MONDAY 23TH JANUARY 2023

Atiku Campaign Wants NDLEA, EFCC to Arrest, Prosecute Tinubu over Drugs, Allegations of Money Laundering Accuses former Lagos governor of looting state’s treasury Atiku lacks character to be Nigeria’s president, APC fires back Kingsley Nwezeh and Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja As

the

campaigns

gather

momentum, the Atiku/Okowa Presidential Campaign Organisation, yesterday called on the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency

(NDLEA) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to arrest and prosecute the presidential candidate of the

ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Bola Tinubu over drug peddling and money laundering allegations.

But in a swift reaction, the Presidential Campaign Council of the All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday restated that the

presidential candidate of the PDP, Atiku Abubakar lacks the character Continued on page 5

Ahead of Buhari’s Inauguration, First Commercial Vessel Berths at $1.5bn Lekki Deep Sea Port...

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Monday 23 January, 2023 Vol 28. No 10149. Price: N250

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CBN Harps on Adoption of Digital Banking Channels, Moves against Banks Loading Old Notes...

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Tonye Cole to Buhari: Declare State of Emergency in Rivers Traces violence to Executive Orders 21, 22 Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja The governorship candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, Mr. Tonye Cole,

yesterday called on President Muhammadu Buhari to halt the current chaos in the state by declaring a state of emergency.

In a statement signed by

spokesman of the Rivers APC 2023 Campaign Council, Sogbeye Eli, Cole blamed the signing of Executive Orders 21 and 22 by Governor Nyesom Wike for the

violence that has recently bedevilled the state.

Cole said the opposition political parties in Rivers State were presently under siege with

unrelenting spate of violent attacks began with a road blockade by thugs and hoodlums allegedly mounted by thugs en route Egberu working for Wike's faction of the community, hometown of Rivers Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Continued on page 5 He stated that the deadly attacks

PSC: IG Posting Commissioners Without Our Clearance is Unconstitutional Fears collusion with governors, says authority to assign commissioners resides with commission

Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja The crisis of confidence between the Police Service Commission (PSC) and the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Usman Baba, which has been simmering for quite some time now, has been exacerbated by the recent redeployment of Commissioners of Police (CPs), with the commission warning that the IGP lacks power to do such posting.

THISDAY exclusively gathered that the commission expressed concern about a likely collusion between the IGP and state governors to post preferred CPs to their states ahead of the general election. It feared the situation might promote violence or jeopardise the poll.

In a letter to the IGP, which was exclusively obtained by THISDAY, PSC also frowned on the recent posting of the Commissioner of Police for the Federal Capital Continued on page 5

BENIN RIVER PORT ON THEIR MINDS...

L-R: Manager, Ports Project, Port of Antwerp International, Mr. Phillippee Droesbeke; Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, his deputy, Philip Shaibu, and Chairman, Benin Port Project, Greg Ogbeifun, after a meeting of the Benin River Port (BRP) Project Committee with the governor and the representatives of the Port of Antwerp, at the Government House in Benin City... recently

Ayade: Only Tinubu Can Fix Nigeria as Buhari Leads Bauchi Rally Today...

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PwC Report: CEOs Foresee Global Economic Decline in 2023 Dike Onwuamaeze The PwC’s 26th Annual Global CEO Survey which polled 4,410 CEOs in 105 countries has found that 73 per cent of Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) believed that global economic growth would decline over the next 12 months.

The PwC stated that the bleak CEOs’ outlook for 2023 would be the most pessimistic regarding global economic growth since it began conducting this survey 12 years ago, adding that it would mark a significant departure from the optimistic outlooks of 2021 and 2022, when more than 76 per cent and 77 per cent, respectively thought that economic growth would improve.

The survey report stated that

“in addition to a challenging environment, nearly 40 per cent of CEOs think their organisations will not be economically viable in a decade if they continue on their current path.

“The pattern is consistent across a range of sectors, including telecommunications (46 per cent), manufacturing (43 per cent), healthcare (42 per cent) and technology (41 per cent)."

The report further noted that CEOs' confidence in their own company’s growth prospects also declined dramatically since last year by -26 per cent, the biggest drop since the 2008-2009 financial crisis when a 58 per cent decline was recorded.

“Globally, business confidence

around economic growth varies starkly, with G7 economies, including France, (70 per cent v 63 per cent), Germany (94 per cent v 82 per cent) and the United Kingdom (84 per cent v 71 per cent) – all weighed down by an ongoing energy crisis – more pessimistic about their domestic growth prospects than they are about global growth,” the survey report said.

The CEOs also predicted multiple direct challenges to profitability within their own industries over the next 10- years. More than 56 per cent believed that changing customer demand/preferences would impact profitability, followed by changes in regulation 53 per cent, labour/ skills shortages 52 per cent, and technology disruptions 49 per cent.

Moreover, inflation, macroeconomic volatility and geopolitical conflict topped the CEOs’ concerns.

The Global Chairman, PwC, Mr. Bob Moritz, said: “A volatile economy, decades-high inflation, and geopolitical conflict have contributed to a level of CEO pessimism not seen in over a decade. CEOs globally are consequently re-evaluating their operating models and cutting costs, yet despite these pressures, they are continuing to put their people front and centre as they look to retain talent in the wake of the ‘Great Resignation.’

“The world continues to change at a relentless pace, and the risks facing organisations, people – and the planet – will only continue to

rise. If organisations are not only to thrive – but survive the next few years – they must carefully balance the dual imperative of mitigating short term risks and operational demands with long-term outcomes - as businesses that don’t transform, won’t be viable.”

Speaking in the same vein, the Regional Senior Partner, PwC West Africa, Mr. Uyi Akpata, noted that “our analysis shows that the CEOs who feel most exposed to climate change are more likely to take action to address it. But combating climate change requires a coordinated, long-term plan to address the risk fully. The public and private sectors must work together to achieve this.

It’s easy to be overwhelmed by the challenge of climate change.

We urge leaders to proactively break the climate challenge into manageable chunks so they can find—and create—opportunities.”

The CEOs, however, noted the need to collaborate with a wide range of stakeholders to build trust and deliver sustained outcomes if they are to generate long-term societal value.

Moritz said: “The risks facing organisations and society today cannot be addressed alone and in isolation. CEOs must therefore continue to collaborate with a wide range of public and private sector stakeholders to effectively mitigate those risks, build trust and generate long term value - for their businesses, society and the planet.”

performance of the functions of the Police Force."

“Sub-section (2), The Police Service Commission shall from among the Commissioners of Police appointed under Sub-section 1 assign a Commissioner of Police to a State or to the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja."

The commission, headed by a retired Supreme Court Justice Clara Ogunbiyi, warned that the IGP had violated the constitution by his action.

It told the IGP, "Your action is, therefore, totally unconstitutional, illegal and a violation of both the Constitution and the Police Act 2020.

"The commission once again draws your attention to this illegality. The commission is all the more concerned by this act of illegality as the 2023 general election approaches wherein state governors may want postings of commissioners of police of their choices to their states, which can lead to political violence and crisis during the elections.

"Instances like this is why framers of the constitution deposited this power to the college of commissioners representing all geopolitical zones in the Police Service Commission.

"We, therefore, by this letter, direct that the Inspector General of Police, henceforth, stop the practice of posting commissioners of police to state commands, as it is a direct affront to the law, erodes confidence in the police by the Nigerian people and can cause violence during the forthcoming 2023 general election."

The letter further directed, "Henceforth, in event of a vacancy in the position of Commissioner of Police in any state, the most senior police officer in the command shall assume the office in acting capacity pending the appointment of a substantive Commissioner of Police by the commission.

"You should be guided by the procedure for posting of Commissioners of Police by the Police Service Commission."

The PSC and the IGP had clashed severally in the past over accusations by the commission that the IGP was usurping its constitutional powers.

The duo had resorted to litigation up to the Court of Appeal, where the appellate court declared that powers to recruit constables and other functions belonged to the commission.

The police high command is also believed to have approached the Supreme Court on the matter.

PSC: IG POSTING COMMISSIONERS WITHOUT OUR CLEARANCE IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL Territory to the command without notification of the commission, as was the practice. The letter, dated January 19, 2023, was signed by Director, Recruitment/Postings, for the Board of the Police Service Commission, Mr. Ferdinand Ekpe.

It stated that the posting was illegal, unconstitutional, and contrary to the provisions of the 1999 Constitution and Police Act

2020.

The letter, titled, "Re- posting of Commissioners of Police to State Commands," read, "Posting of Commissioners of Police is presently carried out by the Office of the IGP with mere information to the PSC. A case in hand is the recent posting of a CP for FCT where the IGP ordered the posting and resumption of the officer even before

the commission was informed "Note that the powers of posting of CPs to state is exclusively that of the PSC. This is a constitutional matter as enshrined in Section 215, sub- section 1B, which states that: 'there shall be a Commissioner of Police for each state of the Federation who shall be appointed by the Police Service Commission.’

This has been emphasised in Section

12, sub-section 1 and 2 of the Police Act 2020 recently signed by the President Muhammadu Buhari.

The communication to the IG further outlined the constitutional provisions in that regard. It cited Sub-section (1) of the constitution which states that, "The Police Service Commission shall appoint such numbers of Commissioners of Police as required for efficient

ATIKU CAMPAIGN WANTS NDLEA, EFCC TO ARREST, PROSECUTE TINUBU OVER DRUGS, ALLEGATIONS OF MONEY LAUNDERING to be the president of Nigeria.

The PDP presidential campaign organisation also called on President Muhammadu Buhari to protect the integrity of the Nigerian military as the commander-in-chief and the sovereignty of the nation by summoning a meeting of the National Security Council over the establishment of a parallel army (Jagaban Army) set up by Tinubu.

While calling for his arrest at a media briefing in Abuja, addressed by Director, Strategic Communication, Bashorun Dele Momodu; Media Adviser to Atiku Abubakar, Paul Ibe; Spokesperson Presidential Campaign Council, Daniel Bwala; Special Assistant, Public Communication to Atiku Abubakar, Phrank Shaibu and Spokesperson of the Presidential Campaign Council, Charles Aniagwu, the campaign council alleged that the APC candidate's public and private life reeked of corruption and criminality.

It said Nigerians have been concerned since the public outcry over the exposed design by the APC and its presidential candidate to use a parallel army, code-named the Jagaban Army, to undermine allegedly national security.

It said the outfit was an affront on the Nigeria Army designed to cause confusion, disrupt the 2023 election and derail the democratic process, noting that neither the APC campaign or Tinubu had disowned the formation or its nefarious plans.

The campaign team pooh-poohed his public records which it said was fraught with alleged inaccuracies and criminalities, noting that with the drug trafficking charges against him by the United States government for which he reached a forfeiture deal, the absence of academic records, lack of accurate data about his age and lingering money laundering investigations, Tinubu was unfit to be president.

The campaign team, which described the APC candidate as a "con man," therefore, called on Tinubu to drop his inordinate ambition for the presidency for the sake of the country.

"We are currently at a crossroads and the wrong decision could spell doom for this great nation forever.

Nigeria is battling many problems at the moment. We have banditry and terrorism ravaging many towns in the North, militants attacking oil facilities and bringing the country’s economy to its knees in the Niger Delta while secessionists are holding the southeast to ransom. It will be a huge disaster to add state sponsored drug trafficking into the mix.

"It is no longer news that Asiwaju

Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the presidential candidate of the ruling APC has direct ties to drug lords and was used as a conduit pipe to launder their funds.

Court records show that Nigerian drug kingpin, Adegboyega Muiz Akande, ran an elaborate network of heroin traffickers in Chicago, Illinois, in the 1980s.

“This investigation has revealed the identity of other individuals including relatives who have worked for Akande with various duties in the distribution organisation. One of these individuals has been identified by the investigation as Bola Tinubu.

Kevin Moss, a special agent with the Inland Revenue Service Court records showed that Akande took Tinubu to First Heritage Bank where he opened an account for himself and his wife, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, in 1989", it said.

"Tinubu revealed in documents that he worked with Mobil Nigeria Limited and his salary was $2,400 and he had no other sources of income whatsoever. But records from his First Heritage Bank account showed that in 1990, Tinubu deposited $661,000 into his individual money market account and in 1991 deposited $1,216,500 into the same money market account.

"Mobil representatives told US authorities that even though Tinubu was a treasurer, he had no direct access to the company’s cash and thus could not deposit funds on behalf of the firm.

Tinubu, ever the political Maradona, quickly entered into an agreement with US authorities and forfeited $460,000 in order to avoid jail before running back to Nigeria. But this has not changed the fact that he was in cahoots with drug dealers and was their bagman.

Nigerian law is clear", it said.

It further stated that since criminal cases had no status of limitation, the drug trafficking case against Tinubu should be reopened.

"Criminal cases have no statute of limitation and can be re-opened at any time especially for the sake of national interest. We hereby call on the NDLEA to immediately arrest Bola Ahmed Tinubu and prosecute him for drug trafficking.

Apart from the criminal angle to this call, there is also the national security aspect.

"The world will recall what happened to Panama when Manuel Noriega, a known drug lord, became President in 1983. During his six-year rule, Panama became a narcos state as Noriega became an ally of the notorious Pablo Escobar’s Medellin cartel," it said.

The Atiku Campaign Organisation

also accused the APC's standard bearer of looting the finances of Lagos State.

"Apart from his links to drug lords, Tinubu has also cornered the finances of Lagos State through several means, including land grabbing. The current land where his television station, TVC, is located on Aladelola Street, Ikosi, Ketu, was owned by the Lagos State Polytechnic until the students were forcefully ejected and relocated to Ikorodu.

"His current home in Asokoro, Abuja was owned by the Lagos State government. On the eve of his departure as governor, Tinubu signed an obnoxious law that would ensure that he and his family would continue to feed fat on the finances of the state," it alleged.

"The law known as the Public Office Holder (Payment of Pension) Law No 11 official Gazette of Lagos State, 2007 says that a former governor will be given a house in Abuja and Lagos and six brand new cars every three years, 100 per cent of the basic salary of the serving governor, (N7.7m per annum) free health care for himself and members of his family", the Atiku campaign stated further.

It further maintained that, "the law also says a former governor will be entitled to furniture allowance, which is 300 per cent of their annual basic salary (N23.3m); house maintenance allowance, which is 10 per cent of basic salary (N778, 296); utility allowance, which is 20 per cent of the salary (N1.5m) and car maintenance allowance, which is 30 per cent of the annual basic salary (N2.3m).

"Other benefits include entertainment allowance, which is 10 per cent of the basic salary (N778,296) and a personal assistant, who will earn 25 per cent of the governor’s annual basic salary (N1.9m).”

The Atiku campaign, therefore, raised the alarm that the country was headed in the wrong direction should such a man be elected to be at the helm of affairs.

"Dear Nigerians, we are currently at a crossroads and the wrong decision could spell doom for this great nation forever. Nigeria is battling many problems at the moment.

“We have banditry and terrorism ravaging many towns in the north, militants attacking oil facilities and bringing the country’s economy to its knees in the Niger Delta while secessionists are holding the southeast to ransom. It will be a huge disaster to add state sponsored drug trafficking into the mix.

"In the unfortunate event of a Bola

Tinubu Presidency, Nigerians will be plunged into a drug crisis that would make the Colombia situation a child’s play. With easy access to drugs, there will be an increase in violence. Nigerians cannot risk this.

“In fact, on March 20, 2021, the Chairman of the NDLEA, Brig.

Gen. Buba Marwa (retd.) said the South-West had the highest drug abuse cases in the country at 22.4 per cent," it stated.

It further noted that, "On October 28, 2021, the Principal Staff Officer in charge of Treatment and Rehabilitation, NDLEA, Oyo State Command, Titilope Asiru, said in Ibadan at a drug-free symposium Continued on page 52

TONYE COLE TO BUHARI: DECLARE STATE OF EMERGENCY IN RIVERS State PDP Chairman, Desmond Akawor, in Ward 3 of Oyigbo Local Government Area to deny Senator Magnus Abe access to the community for a party meeting.

He also said the attacks had since spread to other parts of the state and become more audacious, targeting campaigns by the opposition parties and their candidates.

Last week alone, Cole pointed out that his party and Accord Party had the governorship campaigns of their respective candidates disrupted.

He stressed that during the Port Harcourt City Local Government Area rally of the APC, which held at the Rumuwoji traditional grounds in the Mile 1 Diobu area of the capital on Thursday, January 19, 2023, the venue came under attack with Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs).

Cole added, “This dastardly attack left five members of the APC injured with shrapnel extracted from their bodies while receiving emergency medical attention.

“Those injured were a male and four females: Hope Isaac, Paul Oghonomu, Felicia Gogo, Amba Lizzy Frank and Angela Gift-Koko of Wards 6 and 20 of Port Harcourt City Local Government Area.”

Less than three days after another attack on the APC Port Harcourt rally, Cole revealed that the campaign convoy of Dumo LuluBriggs, governorship candidate of Accord Party, on Saturday came under yet another attack by alleged PDP thugs wielding guns and other dangerous weapons.

Cole stated, “Observers of Rivers politics trace the foundation of the unprovoked attacks by antidemocratic forces to the enactment of Executive Orders 21 and 22 by Governor Nyesom Wike prohibiting political campaigns in public places, particularly government-owned schools.

“The Executive Orders also imposed a non-refundable cautionary deposit of N5 million on political parties for use of the facilities in each local government area, in contravention of limitations imposed on campaign financing by political parties and politicians in the Electoral Act 2022.”

Furthermore, the APC gubernatorial candidate said Wike had taken further steps which point squarely at him as the architect of the climate of political violence that has besieged the state. He quoted Wike as having directed his loyalists to approach the 2023 general election with a belligerent mentality. "It is a fight to finish. Do not be afraid," Wike was quoted to have told his supporters.

Cole said, “Emboldened by the governor's reckless instigation, the factional PDP thugs have charged at the opposition parties campaigns and the splinter group supporting the presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, with renewed vigour.

Campaign materials, such as billboards are destroyed with relish while opposition rallies are disrupted to the delight of the state government.

“As tense as the political environment has become in Rivers State, evoking memories of the mindless violence, bloodshed and killings of APC members that attended Wike's approach to the 2015 general elections, Rivers people are concerned that the Commissioner of Police, Rivers State Command, Okon Effiong Okon, is lending impetus to the ongoing thuggery of the PDP. “When Wike painted the attack on the APC rally as a product of an internal crisis within the Rumuwoji community to whittle down the burden of guilt on his conscience, he only re-echoed the Commissioner of Police who declared that no IED was

used in the attack prior to directing the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Operations, and the bomb disposal unit to investigate the incident.

“Regardless of the prejudicial position of the police commissioner who has clearly reneged on his pledge at assumption of office in October last year to uphold the rights of Nigerians and guarantee freedom to all political parties in the build up to the 2023 elections to operate, we reiterate that the APC rally was attacked and same was an attempt by the ruling party to intimidate and chase away APC supporters.”

According to him, the police cannot afford not to be neutral in Rivers State if the mission of the Commissioner of Police was peace keeping, recalling that the same commissioner had turned down his party’s request for police security to march on a peaceful protest against the Wike’s executive orders.

He noted that the governing party in the state had never hidden its intentions to refuse opposition political parties campaign freedom or participation in a free and fair electoral process.

Cole said, “We, therefore, reiterate our earlier call on security agencies, particularly the Commissioner of Police, Rivers State Command and Director of Department of State Services (DSS) to call the governor to order.

“Let Wike call off the urge to use his supporters to fight in the state thereby disrupting a peaceful transition of power after the general election.

“Rivers people deserve a right to elect a government of their own choice and no one should be seen abusing his office to thwart the people's rights which the constitution guarantees because he has a selfish agenda to impose his successor on the state.”

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NEWS

Group News Editor: Goddy Egene Email: Goddy.egene@thisdaylive.com, 0803 350 6821, 08074010580

PDP WINS OVER NAJAATU MOHAMMAD...

PDP Presidential Candidate, Atiku Abubakar (left) and former Member, All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council, Najaatu Mohammad, during her visit to Atiku in Abuja...yesterday

Ahead of Buhari’s Inauguration, First Commercial Vessel Berths at $1.5bn Lekki Deep Sea Port Eromosele Abiodun Following the arrival of three Ship-to-Shore cranes and 10 Rubber-Tyred Gantries, critical to the beginning of operations of the Lekki Deep Seaport June last year, the first commercial vessel berthed at the port yesterday. This came

ahead of President Muhammadu Buhari’s inauguration of the $1.5 billion Lekki Deep Sea Port.

Breaking the news on its official Twitter handle, the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), yesterday, said the arrival of the vessel owned and operated by French shipping firm, CMA/CGM, represented

NDLEA Intercepts Cocaine, Skunk Consignments from Brazil, Canada Arrests blind grandpa, notorious leper in connection with drug Michael Olugbode in Abuja Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have thwarted attempts by drug cartels to bring 126.95 kilogrammes of cocaine and skunk concealed in herbal tea packs and imported vehicles from Brazil and Canada into the country through the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu and the Tincan seaport in Lagos.

In a statement yesterday, the spokesman of the anti-narcotics agency, Femi Babafemi said at the Enugu airport, an Ethiopian Airline male passenger, Eze Ikenna, 42, coming from Brazil via Addis Ababa, Ethiopia was intercepted on arrival at the airport at about 12:30pm last Friday, and a search of his two bags revealed 19 big sachets which he claimed to contain herbal tea but were later found to be cocaine weighing 16.2 kilogrammes He added that a joint examination carried out on a container marked TCLU 7799237 from Montreal, Canada at Sifax Okota Bonded Terminal by NDLEA operatives attached to Tincan Command of the agency last led to the discovery of 110.75 kilogrammes of cannabis Indica concealed in two of the four vehicles in the container: a 2011 Toyota Sienna and a 2011 Honda Pilot SUV. Babafemi said: “Deliberate efforts to cut access to illicit opioids by the agency again

paid off on Tuesday when a consignment of tramadol NDLEA operatives have been tracking for some months was eventually traced to a warehouse at Greenfield estate, Amuwo Odofin area of Lagos. When the store was opened, a total of 1,645,560 pills of tramadol 100mg, 200mg and 225mg were recovered.

“Another 60,000 pills of tramadol 250mg were equally recovered from a wanted drug dealer, Diugwu Alphonsus in Bariga area of the state same day while raids carried out in Akala area of Mushin on Wednesday 18th and Friday 20th January led to the recovery of 781.7 kilogrammes of cannabis.”

He disclosed that in Osun State, the NDLEA officers last Friday, took into custody a blind 67-yearold grandpa, Aliyu Adebiyi, in whose house they found 234 kilogrammes of cannabis at Sokoto village, Owena Ijesa, Atakumosa East local government area. He was said to have in his statement stated that a drug dealer kept the consignment with him for a fee of N6,000 per month and paid for three months upfront.

Babafemi also disclosed that a leper notorious for drug dealing, Haruna Abdullahi, 45, was arrested at Garko town, Kano last Thursday while 2.2 kilogrammes of cannabis and various quantities of Diazepam and Exol were recovered from him.

a major step toward birthing Nigeria’s first deep seaport.

NPA stated, "Ahead of President’s commissioning of @LekkiPort for commercial operations tomorrow (Monday), one of the largest container vessels, the CMA-CGM, has berthed at the port. Once more, @ NigerianPorts has proven that it is prepared to offer marine services for seamless port operations."

Buhari is billed to inaugurate the Lekki Deep Seaport for commercial operations in Lagos State today.

The Lekki Deep Seaport is a state-of-the-art facility that is the largest seaport and one of the biggest in West Africa that would revolutionise the way goods are transported and traded in Nigeria.

Speaking to newsmen recently, the promoters disclosed that the Lekki Port would not only improve efficiency and connectivity, but would also serve as a major driver for economic growth in the region.

An official of the company said, “The port’s main breakwater is 1.5 km long with a turning circle of 600 meters, enough for a vessel up to 16,000 standard containers (teu) and an approach channel of 11 km long. The port has three terminals: the container terminal, the liquid terminal and the dry bulk terminal. The container terminal has an initial draft of 14 metres, with the potential for further dredging to 16.5 metres.

The terminal is able to handle 2.5 million twenty-foot standard

containers per year.

“The deep-sea port of Lekki is the first port in Nigeria with ship-to-shore cranes. It has three of these container gantry cranes; they belong to the ‘Super-postPanamax’ group – this means that they can reach and unload the rearmost row of containers even if the container ship is wider than the Panama Canal (49 m or 160ft maximum boat beam).”

He added, “The STS cranes have a fixed rail at the quayside.

They can lift 65 tons in twin-lift mode, 50 tons in single-lift mode or 85 tons under a hook. The port’s computerised system will allow container identification and clearance from the office, and human interaction will be minimal in the physical operations. When

the phase 2 is completed, the deep sea port will have 3 liquid berths.

“The liquid cargo terminal will handle vessels up to 45,000 DWT (dead weight tonnage) and can expand to reach a capacity of 160,000 DWT. Liquids (like petrol or diesel) will be handled at a tank farm near the port.

The docking area is equipped with loading arms. It is also connected by pipelines along the breakwater.”

Speaking ahead of the commencement of operation, Managing Director of the company, Du Ruogang, assured that after the official commissioning by Buhari, the port would be fully set for the start of commercial operations.

Discos Apologise as Nigerians Suffer Prolonged Power Outages due to Insufficient Electricity Generation, Allocation Peter Uzoho Amid the current nationwide power supply outages and the sufferings caused Nigerians due to low power generation and resultant inadequate load allocation to distribution companies (Discos) by the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), many of the Discos have continued to apologise to their customers.

The outages, which started last week in many of the Discos' franchise areas in the country has worsened the energy crisis facing Nigerian citizens, who have been battling with petrol scarcity and price hike across the country since last year.

THISDAY observed that many electricity consumers, especially those on Band C, D and E, which are areas that receive the lowest duration of power supply, have been having prolonged power outages since last week.

The Discos including Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC), Ikeja Electric (IE), Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC), Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC), Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHEDC), Abuja Discos among others have blamed the

situation to the drop in power generation.

They also attributed the situation to the TCN, whom they said had been forced to reduce load allocation to Discos as power generated and sent to the TCN-managed national grid had declined lately.

In its notice to customers, EKEDC said the irregular power supply being experienced by them was due to reduced load capacity from the national grid.

In a statement signed by the Disco's General Manager, Corporate Communications, Mr. Godwin Idemudia, EKEDC apologised to its customers in Lagos and Ogun states over irregular power supply they were currently experiencing.

According to him, the outage affected some customers in some parts of Badagry, Lagos, and Ogun State under Agbara District of the company.

He assured the residents that normalcy would be restored to the affected communities as soon as the capacity was increased.

Idemudia added: “What we are presently getting from the Grid is not enough to meet the demand of our customers.

"At the same time, this is to notify our esteemed customers in Lagos Island of an impending maintenance

work scheduled for Sunday, Jan.22, between 9am -1pm.

“This maintenance work will require Fowler injection substation to be temporarily shut down. So, Ikoyi and environs under Island District, will be out of supply during the period of the outage.

“We are therefore appealing to customers to bear with us. EKEDC highly regrets any inconveniences caused by this irregular supply.”

He also implored the company’s customers to be vigilant at this crucial time to prevent hoodlums from vandalising their cables.

On its part, Ikeja Electric in its notice published on the company's Twitter handle, also apologised for the current poor power supply being experienced in certain parts of their network lately.

"This is due to the inadequate allocation received, hence the load shedding. We regret the inconvenience this has caused and wish to assure that we are engaging the responsible stakeholders in the electricity value chain to improve the situation.

"This is due to a drop in power generation and allocation. Our technical team is working with relevant stakeholders to improve the situation," Ikeja Disco added.

In the same vein, BEDC in a

statement, empathise with its customers over the shortage of supply currently being experienced in its franchise states.

According to Benin Disco, "We regret the inconvenience cause by the situation, and appeal for your patience and understanding even as we relentlessly engage stakeholders in the electricity value chain, in a bid to resolve the situation and improve supply."

However, EEDC in its statement, said power generated on 18 January, 2023 stood at 3,650 megawatts (mw), adding that, "Out of this quantum generated, allocation to EEDC was 268mw. This would be distributed across Abia, Anambra, Ebony, Enugu and Imo States."

Also, Abuja Disco in an update to customers, said total power allocated to it by the TCN were 377mw on January 18 and 404mw on January 29, 2023 for distribution to its franchise areas in Abuja, Nasarawa, Kogi and Niger States.

It also attributed the current power supply to the inadequate power allocation by the TCN, appealing to its customers to be patient while it worked with stakeholders to improve the situation.

Continued online

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NEWS

MUTUAL BENEFITS ASSURANCE PLC 27TH YEAR THANKSGIVING SERVICE… L-R: Managing Director/CEO, Mutual Benefits Life Assurance Ltd, Biyi Ashiru-Mobolaji; Chairman, Mutual Benefits Assurance Plc, Dr. Akin Ogunbiyi; his wife, Dotun; Managing Director/CEO, Mutual Benefits Assurance Plc, Mr. Femi Asenuga, and Head, Technical, Mutual Benefits Assurance, Joseph Oladokun, during the 27th year thanksgiving service held in Lagos...weekend

CBN Harps on Adoption of Digital Banking Channels, Moves against Banks Loading Old Notes Warns against hoarding new currencies as Rivers residents lament poor circulation Yobe governor appeals for extension of deadline Apex bank takes awareness campaign to Bauchi, solicits Emir's support Michael Olugbode in Damaturu, Segun Awofadeji in Bauchi, Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt, Okon Bassey in Uyo and Amby Uneze in Owerri With seven days to the January 31, 2023 deadline for the phasing out of the old N200, N500 and N1, 000 banknotes, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) at the weekend reiterated the need for bank customers to embrace its cashless policy and the use of alternative banking channels.

The central bank also alleged that commercial banks that continued to load their Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) with the old currencies were frustrating its naira redesign project.

Some CBN officials who spoke in Port Harcourt during a sensitation and public awareness exercise, also warned commercial banks against hoarding the new currencies.

That was as bank customers in Rivers State lamented poor circulation of the new bank notes.

In Yobe State, the governor, Hon. Mai Mala Buni, appealed to the CBN to extend the January 31 deadline for the return of the old N200, N500 and N1, 000 banknotes, saying residents of the state should be given special concession.

Buni’s request came few days after governors of the 36 states under the aegis of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), said they were not opposed to the naira redesign project of the CBN. However, in continuation of its public awareness and sensitisation exercise ahead of the January 31 deadline, the central bank has solicited the support of the Emir of Bauchi, Alhaji Rilwanu Sulaiman Adamu, to help in sensitising his subjects to deposit monies in their custody in the banks before it became too late.

Responding to complaints by customers, Branch Controller of the CBN in Port Harcourt, Mr. Maxwell Okafor, revealed that the apex bank disbursed about N2.5 billion of the redesigned banknotes to commercial banks in Port Harcourt daily. Okafor regretted that bank officials were frustrating the efforts of the central bank to ensure speedy circulation of the naira notes across Rivers State.

Okafor spoke also at the weekend during an on-the-spot assessment of banks’ ATM galleries, sensitisation of traders and the general public

on the notes, in Port Harcourt and Obio-Akpor local government areas of the state.

The CBN boss in Port Harcourt wondered why bank officials would not implement the directive of the apex bank even as the deadline of January 31 was fast approaching.

Okafor revealed that between last Thursday and Friday, the CBN dispensed over N4. 5billion to the commercial banks in the state capital.

Okafor, alongside Deputy Director, Strategy Management Department of CBN, Abuja, Emenike Eleonu, and other enforcement monitoring team members on the new redesigned notes, noticed at the various banks in Port Harcourt that some banks were hoarding the naira notes in their vaults.

Okafor said, "We have been monitoring the dispensing of the new naira notes and the impression we have is not encouraging. We have visited some banks and one of the banks we visited was not dispensing the new naira note. Their ATMs were not functioning even as early as the time we came. We had it on good authority that the banks received money from CBN. Some of these banks received money yesterday (Thursday) and the money is still in their vaults.

"There is no explanation for their actions and CBN has warned that there will be serious consequences for hoarding this new naira notes and giving it to special customers.

"We stopped dispensing old currencies since the new currency came out. There is no reason why the ATMs should not dispense money and the money they collected are in the vault.”

Eleonu also said there was no doubt that some banks were trying to frustrate what CBN was doing. He said some of the banks had the new naira notes but are not dispensing it to customers.

Earlier, some bank customers in Port Harcourt decried scarcity of the redesigned currencies across banks in the state capital. The residents made the observation when the monitoring team from the CBN visited some of the commercial banks in Port Harcourt, as well as market places where they sensitised the public on the new notes.

Mr. Kwasendi Jimmy, a public servant at one of the First Bank

branches on Aba Road, Port Harcourt, expressed dissatisfaction with the level of circulation of the new banknotes.

He explained how he visited ATMs for days to withdraw cash but wasn’t successful.

Jimmy alleged that the bank loaded the new currencies in the machine when it realised that the central bank officials were on a monitoring exercise.

Another resident, who spoke with THISDAY at Access Bank along Trans-Amadi road, Port Harcourt, said he visited the bank's ATM galleries but could not withdraw the new currencies.

At the Mile One market, Ama Ezekiel pleaded with the CBN to listen to public outcry and extend the date.

Ezekiel, a trader at the Rumuwoji Modern Market, Port Harcourt, said she was not against redesigning of the currency, but he rejected the deadline given for expiration of the old notes.

Mr. Chimezie Bright, who also trades at the Mile One Market, lamented the scarcity of the new notes at the banks.

In a related development, Buni said the appeal for an extension of the deadline became necessary due to lack of banking services in many parts of the state. The governor explained that only four out of the 17 local government areas of the state had banks, making it difficult for people in the remaining 13 local government areas to access banking services.

Buni said,. “Some of the banks with branches in the local government areas closed the branches at the peak of the Boko Haram security challenge but are yet to reopen in spite of the improved security in the state.

"The CBN should be considerate to provide special services to such areas with special needs to avoid making them victims and losing their money.

"The CBN and commercial banks should as a matter of urgent public interest deploy alternative services at their disposal to salvage the situation.

"As a regulatory body, the CBN should also ensure commercial banks open branches in the local government council headquarters now that there is improved peace and security across the state."

Buni said the improved security in Yobe State and the wider North-east generally make it conducive for the banks to resume operations and open new branches in the local government council headquarters and other towns.

He expressed fears that until something urgent was done, many people might not be able to change to the new notes.

The governor said, “As a government we made these observations earlier but the challenge is still there and needs the intervention of the CBN to save the situation.”

In Bauchi, CBN solicited the support of the Emir to help in sensitising his subjects.

Director, Medical Service Department of CBN, Dr. Abdullahi Jibrin, who led other officials of the bank to the Emir's palace at the weekend, said the aim of the initiative was to mop up cash outside the banking system.

Jibrin stated, "From the basic rudiments of economics, once you have too much money in the hands of people, inflation goes up. So, we want to mop up, all money should

be brought back into the bank and by so doing, inflation will go down."

He explained that the royal fathers were being involved due to their access to people at the grassroots to help enhance the awareness campaign effort of the CBN. Jibrin added that with the help of the traditional rulers, 10 days was more than enough for the campaign to reach the grassroots.

"That is why we are pleading with them to partner with us so that we can reach down to the grassroots to enable us mop up the monies in their possession," he said.

The Director, Medical Service Department of the CBN stated that the top management of the bank had given approval that people in the rural areas who had N10, 000 and below could have them exchanged with the new Naira notes.

"Remember, what we are doing now is asking people to take their monies to their account, we are not exchanging, so, the only leeway given now is for N10, 000 and below for the downtrodden masses,” he said.

While responding, the Emir of Bauchi commended the federal government and the central bank for initiating various monetary policies aimed at impacting positively the lives of the citizenry. He expressed hope that the policy being undertaken by the CBN would help in reviving the economy.

The Emir assured the CBN of the readiness of the traditional leaders to pass down the message to their subjects to enable them understand the reason behind the naira redesign.

He said, "The initiative has been given different interpretations, but thank God that we have also come to realise what the policy is all about.

We will inform our people that the policy was not initiated to cause any problem, but to help the masses and help the economy of our country."

Similarly, in Akwa Ibom State, CBN yesterday called on Nigerians to embrace the cashless policy.

Deputy Director of CBN, Mr. Dominic Ekanemesang, made the call when officials of the bank visited the Sacred Heart Catholic Parish, Aka Offot, in the Akwa Ibom State capital, for a sensitisation campaign on the redesigned naira notes. Ekanemesang stressed that CBN was committed to achieving a cashless economy, aimed at reducing too much money in the circulation.

He emphasised the importance of the cashless economy in tackling illicit financial transactions in the country, including terrorism financing and money laundering.

Ekanemesang said, "We are here to carry out sensitisation on the new currency redesign. And we are carrying out this across all the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

"The benefit of the new currency redesign is to ensure that the CBN monetary policy is effective. We are moving to cashless economy to ensure that we don't have too much money in circulation. The essence of the currency redesign is to ensure that the monetary policy of the CBN is achieved. We want to safeguard the financial system.

Continued online

Buhari, Tinubu Celebrate Keyamo at 53 Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

President Muhammadu Buhari has joined the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu and other leaders and members of the party in congratulating the Minister of State, Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo (SAN) on his 53rd birthday.

In a statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, Buhari saluted the “courage, confidence and

brilliance” of the former Minister of State, Niger Delta, and human rights activist.

Buhari lauded the senior lawyer for having thrown his wealth of knowledge and experience in championing the governing party, and also for accepting the role of Director of Strategic Communications for the Presidential Campaign Council.

“The president acknowledges the sacrifices of the party stalwart and his dedication to duty, especially in

pursuing the welfare of the people through laudable initiatives like providing a framework for long-term social security.

“President Buhari notes the courage, confidence, and brilliance that the legal luminary brings to the table in shaping policies and his commitment to creating an understanding of the position of government in serving Nigerians,” the statement stressed.

Buhari prayed that God will keep Keyamo and his family on the path

of good health and wisdom, as he continues serving the nation.

In the same vein, Tinubu in a personal letter to Keyamo, noted that the lawyer’s life has been hallmarked by service to his people and country.

“You have fought for democracy and good governance. And using the instrumentality of the law, you have also fought against injustice and oppression. As a member of our progressive front, you have distinguished yourself.

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T H I S D AY ˾ MONDAY JANUARY 23, 2023

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Acting Group Politics Editor DEJI ELUMOYE

POLITICS

Email: deji.elumoye@thisdaylive.com 08033025611 SMS ONLY

M O N D AY D I S C O U R S E Will 2023 Election Candidates Adhere to Letters of Peace Accord?

Udora Orizu writes that reports of violent attacks on candidates of various political parties by perceived political enemies are worrisome, and calls for order, unity and respect for the peace accord recently signed by presidential candidates

Kwankwaso

Obi

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ith less than 40 days to the 2023 presidential poll in Nigeria, the presidential flag-bearers of the 18 recognized political parties, on January 20, 2023 for the second time in months signed a Peace Accord committing themselves to a peaceful campaign towards the 2023 general election.

The signing of the peace accord is coming four months after the first one was signed.

The first signing was done in September 2022. The event, which was organised by the National Peace Committee (NPC) chaired by former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, took place at the International Conference Centre (ICC), Abuja.

While the presidential candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu was absent, Peter Obi, candidate of the Labour

Party; Atiku Abubakar, candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP); Rabiu Kwankwaso, flagbearer of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP); and Omoyele Sowore, flag-bearer of the African Action Congress (AAC), were present during the first ceremony.

The Initiative Nigerian elections is known to be very violent and post-election violence is even worse. In 2003, 2007, and 2011, the incumbent president, Muhammadu Buhari, believed elections were rigged against him to allow Olusegun Obasanjo, Umaru Yar’Adua, and Goodluck Jonathan to coast to

Tinubu

Atiku

victory. In the election cycles aforementioned, violence erupted in some Northern cities, leading to the loss of lives and valuable properties.

Ahead of the 2015 general elections, the Goodluck Jonathan-led administration initiated a series of conversations with political stakeholders on peace-building.

The goal was to ensure political actors embraced a more civil approach during campaigns for office.

Eventually, a National Sensitisation Workshop on Non-Violence was held on January 14th 2015, where presidential candidates, including Muhammadu Buhari, and their political parties signed a peace accord to behave themselves on the campaign trail.

The main promises in the pact were to run issue-based campaigns and not engage in ethno-religious provocations that could lead

to violence.

In 2019, the National Peace Committee, chaired by General Abdulsalami Abubakar used the opportunity of the accord to hold the candidates and their political parties accountable to their pledges of accepting the election outcome provided it is adjudged to be free, fair, and credible.

While the initiators and the organisers of the Peace Accord deserve commendation, as they meant well for Nigeria and Nigerians, over the years there is no evidence that the Peace Accord has been subscribed to by politicians, except maybe Jonathan’s acceptance of defeat in 2015, which can be likened to who he is as a person.

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

Makinde Still in Eye of the Storm over Atiku Kemi Olaitan reports that with Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State tactically supporting the Peoples Democratic Party, presidential rally held recently in Ibadan, the state capital, he may need to take a definite position before long on the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar

Makinde

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he crisis within the main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) which has pitched a group, “Integrity Group” led by G-5 Governors namely Nyesom Wike of Rivers State; Samuel Ortom of Benue State; Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State; Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu state and Makinde, and other notable leaders such as former governors and former Ministers, against the national leadership of the party, which saw them turning their back on the presidential campaign of the presidential candidate of the party, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has continued

Atiku

to be the talking point with the presidential election just few weeks away.

While the former Vice President has refused to be weighed down by the stand of the Integrity Group and forged ahead with his campaign across the six geo-political zones in the country, political observers have however consistently raised fear about the political fortune of a party which was in power in the country for 16 years.

Ladoja

However for political analysts the tide may be changing with what unfolded when the campaign train of the Waziri of Adamawa birthed at the ancient Mapo Hall, in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital and the political headquarters of the South West region last Thursday.

The event was witnessed by large turnout of party supporters including top government functionaries and loyalists of Governor Seyi Makinde, a staunch member of the Integrity Group, state party Chairman, Hon. Dayo Ogungbenro; National Assembly candidates; state Assembly candidates and party sup-

porters from the 33 local government areas of the state and even beyond displaying banners with various inscriptions and adorning themselves with fez-cap and t-shirt crested with Atiku/Okowa emblem, while singing victory songs for all the candidates of PDP in 2023 poll.

Governor Makinde despite not being physically present was acknowledged by all the speakers including Atiku Abubakar.

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

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FEATURES

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

Lamentations as Fuel Price, Scarcity, Bite Harder in Lagos In this report, Sunday Ehigiator chronicles the frustrations of the ‘Common Nigerian’ in Lagos State as they deal with the unending fuel scarcity, subsequent increment in pump price and the attendant pain on commuters and businesses

Fuel Queue in Lagos

“I

have been in this queue since 6 am. This is noon and it is not yet my turn. I am an interstate transporter who shuttles between Lagos state and Ibadan from Monday to Sunday.

“Due to this scarcity, I have limited my work to just Monday to Friday, and use Saturday and Sunday to hustle for fuel to work for the next week. I have equally cut down on the number of trips I do daily.

“Before the scarcity, I used to do five trips daily beginning from 5 am. With the scarcity, I now do three trips and charge passengers higher for the trips due to the cost of fueling, because sometimes, if I couldn’t get fuel at Conoil, Total, or NNPC which are the only ones selling at the official rate of N170 and now N185/litre, I resort to either black market where they sell sometimes as high as N500/litre or other filling stations that sell at an unofficial rate which goes as high as N300/litre.

“Before the scarcity, we charged passengers N1500 per trip to Ibadan, but now, we charge as high as N4,000. It is not easy for passengers to pay just as it's difficult for us to also get fuel, but what do we do?

“It is out of being considerate to passengers so to charge them less per trip that is why I am on this queue so I can get the product at the new official rate of N185.”

The above conversation was a transporter, simply identified as Moruf, who spoke to THISDAY on Saturday, January 21, 2023, at a filling station around Ikorodu, while struggling to buy fuel.

Worsening Scarcity Over three months after the scarcity of the Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), otherwise known as petrol emerged in many parts of the country, attributable to an alleged increase in ex-depot price, debt and logistics challenges, the situation appears to be getting worse with many Nigerians buying the product at a premium at the black market or waiting endlessly in prolonged queues for the product at the regulated price.

More so, the continued scarcity has exacerbated worries among Nigerians in the past few days in Lagos and other cities across the country.

Uneven Pump Prices Across multiple filling stations monitored in Lagos from Ikeja, Ogba, Berger, Ketu, Ojota, Oshodi, Owode-Onirin, Okota, Isolo, Jakande Estate, Bucknor, Ikotun, Ajah, Ijede, Maryland, Mile 12, and even Ikorodu, the majority of the stations were closed due to lack of supply of the product, while those opened were filled with stranded customers who queued up with empty containers, and cars.

While the pump price of Total, NNPC, Conoil, Mobil etc. stood at a regulated price of N185, other filling stations such as Slab, Jezco, Petrocam, Rainoil, and Heyden, and so many others sold between N250 and N320 per litre as of Saturday, January 21, 2023.

Long queues for fuel somewhere in Lagos

Some filling stations were even hanky-panky about their pump price. They advertise that they are selling the product for the regulated price of N185, but upon entering to purchase the product, the fuel attendant tells the customer by word of mouth that they are selling at a higher pump price.

For example, a filling station within the Irawo area, along Ikorodu road (name withheld) displayed N170 on their advert board but told customers at the point of sales by word of mouth that they were selling for N250.

Confusion over Price Hike There was confusion galore on January 21, in the oil sector after the Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN) increased the price of petrol to N185 per litre while the Minister of State Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva, denied any such increase.

He said mischief makers were the brains behind the claims of an increase in the price of fuel.

He said in a statement through his Senior Adviser (Media & Communications), Horatius Egua, that President Muhammadu Buhari has not approved any price increase for PMS. According to him, “The President has not directed the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) or any agency for that matter to increase the price of fuel. This is not the time for any price increase in the pump price of PMS. “What is playing out is the handiwork of mischief makers and those planning to discredit the achievements of Mr President in the oil and gas sector of the economy.”

However, THISDAY findings of Saturday, January 21, 2023, upon visitation, revealed that NNPC, Total Energies, Nipco, Enyo, Forte and North-West, and Conoil have all changed their pump prices to N185 per litre and are selling at the same rate.

The development has fueled speculations that the federal government may have subtly

begun the removal of subsidy on petrol and by extension, a complete deregulation of the sector, which for long has been the clamour of both MOMAN and IPMAN. Supply dropped by 40% In another development on January 20, the Deputy President of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Zarma Mustapha, disclosed that petrol supply to marketers by private depots had dropped by about 40 per cent.

Speaking on a popular Television station on fuel scarcity, Mustapha, admitted that there was some confusion in the sector and independent marketers do not “really understand what is going on.”

He also said supply to marketers by private depots has dropped by about 40 per cent.

The volume of petrol imported by NNPC, according to him, has been affecting the ‘paucity of the funds’ of the federal government.

He said: “Because of that, the supply that we receive as marketers at the loading points, we believe we don’t get what we usually get even 50 per cent of what we get.

“Sometime in July, August, the volume of lifts we had and what we have today has dropped by about 50 per cent or 40 per cent.”

State Government Tackle Fuel Scarcityinduced Traffic In a separate development on January 20, the Lagos State Government directed all major and independent petroleum marketers operating along major roads in the State to open between 9 am and 4 pm on weekdays.

The directive, according to the state’s Commissioner of Transportation Dr Frederic Oladeinde, is to help reduce the impact of their activities on the traffic situation, which continues to worsen as the scarcity of the essential commodity lingers.

Oladeinde said the 9 am to 4 pm order would be sustained until the fuel shortage crisis subsides, and also warned that any operator who refuses to comply with the directive henceforth would be heavily sanctioned.

He added that the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), Vehicle Inspection Service (VIS), Transport Operations Compliance Unit (TOCU) and other Law Enforcement Agencies have been charged to ensure a seamless flow of traffic across the state.

‘Lagosians’ Laments There is no sign of respite yet in Lagos over the biting fuel scarcity as Nigerians

Before the scarcity, we charged passengers N1500 per trip to Ibadan, but now, we charge as high as N4,000.

It is not easy for passengers to pay just as it's difficult for us to also get fuel, but what do we do

decried the long queues in few filling stations dispensing fuel. This is just as the situation has resulted in a hike in transportation fares in Lagos amidst lamentation from residents.

Speaking with THISDAY after jostling for fuel, a Businessman, Cyril Okafor said, “I am very sad with the way things are in this country. Even when you have the money, you can’t even get fuel.

“I run a computer services business. Light is not constant, so we run the generator for most of the day every day. But how do we work when we can’t get fuel to power the generator even though we have the money to buy the fuel?

“Buhari should do something about this as soon as possible because we are losing money. For instance, all through yesterday, Friday, my shop was closed and I told my staff to go home because I couldn’t get fuel.

And I can’t continue to patronise the black market and lose the little profit I make from this business.”

Also speaking, a car owner and Civil Servant, simply identified as Mrs Grace said she has after three failed attempts to buy fuel over the week due to the long queues, “I finally succeeded today. I woke up around 4 am and prepare to come here.

“I got here at exactly 5:30 am and still met over 50 cars in the queue already waiting in line to get fuel here in total. I asked one of them if they slept there, and the man said yes that he slept in his car, that he is a transporter and needed fuel so badly.

“Eventually they started selling around 6 am and it was my turn at 10 am. This is so frustrating. I am even happy that Total is selling at the normal price. In some other filling stations, the cost they sell is synonymous with you buying black market.

“Government should please come to our aid. We are suffering. Buhari please help us.

I know you are leaving office soon, but try to leave with a good name so that Nigerians will have at least one good thing to say about you when you leave.”

Another resident, Oluwatobi Akinbode said, “This is the worst government I have ever experienced in this country. Nothing is working. No food, no light, no fuel and there is hunger everywhere.

“Fuel controls virtually every part of our life. Yet the government chose to suffer us with it. This has gone over five months since last year. We have been struggling for fuel for over five months and Buhari feels unconcerned about it. He is busy travelling everywhere with our fuel and taxes, yet we the people can’t buy fuel or food in the market.

“Only God can help us. And he has allowed us to make things right for this country, come February 25, 2023. Let us all go and get our PVCs and vote out the bad government.”

Beyond motorists and commuters, businesses have been crippled by the fuel scarcity.

For most who were already battling the epileptic power supply, the fuel scarcity made things doubly worse.

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FEATURES

Identifying Perpetrators of Insecurity in S’East There have been varying ideas of who the perpetrators of violence in the South East are, and this has led to the term 'unknown gunmen'. David-Chyddy Eleke, in this report, identifies all those fingered as being involved

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hile many believe that the insecurity in the South east is the handiwork of secessionist group, Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), others are of the view that those responsible are common criminals, hiding under the guise of freedom fighting to make a huge gains off their criminal enterprise, but yet another set of people believe that the South-east has been infiltrated by a bunch of blood suckers who are mostly of Fulani origin, and whose goal is to conquer and dominate the region.

For close to two years since after the EndSARS protest in October 2020, the South-east has come under serious security threat, leading to invasion of communities, destruction of properties, kidnapping and killing of prominent individuals, while the lucky ones were let off the hook after payment of ransom.

There have also been communities whose bushes have been annexed and made into camps, where the criminals stay and perpetuate their criminal activities. Many roads within 2021 and 2022 were declared unsafe because of the nefarious activities of criminal elements, while in many communities in Anambra, Enugu and Imo States, residents abandoned their homes because of the level of insecurity.

Depending on the method of perpetuation of crime and the localities, many people have accused different groups of being responsible.

For example, in parts of Nsukka area in Enugu State, the killing of people in Ehamufu area have been attributed to Fulani herdsmen, who are said to have sacked communities and killed many.

In Orlu area of Imo State, secessionist group, IPOB and their militant organisation; Eastern Security Network (ESN) has been fingered for the level of criminal activities in the area. Also in Ihiala and NNewi South Area of Anambra State, the criminal acts of killings, kidnapping and robbery have been largely heaped on ESN too.

On the other hand, in defense of itself, IPOB has repeatedly insisted that the ESN operatives only live in bushes, guarding the territory from invading terrorists Fulani herdsmen, while turning around to accuse the South east zonal militia created by South East governors, known as Ebubeagu.

Repeatedly, IPOB through its spokesperson, Emma Powerful claimed that the South-east governors created Ebubeagu to whittle down the powers of ESN, including killing its operatives, just to give invading herdsmen the opportunity to have a free reign in the zone.

In the face of this, a human rights group, International Society for Civil Liberties and the Rule of Law (Intersociety) in a recently unveiled 27-page investigative report stated six categories of people causing insecurity in the zone.

The group in a press conference addressed by its chairman Board of Trustees, Mr Emeka Umeagbalasi said: “Deployed military and policing personnel, and their commanders; militarily aided Fulani jihadist herdsmen operating in eastern forest; government backed armed counterfeit agitators; Nigeria Army allied Ebubeagu militias; political death squad/government backed armed counterfeit agitators and street criminals entities involved in crime against persons and properties, were those responsible for the insecurity.

Though the group failed to espouse on the identities of the mentioned groups, it was gathered that blame was mostly on security agencies and their commanders, while governments of the South east states were blamed for the sponsorship of fake agitators, just to foment trouble in the zone.

The group said Eastern Nigeria was found to have been flooded by what it referred to as government backed armed counterfeit agitators, or ‘government unknown gunmen’, which they said have strong base in Ebonyi and Imo States.

Umeagbalasi said; “There seems to be a symbiotic atrocities conduct relationship between Ebueagu, military/police and jihadist Fulani herdsmen, who are wreaking havoc in the South east forests and bushes.

Since January 2022, the Nigeria State backed armed counterfeit agitators, government unknown gunmen and street criminal entities hiding in bushes have jointly abducted at least 1,000 defenseless persons and killed 600, out of which armed counterfeit agitators, government unknown

Nnamdi Kanu

Simon Ekpa

Wanton destruction by armed men has become the order of the day gunmen, took responsibility for 300 abductions and 200 deaths.

The armed counterfeit agitators also targeted security personnel on duty for attacks, and out of 300 abductions, about 100 deaths occurred in their captivity hideouts as against civilian deaths recorded on their open attacks.”

Separatist elements including ESN were almost totally exonerated from the crimes in the zone by the group, but Umeagbalasi insisted that what is seen as violence by separatist groups are actually persons sponsored by Nigeria security agencies and their commanders and the governments of the south eastern states, most of who

he said turn around to target security operatives, maybe to give the zone a semblance of a highly insecure area.

But in a recent statewide broadcast, the Anambra State governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo hailed the efforts of security agencies in securing live and property in Anambra State, noting that Anambra has become safe because of the efforts of security operatives.

This is away from the accusations by Intersociety on them. Soludo said the state is now about the safest state in Nigeria, and that he will continue to ensure that criminal elements in the states are taken out.

Though there had been controversy about the role of security agencies in the fight against insecurity in the state, which led to the deputy

We set out to take back our homeland, and so far so good.

There are still challenges ahead, and all hands must remain on deck. We will continue to provide support for all the security forces for all their commitment and sacrifices and all they do to keep our people safe and secure

governor, Dr Onyekachi Ibezim, and the commissioner for information, Sir Paul Nwosu calling out security agencies.

While the Ibezim had openly confronted soldiers at a checkpoint, ordering its dismantling, for causing huge traffic without apprehending any criminal, the Nwosu described the checkpoints in the state as cash points instead.

But Soludo insisted that security operatives in the state have done well, saying that through their proactivity, his government has been able to take out criminals hiding in various camps in the state.

"Nine months ago when I came into office, I announced that security, law and order are about the first key agenda. The difference as at now is like the difference between day and night. Before now eight LGAs were taken over by bandits, and today those LGAs have been liberated and all the bandits taken out of their camps, and several of them have fled the state, while those who remained have been degraded.

We are trying to keep our state safe, but you will never have a crime free state, but no state in Nigeria is safer than Anambra today.

"I appreciate the law enforcement agents, and all the enforcement teams and Anambra people who have risen up to the occasion to organize security and order. Our youths are taking their destiny in their hands. A criminal living in Finland declared a five-day sit at home last week, and the people of Anambra ignored him. Anambra people came out in droves to celebrate the Christmas and that is why the roads are busy. I commend the youth volunteers who have come to keep our street clear.

"We set out to take back our homeland, and so far so good. There are still challenges ahead, and all hands must remain on deck. We will continue to provide support for all the security forces for all their commitment and sacrifices and all they do to keep our people safe and secure.

Since they (criminals) have decided to operate in abnormal ways, we need abnormal solution to tackle them. As far as these continue, we will continue to have checkpoints and FOBs (forward operating bases), and we will continue to support security agencies. We appeal to criminals in the bush to come out. We give you the opportunity of retraining, and we offer you a new lease life.

The course (criminality) you have taken will not take you anywhere, and this government is ready to work with you to give you a good future."

True to Soludo’s rating, security in Anambra State has improved tremendously, with every community in the state swarming with holiday makers who came back for the Christmas. Sharing what he feels is the secret behind the success, Soludo during a casual discussion with journalists insisted that when he assumed office, “Truth is, if you want to fight people like that, you first resolve within yourself that you are going to do it, and the second step is agreeing these people are criminals. As far as we are concerned, they are criminals who see their activities as an enterprise. In their camps, you will see registers where they record the names of people they kidnapped, how much the victims paid and the balance left. So, these people are criminals.

“I laughed within myself when they told me they want to be in charge of security in the state.

And truly, those criminals had the power to take out anyone as at that time. That was why when we raided their camp in Aguluezechukwu and dislodged several of them, in broad day light, in what I describe as last kick, they went to Aguata Local Government Secretariat and burnt it, and were shooting sporadically. That will show you the powers they had then. Today, we have gradually degraded them and the remnants of them have all fled the state, and today we are safe.”

Sharing a snippet of what he encountered during his first days in office, Soludo said: “We received all manner of messages from people who claimed to be freedom fighters, many of them asked us to do away with federal forces, that they would help me secure the state. Others said they did not need anything like police, soldier and the rest. I received some other messages which told me not to deal with other groups, that they were the main groups to be dealt with, and it continued like that. But our resolve was that these people are criminals and we cannot habour them.”

T H I S D AY • MONDAY, JANUARY 23, 2023

22

This Week In Tech 08097710984

nosakhare.alekhuogie@thisdaylive.com

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Alekhuogie

Okojie: Scrum Has Taken a Foothold in Nigeria The Head, Scrum Master, Patricia Technologies, Ehidiamen Okojie, in this interview, talks about the adoption of Scrum in Nigeria, the financial and Digital payment industry, and the outlook of fintechs in 2023. TECH THIS WEEK presents excerpts.

Patricia Technologies is said to be advancing alternative finance in Africa.

What role exactly do you play in Patricia? ssentially what I do for the Patricia team is head both the product management team as well as a little bit of their engineering team as the head Scrum Master. I’m responsible for making sure that the roadmap for Patricia every single year meets the management’s expectations in terms of delivering features and functionalities on the products that we have. Over the years, we’ve been able to deliver different features and functionalities on our current consumer product, which is the Patricia app, where our customers are able to carry out their financial transactions, not just on the crypto side of things because as you know, we play a lot in the crypto space, but we also allow them to be able to pay their bills, do certain financial transactions on our legacy.

Currently, I have a very lean team. We’re responsible for building new versions of our consumer app currently, as we speak. We will be going live with a new version of the app very soon. This new app provides our customers the opportunity to play with more tokens. Currently, we only do two tokens but with this new feature and version of the app, customers can do more than two tokens which will be about four tokens and will be able to do more things like swap, buy and then sell. Essentially, that’s what I do for Patricia.

I manage the products and make sure the product, the features and functionalities are delivered on time in terms of making sure our customers are always happy, access to the app and availability is at its highest point so that there is no downtime and then Patricia can continue to be a going concern in terms of processing new transactions.

E

Could you tell us a bit about Scrum?

Does it have a future in Nigeria, and is it something to be embraced?

Scrum is a methodology of managing Agile projects. In the past, people would do the waterfall style of project management. What that means is that you do not receive value for your product until the end of the project.

However, Scrum as a methodology allows you to receive incremental value for your product on a biweekly basis or monthly basis. That methodology breaks up your entire product and project into chunks, and those chunks for every release are called iterations.

For every iteration, you are receiving value every single time as opposed to in the past, where you would have a product or project release that could span twelve months. And in today’s technology or digital space, you cannot afford to wait twelve months because time to market is key. By the time you wait for 12 months, your competitors have released several versions of their products over time, and then you are just coming with the very first version.

Scrum has taken a foothold in Nigeria, and this is due to the fact that if you look at our fintech and digital space, using a typical example in Nigeria today, you can count over ten different payment apps today in Nigeria, providing the same kind of service. The reason why that is happening is because fintechs have started to embrace the scrum style of project management that allows them to release their products. There is no fintech in Nigeria today that wants to survive, that is truly in it to do business that does not adopt that strong style of project management or agile project management because it works on the principle that you only need a very lean team, just a small team to grow a product

O ko j i e

and make it scale.

What other projects have you worked on?

Aside from working with Patricia, I am also the head product manager at Clever money. One of the things that makes me happy is the kind of value I provide. One that resonates so much with me is the creation of Access bank’s digital banking platform. I played a pivotal role in creating access bank’s current mobile banking app, ATM product design and Internet banking app. I am so proud because, before that time, I knew where the banks’ channels were at that point in time. We were one of the first people to create an omnichannel banking app. In fact, access bank today, because of that project that I was on, was able to build the very first digital bank in Nigeria.

After this was done, I went ahead to help Access Bank with the merger with Diamond bank. I was also responsible for merging and integrating those two systems.

It was a thing of joy for me because I found myself doing something that was extremely important to the bank, and at the end of the day, the result shows in their bottom line. I built the foundation they are using on the mobile app, the ATMs, internet banking and they are still building on what I have done, that makes me extremely proud.

Clever money is also a fintech that is dear to my heart. It is a startup that started a couple of years ago. I have been able to help them build their products to make them more acceptable in the market.

They have an agency banking product which allows customers to have access to payment solutions anywhere in Nigeria from the use of a POS terminal in which you can withdraw money, deposit money, transfer money, and pay bills. I have been able to help them set up, help drive their sales, and help them drive their business to where it is today.

What are the key events that will shape the Fintech space in 2023?

Presently, there are a lot of payment applications. Everybody is building a payment application. So, what I see happening is the Central Bank of Nigeria

(CBN) might have to step in again to do something like what they did to banks a couple of years ago when they told them to either consolidate or close shop because there were too many banks at that time. I foresee the same thing happening where CBN would say, ‘Guys, you have too many payment apps. I know you are doing fantastic work however, we want this space to be more efficient, so we need you to consolidate. Any fintech that does not have a valuation of a certain amount of money can partner with several fintechs around to see how you can consolidate your valuation’. We would see consolidation of several fintechs happening in Nigeria.

That is what I envisage.

Also, people need to start looking at seeing players in the real estate market using technology now. Up until now, there has not really been a solution that provides customers or users an ability to buy real estate comfortably and safely. What you would see happening are products that provide customers an ability to buy property on an app. Some of these real estate companies might pivot to becoming proptechs. They have been doing it the traditional way. They will infuse technology and the moment they take that decision, I can guarantee you the result would be 10X because people would be more comfortable because the young community we have in Nigeria are so tech savvy. Anything that does not make their life easy, they walk away from. So that is going to happen this year as well.

at night, wake up in the morning and still have their assets, their money, their fiat in the same place they left it in your custody.

So, building on that trust of your customers requires you always being on your toes in terms of protecting their interest. Cyberbullies do not sleep, so constantly we are innovating ways to protect our customers.

Today, we have something called twofactor authentication, you are unable to do transactions without two-factor verification.

I would not advise anybody to download a financial app that does not offer two-factor verification because it is the most basic type of protection you can give your customers.

We are also integrating authentication apps which give codes and token numbers.

What we are doing differently at Patricia and Clever money is to build on securing the interest of our customers. If our customers are confident that their assets and data in our care are safe, they will constantly come back.

Secondly, I will say stability. We are building a stable system. There is no system that is 100 per cent without issues, but even when those issues happen, we immediately make sure we come back to our customers and say we have something we are working on, and you may not be able to have access to your asset, but we would be back. How many times in a month or how stable is your product to your customer? Does it break down every other day? So, building a stable product is what we are doing differently. We make sure we constantly monitor around the clock to make sure we are catching these things early and dealing with them.

What can be done to increase the trust quotient regarding digital payments and innovations?

As a country, we are not teaching about the digital space well enough. We can say thank God for COVID-19, a lot of innovations came out where people were able to learn things online, but I feel today in our schools, we are not training our young kids enough about the opportunities in the tech space. We are also not trying to push the message of the ease of doing business with technology.

What should ideally be happening is there should be more collaborations in our digital space, looking for initiatives to push the message further into the county to say there are so many things we can do with technology. For us to still work with what we have to increase that trust quotient, it is important that businesses tap into whatever opportunities they get to be able to teach people what they can do in that space.

At Patricia today, we have a version of a feature on our product that teaches people about the innovations in the space, what they can do in the space and the opportunities available. If other businesses can replicate the same and make it a culture to constantly preach the gospel of digital transformation in Nigeria, I believe that the trust quotient would go up. Cybercriminals will always be here. However, if you are equipped with the right kind of information, you will know the pros and the cons so as not to get burnt.

The tech sector has continued to get slammed in 2023. Last year wasn’t a fantastic year for a lot of fintech companies.

What are your projections for the fintech space in terms of layoffs this year?

Unfortunately, a lot of people would not want to hear this, but there would be a lot of layoffs this year. The reason for that is not just because of the economy, even though it has a major part to play, but some of these companies do not think through their roadmap. Coinbase, which is a major player in the cryptocurrency space, laid of 20 per cent of their staff, why? It is not just because the market is bearish, it is because, despite the fact that they might have a lean team, it is not giving them the value they want to see so why keep those people?

They would rather work with the small people that give them the most amount of value. There will be more layoffs this year and the reason some of these things are happening is because there has been a trend where some people just want to have startups, work through a few months of transactions and then go and get seed money in dollars. So, most of those guys don’t have the right discipline or the right focus to keep those companies as growing concerns. Most of them are thinking about the end but they do not want to justify the means. So, what happened to most of those fintechs that laid off or closed up is they projected they were going to hit people with a fantastic product and make money but when they did not get that money, they were unable to continue.

The only ones who will continue to remain relevant are those who are willing to take those tough decisions, figure out the trajectory to know if they will be profitable or not by the end of the year and make those cuts now. You will start to see a lot of cuts not just in the cryptocurrency space but in those payment apps that you are seeing today. You would also start to see cuts in personnel and resources as well.

There’s a lot of competition in your space. What are you doing differently?

Competition is good and healthy; it keeps everybody on their toes. However, trust is going to be a growing concern.

It is important that your users trust you. They want to be able to go to bed

T H I S D AY ˾ MONDAY, JANUARY 23, 2023

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BUSINESSWORLD R A T E S MONEY MARKET

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

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Lending: Tier-2 Banks Lead as Maximum Lending Reached 29.13% in 2022

Kayode Tokede On the backdrop of hike in maximum lending rate to 29.13 per cent in 2022, Tier-2 banks operating in Nigeria maintained high lending rates to customers in the year under review.

The latest data by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on banks’ deposit and lending interest rates showed that the 29.13 per cent average maximum lending in December 2022 from 27.58 per cent in December 2021 is the second highest in 2022

and it is coming on the heels of an increase in Monetary Policy Rate (MPC) to 16.5 per cent in 2022.

The average maximum lending rate had hit 30.73 per cent in February 2022, the highest in the year under review.

With the 29.13 per cent average maximum lending rate in 2022, Tier-2 banks last year were widening their interest rate margin apparently to cushion the impact of rising inflation on their operating cost and profitability.

Maximum lending rate refers to the average of the highest lending rates charged by deposit money banks in Nigeria.

In the year under review, the members of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the CBN increased MPR fourth time, leading to most Tier-2 banks adjusting interest rate on loans to customers.

For instance, First City Monument Bank (FCMB)’s general business maximum lending rate remains flat at 42 per cent between January and

November 2022, the highest in the banking sector and its prime lending rate at 19.50 per cent.

FCMB was closely followed

by Stanbic IBTC with 36 per cent general maximum lending rate as of November 18, 2022 from 39per cent in December 31, 2021.

In addition, Keystone bank limited closed November 18, 2022 with a general maximum lending rate of about 36per cent as against 41 per cent in December 31, 2021.

On the other hand, most Tier-1

banks reported modest general business maximum ending rate in the year under review.

Zenith bank closed November 18, 2022 with general business maximum lending rate of about 30 per cent and it was at the same rate in 2021.

Similarly, the average prime lending rate rose by 2.17 percentage points to 13.85 per cent in in December 2022 against 11.68 per cent in December 2021.

Prime lending rate refers to the average prevailing lending rate

charged by most deposit money banks in Nigeria to some of its more favoured customers.

Average prime lending rate reached 13.17 per cent in October when the MPC voted to increase MPR to 16.5 per cent from 15.5 per cent.

Findings by THISDAY also revealed that Heritage bank as of November 18, 2022 has one of the highest prime lending rate in the Continued on page 25

SGF: FG Heartened by NPA’s Commitment, Dedication to Policies’ Implementation Eromosele Abiodun and Gilbert Ekugbe The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Boss Mustapha, has stated that the federal government is emboldened by the Nigerian Ports Authority’s (NPA’s) commitment and dedication to formulation and implementation of policies in its bid to achieve an all inclusive economic growth.

Mustapha who stated this while speaking at the long service award

ceremony organised by NPA in Lagos at the weekend, said the testimony of the enormous achievements of the present government in the maritime sector would not have been complete without recognition of the management and staff of the NPA. According to him, “While I encourage all other staff of NPA to aspire to similar recognition or reward, I implore you the awardees not to rest on your oars, but to give more this is because the maritime sector where you operate is very

crucial to Nigeria’s maximisation of the very enviable comparative advantages that maritime endowments confer. As you celebrate this well deserved honour and recognition, I want you to know that Nigeria celebrates you.”

He added: “By deploying time and resources towards organising the prestigious event of this magnitude, the management of NPA has proven that high premium is placed on their human resources.”

He commended the board

and management of NPA for sustaining a high impact culture of open recognition commendation, reward of excellence, recognition and reward, saying that appreciating staff means more when they are publicly communicated.

Earlier, the Managing Director, NPA, Mohammed Bello-Koko, said equipping its human resource assets to be the best in class in the industry is the overriding objective of the authority, assuring that the Authority will remain unwavering in the quest

to achieve the feat.

He added that its drive towards attaining a 100 per cent occupational health and safety for its staff has resulted into ISO certification of Onne and Calabar ports, stressing that the authority is not relenting on its laurels until the other ports whose certification is at a conclusive state is also achieved.

“We will also continue to strive to achieve openness with our relationship between management and staff while also inculcate a sense

of ownership all which is required to bring its lofty aspirations to fusion.

I am optimistic that this event will create for our colleagues to strive for excellence, as I ensure that on behalf of the Board that everyday in NPA can only get better,” he averred.

“Organising this event and making it as colorful as it is derived from the determination of the management to showcase the premium that we place on our employees whose unrelenting Continued on page 25

M A R K E T D ATA A S AT F R I D AY, J A N U A R Y 2 0 , 2 0 2 3 BONDS DESCRIPTION Price ^14.20 14MAR-2024 ^13.53 23MAR-2025 ^12.50 22JAN-2026 ^16.2884 17MAR-2027 ^13.98 23FEB-2028

10.335, 00 10.339, 00 10.129, 00 11.289, 00 10.543, 00

Yield 11.02 11.71 11.98 12.24 12.50

Change Updated Time (%) January -0.01 13, 2023 January 0.11 13, 2023 January -0.01 13, 2023 January 0.00 13, 2023 January 0.00 13, 2023

BILLS MATURITY

Discount

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NTB 26-Jan23 NTB 9-Feb23 NTB 9-Mar23 NTB 27-Apr23

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2.44

NTB 11May-23

2.70

2.72

Change Updated Time (%) January 0.00 13, 2023 January 0.00 13, 2023 January 0.01 13, 2023 January -0.31 13, 2023 January -0.54 13, 2023

OTC F X F U T U R E S

CPS MATURITY FDHP CP III 17-MAR-23 VHPL CP III 1-APR-23 MREP CP VI 11-APR-23

Change Updated Time (%) January 8.08 8.20 -0.24 13, 2023 January 13.12 13.50 -0.33 13, 2023 January 9.52 9.74 -0.39 13, 2023

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CONTRACT TENOR Contract (MONTH) NGUS JAN 25 1 2023 NGUS FEB 22 2 2023 NGUS MAR 29 3 2023 NGUS APR 26 4 2023 NGUS MAY 31 5 2023

Current Rate Updated Time ($/₦) January 469.87 13, 2023 January 472.05 13, 2023 January 474.23 13, 2023 January 476.42 13, 2023 January 478.60 13, 2023

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MONDAY, JANUARY 23, 2023 ˾ T H I S D AY

BUSINESSWORLD

NEWS

NIPOST Resumes Clampdown on Illegal Courier Operators in Lagos Emma Okonji Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST), through its Courier and Logistics Regulatory Department (CLRD), has resumed its clampdown exercise on illegal courier operators in Lagos, while assuring industry stakeholders of sanitising the courier industry of its sharp practices perpetrated by unlicensed courier operators.

CLRD, last week in Lagos, resumed its on-going clampdown operations on illegal, unlicensed and unregistered Courier, Express Delivery, Dispatch and Logistics operators nationwide after the Christmas and New Year holidays, as stipulated in the statutory provisions of section 43 of the NIPOST Act 2004 and Regulatory Guidelines 2020.

The clampdown was carried out by a combined team of NIPOST officials, officers from the Force Criminal Intelligence Investigation Department (FCIID), Alagbon Ikoyi as well as armed mobile policemen and the media.

During the raid, which lasted for hours, some unregistered and unlicensed operators of courier and logistics services were arrested and handed over to the FCIID for prosecution proceedings, which commenced the same day of the Lagos clampdown.

Those arrested were charged for offences, which borders on economic sabotage, unethical sharp practices, illegal operations and conspiracy.

Addressing the media shortly after the clampdown, the General Manager, Courier and Logistics Regulatory Department, Mr. Dotun Shonde, who represented the Postmaster General of the Federation/ CEO of NIPOST, Honourable Sunday Adeyemi Adepoju, expressed deep concern over the reckless display of impunity and unethical sharp practices by the apprehended operators.

“Those arrested in the Lagos raid, were taken unawares and their records have shown how they have over the years, carried out all manners of illegal courier business, hence the need to continue to sanitise

the postal market by embarking on a consistent clampdown exercise nationwide,” Shonde said.

He listed some of the offences to include: Unethical sharp practices, such as price undercutting, pilfering, broaching, damages, loss and dumping of customers items, poaching and subletting of operating licenses with mountain of public complaints about customers being duped or obtaining money from them under false pretences, no traceable office address nor registered brand name.

Others include carriage of illicit drugs and prohibited items like small arms and ammunition, guns, gold, monies, and obscene items.

He explained that operating without a grant of an operating license from NIPOST, amounts to illegality, which according to him is a crime against the state and the federal government, adding that such unethical practice will no longer be tolerated.

He made it known that similar enforcement operation is being conducted in other states of the federation.

Adedipe: Nigeria’s Economy Would Expand in 2023 Nume Ekeghe Chief Consultant of B. Adedipe Associates Limited (BAA Consult), Mr. Biodun Adedipe has stated that contrary to the recent projection by the World Bank Group which downgraded Nigeria’s growth prospects, Nigerian economy would expand in 2023.

He explained that with the decrease in population growth and data gotten from the purchasing managers index (PMI) and other economic variables, the Nigerian economy would grow between 3.25 per cent and 3.32 per cent in 2023.

He said this at the hybrid 9th “National Economic Outlook: Implications for Businesses in 2023,” organised by The Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria(CIBN) Centre for Financial Studies in collaboration with B. Adedipe Associates Limited.

He said: “For 2023, manufacturing will expand because the data

available shows that in using purchasing managers index (PMI) that shows confidence within key sectors of the economy, point to the expansion of this economy between now and the next six month the least. When the index is above 50, It means the economy is going to expand because it means orders have been placed at least six months ahead.

“PMI data also shows that in the last 25 months up to December 2022 points that the economy is expanding. So, when you look at the growth rate of the Nigerian economy vis-à-vis population growth rates which has dropped from 3.2 in the last 10 years to 2.55 it means that whatever anybody is saying about this economy, it is growing faster than the rate of growth of our population. Because the latest World Bank reduced the projection for this year to 2.7 per cent. We said no we don’t agree

with that because this is the basis.”

In his opening address, President/Chairman of Council CIBN, Mr. Ken Opara, said: “Looking at the year 2023, in as much as we are optimistic that better days lie ahead for Nigeria’s economy especially because it is the year that will usher in a new government and leadership structure in the nation, we need to gain insight into the impact of several economic indices to help us undertake a comprehensive assessment of the opportunities, challenges and indeed the threats that businesses may encounter during the current year. Every organisation needs to be fortified with adequate information to give them insights into what the New year holds. This will undoubtedly serve as a guide in making informed decisions critical to the growth of businesses and in reviewing strategic plans as the need may arise.”

MTN to Allot Incentive Shares to Eligible Shareholders Kayode Tokede MTN Nigeria Communications Plc has announced on the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) of its plans to allot incentive shares to investors who partook in its Initial Public Offering (IPO) completed January 2022 and met the conditions entitling them to additional shares.

The local unit of Johannesburgbased MTN Group Limited concluded its first IPO shares sale in 2022, an offer that recorded 139.5 per cent oversubscribed necessitating the allocation of extra 86.3 million shares.

The telco giant had set out to

sell 575 million ordinary shares then held by MTN International (Mauritius) Limited but ended up allotting 661.3 million to retail and institutional investors.

The Company Secretary, MTN Nigeria Communications, Uto Ukpanah in a signed statement said the terms of the offer included an incentive of one ordinary share for every 20 ordinary shares purchased and allotted up to a maximum of 250 ordinary shares.

He noted that eligible shareholders must hold a portion or all of the shares allotted to them from the offer as of 31 January, 2023 (the qualification date) subject to holding

a minimum of 20 ordinary shares.

According to him, shareholders must have their names appear in the company’s register of members on the qualification date.

“Qualified shareholders will have their incentive shares credited to their CSCS accounts after the qualification date and obtaining the requisite regulatory approvals,” the document sighted on NGX said.

The offer saw 114,938 new CSCS accounts opened for representing new market participants, with roughly 76 per cent of successful applicants via digital platforms being women and 85 per cent below the age of 40.

Recutt International Harps on Youth Empowerment Through Information Kayode Tokede Recutt International, a Jide Akinnyemi foundation is advocating youth empowerment by providing adequate information and orientation needed to thrive in the global village.

The United States of Americabased Nigerian entrepreneur who is also the convener of the Building Lives through Orientation, Certainty and Knowledge initiative, said “Lack of information and orientation was a problem when we started in America, so we had to put the right information out

there and teach the youths how to use the available resources.

“After we had done that in America and succeeded, we realised that the people in Nigeria also needed this.

Speaking recently at a media conference with the theme: Providing orientation for Youths and sustainable solutions for Entrepreneurs, Akinyemi who is also the founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of The Akinyemi Resources Group (TARG), said his plan is to empower and re-orientate young Nigerians with the right information and

connecting them to investors ready to assist with funds.

According to him, “With the right information, you can take advantage and maximize the privileges of living in a global village. You can be living in Nigeria and be working in a multinational company in America, you don’t have to leave this country.

“You can attend a booth camp some of which are free and as long as you can do the job you are given, they will give it to you as paid employment, but a lot of people don’t know this because they don’t have access to information.

Why States Should Implement Contributory Pension Scheme One of the objectives of the Pension Reform Act (PRA) is the establishment of a uniform set of rules, regulations, and standards for the administration and payment of retirement benefits for both the public and private sectors at the national and sub-national levels.

Specifically, Section 2(1) of the PRA 2014 provides that the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) applies to any employment in the Public Service of the Federation, the Federal Capital Territory, the States, and Local Government, as well as the Private Sector.

However, by the provisions of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), State Governments can legislate on pension matters; consequently, State Governments PENCOM DG, Aisha Dahir-Umar have to domesticate the CPS within their various jurisdictions Fund Administrators invest the funds with by enacting a State pension law to that effect. the objective of safety and earning fair returns The National Council of States, in its meeting for the contributors. Pension assets cannot be of August 2006, adopted the CPS for all states used to meet the claim of creditors of pension and local governments. Following the scheme’s operators, seized or subject to execution of adoption, a Model State Pension Law was judgment debt or sold, granted as a loan or developed for the state governments to adopt used as collateral. and modify based on their peculiarities. The Due to the contributory nature of the CPS, National Pension Commission (PenCom) reviews employers no longer need to solely bear the draft state Pension Laws and supports states burden of making provisions for retirement in implementation. At the end of December benefits for their employees. Unlike the DB 2022, 25 states, including the Federal Capital scheme, employees under the CPS are also Territory (FCT), had enacted laws on the CPS, responsible for contributing towards their while seven states were at the bill stage. The retirement benefits, thus, reducing the financial enacted laws, which are substantially in tandem burden on the employer. In addition, the with the provisions of the PRA 2014, is the scheme has provisions for employers to pay first significant step towards the domestication monthly pension contributions. This provision of the CPS at the sub-national level. Five alleviates the burden on employers to make states have laws on the Contributory Defined bulk payments to settle pension liabilities.

Benefits Scheme (CDBS). Commendably, 15 The CPS is a more efficient avenue for states have established Pension Bureau/Board, financing state governments’ long-term and 10 are remitting employer and employee borrowing needs via investible instruments pension contributions in line with the CPS. such as infrastructural bonds. States that Seven states have started paying pensions implement the CPS derive the benefits of to retirees under the CPS. generating long-term savings, which can The transition from the Defined Benefits promote the growth of their real sector as Scheme (DBS) to the CPS or even the CDBS Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs) invest at the state and local government levels is in bonds issued by such states. PFAs are not significant in several ways and inevitable allowed to invest in the bonds of states yet eventually, even for the states yet to do to comply with the scheme. away with the DBS. The CPS is structured Meanwhile, PenCom’s regulatory oversight to ensure that all retired employees receive of state and local governments’ pension retirement benefits as and when due. The schemes is guided by the provisions of the benefits of the CPS are enormous. The CPS is enabling laws in the states. Section 23(h) the best solution for pension liabilities, which of the PRA 2014 clearly emphasised that many states are grappling with. States that PenCom’s role in applying the CPS at the fail to offset pension arrears now are creating sub-national levels shall be to promote and a financial burden on future generations as offer technical assistance to states in line with these pension benefits will continue to grow. the objectives of the scheme. Despite the huge States can avoid this trap by adopting the CPS. benefits of the CPS, it would be contrary to The CPS will stem further growth of pension constitutional provisions for PenCom to enforce liabilities and provide fiscal discipline in the the provisions of the PRA 2014 on the states budgetary process because pension obligations without recourse to the states’ extant laws would be accurately determined and settled and prevailing economic limitations at every systematically. Importantly, assets are available material point in time. PenCom has continued at the exit of a retiree for payment of pension to adopt the persuasive approach in its efforts benefits promptly. Thus, no accumulation of to drive full implementation of the CPS at pension arrears. the states and local governments.

The CPS provides safeguards to enable states In conclusion, PenCom, as the apex to combat corruption in the pension sector. The regulator of the pension industry in Nigeria, pension contributions are received and held has intensified the drive to implement the by custodians in the name of the Retirement CPS by states and local governments. The Savings Account (RSA) holder. The RSA holder effective regulation and supervision of can only access the funds at retirement or the pension industry in Nigeria remains under specific conditions. Licensed Pension PenCom’s priority.

T H I S D AY ˾ MONDAY, JANUARY 23, 2023

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BUSINESSWORLD

STATUS REPORT

UAC’s Dividend Payout Shrinks Over N2.01bn Loss

Kayode Tokede

U

AC of Nigeria Plc might not pay shareholders’ dividend in 2022 financial year over its N2.01billion loss after tax in nine months ended September 30, 2022 from N563.12million profit after tax reported in corresponding nine months of 2021.

The leading diversified company, operating in the Food and Beverage, Real Estate, Paint and Logistics sectors of the economy also announced N1.1 billion loss before tax in nine months of 2022 from N1.38billion reported in nine months of 2021.

The losses in nine months of 2022 can be attributable to severe operating challenges amid hike in inflation rate.

Over the years, UAC of Nigeria maintained mixed performance in dividend payout to shareholders.

For instance, the company in 2021 reported N2.59 billion profit and the directors recommended the payment of an ordinary dividend of N0.65 kobo per ordinary share to members In 2020, it reported N3.93billion profit from a loss of N9.26billion in 2019 and paid shareholders a dividend of N1.20

(N3.46billion) as against N0.10 dividend in 2019 (N288million) paid to shareholders in 2019.

Although, it reported 9.02per cent increase in revenue to N77.8 billion in nine months of 2022 as against N71.37 billion in nine months of 2021, cost of sales, operating expenses and finance cost battered the Group results in the period under review.

The Group reported N65.5billion cost of sales in nine months of 2022, representing an increase of about 11 per cent to N59.01billion reported in nine months of 2021.

In the period under review, gross profit stood at N12.32billion from N12.36billion, representing a decline of 0.3 per cent, attributable to significant increase in cost of sales.

Consequently, gross profit margin dropped to 84.2 per cent in nine months of 2022 from 82.68per cent in nine months of 2021.

Further breakdown of UAC of Nigeria profit and loss revealed a N1.17billion “Other operating income” in nine months of 2022 from N395.65million in nine months of 2021.

In terms of total Operating Expenses (OPEX), the Group reported N12.68billion in nine months of 2022, representing an increase of 21 per cent from N10.5billion in nine months of 2021.

The breakdown of OPEX showed a 36.4er cent increase in selling and distribution expenses to N6.2billion in nine months of 2022 from N4.54billion in nine months of 2021 as Administrative expenses rose by 8.8 per cent to N6.48billion from N5.96billion reported in corresponding period of 2021.

The proportion of OPEX/Revenue closed nine months of 2022 at 16.3per cent from 14.7per cent in nine months of 2021.

From the loss and profit figures, the group announced N730.77million finance income in nine months of 2022, representing a decline of 20.6 per cent from N920.8million in nine months of 2021 as finance cost grew significantly by 119.9per cent to N2.55billion in nine months of 2022 from N1.16billion in nine months of 2021.

The group recognised higher finance costs on account of increased short-term borrowings in the Animal Feeds and

Other Edibles segment to support deliberate efforts to build inventory as well as rising interest rates.

Loss per share from continuing operations for nine months of 2022 was N0.46 kobo, compared to the earnings per share from continuing operations of N0.03 kobo in nine months of 2021.

Total assets on a decline performance UAC of Nigeria recorded 1.9 per cent increase in total assets to N100.82billion as at September 30, 2022 from N98.93billion reported in full year ended December 31, 2021.

As UAC of Nigeria reported 7.3 per cent increase in total non-current assets to N45.09 billion as at September from N42billion in full year ended December 31, 2021 as total current assets closed September 30, 2022 at N55.19billion, about 2.07 per cent decline from N56.35billion reported in 2021 FY. From the financial position, the Group reported nearly eight per cent decline in total equity to N46.98billion as at September 30, 2022 from N50.94billion reported in 2021.

The decline in total equity was driven primarily by 11 per cent decline in retained earnings to N26.72billion in nine months of 2022 from N29.89billion reported in 2021 financial year.

SGF: FG HEARTENED BY NPA’S COMMITMENT, DEDICATION TO POLICIES’ IMPLEMENTATION commitment and contributions are responsible for the growth fortunes of the Authority,” he said.

“We would like to use this opportunity to appreciate the efforts of the secretary to Government of the Federation (SGF), the Minister of Transportation, the Minister of

Labour, for their unflinching support towards the delivery of the most desired salary increment for our employees. I will also like to use this opportunity to commend the leadership of the maritime workers and indeed the entire staff and authority for persevering and

keeping faith with us,” he noted The Chairman, Board of NPA, Mr. Akinwumi Ricketts, commended the staff for the unblemished and meritorious service, adding that every management is always willing to recognise and reward loyalty, selflessness, doggedness which is

often exhibited by employees who served meritoriously.

“I congratulate from the bottom of my heart, the awardees of the long service award and we assure you that we will continue to be with you in the long haul and recognising those of you who have spent so much time

in making sure NPA is where it is today. We will continue to make sure that you are consistently awarded, appreciated and awarded,” he said.

On his part, the Director General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Bashir Jamoh, pointed out the need

for agencies and organisations to inculcate a culture of appreciating employees to increase productivity and revenue generation.

He said appreciating and rewarding employees will help in reducing redundancy and reduce the turnover of staff.

LENDING: TIER-2 BANKS LEAD AS MAXIMUM LENDING REACHED 29.13% IN 2022 banking sector, followed by Unity Bank Plc. Heritage bank in the period has 27 per cent general business prime lending rate, while Unity Bank with 26 per cent general prime lending rate came second.

Wema bank Plc and Providus Bank both have general business prime lending rate of 25 per cent as of November 18, 2022 respectively but Stanbic IBTC Bank with seven per cent general business prime lending rate has the lowest rate in the banking sector.

Further findings revealed that Tier-1 banks have lower prime lending rate.

Specifically, Guaranty Trust Bank (GTBank) in the period under review has 10 per cent general business prime lending rate.

The data further shows that the average interest rate on one-month deposit rose by 4.42 percentage points to 8.15 per cent in

December 2022 from 3.73 per cent in December 2021, while average interest rate on 3-months deposits appreciated by 3.85 percentage points to 8.79 per cent in 2022 from 4.94 per cent in 2021 December.

The largest decline in deposit rate occurred on 12-month deposits as the average interest rate added 3.86 percentage points to 8.68 per cent in December from 6.79 per cent in December 2021.

The development, which indicates general rise in average maximum lending rates and 12-month deposit rates of banks, led to 15.28 per cent Year-till-Date (YtD) increase in banks’ interest margin.

Analysts have attributed the increase in interest margin to the hike in MPR and severe macro economic challenges in the year under review.

The disparity between maximum lending and deposit rates have

widened over the years particularly since 2009 topping a differential of about 10 per cent in most instances.

In Nigeria, large corporates perceived as having lesser risk with a history of generating consistent cash flows are offered prime lending rates, while small businesses and individuals perceived as having higher risk typically fall above the prime lending rate margin.

Commenting on the development, the Head, Financial Institutions Ratings at Agusto & Co, Mr. Ayokunle Olubunmi, said the gradual increase in MPR impacted on average maximum lending rate in 2022.

He noted that the increase, of course, would affect businesses and probably reduced borrowing rate in the banking sector.

He said, “For businesses that have taken loans, they will be paying more interest rate on

these loans and it will affect their profitability. Also, any businesses or individuals that wanted to borrow money now will think twice amid hike in interest rate.”

He added that, “The hike in MPR by CBN is a contractionary monetary policy. The move is to reduce the number of people that will take new loans and it will reduce the amount of money in circulation which is expected to reduce inflation.”

Speaking from a different perspective, the Vice president, Highcap Securities Limited, Mr. David Adnori said the gap between the CBN’s lending rate and the maximum lending calls for concern in the banking industry.

According to Adnori, “The gap between the MPR and average maximum lending rate is almost doubled and it indicates a serious rant-seeking within the industry.

The spread between the average

maximum lending rate and MPR should not be more than 10 per cent and it means there is a serious rent-seeking activity in the banking sector that is eroding business activities.”

Responding also, the President, Bank Customers Association of Nigeria (BCAN), Dr. Uju Ogubunka attributed the increase in average maximum lending rate to uncertainty surrounding and inflation rate in the business environment amid political tension.

Ogubunka said Nigeria’s economy in 2022 has not witnessed major improvement to warrant a hike in banking lending rate to the real sector, stressing that the hike in prime lending is expected to impact increase cost of doing business in the country.

The Deputy Governor, Financial System Stability, CBN, Aishah Ahmad in her personal statement

at the November 2022 MPC said, “As anticipated, average lending rates have risen between June and October 2022, partly driven by the tight monetary policy stance of the MPC, which requires vigilance by the banks to forestall defaults and preserve asset quality.

“Sustained implementation of the policy on GSI and effective credit risk management policies by the banks are useful in that regard, while recent initiatives of the Bank such as the naira redesign are expected to enhance monetary policy transmission via the banking system.

“Notwithstanding the strong financial system fundamentals and satisfactory stress test results, the Bank must remain vigilant and proactively manage operational, asset quality and other risks to financial system stability, especially with the challenging global economic environment.”

26

MONDAY, JANUARY 23, 2023 ˾ T H I S D AY

BUSINESSWORLD

AGRICULTURE

How to Maximise Nigeria’s Agricultural Productivity Sterling Bank Plc in collaboration with leading companies in the country gathered recently to discuss actionable solutions that could help Nigeria move away from dependence on importation for consumption and manufacturing—particularly agro-processing, Gilbert Ekwugbe reports.

O

ver the years, Nigeria has depended on importation to feed its population. Statistics indicate that Nigeria currently relies on approximately $10 billion of imports to meet her food and agricultural production shortfalls in wheat, rice, poultry, fish, food services and consumer-oriented foods.

However, efforts are being made to reverse this trend. As part of their contribution towards achieving this, Sterling Bank Plc, in collaboration with a host of blue chip companies like Leadway Assurance, Nestle, ThriveAgric, GIZ, Noor Takaful, Microsoft Nigeria and Stears Data, hosted the 5th edition of its Agriculture Summit Africa (ASA) with the theme, “Engineering a Trillion Dollar Agricultural Economy.” The forum attracted thousands of participants ranging from farmers, policymakers, financial institutions, governments, the investing community and thought leaders to discuss opportunities in the agriculture value chain. In two of the plenary sessions at the summit, the topic of raising the productivity levels of Nigeria’s agricultural sector was discussed extensively by stakeholders and industry players.

Following recent reports by, ActionAid Nigeria, an international non-governmental organisation, stated recently that, “Nigeria’s post-harvest losses have increased to an estimated N3.5 trillion annually,” adding that, “The effect of this huge N3.5 Trillion annual post-harvest losses will affect the West African sub-region,” this year’s ASA apparently concerned about the country’s inability to address its food security, devoted two panel sessions to address the twin issues of, “Unlocking growth in the Era of Value-Chain Finance” and “Maximizing Agricultural Productivity through Sustainable Means.”

Members of the summit’s opening panel tackled the pertinent construct of import substitution by unlocking growth in Nigeria’s agric sector, with the discourse moderated by African Farmer Folu Mogaji, and featuring industry players such as: Mrs. Victoria Nwadoka, from Nestlé Nigeria Plc; Mrs. YemManaging Director and Chief Executive Officer of Psaltry International Limited; a cassava processing company, isi Iranloye and coFounder and Chief Technology Officer at Thrive Agriculture, Mr. Ayodeji Arikawe.

The discussion was aimed at establishing actionable solutions that could helpNigeria move away from dependence on importation for consumption and manufacturing—particularly agroprocessing.

The session began with the panellists acknowledging that the recent COVID-19 pandemic and on-going geopolitical tensions have exposed vulnerabilities of the global supply chain, and how reliant the Nigerian economy is on importation.

Taking the conversation into context locally, there are more peculiar issues plaguing Nigerians and making imports, and the overall outputs, more expensive. One of such issues is the volatile foreign exchange rate and rapid policy adjustments around importation such as increased import tariffs on selected agriculture goods.

Therefore, the only sustainable way to maintain production and favourable pricing of agriculture products in Nigeria is by sourcing inputs locally.

IMPACT AND IMPORTATION The panel also noted the impact and import of other factors such as achieving a sustainable means of exportation,

processing of raw materials, availability of funds in the value chain, standards of production from the farm to the selling point, protection of local companies by the Federal Government as the economy continues its diversification from oil to soil.

According to the moderator, Mr. Mogaji, one of the key conclusions and submissions of the panel was the need to have various entry standards for operators in the value chain in order to encourage small and medium scale enterprises.

The panel also noted that Nigeria should begin to adjust policies observed in foreign markets to match in-market realities.

Another value-chain specific outcome of the panel specific was the need to standardize output to match local demand and adjust for international markets where possible.

The example of Nigerian tomatoes was giving with the submission that it did not meet global standards in terms of sugar content. Meanwhile, barely a quarter of a century ago, the same variants of tomatoes being packaged in Europe. Which points to a clear need to improve on current techniques.

Therefore, operators in the country should look at how they raise their standards in a bid to satisfy local consumption and fulfill international demand.

Victoria Nwadoka of Nestle said “Nigeria should look inwards and leverage the opportunities that are in inherent in the agricultural value chains in order to achieve sustainability in agriculture.” She said, “We have challenges, but every country has challenges and if it looks inwards, then it will see the opportunities from the beginning to the end and from the farm to the table. There are many linkages that we need to open up and if we could succeed with opening up the entire ecosystem we will see how we can overcome import substitution.”

COVID -19 AND UKRAINE WAR She said Nigeria could learn from the way the COVID -19 pandemic hit the global economy, which disrupted global supplies as well as

the negative impact of the on-going Russian-Ukraine War, which made the cost of importation to skyrocket more than 100 percent, the cost of transporting goods to go up by about 200 percent, the time spent waiting for the goods to arrive and the risk of stopping industrial processes.

According to her, “If you didn’t have to deal with all of these, I think we will be more sustainable. Every month in the year from January to December, we have an opportunity to get the raw materials that we want. It’s important that we begin to look inwards if we want to be sustainable. Importation is not sustainable, depending on external factors, not sustainable. You need things that you can control, that are within your space; that you can manage; that you understand you can continue to improve on to be sustainable.”

Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Psaltry International, Yemisi Iranloye said knowledge gaps in the derivatives of some of the produce that we have a strong production capacity in needed to be closed, adding that other nations have been able to improve their overall output in the past decade by doing more with the same product. the last 10 years.

Giving the cassava crop as her example, Iranloye said “We have over 200 million people in Nigeria and almost every vicinity plants this crop. So, we can generate the volume that we need to be able to do different things. We can produce almost 300 different types of products from cassava.”

She explained that in order to unlock the supply chain in the country, “We need to understand the value chain because if you don’t understand the process end-to-end, then you will not be able to take full advantage of the opportunities. So we need to first of all understand the value chain and list out all the challenges as they were as well as list out qualities that the multinationals need.”

She also stressed the need for consistency and harmonization of policies initiated by the Federal Government for the overall growth

and development of the agricultural sector in the country.

THRIVE AGRIC INTERVENTION Mr. Ayo Arikawe of Thrive Agric said the company is coming into the agricultural space with technology, data, infrastructure and warehousing across the country, in partnership with Sterling Bank and other like-minded financial institutions to revolutionize the sector.

The second panel to focus on the topic of productivity was titled “Maximizing agricultural productivity through sustainable means”, and was led and moderated by an Executive Director, at Leadway Assurance, Ms. Adetola Adegbayi,with invaluable contributions from panellists including co-Founder and CEO of TomatoJos, Mira Mehta; CEO, ColdHubs Limited, Nnaemeka Ikegwuon; Director, SWAgCo Limited, Jide Arowosafe; Founder and CEO, JR Farms Limited, Olawale Rotimi and Technical Adviser, GIZ Nigeria, Ruskiyat Badmus.

The panel’s outcomes listed lack of a clearly defined structures in the agriculture space, the need for improved small-holder farmer awareness and social engineering in a bid to understand how to structure their finance better, improve productivity at the farms as well as improve in other aspects of the value chain such as transportation and storage to improve the output of the sector.

Others items uncovered as being key to increasing productivity were risk sharing structures like the creation of NISRAL by the Central Bank of Nigeria to guarantee farmers and the need for a mix of funding options like equity and debt funding.

The panel also submitted that the current make-up of the banking sector, with high interest rates and shortto-midterm cycles, is not the most conducive for farmers as the interest rates increase the cost of production, also noting that there is need for investors and financiers to that understand the long gestation periods of the agriculture sector and deploy patient capital with mid-to-longterm repayment periods, remarking that sometimes it takes as long as 10 years for some companies to breakeven and become profitable.

T H I S D AY ˾ MONDAY, JANUARY 23, 2023

27

BUSINESSWORLD

NEWS

Village Head Dragged to Court for Defrauding Community of Mining License Igbawase Ukumba in Lafia The Ugya Village Head in Toto Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, Mallam Musa Adamu, was last week dragged to a Lafia Magistrate Court 3 for allegedly defrauding his Ugya community of its mining license.

Consequently, the complainants were allegedly accusing the Village Head of martgaging the interest and future of the Ugya community to the Chinese.

In the case filed at the Chief Magistrate Court 3, Lafia and obtained by THISDAY, was marked CMC 3/CR14/2023, titled Direct Criminal Complaint Brought Pursuant to Sections 35, 39 and 88 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law of Nasarawa State, Legal Notice No. 3 of 2019, came up for mentioning last Monday.

The Complainants, who are from various Royal Houses of Ugya Village, included Yusuf Paul from Ohi-Ogodo, Zakari Muhammed Gani from Ohi-Itaku, Ibrahim Adora from Ohi-Inda and Usman Jibrin Ohinoyi from OhiAbdukoho royal families, while the sole Defendant is Mallam Musa Adamu, the Otaru of Ugya Village.

In their particulars of complaint, the complainants averred that the defendant, who by virtue of his office as the Village Head of Ugya, forged some documents of

transfer/relinquishment and secretly collected from the Chinese Company undisclosed sum of money and relinquished the mining licenses of Ugya Community to the Chinese Company.

“That the said Ugya Community-owned Company is called UGYA DEVELOPMENT COMPANY NIGERIA LTD (RC: 35612), otherwise called UDC Ltd. The company was jointly and collectively incorporated by the entire members of Ugya community of Toto Local Government Area of Nasarawa State as part of their holistic community development outfit.

“That the Defendant unlawfully used his office/ stool as the Village Head of Ugya and without the consent or approval of the said four Ruling Houses of Ugya Community, secretly issued to the Chinese company (HSHF OVERSEAS MINING LTD).”

When the case came up for mention, counsel to the complainants, Barr.

S. K. Sheltu, on sighting that the sole defendant, Mallam Musa Adamu, was absent, drew the attention of the court that it was an anomaly and therefore, the matter could not be mentioned in his absence.

He said: “We urge the court to invoke its inherent powers via Section 344 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law of

Nasarawa State to compel his attendance.”

The complainant’s counsel then urged the Court to issue a bench warrant to ensure the defendant is physically present in Court for the case

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), last week in Abuja, signed a revised Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the National Lottery Regulatory Commission (NLRC), with provisions to deter unapproved lottery and gaming practices on telecommunications platforms through information and intelligence sharing.

Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta noted that the MoU, which will impact the gaming industry, would be in sync with the commission’s Strategic Vision Plan (SVP).

With the signed MoU, NCC is in a bid to promote fair practices in the industry for the protection of telecommunications consumers in relation to lottery and gaming activities.

Danbatta said the collaboration would be in line with the provisions of commission’s SVP, 2021-2025, which

provides for facilitation of strategic partnership and collaboration with other bodies to enhance service delivery.

According to him, “The initial MoU expired in 2022, amendments and modifications have been made since no MoU is cast in stone, especially given the industry’s dynamic nature.”

The Director General of NLRC, Mr. Lanre Gbajabiamila, expressed confidence that the MoU would yield favourable outcomes in curbing illegal online gambling as he shared his hope that NCC and NLRC would achieve their intentions in the interest of gaming stakeholders.

He noted how unapproved lottery and gaming activities and practices undermine the integrity of domestic and global gaming markets to the detriment of stakeholders in addition to undermining consumer confidence in these markets, hence the collaboration with the commission to arrest such tendencies.

case is for mention. The law is trite that nobody is above the law. The defendant, having been served, is not before you due to the fact that he is sick and has to see his doctor,” Barr Ogaza explained.

Ruling on the matter, Magistrate Emmanuel Jatau, adjourned the case to February 3, 2023, and consequently ordered the defendant to be in court on the adjourned date.

9mobile to Raise Millionaires in CashToken Rewards Offer Emma Okonji 9mobile has partnered CeLD Innovations Limited to raise millionaires among 9mobile customers who participate and win in its CashToken Rewards Offer.

The reward programme offers loyal customers on the 9mobile network a chance to win between N5 thousand and N100 million weekly.

The Director, Product Innovation and Business Development at 9mobile, Kenechukwu Okonkwo, who announced the partnership of the reward scheme during a media briefing in Lagos recently, said the reward programme was part of the company’s continuous commitment to reciprocate the loyalty demonstrated by its customers.

“As a brand, 9mobile is always here for our loyal customers, and this is our way of ushering them into

NCC Renews MoU with Lottery Commission Emma Okonji

to go on.

In a response, counsel to the defendant, Barr. Dennis Ogaza, said he was only standing in for the substantive counsel.

“This is the first time this

Earlier in his opening remarks, the Executive Commissioner, Stakeholder Management, Adeleke Adewolu, disclosed that the MoU was designed to address recent technology information-sharing capabilities, and consumer satisfaction and to enhance areas of co-regulation in line with the Federal Government’s digital economy mandate.

The new MoU replaces one that was first signed by both organizations, which expired in 2022.

Under the agreement, following requests from NLRC, NCC shall endeavour to block or disable illegal lottery gaming operators on the telecommunications service providers’ platform in Nigeria and NLRC. The document was developed by a Joint Implementation Committee comprising representatives of NCC and NLRC to implement the MoU and other matters that promote collaboration between both organisations in their regulatory functions.

the new year 2023.

“We understand that our customers rely on us to make those vital connections needed to make businesses profitable and bring families together in prosperity.

So, through the CashToken Rewards programme, we want to give every 9mobile subscriber a chance of winning up to N100 million by recharging their lines or joining our fast and reliable network,” Okonkwo said.

According to him, every recharge of N1000 for exist-

ing customers or N200 for new customers earns the customer one CashToken.

Cumulative credit recharge to the limit of N1000 for existing and N200 for new customers within a month also qualify for the reward scheme. Every CashToken generates an instant cashback of N6 and is an entry into the National CashToken draws every Saturday at 9:00 pm on the AIT network.

Subscribers can enter multiple times to increase their chances of winning.

For every N1000 spent on

data or airtime purchases, customers automatically get an entry into the weekly National CashToken draw, Okonkwo further explained.

To participate, customers are expected to dial *6700*09# to enroll on the CashToken platform before they can enjoy the benefits and can view and redeem their CashToken balances anytime by dialing *6700#. Accumulated CashTokens can be redeemed as 9mobile airtime/data or to pay for transactions with over 200 participating merchant platforms.

28 T H I S D AY MONDAY JANUARY 23, 2023 TR

UT H

& RE A S O

Monday January 23, 2023 Vol 27. No 10146

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opinion@thisdaylive.com

www.thisdaylive.com

CHIDI ANSELM ODINKALU contends the potential effect of insecurity would be very far reaching in the next elections

AN OPEN LETTER TO IGP ISHAQ OSAGIE EWEKA accuses the police of violating his rights

See page 29 UNLOCKING THE POTENTIAL OF NIGERIA’S LOGISTICS MARKET The logistics sector has a strong potential for growth if properly harnessed, argues MICHAEL MAKINDE

See page 29 EDITORIAL

PAINS AND GROANS AT THE PUMP

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HOW INSECURITY COULD DECIDE WHO BECOMES NIGERIA’S NEXT PRESIDENT 1LJHULD À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·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ÀVVLRQ WKH\ GHWHUPLQHG WKDW WKH RI .DQR 6WDWH VFRUHG E\ 6KHKX 6KDJDUL ZDV HQRXJK WR FURVV WKH WKUHVKROG DQG WKDW WKH SURFODPDWLRQ RI D ZLQQHU E\ WKH )('(&2 ZDV ´LQ VXEVWDQWLDO FRPSOLDQFHµ ZLWK WKH VWDQGDUG SUHVFULEHG E\ WKH (OHFWRUDO $FW 6LQFH WKHUHIRUH WKH OHJDO VWDQGDUG UHTXLUHG IRU WKH DQQRXQFHPHQW RI UHVXOWV LQ DQ\ HOHFWLRQ LQ 1LJHULD LV ´VXEVWDQWLDO FRPSOLDQFHµ 7KLV FDQ EH VXEMHFWLYH WR WKH SRLQW RI ZKLPVLFDO :KDW LW PHDQV LQ IDFW KDV VWHDGLO\ EHHQ ZKLWWOHG DZD\ LQWR PHDQLQJOHVVQHVV RYHU IRXU GHFDGHV RI PXOWL DJHQF\ HOHFWRUDO FKLFDQHU\

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MONDAY JANUARY 23, 2023

ISHAQ OSAGIE EWEKA accuses the police of violating his rights

AN OPEN LETTER TO IGP My arrest and that of three other persons my fundamental right to liberty. On 11th DW D FDU ZDVK QDPH ZLWKKHOG DORQJ -DQXDU\ ZH ZHUH VHQW WR WKH 6WDWH (NHQZXDQ 5RDG 8JELJKRNR 4XDUWHUV +LJK &RXUW RQ WUXPSHG XS ÀFWLWLRXV %HQLQ &LW\ RI (GR 6WDWH LV RQH RI RWKHU IULYRORXV DQG IDEULFDWHG FKDUJHV ZKLFK events of human rights abuses associated LQFOXGH XQODZIXO SRVVHVVLRQ RI FXW WR VL]H ZLWK SROLFLQJ LQ 1LJHULD 'HDU ,QVSHFWRU JXQV SURPRWLQJ QDWLYH ZDU FRQVSLUDF\ *HQHUDO RI 3ROLFH RQ WK -DQXDU\ XQODZIXO JDWKHULQJ PHPEHUVKLS RI EHLQJ 6DWXUGD\ , ZDV LQYLWHG E\ D IULHQG XQODZIXO VRFLHWLHV FXOWLVP DPRQJVW QDPH ZLWKKHOG WR KDYH XV WDNH D FXUVRU\ others in an attempt to put us in bad light ORRN DW VRPH GRFXPHQWV IRU RQZDUG EHIRUH WKH ODZ FRXUW WUDQVPLVVLRQ WR WKH &RPPLVVLRQHU RI 'HDU ,QVSHFWRU *HQHUDO RI SROLFH 3ROLFH &3 (GR 6WDWH 7KH FRQWHQW RI WKH P\ VWDWHPHQW LV DYDLODEOH ZLWK WKH GRFXPHQWV LQFOXGHV D OHWWHU DGGUHVVHG commissioner of Police, Edo State for your attention. The ludo game, the documents recovered at the scene of our DUUHVW DUH DOO LQ WKH FXVWRG\ RI WKH 6$&8 IRU \RXU DWWHQWLRQ &3 0RKDPPHG $GDPX 'DQNZDUD·V DFW FOHDUO\ UHÁHFWV KLV XQSURIHVVLRQDO FRQGXFW IROORZLQJ P\ XQODZIXO GHWHQWLRQ DQG PDOLFLRXV SDUDGH before the press. The conduct of Police R΀FHUV LV YLHZHG DV D PDMRU FRQWULEXWLQJ factor to the corruption perception LQGH[ &3, RI 1LJHULD LQ WKH DUHD RI KXPDQ ULJKW YLRODWLRQV , FKDOOHQJH &3 0RKDPPHG $GDPX 'DQNZDUD WR VHHN UHGHSOR\PHQW WR UHVFXH YLFWLPV RI WKH Boko Hram attack unhurt and parade the criminal elements before the press WR VKRZFDVH KLV FULPH ÀJKWLQJ H[SHUWLVH WR WKH &3 VHHNLQJ DSSURYDO IRU ODZIXO WKDQ SDUDGH DQ LQQRFHQW PDQ ,W LV QRZ JDWKHULQJ D FRS\ RI WKH &RUSRUDWH SXEOLF NQRZOHGJH WKDW D KXJH QXPEHU RI $ͿDLUV &RPPLVVLRQ & $ & UHJLVWUDWLRQ persons paraded by Edo Police command GRFXPHQW RI RXU RUJDQL]DWLRQ D FRS\ DUH LQQRFHQW FLWL]HQV ZKLOH WKH SROLFH RI WKH &RQVWLWXWLRQ RI WKH RUJDQL]DWLRQ perhaps turn a blind eye on the criminal DPRQJVW RWKHUV IRU WKH &3·V DWWHQWLRQ DFWLYLWLHV KDSSHQLQJ DURXQG WKH VWDWH , )LYH PLQXWHV LQWR WKH PHHW ZKLOH P\ WKUHH ZLVK WR UHLWHUDWH IRU WKH XPSWHHQWK WLPH friends engaged in ludo game, policemen WKDW RXU DUUHVW DQG XQODZIXO GHWHQWLRQ IURP WKH VWDWH 3ROLFH &RPPDQG VZRRSHG E\ &3 'DQNZDUD ZDV D FKDUDGH RI RQ XV VKRRWLQJ VSRUDGLFDOO\ LQWR WKH DLU conjecture to enrich his already poor VFDULQJ UHVLGHQWV 7KH DUUHVW ZDV OHG E\ policing experience. Furthermore, it is RQH $63 &KULVWLDQ RI WKH 6WDWH $QWL &XOW XQIRUWXQDWH WR QRWH WKDW D SROLFH R΀FHU 8QLW 6$&8 2Q DUULYDO DW WKH 6WDWH RI WKH UDQN RI D &RPPLVVLRQHU RI 3ROLFH 3ROLFH &RPPDQG ZH PHW RQH &63 demonstrated acts capable of dragging 0RKKDPPHG $EXEDNDU 2 & 6$&8 the already battered image of the police ZKR LPPHGLDWHO\ WRRN XV EHIRUH &3 to the mud again. His unprofessional 0RKDPPHG $GDPX 'DQNZDUD $W WKH actions are reminiscent of the ordeal R΀FH RI WKH &3 , UHPLQGHG WKH &3 RI D RI 1LJHULDQV WKDW OHG WR WKH (1'6$56 SUHYLRXV PHHW ZH KDG ZLWK KLP RQ WKH SURWHVW 3UHPLVHG RQ WKH DERYH , UHTXHVW GD\ KH DVVXPHG GXW\ DV &RPPLVVLRQHU RI DV IROORZV 3ROLFH (GR 6WDWH FLWHG WKH GLUHFWLYH RI WKH One, if no element linking me and ,QVSHFWRU *HQHUDO RI 3ROLFH WR LQYHVWLJDWH RWKHUV WR FULPLQDOLW\ ZDV UHFRYHUHG IURP D PDWWHU LQ D OHWWHU UHIHUHQFHG &% RXU UHVLGHQFH ZKDW LV WKH UDWLRQDOH IRU ,*3 6(& $%- 92/ &3 RXU DUUHVW XQODZIXO GHWHQWLRQ SDUDGH 0RKDPPHG $GDPX 'DQNZDUD LJQRUHG EHIRUH WKH SUHVV VXEVHTXHQW FKDUJH P\ HQWUHDWLHV GLUHFWHG &63 0RKDPPHG EHIRUH WKH ODZ FRXUW" $EXEDNDU WR WDNH XV DZD\ , ZDV DVNHG WR 7ZR &3 0RKDPPHG $GDPX ZULWH D VWDWHPHQW ZLWKRXW ÀUVW LQWLPDWLQJ 'DQNZDUD RI (GR 3ROLFH &RPPDQG me on the reason(s) for our arrest. Five should reveal to Nigerians the petitioner(s) minutes into the introductory section of DQG WKH RͿHQFH V FRPPLWWHG 7KUHH P\ VWDWHPHQW , ZDV DVNHG WR VWRS WDNHQ &3 0RKDPPHG $GDPX 'DQNZDUD RI WR P\ UHVLGHQFH P\ UHVLGHQFH WXUQHG (GR 3ROLFH &RPPDQG VKRXOG UHYHDO WR RYHU LQ VHDUFK RI ZKDWHYHU ZLWKRXW D Nigerians the reason(s) for the despicable VHDUFK ZDUUDQW 1RWKLQJ ZKDWVRHYHU and unprofessional conduct that has OLQNLQJ PH WR FULPLQDOLW\ ZDV IRXQG defamed my character and violated my discovered or recovered from my fundamental human rights as a Nigerian. )RXU &3 0RKDPPHG $GDPX residence. , ZDV LPPHGLDWHO\ UHWXUQHG WR WKH 'DQNZDUD RI (GR 3ROLFH &RPPDQG 6WDWH 3ROLFH +HDGTXDUWHUV ZKHUH , ZDV VKRXOG UHYHDO WR 1LJHULDQV ZKR SDLG GLUHFWHG WR FRPSOHWH P\ VWDWHPHQW him to carry out this unthinkable act of DIWHU ZKLFK , ZDV WKURZQ LQWR WKH 3ROLFH corrupt tendencies.

FHOO OLNH D FRPPRQ FULPLQDO :H ZHUH The Nigerian Police Force is by this paraded before the press and other social publication given 48 hours to address the media platforms on the fourth day (10th abusive and unprofessional conducts on -DQXDU\ LQ DWWHPSW WR GHIDPH my person or face legal actions.

P\ SHUVRQ DIWHU EHLQJ XQODZIXOO\ Osagie-Eweka, PhD, GHWDLQHG IRU ÀYH GD\V ZLWKRXW VWDWLQJ WKH osagieewekadavies@yahoo.co.uk RͿHQFH V FRPPLWWHG DQG LQ YLRODWLRQ RI

The logistics sector has a strong potential for growth if properly harnessed, argues MICHAEL MAKINDE

UNLOCKING THE POTENTIAL OF NIGERIA’S LOGISTICS MARKET $V 1LJHULD GUDZV FORVHU WR WKH general elections, conversation around the economy is expected to dominate and feature prominently on the political DJHQGD )URP ZRUVHQLQJ PDFURHFRQRPLF fundamentals, unemployment, multiGLPHQVLRQDO SRYHUW\ LQÁDWLRQ KXQJHU among others, the fragile economy FRQWLQXHV WR KDYH VLJQLÀFDQW LPSDFW on individuals, businesses, and even government. $W OHDVW WZR RI VXFK FKDOOHQJHV VXJJHVW that Nigeria may be approaching a SRWHQWLDO ÀVFDO FULVLV 7KH ÀUVW FKDOOHQJH is that of inadequate government revenue to meet government obligation and other development objectives. The other FKDOOHQJH LV WKH JURZLQJ GHEW FULVLV ZKLFK KDV UHDFKHG DQ XQSUHFHGHQWHG OHYHO ,Q WKH EXGJHW WKDW ZDV VLJQHG LQWR ODZ earlier in January, out of the entire N21.8trn EXGJHW VL]H 1 WUQ ZDV HVWLPDWHG DV WKH EXGJHW GHÀFLW ZKLOH DQRWKHU 1 WUQ constituting an estimated 29% of the budget ZDV HDUPDUNHG IRU GHEW VHUYLFLQJ According to the Debt Management 2΀FH '02 1LJHULD·V WRWDO GHEW VWRFN (external and domestic) is expected to rise WR 1 WUQ E\ 0D\ )RU WKH DYRLGDQFH RI GRXEW 1LJHULD ZRXOG H[SHULHQFH D WUDQVLWLRQ RI SROLWLFDO SRZHU E\ 0D\ WKH LPSOLFDWLRQ WKHUHIRUH LV WKDW WKH QH[W JRYHUQPHQW ZRXOG EH LQKHULWLQJ D high debt stock. This glaring challenge of inadequate revenue, and rising public debt, suggest that there is need for a radical economic approach to manage the ORRPLQJ ÀVFDO FULVLV 7KH GDQJHU KRZHYHU is that if it is not immediately addressed, JRYHUQPHQW ZRXOG KDYH OHVV WR VSHQG RQ its development programmes that should guarantee shared prosperity for the greatest number of our population. ,W LV WKHUHIRUH QRW VXUSULVLQJ WKDW SHUKDSV IRU WKH ÀUVW WLPH LQ D ORQJ ZKLOH HYHU\ Nigerian irrespective of persuasion, are united in their conviction that a strong economy is required to deliver democratic dividends to the people. There is also a further admission that as the revenue from the oil sector continues to decline, in the light of a gradual global shift from oil, Nigeria must begin to consider the non-oil sector as the major driver of the economy.

Already, the non-oil sector has continued to VKRZ SURPLVHV DQG JUHDW SURVSHFW ,Q for example, the total revenue from oil as DW 1RYHPEHU ZDV 1 EQ ZKLOH WKH non-oil revenue had contributed N2.09trn, ZLWKLQ WKH VDPH SHULRG 2QH RI VXFK VHFWRU ZLWKLQ WKH QRQ RLO VHFWRU WKDW RͿHUV VLJQLÀFDQW SRWHQWLDO LV the Nigerian logistics and supply chain ecosystem. According to the 2018 Logistics DQG 6XSSO\ &KDLQ ,QGXVWU\ UHSRUW WKH YDOXH of the logistics sub-sector of the economy ZDV HVWLPDWHG DW 1 ELOOLRQ ELOOLRQ PDNLQJ LW RQH RI WKH IDVWHVW JURZLQJ VHFWRUV Experts believe that the Nigerian logistics VHFWRU KDV D VWURQJ SRWHQWLDO IRU JURZWK LI properly harnessed, and can serve as the path to building a strong economy that can support government revenue and improve Nigeria’s foreign exchange earnings.

7KH TXHVWLRQ KDV DOZD\V EHHQ ZKHWKHU government can see this potential and LI WKHUH LV WKH SROLWLFDO ZLOO WR LQVWLWXWH necessary reforms that is required to UHSRVLWLRQ WKH VHFWRU :KDW LV KRZHYHU

certain is that, either the local or cross border movement of goods, Nigeria has the capacity to translate its land, geography, demography and huge market to become a global leader in the logistics value chain.

To maximise the sector, Nigeria must immediately commit to improve export, EULGJH LWV LQIUDVWUXFWXUH GHÀFLW FRPPLW to a stronger bilateral and multilateral relations, and ensure an enabling business environment that address bottlenecks at the port terminals.

There is no doubt that Nigeria requires an improved level of value added export to achieve a competitive logistics

and supply chain ecosystem, our year RQ \HDU WUDGH GHÀFLW ZLOO FRQWLQXH WR impair the country’s ability to fully maximise the sector. For example, in 1LJHULD·V WRWDO LPSRUWV ZDV YDOXHG DW 1 WUQ ZKLOH H[SRUWV WRWDOHG N18.91 trn, resulting in N1.94 trn (USD %Q WUDGH GHÀFLW 7UDGH EDODQFH LV essential to harness the opportunities in the supply chain industry.

To support the sector, Nigeria must commit to bridge its infrastructural gap.

According to the federal government, Nigeria needs $1.5trillion over the next 10 years to bridge the current LQIUDVWUXFWXUH GHÀFLW &ORVLQJ WKH LQIUDVWUXFWXUH JDS ZLWKLQ D VKRUW WLPH ZRXOG LPPHGLDWHO\ DFFHOHUDWH WKH sector. Nigeria also requires strong multilateral relations to support the supply chain industry. Already, Nigeria LV PDNLQJ HͿRUWV LQ WKLV UHJDUG DV RQH RI the member nations under the African &RQWLQHQWDO )UHH 7UDGH $JUHHPHQW $)&7$ WKH FRXQWU\ PXVW VXVWDLQ WKLV HͿRUW DQG FRQVROLGDWH LWV UHJLRQDO collaboration.

For the sector to scale this, there is a need for government to implement an enabling business reforms that support the ease of doing business along the key value chain. This is in addition to port UHIRUPV WKDW ZLOO HQVXUH HDV\ DFFHVV and evacuation from the ports. The key reforms can accelerate the sector DQG LWV FRQWULEXWLRQ WR WKH JURZWK RI WKH economy and GDP. Already, the sector has provided jobs to many Nigerians, at the retail level, ZLWK WKH SRWHQWLDO WR FUHDWH PRUH MREV ,I HͿHFWLYHO\ PD[LPL]HG WKH ORJLVWLFV DQG supply chain industry has the capacity to boost government revenue and improve Nigeria’s foreign exchange earnings.

Makinde CMILT is a logistics and supply chain professional

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EDITORIAL

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

PAINS AND GROANS AT THE PUMP The earlier the subsidy is removed, the better for all

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espite a controversial budget of N3.4 trillion to fund fuel subsidy in the ÀUVW KDOI RI WKLV \HDU D UHVXUJHQFH of fuel queues in major cities across the country has exposed the mess in the sector. There is need to demand DFFRXQWDELOLW\ )URP /DJRV WR $EXMD (QXJX DQG 0DLGXJXUL 1LJHULDQV QRZ VSHQG KRXUV RQ TXHXHV DQG ZKHQ WKH\ HYHQWXDOO\ JHW WKH IXHO WKH\ SD\ RXWUDJHRXV SULFHV IRU ZKDW LV VXSSRVHG WR KDYH EHHQ IXOO\ VXEVLGL]HG :KLOH LQ WKH SDVW WKHUH ZHUH XVXDOO\ VWRULHV IURP WKH PDQDJHUV RI WKH VHFWRU QRQH LV SURYLGHG WKLV WLPH DURXQG DV R΀FLDOV SUHWHQG DV LI HYHU\WKLQJ is normal in a sector that H[HPSOLÀHV WKH IDLOXUH RI Nigeria.

More concerning is that fuel prices seem to have been deregulated at the pump by the PDUNHWHUV ZKR DUH VHOOLQJ DW GLͿHUHQW SULFHV <HW the regime of subsidy remains. That Nigerians are paying more for the fuel WKH\ KDYH VXͿHUHG WR JHW GHPDQGV H[SODQDWLRQ :KLOH WKRVH WKDW VKRXOG EH KHOG WR DFFRXQW DUH VLOHQW WKH Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN) KDV H[SUHVVHG ´V\PSDWK\µ ZLWK 1LJHULDQV RYHU WKH FKDOOHQJHV DW ÀOOLQJ VWDWLRQV DFURVV WKH FRXQWU\ ´7KHVH queues are caused by exceptionally high demand and bottlenecks in the fuel distribution chain. The major cause is the shortage and high (US Dollar) costs of daughter vessels for ferrying products from mother vessels to depots along the coast. Next is the inadequate number of trucks to meet the demand WR GHOLYHU SURGXFWV IURP GHSRWV WR ÀOOLQJ VWDWLRQV QDWLRQZLGH µ DFFRUGLQJ WR D VWDWHPHQW IURP 020$1 “These high logistics and exchange rate costs continue to put pressure on prices at the pump.”

Nigerians have lost count of the number of excuses WKDW KDYH EHHQ SURYLGHG E\ GLͿHUHQW DFWRUV WR UDWLRQDOLVH ZK\ LQ PDMRU FLWLHV DFURVV WKH FRXQWU\ TXHXHV RI PRWRULVWV VWUHWFK NLORPHWUHV DW IXHO VWDWLRQV ZLWK WKH DWWHQGDQW WUD΀F VQDUOV VORZLQJ GRZQ FRPPHUFLDO DQG

VRFLDO DFWLYLWLHV $V WKH SUREOHP SHUVLVWV QXPHURXV SURGXFWLYH KRXUV DUH EHLQJ ORVW ZKLOH SHRSOH·V VDYLQJV are getting ruthlessly depleted. And as Nigerians JURDQ GDLO\ DW ÀOOLQJ VWDWLRQV WKH VWDUN LURQ\ RI RXU predicament is that citizens of the seventh largest producer of oil cannot fuel their vehicles. It is as FRQIXVLQJ DV LW LV IUXVWUDWLQJ <HW UHVROYLQJ WKH ORJMDP is not a mystery.

7KH TXHVWLRQ WKDW UHPDLQV XQDQVZHUHG LV ZKHWKHU 1LJHULDQV ZRXOG HYHU VHH DQ HQG WR WKLV SHUHQQLDO VFDUFLW\ WKDW KDV FRPH WR GHÀQH WKH PDQDJHPHQW RI WKH GRZQVWUHDP VHFWRU RI WKH SHWUROHXP LQGXVWU\ )RU \HDUV WKH IDOOLQJ SULFH RI FUXGH ZDV WKH ´VDYLQJ JUDFHµ %XW WKH FRXQWU\ LV QRZ badly exposed at a time of high crude price occasioned E\ WKH FXUUHQW ZDU EHWZHHQ Ukraine and Russia.

0HDQZKLOH WKH UHÀQHULHV KDYH FRQWLQXHG to fail in terms of satisfying the essence RI WKHLU HVWDEOLVKPHQW given that the importation of petroleum products has become a major and running routine in the economic PDQDJHPHQW RI WKH FRXQWU\ 7KH UHDVRQ DV RIWHQ DGGXFHG E\ WKH LQGXVWU\ H[SHUWV LV WKDW WKH UHÀQHULHV KDYH HLWKHU DOO EURNHQ GRZQ GXH WR SRRU PDLQWHQDQFH culture or that the installed production capacity cannot PHHW WKH HYHU JURZLQJ ORFDO GHPDQG IRU SHWUROHXP SURGXFWV <HW KXQGUHGV RI ELOOLRQV RI QDLUD DUH SXPSHG into them every year.

While it makes no sense that Nigeria continues WR LPSRUW ÀQLVKHG SHWUROHXP SURGXFWV DW KXJH FRVW WR WKH HFRQRP\ H[SHULHQFH KDV DOVR VKRZQ WKDW WKH JRYHUQPHQW LV QRW DGHSW LQ WKH H΀FLHQW PDQDJHPHQW RI EXVLQHVVHV ,I DQ\WKLQJ WKH WDOHV RI FRUUXSWLRQ LQHSWLWXGH VDERWDJH DQG RWKHU VKDUS SUDFWLFHV LQ WKH RLO DQG JDV LQGXVWU\ KDYH FRQWLQXHG WR FRQÀUP WKLV ZLGHO\ KHOG RSLQLRQ :LWK WKH SUHVLGHQWLDO HOHFWLRQ VODWHG IRU QH[W PRQWK WKH KRSH RI PRVW 1LJHULDQV LV WKDW ZKRHYHU ZLQV ZRXOG KDYH WKH FRXUDJH WR UHVROYH this nagging issue of subsidy that is at the heart of the perennial fuel scarcity.

As Nigerians groan daily at filling stations, the stark irony of our predicament is that citizens of the seventh largest producer of oil cannot fuel their vehicles T H I S D AY EDITOR SHAKA MOMODU DEPUTY EDITORS WALE OLALEYE, OBINNA CHIMA MANAGING DIRECTOR ENIOLA BELLO DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR ISRAEL IWEGBU CHAIRMAN EDITORIAL BOARD OLUSEGUN ADENIYI EDITOR NATION’S CAPITAL IYOBOSA UWUGIAREN MANAGING EDITOR BOLAJI ADEBIYI THE OMBUDSMAN KAYODE KOMOLAFE

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

Letters to the Editor Letters in response to specific publications in THISDAY should be brief (150-300 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 (750- 1000 words). They should be sent to opinion@thisdaylive. com along with photograph, email address and phone numbers of the writer.

LETTERS AS YOU VOTE REMEMBER FATHER ACHI ,W LV ZLWK D ORW RI VDGQHVV , ZULWH EXW VDGQHVV KDV EHFRPH D GDLly feature in our great country. The increasing failures in security LV EHZLOGHULQJ WR VD\ WKH OHDVW , PXVW DGG LW LV D VWDWH RI DQRPLH 2YHU \HDUV DJR DW DQRWKHU EUD]HQ DWWDFN )DWKHU $FKL ZDV WKH FRQVROHU LQ FKLHI KH KDG WR H[SODLQ WR KLV FRQJUHJDWLRQ KRZ to constantly love a country that has failed them and forgive their attackers.

Father Achi has become a metaphor for the brazen failure in RXU OHDGHUVKLS V\VWHP LQ 1LJHULD +LV RQO\ RͿHQFH ZDV WKDW KH ZDV D 1LJHULDQ DQG D SULHVW ZKLFK VKRXOG QRW EH D EDG WKLQJ EXW WKH LQDELOLW\ WR ÀJKW D ZDU GHFLVLYHO\ DJDLQVW JXQPHQ WKDW ÀJKW GHOLEHUDWHO\ WR GHVWUR\ WKH VRXO RI RXU QDWLRQ ZLOO FRQWLQXH to lead to the death of many people. $QRWKHU JUHDW 3ULHVW %LVKRS 0DWWKHZ .XNDK LQ KLV &KULVWPDV VHUPRQV EHUDWHG WKH JRYHUQPHQW·V LQDELOLW\ WR HQG LQVHFXULW\ DQG KH ZDV DEXVHG DQG RQ PDQ\ RFFDVLRQV WKUHDWHQHG 6RPHWLPHV , ZRQGHU LI WKRVH WKDW DWWDFN WKH %LVKRS HYHQ NQRZ DERXW WKH GHDWKV DQG ZDQWRQ GHVWUXFWLRQ RI OLYHV RU WKH\ FKRRVH to ignore them. $V ZH JR WR WKH EDOORW LQ DERXW GD\V ZH PXVW QRW IRUJHW

ONE DOWN, NINE TO GO

WKDW WKH OHDGHUV ZH HOHFW ZLOO GHWHUPLQH ZKHWKHU WKHUH LV DQ HQG WR LQVHFXULW\ RU WKH PDGQHVV DQG NLOOLQJV ZLOO FRQWLQXH :H PXVW elect capable and competent leaders. I am sure our tribe and religious sentiments that have blinded our conscience should be FOHDU E\ QRZ GXH WR WKH IDLOXUHV RI WKH SDVW , KRSH 1LJHULDQV DUH ready to learn that insecurity and corruption are tribe or religion agnostic. :H FDQQRW KDYH D QDWLRQ ZKHUH WKH EHVW RI XV FRQWLQXH WR GLH LQ WHUULEOH FLUFXPVWDQFHV )RU HͿHFW )DWKHU $FKL ZDV EXUQW WR DVKHV DQG ZH DOO ORRN OLNH QRWKLQJ KDSSHQHG +H ZDV D SULHVW VDYLQJ OLYHV DQG ZDV NLOOHG LQ WKDW PDQQHU E\ JXQPHQ WKDW WKH VWDWH KDGQ·W DUUHVWHG :H DUH JUDGXDOO\ ORVLQJ RXU KXPDQLW\ DQG QHHG , VD\ ZH KDYH ORVW LW ,W·V WLPH WR HQG WKHVH QHHGOHVV NLOOLQJV EXW ZH FDQ RQO\ GR WKDW ZLWK JRRG OHDGHUVKLS LQ HYHU\ IDFHW RI RXU KXPDQ OLIH , EHJ \RX DV \RX YRWH NLQGO\ UHPHPEHU )DWKHU $FKL DQG RWKHUV NLOOHG 0D\ KLV 6RXO ÀQG UHVW

$QWRQ\ $XPDQQ D UHOLJLRXV VWXGLHV DQG SKLORVRSK\ SURIHVVRU IRXQG WZR VWXGHQWV ZHUH FKHDWLQJ E\ XVLQJ &KDW*37 DQG ZKHQ DVNHG WKH\ DGPLWWHG WKHLU guilt.

7KLV VHHPV DQ XQXVXDO FDVH LQ WKDW WKH\ ZHUH GRXEOH FKHDWLQJ 7KH ÀUVW FDVH ZDV E\ XVLQJ WKH VRIWZDUH WR GR WKHLU DVVLJQPHQWV EXW WKH VHFRQG ZDV WKDW WKH\ had obviously not listened to any of the content they ZHUH WDXJKW DV &DWKROLFV KDYH &RPPDQGPHQW QLQH thou shalt not lie and I am sure all of the other faiths and philosophies have a similar respect for honesty.

They had clearly not learnt the course content or observed it.

It seems they may have missed the main messages WKDW WKH\ ZHUH WDXJKW DQG , ZRQGHU KRZ PDQ\ RWKHU RI WKH FRPPDQGPHQWV RU WKHLU HTXLYDOHQWV WKH\ have broken.

Rufai Oseni, rufaioseni@gmail.com

Dennis Fitzgerald, Melbourne, Australia

MONDAY JANUARY 23, 2023 • T H I S D AY

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MONDAY JANUARY 23, 2023 • T H I S D AY

INVITATION FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST FOR THE ACQUISITION OF A SHAREHOLDING INTEREST IN MAMBILA BEVERAGES NIGERIA LIMITED 1. The Taraba Investment and Properties Limited, hereby invite Bids for the Privatization of Mambila Beverages Nigeria Limited (“Transaction”).

2. In 2012, Nigerian Beverages Production Company Limited was auctioned as a result RI ¿QDQFLDO SUREOHPV ZLWK KHU FUHGLWRUV 7KH VDPH \HDU 7DUDED 6WDWH *RYHUQPHQW bought the assets of the Company and registered it as Mambila Beverages Nigeria Limited, to manage the tea estate.

3. Interested investors are hereby invited to express interest in acquiring the Company.

4. Intending bidders should have: D 2SHUDWHG LQ WKH $JULEXVLQHVV 6HFWRU LQ 1LJHULD IRU D 0LQLPXP RI 7HQ <HDUV (b) Have Audited Accounts showing a minimum Net Asset Value of Five Billion Naira (N5,000,000,000), 5. Preference will be given to indigenous Nigerian companies.

6. Method of Application. Interested investors (individual entities or consortia) should indicate their interest by submitting an Expression of Interest (“EOI”) with the following GRFXPHQWDWLRQ DQG LQIRUPDWLRQ DV DSSOLFDEOH XQGHU WKH VXEMHFW KHDGLQJV VSHFL¿HG below (in the case of a consortium, please provide the relevant information for each consortium member): • Description of acquiring entity or vehicle with evidence of registration or incorporation; • List of Directors of the acquiring entity or vehicle, identifying all shareholders with a 30% or more stake; 6WUDWHJLF UDWLRQDOH IRU WKH DFTXLVLWLRQ RI 0DPELOD %HYHUDJHV • In the case of a consortium, kindly provide evidence of alliance/partnership/joint venture between members in the consortium, clearly indicating the lead member authorized to submit the EOI; • Full name(s) of contact person(s), email addresses and telephone numbers; and • Any relevant information that demonstrates credibility and eligibility of the investor for the Transaction.

7.Submission of Expression of Interest. Prospective investors are required to submit their EOIs in English Language and titled “Expression of Interest for the Acquisition of Mambila Beverages”. The EOI should be received no later than 5.00pm (Nigerian time) on 7th Febuary 2023: • Electronically to: info@tarabainvestment.com • Hard copies to the following address: THE SECRETARY TO THE TARABA STATE GOVERNMENT c/o The Managing Director/CEO The Taraba Investment and Properties Limited +DPPDUXZD :D\ 30% -DOLQJR 7DUDED 6WDWH 8.Upon receipt and evaluation of the EOIs, a shortlist of interested investors deemed to EH ¿W DQG VXLWDEOH ZLOO EH SUHSDUHG DQG WKHVH SDUWLHV ZLOO EH LQYLWHG WR SURFHHG WR WKH next phase of the Transaction. Please note that only shortlisted interested investors will be formally contacted and advised on the next steps of the Transaction.

9.Legal Notices: This invitation does not constitute an invitation to tender or an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to subscribe for or purchase any securities by any person.

10.The distribution of this invitation in certain jurisdictions may be restricted by law, and recipients should inform themselves about, and observe any applicable legal or regulatory requirements in relation to, the distribution or possession of this invitation. %\ VXEPLWWLQJ DQ (2, DQ LQWHUHVWHG LQYHVWRU FRQ¿UPV WKDW LW LV D SHUVRQ DEOH WR UHFHLYH the information provided to it (or which may be provided to it in any subsequent phase) ZLWKRXW FRQWUDYHQWLRQ RI DQ\ XQIXO¿OOHG UHJLVWUDWLRQ UHTXLUHPHQWV RU RWKHU DSSOLFDEOH legal or regulatory restrictions in the jurisdictions in which it is incorporated, resides, or conducts business.

12.The right is reserved by the Taraba Investment & Properties Limited to accept or reject any submission, and to amend or discontinue the Transaction at any time, without any obligation to provide reasons for its decision.

Signed: Chairman, Technical Committee for the Privatization of Mambila Beverages Nigeria Limited

T H I S D AY ˾ MONDAY, JANUARY 23, 2023

HOMES&DESIGN Alpha 1 Tower, An Elegant Showpiece in Eko Atlantic City The Alpha 1 Tower in Eko Atlantic City in Lagos is a firstrate piece of mixed-use real estate conceived and rendered by Traffic Direct Limited. The tower has a rare touch of elegance.

Bennett Oghifo writes

T

he iconic Eko Atlantic City is home to many sturdy, completed and ongoing real estate projects. This is where Alpha Tower 1 nestles in the prime Marina area, in all its elegance.

The 15-floor edifice was designed by the renowned architects James Cubitt and was built by the main contractor, ITB Nigeria Limited, with Lambert Electromec Ltd., as Elec Engineer.

Alpha 1 is designed with 14 floors of open offices and a basement for a car park. It is a concrete structure with well-selected high-end accessories.

The main contractor, ITB Nigeria Limited, said on its web page that it was established in 1995 to address the growing demand for innovation and improved engineering expertise in Nigeria.

“With over two decades of experience in the construction industry, our teams of builders and civil engineering contractors have established ITB as the leading provider of top-quality construction services across the country,” stated ITB. “Our successful track record of delivered projects and strong relationships with our clients have reinforced our position as leaders in the market.”

On the other hand, James Cubitt was set up by the London office (James Cubitt & Partners) in 1956, following an initial venture into Ghana.

As the West African regional office, the Lagos practice efficiently executed the increasing number of post-independence projects.

The firm said it had since executed commissions in the educational, industrial, commercial and residential sectors.

According to it, the current focus of the practice is commercial-office and residential, with the dominant clients being the banking and telecommunications industries, providing architectural consultancy, planning, project management and interior design services in Nigeria and neighbouring countries.

The firm explained that its recently completed projects include the Lagos Civic Centre and Diamond Bank, “proving that we are constantly reinventing ourselves” and remaining relevant.

“With a fully established office and over 50 years of design experience, James Cubitt retains a reputation for cutting-edge design in Nigeria,” it added. “Our core strength lies in our ability to translate every brief into simple, precise, yet bold forms, with a commitment to social and environmental responsibility.”

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MONDAY, JANUARY 23, 2023 ˾ T H I S D AY

BUSINESSSPECIAL Banking Beyond Tomorrow

Editor: Obinna Chima obinna.chima@thisdaylive.com 08024557078

In its new five-year strategic plan, Access Corporation intends to aggressively push its businesses beyond Nigeria in order to strengthen its presence in the continent and diversify its earnings writes Obinna Chima

T

he banking landscape is a rapidly changing dynamic environment. The sector has seen pervasive developments such as the increasing adoption of technology as well as lifestyle banking.

These developments, which all come with challenges, require financial institutions to be positioned to always meet the needs of their customers.

This requires organisational planning. Indeed, strategic planning allows organisations to anticipate things that are most likely to happen and prepare accordingly. In addition, it helps to define the direction in which an organisation must go and also helps in establishing realistic objectives and goals that are in line with its vision and mission.

For Access Holdings Plc, developing a five-year strategic plan has been part of the bank’s tradition in its almost 21-year history.

In line with this, Access Corporation last week unveiled a new five-year strategic plan, in which it outlined plans to deepen financial services across Africa and extend its services to the continent’s large unbanked population.

The five-year strategy document is for 2023 to 2027. Its target is to become one of the top five banks in the continent by 2027.

The Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Access Holdings Plc, Mr. Herbert Wigwe, explained that the institution has consistently followed its five-year strategic plan, which according to him, is responsible for the success it has achieved over the years.

The institution has since transitioned into a holding company (Holdco) with five verticals to capture the opportunities in the African market.

They include Access Bank Limited; Hydrogen, which focuses on delivering integrated payments solutions; Oxygen, which focuses on digital and consumer loans; Access Pensions Limited and Access Insurance.

Clearly, Access Corporation has positioned itself to be at the centre of financial flows in the continent. Its six key priorities are retail banking, focus on being digitally led, being customer centric and focused, analytics-driven insights and robust risk management, global collaboration and building a universal payments gateway.

Access Corporation’s target for the next five years would be supported by seven key enablers. These enablers would ensure that Access becomes a top five financial services institution in the continent by the end of the strategic cycle in terms of revenues, asset base and on a balanced scorecard basis.

“The records over the last 20 years show that we have consistently followed our five-year strategic plan and there is no reason to suggest that we would not achieve same by 2027,” Wigwe said.

He added, “In 2002, we were number 65 in the market and we shared with the market then how we were going to be among the top 10 banks and by the end of that five-year period, we became number nine.

“We went into the next five-year corporate plan – 2008 – 2012 - and if you recall, that was when Prof. Charles Soludo increased banking sector share capital and we shared with the market how we were going to move from being one of the top 10 banks in the country to becoming one of the top five banks, which we did.

“We said we were going to be one of the top three in the market by 2018 and then we did a capital raising; with the money we raised, we were able to transform the bank. Today, we are seen as the most profitable African bank and one of the top 20 African banks in the United Kingdom.”

He stressed that Access Holdings prides itself in the fact that it serves well over 52 million unique customers, which is different from bank accounts. The CEO of the holding company explained that unique customers mean individual accounts.

He also disclosed that Access has over 62 million accounts with presence in over 17 markets worldwide, with network of about 600 branches and over 6,000 professional staff.

“We are still in growth phase; people keep asking us that. So, you will continue to see increasing spread in terms of our branch network and countries in which we are present.

Wigwe

Ogbonna

We are an established leaders as long as environmental, social and governance (ESG) is concerned,” he added.

By 2027, Access Corporation expects its Nigerian bank to be contributing about 52 per cent of revenues compared to about 82 per cent (nine- month 2022). The new verticals would also be contributing about 12 per cent of total revenues, as revenues from African subsidiaries is expected to double over the next five years.

In addition, Profit Before Tax contributions from Nigeria bank is expected to reduce from about 63 per cent (9M’22) to about 33 per cent, while the new verticals are expected to contribute about 19 per cent of the profitability by 2027, while its African subsidiaries would contribute about 20 per cent as their footprint grows across the continent.

Additionally, by the end of 2027, it expects to have presence in at least 26 countries and in at least three organisations for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries supporting trade (United Kingdom, France and United States of America). Access also projected that its customer acquisition drive would hit 100 million for the Retail Business by 2027 and would continue as it migrates majority of customers to digital platforms by 2027 across all touchpoints.

According to Wigwe, “Our primary focus on trade is to leverage established presence across trade and financial hubs across the world to continue driving trade

outputs. Presence in London, Dubai, Hong Kong, Lebanon, Beijing, Mumbai, etc. and extensive footprint across the continent.

Today, we have an operation in China, which we are going to convert into a branch because the new ordinance allows us to do that because of our size.

“As part of our desire to position ourselves as Africa’s gateway to the world, we have now basically placed ourselves in the critical trade hubs across the continent and that has helped us as far as a correspondent banking and payment is concerned. More than any African bank, we are laying the groundwork for that real growth, linking the entire continent, which I think will see us get to where we want to get to. Until we have more African institutions thinking like us, we would continue to have a situation where they would be treating us like second fiddle from outside.”

He pointed out that the combination of Access Bank and the then Diamond Bank, played a vital role in supporting the growth of the institution.

He explained, “Diamond Bank was well ahead of its time as far as its digital endeavour is concerned and had put in place what was required to build a proper digital bank. Obviously, the issues it had to deal with were so heavy that the combination had to take place. But we don’t think we are where we are supposed to be right now, given the scale of the enterprise that was created.”

Speaking further, Wigwe said, “We don’t want to be seen and known as just a dot in any country. So, if you go to countries like Mozambique, we have done further acquisitions.

People keep asking: why are you doing all of these? But you need to get to the critical mass before you become profitable. You need to get to the critical mass before you are able to employ the right management, technology and scale, otherwise you cannot compete.

“So, the idea is that if you are going into a country, you make sure that you have the right scale. We built on partnerships, and one of the things you will see is that the contribution from our various subsidiaries is growing and is providing a natural hedge against Nigeria, which has a soft currency as we speak.

“Just before I got into banking, the exchange rate was 80 kobo to $1. I was fully a banker when it was N4 to $1; I was a Manager when it was N82 to $1; we saw exchange rate go to N88 to $1 to over N200 to a dollar and now to N450 to a dollar.

“One of the things we want to be known as, is as a global player with an African heritage, and one of the things that mitigate against anybody trying to achieve that is if you are in a soft currency country. We are a growth company and we will continue to invest in our future. So, we would continue to invest in countries that have inflation rate lower than that of Nigeria. What does that mean?

It means that in the short-term, we would see elevated cost in terms of technology and people.

“For us, the future is more important. In the next five years, what we have done is to look at Africa first of all as our continent. You have to be strong at home first before you go out and ask ourselves where are the opportunities in the continent, then you ask yourself what is there to be done internationally. Finally, what we then told ourselves is that the world is going through significant shift and changes with respect to technology, demographics.”

He stressed that the bank would continue to take advantage of the huge number of Africa’s unbanked population to drive its retail business, the growing opportunities in trade within the continue due to the Africa Continental Free Trade Area agreement, remittances, cross border trade and digital payment.

In his assessment, the Managing Director, Access Bank Limited, Roosevelt Ogbonna, stated that across every financial metrics, the commercial banking arm of the business has done exceedingly well.

NOTE: The story continue online on www.thisdaylive.com

T H I S D AY ˾ MONDAY, JANUARY 23, 2023

35

BUSINESS SPECIAL

ANALYSIS

Nigerian Domestic Card: Another Leap in Financial Innovation Tope Fasua

S

o, early this year, it was announced that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in collaboration with the Nigerian Interbank Settlement Systems (NIBSS) will be launching a new innovation called the Nigerian National Domestic Card Scheme – if everything goes to plan.

Many would wonder why that may be necessary and many will again ask if that was the priority or how the innovation will improve the lives of the common man. I think the first thing to clarify is that all our institutions of state must do their work and indeed be seen to do so with the results they put out. But indeed, with this innovation, there are gains for the common man as I will explain shortly.

So, Nigerians did about $18.2 billion dollars of card transactions in 2021. Most if not all of the debit cards in our system today are issued by the global behemoths Mastercard and Visa. Procuring those cards costs customers quite some money and so does maintaining them. Transactions done on them need to also be settled and that may often entail looking for foreign exchange to manage the obligations. Scanning the international environment, countries have leveraged on technology to improve their payment service situation and many of them are now building on their own strengths, India, Brazil, Turkey are some of those who have created their own domestic cards.

And a lot is happening in that space. Nigeria intends to join these countries, and this is a big do. We have usually led financial innovation on the continent anyway. This time, what are the advantages?

First the idea offers data sovereignty. We can remember once when our national ID card system was almost handed over to one of those behemoths mentioned above to manage. For that company it would have been a financial kill and they would have had the whole Nigeria, those of us living today and those to come, in the middle of their palm.

Not only will they be assured of transactions and therefore profits ad infinitum they will also hold Nigeria’s vital identity information – as a private company. Well, many Nigerians will say we were/are not doing much with those information ourselves. But I don’t believe we should give up and sign everything strategic to private companies. So, this idea here is that the Central Bank of Nigeria will lead the charge.

Anyone who dares to find out will be surprised at the sheer number of very cerebral people we have in the Apex bank and in other places in Nigeria.

Apart from data sovereignty being enhanced with a Nigerian card, we would not have to scramble all over the place searching for US Dollars to settle foreign card companies. Nigeria is under enough stress already in this regard and our economic managers are looking for ways to lighten the burden. This idea also helps with the concept of financial inclusion because a domestic card, issued and powered in Nigeria, could be

Oiwoh

Ahmad more affordable for the unbanked, and can help those people – many of whom may not be well lettered – to begin to get into the cashless world. These domestic cards can be issued in many varieties. There are debit and credit cards, as well as combo cards which combine the two features and have two stripes and two microchips. These cards could also be issues for government schemes – for example if government wants to help people financially they needn’t chase people around with cash which is usually unaccounted for. We know how those stories go. It will be hard to convince the foreign companies that help issue cards here to modify cards for that purpose. By and large this idea is also a coming of age for our tech sector and local capabilities. It is an indication that we are ready to integrate with the international community which has now gone contactless in the wake of covid-19. This is because the capabilities of these cards could also be contactless or virtual. The world has moved on and people are thinking. Nigeria is also not lagging behind. We may have a plethora of challenges but that does not stop us from thinking ahead.

This domestic card therefore will help with some of the current policies on monetary policy, such as the currency redesign and cashless policy. Our society must change, and we must lumber less and less cash around. We know that criminals – kidnappers, bandits, corrupt

folks in public and private sectors – like to use only cash. One very effective way of tackling crime is to go after the money. FOLLOW THE MONEY. If the use of cards becomes ubiquitous in Nigeria, even the criminals will find other professions. Nigeria also has an e-Naira to drive for better adoption. So, all of these fall within the territory of our plans for the financial sector.

I did a bit or research on this interesting idea and found out that some countries have gone ahead. We must have to learn from them in terms of risk-managing the process. Nigeria does not have a particularly rosy reputation when it comes to financial fidelity and the meddlesomeness of fraudsters.

All that must be figured out and controlled so that the process and adoption go very smoothly. What other countries also do is to strike bilateral deals for the adoption of their domestic cards in foreign countries. China and India have successful domestic cards which are crowding out Visa and Mastercard such that these companies have reported the countries for protectionism. But again, every nation must think for itself.

India’s RUPAY (their domestic card) is a particularly interesting study. India is using the card to drive financial inclusion. Companies with large turnovers are mandated to pay customers using Rupay. And the Rupay card is now usable in many countries around the world including in Europe. This means

that the card offers a platform for diplomacy and bilateral trade and tourism. The Rupay which was started in the year 2012 now does over $30 billion in yearly transaction turnover.

The Chinese UnionPay card is even larger as it overtook Visa and Mastercard in total value of payments made by customers and became the largest card payment processing organization (debit and credit cards combined) in the world surpassing the two in 2015. UnionPay ranked first by number of cards in circulation worldwide as at the end of 2021 with 9.4 billion, compared with Visa at 3.7 billion and Mastercard 2.5 billion.

Though information is scarce around China, the UnionPay card did a transaction of $7.5 trillion in 2015 alone. Transactions are propelled by the rising middle class in China.

It will be great to see how Nigeria makes a success of this initiative. Indeed, we need such a break at this moment. We need to keep encouraging our smart youths to keep coming up with ideas. We also need to keep helping our rural residents to do better and integrate more, as financial inclusion and innovation such as this helps to eradicate poverty. Lastly, we need to get Nigeria moving. I always say that nothing last forever, not even the seeming insurmountable challenges that Nigeria faces. The Indian Rupay card was launched in 2012, 10 years behind the UnionPay card of its neighbor, China. A Swahili proverb goes ‘The best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago. The next best time, is today’. t 'BTVB XSPUF JO GSPN "CVKB

Diversity and Inclusion Lessons for Leaders from Lens of Les Bleus Mudiaga Aluya Les Bleus (French National Football Team) should have been better known as ‘Les Nations Unies’.

It is a conglomerate of players of many nations of mainly African descents. No thanks to French Policy of Assimilation and Association. The small seed of this policy sown many years ago has grown to become giant oak tree with many fruits. One of it is Les Bleus; which has morphed into formidable and dreaded team in the past two decades. Les Bleus exemplifies diversity and inclusion.

There are lessons a leader that worth it’s salt should learn from it.

Diversity and inclusion encourages greater innovation and creativity. Les Bleus and coaching

crew in the recently concluded Qatar 2022 innovated and created great alternatives each time they were challenged before and during the tournament. An example was Camavinga, who easily played left back against Tunisia and Argentina; smoking out opponents threat and becoming threat to their going forward. This change was made because Lucas Hernandez was ruled out of the tournament in Les Bleus’ opening fixture against Australia. His brother Theo is the only natural left-back left in the squad. With Les Bleus in second round already, it is of no use to start him. So the baton fell on Camavinga. His exploit, is still one of the many wonders of Qatar 2022.

Diverse, yet inclusivity in Les

Bleus provides a range of skills which are tactfully utilised by the gaffer. Leaders should not consider multi-culturalism only but also diversity and inclusion in selecting team members. While multi-culturalism is representative, diversity and inclusion is both representative and competitive.

It is in healthy competition that team members put their best foot forward. This is seen in electric speed of Mbappe, strength of Tchoumeni, Clinical Giroud, power of Muani and skillful Camavinga.

Diversity and inclusion offer opportunity for more talent to be chosen from the pool. If Descamps relied on multiculturalism, he would perhaps have selected 13 white or 12 black team members. This will make the team

representatives. But with diversity and inclusion, his selecting pool is widened. He selected the best representatives. No wonder Lloris, Rabiot and Giroud are the only white players in the team. Worst still was the news of injured key players, before the tournament. He was able to replaced them with unsung heroes of the tournament.

Understanding customers and competitors is another benefit of diversity and inclusion. France is a multicultural society. Each culture, religion and race are well represented in Les Bleus, making them to have large fans base across the world. This is because many have a sense of belonging as a result of one or two players from their culture, race, or religion. It also affords the gaffer to assess and

prepare for any opponent by using players which best suit each game.

There will be increased productivity with diversity and inclusion. Diversity and inclusion translates to environment that recognizes the impact of every team member, regardless of their race, gender, sexual orientation, physical or mental abilities. This acknowledgment boosts the team’s morale, which increases their productivity. Team members collaborate and have shared vision.

Les Bleus was two nil down in the first half of the final against Argentina, but when Kolo Muani and Marcus Thuram were brought in, they infused energy to the front line. Les Bleus was potent again, there by equalizing and held on till the final whistle.

Leaders must embrace diversity and inclusion. The benefits outweigh its flaws. A survey conducted by PwC on Global Diversity and Inclusion in 2017 of business and human resource leaders, found that; 87 per cent of respondents revealed diversity was an area of priority of focus for their organisation. A forward looking and result-oriented thought leader, must incorporate diversity and inclusion in his/ her core value. A diverse team is found to be able to solve problem faster and are 87 percent better at decision making. Of what value is a manager, if his/her team can’t solve problem or take positive decision at record time. t "MVZB JT BO FEVDBUPS BOE QVCMJD QPMJDZ BOBMZTU CBTFE JO -BHPT

36

T H I S D AY ˾ DAY JANUARY 23, 2023

CITYSTRINGS

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

Bolanle Raheem and Dangers of a Non Pre-emptive Police Force Rebecca Ejifoma writes that instead of being proactive in pre-empting extra judicial killings, the Lagos State Police Command has been rather reactive. Recently, a lawyer, Mrs Bolanle Raheem, who was also heavily pregnant, was killed unprovoked by a policeman at the Ajah area of the state. In reaction, the command, among other measures, transferred all personnel from the division, a move that was criticised by all as medicine after death

Late Bolanle Raheem

W

hen in 2015, the former Minister of the Niger Delta Affairs, Godsday Orubebe went above and beyond to attempt to put asunder the announcement of the presidential results by the former INEC Chairman, Attahiru Jega at the International Conference Centre in Abuja, he was booed and tossed aside.

Agreeably, his action was equated with a crying shame. This was because everyone believed the deed was already set in stone before his rash improvisation. Sadly, today, a similar but more tragic incident has occurred.

This time, unfortunately, it involves death. A gun-totting policeman, ASP Drambi Vandi, shot and killed a lawyer, Bolanle Raheem, who was also heavily pregnant.

EndSARS, Police Brutality Protest 2020 It has been exactly two years and three months since the distraught youth threw caution to the wind, and stormed every major road across the nation to air their congested grievances as a sequel to excessive police extortion, indiscriminate accusations, unrelenting harassment, unlawful arrest, vicious brutality and daily incessant killings.

Despite the reality that greeted their brave and all-out effort to protest these and the pie-crust promises to compensate and punish erring officers, their hopes ran into a brick wall. And two years after, Raheem’s death followed quickly like a string of bad luck befalling the nation.

A Lawyer Who Became Popular in Death It's almost one month since Nigerians – including families and friends – woke up to the bad blow of the cold-blooded killing of a Lagos lawyer and pregnant woman, Bolanle Raheem in her prime.

It was Christmas 2022 in the Ajah area of Lagos State when she was shot dead at the Ajah roundabout under the bridge by the officer attached to the Ajiwe police station in Ajah, ASP Drambi Vandi, who is currently cooling off at the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID) after being expelled.

Until her shocking demise, Raheem was the only child of a widow, Mrs Sherifat Salami.

She was a property lawyer and member of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Lagos chapter.

Raheem was an award-winning realtor, real estate consultant, business coach and developer.

She was also the CEO of Croston Homes and Co-founder of City Building.

High Echelon of Society Call for Justice Now that the deed has been done and dusted, her fatal and disheartening demise

CP Biodun Alabi has conjured uproar from both local and international bodies as well as the public.

Those who have lent their voices in condemning the act include the nation’s President, Muhammadu Buhari; the Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu; the Presidential Candidate of the PDP, Atiku Abubakar; the Inspector General of Police, Usman Baba; the Lagos State Commission of Police, Abiodun Alabi; Human Rights Lawyer, Enibehe Effiong; the Presidential candidate of the African Action Congress, Omoyele Sowore; Nigerian rapper, Folarin Falana known as Falz among a host of others.

Hence, there have been calls for immediate justice, police reform, and N5 billion compensation for the families of the slain lawyer among others. Even lawyers are now chanting the End Police brutality anthem.

Buhari Weighs in In a release issued on Tuesday by his spokesperson, Mallam Garba Shehu, the president described the incident as a stark reminder of the recurring menace of the mishandling of weapons and a wakeup call to law enforcement agencies, including the police to ensure the full implementation of reforms instituted by the administration on the subject of weapons handling, as well as the protection of the rights of citizens.

“In this hour of grief, the nation stands in solidarity with the bereaved family and the NBA. I assure you that justice will be done in this case,” Buhari expressed.

IGP Usman Baba Issues Statement In a statement signed by the police spokesperson, Muyiwa Adejobi, on Monday, the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Baba, condoled the family of the deceased.

He said the action of the police officer does not represent the core values of the Nigeria Police Force.

According to the statement, Mr

Baba has ordered a “speedy investigation and prosecution of the officers responsible for the ugly and unprofessional act, which doesn’t portray the Nigeria Police Standard Operating Procedure and core values.”

Atiku’s Tweet of Lamentation The former Vice President of the country, Atiku also condemned the shooting via his verified Twitter account, @atiku. “The shooting of Bolanle Raheem by a police officer is heartbreaking and stands condemned. This latest shooting calls to attention the urgent need for Police reforms that will sanitise the Force and bring it in line with best policing practices.

He, therefore, called on the police authorities and the Justice system to expedite action on the matter, as justice delayed is justice denied.

"This will serve as a deterrent to the incidents of the irresponsible shooting of innocent citizens by law enforcement agents."

Lagos CP, Alabi Transfers All Personnel at Ajah The Lagos State Police Command on Monday, January 2 ordered the transfer of all its officers from the Ajah Police Station with immediate effect. The State Police Spokesman, Benjamin Hundeyin shared this on his verified Twitter account, @Benhundeyin.

Hundeyin confirmed this to THISDAY on a phone conversation that the CP already effected the transfer “Out of all personnel of the division, with replacement from other divisions. This would fully materialise in a couple of days, as the new officers have started coming in".

Demolishing Shanties Promoting Alcohol Abuse Since the agonising incident, the new DPO of Ajah police Station, CSP Adolf Ogwu dismantled all the shanties around the Ajah police station. This is according to Hundeyin on his Twitter account.

The Spokesman took a step further to encourage more Lagosians to say something whenever they see something, "As this would translate to a better policing experience for all.

Remember, security is everyone’s business".

Inibehe Effiong Gives His Two Cents The popular human rights lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, via his Twitter account, @inibeheEf-

A trigger-happy police officer has taken the life of an innocent lawyer. Sad that Nigerian police haven't learnt anything from the End SARS uprising

fiong, condemned the murder, describing it as “Barbaric. It is a sad commentary that despite End SARS, Nigerians are still being slaughtered by the police”.

Sowore Recounts the Days of End SARS For Sowore, the police did not take any lesson away from the #Endsars protests. “A trigger-happy police officer has taken the life of an innocent lawyer. Sad that Nigerian police haven't learnt anything from the End SARS uprising. He emphasised, “A system of impunity that is used to snuff life out of Nigerians must be stopped!” with the hashtag #WeCantContinueLikeThis.”

Falz Weeps for His Nation And right on his Instagram @falzthebadhguy, Falz wept. He tagged who tagged the Nigeria police and Sanwo-Olu when he wrote, “When we refused the leave the streets in October 2020, we were referred to as recalcitrant #EndSARS youth that just wanted to make trouble.” Adding, Falz frowned that two years after a panel made recommendations regarding those cases, they have still not been implemented.

The NBA Seeks N5b Compensation The NBA has said that it would be seeking monetary compensation for the family of the slain lawyer from the government of Lagos State, the federal government, the Nigeria Police Force, and the Police Service Commission.

The association didn’t stop there. As noted in a statement issued by its Lagos Lawyer and human rights activist, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, in addition to the prosecution of the culprit, it would also be seeking N5b billion in compensation for the family of the deceased.

Now, a lawyer was the victim of police incessant killing. Both practising and non-practising lawyers have been outraged; hence, calling for an end to the butchery of citizens.

In the heat of the moment, Nigerians – especially the older adults – have set their eyes on the government and the police authority to get the ball rolling on prosecuting the perpetrators and grant the families and loved ones the justice they deserved.

Meanwhile, Raheem has been committed to mother earth amidst copious tears from family and friends. While the husband maintained a stoic mien, the grief was etched on his face as he placed his hand on the casket conveying the corpse of his pregnant wife and his baby, who he never got to see.

As the pictures hit the internet, the consensus talk by all was that the police should tackle the root of extra judicial killings and stop being reactive each time their men go on a killing spree.

37

T H I S D AY ˾ DAY Ͱͱ˜ ͰͮͰͱ

CRIME

Enhancing Operations of Nigeria Immigration Service in Bayelsa Precious Ugwuzor reports on ongoing transformational efforts by Mr. James Sunday, former Nigeria Immigration Service national PRO, who is at the helm of affairs as Comptroller of Bayelsa Command

I

n the Bayelsa Command of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Mr James Sunday, who is comptroller, is bent on transforming the command.

The former NIS national Police Relations Officer, now Comptroller of Immigration Service, Bayelsa State Command, is bent on his quest to leave indelible mark in the sands of time.

Immediately he took over from Comptroller Ngozi Odikpo, who was transferred to Anambra State Command, as Comptroller, he hit the ground running, after promising to live up to the standard set up by the Service under the leadership of Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, and that of the Comptroller of Immigration Service, Mr. Isah Jere Idris.

He is taking public relations to the state by running all inclusive administration, and extending olive branches to other sister agencies, and the people of Bayelsa State. He kickstarted his PR experience on February 6, 2022, when he was admitted into the State Security Council Monthly Security Meeting, Chaired by the Executive Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri.

As a PR personality, he observed the NIS service week 2022 , in a grand style,with the the theme: “Excellent Service Delivery A Panacea For Corruption”. The event was flagged off by the Comptroller General Isah Idris Jere,at the Service Headquarters, Abuja, on the 14th day of February 2022.

After the service week, he paid visits to Commander SD Atakpa, NNS SOROH; Nigeria Police Force, Bayelsa State Command; Mayor of Yenagoa Local Government Area, to the Commandant, Christiana Abiakam-Omanu, Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps, Bayelsa state Command, the Federal Road Safety Corps, the Nigeria Correctional Service, Bayelsa State Command,the NDLEA, Bayelsa State Command, the Airforce Commanding Officer, A A Adekunle , and the Nigeria Immigration Service, Bayelsa state Command, the National Human Right Commission and other places.

On February 8, he graced the first Ibom Air inaugural flight at the Bayelsa State International Airport, which coincided with his official tour.

Sunday, equally met with strategic stakeholders; hoteliers, and members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) to sensitise them on Immigration Regulations 2017.

The astute officer also marked the International Women’s day while celebrating with their female counterparts, he urged them to cement good working relationship with their male counterpart.

However, James who is the pride of NIS , motivated the women officers of the service

Sunday, Bayelsa NIS Comptroller when he promised to open Crèche for female nursing personnel . The gesture according to him, was for nursing female officers/ mothers to take care of their babies, and guarantee no lost in working hours.

"The gesture according to the command will also reduce the stress experienced by the mothers of such children, between the ages of 1 to 3 years, who may need such intervention at a close range, while performing their duties optimally".

According to the Command's Public Relations Officer, Mr. IbeinmoCookey Ebitimitula, "the effort is in collaboration with the office of the Mayor of Yenagoa City Local Government Council.

Comptroller Sunday on assumption of duty discovered that many of the female staff are nursing mothers, a factor that get them distracted from their jobs.

The PRO quoted Sunday as saying: “Since my assumption to office, I discovered that many of our female staff are nursing mothers, while some few are at various stages of pregnancy, it occurred to me to find a solution to constantly taking permission to leave the office to carry children from nursery Crèche schools, without coming back even when they have serious assignments to accomplish.

"He noted that the desire to reduce the burden of running helter-skelter prompted the move and with the support of the Mayor of Yenagoa City Local Government Council, Nimizo Orouoaye, and council members some materials were deployed for the comfort of the children, and the happiness of mothers whose children are at reach and under proper supervision.

"CIS Sunday, further stated that the Crèche that is presently meant to serve Nursing and Nursery aged children will soon upgrade to primary school with the approval of relevant authorities. He noted that some of the NIS staff with education background and passion for children would be drafted to take care of the children and a nurse would be deployed to take care of the facility and the crèche".

Sunday within a short period of time, and with the Commands News Bulletin, recently launched forming the archival base for relevant information on the service activities in Bayelsa and re-defining the roles played by NIS in the security architecture of Bayelsa State and the nation in general, the bulletin,captured the essence for inter-agency collaboration in fighting crimes and criminality by all the security forces in Bayelsa State.

The Command Comptroller defined the purpose of the News Bulletin as a tool for uniting the services, and informing the public of developmental activities of the Command and stewardship report for the service leadership.

Also , he engaged the services of Tinbird Nigeria Limited, a human capital development consulting firm to train the Officers and Men of the Command. The training with the theme, “What Next After Retirement”, a topic that elicited thoughts and reasoning of both the new entrants and the old officers and men.

The training according to the command, was tailored towards empowerment using, “farming entrepreneurship in snail farming, cassava, rabbits, and other seafood that is predominant in Bayelsa as a platform.

"The beneficiaries of the training who are officers and men of the command, were encouraged to live within their earnings as salary earners, but to empower their spouse be it male or female depending on who works with the NIS." The Resource Person, Abigail Bokoyeibo, a learning development expert, enterprise development service provider and public speaker on different platforms in Nigeria and the United States of America, who passionately spoke on work, ethics and cashing on investing their salaries through savings and investment to

enhance their status while still in active service.

Emphasis was laid on family empowerment through investment in hairdressing and barbing saloons, fashion design and tailoring services, sales of commercial water from boreholes, Point of Sale (POS) services for their family especially the unemployed, apart from farming enterprise which is permitted for employees of the government.

In attendance were Queen Sese Ayoro, Business Development Manager, Tinbird Culinary School, Honourable Bibian George of the Centre for Women Development, Ekeremor and Students of Tinbird Culinary School, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.

Sunday during interactive session with the Brigade Commander 16th Brigade , Brigadier -General Yakassa , informed that their meeting would cement existing relationship and bridge the gap in intelligence gathering and sharing, joint operation where necessary and other national duty ,where the NIS Bayelsa State Command would have course to work side by side the Brigade.

The Brigade Commander, who did not waste time in appreciating the initiative and leadership skills exhibited by the Comptroller of NIS in the state in the on- going Operation Flush out of Irregular Migrants in Bayelsa State, which according him has reshaped the security architecture of the state with respect to removing elements that would have constituted security menace and concern due to their diverse and several involvements in unregistered businesses.

He hinted that usually undocumented migrants often go unnoticed and should there be any crime involving any of such elements, they would disappear without a trace.

The exercise, the Bayelsa NIS Comptroller, said has taken care of such fear as ,"everyone apprehended is interviewed, documented and those with genuine cases are treated on merit while those with high degree default are penciled for easing out through an approved entry points closest to where they came into the country from and where they entered through an approved entry point. They are to pass through same route after documentation at the point of exit."

This exercise, he reiterated was a routine one and that the command hoped to keep the tempo of checking out for the irregular migrants on a continuous basis until the state is rid of such.

He said that every non-Nigerian must play by the rule of law governing their legal stay as regular migrants to perform their legitimate businesses and reside as registered migrants on the e- migrants’ platform of the NIS Bayelsa State.

Navy Promises to Deepen Presence in Nation's Borders Rebecca Ejifoma

T

he Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo has promised that the Nigerian Navy would continue to deepen its presence at the nation's borders to protect her sovereignty.

The CNS made this remark last year at the foundation-laying ceremony of the Administrative Block of the Naval Outpost in Tongeji Island in the Ipokia local government area of Ogun State as part of efforts to accelerate the economic development of the state.

He said: "The Nigerian Navy will continue to deepen its presence on the Island in line with the NN constitutional mandate and the directives of the federal government of Nigeria."

While recounting their visit to Tongeji about two months ago, Gambo reassured the dwellers of the Navy's commitment towards their wellbeing, prosperity and economic growth of the state and the nation.

While noting that the foundation laying, structure erecting and other facilities are part of their promises, Gambo pledged that the edifice would be visible by the end of next February.

He emphasised: "The importance of this cannot be overemphasised. We, as a sovereign nation, must put our feet to protect our sovereignty.

"The Nigerian Ambassador was here recently

Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo during the foundation laying of naval outpost at Tongeji Island to see what was happening on the island because there is a committee that is being formed between Nigeria and the Benin Republic to ensure there is an amicable settlement to get to where we are," says the CNS. He further highlighted that

because the Ogun state and the federal governments were aware of their moves, in no distant time, whatever conflict there was would be resolved and "You will feel the presence of your government".

Gambo, however, hailed the Kabiyesi, the Akoko of Tongeji, Oba Biolorunkosi who according to

him has consistently given his warmest form of support and provided the needed parcel of land for this course.

Speaking also, the Commander of Nigerian Navy Ship Beecroft, Naval Base Apapa, Cdre A.M Haruna lauded the CNS for his visionary leadership, "fatherly disposition and searchable appetite in repositioning the Nigerian Navy into a formidable force that is with contemporary global realities".

He further expressed: "We are highly grateful to you for your support in sustaining naval presence on Tongeji Island and its environs. This groundbreaking commissioning is another feat that attests to your resolve to effectively scale Nigeria's interest."

Reacting to the naval outpost in their community, the Akoko of Tongeji commended the Nigerian Navy for the initiative. "I thank you for what you are doing for our people. God will bless you.

"Bring Navy school to our Island," he pleaded.

"If you bring a Navy school to our Island, more development will happen."

According to the NN, the naval block is a modern bungalow on a raft foundation, which comprises the OIC office and conference room among other flats. It is designed for administrative purposes and to enhance the population efficiency of the armed forces.

T H I S D AY ˾ AY, JANUARY 23, 2023

38

BUSINESS/MONEYGUIDE

Dosunmu: Inflation to Decline, Interest Rate to Remain High in 2023 Nume Ekeghe The Head of Investment Research, Parthians Securities Limited, Oluwaseun Dosunmu has stated that the stance taken by the monetary authorities would see inflation figures trend downwards in 2023.

He also noted that he foresee interest rates would remain high this year in a bid to still reign inflation and also that the economic activities and outlook for the second half of the year are dependent on the outcomes of the upcoming elections.

He said this recently at the Parthians webinar titled, “An investor’s guide to building wealth on the Nigerian Exchange.”

Dosunmu said: “Outlook for the Nigerian economy, we know that the elephant in the room for 2023 has to do with the

elections. And a lot of comments and questions have been hovering around that space. What will the outcome be like and what policies and things like that. we believe the elections will have a major role to play on the Nigerian economy this year.

“On Inflation, we see elevated inflation levels, and we expect that inflation might start to decline. It might not be at the same rate at which it increased, last year but we expect that inflation would decline to an extent.

“We expect to expect the CBN to continue to, adopt the hawkish stance, it might not be as aggressive as last year, but we expect interest rates to still remain high, at least for the most part of 2023.”

He added that the foreign exchange market would be stable the first half of the year and that

it would be a burning issue for the next administration.

He said: “The exchange rates exchange rates are still a major, major issue in the Nigerian economy. While we really do not expect the exchange rates to decline in terms of the exchange rate between the naira and the USD, we believe we would see some form of stability for now and towards the elections and after the elections. The outcome of the elections will most likely decide where or how the exchange rates would move, going forward.”

Furthermore, speaking on foreign investors, he added that the again policies would be needed by the new administration to lure both foreign portfolio investors and foreign direct investors.

Winners Emerge in of Wema Bank’s Final Promo Draw Winners have emerged in the groundbreaking final live draw of the 5for5 promo event held in Lagos on January 20, 2023. This event featured mouthwatering cash prizes of N10,000, N100,000, and the star prize of N1,000,000, which 2 lucky customers won.

Abubakar Bisoye Bisi of Broad Street Branch, Lagos and Toyeeb Hussain of Ondo Branch emerged the two lucky winners of N1 million each. 55 other customers won N10,000 each, while another 20 others won N100,000 each in electronic draws conducted at the bank’s Head Office.

Season 1 of the promo began in 2021 as part of activities to reward its cu stomers and encourage a healthy savings culture. This second edition

closed the curtains on the second season of the 5for5 promo with an impeccable event lineup, social networking, and entertainment, which created a memorable experience for participants that participated physically in Lagos and virtually on Instagram Live on @alat_ng.

Speaking to pressmen during the event, The Chief Finance and Strategy Officer, Tunde Mabawonku, in his closing remarks, emphasized the uniqueness of the 5for5 promo grand finale, stating that it was designed to give a personalized feel to the event.

“One of the highlights of the event is to remind our customers that the bank and all of the activities we host

are designed to help them navigate the various financial services we offer and make their experiences the best in the history of the Nigerian banking industry,” he stated.

“This is our way of thanking and rewarding customers for their loyalty.

Speaking further, he said, “This season’s grand finale has been a success, and it is already generating considerable interest in the banking industry and among shareholders.”

The Divisional Head, Retail Banking, Mr. Dotun Ifebogun, said the promo eascavwsy of promoting the savings culture among customers as well as as encouraging the use of the bank’s alternate digital channels.

Adimike: Banks, FinTechs Must Focus on Rural Areas to Capture 40m Unbanked Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Co-founder of SmartSaver Technology Limited, Mr. Ekene Adimike, has advised commercial banks, Financial Technology (FinTech) companies and other financial institutions to channel their resources to reach more people in rural areas in order to capture the over 40 million Nigerians who lack access to financial services.

Speaking with THISDAY in Lagos, Adimike, whose company recently launched the finance app – SmartSaver App, stressed that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and other regulatory bodies must intensify efforts towards engendering financial literacy in the rural areas to achieve financial

inclusion targets.

He said 40 million people unbanked in Nigeria is a huge number that can even take two countries, adding that FinTechs in Nigeria are not helping the issues because they are majorly concentrated in urban areas.

He said: “Over 40 million people unbanked is a very huge number that can even take two countries.

However, the truth is that FinTechs in Nigeria are not helping the issues because they are majorly concentrated in urban areas.

“The FinTechs and banks concentrate most of their resources in urban areas because of security, cost etc. However, while the majority in the urban areas have been banked, most in the

rural areas are the unbanked.

Adimike contended though most FinTechs are concentrated in urban areas where there are some level of security, they should also establish branches and centres in rural areas, this way, they can cater for the needs of the unbanked.

He also advised the CBN to do more work in financial education so that the huge number of unbanked can be financially literate and the number reduced.

The Co-founder of SmartSaver equally advised the apex bank to license more financial institutions that would focus on rural areas, and bring down the requirements for securing such licences.

Adedipe: Nigeria’s Economy Will Expand in 2023 Nume Ekeghe Chief Consultant of B. Adedipe Associates Limited (BAA Consult), Mr. Biodun Adedipe has stated that contrary to the recent projection by the World Bank Group which downgraded Nigeria’s growth prospects, he believes the Nigerian economy would expand in 2023.

He explained that with the decrease in population growth and data gotten from the purchasing managers index (PMI) and other economic variables, he strongly forecasts growth as projects Nigeria’s economy

would grow between 3.25 per cent and 3.32 per cent in 2023.

He stated this at the hybrid 9th “National Economic Outlook: Implications for Businesses in 2023,” organised by The Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN) Centre for Financial Studies in collaboration with B. Adedipe Associates Limited.

He said: “For 2023, manufacturing will expand because the data available shows that in using purchasing managers index (PMI) that shows confidence within key sectors of the economy, point to the expansion of this economy between now and the next six

month the least.”

In his opening address, President/Chairman of Council CIBN, Mr. Ken Opara, said: “Looking at the year 2023, in as much as we are optimistic that better days lie ahead for Nigeria’s economy especially because it is the year that will usher in a new government and leadership structure in the nation, we need to gain insight into the impact of several economic indices to help us undertake a comprehensive assessment of the opportunities, challenges and indeed the threats that businesses may encounter during the current year.

L-R: The Executive Director, Retail Banking and Digital, Wema Bank Plc, Mr. Tunde Mabawonku; winner of 5 for 5 promo, Samuel; another winner of the 5 for 5 promo, Precious; Divisional Head, Retail, Wema Bank, Mr. Dotun Ifebogun; and the Regional Manager, Lagos,Wema Bank, Mr. Kayode Osumah, at the bank’s Season Two Five for 5 grand finale draws in Lagos...recently

MARKET INDICATORS MONEY AND CREDIT STATISTICS

(MILLION NAIRA)

AUGUST 2022 Money Supply (M3)

49,356,443.6

-- CBN Bills Held by Money Holding Sectors

50,601.36

Money Supply (M2)

49,305,842.3

-- Quasi Money

27,869,678.3

-- Narrow Money (M1)

21,436,164

---- Currency Outside Banks

2,680,236.81

---- Demand Deposits

18,755,927.2

Net Foreign Assets (NFA)

5,074,909.92

Net Domestic Assets(NDA)

27,869,678.3

-- Net Domestic Credit (NDC)

61,195,142.4

---- Credit to Government (Net)

21,001,401.5

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

0.00

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

0.00

---- Credit to Private Sector (CPS)

40,193,740.9

--Other Assets Net

6,785,979.22

Reserve Money (Base Money

14,040,351.9

--Currency in Circulation

3,210,664.98

--Banks Reserves --Special Intervention Reserves

10,829,686.9 390,557.8

˾ ÙßÜÍÏ ̋

Money Market Indicators (in Percentage) Month

July 2022

Inter-Bank Call Rate

13.00

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

14.00

Treasury Bill Rate

2.76

Savings Deposit Rate

1.42

1 Month Deposit Rate

3.64

3 Months Deposit Rate

4.96

6 Months Deposit Rate

5.87

12 Months Deposit Rate

5.76

Prime Lending rate

12.10

Maximum Lending Rate

27.61

˾ ÙØÏÞËÜã ÙÖÓÍã ËÞÏ ̋ ͯͱϱ

OPEC DAILY BASKET PRICE AS AT 24 OCTOBER, 2022

The price of OPEC basket of thirteen crudes stood at $92.17 a barrel on Monday, compared with $92.09 the previous Friday, 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), Basrah Medium (Iraq), Kuwait Export (Kuwait), Es Sider (Libya), Bonny Light (Nigeria), Arab Light (Saudi Arabia), Murban (UAE) and Merey (Venezuela).

39

T H I S D AY ˾ AY, Ͱͱ˜ ͰͮͰͱ

Stock Market Maintains Positive Trend Ahead of 2022 Corporate Earnings Kayode Tokede For the second consecutive week, the stock market segment of the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) maintained its positive growth on the back of surge buying interest from investors ahead of 2022 corporate earnings and actions from listed companies.

The NGX All-Share Index ended the week 0.16 per cent week-on-week (W-o-W) higher

to close at 52,594.68 basis points from 52,512.48 basis points it opened for trading.

Also, market capitalization rose by N45 billion W-o-W to close at N28.647 trillion from N28.602trillion it closed for trading last week.

Performance across sectors was mixed as the NGX Insurance index recorded a weekly gain of 1.8 per cent, while NGX Oil and Gas index rose by 0.4 per cent. On the other hand, the

P R I C E S MAIN BOARD

DEALS

F O R MARKET PRICE

NGX Banking index declined by 2.6 per cent W-o-W. NGX Industrial Goods index went down by 1.1 per cent, while NGX Consumer Goods index shed 0.4 per cent for the week.

The market breadth for the week was positive as 39 equities appreciated in price, 30 equities depreciated in price, while 88 equities remained unchanged.

International Energy Insurance led the gainers table by 28.95 per cent to close at 49 kobo, per

S E C U R I T I E S QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N )

share. MRS Oil Nigeria followed with a gain of 13.48 per cent to close at N16.00, while Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO) went up by 12.86 per cent to close to N7.90, per share.

On the other side, Livestock Feeds led the decliners table by 13.85 per cent to close at N1.12, per share. C&I Leasing followed with a loss of 10.00 per cent to close at N3.15, while UPDC declined by 9.62 per cent to close

T R A D E D MAIN BOARD

at 94 kobo, per share.

Overall, a total turnover of 1.241 billion shares worth N15.668 billion in 18,560 deals was traded last week by investors on the floor of the Exchange, in contrast to a total of 1.286 billion shares valued at N29.634 billion that exchanged hands previous week in 19,816 deals.

According to the NGX weekly report, the Financial Services Industry (measured by volume) led the activity

AS O F

chart with 1.010 billion shares valued at N5.924 billion traded in 9,165 deals; contributing 81.37 per cent and 37.81 per cent to the total equity turnover volume and value respectively.

“The Conglomerates Industry followed with 46.761 million shares worth N112.918 million in 641 deals, while the Consumer Goods Industry pulled a turnover of 42.121 million shares worth N2.134 billion in 2,886 deals.

2 0 / 0 1 / 2 3 DEALS

MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N)

40

MONDAY, JANUARY 23, 2023 • T H I S D AY

MARKET NEWS 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

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 19Jan-2023, unless otherwise stated.

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 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 13.13% AIICO Balanced Fund 3.83 3.89 12.43% 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 10.27% Anchoria Equity Fund 151.01 152.71 4.18% Anchoria Fixed Income Fund 1.22 1.22 -1.10% ARM INVESTMENT MANAGERS LTD enquiries@arminvestmentcenter.com info@anchoriaam.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 22.74 23.43 12.12% ARM Discovery Balanced Fund 535.78 551.93 18.75% ARM Ethical Fund 46.06 47.45 18.23% ARM Eurobond Fund ($) 1.13 1.13 4.33% ARM Fixed Income Fund 1.12 1.12 9.93% ARM Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 11.19% ARM Short Term Bond Fund 1.04 1.04 106.98% AVA GLOBAL ASSET MANAGERS LIMITED info@avacapitalgroup.com Web: www.avacapitalgroup.com; Tel 08069294653 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AVA GAM Fixed Income Dollar Fund 100.3 100.3 5.47% AVA GAM Fixed Income Naira Fund 1,101.65 1,101.65 -2.20% AXA MANSARD INVESTMENTS LIMITED investmentcare@axamansard.com Web: www.axamansard.com; Tel: +2341-4488482 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AXA Mansard Equity Income Fund N/A N/A N/A AXA Mansard Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A CAPITAL EXPRESS ASSET AND TRUST LIMITED info@capitalexpressassetandtrust.com Web: www.capitalexpressassetandtrust.com; Tel: +234 803 307 5048 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn CEAT Fixed Income Fund 2.10 2.10 2.42% Capital Express Balanced Fund(Formerly: Union Trustees Mixed Fund) 2.36 2.41 7.89% CAPITALTRUST INVESTMENTS AND ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED halalfif@capitaltrustnigeria.com Web: www.capitaltrustnigeria.com; Tel: 08061458806 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Capitaltrust Halal Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A CARDINALSTONE ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED mutualfunds@cardinalstone.com Web: www.cardinalstoneassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 (1) 710 0433 4 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn CardinalStone Fixed Income Alpha Fund 1.05 1.05 0.44% 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 13.36% Paramount Equity Fund 18.53 18.87 3.04% Women's Investment Fund 148.69 150.49 1.47% CHD Nigeria Bond Fund 108.97 108.97 12.11% CHD Nigeria Dollar Income Fund 1.06 1.06 8.93% 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 10.97% Cordros Milestone Fund 140.48 141.51 2.07% Cordros Fixed Income Fund 105.99 105.99 10.06% Cordros Halal Fixed Income Fund 103.58 103.58 8.57% Cordros Dollar Fund ($) 113.36 113.36 5.79% CORONATION ASSETS 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 EMERGING AFRICA ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmanagement@emergingafricafroup.com Web:www.emergingafricagroup.com/emerging-africa-asset-management-limited/, Tel: 08039492594 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Emerging Africa Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 13.21% Emerging Africa Bond Fund 1.07 1.07 10.44% Emerging Africa Balanced Diversity Fund 1.11 1.11 51.37% Emerging Africa Eurobond Fund 105.01 105.01 0.44% FBNQUEST ASSETS MANAGEMENT LIMITED invest@fbnquest.com Web: www.fbnquest.com/asset-management; Tel: +234-81 0082 0082 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn FBN Bond Fund 1477.9 1477.9 12.22% FBN Balanced Fund 204.65 206.07 2.48% FBN Halal Fund 123.68 123.68 12.72% FBN Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 14.00% FBN Dollar Fund 120.70 120.70 6.70% FBN Smart Beta Equity Fund 172.48 175.02 4.15% FBN Specialized Dollar Fund 104.44 104.44 9.73% FCMB ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED fcmbamhelpdesk@fcmb.com Web: www.fcmbassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 1 462 2596 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Legacy Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 10.57% Legacy Debt Fund 3.53 3.53 -11.83% Legacy Equity Fund 2.04 2.09 17.58% Legacy USD Bond Fund 1.26 1.26 4.44% FSDH ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD coralfunds@fsdhgroup.com Web: www.fsdhaml.com; Tel: 01-270 4884-5; 01-280 9740-1

Fund Name Coral Balanced Fund Coral Income Fund Coral Money Market Fund

Bid Price 4,289.79 3,728.05 100.00

Offer Price 4,321.36 3,728.05 100.00

Yield / T-Rtn 37.37% 8.25% 13.87%

FSDH Dollar Fund 1.13 1.13 5.84% GUARANTY TRUST FUND MANAGERS LIMITED 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 12.58% Vantage Balanced Fund 3.13 3.19 9.63% Vantage Guaranteed Income Fund 1.00 1.00 8.62% Kedari Investment Fund (KIF) 0.00 0.00 0.00% Vantage Equity Income Fund (VEIF) - June Year End 1.27 1.31 6.40% Vantage Dollar Fund (VDF) - June Year End 1.05 1.05 7.83% 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 N/A N/A N/A Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A MERISTEM WEALTH MANAGEMENT LTD info@meristemwealth.com Web: www.meristemwealth.com/funds/; Tel: +2348028496012 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Meristem Equity Market Fund 12.66 12.70 2.63% Meristem Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 11.47% NORRENBERGER INVESTMENT AND CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LIMITED enquiries@norrenberger.com Web: www.norrenberger.com, Tel: +234 (0) 908 781 2026 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Norrenberger Islamic Fund (NIF) 101.15 101.15 8.49% Norrenberger Money Market Fund (NMMF) 100.00 100.00 11.85% 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 1.61 1.66 2.74% PACAM Fixed Income Fund 11.61 11.79 4.59% PACAM Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 11.16% PACAM Equity Fund 1.48 1.51 4.59% PACAM EuroBond Fund 123.73 126.64 8.60% 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 128.73 130.99 0.05% 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 11.05% 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 3,721.14 3,751.07 9.77% Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund 245.65 245.65 4.28% Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund 1.47 1.49 17.46% Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund 333.59 333.59 6.53% Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund 270.66 274.00 15.90% Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 12.91% Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund 12,758.60 12,898.37 16.79% Stanbic IBTC Dollar Fund (USD) 1.37 1.37 6.01% Stanbic IBTC Shariah Fixed Income Fund 121.37 121.37 3.81% Stanbic IBTC Enhanced Short-Term Fixed Income Fund 115.53 115.53 8.60% Stanbic IBTC Absolute Fund 4,588.59 4,588.59 7.86% Stanbic IBTC Aggressive Fund 3,357.99 3,400.25 20.79% Stanbic IBTC Conservative Fund 4,311.53 4,326.99 13.24% UNITED CAPITAL ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD unitedcapitalplcgroup.com Web: www.unitedcapitalplcgroup.com; Tel: +234 01-6317876 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn United Capital Equity Fund 0.98 1.00 2.79% United Capital Balanced Fund 1.41 1.44 3.25% United Capital Wealth for Women Fund 1.18 1.19 1.57% United Capital Sukuk Fund 1.11 1.11 9.68% United Capital Fixed Income Fund 1.96 1.96 7.55% United Capital Eurobond Fund 125.72 125.72 5.56% United Capital Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 14.45% 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 Balanced Strategy Fund 14.22 14.29 7.59% Zenith ESG Impact Fund 16.31 16.47 11.55% Zenith Income Fund 23.66 23.66 7.77% Zenith Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 11.10% VETIVA FUND MANAGERS LTD funds@vetiva.com Web: www.vetiva.com; Tel: +234 1 453 0697 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Vetiva Banking Exchange Traded Fund 4.32 4.42 7.66% Vetiva Consumer Goods Exchange Traded Fund 6.28 6.38 7.33% Vetiva Griffin 30 Exchange Traded Fund 19.24 19.44 8.75% Vetiva Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 11.47% Vetiva Industrial Goods Exchange Traded Fund 24.34 24.54 21.69% Vetiva S&P Nigeria Sovereign Bond Exchange Traded Fund 140.30 142.30 -11.00% REITS NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

122.19 52.92 101.31 9.92

7.68% 3.98% -13.13%

Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

14.31 137.58 107.58 17.40 16.40

14.41 139.98 109.44 17.50 16.50

2.30% 7.82% 7.60% 2.94% 4.03%

NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

106.75

0.00%

Fund Name

SFS REIT Union Homes REIT Nigeria Real Estate Investment Trust UPDC REIT

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

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.

MONDAY JANUARY 23, 2023 • T H I S D AY

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MONDAY, JANUARY 23, 2023 • T H I S D AY

NEWS

BAPTIST BOYS' HIGH SCHOOL REUNION AWARDS...

L-R: National President, Baptist Boys' High School, Abeokuta Old Boys Association, Hon. Justice Olugboyega Ogunfowora; Secretary to Ogun State Government, Mr. Tokunbo Talabi Alake, and Paramount Ruler of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo, at the reunion awards and luncheon of the association to commemorate the centenary celebration of the school in Abeokuta, Ogun State...recently

Edo Govt, Port of Antwerp Partner on Benin River Port The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki and members of the Benin River Port (BRP) Project Committee have concluded plan with the Port of Antwerp from Belgium to partner and finalise the Benin River Ports project.

This was disclosed in a statement from the state government, after a meeting of the Benin River Port (BRP) Project Committee with the governor and the representatives of the Port of Antwerp.

While the Chairman of the BRP Project Committee, Mr. Greg Ogbeifun led his team, the Manager of Ports Project, Port of Antwerp International, Mr. Phillippee Droesbeke, led the contingents of the Port of Antwerp

to the meeting with the governor, which was set to drive the Benin River Ports project to conclusion.

The Benin River Port is among the legacy projects by the Obaseki-led administration to drive industrial and economic growth in Edo. The port, upon completion, would boost export earnings, create employment opportunities, expand the economic value chain and open up new business opportunities in the state.

Speaking on the partnership, Obaseki said the arrangement would see the Benin Port become both a cargo handling port and an industrial complex to facilitate industrial production in Edo. According to him, “We are glad

Stop Undue Interference in NDDC Activities, Board Chairman Tells Niger Delta Elites Vows not to be partisan Gov Emmanuel decries lack of federal present in A'Ibom

Okon Bassey in Uyo

The new Chairman of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) Governing Board, Mrs. Lauretta Onochie has said the Board was determined to reposition itself for effective mandate delivery in the region.

The Chairman of the NDDC board gave the assurance while paying courtesy call on the Akwa Ibom State Governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel during a retreat of the board members and management that ended in the state weekend.

Onochie assured that the Board would be non-partisan in order to serve the interest of the entire region, irrespective of party affiliations.

She particularly emphasised that the board would focus on the training of youths in the region to make them employable.

The board chairman appealed to Niger Delta elites to co-operate with the Commission by avoiding undue interference in its work.

Receiving the NDDC board chairman, Emmanuel who was represented by his Deputy, Mr. Moses Ekpo decried lack of a fuel depot and federal presence in Akwa Ibom State despite her status as one of the largest producers of crude oil in the country.

Emmanuel said the growth

and overwhelming development witnessed in the state was purely through the efforts of successive governments in the state, as reinforced by the present administration.

“There is no federal road in Akwa Ibom State, the federal government has not done anything to support our existence, which it should have done through your Board.

“This state which is one of the largest producers of crude oil has no depot, I repeat, no depot, no federal presence,” the governor lamented.

He, however, expressed optimism that with the setting up of the long-awaited board, things would change for the good and the narrative of neglect would be altered through the activities of the newly inaugurated Commission.

He therefore called on the Board to ensure that the vision and mission of its establishment was realised, including ensuring that at least a depot is built in Akwa Ibom state.

On the soothing assurances given by the Board Chairman regarding a new deal in the relationship between NDDC and Akwa Ibom State, Emmanuel said: “Since this particular Board comes with a redeeming agenda, I can assure you of the support of my government.

to be partnering with the Port of Antwerp from Belgium to finalise the Benin River Port Project, a key project in our pursuit to drive industrialisation and economic growth in Edo State.”

The governor further noted, “This arrangement will see the Benin Port become both a cargo handling port and an industrial complex which will handle industrial production across various value chains.

“The project will take advantage of the vast gas reserves in the area which will support industrial production and operation of the port and industrial complex.”

Ogbeifun said the state government has continued to record sustained progress in its drive to develop the Benin River Port, reassuring that the new partnership with the Port of Antwerp will see to the finalization of the project.

According to him, “The Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA) is actively working with the Edo State Government and the Port of Antwerp on the project and will be the regulators of the port on completion.”

Hailing the governor for creating a conducive environment to attract investors into the state, Ogbeifun noted that the port was wellpositioned to benefit the African

Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

He added, “The African Continental Free Trade Area has further given a boost to the project.”

On his part, Droesbeke, said the Port of Antwerp was delighted to partner with the Edo State Government on the Benin River Ports project considering its huge economic benefits to Edo, Nigeria, and Belgium.

Chartered Institute of Taxation Member Petitions Justice Minister over Finance Bill Goddy Egene

A member of the Taxation Standards and Practice Monitoring Committee of the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria, (CITN), Mr. Francis Ubani, has petitioned the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malamai, over some provisions of the Finance Bill 2022, saying such provisions were unconstitutional.

According to the petition, a copy of which was acknowledged by the Ministry of Justice, and made available to THISDAY, the amendment to the sharing formula for revenue from stamp duties/electronic money transfer levy (EMTL) as proposed by the provisions of Section 23 of the Finance Bill 2022, which seeks to amend Section 89A of the Stamp Duties Act, make some substitutions for subsection (4) were unconstitutional.

Ubani listed the new sub-section as follows: “Notwithstanding any formula that may be prescribed by any other law, the revenue accruing by virtue of the operation of this section, shall on the basis of derivation, be distributed as follow: (a) 15 per cent to the Federal Government and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja; (b) 50 per cent to the State Governments; and (c) 35 per cent to the Local Governments.”

The taxation expert explained that these were clearly inconsistent with, and in violation of the provisions of Section 163 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, as amended, and therefore are null, void and of no effect whatsoever.

He stressed this was so since the distribution of the Stamp Duties/Electronic Money Transfer Levy (EMTL) revenue was based on derivation, pursuant to the

provisions of Section 163 of the Nigerian Constitution, and should not be shared through “the Federation Account” pursuant to Section 162 of the said Constitution, without proper Constitutional amendment.”

Ubani added: “It is in fact, very clear that the provisions of Section 163 of the Constitution under reference, that Capital Gains Tax and Stamp Duties are supposed to be paid, when applicable to the States from which they are derived and not for the benefit, inter alia, of ALL the States, which will be the case, were the tax and duties are to be paid into the Federation Account, pursuant to Section 162 subsection (3) of the Constitution).”

He explained that the change of nomenclature from Duty to Levy does not in any way remove the powers of the relevant Tax Authorities in the States of the Federation, to charge and administer duties/levies paid by individuals on qualified chargeable instruments initiated and executed or transactions initiated and carried out between persons or individuals in the various States of the Federation, under Section 4 (2) of the Stamp Duties Act, 2004, as amended.

Ubani added: “It therefore, follows that various states of the Federation are clearly entitled, pursuant to Section 4 (2) of the Stamp Duties Act, CAP S8, LFN, 2004, as amended by Section 53 (b) of the Finance Act, 2019, and Section 89, as amended by Section 54 of the Finance Act, 2019, as well as the new Section 89A of Finance Act, 2020, to demand from Deposit Money Banks and Financial Institution's remittance of stamp duties on qualified chargeable electronic transfers, teller deposits and other qualified dutiable instruments initiated and

executed between persons or individuals, whose accounts are domiciled within the territory of each of the various States of the Federation.

“As currently constituted and administered, the Stamp Duties Act, did not permit the infringement by the Federal Government, through the FIRS, into area which, under the precise and well spelt out separation of taxing powers enshrined in Section 4 (1) and 4 (2) of the SDA, as amended, are within the exclusive preserve of the States.

“It is therefore, our contention that stamp duties collected by the Government of the Federation, through FIRS, under Section 4 (1) cannot be paid into the Federation Account as directed by the FIRS, in paragraph 7 of the Press Release on collection and remittances of stamp duties dated 20/7/2020, and the CBN’s circulars, as doing so would be inconsistent with, and in violation of the provisions of Section 163 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, as altered.

“It is pertinent to point out that in the Finance Acts, 2019 and 2020, the definition of stamp, instrument and receipt was enhanced to include electronic transactions and receipts and specifically imposed a charge of N50.00 on electronic transfers of N10, 000.00 and above made through any bank platform. Under the Finance Act, 2020, Electronic Stamp Duty was replaced with Electronic Money Transfer Levy, but there is nothing in the provisions of the Finance Act, 2020, that renders Section 4 (2) of the Stamp Duties Act, 2004, as amended, ineffective.

“The Finance Act, of 2020, further amended the Stamp Duties Act, 2004, by the introduction of a new Section 89A, which introduced an

Electronic Money Transfer Levy on electronic receipts or transfers in banks or financial institutions.

It did not abrogate the original Section 89, which is still effective and subsisting.

“The new Section 89A of the Finance Act, 2020, also did not render the provisions of Section 4 (2) of the said Stamp Duties Act, 2004, as amended, ineffective, any “Transfer Levy” paid by individuals on transfers between persons or individuals is still collectible by the relevant Tax Authorities in the various States of the Federation.”

Furthermore, he stated: “The National Assembly has put the requisite legislation for distribution of proceeds from Stamp Duties/ EMTL among the various States of the Federation on the basis of derivation under Section 48 (4) of the Finance Act, 2020.

“Therefore, how the net proceeds of such tax or duty are to be distributed among the different States of the Federation is now provided under Section 48 (4) of the Finance Act, 2020. It, therefore, follows that there is no basis for the provisions, as currently provided under Section 27 of the Finance Act, 2021, and Section 23 of the Finance Bill, 2022, and should therefore be voided and not allowed to subsist.

“From the provisions of the Stamp Duties Act, 2004, as amended, particularly Sections 4 (1) of the Stamp Duties Act, as amended by Section 53 (a) of the Finance Act, 2019, empower the Federal Government of Nigeria, through the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) to collect duties derivable from instruments initiated and executed or transactions initiated and carried out between a company and an individual, group or body of individuals i.e. corporate bodies.

MONDAY, JANUARY 23, 2023 • T H I S D AY

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NEWS

CAPACITY BUILDING FOR SMES...

L-R: Chairman Troyka Group, Dr. Biodun Shobanjo; CEO, AT3 Resources, Mrs. Tosin Adefeko and Founder Nairametrics, Mr. Ugochukwu Obi-Chukwu, during one of the sessions at a digital training bootcamp for SMEs organised by AT3 Resources to celebrate its 5th year Anniversary in Lagos…recently

Kaigama Blames Attacks on Priests on Religious Fanaticism, Ethnic Bigotry Christians begin week-long prayer sessions PFN condemns Reverend Father’s killing, tasks govt, security agencies to protect Nigerians Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja and Kemi Olaitan in Ibadan The Catholic Archbishop of the Abuja Metropolitan Archdiocese, Most Rev. Ignatius Kaigama has attributed the orgy of violence meted out on innocent citizens in the country, particularly the incessant attacks and killing of clergymen to religious fanaticism and ethnic bigotry.

With a few weeks to the general election, the Archbishop enjoined Nigerians to offer prayers to God to grant the country a peaceful election.

While presenting his Sunday Homily at the St. Michael’s Parish, Kagini, in Abuja, Kaigama bemoaned the violence being perpetrated in the country, most of which he said had their perpetrators go scot free.

"Our crisis is incubated in religious fanaticism and ethnic bigotry, hatching grievous social disorder, whereby priests are killed in the most barbaric manner and citizens attacked, kidnapped or killed on a regular basis, and yet, perpetrators of such devilish acts are never identified and dealt with as a deterrent to others," he said.

Speaking on the forthcoming general election, Kaigama said there was need for communal prayers to solicit for God's mercy to the nation.

"We need to come together to pray for one another and for our nation as the general elections draw nearer; and to remind ourselves to continue to radiate the light and goodness of Christ," he said.

Meanwhile, the Archbishop said Christians have commenced a week long prayer yesterday in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) for Christian unity.

According to Kaigama, "This Sunday in the Federal Capital

Territory (FCT) we begin the week-long “Prayer for Christian Unity,” with the theme: “Do Good; Seek Justice” (Isaiah 1:17).

"Our prayer intention is the unity among Christians in line with the prayer of Jesus in John 17:21, “that they may all be one”.

Following the tradition which I had initiated while I was the Plateau State Chairman of CAN, and which I encouraged upon my arrival in the FCT, we started to move from church to church of the different denominations to celebrate the week of prayer for Christian unity."

He said the exercise had been successful so far, but needed more participation by all Christians in the FCT. He said the schedule for 2023 commenced yesterday at the National Christian Centre, adding that it would continue today, at the Holy Rosary, Catholic Church, Wuse Zone 2.

On Tuesday, the prayer session would take place at ECWA Wuse 2, Blantyre Crescent, while another session would hold at Christ Holy Int’l Area 1 (OAIC).

The schedule of activities also includes prayer sessions at All Christian Fellowship Mission, Maitama (CPCN/PFN Bloc) on Friday, Basilica of Grace, Gudu, Anglican Girls Grammar School Compound (CCN) on Saturday and finally at the National Christian Centre next Sunday in Abuja.

In a related development, the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria(PFN), yesterday condemned what it described as the abominable killing of the Kafin Koro Deanery of the Minna Diocese of Niger State and Reverend Father in charge of St Peter and Paul Catholic Church, Kafin Koro, Rev. Isaac Achi.

This was just as it urged government and security agencies

to be alive to the responsibility of protecting the citizenry.

The PFN in a statement by its National President, Bishop Francis Wale Oke, expressed great sorrow over the killing of the Catholic Priest.

Oke said: “I am deeply saddened and outraged by the recent burning to death by bandits of Rev. Father Isaac Achi. This is just one out of many senseless and dastard killings that have characterised Nigeria today.

“Many Christians have become victims of violence in the nation and this has earned her the reputation of being one of the

most dangerous places to live for Christians. These heinous acts of violence have no place in any society and they are an affront to the sanctity of human life and the teachings of Jesus Christ.”

He extended his heartfelt condolence to the victims' families and the entire Christian Community in Niger State and Nigeria as a whole, calling on all Christians regardless of denomination to unite in condemning the acts of violence and to pray for an end to the senseless killings and terror that are plaguing our nation.

The cleric also called on the

government and law enforcement agencies to live up to their responsibility of providing security for all citizens and ridding the country of bandits and terrorists.

“It is the duty of the government to ensure the safety and well-being of all citizens, and the killing of Rev. Father Isaac Achi is unacceptable. Innocent lives are being lost due to the failure of our government to stem the spate of violence, kidnappings, and terrorism across the country. The government has failed in its duty to protect the people and it is time for them

to take action,” he said.

Oke maintained that even in the face of persecution, the church's work will not cease, stating that, “We will not be deterred by these unprecedented evil acts and we will continue to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ which is the gospel of love to all."

He then implored all followers of Jesus Christ in Nigeria to stand together in the face of this evil and work in unity towards a peaceful and just society as together, insisting that Christians shall overcome the hate and violence that seeks to divide them.

Senate Summons Ibadan Varsity's VC over Alleged Female Lecturer's Victimisation Sunday Aborisade in Abuja The Senate has summoned the Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Prof. Kayode Adebowale over alleged conspiracy and victimisation against a senior female lecturer, Dr. Adenike A.O. Ogunshe of the Department of Microbiology.

The Chairman, Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, Senator Ayo Akinyelure issued the directive at the last sitting of his panel.

Ogunshe, had in a petition to the Senate, claimed that her appointment was terminated by the institution, about seven years ago.

She requested the Senate to compel the university authorities, to obey a court judgment which had directed that she must be reinstated.

The woman claimed that the termination of her appointment had deprived her, the opportunity

of becoming the first female professor of microbiology in Nigeria.

She urged the Senate to invite the Vice Chancellor and the Registrar of the University for questioning.

Akinyelure read part of her petition which is before the Senate panel at its last sitting on Thursday.

The Chairman said Ogunshe, alleged that there was a grand conspiracy against her.

Akinyelure said, "This woman alleged that there was a grand conspiracy by the university against her person; her career; her existence and human rights due to the controversial appointment of Dr. Onilude as Acting Head of Department between 2005 and 2006.

"She requests that the Senate should look into the matter and among other things, urge the university to stop further victimisation, dehumanisation, physical assault, against her.

"She also urged us to investigate the controversial appointment of Dr. Onilude as Professor in the University of Ibadan, which remains contestable.

"Dr. Adenike A.O. Ogunshe and the authorities of the University of Ibadan were invited to appear before the Committee on 7" December, 2021.

"Dr . Ogunshe appeared and made presentation while a representative of UI, Barr. Adegoke Adekunle told the Committee that he came to request for another date to enable the University to make a presentation."

Akinyelure lamented that several invitations extended to the authorities of the university to appear before his panel had yielded no positive results.

He said the Senate might take appropriate sanctions against the vice chancellor if he fails to appear in person before the panel this week.

The Senator said, "We are warning the vice chancellor of the

University of Ibadan to respect the Nigerian Senate as a critical democratic institution.

"This woman would have been the first professor of Microbiology in the whole of Nigeria but she was denied.

"If the authorities of the University of Ibadan failed to appear before the Senate next (this) week and explain why this woman should not be reinstated, we would recommend sanctions against the institution "The woman went to court to challenge her termination of appointment and the Court voided the action of the University.

"The authorities did not appeal against the verdict or apply for the stay of execution five months after the verdict was delivered.

"The VC should respect the laws of the land by obeying the judgment of the court and reinstate the woman. Failure to do so would amount to contravening Nigerian constitution.”

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MONDAY, JANUARY 23, 2023 • T H I S D AY

NEWS

NCC, NLRC SIGN MOU TO FORESTALL ILLEGAL LOTTERIES… L - R: Executive Commissioner, Stakeholder Management, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Adeleke Adewolu; Director General, National Lottery Regulatory Commission (NLRC), Mr. Lanre Gbajabiamila; Executive Vice Chairman/CEO, NCC, Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, and Director, Legal Services, NLRC, Mrs. Olayemi Ajayi, at the signing of a renewed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two agencies to forestall illegal lotteries and games on mobile telecoms networks in Nigeria, held at Abuja... recently

Ayade: Only Tinubu Can Fix Nigeria asPresident Buhari Leads Bauchi Rally Today to commission Lekki Deep Sea Port in Lagos Youths, campaign group rally support for APC candidate

Segun James in Lagos and Ibrahim Oyewale in Lokoja Cross River State Governor, Professor Ben Ayade, has declared the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu as the only presidential candidate with the capacity to move Nigeria forward.

The governor, who is the APC senatorial candidate for Cross River North made the declaration at a rally in Ogoja, the political capital of Cross River North senatorial district at the weekend, even as APC youths and campaign groups rallied support for Tinubu.

This is as President Muhammadu Buhari, has elected to lead the party’s presidential campaign rally to Bauchi today, even though he is expected in Lagos today also to commission some signature projects, including the Lekki Deal Sea Port, a PublicPrivate Partnership (PPP) venture, involving the Federal and Lagos State governments and a private company, Tolaram.

Speaking at the rally where hundreds of former members of the opposition Peoples Democratic

Party (PDP) defected to the APC, Ayade urged the people to vote for the APC from top to bottom to reciprocate his achievements in Ogoja.

"I built the first Vitaminized Rice Mill in Ogoja. For the first time, a state polytechnic is coming to Ogoja. For the first time, Ogoja has four Commissioners. Ogoja is my home," he said.

The governor argued that justice, equity, competence and capacity to deliver demanded that Tinubu and Otu become president and governor respectively.

According to him, "Tinubu can fix Nigeria. Tinubu comes with experience, he is an experiential architect with eyes-on and hands-on.

He is a man, who has got capacity; he has been invited at this time to do all he can to see to the growth of Nigeria.

“I, therefore, ask every person here to vote for Tinubu and also ask everyone here to please, tell every Nigerian to vote for Tinubu. It is the turn of southern Nigeria to produce a president. Nigeria must remain one and the indivisibility of Nigeria is based on the principle of justice.

“It is also based on that sense of justice that I ask you to vote Distinguished Senator (Prince Otu) as the next Governor of Cross River state. It is the turn of Southern Cross River to produce governor, North and central having produced theirs.

Prince Otu has the capacity, he has the intellect, he has integrity, he has content, he has every single element that qualifies one to be governor.”

Further on why Tinubu should be voted into office, Ayade said, the former Lagos State governor would make the infrastructural and economic development of Cross River a priority if elected.

"We are supporting Tinubu because if you listened to his speech on the day he won the primaries, the only thing he mentioned was the Bakassi Deep Seaport. He said he was going to ensure that the Bakassi Deep Seaport was completed under his first term. If he does that, Bakassi Deep Seaport with a dual carriage road and the superhighway, Cross River will be the next Lagos.

"So supporting Tinubu is total because if he could fix a populous Lagos with calmness and decency,

moving to the 5th biggest economy in Africa, then he can fix Nigeria. Let's support Tinubu to become president of Nigeria so that the Bakassi Deep Seaport can be constructed.”

On his part, Otu appealed to the people to vote for him and his running mate, Hon. Peter Odey, an indigene of the area, promising to consolidate on the gains of the Ayade administration.

However, Buhari, who is expected to lead the presidential and governorship campaign of the APC in Bauchi, according to a campaign programme released by the secretary of the Presidential Campaign Council, James Faleke, would commission the Lekki Deal Sea Port, a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) venture, involving the Federal and Lagos State governments and a private company, Tolaram.

Buhari, the programme stated, would be at the rally scheduled to hold between 8.30 and11.30 am, taking place earlier than other rallies, while he is expected in Lagos on a two-day visit.

Buhari will also commission the 32-metric tons per-hour Lagos Rice Mill, one of the largest in the

Afenifere to Political Parties: Stop Verbal Attacks, Focus on Issues Emameh Gabriel in Abuja Yoruba’s foremost socio-political organisation, Afenifere, has expressed concern over the increasing verbal and physical attacks that have characterised election campaigns in various parts of the country, urging political parties to focus on issues instead.

In a press release by the organisation’s National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Jare Ajayi, Afenifere stated that political parties and their candidates should focus on issues regarding how they would tackle the myriad of challenges that the country was facing rather than coming up with utterances and actions that bordered on “de-marketing of opponents and possibly causing bodily harms on other people.”

Afenifere recounted how politicians were of late "hurling

serious verbal attacks on one another while physical attacks have also been reported in a few places. The latter even led to the loss of some lives in some instances".

Maintaining that Nigerian politicians ought to have matured beyond the seeming villainy they currently display, Afenifere submitted that the "verbal attacks emanating from some candidates and their spokespersons were encouraging their unscrupulous supporters to violently attack opponents in a manner that could result in bloodshed.”

Expressing concern over the escalating violence in spite of various peace accords being signed by presidential candidates, Afenifere disclosed that a research organisation, SB Morgan had, in a report at the end of last year revealed that 27 Nigerians were

killed in 57 politically-motivated violent incidents between January and December 2022.

The group also quoted the National Security Adviser (NSA) to the President, Major General Babagana Monguno, as saying Nigeria recorded 52 acts of political violence across 22 states between October 8 and November 9.

Afenifere added that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), had earlier said as at December 2022, it had recorded 50 attacks in 15 of the country’s 36 states and the federal capital (Abuja) since 2019, and that, there had been some other attacks since then including the ones that happened in Ogun, Osun, Imo, Ebonyi, Abia and Enugu States among others.

“Penultimate week, the attacks became so worrisome that INEC officials spoke of the danger the

attacks could constitute for the smooth conduct of the forthcoming elections. Afenifere, like some other concerned groups and individuals in the country, issued serious warnings against anything that could cause a postponement or cancelation of the scheduled elections.

“Candidates and political parties that have good programmes to execute would not resort to verbal or physical attacks. We urge political parties and their candidates to focus on what plans they have to put an end or at least ameliorate the sufferings of Nigerians. They should let us know that they understand they enormity of the problems facing us and that they have solutions to these problems. An end should be put to mutual self-abuse either verbally or physically,” Afenifere concluded.

world and the 18.75-kilometer 6-lane rigid-pavement Eleko Junction to Epe Expressway.

He is expected to commission the first phase of the iconic Blue Line on Tuesday, as well as the John Randle Centre for Yoruba Culture and History.

Relatedly, Tinubu is taking his campaign to Abia State on Tuesday and Ogun State on Wednesday, while his running mate, Senator Kashim Shettima, would be in Benue and Taraba on Thursday to canvass for

votes.

While the Benue rally is billed for between 10 a.m and 1pm, Taraba’s will take place between 2.30pm and 4.30pm.

The campaign train is scheduled to return to Abuja on Friday for the launch of the All Farmers Progressive Association and commissioning of tractors for members by the vicepresidential candidate, Kashim Shettima, Continued online

Philanthropy is Not for Attention Seeking, Says Ume, Unubiko Foundation Chairman The founder and chairman of Unubiko Foundation, Chief James Ume has said philanthropy was about serving humanity and not personal attention seeking.

Ume, who is a nominee for The Sun Newspapers Humanitarian Service Icon Award for 2022, made this known yesterday, in Abuja, when he played host to a delegation of the newspaper’s management led by the Managing Director/ Editor-in-Chief, Mr. Unuoha Ukeh.

“I believe we are serving humanity, we are serving God, so, we don’t need any self-seeking attention. When you give to people, you are giving back to God,” Ume said.

According to him, as a media owner, it was easy to have taken the path of self-adulation, but that would have defeated the essence of setting up the foundation to impact meaningfully on the lives of others.

Ume expressed appreciation to The Sun Newspapers for the recognition and stated that, “it is a surprise that The Sun Newspapers has done its homework very well and have found us worthy of this esteemed recognition.

“On behalf of my late mother, my dear wife, my children and those who have donated to what we are doing, we have a lot more projects ongoing, to accept this award nomination and I wish to reiterate that this is a clarion call to do even more as a foundation in serving our

people and humanity.”

Earlier, the MD of the newspaper, Ukeh, while presenting the letter of award, said Ume’s “selection for this award was based on merit because of your outstanding humanitarian service gestures, which have touched the lives of many people.”

He stressed that, “the Humanitarian Service Icon Award is reserved for that man or woman who has done much to give succour to the indigent and the downtrodden.”

Part of the award letter read, “We know that as a way of giving back to the society, you set up the Unubiko Foundation to reach out and give hope to the needy. Ever since, you have made giving a culture, which has been demonstrated without boundaries.

“Last month, you handed over a Customary Court rebuilt at the cost of over N150million. You also handed over the Presbyterian Church you rebuilt as well as a women development centre, and Ovukwu-Abam Secondary School, Atan-Abam, which you rebuilt at over N500 million.

“You have empowered hundreds of widows, awarded no fewer than 200 scholarships for students in Arochukwu Local Government Area, paid WAEC fees for all students in Atan-Abam in 2020, and donated 100 brand new laptops to trainees in digital economy.

Continued online

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MONDAY, JANUARY 23, 2023 • T H I S D AY

NEWS

FOREMOST FORESTER LAID TO REST...

L-R: Former Governor of Ogun State and the Senatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress for Ogun East, Gbenga Daniel; in-law of the deceased, Adedire Adetona; wife of the Ogun State Governor, Mrs. Bamidele Abiodun and Governor Dapo Abiodun during the burial of foremost forester and former Chairman, Ijebu-Ode Local Government, Chief Bisi Rodipe at Ijebu-Ode...yesterday

NRC Suspends Warri-Itakpe Train Services Says all 148 passengers and 30 crew members evacuated to safe place Kasim Sumaina in Abuja The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) yesterday announced the suspension of the Warri- Itakpe train services.

The NRC disclosed this in a by the Coordinator Warri Itakpe

Train Service, Sanni Abdulganiyu in Abuja.

The NRC however stated that there was no fatality and no casualty recorded on the train which derailed at km 30 Ajaokuta-Itakpe section of the track at about 12:30hrs yesterday.

It explained that the corporation was immediately alerted alongside the security personnel comprising - Army, Police, NSCDC, and the community vigilante - which were immediately drafted to the accident point with the assistance of the local government chairman.

According to him, "Thankfully there was no fatality and no casualty. All the 148 passengers and 30 crew members were evacuated to a safe place and arrangements were made to convey 148 passengers to their various destinations and they have been

successfully conveyed.

"The cause of the derailment is not yet determined. Due to this incident, the service along

Nigeria Union of Journalists, NTA Benin Chapel.

Arase, in his presentation, said the lack of clear guidelines on command and control, had been a setback to violence-free elections in the past three election cycles in the country.

Represented by the Deputy Commissioner of Police Operations, Edo State Police Command, DCP Miller Dantawaye, Arase advised that institutional synergy between Civil Society, Security Agents,

and other related electoral bodies working for the common purpose of public good be established to have legitimate elections.

"There is need that institutional synergy between civil societies, security agents, and other relative electoral bodies working for the common purpose of public good be established to have legitimate elections, and we must adopt stricter rules to eliminate or at least limit electoral violence," he said.

In his remarks, the Residence

Electoral Commissioner (REC), Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC) Edo State, Obo Efanga, who was represented by the Head of Voter Education, Timidi Wariowei, explained that the Commission was ready to complete another cycle of the electoral process.

He reveled that the commission in Edo, has received the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), developed by INEC, which he said has been tested.

Kasim Sumaina in Abuja

the corridor has been suspended.

Further details would be communicated to members of the public."

CRFFN: Kano Zonal Office to Oversee Council's Affairs in Ex-IG, Arase, Proposes Stricter Penalties for Electoral Violence 19 Northern States, Says FG Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City In order to reduce violence and other forms of criminality during elections, a former Inspector General of Police, Mr Solomon Arase, has recommended stricter penalties for electoral crimes in Nigeria.

The former police boss made the recommendation at a gathering of stakeholders in Benin City, Edo State capital, with the theme: "Election Security" organised by the

CBN Deputy Governor, Shobanjo, Awosika, Others Stimulate Conversation at AT3 Resources’ Digital Forum for SMEs AT3 Resources, a Lagos-based communication and events consultancy at the weekend concluded its week-long digital marketing training for Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) in commemoration of its fifth anniversary.

The training with the theme, ‘Leveraging Possibilities for SMEs in The Digital Age’ was designed to empower SMEs to seize the growth opportunities present in the digital media era.

The intensive digital marketing bootcamp delivered by 15 marketing experts, according to a statement, had in attendance participants who were armed with the best digital marketing tools, tips, trends, tactics & strategies to scale their businesses using digital tools whilst 10 corporate titans and leading entrepreneurs shared life and success nuggets.

Speaking during the Bootcamp, the Deputy Governor, Financial

System Stability Directorate, Central Bank of Nigeria, Aishah Ahmad, stated that, “Small businesses are the lifeblood of the economy and drivers of economic growth.

Over 70 per cent of the jobs in Sub-Saharan Africa and emerging markets are provided by small businesses.

“Running a successful business in Nigeria comes with certain challenges but to overcome the challenges in the ecosystem, entrepreneurs must identify opportunities, set goals, be open to knowledge, build a sustainable structure, nurture relationships, add value and envision a better world with the service they provide.”

The Chairman, Troyka Holdings Limited, Dr. Biodun Shobanjo, while speaking, urged business owners to define their mission from the onset in order to deliver great results and remain in business.

He said, “The ability to deliver

creative work in a timely manner is very crucial to running a successful business. Also, as a business owner, leading with integrity, excellence, passion and building a team of leaders for succession is important in sustaining a business.

“To remain above the curve, entrepreneurs must seek to diversify, innovate and leverage digital resources available in this digital era.”

Sharing nuggets for success, the Founder/CEO, The Chair Centre Group, Ibukun Awosika, charged participants to continuously renew and empower their minds through education.

“My thirst and quest for continuous learning empowered me to build relationships and networks which has helped me broaden my mindset over time.

“Knowledge is important, however, maintaining discipline, staying teachable and upholding values such as respect, openness,

fairness, right attitude, integrity is key to becoming a successful entrepreneur,” she added.

In her closing remark during the last session, the Founder and Chief Executive Officer, AT3 Resources, Tosin Adefeko, charged participants to leverage knowledge from the training to carve a niche, grow their business and connect to a wider audience on the digital space.

“It is a delight to have hosted an impactful training for SMEs who are committed to scaling their businesses. I want to especially thank all the marketing communications experts who shared their wealth of experience.

I encourage you to incorporate learnings from this training to scale your businesses,” she added.

Speaking on behalf of the attendees one of the small business owners expressed gratitude for the opportunity and reiterated his plans to integrate the knowledge practically.

The federal government yesterday said the newly inaugurated Kano zonal office of the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) would oversee the council's affairs in all the 19 northern states and ensure a strong presence of CRFFN in the region.

The government through Minister of State for Transportation, Mr. Ademola Adewole Adegoroye, also reaffirmed its resolve to entrench effective and efficient freight forwarding system in the country.

The Minister stated this at the inauguration of the Kano zonal office of CRFFN. Adegoroye in a statement in Abuja, by the Director, Press/ Public Relations, Ministry of Transportation, Henshaw Ogubike, noted that the construction and inauguration of the CRFFN's Kano Zonal Office was in furtherance of the federal government's vision and determination to establish a smooth operating freight forwarding system in the country and expand the participation of littoral and non-littoral states in maritime and general logistics.

The minister hinted that the need to promote professionalism, entrench global best practices and develop the capacity of freight forwarding practitioners cannot be over-emphasised, "hence the policy of having zonal offices in the six geopolitical zones of the country."

He noted that freight forwarding was the coordination and shipment of goods from one place to another through a single or multiple carriers such as air, marine, rail or highway, adding that the

CRFFN was established by the CRFFN Act No. 16, 2007; with the responsibility to, amongst other things, regulate and control the practice of freight forwarding in Nigeria and promote the highest standards of competence, practice and conduct among members of the profession.

While enumerating the anticipated benefits and impact of the CRFFN's Kano Zonal office, Adegoroye, expressed optimism that the new office will further encourage safe, timely, sustainable and environmentally friendly movement of cargoes using the road and rail modes.

He pointed out that the office would aid revenue generation for the government through the collection of Practioners Operating Fee (POF).

"It will also help in expanding the list of certified freight forwarding professionals whose impact will be felt all over the country and beyond," he added.

Also speaking at the occasion, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Transportation, Dr. Magdalene Ajani noted that it was imperative to establish CRFFN's Zonal offices across the country in order to ensure effective and efficient regulation and promotion of freight forwarding in the country.

In his welcome address, the Registrar of CRFFN, Sam Nwakohu said the construction of the Kano Zonal Office was informed by the need to bring the Council closer to the grassroots.

The Governor of Kano State, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, represented by the Special Adviser on State Affairs, Hon. Murtala Dandawaki, expressed readiness of the state to support the CRFFN.

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NEWS

WITH LOVE FROM ANGOLA...

L-R: Angolan Ambassador to Nigeria, Dr. Eustaquio Januario Quibato, in a hand shake with Minister of State Petroleum Resources Chief Timipre Sylva, during a courtesy call on the minister in Abuja…recently

Why Ayu Can’t Sack My Exco, Says Ekiti PDP Chairman Gbenga Sodeinde in Ado Ekiti Acting Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ekiti State, Hon. Lanre Omolase, has faulted the dissolution of the Ekiti State executive committee of the party by the Dr. Iyorchia Ayu-led National Working Committee (NWC) of the party as an exercise in futility, saying it was both contemptuous and a waste of time.

Declaring that he remained

chairman of the party in Ekiti State until a court of competent jurisdiction ruled otherwise, Omolase, in a statement in Ado Ekiti yesterday, insisted that any action that was against a subsisting order of the court.

“I want to say, proclaim and declare that I am still the Acting Chairman of the PDP in Ekiti and only the court of law can say otherwise. My position as the Acting Chairman is as dictated by a court of competent

jurisdiction, and the court order is still subsisting.

“The position of the court is that nothing must be done concerning the state chairmanship of the PDP in Ekiti until final determination of a suit filed when two persons were laying claim the chairmanship of the party.

“Apart from the fact there is a subsisting court order backing my position, the National Working Committee does not also have powers to sack duly elected

Exco members of the party at whatever level.

“Also, I condemn the purported suspension of the National Assembly candidates of the party and wish to state that there was nowhere the candidates were invited to defend themselves as dictated by the principle of fair hearing,” he explained.

Giving further insight into the genesis of the crisis, Omolase said, “Our complaint was about composition of the Presidential

Campaign Council (PCC) in which members of Social Democratic Party (SDP) were accorded vantage positions.

“Our position was that SDP has National Assembly candidates whose elections will be held same day as that of the president, and the party is only interested in funding its candidates with resources from PDP. “Letters were written, even to the Presidential Candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, but nothing was

done. For the campaign rally, only two out of nine National Assembly candidates were involved. Even me, as the Acting Chairman was totally ignored.

“It therefore appears funny and laughable to me that a National Working Committee that did not visit Ekiti during the last governorship election is now angry that we did not attend a presidential rally that we were never involved in its planning.”

ATIKU CAMPAIGN WANTS NDLEA, EFCC TO ARREST, PROSECUTE TINUBU OVER DRUGS, ALLEGATIONS OF MONEY LAUNDERING organised for secondary school students that Lagos State had the highest drug use prevalence in the southwest and by extension, Nigeria which is 33 per cent.

“Curiously, this is the state that has been ruled by a man with alleged drug ties since 1999.

Nigerians are free to make up their minds."

The campaign team also accused Tinubu of using Alpha Beta Consulting firm to loot the Lagos State treasury.

"Tinubu has also continued to brag about how he transformed the finances of Lagos State but this story is not completely accurate. As seen in court affidavits sworn to by Dapo Apara, a former Managing Director of Alpha Beta Consulting, Tinubu has continued to corner the finances of the state through this firm.

“In the writ of summons marked LD/7330GCMW/2020, Apara narrated how Alpha Beta was formed in 2002 when Tinubu was still the governor, in breach of the Code of Conduct for Public Officers. Apara noted that he was the one who came up with the idea of a consulting firm helping the state government to collect taxes.

“He said Tinubu accepted the proposal but gave many conditions including that his own people would own 70 per cent stakes in the company. Apara said Tinubu nominated Adegboyega Oyetola (later governor of Osun State) and one Olumide Ogunmola who would hold 70% of the shares of Alpha Beta," it stated further.

"Apara stated that Tinubu as a sitting governor in 2002, controlled Alpha Beta which was receiving 10 per cent of tax collected on behalf of the state. The claimant stated that in 2010 or thereabout, Tinubu directed that the incorporation structure of the Alpha-Beta Consulting

Ltd be changed from a limited liability company to a limited liability partnership under a newly promulgated law in Lagos State.

“He said the aim of the move was to shield Tinubu’s involvement from public scrutiny. Apara said as the head of the company, he began looking into its finances and he made many startling discoveries such as mysterious transfers of billions of naira including a payment of N1bn to Vintage Press, publishers of The Nation newspaper," it further stated.

According to the Atiku campaign team, the former Alpha Beta boss said he realised that all the payments were sanctioned by the partners nominated by Tinubu and they were done without his knowledge contrary to the terms of their partnership.

He stated, “The claimant avers that some of the suspicious transfers to third parties amongst many others unknown to the claimant are as follows: a) N500,000,000 payment to SW8 Investment Ltd vide payment instruction dated the 30/12/13; (b) $2,989,063.33 payment to Summit Integrated Services Ltd vide payment instruction dated the 18/3/1.5. “(c) $1,407,000 USD payment to Summit Integrated Services Ltd vide payment instruction dated the 18/3/15; (d) N25million payment to Halizview International Ltd vide payment instruction dated the 18/3/15; (e)N39million payment to Halizview International Ltd vide payment instruction dated the 3/3/15; (I) N38million payment to Halizview International Ltd vide payment instruction dated the 6/3/15. “(g) N550million payment to Ocean Trust Ltd vide payment instruction dated the 15/5/18 (h) N850million payment to Ocean Trust Ltd vide payment instruction dated the 14/3/15; (i) N1 billion in Afkar

printing Press together with Vintage Press Limited and Lagoon Press Limited in October 2017; (J) N1 billion Ocean and Oil Investment Limited (Oando) various times; (k) N3.5 billion in Oceanic Bank avow Ecobank) various times; (I) N100 million Ibile Holdings Land Plot 16/17 Block VI (ONIRU ESTATE) (m) N500 million Starcomms (Aranda Resources) 100,000,000 SHARES (n) N1.4 billion Sterling Asset Management (o) N960 million HITV 300,000,000 shares (p) N11.9 billion SW8 (Wema Bank)30,909,090 shares.”

"Interestingly, ahead of the presidential election, Tinubu hurriedly reached a secret financial settlement with Dapo Apara before a Lagos State High Court in Igbosere which involved Apara dropping the case, a development very similar to his drug settlement with US authorities," it said.

The presidential campaign council, therefore, called on EFCC, NDLEA to effect the arrest of Tinubu, pointing out that the former Lagos governor does not enjoy immunity.

"We hereby call on the EFCC, the NDLEA, the Nigeria Police Force, the Office of the Honourable Attorney-General of the Federation and the Department of State Services to arrest and prosecute him.

"We hereby call on Tinubu, the con-man to drop his presidential ambition for the sake of Nigeria," he said.

Commenting further on the Jagaban Army, it alleged that the group was training and arming thugs with dangerous weapons in secret locations across the country ostensibly to use the illegal formation to undermine Nigerian security forces and unleash mayhem on Nigerians during the elections.

"Nigerians have been wondering

how a political party or any candidate for that matter can create a parallel Army and adorned them with uniforms as well as ranks within a sovereign state as if Nigeria has become Asiwaju Tinubu’s fiefdom", it said.

"Furthermore, Nigerians are alarmed that the APC presidential candidate went to London to declare war on our nation by openly charging his party cohorts to take power at all costs, only for him to return to the country to have his campaign set up a parallel army to undermine our national security in order to achieve his malevolent designs.

"The expectation of Nigerians was that after Asiwaju Tinubu declared that 'political power is not served in a restaurant, it is not served a la carte. It is what we are doing; It is being determined; you do it at all cost; fight for it, grab it, snatch it and run (away) with it', the security authorities ought to have immediately taken him in for questioning for treasonable felony, the statement signed by the Spokesperson, Atiku/Okowa Campaign Organization, Kola Ologbodiyan, said.

The statement noted that "this is not the first time that Asiwaju Tinubu has come out brazenly to undermine the sovereignty of our nation as well as the office and the person of President Muhammadu Buhari.

"Nigerians can recall how Asiwaju Tinubu went to the Presidential villa, undermine President Buhari by using the presidential facility in the seat of power to announce his presidential interest. That, to say the least, was felonious".

"Nigerians are also aware of how the APC presidential candidate has arrogantly continued to disrespect,

disparage and undermine the person of the president and how he had publicly mocked and depicted president Buhari as weak and weeping over losses in presidential elections until, according to him, he (Tinubu) came to his rescue and made him (Buhari) President", alleged.

"The import is that Asiwaju Tinubu, in his arrogance, believes that he cannot be subjected to President Buhari’s Constitutional powers and this accounts for his temerity to run a parallel Army; a treasonable act against the office of the president and our national sovereignty.

"It is clear that Asiwaju Tinubu is desperate to be president, but with manifest signs of rejection

by Nigerians, he is ready to cause bloodletting and destroy our democratic process.

"It is imperative to state that insurrectionary groups that unleashed mayhem and derailed democracy in many parts of the world all started with desperate power seekers who cannot gain office through democratic means.

"The fear across our country is that the APC Presidential Candidate is apparently following this dangerous path", it said.

The statement called on the president to check the APC candidate's excesses.

Atiku Lacks Character to Be Nigerian President, APC Insists Meanwhile, the PCC of the APC has restated that Atiku lacks the character to be the president of Nigeria.

The Director, Media and Publicity, APC PCC, Bayo Onanuga in a statement issued yesterday said it

was obvious that the PDP and its presidential candidate were yet to recover from the bombshell released last week by APC campaign which questioned the morality of Atiku to remain in the race, following his own damaging self-confession.

He said since the scandal broke out, along with legal action to compel anti-graft agencies to perform their role, Atiku and his party have laboured in vain to deflect and cover-up with their series of ad hominem arguments.

Onanuga said: "Instead of Atiku to apologise to Nigerians for abusing his office and position of trust in the past, Atiku's spokesmen continue to dig deeper in the hole they already found themselves by raising many false allegations against our candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

"The latest chapter in Atiku and PDP's comedy, is the rehash of old tales and fables that have no basis in facts and reality against our candidate.

"Our stand remains that Atiku Abubakar lacks the character to be the president of Nigeria.

He is unfit to lead our country because he can be an easy target for compromises that will be against national interest."

The ruling party insisted that Atiku in deeds and words have shown that he cannot be trusted to manage the resources of Nigeria.

The APC said it believed that the characters who still parade themselves as his spokespersons have lost their minds.

"This is why they think Nigerians can be swayed by all their deliberate falsehoods and the lies they manufacture everyday against Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to deceive the public, when they should all be remorseful for the legendary corruption of their boss," it said.

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NEWS

CLEANER ENVIRONMENT ON THEIR MINDS…

L-R: Chief Executive Officer, Smart Gas and Petroleum Limited, Dr. Yinka Opeke; Executive Chairman, Lagos Island Local Government, Mr. Tijani Adetoyese Olusi; Permanent Secretary, Office of Environmental Services, Lagos State Ministry of Environment and Water Resources, Dr. Gaji Omobolaji Tajudeen; Wife of the Lagos State Governor, Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, and the General Manager, Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA), Dr. Dolapo Ayokunle Fasawe, at the Sanwo Switch to Gas (SS2G) and Trash 4Cash campaign in Lagos…recently ETOP UKUTT

Kogi APC Debunks Bello’s Alleged Withdrawal from Tinubu’s Campaign IbrahimOyewaleinLokoja The Kogi APC Campaign Council, has refuted insinuation making the round that Governor Yahaya Bello of the state, had withdrawn his support for the party’s presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu, saying it was the mere imagination of the author of the story.

A statement by the Director of Media and Publicity, Kogi StateAPC Campaign Council, Kingsley Femi Fanwo, stated that it was a fake report orchestrated by desperate politicians,who wanted to cause

disaffection in the APC family.

The statement read: “Our attention has been drawn to a spurious, malicious and badly delivered hatchet job published in one of the national dailies of January 22, 2023, saying Governor Yahaya Bello, has withdrawn his support for the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

“The publication was done in bad faith to create distrust, acrimony and chaos in the party by people who are desperately trying to disparage the unbending commitment of

the governor to the success of the All Progressives Congress in the presidential election.

“Governor Yahaya Bello’s unflinching commitment to the campaign is not in doubt among committed stakeholders of the APC

at all levels. He is constantly on the drawing board, galvanizing Kogites and youths across Nigeria to massively support the man he calls the President-in-Waiting, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

This will not go down well with

open and veiled detractors of our presidential candidate, who would go to any length to paint a picture of crisis where there is absolutely none.

“Aside winning and sustaining the support of the majority of

Nigerian youths for Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Governor Yahaya Bello, has effectively mobilised Kogites to deliver not less than 95% Kogi votes to the presidential candidate of our party, the All Progressives Congress.

Immigration Arrests 303 Suspected Irregular Migrants in Uyo Okon Bassey in Uyo Three hundred and three suspected irregular migrants have bèen arrested in Uyo metropolis of Akwa Ibom State during a mop-up exercise conducted by the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS).

The Comptroller of Immigration Service, Akwa Ibom State Command, Mrs Francisca Dakat, disclosed this weekend while briefing newsmen after the exercise in Uyo. She explained that out of the 303 apprehended, 285 were adult while 18 were minors.

According to her, the mop-up exercise was in line with the service directives that non-Nigerian should not partake in the forthcoming general elections.

Dakat stressed that before the exercise, the command had carried out a sensitisation workshop for all non Nigerians resident in the state.

“The mop-up exercise which took place in Uyo metropolis will be a continuous exercise and will be extended to all the 31 Local Government Areas of the state.A total of 303 suspected irregular migrants were apprehended at different locations in the state capital.

of Excel Medical Centre Dolphin Estate, Ikoyi, Lagos, was found guilty on four of the six counts charge, which are counts 2, 3, 4, and 6.

However, he was discharged on counts 1 and 5 respectfully.

The convict was initially arraigned alongside his wife Dr (Mrs) Ifeayinwa Grace Orji, but his wife was discharged and acquitted following an application by the

Director of Public Production that the Lagos State government wishes to discontinue the case against her.

Delivering judgement, Justice Akintoye held that the prosecution was able to established the essential ingredients of the offence of breach of duty, care and endangering the life of a 16-year-old patient.

The court further held that the defendant’s action falls below what

is reasonably expected of a medical doctor.

Justice Akintoye held: “It my opinion that the Defendant committed a breach of duty as a medical practitioner, when he willfully refused to remove the Plaster of Paris (POP) cast on the patient left leg despite complaints of severe pains which thereby resulted in a compartment syndrome.”

FG Urged to Ensure Reasonable Utilisation of University Autonomy Negligence: Medical Director Jailed for Endangering Life of 16-year-old Patient was the representative of Yinka Kolawole inOsogbo The Congress of University Academics (CONUA) has urged the federal government to ensure reasonable utilisation of university autonomy.

Speaking at the maiden National Executive Council (NEC) of the Congress at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, National President of CONUA, Niyi Sunmonu, posited that it must, as a matter of urgency, contain seemingly unseen corruption and fix “accreditation fraud” in the universities.

However, at NEC members were accredited from 15 Federal and State Universities while 11 Universities sent in apologies, due to logistics.

Also at the opening ceremony

the Minister of Labour and Employment, Sen. (Dr.) Chris Nwabueze Ngige in person of Mr. Clement Fatoki.

According to CONUA President, “Education is central to development of any nation, Nigeria inclusive. CONUA is of the strong opinion that education can be made “cheap” by ensuring uninterrupted academic calendar in the Nigerian Ivory towers”.

While speaking on the general election in 2023, he opined that the government should ensure transparent, free, fair and credible election.

He said since the country runs a democracy, INEC must ensure that political parties evolve to the point of clear ideologies so that Nigerians can have better choices.

Nigerians Need Positive Mental Attitude in 2023, Says Cleric Dike Onwuamaeze

The Lead Pastor of Harvesters International Christian Center (HICC), Pastor Bolaji Idowu, has encouraged Nigerians to put on positive mental attitude in order to overcome challenges that would come their way in 2023.

Idowu stated that positive mental attitudes that are coupled with strategic planning and backed up with spiritual direction would not be overemphasised in these challenging times.

He also called on Nigerians to use the month of January to set the tone for the rest of the year.

Idowu said: “If your mindset is negative and your beliefs are limited, there are heights you can never reach.”

He also commented on the growth of the HICC, which has

radically transformed lives for almost two decades across Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya, Canada, The United Kingdom and United States of America.

The lead pastor said: “What started with just a roomful of people has grown to be one of the most desirable places of worship drawing over 1,000,000 visitors online and on-site.

“The HICC is a safe space. A no-judgment zone. This is why even the most secretive people are comfortable enough to share their deepest life struggles during our services.”

He further opined that the upcoming Winepress 2023, which is billed to be a four-day spiritual renewal conference, would disrupt limited mindsets by providing divine direction to Nigerians for 2023.

WaleIgbintade

Justice Adedayo Akintoye of the Lagos High court sitting at Tafawa Balewa Square has sentenced a medical doctor, Dr. Ejike Ferdinand Orji, to one year imprisonment for causing grievous harm, negligence and endangering the life of a 16-year-old patient.

Orji, who is the Medical Director

Loyalists of Ibori, Okowa’s Aides Defect to APC in Delta Deji Elumoye in Abuja

Twenty six strong loyalists of former Governor James Ibori of Delta State who are members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state yesterday defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The defectors, including former legislators, ex-commissioners, local government chairmen and Board members which attracted

thousands of their supporters to a colourful ceremony held at St George’s College ground in Obinoba community in Delta North senatorial district, pledged to deliver APC candidate, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege as the next governor of the state during the March 11, 2023 gubernatorial poll.

The new APC members who until their defection were leaders of the Delta Unity Group (DUG) in the state PDP

include: Hon Mercy Almonai Isei, former Commissioner and three-time former Member, House of Representatives; Chief Judith Enamuotor, Member BOT, PDP and former Commissioner; Hon Daniel Reyenieju, three-time member, House of Representatives; Hon Monday Igbuya, immediate past Speaker, Delta State House of Assembly(DTHA); Hon Olisa Imegwu, also former Speaker,

DTHA and former Member, House of Representatives; Hon Timi Tonye - Former Commissioner and former Member, DTHA; Hon Evans Iwurie, former Commissioner and former DTHA Member; Hon Faith Majemite; immediate past Chairman, Ethiope East LGA; Barr Andy Osavwota- former Executive Secretary, Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC).

Abia APC: We’re Ready to Receive Tinubu with Mega Rally in Umuahia Emmanuel Ugwu-Nwogo in Umuahia The Abia State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has said that it has concluded arrangements to hold a “mother of all rallies” for the party’s presidential candidate, Bola Ahmed

Tinubu.

Tinubu is scheduled to arrive in Umuahia on Tuesday January 24, 2023 to flag off his presidential campaign in Abia as well as the governorship campaign of the party’s flag bearer, Chief Ikechi Emenike.

Chairman of Abia APC, Dr Kingsley Ononogbu told

journalists at a news conference that the party was poised to stage “mother of all rallies” to demonstrate its strength, mass appeal and readiness to take power in Abia.

“We want our people to come out and be a part of the making of a new Nigeria.

We want Abia to be part of

the success story of APC,” he said.

Ononogbu said that the wave of Obedient sentiment would not in any affect the electoral chances of APC in Abia as the main Abia opposition party has the numbers and overwhelming support to win the 2023 poll.

Okowa Speaks on Tuesday’s Asaba Presidential Rally, Confident of PDP Victory Omon-Julius Onabu in Asaba The vice presidential candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Governor of Delta State, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, has expressed confidence

in victory for the party at the February 25, 2023 polls considering the general acceptance of the party across the country.

This, he said was an indication that Nigerians were truly tired of the inept

All Progressives Congress (APC)-led federal government.

Okowa made the assertion yesterday, shortly after inspecting preparations at the Stephen Keshi Stadium Asaba, venue of the party’s presidential rally in the state

on Tuesday.

He restated that the PDP would provide Nigerians with all-inclusive and purposeful leadership that the country had been yearning for especially in light of pervasive suffering in the country today.

MONDAY JANUARY 23, 2023˾ T H I S D AY

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NEWS XTRA

BAYELSA PDP RALLY..…

The Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for Brass-Nembe Federal Constituency in the forthcoming House of Representatives Election, Hon. Mrs Marie Enenimiete Ebikake (with PDP Flag) joins other candidates of the party for the Bayelsa East Senatorial Campaign Rally in Twon-Brass...recently

Again, Ortom Accuses FG of Complicity in Handling Issues of Terrorism

George Okoh In Makurdi

Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom has accused the federal government of being complicit in issues of terrorism in the country.

He insisted the federal government was protecting

killer Fulani herdsmen who have continued to perpetrate unprovoked killings in Benue State.

Governor Ortom made this known yesterday in a chat with journalists shortly after he visited victims of Fulani herdsmen

FG Unveils Nigeria’s Permanent Mission to ECOWAS Building in Abuja Michael Olugbode in Abuja

The federal government has inaugurated a magnificent edifice in highbrow Asokoro, Abuja to house the Permanent Mission of Nigeria to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

The edifice was inaugurated at the weekend by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, who acknowledged the importance of having a befitting building to provide office space for the Nigerian team at the ECOWAS Commission.

The Permanent Mission of Nigeria to ECOWAS is one of the over 100 Nigerian Diplomatic Missions across the world.

The request for the

establishment of the Mission was approved by President Goodluck Jonathan, in 2012, in compliance with the provisions of Article 8(1a&b) of the ECOWAS 2010 Supplementary Act which defined the Roles of the Permanent Representatives of Member States to ECOWAS and mandated all Member-states to accredit a Permanent Representative to the institution.

This Mission, which is similar in function to the United States Permanent Mission to the United Nations Headquarters in New York, and the Ethiopian Permanent Mission to the African Union Headquarters in Addis Ababa, amongst others, is unique as it is based in Abuja and enjoys diplomatic status.

JABU Confers Honourary Doctorate Degree on Bamidele Gbenga Sodeinde in Ado Ekiti The management of the Joseph Ayo Babalola University, Ikeji-Arakeji, Osun State, is to confer a honourary doctorate degree on the Chairman, Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, for his outstanding leadership mien and impressive performance as a public servant.

A letter addressed to Senator Bamidele by the Registrar of the fastest- growing faithbased University, Mr. Dapo Adeniyi, and dated 12th October, 2023, said the federal lawmaker will be honoured with the prestigious title at the JABU’s 13th Convocation Ceremonies slated for 27th January, 2023.

The University added that the honour stemmed from indepth studies conducted into Senator Bamidele’s political trajectory since 1999 and found him exemplary as well as outstanding in all positions he had occupied in the public service.

The letter reads: “As part of the plans towards the 13th Convocation Ceremonies of our university, I write to notify you that you have been considered to receive a prestigious University doctorate degree (honoris causa) at the event which is scheduled to hold sometime in January, 2023. Your undeniable contributions and relevance to nation building and leadership in Nigeria and the world at large are some of the reasons for nominating you for our prestigious honourary degree”.

attacks on Abagena internally displaced persons (IDPs) camp who are receiving treatment at the Benue State University Teaching Hospital, Makurdi.

He said: “This is my pain, since 2015, I have cried out loud that the federal government is complicit to the issues of terrorism raising Fulanis in

Niger from Futa Jalon (Senegal), Cameroon, Mauritania and Libya and other parts of the world so that they will come to Nigeria and take it and make it their country.

“One thing that pains me is that these people have not hidden their intentions and they are known. The federal

government is protecting them.

I have called for the arrest of the leadership of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore several times. I have written to the Presidency. I have written to DSS, I have written to the Police, and yet they are adamant. It is not that these people are not known, they are known,” Ortom insisted.

According to the governor, “the day that the federal government wants these acts of terrorism against our people to end, that will be it. But for now they are complicit. They are working with them to push for the take-over of this country and make this country a Fulani nation.”

2023: Gwanara Emirate Backs AbdulRazaq’s Re-election Bid in Kwara

Hammed Shittu in Ilorin

The Emir of Gwanara in Baruten local government of Kwara state, Alhaji (Dr) Sabi Idris KotoKotogi II, has said that, the Emirate has pledged their unalloyed support to Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq for his reelection bid in the forthcoming general elections in the state Dr. Idris said that the support became imperative in view of

the tremendous growth and development that had happened to the Emirate from the APC led administration in the state.

The Emir, who spoke in Ilorin when he led a delegation from the Emirate on a courtesy visit to Government House, Ilorin, said the administration has not only prioritised their infrastructure needs but also restored their dignity as a people, saying the Emirate is reputed for paying virtue

with virtue.

A statement issued by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Rafiu Ajakaye, the monarch said that, “To whom much is given much is expected. We want to use this opportunity to assure you and your government that ours is an Emirate that pays virtue with virtue.

“Therefore, you can count on us and on our support for your second term. On the days of

election, we shall vote en masse for this administration that gave us a sense of belonging and treated us as human beings.”

The Emir was represented by the Magajin Geri of the Emirate, Alhaji Ahmed Aliyu Oyooru.

The first class monarch commended AbdulRazaq for his leadership quality and appreciated him for being passionate about the welfare of the people.

2023: Democratic Leadership Endorses Peter Obi for President JulietAkojeinAbuja A group known as Democratic Leadership with its arrays of domestic and Diaspora resources have endorsed the candidature of Mr. Peter Obi of Labour Party to intensify campaign in 11 Northern states towards actualisation of a landslide victory at the presidential poll.

A statement signed by its

president, Dr. Ray Onwuelo stated that “as it stands now, two of the candidate are likely to get the requisite 25 per cent of the votes cast in 24 or more states and the FCT with the candidate of Labour Party (LP), Mr Peter Obi securing the widest and largest number of votes in a fair presidential election.

I am not unaware that some will be unpleased to hear this but that is the true situation on the grounds

across the country with a small margin of error.”

The Onwuelo stated that each of the presidential candidates have areas of strength and weakness, intertwined with the facts beholding of themselves and the nation.

“Their various manifestos and proposed contract with Nigerians are now known to us.

Of importance are factors related to the candidates and to the nation.

Amongst the former are: credibility, health, previous performance.

Nation variables include; unity, security, corruption, reforms and economy.”

He further noted: “We have been through different developmental processes but have generally been so slow and sometimes retrogressive.

At 62 years we have passed middle ages in any life, including that of any independent nation.”

Isi-Uzo People Hail Enugu Gov for Restoring Peace to Community The people of Isi-Uzo Local Government Area of Enugu State, comprising political, religious, traditional, and community leaders have expressed immense gratitude to Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi for his exemplary leadership role in restoring peace and security to Eha-Amufu.

The people said that Governor Ugwuanyi’s intervention in the

Eha-Amufu crisis was responsible for the peace the community is enjoying presently, disclosing that after the emergency peace and security meeting the governor had with stakeholders of Eha Amufu, there has not been any further attack in the area.

They reassured Governor Ugwuanyi of their overwhelming support and votes for all the

candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state including the party’s governorship candidate, Dr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah.

Isi-Uzo people made the remarks yesterday when Governor Ugwuanyi visited Ikem, the council headquarters to identify with them and ascertain how they were

faring.

Welcoming Ugwuanyi, the Council Chairman, Hon. Barr.

Obiora Obeagu stated that the five old communities and 21 autonomous communities in Isi-Uzo LGA were grateful that “today our governor has brought peace to us,” revealing that “today Eha Amufu is back to its feet.”

2023 Polls: Cleric Tasks Nigerians to Vote for Credible Candidates Segun Awofadeji in Bauchi The Spiritual Father and Chairman of the Cherubim and Seraphim Movement Church (CSMC) Worldwide, His Grace Prophet Samuel Abidoye, has called on Nigerians to participate actively in the forthcoming general

election and vote for only leaders with reputable characters to bring positive change to the country.

Prophet Abidoye, who is also the Baba Aladura of CSMC Worldwide, spoke at ‘A Night of total freedom’, of the Evangelical Ministry at the Church headquarters, Galilee

Land Orile Igbon, Oyo State, yesterday, and advised Nigerians not to sell their conscience but vote for the candidate of their choice.

The cleric, who appealed to the electorate to use their votes wisely, emphasised that Nigerians must think and rethink the candidates

they would cast their votes for so as not to vote any person or persons who may worsen the country’s present challenges.

The cleric prayed that the country would move to higher ground this year, urging the people to create a character that would lift them to higher ground.

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Group Sports Editor: Duro Ikhazuagbe Email: duro.ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com

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NPFL: Bendel Insurance Maintain Unbeaten Run Against Kwara Utd As Akw Utd, Lobi Stars win away from their home grounds Duro Ikhazuagbe The wind of change blowing through the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) continued at the weekend with three teams recording wins away from their home grounds with two others pulling crucial draws away too.

So far eight away victories have been recorded in 28 matches since the Gbenga Elegbeleye led Interim Management Committee (IMC) took charge of the Nigerian topflight. It is a departure from the dubious ‘norm’ where teams must win by hook or crook in previous arrangements.

After three match days, Bendel Insurance of Benin City are the only team in the NPFL to record 100 per cent to the start of the abridged league.

In a Group A fixtures yesterday, newly promoted Bendel Insurance proved again that they mean business since their return, becoming the first team to win all their first three matches. After defeating Akwa United in the opening weekend in

Uyo, they returned home to also win their first home game in Benin City against Plateau United before going to Ibadan yesterday to pick maximum points against Kwara United in their adopted home.

RESULTS Group A Nasarawa 0-3 Akwa Utd Plateau Utd 2-1 Enyimba Kwara Utd 0-1 B’Insurance El-Kanemi 0-0 Gombe Utd

Both Remo Stars (Group A) and Niger Tornadoes (Group B) who also have maximum points each have a game in hand to be played midweek.

Kwara United playing at their adopted home ground at Lekan Salami Stadium in Ibadan lost to Insurance after two scoreless outings on Match day one and two.

Expectedly, Imade Osehenkhoe scored the lone goal that gave Insurance the victory in the 25th minute.

In the other group matches, former Champion, Akwa United returned to winning away with an emphatic 3-0 away win at Nasarawa United.

James Ajako opened score in the 43rd minute while Ndifreke Effiong Udo doubled the lead two minutes after resumption with a grounder and same player extended the lead to in the 74th minute.

Former champion, Plateau won 2-1 at home against Enyimba with

goals from Onyebuchi Ifeanyi and Kazeem Ogunleye in the 36th and added time but goals came are after Chibuike Nwaiwu had given the away team in the lead in the 25th minute.

El-Kanemi at home recorded a goalless draw with Gombe United.

In Group B, Lobi Stars truncated Abia Warriors’ winning streak win with an away win in Aba. The lone goal was scored

by Kumaga Suur in the 55th minute while Enugu Rangers

and Sunshine Stars of Akure played out a 1-1 draw in Awka which is Rangers’ first point out of possible nine.

Bayelsa United also recored 2-0 win against visiting Wikki Tourist with goals from Robert Mizo in the 42nd and 70th minutes but John Prince cut the lead in the 89th minute from penalty kick.

Doma United recorded a lone goal win against Dakkada FC with the only goal scored by Emmanuel Ogwuche in the 59th minute.

Wednesday Remo v Shooting Group B Rangers 1-1 Sunshine Abia War 0-1 Lobi Stars Bayelsa Utd 2-1 Wikki Doma Utd 1-0 Dakkada

Tuesday Rivers Utd v N’Tornadoes

Sports Minister Endorses Sportsville Award Sports Minister, Sunday Dare, has commended the organisers of the annual Sportsville Special Recognition Award for its credibility and for creating a forum to celebrate those at the forefront of sports development in the nation.

According to the Minister, recognition of this nature will spur more Nigerians to do more for the country.

Chief Dare, a recipient of the prestigious award last year, has promised to grace the ceremony with the full compliment of his top Management staff.

"Be rest assured that I will be there in person to be part of this timely and noteworthy event," he said in his acceptance notice to Chair the event.

He adds...”The award aligns with my vision for sports development in Nigeria by encouraging individuals and corporate organisations to join hands with government to take our sports to the desired height as government alone cannot do it.

"You can see how our involvement of individuals and companies through the Adopt-an-Athlete

Initiative is yielding positive results," the Minister explained.

CEO of Sportsville, Hon. Frank Ilaboya in a statement thanked the Minister for identifying with the Award and promised that the annual award will continue to add value to the Minister's initiative to celebrate excellence in the sports industry.

“I want to thank the Honorable Minister of Sports for accepting to not only grace the event but to play the Chairmanship role on the night.

"We're glad that the Number One figure in Nigeria sports is endorsing the event. This means so much to us as an organisation and we want to sincerely appreciate the Minster," an excited Ilaboya added.

The Deputy Governor of Edo State, Rt Hon Philip Shaibu, will also be joining the Minister as the Special Guest of Honour.

Over 16 personalities and corporate organisations have been listed for this year's award.

This year’s award comes up on Saturday, February 4th, 2023 at the Lagos Country Club, Ikeja.

Eddie Nketiah (right) scored two goals as Arsenal defeated Manchester United 3-2 to go five points clear at the top of the English Premier League

Late Nketiah Winner Hands Arsenal Victory in Five-goal Thriller Against Man Utd Arsenal retained control of the Premier League title race after Eddie Nketiah's 90th-minute winner gave them a dramatic 3-2 victory over Manchester United in a thriller at Emirates Stadium.

Manchester City's earlier 3- 0 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers applied pressure on the Gunners but they responded with character and quality, even after going behind, to secure a five-point advantage at the top with a game in hand.

United's man of the moment Marcus Rashford fired home a

PREMIER LEAGUE superb right-foot strike from 25 yards to give them a 17th-minute lead.

Arsenal responded fiercely and were level seven minutes later when Granit Xhaka's cross created a heading opportunity for Nketiah, who got in ahead of Aaron Wan-Bissaka at the far post.

Bukayo Saka's angled drive put Arsenal ahead eight minutes after the break but their advantage lasted

only six minutes, with Lisandro Martinez heading his first goal for the club after keeper Aaron Ramsdale dropped a corner.

Arsenal looked the more likely winners in the closing stages, with Saka hitting the post and Nketiah denied by David de Gea's outstanding save.

The pressure paid off in the closing moments when Nketiah - a striker who is doing an outstanding job filling in for injured Gabriel Jesus - turned in from close range to spark wild scenes of celebration

at Emirates Stadium last night.

At the Etihad, Erling Haaland scored his fourth Manchester City hat-trick and took his goal tally for the season to 31 in all competitions as relegation-threated Wolves were swept aside by Pep Guardiola's men.

By his own incredibly high standards, Haaland had been going through a barren spell.

But after ending a three-game drought against Tottenham on Thursday, the Norwegian demolished Wolves in a 12-minute spell either side of half-time.

Zenith Bank Rolls out Huge Oshoala Leads Barca Femeni to Super Cup Win at Sociedad Plans for Sports in 2023 One of the biggest corporate supporters of sports in the country, Zenith Bank Plc, has rolled out plans to boost sports in a big way this year, 2023.

Zenith Bank has been a big pillar behind many sports competitions like the National Female Basketball League, The Delta Principal’s Cup and the Delta Headmaster’s Cup. The bank at some point was also staging the U-13, U-15 Future Eagles competition and official bank of the Nigeria Football Federation that was also foot the bill of the foreign manager of the Super Eagles for about five years.

The Group Managing Director of Zenith Bank, Ebenezer Onyeagwu, has stated that all the major events in the bank’s sports calendar would be staged in the New Year.

Onyeagwu said it was always

a pleasure for the organization to stage sporting events in its calendar in support of Nigerian youths and sports in general.

He added; “We have budget for all our sporting events every year. COVID-19 was a threat two years ago but the past few months have been cases of natural causes (flooding) and federation crisis affecting our events.

“On our part, the commitment remain the same and we are always happy and ready to support sports.

This year 2023, we can confirm that our major events – Women Basketball, Delta Principals’ and Headmasters’ Cup – are coming up. We almost staged basketball last year but time was so short after all was agreed.”

The social club events at Ikoyi Club and Lagos Country Club are expected to be staged as well.

Super Falcons’ striker, Asisat Oshoala was on the score chart as Barcelona Femeni beat Real Sociedad 3-0 yesterday to win the Spanish Women's Super-Cup for the second season running and extend their unbeaten runin domestic competitions to 58 games.

The win came exactly one week after the male team defeated Real Madrid 3-1 to win the final match of the Super Cup in Riyadh last Sunday.

Aitana Bonmati scored a goal in each half and Oshoala added the third in what proved a comfortable win at the Estadio Romano in Merida.

Barca have now won the Super Cup in three of the four years since it was created in 2020, with Atletico Madrid the only team to stop them, beating them on penalties in the semi-final in 2021.

That was the last domestic

trophy Barca failed to win. They went on to win a league and cup double in 2020-21, as well as the Champions League, and all three Spanish competitions last season: Liga F, the Copa de la Reina and the Super Cup. Real Sociedad, meanwhile, continue to show progress under Natalia Arroyo. They lost 10-1 to Barca in the Super Cup final in 2020 but have improved dramatically since then, finishing second in the league last season.

Barca survived a scare in the semifinal against Real Madrid to reach Sunday's final as their 56-game winning run in Spanish competitions ended with a 1-1 draw in the Clasico.

However, even with a player sent off, they rallied to win after extra-time and there were no such complications against La Real.

They are still without injured duo Alexia Putellas and Caroline

Graham Hansen, but Bonmati has stepped up in their absence and the midfielder made the difference here.

She opened the scoring in the 13th minute after good work from Geyse and then added Barca's second in the 47th minute with a clean strike from the edge of the box.

Mariona Caldentey then hit the woodwork as Barca sought a third goal in front of 6,339 fans and Claudia Pina missed a late chance before Oshoala finally completed the scoring in stoppage time.

Jonatan Giraldez's side return to league action on Wednesday against Levante Las Planas -- where a win would mark 50 in a row in Liga F -- but they face expulsion from the Copa de la Reina after fielding an ineligible player in the last round. A decision on their fate is expected next week.

Asisat Oshoala celebrating with the Spanish Super Cup shortly after defeating Real Sociedad...yesterday

Monday, January 23, 2023

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MISSILE US to Politicians “What we are interested in is free, fair and credible elections that represent the people.

We will discourage any politicians, citizens, or other parties who are encouraging electoral violence or seeking to undermine the process. One thing we have done in the past and continue to do is that those who seek to undermine the democratic process can and will be found ineligible for a visa to the US” –US Consul-General to Nigeria, Will Stevens, warning violators of electoral process.

MAHMUDJEGA False Analogies of Naka Sai Naka VIEW FROM THE GALLERY

I

thought I finished my duty when I posted a brief article on social media last week titled “Fraudulent analogy of Naka Sai Naka.” But when I ran into Yobe State Governor Mai Mala Buni last week, he took me aside and said, “That article you wrote, elaborate on it. Northerners need to hear more.”

It is not in my character to disobey governors, so I must return to the topic today, this time by addressing less volatile newspaper audiences.

The subject matter was this. An anonymous article was circulated on WhatsApp in which the author firmly predicted that the 2023 presidential election will be a political recapitulation of the 1979 presidential election. It briefly reminded me of a subject matter in Embryology, back in my days as a small university teacher. The German biologist Ernst Haeckel had stated in 1890, “Ontology recapitulates phylogeny.”

When students asked for clarification, we said, “The ontological development of an individual [inside its mother’s womb] is a recapitulation of the phylogenetic [that is, evolutionary] history of its species.” Don’t worry if that statement confuses you. It has been disproved in Biology.

The article in question was by Kaduna State Chapter of the whispering campaign in the North called Naka Sai Naka, roughly translated as “Your own is your own.” Situated in the current political terrain, it means vote for your own. In politics, which one is “your own”? Is it a person from your region of the country, your ethnic group, your religion, your political party, your residential estate, your professional line, your skin colour, your business sector, your ideological leaning, your career line, your economic status, your social class, your type of temperament, or a person with whom you share a certain passion? In democratic choice, there is nothing wrong with many of these choices. I may decide to vote for a fellow businessman if I think that could bring advantages to business as a whole.

The anonymous author’s next lines however gave the game away. He or she wrote, “Peter Obi/Labour Party is analogous to Azikiwe/ NPP [of the Second Republic]. Tinubu/APC is analogous to Awolowo/UPN. Atiku/PDP is analogous to Shagari/NPN. Kwankwaso/ NNPP is analogous to Aminu Kano/PRP.” To an extent there is some truth here because the two major Southern ethnic groups had/ have a big candidate each in 1979 and 2003.

In 1979 the far North had three presidential candidates. This time around it has two but if you add the prominent APC presidential running mate, you are almost back to 1979.

The writer went on, “Aminu Kano was from Kano and won only in Kano State. (Kwankwaso will do the same). Obafemi Awolowo was from the South West and won the region.

(Tinubu will do the same). Azikiwe won his zone, South East (Peter Obi will do the same).

Shagari won the presidential election because he had North in his bag and also gathered meaningful votes from all other regions of Nigeria. Shagari also had spread all across

Atiku

the regions at that time. Atiku will do the same… North will massively vote for Atiku Abubakar. Naka Sai Naka!”

Put biologically, the anonymous author seemed to be saying that “the 2023 presidential election will be a recapitulation of the 1979 election.”

Well, not so fast. Having lived through the Second Republic as a student and through this Fourth Republic as a political reporter, I have some observations to make. One is that Kwankwaso/NNPP is not Aminu Kano/ PRP. NNPP lacks PRP’s leftist ideology, it lacks PRP’s long NEPU history dating back to 1949, lacks PRP’s spread into old NEPU strongholds beyond Kano, such as Zaria, Kaduna, Bauchi, Gusau and Kaura Namoda. NNPP also lacks PRP’s large crop of dedicated and very eloquent cadres, such as Sabo Bakin Zuwo, Lawal Dambazau and Musa Musawa. And, while Kwankwaso is charismatic, dynamic and has a cult-like Kwankwasiyya following, he does not measure up to Aminu Kano in towering political personality.

Secondly, Peter Obi/LP is not Azikiwe/ NPP. Obi is the biggest political discovery of this election cycle, has made big impact on the social media and might sweep South East states. However, LP does not have the support of the South East political elite that NPP had. Not one of the South East governors openly supports LP. Obi also has nothing like Zik’s national and Africa-wide stature, Zik’s decades-long political staying power, or his unrivalled education, intellect and dazzling eloquence. Besides, NPP went beyond South East and won old Plateau State. Doesn’t look like LP can do the same.

Atiku/PDP of 2023 is not Shagari/NPN of 1979. Sure, at one point PDP had more spread across the country than NPN ever had, but it is now reduced to control of 14 states, 5 of them in rebellion, one more governor

wavering, something NPN never experienced.

NPN’s strongholds were North and southern minority states, while PDP’s strongholds since 2015 were South East and Niger Delta states, both of them now shaky due to the Obi factor and the Wike-led rebellion respectively. In truth, Atiku is more dynamic, more resolute and a more vigorous campaigner than Shagari, and his running mate Governor Okowa packs more political punch than Alex Ekwueme did in 1979.

Shagari’s electoral success was not because of his personal charisma, but because he was an instantly sellable compromise candidate who had almost no personal enemies in Nigerian politics. When he led the first ballot at NPN’s “Nominating Convention” in Lagos in December 1978, the two runners-up declined to go for a run-off ballot, conceded to him and rallied behind him all through. Compare that to the fallout from PDP’s convention, still festering after eight months.

Tinubu/APC is also a world different from Awo/UPN. The only historical connection is that Tinubu was probably an Awoist in 1979.

SDP, on whose platform he went to the Senate in 1992, inherited UPN’s structures in the West.

Then also, AD/AC/ACN which Tinubu helped to find and subsequently became the leader, was a political offshoot of AG/UPN. But there are important differences as well. Although he is the single biggest political factor in the South West today, Tinubu nowhere attained Awo’s political iron-grip of the region. Awo won over 90% of the vote in most South West states in 1979.

In a perverse way, Tinubu’s less firm grip of the West is a political plus because Nigerians tend to be suspicious of you when your people love you too much, as was the case with Awo and Buhari too before 2015. Sure, Nigerians expect a major politician to win his home state.

If Tinubu does not win Lagos, Atiku does not

win Adamawa, Obi does not win Anambra or Kwankwaso does not win Kano, other Nigerians will not respect them. But your region should not show you too much love as a candidate.

Americans distinguish between a “favourite son” of a certain state and “a politician of national stature.” The former is not regarded as presidential material.

Yet, Tinubu achieved what Awo/UPN never did, i.e. integrated the West, once synonymous with opposition politics, into a truly national party that captured power at the federal level while retaining hold on the region. In 1979, Awo could not even find a Northerner as running mate. He instead settled for Chief Phillip Umeadi. Tinubu however has a very big Northern running mate, former governor of a key state and until 2019, chairman of the Northern States Governors Forum. Unlike Awo, who was completely shunned by the Northern Political Establishment, Tinubu is warmly embraced by it, including most of the region’s governors. During his helicopter-bound whistle-stop campaigns, Awo never visited the palaces of Northern emirs. He said it was a matter of principle, when in reality he probably expected a cool reception. Today, Tinubu receives warm reception in emirs’ palaces. The emirs probably have no choice since most of the Northern governors are APC members.

So, most of the political analogies made in the author’s claims are false in many material particulars. The conclusion drawn from the analogies was Naka Sai Naka, i.e., everyone should vote for his own. This campaign is historically fraudulent because it was PDP that brought Chief Olusegun Obasanjo in 1999 and convinced Northerners that he was the region’s tried and tested friend. Two can play the same game. It is now APC’s turn to bring Tinubu and say he is a tried and tested friend of the region. He almost magically changed the Western man on the street’s perception of Buhari as a Muslim irredentist in 2015 and voted for him.

Naka Sai Naka is also a dangerous campaign that could imperil the country, if all regions decide to do the same. In 1979, we watched live on NTA as Frederick Louis Oki Menkiti, Returning Officer Presidential Election, tabulated results as they came in from the states. When results from old Rivers State came in, Shagari got 600,000 votes, shot to the top of the table and stayed there. Why didn’t Ogonis, Andonis and Ijaws say Naka Sai Naka?

Days after I posted a condensed version of this article on social media, I was appointed as Special Adviser, Public Affairs to Asiwaju Bola Tinubu. Some people quickly wrote that I was appointed because of that article, while others said I wrote that article because of the appointment. Well, guys, you have a chicken and egg problem right there. Was it the article that caused the appointment or was it the appointment that caused the article? Remember the title of James Hadley Chase’s 1950 novel, Figure It Out For Yourself.

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