at the port would be addressed, adding that some operations at the Dockyard may be leased to the private sector.

The NIWA boss also visited two jetties in Yenegoa, Bayelsa State, and promised the people of the state that the two jetties would be put into use very soon.

Moghalu

number of passenger that patronizes the sea ports is estimated at 35000 per annum. Statistics from NPA indicates that 4070 vessels with 121,350,844GRT visited Nigeria in the year 2000 alone, having an overall cargo throughout at 28,859,274 million tons.

Sequentially, container traffic at major ports was 119,458 (outwards) and 204,299 (inwards). However, several other ports dotted along the 300km of inland waterways include: Onitsha, Oguta, Opobo, Lokoja, Baro, Jebba etc. Nigeria being major oil producing and exporting country records about 2,000 petroleum tanker vessels calling at her ports annually, with an average tanker size of about 95000.

Industry analysts therefore, wonder why the federal and states government cannot take advantage of the huge opportunity in the sector to create jobs.

“Pause and reflect on the import and export statistics in terms of numerous trade opportunities and the never- ending operations on the Nigerian coastal ways nationwide. Such transport or activities over waterways is especially effective when the source and/or destination are a water front location, which is a main infrastructural advantage that regularly needed to be trained, maintained and upgraded, of which Nigeria is specially blessed with such infrastructure as waterways unlike the hinterland states,” said a player in the industry.

He said Nigeria’s dream of being amongst the top 20 largest economics in the world will only come to fruition if its inland waterways is well utilised.

He added that the implementation of cabotage laws in Nigeria is critical to the success or otherwise of the plan, “because of the indispensible role shipping plays in not just the movement of goods and services around the country and the revenues collected as tax from the various actors in the sector.”

Cabotage Act Implementation Also, stakeholders are of the view that the effective implementation of the cabotage Act will catalyse the growth and development of the transportation sector and reduce the over dependence of the nation on road transportation operations and its consequent damage of the roads since the collapse of the railway system in Nigeria.

Others believe the growth of the sector is expected when the dredging activities on in the nation’s inland waterways are concluded.

“However, the initiatives and strategies forecasted for the future still does not move a foot if the problem of enforcement geometrically progresses due to the infallible and unchangeable management governing the corridors of power in this sector, seeing actually that most of them still lack the rudimentary understanding of its existence and likewise its operationality,” said the industry analyst.

Privatisation option In a bid to change the narrative, NIWA made effort to concession river ports across the country, a move that has since been abandoned due to the politicisation of the exercise.

The former Managing Director of NIWA and now Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha had in 2017 announced that the agency was inching closer to the final concessioning of the Onitsha, Lokoja, Baro and Oguta River ports.

Mustapha confirmed the receipt of certificate of compliance from the Infrastructure Concession Regulation Commission (ICRC) to go ahead with the concessioning process.

The concessioning, he said, would allow for private sector management and trigger improved utilisation of the inland waterways for transportation and easy conveyance of goods.

Inland waterways consist of navigable rivers, lakes, coastal creeks, lagoons and canals. The movement of goods and services along inland waterways is one of the oldest means of transporting goods and services from point to point

LASWA’s example Unlike NIWA, the Lagos State government is making efforts to develop the state’s inland waterways. The Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA) a few months a announced that about two million people shuttle the Lagos waterways on a monthly basis, a record by Nigerian standard.

The former Managing Director, LASWA, Abisola Kamson, said the number of people that ply the state’s waterways has grown rapidly over the years and measures are being put in place to strengthen the authority’s water guards to enforce safety rules.

Kamson also revealed that new safety rules for the growth of water transportation sector in the state were underway as various challenges are being encountered

by LASWA on the waterways.

She also said that they are in partnership with the NIWA, in order to regulate various activities on the state’s waterways and ensure that it is safe.

She stated that the new guidelines would focus on the quality of boats, size of the boat, size of the engine, and general safety for commuters.

The LASWA boss said operators would be given a period to comply with the new guidelines after which government would begin strict enforcement of the guidelines adding that LASWA would employ more water guards to enhance patrol on waterways.

She said the water guards of the authority provided statistics on daily basis on the number of passengers plying the jetties in the state, saying that many people were now used to commuting on the waterways and that the number still kept on growing.

Kamson said: “The core function of LASWA is to act as a regulatory agency for all movements on waterways. We are to provide enabling infrastructure that will promote water transport.”

She said the authority is working closely with the Marine Police in order to beef up the security and also, curb illegal access on the waterways adding that plans were underway to ensure that jetties and boat operators not licensed by the state government were not allowed to operate on the waterways.

Kamson said that there would be proper channelling of boat routes to prevent boat users from interference.

This, she said, would enable the authority monitor the number of approved vessels plying certain route, which would make for safety of the waterways.

The MD appealed to Lagos residents to desist from dumping refuse and open defecation on water as such practice could impede movement on waterways adding that efforts were underway for mechanised clearing.

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Nwanze: We’re Committed to Meeting Africa’s Energy Demand The Chief Finance Officer, TNOG Oil & Gas Limited, a subsidiary of Heirs Holdings, Mr. Sam Nwanze, in this interview on ‘Arise Xchange,’ a programme monitored on AriseTV, sheds more light on his organisation’s recent $1.1 billion investment in the acquisition of the strategic OML 17 from Shell, ENI and Total and the economic benefits of the deal. Excerpts:

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cent by ENI. And there is an additional $300 million, which is part of the financing, which is needed to address transaction cost and also to provide sufficient working capital facility for us to run the asset and begin to generate value initially. That was why I mentioned earlier on that it is really about structuring, it is about being able to get the deal structured right. This asset, historically has done over 1,000 barrels and the resources are there. The capacity to do more is already existing and so we have bought into the potential of the asset.

hy did Heirs Holdings embark on this investment?

For the long time, you and I know that energy is an important part of the growth of any economy. And at Heirs Holdings, for a very long time we have been looking at how to contribute to that energy discussion, to ensure that we can contribute to driving economic development in Africa. So, about eight years ago, we began to look at the opportunity to acquire upstream assets so as to drive our integrated energy strategy across the industry. So, this transaction, the acquisition of OML 17 keys right into that plan that we have to build an integrated energy business, to help in meeting the energy demand that we have in the continent.

How do you plan to relate with the host communities?

As you know, community relations and community engagements are important, not just in oil and gas, but in every business.

At Heirs Holdings, we have a track record of being able to relate and to work with communities across all our businesses.

We have investments in financial services, healthcare, power, hospitality and in all of these businesses we’ve had the need to engage and interact with the communities.

And you would notice that as part of our engagement with the communities, we have been doing quite a lot. Apart from what the businesses do, our Foundation, the Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF), is actively involved in capacity building and entrepreneurial development across the continent. So, specifically, as it relates to this asset, there are a number of things that we want to do. First of all, we want to build upon the community relations that SPDC had with the communities. But, we also want to enhance that because we are indigenes. For us, this is not an asset that we move into, operate and go. This is our home and those in the communities are our grandfathers, our grandmothers, our fathers, mothers, uncles, our aunts, our brothers, sisters, our sons and daughters.

We intend to apply those kinds of principles that we have done across a lot of the assets that we have been involved in and had acquired also in this particular transaction. One of the things we are looking at doing is to build a customised-targeted version of what we do in the Foundation in capacity building and entrepreneurial development through these communities.

We are already doing some of that. The TEF has already supported close to 900 entrepreneurs that come from these same communities in the Niger Delta. So, we are going to expand that programme in addition to what is currently being done in terms of developmental projects, training and capacity building that would take place in the communities.

How does this mega deal benefit the government?

As you know, as for us as an investment group, we love turnaround opportunities, to take things that are not performing at the level that we think that they should be and to take them to the level where they maximise their capabilities. This asset has about 1.2 billion of oil equivalent, it has an additional one billion exploration opportunities, it sits on about 2.2 tcf of gas. These are huge amount of oil and gas resources that if well-developed can feed into the development of the economy as a whole. So, apart from bringing economic activities to the area as we expand and grow the capacity of the asset itself, the

Can you describe the capacity and size of the asset?

OML 17 is an interesting asset. It is located in Rivers State and it covers about 1,300 square kilometres, so you are talking about a huge piece of acreage. In terms of its 2P resources, it is about 1.2 billion barrels of oil equivalent, gas is about 2.2 tcf, it has additional exploration opportunities of about one billion barrels. There is also gas capacity in the asset of about 170 million scf and this includes a brand new gas processing plant which we would be commissioning sometime this year. Of about 80 million scuff. The asset itself has the resources that are required at a time like this to drive the gas strategy of the government and also to address the energy gap that we have in the country today. So, it is an interesting piece of asset for us; we are excited at Heirs Holdings and Transcorp as it relates to this deal and we are looking at doing a lot with it. Just watch this space because we have plans with this asset.

Nwanze

team we have put together is made up of seasoned professional Nigerians who have been well-developed and trained by a number of the international oil companies (IOCs), that we are bringing together to work on this assets and also build the capacity of our younger ones that are coming up and we would be introducing into this industry. Also, because of the growth plan that we have, we see significant amount of benefits to the government in terms of the royalties, the levies, taxes and all of that.

In addition, we also see huge employment opportunities because are going to grow what we currently have there and it would result to improved economic activities, both direct and indirect economic opportunities that you would find in the market. So, these are huge benefits that this deal will bring to the economy at a time like this when we are going through this difficult moment in the world. We see this as an opportunity to make more contributions in the social and economic development of the country.

How did Heirs Holdings raise the money for this deal?

I wouldn’t say it was an easy journey, but one of the beliefs we have at Heirs Holdings is that ones you put your mind at something, you can get it done. The funding was raised in the international

market; it was largely advised by Standard Chartered Bank and United Capital, a local financial services firm. But we were able to put together the financing from top financial institutions such as ABSA, Afreximbank, Standard Chartered, Africa Finance Corporation and some international organisations and one of the largest asset management companies in the world that is based in Europe and Moody’s Asset Management also participated in the deal.

The key thing in such deals is structuring.

If you have a deal and you are able to structure it properly, people see value.

And I think the $1.1 billion is a testament of the confidence that the international market still has in the Nigerian economy, so long as you can put a deal together that ticks the right boxes and people can see that you are working with a group of people who are capable, who have the capacity, are transparent and are good at what they do, you will find investments flow into the economy because there are opportunities in Nigeria and there are a lot more that we can do if we go along that track. So, in terms of the financing, just to break it down, from the $1.1 billion, $800 million goes to the assignors, which is the consideration we are paying for the asset. We have acquired 45 per cent participating interest – 30 per cent owned

by SPDC, 10 per cent by Total and five per

At Heirs Holdings, we have a track record of being able to relate and to work with communities across all our businesses.

We have investments in financial services, healthcare, power, hospitality and in all of these businesses we’ve had the need to engage and interact with the communities

Tell us a little about your partners in this deal?

On the lending side, I have already mentioned some of the banks that are participating in the deal. As you know, we are acquiring 45 per cent participating interest and the other 55 per cent is still owned by the NNPC. NNPC has been quite wonderful and our engagements with them have been very interesting, useful and focused on ensuring that we are able to generate vale from the asset. We also have partnership with Schlumberger.

Schlumberger Production Management is providing tools and technology that would help us sweat the asset and to get the best out of it. TNOG, which is the company that Heirs Holdings used in acquiring the asset is the operator of the asset. So, after going through the scrutiny of the regulator and of NNPC, we have been selected as the operator of the asset. So, we have built in capabilities from all these partnerships that we have and the way we run our businesses at Heirs Holdings to ensure that we generate value.

Tell us more about the TNOG? It is a new company which we set up for the purpose of acquiring this asset and to grow our energy play. Our focus at Heirs Holdings is not really oil and gas, but more of an integrated energy play. So, we set up this company with that focus in mind and we are starting with the acquisition of this upstream resources that would help us further develop a number of things that we are looking at doing along the entire energy value chain. It is sponsored

by Heirs Holdings and Transcorp and we are looking forward to putting that name on the map globally as it relates to the energy business. As an investment group, we are very particular about the development of the African economy, transforming lives in Africa and we have our eyes on a number of things and I would say watch Heirs Holdings, watch Transcorp for things to come in the nearest future.

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FRIDAY JANUARY 22, 2021 •T H I S D AY

THIS WEEKEND WEEKLY MAGAZINE

NEWS METRO THISLIFE ART WEEKEND ENTERTAINMENT Group Features Editor: Chiemelie Ezeobi chiemelie.ezeobi@thisdaylive.com 08038901925

Abosede George-Ogan: Empowering Women for Elective Positions

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COVER

Abosede George-Ogan: Empowering Women for Elective Positions Abosede George-Ogan is an experienced tri-sector leader with a demonstrated history of working in the nonprofit, private and public sectors. Skilled in development communications, corporate social responsibility and sustainability complemented by strong analytical skills, team building and interpersonal skills, she possesses over a decade of development experience following a degree in Political Science/Public Administration. A Co-founder of ElectHer, a non-governmental organisation poised to empower women to run for elective positions in the country.

In this interview with MARY NNAH, she revealed her intention to participate in politics and ambition to hold a key elective position in the helm of affairs

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ell us a bit about you My name is Abosede George-Ogan. I was in Kano but spent the first seven years of my life in Kaduna. I am the co-founder of ElectHer, a non-governmental organisation that is geared towards a new agenda to effect a change at the political cadre of our dear nation Nigeria. The present situation has seen women under-represented in government and it is time to make a change. There would be a paradigm shift come 2023, as women build a network that can effect that change. Women would be well represented in government. It is a wakeup call.

despite this women are under-represented in government. What’s your take on this?

We were able to identify the problem that women are relegated to the background in society due to some socio-cultural and political bias that has denied women equal rights to hold key political positions as well as some laws culturally that forbid women from involving in some activity.

But with the emergence of ElectHer, we are going to collaborate with other interest groups to make a difference.

We would encourage any woman who decides to run, equipped them with the right skill and enabled them to win. This is not a movement against men but a movement to give women a chance in the political climate in order to contribute their potential in nation building.

Would you say your childhood prepared you in any way for this call?

Yes it did a whole lot. My parents were public servants. My father was in the military, an air force personnel and my mother was a teacher. They both served Nigeria for 35years. Growing up I watched my father wear the same uniform every day for 35 years. It caught my fancy. So, service is in my DNA. I understand then that there is only so much you can earn as a teacher and being in the military as well. I saw my father wear the same uniform every day, so I became content and didn’t mind a few clothes. It made me a little conservative, it inspired contentment in me.

How do you intend to achieve this, considering the age-long political tradition where the women are just given the slot of women leader?

There is going to be a massive advocacy and education in impacting the society, government and other relevant bodies would be our support. We are not doing it without the men’s support.

Women face so much violence during electioneering and they are under reported in the media. 11 Northern states have not domesticated the child right act bills proposed by women. Anyone who shows interest would be given the platform, using our three major components of structured strategy to meet up what it takes.

So, what lessons has life taught you?

A few things, firstly that people matter.

And I have dedicated my life to service for humanity. I serve people so they can have a better livelihood. I have seen a lot of values in life and I uphold it to make me a better person and impact life generally.

What inspired your decision to set up the platform “ElectHer”?

It is very simple; In 2017 I wanted to run for an elective position. It has been my lifelong ambition to go into politics but the system we have does not encourage one. A number of questions arose in my mind and it was like where do I go and how do I start. I wanted to ensure that the next female’s dream and ambition in pursuing a political goal do not die, so that was how the platform was created.

ElectHer is an initiative to burn out the political need in our society and the political space. Although we are nonpartisan but we understand the role of women in nation building and the way women are marginalised in government.

It is very important to understand our journey so far and our intention is to have a change in 2023. The Endsars originator may be a man but we saw how women drove the campaign.

A lot has happened this year with the EndSARS campaign. Nobody is questioning the competency of women anymore because the EndSARS protest was an expose to women’s capacity of playing

How do you intend to build a political network of women who can occupy key positions at state and federal level?

To be honest, there is a huge gap. We need access to education and finance. We have launched a platform where women can decide to run. No party godfathers in this case. Once you as a woman is interested raise your hand. We are going to be having training and constitutional rights by January, 2021. We would also make use of online management making use of software and the ElectHer lawmakers to incubate women between the ages of 25-45. We would be targeting the four legislative components in our constitution.

They have to come up with projects in their constituency where they must have conversations with the grassroots.

George-Ogan

an active role in nation building.

It is a game of numbers, and we want an equal representation of the female folks.

The policy here must favour women.

Women need political advancement; they no longer want the position of women leader, where they are in charge of food and aso ebi. Government must formulate policies to represent women in a good light.

There are gaps in the spaces but our focus is dealing with the barriers women face. The child right act has not been domesticated in 11 northern states because the women decimal is low. Even if their governors have the political will he won’t be able to make a change due to the obstacles.

How has the journey been so far?

It’s been quite challenging, bringing political issues to young women, when it is not fashion, make-up and other things that are in vogue which normally draw the attention of women or their interest.

Despite the challenge I summoned the courage along with the co-founder of ElectHer, Ibijoke Faborode to set the ball rolling. We swung into action and within seven months of establishing the organisation we had secured a grant of $100,000 and 10,000 followers on all our social media platforms.

Over 51 per cent of women are involved in voting during election,

Do you intend to create a political party, considering the major parties in terms and conditions that may not favour women to participate in certain slot?

Finance - once women have access to finance they can afford the high cost of running for electoral position. Nigeria has the highest expense for campaign and political positions. It scares those with interest so this is some of the challenges we are going to work on and effect a change. We would join existing parties, the major goal is getting a good number of women representation in the helm of affairs

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How Ayo Charity Foundation Closed Out 2020 with “Christmas Basketball Camp For Girls” Stakeholders at the Ajao Estate Isolation Centre

Ajao Estate Isolation Centre Reopens

Ayo Charity Foundation’s ‘Christmas Basketball Camp for Girls’ participants

Stories by Mary Nnah Lagos-based social enterprise, Ayo Charity Foundation hosted a “Christmas Basketball Camp for Girls” from December 26 to 27, 2020 at the Warriors Basketball Academy Court, Industrial Avenue Ilupeju to round off the year 2020.

The holiday tournament hosted teenage girls with passion and shared interests in sports, especially basketball with the aim of introducing them to the game and hopefully provides them with avenues to

pursue their dreams.

As a team-sport that encourages sportsmanship, teamwork, work ethic; the camp schedule featured a line-up of activities including learning the rudiments of the game, drilling exercises, interactions and one-on-one show offs.

On the second day of the camp, the enthused girls were exposed to the mechanics of the game and also took to creating teams to demonstrate their knowledge of the game.

With sheer excitement they interacted with the resident coach, Dele Awonuga while

showing off their newly discovered strengths in the court.

Founder of Ayo Charity Foundation, Ayodeji Egbeyemi said, “This year’s edition was great and very much needed, especially with everything going on in the world today, to be able to end the year on a positive note like this for the kids was amazing.”

The annual camp is the foundation’s latest efforts in creating opportunities for young aspiring sports enthusiasts.

In May 2020, Ayo Charity Foundation donated a standard basketball court, equipment,

and food donations to the children of the Nigerian Red Cross Society, Makoko, Lagos.

The foundation was created to provide life-changing opportunities, through the game of basketball, for the youth in Africa and around the world.

Considering the fact that Basketball teaches sportsmanship, teamwork, work ethic, and can even yield opportunities to improve one’s quality of life, the foundation delivers these opportunities through camps, clinics, and workshops to hopefully provide kids with a chance to chase their dreams.

Activist Solicits Youth Development Policy in Nigeria Child Advocate, founder and project director of Regalo Hope Foundation, Chinenye Onuorah has said that there is a need for federal government to formulate and implement a compressive youth development policy.

The policy according to her, should proffer solutions to the current challenges the nation is facing such as youth militancy, violence, delinquency and unemployment. She said government should also invest heavily in the implementation of the various youth development programmes that would flow from such a policy.

Onuorah said this as she identified the national assembly as the arm of government that could initiate debate on the concept and modality for implementing various programmes to re-organise the lives of marginalised and confused youths now commonly referred to as “almajiki”, “cultists” “area boys”, “hoodlums” and “bandits” Onuorah made these suggestions while addressing some young people at Regalo Hope Foundation resource centre in Igando area in Lagos State The activist, who is founder and project director of the foundation, spoke as the keynote speaker at the event. She added that the endless orgy of violence and criminality that has dented the image of Nigerian youth is traceable to

Activist, Chinenye Onuorah

a long period of inadequate attention to the needs of the youths by virtually all the levels of government for over three decades since 1986 when the Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP) was introduced by the military government of the first Nigerian military President Ibrahim Babangida.

She argued further that even

since independence in 1960 and up till the second republic in 1979 to 1983 and thereafter, Nigeria has always spent less than 26 per cent of the budget on the education sector which is the sector that really affects youth substantially more than other sectors of the economy She buttressed her argument with the fact that Nigeria has 10 million out of school

children. With high level of illiteracy and unemployment among youth she said nobody should be surprised by the pathetic crises confronting the youths in Nigeria.

It is in line with the need to find solutions to these issues that the Regalo Hope Foundation has scheduled series of youth enlightenment and educational programmes back-to-back all through 2021.

These programmes include skills acquisition programme for youth, grooming classes, mentoring programmes, educational programmes in Lagos State among others.

Regalo Hope Foundation was incorporated with the corporate affairs commission in 2017, although it has been in existence since 2010.

Since inception, the foundation has carried out over 250 projects across 32 locations in Cross River, Oyo, Ogun, Edo, Abuja, Imo, Anambra and Lagos States.

Regalo Hope Foundation was established to close the gap between the rich and the poor in the society by implementing projects like provision of start-up funds for women to own small scale business, free medical outreaches for disadvantaged communities and a resource centre for young people equipped with laptops enabled with data and all approved textbooks which runs for free.

Ajao Estate Isolation Centre, a 50-bed Isolation Centre along Murtala Muhammed International Airport Road, Ajao Estate Lagos, initiated by Sanyukt Bharatiya Association (SABHA), an organisation of Indian community with Indo Eye Care Foundation, was recently reopened with order from the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu. “Following the tenure of the initial agreement, the Ajao Estate Isolation Centre located at Indo Eye Care Foundation was closed on December 1, 2020 after reviewing the status of COVID-19 at that point of time as it was found that the graph of total new cases was going down to a very low level.

“Unfortunately, the second wave of COVID-19 came up from the second week of December 2020. It is indeed good news that the Isolation Center is being re-opened from 13-01-2020, by order of His Excellency and supported by the Honorable Commissioner and Management team of the Lagos State Ministry of Health,” the association said.

Expressing gratitude to Lagos State government for its prompt action, SABHA working team and mentors of the SABHA said the Centre will be managed as collaboration between MOH and SABHA. They added that the centre is fully equipped with modern medical equipment, water, electricity, lift, entertaining equipment, and standby power supply.

“It was built by the efforts of the Indian community living in Nigeria (Individual and corporates) to help the nation. All the medical equipment cost approximately 250 Million Naira,” they noted.

SABHA who expressed the hope that within the next six months COVID-19 will fully disappear from Nigeria and from the entire world, expressed gratitude to all the doctors, nurses and paramedical staff who are taking care of the hospital as COVID-19 warriors for serving all those infected patients.

It also thanked the Indo Eye Care Foundation, all supporters, suppliers and consultants that worked for SABHA initiated COVID-19 Isolation cum Treatment Centre Type-II for timely completion of work for the hospital.

UK’s Prosperity Fund, AREAi to Promote Education, Digital Equity in Nigeria As the adoption of remote learning increases with the COVID-19 pandemic and the extent to which mass school closures have interrupted and impacted children’s education and learning, becomes prevalent, the United Kingdom Government, through its Prosperity Fund Digital Access Programme, has signed an agreement with the Nigerian non-profit organisation, Aid for Rural Education Access Initiative (AREAi) to carry out the “Education Digital Equity Initiative” to reach most marginalised children in rural clusters across Nigeria.

The project whose agreement was signed on December 21, 2020 will be implemented across 12 rural communities in six states, and would support 9000 students and school administrators from 24 primary and secondary schools with information and online resources to enable the effective use of information and communication technologies for learning.

Reacting to the development, UK Deputy high commissioner in Lagos, Ben Llewellyn-Jones, said, “Brilliant that the UK can help the most disadvantaged with digital literacy so they can access the knowledge economy in Nigeria and become better able to work and communicate given the challenges COVID-19 poses in Nigeria and globally.”

The Founder and Executive Director of the NGO, Gideon Seun Olanrewaju, while commenting on the agreement, expressed his excitement and enthusiasm about the collaboration with the UK in Nigeria.

He said, “As witnessed during the COVID-19 pandemic, digital inequity remains a leading factor of marginalisation and educational deprivation in Nigeria.

“We are excited that this project is set to change this narrative through its overarching objective of highlighting community-based initiatives that students from low-income families can adopt in accessing remote learning materials, digital education resources options and digital opportunities.

“This Education Digital Equity Initiative is set to address digital exclusion across the six geopolitical regions in Nigeria and will undoubtedly contribute immensely to achieving access and opportunity to digital tools, resources, and services to increase digital knowledge, awareness, and skills for rural children and under-resourced schools in remote areas and underserved communities.”

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E-TRENDS

MUSIC SHOWBIZ

…Your weekly entertainment delight

NOLLYWOOD

Tinsel’s Enduring Presence on Nigerian TV Vanessa Obioha writes about the groundbreaking milestone achieved recently by the Africa Magic original production Tinsel On Thursday, January 21, ‘Tinsel’, the gripping soap that was beamed to Nigerians and Africans to an extent in August 2008, aired its 3000th episode, cementing its legacy as Nigeria’s longest-running TV show. The milestone episode had comedian Ayo Makun in a cameo appearance. He is the latest celebrity to feature in the drama series. Other established names who had been in the TV show include the charismatic Nollywood veteran Richard Mofe-Damijo, Segun Arinze, Taiwo Ajai-Lycett.

Such feats are usually feted. If not for the raging coronavirus pandemic, the attainment would have probably been marked grandly, perhaps a tour with the production team. Similar accomplishments have always been celebrated with the cast and crew of the production having a meet-and-greet with their devoted votaries.

“Our local content story cannot be complete without a mention of our flagship soap opera, ‘Tinsel’,” said Channel Director, M-Net West Africa, Wangi Mba-Uzoukwu.

“We are indeed happy to hit the 3000th episode mark of this stellar series. At MultiChoice, we remain committed to growing and promoting local content and talents as we continue to expand the boundaries of African film and television production.”

Over the years, ‘Tinsel’ developed a cult following, as many families huddle in front of their TV sets every weeknight to watch the gripping storyline that revolves around two rival film companies, Reel Studios and Odyssey Pictures. Both are owned by the Ade-Williams and the Mensah families respectively. However, it turned out that Brenda, the helmsman of Odyssey Pictures is the daughter of Fred Ade-Williams. She was determined to outshine her father’s studio and dominate the industry. Her biggest weapons were her beauty, charm and intelligence. But again, ambition can take one to unknown limits. In the case of Brenda, it meant planting a mole in her father’s company, setting in motion a row of conflicts that spiralled out of control. The result inadvertently changed their lives and businesses forever.

When it first premiered in 2008, the Africa Magic original production aired bi-weekly and was available in the DStv premium bouquet only.

However, it is now aired every weeknight and accessible to subscribers who have Africa Magic Showcase in their bouquets while past episodes are shown on other Africa Magic channels.

From its very first episode, fans fell in love with the series and the characters. There was Philip, the arrogant son of Chief Fred Ade-Williams played

by Gideon Okeke; the smart and ambitious Brenda ‘Nana’ Mensah played by Funlola Aofiyebi-Raimi, and the calm and collected Kwame played by Chris Attoh. Of course, Tomi Odunsi’s comic character Salewa was a pleasure to fans.

Audiences across Africa followed each episode with gusto, as romance, deception and betrayal continue to entangle the dramatic tale. One of the famous love storylines in the soap is the Kwame and Telema Duke played by Damilola Adegbite. Interestingly, the two would fall in love in real life even though their marriage was short-lived. Finding love seems to be one of the unique traits of the production. Not a few actors have carried on their on-screen relationship to reality. Another example is Ike Okechukwu and Florence Uwaleke who play Chuks and Ene in the soap. Linda Ejiofor and Ibrahim Suleiman, and Osas Ighodaro and Gbenro Ajibade are among the ‘Tinsel’ actors who melted fans’ hearts when they tied the knots in real life.

‘Tinsel’s long-reigning streak can be attributed to its intriguing storyline and the cast who bring it to life through their interpretations. Though the storyline still revolves around the Ade-Williams and the Mensahs, the plot has thickened over the years, giving rise to new twists and turns that make it difficult to resist. For instance, in episode 2927, it was revealed that Brenda has a brother. The news shattered Brenda who’s yet to

Some female cast members of Tinsel

A section of the male cast of Tinsel

overcome the sad passing of her brother Kwame.

Expectedly, the expanded storyline affected the characters. While some characters have been killed, others were born. Notable actors who have left the production include Adegbite, Attoh, and Victor Olaotan who suffered an accident. The new faces that have joined the production include Ashionye Raccah, Oghenekaro Itene, former Big Brother Naija contestant Rico Swavey among others. Popular Nollywood acts have also graced the small screen production. They include Bimbo Manuel (93 Days) Ann Njemanze (Domitilla), Yul Edochie (Moms at War), Alexx Ekubo (The Bling Lagosians) Kalu Ikeagwu (Lionheart), Shaffy Bello (Chief Daddy) and Joseph Benjamin (Mr. and Mrs.).

Some actors have been part of the soap right from inception. They include Okechukwu and his wife Florence, Ireti Doyle and Aofiyebi-Raimi.

For these actors, Tinsel almost became a full-time job. In an interview with THISDAY Newspaper, Funmi Holder who plays Amaka Ade-Williams revealed that her daily activities are centred around ‘Tinsel’. “My day starts with ‘Tinsel’ and probably ends there.”

By keeping these actors in the production, ‘Tinsel’ achieved one of the set goals of the production company which is to keep Nigerians gainfully employed. Over 80 cast and crew from Nigeria and Ghana were part of the production in the beginning.

Right from the onset, the founding producers

Femi Odugbemi, Jaiye Ojo and Lemmy Adebule had a clear vision of what they wanted to achieve with the television series. It was to revolutionise the TV landscape in Nigeria. At the time, there was a paucity of quality TV soaps. The good old days of ‘Checkmate’, ‘Ripples’, ‘Fortunes’ were fast becoming a memory. Quality of productions was low and stories dull and mundane. Not a few relied on international TV series for entertainment.

However, the trio threw in their all to give a production that could rival any international TV series. They scoured Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa, looking for the right talents to interpret their vision on the small screen. Cutting edge technologies were deployed in making the series, ergo, making ‘Tinsel’ the first Nigerian soap to use a multi-camera for production. The soap was in pre-production for over 90 months. The first season’s 65 episodes of 26 minutes each were shot in the Frame 24 Studio located in Ojota, Lagos for over 100 days. However, a fire incident moved the production to the Africa Magic studios in Ikeja.

When it first aired, fans thought the multi-million Naira production was shot outside the country. On garnering the knowledge that it was indeed shot in Lagos, their appreciation for the production escalated. As pointed out by Mba-Uzoukwu, “’Tinsel’ owes its longevity to its amazing cast, stellar directing, multifaceted storyline and high production values.”

Indeed, it changed the face of TV production

in Nigeria, becoming a watershed moment in the history of Nigerian TV. Attention was paid to details, storyline, technicalities. No longer do studios invest in low-quality production. ‘Tinsel’ became the industry standard.

‘Tinsel’ was originally created by Yinka Ogun while Rogers Ofime served as the Executive Producer. However, over the years, different screenwriters and producers have worked on the series. The series producer of the current season 13 is Aderonke Oshinjobi. It is written

by Omotunde Akiode and directed by George Sunom-Kura.

One of the accolades of ‘Tinsel’ is the number of acting careers it launched. For instance, Okeke was mainly known as a contestant in the first edition of Big Brother Naija but on landing a role in the TV series, his star wattage amplified. Likewise, Ajibade and Adegbite were unknown but gained popularity after featuring in the soap.

To date, ‘Tinsel’ is widely considered the most successful television drama on Nigerian television in recent times. At the 2017 Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Award AMVCA), the series took home the award for the Best M-Net original drama series.

Perhaps, it may be awarded a special award on the next edition of the AMVCAs, not only for being the longest-running TV show in Nigeria but also for keeping Nigeria entertained without compromising quality for 13 years.

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Air Marshal Nsikak Eduok Flies Away

By Akpandem James Death is not a recent phenomenon, it has always been there, threatening humanity and picking its game at will. No society is isolated from its vengeance, Akwa Ibom State inclusive.

It has been stalking prominent people in the state and unleashing its wrath once in a while, even though magnanimous enough to allow reasonable time for mourning and consolation, before taking another.

Last year however, it came with some inexplicable vehemence. It came with a list of some of the most illustrious sons of the state, cutting them down with haste and fury. It was such haste that left the people wondering if it was in a hurry to catch up with the receding year; a year that would be remembered as one which counted the most deaths in contemporary history, across the globe.

As if death forgot one of the prized games on its list, it rushed back in the first week of 2021, January 6, and snatched one of the most highly decorated sons of the state, a globally rated fighter pilot, former Aviation Minister and former Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshall Nsikak Eduok. Before him, the dreaded sneaky phenomenon had taken Major General Edet Akpan (rtd); and on Christmas Eve, had snatched Air Commodore Idongesit Nkanga (rtd). Death was indeed on rampage in the barracks of retired military officers from the state. Nkanga was once the Commander of the Presidential Airlift Group and former Military Governor of Akwa Ibom State.

It was a year that saw other very prominent citizens of the state walk the road to the great beyond. Just as the state was trying to wake up from the dream of the loss of the former Environment Minister, Dr Ime Okopido early in the year, his only brother and chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, Ini Okopido joined. Both were buried on the same day. The former chairman of NDDC, Ambassador Sam Edem was on the list. The wife followed early this year. A well renowned Agriculturist, Dr Val Attah was also there, just as Chief Ubong Mbat, a popular businessman.

A well-known motivational speaker, Ubong King also made the list. Two of the finest journalists from the state, Mr Parchi Umoh and Elder Nnamso Umoren were also on the list of the sneaky reaper.

Just as the state was counting its losses, the state chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Mr Udo Ekpenyong was snatched during the week, on January 19. The two major political parties in the state, APC and PDP, lost their chairmen within a space of five months. To say that the state has been in perpetual mourning is just stating the obvious.

In a space of eleven months, the state governor, Deacon Udom Emmanuel, is saddled with the unenviable record of mourning an alarming

Marshal

number of illustrious sons of his state, including three of the finest and most accomplished retired military officers. Within a space of three weeks, the state lost two of the country’s most decorated combat pilots. Although the state has a long line of very fine and accomplished Air Force officers, probably the one that can readily fall into their league is the late Brigadier-General Udoakagha Jacob Esuene (rtd), who was also the Military Governor of South Eastern State for nine years (1967 – 1975).

Air Marshall Eduok would rank as the most prized trophy that death has snatched from the state in the last one year. He had a distinguished career in the Nigerian Air force; and left as the highest ranking officer in the military from the state. His journey in the military was smooth with impeccable records. He probably would be the only officer that has been named Chief of Air Staff twice in Nigeria. He was appointed to that position on August 27, 1993 by President Ibrahim Babangida but the then Chief of Defence Staff, General Sani Abacha replaced him with Air Vice Marshall Femi John Femi after 10 days, citing service expediency. He was subsequently made Aviation Minister; but by March 30, 1996, he was returned to the position by the same Abacha when he was Head of State.

As a child Eduok was always putting pieces together. His father thought he would either be a technician or an engineer. He went to live with his elder brother in Lagos and it was there he nursed the ambition of not just joining the Air Force but becoming a fighter pilot. At that time he was working with the Voice of Nigeria as a studio manager. The brother was alarmed.

He sent a message home and the parents were disappointed that he would chose to join the

military, which was considered by local folks then as a vocation for never-do-wells.

They summoned him. They thought he was on a suicide mission, going into the military.

They confronted him and he stood his ground.

He told them death can arrest anyone anywhere, even at home. They let him be. He did not just join the Air Force on the August 1, 1968 as a trainee pilot, he rose to become the Chief when he was about 49 years old, in 1996.

When he did, the father, Obong Essien Akpan Eduok, changed the tune: “The Bible says that a good child brings joy, happiness and honour to the family, while a bad one brings embarrassment and curse to the family. Who would not be happy and proud of a son like Nsikak? He has always been a good boy and I am proud of him.” It was not only the father that was proud of him, the entire Akwa Ibom State was. He was the first fully fledged military Service Chief from the state. He was one of the first from that zone to join the new Nigerian Air Force when it was carved out from the Nigerian Army.

Marshall Eduok was a trained fighter pilot and was at home with some of the most sophisticated aircraft types including the L-29, L-39, MiG 15, MiG 17, MiG 21 and the MB-339.

While at the Air Force, he was appointed the first Operations Officer, Strike Group, Makurdi, Benue State, 1975 – 1976; Commanding Officer, NAF Station, Enugu; first Commanding Officer, 75 Fighter Squadron; Commander, 301 Flying Training School, Kaduna; Commander, 303 Flying Training School, Kano; Commander, NAF Station, Makurdi; Commander, NAF Station, Kainji, Niger State; Directing Staff, Command and Staff College, Jaji, 1986 – 1987; Director of Plans, NAF Headquarters, 1989; Director of

Operations, NAF Headquarters, 1990;Air Officer Commanding (AOC), Training Command, 1991; and Member, Armed Forces Ruling Council, AFRC, (during Babangida’s regime), 1991.

He was a recipient of the National, Defence, Independence and Republic medals; and earned both the Distinguished Service Star (DSS) and the Meritorious Service Star (MSS) medals.

He was awarded an honorary doctorate in Humanities from the Cornerstone University and Seminary, Israel.

It was also said that Eduok would have been the first military governor of the Akwa Ibom State when it was created in 1987. In preparation for the new assignment, he was said to have handed over to a new director at the Command and Staff College, Jaji, and was accordingly briefed of his new office by General Y.Y Kure; but the then Chief of Air Staff would not let him go because of his specialty as a fighter pilot.

He was reported to have used his closeness to General Babangida, working alongside others, to facilitate the creation of the State.

Unlike most of the accomplished persons from the state who would rather spend their retirement elsewhere, Air Marshall Eduok relocated to the state after retirement in 1990 and engaged in a variety of businesses including large-scale farming and processing, hospitality, sports and publishing; as well as charity and religious activities. He wanted to change the ugly narrative; unfortunately he got his fingers burnt in the process. He sure had good intentions but got caught up in the web of the pettiness of the clime.

Air Marshall Eduok was not given to ostentatious lifestyle. He lived a simple, honest and clean life. He was very humble and friendly in spite of his attainments. He abhorred alcoholic beverages and drank only water and fruit juice.

He would be remembered for his contributions to the development of the Nigerian Air Force, the aviation industry, his home state and humanity. In his home state, the Air Force Comprehensive School stands as a clear testimony to his influence while he was the CAS. He will continue to live in the hearts of those he mentored in service and educated through scholarship. He was the third Grand Patron of the socio-cultural organisation of Ibibio youths, the Mboho Mkparawa Ibibio. A four-lane road in the centre of Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, built by the Obong Victor Attah administration was named in his honour.

Air Marshall Eduok was born on July 11, 1947 at Mbak Ekpe, Ibesikpo Asutan Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State. After an intense combat with a failing kidney which saw him landing in hospitals at home and abroad, the distinguished fighter pilot lost the battle and took a final flight into eternity. t +BNFT B $PNNVOJDBUJPO $POTVMUBOU MJWFT JO "CVKB

COVID-19:JakysTerminaltoEnforceUseofFaceMasksamongTruckDrivers The management of Jakys Container Terminal, Satellite Town, Ojo, has vowed to enforce the use of face mask among truck drivers before they would be allowed into any of its facilities.

They further stated that those coming to do business in the terminal must adhere strictly to COVID-19 guidelines.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Jakys Container Terminal terminal, Sir Henry Muogho, said truck drivers and visitors to the terminal without face mask would not be allowed access into the facility.

Speaking on efforts put in place to check the spread of COVID-19 among workers, Muogho said designated areas

for the washing of hands and sanitizers have been made available by the terminal management.

“The management of Jakys container terminal is taking proactive steps to curtail the spread of COVID-19. As the country experiences a steady increase in the number of confirmed cases, steps are being

taken to adequately respond to the pandemic.”

He said President Muhammadu Buhari in 2020 when the pandemic broke out for the first time, issued a directive to NPA stipulating that cargo vessels which have been at sea for more than 14 days are to be allowed to dock in Nigerian ports, after the crew have been tested and

confirmed disease free by Port Health Officers.

He said in the same vein, stakeholders believe that, even if the federal government is considering lockdown as part of measures to check the spread of the pandemic, port activities would continue.

“It is in this regard that Jakys terminal is preparing ahead of

time to ensure those who access its facilities respect all guildlines relating to COVID-19” he added. Muogho further revealed that it is clear that efforts of the FG have been geared towards keeping port operations running while observing the necessary safety precautions to mitigate the effects of the pandemic.

Peace Ambassador Calls for Strategic Partnership A peace Ambassador, Uba Michael, has called for a strategic and symbiotic relationship between the oil companies in Nigeria and their host communities.

He stated this while receiving the Papyrus Award at Sheraton

Hotel, Abuja, for continuously striving hard to achieve peace in his local government and the Niger Delta Region, as a whole.

The Papyrus Magazine had awarded outstanding leaders, who had impacted Nigerians

with different leadership ideas in their various local governments. The special recognition award which featured more of selfless and humanitarian works, were also given to former Governor of Imo State Sen Rochas Okorocha;

the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Chief Pauline Tallen( the former DG of NAPTIP, Chief Julie OkahDonli, to mention a few, for the humanitarian roles they have played in their communities The Peace Ambassador who

has continuously engaged social political groups in the Niger Delta region, including the Urhobo Progress Union, advocated for more ways to achieve mutual benefits for host communities and oil companies.

Uba also said he will continue to participate in organizing Civil Society summits and award ceremonies to honour and recognize the strives of activists from various non governmental organisations in the Niger Delta Region.

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ART WEEKEND

…For pure art enthusiasts

Tayo Fatunla: An Artist’s Commitment to Documenting Black History

Cleric Unveils Book to Document Encounter with God

It’s been three decades since the legendary cartoonist, Tayo Fatunla had used the art form to raise black consciousness that resonates in newspapers, magazines, museums, album covers, books and more across the globe. Yinka Olatunbosun trails how the cartoonist’s journey started

F

atunla’s talent was home grown, like fresh vegetables blossoming with good nurturing. The Britishborn Nigerian artist was educated in Nigeria. At 17, his first cartoon appeared in a Children’s magazine Apollo. Bouyed by this, he had his works featured in leading newspapers such as PUNCH, CONCORD, GUARDIAN, THE DAILY TIMES and THISDAY. At PUNCH, he was the second Omooba Column Cartoonist. However, THISDAY added colour to his life by having his cartoons published in colour print.

He began to add African perspective to his art in the late 80s about the time that he became a resident cartoonist for West Africa magazine, a London-based weekly magazine. Meanwhile, his Stint at the prestigious Kubert Art School in New Jersey, US proved to be a career shaping experience as he began to create more black themed pieces. His Black History cartoon feature in OUR ROOTS, for educational purpose.

“I’m using my cartoons to educate, inform, entertain and I grew up drawing cartoons in Nigeria. My parents would encourage me with comic books and I felt the need to draw. That was how I was able to develop myself. I drew editorial and educational cartoons,’’ he revealed in a video session on YouTube.

His exposure to American life showed him the disconnect that exists between the knowledge and perception of African history. Thus, Fatunla became even more determined to fill that void.

“When I schooled in America, I found that many African-Americans didn’t know much about African

Our Roots

Tayo Fatunla

history other than the history of African-Americans inAmerica.

I don’t like violent comics.

So, when I was growing up, I wanted to make a difference.

I wanted the world to know that you can actually do cartoons without violence in them because we don’t want to encourage that. But I can do positive cartoons as well and talk about social issues, negative issues in the world.

My mentor is Jerry Robinson, the creator of The Joker. He was able to get my drawing syndicated in America. So he got me around America, getting my work published there. My work is taking me all around the world,’’ he said.

Fatunla believes strongly that the origin of storytelling is from Africa and that the continent has a lot of stories to tell.

“Right now, you need to move to digital media in other for your work to be seen across the world,’’ he added.

Having worked for several UK-based publications including Guardian UK, he became a rising phenomenon in comic.

To be sure, he illustrated the award-winning digital comic Hooked, for the BBC World Service and illustrated African Kingdoms for The British Museum. His image of Fela Kuti was used as a backdrop in the Burna Boy’s YouTube video Afrobeat music hit, “Ye”.

His published books include OUR ROOTS, Black History Sketchbook, and Gospel Humour. He has held exhibitions and cartoon workshop sessions in Nigeria, the U.K., Cameroon, Finland, Israel, South Korea, France, Ethiopia, the U.S., Egypt, Algeria, Belgium, Italy, and Ireland. For his contributions to press cartoons internationally, Fatunla was presented with the Crayon De Porcelaine Award at the Salon International Dessin de Presse

Pastor Fireman

et d’ humour, in Saint-Just-leMartel, France.

In 2018, Fatunla received the ECBACC Pioneer Lifetime Achievement (PLA) Award in Philadelphia, for his contribution to black history through OUR ROOTS, spanning three decades. He was also honoured at home as the recipient of the Baptist Academy, Lagos, Old students’ association award (BAOSA) for professional excellence.

He has held OUR ROOTS exhibitions at prestigious venues including the Studio Harlem Museum, New York and lectures in universities in the US, France, and the UK. His cartoons have been published in various international publications including books and on web sites including the New York Amsterdam News, the New York Times, the Sacramento Observer, and the Washington Post. He currently draws for the US based web site, Politicalcartoons.com. Last October, he did a four-page illustrated history of Nigeria for THE NATION newspaper and NEW AFRICAN magazine, charting the history of Nigeria since independence.

Vernacular Art-Space Laboratory Hosts Group Show Yinka Olatunbosun The year 2020 was a year of collapse of boundaries, borders and solidary which had fostered standing together in one voice to condemn either political epidemics or finding solution to the pandemics in our collective social lives. It was the year that the millennials and Gen Z took the Centre stage against bad governance. These gave rise to hashtags: #EndSARS

in Nigeria and #BlackLivesMatter in the United States of America.

It has also been the busiest year for all the humanitarian organizations (UN, WHO, UNICEF) and the essential workers who worked tirelessly to keep people healthy and sustain people’s health.

Victory had been recorded in some spheres: vaccines have been made and finally, the EU has resolved on Brexit. Covid-19 is raging in many parts of the world and even with the advent of

vaccines, it might take a few more years for the world to stabilize from the impacts of Covid-19 in all spheres of lives.

At the Vernacular ArtSpace Laboratory, we are interested in interrogating this global phenomenon caused by the pandemic through a series of events and group exhibition with the theme, “Postscripts.’’

The exhibition seeks through both digital and terrestrial platforms to present a recollection and reallocation of

actions triggered by the first wave and subsequent waves of the novel coronavirus.

The selected artists of diverse disciplines have been invited to share with us their moments of calmness, creativity and vulnerabilities through performances, visual representations, talks, community interventions and interrogations. In their creations, we hope to be reassured of living and to study how the consequences of the sacrifices we make now will impact on our future.

Quadri Adegun Born again at the age of five, Pastor Sign Fireman became a preacher at seven. At 14, he reportedly encountered Jesus in his visions and began to learn more about the mysteries of Christianity. After 33 months of multiple visitations, he decided to use the things he learned from Christ to enrich the lives of others. To this end, he has released a 440-page book titled, “The Final Move of God.” Pastor Fireman left church and pastorial work in Surulere, Lagos to seek God’s face about ten years ago in order to know why majority of Christians do not get their prayers. In a recent book chat in Lagos, Pastor Fireman disclosed that his encounter with Jesus Christ in 2014 has given birth to no fewer than seven books, the first being “The Final Move of God, which he said, sold out when it was first printed.

According to him, the book documents some of these revelations about the final move of God and the mystery for unlocking the greatest move of God. It also contains the foundation secrets for perfection in power, miracles, results and divinity. It highlights the answers to all the shortcomings and questions of past ages of Christianity.

For him, his mandate is to use the lessons Jesus Christ taught him to take the final move of God to the people of the world.

Pastor Fireman further claimed that in September 2014, Jesus Christ appeared to him many times in Louisiana, USA and revealed to him why promises of God’s words were not fulfilled in people’s life. He stated that Jesus Christ told him that ‘you have been seeking me for this answer for years. Now, I have come to give you the answer.’

He said: “Jesus said to me. I came to teach you why this is so and this will bring about the great final move of God… The singular thing, which is the foundation reason for all the challenges of Christianity today, has to do with the trinity order. When people need things from God, (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) they don’t consider any particular member of God heads to reach for what they need. They believe the trinity doctrine that has been in existence for a long time.

The popular doctrine states that the three members of the trinity have the same attributes; omnipotent, omnipresent and omniscience.

“It is therefore assumed that since the three Gods have same attributes, each person can do the same thing. And for that, we can carelessly approach any of the members for whatever we need and we shall have results. That is the way it has been done for thousands of years. But Jesus told me that the three Gods (The Father, Son and Holy Ghost) do not share same attributes,” he added.

Fireman is also very particular about the use of words in the bible and their implications. He explained the concept of mankind’s conflict with the devil.

“The bible never tells us that we are ‘fighting with’ the devil. But that we wrestle against the devil. We are not mates with the devil,’’ he explained. Known as one of Nigeria’s millionaire preachers and miraculous healers, his crusades had been held internationally.

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ENTREPRENEUR

Harmattan, Opportunities and Beauty/Spa Industry Harmattan season is one season that comes with several changes and challenges especially on the skin. Alex Enumah in this interview with a skin/beauty specialist, Pastor Deborah Omale, sought to know how best to take care of the skin as well as opportunities in the industry

W

hat should we know about you?

I am Pastor Deborah Omale, the CEO Beauty Secret Skin Care and Spa. I am also the Visioner of Divine Women in God’s Service DWINGS, a mother and a wife.

What do you do outside ministry and family?

Outside ministry and family, I run a spa. A med spa that has a lot of things running under one roof. We just wanted like a one stop shop for everything that you will want to do from your head to toe. A situation where you want to do your hair and your nails you come here. You have medical issues, advance medical issues, we have a dermatologist, we have doctors that are here to cater to those medical skin and hair conditions and a lot of other things that we do here.

How is the industry like?

The industry is beautiful and it’s something I love. I have always loved everything that has to do with how you present yourself, how you take care of yourself as a man, as a woman, from your hair to your toe, looking neat, looking well-kept and looking healthy. So, for me I will say the industry is one of the best you can find yourself. Anything that put smile in other people’s faces I find so much joy in it. Some people come here with so much complains and by the time they are leaving you see they have a huge smile in their face, that itself gives me a lot of joy.

Many people feel that taking care of your body and even the skin is meant for just the rich. I want to know if this is correct and if it’s not, how can this perspective be changed?

Let me start by saying it’s not correct. I think everybody should take care of themselves. You know there are different grades of treatment and there’s a category for everybody. So, no matter the little you can do, it’s better to do them, than do nothing. We are going into the age and time when people are more interested in your physical appearance than anything.

Before I get to know that you are a nice person, what I see at first, forms a basis for my impression of what I feel about you. So, that in itself is already sending a message even before we speak. So, looking after yourself is a must for everybody especially with what is happening now. All of a sudden everybody is washing their hands but this is something we should have been doing, it should be a norm.

You just talked about hygiene and emphasised on hand washing bringing to fore the COVID-19 pandemic. So, how has the pandemic impacted the beauty industry?

It has impacted a huge deal. But if there is one more thing that I have run with from the very beginning of my business, it is hygiene. For us here hygiene has always been the number one priority. So, we had a lot of clientele that understand that fact because they have experience it and so even when a lot of businesses were struggling to get their hands sanitizer in places and ensure that their places where cleaned at all times, our own customers are used to it from day one.

So, in as much as it was a little bit of a struggle because of the fear of the spread, I think that was what kept a lot of people away from businesses including ours fear of the spread and not even the hygiene part of it because that already has been sorted out. So, a lot of people were not coming out just because of fear, that they might get infected and all that and we were

Omale

closed for all through that time the virus was just going round, we were not even opened. We opened our doors when the government said it was okay to open and then we put extra measure in place to make sure that as you are coming in you are wearing a face mask and sanitize your hands so it did affect us, but I won’t say too much because we had consistent people who were sure that if they come here they are in a safe hand and safe environment.

It is Harmattan season and it comes with several changes and challenges including skin, what is the import of this to Nigerians and how can it be handled?

For harmattan season, I think something that is synonymous with the weather is dry, flaky and dehydrated skin. So, some of the things we do here is, when customers come in, we advise them on the right type of treatment that is good for the weather. Because what works during the raining season for instance will not work during the Harmattan season.

We do something here called the Moroccan Hamman, it’s the best form of exfoliation that your skin can enjoy because it is a treatment that is done with herbs completely and is a treatment that scrubs you from head to toe, so that way you find out that a lot of people suffer from dead skin cells dur-

Invest, invest and invest in the beauty sector. The only sad thing is that half of the things we have to use here are sourced them from abroad because there’s no form of regularisation for our products here. So, people just need to invest and know that there is potential in it as you can make money out of it

ing the Harmattan season, especially people that have dry skin, the weather worsens it. So, with things like Moroccan Haman, we do proper exfoliating and then we advise you on the right kind of product to use. We also advise you on the kind of treatment steps to use, for instance we will tell you this is not the weather for cold water, this is the weather for lukewarm water. This is not the weather where you use soap that dry up your skin, that are very hash. This is the weather where you used moisturising soaps and creams.

What role do beauticians play in the Nigeria economy?

First of all, we are a large source of employment for people. For Beauty Secret, now we have over 50 staff and this staff include expatriate and these expatriate are paired with Nigerians who in turn are giving knowledge to the people they are paired with. So, you see we are providing job opportunity for a lot of people that would have been out there in the street. We are already solving a large chunk of the problem we are having in Nigeria which is unemployment.

We are also a great source of inter country relationships, because for instance most of the people we employed are Moroccans, their government knows that they are here. So, you see there is a lot of friendly relationship. In fact, recently, Nigerians are allowed to travel to Morocco without visa because a lot of spas employ Moroccans. So, you see, we are playing very important roles; providing employment, succor and comfort because a spa is a place that you can come in and your whole day has just been upside down, you are stressed, you are angry from the traffic and from everything and then you come into a spa and then you are happy. There’s one part of the spa I loved personally, like couples’ therapy. We have a lot of treatment and rooms here that caters for two people, in fact 90 per cent of our treatment here are for couples.

From what you have said, the industry has great potential. How well has Nigeria really exploited

these opportunities?

We have not really exploited these opportunities! we haven’t. Nigeria is so rich in culture and Nigeria have so many places of tourism. There is nothing wrong if we merge our natural resources as part of tourism.

We spoke earlier on about the harmattan season, our sheer butter is like a miracle in a jar, our coconut oil, the black coconut oil, if I tell you what it does for hair and for skin that is why when we are talking of skin care is not being expensive. These are things you can get in the market for N100, N200 and N500 and it will serve the whole family and it’s one of the best things you can lay your hands across.

There’s nothing wrong if Nigeria have a large med spa that will infuse culturally with what we have and when you come there, everything that will be used on you are products that are made, sourced and used by Nigerians. I don’t know but, I don’t think we have any factory in Nigeria that is government owned that are producing natural herbs product for Nigerians and even those in diaspora because there is this notion on spa that it is just to go and do massage, do hair, but massage in itself is a therapy and it’s medical. There are certain things you go to the hospital for that three or four sessions of massage can relieve but it is not seen like that, unfortunately.

So, what is your message to Nigerians and also the government?

Invest, invest and invest in the beauty sector. The only sad thing is that half of the things we have to use here are sourced them from abroad because there’s no form of regularisation for our products here. So, people just need to invest and know that there is potential in it as you can make money out of it. There are a lot of organic things that we have in Nigeria that other countries cannot boasts of and other countries like Morocco that have it are making the best use of it.

They are known for having best herbs, great skin, great hair, because of what they have and their government makes it easier for them to trade with other people.

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T H I S D AY ˾ ͰͰ˜ ͰͮͰͯ

Tears, Jubilation as Family Pays Last Respect to Ma Josephine Oji To pay last respects to a nonagenarian, late Mrs. Josephine Adaolie Oji nee Mukolu, family, friends and well-wishers recently thronged Ubulu-Uku in Aniocha South Local Government of Delta State, Chiamaka Ozulumba reports

I

t was a day full of emotion, fun, thrills and paparazzi, as an adorable, kind-hearted woman leader, socialite and lady of substance from Ubulu-Uku, Aniocha South Local Government Area, Delta State, Mrs. Josephine Adaolie Oji, nee Mukolu, was laid to rest. She was celebrated by family, friends and well-wishers, who paid their last respects, on Thursday, December 31, 2020.

The great ‘Lioness,’ fondly called Mama Ojunwa, was eulogised by her friends, political bigwigs, associates and admirers in an electrifying carnival atmosphere as she joined her ancestor.

A pious Roman Catholic, Mama Josephine Adaolie Oji, beloved mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, who ended her earthly sojourn on November 8, 2020, at the age of 93, was said to have followed her heart when she got married to her heartthrob and popular teacher, Pa Paul Okolie Oji, and wedded in August 1950, at Ogwashi-Uku Catholic Church.

The charming, elegant and beautiful woman, who was then known as Grace, deviated from her course as an Anglican Communion adherent and took up Catholicism immediately after her wedding and delved into the Catholic Church, where she weathered all storms of life and surmounted trials to become a successful woman and the envy of her compatriots.

Her life story of success, going from grass to grace, was a reference point and a major reason that endeared her to her friends.

Some of the children she left to mourn her are Charles Adim Oji, Emmanuel Oji, Christopher Oji, Mrs. Felicia Ayogbe, Pastor Joseph Oji, Tony Osadebe Oji, Mark Chidozie Oji, Patrick Sunny Oji, Uche Oji and John Paul Christopher Oji. The funeral commenced with a service of songs at her late husband’s compound in Onicha-Uku quarters, Ubulu-Uku, by 5pm, on Wednesday, December 30, 2020, while interment took place on Thursday, December 31, immediately after a requiem Mass officiated by Very Reverend Father Augustine Ohanwusi, who was assisted by Reverend Innocent Onyeogo, at St. Charles Boromeo Catholic Church, Mission Road, Ubulu-Uku. Top on the list of frontline friends, bigwigs and organisations that graced the occasion and celebrated the adorable woman was a high-powered delegation of the Crime Reporters Association of Nigeria, CRAN, led by the president, Mr. Sunday Odita of The Guardian Newspaper; Prince Albert Uba, a publisher; Eugene Agha of Daily Trust Newspaper; Ismaila Oguntade of Leadership Newspaper; Hyacinth Beluchuba of Oriental News; Taiwo Jimoh of New Telegraph Newspaper; Adaobi Obiechina of NTA; and DSP (supernumerary) Emmanuel Edom, publisher of News Planet International Newspaper, editor, Peoples Star Online News, and editor, The Lead News Reports.

Others were top politicians like Mrs. Joan Amaechi Mrakpor, a former two-term member of the Delta State House of Assembly, member of the House of Representatives and incumbent director-general, Delta State Development Agency.

In his welcome address, Christopher Oji, former president of CRAN and current assistant news editor of The Sun Newspaper, expressed the Oji family’s appreciation to CRAN and other guests.

His words: “I sincerely appreciate all those who honoured our mother’s burial

DG Delta State Development Agency, Mrs Joan Amaechi Mrakpor (second right) and members of CRAN at the burial of late Mrs. Josephine Adaolie Oji at Ubulu-Uku

L-R: Assistant News Editor The Sun Newspapers , Comrade Christopher Oji; Publisher, Cornerstone News, Mrs Phil Ngozi Oji; Mr Tony Oji; Mrs Edith Oji and Mrs Felicia Ayogbe, at the burial

L-R: Publisher, Security Express Magazine, Mr Frank Oshanugor; Christopher Oji of the Sun Newspapers; DG Delta State Development Agency, Mrs Joan Amaechi Mrakpor; Publisher Cornerstonenews, Mrs Phil Ngozi Oji and Mr Emmanuel Oji of the office of the Presidency

The deceased’s children and grandchildren

ceremony. I appreciate Mrs. Joan Amaechi Mrakpor for the honour bestowed on the Ojis. It is not easy, with her tight schedule, to spare the time. I can’t appreciate you

enough. Well, there is no way a top person like you will pay a visit to my place in Ubulu-Uku/Onicha-Ugbo road without me requesting that you take up the matter of

the dilapidated state of our road to our Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa.

“Please, the governor has promised to do the road for us. You managed to pass through the road because of our efforts as a few families from Onicha-Uku quarters contributed money to sand-fill the road.

We are appealing to you to help us remind the governor of his promise to do the road in 2021.”

Responding, Mrakpor, who described Christopher Oji as a renowned journalist, said she would not have attended the event if Oji was one of those journalists “who do not confirm their stories before going to the press”.

“I respect Oji because he will always balance his stories before publishing. I am not speaking to the Fourth Estate of the Realm alone. I am taking to all and sundry. Let us shun gossip and rumour peddling. We should criticise people constructively.

“As for the Ubulu-Uku/Onicha-Ugbo road, the governor has promised to do it.

He is an action governor; he will do it. I want to use this opportunity to urge us to also observe COVID-19 protocols; social distancing is very necessary. May God continue to protect us and grant Ma Oji eternal rest.”

During his homily, Fr. Emmanuel Dibia, who was flanked by Monsignor Meritus Eze and other priests, described Ma Josephine Oji as a dedicated Catholic who lived a virtuous life.

He said, “She used to read her rosary regularly and brought her children up in the Christian way. I want the children and other relatives to be consoled with the promise of our Lord Jesus that on the resurrection hour, the dead will rise again.

This world is not our home but a passing road. We shall be judged according to our deeds on earth.”

Lamenting, Mr. Charles Oji said their mother would be missed greatly: “She was a loving mother who trained us in the Christian way. We know that she was old enough but it is not easy as people think.”

Mr. Emmanuel Oji, who works at the Presidency, Abuja, said the lesson from his mother’s burial is that “we should live a good life and leave our legacy behind.”

“Everybody is still talking good of my father, Mr. Paul Okolie Oji, who passed on about 16 years ago. They are still extolling his good virtues, which they credited with moulding our mother’s life. My mother’s burial has taught me to be of good character.

“She lived a virtuous life; a philanthropist in her little capacity, as she gave to all and respected everyone who came in contact with her. She was a good cook. So, most of the people who you see here today have been affected one way or the other by Mama.

She was stoic, blunt and understanding person who would not intrude into other people’s private matters, including marriage issues. Every Christian should learn from her good lifestyle.”

Incidentally, the musician, Sir Goro, who thrilled the visitors during the burial, sang that the world is not really our home. Most of the sympathisers did not only celebrate the life and times of Ma Oji, but they also joined the rest of the family to celebrate and exhibit exotic dance steps.

Food and drinks were not in short supply, as the ever-smiling hosts ensured that every guest was comfortable and had enough to eat.

Earlier, the CRAN president, Odita, had presented gifts from the association and Delta State journalists to Mr. Christopher Oji, who expressed appreciation to the groups.

37

T H I S D AY ˾ ͰͰ˜ ͰͮͰͯ

Asharami Energy Appoints Menkiti as COO to Drive Enhanced Production Target Asharami Energy, a Sahara Group Upstream Company, has appointed Henry Menkiti as its Chief Operating Officer to boost ongoing expansion projects aimed at delivering the company’s ambitious production target over the next few years. Henry’s appointment took effect on the 8th December 2020.

Asharami Energy is one of Africa’s leading independent Exploration and Production (E&P) players with a diverse portfolio of nine oil and gas assets in prolific basins across Africa.

Ade Odunsi, Executive Director, Sahara Group, and supervising Director of Sahara’s Upstream Divisionsaid Henry’s global expertise of over 30 years would transform business operations at Asharami Energy and position the company for its next phase of “competitive and sustainable growth.”

“Sahara Group is delighted to have Henry join the Sahara Family as we continue to seek innovative ways of bringing energy to life across the entire energy value chain. Henry shares our aspiration of transforming the upstream sector in Africa through investment in technology, human capital and emphasis on sustainability,”

Odunsi said.

Menkiti who will oversee Asharami Energy’s Operations, Corporate Development, Mergers & Acquisitions, Research and Development as well as External Technology Engagement, said he considered the opportunity to work with Asharami as “refreshing and historic”.

“Joining the Sahara Group to oversee the upstream operations is a project I am excited about having worked at different locations across the globe. We have a vision to birth something new in the African upstream sector and the team at Asharami Energy is set to deliver this with a distinctive mark of excellence,” he added.

Prior to joining Sahara, Henry spent 27 years at Schlumberger Limited in a succession of senior leadership positions in Exploration & Production - including Vice President of Schlumberger interpretation services and world-wide Vice President of Schlumberger’s Reservoir Characterization Group. He was also part of the core management team for Schlumberger E&P initiative (SPM).

Earlier in his career at Schlumberger, he held various Field & Management positions including Domain Manager at Wireline Headquarters &

Menkiti

roles in Seismic Operations.

More recently, he was VP, Business Development for LYTT, an Upstream subsidiary of BP. He

has also been involved in Business Consulting across North America, Latin America, Europe and West Africa.

Crime Reporters Mourn Nigeria’s Foremost Security Expert and Motivational Speaker, Ubong King The executives and members of Crime Reporters Association of Nigeria (CRAN), a body of journalists covering the security beat nationwide, has condoled the family and loved ones of Late Ubong Thompson King, whose shocking demise occurred on December 26, 2020, at the age of 48.

According to the association, “while we express shock at his abrupt demise, we take solace in the saying “God giveth and

He taketh” and also in the fact that he lived a life worthy of emulation, given the torrents of condolence from Nigeria and worldwide.

“The late King, was one of the top-notch supporters of the brand CRAN, especially during our annual award/ seminar, which he financially supported regularly.

“If it was possible to avert this tragedy, CRAN and thousands of people he men-

Late King

tored and inspired across the world would have done so

TigerWit Charges NewTraders on Optimal Performance Rebecca Ejifoma A renowned financial technology and brokerage firm headquartered in the UK, TigerWit, has charged its 30 newly trained retail traders to go into the largest financial market and become the next super trader.

The firm made this call at the graduation ceremony which held at TigerWit’s African head office in Ikeja Lagos last weekend.

TigerWit, is a firm running a transparent ledger system powered by blockchain technology. It educates her clients on how to successfully navigate the financial market by paying attention to risk management and trading edge development.

According to the Head of Africa Business for TigerWit Africa, Mr. David Onaolapo, the training was necessary after they noticed the gap in financial literacy and how the foreign exchange industry was being infiltrated by inferiors.

This, he said, tarnished the

trillion dollar industry in this part of the world. Hence, “It was necessary to start from the basics and teach any and everyone to do it themselves,” he added.

The new entrants were taken on a three-month rigorous training daily as a flagship of the online academy setup by the financial technology firm. Onaolapo and the Head of Education, Mr. Davies Babalola, who facilitated the programme, are described as seasoned traders with over 26 years of combined industry experience.

The duo, however, afforded the students the opportunity to glean from their wealth of experience and learn to avoid pitfalls that stressed them in the early days of their careers.

For the trainees, the graduation ended with lots of freebies as top three students were awarded with $1000, $500, and $250 each.

Meanwhile, to encourage females to delve into currency, stock and cryptocurrency trad-

ing, each graduating female was rewarded $200.

In the words of the Head of Africa Business, “The academy initiated a 100 per cent deposit match bonus to encourage all students with lower deposits to trade descent position sizes. This is to keep the practice going.”

Onaolapo continued that the training was cushioned

by TigerWit Africa and offered all account holders free quality education by industry professionals.

This training aims to commence this year in other cities such as Port Harcourt, Warri, Abuja, Ibadan, and Enugu among others.

Today, TigerWit Africa has setup both online and offline academy for her clients across the country and Africa.

Following this graduation, the firm divulged that new training batch will kick-off second week of January and a pre-registration is required to hold. He invited prospects:

readily, but since the power of life and death resides with the Almighty God, we take solace in the belief that he left at God’s appointed time for him.”

The late Ubong King was a great man by all ramifications. Born on August 23, 1972, the business consultant, security expert and motivational speaker was also the president of the Ubong King Foundation, a non-profit, non-

governmental organization targeted at training young people towards leadership.

Mr. Ubong Thompson King was the President of The Ubong King Foundation and convener of the biggest youth empowerment conference in Africa, Thinkation.

Prior to his foray into fulltime youth development and mentorship, Ubong King distinguished himself in the area of Corporate Performance,

Visionary Leadership, Global Competitiveness, Innovation and Social Responsibility as the Chief Executive Officer, Protection Plus Securities Limited.

Therefore, with his abrupt demise, which is a great loss not only to the King family but to the entire country, we pray Almighty God to grant his soul eternal rest and give the entire family the fortitude to bear the loss.

Worital to Give Facelift to Book Publishing in Africa Rebecca Ejifoma Worital, a book branding, publishing and distribution company with a team of young creatives, is gradually changing the face of book publishing in Nigeria and Africa.

The firm comprises graphics designers, video curators, web designers, content creators, book designers, and e-book distribution experts.

Since its establishment one year ago, Worital says it has recorded enviable strides. It has worked with a handful of individuals including dignitaries home and abroad.

The CEO, Fola Folagbade echoes the sole aim of the firm as giving a face lift to book publishing in Nigeria and Africa at large.

He added: “We believe that everyone was born with a story to tell. Our goal is to make it easy for Nigerian authors to publish books with quality designs that can stand head to head with foreign books.

“It has been a delightful

Fola Folagbade

journey, and we look forward to more amazing years to come.”

As Worital continues to grow, it pledges to keep unfolding more facets of its brand geared towards transforming the book publishing industry in this part of the world.

Folagbade expressed: “As we celebrate our first anniversary, let us keep projecting Worital to the world. You can see some more of my work on worital. com.”

To strengthen his claims, the CEO highlighted that Worital

has worked with some dignitaries and prominent figures, priests, first ladies, coaches, thought leaders, pastors, and different professionals.

While the firm provides quality designs, editing, production and publishing, it also helps authors sell their books on its online platform, the Bookplace.

According to the CEO, works of seasoned authors get to be showcased on the Bookplace in their efforts to take their books to the doorstep of readers nationwide.

38

T H I S D AY ˾ ͰͰ˜ ͰͮͰͯ

METRO

…Your city life in print

Giving Nigerian Firms Voices in the Oil Sector The participation of local players in the oil and gas sector, especially strong operators with the capacity to develop technically-challenging oil fields, is mounting and this is backed by the declaration by the Ministry of Petroleum Resources who is bent on getting them to play more roles in the sector, Nume Ekeghe reports

A

MNI Petroleum, Shoreline Energy, Aiteo, Neconde Energy, Seplat Petroleum and Belema Oil are strong operators with the capacity to develop technicallychallenging oil fields. And getting them to play more roles in the sector, according to the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, is beyond lip service. He has the backing of President Muhammadu Buhari in this onerous task.

Indeed, the participation of the local players has given rise to a boost to the reduction of gas flaring in Nigeria, with several Nigerian marginal fields recognised under the United Nations (UN) Clean Development Mechanism for their successful reduction of flaring and valorisation of natural gas.

Following its marginal fields licencing rounds in the 2002/03 rounds, which resulted in the award of 24 fields to 31 indigenous companies, Nigeria’s Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), last year, released guidelines on 2020 licencing round.

Under the 2020 licensing round, 57 fields located onshore, swamp, and shallow offshore terrains are on offer exclusively to local operators while opening up various avenues for partnerships with international capital and technology providers.

With many oil-producing economies recording low revenue as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the DPR embarked on the licencing round, not just for field development but also to earn foreign exchange for the country.

The Federal Government, according to report, may earn no less than $5.7 billion, if it succeeds with its ongoing bid rounds for the 57 marginal oil fields being offered to investors.

Although no specific cost is attached to each oilfield by the DPR, the regulator said the fields have a lower cost of investment ($50-100 million) and risk of development as compared to major capital projects.

If all projections become real as expected, the additional $5.7 billion prospect is much higher than the loans the government sought from Bretton Woods institutions within the last few months, and which will help in addressing the effects of the Coronavirus pandemic.

According to Wood Mackenzie, the 25 largest oilfields have the potential of unlocking $9.4 billion of investment over the first five years and generate over $38 billion in revenue as the fields last. Interestingly, over 600 companies indicated interests in the fields in the thick of the pandemic.

There are some successful marginal field players, such as Seplat Petroleum Development Company Plc, that have shown interest in acquiring more assets.

This much was confirmed by Chairman of Seplat, Dr ABC Orjiako, who said the company was continuously looking at acquisition opportunities.

“We concluded a very successful acquisition in 2019, despite the collapse of oil price globally and despite the hardship in the global economy.

We remain focused on acquisitions. We have continuously maintained that we are committed to price-sensitive acquisitions. That means we do not overpay.

“So, as the industry changes, it means that the prices that buyers are willing to pay will continue to change, and we will adapt and continue to do our acquisitions,” he said.

According to Wood Mackenzie, opportunities clearly exist in Nigeria’s 2020 marginal field

Timipre Sylva

Buhari

bid round, even as it warned that investors will need to carry out an in-depth screening process to assess the commercial viability of the fields on offer and identify high potential targets.

“Our commercial review gives investors the data and insights to screen opportunities using their own priorities. Additionally, the ability to design robust field development plans will be key to optimising the initial capital investment, time to first oil, subsequent development opportunities, and cash flows,” it said.

On the development of the oil and gas industry, Auwalu said: “The industry has grown over the years from exploration licences granted to several companies to have strong national aspirations.

We have nine basins that are critical to the nation for oil and gas. We have the technical capacity to produce 2.79mmb/d. About 200 per cent of proven reserves produced in Nigeria in 1970 were replaced by new reserves. The oil and gas sector remains critical in driving the economy.

“DPR’s licence remains an enabler of investments. We are also trying to ensure that standards are followed through conformity assessment and technology adaptation.”

Before now, there was insignificant regard for marginal fields in the oil and gas sector of the nation’s economy. This is so because the marginal fields have negligible reserves and production potential, which are, however, deemed immaterial for a variety of reasons.

Some of the reasons for classifying them as inconsequential are that they have remained untapped or unexploited for a period of over 10 years. Notably, the marginal fields exist under current Oil Mining Leases (OMLs).

As a result of their seeming unimportance and subsequent disregard on the part of the operators in the oil and gas sector, less attention was paid to them, chiefly because of their outward semblance as something that would be unprofitable if ventured into.

However, the multinational companies that seemed to have discovered their inherent potential were committed players in that ‘neglected’ area of the oil sector and had profited from their operations in advance as local operators were disinterested in venturing into such insignificant sub-sector and were not licenced for operations.

However, realising the importance of the marginal fields, the Ministry of Petroleum Resources and the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) that are the supervising parastatals of the oil and gas industry have reasoned

that that leaving the marginal fields in the care of multinational oil companies would be to the detriment of the local operators.

Through their actions, the marginal fields are being leveraged for the development of acreages and opening various avenues for local capacity opportunities.

In the circumstances, it has begun the licencing of the marginal fields so that local players in the industry will participate fully in the operations of the sector.

Experts have noted that one of the key objectives of the marginal fields licencing round is to promote indigenous participation in the petroleum sector and to foster technological transfer. The licensing round is exclusively intended for participation by indigenous companies. Indigenous companies indicate those firms that are duly registered to carry out exploration and production (E&P) operations in Nigeria with 100 per cent indigenous shareholding.

Critical stakeholders and watchers of developments in the nation’s oil sector are of the view that Nigeria’s marginal fields licensing rounds have been the cornerstone of the country’s upstream local content development strategy since the early 2000 and previous rounds gave birth to what is now strong local and regional African exploration and production (E&P) companies.

It should be noted that previous marginal fields licencing rounds had engendered the opportunity for local players to make a difference in a sector that had been hitherto dominated by international oil companies and international independents.

Marginal fields In the Nigerian context, marginal fields are oilfields with reserves and production potential and are deemed marginal or insignificant because of certain considerations, which include being untapped for a period of over 10 years. Markedly, the marginal fields exist under current Oil Mining Leases (OMLs).

Could it be that they are regarded as insignificant simply because they account for less than five per cent of the country’s total production output?

An investor’s guide to Marginal Oil field acquisition prepared by the government indicates that Nigeria has an estimated 2.3 billion barrels of crude oil reserves in over 183 fields classified as marginal.

The majority of the fields were previously

held by Shell, ExxonMobil, Chevron and Total, with estimated total resources on offer around 800 mmbbl oil and 4.5 tcf gas.

According to the DPR, only nine marginal fields are currently producing from the 30 fields awarded during the last bid rounds, while 11 operators lost their oil licences over failure to meet government’s criteria to keep the licences 15 years after they were awarded the franchise.

Responding to some of the concerns expressed at the early stage of the bid, DPR Director,Auwalu Sarki said fields that are under litigation were not included in the 57 fields being offered to investors.

According to the DPR guidelines, whollyowned indigenous oil companies and investors with substantially Nigerian interest operating as oil exploration and production businesses would participate in the bid for 57 oil fields put up for auction.

Also, companies whose promoters are either indebted to the government, or currently holding oil assets not operated in a business-like manner would not be pre-qualified to participate in the bid.

Some of the main objectives of the marginal fields, the licencing round is to promote indigenous participation in the petroleum sector and to foster technological transfer. The licensing round is completely intended for participation by indigenous companies. That is, firms duly registered to carry out E&P operations in Nigeria with 100 per cent indigenous shareholding.

In managing the bid exercise, the DPR developed a transparent process flow through its published guideline otherwise known as the Guidelines for the Award and Operations of Marginal Fields in Nigeria, where it outlined the nine key steps involved in the round.

Sarki said the last bid round conducted in 2003 was fraught with litigations and other challenges, which hampered the development of some of the awarded 24 marginal oilfields, a situation that never benefited the country.

Though the current exercise is yet at the evaluation stage, Sarki expressed his optimism that the current exercise would not be encumbered by similar issues because of the processes put in place by the government.

The DPR boss said: “We have learnt from 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 is also the Post-general award condition. This deals with the 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 that the DPR would reduce the years spent in courts over disputes that usually led to non-performance of the marginal fields, stating that the government would henceforth withdraw such awards.

He said: “We believe that these steps will bring about a sustainable development of our marginal fields.”

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

39

T H I S D AY ˾ ͰͰ˜ ͰͮͰͯ

POLSCOPE

áÓÞÒ ÎÎã ÎÓàáÜÓ ÏÎÎã˛ÙÎÓàáÜÓ̶ÞÒÓÝÎËãÖÓàÏ˛ÍÙט ͸΀͸ͽ ͻ͸; ΁ͻͽ;

So, What Has Happened to Wadume?

L

ast Friday, the nation marked the Armed Forces Remembrance Day, a day set aside to remember and celebrate men and women of the armed forces who paid the supreme price in their effort to defend their fatherland. Usually, they are those felled by the bullets of their enemies or those who suffered death while tackling the enemies of state.

But on what occasion do we remember and celebrate men of the armed forces who were killed by their fellow armed men?

On August 6, 2019, some soldiers from the 93 Battalion, Takum, Taraba State, shot and killed three policemen and two civilians at Ibi, in Taraba State. The Policemen had come to arrest a notorious Kidnapper who had kidnapped and killed many people before then.

The Policemen were officers of the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) who were sent from the Police Headquarters in Abuja, to carry out the operation.

The kidnapper kingpin is Bala Hamisu, better known as Wadume (a corruption of ‘what do you mean’?).

He got arrested by the IRT officers. As they were taking Wadume to Jalingo, the alarm bell began to ring in the camp of all the co-connivers of Wadume. Pronto, messages were radioed to the several checkpoints to ensure Wadume is seized from his arresters.

And that was it, At the Ibi military checkpoint, the policemen who had properly identified themselves, were shot dead and Wadume was ferried away to safety. The soldiers called a welder to cut the handcuff. They fed Wadume, and asked him to flee.

He landed in a suburb in Kano State, from where policemen rearrested him about a week after.

Wadume was to confess how he was rescued by the soldiers at Ibi check point, how they enabled him to escape to Kaduna State and how he had always worked in cahoots with some ten military men, whose names he gave, including two policemen: Aondoma Iorbee, a Superintendent of Police, and Inspector Aliyu Dadje .

Indeed, the Joint Investigative Panel of enquiry, headed by Rear Admiral T. Olaiya, confirmed the ill affinity between Wadume and Capt Tijani Balarabe, as they exchanged 119 telephone conversations between July 9 and August 6, 2019. What were they talking about?

Wadume had, so-to-say, given it all out, which should have made it easier for prosecution.

Capt Balarabe had also confessed that Wadume is his friend and that they both became friends because of the gift of fish from Wadume to him. He further confessed having received N200, 000 once from Wadume to enable him repair the army patrol vehicle.

All was set for arraignment. Wadume along with ten others were charged to court on a 10-count charge bordering on kidnapping, illegal possession of firearms, gun running, terrorism, murder etc.

But the ten soldiers implicated by Wadume did not show up in court.

Justice Binta Nyako ordered that the Chief of Army Staff, should release the soldiers to face prosecution.

But the order was disobeyed and ignored. And there is no consequence!

And since then, we have been in the annoying and draggy protocol of continuing the trial.

The Police which was initially keen in ensuring the prosecution of Wadume and the killer soldiers suddenly developed cold feet, or so it seems.

Last June 3, the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Mr Abubakar Malami, announced that his office was taking over the Wadume case.

Sadly, since then till date, the case has not made any progress. Nigerians

Canticles….

Gov Ayade, Sacked Magistrates and Matters Arising

Ayade

D

id you hear of the unAfrican conduct of one of the youngest and most educated governors in the country?

Wadume

UnAfrican conduct? Who? Where?

Did you not hear that the Governor of Cross River State, Professor Ben Ayade has been beating some people and forbidding them from crying?

Where does that happen in Africa? It is bad enough that you beat a child, yet it is worse that you forbid the child from crying.

Stop dancing round the bush. Who did Gov Ayade beat?

You must be the only stranger in Jerusalem. You mean you did not hear that the professor governor ordered the sack of 30 Magistrates from the state judiciary for daring to protest non-payment of their salaries for 24 months?

Oh, is it that case?

So you know of it?

Malami

do not know what has happened to the case. They do not know where Wadume is.

After Malami’s interference, the next time the matter came up in court, Nigerians were alarmed to hear that not only were the ten military officers plus the two police officers absent from court, their names were no more in the charge sheet.

In fact, the charge had been edited. Malami called it “severance of charge”.

He explained that he had to severe the charges because the soldiers were not available to face trial, since they had to be released by the Army authorities. So, question is why is the army refusing to release them for trial?

According to Malami, “ The interest of justice requires legitimacy allowed for segmentation of the case in the interest of speedy trial” He made this statement on June 13, last year. More than seven months after, we have not seen any evidence of speed on the matter.

He further explained that “the authorities are only giving time to allow the established processes to be consummated” Empty grammar!

Seven months after, we have not even heard of orderly room trial, let alone prosecution. So how much time does Malami and his co-travellers need for the “process to be consummated”?

Rather than accelerate the case, what we have seen is that the lead suspect, Capt Balarabe has not only been posted out of Taraba command, he has since been sent on a course at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji; in what appears

like a reward for conniving with a kidnapper and killer.

It is stories like this that fuel the belief that “with the right connection, even the devil can see God”. Were it not so, why should a military officer who conspired with a confessed criminal to kill and kidnap innocent Nigerians be given a fresh lease in his career?

Why are the accused soldiers being shielded from prosecution, either in the orderly room trial or in the regular courts?

Why is the life of the police officers and civilians killed by the Capt Balarabe not counting for anything? Do the killed police officers and civilians not deserve justice, even in death?

Very recently, a soldier, Private Azunna Maduabuchi was sentenced to death for shooting and killing his commander for not allowing him to travel. So what is the difference between Maduabuchi’s offence and the offences of Capt Balarabe, Wadume and co?

The life of the shot army commander is equal to the lives of the shot policemen and the two civilians.

How can we say we are fighting kidnapping and banditry whilst we treat with kids’ gloves, those caught right in the act? I hate to think that it has anything to do with ethnic consideration.

Why is Malami and Lt Gen Buratai stalling the trial of the suspects? Why do they want to sweep this matter under the over-burgeoned carpet? Who approved the training programme for a man accused of murder? Are these persons above the law? Justice delayed is justice denied.

Yes, don’t you know it is very unethical for magistrates and Judges to protest? It is an embarrassment to the profession and to the government. For crying out loud, are they ASUU member or secondary school teachers? Haba! Don’t they have a kind of union to table their matter before the governor, so it can be sorted out? Protesting on the street is like dancing naked in the market square.

The embarassment is monumental, and it is doubly worse by the fact that the supposed custodians of judicial ethos are the very ones who desecrated the dignity, order and gait associated with the legal profession.

What silly grammar are you speaking? What is unethical about asking to be paid your salary if your employer feigns ignorance that he is owing you, which was what the whole so-called protest was all about? You talk about union: why should a responsible governor or government need a union to get hired workers paid? Is it not wickedness to engage a people and refuse to pay them?

Is it ethical and professional that Magistrates should be starved? Is this your talk about Ethics, a means of exchange that can be taken to the market in exchange for food? What a bestial argument! A people are owed for two full years and you talk about ethics.

What rubbish! How are they expected to survive and feed their families if they would not be paid for two full years, back-to-back?

Don’t mop at me, answer me!

You amaze me with your tirade.

Do you know if indeed the so-called magistrates were not hired properly by the state government and so the demand for salary does not arise in the first place?

Look, that is Bunkum with a capital B! What kind of warped argument is

that? Were these magistrates not sitting over cases for the two years? Did the government not recognize their rulings and functions in the dispensation of justice in the state? Why didn’t the government stop them from sitting all along, if they were not so properly hired?

Government is enjoying their service without wanting to pay? Was it government that sent them to university and the Law School? Or did they sign any bond of slavery with the state government as to work and not be paid?

Look, they were suspended from sitting. They were not sacked. The statement by the Acting Chief Judge in the state, Eyo Effion Ita says they have been withdrawn from sitting “till further notice”. So do not be too absolute in tearing Gov Ayade down.

My friend, do not hide under the torn umbrella of semantics in this matter. Whether you suspended them or sacked them, the question remains : is the state government owing them or not? If yes, why? If No, why not?

But you know that Prof Ayade is a very humane and emotional person who will not like to hurt anybody. Have you forgotten how he once broke down over his belief that he had not done enough for the ordinary folks in the state? How can such a person roll out against respected judicial officers in the state?

Are you asking me? You should ask the governor himself. What is good for the goose is also good for the ganders? If Ben Ayade is owed for one year, would he take it?

Do you know that one of the magistrates, Richard Edet, slumped and fainted during the protest, most likely because of hunger and exhaustion? Is that fair to fellow human beings, let alone guardians of justice?

Look, I can tell you that as a professor of virology, the governor knows the full import of physiology. And as a young man, he is one of the budding national leaders who are determined to create and project a new narrative in public governance. So, I enjoin you to check again, because the people of Cross River State are literally having a ball with their governor whose governance model is quite out of the box.

I don’t care about all the adulations you pour on him. So long as he does not reinstate those sacked magistrates and pay them their salaries without further delay, many Nigerians will consider Professor Ben Ayade a heartless and even wicked political office holder. So let him do the needful without further pummeling the magistrates.

It is only in doing that that the professor can justify his level of learnedness and that he is different from the order of jaded politicians who thinks of themselves alone. He should be conscious of the legacies he leaves behind. He is almost half way through in his second term. Donald Trump should teach some people some lessons. A word is enough for the wise!

40

T H I S D AY ˾ ͰͰ˜ 2021

BUSINESS/MONEYGUIDE

Experts Call for Stronger UK-Africa Collaboration Dike Onwuamaeze A panel of experts has called for a stronger collaboration between the United Kingdom and Africa on mass access to electricity and infrastructure-led recovery from the catastrophic impact of the COVID-19.

The panel stated that renewable energy would be a critical driver of Africa’s post COVID-19 recovery and economic prosperity, and called for a stronger partnership between the United Kingdom and Africa. A statement issued by the Communication and External Relations Department of the African Development Bank (AfDB) and signed by Mr. Emeka Anuforo, stated that the panelists who brainstormed during the 2021 UK-Africa Investment Summit with the theme, “UK & Africa: Partnering in Sustainable and Resilient Infrastructure Development,” declared that investment in large-scale electrification projects would be key to African economies’ recovery.

They also added that Africa needed Britain’s innovation and experience to advance its economic development.

The summit was hosted by the UK Department of International Trade to bring together the UK and African businesses to explore

the opportunities for partnership and investment.

The panel noted that data from the International Energy Agency stated that scaling up Africa’s capacity to achieve universal access to energy by 2030 would require over $100 billion per year, of which 40 per cent would be dedicated to solar, wind, and other low-carbon power generation projects.

The AfDB, according to the statement has taken the lead in accelerating the electrification of the continent through its New Deal on Energy for Africa, a transformative partnership-based strategy that aims to increase access to energy for all Africans.

The Director for Energy Financial Solutions, Policy and Regulation, AfDB, Mr. Wale Shonibare, said: “Building on the City of London’s deep expertise in innovative financial solutions, the African Development Bank sees promising opportunities to further expand its program to securitise receipts from solar home systems providers.”

Shonibare, also called for a structured approach to sustainable infrastructure development and the implementation of large-scale electrification programs, citing the bank’s Desert to Power initiative as an example of a

project likely to attract interest from UK businesses.

A member of the panel who is also the Chief Executive Officer of UK Export Finance, Mr. Louis Taylor, said the pandemic presented, “unalloyed opportunity for UK investors to be part of the African success story and for African countries to access the UK’s support for projects.

“The UK is still the ultimate one-stop-shop. The UK government is still the largest G7 investor in Africa. For instance, UK Export Finance is providing a £ 1.7 billion guarantee to support the development of Cairo monorail in Egypt – the UK’s biggest ever overseas infrastructure guarantee.”

The Business Development Director of UK-based NMS Infrastructure Ltd, Mr. Nicholas Oliver, urged investors to engage more actively with local companies.

“We need to create partnerships with governments and local businesses. It is a great time to invest in Africa. The AfDB estimates that climate change presents a $3 trillion investment by 2030. What an opportunity,” Oliver said. The Co-Managing Director of African Infrastructure Investment Managers, Mr. Olusola Lawson, noted the urgent need for access to energy in centers of high demand.

Adefeko Appointed Honorary Consul of Botswana in Lagos Mr. Ade Adefeko has been appointed as Honorary Consul of Botswana in Nigeria in Lagos.

According to a statement, Adefeko was recently presented with the letter of commission by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geofrey Onyeama.

Adefeko, who’s mantra is, ‘’For God and Country,’’ is a commercial diplomat, a global executive who currently serves as Vice President, Corporate and Government Relations at OLAM Nigeria, one of the largest

agribusiness and food company in Nigeria and a subsidiary of Olam international of Singapore, with a presence in 65 countries, 25 of which are in Africa.

As a pan-Africanist, Adefeko strives to continually advance Africa’s cause and agenda. He is a distinguished thought leader and speaker in domestic and international fora.

He helps to tell the African story and shapes the narrative through his own prism.

“Adefeko leverages his

wisdom, experience and connections by serving on a number of Boards; he was recently appointed as a Director of MobiHealth and also sits on the board of SYNERGOS-Nigeria’s state partnership for agriculture in a non- executive capacity.

“His appointment as Honorary Consul of the Republic of Botswana in Lagos, will foster better commercial and government relations between both countries,” the statement added.

Polaris Introduces Business Loan for SMEs Polaris Bank has introduced a cashflow lending product for small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs) tagged: ‘Polaris Business Loan.’

The facility offers both existing and new SME customers of the bank the opportunity to access quick loans for stock replacement, equipment finance, working capital and business expansion to sustain and scale up in the business.

The bank explained in a statement that the initiative forms part of its continuous efforts to

support the growth of small and medium scale businesses.

“The loans can be used for a wide range of purposes such as stock replacement and purchase of raw materials, renovation and expansion, asset acquisition etc.

“SMEs who take the business loans are also eligible to access free tailor-made capacity building trainings which is offered periodically by the Polaris Business Advisory Academy,” it added.

The Group Head, Products & Market Development, Mrs. Adebimpe Ihekuna, was quoted

to have said: “The difficulty which used to characterise one of the challenges faced by SMEs in accessing funding for their business is now a thing of the past,” adding that the bank do not only offer loans but financial advisory; as well as empowerment programs on business intelligence” “To apply, existing and new customers of the bank should visit any Polaris Bank branch to complete the loan application process or send an email to smebusiness@polarisbanklimited. com for assistance,” it added.

Firm Organises Business Summit The Fifth Edition of the annual Lagos Small Business Summit organised by SME100Africa in commemoration of the Global Entrepreneurship Week was held recently.

The keynote address was delivered by Minister of Industry, Trade, and Investment, Niyi Adebayo, where he spoke on how Government and small business owners can keep up with the market.

A participant of the summit Lola Petra Allen, a small business owner who is the CEO of Lola Petra Ventures which specialises

in trading, bakery, food and beverages based in Ogun states testified to show appreciation for the federal government’s survival funds.

She shared her experience about the before, during, and after applying for the survival fund.

According to a statement, Allen announced that four of her staff members were credited a sum of N30,000 each by the federal government and the Minister Niyi Adebayo showed his appreciation about the testimony, stating that although many had received their funds from the program, they

did not come forward to share about it but she did.

Allen, went on to share her entire experience when asked by the host and CEO of Inversion STC, Brian Oji to explain to those in doubt and seeking more answers how it all went down.

She stated that she got the link through a former institution school group and decided to check the legitimacy of the link and once she had confirmed this, she went on to apply just like everyone else and decided to keep following up for changes and necessary requirements.

L-R: Honorary Consul of The Republic of Botswana in Lagos, Ade Adefeko; Managing Director, AT3 Resources, Mrs. Tosin Adefeko, and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geofrey Onyeama, during the presentation of letter of commission to Ade Adefeko…recently

MARKET INDICATORS MONEY AND CREDIT STATISTICS

(MILLION NAIRA)

JULY 2020 Money Supply (M3)

36,822,751.47

-- CBN Bills Held by Money Holding Sectors

3,476,121.25

Money Supply (M2)

33,346,630.22

-- Quasi Money

120,764,479.02

-- Narrow Money (M1)

12,582,151.19

---- Currency Outside Banks

2,002,026.89

---- Demand Deposits

10,580,124.31

Net Foreign Assets (NFA)

7,637,137.23

Net Domestic Assets(NDA)

29,185,614.24

-- Net Domestic Credit (NDC)

39,711,115.95

---- Credit to Government (Net)

19,521,851.08

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

0.00

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

0.00

---- Credit to Private Sector (CPS)

-130,189,264.87

--Other Assets Net

3,472,017.70

Reserve Money (Base Money

13,421,827.07

--Currency in Circulation

2,395,917.03

--Banks Reserves --Special Intervention Reserves

11,025,910.04 317,234.17

˾ ÙßÜÍÏ ̋

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

March 2018 15.16

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

14.00

Treasury Bill Rate

11.84

Savings Deposit Rate

4.07

1 Month Deposit Rate

8.82

3 Months Deposit Rate

9.72

6 Months Deposit Rate

10.93

12 Months Deposit Rate

10.21

Prime Lending rate

17.35

Maximum Lending Rate

31.55

˾ ÙØÏÞËÜã ÙÖÓÍã ËÞÏ ̋ ͯͱϱ

OPEC DAILY BASKET PRICE ˜ Ͱͮ ͰͮͰͯ

The price of OPEC basket of thirteen crudes stood at $55.75 a barrel on Wednesday, compared with $54.85 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

41

T H I S D AY ˾ ͰͰ˜ ͰͮͰͯ

Meristem Unveils Economic Outlook Report, Bullish on Stock Market Goddy Egene Meristem Securities Limited has predicted that the Nigerian equities market will sustain its positive momentum through the better part of the year.

The equities market posted a record gain of 50.03 per cent in 2020 and the positive gain has extended into 2021.

Owing to this, in its economic outlook report for the year 2021,

titled ‘Bracing for a Different Future’, the investment banking group is upbeat on the future of the market.

Speaking on the report during a webinar attended by institutional investors, corporate clients, retail investors amongst other industry professionals, the Deputy Managing Director of Meristem Securities Limited, Mr. Sulaiman Adedokun, said: “The equities market recovered from

P R I C E S MAIN BOARD

F O R

DEALS

deep selloffs to finish as the best performing equities market last year, with unattractive yields in the fixed income market, excess liquidity and a resilient corporate performance in the middle of a pandemic as major factors which drove the market.

“We expect these factors to persist thereby sustaining the positive momentum of the market through the better part of the year in the first half of the year. We

S E C U R I T I E S

MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N )

expect the financial market to be dominated by attractive dividend yields and the low yield in the fixed income market.”

According to him, the outlook report highlighted a wide range of issues relevant to an evolving future.

“With a global economy that has been scarred by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the domestic economy was not left out, as the Nigeria economy

T R A D E D MAIN BOARD

A S

slipped back into a recession, amplifying the structural weakness of the domestic economy in the form of weakening exchange rates, rising inflation among others,” he said. Sulaiman said Meristem’s H2:2020 Outlook: “Unmasking Value in a Scourge” had warned that the threat of a second wave of new Covid-19 pandemic was very much a possibility, noting that as a result, the recovery

O F

of economic activities would remain fragile until a vaccine is developed.

“The face of work has changed and many corporate organizations and their employees are rapidly adopting cutting-edge technology to meet future of work in a COVID-19 era. While fielding questions from journalists about how the organization has deployed its business continuity plan, Sulaiman expressed that.

2 1 / 0 1 / 2 0 2 1 DEALS

MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N)

42

˾ FRIDAY, JANUARY 22, 2021

Friday, January 22, 2021 Thisday Afrinvest 40 Index Gained 0.1% dŚĞ dŚŝƐĚĂLJ ĨƌŝŶǀĞƐƚ ϰϬ /ŶĚĞdž ŐĂŝŶĞĚ ϱďƉƐ ƚŽ ƐĞƩůĞ Ăƚ ϭ͕ϴϮϯ͘Ϯϭ

THISDAY AFRINVEST 40 INDEX

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Fundamental Performance Metrics for THISDAY AFRINVEST 40 Index

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dZ E^ KZW (428͘ϯŵ ƵŶŝƚƐͿ͕ GUARANTY ;ϲϮ͘ϭŵ ƵŶŝƚƐͿ͕ ĂŶĚ SOVRENINS ;ϲϭ͘ϰŵ ƵŶŝƚƐͿ ǁŚŝůĞ GUARANTY (ଂϮ͘ϬďŶͿ͕ ZENITH (ଂϳϬϴ͘ϭŵͿ͕ ĂŶĚ t W K (ଂϲϮϬ͘ϱŵͿ ƚŽƉƉĞĚ ďLJ ǀĂůƵĞ͘

THISDAY AFRINVEST 40

1,823.21

0.05%

851.80

0.0%

30.3%

79.00

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11.1%

2.1%

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33.00

-0.2%

9.2%

2.0%

1 Airtel Africa PLC 2 BUA Cement Plc 3 Guaranty Trust Bank PLC 4 Zenith Bank PLC 5 Dangote Cement PLC 6 MTN Nigeria Communications PLC 7 Nestle Nigeria PLC 8 Lafarge Africa PLC 9 Access Bank PLC 10 United Bank for Africa PLC 11 FBN Holdings Plc 12 Nigerian Brew eries PLC 13 Stanbic IBTC Holdings PLC 14 International Brew eries PLC 15 Flour Mills of Nigeria PLC 16 SEPLAT Petroleum Development C

ĞĂƌŝƐŚ ^ĞĐƚŽƌ WĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ

19 Fidelity Bank PLC 20 Ecobank Transnational Inc

WĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ĂĐƌŽƐƐ ƐĞĐƚŽƌƐ ǁĂƐ ůĂƌŐĞůLJ ďĞĂƌŝƐŚ ĂƐ ϰ ŽĨ ϲ ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ

21 Dangote Sugar Refinery PLC 22 FCMB Group Plc

Kŝů Θ 'ĂƐ ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ ƌŽƐĞ Ϭ͘ϯй ĂŶĚ Ϭ͘Ϯй ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ ĚƵĞ ƚŽ ƉƌŝĐĞ ĂƉƉƌĞĐŝĂƟŽŶ ŝŶ t W K ;нϱ͘ϱйͿ ĂŶĚ ARDOVA ;нϯ͘ϱйͿ͘ ŽŶǀĞƌƐĞͲ ůLJ͕ ƚŚĞ /ŶƐƵƌĂŶĐĞ ŝŶĚĞdž ůĞĚ ƚŚĞ ůĂŐŐĂƌĚƐ͕ ĚŽǁŶ ϲ͘ϳй ĚƵĞ ƚŽ ƐĞůůŽīƐ in D E^ Z (-ϵ͘ϴйͿ͕ // K (-ϵ͘ϰйͿ ĂŶĚ t W/ (-ϵ͘ϳйͿ͘ ^ŝŵŝͲ ůĂƌůLJ͕ ƚŚĞ ŽŶƐƵŵĞƌ 'ŽŽĚƐ ĂŶĚ ĂŶŬŝŶŐ ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ ůŽƐƚ Ϭ͘ϯй ĂŶĚ Ϭ͘Ϯй ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ ĚƵĞ ƚŽ ƐĞůů ƉƌĞƐƐƵƌĞƐ ŝŶ &>KhZD/>> (-Ϯ͘ϴйͿ͕ DANGSUGAR (-ϭ͘ϬйͿ͕ UBA (-ϭ͘ϳйͿ ĂŶĚ UBN (-Ϯ͘ϳйͿ͘ WƌŝĐĞ ĚĞƉƌĞͲ ĐŝĂƟŽŶ in DdEE (-Ϭ͘ϭйͿ ĂŶĚ , D^ (-ϭϬ͘ϬйͿ ĚƌŽǀĞ ƚŚĞ &Z-/ d ŝŶĚĞdž Ϭ͘ϭй ůŽǁĞƌ͘

/ŶǀĞƐƚŽƌ ^ĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ tĂŶĞƐ

Price Change Index to Date

Current Price

17 11 PLC 18 Okomu Oil Palm PLC

ƵŶĚĞƌ ŽƵƌ ĐŽǀĞƌĂŐĞ ĐůŽƐĞĚ ƐŽƵƚŚǁĂƌĚ͘ dŚĞ /ŶĚƵƐƚƌŝĂů 'ŽŽĚƐ ĂŶĚ

Price Previous Current Change Price Weightin YTD Change g

Ticker

ROE

ROA

24.2%

82.3%

18.8%

3.4%

0.0%

0.0%

7.7%

2.8%

2.0%

27.9%

4.7%

P/E

5.6x

P/BV

Divindend Earnings Yield Yield

0.6x

4.9%

7.2%

1.3% 44.1x

7.4x

2.2%

2.3%

4.8x

1.3x

8.5%

20.9% 26.2%

26.45

0.6%

6.9%

6.7%

6.7%

22.8%

3.1%

3.8x

0.8x

10.6%

234.00

-0.2%

5.6%

-4.5%

-4.5%

30.8%

14.6%

15.7x

4.9x

6.9%

6.4%

170.00

-0.1%

4.7%

0.1%

0.1%

189.4%

11.9%

17.6x

29.5x

4.1%

5.7%

1,505.00

0.0%

3.8%

0.0%

0.0%

83.0%

20.5%

29.3x

28.5x

4.7%

3.4%

27.95

5.5%

4.3%

32.8%

32.8%

6.5%

4.6%

19.4x

1.3x

3.6%

5.1%

9.25

0.0%

3.0%

9.5%

9.5%

16.8%

1.5%

3.0x

0.5x

7.0%

33.3%

8.95

-1.6%

2.7%

3.5%

3.5%

13.9%

1.3%

3.8x

0.5x

10.7%

26.3% 27.9%

7.35

0.0%

2.4%

2.8%

2.8%

13.5%

1.3%

3.6x

0.4x

5.2%

61.00

0.0%

2.2%

8.9%

8.9%

6.6%

2.5%

45.2x

3.0x

2.9%

2.2%

44.00

0.0%

1.9%

-0.1%

-0.1%

25.8%

3.8%

5.6x

1.4x

5.5%

17.7%

6.59

0.0%

1.7%

10.8%

10.8%

1.2x

31.60

-2.8%

1.2%

21.5%

21.5%

0.8x

-26.3% 4.4%

540.00

0.0%

1.3%

34.2%

34.2%

-0.3%

-0.2%

0.5x

7.5%

249.50

0.0%

0.9%

9.4%

9.4%

16.4%

7.6%

13.6x

2.1x

3.4%

7.4%

93.00

0.0%

0.8%

2.2%

2.2%

20.6%

13.4%

13.9x

2.7x

2.2%

7.2%

2.70

-1.5%

0.7%

7.1%

7.1%

10.7%

1.1%

3.0x

0.3x

7.4%

33.3%

6.55

0.0%

0.7%

9.2%

9.2%

0.5%

0.0%

63.8x

0.3x

20.30

-1.0%

0.6%

15.3%

15.3%

30.8%

15.6%

7.2x

2.0x

5.4%

13.9%

3.15

-2.6%

1.6%

-2.2%

0.5%

-5.4%

-5.4%

10.3%

1.2%

3.0x

0.1x

4.4%

33.4%

23 Sterling Bank PLC 24 NASCON Allied Industries PLC 25 Transnational Corp of Nigeria

2.00

2.0%

0.4%

-2.0%

-2.0%

8.8%

0.8%

5.6x

0.5x

1.5%

18.0%

17.20

0.0%

0.4%

18.6%

18.6%

18.4%

5.8%

11.2x

3.7x

2.3%

8.9%

1.16

-9.4%

0.4%

28.9%

28.9%

-3.5%

-0.8%

0.7x

0.8%

-5.0%

26 Presco PLC 27 Unilever Nigeria PLC 28 PZ Cussons Nigeria PLC

74.50

0.0%

0.3%

5.0%

5.0%

18.5%

7.7%

2.4x

2.7%

13.50

0.0%

0.2%

-2.9%

-2.9%

-9.8%

-6.5%

29 United Capital PLC 30 Guinness Nigeria PLC 31 Custodian and Allied Insurance 32 AIICO Insurance PLC 33 Total Nigeria PLC 34 Julius Berger Nigeria PLC 35 Wema Bank PLC

0.0%

0.2%

7.5%

7.5%

-12.2%

-5.6%

-0.2%

0.2%

14.4%

14.4%

85.7%

8.7%

18.50

-2.4%

0.2%

-2.6%

-2.6%

-16.2%

-8.4%

38 Notore Chemical Industries Ltd 39 Beta Glass PLC 40 Transcorp Hotels Plc

1.2x

2.1x

7.0% -8.8%

0.7x

1.8%

1.6x

9.3%

0.6x

-155.0% 48.6% -32.2%

6.00

0.0%

0.2%

2.6%

2.6%

13.9%

4.8%

5.6x

0.8x

1.44

-9.4%

0.2%

27.4%

27.4%

25.0%

3.3%

3.1x

0.6x

143.00

0.0%

0.2%

10.0%

10.0%

10.7%

2.1%

17.3x

1.8x

4.7%

5.8%

18.90

0.0%

0.1%

6.2%

6.2%

3.8%

0.4%

20.4x

0.8x

8.8%

4.9%

0.0%

0.0%

6.8%

0.5%

4.0x

0.5x

5.8%

24.9%

0.69

36 Union Bank of Nigeria PLC 37 Oando PLC

/ŶǀĞƐƚŽƌ ƐĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ ĂƐ ŵĞĂƐƵƌĞĚ ďLJ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ďƌĞĂĚƚŚ ;ĂĚǀĂŶĐĞͬ

5.70 5.39

14.2x

3.50

-1.4%

0.1%

-2.7%

0.0%

0.0%

0.1%

-100.0% -5.4%

7.5%

32.4%

6.4x

-5.4%

14.5%

2.6%

62.50

0.0%

0.1%

0.0%

0.0%

-21.3%

-6.4%

55.40

0.0%

0.1%

0.0%

0.0%

10.3%

7.2%

3.60

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

-10.4%

-5.0%

17.9%

4.6%

15.7%

1.5x

0.2x

66.4%

7.8x

0.8x

3.1%

12.8%

0.5x

1.9%

-20.8%

1.8x

-13.3%

T o p 10 T r a d e s b y V o l u m e

T o p 10 G a i n e r s

ĚĞĐůŝŶĞ ƌĂƟŽͿ ǁĞĂŬĞŶĞĚ ƚŽ Ϭ͘ϯdž ĨƌŽŵ ƚŚĞ ϯ͘ϳdž ƌĞĐŽƌĚĞĚ ƉƌĞǀŝŽƵƐͲ

T ic k er

P ric e

P ric e C hg %

Vo lum e

P ric e C hg %

ůLJ ĂƐ ϭϰ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ĂĚǀĂŶĐĞĚ ĂŐĂŝŶƐƚ ϰϵ ĚĞĐůŝŶĞƌƐ͘ EE&D ;нϭϬ͘ϬйͿ͕

NNFM

8.80

10.0%

UN IVIN SUR E

51.8

10.0%

D EA P C A P

0.22

10.0%

T R A N SC OR P

43.1

9.2%

N IGER IN S

0.33

10.0%

FB NH

39.8

-3.9%

ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵŝŶŐ ƟĐŬĞƌƐ ǁŚŝůĞ , D^ (-ϭϬ͘ϬйͿ͕ PRESTIGE (-ϭϬ͘ϬйͿ

SOVR EN IN S

0.33

10.0%

M A N SA R D

38.2

5.6%

and TOURIST (-ϵ͘ϴйͿ ǁĞƌĞ ƚŚĞ ůŽƐĞƌƐ͘ tĞ ĞdžƉĞĐƚ ƚŚĞ ĞƋƵŝƟĞƐ

R OYA LEX

0.44

10.0%

F ID ELIT YB K

38.1

-1.8%

31.8

-1.0% -0.6%

Dh>d/s Z^ ;нϭϬ͘ϬйͿ ĂŶĚ , DW/KE ;нϵ͘ϵйͿ ǁĞƌĞ ƚŚĞ ďĞƐƚ-

ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ƚŽ ĐůŽƐĞ ŽŶ Ă ďĞĂƌŝƐŚ ŶŽƚĞ ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞ ǁĞĞŬ͘

T ic k er

M B EN EF IT

0.55

10.0%

A C C ESS

B OC GA S

15.12

9.8%

Z EN IT H B A N K

31.4

LIVEST OC K

2.80

9.8%

UA C N

28.1

1.2%

LIN KA SSUR E

0.90

9.8%

UB A

21.5

-1.6%

C H IP LC

0.45

9.8%

M B EN EF IT

20.7

9.5%

T o p 10 T r a d e s b y V a l u e

T o p 10 L o s e r s T ic k er

P ric e C hg %

T ic k er

Value 820.1

P ric e C hg %

M A N SA R D

1.53

-10.0%

Z EN IT H B A N K

SUN UA SSUR

0.90

-10.0%

GUA R A N T Y

422.0

1.8%

A F R OM ED IA

0.20

-9.1%

A C C ESS

303.0

-1.0%

-0.6%

OM A T EK

0.21

-8.7%

FB NH

298.2

-3.9%

UA C -P R OP

0.75

-6.2%

D A N GC EM

266.7

-1.0%

C UT IX

2.06

-5.5%

UA C N

238.6

1.2%

F T N C OC OA

0.63

-4.5%

WA P C O

225.4

0.8%

UN ION D A C

0.32

-3.0%

UB A

194.6

-1.6%

0.68

-2.9%

D A N GSUGA R

114.4

-1.4%

33.05

-2.1%

F ID ELIT YB K

103.7

-1.8%

J A IZ B A N K GUA R A N T Y

Afrinvest West Africa Limited

P ric e

Brokerage

Asset Management

Investment Research

Adedoyin Allen | aallen@afrinvest.com Robert Omotunde | romotunde@afrinvest.com Abiodun Keripe | AKeripe@afrinvest.com Taiwo Ogundipe | togundi-

Christopher Omoh | comoh@afrinvest.com

Adedayo Bakare | abakare@afrinvest.com

43

FRIDAY, JANUARY 22, 2021 ˾ T H I S D AY

MARKET NEWS

Oladejo Appointed New Managing Director of Morison Industries Goddy Egene

appointed Mr. Adesoji Oladejo as the new Managing Director effective January 4, 2021, following

Morison Industries Plc has A Mutual fund (Unit Trust) is an investment vehicle managed by a SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) registered Fund Manager.

Investors with similar objectives buy units of the Fund so that the Fund Manager can buy securities that willl generate their desired return.

An ETF (Exchange Traded Fund) is a type of fund which owns the assets (shares of stock, bonds, oil futures, gold bars, foreign currency, etc.) and divides ownership of those assets into shares. Investors can buy these ‘shares’ on the

the resignation of the acting MD, Mr. Deji Mustapha, who resigned on December 31, 2020.

floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

A REIT (Real Estate Investment Trust) is an investment vehicle that allows both small and large investors to part-own real estate ventures (eg.

Offices, Houses, Hospitals) in proportion to their investments. The assets are divided into shares that are traded on the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

GUIDE TO DATA: Date: All fund prices are quoted in Naira as at 20Jan-2021, unless otherwise stated.

In a notification to the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Morison Industries said Oladejo is a

certified project management professional with over 25 years work experience in business

consultancy, telecommunications, and fast moving consumer goods environments.

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

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

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

DAILY PRICE LIST FOR MUTUAL FUNDS, REITS and ETFS MUTUAL FUNDS / UNIT TRUSTS AFRINVEST ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD aaml@afrinvest.com Web: www.afrinvest.com; Tel: +234 818 885 6757 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Afrinvest Equity Fund N/A N/A N/A Afrinvest Plutus Fund N/A N/A N/A Nigeria International Debt Fund N/A N/A N/A Afrinvest Dollar Fund N/A N/A N/A ALTERNATIVE CAPITAL PARTNERS LTD info@acapng.com Web: www.acapng.com, Tel: +234 1 291 2406, +234 1 291 2868 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn ACAP Canary Growth Fund N/A N/A N/A ACAP Income Funds N/A N/A N/A AIICO CAPITAL LTD ammf@aiicocapital.com Web: www.aiicocapital.com, Tel: +234-1-2792974 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AIICO Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 0.97% AIICO Balanced Fund 3.54 3.69 -0.42% 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 0.63% Anchoria Equity Fund 138.04 138.50 3.12% Anchoria Fixed Income Fund 1.24 1.24 -7.26% 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 N/A N/A N/A ARM Discovery Balanced Fund N/A N/A N/A ARM Ethical Fund N/A N/A N/A ARM Eurobond Fund ($) N/A N/A N/A ARM Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A ARM Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A AXA MANSARD INVESTMENTS LIMITED investmentcare@axamansard.com Web: www.axamansard.com; Tel: +2341-4488482 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AXA Mansard Equity Income Fund 132.13 133.06 4.72% AXA Mansard Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 1.15% CAPITAL EXPRESS ASSET AND TRUST LIMITED info@capitalexpressassetandtrust.com Web: www.capitalexpressassetandtrust.com ; Tel: +234 803 307 5048 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn CEAT Fixed Income Fund 2.13 2.13 -8.49% Capital Express Balanced Fund(Formerly: Union Trustees Mixed Fund) 2.26 2.31 28.64% CHAPELHILL DENHAM MANAGEMENT LTD investmentmanagement@chapelhilldenham.com Web: www.chapelhilldenham.com, Tel: +234 461 0691 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Chapelhill Denham Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 2.00% Paramount Equity Fund 16.71 17.03 4.52% Women's Investment Fund 136.41 138.00 2.51% CORDROS ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmgtteam@cordros.com Web: www.cordros.com, Tel: 019036947 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Cordros Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 0.79% Cordros Milestone Fund 2023 132.84 133.75 Cordros Milestone Fund 2028 N/A N/A Cordros Dollar Fund ($) 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 N/A N/A N/A Coronation Balanced Fund N/A N/A N/A Coronation Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A EDC FUNDS MANAGEMENT LIMITED mutualfundng@ecobank.com Web: www.ecobank.com Tel: 012265281 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class A N/A N/A N/A EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class B N/A N/A N/A EDC Nigeria Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A FBNQUEST ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD invest@fbnquest.com Web: www.fbnquest.com/asset-management; Tel: +234-81 0082 0082 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn FBN Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A FBN Balanced Fund 189.94 191.37 1.20% FBN Halal Fund N/A N/A N/A FBN Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 1.07% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Institutional 122.81 123.22 1.00% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Retail 122.94 123.35 0.99% FBN Smart Beta Equity Fund 157.63 159.91 4.27% FCMB ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED fcmbamhelpdesk@fcmb.com Web: www.fcmbassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 1 462 2596 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Legacy Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A Legacy Debt Fund N/A N/A N/A Legacy Equity Fund N/A N/A N/A Legacy USD Bond Fund N/A N/A N/A FSDH ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD coralfunds@fsdhgroup.com Web: www.fsdhaml.com; Tel: 01-270 4884-5; 01-280 9740-1 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Coral Growth Fund 3,891.61 3,943.25 3.62% Coral Income Fund 3,319.04 3,319.04 1.62% FSDH Treasury Bills Fund 100.00 100.00 2.33% 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 0.84% Nigeria Entertainment Fund 129.47 130.00 19.97%

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 4.50% Kedari Investment Fund (KIF) 157.02 157.98 9.61% LOTUS CAPITAL LTD fincon@lotuscapitallimited.com Web: www.lotuscapitallimited.com; Tel: +234 1-291 4626 / +234 1-291 4624 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Lotus Halal Investment Fund 1.45 1.47 0.69% Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund 1,128.33 1,128.33 0.49% 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 1.65 1.69 7.43% PACAM Fixed Income Fund 12.31 12.42 9.61% PACAM Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 1.50% PACAM Equity Fund 1.66 1.68 PACAM EuroBond Fund 108.59 111.08 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 134.79 137.52 9.34% 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 0.39% STANBIC IBTC ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD assetmanagement@stanbicibtc.com Web: www.stanbicibtcassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 1 280 1266; 0700 MUTUALFUNDS Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Stanbic IBTC Balanced Fund 2,521.35 2,532.80 1.79% Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund 210.33 210.33 0.20% Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund 0.88 0.89 2.97% Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund 273.87 273.95 0.24% Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund 154.92 156.64 1.61% Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 0.28% Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund 7,674.15 7,756.30 -0.05% Stanbic IBTC Dollar Fund (USD) 1.23 1.23 0.29% Stanbic IBTC Shariah Fixed Income Fund 111.30 111.30 0.20% 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 1.42 1.44 3.73% United Capital Bond Fund 1.90 1.90 0.22% United Capital Equity Fund 0.91 0.94 5.58% United Capital Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 1.54% United Capital Eurobond Fund 117.46 117.46 0.32% United Capital Wealth for Women Fund 1.10 1.11 1.08% QUANTUM ZENITH ASSET MANAGEMENT & INVESTMENTS LTD service@quantumzenithasset.com.ng Web: www.quantumzenith.com.ng; Tel: +234 1-2784219 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Zenith Equity Fund 12.51 12.65 5.53% Zenith Ethical Fund 13.89 14.01 13.71% Zenith Income Fund 24.11 24.11 0.55% Zenith Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 1.91%

REITS NAV Per Share

Fund Name SFS Skye Shelter Fund

Yield / T-Rtn

120.87

0.11%

52.46

0.11%

Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

13.32 127.92 101.08

13.42 127.92 102.99

0.78% 5.08% 1.73%

Union Homes REIT

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

VETIVA FUND MANAGERS LTD Web: www.vetiva.com; Tel: +234 1 453 0697

funds@vetiva.com Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

4.24

4.28

11.68%

Vetiva Consumer Goods Exchange Traded Fund

6.03

6.11

6.00%

Vetiva Griffin 30 Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva Money Market Fund Vetiva Industrial Goods Exchange Traded Fund

18.12 1.00 20.46

18.22 1.00 20.66

10.61% 0.87% -0.28%

193.55

195.55

-13.02%

NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

107.71

13.11%

Fund Name Vetiva Banking Exchange Traded Fund

Vetiva S&P Nigeria Sovereign Bond Exchange Traded Fund

INFRASTRUCTURE FUND Fund Name Chapel Hill Denham Nigeria Infrastructure Debt Fund

The value of investments and the income from them may fall as well as rise. Past performance is a guide and not an indication of future returns. Fund prices published in this edition are also available on each fund manager’s website and FMAN’s website at www.fman.com.ng. Fund prices are supplied by the operator of the relevant fund and are published for information purposes only.

44

FRIDAY JANUARY 22, 2021 ˾ T H I S D AY

INTERNATIONAL

US Resumes WHO Support, Launches $1.9tn COVID-19 Plan Biden unveils ambitious strategy as pandemic worsens The United States said on Thursday it would resume its funding for the UN’s health agency as President Joe Biden shifts towards greater international cooperation in the fight against Covid-19, while also launching a $1.9 trillion plan to tackle the pandemic at home.

On his first day in the job, Biden confirmed he had reversed the decision of former president Donald Trump to quit the World Health Organisation (WHO).

“Under trying circumstances, this organisation has rallied the scientific and research and development community to accelerate vaccines, therapies and diagnostics,” top US scientist Anthony Fauci told a WHO meeting via video-link, confirming that the US would continue to pay its dues to the organisation.

Biden was a fierce critic of Trump’s approach to tackling the virus in the US, which with more than 400,000 people dead is the world’s worst-hit nation.

The new president is seeking to vaccinate 100 million people in the next 100 days, increase the

use of masks and testing, expand the public health workforce and offer more emergency relief to those struggling with the restrictions.

Virus cases are approaching 100 million globally, with more than two million deaths and many millions — from Beijing to Berlin — still living under lockdowns, curfews or other restrictions.

Europe has been particularly hard hit, though the Russian capital Moscow announced on Thursday it was lifting many of its harshest restrictions as Mayor Sergei Sobyanin expressed “cautious optimism” over the current figures.

More contagious coronavirus variants have travelled quickly around the globe, tempering optimism that mass vaccination campaigns would bring a swift end to the worst phase of the pandemic.

And the WHO has repeatedly warned that richer countries are hogging the vaccine, a point underscored by data from Africa suggesting the second wave is proving far more deadly than

the first.

John Nkengasong of Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention said more infections meant more pressures on ill-equipped health systems, adding: “That also means you’re overwhelming the ability of nurses, doctors to manage patients.”

However, the US provided a boost to efforts to share out vaccines across the world by announcing it intended to join the Covax initiative, a pool of doses supplied by countries and companies.

Germany meanwhile

confirmed it was willing to help Russia to develop its Sputnik vaccine — which has been rolled out by Moscow despite still being in clinical trials.

Meanwhile, as the pandemic worsens the Biden administration yesterday unveiled a detailed COVID-19 roadmap to boost vaccinations and testing while centering scientific expertise, after the new US president warned during his inaugural speech the pandemic was entering its “deadliest period.”

Officials said Biden would immediately sign 10 executive orders and other directives to

jumpstart the national strategy, which experts said was sorely missing under his predecessor Donald Trump.

The US is the world’s hardesthit country with more than 405,000 deaths, and government models suggest the B.1.1.7 variant imported from Britain could supercharge the outbreak’s trajectory in the coming months.

“For almost a year now, Americans could not look to the federal government for any strategy, let alone a comprehensive approach to respond to Covid,” Jeff Zients, a former management consultant

who is Biden’s new Covid-19 task force coordinator, told reporters.

“As president Biden steps into office today, that all changes,” he added.

Biden’s presidency will initially be shaped by his response to Covid-19 and the associated economic emergency.

Whereas Trump seldom acknowledged the tragic toll the virus was inflicting on Americans, Biden paused in his inaugural address — which the public was essentially barred from attending due to the pandemic — to offer a moment’s silent prayer for its victims.

What Trump’s Letter to Biden Did Not Say It’s traditional for an outgoing president to leave a letter to his successor before departing the White House.

It’s not known yet what was in Donald Trump’s letter, but that hasn’t stopped people suggesting what it might contain.

One fake letter being widely shared on social media simply reads: “Joe, you know I won.”

The letter has been widely shared – including by prominent pro-Trump lawyer, Lin Wood -

and been viewed over a million times.

Although it’s pretty obvious the letter is a fake, it has been taken seriously in some quarters, with Iranian state radio reporting it as fact.

It has also been widely-shared

by Russian social media users.

For his part, President Biden said yesterday that Trump “wrote a very generous letter.

“Because it was private, I will not talk about it until I talk to him, but it was generous.”

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly known and addressed as YUSUFF OPEYEMI OYINKANSOLA now wish to be known and addressed as SHORINOLA OPEYEMI ARAFAT YUSUFF. All documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as OHUE GRACE CHIDUBEM now wish to be known and addressed as EKOHWO GRACE CHIDUBEM. All documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as EDEGBE JULIUS ARMSTRONG, now wish to be known and address as EDEGBE JULIUS OLUWATOSIN and DoB was wrongly written as 20th June1996 instead of 20th July 1996. All former documents remain valid, the general public should please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as NDUKA JOSEPH EBUZOME now wish to be known and addressed as NDUKA JOSEPH. All documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as NNOKAM ADANNE EUREKA, now wish to be known and addressed as NNOKAM ADANNE EUREKA SARAH, All documents remain valid. The general public should please take note I, formerly known and addressed as ONYEKWE IHECHI, now wish to be known and addressed as ONYEKWE BETHEL, All documents remain valid. The general public should please take note

I, formerly known and addressed as MISS CHRISTIANA OCHOMBIA OGHOR, henceforth wish to be known and addressed as MRS CHRISTIANA OCHOMBIA DIBIA. All former documents remain valid. The general public to take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as OLASUNKANMI SULAIMON, now wish to be known and addressed as OLAIYA JAMIU. All documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

I, ETUMEAHU MODESTUS NNAMDI, my name was wrongly written as ETUMAHU MODESTUS NNAMDI, that the correct spelling of name is ETUMEAHU MODESTUS NNAMDI and my correct DoB is 6th August 1960.All former documents remain valid, the general public should please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as was written on my BVN as CHARITY NEEMENE, now wish add LEBORGSI to be known and addressed as NEEMENE CHARITY LEBORGSI, All documents remain valid. The general public should please take note

..

US President, Joe Biden, sits in the Oval Office as he signs a series of orders at the White House in Washington, DC, after being sworn in at the US Capitol…Wednesday AFP

EU Agency Urges Preparation of Stronger Measures over Virus Variants The EU disease agency ECDC on Thursday urged countries to prepare more stringent measures and speed up vaccine campaigns in the coming weeks because of the risks of more infectious variants of the novel coronavirus.

The European Centre Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) said in a new report that countries in the EU and European Economic Area “should expect increased

numbers of COVID-19 cases due to the gradual spread and possible dominance of the variants with increased transmissibility.”

“The key message is to prepare for a rapid escalation of the stringency of response measures in the coming weeks to safeguard healthcare capacity and to accelerate vaccination campaigns,” the agency said.

According to the agency the “rate and scale” of the spread

would depend on the level of prevention measures and adherence to those measures.

The ECDC said that some 16,800 cases of a new more infectious variant of the novel coronavirus had been identified in the UK, where it was first discovered and some 2,000 cases in 60 countries around the world as of Tuesday, of which 1,300 cases were in 23 countries in the EU and EEA area.

Around 570 cases of another

variant, also more infectious, first discovered in South Africa have been detected in 23 countries, with 27 cases in 10 EU/EEA countries, in addition to the 349 cases confirmed in South Africa as of January 13.

The ECDC also urged members to monitor changes in transmission rates or infection severity to identify and assess the circulation and impact of variants, and also to prepare laboratories for increased testing.

Top South African Minister Dies after Covid Battle Prominent South African politician Jackson Mthembu has died of Covid-related complications, President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced.

Mr. Mthembu, who since 2019 had been serving as the minister in the presidency, was a parliamentarian and long-serving member of the governing African National Congress (ANC).

He had worked his way up the ranks over many years and

has been described as a man of integrity.

In his tribute, President Ramaphosa said the 62-yearold was “an exemplary leader” and “life-long champion of democracy”.

Ten days ago, Mr Mthembu shared news in a tweet that he had an abdominal pain and had tested positive for coronavirus. His last tweet on that same day read: “I want to thank the many South Africans

who have wished me a speedy recovery. As a people we must overcome Covid-19.”

Mr. Mthembu will be remembered in media circles as one of the few officials who cultivated an open relationship between the media and those in power, even at the height of the tumultuous scandal-prone years of the previous administration.

He believed that politicians should be accountable to the people, a value that

sometimes put him at odds with members of his own party who preferred that some of the controversies, including allegations of widespread corruption and mismanagement of then-President Jacob Zuma’s administration, be dealt with quietly within the party.

His name is trending on Twitter in South Africa, where many are paying tribute to his inspiring leadership, openness, kindness and humour.

Covid-19: £800 House Party Fines to Be Introduced in England Fines of £800 for anyone attending a house party of more than 15 people will be introduced in England from next week, under new Covid-19 measures.

These will double for each repeat offence to a maximum of £6,400.

At a No 10 news conference,

Home Secretary Priti Patel said there remained a “small minority that refuse to do the right thing”.

“To them my message is clear.

If you don’t follow rules then the police will enforce them,” she said.

Currently in England the fine for those attending illegal indoor

gatherings stands at £200 - or £100 if paid early.

Fines of up to £10,000 for holding large illegal gatherings of more than 30 people will still only apply to the organisers.

Police will continue to follow the strategy of engaging with the public, explaining the rules and

encouraging compliance, but the Home Office has warned that in severe breaches of lockdown rules, offenders should expect to receive a fine.

Ms Patel said the government would “not stand by while a small number of individuals put others at risk”.

FRIDAY JANUARY 22, 2021 ˾ T H I S D AY

45

24 HOURS...

24 HOURS...

SAN Faults Lagos Govt over Illegal Building Constructions in Lekki Estate Peter Uzoho Former Chairman of AMCON, Dr. Muiz Banire (SAN), has condemned a situation where trespassers build on other people’s lands without any authentic survey plan or building approval while Lagos State government officials saddled with the responsibility of stopping such anomally look the other way.

He said the development is not only absurd but deeply worrisome and the height of double standard.

He expressed the concern

against the backdrop of the alarm raised by Homeowners and land allottees in Alma Beach Estate, Lekki, Lagos, over ongoing construction of several buildings without government permit by suspected land grabbers terrorising their community with hired policemen and thugs.

The concerned homeowners and allottees had called for urgent intervention of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to stop the illegal activities of trespassers who they accused of distorting the estate masterplan with their indiscriminate building

New Ohanaeze Leader, Obiozor Lists Priorities for Ndigbo Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja The newly-elected PresidentGeneral of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Prof. George Obiozor, has listed security and education as well as guaranteeing a robust economic growth for the Igbo people as some of the immediate priorities of the socio-cultural organisation.

Speaking during a recent world press conference in Enugu, the ex-Nigerian ambassador to the United States of America and Israel as well as the country’s high commissioner to Cyprus, noted that as it is, the Igbo people have become the most vulnerable even at the slightest crisis in any part of Nigeria.

The former Director General of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA) argued that although the Igbo people were not at war with any part of the country, a permanent solution to incessant attacks on people from that part of the country must be sought.

Obiozor noted that to achieve these, the leadership of Ndigbo must transcend partisan politics, make-believe, rhetoric, propaganda and shadow-boxing, stating that the Igbo interest must be prime, as opposed to self-seeking agenda and mere political ambition.

He reiterated that his decision to contest for the office of presidentgeneral of Ohanaeze Ndigbo

worldwide was not a decision based on self aggrandisement, personal ambition or selfpromotion.

The coordinator and head of the secretariat of south east delegates during the 2014 national conference lamented that for far too long Ndigbo had been objects of stereotype and profiling, which ended in being misunderstood and misrepresented in national politics, business and academia.

Obiozor maintained that from all indications, Nigeria was in dire need of restructuring, stating that whatever options are chosen, ethnic nationalities in Nigeria will sooner or later go into negotiations or debate over the future of the country, a development the Igbo people must be prepared for.

He explained that although Igbo people seek unity, it should not be unity of slaves and masters, while the peace it yearns for should not be that of the graveyard.

“The most urgent and imperative need of Ndigbo today is security. The security of Ndigbo in Nigeria and beyond has become a compelling primary responsibility and of serious concern for Ndigbo. At home in Nigeria the story of insecurity of Ndigbo has reached incrementally dangerous level of existential threat.

construction activities under the cover of darkness and police protection.

In a letter to the Lagos State Building Control Agency signed

by Dr. Olumide Famuyiwa, the affected landowners alerted the regulatory body to the threat such development posed to residents and safety within the estate.

“We write to request the urgent intervention of your good office for stoppage of all ongoing illegal building construction works at Alma Beach Estate.

“These construction activities being undertaken without LASG building permit have

great potential to deface the entire neighborhood and distort the Alma Beach Estate Master Plan (copy attached), which is lodged at the office of the Surveyor General of Lagos State.”

Reacting to the development, Banire, said what the alleged land grabbers were doing could only happen where state officials have been induced and compromised.

“Otherwise it will amount to double standard in Lagos when some people can build without necessary approvals while such infractions by majority of the citizenry are heavily penalised.

“I want to believe Governor

Sanwo-Olu has not been properly briefed on the kind of lawlessness going on in Alma Beach estate, otherwise those sabotaging due process and making a mess of his administration should be facing the music by now. How can legal allottees with registered government titles and approved building plans through which the state had earned revenues be prevented from accessing their properties while land grabbers who have no legal titles or any government approval be having a field day?” the senior lawyer queried.

The petition by the homeowners read in part:

“Several bonafide plot allottees in Alma Beach Estate that are desirous to commence the development of their plots have expressed great concern about these illegal activities which could adversely impact the value of their properties and are demanding that we take steps to put an end to it.

“These bonafide assignees and lessees have duly registered their several interests with the Lagos State Government and obtained Lagos State Governors consent; and have also obtained or processing the requisite Lagos State Government building construction permits for their respective plots.

TECHNOLOGY ON THEIR MINDS…

L-R: Director, Environmental Science and Technology Department, Federal Ministry of Science and Technology, Mr. Isaac Anum; Minister of State for Science and Technology, Mr. Mohammed Abdullahi; Managing Director, Alvi-Net, Mr. Okechukwu Ohiaeri; Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu; and President, Association of Computer Village Technology Merchants of Nigeria, Prince Tony Nwakeze, during the visit of technology merchants delegation to the minister’s office in Abuja...yesterday

FG Frees 4,000 Inmates under Amnesty, Says Aregbesola The Minister of Interior, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola said yesterday that 4,000 inmates have been freed so far under the Federal Government Amnesty Programme to decongest custodian centres in the country.

The minister also asserted that it is heartwarming that there has been no COVID-19 infection in any of the country’s custodian centres.

Aregbesola who made the remarks at the pulling out parade organised in honour

of the Controller General of Corrections, Alhaji Ja’afaru Ahmed noted that the high bar of Service set by the outgoing CGC necessitated various reforms and initiatives that rapidly transformed the service.

The minister praised the out-going CGC for his hard work and commitment to service, saying the CGC “epitomised service, discipline and responsibility.”

He said the CGC would be remembered for the construction

of 3,000-capacity ultra-modern Custodial Centre in Janguza, Kano State (North-West Zone) where 10 component projects have been fully completed while more than 36 others are at various stages of completion across the country.

Aregbesola also mentioned the commencement of the construction of 3,000-capacity ultra-modern Custodial Centre in Karshi, FCT (North-Central Zone) and at Bori, River State (South-South Zone)

Giving details of the achievements of Alhaji Ahmed, the minister said: “currently, 23 inmates are undergoing Post Graduate Programmes comprising of one PhD; 16 Master’s Degree; and six Post Graduate Diploma Programmes.

“A total of 465 inmates are studying various Degree Programmes such as Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution; Criminology and Security Studies, Political Science, Law, etc.

Awolowo Lauds Niger’s Role in FG Commences EIA on First Made-in-Nigeria Helicopter Federal Ministry of Muhammad Abubakar said Haruna. for project categorisation and Realisation of Non-oil Export Plan The Environment and the National that the EIA projects will be He said, “Environment screening environmental data The Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria Export Promotion Council (NEPC), Mr. Segun Awolowo has said that Niger State is playing a significant role in the realisation of the federal government’s plan of economic diversification from its traditional reliance on oil as the sustainer of the economy.

He disclosed this yesterday in Abuja when the governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello visited him with his entourage to key into the export expansion facility grant released by President Muhammadu Buhari and for other export-related deliberations.

While commending Governor Bello for transforming the state, he submitted that the state is important not just because of its proximity to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) but because it boasts of many products like sheanuts, soyabeans, ginger, cashew, rice and other products which form the basis of economic diversification of this administration.

Awolowo urged the governors which later included the Kwara State governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq to thank President Buhari for spending more and investing in the economy despite earning less from oil.

He referred to the N350 billion released to pay exporters backlog through promissory notes and the recent release of N50 billion to the NEPC to cushion the effects of the pandemic on export businesses among others.

He also spoke about the plans to float an export trading company and national aggregation centers among other projects aimed at boosting export.

On his part, Governor Bello stated that the government has failed to bring together local farmers and the people, stressing that they are yet to feel the benefits of governments interventions because majority of them are still using old equipment and agricultural tools which affects their productivity.

Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) have commenced Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for the first ever Made-in-Nigeria helicopter.

The first non-commercial helicopter project is being manufactured by NASENI through reversed engineering.

Minister of Environment,

conducted to identify possible mitigation in the insulation of equipment on the project be it noise, solid and liquid pollutions etc.

Abubakar said this yesterday in Abuja, when he received the management team from NASENI, headed by the Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive, Mr. Mohammed

Impact Assessment (EIA) is part of every endeavor on the planet but especially when you talk of aviation, there is a lot of impact on the environment from accidents in aviation, birds strike, noise, vibration, wastes that will be created etc.

“The EIA projects entail a number of things like project registration, site verification

collection and a lot more. It will identify possible mitigation in the insulation of abetment equipment whether noise, pollution both solid and liquid pollutants are all the EIA project will look at. Let me implore you to ensure that EIA is conducted on all your projects to enhance their sustainability.”

Man Jailed for Assault on Ikeja Electric Staff A 60-year-old man, Mr. Bakare Buraimoh, has been sentenced to six months imprisonment at the Ilaro Correctional Centre, Ogun State, for assaulting a staff of Ikeja Electric (IE) The Ifo Magistrate Court delivered the judgment against Buraimoh, a resident of Isheri-Olofin community, for assaulting Abiodun Fakoya, a staff of IE attached to its Olowora Undertaking Office.

In the judgment delivered by Magistrate A. I. Arogundade, the accused was found guilty of the offence and thereafter sentenced to six months imprisonment with option of N100, 000 fine.

While reacting to the judgment, the Head of Corporate Communications, Ikeja Electric, Mr. Felix Ofulue, said the decision to seek redress in court over attack on the staff of the company is to stem the menace as he hoped

this will serve as a deterrent to other offenders against future reoccurrence.

He further urged aggrieved customers to seek peaceful means of conflict resolution by taking advantage of the redress mechanism established by the Company for such matters, adding that aggression against any staff of the Company is not the best approach to solving complaint or issues.

“Ikeja Electric has provided various online and offline channels to enable our customers to reach us. Customers should make use of the appropriate channels to communicate their concerns to the Company,” Ofulue noted.

“While the Company will seek legal intervention to address assault on its staff, it will also not condone any act of misconduct displayed by its staff.

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24 HOURS...

24 HOURS...

British Council, Ashoka Set to Empower 1,000 African Entrepreneurs Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja The British Council and Ashoka’s Impact Africa Social Entrepreneurship Summit, which is set to go virtual in 2021, first time since inception, is set to empower 1,000 African social entrepreneurs this year.

Making the announcement yesterday, the organisations noted that this year’s summit, is aimed at accelerating social innovations to Africa’s most pressing challenges by inspiring and connecting social entrepreneurs, change makers, investors, and other ecosystem stakeholders across sub-Saharan Africa.

The inaugural Impact Africa Summit was held in June 2018 in Johannesburg, South Africa and the 2019 summit held in Nairobi, Kenya while the 2020 live event scheduled for Lagos, Nigeria had to be postponed to 2021, following disruptions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Both organisations stated that African business enterprises require new ways of defining their structures, products and value propositions and need to unlearn the status quo and develop new leadership skills across organisational, sectoral, political and geographic boundaries.

The British Council and Ashoka further announced that the summit has been extended and expanded to run as a series of programmes over 12 months to increase reach as well as openup to a larger audience across sub-Saharan Africa.

They noted that this year’s edition will feature six plenaries every other month; six clinics every other month and three to five virtual keynotes over two days.

“The theme of this year’s Impact Africa virtual edition is ‘Resilience and Sustainability’.

It will support over 1,000 social entrepreneurs with tools, skills

and new knowledge to accelerate their business growth and achieve wider societal impact.

“It will be a gathering of bright and innovative young minds looking to acquire access to new networks and help them to rethink their business strategies.

“The programme content also includes an elevator pitch competition that will enable the winners gain mentorships with some of the world’s largest organisations and venture funds as well as provide the opportunity to qualify for seed funding,” the organisers stated.

According to them, the sessions will cover topics like 4th industrial

revolution; digital preparedness; investment readiness; business modelling and job creation, to mention a few.

“Impact Africa Social Entrepreneurship Summit is open to young entrepreneurs in the key countries of Kenya, Ghana, Nigeria, Ethiopia and South Africa. It is anticipated to be one of the biggest social impact event on the continent.

“Our speakers range from social entrepreneurs to representatives from several major international organisations such as Microsoft, MTN, Anglo-American and SAP,” the organisers added.

British Council’s Regional

Director, Moses Anibaba, said: “By delivering the summit virtually over a 12 month period, we believe that we can reach more young people and give them time to react to the tools, the content, the mentorship opportunities, the elevator pitches, and many more programmes that Impact Africa 2021 has to offer.”

Also, the Director, British Council Nigeria and Director West Africa, Lucy Pearson said: , “We also want to reach more women entrepreneurs and we want to provide access to budding, underserved innovators.

FG Targets 50% Reduction in Annual Cost of Offshore, Remote Operations Peter Uzoho The federal government has stated that the National Oil and Gas Excellence Centre (NOGEC) Lagos would enable the country to reduce by half its annual cost of operations in both offshore and remote locations.

The Minister of State for Petroleum, Mr. Timipre Sylva, stated this yesterday in Lagos at the launch of the NOGEC and added that the projected 50 per cent reduction would lead to the realisation of the $10 per barrel oil production cost target.

The centre, which is sited at the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR)’s annex in Lagos, was launched virtually in Abuja

by President Muhammadu Buhari, who said that the centre would enhance oil and gas contribution to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and strengthen Nigeria’s position as Africa’s leader in oil and gas industry.

The NOGEC is structured to drive three-prong objectives of safety, value and cost efficiency in the Nigeria oil and gas industry, under five flagship centres, including Search, Rescue and Surveillance (SeRAS) Command and Control Centre.

Others are the National Improved Oil Recovery Centre

(NIORC), the Oil and Gas Dispute Resolution Centre (DRC), the Oil and Gas Competence Development Centre (CDC), and the Integrated Data Mining and Analytics Centre (IDMAC).

Sylva, who cut the tape and unveiled behalf of the President Buhari, said the centre would help in driving cost reduction, increasing production and enhancing value in the nation’s oil and gas industry.

He said: “Let me at this point to highlight the main elements of each of these centres to underscore its role in driving cost reduction, increasing production and enhancing value in the industry.

“Search, Rescue and Surveillance (SeRAS) is a flagship programme of the centre designed to enhance safety management, emergency preparedness and response and routine transportation for bed space management.

“SeRAS will, therefore, drive cost reduction and improve operational efficiency across the industry. Conservatively, it is projected that upon full implementation of SeRAS, the annual industry expenditure for offshore and remote locations, flight logistics and emergency response will reduce by up to 50 per cent, a significant gain towards our target of reducing cost-per-barrel across our operations.”

Julius Berger Wins Contract for Furnishing NPDC Head Office Abuja Furniture Production (AFP), the furniture production unit of Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, has won its bid to provide turnkey furnishing for the head office of the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC), a subsidiary of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

AFP, it may be recalled, is the leading furniture production and furnishing design and implementation company in Nigeria. AFP has consistently on the merit won ‘Nigeria’s leading furniture company of the Year’ award for the last four consecutive years at the very highly rated annual Abuja International Housing Show which is reputed to be professionally governed by international best practices.

AFP clients across the country are united in opinion that its works are proudly powered by the finest attention

to detail and due diligence and are accomplished with the strictest adherence to best international standards in delivery.

At the 4th annual consecutive award of ‘Nigeria’s leading furniture company of the Year’ to AFP in Abuja in December last year, the head of the Media Relations Office of Julius Berger Plc, Mr. Moses Duku, had declared that: “… at Julius Berger, we mean Business, because we know the customer is King”.

The contract covers the fabrication, production, supply and fixture of furniture pieces, executive office tables and chairs, built-in office cabinets and storage cupboards, meeting rooms, conference tables of different seating capacities, library and training centre furnisings, including miscellaneous work spaces and their related furniture and furnishing works and accessories.

SCORECARD PRESENTATION…

L-R: Minister of State for Works and Housing, Mr. Abubakar Aliyu; Minister of State for Health, Senator Olorunnimbe Mamora; Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu; and the Minister of Information and Culture, Mr. Lai Mohammed, during the 2020 ministerial press conference by the Federal Ministry of Education in Abuja...yesterday

23-year-old Student Jailed for Cultism in Akwa Ibom Okon Bassey in Uyo A student in Akwa Ibom State, Emmanuel Itoro Thomas, 23, has been sentenced to five years imprisonment for cult membership.

The court found the convict guilty of belonging to an unlawful society known as ‘Red Skin Secret Cult Confraternity’.

Thomas, a native of Uruk Uso in Obot Akara Local Government Area, was convicted by Justice Okon Okon of the state High Court in Uyo.

Justice Okon said the judgment was passed by the provision of Section 1 sub-Section 2 of the Cultism, Offensive Weapons and Violent Behaviour Prohibition Law 2004 of the state.

The provision stressed that: “Any person who is a member of a cult group, whether or not he is in possession of an offensive weapon, is guilty of an offence and is liable on conviction to imprisonment for seven years without an option of fine.

“It is a trite law that where a confessional statement of an accused is tendered in evidence without any objection, the statement will be deemed to have been made voluntarily and its content will be deemed to be true with no amount of subsequent argument against it, vitiating its admissibility.”

The accused, Thomas, had confessed that he joined the secret cult in 2019 because of the challenges his mother had with her landlady.

He also confessed in his extra-judicial statement that he was initiated on February 29, 2019, in Ematan Street off Eka Street in Uyo, the state capital by a man known as General, who is now at large.

After listening to the submission, the court held that the prosecution from the state Ministry of Justice has proven its case beyond reasonable doubts, and accordingly, sentenced the accused to five years in prison without an option of fine.

Fayemi Seeks Extension of FG’s 774,000 Special Jobs Victor Ogunje inAdoEkiti The Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, has called for the extension of the 774,000 special jobs programme of the federal government beyond the three months specified.

He said a total of 16,000 employments would be generated in the state alone with a total sum of N960 million injected into the state economy.

In the same vein, the Minister of Trade, Investment and Industry,

who is the first Governor of Ekiti State, Chief Niyi Adebayo, described the programme as a landmark policy targeted at mitigating poverty and tackling the adverse effects of COVID-19 pandemic.

The duo spoke in Ado Ekiti, the state capital, yesterday at the official flag-off of the 774,000 special public works initiative in the state.

Fayemi, who was represented by his Deputy, Chief Bisi Egbeyemi, said the provision of 16,000 jobs in a pandemic would create economic

leverage for the state, saying the policy was specifically designed by the federal government to cushion the effect of unemployment in the system.

He described the innovation as the most potent intervention programme in history, which will attract 16,000 jobs with each collecting N20, 000 monthly.

Fayemi said the selection was devoid of political and ethnic considerations, warning that any beneficiary that won’t abide by the rules should bow

out honourably.

According to the governor, “Ekiti was indeed lucky to be enlisted as one of the eight pilot states for the commencement of the programme with the beneficiaries receiving the sum of N20, 000 for three months that the programme would last.

“We are pleading that the programme be extended beyond three months, so that more people, which can be as many as 20,000 and more, can benefit in the state alone.

Dakuku’s Book Launch Postponed The launch of the book by the former Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dakuku Peterside, and a public lecture to mark his 50th birthday earlier scheduled for January 28, 2021 have been postponed.

The event scheduled to hold at the Congress Hall of the Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja would now hold on March 25, 2021.

The book: ‘Strategic Turnaround, the story of a Government Agency’ chronicles the transformation of NIMASA

under the watch of Peterside from 2016 to 2020.

A statement signed by the organising committee of the book launch, said the postponement, which was reached after extensive consultations with relevant stakeholders, is part of measures to curtail the rising cases of the

new wave of infections of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The statement added the postponement became necessary because the list of confirmed attendees was already in excess of the allowable limit dictated by the protocols put in place by the Presidential Task Force (PTF).

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FRIDAYSPORTS

Group Sports Editor Duro Ikhazuagbe Email duro.ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com 0811 181 3083 SMS ONLY

Nigeria’s Football Family Mourning as Coach Joe Erico Dies at 71 Duro Ikhazuagbe The Nigerian football family was again thrown into mourning yesterday following

the news of the death of former national team goalkeeper and one-time Assistant Coach of the Super Eagles, Joseph Bassey Eric (a.k.a Joe Erico).

News of the passage of Erico

T R I B U T E S . . .T R I B U T E S . . .T R I B U T E S . . .

A Great Loss to Nigeria “Erico dead? This is so unfortunate and sad. This is one death too many, a great loss to the entire family and the sporting community. He was a great goalkeeper who stood out among his peers. He also made his mark as Assistant Super Eagles Coach. My deepest condolences to his family, friends and the football community.

May God bless his soul and comfort his family.”

-Sunday Dare, Sports Minister Another Sad Day in Nigerian Football “It is another sad day for Nigerian Football. Erico was among the very best of Nigeria’s international goalkeepers and also served the country with fervour and diligence as Assistant Coach of the Super Eagles between 2001 and 2002. He will be sorely missed.

-Dr Mohammed Sanusi, General Secretary, NFF The Jogo Bonito Exponent Joe Erico the Jogo Bonito exponent. I remember NNB Vs Berger in 1986/87 season.

His whistle on the touchline was regulating his players’ touches on the ball. From one touch to two touches and back. We (NNB players) sweated. Possession was like 30/70%. A Great Coach is gone. We have lost another gem in Nigerian Football. RIP Coach Joe Erico. Goodnight -Edema Fuludu....Former Erico player at Julius Berger ‘He Prepared Me for My Football Career’ Hmmmmmmmmm, the Lord knows best. I was one of the beneficiaries of this great talent.

What he taught me at Julius Berger FC was what prepared me for my entire professional career. The most pleasant of all the coaches I worked with, professionally differentiating football from personal issues.

It is with a very heavy heart I say May his Soul Rest in Perfect Peace.

-Jonathan Akpoborire...Former Super Eagles star ‘I Have Lost A Friend’ OMG,Jogo Bonito is no more?

I have lost an intimate friend and a colleague. The three of them (along with Amodu Shaibu

and Stephen Keshi) were my colleagues in the then NFA. A jovial and down to earth man in all his dealings. May the Almighty Allah the exalted, console his family. What a great loss to the football family.

-Dr Tijani Yusuf...Former NFA General Secretary ‘Another Eagle Returns’ All that goes returns...he was different and the style was the man...the one I called the apostle of Jogo Bonito has left us for good and joined the sublime keepers upstairs...how can we start remembering the moments you gave us inside and outside the pitch. Fare thee well our beloved Erico- the last of the dream team ..a rare mix of coaches...another Eagle returns.

-Mitchell Obi...Veteran Sports Journalist and friend of Erico ‘Never to Be Forgotten’ I will never forget the Saturday morning with Joe Erico and Haruna Ilerika and their stories from Dire Dawa in Ethiopia ‘76...

Sad they both passed away, my respect for both of them quadrupled...

-Emeka Enyadike...Former Publisher of 442 Magazine ‘StampYour B’ and Get Out’ “Stamp your ‘B’ and get out”...I heard Taribo West and coach Joe Erico shout these words to themselves during a chance meeting in the mixed zone after a game during the 2000 AFCON at the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos...curiously, I walked up to coach Erico to ask him what those words meant...

“Those were our catch phrase while I was coach of Julius Berger FC, Lagos. We had the big ‘B’badge on our jerseys..we played sweet Brazilian football and every one envied us. Some people hated us but couldn’t resist coming to watch us play.

Our away games were ‘wars’.

We always played against all odds but we never wavered, we will always play our style.

We always played to win. The usual charge I gave the players in the dressing room before our games was for them to show they are the Bridge Boys, Julius Berger...it was always ‘stamp your ‘B’ and get out’.”

-Toyin Ibitoye...Sports Journalist/Former Media Officer Super Eagles

Erico (right) has gone to reunite with Amodu Shaibu (middle) and Stephen Keshi

was first announced Thursday morning by the Convener of popular FUBS WhatsApp platform, Godwin Enakhena.

The solemn message was the conversation the broadcast journalist had with Erico’s widow, Mosunmola.

“He (Erico) was ill for about three days and we took him to the hospital. He complained of body pain. He was okay and we came back home.

“But just yesterday (Wednesday) night, he started doing somehow and he later slept.

“I tried to wake him up this morning but he was stone dead,” the heartbroken widow of the well-loved Coach stressed yesterday morning.

Erico who hailed from the Odukpani Local Government Area of Cross River State, belonged to the cast of the very best goalkeepers in the history of Nigeria’s senior team.

He served Nigeria at the senior level at the same period as the revered Emmanuel Okala and Eyo Essien.

Erico who was a “Lagos Boy” haven spent most of his formative years in the former federal capital city, made his debut for then Green Eagles in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match against Zambia in Lagos in July 1973 (which Nigeria won 3-2).

He was in goal post for all of Nigeria’s six matches at the 1976 Africa Cup of Nations in Ethiopia, where the Eagles finished third – the first time Nigeria would win a medal at the AFCON.

Erico was also in goal in all of Nigeria’s pre-tournament friendlies against Kenya, Zambia and Tanzania just before the team flew to Ethiopia.

After his illustrious career as NEPA Lagos goalkeeper, Erico earned his stripes as Julius Berger FC of Lagos Head Coach.

It was at the ‘Adewale Bridge Boys’ that he earned

his appellation of Apostle of ‘Jogo Bonito’, that Brazilian flair he used to mesmerize the domestic league scene in the early 1990s.

Erico was part of the triumvirate (alongside late Amodu Shaibu and late Stephen Keshi) who were shooed in to do a rescue job for Nigeria as the ship to the 2002 FIFA World Cup finals tottered badly under Dutchman Johannes Bonfrere.

With three matches left in the campaign and a must-win mandate for all, the trio got the job done and qualified Nigeria for Korea/Japan.

They also led the team to a bronze-medal finish at the 2002 Africa Cup of Nations finals in Mali early 2002.

With his death yesterday morning, it means all members of that historic triumvirate have now passed on.

Late Joe Erico...apostle of Jogo Bonito

RB Leipzig Target Iheanacho for Loan Deal Super Eagles’ forward, Kelechi Iheanacho, may be heading to Germany this Winter Transfer following the interest shown by Bundesliga side, RB Leipzig to sign him on a loan deal.

Leipzig boss, Julian Nagelsmann, is believed to have shortlisted three forwards including the Nigerian out of which one of them would be considered to help the club till the end of the season.

Aside Iheanacho, according to German newspaper, Bild, the club is also looking in the direction of Divock Origi of FC Liverpool and Nice’s Kasper Dolberg.

Bildreports that Leipzig could be active before the end of the transfer window as they look to strengthen their Bundesliga title

Kelechi Iheanacho...wanted on loan in Germany bid. Leipzig are third on the table claimed that Nagelsmann’s side and just four points behind leaders would like to take one of the trio Bayern Munich. on loan for the rest of the season.

The German publication Iheanacho, who is back-up for

Foxes talisman, Jamie Vardy, and has made 18 appearances this season.

The former Under-17 World Cup winner with Nigeria in 2013 has scored three goals so far and may not be considered

by Brendan Rodgers for the loan spell considering the fact that the club is also lacking in strikers and not considering recruitment of any back up for Vardy.

Iheanacho moved from Manchester City first on loan spell to Leicester City and later made a permanent deal.

The Foxes are strongly in contention for another Premiership glory with four other clubs namely Manchester United, Manchester City, Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspurs.

Cricket: Fireworks Begin in Boys’ Regional Qualifiers for National U-17 More than 360 players are going to be fielded this weekend when the boys’ qualifier of the on-going PwC National U-17 Cricket Championship begins.

The Nigeria Cricket Federation has announced it is a record entry on its own.

Former National Male Team Captain, Endurance Ofem who is the Chairman Development and Tournament Committee of the Federation overseeing the event has revealed that his team expects a very competitive regional qualifier.

“We want the best team from

each of the regions to make it to the national finals later in February which informed why we tweaked the conditions of the qualifiers. We want the players to fully express themselves.

“We are going to have ODI, 30 overs in each of the centres.

We have put officer on ground to ensure Covid-19 compliance and the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports has sent in support in this regards too which is also complimented by health officials on ground at each centres,,” he stressed.

Kaduna, Kano Zamfara, Jigawa, Sokoto are teams for

the North West qualifiers.

Rivers State would be hosting Edo, Akwa –Ibom, Delta, Cross River and Bayelsa states while in North Central, FCT will be hosting Kwara, Kogi and Plateau entries.The South East entries would be hosted in Enugu with Anambra, Ebonyi, Imo and Abia all slugging it out and Oyo is the host for the South West where Lagos, Ogun, Osun and Ondo are competing.

Only Gombe have an automatic entry into the final as the sole entry from the North East of the country.

Head Marketing and

Communication at PwC, Delia Asuzu, noted that the teamwork in each region is a great unifying factor that they identify with.

“At the national finals, each regions would present the best team from the regional qualifiers which calls for a great deal of teamwork. It is one of the values that we promote at PwC and we are happy it is what the events is built around,” she said.

The Cricket National U-17 is the biggest platform for cricket expressions among the youth.

The national final is billed for January 28th to 31st (for girls) and February 4th to 7th (for boys).

Friday January 22, 2021

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NGF to Yahaya Bello

“On the ill-fated pronouncement made by a member of the forum, regarding the COVID-19 vaccine, in a national daily, the forum totally and categorically dissociated itself from the statement. The forum will continue to be informed and guided by science” – The Nigeria Governors’ Forum dissociating itself from the claim by Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, that COVID-19 vaccines are meant to kill people and reduce population.

AKINOSUNTOKUN DIALOGUE WITH NIGERIA

akin.osuntokun@thisdaylive.com

Restructuring Before 2023 C

ritics of the 1999 transition to civil democratic rule programme make the pertinent point that it amounted to walking blindfolded into the fourth republic because the rules of engagement (constitution) were not made manifest prior to the swearing in of elected officers. This non sequitur, putting the cart before the horse, stemmed from the choice and strategy of the supervisory military dictatorship of General Abdulsalami Abubakar to prioritise the rapid withdrawal of the military from governance.

The hasty departure was necessitated by the total delegimation of military rule and its culmination in the murderous excesses of the General Sani Abacha regime. The transition was specifically targeted at pacifying and compensating the political constituency of late Chief Moshood Abiola as represented by the Yoruba writ large National Democratic Coalition (NADECO). It was unique in respect of the conspicuous and overt premium it placed on the enlistment of the Yoruba political establishment for participation. In response to the signal and invitation of the Abdulsalami Abubakar military dictatorship, the NADECO was caught in a dilemma. It predicated the years long struggle against the annulment of the 1993 presidential election on the realisation of two objectives. They were the validation of the victory of Chief Moshood Abiola in the 1993 election and the convocation of a national constitutional conference to reproduce the federalism themed independence constitution. The organisation argued that the election should be preceeded by the making of a representative peoples constitution which should then institutionalise and regulate the conduct of elections.

The problem here was that insisting on a peoples constitution as condition precedent to participating in the election would draw out the transition calendar beyond the envisaged short military interregnum. The potential option of boycotting the election was equally fraught with the risk of ceding the political space to opponents and rivals especially in the South West. In the end they resolved to take part in the election with the objective of working from within the government to reform the constitution.

A similar problematic potentially arises with a view to the 2023 general elections.

Should political actors, particularly the proponents of restructuring double down on the demand for having constitutional reforms prior to the elections? What does this option portend for the political stability of Nigeria? The good news is that more than at any other time since the inauguration of the fourth republic, there appears to be an emergent national consensus on the need for constitutional reforms specifically on the item of devolution and decentralisation of power.

The major holdout against any such constitutional reform has been the perception of the far North that the reform is somehow against its corporate political interest. For that matter, If this interpretation is correct, it is doubtful the late premier of the Northern region, Sir Ahmadu Bello, would have signed on to the independence constitution.

President Muhammadu Buhari The reading I sense across board of the Northern intelligentsia is an emergent regional identification with the restoration of federalism aka restructuring.

As evidence, I have, amongst others, the submission of the Nigeria Working Group on Peacebuilding and Governance (NWGPG) comprising John Cardinal Onaiyekan, Dr Hakeem Baba Ahmed, Gen. Martin Luther Agwai (rtd.), Prof. Attahiru Jega, Professor Jibrin Ibrahim, Dr Nguyan Shaku Feese, Dr Usman Bugaje, Adagbo Onoja, Ambassador Fatima Balla, Ambassador Zango Abdu, Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, Chris Kwaja, Dr Hussaini Abdu, Kemi Okenyodo, Jim Gala, Aisha Muhammed Oyebode and Tsema Yvonne.

In a recent submission, they warned that “confidence towards the Nigerian state is very low, heightening the divides in the federation and creating widespread demands for dialogue and consensus-building on restructuring which the government has been tone-deaf to”. And the governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El Rufai admonished “We have the highest number of out-of-school children. We have the highest poverty rate. We have the lowest JAMB cut-off rate. So, what are the advantages to the North in the current situation? We don’t have any advantage not to restructure the country. All my colleague governors in the 19 states agree on restructuring. So who are the northerners against restructuring? Who are they speaking for? They are speaking for themselves.”

Dan Agbese of the Newswatch fame penned the most stirring stricture of all “I have often wondered why the north which has ruled the country longer than all the other regions put together is in dire straits.

If it is only the industry, then it must be an industry that has failed disastrously.The difference between the northern states and the southern states in terms of resources and human development is clear. The south is soaring in modern development and the north is sinking in under-development.

All the northern states must wait for the monthly handouts from the federation account.

Northern Nigeria is a region that contradicts its natural endowments. Despite the existence

of many economic resources such as tin, kaolin, a variety of agricultural products and a huge fertile land, the people remain in abject poverty leading to a plethora of crisis in forms of insurgency, electoral violence and crime. …Northern Nigeria becomes a hub of joblessness, crime, illiteracy, maternal mortality and terrorism.”

This is what politics as an industry has done to the north. Weep, brother” I have always reiterated that the basic leadership problem of Nigeria is political mismanagement. Reinforcing this ailment is a constitutional dysfunction which structurally predisposes and renders the political leadership prone to this political mismanagement. The over concentration and centralisation of power in Abuja and concomitant disinheritance and disempowerment of the states breeds lopsided instability, inefficiency and abuse of power. It predisposes the constitutionally enabled wielder of the power at the centre to arbitrary, discriminatory and unaccountable exercise of power. In the words of Lord Acton, power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. The combination of a winner takes all disposition, parochialism and nepotism has had the effect of fractionalising the body polity into two hostile camps of political haves and have nots and the bifurcation tended to coincide with extant ethno regional cleavages.

The ensuing political exclusion fosters and radicalises political division into status quo regime enforcers and political subversives.

By definition, any government characterised by winner takes all, parochial insularity and nepotism is incapable of viewing opposition and dissent in any other light than as political subversives. In this proclivity, the tragic irony of Nigeria’s political leadership is that it demobilises rather than mobilise citizens for national development. For any society to develop, it must cultivate a development ethic that approximates the idealistic exhortation of John F. Kennedy that “seek what you can do for your country and not what your country can do for you”. I doubt there is any possibility of rediscovering any equilibrium near this proximity in contemporary Nigeria outside of restructuring and I can put the argument no better than the submission of a most improbable latter day convert to the cause, the hawkish leader of the Northern Youths Congress, Malam Shettima Yerima “When

we restructure the country, everybody will take responsibility. But if you make it over attractive and leave everything in Abuja, the centre cannot hold because there is a limit to what Abuja can do. It is obvious and clear that security-wise, economically and politically, it cannot hold. But if you decentralise and everybody is working at his pace, it will encourage competition because everybody will want to live fine. This agitation of who will be president will not be there because the centre will be less attractive; until we decentralize, we won’t get it right.”

On present course and strength of available evidence it is difficult to decipher a fate better than an acceleration towards implosion for Nigeria in the near term. This is indicated in the deadly mix of a gargantuan security breakdown exemplified in the low intensity civil war pervading the North; runaway corruption, drastic revenue shortfall, imminent collapse of the oil economy and food security crisis; topped by the winner takes all nepotism of the Muhammadu Buhari administration. Barring a massive positive intervention, contrived or providential, this is the perfect storm that constitutes the backdrop to the 2023 elections.

Take note that Nigerian elections, in and of itself, constitutes a fraught security challenge.

A potential (positive) providential intervention can, for instance, materialise in the form of an unexpected financial windfall from an improbable oil boom- thereby providing another escapist bribery to postpone the day of reckoning. Nigeria can, of course, choose to become a creative master of its destiny by deliberately contriving a positive intervening variable that aborts the present troubled pregnancy before it delivers on the promise of a death knell. What then are the available options? If the reading is correct that restructuring has attained the status of a national consensus movement, then Nigeria has found the needed shock therapy to refocus attention away from gloom and despair to that of hopeful anticipation. Restructuring can thereby serve a dual elixir for Nigeria.

The hope of its realisation can dilute the present gloom overcast and prompt Nigerians to contemplate the future with measured optimism while the realisation of the policy agenda itself will potentially guarantee the stability and development of Nigeria in the mid to long term.

Adieu Laleye Olagunju Growing up together and of the same age, my cousin, Laleye has always been a perennial fixture in my life. His sudden exit has naturally resulted in a giant vacuum.

When I say sudden, I mean that hours to the fatal heart attack that took him away, he was on phone chatting away spiritedly in the spirit of the Christmas and New Year season. He was ultimately felled by Nigeria’s self-destructive syndrome. At the onset of the heart attack crisis, he was rushed to the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan - only to be denied admission on the excuse that he could be suffering from the affliction

of Covid-19 to which the medical staffers were afraid of exposing themselves. Were there no PPE to ensure that medical attendants do not contract the disease while attending to patients? It was this kind of dereliction that sealed the fate of Professor Femi Odekunle weeks ago - not to talk of many that fell under the radar. With a wounded heart, it is my dreaded obligation, once again, to bid a painful farewell to another premature precious victim of the rampaging grim reaper. May the soul of Laleye find rest in the bossom of the Lord and may God heal and comfort the young family he left behind.

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